deVine Thoughts

November 25, 2024

Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2024

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 1:50 pm

ws_top_100_2024_small
Author: Dirk Chan

The popular American wine publication Wine Spectator reviews over 15,000 wines every year, and in mid November, they issue their Top 100 Wines of the Year amids much fanfare and hoopla. This has been an ongoing tradition since 1988.

The retailers follow closely and will bring in as many of the Top 100 as available. It gets harder every year to get a lot of wines, either because its not in Alberta, or it is the wrong vintage. We have six wines to offer this year so far so grab them while quantities last and have yourself a WS Top 100 tasting.

Check out the available 2024 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines..

Return to devinewines.ca

Weekly Offer for Nov 25/24

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 10:16 am

weekly_honoro_vera_garnacha_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Hijos de Juan Gil Honoro Vera Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain) – $17.49, regularly $21.99.

The Gil Family is based in Jumilla, an fast rising winegrowing area just south of Valencia where the original winery, Juan Gil, is also located. The family established this winery in 1916, and since then it has been refined and expanded to take advantage of the remarkable climate – which sees hot summers and long, cold winters, with a regular difference of 25 ºC between day and night temperatures.

Their ventures in Castilla y León, Montsant and Priorat, Calatayud, Rueda, Almansa and Rías Baixas has increased exposure of these small estates has seen them receive consistently high ratings from international critics that belie their consistently accessible price points. This makes the Gil Family wines that rare thing: small-production wines that are both value buys and extremely rewarding.

Our feature this week is their Honoro Vera Garnacha, offering aromas of cocoa, black fruits, violets and oregano. With a medium-bodied palate of savory notes, blueberries and a generous mouthfeel ending with some spice, it pairs well with dishes like burgers with Middle Eastern flavors or shawarma. Made from 50 year old vines. A fine choice at an affordable price!

Hijos de Juan Gil Honoro Vera Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain) – $17.49, regularly $21.99

Return to devinewines.ca

November 23, 2024

Winterval 2024

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 8:37 am

winterval_2024
Author: Dirk Chan

The Edmonton Downtown Business Association’s (EDBA) second annual Downtown Winterval program is on Saturday, Nov 23rd. There will be a market, sleigh rides, holiday lights, ice carving, warm drinks, cold beers, and live music. There’s something for everyone in the family at this winter festival on historic 104 St. north of Jasper Avenue.

deVine will be part of the fun – 10% off in-stock items in the store on Saturday, November 23 from 11-7pm, excluding already discounted product. We’ll have free sampling throughout the day. Mark your calendar and plan to come down to be part of the experience.

More on Winterval here..

Free Drop-In Sampling here..

Return to devinewines.ca

November 18, 2024

Weekly Offer for Nov 18/24

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 11:56 am

weekly_labadie_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Chateau Labadie Cru Bourgeois (Bordeaux – Medoc, France) – $24.49 regularly $29.99.

Château Labadie is located in the commune of Bégadan in Medoc, 70 km from Bordeaux between the Gironde and the Atlantic. Benefiting from a superior geographical location and a very qualitative terroir with both clay-limestone soils and gravel soils which adds finesse, this family property focuses on optimizing the benefits of nature while respecting its own cultural philosophy. Made up of 72 hectares with castles: Labadie, Pontet Barrail and Moulin Neuf, the company is managed by Jérome Bibey. The estate is classificed as Cru Bourgeois from the latest 2020 classification, a healthy designation indicative of fine quality.

Our weekly special is their 2016 Vintage Vin Rouge – Garnet color with ruby ​​edge. Open bouquet with essences of toasted spices, sweet spices, figs and ripe black fruits. The attack on the palate is round, the evolution is silky, accompanied by enveloped tannins, volume of association and very present fruity notes, giving a beautiful whole, elegant with a long and very aromatic finish. The structure is there for a few years more of bottle aging but a short decant can be enjoyed now. 2016 was an exceptional year in Bordeaux and this is a fine value indeed. Goes well with grilled or braised red meats and a block of Comte.

Château Labadie Cru Bourgeois (Bordeaux – Medoc, France) – $24.49, regularly $29.99.

Return to devinewines.ca

November 13, 2024

2024 Quevedo Port Advent Calendar

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 3:27 pm

quevedo_calendars_presell_2024_small
Author: Dirk Chan

A Christmas favourite, the ever-popular annual Quevedo Advent Port Calendars – $142.99 has arrived for the 2024 Christmas holiday season.

With a small footprint that fits very easily underneath a Xmas tree and a perfectly sized 24 x 50mL bottles (2×12 different ports). This is lovely for two people to enjoy together. Inside every slot you will find a 50ml bottle for each of the 24 days.

For a list of all the ports included in these packages, please click the link below. We run out every year before Xmas so get yours asap to avoid disappointment.

2024 Porto Quevedo Port Advent Calendar (Douro, Portugal) – $142.99

Return to devinewines.ca

November 11, 2024

Weekly Offer for Nov 11/24

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 10:27 am

weekly_cecchi_ccr_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Cecchi Chianti Riserva DOCG (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $21.49, regularly $25.99.

The love story of Luigi and Anita Cecchi began in Poggibonsi, Tuscany in the 1950s, when Luigi saw Anita whizz past on her motor scooter. Intrigued by such an adventurous woman, he pursued and married her. Together, they poured their hearts and souls into the Cecchi Winery in Tuscany.

The story of Cecchi actually dates back to 1893, when Luigi’s grandfather – also Luigi – took his experience from working at some of the most famous agricultural companies in Tuscany and set out on his own as a wine merchant.

Over the years, their house reputation is built around their Chianti Classico’s of elegance and finesse. Nowadays, their two sons, Cesare and Andrea are now at the company’s helm, as the commercial director and the production and technical director, respectively. Inheriting the same enthusiasm and entrepreneurial know-how of their forefathers, they are focused on sustainability and their wine’s ability to express its territory of origin.

Cecchi (pronunced Check-ee) wines are a pure expression of their Tuscan terroir and crafted to be enjoyed around the family dinner table and our weekly special, their Chianti Riserva certainly fits the bill with Glowing deep garnet in the glass with glints of copper, the nose on this Chianti Riserva starts with dark cherry fruit, subtle gun flint and sage followed on the palate by a woodsy spice note and fine acid structure all leading to a smooth and balanced finish – this is a versatile wine to serve at the dinner table.

Cecchi Chianti Riserva DOCG (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $21.49, regularly $25.99.

Return to devinewines.ca

November 4, 2024

Weekly Offer for Nov 4/24

Filed under: deVine's Daily Blog Article — Dirk @ 1:01 pm

weekly_celeste_small
Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Torres Celeste Crianza (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $22.49 regularly $27.49.

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.

Our feature this week is their Celeste Crianza, 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. Nice mix of red and black berries and cherries on the nose. A hint of moss, sweet spices and dark earth on the palate. Decant for a half hour and paired with some grilled meats.

Miguel Torres Celeste Crianza (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $22.49, regularly $27.49.

Return to devinewines.ca

Powered by WordPress