Arlewood's Cabernet Sauvignon has always represeneted everything that is great about Margaret River Cab.   Ray Jordan agrees.  Here's some of his reviews of two of Arlewood's great Cab Sav vintages. Arlewood Cabernet Sauvignon 2005  “Pure essence of Cabernet on the nose greets your first sniff of this cracking good wine. Minty blackcurrant and subtle black olive with a little tobacco leaf complexity. The palate is fine and elegantly lean but packing stacks of deeply intense concentration.”: 94 points Ray Jordans 2009 Guide to Wine. Cabernet Sauvignon 2007:" Yet another superb Cabernet from Arlewood. Characteristic leafy tobacco like characters on the nose with some black olive and blackcurrant influences. The palate is intense and very long with ripe supple tannins and fine grained oak. Silky smooth and stylish.” 95 points Cellar 10 years. We currently stock Arlewood Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 but as always are happy to source any vintage you may be after.  Call Rhys on 02 9904 4994 or email rhys@thevinepress.com

We will be showcasing the wines of Hentley Farm from Greenock Creek, Barossa Valley at a Wine and Cheese Event with Fourth Village Providores in Mosman. Hentley Farm is located amongst the rolling hills on the banks of Greenock Creek (home to many Grange vineyards and hailed by many as the best subregion for Shiraz in the Barossa) at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley. Highly regarded and awarded wines- 5 Star Winery Rating by James Halliday. Winemaker, Keith Hentschke will guide you thru the wines which will be matched to Fourth Village’s superb cheeses…This fun sit down tasting is a must! $45 ppers, Wed 24 March

Rhys Connery from The Vine Press together with Keith Hentschke will be showcasing Hentley Farm wines from Greenock Creek, Barossa Valley. Set among the rolling hills on the banks of Greenock Creek (home to a number of Grange vineyards, hailed by many winemakers as the best subregion for Shiraz in the Barossa) at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley. Hentley Farm is a boutique vineyard owned by Keith and Alison Hentschke. It consists of approximately 23 hectares of vines including Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Viognier producing highly acclaimed single vineyard wines. Hentley Farm received the coveted 5 star winery rating from James Halliday in his 2010 Wine Companion.

Fourth Village Cheese Specialist, Anthony Femia, will be on hand to present the array of cheeses and guide you through the making process and story behind each cheese. Explaining the importance of farmhouse cheeses and expertly matching these with the wines.

So come along and enjoy a fun and educational sit down tasting in the restaurant with special offers and a lucky door prize and meet the maker of one of Australia’s top boutique wines. Guests are to meet out the front of the Cheese Room from 6.45pm onwards and will be greeted with a complementary drink and canapés upon arrival.

Price:  $45 per person.  Venue: Fourth Village Providores, 5a Vista St Mosman NSW 2088

For bookings and enquires contact rhys@thevinepress.com or phone 02 9908 4994

Curly Flat - “the chardonnay and pinot noir superstar of Victoria’s Macedon Ranges” Curly Flat's success is all due to Phillip and Jeni Moraghan’s fanatical attention in the vineyard. Biodynamic practices and 100% estate grown fruit……Come and taste Curly Flat’s superb wines-”the chardonnay and pinot noir superstar of Victoria’s Macedon Ranges” as stated in James Halliday’s Australian 2010 wine companion… Coates Wines, McLaren Vale Duane Coates is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian Wine Scene ( Masters in Oenology and an MBA from Adelaide University & soon to become a Master of Wine). His winemaking philosophy is simple: the highest quality fruit from sustainable vineyards ( some organic), harvest when properly ripe and a natural winemaking approach (minimal intervention - wild yeasts, unfined, no additions of tannin, enzyme and acid). Huon Hooke: “ Every wine I’ve tasted of McLaren Vale’s Duane Coates has been excellent…..” Highly impressive wines – a style that bridges the gap between fruit driven Australian style and savoury complex wines of old world Europe. Join us at a fun stand up tasting of two of Australia’s leading producers and meet Curly Flat winemaker, Phil Moraghan.   Thursday 15 April…. . $25 per pers. 6.30-8.30pm at The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. To book email rhys@thevinepress.com or phone 02 9908 4994.

Arlewood Wines from Margaret River have just released their first "super cuvee" red, the top shelf  La Bratta from the stunning 2007 vintage and the Vine Press are thrilled to stock it.   Garry Grosati from Arlewood says: "One of the joys of making wine is discovering parcels of fruit with excellent potential from varieties you don’t expect to shine. Merlot has long been the poor cousin to Cabernet Sauvignon at Arlewood; while offering a great juicy counterpoint to the structure of Cabernet in our Cabernet Merlot blend, never a star in it’s own right. When Bill Crappsley took over the winemaking reigns, he immediately recognized that our 2007 Merlot in barrel was stunning. He insisted on making a wine with this material at its core; here is our first release of La Bratta Inspired by the village of La Bratta in Northern Italy where my mother was born, and where my grandfather was a winemaker, the 2007 La Bratta is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from the great 2007 vintage in Margaret River. It is dense, savoury and structured, with a succulence and persistence of flavour that is a treat. We are thrilled with this first release, and are sure you will enjoy it with friends and full flavoured dishes.” Garry Gosatti Varieties: Fruit Source: Maturation: Bottled: Production: Alcohol: pH: TA: Winemaker: “One of the joys of making wine is discovering parcels of fruit with excellent potential from varieties you don’t expect to shine. Merlot has long been the poor cousin to Cabernet Sauvignon at Arlewood; while offering a great juicy counterpoint to the structure of Cabernet in our Cabernet Merlot blend, never a star init’sownright. WhenBillCrappsleytookoverthewinemaking reigns, he immediately recognized that our 2007 Merlot in barrel was stunning. He insisted on making a wine with this material at its core; here is our first release of La Bratta. Inspired by the village of La Bratta in Northern Italy where my mother was born, and where my grandfather was a winemaker, the 2007 La Bratta is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from the great 2007 vintage in Margaret River. It is dense, savoury and structured, with a succulence and persistence of flavour that is a treat. We are thrilled with this first release, and are sure you will enjoy it with friends and full flavoured dishes.” Garry Gosatti The Stats!    Varieties: Merlot 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Malbec 20% Made at: Arlewood Estate Wilyabrup Vineyard; Margaret River Wine Region Maturation: 22 months in 50% new selected French oak barriques, 50% second use French oak barriques Made: February 2009 3,000 bottles only Alcohol: 15.0 %

Arlewood Chardonnay from Margaret River has always been top notch.  We currently are lucky to still have some 2005 on hand - I reckon its as good as anything from Puligny Montrachet.   Ray Jordan wrote some great things about som of their other back vintages.    The Vine Press is always happy to source anything on request. From Ray Jordan's 2009 guide he said this of the Arlewood Chardonnay 2006: "93 points.   Yet another super Chardonnay from these guys. Grapefruit and mealy characters open on the nose with deeper touches of vanilla bean and cream oak. The palate has a rich, toasty cashew flavour tickled with squeeze of citrus juice.”  Ray Jordan. And in his "Summer Wine Guide" he wrote this of the Arlewood Chardonnay 2007:  “Brilliantly powerful and richly textured Chardonnay. Rich cashew and butterscotch character on the palate with finely integrated oak and zippy grapefruit cereal combination. Complex multi layered flavour.”  Ray Jordan. You can look at our current range of Arlewood wines here.

Arlewood Wines from Margaret River has long been one of our favourite producers here at The Vine Press, especially for their reds.   In 2008 they released their first white blend - Arlewood Marsanne Rousanne 2008 which we loved for its richness and balance.   Here's what Ray Jordan wrote about the Arlewood Marsanne Rousanne 2009:    “A most impressive blend of these two Rhone varieties. It’s about 85% Marsanne. Superb fruit depth with some interesting creamy citrus characters. Clearly a good year for these varieties with a fineness that keeps the whole palate and structure in check. Will develop nicely over the next couple of years.” Cellar 5 years"    Ray Jordan "Guide to Wine 2010".

Arlewood Wines from Margret River have received great prais for their Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009 from Ray Jordan in his "Guide to Wine 2010"    He writes: “Another beauty with even more finesse and subtlety than the previous excellent vintage. But there is no less intensity and palate length in what is a perfect example of this style of wine. Intense tropical fruits. Delightful fresh and fine acid and a long finish. It stacks up really well.  Cellar 3 years.  92 points" Ray Jordan. We love Arlewood wines and have a great range available with new vintages arriving all the time.  Call us for any special requests.   Rhys.

Arlewood wines in Margaret River Western Australia produce sensational white blends especially Semillon Sauvignon Blancs.   Recently Ray Jordan in his "Guide to Wine 2010" said this about Arlewood's Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2007:  “Beautifully expressive example of this blend that takes it up a notch or two. Intense and powerful palate with some nice light herbaceous and creamy characters. The palate is very long with a deep lingering intensity supported with some excellent acid. Has life and zest and will cellar very well.”    Cellar 6 years.  92 Points.  Ray Jordan. Also outstanding is their Sussex Loc Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006 which has received rave reviews and awards.