Cabernet Shiraz

Not only are these wines strong in their own backyard but they also have their presence in 27 countries across the world. Recognizing their potential, Jackie Mattai, Director, Aspri Spirits Pvt Ltd decided to bring these wonderful wines for the growing wine lovers in India too. On 15th February 2010 select media were invited for a Tasting and to meet Justin Nugent,Director Marketing, of Bird in Hand wines.

Justin is confident that the wine will be a success in India. "We have built our reputation over the years in various international markets, as India is one of the fastest growing wine markets we wanted to start our brand with a company that can meet our stringent requirements and safeguard our brand's reputation." He further added "I am very sure that Aspri Spirits with their in dept knowledge of Indian wine market and large distribution network, will contribute towards making this brand great success in India".

According to Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO, Aspri Spirits said, "Australia is blessed with a climate suitable to ripen the grapes to perfection and has some of the best wineries in the world. We at Aspri Spirits adhere to a high quality and best value while deciding the wines to be imported with our brand value, Bird in Hand is a perfect example of that." He further added "Bird in Hand offers great quality of wines with their superior technology and good climate. It has done exceptionally well in other countries and with our passion and dedication we are sure to make it a good success in all the key markets across India." The grapes are grown in the mineral rich soils above the 1879 "Bird in Hand" gold mine which is where they get their unusual name from. The Bird in Hand range is released every vintage though, as you would expect with premium wines of quality and substance, release is limited. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz and Riesling are available in packages of six.

Full Story: Two in the Bush or a Bird in Hand? An Aussie view - Sommelier India (blog)

There are quite a few excellent and affordable bottles, but I’ve chosen three that stand out in my mind.

Domaine de Dieumercy 2007 Cotes du Rhone ($12.95, code 155507). This is a traditional regional blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre from one of the best harvests in recent memory, and boy, is it a steal for the price. Loads of fruit that brings to mind cherries, plums, mulberries, in an elegant style.

Les Vignerons de Roaix 2008 Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($13.95, code 156000). An excellent offering from a difficult vintage, this wine evokes thoughts of smoked meat, lavender, dark plums and wild thyme. It also imparts a delicate perfume sense in the back of your throat.

Full Story: Three excellent wines from the Cotes du Rhone in France - Guelph Mercury

As far as the reds to go this is an acknowledged rising star of the wine world. It’s also the grape that more than any other has put Argentina well and truly on the wine map.

And in the opinion of many, myself included, when it comes down to the increasingly important price/quality factor, Malbec offers just about the best value for money red on the market these days.

Forget Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot for a moment, and give Malbec a try. If you like a red with some real flavour and character – no I don’t mean robust or rough – this Argentinean miracle-worker with some sweet tannins is just the winter tonic.

Full Story: Say hello to Malbec - Whitehaven News

Terra Firma Nero D’Avola 2008, Sicily: With notes of red cherry and currant, this wine is soft and succulent with good smooth textured rich fruit — great with rich pasta dishes or casseroles.

Dudley’s Stone Cabernet/Shiraz 2009, South Africa: A popular wine because of its deep rich smooth spicy fruit, the shiraz grape variety gives this wine a very soft but ultra fruity style that never fails to satisfy. Good with any red meat dish.

VSE Carmenere 2008, Chile: Rounded with very good fruit definition and that drink-me factor, this wine has deep raspberry fruit, spice and delightful floral aspects that linger on the palate. Great with grilled meat in particular.

Full Story: Fed-up-with-winter case, £69 - The Oxford Times

From a consumer standpoint this is not all bad. If you can you recall the principles of supply and demand from your economics class, you know the price of wine SHOULD drop. But will it? According to the article, the top seven large commercial producers in California (Constellation, The Wine Group, Gallo, Bronco, etc.) enjoyed an overall growth of 6.9 million cases. In other words, the big boys were able to hit those price points that pleased the cautiously frugal consumer. However, prices should drop for those small wineries who were selling wine above the $25 price level in order to get rid of their unsold inventories.

Wines for all occasions I like to think that all wines fall into three basic categories. First is daily wine. This is the wine you open when your next-door neighbor drops in for a chat. If this happens on a regular basis, you definitely need a daily house wine on hand. This is also the wine I open when my editor needs some wine for cooking. And most importantly, it is the wine that gets you from Monday to Thursday. Daily wines fall within the $5 to $7 range. You can find them on the lower shelves in the supermarket.

The next two categories are Friday and Sunday wines. Friday wines are special, because yes, it's finally Friday. Or maybe you've been invited to your neighbor's house for dinner. These wines will be on the middle shelves of your market. And finally, top shelf wines are Sunday wines. These are what I call "splurge" wines. These are wines you serve when you pull out all the stops, such as inviting your boss over for dinner, celebrating your 50th birthday or toasting your 40th wedding anniversary.

Full Story: Wine Line: Tough times for winemaker - Merced Sun-Star