Dan Murphy's and Other Wine Deals

[Dr Ralph]

It seems that the actual wine is "hidden somewhere" in the label. Maybe you could spend some time at home identifying the actual wine.
I am reluctant purchasing "hidden label" wines which are essentially "cleanskins" when Vinomofo and others offered fully labelled at similar discount.

Not quite right. Its usually the makers name that is hidden.

They are essentially clean skins. Except you know what the wine is.

I've been buying these for more than a decade. Great way to try something new that i otherwise wouldn't pay full price for.

 

[jasonking]

Not quite right. Its usually the makers name that is hidden.

They are essentially clean skins. Except you know what the wine is.

Ive been buying these for more than a decade. Great way to try something new that i otherwise wouldn't pay full privprice for.

Is it easy to find the winery name? Under IR, UV etc?
Written in this spot or a certain corner?
Have you tried the rrp $70 McLaren Vale shiraz or identify the winery?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So should I buy the Wiira Wirra or Leconfield?

 

[jasonking]

So should I buy the Wiira Wirra or Leconfield?

Buy ALL
One is Shiraz, the other is Cabernet Sauvignon.
BTW I might be wrong on the Wirra. I just googled some data and out comes Wirra.
But then paying $19 for a rrp $70 bottle just feels "right".

 

[burmans]

They are essentially clean skins. Except you know what the wine is.

Ive been buying these for more than a decade. Great way to try something new that i otherwise wouldn't pay full price for.

Well you know who the maker is but not necessarily the wine itself. While some are definitely the same wine with a different label this is not necessarily the case, and there have been plenty that have plenty of speculation they were at a minimum bottled separately and at worst a totally different wine.

 

[burmans]

But then paying $19 for a rrp $70 bottle just feels "right".

Of course if they are having to cut their losses and sell them at $19 then one would have to suggest $70 was never really the right price. I prefer to judge the value of a wine on the wine itself, not some marketing jocks fantasy!

 

[jasonking]

Well you know who the maker is but not necessarily the wine itself. While some are definitely the same wine with a different label this is not necessarily the case, and there have been plenty that have plenty of speculation they were at a minimum bottled separately and at worst a totally different wine.

Rightly so. Hence I am wary of purchasing cleanskin or hidden label.
You can even design your own label.
The wine might be "culled barrel" or quite doesn't make the cut for the premium label.
Note: It's not that the wine is "bad".

 

[blackcat20]

So should I buy the Wiira Wirra or Leconfield?

I've ordered both. I'm game to take a risk.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I've ordered both. I'm game to take a risk.

YES I have ordered a doz of each - if they are indeed the wines suggested then they are cheap - I like cheap!

 

[blackcat20]

YES I have ordered a doz of each - if they are indeed the wines suggested then they are cheap - I like cheap!

The Leconfield is definite, and I'm curious to see if the Shiraz is RSW. The key words in the description and the rrp seem to match up.

 

[TDC]

A friend made a beautiful, medal-winning verdelho while studying oenology a few years ago. When the next vintage was to be released, the winery sold the remainder of her vintage under Kemenys Hidden label. We snapped it up. The winery couldn't afford to have the two vintages competing under the original label because they wouldn't be able to sell the new vintage.

 

[Sbv72]

The Leconfield is definite, and I'm curious to see if the Shiraz is RSW. The key words in the description and the rrp seem to match up.

I read it was from early barrels destined for Gemtree Obsidian Shiraz. Blurb on Kemeny's that it is only made in exceptional years and last made in 2010 would rule out RSW.

 

[boomy]

Of course if they are having to cut their losses and sell them at $19 then one would have to suggest $70 was never really the right price. I prefer to judge the value of a wine on the wine itself, not some marketing jocks fantasy!

I have to wonder why a strong label such as RSW is sold at rack bottom price.

 

[burmans]

Rightly so. Hence I am wary of purchasing cleanskin or hidden label.
You can even design your own label.
The wine might be "culled barrel" or quite doesn't make the cut for the premium label.
Note: It's not that the wine is "bad".

Having said all that I have a very good opinion of Kemeny's, I used to buy from them a lot (just don't live close to them anymore) and found their recommendations excellent (including the hidden labels). I think as a small(ish) independent you live and die on your reputation so you dont knowingly serve rubbish, not sure the same can be said of the supermarket aligned chains.

 

[blackcat20]

I read it was from early barrels destined for Gemtree Obsidian Shiraz. Blurb on Kemeny's that it is only made in exceptional years and last made in 2010 would rule out RSW.

Seems you are correct. The Halliday review leads to Gemtree Obsidian. Should be good regardless.

 

[Buzzard]

The 2010 Gemtree Obsidian is selling at Dans for $56.05 for 6 at the moment so $19 (?) is quite a good deal.

 

[blackcat20]

The 2010 Gemtree Obsidian is selling at Dans for $56.05 for 6 at the moment so $19 (?) is quite a good deal.

I would say so. They note that it is bottled a tad earlier than the labelled bottles.

 

[jasonking]

Seems you are correct. The Halliday review leads to Gemtree Obsidian. Should be good regardless.

"Still, only the best barrels make the cut, ensuring only 1% of our total Shiraz production makes the Obsidian grade."

If the Hidden Label is supposedly "Gemtree Obsidian" then it must be the other 99% that failed to make the grade.
Then it's NOT a TRUE Obsidian.

Obsidian is cork closure. Kemeny's photo looks like stelvin.
RSW is Stelvin.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Is it easy to find the winery name? Under IR, UV etc?
Written in this spot or a certain corner?
Have you tried the rrp $70 McLaren Vale shiraz or identify the winery?

It's not too difficult. The label is printed with the word 'Kemeny' in very small print repeatedly. One of those times it's left out and instead you would see something like 'Gago' (Chief wine maker at Penfolds).

Normally their description is straight from Halliday (especially on site displays). So exceptionally easy to work out.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Well you know who the maker is but not necessarily the wine itself.

Not my experience. I've never not known exactly which wine it is. The description provided makes it very easy to work out. Kemeny's also have no hesitation in telling you what it is.

But make no mistake, these are clean skins. So if you want a labelled wine then look elsewhere.