AceHighWine

I enjoyed the last bottle I had of this so didn’t let the chance to taste Miceli’s newest wares pass me by. Brilliant translucent ruby hue in the glass that smells very feminine and decidedly New World rather than Old: a generous dollop of rose syrup with strawberry and other red berry fruits. But in spite of what these aromas promise, the wine’s tastes lean more towards the savoury rather than the sweet with pinot berry characters playing second fiddle to black coffee beans and earth on the tightly-wound but highly textured palate. The wine’s juiciness is accentuated by the fine, sandy tannins that flow freely throughout before finishing with a burst of succulence. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed this unobtrusive and restrained food drop with a dinner of braised sausages, though I’d love to see this again sometime over the next two years to see if this cute wallflower has opened up a little. 17.

No likes being out on their own at a blind tasting - but despite the rest of the panel’s indifference, I found the Pizzini Arneis to be one charming white: a darling drop and incredibly easy to like. It smells fresh and lively with aromas of apples and pears with a bright floral lift. If I had to pick a scent to describe a brisk morning in spring, this would be pretty close. As a drink, this is juicy, apple-y and succulent with a scrummy tart finish to boot. Certainly sitting on the lighter side of the fence, this would be the perfect drop to take along to a casual Sunday get-together with friends. And if there’s a spread of honest Mediterranean style cuisine on offer… well more’s the better. www.pizzini.com.au

Tasmania and its inhabitants are often the butts of many cruel jokes from us mainlanders – but when it comes to wine, Tasmania makes some seriously good stuff, particularly when you’re talking about the cool climate varieties. On the nose, this wine has a refreshing, lively lift with traces of citrus; a lot less yeastiness and breadiness than the Jansz vintage sparkling wine releases. This stylistic shift continues in the mouth with lots of lovely clean lemon and lemon flavours, pigeonholing this wine firmly in the “aperitif” category. An ideal start to any meal. www.jansz.com.au

A sparkling wine consisting solely of chardonnay (blanc is French for white, hence the name), this wine’s flavour profile is unabashedly chardonnay with lovely lemon, pear and apple flavours beautifully balanced by a smattering of gentle, fizzy acidity. Punctuated by a lovely, persistent finish, this is summer fun measured in exact 750ml doses. www.domainechandon.com.au