Here are my top red wine picks under $35, delivering exceptional value and a rewarding experience. Whether you’re purchasing from us or enjoying a glass at a Perth wine bar, these selections are sure to impress.
Shiraz
The Forest Hill Vineyard Shiraz of 2021 has Lifted aromas of blue fruits with florals and classic Mount Barker spice. Medium bodied but dense with fine ripe tannin and well-balanced natural acidity. Warm spices and the oak quickly gain traction on a medium-bodied palate, with juicy red and black cherries & licorice.
#2 Willow Bridge Gravel Pit Shiraz
Located in the Ferguson Valley has consistently produced one of the region’s best Shiraz. The 2023 Gravel Pit is no exception. As the name suggests, the vineyard block had been used previously to excavate gravel to construct the roads within the hills of the Ferguson Valley.
A style which exudes vibrancy, juicy and spicy character, matched to a full flavoured and complex palate. Perfume of spice, star anise, blackberry and raspberry, pure and striking. Opulent and mouth filling black satsuma plum and dark plums supported by fine, long silky tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon
#1 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Cabernet
A Rich, dark ruby red colour with dark cherry edges. The 2021 vintage has aromas of red currant, cassis, dark chocolate, salted caramel, dark earth, forest floor, fresh hearth, violets, raspberry cane, red rose petal. A luscious flavour combination with dark berry, red currant, black cherry, dark moist earth, tar, ferrous, tight refined tannins, complete fanning out on back palate, dark toasted baking spice finish, chewy, sinewy, lithe, long, refined structure carrying fruit to an effortless finish, juicy berry deliciousness.
#2 Forest Hill Estate Cabernet
This is a standout example of what this vineyard does best, sublime Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaking process was carefully handled, starting with hand-picked fruit that was de-stemmed, chilled, and placed into mostly open fermenters. After a cold soak, the grapes were inoculated and pumped over twice a day to ensure thorough aeration. The wine then spent time in French barriques (25% new) for malolactic fermentation, which helped blend the grape and oak tannins smoothly. After 12 months of maturation, it was blended, fined, and bottled.
This wine features fruit from Forest Hill’s Blocks 5, 6, and 7, as well as some from the younger Block 10. Located in Mount Barker, the vineyard’s gravelly loams over clay, combined with dry-growing methods and minimal intervention, really shine through in the glass.
The addition of Malbec from older vines adds depth and complexity. The result is a wine that’s both smooth and rich, with an inviting bouquet of cassis, lavender, dark chocolate, salted liquorice, and a hint of clove and cinnamon. On the palate, it’s deep and concentrated, with a supple texture and a balanced touch of woody, resinous notes. It’s a classy, well-rounded wine that feels elegant and should age beautifully over time.
Others
This 2023 Singlefile Great Southern Malbec was cold soaked in small fermenters for two days before undergoing an extended and gentle maceration allowing for the softening of the tannins with the goal of creating a wine with structure and texture along with the natural juicy flavour profile of Malbec. Twenty five percent of the wine was matured in new Bordeaux oak barriques. The balance went to two- and three-year old Bordeaux barriques for six months maturation before final preparation for bottling. This wine displays bright and lifted perfumed aromas of plum, dark berries, chocolate and spicy oak support. The wine is effortlessly mouth filling with a lovely soft and juicy red fruit flavour profile balanced with natural acidity and gentle fine-grained tannins which provide structure to a long finish.
Zinfandel is a black grape variety that originates in Croatia and known for its bold, fruity flavours and high alcohol content, and is often used to make robust, full-bodied red wines.
Hand harvested from the central area of the Perth Hills, this Zinfandel was fermented in small open top vessels before being pressed to a combination of ceramic egg vessels and oak for maturation. When blended the ceramic egg portion provides the tight rich fruits associated with Zinfandel. The oak portion provides the round, soft fruits and spicy character.
This is a softer, smooth and refined expression of Zinfandel while still holding a plush sense of beautiful dark fruits. While a Zinfandel can be a bit wild, this feels like everything is in harmony.
