Reliability, affordability, accessibility. There are vast numbers of people who look for a tasty, consistent, affordable drop in their wine choices, and today’s selection introduces just that in the form of two companies who excel in producing large volumes of wine at price points that won’t break the bank. These are not wines to intellectualise over, but bottles destined to be opened and shared with abandon. Available across the land in every supermarket and most Bottle O’s, often cheaper on promo, you could say that they democratise wine. Cheers to that. NV Brown Brothers King Valley Prosecco Price RRP $16.99 or 4 x 200ml pack $20.99 Rating Excellent Fresh & bright, peach, white flowers, a touch of nuttiness. A burst of fruit in the mouth, fruit sweet yet nicely crisp and dry on the close. Touches of stonefruit, a wisp of orange/ mandarin peel adds an engaging counterpoint to the fruit sweetness, with good mousse. Really hits the refreshment factor. The nose and palate open out with air, great bang for buck here. www.brownbrothers.com.au NV Jacob’s Creek Reserve Prosecco Price RRP $15.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Perfumed, hints of musk, shifting to nuttiness and pear as it takes on air. The fruit bursts out of the glass, stonefruits setting the pace with gum and an underlying sense of coolness. Softer mousse with the nutty nuances carrying through to the palate with time. I could see "evaporation" happening quickly here as this is very easy drinking. www.jacobscreek.com NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Price $13.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Musk overlaid on a lightly honeyed aspect, perfume, flower petal. A whisper more fruit sweetness here, apple, stonefruits, a touch of honey and a grapey quality. With aeration, pea pod, chopped herb & grassiness reveals itself, a waft of baguette/breadiness also on the palate. Typical Sav Blanc zestiness more evident with time, giving nice freshness. www.jacobscreek.com NV Brown Brothers Prosecco Rosé Price RRP $16.99 or 4 x 200ml pack $20.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent A bowl of red berries, strawberries and cream, flirts with a savoury nuance alongside bready/ yeasty notes, fleshing out nicely in the glass. The palate offers some hard candy notes giving a perception of light sweetness but there’s excellent zestiness that keeps it nicely balanced. A light touch of sweetness mid-palate but closes dry. www.brownbrothers.com.au NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Price RRP $13.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Freshly cut grapes, perfume, honey, a wisp of rose petal. The palate continues the journey, and just what you’d expect of the variety. Fresh grapes with a smear of honey and they’ve got the balance right. The grape and honey notes linger in the mouth, good flavour depth, closing crisp & bright. Well made and would be a lovely gateway for people getting into wine. www.jacobscreek.com 2022 Brown Brothers Light & Refreshing Moscato Price RRP $16.99 or 4×200ml pack $20.99 Rating Very Good Fruit cordial, grapiness, a schisty note, dry honey coming through. Brimming with flavour though the sweetness is very evident, sweet & grapey. They’ve retained the natural grape sugars here: this is a low 5.5% alc; a great option for those looking for a lower alc drink. Soft and supple, intensely sweet and honeyed and will charm those that revel in sweetness. www.brownbrothers.com.au
