Three or four years ago Aussie wines were hot.  Really hot.  And I’m not just talking about their alcohol content.  Premium wineries like d’Arenberg were selling high-end Shiraz like it was going out of style.  Well, it turns out it was going out of style.  But you know what?  These are the same great wines that were flying off the shelves a few years ago and savvy consumers are starting to rediscover Australia – at a lower price tag.

The Dead Arm is d’Arenberg’s top Shiraz and the 2006 vintage was absolutely spectacular.  It scored 95+ points from Parker and 93 from Tanzer with the former saying it will last 30 years beyond its vintage date.  That’s a serious wine.  Since this deal is only available in half bottles, it’s a perfect purchase for solo drinking (I can personally attest to this), or to supplement another partially consumed bottle.  Or you can just open two bottles.  Usually this doesn’t make sense because two half bottles cost more than a full, but in this case two halves are cheaper than the lowest price I can find for a whole.

This is a massive wine that handles the high percentage of new French and American oak well.  Bright cherries on the nose transition in to dark blueberry reduction on the palate with a cutting acidity to balance.  Mineral flavors lurk underneath the huge fruit and with age, these will emerge to form a stunning, sophisticated wine.

Buy Here: 2006 D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 375ml $21.95

Wine Advocate 95 points

“D’Arenberg’s flagship is the 2006 The Dead Arm Shiraz. Opaque purple-colored, the nose is reticent but gives up aromas of meat, bacon, game, truffles, blueberry, and blackberry. Firm, layered, and complex, this beautifully rendered Shiraz demands a decade of cellaring. It will be superb from 2018 to 2036.

D’Arenberg has been owned and operated by the Osborn family since its inception in 1912. The portfolio, with a focus on the Rhone varieties, is wide ranging and value-oriented from top to bottom. The winery produces a bevy of value priced reds and whites that were reviewed in Issue 178. They should not be overlooked. At the higher end of the portfolio there is one white wine on which to report.”

International Wine Cellar 93 points

“($65) Opaque ruby. Blackberry and candied cherry on the nose, with suave graphite and anise qualities adding complexity. Deep and rich but also focused, with powerful dark berry preserve flavors and a late kick of iron. There’s lots going on here, and this energetic wine is still painfully young. Finishes with mounting sweetness and a strong echo of minerals.”

Disclaimer: Spain has, by far, the best wine values in the world.

Remember what I said about Jorge Ordonez? No?  Well read up on him here on my post dedicated to his wine.  He’s a legendary wine importer and the 2009 Bodegas Volver Tempranillo is probably his best value ever.  Call me a fanboy.  Go ahead.  Jorge Ordonez is to me what Steve Jobs is to Apple fanatics.

I’ve had this wine for the last three vintages and the 2009 is the best yet.  Volver routinely scores 90 points but this year Robert Parker gave it 92 points saying “I would unquestionably drink as a house wine.”  Parker doesn’t review Spanish wines anymore, but he had this and thought it was so good that he wrote it up in his quarterly publication.  Need a back-up rating? Tanzer gave it 90+ points which is pretty much epic (he’s tough) for a $12 wine.

This wine pours an opaque purple/black and is incredibly polished.  It’s made in a modern style, with ripe flavors and sweet oak, but it’s not obnoxious or over the top.  I would love to do a blind tasting with this wine and a bottle of Numanthia Termes (also a Tempranillo), which is one of my favorites.  My guess is it would be a toss up – and Volver is half the price.  What’s more, as good as this wine is now, I would expect it to get better with a couple of years of bottle age – a perfect argument for buying a whole case.  I’ll be trying that one out on my wife.

According to Wine Searcher (the industry standard in wine price benchmarking), LA Wine Co. has everyone else beat by a full dollar.

Buy Here: 2009 Bodegas Volver Tempranillo 11.95

Robert Parker 92 points

“We next moved to a great value that I would unquestionably drink as a house wine, the 2009 Volver from La Mancha. Made from 50-year old Tempranillo vines, it sells for an astonishing $16-$17 a bottle.”

International Wine Cellar 90+ points

“($16) (100% tempranillo): Bright purple. Dark berries, cherry pit, licorice and tobacco on the nose. Slowly unfolds to offer sappy cassis and bitter cherry flavors lifted by tangy acidity and complicated by a peppery, spicy quality. Finishes gripping and long, with resonating cherry and spice notes. Give this some aeration or a couple more years of bottle age. “

L’Aventure’s 2008 Estate Cuvee would be it.  I’ve been telling anyone who will listen to buy this wine and with the price now down to $59.95, it makes a perfect gift for a friend or yourself!  Most retailers are charging over $70 for the 2008 vintage and the recently released 2009 vintage, which received the same score, is going for $85-90.  You can read up on what makes L’Aventure’s Cabernet/Syrah blend so awesome in one of my previous posts here.

Paso Robles is heating up and I predict that this wine will be mailing list only soon.  It certainly won’t be available for under $60.  This is an incredibly unique, rich,and mind blowing (but sophisticated) wine that I personally find unrivaled. Just look at how the reviewers rave about it.  Do a friend, or better yet, yourself a favor and buy some!

Buy Here: L’Aventure Estate Cuvee 2008 $59.95

Wine Advocate 94 points

“The finest 2008 I tasted is the 2008 Estate Cuvee, a blend of 50% Syrah, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Petit Verdot. Mocha, fudge, blackberry, graphite, cassis, and smoky barbecue scents jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2008. Full-bodied, rich, textured, and layered, this terrific effort is surprisingly soft and accessible. Drink it over the next decade.

Consistently brilliant wines are produced by former St.-Emilion native, Stephan Asseo, who is now ensconced in the wine world of Paso Robles. These distinctively styled wines offer the power and exuberance of the fruit grown in this region along with a structured, delineated style (no doubt part of Asseo’s French DNA). These are all big wines, with the reds fashioned from innovative blends and displaying significant aging potential. The 2008 red wines are strong efforts, but they do not measure up to the brilliant 2007s Asseo produced. The two late-released 2007s I reviewed last year are certainly living up to my hype.”

International Wine Cellar 94 points

“($85; 50% syrah, 36% cabernet sauvignon and 14% petit verdot; 15.9% alcohol) Inky purple. Cassis, blueberry and smoky Indian spices on the expansive, heady nose, with a sexy floral quality that gains strength with air. Deep, sappy and palate-coating dark fruit compote flavors show unlikely energy and become spicier with air. Strikingly expressive, potent and compellingly fragrant wine that finishes with remarkable clarity and sweet persistence. This was raised in 100% new French oak, but I’d never have guessed it.”

Disclaimer: Spain has, by far, the best wine values in the world.

For my money, Spain has two premier red grapes: Garnacha (Grenache) and Tempranillo, though many other grapes play important supporting roles.  The Spanish version of Grenache can range from light and supple to huge and oaky.  This one forgoes the oak but has plenty of the spicy fruit flavors which define Spanish Grenache vs. the French or American versions.

Hailing from the Navarra region in Northern Spain, near the French border, this Garnacha splits the difference between Spanish spice and Southern Rhone sleek.  The nose is bright – focused on fruit over oak.  Immediately upon opening, this wine was on the lighter side with sweet cherry flavors coating the palate.  I opened it on Friday and today (Monday night), it’s gained weight and firmed up, showing its more serious side.  The wine is great either way, and the fact that it’s still good after having been open 3 days, suggests that it will improve with a few years of bottle age.

Slap a 91 point score on an American red and it could certainly add another digit to the incredible price of this wine.  This wine is more evidence that Spain leads the way when it comes to wine value.  But even with Spain’s proven track record, this is an exceptional value.  Caseworthy.

Buy Here: 2009 Artazuri Garnacha $8.99

Wine Advocate 91 points

“The 2009 Artazuri Garnacha is deep purple in color with an inviting nose of spice box, floral notes, and ripe black cherries. Dense, rich, and nicely proportioned on the palate, it has several years of aging potential but can be approached now.”

Which Napa winery releases their Cabernet almost a full year before most other high end producers?  Caymus. Why?  Because every single vintage sells out before the next is ready to be released.  Somehow Chuck Wagner manages to produce an incredibly consistent Cabernet regardless of the vintage, and his loyal fans recognize this.

Wanger put out a well produced informative video about how he makes Caymus wines.  If you are interested in the process, you would enjoy this video.  View the video on YouTube here.

Caymus’s consistency comes down to vineyard management and after watching the video, I was surprised to learn that Caymus harvests by machine- something that most high-end wineries would not admit to.  It obviously works for them, and I appreciate that Wagner isn’t interested in posturing.  The true secret to their consistency is the range of vineyards they have to choose from when producing each year’s wines.  In addition to their home Rutherford Vineyard, Caymus sources from vineyards throughout Napa allowing them to choose from each vintage’s best microclimates to produce their wine.

As expected, this is a very ripe, dark and rich Cabernet made in the typical Caymus style.  The nose is blueberry and vanilla with a palate dominated by dark chocolate and coffee.  This is a sweet wine, but balanced on the finish, with a nice acid that seems to be more prevalent in the 2009 vintage.  If you sometimes find Caymus too sweet, this vintage might be one to try.

This is my third vintage to write up on this blog and I can tell you confidently that 2009 is another winner from Caymus.  I can’t wait to see how Wagner works his magic with the difficult 2010 vintage.

For the lowest price on every vintage, LA Wine Co is the place to shop!

Buy Here: 2009 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon $59.95

Wine Spectator 91 points

“Supple and creamy-textured, with mocha, ripe plum and cherry flavors that show touches of tobacco, espresso and underbrush. Full-bodied, gaining tannic traction on the finish, elegant and readily approachable. Drink now through 2018.”

The 2007 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva (now that’s a mouthfull!), came in at #1 on Wine Enthusiast’s Wine of the Year list, and #65 on the same list for Wine Spectator.  Would you believe it only costs $17.95?

Those are pretty impressive credentials for any wine, let alone one that costs less than $20.  Think of it this way: four glasses of this chianti cost less than four Starbucks carmel macchiatos!  Tastes better too, and I would much rather have a case of this in my cellar than 12 cups of soy latte.

Chianti lovers will not find a better value for under $20.  Plain and simple.  Despite it’s origins in the cooler Rufina region of Tuscany, this Chianti is ripe, though it maintains the telltale Sangiovese acidity and minerality.  Though a little tight on day one, by day two it had opened up into a beautiful rich wine with dense chocolate flavors complemented by bright cherry tones.

Nothing more needs to be said about this incredible value.  It’s a Chianti, so naturally it will last for quite a few years, making a strong arguement for picking up a case.  At least.

Buy Here: 2007 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva $17.95

Wine Enthusiast Top 100 #1 (93 points)

“From Frescobaldi’s gorgeous Nipozzano estate, this Riserva Sangiovese (with small percentages of Malvasia Nera, Cabernet and Merlot for extra density and intensity) opens with impressive generosity and personality. It offers lingering flavors of cherry, chocolate and dark spice. ”

Wine Spectator Top 100 #65 (91 points)

“A burly Rufina, offering dried dark fruits and chewy tannins, with an aftertaste of dark chocolate and mineral. Full and satisfying, with fresh acidity on the back palate. A go-to Chianti. Drink now. 121,000 cases made”

International Wine Cellar 91 points

“($22; 90% sangiovese, the rest colorino, malvasia nera, cabernet sauvignon and merlot) Deep violet-ruby. Fresh, fruity aromas of red cherry, blueberry and blackberry, with hints of underbrush and minerals; much less spicy, tarry and dark than some other recent vintages of this wine. Then bright and fresh in the mouth, with red cherry, plum and mineral flavors. Finishes smoothly tannic, polite and persistent. One of the better young Nipozzano vintages I recall: this really does remind you of the higher-altitude, cooler Rufina zone.” (IWC)

I drink a lot of different wines, from different countries and regions, but I collect only a few, and the wines of Chateauneuf du Pape in France’s Southern Rhone Valley are a favorite. Paul Autard is one of the premier winemakers in the Rhone region in part because, unlike many of France’s winemakers, he’s using modern techniques like new oak aging. Still, his wines end up staying true to tradition with fruit focused favors that made the region famous.

Outside of Bordeaux, Chateauneuf du Pape is arguably France’s most prestigious wine regions and that fact isn’t lost on the importers and wholesalers, which is to say, these wines aren’t cheap. Anything rated 90 points or above starts at $30 and goes all the way past the $500 mark. So when a potential 94 point CdP from a highly collectible label comes along for under $40, I pay attention.

Though Autard’s techniques are modern, his wines are classic CdP.  Oak only subtly influences the overall flavor which is dark and brooding, likely due to the 50% Syrah component – a higher percentage than most wines of this region.  Still the Grenache brightness, which focuses through the lengthy finish, adds lift to this age-worthy wine.

If you enjoy the wines of Southern Rhone, I would highly recommend this one.  Paul Autard’s wines are proven classics and at a price that’s nearly $5 lower than the next lowest price in the country (according to Wine Searcher), the deal is literally unbeatable!

Buy Here: 2009 Domaine Paul Autard Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde $39.95

Robert Parker 93 points

“Autard’s quasi-modern-styled offering is the dense plum/purple-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde, a blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah from relatively old vines (60 plus years) that sees some new oak barrels. However, the 2009 shows only subtle evidence of vanillin and toast. It is a seductive, full-bodied, opulent effort displaying notes of caramelized red and black fruits, herbs, licorice and a hint of ink. This full-bodied, rich 2009 is ideal for drinking over the next 12+ years.

The 2010s all reveal deeper colors, higher acids, and more focus and precision.”

Wine Spectator 93 points

“This is beautifully rendered, with sleek, polished layers of black- berry, cassis and boysenberry fruit inlaid with toasty spice and sweet anise notes. The long, ganache-coated finish glides along despite its heft, with a great roasted mesquite note that lingers on and on. Drink now through 2013.”

Tikal’s “Patriota” is a blend of Argentina’s two most widely planted grapes, Malbec (40%) and Bonarda (60%).  Ever heard of the Bonarda grape?  Neither have I.

If you’re wondering what this wine tastes like with the Bonarda grape blended in, I would put it somewhere between a Malbec and a cool climate Syrah, which is to say it has the rich opulence and smooth tannin of a Malbec with the persistent acid and slight tartness of a cool climate Syrah.  It’s a really nice combination.

This and the other Tikal wines have been getting blockbuster scores for a few years now, so I guess it’s time I gave one a try.  It’s getting cold outside and this is the perfect wine for the change of seasons.  It’s spicy, bold and aromatic – many wines can say that.  But Tikal Patriota maintains a complexity and length that brings it from solid to outstanding and the $15.95 price tag takes it one step further.

Argentina is well known for Malbec values and for those that sometimes find the grape slightly one dimensional as I do, this blend is just awesome.  The wine raters agree, scoring it 90 (Tanzer) and 92 (Parker).

Buy Here: Tikal Patriota $15.95

Wine Advocate 92 points

“60% Bonarda, 40% Malbec; Earth/mineral/underbrush; dense and layered, ripe, mouth-filling, impeccable balance, lengthy.”

International Wine Cellar 90 points

“A 60/40 blend of bonarda and malbec): Bright ruby. Aromas of black cherry, mocha, coffee and violet complicated by sexy oak. The flavors of blackberry, spices, violet and bitter chocolate are juicy and nicely delineated. Offers lovely texture and weight, but with good lift from the malbec component. A very good blend. Bonarda, which often produces rather rustic, blue-collar wine, clearly benefited from Mendoza’s very warm 2009 growing season.”

Hall has been on a real run lately.  Since the 2006 vintage, they have received solid 90+ scores, but in the 2008 vintage their Napa Cabernet hit the magic 95 point mark (from Robert Parker).  What’s magic about 95 points?  Price.  It’s almost impossible to find a Robert Parker 95 point Napa Cabernet under $100, let alone $40.  Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a single Napa Cab from the 2008 vintage that hit this prestigious value mark.  A couple from 2007 come to mind like Robert Craig Affinity and… okay, no more come to mind.  Affinity sold out in an instant and the same will happen with this Hall bargain.

This wine is made by David Ramey and comes mostly from Sacrashe Vineyard.

Buy Here: 2008 Hall Napa Valley Cabernet $39.95

Robert Parker 95 points

“As for those in bottle, my favorite is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa. Most of this comes from the Sacrashe Vineyard as well. A dense, full-bodied wine with lots of creme de cassis, charcoal, licorice and forest floor, the wine is opulent and already delicious and powerful. It should continue to drink well for at least 12-15+ years.

All of these wines are made by winemaking consultant David Ramey. I looked at some 2009 cuvees , the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Ellie’s, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Masterpiece, and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld. All of these wines should score between 90 and 95 points as they all have deep colors, beautiful pure fruit, the vintage’s tell-tale front-end loaded sweetness, balance and elegance as well as good freshness and depth. My favorites include the Diamond Mountain, Ellie’s, and Jack’s Masterpiece, with the latter being the most tannic along with the Bergfeld. All of these should be top-notch Cabernet Sauvignons that will last 20-25 years. If you haven’t jumped on the Hall bandwagon, it has been loaded with goodies for the last 3-4 years.”

I usually completely ignore Wine Enthusiast reviews.  For reasons why, see my “Rating the Raters” post. Well, by some fluke, they got this rating dead on, because this is an absolutely magnificent Napa Cabernet for $17.95.

This wine reminds me of the 2008 Paul Hobbs Crossbarn at a $12 discount.  It’s an open, oaky, and sweet Cabernet with serious intentions.  When it comes to value-priced Napa cabs, I find this style preferable to the more firm, tannic version, because I don’t have the patience, nor confidence, to sit on an $18 bottle of wine for five years to wait for it to hopefully open up.  This wine will certainly drink well for at least five years, but unlike a bottle of Anderson’s Conn Valley Reserve Cabernet ($60), it doesn’t require it to be at its best.

This wine pours a deep, dark ruby.  A big, sweet nose of stewed cherries and vanilla leads into a mouthful of ripe black and blue berry flavors.  12.5% Syrah gives this wine an appealing complexity, not found in most strictly Bordeaux grape blends.  I’ve been increasingly attracted to these types of blends, and expect to see more in the coming years as winemakers look to give consumers more exciting and interesting wines.

This is a frontrunner for Napa Cab deal of the year and LA Wine Co. destroys other online retailers at $17.95.

Buy Here: Fuse Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $17.95