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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $38.20
A dense and layered red with wet earth and blue fruits. Sweet tobacco, too. Soft tannins give this full-bodied wine a...
JS
93
WA
90
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $52.12
This well-formed wine has tannins and black-currant fruits in balance. It shows structure and a ripe, classic profile...
WE
93
DC
91
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $46.32
Friendly cassis and warmed cherry notes have a lightly steeped edge, while tobacco and warm earth accents fill in...
WS
89
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $45.45
Friendly cassis and warmed cherry notes have a lightly steeped edge, while tobacco and warm earth accents fill in...
WS
89
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $51.40
Notes of cassis and blackberries with hints of spices, dark chocolate, cedar and leafy herbs. Medium- to full-bodied...
JS
93
DC
91
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $61.28
Case only
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $74.94
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $61.02
This is a ripe, complete wine, full of black fruits, spicy wood and solid tannins. Over five-10 years, it will...
WE
89
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $124.95
Wow. This really shows wonderful depth and complexity on the nose with blueberries, fresh flowers and hints of...
JS
93
WS
90
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $74.90
Wow. This really shows wonderful depth and complexity on the nose with blueberries, fresh flowers and hints of...
JS
93
WS
90
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $122.98
The 2006 Cantemerle was the "surprise package" of the blind tasting at Farr Vintners' horizontal. It has a...
WA
92
JS
90
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $48.95
Gorgeous ripe fruit character, with loads of blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full body, with velvety tannins...
JS
95
VM
93
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $77.94
This red shows some cassis, blueberries and floral notes on the nose. Some tar, too. Medium to full body, juicy...
JS
92
DC
91
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $39.25
This red shows some cassis, blueberries and floral notes on the nose. Some tar, too. Medium to full body, juicy...
JS
92
DC
91
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $59.31
Case only
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $68.95
I like the floral character, which highlights the aromas of currants and berries. Full body and a firm and tight...
JS
94
WE
93
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $79.89
Impressive richness and clarity of red and dark berries. Lightly spiced-pastry aromas, too. The palate has a very...
JS
95
WE
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $37.88
Impressive richness and clarity of red and dark berries. Lightly spiced-pastry aromas, too. The palate has a very...
JS
95
WE
94
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $79.89
Plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas in this elegant, medium-weight Haut-Médoc that’s got as much...
JS
94
WE
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $39.87
Plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas in this elegant, medium-weight Haut-Médoc that’s got as much...
JS
94
WE
93

Carignan Carmenere Red Bordeaux Zinfandel France Bordeaux Haut Medoc 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 deep blue colored grapes of the Carmenere varietal have their origins in France, where they are still listed as one of the elite grape varietals allowed by French law for the use in Bordeaux wines, generally regarded to be the finest in the world. However, the use of Carmenere grapes in France has been dwindling for many decades now, and it has been in several New World countries where they have seen their renaissance. Although still mostly used as a blending grape, single variety Carmenere wines are greatly sought after as a result of their deep, complex aromas, stunning blood red color and the fact that the grapes, when processed at optimum ripeness, carry some fascinating flavors, including chocolate, tobacco, and spicy cherry notes.

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.

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.

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.

There are few wine regions in the world with a reputation as glowing and well established as that of the Bordeaux, in France. Situated mainly around the Dordogne and Gironde rivers, Bordeaux makes the most of its humid climate and rich, clay and gravel based soils to grow some of the finest examples of red and white grape varietals on earth. Wineries in this region have been in operation for hundreds of years, and have carefully developed the expertise required for the production of carefully balanced and utterly delicious blended red and white wines, alongside some exceptional single variety bottles. Many of the chateaux found in Bordeaux have become household names, due to their prestige and the excellence of their products, grown with love and dedication by heritage wineries in this beautiful and special region.