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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $163.95
The 2016 Ampio delle Mortelle needs time to shed some of its considerable power. Red cherry, plum, licorice and dried...
VM
93
WE
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $139.95
This has a perfumed nose of licorice, blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, mocha and dried flowers. Kumquat,...
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95
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94
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $223.87
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $258.45
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $58.62
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $64.45
The plush texture envelops black cherry, black currant and plum flavors, backed by a strict spine of acidity and...
WS
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $98.93
This is really dense and structured, yet there’s energy and agility throughout. Full-bodied, yet agile and firm....
JS
94
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93
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $76.42
Profound nose here with chili chocolate and sandalwood beneath the sweet blackberry background. A hint of violets,...
JS
96
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95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $71.47
Fascinating aromas of blackcurrants, orange peel, stone, minerals and blanched walnuts follow through to a medium to...
JS
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $57.87
Wonderful aromas of Mediterranean flowers such as rosemary and lavender with red fruits such as plums and cherries....
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94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $164.28
The 2005 Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga is incredibly primary at this stage. This dark, textured Turriga reveals...
WA
93
WE
90
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $43.70
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $43.40
This has aromas of cherry stones, slate, pine cones, lemon peel and oyster shells. Tightly knit, firm tannins here,...
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95
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92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $568.44
A new dimension in Etna red that belongs in the highest league of Italian and global wines. Enveloping floral,...
JS
99
WA
94
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $256.95
An enticing red, with aromas of clove, cardamom, crushed pine and dried tea rose drawing you into the glass, where...
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $135.77
An enticing red, with aromas of clove, cardamom, crushed pine and dried tea rose drawing you into the glass, where...
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $251.95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $395.96
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95
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93
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $715.20
Very bright with sweet plums, cherries and some flowers. Clarity in the nose here. Medium-bodied with chewy, fine...
JS
96
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94
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $251.95
This is a phenomenal, tiny-production red made mostly from colorino and canaiolo grapes. It has an amazing density...
JS
99
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93

Italian Red Blends Lambrusco Tequila Pre-Arrival

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.

Tequila is probably Mexico’s greatest gift to the world of fine spirits, and is also possibly one of the most underestimated and misunderstood drinks in the world. Widely used for shots and slammers, and more often than not associated with parties and hangovers, Tequila is in fact a wonderful drink full of subtleties and expression of terroir, that is highly rewarding for those who look into its finer points.

One of the special things about Tequila is the fact that it is capable of expressing the fine nuances and subtle notes of its raw material, far more so than other, similar spirits. That raw material is, of course, the Blue Agave - not a cactus, as is commonly believed, but rather a succulent quite like a lily, which grows in the deserts of Mexico mainly around the province of Jalisco. The Blue Agave takes a decade to mature, and during those ten years, it takes in many of the features of its surroundings, just like a grapevine would. This is why Tequila varies in flavor and aroma from region to region, from the earthier Tequilas of the lowlands, to the more delicate and floral examples from areas of a higher altitude.

The picking and peeling of the spiky Agave, and the distillation process of Tequila is a complicated one, and one which is carried out with enormous skill by the jimadors and master craftsmen who produce the spirit. Steam cooking of the body of the plant is followed by crushing, then fermentation and distillation completes the process. The end product is categorized according to whether or not it is made with pure (‘puro’) agave, or blended with other sugars, and according to how long the spirit is aged for.