Wines by Johannes Zillinger Velue 2.0 Grüner Veltliner 2021

With a slightly shy nose, this wine has the distant scents of an open jar of pickled baby cucumbers in green peppercorn with dill herbs. The palate is thirst quenching and vibrant with a pulpiness reminiscent of a dry cloudy apple cider. It has so much energy. Fermented and matured in a mix of stainless steel, big barrels and amphora, it also sees some skin contact and battonage which gives complexity whilst remaining light on its feet. This is a summer wine with tons of savouriness and mouth watering acidity. The spiciness becomes more apparent as the wine evolves with some subtle hints of fennel seeds and thyme. The white pepper is in check, balanced by a joyous patchwork of stone fruits, with a splash of lime. Long finish, nuanced with salty tones, this would work so well with raw fish or roast asparagus with goat’s cheese.

Liinaa Berry

Liinaa Berry is a Melbourne-based wine critic and consultant with over a decade of experience as a sommelier and wine buyer across Australia and around the world where she has built award-winning wine programs and championed independent producers with conviction. Now focused on reviewing and writing, Liinaa brings a floor-trained palate and commercial insight to her assessments. She is also the Melbourne Ambassador for Star Wine List and serves on the committee of Sommeliers Australia. An advocate for site-driven wines and thoughtful farming, Liinaa is particularly drawn to producers who articulate a clear sense of place. Her tasting philosophy centres on structure, balance and context — always asking not just how a wine tastes, but why it matters.