2003 Château des Tours, Côtes du Rhône
Shelf Price $46.00 / Offer Price $41.50 / Dozen Unit Price $39.00

Château des Tours is situated in the Vacqueyras and is the home of Emmanuel Reynaud of acclaimed Château Rayas (see Châteauneuf-du-Pape Offer below). Here Emmanuel makes stunning Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône and Vin du Table.

Tasting note: "The impressive 2003 Cotes du Rhone (60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, and 15% Syrah) exhibits a terrific floral, flamboyant bouquet of over-ripe black cherries, the aforementioned flowers, pepper, and a hint of resin. It is broad, round, rich in fruit, and silky and seductive. Drink it over the next 4-5 years." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

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Southern Rhône Offer, featuring Châteauneuf-du-Pape & Gigondas

Domaine de Marcoux
Sisters Sophie and Catherine Armenier year after year produce one of Châteauneuf's top wines, and continue to set standards with their fully biodynamic viticultural practises. This 2006 is rich and silky textured, and possesses an amazing refinement and purity that can be hard to find in this appellation. For those who love the depth, power and longevity of old vine, low yielding Châteauneuf, these are wines to put away in the cellar for special occasions in the future.

2006 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Shelf Price $127.50 / Offer Price $108.50
From bio-dynamically farmed vines with an average vine age of 80 years old (2 hectares are over 100 years of age). “The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape.. exhibits a dark ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of framboise, blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, roasted herbs, and hints of licorice as well as incense. Full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy with light to moderate tannin in the finish, it should drink well for 15 or more years.” 91-93 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate


Château Rayas
One of the greatest names in the Southern Rhone, Château Rayas is a revered estate, long assosiated with extraordinary and utterly mind-blowing wines. Since the passing of legendary proprietor and winemaker, Jacques Reynaud, in 1997, his nephew Emmanuel has been at the helm, and as attested by the scores and reviews below, the wines are as phenomenal as ever.

2004 Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Shelf Price $320.00 / Offer Price $275.00
"Medium red. Stunning floral and red berry aromas emphasize raspberry, strawberry and fresh lavender. Bright, focused and pure, with vibrant red fruit and mineral flavors given an exotic twist by a hint of dried apricot. The sweet finish leaves a strong floral pastille impression. The freshness and precision of this wine are really captivating." 94 points, Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

2005 Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Shelf Price $320.00 / Offer Price $275.00
"The 2005 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape, which looked strong last year, has put on considerable weight, perfume and complexity, and now looks to be the greatest Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape since the legendary 1995 that was made by the late Jacques Reynaud. Deep ruby in color to the rim, with an enthralling/compelling aromatic display of explosive quantities of kirsch, licorice, and balsam wood notes, this wine hits the palate with extraordinary fullness and richness, but even with such amazing intensity, has a delicacy and lightness of being that are almost impossible to fully appreciate. This is a stunner of awesome complexity, richness, and full-bodied power, but it’s built like a ballerina. Give it 3-5 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25 years." 97 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate


Santa Duc, Gigondas
(Pre-arrival Offer, wines arriving October 2008)

"This is arguably the best estate of Gigondas..." Robert Parker. Santa Duc's owner and winemaker is the dynamic and ambitious Yves Gras, a man who is familiar with producing wines of an immaculate standard. The secret here is old, low-yielding vines on poor soils: these grapes transform into wines that display wonderful depth and concentration, great complexity and a smooth texture derived from ripe tannins. Gras uses more Mourvèdre than most of his neighbours, and the "Prestige des Hautes Garrigues" demonstrates how good this grape really is, when allowed to ripen properly. Made from a selection of the best parcels of old vines on the poorest hillside vineyards, this flagship Gigondas easily outclasses all but the top Châteauneuf-du-Papes.

2005 Santa Duc Gigondas / Shelf Price $70.50 / Pre-arrival Price $59.95
"The 2005 Gigondas Tradition is slightly more austere, tannic, and dusty. It is concentrated, elegant, and very much in the Yves Gras style of winemaking, but it doesn’t have nearly the charm and finesse of the 2006. But as Gras says, 2005 gave the vignerons some of the highest acid levels they have ever seen. This wine needs 2-3 years of cellaring and should keep for 10-15."  90 Points Wine Advocate Issue 175

2005 Santa Duc Gigondas "Hautes Garrigues" / Shelf Price $109.00 / Pre-arrival Price $92.50
"The luxury cuvee is called Les Hautes Garrigues, named after the plateau of head-pruned old vines this comes from. A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah and Cinsault aged in barrique, this has been a fabulous wine. (The 1989 is just hitting full stride.) The 2005 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is a tougher hombre – bigger, more structured, denser, with an inky bluish/purple color, super cassis and cherry fruit along with licorice, earth, and a bit of pepper. It needs at least 5-6 years of bottle age and should keep for two decades as well." 93+ points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

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Marchese de'Frescobaldi

After a very interesting and truly enjoyable tasting with Lamberto Frescobaldi, we decided to share the joy and offer out these sensational Tuscan wines. The wines showed beautifully on the night, and the general feeling was one of great respect for the family behind these estates.

2006 Castello di Pomino Bianco / Shelf Price $34.00 / Offer Price $32.50 / Dozen unit price $30.50
A bright pale yellow colour. The nose has a lovely mineral quality, as well as aromas of grapefruit, fresh pear and subtle tropical fruit. Smoothly textured and impeccably balanced, the palate is alive yet restrained, with citrus fruit and white flower flavours. The finish is refreshing, and makes you want to take another sip... and another... and another...!

2006 Castiglioni Chianti DOC / Shelf Price $30.00 / Offer Price $28.50 / Dozen unit price $27.00
Ruby red colour. The nose offers delicious maraschino cherry, plum and blackberry notes, and is followed by a a soft, medium-bodied palate with an abundance of berry fruit. Uncomplicated and highly enjoyable - a fantastic buy at the price!

2004 Tenuta di Castiglioni Toscana IGT / Shelf Price $50.00 / Offer Price $47.50 / Dozen unit price $45.00
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Sangiovese. Sweet and ripe black berry fruit on the nose leads to an expressive and generous palate. Quite modern in style, with soft, approable tannins, good body and a flavourful finish.

2004 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina / Shelf Price $47.00 / Offer Price $44.75 / Dozen unit price $42.50
The Nipozzano is a step up from the Castiglioni, while remaining very affordable. Plum and redcurrants mix with the perfumed aroma of violets and sweet spice. A touch of oak adds complexity to the medium-bodied palate, and a handful of suave tannins nicely fills out the structure. Great balance and length.

2003 Montesodi Chianti Rufina / Shelf Price $120.00 / Offer Price $114.00 / Dozen unit price $108.00
(A single-vineyard cru) Mmmm... pure Chianti! Layers and layers of black cherry, liquorice, red currants, espresso and savoury underbrush. Elegant undertones of bitter chocolate and smoke carry through to the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with excellent concentration and weight, this is a bold yet highly refined and sleek wine. A thread of acid adds a refreshing touch to the long and elegant finish.

2003 CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG / Shelf Price $128.00 / Offer Price $121.50 / Dozen unit price $115.25
The celebrated CastelGiocondo Brunello shows aromas of mocha, black cherry and complex mixed herbs: sage, rosemary, thyme. A lively palate brings more fleshy black fruit, intertwined with herbaceous notes of compost, underbrush and spice. Elegant and supply body; the luscious finish leaves an aftertaste of fresh cherries and rich herbs - beautiful.

2003 Mormoreto Toscana IGT / Shelf Price $132.00 / Offer Price $125.50
The first of the 3 Super Tuscans we showed during the tasting: the Mormoreto is a single-vineyard cru from Castello di Nipozzano, with a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Deep red colour. Heady, rich aromas of black plum, cassis, coffee, cedar and leather. Firm tannins form the backbone of the excellent structure, and the palate has captivating bitter cocoa and black cherry flavours. Medium to full-bodied; a stunning, internationally styled wine.

2000 Lamaione Toscana IGT / Shelf Price $140.00 / Offer Price $133.00
100% Merlot, from the Castel Giocondo estate in Montalcino - a single vineyard planted in 1976.
Many tasters were blown away by this wine - a far cry from your average Merlot! Lots of dark fruit and voluptuous plum, with cherry confit, chocolate and herbs. Boldly full-bodied, with smooth and round tannins and dense flavours on the palate. Rich, velvety, concentrated, and best of all: drinking exceptionally well right now.

2003 Giramonte Toscana IGT / Shelf Price $170.00 / Offer price $161.50
The most powerful of the 3, the Giramonte is produced in very limited quantities and consists of 80% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese. Rich cassis, plush black berry, espresso and smoky tar rises from the glass, in a concentrated and complex fashion. The palate is weighty and ample, and filled to the brim with dark fruits, cocoa, liquorice and sweet spice. Supple tannins and a good acid component adds to the structure of this full-bodied and modern wine. An absolutely magnificent effort, the definitive Super Tuscan.

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Tour de France Offer - As featured daily on SBS

The race is now in its last week, and so is our tour of France's culinary and vinous delights. Watch SBS at 10pm every evening to see how the cyclists are doing, and which regional dish chef Gabriel Gaté has created for the stage, or take a look at the website (www.sbs.com.au/food/recipe/530/taste-le-tour) and download the recipes. On there you will also find sommelier Christian Maier's choice of wine (from Europa Cellars) to complement each dish, and to represent the region. We are offering you these wines at extra low Tour-de-France prices for the duration of the race - make sure not to miss out on these great bargains! Click here to view the food and wine featured in this year's Tour de France.