Sacred Hill Range

[Matt]

Hey all
I have read a a few comments talking up the sacred hill white wine range. From what i understand they are about $5 to $6 a bottle. Is it really worthwhile to grab a few for a cheap weeknight drink or are there others on the forum who disagree (i.e. think they are no good even for the price). If you are one of the ones who do think they are good bang for your buck and like the wine what would you say they are on par with?
Cheers

[daz]

Hey all
I have read a a few comments talking up the sacred hill white wine range. From what i understand they are about $5 to $6 a bottle. Is it really worthwhile to grab a few for a cheap weeknight drink or are there others on the forum who disagree (i.e. think they are no good even for the price). If you are one of the ones who do think they are good bang for your buck and like the wine what would you say they are on par with?
Cheers

I reckon the shiraz cab 08 would equal the last Koonunga Hill I had but that's some years ago, significantly better than Jacobs Creek shiraz cab 06 - had several dozen of it.
The chard 08 is the star of the range for me, think it the equal of, in a different style, the Ingoldby chard 08 that won a Trophy somewhere and is what I'm presently quaffing. Haven't tried the sem/chard, have done the ssb but I've gone off both varieties a bit, although the Tahbilk (no label) cleanskin dry white 08 includes both of those with chard and verdelho in the blend. It's serious value for $45/doz. I've had at least three dozen of it, am about to order another case if there's still any left - there was a "last stocks" call recently.

The only way to find out if you enjoy the de Bort Chapel Hill range is to try them yourself. I think rrp is about $8 but the grocers offer them at $5.50, cheaper than most of their "cleanskins", the couple of which I've tasted should permanently be $1.99 at most, the cost of the bottle perhaps.

Remember these are "drink now/soon" wines, they have a touch of complexity rarely found in the price range and are just enjoyable quaffers at the price, particularly the chard and shiraz/cab for mine. Halliday rated the 08 chard 89pts, Mattinson rated the 08 shiraz cab 85pts but his tn reads more like 87pts which is the rating Halliday gave it.

Cheers

daz

[Daniel Jess]

Hey all
I have read a a few comments talking up the sacred hill white wine range. From what i understand they are about $5 to $6 a bottle. Is it really worthwhile to grab a few for a cheap weeknight drink or are there others on the forum who disagree (i.e. think they are no good even for the price). If you are one of the ones who do think they are good bang for your buck and like the wine what would you say they are on par with?
Cheers

I tasted a few at a broad-range tasting earlier this month. Wasn't impressed. But, then again, in that price range in this country, I honestly only ever expect the wine to a) have an alcohol content and b) not have been opened by vicious monkeys. Anything beyond that and you should consider it an absolute bonus..

For $12 you can get yourself a decent Barossan mixed-vineyard shiraz or Margaret River s/sb.... for example, I tried Cool Woods 08 Shiraz this week, it was incredibly well produced.. and the rrp price was less than that!

[jeremy]

.

Hey all
I have read a a few comments talking up the sacred hill white wine range. From what i understand they are about $5 to $6 a bottle. Is it really worthwhile to grab a few for a cheap weeknight drink or are there others on the forum who disagree (i.e. think they are no good even for the price). If you are one of the ones who do think they are good bang for your buck and like the wine what would you say they are on par with?
Cheers

I tasted a few at a broad-range tasting earlier this month. Wasn't impressed. But, then again, in that price range in this country, I honestly only ever expect the wine to a) have an alcohol content and b) not have been opened by vicious monkeys. Anything beyond that and you should consider it an absolute bonus..

For $12 you can get yourself a decent Barossan mixed-vineyard shiraz or Margaret River s/sb.... for example, I tried Cool Woods 08 Shiraz this week, it was incredibly well produced.. and the rrp price was less than that!

I think Daniel is a little harsh. The wines are about $5-6 dollars. That's half the price of the alternatives he is offering. I rate the 2008 Sem/Sav and the 2008 Sem/Chardonnay. I've had 2 out of 3 reductive pongy 2008 Chardonnays so that's put me off. I use them as casual food wine and for cooking. They won't make you excited but they over achieve at $5-6 dollars. Yalumba Y series outdoes them for me, and recently those were on special for $5.50, but generally they are $8-10. Can't think of a wine under $10 that is exciting full stop.

ps- I don't buy the reds.

[Matt]

thanks yes im after a few 'drink nows' so not to put a big dent in my better 'weekend' stock (we have a long summer ahead!!)
im not a big fan of the straight out 'alcohol blast' so maybe i will just try a couple and see how i go.
thanks guys, cheers.

[Michael McNally]

I haven't tasted the Sacred Hill wines this year, but they certainly used to be reasonable wines for the price.

If the wines at this price don't have any obvious flaws like excess sugar/acid and have some recognisable varietal definition to them, I think that's great. I don't think they should be judged against other more expensive wines as they are not designed for that.

The best thing is that at the price you can definitely try before you buy!

cheers

Michael

[daz]

They make heaps of this, but the quality is always reliable. If you thought that a wine at this price couldn’t be much chop, you’d be wrong.

It’s berried, briary, sweet-flavoured through the middle and, while it’s not what you’d call a lengthy wine, it has a satisfying sense of persistence – I’ve tasted worse wines at thrice the price. Shop around and shop well.Sacred Hill has been a bargain for years and this release is a decent drink for sure.

Rated : 85 Points

PS Campbell's TN of the shiraz cab 08 from TWF - thanks for the heads-up Campbell

[rooman]

When I first read the title, I assumed you were discussing the Sacred Hill winery in NZ which exports to Australia. Now I am not so sure. Are you discussing the kiwi winery or De Bortoli?

[jeremy]

Pretty clear from reading the thread that it's De Borts.