Reviewed: 1 October 2012

Over the last few years, there are a couple of wineries have consistently produced high quality wines at all price points. This includes the likes of Hardys, Houghton, Mc Williams, Penfolds and De Bortoli. Whether it is $10 supermarket specials or limited release premium wines, these wineries consistently produce excellent wines.

I had the opportunity to look at the ever reliable Deen De Bortoli reds recently in various blind tastings and the current releases continues the tradition of over-delivering on the value proposition. These wines are often available for around $10 per bottle!

My picks of the range are as follows.

Reviewed

De Bortoli – Cabernet Sauvignon – Deen – Vat 9 – 2010 (17.5+). Really deep smelling fruit that belies the meager price that this will sell for. Blackcurrant, cedar, mint and menthol flood the palate. The good quality fruit has been very well handled and there is a long and textured finish. The persistence of the fruit flavours really is a standout. Delicious now, this will actually age well in the short term.

De Bortoli – Durif – Deen – Vat 1 – 2010 (17.5). Refined and elegant, this is dense and mouth-filling, but the wine is in no way overblown. Excellent structure and mouth feel with a vibrant finish on the palate. The fruit is subdued, so food would sit really well with this. Superbly made, modern and interesting.

De Bortoli – Petit Verdot – Deen – Vat 4 – 2009 (16.7). Cordial like fruit aromas that remind me of strawberry jam. Sweet red berry fruit on the palate, with firm, drying tannins to close. An interesting wine with dense and quite powerful fruit.