Do we ship to you?.
750ml
Bottle:
$21.94
12 bottles:
$17.94
Rapturous perfume inspires and is enhanced by a cooling breezy freshness which billows and swells along to the long...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.83
12 bottles:
$13.18
A beautiful black dress in the lively reflections reveals a nose to the notes of red berries which will evolve...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.51
12 bottles:
$14.21
The grapes were harvested at full maturity and vinified without the addition of sulphites. The blend of Cabernet...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.90
12 bottles:
$17.54
With an intense nose of ripe, juicy red and dark fruits, and a touch of freshly dug earth, ecologically conscious...
750ml
Bottle:
$13.94
$15.17
12 bottles:
$13.66
The smooth, rich and smoky texture of this massive wine brings out layers of black-plum fruits and tight acidity that...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$109.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$113.13
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$80.38
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$87.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$82.61
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$90.51
Mavrodaphne Nebbiolo Mencia Red Blend France South West France
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
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?
The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.
Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.