×
Case only
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $110.20
The juicy flavors of cherry compote and plum preserves are studded with anise, rooibos tea and fruitcake notes. The...
WS
90
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $329.94
A strong showing for this wine, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin displays lovely aromas of...
WA
97
JD
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $299.63
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $563.07
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $1064.94
Bright ruby-red. An exotic bouquet presents black raspberry, incense, Asian spices and blood orange. On the palate,...
VM
94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $134.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $37.83
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $77.39
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $73.95
Tightly coiled for now, with pepper, garrigue and briar notes wrapped around a core of steeped cherry, damson plum...
WS
93
WA
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $70.98
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $149.47
Lively, with lots of spice and licorice notes bouncing around amid the raspberry, loganberry and blackberry fruit...
WS
92
WA
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $456.63
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $165.95
I tasted this and I thought of the great Rayas from the late 1980s. Full body, bright fruit and a creamy texture. Its...
JS
98
WS
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $99.38
The 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Omnia is a smoking blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that was...
WA
94
WS
94

White Rhone Blends Lambrusco Red Rhone Blend 2011

Viognier, an exotic, elusive varietal, originally comes from the Northern Rhone Valley of France, and has captured the fascination of the U.S. wine-drinking public. At its finest, it is full-bodied and nearly golden in color, with a haunting bouquet of peaches, apricots and pears, and a floral quality like no other wine in the world. Many vintners are trying their hand at this varietal, spreading from its American beginnings in Napa Valley and Santa Barbara County to wineries as far away as Virginia. Marsanne and Rousanne, two other important varieties from the Rhone Valley are making waves in the U.S., particularly on the Central Coast of California.

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.