2008 Wolf Blass 'Yellow Label' Shiraz Viognier

Here's another well-priced quaffer that has a recommended retail price above $15 but will be widely available for less. It's the best 'Yellow Label' that I've seen since the 2005 Shiraz, and it's benefitted from the addition of some of the white grape, viognier. The viognier gives this wine a perfumed lift as well as a more silky, even syrupy texture. There are bright redcurrant and dark plums flavours, before a plush mid-palate and a supple approachable finish that lingers. Good value red.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $ 16.95

Wide availability in all Australian states.  www.fostersgroup.com

Reviewed: 5 March 2010

It's back to back stellar vintages for this great-value Eden Valley riesling. Thorn Clarke's recommended retail price has crept up to $16.95 taking it over the $15 mark for the first time. Given the state of retail trade at present, I'd be confident that you'll find the wine below the omnipresent Quaff price point – what I think most of us would like to pay for our everyday drinking. To be honest, it's still terrific value at full tote odds.

It joins the raft of fabulous Bloody Good rieslings in Quaff 2010: most of which are still available. I loved the fresh vibrant attack of the 2009 'Sandpiper' Riesling its pristine, intense lemon juice flavours, tight, lean structure and lively zesty, crisp, dry finish. This is exceptional for an entry point white.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $ 16.95

Wide availability in all Australian states.  www.thornclarkewines.com

Reviewed: 26 Feb 2010

For a wine writer, there are few things better than having the wines revealed after discussing a bracket and finding that for the second time in a week a wine from the same label has shone. For me, the joy is compounded if the wine is inexpensive. So it was with a pair in the 'Airlie Bank' range from the Yarra Valley's Punt Road.

Firstly, there was this very modern 2008 chardonnay: tight and lean with intense savoury, minerally characters, good balance and length of flavour. It's clean, vibrant and refreshing. Just the kind of chardonnay that will turn consumers back onto the variety.

A couple of days later, it was the turn of the 2008 Punt Road 'Airlie Bank' Pinot Noir (also excellent value at $19). It was delightfully fragrant, had earthy, redcurrant and black cherry flavours of good intensity, was lively, silky smooth with very good varietal character.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $ 19

Winemaker: Kate Goodman

Wide availability in all Australian states. www.puntroadwines.com.au

Reviewed: 22 Feb 2010

2008 De Bortoli 'Deen Vat 1' Durif  

The 2007 vintage of this did well in Quaff 2010. The next harvest has produced another bloody good, though quite different, wine. The 2007 has heaps of powerful flavour with a juicy succulence that was particularly appealing. The 2008 is a great value for money red. I suspect, however, that it may not be to everyone's liking, at least, at present. It's a huge robust red with powerful concentrated flavours and lavish vanillin oak that is almost coconutty. So if you like the style (as my wife, Elaine, does), you'll love this. I think it needs a bit of time for the oak to be less dominant. Still there's plenty of positives: spicy ripe, red berry, brambly flavours and an attractive fleshiness that make the wine approachable. And great value.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $ 12.90

Wide availability in all Australian states. www.deenvatseries.com.au

Reviewed: 22 Feb 2010

Maybe I'll cop some criticism for writing up two similar (non-serious?) wines in the Quaff Newsletter. I've been mightily impressed by both and they are attracting a great deal of attention from Australian winemakers, and the Australian public. 'Zibibbo' is the Sicilian name for the muscat of alexandria white grape. Jancis Robinson notes that these are less common in Italy (which invented the style) than moscato which is made from muscat à petit grains. The only other Zibibbos that I've seen in Australia are made by Brown Brothers, although recently I've found these pretty sweet.

The Angove Zibibbo is lightly fizzy and fresh with vibrant sweet grapey characters, good balance before a crisp, clean finish of considerable length. There's only 8% alcohol which makes this a great refreshing afternoon drink (I'm thinking of the weekends.) At 75 grams of residual sugar per litre it is sweet, but there's plenty of acidity to provide balance so it doesn't appear overly sweet or cloying. It has an attractive mouthfeel and delicious flavour. At the price, it's a steal.

Rating: Bloody Good

Cost: $ 9.95

Winemaker: Tony Ingle and the team.

Wide availability in all Australian states. www.angoves.com.au

Reviewed: 5 February 2010

As an aside, Angove have done well in this year's Sydney International Top 100 with one of the Quaff favourites, the 2009 Angove 'Nine Vines' Shiraz Grenache Rose $14.95. It's in line for Top Rose. Results out on Saturday 20 February.