Adelaide Hills value: the best wines to buy
While many wines from South Australia's Adelaide Hills, particularly from more boutique producers, still haven't made it to the UK or US, those that have can offer great value. From his comprehensive tasting of 187 wines across the region, David Sly selects the 35 best pocket-friendly buys.
COMING SOON
Individual analysis of the Adelaide Hills by grape variety:
Chardonnay | Sauvignon Blanc | Shiraz | Pinot Noir | Sparkling | Alternative varieties
For a region still exploring its strengths, there’s modesty among Adelaide Hills producers – which means there’s also value in many of their wines.
For example, Bird in Hand’s Syrah 2018 – not to be confused with the Shiraz – is available in the UK at below £18. The full range of wines is available through a UK-based Bird in Hand online shop, and there is some distribution in the US. And Shaw + Smith (in the US and via Liberty Wines in the UK) offers incredible value in its Sauvignon Blanc, M3 Chardonnay and Shiraz – each from less than £25.
Sadly, there’s no presence in either the UK or the US for Simon Tolley, Saint & Scholar, Tomich or Chain of Ponds winemaker Greg Clack’s private label XO Wines Co. These exciting new faces are building a reputation in Australia by creating wines that punch far above their weight for the price.
QUICK LINKS
Adelaide Hills overview and top-scoring wines from 187 tasted, including these 98-point wines:
Daosa, Natural Reserve, 3rd Release | Murdoch Hill, The Rocket Chardonnay 2020 | Tapanappa, Tiers Chardonnay 2019 | BK Wines, Gower Pinot Noir 2020 | Michael Hall, Syrah 2018 | Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard, S&G Shiraz 2018 | Shaw + Smith, Shiraz 2019
Several brands producing many tiers of wines offer superb quality at their entry level – especially Sidewood Estate (imported into the UK by Davy’s) and winemaker Elena Brooks’ Dandelion Vineyards (Liberty Wines). Both brands also have good distribution in the US.
There are some impressive young guns garnering much media attention Down Under, yet their wines remain a solid step down the pricing ladder from established brands earning equivalent judges’ points. For instance, Murdoch Hill’s Pinot Noir 2020 is less than £25 in the UK (via Graft Wine Co); the awarded winery also has a US presence.
Beyond the classic grapes, Mediterranean varieties have prices to entice wine lovers to take a punt on unfamiliar wine styles – yet many of these are emerging superstars in the Adelaide Hills.
The esoteric collection from Unico Zelo (imported into the US and by Berkmann Wine Cellars in the UK) offers great-value rewards, and here’s hoping the wines from La Línea, Artwine and the sweeping range of Geoff Hardy’s K1 and Handcrafted brands soon find deserved shelf space outside Australia, too.
Adelaide Hills value: the best buys
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Croser, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2017
Like freshly starched cuffs, this has a stiff formality to its ramrod straight profile. Firm green apple gives a razor-sharp edge, it’s acid spine snapped...
2017
CroserAdelaide Hills
Unico Zelo, Harvest Blanc de Blancs NV, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
This is Chardonnay broadcast in low-fi: sharp and driven by a bold acid line, with a slightly rancio edge to the lean pink grapefruit and...
Unico ZeloAdelaide Hills
Tomich, T NV, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
Pinot Noir dominates over Chardonnay, with wild strawberry lift within the green apple crispness. But it's how the palate carries its weight that grabs the...
TomichAdelaide Hills
Deviation Road, Altair Rosé Brut NV, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
An elegant but serious rosé with Pinot Noir adding structure and Chardonnay the vibrancy. Wild strawberry sharpness leads in light cherry and melon, while solid...
Deviation RoadAdelaide Hills
Shaw & Smith, Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
The gorgeous, seductive nose is so complex – blossom, vegetal, fleshy, mineral, forest – that it’s a challenge to figure out exactly how so many...
2019
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
Shaw & Smith, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Astonishing consistency defines this wine, hitting a benchmark of high quality that defies vintage variance, yet it never threatens to become either bland or complacent....
2020
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
Sidewood Estate, Mappinga Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Smooth, elegant and sophisticated from the moment it sweeps into the room. There’s a lovely evenness of flavour defined by fragile white peach, a lick...
2018
Sidewood EstateAdelaide Hills
The Other Wine Co, Pinot Gris, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Australia has been clumsy with many interpretations of Pinot Gris but this is a proud, elegant example, with a faint rosy blush and pronounced hips....
2020
The Other Wine CoAdelaide Hills
Artwine, The Real Thing Albariño, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
The sharp, alluring nose grabs your attention immediately. Fleshy and lively, lime and stonefruit flavours dance together, with mineral complexity framing the picture, drawing out...
2019
ArtwineAdelaide Hills
Hahndorf Hill, Gru Grüner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Light, bright aromas of lemon blossom and mandarin peel. Then it’s long, slender and elegant on the palate, like a flowing chiffon gown, with a...
2020
Hahndorf HillAdelaide Hills
Lobethal Road, Roussanne, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Roussanne is a rarity in the Hills, though the seductive qualities of this example begs the question why more white Rhône grapes aren’t planted more....
2020
Lobethal RoadAdelaide Hills
Shaw & Smith, M3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Savoury notes take the lead in a striking tenor voice. Lacks the feistiness of previous vintages, but 2020 was hardly kind in the Hills. Clean,...
2020
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
Sidewood Estate, Fumé Blanc, Mappinga, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Fermented in barrel for eight months with 30% new oak, this has a measure of stately pride in its taut frame. There’s a lot swirling...
2019
Sidewood EstateAdelaide Hills
The Lane, Gathering Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Extra weight from a dash of Semillon makes the flavours fill the broad mid-palate with a rich, textural roll, yet this wine still remains supple....
2019
The LaneAdelaide Hills
Simon Tolley, Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Bold, grassy herbaceous aromas. A sharp entry eases into a well-integrated, even palate with the right balance of both fleshy and tart citrus fruit, although...
2020
Simon TolleyAdelaide Hills
Tomich, Woodside Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Slim and toned, this shows lean fruit inside a snug but not obtrusive oak vest. Honeydew melon rolls with a lick of grapefruit. The clean...
2018
TomichAdelaide Hills
Paracombe, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
A full, high-toned nose but not weighty on the palate. While smooth, modern and slender it feels a little lean and lacking in some generosity...
2019
ParacombeAdelaide Hills
Handcrafted by Geoff Hardy, Grüner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Sweetness envelops the nose and frames a chunky palate that seems to carry its alcohol weight clumsily for a mid-weight wine. It’s only in the...
2020
Handcrafted by Geoff HardyAdelaide Hills
Shaw & Smith, Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Beware the siren with the ruby-red lips. In a smoky room, here she strides – confident, cool, arresting. Slender, stalky cherry and a smear of...
2019
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
Bird In Hand, Syrah, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
The heady perfume is elegant: blueberry muffin, wild sage, a whiff of liquorice. The flavours are equally seductive: firm black fruits and sharp cherry, laced...
2018
Bird In HandAdelaide Hills
La Linea, Tempranillo, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
An exciting, fresh interpretation of Tempranillo, with bright, lively berries and appropriately feisty spice joining in a lively dance on the front palate. But it’s...
2018
La LineaAdelaide Hills
Anvers, Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
When Cabernet Sauvignon in cooler, elevated Adelaide Hills sites gets fully ripe, the results are beguiling, and the long 2018 vintage provided ideal conditions. Restrained...
2018
AnversAdelaide Hills
Murdoch Hill, Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Control and restraint, line and length through the beautiful cherry brightness. It achieves lovely balance, and great persistence through sustained flavours, and with time should...
2020
Murdoch HillAdelaide Hills
Unico Zelo, Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
Expressive, juicy and powerful, with punchy, lifted aromas of raspberry, liquorice and winegum sweets. Its fresh, lively acidity and light palate weight belies significant concentration...
2020
Unico ZeloAdelaide Hills
Dandelion Vineyards, Pride of the Fleurieu Cabernet Sauvignon, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, Australia, 2018
93
This terrific-value estate Cabernet sings with vibrant blackcurrant and liquorice, backed by orange-raspberry acidity and chalky tannins. Wears its 18 months of oak beautifully.
2018
Dandelion VineyardsFleurieu Peninsula
Lobethal Road, Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
On the nose, a sprinkle of fine white pepper enhances the ruby red fruits. Being lean and nimble on the palate, the flavours dance across...
2018
Lobethal RoadAdelaide Hills
Paracombe, The Reuben, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2015
Superbly smooth, with Merlot doing most of the work to drive a rich silky palate, the Cabernet Sauvignon bringing firm, tannic grip and perfume, aided...
2015
ParacombeAdelaide Hills
Saint & Scholar, Saving Grace Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2018
There's power here but there’s also nimble spice and lively purple-berried fruit. A lick of tarry tannins and something more surly and serious offsets that...
2018
Saint & ScholarAdelaide Hills
Simon Tolley, Syrah, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Lifted violet on the nose shows the influence of whole-bunch fruit. It’s a portrait of blueberry freshness with a hint of fennel lurking beneath –...
2019
Simon TolleyAdelaide Hills
d'Arenberg, The Feral Fox Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Angular on both nose and palate, with tangy blackberry and bramble fruit that is a bit lean and mean at present, with the volume turned...
2019
d'ArenbergAdelaide Hills
Heirloom, Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
The nose brings the Pinot funk: mushroomy forest floor over rich black and red cherry fruit. The slender, pretty palate has swirling pastel shades of...
2019
HeirloomAdelaide Hills
Sidewood Estate, Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Aromas of plum, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and elegant spice lead to a generous but nimble palate of white pepper, leather and forest berries. Rich and...
2019
Sidewood EstateAdelaide Hills
The Lane, Block 5 Shiraz, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
With a loud plum and violet perfume, this has all the marks of carbonic maceration yet without the generous fruitgum flavours to follow. Lean and...
2019
The LaneAdelaide Hills
Tomich, Woodside Vineyard Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2019
Dark, intense black-fruited nose leads to a surprisingly sweet raspberry palate. Rich and powerful in weight, it's rather blockish through the mid-palate, but what it...
2019
TomichAdelaide Hills
XO Wine Co, Small Batch Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2020
A side project of Chain of Ponds’ Greg and Kate Clack, the fruit sourced from Kuitpo in the southern Adelaide Hills. Pretty nose, but a...
2020
XO Wine CoAdelaide Hills
