With Naked Wines, you sign up for a regular delivery. Naked Wines

Many readers ask whether Naked Wines are good value. There is no doubt many casual wine drinkers have little time or inclination to research wine and go on buying expeditions, and they find the idea of wine clubs appealing.

You sign up for a regular delivery, the box appears on the doorstep and the money is deducted from your credit card.

Very convenient. Someone else makes the decisions for you.

Naked Wines does things differently. It invites close involvement. You’re made to feel as though you’re doing something good for the struggling winemakers. You can even call yourself an Angel! You’re invited to build relationships with the people that squash the actual grapes.

Out of curiosity as much as anything, I signed up for the introductory dozen. I wanted to see what they would supply me as a common-or-garden subscriber.

A box arrived. My card was debited AUD $79.99. At an average of $6.66 per bottle, it surely had to be a good deal.

I tasted the 12 wines ‘blind’ over the next few weeks, each variety in company with similar wines for context. At that price, I wasn’t expecting too much.

Then my card was debited AUD $40, and when I inquired why, was told it was towards my Angel Membership. My card would be charged $40 a month going forward.

They said:

“As part of this (Angel) membership, $40 is deposited each month to build a wine credit for future orders. This allows you to enjoy 30–50% off retail prices, receive a free premium bottle every month (when ordering a full case), and gain exclusive access to limited wines and offers.”

When I said I wasn’t interested in becoming an Angel, they very reasonably offered to refund the $40 and discontinue whatever relationship we had.

It does seem that most, if not all, of Naked Wines’ bottles are their own exclusives, so it’s hard to see how they could claim 30-50% off retail prices—when those wines are not available in the retail trade.

Back to the intro dozen I bought. My notes are all published in The Real Review.

My impressions?

Mostly, the wines were simple, perfectly drinkable, and good value for money—after all what can you get for AUD $6.66 these days? The whites were light, some a little green, and some reds a bit rough—one or two of them a bit coarse and astringent. No-one should quibble about the price, though, and if this is typical of Naked Wines’ offerings, go for it.

I’d like to see what they offer at slightly higher prices.

And, I suppose, it’s not just about the wine, it’s also about the experience, the side-benefits, of being a member of the club.

These were the wines, in order of preference:

Brian Fletcher Signature Wines Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Very attractive floral, lemon pith and fresh herb aromatics. The wine is delicate and fresh, bright and intense in the mouth, with lively and balanced acidity. The finish is crisp, properly dry and refreshing. Very drinkable and avoids the greener nuances of Margaret River semillon. (89 points)

Jen Pfeiffer The Rebel Shiraz 2023

Deep, saturated purple colour; sweet plum and blackberry aromas, a whiff of blackcurrant pastille. Medium-full bodied and finishes with a firm grip that imparts a little bitterness. A heartier shiraz that would be best paired with solid protein. (87 points)

Wiley Rooster Hunter Valley Rosé 2024

Light salmon-pink with a faint tinge of purple; there are dried strawberry, dusty rose-petal aromas and a hint of cardboard lending a touch of savouriness, while the palate is light-bodied, very dry and lip-smacking thanks to well judged phenolics and balanced acidity. A good food-style rosé. (87 points)

Engine Room by Hamish Maguire The Mechanic Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Pungent ripe squishy mulberry and green bean aromas with a dark-chocolate background, and the palate flavours track this precisely, with medium body and moderate persistence. The tannins are supple and rounded. Straightforward but generous. (87 points)

Byron & Harold Companions Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2025

Grass, pea shoots and salad leaves to sniff. The wine is soft, open-knit, tending broad and short on the palate with low-key acidity but no obvious sweetness. A pleasant everyday drinking dry white. (87 points)

Rod Easthope Level 185 Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Very lifted, intense, bright aromas of cut capsicum, feijoa and green beans. Crisp and lively in the mouth, with bright and balanced acidity counterpointing barely perceptible sweetness. Clean finish that lingers on well. (87 points)

R. Paulazzo Shiraz 2023

Straightforward plummy, earthy aromas, fresh and simple. Light bodied with mild tannins. Oak is near enough to invisible, which suits the style. A light, easy-drinking shiraz which has acceptable length but most importantly, good balance and drinkability. Exactly what a lot of people would like a drink-now shiraz to be. (86 points)

Feet On The Ground Shiraz 2024

Aromas of raspberry, dried herbs including bayleaf, terracotta/dried earth, and the palate has plummy flavour and a dab of sweetness in the centre, then just enough tannin to dry and cleanse the finish. Straightforward and pleasant drinking. (86 points)

Boy Meets Girl Cabernet Merlot 2023

Bramble, leaf-litter, cedary aromas with a hint of eucalypt forest-floor. Bayleaf and green peppercorn. The wine is medium bodied at most and the tannins are mild and a trifle grippy. Increasingly gumleafy the longer it was in the glass. (85 points)

Wine x Sam The Butterfly Effect Chardonnay 2024

Shows some development as well as chopped parsley, dill and a trace of kerosene. There is some sweetness and the palate is broad and slightly chewy from its tannins. A basic chardonnay made to a price. (84 points)

R. Paulazzo La Bolle Cuvée Brut NV

Straw, cream and lightly muscaty aromas, youthful, simple and fresh. Some sweetness early, then dries toward the finish. Light and crisp, and quite appealing. A straightforward sparkler which has good vitality and refreshment. (84 points)

Santolin Boy Meets Girl Shiraz Cabernet 2022

The dominant aroma is of crushed gumleaf and there’s a little vanilla and chocolate, possibly from oak. The overall impression is of a eucalypt forest on a hot day. (84 points)