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Best Buy Wines (June/July 09): $15 and under

2008 Water Wheel Memsie White, Bendigo, A$14
Like Water Wheel’s brilliantly reliable and bold Memsie red, which is a blend of various grapes, including shiraz and cabernet, the Memsie white is more about making wine to a consistent, mouthfilling style than worrying too much about the varietal make-up. In 2008, the wine combines chardonnay, sav blanc, semillon and roussanne. What really matters is that it tastes like Memsie: heaps of pineapple, lemon and vanilla flavours, finishing nice and crisp. There should be more imaginative blended wines like this. MA

2008 De Bortoli Sacred Hill Semillon Chardonnay, Riverina, A$8
I first came across this gem while judging the Sydney International Top 100 where it scored a Blue Gold (when assessed with food) and a rating in the Top 100 (out of 2000). Not bad for a white blend at this price! Who says that Riverina semillon is only good after it’s been affected by noble rot. I thought the Sacred Hill had quite restrained aromatics, was plump and fleshy with a good mouthfeel and lingering tropical flavours. It’s even smoother with prawn wontons. PF

2006 Zonte’s Footstep Cabernet Malbec, Langhorne Creek, A$15
The blending of cab sav and malbec is a Bordelaise tradition, embraced in this country for over 100 years. Langhorne Creek producers remain steadfastly behind the blend. Zonte’s Footstep is managed by Geoff Hardy with Ben Riggs, of Wirra Wirra fame, the winemaker. Bold, almost brash, dark-berry fruit aromas dominate the nose with hints of licorice allsorts and sun-baked bricks. It’s quite straightforward – delivering a big, potent mouthful of wine tamed by a decisive grip of tannins. PB

2008 Deakin Estate Viognier, Riverland, A$10
A remarkably priced viognier which has some apricot/spice varietal definition as well as parsley/herbal overtones, while there is a touch of sweetness helping to soften the palate. It’s a good drink, balanced, easygoing, and avoids the exaggerated alcohol and phenolics that sometimes afflict this variety – although perhaps its gold medal at the Royal Perth Wine Show was a tad lucky! You can pay an awful lot more for viognier and get wine that’s not half as palatable as this. HH

2008 Spinyback Chardonnay, Nelson, NZ$15
It was a pleasant shock to discover that a wine I’d nearly awarded a silver medal rating in a blind tasting was retailing for only $15. Had I made a mistake? Too late to change the score, but subsequent tasting revealed that if anything I’d probably erred on the low side. It’s a strongly fruit-focused wine with a fruit-salad mixture of pineapple, white peach and apple characters. It has good purity and a gentle texture with vibrant acidity. BC

2008 Jacob’s Creek Riesling, Barossa Valley, A$11/NZ$16
This is a deliciously fresh riesling with varietal fruit and character aplenty. It’s upfront, honest and fruity, with a slightly confectionary but lively and floral perfume of apple, pear and lime juice. It’s round and juicy, with a pleasing depth of fruit and brightness and an element of lusciousness. Even if the palate lacks the length and shape of a premier riesling, it’s still vibrant and persistent. I just wish they would put it in a riesling bottle! JO