Best red I've ever tasted

[Grumpy John]

I was recently given a bottle of red by a friend for a favour I did (thanks Ern). Said thanks, and put the bottle away until the other night when LOML and myself were invited out for tea. Thought I'd grab the wine and give it a try, turned out to be the best red I've ever tasted (mind you I'm not much of a wine drinker). Anyway I've since tried to get some more, but no luck. Does anyone know where I might be able to lay my hands on some:

Brand's Laira Coonawarra
Blockers
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005


Reviewed in James Halliday book 92/100 price approx $22.95

[Tex B]

Brands is now owned by McWilliams. Not sure if they're still making the Blocker, but you can get some more of the 2005 from vintage cellars (website shows 10 bottles available.

Enjoy,

Tex

[rsser]

06 at $18.50 ... can't comment on the year but maybe worth a try; click (http://www.boccaccio.com.au/category6_2.htm#233)

Edit: can add that 07 in the Coonawarra was iffy.

[Horsecroft88]

Now not to put too fine a point on things I love my reds, be they Shiraz, Cabernets, Pinots, Voigner's, Zinfandel etc, and similarly, while I love Tassie Pinots (the best in the country IMO due to our cool climate conditions), I also love my reds from the Coonawarra, Claire, and Barossa, as well as those from Margret River.

Every year down here in November in Hobart we have the Royal Hobart Agricultural Society wine show, and the public tasting is an event to behold. You have 4 hours precisely, in which you have the chance to taste and compare some of the very best (ie.2300 + wines, white and red).

Needless to say I only go for the reds.

In respect of some of the very best I have tasted there, they include recent vintages of Penfolds bins 707 and 389, let alone 128 and 28, of which I have quite a few vintages of them in my cellar. In addition wines from Vasse Felix, Wynns Coonawarra Michael, Hensheke (though alas not Hill of Grace) have also passed my lips.

In terms of the pillars of my cellar they include a bottle of '83 Penfolds Grange Hermitage (one of the very best years) and bought for a song ($50 back in '90) and a number of Premier Cru Bordeaux from a number of nice Chateauxs.

In terms of best value reds for $15 or less in recent times it has been slim pickings, as one of my staples Penfolds Koonunga Hill has reduced in quality while its price has increased. Saltram used to make some really nice and affordable reds.

One wine I came across only yesterday which sounds absolutely superb and great value for money is the Colonial Estate Exile Shiraz 2008 which supposedly normally retails for $200 but is available for $30 through Get Wines Direct and the similar Colonial Estate Estranger Cabernet 2008 for $15. Wish I had some spare $$$ as they rate extremely highly, with fantastic tasting notes. Dave

[rsser]

I'm a fan of Penley Estate Coonawarra 'Phoenix Cab Sauv' - long on fruit, low on tannin and acid so an easy drink now proposition.

BTW Viognier is a white though of course is now often blended with reds in small proportions.

[Horsecroft88]

Oops you are quite correct Rsser, I actually meant that Spanish variety Tempranillo: Spain´s most famous and noble grape. Also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino. Grown in many regions including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha and Penedes, but somehow got it mixed up. I must have been watching too much of OZ and James Tours of wine regions of France and the US, given they kept on harping on about Voigner. :D Hmn something got lost in the mists of my wine mind.

I actually am planning on planting out some Tempranillo when I can get hold of some cuttings. Have recently got hold of some Pinot, and will be looking at getting more of these, when possible, to start the small vineyard I have always wanted to grow.

[Geoff Dean]

I had the opportunity to taste some Penfolds Grange about 2 years ago. Must say, I was totally underwhelmed and disappointed.

SWMBO used to work for Brown Brothers, some of the experimental blends that she would bring home were the equal to or better than the Grange.

Used to enjoy trying them all out. :D

[rsser]

Yeah, Grange needs a lot of age; and there's an 'expectation effect', ie. it costs xxx bucks so it should be treely rooly good!