You know the drill, but oh boy, what a fun drill it always is - another duo of weekend tastings are coming your way, with special offers included as always!
The delicious and distinctive wines from Ochota Barrels (Adelaide Hills) will be on pour Friday (9th) evening from 4:30 to 6:30pm. A great winery, once starting with a bit of a cult following, has now gained a global reputation among the wine industry with their minimal intervention/low sulphite reds and whites that range from easy, to expressive, to explosive. These will be a treat.
The Saturday champagne everyone's been loving on these hot days continues onward, with Billecart-Salmon in the spotlight this week! Come by the shop Saturday (10th) afternoon from 12 to 2pm, as we gift our taste buds with the elegance and refined fruit Billecart are renowned for - including a beautiful 2009 Extra Brut and 2007 Nicolas Francois Cuvée.
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Ochota Barrels Tasting Lineup
(Friday 9th December from 4:30 to 6:30pm)
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2022 Slint Chardonnay - $38 on special ; $43 RRP
"A tightly wound cool climate chardonnay which leads with mouth-watering grapefruit and nectarine mealy granny smith apples and a fine tuning of nougat and honeysuckle spice sets the foundation for the almost nettle like svelte texture aromatically evolving between gun flint, bee’s wax and Meyer lemon rind the palate is taut and precise, and finishes long with powerful elegance." - Winemaker Notes
2022 Fugazi Grenache - $38 on special ; $43 RRP
"3200 bottles produced from 76-year-old dry grown bush vines on the Blewitt Springs Ridge - tiny berries and a miniscule yield. A fragrant thread of wild herbs, fennel seed and charcuterie is underpinned with raspberry, violets and Asiatic spice. The taut nervous tension of compact red currants and Satsuma plum fills the mid palate with mouth-watering red berry intensity. Finely grained but authoritative tannins position this svelte, fleshy, and measured weight of forest cherries and persimmon into a long succulent and savoury finish." - Winemaker Notes
2022 A Forest Pinot Noir - $38 on special ; $43 RRP
"A strikingly floral nose of crushed petals and stems sets this liquid’s framework… garrigue and Nordic forest undergrowth taunts damson fruit, pain d’epice and subtle peaty elements into a convincing show of rusticity. The delicate sappiness holds the taut, yet compact and textural palate in a state of flux, whilst tarry red currants and slightly meaty components enfold long with a savoury egress… through the experience a medicinal quality flutters, reminiscent of Billie Hoke, which cannot be ignored by the further travelled. Once opened, this wine will move considerably after day one with more flamboyant adjectives that will make this tasting note seem 101 standard issue." - Winemaker Notes
2022 The Price of Silence Gamay - $39 on special ; $45 RRP
"In 1985 three clones of gamay were planted high up in the Piccadilly Valley, a few years later due to its unpopularity, they were grafted to chardonnay. It wasn’t until 2013 that Taras convinced his grower mate Sam to chainsaw off the chardonnay grafts and bring back canes from the gamay rootstock evolving from there, cuttings were taken of these three clones and grafted on established vines in Sam’s quartz-laden woodside vineyard, planted on a former gold mine, a crop picked in 2019, bushfire in 2020, a harvest in 2021, and vines finding natural balance in 2022. A tightly wound classic example of gamay which shows medicinal fragrance, savoury spiced red currants that has a polished mineral palate that is lithe, dense yet elegant in its long and pure finish." - Winemaker Notes
2022 Impeccable Disorder Pinot Noir - $78 on special ; $89 RRP
"The flip side of the coin from Home… a selected parcel of the most ethereally powerful pinot noir for the vintage. 845 bottles produced in 2022. Impeccable Disorder is darker, broodier and has unusual intense rustic pinosity … gun powder and texture like southern ocean surf beach sand... the label is from Taras’ punk band Kranktus’ first album... him strapped to a chair screaming... TV strapped to his head ...normal stuff." - Winemaker Notes
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Billecart-Salmon Tasting Lineup
(Saturday 10th December from 12 to 2pm)
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Brut Nature NV - $109 on special ; $119 RRP
// 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 30% Pinot Noir
"A visual intensity of pale gold, enhanced by the clarity of a pure and sparkling ensemble. With ultra-fine, regular and plentiful bubbles which are focused towards the surface of the glass in a disciplined manner. It's the engagement of an authentic seduction, nuanced by the purity and the exact maturity of a distinct and vibrant aromatic profile (orchard fruits, fresh citrus, and small pains au lait). An ample and harmonious tactile approach, preserved by a deliciously chiseled mineral tension. A well-balanced and nicely rounded lightly sparkling sensation is strengthened by a captivating gustatory trajectory (white flesh fruits, lime trees, and almond cream." - House Notes
"A dense, layered Champagne with a full body and lots of creamy texture. Lovely cooked apple and pie crust. The base was 2015, but in total it contains 10 harvests. It was bottled at the beginning of 2016 and disgorged in March 2020. Four years on lees. Fantastic release." - 94 Points, James Suckling
Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru NV - $139 on special ; $155 RRP
"A tightly wound cool climate chardonnay which leads with mouth-watering grapefruit and nectarine mealy granny smith apples and a fine tuning of nougat and honeysuckle spice sets the foundation for the almost nettle like svelte texture aromatically evolving between gun flint, bee’s wax and Meyer lemon rind the palate is taut and precise, and finishes long with powerful elegance." - Winemaker Notes
Brut Rosé NV - $139 on special ; $155 RRP
// 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Pinot Meunier
"Aged on lees for 36 months with the inclusion of 40% reserve wines - a fresh and elegant Rosé Champagne. Radiant color with graceful effervescence, a persistent mousse, and fine bubbles rising slowly in the glass. Subtle and fine aromas leading to an expressive red berry flavor with citrus zest. Creamy and smooth on the palate, evolving to strawberries notes and a raspberry finish. Light, balanced and precise. The best pairing for any happy occasion!" - House Notes
"It is the go-to rosé for wine professionals, with nuances of juicy/poached red berry fruits, yet finishes dry and fresh." - 96 points, James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2022
Brut Sous Bois NV - $139 on special ; $155 RRP
"A radiant yellow crystalline appearance with golden glints brought to life by a luminous bead of persistent fine bubbles. There is an olfactory impact due to the richness of harmonious expressions (dry fruits, fresh citrus, and white fruits) coupled with finely buttered seductive notes. A defined aromatic undertone which expresses the mature complexity linked to the vinification in oak barrels. The caressing and refreshing texture enhance the creamy sensation, dominated by a beautiful bracing vivacity. A burst of flavours (notes of grilled brioche, toffee) thanks to the distinguished power and maturity which is a mark of the great wines of Champagne." - House Notes
"The complex bouquet reflects the primary fermentation in oak casks; the palate no less so thanks to the quality of the premier and grand cru reserves, also matured in oak. But it’s all a question of degree; there’s a core of citrussy acidity underwriting the freshness and length of the wine. 7 years on lees." - 95 Points, James Halliday's Top 100 of 2021
2009 Vintage Extra Brut - $145 on special ; $159 RRP
// 40% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, and 27% Pinot Meunier
"An ideal blend allowing the personality of the Champagne region’s great Pinot Noirs to dominate, combined with the elegance and subtlety of Chardonnays and that signature touch of Pinot Meunier. The delicious intensity of precise fruit with citrusy and nutty notes (grapefruit pulp, slivered almonds). A nuanced sensory development built around pastry scents (raw butter, white fruit jelly). A masterful aromatic expression with a refined, refreshing purity. A nervy, charming, tactile delight (chestnut cream, fresh blueberries, and shortbread), emphasized by a delicate texture. The wine rises to a distinguished complexity with a persistent finale, crisply structured by the high-quality potential of such a sought-after vintage." - House Notes
"The low dosage of 2g/l and the warm vintage allow the fruit-based flavours free rein - white peach, Granny Smith apple and nectarine. The finish and aftertaste remain fresh and long. A house in grand form." - 96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
2007 Cuvée Nicolas Francois - $355 on special ; $380 RRP
// 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay
"Its vinification, partially in traditional oak casks, underpins the generous character of this fine, elegant and rich wine. A beautiful golden yellow, glinting with bright sparkles. The glittering, crystalline appearance is set off by an eruption of finely chiseled bubbles. A balanced tension is achieved by the blossoming of the wine (peaches in syrup, fine apple tart, and mountain butter) and embodied in the noble flavors that follow (fresh fig and wild berries). It combines all the richness of an aromatic curve, both complex and refreshing. Intense, fine notes of orchard fruits, associated with the character of stone fruits (Mirabelle plum and sweet cherry) and accentuated by the burst of a long floral note (hawthorn). This tense and mineral vintage, characterized by an elegant vinosity, offers you all the distinction of a well-aged Champagne." - House Notes
"Disgorged with six grams per liter dosage, the 2007 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François is showing very nicely, offering up aromas of fresh bread, citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, verbena, macadamia nut and hints of biscuity complexity to come. Full-bodied, chiseled but fleshy, its vinous core of fruit cloaks the vintage's brisk acids to achieve real plenitude in a year that's sometimes rather tautly austere. Long and penetrating and complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse, this is a real success. Drink 2021 - 2041." - 97 Points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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To purchase any of these, please use the links above, otherwise you can phone us on (07) 3252 1117, or email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or drop by Friday/Saturday to give them a try before you buy!
Prices valid until stock runs out or until Wednesday the 14th of December