Welcome to our new blog and case series - Good, Better, Next.

At Reserve Wines we're always excited to discover new wines. There are just so many to try and we're regularly tasting to uncover brilliant wineries to introduce you to. We've spent the last year suggesting alternative wines to popular grape varieties and styles that we think you'd love, hoping it would help you 'find your new favourite'.After all, there was a time before we'd all tried Malbec and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Now as we look ahead, we recognise the need to shift that focus a little and give a spotlight to the wines that have proven to be our most enduring and popular. We aim to celebrate the heroes of our range and pair them with wines that help put them into context and elevate them to show off their star appeal.

With these cases we'll be taking a look at some of our best selling wines (that you already know are good) and answering the question: what should I drink if I like this, but want something better? And what should I try next?

Here we've paired together the tasty reds Baglio U... Passimiento & One Chain 'The Wrong 'Un' Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon and given them the Good, Better, Next treatment. 

Good: Baglio Gibelina, U... Passimiento 2020

It had to start with the runaway bestseller that is U... Passimiento. It is a gorgeous red that quickly wins over everyone who tries it. Bright intense red fruit on the nose displaying lots of sweet cherry and berry fruit. The palate is warm and full-bodied with harmonious acidity and smooth and elegant tannins. The grapes for this wines were dried on the vines to concentrate their flavours. It's the secret to this wine's satisfyingly sweet and expressive fruit.

Better: Lirica, Primitivo di Manduria 2019

This wine is also from the south of Italy and uses the Primitivo grape. This has lots of the same sweet dark fruit character as the Baglio. You get a pure nose of ripe dark fruits, cherry, plum and sweet spices like ginger and aniseed, supported with discreet oak. The palate is round and textured with a well-balanced freshness, ending with a long and broad spicy finish. Really satisfying and moreish.

Next: Avalon, Zinfandel 2019

This is a direct move on from the Primitivo as it's actually the same grape variety. Again you'll be greeted by plenty of dark berry and spicy notes as they entice the nose, while sweet ripe plum, blackberry and a touch of blueberry flavours entertain the taste buds. Juicy and structured, this is well-balanced and has a long, velvety finish.

This is available as a 3 bottle set or paired together with the selection below as a 6 bottle case with an extra little discount. SHOP HERE >

Good: One Chain 'The wrong' Un', Shiraz Cabernet 2020

This Wrong 'Un has been the right one for many of you for years. It's a no-nonsense fruit bomb that hits with a straight bat, delivering a rich, well balanced example of the Aussie classic blend. Lush black fruits coupled with touches of woodspice, liquorice and cassis follow through to a delicious, velvety finish. This wine is consistently good from vintage to vintage.

Better: Mitolo, Jester Shiraz 2019

If you're looking to go better, then go bigger. This Aussie Shiraz is an absolute delight and ups the concentration of the bright, lifted and aromatic blackberry, raspberry and mint chocolate character. It's got a luscious rolling texture packed with fresh blackberry and plum, dark chocolate, liquorice and a hint of white pepper spice.

Next: Amie Rouge Carignan 2020

So you've explored the world of Shiraz, where do you go next? This wine from the south of France uses the Carignan grape to deliver a similarly fruit forward and plush style. It is a well-rounded and slightly more elegant red wine produced from vines that are over 30 years old, that deliver a soft and very approachable palate with blackberry and plum fruit flavours. This has been a big hit in our shops already. Lovely stuff.

This is available as a 3 bottle set or paired together with the selection above as a 6 bottle case with an extra little discount. SHOP HERE >

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As we're in summer, we couldn't resist adding a white selection to the mix too. Here we've grouped together the tasty whites Kono Sauvignon Blanc and False Bay, 'Slow' Chenin Blanc and given them the Good, Better Next treatment too.

Good: Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2021

This pure and bright Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a newer arrival to our range but of course, has already been a big hit with you. It has a vibrant fruit-driven nose bursting with citrus fruits and herbaceous characters. On the palate luscious flavours of lemon zest and guava combine with notes of currant leaf and fresh bell pepper. Delivering everything you want from a juicy NZ Sauv Blanc.

Better: Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2021

This wine is a step up from the Kono as its fruit is sourced from a smaller vineyard area and is carefully hand-selected to ensure the quality and concentration. It has bold aromas of passionfruit and citrus zest with notes of fresh herbs and green pepper. The concentrated palate is layered with flavours of sweet tropical fruit, bright lemon and lime, and crunchy green apple. With a zesty minerality this wine leads to a pure, lively and focused dry finish that has both freshness and length. Really fabulous stuff.

Next: Follas Novas Albarino 2021

Albarino from Rias Baixas in Spain shares the same zippy citrus peel and lively acidity that you’ll find in NZ SB. A refreshing, crisp dry white that’s an ideal pairing with seafood - the speciality in Galicia is octopus grilled and sprinkled with paprika.

This is available as a 3 bottle set or paired together with the selection below as a 6 bottle case with an extra little discount. SHOP HERE >

Good: False Bay, 'Slow' Chenin Blanc

We love the wines made by Nadia Barnard. Her False Bay Chenin shows you can get refreshing wine with a subtle savoury complexity at an affordable price. Wild yeast fermentation is key to this benchmark Chenin Blanc. The long wild yeast ferment provides bready aromas and additional complexity to the wine. There's melon and pear fruit and a touch of tropical mango and lime on the palate, followed by a creamy lemon character and a herbaceous edge. This is great with herby roast chicken.

Better: Waterkloof, Circumstance Chenin Blanc 2020

This wine is made by the same team as the False bay, produced from low-yielding, bush vines near to the coast which allows the grapes to ripen slowly giving them better concentration and natural acidity. The nose has notes of Manuka honey and yellow pollen. The palate is soft and creamy with citrus and a wonderful textural minerality, waxy lanolin notes and honey. Lovely palate weight and Vouvray-like body supports further complexity and decadence. This is seriously classy stuff.

Next: Chateau Megyer Tokaji Dry Furmint

Here's a great alternative to Chenin Blanc. Furmint is the dominant variety in- Hungarian Tokaji and it shines here. Blended with a touch of Harslevelu and Yellow Muscat, it's full of zesty lemons and limes. It's super smooth with floral honeysuckle, crunchy green apples and ripe juicy pears with a crisp, clean finish.

This is available as a 3 bottle set or paired together with the selection above as a 6 bottle case with an extra little discount. SHOP HERE >

You can shop our full Good, Better, Next Collection HERE.