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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $48.64
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: $48.64
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: $64.95
I thought the 2011 was the best ever from this stylish wine producer in Sardinia. But the 2012 is clearly better...
JS
94
VM
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $60.13
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 12
Bottle: $57.12
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $117.95
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $57.12
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $119.94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $75.21
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $74.95
A light coating of mocha allows dark cherry and plum compote flavors to glide through center stage while gentle black...
WS
92
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $74.95
Inky ruby. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet show outstanding clarity and...
WA
93
VM
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $40.83
Inky ruby. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet show outstanding clarity and...
WA
93
VM
93
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $74.95
A cloud of smoke, plus the aromas of freshly cracked black pepper and a freshly sharpened pencil, are married to...
JS
94
VM
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $38.25
A cloud of smoke, plus the aromas of freshly cracked black pepper and a freshly sharpened pencil, are married to...
JS
94
VM
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $37.16
Saturated magenta. Displays expressive red and dark berry, smoked meat, olive and floral qualities on the...
WA
92
VM
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $74.33
Ripe but sleek and fresh, with cassis, bitter plum and violet notes racing through, while sweet tapenade and warm...
WS
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $60.95
A bright, piercing style, with a beam of violet and iron racing forth, backed by bitter cherry and red currant coulis...
WS
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $68.28
A bright and fresh style, leading off with floral and bay leaf elements, followed by brisk-edged cassis and damson...
WS
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $45.76
Reveals rich dark cherry and plum fruit with a lightly mulled edge, while anise, tar and black olive accents fill in...
WS
94
DC
93
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $101.51
Dark and alluring yet also pretty, with expressive violet, dried lavender and blackberry paste built atop an...
VM
94
WS
94

Carignan Red Bordeaux Syrah 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.

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.

Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet's most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn't easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.

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.