Buy one get one free at Liquorland

Mildara Limestone Coast 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

Mildara Limestone Coast 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Both are $12 a bottle on short term promotion, both 14.5% a/v and both a highly recommended 5/5 rating from me at this price

The retailer claims these are normally $24 a bottle. They're not quite worth that but at $12 we thought they were very worthy of whacking a dozen of each in the cellar. Which is what we did.

Not surprisingly both are cabernet dominant with plenty of blackberry fruit on a firm mid weight palate. 

Highly recommended at this price

STONYFELL 2018 "THE CELLARS" SHIRAZ CABERNET

Stonyfell started off as an Adelaide winery in 1859. Through numerous ownership changes it seemed to have been inexorably linked to the Barossa winery Saltram Those days have changed with Saltram being part of the Treasury Wine Estates empire and Stonyfell looking like it's owned by Woolworths. [The hint here is that all the website listed stockists are Woolworths retailers]

Sometime in its history Stonyfell wines started being made from Langhorne Creek fruit and tasting this I'm delighted this tradition remains. 

Rich and voluptuous this is a serious red wine and obviously Woolies want to clear some stock by offering it on a "Buy one, get one free" deal. 



GRAPE VARIETIES: Blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
VINTAGE: 2018
REGION: Langhorne Creek , South Australia
A/V: 14.5%
PRICE: $8.50 on a buy one get one free promotion
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 5/5 at $8.50

Deleted Labels mean Huge Savings

Yalumba’s “The Scribbler” label was introduced some years ago as an entry level version of “Signature”, one of their flagships. Even so, junior had worked itself up to a well deserved $20 retail price before the decision was taken to delete the label.

Aldi was given the opportunity to clear it and it’s on their shelves at $11.99 – if it hasn’t sold out already. [I scored the final seven at our local]. My advice is to grab whatever you can.

YALUMBA “The Scribbler” 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz $11.99 at Aldi

This is a Barossa blend of 62% Cabernet and 38% Shiraz in perfect balance. Alcohol is a sensible 14%. It’s not surprisingly cabernet flavour dominant with lovely cassis fruit character shining through with shiraz firming up the palate structure. The wine is on the fuller side of medium bodied with an easy five year cellaring life.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Shiraz
VINTAGE: 2016
REGION: Barossa Valley, South Australia
A/V: 14%
PRICE: $11.99
FROM: Aldi
RATING: 5/5 from me

When is half price the real price?

About now I reckon with these two Eaglehawk reds.

I wandered into the Liquorland store at Budgewoi last week and noticed they had the Eaglehawk range at a mere $5. HALF PRICE the signage screamed! I resisted the temptation  to see which price the quality of the wines really warranted. I yielded on Sunday when I paid a visit to Dan Woolworths in Bankstown [I get around, you know] and saw them at $4.99.

My decision was rewarded at the checkout when I said “There appears to be a price war on Eaglehawk”. She replied, with commendable corporate loyalty that someone had it at $5 and as always her company beat it. “We always do” she emphasised with eyes sparkling with pride. It was impossible not to respond to her enthusiasm “Yes, you SMASHED it” thinking how fortunate I paid by card for that two cent savings. 

And the wines ………….

The two I purchased were both 2018, both reedy thin and verging on transparent. One was a Shiraz, the other a Merlot. At least that's what the labels said. I suspect most cask reds offer far better quality and certainly better value.

How anyone would pay $10 for these in today's market is beyond me. Even $5 is hard to justify.

Two Outstanding Bargains from Zilzie

These two are currently on offer from Liquorland at a mere $8. And since I reckon anything under $12 for these is good value, $8 must be a bargain worth having a look at.

Both are medium weight reds in perfect balance. The shiraz shows a little more charry oak than I'd prefer but that hasn't stopped it from picking up a gold and silver medal. The cabernet shows plenty of cassis fruit and will probably find more admirers. 

ZILZIE ESTATE 2017 SHIRAZ
REGION: Karadoc, NW Victoria
A/V: 13.5%
PRICE: $8
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 4.5/5 from me


ZILZIE ESTATE 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
REGION: Karadoc, NW Victoria
A/V: 14%
PRICE: $8
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 5/5 from me

What would Dr Lindeman have thought of this nonsense?

LINDEMAN'S 2018 GENTLEMAN'S SELECTION RULE NO. 10 LISTEN UP BATCH N0. 5 2018 SHIRAZ

I hope I've put everything in the right order but this is a wine you need to drink with an iPhone rather than a glass. Turn to the back label and do this, scan that and experience something or other.

The front label is an absolute nonsense but then so many are nowadays. They're coming from big producers who need to keep their marketing staff occupied. And despite the addition of fortified wine it's an OK drink at $12. It's chunky and solid with absolutely no dazzle. You may enjoy it but don't pay anymore than this.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Shiraz
REGION: South Eastern Australia
A/V: 14.5%
PRICE: $12 discounted from $22
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 3/5 from me at $12

This wine is an absolute crime

19 CRIMES "THE UPRISING" 2018 RED WINE

This aberration is on a heavily reduced price promotion this week at Liquorland. Don't be tempted. 

The big hook on the label is that its been "Aged 30 days in rum barrels". Now who thought that was a good idea? The back label reveals that "a portion"copped that treatment and that's the only detail about the wine that appears.

Now I regularly bang on about balance in a wine. It's important. The only reason to buy this is to see what I'm not looking for. It's one dimensional with jammy sweetness that made me think of McGuigan's Black Label on steriods.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Who knows? Who cares?
REGION: South Eastern Australia
A/V: 12%
PRICE: $12 marked down from $18
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 1/5 from me

Another Outstanding Winner from Taylors

TAYLORS 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Like the others in this range this wine suffers from huge price fluctuations. It's also a strong buy recommendation at this price and below.
And like the Shiraz it's a beautifully balanced mid weight red but featuring French oak instead of American.

REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 14%
PRICE: $15
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 5/5 from me at this price

JIM BARRY WINES, CLARE VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Jim Barry Cellar Door is an absolute MUST to visit. For me they are to Riesling in the Clare Valley, like Tyrrells are to Semillon in the Hunter. Their tasting lineup is more a priceless education than an enticement to buy. With extraordinary generosity they offer the opportunity to taste their current vintages, from a variety of diverse riesling vineyards, with old vintages from the same vineyards. 

Their reds are equally impressive with a $40 offer on the McCrae Wood impossible to resist. You''ll also be offered a taste of back vintages. It really is a WOW experience

You'll have no trouble finding their 2018 Watervale Riesling pretty much everywhere. It's the one with the distintictive W label and the 2018 features a substantial amount of gold bling

GRAPE VARIETIES: Riesling, 2018 vintage
REGION: Watervale,Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 12.5%
PRICE: $20 maximum
FROM: just about everywhere
RATING: 5/5 from me

AT THIS PRICE IT GETS TOP MARKS

TAYLORS 2017 SHIRAZ
The severe market price variations of this wine distract from how good it really is. The cellar door price is $20 and I've seen it as low as $11 in the last year. Dan Woolworths have it at $16 at the moment while Liquorland pip them by a dollar.
At $15 this is a very worthy red to either drink now or cellar. There's lashings of flavour on a rich mid weight palate. The slightly overt American oak can be forgiven at this price plus it will settle down with time. Well worth a try.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Shiraz
REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 14%
PRICE: $15
FROM: Liquorland
RATING: 5/5 from me

Our first taste of 2019 and it's a beauty

                                          JACOB'S CREEK 2019 RIESLING

This is a dazzling little crisp dry white that I picked this up at Liquorland in Broome for just $8. I then did a search and discovered Dan Murphy have it and the range on at a mere $5,95. That really is ridiculous but make sure you are buying the new vintage. It's very possible they may still have the 2018 on their shelves. I haven't tasted that but it would be unlikely it's better than this.

A/V: 11.7% 
PRICE: $5.95 - $8
FROM: Dan Murphy/ Liquorland
RATING: 5/5 from me at anything under $10

TAYLORS WINES, CLARE VALLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

If you're planning a visit to a wine area make sure you visit one of the big producers. They set a benchmark against which the smaller winemakers can be evaluated. Sometimes the big guys surprise you and often they disappoint. Which is why we had to visit Taylors and we are so glad we did. This family owned winery has achieved so much in 50 years and with what we tasted the future looks outstanding. 

Most wine drinkers would be familiar with their Estate Label featuring the sea horse logo. Sadly it's become a  label at the mercy of the volume retailers who manipulate the market with huge variations in price. Their Jaraman range is far more obscure but even that is currently on some retail shelves for 60% of their cellar door price. The vintages we tasted were outstanding.

Our Cellar Door visit highlight was tasting their two ranges that aren't on retail shelves: the TWP and Taylor Made Range. Contact the winery for these on 08 8849 1118 or email cdsales@taylorswines.com.au.

We tasted a lot of wines. Here are the ones that scored the 5/5 rating from us. It's a long list  with their cellar door prices. Be careful of the vintages, the ones listed are what we tasted. Insist on those.

ESTATE RANGE [$20]  lowest I've seen in the last 12 months is $11

2018 Sauvignon Blanc [Adelaide Hills] 

2018 Tempranillo

JARAMAN RANGE [$25 for chardonnay, $32 for reds] Currently $20 to $23 at Dan Murphy, but check the vintages.

2017 Chardonnay

2017 Pinot Noir [Yarra Valley]

2017 Shiraz 

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon [Coonawarra/Clare Valley]

TAYLORS WINEMAKER'S PROJECT

2017 Riesling $25

2015 Tasmania Pinot Noir $40

2017 Shiraz $25

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon $25

TAYLOR MADE [$25]

2016 Pinot Noir [Adelaide Hills]

2017 Malbec

2017 Shiraz

2017 BDX [Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec/Cabernet Franc blend]

BROUGHT TO YOU BY MARKETING

19 CRIMES 2017 RED BLEND

I first saw this label in the UK, earlier this year, dismissing it as a standard stereotype that was only missing a kangaroo. It was considerably more expensive than the $10 I've just paid, which was a low enough cost to tempt me. 
It was a pleasant surprise with a jammy mid weight palate in perfect balance. The wine is so much better than the silly nonsense on the label.
GRAPE VARIETIES: Not specified
REGION: Not specified but probably some Barossa
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: $9.90
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 4.5/5 from me at this price

IT'S JUST A BIT TIRED

YALLINGUP  2017 SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC
The problem with so many wines like this is that they need to be drunk in their year of vintage. It's perfectly drinkable, dry and austere and really starting to show it's age. It may morph into something complex but that's the risk you take.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc
REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 12.5% 
PRICE: $8.90
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 3/5 from me

DAN MURPHY'S "SECRET SELECTION" NUMBER ONE

CLAYMORE "GOD IS A DJ" 2017 RIESLING 

I recently placed my first on line order with Dan Murphy. It was an interesting experience. The 4 dozen order was split over two deliveries which partly explains the 18 emails I received advising the evolving status of my request.
I ordered a number of their "Secret Selection" wines available on line. They tell you the vintage, the area and the grape varieties as well as a vastly inflated original price. That's unfortunate because overall the wines have been quality drinking at a very reasonable price. They're just not the huge bargains that Woolworths would like you to believe.
This is a very drinkable riesling. Crisp and dry with a little bit of age creeping into the palate. Enjoy at this price.
GRAPE VARIETIES: Riesling
REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: $8.90
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 4/5 from me

ANOTHER OUTSTANDING BARGAIN FROM ALDI

FREYA & JULES 2018 WATERVALE RIESLING
This is the best budget riesling buy in Australia that we've seen in a long time. It's understandably fresh and lively as it's one of the few 2018 wines on retail shelves. [and we're just about to hit the end of the year!] Yes, there could be a wine glut out there!
The label is a bit whacky and could be confusing. Watervale is an area within South Australia's famed Clare Valley. It's renowned for Riesling. 
If you're looking for a low cost alternative to the ubiquitous sauvignon blanc this is the wine for you
.
REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: $7.99
FROM: Aldi, Australia
RATING: 5/5 from me 

A CHARDY FOR THE TRUE BELIEVERS

 AC BYRNE 2018 CHARDONNAY


For a budget priced chardonnay this ticks all the boxes. The wood is there without dominating while the fruit is well rounded with an added dash of zing. The palate weight is satisfying and there's absolutely no doubt it's chardonnay. This deserves a try.

REGION: Margaret River, Western Australia
A/V: 13.2% 
PRICE: $8.99
FROM: Aldi, Australia
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS WINE

ANNIE'S LANE 2017 SHIRAZ
When this first came onto the market back in the mid 1990s it was positioned as a premium label. This isn't. It gives the distinct impression of being made to a price point. So while I can understand the excitement of seeing it at this price, it's hardly a bargain if it's not worth its perceived value.
The problem with this wine is it's so one dimensional. It opens hot and charry and stays that way. We've had two bottles open over 4 and 2 days. There's been no bottle variation and sadly no evolution of the wine. There's nothing subtle, no nuances and certainly no charm. I'm sure this style must appeal otherwise it wouldn't sell in such volume. My rating is based on the current price. Much more and it would slip down to a 2.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Shiraz
REGION: Clare Valley, South Australia
A/V: 14.5% 
PRICE: $9.40
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 3/5

PURE FUN IN A BARGAIN BOTTLE

SEAVIEW SPARKLING SHIRAZ

First a confession - I LOVE sparkling reds made in that unique Australian style that had its beginning way back in 1880. They are genuine red wines that sparkle and appeal to me far more than similar priced white sparkling.
Clearly this is not the best you'll ever taste but it's a perfect introduction to the style and the best we've tasted under $10. Chill it right down and enjoy with cold Christmas meats or even a curry. If you like the concept get adventurous and spend a few more dollars. There are far more out there than you could believe.


GRAPE VARIETIES: Shiraz
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: $5.90
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 5/5 from me 

THERE ARE SO MANY, SO MUCH BETTER AT THE PRICE

LOXWOOD LANE 2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC

The back label promises "fresh and vibrant" along with "citrus, honey and passionfruit". Sadly it delivers none. It's drinkable but why bother?

GRAPE VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc
REGION: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
A/V: 11% 
PRICE: $6.65
FROM: Dan Murphy
RATING: 2/5 from me