Red Wine

87   
Sogrape ‘Mateus – Signature’ Red 2016
DOC Douro, Portugal $9.95 (308643) 12.5% alcohol 
A spirited nose of raisin, fig and mixed spice introduce a tangy, fruit-driven flow of sour cherry, cranberry and piquant spice careening over the palate infusing the lengthy, drying finish. There are wisps of still-evolving tannin that will easily be ameliorated with a two-hour aeration/decant. This is medium bodied with decent mouthfeel and plenty to like about the price-quality balance that tips well in your favour. Good to go with burgers, gourmet sausage, red pizza, wings or beef fajitas (Vic Harradine)

85   
Vicente Faria ‘Animus’ 2016
DOC Douro, Portugal $11.95 (535641) 13.0% alcohol
Sourced from a blend of grapes used in the production of premium Port—tinta roriz, touriga nacional, touriga franca—this dishes up aromas of wood smoke and dark berry fruit galore. It’s medium bodied and nicely textured with a balanced river of ripe black currant and dark cherry adorned with mixed spice and espresso-roast palate flavours followed by replays on the lingering finish and aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)

86   
Food Truck Winery Shiraz 2017
South Australia $14.95 (545608) 14.5% alcohol 
This punches well above the price, is nicely balanced and structured with a lengthy aftertaste. Aromas of dark berry fruit and medicinal cherry notes on the nose, this sports a balanced stream of ripe dark cherry and black currant on the palate framed by excellent tangy acidity and underpinned by soft supple tannin. Well priced and well paced, give it a go with grilled beef kebabs. (Vic Harradine)

White Wine

89  
Bouchard Père et Fils Chardonnay 2016
Macon-Lugny, Saint-Pierre, France $19.35 (51573) 12.5% alcohol
Ripe apple and pear aromas provide segue for a sweet-tinged wash of yellow peach and tropical fruit flavour that coats the palate balanced and bountiful. It’s medium bodied with smooth mouthfeel and a lingering lip-smacking finish that’s clean, crisp and awash with lemony tang on the aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared fish or roasted, beer-can chicken. (Vic Harradine)

89   
LeftField Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Nelson, New Zealand $19.15 (487496) 12.0% alcohol
This is very good value. Nettles, herbal notes and tropical fruit aromas leap from the glass. It’s light-medium weight with excellent mouthfuls of gooseberry, lemon zest and Key lime pie racing over the palate with piquant spice and oodles of tang. The long mouth-watering finish is clean, crisp and refreshing. Pour in its own as a delightful sipper or with olive-oiled mesclun salad under crumbled chèvre. (Vic Harradine

Rosé Wine

87   
Bacalhô ‘JP’ Azeotão/Syrah Rosé 2017
Vinho Regional Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal $8.95 13.0% alcohol
Spice, floral and strawberry aromas waft easily from this lip-smacking good Rosé. A gorgeous gusher of bright, red fruit—watermelon, strawberry and currant—washes over the palate infusing the finish with mouth-watering replays. Light-medium styled with creamy texture, this finishes in a blaze of fruit flavour and tangy acidity. Pour alongside a deli platter or a pan-seared, Atlantic salmon fillet. Why pay more? (Vic Harradine)

84   
Sogrape Gazella Rosé 2017
DOC Douro, Portugal $8.95 (404533) 12.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral notes and berry fruit set the table for a smorgasbord of flavour. An explosion of spritz and red fruit flavour—plum, raspberry and strawberry—dazzle the palate accompanied by wisps of herbs and spice and framed by juicy tang. It finishes crisp and dry with a boatload of charm. (Vic Harradine)