Will develop, drink within 2 years Meant for cellaring
Concentration
Light - Medium - Great
Oak
Light - Medium - Heavy
Organic*
Vegetarian**
Limited quantities
Limited
Very limited
Extremely limited Less than 100 cases available
Members’ Choice 2019 favourite
Opimian Suggests Starting a cellar
Medal Winner
Discovery
2019 Discovery Program Case - C267
Select Plus 2019 Select Plus Program Case - C267
Ordering Made Easy
1. SELECT YOUR WINES
Let yourself be inspired by our detailed descriptions to find out which wines best suit your palate. Our custom chart on the left also features a variety of user-friendly symbols that can guide your selection. Still unsure what to order? Opimian’s Member Service team is always available to help you make an informed choice. Call us at 1-800-361-9421 or e-mail MemberService@Opimian.ca
2. PLACE YOUR ORDER
Last day to order for this Cellar Offering is Monday, June 8, 2020
No orders will be processed after this time. There are four ways to order:
• Online: Go to Opimian.ca, sign in and select Order Wine
• Email MemberService@Opimian.ca with your selection.
• Mail your order by May 29, 2020. Please allow 10 days for delivery by Canada Post.
3. LET US HANDLE THE REST
The wines featured on this Cellar Offering are still at the producers’ wineries when you order them, so it is normal that the process takes a bit of time and effort on our side. Release dates are dependent upon actual arrival dates, distance from port of entry to liquor board and processing time required by each liquor board. For this Cellar Offering, the expected release date is October 2020
Once the wine arrives at your local liquor store or distribution centre, you will receive a Pick-up Notice with the specified date (the Release Date) and your pick-up location.
Conditions of Purchase
• Accepted payment methods: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or cheque payable to Opimian.
• Prices include all applicable federal and provincial markups and taxes.
• A valid membership card is required to order.
• Bottle prices are for reference only. All orders are by the case, with no minimum required.
Notes (as required by the SAQ’s operating procedures)
• A member ordering from this Cellar Offering requests that Opimian acts as the member’s agent in ordering the wines from the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ) and requests that Opimian remits the funds enclosed (minus any administration fees) to the SAQ to pay for the wines ordered.
• The prices as shown are the estimated costs to be charged by the SAQ plus an administration fee and consolidation charges.
M—Degree of Maturity (1-10)
M1 = lay down
M10 = fully mature
D—Degree of Drinkability (1-10)
D1 = needs time
D10 = ready to drink
*This information is provided by our suppliers and reflects the certifications of their own countries which do not necessarily match Canadian norms.
**This information is provided by our producers and may not reflect Canadian norms.
Sweetness scale Grams/litre Examples
[00] 0 - 3 Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, many reds
[01] 4 - 6 Some New World varietals, some reds
[02] 7 - 12 Champagne, Sparkling, Rosés, few reds
[03] 13 - 20 Mosel, some Alsace, Anjou
[04] 21 - 34 Semi-sweet Bordeaux, some sherry
[05] 35 - 50 Kabinett German, Late Harvest, Alsace
2019 produced some great-tasting wines throughout Italy and in more northern winegrowing regions including Austria and Germany, and for all colours and styles to suit every wine lover’s taste! Producers featured include the Rizzello family, wine producers based in the heel of Italy, whose Classica Verdeca shone in 2019; highly regarded German winemaker Gerd Stepp in Germany’s Pfalz region with some fabulous Rieslings, and Austrian Christof Höpler with his Grüner Veltliner and some delicious red wines.
JANE MASTERS MW, OPIMIAN’S MASTER OF WINE
Every wine offered by Opimian is tasted and selected for its deliciousness and value by our consultant Master of Wine, Jane Masters MW. Jane also chooses the mixed cases for Opimian’s Discovery and Select Plus subscription programs for members to discover wines in an easy way, as well as wines for the premium Founders’ Choice program. As one of 389 Masters of Wine worldwide, Jane has in-depth knowledge and her aim is to share her love of wine with members via the Cellar Offering. She was elected Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine 2016-2018.
photo — This typical conical structure, made of traditional dry stone, is called “trullo”. They served as temporary shelters for farmers during harvest.
CELLAR 276 — QUEBEC
Brindisi, Puglia
Le Vigne di Sammarco
Cellino San Marco
Based in Salento, in the heel of Italy at Cellino San Marco, the Rizzello family owns 180 hectares of land and cultivates ancient bush vines. Their winery is in an area that was considered the cradle of wine by the Ancient Greeks and Romans. The region benefits from lots of sunshine and cooling sea breezes. Located on a promontory jutting into the Adriatic and Ionian, one is never far from the sea.
A traditional variety to the Puglian region, Verdeca 2019 has lime and white blossom aromas. It is medium bodied with nice depth and a crisp lemon and lime flavour with some citrus pith character adding length.
2020-2021,
Lime, white blossom 6°C
Lemon, lime, [02]
Ceviche with mango salsa
1847
$
A crisp rosé, salmon in colour with fresh fruit aromas, made from Negroamaro grapes picked in late September and left to macerate on skins for 12-14 hours, then fermented at 14-15°C. Flavours of apples and pears are complemented by an acidulated character on the palate, creating a refreshing rosé wine.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Fresh fruits, pears, apples 6°C
Crunchy fruits, [02]
1848 NEGROAMARO, IGP SALENTO,
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A light- to mediumbodied red produced from Negroamaro –one of Puglia’s most important grape varieties, grown exclusively in Salento. As the name suggests, the variety produces dark thick-skinned grapes, and care must be taken not to over extract during winemaking. The 2019 Negroamaro has fruity cherry aromas with red cherries and redcurrant flavours on the palate.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Cherries 16°C
Redcurrant, red cherries
Orecchiette alle cime di rapa
1849 PRIMITIVO, IGP SALENTO, 2019 Primitivo
$ 25.00 $ 150.00
Primitivo 2019 has marmite, treacle and black fruit aromas. It is a full-bodied wine, which is supple and piqued with ripe blackberries and coconut flavours. Grapes were picked at the start of September, crushed and fermented on skins for six to seven days, producing a dense and textured wine with some grainy tannins.
black fruits 18°C
Blackberries
Rigatoni with sausage and fennel
Antipasto platter
2020-2023, M8 D9
Treacle,
photo — The Santa Croce baroque cathedral is located in the historic center of Lecce.
1852 VERVE, NEGROAMARO, IGP SALENTO, 2017
1850 PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA, DOP, 2018
Primitivo
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
Intense black cherry aromas and other fresh fruits combine to create a juicy palate. Soft on the attack, the Primitivo di Manduria 2018 is medium bodied with juicy black fruit flavours, a fine texture and supple structure. Primitivo di Manduria is a southern sub-region of Puglia renowned for the quality of its full-bodied Primitivo.
1851 SOLEMNIS, PRIMITIVO, IGP SALENTO, 2017
Primitivo
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
Intense cedar, pencil shavings, buttered toast and oaky aromas are complemented by ripe dark berries and blackberry characters. On the palate it is supple with oaky vanilla cream and succulent mulberries and blackberries, which continue to linger in the mouth. After fermentation and an extended maceration on skins, Solemnis was matured for six months in Allier oak barrels. Drinking deliciously now, it should stay at its peak for some time.
$ 30.00 $ 180.00
Spicy aromas of white pepper, musk and meaty notes precede a sweet attack on the palate, revealing ginger, nutmeg and blackberry flavours. Verve is a mediumbodied wine with some chewy tannins on the finish. Matured for six months in Allier barrels, the oak is less marked than the Solemnis.
2020-2023, M8 D9
Black cherries 18°C
Juicy fruits
Peperonata (stewed bell peppers)
2020-2023, M8 D9
Pencil shavings, buttery toast, blackberries 18°C
Vanilla, berries
Beetroot curry
2020-2023, M7 D9
Musk, white pepper 18°C
Blackberries, nutmeg, ginger
Eggplant parmigiana
The Wine People SRL
PRODUCER FOR THIS CELLAR
1855 INDESIO PINOT GRIGIO, DOC DELLE VENEZIE, 2019
Pinot Grigio
$ 21.00 $ 126.00
A light Pinot Grigio wine from the Veneto region, that stretches from the Dolomite Mountains to the Adriatic Sea in northern Italy. This Pinot Grigio is very pale in colour –almost colourless – with appealing pear drop and fresh apple flavours. A smooth and crisp wine with a tangy, fresh lemon finish.
Stefano Girelli comes from a winemaking family in Trento in the north of Italy, a region geographically and culturally very close to Austria and Switzerland. Stefano is a proud Italian with a particular passion for the southern climes of the island of Sicily some 1,500 kilometres away. Joining forces with Stefano Chioccoli to create The Wine People, the pair produce and make great value wines throughout Italy.
apples,
1856
DEA DEL MARE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO, DOC, 2019 Montepulciano
Raisins and cherries with bitter chocolate and savoury notes combine to create a smooth and easy drinking flavoursome wine. Montepulciano grapes were grown in select vineyards in the provinces of Chieti and Pescara, close to the Adriatic coast in Abruzzo, central Italy.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Pears 6°C
Fresh
pears, [01]
Pasta pescatore
2020-2022, M8 D9
Raisins, cherry 18°C
Savoury, bitter chocolate
Pepperoni pizza
1857
DEA DEL MARE CATARRATTO PINOT GRIGIO, IGP TERRE SICILIANE, 2019
Catarratto, Pinot Grigio
$ 21.00 $ 126.00
Light- to mediumbodied with white fruits, melon and pear flavours, this white wine is refreshing on the palate with a grapefruit pith finish. Catarratto and Pinot Grigio grapes were grown on sites around Trapani, a city in western Sicily with a crescent-shaped coastline.
2020-2021, M8 D9
White fruits, pear drops 6°C
Grapefruit, [01]
Sicilian vegetable stew (Caponata siciliana)
1858
A subtle white with fresh apple flavours and spicy earthy notes. Crisp with a lingering finish, this wine was produced from a majority of Catarratto grapes with some Inzolia and Grecanico, all grown in selected vineyards around Trapani. Located at the western tip of Sicily, and offering views as far as the Aegadian Islands, this is the region best known for white grapes, with each variety picked and vinified separately at their peak.
INDESIO SHIRAZ, IGP TERRE SICILIANE, 2019
Shiraz
$ 21.00 $ 126.00
Intense forest fruit aromas with mulberries, raspberries and blueberries lead to a soft juicy palate. This is a succulent wine with fresh cherry flavours and a vibrant acidity. The vineyards are located in the south west region of Sicily and planted at high density with up to 5,000 vines per hectare.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Mulberries, blueberries, raspberries 18°C
Cherries, succulent fruits
Rack of lamb with blueberry sauce
1859 FEDELE BIANCO, IGP TERRE SICILIANE, 2019
Catarratto, Inzolia, Grecanico
$ 23.00 $ 138.00
2020-2021, M8 D9
Earthy spice 6°C
Fresh apple, [01]
Fettucine Alfredo
photo — The Nostru Carricante label was inpired by the baroque style of the San Giorgi cathedral in Ragusa (Sicily) and Sicilian ceramics.
1860 RUPE SECCA NERO D’AVOLA, DOC SICILIA, 2019
Nero d’Avola
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
Blackberry fruits and savoury musky notes combine in the bouquet, making this a firm wine with some chewy tannins and a grainy texture.
Nero d’Avola is Sicily’s most planted black grape, its reliability based on its love of heat, which produces full bodied wines with some aging potential.
Indigenous to the Etna region in Sicily, Nerello Mascalese takes its name from the small village of Mascali in the foothills of Mount Etna. The variety has become a rising star as the wines have proven themselves and developed in popularity in recent years. Nostru 2019 has mellow cooked cherries and summer pudding aromas with a hint of cedar. It is medium bodied with blackcurrant flavours and a firm acidity.
2020-2024, M7 D8
Cooked cherries, summer pudding
Mellow, cedar, blackcurrant
18°C
Wild mushroom and eggplant filo parcels
Carricante is a distinctive white variety grown in Sicily, which retains a high natural acidity under warm conditions. This is a smooth white with nice depth and flavours of white fleshy seeded fruits, nectarines, white peaches and fresh apples, which persist on the palate. For Nostru, vines are cultivated at 400 metres above sea level with grapes picked in early September, when they were gently pressed and the juice left to decant for 48 hours, then fermented. It was matured on fine lees for five months.
A relatively light, easydrinking Chianti for every day, with restrained red cherry and redcurrant aromas and a firm acidity and cranberry finish. A small percentage of Cannaiolo grapes were added to Sangiovese.
2020-2022, M8 D9
Red cherries, redcurrants 16°C
Cranberry
Baked pork tenderloin stuffed with cranberries
Produced from a selection of the best Sangiovese grapes grown at between 200 and 400 metres. Sogatia Chianti Riserva 2017 has spicy dried fruit and incense aromas. This is a medium- to fullbodied wine, serious with abundant concentration and good tannin structure and acidity. After fermentation in concrete tanks, it was matured for 12 months in Slavonian oak casks.
Dried fruits, incense 18°C
Chewy finish
2021-2026, M6 D7
Creamy chicken and mushrooms
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Blackberries, wild herbs, rosemary and green leaf aromas mix with subtle notes of vanilla, making this a complex wine that needs more time before reaching its peak. It is smooth with a fine texture and good grip on the finish. The Altadonna vineyards are located around Gaiole and Quercegrossa in the heart of Chianti Classico. This is the personal estate of Stefano Chioccoli and his family, run by his two sons, Niccolo and Enrico. Stefano, one of the leading winemaking consultants in Italy, is continually experimenting new techniques to improve quality. Aged for 12 months in old 225-litre French barriques, it has a long bitter cherry and blackcurrant finish.
Blackberries, wild herbs, hint vanilla 18°C
Bitter cherry, blackcurrant
Veal marsala
2020-2024, M7 D8
photo
Sangiovese, Merlot
$ 50.00 $ 300.00
Drinking nicely already, Altadonna Riserva 2016 has lots of potential! Spicy coconut oak aromas mingle with ripe dark fruits, blueberries and mulberries, and the result is a smooth, bitter cherry finish with a hint of smoke. After a traditional fermentation on skins for 21 days, the wine was matured in French oak barrels for 14 to 16 months.
2020-2028, M6 D8
Spicy, coconut, blueberries, mulberries 18°C
Bitter cherry, smoke
Juicy rack of lamb
$ 26.00 $ 156.00
A smooth, easy-drinking glass of fizz with fresh fruity pear aromas and a limey acidity. That’s what you get when Glera grapes are grown on gentle hillside slopes and picked mid-to-late September. The grapes were fermented at low temperature with a second fermentation to capture the bubbles.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Pear drops 6°C
Lime, creamy fizz, [03]
Italian sponge cake
photo — Marina Girelli drives the winery tractor. In the trailer, Stefano Chioccioli and Stefano Girelli pose with the rest of the team.
Poggibonsi
Cinciano
Cinciano estate has a commanding position overlooking the Elsa valley across the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano, known as the city of towers. The origin of the estate likely dates back to Roman times. In 1126 it was gifted by Zaballina, widow of Ridolfino da Catignano, to Gotifredo, Bishop of Florence, along with the castles of Linari and Catignano. This was a time when Tuscany was wealthy and wars were raging between the nearby cities of Siena and Florence. The historic property has ancient buildings now completely renovated set on 150 hectares of land, with 24 hectares under vine planted to Sangiovese.
photo — The entrance to the Villa Zaballina at Cinciano Estate. The ground floor consists of a succession of frescoed rooms and lounges.
1869
CINCIANO BIANCO, IGP TOSCANA, 2019
Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
$ 29.00 $ 174.00
A deliciously flavoursome and refreshing wine with aromas of quince and apples, it is supple and smooth with a delightful mix of passion fruit, cassis and white peach flavours. Produced from 60% Viognier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, Cinciano buys in white grapes from local growers.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Quince, apples 6°C
Passion fruit, white peach, [00]
Asian-style salad
1870
CINCIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO, DOCG, 2018
Sangiovese
$ 38.00 $ 228.00
2021-2026, M6 D7
18°C
Tasty Tuscan wines never disappoint!
A concentrated wine with fresh black cherry and cherry jam aromas, this Chianti becomes a tad more serious on the palate with nice depth, black fruits and a smoky bitter and sour cherry finish. This is a wine with some grip. Sangiovese grapes were grown on vines planted on the estate 10 to 18 years ago on typical Chianti Alberese soils and fermented in concrete tanks, and while matured in Slavonian oak casks for eight to ten months, this wine shows no obvious oak.
Cherry jam, black cherries
Sour bitter cherries, raisins
Hanger steak
top photo — Cinciano overlooks the Chianti Classico hills. Autumn mornings bring fog, which makes for a breathtaking show.
Grapes were grown on older vines on a 44-year-old vineyard, planted at higher altitude. The result is a concentrated wine, quite restrained in aroma with a rich smooth palate. It will benefit from some more bottle age prior to reaching its optimum. It is fine in texture with a juicy acidity. Picked by hand in early October 2017, the wine was fermented for 30 days in concrete tanks, then matured for 14 to 18 months in large oak casks.
A special selection of grapes was used to produce Gran Selezione. Grown at between 250 and 230 metres in altitude, grapes were harvested by hand in the first half of October. The 2015 has a mellow bouquet with vanilla, black fruits, loganberries and jam. It is soft and smooth with good mid palate fruit, a fine texture and long supple finish. It is mediumto full-bodied and was matured in large oak casks for 20 to 24 months. Drinking nicely now, it will continue to develop.
Smooth, fine texture
Roast lamb with rosemary and garlic
2021-2028, M6 D8
Coal, black cherries 18°C
Rich, smooth
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
2021-2028, M6 D7
Mellow vanilla, loganberries, black cherry 18°C
bottom photo — Niccolò, one of Cinciano’s young winemakers, inside a concrete barrel during the racking of the wine.
A window on some of the regions of Italy sourced through Avenue. The 2019 whites are great for drinking now with food. We also feature some choice reds.
1874 VILLA DÈ MORESCHI SOAVE, DOC, 2019
Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A light and refreshing white produced from Garganega grapes grown in the hills around Soave to the east of Verona. It has fresh pear and white fruit flavours with a citrus finish.
2020-2021, M8 D9 Fresh pears 6°C
White fruits, light, refreshing, [01]
Grilled salmon
photo — Cantina Terrenostre, in the Langhe hills, produces Barbera d’Alba Ajè only in the best vintages.
1875
Verdicchio, Malvasia
$ 24.00 $ 144.00
A more intense, flavoursome white with notes of green apples and spring blossoms, this wine is medium bodied with a persistent finish. Verdicchio grapes were blended with 15% Malvasia from the hilliest areas in the province of Ancona on the east coast of Italy.
1876 PONTEMAGNO ROSSO PICENO, DOC, 2019
Sangiovese, Montepulciano
$ 25.00 $ 150.00
Floral aromas of peonies and lilies mingle with a touch of graphite. 2019
Piersanti Rosso Piceno is medium bodied with red fruit flavours. It is gifted with a grainy texture and a chewy sour cherry finish. A blend of 50% Sangiovese with 50% Montepulciano.
1877
fresh apple, [00]
TERRENOSTRE BARBERA D’ALBA AJÈ, DOC, 2015
Barbera $ 30.00 $ 180.00
Showing really nicely now, it will remain at its peak for some years. Aje 2015 has tar, black fruit and treacly aromas, which lead to a soft, ripe fruit palate. It is supple and smooth with black cherry flavours. A wine which punches well above its weight in terms of price and class, and one of my favourites in the cellar offering.
2020-2024, M8 D9
Black fruits, treacle 18°C
Black cherries, ripe fruits
Traditional tajarin pasta with truffle
2020-2021, M8 D9
Fresh green apples, blossom 6°C
Spritz,
Seared tuna steak
2020-2022, M8 D9
Floral, graphite 18°C
Red fruits, sour cherries
Tagliatelle alla bolognese
photo — Villa De Moreschi was established in the early 1970s by Giorgio Cristoforetti (on the right side) and Walter Delibori (2nd from the left).
A smooth wine, which oozes dark chocolate, raisins, black forest cake and blackberry fruits. Leda Truffle Hunter is named after Leda the estate dog who sniffs out the prized white truffles found around Alba. The 2018 is supple with a fine texture and long bitter chocolate finish. It was matured in new French oak barrels for 18 months.
An intense fruity Chianti, medium-bodied, smooth and very easy to drink. Aromas of red berries, strawberry and raspberries continue onto the palate. Low in tannin with a fine texture. Vines are cultivated on the slopes of the Senesi hills close to San Gimignano at 330 metres.
2020-2026, M7 D9
Dark chocolate, raisins 18°C
Mellow, plums, blackberries, bitter chocolate
Brasato al Barolo (beef braised in Barolo)
2020-2023, M8 D9
Red berries 16°C
Strawberry, raspberries
Roast chicken
photo — Bosio Winery’s Barbera grapes in the Alba area are all selected by hand. This vineyard is 30 years old.
Orvieto is one of the famous white wines of Italy. The DOC lies almost halfway on the route between Rome and Florence around the small town with the same name. An appealing and mellow white with aromas of apples, pears, quince and lemon. It is an unusual blend of five grape varieties. On the palate, more tropical characters are present with a nice mandarin citrus finish. The beautiful Argillae estate covers approximately 200 hectares, 39 of which are dedicated to the vineyard amongst wild woodlands and olive groves. The Bonollo family has integrated sustainability into every aspect of the winery – from vineyard to packaging, using light bottles made from 80% recycled glass.
photo — These gorgeous Glera grapes were picked at the peak of their ripeness in September 2019.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Apples, quince, lemon 6°C
Tropical fruit, mandarin, citrus, [01]
Couscous salad
1882
The Dogliani DOCG, named after the little town of Dogliani, lies directly south of Barolo. The DOCG specializes in Dolcetto, and, in fact, only the Dolcetto grape is permitted to produce its wines. The 2018 from Clavesana has floral lavender aromas complemented by delicious buttery patisserie characters. More blueberry and blackcurrant flavours emerge on the palate. This is a structured wine with a long finish.
An intense Prosecco with fruits, pears and spicy flavours. It has a creamy texture with crisp acidity and lingering lemon and lime flavours. Discovered by Winetraders’ Michael Palij MW during a buying trip to the Veneto, this textbook example of Prosecco is made by one of the Veneto’s top producers who would prefer to remain anonymous given the astonishingly good price.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Pears, spices 6°C
Fresh pear, lemon, lime, [02]
Croque-monsieur
2020-2023, M8 D9
Floral, lavender, patisserie 18°C
Blackcurrant
French onion soup
photo — The Argillae cellar room is painted in black and white stripes to mimic the cathedral of Orvieto.
A more subtle wine with floral, citrus and peach flavours with spice. It has very fine bubbles, a soft creamy texture with good weight and a long finish. A more serious style of Prosecco for special occasions and as an accompaniment to meals. The Zucchetto estate vineyards lie in the Valdobbiadene hills and are tended to by Paolo Zucchetto. His son, Carlo Alberto, is the winemaker.
The winemakers at I Pastini champion local grapes such as Susumaniello.
A succulent and voluptuous wine with intense aromas of coffee liqueur, dark berry fruits and cocoa. More raspberries and blackberries shine through on the palate. A traditional variety to the region, Susumaniello grapes cultivated in the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve were harvested by hand and into boxes in early October 2018. The wine was matured in oak barrels for six months.
Stuffed aubergines and peppers
2020-2021, M8 D9
Subtle bouquet, floral 6°C
Crisp citrus fruits, peach, spice, [02]
Grilled shrimp with citrus sauce
2020-2023, M8 D9
Coffee liqueur, dark fruits, cocoa
18°C
Raspberries, blackberries, vanilla, cloves
photo — The members of the Cantina Clavesana cooperative recreate the crown pictured on their wine labels. 25
Breitenbrunn Burgenland Höpler AUSTRIA
Burgenland growers are very happy with the quality of intensely flavoured grapes picked in 2019. These were harvested under perfect, stable weather conditions, with no pressure in the vineyard to pick quickly. Harvest started on September 4, two weeks later than 2018, and Christof and his team experienced a relatively calm harvest – if ever there is one – with delicious results.
1885
PANNONICA WHITE BLEND, LANDWEIN, BURGENLAND, 2019
$ 31.00 $ 186.00
An intense combination of white fruit aromas with fresh pears and nectarines to the fore. Pannonica is soft and smooth with a medium body. It has flavours of fresh apples and good depth. A blend of three grape varieties, these were picked between September 12 and 30, 2019.
photo — The view from the Edelgraben vineyard over the Neusiedlsee (Lake Neusiedl). The Höpler winery is on the far left.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Pears, nectarine 6°C
Fresh apples, [01]
Broiled lobster tails
Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc
1886 PANNONICA ROSÉ, LANDWEIN, BURGENLAND, 2019
Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, Blaufränkisch
$ 31.00 $ 186.00
An easy drinking rosé with lots of raspberry and sour cherry flavours, salmon pink in colour with a soft, smooth body. Pannonia was a province of the Roman Empire, bounded to the north and east by the Danube River, which flows down through Vienna, close to Breitenbrunn, where Höpler is located, and out into the Black Sea.
Christof Höpler’s 2019 Grüner Veltliner is an invigorating affair with aromas of apple blossom, fresh apples and lime. With a touch of spritz on the palate, flavours of fresh fennel, lemon sherbet and a limey finish give it lots of appeal. A great variety for food matching, it has become Austria’s national grape, winning the hearts and minds of sommeliers the world over.
1888
HÖPLER RIESLING, QUALITÄTSWEIN, BURGENLAND, 2019
Riesling $ 38.00 $ 228.00
Here is an elegant, flavoursome and supple Riesling with fresh apples, peaches and spicy flavours, medium-bodied with a long, crisp limey finish and the concentration and balance to develop for some years. Grapes were picked by hand September 16-18, gently pressed and fermented at low temperature.
While Austria produces a majority of white wines, the Leithaberg region in Burgenland, where Höpler is based, is suitable for growing a wider range of grapes. The region is located next to the shallow Neusiedl Lake, and benefits from having one of the highest number of sunshine hours in Europe. This, combined with the tempering effect of the lake, makes the area famous for its Blaufränkisch wines. Höpler 2017 Blaufränkisch has smoky, graphite and mineral aromas over a blackcurrant background, while being soft and smooth with a fine texture. Still youthful, it has a juicy acidity and will continue to develop.
1890
HÖPLER “ERWEIN” ST. LAURENT, QUALITÄTSWEIN, BURGENLAND, 2017
St. Laurent
$ 38.00 $ 228.00
This wine brims with wild berry fruits, redcurrants, mulberries and blackcurrants with some floral notes, creating an immediately attractive perfume. It is supple with a fine grainy texture – a wine with elegance – and a persistent finish. Matured for 18 months, in second and third use oak barrels, the oak is seamlessly integrated with the fruit. For many generations the Höpler family has named the first-born son Erwein, as well as this special selection of St. Laurent.
Juicy fruits
2020-2025, M7 D8
Smoke, mineral, blackcurrant 18°C
Slow cooked and caramelized pork belly
2020-2024, M7 D9
Redcurrants, mulberries, floral 18°C
Blackcurrants
Roast beef
photo — Höpler’s oldest vineyard, Kirchberg, was first planted by Cisterian monks in the year 1203.
photo — Getting ready for lunch during the 2019 harvest at the winery.
CELLAR 276 — QUEBEC
GERMANY
Pfalz
Stepp
At the moment at least, it generally seems that climate change is having a beneficial effect on growing grapes at more northerly latitudes. Based in the Pfalz, Stepp’s vineyards are located in the sunniest, warmest wine region of Germany. In 2019, the Pfalz experienced extremely low rainfall and warmer temperatures, which created some stress for vines so that viticulture techniques had to be adapted. Whereas fungal diseases used to be the primary concern, in 2019 water availability and avoiding sunburn of the grapes became greater issues of concern. Gerd Stepp has produced a fine range of perfectly balanced wines with great freshness, flavour and typicity.
1891 STEPP SCHEUREBE, PFALZ, 2019
Scheurebe
$ 28.00 $ 168.00
The Scheurebe grape shows good expression grown at higher elevations on limestonerich soils around the village of Herxheim am Berg. Aromas of fresh apples and grapefruit with some flint and wet stone lead to a smooth apricoty palate with firm acidity and a long, crisp finish. A crossing between Riesling and Bouquet Blanc, the Scheurebe grape variety was created by Dr. Georg Scheu in 1916. After some years of being pulled out of vineyards, it has recently been garnering renewed attention.
sprout babaganoush
2020-2021, M8 D9
Fresh apple, grapefruit, wet stone 6°C
Fennel, lemon, apricot, [01]
Brussels
Made using the “saignée” method, the juice for this rosé was drawn off from the Pinot Noir grapes used to make the red. It is a pale salmon pink, with aromas of watermelon and citrus with nice mid palate red fruits and a lingering finish.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Try our Vietnamese recipes in Vino Etcetera. They pair perfectly with Stepp wines.
$ 28.00 $ 168.00
A medium-bodied white with fresh apple and white fruit flavours and a touch of minerality.
Pinot Blanc grapes were grown in most northern sites of the Pfalz region on soils high in limestone content. Yields are reduced by the nature of the soils and work in the vineyards with a green harvest in June.
1894 STEPP PINOT GRIS, PFALZ, 2019
Pinot Gris $ 29.00 $ 174.00
A rich, smooth wine with mellow fruit aromas, quince, pears and spice, along with a broad structure and supple texture. Pinot Gris is susceptible to botrytis more than any other grape variety, hence the importance of harvesting at exactly the right moment. After fermentation, the wine was left on yeast lees, ‘sur lie’ for four months.
Fresh white fruit, [01]
Spice, rich and smooth, [01]
Bavarian roast pork, cabbage and dumplings
Watermelon, lemon, lime sherbet 6°C
Red fruits, lemon, [01]
Roast pork tenderloin with fennel–citrus salad
2020-2021, M8 D9
Fresh apples, flint 6°C
Cheesy pretzels
2020-2021, M8 D9
Quince, pears 6°C
photo — Gerd driving the winery tractor during the 2019 harvest. This is more fun than emptying buckets full of grapes!
Pinot Noir
Pinot Blanc
A lightish Pinot Noir, with restrained aromas of red fruits and blackcurrant cordial. This wine is smooth and very moreish, with a long raspberry finish. The warm climate of the Pfalz makes it the best region for Pinot Noir in Germany. Grapes came from selected terraced vineyards on limestone and coloured sandstone soils. Harvested by hand, the grapes were fermented in open-top fermenters with manual punch downs carried out two to three times a day. Malolactic fermentation and maturation for 12 months were carried out in oak barrels, with one third in new French oak and the balance in second and third filled barrels.
Fresh and fruity with white fruits, fresh apples and melon aromas, this is an immediately attractive wine, with supple lime and sour green apple characters and a long finish. Riesling grapes came from sites around Herxheim am Berg and Bad Dürkheim in the heart of the Pfalz region.
Stepp Riesling vom Saumagen is starting to show some delicious mature Riesling character, with notes of flint and diesel complementing lime and apple flavours. This Riesling is rich on the palate with some residual sweetness, which perfectly balances the high natural acidity. Kallstadter Saumagen is a single vineyard in the Pfalz with loess-loam soils and a southeast facing exposition. The wine was slowly fermented over two to three months and the left ‘sur lie’ for a further four months, giving it a spicy mineral finish.
Fresh apples, lime, [01]
Apple, speck, arugula salad with aged balsamic
Apples, lime, spice, [02]
Vietnamese grilled pork with rice vermicelli
2020-2022, M8 D9
Fresh red fruits, ribena 16°C
Raspberry
German spaetzle dumplings
2020-2023, M7 D9
White fruits, melon, 6°C
2020-2023, M8 D9
Flint, diesel 6°C
photo — The barrels are cellared for the maturation of the Pinot Noir wines.
Pinot Noir
Riesling is a noble grape and the king of white grapes in Germany. It produces some of the longest-lived white wines in the world. When young, these are often subtle with fresh, white fruits, which, over time, develop into richer, spicier wines with some diesel notes, always with a high natural acidity giving vivacity, balance and longevity.
Three bottles each Vom Königswingert & Vom Fuchsmantel
Königswingert, the single vineyard site, is a cru with deep mineral rich soils of alluvial stones and lots of sandstones, allowing the vines’ roots to dig deep and find water and nutrients. A complex wine, it has spices, apples and yellow peaches on the nose, and a tangy lemon lime acidity with more sour green apples and great depth.
lime, sour green apple, [01]
Crab-stuffed sole paupiettes with white wine sauce
This is a wine of substance with fresh apples, apple blossom and quince aromas. It has good depth on the palate and a long finish indicating potential for aging and developing complexity. Fuchsmantel, meaning “fox’s coat”, is a classic terraced vineyard site. The Stepp vineyard is located in the lower part of Fuchsmantel on loam-loess soils high in coloured sandstones with good water retention.
More weight, substance, [01]
Caramelized scallops with citrus and crispy shallot
2020-2024, M7 D8
Spice, fresh apple 6°C
Lemon
2020-2024, M8 D9
Apple blossom, fresh apple, quince
photo — Hand-picked Riesling grapes from the Fuchsmantel vineyard.
CELLAR 276 — QUEBEC
1899 STEPP GEWÜRZTRAMINER, PFALZ, 2019
Gewürztraminer
$ 29.00 $ 174.00
An aromatic wine with intense perfume of Turkish delight, lychees and spices. More tropical and bitter fruits emerge on the palate with ripe and char-grilled pineapple and grapefruit notes all apparent. The vineyard was selected for its alluvial soil with clay, sand and gravel to produce an intense, yet elegant style.
2020-2021, M8 D9
Turkish delight, spices 6°C
Tropical fruits, char-grilled pineapple, [02]
Foie gras terrine with brioche toasts and lychee jelly
1900 STEPP BEERENAUSLESE, PFALZ, 2018
Weisburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Ortega
$ 33.00 $ 198.00
This is a dessert wine with almond, marzipan, lime, apple and yeasty aromas. It is sweet with an elegant structure, deliciously balanced with fresh fruits and long finish. Grapes were left for an extended time to ripen on the vines, allowing the development of noble rot.
2020-2024, M7 D8
Almond, marzipan, lime, yeasty 6°C
Elegant, medium-bodied, [08]
Roquefort cheese
1901 CRAFT 3 MALBEC, MENDOZA, 2019
Malbec $ 29.00 $ 174.00
For all you Malbec lovers, this is a must. Intense in colour, this wine has aromas of plums and violets leading to a rich ripe palate. It is smooth with a fine texture and long finish with flavours of violets and some grip. Gerd Stepp has been going to Argentina for the best part of the last twenty years. As a keen runner, over the years he got to know and fell in love with the highaltitude vineyards of the Uco valley. During a consultancy trip in 2015, he decided to start making his own Malbec from grapes in Chacayes and Tupungato. Gerd makes the wine each year then ships it to his winery in Germany where he matures and bottles it with just a kiss of oak.
2020-2023, M7 D9
Plums, violets 18°C
Ripe fruits, smooth
Lamb tagine
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