Australia’s best affordable wines

Fancy a glass of the finest affordable wine tonight? This sneak peek into James Halliday’s 2016 Top 100 has the tips.

James Halliday understand the importance of price to punters. Picture: Julian Kingma

Wine judging may seem a mystery, but there is one factor that is important to James Halliday, Australia’s leading wine critic, to which we can all relate.

The selection process for his Top 100, which will be published in The Weekend Australian Magazine tomorrow, “takes into account value for money as its starting point,” he says.

With this in mind, here is a sneak peek into the Top 100 — his two highest scoring whites under $20, reds under $25, and the two cheapest wines from his top 20 sparkling and champagnes.

You might like to rush down to the bottle-o now to secure a few bottles before the rush.

Hoddles Creek shiraz, Yarra Burn sparkling, Chateau Francois Semillon, A.T. Richardson Shiraz and Rocky Road Semillon.

WHITES UNDER $20

Chateau Francois Pokolbin Semillon 2013. This wine has barely moved over the past two years. It possesses great length and dazzling, crunchy acidity to go with the lemongrass and citrus fruits. As the years go by, hints of honey will appear, the acidity changing shape, providing freshness and length. 96 points, $19.99, screwcap, 11% alc, drink to 2028

McHenry Hohnen Vintners Rocky Road Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2015. Very complex, layered flavours and texture. 69% semillon, 31% sauvignon blanc, part wild barrel-fermented, part in stainless steel. Giveaway price for a high-quality wine that pushes the envelope hard but stops before tearing it. 95 points, $20, screwcap, 12.8% alc, drink to 2020, mchenryhohnen.com.au

REDS UNDER $25

A.T. Richardson Chockstone Grampians Shiraz 2014. Shiraz from Victoria’s Grampians region at its autocratic best. The colour is superb, the bouquet very complex, built around the surging black fruits, earth and licorice of the full-bodied palate, which gains yet more depth from the ripe, persistent tannins. 97 points, $25, screwcap, 14% alc, drink to 2050, atrichardsonwines.com

Hoddles Creek Estate Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2015. The perfumed bouquet of red berries and plums in this pinot sets the scene for the perfectly balanced and very long palate, with a contrast between its juicy fruits and fine-grained tannins. It’s a ridiculous bargain, too. 96 points, $20, screwcap, 13.2% alc, drink to 2025, hoddlescreekestate.com.au

SPARKLING AND CHAMPAGNE

Yarra Burn Pinot Noir Chardonnay Rosé 2007. Part sourced from Yarra Valley, the rest from elsewhere in Victoria. The price has risen from $19.99 since its initial release but so has its complexity. Salmon hued, it has a spicy, floral gingerbread bouquet and a rich, red fruits and spices reflecting its 66+% pinot noir base. Its length and freshness can’t be faulted. 94 points, $24.99, cork, 12.5% alc, yarraburn.com.au

House of Arras A by Arras Premium Cuvée NV. Has it all: balance, life, complexity, length; dances the line between supple richness and minerality. 100% Tasmanian, 59% pinot noir, 33% chardonnay, 8% pinot meunier aged 3+ years on tirage, 6 months on cork. Natural acidity helps deliver a particularly good finish and aftertaste of this slimmed-down version of Arras. 94 points, $29.99, cork, 12.5% alc, houseofarras.com.au

For the complete Top 100 list, buy the Magazine or visit theaustralian.com.au tomorrow.