The Auswine Forum

I am not big on SBs and would like some advice please. My daughter wants to buy a friend who helped her a nice SB because that is their preferred wine. I have sourced some names from a local wine store. Please suggest which would be best for her to purchase.

Craggy Range - Avery or Te Muna Road

Phi - Lusatia Park vineyard

Neudorf

Dog Point

Huia

Cloudy Bay (well known but want $50 for it)

Highfield Estate

Leeuwin Estate

Seresin Estate

I would also appreciate any other suggestions I could check out.

Thanks in advance,
Mike.

I'd go Dog Point or Cloudy Bay. The former are an exciting producer kicking lots of goals, and CB have the status of being the original and still highly regarded marlborough SB. And BTW, it's $30 at DM's - I see it's not on Gav's site.

(But having said that I haven't tried the Aussies)

Bit like saying do I give a wine noob Dom or Pol Winston Churchill... Dom will always win in the impress me stakes, even though personally I'd prefer WC from a good vintage.

Cheers
Tim

You could give them a Sancerre just to confuse the issue.

Hi Mike

I found the Te Muna Rd very approachable. Good complexity and length, a serious SB that won't frighten the horses (or noobs). Another go to SB when they are required (not often) is the Catalina Sounds (not to be confused with the F$%#ing Catalina Wine Mixer!!!). Another wine with some complexity but not too "full on".

Hope this helps

Michael

Hi Mike

Go with the Dog Point. Its a quality type and loved by almost all.
Be careful if you buy their Section 94 SB, a nice drop but is oak influenced and can put some SB drinkers offside.

$50 for Cloudy bay is hilarious! you can find it easily for around $30 (just use google mate).

Cheers
Michael

First up id go 2010 vintage.

Then id pick either Cloudy Bay (2010 is the best since 1996 imo), Neudorf (fruit driven finely boned, pretty precise style) or Dog Point (slightly more worked expression)

I'd go Dog Point or Highfield Estate - whenever I've had the latter I've been pretty impressed. CB is overpriced imho (tho it is good)

Thanks all for your help. I have given my daughter a short list, stressing to buy 2010. Much appreciated,
Mike.

Outside of that list you should look to Astrolabe or Jules Taylor. Both should be much better value than the ones you listed.

burgster wrote:Outside of that list you should look to Astrolabe or Jules Taylor. Both should be much better value than the ones you listed.

They're good too, esp astrolabe. However, Craggy Range, Dog Point, Highfield Estate and Seresin are all in the same price bracket. If anything the "discovery" series astrolabe costs more...

Neudorf for me. Personally would choose Dog Point last.