2003 Domaine Lafran-Veyrolles, Cuvée Tradition, Bandol
Shelf Price $55.00 / Offer Price $35.00 / Dozen Unit Price $19.95

Bandol is the most prominent appellation in Provence, and the terroir (warm, coastal climate with silicon-limestone soils) is ideal for the late-ripening Mourvèdre. Here the grape reaches a beautiful phenolic ripeness, unequalled anywhere else in the world. Domaine Lafran-Veyrolles is a small, traditional estate, run by the Jouve-Ferec family, that produces 3 outstanding wines from their 10 hectares of vineyard. Though their white and rosé are highly notable wines, our choice this week is the very fine red Cuvée Tradition, a blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Carignan. Exceptional value for money here.

Tasting note: Very pure, Mourvèdre nose of damson, cherry fruit, rich blackberry, and soft, woody spice. Intense and brooding, then opening up to reveal an impressive palate of ripe cassis, spice and liquorice, with a fine and balanced tannin-structure. Powerful and solid, ending in a long finish with fruit right to the end.

Food match: Try it with pork roast, braised lambshanks or an oxtail stew.

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Domaine Gerovassilliou, Greece
Pre-Arrival Offer: Available in Australia for the first time!

Towards the end of the 1960s, the phrase "Greek wine" by and large pointed to Retsina (the traditional resinated Greek wine). Today, however, the outlook is vastly different: The quality and variety emerging from Greece has forced the wine world to sit up and take note. And this is just the beginning; with new wineries cropping up almost daily, Greece is at the moment probably the world's most vibrantly evolving wine country.

One of the major players in this transformation to quality is Evangelos Gerovassiliou. While still working at Domaine Carras (alongside consultant Professor Emile Peynaud), Evangelos acquired his own property of about 40 hectares, situated just a few kilometres outside Thessaloniki in the hillside of Epanomi. The first vintage took place in 1986, and today Evangelos Gerovassiliou is esteemed to be one of the best winemakers in the country. His wines are testimony of his conscientious approach to the entire process: Meticulous vineyard practises, seamless blending of indigenous and international varietals, the use of many different clones and rootstocks and intelligent use of oak, to name just a few. All the wines are classified Vin de Pays D'Epanomi. Europa Cellars is proud to be the first in Australia to offer these incredible wines.

"I tasted these wines at a fabulous dinner with Evangelos Gerovassiliou, held at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at Claridge’s. Present were Evangelos, two of his colleagues from Greece, George Lemos (whose company, Vickbar, imports these wines into the UK) and three journos: Charles Metcalfe, Steven Spurrier and myself. Although I don’t like using the word ‘best’ when it comes to wine, Gerovassiliou is clearly one of the very best (if not the best) producers in Greece, and I’m not just saying this because I got a nice dinner out of them. The wines are really interesting." Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak

2007 White / Shelf Price $38.00 / Pre-arrival Price $32.50
A blend of Assyrtiko with the rare Malagousia, spending only two months in oak. Bright blonde colour with greenish tints. The nose offers lively and expressive aromas of pepper, aromatic herbs, lime and melon. On the palate it is at first delicate, evolving into a harmonious mix of richness and crisp lemon with great balance and weight. Exotic fruits abound and the finish is vivid and fresh.

2007 Malagousia / Shelf Price $39.00 / Pre-arrival Price $33.50
Bright golden colour. The nose is opulent and aromatic, displaying tones of pear, soft herbs, peaches-and-cream, and luscious vanilla spice. Smoothly textured and medium-bodied, the palate yields masses of mango, melon-fruit, exotic flowers and fresh pear, underlined by subtle smoky oak and a gentle herbiness - great depth of flavour. A long, seamless, citrus and melon finish rounds off this excellent value effort.

2004 Avaton / Shelf Price $69.00 / Pre-arrival Price $58.50
Produced from indigenous Greek varietals Mavroudi, Mavrotragano and Limnio, the latter (also mentioned by Aristotle) being the oldest attested Greek variety still planted. Maceration, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation are induced in Burgundian oak casks and the wine is matured for 20 months in new French oak barrels. The wine is a dark red, and shows wild cherry, red currants, spices and savoury cured meat aromas on the nose. The palate is concentrated and packed with flavour: wild red and dark berries intertwined with the brooding smoky meat-character, all beautifully accentuated by a tangy acidity. Very good structure and balance, and an elegant and long lasting aftertaste.

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Tour de France Offer - As featured daily on SBS

The race is now well on its way, 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.