Europa Cellars Newsletter, 17 November 2009
		(03) 9417 7220

	Introduction Pre Arrivals - Rhone: Domaine Montirius, Vacqueyas and Gigondas Provence: Domaine Du Gros 'Nore, Bandol Austrian Tasting Instore Tonight Wine of the Week - 2006 Chateau Gaudrelle Vouvray, Loire Valley, France Upcoming Events

Dear Wine Aficionado, We all know Riesling and are becoming more familiar with Gruner Veltliner, a white variety indigenous to Austria. Add to this Steinterrassen, another white indigenous variety, and two red varieties Blaufrankisch and Saint Laurent and you have the basis of tonight's in store Austrian tasting. We have two pre arrival offers; one from Domaine Montirius in the Southern Rhone and the other from Domaine Gors 'Nore in Provence. Domaine Montirius produces the crus Gigondas and Vacqueyras as well as a serious Cotes du Rhone that is made as if it were a cru. Domaine Gros 'Nore is a relative new estate in terms of making its own wine and is now counted amongst the leading producers of Bandol. The wine of the week is one of the stars of last weeks in store tasting, the 2006 Chateau Gaudrelle Vouvray Austrian Tasting This evening Tuesday 17 November, 6 to 8 pm, In-Store, Free Tonight we will taste a selection of wines from well known Austrian producers Pittnauer, Domaine Wachau, Stadt Krems, Saloman Undhoff, and Sepp Moser. The white wines will be Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Steinterrassen. The reds will be Blaufrankisch and Saint Laurent. Local winemaker Mac Forbes made a Blaufrankish while he was working in Austria. This wine will also be available to taste. 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 2006 Chateau Gaudrelle Vouvray Shelf Price $33.00 Offer Price $28.00 After studying oenology at Beaune, Alexandre Monmousseau took over the 15 hectares of vineyards of the family's 17th century Château Gaudrelle in 1984. With his vineyards split between the flinty perruches and the limestone of the premières côtes of Vouvray, Alexandre emphasises the quality of the terroir through a policy of low yields, almost excessively meticulous hand harvesting and finely mastered vinifications. Folllowing a gentle pressing and a severe débourbage, fermentations are long and slow in vat, or in oak demi-muid casks in his cool rock-hewn cellars. Shows great typicity of apple flavours on the palate. Good lengtht and fine acid balance. One of the stars of last weeks Loire Valley in store tasting download order form Domaine Montirius Pre-Arrival Domaine Montirius Domaine Montirius is owned by the Saurel family with son Eric in control of winemaking and day-to-day operations. Eric Saurel is trained oenologist and also consults to many successful estates in the southern Rhone. Montirius is located near the village of Sarrians, midway between Chateauneuf du Pape and Beaumes de Venise. Their vinyards lie in the appellations of Gigondas and Vacqueras. The 57 hectare estate has been run on biodynamic principles since 1996. The estate is certified organic by Ecocert and bio-dynamic by Biodyvin. The wines also benefit from the quality fruit from the estate's old vines, with several parcels having been planted in 1925. No wood is used in the maturation of the wines . This gives the wines terrific purity of fruit, with the concentration that comes from the high percentage of older and very old vines. “Our heart is more le terroir and the vineyard plots than whether we are Gigondas or Vacqueyras. Terroir and vineyard govern us.” Eric Saurel 2007 Domaine Montirius Cotes du Rhone 'Jardin Secret' 100% Grenache from 1 hectare planted in 1947 in the village of Sablet. Produced from yields of just 35hl/ha. The wines for this vineare traditionally goblet trained, totally destemmed, lightly crushed. Only 4000 bottles produced annually. Shelf Price $41.00 Offer Price $35.00 2007 Domaine Montirius Vacqueyras 'Garrigues' 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from 12 parcels situated on the plateau of Garrigues' around the village of Vacqueyras. The average age of the wines is 55 years and the yield is 35hl/ha. The wine is aged in cement tanks. It is soft, round and fruit driven, Shelf Price $46.00 Offer Price $39.00 2005 Domaine Montirius Gigondas 80% Grenache and 20% Mouverdre Yield 31hl/ha. "Dark red. Strong floral and mineral notes accent fresh strawberry and raspberry aromas. Clean and racy, with elegant redcurrant and strawberry flavors, good focus and a long, clinging finish." 88 pts Stephen Tanzer Shelf Price $61.00 Offer Price $52.00 download order form Domaine Du Gros 'Nore Pre-Arrival Domaine Du Gros 'Nore The appellation of Bandol producers the most serious, and best known wines of Provence. The Mouverdre grape is at the heart of Bandol although some Grenache and Cinsault is blended in. Alain Pascal has 16 ha of vines in the prime sector of Cadiere d'Azur. They have an average age of 30 years.The first vintage released was in 1997. Prior to this, Alain's father , Honore (his name is shortened to 'Nore to give the name of the Domaine as Gros 'Nore i.e Fat Honore, worked the vineyards but did not make his own wine. Instead he sold the grapes to leading Bandol producer, Chateau de Pibarnon. "In just a few years (the first vintage was 1997), Alain Pascal has made his Domaine one of the best representatives of his appellation due to Mouvedre grapes ripened to perfect maturity on the clay soils of Cadiere. His red Bandol is a complete wine, intense and made for a long evolution." Classment 2006 (The best wines of France) 2008 Domaine Du Gros 'Nore Bandol Rose Mouvedre 40%, Cinsault 40% Grenache 20% go to make this classically styled Bandol Rose "Bright orange-tinge pink. Peppery red berry and cherry aromas are underscored by salty minerals, herbs and white pepper. Juicy, finely etched red fruit flavours are deepened by a bitter cherry skin quality and lifted by dusty minerals. A note of Anise comes up with air and carries through the long spicy finish. Very nicely balanced and pure, with the depth to handle richer foods" 90 pts StephenTanzer, June 09 Shelf Price $53.00 Offer Price $45.00 2007 Domaine Du Gros 'Nore Bandol Rouge Deep purple to black in the glass, the wine lifts with spicy swee confectionary like characters that integrate with herb, olive and some stone/mineral/grphite highlights. Very concentrated rich black fruit builds through a dense, tannin filled, savoury palate with great concentration. 2007 stands as one of the greatest vintages for Bandol. 750ml Shelf Price $74.00 Offer Price $63.00 Magnum Shelf Price $149.00 Offer Price $127.00 2004 Domaine Du Gros 'Nore Bandol Rouge "Alain Pascal’s 2004 is a blend of 80% Mouvedre, 12% Grenache, 5% Cinsault and 2% Carignan and aged for 18 months in oak barrels. A very ripe, lush, prune-scented nose with creme de cassis, kirsch and fig. Has a hedonistic attraction to it. Rich with a lot of glycerine, very powerful and rather ostentatious but with good acidity cutting through thick layers of sweet black fruits. Persistent, luscious finish. Great length and a great, vivacious Bandol. Drinking 2012-2020. 91 pts Neil Martin, The Wine Advocate #171 Jun 2007 "A serious red with a core of fleshy, ripe fruit and spices. Well-structured and fresh. Very promising, real substance style and sense of place. Mouvedre likes the sea." Jacqueline Freidrich 750ml Shelf Price $74.00 Offer Price $63.00 limited Magnum Shelf Price $149.00 Offer Price $127.00 limited download order form Upcoming Events This evening 17 November - In store tasting - Austria The white wines will be Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Steinterrassen. The reds will be Blaufrankisch and Saint Laurent. Local winemaker Mac Forbes made a Blaufrankish while he was working in Austria. This wine will also be available to taste. 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

	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