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Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $113.40
12 bottles: $111.13
Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very well -defined nose of dried pineapple, quince and vanilla pod...
12 FREE
WA
93
VM
93
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $49.90
12 bottles: $48.90
12 FREE
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $414.18 $460.20
Barrel sample. Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as...
12 FREE
WE
98
WA
95
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $39.20
12 bottles: $38.42
Tasted single blind against its peers. Whereas last year the de Fargues 2008 was immediately forthcoming, a few...
12 FREE
WA
95
WS
93
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $35.20
12 bottles: $34.50
Tasted as part of a vertical held at the chateau. It is clear that the aromatics on the 2008 are a little simpler and...
12 FREE
WA
93
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $73.95
Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very well -defined nose of dried pineapple, quince and vanilla pod...
WA
93
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $294.09
Barrel sample. Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as...
WE
98
WA
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $328.98
Barrel sample. Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as...
WE
98
WA
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $50.49
Pale orange-gold. Tangy aromas of peach, tangerine and honey are pure but a bit youthfully subdued; this reminded me...
VM
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $54.20
92-94 Barrel sample. Rich rather than sweet, this is stuffed full of botrytis. The wine is powered through with this...
WE
94
WS
92
Sale
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White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $1685.20 $1792.77
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $1912.48 $2034.55
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $458.09
The 2008 Corton-Charlemagne comes across as super-classic in its chiseled fruit. Today the 2008 is holding back much...
WA
94
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $89.06
#59 Top100, 2010. Aromas of citrus blossom and chalk dust lead into lemon, vanilla, peach and mineral in this...
WS
95
WA
94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $15840.86
Case only
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $316.95
Discreet if not invisible wood frames a reserved but ripe, fresh and high-toned white peach and green apple nose that...
BH
96
VM
93
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $718.95
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $313.95 $318.15
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $1157.06 $1230.91
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $1157.06 $1230.91
94-95 Tasted after the corresponding Blanchots, Raveneau’s 2008 Chablis Valmur brings one back stunningly to an...
WA
95
VM
94

Assyrtiko Chardonnay Semillon/sauvignon Blanc 2008

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?

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.