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 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

Chaffey Bros Wine Co Battle for Barossa La Resistance! GSM 2023, Barossa Valley

What a cracking grenache, shiraz and mourvédre blend! Medium crimson with vibrant raspberry, blackberry and blueberry aromas, with baking spices, peppercorn, graphite, dried citrus rind and purple florals. Juicy, dark and blue fruits on the palate with the most powdery of tannin clouds, bright acidity and a long draw of juicy, spicy fruit. It's just so damn easy to drink. Woah! – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points.   

RRP $30 | Drink to 2035 | chaffeybros.com | Shop this wine

Dune Wine The Empty Quarter 2024, McLaren Vale

A blend of 47/40/10/3% grenache/mataro/shiraz/touriga. The grenache and shiraz are co-fermented, with the other components blended before a year in oak. Aside from a splash of touriga, this conforms more to a classic mindset than most of the Dune portfolio, though the lean away from sweet fruit and into savoury detail prevails. So too the tensioning on the palate, with a compact of fine yet commanding tannins and a clean line of acidity. Blue fruits and red. Well, black, too, but on the taut side of ripe. Violet, dry spices, iron and earth. As usual, it’s an elegant affair – flavour-deep yet refined. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points.   

RRP $28 | Drink to 2030 | dunewine.com | Shop this wine