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750ml
Bottle:
$18.32
$19.28
12 bottles:
$14.00
The aromas of cocoa, warm spice and dark fruit are very powerful from the first whiff. In the mouth, the wine is...
750ml
Bottle:
$10.90
$12.02
12 bottles:
$10.48
Shows some floral aromas with raspberries dominating the nose, as well as blackcurrants. The palate has a soft,...
750ml
Bottle:
$615.24
$683.60
This is an epic wine that doesn't quit, opening up with ripe, fleshy flavors of black cherry, Maraschino cherry and...
750ml
Bottle:
$24.55
$26.40
This inky-hued Shiraz is dense, ripe and powerful with quite a bit of oak on display. Chocolate and dusting polish...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.36
$13.01
Red plum, exotic aniseed and candied fennel add to the vibrant fruit mix that the nose suggests…..and...
750ml
Bottle:
$13.85
$16.03
The Chook Shiraz Viognier is sourced
from the premium grape growing region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. The...
750ml
Bottle:
$13.94
12 bottles:
$13.66
Deep crimson purple in color. Cascading aromas of wild blackberries, ripe blueberries and Black Forest cake are...
750ml
Bottle:
$9.99
Plump and juicy, with apricot, maraschino cherry and black licorice notes that show accents of star anise, black tea...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.47
$13.86
12 bottles:
$12.35
Offers ripe raspberry puree, maraschino cherry and red candy notes that are round and supple, with red licorice,...
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Grange 1997
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$418.24
The 1997 Grange (a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon) looks to be a classic Grange, although slightly...
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Grange 2000
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$363.25
I had both the 2000 and 1994 of Grange last year - this one in New York at a wonderful dinner at Vaucluse, and the...
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Grange 2002
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$496.29
Deep garnet with a touch of brick, the 2002 Grange is locked in a time capsule, like many of the 2002s, yielding a...
Assyrtiko Cabernet Franc Syrah Australia South Australia
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?
Cabernet Franc is not simply an important grape varietal for the fact that it is one of the most widely grown strains of vine in the world, but also because it is a vital grape in the production of many of the finest wines the world has ever seen. For centuries in its native France, it has been a varietal synonymous with elegance and high quality, and has become a key fruit in the production of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blended wines which have gone down in history thanks to their magnificent flavors, aromas and levels of aged complexity. However, Cabernet Franc is also a wine grape varietal for use in single variety, unblended wines, and has plenty to offer on its own. Most commonly, it is renowned for its wide bouquet, which often includes fascinating notes of tobacco, violets or bell pepper over a beautifully pale and decadent liquid.
Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet's most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn't easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.
Whilst most of Australia consists of arid deserts and dense bushland, the oceanic coasts to the south of the country have a terrain and climate ideal for vine cultivation and wine production. It took several decades of failed attempts at the end of the 18th century in order to produce vines of a decent enough quality for making wine, but since those first false starts, the Australian wine industry has continued to grow and grow. Today, wine production makes up for a considerable part of the Australian economy, with exports in recent years reaching unprecedented levels and even overtaking France for the first time ever. Whilst the greatest successes in regards to quality have been the result of the Syrah grape varietal (known locally as Shiraz), Australia utilizes several Old World grapes, and has had fantastic results from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and more. As the Australian passion for locally produced wine continues to develop, wineries have begun experimenting with a wider range of grape varietals, meaning that nowadays it isn't uncommon to find high quality Australian wines made from Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier, amongst many others.
The vast region of South Australia is home to a wide variety of vineyards, growing a large range of different grape varietals. Because the South Australian wine region is so large, it benefits from a great array of climatic conditions – from dry and hot, to cool and windy – which wineries can use to their advantage when it comes to selecting the grape varietal they wish to thrive in a particular sub-region. South Australia is most commonly associated with the big, powerful and fruit-forward Shiraz wines which are produced in the cooler valley areas of the region, but recent decades have seen something of an explosion in the South Australian wine industry, leading to wineries expanding their repertoire enormously and experimenting with other fine grape varietals and making the most of their unique terroir.