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Red
750ml
Bottle: $58.95
12 bottles: $57.77
50% Barbera/50% Bonarda (aka Croatina). Named for an old farmhouse in the midst of the vineyard, Macchiona is La...
12 FREE
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $128.86
The 2009 d'Alceo comes across as much more classic in style and structure than the 2008. According to Luca di Napoli,...
VM
96
JS
95
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $167.95
The 2009 Guidalberto flows across the palate with layers of radiant red fruit. This is another striking, supple...
WA
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $85.51
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $348.81
An extremely rich and ripe wine with currant, cherry and balsamic aromas. Hints of leather. Follows through on the...
JS
98
DC
97
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $348.52
Like its sunshine-inspired name suggests, Solaia is an opulent and generous achievement that represents the highest...
WE
97
WA
96
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $88.78
Beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2009 Lupicaia is a standout. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint, anise, savory...
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95
WA
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $173.63
Best Guado al Tasso ever. Wonderful nose of crushed blackberries and cherries with hints of dark chocolate....
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97
WA
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $209.09
The bottle that changed Italian wine forever, Tignanello is as modern and innovative as its first vintage many...
WE
95
WA
94

Italian Red Blends Melon de Bourgogne Rolle 2009

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.