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Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $11.31 $12.57
Our wine stands out because of its marked fruity character which brings out all the qualities and characteristics of...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $36.00
12 bottles: $34.20
A new paraje bottling from Antoine Graillot, the 2021 Encinas La Rata is from just below El Rapolao, on clay-rich...
WA
94
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $25.89 $26.40
12 bottles: $25.37
The 2021 Encinas feels cleaner and less reductive than previous years but still has the earthy rusticity that seems...
WA
93
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $21.50
A vin de soif, made in a light, refreshing style. Earthy with some smoked meat aromas on the nose. The palate is...
12 FREE
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $19.01
A vin de soif, made in a light, refreshing style. Earthy with some smoked meat aromas on the nose. The palate is...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.89
The 2021 Ultreia Valtuille was produced with the clay part of their Villegas plot, as the sandy part was used for the...
12 FREE
WA
97
WS
92
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.94
Again, the cooler 2021 seems to have worked nicely for the 2021 Ultreia Cova de la Raposa, which compensates for the...
12 FREE
WA
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.94
The nose of the 2021 Ultreia Petra is completely different from the rest of the Ultreia range. This is only two...
12 FREE
WA
96
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.87 $19.60
The biggest volume of the winery is the 2021 Ultreia Saint Jacques, which represents some 170,000 bottles, and...
WA
93
WS
91
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $63.00 $72.00
I was blown away by the 2020 wines in barrel in June 2021 and found the 2020 Villa de Corullón very ready, open,...
WA
97
JS
95
Red
375ml
Bottle: $32.00
12 bottles: $31.36
The vino de villa village red 2021 Corullón is extremely floral and elegant, clean, precise, fresh and very complete...
12 FREE
WA
97
JS
95
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $51.89
12 bottles: $50.85
The vino de villa village red 2021 Corullón is extremely floral and elegant, clean, precise, fresh and very complete...
12 FREE
WA
97
JS
95
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $125.82 $139.80
The ultra elegant, sleek and mineral 2021 Moncerbal has amazing freshness, ultra refined tannins and lots of...
12 FREE
WA
98
JS
95
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $26.64 $28.64
2021 is clearly the finest vintage of the trio of 2020, 2021 and 2022, and the bottled 2021 Pétalos delivers what...
WA
93
JS
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.57
12 bottles: $11.94
Stewed blackberries, baked blueberries, earth and wet tobacco on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with powdery...
JS
90
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $10.94 $11.70
Dark-black-cherry in color, this wine has aromas of Chambord, cherry cola and tarragon. It opens with bright notes of...
WE
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $35.89
They now own 100% of the grapes used for the El Rapolao and the 2021 La Vizcaína El Rapolao, from the youngest vines...
12 FREE
WA
95
WS
92
Red
750ml
Bottle: $43.94
The grapes from the 2021 La Vizcaína La Poulosa were the first to be picked, and they lowered the alcohol and...
12 FREE
WA
93
WS
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $35.89
Sleek and silky, with a dark mix of black currant, blackberry paste and damson plum fruit wrapping around dense,...
12 FREE
WA
94
WS
94
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.94
12 bottles: $12.68
A fruity nose of cherries, blackberries, violets, orange zest, spices and dried herbs. Medium-bodied with firm, round...
JS
91

Mavrodaphne Mencia Xarel-lo Spain Castilla Y Leon

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?

Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.

The ancient, arid and beautiful region of Castilla y Leon is the largest in Spain, and amongst the largest single 'regions' in any country of Europe. It has been famed throughout the centuries for its architecture, its people, its art and literature, and not least for its characterful and flavorful wines, which capture the beating heart and passion of Spain and Spanish culture. Castilla y Leon is essentially a vast plateau, and is extremely dry, with a poor soil structure which one might think would make viticulture difficult, if not impossible. However, Castilla y Leon has plenty of native grape varietals which are able to stretch their roots deep underground, to tap into the moisture and minerals which can be found there.