The Auswine Forum

I am curious to see what the general view is out there, do you prefer Australian Cabernet or Shiraz?

I made my vote based on a representative sample of my favourite Aussie wines rather than an average standard. It's amazing how many of my absolute favourites are blends in some form or other, though - Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, Houghton Jack Mann, Cullen Diana Madeleine and Mangan, Gralyn Shiraz Cabernet, St Henri, the frankly absolutely rocking 1996 Penfolds 389 I had over Christmas...

Ahhh it used to be so easy. Would have said Cabernet without hesitation two years back, but I just can’t separate them now. Simply adore both when done well…….

So no vote for me on this.

Sam

my decision was reasonably borderline since discovering MR Cab - but shiraz is still number 1 with me

cheers
Seddo

I love Australian Shiraz, from many different regions. But most of the oldest wines in my cellar are lovely Australian Cabernets.

I don't have to choose, I like them both (and blends thereof), no vote from me either.

The blends are best

cheers

Carl

I've always been partial to Cabernet, and the few older wines I have in my cellar are Cabernet and Cabernet blends. I feel that Australia's hidden strength is the Cab/Shiraz blend.

"Prefer" isn't exactly the way I would put it but given a choice between a producer's premium Shiraz and premium Cabernet I would choose the latter. So I guess my vote is for Cabernet.

Cheers...............Mahmoud

Shiraz......and here's a thought...
Do you think that the age bracket of voters representing cabernet would be higher than shiraz? The majority of my wine loving friends [25-40yr range] would no doubt vote majority like me


ross

I'm sitting on the fence. I started out my wine drinking career preferring cabernet, but probably like them equally now. Maybe for an early drinking wine I would lean to shiraz, but for long term cabernet has the edge (in general, of course).

Ross,

You may well be right about the age bracket of those voting for Cabernet being higher than those voting for Shiraz. However, the age bracket of the better older Cabernet wines may also be higher than Shiraz.

Cheers...................Mahmoud.

I am also sitting on the fence. I hope to get more Cab Sav into my cellar as it is 60% shiraz. I think Shiraz is what Australia does best and it is our global signature wine, but the Cab Sav we make is very nice as well. Cannot complain about either!

Jeez that's a question I couldn't answer either. I drink more Aussie shiraz than cab, don't know why other than more very good examples of shiraz from various regions being available discounted than cabs. One of my favourite cabs in recent years has been Polleter's 05 ($26-$30) from Moonambel in the Pyrenees whilst one of my favourite shiraz' has been The Story Westgate 06 ($38-$40) from the Grampians. I think they're the only wines in the $25+ range I've ordered more of after trying them, for some years. Except for, you guessed it, a second Chairman's Selection from Tahbilk that had a bottle each of cab 81 and shiraz 86.

Both the Polleter's and The Story Westgate are cool-climate wines from different Victorian wine regions. I really don't know where I'm going with this but the Polleter's is fuller-bodied with more obvious fruit than the Westgate. Both have similar excellent length on the finish but the Westgate is more refined, elegant and fruit-driven, the Polleter's length coming from ripe, rounded tannins extending the fruit.

Well, I'm still not sure what all that means, make of it what you will. But even though I drink more shiraz than cab, I can't choose one over the other. Incidentally, Turkey Flat cab 03 is excellent - never tried the 02 that got a lot of raves but I wish I had more than one bottle of the 03 left, think I bought three and was obviously pleasantly surprised.

Cheers

daz

I voted shiraz just to help even it up a bit. Love both but shiraz dominates my cellar.

Davo wrote:I voted shiraz just to help even it up a bit. Love both but shiraz dominates my cellar.

I agree

I tend towards the Shiraz wines anyways because they are fruit forward. I don't have any experience with high-end Aussie cabs, but have had better experience with Shiraz bottlings in the mid and low price ranges. Mitolo Jester, Juniper Estate and Pretty Sally come to mind as good wines, but not overly impressive. Piombo, Old Plains, Marquis Phillips, and Katnook Estate Shiraz bottlings on the other hand are terrific values for the price. And at least here in the States, many retailers are having fire sales on great Shiraz's, making them even better values.

I have some Wynn cabs I'm waiting to try and would love to try some others. I've just been leery to put more money into an Aussie varietal that has yet to wow me.

I have many old California cabs and enjoy them. They tend to be more fruit forward than the Aussie cabs.

I'd like to put a vote in for shiraz due to the number of people who "know" cabernet is a "superior" grape. Truth is though, I'm very glad we have both, and I'm a little over people racing wines to find a winner let alone grapes. Abstaining from vote too.

Mood weather and food - no vote for me.

I tend to drink more Shiraz through Spring Early Summer and then come Autumn/Winter I switch to primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. Just seem to make me feel happier during those times - the nose and palate just better fit the season...

C'mon ... Shiraz.

It may be unfashionable now, but it's a truly great wine. Just wait 20 years until it is rediscovered (again). Only serious competitors are pricey ... Hermitage, Cote Rotie.

Not denigrating Cab Sav though.

Cab-Shiraz should be Numero Uno if the best grapes went there, which is all too rare. 60-40 or 70-30 blend imo.

Shiraz for me, from either McLaren Vale or Barossa.

Jay60A wrote:C'mon ... Shiraz.

It may be unfashionable now, but it's a truly great wine.

What makes you feel that Shiraz is unfashionable? I feel the opposite is true.

winetastic wrote:

Jay60A wrote:C'mon ... Shiraz.

It may be unfashionable now, but it's a truly great wine.

What makes you feel that Shiraz is unfashionable? I feel the opposite is true.

Shiraz or Syrah (I'm serious?)

Heavyweight Shiraz is out now, at least in the uk.

Jay60A wrote:Heavyweight Shiraz is out now, at least in the uk.

Out of fashion? Still great stuff if well made.

Shiraz vote from me for a number of reasons. I think there are more flavours I like in Shiraz: chocolate, aniseed, spice. I think there is a greater variety of expressions of Shiraz (cool climate/warm climate). More of my "favourite" wines are Shiraz than Cabernet.

Love Cabernet too of course!

Vive la difference!

Jay60A wrote:

winetastic wrote:

Jay60A wrote:C'mon ... Shiraz.

It may be unfashionable now, but it's a truly great wine.

What makes you feel that Shiraz is unfashionable? I feel the opposite is true.

Shiraz or Syrah (I'm serious?)

Heavyweight Shiraz is out now, at least in the uk.

Oh in the UK

one vote for Cab, shiraz is lovely and Oz has built its wine industry around it, but cab is king for me, the worldwide grape.

Jamie

I too would have voted for the blend

I ALSO HAVE TO FENCE SIT, AND IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MY PILES.

I FEEL THAT SHIRAZ IS CONSUMED MORE OFTEN BECAUSE YOU CAN USUALLY BUY A GOOD SHIRAZ FOR LESS THAN A COMPARABLE CABERNET.

VERY HARD TO BEAT A GOOD BLEND. STILL HAVE SOME OF THE GREAT WYNNS 1991. HMMMM MIGHT HAVE TO OPEN A BOTTLE.
MIKE.

sh*t i'm deaf

For bottle age for me it has to be Cabernet, although I have to admit Shiraz (particularly as a young wine) is very good at showing off the diversity of our different wine regions.

Cheers,
Ian