Top reds under $40

2021 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Rosé 
100% pinot noir, hand-picked, specifically for this rose, wild yeast fermented. Vibrantly fresh aromas and flavours; rose petals, violets and delicate spices on the bouquet, wild strawberries and raspberries on the mouth-watering palate. Great wine, not just great rose.
97 points | $30 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Giant Steps

2019 West Cape Howe Frankland River Shiraz  
A small portion finishes its ferment in new oak barriques; matured in new and used French oak. You have to wonder how any new oak expenditure could be justified by the give away price. Unbeatable now or later consumption with its spicy black fruits and precise tannin control.
94 points | $22 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2037 | West Cape Howe

2019 Angove Family Winemakers Family Crest McLaren Vale Shiraz 
You'd never guess Angove is a recent arrival in McLaren Vale. This is a near-perfect illustration of varietal character with eiderdown tannins underlaying a Magimix blend of dark chocolate and blood plum fruit. Generosity is its calling card, and it won't die any time soon.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2039 | Angove Family Winemakers

2019 Shingleback Davey Estate Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz  
Matured for 13 months in new and used oak. 3 trophies McLaren Vale Wine Show ’20. A compellingly endowed shiraz which has managed to emerge from its oak womb with a supple, seductive medium-bodied palate that has an energetic savoury finish, the high point of the wine.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2034 | Shingleback 

2020 Bondar Violet Hour McLaren Vale Shiraz  
Sourced from Shiraz plantings dating back to 1947 ex the Rayner Vineyard. A beautiful wine in every dimension – its crimson colour, haunting perfumed bouquet, fruit that caresses the mouth with its perfectly ripened fruit, superfine tannins, and subtle but relevant oak. What a bargain.
97 points | $30 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Bondar Wines


2019 The Story Grampians Syrah  
Has built on its layers of savoury/spicy cool grown shiraz flavours over the past year, adding weight and depth but without compromising its freshness. The lingering aftertaste is special, with sparklets of blackberry and blackcurrant. Oh, and vigneron Rory Lane has a degree in ancient Greek literature.
97 points | $30 | Screwcap | 13.5% alc. | Drink to 2040 | The Story Wines

2019 Paul Osicka Heathcote Shiraz  
The lively bouquet offers fluttering wafts of spices crossing into dabs of French oak, but gives little advance notice of the depth and intensity of the black fruits wrapped in a fine skein of ripe tannins. A Grampians-like twist is all the better for that in the hands of Simon Osicka.
97 points | $38 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2040 | Paul Osicka 

2018 Windows Estate Petit Lot Basket Pressed Syrah  
The still brilliant crimson hue introduces a vibrant medium-bodied shiraz with its dancing array of red cherry, plum and blackberry fruits; acidity and fine, spicy tannins complete a very beautiful wine. Drink whenever the mood strikes, but be careful when pouring it.
97 points | $39 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Windows Estate 

2020 Deep Woods Estate Margaret River Shiraz et al 
Fermentation and maceration proceeded for 12–14 days, thence to French barrels for 15 months maturation. Vivid colour; it beggars belief this has an RRP so low. It's the real deal – a wine with layer upon layer of red and black fruits and serious tannins, and then given that time in French oak.
94 points | $20 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2033 | Deep Woods Estate 

2020 Purple Hands Barossa Valley Grenache  
Hand-picked old bush vines; 25% whole bunch wild ferment; 10 days on skins; basket pressed to puncheons; 10 months maturation. A springtime basket of red flowers and fruits fill the senses, with a bright, almost tangy, back-palate and finish. Purple Hands at its best – and happiest.
96 points | $30 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2032 | Purple Hands Wines 

2020 Ministry of Clouds McLaren Vale Grenache  
Ex bush vines up to 100yo; 80% whole berries, 20% whole bunches in an open wild ferment; 21 days on skins; 10 months maturation in old oak. Vivid, clear colour; the scented, spicy, flowery bouquet leads a red berry/cherry/piquant palate, savoury elements increasing overall complexity.
96 points | $40 | Screwcap | 14.3% alc. | Drink to 2032 | Ministry of Clouds 

2020 Varney Entrada McLaren Vale Grenache Mourvedre Touriga  
Improbably, it may seem, this has similar weight and mouthfeel to a classy 2yo pinot noir. Its floral bouquet nearly makes way to outright perfume, the palate a delicious offering of small red fruits. It's not profound, but what there is, is faultless, the length ditto.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 13.1% alc. | Drink to 2026 | Varney Wines 

2020 Willow Bridge Estate G.S.M Geographe Grenache Shiraz Mataro 
The light colour is akin to a wolf in sheep's clothing, although within expectations for this blend. The fruit darts all over the place without pausing for a breath, and long into the aftertaste of licorice, spice, rum and raisin, plum and a silky rope of tannins.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Willow Bridge Estate 

2019 Stella Bella Margaret River Cabernet Merlot  
Cabernet sauvignon is the driver, percentages irrelevant; it's blackcurrant rather than cassis per se, but the tannins that might have bullied the merlot are in fact relaxed and accommodating. A budget-priced entry into the Margaret River castle of this blend, helped by the excellent vintage.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 13.7% alc. | Drink to 2034 | Stella Bella 

2019 Bleasdale Vineyards Mulberry Tree Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon  
Vinified in open fermenters with 12 days on skins including post ferment maceration; 12 months in new (10%) and used French puncheons. Great colour; cassis is the first and last impression of the bouquet and palate respectively, albeit with plenty of dried bay leaf and black olive.
95 points | $22 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2032 | Bleasdale 

2019 Wynns Coonawarra Estate The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon  
A clear indication of Coonawarra's great cabernet vintage when this luscious blackcurrant wine has an RRP (read before discounting) of $24.99. It's one of those wines that demands nothing of the consumer, and gives everything, whether now, five years or 20 years hence.
96 points | $25 | Screwcap | 13.6% alc. | Drink to 2049 | Wynns Coonawarra Estate 

2019 Vasse Felix Filius Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon  
It all hangs together perfectly, from its light crimson hue to its ultra-fragrant bouquet and juicy red and black currant palate. Even better is the structure revealed on the finish and aftertaste: tannins wrought with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker.
95 points | $29 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2029 | Vasse Felix 

2018 Domaine Naturaliste Rebus Wilyabrup Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon  
Matured for 12 months in French oak (40% new). The bouquet is a fragrant mix of cassis and cedar/cigar box, the intense palate with a tapestry of flavours of cassis and savoury bay leaf. Yet  it has the lightest of tannin touches encouraging a quick return to the glass.
97 points | $36 | Screwcap | 14% alc. | Drink to 2038 | Domaine Naturaliste

2019 Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 
A 46/42/12% blend matured for 18 months in French and American oak satisfies all the criteria for a blend such as this: bright colour and fresh black and red fruits undaunted by the extended time in barrel, and satisfying ripe tannins. And a gold-plated bargain.
94 points | $22 | Screwcap | 14.5% alc. | Drink to 2039 | Wirra Wirra 

2018 Eldorado Road Quasimodo Nero d'Avola Shiraz Durif  
Super-bright colour; an unusual blend that immediately announces it's fresh and fragrant on the bouquet, and dances on the medium-bodied palate with spicy red and purple fruits, the flavours lingering for minutes, yet the tannins are largely sidelined – remarkably so.
96 points | $29 | Screwcap | 13.6% alc. | Drink to 2038 | Eldorado Road