The Auswine Forum

Well, another Saturday morning searching in vain for something decent to cellar in the $20. price range. I use the Penguine Guide as my basic guide but it is full of wines that will never be seen outside of the Capital Cities (or boutique wineries) and mostly in the higher price ranges as well.
Anyone have any experience with these two??
'02 Brands Coonawarra Cab Sav. RRP around $24.
'03 Brown Bros Cab Sav. RRP around $20.

underwraps50 wrote:Well, another Saturday morning searching in vain for something decent to cellar in the $20. price range. I use the Penguine Guide as my basic guide but it is full of wines that will never be seen outside of the Capital Cities (or boutique wineries) and mostly in the higher price ranges as well.
Anyone have any experience with these two??
'02 Brands Coonawarra Cab Sav. RRP around $24.
'03 Brown Bros Cab Sav. RRP around $20.

How long are you expecting to cellar the wines you are looking for?

Don't feel restricted to local purchases, there are a number of internet wine e-tailers who will deliver mixed case buys "free" or for a reasonable charge for over $200/case orders. (Including out host, Gavin).

I haven't tried the Brown Bros, but the Brands is a reasonable wine (from a tough vintage in Coonawarra) that might cellar for a few years, it's available down to about $16.

Others that might scrape in or be just over $20 in mixed cases are:

Elderton Cabernet and Shiraz (2003 current vintage)
Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2004
Tait Ball-Buster blend 2004
Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2003, 2004 due out soon
Mamre Brook Cabernet and Shiraz (wait for the 2004, due out soon)
Penny Hill McLarenvale Shiraz 2004 ($21 and up)
Thorn Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004
O'Leary Walker Clare/McLarenVale Shiraz 2003/2004
Pirramimma Reserve Shiraz and Cabernet 2002

Plus I'm sure others will chime in with some more suggestions.

Above plus these tasted at CD Barossa and Clare this month. All were under $25 at CD prices:-

Rockford Moppa Springs 2001
St Hallett 2002 Cabernet Shiraz
St Hallett Faith 2004
Rolf Binder Heinrich 2003 or 2004
Kilikanoon Medley 2003
Tim Adams Cabernet 2002
Clos Clare Shiraz 2003
Claymore Dark Side of the Moon 2003
Langmeil Valley Floor 2004
The Willows Shiraz 2002
The Willows Cab 2002
Saltram Metala Shiraz Cabernet 2004
Saltram Pepperjack 2004

underwraps50 wrote:Well, another Saturday morning searching in vain for something decent to cellar in the $20. price range. I use the Penguine Guide as my basic guide but it is full of wines that will never be seen outside of the Capital Cities (or boutique wineries) and mostly in the higher price ranges as well.
Anyone have any experience with these two??
'02 Brands Coonawarra Cab Sav. RRP around $24.
'03 Brown Bros Cab Sav. RRP around $20.

I tried the 02 Brands at the Coonawarra roadshow when it was released. I thought it was one of the poorest Cabernets there.

For readily available stuff at around $20 to cellar for a few years, I'd be looking at things like the 03 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet, 02 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz, Tahbilk Cabernet and also the Tahbilk Shiraz (02 vintage is current).

Cheers

Andrew

I'll back up some other peoples suggestions:

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 2002 (or wait for 2004)
Tahbilk Cabernet 2002

and since no-one else has mentioned it yet, Penfolds Bin 138 GSM 2004 is a very nice drop that should cellar for a few years.


Bill

As it's what I'm drinking with Dinner Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 2002. Opening a bottle as need something full, fruity and tannic to handle a chile con carne (oat quiz-ine chez jay) but quality surprise me every time. Could use another 3-5 years no probs. 2002 Cabernet supposed to be a good drop but I never quite "get" Barossa Cabernet.

Hmm have to open a new thread for some tips on that.

Jay.

Hi Underwraps

I concur with Davo's recommendation of the Saltram Pepperjack Shiraz 04 that I've stashed a couple of btls of in a wine cabinet. $17 from Hedley's Liquor Savers Superstore. One of the local staff told me that Coles are going to go ahead with building a similar store that Hedley had planned for Rocky - rebranded, of course.

Haven't tried it yet but also have a couple of bottles for Leasingham Bin 61 02 from Liquor Savers @ $18. Need to try one to see if I should get more while still discounted.

The St Hallet Faith seems to have a good rep.The 04's still on discount at Liquor Savers for $16 so may get a bottle tomorrow to try it, see if I should get a couple of bottles to hold for a while.

The Hedley-branded chain currently has Wirra Wirra Chuch Block 04 discounted @ $18. Picked up a bottle today to try this evening. I'll post a TN. Should've tried it when it was $16 at Liquor Savers but went for the Pepperjack and Bin 61 instead. At $12 Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise 04 delivers some complexity at it's price level and under screwcap should last for a few years though may not develop much more.

Cheers

daz

Daryl Douglas wrote:

Haven't tried it yet but also have a couple of bottles for Leasingham Bin 61 02 from Liquor Savers @ $18. Need to try one to see if I should get more while still discounted.

daz

The 2002 Bin 61 way overdelivers for the price.

If you can still get it Buy Buy Buy.

Davo wrote:

Daryl Douglas wrote:

Haven't tried it yet but also have a couple of bottles for Leasingham Bin 61 02 from Liquor Savers @ $18. Need to try one to see if I should get more while still discounted.

daz

The 2002 Bin 61 way overdelivers for the price.

If you can still get it Buy Buy Buy.

Thanks Davo. I'll try the Church Block later this week - Bin 61 tonight, probably buy a six-pack tomorrow

Cheers

daz

A couple of others that come to mind, if you can find them on the net rather than Rocky are Stonehaven Hidden Sea Shiraz & Cab 01. Should have a couple more years to their peak but they drink well now. The 02 Cab's no slouch either.

I've tried a couple of vintages of Ooomoo but it's just a style I can't appreciate.

Seppelt Victorian Shiraz 03 is good value and I think still generally available but go to the e-tailsers for better prices and storage than you're likely to find in Rocky. Under screwcap it should last up to 2009. For e-tailers. Brian's (RB - link on TORBWINE) best buys is an excellent resource that I'm likely to start using once Coles take over the Hedley stores and reduce the range/increase prices.

Morris Rutherglen Shiraz 2001 if you can find it anywhere is very good value. I didn't buy enough before Liquor Savers ran out of stock @ $13 but do have a couple of bottles for later. Gold medal & best < $25 at the last Shiraz Challenge - it's ready to drink now but could have a few years left in it. I drank most of the bottles I bought.

Tahbilk's wine club is great value with generally reliable, varietal wines that are built to last at least 10 years at prices about 25% less than I've seen at retail. Do admit though that in recent years I've mostly bought whites from them. Must get a bakers dozen of the Cab 02 (thanks for the heads-up Bill - have you tried the shiraz 02?) - the 13th bottle being a 94 should've peaked by now and be very nice drinking even if 94 wasn't one of Tahbilks better vintages. Very good value @ $13.25/btl.

I'll back Brian's recommendation of the Leasinham Bin 61 02 as well - just tried it after allowing some in glass to breathe for an half hour or so. Plums and dark berries on the bouquet with a little funkiness from mostly older cedary oak, I think. Plummy fuit on the palate, soft tannins and acid with restrained oak. Medium finish. Disaster for the plastic next week regardless of the looming natural disaster tomorrow.

daz

Thanks Gents, very helpful.
RB - I generally look for something that will take about 5-10yrs. I know that sounds a big ask but I have had a lot of success in the past, mainly by just being really picky about what I cellar, or by cellaring reliable wines - mainly Penfolds. I try to get a bit of variety into my small collection, and this is difficult in Rockhampton as there are only really two or three modest sized wine retailers, and they are not catering for the enthusiast . There is nothing of the Dan Murphys size, for e.g.
Daryl D (Hi Daryl) mentions the Hedley chain but in Rocky they are mainly interested in pushing beer & mixed drinks & have only a couple of dozen reds in stock. I recognise the logic in buying off the net & I think this is how I will have to go as most of the wines suggested are not available in Rocky - its just that I have always enjoyed the experience of browsing around a bottle barn & coming away with a few good bottles. Please bear with me if I continue to seek your opinions when I find something that could be a prospect. Cheers.

Hey guys,

This cellaring caper can be a tough one, not to mention the discipline required to keep your mitts off the wine before time. The sub $20 category is even tougher but the big boys seem to have a handle on it. I suppose they have that much more fruit they can afford to allow better quality juice into lower priced wines.

I reckon sticking to the right varietals from the right areas is helpful. Therefore any cabernet from the Coonawarra from a very good year is worthwhile, and likely to be found at the right price. Same goes for Barossa or McLaren shiraz, Margaret River Cabernet etc.

Working from this perspective rather than a $ value should reap brighter rewards down the track.

underwraps50 wrote:Thanks Gents, very helpful.
RB - I generally look for something that will take about 5-10yrs. I know that sounds a big ask but I have had a lot of success in the past, mainly by just being really picky about what I cellar, or by cellaring reliable wines - mainly Penfolds.

Underwraps, we're a pair of like birds. Whilst I've got a reasonable amount of expensive and semi-expensive wine most of my wines are around the range you mention.

Personally I find the best value wine that will cellar for at least 5 years to be Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cab Shiraz. Currently readily available for under $10 (cheaper than 5 years ago - incredible) I've found it will easily last 5 years and the better vintages (e.g. 98) 10 + years. It's now on my standard "at least a case a year" plan (although with the wife now starting to get a red wine tongue this will have to increase).

I'd agree about most of the other Penny's labels although you'll be lucky to get many of them under $20.

I'd also recommend Wynns Cab Sav. Currently great pricing but haven't tried the 2003 vintage. The other years certainly cellar 10+ years in good conditions.

tony

(Unusually for this site ) The focus has been on reds. Some thoughts on whites:
- Tahbilk Marsanne (typically an easy seven year prospect)
- Houghton White Classic (aka HWB) Generally sees 5 years easily and gathers complexity over that period
- Riesling (too many to mention)
- Hunter Semillon (e.g. Mc Williams Elizabeth)

On top of that, some of Seppelts red cheapies have a decent structure and Water Wheel Shiraz is in the right bracket.

Best of luck in your quest!

Ian

Ian S wrote:- Houghton White Classic (aka HWB) Generally sees 5 years easily and gathers complexity over that period
- Riesling (too many to mention)
- Hunter Semillon (e.g. Mc Williams Elizabeth)

Good point. I've found my older HWB to be what I feel to be overly woodie and I've tended to avoid them (think it was a 94 we drank recently). Is the style of the later vintages still like this?

Agree with you on the Hunter Semillion as well although a lot of these are pretty pricey (over the $20 mark).

Tony
Although Houghtons do re-release HWB at up to 8 years (I believe), I'd not be tempted to go past 6 or 7 years myself. However, based on your comment about the 94, give one a try at (say) 4 years old and see if that's more to your liking.

I understand the blend has changed in recent years and is a quite different mix to the 94, but have no further info. I haven't noticed massive changes in style vintage to vintage, but don't drink it often enough to make those calls.

regards

Ian

A couple more suggestions:

Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Shiraz 2002 - Have seen it on special as low as $17, however also as high as $30.

Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Cabernet 2001 - As above, avoid the 2002 cab

Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling 2005 - Once again price varies from $14 right up to $20+