Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Baldivis 2002 Cabernet Shiraz

A lovely dusty 6 year old red.
If you're looking for a bit of age in your cellar this has to be the bargain of the year.

RRP: $13
Our Price: $6 per bottle by the doz

OUT OF STOCK

WA Great Southern 2005 Unlabelled Riesling

Beautifully poised between the exuberance of youth and the grace of maturity this is a wine to enjoy now or whack in the cellar for 10 years.
This offers everything that's great about Oz rieslings at a ridiculous fraction of its true worth. An absolute no-brainer for lovers of this style.

Worth: $15+
Our Price: $6 per bottle by the doz
SOLD OUT

Friday, October 24, 2008

Yellow Tail 2008 Pinot Noir


THE MOST PECULIAR $8 PINOT NOIR I'VE EVER TASTED

I was tempted towards describing it as " The Pinot you have when you're not having a Pinot" but I thought that may be a little too disparaging for what is a brilliant budget red. Then again, "peculiar" in a sub head isn't too encouraging despite its accuracy.

I've become a major Pinot Noir convert over the last few years. I love the combination of subtlety and strength, the way this often deceptively pale red can begin with a caress and then powers its way through your palate.

This latest release Pinot Noir under the Yellow Tail label has none of this. It's an "in-your-face", fruit driven red with a deep, impenetrable, quite dazzling colour, lashings of berry,cherry and violet fruit flavour, minimal tannin but enough reassuring acid to support it for far longer than we recommend.

Prima facie this doesn't look like the summer red it really is. It looks like a shiraz, almost tastes likes a cabernet - we suggest you just treat it as a rose with grunt, especially with alcohol just a whisker under 14%. It's a cracker of a quaffable red wine.


RRP: Whatever you see it for in the shops
Our Price: $8 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Matahiwi 2006 Wairarapa Pinot Noir

We got onto this wine a few years ago courtesy of a Jeff Collerson rave.
He was right and very little has changed - even the price is the same!

Wairarapa is on the North Island of New Zealand, not far from Wellington and the winemaker is the lovely Jane Cooper who I've had the peasure of meeting a couple of times.
These are probably her notes and I've lifted from their website mainly because I love this stuff in terms of all the permutations that can come into play in winemaking. Enjoy:

"The Matahiwi vineyard is planted in several combinations of rootstock and Pinot Noir clones and this Pinot is a blend of some of these - 115, 114, 10/5, 777, Abel and 667, with each adding their own character and complexity. The 2006 vintage was a vintage showing natural low yields of about 1.5-2.0kgs per vine. This has resulted in a final wine with concentration and ideal ripeness.In the winery, the different batches of fruit are processed separately so that we can see the individual characters on their own and we add further complexities by incorporating different techniques and yeast combinations. The grapes are cold soaked for between 5 and 7 days and then fermented at about 28-32C. Depending on the fruit, post ferment time ranges from 3-10 days, before the wine is pressed off.

The wine is then aged partly in tank and partly in barrel for 10 months, undergoing malolactic fermentation, before being blended for bottling in March 2007."

RRP: $25
Our Price: $18 per bottle by the doz

OUT OF STOCK

Aspen Estate 2008 Chardonnay

While there are plenty of cheap chardonnays around we haven't tasted anything as impressive as this at $5. Fruit is more in the citrus spectrum and it has a crisp acidity that takes it well away from the fatter,cloying style.

RRP: $??????
Our Price: $5 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT

Aspen Estate 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

A clean crisp dry white that offers the best varietal fruit you'll find at this price. Extraordinary value, very well packaged and highly recommended.

RRP: $ ?????
Our Price: $5 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT
Publish Post

Stephen John Blanc de Blanc

EASILY OUR BIGGEST SELLER AT THIS PRICE and once you taste it you'll understand why. Here are Stephen's notes
"WINE STYLE
Our Blanc de Blanc, as the name implies, is a sparkling white made from white grapes. A blend of Chardonnay and Semillon from selected vineyards and picked early in the season to capture the freshness and elegance.
TASTING NOTES
Medium straw colour. Excellent mousse and fine bead. The nose shows fresh creamy fruit, whilst the palate is delicate with balanced acid/sweetness. An aperitif style displaying elegant structure balanced acid and lovely soft integrated flavours."

Our Price: $12 per bottle by the dozen

SOLD OUT

Stephen John 2006 Shiraz


TRADITIONAL BASKET PRESS -
5 STAR WINERY RATING 2008 JAMES HALLIDAY

Our old friend Stephen John doesn't just make your favourite everyday fizz. He's just released his 2006 Shiraz and it's an absolute cracker. It's simultaneously opulent and elegant and considerably underpriced. This is a perfect exampe of the heights that Clare Shiraz can hit. Enjoy it now or cellar for 5-10 years.


Our Price: $20 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT