The Auswine Forum

Hi filks, I'm looking for suggestions for the ten best current Cabernet & Shiraz blends, either variety dominant. Thinking so far is

Penfolds Bin 389
Kaesler WOMS
Glaetzer Godolphin
Flaxman Wines The Stranger

Hit me with another six

Jacobs Creek Johann ?

Johann (2002 is better than 2001, but prob not released yet)
Neagles Rock Black Dog (SIWC Top 100 winner)
Elderton Ode to Lorraine and Henschke Keyneton Estate (if you don't mind a bit of Merlot as well)
Wynns Johnsons Block
Yalumba Signature
Limestone Ridge
Majella Malleea
Tapanappa Whalebone
Wolf Blass Black Label

Wayno wrote:Jacobs Creek Johann ?

Along with this I'd add the 2004 Majella Malleea, and although I haven't tried it the 2003 Yalumba Signature. Maybe also the 2004 Wynns Johnson's Block, although reports so far of that have been rather mixed.

Does Coriole have a current release of the Old Barn Blend (of Lloyd Reserve & Mary Kathleen)? If so that could be worth a shot too.

Cheers,
Ian

n4sir wrote:Does Coriole have a current release of the Old Barn Blend (of Lloyd Reserve & Mary Kathleen)? If so that could be worth a shot too.

Cheers,
Ian

Yep. Picked some up from cellar door. Very nice stuff too.

Besides what have been mentioned so far two the might be worth looking at are:

2004 Rockford Rod & Spur. First good release of this one in my mind. The shiraz is dominant at the moment but it is pretty good shiraz!

2004 Deisen Shiraz Cabernet: Huge fruit weight but unforced. Had this at an offline a few months back alongside the EDIT: 2005 vintage Godolphin. Wasn't a bad comparison at all.

cheers

Carl

Gralyn Cabernet Shiraz
Yaluma The Signature
Yalumba The Reserve
Bin 389 (and more often than not Grange if you want to split hairs...)
Majella The Mallea
Godolphin (only had the 04 but it seems to get good wraps from everyone)
The Johann (which I think evolved from the old JC Limited Release label?)
Elderton Ode to Lorraine

Tyson Stelzer ran a competition last year on this very topic, and again this year I think, called 'The Great Australian Red'. Haven't seen any results but I thought it was a good concept.

LL

In order for me


Majella The Mallea
Wolf Blass Black Label
Gralyn Cabernet Shiraz (though over priced)
Yalumba Signature

Never been a big fan of this genre until the past year. Two wines changed my mind:

2005 Glaetzer Godophin
2002 Yalumba Signature

I've tried a few others but they don't seem to hit the mark in the same way that these do.

Tristram

Domaine de Trevallon
Longhop Reserve
Penfolds Special Bins 60A 2004!!

Otherwise the ground has been pretty well covered. Please don't buy any Johann so it all gets shipped off to NZ and discounted (again).

Jay

I'm with Jay. If you're looking for the best, you can't beat Bin 60a

And while some rave about (I don't like it) Mollydooker Enchanted Path is another to consider

I would have to agree with Partagas, the 2004 Gralyn Cabernet Shiraz was pretty smart stuff when we tasted it at cellar door last month. Also the 2004 Lindemans Limestone Ridge was one of my wines of the evening at the recent Coonawarra road shows.

FWIW - mark my vote down for Coriole Old Barn and Rockford Rod and Spur 2004

One from left field but has anyone tried the 2004 Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Shiraz. Tasted at the cellar door recently and it's a little gem. One to watch out for if you get the chance.

Sorbtastic wrote:One from left field but has anyone tried the 2004 Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Shiraz. Tasted at the cellar door recently and it's a little gem. One to watch out for if you get the chance.

The Winewise panel obviously liked it, rated Outstanding in the current Small Vignerons Awards issue.

Ferngrove 'The Stirlings' 2003 and 2004 are very good.
.
GW

Copy n paste from my recent thread on WDC...

1990 Penfolds Bin 920 Coonawarra
1990 Penfolds Bin 90A Kalimna/Barossa
Yalumba The Signature
Yalumba The Reserve (had a super 1990 last night --> awesome wine!)
Wolf Blass Black Label
Penfolds Bin 389
Majella The Mallea
Lindemans Limestone Ridge
Rosemount Mountain Blue
Casa Freschi Profondo
Taltarni Cephas
Orlando Jacobs Creek Johann
Tyrrells Vat 8
Dutschke WillowBend (has some Merlot IIRC)
1991 Wynns Special Release Centenary
Parson's Flat
McWilliams 1877
WDC Duck Muck

Even Grange has some cabernet in most vintages (but only 5-10%) --> check Penfolds website for more info.

Vat 8 is pretty much all shiraz now.
GW

Murdock The Merger 2004 if you can still find it is pretty good QPR

Some of the St Henri's were cab shiraz blends in the 80s. Not sure whether that's still the case these days

From memory, Yalumba's Barossa blend of these varieties was at least highly rated in CM's (or was that Tyson's, whatever) competition. I think it may even have been the best of the bunch. Regardless, it was a stunning sub$15 wine of which I drank as many bottles as I could find. Sadly, I don't think you'd find any now.

Murdoch The Merger 2004 is an interesting blend of regions as well as the varieties and I've had to restrain myself from drinking the last two bottles.

But of course if you're looking for the absolute best of this blend some of the higher-priced recommendations may be what you're looking for.

Good hunting, spend lots of $$s until you find your own best of the blend.