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Weekly Specials
Wine of the Week
Baronia Nero D'Avola Sicilia IGT
Big Value from Sicily
Retail: $15.99
Special: $12.99
The popularity of this incredibly good value European red has created demand that we have struggled to keep up with. More stocks have just landed.
The proudly indigenous Sicilian grape variety Nero D'Avola, is presented here in all its uncomplicated glory. Dark red and black fruits mix with a bit of bramble and some softly chewy fruit tannin to offer up a simply great drinking red. Excellent by itself as an interesting wee quaffer or slice that salami and cook those pizzas and enjoy a touch of Italy.
Couple an exceptional vintage with one of New Zealand's top Chardonnay producers and you get a gem, even at entry level. The fantastic fruit quality from the 2008 vintage at Kumeu River has had a flow on effect into the Village label. You could easily be mistaken and think the Chardonnay in your glass is worth a whole lot more!
"The Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2008 features very attractive lifted fruit aromas, along with a touch of nuttiness: the hint of hazelnut that is so typical of Chardonnay. The palate also shows a nice peachy ripeness along with a crisp flinty character that gives the wine a refreshing cleansing quality."
This gorgeous Riesling fits into the drier end of the Riesling spectrum and offers quite a bargain on the present deep cut special. Perfect for the cellar or the weekend, better value is hard to find.
"Charming and delightful, the gently fragrant bouquet displays lime, floral and apricot characters. The palate is delicately fruited showing a finely textured mouthfeel, bright acidity and a lingering juicy finish. It's beautifully balanced and poised to develop greater complexity with further time in the bottle but it's already delicious drinking now. At its best: now to 2017." Sam Kim - Wine Orbit
This classic Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet continues to offer some of the best value red drinking around.
"A dense, dark colour. An enticing nose of sweet herbs, ruby red berries, ground black pepper and mint. There are intense plum, cherry and blackcurrant fruit characters supported by the hints of eucalyptus and licorice which characterise Langhorne Creek. On the palate Metala is full bodied and rich with wonderful, dense blackberry fruit coupled by substantial but tender tannins."
A recent revisit to this wine got me quite excited. Just as Bob Campbell says below, "this is everything a Sauvignon Blanc should be" as well as being a bit of bargain. Named as one of Bob Campbell's Top Ten Sauvignon Blancs for 2009, it also secured Five Star Ratings in Winestate and Wine Orbit.
"Appealing, aromatic wine with lifted stone fruit and a smattering of wild herb characters. This is everything Sauvignon Blanc should be - light, ethereal, fresh and beguiling. As good as Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc gets and up with the best from Marlborough." 93/100 Bob Campbell.
Silver Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2009 - Silver Medal NZIWS 2008 - Silver Medal Air NZ Wineshow 2008
Lots of silver and all the hallmarks of a Simon Waghorn Gewurz; lush, full, morish with Turkish delight, spice and floral notes. A great wine at a super one off price.
Old vine fruit from Languedoc in Southern France was crafted into this lofty wine by Theo Coles of The Crater Rim.
"A warm and generous red from Southern France exhibiting deep red /purple colour, lifted aromas of super-ripe dark berries, espresso and floral notes. The palate is succulent and smooth with soft acidity, while the firm tannins provide excellent structure and a dry finish to the wine. An impressive offering representing superb value for money." Sam Kim - Wine Orbit
Brown Brothers Limited Release Heathcote Shiraz 2008
Power and Finesse
Retail: $28.99
Special: $18.99
Another fine example of Shiraz from the Heathcote region in Victoria. With wines like this at such affordable prices it is no wonder Heathcote is seen as a emerging region to rival the best in Australia and internationally.
Brown Brothers Limited Release Heathcote Shiraz 2008 boasts a deep ruby red colour with vibrant purple hues and aromas of black berries, white pepper and cedar wood. There's also plenty of generous berry fruit and spicy notes which carry through to the palate - a typical trait of fruit sourced from the Heathcote area. Finely balanced acidity, integrated tannins and a lingering palate ensure a wine of great quality and enduring appeal.
Translated as bubbles, Miru Miru is a very clever name and a fantastic methode traditionelle from Hunters Wines in Marlborough. Fresh and vibrant with Gold Medals from the Royal Easter Show 2010 and the Wrest Point Royal Hobart International Wine Show 2009 this is certainly a sparkler that will impress.
"Very fine and elegant, the bouquet displays lemon, floral and a touch of nutty characters. The palate is beautifully focused and structured showing excellent acidity and a lovely delicate finish. A perfect aperitif wine with a pristine and detailed palate." Sam Kim - Wine Orbit
Sandwiched between the trophy winning vintages of 2006 and 2008, the 2007 Julicher Estate Pinot Noir is equally worthy and happens to be on a hell of a deal. Looking really good at present and offering superb drinking, this is serious Martinborough Pinot at a massively reduced price. Hard to go past.
"Estate-grown on the Te Muna Terraces, the 2007 was hand-picked at 22 to 25 brix and matured in a year in French oak casks (25% new). Dark, with a distinctly leafy bouquet, it has rich cherry, plum and herb flavours, seasoned with smokey oak, and good complexity and density." Michael Cooper.
****HOT PRICE**** Great value at full retail ($19.99) and a ridiculous bargain at this price. A lovely fresh wine with tropical aromas, citrus and an underlying herbaceousness that has excellent palate weight, texture and complexity from the judicious addition of a small portion of wild yeast, barrel fermented juice.
"Very lifted nose with herbaceous and lime characters. The palate is fresh and elegant with some herbaceous notes, fresh apple and lime characters and a nice complexity on the finish." Decanter
2009 marks fifteen vintages of Sauvignon Blanc for Saint Clair. Their history with the variety is understandably revered with a list of accolades a mile long. This wine has been awarded 5 stars in Winestate, voted best white wine at the Indian Wine Challenge and most recently gained a Gold Medal at the Royal Easter Show 2010. The list could continue but I think you get the picture - top notch Sauvignon Blanc from a top notch producer at a super low price.
"A full, crisp and powerful wine with intense flavours of passionfruit and blackcurrant, with underlying gooseberry tones. Mouth-watering acidity and an intense minerality are balanced by a full yet elegant palate that leads to a long lingering finish."
First off the rank for the 2010 vintage is this fresh and zippy wee number from Sea Level. This is our first 2010 Sauvignon Blanc tasted and if this is the standard, then we are in for some treats. It'll take some beating.
With an abundance of youthful intensity, this second release of Sea Level Sauvignon Blanc is vivid, vibrant and jam-packed full of flavour. Lucid Awatere tropicals tussle playfully with persuasive crushed herb and nettle flavours while a mouthwatering minerality drives the whole package through to a long and tenacious finish. Excellent.
Gold NZ Top 100 2010 & Double Gold/Top 100 - Sydney International Wine Show 2010
Whitehaven is the top Restaurant "Glass Pour" kiwi Sauvignon Blanc in the USA probably because it is packed so full of intense flavour and power that it keeps you going back for more. We are currently offering a very good deal on one of Marlborough's best.
"Steely Sancerre like. White flowers, wet slate. Very intense, fresh peas. On the palate, same intensity but very much in balance. A superb wine." Steve Flamstead Top 100 Judge "Quite green at first. A cooler climate style. It has beautifully vibrant acidity. This greener acidity powers through the food matching leaving a long satisfying finish.' Warren Gibson Top 100 Judge
We awarded our Best White Wine Buy of the Year to the ever popular Eradus Sauvignon Blanc. It takes you into the top league of Sauvignons in quality and flavour but not in price. It really is fantastic value.
Michael Cooper had similar thoughts and wrote in his 2010 Buyers Guide to NZ Wine...."The 2009 vintage (5 Stars) is a weighty, rich and rounded wine with sweet-fruit delights, deep gooseberry and lime flavours, a slightly minerally streak and the 'tomato stalk' characters typical of the Awatere. It's priced sharply and is the Best White Wine Buy of the Year."
An elegant, finely textured and bone-dry Sauvignon Blanc from Steve Bennett MW that is up there with the best Marlborough has to offer. Superbly concentrated with impeccable balance and intensity, this will entice you with its sheer quality.
"With the benefits of low cropping and a good vintage, this concentrated wine has vibrant passionfruit and cut grass aromas, a weighty, intense mid-palate and a fresh finish" Paul Tudor MW, Metro Magazine
Our top selling Sauvignon Blanc. Bob Campbell has given it a huge rating saying ... "This must be Astrolabe's best Sauvignon Blanc to date - it's certainly a long way ahead of the 2008. Impeccably balanced and with a lingering finish that won't quit." 95 /100. It has won a Blue Gold and Top 100 at the Sydney Top 100 competition (it is never entered into any New Zealand wine shows.) This is a Sauvignon Blanc with power but not aggression, a gentle giant.
****HOT PRICE**** The search for great value Chardonnay is a constant and demanding job but sometimes we have a 'good day at the office' and find a wine like this. It tastes great, is drinking perfectly now, and the HUGE DISCOUNT makes this a fantastic find.
Grown on the famous Dog Point Road, this Chardonnay stylistically nods at the bigger end of things. A silken richness wraps the fleshy stonefruit and citrus characters while the influences of oak, lees stirring and malolactic ferment add interest and complexity. This is a really good Marlborough Chardonnay.
A consistent performer in great value Hawkes Bay Chardonnay that, once again, is right on the button. Lovely to drink, it is rich in stone-fruit with subtle oak due. Barrel fermentation in a mixture of French and American barriques has added a nice dollop of complexity and length to the palate. Good, honest Chardonnay at a good, honest price.
"The 2008 vintage, oak-aged for eight months, is mouthfilling, with ripe, peachy, slightly buttery flavours, showing good depth, and a dry, rounded finish." Michael Cooper.
Five Stars, Gold Medal, Big Reduction, Great Stuff
Retail: $29.99
Special: $17.99
We have been quietly moving a good volume of this Chardonnay in recent months as more and more of you have been discovering its amazing value/quality.
Gold Medal Bragato 2009 and 5 Stars Michael Cooper ... "Estate grown in the Corner 50 vineyard, fermented in French oak barriques, partly with indigenous yeasts and lees aged in oak for nine months. A notably refined and rich wine, for enjoying now or cellaring, it has a fragrant, complex, savoury bouquet with rich grapefruit-like flavours, tight, mealy and finely balanced with toasty oak. Still vibrant and youthful, it has excellent delicacy, complexity and length." This is very smart Chardonnay at a majorly discounted price - hard to beat
It's a good thing to have Beach House Chardonnay back on our shelves. The devoted following this wine has ensures it sells out every year so we all look with anticipation to the next vintage. The 2009 is characteristically big and rich in style with plenty of peach and ripe citrus flavours sitting comfortably on a creamy textured, full and smooth palate. Barrel fermented and lees stirred, there is a wonderful complexity added to the prime quality fruit from Beach House's Te Awanga vineyards.
Fruit from specially selected rows of the famous Judd Estate in Gisborne is hand harvested, wild yeast fermented and crafted into a more "Burgundian" style of Chardonnay. Further ageing in seasoned oak casks for 16 months adds plenty of complexity and interesting textural elements. This is quite a 'big' Chardonnay with broad flavours - peach, nuts, butter, toffee all encapsulated on a rich and wholesome palate.
The Church Road Reserve label has carved out an enviable reputation as one of Hawkes Bay's best. The new release 2008 Reserve Chardonnay continues the lineage (it picked up a Gold at the Easter Show last month)- a selection of the very best Chardonnay blocks, hand-harvested and sorted directly off the vine, then whole-bunch-pressed straight to the best French oak barrels where it is fermented using wild yeasts. The wine is matured in barrel for 14 months with full yeast lees contact before racking and blending the following winter. Although the style has been refined over the past few years (part of the general trend to subtler, more integrated wines) this is very recognisable as the Church Road Reserve style with its core of ripe Hawkes Bay orchard fruit flavours intertwining with winemaking complexities; mealy yeast and spicy oak.
Rated as New Zealand's Best Chardonnay Decanter UK
Retail: $51.99
Special: $29.99
SAVE $22.00 per Bottle!
The top wine in the recent Decanter UK tasting of an extensive range of New Zealand Chardonnay and the only one to score over 19 points out of 20, outscoring all the "Big Names". As the judges said, this is "absolutely delicious" and offers a Chardonnay experience very rarely found in New Zealand.
We have tasted this as well and totally agree with the judges comments.... "Surprisingly fresh(for its age), floral nose of orange blossom and apricot. Juicy, creamy, textured palate with bracing acidity. Lovely tangerine flavours with gentle spice and a long savoury finish. Absolutely delicious." 19.33pts/20, Decanter UK, June 2010
We can recall John Forrest commenting on its relase in 2006 that this was one for the cellar ... just you wait and see.... so thanks John for this rare opportunity to procure an outstanding, world class, aged Chardonnay.
"At this early stage of its life the wine is pert and lively with spring flowers and citrus blossom on the nose and a hint of hazelnut. The palate is smooth, racy and seamless, with a full texture, but a lithe and taught structure. It is clean and long in the finish and while delicious now, will take some bottle age to start to evolve the evident complexity that lies in wait."
This really is a great value Riesling from Waipara stalwarts, Torlesse. Fresh lime juice and apple flavours are balanced with obvious residual sweetness and a crisp, clean finish. This wine has plenty of those fruity characters to make it great drinking now but it will develop nicely over time.
Labelled 'medium dry' which only tells part of the story. This is a low alcohol (9.2%) style Riesling with an intensity of flavour spanning the apple to lemon and lime citrus spectrum and although having over twenty grams residual sugar, the sweetness is gentle and oh so finely balanced by a knife edge limey acidity and a lasting minerality. It really is mouthwatering stuff with it's juiciness pierced beautifully by the acid to make this a fantastic food styled Riesling, fresh, zesty and bright with just a flourish of sweetness that will go great with many a dish and superbly with seafood.
Quoted as being "Waipara's most exciting new producer" and "a rising star" by the media, the proof really is in the pudding, or in the Riesling in this case. Fantastic wine from a winery to watch.
"Pure Riesling with lovely restrained lusciousness. Sweetness and acidity are beautifully integrated and react together to give the wine real energy. Floral, citrus, mineral with hints of stone fruits. Has concentration and power." Bob Campbell
The Doctors Riesling from Forrest Estate in Marlborough has continued to pick up fans at break-neck speed which is no doubt helped along by the Gold Medals, Trophies and Five Star Cuisine Ratings that this wine keeps on receiving. Being delicious probably helps a little too!
"Marlborough stalwart John Forrest believes in Riesling, and the panel believed in his wines, none more so than this stylish expression. Florals and an unusual white pepper note lend decorum to a racy freshness. Cameron Douglas: "It's a wine you want to show off with contrasting (savoury/spicy) - rather than complementary (sweet/citrusy) - food." Cuisine March 2010.
Just released in December. Luckily, this wine was already bottled and away from the winery before the disastrous fire. Fruit-filled with a delicate juiciness, this will be a favourite; it almost sings ‘summer’ with its white fruits, hints of honeysuckle and lingering flavours. Its sweetness is caressed by the acidity. Served chilled… with anything.
More stocks of our favourite and most popular German Riesling have finally landed. As expected, the Dr L continues the exceptional quality we have come to know. A low alcohol style that is packed with flavour yet it retains an elegance and delicacy. Stonefruit and citrus intermingle with a fine minerality and juicy acidity making for yet another beautiful Riesling from Loosen.
"The fruit for this wine was sourced from the Ashmore vineyard in Fairhall, next to the mouth of the Brancott Valley, the vines low cropped at 4.5 tonnes/hectare and half of the fruit wild yeast fermented in old French barriques, the remainder by inoculated yeasts in stainless-steel, to 11.7% alc and 20 g/L residual sugar. Pale straw yellow in colour, this has an intense and piercing bouquet of lime juices and minerals with subtle and complexing honied nuances. Off-dry to taste, this is bold in its expression of citrus fruit flavours and is laced with flint, minerals and succulent wild honey notes. The palate carries some weight and even a little texture, which provides dryness to the long finish." Raymond Chan
A limited 'Library Stock' release of this beautiful Auslese style Riesling. The fruit for this wine was sourced from one of the original Giesen Canterbury vineyards, it was planted in 1981. The grapes were hand harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with native yeast, resulting in a delicate wine with fruit complexity.
"Our passion for Riesling was the reason for entering the New Zealand wine scene. Many styles were trialed out over the 23 years that we farmed the original Burnham vineyard. In its last season under our stewardship this late harvest was produced, the style of wine we previously had not tried. Full of fruit with clean fresh acidity, not botrytis but pure concentration of classic mandarin and citrus peel, balanced by pure gingery spice, sweetness with great length. All that at 7.5% alcohol volume. Please enjoy this Riesling as a aperitif or with zingy food as we do" Cheers, The Giesen Brothers - Theo, Alex and Marcel
Glorious almost denotes a religious reverence but this late picked Riesling from Pegasus Bay is truly worthy of worship. On tasting this the other night we were once again bowled over by the sheer delight it delivers in every sip. We are not the only ones, in the recent TizWine tasting they said...."Stunning - THE wine of the tasting and a sure fire GOLD in any tasting it enters. The flavours just go on and on and the mouthfeel is oily and opulent. You MUST try this." TizWine.com
"The wine shows ripe stone fruit characters suggestive of yellow fleshed peaches and apricots intertwined with hints of lychees, loquats and fresh figs. Honeysuckle and comb honey characters come from the botrytis. Underneath there are citrus impressions of lemons, limes and mandarins, which are supported by a core of tingling acidity and minerality, drawing out the length and acting as a perfect foil to its luscious sweetness."
Blue Gold and Top 100 at 2010 Sydney International Wine Competition. Durvillea is the "little sister" label of Astrolabe and represents incredible buying for the quality delivered. The bouquet is of poached pear and nougat, with a whiff of brown spice. The palate is medium-bodied with pear and peach flavours, minerally texture and long finish. Value plus and highly recommended.
The first ever release of Pinot Gris from Pegasus Bay, under their Main Divide label, is a ripper. Like all the other Main Divide wines, this over delivers on the flavour, quality and value fronts to offer excellent drinking at a fantastic price.
"This is a bargain, with mouthfilling body, fresh peach, pear and spice flavours, a hint of sweetness balanced by lively acidity and impressive richness." Michael Cooper - The Listener
The quality of Pinot Gris in New Zealand is steadily climbing and the pricing is settling into a more realistic groove. Crater Rim prove this with their 2009 Waipara Pinot Gris. High quality attributes such as a single, low yielding vineyard, slow pressing, indigenous yeasts and some use of seasoned barrels all add up to a flavoursome and textural triumph. Classic peaches and pears with a beguiling bready complexity are carried with some residual sweetness. A balancing mineral and citrus braid adds to the overall juicy impact. Pretty good for $20!
Main Divide Pokiri Reserve Late Harvest Pinot Gris 2009
Think Aria in Pinot Gris
Retail: $27.99
Special: $22.99
Incredibly delicious and an absolute treat. "Harvested at 28 brix, this is a sweet but not super-sweet wine (70grams/litre of residual sugar.) Fragrant, beautifully ripe and rounded, it has concentrated stonefruit and spice flavours with hints of ginger and honey, and great poise and personality. Fine value from Pegasus Bay." Michael Cooper - Winestate Magazine
Kevin Judd's newly released Greywacke Pinot Gris 2009 is big and sumptuous with concentration of flavour that is very rarely achieved with this variety. Amazing.
"Brilliant pale straw yellow in colour, this has aromas of ripe, yellow stonefruit with tropical fruit, oak spices and smoke in support. There is warmth and heat, adding to the volume of bouquet. Pretty well dry on palate, the alcohol heat makes its mark on entry, but this is enveloped by the masses of rich, ripe, savoury stonefruit. The palate is one of body and power and the length of finish is astonishing." Raymond Chan
Steve Bennett has set out to create something special with his new range of small volume, hand-made, wild ferment wines under the 'Kairos' label and indeed he has....this could well be a benchmark style for serious New Zealand Pinot Gris. Texture is the focus with the natural fruitiness of Pinot Gris being healthily restrained within a framework of subtle secondary characteristics skillfully gained from wild yeast fermentation and further ageing on lees in small French oak casks. The result is exceptional and sure to cause a stir within the NZ winescape.
From one of the stars of Alsace comes this stunningly concentrated and lucidly aromatic Gewurztraminer. Always one of our best selling Alsatian Gewurztraminers this is rich and flamboyant with flavours of honeyed florals and spices overflowing in a luscious and boundlessly satisfying style. The depth, balance and length of this wine will have you gagging for more.
Stocks are very limited and will sell through quickly.
Lovers of ripe and rippling Cabernet will be taken with this wine and the value it offers. Old vines and traditional winemaking really work for d'Arenberg.
"Top value. Big and boisterous; the taste is essentially rich chocolate and a jam tart red, full on alcohol and a dash of tannin. This is both a great quaff and a serious cabernet!" - Courier Mail
Boutique producer Beach House only release a straight varietal Cabernet Franc in the very best of years. 2007 saw the farmers crying 'drought' but grape growers beaming. Hot and dry - perfect to ripen low cropped Cabernet Franc on the Gimblett Gravels. Michael Cooper rated it 4.5 Stars and Value+ at $25, check out our price.
"Deeply coloured, with a fresh, spicy fragrance, it's full-bodied, with strong, youthful flavours of blackcurrants, plums and spices, hints of dark chocolate and sweet oak, and a rich, smooth finish. Enjoyable now, it should also be long-lived." Michael Cooper.
A rich, intense purple red in colour. This wine displays complex aromas of plump dark fruit, boysenerry and chocolate. It's trademark is an intense perfume of vanilla that is alluring and unforgettable. Buoyant, plush and silky, it develops a pleasant overlay of oak as it breathes and develops within the glass. The richly layered, well-structured palate offers concentrated mulberry and blackberry flavours, fine tannins and excellent length. Always an outstanding vintage whatever the year, and a cornerstone of the Saltram label. "Purple wine with concentrated heady aromas reminiscent of rich fruit cake. Sweet fruit-driven palate is complex and balanced; textured and weighty. Long, slightly drying, tannins!" -Winestate.com
We have featured the Selaks Founders Reserve Chardonnay and Syrah in recent weeks, and now we have the 2006 Merlot. We think the entire range has a lot to offer. They are well made wines that represent variety and region in a genuine and positive way. Judging on recent sales, you do too. With the current discount on offer, these wines are now very accessible and worth every cent.
"Selaks Founders Reserve Merlot 2006 is warm and rich, with a luscious mouthfeel. Opulent flavours of cherry, berry and plum are infused with barrel matured characters of vanilla and smoky oak. The palate has excellent structure and weight, with firm tannins and a lengthy finish."
Good Australian Merlot is about as easy to find as a happy Englishman after the English football team's efforts the world cup. We can't help on the happy Englishman front but we do have a good, in fact, a very good Australian Merlot for you.
"One of the very best Australian examples of the Merlot grape in singularity. Wafts of mulberry, blackcurrant, chocolate, violets, cedar and leaf. The medium bodied palate offers up red and black fruit flavours with youthful verve and energy plus some quite magnificently fine and ripe tannins to round off an impressive show. It finishes without a blemish, long, balanced and seamless. Really good stuff!" theWiningpro.com
In usual Craggy Range style the recently released Te Kahu overflows with quality. A Bordeaux blend of 64% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec that impresses with its sheer quality. This wine will convince any NZ red wine critic that Hawkes Bay Bordeaux blends are true contenders on an international scale.
"Very dark colour. Blackberry, cinnamon, sandalwood, and oyster shell like minerality mesh for an intense and complex aromatic profile. Layers of fine tannin lend tension to the opulent fruit flavours and provide the framework for the long and intense finish." This is beautiful now but will be happy in the cellar for another 5 - 7 years.
2007 was a great Cabernet year in Hawkes Bay and this wine is a great example. Gold Medal at the NZ International Wine Show and Five Star ratings from both Winestate and Michael Cooper sure proves that we can do good Cabernet Sauvignon in New Zealand. I am sure there will be more accolades and great reviews to come.
"The 2007 vintage (*****) from Pernod Ricard NZ is dark, with blackcurrant, plum, herb and spice flavours, supple, ripe and highly concentrated. Finely textured, it's an approachable wine with gentle tannins and impressive density. A top buy." Michael Cooper
Elite Gold, Air NZ Wine Awards 2009 - Gold Medal, Royal Easter Show 2010
The 5 traditional varieties of Bordeaux, as grown in the Gimblett Gravels region of Hawkes Bay, have produced a wine of power, elegance and complexity. The beautiful rich red colour and the black fruits aromas and flavours are complimented by a mouth-filling structure and a fine-grained texture.
"A blend of 51% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Malbec. Made from hand-picked fruit that was destemmed without crushing and given approximately three weeks maceration on the skins after fermentation to soften tannins. Deep, dense, chewy red with dark berry, chocolate, plum, liquorice, spice and classy oak flavours. Strong, sweet and accessible fruit supported by soft, ripe tannins. Very appealing red from a top vintage and highly rated winemaker." 94 Points, Bob Campbell MW
Trophy & Gold: Liquorland Top 100 2009; Gold: New Zealand International Wine Show 2009; Five Stars: Winestate Magazine, September/October edition 2009 and look what one of this country's foremost Bordeaux style red experts says ."Ruby carmine and velvet, wonderfully dense,one of the deepest. Bouquet is glorious, superb violets-related and dark rose florals on crisp cassis and darkest bottled plums fruit, matched by appropriate potentially cedary oak. This initial impression is confirmed by wonderful presence in mouth, great ripeness, superb body and dry extract, fresh berry, bone dry, absolutely velvety. This is looking to be one of the finest New Zealand Cabernet/Merlots so far. Cellar 5-30 years." 19/20 - Geoff Kellywinereviews.co.nz
Far from over shadowed by the more illustrious Coleraine, Awatea is a superb wine in its own right. Made in a slightly more accessible style, the Te Mata hallmarks of uncompromising quality are very evident. "Awatea ’08 has a dark crimson colour with fragrant aromas of blackberry, cherry, lavender and cedar. The palate is layered and complex, with fresh blackberry and raspberry flavours to the fore and ripe, firm tannins on the finish. Awatea ’08 is a blend of 44% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 16% cabernet franc, and 7% petit verdot."
Perfect for the impatient amongst you, we have secured a very limited, museum release of Craggy Range Sophia 2004. Carefully stored in the cellars at Craggy so it is in tip-top condition and you can see the benefits of age on a wine of this stature without having to wait!
On release this rated exceptionally highly at home and around the world - 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 from Bob Campbell, 5 Stars Cuisine Magazine and 5 stars Michael Cooper who wrote "The 2004 vintage is a super-charged Gimblett gravels, Hawke's Bay blend of Merlot(92%), Cabernet Franc(7%) and Cabernet Sauvignon(1%), matured in French oak barriques. Opaque, it is highly concentrated and tautly structured, yet refined, with intense, ripe flavours hinting of mint chocolate and dried fruits, and bold tannins. It's a bold, youthful red, crying out for cellaring."
Coleraine is undoubtably Hawkes Bay's premier red wine with an illustrious history, a true benchmark. "Coleraine ’08 has a deep magenta colour with lifted aromas of roses, blackcurrant syrup and dark chocolate. The palate shows great intensity with assertive dark fruit flavours, espresso and spice underpinned by firm tannins giving structure to the long finish. Coleraine ’08 is a blend of 53% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, and 19% cabernet franc."
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet is a deservedly well known and loved brand, delivering unsurpassed value since the first release in 1976. "Medium-deep red/purple in colour. It's ripe, fragrant and rich on the nose displaying blue/blackberry, floral and dark plum characters. The palate is succulent and beautifully textured with a rich, fruity finish. If you love generously flavoured Aussie red for little money, you can't do much better than this. Outstanding value. At its best: now to 2013" 91/100 Sam Kim "Made for immediate consumption, however the wine will last in the cellar if you happen to forget them (up to 10 years)"
This is one of those great drinking Australian Shiraz that just makes you smile. From the quirky portrait of Eddy the Emu on the label, the pleasing aromas of rich ripe fruits through to the spicy indulgence of mouthfilling plums and chocolate in the mouth, this will satisfy many a curiousity and desire. Not good for cats but it sure is great for humans.
Our biggest selling Shiraz of 1998 makes a welcome return to our shelves after all these years. This has been sold only in Australia over recent years, but finally after much negotiation, we have been able to convince them to share "the good stuff" with us again. The 65th Vintage of Yalumba's Galway Shiraz is an exceptionally good value wine and one of those Shiraz that is simply great to drink, in fact, it's hard not to!
"I love the 2008 Yalumba 'Galway Vintage' for its ripe, complex, plum pudding, chocolate and dark berry flavours. While it's ripe, there's no suggestion of it being overripe, and vibrant fruit flavours balanced restrained oak handling, so it's particularly approachable now." Peter Forrestal, Quaff 2010 - the best wines in Australia under $15.
Big, red and solid as. Pillar Box Red needs little introduction and continues to offer some of the best value Australian drinking around.
"A perennial Best Buy in these pages, the 2008 Pillar Box Red does not disappoint. it is purple-colored with an enticing nose of cherry blossom, cinnamon, blueberry, and licorice. Ripe and rich for its humble price, it has plenty of savory fruit, good balance, and a seamless, fruit-filled finish." 89 Pts "Best Buy" The Wine Advocate, Dec 2009
Taking the top spot on Cuisine's Best Buy list for offering an outstanding combination of quality and price. Johnny Q is no stranger here at Vino Fino and known quite well by a lot of our customers. This really is fantastic value Shiraz.
"This elegant, fresh, fragrant wine has floral, berry and liquorice characters of great aromatic quality, no doubt due in part to the five percent Viognier. It tastes persistent and tangy with a firm tannin backbone. Try it alongside lamb with Middle Eastern flavours." Cuisine
The Browns of Padthaway T-Trellis Shiraz has been so popular it has made it to Vino Fino's hall of fame as one of the biggest selling Shiraz in 17 years of business. I think you all know how good a value this is so I don't need to preach to the converted. More stocks have just arrived so fill up you cellar now.
"The only red in the tasting is a knock-out wine. This delightfully dark shiraz has a gloriously perfumed nose with a predominance of liquorice and peppermint. The palate is swamped with Black Doris plum and the texture is velvet. A spicy length that goes on and on ... finally, taut tannins. A combination that make this wine unbeatable value!" Garth Galloway - Avenues Magazine.
Juicy, chewy and imminently interesting is an apt description for this old vine McLaren Vale Shiraz named after a race horse. At $17.99 its a winner by a length.
"The nose is lifted, floral and pretty with red fruit, violets, a dusty earthiness and a subtle new leather character coming through as the wine opens up. The palate is juicy, but restrained and medium bodied. Plums, blackcurrant, cherries and raspberry build to a peppery back palate with an underlying and appealing touch of nutmeg. The chewy tannins are well balanced and its all tied together with lively acidity."
Another familiar name on our shelves and one fondly appreciated and supported by many. Yalumba make a splash here at Vino Fino each year with the annual visit by the inimitable Jane Ferrari who is coming on August 10th this year. This wine has obviously grabbed the attention of the Cuisine judges and rightly so, it ticks all the boxes for great value Shiraz.
"The Yalumba name is a guarantee of quality, especially on Barossa Shiraz. Inky and dense but not heavy, this crowd-pleasing style suits a big occasion dish like a fillet of beef. Deep blackberry jam and chocolatey elements introduce it deliciously, and the soft palate is succulent and well balanced." Cuisine
You may dilly around other Shiraz, but the reality is, this is as good a Barossa Shiraz you can get for less than $25.00. It never fails to please, especially now it is in Screwcap. You can drink at tonight’s BBQ, serve it at a swanky dinner, put it away in the cellar for quite a few years, and it will still be a star. For the past 20 years this wine label has delivered great drinking pleasure (and incredible value).
Gold medal at the Royal Sydney Wine Show and another at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show is pretty high kudos for this big and sumptuous Victorian Shiraz Mourvedre blend. Rich, with elegant and supple tannins, this Rhone inspired wine is an enigmatic blend of cool-climate spicy Shiraz, combined with mild climate full bodied Shiraz and finally tempered by the savoury tannins of 5% Mourvedre. This delicious, harmonious wine exhibits aromas and flavours of blackberry, pepper and spice combined with the elegant integration of French Oak. Ripe and wonderfully rich, complex and brooding, it really is satisfaction in a bottle.
If you are guilty of loving great Australian Shiraz then this wine is definitely for you....
"Ripe shiny blackberry red. Voluptuous cherry, vanilla and peppery spice aromas and full-bodied flavours packed with smoky vanillin oak, cherry and strawberry fruits, chocolate and mocha all wrapped up in a big, rich, velvety smooth package. A juicy wine with fine tannins, the pepper detected on the nose kicks in again to make a welcome re-appearance on the powerful finish. Made from low yielding old vines dating back to 1898 and aged in older French oak, the fruit is sourced from Mildura on the north west Victorian border." wineoftheweek.com
Super rich Shiraz that can only impress. Concentrated dark fruits with hints of pepper and mocha; this wine has the unmistakeable characteristics of rich McLaren Vale Shiraz. The predominately French oak has contributed spicy overtones of nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. The palate is full bodied with long fine tannins to give a wine of great depth, finesse and style. The fruit comes off two estate vineyards with the backbone of the wine coming from vines planted in the late 1800's which is intense, yet has fine long tannins and the inherent fruit vibrancy we see comes from the newer 'Farm' block vineyard. Quite a grunty styled Shiraz that is big on the satisfaction front.
An outstanding follow-up to the hugely successful 2007. This will cement the Church Road reputation as a top producer of Hawkes Bay Syrah.
"An intense, supple wine with lifted floral/violet flavours and an array of white and black pepper over a core of sweet red fruits. An exotic, Rhone-style red offering an edgier alternative to other blockbuster styles produced in Hawke's Bay this vintage. Firm tannins suggest excellent cellaring potential - in fact the wine positively needs another year or three to give a better measure of its true worth. Excellent value at this price." 96/100 Gourmettravellerwine.co.au Bob Campbell
"Big, dense wine with an almost chewy texture. While hard to read, the wine is after all in it's infancy, it is easy to recognise the power and complexity in this big and forboding Syrah. Strong, sweet fruit is interwoven with ripe tannins. The wine coats the mouth and lingers long after it has been swallowed. I can identify an array of dark fruits, Oriental spices, vanilla, bitter chocolate and very classy oak but there is a myriad of other flavours yet to be released. This is a very serious Syrah and one of the most impressive vintages since the first in 2001." 97/100 Bob Campbell, gourmetwinetraveller.co.au
Crater Rim 'From the Ashes' Waipara Pinot Noir 2009
Flamin' Good! - Hot Price! - Toast This!
Retail: $29.99
Special: $19.99
The endless references to fire aside, the Crater Rim have really outdone themselves on the quality/price ratio with this new offering from Waipara. This is definitely a crowd pleasing style, from its youthful dark colour to its brazen, almost voluptuous texture, flavours of dark fruits with a spicy, brambly core transport you to a warm and enticing place. A very enjoyable Pinot.
The boys at Crater Rim have come up trumps with this marvellous Pinot Noir from the Bendigo Terraces of Central Otago. Fantastic colour heralds in vivid fruit flavours of black cherries and berrys, classic Central Wild Thyme and wee rub of chocolate. A touch of oak fills out the structure to give a lovely textured and weighty mouthfeel. The depth of flavour lends a real tenacity to the round and velvety finish. A serious wine for the money that is well suited to the dinner table and perhaps a wine to commune with rather than quaff, although desire to quaff is highly understandable and easily forgiven!
Mt Difficulty are one of the better known and respected wineries in Central Otago that consistently produces top quality wines. Roaring Meg may be their second tier label but it offers value and quality beyond the call of duty.
"This wine exhibits a lovely mix of red and black berry fruits with further complexity gained from oak spice. The wine has a sweet berry entry which displays these same characters in abundance. Tannins rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine. These are balanced by the wine's acidity and fruit, to produce a long fruit driven finish."
Excellent value Pinot Noir coming from the famed Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara and made with fruit sourced from a selection of Canterbury vineyards. This has a lovely abundance of colour and there are aromas and flavours of cherries and red berry fruits. There are also savoury hints of grilled mushrooms and black olives intermingling with florals and spice. Ripe fine grained tannins give it structure and length, but these are covered with a velvety robe, leaving impressions of dark chocolate and spice. At $20 this is damn fine Pinot.
For those who like plenty of "Pinosity" in their Pinot Noir the new release from Petter Evans is sure to please. Garnet red in colour this has a beautiful balance and great depth of flavour. A bigger wine than the previous 2004 vintage, it has persuasive power yet a fine delicacy that is hard to achieve. This is a truly hand-crafted, very small production wine from a quality vineyard on Georges Road in Waipara. Stunning.
"This is $40.00+ Pinot Noir in anyone's book." Rex
A very well known Central Otago Pinot Noir which has been accoladed with a multitude of awards over the past few vintages including two Gold Medals for this 2008. Big name, Gold Medal Central Pinot for $29.99 has to be a good thing.
"Deeply fruited with delicate floral tones enhanced by nuances of liquorice root, and supple, silky tannins leading into a long spicy finish. As always this wine shows classic Rockburn elegance, integrity and balance"
Voted first equal in Gourmet Traveller Wine, Pinot Noir Tasting, February 2010. Nick Bulleid summarised...." 2007 Cloudy Bay (Pinot Noir) confirmed this company is not just about Sauvignon Blanc. It gained strong marks from us all. I thought the combination of dark fruit and nutmeg from new oak was tremendous. "Lovely rich weight, with plenty of flesh," agreed (Bob) Campbell. "Plum, black cherry and charry oak. Long and complex, with anise and other spices, smoky hints and bacon fat." (Andrew) Caillard added: "Very seriously alluring." The wine shows that Marlborough Pinot is up there with other regions when the vineyards are well situated. It's ready now and will develop further complexity over a couple of years."
Also Five Stars Cuisine November 2009 who said..."This rendition is full of interest; floral perfumes and a round rich palate with a slightly feral edge."
Felton Road wines are highly coveted the world over. Cult-like demand means these wines are strictly allocated, but we have just recieved our 'rations', so get in quick as the window of opportunity to secure some will be small.
"Already starting to let its perfume emerge. This vintage is spicier, with chocolate and violets overlaying dark cherry and raspberry. The palate is seamlessly plush and richly textural, with significant very fine dusty tannins constructing a framework through the finish. While concentration is abundant, the wine still holds on to its precision. A candidate for long haul keeping as well as enjoying its exuberance in the first few years. In short, a benchmark Felton Road."
This quirkily named Southern French red from the Languedoc region has become incredibly popular around the world for its fruit-driven palate and suave, silky mouthfeel. 100% Shiraz from three different terroirs with vines ranging from 29 to 46 years old. As the marketing blurb says: "This Frog is typically French, but leaps out of the glass with New World attitude and style." It even comes in a screw cap. Superb value!
Soft and supple red fruits epitomise this extra juicy Garnacha (Grenache) from central Spain. Cheap and cheerful and a delight to quaff on a regular basis. It is well-rounded with a lovely balance on the palate. Bright and fresh with red fruits, a smattering of licorice with a hint of fresh thyme that lingers on the finish giving great varietal expression (at a budget price).
"A deeply coloured and robust red with warm, spicy aromas and hints of plum and dried fruits. The palate is richly flavoured with dry, lightly smokey notes at the beginning followed by concentrated dark and red cherry fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate and a complex, savoury finish. Produced from selected parcels of Montepulciano grapes, from low yielding 30 to 50 year old vines in the Chieti province of Abruzzo."
From a distinctly 'new-wave' Sanish producer comes this blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Always one of our favourite and best value Spanish reds it is consistently ripe and concentrated.
"Opaque purple-colored with a nose of toasty blue fruits, on the palate it has good density, plenty of mid-palate blue and black fruit, and a fruit-filled finish. Drink this excellent value over the next 3-4 years." Jay Miller eRobertParker.com
In between a spot of painting, sculpture, invention and generally being a pretty successful all-round renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci probably found the time to produce a pretty decent Chianti too! Many years on, a co-op of winegrowers situated near Leonardo's home town, and named after the great man himself, are certainly doing a good job of it.
This is a very good, modern, everyday sort of wine of the type that Chianti does so well - soft, juicy and fruit forward with a touch of earthen spice, it is wonderfully fresh and incredibly approachable.
Living Life (Vivir Vivir) is a pleasant affair with this easy drinking and very tasty Spanish Tempranillo to help things along.
"The packaging and name are a little contrived, but what's in the bottle stands up to scrutiny. The aromas are warm and plummy, with a hint of toast and cream. The palate is clean and juicy, with snappy black raspberry fruit and a fruity carry-over onto the finish. Spunky, fresh and pleasant." Best Buy - The Wine Enthusiast.
From one of the Rhone Valley's most famous and successful producers comes this excellent Cotes du Rhone with the added bonus of optimum bottle age already sorted. Delicious drinking and so versatile, it is worth a stock up.
"A blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache, the 2005 Cotes du Rhone is a real head turner. Full-bodied, with a deep ruby/purple color and sweet notes of berry fruit, a hint of road tar, and some pepper, the wine is dense, chewy, ripe, and a surprisingly big mouthful of juicy, velvety-textured wine to drink over the next 3-4 years." Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
A firm favourite at Vino Fino. This hearty, silky red is produced by Scottish MW and wine-maker, Norrel Robertson utilizing old vine fruit sourced from various vineyards around the region of Calatayud (near Zaragoza in the North of Spain). Small plots of old bush vines are scattered throughout the hillsides of the region and by working with the growers, Norrel is able to access this great resource. This is made in a style (as the name suggests) similar to Chateauneuf du Papes with a Grenache (70%), Syrah (25%) and Mazuelo (5%) blend aged for around 5 months in a mix of French and American oak. The result is an intensely dark wine displaying red and black berry fruits, dried herb, dark chocolate flavours on a rich, enveloping, quite dense palate. Already drinking well, this will age for a few more years yet.
Still at this ridiculous price....This is a genuine SUPER BUY. Don't miss the opportunity. We think this bubbly is one of the best for under $15.00 on the market - its quality is unrivalled.
Yellowglen are Australia's masters of Bubbly and this Pinot Noir Chardonnay blend is treated to the full Methode Traditionelle - bottle fermentation, lees maturation and bottle ageing, resulting in complex, developed flavours and a creamy elegant mousse.
“A crisp, complex Central Otago blend of Chardonnay (62%) and Pinot Noir (38%). Tight-knit, with good harmony, richness and length. Good value.” "I doubt that you will find a better non-vintage New Zealand sparkler" Neal Martin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
"Elegant, powerful sparkling wine showing the effect of three years "en tirage" with plenty of aromatic yeast autolysis character. Silken-textured wine with lovely bready, chocolate flavours. Quite champagne-like. Between 5% and 15% of the blend comprises reserve wines from previous vintages that have been aged in old oak barriques for extra complexity and character. The quality of this non-vintage wine has steadily increased in recent years. It is now one of the country's very best sparkling wines." 94 points, Bob Campbell
One of the great houses of Champagne and one of the last to remain independent as it is still owned and actively managed by the family named on the label. Reknown for it's elegance and finesse, Taittinger Brut Reserve NV is distinguished by a delicate nose marked by subtle brioche notes, it has a palate of considerable depth and balance with hints of honey and fresh fruit with a long fresh finish. Aged for three to four years in the Taittinger cellars where it achieves perfect maturity this is a beautiful wine blessed with developed aromatics.
The Crater Rim from the Ashes Late Harvest Pinot Gris 2009 375ml
Hot Hot Hot
Retail: $18.99
Special: $12.99
Sweet and lush flavours of ripe and juicy stonefruits, wild honey and lanolin abound in this late harvest Pinot Gris from Crater Rim. "From the Ashes" relates to the tragic fire that destroyed Crater Rim's winery last year and to show their appreciation to the local North Canterbury Volunteer Fire Service a portion of the proceeds of this gorgeous wine will be donated to the fire brigades that attended.
In 2008 The Aurora Vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago ran out of room in their tanks for all the Riesling they had so were forced to leave a couple of tonnes hanging on the vine. In early May that year, winemaker Carol Bunn tasted the grapes and the decision to make a Late Harvest wine was made. So here we have the first and perhaps the only Late Harvest Riesling to be made by Aurora and what a cracker it is.
"Just check out the price on this wine - stunning for a dessert wine of this quality. It is a little lighter in style than many of the dessert wines tasted here but has a real touch of elegance about it. The floral aromas lead to decent fruit weight with fennel and licorice elements. Harmonious and lengthy." TiZwine.com
Put this classic Clearview meal finisher with a slab of Chilli Chocolate from She Chocolat in Governors Bay and be wowed by the sensual delights you could usually only dream of. A hedonistic match made in heaven!!
Clearview Sea Red is red blend from Hawkes Bay, late harvested for extra sweetness and raisin flavours, pressed out, fermented then fortified to 17.5%. An initial sweetness is followed by a complex palate of juicy fruits and a soft dry finish. A wine that will cellar indefinitely - but why wait, enjoy it now!
Nectar of the Gods would describe this utterly hedonistic, sweet, and luscious Sherry made from the Pedro Ximenez grape variety. Fantastically rich and dark, it just oozes with intense and continuous golden raisin and dried fig flavours wrapped up in swathe of superbly lubricious and syrupy joy.
"Sherry has never been as good as this, at least not for me. This is dark and brooding and the flavours are extraordinarily good. Dates, figs, caramel and prunes in abundance, with a silky smooth texture. I recommend this as a wonderful wine to drink with a good, stodgy winter pudding." Garth Gallaway, Avenues Magazine.
Snuggle up for the long haul with this luscious and lingering Muscat that oozes rich raisiny flavours. Winter just got a whole lot better!
"Orange-tinged amber. Rich and toasty on the nose, with dark toffee, cherry and singed orange peel. Fat and viscous, with sweet orange, caramel and dark honey flavours. Finishes with notes of bourbon and vanilla" -Stephen Tanzer
“It is truly amazing that a port as good as this should sell so cheaply. Don't tell your guests what it cost, but serve a glass with a cheese platter, fresh walnuts and muscatels after dinner”
Available in multiples of $10.00 (up to $240.00). We can post with a message if required. If you require Gift vouchers for any other amount please contact us directly, or add a message when you order
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