Dear Wine Aficionado,

This week we offer the first of our 2009 Bordeaux Primeurs campaign - a Magnificent Seven comprising three left bank reds and four Sauternes. The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux is being touted as the equal of the 2005 with some commentators claiming that 2009 eclipses the exceptional 2005. The financial crisis has tempered prices to a degree and the stronger $A improves our position somewhat compared to 2005. The first growths in particular are expected to reach new highs driven by demand from Asia, however it is expected that prices further down the pecking order will provide some excellent wines at reasonable prices.

For news about what is happening in the wine bar - current wine flights and menus - look at the Wine Bar News section at the foot of the newsletter. The Burgundy Six Pack Offer is based on the tasting flights available in the Wine Bar this week.

Please note that the wine 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, Francisco, Nick, Brian, Boon, Micah and Sam

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2009 Bordeaux En Primeur #1 a Magnificent 7!

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"First, and most importantly, for some Médocs and Graves, 2009 may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux. From top to bottom, 2009 is not as consistent as 2005, but the peaks of quality in 2009 may turn out to be historic." Robert Parker  

"A number of Bordeaux vintners say that their wines are already so fantastic that they are enjoying them straight from the vat. The year (2009) started with wet weather for most of winter and spring. Some areas were hard hit by hail in the spring. Yet summer weather was impeccably warm, dry and sunny. The water table in the soil was high enough to offset the dry summer, and a little rain in September revived the vines completely, helping the fruit mature to near perfection." James Suckling

"Left Bank that provides the most pleasure,... Do not dismiss the Right Bank, in particular a clutch of breathtaking Cabernet Franc based Pomerols and Saint Emilions" Neal Martin Wine Advocate

"I have never given so many really high scores when tasting en primeur anywhere." Jancis Robinson

"Yesterday I had the enormous pleasure of tasting 25 Sauternes 2009 blind at Ch Coutet and by and large they were fantastic. And so much more difficult to make than the red wines that get so much attention. Lots of richness and botrytis. I loved particularly Ch Suduiraut, Guiraud, Nairac, La Tour Blanche and Doisy-Daëne." Jancis Robinson

The 2009s seem to have a 'togetherness' that will make them at once approachable in their youth but also probably, as for the 1929s, unexpectedly long-lived." Bill Blatch Vintex Bordeaux Negociant on Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages

2009 is definitely the vintage that every wine critic has been drumming on about and we are proud to present you our first offer of our 2009 Bordeaux Primeurs. Prices for these wines are all inclusive of Australian duties and taxes and we are offering 2 prices for the wines; by the full case (12 bottles) and by the single bottle in a split case. Prices for single bottles are charged an extra $3.00 for handling split cases. Please note that these wines are expected to arrive in mid 2012.

NB: * indicates wines where Robert Parker has noted the best aging potential.

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2009 Chateau Belle Vue Haut-Medoc 
Single bottle price - $32.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $348.00 / $29.00
"Not to be confused with St.-Emilion’s Bellevue, this has been one of the most consistent Medoc cru bourgeois over a number of years, and the 2009 may reach new quality heights. A big-time sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Petit Verdot boasts a dense purple color as well as notes of creme de cassis and spring flowers, terrific fruit, sweet but noticeable tannin, and medium to full body. It can be drunk young or cellared for 8-10 years. (Tasted once)" 90-92* points Robert Parker
88-91 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc
Single bottle price - $30.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $324.00 / $27.00
"Generally a St.-Julien/Pauillac-like offering, the 2009 Lanessan seems more explosive and concentrated than prior vintages. I’m not sure it is the finest I have ever tasted, but it boasts a dense purple color as well as copious creme de cassis, cedar wood, underbrush, and spice notes. Beautiful opulence, silky tannins, and a long finish suggest this sleeper of the vintage will drink well for 2-3 decades. (Tasted once.)" 90-92 points Robert Parker
86-89 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 La Tour des Mons Margaux
Single bottle price - $35.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $384.00 / $32.00
92-95 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Chateau Doisy Daene Deuxièmes Cru Classe Sauternes
Single bottle price - $74.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $852.00 / $71.00
"Denis Dubourdieu has provided one of the genuine stars of the vintage with the Chateau Doisy-Daene, two, if you count his Extravagance. This has a very fragrant nose with apple blossom, lime leaf and a touch of honey. Very fresh and lifted...spring-like. The palate is very well balanced, not a powerful Sauternes but ethereally poised and focused, skipping blithely to an animated pear, honeysuckle and apricot finish. Very pretty, very complete and very outstanding." 96-98 points Robert Parker
"Intense aromas of dried citrus fruit and honey follow through to a full body. Medium sweet, thick and layered, with sliced cooked apple notes and a delicate spicy finish" 90-93 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Chateau Filhot Deuxièmes Cru Classe Sauternes
Single bottle price - $46.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $516.00 / $43.00
"Shows some botrytis spice and dried fruit character on the nose. Full-bodied, very sweet and thick, with a dense, almost syrupy finish. Excellent for Filhot." 89-92 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Chateau La Tour Blanche Premier Cru Classe Sauternes           
Single bottle price - $109.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1272.00 / $106.00
"The 2009 La Tour Blanche is very primal on the nose with grapefruit, nectarine and apricot aromas. The palate is very well balanced, just a little oaky at the moment but with a very fine thread of acidity. Touches of fresh apricot, a hint of nougat, lime zest and white peach. Well balanced, linear at the front palate but voluminous and expanding across the mouth in every direction on the viscous, mineral-rich finish. There is so much potential here. Superb." 94-96 points Neal Martin Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Dense and very rich on the palate. Medium sweet, with lemon pie and meringue notes and a textured finish."
91-94 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Chateau Rieussec Premier Cru Classe Sauternes
Single bottle price - $152.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1788.00 / $149.00
"The minerality and stoniness really comes through on the nose of this Rieussec, more than the 2007. The palate is very well balanced with superb acidity, real tension, steely with great precision with notes of apricot, white peach and honey on the beautifully defined finish. Probably the best Rieussec since the astounding 2001." 95-97 points Robert Parker
"Lemon peel and pear tart on the nose. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with good acidity, lemon meringue flavors and a spicy finish." 92-95 points James Suckling Wine Spectator.

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Burgundy 6-Pack Offer

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Regarded as the spiritual home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Burgundy, is highly sought after all over the world. Burgundy is home roughly a hundred AOC designations that are spread over 385 vineyards. This can be quite confounding to the average consumer and this week we will try to help demystify Burgundy with a selection of whites and reds from the everyday drinking Bourgogne level to a Village and Premier Cru wine.

The 6 pack includes 1 bottle each of the wines listed below  

Shelf Price for 6 Pack $474.00 OFFER PRICE $399.95!

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2008 Paul Pillot Bourgogne Blanc
Shelf Price $42.00
This is always a terrific white Burgundy for the price. The 2008 is outstanding with surprising density and plenty of stone fruit richness and citric zip. The fruit is grown on a north-east facing hillside vineyard called “Remigny”. The average vine age here is 20 years. The grapes are hand harvested, pressed, left to settle and fermented on lees in small stainless steel vats as well as barrel [with a small percentage of new wood] over 12 months. As always, a genuine bargain".


2006 Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Blanc
Shelf Price $58.00
Lebanese born Mounir Saouma, 38, and his Israeli partner, Rotem Brakir, 28, make up this two-person operation that has quickly become one of the hottest addresses in Burgundy, since their first vintage in 1999. Mounir became fascinated by Pinot Noir while making wine at a Christian monastery in Israel. He moved to Burgundy in 1995 to work for Domaine Voarick and Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet before setting up on his own. He met his partner Rotem in Israel, she having previously studied agronomy in Beaune, before working at Bonterra, an organic winery in California. The focus is on producing small amounts of wine from a broad range of the regions best vineyard sites, reflecting the terroir of each. Minimal sulphur is used, compensated for by CO2. . New oak is favoured, specifically from the forest of Julpille.

The Le Moine Estate production is no more than 100 barrels a year and everything is hand crafted. This wine is not a straight bourgogne as it is a blend of three villages; Monthelie,Pernard and Montagny. 

2004 Domaine Pavillon Mersault 1er Cru Les Charmes
Shelf Price $147.00
Fruit is handpicked and manually sorted and is pressed in a pneumatic press for gentle extraction. The juice is allowed to settle to remove its gross sediments, where it is then fermented in oak casks (1-3 years old) with wild yeasts. The wine is then aged in arrel for 16 months without any racking, in this period regular lees stiring adds complexity and structure. The wine is then lightly filtered before bottling.

"It is of a resplendent gold colour with strong gleams of green. Fresh and young on the nose, with elegant honey, fresh hazelnut and floral aromatics. The palate is big with delicate new oak underlining a very well-balanced body", Producer's notes

2006 Clos de Lupe Bourgogne Rouge
Shelf Price $37.00
The vineyard is the unique "Clos" inside Nuits-Saint-Georges city. It is 1,8954 ha and the average age of the vines is 40 years old. The soil is mainly limestone and clay. Deep and bright ruby-red colour with a cherry tint. With a slightly smoky note in the nose, it develops aromas of small red fruit and raspberries, backed up by spicy notes. On the palate, it has a fine structure with tannins bringing a nice support to the fruit and giving it persistency.

2006 Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Rouge
Shelf Price $73.00
"A seductive and surprisingly elegant, ripe and earthy red berry fruit nose complements the round, delicious and nicely deep flavors that are not particularly refined but offer good length and plenty of character." Burghound


2005 Michel Lafarge Volnay
Shelf Price $117.00
The Lafarges have been in Volnay ever since the 19th Century but its expansion is mainly attributed to Michel Lafarge and his father aquiring vineyards along the way. Michel and his son Frederic are running the operation now and they own slightly under 10 hectares of vineyards, half of which in Volnay.

"This is quite ripe yet the red and dark berry fruit aromas are airy and pure with an abundant earthiness present on the rich, serious and rather brooding middle weight flavors supported by excellent dry extract and ripe structural elements on the solidly long finish. Very good quality here for a villages level wine." 88-90 Points Burghound

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Wine Bar News

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Europa Cellars wine bar is open between 12pm and 8pm 7 days a week. Wines are available by the glass and tasting flights available enoteca style. The tasting flights consist of 3-5 wines at 25ml pours designed to allow the taster a journey into the particular wine styles of that region. You will be able to select any bottle of wine from the wine store to drink in the wine bar for a corkage fee.

The Wine Bar menu is available from midday until 8pm each day. The current menu comprises: Warmed Olives $6.00; Pickled Vegetables $10.00; Chicken Terrine $10.00; Tarte Alsacienne $12.00; Antipasto Plate $14.00; Spaghetti with Veal Ragu $14.00; Beef Lasagna $17.00.

This week we will be looking at the wines from Burgundy, France. For more information on the wines, please refer to the Burgundy 6-Pack offer above.

Tasting Flight #1 Bourgogne Blanc $10.00

2008 Paul Pillot Bourgogne Blanc

2006 Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Blanc

2005 Domaine du Pavillon Mersault 1er Cru Les Charmes

Tasting Flight #2 Bourgogne Rouge $10.00

2006 Lupe Cholet Clos du Lupe Bourgogne Rouge

2006 Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Blanc

2005 Michel Lafarge Volnay

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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