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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $4159.34
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $4472.75
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $3689.10
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $4204.38 $4472.75
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $4219.18
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $5088.30 $5413.09
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $4758.02
The strikingly complex, cool and reserved nose of mostly citrus, stone, floral and white orchard fruit aromas still...
BH
97
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $4954.44
Here we arrive at the pinnacle of white wine, and the results are breathtaking. The initial impression is...
DC
99
BH
97
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $5494.95 $5567.41
Smoky and lightly oaky aromas include those of most floral, ripe apple compote, Asian-style tea and a broad range of...
BH
97
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $792.64
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $792.64
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $267.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $96.28
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $76.03
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $84.78
The core of peach and honeydew melon fruit is framed by lemon candy and butterscotch in this taut white. Hints of...
WS
91
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $95.57
The core of peach and honeydew melon fruit is framed by lemon candy and butterscotch in this taut white. Hints of...
WS
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $96.71
Here the wood is more moderate though the nose is firmly reduced so be sure to give this a proper aeration if you're...
WA
91
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91
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $70.45
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $96.71
The 2018 Rully 1er Cru Rabourcé offers up notions of crisp orchard fruit, orange zest, nutmeg and vanilla pod that's...
WA
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $84.78

Altesse Carignan Chardonnay Malbec Zinfandel Pre-Arrival Wine

Carignan is an ancient blue-skinned grape varietal, thought to be indigenous to the Aragon region of Spain. However, today it is most commonly associated with the fine wines of southern France, and has been grown in many countries around the world which have the warm and dry conditions it requires to thrive. Carignan is recognized as being quite a sensitive vine, highly susceptible to all kinds of rot and mildew, although producing excellent results when given the right conditions and handled correctly. Its high tannin levels and acidity make the Carignan grapes very astringent, and as such, they are often used as a blending grape to give body to other, lesser bodied varietals. Despite this, with careful treatment, Carignan can produce superb single varietal wines packed full of character and unique attributes.

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

The purple Malbec variety grapes which now grow all over the Old and New Worlds had their origins in France, where they are one of the few grape varieties allowed to be used in the highly esteemed blended wines of Bordeaux. However, it is perhaps the New World Malbec wines which have attracted the most attention in recent years, as they thrive in hot southern climates in ways they cannot in their native country, where the damp conditions leave them highly vulnerable to rot. Malbec grapes are renowned for their high tannin content, resulting in full-bodied red wines packed with ripe, plummy flavors and held in their characteristically dark, garnet colored liquid. In many countries, Malbec is still used primarily as a varietal for blending, as it adds a great level of richness and density to other, lighter and thinner varietals. However, single variety Malbec wines have been greatly on the rise in recent years, with some fantastic results and big, juicy flavors marking them out as a great wine for matching with a wide range of foods.

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.