Sister's Run Epiphany Shiraz 2022, Fleurieu Peninsula, Mclaren Vale South Australia, Australia: Sister's Run Epiphany 2022 Shiraz, crafted by Elena Brooks and vineyard manager Anthony John Parkinson, delivers remarkable value at $18. This vintage showcases lavish layers of ripe dark berries, cocoa, baking spices, and toasted oak, offering a rich and sumptuous palate with impressive depth. Bold yet smooth, it pairs beautifully with grilled lamb chops or a hearty beef stew. Grapes were sourced from the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu wine regions in South Australia. Enjoy now or cellar until 2036. Drink: 2025-2028. 269464 14% XD 750 mL  $18.00 Score: 93/100. February 21, 2026 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Sidewood Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia: Sidewood Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills is a dry, medium-bodied wine crafted from sustainably grown grapes in a cool vintage, revealing engaging green apple, honeydew and savoury herbal notes with tropical fruits of guava and papaya, feijoa, grapefruit zest and garden herbs of cilantro and basil on the mouth-wateringly long finish. Serve it chilled with grilled prawns with herb butter, where the wine's excellent purity and intensity complement the sweet shellfish while its herbal notes echo the fresh aromatics, or pair it with pan-seared snapper with mango salsa as the wine's tropical fruit character harmonizes with the fruit while its zesty acidity cuts through the richness. Winemaker Darryl Catlin oversees production at Sidewood Estate, a family-owned winery in the cool-climate Adelaide Hills that has been crafting expressive wines since 2004 from sustainably farmed vineyards at 450 meters elevation where temperature variations create wines of exceptional intensity and purity. This amazing, juicy Sauvignon Blanc earned recognition at the 2024 Cairns Show Wine Awards and represents great value at under twenty dollars, drinking beautifully through 2029. Drink: 2025-2027. 518357 12.80% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 92/100. December 6, 2025 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review

Farmer's Leap Random Shot Shiraz 2023, Padthaway, South Australia, Australia: Farmer's Leap Random Shot is a medium-plus-bodied Shiraz from Padthaway, South Australia, with a firm weight and dry profile, best served at room temperature. Winemaker Farmer's Leap highlights ripe mulberry, cassis, and purple fruit flavours, accented by cocoa, sandalwood, peppery spice, violet, and a hint of eucalyptus, creating a fresh and generous palate. At 14.5% alcohol, it can age gracefully through 2030, developing more depth and complexity. Pair it with roast beef to bring out its bold fruit, or grilled lamb chops to complement its spice and herbal notes. This wine showcases Padthaway Shiraz with approachable richness and a long, vibrant finish. Drink: 2025-2030. 33368 14.50% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 95/100. December 6, 2025 Best Value Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Santa Maria Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2021, Veneto D.O.C., Italy: Santa Maria Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore from Veneto is a dry, medium to full-bodied wine crafted using the traditional Ripasso technique where the wine is re-fermented on dried Amarone grape skins, revealing a beguiling blend of mulled tangerine, morello cherries and allspice with a saturation of ripe forest berry fruits that is silken in feel. Serve it at room temperature with grilled lamb chops with rosemary, where the wine's gently tannic structure and wild berry fruit complement the tender, herb-crusted meat, or pair it with baked ziti with Italian sausage as the wine's slight bitter edge and textured mouthfeel harmonize with the rich tomato sauce and savoury sausage. Winemaker Pietro Zardini oversees production at Santa Maria, a family estate in the heart of Valpolicella Classico that has been crafting traditional Veronese wines for generations using time-honored methods including the Ripasso technique that adds depth and complexity to the wine. This darkly floral wine has a hint of citrus that adds gravitas and can be enjoyed from 2026 through 2031 as its layers continue to evolve. Drink: 2026-2031. 47033 15% XD 750 mL  $23.95 Score: 92/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review

Clos Henri Estate Pinot Noir 2022, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Clos Henri Petit Clos is a dry, medium-bodied Pinot Noir with a juicy weight and elegant structure. Organically and biodynamically farmed in Marlborough by the Bourgeois family, the wine showcases red and purple berry flavours with subtle loamy and forest floor notes, complemented by gentle toast influence. Pair it with roast turkey for a classic holiday meal, or grilled veal chops for a simple, savoury pairing. The estate's commitment to sustainable farming reflects its careful attention to terroir and vineyard health. Enjoy this wine now or cellar for a few years to enhance its complexity. Drink: 2025-2030. 19621 13.50% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 94/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Spoke Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Awatere, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Spoke Awatere Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is a dry, medium-bodied white wine revealing a pristine, fabulously lifted bouquet of crisp pear, lemon verbena, Meyer lemon and subtle stone fruit aromas, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that's energetic, zesty and intensely expressed. Serve it chilled with grilled snapper with lime and cilantro, where the wine's Meyer lemon and lemon verbena notes echo the fresh aromatics while its energetic acidity complements the delicate fish, or pair it with fresh goat cheese and arugula salad as the wine's upfront expression and zesty character cut through the tangy cheese while harmonizing with the peppery greens. Winemaker Jen Parr oversees production at Spoke, a Marlborough estate that sources fruit from the cooler, windswept Awatere Valley where stony soils and intense sunshine create Sauvignon Blancs with exceptional intensity and lifted aromatics. This wine offers excellent drinking and can be enjoyed now through 2028. Drink: 2025-2028. 41799 13.20% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 93/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated White Wine. Splendid Salad Wine Full Review