Wine Cellar - Newsletters

Tasting Schedule Second Half 2007

Tasting Theme	Cost	JHB	Cape Town
Spain 2004	R325	24 July
Marked as a Five-Star vintage with exceptional weather; these will blow your taste-buds with massive concentration coupled with superb elegance. Numanthia (RP 98), Finca El Bosque (RP97) and La Nieta (98) are definite notables. We also taste the range of Sierra Cantabria from Rioja and Costers del Siurana from Priorat. A few spaces still available.
France 2003 reviewed	R275		18 July
What has happened to the warmest vintage on record? Initially the wines seemed baked, oaky and a little flabby. Well, they have settled and integrated over the last year and are showing their true colours. Though not a vintage for decades of cellaring, there are patches of brilliance such as in the Northern Rhone and St Estephe. We compare wines of the Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux from 2003 versus the same wine in a cooler vintage. Highlights: Montrose 2002 vs 2003 (RP 97), Chapoutier St Joseph Les Granits 2003 (RP 93) vs 2002 and Florente de Merode Corton Renardes 2002 vs 2003.
SA Legends from the 70's and 80's	R325		1 August
A special review of some rare findings from a Private cellar; Mostly 1986's from Rustenberg, Kanonkop, Alto, Welgemeend, Nederberg, Delheim, Meerlust, Overgaauw, Neetlingshof, La motte, Fleur du Cap, Zonnebloom and Groot Constantia. Also some Nederberg Paarl Cabernet's back to 1974!
The Loire Valley with Richard Kelly MW	R225	29 August	31 August
The world-renowned Loire specialist and Master-of-Wine, Richard Kelley will run us through his picks across the region. Expect this is be hugely interesting and informative. The most famous wines to be tasted will be the Huets Vouvrays which are able to mature for decades! Eric Morgat's Savennieres has just been picked as wine of the week by Jancis Robinson MW. We also taste one of DECANTER'S best value St Nicolas de Bourgueil picks from the brilliant 2005 vintage. All wines will be on offer pre-shipment.
Burgundy 2005	R300	11 September	5 September
Sublime weather equals sublime vintage! I believe on par or even better than Bordeaux 2005 in qualitative terms. Completely focused wines with precision acidities, lovely ripeness and fine tannins. This is one not to miss! Grand Crus from Florent de Merode (Corton) and Rion (Echezeaux). In such a vintage the Premier Crus are something special; Blaine Gagnard Chassagne Clos St Jean, Chavy Puligy Les Purcelles and St Aubin Em Remilly, Voilot Volnay Champans. 17 wines in all.
Bordeaux 2004	R300	09 October	12 September
Likely the last value-for-money vintage ever! Classic in the Medoc, good acids, medium bodied with fine tannins - all what Bordeaux is about. Highlights will include; Pichon Lalande, Leoville Poyferre, Pontet-Canet, Lynch-Bages, Calon-Segur and Smith Haut-Laffite! We also taste 4 Sweeties; Coutet, Lafaurie-Paraquey, La Tour Blanche and De Malle.
Rhone 2004	R300		19 September
After the drought of 2003 a welcome classic vintage. From the North we have Chapoutier's St Josephs (Blanc RP 94) and Hermitage l'Oree Blanc (RP 99) and the South; Beaucastel CDP (RP 93), Chapoutier Barbe rac as well as two Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee's from Raymond Usseglio - Imperial and Tradition. We compare the 2004 with similar wines from the similar 2001's including Beaucastel CDP (RP 96).
De Trafford vs Latour	R1050		26 September
A vertical tasting (1997,1998, 2001 and 2003) of de Trafford Cabernet Sauvignon compared with the famous first growth. The 2003 Latour (approx. R14,000) has been given perfect points by Robert Parker and described by Andrew Jefford in the FT as one of the top 2 wines he has ever tasted! Snacks included
Bordeaux 2000 Revisited	R275		3 October
We have released more 2000's from Bond to revisit this heralded vintage. For the first time these are blossoming at 7 years of age. Smith-Haut Laffitte, Rauzan-Gazzies, Moulin St George, Cantermerle, Duhart Milon and Clos Fortet to name a few not tasted since 2004
Year End Tasting - 1980's Bordeaux Cru Classe	R2,100		14 November
A tasting to show-off the best that Bordeaux has to offer and a review of some top mature Bordeaux. The illustrious line will include Calon Segur 1982, Lynch Bages 1985, Cos d'Estournel 1986, Gruaud-Larose 1986, Vieux Certan 1989, Pichon Baron 1989, Mouton Rothschild 1989, Climens 1989, Lafaurie-Paraguey 1988, and Chateau Yquem 1983. The tasting will be held at the Cellars Hohenort in Constantia with a 3 course meal.

Tasting Schedule First Half 2007

Tasting Theme	Cost	JHB	Cape Town
1997 Top-flight Cabernets and Blends	R195		21st February
Ten years on we review SA's top wines and their development. Big names will include, Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet, Thelema Cabernet, Rustenburg Stellenbosch, Meerlust Rubicon, Rust-en-Vrede, Le Riche Reserve, de Trafford - 17 in total
Spain: Rioja, Priorat and Toro	R295		20th March
New Spain is one of the most exciting wine-revivals in Europe. Amongst some Cosecha's and Crianza's we have a line-up of some of the most sought-after Spanish wines including... Numanthia, Termanthia, Finca El Bosque, Clos de L'Obac and Roda 1. What a line-up!
Chapoutier: 2005's and late 90's top cuvee's	R295		28 March
A first taste the of famed 2005 Rhones! We offer new wines at Wine Cellar such as Chapoutier's Tricastin, Crozes-Hermitage and Tavel cuvees. We also review some older vintage top Cuvee's; le Pavillon 1999, les Granits 1996, and Le Oree 1999. Our fast-selling, fabulously valued Chateau Curson Crozes-Hermitage will also be tasted.
Icon Australian Shiraz and new Bordeaux's			4 April
We offer Penfold's Grange to compare with Giaconda, Turkey Flat, Noon Eclipse and the iconic E&E from Barossa Valley Estate. Also, we have landed new Bordeaux 2000's and 2003's of great value. Tourelles de Longueville, Yon-Figeac both 2000's as well as Langoa-Barton, Smith-Haut-Laffite and Lagrange 2003's!
Bordeaux 2003	R325	10 April
A record warm year across Europe produced some atypical but exceptional wines in the Medoc. Beginning with a few satellite appellations we head through classed growths of St Julien, Pauillac and St Estephe (fairing best in 2003). Highlights include, Ch Montrose (Parker 97/100), Poyferre (Parker 98/100) and Langoa-Barton!
New Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne	R295		11 April
Chablis 2005 has arrived! This outstanding vintage cuvees from Daniel Dampt and Alain Geoffrey are on offer. More Burgundies have also arrived including more 2002 Grand Cru's and Village wines. Great value Alsatian from Domaine Hunihwir will be out first of this region. We will however start off with special cuvee Taittinger, the Prelude Grand Cru and Compt de Champagne Blanc de Blanc!
Burgundy 2002	R325	15 May
A consistently warm, relatively dry vintage throughout Burgundy produced assertive rich wines with extreme minerality and elegance. We taste four majestic grand cru's and a few moderately priced premiere crus and village wines. Florente de Merode's Corton Bressandes and Lequin Colin's Batard Montrachet will no doubt steal the show.
Rhone 2003	R325	12 June
Also extremely warm vintage; though more drought ridden than Bordeaux. Wines in the south are ripe and forward whilst the northern Rhone has extreme concentration and opulence. Wine to look forward to Chapoutier Ermitage l'Oree Blanc (Parker 99/100), Cote Rotie Mordoree (Parker 95/100), Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape and Chateau Curson Crozes-Hermitage!

To book for these tastings...
Either e-mail: roland@winecellar.co.za Or telephone 021 448 4105 To reserve a place or for more information (please give your phone number in the e-mail)
We generally taste between 12 and 18 wines, starting at 18:30 we are done by 20:00

Johannessburg Venue: Miele Centre, Bryanston

Cape Town: Wine Cellar, Observatory

Then make your payment to confirm your reservation:
Either pay by MASTERCARD or VISA via the SafeShop link or INTERNET TRANSFER or DIRECT DEPOSIT into our account ‘The Wine Cellar Club cc’ number 1021268585 at Nedbank, Salt River 102109 using ‘YOUR NAME +TASTING’ as the Beneficiary or Payment Reference.

Remember that your reservation is only confirmed when we receive your payment. We regret there will be no refunds; if you can’t attend ask a friend to come in your place.