deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Andeluna Raices Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $15.99, regularly $21.49.

Andeluna is a family-owned winery located in the rocky region of Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes mountains of Argentina. The name derives from ‘Ande’ from the famous mountain range, and ‘Luna’ meaning moon in Spanish.

At 700m altitude which requires a lot of work for the team in order to produce high quality wines, which they have been doing for two decades.

Our weekly special this week is their Raices Malbec – Raices mean ‘roots’ paying hommage to their legacy. This is an unoaked Malbec where you can taste the grape without oak influence. Bright red in color with purple hues. Florals, fresh and fruity aromas make for an alluring nose while the plums and blueberries on the palate from the estate fruit leads to a soft and fresh tannin finish. A lively and elegant red to pair with some grilled pork.

Andeluna Raices Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $15.99, regularly $21.49

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Monte Antico Rosso IGT (Tuscany, Italy) – $17.99, regularly $21.49.

Monte Antico, which means “ancient mountain”, is Neil and Maria Empson’s tribute to Tuscany. Their forty years of passion and experience led them to create their own label along with their good friend Franco Bernabei, a master in Italian winemaking. Together, they have made quite a name for themselves since 1977.

Our weekly special this week is their Monte Antico Rosso, a modern Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offers refined floral, candied berry, cedar and ginger aromas with enough structure for short-term cellaring or pairing with food tonight. Great with spaghetti and meatballs, or with grilled lamb with mushroom risotto.

The grapes for this wine were grown in the areas of Maremma, Colline Pisane, and Colli Fiorentini. Soil types vary, but span from compact, very fine-textured limestone at 1,300-1,500 feet above sea level to a classic, clay and calcareous, rocky galestro around 1,300 feet above sea level, and go on to a clay, siliceous and calcareous soil at 820-990 feet above sea level. The grapes are harvested at their peak ripeness. This balanced combination of geological diversity makes for the wine’s consistent excellence. It is an easy everyday drinker, smooth and generous and drinking nicely.

Monte Antico Rosso IGT (Tuscany, Italy) – $17.99, regularly $21.49

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Author: Dirk Chan

Valtellina is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, hot spring spas, bresaola, cheeses and its red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape. The noble red grape of Piedmont is famous in Barolo and Barbaresco, but a different take exists along the sun-drenched, South-facing slopes of the Alps, where the landscape boasts 2,500 kilometers of dry stone-walled terraces of grapevines. Recognized by UNESCO, this area is home to Mamete Prevostini’s prized vineyards, the largest terraced vineyard in Northern Italy. The unique climate, with modest rainfall, hot summers and significant temperature variations, shapes their distinctive alpine Nebbiolo. Cultivating vines in the challenging terrains of the Alps has been and is a labour of love, driven by a deep connection to the land and age-old rituals practiced over centuries.

Nebbiolo is a fickle creature; it s difficult to grow successfully (like Pinot Noir) and even harder to manage in the cellar. ike much of Italy, Valtellina has been a wine-producing area for over 2,000 years. Indeed, wine was made here by the Ancient Ligurians and Etruscans even before the Romans arrived.

Prevostini’s four vineyard plots are spread across the Valtellina mountains, each telling a unique story. With varying elevations, orientations and ages, each contribute to the exceptional quality and character of the wines. Ranging from 300 to 700 meters above sea level, these vineyards produce grapes with remarkable body, delicacy and fantastic aging potential. An art that Mamete Prevostini, has arguably perfected over time!

Valtellina wines are hard to come by in our neck of the woods, so please explore this producer – the wines are distinctive with forest floor, a certain smokiness/spiciness with a reverberation of minerality on the finish. A great food wine including osso bucco.

Pictured left to right:

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $19.49, regularly $23.99

To many, Kanonkop is considered to be the First Growth of South Africa. For others, Kanonkop is not just a wine estate, it is a place of natural beauty where hospitality, family values, tradition, history and interesting characters are as integral to our ability to create magnificent wines as the ancient decomposed granite soils, the cool air from the Atlantic Ocean and the old dryland vineyards.

Famous for their expensive flagship Paul Sauer Bordeaux blend, their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and of course their pioneering Estate Pinotage, the signature grape of South Africa.

Our weekly offer this week is their Kadette Cape Blend, a blend of 39% Pinotage, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petite Verdot. Crimson red in color, with complimenting aromas of raspberries, dark cherries, black plums, cinnamon, and all spice. Supple, elegant tannins supported by fresh acidity which is balanced with an explosion of fruit on the palate. Juicy flavours of red and black fruits, and a hint of chocolate, all which lingers on the finish. Pair with a grilled steak.

Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $19.49, regularly $23.99

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