La Cantina - Red wine

Gabriel Liogier Vacqueyras Montpezat

Gabriel Liogier Vacqueyras Montpezat — Tue, 10 Aug 10 18:38:01 +1200

This lovely Rhone Valley red comes from Vaucluse to the south of Gigondas. The soils here are yellow and red clay, and stony. The grapes that do best here are Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. This is a vigorous and ‘chewy’ wine of purple hue. Well-structured and long on the palate, it has a rich nose bouquet reminiscent of violets and spices. Serve this little treasure at 16°C with roast lamb or grilled meat with heavy red sauces.

Undurraga Carmenere 2007

Undurraga Carmenere 2007 — Thu, 08 Jul 10 15:20:12 +1200

Chile’s signature grape, carmenère (sometimes spelled carménère or carmenere), is the “lost grape of Bordeaux.” Known also as “grand vidure,” it was originally one of the major grapes of the Médoc region. Even under the best of circumstances, it was a difficult grape to grow in Bordeaux, since it needed more heat to ripen than other Bordeaux grapes and, worse, it often caught coulure, a disease that caused the grapes to drop long before they were ripe for harvest. An 1870s plague of phylloxerae (vine-munching, aphid-like insects) that destroyed several million acres of European vineyards finished off carmenère for good. Or so everyone thought.

This wine is made with selected Carmenere grapes grown in Chile's Central Valley. It has an intense violet colour and displays exuburant fruit aromas and a dominant varietal character. On the palate, ripe tannins make it soft and round. It is perfect with pasta, white meats and mild cheese.

Undurraga Merlot 2007

Undurraga Merlot 2007 — Thu, 22 Jul 10 18:33:23 +1200

Undurraga is one of Chile’s oldest wineries. Five generations of the Undurraga family have proudly managed the winery maintaining tradition while successfully expanding the vineyards and modernizing the wine cellars. Their vineyards are in the Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley south of Santiago.

This is rich with plumy fruit and a hint of earthiness that gives Chilean wines their personality. A mouthful of smooth ripe tannins with cocoa flavours on the finish.

Mitolo G.A.M Shiraz 2006

Mitolo G.A.M Shiraz 2006 — Fri, 25 Jun 10 16:30:52 +1200

The grapes come from vines with an average age of 20 years old from the southern end of McLaren Vale. The soils, which are heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay, combined with a maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins.

Keeping well within the tradition of the G.A.M. style the nose displays masses of ripe plums, spicy aromatic herbs and lifted freshness. The palate is slightly tighter than the previous vintages, reflective of the slow and evening growing season. The '06 G.A.M. has provided one of Mitolo's most cellarworthy wines thus far. Will drink well for 8-10 years.

Tranquillity Bay Pinot Noir 2009

Tranquillity Bay Pinot Noir 2009 — Fri, 02 Jul 10 13:36:32 +1200

A lighter, fruity style Pinot Noir with a deep luscious cherry colour. Fine-grained velvety tannins and a long, spicy, forest floor finish. The nose is strawberries, boysenberries and blackberries with a hint of violets while the palate includes mouth-filling berry flavours with hints of savouriness, pepper, spice and truffles. Subtle oak tantalizes the nose and palate.

Chanarmuyo Estate Syrah 2006

Chanarmuyo Estate Syrah 2006 — Sat, 24 Jul 10 18:59:26 +1200

This is just outstanding. I've taken all of the NZ allocation of the 2006 vintage as I think this is THE red wine buy of the year and the only one you'll need for winter. Drinking beautifully now. You might think you were drinking a wine worth $50+ here. It was rated in the Top 10 Best Value Wines in Metro Magazine. Paul Tudor MW says... "If there is a classier, more concentrated sub-$20 red in New Zealand, I have not found it yet. Outstanding wine, a steal at this price."

Lots of complex flavour which reminded me of how a top end Aussie Shiraz used to taste but more complex and with more layers of flavours. I couldn't pass this up. As you work your way through the glass (and bottle) this opens up and gets better and better. Full on but elegant with rich black fruit flavours with chocolate and spice and black olives. Guaranteed Amazement.

Trentham Petit Verdot 2008

Trentham Petit Verdot 2008 — Thu, 03 Jun 10 19:41:25 +1200

Silver medal NZ International Wine Show 2009 and Silver medal NZ Top 100 2009.
This, a favourite for many of you has returned and the 2008 marks the fifth release of this wine. It has deep red purple colour with floral and berry aromas. These characters along with mocha and spice are present on the palate which is completed with supportive oak and a velvety tannin finish.

Kerr Farm P06 Kumeu Pinotage 2007 - New Vintage

Kerr Farm P06 Kumeu Pinotage 2007 - New Vintage — Thu, 05 Aug 10 16:51:16 +1200

This has been one of my favourites for a very long time. Very interesting flavours going on with this wine which is made from grapes from officially New Zealands oldest Pinotage vines, which are over 40 years old, influencing much of the complex flavours.

Bright in its ruby crimson colour, attractively scented, floral with hints of lavender and berry. Creamy oak fills the palate which is ripe, juicy and velvety textured with fruit intensity and oak complexity to the backbone. Well integrated acidity and a touch of Pinotage's signature rusticity to the finish together with a spicy flourish makes this a very good and utterly enjoyable red wine. Even better the next day. A real gem.

Hoppers Crossing Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008

Hoppers Crossing Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 — Thu, 15 Jul 10 11:55:41 +1200

You could easily pay well over $25 for a wine of this quality. Many of you think it's a great buy at $19.95. Now only $16.95 but for a limited time.

A bright cherry red wine with a pretty nose of strawberry and cherry and a touch of dried herbs. This is moderately bodied Pinot Noir, showing good definition of strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavours with some nice leathery complexity too. Oak has been used judiciously and is in delicious harmony with the structure and weight of the wine. The mid-palate shows a lovely creamy texture with ripe, soft tannins. Hard to beat.

Corazon Oratia Syrah 2007 4.5 Stars - Sam Kim

Corazon Oratia Syrah 2007 4.5 Stars - Sam Kim — Thu, 03 Jun 10 15:41:53 +1200

And it's only $17.95

An impressive Syrah by Shayne Cox from grapes grown in Oratia, West Auckland. It's deeply coloured and beautifully perfumed with black plum, cherry, spice and vanilla oak. The palate is well fruited and silky smooth showing nicely integrated acidity and supple tannins. It's sumptuous and satisfying with a lovely dry finish. Drinking well now through to 2013.

Terravin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008

Terravin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008 — Wed, 02 Jun 10 18:27:48 +1200

This rivals the best of Central Otago for the price. Aged for 11 months in French oak this is rich, velvety and powerful. Ripe, black cherry flavours with a savoury background that is drinking now but will reward cellaring for 3-5 years.

I tried a glass of this and left the rest in the bottle. Three days later it was just magic. Still going! Silky smooth and an array of flavours that just went on and on. Outstanding value.

Terravin Hillside Reserve Pinot Noir 2006

Terravin Hillside Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 — Wed, 19 May 10 18:57:11 +1200

You'll be surprised to hear, especially after actually tasting this Pinot Noir, that it is from Marlborough. I have been a long-time supporter of owner and winemaker Mike Eaton from Terravin and have always said this man's wines will be some of the most sought after from New Zealand. You hear wineries say their focus is on quality, to the point it's a bit of a cliché, but Mike must be the only winemaker in New Zealand not to produce a wine every vintage. Why? Followers of Terravin are now used to having only the best, highest quality wines available from New Zealand and are getting used to the fact that the next vintage will be better than the last - if that's possible. The whole Terravin range is fantastic, with the Reserve Hillside Pinot being an absolute stand-out.

Bob Campbell 97/100 Gourmet Traveller. "The merits of selecting the best fruit from a hillside vineyard are obvious in this intense, complex wine. The layers of dark fruit, spice and oak flavours and silken texture in combination are particularly seductive".

Robert Parker 93/100. "Ripe, sweet lifted nose of plum, wild strawberry and violets. The palate is full-bodied with pure ripe plum and raspberry fruit, very well balanced and elegant Supple and rounded towards the finish that lingers in the mouth. A little gem". This is great drinking now but will cellar to 2013 - 2015. Amazing buying.

Billyrock Station Limited Release Selection Shiraz 2006

Billyrock Station Limited Release Selection Shiraz 2006 — Fri, 14 May 10 14:46:47 +1200

There's never been such a demand for a Shiraz like the Billyrock.

Tell everyone you know it has returned. Run down the street in your pyjamas with the news if you have to, but please do not mention us if you are arrested.

Wine Spectator rated this 89/100 which is almost unheard of for any wine at $10.99. The Limited Release Selection wines are only made in years where the fruit is exceptional - and this wine is.

From South East Australia, this wine stuck out in a lineup of over 20 wines - most of the others were twice the price. Lots of fruit without being too heavy. A beautiful, seamless softness on the palate and a finish that lasts and lasts. You'll be back for more. I guarantee it.

Remarkable Wines Pinot Noir 2006

Remarkable Wines Pinot Noir 2006 — Sat, 06 Feb 10 19:01:04 +1300

The Best Pinot Noir in the World

This great wine was awarded the Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir Trophy at this year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition held in the United Kingdom. A classic Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir with seductive aromas and complex flavours of stonefruit and dried herbs that has been matured for 15 months in French oak barrels. Be quick. This will go fast. A truly remarkable wine!

Zema Estate Shiraz 2004

Zema Estate Shiraz 2004 — Tue, 01 Jun 10 18:17:51 +1200