$50 is an fair amount of money to be investing in a bottle of wine from a retailer, and here is my quick hit list of go to wines that consistently provide value vintage for vintage and are below $50.
I always see $50 as about the limit where you can justify to yourself that the added price has something to do with the added cost in production to make that a better wine. Over $50 and you might just be paying for the label.
To simplify, I only focus here on Australian wines and without vintage.
1) Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($30-$40)
This is the wine that winemakers stock up on each year to know what Coonawarra Cabernet should taste like. World class cabernet from a world class Cabernet region, and an absolutely iconic wine of Australia. Excellent vineyards, optically sorted berries, finest french oak barrels, and all the care in the world means this wine kicks goals year on year.
Put some of these in your cellar and take a bottle out each year for the next 12 years. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Alternatives: Cabernets $30-$50 from Katnook, Brands Laira, Parker Coonawarra Estate, Majella
2) Grosset Spring Vale or Polish Hill Clare Valley Riesling $50
Yes , more Clare Riesling. But this producer is widely recognised as the benchmark for Australian Riesling, and one of the best in the world. You will sometimes find the Polish Hill at around $50, but the generous Spring Vale is well worth the investment at sub-$50
For my second place for value/quality, but possibly also the ugliest label I know, is the Claymore Superstition Riesling at around $35-$30.
3) Barossa Reds $35-$50
Ok, not the biggest secret in the world but there is a reason the Barossa is famous. An easy starting point is looking for Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz as a reference point.
You can be safe in the $30-$50 area of any wine shop for Barossa Shiraz or Cabernet from: St Hallett, Teusner, Kalleske, Gibson, John Duval, Torbreck, Hentley Farm or Head wines. From the big names, Penfolds, St Hugo, Chateau Tanunda and Yalumba can be found relatively easy in battleshops across the country.
4) Mornington Peninsula/Yarra Valley Pinot Noir $25-$40
Victoria makes very good Pinot Noir when the weather allows. While Tasmania remains the shooting star area for the variety, it can be hard to find and sometimes small batch (ie pricey)
The old main stays of Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley consistently produce quality Pinot Noir wines that are readily available and delicious. Look for names like Paringa Estate, Stonier, Oakridge, De Bortoli, Seville Estate and pretty much the all the places with ‘Yering’ in the name.
5) Margaret River Chardonnay $25-$35
This is an incredibly consistent wine, providing quality and complexity you would pay $100 for in a French wine. If you are looking for a complex, full flavoured white to blow the table away, look out for the Xanadu or any margaret river chardonnays from $30-$50. I have a wine friend who is adamant that the Fraser Gallop Parterre is actually the best Chardonnay produced in Australia.
Some other names to look out for: Xanadu, Vasse Felix, Deep Woods, Woodlands, Frasors Gallop Parterre, Stella Bella and Devils Lair.
- WINEDUCATION - 