Europa Cellars Newsletter, 22 September 2009
		(03) 9417 7220

	Introduction Wine of the Week Loire Valley: Pouilly Fume, Sancerre & Quincy - Serge Dagueneau, Lucien Crochet, Vincent Pinard, Pascal Reverdy & Domaine Chevilly Provence: Tempier Bandol Pre-Arrival Upcoming Events

Dear Wine Aficionado, This week we are offering a selection of Loire Valley wines from Pouilly Fume, Sancerre and Quincy: Serge Dagueneau from Pouilly, three Sancerre producers of note Lucien Crochet, Vincent Pinard and Pascal Reverdy and Domaine Chevilly from the lesser known but rising Quincy appellation. It is in these Central Vinyards of the Loire that Sauvignon Blanc provides a benchmark for this Sauvignon Blanc. We think it is the highest expression for this variety, Bordeaux and Marlborough notwithstanding. The wines are here and available now - allow a few days to prepare orders. Next weeks tasting will feature a selection of Australian Shiraz by small winemakers who take a slightly more restrained approach to their winemaking. A number of them look to the Northern Rhone for their stylistic approach while still making distinctively Australian Shiraz (or Syrah if you prefer). Barossa and Heathcote will feature. See upcoming events at the foot of the newsletter Sweet Sensations This Evening, 6 to 8 pm, In-Store, $50.00 Two places left due to late cancellation - Phone/Email to reserve Please note that the store opening hours are midday to 8pm 7 days a week. For phone inquiries to 03 9417 7220 please ring during these times The Europa Cellars team, John, Brian, Nick, and Sam view newsletter online Wine of the Week 2005 Monmousseau Touraine Cuvee JM Brut. Shelf Price $27.00 Offer Price $23.00 This popular sparkling wine makes a welcome return to Europa with the newly released 2005 vintage. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc by the traditional method used in Champagne, this cuvee spends a minimum of 18 months on lees prior to disgorgement. It was one of the standout wines from last weeks sparkling wine tasting which is not surprising as it recently won a Gold Medal at the Concours de Vin de Loire. It has all the elements of quality sparkling wine, a fine bead, good fruit, complex palate, and excellent acid balance. download order form Loire Valley: Pouilly Fume, Sancerre & Quincy Domaine Serge Dagueneau et filles This branch of the Dagueneau family own 15 hectares of old vineyards across several of the prime sites of the appellation based in Saint Andelain. While the calareous soil in the vineyards give the wines ample structure and the ability to age for five or more years, the wine’s clarity and intensity of varietal sauvignon blanc flavour that gives the wine immediate appeal. 2008 Serge Dagueneau et filles Pouilly Fumé 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Exhibits all the characters and flavours that make Loire Sauvignon Blanc so popular. Displays intense, yet restrained varietal flavours, with typical mineral back-bone. Lovely texture in the mid-palate with the crisp mineral nuances kicking in on the long finish. Shelf Price $50.00 Offer Price $42.50 Domaine Lucien Crochet Domaine Lucien Crochet stems from the fusion of the winegrowing estates of André Crochet (Lucien’s father) and Lucien Picard (his father-in-law). The latter was one of the pioneers of bottling in the Sancerre region and one of the first to sell his Sancerre wines in Paris in the early 1950s. Lucien Crochet expanded the estate over the last thirty years to its current surface area of 38 hectares. His son, Gilles, now runs the estate. 29 hectares are planted with Sauvignon Blanc. The remaining 9 hectares are planted with Pinot Noir.  Most of the vineyards are located within the village of Bué, with some in the neighbouring communes of Sancerre, Crézancy and Vinon. The soil and subsoil are clay-limestone based and date back to the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian stages. Most of the vines face south, south-west and south-east, giving the grapes maximum exposure to the summer sun. 2006 Lucien Crochet Sancerre AOC 100% Sauvignon Blanc. A classic Crochet wine, intense, zesty, pure and linear, refreshing citrus rind character, limes lemons and minerals with a peachy ripeness, remarkably intense and concentrated for a regular Sancerre. Shelf Price $53.00 Offer Price $45.00 2006 Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chene Marchand 100% Sauvignon Blanc. This is classic Sancerre from Bue, the smallest of the villages in this district, located in the southern part of the Sancerre appellation. The soil composition in this area yields wines that are highly aromatic with excellent balance; the wines are less rustic than Sancerre from other parts of this appellation and express pure citrus fruit and pungent minerality. Crochet's finest holdings are located in the fabled vineyards of the "Clos du Chene Marchand" where vines of 35 years average age produce approximately 20,000 bottle per annum Shelf Price $64.00 Offer Price $54.50 2004 Lucien Crochet Cuvee Prestige 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  Hand-picked; the must was left to ferment in thermo-regulated tanks for approximately 30 days with frequent stirring. The wine was racked late in July and bottled in September 2005. Pale yellow, clear in colour; a powerful and concentrated nose, with aromas of citrus and dried apricot; the palate is rich with flavours of white-fleshed fruit, lychee and pear. Well affirmed acidity gives this wine lovely balance. Shelf Price $120.00 Offer Price $99.00 Vincent Pinard Vincent Pinard is regarded one of the very top producers of Sancerre and owns vineyards in many of the best sites in the appellation, including prized holdings in the famous ‘Clos du Chene Marchand’ and ‘Grand Chemarin’ vineyards. From high quality fruit Pinard makes some of the most stylish and flavoursome wines in Sancerre. The un-wooded Cuvee Flores has wonderful depth of varietal flavours, with the typical mineral nuance on the finish. “Top notch Sancerres from a leading family domaine. Every bottling is recommended.” Jacqueline Freidrich ‘The wines of France’. 2007 Sancerre ‘Florès’ 100% Sauvignon Blanc,100% tank fermented. As the name suggests this cuvee is very floral. Fine crisp and very classic.. Shelf Price $53.00 Offer Price $45.00 2006 Sancerre ‘Nuance’ 100% Sauvignon Blanc Aged 1/3rd in barrel and 2/3rds in tank. From older vines. Shows excellent texture and dimension. Shelf Price $63.00 Offer Price $53.50 Domaine Pascal Reverdy Pascal Reverdy’s domaine is based in the tiny hamlet of Maimbray. Maimbray is located in a valley surrounded by chalk hills adjacent to Chavignol and Verdigny. From their small cellar they produce one of France’s most highly awarded Sancerres’. The Reverdy’s are highly accomplished viticulturists. They take great pride in their vineyardsand they make it clear that the quality of the fruit comes from constant work and attention to every little detail in the vineyard throughout the year. 2007 Sancerre Blanc ‘Terre de Maimbray’ 100% Sauvignon Blanc - unoaked - picked at approximately 13° baumé and shows wonderful concentration of pure Sauvignon Blanc fruit, with chalky mineral flavours adding another dimension. “This smells pungently of lemon, peppermint, and nettles. Almost shockingly bright and suffusing the palate with faintly bitter citrus oil and herbal concentrate, it boasts a finish that will leave you sucking air through your puckered lips and saying “wow!” Plug into this source of electricity over the next 18-24 months.” Robert Parkers The Wine Advocate August 2008 Shelf Price $48.00 Offer Price $41.00 Domaine Chevilly The Domaine de Chevilly is located at Quincy, about 10 miles west from Sancerre. The 9 hectare vineyard is planted solely with sauvignon blanc. The average age of vines is 25 years with some 40 year old parcels. The modest Yves Lestourgie continues to make exemplary Quincy, and his wine is now established as a firm favourite among many customers. Ageing on its fine lees for a few months gives more volume to the wine. 2007 Domaine Chevilly Quincy 100% Sauvignon Blanc - unoaked - Almost water white. Quite pungent, fresh cut grass scent. Intensely citrus, possibly even mandarin, this is a classically structured Loire Sauvignon; refreshing and long. Now-2011 Shelf Price $37.00 Offer Price $31.50 download order form Domaine Tempier Bandol Pre Arrival Offer We still have a few ten packs available. This estate is one of the leading producers of Bandol and with its small production and emphasis on quality has achieved a cult status amongst its followers. The Domaine Tempier reputation for quality is reinforced by the wine reviewers "this is one of the great wine estates of the world." Clive Coates MW "There seems no doubt amongst connoisseurs that the best red wines come from Domaine Tempier." Robert Parker “Provence also has a number of more specific appellations, of which the most important is Bandol,....Domaine Tempier is the best-known producer...” Jancis Robinson “Domaine Tempier is Bandol's best and most storied producer; its wines have made a noticeable upswing in quality under the leadership of winemaker Daniel Ravier.” Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator. “This is, in my frequently reaffirmed opinion, one of the world's most admirable rosés.” Chris Kissack The Wine Doctor The vineyards of Bandol were destroyed by phylloxera towards the end of the nineteenth century. When the vineyards were replanted influential growers, including the Tempier family, the owners of Domaine Tempier, decided that quality should to be paramount and with this in mind selected Mouverdre as the principal grape to build the new Bandol wines upon, using Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah in support roles. Lucien Peyraud married Lucie Tempier in 1936 and they settled on the estate in 1940. Bandol was one of the first vineyards in France to be granted the AOC status by the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) in 1941, soon after it was created. Lucien Peyraud was one of the influential figures in the establishment of the Bandol AOC and the place of Mouvedre in the appellation. Domaine Tempier, has a substantial percentage of its acreage under old vines. The two best vineyards are La Tourtine and La Migoua. The single vineyard 'Cuvée Migoua' is 50% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 15% Cinsault & 5% Syrah. The 'Cuvée Tourtine' is 75% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache & Cinsault. The vineyards are managed organically without chemical fertilizers or other chemicals, and with minimal use of sulphur. download order form Domaine Tempier Bandol 10 pack Full price $760.00 Offer price $646.00 Wines available in October. 10 bottle pack - amazingly a few packs left - one per person • 6 bottles Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé 2008 • 2 bottles Domaine Tempier Bandol Classique 2006 • 1 bottle Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Migoua 2006 • 1 bottle Domaine Tempier Bandol La Tourtine 2006 2008 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé “Bright orange-pink. Strikingly complex aromas of peach skin, nectarine, redcurrant, dried flowers, garrigue and smoky minerals. Juicy red berry and pit fruit flavours are firmed by zesty minerals and deepened by a note of cherry skin. Dry, focused and chewy, with strong finishing punch and lingering notes of talc-y minerals. More graceful than the 2007 version, but lacking that wine's power, which isn't a bad thing.” 92 points Josh Reynolds Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - June '09 “Very elegant, with unctuous flavours of dried berry, cherry and melon. This has a pretty salmon colour, with a long, lush, richly spiced finish.” 90 points Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator - September 2009 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Classique 2006 “Aromas and flavours of mocha, kirsch and dark plum are pure and powerful. A finely crafted red, with a mineral-rich finish loaded with dark chocolate notes. Drink now through 2013.” 90 points Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator - 31 May 2009 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Migoua 2006 A pure and powerful red, finely polished and structured, with a broad swath of red plum, raspberry and cherry flavours. There's concentrated cedar and cigar box on the finish. Tempting now. 93 points Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator - 31 May 2009 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée La Tourtine 2006 “Very beefy and rich, with good cut to the red plum, dried berry and kirschlike flavours. The intense and concentrated finish is dominated by vibrant mineral and spice notes. A good candidate for the cellar.” 93 points Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator - May 31 2009 Upcoming Events Australian Shiraz - European Style Tuesday 29th September , 6 to 8 pm, In-store, $10.00 We will look at some Australian Shiraz made by small wine produers who are making well balanced food friendly wines that make a counterpoint to some of the over ripe and over oaked fruit bombs made for maximum tasting bench impact. We are really over those and welcome this Australian Shiraz which takes a nod towards its Rhone counterparts. Expect to see wines from Izway, made by Brian Conway and Craig Isbel - yes thats the same Brian who you will often find in the store on Thursdays and Fridays dispensing advice on wines of all kinds - and from Head made by Alex Head - he can often be found at the Ultimo Wine Cente in Sydney doing the same thing. Victorian wines will include Jamsheed, Shelmerdine and Vinea Marsen On Saturday 10 April 2004, new Australian Federal Government legislation came into force that requires that no unsolicited emails be sent without the permission of the recipient.  Europa Cellars has an email database and sends out periodic newsletters or special offers to especially interested clients. If you do not wish to receive further newsletters or special offers from Europa Cellars in the future, please advise by emailing wine@europacellars.com.au . Alternatively, if you subscribed via our website you may visit the following link to unsubscribe the same way. http://ethreemail.com/e3ds/u.php?g=a1fc2f1a

	Europa Cellars 150 Wellington Parade East Melbourne VIC Australia 3002 p. +61 (3) 9417 7220 f.+61(3) 9417 7223 e. wine @europacellars .com.au ABN 78 102 566 781 License no. 32053562