| Home | Newsletter Archive | |||||
|
||||
| Europa Cellars Newsletter, 10 June 2008 |
||||
| (03) 9417 7220 | ||||
 |
|
| Feature Event - BASTILLE DAY Dinner Wine of the Week Special Offers: 2004 Angelo Gaja 2003 Barolo - Elio Altare & Rocche dei Manzoni Tasting Schedule New in Store |
|||
| Dear Wine aficionado, Please note that the offers contained herein may have expired. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information relating to these offers, or any of your fine wine needs. You may order or book your place by replying to this email, or alternatively download the order form now. Regards The Europa Cellars team David, Boon, Brian, Richard and Sam View this newsletter on-line NB All Prices are in Australian Dollars |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feature Event | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bastille Day Dinner, at Libertine |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wine of the Week | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2005 FORADORI Teroldego Rotaliano |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Offer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angelo Gaja Angelo Gaja, owner and president of the Gaja winery, is a fourth-generation Piedmontese winemaker. His wines are known for their elegance, opulence and true-to-origin characters. He is a pioneer and bold innovator, e.g. being one of the first Piedmontese winemakers to make use of 225l French oak barrels. His most profound initiative may be the production of single-vineyard wines in Piedmont, and these brought him international recognition as one of Italy’s and the world’s greatest winemakers. 2004 was a spectacular vintage in Piedmont. Though the peak summer months were nothing special, beautiful weather in September and most of October, with warm days and cool nights, allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, reaching full phenolic ripeness and sensational density of flavour. Wines from 2004 generally have the richness and ripeness of 2000, and the freshness, structure and acidity of 2001. In terms of quantity, 2004 was also quite big. Angelo Gaja explains: “Historically in Piedmont there has been an inverse relationship between quality and quantity. Great vintages like 1961 and 1989 were characterized by low yields,” he says. “2004 is one of those rare vintages like 1964 and 1990 where quality is high even though yields were generous as well. I think 2004 is a very elegant vintage. It is much easier to achieve opulence in the wines, but finesse is always much more elusive.” “Angelo Gaja and long-time oenologist Guido Rivella produced some of the most monumental wines of their long, storied partnership in 2004. Although I admire Gaja’s wines, especially for their consistency, I rarely find them this emotionally moving and utterly profound… The wines also seem less internationally-styled than in the past. Readers fortunate enough to possess the means to acquire these wines won’t want to miss them!” Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate 2004 Gaja Barbaresco / Shelf Price $300 / Offer Price $270 “There's an excellent balance of fruit and tannins, with vanilla, flowers and berries throughout, along with tar. Full and racy, with a long finish. It's all here. Best after 2010.” 95 points, James Suckling, Wine Spectator “Good medium-deep red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, truffle, flowers and earth, with a whiff of Burgundian funk. Silky and elegant, with a seamless texture to its red fruit and mineral flavors. Finishes long and suave, with fine-grained tannins. Lovely Barbaresco.” 92 points Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar 2004 Gaja Costa Russi / Shelf Price $799 / Offer Price $719 100% Nebbiolo. This vineyard lies a few steps from Sori Tildin (another of Gaja’s superb single vineyards). Purchased by the Gaja family in 1967, it derives its name from the term "costa", the side of the hill that faces the sun, and "Russi", the nickname of the former owner. “Medium red-ruby. Red cherry, raspberry, wild plum, truffle, underbrush, minerals and smoked meat on the nose; I might have picked this as Clos Vougeot. Thick but sappy, with a seamless texture and terrific concentration for the vintage. Lovely ripe acidity lifts the wine's flavors and gives it considerable early sexy appeal. Gaja notes that this fruit was picked on October 17, which was near the end of his harvest in 2004.” 94pts Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar “The 2004 Costa Russi is irresistibly sexy and opulent. As is typically the case, the wine is more overtly fruit-driven, with a round, supple personality. Sweet, long and richly-textured, it is just plain awesome in its display of generous, vibrant fruit, tar, smoke, minerals and herbs. It is the finest Costa Russi yet. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2024.” 95 points Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate Order Form |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 Barolo Offer - featuring Elio Altare & Rocche dei Manzoni Leading producers, fantastic discounts! As once again confirmed by the Gaja wines (see above), Nebbiolo is the undisputed megastar of Northern Italy, and worldwide regarded as one of the greatest of the noble red grape varieties. The grape produces in mature Barolo and Barbaresco a connoisseur's wine of deep, dark sensuality and an almost intellectual complexity. Planted elsewhere, the vine doesn't come close to producing the same fruit it does in Alba. Barolo and Barbaresco express not just Nebbiolo, but Nebbiolo from Alba, a terroir, a microclimate, an ecology not duplicated anywhere else. Elio Altare Elio Altare is an inspirational figure of a generation of winemakers who put fruit and fragrance into Barolo in the1980s. One of the firsts to contest (and prove the opposite to be true) to the traditional wisdom aknowledging that the longer a wine is soaked on the skins, the better it must be. The racy elegance of his Arborina is one of the benchmark definitions of the terroir of La Morra. In the difficult and hot year that was 2003, Altare's Barolos are testament of his superiority over most of his peers. Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate) states of the 2003 vintage: "Elio Altare’s wines represent the finest of the artisanal tradition, so it can hardly be surprising that he has once again produced some of the vintage’s most compelling Barolos." Yet Elio remains a humble and self-deprecating man, and he philosophically perceives that "50% of what makes a wine great is luck"... Mmm, some luck! “This is my 40th harvest, yet each vintage has a unique story to tell, which is what makes wine so fascinating. In 2003 we did four Nebbiolo harvests from the 7th to the 28th of September. The earlier harvests gave us some freshness while the later harvests provided more richness and body." Elio Altare 2003 Elio Altare Barolo La Morra / Shelf Price $196 / Offer Price $147 "Altare’s 2003 Barolo reveals an elegant, yet firm personality in its expression of super-ripe red fruits, spices and menthol. It offers lovely depth and precision at this level, even if it understandably lacks some freshness. Still, it is a wine with an enviable track record and should drink well for another decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018." 90pts Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate 2003 Elio Altare Barolo Arborina / Shelf Price $266 / Offer Price $199 "The 2003 Barolo Arborina presents a livelier color than the normale, along with gorgeous red fruit, menthol and spice overtones that carry through to the finish. This elegant, refined Barolo offers superb balance in a style that captures the essence of the vintage in its additional weightiness, but without compromising the integrity of the vineyard Altare has single-handedly made among the most recognized in Barolo. It is one of the highlights of the vintage, but will require a few years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021." 93pts Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate "Aromas of raspberry jam and porcini follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Rich and structured. One of the masters of Barolo, even in a hot year such as 2003. Best after 2010. 550 cases made." 92pts James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2003 Elio Altare Barolo Brunate / Shelf Price $310 / Offer Price $233 "Elio Altare has produced another gem in his 2003 Barolo Brunate. It is a contemplative, meditative wine that possesses an enviable amount of clarity and precision in a vintage where those qualities were very hard to come by. Black cherries and the darker balsamic menthol and eucalyptus notes for which Brunate is so famous all emerge from the wine’s weighty frame in a stunning display of purity, elegance and power. While the 2003 may not be the best vintage of this wine, it amply demonstrates why Elio Altare is in a class with few peers. I consider Altare’s Barolo Brunate one of Italy’s greatest wines. It is one of the few Barolos that is a must-purchase in every vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021." 94pts Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate Rocche dei Manzoni Another producer that made a spectacular 2003 is Rodolfo Migliorini of Rocche dei Manzoni. The estate's Barolos are impeccably made: generous, layered and polished examples of modern Barolo. 100% new French oak aging is the norm, and the wines typically require some bottle age to absorb their oak component. Important to note: Migliorini is one of the few producers who decided not to bottle his single-vineyard selections in 2003, opting instead for a blend, which has turned out to be one of the highlights of the vintage. . 2003 Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Rocche / Shelf Price $158 / Offer Price $119 "The 2003 Barolo Rocche is made from a combination of the estate’s vineyards, and is the only Barolo Rocche dei Manzoni will release in this vintage. It is a stunning, opulent wine, with layers of ripe dark fruit that flow from the glass with notable depth and luxuriousness. It possesses outstanding balance and is one of the highlights of the vintage. Rocche dei Manzoni remains less well known than it deserves to be, so this Barolo will likely fly under the radar. Discerning consumers, though, will want to give it careful consideration. Anticipated maturity: 2011- 2028." 94pts Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tastings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Papes Tonight 10th June 5-7:30pm, In-store, $45pp The buzz around the extraordinary 2005 vintage will continue for decades to come, and rightly so: These top Southern Rhône wines display so much elegance, power and balance that it is very hard not to get intensly excited about them. We will be showing wines from some of Châteauneuf's foremost producers, including Pegau, Charvin, Vieux Telegraphe, Clos St Jean and Mont-Redon. And, we have decided to throw in a couple more wines, so with 10 exceptional CNDPs to taste, you will be getting more than your money's worth! Booked Out Southwest France Tuesday 17th June 5-7:30pm, In-store, Free Situated just below Bordeaux, France's Southwest is no longer a wine region tucked away in obscurity. The quality of wine (and value for money) emerging out of appellations like Cahors, Madiran and Juraçon affirm that these wines are worth a special search of the market place. Well, we have done the searching for you, all you have to do is come and taste it yourself! Super-premium Shiraz Tuesday 24th June 5-7:30pm, In-store, $35pp We will compare top Aussie Shiraz (including Torbreck The Factor, La Pleiade and Clonakilla) to those of the Northern Rhône (Clape Cornas, Cuilleron St Joseph Les Serines, etc.). Also thrown into the mix will be a Shiraz from Italy's Fontodi and one of South Africa's very best examples, Boekenhoutskloof Syrah. Experiencing the effect of differences in terroir, climate, wine-making styles, etc. on a single grape variety is always fascinating - this one is certainly not to be missed! Booking essential - Limited availability Zind-Humbrecht Sweet Wines, Alsace, served with Patés Tuesday 8th July 5-7:30pm, In-store, $45pp In 1988 Olivier Humbrecht became the first Frenchman to pass both parts of the notoriously difficult British Master of Wine examination, and this while writing in a foreign language. But while his intellect is astounding, it is his wines that serve to impress even more: Sweet, rich and voluptuous, mineral and fresh, alluring to the point of surrender. A winemaker of Olivier's stature can make most anything happen in the cellar, yet he chooses to step back and let his vineyards and raw materials do the work for him, thus resulting in terroir-true and beautifully characteristic Alsatian wines. To show these amazing wines at their best we will be serving them with a selection of delicious patés; the fragrance, sweetness and firm acid thread of the wines will perfectly complement the richness and flavour of the paté... This tasting holds the promise of an unforgettable sensory experience. Booking essential - Limited availability |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New in-store | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 subsrcibed 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 |
|||