Do we ship to you?.
750ml
Bottle:
$17.94
12 bottles:
$17.58
Lemons, beeswax, white grapefruits, green apples and some flint on the nose. Crisp and tangy with vibrant green and...
750ml
Bottle:
$24.90
$26.80
12 bottles:
$24.40
Restrained fruit and blanched almond aromas are followed by subtle dried herbs, Bosc pears and toasted brioche...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.93
$19.90
12 bottles:
$17.39
A textbook semillon from Hunter Valley as always, with sliced lemons, green apples and lemon curd character with...
750ml
Bottle:
$90.79
6 bottles:
$85.20
Compelling scents of cigar tobacco, dried herbs, dried flowers and toffee impress; flavors include oak, dates, prunes...
750ml
Bottle:
$33.24
$34.99
6 bottles:
$32.40
• Fat, full-throated and round. • Big, funky, exotic fruits and white flowers flavors. • Robust alcoholic twang...
750ml
Bottle:
$150.00
A prestigious micro-cuvée entirely dedicated to the legendary Semillon grape variety and made from the estate’s...
750ml
Bottle:
$66.94
Aged 15 years and distilled from mostly the hybrid Baco grape, Château de Briat Hors d’Age is big, rich, and round...
750ml
Bottle:
$84.94
$87.60
12 bottles:
$83.24
Beautiful amber colour. Complex nose with notes of dried fruits and prune. Round attack with fatness releasing the...
750ml
Bottle:
$34.94
$36.00
12 bottles:
$34.24
Intense nose; very fruity aromas, banana and pear predominating, evolving to floral aromas, notes of white blossom...
750ml
Bottle:
$143.94
12 bottles:
$141.06
Deep orange colour, slightly amber with brown tints. Nose of toasty wood and hazelnut complemented by stone fruit...
750ml
Bottle:
$111.94
12 bottles:
$109.70
Deep orange colour, slightly amber with brown tints. Nose of toasty wood and hazelnut complemented by stone fruit...
Armagnac Mavrodaphne Semillon Mencia 750ml
Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.
Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.
Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.
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?
Semillon was, at one point not so long ago, widely believed to be one of the most grown grape varietals in the world. Whilst today the numbers of Semillon grapes has dropped considerably, it remains a widely planted grape with vineyards all over Europe and the New World dedicated to making the most of this special and flavorful varietal. The grapes are recognizable by their golden color, and the fact that they can take on a pinkish hue in particularly warm climates. The wines the Semillon grape produces are notably varied, and are often very crisp and dry, or sweet and soft, full of a wide range of flavors Commonly, dry Semillon wines are particularly citrus in flavor, with a delicate and summery bouquet. The vine is hardy and vigorous, and notable for being easy to grow and produce high yields from.