The high price of the Penfolds Icons poses the question: what else could you do with the money?
You won’t get your money back on Grange, not the current 93 point-rated release, or any other going back to 1971 – they’re all cheaper at auction than the current shelf price. There two better ways to invest $700.
If you’re a died-in-the-wool Penfolds lover, buy a baker’s dozen of the pick of this release:
- Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2014 – $249 ($83 a bottle at Dan M’s)
- 4 x Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2013 – $174 ($58 a bottle at Dan M’s)
- 3 x St Henri Shiraz 2012 – $219 ($73 a bottle at Dan M’s)
Total $710
The other choice is to spend the money on high quality wines that are great value, and we’ve selected 25 outstanding wines that represent the best in their style. They also add up to $710.
Rosily Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – $18 at Kemenys. Great example of the Margaret River style from an underrated winery, spends time in oak for added complexity, underpriced.
Seresin Estate Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – $20 at Wineonline. This is one of the best savvies to come out of NZ (it contains some Semillon as well), and I have no idea how Wineonline gets the price down this low. It’s handmade from biodynamic vineyards and part of it is barrel fermented. It serves up gooseberries, grass and citrus, great texture and chalky minerals. Improves for 2-3 years.
Tamar Ridge Pinot Gris 2014 – $23 at Dan M’s . A truly serious PG, complex and textural, the fruit is subdued at present, there’s great depth and length and lots to discover here over the next 3-4 years. An object lesson in what this variety can produce in the right hands.
Ravensworth Riesling 2015 – $25 at MyCellars. Made by Bryan Martin when he’s not making wine at Clonikilla. This Riesling has been laying legitimate claim to being the best in the land, winning top trophies at the national wine show and top gongs from reviewers. Serious style for Riesling freaks. Be quick if you want some, these wines are handmade in tiny quantities.
Tyrrell’s HVD Semillon 2009 – $25 at MyCellars or Tyrrell’s Belford Semillon – $25 at MyCellars. These semi-mature wines show what good Hunter Semillon is all about, but they still have years to go before they show their best.
Cullen Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2013 – $30 at MyCellars. The standard bearer for Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.
Tertini Riesling 2008 – $32 at Kemenys. I cannot understand why this phenomenal Riesling from the Southern Highlands hasn’t flown out the door, or why the people at Tertini haven’t bought it back. Check the link for the full story.
Mitchell McNicol Clare Valley Riesling 2008 – $35 at the winery. Andrew’s finest, this is rich, ripe, luscious Riesling in the best Alsace style, with all the aged Riesling hallmarks of toast and butter and a whiff of hair-oil. Yet it’s the concentrated rich fruit that dominates in this mouth-filling powerhouse of a Riesling. Like a grand cru Alsace Riesling from a great year, this wine is big enough to handle goose.
Martinborough Vineyard Chardonnay 2013 – $35 at VENO. The previous vintage was voted the world’s top Chardonnay outside Burgundy by Decanter magazine, and Bob Campbell says he prefers this one. It’s certainly a lovely chardy, smooth and silky with seamless integration of stone fruit and cashews, and it comes across more voluptuous than its 13% suggests. Best chardy outside Burgundy? No, but it’s a good chardy for the money.
Dopff Au Moulin Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg 2010 – $37 at Dan M’s. I haven’t tried the 2010 yet but the 2009 is one of the finest Rieslings I’ve tasted from anywhere – all finesse and class, terrific line and length, and flavour building as you keep coming back for more. Heavenly.
Hidden Label Special Reserve Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2011 – $39 at Kemenys. This is Tyrrells Vat 47 Chardonnay at a hefty discount. Great vintage. Enough said.
Curly Flat Chardonnay 2013 – $43 at MyCellars. One of our best Chardonnays, period. From a cracking boutique in the cool Macedon ranges in Victoria.
—————-
Yalumba The Cigar Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 – $22 at Jim’s Cellars or $24 at Nicks / Vintage Direct. The fruit is sourced from Yalumba’s Menzies vineyard in Coonawarra. The cigar is the long, slim shape of central Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa. I liked the 2010 a lot for its combination of depth and elegance. The fruit in the 2012 is bigger, and so is the oak to keep it company. Blue fruits, dark chocolate and pencil shavings. Great concentration, depth and length here, and polished tannins finish it off neatly. Tastes like a much more expensive red. Will get even better given a few years in the cellar.
Rosily Shiraz 2010 – $23 at the winery. From our favourite Dark Horse winery in the west comes a Shiraz that laughs at some of its clumsy relatives from South Australia. 5 years old and mellowing yet the colour doesn’t show it. The nose combines berry fruit and cool-climate pepper, and the velvety palate offers dark berries wrapped in very fine French oak. The polished tannins on the finish provide a perfect ending for this story. Benchmark Shiraz for a pittance.
St. John’s Road Workhorse Shiraz Cabernet 2013 – $23 at Wineboss. This has been one of our favourite Reds in recent months. I think I called this the poor man’s Bin 389 in my review. It’s a less ‘worked’ wine than the Penfolds but gives nothing away in smoothness and high-toned fruit.
Rosily Vineyard the Cartographer 2011 – $23 at the winery. A wonderful Margaret River Bordeaux blend, smooth and truly elegant. Cabernet Sauvignon 49%, Cabernet Franc 27%, Merlot 21%, Petit Verdot 3%, all in perfect harmony here.
Teusner Avatar Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2013 – $25 at Winelistaustralia. All the same goodies as the 2012 – sweet fruit from red berries with a pinch of dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins – but a touch more disciplined and balanced. About 50% Grenache, 30% Mataro and 20% Shiraz. About as good as it gets.
Patritti Marion Grenache Shiraz 2012 – $27 at MyCellars. The Marion Vineyard is now well over 100 years old, and is the world’s oldest urban, commercial vineyard. It is owned by the Marion City Council, but leased to the Patritti family. Haven’t tried it, here’s what JH says about the wine: ‘Deep purple-crimson; a powerhouse, full bodied wine with savoury, licorice, black fruits to the fore, yet retaining balance. The heavy bottle, the superb quality cork, and the quality of the wine make the price unbelievably low.’ – 96 Points.
Blue Poles Allouran Merlot Cabernet Franc 2011 – $28 at United Cellars. Wonderful wine, this, choc-full of fruit and nuts and spices polished with soft oak and great length. The richness and perfect balance makes it a lovely drink now, but it has the tannin/ acid balance to age well. Can’t see how it can get better though – this is one of the best Aussie Pomerol blends I’ve tasted at any price.
Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2012 – $30 at MyCellars. Ray Jordan nails it in his review: ‘Positively stunning shiraz from this great Margaret River producer. Deep and powerful, yet with remarkable elegance and style. Spices and blackberry on the nose with a little blueberry and chocolate nuance. The palate has a sinewy thread holding the oak and tannin around the intense driving fruit flavours. An engaging savoury finish. All class. 97 Points.’
Rockburn Pinot Noir 2012 – $35 at Barrique Fine Wines. One of the best from Central Otago, from a great year. Medium bodied with layers of flavour, finesse and balance, long finish.
Woodlands Margaret Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec 2011 – $38 at Nicks / Vintage Direct. I prefer this vintage to the 2012 which is mostly in the shops now. The 2011 is a masterclass in the Margaret River Cabernet blend, combining classy dark fruits with pencil shavings oak, dried herbs and Margaret River gravel. Plenty of depth and fine-grained tannin for the long haul. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon. 16% Merlot, 14% Malbec
Grant Burge Filsel Shiraz 2010 – $40 at Dan M’s. Another triumph for the wine sleuth. The 2010 Filsel won Winestate Magazine’s World’s Greatest Shiraz Challenge 2 years ago, beating 700 of the best from around the world including Grange and Hill of Grace. I’m not sure it’s that good but I rated it 95 points at the time, not a score I use very often.
Mitchell McNicol Shiraz 2006 – $45 at the winery. One of the best reds we’ve tasted this year, regardless of price. Terrific combination of exquisite fruit and classy oak, seamless integration and perfect balance. Very hard to put down.