McLaren Vale, SA Dandelion Dowie Doole Best Wines Under $50

This is just the second release of Firehawk Farm which is produced from Dandelion’s finest vineyard. There is mammoth concentration of fruit here and perfect integration of fruit, oak and acid. Closed on opening, this morphs into an absolute stunner as is breathes and opens over several days. Sweet fruit, searing acid, savoury complexities, chocolate, graphite and blue fruits are all on show along with earthiness, cedar and plenty of tannin. This might just be the McLaren Vale’s best Shiraz. Learn More

New World take on an Old World fave. Still showing the signature Grenache trademarks on the nose with aromatic dark raspberries and red cherries, you might even find a little aniseed and other spice notes once it has had some time to open up. The palate offers an array of juicy red berry fruits and oh so subtle hints of vanilla with a touch of toasted cocoa even, little gifts given from the French Oak. Slightly grippy tannin to finish, so that wonderful fruit doesn't slide past you too quickly. Have a bit of fun and chill slightly in the warmer months! Learn More

There's a power and density here not normally found at $30 a bottle. Fruit was treated gently, being basket pressed into a mix of older French and American oak. Beautiful florals, along with blue fruit and pepper before the black fruit reveal, alongside cedar and fine tannins. As Ned Goodwin offered: 'This is exceptional value for money.' Learn More

A wonderful, textural, stonefruit driven and buttery, full bodied Chardonnay. Just the best fruit is taken from Dowies elevated, sandy soiled Blewitt Springs Vineyards. After a gentle press without the use of rollers, a mix of whole berries and juice is inoculated with yeast, and once that is rolling is transferred to older French oak. Ferment finishes and the lees stirring begins, building layers of texture and creaminess which is bolstered by malolactic fermentation. This is fully worked Chardonnay in all its glory. Learn More

Since 1996, Chris Thomas has maintained a shiraz solera which form part of this lip smacking sparkling. The solera contains some of the best shiraz Chris has made over the last 20+ years and is used sparingly and exclusively to add the finishing touches to his sparkling shiraz each year and adds depth of flavour and complexity. This is sparkling shiraz as we love it- opulent, slightly sweet, with richness, complexity, oak and plenty of fine tannins. That structure combined with flavours of blackberry, cherry. dark chocolate and spice making this a perfect accompaniment to protein, like roast chook, bacon and eggs, etc. It's bloody good. Learn More

A brilliantly complex yet powerful Shiraz. The Blewitt Springs plantings provide fragrance and delicious blue fruits, the California Road plantings bring blackstrap, black and blue fruits, power and chewy tannins. Wonderful already and should comfortably improve for more than a decade. Learn More