×
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $224.95
A deep and beautiful red with ripe berry, plum and orange peel character. Almost exotic in style. Full body,...
JS
98
WA
96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $109.42
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $41.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $752.95
#3 Top 100, 2014. Wow. Fabulous aromas of currants, rosemary, mint and orange peel. Perfect nose. Full body with...
JS
100
WS
97
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $272.95
This is a phenomenal pure merlot with blueberries, raspberries and hints of milk chocolate. Some nutmeg too. Full...
JS
99
VM
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $73.62
This is a phenomenal pure merlot with blueberries, raspberries and hints of milk chocolate. Some nutmeg too. Full...
JS
99
VM
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $68.63
89-91 Shafer's 2011 Merlot jumps from the glass with dark cherries, spices, sage, mint and licorice. There is good...
VM
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $217.95
The 2011 vintage was known for being an especially hot vintage and in fact harvesting started 15 days early, in the...
DC
95
VM
95

Aidani Merlot Mencia 2011

One of the most ancient of the Greek grape varietals, Aidani has been cultivated on and around the Cyclades for millennia for its versatility and gently pleasing aromatic qualities. Wines made primarily with Aidani grapes tend to have a milder alcohol content than other classic Greek wines, and relatively low acidity. This makes Aidani wines a perfectly pleasant accompaniment to a wide range of traditional Greek foods, and equally pleasant to drink chilled at any time under the Greek sun. Nowadays, Aidani grapes are mostly likely to used as a blending grape, often being mixed with Assyrtiko grapes to balance out and mellow the acidity and high alcohol content found in them.

As a blending grape, the Aidani offers light, delicate floral tones, often reminiscent of a Muscat. On the island of Naxos, it has been traditionally blended with the Athiri grape to produce the island's signature sweet wine, Apiranthos, where the subtleties of the Aidani grape are really allowed to shine through. However, elsewhere in Greece you are far more likely to find the blend of these two distinctive grapes in dry white wines, where the Aidani is used primarily not for its flavor, but for its aroma and mellowing effect.

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?

With its dark blue colored fruits and high juice content, Merlot varietal grapes have long been a favorite of wine producers around the globe, with it being found in vineyards across Europe, the Americas and elsewhere in the New World. One of the distinguishing features of Merlot grapes is the fact that they have a relatively low tannin content and an exceptionally soft and fleshy character, meaning they are capable of producing incredibly rounded and mellow wines. This mellowness is balanced with plenty of flavor, however, and has made Merlot grapes the varietal of choice for softening other, more astringent and tannin-heavy wines, often resulting in truly exceptional produce. Merlot is regarded as one of the key 'Bordeaux' varietals for precisely this reason; when combined with the drier Cabernet Sauvignon, it is capable of blending beautifully to produce some of the finest wines available in the world.