Casa Freschi – 5 star winery

La Signorina 2015 – The tightly spaced vineyard (8000 vines/ha) is made up of riesling, gewurztraminer, chardonnay and pinot gris, a figurative look back 1000+ years to when tight planting and field blends were normal. Riesling and gewurztraminer rule the roost here, giving the wine a strongly textured and flavoured array of lemon juice and zest. Screwcap. 13%alc Rating 95 To 2028 $32 Special value

Nebbiolo 2016 – This is from the 17yr old plantings at vintage. 30 months in used French oak puncheons. Announces the variety immediately on the bouquet with aromas of rose petal, warm red earth and roasted nuts. Flavours of sour cherry and cranberry gently saturate the palate, and then authentically grippy tannins take over to prolong the finish in convincing style. Cork. 13.5%alc Rating 95 To 2032 $55

Ragazzi Pinot Grigio 2018 – 26% barrel fermentation (7%mlf) and 8 months on lees has invested the wine with the complexity one might expect from a gris but not a grigio. Regardless, the result is a high quality wine with a smoky, tangy set of flavours finishing with citrus on the clean, fresh aftertaste. Screwcap. 12%alc Rating 94 To 2020 $28 Special value

Malbec 2016 – Vines planted in ’72 with ‘ancient’ (obviously successful) clones, an enviable resource for winemaker David Freschi who has combined complexity with drinkability here. There’s red and black berries, dark chocolate, coffee and dried herb to be found as you smell and taste, the flavours filling the palate and velvety tannin guiding it to the finish. Delicious. Cork. 14%alc Rating 94 To 2028 $55