Moss Wood Amy's Red Blend 2023
$39.99
Amy's Red Blend from Moss Wood is a both customer and staff favourite at Kensington Wine Market. Vintage after vintage, this Bordeaux-style blend punches well above its price point. The 2023 vintage contains 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 6% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot.
Established in 1969, Moss Wood is an important, founding estate of the Margaret River wine region in the northern sub–region of Wilyabrup, Western Australia. Clare & Keith Mugford, as winemakers, viticulturalists & proprietors, have been making wine & tending the vineyard at Moss Wood since 1984 & 1979, respectively. Their exacting viticulture ensures the production of high-quality fruit, and they have created a stable of fine wines distinguished by their consistency over each vintage, along with their ability to age superbly.
They have put significant effort into developing an appropriate style for each of their wines, but Cabernet Sauvignon, their first wine, is still the primary focus. Naturally, they looked to the great wines of Bordeaux for inspiration and carefully examined the factors that have made Bordeaux the benchmark for Cabernet Sauvignon.
As they were making wine in Margaret River inspired by those of the Medoc, they felt it was important to consider the Bordeaux environment as opposed to Margaret River’s individualistic climate and terroir. Wine writer Jancis Robinson has called them the Chateau Latour of Australia, and, we might add, for a fraction of what Latour costs.
Chateau De La Greffiere Rose
$26.99
A delicious Gamay Rose from La Greffiere! Hailing from the Macon region of Burgundy, this rose is light and fresh, showing notes of wild summer berries, white blossom, acacia, pink grapefruit and a squeeze of kiwi juice. You can easily pair this with grilled duck breast, chicken salad, falafel and cheese.
Vinha da Urze Douro Red
$19.99
The trio of Tinta Roriz (30% - also known as Tempranillo), Touriga Franca (45%) and Touriga Nacional (25%) go into this Portuguese red from the Quinta Da Urze vineyards owned by the Roboredo Madeira family. The fruit is destemmed, crushed gently and undergoes thermal shock followed by a period of maceration. Pre-fermentation takes place in a cold mill for about 12 to 24 hours. After this, the wine is transferred to fermentation tanks for a low maceration for 8 days at 22ºC. 40% of the wine is aged in French oak for 8 months.
Port Askaig 28 Year
$499.99
This whisky was featured on Day 5 of our 2023 KWM UBER Whisky Calendar. You can read Evan's blog post on it here.
Bottled at 45.8%, after maturing in Refill American Oak Hogsheads, this 28 year old Mystery Islay Single Malt scored 90pts with @WhiskyFun. While the blogosphere seems to think this is Caol Ila, we were told by the bottler they strongly believed it to be Laphroaig. Curious, but either way, it is an amazingly good old Islay Single Malt Scotch at a stellar price!
DuMol Eddies Patch Syrah
$132.99
Winemaker’s Notes: "Less overtly fruity than Jack Robert’s Run, slower to open and overall a very different expression of Syrah. This is another wine of site and soil rather than Californian sun-filled fruit – so ultimately a far more complex experience than 99% of domestic Syrah. The deep red, iron-rich, highly-eroded mountain soils bring a rarely-matched complexity to this wine, but one that typifies many of the world’s greatest red wine vineyards. We don’t fully understand the reason, but the high iron oxide content allows for very special red grapes, full of complex terroir signatures. The shallow, steep hillside soils, also high in silica/quartz, contribute admirable freshness to the wine, so that while it’s dense, deep and rich, it’s never clumsy or overbearing, and the moderate alcohol level (14.34%) is easily held in check. You can age this vintage for many years and it will always give pleasure. The balsamic reduction notes will become more prominent with age as the fresh fruit fades, but this is a beautifully constructed Syrah and one of our finest ever Eddie’s Patch offerings. In my mind on a par quality-wise with the gorgeous 2009.
Deep blueberry, blackberry and dark cherry fruit with bay laurel, pine needle, menthol and a resonant balsamic note. The aromas directly translate to flavors. Wintergreen complexity, charcoal and a strong volcanic iron quality. Dark core of rich, full fruit. Walnut sweetness with dried herb freshness. Weighty and concentrated but wonderfully energetic. Plum skin tanginess on the mouth filling finish. There’s long term aging potential here.
Complex, multi-layered wine with fine interplay between vintage-derived deep fruit core and vineyard signature soil-driven elements." Winery notes
Grosjean Petite Arvine
$52.99
Valle d'Aosta is an Alpine region in North-West Italy known for expressive and mineral-focused wines. The first authentic records, found in the historic archive of the Valle d'Osta, state that the first appearance of the Grosjean Family name was around the 16th century. Originally from Switzerland, the Petite Arvine grape has adapted well to the valley’s conditions. Introduced to the region during the 1970s, it occupied the central part of the valley and was planted at an altitude between 600 and 900 metres above sea level. It has become well suited to their draining steep mountainsides. A recent study shows that the Petite Arvine seems to have a close link to the native Prié Blanc grape. Try it with appetizers, white fish and poultry.
Mascarello Scudetto Barbera
$75.99
Giuseppe Mascarello is one of those producers that you want to try. Their wines are an experience within themselves, and this Barbera is no different. Expect notes of dark fruits and a firm, bold mouthfeel. Pair this wine with your favourite winter dish. It's a wine that has some longevity, and will be able to age for the forseeable future.
Belisario Verdicchio
$23.99
Every day is a Verdicchio day! From the Mediterranean climate of Alta Vallensina, Belisario brings us a truly engaging and versatile dry white wine. Classic peachy aromas associated with Verdicchio are well represented here, along with a touch of bright citrus. Refreshing acidity is kept in perfect balance with a somewhat weighty body that allows for a long, thoughtful finish. Perfect paired alongside appetizers, or as an appetizer all on its own.
A KWM exclusive.
Steele Zinfandel Cuvee Zinfandel
$32.99
Jed Steele is a pioneer in California's wine world, starting his career in 1974 and striking out on his own in 1991, eventually opting to make his wines in Lake County (just north of Napa Valley) where vineyards were considerably more affordableSteele's Cuvee Zinfandel is made from grapes grown in Lake and Mendocino County. Steele Wines purchased this vineyard in Mendocino County from the Pacini family in 1998, but it was originally planted in 1940. While they have replaced some of the vines, many of the old vines still remain. They are dry-farmed due to their location and result in intensely flavoured wines. The ripe bramble fruit is accompanied by spice, cocoa and vanilla, bolstered by American oak. While it is full-bodied, the tannins are smooth and ripe.