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Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $15.10 $15.89
12 bottles: $11.99
A vibrant ruby red, Jeunesse Cabernet Sauvignon is perfectly balanced between bold flavors of fresh berry, cherry and...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.63 $18.48
12 bottles: $14.25
This shows notes of blackcurrants, tea leaves, chocolate and leafy herbs. Some cedar, too. Medium- to full-bodied...
JS
90
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.25
12 bottles: $15.93
PALATE: Rich, complex, and full-bodied with silky tannins up front that lead to a juicy finish leaving you wanting a...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.09
12 bottles: $16.75
This stylish wine shows bright plum and black currant aromas accompanied by distinctive notes of vanilla. Ripe...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $13.26 $13.96
12 bottles: $10.46
This appealing wine has approachable, fruit forward style with lush aromas of ripe blackberry and cherry supported by...
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $29.94
Redcurrant and tile with some clove. Dark stone, too. Medium-bodied with some fresh herbs and dried thyme. Medium,...
WS
92
JS
92
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $59.45 $64.00
A very attractive red now, with complexity and yummy drinkability. It’s medium-bodied with medium, round tannins...
12 FREE
JS
95
WE
94
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $51.12 $56.80
12 bottles: $50.54
With its blackberry patch aromatics followed by hints of raspberry preserves and accents of leather, there’s a...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.89 $21.60
The nose develops an intensity of violet and wild berries aromas. The mousse is fair and creamy, with a dry yet full...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.86 $18.80
6 bottles: $15.84
A sophisticated soul. Bellissima Cabernet Sauvignon is a fascinating red wine with layered flavors. Red berries,...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $18.94
12 bottles: $18.56
Beautiful deep red color with perfumed aromas of ripe black cherries, strawberries and roasted cocoa beans. This wine...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $20.88
12 bottles: $15.05
Polished and approachable. Layered flavors of blackberry, nutmeg, coffee and spice. Full bodied, round tannins and a...
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $11.99
This wine is bursting with aromas of ripe black cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla. The palate is lush with ripe...
Sale
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $28.84 $30.36
6 bottles: $19.20
The Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet boasts flavors of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and cinnamon spice....
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $14.34 $15.10
12 bottles: $12.37
The Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet boasts flavors of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and cinnamon spice....
Rapid Ship
Red
375ml
Bottle: $16.25
12 bottles: $15.44
This Cabernet is set each vintage as a Bordeaux blend, with soft and silky tannins and a plush, full mouth-feel...
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Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $22.82 $24.19
A full-bodied red with redcurrants, rust and black chocolate aromas and flavors. Savory. Granular soft tannins. Very...
JS
93
WE
90
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $35.94 $39.59
Very pretty depth with a tile and rock-like texture to this. Minerally. Redcurrant. Medium to full body. Juicy...
JS
94
WA
93
Sale
Red
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $25.81 $27.17
6 bottles: $16.68
The Basics Full of jammy black fruit flavors that make this wine enticing from the first sip The Taste The sweet...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $13.08
The Basics Full of jammy black fruit flavors that make this wine enticing from the first sip The Taste The sweet...

Altesse Cabernet Sauvignon Lambrusco Mavrodaphne Wine

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 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?