Black Opal Chardonnay 2005
South Eastern Australia $13.95 (309450)
Not much going in the aromas, but it comes to life on the palate. There you'll find solid fruit flavours (tropical fruit, pear and some toasty vanilla notes), all wrapped in a medium body with good crisp, food-friendly texture. Good with a wide range of chicken and pork dishes. (RP)


Black Swan Vineyards Shiraz 2004
South Eastern Australia $13.00 (610709)
Spiced berry and plum aromas open up this light-bodied red. Expect cherry compote, crushed cranberry and strawberry jam flavours with imperceptible tannins on the palate and finish. Try this on its own, slightly chilled or alongside a lightly-seasoned chicken dish. (VH)

Ernest and Julio Gallo "Sierra Valley" Chardonnay 2005
California $9.95 (235598)
This is a good price for a pretty nice Chardonnay-one of the best in this price range. You get good complexity in the aromas and flavours (tropical fruit, pear, peach, citrus, toasty vanilla), good balance and dry texture. A general-purpose Chardonnay in the best sense of the term. (RP)


Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
California $16.15 (89856)
This Kosher red opens with dusty plum compote and spice box aromas. The palate is treated to a medium to full-bodied mouthful of rich and concentrated flavours that include plum jam and a rich, sweet treat, redolent of cherry clafouti. This is very well balanced and offers a lengthy finish. (VH)

Barton and Guestier 'French Tom' Chardonnay 2003
Vin de Pays d'Oc $14.95 (619270)
A refreshing nose of apple and floral notes forms the segue to this light to medium-bodied quaffing white. Tropical fruit with hints of mineral and earthy notes form the flavour profile on the palate while the fairly short finish is clean and refreshing with balancing citrus tang. (VH)


Remy Pannier Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2005
AOC Muscadet Sèvre et Maine $9.95 (13821)
Quite attractive aromas of peach, apricot and citrus start you off, while the flavours are led by the citrus zone (lemon, white grapefruit). It's light-medium bodied and makes a perfect partner to simply-prepared white fish and seafood dishes. (RP)


Bouchard Aine et Fils Pinot Noir 2004
AOC Bourgogne $16.95 (665406)
Looking for a quality Pinot from Burgundy offering value for money? Look no further. Luxuriate in the glorious aromas of cranberry and red currant then be captivated as those same aromas play back as flavours that meld perfectly with Montmorency cherry along with spice and savoury notes. Expect a lengthy finish with perfectly balancing tang. Pair to smoked duck breast. (VH)


Chantovent Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Vin de Pays d'Oc $9.95 (621987)
Gooseberry, grass and sharp nettles form the aromas on the lifted nose of this light to medium-bodied white. Oodles of tang - citrus and white grapefruit - right from the get go to the lengthy clean and refreshing finish. This cries out for pan-seared white fish and generous squirts of freshly-squeezed lemon. Wonderful price point. (VH)

Cesari Amarone Classico 2003
DOC Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico $33.05 (426718)
Possesses all the attributes of what one would expect from a well-made Amarone. The nose, palate and finish are replete with aromas and flavours of rich and concentrated, dried and crushed raisin and cranberry. Layers of sweet berry and black cherry fruit - the 2003 scorching hot vintage shining through - and that gorgeous bitter chocolate finish. This very well-balanced and good to go now to 2012. (VH)


Farnese 'Casale Vecchio' 2005
DOC Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $12.25 (612788)
Dark, almost opaque in the glass, the aromatic profile is of dark, crushed fruit - currant and cherry - with a hint of spice box. Loads of sweet cherry and berry fruit on the palate with perceptible, but acceptable, tannins and a moderate squirt of tang to keep it all honest. Not complex, but not pricey, either. (VH)


Secco-Bertani Ripasso 2003
DOC Valpolicello Valpantena $14.15 (12443)
This deserves consideration as one of the best bargains available on General List wines. It opens with a beguiling nose of fig, dark raisin and toasty oak. The palate is soaked with rich concentrated flavours of black berry fruit, especially currant, and Bing cherry. The texture is smooth and medium to full-bodied. It finishes well-balanced, lengthy and luxurious with stewed prunes and spice notes. (VH)

Fleur Du Cap Merlot 2003
WO Coastal Region $13.00 (340414)
If you love those tarry, smoky reds from SA, this is your cup of tarry, smoky tea. The lifted nose opens with, you guessed it, smoke and tar notes. Look for red berry and medicinal cherry flavours along with some pleasant oaky nuances. This finishes quite tangy and would be a wonderful accompaniment to pasta in a tomato-based sauce. (VH)

Bodegas Riscal Tempranillo 2004
Tierra de Castilla Léon $11.60 (620898)
The quality to price balance is tipped heavily, and heavenly, in your favour. Rich, dark berry aromas ooze from the glass of this medium-bodied red. Expect a mélange of black cherry and sweet (14% alcohol) black berry flavours that are deliciously entwined with black licorice and the slightest hint of oak, smoke and chocolate. The lengthy finish replays the flavours. A meaty wine that punches well above its price point. (VH)