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Mirafiore Barbera d’Alba 2007
05/11/10
NZD $29.95 NZD $19.95
Out of Stock
One of Piedmonte’s classical wines and grape varieties, one that has undergone a complete revolution in the last 10-15 years. Modern Barbera is soft and plumy with hints of violets and spring flowers almost like fresh alpine air. Beautiful juicy middle palate with an array of blackberry fruit compote, accelerated acidity, richness and concentration however never as long lived as their big brothers Barbaresco or Barolo but more approachable when young, the very serious ones also capable of aging for a few years. Very simply put, at this price of $19.95, it is an ABSOLUTE steal.
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Mirafiore Barolo 2004
04/21/10
NZD $89.95 NZD $44.95
Out of Stock
A superbly concentrated wine with hints of violets, spring flowers and crystal water purity, focus, precision and pin point accuracy could probably best describe Barolo. Longevility is a key ingredient of Barolo and this is no exception. Crushed rocks, lead pencil and dusty aromas lead to a superbly vibrant minerally middle palate with great precision and long finish, persistent and concentrated yet everything is encompassed with balance, equilibrium and superb texture. Interesting to try a bottle now but better in 10 years plus.
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Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi 2005
08/08/08
NZD $594.95
"The 2005 Costa Russi shimmers on the palate with extraordinary grace. The wine boasts wonderful depth and richness in its dark red fruit in a round, generous style that offers lovely balance to the tannins. Notes of tar, smoke and licorice develop in the glass, adding a touch of complexity and nuance that is sometimes missing in this bottling. The French oak is present, but deftly balanced with the wine’s other components. As always, Costa Russi comes across as relatively accessible when young, but it is sure to only improve with age. Recent bottles of the 1985 have been nothing short of glorious. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. 96/100" --Robert Parker
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Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo "Sori Tildin" 2005
08/08/08
NZD $594.95
"The 2005 Sori Tildin appears to be incredibly primary and youthful. Floral aromatics meld seamlessly into freshly cut roses, raspberries, licorice, tar and menthol. This graceful, feminine wine reveals tons of elegance and finesse in an understated style. Today the Sori Tildin shows a touch more oak than the other single-vineyard wines, which suggests it may not quite have the stuffing of the very finest vintages. Still, this remains a vibrant and very Piedmontese wine in need of only one thing, and that is a long slumber in the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035. 95/100" --Robert Parker
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Terriero Rosso del Salento 2007
06/01/10
NZD $23.95 NZD $13.95
Also from the hill of the boot of Italy, Puglia but a blend of the two classical grape varieties of this region, Negroamaro and Primitivo. Again showing wonderful structure and an abundance of ripe berry fruit with very soft tannins. Savoury with a hint of spice and game. Beautifully rounded with ample middle palate and lovely concentration. Again perfect with game, strong cheeses or red meats.
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Terriero Negroamaro 2007
06/01/10
NZD $23.95 NZD $13.95
Out of Stock
Don’t know how these people do it but they certainly do. This is from Puglia, the heel of Italy right in the very south. In the tradition of Negroamaro, it is soft, juicy and velvety with masses of dark berry fruit yet with soft velvety tannins, distinctive and very expressive of its variety. Blueberries, cassis and spiciness with gentle tannins and medium to full bodied. The perfect combination for pasta, meat or strong cheeses.
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Menhir Teo D'Oro Negroamaro-Aglianico 2004
10/01/09
NZD $22.95 NZD $19.95
Another example of what how far Southern Italy has come over the last 10-15 years. This is a blend of Negroamaro and Aglianico both native varieties of Puglia in Southern Italy. 2004 vintage was one of the best in the last 25 years, this is a seriously good wine at a seriously low price. It offers immense concentration and power with ripe, soft and subtle tannins. For a wine at $20 it really does not come any better. Very drinkable now however it will also cellar for another 4-5 years. This is really a meat lovers wine to have with red meats, game, aged cheese etc. Try it, you wont regret it.
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Menhir Novementi Bianco Salento 2006
01/21/09
NZD $17.95 NZD $16.95
Out of Stock
A small portion of Verdeca (an ancient Pulianese white grape variety) has been blended with the Chardonnay to create an incredible white wine experience. It displays a rush of honey, pear drop, guava, passionfruit and banana notes oozing from the glass. On the palate, sweet tangerine, feijoa and crushed pineapple mingle between layers of fine cinnamon spice. It’s Chardonnay with exotic expression, delicious fruit weight and a sensationally refreshing edge that will have it at the top of your summer white wine choices once you’ve tasted it and got the bug.
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La Mura Grillo 2007
11/26/09
NZD $16.95 NZD $9.95
You will not identify Sicily with the production of top white wines or indeed any wine 10-15 years ago. However over the last 15 years or so the island has undergone a complete revolution both in white and red wines. This is Grillo, the native grape variety that has been cultivated since ancient times. In the old days it used to be an indifferent white wine that you would drink throughout summer. But now it is a different animal. With better winemaking techniques, it is one of the most exciting white grape varieties in the world! It can produce fresh, flinty, crisp white wines but also can produce serious white wines for aging. This is the former version, young, floral with hints of citrus and tropical fruits but very balanced with emphasis on texture, concentration and depth, no oak, there is no need for it. For summer with shellfish or fish, you wont get any better!
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Duca di Castelmonte Fiorile Rosso 2007
08/08/08
NZD $18.95
Out of Stock
The Southern Italian areas of Sicily, Pulgia, Calabria have been producing wines since Roman times. It is no surprise that in recent years they have been creating a huge interest worldwide, you will hear about these areas a lot in the forthcoming years. This wine is from Sicily and is made from Nerello Mascalese and Sangiovese. Aged for 1 year in stainless steel and a further 6 months in oak expresses ripe dry fruits on the nose with hints of spice and raisins. The palate is rich and generous with soft tannins, clean acidity, concentrated and focused also showing hints of Christmas pudding, tar and saw dust. Drinking very well now though it will cellar for another 2-3 years. Ideal with roasted and BBQ meats. At this price it is an absolute bargain as it will give a lot of local wines, at twice to three times the price, a run for their money.
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Garofoli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2009
03/31/11
NZD $21.95 NZD $19.95
Verdicchio had a great comeback over the last 15-20 years, situated in Marche, central east of Italy and has also been known for producing a crisp, flinty and mineral wine that is excellent with shellfish, fish and white meats. The modern versions are mostly tank fermented with no oak or over elaborate winemaking but yet displaying excellent concentration, depth and freshness. Try with fish, shellfish or pastas.
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Tommasi Soave Classico 2003
08/08/08
NZD $24.95 NZD $22.95
Northern Italy apart from producing such classics as Amarone, Barolo, Barbaresco etc, the white wines have always lived in the shadows of the red superstars. The Soave is a well known appellation which has produced superb white wines for many years. This wine is made of Garganega (90%) and Trebbiano Veronese (10%) with lees contact for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. The colour is straw yellow with a bouquet of flower, delicate pear and citrus aromas. On the palate it is full bodied with depth, structure and a good degree of purity, it also shows roasted almonds, dry herbs and ripe figs. Excellent with fish, anti-pasto or veal. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years.
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Tommasi "Le Volpare" Soave Classico 2008
08/08/08
NZD $29.95 NZD $26.95
Northern Italy apart from producing such classics as Amarone, Barolo, Barbaresco etc, the white wines have always lived in the shadows of the red superstars. The Soave is a well known appellation which has produced superb white wines for many years. This wine is made of Garganega (90%) and Trebbiano Veronese (10%) with lees contact for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. The colour is straw yellow with a bouquet of flower, delicate pear and citrus aromas. On the palate it is full bodied with depth, structure and a good degree of purity, it also shows roasted almonds, dry herbs and ripe figs. Excellent with fish, anti-pasto or veal. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years.
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Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2008
06/01/11
NZD $84.95 NZD $74.95
"Tenuta San Guido’s 2008 Guidalberto is a very pretty wine laced with mineral-infused dark fruit. This is a decidedly smaller scaled, lithe Guidalberto that impresses for its overall balance and finesse. The structure of the 2006 and the exuberance of the 2007 are missing, but the 2008 offers superb drinkability and pleasure today and over the next few years. Dried flowers, licorice and new leather add the final nuances of complexity on the finish. The 2008 Guidalberto is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Most of the fruit comes from vineyards that are separate from those used for Sassicaia, although Guidalberto always includes some barrels that don’t make it into the top wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015." -- Robert Parker 90/100
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Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2004
06/01/11
NZD $229.95 NZD $214.95
"The 2004 Sassicaia is a lovely, understated effort. Medium in body, it presents nuanced layers of sweet dark fruit, licorice, menthol and toasted oak that gradually open onto a finely-knit frame of notable length. Today it appears to be quite reticent and still holding back much of its potential. Both bottles I sampled showed less vibrancy and freshness in both color and flavors than the other top 2004s I tasted alongside it, suggesting that the wine is still suffering from bottle shock. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022." -- Robert Parker 93/100
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Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2006
07/02/09
NZD $219.95
This is the original Super Tuscan that challenged conventional winemaking and tradition in Tuscany. Since its beginning in 1968, its reputation has spread worldwide, of course we are talking about a wine which rivals any top Bordeaux and we are talking about 1st growths such as Chateau Lafite, Latour, Margaux etc. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the main Bordeaux varieties, the 2006 vintage is one of the best in the last 25 years. The consistency, quality and reputation of Sassicaia rivals any of the best wines in the world, you would easily pay 3/4 times the price for many classified growths from Bordeaux and I’m not just referring to first Growths but also top St. Emilion, Graves and Pomerol. Take advantage of our very special indent price, put it in the cellar for 8/10 years and compare it to a Lafite, Margaux, Mouton etc and see what you think.
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Gaja Conteisa 2004
12/03/08
NZD $389.95
"The 2004 Langhe Conteisa, from vineyards in La Morra, is especially dark-toned and rich in this vintage. Made in an uncharacteristically weighty, opulent style for this wine, it reveals plenty of ripe dark fruit, spices, new leather, licorice and tar. With air it gradually turns more feminine and delicate, yet it remains a gorgeous, sumptuous wine of outstanding pedigree." - 94 points, Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate # 174
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De Canal Pinot Grigio 2010
11/26/09
NZD $17.95 NZD $16.95
Out of Stock
Pinot Grigio has been a remarkable success for the northern areas of Italy, it is not a style in the French Alsace version but rather very unique Italian. They can vary from regional style to single vineyard and riservas. This is not a riserva however it is incredible to find a wine of this sort of quality especially at the price. We were a little concerned about the actual price and we tried it 3 times just to make sure. Crisp, flinty and incredibly fresh, slightly oily with a touch of fig and pear. Beautiful acidity, lovely middle palate, you could imagine yourself drinking some of this during summer with some fish or an anti-pasto. It has to be said at $16.95 it might sound unreal but this is the real deal, it’s quite superb!
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Mezza Corona Pinot Grigio Riserva 2009
08/08/08
NZD $26.95 NZD $24.95
Our new arrival of our most popular Pinot Grigio, we have literally sold 100s of cases and once you try it is quite easy to understand why. The north east of Italy where this particular Pinot Grigio is from produces some outstanding cool climate white wines. It is crisp, light and delicate, slightly oily with hints of Turkish delight, pine nuts and some lovely acidity. If you are tired of semi-sweet heavy Pinot Gris, this is for you, refreshing, flinty and mineral, excellent with food or without and drinking well now or over the next couple of years.
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Monte Forte Pinot Grigio/Chardonnay 2005
08/08/08
NZD $19.95
Out of Stock
One of the great classic blends in Italy, made from a majority of Pinot Grigio and a little Chardonnay from a superb vintage such as 2005. This particular area has been very well known for many years for producing outstanding Soave, Pinot Grigio etc. It's dry and crisp with a bouquet of pine nuts, dry herbs and ripe pear but yet still remaining fresh, clean, fruity and aromatic. Medium to full bodied, it's a wine that will develop well for the next couple of years but is outstanding at the moment with fish, white meats etc.
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Carpene Malvolti Rosé Brut
08/08/08
NZD $39.95 NZD $34.95
From the region of Veneto, northern Italy, Carpene Malvolti has been producing sparkling wine since 1860, one of the longest histories in the production of sparkling wine. This is made from Pinot Nero and Raboso. The blend of these two varieties along with a slow fermentation in pressurised tanks has produced an intensely perfumed and floral wine. Wonderful refined bubbles with a delicate bouquet yet full rounded flavour, bright pink in colour with crimson highlights, very refreshing, vibrant and fresh.
