deVine Thoughts

May 31, 2021

Weekly Online Offer for May 31

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 5:38 pm

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our feature this week is the Bodegas El Esteco Malbec – $21.99 (regularly $27.49).

Bodega El Esteco was founded in 1892 by David Michel and Gabriela Torino, is located in the Calchaqui Valley, which is in Argentina’s far northwest province of Salta. With over 1,500 acres of vineyards in one of the world’s highest growing regions for wine, the wines speak of their place of origin. The vineyards start at around 5,500 feet in elevation and rising to over 6,600 feet above sea level. Bordered by two mountain ranges— the Quilmes to the west and the Aconquija to the east create a natural barrier and microclimate.

Abundant sunshine and little rainfall, combined with high altitude create a recipe for a winemaker’s paradise. The region sees as little as six-eight inches of rain in a year so irrigation is a must, allowing the winemaking and viticulture teams to irrigate as they see fit.

The Malbec is dark, concentrated color and grapy, with bark-like aromas open this round, full-bodied red carrying roasted berry and plum flavors with some underbrush tones. Bold and vibrant with chewy tannins. Enjoy with grilled steak.

Bodega El Esteco Malbec (Calchaqui, Argentina) – $21.99 (regularly $27.49)

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May 22, 2021

2020 Bordeaux Futures Campaign Is Underway

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 3:10 pm

bordeaux_2020_june2_small
Author: Dirk Chan
For only the 2nd time ever, Bordeaux has had a trio of great years – 2018, 2019 and now 2020. The last and only other time this occurred was 1988, 89 and 1990. Thus, we are announcing there will be a Futures Campaign for the 2020, the so-called “Covid Vintage”.

How does Futures work you ask – well at its most basic level, you’re purchasing unfinished wine – you pay for it in full now, and in two years time, they arrive and you have some great Bordeaux to cellar for some time before enjoying the fruits of your patience. The wines when bottled will be 10-15% higher so you get a price break. Nowadays, you buy futures so you can get your hands on a bottle or two of something great and rare. Bordeaux being one of the great wines in the world – at the top end, demand far out strips availability and Futures may be the only way of ensuring you get your hands on some illustrious houses.

2020 appears to be a Right Bank vintage, so the Merlot dominant appellations of St. Emilion and Pomerol will be highly sought after while Margaux and Haut-Medoc’s with high percentage of Merlot are also popular.

The pricing appears to be an increase of a few percent to 10%, thus a little more expensive than the giveaway pricing from last year, but still quite a bit cheaper than 2018. However, given that yields were down in general 20%, we are receiving less quantity than normal.

As usual, items offered will be sold on a first-come first served basis and in some cases maximums applied. In many cases we won’t be able to go back for more of something once it sells out and if we do, price will be second tranche (release) pricing.

If you would like to receive all the releases in the most timely manner, please subscribe to the 2020 Bordeaux Futures Offerings using this link –
https://secure.campaigner.com/CSB/Public/Form.aspx?fid=1842652&ac=cdw8

It is a two step confirmation, you will have to click the link sent to your email address. This ensures you get the offers as soon as we release them. Any unsold product will go on the main website two days after the initial offering. As usual, we’ll be updating each product with running counts of what’s left for sale as best we can. Subscribers can expect two offerings per week over 3 or 4 weeks beginning next week, the campaign will end early to mid June.

Check out all available wines here..

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Weekly Online Offer for May 24

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 2:44 pm

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Author: Dirk Chan

The Staatlicher Hofkeller winery is located in the city of Würzburg (Maindreieick area) in the German wine-growing region of Franconia. The winery is 1hr 15 min drive SE of Frankfurt. The traditional Staatlicher Hofkeller was founded as early as 1128, making it the oldest winery in Germany and for that matter, one of the world’s oldest wineries, period. It has been owned without interruption by the Free State of Bavaria since the 12th century.

With a vineyard area of ​​120 hectares , which are spread over a large area in Franconia, and an annual production of around 850,000 bottles, it is the third largest winery in Germany. The extensive and labyrinthine like cellar corridors of the former “Prince-Bishop’s Court Cellar” extend deep inside the Würzburg Residence. The Residenz, built in the baroque style between 1720 and 1744, became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1981. The treasury is located in the cellar vaults. The oldest wine stored in this wine library is a vintage from 1874.

Our feature this week is the 2018 Staatlicher Hofkeller Wurzburg Silvaner Trocken – $21.49 (regularly $26.99), showcaing the Silvaner grape’s varietal characteristics of delicate fruity aromas, some white flowers, lovely minerality in a dry full-bodied style, finishing with terroir character of earthy tones and good acidity. Very good with rice pudding.

2018 Staatlicher Hofkeller Wurzburg Silvaner Trocken (Franken, Germany) – $21.49 (regularly $26.99)

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May 15, 2021

Weekly Online Offer for May 17

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 10:07 pm

weekly_innisfree_small
Author: Dirk Chan

This week’s online offer is the 2017 Phelps Innisfree Cabernet Sauvignon – $45.99 (regularly $56.99)

Joseph Phelps has long been one of Napa Valley’s flag bearers for outstanding Cabernets – his flagship red Insignia is one of the cult wines of the region and a multiple time 100 pointer. Innisfree is made from blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon that just miss the cut for the Phelps Insignia. Often that happens in years when the crop is generous and yield is abundant. It is a fine wine for a second label, with less oak, a beguiling approachability, easy drinkability and most importantly, much less money than the star bottlings.

The wine itself is obviously Napa – fragrant, offering up bright, intense Bing cherries, cassis, black raspberries, red currants while the palate offers much the same with some added chocolate notes in a well-rounded, balanced mouthfeel. Soft velvety tannins in the long, sustained finish. Meant for near-term drinking.

2017 Joseph Phelps Innisfree Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $45.99 (regularly $56.99)

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May 14, 2021

Quevedo Port Advent Calendars Pre-Sell

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 1:44 pm

quevedo_calendars_presell_small
Author: Dirk Chan

This is a special pre-sell for two Quevedo Advent Port Calendars. The ETA is for November of this year, in time for the Christmas holiday season. The deadline to pre-buy the two calendars is midnight Sunday, May 23rd.

The regular Quevedo Port Advent Calendar – $129.99 has been a favourite at deVines for 3 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).

New for this year is the exciting Quevedo Luxury Port Advent Calendar in a Mahogany Box – $621.99 which contains 24 x 90mL bottles including some rare and old Colheita’s and a couple of bottles of a fascinating new style of Port called Garrafeira -essentially a Colheita that has been specially aged in huge glass container for a minimum of 7 years – the 1994 and 2000 Garrafeira are only sold in this package and not available for retail separately. Inside every drawer you will find a different 90ml bottle for each of the 24 days. Every bottle has its own online introduction by Oscar Quevedo, the 5th Generation current owner and operator of the estate. The QR code is on each bottle so you can scan it with your mobile phone. This will access the introduction UTUBE VIDEO.. Only 300 boxes available to the world. Another interesting note with this package is that next year, there will be a refill only pack for sale, so you can use the Mahogany box year in year out going forward. What a special Xmas present this is for the port lover!

For a list of all the ports included in these packages, please click the links below.

2021 Porto Quevedo Luxury Port Calendar in Mahogany Wood Box (Douro, Portugal) – $621.99

2021 Porto Quevedo Port Advent Calendar (Douro, Portugal) – $129.99

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May 11, 2021

2020 Bordeaux Futures Campaign

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 9:59 pm

bordeaux_futures_2020_small
Author: Dirk Chan

For only the 2nd time ever, Bordeaux has had a trio of great years – 2018, 2019 and now 2020. The last and only other time this occurred was 1988, 89 and 1990. Thus, we are announcing there will be a Futures Campaign for the 2020, the so-called “Covid Vintage”.

How does Futures work you ask – well at its most basic level, you’re purchasing unfinished wine – you pay for it in full now, and in two years time, they arrive and you have some great Bordeaux to cellar for some time before enjoying the fruits of your patience. The wines when bottled will be 10-15% higher so you get a price break. Nowadays, you buy futures so you can get your hands on a bottle or two of something great and rare. Bordeaux being one of the great wines in the world – at the top end, demand far out strips availability and Futures may be the only way of ensuring you get your hands on some illustrious houses.

Unlike last year, the wineries have sent out whole bottles to the critics ahead of time, even though some critics were able to attend tastings in Bordeaux in late April. Thus, there are way more critic reviews and scores this time around than the same time last year. So far, it appears 2020 will be a Right Bank vintage, so the Merlot dominant appellations of St. Emilion and Pomerol will be highly sought after while Margaux and Pessac Leognan hits some high spots from the Cabernet dominant Left bank. Of course, the great Growths with their deep pockets will always make a great wine irrespective of weather conditions, but overall, 2020 was an exceptionally warm, hot and dry vintage especially for June, July, August until mid-September and those old properties with old vines were best able to withstand the hydric stress.

The pricing appears to be an increase of a few percent, thus a little more expensive than the giveaway pricing from last year, but still quite a bit cheaper than 2018. Giving the April frost issues that decimated crops throughout France, you know 2021 will be a more challenging vintage and prices on what’s in the system will be going up to recoup some of the potential losts. Alas, this kind of pricing provides a rare opportunity to buy some higher Classified Growths that has previously been out of reach, so don’t hesitate, just dive in.
tour_st_christophe

For those seeking the absolute top-tier, please drop us an email so we can help. It gets harder and harder every year to get the highest scoring most prestigious wines, some wines we get one 3pack. Of course, there isn’t enough to go around as every retailer wants some of the superstars leading to some frenzy buying and quick sellouts and staying up all night waiting for new releases/offers.

As usual, items offered will be sold on a first-come first served basis and in some cases maximums applied. In many cases we won’t be able to go back for more of something once it sells out and if we do, price will be second tranche (release) pricing.

If you’ve subscribed to Futures before, you will be automatically enrolled for this year’s campaign. For those new to the game, please subscribe to the 2020 Bordeaux Futures Offerings using this link –
https://secure.campaigner.com/CSB/Public/Form.aspx?fid=1842652&ac=cdw8

It is a two step confirmation, you will have to click the link sent to your email address. This ensures you get the offers as soon as we release them. Any unsold product will go on the main website two days after the offerings. As usual, we’ll be updating each product with running counts of what’s left for sale as best we can. Subscribers can expect two offerings per week over 3 or 4 weeks beginning next week, the campaign will end early to mid June.

We’ll be looking for some less expensive reds from the Right Bank Satellites. I’m seeing some great wines from Cru Bourgeois to Satellites that will retail around $50 – these are great earlier drinkers, a smattering of 1855 5th Growths around $80 (which we rarely see) and even some top bottlings around $100, so there is wines to consider at all price levels. Sauternes will be limited and expensive for 2020 as the weather did not cooperate for botrytis until the bitter end and yields were down substantially.

Bottom line, if you’ve been hesitant to get into the Bordeaux Futures game, jump in now, there may be never be another great opportunity as this, we won’t likely see this kind of pricing for the 2021’s.

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May 10, 2021

Weekly Online Offer for May 10

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 11:09 am

weekly_celeste_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2017 Miguel Torres Celeste (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $21.49 (regularly $25.99).

Founded in 1870 by Jaime Torres, Bodegas Torres (Miguel Torres SA) is a historical wine growing company located in Pacs, some 4 km (2.5 miles) from Vilafranca del Penedès, where the company has its head office. Torres is the family winery with the most extensive vineyards in the Denomination of Origin (DO) of Penedès and the largest winery in Spain. They also run the Miguel Torres Chile winery in the Chilean Central Valley, and in the United States (California) where in 1986 Marimar Torres founded Marimar Estate. Torres is also Spain’s largest producer of DO wines under its own label, exporting to more than 140 countries.

The Celeste is born 895 meters above sea level, where the vines and the sky form a magical connection, resulting in a wine filled with the freshness, emotion, and intensity of a starry night. Hence, the name and astrological label. Located in the Ribera del Duero D.O. wine region in north central Spain, the area stretches about 115km along “the banks of the river Duero” touching the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Segovia and Valladolid.

Celeste is an opulent yet structured wine brimming with fruit, body and colour: as unique as the night sky in the Ribera del Duero. Decant for a half hour and paired with some grilled meats.

2017 Miguel Torres Celeste (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $21.49 (regularly 25.99)

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May 3, 2021

Weekly Online Offer for May 3

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 10:00 am

weekly_edge_small

Author: Dirk Chan

This week’s online special is the 2017 Signorello Edge Cabernet Sauvignon – $32.99 (regularly $41.99). This is a sweet deal for Napa CabSau. Hailing from Alexander Valley, which is a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is one of Sonoma County’s hottest AVA.

Famous winemaker Ray Signorello whose Estate and Padrone Cab sells for a lot more money made Edge, it is meant for earlier consumption but will age well for five to eight years. Edge spent 16 months in French oak barrels, of which 35% were new. It is dense and luscious with a deep ruby red color that is followed by an intense cassis fruited nose interlaced with strawberry jam, blueberries and a burst of floral and vanilla notes. Soft and supple on tannins, the finish is long with notes of herbal tea and chamomile. Yum – pair with a grilled rib-eye.

2017 Signorello Edge Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Alexander Valley, United States) – $32.99 (regularly $41.99)

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May 1, 2021

2018 Louis Jadot “Celebration” 1er Cru Pre-Sell

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 1:53 pm

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Author: Dirk Chan

This is the 4th release of the Jadot’s Beaune 1er Cru 150th Anniversary now renamed Celebration. We are offering this 2018 version as a Pre-Sell – $79.99, you purchase it now and we call you for pickup when it arrives in September 2021. This pre-sell offer ends Sunday, May 9th as we have to get our order in by then so please order asap.

I remember tasting the first release, the excellent 2009, which was followed by 2012, 2015 and now 2018. It is an assemblage of numerous Beaune climats that Jadot owns, it has always been an incredibly expressive and flat-out delicious Pinot Noir from the very beginning that doesn’t require decades of cellaring.

This special cuvée is made only in great years, and 2018 while a hot vintage, it is coming up as surprisingly fresh and lively and very fine in the Beaune region. It comes in its own designer label, separate from the customary Jadot labels. Giving the frost turmoil that happened earlier last month that destroyed a lot of vineyards all over Europe (including Burgundy), the prices of existing Burgundies on the market or upcoming are all going to increase so this a relative bargain and is actually cheaper than the last 2015 release. Burgundy lovers take notice!

2018 Louis Jadot Beaune Celebration Premier Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $79.99

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