The Auswine Forum

Hello

Its getting towards lists time again ...

I have been asked to compile a list of the best Australian wines under $30 for a major publication leading up to Christmas.

I am compiling my list but thought it would be fun to see the lists compiled by this knowledgable group.

I need 30 wines, you need only list your favourites, if you think you'd find this interesting.

Love to hear from you.

Hi Gavin,

St Hallet Faith 2002
St Hallet Blackwell 2002
Seppelts Chalambar
Leasingham Bastion Cab Sauv 2002
Mamre Brook Cab Sauv 2002
Mamre Brook Shiraz 2002

for starters. Mental block on others at present....there must be tons more.

cheers,

David M.

Gidday Gav,
How about these:

Jim Barry Lodge Hill 2002 shiraz
Saltram Metala Cabernet 2002
St Hallet Blackwell 2002

I assume you only want the local stuff??

Seppelt Chalambar 00 and 01
Mamre Brook Cab 02 (maybe Shiraz too)
Sandalford Cab 02
Kingston Echelon Shiraz 01
Yering Station SV 01
Water Wheel Shiraz 02
Zema CS 01
tattoo Tahbilk Marsanne onto the list
Wirra Wirra Grenache 02 (also Shiraz)
lots of fortified, especially Settlement Wine Co Black Pedro (exactly $30)
Maxwell Cab
Kays 02s
Bremerton Old Adam 01 (although might be over $30 at RRP)
any MR 02 Chard which slips under the bar

Kieran

Aussie Johns wrote:Gidday Gav,
How about these:

Jim Barry Lodge Hill 2002 shiraz
Saltram Metala Cabernet 2002
St Hallet Blackwell 2002

I assume you only want the local stuff??

Thanks all

Must be Australian

and

must be still available, so if readers want some they can get it. So no sold out wines can be included, like say the 2002 Rufus Stone Heathcote.

Also all styles, sparkling white, sparkling red
white red
stickies.

$30RRP or market price? Also, is there a lower bracket or is it just anything under $30?

Anyway, I'm a sucker for the 2002 Shirazes; Bullers Calliope, Grant Burge Filsell, Leasingham Bin 61, Tim Adams, Elderton Barossa, Kirralaa Bush Vine, Marius, Heartland, Paul Osicka, Kays Amery, Jakobi, Coriole, Gemtree Uncut, Mitolo The Jester, probably a few more Victorians to add? ...and certainly a bunch of SA wines

On an annual basis certainly you can never go past the McWilliams Elizabeth and almost every riesling. In particular Petaluma, Pewsey Vale, all the Leo Burings and the Grossets (if you are on the mailing list for under $30 for the watervale at least) have to be there. On a vintage basis you might want to apply a little more discretion. I am very much of the opinion that semillon and riesling are the total bargains of the Aussie wine industry.

Obviously the Noons reserve cabernet and shiraz would also be there but the price is only applicable if you are on the mailing list and that is rather closed.

The 02 Seppelts Victorian Shiraz is rather the bargain too.

Also, the fortifieds are rather hard to go past. The full seppelt range not including the rares (due to being over $30) and the Morris liquor range are always good.

Off the top of my head,

Houghton Frankland Shiraz
Grant Burge Filsel
Fox Creek JSM
Bleasedale Frank Potts
Leasingham Bin 61
Cape Mentelle Shiraz
Tahbilk Shiraz

Agree with a lot above plus these:

Warrabilla: Reserve Durif
Reserve Shiraz
Parola Durif
Parola Shiraz, especially the Parolas.
MM.

Tahbilk Semillon 03 - full-flavoured white with varietal character
Dalfarras CS 91 (limited availablility) - still good fruit but the oak is lurking
Planagenet CS 01 - excellent - still available?
Turkey Flat Marsanne/Sem 02 - very good value, interesting
Seppelt Chalambar 00 - very nice, enough complxity to be interesting
Turkey Flat Grenache 02 - a better expression of this variety than most
Petaluma Riesling 03 - most approachable, a very good wine for ~$20
Orlando St Hugo - late releases about/< $30 - great value - 98 yum
McWiliiams O'Shea 00 - for Hunterphiles
Coldstream Hills Chardonnay 02 - always good but bottles differ


daz

02 Langmiel Valley Floor Shiraz (excellent for $22)
02 GB Filsell
02 St Halletts Blackwell
00/01 Balnaves Cabernet (not sure which is current)
03 Grossett Watervale Riesling (though the 04 is probably out now)

Gavin Trott wrote:Hello

Its getting towards lists time again ...

I have been asked to compile a list of the best Australian wines under $30 for a major publication leading up to Christmas.

I am compiling my list but thought it would be fun to see the lists compiled by this knowledgable group.

I need 30 wines, you need only list your favourites, if you think you'd find this interesting.

Love to hear from you.

So, Gavin, to ask the obvious question, what wines have so far made it to inclusion on your list?

daz

Certainly the Jim Barry Lodge Hill Clare Valley Shiraz 2002.

And IÂ’d throw in the Gemtree Uncut Shiraz McLaren Vale 2002. And the Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2003.

And then there is the RL Buller Fine Muscat NV, Fine Tokay NV, Fine Tawny NV (all 375 ml), and the Yalumba Antique Tawny NV (375 ml).

Mike

Elderton Barossa Shiraz 02
St Hallet Gamekeepers 02
Watershed Cab Sauv Merlot 02 (margaret River)
Yarra Burn Shiraz Viogner 02
Saltram Mamre Brook Shriaz 02

Thanks for all the help so far

Hardest sections so far

Sparkling Whites

Sparkling reds

Stickies

Chardonnays

Ideas in these categories?

Sparkling Red
Yalumba 1998 Black D
Cofield 2000 Sparkling Shiraz
Fox Creek Vixen NV
Seppelts Origional Sparkling Shiraz

Stickies- Fortified
Morris Cellar Door Tokay
Seppelts DP 63

TORB wrote:Sparkling Red
Yalumba 1998 Black D
Cofield 2000 Sparkling Shiraz
Fox Creek Vixen NV
Seppelts Origional Sparkling Shiraz

I have to agree with TORB about the D Black and the Seppelt.

Gavin Trott wrote:Hardest sections so far
...

Stickies
...

Ideas in these categories?

Noble One. Noble One. Noble One. Noble One. "All your stickies are belong to us."

Sparkly Red:-
Becketts Flat
Morris Shiraz Durif

Sticky:-

Stanton & Killeen Muscat
Stanton & Killeen Tokay
Baileys Founders Muscat
Baileys Founders Tokay

Hi

What is your choice for the best Chardonnay currently available under $30?

Chardonnay:
Rosemount Orange 01 (still going, although superceded)
Kooyong on special
Howard Park 02 on special
Houghton Pemberton 02

Kieran

Whoa, isn't Chardonnay a weed?

Can definitely help you with a sicky, the Miranda Golden Botrytis is as good as the Noble One, yes, I said as good as the Noble One. If you don't believe me try it. I've had 01 & 02, both rippers.

In the reds around $20, Brown's of Padthaway Ernest 02 & here's a surprise packet, Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet 02, Kay's Cabernet 02 is better IMO than the Shiraz.

St.Hallett Blackwell 02 looks better every time I see it.

More later once I think a bit

Gavin Trott wrote:What is your choice for the best Chardonnay currently available under $30?

Ballabourneen 2003 The Stuart Chardonnay

Plantagenet Cab Sav 2001
Howard Park 'Leston' Cab Sav 2001
Alkoomi Cab Sav 2001
Orlando St.Hugo 2000
Rosemount Traditional 2001

Edit: After tonight, I'll have to add Saltram Mamre Brook Cab Sav 2002 to this list, which I think is even better value than all these others.

I tend to agree with most of the selections mentioned already:

2002 Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz
2002 Leasingham Bin 61
2002 St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz
2002 St Hallett Faith Shiraz
2002 Maxwell Lime Cave Cabernet Sauvignon

Also I think these could be considered:

2002 Coriole Sangiovese
2004 Coriole Chenin Blanc
2002 Scarpantoni Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz
2002 Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Reschke Vitulus Cabernet Sauvignon

As far as sparkings go I can't think of much under $30 I'd recommend. Maybe the Deutz Blanc de Blanc but that's NZ, and while I was lucky enough once to snag some Leasingham Classic Clare under $30 that's hardly normal.

Coriole also make a great sticky from late pick Chenin that I think sells for under $30 - that would be my sticky pick of the year.

A chardonnay? This is stretching my memory a bit, but I think there was a Grant Burge Eden Valley job that was remarkably good for under $20.

Cheers
Ian