Regional wines figure highly on Jordan's list

Ray Jordan released a list of his top 100 reds in _The West Australian _last Thursday and eight Great Southern wines made the cut.

The WA wine editor tasted nearly 600 red wines selling for $40 or less and said the competition was "intense".

While a Margaret River wine made best value wine, Houghton Crofters Shiraz 2013 from Frankland River was the best value runner-up, priced at $19.

Mr Jordan's notes said the shiraz used to sell at a higher price and it "has you pinching yourself that we have it so good." He gave the wine 93 points out of 100 and said there was a "distinct regional blueberry aroma with lighter aromatic cherry characters".

Half of the Great Southern wines were top shirazes, with three in the $25-$40 range and one in $20-$25 range.

West Cape Howe Tempranillo 2014 made the latter category, while Castelli Shiraz 2011, Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz 2012 and Singlefile Estate Frankland River Shiraz 2012 made the higher-priced category.

Two pinot noir wines - Abbey Creek Pinot Noir 2013 and Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2014, both from the Porongurups area - were listed in the $25-$40 range.

Great Southern Wine Producers Associaion chairman Andrew Hoadley said the region consistently produced cool climate reds with a large area giving climatic and site diversity.