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750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$20.80
Intense ruby color. Free nose with notes of cherry and berries. Corresponding taste, full-bodied and balanced by...
750ml
Bottle:
$26.40
12 bottles:
$23.94
This traditional process allows the maintenance of the fresh acidity and spicy notes of an easy-to-drink, fragrant,...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$18.52
Deep red in color with purple highlights and aromas of black berries on the nose. Crisp acidity on the palate with a...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$27.38
Deep red with an edge of purple, with aromas of walnut husk and balsamic. Full and elegant on the palate with...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.80
12 bottles:
$18.42
Born from the blend of grapes coming from two areas, Langhe and Roero. Langhe give depth and volume, and Roero...
750ml
Bottle:
$24.90
12 bottles:
$24.40
COLOR: Deep ruby red color with purple tints.
NOSE: The nose is very intense, with typical aromas of plum, raspberry,...
750ml
Bottle:
$24.79
6 bottles:
$24.29
The 2019 Barbera d'Alba Morassina is fabulous. Dark, layered and super-expressive, the 2019 marks a return to...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.95
12 bottles:
$18.57
Umberta is 100% Barbera and the so-called "entry-level" wine at Iuli. Coming from south-facing vineyards planted...
750ml
Bottle:
$23.94
12 bottles:
$23.46
Rossore, 100% Barbera, was Fabrizio's first wine. The name refers to the red flush on one's cheeks after drinking it....
750ml
Bottle:
$16.00
12 bottles:
$15.68
Luc and Jerome Choblet are the third generation to make wine at their family estate, in the Côtes de Grandlieu...
750ml
Bottle:
$20.52
$21.60
This remarkable Vin de France (thus without vintage on the label) has not only the color of a honeydew melon, it also...
1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$54.93
6 bottles:
$53.83
750ml
Bottle:
$21.94
12 bottles:
$21.50
750ml
Bottle:
$28.94
12 bottles:
$28.36
From a high desert site in the Gabilan Mountains, neighboring Pinnacles State Park. Harvested from a south facing...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.93
12 bottles:
$16.59
Intense, with refreshing acidity and firm structure, Assyrtiko is a wine ideal for food pairings: fish fillet roasted...
Assyrtiko Barbera Melon de Bourgogne Mencia
Cultivated since at least the middle of the Byzantine era, the Assyrtiko grape is generally considered to be one the finest of the Greek grape varietals, as a result of its multi-purpose properties and ability to flourish on a wide range of terrains. The ancient Byzantines used it in conjunction with Aidani and Athiri grapes for the production of their unusual and naturally sweet Vinsanto wines, which are still produced today in Santorini, and continue to be popular. However, the Assyrtiko grapes are used for many different AOC wines across Greece, and are favored by wine makers who want to maintain a dryness and acidic punch to their produce.
The Assyrtiko grapes are renowned for their ability to maintain their acidity as they ripen beneath the blazing Mediterranean sun, resulting in wines which have a distinctive dryness and a range of citrus fruit aromas, as well as great structure and high tannins. Often, Assyrtiko grapes will produce wines which leave an unusual after-taste reminiscent of the mineral rich, volcanic soils they are grown in on the slopes of Santorini, making them a favorite for wine drinkers looking for something full of character and interesting attributes. The past twenty five years have seen Assyrtiko vines planted all over the Greek mainland, and even in Attica and Macedonia, where the softer terrain often produces more fruit forward wines with a milder, less astringent character. However, wherever this fine grape varietal is grown, it is rare the results will be anything less than excellent.
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?
For centuries now, the beautiful red grapes of the Barbera varietal have been grown in Italy, where they are prized for their unusual high acid content and low tannins, brought about by their thin skins. The Barbera grape varietal thrives in warmer climates, and has had some success overseas in the new world, where its strongly aromatic flavors of intense hedgerow fruits make it a favorite with wineries and wine drinkers looking for a grape which offers plenty of interesting characteristics. Interestingly, the differences between young and aged wines made from this varietal are quite significant, with younger bottles holding a plethora of berry flavors, including blueberry and raspberry notes, and oak aged wines made from the Barbera grape being much loved for their ability to become extremely complex and spicy, and picking up vanilla flavors from the wood they are barreled in.
One of the more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.
Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.