Reviewed 5 August 2011

I awoke this morning to news of further financial turmoil and a stock market that is taking a pounding. What better time to review some of the cheapest wines in the market.

I put this tasting together at short notice as Woolworths has all the wines reviewed on sale for $5.00 until Tuesday the 9th August. To be honest, I was not expecting much, but all the wines reviewed here are quite drinkable. They will never be great wines, but they are honest and affordable to most people.

The picks for me were the De Bortoli traminer/riesling and the Penfolds Rawson Retreat. Both are quite good drinks and remarkable value. The Seaview was also impressive. For value, the Hardys stands out because it is in a one litre bottle.

Reviewed

Seaview – Brut – NV (16). Pleasant wine. Fresh nose with hints of yeast and grape. Soft and round, with enough acidity to keep the palate fresh. The residual sugar on the finish is well judged and there is impressive creaminess. A good quaff.

McWilliam’s – Riesling – Inheritance – 2010 (16.3). Lemony fruit on the nose and the palate. Quite long and zesty. Refreshing, and with reasonable length.

De Bortoli – Traminer/Riesling – Sacred Hill – 2010 (16.7). Floral and aromatic nose that is quite appealing (Musk, and tropical fruit). Again, the palate is soft, round and generous with a delicious finish. Surprisingly long, this has excellent balance. A great match for a spicy pork curry. (What I had for dinner).

Hardys – Chardonnay – R&R – 2010 (16). This is a real surprise. It actually tastes like chardonnay, with some melon and stone-fruit characters. Reasonable length and texture, with gentle creaminess on the finish. One litre bottle means big value.

De Bortoli – Cabernet/Merlot – Sacred Hill – 2009 (16). Fresh and vibrant fruit. This has red fruits and plum and a touch of spice. Not complex, but there is reasonable length.

Penfolds – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon – Rawsons Retreat – 2010 (16.5). Nothing wrong with this wine! Plum, blueberry and spice. The palate is soft, yet there is enough structure and length to make this a perfect mid-week quaff.