25 Below (Issue 136 September 2009)
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 As the downturn bites, bargain-hunting has become a rediscovered art as many of us look at ways to curb expenditure a little. Fortunately, when it comes to red wine, that does not mean compromising too much on quality. It’s a buyers’ market, with stiff competition, discounts and price cuts, and the wine drinker is the winner.
Having said that, lower-priced wine is often cheaper for a reason. In our tasting of 269 red wines selling for less than $25, just 28 achieved four-star ratings or higher. We tasted wines from New Zealand, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Chile and Argentina. New Zealand earned 12 of the 28 high-scoring wines, though just two in the Top 10. Economic factors seem to be keeping New Zealand prices down and encouraging some excellent “entry level” wines from top-notch producers.
The panel’s brief was easy-drinking wines with personality. We also judged them with our eye on the price category. Value was rated as highly as absolute quality.
Tasting Panel
Cuisine wine panel chair John Belsham, winemaker-owner of Foxes Island Wines in Marlborough, and a respected wine judge, led the tasting, with an international perspective coming from Cuisine’s Australian-based judge and writer Ralph Kyte- Powell. Peter Cowley, chief winemaker at Te Mata Estate in Hawke’s Bay, added his expertise and experience with red wines across a broad spectrum. Our associate judge was Jane Boyle, brand strategy manager at New Zealand Wine Cellars.
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Cuisine Top 10 International under - $25 Reds
To qualify for TopTen status, wines must be readily available for general purchase. Some wines might rate as high or higher but are hard to find. Wines are listed in order of final scores.
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1 |
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Cat Amongst The Pigeons Alley Cat Shiraz Grenache 2007 (Barossa Valley, SA) |
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2 |
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Tatachilla McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 (McLaren Vale, SA) |
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2 |
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Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007(Italy) |
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4 |
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Cat Amongst the Pigeons Nine Lives Shiraz 2007(Barossa Valley, SA) |
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5 |
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Three Paddles Pinot Noir 2008 (Martinborough, NZ) |
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6 |
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Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2008 (South Australia) |
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7 |
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Burnt Spur Russian Jack Pinot Noir 2008 (Martinborough, NZ) |
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7 |
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Farnese Don Camillo Sangiovese IGT 2007 (Abruzzo, Italy) |
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9 |
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Climbing Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Orange, NSW) |
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10 |
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Rosemount Shiraz 2007 (Australia) |
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