Wine of the Week

Wine of the Week

 

Feudi di San Gregorio Sannio Falanghina DOC 2010

Having tasted quite a few of the San Gregorio wines recently I've been heartily impressed with them all. Their Aglianico red wines and sparkling wine are well worth buying but this wine from the variety Falanghina takes the trophy of most enjoyable.

Nevermind the long and confusing name. This is one of the most lovely white wines I've tasted in a long time. Textural, vibrant, floral and layered. This wine would be at home at a picnic or paired with the finest fish/white meat dish you could muster!

If you've never taste Falanghina before do yourself a favour!

$47ea

Wine of the Week

Wine of the Week

Du Cedre 'Heritage' Cahors 2009

It was a pretty hard job trying to pick my favourite wine of the week, but this lovely wine won out for its charm and drinkability at the South West France tasting this week. That and the weather has gone cold again!

An entry level red to the wonderful realm of South West France. This wine is from Cahors - one of the best regions you have probably never heard of. For more info on the region and its wines see my blog entry. 



Made from mostly Malbec and therefore sporting a fair structure, this wine showed dark fruits, while being light, fresh and a hint herbal. Some grippy fruit tannins were evident with some spice and cardomom notes. A great entry level to the reds of the region for drinking now.

$28ea and worth a lot more!!!!

Wine of the Week

Wine of the Week 

 

 

Sigalas Santorini Assrytiko 2009


The wine of the moment

Not surprisingly that following the Greek dinner and masterclass last night I've found an interesting Greek wine to recommend.

This wine is definitely not a sit down a drink on its own affair. But that is where the beauty of this wine lies. With the right food match it sings and hums in a magical way.
 
It really smells and tastes of where it is grown; the side of a windswept volcano covered in sand with the only water it receives being blown up from from the sea.


The might Greek wine Empire.

Such a unique drink on the vinous landscape.

$38ea. philip@thewinedepository.com.au

Wine of the Week

Wine of the Week

Paradigm Hill Riesling 2011

Paradigm Hill is an impressive vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. Probably most famous for their Pinot Noir I have always had a soft spot for their Riesling. We visited Paradigm Hill on Sunday when Main Ridge Estates cellar door was closed (so sad). It is a great experience and they have a beautiful 'puppy' (she more the size of a small lion!) Jemima.



Too drinkable. Should be in 1 litre bottles.

The Riesling has nice crunchy, zesty acidity, floral notes and a grapey, melon like edge. Great texture too. Brilliant Spring drinking this year or even better in five Springs from now.

$35ea - cheaper by the dozen. Email orders or questions to philip@thewinedepository.com.au

WINE OF THE WEEK

Francoise & Denis Clair Cotes de Beaune Village 2009

Following on from our All The Pinots tastings a good friend had their 40th Birthday. So naturally a bottle of Burgundy was the order of the day. The heart of Burgundy is known as the Cote d'Or (Golden Slope) and this wine could be sourced from anywhere in the Southern part known as the Cote de Beaune (Slope of Beaune) with Beaune historically being the major town in that part of the region.
2009 is widely regarded as one of the best vintages ever and with wines like this flying the flag it is hard to argue the point.



No contention with this Beaune.

This wine embodies the best parts of Pinot Noir, Burgundy and specifically the Cotes de Beaune style. Very perfumed cherry and raspberry, roses and violets, with a stoney, spicy and gamey depth. The palate is silky with hints of lavender. The oak tannins are soft and the acidity brings the whole wine together. There is a nice savoury undertone to the whole wine that makes it great with food. It went well with Mezzo's wild boar ravioli and prawn risotto.

Overall this is a great wine for Burgundy lovers and those trying to get their head around the style of the region. Whatever your knowledge level it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

$42ea cheaper for quantity. philip@thewinedepository.com.au

Wine of the Week

Bouscasse Madiran 2009

Gotta a whole lotta South West France love! Since the weather is still cold what better for you than a corset of tannins that is like a hug in a wine glass? Dark, minerally, hint of oak - somewhat reminiscent of Hunter Valley Shiraz. Nutty, smokey/flinty, nice acidity, silky and dense. Great wine!

A case of label imitating wine!

Madiran makes reds from Tannat, Cabs Sauvignon and Franc and local variety Fer Servadou. These are seriously tannic wines, easily outstripping all contenders for this title. Despite the structure these wines remain elegant, complex and balanced. They are admirable additions to your cellar without having to pay Bordeaux Cru pricing!



Stunning South West.

The main variety of Madiran; Tannat makes darkly coloured wines with monstrous tannins but with underlying depth and complexity. Madiran is obviously Tannat’s happy place judging by the wines.  Tannat is a troublesome variety prone to reduction which causes burnt rubber and onion like aromas in the final wine. This was the inspiration for developing the micro oxygenation technique which is now used worldwide in wine production. (And infamously lampooned in Mondovino).

For more information on the South West France you can see my previous blog posts.

$39ea cheaper by the dozen or off TWD's South West offer.

Wine Of The Week

WINE OF THE WEEK

Greenstone Rosso di Colbo Sangiovese 2011

The Greenstone vineyard is the result of a lot of know how, experimentation and breaking a few 'rules'. There is a strong focus on producing good quality Sangiovese (to good results it would appear!) but of course in Heathcote you have to give Shiraz some floor space too.



A great example of Sangiovese.

This wine was one of the highlights from Saturday's tasting at Mezzo. It is everything I want from a great Sangiovese. This could give more than a few Chiantis a run for their money! It is savoury, dry and lean with a nice acid backbone. It shows dark fruits, a hint of oak and a light floral note. Brilliant drinking! It went particularly well with Mezzo's wild boar ragu!

$31ea - Cheaper by the dozen. Email me philip@thewinedepository.com.au for more info or orders.

WINE OF THE WEEK

Kate Hill Riesling 2011

What? White in winter? Yes, and it is fantastic.

For more than ten years Kate has been making wine in some of the world’s prime wine-making regions including South Australia, Tasmania, France, California and Chile in both large companies and small. After all this experience she chose Tasmania to settle down, and it seems to have been a brilliant decision.



Kate Hill Riesling - Can't be many better Ries in Australia.

Made from fruit in the Coal and Derwent Valleys of Tasmania. 2011 was a high acid year. But never fear, this wine (as always) has great balance, there is a lingering floral perfume to balance out the citrusy and minerally notes. It probably will get better with age, but when they taste this good it's hard ...to lay them down.

So beautiful.

A steal at $30ea.

If you are tempted email me philip@thewinedepository.com.au to order.

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK
Kaesler Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - Continuing the theme of Cabernet for winter is this delicious example from the Barossa.

Kaesler was established in 1893. The estate has changed hands a couple of times since then but at the core of the property is large parcel of vines over 40 years old, affectionately known as 'The Old Bastards'.


A great example of Barossa Cabernet.

The Kaesler style is to make succulent and seductive reds that are charming and flavoursome while style offering density and complexity. This wine delivers this and more. Normally I avoid Cabernet from hot climates, such as the Barossa. However these guys have managed to meld their silky house style with the lean acid and firm tannins that I look for in good Cabernet. This wine is drinking well now but will develop some more leather and earthy characters over the next few years.
 .
$30.00ea and cheaper by the dozen.

You can order this winter treat by emailing me at philip@thewinedepository.com.au

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK
Patrizi Moscato d'Asti 2011 - One of my (surprisingly) favourite wines from the Piedmont Dinner I hosted in May http://winedep.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/piedmont-dinner-and-masterclass-at.html

Patrizi Moscato d'Asti

Moscato is the traditional way to cleanse the palate after a meal before getting stuck into the Grappa (which is what we did). I was a hint sceptical at first, but after tasting it I have seen... the light. This is a really lovely, fresh, vibrant slightly fizzy drink that is so refreshing. There was great balance between the grapey, floral notes, the light sweetness and the soft fizz. Contextually it was perfect and really easy drinking.

 $19.95ea cheaper by the dozen.

You can order this divine and slightly indugent wine by emailing me at philip@thewinedepository.com.au

Patrizi Moscato d'Asti - Hero of the Day.

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK:
Thomas Sweetwater Shiraz 09 - One of the best producers in the Hunter Valley, in fact some of the best wines in NSW overall.

Andrew Thomas cut his teeth at Tyrrell's before setting up his own winery with the aim to specialise in great Semillon and Shiraz from single vineyards.

One of my favourite Shiraz of all time.

Dark fruits, olives, limestone & flint and pepper. Mid-weight, savoury and really well balanced. These wines have the stuffing and structure to age wonderfully (I have had several older bottles from Thomas) but the balance really makes them appealling in their youth too. Overall this is a wine of great character, like the NSW State of Origin team. Go Blues!

$33ea - cheaper by the dozen.

email orders to philip@thewinedepository.c​om.au

Thomas Wines - Some of the best wines from NSW.

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK:
Reilly's Shiraz 2008 - Awesome Clare Valley producer who has been making some great value wines for well over a decade. The first wine I had of theirs was the Dry Land Shiraz 2001 way back in 03/04. It was love from then on in.
The key to Reilly's success is they have some old vineyards that produce concentrated and dense wines that have power but not sweetness. This allows their wines to age gracefully, if you can keep away from them.
This black label shiraz is an more 'entry level' easy drinking style normally. However, 2008 was a warm vintage and they declassified a large amount of the old vine fruit and put it into this wine. Which is why it is such great value.

This Shiraz displays rich dark fruits, spice and plenty of body. This wine is extremely drinkable and offers plenty of character for the price tag.
$17ea - cheaper by the dozen.

email orders to philip@thewinedepository.com.au

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK:
JL Chave Selection Offerus Saint-Joseph 2008 - Chave is one of the top producers in the Northern Rhone Valley, world famous from their exemplary Hermitage (see my previous Chave encounter here).
The Selecion label is the Chave negociant arm which that allows them to buy fruit from outside vineyards to make more wine at a more affordable price. As the name suggests, the parcels are carefully selected to make sure they don't damage their fine reputation.

Offerus at casual rest, ready for shipping.

I'll admit this wine is a baby which is why it made it to the TWD April Cellar Dozen, but it is just so well balanced and complex it's hard to leave alone. This St Joseph is savoury, mineral, spicy and structured Syrah. It is quite tight and backwards when first opened but with air shows beautiful cherry and plum fruit, hints of Rose petals, pepper, toasty/bacony oak. The tannins are a bit gritty at first, but the fruit develops over the top to provide excellent balance. As discovered last night, this wine is great with a rib-eye and even gnocchi.
$59ea - cheaper by the dozen.

email orders to philip@thewinedepository.com.au

WINE OF THE WEEK

WINE OF THE WEEK:

Three Wishes Chardonnay 2008 - From the beautiful Batman Peninsula in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Three Wishes is a small, family run vineyard that makes some lovely wines.

This is one of my favourite producers in the whole world and Pete the owner very generously sponsored TWD Sentinels in last years Wine Rules charity event.



This label makes me think of bed time. Is it just me?

This Chard offers Oystershell, peaches, creamy mouthfeel and satisfying drinking. $29ea - cheaper as part of a dozen.

Order some today: philip@thewinedepository.com.au

See the other lovely wines we have on hand if you are keen to make up a mixed dozen.