deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the 2019 Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $17.49, regularly $21.49.

The majestic condors soar above the Andes Mountains capturing in their flight Argentina’s finest wine appellations. Each wine in the Flight of the Condor winery’s range shows varietally pure wines which excel in their region of origin.

Our feature of the week is their Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Mendoza with its consistent weather conditions in high elevation vineyards that produces wonderfully consistent reds. The grapes are selected for their balanced fruit profile. 4-5 days of cold soak was followed by 8-10 days of alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 6 months in contact with French oak prior to bottling.

The wine has a vibrant, fresh fruit profile, and is varietally pure with a linear structure and nuanced complexity of well integrated light oak contact. Try with grilled red meats and aged cheddars.

2019 Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $17.49, regularly $21.49.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Barossa Valley Estates Shiraz (Barossa Valley, Australia) – $17.99, regularly $21.99.

Situated on Seppeltsfield Road in the historic township of Marananga on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley, the Barossa Valley Estate winery is a space to immerse oneself in the landscape and enjoy the regions iconic and most photographed vistas of the valley.

A tapestry of ancient red clay soils combines with a warm and dry climate to create a unique environment for vines to develop fruit that has a vibrancy and depth of flavor like nowhere else on earth. The best wine styles to grow in the Barossa are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre and Malbec. The unique microclimate and ancient red clay soils of the region produce some of the most acclaimed examples of these varietals in the world. Their house philosophy – their passion – is to capture the distinctive elegance, finesse and vibrant fruit flavours of the Barossa.

Famous for its consistently great E&E Black Pepper Shiraz, the winery only makes red wines. Our feature this week is their Estate Shiraz, it is made in the classic style with blackberry and pepper flavours with notes of vanilla and cedar – rich and intense. Appealing scents of plums and blackberries with light spice revealing a dash, not a blast, of oak. Its fruit flavors fill the palate in a tart, freshly acidic flavor that adds a distinct impression of red clay minerality. Pair with grilled meats, beef or game.

Barossa Valley Estates Shiraz (Barossa Valley, Australia) – $17.99 (regularly $21.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2021 Jose Maria da Fonseca Waterdog Red (Terras do Sado, Portugal) – $12.99, regularly $15.99.

José Maria da Fonseca started his business in 1834, and the family has maintained it for six more generations since then selling its wines in all continents. It is the oldest table wine company in Portugal and famous for its Periquita reds.

Located in the little village of Azeitão on the Setubal peninsula, south of Lisbon, they invest in research and production methods, utilizing both modern techniques with traditional methods, such as combining the ancient Roman tradition of fermenting wine in clay pots with the latest technology. The vineyard is 700 hectares.

Our feature of the week is their 2021 Waterdog Red. Loving, loyal and intelligent, Portuguese Waterdogs are a treasured breed originally from the southern coast of Portugal – near where their winery originates. This blend of 34% Castelão, 33% Trincadeira and 33% Touriga Nacional grape varieties offers up a nose of blueberries, black currant and baking spices. The palate is fruity with notes of red and black berries, balanced acidity and a touch of wood from the six months aging on French and American Oak. Perfect for current drinking, pair with BBQ, roasts, hearty pasta dishes. Open a bottle and enjoy the Portuguese way of life!

2021 Jose Maria da Fonseca Waterdog Red (Terras do Sado, Portugal) – $12.99 (regularly $15.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the MontGras Antu Ninquen Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $16.99, regularly $21.49.

The brainchild of brothers Hernan and Eduardo Gras, and partner Cristian Hartwig, MontGras Winery opened in 1993. Using state-of-the-art technology, the award-winning winery is best known for its full-bodied syrah, malbec, carmenere, and cabernet sauvignon wines.

Producing wines in a sustainable way has always been a priority for MontGras. Since 2011, Viña MontGras has been certified under the Sustainable Code of Viñas de Chile and since 2021 Viña MontGras certifies 100% of its portfolio as vegan.

The class of wines called Ninquén (nin-ken), meaning ‘Plateau on a Mountain’, established in 1998, is one of the first mountainside vineyards in Chile – previously valley floors were chosen for ease of farming and to achieve high yields. A broad selection of varieties are planted here, led by Syrah.

Our feature this week, their Antu Ninquen Syrah is a ripe, juicy style of red, with lots of blackberry, briar and sweet spice notes that push through the medium-weight, nicely structured finish, where black tea and fruit echo. Sourced from a high elevation vineyard, was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple-colored, the nose offers up cedar, wood smoke, scorched earth, and blueberry aromas that jump from the glass. On the palate, it has attractive, savory flavors.

MontGras Antu Ninquen Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $16.99, regularly $21.49

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Author: Dirk Chan

The regular Quevedo Port Advent Calendar – $149.99 has been a favourite at deVines for 4 years now. This has a small footprint that fits very easily underneath a Xmas tree. There is 24 x 50mL bottles (2×12 different ports).

For those of you who own the Quevedo Luxury Port Advent Calendar in a Mahogany Box, there is no 2023 refill pack, but the 2022 Refill packs are still available – $569.99.

2023 Porto Quevedo Port Advent Calendar (Douro, Portugal) – $149.99

2022 Porto Quevedo Luxury Port Calendar Refill Pack (Douro, Portugal) – $569.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve Verona Pragal Rosso (Veneto, Italy) – $16.99, regularly $21.99.

The estate of Santa Maria alla Pieve, historic property of Gaetano Bertani’s family, is located in the southernmost part of the Illasi Valley, enclosed by the wine producing regions of Valpolicella DOC to the west and Soave DOC to the east, fourteen kms outside Verona. The roots of the vineyards are sunk deep into a alluvial terrain alluvial, composed of layers of limestone clay and river stones. The property is situated in a charming hamlet dating back to Roman times. The stately sixteenth-century farmhouse and over twenty hectares of picturesque surroundings.

Our weekly special, their Pragal Rosso is a fruity, spicy blend of Corvina, Merlot, and Syrah giving full expression of the Veneto region, intriguing in its easy elegance and full-bodied structure. Derived from low-yielding vines, the wine is vinified with both fresh and partially dried grapes, and, after a lengthy maceration and fermentation period, refined in large oak barrels for six months in their historic cellars at Arbizzano di Negrar. Deep ruby color lightly blended with garnet red and reflections of violet. Engaging bouquet with alternating hints of red fruit preserves, dried roses and black cherry with subtler tones of dark spice, tobacco and black pepper. Enticing, warm and round, bright acidity with soft, beguiling tannins balanced with great structure and persistence. Enjoy by itself or with some grilled meats. Prost everyone!

Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve Verona Pragal Rosso (Veneto, Italy) – $16.99, regularly $21.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

It was late February in the year 2006, on the verge of our first anniversary that we had one of the store’s greatest tastings ever. The visitor was Catherine Faller, owner of Alsace’s Domaine Weinbach, one of the great estates in the world. She was here to do a free drop-in tasting (see attached original invite). It was suppose to be a one hour drop in afterwork event, but she stayed for two hours surprising us by opening some ultra-rare and expensive dessert wine, the Riesling Schlossberg SGN (Sélection de Grains Nobles), 3 splits if i recall correctly which was a significant percentage of the total production since only 40-50 bottles were made. And again in 2008 when Ed and Annabelle visited the winery, they were treated to a huge private tasting and a Michelin 3 Star restaurant for lunch – (read that blog)..

Fast track to the summer of 2023, when my retiring friend Bill Addison invited me over for an Al Fresco dinner. Out came a bottle of the 2003 Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Ste. Catherine purchased at that very tasting. At 20 years of age, most of the guests were uncertain as to how good it would be as 2003 was a very hot year. Alas, it was brilliant – classic lanolin, melon and spice nose while the palate had Meyer lemon, marmalade and berry fruit and a good finish – we were amazed. I made a toast to Catherine and her late sister, winemaker Laurence Faller, who passed away in 2014 – she was one of the few and leading female winemakers of the age, and this was a master class performance.

To this date, we have a very soft spot for Catherine Faller and Domain Weinbach for their generous support shown to a start-up store at the time. Like many of her compatriots from Alsace, she represents class, generosity and kindness that leaves her mark whomever she meets.. Our thanks to Dream Wines who has been representing Weinbach for decades. A toast is in order!!

Captioned picture is of Bill Addison and Holly Bandi and the delicious bottle of 2003 Cuvee Ste. Catherine Pinot Gris

We have in stock the same wine we’re referring to that has been rebranded from Cuvee Ste. Catherine to Les Caracoles:

2021 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Les Caracoles (Alsace, France) – $84.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2018 Quinta do Gradil Martinus Johannis Vinho Tinto (Lisboa, Portugal) – $17.99, regularly $21.99.

Quinta do Gradil has seven centuries of winemaking in its history, with documents referencing it found in a royal document of King Joao II dated February 14, 1492, although the property is even older.

Crafted in homage to Martinus Johannis who discovered Gradil two hundred years earlier in 1278, and fenced in the land that is home to the vineyard today. Our feature this week is Quinta do Gradil’s Martinus Johannis Vinho Tinto, it is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tannat, fermented in stainless steel vats, and then aged in French oak barrels by winemaker Tiago Correia. It is a rich yet balanced and versatile red. Plump and round with loads of blackberry, black plum and blueberry fruit with toasty accents and baking spices. The palate is full of black fruit and resolved tannins all leading to a long, juicy finish. Prost everyone!

2018 Quinta do Gradil Martinus Johannis Vinho Tinto (Lisboa, Portugal) – $17.99, regularly $21.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2022 Sunday Sail Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $17.99, regularly $21.99.

Sunday Sail takes its name and inspiration from New Zealand’s rich sailing history and traditions. Sundays are for friends, family & sailing. Sunday Sail wine is perfect to connect these moments amongst friends & family.

The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is a zesty, elegant and tasty Sauv Blanc with attractive fruit intensity showcasing its florals, passionfruit, citrus zest fine herb nose followed by a palate of briny minerality, nectarine, grapefruit and lime flavours all wrapped up in mouth-watering acidity. Chill and enjoy with calamari and fish tacos. A delicious drink for the summer!

2022 Sunday Sail Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $17.99, regularly $21.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Summer is passing quickly, its time to break out the white wine. Fortunately, we’ve had some outstanding whites come into the store – the wines below are both idiomatic and varietally correct and also food friendly. Some are extreme rare and limited so grab some early on before they disappear.

Pictured left to right:

2021 Bodegas Canopy Ganadero Blanco (Toledo, Spain) – $22.99

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