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750ml
Bottle:
$71.64
$79.60
A modern interpretation of Amarone on one hand, yet dense, fresh and altitudinal of feel, brimming with the marrow of...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$109.68
Density and dryness that really comes together here, after almost 10 years in bottle. It’s very deep and vertical...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$118.95
Wow. Such a complex nose, with a base of dried cherry, spruced up with hints of mild coffee and walnuts. Then there...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$53.90
An elegant red, with an incense-infused range of plumped cherry, dried raspberry, black tea leaf and orange peel...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$14.90
A truly delicious, focused and well-balanced Valpolicella for drinking now from this highly respected estate. It...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$44.94
From white soils high in calcium carbonate, this wine is named after the 13th century church which stands in the...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$52.50
Aromas and flavors of ripe berries and dark cherries with licorice-tinged minerals. Full-bodied with a soft feel and...
750ml
Bottle:
$69.94
$72.00
12 bottles:
$68.54
A rich and harmonious red, with a creamy nappe to the texture, which drapes the supple tannins and carries the...
750ml
Bottle:
$117.95
$119.90
12 bottles:
$115.59
The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva TB takes things to a much darker, deeper and more savory place...
750ml
Bottle:
$176.93
$179.80
The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Alto TB is youthfully inward and coy, with nuances of sweet...
750ml
Bottle:
$21.90
$24.00
This has an amarone feel to it, at least on the nose, with spicy dried berries and that signature, heady feel. The...
750ml
Bottle:
$90.79
6 bottles:
$85.20
Compelling scents of cigar tobacco, dried herbs, dried flowers and toffee impress; flavors include oak, dates, prunes...
750ml
Bottle:
$66.94
Aged 15 years and distilled from mostly the hybrid Baco grape, Château de Briat Hors d’Age is big, rich, and round...
750ml
Bottle:
$52.94
$55.20
12 bottles:
$52.44
Vibrant -yellow-gold in color, this full-bodied blend of Ugni Blanc and Baco Blanc resounds with a rich butterscotch...
750ml
Bottle:
$119.88
12 bottles:
$117.48
A blend of brandies aged five to ten years, Domaine Boingnères Reserve Speciale is made from Folle Blanche, Ugni...
750ml
Bottle:
$26.41
$27.80
Light, nuanced and soft, this dark gold brandy breathes a bright, fresh aroma of fresh apple. The flavors are more...
750ml
Bottle:
$100.06
$107.59
6 bottles:
$96.00
Bearing a resemblance to fine Cognac, this dark amber brandy offers rich caramel, raisin and dried fig notes, along...
750ml
Bottle:
$139.94
$142.39
6 bottles:
$126.00
Maple syrup in color, this has a toffee aroma and flavor, along with notes of dry cocoa, espresso, spice and dried...
750ml
Bottle:
$87.93
The cedar riffs of French oak segue to bitter cherry, raspberry bon bon, alpine herb and Pastis, marking the finish....
750ml
Bottle:
$113.94
This address excels with styles that respect tradition, while pondering better, fresher approaches. A longer drying...
Armagnac Corvina Blend Grappa
Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.
Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.
Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.
Corvina grapes are most commonly associated with the Veneto region of Italy, where they have been grown successfully for centuries, and are a vital component of the region's viticultural identity. The Corvina varietal is famed around the world for its inclusion in such fine wines as Amarone and Valpolicella, where it is blended with small quantities of other grape varietals to produce wines of exceptional character and balance. The grapes themselves have a naturally high level of acidity, which often results in an aftertaste of bitter almonds. However, this bitterness is quite a sought for feature of this varietal, as it balances beautifully with the sour cherry notes also associated with the grape. Corvina grapes have a wonderfully potential for aging, and this process mellows the bitterness and acids present in the fruit, resulting in soft, complex and highly admired wines.
Like so many of the great spirits of Europe, Grappa was born from a need to make resources go that little bit further, to eke out the last drop of flavor and potential from the crops of winemakers. Indeed, Italian vintners invented Grappa as a way to make use of the pomace - leftover grape skins, stems, pulp and seeds - which remained after the juice was extracted from the fruit needed to make wine. Over the centuries, the process was refined, and the distillation of Grappa became an art in itself. Today, top Grappa producers use a range of state of the art equipment, from continuous stills to pot stills, to manufacture a wide variety of Grappas, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Most of us know Grappa from our local Italian restaurants, where it is commonly served as a digestif. However, in the twenty first century, there is a high interest in unique, boutique Grappas, which showcase the talent of the distillers through a range of interesting qualities. Grappa can be aged in oak, in which case it takes on a beautiful golden color, quite different from the clear Grappas we are most familiar with. The high end Grappas are a world away from the harsh spirit many of us have encountered, and have a smooth, gentle quality which can be nothing short of a revelation.