First, an update on how we choose wines for review
As a rule, we choose the wines we review and buy the samples. We do this for several reasons:
1. It avoids the vast quantities of wine samples other wine sites receive from all over Australia, and feel compelled to review.
2. It lets us make sure that the wines we review are readily available at a street price of under $25
3. It lets us choose the wines we feel are worth reviewing
We do a great deal of homework behind the scenes before we choose wines for review. We know from experience that many labels don’t produce wines worth reviewing, or wines that are good value, or wines that give genuine pleasure to the drinker. Of course we scan the major review sites to make sure we haven’t missed a significant change, such as a change of owner or winemaker. The review sites we pay the most attention to are:
James Halliday’s Wine Companion (print and online versions)
The Winefront – Messrs Mattinson, Bennie and Walsh
The Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine crew – Peter Bourne et al
We also check the reviews of Huon Hooke, Chris Shanahan, Nick Stock and Tony Jordan from time to time.
The bottom line is that the wines we review here have been carefully selected because they offer well above average quality at attractive prices. This week, a wine merchant friend has given us a big bunch of spare samples, so over the next few weeks we’ll be reviewing wines much the way others do: go through the samples we’ve been given and share our impressions.
This week, just for a change, we’re going to look at the best deals we saw in the last six months – the ones that are still out there somewhere.
Best of 2013 so far (with our point scores)
Devil’s Ridge Block 16 Polish Riesling 2012 – $10 at Kemenys. 93+ points. Made by the Wilsons at Polish Hill River. Absolute bargain
Pewsey Vale Riesling 2012 – $16 at Winestar. 95 points. The good news is that the 2013 looks just as good
Heggies Eden Valley Riesling 2012 – $15 at Dan M’s. Another great from the same stable (Yalumba)
Essenze Sauvignon Blanc 2012 – $12.50 at Kemenys. Better than the bulk Kiwis by a mile. Trophy and 2 golds.
Fraser Gallop Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2012 – $18 at WineOnline. 94+ points. Gets 96 from JH, and it is a great example of this style the West does so well.
Eden Valley Viognier 2012 – $17 at Dan M’s. Yalumba has been making Viognier longer than anyone in Australia and it shows.
Evans and Tate Metricup Road Chardonnay 2011 – $17 at Dan M’s. 94 points. The 2010 got the medals, but we prefer this wine. It goes to show that 2011 wasn’t just a great vintage for reds in Margaret River.
Fraser Gallop Chardonnay 2011 – $18 at WineOnline. Real finesses and deceptive elegance here. Hints of white peaches and a touch of citrus, creamy mouthfeel from well-judged oak, minerals on the long finish. So much class for less than $20 is hard to believe.
Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2012 – $19 at MyCellars. 94+ points. More forward than the 2011 but shows all the same hallmarks of white stone fruit, cashews and seamless oak integration.
Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2011 – $19 at Winestar. 95 points. Stunning Chardonnay, can’t believe that this is still around.
Frogmore Creek Chardonnay 2011 – $23 at MyCellars. 95 points from us, 96 from JH, 94 from Mattinson. Classy, elegant, polished.
Brookland Valley Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2011 – $11.50 at 1st Choice. 92+ points. Enjoyable wine, outstanding value
Hidden Label McLaren Vale Merlot 2011 – $12 at Kemenys. This is Richard Hamilton’s Merlot under a plain wrapper. Serious Merlot at a bargain price.
MadFish Gold Turtle Cabernet Merlot 2011 – $14 at Dan M’s. 94 points. Classic Margaret River Cabernet Merlot from a top year. Has all the velvety richness and that slatey, dusty Margaret River Cabernet character in abundance. Ridiculous price.
Cape Mentelle Trinders Cabernet Merlot 2011 – $20 at Kemenys. 94+ points. Another example of the great 2011 vintage in Margaret River. Rich, ripe and velvety.
Brookland Valley Margaret River Shiraz 2011 – $11.50 at 1st Choice. 92 points. What a cool change from the heavy Barossa and McLaren Vale Shiraz fare.
Crabtree Watervale Shiraz 2010 – $20 at MyCellars. 95 points. Terrific Shiraz with elegance, real class, layers of flavour and seamless oak integration. Handmade by Kerry Thompson (Wines by KT)
Langdorf Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2010 – $10 at GLUG. 93 points. Has all the sweet fruit we look for in this style, without the heavy hand.
The Harem ‘Layla’ Barossa Valley Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2010 – $11 at GLUG. 94 points. Moves the goalposts. Can’t beat this for twice the money.
Hewitson Miss Harry GSM 2010 – $20 at Winestreet . 95 points. There is a lot going on here, and the wine is just a pup. Old vines and careful winemaking, punches way above it weight – just about gone though
Lake Breeze Shiraz Cabernet Bernoota 2009- $21 at 1st Choice. ‘An absolutely beautiful, full flavoured,mouth lingering, yearning for more type of wine,’ writes one of our subscribers. The wine won a trophy at the Great Aussie Red comp in 2011.
Lake Breeze Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – $20 at Winelistaustralia. Stunning Cabernet with layers of flavour wrapped in a tight package that will improve for years.
Lake Breeze Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $20 at Kemenys. 95 points. Very similar to the 2009, perhaps a touch more finesse. 95 from Huon Hooke, and we agree.
O’Leary Walker Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $20 at 1st Choice Big but built well. Wonderful depth of dark berry fruit wrapped in a tight envelope of fine acid and tannins.
Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $25 at WinesellersDirect . 96 points. Great Coonawarra Cabernet, on the big side but shows exemplary balance. Will get better too. Cork!
Lake Breeze Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – $20 at WinesellersDirect . 95+ points. A Langhorne Creek red with layers of flavour and terrific energy, big but not heavy, built for the long haul.
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – $28 at Winemakers Choice. Wonderful wine, came top of the GTW tasting against a lot of fancied opposition. We liked the 2010 even better, also less than $30 when you shop around.