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Jean Marie Winter (Global Sales Director for 35 years with Domaine Schlumberger will lead this tasting. Will will be trying their Gewtz, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Blanc together with three grand cru examples of these. A brilliant way to get a handle on the wines in Alsace. Schlumberger was established in 1810 and have 140 hectres under vine, with 70 classified as Grand Cru ( they are the largest holder of Grand cru vineyards in Alsace )
The date is Wednesday 8th September at 6.30pm at Caros, 114 St Geoges Bay Rd, Parnell . Seating only reserved on receipt of payment. ( If you cant order on line just call us on 09-3773822. )
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Kalleske, The Barrosa, Australia
Just rated 94/100 from James Halliday. A blend of Shiraz and Grenache from orgainic fruit. "Dark in colour, and complex in character, the fruit here blends seamlessly to offer red and black fruits, loads of spice, complex Provençal herbs and a little salty edge for freshness; lively, fresh and more than just a little bit fun; excellent value. Drink to 2016."
The Kalleske family have been growing grapes in Greenock ( In Barossa ) for 100yrs and the average vine age is 50 years. No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used and are certified organic. "One of my greatest revelations of my Australian tastings this year was Kalleske. From the Northern Section of the Barossa. He appears to have the talent for turning out magnificently concentrated, full throttle reds that are indigenous to the top echelon of Southern Australian producers. Readers should make every effort to get in on the ground floor as I predict increasing fame and fortune for Kalleske" Robert Parker. This wine is a blend of grenache ( 80% ) and shiraz from the Greenock Vineyard. Basket pressed aged in old oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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Janesse, Rhone Valley, France
We've managed to get another shipment of the beautiful 2007 vintage of this very popular Rhone Red . "This is a brilliantly run estate that has just reached the top qualitative level of the appellation's heirarchy. The wines are becoming international superstars. For readers looking for value, the amazing D'Orange is a knock out bargain that competes with wines selling at 2-3 times the price." Robert Parker. A glorious bouquet epitomising all the aspects of merlot we read and talk about, notably the smell of violets, but all too often never encounter, due to oak treatment dominating. Behind the violets is glorious cassis and blackly plummy fruit. Palate shows a perfection of ripeness and tannin ripeness, soft round rich and full-flavoured berries, yet the wine retains varietal delicacy and charm and freshness. Bouquet and flavour seems little affected by oak, but it is hard to imagine such complexity without some. The wines have moved away from heavy filtering, to virtually no processing. They have intensity of the old-style traditionalists, but the purity of a modernist. Beautiful drink now Rhone wine
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Champagne - Other, Champagne, France
Just arrived in NZ and being heralded as one of the great "Dom" vintages. Normally $260 this is a one off special with limited stocj available. The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Ripe apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off.Anticapated maturity 2012-2032. " 96/100 R.Parker
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Majella, Coonawarra & Padthaway, Australia
We havent brought this top Coonarwarra wine in for a while but with such good reviews and customer pressure we are again able to offer this beauty. "The musician is one of Australia's most outstanding red wines selling for less than A$20."James Halliday
"Glowing red/purple, the 2009 Musician literally blows away uplifting aromas of minty blackcurrants, dark plums, chocolate and vanilla, with all the richness and generosity expected of the maker. Soft and gentle on entry, its medium-bodied palate reveals a fluffy expression of vibrantly fruited regional character, before finishing generously long and dry with lingering nuances of warm, sweet fruit and a tight hold of vivid acids complemented by just enough tannins to balance." 89/100 Australian Wine Journal
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Gisborne & Hawkes Bay - Other, Gisborne & Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
2nd place and 5 stars in Cuisine, 96/100 in Bob Campbells NZ Bordeaux- Style Tasting in Gourmet Traveller Magazine beating such wines as Sacred Hill Helsman at $65, Babich Patriarch @ $60 and CJ Pask Declaration @50. Elsewhere this sells at up to $40 as listed in the Gourmet Traveller. A massive deal on a stellar wine from an excellent wine that will reward cellaring- if you can wait! "A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Paritua is a mid-sized winery established by two Americans who want to make great wine and appear to have the resources to achieve that goal. The property is situated in the Ngatarawa triangle area of Hawkes Bay. Roasted coffee-ish nose with an intriguing lifted, smoky character. Dense red with sweet, ripe, berryish fruit flavours that linger tantalising on the finish. Very serious red with obvious cellaring potential but still quite accessible now." Bob Campbell. "...perfectly balances the softness with power- a classic "iron fist in a velvet glove". Concentrated blackcurrantcharacter, toasty, cedary oak, smooth texture and a toasty, cedary oak, smooth texture and a solid backbone give it near-faultless appeal." Cusine.
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Astrolabe, Marlborough, New Zealand
Normally $28 on our shelf. We jumped when we were offered a deal on Astrolabe's top pinot gris. ( this is not their regular label ) We think this is definitely one of the top Pinot Gris's in N.Z. Astrolabes Awatere Pinot Gris tries to capture the minerality of the Awatere style. Aromas of pear drops and ripe lemon and mandarin peel. The palate is of a full bodied dry wine with a fine grained minerality and elegant structure. Flavours of pear and apricots dominate. Suggested Foods: Poultry, salmon, light game, mushrooms and pasta. Drop dead delectable.
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SPAIN OTHER, Spain
Aged Tempranillo from an excellent producer at excellent money- all the ingredients for a great drinking wine. This wine has been produced from Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes from vineyards in Navarra. The Tempranillo grapes, are given a long maceration and then blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which add fullness and give ageing potential to the wine.
"Full ripe soft fruit nose, with a touch of spice. Full bodied, with a good fruit balance. Complex palate with hints of oak. A deep aftertaste, witness to its age and origin."
This is what the spanish excel at. Releasing aged reds at a reasonable price. Simply gorgeous drinking.
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Glaetzer Wines, The Barrosa, Australia
"The 2008 Wallace is a blend of 80% Shiraz from 45-130 year old vines and 20% bush vine Grenache from 75 year old vines located in the prime Ebenezer district of Barossa. Yields were a meager 1.5 tons per acre. Dark ruby-colored, it has an alluring bouquet of smoke, violets, incense, black cherry, and blueberry. The wine has a bit of underlying structure, medium to full-body, plenty of sweet fruit, but a slightly compact finish. This pleasure-bent effort is an outstanding value." 90/100 R.Parker
"A touch of grenache (20 per cent) blended with shiraz is almost always a good thing. Especially if the grenache you're using is of high quality. 2008 release: Juicy, dark, full‐bodied and very, very easy to slurp. One of those 'dangerous'
kinds of wine ‐ you just keep wanting another glass. It has flavours of dark cherries and sundry berries, with vanilla, clove‐like touches from oak. Walsh called it 'plump' in the
cuddly and warm sense of the word. Drink: 2010‐2014"
91 Points" Big Red Wine Book
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Astrolabe, Marlborough, New Zealand
95/100 ffrom Bob Campbell and rated his top sauvignon blanc of 2009. In amongst a flooded market of cheap sauvignon, Astrolabe have maintained their quality being extra vigorous with their selection and dropping yields even further. "This must be Astolabe's best Sauvignon Blanc to date - it's certainly a long way ahead of the 2008. A mix of Awatere with Wairau Valley fruit it's a very powerful statement about the Marlborough style. Concentrated wine with a mix of passion fruit, mineral and tomato leaf flavours. Impecably balanced and with a lingering finish that won't quit. 95 /100 Bob Campbell. Well done Astrolabe- very very classy sauvignon at this price.
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