B O C C A C C I O   C E L L A R S

F I N E   W I N E   M E R C H A N T S   S I N C E  1 9 6 3

 

 

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Balwyn 3103
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www.boccaccio.com.au

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UNLABELLED BAROSSA VALLEY 'THE ANCIENT ONE' SHIRAZ 2008

 ONLY 500 DOZEN MADE - $10.00 A BOTTLE

'CLOSE TO THE BEST UNLABELLED WINE

WE HAVE SOLD IN 50 YEARS'

Boccaccio e-newsletter 11th August

Hi everyone,

Cheers, and enjoy this week's e-newsletter,

Anthony D''Anna

Boccaccio Cellars

Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/anthonydanna


THIS WEEKS FEATURE RELEASE:

Unlabelled Barossa Valley ''The Ancient One'' Shiraz 2008 

This old vine Barossa Valley Shiraz sourced from a sixty year old dry grown vineyard in the Ebenezzer sub-region of the Barossa Valley. Normally destined for a boutique label that sells for $50 plus a bottle (and has earned rave reviews world wide) this wine is the result of a cancelled export order and we have been lucky enough to grab the resultant stocks.

Awesome wine, black as night, fresh as a daisy and so beautifully balanced. If you enjoy top line Barossa Shiraz then you will love this wine. Big and rich, with heaps of voluptious dark fruits and enourmous depth of fruit. Absolutely amazing wine. This is one of the best Unlabelled wines we have sold in close to 50 years.

UNLABELLED BAROSSA VALLEY 'THE ANCIENT ONE' SHIRAZ 2008 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $10.00 A BOTTLE.


OTHER WINES ON OFFER:

96 POINTS AND UNDER $20 A BOTTLE.

Bannockburn Vineyards Bruce Cabernet Merlot Shiraz 2006 

A distinctly elegant wine, with fine tannins supporting a mouthwatering array of predominantly red fruits. Very clever winemaking has produced an excellent result. Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Shiraz. Cork. 14% alc. Rating 96 Drink 2016 $25 Date Tasted Jul 09 James Halliday

BANNOCKBURN VINEYARDS BRUCE CABERNET MERLOT SHIRAZ 2006 (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $19.99 A BOTTLE.

THE BEST WYNNS' BLACK LABEL IN YEARS

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 

South Australia''s Coonawarra is one of the classic Cabernet-producing regions of Australia, once described as the ''Medoc of the Southern Hemisphere'' and, truly, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon can be disarmingly like Bordeaux when young. Recently Coonawarra has experienced four outstanding or above average vintages in a row - 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. This gift of nature has given the ammunition this region needs to bring back focus to its wonderful Cabernets. Andrew Calliard MW

WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $23.99 A BOTTLE.

GREAT VALUE EDEN VALLEY CAB SAUV

Elderton Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 

Blackcurrant and red berries with low level nutty oak and mint. What's lovely about this wine though, is the juicy freshness and balance it has – invigorating almost. Has length and drinkablity and may well age handsomely too. Dynamite for the price. Drink : 2011 - 2017 Rated : 92 Points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

The wine is made in the Elderton style of being big, soft, rich and juicy. The fruit is sourced from friends'' vineyards in the Barossa, other than the Elderton Estate. It has developed further complexity from 8 months maturation in American Oak puncheons.

It has always been our intention to grow our production and business but we feel we would be compromising the uniqueness of our current estate wines by bulking up their quantities, thus have developed this new wine together with the Friends Cabernet Sauvignon to fill out the range. It has taken many years to find and develop relationships with many small growers in the Barossa, but now we can truly say that these new wines are sourced from our friend''s vineyards.

ELDERTON EDEN VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $17.99 A BOTTLE

ANOTHER FINE 2007 VINTAGE PORT

FROM PORTO

Niepoort Vintage Port 2007 750ml 

96-98+) out of 100... I often find that this decade''s Niepoort Vintage Ports aligns very closely with what I enjoy most stylistically in a VP; nonetheless, with 49 foil wrapped bottles before me, I had no idea which was which. From the first sip and until bottle #39 was near empty, (not to mention a 2nd bottle hand carried back to the USA) everything about it appealed to my senses. The nose was crammed with dark berry fruits and earthy notes from smoky cedar and tobacco, to spicy white pepper, cinnamon stick and an herbal, pine resin undertone. Like great Madeira, each whiff presented its own melange of new scents. Fantastic as it was, I preferred the intricacy of the fresh and driven palate presence. Like the Portmaker himself, the 2007 Niepoort possesses many layers of character. This Port leads a procession of incongruent qualities: massive density and concentration of fruit yet sensual freshness on the palate and great harmony overall. Insanely tannic and grippy, yet voluptuous velvet textural pleasure in the mouth along with easy approachability. One of the most profound and longest finishes of any bottle I tasted during a week in Portugal, with 40-60 years of cellar worthiness ahead of it, yet I''d open a bottle to share with friends during or after dinner tonight. It''s all there in a hedonistic brew, harmonious and complex." - Roy Hersh, For the Love of Port

"(93-96) out of 100...Wonderful aromas of violet, blackberry and citrus fruits. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with layers of ripe, polished tannins. Very very long. Goes on and on. Very layered and well-crafted." - WS

"93 out of 100...A step above is the 2007 Niepoort Vintage Port which delivers a superb bouquet of fruitcake, plum, incense, blueberry, and licorice. Elegant on the palate but with layers of rich, succulent fruit, this intense, smooth-textured, impeccably balanced wine will have a lengthy drinking window extending from 2017 to 2037. It is one of the stars of the vintage." – WA

NIEPOORT VINTAGE PORT 2007 750ML (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $179.99 A BOTTLE.

AND A FANTASTIC CHEAPIE FROM SEPPELTSFIELD

Seppeltsfield Show Vintage Fortified Shiraz 2001 (375ml) 

Seppeltsfield aim to make a Vintage Fortified that is drier and more refined than the traditional Australian style with an intensity of flavour derived from fruit quality rather than high Baume.

The 2001 Seppeltsfield Barossa Valley Fortified utilises a backbone of richly flavoured Shiraz combined with a portion of Touriga that adds complexity and lift. Presented in 375ml this wine will reward careful cellaring.

Seppeltsfield Wines are the proud custodians of the priceless collection of fortified wines spanning more than 150 years of winemaking excellence. This heritage includes a range of fortified wines that is Australia''s most diverse and unsurpassed in reputation for quality.

Vineyard Region: Barossa Valley & McLaren Vale

Grape Variety: Shiraz, Touriga

Maturation: Maturation for 3 months in stainless steel prior to bottling in September 2001. Cellared at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley.

Colour: Deep crimson, brick red.

Nose: Intense berry licorice fruit, spice and marzipan. Integrated spirit combining with the fruit to increase the intensity and lift.

Palate: Very much a contemporary Australian Vintage Style being finer and more elegant in structure whilst maintaining the power and intensity of flavour. The finish is dry with beautifully integrated spirit and savoury tannins that leaves a long and lingering flavour finish.

Peak Drinking Now-2015

SEPPELTSFIELD SHOW VINTAGE FORTIFIED SHIRAZ 2001 (375ML) (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $18.99 A BOTTLE.


QUALITY MARGARET RIVER CABERNET

AT A BARGAIN PRICE

Ringbolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 

One of the silly things about wine names like Ring Bolt, or more correctly, ring.bolt, is that it gets very confusing when people want to use the internet to do a search. I note that Mattinson had the 2007 listed under Ringbolt…incorrectly. Chocolate sauce mingles with the fragrant Margaret River perfume of gum leaf, gravel and wet cement (work with me please). There's a mix of blackberry and mulberry fruit and subtle oak, tastefully applied. Medium to full bodied with abundant fine grained tannins, clean acidity and excellent flavour persistence. At the price it's the complete package, and indeed, you'd most likely think it was $10 or $20 more expensive if you were none the wiser. Nice wine, shame about the cork. Drink : 2010 - 2016 93 POINTS Gary Walsh

RINGBOLT MARGARET RIVER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $17.99 A BOTTLE.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS:

ONE OF THE GREAT CEPPARELLO'S:

BOTTLED UNDER SCREWCAP

Isole e Olena Cepparello 2006 

Isole e Olena's 2006 Cepparello (100% Sangiovese) reveals superb density and richness in a surprisingly medium-bodied style for this vintage. Candied red fruit, flowers, menthol and sweet herbs emerge from the glass with almost liqueur-like sweetness. The wine possesses outstanding balance and a long, sweet finish, with subtle notes of tar, licorice and herbs that make an appearance on the close. This is an elegant Cepparello that combines the ripeness of the vintage in a mid-weight, ethereal style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. 93 points Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate # 184 Aug 2009

Proprietor Paolo De Marchi is one of Tuscany's most inspired growers. As is often the case, the wines are very strong across the board. Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate # 184 Aug 2009

ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2006 (S) IS WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $89.99 A BOTTLE.

CULLEN STUNNING 2008 VINTAGE RELEASES

Cullen Diana Madeline Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2008

Be interested to hear what Mattinson thinks of this one. I like the comment he made on one of the other new release Cullen reds, along the lines of it being what you might call “an enthusiasts wine”. Not sure this will play in Peoria, but it's a good wine. Puts me in mind of a Yarra Valley Cabernet or a lighter style of Bordeaux, something like Potensac or similar. And it has similarities to something like Tyrrell's Four Acres Shiraz, stay with me, but you'll know what I mean (hopefully) if and when you have tasted both. Something that needs, and will build with, bottle age. I opened this before I dashed out to a Bordeaux dinner and, to be perfectly candid, wasn't really up to tasting anything the next day so tried it the day after that. Not much change.

A medium bodied wine of classic styling with bright red fruits, top quality cedar oak and a pretty perfume. It's clean and fresh with fine grained ripe tannin – deceptively light, but not without length or impact.  I like the 'luncheon claret' style of it, but wouldn't mind seeing just a little more oomph and Margaret River character. Almost certain to improve mind you. Value locally, not least on a world stage, is questionable this vintage, though its lightness does make for a compelling point of difference.  Drink : 2018 - 2028 92+ Points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

CULLEN DIANA MADELINE MARGARET RIVER CABERNET MERLOT 2008 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $94.99 A BOTTLE.

Cullen Kevin John Margaret River Chardonnay 2008

Complexity and texture are hallmarks of the Cullen Chardonnay. The fruit for this wine is harvested at varying degrees throughout vintage to contribute a range of flavours. The wine is fermented with natural yeasts and maturated in French oak for seven to ten months. In order to preserve flavour and texture the wine has, if any at all, a light fining and filtration just prior to bottling. Cullen Chardonnay will cellar well for up to ten years.

''Cullen is one of the established wineries of Margaret River, having first planted in 1971. Its Semillon sauvignon blanc and cabernet merlot are so renowned that the chardonnay is often ignored. It shouldn''t be. As top-end chardonnays go, it is one of the more unusual and is amazingly complex. This vintage seems to offer a different nuance with every sniff.'' Greg Duncan Powell

"Ocean winds moderate the region''s warm climate. The maritime influence (a recurring theme) and the predominant Mendoza clone underpin the distinctive style - best exemplified by winemaker Vanya Cullen''s dusty, lemon sherbert, cut pear, dried pear and fig flavours. Overlaid are winemaking influences such as wild yeast and malolactic fermentation, but the intrinsic quality of Margaret River chardonnay remains the same. It is an assured elegance. The taste has intense fruit power coupled to a surprisingly fine structure." Jeni Port

CULLEN KEVIN JOHN MARGARET RIVER CHARDONNAY 2008 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $59.99 A BOTTLE.

A CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN BLEND
Yalumba FDR1A Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006

Yalumba's Fine Dry Red 1A spends 13 months in a mix of French and Hungarian oak barrels – coopered on site at Yalumba. And while it has no bearing on the wine inside the bottle – the packaging of this wine, and of the Yalumba range in general, is as good as it gets these days.

Give it 45 minutes in a decanter and from there it drinks beautifully. I opened this last night determined to only drink one glass; a damn-near full bottle disappeared! It tastes of blackcurrant, leather, eucalypt and cedarwood, though its briary edges are clear signs of cabernet's wonderful influence.  Lovely smoothness. Lovely flavour. Not in any way overdone. Tip top. Drink : 2011 - 2016 93+ Points Campbell Mattinson, The Winefront

In 1974 Yalumba created an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz blend known simply as FDR1A. The wine soon became a legend in winemaking circles, appreciated both for its fruit expression and restrained power.

Vintage 2006 Fine Dry Red 1A is a continuing example of Yalumba's commitment to, and mastery of, the quintessential Australian red wine that is Cabernet and Shiraz. Aged for 13 months in French & Hungarian Oak barrels which were hand-made in our own cooperage, FDRIA is a testament to winemaking craftsmanship.

The grapes were hand picked and crushed to our eight tonne open top stainless steel fermenters. The natural, or ''wild'' yeasts present on the grape skins were allowed to initiate the sugar fermentation. Cultured winery yeasts were then added to complete this fermentation and cap/skin management was controlled by the Yalumba designed cap plunger. The result is a wine with excellent depth of colour, richness and complexity.

A deep and dense red colour, this is a bright and distinctive wine with the aroma of mint, eucalypt, briary red fruits and violets coming through. It surprises on the palate, bursting with savoury fruit flavours of currants and plums, an elegant mouthfeel and finishing long and smooth with rich, bold, gravelly tannins and balanced acidity. This is a wine built to last and will cellar well for at least ten years.

YALUMBA FDR1A CABERNET SAUVIGNON SHIRAZ 2006 (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $34.99 A BOTTLE.

IT'S JUICY AND SUCCULENT:

IT IS THE DOG STRANGLER

Teusner Barossa Valley The Dog Strangler Mataro 2009

In the wonderful, wide world of wine you will find around 60-odd synonyms for one of our favourite varieties – Mataro. There are the well known ones of mourvedre and monastrell as well as lesser known ones such as Balzac and Esparte...but our favourite by far is the French estrangle chien..... The Dog Strangler.

Now don't get us wrong...dogs nearly out number humans here at Teusner so we mean our four-legged friends no harm....we just love the name and we are sure you'll love the wine.

We've sourced the Mataro for this wine from all over the Barossa....from Vine Vale, Greenock, Moppa, Koonunga and Ebenezer to produce a wine that is complex and a pleasure to drink.

Colour: Deep ruby red with purple flashes.

Bouquet: Earthy and deeply spiced the 2008 Dog Strangler Mataro is saturated with deep, ripe black and dark berry fruits....plums, blackberry and mulberry with a dash of blueberry lift and hints of earth, leather, five spice, violets and schezuan pepper.

Palate: The palate is well weighted and rich with broody dark and black berry fruits. Earthy and intense, with plenty of exotic spice, a touch of floral lift and savoury, ripe Mataro tannins on the lingering finish.

Cellaring: Drink now until 2015

Analysis: pH 3.49, T.A. 6.63 g/L, RS 1.5 g/L, Alcohol 14.1%. Free/Total SO2 32/85 mg/L at bottling.

TEUSNER BAROSSA VALLEY THE DOG STRANGLER MATARO 2009 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $22.99 A BOTTLE.

IS THIS AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST RIESLING?

Crawford River Henty Riesling 2009

Crawford River Wines was established at Condah in 1975 by John Thomson, with the aim of harnessing the cool climate viticulture benefits of a relatively unexplored wine-growing region, the South West of Victoria. Initially, two hectares were planted when John returned to the family farm after some years sharebroking in Melbourne and London. Five hectares were added whilst John was studying Viticulture and Wine Science at Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga, and the last two hectares were planted in 1995 giving the vineyard a total of nine hectares.

Presiding over sprawling grazing lands and spectacular State forests, Crawford River Wines has paved the way for the industry in what is, traditionally a wool, beef and dairy region. The winery atop the hill and the vineyard hugging the steep slope are in the midst of the sheep and cattle station that has been in John''s family since 1884. In the near distance meanders the Crawford River, steadily making its way along to the mighty Glenelg River.

The low-yielding vines grow in gravelly loam soils and combined with a long ripening period and cool, even temperatures, produce grapes of intense flavor and high natural acidity, enabling the production of elegant wines. The vines are all hand pruned, the grapes hand picked and meticulous attention is paid to hygiene and modern wine making techniques. Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon are the two main varieties planted, with smaller plantings of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. All wines are grown, produced and bottled at Crawford River Vineyard and winery at Condah.

Crawford River in Victoria''s Henty region is a familiar name to many wine lovers around Australia. Since it was established in 1975, the vineyard has been producing exciting riesling and complex cool-climate cabernet sauvignon. This is remarkable given the region does not exactly have a long and glorious association with viticulture. Ben Edwards

CRAWFORD RIVER HENTY RIESLING 2009 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $36.99 A BOTTLE.

GREAT DRINKING PENINSULA PINOT NOIR
Paringa Estate ''PE'' Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2009

Lindsay McCall is a magician at work" James Halliday

Bright, clear crimson-purple; Lindsay McCall does it again, the wine is fresh, rich plum and cherry fruit offset by foresty, but balanced, tannins and oak. Screwcap. 13.5% alc. Rating 94 Drink 2015 $28 Date Tasted Mar 10 James Halliday

Peninsula Series

Winemaking : The fruit for this wine was sourced from our three leased Red Hill Vineyards and a number of other high quality grower vineyards from across the Peninsula.

The 2009 growing season was cooler than recent vintages (despite extreme heat over the Black Saturday period) with yields being down by about 1/3rd. However quality was excellent across all our vineyards.

Fruit for these wines comes partly from our Estate managed vineyards at Red Hill plus fruit purchased from a number of carefully selected vineyards from other sub-regions of the Mornington Peninsula. “The quality of these wines are often equal to many other vineyards best” (James Halliday)

PARINGA PENINSULA PINOT NOIR 2009 (S) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $24.99 A BOTTLE.

A RARE AND WONDERFUL PEDRO

Toro Albala Pedro Ximenez 1982 375ml 

Don PX Gran Reserva 1982 is aged a minimum of 25 years in cask prior to bottling. Concentrated mahogany color, with intense coffe and tobacco aromas over a dense and penetrating dried fruit flavour and firm tannin structure. Toro Albala is the world''s only specialist in Vontage Dessert PX.

Founded in 1844, Toro Albalá is arguably the best producer of Pedro Ximenez in the world today with the finest vineyard holdings in Montilla (the region for Pedro) and the oldest stocks. Toro Albalá was the first Montilla producer to commercialize bottled, dessert-styled Pedro Ximénez (in 1970) and remains the world''s only specialist in 100% vintage PX. Impeccable and authentic Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso containing only the natural alcohol from fermentation are also produced by the classic solera method. Bodegas Toro Albalá owns significant vineyard acreage in Aguilar de la Frontera and Moriles; planted exclusively Pedro Ximénez vines that are planted in the chalky-white, albariza soils. Grapes from the older bush vines are destined for the vintage dessert wines, whereas newer wire-trained vineyards provide fresher fruit with brighter acids for the production of the dryer styles. These are all wonderful wines, full of character and power. The sweet Pedro's have to be tasted to be believed and the prices speak for themselves.

TORO ALBALA PEDRO XIMENEZ 1982 375ML (C) IS AVAILABLE WHILST STOCKS LAST FOR $49.99 A BOTTLE.


 PLEASE NOTE: (S) SCREWCAP, (C) CORK


 

F A M I L Y   O W N E D  F I N E  W I N E  M E R C H A N T S  S I N C E  1 9 6 3

 

Riesling offers

Unlabelled Clare Valley ''The Greatest'' Riesling 2008 is available for $8.00 a bottle.

Jim Barry Watervale Valley Riesling 2009 is available for $12.99 a bottle

Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2009 is available for $24.99 a bottle.

 

Chardonnay offers

Stonier Chardonnay 2008 is available until stocks last for $21.99 a bottle.

Wickhams Road Yarra Chardonnay 2009 is available until stocks last for $14.99 a bottle.

Hoddles Creek Chardonnay 2009 is available for $18.99 a bottle..

 

Semillon offers

McWilliams Elizabeth Semillon 2005 is available for $13.99 a bottle.

Peter Lehmann Semillon 2006 is available for $9.99 a bottle.

Tyrrells Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon 2003 is available for $39.99 a bottle.

 

Shiraz offers

Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 2008 is available for $13.99 a bottle.

White Box Heathcote Shiraz 2007 is available for $15.99 a bottle.

McWilliams Mount Pleasant Phillip Shiraz 2008 is available for $13.99 a bottle.

 

Cabernet Sauvignon offers

Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2008 is available for $16.99 a bottle.

Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is available for $29.99 a bottle.

Barwang Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is available for $14.99 a bottle.

 

Pinot Noir

Curly Flat Macedon Pinot Noir 2007 is available for $44.99 a bottle.

Stoniers Pinot Noir 2008 is available for $23.99 a bottle

 

Sauvignon Blanc offers

Gieson Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 is available for $15.99 a bottle.

Lawsons Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is available for $17.99 a bottle.

Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 is available until stocks last for $16.99 a bottle.

 

Sparkling offers

Chandon Vintage 2006 is available for $29.99 a bottle.

Moet Chandon Non Vintage is available for $59.99 a bottle.

 

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