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Domaine Boyar 1997

Domaine Boyar 1997

Domaine Boyar, since its foundation in 1991, has become one of the leading importers and the biggest producer of Bulgarian Wine. The success of Domaine Boyar owes much to the enterprising initiatives of Managing Director Margo Todorov.

Domaine Boyar is the owner of three wineries, Domaine Boyar Shumen, Domaine Boyar Iambol and the state of the art Domaine Boyar Sliven due to open for vintage 1999.

This richly textured, classically matured Cabernet Sauvignon. With its American oak ageing to bring vanilla notes to the cherry and black fruit flavours, it also has the usual powerful aroma, full body, rich texture and excellent value for money. It also recieved a Seal Of Approval in 2000.

Kinds of grapes: Cabernet, Savignon;
Colour: Bright ruby-red;
Smell: Fruitful, composite bouquet;
Taste: Dry, harmonious;
Alcohol: 12;
Serving hint: Dry wine, goes well with roasts, meat dishes and pastas;
Serving temperature: Best served at room-temperature.

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Berberana Tempranillo 1999

Berberana Tempranillo 1999

Olauri (La Rioja Alta), Berberana continues to combine the new technologies with the century traditions in the entire process of preparing its brands.

In 1975 they moved to Cenicero, their present wine cellar, for just one purpose: to satisfy the growing demand for their brands in the market, combining new technology with tradition in their production.

At Berberana they fully control the production, from the vineyard to the bottle. The 5 leading co-operatives in La Rioja, with more than 3,000 hectares, are important shareholders in the company, allowing them to directly supervise the wine making process completely to the full and enjoy a flexibility that is unique in la Rioja.

Technical Data:

Type: Red.
Alcohol content: 12% alc. / vol.
Grape variety: 100% Tempranillo.
Production method: The carefully selected grapes are fermented slowly in order to achieve maximum fruit extract, Sort ageing in American oak casks before bottling.
Maturation site: Fuenmayor.Type of oak casks: American oak.
Tasting comments: Deep ruby red, showing no obvious signs of age. The bouquet shows rich intense fruit against a background of oak. On the palate, the wine shows excellent balance with a long harmonious aftertaste.
Other comments: This is a new wine from Berberana, where emphasis has been placed on providing top quality varietal characteristics at an affordable price.
Accompaniment: Ideal to go along with appetizers, cheeses, sausages

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Cecchi Chianti 2000

Cecchi Chianti 2000

For over a hundred years, the wine-makers Luigi Cecchi and Sons have been producing and selling quality wines from Tuscany. This long tradition was begun in Poggibonsi in 1893 by Luigi Cecchi and continued by his son Cesare who, starting work in the company in 1925, made their wines known throughout Italy and abroad. Cecchi wine-makers have now definitively affirmed their standing with the present owner, Cesare's son, who took his place in 1953. He has perfected both the production and commercial sectors with great conviction and professionalism.

These days Luigi Cecchi can count on the valuable cooperation of his sons Cesare and Andrea, one in the commercial sector, and the other in production. In the 1970's the wine-makers moved to Castellina in Chianti, a zone of great historical and geographical importance in the Chiantigiana area. In these cellars, equipped with the latest technology, the final stage in the production cycle takes place, while the actual wine making happens on the three separate estates in the most famous production areas of Tuscany. The Cecchi family is very aware of technological innovation and has made substantial investments in this area in recent years.

Chianti wine can only be produced in the area specified in production regulations, within the provinces of Siena, Florence, Arezzo, Pisa and Pistoia. These zones are typically Tuscan hilly areas, known for centuries for the production of exceptional wines. The regulations have been revised in the last few years, allowing a higher content of Sangiovese grape. The other varieties that may be used are Canaiolo, vines that complement it, and a small percentage of a white grape that the Cecchi wine-makers have not used for years. The Cecchi Chianti of today represents the happy marriage between the "Chiantigiana" tradition and technological innovation, which has brought with it a noticeable improvement in quality. This wine has a lively ruby red colour, turning towards garnet red with age. It has an intense vinous bouquet with a hint of violets. Its flavour is harmonious, dry and slightly tannic. Cecchi Chianti can be consumed with any meal, including cold and white meats; when aged it makes an ideal accompaniment to roasts, grilled meats and game. It should be served at between 16 and 18 C.

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Nottage Hill 2000

Nottage Hill 2000

This is our so called housewine...

Fruit for Hardy's range of wines is sourced from premium vineyards situated around Australia. Each region has its own story to tell.
The Padthaway is a 400-hectare Padthaway vineyard in the south east of South Australia is the engine room for the Hardy's brands. This beautiful cool climate property with its terra rossa soil provides the base blend for many of the Company's wines.

Established in the mid-70's the vineyard has evolved into one of the Company's best premium fruit sources. Trellising, irrigation, cropping levels and pruning techniques have all been fine-tuned and today the vineyard supplies the major components for Eileen Hardy Shiraz and Chardonnay. It has taken Hardys to combine all of these favourable characteristics under the same banner.

The Nottage Hill range was named in honour of Thomas Nottage who managed our Hardys Tintara winery and vineyards at McLaren Vale in South Australia for over 60 years. The range represents pure Australia quality and flavour generosity, remaining consistent and reliable from vintage to vintage. The Nottage Hill is available in 4 ranges:

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
Cabernet Shiraz
Shiraz

This particular Wine Of The Month is the "CABERNET SHIRAZ" (Available in 750ml, 375ml, 187ml). The Cabernet Shiraz shows rich berry fruit with subtle spicy oak overtones. The palate has roundness and softness with a medium to full bodied structure, and excellent balance between fruit and oak. The wine is a pleasure to drink on release, and will develop further flavour complexity to 3 years cellaring.

Rich berry fruit
Spicy, balanced oak
Generous, clean rewarding style
Cellar to 3 years

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Castillo Pastores 1998

Castillo Pastores 1998

The Spanish term "Crianza" (meaning "breeding" or "upbringing") on a wine label refers to the aging a wine recieves. A Crianza wine must receive a minimum of 2 years aging either in a tank, an oak barrel or a bottle.

Castillo Pastores is a family company. The reason for the success of their wines is the corporative philosophy of the firm that has led it to invest considerable amounts in wine growing, vinification and aging. The Tempranillo grapes are from the Jerez Superior area. The company owns 700 hectares located in the best spots.

This celebrated Crianza combines the best of traditional winemaking with new technology. Vinified on specially selected, handpicked Tempranillo grapes from the vineyards. The wine is fermented at controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and aged for 16 months in new oak barrels. Vanilla and spice aromas confer complexity on this powerfully fruity and full-bodied wine with a long and elegant finish. Serve at 16 - 18 C with all types of meat, cheese and paté.

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Canaletto Primitivo 2000

Canaletto Primitivo 2000

The House of Casa Girelli has a proud history as a family company from its very outset in the 19th century. From a small vineyard in the late 1800s, it grew much larger while demand for the wine became larger. By 1924 the demand became so great that the family built a winery of its own. The winery was destroyed in the 2nd World War and in 1945 Giovanni Girelli built a modern, cutting edge winery, which remains Casa Girelli's headquarters today.

The vineyard is nestled near the wine village of Borghetto in the hills of southern Trentino, at the foothill of the Alps. It's 40 ha large and vines are trained by the traditional Alberello method. This laid the foundations for the totally export-driven company that Casa Girelli is today, with export trade now accounting for a staggering 99% of the production!

The 2000 Canaletto Primitivo is a mouthful of ripe black fruit, with just the right amount of spice to set it off perfectly. Try it with tomato based dishes, grilled meats and of course pasta. The nice thing about this wine is not only it's tatste, but it is great value. Stock up!

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Banrock Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Banrock Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

We already published a wine of Banrock Station in November 2002. The Chiraz we drunk was quite all right and had 3 stars. It was for us a reason to try another wine of this winegrower. We liked this Cabernet Sauvignon much better and therefore 4 stars for this wine.

Banrock Station makes certain that virticultural practices have no impact on the natural environment. For this reason, Banrock Station has undertaken a number of important initiatives to ensure the sustained wellbeing of the property, including 600 acres of vineyard that sit among 3,600 acres of natural bushland and wetland. Besides that it is so that for every bottle sold a donation is made to wetland organisations in several countries, even The Netherlands.

Harvested in the cool of the night so as to retain maximum fruit freshness, the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit is chosen from the vineyard of Graham Buller and then handled carefully from fermentation to packaging so as to retain flavour.

Medium to deep brick red in colour, the Branrock Station Cabernet Sauvignon displays dominant fruit aromas of plum, cherry, strawberry and cinnamon, with subtle hints of vanillin oak.