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There are bargain wines and there are wine bargains. What’s the difference?
A bargain wine is one that has been created by a winemaker for a specific price point that over-delivers on value; a wine bargain is one that is offered way below its recommended retail price.
First, let’s look at wine bargains. Due to an oversupply of wine grapes and cancelled export orders (mainly from the US) caused by the fallout of the global financial crisis, discount wine retailers regularly bombard inboxes around Australia with the latest deals.
There are often some great bargains to be found. But beware: there is also a lot of unwanted wine that isn't very good, doing the rounds.
There are loads of e-tailers and auction sites out there that will sell you genuine bargains but you do need to be careful with your purchases. Especially as most of the time you need to buy a case of 12 bottles.
Here's what I do when I'm considering buying a wine bargain.
• Do some research into the wine and be sure you want it. If a deal seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.
• Buy only from a website that has an unconditional returns policy, so you can return the wine if you don’t like it.
• Avoid the buy-one-case-get-another-free deals unless you are having a party. Drinking 24 bottles of the same wine, no matter how good it is, gets boring.
• And finally, remember there will be another bargain offered tomorrow.
I’d love to be able to bring you the best wine bargains of the week but, with our production lead times, it’s just not possible. They’d usually be sold out by the time the magazine makes it to your doorstep.
But back to the bargain wines – the ones that punch above their weight. I’ve tried a load of wine over the past few months and the cheaper standouts, especially at less than $10 a bottle, have generally come from the larger wine brands, such as Evans & Tate, Hardy’s, Long Flat, Wynns and DeBortoli.
These big wineries have the economies of scale and access to large amounts of quality grapes that the smaller producers just can’t match.
Love a Bargain?
For the past three years I have subscribed to a website run by a bloke who calls himself the Red Bigot. The information posted by Brian Handreck, a former IT consultant from Canberra, keeps me up to date with daily bargains and best prices on highly regarded wines. He sometimes even posts the source of cleanskins offered by the big e-tailers and sorts the wheat from the chaff.
I have saved the annual $30 subscription fee many times over. Handreck has opened the site up free to The Weekly Review readers for the next week. Log into redbigot.info with the following details: USERNAME: guest. PASSWORD: trial2010
TASTINGS\ DRINK THIS
Blue Pyrenees Estate Shiraz 2008
(Pyrenees) $18; 14.1% a/v
4/5
Food match: Pork belly
2008 was a good year for reds in the Pyrenees. Aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, eucalyptus and mocha oak are followed by flavours of blackberry and spice. It’s medium-bodied and slips down pleasantly before you get hit by a whack of blackberry that lingers longer than a sub-$20 wine should. Look for this at the chains where it is often much cheaper.
Deakin Estate Shiraz 2009
(Murray Darling) $9.99; 13.5% a/v
3.5/5
Food match: Chops and chips
Deakin Estate produces a good range of wines at less than $10 and this is my pick of them. Aromas of cherry, plum and spice are followed by medium-bodied bright flavours of redcurrants, more plums and raspberries. Fine, subtle tannins and a hint of pepper spice finish off the wine nicely. This is a good, well-priced quaffer.
Rosabrook Cabernet Merlot 2008
(Margaret River) $17; 14.5% a/v
4/5
Food match: Roast lamb shoulder
This has 75 per cent cabernet sauvignon and spends a year on oak. It smells of dark berries, cherries and mint, along with dusty and leafy characteristics – hallmarks of Margaret River cabernet blends. It is deep red in colour and well balanced, with sweet flavours of blackcurrant, chocolate and blackberry. It’s not often you find quality Margaret River cab sav you can drink every day.
Portone Pinot Grigio 2008
(Veneto, Italy) $9.99; 12% a/v
3.5/5
Food match: Spaghetti with clams
Pinot Grigio can be hit or miss. It’s often bland but when a good one comes along you remember why it is so popular. This has lovely aromas and flavours of apples, pears, white peach and spice. It is crisp and refreshing, with a mineral finish. It’s a direct import from Vintage Cellars.
J.P. Chenet Chardonnay 2009
$7.99; 13%
3/5
Food match: Almond gazpacho
This Dan Murphy’s direct import is top value. It smells like peach, melon, honey and almond. It is milky and smooth in the mouth with flavours of white stone fruit and a good lick of grapefruit acid. It’s not the most complex wine going around but at this price, who cares?