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Red
750ml
Bottle: $44.94
12 bottles: $44.04
50% Barbera/50% Bonarda (aka Croatina). Named for an old farmhouse in the midst of the vineyard, Macchiona is La...
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $107.09
A focused, balanced style, evoking pure cherry, raspberry, mineral and floral aromas and flavors, this is elegant and...
WS
97
WE
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $110.95
#10 Top 100, 2015. A phenomenal Saffredi with so much structure and length. It’s full-bodied yet remaines agile and...
JS
100
WA
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $136.03
Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler...
DC
97
VM
97
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $68.78
The 2012 Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is striking. Mocha, plums, roasted coffee beans, espresso, dark red fruit and...
VM
93
JS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $73.45
A very rich, layered Siepi with lots of ripe plums and cherries and just a hint of jam. Some chocolate and a whiff of...
JS
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $63.28
Lots of blackcurrants and blackberry aromas and flavors with hints of bark and mushrooms. Full-bodied, chewy and...
JS
96
WA
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $206.12
This famed SuperTuscan wine (a Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend with 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot) is the...
DC
99
JS
97
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $292.45
One of Italy’s most iconic bottlings, the 2012 Sassicaia is drop-dead gorgeous. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon...
WE
99
JS
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $303.45
Extremely perfumed with violet, currant and berry character. Hints of sandalwood. Full body, firm and silky tannins...
WE
97
JS
97
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $95.52
Fabulous aromas of blackberries, orange peel, raspberries and citrus. Violets too. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and...
JS
97
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $171.91
Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries with hints of lavender and violets. Full body, chewy and polished tannins and...
JS
96
VM
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $55.76
A dark, brooding wine, the 2012 Giusto di Notri presents a compelling array of dark stone fruits, grilled herbs,...
VM
94
WA
93

Aidani Italian Red Blends Xinomavro 2012

One of the most ancient of the Greek grape varietals, Aidani has been cultivated on and around the Cyclades for millennia for its versatility and gently pleasing aromatic qualities. Wines made primarily with Aidani grapes tend to have a milder alcohol content than other classic Greek wines, and relatively low acidity. This makes Aidani wines a perfectly pleasant accompaniment to a wide range of traditional Greek foods, and equally pleasant to drink chilled at any time under the Greek sun. Nowadays, Aidani grapes are mostly likely to used as a blending grape, often being mixed with Assyrtiko grapes to balance out and mellow the acidity and high alcohol content found in them.

As a blending grape, the Aidani offers light, delicate floral tones, often reminiscent of a Muscat. On the island of Naxos, it has been traditionally blended with the Athiri grape to produce the island's signature sweet wine, Apiranthos, where the subtleties of the Aidani grape are really allowed to shine through. However, elsewhere in Greece you are far more likely to find the blend of these two distinctive grapes in dry white wines, where the Aidani is used primarily not for its flavor, but for its aroma and mellowing effect.

Additional Information on Greek Wines
Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?

Xinomavro is the predominant grape varietal of Macedonia, although it is also grown in many parts of Greece where the climatic conditions are suitable for this particular fruit. The names translates as 'acid black', which gives some clue as to the nature of this varietal. The grapes are renowned for their high tannin content, which is a result of the thick and blue-black skins found on the fruit. This particular characteristic results in a superb aging potential in wines made from the Xinomavro varietal, as time spent in barrels softens these strong, astringent tannins and allows the full range of their flavors to come through in the wine. Most commonly, Xinomavro grapes are associated with aromas of red gooseberry, spices, olives and dried fruit, such as dried tomato.