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750ml
Bottle:
$17.85
12 bottles:
$17.49
A savory and pretty nuanced Vino Nobile here showing orange zest, plums, grapefruit, mineral and fine spices. A twist...
750ml
Bottle:
$49.93
6 bottles:
$48.93
Subtle roasted spices are chiselled to the pomegranate and grapefruit notes with some savory berries, sage and...
750ml
Bottle:
$35.94
6 bottles:
$35.22
Dark-cherry, dark-plum, dried-herb and mushroom aromas with some spices and walnuts. It’s medium-bodied with creamy...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.93
$19.52
12 bottles:
$17.86
Ripe berry and cherry aromas with some vanilla undertones. It’s full and juicy with a big palate and a creamy...
750ml
Bottle:
$29.94
(#34 Top 100, 2023) A smooth red, with cherry, plum and spice flavors shaded by savory underbrush and wild herb...
750ml
Bottle:
$59.93
$66.00
It's hard to put the 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Bossona down, as it entrances with a dark and rich...
750ml
Bottle:
$87.88
This is full-bodied and well balanced with good red-cherry fruit and a decent dose of riserva-style oak. Nicely...
750ml
Bottle:
$55.95
12 bottles:
$54.83
Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero & Mammolo. Prugnolo Gentile is the variant of Sangiovese found in Montepulciano and...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.94
12 bottles:
$22.48
This red offers an inviting expression of cherry, raspberry, floral, mineral and spice flavors. Pure, with a firm...
750ml
Bottle:
$27.90
12 bottles:
$27.34
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the principal wine of Poliziano. Revered by nobility through the centuries, Vino...
750ml
Bottle:
$56.83
A burly, linear red, with ample blackberry, black cherry and black currant fruit to offset the dense tannins....
375ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$12.35
Fruit for this wine is sourced from across Salcheto's 22.5 hectares of vines between 350 and 450 meters in elevation...
375ml
Bottle:
$23.20
12 bottles:
$22.74
The nose is defined by a delicate sweetness, as undertones of clove and orange peel bring nuance to leading aromas of...
750ml
Bottle:
$19.91
12 bottles:
$19.51
The nose is defined by a delicate sweetness, as undertones of clove and orange peel bring nuance to leading aromas of...
750ml
Bottle:
$69.85
6 bottles:
$68.45
Wild berry, pipe tobacco and blue flower aromas waft out of the glass. Juicy and polished, the linear palate offers...
750ml
Bottle:
$37.20
12 bottles:
$34.20
Black cherry and raspberry are on the nose, with an herbal, medicinal component expressed in a last aroma of salted...
750ml
Bottle:
$40.08
6 bottles:
$39.28
Ripe and slightly jammy nose with hints of figs over the kirsch and creme de cassis aromas. Rich and flavorful on the...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.85
$16.25
12 bottles:
$14.55
Color: Ruby red tending to garnet with ageing.
Aroma: Characteristic bouquet, delicate with notes of violets and...
Albarino Mavrodaphne Sangiovese Italy Tuscany Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano
The pale skinned grapes of the Albarino varietal have been grown in and around Spain and Portugal for almost a thousand years, where they are highly enjoyed and prized by the locals for their distinctive aroma, and sharp, tart acidity levels. Over the past century, their influence has spread to the New World, and many vineyards keen to emulate the white wines of Spain have had considerable success with this varietal. The light bodied wines which are produced from the Albarino grapes have wonderfully aromatic properties, and carry ripe flavors of soft summer fruits, apricot and peach, with a mild and pleasantly bitter after taste brought on by their thick skins. Because of their acidic nature, they are a fantastic match for many Spanish foods, and are best served chilled on a hot day.
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
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?
The name of this grape, meaning 'blood of Jove' conjures up evocative images of long dead civilizations, and gives the Sangiovese varietal a sense of the holy, the sacred, the special. Indeed, this particular type of Italian grape has been cultivated and processed for thousands of years, and is said to be the original favorite grape varietal of the Romans, and the Etruscans before them. Throughout history, vintners have continued to plant this varietal, and they continue to produce wonderful wines to this day. The long bunches of very dark, round fruit are treasured by fine wineries in Italy and a few other places around the world, and when young, these grapes are lively – full of strawberry flavors and a little spiciness. However, it is when they are aged in oak that they take on some truly special flavors and aromas, as seen in some of the finest wines of the Old World.
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.
The central Italian region of Tuscany is widely understood to be one of the world's most famous and highly regarded wine regions. The beautiful rolling hillsides and medieval towns and castles which are a key feature of the area are also home to many of Europe's finest wineries, and extremely high quality vineyards growing the distinctive Sangiovese and Vernaccia grape varietals which are the flavorful backbone of Tuscany's wonderful red and white wines. For almost three thousand years, this region has been recognized as an ideal home for wine production on a large scale, and the ancient Etruscans, Greeks and Romans all noticed that fine grape varietals flourished on the unique soils and under the hot sunshine which typifies the area. Today, Tuscany is home to a wide range of wines, from the traditional to the complex, but all dedicated to excellent flavors and aromas, and maintaining the region's international reputation.