deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

From all of us at deVine’s to you and yours, we wish you a very Happy New Year in 2022 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity.

May good fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in all that you do for the coming year, 2022.

We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Chad, Dirk, Kandice, Lyr, Brad, Bob and Mark

Here are some New Years Wine recommendations for your consideration. Have a fun New Years, and remember to drink responsibly:

Pictured (left to right):

2017 Pere Ventura Vintage Rose Gran Reserva Cava Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $51.99

2014 Pierre Peters Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Chétillons Cuvée Spéciale Grand Cru Le Mesnil (Champagne, France) – $189.99

NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Extra Brut Extra Old 2 (Champagne, France) – $124.99

2012 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé (Champagne, France) – $799.99

 
Sparkling
NV Pere Ventura Chic Barcelona Cava Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $18.99

NV De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Brut (Loire Valley, France) – $23.99

2019 Mongarda Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (Veneto, Italy) – $29.99

NV Kechris “Afros” Pet-Nat Retsina (Macedonia, Greece) – $31.49

NV Venturini Baldini Marchese Manodori Lambrusco Secco (Italy) – $32.99

2020 Huber Gruner Veltliner Blanc de Blancs Brut (Traisental, Austria) – $39.99

2015 Benjamin Bridge Hand Crafted Small Lot Brut (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $54.99

 
Champagne
NV Champagne Liebart-Regnier Les Sols Bruns Demi-Sec (Champagne, France) – $59.99

2014 Gaston Chiquet Premiier Cru Brut Tradition (Champagne, France) – $69.99

NV Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs (Champagne, France) – $79.99

NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut Lipstick Edition (Champagne, France) – $87.99

NV Ruinart R de Ruinart Brut (Champagne, France) – $94.99

2016 Bereche et Fils Campania Remensis Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $114.99

NV Henri Billiot et Fils Cuvée Laetitia Grand Cru Brut (Champagne, France) – $129.99

1999 Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Brut Liesse d’Harbonville (Champagne, France) – $224.99

2010 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $299.99

2004 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $379.99
 
Something Sweet & Sparkling
2019 Ethica Saracco Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $22.99

2020 Vietti Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $39.99
 

Here are our store hours leading up to the New Years:
December 25 to 28 – CLOSED
Wednesday, Dec 29 – 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Dec 30 – 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, Dec 31 – 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, Jan 1 – CLOSED

Return to devinewines.ca
 

Author: Dirk Chan
Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, so here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine,followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a lovely port to end off the evening. With the year we’ve all been through, perhaps it is time to go big this year!!

Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.

NV La Jara Brut Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $18.99

2019 Mongarda Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (Italy) – $29.99

NV Château de Targe Saumur Brut Rose (Loire Valley, France) – $31.49

2020 Pittnauer Pitt-Nat Sparkling Rose (Burgenland, Austria) – $39.99

Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.

NV Champagne Gardet Brut Tradition (Champagne, France) – $52.99

NV Gremillet Brut Rosé Saignee (Champagne, France) – $64.99

NV Champagne Philipponnat Royale Reserve (Champagne, France) – $78.99

NV Champagne Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911 Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut (Champagne, France) – $114.99

2014 Pierre Peters Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Chétillons Cuvée Spéciale Grand Cru Le Mesnil (Champagne, France) – $189.99

2004 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $379.99

Whites & Pinks

Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay or Chenon irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!

2019 Cave de Saumur Chenin Blanc Les Pouches (Loire Valley, France) – $21.99

2020 Wild Goose Autumn Gold (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $25.99

2019 Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay (Paarl, South Africa) – $36.99


2013 Pascal Clement Montagny 1er Les Coeres (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $41.99

2018 Contino Blanco (Rioja, Spain) – $49.99

2013 Schlossgut Diel Riesling Spatlese Dorsheimer Goldloch (Nahe, Germany) – $59.99

2017 Trimbach Schlossberg Riesling Grand Cru (Alsace, France) – $129.99

2020 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Rose (Loire Valley, France) – $22.99

2020 Leitz Pinot Noir Rosé feinherb (Rheingau, Germany) – $24.99

Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.

2018 Manos Negras Pinot Noir (Mendoza, Argentina) – $20.99

2018 Oisly et Thésée Les Bremailles Touraine Gamay (France) – $21.99

2020 Cantina Girlan Fass Nr.9 Vernatsch (Alto Adige, Italy) – $26.99

2018 Château de Javernand Chiroubles Indigene (Beaujolais, France) – $33.99

2017 Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Riserva (Maremma, Italy) – $41.99

2017 Contino Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $51.99

2018 Roger Sabon Réserve (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France) – $56.99

2018 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif (California – Suisun Valley, United States) – $74.99

2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $99.99

2013 Radio-Coteau Terra Neuma Pinot Noir (California – Sonoma, United States) – $134.99

1967 Adega Viuva Gomes Collares Reserva Tinto (Colares, Portugal) – $159.99

2012 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) – $264.99

2008 Château Pontet-Canet (Bordeaux – Pauillac, France) – $299.99

2009 Louis Jadot Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $489.99

Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.

2013 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) -250mL – $29.99

2019 Gehringer Brothers Signature Series Riesling Icewine (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – 375mL -$57.99

2011 Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Vin Santo (Tuscany, Italy) – 500mL – $59.99

2009 Domaine Huet Cuvee Constance (Loire Valley, France) – 375mL – $169.99

Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal whether its a ruby or a tawny. Try with blue-veined cheeses and roasted nuts.

NV Messias Special Reserve (Douro, Portugal) – $36.99

1992 Quevedo Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $69.99

2000 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $109.99

1966 Kopke Colheita Port (Portugal) – $218.99

1965 Krohn Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $309.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $229.31 or our December Club 6-Pack – $168.80 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.

Note our hours of operations leading up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years.

Everyone, enjoy the holiday season. Best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Xmas is approaching far too quickly for most of us, with time at a premium. Here are a few present suggestions that come with smart packaging, is unique and pretty fuss free and easy to wrap quickly or small enough to put under the tree or as a stocking stuffer! As is the case this season for almost all categories of wine and spirits, availability is limited and best to purchase asap to avoid disappointment.

Pictured left to right:

NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut Lipstick Edition (Champagne, France) – $87.99

Phillips The Tasting Room Space Case 2021 (B.C., Canada) – $74.99

2015 Pere Ventura Gran Vin Cava de Paraje Calificado (Penedès, Spain) – $92.99

Other recommendations:

Kopke 40 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $179.99

J. P. Wiser’s Whiskey Blending Kit (Ontario, Canada) – $49.99

Cocktail Concierge Drinksmith Collection Chai Negroni (Alberta, Canada) – $53.99

Riedel Performance Decanter – $49.99

2015 Hammekin Cellars Crianza Oraculo (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $79.99

2019 Gouden Carolus Classic Collector’s Edition (Belgium) – $94.99

2010 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $299.99

Strathcona Spirits Velvet Cream Liqueur (Alberta, Canada) – $41.99

Miguel Torres Jaime I 30 Year Old (Penedès, Spain) – $134.99

Field Notes Don’t Call Me Sweet Pea Garden Amaro (Alberta, Canada) – $36.99

Here are some stocking stuffer suggestions:

Cocchi Miniatures Gift Pack (Piedmont, Italy) – $37.99

Dashfire Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail (United States) – $8.49

Tullibardine The Tasting Collection (Highlands, Scotland) – $49.99

Fonseca Bin 27 Reserve Porto (Douro, Portugal) – $9.99

Ireland Craft Beverages Dram In A Can, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey 4-Pack (Ireland) – $28.99

Blandy’s Gift Pack (Portugal) – $21.99

Happy shopping everyone!!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Usually in early December, we would be having two in-store sessions of the Best Bang for the Buck Tasting, a festive event where we taste 8 wines that we think represents the best value for the money for the year. With Covid, this hasn’t happened for two years now, so instead we thought this year we would introduce instead the Best Bang for the Buck Case where you can purchase the 8 wines that we would have served up, at home. We’ll offer the case with the same 10% discount as would have been in the store tasting. These eight wines surely over-deliver for the price point – we hope you’ll enjoy these. Plus as an added treat, you can optionally fill up the case with 4 extra bottles of any wine or spirit of your own choosing and we’ll give you 10% on those as well!

Note: Available starting Wed, Dec 1

Here are my brief notes for the eight wines in the case:

1) Gorgo Chardonnay – gorgeous un-oaked Chardonnay – great purity of fruit and long length. Not for lovers of Cali Chard, but wonderful texture.

2) Romain Duvernay Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc – never had a Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc this good for this kind of pricing. The classic character of oily texture, stone fruits, nuts and pear all shine through.

3) Oisly Thesee Les Bremailles Gamay – beautiful light red to go with turkey and ham – lovely currant and raspberry edge to the soft tannin-ed finish.

4) Bodegas de Moya Gloria Monastrell – delightful Valencia red that is spicy galore with a touch of earth and soil character on the blackberry and rhubarb base.

5) Potentino Sacromontino Sangiovese – a marvel for a young 2020 Sangiovese. Unusual beer cap enclosure and unusual 1.0L bottle – you get a lot of wine for the money. An amazingly wonderful mouthfeel for something this young. Great with pasta or pizza.

6) Ouled Thaleb Cabernet Grenache – A Moroccan red that allows the Cabernet (structure, cassis) and the Grenache (violets) to all come through. If you’ve never had a Moroccan red, this is a great way to sample. Do some kebobs with it.

7) d’Andezon Cotes-du-Rhone Villages Signargues – we always have one wine outside the $20 price point, and this is the selection for this year. Outstanding wine in so many ways – its classic GSM Rhone style but with the extra “je nais sais quoi” – plum, leather, earth, chocolate, you name it, its got it.

8) Merayo Mencia Tinto – the last vintge of this Spanish red was quite earthy and barn-yardy but this vintage is not. Made from 80-100 year old bush vines – blueberries, mushrooms and great length.

Best Bang for the Buck Case – $157.95