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750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$35.77
Deep ruby red in color, with a full and complex nose of tobacco, cherries, violets, berries and hints of spice. Full...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.94
12 bottles:
$17.58
Perfumed aromas of spiced cherries, coriander, clove and cardamom. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Rather bright and...
750ml
Bottle:
$35.94
12 bottles:
$35.22
This is showing aromas of salted almonds, white flowers, honey and golden apples. It’s medium- to full-bodied with...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.90
12 bottles:
$16.56
Stewed damson, licorice root and a faint waft of dried tobacco leaf, the calling card of aglianico. Mid-weighted and...
750ml
Bottle:
$34.86
$35.99
Gaia Estate is one of the pioneers of the modern Greek wine revolution, founded on the Aegean island of Santorini in...
750ml
Bottle:
$38.90
Reveals baked melon, Marcona almond, pastry cream and lime blossom flavors that exude a toasty edge -- a rich profile...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$36.20
A dark and deep red, medium- to full-bodied, this is tightly meshed and firm. Reveals dense tannins, yet maintains a...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$36.94
A sleek red, with fine tannins serving as a supple, well-meshed frame for the tapestry of crushed raspberry and wild...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$39.43
Like cracking open an ashen stone to find a bevy of incense, dried herbs, wild blueberries and smoke, the 2019...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$39.43
Dark and brooding in the glass, the 2019 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Damaschito opens with sage, violet, earth...
750ml
Bottle:
$19.50
12 bottles:
$18.53
The 2020 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Gricos lifts from the glass with a pretty bouquet that mixes dusty rose with...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$21.90
Crushed red plums, blood orange and sweet spice create an alluring bouquet as the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Grifalco...
750ml
Bottle:
$59.95
12 bottles:
$58.75
The 2012 Taurasi Terzotratto opens with a flourish of dusty black fruits, woodland herbs and smoky crushed stone....
750ml
Bottle:
$13.50
12 bottles:
$13.23
The Janare Aglianico has a deep color with garnet hints. Cherry nuances melt with sweet vanilla notes given by ageing...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.00
12 bottles:
$15.68
Luc and Jerome Choblet are the third generation to make wine at their family estate, in the Côtes de Grandlieu...
750ml
Bottle:
$20.52
$21.60
This remarkable Vin de France (thus without vintage on the label) has not only the color of a honeydew melon, it also...
1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$54.93
6 bottles:
$53.83
Aglianico Assyrtiko Melon de Bourgogne
Aglianico is a black skinned grape most commonly associated with the exquisite wines of the Campania region of Italy. It thrives most happily in hot and dry climates, and as such, has had plenty of success in the New World, particularly in the United States, where it is used to great effect in many red wines. It was believed to come from Greece several thousand years ago, brought by Pheonician tradesman, and was wildly popular in Roman times, when it was used in the finest wines made by the Roman empire. Aglianico grapes produce full bodied red wines which have a high tannin and acid content. As such, it has excellent ageing potential, and with a standard amount of time in a barrel, it rounds out and mellows to produce beautifully balanced wines.
Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.
The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.
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?
One of the more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.
Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.