Translation missing: en.ACellars Newsletter 31st March, 2022 - Explore Northern Rhône + Spanish Wine Tasting + This Week's Staff Pick!: ACellars Newsletter 31st March, 2022 - Explore Northern Rhône + Spanish Wine Tasting + This Week's Staff Pick!
The Rhône River starts its journey from its glacier in the Swiss Alps, snaking its way through Southeastern France before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Joining forces with the Saône River in the city of Lyon, together they carve their way through the steep slopes of the Rhône Valley. Giving life to the populated vineyards surrounding its path, the terraced sun-seeking vines of the Northern Rhône are highly sought for producing the best Syrah in the world, as well as some incredible Viognier, and blends of Marsanne and Rousanne.
Côte-Rôtie is one of the famed sun-seeking regions that make up the Northern Rhône wine region. It is dichotomy of not just the positioning to the sun, but the site specific soil types that make this region particularly interesting: the north-eastern Côte Brune or "brown slope" has dark, iron-rich schist, and the south-western Côte Blonde, pale limestone. According to legend, the slopes were named respectively for the brunette and blonde daughters of the local lord, Count Maugiron, describing their very different personalities. One slope produces bolder wines, the other more floral. But blood is of course thicker than water, so the traditional blending of the fruit from the two slopes sees the different personalities of the sisterly slopes support and strengthen each other. Current trends however see each personality shine with winemakers seeking out the best of the specific sites.
Unlike the majority of its neighbours, Condrieu, or "corner of the stream" does not produce any Syrah. It is home to Viognier, and despite the beating this corner gets from the wind, the orientation gives the vines the most from the warming sun throughout the cooler months, and results in a rich palate of citrus oils and spice.
The lengthy stretch of Saint-Joseph along the western bank is a great choice for those who enjoy a more savoury palate of black olive tapanade, licorice and pepper.
Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation on the east bank of the river, and bright fruit is the key here. It offers some excellent value wines with hints of the violets and black fruits for which the region is heralded. However it is the hill of Hermitage, rising high above the town of Tain l'Hermitage, that really puts the Syrah of the Northern Rhône on the map. The steep-terraced vines on the granite hillside all face south, exposing all vines to extra sunshine, and the warmth of the sun is stored in the bedrock. The fruit is riper, laden with luscious black fruits and incredible aging potential. Hermitage takes its name from the hermit living on the hillside in 1224, and previously had given its name to some of Australia's very own prestigious wines until appellation laws sorted to protect it.
Finally in the southern-most stretches of the Northern Rhône, Cornas is for the Barossa Shiraz lover seeking power and tannin with some old world finesse, and in Saint-Pérey, Marsanne dominates, supported by Rousanne to produce some lovely whites nuanced in floral and citrus aromas.
Explore the power, structure and elegance of the Northern Rhône with our collection below.
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Staff Pick:
Farr Rising Saignée Rosé 2021
Farr Rising Saignée, a rosé "bled" from a pretty serious Pinot Noir bloodline. Having a master of Australian Pinot Noir as a father producing the highly sought Wine by Farr, like father, like son, Nick Farr followed his father Gary's exact footsteps to complete his own vintages with Domaine Dujac in Burgundy.
The saignée method used by Nick involves the crushed Pinot fruit sitting in a tank for just two to three hours before the lightly stained free-run juice is bled or drained. The Rosé goes through full malolactic fermentation, followed by 10 months ageing in old barrels.
A customer favourite and a Rosé not to be overlooked by any. Perfumed, floral, sexy, sumptuous! This Rose is dry and seemingly savoury on the palate even though there is a polished element to it. Delicious!
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Our Wine Tastings Are Back!
¡¡¡SECRET SPAIN!!!
This Saturday, April 2nd
3pm - 6pm
With a history of winemaking and trade that dates back to the ancient days of the Phoenicians, Spain's relationship with wine and its indigenous grapes, as well as its indigenous yeasts, is as rich and complex as its famed Rioja. But of course there is so much more to Iberian wines than Rioja.
Journey with us in-store this Saturday as we unlock the secrets to some of our favourite, underappreciated grapes and wine regions of Spain.
We begin in Andalusia in the south with a Manzanilla that will open your mind like Darwin to thinking on the Origin of
the Sherries with Equipo Navazos "I Think" Manzanilla en Rama Saca de Junio de 2021.
Then from the salty influence of the Gulf of Cadiz, our saline sailing continues to the Bay of Biscay in the north for a
taste of the best kept secret of the Basque, Txakolina with Doniene Gorrondona Bizkaiko Txakolina 2020.
A quick trip to Galicia in the west to try a Godello from Valdeorras, the "Valley of Gold", home to perhaps the best white wines of Spain from Rafael Palacios and his quest to make them, with his "Louro" Valdeorras Godello 2020.
And finally, our travels end on a high in the mountains of Gredos, west of Madrid, a region that has seen a recent reinvigoration of the vines and a newfound interest in the area. Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi and his side project Comando G has brought a breath of fresh mountain air to his two wine projects, where we will taste two of his "spellbinding" and "vengeful" Garnacha, respectfully with "La Bruja de Rozas" (The witch of Rozas) and "Las Uvas de la Ira" (The Grapes of Wrath).
See you all this Saturday from 3pm. ¡Salud!