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Red
375ml
Bottle: $17.94
12 bottles: $17.58
Plump and generous, with jammy cherry and raspberry flavors laced with black pepper and briar patch accents. Ends...
WS
92
Red
375ml
Bottle: $19.94
12 bottles: $19.54
Enticing strawberry and red-plum aromas lead to a combination of wild berry, oak leaves and cranberry flavors on a...
WE
94
JS
92
Sale
Red
375ml
Bottle: $12.48 $13.87
12 bottles: $11.94
The grapes for our Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel come from several different vineyards within the Lodi...
Red
375ml
Bottle: $28.94
12 bottles: $28.36
A classic Napa Valley Zinfandel, this bottling offers savory and earthy aromatics that carry into flavors of dark...
WE
94
JS
93
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
375ml
Bottle: $14.50 $15.59
Plush in texture, this Zin is generous with blackberry and cherry flavors that draw in accents of briar patch, black...
WS
92
Sale
Red
375ml
Bottle: $19.42 $20.44
12 bottles: $15.83
Dark ruby color with bold aromas of blackberry, plum and clove. The entry is rich and full, with juicy acidity...

Assyrtiko Baga Mencia Zinfandel 375ml

Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.

The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.

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?

The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.