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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$112.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$163.13
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G.D. Vajra Langhe Freisa Kye 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$45.35
The 2013 Langhe Freisa Kyè is remarkably polished and, dare I say, elegant, in this vintage. The bombastic style of...
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Giuseppe Mascarello Langhe Freisa Toetto 2016
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$49.95
The 2016 Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio Freisa Langhe Toetto is still very young and austere, and unless one has...
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Giuseppe Mascarello Langhe Freisa Toetto 2018
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$62.45
Colour: Deep ruby-red.
Nose: Varietal, spicy.
Taste: Dry, characteristic, good body with a lot of tannins.
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Giuseppe Rinaldi Langhe Freisa 2022
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$50.95
The 2022 Langhe Freisa is a rich, sturdy wine that deals with the challenges of the year quite well. It marries the...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$61.78
Other Italian Reds Mavrodaphne Pinot Blanc 750ml
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
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?
Pinot Blanc is a popular white grape varietal most commonly associated with the beautiful French region of Alsace, but which is also grown across Central Europe and Italy. In Germany and Austria it is known as Weisseburgunder, in Italy it is called Pinot Bianco, and is one of the key varietals in the alpine regions of Alto Adige. Pinot Blanc is the main white grape varietal in Alsace, where it is prized for its ability to beautifully express the fine terroir on which it is grown, and it is used to produce exceptional single varietal wines, as well as blended wine such as Edelzwicker. Pinot Blanc is also a key component in this part of France’s signature sparkling wine, Cremant d’Alsace.
The wines made from Pinot Blanc are typically medium to light bodied, but they possess a remarkable freshness and clean character, which reminds us of the cool, green hillsides of their homeland. Apple, honey and biscuity, yeasty flavors are typical in fine Pinot Blanc wines, as well as a good level of minerality, making it a popular choice for those looking to pair a fine white wine with a wide range of foods. Although it is almost never oaked in Alsace, Italian vintners have a tendency to age Pinot Bianco in oak barrels, adding an extra dimension to this wonderful varietal.