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.
Dumangin Ratafia Single Barrel 16 Year
$173.24
If you have never tried Ratafia, you are in for a treat. Dumangin is one of our Champagne exclusives and one of the last few producers to make this specialty. The base is half brandy (distilled from Champagne grapes) and half unfermented grape juice from the region, aged for 16 years in a combination of old oak and other vessels via the Ratafia method. Ratafia is an ancestral method of preserving fruit juice in the same way that salting was used to preserve meat. It involves four stages: first, in oak casks from Crozes-Hermitage (Alain Graillot). Second, aged Soléra style - an ancestral method of maturing and gradually assembling different vintages, generally used for the great Port wines. Third, the cask is closed tightly and left outside, where it is subject to changes in temperature. Fourth, in stainless steel tanks. The result is a sweet wine in a mouthwatering style similar to Pineau de Charentes that can be cellared for an additional 25 years. The bouquet shows cinnamon and spices with ripe tropical fruits and figs, nuts, baking and brown sugar. The palate reflects the nose and is clean without being cloying. There's a nice amount of fruit with great richness and nutty notes. The finish delivers a baked character of dry biscotti and vanilla. It makes a beautiful aperitif or as the final touch to a great meal.
Usseglio Les Claux Blanc
$36.99
This white blend from Rhone is composed of 60% Grenache and 20% of both Clairette and Roussane. It comes from vineyards owned by Domain Ussegglio that are both certified organic and biodynamic.
The Usseglio family initially emigrated to Châteauneuf de Pape from Italy. Brothers Pierre and Raymond began the dynasty that we know today as one of the most revered producers in the region. Stéphane, Raymond’s son, has now taken over the Domaine and is pushing hard to reach the potential of the family’s holdings, some of the best of Châteauneuf.
Durigutti Compuertas Cordisco
$31.99
It all began in 2007 with the first five hectares of an old Malbec vineyard that the brothers acquired a few steps from the winery, on Callejón de la Reta. Since then, a path of recovery and revaluation of the history and traditions of an emblematic wine region of Lujan de Cuyo begins: Las Compuertas. Over the years, more hectares were added to the project, today 31, and they baptized this place with the name of their mother, as Finca Victoria. This work seeks to accompany the development of producers in the area who maintain their vineyards with pride in the face of the unstoppable advance of urbanization.
Mayu Pinot Noir Gran Reserva
$27.99
400 kilometres north of Santiago, Chile, sits the Elqui Valley, effectively a high-altitude desert (the Atacama Desert) in the Coquimbo Region. The vineyards extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes, and the arid region relies on the Elqui River for irrigation, which is essential if grapes are to flourish here. At 2000 metres above sea level, it draws a parallel to the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina, on the other side of the Andes.
The soils are composed mainly of clay, silt and chalk, and the hot, clear days and cool nights offer near-perfect growing conditions. It's also one of the darkest places on earth to stargaze, and as such, it's a World UNESCO Heritage Site, drawing both wine lovers and stargazers alike. Viña Mayu was established in 2005 as a separate winery from the Elqui Valley’s first fine wine producer, which was founded in 1998.
Mauro Olivier was one of the pioneers planting vines for fine wine production, sourcing the grapes from the different parts of the valley. He started working on his family vineyards for table grape production at a young age, and years later, he began working in Pisco production (the national Chilean spirit, made from white wine). In 2000, he planted the first Carménère and Syrah vines in the valley. Five years later, he decided it was time to embark on his own wine project, under the Mayu label. Mayu is an ancient INCA name for the Milky Way, meaning "creek of stars."
Paolo Leo Negroamaro
$23.99
Negroamaro is a native variety of Salento. The grape gets its name from the Latin word for black due to its rich ruby colour. Despite its high concentration of tannins and full body, this wine is elegant and well-balanced. Notes of fruit and spice on the finish make this IGP wine great for roasts, cured meats, medium-aged cheese, pizza, and second (or secondi) pasta dishes.
Le Clos des Cazaux Prestige Gigondas
$66.99
The Le Clos des Cazaux estate has been a family property focused on viticulture for five generations since Gabriel Archimbaud, an ancestor, was one of the first to produce wines from Vacqueyras in 1947. It is now owned and operated by brothers Jean-Michel and Frédéric Vache. They farm 35 hectares, 20 in Vacqueyras and another 15 in Gigondas. They own mostly low-yielding hillside vineyards, fashioning high-quality white wines, rosés, and red blends. Their Gigondas vineyards are situated in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail massif range that has been in the family since the 1950s. This very special terroir benefits from the solar power of the southern slope, balanced by the cool nights at higher altitudes, mostly on clay soils. The reds are blended primarily from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. however, they include lesser-known grapes such as Aubun, Counoise, Cinsault, Muscardin and Carignan. The white wines mainly employ old-vine Clairette, complemented by Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and a little Viognier.
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Brut
$132.99
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.
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."