NewsBite

Can you really get a decent red that costs less than $15?

How much should you pay to get a decent bottle of red? Judges have named their top-value Australian picks including a bargain that’s less than $15 a bottle.

Can you really get a decent wine for under $20? Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards shows you can.
Can you really get a decent wine for under $20? Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards shows you can.

A Barossa Valley grenache which costs less than $15 has been named among the great bargain wine buys.

The first Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards last night named the best value-for-money light and full-bodied reds and whites, along with rose, sparkling and fortified varieties.

Z Wine’s Rustica Grenache 2019 costs $14.90 and beat six others to take home the lighter red under $20 category.

The category included Tasmanian Hill pinot noir, De Bortoli Villages tempranillo Touriga, Chateau Tanunda Dahlitz Merlot, Mix Tape Limestone Coat tempranillo, Red Knot GSM by Shingleback and Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache.

Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, 2017, won the fuller red for under $20 category. Picture: Jette Cheung.
Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, 2017, won the fuller red for under $20 category. Picture: Jette Cheung.

Judges said the grenache was juicy, fresh and vibrant and ready to drink now.

“Although pinot is still the leading light-bodied red varietal in the over $20 bracket, if you want to spend less, you’ll get great quality with grenache,” said Dan Murphy’s head of fine wine and awards judge Andrew Shedden said.

Western Victoria’s Blue Pyrenees won best rose category for its bone dry rose and Clare Valley’s Knappstein Hand Picked riesling won best lighter white under $20 category — with each drops costing $16.90 per bottle.

The judging panel of 12 experts spent three days blind-tasting more than 1000 wines to determine the finalists.

Here’s some other value for money wines.

UNDER $20 AWARD WINNERS

Lighter white

Knappstein Hand Picked riesling Clare Valley, 2018

Cost: $16.90 per bottle.

Fuller white

Devil’s Lair The Hidden Cave Chardonnay, 2018

Cost: $17.90 per bottle.

Lighter red

Z Wine Rustica Grenache, 2019

Cost: $14.90 per bottle

Z Wines Grenache. Picture: Jette Cheung
Z Wines Grenache. Picture: Jette Cheung
Margaret River Chardonnay. Picture: Jette Cheung
Margaret River Chardonnay. Picture: Jette Cheung

Fuller red

Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, 2017

Cost: $17.90 per bottle

OVER $20 AWARD WINNERS

Lighter white

Craggy Range Marlborough sauvignon blanc, 2018

Cost: $27.90 per bottle

Fuller white

Xanadu Estate Chardonnay 2018

Cost: $31.90 per bottle.

Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, 2017. Picture: Jette Cheung
Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, 2017. Picture: Jette Cheung
Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Henty Pinot Meunier 2018. Picture: Jette Cheung.
Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Henty Pinot Meunier 2018. Picture: Jette Cheung.

Lighter red

Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Henty Pinot Meunier 2018

Cost: $31.90 per bottle.

Fuller red

Xanadu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cost: $32.90 per bottle.

OTHER CATEGORY WINNERS

Rosé: Blue Pyrenees Bone Dry rosé

Cost: $16.90 per bottle.

Sparkling: Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée 2014

Cost: $37.90 per bottle.

Fortified wine: Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque

Cost: $74.90 per bottle.

MORE NEWS:

CHOOSING WINE AT THE BOTTLE-O

MUST KNOW BOTTLE SHOP HACKS

THE BARS WINE EXPERTS VISIT

kara.irving@news.com.au

@kara_irving

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/eating-out/can-you-really-get-a-decent-red-that-costs-less-than-15/news-story/88c560c2e492cf8cad33be1077fd7964