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750ml
Bottle:
$35.94
A perfect introduction to Sauternes, this has very nice dried-papaya and mango character, creamy richness and...
750ml
Bottle:
$468.00
The 2016 Chateau d’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as...
750ml
Bottle:
$59.94
12 bottles:
$58.74
93–95. Barrel Sample. This almost dry wine is full of botrytized fruit tones. Well balanced, it is likely to turn...
750ml
Bottle:
$80.40
6 bottles:
$79.20
A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Climens Barsac 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$67.94
Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2016 Climens is a little youthfully mute, revealing notions of ripe peaches, mango and...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Coutet Sauternes Barsac 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$39.95
One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage’s plush, opulent style...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Coutet Sauternes Barsac 2016
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$42.27
One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage’s plush, opulent style...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$384.78
The 2016 Chateau d’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 2016
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$405.22
The 2016 Chateau d’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau De Fargues Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$174.95
A barrel sample, the 2016 de Fargues has a pale lemon color and quite a profoundly scented nose at this nascent...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Les Justices Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$103.87
Forward in feel, with a bold mix of ginger, creamed peach and mango flavors, laced with orange zest and spice notes....
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$60.95
Intense peach, mango, ginger and chutney notes form the core here, which is broad and open in feel, backed by toasted...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$59.95
A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$54.94
95-97 Barrel Sample. This is a dense wine, full of rich fruit, bitter orange and apricot. Its ripe fruit is balanced...
Pre-Arrival
Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 2016
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$60.62
95-97 Barrel Sample. This is a dense wine, full of rich fruit, bitter orange and apricot. Its ripe fruit is balanced...
Assyrtiko Melon de Bourgogne Semillon/sauvignon Blanc 750ml
Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.
The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.
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 more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.
Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.