Dear Wine Aficionado,

This week we have added a colosal 19 more estates to our Bordeaux Primeurs with some of the bigger names starting to appear. Full details are below and remember that there are still wines available from our previous newsletters, use the current order form which lists all wines still available.

We have a couple of different 6-Pack Offers this week, both are looking towards Burgundy, featuring Domaine Dugat-Py and Maison Lucien le Moine, details are below.

With the 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.

Speaking of the financial year coming to a close, we are having an end of year sale at Europa Cellars with 10%-20% off all wines across the floor up to and including June 30th, so pop in over the next 9 days and pick up a bargain.

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, Boon & Sam

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Bordeaux 2009 #6

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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 Patache d'Aux Medoc
Single bottle price - $28.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $300.00 / $25.00
"Mineral, berry and black liquorice aromas follow through to a full body, with super silky tannins and a long finish. Lovely wine. Best ever from here?" 89-92 points James Suckling, Wine Spectator

2009 Liversan Haut Medoc
Single bottle price - $25.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $264.00 / $22.00
"Currant and berries, with some sweet tobacco. Medium-bodied, with ripe tannins and a fruity finish. Very pleasant." 88-91 points James Suckling, Wine Spectator

2009 Lynch Bages Pauillac
Single bottle price - $213.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $2520.00 / $210.00
"It is the greatest Lynch Bages since the outstanding duo of 1989 and 1990. The black/purple-tinged 2009 exhibits a glorious perfume of graphite, black currants, and subtle smoke, powerful, thick, unctuously textured flavors, huge yet sweet tannins, fabulous purity, and a finish that lasts 40-45 seconds." 94-96+ points Robert Parker
"The nose shows amazing aromas of mint, spices and currant, with underlying licorice and tar. Full-bodied, with amazing fruit and a long, long finish. Powerful. Blockbuster, but balanced. So structured. Lynch has not made a wine like this since perhaps 1989 or 1982. Better than Wine of the Year 1985 Lynch." 96-99 points James Suckling, Wine Spectator

2009 Brane-Cantenac Margaux
Single bottle price - $123.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1440.00 / $120.00
"A dense plum/purple color is followed by a lovely perfume of flowers, boysenberries, black cherries, and black currants. Seamless in the mouth with stunning concentration, a seductive style, an exquisite Margaux delicacy, and levels of richness and intensity I have never before seen in Brane Cantenac, it should drink effortlessly for 30+ years. (Tasted four times.)" 93-95 points Robert Parker

2009 Dalem Fronsac
Single bottle price - $37.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $408.00 / $34.00
"The 2009 has the potential to be the finest Dalem ever made during my tasting career, eclipsing even their brilliant 2005. While it is generally a very good, richly fruity, open-knit Fronsac, in 2009, the wine possesses unprecedented levels of density, substance, and richness. A big time sleeper of the vintage, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color, sweet, jammy red and black currant fruit, crushed rock, and spring flower characteristics, soft, silky tannins, good freshness, and a lively, vibrant personality." 89-91 points Robert Parker

2009 la Vieille Cure Fronsac
Single bottle price - $42.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $468.00 / $39.00
"This is typically one of the finest offerings of Fronsac, but I am not convinced the 2009 will eclipse their magnificent 2005, although it will certainly give the latter wine a run for its money. The opaque purple-hued 2009 offers a beautiful aromatic display of camphor, blueberries, acacia flowers, raspberries, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and pure with a nicely layered texture, the vintage’s unctuosity and thickness as well as freshness and definition, this sleeper of the vintage is another beauty from La Vieille Cure." 90-93 points Robert Parker

2009 Kirwan Margaux
Single bottle price - $99.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1152.00 / $96.00
"This inky/purple-hued Margaux reveals aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, espresso roast, graphite, and new oak. Full-bodied, layered, and rich as well as elegant and precise, it needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should last for 25-30+ years. It is a very strong effort from Kirwan. (Tasted two times.)" 90-92+ points Robert Parker

2009 Rauzan-Segla Margaux
Single bottle price - $102.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1188.00 / $99.00
"Composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, this large estate appears to have produced their greatest wine since the 1986. The alcohols came in at 13.9%, and the wine reveals extraordinary density, power, and richness as well as explosive fruit, and terrific acidity, intensity, and power. Yet it tastes like a crisp, delicate Margaux. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectare. This outstanding 2009 should age nicely for 35-40+ years. (Tasted two times.)" 92-95 points Robert Parker

2009 Pontet-Canet Pauillac
Single bottle price - $202.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $2388.00 / $199.00
"This vineyard, which sits on the high plateau of Pauillac adjacent to Mouton Rothschild, has produced a 2009 of extraordinary intensity and purity. It is outrageously concentrated, with silky tannin (the sweetest I have ever tasted in a Pontet-Canet as well as the highest measured), an opaque purple color, and copious notes of graphite, cassis, licorice, and subtle smoke and forest floor. Full-bodied and unctuously textured with striking purity and definition, it is a wine of colossal weight as well as elegance (in itself a poster boy for this paradox in 2009)." 97-100 points Robert Parker

2009 Talbot St Julien
Single bottle price - $102.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1188.00 / $99.00
"This is the most impressive Talbot since the 1982 and 1986. It reveals an opaque plum/garnet/purple color as well as knock-out aromas of black fruits, cedar, incense, licorice, and a Provencal garrigue-like character. Substantial, sexy, and seductive, it is almost slutty in its exuberance and ostentatiousness. It was a thrill to drink this loaded St.-Julien." 92-94 points Robert Parker

2009 Connetable de Talbot St Julien
Single bottle price - $47.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $528.00 / $44.00
This second wine is given the same care as Chateau Talbot however it is mostly made from the younger wines of the vineyard and tends towards a lesser structure so that it may be consumed young. However it still maintains the same elegance as Chateau Talbot.

2009 Lagrange St Julien
Single bottle price - $108.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1260.00 / $105.00
"A slightly lighter, less powerful style of St.-Julien, but also less oaky than previous vintages have tended to be, the 2009 Lagrange offers attractive, fresh, red and black currant notes, and an elegant as well as corpulent attack and mid-palate. This wine does not have the weight of the “big boys” of St.-Julien, but it displays an endearing finesse, freshness, and purity." 90-93 points Robert Parker

2009 Prieure-Lichine Margaux
Single bottle price - $87.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1008.00 / $84.00
"Beautiful floral-infused black fruits jump from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple-colored wine. Possibly richer, denser, and even more complete than the brilliant 2005 (although it is still too early to say that definitively), this is certainly a more opulent, succulent style of wine than even the 2005, which had surprising flesh for a wine from that vintage. The Right Bank consultant Stephane Derenoncourt has performed some magic here, as recent vintages attest, and the wines are often fairly priced as well." 91-93 points Robert Parker

2009 Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac
Single bottle price - $137.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1608.00 / $134.00
"it boasts this estate’s classic creme de cassis character as well as a soft, round, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, pure fruit, and silky tannins, but not the weight, depth, or profound concentration of the top 2009 Pauillacs. Still, this cuvee will be approachable young, and should evolve easily for two decades. (Tasted two times.)" 91-93 points Robert Parker

2009 Labegorce Margaux
Single bottle price - $42.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $468.00 / $39.00
"Dark blackish ruby. Fragrant and natural on the nose. Sweet and mellow. Nicely done. A little tension on the finish. Not pushed to excess. This could be from a terroir that is less favoured usually but one that is benefiting from 2009 overdrive." 17 points Jancis Robinson

2009 Giscours Margaux
Single bottle price - $105.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1224.00 / $102.00
"This is the finest Giscours I have tasted in my professional career. Succulent and sexy with an inky/purple color, it offers sweet aromas of subtle barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberries, blueberries, and spring flowers. The tannins are remarkably sweet, substantial, and well-integrated, and the wine is full-bodied as well as voluptuously textured. It is a head-turning, exuberant, flashy effort that should drink well for 20-25 years. Bravo! (Tasted three times.)" 91-93 points Robert Parker

2009 les Ormes de Pez St Estephe
Single bottle price - $62.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $708.00 / $59.00
"A sleeper of the vintage and the best Les Ormes de Pez made in decades, this opaque purple-hued 2009 offers up pure creme de cassis fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, smoke, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied and pure with good freshness as well as a soft, layered mouthfeel, it will offer delicious drinking over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted three times.)" 88-90 points Robert Parker

2009 Lafon Rochet St Estephe
Single bottle price - $87.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1008.00 / $84.00
"Perhaps the finest Lafon Rochet ever made, the purity, freshness, and sweet, rich, blueberry and boysenberry fruit and hint of pen ink that are found in this opaque purple-colored wine are impressive. Massive in the mouth, with freshness, delineation, and sweet tannin, it is a major sleeper of the vintage that should last for 25+ years. (Tasted two times.)" 91-93 points Robert Parker

2009 le Bon-Pasteur Pomerol
Single bottle price - $132.00
Full Case/ per bottle - $1548.00 / $129.00
"it offers wonderful notes of caramel, mocha, black cherries, and black currants in a seamless, full-bodied, opulent style. It possesses a dense ruby/purple color, lots of glycerin, superb purity, and a textured, long, concentrated mouthfeel. As always, the brilliance of this team transcends its terroir in Pomerol." 92-94 points Robert Parker

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Burgundy 6-pack Offers

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We have two great 6-packs this week, both featuring the divine red wines of Burgundy. The first is a multiple vintage pack from producer Dugat-Py that features the 2004 and 2006 vintages of 3 different villages. The second is a village selection from Lucien le Moine which features wines from bourgogne to grand cru.

Domaine Dugat-Py
In the top echelon of the world's finest Pinot Noir producers along with The Domaine Leroy, Bernard Dugat makes the most vin de garde Pinot Noir in the world. It is truly a mistake to drink his Villages wines, on up through the Crus, before they have been in bottle five years after the vintage (the Bourgogne, maybe three). He and his charming wife, Jocelyne Py, thus Domaine Dugat-Py, work extremely hard in the vines (theirs are some of the most beautifully tended in all of Burgundy), cutting them back in order to lower yields and extract more from the soil. Bernard’s wines are so intense because they are so concentrated from the juice that goes into the wine. That Bernard is a genius in vinifying Pinot Noir doesn’t hurt either.

2004 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Vieilles Vignes' Shelf Price $199.00
“Reduction combines with serious, earthy and brooding dark berry fruit and underbrush aromas that lead to powerfully constructed flavors benefiting from ample mid-palate sève and excellent length. Super stuff at this level." 88-90 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Vieilles Vignes' Shelf Price $243.00
“An intense and dense nose of mostly red berry fruit aromas introduces rich, full and sweet flavors that possess excellent concentration and ample dry extract levels culminates in a textured and well-balanced finish. This is very Gevrey in character and should age very well.” 88-90 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2004 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Coeur du Roi' Shelf Price $330.00
“Cooler and more reserved red raspberry, earth, game and dried herb aromas merge into refined and extremely pure Gevrey earth-infused medium weight flavors that are big, powerful and exceptionally intense. This is fresh, explosive and long and there is a harmony of expression here that is especially attractive.” 89-92 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Coeur du Roi' Shelf Price $360.00
“Interestingly given its exposition, this is notably ripe with an expressive cool red berry and pungently earthy nose that slides into rich, full and distinctly serious middle weight flavors that offer an appealingly textured mouth feel on the velvety and slightly floral finish that is admirably persistent. This too delivers outstanding quality for its level.” 91 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2004 Pommard 'Vieilles Vignes' Shelf Price $380.00
“This had just finished its malo and the nose was very difficult to read as only glimpses of earthy red pinot fruit peeked through the reductive funk. In the mouth the flavors are classic Pommard with a big, powerful and robust palate impression underpinned by rounded tannins and a serious, indeed almost brooding finish that packs real punch. In particular, I like the vibrancy." 88-91 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Pommard 'Vieilles Vignes' Shelf Price $380.00
“A very different nose of leather, freshly turned earth and relatively high-toned dark pinot fruit that introduces rich, full and velvety medium weight plus flavors blessed with ample dry extract on the concentrated mid-palate that completely buffers the serious and long finish underpinned by a firm tannic spine. This is an impressive wine that displays no rusticity at all.” 89-92 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

Shelf Price for 6 Pack $1892.00 OFFER PRICE $1608.00!

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Maison Lucien le Moine
For those of you not yet familiar, Lucien Le Moine has simply been the hottest success story out of Burgundy of the last decade. The wines continue to receive rave reviews from every major critic vintage after vintage, and as a result are highly sought after by collectors and aficionados worldwide.
Mounir Saouma was a Lebanese monk, whose passion for wine was ignited during his studies at the abbey. He left the order, and along with his wife Rotem launched Lucien Le Moine in 1999 to produce micro-quantities from Burgundy’s finest terroirs. They produce a maximum of 100 barrels in all, only from the vaunted Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards of the Côte d’Or – only one or two barrels generally of each wine, resulting in a scant 25-50 cases of each bottling.

2006 Bourgogne Rouge Shelf Price $73.00
“Reduction combines with serious, earthy and brooding dark berry fruit and underbrush aromas that lead to powerfully constructed flavors benefiting from ample mid-palate sève and excellent length. Super stuff at this level." 88-90 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Pommard 'les Epenots' 1er Cru Shelf Price $180.00
“An appealing nose of red and blue pinot fruit laced with violet and rose petal notes leads to relatively concentrated and solidly complex flavors that possess a round and quite supple mid-palate supported by good underlying tension and fine length though there is a noticeable, if slight, finishing edge.” 87-89 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Nuits St. Georges 'les Vaucrains' 1er Cru Shelf Price $205.00
“More discreet if not invisible wood sets off aromas of dark berry fruit, earth and a distinct gaminess that is also reflected by the rich, full but supple flavors underpinned by dusty and firm tannins plus very good length. This is a "civilized" Vaucrains and not nearly as robust and formidable as in a more typical vintage.” 88-91 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Vosne-Romanee 'les Suchots' 1er Cru Shelf Price $224.00
“A very spicy, and very Vosne, nose is trimmed in discreet oak where a touch of crushed herb surfaces though it does not continue onto the rich, soft and quite forward medium full flavors that culminate in a firm and dusty finish. This is really quite seductive and is blessed with excellent length.” 90-92 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Chambolle-Musigny 'les Charmes' 1er Cru Shelf Price $362.00
“Well-integrated wood allows the subtly spiced red berry fruit nose to express itself clearly, which is followed by round, generous and relatively easy flavors supported by soft and round tannins, all wrapped in a balanced, intense and persistent finish. This is very Chambolle in style and character." 89-92 points Allen Meadows, Burghound

2006 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Shelf Price $381.00
“Wood smoke, incense, peat metal shavings, machine oil, and mincemeat combine for an aromatic wave that practically leaves me gasping. Broad shouldered, mouth-coating, but palpably tannic - resembling the Echezeaux that in this vintage tastes like its understudy.” 94 points David Schildknecht, eRobertParker

Shelf Price for 6 Pack $1425.00 OFFER PRICE $1211.00!

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Wine Bar News

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Europa Cellars is now bringing you some of the best local produce Victoria has to offer thanks to Central Victoria Providores. The deli is fully loaded with cheese, cured meats and accompaniments for you to take home and enjoy. We also have a terrific selection of gourmet panninis using the delightful new produce, but for all you loyal regulars, all the favourites still remain.

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 available between 12pm until 8pm, 7 days a week. Our new menu begins thursday;
Warm Mt Zero Olives $6.00
Pickled Vegetables $9.00
Soup with Crusty Bread $8.00
Terrine du Jour $12.00
Trio of Dips $12.00
Vegetarian Antipasto$16.00
Charcuterie Plate $20.00
Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli $18.00
Chicken Cacciatore $20.00

This month the tasting flight we will be looking at the wines from Greece.

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
ABN 78 102 566 781 License no. 32053562