The Auswine Forum

Thought this an appropriate seperate thread to what I've already penned.

What are the gems under $20?

For me there's three currently that are from wineries who have introduced a budget label after making reputations at a higher level. All three are expressions of the wineries.

Torbreck Woodcutters Red
Kalleske Clarry's
Majella Musician

Over to you guys.

For QPR I'd have to say the 2002 Jacobs Creek Reserve Shiraz. At around $10.75 you can't do better (and I hate agreeing with Winestate...)

Appreciate this is off the topic slightly as it is not a boutique "budget label". How about the Stephen John NV Sparkling or the Warrabilla Shiraz Durif Cleanskin?

Warrabilla eh? I'm having a couple of daze in Rutherglen next month and Warrabilla is at the top of my list so if it's still available I'll take the tip & try it.

Majella 2004 Musician
d'Arenberg 2002 dÂ’Arrys Origional
Classic McLaren 2002 Grenache
Kurtz Family 2004 Seven Sleepers
Kurtz Family 2003 Boundary Row Shiraz
Elderton 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Elderton 2003 Shiraz
Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz
Massena 2004 Barbera / Dolcetto
Longwood 2003 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Teusner the Riebke Block Shiraz

with dittos to

Kalleske Clarry's
Massena 2004 Barbera / Dolcetto
Majella 2004 Musician

Best bang for you buck in new zealand at present is 'Montana' Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Fruit is from the Hawk's Bay, the wine has varietal flavour, ripe fruit and drinks well with food and great QPR at nz $10.80 bottle.

Majella Musician

Penfolds Bin 28

And a once much dearer wine but now very cheap due to them being in financial trouble--Evans & Tate Cab/Merlot--2001 is getting very drinkable from now on.

Don't think Evans & Tate will be the last to feel the pinch in MR or elsewhere. IMO it will get worse before it gets better. I know someone who bought up big on their stuff at the fire sale prices. Whilst it creates some instant cash flow for them it can harm the long term future of the brand, if there is a future of course!

There's an excellent Margaret River article in the latest Winefront Monthly. This is such a superb publication, if you've got an interest in wine you shouldn't miss being a subscriber for what is a very modest amount.

707 wrote:What are the gems under $20?

Torbreck Woodcutters Red
Majella Musician

Steve,

Agree with you whole heartedly on the Woodcutters but unlike you and many others, wasn't fond of the Musician. I must admit it was tasted in the company of giants, but it was very lollyish to me.

I think the Seppelt Premium Reserve Shiraz is worthy of mention, awesome value at under $20, let alone $15. And when you've sourced '02 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Grenache for a pinch under $20, you're living well.

Cheers,

Can't get better than this;

Pillar Box Red (Cab/ Shiraz/ Merlot) 2004 by Chris Ringland

To be honest, I seldom look at wines at this price range ($9.99 p/bt. or $8.99 by the doz.) The only thing which galvanised my buying decision was the pedigree, winemaker extraordinare and the fruits were drawn from the Longbottom's vineyard(think Henry's Drive)

Opaque purple, soaring aromas and a full bodied palate. Loaded with lush, ripe fruits. The structure was enormous with fine grain tannins. The finish was long and intense and the high octane 15% Alc. was barely noticable. Probrably the best 10 bucks I've ever spent on a bottle. This wine has outshined some other wines I've paid 3 times over. I'm buying more before the stocks disappeared

Where could I find some in Melbourne Grumpy?

REGARDS BARRY

Barry, Not sure about VIC.

Try here: +61 8 8232 5300

Prices has gone up 10% due to popular demand.

My Turn:

Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier
RockBare 2003 McLaren Vale Shiraz
Bremerton 2002 Selkirk Shiraz

for me, these are the best reds under $20 on the market,

Tried the Majella Muscian and couldn't see what all the fuss was about (and I'm a huuuge fan of Majella).

Anonymous wrote:Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier

It's wines like these that give the S-V blend a bad name. Absolutely horrid.

Both the Hoddles Creek Chardonnay & Pinot ($17 each!)

Rory

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier

It's wines like these that give the S-V blend a bad name. Absolutely horrid.

wow...surprised you hated it that much. What didn't you like?
Forgot to add that I tasted the pillar Box Red the other day, and I agree it is very good value for $10. although I wouldn't worry about them running out of it, they have squillions of litres of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier

It's wines like these that give the S-V blend a bad name. Absolutely horrid.

wow...surprised you hated it that much. What didn't you like?
Forgot to add that I tasted the pillar Box Red the other day, and I agree it is very good value for $10. although I wouldn't worry about them running out of it, they have squillions of litres of it.

Don't get me wrong. I like S-V blends when they are done right. Eg. Clonakilla (04 Hilltops is S-V, excellent and good VFM), Castagna, Yering Station, Meerea Park. The first thing that came to mind when I tried the Zonte's was it tasted like apricot infused tea.

Polished up the last quarter of my Pillar Box (3 days old) during dinner.
Structure still holding, plenty of fruits left. This is a serious Red whilst quaffers like Yellow Tail & Little Penquin isn't.

It'll blow the Musician off the table and the quality is on par with the Clarry's Reds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier

It's wines like these that give the S-V blend a bad name. Absolutely horrid.

wow...surprised you hated it that much. What didn't you like?
Forgot to add that I tasted the pillar Box Red the other day, and I agree it is very good value for $10. although I wouldn't worry about them running out of it, they have squillions of litres of it.

Don't get me wrong. I like S-V blends when they are done right. Eg. Clonakilla (04 Hilltops is S-V, excellent and good VFM), Castagna, Yering Station, Meerea Park. The first thing that came to mind when I tried the Zonte's was it tasted like apricot infused tea.

I totally see your point, but to be fair, none of the wines you listed are anywhere near $20. Clonakilla, Castagna and yerring Station are some pretty iconic brands. It's like comparing the RockBare and Bremerton shiraz that I loved to Torbreck Run Rig Shiraz and the Rockford Basketpress.

Hards Omoo Shiraz

Evans and Tate Shiraz

2002 D'Arenberg D'Arrys Original

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 2002 is my pick.

Anonymous wrote:Tried the Majella Muscian and couldn't see what all the fuss was about (and I'm a huuuge fan of Majella).

Glad to see I'm not the only one that wasn't fussed with the Musician, and like you I'm also a big fan of Majella. I guess I was expecting something close to the standard of their cabernet and shiraz, but with less oak. But it's nowhere near that sort of quality! It's a $17 wine that to me tastes like a $17 wine. But the Mamre Brook is a $18 wine, that to me anyway, tastes like something I'd usually have to pay $30 - $40 for.


Bill

Agree on this aswell. It just doesnt have the body of the Cabernet and the Shiraz. Wines with less body that have been pumped with more lolly sweetness just are not my types of wines in any price catorgory.

Hi all, My picks amongst many other great bargains:

Gramp's 2002 Barossa Shiraz

Brands of Coonawarra '02 cabernet.

Serafino 2002 Mclaren Vale Cabernet.

Ausewine 2003 Cleanskin Reserve Barossa Shiraz.

Leasingham '02 Clare Cabernet and Shiraz/Cabernet.

Jacob s Creek 2002 Reserve Shiraz.

Steppingstone Coonawarra 2002 Cabernet.

Pepperjack '02 Barossa Cabernet.

And many high QPR cleanskins sub $10. A sad day for a great industry reduced to this to clear the glut.

Most are at or sub $15.00. Retro prices and good quality, well made wines.

Chuck

Chuck wrote:Steppingstone Coonawarra 2002 Cabernet.

I don't see what others like about this wine either. I just found it excessively green, under-ripe, and bitter tasting. Basicly, I thought it was undrinkable.


Bill

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zonte's Footstep 03 Shiraz Viognier

It's wines like these that give the S-V blend a bad name. Absolutely horrid.

wow...surprised you hated it that much. What didn't you like?
Forgot to add that I tasted the pillar Box Red the other day, and I agree it is very good value for $10. although I wouldn't worry about them running out of it, they have squillions of litres of it.

Don't get me wrong. I like S-V blends when they are done right. Eg. Clonakilla (04 Hilltops is S-V, excellent and good VFM), Castagna, Yering Station, Meerea Park. The first thing that came to mind when I tried the Zonte's was it tasted like apricot infused tea.

I totally see your point, but to be fair, none of the wines you listed are anywhere near $20. Clonakilla, Castagna and yerring Station are some pretty iconic brands. It's like comparing the RockBare and Bremerton shiraz that I loved to Torbreck Run Rig Shiraz and the Rockford Basketpress.

Clonakilla Hilltops is around $25-ish and Yering Station standard label is about $20 or less.

Everyone I know finds Zontes Shiraz Viognier undrinkable but it is a style that can wean newbies off white and into reds.

Personally I couldn't swallow Zontes!

02 D'ARENBERG FOOTBOLT.
Can't beat that with a stick at $12.99 a bottle. Bought a case!
Mick.

Jersey wrote:02 D'ARENBERG FOOTBOLT.
Can't beat that with a stick at $12.99 a bottle. Bought a case!
Mick.

Mick,

I forgot to mention it earlier, but your post reminded me - the d'Arenberg 2002 High Trellis Cab Sauv is a brilliant wine. I've tried the '02 Footbolt too, and agree that both these wines are supreme in the qpr category. I wouldn't hesitate to put the High Trellis down for five years and expect it to blow away same vintage wines priced higher by three or four fold.

Most of my candidates have already been mentioned above, with my favourites being the Kalleske Clarry's, the Teusner Riebke, and the two 2002 Saltram Mamre Brooks. A few others that I've enjoyed, on a price/quality basis, were:

Wolf Blass Heritage Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 ($20)
Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2003 ($20)
Tait "The Ball Buster" Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 2003 ($20)
Veritas Christa Rolf Shiraz Grenache 2003 ($17.50)
St Hallett Eden Valley Riesling 2004 ($15.00)

Cheers, Staybaker.

For me, hands down best value so far this year goes to 2002 D'Arry's Original. Holy shitballs! Great wine, and a lot of change out of your $20. On special at (insert name of large retailer here) for $12.50 bottle/case.

LL