Can you suggest a $50 wine better than Penfolds RWT?

[afro]

Thanks for the list.

The only one I’ve tried multiple times is Amery and while it’s very nice Shiraz I wouldn’t put it in the same league as RWT. Block 6 on the other hand I do rate over RWT. Looking at past purchases only four years ago I got it for $55 so it would almost qualify for the list sadly these days the price almost doubled.

i didn't include any cabs. because most cab does need more oak than shiraz to combine with each other,from the list i tried not to include wines that are oak dominated so others can give it a try , it takes a special vineyard to made special wines,more unique and complex.

Most of my penfolds are bin389 and st henri, only a hand full of rwt and 707, that doesn't mean penfolds are bad, its just so overpriced . its driven by quantities that sales overseas rather than its quality. my last bin389 cost me less than $45 and i use to buy them on first release, nowadays i only buy penfolds like many others, special + giftcards + cashback.

 

[afro]

I may have mis-interpreted burmans post but I read it as $30-$50 retail price wines that are superior to RWT.

Maybe i overstepped a bit by listing the wines , its not a crime to like wines with more oak, its more of a personal preference. if you are heading down that road, you will only seek and prefer the same peference and no others, perhaps Bordeaux and burgundy will be the path that you will seek further.

at the same time, our palate changes, i use to like cab more , the vanilla and woods you get from a decent cab makes it easy to love, young shiraz from barossa are often jammy and sweet, as years goes by pinot was what i liked best then when i discovered hunter shiraz, i started to dislike what i had and cellared. years later etna rosso and barbaresco came into my life and geezzz.....things changes quite first, i never thought i would pay for something that cost a lot more from other countries and here i'm spending less in aussie wine and try to take in a few more italians.

 

[boomy]

Most of my penfolds are bin389 and st henri, only a hand full of rwt and 707, that doesn't mean penfolds are bad, its just so overpriced . its driven by quantities that sales overseas rather than its quality. my last bin389 cost me less than $45 and i use to buy them on first release, nowadays i only buy penfolds like many others, special + giftcards + cashback.

Same as you I also got all of my Penfolds at heavily discounted rates and I’m sure many others here did the same. I don’t understand the resentment over RRP, so 20 years ago Bin 389 was $30 at first release, so what? The Chinese were not the buying force back then as they are today but the quality didn’t drop and we can still buy at decent rates, only difference is that it’s not at first release.

It’s not only Penfolds btw, look at Grant Burge, Wolf Blass and others. Overseas sales jacked up prices across the board and it’s ok, it’s business. Instead of buying at first realise we buy later when massively discounted.

 

[Tanark2]

Just off the top, a few Victorian producers maybe not so well known that I think represent good value compared to RWT/Penfolds:
Warrabilla if like 'em big. The Parola range is great value. You can get them from the winery or Nicks ($35);
Anderson's while we in the Rutherglen region - Particularly sparkling reds if that's your thing. Cellar block is around $50 and very good but they have plenty at lower price points. Only available cellar door or club;
Mayer from Yarra Valley - Cabernet is very good (around $50 I think);

If you are after Penfolds, Vintage Cellars have 25% off some of their stock at the moment.

 

[afro]

Same as you I also got all of my Penfolds at heavily discounted rates and I’m sure many others here did the same. I don’t understand the resentment over RRP, so 20 years ago Bin 389 was $30 at first release, so what? The Chinese were not the buying force back then as they are today but the quality didn’t drop and we can still buy at decent rates, only difference is that it’s not at first release.

It’s not only Penfolds btw, look at Grant Burge, Wolf Blass and others. Overseas sales jacked up prices across the board and it’s ok, it’s business. Instead of buying at first realise we buy later when massively discounted.

keep in mind that the chinese arent as rich before compare to now, in shanghai they are only interested in 2 penfolds, bin389 and 707, well the special bins that comes out every now and then too. penfold is very smart by using multi vineyards in multi regions so quality wont be far off from every vintages and thats the reason why the production is so big, over 100000 cases each year? can't remember the numbers, but grange also has a large production each year.

other wineries use to be doing well until they change their customer direction from locals to overseas, you are right about this, it is business but no loyalty for the locals. i mainly support family owned wineries after i saw big price hike for no reasons, they can do whatever they like, you can tell by the wines that came back as a export got cancel or whatever means that they aren't doing good out there.

 

[afro]

Just off the top, a few Victorian producers maybe not so well known that I think represent good value compared to RWT/Penfolds:
Warrabilla if like 'em big. The Parola range is great value. You can get them from the winery or Nicks ($35);
Anderson's while we in the Rutherglen region - Particularly sparkling reds if that's your thing. Cellar block is around $50 and very good but they have plenty at lower price points. Only available cellar door or club;
Mayer from Yarra Valley - Cabernet is very good (around $50 I think);

If you are after Penfolds, Vintage Cellars have 25% off some of their stock at the moment.

wines from that region usually high in alcohol. i haven't tried any wine from that region so i won't comment on the wine.

good/better value will be a different story, cruiser wants a list of wine that can be compared to rwt at the $30-$50 range. also try to stay with shiraz so it won't be unfair.

 

[wine-muller]

On that front, number one that jumps out to me is the Sami-Odi Little Wine. Stupid value at $45. So much complexity, incredibly perfumed & detailed wine. In the same ballpark as the RWT (being a Barossan shiraz), albeit playing at the opposite ends of the field, with the Sami-Odi more centred around the fruit, not quite as big & less oaky. All pros over the RWT in my eyes. Can't see this staying at $45 for much longer though, the word is getting out about Fraser's wines.

Marius put out some incredible wines too within this price range, more distanced from the Penfolds range though, being Roger's wines are more terroir driven and, dare I say, almost Piedmont-esque in their structure & abundance of ripe, fine tannin. On a similar note - Domenica are making some cracking Nebbiolo in this price range if that's up your alley...

But really, without greater context about what qualities you're after, it's very hard to say. I mean, if you're simply after an oaky beast, then a Lou Miranda Single Vineyard Shiraz on VM would hit the spot for $35/bottle. If you're after a big Barossan that isn't all consumed by it's oaking regime, then Glen Eldon Twisted Trunk was going for $40, and I'd personally take that over RWT. So many more options if you don't limit your range, i.e. outside what's already been mentioned here, Ravensworth, Luke Lambert, Mayer, Blue Poles, Xanadu, Moorooduc, Ochota Barrels, Hoddles Creek, etc are producing wines I'd take over RWT without going much over that $50 mark.

 

[afro]

i tried to stick with shiraz or shiraz blend so i didn't mention the others, there are more out there but that would be over $50.

haven't come across Moorooduc before, what do you recommend from them?

 

[wine-muller]

Moorooduc = pinot, and McIntyre is usually top shelf. Tends to be a little more generous early than, say, Yabby Lake's around the corner. This & Hoddles Creek in particular are probably pushing the envelope a little far though, although I'd still drink them over RWT...

 

[Daver6]

I presume the question is asking for a Shiraz in at least similar style. Peel Estate Old Vine Shiraz at $48 (by the mixed dozen, mailing list price) would compete favourably.

If any wine, then there would be a gazillion* that would be better than RWT at $50 or less.


*a good many.

 

[kookaburra75]

Brown Brothers Patricia Shiraz ($60)
Bullers Calliope Shiraz ($40)

 

[burmans]

Sorry I've been busy all weekend and didn't notice this let alone really understand how a response to another post had been made a post of its own. Firstly, no I was not referring to Retail, my response was to the fact that Penfolds wines are frequently discounted and made the point that plenty are, I rarely if ever pay retail. Why would you when there are so many great offers out there.

As to how I find these, I subscribe to Redbigots site. Examples of what is cheap/great value change all the time so hard to say definitively, I continue to get new ideas in this range every week. But examples would be
Marius
Ruggabellus
Teusner
Spinifex
Yangarra

 

[redbigot]

As to how I find these, I subscribe to Redbigots site. Examples of what is cheap/great value change all the time so hard to say definitively, I continue to get new ideas in this range every week. But examples would be
Marius
Ruggabellus
Teusner
Spinifex
Yangarra

 

[burmans]

I must note I'm not sponsored by redbigot in any way but its well worth the annual fee in my experience. There are so many great deal out there but I for one dont have the time to trawl for them,

 

[afro]

I must note I'm not sponsored by redbigot in any way but its well worth the annual fee in my experience. There are so many great deal out there but I for one dont have the time to trawl for them,

They closed their subscriptions few years ago, are they open again?

 

[redbigot]

They closed their subscriptions few years ago, are they open again?

Yes.