Top whites under $30

2021 West Cape Howe Mount Barker Riesling 
Ticks each and every box along the journey, starting with the quartz-green colour, then the flowery and fragrant aromas telling of the citrus-accented palate gathering drive as it explores lime and passionfruit. All throughout the line of acidity provides cohesion.
95 points | $22 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2032 | West Cape Howe Wines 

2021 Henschke Peggy's Hill Eden Valley Riesling 
The blossom-filled bouquet surges instantly from the glass, citrus leading, apple tucked in close behind, the palate every bit as expressive. The crisp acidity provides the framework to carry the long finish and aftertaste; world class for a song.
97 points | $25 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2031 | Henschke  

2021 Singlefile Great Southern Riesling  
Fresh and lively; a delicious array of lime, lemon and passionfruit opens proceedings on the palate and bouquet; steely acidity runs throughout, but doesn’t disturb the peace. Changes will emerge down the track, but don’t hesitate to drink it tonight.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 11.9% alc. | Drink to 2031 | Singlefile Wines 

2021 Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Riesling
Draws on six estate blocks; 100% free run juice. The perfumed apple and lime blossom bouquet doesn't prepare you for the searing intensity of the slatey acidity and lemon zest palate. This is purity on a grand scale, its future unllimited.
97 points | $26 | Screwcap | 11% alc. | Drink to 2041 | Castle Rock Estate    

2021 Teusner Empress Eden Valley Riesling  
A truly gorgeous Eden Valley riesling, the bouquet full of citrus blossom, the palate overflowing with lime, grapefruit and Meyer lemon, the high tensile acidity a perfect anchor for consumption today or 10 years hence. This from a red wine specialist!
96 points | $27 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Teusner 


2021 Meerea Park XYZ Hunter Valley Semillon  
Co-founder and winemaker Rhys Eather is the larger than life great-great-grandson of Alexander Munro, a famous Hunter vigneron in the mid-19th century. This wine is still in its infancy, but already has an abundance of juicy sweet citrus flavours, and a great future.
95 points | $25 | Screwcap | 11% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Meerea Park

2021 Sidewood Estate Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc  
Sidewood Estate has won 8 trophies (including this) and 52 gold medals for its sauvignon blanc since 2012. The cut grass, nettle and citrus aromas are joined on the palate by utterly seductive grapefruit and guava fruits with a sheen of just-so acidity. Bargain on a grand scale.
96 points | $22 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2022 | Sidewood Estate 

2020 Cape Mentelle Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon  
Extended stainless steel ferment at very low temperatures with cultured yeast. Opens with passionfruit/tropical florals on the bouquet, tightening up in the mouth with a stream of citrussy acidity channelling along the tongue, the finish bright and breezy.
94 points | $26 | Screwcap | 13.5% alc. | Drink to 2024 | Cape Mentelle 

2021 Deep Woods Estate Ivory Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc  
This wine would be my $15 steed for a joust with sauvignon blanc or sauvignon blanc blends from Marlborough and anywhere else in this side of the ditch, its tapestry of citrus and passionfruit covering most contenders at prices soaring above $20.
93 points | $15 | Screwcap | 12% alc. | Drink to 2023 | Deep Woods Estate 

2021 Amelia Park Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc  
A 60/40% blend; part left with solids in stainless steel barrels to complete wild fermentation, the rest fermented at 12-13˚C in tank. Citrus/lemon blossom/cut grass aromas set the scene for the complex palate with both texture and structure achieved without the use of oak.
95 points | $23 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Amelia Park Wines 

2020 Devil's Lair Dance with the Devil Margaret River Chardonnay  
Bright straw-green colour. One reason for the inexplicably low price: an over-supply of Margaret River chardonnay – a bonanza for the consumer. The graphics of the label are perfect for brasserie or picnic settings, and those who are after old style, rich chardonnay should love this.
92 points | $15 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Devil’s Lair 

2020 Xanadu Circa 77 Margaret River Chardonnay  
The name is derived from the first plantings by Xanadu in 1977. $20 (and presumably discounted below that) is a ridiculous price for this so-cleverly made wine, its core dinky-di white stone fruits and a dash of grapefruit, together with a feather-light infusion of oak.
92 points | $20 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2024 | Xanadu 

2020 Hoddles Creek Estate Yarra Valley Chardonnay  
Seven clones; barrel-fermented (25% new oak) part wild, part cultured yeast; 9 months in oak, the impact subtle on a palate with both finesse and intensity. Grapefruit and Granny Smith apple are the flavour drivers of the long palate, crisp acidity to close.
95 points | $22 | Screwcap | 13.2% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Hoddles Creek Estate 

2020 Dominique Portet Fontaine Yarra Valley Chardonnay  
From 20yo vines in Gladysdale; fermented in French oak (10% new); kept on its fermentation lees for 8 months. A very attractive, well made wine, with that extra degree of white peach/grapefruit and inherent acid balance that the Upper Yarra is able to produce at will.
95 points | $26 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Dominique Portet 

2021 Tahbilk Marsanne  
The Nagambie Lakes shared the great vintage for whites, and Tahbilk didn't miss out here, oozing with honeysuckle, lime and custard apple, the signature of acidity neatly tying the parcel up for now or in a decade or two. It's a dead set gold medal.
95 points | $20 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2031 | Tahbilk 


2021 Bleasdale Vineyards Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris  
75% fermented cool in tank; 25% fermented with high solids and wild yeast in used French puncheons. This will come as a surprise for those expecting another ho-hum white wine. There is both flavour and texture complexity, largely nashi pear and citrus, plus tropical and spice slants.
94 points | $22 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Bleasdale Vineyards 

2019 Varney Fiano  
24hr skin contact pre cold pressing. Cool fermented in used French barriques, with frequent lees stirring. Alan Varney certainly knows what he's doing. The scented, slightly peppery bouquet is a logical forerunner of the skilfully engineered, grapefruit-accented palate. Stands tall with any food style.
95 points | $28 | Screwcap | 12.4% alc. | Drink to 2024 | Varney Wines 

2021 Hahndorf Hill GRU Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner  
Has more weight and gravitas than its siblings, but the same balance and length: it's a crying shame that I don't methodically lay down the Hahndorf Hill gruners for a decade or so to watch their development, giving the same reward as fine rieslings.
96 points | $30 | Screwcap | 13% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Hahndorf Hill Winery 

2021 Primo Estate Adelaide Hills Pecorino 
Primo Estate was the first to plant pecorino in South Australia – and, by definition, in the cool Adelaide Hills. The highly floral bouquet is left on the wayside by the richness and succulence (not sweetness) of the palate. It strikes a further blow with its titanium backbone of acidity.
96 points | $28 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2025 | Primo Estate 

2018 The Story Marsanne Roussanne Viognier  
A single co-planted (2007) vineyard, the wine wild fermented in old oak and taken through 100% mlf, this reflected in its malty aromas. Despite the mlf, fruit and acidity dance around each other in an energetic display which carries through the finish and aftertaste.
95 points | $30 | Screwcap | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2027 | The Story