It is the Dog Days of August, with some being yipping pups and other panting beasts. To beat the canine stupor we rounded up a number of specials that will break up the doldrums and enliven the most dogged torpor. Come check them out, because like the summer, they won’t last forever.
 
2008 Weingut Felsner Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner
Was $27 now $15
Manfred Felsner cultivates 38 acres of vineyard sites in Kremstal using environmentally friendly farming. The grapes are highly selected using multiple passes of picking at harvest. The old vines on the estate, dating back a couple of generations, bring depth and complexity to the wine. The Alte Reben is a single vineyard Grüner that is clean and elegant, with the typical crisp varietal character and weight.

2008 Cave des Vignerons de Buxy, Rully Plantenay
Was $20 now $12
The Plantenay is a fine Chardonnay from this Burgundian collective of growers. The grapes for this Rully were grown with lutte raisonnée or ‘reasoned struggle’, a practice that uses chemicals less often and less aggressively than conventional growers The wine offers aromatic complexity with pineapple, apricot and floral notes held together by fine acidity and good minerality.
 
2008 Domaine Didier Tripoz, Pouilly Fuissé, Vieilles Vignes
Was $30 now $16
Catherine and Didier Tripoz took over this flagging domaine in the 1990s and have worked hard to restore it to glory. The 10 hectares of vineyard are situated to the south of the Maconnais region, close to the great vineyards of Pouilly-Fuissé. The grapes for for their Pouilly Fuissé come from older Chardonnay vines.   The wine is fruit driven with apple and citrus flavors and a long elegant finish. It sees no oak ageing, and is crisp and refreshing.
 
2006 Vereinigte Hospitien Piesporter Goldtröopfchen Riesling Kabinett
Was $25 now $12
Vereingte is one of the United Hospitien a group of traditional wineries in the Mosel set up to provide financial security for the old, sick and disabled people of the region. The wine cellar of the winery United hospices located in an old Roman walls dating from 330 AD and is the oldest wine cellars in Germany. The Goldtröopfchen or gold droplets is a dryer Riesling with appealing fruity flavors of citrus and spicy acid and mineral notes.
 
2010 Cantine Pirovano Këssel Lagrein Trentino
Was $11 now $9
From up in Trentino in Northeast Italy, this lighter alcohol (12.5%) Lagrein has intense aromas of blackberry and sour cherry along with Violets and Tobacco notes along with soft fruit flavors of cherry and plum. It is a great versatile food wine.
 
2008 Maude Pinot Noir
Was $32 now $16
This Central Otago Pinot is fermented traditionally in open topped tanks with a portion of whole bunch included in each fermenter using indigenous yeasts. The wine is hand plunged for a month for tannin development prior to gentle pressing through a basket press, then matured in French barriques for 10 months before bottling. The Maude has a dark and brooding nose of mulberry, plum pie and ripe blackberries along with wild thyme, violets and toasty chocolate. It has good concentration of fruit flavors coupled with strong yet supple tannins.

It is the dog days of Summer, but we have something to beat the heat. This Saturday will be pouring an intriguing line up of Italian wines that will tantalize the brain and sooth the spirit. These are no common pizza wines. We have a crisp Tocai, A horsey Tuscan blend, a monkish Schiava and a sparling Bonarda. Come and get refreshed.

2010 Sferracavallo, Pinot Grigio, Umbria $10
This Pinot Gris comes from hillside vineyards with chalky limestone and volcanic soil that surround Orvietto. The wine is crisp, fresh with a good spicy note.

2011 Bastianich Friulano Adriatico $18
100% (Tocai) Friulano
Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies in the far northeast corner of Italy. Bastianich’s vineyards there sit in two distinct zones. The original vineyard in Buttrio/Premariacco is influenced by the warmth of the sea and is famous for producing wines of great power. The second property, in Cividale del Friuli, is influenced by the bora, or north wind. With cooler nights, the wines are much more aromatic. Both areas share similar soil, ponca, the crumbly sandstone gives the wines their signature mineral backbone. The Adriatico is medium bodied with ripe, luscious pear flavors carried by a refreshing mineral flavor and zesty, mouthwatering acidity.

2010 San Felice Cantrada $10
50% Merlot, 40% Sangiovesse, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
This red wine was created for the Contrade of Siena to be served at their traditional banquets during the days of the Palio (a yearly horse race). Fresh, and fruity, the Contrada is a robust Tuscan food wine with scents of ripe cherries and violet, soft tannins and big bright fruit combined with a balanced acidity.

2010 Kalterersee Auslese ( Schiava) Alto Adige $17
Schiava (also known as Trollinger, Vernatsch or Kalterersee)
Novacella is an Augustinian monastery founded in 1147. Today the monks still make wine to support the monastery. This Northern alpine Italian red is light and fresh with aromas reminiscent of red summer fruits and cherry; succulent, gentle and fruity on the palate with soft, unobtrusive tannins, mild but refreshing acidity and a typical hint of almond on the finish.

2010 Castekki du Luzzano Bonarda Oltrepo Pavese Frizante $20
100% Croatina (Bonarda)
This Bonarda Frizzante is a sparkling red wine familiar in the north of Italy. The estate lies on a hill that borders the regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy. The wine possesses plenty of fruit, intense aromas of raspberry and a dry palate of great elegance. Fresh and unusual.

This Saturday we are heading to the other end of the earth and exploring the wines of South Africa. The warm climate blended with cool breezes off the ocean come together to make for great grape growing. Each region excels in different varietals and we’ve found some excellent examples to show that off. Take a break from the Seafair frenzy and come tour the Cape.

2011 Badenhorst, Secateurs Chenin Blanc, Swartland $14
Badenhorst is a family estate in Swartland growing old bush vines that are bio dynamically farmed. The Chenin is full-bodied yet discreet and inviting, with herbal, floral and citrus flavors.

2011 Southern Right, Sauvignon Blanc Walker Bay

The estate is located only 3 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean and the cool breezes that come in off the ocean make this the coolest region for wine production in South Africa. The blanc has full aromas of lime and gooseberry and a touch of mineral along with flavors of lemon and pineapple.

2011 Boekenhoutskloof, Wolftrap Red, Franschoek $10

65% Syrah, 32% Mourvedre & 3% Viognier

The wine gets its name from the early settlers in the Franschhoek valley (where the Boekenhoutskloof winery is located) who built Wolftraps. The only problem is, there have never actually ever been any wolves in or around the region. The reds were fermented using selected Rhone strain yeasts. French oak matured with Viognier blended prior to bottling. Egg white fined. The wine has a spicy profile with ripe black fruit and violets with soft tannins, good density and a hint of oak.

2009 Spice Route, Chakalaka, Swartland $20

37% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, 18% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache and 4% Tannat

Swartland’s deep red soils sustain these unirrigated bush vines through the long warm summers. The harsh condition is tempered by cool Atlantic breezes rolling in overnight. The wine has initial smoky cloves and savory notes that give way to a plum and black cherry nose with hints of sweet oak spice.

2010 Fairview, Pinotage Paarl $15

The Fairview Pinotage is sourced from a number of different vineyards in the coastal region of Paarl. It is a classic example of this uniquely South African varietal. The wine is big and earthy with smoky aromas and lots of dark ripe fruit.

This weekend we are bringing together some new faces and some old friends from the Côte du Rhône for a little tasting. Join us and try a fine selection of spicy rouge, flavorful blanc, and crisp rosé that are a perfect match for our summer weather. We’ve even imported a genuine Frenchman for the occasion. Come rendezvous at the wine shop and refresh yourself.

2011 in fine, Rosé $11
80% Grenache, 20% Cinsault
In Fine is the baby project from Raphael Trouiller, rising star of the Ventoux Domaine de Cascavel. This small biodynamic sustainably farmed estate sits nestled in the shadow of Mt Ventoux allowing the grapes to slowly ripen. The rosé is new to the shop. Come check it out with us.
 
2009 Ogier, Heritages Blanc $13
Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Viognier
This Rhone Blanc from a noted Chateau Neuf producer offers an ample and round body with aromas of white peach, and pears.
 
2009 Ted the Mule, Cote de Ventoux $11
Syrah, Grenache
A little play on words, Ted the Mule is a bit stubborn and thick but ultimately delicious smoky and earthy Rhone Red.
 
2010 Ogier, Heritages Rouge $13
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
A good value spicy Rhône with lots of earthy fruit.
 
2008 Domaine des Florets, Gigondas Tradition $26
Grenache 80%, Syrah 10%, Mourvèdre 5%, Cinsault 5%,
From an eight acre biodynamic estate, the Forlets Tradition comes from older vines with an average age of 60 years. The harvest is picked and sorted by hand at prime maturity. It is a blend of the 4 typical grape of the Gigondas appellation. Grenache brings the strength, fat and softness, the Syrah brings elegance and fruit, the Mourvèdre brings the backbone and the Cinsault the sweetness.