deVine Thoughts

Author: Kandice Little

Our online feature this week is the Uko Estate Old Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $29.99 (regularly $36.99).

Run by two friends with the vision of combining modern tech and age-old tradition (the winery was built in the 1890’s) to create quality wines. They make three tiers of wine – ‘Estate,’ ‘Select,’ and ‘Old Vines’ – grapes which come from old vineyards planted between 1950 and 1960.

Our offer this week, their Old Vine Malbec is 100% Malbec, a perfect red to pair with grilled meat, game, pork sausages, or lamb. Not looking for a meat dish? Try it with some stuffed pastry in a well-seasoned sauce. In the glass, this shows a deep red color with violet hints. On the nose, aromas of plum marmalade, cassis, raspberry, ripe berries, vanilla, leather and tobacco highlights. The palate is gentle with round, sweet tannins, and great structure and complexity. You can even age this for another 10 years!

2018 Uko Estate Old Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $29.99 (regularly $36.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Alpha Box & Dice Tarot Rosso (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $19.99 (regularly $24.99).

Alpha Box & Dice is a boutique winery based in McLaren Vale in South Australia. AB&D are embarking on creating an Alphabet of Wine, where every letter of the alphabet is represented by a different wine style.

AB&D specialise in alternative varietals and experimental winemaking using small batch, minimal intervention and vegan-friendly winemaking methods while respecting the environment and integrity of the fruit to create wines that have soul and a sense of place.

Our offer this week, their Tarot Rosso is 30% Grenache, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Touriga Nacional, 16% Tinta Barroca, 10% Aglianico and 1% Shiraz – an exotic mix to say the least. The color is deep plum with aromatics of rose petals, plums, savour spices and a bit of cured leather. On the soft and gentle palate, there is mellow acidity and delicate tannins rounding out the finish. Pair with turkey, game or mushroom dishes, eggplant and spiced dishes for the vegetarians.

Alpha Box & Dice Tarot Rosso (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $19.99 (regularly $24.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

We’re showcasing some more obscure white varietals this time – some of which has been scarce in these parts yet definitely deserve some love.

For example, the Benjamin Bridge Tidal Bay White features a blend of L’Acadie, Ortega, Seyval and Geisenheim grapes, all pretty unusual. The Spanish Casas de Moya Tibo showcases the Merseguera grape while the Romanian Jidval is made from the Feteasca Regala grape grown in Transylvania. The Reine Juliette Languedoc white comes from Picpou de Pinet and finally the Labbe Abymes features the Jacquere, an indigenous grape of Savoie.

Hope you can branch out and experience something different, more details when you click on the individual links. Enjoy!

Pictured left to right:

2021 Benjamin Bridge Tidal Bay Signature White (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $24.99

2020 Casas de Moya Tibo Merseguera (Valencia, Spain) – $17.99

2021 Jidvei Clasic Feteasca Regala (Romania) – $20.49

2021 Domaine Reine Juliette Picpoul de Pinet (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $23.49

2020 Domaine Labbé Abymes (Savoie, France) – $22.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Domaine de Belle Mare le Rivage Rouge (Pays d’Oc, France) – $20.49 (regularly $26.99).

At the famous seaside resort of Mèze just a few kilometres from Montpellier on the banks of the Étang de Thau in the Languedoc wine region in southern France lies the Domaine Belle Mare where in its warm Mediterranean atmosphere delivers wines full of sunshine and seaside exuberance. The 68 hectare estate is expertly ran fully expressing the terroir benefiting from its location and exceptional ecosystems resulting in offerings that have wide-ranging diversity and aromatic riches.

Experience the heart of the Pays d’Oc in our weekly special – their Rivage Rouge is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The color is bright garnet, the nose is of red and black fruits, jammed confiture and spices all leading to a palate offering ripe red fruits, cocoa and caramel notes finishing off round and smooth with soft tannins. Pair with red meat and game, grilled meats and cold cuts. Salute!

Domaine de Belle Mare le Rivage Rouge (Pays d’Oc, France) – $20.49 (regularly $26.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Raymond Family Classic Cabernet Sauvignon (California, United States) – $17.99 (regularly $21.99).

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023, our weekly special this week features a wine made by Stephanie Putnam, the Director of Winemaking at Raymond Vineyards, where she oversees all aspects of winemaking for this iconic Napa Valley winery .

Stephanie spent eight years as winemaker at Far Niente Winery, where she contemporized their house style. Prior to that, she was part of the team at Hess Collection, where she began as a cellar worker and rapidly progressed to winemaker. While there she also worked with the winery’s South American partners. Her wines have won acclaim, including recognition in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100, Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100, and being named The Wine News Cabernet of the Year.

Raymond Vineyards has over 300 acres of estate vineyards in the Napa Valley, in 3 locations (St. Helena, Rutherford and Jameson Canyon). Each parcel is matched to varietals which perform well in that particular climate and soil type. In addition, the winery maintains long term growing contracts with over 15 Napa Valley growers, allowing the winery to take advantage of the micro-climates and sub-appellations within the Napa Valley.

The Raymond Classic Cabernet Sauvignon is of a deep ruby colour with a nose of florals, dark berries – cassis, blackberry, herbal and soft vanilla aromas. On the palate, it is medium bodied with cassis, vanilla and spice flavours with ripe supportive tannins. Pair with a grilled steak.

Raymond Family Classic Cabernet Sauvignon (California, United States) – $17.99 (regularly $21.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Please join us next Saturday, March 11 @7pm at deVines as we conclude our three part high-end tasting series in celebration of our 18th Anniversary with A Tour of Spain – $75. The first two (Bordeaux and 3B’s of Piedmonte) were well attended and well received – the quality of the wines were pretty special, and this one promises the same as we tour through most of the major red wine producing regions of Spain featuring wines from Penedes, Bierzo, Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Toro and Priorat. From sparkling to medium to full throttle reds, this will be exciting. Please join us as there are only a dozen spots left for this stand-up event.

Check out the wines and register here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Fruit sakés are trending nicely in Alberta. With its deep, concentrated varieties of fruit added to saké, these dangerously easy to drink sakés are a viable alternative to fruit coolers. With some even having fruit chunks in them, they feel like drinking a freshly plucked fruit fresh off a tree from an orchard. Mandarin oranges, pear, peach, pomegranite, plum, yuzu, pineapple, lychee, the list of fruit choices goes on and on.

There’s a reason they’re in small 330mL bottles, you will be under the table before you know it as the typical 7.5% alcohol is overwhelmed by the fruit and hardly noticeable.

Treat yourself to one nicely chilled and you’ll see why they are becoming increasingly popular.

Pictured left to right:

Nakano Pomegranate Sake (Japan) – $23.99

Nakano Citrus Mix (Japan) – $23.49

Nakano Toro Melt Pineapple (Japan) – $23.49

Choya Yuzu Umeshu (Japan) – $44.99

Other available fruit sakes:

Nakano Mikan No Osake Mandarin Orange (Japan) – $23.99

Nakano Nashi Pear (Japan) – $23.49

Nakano Toro Melt Lychee (Japan) – $23.49

Sakagura Nigori Ume Plum Wine (Japan) – $23.99

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