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White
750ml
Bottle: $79.94
The super austere, sharp and mineral 2020 Atalier La Encrucijada reminded me of the first Leirana wines (that were...
12 FREE
WA
94
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $11.70
Broad and creamy on the palate but trimmed by well-cut acidity, this balanced white shows a pleasing range of baked...
WS
90
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $23.93 $25.20
Pure and mineral nose full of sea shells, lime and green apples. Blistering acidity cuts through the taut,...
JS
93
WS
90
White
750ml
Bottle: $45.00
Stacks of candied citrus peel character is nicely interwoven with toasty oak that gives this albarino a very...
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JS
92
White
750ml
Bottle: $21.60
12 bottles: $20.52
This remarkable Vin de France (thus without vintage on the label) has not only the color of a honeydew melon, it also...
WA
91
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.44 $18.40
12 bottles: $17.42
From the north of the Vinho Verde region, this is a ripe, creamy wine. Its green fruits are fresh, providing contrast...
WE
90
White
750ml
Bottle: $74.94
3 bottles: $73.44
This silky white leads with lavish aromas and flavors of vanilla, pastry cream and crushed almond, enriching the ripe...
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WS
92
White
750ml
Bottle: $19.85
12 bottles: $19.45
Floral, honeyed, creamy nose with hints of saltiness. Succulent on the palate, full of energy, juicy and lemon, green...
DC
92
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.73
12 bottles: $13.99
Fleshy minerality, subtle saltiness and clear flavours of white grapefruit, pear and preserved lemon deliver an...
DC
91
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $19.93
12 bottles: $19.53
Expressive honeyed and rich nose with grassy notes. Mineral, stone and flinty flavours with excellent depth and crisp...
12 FREE
DC
94
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.99
A wine that consistently pleases year after year, this 2021 iteration has lovely upfront lemon blossom, lemon rind,...
DC
92
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $19.90
Tangy and bright with lime citrus and seashells on the nose. Chalky and zesty palate with a medium body and a...
WS
91
JS
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $43.77
Matured 18 months in traditional underground vats, the 2021 Clos des Bouquinardières reveals an abundance of herbs,...
WA
92

Albarino Melon de Bourgogne

The pale skinned grapes of the Albarino varietal have been grown in and around Spain and Portugal for almost a thousand years, where they are highly enjoyed and prized by the locals for their distinctive aroma, and sharp, tart acidity levels. Over the past century, their influence has spread to the New World, and many vineyards keen to emulate the white wines of Spain have had considerable success with this varietal. The light bodied wines which are produced from the Albarino grapes have wonderfully aromatic properties, and carry ripe flavors of soft summer fruits, apricot and peach, with a mild and pleasantly bitter after taste brought on by their thick skins. Because of their acidic nature, they are a fantastic match for many Spanish foods, and are best served chilled on a hot day.

One of the more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.


Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.