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750ml
Bottle:
$21.92
6 bottles:
$21.48
Our Maturana Tinta vines produce small clusters of grapes with high acidity and good resistance to vine diseases, all...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.00
12 bottles:
$21.56
Made from 100% Lledoner Negre, the local name for Garnacha in this part of Catalunya, Pla de Gates showcases the...
750ml
Bottle:
$44.46
$46.80
The 2020 Atalier Caíño was produced with ancient vines in the same place as Perez gets the Albariño. It has...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.94
12 bottles:
$13.94
Focussed herbal, wild black fruit and tobacco nose. The youthful palate is poised and approachable with a soft...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$45.98
A wine that talks about roots and new beginnings. Covered cherry red colour. Intense aromas of ripe fruit, spices,...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.40
12 bottles:
$21.28
The 2022 Las Bairetas is a dry white produced with Moscatel grapes from a vineyard planted in 1994 in the village of...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$23.42
Dense yet supple and polished, with rich aromas and flavors of herbs, licorice and dark fruit.
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$20.48
A bouquet of red fruit, citrus blossom, and white pepper - pure and lithe on the palate with the same mouth-coating...
750ml
Bottle:
$31.95
12 bottles:
$31.31
As Xaras is 100% Mencia from the villages of Chandoiro and Larouco in the Val do Bibei (500-600 elevation) on 20 year...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.94
12 bottles:
$15.62
100% Sousón (indigenous red varietal). All stainless steel. Fresh, light, beautiful, approachable red with notes of...
750ml
Bottle:
$21.95
12 bottles:
$21.51
El Triángulo is 100% Tintilla sourced from three Pagos and three soils – Balbaína, Corchuelo, and Carrascal....
750ml
Bottle:
$15.95
12 bottles:
$15.63
Rated 91 - The 2020 Manchuela from Rus Jimenez (and selected by Mary Taylor) is crafted from the Moravia Agria grape,...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$45.86
Aromas of blueberries and warm baking spice on the nose with hints of dried violets and crushed rocks. Rich and...
Mavrodaphne Mencia Muscat Spain
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?
One of the most widely grown and easily recognized wine grape varietals in the world is the Muscat, an ancient grape with an exceptional amount of versatility. For centuries, Muscat varietal grapes have been used all over Europe for the production of wonderfully fruity wines of many different shades and colors, which, with their strong 'grapey' flavor have come to be known as a quintessential fine wine grape. Their relatively high acidity also means they are ideal for the production of sparkling wines, and the fizzy Muscat wines of Italy are widely agreed to be amongst the best in the world. In more recent years, New World countries have shown a huge amount of flair when it comes to the Muscat grape, and have had plenty of success in allowing its natural and vibrant character to come through in the bottle.
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.