Europa Cellars Newsletter, 10 November 2009
		(03) 9417 7220

	Introduction Pre Arrivals- Rhone: Domaine Charvin Domaine Les Hautes Cances; ; Domaine Francois Merlin Loire Valley Tasting Instore Tonight Wine of the Week - 2003 Dedalo Rosso di Salento, Puglia, Italy Upcoming Events

Dear Wine Aficionado, More Pre Arrival offers this week from some leading Rhone producers. The Domaine Charvin wines, especially the Chateauneuf du Pape, have been receiving some critical acclaim recently and we are pleased to receive a small allocation of these wines. Quantities from the micro-producer Francois Merlin in the northern Rhone are predictably limited but the quality is excellent and the prices reasonable for the appellations Condrieu and St Joseph. Domaine Les Hautes Cances offer some excellent value for money Cotes du Rhone Villages from the named village Cairanne. Surely this village will be upgraded to a cru of the Rhone next time round. Loire Valley Tasting This evening Tuesday 10 November, 6 to 8 pm, In-Store, Free Taste a selection of wines from across the Loire Valley including a Serge Dagueneau Pouilly Fume, Lucien Crochet Sancerre, Guy Bossard and Domaine de la Chauviniere Muscadets, Chateau de Mosny Mont Louis, Clos du Tou-Boeuf Cheverny and a Grande Breviande Chinon. 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 2003 Dedalo Rosso di Salento Shelf Price $69.00 Offer Price $59.00 The vines are grown in the Brindisi area in the idyllic nature reserve of Torre Guaceto in Puglia. 100% Ottavianello (Cinsault). Grown over red soils mixed with sand. Average age of the vineyard is around 20 years. This wine offers great value for money and is drinking beautifully now. Have with antipasto, poultry or salmon. It was the standout red at at our southern Italy tasting last week. download order form Domaine Les Hautes Cances Pre-Arrival Domaine Les Hautes Cances Domaine Les Hautes Cances is a small family estate, with 16 hectares of vineyards situated on the slopes overlooking the village of Cairanne. Cairanne lies in the northern sector of Cotes du Rhone Villages near the villages of Rastau and Gigondas. One of the reasons for the great quality of wines at Domaine les Hautes Cances is the age of their vines. These low yielding vines have an average age of 48 years, with several plots reaching the grand old age of 100. Vineyards are managed using organic principals and yields are deliberately kept low so as to express the true terroir of the region. All fruit is hand harvested, hand selected and completely destemmed. The wines undergo extended periods of maceration under temperature controlled conditions in traditional stainless steel tanks so as to preserve the natural fruit characters. After blending, maturation in old oak continues over one year. The wines are then bottled without filtering. "Readers looking for powerful, concentrated, muscular reds that sell for a song should check out Domaine les Hautes Cances offerings. These unfiltered, unrefined Cairannes possess abundant quantities of earthy, muscular fruit, rustic tannin, and nearly savage personalities." Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate 2005 Domaine Hautes Cances Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne 'Cuvée Tradition' A blend of Grenache (40%from 100 year old vines) with Syrah, Mouvedre, Carignan and Cinsault. Vinified in tank and aged on old burgundy oak barrels for twelve months. Plateau of maturity is 6-10 years from vintage. Shelf Price $35.00 Offer Price $29.00 2005 Domaine Hautes Cances Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne 'Vieilles Vignes' A blend of Grenache (70%) 100 year old vines, Syrah (15%) 25 year old vines, and Mouvedre (15%) 35 year old vines. Vinified in tank and aged on old burgundy oak barrels for twelve months. Plateau of maturity is 6-10 years from vintage Shelf Price $47.00 Offer Price $39.00 2005 Domaine Hautes Cances Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne 'Col du Debat' A blend of Grenache (64%), Carignan (19%) Syrah (13%) and Cournoise (4%) From a single vineyard site of 5 hectares. The average age of the vines is 45 years and yields are very low at just 20 hectolitres per hectare. The plateau of maturity for this wine is 10-15 years Shelf Price $49.00 Offer Price $42.00 download order form Domaine Charvin Pre-Arrival Domaine Charvin Laurent Charvin runs this small family estate located in the north of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The domaine has vineyard holdings of just 8 hectares in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and 13 hectares in Cotes du Rhone. The average age of the vineyards is over 50 years old with the oldest being nearly 80 years of age. Laurent Charvin describes his vineyard site as being 'cool' for Chateauneuf as their vines are mostly planted on sandy north facing slopes. Charvin produces finely styled Grenache based wines showing great depth and finesse (approximately 80% Grenache for each wine). Wine making is traditional with no de-stemming and all ageing is done in cement tanks. No wood is used in the maturation of wine from either appellation. There are no secrets here, simply old vines, low yields and minimal winemaking intervention. The Cotes du Rhone is regularly one of the best from the area. 2008 Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Rose "Crisp strawberry and cherry aromas lead on the 2008 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Rosé and give way to a medium bodied, mineral laced wine. Fresh, balanced and with nice length to the finish, this is an excellent Rosé to drink over the next 12 months." 89 pts Jeb Dunnuck -The Rhone Report. Shelf Price $33.00 Offer Price $28.00 2007 Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone le Poutet "The 2007 Cotes du Rhone Le Poutet may be the finest example of this cuvee Laurent Charvin has yet made. A sleeper of the vintage, it delivers sexy black cherry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with loamy soil, spice, and roasted Provencal herb notes. With surprising density, a terrific texture, and a lush finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years." 89 pts. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate. "An outstanding wine, the 2007 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Rouge offers up a decidedly earth bouquet of black pepper, minerals, crushed stones and licorice. On the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied with beautiful depth, solid and upfront structure and a long, fruity finish. While beautiful now, this could actually use a year or two in the cellar and then should age well for 10+ years". 90 pts. Jeb Dunnuck -The Rhone Report. Shelf Price $37.00 Offer Price $31.50 limited 2006 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf du Pape "Charvin’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be one of the vintage’s top efforts. Lovely sweet notes of glove leather, roasted meats, spice box, ground pepper, kirsch, and raspberries are present in this deep, full-bodied 2006. More evolved than the 2007, with copious concentration, elegance, and a Burgundy grand cru-like complexity as well as freshness, it should be enjoyed over the next 12-15+ years." 93 pts Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate. "The 2006 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a tradition Chateauneuf with boatloads of garrigue, herbs de Provence, lavender and perfumed, licorice infused fruit. Showing beautiful complexity and intensity on the nose, the palate is medium to full bodied with sweet fruit, a soft, supple texture and an overall elegant character. I’d drink these over the coming 10 to 12 years." 93 pts. Jeb Dunnuck -The Rhone Report. 375ml Shelf Price $61.00 Offer Price $52.00 limited 750ml Shelf Price $117.00 Offer Price $99.00 limited Magnum Shelf Price $234.00 Offer Price $199.00 limited download order form Domaine Francois Merlin Pre-Arrival Domaine Francois Merlin Francois Merlin, a shy, modest man, worked for Rene Rostaing as Chef de Viticulture for over 10 years where he gained his understanding of terroir. In 1987 he planted his first vines and was also able o buy some existing vines. The wines remain a bit of a secret but Merlin is often one of the first cited by other top producers when asked their favorite Condrieu. He owns four parcels in Condrieu, including the only vineyard adjoining Chateau Grillet, from which he makes the outstanding 'Cuvee Jeanraude' a concentrated, fine, mineral and spicy wine. His regular cuvee is fresh, fruity and luscious, and comes from three vineyards 'Chatillon', 'Chanson' and 'Poncin'. His red Saint Joseph looks rather like a little Cote Rotie and comes from 2 parcels located in the north of the appellation.His goal is to make fresh long complex wines rather than unctuous ones without losing the fruit purity of the vineyard. 2007 Domaine Francois Merlin Condrieu 'Cuvée Terroirs' 500ml 100% Viognier matured 50% in stainless steel and 50% in old oak barrels. "Some depth in the nose, honey-oak, has a good "fabric". There is a definite core to the palate, with some subtle extras that add interest" John Livingstone-Learmonth – Drink Rhone Shelf Price $71.00 Offer Price $61.00 2007 Domaine Francois Merlin Condrieu 'Cuvée Jeanraude' "Pale flint robe; the aroma is clear – mild banana mixed in with oak. The palate has an interesting reserve about it, with a subtle depth: it broadens gracefully and end nice and calmly. The oak will be more absorbed by late 2009. Good finish – a light touch chewiness." 3 stars John Livingstone-Learmonth – Drink Rhone Shelf Price $132.00 Offer Price $112.00 limited 2007 Domaine Francois Merlin Saint Joseph Rouge 100% Syrah from old vines - 50% planted in 1968. More like a little Cote Rotie than a St Joseph. A pure elegant wine with depth and complexity. Great value. Shelf Price $60.00 Offer Price $51.00 limited download order form Upcoming Events This evening Tuesday 10 November - In store tasting - Loire Valley Taste a selection of wines from across the Loire Valley including a Serge Dagueneau Pouilly Fume, Lucien Crochet Sancerre, Guy Bossard and Domaine de la Chauviniere Muscadets, Chateau de Mosny Mont Louis, Clos du Tou-Boeuf Cheverny and a Grande Breviande Chinon. Tuesday 17 November - In store tasting - Austria Tuesday 24 November - In store tasting - Beaujolais Tuesday 1 December - In store tasting - Champagne - small producers 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

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