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750ml
Bottle:
$18.94
12 bottles:
$18.56
The 2022 Carménère Gravel Soils hails from Isla de Maipo. Purple in hue. The nose opens with ashes and spices,...
![Vassaltis Santorini [100% Assyrtiko] 2022 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/b1/b140cc15e6136e758452044b3a4ad63f.jpg){kind=small}
750ml
Bottle:
$45.60
Dry and minerally, with a streak of salinity driving subtle notes of crunchy white peach, lemon thyme and slivered...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.83
$17.59
12 bottles:
$12.35
Aromas of red plums, raspberries, chocolate orange, leaves, green olives and toasted bread. Medium-bodied with very...
750ml
Bottle:
$26.08
12 bottles:
$19.59
Opens with savory notes of tomato leaf and peppercorn that integrate nicely around a svelte core of juicy cherry and...
750ml
Bottle:
$22.57
$25.08
12 bottles:
$18.24
Red fruit aromas, with cedar and bold notes. On the palate it is fresh and fruity with flavors of cherry and hints of...
750ml
Bottle:
$20.88
12 bottles:
$20.46
A red with fresh rose leaf and rose petal as well as currant and berry. Medium-to-full body, firm and silky tannins...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.45
$13.11
12 bottles:
$5.89
A rich blend of blackberries and blueberries with a hint of coffee. A claw-some red. Discover fruity and smooth...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.94
Our Carménère is a representative wine of this emblematic variety of Chile, dominated by aromas of red, black...
Pre-Arrival
Bodegas Tagua Tagua Carmenere Gran Reserva 2019
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$125.66
Rich red plums with some blackberries, cocoa and dried leaves. A juicy, generous red with a full body with a nice...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$43.19
Matured 18 months in traditional underground vats, the 2021 Clos des Bouquinardières reveals an abundance of herbs,...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$45.94
Matured 18 months in traditional underground vats, the 2021 Clos des Bouquinardières reveals an abundance of herbs,...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$166.57
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$109.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$79.94
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$86.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$76.95
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$89.94
Pre-Arrival
Montes Purple Angel 2020
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$70.16
A consistent Purple Angel that really delivers the carmenere’s plushness when ripened well. Dark olives,...
Assyrtiko Carmenere 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?
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.
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.