deVine Thoughts

August 28, 2017

Paulaner Oktoberfest to Go

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 4:10 pm

paulaner_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Arriving for the upcoming Octoberfest, Paulaner is the best-selling Oktoberfest bier in the world, in the form of the very popular and highly successful Oktoberfest to Go gift set – this is everything one needs to pour a perfect liter of Oktoberfest bier in the glass that complements it best, just as it is done at the world famous Munich Oktoberfest.

The Oktoberfest Mug Set includes an exclusive one-liter can of Paulaner’s Oktoberfest Wiesn, the only beer served in the Paulaner Oktoberfest tents and the best-selling bier at the Munich Oktoberfest, along with the original Paulaner one-liter dimple glass mug in one convenient pack. It doesn’t get much more authentic than this to celebrate a festival that’s been around for over two hundred years!

The Paulaner Brewery is one of the largest breweries in Munich, Bavaria in Germany and is part of the Paulaner Brewery Group. The Paulaner Brewery Group unites the brands Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Auer Braeu, Hopf and Thurn and Taxis. Since 1634, Paulaner represents the finest brewing tradition for top quality crafted beer specialties in Germany and worldwide.

An amber beer style that was developed to celebrate the original Oktoberfest over 200 years ago – this full bodied yet mellow beer with its rich malt flavor, dark toffee note and underlying fruitiness has a masterful hop balance.Very balanced harmonious taste, it finishes with a very pleasant hops. Stock up early to avoid disappointment.

Paulaner Oktoberfest To Go (Germany) – $18.49

Return to devinewines.ca

August 24, 2017

1934 Niepoort Colheita Pre-Sell

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 3:47 pm

niepoort_34_small

Author: Dirk Chan

deVine and Artisan Wines Ltd. is offering a pre-sale of the extraordinary and rare 1934 Niepoort Colheita – $1499.99, available in either wood box or metallic box. Niepoort is one of the Douro houses known for its Colheitas, a single vintage Tawny aged in oak casks ranging from 550 to 600L that comes from old vines (around 60+ years).

The following is famous American wine critic Robert Parker’s take on it:

“1934 is an example of a wine in bottle a long, long time (it was botled in 1981). Besides the notable concentration and viscosity, it has powerful acidity to cut through its palate and make it seem bright and vibrant as well, with some brandy in the background. Aromatics, viscosity, acidity, complexity, amazing finish – it isn’t missing much. Well, perhaps elegance isn’t a word you’d use often here. If it seems rich, the amazing nose is so powerful, projecting molasses and dark chocolate, that it promises three times that level of richness. The acidity cuts the viscosity nicely, enlivens the wine and hammers home a deliciously, juicy finish that lingers more or less forever. Embarrassing to admit, but I forgot to brush my teeth after one tasting of this. The next morning, I could still taste it on my teeth, identifiable and rather fresh. With air and a couple of days, this wine loses just a tiny bit of its rich feel and begins to show more of its powerful structure. There is a lot of underlying power here, period. It never lost that rich texture and viscosity. It seemed more or less identical on Day 2 to Day 1,
perhaps even better.

This dense, full throttle Colheita simply takes no prisoners. If you’re looking for gentle and easy, this sure isn’t going to satisfy that urge on opening. It is a good example of how great older Colheitas can be. It’s not just about age, to be sure, but also style and year. All things said, this is simply brilliant. It is at a level of intensity and concentration that must be experienced. 99 points.”

Pre-sale ends next Sunday, September 3rd at midnight, the purchased port will arrive in early October.

Please pre-buy the 1934 Niepoort Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $1,499.99 here

Return to devinewines.ca

August 21, 2017

The Rarest of the Rare

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 4:04 pm

invergordon_small_blog

Author: Dirk Chan

Our thanks to Bob Kyle of Rare Drams for bringing an ever changing selection of Aged Single Grain whiskies to our market, including some very rare closed distilleries. Single Grains are really a great value and if left to mature beyond 20 years, these grain spirits draw and develop exquisite flavours from the cask, often notes of honey, raisins, candy floss and butterscotch.

We are thrilled to be the Edmonton exclusive for two very special aged products – from the Scottish inventory of Hunter Laing, here are two of the rarest and oldest Single Grains to date from the Invergordon Distillery, the northern most grain distillery and the only one in the Highlands. Both of these gems are from one single cask that began its life before man touched foot on the moon……so if you get the opportunity to taste this rare and beautiful spirit, remember to hold it in your mouth for 10 or 20 seconds, as it has been in waiting for a long time. Incredibly limited availability of six bottles each, get yours soon, they won’t last till Chrismtas.

Pictured left to right:

1966 Invergordon Sovereign Single Grain Whisky 50 Year Old (Highlands, Scotland) – $1,149.99 – This dark golden coloured whisky has a rich mellow sweet nose of vanilla & fruit, rhubarb, stewed prunes, then chocolate buttered shortbread giving a depth of character. On the palate it has an initial tongue prickle of pleasant fruitiness giving a light effervescent taste followed by notes of dark chocolate, vanilla and walnuts. The finish is long and dry with a sweet fruity aftertaste with just a hint of oak. Single cask strength 50% ABV ….there are only 261 bottles world wide and we have six of them.

1961 Invergordon North British Sovereign Single Grain Whisky 55 Year Old (Highlands, Scotland) – $1,249.99 – This beautiful Golden Grain has a sweet nose with vanilla, sultanas & raisins, and raspberry jelly with lime zest. Smooth and creamy on the palate the flavours just run off the tongue….more vanilla with stewed apples and rich fruit cake topped with marzipan and milk chocolate. The finish is long and dry with a pleasantly sweet aftertaste. Single cask strength 55.1 % ABV, there are only 144 bottles world wide and we have six of them.

Check out Bob’s cute video…

Return to devinewines.ca

August 11, 2017

Grower’s Champagne Tasting

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 2:58 pm

growers_blog_small

Author: Dirk Chan

A plug for our next tasting – Grower’s Champagne, a class of Champagnes without the prestige of the big houses, but offering tremendous value. We are tasting seven of them in total, with a few that are new arrivals as well. We’ll talk how Champagne is made, with some gossip, tidbits and a lot of sparkling conversation in the stand-up event on Saturday, September 9 at 7pm – $55

Pictured left to right are three of the wines we’ll be tasting:

NV Vilmart & Cie Grande Reserve Brut Premier Cru – $71.99

NV Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs – $69.99

NV Champagne Philipponnat Royale Reserve – $71.99

See the complete lineup and register for the event

Enjoy the summer!

Return to devinewines.ca

Powered by WordPress