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.”

Crikey!  This Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz is good.  Really good.  Bottle this wine as a Southern Rhone and the wine media would describe it as rich, opulent and hedonistic.  As an Aussie Shiraz, that translates as focused, velvety and smooth.  I guess it’s all a matter of perspective.

Whatever your perspective, this is a very well made wine.  It pours a deep black/ruby color that foreshadows its concentration, but it has a slightly translucent quality that suggests polish.  French oak aging, versus the American oak many of the more over-the-top Aussies use, gives this wine a Rhone or Washington feel, but the spiciness gives it away as Australian.

I haven’t been drinking a lot of Australian wine lately, but I might just start buying more.  This experience confirms something I’ve said before, but tend to forget: Good wine is good.  It doesn’t matter where the grapes were grown or what grape it’s made from.  No need to take it from me.  The Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz was scored a solid 93 by Wine Advocate, 92 by IWC , and 91 by Wine Spectator.  Add the fact that this is the lowest price I can find by $8 and it has all the makings of an incredible value.

Day 2 update: the spiciness fades into the background and this wine gains even more elegance.  Very impressive.

Buy Here: 2006 Oliverhill Jimmy Section Shiraz $21.95

Wine Advocate 93 points

“The 2006 Shiraz “Jimmy Section” is slightly muted aromatically but with coaxing aromas of pain grille, tar, blueberry, and blackberry emerge. This leads to a full-bodied wine with gobs of spicy black fruits, ripe flavors, and for a wine of this size, surprising elegance. Give it 4-6 years in the cellar and drink it through 2027.”

International Wine Cellar 92 points

“Inky ruby. Strikingly aromatic nose displays alluring ripe dark berry and spice elements, along with fresh flowers and minerals. Lush, deeply concentrated blackberry and mulberry flavors offer compelling sweetness and a suave, velvety texture. Where are the tannins? Finishes with very impressive palate-staining persistence.”

Wine Spectator 91 points

“This is a wine of real personality. Smooth and velvety, with a winning reticence to the polished blueberry and plum flavors, delicately shaded with loamy, leafy notes. The finish keeps sailing on. Shiraz. Best from 2009 through 2016. 2,900 cases made.”

In November we wrote about the deals to be had on Chris Ringland and Dan Phillip’s R Wines and Marquis Philips labels due to their company, The Grateful Palate’s financial situation.  Reports of just how bad things are vary, but it’s safe to say things aren’t great because their wines are being sold for bottom basement prices, from their lower end wines to the absolute top end.  We wish them all the best because we would hate to see their awesome wines disappear, as even before the reductions, they were delivering great values year after year.

Marquis-Phillips very top end Shiraz is called Integrity.  It’s only made in the best vintages which, so far has meant 2002, 2003, and 2008.  If you know someone who collects Australian wines or you yourself are a collector, this would make an incredible addition to the cellar.  I wouldn’t consider myself a collector if Aussie wines, but I know the best are absolutely exceptional, and I expect nothing less of this one. So I’ve purchased a bottle for a special occasion.  Integrity is the epitome, some might say a caricature of Aussie Shiraz, with 17.8% alcohol and bold, intense flavors.  Chris Ringland is an absolute master winemaker.  His wines are not for everyone, but for those who love his upfront flavors, with spectacular depth and complexity, this wine will be a big hit.  Robert Parker is a fan, awarding Ringland numerous 100 point scores over the years with the 2008 Integrity achieving 92-95 points out of the barrel.

At $109.95, Integrity is expensive, but it was released at closer to $200, making $109.95 a relative bargain.  The winery’s loss is your gain.  It’s packaged in a cool box, keeping in R Wines/Marquis-Philips tradition of clever labels and packages (remember Bitch and Evil?).  So- looking to impress an Aussie wine fanatic?  Have some “integrity” and give them the best.

Buy Here: Marquis-Philips Integrity Shiraz 2008 $109.95

Wine Advocate 92-95 points

“The 2008 Marquis Philips Shiraz Integrity (the first since 2003) is also a behemoth at 17.8% alcohol. Black in color, it offers up a superb nose of Asian spices, incense, bacon, lavender, blackberry, and blueberry. Full-bodied, voluptuous, packed and stacked are but a few adjectives that come to mind. On the palate it is dry, rich, long, and pleasure-bent, but there is a bit of heat in the finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

With veteran vigneron Chris Ringland now in charge of the winemaking, I can state unequivocally that this is the finest collection of Marquis Philips wines since the label was started in 2000. Nevertheless, these wines will be controversial because all but one of the non-Roogle wines is over 16% alcohol. The small but vocal crowd of Australia bashers will have a field day taking these wines to task as they do with the Mollydooker wines (which seem to sell out anyway). Ringland is concerned about flavor and balance which is what these wines are all about. Those seeking low alcohol, subtlety, and finesse should of course look elsewhere. Those who want a big mouthful of sensual pleasure should read on. The Roogle Series is meant to be a bargain-priced introduction to the Marquis Philips upper level wines. The Marquis Philips wines are predominantly sourced from McLaren Vale while the Roogle wines are multi-regional.”

What happens when Marquis-Philips’ parent company, R Wines, goes into receivership, as is the rumor in the wine industry?  The final vintage of the 91 point Sarah’s Blend is sold off for almost half price.

The legendary Chris Ringland is the winemaker behind this and R Wines’ other blockbusters, known for their creative packaging, high scores, and high Quality Price Ratio (QPR).  This wine is not for those who enjoy subtlety, with its 16% alcohol and bold Aussie flavors.  But it is a well made, well balanced wine.  It pours an opaque black with dark, smoky fruit notes on the nose.  On the palate, it’s broad and thick with complexities unheard of at this price point.  A blend of 63% Shiraz, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc comes together for a long finish that rounds out a package that was a good value when it sold at $20.

At $9.95 (the lowest price in the country by $2), I can’t think of a better Australian deal.  Seriously, when was the last time you can remember a 91 point red under $10?  Buy this one by the case because I think it’s safe to say we won’t be seeing it again soon.

Buy Here: Marquis-Philips Sarah’s Blend 2008 $9.95

Robert Parker 91 points

“The purple/black 2008 Sarah’s Blend is composed of 63% Shiraz, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Notes of smoke, espresso, damp earth, spice box, and assorted black fruits lead to a full-bodied, already complex, rich wine with loads of ripe fruit. The finish is long, smooth, and filled with flavor.

With veteran vigneron Chris Ringland now in charge of the winemaking, I can state unequivocally that this is the finest collection of Marquis Philips wines since the label was started in 2000. Nevertheless, these wines will be controversial because all but one of the non-Roogle wines is over 16% alcohol. The small but vocal crowd of Australia bashers will have a field day taking these wines to task as they do with the Mollydooker wines (which seem to sell out anyway). Ringland is concerned about flavor and balance which is what these wines are all about. Those seeking low alcohol, subtlety, and finesse should of course look elsewhere. Those who want a big mouthful of sensual pleasure should read on. The Roogle Series is meant to be a bargain-priced introduction to the Marquis Philips upper level wines. The Marquis Philips wines are predominantly sourced from McLaren Vale while the Roogle wines are multi-regional.”