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750ml
Bottle:
$139.94
$142.39
6 bottles:
$126.00
Maple syrup in color, this has a toffee aroma and flavor, along with notes of dry cocoa, espresso, spice and dried...
750ml
Bottle:
$783.60
6 bottles:
$782.40
750ml
Bottle:
$15.94
12 bottles:
$15.62
Highly regarded as one of the few high quality Retsina on the market today, this dry white strikes an impressive...
375ml
Bottle:
$87.94
$97.79
Amazing depth of colour and outstanding red berry flavours, particularly strawberry, lend this red Icewine to pair...
375ml
Bottle:
$70.99
$76.94
This is a glorious icewine where acidity and sugar are in perfect harmony. The candied orange peel, ginger, straw and...
375ml
Bottle:
$66.94
$74.20
The 2019 Gold Vidal Icewine was fermented and aged for about 14 weeks in 90% new French oak. It comes in with 272...
750ml
Bottle:
$53.95
The bold aroma suggests sarsaparilla and allspice underlined by maple sugar. The sweet-spiced palate resounds with...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$16.94
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$18.13
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml
Bottle:
$102.22
$107.60
A rich and concentrated nose is full of baking spices, baked fruit and soft vanilla cookies. The elegant flavors...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Enticing aromas of Bosc pear, chamomile, singed orange rind and lemon oil waft from the glass. It's vibrant and crisp...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.93
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Pale garnet in hue, with a dry, mouthwatering frame for the violet and spice accents, and flavors of macerated...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.99
The NV Rosso Labrusca lifts up with a decadent blend of ripe cherries, blueberries, sweet herbs and spice. This takes...
750ml
Bottle:
$17.57
$18.49
12 bottles:
$17.52
Extremely fresh on the nose, with notes of wild berries and red fruits. On the palate, this full-bodied Lambrusco...
Armagnac Ice Wine Lambrusco Retsina
Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.
Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.
Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.
Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.
Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.