Poggio al Sole Chianti Casasilia 3L
$369.99
In our stable of wines exclusive to KWM, Poggio Al Sole is like a favourite child; no one wants to admit they have one but secretly loves one just a little bit more. Poggio al Sole lies in the heart of Tuscany, in the bucolic countryside between Florence and Siena, between Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti. Documents in the archives of the nearby ancient abbey of Badia a Passignano testify to the claim that wine and olive oil were produced on this estate as early as the 12th century. Giovanni and Kathrin Davaz are the proprietors of Poggio al Sole, tending approximately 18 hectares of vineyards. The vines face south-east to south-west and are between 320 and 480 metres above sea level. Yields are kept low to improve quality, and the vineyards are certified organic.
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.
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.
Quintarelli Valpolicella 2017
$219.99
One of the finest examples of Valpolicella you'll ever get a chance to try, and one for serious collectors of the best Italian wines - or any wines, for that matter! "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. This beauty is savoury-sweet, redolent of dark cherries and berries, touched by menthol and spice; a Quintarelli Valpolicella is a complex, otherworldly wine, and as it ages, the wine becomes even more ethereal.
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2019
$59.99
This Merlot is from Moss Wood's second vineyard called Ribbon Vale. They purchased the vineyard in March 2000. The vineyard was already in production, but it did offer a new challenge for Moss Wood in that they had never worked with Merlot before, and it ended up being quite different from the other grapes they were used to. Since then, they have focused on vineyard management and the way they produce the wine, and it's evolved into something special. We have a few bottles of the 2019 left!
Morette Bardolino Chiaretto Rose
$23.99
The Morette – Valerio Zenato farm is one of the most dynamic areas of production in the Lugana DOC. The soils of this area originated from the retreating Garda glacier and are characterized by compact, chalky and marly clay stratification. A clay soils have high salinity levels due to mineral sediment, as well as benefiting from the mild micro-climate of the lake, which allows for quality wine production. The area is considered a small miracle amongst the “Terroir Viticole”. Light-bright rose in colour with a fragrant, fresh and fruity flavour. Its taste is delicate with lovely fresh strawberry fruit, and endowed with great freshness. Its finishes dry and crisp, in keeping with the classic personality of Bardolino Chiaretto. It's a versatile rosé, from hors-d’oeuvres, first courses, white fine meats and salmon.
Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo
$41.99
One of the best-kept secrets out of Piedmont is the winery G.D. Vajra. Located at 1300ft in elevation and being the highest winery in Barolo they are fortunate enough to have some of the latest ripening grapes in Barolo and also providing smaller berries with thicker skins. A lot of the vineyards were planted in 1947, but the winery itself was not started until 1972 and the first vintage was released in 1978.
"Aldo and Milena Vajra are among the quietest and most introspective of Piedmont’s top echelon growers. It is the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently," according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. And from the winemaker: "Ruby red, delicate and at times, transparent. Intense expressive aromas of violets and dried roses are layered over small red berry notes. Silky tannins envelop the palate with personality and vivacious energy."
Lopez Vina Tondonia Reserva Red Magnum
$209.99
Lopez de Heredia is a family-run Spanish producer based in Rioja and regarded as one of the world’s greatest wine estates. It was founded in 1877 by Don Rafael Lopez de Heredia y Landeta. Four generations of the Lopez de Heredia family have devoted themselves to upholding their 140-year tradition of producing exceptional wines.
Tondonia, the winery’s most famous vineyard and product, was established between 1913 and 1914. It extends over 250 acres on the right bank of the River Ebro. In addition to Tondonia, the estate owns three vineyards (Cubillo, Bosconia, and Zaconia) covering a total area of 420 hectares. The soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. Lopez de Heredia winery is the oldest in Haro and one of the first three houses in the Rioja region. They use completely natural and traditional methods of winemaking and their grapes are sourced exclusively from their own vineyards. They use typical Rioja varieties to produce the best wines: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo for reds, Viura and Malvasia for whites. The winery’s commitment to tradition is evident in their 131-year history of using American oak. They continue to have their own cooperage, making them the only bodega in Spain to hand-craft all the barrels used to age their wines.
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Magnum
$287.99
This is a Magnum / 1.5 Litre bottle of the Marie Courtin Efflorescence Extra Brut.
A Kensington Wine Market exclusive! Dominique Moreau took over a small vineyard of mostly 40 to 50 year old Pinot Noir with a vision of creating single-vineyard, single varietal, single vintage Champagnes from biodynamically grown grapes- farmed with meticulous care, and vinified au naturel. Brut Efflorescence (100% Pinot Noir) is at first rather cool and inward, then explodes on the palate with great intensity. It is a fabulous wine endowed with tons of persistence and sheer energy. The aromas and flavors build towards the rich, generous finish. The winery is named after Moreau's grandmother Marie Courtin.