The Auswine Forum

The thread on best shiraz under $15 got a good response with the Longhop getting a lot of thumbs up. Shame I can't get any here.

It got me wondering what your recommendations are for the best straight cabernet sauvignon under $15. I fancy a change from shiraz for my everyday drinking wine. I'm guessing there are fewer steals in the cab sauv market, but there must be something especially good lurking out there I've not heard of. If its available in NZ, that would be even better.

Mike Press 2005

2004/2005 Taylors Cabernet
Stonehaven Hidden Sea Cabernet
2005 Rosemount Diamond Label Cabernet

Haven't tried the current release so open to opinions but I'm enjoying the 01 Brookland Estate Verse 1 Cab Merlot a lot at the moment. Usually on sale around $12.99

the best straight cabernet sauvignon under $15

I vote for riesling!

that failing perhaps taylors??

Try Lincoln Wines Winemakers Cab/Sauv 2002, its in your own backyard...

riesling is awesome!

Not found a straight cab sav that does it for me under $15. Shiraz is a lot easier to find a good wine at a cheaper price. Cab Sav is not so easy.

Cab/Merl

If on a good special,
Cullen’s Ellen Bussell
Annie’s Lane
Jameson’s Run (on good vintage)

I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Tatachilla Partners Cab Shiraz 04 the other night.

It had rich blackberry on the nose and palate and a nice medium bodied smooth texture. I've just checked the bottle and that's almost exactly what the label says.

I picked that up for under $10. Not a straight Cab I know but there aren't a lot of under $15 straight Cabs that ring my bells. Although I've liked past editions of the Leasingham Bastion and the Stepping Stone.

The 2005 Jim Barry Coverdrive is pretty reasonable when you see it on special around the place

mattECN wrote:2004/2005 Taylors Cabernet
Stonehaven Hidden Sea Cabernet
2005 Rosemount Diamond Label Cabernet

Agree with the 1st 2 but dunno about the 3rd - haven't tried it because I usually steer clear of Rosemount.

I cleared the discontinued lines shelves of Hidden Sea cab 01 & 02 at the local barn.

For a good Cabernet booze at that price, if there is some around

02 Peter Lehman-Barossa
02-04 Willows-Barossa, just a touch over the $15 bracket
03 Salitage "treehouse"-Pemberton
04 Alkoomi-Frankland River

However if you are really looking for a cheap and cheerful glass of plonk, get your snappers floating in some Dunsborough Hills Cabernet ( 05 ). Soundly made, with no flaws and good use of some old oak. It's not going to get you filling your cellar madly, to the brim, but it has great bang for your buck.

Cheers, Wine Bloke

Agree with wine bloke on the Alkoomi from a very good vintage (and same for the Shiraz).
Another that comes to mind (from last vintage 2004) is the Mamre Brook. Was a blinder for price.

Partagas,

Agree with you on the 04 Mamre brooke, Had it a couple of times in the last month, Very good Drop, Paying about $17 over here.

Nick.

Definitely the 2005 Mike Press

Many thanks for all the recommendations.

Mike Press sounds great, but not easy to source in the NZ. Mamre Brook would be a good option - I've had the shiraz a lot and its very decent - but its $19+ everywhere I know (and using winesearcher), which doesn't exactly break the bank, but its not < $15 so that's cheating

(I looked up Lincoln Wines and they don't claim to make any Cab Sauv -so that's a mystery!)

We were lucky to see it (04 Mamre Brook) for $15 quite a few times over the past year. Manydifferent retailers as well.

Bick wrote:Many thanks for all the recommendations.

Mike Press sounds great, but not easy to source in the NZ.

Doesn't look like Gavin ships to NZ.
Might be worth contacting the winery directly they might ship some to you.

Coincidently, I had the 2005 Taylor's CAb Sauv last night. Pretty impressive at $11 around here.

Mike Press CS 05 has more elegance and complexity, but the Taylor's has enough to handle it's black fruit power.

Adair

Damo961 wrote:

Bick wrote:Many thanks for all the recommendations.

Mike Press sounds great, but not easy to source in the NZ.

Doesn't look like Gavin ships to NZ.
Might be worth contacting the winery directly they might ship some to you.

All the Mike Press 2005 Cabernet is sold out at cellar door.

I think Gavin does ship.

Adair

bacchaebabe wrote:Haven't tried the current release so open to opinions but I'm enjoying the 01 Brookland Estate Verse 1 Cab Merlot a lot at the moment. Usually on sale around $12.99

Hi bacc... Just picked a case of this as a cleanskin for $40 per case at auction and agree its a seriously good wine. Blackcurrent and blackberry flavours dominate and throwing a serious crust. JH in '02 rated it 89 but suggested the score should improve with age and good drinking in 2011. Totally agree. The merlot content is just wonderful.

Chuck

Richard Hamilton Hut Block 2008

Alex F wrote:Richard Hamilton Hut Block 2008

Old thread I know, but this is a good shout. Seriously cracking wine this. Just bought a few bottles today.

Yeah, yeah, I know, but Tahbilk Cab 06 has garnered good ratings from TWF and Halliday. I've tried it and agree with their assessments. It has serious cellaring potential, needs more time for the tannins to soften, the whole to better integrate and it's available at the local barn for $14.99, or was recently.

Cheers

daz

1st release 2010 Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon - early 2011..its a ripper!

Dom

Torzi wrote:1st release 2010 Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon - early 2011..its a ripper!

Dom

Sounds interesting Dom. Is it from Eden Valley fruit?

Cheers

daz

As per Longhop Shiraz; fruit sourced from vines dating back to 1950 from Adelaide Plains / One Tree Hill

Dom

Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot is my first recommendation, 2007 and 2008 great QPR
Peter Lehmann Barossa from decent vintages, especially with about 6 years from vintage (3 to 4 from release)

Tried the Blue Pyrenees Estate 08 Cab at the winery a couple of weeks ago - re-tried it twice since. A great quaffer at under $15 from some e-tailers!

DJ wrote:Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot is my first recommendation, 2007 and 2008 great QPR
Peter Lehmann Barossa from decent vintages, especially with about 6 years from vintage (3 to 4 from release)

I tried Catching Thieves Cab Merl 08 recently, thought it ok but not especially good qpr. Haven't had a PL cab for a while but did enjoy several bottles of the 02.

Cheers

daz