Best wines under $20

Please Note: the up-to-date lists are now on my website:

http://bestwinesunder20.com.au/ 

Best Wines under $10 

Best Wines under $15  

Best Wines under $20 

Best Wines under $25 

Kim, April 2013

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One of the strange facts of life in the wine business is that the most expensive wines are not always the best. In practice, there's often very little difference between a $25 wine and a $75 wine, except for the label. As a rule, the more expensive wine has been given  more ‘treatment’ - special yeasts, barrel fermentation, more new oak etc. – but that doesn’t make it better. Often, the resulting wine tastes overworked.

Penfolds icon and luxury wines (their words, not mine) are bought by people who want to impress other people, because the Penfolds brand is like minted gold in the market place. They’re the kinds of wines you won’t find here, because they’re overpriced. An example is the 2007 Grange, which James Halliday gives 95 points to. James also gives 96 points to Kym Teusner’s Riebke Shiraz 2010. The Grange costs $600, the Riebke less than $20.

The wines on this list are all easy to get hold of, unlike those on other 'best' lists that are often impossible to track down. Prices are 'street' prices rounded to the nearest dollar, bought in mixed 6-packs or mixed dozens. I update this list frequently to make sure it's bang up-to-date.

WHITES UNDER $20

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2012 - $17, Dan M

Perhaps the most classic of the wonderful 2012 Rieslings from the Clare Valley

Heggies Eden Valley Riesling 2012 -$17, Kemenys

Pewsey Vale's big brother. More restraint and a few more minerals here

Mitchell Watervale Riesling 2012 - $19, 1st Choice

A rich, complex Riesling with more flavour than most. Great with food. 13%

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling 2012 - $19.99 at Winestar

Lovely fruit here and floral perfume, and lots of instant appeal. 7 trophies.

Spy Valley Gewurtztraminer 2011, $20, Kemenys

I like Gewurz, and the Kiwis make great examples. This is one of them, to enjoy now.

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - Dan M's - $17

A reasuring departure from the sweet & sour bastard Marlborough style

Dog Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - $20 at Kemenys

This label has helped set a new standard for SB, along with Spy Valley and Seresin

Fraser Gallop Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - $18, Winestar

This is classic Margaret River SSB, full-flavoured and riper than the Cape Mentelle

 

Waipara Hills Pinot Gris 2011 - $17 at 1st Choice or Dan M

Big, ripe Pinot Gris; pears, peaches and cream but balanced. Great with rich pork dishes

Vavasour Awatere Pinot Gris 2011 - $18, Kemenys

Tight, long, restrained style with pear, quince and ginger in the flavour spectrum

 

Nugan Estate King Valley Frasca's Lane Chardonnay 2009 - $18, 1st Choice

Restrained fruit, elegant French oak, will mature nicely over 2-4 more years

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2011 - MyCellars - $19, Winestar

As good as some Chardys twice its price, oak a little dominant but the fruit is there

Tarrawarra Estate Chardonnay 2010 - $18, Dan M's  

Another serious bargain from a top winery in the Yarra Valley. Grab it before it's all gone

REDS UNDER $20

Foxey's Hangout Red Fox Pinot Noir 2010 - $19, 1^st Choice Liquor

Second best Pinot under $25 in my survey, and a great drink now or soon proposition

 

Teusner The Independent Shiraz Mataro 2010 - $18, MyCellars

Sourced from ancient vines in the Northern Barossa - Ebenezer, Kalimna and Moppa

Kalleske Butcher’s Block Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2010- $19, MyCellars, 1st Choice

A terrific GSM for enjoying now or in the near future. Plenty of goodies here for the money.

Richard Hamilton McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010 -$17 at Winestar

Won both tropies at the 2012 Visy Great Australian Shiraz Challenge - best under $25 and best outright. Lovely example of the restrained McLaren Vale style

O'Leary Walker Shiraz 2010 - $18 at MyCellars

Made from 2/3 Clare and1/3 McLaren Vale Shiraz, big but polished

Flametree Shiraz 2011 - $19 at Kemenys

Margaret River style. Made by ex- Voyager Estate winemaker Cliff Royle

Mt Langi Cliff Edge Shiraz 2009 - $20, Winestar, Nicks

Langi Ghiran's little brother, this one's a juicy fruit style, not mu cuppa but great reviews

Nugan Estate Alcira Vineyard Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Kemenys $18

An impressive Cabernet with lovely cassis fruit and fine French oak, lovely drinking

Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $18 at Kemenys (Hidden Label)

Big, ripe, polished - https://www.kemenys.com/go.jsp#!class=Product&spn=1093931

Victory Point The Mallee Root 2007 - $18, Kemenys

Small maker Margaret River Cabernet Malbec Merlot; great food wine

Fraser Gallop Cabernet Merlot 2011 - $18 at Winestar and Vintage Direct (Nick's)

Elegant red, beautifully integrated. Not the most complex wine but a lovely drink

Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2010 - $20, Kemenys, will not last long (2011 is out)

2 trophies and 3 golds, and for once I agree. Voluptuous, don't keep too long

 

OTHER WINES UNDER $20

Turkey Flat Grenache Rose 2012 - Kemenys - $17

A standard bearer for quality Oz Rose

Brown Brothers King Valley Pinot Noir Chardonnay & Pinot Meunier NV - $20

Can hold its own against Chandon and Croser. Multiple trophies and gold medals

Bethany Old Quarry Fronti - $20 at Dan M's

A lovely old Frontignac / Muscat from the Barossa. Tasty, clean and elegant. Very morish.

Comments

[Clive Allcock]

Hi Kim, always enjoy the writings and especially the bargain hunting! My local 1st cellers only has the 2009 Tarrawarra Pinot Noir which I have bought but yet to try. Before I do have you any comment on how it stacks up against the 2010 you recommend? cheers, Clive

[Kim Brebach]

Thank you for the kind words, Clive. I was surprised by the quality of the 2009. It's a little leaner but pretty close to the 2010 - half of the fruit came from Tumbarumba. The 2010 is becoming hard to find; 1st Choice Liquor at Naremburn still has some.