Port for Father's Day
Saturday 31st August 11am - 2pm

Free tasting in store with Christine Hobby from Treasury Wine Estates (Importers)

In time for Fathers day this Sunday! Here's an opportunity to taste and compare five world class Port styles, including a highly rated Vintage Port. Originating from the unique terroir of the Douro Valley in Portugal, Port is a fortified wine made by adding a proportion of grape spirit, or brandy, to the wine during the production process. The name 'Port' derives from Oporto in Portugal from where it has been shipped for over 300 years, notably by English merchants. Fortified wines are made in the Portuguese style throughout the warmer wine regions of the world (such as Australia), but within Europe only wine from a closely defined area in the Douro Valley can be labelled as 'Port'. Depending on its style, Port is superb with cheese, chocolate, desserts, fruity cakes and nuts. Christine will have these fabulous fortifieds open on Saturday with great special pricing for the day:

Fonseca Ruby Port (Portugal) Special $39.99 (Usual $49.99)

The same Portuguese family have been making world famous Fonseca Port since 1822. Ruby port is made from red grapes aged a minimum of 2 years (Fonseca ages for 3 years) in large wooden vats. The wines soften and develop without losing their fresh, intense fruity character and their deep ruby colour, and are ready to drink when bottled. "Flavours of red berry and plum fruit, sweetly silky, with a crisp acidic backbone and soft background tannins."

Fonseca Bin 27 Finest Reserve Port (Portugal) Special $57.99 (Usual $68.00)

First created over a century ago for family consumption and only released commercially in 1972. A more affordable, ready to drink alternative to a vintage port, the Bin 27 is blended from selected reserve wines aged for 4 years in large wooden vats. "Save the best for last. This rich, velvety port has soft flavours of blackcurrants and plums and an elegant finish. It has much of the depth and character of a more costly vintage port."

Taylor's 10 Year Tawny Port (Portugal) Special $73.99 (Usual $95.00)

Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor's is one of the oldest and consistently one of the most highly rated Port producers. The 10 year tawny is ready to drink when bottled. It's made from selected wines laid down to age in oak casks for an average of 10 years, during which time they lose their initial dark colour and take on the delicate 'tawny' hue from which the wine takes its name." When tasted against other tawnies, Taylors exhibit more aromatic personalities, greater fruit ripeness, and a wonderful sweetness and length. The 10 year old tawny is a personal favourite as well as being the best bargain among these ports." Robert Parker

Taylor's 10 year Tawny Port (Portugal) 375 ml
Special $37.99 (Usual $49.99)

The same as above in a half bottle (375ml)

Taylor's Quinta De Terra Feita Vintage Port 2008 (Portugal) 375ml
Special $49.00 (Usual $59)

Taylor's is one of the benchmarks for Vintage Port - made from the very best grapes of a single year and ranking alongside Bordeaux or Burgundy as one of the famous iconic wines of the world. Although they can be enjoyed when young, Vintage Ports will improve for many decades in the bottle and are among the most long-lasting of all wines. Quinta de Terra Feita is a very famous single estate Vintage Port. It's an earlier drinking and less expensive alternative to a classic Vintage Port, made only in the years that Taylor's do not 'declare' a vintage.

Penfolds Bluestone Grand Tawny (South Australia) Special $35.00 (Usual $45.00)

Australia has a long tradition of fortified wine production. The country's most famous winery Penfolds has been producing fortifieds in South Australia since the mid-1800s. The Bluestone Grand Tawny, named for the cellar walls of Penfolds Magill Estate, is a multi-vintage blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Shiraz wines, matured in small oak casks with an average age of 10-15 years. Ready to drink now, it's a great buy.



For more images from the Douro Valley take a look at our Port Page

Newton Forrest Gimblett Gravels Bordeaux Reds
Saturday 24th August 11am - 2pm

Free tasting in store with Trevor Loomis from Forrest Estate

An opportunity to sample outstanding Hawke's Bay reds! Newton Forrest Estate is a partnership between Australian viticulturist Bob Newton and multi-award winning Marlborough winemaker John Forrest. The grapes are grown at the Cornerstone Vineyard on Hawke's Bay's world renowned Gimblett Gravels. Newton Forrest Cornerstone is consistently one of New Zealand's top Bordeaux blends (a Michael Cooper 'NZ Classic') achieving cult status when the 2006 vintage finished in the top six in a blind tasting of twelve Bordeaux first growths and Gimblett Gravels reds in London in 2009. Trevor will be offering a vertical tasting of the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Cornerstone blends as well as a taste of the limited production single varietal Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Stony Corner blend (details below). All the wines will be at one-day-only special prices (plus purchase any 2 bottles of Newton Forrest wine on Saturday and go in the draw for a 2 bottle pack of 1999 & 2001 Cornerstone):

Gimblett Gravels Stony Corner 2010 Special $24.95 (RRP $30.00)

Latest Release. "A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. A soft generous wine with vibrant blue/red colour, ripe cherry, red currant and blackberry fruit flavours, hints of violets, savoury notes with sweet spicy oak. The palate is full, with excellent depth and richness, sweet chocolate mocha aromas intertwined with soft silky tannins. A wine that drinks well now." The previous vintage was top NZ Cabernet Blend in Cuisine Magazine.

Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2007 Special $34.95 (RRP $40)

"A dark, full-bodied wine showing excellent ripeness with flavours of red cherry, spice, chocolate and coffee. A firm finely balanced wine with depth of texture, concentration and structure it should cellar for many years. (A recent tasting of this wine from the 1997 vintage showed superbly 14 years on!)" 4.5 Stars & Number 2 in Cuisine Magazine 2012

Gimblett Gravels Cabernet 2006 Special $39.95 (RRP $45)

"Ripe Cabernet flavours of black currants, black berry, dry herbs and a smokey cigar box, and not one hint of greenness - fantastic! The palate has the same blackberry fruit, dry herbs and smokey aromas intermingled with cabernets fabulous tannic texture - rich intense tannins that at the same time are full and drying yet soft and opulent. A wine with both power and elegance showing the virtues of a great site, vine age, a great year and sensitive winemaking." Gold Medal Tri-Nations Competition 2009

Gimblett Gravels Cornerstone 2005 Super Special $39.95 (RRP $50)

A great buy! "A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 22% Malbec. A soft generous wine with vibrant blue/red colour, ripe cherry and blackberry fruit flavours, hints of violets and savoury spicy oak. The palate is full, with excellent depth and richness, sweet chocolate mocha aromas intertwined with soft silky tannins." Gold Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2009, 18.5/20 Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews 09/07, Gold Medal Royal Easter Show 2007

Gimblett Gravels Cornerstone 2007 Special $55.00 (RRP $65)

"A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 21% Merlot. The result: a soft generous wine with vibrant blue/red colour, cassis, blackberry jelly, pencil shavings, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit flavours, dried herbs, hints of cardamom, cinnamon and black tea leaf. Youthful, the palate is rounded and full, with excellent depth, balance and richness. Black forest chocolate aromas intertwined with drying silky tannins." Winestate Bordeaux Comparison Tasting 2011 - 5 Stars & Top Wine Equal out of 146 tasted; 5 Stars Michael Cooper, Gold Medal Royal Easter Show 2011, Gold Medal Air NZ Wine Awards 2009, Elite Gold Air NZ Wine Awards 2010

Gimblett Gravels Cornerstone 2009 Special $55.00 (RRP $65)

Latest release. "A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 10% Merlot. Boldly coloured, with a fresh bouquet of blackcurrants, coffee and spices, it is full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with fresh strong flavours, a slightly sweet oak influence and excellent ripeness and density." Trophy Top Blended Red, Hawke's Bay Wine Competition 2013



John Forrest & Bob Newton

Buller (Victoria, Australia) & Coal Pit (Central Otago)
Saturday 17th August 11am - 2pm

Free tasting in store with Meg Malcolm from Kono Beverages

Buller and Coal Pit (and we're not talking West Coast of the South Island here) are both distributed in NZ by Kono Beverages, owned by Wakatu Incorporation. Buller Wines (based in the Rutherglen and Swan Hill regions of Northern Victoria) is world famous for quality fortified wines and also produces an award winning red Durif. Coal Pit is a family-owned, boutique 12 hectare vineyard in Central Otago's Gibbston Valley sub-region, renowned for Pinot Noir. Here's Saturday's award winning wine list, all at great special prices for the day:

Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir 2011 (Central Otago) Special $35.99 (Usual $46.00)

Coal Pit is one of the few single vineyards in Gibbston where the grapes are grown, handpicked and crafted into wine in an on-site winery. "Classy, single-vineyard Gibbston red, matured for a year in French oak barriques (40% new). Floral, vibrantly fruity and supple, with deep, youthful plum, spice and dried herb flavours, fine-grained tannins, and excellent complexity and harmony." Gold Medal & Trophy for Champion Export, Royal Easter Show Wine Awards

Buller Beverford Durif 2010 (Australia) Special $15.99 (Usual $18.99)

A great buy! The Durif grape (or Petite Sirah, as it is known in California) makes dark inky red wine with plenty of tannin. The Beverford has "flavours of blackberry, blood plum and bright sweet cherry. Firm upfront tannins throughout the palate balance the fruit flavours, finishing with a good length of dry blackcurrant and warm toast. Careful cellaring to 2020 will further integrate the flavours." Gold Medal & Trophy Spiegelau International Wine Competition, Winestate Top 40 Best Buy

Buller Fortifieds (Australia) - Superb & Exceptional value!

Fortified Muscat and Tokay from Rutherglen in Northern Victoria are, in the words of winewriter Jancis Robinson, "two of Australia's great gifts to the world: sumptuously hedonistic dark, sweet alcoholic liquids." They are irresistibly luscious and complex with raisiny, toffee sweetness and beautiful balance. The grapes are semi-raisined on the vine, partially fermented, then fortified with grape spirit. The wines are then matured for many years in old oak casks, in an Aussie method likened to a cross between Sherry Solera and Madeira Estufagem aging. There's an opportunity to compare both the varietals on Saturday:

Buller Fine Old Muscat 750 ml $31.99 (Usual $37.99)

The Muscat grape varietal is a very dark-skinned strain known as Rutherglen Brown Muscat. Robert Parker gives this Buller Muscat a 96/100 rave review - "Dark amber coloured, it delivers flavours of toffee, caramel, brown sugar and dates. Extraordinary value." Gold Medal Spiegelau International Wine Competition, Gold Medal NZIWS

Buller Fine Old Tokay 750 ml $31.99 (Usual $37.99)

Tokay is a white grape varietal called Muscadelle outside Australia. "Smooth textured with toffee, malt and caramel sweetness. Hints of butterscotch and orange peel. Good length and weight with a warming spirit finish." 95/100 Robert Parker. Gold Medal NZIWS

Fabulous French
Saturday 10th August 11am - 2pm

Free tasting in store

This Saturday we'll be opening a tasty red and a delicious white from Southern France, both at great special prices:

Domaine La Bastide Viognier 2011 Special $19.95 (Usual $22.95)

Viognier (pronounced vee-yon-yay) is the classic grape of the Rhône Valley and makes an aromatic dry white wine with subtle apricot, floral or citrusy flavours - a great alternative to Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. Domaine La Bastide is the up-and-coming star of the appellation of Corbieres, in the Languedoc region of Southern France. La Bastide produce some great value wines and it's not often we find a single varietal Viognier at this price point. "Pale yellow colour with green hints and an expressive nose of citrus fruits, lemon grass and white flowers. Great richness in the mouth, balanced by fresh acidity and persistent finish."

Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2012 Special $19.95 (Usual $23.99)

Domaine Bila-Haut is based in Latour-de-France, a small village near the Spanish border in Roussillon, where conditions are harsh and grape yields are low. The Domaine is owned by renowned Rhone based winemaker Michel Chapoutier, a pioneer of organic and biodynamic production. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan this hearty red offers great complexity for the price. "Deep garnet red, with aromas of black cherry. This wine is fleshy, well-structured with the warm and savage soils of the Roussillon area. Pair with a nice cut of beef or Mediterranean food."

Concha y Toro (Chile)
Saturday 20th July 11am - 2pm

Free tasting in store

Concha y Toro is Chile's leading wine producer, voted the most admired wine brand in the world by highly acclaimed magazine Drinks International in 2011 and 2012. We'll be opening 3 terrific value wines from Concha y Toro for you to sample, at great special prices on Saturday:

Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere 2011 Special $25.99 (RRP $29.95)

Carmenere is the old red Bordeaux variety which Chile has made famous. The Marques de Casa Concha is consistently highly rated - the 2009 vintage was dubbed 'Best Carmenere of Chile' by US Wine & Spirits Magazine. The hand-picked grapes were grown in the Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley on deep alluvial clay loam soil, and aged in French oak barrels. Typically showing intense dark plums, blackcurrants, and dark chocolate, with soft tannins.

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Special $25.99 (RRP $29.95)

A regular in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year. Made with hand-picked fruit from the 'Puente Alto' vineyard (alluvial stony soil, poor in nutrients) in the coolest part of the Maipo Valley. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels. "Still youthful, the gorgeous bouquet shows cassis, blueberry, game and subtly infused nutty oak characters. The palate is refined and focused with excellent mid palate weight, leading to a long, elegantly dry finish. This superbly structured wine is destined to develop extra dimension and complexity." 5 Stars & 94 Points Sam King

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Special $13.99 (RRP $15.99)

A great buy! The grapes are from Chile's Central Valley wine region, 60% aged in small American oak barrels for 8 months. "This young Cabernet is full of vibrant fruits - dark plum, blueberry and cherry - combined with subtle dried herb and spice notes. It's succulent and nicely weighted on the palate showing silky texture and a gentle dry finish. Brilliantly priced, this is an immediately appealing red. At its best: now to 2016." 4.5 Stars & 90/100 Sam King

A welcome solution to wet weekend blues
NEIL HODGSON

I don't know about you, but I am fed up with wet weekends. Working inside all week I really look forward to getting outside at the weekend, whether it is the Saturday market, lunch at a cafe or stopping in at one of my favourite stores, Casa del Vino.

Fortunately it doesn't have to be fine to visit this little treasure of a wine shop on Hardy St, and Saturdays are the perfect day because every week the owner, Ann, has some bottles open for free in-store tasting. Some of these tastings give you the chance to talk to the owner or winemaker, while other weeks the focus is on a grape variety or maybe a different country.

When I stopped in last Saturday there were two South American reds open. Both were varieties we don't grow much of in New Zealand - Santa Ana Eco Malbec 2010 from Argentina ($22.50) and Chateau Los Boldos Carmenere 2008 from Chile ($24.95).

Malbec is Argentina's flagship variety and Santa Ana Winery is a quality producer based in the Maipu area of Mendoza, the main wine region in Argentina, located in the foothills of the Andes. Santa Ana Eco is made from 100 per cent organically grown, hand harvested malbec. It is lush and ripe, packed with soft sweet blackberry and plum flavours. Very soft tannins mean this is great drinking right now.

Carmenere is Chile's signature grape - the red variety that disappeared from Bordeaux vineyards in the mid-19th century and reappeared among Chile's merlot vines 100 years later. Chateau Los Boldos is located in the Cachapoal Valley, in the Rapel region south of Santiago. The Momentos was made from 100 per cent carmenere, hand-harvested and aged six months in French (50 per cent) and American (50 per cent) oak barrels.

The carmenere is a different beast to the silky malbec. Big, rich and supple, this has classic flavours of blackberries and chocolate with plenty of blackcurrant freshness. The tannins are a little more drying, but pair it with a nice steak and an open fire and you have the perfect wet Saturday night in.

Along with these Saturday tastings, where the wines being tasted are always on special for the day, Ann also has monthly tutored tastings. These can cover anything from exciting new producers to the classic wines of Bordeaux and Champagne. To find out about these, check out their website and register to get the weekly emails: casadelvino.co.nz.

This week at Casa del Vino you will be able to taste the newly released Rewa Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine from Tohu. Maybe I will see you there.