Favourite Quaffers (and criteria)

[Steady]

I see "quaffer" is regularly mentioned in the wine threads - sometimes it aligns with my definition, other times it doesn't

For me, the criteria has been an easy drinking every day type wine that is under a nominal $15. Since discovering VM the price point has dropped to under $10

My current favourites are the recent VM offerings - Maverick Twins GSM, Glenlofty SV and Shiraz, Schild Estate GSM and the McGuigan GSM.

I used to quaff $10- wines like Yellowtail......

What criteria do others use?

What quaffers have others found that I should seek out?

 

[blackcat20]

I see "quaffer" is regularly mentioned in the wine threads - sometimes it aligns with my definition, other times it doesn't

For me, the criteria has been an easy drinking every day type wine that is under a nominal $15. Since discovering VM the price point has dropped to under $10

My current favourites are the recent VM offerings - Maverick Twins GSM, Glenlofty SV and Shiraz, Schild Estate GSM and the McGuigan GSM.

I used to quaff $10- wines like Yellowtail......

What criteria do others use?

What quaffers have others found that I should seek out?

Thing is, those wines aren't $10 wines, you've just bought them at a discount. Essentially you are classifying a $25 wine a quaffer.

To me a quaffer is a mid week, felt like a drink, type of wine. Rather than the Friday night, cook a fancy meal type of wine. Probably about the $15-25 mark. To me, Brown Brothers Merlot or Hentley Farm Marl Shiraz are quaffers.

 

[burmans]

For me a quaffer is your mid week nothing special wine. To me, more around the $15-20 wine. But if you can buy $30-$40 bottles of wine at 50% or more off for me there is no reason not to be drinking those every night.

At one stage I was getting ex Heritage wines like Nefertari/Nefertiti at about $15-$18 vs their RRP of $55 or so, strictly some wouldn't regard these as quaffers but at that price why not drink them every day!

 

[kelvedon]

I see "quaffer" is regularly mentioned in the wine threads - sometimes it aligns with my definition, other times it doesn't

For me, the criteria has been an easy drinking every day type wine that is under a nominal $15. Since discovering VM the price point has dropped to under $10

My current favourites are the recent VM offerings - Maverick Twins GSM, Glenlofty SV and Shiraz, Schild Estate GSM and the McGuigan GSM.

I used to quaff $10- wines like Yellowtail......

What criteria do others use?

What quaffers have others found that I should seek out?

Quite keen on Argentine Malbec from the Mendoza region. A gutsy smooth red for under $20. However it depends on the circumstances, if lucky enough to be in EK F, I'd be quaffing Dom!

 

[Violin]

Quaffer for me is the everyday drinking bottle at less than $15 (maybe $20) that doesn't need to be cellared. Now this allows me to include within this definition: more expensive wines that I buy at a good price, older wines that come up at a really good price and the standard early/easy drinking cheaper bottle at full price. Given the market over recent years I have found that I don't need to resort to the third group any more. Onceuponatime it was Koonunga shiraz at $9 but not needed for years. Vinomofo has been providing these for a while but also a lot from wineiq before being bought by Langtons (after which the number of top deals has dropped markedly). The odd smaller provider rounds out the supply.

Have picked up some excellent Ashbrook buys at $15-17 (chardonnay and cab-merlot), drank a heap of cleanskin Kilikanoon Baroota shiraz at $15-16 and the Kilikanoon reisling at $14, the Glenlofty SV very easy drinking.

 

[Steady]

Thing is, those wines aren't $10 wines, you've just bought them at a discount. Essentially you are classifying a $25 wine a quaffer.

To me a quaffer is a mid week, felt like a drink, type of wine. Rather than the Friday night, cook a fancy meal type of wine. Probably about the $15-25 mark. To me, Brown Brothers Merlot or Hentley Farm Marl Shiraz are quaffers.

I agree - I classify wines worth $25- as quaffers. I haven't tried the Brown Brothers but I like Merlot so I will keep an eye out. I have never seen any Hentley Farm wines locally.

A $20 to $25 wine that I think can be either a Friday night entertainer or quaffer is the St Hallett OBST Shiraz

 

[drron]

This represents my quaffers-
Aug/Sep 2015 Newsletter - Everyday Trans-Seasonal Selection

 

[Buzzard]

Whilst I certainly acknowledge that via VM et al we get some really good wines at ridiculous prices, I couldn't agree more with Steady. The wine I pick up for around a tenner is a quaffer. If I had a higher disposable income my definition of a quaffer might change.

 

[Steady]

This represents my quaffers-
Aug/Sep 2015 Newsletter - Everyday Trans-Seasonal Selection

That looks like a good buy

 

[carwashhair]

My quaffers of the past year or so have been 2012 Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz (just squeezing in @ $14.50/btl), 2009 Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah (picked up a stack at the incredible price of $6.70), and of course VM's 2013 Maverick Twins. Still stunned at the price of that one - and the lack of foresight in only getting one case

 

[kelvedon]

My quaffers of the past year or so have been 2012 Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz (just squeezing in @ $14.50/btl),

The're serving this in Cathay J at the moment

 

[Deleted member]

I think a quaffed is any "Entry Level" wine as opposed to the mass produced ( proprietary label) wines we see on the shelves at D M etc. price usually $10.00 - $15.00.

 

[blackcat20]

I agree - I classify wines worth $25- as quaffers. I haven't tried the Brown Brothers but I like Merlot so I will keep an eye out. I have never seen any Hentley Farm wines locally.

A $20 to $25 wine that I think can be either a Friday night entertainer or quaffer is the St Hallett OBST Shiraz

The BB Merlot is smooth; far too easy to drink the whole bottle

 

[Steady]

and of course VM's 2013 Maverick Twins. Still stunned at the price of that one - and the lack of foresight in only getting one case

I also only got one case of it - lesson learnt if it comes up again or another vintage next year

The BB Merlot is smooth; far too easy to drink the whole bottle

I think "far to easy to drink the whole bottle" is definitely an attribute I like in all wines but is essential for a quaffer - I think often the ones I have tried that don't have it are the ones I have opened too young - these often gain the drinkability factor after being open for 24 hours.

 

[blackcat20]

I also only got one case of it - lesson learnt if it comes up again or another vintage next year



I think "far to easy to drink the whole bottle" is definitely an attribute I like in all wines but is essential for a quaffer - I think often the ones I have tried that don't have it are the ones I have opened too young - these often gain the drinkability factor after being open for 24 hours.

The Lost Bouy is one of those, it really improves over time. A quaffer should really be ready to go at a moments notice...

 

[rawlax]

The Lost Bouy is one of those, it really improves over time. A quaffer should really be ready to go at a moments notice...

Its actually the opposite for me with quaffers. My wife hasnt really drunk alcohol over the past few years (pregnant, etc) so i find myself drinking my midweek wines over 2-4 nights - it helps to keep the costs down as well. Wines like the Lost Bouy that get better and evolve over a few days provide a bit of interest and are definitely preferable over the wines that fall over on day 2 or 3.

I understand im most likely in the minority with this however

 

[Rugby]

Great thread Steady. Some quaffers I've enjoyed this year are the Katnook Founders Block Cab Sav 2012, Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz, Wirra Wirra 2012 Church Block Cab Sav Merlot, and I'm a big +1 on the Hentley Farm The Marl Shiraz. My quaffers tend to be bottles priced between $15 - $25 that I enjoy while relaxing at home....and anything that comes in an Epiqure mixed case.

 

[robd]

My regular quaffer is Wynns Coonawarra White Label Shiraz. Price varies a bit at DM's from $12 up to $17.50. When the price is at the peak, I'll go to Annies Lane Shiraz and Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz or the Wynns Coonawarra Cab Sav Merlot or the Red Knot Cab Sav. Usually these are circa $15 or less.

 

[Dr Ralph]

My regular quaffer is Wynns Coonawarra White Label Shiraz. Price varies a bit at DM's from $12 up to $17.50.

What great quaffer. Used to love it when it was under the $10 mark and something that you know will cellar for at least 10 years.

 

[amaroo]

I swing from white > red. Start proceedings with a Squealing Pig, complete the evening with a Hewiston or similar.