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Rapid Ship
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $199.94
One of the most complete, layered and elegant 2013s from Cayuse is the 2013 Syrah Walla Walla Special #5, which is...
WA
96
VM
93
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $339.00
3 bottles: $336.00
Sale
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $25.80 $27.16
6 bottles: $16.66
Case only
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $188.60
Sleek and polished, with a bold cascade of blackberry confit, singed garrigue and warm fig, this is delicious and...
WS
94
WA
93
Case only
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $124.60
Appropriate to this wine's name, a vein of singed earth trails from nose to finish, mingling into delicate notes of...
WE
95
WS
93
Case only
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $115.00
A beauty, offering a dark and alluring core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit inlaid with a graphite edge and...
WS
95
VM
93
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $268.60
Glass-staining violet. Powerfully scented blackberry, cherry liqueur, exotic spice and olive scents are complemented...
VM
96
WS
96
Sale
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $24.13 $25.40
6 bottles: $15.84
Berry, plum and spice characters and a soft, generous finish.
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $435.00
In complete contrast to the sexy, flamboyant les Granits, the tiny production 2012 Saint Joseph le Clos (which comes...
WA
96
VM
93
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $435.00
Screaming "Granite!" at the top of its lungs, the 2015 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from an east-facing parcel located...
JD
99
WA
96
Sale
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $22.61 $23.80
6 bottles: $14.73
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $117.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $119.94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $75.95
A light coating of mocha allows dark cherry and plum compote flavors to glide through center stage while gentle black...
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $75.95
Inky ruby. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet show outstanding clarity and...
WA
93
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $75.95
A cloud of smoke, plus the aromas of freshly cracked black pepper and a freshly sharpened pencil, are married to...
JS
94
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $102.94
Dark and alluring yet also pretty, with expressive violet, dried lavender and blackberry paste built atop an...
VM
94
WS
94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $365.95
This has the density and power that is the hallmark of the vintage, with melted licorice snap and tar notes draped...
WS
97
WA
96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $241.95
With violets and spice, lavender, mint, earth, cherries and berries, this is so Rhône. Impressive tannins pass...
DC
97
WS
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $228.20
Showing the vintage's rounded, supple and forward character, the 2012 Cornas Vieilles Vignes reveals lots of black...
WA
94
WS
94

Calvados Mavrodaphne Syrah 1.5Ltr

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?

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.