Wow…..let me repeat myself…..wow…we have some cool wines for you this month and are they limited? Yes, they are. In fact we are one of only a few places in Kansas City that got our eager little hands on some of these wines which were pre-ordered from Grateful Palate Imports months ago with you and you alone in mind, making you some of the only people in the city with the unique pleasure and opportunity to own and enjoy them. This month we feature the “R” wines from Australia with the 2007 Diddley Bow Riesling from Western Australia and the 2006 Big R Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa Valley.

Based in Australia, R Wines produces wine from vineyards all over Australia including Riesling from Western Australia, Pinot Noir from Victoria, Shiraz from McLaren Vale and the Barossa just to name a few. R Wines was founded in 2005 by partners Dan Philips and Chris Ringland. Chris is one of world’s leading and most gifted winemakers. He leads teams of winemakers and viticulturalists managing vineyards Australia wide. R Wines that make it to the shelf are not merely sound and well-made, but are stylish, compelling, hand-crafted and peerlessly delicious. They believe that what goes on the bottle is as important as what goes in the bottle and work with world-class designers to create innovative, loud and brilliant labels.

2007 Southern Gothic Diddley Bow Riesling Western Australia

The Southern Gothic wines were inspired by the culture, foods and all the wonderful textures and sensual pleasures of the American South. This intriguing little wine comes in three different label designs by the artist James Jean.  When all three bottles are viewed together they form a triptych image. Cool right? We thought so too.  All visuals aside, this is a serious white wine; it should be known….this is not your Mama’s Riesling. If you think you know Riesling….you don’t know Diddley Bow.  To start this usually lower alcohol grape is busting at the seams with 13.5% alcohol and second there is little to no residual sugar (RS) in it making it a bone dry version of the ever versatile Riesling. This is an outstanding example of just what Australia has been able to do with Riesling, and how they have truly made a home for it in the outback.

With 7% Gewürztraminer added in for special dimension and backbone, it has layers of character that include tons of citrus on the nose with lemon zest and kaffir lime pith with green apple, lychee, under ripe pineapple and plantain, lemongrass, ginger root,  fresh tarragon, white pepper, lily of the valley,  and sweet yellow rose rounding it out with a creamy texture and that acidic backbone giving it a crisp and exceptionally long finish making this wine a magical pairing with fresh shellfish, salads, almost anything with avocado (I’m thinking fish tacos), seafood and light pasta.

2006 Big R Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley, Australia

If the Barossa Valley is known for anything it is known for having huge, full bodied, in your face reds that exhibit all the things we love about Ausi wines; jamminess, black pepper, over the top flavor and a hint of oily eucalyptus from the trees that paint the dramatic landscape. This expressive 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception to the rule of opulence in Barossa. With 16% alcohol from 45 year old vines and treated with 24 months in new French oak barrels this Cab is not for the week of heart.

Dark chocolate, blackberry jam, raspberries caramelized in allspice and cinnamon, red plum, cherries, candied blood orange, mint, black pepper,  tobacco, and a touch of fresh lavender, dried herbs, and fresh roasted coffee beans in the everlasting finish characterize this nothing if not multilayered and complex example of how beautifully Cabernet expresses itself down under.