I'm hoping to get some recommendations/wisdom from you all. I'm off to a blind tasting this week and need to bring 2 bottles along. One each of; Shiraz or blend and a Cabernet or blend. Both need to be 2012 but they don't need to be Australian so there is some scope there to take something different/interesting/not so common. I'd like to keep it to around $30-50 a bottle if possible.
So, can anyone make any recommendations based on the info above? Keeping in mind it's Tuesday now and being in Canberra means I'm somewhat limited to what I can purchase to have on time (Friday) haha.
Right up my alley - the Cab and Shiraz blends are my favourite reds. I find they have an extra dimension. You could try a Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cab from Langhorne Creek. Olivers Taranga do a good Shiraz Cab called Corrina's from memory. Wolf Blass have a Cab/Shiraz blend. Henschke Keyneton is right up there according to most but I find it a little overrated. The pick would be Yalumba Signature Cab/Shiraz though. I'm no expert but a Cab/Merlot from WA would be a suggestion too.
As mentioned the 2012 Yalumba Signature would be a good option if you want a blend. At a reasonable price, you might consider 2012 Wynns Black label Cabernet or Penley. If you look around, you could probably find a 2012 Cabernet from Chile if you want something different - or a lower end Bordeaux.
There are any number of shirazes available - the issue will be finding a 2012 at your price range. I'd go for something from Barossa....
I'd prefer to stay away from the Barossa I think. One of the other attendees has a soft spot for Barossa wines so assuming he'll have that covered (probably should've mentioned that). In saying that if I can't find anything else the ones mentioned above look to be good options.
A Cabernet from Chile would be perfect. I immediately thought about a Montes Alpha M, but I don't think the 2012 has been released (or if it will be)
I haven't tried it but the Dalwhinnie Moonambel Cab Sauv piqued my interest. Anyone tried this?
FWIW, most 2012 Vintage NZ Syrah or Cabernet should be avoided IMHO. A poor year for bigger reds, with very few exceptions. 2013 though... back up the truck bro.
Obviously forget Hunter for 2012 too....
Torzi Matthews did some good 2012 stuff out of Eden Valley?? Or Clonakilla?
Last edited by TiggerK on Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
TiggerK wrote:FWIW, most 2012 Vintage NZ Syrah or Cabernet should be avoided IMHO. A poor year for bigger reds, with very few exceptions. 2013 though... back up the truck bro.
Yep, agree. Managed to snag a few 2013 Coleraine!
Wish we had access to more of it over here! Maybe I'm a little biased though, being a kiwi!
Something a bit different vinteloper 'adelo' shiraz blend or Moores Hill cab/merlot from tassie......oh how much is the grosset gaia? I wonder if thats an option?
Something im in love with currently Petaluma Coonawarra (may just be a bit over budget)
Agree with the WA cab / merlot suggestion. Think something like Vasse Felix, Voyager estate, Forest Hill May fit the bill.
Oh and the signature is quite possibly the best wine i have had this year!! Surely the hero wine of a blind tasting....but i know you are trying to shy away from barossa.
Yep, I would suggest a WA cab too although I am biased as I live here! My recommendation would be something like Windance from Margaret River if you can find it, otherwise one of the well known names would work fine. For a shiraz and something that is widespread, it would be hard to go past Picardy from Pemberton.
I guess you can either stick with Traditional areas like Margaret River or Coonawarra for Cabernet or go for somewhere better known for other things (Clare perhaps or Yarra Valley) The Vasse Felix is always a good option and I'd imagine that 2012 Majella is around. Perhaps one of the Lindemans Pyrus/St George/Limestone ridge or the Yalumba Menzies will sneak under budget too
For Shiraz, if you aren't going Barossa maybe something from Hunter, Heathcote or Grampians? If you wanted to throw a bit of a curve ball in there How about a Paringa estate from Mornington?
PDG wrote:I'm hoping to get some recommendations/wisdom ... a blind tasting this week ... bring 2 bottles along ... need to be 2012
The last part, 2012, that's when my eyes glazed over ... I recovered ... started to write something ... realized that I had been with the guys drinking at the pub ... best not say anything rude ... deleted my comments ... WTF ... 2012 !!!!! ... Why????
PDG wrote:I'm hoping to get some recommendations/wisdom ... a blind tasting this week ... bring 2 bottles along ... need to be 2012
The last part, 2012, that's when my eyes glazed over ... I recovered ... started to write something ... realized that I had been with the guys drinking at the pub ... best not say anything rude ... deleted my comments ... WTF ... 2012 !!!!! ... Why????
PDG wrote:I'm hoping to get some recommendations/wisdom ... a blind tasting this week ... bring 2 bottles along ... need to be 2012
The last part, 2012, that's when my eyes glazed over ... I recovered ... started to write something ... realized that I had been with the guys drinking at the pub ... best not say anything rude ... deleted my comments ... WTF ... 2012 !!!!! ... Why????
Cheers.....................Mahmoud.
Not sure what you're on about - 2012 was an excellent year in both SA and WA.
Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed that people would understand where I was coming from and explained myself better. Some here already know that I like my wines far more mature and recoil at the idea of drinking these wines so early. However, there really is nothing wrong with tasting the wines young to assess their potential and get an idea of their potential. There have been many a times when I was afforded a taste of a young wine only to go out and buy some to cellar. One such wine was the 1990 Eileen Hardy Shiraz many, many years ago, and I went out and bought a half dozen just to cellar. Believe it or not I still have a few left as it has taken quite a while for this wine to turn the corner and develop tertiary characteristics.
Didn't mean to offend anyone...............Mahmoud.
