Good value, consistent Margaret River Cab?

[JakeBarnes]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a good QPR Margaret Rice can I could potential all buy year in year out. My approach to wine is to find producers I like from different regions and stick with them (this doesn’t mean I only buy from those producers, but they may up a disproportionate part of my cellar). My go-tos are Tyrrells for the Hunter, Hoddles Creek for Yarra, Wendouree for Clare, Rockford for Barossa and Marius for Mclaren Vale. I’d love to find a Margaret River Cab to add to the list but the ones I’m aware of are either too expensive (a la Cullen) to buy a lot of or seem to be of inconsistent quality, based on TWF reviews and the like. Does anyone have any tips? Thanks in advance

Btw when I say I’m looking for a good QPR wine I’m thinking more of a “95 point” wine around $40-50 than a “91 point” $20 wine, if you know what I mean

[Dragzworthy]

Woodlands Margaret is the obvious one to me. It’s $52 online so slightly above your range but you can probably find it cheaper I’m guessing...elswise their standard Cabernet Merlot blend (if allowed?) is also delicious and sub $40 to boot. Outside this maybe Cape Mentelle...?

[JakeBarnes]

Woodlands Margaret is the obvious one to me. It’s $52 online so slightly above your range but you can probably find it cheaper I’m guessing...elswise their standard Cabernet Merlot blend (if allowed?) is also delicious and sub $40 to boot. Outside this maybe Cape Mentelle...?

Perfect! I just looked up some reviews for the Margaret, I don’t know how I’d missed that one but it sounds like it’s the goods! Thanks very much, I’ll get some.

[Ozzie W]

For QPR, hard to beat Blue Poles.

[Hunter]

Fraser gallop has potential

[Waiters Friend]

Fraser gallop has potential

I'd second the Fraser Gallop Parterre. Sub $40 and I've been buying it since 2011.

[felixp21]

be careful with the Woodlands Cab-merlot. It is a beautiful wine in it's youth, and super value at around $30. However, we cracked a case (screwcap and perfectly cellared since release) of the 2012 for a mate's birthday do last week, and the wine had descended into an absolute blithering mess. Certainly a wine to drink within two years of release.

[rens]

Margaret and the Fraser Gallop were the two that popped into my mind when I saw the title of the tread.

[Bobthebuilder]

Agree that woodlands is the text book perfect example of what your looking for
The Margaret is a fantastic wine and great VFM, but so is the entry level cab sav, even more so arguably when it comes to VFM
I reckon in 10-20 years many of the entry level cab sav will be drinking better than many reputable wines double or triple the price on release.

[Willard]

I agree with Woodlands and Fraser Gallop. I also agree with Ozzie, you should try Blue Poles, though they don’t make a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Juniper Estate another one to consider, often released with an extra year or two of age, and looking strong in the cellar so far based on the vintages I’ve got (07-11).

[Ian S]

Woodlands Margaret and Juniper were the two I was going to suggest as well, and the latter certainly does seem to age gracefully. There are more interesting wines out there (for more money), but if looking for good qpr these make a strong case. I've still yet to try the Fraser Gallop, despite it being on my horizon for a decade or so.

It's a while since I tasted one, but Thompson Estate was another that was offering good qpr from what I tasted not so long after they started up.

[Mark Carrington]

Another Woodlands nomination.

[michel]

Woodlands Margaret is the obvious one to me. It’s $52 online so slightly above your range but you can probably find it cheaper I’m guessing...elswise their standard Cabernet Merlot blend (if allowed?) is also delicious and sub $40 to boot. Outside this maybe Cape Mentelle...?

I also was thinking the entry level Woodlands
nice than the Leeuwin Prelude for me

[michel]

I agree with Woodlands and Fraser Gallop. I also agree with Ozzie, you should try Blue Poles, though they don’t make a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Juniper Estate another one to consider, often released with an extra year or two of age, and looking strong in the cellar so far based on the vintages I’ve got (07-11).

The Fraser Gallop chardy is also terrific value

[JakeBarnes]

Thanks everyone, Some great suggestions in there. I’ll give them all a crack and see what takes my fancy. Much appreciate

[dave vino]

In addition the suggestions above Vasse Felix, Flametree and Voyager all offer good solid options year in, year out.

[Ian S]

Yep, I remember a cellar door only reserve Cab from Voyager that was mightily impressive. Did see it listed once in a shop over here, but long gone by the time I enquired.

[Gary W]

Rosily.

[Michael McNally]

Rosily.

Verbose.

+1 My note on the 2012
24/01/2017 This is a lovely Margaret River Cabernet. Medium almost full-bodied with a little air this displays nice cassis and plum fruit and after a couple of hours quite a long finish. Won't have my next one for a couple of years.

Cheers

Michael

[Rossco]

I have been enjoying Deep Woods lately.

Their Hillside Cab Is good, but their Estate Reserve is excellent (Circa $60 though, so just over your range)

[Matt]

Brown Hill Ivanhoe $24 - the best value cab in the region.

[rens]

Rosily.

Verbose.

These wine critics always waxing lyrical and never getting to the point.

[cleanskinlover]

I agree with Woodlands and Fraser Gallop. I also agree with Ozzie, you should try Blue Poles, though they don’t make a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Juniper Estate another one to consider, often released with an extra year or two of age, and looking strong in the cellar so far based on the vintages I’ve got (07-11).

The Fraser Gallop chardy is also terrific value

Juniper is quality Cab and massively over delivers. 7th oldest planting if I recall.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Interesting to see the recommendations for Fraser Gallop. It's a winery I hadn't really heard of until I saw a few bottles of the regular chardonnay and cabernet-merlot on sale last year. Given that the red was about $20 a bottle, it seems I may have missed out on a good QPR.

Mahmoud.

[Hunter]

There bordeaux blend can be had for $30
Beautiful winery

[Willard]

SSB good too, hard to find better MR at same price point, though I don’t think I’ve tried the last vintage or maybe two. Nice packaging too, looks good on the table.