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750ml
Bottle:
$15.49
12 bottles:
$15.19
Pretty, yellow gold colour revealing straw tints. Apricot and floral notes of white and yellow flowers. Good...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$18.94
Brilliant yellow in color with distinctive floral overtones of white rose petals, linden blossom, and acacia. Flavors...
750ml
Bottle:
$13.87
$15.41
12 bottles:
$11.52
Cline Viognier shows juicy tropical fruit, fresh apricot and notes of mandarin orange and grapefruit. It’s luscious...
750ml
Bottle:
$25.93
$27.60
12 bottles:
$25.41
A young-vine Viognier from two villages known for Condrieu, Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône and Verin. The soil is sandy...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$14.90
Brilliant, light straw color. On the nose, a wild flower bouquet, possessing delicate aromatics of peaches, dried...
750ml
Bottle:
$37.94
12 bottles:
$37.18
Wonderfully fresh and exotic, the 2022 Viognier wafts up sweetly floral and slightly tropical with an air of crushed...
750ml
Bottle:
$12500.00
$16000.00
This is a superb and incredibly rare 6 bottle Horizontal of Pappy Van Winkle including 1 bottle each of: Old Rip Van...
750ml
Bottle:
$89.93
6 bottles:
$88.13
From three parcels totaling five acres. About half was planted in 2009 while the other half dates from the 1970s. The...
750ml
Bottle:
$29.94
12 bottles:
$29.34
Aromas of Meyer lemons, yellow cherries, apricots and white roses followed by honeycomb and sliced ginger with an...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$96.53
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle:
$147.71
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$68.45
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$77.78
Bourbon Mavrodaphne Mencia Viognier 2022
Bourbon has survived all manner of difficulties and restrictions to become one of the world’s best selling and most recognizable spirits. This unique and distinctly American whiskey came from humble origins, allowing poor farmers in the fields of Pennsylvania and Maryland to make a living from their crops. Prohibition, temperance movements and conflict continuously threatened to wipe Bourbon from existence, but today the drink is stronger than ever and has a global audience of millions. Over time, it has become more refined, and innovation and experimentation has set modern Bourbon apart from other whiskey styles.
Today, the Bourbon heartland and spiritual home is in Kentucky, where the whiskey producers of northern states traveled to seek a new home, free from oppressive tax regimes in the early days. It is now far from the rough and ready spirit of yesteryear, governed by strict rules and regulations to maintain standards and keep quality high. Modern Bourbon must be made from a mash which is no less than 51% and no more than 80% corn (the rest of the mash being made from rye, wheat or barley), giving it a distinctive sweetness, and it must be aged in charred, white oak casks with no other added ingredient but water.
The varied flavors of different Bourbons come about mainly from the different quantities of the permitted grains in the mash. A larger proportion of rye will produce a spicy, peppery whiskey, whereas more wheat will result in a smoother, more subtle drink. Ageing and water quality, as well as the expertise and vision of the craftsmen who distill it, will also make a difference, meaning there is much more to Bourbon than might first meet the eye.
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?
Although primarily associated with the Rhone region of France, the precise origins of the Viognier grape variety are unknown, and the subject of much debate. However, these fine and delicate green skinned grapes are an important varietal for many of France's most elegant white wines, and they are quickly beginning to spread around the New World, too, where wineries are discovering their unique qualities and unusual character. Viognier grapes are notoriously difficult to grow, due to the fact they are highly susceptible to mildew, but wineries persevere with them nonetheless, producing wines which are highly aromatic and have a great, fruit-forward character. Their delicate aroma suggests sweetness due to its flowery, sappy nature, but the wine itself generally very dry and crisp, and full of summery, light and refined qualities.