Grapevine: Ticking all the right boxes

Value is a relative concept. A $100 bottle of wine can certainly represent good value, but in our current context, value combined with modest price is certainly what a lot of us are looking for.

Most of us need to tighten out budgets at least a little and yet many who are now working from home have more time than ever to slow down and take a little more time to prepare and enjoy dinner with a glass of wine.
We’re lucky that we have more variety in our choice of wines at all price points than ever before. Only 10-15 years ago, you would have been constrained to a handful of reliable varieties at the ‘everyday’ drinking price points. Now there are dozens of grape varieties and styles on offer that show some distinctive and unique traits whether they be inherent to the grape or the place where they are grown.
There is still a place for a ripping Shiraz that won’t cost you too much, but there is equally great opportunity in venturing to Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, USA or Portugal for a new flavour profile that still delivers quality and great ‘drinkability’. Here are just a few examples.
Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2016 – $14
The reds of Coonawarra have come in and out of favour over the past couple of decades. They can be somewhat aggressive and assertively tannic in their youth, which means they need time in the cellar to settle down and knit together. In the last few vintages, though, we have seen many producers move towards taming or dialling back those tannins to produce wines that are fruit forward and approachable more quickly. This wine is one such case, ripe red and black plummy fruit up front along with subtle oak influence and a peppery finish. It’s mouth-filling and quite plush, most importantly it’s delicious to drink right now.
Luccarelli Negroamaro 2018 – $18
You may be familiar with Primitivo/ Zinfandel, in which case Negroamaro should soon be on your radar. Where Primitivo can tend towards high alcohols as it accumulates sugar quite quickly, Negroamaro will often sit at a moderate alcohol level with a medium or medium-full body without losing the big flavours that reds from southern Italy can possess. Red and black cherry, anise/ liquorice, flavours that are mouth filling but not too heavy. Some chocolate and slightly bitter herb notes appear which just help to balance the fruit sweetness and give it a little complexity.
Finca Las Moras Malbec 2019 – $18
Malbec should arguably be far more popular in a country that grows up on Shiraz, nevertheless if you’re yet to try it then this is a great value introduction to the flavours at least. Bold juicy, sometimes jammy fruit with velvety texture and plenty of spice and smokey notes is how you could sum up modern-day Malbec. This wine definitely pushes the fruitiness with bright juicy red cherries and plum, some chocolate and smokey tobacco. It’s definitely made for early consumption, although just a little air wouldn’t hurt given its youth.