Europa Cellars Newsletter, 09 March 2010
		(03) 9417 7220

	Introduction Wine Of The Week: 2003 Valduero Crianza Ribera del Duero Offer: Greece - Selection of 6 - Gaia & Kir Yianni Tasting: German Rieslings

Dear Wine Aficionado, This week's offer features a selection of 6 very affordable wines from Greece, three from Gaia Estate in the Peloponnese and three from Kir Yianni in the northern province of Macedonia. Tasting - German Rieslings This evening Tuesday 16 March, 6 to 8 pm, In-Store, Free Tonights tasting will feature German Rieslings from a range of styles and prices, from the classic sweet sherbety Mosels to the bone-dry mineral driven styles of the Rheingau. 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, Boon, Nick, and Micah view newsletter online view newsletter as pdf Wine of the Week 2003 Valduero Ribera del Duero Crianza This barren plateau between Valladolid and Aranda, self-styled roast lamb capital of the world, is currently producing some of Spain's most admired red wines, to the continuing amazement of the peasant farmers who have lived on the banks of the Duero river for generations. Downstream and over the Portuguese border, their counterparts farm port grapes in what is known as the Douro Valley. But whereas port has been famous for three centuries, the wines of Ribera del Duero are a relatively recent phenomenon. Only at the end of the 19th century did one producer, now called Vega Sicilia, gain some sort of recognition for the intensity of its wines. The DO classification was granted in 1982. Bodegas Valduero was founded by the family Garcia Viadero in 1984 in Gumiel del Mercado, a small village in the county of Burgos, located 10 miles north-west of Aranda de Duero, right in heart of the D.O. Ribera del Duero. The 2003 Valduero Ribera Del Duro Crianza is made from 100% Tempranillo. The fruit is hand picked from vineyards that have an average age of 15 years. The wine is then aged for 15 months in oak barrels from 2 different origins. "The 2003 Crianza is opaque purple-colored with a huge nose of toasty oak, licorice, black currants and blackberry with a slightly baked character perhaps from the extreme heat of the 2003 vintage. This is followed by a thick, rich, layered, opulent wine with abundant ripe tannin and outstanding balance. This hugely extracted wine will need 8-10 years to become civilized and should drink well for 10-15 years thereafter." 92+ points Jay Miller The Wine Advocate # 169 Feb 2007 Shelf Price $47.00 Offer Price $39.95 download order form Greece - Selection of 6 - Gaia Estate & Kir Yianni GAIA is based and Nemea in the Peleponnese where the Agiorgitiko grape makes delicious red wine, and they also have a winery on the island of Santorini where the high acid Assyrtiko grape makes wines that go well with seafood. Kir-Yianni is based in Naoussa in the northern province of Macedonia. They are best known for their red wines made from Xinomavro. It is the quality of wines like these that is taking Greek wine out of the taverna and into the mainstream of international fine wine. Shelf Price $174.00 Offer Price $148.00 2009 Gaia Notios White This wine is a blend of two traditional Greek grape varieties; Moschofilero and Roditis. Moschofilero is a pink skined relative of the grape German Gerwutztraminer, harvested from the Arcadian plateau, contributes a vibrant, floral flavour. The Roditis portion of this wine is grown on the Corinthian slopes and it provides a smooth lemony character. Shelf Price $24.00 2007 Kir Yianni Petra White 100% Roditis, The vineyard lies at an altitude of 700 meters on sandy soils within the viticultural zone of Agios Panteleimon, in the Amyndeon Appelation in Northwestern Greece. The vineyard’s mean yield does not exceed 40 hl/ha. The wine is left on skins for a short period before it is fermented and left in tank for four months on lees. Shelf Price $27.00 2008 Gaia Notios Red Agiorgitiko is one of two red grapes (the other being Xynomavro) on which the hopes of many Greek winemakers rest. It is a naturally heat resistant variety that has character and plenty of structure. It performs best at high altitude. 45 days in 225 litre French oak casks (Nevers & Allier) with medium-plus toasting Shelf Price $25.00 2008 Kir Yianni Paranga Red Xinomavro, Merlot, Syrah. The vineyard covers a total area of 13.3 acres grown in the region of Agios Panteleimon and lies at an altitude of 600 meters. Each grape variety is vinified separately, the final blend is made during the month of December following harvest. Shelf Price $28.00 2008 Argiorgitiko by Gaia This wine is made from fruit sourced from a selection of sites on the upper slopes of Nemea at elevations of between 450 and 650 meters. Aged in French oak barrels, this wine fits in between Gaia’s other Agiorgitiko’s; the Estate which is produced to be aged long term and the Notios which is made to be consumed at release. Shelf Price $32.00 2006 Kir Yianni Ramnista Kir-Yianni own 50 hectares of vineyard planted with indigenous and international varieties on the eastern and western slopes of Mt Vermio. This wine is made from Xinomavro from selected south east facing vineyard blocks at around 300m above sea level on the Yianakohori estate. Four-day cold soak followed by cool fermentation and aged 12 months in French and American oak, some new, some 500 litre Shelf Price $38.00 download order form Tastings March TODAY 16 March - German Riesling - 6-8pm Instore free Tuesday 23 March - Southern Rhone - 6-8pm Instore free Tuesday 30 March - Affordable Burgundy - 6-8pm Instore free 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 . 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	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