Picardy Bird in Hand Carlos Serres Showblock Boho Farm Dandelion Cantine Vitevis Barristers Block Rusty Mutt Dune Best Wines Under $50

Both grown on the estate and sourced from quality growers, the grapes are crushed and destemmed straight into the press to retain delicacy and aromatics and minimise colour transfer from the skins. The wine’s salmon pink colour is matched by a delicate strawberry aroma along with citrus blossom. The palate offers cherry and strawberry flavours and a creamy texture. The refined structure of this wine is highlighted by its subtle acidity and the elegance of very fine beading. Learn More

Its bigger than Pinot, and of course has a different flavour profile, but in the UK plenty of punters who drink Pinot are equally enamoured of Bardolino. 'But it is made from the same grapes as Amarone', we hear you say. It is, and Bardolino is only half an hour from that region, but the wines are altogether brighter and far more delicate than you'll find there. This Bardolino sees about 6 months in oak, followed by some time in tank prior to bottling – red fruits and violet form the nose. It is red fruity, pulpy and fleshy and finishes tight and dry, with excellent length, minerality, plenty of acid and fine tannins. Drink it with rich meaty dishes or oily fish. Definitely a food wine and absolutely worth decanting. Learn More

Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos, actually named Charles, was a French Winemaker who, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, left Bordeaux and wound up in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.

Young and fresh but nonetheless intense, owing to the very low yields from the 2022 vintage. Fresh red and black fruits here, along with liquorice and a hint of vanilla. Zippy fruit and relatively high tannins make this a great match for protein.

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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

A beautifully balanced and elegant Riesling replete with brooding limes, lemon sherbet and good length. Lovely now and will continue to develop well for years. Learn More

A medium bodied and fragrant Cabernet laden with violets, blue and black fruits and spice. Tannins are waxy, polished and plentiful. A vibrant, high quality Cab!

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A wonderful Grenache with a little age. New school bright fruit and exceptionally deftly placed tannins meet high-quality, old-school oak. Ned Goodwin from the Halliday Wine Companion wrote a year ago ‘too much mocha-vanilla-infused oak enshrouding this, the fruit and structural latticework beyond it is sublime, auguring well for future change... Raspberry bon-bon, thyme, orange zest and lavender. The acidity, juicy and palpably natural. The grape tannins, lithe and etched with grace... I score this with the promise to which I hold it.’ A year later and this wine’s time has arrived, it is a ripper! 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

Punchy nectarine and peach on the palate here with a beautiful line of lemony acidity. The texture has a foot in both camps, being creamy but not fat. Length is good and the flavour is persistent, hanging around long after you have swallowed. Lovely, modern Chardy. Learn More

A-grade Coonawarra Cab fruit. 30% brand new French Oak for 18 months. A beautiful blue and red fruits meet tomato leaf nose. Blackcurrants, mint, chocolate, tobacco and plentiful, slightly grainy tannins. Rare to med-rare steak, or roast lamb. Happy. Sated. 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