News, Awards and Reviews

September 2009

What's new with you?

October is now here - we can all tell from the chill in the air! Lots going on, not to mention our 25th anniversary celebration approaching this month at Tate Modern, London. The equivalent Scottish celebration was a real success - we danced the night away and raised more than £7300 for Cancer Research UK too.  Thank you to everyone involved.  Our fundraising page is still open.  Click on the CR UK link to see our page and make a donation.

Please get in touch with any comments or suggestions on the type of information you would like to receive from Alliance Wine, or indeed any stories you wish to share on what is going on in your world. 

Keep in touch with Alliance Wine 

Forthcoming Events and Tastings

The majority of the scheduled events and tastings for 2009 have now been completed.  A note of a few forthcoming key events is below and is available on our website.  If you want further details check out the various links below or please click here and advise which event you are interested in.

OCTOBER

• Zealand Wine Edinburgh Annual Trade Tasting 2009
  7 October 2009
  Details here
  
  
• Wines of South Africa MEGA Tasting 2009
  13/14 October 2009
  Invitation here
  
  
• Tasting Lunch at Stravaigin, Glasgow
  13 October 2009
  Invitation here
  
  
• Alliance Wine 25th Anniversary Celebration, Tate Modern, London
  Wednesday 21 October 2009
  For more information click here

NOVEMBER

• Paul Hobbs and Vina Cobos Tasting, Soho Hotel, London
  Wednesday 11 November 2009
  For more information click here

We are also lucky to be hosting a number of our key suppliers for visits in the second half of the year which will enable tasting lunches and dinners and general meetings with Winemakers or members of their team.  Further details are available by talking to your local Sales Manager.

Stella Bella Sauvignon Goes Gold

2009 Stella Bella Sauvignon Blanc won Gold at the 2009 Sheraton Perth Wine Awards in September.

Stella Bella New Online Launch

Stella Bella have updated their website viewed by clicking on this image or visit www.stellabella.com.au

The website contains useful information on the winery and has additional product information too.  Check it out!

What's rated and reviewed this month?

We like to bring you a note of some of the key reviews and ratings each month.  See some references to our wines, for September, below:

Shelmerdine Pinot Noir 'hits the jackpot'

Shelmerdine Pinot Noir 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia
Posted in Yarra Valley, Pinot Noir, By Campbell Mattinson

'This is made from 25 year old vines growing on the Lusatia Park vineyard.'

'Impressively bright.... Lots of redcurrant and sour cherry. A compelling, fanned-out finish. Spice and lift and swathes of tannin......Shelmerdine has hit the jackpot here.'  Rated : 95 Points

Shelmerdine Chardonnay 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia (5 stars)

by Paddy Kendler, Herald Sun, Australia

The latest releases under this label are the best yet, and include classy Pinot Noir, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as this superb chardonnay.  It is a perfectly poised wine with an ideal integration of fruit, oak and acidity.  The texture has a certain vigour and yet remains suave and even Chardonnay fans will relish and revel in the Shelmerdine, which is just about as good as it gets from Yarra Valley.

The Times - Weeks best Buys

Jane Macquitty recommended 2006 Chalk Spring Vineyards, Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia in her weeks best buys during September.

'Bargain basement Aussie red with lots of luscious, creamy, cassis and creosote-scented fruit.'

Tipple Tip from Susy Atkins

'Tipple tip reds with a hint of mint'

'As autumn roasts and casseroles start to appear, look out for red wines with rich minty notes. That might sound unusual but mint is definitely present in some cabernet sauvignons, especially Aussie ones. Try Chalk Spring Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006’.

Anthony Rose - Great deals

'Cleverly sourced wines that punch above their weight...I would single out the impressively rich, classically peppery, blackberry-fruity 2006 Chalk Spring Vineyard Shiraz, Limestone Coast.'

Zuccardi - Argentina's Superstars

Following last months glowing review of Zuccardi Zeta, we can report this month that Robert Parker has rated Zuccardi wines in the high 80s and 90s.  Click here to review the concise pdf.  Ratings included:

• Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2008 (82)
• Zuccardi Serie A Chardonnay - Viognier 2008 (87)
• Zuccardi Serie A Bonarda 2008 (86)

Zuccardi, Zeta 2006 (92)
Zuccardi’s purple-colored 2006 Zeta is composed of 64% Malbec and 36% Tempranillo. The Malbec was aged in new French oak for 12 months, the Tempranillo in new American oak for 14 months. It sports a classy perfume of pain grille, mineral, cinnamon, violets, incense and black cherry. Medium- to full-bodied, the winehas plenty of brawny power, dense, extracted fruit, layers of flavor, and enough structure to evolve for 5-7 years. It will provide a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2021.

Zuccardi, Q Malbec 2007 (90)

The 2007 Malbec Q is a step up over the Serie A. It offers more depth and complexity, savory flavors, some
structure, and a medium-long finish. It will evolve for 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now.

Zuccardi, Q Tempranillo 2006 (90)

The 2006 Tempranillo Q was sourced from an estate vineyard planted in 1974. Purple-colored, it displays an enticing bouquet of mineral, blackberry, pepper, and espresso. Medium- to full-bodied, on the palate it is dense, nicely endowed with spicy, savory fruit, and impeccably balanced. It will evolve for 2-3 years and will offer prime drinking from 2011 to 2018.

Zuccardi, Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (90)

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Q spent 12 months in new French oak. Purple-colored, it exhibits an excellent perfume of damp earth, mineral, tobacco, spice box, and black currant. Medium-bodied, it has layered flavors, plenty of succulence, good balance, and a lengthy finish. Give it 2-3 years of additional bottle age and drink it
from 2011 to 2018.

Viva La Vida!

Decanter rated Familia Zuccardi, Vida Organic Sparkling, Mendoza (2008) with four stars.

Zuccardi is one of Argentina's best-known producers, primarily for its excellent reds (the Q range isparticularly good). But this fine 100% Chardonnay also shows it can do a good job with white grapes too. Lovely mousse, toasty nose and a complex and round apple compote and digestive biscuit palate.
Decanter Rating:

Decanter's Taste of Argentina

Rated in the Top 10 Argentinian Wines.

Zuccardi, Q Tempranillo 2006

Alluring, dark and Christmas spiced nose with real character. Despite its dark depths, this is freshly structured, with bright floral notes and powerful spicy streaks.

'The Sommelier says...Zuccardi'

Peter Townsend, Sommerlier at Hotel Du Vin, Harrogate, shares his wine wisdom in The Times Travel Magazine and rates Zuccardi:

'Know the style of wine you like then search New World wines to match it.  You could save up to 50% vs. a French wine of a similar vintage.  A favourite of mine is Familia Zuccardi Pinot Noir from Argentina.'

Wine Advocate #184 - Cobos and Paul Hobbs

2008 Cobos Felino Chardonnay (90 points)

Light gold-colored with an expressive nose of apple, pear, and tropical fruits. Concentrated on the palate and balanced with lively acidity, this full-flavored, ripe Chardonnay will provide pleasure over the next 3 years.

Also, see below for latest Paul Hobbs Winery reviews in Wine Spectator:

2007 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Lindsay Estate Vineyard, Russian River Valley (93 points)

Starts out smooth and spicy, with supple plum and black cherry fruit, before picking up a pleasant earthy cola flavor, gaining depth and structure and ending with a long, elegant finish. Drink now through 2013.

Carmenere At Its Best:  Metcalfe's Top Dozen

Odfjell, Armador Carmenere 2006 was featured:

'Even though this has a green pepper note, it's rich and sweetly harmonious.  Everything is beautifully integrated, giving it classy, affordable Carmenere.'

Decanter Recommended Californian Cabernet

Eberle Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 was featured.

A Sit Down with Paul Hobbs

The globe-trotting winemaker stops by to talk Malbec, Argentina, California and more with James Molesworth (8 September 2009), Wine Spectator. A summary points below and the full story by clicking here:

'PaulHobbs has had a peripatetic wine career, one that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, either. The Buffalo, N.Y., native has recently taken on consulting gigs in Canada (with Stratus) and France's Cahors region (with Georges Vigouroux) while expanding his client base in Argentina (where he is a partner in Viña Cobos), and he’s done this all in addition to running his California and Hungarian projects.

Hobbs’ travels have taken him to many foreign markets, and he’s begun to see how little California has penetrated beyond the U.S. Following a tour of high-end vacation spots in Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, Hobbs was surprised at how little knowledge of California wine there was there, as well as how little interest. Instead it's wines from Argentina, Chile and other places that dominate the wine lists there. He’s seen the same in Brazil, another emerging market that’s looking at many other wine regions before they look at California.

“We [meaning California] are going to have to open foreign markets if we want to succeed long term,” said Hobbs.

In contrast, things seem to be moving well in the other direction. Hobbs’ Viña Cobos project has enjoyed solid growth, from 38,000 cases in 2008 to 50,000 cases this past year (and aiming for 60,000 next). Yes, most of the growth has been in the modestly priced Felino line, as opposed to the high end, but it’s growth nonetheless in a challenging market.'

Rioja Blanco from Luis Cañas

Will Lyons reviewed White Rioja in The Scotsman during September 2009.

Luis Cañas Fermentado en Barrica 2007
Lively, with a rich and lemony character. It is fermented in oak barrels which gives it a spicy, oak aroma.

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