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Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2011
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$66.84
The 2011 Ata Rangi pinot is an exercise in composure and restraint in a warmer vintage. This is a tight-wound edition...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2012
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$66.84
A cooler year expressed as a finer, fragrant pinot for Ata Rangi. Bright perfume, orange zest, pomegranate, light red...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2014
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.06
As ever this has an extra dimension and remains the high watermark for New Zealand pinot noir to be measured against....
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2015
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$59.63
A complex and giving wine that was born of a low-yielding, dry vintage, this is testament to the character of these...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2016
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.06
TOP 100 NEW ZEALND WINES 2017 #5 - This has all the cherry and spice and perfume that defines this consistently...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2017
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$83.89
Really pristine fruit aromas here with such pure, ripe red cherries and roses, as well as gently earthy and spicy...
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Escarpment Pinot Noir Kiwa 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$79.92
Showing very well after this amount of time in the bottle with dried strawberry, bark and seaweed aromas and flavors....
Pre-Arrival
Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$61.37
A very complete wine with a complex and rich nose of red berries along with some distinct herbs, chocolate, flowers...
Pre-Arrival
Escarpment Pinot Noir Te Rehua 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$42.84
96-97 The most brooding of the Escarpment pinot noirs. This has a dark, minerally nose with graphite and slate that...
Mavrodaphne Pinot Noir White Zinfandel New Zealand Wairarapa 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?
Regularly described as being the grape varietal responsible for producing the world's most romantic wines, Pinot Noir has long been associated with elegance and a broad range of flavors The name means 'black pine' in French, and this is due to the fact that the fruit of this particular varietal is especially dark in color, and hangs in a conical shape, like that of a pine cone. Despite being grown today in almost every wine producing country, Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape variety to cultivate. This is because it is especially susceptible to various forms of mold and mildew, and thrives best in steady, cooler climates. However, the quality of the fruit has ensured that wineries and vintners have persevered with the varietal, and new technologies and methods have overcome many of the problems it presents. Alongside this, the wide popularity and enthusiasm for this grape has ensured it will remain a firm favorite amongst wine drinkers for many years to come.
As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.