Amid a flourish of high-priced McLaren Vale Shiraz on this site in recent weeks, it’s a pleasure to highlight a red that drinks well and is available in retail land for $20-$25. It reads well, too – sourced from the Malpas Road Vineyard and matured for 15 months in oak. Sweet red licorice and grape Hubba Bubba flavours on the nose, and then black/red fruit pastilles drive the palate before thickish oak tannins finish. Glossy, but kinda hearty too, this is $27 well spent.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: now and for a decade
• Score (out of 20): 17.5
• Score (out of 100): 91
• Alcohol %: 14.5
• RRP (in $AUD): 28
• Winery website: https://pennyshill.com.au/
• Would I buy it?: worth it