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750ml
Bottle:
$19.20
12 bottles:
$17.10
A new wine for 'A Vita (although it was made once before, in the 2012 vintage), the 'il Rosso' is Gaglioppo (from the...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.08
12 bottles:
$17.72
COLOR: Wine of very elegant red color.
BOUQUET: Intense aroma, with fruity hints of ripe plums, cherry jam and notes...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$23.66
Lovely and fresh with aromas of crunchy red berries, red plum, tomato, and leather. The palate has a touch of spice,...
750ml
Bottle:
$32.89
$35.20
In the glass, the wine shows colors of red garnet accompanied by a bouquet of cherries, menthol and a hint of...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.15
$17.08
12 bottles:
$15.44
In the glass, the wine is deep ruby with purple hues. On the nose, the wine is delicate with notes of cherry,...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.80
12 bottles:
$18.24
This blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese is a smooth, full-bodied cru made in an...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.99
A fresh nose of blueberries, plums, cassis and violets. It’s medium-bodied with velvety tannins. It’s easygoing...
1.0Ltr
Bottle:
$17.90
12 bottles:
$17.54
This wine is a blend of varieties originating from the Mediterranean Basin— 40% Alicante Nero (aka Grenache), 25%...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$69.90
Expressive aromas of ripe black cherry, vanilla bean and toasted nuts are prominent on the nose. At first taste, the...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.83
$17.50
Taut and linear in profile, this red delivers black currant, black cherry, vanilla and peppery spices. Tightens up on...
750ml
Bottle:
$69.90
$75.60
Fascinating aromas of blackcurrants, orange peel, stone, minerals and blanched walnuts follow through to a medium to...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.41
12 bottles:
$17.06
COLOR: Dark ruby red color with purple highlights.
NOSE: On the nose it shows a broad and complex bouquet with notes...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.49
$16.66
A juicy but umami nose on this wine begins with black cherries, blackberries and plums. Aromas then turn to soy sauce...
750ml
Bottle:
$40.79
6 bottles:
$40.00
I love the aromas of blackberries, graphite and walnut with cedar. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that run the...
750ml
Bottle:
$68.55
A beautifully curated and polished young red with black berry, violet, and bark. Full and velvety with creamy...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.94
12 bottles:
$16.60
Balanced and fresh, this white offers a creamy mix of melon, Meyer lemon peel, pineapple and lime blossom aromas and...
750ml
Bottle:
$21.94
On the nose, the leading coppery, sanguine aromas are emphasized by astringent undertones of cranberry, white pepper...
750ml
Bottle:
$26.63
$29.59
An elegant red, featuring a gleam of pure cherry, currant and strawberry fruit. This is also intense and firmly...
750ml
Bottle:
$105.89
6 bottles:
$105.60
50&50 has a deep, ruby red color. Aromas of red berry fruits and black cherries intertwine with scents of sweet...
Armagnac Italian Red Blends Primitivo Savatiano
Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.
Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.
Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.
As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.
Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.
Savatiano is probably Greece's most well known and most widely grown grape varietal, as it is the primary grape used in the production of Retsina, where the fermenting juices of the Savatiano varietal are flavored with pine resin in order to make this distinctive and famous wine. One of the reasons for the wide cultivation of this grape is due to its hardiness, and resistance to drought conditions. In the sun-drenched and dry, rocky Greek landscapes, this makes it an ideal vine to grow for wine-makers who require a strong and bounteous yield each year.
However, there are plenty of examples of Greek white wines which use the Savatiano grape but withhold from the addition the pine resin flavoring, allowing the true characteristics of this varietal to shine through. The result is often very pleasing indeed, with Savatiano grapes generally producing extremely well balanced and rounded white wines, with a juicily fruity flavor. Their aromas can vary quite a lot, with many Savatiano wines bearing the fragrance of citrus fruits, and also occasionally having a strong floral aroma reminiscent of elder and rose. Due to the relatively low acidity of Savatiano grapes, the wines which use them (including Retsina) generally bolster themselves with the addition of smaller quantities of more acidic varieties, such as Assyrtiko or Rhoditis, in order to improve their sometimes weak structure.
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?