Michael David Ancient Vine Cinsaut
Lodi, California
750 ml
Planted in 1886 by Joseph Spenker, Michael David Ancient Vine Cinsaut comes from Lodi’s oldest producing vineyard and one of the world’s oldest Cinsaut plantings. Farmed by Michael’s son, Kevin Phillips, this vineyard is head trained and dry farmed just like it was when it was when planted well over 100 years ago. Brick red in color from Lodi’s warm summer months, the Ancient Vine Cinsaut combines aromas of bright fresh red fruits, cranberry, white pepper and graham cracker crust. Elegant and light-bodied, showing pure, crisp flavors of raspberry and pomegranate with just a hint of vanilla throughout the brisk, lively finish.
Voyager Estates Chardonnay
Margaret River, Australia
750 ml, $45.99
Attractive aromas of citrus fruit and pear mingle with delicate floral nuances and underlying flinty notes. The tightly wound palate displays layers of vibrant sweet citrus fruits and dried pear with subtle hints of spice. The wine displays exceptional purity with a fine texture and an attractive savoury element, which contributes complexity to the palate, finishing with a clean saline mineral edge.
Flower and the Bee White
Ribeiro, Spain
750 ml, $25.99
Made with the Treixadura grape, this organic white wine is a great introduction to native Galacian grapes from the Ribeiro appellation in Spain. Powerful flavours of herbs, pears and white peach, with some apricot and spice notes. Real presence, but not at all heavy. Just lovely fruit intensity, and amazing freshness.
Sherwood Estate Stratum Pinot Noir
Waipara Valley, New Zealand
750 ml, $23.99
Located in the Waipara Valley on New Zealand's South Island, Sherwood Estates' Stratum vineyards are grown in gravelly soil formed by an ancient glacial river bed. The vineyards are sheltered on both sides by limestone-derived clay hills providing the grapes with long, warm autumns to ripen. This rich Pinot Noir is red-purple in colour with juicy berry aromas. The oak-maturation provides a soft and smooth finish with hints of spice.
Turley Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault
Lodi, California
750 ml, $50.99
Planted in 1886, this Cinsault vineyard is the oldest of its kind in the United States and perhaps even beyond. The vines are gnarly with age, trained without the use of wires (called the head-trained method), and planted on their own roots - a noteworthy feature as most European grapevines are grafted onto sturdy American rootstock for pest control. As for the wine itself, it is light-bodied, tart, perfumed, and extremely well balanced. Turley Wine Cellars makes forty-seven wines from over fifty vineyards, the vast majority of which are single vineyard designate Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs. By focusing on old vine vineyards in particular, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture. All of their vineyards are either certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers or somewhere in the process, and they use all-natural yeasts in the fermentations.
Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon
Hunter Valley, Australia
750 ml, $71.99
Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 1 Semillon is one of Australia’s most awarded white wines. The grapes are entirely picked from their Short Flat vineyard which features sandy free-draining soil along with some vines that are almost 100 years old. Expect zingy, bright, juicy aromas and flavours of lemon and lime along with the first hints of toasty, honeyed flavours that will continue to develop over the next dozen years. Completely unoaked, the unique flavour profile of Vat 1 comes solely from these special grapes. Limited production with only a tiny amount shipped to Alberta, we were VERY lucky to receive one case of this Aussie icon. Semillon from Hunter Valley has a particular affinity to age. At six years old, this wine is still a baby and while a delicious treat now (oysters, yes please!) it will age gracefully for another 10+ years. The acidity will mellow and the complexity will only increase. The current release 2014 was a great vintage and has been called a “classic in the making” - but sadly, don’t expect to see a 2020 vintage, as Tyrrell’s Wines have lost 80% of their grapes this year to smoke taint from Australia’s raging bushfires. All of production will likely stay onshore and you'll have to travel to the Hunter to find some. Currently only five bottle left, reserve yours today!
Kozaemon House Junmai Goddess of Sake
Gifu Prefecture, Japan
720 ml
Brewed in the mountainous region of Gifu, Japan, Kozaemon Goddess of Sake has a red bean and cocoa aroma with intense funky, earthy umami flavours like mushroom & parmesan, along with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. It's brewed from nishiki rice, and has a rice polish rate of 70% meaning 30% of the grain was polished away, leaving 70% of the grain remaining. This house junmai was aged for a year resulting in a flavourful, unique sake experience you need to try!
Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia
Rioja, Spain
750 ml, $66.99
This Spanish red is rich, very dry, smooth, and developed. Firm tannins and good balance. It's made from 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, with Graciano and Mazuelo making up the rest. Try it with any meat dish, but especially lamb!
Avia Pinot Noir
Goriska Brda, Slovenia
750 ml, $17.99
This Slovenian Pinot Noir is ruby red in colour with a bright flowery nose with hints of strawberry, cherry and other berry flavours. This wine is distinctly fruity, lightly acidic with a nice harmonious character. Medium bodied with a light finish in traditional Burgundian style.
Alkoomi Late Harvest Riesling
Frankland River, Western Australia
750ml, $23.99
Vibrant tropical fruit and bright pefumed aromatics, with a fine crisp acidity that runs through to a cleansing finish with the slightest spritz. An excellent finish to any holiday meal.
Carmen Syrah
DO Colchagua, Chile
750 ml $26.92
A highly expressive wine with layers of violets, spices, exotic mocha, stewed plums and earthy currant. The fine-grained tannins are smooth and penetrating, and the wine is vibrant from start to finish.
Hugel Gentil
Alsace, France
750 ml
This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines assembled from noble grape varieties were called "Gentil". Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Sylvaner.
Hugel Pinot Noir
Alsace, France
750 ml
Made from the grape variety of Burgundy, this agreeable red wine presents a distinctive Alsace character. Supple, with intense fruit, it can be drunk with charcuterie, red meat and cheese. Made with 100% Pinot Noir - serve slightly chilled.
Murviedro Syrah
D.O.P. Valencia, Spain
750 ml
This 100% Syrah is deep red with intense aromas of red fruits, blackberry, and red currants. D.O.P Valencia (Spain) where this wine is made has a warm climate with strong influences from the nearby Mediterranean. As a result, the wine is very dense and fruity with good structure and a smooth, long finish. Syrah, also known as Shiraz in other parts of the world, can be made in different styles depending on the climate. In cooler climates, it displays notes of mint and eucalyptus. In warmer climates such as Spain, it displays a much fruitier and jammier quality. The grapes for this wine are grown in chalk-clay soil with abundant sunlight. They’re then fermented using traditional methods for 12 days at 26C, but with modern winemaking technology. The wine is then aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. Try this wine with red meat, spicy dishes, and goat cheese!
Decugnano Villa Barbi Orvieto Bianco
DOC Orvieto Classico
750 ml
The Villa Barbi Bianco expresses the best flavours of Orvieto tradition. The fruit is sourced from their estate vineyards grown in soils rich with fossilized shells and oysters. Careful fruit selection and concise blending create a fresh wine with bright and balanced flavours. Made with 50% Grechetto, 20% Vermentino, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Procanico.
Bodegas Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Tempranillo Blanco
Rioja, Spain
750 ml, $26.99
Tempranillo Blanco is a white grape variety that is the result of a natural genetic mutation found in a single cane of a red Tempranillo vine, discovered in an old vineyard in Rioja in 1988. You can't find it anywhere else in the world. Tempranillo Blanco wines have a high concentration of volatile compounds with fruity aromas, and offer excellent sensory characteristics just like the red Tempranillo. They are yellow-green with characteristic intense aromas of bananas and citrus and tropical fruit, underscored by floral and terpene notes. Well-balanced in the mouth, with medium-long structure and persistence. Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner!
Michael David Ancient Vine Cinsault
Lodi, California
750 ml, $36.99
Cinsault, one of the classic grapes of southern France, is most often found in the blends of the Southern Rhone. Dark-skinned yet relatively low in tannin wines from Cinsault tend to be expressive, elegant and perfumed. While it is fairly unusual to see 100% bottlings with a vineyard as magical as the ancient vine Bechtold Vineyard it must be done! The Bechtold Vineyard is located in Lodi, California and was planted in 1886 by Joseph Spenker. After 133 years of continuous production the vineyard is still head-trained and dry-farmed just as it was all those years ago. A special opportunity to try a wine from a truly unique vineyard.
Foradori Teroldego 2016
Trentino, Italy
750 ml, $38.99
An elegant wine. Red berries, flowers and mint. Lifted aromas with amazing structure and saline backed minerality. Teroldego, an ancient grape native to the Trentino region in north-east Italy, may not be as well-known as other Italian grape varieties but is nonetheless well worth the exploration. If you always wanted to know what Teroldego tastes like at its best without spending a fortune – then this is the bottle for you. Mention you found our Wine of the Week online and save $5.00!