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750ml
Bottle:
$23.94
12 bottles:
$23.46
At the end of our old vine garden path there is a historic Menagerie of three grape varieties, adjoining blocks of...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.74
12 bottles:
$15.43
Aromas of plums, black cherries, chocolate and bark. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Very bright on the palate with...
750ml
Bottle:
$35.90
$40.00
Whether it's the extra year in bottle or the different conditions experienced in 2019 compared to 2020, this 2019...
1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$291.79
3 bottles:
$288.00
Cool summer and autumn nights tempered warm days in 2016, producing great intensity to the iodine and espresso-edged...
750ml
Bottle:
$54.92
$59.80
Ideal vintage conditions set the stage for this impressive blend – worth waiting for after no Signature was...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$37.87
Duval's regional red, which melds shiraz, grenache and mourvèdre together seamlessly, is a stunning rendition in the...
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Shiraz Grenache Mataro Bin 138 2017
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$59.78
The nose here has such rich raspberries and blackberries with a gently earthy and spicy edge. The Barossa valley...
Pre-Arrival
Torbreck Descendant 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$129.85
Viognier (6%) is co-fermented with Shiraz from RunRig cuttings planted in 1994. Like a great Côte-Rôtie, it starts...
Pre-Arrival
Torbreck Descendant 2017
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$109.19
Consistently one of my favorites in the Torbreck lineup, this year's version, the 2017 Descendant, was co-fermented...
Pre-Arrival
Torbreck The Steading 2018
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$41.04
Opaque ruby. Lush, dark berry and fruitcake scents are complemented by suggestions of candied flowers and backing...
Mavrodaphne Red Blend Single Malt Scotch Tempranillo Australia Barossa Barossa Valley
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?
There are plenty of notable native Spanish grapes which have made a big impression on the wine world at large, but none are as renowned or as widely loved as the Tempranillo varietal. This black skinned grape has been used for wine making for centuries, with several ancient civilizations noticing the fact that it is highly versatile and holds some delicious flavors and aromas, perfect for those looking for a powerful yet elegant grape for their wines. Tempranillo often causes winemakers some trouble, however, as it is highly susceptible to many diseases. Despite this, plenty continue to persevere with this varietal, as it is perfect for producing delicious and complex single variety and blended wines, packed full of classic Spanish flavors and plenty of aromatic and intense surprises.
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 Barossa Valley in Australia is one of the New World's most interesting wine regions, having been established in the late 19th century by German settlers. The region benefits enormously from the relatively temperate climate, which ranges from being hot on the lower parts of the valley, to quite cool as the altitude increases on the valley slopes. Barossa Valley produces mostly Shiraz wines, and has become one of the key Australian regions for this distinctive grape varietal which has gone on to be a major grape for the Australian wine industry. Despite suffering from a poor reputation in the mid 20th century, by the 1980s, plenty of unique and forward-thinking wineries set up in Barossa to take advantage of its excellent climate, and set about producing the excellent red and white wines which the region is famed for today.