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Sparkling
750ml
Bottle: $184.03 $204.48
6 bottles: $175.20
Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is...
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JS
97
DC
92
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $455.91
A fragrant, appealing Champagne, with wafts of elderflower and medicinal herbs on the nose, followed by expressive...
WS
95
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $749.51
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Sparkling
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $1572.71 $1673.10
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $143.95
Impressive concentration and power here. This is really assertive with ripe yellow orchard fruits and citrus within a...
WS
94
JS
94
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $234.95
A good rest on lees in the cellar through to May 2015 has seen this salmon-colored rosé develop a wealth of dried...
JS
96
DC
95
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $108.33
Pale in color, but rich in texture and fruit, this wonderfully mature rosé is structured from 70% Pinot Noir in the...
WE
96
WS
94
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Sparkling
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $509.95
I believe that the 2005 DP is the best since 2002, which remains the best recent vintage and is probably only...
JS
97
WE
95
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $420.62
A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows...
JS
99
WE
95
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $421.00
A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows...
JS
99
WE
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Sparkling
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $505.95
A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows...
JS
99
WE
95
Case only
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $754.12
Disgorged in July 2014, Francis Egly's 2005 Brut Grand Cru Millésime is a brilliant wine in this middling vintage,...
WA
94
WS
92
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $95.60
Case only
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $237.21
Rich hints of baked plum and marzipan are enlivened by sleek, well-knit acidity in this harmonious Champagne. The...
WS
93
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $320.84
Fabulous nose with great blood orange intensity neatly framed by brioche. On the extravagant and concentrated palate...
JS
99
WE
97
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $138.62
In 1833, Annonciade, the daughter of a winemaker from Bouzy, married Auguste François Bara, a young cooper from the...
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $177.62
A truly special site, this is a majestic Champagne that has superb darker notes of brulée, roasted almonds and...
JS
95
VM
94
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $210.24
Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is...
JS
97
DC
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $149.28
A warm, sunny year produced this concentrated, elegant wine with refined aromas of ripe apple and quince, fresh...
DC
95
WE
95
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Sparkling
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $253.95
The 2005 Comtes de Champagne Rosé is a wine of contrasts. At first rich and vinous on the palate, the 2005 turns...
VM
93
WS
93

Assyrtiko Champagne Blend Pelaverga 2005

Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.

The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.

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 sparkling wines of Champagne have been revered by wine drinkers for hundreds of years, and even today they maintain their reputation for excellence of flavor and character, and are consistently associated with quality, decadence, and a cause for celebration. Their unique characteristics are partly due to the careful blending of a small number of selected grape varietals, most commonly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These grapes, blended in fairly equal quantities, give the wines of Champagne their wonderful flavors and aromas, with the Pinot Noir offering length and backbone, and the Chardonnay varietal giving its acidity and dry, biscuity nature. It isn't unusual to sometimes see Champagne labeled as 'blanc de blanc', meaning it is made using only Chardonnay varietal grapes, or 'blanc de noir', which is made solely with Pinot Noir.