The Auswine Forum

With Vintage Cellars running a promotion on a certain "Pillar Box Red 2004", under screwcap, feted by RPJ as ".. one of the great wine bargains of the world" at 90/100, at $11.99 a bottle, made by Chris "Three Rivers and once Rockford?" Ringland, I was wondering: anyone have an opinion on this?
Surely I have to buy one to try, but interested in any comment nonetheless!

I had a few glasses about five months ago and wasn't too impressed, though that may have been due to the cirsumstances in which the wine was consumed (after lots of beer, at a party!).

From memory I wasn't a fan of the alcohol balance or tannins. Might be worth checking it out again.

I have heard mixed opinions. Depends on how you like your wines, it sounds like a RPJ OTT ripish wine that will appeal to some and not to others. Try a bottle and post your opinion here.

Will do. Tonight I hope.

I've heard very mixed opinions on this one too and was thinking of buying a single bottle to check out for myself. From memory there are places around that had it cheaper than VC too although they are saying they've now bought the lot or something. I thought it was $10 when I first heard of it about 6 months ago.

Don't bother with this one. It's cloyingly sweet and pretty one dimensional. It's very...what's the word...grapey.

North Syd Cellars were pushing it a while back for around $11 a bottle I think. They had it on for tasting, from what I remember it had a big bang of fruit up front and not much else. Didn't buy even at that price but it might suit some palates as a quaffer.

The acid on this sticks out like dogs balls!

We've been through the rants on RPJ scores before....

i agree with andyc on this one acid is hard to get past it masks the fruit, I picked up some underipe cabernet fruit. We had it on the tasting bench today wasn't that impressed.

Highly over-rated for my tastes. Agree try one, who knows?

I can enjoy overblown styles (overcooked a la JO) but they need balance. Concocted is the main adjective I would apply to PillarBox Red. Bought 12 (partly due to "Chris Ringland" name), drank 1, returned 11. Rapidly. Thanks Caros Wines NZ. French claims of being "manufactured" imo apply to this wine.

For me it's interesting that at the top end I'll enjoy some (many) of the RPJ wines (when they are in balance), at the lower end prices ($10-$20 nzd) my palate seems to attune more to JO and is looking for freshness and balance of fruit, acid and oak.

Seems banal to say, much preferred Jacobs Creek Reserve Shiraz 2002. Snappy wine at the price.

Unscrewed the cap on one last night. Pleasant enough, but a little underwhelming. It reminded me a little of another one of these "bargains" from a few months back, a Heathcote red from 2002 called "Ten Green Bottles".
High alcohol (14+%), quite "hot", a cooked-fruitish, pruny, almost burnt palate, but not in an unpleasant way. Just ordinary and one dimensional in all respects, and not bad for $10-ish, especially if consumed with food.

Thanks Gregoire,

I think I will pass on this one personally given the feedback it has been receiving.

Mark, I think you might be doing the right thing. It's now 20 hrs later and I have the remains of last night's bottle in my glass. The nose is, well, there isn't really one, other than a "winey, alcoholy" type smell. The palate is, well, just so damned sweet! Like drinking sugar. None of these blockbustery type cleanskin type wines ever hold it together for long after opening. Open and quaff, if you must. I won't be rushing back for any more.

Tried one last night too. Went in to VC to buy a bottle but they had it open for tasting. No idea how long. Nose showed plenty of promise. Plums and cherries and big flavours but also quite obviously astringent. On the palate, very hot finish, acid all over the place and like everyone has said, very one dimensional and simple. Didn't find it too sweet though - just hot and plain. Wasn't tempted to purchase even a single bottle.

The blurb on the bottle doesn't say much other than it's made by the same people that make henry's Drive. Different league though.

Hi all,

Tried 1 fromf a box and found it undrinkable. Poured the rest down the sink and returned remaining for a refund. There seems to be a growing trend against the Parkerised sweet OTT wines. And not soon enough!!! I have been complaining about this problem for a few years.

Chuck

bacchaebabe wrote:Tried one last night too. Went in to VC to buy a bottle but they had it open for tasting. No idea how long. Nose showed plenty of promise. Plums and cherries and big flavours but also quite obviously astringent. On the palate, very hot finish, acid all over the place and like everyone has said, very one dimensional and simple. Didn't find it too sweet though - just hot and plain. Wasn't tempted to purchase even a single bottle.

The blurb on the bottle doesn't say much other than it's made by the same people that make henry's Drive. Different league though.

I tried some (cab-shiraz-merlot) at a local VC last night. Agree with the comments posted here. Dreadful stuff. Hot, soy/prune alcoholic cordial; I wasn't so much taken by sugar as by a total lack of tannin, together with sour acidity that's been apparently laced in to masquerade as structure. Two mouthfuls was all I could stomach. Not exactly terroir-driven; I couldn't even find "South-eastern Australia" on the bottle. Has it got Swan Valley fruit as well, then? 90 points? Tell 'im 'e's dreamin'...

cheers,
Graeme

bacchaebabe wrote:I've heard very mixed opinions on this one too and was thinking of buying a single bottle to check out for myself. From memory there are places around that had it cheaper than VC too although they are saying they've now bought the lot or something. I thought it was $10 when I first heard of it about 6 months ago.

Could you be thinking of the Cleanskin MSG (Torbreck)? They might still have this for $9/btl over the phone ($17 in shop). Haven't tried it though.

bacchaebabe wrote:Tried one last night too. Went in to VC to buy a bottle but they had it open for tasting. [...] Wasn't tempted to purchase even a single bottle.

Here's another "me too".

Tried it at VC Beecroft on Saturday and found it cloying and (as Jay60 put it) "industrialised".

I don't mind one-dimensional (at this price point) but it needs to be a decent dimension. My 03 Metala White Label at $10/bottle was much better value.