Chianti from a Hidden Treasure at Brilliant Value

2016 Sinopie Chianti DOCG $16.30 btl / $195.60 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Rufina is a Tuscan town 30 kilometers northeast of Florence and is one of the smallest of the Chianti sub-zones. There are just 25 wineries in Rufina, and although produces much less than other regions in Tuscany such as Classico and Colli Senesi, it is a mighty force making some of Tuscany’s finest wines. On offer this week is an excellent example of a fresh, young style of modern Chianti Rufina. The 2016 Sinopie Chianti DOCG is made with grapes sourced from younger plantings from Colognole’s vineyards. The 2016 vintage in Tuscany was another good one and produced wines with good colour and impressive fragrance. This wine has crisp red fruit and vibrant acidity and it is a genius for pairing with a variety of foods. It exhibits bright cherry and raspberry fruit aromas with a hint of dried herbs. The palate is light to medium bodied with fresh cherries and a salty black licorice finish. The Colognole estate is run by two brothers, Mario and Cesare Coda Nunzinate, who have a passion for Chianti Rufina and have built a name for themselves in this small appellation. The vineyards of Colognole are composed of terroir very similar to that of premium-quality Chianti Classico, a mix of Galestro and Albarese, soils that retain less nutrients which is ideal for the vines to produce grapes with elegance, fine tannins and aromatic, fruity notes. What these vineyards have over Chianti Classico is altitude, reaching as high as 400 meters above sea level on the lower slopes of the Apennines and the vines are naturally tilted towards the sun, just like sunbathers on a reclined beach chair. This helps the finicky Sangiovese grapes to ripen to perfection, which can be a difficult task. The change between day and night temperatures has a remarkable effect on the grapes helping preserve the aromatics and natural acids in the fruit, resulting in a blissful balance of sweet ripe fruit with high acidity rivaling the best wines from other Chianti appellations. Price: Case of 12 at $195.60 ($16.30 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 18 months Blend/Body: Dry red, 93% Sangiovese, 7% Merlot, light-medium bodied Service: Best served 14°C – 16°C Food Pairing: Grilled beef or lamb, tomato based dishes, spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna and pizza

97pt Shiraz from McLaren Vale’s One and Only Dowie Doole

2014 Dowie Doole Shiraz Reserve $92.95 btl / $557.70 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) Dowie Doole sounds like a name invented by a bunch of mates during a late night pub crawl. However, it is in fact the joining of the founder’s surnames, Drew Dowie and Norm Doole. Drew, formerly an Australian architect, joined forces with international Canadian banker Norm Doole and then brought on Leigh Gilligan, grape grower and veteran wine marketer in 1996, when Dowie Doole officially opened their doors. They realized from the start that the strength of Dowie Doole was the collection of widely-varying premium vineyards in McLaren Vale and they concentrated on growing and making ‘classic’ wines that express the terroir of the region. Today’s offer is the 2014 Dowie Doole Shiraz Reserve, made with the best Shiraz grapes from the Dowie Doole vineyards. To protect their philosophy, the Reserve is made in very limited quantities, without compromise and only when vintage conditions allow for a supreme Shiraz wine. This small-production is matured for 24 months in 100% French oak, with 70% being new and 30% 1 year old. Intense deep purple, with a bright crimson hue and a complex nose of dark fruits, leather, spices and sandalwood. The full bodied palate is rich and generous and follows on from the bouquet with blackberry, plums, spices cedar and cocoa powder. A complex wine with excellent tannin structure, length and weight. The McLaren Vale wine region, in the north-west of Fleurieu Peninsula, is located approximately 35km south of Adelaide. It is by far the most important wine-producing area in the Fleurieu zone and is also regarded very highly throughout Australia and the world. The climate is Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild winters. The fresh sea breezes from The Gulf Saint Vincent coming off helps to moderate temperatures during the growing season which helping to retain acidity and structure. Shiraz leads the region’s list of award-winning wines, making McLaren Vale a favourite place to grow this grape. Price: Case of 6 at $557.70 ($92.95 per bottle) Drink: Now or cellar for up to 15 Blend/Body: 100% Shiraz, Full-body Reviews:“From a block replanted in ’74; the vinification is essentially the same as for Cali Road, with one major exception: the oak used is French. An object exercise in the benefits that French oak of identical age can invest a wine with precision and brilliance, an edgy character that simply illuminates the fruit, and leaves the mouth thirsting for more. Grace and power.” James Halliday – 97 points, Halliday Wine Companion – Exceptional & Awarded Special Value Rating – Listed in Halliday’s ‘BEST of the BEST’ Shiraz Food Pairing: Braised lamb, whole beef fillet, hard cheeses, beef bourguignon

Givry 1er Crus which, with every sip, drinks more like a Gevrey-Chamberin

2013 Domaine Thenard, “Cellier aux Moines” Givry 1er Cru $42.60 btl / $255.60 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) Today’s offer is the 2013 Domaine Thenard, Cellier aux Moines Givry 1er Cru, with limited-production we usually do not have enough allocation to offer this to private clients, so this is a treat. Only 40 cases of 6 bottles available. Domaine Thenard, a small 3.22 hectare vineyard in Burgundy, has optimal southern exposure and its mix of clay and lime soils contributs to rich and sturctured wines. The “Cellier aux Moines” parcel are very old with records dating back to 1258 and is among the most complex cuvées in Givry. With a terrific currant color, and a rich, intense fruit bouquet with aromas of ripe dark berries, this Pinot Noir has lots of pure fruit on the palate. Oak is used in fermentation bringing soft and subtle tannins and this beautifully balanced, velvety wine offers good power, backed by persistence and a lingering finish. This is a wine that can be enjoyed after a long aging period. The wines of the Côte Chalonnaise in southern Burgundy tend to be a bit less sought-after simply because they’re not from the Côte d’Or. However, the lay of the land, the climate, sun exposure, the geology, the grapes and the tradition are all similar, and so are the wines. Several of the Chalonnaise villages – particularly Rully and Montagny for Chardonnay and Mercurey and Givry for Pinot Noir – can produce really excellent wines that generally sell for significantly less than those of the Côte d’Or. The 2013 vintage out of Burgundy brought a small but a high-quality harvest. Weather challenges at the beginning of the season brought some concern, however, an Indian summer coupled with calculated timing for picking resulted in delicious wines suited for short – medium term drinking. Price: Case of 6 at $255.60 ($42.60 per bottle) Drink: Now or cellar for up to 10 years Blend/Body: 100% Pinot Noir, Light/Medium-Bodied Food Pairing: Grilled chicken with a creamy mushroom sauce, veal chops, duck, game, hard cheeses and charcuiterie

The Perfect California Cabernet for Everyday Sipping

2016 Estrada Creek Cabernet Sauvignon $17.90 btl / $214.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) It’s not an easy task to find that perfect everyday red wine that’s ready to drink now, not going to break the bank, will go with everything and will suit many palates. Enter Estrada Creek, a small winery with large ambitions that has generated considerable attention for its stylish wines. The 2016 Estrada Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards within the Lodi AVA selected for their fruit quality and firm tannins. Lodi is ideally situated between the Sierra Nevada foothills and the San Francisco Bay. Warm days and cool evening breezes create a uniquely Mediterranean climate perfectly suited to cultivate delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. This medium-bodied Cabernet is aged in small oak barrels for 12 months, adding complexity. It has a deep ruby color with focused currant, blackberry, and cracked pepper spice. The wine finishes with sweet smoke and a hint of vanilla. This is a Cabernet of superb value that has broad appeal! Developed by long time wine executive Brent Shortridge and veteran winemaker Philip Zorn, Estrada Creek has the luxury of drawing on top vineyard sources in some of California’s best growing regions, yielding balanced wines with bright fruit with a long finish at affordable prices. The Estrada Creek wine making style leans toward emphasizing balance and expressive fruit flavors, rather than sweetness or excessive oak and the result is a very accessible, flavorful wine that appeals to experienced wine drinkers and neophytes alike. The broad appeal of Estrada Creek wines is credited to their full middle palate, which maximizes the fruit character of the wines. Price: Case of 12 at $214.80 ($17.90 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 4 years Blend/Body: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, medium-body Food Pairing: Red meats, grilled poultry, cold water salmon

Tasty Bordeaux on a Budget: Yes, It’s Possible

2012 Chateau Trois Moulins Haut Medoc $26.90 btl / $322.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Bordeaux is a region that is known for expensive French Chateaux and even more expensive wine. What is interesting is that of the over 10,000 Bordeaux labels produced each year, approximately 80% of them are under $30. It is, in fact, a region where great value and inexpensive wine can be found, but you have to know where to look. 2012 Chateau Trois Moulins Haut Medoc provides the best of both worlds: affordability and quality. This cru bourgeois – a quality classification for red wines produced in Médoc on the left bank in Bordeaux – is not only difficult to find in our market, but the Chateau Trois Moulins truly over delivers at this price point. 2012 is considered a “Merlot” vintage because of the late ripening season, where Merlot can strive over Cabernet. This 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc blend is drinkable now and offers a beautiful nose of gooseberry, small red berries and forest floor. The palate is rich and well-structured with optimal acidity coupled with soft spicy red fruit, black current, tobacco and gentle round tannins. The aftertaste is juicy and full of fruit. Château Trois Moulins is the twin estate of the famous Château Cambon La Pelouse in the southern Médoc region of Bordeaux. Although Château Trois Moulins is not as well-known as its sister, it receives the same meticulous care in grape growing, winemaking and aging. The principal difference is that Trois Moulins is made to be consumed earlier and more attractively priced. The two estates are owned by Annick and Jean-Pierre Marie and their winemaking facilities, as well as their vineyards, are adjacent to each other. Château Trois Moulins, which dates from the 19th century, is set between Châteaux Cantemerle and Giscours at one of the highest points of Macau. The estate borders the Margaux appellation and its outstanding terroir of quaternary gravel with large pebbles is similar to that of many top Margaux. Price: Case of 12 at $322.80 ($26.90 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 3 years Varietal/Body: 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, Medium body Ratings: Score 87, Wine Enthusiast, Sept 2015 Concours Bordeaux Vins d’Aquitaine 2014 Gold Medal Concours Mundus Vini 2014 Gold Medal Food Pairing: Grilled or roasted beef, lamb, hard cheeses and cured meats

93 Point Australian Shiraz that will Knock your Socks Off

2014 Kingston Estate Eminent Shiraz $31.95 btl / $191.70 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) With the growing popularity of Kingston Estate amongst our customers, we decided to offer the Eminent, Kingston’s reserve Shiraz. The Eminent highlights the extraordinary varietal characteristics of Shiraz achieved through Kingston’s ability to blend across regions. The 2014 Kingston Estate Eminent Shiraz showcases the wineries finest grapes with exceptional fruit vibrancy and flavour intensity sourced from the Mount Benson and Clare Valley appellations. The spicy red fruits and natural acidity from Mount Benson and darker fruits and tannins from the Clare Valley come together in perfect phenolic harmony making this an elevated Shiraz at an outstanding price. Bill Moularadellis, owner and winemaker, leverages assemblage by selecting premium parcels of land prior to harvest and then handles those gapes separately until final blending. Assemblage allows the winemaker to use his full creativity without compromising the unique features of the grapes from different parcels. After blending the wines the juice was left to settle for 7-14 days and then racked in American and French oak barrels for 18 months maturation before bottling. On the nose complex aromas of black cherries and vanilla with liquorice and spice come through. Luscious, full, velvety tannins with hints of dark chocolate give way to a harmonious, weighty palate of rich berry fruits and pepper with a lingering and refined finish. This Shiraz has perfect drinkability now and the ability to age beautifully. Price: Case of 6 at $191.70 ($31.95 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 10 years Varietal/Body: Full-body, 100% Shiraz Reviews: “Spicy chocolate and deep fruits are focal points for this full bodied Shiraz. Zingy mentholated acid, fresh red and black fruits, concentrated tomato, vanilla and toast marry well on the palate. Warm and invitingly drinkable!” Score 93 Highly Recommended, 2017 Ultimate Wine Challenge Accolades: Double Gold 2017 Berlin International Wine Competition Double Gold 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition Food Pairing: Red meats, hearty stews, barbecue flavours, dark chocolate

Can Côtes du Rhône Be Sexy?

2016 Domaine Saint Michel Côtes du Rhône $16.80 btl / $201.60 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Côtes du Rhône is some of the best value wines in the Rhône Valley, if not the entire world. Reliable and affordable is what Côtes du Rhône is known for. You may think of it as an easy drinking weeknight red, however, thanks to some prestigious Rhône Valley producers, Côtes du Rhône is taking its place at the dinner table. The 2016 Domaine Saint Michel Côtes du Rhône is an outstanding cuvée from a small family estate run by the Boyers in their Medieval fortified house. The 2016 harvest was ideal in the Southern Rhône turning out a fantastic vintage. This is a delicious, fresh and fruity, classic red from Southern Rhône made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. Medium ruby with persistent aromas of red berries enhanced by the lingering fragrance of blackberries and cherries in brandy. It is dry and medium-bodied with soft tannins and ripe brambly fruit coupled with a delicate and creamy mouth-feel. Delicious young, and extremely food friendly this Côtes du Rhône is a perfect, uncomplicated yet classy red to kick off the New Year! Price: Case of 12 at $201.60 ($16.80 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 18 months Body: Medium-body Food Pairing: Braised beef, pork, duck, lamb, sausage, mild soft and hard cheese

Italy’s Premium Sparkling Wine, and it’s not Prosecco

Majolini Franciacorta Mixed Case   $54.95 btl / $329.70 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) Not only do we love Franciacorta, but we happily drink copious amounts of it during the holidays. Franciacorta is one of Italy’s best kept sparkling wine secrets. Today’s offer is a mixed case of 6 bottles including: – 2 bottles of Majolini Brut “Blanc de Noir” – 100% Pinto Noir, this blanc de noir was aged on its lees for 24 months contributing to the complex yet crisp taste profile of dried fruit, hay and honey – 2 bottles of the Majolini Brut Rosé – 100% Pinot Noir aged on its lees in bottle for 24 months, this sparkling rosé has elegant, fine, persistent bubbles with hints of strawberry, peach, and berries – 2 bottles of the 2008 Majolini Brut Millesimato “Electo” – 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinto Noir, aged on its lees for 60 months in bottle. It is dry, full-bodied, yet elegant and refined only achieved with time. Aromas of pears, custard, wild berries and brioche Franciacorta is not usually on people’s radars since only about 20 producers export Franciacorta worldwide, giving those living outside of Italy an opportunity to enjoy it, in limited quantities. In recent years it has gaining recognition amongst top wine critics and is often described as Italy’s answer to Champagne. Franciacorta is made using the methode champenoise or traditional method and employs the same grape varieties used in Champagne, in contrast to Prosecco, which is made using Italian grapes and the less expensive Charmat process. The 2,800-hectare wine region of Franciacorta in Northern Italy is a relatively young sparkling producing area even though it was carved out of the sedimentary rock 50,000–150,000 years ago, by the friction created by the Alpine glacier. The wine was created in 1985, and won its DOCG status in 1996. The grapes now used are predominantly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with Pinot Bianco (aka Pinot Blanc). Cantina Majolini is a winery that has the full right to be included among the list of top wineries, not only in Franciacorta, but throughout Italy. Run by theMaiolini brothers, who are renowned for their passion, skills and hard work, the foundation and history of their winery has helped shape this wine region as well as the international recognition of Franciacorta.

Lovers of Great Barolo Act Fast

2011 Fenocchio Barolo Bussia Riserva 90 Di  $162.95 btl / $488.85 cs (case of 3 x 750ml) Claudio Fenocchio, a fifth generation winemaker, once had a dream as a young winemaker to make the finest wines in all of Barolo. Today, he is not only one of the very few making Barolo in the traditional way, but his wines are so incredibly popular that his cru Barolos sell out well before they are released. We had to place our order over a year ago for this riserva offered today. Last January’s offer for this wine sold out in 30 minutes, and this time we have brought in more cases, but there are still limited quantities and we expect this to sell out very quickly. Claudio’s 2011 Barolo “90 di” Riserva is a masterpiece made the way his grandfather used to. It is complex and rich with a bouquet offering fruit and floral fragrances and strong warm spiced scents. An elegant and velvety wine, it is characterized by its completeness, balance and well known longevity. The robust palate offers cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, peppercorn and dried herb framed in firm velvety tannins. Grapes are carefully selected from Claudio’s four Barolo crus (Bussia, Cannubi, Villero and Castellare) and macerated for fully 90 days on the skins and aged for 5 years prior to release. 2011 was a hotter vintage compared to 2010 and Barolos have slightly less acidity, a bit more alcohol, sweeter tannins and overall a more approachable in their early years. Barolo, always made with 100% Nebbiolo, is arguably the most famous DOCG produced in northern Italy. The “Barolo Wars” have pretty much come to an end, as only a handful of winemakers, such as Claudio, have gone back to a more traditional way of producing Barolos to better reflect Italian heritage – fermenting wine on the skins for 30 or more days, fermenting naturally without added yeasts as well as aging in large Slovenian oak boti.Traditionalists have resisted the lure of new oak and French grape varieties and make wines much the way their fathers and grandfathers did. Whichever word you want to use; minimalist, traditionalist, non-interventionist, the important fact is that Claudio’s wines exhibit a level of terroir clarity that is only found in the top echelon of producers. His total production annually across all his wines is only 3,000 cases.  Price: Case of 3 at $488.85 ($162.95 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 20 years Service: Best served at 14-16 °C. Decant 3 hours before serving Varietal/Body: Nebbiolo, Full body Accolades: Wine Enthusiast, 93 points, September 2017Merano Wine Festival: The Wine Hunter Award 2017  “Gold”Guida Vitae Associazione Italiana Sommelier: 4 Viti Food Pairing: Braised beef, game, grilled steak fillets, truffles, risotto with porcini, mild chesses such as robiolo, grana padano and ‘toma’-style cheeses

Why We Need to Drink More Chianti Colli Senesi

2012 Azienda Agricola Le Rote – Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG $19.65 btl / $235.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) In the shadow of the famous towers of San Gimignano, Tuscan estate Le Rote makes a wonderfully charismatic Chianti Colli Senesi from 100% Sangiovese. Chianti Colli Senesi is one of the 8 sub-zones of Chianti and perhaps Chianti’s most significant subzone (after Chianti Classico) due to its high quality soils. It is one of the larger sub-regions covering some of the most famed vineyard areas in all of Tuscany, as it overlaps portions of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Brunello di Montalcino in the hills surrounding Siena. 2012 was a warm vintage producing good quality grapes that made rich wines with chewy dark fruit, ripe tannins with a clean and dry finish. Remarkably, this wine was aged a full 1.5 years before release, a very rare and determined decision for a non-riserva Chianti — and the results show in the bottle. The 2012 Azienda Agricola Le Rote Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG is medium ruby with flecks of garnet in the rim; developing nose with dried strawberry, black cherry, roses, sandalwood and dried rosemary; dry with refreshing levels of acidity balanced by a core of rich, chewy dark fruit and ripe tannins; smooth, black-cherry and sweet tobacco linger on a faint, pleasant finish that is touched off by just the right hint of oak.Price: Case of 12 at $235.80 ($19.65 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 3 years Type/Variety: Dry red, Medium-body, 100% Sangiovese Food Pairing: Homemade gnocchi in butter sage sauce, fresh pasta with vodka sauce, meaty pizza Check out the other Chianti wines we offer  

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