Specials - Italian Blowout!!

Maybe this global financial crisis thingy is for real after all? Over the course of the last month or 2 we have seen some very juicy offers to the retailer, particularly from high-end distributors, and this is probably a very strong signal that sales may have stalled at the top end.

We will be picking up a few of these bargains and will pass them through to you at some very compelling prices. Detail of the 'first round' can be seen below. We will update the list every week.

Please note that quantities are very small and will only be available at the South Melbourne store. Don't hesitate to reserve stocks via 03 9699 6700 or sales@cloudwine.com.au.

Leone de Castris Negroamaro Elo Veni Salento IGT 2003 $22 (normally $25)
This 'neg' comes from the Salento appelation within Pulgia, a region on the Adriatic Cost just above the 'heel' of Southern Italy. Pulgia is generally considered the most important of the Southern regions, and shines particularly brightly for the production of full bodied reds.

Negroamaro is the leading grape of Salento, and typically produces big and dark fruited wines with a touch of bitterness. Historians believe the grape has Greek origins and was infact introduced to Itay thousands of years ago. The vines are usually trained in a bush vine fashion and very low yields result (remebering that Salento is very dry and typically not irrigated).

Leone de Castris is classed as a 'notable producer' in "The New Italy" and Italian wine bible Gambero Rosse states "This remains one of Italy's top wineries, with highly impressive consistency and quality across the almost 3,000,000 bottles (250,000 cases) produced."

Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna Il Poggiale 2004 $60 (Normally $75)
This is a long way of saying bloody good sangiovese! A top flight Chianti from the Castellina in Chianti, a sub-region of the large Chianti Classico DOG in Tuscany. This wine is a regular 3 Glass recipient from Gambero Rosso and we are not aware of many genuine Italian classics that trade for under $100 bucks in Australia, let alone $60. If you can give this wine some time; still very young as a 5 year old.

Note - less than 600 cases produced per year.

Castello Banfi 'Summus' 2004 $80 (normally $125)
Banfi is perhaps best known one of the great Brunello producers of Montalcino, a Tuscan region 40km south of Siena. Brunello is course the greatest of all Italian Sangiovese interpretations, and along with the Nebbiolos of Piedmont, are the highest regarded of all Italian wines.

The Summus, however, is not a Sangiovese but rather a 'classic' Super Tuscan, a blend of Syrah, Sangiovese and Cabernet.

The 2004 Brunello vintage was rated 9/10 by Oz Clarke.

New Releases - March 20th 2009

Chardonnay
Rockfield Estate 'Reserve' 2006 $43 (Margaret River)
Silverwood 'Seasons' 2006 $12 (Mornington Peninsula)
Wedgetail Estate 'Single Vineyard' 2006 $35 (Yarra Valley)

Grenache & Blends
Teusner "Avatar" GSM 2006 $28 (Barossa Valley)

Pinot Gris
Te Whare Ra 2008 $28 (Marlborough)

Pinot Noir
Rockburn 2007 $53 (Central Otago)
Stefani Lubiana 'Primavera' Pinot Noir (Tasmania) $27
Te Whare Ra 2006 $38 (Marlborough)

Riesling
Te Whare Ra "D" 2008 $28 (Marlborough)
Te Whare Ra "M" 2008 $28 (Marlborough)
Wilson Vineyard 'Polish Hill' 2008 $23 (Clare Valley)

Rose
Small Fry 2008 $19 (Eden Valley)
Teusner 'Salsa' 2008 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Saint Clair 'Wairau Reserve' 2008 $33 (Marlborough)
Saint Clair 'Block 6' 2008 $30 (Marlborough)
Stella Bella Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $20 (Margaret River)

Shiraz
Teusner "Riebke" 2008 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling White
Rockfield Estate Brut 2003 $32 (Margaret River)

Tempranillo
Telmo Rodriguez 'Gazur' 2006 $31 (Spain)

Tasting Notes - A Few Barossa's.....

Spinifex Esprit Red Rhone Blend 2006 (Recommended)
One of very few Australian wines to contain both cinsault and carigan. Perhaps consumed a touch young but I was very keen to try wines from this house again after an absence of a few years. Nose shows a lot of zingy minerals and talcum powder, and some spice as well. Really quite powerful. Palate is powerful and centrated yet very much linear and in check. Red berries, some light cherries, a touch of licorice, and even traces of ink to finish. To me there's a slightly rough layer of heat and acid underneath the fruit, but this may well play into the hands of successful longer term cellaring. Based on critical acclaim here in Oz I'm surprised we don't sell more of this stuff. Along with Massena stakes a good claim as being the BV's leading producer right now.

Turkry Flat 'Butcher's Block' GSM 1999 (Recommended)
Took a while to get going but it ultimately did. Seemingly quite mature and perhaps tired upon opening with faded red fruits. However spice and sour fruits soon kicked in, albeit in a dry style. After an hour sweeter fruits really opened up and drove the wine beautifully. Showed great balance the whole way through. Drink over the next 12 months.

New Releases - March 10th 2009

Barbera
Massena 2008 $24 (Barossa Valley)

Cabernet
Hutton Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $28 (Eden Valley)

Chardonnay
Dog Point 2007 $33 (Marlborough)
Howling Wolves 'Small Batch' 2007 $31 (Margaret River)
John Kosovich 'Unwooded' 2006 $18 (Swan Valley)
Point Leo Road 2006 $26 (Mornington Peninsula)

Dolcetto
Crittenden Estate 'Pinocchio' 2006 $18 (Great Western)

Pinot Gris
Chard Farm 2007 $31 (Central Otago)

Pinot Noir
Chard Farm 'River Run' 2007 $41 (Central Otago)

Prosecco
Dal Zotto 'L'Immigrante' 2008 $30 (King Valley)

Riesling
Chrismont 2006 $15 (King Valley)

Rose
Freeman 2008 $19 (Hilltops)
Happs "Fuchsia" 2006 $19 (Margaret River)
Krinklewood 2008 $22 (Hunter Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Goldwater 'Wairau Valley" 2008 $23 (Marlborough)
Harvey River 2008 $15 (Margaret River)

Shiraz
Deviation Road 2007 $20 (Adelaide Hills)
Flaxman Wines 2006 $46 (Eden Valley)
Massena '11th Hour' 2007 $39 (Barossa Valley)
Pindarie 2007 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling White
Cofield NV $25 (Rutherglen)
Elgee Park 2005 $38 (Mornington Peninsula)
Point Leo Road 2006 $27 (Mornington Peninsula)

Tempranillo
Cillar de Silos 'Joven' 2007 $38 (Spain)

White Blends
Freeman 'Fortuna' White Blend 2008 $28 (Hilltops)

New Releases - March 1st 2009

Arneis
Chrismont 2008 $20 (King Valley)

Brachetto
Pizzini 2008 $21 (King Valley)

Cabernet Sauvignon
Rookery Island 2004 $33 (Kangaroo Island)

Chardonnay
Harcourt 2008 $21 (Bendigo)
Otway Estate 2005 $22 (Geelong)

Dolcetto
Crittenden Estate "Pinocchio" 2006 $18 (Great Western)

Malbec
Harcourt 2006 $21 (Bendigo)

Merlot
Highbank 2004 $52 (Coonawarra)
Parker Estate 2002 $41 (Coonawarra)

Muscat
919 Wines 'Classic' NV $28 (Riverlands)

Pinot Grigio
Due Mondi 2005 $25 (Trentino, Italy)

Pinot Noir
Chard Farm 'River Run' 2007 $41 (Central Otago)
Rockburn 2007 $57 (Central Otago)

Prosecco
Dal Zotto 'L'Immigrante' 2008 $30 (King Valley)

Riesling
Kanta 2007 $27 (Adelaide Hills)
Radford Dale 2008 $23 (Eden Valley)
Small Fry 2008 $19 (Eden Valley)
Some Young Punks "Monsters Attack" 2008 $22 (Clare Valley)

Rose
Artazuri 2007 $24 (Spain)
Krinklewood "Francesca" 2008 $22 (Hunter Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Paul Bettio 2008 $14 (King Valley)

Shiraz
Brini 'Sebastian' 2005 $25 (McLaren Vale)
Small Fry 2006 $24 (Eden Valley)
The Story 2007 $20 (Grampians)

Vintage Port
919 Wines 2006 $28 (Riverlands)