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Pre-Arrival
A. Christmann Riesling Idig GG 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$107.28
This medium-bodied Riesling delivers plenty of character, with velvety texture and an expressive palate. Bursts with...
Pre-Arrival
Avignonesi Cortona Merlot Desiderio 1997
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$109.00
Intense, deep red in colour, Desiderio 1997 reveals inviting notes of sweet cherries and raspberries, rose petals and...
Pre-Arrival
Avignonesi Cortona Merlot Desiderio 1998
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$102.42
Intense, deep red in colour, Desiderio 1998 reveals inviting notes of sweet cherries and raspberries, rose petals and...
Pre-Arrival
Barone Ricasoli Toscana Merlot Casalferro 2015
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$57.62
Blackberries, blackcurrants, dark plums, Chinese spices and hints of vanilla. Full body, incredibly structured...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$72.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$72.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$57.91
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$55.02
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$91.95
This super-elegant GG is hard to resist right now, due to the fine, peachy fruity, plus the delicate notes of citrus...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$55.02
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$175.12
From very low yielding vines on rocky terroir, the 2017 Zellertal Kreuzberg Riesling is quite open and fresh on the...
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$239.40
The 2018 Zellertal Kreuzberg Riesling is clear, intense yet discreet on the nose, with ripe and concentrated fruit...
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$344.62
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$363.71
Pre-Arrival
Bertinga Volta Di Bertinga 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$86.28
This is a pure merlot with violets, blueberries and hints of minerals and black truffles. Black olives, too....
Pre-Arrival
Castello Dei Rampolla Merlot Liu' 2020
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$57.91
Now in its third vintage, the Castello dei Rampolla 2020 Liù is a fine and impeccably detailed wine. You taste...
Pre-Arrival
Castello Di Ama Vigna L'apparita 2008
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$165.84
One of the greatest Italian Merlots, the pedigree of L'Apparita is evident the minute you raise the glass to your...
Pre-Arrival
Castello Di Ama Vigna L'apparita 2010
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$242.09
Ama's 2010 L'Apparita is super-intriguing from the very first taste. With each passing vintage, it seems like...
Merlot Riesling Germany Italy Pre-Arrival
With its dark blue colored fruits and high juice content, Merlot varietal grapes have long been a favorite of wine producers around the globe, with it being found in vineyards across Europe, the Americas and elsewhere in the New World. One of the distinguishing features of Merlot grapes is the fact that they have a relatively low tannin content and an exceptionally soft and fleshy character, meaning they are capable of producing incredibly rounded and mellow wines. This mellowness is balanced with plenty of flavor, however, and has made Merlot grapes the varietal of choice for softening other, more astringent and tannin-heavy wines, often resulting in truly exceptional produce. Merlot is regarded as one of the key 'Bordeaux' varietals for precisely this reason; when combined with the drier Cabernet Sauvignon, it is capable of blending beautifully to produce some of the finest wines available in the world.
Riesling grapes have been grown in and around central Europe for centuries, and over time, they became the lasting symbol of south Germany's ancient and proud wine culture. Whilst the reputation of German wines abroad has in the past been mixed, the Germans themselves take an enormous amount of pride in their wineries, and Riesling grapes have now spread around the globe, growing anywhere with the correct climate in which they can thrive. Riesling grape varietals generally require much cooler climatic conditions than many other white grapes, and they are generally considered to be a very 'terroir expressive' varietal, meaning that the features and characteristics of the terroir they are grown on comes across in the flavors and aromas in the bottle. It is this important feature which has allowed Riesling wines to be elevated into the category of 'fine' white wines, as the features of the top quality bottles are generally considered to be highly unique and offer much to interest wine enthusiasts.
As in many Old World countries, the rise of viticulture in Germany came about as a result of the Roman Empire, who saw the potential for vine cultivation in the vast flatlands around the base of the Rhine valley. Indeed, for over a thousand years, Germany's wine production levels were enormous, with much of the south of the country being used more or less exclusively for growing grapes. Over time, this diminished to make way for expanding cities and other types of industries, but Southern Germany remains very much an important wine region within Europe, with many beautifully balanced and flavorful German wines being prized by locals and international wine lovers alike. The hills around Baden-Baden and Mannheim are especially noteworthy, as these produce the high end of the characteristic semi-sweet white wines which couple so perfectly with German cheeses and pickled vegetables. However, all of Germany's wine producing regions have something special and unique to offer, and are a joy to explore and experience.
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.