Sparkling Wine

• This Australian producer is a third-generation family winery established by Italian emigres in 1928. Their non-vintage Moscato is bright golden in appearance, with a bouquet of fresh fruits and a full, velvety palate. The fruit is picked and gently pressed and the juice allowed to settle naturally before being filtered. The wine is cold fermented to retain the fruit character. Perfect as an aperitif or with fresh fruits.
  

White Wines

• The 2007 vintage is 100% Chardonnay sourced from Swan Hill, Victoria and McLaren Vale, some of the most consistent wine growing regions in southeastern Australia. Fresh melon and peach aromas are complicated by subtle baking spices, anise and white flowers. Crisp, sharply focused melon and pear flavors show good mineral lift and back-end snap. Tangy, refreshing and persistent Chardonnay with lingering lemon and green apple character.
  
  
• The 2006 Verdelho from Hunter Valley, New South Wales is light yellow in color. The expressive bouquet offers apple, melon and white floral scents. Zesty orchard fruit flavors possess good energy and clarity, with a gentle peppery note carrying through on the finish. While completely unoaked, it has a beautifully rich mid-palate with plenty of flavor. This tasty Aussie wine leaves a pleasantly sweet impression and would be a good match for spicy foods.
  

Red Wines

• Big, bold and beautiful describes this 2006 South Australia Shiraz! The wine expresses oodles of spicy dark berry fruits, plums and earthy mint. On the palate, it’s a succulent thunderbolt of pure Shiraz right down to the last gulp. Made with structure and grip, the vibrant, juicy length lingers with a clean, ‘have another glass’ finish. Lithe, supple and nicely framed to show off the blueberry and plum fruit, riding along with something evocative of dried leaves and sliced tomatoes. It all lingers appealingly. Drink now or hide in the cellar for 3-5 years.
  

• Brimming with blackberry, underscored by earth and spice, this 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon is intended to please an easy-going lifestyle. On the nose, it delivers aromas of wild black fruit, plum, and spice. On the palate, this segues into more expressive berry flavors. As it finishes, it conveys silky, soft tannins that linger with black fruit. The perfect companion to roasts, hearty grills, or full-flavored cheeses.
  
  
• Monastrell (called Mourvedre in other parts of the world) is know for round, rich flavors and has been planted in the dry, wind-swept plateaus of Yecla for hundreds of years. This handpicked 2006 Spanish red comes from bush vines that are spaced far apart (usually over two meters) to allow for deep roots and dry farming. Intense cherry color with glints of mauve. Aromas of ripe back berry, blackcurrant and sweet aromas of dried figs and cherries, quince jelly and mocha. The wine is ample and very well balanced with silky, well integrated tannins. The finish is long and persistent with a final impression of spiciness.

 

Appetizer of the Week

Australian Cheese Bowl - $8

 

For more specific information on these great wines, or to taste for yourself, stop by the Tasting Room at Wines by Jennifer this week. We look forward to seeing you!