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$23.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 15% Malbec. Rich in color with beautiful floral aromas on the nose and supple, plummy fruit on the palate. With well-integrated tannins and impressive smoothness on the finish, this red blend is meticulously crafted using fruit sourced from our favorite low-yielding vineyards in Napa Valley."
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$34.95
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France
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Burgundy
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Macon/Chalonnaise
In stock,
1
available
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Jean-Pierre and Michel Auvigue practice noninterventionist winemaking techniques, and their pure, crisp wines are an unadulterated reflection of each of their terroirs. This wine reveals a rich nose of tropical fruit with toasted notes that follows in the mouth with surprisingly vibrant structure, excellent balance and very good to excellent length.
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$9.95
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France
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Loire
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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87 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "...bright, bracing lemon and lime and borderline grassiness are accompanied by cooling mint, attractively pungent caraway, and a palpable sense of extract and chalky minerality... this gets high marks for sheer tenacity and for its light bulb-like, wake-up personality. (Aug 2008)"
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$23.95
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France
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South of France
In stock,
9
available
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Paul Strang (South-West France: The Wines and Winemakers): "The Barré family has been growing vines at Viella since 1850, and Didier represents the sixth generation... His roguish and teasing manner conceals a deep seriousness for his wines, which are regularly cited as among the best of the region. The vineyard covers about 24 hectares, partly on a pebbly-clay plateau to the west of the village and partly on a south-eastern slope over the east where Didier grows his grapes for pacherenc. Some of his vines go back 100 years."
The cuvee "Vitis MCM" is made with 100% Tannat harvested from vines planted in 1900 and aged in 80% new oak barrels.
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$23.95
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Greece
In stock, 12+ available
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List $27.00
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90 points Wine Spectator: "[$27 list] This supple, complex and enticingly ripe red features a mix of citrus, spice, smoke, dried berry and cherry tart flavors. The long finish shows sandalwood notes, with hints of mincemeat and touches of cream. Ends on a briary note. Xinomavro. Drink now through 2018. 300 cases imported. (2012)"
Producer notes: "100% Xinomavro. The 'Grande Reserve' designation is only granted to wines that are barrel aged for at least two years, and then bottle aged for at least two additional years.The barrel aging allows the complexity of the Xinomavro grape to fully show through. Aroma: Cinnamon, dry fig and red fruits combined with complex spices. Taste: Well structured, full-bodied and balanced with intense flavor and a long cinnamon and smoked nuts finish. Although ready to drink now, the wine will continue to develop in the cellar for 12-15 years. Serve with red meat, spicy sauces and yellow cheeses. Alcohol 13%."
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$49.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Barolo
In stock, 12+ available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
Two Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "Bovio began making wine in 1976 and the results have been increasingly convincing, thanks in no small part to the passionate commitment of cellar manager Walter Porasso... These Barolos have a classic style that foregrounds fruit over oak which is barely perceptible in the first few years in bottle. (2012)"
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$89.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $100.00
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Sommelier Journal: "[$100 list] 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc; estate-grown and -bottled, due to be released Oct. 1. Dense, dark ruby in color, with little rim variation. Complex aromas of black cherry, freshly turned earth, coriander, fir, and sandalwood get a surprising citrus lift. Savory herbs, dark chocolate, and sweet espresso come through on the palate. This version is balanced and concentrated, with supple tannins. (7/31/11)"
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$19.95
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Italy
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Veneto
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Amarone
In stock,
2
available
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Two Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "It is said that quality never goes hand-in-hand with large quantities, but luckily the reverse is sometimes true, and our tasting of Giuseppe Campagnola's wines was one of those occasions... (2011)" Intense red garnet color. Fine ethereal, fragrant bouquet. Dry full complex and velvet smooth. Rich superb noble warm on palate with aftertaste of green almond.
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$59.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock,
2
available
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Wine Spectator recently called Carmen Policy's Casa Piena "one of the three best up and coming wineries in Napa." Policy was a San Francisco 49ers front office executive during the 1980s and 1990s. This bottling, "Our Gang", signifies the grandchildren in the family. As the owner's say, they hope the label changes with the addition of more "vines" in the next few years.
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$5.95
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United States
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Merlot
In stock, 12+ available
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Light and refreshing with currant and blackberry flavors. Soft with layers of cherry and bright cedar.
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$89.95
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United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
5
available
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David Fulton’s bottling is an example of the heights Petite Sirah can reach. The wine is fairly new (the first release was the 1999 vintage) but the vineyard is old...very old. In fact, these are purportedly the oldest Petite Sirah vines in Napa Valley (and possibly California). Founded by David Fulton in 1865, the vineyard and winery are located just a short walk from downtown St. Helena. Handed down generation
by generation, the land exists today as the oldest continuously owned and operated family vineyard in California. The current dry farmed, head trained vineyard is recognized today as an ‘old-vine’ varietal super-site. No doubt about it, this is an intense wine. The pour is inky black displaying dark reds with a deep purple rim. The wine is aged in half new and half two year old French oak barrels. Rising up from a swirling glass are fresh, massive, pure black fruit aromas with hints of blackberry and loganberry, fragrances elegantly revealed in a way rarely seen in this variety. The flavors match the aromatics yet divulge even more with cassis, licorice, and well-integrated oak notes. The texture is a multilayered
coating of round and supple black cherry. At the end of each sip follow rich and mature tannins. The wine allows for current consumption for those who can't wait yet graceful aging for those who prefer patience.
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$18.95
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France
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Alsace
In stock,
1
available
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List $24.00
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David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "The Dirler 2007 Pinot -- a 100% Pinot Noir of pale salmon color -- was, for the second time in the history of this cuvee (and far more successfully than in 2006), fermented in barrel, where it received extended lees contact. Fresh cherry and lime on the nose follow on a palate of subtle creaminess and generous refreshment, with spicy adjuncts from the barrel and mineral salts mingling in a saliva-inducing finish. This will prove versatile over at least the next 12-18 months. (Apr 2010)"
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$59.95
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United States
In stock,
4
available
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List $85.00
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Robb Report: "[$85/375ml list] Outside of Tokaj or Bordeaux, no producer has produced late-harvest wine with greater consistency than Dolce. This lavishly textured, dense wine remains surprisingly light on the tongue, despite its rich flavors of lemon meringue, coconut custard, and torrone."
Wine Enthusiast: "The key to the sweet wine of Dolce, a subsidiary of Oakville-based Far Niente Winery, is its bounty of botrytis. Winemaker Greg Allen explains that Sémillon's thin skin and low acidity make it susceptible to the so-called 'noble rot' and account for Dolce's sweetness. 'We Encourage botrytis development by growing these huge canopies to trap humidity and to protect the fruit from sunlight,' he says. (Feb 2013)"
Producer notes: "Dolce is grown in the cool foggy Coombsville area to the east of the city of Napa. It is here that the fruit can get to full ripeness before getting concentrated by the actions of botrytis cenerea, a mold long associated with the world's greatest dessert wines. We only harvest the best clusters or parts of clusters. Of course, this means that most of the grapes we grow never make it to the winery. The resulting juice is so concentrated that yeast have a hard time fermenting. Greg, our winemaker, often is following fermentations well into March or April of the next year. He then oversees their slow development as the wine ages for 30 months before he determines the final blend and bottles the wine. Part of the magic of Dolce, beyond its ability to give hedonistic pleasure, is its ability to age and improve for many many years."
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$169.95
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France
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Burgundy
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Cote d'Or Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $225.00
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96+ points Sonoma Wine Journal: "Violet robe. Exceptionally pure nose of spicy cherries, and with aeration the bouquet also shows notes of raspberries, iron, minerals, cinnamon, and flowers. The attack is all pure stalky Pinot fruits, still too young to fully enjoy but showing all the hallmarks of a great wine that simply needs time to evolve. Delicious and vibrant, the finely delineated tannins are enmeshed in the silken finish that lasts for nearly 60 seconds. Remarkable balance between the generous composition of fruit, acidity, tannins. For parents with children born in 2007 and who can afford this beauty, this would be an excellent Grand Cru Burgundy to cellar until your child's 21st birthday or other special occasions. From Laurent Ponsot. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2030. (Oct 2010)"
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$59.95
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France
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Burgundy
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Cote d'Or Red
In stock, 12+ available
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We recently discovered this producer from Chambolle. Though the domaine has been around for a while, and has incredible holdings, few know much if anything about them. Part of the reason is because they are so tiny. For instance, with the exception of their Chambolle villages, none of Felettig's holdings are larger than 0.5ha, so the wines seldom make their way to the US. In fact, even in Europe, they're nearly impossible to find. The other reason is that it was only after Henri Felettig recently handed control over to his son and daughter, Gilbert and Christine, that the wines became great. With the assistance of neighbor Louis-Michel Liger-Belair in the vineyards, their raw material vastly improved. In the cuvérie, they began employing minimal intervention and new oak is kept to 40% for the 1er Crus and 20-30% for the appellation Villages. The resulting wines are at once pure, dense and energetic, reminiscent of a hypothetical cross between Mugnier and Roumier. We're certainly not putting Felettig in the same league as these two icons, just illustrating their style.
Fuées is the sister vineyard to Bonnes Mares and made famous by Fréderic Mugnier.
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$26.95
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United States
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $40.00
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Producer notes: "[$40 list] This dark ruby hued Pinotage has a concentrated depth of bright, bold and luscious flavors that envelop the palate. Tiers of raspberry, blackberry and juicy plum are enhanced by a whisper of spicy sassafras that carries through the endless finish of this well-structured wine. Its rich, bold textural complexities are the perfect accompaniment to hearty meals, spicy foods and grilled meats. Alcohol 14.5%. 517 cases produced."
'Exceptional,' Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences: "This thick skinned South African grape often makes an odd wine, but here special clonal material personally cleared through official channels makes a dark, blackberry/plum scented wine with weight in the mid-palate and graceful structure. Faintly rustic finish; a great wine to serve blind to a wine snob."
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$46.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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45% Syrah, 45% Grenache, 10% Carignan.
Not yet reviewed; 2008 vintage rated 94 points by Wine Spectator: "This ripe, rich and powerful red has a deep well of dark fruit and spice flavors that are supported by firm tannins and plenty of fresh acidity. The finish shows raspberry ganache and cocoa powder, with hints of pepper. Drink now through 2020. 500 cases made."
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$35.95
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United States
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Merlot
In stock, 12+ available
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List $42.00
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'Highly recommended,' California Grapevine: "[$42 list] Medium to medium-dark ruby; attractive, herbal, cedary, dark cherry fruit aroma with smoky notes and hints of anise and cocoa; medium-full to full body; earthy, black cherry and currant flavors with notes of cocoa and black olive; medium-full tannin; slightly chalky mouthfeel and a bit drying on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Shows some maturity and is enjoyable to drink now. Highly recommended. 14.8% alcohol; released Fall 2011. (Dec 2011/Jan 2012)"
Producer notes: "[$42 list] This is a Cabernet lover's Merlot! Packed with flavors of cherries, blackberries and a hint of dried herbs on the finish, this wine's rich, complex mouthfeel makes it perfect with beef tenderloin, rack of lamb or barbecued pork."
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$19.95
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United States
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Sparkling
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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Producer notes: "The Blanc de Blancs offers abundant aromas and flavors recalling sweet apples, pears and citrus. The three years of aging has contributed a pronounced classic toastiness with accents of roasted almonds and minerals. The palate is creamy and long, and the style is elegant, dry and crisp, with great complexity. Only 1,000 cases produced."
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$9.95
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Germany
In stock, 12+ available
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List $19.00
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Importer notes: "An excellent, food versatile wine in a medium dry style, made by winemaker Fritz Hasselbach of Gunderloch, a leading winery in Germany receiving 3 perfect 100 point scores from the Wine Spectator for their extremely rare dessert wines. In this wine, aromas of peaches and apricots mingle in your glass. Beautiful fruit mixed with mineral characteristics will excite your palate and it will finish dry and refreshing. 11.5% alcohol."
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$41.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "A classic wine of finesse and elegance -- beautiful now and structured to age gracefully for years to come. The rich varietal aroma leads to delicious flavors of dark cherry with notes of spicy plum. A generous core of cabernet fruit is nicely integrated with refreshing acidity and just the right touch of oak. This wine is silky in texture, building momentum as it crosses the palate to a lovely, lingering finish. Alcohol 14.5%."
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$67.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Wonderful aroma of summer blackberries and a hint of cassis. The rich and lively flavors continue on the palate, showing an intriguing depth of complexities. This is a big Cabernet -- well-focused, voluptuous and smooth, while still showing a youthful pizazz. Alcohol 14.5%."
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$8.95
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Italy
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Tuscany
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Chianti
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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100% Sangiovese. 13.5% abv. With a bright ruby-garnet cast, this Chianti displays a spicy red currant and tobacco nose, plenty of zip and drive, abundant fruit, and a tonic acidity on the finish. A great pairing with pizza or pasta with red sauce.
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$11.95
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France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock, 12+ available
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65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ruby red color, with aromas of red fruits and black currants. Medium-bodied with abundant fruit flavors, a hint of spice, and soft, silky tannins.
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$26.95
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Switzerland
In stock,
10
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.) Producer notes: "Intense aromas, including notes of boxwood and crushed blackcurrant buds. In the mouth, its vivacious aromas combine with supple and markedly fruity elements. This pairs well with smoked fish such as eel or salmon, seafood and oysters. Also the ideal partner for goat cheese."
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