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1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$268.60
Glass-staining violet. Powerfully scented blackberry, cherry liqueur, exotic spice and olive scents are complemented...
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$116.00
Glass-staining violet. Powerfully scented blackberry, cherry liqueur, exotic spice and olive scents are complemented...
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$131.04
This is packed with intense plum reduction, warmed cassis and fig paste flavors but is nevertheless sleek and poised,...
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$133.60
Intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, exotic spices and cola are complemented by a smoky mineral topnote and a hint...
750ml
Bottle:
$209.95
$215.00
Blackberries, crushed violets, ample minerality, and some scorched earth notes all emerge from the 2016 Côte Rôtie...
750ml
Bottle:
$85.94
$89.20
There are four Côte Rôties in 2019 that I was able to taste. In the same qualitative ballpark as the 2018, if not...
750ml
Bottle:
$186.20
6 bottles:
$185.00
Named after the lieu-dit, which is located next to Viallière, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Nève sports a deep...
750ml
Bottle:
$241.24
6 bottles:
$236.42
From a rocky, mica-schist lieu-dit that's only recently been showing up on single-vineyard wines, Chapoutier's 2017...
![Benetiere Cote Rotie Cordeloux [Lieu Dit] 2016 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/80/80b1732ce3ca96adace85b6a8289688c.jpg)
![Benetiere Cote Rotie Cordeloux [Lieu Dit] 2017 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/d4/d4180ece6a416f3caebb31584f0eeba0.jpg)
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle:
$221.75
The only vintage of this wine to be bottled, the 2018 Cote Rotie Coteaux de Tupin (previously reviewed as "Unnamed...
Pre-Arrival
Benjamin Et David Duclaux Cote Rotie Maison 2017
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle:
$120.05
The medium to full-bodied 2017 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge hints at violets and dried herbs on the nose, then delivers...
Pre-Arrival
Bernard Levet Cote Rotie Amethyste 2020
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$52.67
A prospective blend assembled from several barrels for my tasting, the 2020 Cote Rotie Amethyste—a blend of five...
Mavrodaphne Syrah Xinomavro France Rhone Valley Cote Rotie
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
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?
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.
Xinomavro is the predominant grape varietal of Macedonia, although it is also grown in many parts of Greece where the climatic conditions are suitable for this particular fruit. The names translates as 'acid black', which gives some clue as to the nature of this varietal. The grapes are renowned for their high tannin content, which is a result of the thick and blue-black skins found on the fruit. This particular characteristic results in a superb aging potential in wines made from the Xinomavro varietal, as time spent in barrels softens these strong, astringent tannins and allows the full range of their flavors to come through in the wine. Most commonly, Xinomavro grapes are associated with aromas of red gooseberry, spices, olives and dried fruit, such as dried tomato.
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.
The Rhone Valley of southern France is a particularly fascinating wine region, with a history that stretches back to at least six hundred BCE, when the ancient Greeks first began cultivating vines there. The region itself is split into two distinct sub-regions, with the northern sub-region being famed for its production of exceptional Syrah, Marsanne, Roussane and Viognier wines, packed full of interesting character and expressing the terroir found there. The southern sub-region is home to an enormous variety of grapes, and produces red, white and rosé wines, and some of the world's most famous and adored blended wines. The continental climate of the region is ideal for growing grapes, and the winds which blow from the Central Massif help temper the heat in the vineyards, leading to very ripe fruits holding plenty of flavor.
One of France's most exciting red wine appellations, lies in the far north of the northern Rhone, well beyond the town of Tain where the major negociants and Hermitage is located. Some believe it is the site of the first vineyard cultivation in ancient Gaul. Vineyards have been carved into the steep hillsides here since the time the Romans settled the nearby town of Vienne. Viticulture is difficult here, with vines planted in schist banked high above the Rhone River to maximize sun exposure.