Carlisle Rossi Ranch Grenache
$72.99
From owner/winemaker Mike Officer: Booyah! We’ve produced some mighty tasty Grenaches in the past (2018, 2016, and 2013 come to mind) but for my palate, none holds a candle to this lip-smackin’ bad boy! It actually transports me back to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, reminding me of some of my favorite 100% (or nearly so) Grenache cuvées grown in safres. Picked October 18th, 20% of the fruit was not destemmed to add a bit of peppery spice to the nose and palate. After an indigenous fermentation and nearly a month on the skins, the wine was pressed to all neutral French oak. It remained unracked and on its lees until bottling. Unfined and unfiltered.
The Rossi Vineyard was originally planted in 1910 by the Rossi family which it takes its name from. The Vineyard lies in the Sonoma Valley and is planted with Zinfandel, Grenache, and other varietals.
Le Clos des Cazaux Gigondas Sarrasine
$54.99
This powerful wine is the result of a selection of exceptional terroirs from Gigondas vineyards situated on the arid slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The Mistral wind blows regularly on those hillsides providing a cool balance to the heat of summer.
The poor, rocky soils force the vines to struggle down deep for moisture, keeping yields low but delivering high-quality fruit. This terroir produces a robust wine that can be kept for up to 10 years in the cellar. It's a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre, with a core of dark ripe cherries, garrigues and spice. It would go nicely with ham or prime rib.
Quintarelli Bianco Secco
$108.99
A wonderful dry white wine from one of Italy's most famous winemakers! "The late, great Maestro del Veneto, Giuseppe Quintarelli, succeeded in establishing his mythical and legendary estate during an amazing sixty-year career. All of the tradition, love, heart, and soul of crafting one of the world’s finest wines continue at the Quintarelli home and winery in the hills north of Verona," according to Kermit Lynch. A blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Bianco, Chardonnay and Saorin, this beauty will pair well with fresh seafood, Italian style.
Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
$76.99
A Kensington Wine Market exclusive and a favourite producer of wine critics everywhere!
Domaine Raymond Usseglio finds in 1963. The family's wine history dates back to 1931, when Raymond's grandfather, Francis, left his native region of Piedmont to settle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After more than fifteen years of working in the fields, in 1948, he succeeded in operating a sharecropping farm with his vines and produced his first wine in 1949. The year 1962 marked a significant turning point with the planting of the first vines on the Terres Blanches terroir, now one of the most emblematic of the Domaine. Near these plots, in 1963, Raymond, accompanied by his wife Danielle, took up the torch from his father and founded the Domaine Raymond Usseglio. Their son Stephane now runs the estate, one the most highly regarded in Chateauneuf. The white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourbelenc and Piqpoul. It reveals a balanced, round, rich, and complex character. Citrus notes like grapefruit and lemon blend harmoniously with aromas of white-fleshed fruits such as pear and peach, as well as exotic fruits like lychee and mango. A pleasant and balanced acidity is present on the palate, with a long, saline finish. A great option with turkey, goose or salmon.
Usseglio Chateauneuf Imperiale
$134.99
While up to 13 different grape varietals can be blended together in making Chateauneuf du Pape red wine, the Domaine Raymond Usseglio CNDP Cuvee Imperiale is composed almost entirely of very old vine Grenache (90-plus percent in most vintages). The grapes for this tremendous and age-worthy red are harvested from estate vines in the Chateauneuf du Papes holdings of the Domaine - most of which are more than a century old and were originally planted in 1902.
From The Winery
"La Cuvée Imperiale is from our oldest vines, most of them 100 years old (planted in 1901-1902.) Extremely low yields (16-18 h/h) guarantee a wine that is dense and profound. The ancient Grenache vines bring to this cuvee their finesse and elegance. Will age for dozens of years. To be carafed during the first years. Because it is bottled without any filtration, some sediment – natural and beneficial to the aging process – is possible."
Carlisle Vineyard Zinfandel
$84.99
In Mike Officer's words:
I started with five gallons of Zinfandel in my kitchen. Over the next several years, I made a barrel of Zinfandel each vintage with the help of some friends and my wife, Kendall Carlisle. The results were encouraging. Kendall and I moved to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County to be closer to the “source”. I found myself increasingly drawn to the old-vine vineyards of Sonoma County. There was something special, even magical, about those ancient, twisted vines with their deep roots and long histories. By 1997 we were producing over 300 cases of “garage” wine, mostly vineyard-designated old-vine Zinfandels, and winning numerous gold medals in amateur competitions. Hence, it was with our meagre savings and some family support that Kendall and I launched Carlisle Winery & Vineyards in 1998, concentrating on our two loves, old-vine Zinfandel and red Rhône varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah). Our goal was simple but ambitious: to create small lots of distinctive, world-class wines from some of California’s most exceptional vineyards. With the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard, we sought out Zinfandel from some of the finest vineyards in the county, planted between 1888 and 1934, including our own vineyard planted in 1927 by Alcide Pelletti. In February of 2001, Jay Maddox, an old college friend who had just finished getting a second degree in viticulture and enology (with honors!) from U.C. Davis, joined Carlisle, bringing a wealth of knowledge, a keen palate, and a desire to produce nothing but the best without compromise. Together, we have been able to grow to nearly 10,000 cases, garnering high praise from wine critics and consumers alike.
Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Red
$76.99
The Usseglio family moved from Italy to France in the early 1930s, and they've been making fine wine there ever since. In 1999, the Domaine covered a little more than fifteen hectares of vines but they now own 55 hectares of vineyards throughout the region. The domaine employs biodynamic viticulture, a genuine philosophy of life that encourages respect for the earth, an understanding of natural cycles and the promotion of harmony between man and This beautiful Châteauneuf du Pape is a blend of 80% Grenache noir, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Counoise from 50-yera-old vines. Beautiful aromatic complexity, powerful aromas of ripe red fruits such as cherry and raspberry blend with spicy notes of black pepper and licorice, along with subtle hints of garrigues. This wine reveals itself as full-bodied with a silky texture and fine, flavorful tannins, giving way to a long finish that speaks of great elegance.
Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo
$56.99
The Oddero family has been present in the territory of La Morra since at least the 18th century. Through writings, notarial acts, and personal photographs, we know that Giovanni Battista Oddero (1794 -1874)—and after him, his sons Lorenzo (1821-1903) and Luigi (1832-1893)—began to vinify grapes in the township of La Morra between the 18th and 19th centuries. The legacy of Giacomo Oddero is carried on today by his daughter Mariacristina, who entered the family business near the end of the 1990s, and grandchildren Isabella and Pietro, who represent the seventh generation of a family with over a century and a half of vinicultural tradition behind them. The new generation has brought a breath of fresh and youthful air to Oddero, while at the same time preserving the traditions of its founding fathers with love and respect.
Durigutti Bonarda
$22.99
Hector and Pablo Durigutti were born in Mendoza, the cradle of Argentinian wine and were raised together. Their childhood and their home were always connected to a sensorial world, with aromas, ingredients and flavours that, over time, motivated them to choose the path to become enologists. As adults, they would find these familiar memories and similar passions. In 2002 they dedicated their efforts to the creation of a small family winey. Today the brothers have evolved to form a new generation of winemakers, leading an evolutionary change in Argentina’s viticulture. Their range includes the value-driven Abeja wines and the upper-tier Las Compuertas offerings produced from the oldest vineyard sites.
Great value and a Kensington Wine Market exclusive! Brought to Argentina in the 19th century by Italian immigrants, Bonarda is the most widely planted red grape variety in Argentina. Also known as Charbono, Corbeau or Douce Noire, the grape was historically grown in the Savoie region in the French Alps. DNA analysis has proven that the Argentina Bonarda is in fact not related to the Italian grape Bonarda di Chieri and Bonarda del Monferrato from Piedmont. The grape produces a light, fruity wine that is sometimes served chilled. The Durigutti brothers, Hector and Pablo, have made an exceptional example of this little-known variety.