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Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $64.93 $72.00
The 2006 Sassontino is a pure expression of Sangiovese from 45-year-old vines. Past editions of this wine saw a small...
12 FREE
WA
93
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $66.84 $72.00
The 2006 Sezzana is a twin of the Sassontino, but not an identical one. Although the grape used is the same (100%...
12 FREE
WA
94
Red
750ml
Bottle: $149.80
The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva hits all the high notes. Ripe and structured, yet also wonderfully contained, the...
12 FREE
VM
94
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $177.84
The Grappa di Barbaresco Rabajà’s uniqueness is rooted in the vineyards from which it is made. Rabajà is regarded...
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Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $180.36
A very muscular red with plum, blueberry, walnut and dried mushroom character on both the nose and palate. Full and...
12 FREE
JS
97
VM
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $51.38
Aromas of violets, blueberries and hints of minerals. Walnut shell, too. Full body, chewy tannins and a savory...
JS
94
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $51.38
A big and powerful Chianti Classico with incredible blackberry, currant and mineral character. Full-bodied, chewy and...
JS
96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $49.12
Scorched earth, game, cured meat and leather waft out of the glass. The taught palate offers dried black cherry,...
WE
88
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $347.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $209.95
A few swirls of the glass release delicate, enticing aromas of red berry, rose, iris, tobacco, new leather and star...
WE
94
WS
94
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $128.95 $136.61
This is somewhat porty on the nose, with plum and a slight raisin character. Full and velvety with wonderfully...
JS
96
WS
93
Case only
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $55.45
Great structure, complex dried flowers, bouquet, very rich and persistent Food pairing: Savoury dishes, game, stews,...
Case only
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $78.95
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a plush, fruit-driven Sangiovese that reflects the best of its territory. Fruit...
WA
93
Case only
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $181.12
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $127.64
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino emerges from the glass with a finely knit bouquet of tobacco, sweet herbs, licorice,...
WA
93
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $178.15
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $79.28
This is so layered and complex with dark chocolate, mineral, wet stone and black cherry character. So much fruit and...
JS
95
WA
94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $103.82
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $100.77
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is huge, powerful and totally implosive. The seductive allure...
WA
97
WE
96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $92.09
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is huge, powerful and totally implosive. The seductive allure...
WA
97
WE
96

Grappa Sangiovese 2006 2011

Like so many of the great spirits of Europe, Grappa was born from a need to make resources go that little bit further, to eke out the last drop of flavor and potential from the crops of winemakers. Indeed, Italian vintners invented Grappa as a way to make use of the pomace - leftover grape skins, stems, pulp and seeds - which remained after the juice was extracted from the fruit needed to make wine. Over the centuries, the process was refined, and the distillation of Grappa became an art in itself. Today, top Grappa producers use a range of state of the art equipment, from continuous stills to pot stills, to manufacture a wide variety of Grappas, each with their own distinct characteristics.


Most of us know Grappa from our local Italian restaurants, where it is commonly served as a digestif. However, in the twenty first century, there is a high interest in unique, boutique Grappas, which showcase the talent of the distillers through a range of interesting qualities. Grappa can be aged in oak, in which case it takes on a beautiful golden color, quite different from the clear Grappas we are most familiar with. The high end Grappas are a world away from the harsh spirit many of us have encountered, and have a smooth, gentle quality which can be nothing short of a revelation.

The name of this grape, meaning 'blood of Jove' conjures up evocative images of long dead civilizations, and gives the Sangiovese varietal a sense of the holy, the sacred, the special. Indeed, this particular type of Italian grape has been cultivated and processed for thousands of years, and is said to be the original favorite grape varietal of the Romans, and the Etruscans before them. Throughout history, vintners have continued to plant this varietal, and they continue to produce wonderful wines to this day. The long bunches of very dark, round fruit are treasured by fine wineries in Italy and a few other places around the world, and when young, these grapes are lively – full of strawberry flavors and a little spiciness. However, it is when they are aged in oak that they take on some truly special flavors and aromas, as seen in some of the finest wines of the Old World.