Rodney Macuja
Numbered from top to bottom, left to right.
1. PINK LEGACY
2017 Lowe Headstone Rosé, Mudgee, $28
David Lowe has been making rosé, on and off, since way back in 1981, so it’s no surprise he’s absolutely nailed this pale, dry, fragrant example of the style, made predominantly from grenache grapes.
2. VERY MERRY
Four Pillars Australian Christmas Gin, Yarra Valley, $100
The list of botanicals includes actual Christmas puddings, the finished gin features a splash of Rutherglen muscat, but it’s also subtle and refined: gently spicy and figgy.
3. NEW TRADITION
St Ronan’s Methode Traditionelle Cider, Yarra Valley, $25
Made from traditional cider varieties (Kingston Black, Yarlington Mill, etc) planted in St Ronan’s own orchard, this has both beautiful sweet apple flavour and bright bittersweet tang.
4. RARE RIESLING
2017 Bromley Riesling, Bellarine Peninsula, $25
Darren Burke makes small batches of very good wines on the Bellarine Peninsula including this riesling: it starts all perfumed and grape-pulpy, finishes lean and slatey.
5. SWEET HISTORY
2013 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, South Africa 500ml, $142
One of the world’s great sweet wines, with a history dating back to the 17th century, this late-harvested muscat is a perfect balance of golden lusciousness and juicy, spicy citrus flavours.
6. SLINKY SHIRAZ
2015 Shaw & Smith Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, $46
A spicy shiraz from the Hills you can play with over the next decade: splash it into big glasses and relish the fruit; cellar for more savoury complexity.
7. SMASHABLE RED
2017 Frederick Stevenson Dry Red, Barossa Valley, $28
This juicy, easy red blend of cinsault, shiraz, grenache and mourvèdre features an illustration of a piñata: “smashable”, geddit? It’s not all fruity fun, though – there’s an earthy undertow.
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