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Alliance Wine
Latest News, Awards and Reviews
August/September 2008
News
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The International Wine Challenge Awards Dinner 2008
Alliance
Wine celebrated a successful night at the International Wine Challenge
Awards Dinner held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane on
3rd September.
Nominated
for 4 awards, we won the Best Scottish Merchant and were highly
commended/runner up in the other categories. It was especially pleasing
this year as Alliance made it to the short list for two of the biggest
awards, Best UK On Trade Supplier and Best UK Agent, proving that
others see us as one of the best wine companies in the UK.
Alliance's
suppliers also took a further 6 trophies from the Awards Dinner.
Majella scooped no less than 4 trophies: International Cabernet
Trophy, Australian Red Trophy, South Australian Red Trophy and
Coonawarra Trophy and our new Austrian producer, Domäne
Wachau also collected 2 trophies for Best International Grüner
Veltliner and Best Austrian White.
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Awards
The
Decanter World Wine Awards 2008 results were announced on 1st
September and Alliance Wine suppliers were prominent on the medal table including Stella Bella's Cabernet
Merlot 2005 and Remelluri's Coleccíon Jamie Rodriguez 2003, both of whom picked up GOLD.
The complete list of winners is detailed below.
Other producers picking up medals at competitions included Familia
Zuccardi's 'Q' Tempranillo 2005, which was awarded a Gold Medal in the
3rd edition of the Hyatt Wine Awards held in Mendoza in July and
Castello di Meleto for their Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 which won a
Silver Medal at the 2008 Expovina-Zurigo International Competition.
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DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2008
| SUPPLIER |
WINE |
VINTAGE |
MEDAL |
| Stella Bella |
Cabernet Merlot |
2005 |
GOLD |
| Stella Bella |
Skuttlebutt Sauvignon Semillon |
2007 |
Silver |
| Stella Bella |
Shiraz |
2005 |
Bronze |
| Stella Bella |
Skuttlebutt Shiraz Cabernet |
2006 |
Bronze |
| Stella Bella |
Cabernet Merlot |
2004 |
Commended |
| Majella |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
2005 |
Silver |
| Majella |
The Malleea |
2004 |
Bronze |
| Two Hands |
Lily's Garden Shiraz |
2005 |
Silver |
| Two Hands |
Gnarly Dudes Shiraz |
2006 |
Bronze |
| Two Hands |
Brilliant Disguise |
2006 |
Bronze |
| One Chain Vineyards |
'The Wrong Un' Shiraz/Cabernet |
2005 |
Bronze |
| One Chain Vineyards |
'The Golden Duck' Reserve Shiraz |
2005 |
Commended |
| Thorn Clarke |
Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon |
2006 |
Bronze |
| Thorn Clarke |
Terra Barossa Chardonnay |
2007 |
Bronze |
Thorn Clarke
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William Randall Shiraz |
2004 |
Bronze |
| Thorn Clarke |
Terra Barossa Pinot Gris |
2006 |
Commended |
| Tiddy Widdy Well |
Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot |
2006 |
Bronze |
| Apollonio |
Salento Rosso IGT 'Valle Cupa' |
2003 |
Bronzer |
| Bella Modella |
Primitivo |
2006 |
Bronze |
| Bella Modella |
Pinot Grigio |
2006 |
Commended |
| Quinta de Ventozelo |
Vintage Port |
2000 |
Bronze |
| Remelluri |
Coleccíon Jamie Rodriguez |
2003 |
GOLD |
| Remelluri |
Gran Reserva |
1999 |
Bronze |
| Remelluri |
Rioja Reserva |
2004 |
Commended |
| Casa del Canto |
Roble |
2005 |
Silver |
| Alvarez y Diez |
Centellito Verdejo
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2007 |
Bronze |
| Luis Cañas
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Rioja Crianza |
2005 |
Bronze |
| Luis Cañas |
Rioja Reserva de la Familia |
2002 |
Bronze |
| Luis Cañas |
Rioja Reserva Especial 'Amaren'
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2002
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Bronze
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| Luis Cañas |
Hiru 3 Racimos
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2005
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Commended
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| Luis Cañas |
Rioja Reserva |
2002 |
Commended |
| Bodegas Laus |
Flor de Gewurztraminer |
2007 |
Commended |
| Eberle |
Zinfandel 'Steinbeck Bush' Vineyards |
2006 |
Commended |
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Reviews
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Jancis Robinson.com - Oz Whites Blind Tasting
August 2008
Shelmerdine Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Yarra Valley - 17 points
Very pale. Intensely aromatic. Rather mineral with some
lime notes too. Bone dry and very refreshing. Drink 2008 -
2009.
Shelmerdine Chardonnay 2006, Yarra Valley - 17 points
Very good fruit and interest. Well balanced with what looks like very
good fruit/oak integration. Recommended for wine purists. Drink 2008 -
2010.
Jancis Robinson.com - Oddbins Press Tasting Notes
August 2008
Alvarez y Diez Luna Blanca Verdejo 2007, Rueda - 15.5 points
Expressive and fresh but seems to finish not quite bone dry, balancing
fresh acidity. Pretty rather than impressive but reasonably
priced. Drink 2008 - 2009.
Two Hands Brilliant Disguise Moscato 2007, South Australia - 15.5 points
Fresh and grapey. Sweet, orange blossom on the palate. Simple but charming. Drink 2008.
Stella Bella Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Western Australia - 17 points
Classic fresh grassy WA capsicum flavours but without greeness.
Deliciously fresh and tangy with grapefruit clarity on the finish.
Drink 2008 - 2009.
Alvarez y Diez, Luna Blanca 2006 Toro - 16 points
Leathery red fruit on both nose and palate. Quite light for a
Toro but smooth and ripe with a bite at the end. Better value
than many. Drink 2008 - 2010. |
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James Halliday's 2009 Australian Wine Companion
A
selection of reviews from this year's book. It is particularly
pleasing because all four wineries have been rated as a five red star
winery, which represents "an outstanding winery regularly producing
wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two
wines rated 94 points or above and have had a five star rating for the
previous two years."
Thorn Clarke, Barossa Valley
William Randell Shiraz 2005, 94 rating
Deep, dark and compelling, loaded with fruitcake, charry oak and dark
fruits; full-bodied with plenty of ripe tannins and an ample amount of
sweet fruit on the finish.
Shotfire Ridge Quartage 2006, 94 rating
Stacked full of ripe, though not overripe blackberry and plum fruit;
soft tannins and perfectly managed oak. Yet another gold medal
performance for the Quartage.
Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2006, 90 rating
Good
colour, full-bodied with plenty of sweet fruit and sweet oak on the
bouquet and palate; typically complex, with strong tannin and oak in
support.
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Shelmerdine Vineyards, Heathcote and Yarra
Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006, 94 rating
A
fragrant, complex bouquet offering barrel ferment notes and nectarine
and melon fruit which flows onto the palate; has a long, tangy but
bone-dry finish.
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2007, 94 rating
Very
good hue; remarkable depth to the cherry and plum fruit given
(deliberately) low alcohol; touches of spice and oak and good acidity;
overall elegance.
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2006, 94 rating
An elegant, finely drawn and structured pinot in a sotto voce style ...
Heathcote Shiraz 2006, 94 rating
Medium-bodied;
outstanding texture and structure are the drivers of the wine, with
appealing red and black fruits filling the mid-palate.
PHI Wines, Lusatia Park Vineyard
PHI Sauvignon Blanc 2007, 95 rating
High
quality from a challenging vintage; highly aromatic and a brilliantly
clear varietal fruit profile. Top mouthfeel, line and length.
PHI Pinot Noir 2006, 94 rating
Great mouthfeel and line to the palate with an array of black cherry,
plum and spice fruit flavours; oak has added its voice, though quietly.
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Stella Bella Wines, Margaret River
Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2005, 95 rating
A very complex wine, maturing with unusual grace; barrel fermentation
and maturation has not subdued the intense fruit; power with finesse;
long finish.
Suckfizzle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, 95 rating
Complex, medium bodied, blackcurrant cassis fruit, fine ripe tannins
and cedary oak all seamlessly joined on the fluid and long palate.
Stella Bella Cabernet Merlot 2005, 95 rating
An aromatic bouquet of red fruits, then a palate bursting with flavour,
led by cassis/redcurrant, followed by perfectly balanced tannins and
sure French oak.
Stella Bella Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007, 94 rating
A complex bouquet and palate, suggesting barrel ferment components
which don't impinge on the line and flow of the fruit through to the
finish.
Stella Bella Chardonnay 2006, 94 rating
A brilliant clean, precise and fresh chardonnay showing just how much
can be achieved with early picking; the oak has been absorbed in
Chablis style.
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Two Hands Wines, Barossa
Max's Garden Heathcote Shiraz 2006, 95 rating
More aromatic and with red fruits joining the blackberry; a fine gently
savoury palate with little or no sweetness to contend with.
Bella's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2006, 94 rating
... Opulent and fleshy ... leaving no corner of the mouth untouched; the fruit, oak and tannins carry the alcohol.
Sophie's Garden Padthaway Shiraz 2006, 94 rating
The lightest of the premium range in terms of colour and body, but does
have appealing spicy elements; it is not unduly sweet and has good
length.
Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz 2006, 94 rating
Strong blackberry and prune fruit with plenty of attitude.
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Campbell Mattinson's Winefront website
by Gary Walsh, August 2008
Majella "The Malleea" 2005
...
it has superb smooth fine tannin and for all its weight and intensity
it still feels fresh and vigourous, showing no sign of its 15% alcohol.
Excellent length of flavour. A fabulous wine of
satisfaction and seduction - possibly event sedition. 95 points
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Scotsman on Sunday
24 August 2008
Richard Bath's Restaurant Review on The Balmoral Hotel's Number One highlights Stella Bella
"
... try a bottle of Stella Bella Viognier. It was the finest
white wine I've had the pleasure to drink. Creamy and with more
notes than "The Flight of the Bumble Bee", this was worth
£31 of anyone's money."
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Wine Enthusiast Magazine Best Buys
October 2008
Redtree 2007 Pinot Grigio
Richer and riper than the '06, this wine shows why Pinot Grigio is such
a hit in America, especially at this price. The wine is crisp and
savoury in acids with a wealth of citrus, fig, green apple, honeydew
melon and vanilla flavours that have an off-dry sweetness.
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The Lady Magazine
Charlotte Lessing reports on her visit to the London International Wine Fair
...at
the Argentina Zuccardi wine section ... I tasted the white Viognier and
Chardonnay, both very good value ... and the Serie A Malbec is as
good as it gets."
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Wine and Spirt Magazine
September 2008
IWC High Achievers
Mention goes to Majella Wines for their winning Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.
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Tel: 01505 506 060 Fax: 01505 506 066
Email: sales@alliancewine.co.uk Web: www.alliancewine.co.uk
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