I wouldn’t swear to it as its been a couple of months but based on your and several others recommendations I got the merlot. The cab is what was available in costco the other day when I was there. Yeah Temecula wine is not my thing. When I was in college, Maurice Carrie chenin blanc at 3 dollars a bottle was awesome. Now adays I’m sure they charge 20 for the same thing.
Oz has a huge glut of wine. The problem is that in the affordable price range, 10-25 dollars it all tastes very similar. Its hard to make a case for Aussie shiraz when so much of it is highly extracted, overly oaked and high alcohol. I was in Barossa and McLaren Vale in November and had some awesome wine along with a fair amount of mediocre stuff too.
If you really want to try a great Aussie wine without splurging for Grange or Hill of Grace, try Jasper Hill Georgias paddock at about 75 dollars it is world class, as opposed to Grange which is now priced like a first growth Bordeaux. Another cheaper though still very good wine is Penfolds Magill estate, the original Penfolds vineyard. Wendouree (Clare Valley) is also very good, though very hard to find. Old Bridge Cellars is the importer for lots of small production, good quality stuff, but be prepared to pay. Good years for Most Aussie wine are 98/02/05/06.
