×
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $34.95
12 bottles: $32.30
Sweet, rich orange marmalade flavors, maybe not as imposingly powerful as Guiraud can be, but still with a great...
WE
95
WS
93
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $35.20
12 bottles: $34.50
Tasted as part of a vertical held at the chateau. It is clear that the aromatics on the 2008 are a little simpler and...
12 FREE
WA
93
WS
92
Case only
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $74.85
The 2009 Guiraud is one of the gems of Sauternes this vintage, one of the finest offerings in recent years. It has a...
12 FREE
VM
97
WS
96
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $29.94 $33.20
Barrel Sample. This wine is packed with dry botrytis flavor, but also a bright freshness. Together they give an...
WE
96
WS
95
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $35.90
12 bottles: $35.18
One of the top Sauternes in this report is the 2016 Château Guiraud, a brilliant wine from a more challenging...
12 FREE
WE
96
JD
96
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $37.45
12 bottles: $36.70
Barrel Sample. Ripe, botrytized fruit currently dominates this wine with its rich concentration. It is a full and...
12 FREE
WE
96
VM
95
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $54.94 $59.20
Barrel Sample. Ripe, botrytized fruit currently dominates this wine with its rich concentration. It is a full and...
12 FREE
WE
96
VM
95
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $29.90 $32.20
12 bottles: $29.45
Apricots, honeysuckle, lemons, mango crumble, earl grey and vanilla beans on the nose. Pretty spice notes that keep...
WA
94
JS
94
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $51.94 $57.20
Apricots, honeysuckle, lemons, mango crumble, earl grey and vanilla beans on the nose. Pretty spice notes that keep...
WA
94
JS
94
Case only
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $49.94
Wow. This has a seamless texture and wonderful depth of fruit with dried pineapple, pear and hints of honey. Full...
12 FREE
JS
96
WS
95
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $33.94
12 bottles: $33.26
Brilliant golden robe. Attractive complex nose of acacias, white flowers, lemon, and a touch of honey. Light, fruity...
12 FREE
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $20.94
Brilliant golden robe. Attractive complex nose of acacias, white flowers, lemon, and a touch of honey. Light, fruity...
Dessert/Fortified Wine
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $14.95
24 bottles: $12.97
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $25.60
12 bottles: $25.09
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $38.25
12 bottles: $37.49
Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 Carmes de Rieussec opens with evolving honey-coated almonds, lemon pie and...
12 FREE
WA
92
JS
90
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $19.94
12 bottles: $19.54
90-91 A pretty second wine of Rieussec with creamy, cooked pear and apple character. Some soufflé character, too....
12 FREE
WA
91
JS
91
Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml
Bottle: $18.13
12 bottles: $17.22
Full nose with notes of jammy white fruit, which evolve towards bitter orange. The initial impression is delicate,...
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $123.12 $136.80
Captivating, tangy aromas of vineyard peach, pear, white flowers and curry powder. Supple and very concentrated;...
12 FREE
VM
92
WA
91
Sale
Dessert/Fortified Wine
750ml
Bottle: $81.00 $90.00
93-96 Balanced and very spicy, with almond paste and apricot. Full-bodied, medium sweet, with a long, fruity, tangy...
12 FREE
WS
96
VM
93

Mencia Robola Semillon/sauvignon Blanc Xinomavro

In the mountains of Cephalonia, the mineral rich soils assist in the growing of one of the finest of Greece's white grape varietals – the Robola grape. These noble yellowish grapes are notable for the wines they produce, which generally contain summer fruits, peach and citrus aromas, coupled with flavors which extend beyond the usual range of white wines, revealing smoky and mineral notes, and a lengthy, lemony after-taste. These fine characteristics helped the regions it is grown in gain AOC status, and wine-makers in this area have many generations of practice in bringing out the elegant and subtle characteristics of this grape.

Robola, and the other wines of Cephalonia have a long and illustrious history, being mentioned even in ancient epic poems such as Homer's Iliad. However, it was the Venetians who first recognized the great potential of Robola grapes, which quickly became the focus for the areas wine-makers and tradesmen. Nowadays, Robola wines act as an excellent example of a refined Greek dry white wine, which can be either drank as a light and refreshing summer aperitif, or alongside grilled white meats, salads, or white fish. Robola wines, as a rule, do not age particularly well, and it is highly recommended that bottles are drunk young, within two years of bottling. By doing so, you can enjoy the unique characteristics of this remarkable wine, complete with the balanced combination of chalky, smoky citrus flavors and delicate peach aromas which typify the finest examples of Robola varietal wines.

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?

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.