Dan Murphy's and Other Wine Deals

JD Cellars latest mailer is offering Wills Domain Paladin Hill Chardonnay 2020 for approx $40.

Been a bit of chat around these parts regarding Wills Domain so I thought I would record some thoughts.

I've been a fan of the winery for a while now, and it's unfortunate to see them having to resort to back channels to sell wine, and the corresponding devaluation of RRPs (the Curtis effect?). The wines themselves are usually above average to very good for the vintage, a step below Mosswood, Woodlands, Leeuwin et al. but not a huge step.

I say this in reference to their top end Chardonnay and Cabernet/Cabernet Blend, I don't drink much of the lower labels, which have always struck me as adequate. I also steer clear of non-typical MR varietals that they make, e.g. Shiraz, Schuerebe, sparkling etc... In my estimation MR Shiraz never, ever fails to disappoint; although of course educated palates disagree.

Vintage wise, firstly Wills has moved in a positive direction since about 2016, particularly evident since 2018, from very full bodied, ripe, oaky, malo expressions, to a much more contemporary leaner style. Secondly the chat around the winemakers at the moment is that 2020 was very, very good, and maybe better than 2018.

Also, the restaurant is bloody fantastic lately and I would put it up there with Vasse.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk about an obscure wine producer in MR.
 
Langton is running a mystery mix dozen sale.
Any idea if the premium red pack will be?
 

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I've done the premium reds pack a couple of times. First year was a good mix, inc a Vosnee-Romandie and a MM Quintet (2011 so not the best vintage). Second year was not as good and I've decided not to do it again. If anyone does it this year I'll be interested to hear what they get. I reckon the Excellent rated Margs CSM will be Voyager Estate, which Langtons have previously been discounting as a mystery
 
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Langton is running a mystery mix dozen sale.
Any idea if the premium red pack will be?
I tried to work out what wines are included in the mystery pack based on the review,

1. Confidential McLaren Vale Syrah 2008 - LPB 95 - Clarendon hills Piggott range syrah 2008
2. Confidential McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017 - CM 95 - ?
3. Confidential Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Margaret River 2015 - CM 96 - Voyager Estate 2015 cabernet sauvignon merlot
4. Confidential Grenache, Vine Vale 2019 - MB 92 - AN APPROACH TO RELAXATION Magnolia Grenache, Vine Vale 2019
5. Confidential Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2015 - JC 96 - MITOLO Marsican Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2015
6. Confidential Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2018 - EL 95 - ?
7. Confidential Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2018 - JH 95 -?
8. Confidential Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2018 - MB 94 -?
9. Confidential Volnay 2018 - JH 16.5+ - DOMAINE NICOLAS ROSSIGNOL, Volnay 2018
10. Confidential Viognier-Marsanne, Cotes-Du-Rhone Villages 2019 - JD 92 - TARDIEU-LAURENT Les Becs Fins, Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2019
11. Confidential Merlot, Cotes De Castillon 2018 - Decanter 96 - CHATEAU ROBIN, Cotes de Castillon 2018
12. ?

Do you guys think they justify the value $599 (RRP $1269)? Some cost around $150 (Domain Nicolas Rossignol) but few of them are less than the average price of $50 ($599/12).
 
I tried to work out what wines are included in the mystery pack based on the review,

1. Confidential McLaren Vale Syrah 2008 - LPB 95 - Clarendon hills Piggott range syrah 2008
2. Confidential McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017 - CM 95 - ?
3. Confidential Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Margaret River 2015 - CM 96 - Voyager Estate 2015 cabernet sauvignon merlot
4. Confidential Grenache, Vine Vale 2019 - MB 92 - AN APPROACH TO RELAXATION Magnolia Grenache, Vine Vale 2019
5. Confidential Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2015 - JC 96 - MITOLO Marsican Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2015
6. Confidential Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2018 - EL 95 - ?
7. Confidential Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2018 - JH 95 -?
8. Confidential Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2018 - MB 94 -?
9. Confidential Volnay 2018 - JH 16.5+ - DOMAINE NICOLAS ROSSIGNOL, Volnay 2018
10. Confidential Viognier-Marsanne, Cotes-Du-Rhone Villages 2019 - JD 92 - TARDIEU-LAURENT Les Becs Fins, Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2019
11. Confidential Merlot, Cotes De Castillon 2018 - Decanter 96 - CHATEAU ROBIN, Cotes de Castillon 2018
12. ?

Do you guys think they justify the value $599 (RRP $1269)? Some cost around $150 (Domain Nicolas Rossignol) but few of them are less than the average price of $50 ($599/12).
What review? I can't find any list?

Good effort
 
JD Cellars latest mailer is offering Wills Domain Paladin Hill Chardonnay 2020 for approx $40.

Been a bit of chat around these parts regarding Wills Domain so I thought I would record some thoughts.

I've been a fan of the winery for a while now, and it's unfortunate to see them having to resort to back channels to sell wine, and the corresponding devaluation of RRPs (the Curtis effect?). The wines themselves are usually above average to very good for the vintage, a step below Mosswood, Woodlands, Leeuwin et al. but not a huge step.

I say this in reference to their top end Chardonnay and Cabernet/Cabernet Blend, I don't drink much of the lower labels, which have always struck me as adequate. I also steer clear of non-typical MR varietals that they make, e.g. Shiraz, Schuerebe, sparkling etc... In my estimation MR Shiraz never, ever fails to disappoint; although of course educated palates disagree.

Vintage wise, firstly Wills has moved in a positive direction since about 2016, particularly evident since 2018, from very full bodied, ripe, oaky, malo expressions, to a much more contemporary leaner style. Secondly the chat around the winemakers at the moment is that 2020 was very, very good, and maybe better than 2018.

Also, the restaurant is bloody fantastic lately and I would put it up there with Vasse.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk about an obscure wine producer in MR.
I thought this was very smart, all over the Rosenthall I recently bought. Must say I was very impressed with Vasse Felix and Voyager restaurants, so will look at their restaurant next time.
 
In relation to Winestar, I was a frequent poster on their very active forum, surprised it shut down, for memory or suspicion some exchanges got very personal. I attended quite a few of their wine dinners. I know Bert but not well, never had an issue with buying wine from him, and still buy occasionally. Discounting is a fact of life, at least you can normally work out which wine he is discounting. It is certainly better to be a wine buyer than producer/retailer. At least we have multiple sources for buying. I also fell out with prominent retailer and boycotted them for a few years but their associated bistro is very good and occasionally some good wine deals so figuratively bit my tonge and still buy there occasionally. Life is to short to bear grudges and miss out on some good stuff. Of interest a lot of these discounted wines have huge RRP for what is a wine well below their station in life.
 
Any experience with this Red Queen? I'm a fan of Dandelion's wines but $250 seems like a try on. I've never had his one and wondering of anyone had any thoughts on the wine for $90?


Interestingly they sell it for $178 rather than the quoted $250 - which does line up with Dandelion's price for the 2019.

 
Any experience with this Red Queen? I'm a fan of Dandelion's wines but $250 seems like a try on. I've never had his one and wondering of anyone had any thoughts on the wine for $90?


Interestingly they sell it for $178 rather than the quoted $250 - which does line up with Dandelion's price for the 2019.

This was at Dan’s as an under wraps for $35. I bought a couple and have opened one and it was good. Don’t think I’d pay more than $50 for it though (my upper limit for almost anything)
 
This was at Dan’s as an under wraps for $35. I bought a couple and have opened one and it was good. Don’t think I’d pay more than $50 for it though (my upper limit for almost anything)
actually it was just a clearance, 2014 vintage. Probably should have brought more…
 

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actually it was just a clearance, 2014 vintage. Probably should have brought more…
I'm currently drinking the last of my 2009 and 2010 Red Queens, bought at $40 and $50, enjoying them a lot.
I bought a couple of the 2014 from Dan's, thought the one I tried was pretty ordinary.
I have a few 2015 vintage bought at Dan's for $40.

I think $40-$50, maybe $60 in good years is about the right price for this, $250 is just Dandelion ramping up the high-RRP - big discount marketing ploy. The 2012-2016 vintage was $100 RRP, selling in the $40's at times, the 2017 vintage RRP $200. Not tempted at $90.
BTW the listed 98pt JH review is for the 2017 vintage of that wine, not the 2018 offered.
 
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