Top Quaffer

Ben Thomas, The Weekly Review, 26th July 2010

Deakin Estate produces a good range of wines at less than $10 and this is my pick of them. Aromas of cherry, plum and spice are followed by medium-bodied bright flavours of redcurrants, more plums and raspberries. Fine, subtle tannins and a hint of pepper spice finish off the wine nicely. This is a good, well-priced quaffer.
Top Quaffer.
3.5 Stars

Fun and flavoursome.

Winsor Dobbin, Sauce, Hobart. June 23-July 5 2010

You want a bottle of red to take to a party, or a local take away? Look no further. This is a fun and flavoursome red wine that will keep you slurping happily on a tight budget. It's a classic Aussie wine with ripe plum and berry flavours, prominent oak aromas and flavours and plenty of length on the palate. Turn up the metal - pick up a pizza.

Excellent value, 89 Points

James Halliday, The Australian Wine Companion 2011

Clear red; the wine has a fragrant bouquet of black and red cherry, the light- to medium-bodied palate encapsulating those flavours in a fine web of gently savoury tannins. Continues a tradition of excellent value for this label. 89 Points

A standout in its class

Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh, The Big Red Wine Book 2010/2011

Full of sweet, jubey fruit flavour - raspberry and currants. You can't really ask for more at the price. Has brightness, fleshiness and an easy-drinking, fruity style. Substantial tannin too - it's grippy and meaty, which is great to see. A standout in its class. 89 Points

A ripper

Campbell Mattinson, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Dec/Jan 2010

Talking of bargains, the 2008 Deakin Estate Shiraz is a ripper. It tastes of sweet, ripe, juby raspberry and blackcurrant, and its fleshy juiciness makes for terrific quaffing. I like the softness here and the ripe, easy-going fruitiness. This is the kind of red that gives fresh, exceptionally well-made (Phil Spillman is the chief winemaker), inexpensive Aussie wine such a good name.

Rewarding quaffer

Rick Allen, Mosman Daily, 12/11/2009

With the festive season looming, a case of this Murray-Darling red could be a smart buy. It's bright, fruity and good enough to enjoy when friends drop around. Raspberry and plum
flavours and some gentle spice. Rewarding quaffer at a great price.

90 points

Peter Forrestal, The West Australian, 19/11/2009

A juicy and very fruity shiraz displaying vibrant fleshy fruit intensity. Has fine firmish tannins threading through the soft medium-bodied palate. Nice full plum flavours with a little sprinkle of spices.
90/100

A smart buy

Rick Allen, North Shore Times, 6/11/2009

With the festive season looming, a case of this Murray-Darling red could be a smart buy. It's bright, fruity and good enough to enjoy when friends drop around. Raspberry and plum flavours and some gentle spice. Rewarding quaffer at a great price.

Bargain Buy

Mike Frost, Courier Mail Brisbane, 20/10/2009

There's blackberry and plum with spice and vanilla
oak on the nose and palate of this consistent red
with soft tannins on the finish.
Enjoy with lamb, beef or a good pizza.
Rating: 89.

Quaffer, but perfect at it.

Campbell Mattinson, Winefront Monthly, 31 Aug 2009

This Deakin Estate Shiraz is an interesting wine. It's full of sweet jubey fruit flavour. Raspberry and currants. You can't really ask for more at the price. Has a brightness and a fleshiness and an easy-drinking fruitiness. Wish this was in the Big Red Wine Book. It's a quaffer in style and a quaffer in quality, but it's perfect at it. Rated : 88 Points

Impress your guests

Selector Magazine, July 2010

This beautifully made Shiraz is typical of Deakin Estate - a varietally precise, fruit forward style that over-delivers on price. Soft, ripe and plummy, it will impress your guests and your wallet.

Outstanding wine

James Halliday - 01/01/2009, www.winecompanion.com.au

What a surplus can do! Outstanding wine at the price, with an excellent varietal fruit profile on the medium-bodied palate, supported by ripe tannins. Rating 90. Drink 2014. Date Tasted Jan 09

Pleasingly long and persistent

Jeremy Oliver, Australian Wine Annual 2009

A soft, earthy and dark-fruited shiraz with a moderately aromatic and generous weight of ripe, juicy plum and red berry flavour is underpinned by a rather green-edged and slightly metallic aspect. Pleasingly long and persistent.

Try it now

Mike Frost - 26/07/2007, Courier Mail

Theres berry, plum and spice on the nose and palate of this well-priced red, with just a dash of oak and soft tannins. Try it now with a gourmet beef pie or a hearty casserole. $8-$10. Widely available. Rating: 88

Incredible quality price ratio

Nigel St John and Jason Purdie - 31/01/2009, Burnie Advocate, The Masters Apprentice

Master: This is a really competitively priced wine with consistent quality, if people aren't sure they can grab a bottle at this price and give it a go. It's good Basic Stuff. Theres a range of varieties through this label and its worth trying each one. The same guy who's involved with this label is involved with Katnook and Riddoch as well, so if the grape is not up to scratch he won't accept it.

Generous and juicy palate

Jeremy Oliver - 01/10/2007, The Australian Wine Annual 2008

Lightly smoky aromas of violets, blackberries, cassis and white pepper precede a generous and juicy palate whose rich, ripe red and black fruit flavours are backed by sweet toasty vanilla oak. Framed by firmish, pliant tannin, it's moderately long and balanced, finishing with clean acids and no hint of overcooked flavour.

Berry Flavours

Ralph Kyte-Powell - 01/08/2007, The Age Epicure

Deakin Estates Murray Valley reds are often real bargains. This typically well-made shiraz combines concentrated, loganberry-like fruit with spicy notes and a savoury, earthy touch. Oak is all but imperceptible and the palate is just on the light side of

They wont be disappointed

Fergus McGhie - 21/07/2007, Canberra Times

A striking new label should see a few more shoppers try the Deakin Estate Shiraz this year. And if theyre looking for a good-quality budget shiraz, they wont be disappointed. Its lovely, ripe, fruit flavours of plums and raspberries are complemented by s

Terrific value for money

Winsor Dobbin - Wine/Trave Writer - 19/06/2007, www.shesaid.com.au

This wine offers terrific value for money. It’s a lovely, full-flavoured young shiraz, with spicy plum and berry flavours and some lovely richness. A terrific partner for dishes with rich Italian sauces, beef pies or grilled red meats. $10.

Plenty of weight and oomph

Graeme Philips - 11/07/2007, Hobart Mercury

A good value cheapie delivering lot of up front ripe spicy fruit and plenty of weight and oomph in its 14.5%.

Best enjoyed now

Wines to Watch - 01/07/2007, LIQUOR WATCH

The 2005 Shiraz from Deakin Estate was sourced from Red Cliffs in North West Victoria. It is medium-deep red in colour with spicy fruitcake and raisin aromas dominating the nose, and a rich palate of berries and fine tannins. It is best enjoyed now but a

Ample Berry Fruit Flavours

Paddy Kendler - 26/07/2007, Herald Sun - City Style

The latest Deakin estate Shiraz will not disappoint those who have enjoyed previous vintages, and the flash new packaging may well attract new patronage. This is not a particularly rich or complex dry red, but it does offer ample berry fruit flavour withi

Pie eaters rejoice

david ellis associates - 10/09/2007, Weekly Wine Column

ONE FOR LUNCH: PIE-eaters rejoice: Deakin Estate's released a 2005 Shiraz that’s a superb red for next time you put a gourmet beef pie on the table and better still, it costs just $10. Fruit from the company's vineyard at Red Cliffs in North Wes