reds-under-40-dollars-pt2

Below is a list of 10 shiraz wines and blends, including a "cracking grenache, shiraz and mourvédre blend", a "big and bold" durif shiraz and a grenache thats "price of entry is a pittance for the quality and character". They are all highly rated and all priced at $40 or under – the perfect combination. 

Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Syrah 2024, McLaren Vale

No, that’s not a misprint. This is 12.5% alcohol. It’s from a high site in Clarendon, but that early picking has as much to do with elevation as revised philosophy. It certainly has the vigour of the earlier pick, with acidity and a tightening of fruit through the back palate, but the flavours are present and ripe. There’s a certain sinewy quality, with no overt fruit sweetness, a bitumen note sitting over tart black berries, damson plum, coal dust, ground anise seeds, brewed black tea and wild fennel. There’s flavour, a savouriness, some nerviness, and it’s a successfully different expression for this address. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 points.   

RRP $40 | Drink to 2032 | clarendonhills.com.au | Shop this wine

Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Old Vine Grenache 2024, McLaren Vale

Reducing the Blewitt Springs bottling (this is also Blewitt Springs) has seen an increase in volume and the benefit of some more prime old-vine fruit; wild ferment, 21 days on skins, maturation in old French oak. That decision to boost both cuvées is a boon for the wine drinker, with this representing alarming value. The fruit quality here is striking. Marasca cherry, kirsch, crushed rose petals, blood orange, Medina spices. It’s medium bodied, earthy, savoury, rippling with sandy tannin and bright acidity. The price of entry is a pittance for the quality and character, and this will age. What a bargain. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points.

RRP $30 | Drink to 2032 | clarendonhills.com.au | Shop this wine

Hoffmann Family Vineyards Dallwitz Block Carignan 2021, Barossa Valley

The Hoffmann vineyards in the northern Barossa require no introduction; many of the region's top producers source grapes from the hallowed soils. This is the Hoffmann family's own wine, a carignan with a vibrant hue in the glass and aromas of blackberry, blood plum, crushed rock and wood spice with citrus blossom and violet top notes. There's just a touch of crushed herbs, a pure swell of fruit, and the wine tightens on the finish with a real lipsmacking acid profile. A super interesting febrile style with plenty of fruit flow. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 points.

RRP $40 | Drink to 2035 | hoffmannfamilyvineyards.com | Shop this wine

Hoffmann Family Vineyards Hoffmann DV Grenache Carignan 2022, Barossa Valley

A bruised magenta/crimson in the glass with appealing aromas of satsuma plum, dried cranberry and raspberry with underlying hints of milk chocolate, dried citrus rind, earth, citrus blossom, mixed spice and blueberry pie. Fruit pure, with a little oak spice sneaking in on the palate, lying nicely in line with the fruit. Superfine, sandy tannins and some lovely sour cherry acidity on the fade out. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 92 points.

RRP $40 | Drink to 2035 | hoffmannfamilyvineyards.com | Shop this wine