2018 Wines Under $50

Aglianico, perhaps like Nebbiolo is a wine of extremes. The nose, with red fruits and rose petals, is reminiscent of a light, perhaps delicate wine but the palate weight and tannins are at the other end of the scale. There’s rose petals, dark fruits and sage in the mix, liquorice, red fruit and a super long tannin finish. Definitely a food wine. Learn More

A stunning Valpolicella made using the Ripasso method, or 'repass'. Highest quality, high altitude Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone are fermented on the pressed skins of an Amarone ferment, giving higher alcohols, colour and a good degree more complexity. Rich, dark and savoury, this beast offers cherries, chocolate, graphite, minerals, plum, blackberries and blueberries here, along with white pepper and cedar. A stunning red wine that pairs majestically with roast meat and ragu. Learn More

In theory an entry level Bordeaux, this actually drinks like a vastly more expensive wine. The depth of fruit, effortless fleshiness and fruit weight of the palate and seamless glide into a bed of fine tannins marks this as a wine of class and style. Red fruits, back fruits, spice, cedar and minerality are all on the go here. Grab a few bottles to try, we suspect you’ll be back for more. Learn More

Ciabot Berton is based in Piedmont in La Morra, one of the finest Barolo producing communes. They also make Barbera, this one being an absolute stunner. Less than 1000 cases of this Barbera is produced annually, and it offers a red fruited nose, a dense and fleshy palate bedecked with black fruits, cherries and blueberries. It’s a big wine, worth having with a quality char grilled steak. Learn More

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 tiny Burgundian Estate producing miniscule quantities of delectable Pinot Noir. This one offers red fruits, the svelte swirliness you’d expect of Burgundy, along with spice, plenty of acid and whisper fine tannins. Learn More

This is a big wine by GSM standards and brooding to boot. There’s lots of dark fruit, swirls of spice and earth, chocolate and plums. It is superbly succulent, lithe relative to its impressive fruit weight and an each way bet for necking now or in 10 years time. Learn More

Brightly fruited with struck match handing the baton to stonefruits, pancake batter and melon. As you sip, swirl and taste, the flavors deepen and increase in richness and depth. Already excellent, this will be exceptional in a few more years. Learn More

Produced from Heirloom’s best Barossa Vineyard. Fruit is open fermented and basket pressed into French oak. This is a rich and concentrated Shiraz, with black fruits propelled along a tightrope of elegant acidity towards a fine tannin finish. Long and delicious. Learn More

This is top end Coonawarra Cab done right. A grade vines are hand tended, the fruit bunch sorted, open fermented, basket pressed and put into superb French oak for a couple of years. Red fruits, mulberries, bramble, olives, dried herbs are all in the mix. The palate is extremely powerful, textural, intense and long. An exceptional, single vineyard Coonawarra Cab. Learn More

Low yields, very careful fruit selection, hands on winemaking with whole bunches and open fermentation and the use of high quality French and Bulgarian oak have conspired again to produce a stunningly intense McLaren Vale Shiraz. It offers blackberries and cedary oak, great length and deeply intense silken black and blue fruits, anise and chocolate all settling nicely into a really satisfying drink. Super intense, chewy and rich but not overblown. Awesome now and should cellar beautifully. Remarkable value for money. Learn More

This is just the 3rd release of a cane cut Riesling from Petaluma. Its source, the Hanlin Hill Vineyard, was planted in 1968, at 550m above sea level and produces full-flavoured, slaty Rieslings of the highest quality. ‘Canecut’ refers to the process of partially or completely cutting the fruiting canes from the vine and allowing the fruit to air dry for a period of time. This concentrates flavours, sugar and acidity. The resulting fruit was then handpicked and whole bunch pressed before fermentation. Ferment was stopped with 155g/l sugar remaining in the wine. Flavours of lemon, lime and sherbet are balanced by acidity and a slaty edge. Great with Asian dishes, especially where chilli and seafood are involved. Learn More