Lots of choice this week with both Dan’s & 1^st Choice offering a number of quality wines at good value prices. My first stop would be to Dan Murphy to pick up half a dozen of the Kay Brothers Amery Basket Pressed Shiraz (2008, $22.70 in any six). This is my favourite McLaren Vale shiraz now that the late Wayne Thomas is no longer producing gems, year in year out. This is a wonderful example of what McLaren Vale shiraz is all about. Big, bold intense red and black berry fruit judiciously balanced, with wood, finishing with soft tannins, At this price I strongly recommend that you stock up not only because it is drinking beautifully now—even better if decanted an hour before consumption,—but if you cellar it well it will develop further over the next decade; it will reward your patience. Dan also has Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz Cabernet (2009) for a silver coin less than 30 bucks (in any six). There are some people with very good palates who say this is one of, if not THE best version of this unique Oz blend. I’m not one of them but I do remember when it was one of our most expensive reds and won the Jimmy Watson three years in succession. I do not think Wolfie, even at 77 years old, would let his successors release a real dud under this label!!

 

To fill out the need for six bottles to get these low prices, grab a bottle of the Rosemount Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (2010, $16.90). A delicious, black berry/cassis flavoured version from one of our best regions for cabernet, which demonstrates that the  consistently ordinary wines Rosemount release under their populist diamond series are not indicative of what they can produce if they bother to source good fruit.

 

Both Dan & 1^st Choice have Mt Langhi Ghiran Billy Billy on special ($13.50 in the six) and it is the best value quaffer on offer all year. If you have spare booze money, stock up now—one of Victoria’s best kept secrets being almost given away…don’t let it get away!!

 

Dan also has Yellowglen Perle NV for only $17.90 (in any six) and I reckon this is the best Yellowglen offered for some years. Peachy with some depth of flavour, this is suitable both before and with food and has none of the almost cloying sweetness that mars the entry level Yellowglen offerings.   For red lovers the Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz is available for under $18 and is as good as it was when first produced over 40 years ago. A wonderful drink at any time but it comes alive with game or turkey (if you still have any cash left to spend grab the Seppelt Show Sparkling (I think it’s 2004) and put it aside for Christmas day. A great tradition to start this year, if you have not done so before.

 

Now a first for me. Dan has the Isabel Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. At under $20 is well worth trying, even if, like me, you think Marlborough Savvy usually tastes like a badly made pineapple and passionfruit icy-pole and should be banned from human consumption because it gives wine a bad name (this para is not to be quoted publicly and will be denied by the writer if it is!)