Two wine tastings coming up for you to enjoy this Friday and Saturday, both sweeping through plenty of whimsy, character, complexity!
To see out what's been quite the busy July, we showcase five wines from Adelaide Hills winery Frederick Stevenson! Delicious, personable drops lovingly created by head honcho Steve Crawford; a winemaking guru who always aims to put a slightly different spin on things, focusing on minimal intervention and organic viticulture in varietals such as Grillo, Montepulciano, Malvasia, as well as favourites like Chardonnay and Sangiovese! We tried these next to Steve himself upon his visit to Brisbane last week, and his complete passion and drive for what he does was clear to see - each vibrant label we have pouring tomorrow (Friday 31st) is a total treat, either to sip on and study the sense of texture, or glug down without hesitation. Come join in between 4:30 and 6:30pm, they're sure to bring some end-of-week smiles.
And as for Saturday, here's one we've been keen to put together for some time now - a wild and wonderful ride around different corners of the globe, looking at red varietals you may or may not have tried before! Whether it's delicious multi-blends like the very chillable Geyer Rouge from Barossa (driven by Saperavi) or 'Tout Facile' from Jura's Fabrice Dodane (mainly Trousseau), or single varietals like Pelaverga from Piedmont, Blaufrankisch from Austria, Cinsault from Chile, Schiava from the Dolomites, Aglianico from Basilicata (neighbours of Puglia), and Perricone from Sicily, this one will be a ton of fun to welcome in August. It'll run from our usual 12-2pm, hope you can join us on this odyssey of oddity.
Chardonnay 2025 -
$35 on special this week ($39 RRP)
"Waxy textured, spicy, lashed with stone fruit, rockmelon, nougat and ginger-lemon tea. Juicy and pretty, some creaminess in feel, long, cool finish with ticklish minerality to close. You’d say it’s on the line between minerality and fuller flavour with judicious winery seasoning in oak spice and nutty lees. Right on." - 93 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
Grillo 2025 -
$35 on special this week ($39 RRP)
"On skins for a day or two, depends on the way the wind is blowing in the mind of winemaker Steve Crawford. Skittish, energetic, salty, textural white wine. Right on. Seaside kinda feel, lemon curd and lemon-ginger tea, a little chalkiness in feel with a sizzling, dry finish. Quite expressive in its way, a kind of floral lift and perfumy vibe but so delightful in its exuberance. Wonderful drinking. Picnic wine of your dreeeeams." -93 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
Montepulciano 2024 -
$35 on special this week ($39 RRP)
"Bright magenta-splashed crimson with fruit tones of blueberry, boysenberry and black cherry fruits. Hints of crushed rock, exotic spice, amaro, dried citrus rind, wildflowers, cherry conserve and earth. Bright fruits blue and black in shade, with a chewy, chalky tannin grip, bright red apple-skin acidity and a lightly earthen, savoury arc to its travel. Drinkability writ large." - 92+ Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
'Morbinos' Malvasia 2021 -
$35 on special this week ($39 RRP)
"A blend of malvasia bianca and malvasia istriana from Parish Hill Vineyard, Adelaide Hills. Unusual varieties, here skin fermented as is perhaps not so unusual for the varieties. Around four days only on skins. This is what one might call an aromatic, textural white, though when I say textural white I usually mean grippy, tannin-esque texture and here it is chewy but glossy. There’s lots of floral lift, some lychee and ginger, green almond, a bit of salted rice cracker and green mango and light tropical fruitiness in tow. An exotic wine, but intriguing and asserts plenty of interest and urgent return to the glass. Out of the box, and worthy in that sense." - 92 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
Sangiovese 2024 -
$35 on special this week ($39 RRP)
"A bright and delicious Adelaide Hills sangiovese from the Parish Hill vineyard in Uraidla. I dig that sexy label featuring 'Triumphal Procession of Bacchus' by Maerten Van Heemskerck, 1537. Mid-weighted with snappy red cherry, raspberry and plum fruits along with medina spice, tobacco, balsamic, crushed herbs and pressed wildflowers. Lots of inherent drinkability here with a zippy mineral cadence, fine, sandy tannins and a bright, savoury end point." - 93+ Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Geyer Wine Co. Rouge 2023 -
$24 on special this week ($27 RRP)
// Blend of Saperavi, Mourvedre, Grenache, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling
Aromas of strawberries and cream candy, this multi-blend is a a complete confectionary treat, expressive both at room-temp or chilled! The palate brings just enough mouth-coating tannin and round acid from the big boy grapes present, while staying fresh and fragrant with the addition of Grenache and the three whites. Infinitely quaffable, and at such great value - Our Notes
Funaro Fontana dei Grilli Perricone 2016 -
$35 on special this week ($40 RRP)
// Organic Perricone (also known as Pignatello) from Sicily
"Intense grenade red colour with purple reflections. Strong flavours of plum are mixed with elegance spicy notes. The palate is fresh, round and complete with caressing and elegant tannin. The grapes are vinified in steel tanks with maceration on the skins at controlled temperature of 20 °C for about 12 days. When the malolactic fermentation is complete the wine grows in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. In spring time follow the blend between the wine grown in steel tanks and a 15% of Perricone aged in French and American oak barriques for about 12 months." - Importer Notes
Cantine Madonna delle Grazie 'Liscone' Aglianico 2020 -
$38 on special this week ($43 RRP)
// 100% Organic Aglianico del Vulture, 500m above sea level
"It is the territory and the site of the vineyards that give the name to this high quality Aglianico bottle, typical of Vulture lands. Its scents and flavors retain all the passion and the work of the winemaker. Bright ruby red and elegant aroma with predominance of fruity and floral notes typical of the ag-lianico variety; the palate is characterised by its typical balanced tannins and lively freshness. Fermentation and maceration took place in small tank with delicate pumping over to break the cap. After malolactic fermentation the wine was put into a combination of used french tonneaux for about 8-12 months." - Winemaker Notes
Gino Pedrotti Schiava Nera 2024 -
$52 on special this week ($59 RRP)
// Biodynamic Schiava Nera, an ancient variety, known as Trollinger in Germany
Made in a very dark rosato style, aromas of cranberry, kirsch and bush berry fruits sing, backed up by a slightly reductive volcanic, almost eucalypt note. The palate is ethereal but so intense, walking a tightrope between the two effortlessly. Cassis spice, granitic and a hint of campari / blackcurrant juice on the end. What a beautiful wine! - Our Notes
Pedro Parra 'Imaginador' Cinsault 2023 -
$56 on special this week ($64 RRP)
"The Imaginador collects the fruit that doesn't go into the five single-vineyard bottlings and presents them with the clarity and precision many producers strive for in their top cuvées. It leads with a spice-driven nose, adding flourishes of dried flowers and smoke with time. The palate embodies the weightlessly saturated profile that defines the entire portfolio, concluding with ultra-refined tannins and stony persistence. This is a superb introduction to a world-class set of wines." - 94 Points, Matthew Luczy, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Moric Burgenland Blaufrankisch 2023 -
$56 on special this week ($64 RRP)
"This wine has been produced from 8- to 50-year-old vines from soils of limestone, primary rock, and loam in Lutzmannsburg, Zagersdorf and St Georgen and the Föllig in Wulkapodersdorf. The clarity of this wine is reinforced by its length and structure, which give it balance and ageing-potential. Harvested at a yield of 25 hectolitres per hectare, it is fermented with indigenous yeast over 17 to 21 days in stainless steel and open vats. Natural MLF and élevage in 600-4500 litre casks for 13 months. No fining, filtration or additives, except tiny quantities of sulphites. Aromatic Blaufränkisch with notes of redcurrant, blueberry and blackcurrant. Hints of black tea and spices, with a beautiful approachable structure. Smooth leathery earthiness and pops of pepper." - Importer Notes
"Supervibrant and energetic for an entry-level blaufrankisch, this knocks you back in your chair in the nicest possible way. With a little aeration in the glass, Amarena-cherry, forest-berry, clove and licorice aromas unfurl. Lovely velvety tannins on the refined, medium-bodied palate. Very clean, polished finish." - 93 Points, Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com
Fratelli Alessandria 'Speziale' Pelaverga 2024 -
$62 on special this week ($69 RRP)
"Like tart cherry in crystal form. This is wildly delicious. From the shimmering garnet colour through to the popping, red fruit and spice perfume to the crispness of texture and the vermouth/botanical laced finish. Red cherry. Cranberry. Cold rose hip tea. Fantastic." - 93 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
"A very pretty, brilliant pale ruby colour. There’s a fabulous fragrance of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit with floral notes, and the signature varietal scent of peppery spice. It is light of body but not short on flavour or vibrancy, red berry juiciness and blood orange tang complemented by spicy piquancy, the tannins ultra-fine, the finish clean and crisp. An extra four months in bottle since my first tasting of this wine has given it a further level of intensity and fruit definition. A delicious wine that invigorates the palate" - 93 Points, Stephen Blandford, The Real Review
Biblia Chora Biblinos Red 2019 -
$67 on special this week ($75 RRP)
"Biblinos is produced from an unidentified red variety, originally found in the area of Pangeon. After years of research and DNA testing, it turns out to be an old variety that is nonidentical to any modern Greek or foreign grape. Traditional red vinification methods were used to produce this unique dry wine, which is aged in oak barrels for 12 months. It has a deep violet-red colour. Biblinos Red opens up with a dense yet sweet and flowery perfume of ripe raspberries and rose petals. On the palate, luscious red fruits persist together with chocolate ganache and dried herbs, which give this wine an elegant structure and a lengthy aftertaste." - Winemaker Notes
"Whatever its true identity, it has produced a wine with a character all its own. Christened Biblinos, this is a deeply coloured, voluptuous red, shot through with dark-violet tones and aromas of blueberry, chocolate ganache, pomegranate, rose petals and dried mountain herbs. You might think of it as a Greek Ripasso, though the structure is finer than the comparison suggests." - Importer Notes
Domaine de Saint-Pierre Fabrice Dodane 'Tout Facile' 2024 -
$70 on special this week ($79 RRP)
// Organic Trousseau, with Syrah and Grenache
"Domaine de Saint Pierre is the epitome of a top flight Jura Domaine. Fully Owned since 2011 by the charismatic and pragmatic Fabrice Dodane, the tiny six hectares of vineyards are ideally located in the appellation Arbois in villages such as Vadans, Mathenay, Arbois and Pupillin. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2002 with biodynamic practices being implemented right after. Very light fire red, on the nose a cocktail of raspberries, red currants and wild strawberries, nuances of blackberry leaves and pine cones, literally smells of acidity and minerality. On the palate an airy texture, wiry body supported by a strong acidity, harmoniously supported by tannin, red berries again, subtle flint, the extremely juicy drinking flow ensures great potential for fun. Spontaneous fermentation, zero filtration and clarification and zero added sulphur." - Importer Notes
If you wish to purchase any of these wines, please use the links above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Special prices valid until Thursday the 6th of August