deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Bodegas Palacios Remondo Finca la Montesa Tinto (Rioja, Spain) – $27.49, regularly $33.49.

Bodegas Palacios Remondo has a history that spans 350 years. Álvaro Palacios, the winemaker, has become very popular and is now regarded as one of the best winemakers in all of Spain.

Originally, the winery was established in 1948, it is located in Rioja Baja in northern Spain. Álvaro returned to bodegas palacios remondo in 1999 to run the family business after studying with wineries in California, Dublin, London and then Chateau Petrus in Pomerol and then based out of Priorat where his reputation began to flourish.

Our weekly feature this week is their La Montesa Tinto which is a Spanish red that comes from the Rioja region, a blend of grapes that include Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Mazuelo. This wine has a striking ruby color with an aroma of ripe red fruit, like raspberries, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, it is full-bodied with a smooth and velvety texture that lingers nicely. The tannins are well-integrated and provide just the right amount of structure. La Montesa pairs well with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and spicy dishes. It is a great wine to enjoy with friends and family and is perfect for any occasion.

Bodegas Palacios Remondo Finca la Montesa Tinto (Rioja, Spain) – $27.49, regularly $33.49.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Adelina Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $33.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $40.99.

Col McBryde at Adelina wanted to make a Shiraz that was a little different to the usual one – one that is a bit more dark and broody, but still keeping the classic Adelina style. He then sourced some certified organic fruit from the McLaren Vale, coming from a great site in Kangarilla managed by two impeccable growers, Yangarra’s Michael Lane and Pete Fraser.

Our weekly special is their Shiraz , culled from 20 year old vines planted in deep white sandy soils aged in 20% new oak for 10 months – red and black berries, quite nutty, a little spice and dried herb perfume. Medium-bodied, red fruits mainly, again that nutty and brooding character, with a little mint, fine dusty tannins alongside a savoury tobacco edge, lively with plenty of energy, and a firm finish of good length. Try with a grilled pepper steak.

Adelina Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $33.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $40.99.

Note this is the last weekly special with the GST Holiday still in play.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the NV Undurraga Sparkling Rosé Royal (Leyda Valley, Chile) – $21.49, regularly $26.49.

Undurraga was established in 1885 and is one of the oldest wineries in Chile. The company has a total of 1,700 hectares of vineyards, distributed in the valleys of Maipo, Rapel, Leyda and Maule. It exports 75% of its wine production and in 2016 it projected annual sales of 1.5 million cases of wine.

In time for Valentine’s , our feature this week is their Sparkling Rosé Royal a 100% Pinot Noir based sparkler from the Leyda Valley, which is about an hour’s drive west of Santiago. Made using the Charmat method, this salmon colored bubblie offers up a nose of beautiful red fruits like strawberries and cherries alongside ripe peach and yellow apples. It is vibrant with fresh acidity and a lively, persistent mousse. Try pairing with creamy cheeses, fried foods, taco’s, and dark, but not too sweet chocolate. Prost everyone!

NV Undurraga Sparkling Rosé Royal (Leyda Valley, Chile) – $21.49, regularly $26.49.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

The 2021 Bordeaux vintage was a challenge (unlike the preceeding trio of 2018, 2019 and 2020). The wine producers battled frosts, millerandage and mildew, rain, lack of sunlight with vineyard geography proveing crucial to the general outcome, with the best sites producing some of the best results. Thus the reds are earlier drinking and the stars of the vintage are the whites and the sweet dessert wines from Sauterne and Barsac – both of which deserve some love to warrant a few for your cellar. The whites are superb (the best white vintage in a long time), they have lift, presence, freshness and vibrancy – of course Pessac Leognan is home to some of the greatest whites around. The sweet wines are very special indeed, some comparing 2021 to the legendary 2001, 1988 and 1967 – we went long on these and thus have some extra to sell now on the shelf.

With all that in mind, here are the in-bottle releases of the whites and stickies. Quantities are limited so buy sooner than later, some there’s only 1 or 2 bottles available. Look fot the red release a few weeks from now.

Pictured from left to right:

2021 Château Reynon Blanc (Bordeaux, France) – $32.99
2021 Château La Garde Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $64.99
2021 Château Brown Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $77.99
2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $254.99
2021 Clos Haut-Peyraguey Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $57.99

Other 2021 whites not pictured:

2021 Clos Marsalette Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $59.99
2021 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chavalier Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $77.99
2021 Château Lespault-Martillac Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $81.99
2021 Château Latour-Martillac (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $94.99

Other 2021 sweet whites not pictured:

2021 Château Sigalas Rabaud Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $69.99
2021 Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $69.99
2021 Château La Tour Blanche Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $75.99

Prost everyone!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Our specials this week are:

1) Neil Ellis Cinsault Short Left (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $17.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $22.99.

2) Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Parte des Anges (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France) – $64.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $124.99

In 1984 Neil Ellis sourced grapes from vineyards not of his own and produced wine in rented cellar space. These grapes were sourced in the Stellenbosch district and meant a lot of nosing around the restrictive quota system prevalent at the time.

Neil Ellis is one of the doyens of the South African wine industry. He started as a pioneering négociant in the early 1980’s, seeking out parcels of interesting vines to make exceptional wines under his own name, to nowadays being a well-established family enterprise with a local and international reputation for exceptional elegance and quality producing some 40k cases annually. Today the journey of Neil Ellis Wines is not only about Neil Ellis. He has over 40 years of winemaking experience having started at renowned wineries Groot Constantia and KVW.

We are featuring his Cinsault Short Left this week – Cinsault is usually a blend in a Southern Rhone red adding earthiness and soil character. Cinsault offers a lighter, fresher style of red bursting with vibrant berry flavors. Soft, powdery tannins add to the wine’s appeal, balancing the savory-ness and leading to a finish marked by lingering spice and unexpected complexity.

Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils was started in 1963, although the vineyards date back to 1931. The estate has 15 hectares and today, it is ran by Raymond’s son Stephane who advocates freedom of expression and the quest for the pure expression of their terroir. Each bottle has its own identity, telling a unique story, testifying to their commitment to authenticity and differentiation.

Our high-end feature this week is Stephane’s Chateauneuf-du-Pape Partes des Anges, an unusual Mourvedre dominant red – lashings of new oak adorn this Mourvèdre-dominated blend, adding layers of spicy vanilla to the variety’s signature backdrop of dark, rich, hedgerow fruits. Fresh cherries and blackberries combine with more brooding and savoury notes of leather, meat and spiced prunes. Concentrated, but with enough acidity to ensure balance, this is definitely one for the bold. Great with a slow braised beef stew or grilled goose. Will easily last a decade for those who can wait it out in the cellar for additional complexity.

Neil Ellis Cinsault Short Left (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $17.99 (GST Holiday), regularly $22.99.