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Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $14.99
A fresh nose of blueberries, plums, cassis and violets. It’s medium-bodied with velvety tannins. It’s easygoing...
12 FREE
JS
89
Rapid Ship
Spirits
375ml
Bottle: $44.40
Floral nose. Waxy (candlewax, crayons), then spicy, fruity notes emerge, in particular raisin and plum, becomes more...
12 FREE
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.90 $75.60
Fascinating aromas of blackcurrants, orange peel, stone, minerals and blanched walnuts follow through to a medium to...
12 FREE
JS
95
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $68.55
A beautifully curated and polished young red with black berry, violet, and bark. Full and velvety with creamy...
12 FREE
JS
94
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $21.94
On the nose, the leading coppery, sanguine aromas are emphasized by astringent undertones of cranberry, white pepper...
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WE
93
Red
750ml
Bottle: $105.89
6 bottles: $105.60
50&50 has a deep, ruby red color. Aromas of red berry fruits and black cherries intertwine with scents of sweet...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $20.95
12 bottles: $20.53
100% Barbera from vines located in Perno in the village of Monforte d'Alba, on the right slope in front of...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $39.94
6 bottles: $39.14
Color: Deep ruby red with violet reflections. Bouquet: Red berries, blueberries and plum jam are followed by hints of...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $39.14 $41.20
6 bottles: $37.60
Color: Ruby red, intense and very deep. Bouquet: Full bouquet, with aromas of blackberries and plums, complemented...
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Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.92 $73.20
6 bottles: $69.60
Packaged with an embossed metal plate on its front label, the Castello Banfi 2018 SummuS is an all-Tuscan blend of...
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WA
94
WS
92
Red
750ml
Bottle: $78.94
6 bottles: $77.36
Dark-fruited and chocolaty character here with crushed walnuts, dried leaves, licorice and hints of moss. Medium- to...
12 FREE
JS
92
WS
91
Red
750ml
Bottle: $20.95
12 bottles: $20.53
Pignatello aka Perricone and Nero d'Avola from 2ha of vineyards, planted 2003-2013. Guyot + Alberello. 140m asl....
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $87.99
6 bottles: $86.23
Like all great wines, Barbera too has its own crus. In certain areas and vineyards where it reaches the highest of...
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Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $28.94
Lovely aromas of freshly cut herbs, raspberry cheesecake, crushed stones and citrus. Medium body, fine and polished...
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JS
91
Red
750ml
Bottle: $34.94
12 bottles: $34.24
• 100% Barbera. • Practicing Biodynamic. • Sierra Foothills AVA (Shake Ridge Vyd). • Planted in early...
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Red
750ml
Bottle: $29.95
12 bottles: $29.35
The 2020 Cerasuolo di Vitoria is peppery and perfumed, with a dusting of autumnal spices giving way to red currants...
12 FREE
VM
89
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $36.79
6 bottles: $36.00
The nose is fragrant, delicate and harmonious. On the palate, this grappa is intense and complex, but with a smooth...
12 FREE
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $82.39
4 bottles: $81.60
Complex profile with multiple nuances attributable to spicy and fruity notes with hints of vanilla, morello cherry...
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Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $124.94
The 2019 Barbera d’Asti Ai Suma is laced with blackberry jam, crème de cassis, sweet spice, licorice, lavender and...
12 FREE
VM
93
Case only
Red
375ml - Case of 24
Bottle: $42.99
A smooth red, saturated with plum, blueberry, loam and toasty oak flavors. Reveals assertive tannins on the finish,...
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WS
93

Armagnac Barbera Other Italian Reds Grappa Italian Red Blends 12 Ship Free Items

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.

For centuries now, the beautiful red grapes of the Barbera varietal have been grown in Italy, where they are prized for their unusual high acid content and low tannins, brought about by their thin skins. The Barbera grape varietal thrives in warmer climates, and has had some success overseas in the new world, where its strongly aromatic flavors of intense hedgerow fruits make it a favorite with wineries and wine drinkers looking for a grape which offers plenty of interesting characteristics. Interestingly, the differences between young and aged wines made from this varietal are quite significant, with younger bottles holding a plethora of berry flavors, including blueberry and raspberry notes, and oak aged wines made from the Barbera grape being much loved for their ability to become extremely complex and spicy, and picking up vanilla flavors from the wood they are barreled in.

Like so many of the great spirits of Europe, Grappa was born from a need to make resources go that little bit further, to eke out the last drop of flavor and potential from the crops of winemakers. Indeed, Italian vintners invented Grappa as a way to make use of the pomace - leftover grape skins, stems, pulp and seeds - which remained after the juice was extracted from the fruit needed to make wine. Over the centuries, the process was refined, and the distillation of Grappa became an art in itself. Today, top Grappa producers use a range of state of the art equipment, from continuous stills to pot stills, to manufacture a wide variety of Grappas, each with their own distinct characteristics.


Most of us know Grappa from our local Italian restaurants, where it is commonly served as a digestif. However, in the twenty first century, there is a high interest in unique, boutique Grappas, which showcase the talent of the distillers through a range of interesting qualities. Grappa can be aged in oak, in which case it takes on a beautiful golden color, quite different from the clear Grappas we are most familiar with. The high end Grappas are a world away from the harsh spirit many of us have encountered, and have a smooth, gentle quality which can be nothing short of a revelation.