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Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $122.28
The 2009 Finca Bella Vista was sourced from a vineyard planted in 1910 giving a miserly yield of 0.75 tons per acre....
WA
98
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $89.94
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $48.67
Colour: Lively, deep ruby-red; nature's gift. Perfume: Complex scent of ripe red fruit (mainly black cherry), spices,...
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $48.67
A fine, supple red, sporting velvety tannins, racy raspberry, cherry and plum fruit, joined by layers of spice, hot...
WE
92
WS
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $65.87
I thought the 2011 was the best ever from this stylish wine producer in Sardinia. But the 2012 is clearly better...
JS
94
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92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $60.83
Very beautiful aromas of violets, purple fruit, fresh lavender and thyme follow through to a medium body with...
JS
93
WS
91
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $139.45
The 2021 Malbec Grand Alpasión hails from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley and was aged in new French oak barrels....
VM
90
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $74.28
Now mature, this wine balances crisp citrus with warm apricot flavors. It is smooth and intense, with a texture that...
WE
95
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $98.33
Having tasted the white Generation XIX a year ago before it headed for the bottling line, its pedigree continues to...
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95
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94
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $304.24
From dense white-chalk soil, this wine lies at the heart of this producer's range. It is a generous, full-bodied wine...
WE
94
DC
92
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $39.19
The 2021 Sancerre La Moussiere was tasted as a finished wine still in tank and offers attractive purity and balance....
VM
90
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $69.98
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $66.95
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $320.26
Mellot's 2018 Pouilly-Fumé opens with an intense and aromatic, clear and elegant bouquet of ripe pears and...
WA
92
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $146.29
Sauvignon Blanc is the white wine from the Eisele Vineyard. The parcels are located on the Eastern side of the...
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White
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $109.45
Sauvignon Blanc is the white wine from the Eisele Vineyard. The parcels are located on the Eastern side of the...
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White
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $43.92
This has a refined, citrus edge with such focused and compact lemons and limes, as well as some green mangoes. Long,...
WA
92
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92
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $36.94
A creamy and layered white with sliced lemon, melon and white peach on the nose and palate. It’s medium-to...
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94
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94
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Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $130.95
Cropped from an almost perfect growing season when the grapes ripened slowly, the 2016 Noemía is pure Malbec from...
WA
97
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96
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White
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $37.58
A mouthwatering white, with vivacious acidity buoying flavors of pineapple, pink grapefruit granita and hints of...
WS
92
JS
91

Altesse Carignan Malbec Sauvignon Blanc 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.

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 green skinned grapes of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal had their origins in Southern France, where they are still widely grown and used for many of the excellent young and aged white wines the region is famous for. Today, however, they are grown in almost every wine producing country in the world, and are widely revered for their fresh and grassy flavors, full of tropical notes and refreshing, zesty character. Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive best in moderate climates, and ripen relatively early in the year. This has made them a favorite for many wineries in the New World, where they can still produce healthy and high yields in the earlier part of the summer before the temperatures become too hot. Too much heat has a massively adverse effect on Sauvignon Blanc, as the grapes become dull in their flavor, and the wine produced from them loses all its unique character and high points. As such, Sauvignon Blanc farmers have had a lot of trouble from global warming and climate change, as they are being forced to harvest their crops increasingly earlier in the year when it is cool enough to do so.

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.