The Auswine Forum

I just drank a 96 Wynn's Shiraz that I reckon I paid $11 for and by Jingo it was a nice drop.

What could I buy these days for $12 - $13 that would provide me with the same amount of pleasure in 2010?

What are the good bets available at the moment for medium term cellaring in the following categories?

$12 - $15
$16 - $19
$20 - $25

Ratcatcher wrote:I just drank a 96 Wynn's Shiraz that I reckon I paid $11 for and by Jingo it was a nice drop.

What could I buy these days for $12 - $13 that would provide me with the same amount of pleasure in 2010?

What are the good bets available at the moment for medium term cellaring in the following categories?

Ratty, interesting question, there are a few wines that haven't increased in price for a lot of years, but whether the same quality is there is debatable in some cases. Some suggestions for your price brackets (good street-price case/mixed-case basis), I'm sure you'll get a lot more too.

$12 - $15
Wynns Shiraz, still avaulable around $14 or under on special, prob not as good as the 96 though.
Water Wheel Shiraz scrapes in.
Ingoldby Shiraz will often cellar 5 years or so, 2003 is good
Charles Cimicky Trumps Shiraz (when on special, other wise $16+)
Tahbilk Shiraz and cabernet

$16 - $19
Kurtz Family Boundary Row Shiraz (in a good year, a bit variable)
Leasingham Bin 56 / 61 (careful with vintages though)
Tyrrells Rufus Stone heathcote/McLarenVale (some vintage)
Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet (in good years like 2002, not 2003)
Seppelt Chalambar
Fox Ck JSM (maybe)
Morris Durif
Elderton Shiraz (or in next bracket)
Kirrihill Shiraz

$20 - $25
Scarpantoni Block 3 (some vintages)
Warrabilla Reserve/Parola (club release price was $25 this year, now $27)
Tim Adams Shiraz
Rosemount Show reserve Shiraz/Cabernet in a good vintage, 2001 is looking OK, they are back down under $20 on special these days)
Voyager Estate Shiraz
St Hallett Blackwell (maybe)
Bowen Estate (2002 seems back in form)

Thanks for the reply Brian.

Sorry for taking so long to log back in but I have been reading the forum, just haven't had a chance to reply.

Good suggestions.

Unfortunately I'm on a budget due to having 2 young kids and a mortgage so I'm keen to find under $20 reds that can last a few years in the cellar.

I also don't take dozens unless I can split them with someone at work etc.

Seventh heaven for me is finding a $25 wine I like or I've read TN's that sound interesting to me knocked down to $15 - $16.

Tassie is a shocking place to buy wine on a budget. Everywhere I look on the net and in Melbourne newspapers wines I like are 20 - 30% less but if I want to buy them I have to buy a dozen even if it's mixed. The 2003 Chalambar has been $24.99 here since releaase compared to $16.99 on the mainland. But I don't want / can't afford a dozen.

Maybe I'll need to talk to the treasurer to increase the budget slightly so I can move up to $20 a bottle or I'll have to pu t the squeeze on those people at work more often.

At the moment I've got my eye on Wynns Shiraz, Water Wheel and Ingoldby off your list and I'll also keep a look out for Metala and Peter Lehmann.

Ratty, you need to find one or a few other people in the same situation and share the case/mixed case buys, that way you can get some variety and get free/cheap freight as well as some good prices.