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2006 Agricola Querciabella Chianti Classico Querciabella Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Tuscany, ITALY
RATING: 94 VALUE: CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2011 - 2012) ALC/VOL: 13.50% TASTED: 20 Oct 2008
A couple of decades ago, Australians were slowly becoming acquainted with basket Chianti and Spumante as inexpensive but lower-quality alternatives to French wines. The range and quality of Italian wines has since shifted away from bulk wine, yet many remain ignorant of the vast and diverse Italian vineyards that produce roughly twenty percent of the world's total yearly wine output. Why is this situation only just beginning to change?

The last three decades of creative ferment and serious commitment to quality have transformed the Italian wine scene - perhaps no more so than in Tuscany, where the famous serpentine countryside has made the Sangiovese grape famous. Sun drenched slopes at altitudes between 150m and 500m above sea level ensure consistent ripening while significant day / night (diurnal) temperature variations further contribute to the wine's quality. The Tuscan renaissance stems from the 1970's, when in an attempt to give more body, intensity and longevity to Tuscan red wines, non Italian grape varieties were introduced into traditional blends and small oak barrels, principally of French origin, were employed for their maturation (a radical break with the local practice of using large casks of East European oak).

Apart from marking a movement towards a more 'international' wine style, these innovations were also the vigneron's way of subverting the Italian appellation system, while proving that world class wines could be made using 'unofficial' varietals and techniques. The quality guarantee of these producers now resides in their dedication to excellence, rather than in a somewhat misguided appellation system which continues to bare the brunt of considerable criticism.

This is a top example of relatively full bodied Chianti.

Produced from a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep crimson mauve colour with crimson mauve hue. Very perfumed nose with aromas of black cherries and blackcurrant, followed by some spice, tobacco and leather end notes. Medium to full bodied with flavours of dark cherries, spice, blackcurrant and cedar, followed by some earthy undertones. Fine grained dryish tannins with long aftertaste of dark cherries, cedar, spice and leather.
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
13.5% Alc

Other Reviews….
Querciabella occupies a stupendous position in the hills of Greve. With one notable exception, this is another set of strong releases from an estate that in recent years has made some of the most beautiful wines in its history.

Gorgeous aromatics waft from the glass as the 2006 Chianti Classico Querciabella (95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) opens to reveal a super-elegant expression of fresh berries, flowers and tobacco. The plumpness of the fruit makes the wine very appealing today, but there is sufficient tannic clout to suggest at least medium-term aging potential. In recent years Quericabella’s Chianti Classico has established a new benchmark for finessed Chianti made in a contemporary style that nevertheless remains faithful to Sangiovese and the unique qualities of these sites.
Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021.
91 points
Antonio Galloni – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

 
Rec
Retail
A$41.68
Bottle Price 
A$37.99
Dozen Price  
A$444.00
 
 
2007 Allinda Cabernets Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
RATING: 94 VALUE: CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2013 - 2014) ALC/VOL: 13.50% TASTED: 2 Feb 2010
This elegantly styled Yarra Valley Cabernet has been made from a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Opaque dark red colour with dark red mauve hue. Aromas of violets, cedar, spice and mulberry along with a hint of cigar box. The palate delivers good weight and concentration whilst still being elegantly structured. Flavours of blackcurrant and spice are followed by cedar and cigar box. Excellent length with fine grained tannin structure and long aftertaste of blackcurrant and spice.
Cellar 3-4 years.
13.5% Alc

 
Rec
Retail
A$26.61
Bottle Price 
A$23.99
Dozen Price  
A$282.00
 
 
2008 Allinda Riesling Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
RATING: 96 VALUE: CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2012 - 2013) ALC/VOL: 12.50% TASTED: 29 Jul 2009
The Allinda winery was established in 1990, in the foothills of The Great Dividing Range at the northern end of the Yarra Valley by Al and Linda Fencaros. Al originally graduated from the university of Melbourne as an applied chemist. After a short period in the paint industry, Al decided the odours of paint, whilst often intoxicating, were rarely pleasurable. Naturally, he moved on to wine.

An outstanding Riesling!

Bright pale straw colour with pale straw hue. Exotic nose, filled with aromas of ripe mango, ripe mandarine, limes and orange. Superb palate, with flavours of lime, tropical fruit, lemon and spice. Quite mouthfilling. Clean acid finish. Long aftertaste of lime, mandarine and orange.
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
Alc/Vol: 12.5%

 
Rec
Retail
A$17.74
Bottle Price 
A$15.99
Dozen Price  
A$186.00
 
 
2005 Altos Del Cuadrado Jumilla Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Jumilla, SPAIN
RATING: 91 VALUE: CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2011 - 2012) ALC/VOL: 14.00% TASTED: 12 Apr 2008
This blend is composed of 85% Monastrell (also known as Mataro or Mouvedre), 10% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and was fermented in stainless steel tanks for 10 days followed by 4 months ageing in a combination of American and French oak. Deep black crimson colour with deep mauve crimson hue. Medium body. Top note of liquorice, followed by spice, vanilla and plum. On the palate flavours of cherry, spice and plum with liquorice in the background. Fine grained tannins, excellent balance but persistent into the aftertaste. Cherry and plum aftertaste.
Cellar 3-4 years (2011-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14%

 
Rec
Retail
A$
Bottle Price 
A$19.99
Dozen Price  
A$239.88
 
 
2007 Arboleda Carmenere Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Colchagua Valley, CHILE
RATING: 97 VALUE: CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2012 - 2013) ALC/VOL: 14.50% TASTED: 28 Jul 2009
The 'Global Financial Crisis' has not stopped people from enjoying wine, but it has made many people more price-sensitive. Reports from retailers, restauranteurs and industry analysts indicate that consumers are buying as much wine as they did a year ago, though they're spending much less. Naturally, the big beneficiaries are those that can offer outstanding wines at bargain prices. Chile is one of these.

The last five or six vintages have been very good, with many believing that the 2007 vintage reds will surpass the exceptional 2005 and 2003 vintages in quality. As challenging as this might make things for Australian and New Zealand producers, it presents an opportunity for Chilean wines to move up the scale in price and prestige and enter the middle segment of the market, at least so long as Chile's winemakers can resist the temptation to return to the 'bargain basement'. With land and labour costs still far below those of 'premier' regions like Bordeaux or the Barossa, Chilean winemakers have known for some time that if they can focus on quality, they can over-deliver at almost any price point.

The perception of Chile as a producer solely of inexpensive but pleasant, value for money wines has been difficult to shrug off. It was abruptly skewed with the release of Eduardo Chadwick's 'Sena' in 1995. Such truly great (and expensive AU$100+) offerings have now placed the country firmly in the company of the best wines in the world, despite having little track record in comparison to Europe's greatest estates. Now the vast gap between inexpensive 'quaffers' and 'icon' wines is gradually being filled, with the emergence of unique, engaging, mid-priced wines from Chile. While these wines may not be prestigious enough to woo collectors and high rollers, they will certainly appeal to bargain-hunters. Quite simply, for those desiring wines with more interest and complexity than the 'cheap and cheerfuls', you can now look to Chile for $20 wines that taste like $40.

The grape variety Carmenère [pronounced car-men-YEHR] offers a style of red unlike anything else in the world. It is the sixth member of the Cabernet Sauvignon family, and one of Chile's signature red varieties. Once common in Bordeaux, particularly in the Medoc (where it was known as 'Grande Vidure'), it is now rarely found in France; firstly because most plantings were wiped out in 1867 due to the vine disease, phylloxera. Secondly, because it is the last of the red grapes to ripen, and in Bordeaux often does not fully ripen, resulting in green flavours. This combined with its erratic tendency to develop a condition called 'coulure', (poor fruit set after flowering) and its resultant low yields have contributed to the demise of Carmenère throughout Europe.

Long thought to be Merlot vines, Chilean cuttings have thrived for 150 years. It was only in 1993 when the renowned viticulturist, Professor Jean-Michel Boursiquit of Ensa de Montpellier, carried out a detailed scientific survey that winegrowers realized the two similar vines had been growing together for more than a century. When Chilean winemakers witnessed the colour and taste of the pure Carmenère, they realized they had been ignoring a huge asset. Along side Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère now represents one of the country's signature varietals.

Last year we tested the waters with a trial shipment from Chadwick's Vina Sena (including Arboleda and Caliterra vineyards) based in Anconcagua. The shipment was an instant success, and introduced Australian wine lovers to what we described as Chile's New World vision of pre-phylloxera France.

Tasting Notes: A superb follow up to the 2006. Opaque black crimson colour with deep crimson mauve hue. Perfumed nose of violets, spice, fresh blackberry and cherry. The palate delivers excellent weight and mouthfeel. Flavours of dark cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and spice. Velvet tannins. Spicy back palate and aftertaste with black pepper emerging. A New World classic!
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%



 Click here to learn more about Chilean Wines.

 
Rec
Retail
A$
Bottle Price 
A$19.99
Dozen Price  
A$237.00
 
 
2008 Ashton Hills Vineyard Tardy Pinot Gris Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Ashton, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
RATING: 95 VALUE: CELLAR: 2 - 3 years (2011 - 2012) ALC/VOL: 14.00% TASTED: 18 Mar 2009
Clearly influenced by the wines of legendary Alsation vigneron, Zind Humbrecht, this is a stunning Pinot Gris offering superb weight and mouthfeel. Ashton Hills wine maker, Stephen George comments, 'In warmer years picking Pinot Gris late and leaving a residual grape sugar in the juice has long been a tradition in Alsace. There the style is known as ‘Vendage Tardive’ (late picked) and hence our cheeky use of the word 'Tardy'. The wine was fermented with its natural yeast in seasoned French oak barrels and then shifted to small stainless steel tanks where it fattened up and gained complexity on its lees [dead yeast cells]'.

Winelovers anticipating a repeat of the exceptional 2006 Winchelsea Pinot Gris from Geelong reviewed in August 2006, rest assured that this wine breaks the drought.

Deep pale gold colour with apricot tinge showing classic Zind Humbrecht style skin contact. Pronounced aroma of ripe pear, followed by nuances of lychee and tropical fruit. Excellent palate length and depth of flavour, full bodied, yet avoiding being coarse. Layers of ripe pear, lychee, citrus and tropical fruit. Very spicy back palate. Exceptionally long aftertaste that literally goes on for minutes. This kind of inspired quality only seems to come around every couple of years in Pinot Gris. Get in early!
Cellar 2-3 years (2011-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14%

 
Rec
Retail
A$31.93
Bottle Price 
A$27.99
Dozen Price  
A$330.00
 
 
2008 Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Marlborough, NEW ZEALAND
RATING: 94 VALUE: CELLAR: 1 - 2 years (2010 - 2011) ALC/VOL: 13.50% TASTED: 28 Apr 2009
This wine was awarded the trophy for “Champion Sauvignon Blanc” at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

An excellent example.

Bright pale straw colour with watery hue. The nose displays good intensity with aromas of ripe gooseberry, passionfruit and tropical fruit with some grassy citrus background notes. The palate has good weight and texture with flavours of ripe and unripe gooseberry along with tropical fruits followed by some citrus and mineral overtones on the back palate. Clean crisp finish with long grassy unripe gooseberry aftertaste.
Cellar 1-2 years (2010-2011)
Alc/Vol: 13.5%

 
Rec
Retail
A$24.83
Bottle Price 
A$19.99
Dozen Price  
A$237.00
 
 
2008 Ata Rangi Lismore Pinot Gris Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Martinborough, NEW ZEALAND
RATING: 97 VALUE: CELLAR: 1 - 2 years (2010 - 2011) ALC/VOL: 13.00% TASTED: 5 May 2009
The fruit for this wine is sourced from the Lismore Block which always achieves optimum flavours later in the season. As a result Ata Rangi pick relatively late in order to produce a rich, luscious (9g/l residual sugar) Alsatian styled Pinot Gris. 20% of the wine is fermented in 3 year old oak barrels to provide additional complexity and texture.

An outstanding example of the varietal.

Bright pale straw/golden colour with apricot tinge and watery hue. Exotic aromas of ripe pear, lychee and musk with some tropical fruit background notes. The palate is Alsatian inspired displaying tremendous richness with a mouthfilling creamy texture and flavours of ripe lychee, pear, tropical fruit and spice with a hint of honeycomb on the finish. Superb concentration of flavour. Clean crisp finish with long aftertaste of ripe pear, tropical fruit and spice.
Cellar 1-2 years (2010-2012)
Alc/Vol: 13.0%

 
Rec
Retail
A$45.23
Bottle Price 
A$37.99
Dozen Price  
A$444.00
 
 
2008 Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Martinborough, NEW ZEALAND
RATING: 96 VALUE: CELLAR: Drink Now - 1 years (2009 - 2010) ALC/VOL: 13.50% TASTED: 3 Feb 2009
Normally renown for their famed Pinot Noirs, Ata Rangi has produced a superb example of intensely flavoured Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, winemaker Helen Masters believes it's one of the finest produced to date due to a near perfect growing season.

An outstanding Sauvignon Blanc – certainly one of the best examples that we’ve seen from Martinborough.

Brilliant pale straw colour with watery hue. The nose displays strong aromatics with lifted notes of ripe gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus, with a hint of minerality. The palate reflects the nose displaying excellent concentration with mouthfilling flavours of ripe gooseberry, citrus, spice and tropical fruits with some underlying minerality. A small portion of the wine was barrel fermented (10%) in older barrels, which has provided the wine with additional complexity, mid palate weight and texture. Excellent intensity with long gooseberry, spice and lemon aftertaste. Clean crisp finish.
Drink over the next two years. (2009 - 2010)
Alc/Vol: 13.5%
Stelvin

 
Rec
Retail
A$32.81
Bottle Price 
A$26.99
Dozen Price  
A$318.00
 
 
2007 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon Seal Type Hot Item Sold Out
Coonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
RATING: 95 VALUE: CELLAR: 5 - 8 years (2014 - 2017) ALC/VOL: 14.50% TASTED: 15 Apr 2009
The Balnaves Coonawarra property has been in the same family for 3 generations, but it was not until 1975 that vines were planted, with the first wines produced under the Balnaves label being released in 1990. Today, the vineyard has grown to 58 hectares in size with production normally around the 10,000 case mark. Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the best suited variety to the Terra Rossa soils, accounts for 70% of total vineyard plantings. The rows are planted to a North-South orientation, thus ensuring 22% more sun light which results in perfectly ripe berries without the menacing herbaceous vegetal character that can be found in some cool climate Cabernets.

The 2007 vintage saw unprecedented frosts over Southern Australia with Coonawarra being particularly badly affected – it’s estimated that approximately 70% of the regions vineyards were burnt by the severe frost. Balnaves lost an estimated 90% of their crop, however, fortunately, their two best Cabernet Sauvignon blocks (from which this wine was produced), the Dead Morris and Quarry blocks were under sprinkler frost protection and not adversely affected.

From adversity Balnaves have produced an excellent Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Cabernet has spent 16 months in tight-grain French Oak casks sourced from a variety of coopers.
Opaque, black crimson mauve colour with black crimson hue, Showing excellent cling to the glass. Superb nose - Perfumed with violet top note followed by blackcurrant, dark chocolate and spice. The palate structure is relatively tight knit but fares well for bottle aging. Flavours of cedar, blackcurrant and cigar box over dark chocolate showing excellent varietal character. Fine grained tannins showing excellent balance. Very long aftertaste of cedar, dark chocolate and blackcurrant.
Cellar 5-8 years (2014-2017)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
Procork

 
Rec
Retail
A$40.80
Bottle Price 
A$29.99
Dozen Price  
A$359.88
 
 

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KEY TO SYMBOLS:  = Bottle is sealed using a Stelvin Screw Cap. = Bottle is sealed using a Zork closure.

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Nicks Wine Merchants (Doncaster) Pty Ltd  A.B.N. 19 826 635 151  A.C.N. 006 267 045
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