November 30th, 2010
Another fantastic Italian red wine from Puglia

ITL223Grower Profile
The Salvalai Winery is of International reputation, having won medals as far as Ontario! Their range spans from the marvellous Merlot to the finest and delicious Flaio Primitivo. Mixing the best of the traditional methods with the latest stainless steel vat technology, their wine making is supreme, and the results show in producing consistent wines of very high quality.

Primitivo Flaio : From the “heel of the boot” comes Italy’s answer to Zinfandel. Yes, they say that Primitivo and Zinfandel have the same roots, but Italy’s answer is a softer version and lower in alcohol. The Puglia region has a nice warm climate and Flaio produces Primitivo which is lush, with tastes of black berries, bramble and spice … think barbecued ribs!

Tasting Notes: This 2007 Primitivo is the Italian forefather of California’s famous Zinfandel, this is a delicious, dark red, voluptuous wine with a long elegant finish and a clean fruit filled nose. A must!

To buy this wine online for only £7.90, simply click here.

To see more Primitivo wines from us, click here

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November 29th, 2010
French fine wine review – Château Brane-Cantenac

Brane-CantenacNoted in “1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die” …this is a Margaux classic fine wine at its best.

This distinguished Margaux property takes its name from Baron Hector de Brane, nicknamed Napoleon des Vignes, who bought it it 1833, having sold Brane-Mouton in 1830. The property, at 222 acres is now the largest of the five second growths in Margaux, but it is almost certainly the original parcels of vines to the front of the château, on the magnificent Cantenac croupe (terrace), that contribute most to the wine’s breed, charm, delicacy and finesse.

bor268largeThe property has been in the Lurton family, one of Bordeaux’s most important land-owning dynasties, since 1925. Henri Lurton was born at the château, and since taking over from his father in the 1990s has been determined to prove that it is fully worthy of its second-growth status.

This particular fine wine we have available is the 1996 Château Brane-Cantenac - a magnificent blended Bordeaux wine;

Tasting: Red purple colour, oak and fresh redcurrants. Juicy ripeness oozing with new oak intermingled with liquorice, blackcurrant with a hint of smokiness. Very substantial and elegant in the mouth with excellent length.

Grapes: Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Cabernet Franc 3%

Priced at only £110.00, buy Château Brane-Cantenac from Vin Vino Direct …click here

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November 28th, 2010
Italian sparkling wine – Bianco Frizzante Il Filo

 Il FiloGrower Profile
 “Our winery is situated in the area known as Eastern Veneto, a strip of land between Veneto and Friuli, where the two regional cultures have melded together. Here, along the ancient Roman Postumia road, on the calcareous clays formed during the last glaciation by the Tagliamento river, we planted our vineyards, resorting to the most modern viticultural techniques”.

The history of the winery started in 1962, when Valentino Paladin achieved the dream he had had in his heart for a long time: to commit himself to vine cultivation and to wine production, following his family’s tradition started by his grandfather. In 1977 he purchased the first fields in Annone Veneto – the estate was called “Bosco del Merlo” – the name present on the topographical maps in memory of the oak woods that anciently covered the area. The old vineyards were gradually substituted by plants of modern conception, that allowed a production of grapes of very high quality – today the estate owns almost 100 hectares of land, and makes use of the latest technology, wine cellars and advanced agricultural knowledge … both indispensible for producing prime quality wines.
 
Tasting Notes:
A superb frizzante wine from Veneto, Italy - a bouquet of ‘May blossom’, semi sparkling with a fountain of tantelizing white floral aromas and a delicate medium dry flavour of lively little pears.
Buy this wine online for only £8.99 …. click here

We have one of the largest collections of French claret wines in the UK…plus, an amazing range of Italian fine wines and French fine wines. We carry wines covering over 66 grape varieties, including the favourites of Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Pinot Grigio – all available to buy online for your wine cellar today. We are internationally accredited as Bordeaux specialists and renowned for our exclusive and unique fine wines online at all prices.
For those special wine gifts we have a large range of champagne, wine gift vouchers and mixed cases of wine
With an original portfolio of boutique wine making growers, we are the only online wine merchant in the UK offering these exclusive wines to you. Buy white wine from Italy online with Vin Vino Direct and tantalise your taste buds today…

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November 28th, 2010
French Bordeaux fine wine – Château Lilian Ladouys

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

What is known of the history of Lilian Ladouys begins in 1654, when the property was in the ownership of Jacques de Bercoyan, a Bordeaux magistrate. By this time the estate was already known as La Doys, an obvious precursor to the Ladouys of today, although the origins of this name remain unclear to me. From Bercoyan the estate passed to the Barre family who acquired it during the 18th Century, and who maintained their dominion over these vineyards for 150 years. Under their tutelage the estate produced wines of high quality judging by the opinions of the time, which ranked Lilian Ladouys considerably higher than most would place it today. By the early 20th Century however, during the difficult years between the two wars, the estate had deteriorated, and it was sold off in a piecemeal fashion. Today, however, under the directorship of Pierre Fougere who heads up the Société Chateau Lilian Ladouys, there has been investment and reported improvements. And for some years now the wines have been made under the auspices of Georges Pauli, so there should perhaps be some optimism that they may once more be as glorious as the estate’s 18th Century reputation suggests they can.

LillianladouysThe estate covers 48 hectares spread in a disparate fashion across the St Estèphe appellation, with more than ninety plots of vines in existence. About two-thirds of the vineyard is situated on well drained soils rich in coarse gravel, with pebbles up to 8 cm across dominating. The remaining vineyards are, as we might expect for St Estèphe, clay over a limestone bedrock. The varieties planted are 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and the vines have an average age of up close to 40 years. Once harvested the fruit is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, before transfer into oak barrels, of which one-third are new with each vintage; the wine will remain here for 18 months before fining, filtration and bottling. The grand vin is Chateau Lilian Ladouys, of which there are perhaps 20000 cases per annum.

We are proud to offer the 1995 vintage for sale at only £23.80 ….click here to go to the wine and buy online.

Tasting notes – Saturated red with violet reflections, this is an intensely scented wine with wild aromatic mulberries, setting you off on a joyous journey through the layers of generous oak, onto the expressive, rich and lingering red fruit palate.

We also have 1997 vintage available – click here for more.

We have one of the largest collections of French claret wines in the UK…plus, an amazing range of Italian fine wines and French fine wines. We carry wines covering over 66 grape varieties, including the favourites of Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Pinot Grigio – all available to buy online for your wine cellar today. We are internationally accredited as Bordeaux specialists and renowned for our exclusive and unique fine wines online at all prices.
For those special wine gifts we have a large range of champagne, wine gift vouchers and mixed cases of wine
With an original portfolio of boutique wine making growers, we are the only online wine merchant in the UK offering these exclusive wines to you. Buy Piedra Luna wine from Argentina online with Vin Vino Direct and tantalise your taste buds today…

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November 24th, 2010
The Black Shiraz, ‘Pepper Leaf’

AUR068

Black Shiraz

Grower Profile
Australia has certainly made Syrah its own, even bestowing it with a new name: Shiraz. In the warm, dry climate of Australia this noble grape, responsible for some of the grandest wines of France, produces an intense, unique expression that is distinctly Australian. The ripe grapes take on classic notes of black pepper and leather that add depth and complexity to the black cherry and plum fruits on the palate. Australian Shiraz has typically been aged in American Oak barrels which impart the wine with a distinct note of vanilla that can add to the impression of ripeness many of these wines have, but the time in barrel also allows the wines a chance to settle and reveal their rich, voluptuously styled mouthfeel.

This 2008 Australian Black Shiraz is from Berton Vineyards, located in High Eden, a sub-region of Eden Valley, South Australia. The altitude and cool climate provides ideal conditions for the production of high quality fruit. Surrounded by native yacca grass and watched over by the superb blue wren, they grow some of the best Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in the hills.

Tasting Notes: A deep black colour with a huge bouquet of ripe plums, blackberries and a vanilla pepper underlay. The palate is full of flavour - blueberries, blackberries, black figs’ licquorice and spice A smooth 14.5% by vol.

One very important thing to keep in mind when sampling any syrah-based wine is that the wine requires more “breathing” time than most other varietals for the aromas to open up and the palate to soften. Decanting is highly recommended, since very little is accomplished simply by opening the bottle and letting it sit on the table a while before serving. In lieu of decanting, pour a glassful and allow the glass to sit a bit before sipping.

You can buy this fantastic Australian Pepper Shiraz online for only £9.60 – simply click here to order online.

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November 23rd, 2010
Italian Barbera d’Asti – Italian boutique wine

Barbera d'Asti

Barbera d'Asti

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

Massimo Pastora Barbero is the present owner of this vibrant innovative cantina situated in the heart of Barbera d’Asti in the ‘Valle del Nizza’ area, acknowledged by experts to be the indisputable heart of the Barbera d’Asti production. The La Ghersa vineyard comprises 15 hectares of Monferrato, which with heavy pruning produce a limited yield of 22-23 litres per hectare – coupled with a judicious selection of oak, result in a wine of great character and diversity.
Massimo pursues the ultimate rustic Barbera, that can, in many cases exceed the quality of Barolo. His reputation at home is already mentioned by several revues that extend as far as Japan, USA, Canada, France and England.

This featured wine is the award winning 2003 Camparo Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOC …. having been awarded 3 BICHIERRI *** Vini d’ Italia ‘Slow Food’ Magazine 2006.

Tasting notes – Deep red almost black, a mature Barbera with a intense liqorice, forest underbrush, mushroom, also lovely plum and wild berry, quite robust, warm with plenty spices. Grape Variety – 100% Barbera. Production total – 90,000. Oak aged in French Barriques for 12 months.

This great Italian fine wine is avaialble from us for only £12.50 … click here to order now.

For more fine Italian wine offers, Barbera wine, chateau wine and to buy wine online, visit us at Vin Vino Direct and taste exclusive wine today.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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November 23rd, 2010
Magic from Bordeaux – Château La Conseillante, Pomerol

The ChâteauLa Conseillante
ConseillanteThe Conseillante vineyard lies on the very boundary between Pomerol and St Emilion, and one of its nearest neighbours is the St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé estate Cheval-Blanc, just across the road to the east. Indeed, although the nearest vineyards include Vieux Chateau Certan, Pétrus and L’Evangile, all Pomerol thoroughbreds, a number of the Conseillante vines actually lie within the St Emilion commune. Underfoot, the soils are a mix of the types associated with the two communes; some clay, some sand, some gravel too. There are 12 hectares of vines all told, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, planted in a single block, the characteristics of which have not changed since the acquisition of the estate by the Nicolas family in 1871.

The wine label of Les Héritiers Nicolas shows a shield with a silver border enclosing the letter “N”. The violet cap represents the characteristic flavour of the wine. These items, chosen by the Nicolas brothers in 1871, remain elegantly relevant at the beginning of the 21st Century.

La Conseillante bottleThe vines, planted at a standard density of 6000 vines/ha, see controlled yields, as evidenced by a figure of 38 hl/ha for the 2005 vintage, achieved through a rolling process of pruning and bud-thinning, with leaf-thinning to improve quality of ripening. The harvest is manual, with the fruit sorted by an arrangement of four sorting tables, and destemmed prior to a cold maceration and fermentation which is carried out according to plot of origin. The malolactic tends to begin in vat, prior to running off and then gentle pressing, before being finished off in barrels, between 80% and 100% new each vintage, where the wine will rest for up to eighteen months, with a racking every third month. There is an egg white fining prior to bottling, but filtration is avoided. Selection and blending occurs when the wine is still in barrel, with the best lots destined for the grand vin, Chateau La Conseillante, with lesser aliquots going into a second wine, newly created with the 2007 vintage, named Duo de Conseillante, which will see only 12 months ageing in wood, using older barrels. Total production at the estate amounts to about 5000 cases, with the second wine accounting for up to 20% of this figure.

Tasting:
An awesome effort. The bouquet of plums, exotic spices and vanilin is followed by a wine that has brilliant definition and remarkable freshness and depth of fruit, as well as grace and elegance. Fabulously long, pure, sweet and expansive, with an explosive finish….you can buy this fantastic wine online at only £115.00 / bottle – click here

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November 23rd, 2010
Bordeaux fine wine – Château Calon-Ségur 1996

Château Calon-SégurCalon-Segur 1996 is a great opportunity to taste a Bordeaux growth from one of the greatest ever Bordeaux vintages. 

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

Fine Wines - Vin Vino Direct

Calon-Ségur’s present day motto emanates from the latter half of the century, when the Marquis Nicolas de Ségur, the ‘Prince of Vines’, who already owned Lafite and Latour, took control of Calon (as it was) and declared: “I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart belongs to Calon.”  To this day, a heart remains on the label.

Calon-Ségur lies just to the north of St-Estephe and comprises 183 acres of vineyards, as we ll as a beautiful striking white château, surrounded by a stone wall (clos),  and  currently owned by Madame Gasqueton.  The 1995 and 1996 vintages were much acclaimed as a change in style after Madame Gasqueton took over the estate in succession to her late husband Philippe Capbern Gasqueton.

This amazing wine from us is a 3′me Grand Cru Classé – at only £128.00 …click here to buy wine online.

Tasting: An immensely concentrated red-purple colour with a bouquet of redcurrants, nuts and a wealth of red fruits. Good structure, compact, mouth-watering and full of the strength on the palate.

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 40%

For more fine wine offers, bordeaux wine, chateau wine and to buy wine online, visit us at Vin Vino Direct and taste exclusive wine today.

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November 21st, 2010
South African red and white fine wines from the boutique Kirabo Cellar

Fine Wines Online

Kirabo Private Cellar is a legacy with a new story…where dreams of grandchildren come true in the footsteps of their ancestor.  The Le Roux-family is the fifth generation to farm this land in South Africa. Wine is about passion, and the whole family is enthusiastically involved in the wine making process.

Kirabo2The vineyards are situated in the picturesque Breedekloof Valley (Rawsonville), less than one hour’s drive from Cape Town at the foot of the Sidu Mountains. This Region is renowned for its mystical beauty and superior wines.  A diverse range of soil types that allow for optimum matching of cultivars to terroir, ideal for enchanting the delicate and complex flavours in the grape.

Kirabo means ‘a gift from God’ – an African tale of a man who shot and wounded an elephant, only to see another one rush to the rescue…the hunter leaves the scene, intending to return for the valuable tusks. A month later he returns to find the animal still alive in the same spot, having been cared for by its faithful mate…..
This small winery is situated high on the steep south-west facing slopes of the mountains. The cool summer evening conditions and the silex based soil enables the grapes to ripen slowly without over-producing, this unique soil gives Kirabo wines their special character. This exclusive, boutique wine cellar produces only 3,400 bottles per cultivar, with the wine being wood-matured for 15 months, resulting in a long finish with good structure. The most exciting aspect of these wines is that they carry a lot of fruit, rendering them very pleasant and accessible to good drinking, leaving the palate clean, without the tar left behind as in some South African wines.
We offer 3 ranges of wine from Kirabo; ‘Premium‘ – fine wine quality at extraordinary competitive prices and the ‘Reserve‘ range - quality that offers style and character, ideal for drinking on all occasions….and ‘Platinum‘ – a new blockbuster range of fine wines from Kirabo.SAR030 new

This featured South African wine from Kirabo is the 2007 Pinotage, Premium …

Tasting Notes: Dark colour, instantly revealing, fresh aromas of dark plums and dry raisins. Substantial with a touch of sweetness on the finish, click here for more details of this South African red wine.

Buy wine from South Africa – also in this range we offer;

Chenin Blanc – Premium Kirabo – Worcester  click here
’08 Pinotage Rosé, Kirabo click here
’07 Sauvignon Reserve – Kirabo – Worcester click here
’07 Chardonnay Reserve – Kirabo – Worcester click here
Merlot – Kirabo – Worcester click here

’06 Kirabo Chardonnay Platinum Collection  click here

’03 Kirabo Merlot-Cabernet-Rubis Platinum Collection  click here

’05 Kirabo Pinotage Platinum Collection  click here

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November 20th, 2010
A classic Roast Lamb and fine red wine pairing…

RoastLamb1Lamb is a rich, fatty meat and so is best complimented by confident, well-structured robust reds which stand their ground.

A classic wine pairing is a good quality red Bordeaux, or any of the better Cabernet Sauvignons or Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blends from California, Chile, Argentina,  South Africa or Australia. Otherwise, Reserva or Gran Reserva Rioja, Ribera del Duero,RoastLamb2 or a heartier red Burgundy or New World Pinot Noir, are all a fantastic match, as are chunky, spicy but not-too-young reds from the Rhône.

 

To pair really powerful bastings of anchovies and capers or lashings of rosemary and garlic, your finest wines may suffer, so choose the fullest examples you can find of the recommended wines. Finally, beware too much mint sauce; the vinegary bite plays havoc with the fruit in wines…

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