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Red Wine

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Derek Zoolander

Derek Zoolander

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I know this is completely non football related, but we have some wine drinkers on this forum.

What i would like to know is, what reds are good and at a decent price. I know very little about wine, but i know out of red and white i'd much prefer a red.

Please, wine drinkers of the BF Bulldog board, share with me your ideas and opinions on good reds, and if possible, a brief discription of their tastes. :)

Cheers
 
Sporty,

Below is general info from some of my old teaching notes about red and white varieties. You will find best value reds are either shiraz or cabernet sauvignon, or a blend of them.

Most Austrlain merlots have no varietal definition and are crap, pinot noir is very expensive (say a $25 pinot = $15 shiraz for quality)

VARIETAL DEFINITION (see "VD" below)
- basically a wine should smell and taste (and have appropriate structure) in accordance with its variety
- so a chardonnay shouldn't smell and taste like a riesling, and a pinot noir shouldn't smell and taste like a shiraz

VARIETIES:

RIESLING
- Old World: Germany (Rhine and Mosel rivers), Alsace
- Australia: Clare Valley (Petaluma, Knappstein, Grosset, Jim Barry )
Eden Valley (Leo Buring, Henscke, Tollana)
Frankland - Mt Barker (Goundrey, Plantagenet, Howard Park)
- VD:lime/citrus or flowery when young; honey, citrus, kero when old

SEMILLON
- Old World: Bordeaux (dry in Graves, sweet in Sauternes)
- Australia: Hunter Valley (Tyrrells, Lindemans, Rothbury, McWilliams)
Margaret River (straight or blended eg Cullens, Cape Mentelle)
- VD: Hunter: light, slightly apply and nondescript when young: rich, toasty, full bodied when old - an Australian classic
Margaret River: grassy and herbaceous when young (great with seafood) and better not cellared

CHARDONNAY
- Old World: Burgundy, Chablis
- Australia: virtually everywhere, but the better examples from Margaret River (Leeuwin Estate, Moss Wood); Adelaide Hills (Mountadam, Petaluma); Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills, Mt Mary); Geelong (Bannockburn); Hunter Valley (Tyrrells Vat 47, Rosemount)
- VD: Peach, apricot, fig, melon, grapefruit and perhaps hazelnuts if it's undergone malolactic fermentation - should not be over oaked!

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- Old World: Bordeaux (often blended with merlot, malbec, cabernet franc and petit verdot)
- Australia: virtually everywhere, but the better examples cooler areas such as Coonawarra (Wynns, Bowen Estate, Leconfield and Hollick); Margaret River (Cape Mentelle, Cullens, Leeuwin Estate, Moss Wood); Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills, Mt Mary)
- VD: Blackcurrant, cedar, cigarbox. Beware of "cabernet hole" in the palate - the gap in taste sensation between front palate and finish - this is why clarets from Bordeaux are blended, and why cabernet-shiraz is so popular in Australia

SHIRAZ (HERMITAGE)
- Old World: Rhone Valley (including Hermitage, Cote Rotie and predominant in Cote du Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-Pape)
- Australia: virtually everywhere, but more famous examples from warmer areas such as Barossa (Penfolds, Henscke, Yalumba); Hunter Valley (Tyrrells, Lindemans, Brokenwood); McLaren Vale (Hardys/Reynella, D'Arenburg)
- VD: Wide range, from black pepper and spice to cherry, earthy or even chocolate like. Some of Australia's greatest wines are shiraz, like Penfolds Grange Hermitage, Henscke Hill of Grace, Tyrrells individual Vat series and old Lindemans Hunter River Burgundies.

PINOT NOIR
Cheap local pinots are usually thin wines lacking any real varietal definition. Unless you want to pay $25+ this variety is best avoided at lower price ranges.



Re good value reds, I'd be looking at Leasingham Bastion reds, Koonunga Hill shiraz-cabernet, Hardy's Oomoo Shiraz & Ingolby shiraz and cabernet.

I'm sure the Doctor will have some ideas for you too.
 
$25-$30 Wynns - CabSavMerlot Excellent drop if you don't like red wine that are to heavy on the pallet.
 

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I like to think of myself as a coniseur (I can't even spell the word) and to my palete (can't even spell the word) red win taste like ********. Only worth drinking at footy club presentation nights when all the beer and white wine are gone and your to smashed to know the difference
 
There is a wine club that i am in called Australian Wine Selectors which is really good value. Every 3 months (this is optional) they send you a dozen bottles of wine (you can nominate if you want reds, whites or mixed) from a different region within Australia. The wines are generally pretty good and retail from around $20 to $25 per bottle plus in addition you get notes and other special offers. you don't need to purchase the wine every three months - as long as you let them know. It is a good introduction into the world of wines. The cost every 3 months is around $170 to $175 per case of 12 (which includes postage and handling). This equates to around $15.00 per bottle.

I would highly recommend it - maybe some other posters who are in wine clubs can tell us what the ones they are in are like.
 
Walsh Bay said:
There's no disputing Bulldog1954 is a Footscray supporter
Click to expand...

Lol. I think this thread should be moved to the Melbourne board. This sort of thread really goes against the stereotypical view of Bulldog supporters. Aren't we happy with our reputation as unemployed (unemployable?), obese, beer drinking *** smoking baboons
 
Red, red wine
Goes to my head
Makes me forget ....
 

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2002 was a great vintage. Look for some good bargains around $20-$25

St Hallets Faith Shiraz (2002) is excellent - one of your safest bets.
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz (2002) or Miamba Shiraz (2002)
Richard Hamilton Gumprs' Shiraz (2002) (That is how it is spelt)
Kay Bros Shiraz (2002)
Pensfolds Bin 28 (2002) - very good value - the poor poor man's grange.

(Yeah, I like Shiraz - don't drink a lot of Cabernet, but 2002 was especially good for Cab Sav, if thats your thing. Wirra Wirra Cab Sav (2002) was excellent).

And for anyone disputing that straight Merlots are ordinary try
Shottesbrooke Merlot (2003) - this stuff walks out of the winery.
 
Doc's recommendations

Shiraz (with approx $)

Hardy's Oomoo $15 - hard to beat as a budget red. Hints of blackcurrant. Good for a meaty grill!

St Halletts Faith 2002 $22 - Simply brilliant. Rich and ripe fruity flavours. Not too big. Yumptious!

Brokenwood McLaren Vale - $25 succulent fruity flavours with a soft finish

Penfolds Bin 28 and Bin 128 $26. I prefer the Coonawarra Bin 128 but most people give the Bin 28 the nod. Either way you will be happy.

St Halletts Blackwell 2002 $38. Chuck it in the cellar if you can. Bloody beautiful.

Voyager Estate 2001 $40 - hints of cherry and plum with a bit of spice.

D'arenbergs Dead Arm 2002 $65 - Liquid velvet.

-------------------------------------------------------
Cabernet Sauvignon

Sandalford $30 - a fantastic Margaret River red. Why pay more?

Ey Estate 1998 $25 - little known but you can pick up this little beauty if you shop around.

Vasse Felix $30 - another Mararet River cracker.

Orlando St Hugo (5 years and older) $40 - An icon, rarely fails to deliver.

--------------------------------------------------------
Others

Vasse Felix Cab Merlot $20 (my fave value for money red)

Shottesbrook Merlot $20 soft red consistently good, never lets you down

Coldstream Hills Pinot $28 - I love light reds. This is a beauty. Tassie Pinot's are very good.

Henshke have a few relatively new red blends Henry's 7 and Johanns Garden both around $35. Not everyone's cup of tea but I like them!

D'arenbergs - The Custodian Grenache $22 floral undertones, slightly fruit sweet

Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Red - good value at $23, blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. nice and smooth!

Personally I prefer white wine.
 
Dry Rot said:
In South Australia.

Good picks here reflect the cooler vintage in warmer ares like McLaren Vale and the Barossa.
Click to expand...


Yeah, should have said that. I'm getting a little too used to living in Adelaide and only drinking the local wines.
 

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The Doctor said:
Doc's recommendations

Shiraz (with approx $)

Hardy's Oomoo $15 - hard to beat as a budget red. Hints of blackcurrant. Good for a meaty grill!

St Halletts Faith 2002 $22 - Simply brilliant. Rich and ripe fruity flavours. Not too big. Yumptious!

Brokenwood McLaren Vale - $25 succulent fruity flavours with a soft finish

Penfolds Bin 28 and Bin 128 $26. I prefer the Coonawarra Bin 128 but most people give the Bin 28 the nod. Either way you will be happy.

St Halletts Blackwell 2002 $38. Chuck it in the cellar if you can. Bloody beautiful.

Voyager Estate 2001 $40 - hints of cherry and plum with a bit of spice.

D'arenbergs Dead Arm 2002 $65 - Liquid velvet.

-------------------------------------------------------
Cabernet Sauvignon

Sandalford $30 - a fantastic Margaret River red. Why pay more?

Ey Estate 1998 $25 - little known but you can pick up this little beauty if you shop around.

Vasse Felix $30 - another Mararet River cracker.

Orlando St Hugo (5 years and older) $40 - An icon, rarely fails to deliver.

--------------------------------------------------------
Others

Vasse Felix Cab Merlot $20 (my fave value for money red)

Shottesbrook Merlot $20 soft red consistently good, never lets you down

Coldstream Hills Pinot $28 - I love light reds. This is a beauty. Tassie Pinot's are very good.

Henshke have a few relatively new red blends Henry's 7 and Johanns Garden both around $35. Not everyone's cup of tea but I like them!

D'arenbergs - The Custodian Grenache $22 floral undertones, slightly fruit sweet

Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Red - good value at $23, blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. nice and smooth!

Personally I prefer white wine.
Click to expand...


Great list Doc.

As for the Blackwell, during the last vintage cellars 20% off half dozens sale, managed to clear out the last of their stock at two stores. This is one of the best wines I've seen, certainly the best value.

What whites?

I've only ever really enjoyed (to the same level of a good Shiraz) one white, the Tempest Gew**rztraminer (bought from the cellar door at Yaldara). It's something I'm looking to expand my appreciation of.
 
home at dawn said:
2002 was a great vintage. Look for some good bargains around $20-$25

St Hallets Faith Shiraz (2002) is excellent - one of your safest bets.
Click to expand...

Dan Murphy's often sell this for under $20 and makes people think you know more about wine than you actually do.
A VERY nice drop.
Well, that's how it works for me. :)

You just have to get past the fact that Dan Murphy's are now sponsoring Carlton.
 
A favourite of mine is Preece Cab Sav. About $15. I often take it to parties or BBQ and always get a positive response about it being a good drop. Well worth a try.
 
Thankyou all very much for your opinions and selections. Very much appreciated.

Rocco - This Bulldog has decided to widen his horizons :)
 
Sporty, 3 further useful suggestions:

- Suggest you start to read about wine. I read Huon Hooke in the Sydney Morning Herald, I'm sure there is good wine writer in the Age. Halliday in the Oz isn't bad

- Get yourself on some retailers' mailing lists eg Vintage Cellars and First Estate - they offer free tastings!

- Find a similarly interested friend or 2 and buy by the case ie 12 bottles at a time - you are getting r*ped paying single bottle prices

Cheers
 

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