In 1995, with Grange prices skyrocketing, Huon Hooke wrote an article on the subject and almost as an afterthought, added a list of 24 Australian wines he felt were solid substitutes if you were shy of Grange's asking price.
It is interesting to look at the list now, noting what were the in vogue wines of 95 and how they stand now on a marketing level, and more importantly, how have they faired in quality over subsequent vintages?
The list is as follows with 95 release prices:
1) Bowen Estate C/S- $21
2) Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz- $35
3) Cape Mentelle C/S- $38
4) Cullen C/S Merlot- $35
5) Moss Wood C/S- $35
6) Dalwhinnie Shiraz- $37
7) Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz- $45
eight) Henschke Mt Ed- $45
9) Henschke Cyril- $55
10) Henschke HofG- $100
11) Jim Barry Armagh- $90
12) Langi Shiraz- $27
13) Penfolds 707- $80
14) Penfolds 389- $25
15) Petaluma Coonawarra- $42
16) Rockford B'Press- $20
17) Rosemount Balmoral- $45
eighteen) St Hallett's Ol Block- $31
19) Wendouree Shiraz- $20
20) Wynn's Michael Shiraz- $69
21) Wynn's John Riddoch C/S- $67
22) Yalumba Signature C/S Shiraz- $24
23) Yalumba Octavius Shiraz- $42
24) Yarra Yerring No 1- $50
Off this list, for you as a loosely worthy Grange substitue, what delivered and what didn't over the past decade?
Standouts for me would have to be the Moss Wood & Cullens. Basket Press has been impressive too.
Disappointments would have to be Bowen Estate and the oakey flagship reds that were more marketed than well made- Michael & Octavius especially.
Two Dozen Grange Substitutes- 10 years on. Winners?
-
JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
Only 1 worthy - Mosswood 1995
Drank over 6 times, once during a MW vertical. Each time it never fail to reinforced my believed, "As the greatest Cabernet ever aspired from the Southern Hemisphere" Sadly Keith's recent vintages such as the stellar '99 & '01 are more precocious and could not come equal in sheer magnitude of this classic.
Drank over 6 times, once during a MW vertical. Each time it never fail to reinforced my believed, "As the greatest Cabernet ever aspired from the Southern Hemisphere" Sadly Keith's recent vintages such as the stellar '99 & '01 are more precocious and could not come equal in sheer magnitude of this classic.
Last edited by Chow Chow on Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Purple Tongue
Jamie
Thank you for what should be a great topic.
As someone who has got into wine since that list was published it is interesting to see the prices (then) and proves the lesson to back your own judgement / taste regardless of reputation / price.
Absolutely agree the Moss Wood and Cullen have gone on to star, and Rockford BP appears to have too (sadly I have never had the chance
). I would add St Hallet Old Block and Dalwhinnie as strong performers for the price.
There has been enough written about the disappointments of Penfolds over the past few years. Wynns Michael and JR as well - how interesting release price is now below what it was 10 years ago.
Thinking of what labels have emerged in the past few years that will represent great quality over the next decade I would list Savaterre, Seppelt (OK, this one has re-emerged but it's certainly hot at moment), Voyager and Majella as all coming to mind.
Interested to hear others impressions of the Huon Hooke predictions from 95'.
Cheers
Andy
Thank you for what should be a great topic.
As someone who has got into wine since that list was published it is interesting to see the prices (then) and proves the lesson to back your own judgement / taste regardless of reputation / price.
Absolutely agree the Moss Wood and Cullen have gone on to star, and Rockford BP appears to have too (sadly I have never had the chance
). I would add St Hallet Old Block and Dalwhinnie as strong performers for the price.
There has been enough written about the disappointments of Penfolds over the past few years. Wynns Michael and JR as well - how interesting release price is now below what it was 10 years ago.
Thinking of what labels have emerged in the past few years that will represent great quality over the next decade I would list Savaterre, Seppelt (OK, this one has re-emerged but it's certainly hot at moment), Voyager and Majella as all coming to mind.
Interested to hear others impressions of the Huon Hooke predictions from 95'.
Cheers
Andy
Re: Two Dozen Grange Substitutes- 10 years on. Winners?
JamieBahrain wrote:In 1995, with Grange prices skyrocketing, Huon Hooke wrote an article on the subject and almost as an afterthought, added a list of 24 Australian wines he felt were solid substitutes if you were shy of Grange's asking price.
It is interesting to look at the list now, noting what were the in vogue wines of 95 and how they stand now on a marketing level, and more importantly, how have they faired in quality over subsequent vintages?
Off this list, for you as a loosely worthy Grange substitue, what delivered and what didn't over the past decade?
Standouts for me would have to be the Moss Wood & Cullens. Basket Press has been impressive too.
Disappointments would have to be Bowen Estate and the oakey flagship reds that were more marketed than well made- Michael & Octavius especially.
Interesting, I don't remember the original article and I didn't buy a lot of 95 vintage wines, but these few I still have in my cellar:
6) Dalwhinnie Shiraz- $37
7) Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz- $45
16) Rockford B'Press- $20
eighteen) St Hallett's Ol Block- $31
19) Wendouree Shiraz- $20
22) Yalumba Signature C/S Shiraz- $24
23) Yalumba Octavius Shiraz- $42
I have most of them listed to drink this year or next, on last tasting they were all in good condition and not fading, haven't tried the Oaktavius for a few years though, only 2 left. My Rosemount Balmoral is long gone.
I also have some Orlando Centenary Hill, Bullers Calliope, Houghton Show Reserve Shiraz and Peel Estate Shiraz from 95 that are still hanging in there.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Re: Two Dozen Grange Substitutes- 10 years on. Winners?
Red Bigot wrote:Interesting, I don't remember the original article and I didn't buy a lot of 95 vintage wines, but these few I still have in my cellar:
Jamie / Brian
My reading of Jamie's post was that the article was written in 1995, and therefore did not relate to 1995 vintage wines. I took it more as a general comment on labels to substitute Grange for, rather than just a specific vintage.
-
JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
Sorry Gents.
To clarify, the article out of Hooke's book "Words on Wine" and I understand it to have originally been published in the SMH.
The wines were not vintage specific. It was written around the time of the release of 1990 Grange and the list a loose addition to the article.
I imagine Huon's list were what he believed to be high quality wines, cellarable wines, which did not have to be in the league of Grange. But certainly, seemed potential worthy substitutes and lesser known to his SMH audience.
How did he do?
Arrowana
One wine! You are a hard man.
To clarify, the article out of Hooke's book "Words on Wine" and I understand it to have originally been published in the SMH.
The wines were not vintage specific. It was written around the time of the release of 1990 Grange and the list a loose addition to the article.
I imagine Huon's list were what he believed to be high quality wines, cellarable wines, which did not have to be in the league of Grange. But certainly, seemed potential worthy substitutes and lesser known to his SMH audience.
How did he do?
Arrowana
One wine! You are a hard man.
-
Gianna..
On a value for money basis, the following wines are the winners for me.
( My rating system goes as such )
Any good vintage Grange at say $350 - $400 vs. any good vintage Moss Wood at say $80 - $100 , is the four fold price difference worth the money?
So,
Cullen, Moss Wood, Rockford BP - clearly best value for money vs grange.
Armagh - Closest in overall true quality at less than half the price
Old Block, Dalwhinnie Shiraz - not in same league but excellent QPR.
( My rating system goes as such )
Any good vintage Grange at say $350 - $400 vs. any good vintage Moss Wood at say $80 - $100 , is the four fold price difference worth the money?
So,
Cullen, Moss Wood, Rockford BP - clearly best value for money vs grange.
Armagh - Closest in overall true quality at less than half the price
Old Block, Dalwhinnie Shiraz - not in same league but excellent QPR.