Drinks News

Top Drops: September 2017

Whether it's a crunchy sémillon or textural rosé from Provence you're after, these seven bottles have got every taste covered.

By Max Allen
Numbered from top to bottom, left to right.
1. SNAPPY RED
2014 Casa da Passarella A Descoberta Dão Tinto, Portugal, $30
A fresh, medium-bodied young red made from a blend of local grapes including touriga nacional and tinta roriz (port varieties) and jaen (Spain's mencía).
Imported by thespanishacquisition.com
2. STYLISH SWEETIE
2012 Ngeringa Altus, Adelaide Hills, $40 for 375ml
Inspired by Tuscany's vin santo, this sweet wine is made from viognier grapes that are air-dried, then pressed into barrel for five years' ageing without topping up, before bottling.
ngeringa.com
3. BLACK ROBE
2015 Coates The Malbec, Limestone Coast, $25
It's the colour that draws you in: a beautiful, saturated purple black, so typical of malbec. The flavour is true to variety, too: rich mulberry fruit, supple tannin, gently supportive oak.
coates-wines.com
4. BET EACH WAY
2017 Scarborough "The Obsessive" Semillon, Hunter Valley, $30
You could either cellar this, and let it develop classic, mature, toasty Hunter sémillon characters, or drink it right now, revelling in its refreshing, crunchy green-apple glory.
scarboroughwine.com.au
5. DEEP PINK
2016 Clos Sainte Magdelaine Cassis Rosé, Provence, $60
This wonderful, robust blend of grenache, cinsault and mourvèdre from the coastal appellation of Cassis has a little more colour, richness and texture than many Provence rosés.
Imported by worldwineestates.com.au
6. PINOT TO KEEP
2015 Hurley Garamond Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, $85
The most "serious" of the three very good single-block pinots produced at Hurley: wild hedgerow berries wrapped in sinewy and savoury tannin. A pinot you want in your cellar.
hurleyvineyard.com.au
7. CRAFT TINNIE
Sailors Grave Brewing Down She Gose, Orbost, $6
This East Gippsland brewery is becoming renowned for using unusual local ingredients in its beers, such as the sea salt and seaweed in this malty, dry, refreshingly tart ale.
sailorsgravebrewing.com
SHAREPIN
  • undefined: Max Allen