MIXED CASE : REDS 2
Each case contains two bottles of the following wines:
Azores Wine Company Isabella a Proibida NV, Azores, Portugal. $42
The proibida (prohibition) of this wine necessitating the red line crossing out words here because this is an old vine/vineyard blend of Isabella, a hybrid grape that is not allowed for quality wine in the EU, and certainly looked down upon in the Azores and Portugal. However, winemaker Antonio Maçanita wanted to pay tribute to these old Isabella vines, once in abundance and with 200 years history on this volcanic island, before phylloxera ravaged through. This was fermented and aged for a short time in stainless. Foxy, green and hybrid herbaceous, this weaves early raspberry, crunchy cherry, mint, and thorns across a brisk, bright palate, lightly framed with sticky tannins through a saline finish. Certainly unique.
Olivier Coste Illegal Mourvèdre 2024, Languedoc, France. $21
Since his childhood, Olivier Coste’s favourite places to play have been the vineyards and the family wine cellar at Domaine Montrose, his family’s wine estate founded in 1701 in Pézenas. With this upbringing, Olivier developed a profound attachment to the Languedoc’s terroir and landscape, and later to its wines. Olivier and his team are committed to respecting the environment so that future generations can enjoy nature’s heritage. This wine comes from a small appellation in Languedoc, but 100% Mourvèdre is illegal there, thus, the winery declassified it to IGP and hid its origin. Destemmed grapes were macerated and fermented in stainless for 3 weeks, and kept there for a brief time before bottling in late winter. Perfumed blackberry, boysenberry, and dusky purple florals fill the juicy palate, with sticky tannins to frame, and a dusting of peppercorn on the finish. Crack into with grilled sausages or Tourtière.
Niepoort Vertente 2021, Douro Valley, Portugal. $34
If one had to pick the winemaker that has had the greatest impact on not only Douro wines, but Portuguese wines in general, it would be Dirk Niepoort. Easily one of the world’s top winemakers, Dirk’s insight extends beyond soils, grapes and blends, and into humans, predicting and driving the wines that today’s wine lovers, of all ages and backgrounds, are interested in drinking. Vertente means aspect or hillside, well named for the vineyards of the Douro. 50 to 80 year old vines are sourced from all of the vineyards Dirk works with, with a traditional blend of several grape varieties predominantly based on Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Rufete, and Tinta Amarela. After a native ferment in stainless, this was aged in French oak for 22 months. Fragrant rockrose, scrubby herbs, wild blackberries, and black plum flood a juicy palate, with a fine, schistous, structural brace of tannins that guide this 13% red to a lingering stony finish. Still so much energy in this wine, and time ahead.
J.M. Raffault Chinon Rouge Les Picasses 2020, Loire Valley, France. $27
Jean-Maurice Raffault and Rodolphe Raffault’s family began cultivating vines in Chinon 14 generations ago, when their ancestor, Mathurin Bottreau, bought his first parcel of vines in 1693. Today, Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault owns 50 organically farmed hectares of vines in 7 communes. This certified organic Cabernet Franc is from the Les Picasses lieu dit, atop a plateau overlooking the Vienne, the windiness of the site reflected in the windmill on the label. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. Soils here are stony limestone and clay. After destemming and a native ferment, with one month skin contact, this moves to barriques for MLF and aging 12 months on fine lees. Super perfumed, with ample fragrant plums, wild blackberry, thorns, and crushed florals on a medium palate, gripped with ample firm, gritty tannins, and finishing with a lingering peppery note. Lovely lift and freshness, encouraging partnering this with food (think grilled sausages).
Antica Masseria Jorche Primitivo del Salento 2022, Apulia, Italy $27
Dalila and Emanuela Gianfreda are fifth generation winemakers at Jorche, overseeing the 31 hectares of vines surrounding their Salento estate. This Primitivo grows in the red, iron-oxide rich sandstones throughout the property, and was aged 9 months in barrels and 3 months in bottle prior to release. Ripe and dense, with sun-baked plum, chocolate covered cherries, and scrubby Mediterranean herbs. Ample sticky tannins pin in the sides, and a bump of RS smooths out the palate. One for shellacked and BBQd ribs.
Lanciola Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2022, Toscana, Italy. $23
In Greve, in the heart of the Chianti Classico area, the winery has 14 hectares, 10 of which are devoted to vineyards sitting on shale soils at approximately 300 meters. This organically farmed Sangiovese is splashed with 10% of other local grapes, and fermented in stainless before resting in concrete. Dried cherry, herbal plum, and crushed florals is woven with forest floor, and wrapped with chewy, ample tannins. This will benefit from partnering with protein and / or fattier dishes to melt the tannins.
Price:
12 bottles for $383 + HST, including delivery in GTA, and most larger cities in Ontario.
*prices outside of main cities may incur additional delivery charges.
Estimated delivery time is 3-10 business days.
Please note we cannot process wine orders outside of Ontario. Wine can only be ordered from, and shipped to, an address in Ontario.
MIXED CASE : REDS 2
Each case contains two bottles of the following wines:
Azores Wine Company Isabella a Proibida NV, Azores, Portugal. $42
The proibida (prohibition) of this wine necessitating the red line crossing out words here because this is an old vine/vineyard blend of Isabella, a hybrid grape that is not allowed for quality wine in the EU, and certainly looked down upon in the Azores and Portugal. However, winemaker Antonio Maçanita wanted to pay tribute to these old Isabella vines, once in abundance and with 200 years history on this volcanic island, before phylloxera ravaged through. This was fermented and aged for a short time in stainless. Foxy, green and hybrid herbaceous, this weaves early raspberry, crunchy cherry, mint, and thorns across a brisk, bright palate, lightly framed with sticky tannins through a saline finish. Certainly unique.
Olivier Coste Illegal Mourvèdre 2024, Languedoc, France. $21
Since his childhood, Olivier Coste’s favourite places to play have been the vineyards and the family wine cellar at Domaine Montrose, his family’s wine estate founded in 1701 in Pézenas. With this upbringing, Olivier developed a profound attachment to the Languedoc’s terroir and landscape, and later to its wines. Olivier and his team are committed to respecting the environment so that future generations can enjoy nature’s heritage. This wine comes from a small appellation in Languedoc, but 100% Mourvèdre is illegal there, thus, the winery declassified it to IGP and hid its origin. Destemmed grapes were macerated and fermented in stainless for 3 weeks, and kept there for a brief time before bottling in late winter. Perfumed blackberry, boysenberry, and dusky purple florals fill the juicy palate, with sticky tannins to frame, and a dusting of peppercorn on the finish. Crack into with grilled sausages or Tourtière.
Niepoort Vertente 2021, Douro Valley, Portugal. $34
If one had to pick the winemaker that has had the greatest impact on not only Douro wines, but Portuguese wines in general, it would be Dirk Niepoort. Easily one of the world’s top winemakers, Dirk’s insight extends beyond soils, grapes and blends, and into humans, predicting and driving the wines that today’s wine lovers, of all ages and backgrounds, are interested in drinking. Vertente means aspect or hillside, well named for the vineyards of the Douro. 50 to 80 year old vines are sourced from all of the vineyards Dirk works with, with a traditional blend of several grape varieties predominantly based on Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Rufete, and Tinta Amarela. After a native ferment in stainless, this was aged in French oak for 22 months. Fragrant rockrose, scrubby herbs, wild blackberries, and black plum flood a juicy palate, with a fine, schistous, structural brace of tannins that guide this 13% red to a lingering stony finish. Still so much energy in this wine, and time ahead.
J.M. Raffault Chinon Rouge Les Picasses 2020, Loire Valley, France. $27
Jean-Maurice Raffault and Rodolphe Raffault’s family began cultivating vines in Chinon 14 generations ago, when their ancestor, Mathurin Bottreau, bought his first parcel of vines in 1693. Today, Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault owns 50 organically farmed hectares of vines in 7 communes. This certified organic Cabernet Franc is from the Les Picasses lieu dit, atop a plateau overlooking the Vienne, the windiness of the site reflected in the windmill on the label. Vines have been planted here since the 15th century. Soils here are stony limestone and clay. After destemming and a native ferment, with one month skin contact, this moves to barriques for MLF and aging 12 months on fine lees. Super perfumed, with ample fragrant plums, wild blackberry, thorns, and crushed florals on a medium palate, gripped with ample firm, gritty tannins, and finishing with a lingering peppery note. Lovely lift and freshness, encouraging partnering this with food (think grilled sausages).
Antica Masseria Jorche Primitivo del Salento 2022, Apulia, Italy $27
Dalila and Emanuela Gianfreda are fifth generation winemakers at Jorche, overseeing the 31 hectares of vines surrounding their Salento estate. This Primitivo grows in the red, iron-oxide rich sandstones throughout the property, and was aged 9 months in barrels and 3 months in bottle prior to release. Ripe and dense, with sun-baked plum, chocolate covered cherries, and scrubby Mediterranean herbs. Ample sticky tannins pin in the sides, and a bump of RS smooths out the palate. One for shellacked and BBQd ribs.
Lanciola Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2022, Toscana, Italy. $23
In Greve, in the heart of the Chianti Classico area, the winery has 14 hectares, 10 of which are devoted to vineyards sitting on shale soils at approximately 300 meters. This organically farmed Sangiovese is splashed with 10% of other local grapes, and fermented in stainless before resting in concrete. Dried cherry, herbal plum, and crushed florals is woven with forest floor, and wrapped with chewy, ample tannins. This will benefit from partnering with protein and / or fattier dishes to melt the tannins.
Price:
12 bottles for $383 + HST, including delivery in GTA, and most larger cities in Ontario.
*prices outside of main cities may incur additional delivery charges.
Estimated delivery time is 3-10 business days.
Please note we cannot process wine orders outside of Ontario. Wine can only be ordered from, and shipped to, an address in Ontario.
Bigger in body, tannins, and structure, this 12 pack of reds will easily partner with bigger dishes..
