Lachlan Ridge Shiraz

I buy the Lachlan Ridge Cabernet Merlot all the time. I use it to drink but more so for cooking. I have noticed that since the new packaging the taste is not as strong. I recently brought a cask with best before date 30/06/27 batch L3 L26181. 18:06:23 and it tasted off. I always taste it before using for cooking and it was terrible. Left a bitter taste in my mouth. Unfortunately it is no longer value for money and I will have to choose another brand.

Lachlan Ridge is a Coles brand of boxed wine in 2l casks. It comes in a variety of grapes. I used to buy the Shiraz and the Cabernet Merlot. Until recently, both were full flavoured and very pleasant to drink at a good price point. Lately, they changed their packaging to a more 'recycled' look, and with it, the quality of the wine. Now both varieties taste like they have been watered down. No distinctive flavour anymore. Won't buy again, there are much better bottled wines even in the less than $10 range.