The Auswine Forum

What is the current super buy in the under $30 bracket?

Over the past 6 months I've bought:

Majella The Musician
Mamre Brook Cab Sauv
Ingoldby Shiraz

based on tip offs of excellent QPR on this forum and related links.

What's currently going around that over delivers spectacularly on QPR under $30?

Hi Ratcatcher,

Had a bottle of one of Ric's recommendations tonight, the Marius 2003 Mclaren Vale Shiraz, which was fab! Very much in the Majella / Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz vein. Lovely with Thai food at the very gay Wokstation in Ultimo. Won this bottle at Wickman's Auctions (thank you very much Mark!). Will be ordering a case from Mr Pike before the current special expires!

Regards,

Allan

Ones I have found up my street this year are:

Pizzini Sangiovese

Tahbilk Marsanne (as ever!)

Brown Hill Ivanhoe Reserve Cab Sav

Warren Estate Cab-Merlot

Vina Albali Gran Reserva

Rieslings too numerous to mention!

All $25 or under, some comfortably! The Pizzini is an absolute snorter and the Brown Hill is great value for a Margaret River Cab. Apparently the 04 is even better than the 03 I had (but then they would say that!!) so I'll be tasting it down there in the New Year.

Cheers

Dave

Two get my vote -

2004 Torbreck Woodcutter Red

Scary to think that this is their fourth or fifth best offering. Would sit comfortably as a lot of wineries flagship.

2004 Voyager Estate Shiraz

A wonderful balance of fat and skinny. Lovely and plump, but tight and fine where it counts.

And as Sangiovse has been tossed up, i'll mention the Brown Bros 2003 Heathcote Sangiovese, maybe not varietally spot on, but savoury and supple and so bloody drinkable....and under $20

LL

For me 2 stand out so far this year:

2001 Voyager Cabernet/Merlot (can be bought at $29.99 at a few retailers around the place)

2003 Majella Cabernet (great wine even though JO doesn't agree)

Looking forward to both the 2004 Cabernet and Shiraz offerings on Saltram's Mamre Brook label too when released!

bigkid wrote:Hi Ratcatcher,

Had a bottle of one of Ric's recommendations tonight, the Marius 2003 Mclaren Vale Shiraz, which was fab! Very much in the Majella / Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz vein. Lovely with Thai food at the very gay Wokstation in Ultimo. Won this bottle at Wickman's Auctions (thank you very much Mark!). Will be ordering a case from Mr Pike before the current special expires!

Regards,

Allan

Your welcome Allan and of course a big thanks to Roger Pike who offered up some of his wine as prizes !!

I reckon the 2001 Moondah Brook Cabernet has to be one of the best value wines I've had in a long time, purchased for just over $10 per bottle. There might even still be some lurking about in the shops out there.

Thanks fo rthe replies everyone. I will follow a couple up with purchases.

It seems that the 2004 Mamre Brooks may be the next "big thing" according to Brian's best buys page.

My votes for good QPR and under $30 would include (at least) the following:

• Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2004
• Braydun Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003
• Murray Street Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
• Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz 2003
• Red Nectar Shiraz 2004
• Red Nectar Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Winter Creek Old Barossa Blend Grenache Shiraz 2003
• Hearland Langhorne/Limestone Shiraz 2004
• Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004
• Magpie Estate The Call Bag Grenache Mourvedre 2003
• Kalleske Clarry's Barossa Red Grenache Shiraz 2004
• Linfield Road Limited Release Merlot 2004
• Mr Riggs The Gaffer Shiraz 2004
• Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Cheers, Staybaker.

2002 Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz. Tried one I bought a while back the other night and it was delicious...

Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling 2005 as low as $11.99
GW

Gregoire wrote:I reckon the 2001 Moondah Brook Cabernet has to be one of the best value wines I've had in a long time, purchased for just over $10 per bottle. There might even still be some lurking about in the shops out there.

Interesting you should say this - tasted the 2002 Moondah Brook shiraz blind among a lineup of big hitting shiraz wines (including the 02 E&E, 03 St Peters Grampian, 02 Shadowfax Pink Cliffs) and it did not look out of place at all - and at a real steal of a price.. $15! Less than a quarter of the RRP of the afformentioned wines!

Incidentally, tasting notes and mini-article on the shiraz tasting coming up in next set of "Tasting Notes" - wanted to get it into this one but no time!

Gary W wrote:Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling 2005 as low as $11.99
GW

GW - good to hear from you. I thought you were hiding or something.

Kieran

Gary W wrote:Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling 2005 as low as $11.99
GW

Haven't had the 05, but this label is usually very good qpr - Buring just does riesling from this region that's hard to better.

Good to see life's not all hard work Gary!

Cheers

daz