Recommendations on Good French/Italian Wine?

HappyACS on 05/07/2017 - 12:04
Last edited 05/07/2017 - 13:57 by 1 other user

Attn Winos

I have been into Aussie wine for 12 yrs or so & now looking to expand my wine knowledge & get into wines from various countries & regions around the world.

Can anybody point to some good value French & Italian wines from Dan Murphy's/Wine stores/Online to get me started??

My average price point ranges from $15-$35.

Preferences are:
Barossa Shiraz ( who doesnt?)
WA Cab Merlot
Shiraz Cabernet
VIC Charddys
Adelaide SSB
Red Blends SA

Or…….do I needn't bother and stick with what I know…??

Happy drinking & I look forward to hearing from the community.

• 

  charzy on 05/07/2017 - 12:26

  +1

  A nice aged beaujolais is quite nice. Had one from my local french restaurant and it was delicious.

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  jezzster on 05/07/2017 - 12:51

  This is an excellent value Italian red ($19 a bottle) It's a blend of two Northern Italian grape varieties. It will have the structure and fruitiness that you might like in a Barossa Shiraz.

  https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_447304/maretti-lang…

  If you like Victoria Chardys (particular those leaner, crisper styles) then I would try Chablis. It's Chardonnay from Burgundy, but it doesn't spend any time in oak barrels so it's more crisp and refreshing.

  https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_908550/william-fevr…

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  marcusv on 05/07/2017 - 13:52

  I'd recommend going to Cloudwine Cellars in South Melbourne. They have some great wines there that you don't usually find anywhere else. They are also really good at recommending wine.

  I also don't mind this one - https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_900214/carpineto-do…

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  Fergy1987 on 05/07/2017 - 14:27

  Hit up some wine from Chile - they go alright.

  But I actually find that I prefer Australian wine to anything foreign that you get at a bottle shop. I'm sure this would differ if I was in Europe though.

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  carwashhair on 05/07/2017 - 15:11

  The main thing to note when going for imports is that you generally will get less quality wines for the same price as the Australian wines you buy. This is mainly due to our taxation system on wines here.

  If you buy a wine for $35 equivalent in France/Italy/Spain, that wine would need to be sold here for about $75 after all taxes/duties/shipping and profit margins are built in.

  I'm not saying there aren't good wines you can find at all, but the quality/value ratio is unfairly skewed. That said, if you like big Barossan reds and want some value, look for Primitivo/Negroamaro grape wines from Puglia in Italy. You can look for all the better known regions for decent wines, but in your price range you might still be buying wines towards the bottom of the quality pile:
  Burgundy
  Bordeaux
  Cotes-du-Rhone
  Barolo
  Chianti
  Ribera del Duero
  Rioja
  Chablis

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  HappyACS on 05/07/2017 - 16:50

  Thanks marcusv,jezzster & carwashhair , thats helpful about the taxes & duties etc. I will go do some buying & trying.

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  tank17 on 06/07/2017 - 13:47

  As I am Italian i prefer Italian wines lol…mostly heavy flavoured fruity red like Chianti or Barolo or Valpolicella.
  Highly recommended.