Dear Wine Aficionado,

This week we have added 6 more estates to our Bordeaux Primeurs; detail are below. We are also offering this week some ready to ship, perfectly matured Bordeaux for all of you who just can't wait until mid 2012 for your next Bordeaux hit.

Our 6-Pack Offer again looks to Greece, there has been such a terrific response to these wines we felt we had to do them justice by offering them to you for one more week, so if you forgot to put an order in last week you have one last chance to do so.

This Wednesday evening at the Europa Cellars Wine Bar we will be hosting a wine and cheese evening in conjunction with The Wines of Chile, featuring De Matino Wines and Mr Guy Hopper from Chile.

With financial year coming to a close and those of you looking to do something a little left of the usual "end of year lunch/dinner" why not book in for a wine tasting with us at Europa Cellars. We can take bookings of groups up to 20 people, provide some nibbles to accompany the wine with and can cater for any and all vinous tastes.

For news regarding the Europa Cellars Wine Bar - current wine flights and menus - look to the Wine Bar section at the foot of the newsletter. The Greek 6-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 enquiries call 03 9417 7220 during these hours.

The Europa Cellars team,
John, Aidan, Nick, Brian, Boon, Micah & Sam

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Bordeaux 2009 #5

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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.

Bordeaux Rouge

2009 Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac
Single bottle price - $67.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $768.00 / $64.00
"Possibly the finest wine yet produced at this estate, the 2009 is even fatter, richer, and more unctuously textured than the 2005 (which I loved). It boasts an opaque purple color, thrilling levels of sweet creme de cassis and blackberries along with hints of underbrush as well as forest floor, silky tannins, full body, and a plush, heady, opulent personality. This stunning wine should drink well for two decades. (Tasted three times.)" 90-93 points Robert Parker
"A pretty nose of lead pencil and currant follows through to a full body, with well-integrated tannins and a silky, long finish. Stylish." 91-94 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Haut-Bages-Liberal Pauillac
Single bottle price - $73.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $840.00 / $70.00
"Currant and mint, with hints of fresh herbs. Lovely complex nose already. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, racy finish. Solid core of beautiful fruit." 91-94 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 Durfort-Vivens Margaux
Single bottle price - $73.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $840.00 / $70.00
"An attractive, soft, velvety-textured wine revealing a hint of tapenade intermixed with black currant and blackberry fruit. Medium-bodied and elegant with the silkiness and precision that make this vintage so alluring, it should drink well for 15-20 years. (Tasted once.)" 87-89+ points Robert Parker
"Loads of dried flowers, currant and blackberry. Chewy and full. Velvety tannins. Solid core of fruit." 89-92 points James Suckling Wine Spectator

2009 la Croix Chantecaille St Emilion
Single bottle price - $31.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $336.00 / $28.00

2009 Phelan-Segur St Estephe
Single bottle price - $69.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $792.00 / $66.00
"Like many of the top 2009s, Phelan-Segur is a huge, full-bodied effort with massive fruit as well as good freshness, precision, and elegance. This is all rather paradoxical given previous great vintages that either lean toward cooler vintage characteristics or hot ones. This 2009 possesses both styles. It exhibits lots of mulberry, boysenberry, and crushed, jammy black fruits, abundant tannin, medium to full body, an opulent mouthfeel, and enough structure to evolve for two decades or more. This is a sleeper of the vintage. (Tasted two times.)" 90-92 points Robert Parker

2009 Reserve de la Comtesse Pauillac
Single bottle price - $82.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $948.00 / $79.00
"The finest second wine they have made, the 2009 Reserve de Comtesse is composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Flavorful and full-bodied with loads of texture and opulence, it offers up aromas of forest floor and black fruits. The surprisingly high tannin level is barely noticeable given the sweetness of the fruit and abundant glycerin. Nevertheless, the 13% alcohol is right in line with that of the Pichon Lalande. Drink the Reserve de Comtesse over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted once.)" 91-93 points Robert Parker

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Aged Bordeaux

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We know that with all these newsletters you must be getting a little thirsty for Bordeaux and are struggling to wait until mid 2012 for the 2009 primeurs. To assist you, we have just recieved some beautifully aged Bordeaux that is drinking perfectly right now. Again, numbers are limited so do get your order in quick as these wines won't last.

2001 Tour du Haut-Moulin Haut-Medoc Shelf Price $48.00 Offer Price $41.00
“Enjoying excellent location, dense planting (10,000 vines per hectare) conservative yields and long curvasion Tour du Haut Moulin produces impressively dark ruby / purple coloured wines as well as admirable depth and concentration. This is clearly one of the top Cru Bourgeois, in fact in a blind tasting it would embarrass some classified growths." Robert Parker
"Tour du Haut Moulin lies on a croupe of well-drained gravel close to the Gironde. The wine is fuller than most, with ripe tannins, a lush texture and plenty of fruit. It lasts well." Clive Coates MW

2001 Clos du Clocher Pomerol Shelf Price $124.00 Offer Price $106.00          
“A tasty, dark ruby/purple-colored effort, the 2001 Clos de Clocher exhibits a lush texture as well as aromas of spicy new oak, mocha, coffee, chocolate, and jammy black cherry fruit. Drink this low acid, accessible Pomerol over the next decade.” 88 points Robert Parker

2001 Rauzan-Segla Margaux Shelf Price $215.00 Offer Price $183.00
“In 1855 Rauzan-Segla was considered Bordeaux’s best wine after the 1st growths.
A dismal 1960s, 1970s but then a complete turn around in the 1980’s saw this estate produce a string of superb wines. It now sits at the head of the class of fourteen 2nd growths. This is splendid wine and worth buying as prices have not yet caught up with the new level of quality of this famous old estate.” Robert Parker
“This is one of the oldest and most famous cru in Margaux, but its wines for some years failed to match their high reputation. The 1982 marked the beginning of substantial improvement, with the ‘85 even better. The ’86, ’88, ’89 and ’90 vintages have proved to be outstanding, challenging Palmer’s reputation as the best wine in the appellation after Margaux.” David Peppercorn MW

1998 Grand Mayne St Emilon Shelf Price $198.00 Offer Price $169.00
“The finest Grand Mayne to date, this is a wine of majestic weight, richness and volume. A saturated purple colour is accompanied by a phenomenal nose of liquorice, smoke, graphite, and cassis aromas. This huge, massive effort is low in acidity, highly extracted, with an unctuous texture, gobs of glycerin, and a multidimensional, chewy, long finish. A dazzling wine, it is undoubtedly a sleeper of the vintage.” 93 points Robert Parker

1996 Lafon-Rochet St Estephe Shelf Price $182.00 Offer Price $155.00
“One of the sleepers of the 1996 vintage, Lafon-Rochet has turned out an atypically powerful, rich, and concentrated wine bursting with black currant fruit. The opaque purple colour gives way to a medium to full-bodied, tannic, backward wine with terrific purity, a sweet, concentrated mid-palate, and a long, blockbuster finish. This wine remains one of the finest values from the luxury-priced 1996 vintage.” 90 points Robert Parker

1990 Haut Batailley Pauillac Shelf Price $256.00 Offer Price $218.00
“The wines of Haut-Batailley are still somewhat of an insider’s secret. Well worth their Fifth-Growth status, they are generally very good to excellent and represent sound value.” Robert Parker
“The modest surroundings of Haut-Batailley do not stop it from producing a wine of a standard well above its Fifth Growth classification. Haut-Batailley is full and firm, a true Pauillac that takes time to mature. The flavour is rich and Cabernet based.” Clive Coates MW

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Chilean Wine Tasting

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This Wednesday, 16th June we are proud to be hosting a wine and cheese evening with De Martino Winery from Chile. The event starts at 7:30pm in the Wine Bar and will be hosted by Mr Guy Hopper who is in town showcasing the unique he makes in Chile.

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Greek 6-Pack Offer

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Greece has a wine making history of over 6500 years and is home to over 300 indigenous grape varieties. It is only recently that Greek wines have penetrated into the fine wine market with a new wave of producers that have sparked off a quality driven renaissance in the Greek wine world.

GAIA Estate was founded in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and Yiannis Paraskevopoulos with a commitment to producing quality wine from the unique indigenous grapes of their native Greece. Both owners have degrees in agronomy from the University of Thessaloniki and Paraskevopoulos also received a Ph.D in Oenology from the University of Bordeaux II. Based in the Pelopponese in Nemea, GAIA produces stunning examples of the indigenous Agiorgitiko grapes, where it produces soft elegant reds, and another estate in Santorini where they produce minerally, bone dry whites made from the Assyrtiko grape.

Kir-Yianni was established in 1997 by Yiannis Boutari, a member of the famous Boutari wine family, with the aim of making top quality wine. They are based in Naoussa in the northern province of Macedonia where they are best known for their red wines made from Xinomavro. Xinomavro loosely translates into "acid-black" and like its name produces wines with high levels of acidity and tannins.

This 6 pack offer is to an excellent selection of some of the best Greek wine examples in the market today. The quality is evident in these wines and they have propelled the perception of greek wines into the domaine of international wine standards.

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

Whites
2009 Gaia Notios White Shelf Price $24.00
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.

2007 Kir Yianni Petra Shelf Price $27.00
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.

2008 Gaia Estate Thalassitis Shelf Price $43.00
From the island of Santorini, the native Assyrtiko grape is grown on vines trained into basket shapes instead of to a stake or wire. This is to maintain moisture and shade on an island where either in a rarity, the islands exposed volcanic slopes at the mercy of the Mediterranean sun. Thalassitis is produced by Gaia, one of our favorite and most popular Greek producers. 

Reds
2008 Gaia Notios Red Shelf Price $24.00
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

2008 Argiorgitiko by Gaia Shelf Price $32.00
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.

2006 Kir Yianni Ramnista Shelf Price $38.00
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 for 6 Pack $188.00 OFFER PRICE $159.95!

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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 are available 'enoteca style'. The tasting flights consist of 3, 25ml wine pours designed to allow the taster a journey into the particular wine styles of that region. You are also able to select any bottle of wine from the wine store to drink in the wine bar with a $12 corkage fee.

The Wine Bar menu is also available between 12pm until 8pm, 7 days a week. The current menu is;
Warm Mt Zero Olives $6.00
Pickled Vegetables $9.00
Pork & Pistachio Terrine $12.00
Antipasto Plate $18.00
Spaghetti with Lamb Ragu $18.00
Chicken Cacciatore $20.00

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

Also starting this week there is a new selection of wines by the glass encompassing the best europe has to offer.

Tasting Flight #1 Greek Whites $5.00

2009 Gaia Notios White

2007 Kir Yianni Petra

2008 Gaia Estate Thalassitis

Tasting Flight #2 Greek Reds $5.00

2008 Gaia Notios Red

2008 Argiorgitiko by Gaia

2006 Kir Yianni Ramnista

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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
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