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Bordeaux
No other wine producing region resonates with same level of international acclaim and is heir to such instant recognition among lovers of fine wine. It is at the same time one of the most misunderstood and frequently disappointing regions for those who are not initiates to its often confusing maze of Chateaus, appellations, classified growths, and diverging styles.
"+ "Those expecting all the allure and promise of a first or even fifth growth in a common, generic “Bordeaux” are all but certain to be sorely disappointed. The price is also inflated naturally by the demand for its brand over the world. Bordeaux is definitely the safe guide to the best wines of the region. It is useful to note that it is a huge region that produces more wine than the entirety of Australia.
"+ " While famed for its red wines, produced from a number of varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, but also smaller amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot as well, Bordeaux also makes the famous dessert wine, Sauternes, and some elegant and delicious dry whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
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"I. Chateau Pontac Lynch Margaux 2001 "+ //wine tasting notes " Nice deep dark garnet. The nose develops fruits and tobacco aromas. At the palate it is a complex wine with structure and tannins.
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"II. Chateau D’Aurilhac Haut Medoc 2002 "+ //wine tasting notes " Dense red color. Black cherry and leathery flavors. Very smooth and almost creamy. Mellowed tannins. Slight sweetness and heat on finish. Simple stuff with burgers on the grill. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"III. Chateau Monlot St Emilion Grand Cru 2004 "+ //wine tasting notes " This wine boasts dusky, slightly smoky, dark cherry and damson fruits on the nose. On the palate, there is a scented, almost curranty quality, damson fruit, and notes of chocolate and fruit cake-like spice.
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"IV. Chateau Beau-Site Cru Bourgeois St Estephe 2004 "+ //wine tasting notes " It is a medium bodied wine very well structured. Tannins are present but smooth and melted with black fruits. Elegant long finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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Piccini
Located in Castellina in Chianti, one of the 8 cities of Chianti Area, Tenute Piccini, or simply Piccini, is the very beginning of Piccini Family saga. The estate, developed from only 7 ha in 1882, is now the main headquarter of Piccini Group, managing 400 ha of vineyards situated in the main wine area of Tuscany, with a special focus on Chianti and Chianti Classico.
"+ "Piccini wines represent the core expression the family’s commitment to uphold tradition started by Angiolo Piccini more than 125 years ago. Intimately connected with the vineyards they come from, the Piccini wines put an emphasis on enjoyment, marking the modern approach to traditional winemaking.
"+ " The entire Piccini range also represents the modern face of Tuscany in the world.
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" Export Manager, Andrea Landozzi "+ " | "+
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" In the line with the Piccini Group organizational strategy, Andrea Landozzi’s work follows on a day-to-day basis the Piccini main guideline: Strong Orientation to Partners’ Request and Exigencies. "+ "His area of responsibility covers implementing, developing and managing the Piccini Group Brands (Piccini, Valiano and Moraia) at certain regions in Europe, Asia, India, Africa, America, Arab and Oman. "+ "During Andrea in Piccini as an export manager, he formulated Strategic plans for Piccini products, implemented analysis, identified new distributions and developed business plan for promotion activities. "+ "He has also researched & established new market entry plans, and directed implementation by representatives and distributors. "+ " | ||
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"1. Orvieto D.O.C 2008 "+ //wine tasting notes " Pleasant, delicate perfume with fruity notes. Dry flavor with a slightly bitter fine and delicate aftertaste. Serve it at 12°C with seafood and delicate risotto. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"2. Selezione Oro Chianti Riserva D.O.C.G 2005 "+ //wine tasting notes " Of intense and persistent fruity bouquet, flavor develops sinuously, subtle notes of vanilla coming trough in the end. Warm palate with soft tannins, “Selezione Oro” reveals himself in velvety shades, rich in structure, with a long aftertaste. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"3. Villa Al Cortile Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C 06 "+ //wine tasting notes " Very well made with black pepper and earthy nose. Elegant, silky tannins and a juicy red berry finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"4. Villa Al Cortile Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G 04 "+ //wine tasting notes " Full ruby color with typical Sangiovese nose of ripe red fruits. An elegant wine, with a supple, yet generous structure. Serve it at 18°C with spicy roasts, game or aged cheese. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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" Promo Price: $82.00 Usual Price: $97.00 | "+
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"5. Valiano Vino in Musica IGT 01 "+ //wine tasting notes " A soft, complex, earthy palate with notes of black cherry, raisins, and prunes. Medium bodied with hints of nuts and herbs on the lingering finish. Rack of lamb with rosemary. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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Forrest Estate
Forrest Estate combines hospitality with quality Marlborough wines. Operated by John and Brigid Forrest, the winery has earned a reputation for excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay wines and their must taste Botrytised Riesling.
"+ "Recent success includes 91 points for the winery's 1994 Sauvignon Blanc in the June 2005 issue of Wine Spectator magazine, Blue Gold for the same wine at the Sydney International Wine Competition 2005, and Trophy and Gold Medal for its 2004 Botrytised Riesling at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2005. As well its Marlborough vineyard, Forrest Estate part owns the Cornerstone Vineyard in Hawkes Bay producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah wines.
"+ "The Marlborough winery features two hectares of shady parkland for picnics, a garden wine bar and tasting rooms. Forrest Estate takes pride in its warm, friendly and informative service. If you have time and make arrangements the owners will take you through the vineyard, winery and, of course, wine tasting.
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" Owner / Winemaker,
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" Dr John William Forrest was born in 1955 and bred in Marlborough, New Zealand and attended Queen Charlotte College in Picton where he excelled in cricket and rugby and was Head Boy. "+ "He attended Otago University in 1973-81 graduating with a PhD in Neurophysiology in 1982. John then spent 2 years in San Diego at SALK Institute in San Diego as a Molecular Biologist and on the other hand started to develop a serious interest in wine. "+ "He had frequent trips to the Hawkes Bay however, fed his interest in wine and he eventually bought 70 acres of bare land on Gimblett Road 5kms west of Hastings. "+ "In November of 1988 John returned to Marlborough to establish Forrest Estate Winery and has since gone on to establish vineyards and produce premium wine from 7 sites throughout Marlborough; Bannockburn – Central Otago; Waitaki Valley – North Otago and Gimblett Gravels – Hawkes Bay. "+ " | |
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" In 2001 he was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year and in September 2007 was voted by his peers Winemaker of the Show, at the Annual Winegrowers Trade Show. "+ "Today, John Forrest is considered one of the most innovative winemakers in Marlborough, New Zealand. "+ " | ||
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"1. Sauvignon Blanc 2007 "+ //wine tasting notes " Abounds with the scents of fresh herbs - thyme, sage, rosemary; together with subtle hints of blackcurrant, citrus zest, and right at the finish, passionfruit.
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"2. Dry Riesling 2004 "+ //wine tasting notes " A delicious, aromatic wine rich in flavor and zesty. Harvested with a small amount of noble rot (botrytis) adding a subtle honey aroma to a wine bursting with mandarin, apricot, pear and lemon blossom flavors. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"3. The Doctor Riesling 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " A truly delightful wine for any time of day, perhaps most ideal at lunchtime. It is poise and balanced wine with lemon blossoms, golden delicious apple and a touch of sweetness balanced by fine acidity. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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"4. Pinot Noir 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " This vintage reflects delicious aromas of blackberry pie and dark red cherries with a distinct note of lavender and violets. In its youth this Pinot has a delicate palate, and an attractive savory, spicy finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
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d'Arenberg
Situated in the hills four kilometres north of the township of McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is just 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
"+ "McLaren Vale's climate is of the Mediterranean type: warm dry summers and cool wet winters, with low relative humidity and relatively high evaporation. The risk of rainfall or frost during the harvest period is rare, that’s why McLaren Vale is such a marvellously predictable place to grow grapes and make premium wines.
"+ "There are numerous microclimates within the region, however, determined by variations in soil type and altitude as well as the various geological landforms. This means they can make wines using fruit from these different microclimates to add complexity to their blends.
"+ "The soils in this region are only moderately fertile to poor, and in many cases quite sandy, which means vines are forced to work hard and extend their root systems to find both nutrients and water. Thus leads in the production of excellent quality wine grapes, due to the resulting low yields, giving intensity of flavor and excellent structure to the wines.
"+ "Sandy nature of many of d'Arenberg's vineyards means that the moisture holding capacity of the soils is low, especially as many of the sandy soils are over clay. This means that grape growers can accurately measure soil moisture uptake, and adjust any irrigation accordingly, so that the vines receive enough supplementary water (via drip irrigation) to prosper, but only enough to ensure that the grapes are concentrated and full-flavored.
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" Chief Winemaker, Chester Osborn
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" Chester Osborn, chief and fourth generation family member, is continuing the family’s wine making tradition that spans over two centuries. Chester and his wine making team utilize the original 1920s cellars and the traditional wine making processes to create the wines that proudly wear the red stripe label. All wines, including the whites, are basket pressed and the reds are traditionally fermented in open, wax-lined concrete fermenters. "+ "Chester’s wine making philosophy is to produce wines that have great fragrance and fruit character with palate texture and length balanced by fine natural acidity and tannins. He sums up his wine making as; "+ ""The art of our wine making is about great viticulture, extremely gentle handling of the grapes and fermented must, strict ferment temperature regimes and no fining or filtration. Obviously it is a lot more complex than this however there’s a lifetime of knowledge required to describe it all." "+ " | |
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" Chester has long been recognized as a unique and knowledgeable member of the wine making profession. His reputation has been recognized by Australian and International wine writers who regularly approach him for comments and insight into the industry. He has undertaken guest speaker roles at both industry and consumer events and has been called upon to contribute to number articles and books about wine. "+ "In the late 1990s, Chester, and his good friend, Zar Brookes, spent several late nights and a few wines coming up with quirky names for the wines that now had his distinctive stamp. Chester came up with names that were related to the family property or the wine making process. These names and the stories behind them are now told at dinner parties across the world and help make the d'Arenberg brand so memorable. "+ " | ||
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"1. The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Pale, brilliant straw in color. Aromas of tight and fresh with moderate intensity. There is a mix of citrus notes, warmed wild honey, ripe red apples, white peach stone, freshly made pop corn and tropical fruits.
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"2. The Feral Fox Pinot Noir 2008 "+ //wine tasting notes " Appearance of brilliant in clarity, tone of ruby-plum with edges of rosewater with a clear hue. The intensity of the aroma suggests a complex medium-bodied dry red, dominated with fragrant spiced red fruits, plum and raspberries with some dark kirsch and roasted meat notes in the background.
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"3. The Laughing Magpie 2007 "+ //wine tasting notes " Very dark, rich and black crimson hue in appearance. Has an intense aroma with floral mix of peach stone, jasmine and cranberry juice overriding dark maraschino cherries, star anise and spiced fruit cake.
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"4. The Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " A very deep concentrated red. Aromas of fragrant red fruits over spices and liquorices / earthy notes. There is an impressive background of fine-grain, cedary oak notes.
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"5. The Galvo Garage 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Deep dark in color with complex full-bodied, oak matured wine. There are aromas are very classic cabernet with notes of exotic dark plums, mulberry, blackcurrants, fragrant cassis.
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