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Rapid Ship
Spirits
1.0Ltr
Bottle: $12.11 $12.75
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
Instore only
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $10.99
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
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Rapid Ship
355ml
Bottle: $11.71 $12.33
Our cider is produced from a blend of 100% New York State McIntosh, Empire, Gala, and Spygold apples freshly picked...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $11.89 $13.43
12 bottles: $11.65
A round, creamy-textured red with blackberry, dark-walnut and some chocolate character. It’s medium-bodied with a...
JS
92
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $199.94
The 2021 Mourvèdre is another archetypal example of the variety from Andremily, where winemaker Jim Binns manages to...
12 FREE
WA
100
WNR
98
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $9.51
100% Monastrell. Old bushvines in rocky limestone and sand. Unoaked.
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $27.74 $29.20
12 bottles: $26.60
TOP 100 SPIRITS 2019. This easy-drinking whiskey has a straw hue, mild vanilla aroma and feather-light feel on the...
WE
92
Red
750ml
Bottle: $39.90
12 bottles: $39.10
Quite light in the glass, this bottling pops on the nose with fresh berry aromas that are leveled by a crushed rock...
12 FREE
WE
93
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $12.90
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $16.17
The red Monastrell 2016 Plus+ has a little less alcohol than the 2015, and the wine feels fresher. It fermented in...
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WA
92
JS
91
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.86 $18.80
12 bottles: $17.42
A well-spiced red, fresh and medium-bodied, revealing a ripe core of boysenberry and black plum fruit, with crisp...
WS
88
Red
750ml
Bottle: $28.94
12 bottles: $28.36
Cherry red color with low layer. Complexity on the nose with floral notes and very elegant. Complex, elegant, fresh...
12 FREE
Red
750ml
Bottle: $25.20
12 bottles: $24.70
Complexity on the nose with balsamic notes, scrub, aromatic herbs from the area and with a mineral character....
Red
750ml
Bottle: $49.50
6 bottles: $48.51
12 FREE
Red
750ml
Bottle: $13.95
12 bottles: $13.67
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.80 $13.43
12 bottles: $12.54
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $10.53 $11.70
Red
750ml
Bottle: $11.70
12 bottles: $11.12
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.66
12 bottles: $15.05
This bold red is intense and expressive. Cassis and blueberry flavors mingle with cola, cocoa and licorice notes....
WS
90
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $15.74 $17.49
This is well-made and juicy with spicy oak and chocolate scents, soft tannins, a rounded palate and well-integrated...
DC
92
WS
92

Irish Whiskey Mavrodaphne Mourvedre RTD

The Irish are hailed as being the original producers of whiskey in the British Isles, and their innovations and techniques were so successful, that neighbouring Scotland were quickly influenced by them in the 15th century. Centuries later, it was the Irish who brought whiskey to America, and their style of whiskey has since become popular all over the world.

However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Irish whiskey industry - from being a dominant force in the 19th century, whose produce was considered far superior to that of Scotland, political upheaval and war saw the Irish whiskey almost disappear forever in the early 20th century. Today, the Irish whiskey manufacturers are back on their feet, and they are once again proving that the original is often the best. With new distilleries opening every year, it is safe to say that Irish whiskey is very much back.

Irish whiskey differs from Scotch whisky in a number of ways, and not least the spelling - the extra ‘e’ was said to be added in the 19th century as a way of distancing the Irish drink from what they saw as an inferior Scottish product. Irish whiskey was traditionally made in enormous stills, as a way of ensuring consistency from bottle to bottle, and maintaining the quality and complexity their reputation was founded on. The typical tasting notes of fine Irish whiskey include apple and vanilla, alongside spicy and sweet touches of nutmeg and fresh hay, making this a highly pleasant and smooth drink, made for relaxation and stimulating conversation about times past.

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?

Mourvèdre is a fascinating and ancient grape varietal, thought to have been introduced to Spain by the ancient Phoenicians over two thousand years ago. Since then, it has found a home in many regions of France, and has gone on to be a key grape varietal in the New World, where it is often blended with Grenache and Syrah varietals to make a beautifully rounded and balanced red wine. The Mourvèdre grape itself is renowned for holding a complex set of flavours, which are often described as meaty or gamey, with plenty of bramble fruit notes. As such, they are often served with dark meats, and are enjoyed in many countries across the globe. The grapes are not the easiest to cultivate, as they require plenty of sunshine alongside well irrigated soil. However, their quality and unique attributes mean that wineries all over the globe continue to persevere with this special varietal.