×
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
White
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $423.00
3 bottles: $420.00
This offers a wide range of blood orange marmalade, apricot, peach and mango notes all tightly stitched together but...
WS
94
DC
93
White
500ml
Bottle: $134.94
This offers a wide range of blood orange marmalade, apricot, peach and mango notes all tightly stitched together but...
12 FREE
WS
94
DC
93
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...
12 FREE
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: $49.74
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: $51.06
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: $348.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $211.62
A few swirls of the glass release delicate, enticing aromas of red berry, rose, iris, tobacco, new leather and star...
WE
94
WS
94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $161.02
This remains a perfect wine with such depth, intensity and incredible structure. Full body and powerful tannins. Yet,...
JS
100
WE
97
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $127.95 $135.57
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
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $54.95
Great structure, complex dried flowers, bouquet, very rich and persistent Food pairing: Savoury dishes, game, stews,...
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $76.45
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a plush, fruit-driven Sangiovese that reflects the best of its territory. Fruit...
WA
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $149.64
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $127.95
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: $82.78
100% Sangiovese Grosso. The Padovani sisters have around 4.2 contiguous, hilly hectares near Poggio San Polo in the...
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $78.45
This is so layered and complex with dark chocolate, mineral, wet stone and black cherry character. So much fruit and...
JS
95
WA
94

Grappa Muscat 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.

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.

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.