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White
750ml
Bottle: $150.39 $167.10
97-98 Spicy and complex with cardamom, green apple, pineapple and dried lime. Hints of white chocolate and mango,...
12 FREE
JS
98
DC
96
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $159.12 $176.80
12 FREE
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White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $15.94
The Collection’s Bordeaux Blanc, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, explodes with freshness on the palate, in...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $27.00
The nose develops an intensity of violet and wild berries aromas. The mousse is fair and creamy, with a dry yet full...
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Spirits
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $45.03
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White
750ml
Bottle: $18.94
12 bottles: $18.56
With a floral and fruity bouquet, this wine is fresh and fruity on the palate, vivid and a floral freshness and...
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White
750ml
Bottle: $61.80 $67.20
Bright and crunchy white with layers of gooseberries, fennel, lemon grass and sea shells. White peach, too....
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JS
94
VM
93
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $64.08 $71.20
Peach, apricot, pear and green apple combine with sweet tropical fruit touches lending both a freshness and rich,...
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DC
92
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $24.33
Testacalda is a pure Lambrusco di Sorbara Spumante Metodo Classico made with the ancient and traditional method of...
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $13.00
Slightly sparkling ruby red wine, semi dry, vinous and intense bouquet, with a characteristically fruity scent,...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.94
12 bottles: $11.52
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.65
12 bottles: $12.40
Color: Garnet red with a frothy fragrance, brilliant. Nose: Clean, distinctive with hints of violet and raspberry....
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White
750ml
Bottle: $11.94 $13.43
Herbal and citrus fruit dominate the nose, of lime, lime, orange blossom, mint, and sage. A rIcher palate with...
DC
89
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $13.67 $14.39
12 bottles: $10.93
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $9.98
Lambrusco, a lightly sparkling, slightly sweet red wine is served well-chilled, and so is a godsend in the summer,...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.20 $18.00
Powder pink mousse; very pale ruby red, almost pink, tending towards cyclamen; clear aromas of roses, almost ripe...
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Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $12.99
The wine is a deep red ruby, with purple highlights and a light mousse and rim of the same color. It has an intense...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $6.99
The wine is a deep red ruby, with purple highlights and a light mousse and rim of the same color. It has an intense...
White
375ml
Bottle: $12.50
12 bottles: $12.25
This refreshing wine has a zesty character, with crisp acidity and green herbal fruit notes. Drink now. (Best Buy)
WE
89
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.94 $16.25
12 bottles: $14.25
This refreshing wine has a zesty character, with crisp acidity and green herbal fruit notes. Drink now. (Best Buy)
WE
89

Japanese Whiskey Lambrusco Robola White Bordeaux

Whisky might not be the first thing that springs to mind when we think of Japanese fine produce, but over the past one hundred years, this fascinating and multi-faceted country has diligently forged a unique whisky identity which is growing in popularity, and which is entirely its own.

The story of Japanese whisky begins in 1918, when Masataka Taketsuru was sent to Scotland to undertake a tour of single malt distilleries in the Highlands, and bring home a knowledge of whisky and distillation skills. He returned full of inspiration, helped no doubt by his new Scottish wife, and alongside his friend, Shinjiro Torii, set up what would become a successful whisky industry.

Today, the Japanese whisky industry is spread over a relatively small handful of distilleries, which continue to use Scottish techniques and recipes, but with a hefty dose of distinctly Japanese experimentalism. This is displayed most obviously in the barrelling techniques the Japanese use - to create a distinctly Oriental set of tasting notes, native Japanese oakwood casks are used for ageing, alongside casks taken from plum wine producers, which impart a beautiful set of floral flavors to the whisky.

While some distilleries produce some excellent single malts, the majority of Japanese whiskies are blended, which reveals a unique set of flavors and aromas ranging from honeysuckle and orange blossom, to toffee and acetone.

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.

In the mountains of Cephalonia, the mineral rich soils assist in the growing of one of the finest of Greece's white grape varietals – the Robola grape. These noble yellowish grapes are notable for the wines they produce, which generally contain summer fruits, peach and citrus aromas, coupled with flavors which extend beyond the usual range of white wines, revealing smoky and mineral notes, and a lengthy, lemony after-taste. These fine characteristics helped the regions it is grown in gain AOC status, and wine-makers in this area have many generations of practice in bringing out the elegant and subtle characteristics of this grape.

Robola, and the other wines of Cephalonia have a long and illustrious history, being mentioned even in ancient epic poems such as Homer's Iliad. However, it was the Venetians who first recognized the great potential of Robola grapes, which quickly became the focus for the areas wine-makers and tradesmen. Nowadays, Robola wines act as an excellent example of a refined Greek dry white wine, which can be either drank as a light and refreshing summer aperitif, or alongside grilled white meats, salads, or white fish. Robola wines, as a rule, do not age particularly well, and it is highly recommended that bottles are drunk young, within two years of bottling. By doing so, you can enjoy the unique characteristics of this remarkable wine, complete with the balanced combination of chalky, smoky citrus flavors and delicate peach aromas which typify the finest examples of Robola varietal wines.

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?

France is widely known as being the home of many of the world's finest white wines, and within France, the name which rings out across the wine world and is always associated with excellence of quality and flavor is Bordeaux. The white wines of the magnificent Bordeaux region are typically blended, and rely on the winemaker's skill and expertise to achieve the fine balance between the primary grape varietals used. Most blended white Bordeaux wines are made up of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle varietals, although there are actually nine grapes officially allowed by French wine law for the inclusion in Bordeaux white wines. The other six are Sauvignon Gris, Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Ondenc and Mauzac, although the use of these other grapes has been in steady decline over the past century.