The Last Bastion Of Icon Australian Shiraz < $40?

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 1:35 pm

Craiglee Shiraz has recently been elevated into the $40 bracket. A terrific cool climate shiraz that is a single vineyard wine ( or thereabouts ). In the best vintages like the 97, amazingly powerful shiraz but with refinement.

Other classic shiraz, representive of a region and with good pedigree elevated beyond the $30 mark, include Kay Brothers Block Six and Wendouree Shiraz. St Henri too? Seems like yesterday this wine around the $30.

The only shiraz that comes to mind, under the $40 mark, with good vintage history and representive of the region is Plantagenet's Mt Barker shiraz.

Considering the quality of the 94 vintage and the potential of the recent 2001, like Craiglee until recently, Plantagenet's shiraz undervalued coming in well below the $40 mark.

Any other under $40 shiraz, in the class of the above mentioned, come to mind?

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 4:11 pm

Bullers Calliope (although the style will divide people)
Vasse Felix?
Turkey Flat
Tim Adams The Aberfeldy is sometimes discounted below $40
Seppelt St Peters/GW
Majella
Mount Pleasant Maurice Oshea
I've seen Bannockburn discounted recently below $40
Best's Bin 0

Just my first thoughts

Kieran

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 4:29 pm

For mailing list members

Noons stand out for their value for money.

Secondary market is another thing.

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 6:50 pm

From the Langton's Classification: Bowen Estate shiraz and Seppelt Great Western shiraz are the only shiraz wines in the below $40 range.

Strangely, Plantagenet shiraz isn't on the classification, only it's cabernet sibling is.

Thanks Kieran. Discounts slip the scales.

Jakob · Post by **Jakob** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:05 pm

I suppose 'Icon Wine' is a loosely interpreted term, but I have to second Kieran's call on the Aberfeldy. The history and age of the vineyard alone make it priceless, though the cellar door price of the wine almost makes me think Tim Adams is in the business because he enjoys what he does! It's almost always a stunning wine...hmm, now I want to open one :roll:

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:47 pm

If we're looking at Langtons' lists, surely the emerging list is worth a look also. The main lists haven't been upgraded for at least a couple of years.

Under $40 we have

Baileys 1920 Block and 1904 Block Shiraz.
Dutschke St Jakobi
Glaetzer Shiraz
Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz

plus some that I listed and some that are too obscure to bother (Cape D'Estaing, Branson)

Kieran

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 12:42 pm

Turkey Flat, Glaetzer and St Jakobi, due to the plethora of similar Barossa styles, I don't think are undervalued and sit comfortably in the below $40 bracket.

Noons without a doubt is undervalued on release when compared to other McClaren Vale shiraz.

Baileys was always undervalued at $20 a pop, with old vine material, and a good rustic style. The accountants sliced up the label and elevated the price to retail value plus. Marketing has stained Baileys for the short term I think. Maybe Bullers Calliope undervalued-good recent attention.

Clare Valley shiraz is market value I feel. Nothing here is exceptional, considering Wendouree, Aberfeldy all around the $40 mark.

Great Western shiraz. Not sure. St Peters and Bin O? St Peters a good wine that is subject to heavy discounting and possible fiddling from Southcorp accountants. Not undervalued. Bin O depending on vintage quality, may be pushed toward the $40 mark considering Craiglee was always a bit cheaper. With St Peters close by, Bin O not undervalued IMHO.

Hunter Valley? If Hunter shiraz was a child only it's mother could love it!

Don't consume enough of it to comment but must admit have been considering adding Maurice Oshea to the cellar.

Coonawarra shiraz? Majella shiraz verus Katnook, Bowen, Leconfield etc. So much of it available under the $35 mark and is there really that much interest in the region's shiraz expression?

So, Noons a definite, Plantagenet IMHO aswell. A big, rustic Victorian shiraz may be a style undervalued at the moment aswell. The "others" seem to have a lot of competition from each other locally, aswell as a high Australian dollar, stymieing demand to queitly push beyond the $40 mark.