Cab Sav for under $20

kwattro · Post by **kwattro** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:21 pm

Hi all,

I find shopping for CS in this price range a challenge simply because i don't know any better - everytime i try to look for CS, i ended up with Shiraz and now i think i'm overloaded with it - over 44% of my collection are Shiraz and CS is less than 10%

would you please recommend some label that is worth trying in this price range.

thanks
tt.

Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:24 pm

06, 07 Barwang
05 ,06 Brands Laira Blockers (if you look about)
Tahbilk
07 Catching Thieves.

There you go.
GW

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:13 pm

GW is on the money as usual.

I would add one more: if you dont mind stretching the budget just a little, Wynns Black Label Cab Sauv 2006 is well worth ~$22, actually I think I saw it on special for $19 the other day...

*edit*

Penley Estate Phoenix Cab 2006 is good value at $15, 07 vintage is out in some stores, yet to try it...

Shiraz Man · Post by **Shiraz Man** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:28 pm

Hi Kwattro,

Whilst I agree with some of the recommendations above (Barwang, Wynns Black Label, etc.) the issue is that Australia generally does shiraz far better than it does cabernet. There are two great regions for cabernet - Margaret River and Coonawarra. Shiraz does well in most places in Australia and has several standout regions - Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra, Bendigo, Heathcote, Grampians, Hunter Valley, and Great Southern.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:51 pm

Mildara Coonawarra cab can be found for $16-$20 when discounted. Zema Estate Coona cab is available for $22 from cellar door and can occasionally be found discounted to <$20 by retailers - haven't bought the current release 05 which hasn't been as well received as the 04. Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Quartage (cab blend) 06 is still available for about $18 on discount.

There are a whole lot of regions, subregions and wineries within them that can produce very good cab other than Margaret River and Coonawarra. The Yarra Valley and the Pyrenees in Vic can produce high quality cab in good years. Then there's Great Southern in WA. Even the Barossa, Clare and McLaren Vale can produce very good cabs from cooler vintages as well as the Limestone Coast and Langhorne Creek. One just has to trawl the critics sites and this one to be aware of the gooduns at the lower/mid price range.

Cheers

daz

Waiters Friend · Post by **Waiters Friend** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:04 am

G'day kwattro.

Gary and Daz are both right (I'm surprised Daz didn't get in first with the Tahbilk recommendation :lol:

).

Both the Mildara and Wynns Black Label can be had as low as $15 on a really good day.

Are you restricting yourself to straight cabernets, or blends? Langhorne Creek makes some good ones, and Clare Valley Cab Malbecs add a bit of interest in this price range. As Daz mentions, Great Southern WA has the goods, too, especially for blends.

Cheers

Allan

Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:33 am

Shiraz Man wrote:Hi Kwattro,

Whilst I agree with some of the recommendations above (Barwang, Wynns Black Label, etc.) the issue is that Australia generally does shiraz far better than it does cabernet. There are two great regions for cabernet - Margaret River and Coonawarra. Shiraz does well in most places in Australia and has several standout regions - Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra, Bendigo, Heathcote, Grampians, Hunter Valley, and Great Southern.

Beg to differ. Not 'far' better. Clare Valley Cabernet, generally (or at least to my tastes) is better than Shiraz, as is Bendigo. If they want Cabernet, then let them drink Cabernet! Not more bloody Shiraz. Yarra Valley also a great Cabernet region, as also the Barossa can be. Some McLaren Cabernet are better than or equal to Shiraz recently too. I'd also argue that Gt Southern produces more distinguished Cabernet than it does shiraz re: Howard Park, Jack Mann, Plantagenet, Alkoomi Blackbutt.

Rawshack · Post by **Rawshack** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:17 am

Penley Estate Phoenix. Great stuff, about $15-18 depending where you shop

Agree as well about the Tahbilk (I always forget if the H is before or after the B)

Had some good affordable CS from Bendigo as well, will have a look through my notes

Maroon&Blue · Post by **Maroon&Blue** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:35 am

Agree with Dazza....luv Pyreness style Cab Sauv, but the price range < $20 would be a problem.

My old reliable one has always been ZEMA & still got a good supply of 04, which I find usually good value & quality & satisfies your price range, if you shop arround. :wink:

Cheers

Ronaldo

Roscoe · Post by **Roscoe** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:37 am

In addition to the great suggestions by those above:
Consider Pepperjack 06, and Taylors 06 (if they are still about). I tried the Lake Breeze 06, and found the tannins and alcohol tough going- but it's not a bad wine. If you want something under $10, Warburn Premium Reserve Cab Merlot 06 was a good drop, but I haven't tried the 07 or ?08 yet.
If you want to try cheap Bordeaux, Ch Haut-Cabut 04 can be had for close to 20 and is a good wine (although is 70% Merlot).

Sharkey · Post by **Sharkey** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:37 am

Katnook Estate Founders Block - authentic Coonawarra cab that you can probably find for about $16. I think it is under $20 RRP.

Jim Barry Cover Drive - I think is a mixture of Clare and Coonawarra. I've had a couple of these that were not bad, and well under the $20.

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:17 am

Shiraz Man wrote:Hi Kwattro,

Whilst I agree with some of the recommendations above (Barwang, Wynns Black Label, etc.) the issue is that Australia generally does shiraz far better than it does cabernet. There are two great regions for cabernet - Margaret River and Coonawarra. Shiraz does well in most places in Australia and has several standout regions - Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra, Bendigo, Heathcote, Grampians, Hunter Valley, and Great Southern.

I am not convinced... everyone has their own tastes, recently mine have shifted away from Shiraz (outside of the Hunter of course) and toward Cabernet/Blends.

I would argue that McLaren Vale and Barossa Cabernet is just as good as (or better than) Shiraz much of the time.

ufo · Post by **ufo** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:38 am

As I indicated in one of the previous posts before, Saltram Namre brook CS is one of the best if not the best under $ 20 category. I would strongly recommend it.

Leigh · Post by **Leigh** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:23 pm

UFO, I agree with your comments. Saltram MB Cab Sav is bloody beautiful!.

Cheers
Leigh

kwattro · Post by **kwattro** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:44 pm

many thanks everyone, much appreciated.

Allan, yes i do enjoy some good cabernet blends from Lake Breeze (Bernoota), Shotfire Quartage, but yeah, this time around i'm more interested in straight CS.

Like some suggested, i should be more open minded about other regions outside coonawarra & MR.

time to create a wish list for funding approval i think

.

Cheers,
tt.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:34 pm

Rawshack wrote:Penley Estate Phoenix. Great stuff, about $15-18 depending where you shop

Agree as well about the Tahbilk (I always forget if the H is before or after the B)

Had some good affordable CS from Bendigo as well, will have a look through my notes

Just think, "Tah", thank you very much :wink:

Didn't mention Tahbilk coz......thank you, Allan :lol:

I know Penley Phoenix is generally well-regarded but the couple of vintages of it I've tried haven't impressed, perhaps I should it again if I can find an 04-06 on discount.

Mentioning Langhorne Creek, in this price range I had in mind Bleasdale Mulberry Tree that in good vintages can be very satisfying.

Taylors cab from recent vintages is almost a given, can be a bit in-your-face though.

Haven't tried the Estate cab from Forest Hill but would like to - it's $24 from CD so could possibly be found for around $20. I have a niggling feeling I've seen it somehwere for around that price but perhaps it was the chard.

Cheers

daz

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:37 pm

Agree on the Mamre Brook too.

JamieH · Post by **JamieH** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:53 pm

Pitching in for -
Turners Crossing Cab 2005 Bendigo
Reschke Vitulus 2004 (if you can find it, haven't tried the 2005)
Yering station cab 2005
Fraser Gallop cab 2005
grant burge cameron vale 2004/05
Kangarilla rd cab 2006
Heartland Cab 2006

enjoy your journey!!
Also giving the yes vote for Barwang, Brands, Phoniex (although i have issues with the alcohol content lately) and the last 3 vintages of Wynns (top job Sue Hodder).

jamie