The Auswine Forum

Hi guys, I've got a new releases tasting of Cabernet/Shiraz blends in a few weeks and I''m looking for suggestions. The percentages don't need to be weighted in favour of either variety providing there is a healthy dose of the lesser volume variety, maybe 30% plus? Not price point specific either.

Off the top of my head I'm thinking Bin 389, Kaesler WOMS and the crackingly good Flaxman The Stranger.

Very interested to see what you've found good in recent times.

Thanks in advance

Yalumba Signature
Glaetzer Anaperenna
Lindemans Limestone Ridge
Majella Malleea
JC Johann

We tried the Warrenmang Grand Pyrenees a couple of days ago. Superlative tannins. Worth a shot. It was either 05 or 06 vintage...
I could be wrong, but I think it's Cab/Shiraz/cab or thereabouts.

Murdock "The Merger" is great value.

Yalumba "The Menzies" 2005 if available. Should still be.

I think Jip Jip Rocks do a cheapie that is actually very good. At our Cab/Shiraz/cab tasting last year we were really impressed with this grape blend in general.

Bin 389 ?

One of the Metala wines should fit the bill. The white-labelled one, I think.

In addition to the Signature, and the Annaperenna you might like to try one from Oliver's Taranga vineyards, called "Corrina's", either the '04 or the '05. Super wine, at about 1/2 the price of the others I mention.

Red Bigot wrote:Yalumba Signature
Glaetzer Anaperenna
Lindemans Limestone Ridge
Majella Malleea
JC Johann

I think Brian's pretty much nailed the major ones to consider if you're looking for wines in the neighborhood of the Bin 389/WOMS.

cuttlefish wrote:Murdock "The Merger" is great value.

Yalumba "The Menzies" 2005 if available. Should still be.

One of the Metala wines should fit the bill. The white-labelled one, I think.

Murdock's "The Merger" would be an interesting inclusion against the heavy hitters, as I've had the suspicion it could punch above its weight.

The Menzies is a straight Cabernet Sauvignon.

I don't think the Metala white label is anything like what it used to be - it's been bastardised by Fosters down to the standard of the new lows of Koonunga Hill (now there's a thought for a shock inclusion...)

John #11 wrote:In addition to the Signature, and the Annaperenna you might like to try one from Oliver's Taranga vineyards, called "Corrina's", either the '04 or the '05. Super wine, at about 1/2 the price of the others I mention.

I wasn't impressed with the 06 Corrina's month - very rubbery/alcoholic. That said there's a few on Steve's panel I'm sure who'd like it.

Other possible inclusions could be the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz (a monster of a wine), Wynns Johnson's Block (interesting to see if it holds up in this blind tasting after recent comments), Rockford Rod & Spur.

I think Redman had a limited edition anniversary Cabernet Shiraz blend from 2002 which was very elegant and smart which could be a good contrast to the powerhouse style of many. In contrast, if you can get a Mollydooker or R Wines/Marquis Phillips blend in there that could equally be as interesting.

You could also go all out and put in a 2005 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Coonawarra Caberrnet/Barossa Shiraz or 2004 Bin 60A...

Cheers,
Ian

For mine:-

Yalumba "Signature"
Yalumba "FDR1A"
Rockford "Rod & Spur"
Elderton "Ode to Lorraine" (has some merlot though)
Lake Breeze "Bernoota" (Excellent cheapy)
Bleasedale "Petrel Reserve" ( has malbec in the blend though)
Gralyn Shiraz/Cab
Majella Malleea
Grant Burge "Nebuchadnezzar"

Oh, and a Yalumba D Cuvee to start the evening.

I've only tried "The Merger" 2004 which is very good/excellent
(have a couple of bottles stashed) - think I saw opinions that the 2005 wasn't quite as good. Incidentally, it's a blend of Barossa shiraz and Coonawarra cabernet, hence the name.

I had a bottle of Metala (white label) shiraz cab 2006 in the last week or so, not stellar but quite enjoyed it, the Langhorne Creek character it showed along with a bit of complexity - think it's developed a bit since I first tried it 6+ months ago. This label has been available as low as $11/btl which I consider to be exceptional value for a quaffer of this quality. It's 91/100 for me, GW 90/100.

Cheers

daz

Davo and Red Bigot seem to have it covered.

Would also suggest the Diesen as well.

Perhaps it would be interesting to have the Wolf Blass Black Label 2004 in the mix being the winner of the Great Australian Red 2008 competition. I remember quite liking it when I tried it as long as you were immune to some oak (same goes for the Signature of course)

cheers

Carl

And Yalumba's "The Scribbler" as a less concentrated style?

I don't think the Metala white label is anything like what it used to be - it's been bastardised by Fosters down to the standard of the new lows of Koonunga Hill (now there's a thought for a shock inclusion...)

Although -- if you can get your hands on the Koonunga Hill 'Seventy Six' - either the 2006 or 2007, you may be pleasantly surprised. Around $20 pb, but not freely available through normal retail outlets. You can get it from CD at Magill. Very much aligned to the best of the 'old' KHs.

Tony

Nomis wrote:

I don't think the Metala white label is anything like what it used to be - it's been bastardised by Fosters down to the standard of the new lows of Koonunga Hill (now there's a thought for a shock inclusion...)

Although -- if you can get your hands on the Koonunga Hill 'Seventy Six' - either the 2006 or 2007, you may be pleasantly surprised. Around $20 pb, but not freely available through normal retail outlets. You can get it from CD at Magill. Very much aligned to the best of the 'old' KHs.

Tony

If you're talking quality blends like Signature, Bin 389, Johann, WOMS, Anaperenna, Malleea, etc, it's really not in the same league and bluntly doesn't deserve to be there.

I remember someone in Penfolds telling me the 2006 was basically the Thomas Hyland blended up, and I was never that impressed with it - I think Campbell Mattinson once summed up the Thomas Hyland range as "a bastard child that should never have been born in the first place", a comment (and feeling) I fully agree with.

Cheers,
Ian

n4sir wrote:I wasn't impressed with the 06 Corrina's month - very rubbery/alcoholic. That said there's a few on Steve's panel I'm sure who'd like it.

Reowww, put those claws back in Ian