89
Villa Sandi Pinot Grigio 2018
DOC Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Italy $12.70 (580324) 11.5% alcohol
This friendly priced white offers refreshing ripe honeydew melon, lemon zest aromas along with crushed gravel notes. It flows on the palate with more weight than anticipated, carrying delicious flavours of melon, white peach, Meyer lemon and chalky minerality adding interest to the flavour profile and the clean, crisp finish. This is an excellent value and a great partner to salted nuts or seafood antipasto. (Louise Boutin)
89
Villa Sandi Prosecco Sparkling Wine – Brut - Non-Vintage
DOC Prosecco Treviso, Italy $15.95 (394387) 11.0% alcohol
The quality-price balance tips well in your favour here. Classic and beautiful aromas of freshly grated lemon zest, pear, yeast and mineral notes introduce a nice froth filling the palate with dry refreshing flavours—Granny Smith apple, pink grapefruit, slight delicious pithiness and a saline note. This is crisp and clean on the finish with a dry lip-smacking mouthfeel despite 13 g/L of residual sugar. This is a great choice to keep on hand for apero time. (Louise Boutin)
88
stel+mar ‘Premium White’ Chardonnay No-Vintage indicated
California $4.95 (14776) 250 mL can (handy pull tab) 14.5% alcohol
Piquant spice, yeasty notes, caramel and apple aromas introduce a tasty stream of ripe pear, peach and lemon curd blanketing the palate. This is good weight and nicely textured with consistent purity of fruit and good balance from opening click to the very last sip with excellent tang on the back palate and finish. It’s handy for travel, easy to pack and carry, quick to cool and great around the pool. (Vic Harradine)
87
stel+mar ‘Premium Red’ Zinfandel No-Vintage indicated
California $4.95 (14775) 250 mL can (handy pull tab) 13.7% alcohol
It’s handy for travel, easy to pack and carry, and great around the pool. Sprigs of savoury herbs and bramble berry fruit aromas abound on the nose. It’s certainly fruity on entry with sweet flavours of red and dark berry fruit along with wisps of milk chocolate. It’s reasonably well balanced with a fairly short finish. Will go well poured with backyard hot dogs and burgers. (Vic Harradine)