deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the 2020 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $14.99, regularly $18.49.

Since 1912 the Osborn family have grown grapes and made wine in the picturesque surrounds of McLaren Vale. Today, fourth generation family member Chester Osborn is at the winemaking helm, making distinctive wines using traditional methods in the winery and the vineyard.

The winery is famous for the d’Arenberg Cube, a cellar door unlike any other in the world – built in a shape of a rubiks cube. It is also renowned for the quirky names of their wines, and their specialism in the vines of the Rhône valley. Amongst the wine world, it is famous for its Dead Arm Shiraz made from fungus-infected shiraz grape vines that has left one of the branches dead while the other arm produces small and extremely concentrated grapes.

Our weekly feature this week is their Stump Jump Shiraz, It is rumoured that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to jump over tree roots, had poor eyesight and required regular tests to ensure he could still operate machinery. The design of this label is inspired by an optometrist’s eyechart and serves as a makeshift sobriety test. If you can hold the bottle at arm’s length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass, ha!

A generous and juicy Shiraz loaded with sweet red and black fruit. The nose opens with dark notes of black cherries and hints of cassis. The palate is loaded with black fruits, plums, mulberries with some aniseed and peppery spices. Fresh cherry and red berries. Fine and persistent tannins give this wine a sense of opulence. Very approachable in its youth. A wine built to drink in its early days. A wonderful expression of McLaren Vale Shiraz.

2020 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $14.99, regularly $18.49.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) – $25.49, regularly $30.99.

The famous Antinori house is a story that began in 1385 with 26 generations under its belt. A historical link with Tuscany’s Chianti Classico wine region – a place where tradition and innovation coexist in perfect harmony. A winery that reveals the past, present and future of the Antinori family.

Famous for its iconic Super Tuscans Solaia and Tignanello, the winery overlooks the countryside from a terrace surrounded by vineyards planted with Chianti Classico’s most typical grape, Sangiovese, together with other varieties that were historically planted nearby: Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, and Mammolo. A small area is dedicated to international vines, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. There are 400 acres in total, 60 percent of which are producing grapes.

Our feature this week is their iconic Peppoli Chianti Classico. The vineyards of the Pèppoli estate are located 5 kilometres north east of Antinori’s Tignanello estate. It is a famous food-friendly Chianti Classico made from Sangiovese and small amounts of other complementary varietals grown in the heart of Chianti features dark plum, floral, chocolate, chestnut and rye bread notes. Pair with homemade pizza, cured meats or pasta with Bolognese sauce.

A side note, the best method to distinguish a Chianti Classico wine from a regular Chianti wine is the Black Rooster emblem present on the neck of the bottle or on the label.

Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) – $25.49, regularly $30.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the 2019 Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $17.49, regularly $21.49.

The majestic condors soar above the Andes Mountains capturing in their flight Argentina’s finest wine appellations. Each wine in the Flight of the Condor winery’s range shows varietally pure wines which excel in their region of origin.

Our feature of the week is their Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Mendoza with its consistent weather conditions in high elevation vineyards that produces wonderfully consistent reds. The grapes are selected for their balanced fruit profile. 4-5 days of cold soak was followed by 8-10 days of alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 6 months in contact with French oak prior to bottling.

The wine has a vibrant, fresh fruit profile, and is varietally pure with a linear structure and nuanced complexity of well integrated light oak contact. Try with grilled red meats and aged cheddars.

2019 Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $17.49, regularly $21.49.

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