Diversifying tastes and evolving climate are driving extensive experimentation with different varieties and blends, making this category an exciting and dynamic space – but also one riddled with lowlights to dodge. Stick with our highlights and you’re in more than safe territory! Our eleven nominees for the top gong represent eleven different varieties and blends, with a worthy winner that prompted its nominator Ned Goodwin MW to ask the question, ‘Why were we not planting this 100 years ago?’ Find out more about the winning wine below.
2019 SC Pannell Aglianico
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A blend of 35/35/12/7/6/5 per cent touriga nacional/tinta cão/tinta amarela/tinta roriz/alvarelhão/sousão, all sourced from 1990 plantings. Yarra Yering and winemaker Sarah Crowe have hit the jackpot with their superb line-up of 2021 reds. Five trophies for three different wines at the 2022 Yarra Valley Wine Show, including the trophy for Best Red Wine in Show for this wine a testament to that. Founder Bailey Carrodus originally planted these Portuguese varieties to make fortified wine. While the odd fortified is still made here, it's the Dry Red Wine No. 3 – a modern-day classic – that benefits. A totally gorgeous wine that's hard to put down once you've had a sip, this exhibits a riotous array of red and black fruits, wildflowers, dried herbs, licorice root and cocoa nibs. Medium bodied and fragrant in the mouth, too! Gently chewy, well-knit tannins make this wine a total joy to drink in its youth, yet it will still be looking good five to seven years from now. – Philip Rich
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More top-rated other reds and blends from the 2024 Companion
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Domenica Wines
Nebbiolo 2019
Beechworth -
Hewitson
Barrel 1853 Shiraz Mourvèdre 2020
Barossa Valley -
Mordrelle Wines
Malbec Lagrein Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2021
Langhorne Creek -
Yarra Yering
Dry Red Wine No. 3 2021
Yarra Valley -
Anderson & Marsh
Parell Tempranillo 2021
Alpine Valleys -
Bekkers
Syrah Grenache 2021
McLaren Vale -
Bondar Wines
Monastrell 2021
McLaren Vale -
Bremerton Wines
Bâttonage Shiraz Malbec 2021
Langhorne Creek -
Charles Melton Wines
La Belle Mère Barossa GSR 2019
Barossa -
Cobaw Ridge
Lagrein 2021
Macedon Ranges -
Eldorado Road
Riserva Nero d'Avola 2021
Beechworth -
Emilian
Yarra Valley L'assemblage Rouge 2022
Yarra Valley -
Frankland Estate
Isolation Ridge Vineyard Mourvèdre 2021
Frankland River -
Giaconda
Nebbiolo 2019
Beechworth -
Hewitson
Barrel 1853 Shiraz Mourvèdre 2019
Barossa Valley -
Hewitson
Old Garden Vineyard Mourvèdre 2020
Barossa Valley -
John Duval Wines
Annexus Mataro 2021
Barossa Valley -
Mayer
Nebbiolo 2022
Yarra Valley -
Mayford Wines
Porepunkah Tempranillo 2021
Alpine Valleys -
Mitolo Wines
Masso Montepulciano 2021
McLaren Vale -
Mordrelle Wines
Basket Press Barbera 2020
Langhorne Creek -
Mordrelle Wines
Basket Press Tempranillo 2021
Langhorne Creek -
Neldner Road
Kleinig Mataro 2017
Barossa Valley -
Pipan Steel
IX Alpine Valleys Nebbiolo 2018
Alpine Valleys -
Pizzini
Coronamento Nebbiolo 2018
King Valley -
Seppeltsfield
No. EC3 Tinta Cão Tinta Amarela Touriga 2021
Barossa -
Sinapius
Esmé 2021
Tasmania -
Swinney
Farvie Mourvèdre 2021
Frankland River -
The Lane Vineyard
Heritage Shiraz Viognier 2020
Adelaide Hills -
Thomas St Vincent
Blewitt Springs Provencale Rouge 2020
Fleurieu -
Thousand Candles
Gathering Field Shiraz Malbec 2021
Yarra Valley -
Yarra Yering
Dry Red Wine No. 2 2021
Yarra Valley -
Yarra Yering
Light Dry Red Pinot Shiraz 2022
Yarra Valley
*This is an edited extract from the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Jane Faulkner, James Halliday, Erin Larkin, Tony Love, Ned Goodwin MW, Jeni Port and chief editor Tyson Stelzer.
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