2007 Hennings Heathcote Shiraz
Full Price $28.50 / Wine of the Week Price $25.50 / Dozen Unit Price $24.40

Henning Rathjen established a vineyard and winery in the 1860s on the rich Cambrian soil of the Colbianbbin range. Finlay and Darryl Rathjen have re-established the vineyard planted by their forebear and the advantages of the original site are evident in the quality of the shiraz it now produces. The cellar where Henning made his wine is a feature of the vineyard and is currently under restoration. (www.heathcotewinegrowers.com.au)

Tasting note: Dark purple colour. The nose shows deep black cherry, plum and spicy red fruit. The palate is full-bodied and rich, generously proportioned with seductive spice and serious black fruit. A great example of Heathcote Shiraz, and excellent value for money.

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Feathers & Fur Game Night!

For those of you who still don't know what this is all about: Europa Cellars, together with Sarti restaurant, plan to present you with an evening of excellent food and wine, concentrating on the classic match of Pinot Noir with game meats. Top Pinot Noir producers James Lance from Punch and Barney Flanders & David Chapman from Allies (see below for special offers on their wines) will be present on the night, and chef Riccardo Momesso has created a fantastic menu to be paired with the wines. After last week's newsletter, we've had many requests for the menu, and now, here it is: Feathers & Fur promise to be an incredibly delicious wintertime event - come along and join in the fun!

Sarti, 6 Russell Place, $140pp
27th August 2008, 7pm
Bookings essential

Vinea Marson, Heathcote

Vinea Marson may be fairly new on the scene, but owner-winemaker Mario Marson has years of valuable experience under his belt, most of which were acquired at top estates Mount Mary, Jasper Hill, and Italy's Isole e Olena. The Marson family bought the property in 1999, and the first wines were released in late 2005. Situated on the eastern slopes of the Mount Camel Range in Heathcote, Vinea Marson enjoys the warm climate, volcanic Cambrian soil and hilly terrain of the Range, and is ideally suited to the growing of Syrah and Viognier, as well as Italian varieties, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera. True to their Italian family traditions, the Marsons believe that the enjoyment of good food and fine wine is an integral part of life, and their wines are specifically made to compliment a range of flavours and foods.

2006 Vinea Marson Sangiovese / Shelf Price $40.00 / Offer Price $35.00
"Deep red garnet in colour, this wine has an inviting nose of concentrated raspberries, dark cherries and dried herbs with a touch of vanilla. The palate exhibits these fruit characters with great length, concentration and fine-grain tannins. This wine can be cellared for 5 to 10 years." (Winemaker's notes)

2005 Vinea Marson Syrah / Shelf Price $46.00 / Offer Price $40.25
95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier. These grape varieties were crushed and co-fermented. A bright ruby red, with spicy berry-fruit and subtle French oak characters on the nose. The palate shows raspberry and black cherry, as well as lovely spice and pepper, great length, viscosity and fine-grain tannins. This wine can be cellared for up to 10 years.

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Jamsheed, Victoria

Jamsheed wines, owned and made by Gary Mills, are carefully crafted from Shiraz and Gewürztraminer grapes sourced from various exciting sites within Victoria. These sites demonstrate the versatility and charm of these noble varieties. Gary took the name from an ancient Persian king, with a fantastic story about how one of the ladies in his harem tried to commit suicide by drinking from a jar of fermented grape juice, then believed to be poisonous. She did not die, but rather felt much, much better, and the very pleased king set out to make many more jars of the miraculous drink! We will be sure to have Gary's other Shirazes in-store very soon, but be quick to try the Great Western as stocks have dwindled far too quickly.

2006 Jamsheed Great Western Shiraz / Shelf Price $38.00 / Offer Price $33.50 (Very limited availability - first in, first served)
Made from shiraz vines planted in the 50s. "Immense blue/black colour and a dense sumptuous body, this wine is going to be a serious ager. I couldn’t believe how small the berries were, almost like puy lentils. This wine is a perfect showcase of what old vine age adds to a wine. Liquorice, black pepper and sweet blackberries dominate the nose. Salted liquorice on entry and then folds of brambled black fruits follow with silky mature tannins driving through the palate." (Winemaker's Notes)

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Punch, Yarra Valley

Another new venture that has established a loyal following in a very short period of time. Since January 2005, James and Claire Lance have been leasing Lance's Vineyard and Winery from David and Catherine Lance, and started their own label called Punch. "In the winery we do as little as is beneficial, endeavouring to minimise additions and wine movements, to keep oak in the background, to be sensitive to each parcel of fruit." says James and Claire Lance. This indeed is true: all vines are hand pruned, dressed and harvested, and wines are made without added yeast, fining or filtration.

2005 Punch Cabernet Sauvignon Lance's Vineyard, Yarra Valley / Shelf Price $45.00 / Offer Price $39.50 - limted stocks, 3 bottles per person
Grown entirely on the original 1976 planting of 0.4 hectares, in rocky clay with a steep north-facing aspect. Limited production of 33 dozen. "Excellent pinot varietal flavour from the first moment to the last; silky mouthfeel with flavours of satsuma plum and spice; long, lingering finish." Rating 97, James Halliday, 2008 Wine Companion

2005 Punch Pinot Noir Lance's Vineyard, Yarra Valley / Shelf Price $56.00 / Offer Price $49.00
Predominantly from the original 1976 vines, together with adjoining 1998 plantings, all with a steep northerly aspect. Limited production of 100 dozen. "A fragrant bouquet flows into the very pure cassis and blackcurrant fruit in the palate; perfect poise and ripeness." Rating 94, James Halliday, 2008 Wine Companion

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Curly Flat, Macedon Ranges

"How are we to judge wines like Curly Flat that come out of the blue, grab the attention of critics around the world, clean up at wine shows and sell out quickly at $30 and $40 dollars a bottle?" asks Chris Shanahan (Thought on Wine), before solving his problem with: "Slowly, sustainedly and over many bottles over many years is my answer".

Curly Flat is owned by Phillip and Jeni Moraghan. In the late eighties, and greatly inspired by the wines of Burdundy, the pair started searching for the perfect site to make their own Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They found what they wanted in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, the coolest climate vine growing region in mainland Australia. On the best sites, four clones of Chardonnay and five of Pinot Noir (as well as a tiny bit of Pinot Gris) were planted, and these today provide Phillip with a quality selection of raw materials from which he creates complex and highly focused wines. James Halliday gives Curly Flat a five star rating, which means it is an "outstanding winery capable of producing wines of the highest calibre". We agree.

2006 Williams Crossing Pinot Noir / Shelf Price $27.00 / Offer Price $23.50
Bright red colour. The nose offers vibrant red fruits, fresh juicy strawberry and cherry. The palate is succulent and lively, with plum and red cherry notes. Lovely long finish.

2005 Curly Flat Pinot Noir / Shelf Price $51.00 / Offer Price $44.50
Good deep red colour. An inviting nose of spicy red fruit, with foresty and savoury aromas prepares you for the complexity of this wine. The palate indeed delivers on that score, with layers of Pinot-fruit and savoury, meaty flavours intertwined. Good weight and structure complimented by a lovely fresh acid, and a long, though-provoking finish...

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Allies, Mornington Peninsula

"Allies is one of the most impressive new wineries of the 1000-plus such ventures I have encountered over the past five years." James Halliday, The Australian Feb 16th 2008.

Allies is a collaboration between Barney Flanders and David Chapman, both of whom originally started their careers in restaurants. The pair has a very clear idea of the style of wine they want to produce: "Our mission is to make affordable, high quality wines that reflect our taste in wine. We like wines that show intensity without being over-ripe. Our preference is for subtle, complex wines rather than those with strong mono-dimensional characters. We like the flavours and effect of oak but it must be in sympathy with the fruit intensity. We want our wines to have longevity and believe that they should appear reserved in their youth, as we have found that overly ripe, alcoholic wines, especially Pinot Noirs, rarely age well." All this is achieved by buying the best fruit (from specific clones and sites) from trusted suppliers, and meticulous attention to detail in the cellar. The result is truly beautiful wines.

2007 Allies Pinot Noir / Shelf Price $26.00 / Offer Price $22.75
"This wine was bottled in January and shows the youthfulness, vitality and reserve that we look for in our young wines." Allies Winemakers

2006 Garagiste Pinot Noir / Shelf Price $39.00 / Offer Price $34.00
The Garagiste label is reserved for outstanding vintages, yielding wines of the highest level of complexity and concentration.

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Sarsfield Estate, Gippsland

Sarsfield Estate is a small farm in the Lakes and Wilderness area of East Gippsland, in the South-eastern corner of Australia. Suzanne Rutschmann and Peter Albrecht migrated from Switzerland in 1989, and developed the farm, vineyard and winery. They now run a herd of grass-fed beef cattle and produce about 1000 cases of premium red wine annually. They use solar and wind energy and depend entirely on rainwater.

2006 Sarsfield Cabernets-Shiraz-Merlot / Shelf Price $22.50 / Offer Price $19.75
"Deep red colour, still showing some purple. Ripe dark fruits on the nose - blackberry, a little blackcurrant - with savoury notes from subtle, spicy oak and a hint of dried herbs. Full-bodied palate with concentrated flavour and plenty of weight, yet with fine dry tannins giving an impression of elegance. Very good length.The wine is developing quite slowly. It should gain complexity over at least another six years and could be very long-lived." Nick Bulleid, MW

2005 Sarsfield Pinot Noir / Shelf Price $26.00 / Offer Price $22.75
"Light to medium red, with a hint of purple. Fragrant nose with very attractive red cherry fruit and subtle oak. The palate is medium-bodied, with a plump mid-palate and plenty of red fruit flavour. It finishes with fine, soft tannins. This is a stylish Pinot noir with beautiful balance and poise. It will develop more complexity in bottle over at least three years." Nick Bulleid, MW

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Golden Ball, Beechworth

The Golden Ball is located in an area as rich in history as it once was in gold. Back in 1857 it became the first piece of Crown Land to be sold off by the government in the Everton parish. Today, owned and operated by Janine and James McLaurin, The Golden Ball produces excellent wines from their 5 acres of vineyard (Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a small portion of Grenache and Malbec). The vineyards are located on decomposed granite soils, which, together with low yields, give the wines an intensity of flavour and a true reflection of terroir. Everything at this boutique winery is focussed on quality, and this fact becomes 100% clear as soon as you taste these fine, handcrafted, value-for-money wines.

2005 Golden Ball Gallice / Shelf Price $47.50 / Offer Price $41.50
Entirely grown, vinified and bottled on the property, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Malbec. "The best of its line for sure. Lovely wine. Structured, distinctive, pencilly, flooded with blackcurrant and sheered with eucalypt. Classy drop. It will age like a charm. Sophisticated tannin structure. The goods." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

2005 Golden Ball Shiraz / Shelf Price $47.50 / Offer Price $41.50
"Very fine release - arguably the best shiraz yet from this vineyard. It's a beautifully ripened, spicy, interesting red, full of buoyant blackberried, boysenberried flavour, notes of licorice, cedarwood and eucalypt all adding positively to the wine's display. This is a soft, flavoursome, highly polished wine, its oak and fruit in perfect harmony." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

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