Taylor's St. Andrew's Shiraz

Hello,

Yes Taylor's has a good reputation amongst the slightly lower rent of us. Usually quite quaffable and goes down well with the crowds. The bottles are quite attractive too, which despite what anyone says I find important when enjoying wine.

The red's in the Taylor's Taylor's range are usually quite pleasant in general (I'm not that much of a white drinker usually, so not too sure about the whites), and retail for about $13AU if you have a Dan Murphy's handy; (sorry Swooper :-\, they *do* have pretty bad service tho); danmurphy.com.au ; (i.e.: you live in Oz [I've only just recently appreciated the humour in using Oz as shorthand for Australia, given the US TV series as well as our history :-))] ).

As for California, I was there about 10 years ago with the parents, who hadn't developed a taste for wine (nor had I). So instead of wineries we did Disneyland and Tijuana. Perhaps one day I will get back there.

Mat.

"Mat" wrote..........

Hi Mat - actually, I have always regarded highly the "standard" Taylors Shiraz as excellent value for money.

I am always will to try anything new, but my favourite everyday Aussie Shirazes would be Taylors (Clare Valley); Peter Lehmann (Barossa) and both the Wynn's and Penfolds 128 out of Coonawarra.

But the St.Andrew's range is something entirely different - very serious wine, aimed at the premium end of the market.

The St.Andrew's Shiraz I rate right up there with Jim Barry's "Armagh"; Penfolds "St.Henri"; The Eileen Hardy; Lehmann "Stonewell" or Rosemount "Balmoral" - and knocking on the door of Henscke "Hill of Grace"

I would put the St.Andrew's Cabernet Sauvignon on a par with the Penfold's Bin 707 as the best Aussie C/S (IMNSHO of course!!)

Hello over in NZ!

How goes it? Hope to make it to our lovely brother country sometime in the near future, I hear it is fantastic.

Yes, they are quite good value, Safeway has them on for $12.90AU (shiraz I think), [the cab sav is also excellent], so will be even cheaper at Dan's.

As well coincidentally the Wynn's shiraz (always excellent) same price. I didn't like the Peter Lehmann shiraz, I cannot recall the year, late

Yeah I gathered by the 22 pound price (be roughly $50AU) that it was on the slightly higher end. I have a graduation dinner soon and was considering the St. Henri or a couple of bottles around that range, mid-late 90's cellar release tho, given it is to be drunk soon.

I keep buying the old man "keepers" for special events, like Rosemount Show Reserve and the like, you know, age 10+ years, and then he says "I didn't think much of that wine you got me" a week later!

If you like buying around that price range for a cheapie (I gather you have expensive tastes) then I would recommend the De Bortoli Deen Vat 9 cab sav, which is usually quite tasty, and around $10-12AU IIRC. No one I know has disliked it, but I associate with a less discerning crowd. ;-)

Or of course the yellowtail shiraz which is probably a little too commercial for most ppl, but still quite quaffable as a casual. And under $10AU for the budget conscious.

Well that concludes my cheapie report for today!

Mat.

Just a short, short comment... Actually, you should be happy, at least he drinks the wine! I keep buying my pa nice wine to drink now (he doesn't really have a proper place to store wine - yet), and he always claims that he "can't drink that kind of wine without a proper reason" - like a very special event. And I keep telling him that if you have a really nice wine, a perfectly normal Tuesday (or any other six days of the week) will do. If you keep it for your special event, you'll be to busy experiencing the event to really appreciate the wine. On the other hand, on any other day, a special wine will make the entire day memorable...

C:

This is from Halliday (2003 edition).

Taylors St Andrews Shiraz

The '98 got 96 points. rrp $50 (am I good or what?) ;-)

The Taylor's shirzaz 2001 got a 90, 2000 an 87, at $15 rrp.

Hi Camilla

(and if I am not mistaken, welcome - another new face from Norway)

I know exactly what you mean.

Many years ago, like in the mid 60's - I returned from Australia on a surprise visit for my father's birthday, and brought him a bottle of scotch whisky (I recall it was not a single malt, but a premium blend) - he was known to enjoy a wee nip every now and again.

When my day died, 14 years ago, my mother said to me "You had better have this!" - and gave me the exact same bottle I had gifted him twenty odd years before.

Oh yes, he had still enjoyed his wee dram every now and again, but never found the occasion to open my gift.

What a waste!!!

I really like that line - I shall borrow it, with your permission.

I have plenty of very ordinary days, which can end perfectly, with a glass or three of a gorgeous Gewurz or a perfect Pinot or a sensational Sauvignon or a ravishing Riesling or a larger-than-life Aussie Shiraz.

Again, welcome.

Hi! And yes, on both accounts...:-) Allthough I have to confess I've been reading a bit every now and again for a while - always interested in good tips & hints on wine!

Well, since I know my father is like this, I kind of force him to open a bottle every now and again. The easiest way to do this, I've found, is to go home to my parents house with some nice food, and cook for them. And then ofcourse hint that this requires this-or-that wine of a certain quality. And whattyaknow! Amazingly enough they just happen to have the most perfect wine... (Always check first...;-)

Feel free! I think it is essensial that people learn this...

Exactly! And a rainy day feels much better if you can nurse your spirit with an italian wine that starts with a "B"...

Thanks!

C:

Whilst I rate the StAndrews highly, the Cab in the same leagues as some of those adorable Margaret River drops? Can't agree there. Give me a Leeuwin Estate, a Howard Park, a Cullen, A Wise, a Willespie,.... yep, Margaret River rules my Cabernet roost, just as McLaren Vale rocks my shiraz socks.

Hooroo.....

I stock both entry level Taylor's and St.Andrews, but it DOES peeve me when Dan advdertises wines like that, (Taylor's entry level shiraz), at a price around my LUC. All the more reason to keep going to the shows and hand picking my own range of boutique wines.

BTW: Everyone assumes Dan is cheap. He is NOT!. Whilst he may sell bottom end juice at cost, he makes up for it at the top end. Many of his premium wines can be found less expensive in my little shop...:>)

Can't think of the name, but had a Merlot from the Stags Leap region, and it was the best wine I tatsted on the night, ( which included numerous Bordeaux, and a range of Barolo's. Certainly quietened my usual cynicism regarding US wines...:>)

Hooroo...

I like that attitude...:>)

hooroo....

LUC? I assume that's what you buy it for?

And yes, serious winos I believe will go to you over somewhere like Dan's (in all my visits I've only ever come across one guy willing to help, and that was when I was purusing his high-end section [I think he was the resident expert]). I would say they do a lot of lower priced turnover, but not so much mid-high end or specialist stuff (see next comment).

Particuarly considering much of their wine sits in a hot and bright enviro for long long stretches. It amazes me they have bottles upon bottles of $400+++AU wine on display for who knows how long.

He is quite cheap. I've yet to see him outpriced on anything (there is a guarantee to beat any price). It often astounds me how much cheaper it actually is. I know they have a policy of looking around and putting their prices below anyone else.

Will beat any other price they say, but so does Quaffers (? in Mt. Waverly, who advertise the day after Dan). I wonder if anyone has managed to make them beat each other black and blue until they're giving it away?

Most ppl will walk in off the street and buy without much price-matching research, but I often know what most RRPs are, so I know how they are cheaper than the other big liquor chains, and any little shops I go into.

When you say premium what sort of stuff are you talking about? I haven't really price matched any of the really high end stuff, but anything up to $40AU is always cheaper in my experience.

Shhhhhh. ;-)

BTW, someone was telling me the Taylor's Cab Sav got voted best cab sav in the world. They couldn't be more specific, just heard it on the radio.

Sorry, yes...Landed Unit Cost.

I love it when folks ask you to match wines for their menu plans. I do not consider my self an expert, far from it, but oodles more of a clue than an acne ridden 21 year old kid at Dans....:>)

Southcorp already has the monopoly on giving juice away...:>)

My specialty lines seem to be the boutique $25 -45 wines, and IF Murphy et al also stock them, they tend to be a few dollars more. I can only assume they put their standard margin on, and because the smaller distributors are less prone to 'prostitiute' the wholesale pricing, they are in fact closer to or at the same LUC as me. It is not always the big boys shaving margins that is the problem/cause of price disparity, moreso, the willingness of the Southcorps, Blass' et al to supply at very low prices or camouflage LUC's by 'rebates'. It is the rebate sysytem that nearly sent Southcorp under.

After St Helier's claim, I decided to re-visit the St Andrews on Sunday. Alone in my shop, no offer from family to let me have Fathers Day off, so I spoilt myself with a bottle of the 1998. It IS a fantastic wine.... but best in Oz?...not imho. Then again, I am biased for Marg River, so I guess that has to be considered.

Anyway...I'm off to the Fine Wine and Spirits show in town.... :>)

Hooroo.....

Swooper wrote:

I c, i c.

Yep, that is for sure. They do seem to have resident experts, but I have only spotted one in all the time I've been shopping there.

Yes, I got Rosemount at about $5.50AU a bottle at one stage. I think I've told this story b4, anyway, it was exceptional value at the time.

Unfortuntely, I have not seen any such bargain basement clearances from them, and their shares appear to be going up again. Bugger. :-)

I c. I may have to come over and have a look-see one day.

Ah hah, i c. Yeah, when they buy like 100 000 cases or so, it does tend to drop the price. Smaller joints obviously cannot drop the price so much.

I'd keep it on the quiet that you're cheaper than Dan's, else they'll start undercutting you. Although as I've said, I doubt they do too much $25+ sales there.

The guy was telling me it was the bottom level Taylors, not even the St. Andrews. I will be giving it a whirl sometime soon.

I would have minded your shop for you if I'd had the day off. Would have been interesting.

Lucky bugger, industry only.

Regarding the Father's Day thing (cruel buggers), I got this email, and thought of you. Substitute Father's Day for Birthday. ;-) [ADULT HUMOUR FOLLOWS]

Why I Fired My Secretary

Two weeks ago was my 45th birthday, and I wasn't feeling too hot that morning, Anyway, I went to breakfast knowing my wife would be pleasant and say "Happy Birthday," and probably have a present for me. She didn't even say "Good Morning," let alone any "Happy Birthday." I thought, "Well, that's wives for you, the children will remember." The children came in to breakfast and didn't say a word. When I started to the office I was feeling pretty low and despondent. As I walked into my office, my secretary, Janet, said, "Good morning, boss. Happy Birthday." And I felt a little better; someone had remembered. I worked until noon. Then, Janet knocked on my door and said, "You know, its such a beautiful day outside and its your birthday, lets go to lunch, just you and me." I said, "By George, that's the greatest thing I've heard all day. Let's go!" We went to lunch. We didn't go where we normally go; we went out to the country to a little private place. We had two martinis and enjoyed lunch tremendously. On the way back to the office, she said, "You know, its such a beautiful day. We don't need to go back to the office, do we?" I said, "No, I guess not." She said, "Lets go to my apartment." After arriving at her apartment she said, "Boss, if you don't mind, I think I'll go into the bedroom and slip into something more comfortable." "Sure," I excitedly replied. She went into the bedroom and, in about six minutes, she came out carrying a big birthday cake, followed by my wife, children, and dozens of our friends, all singing Happy Birthday... And there I sat...on the couch...naked.

There were also a number of NZ wineries present, skipped most as I have been to several NZ only shows recently, but found a few new ones to play with....:>)

The range from Cairnbrae (Marlborough) were particularly good QPR (Sauv Blanc $17-18AUD, Pinot $26- 28).

Met up with one of my suppliers (one of many 'boutique' wine distributors I use), who was in a conversation negotiating a distributorship for the Nelson based TeMaria wines. As expected, their Pinot's and Sauv Blanc's were great, (he dragged me into the discussion to put a suggested Retail Price tag on them...:>)). I will watch with interest.

The Murdoch James Pinots are sensational, except I cannot stock them, as their price point eliminates them (I cannot sell Pinots at $60 per bottle!!).

Hooroo....

LOL. I don't think Dan is too worried about my little shop.

What a great day. They ran it conjunctly with the Melbourne Food Festival next door. Sip a few wines, duck next door for a nibble... back to the wines...nibbles...lol.... 8 hours of bliss. It was so good, I sent SWMBO in today with her friend to experience the fun.

Picks of the Show:-

Taste:- Bethany (Barossa Valley) GR6 1998 Shiraz. Unfortunatley it will be about $55-60AUD retail. Typical ball busting BV shiraz, drinking very well now, but will go another decade.

Range Ohlsen (Margaret River). All their wines were great examples of the styles... I tasted their Chardonnay, Merlot and Shiraz. Will be hard to find in East of Oz as they have no distributor, and will all be in the mid $20 range.

QPR:- Michelini Merlot. Reatail sub $10. A good quality drop of juice, (not MY fave varietal, but..), at the price, have not found many better.

Also tried barrel sample of my fave oraganic wine, (OK, the ONLY organic wine that has 'sang' to me). The 02 Avonmore Estate (Bendigo/Heathcote) is shaping up as even better than previous vintages. Have used this wine several times 'blind' to trick organic cynics who claim it is all rubbish...:>)

ROFLMAO..... Thanks...

hooroo.....

p the price. Smaller joints obviously cannot drop the price so much.

I wouldn't be too sure, Woolworths (and Coles-Myer for that matter) seem to have a "smash any competition, big or small" policy. They've been done for anti-competitive practices before.

Seems to me a lot of big companies undercut smaller operations until they go out of business. Not just in the alcohol sector either.

Sounds like a great day was had by all. I'm jealous.

I laughed pretty hard when I read it. Lots of urban myths like that. For the sake of decorum I shall relay no more. ;-)