Past Issues: Bargain Wines feb/mar 2003 --
Australia Whites

In this regular feature, we spotlight those wines that offer great bang for the buck -- under $15 bucks, to be exact. Here you'll find our everyday wines, house pours, and occasionally a great new find. Have a favorite Bargain Wine? Tell us about it at editor@wineskinny.com! 

When you’re looking for a bargain-priced white wine that is still full of flavor and character, look no farther than the wide range of bold, fruity choices from Australia. Any one of these would make a great "house pour."

Riesling:
Leasingham 2001 Riesling Clare Valley Bin 7 ($8). One of the tastiest "New World" Rieslings we’ve tasted in recent memory – at any price. Beautifully balanced, featuring racy and aromatic tropicals, stone fruit and citrus, with appealing flinty notes throughout. Lush, generous finish. Ready to drink now and over the next year or two.

Peter Lehmann 2001 Riesling Barossa ($13). Supple tropical and apple fruit aromas and flavors are appealing and approachable. Balanced with racy citrus. Nice finish. Ready to drink now.

Chardonnay:
Penfolds 2002 Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Thomas Hyland ($14). Gorgeous white peach and pear fruit are smooth and seductive, balanced with streams of lime and vanilla oak. Picks up a touch of caramel on the lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three years.

Evans & Tate 2001 Chardonnay Margaret River ($15). Boldly flavored, with juicy tropical fruit, crisp apple, and light oak shadings. Deliciously supple and effortlessly enjoyable. Ready to drink now.

Jacob’s Creek 2001 Chardonnay South Australia Reserve ($14). Blockbuster-styled wine, with ripe pear and apple, lime zest, and toasty spicy oak taking center stage. Lots of wine for the money. Ready to drink now and over the next two years.

Reynolds 2001 Chardonnay New South Wales ($10). Beautifully fragrant, offering ripe pear, crisp apple, lime and spicy aromas and flavors. Ready to drink now.

Rosemount 2002 Chardonnay-Semillon South Eastern Australia ($9). Juicy and easy to enjoy, with crisp pear, apple and citrus fruit that is nicely balanced. Picks up subtle vanilla oak on the clean finish. Ready to drink now.

Sauvignon Blanc:
Chain of Ponds 2001 Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills Black Thursday ($13). Balanced and crisp, with tropical and light citrus fruit, mineral and grassy notes. Ready to drink now.

Fox Creek 2001 Sauvignon Blanc South Australia ($15). Exuberant apple and citrus fruit race around the palate, picking up touches of pineapple, mineral and grassy notes. A fun wine. Ready to drink now.

Check out previous Bargain Wines selections!
This now-fabulously-named column used to be called Easy To Find One Figure Wines, for reasons that we cannot currently remember but were surely enthusiastic about at the time. Anyhoo, check out our Past Issue Index for more great value-priced wine selections!