deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

There ares some very interesting white wines coming out of Italy these days, made from native grapes that a lot of us haven’t heard of or tasted before or acquainted with. Pecorino, Verdicchio, Falanghina, Grillo, Trebbiano and Catarratto are not exactly household names or the rather more famous international grapes. Thought we’d highlight some for you – both interesting and worthy of consideration and wonderful on the dining table. If you’re in an adventurous mode, look no further.

Pictured from left to right:

2023 Cantine Agriverde Riseis Pecorino (Abruzzi, Italy) – $33.99
2023 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica (Marches, Italy) – $25.99
2022 Terenzuola Vermentino Bianco Vignebasse (Tuscany, Italy) – $30.99
2022 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco (Campania, Italy) – $28.99
2023 Tommasi Paternoster Vulcanico Falanghina (Basilicata, Italy) – $30.99

Other interesting whites not pictured:

2023 Agricola Giacomo Radica Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (Abruzzi, Italy) – $25.99
2022 Assuli Fiordiligi Grillo (Sicily, Italy) – $25.99
2021 Serafini & Vidotto Manzoni Bianco Montello e Colli Asolani (Veneto, Italy) – $28.99
2021 Feudo Montoni Catarratto del Masso (Sicily, Italy) – $41.99
2021 Pievalta San Paolo Verdicchio Classico Riserva (Marches, Italy) – $61.99

Prost everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Sottano Junior Red Blend (Mendoza, Argentina) – $16.99 regularly $20.99.

Sottano was founded in 1890 by Fioravante Sottano who settled in Mendoza after moving from Italy. Situated in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, in Perdriel, in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, it covers over two hectares of land, including 15,000 square meters of landscaping using only native species.

The winery produces about 800,000 liters of wine annually. In a fully automated process, the wines are distributed in stainless steel tanks of different sizes, which allows us to maintain precise quality control. Their underground cellar stores their best wines during their aging in oak barrels and later in the bottle.

Our feature this week is their Junior Red Blend, an unoaked red made from 60% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It is an everyday drinker, with a floral component, black fruited plums and raspberries leading to an easy-going palate with mouth-filling fruit, elegant tannins and smooth mouthfeel. Try with BBQ meats.

Sottano Junior Blend (Mendoza, Argentina) – $16.99, regularly $20.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Wow…Thanksgiving week is fast upon us, where did September go? 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 port to end.

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 Mezzacorona Mezza Italian Glacial Bubbly (Alto Adige, Italy) – $19.99
NV Pere Ventura Cuvee Barrique Gran Reserva (Penedès, Spain) – $25.99
NV Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49
NV Corte Manzini Fior di Lambrusco Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $28.49
2022 Aphros Phaunus Pet Nat Sparkling Rose (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $46.99

Champagne

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

NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – $62.99
NV Champagne Gardet Charles Prestige Blanc de Blancs (Champagne, France) – $104.99
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $139.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Granite (Champagne, France) – $219.99
2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut (Champagne, France) – $499.99

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), sweet Chenin Blancs or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!

2022 Domaine Labbé Abymes (Savoie, France) – $22.99
2023 Wild Goose Gewurztraminer (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $26.99
2023 Tommasi Paternoster Vulcanico Falanghina (Basilicata, Italy) – $30.99
2023 Sybille Kuntz Riesling Trocken (Mosel, Germany) – $33.99
2023 Truchard Roussanne (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $44.99
2021 Pievalta San Paolo Verdicchio Classico Riserva (Marches, Italy) – $61.99
2021 Fundacao Eugenio de Almeida Cartuxa Pera-Mancha Branco (Alentejo, Portugal) – $94.99
2021 Francois Mikulski Meursault (Meursault, France) – $156.99
2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $259.99
2023 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Rosé (Loire Valley, France) – $22.99
2023 Château La Nerthe Tavel Prieure de Montezargues (Rhone Valley, France) – $33.49

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.

2022 Bruno Lafon Le P’tit Pinot (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $22.99
2023 Agricola Gorgo Bardolino (Veneto, Italy) – $22.99
2018 Gold Hill Cabernet Franc (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $29.99
2023 G. D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) – $32.99
2017 Spier 21 Gables Pinotage (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $44.99
2022 Illahe Vineyards Pinot Noir (Oregon – Willamette Valley, United States) – $53.99
2021 Filipa Pato & William Wouters Nossa Calcário Baga Vinhas Velhas (Bairrada, Portugal) – $72.99
2018 Descendientes de Jose Palacios Villa de Corullon (Bierzo, Spain) – $77.99
2017 Ramey Pinot Noir (California – Russian River Valley, United States) – $89.99
2020 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Ronchi (Piedmont, Italy) – $104.99
2017 Clos Figueras Clos Figueres (Priorat, Spain) – $137.99
2013 Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Santo Stefano di Perno (Piedmont, Italy) – $174.99
2016 Louis Jadot Corton Pougets Grand Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $249.99
2009 Château Pontet-Canet (Bordeaux – Pauillac, France) – $549.99

Dessert

Sweet dessert wines and Port are always good for the final touches of a meal:

2023 Alkoomi Grazing Collection Late Harvest (Western Australia, Australia) – $22.99
2018 Ramos Pinto Late Bottled Vintage (Douro, Portugal) – $37.99
2019 Château Doisy-Daene (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $51.99
2007 Marchesi Gondi Cardinal de Retz Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina Riserva Tenuta Bossi (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $64.99
Quevedo 20 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $67.99
2019 Château Suduiraut (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $84.99
1982 Thunevin-Calvet Maury Vin Doux Naturel (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $87.99
Messias 30 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $109.99
2010 Hexamer Rieslng Eiswein (Nahe, Germany) – 375mL – $169.99
1963 Messias Colheita Selecionada (Douro, Portugal) – $329.99
1985 Fonseca Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $389.99

Note our regular store hours are in affect this long weekend, except holiday monday when we will be CLOSED.