deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Chateau Ksara is the oldest winery in Lebannon. Located in the Bekaa Valley, it is an hour’s drive SE of Beirut. The region has a semi-continental hot climate where winters are cold with moderate rainfall while the summers are hot and dry. All of Ksara’s vineyards are in the Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1000 meters.

Named after the ‘ksar’ or ‘fortress’, there is the Middle East’s first Observatory (with their white wine named after it) on site so that the Jesuit monks could record rainfall and seismic activity. There is also a Bell Tower (Le Prieure) which has a red wine named after it, being one of the estate’s most prominent monuments. The underground Roman caves are another stately feature of the estate.

The Blanc de L’Observatoire is made up of Clairette, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc while the Le Prieure is made from Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Caladoc (a genetic blending of Grenache and Malbec). Both can pair deliciously with grilled fish/seafood or grilled red meats.

Pictured left to right:

2022 Château Ksara Blanc de L’Observatoire (Lebanon) – $24.99

2021 Château Ksara Le Prieure (Lebanon) – $24.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Monte da Ravasqueira Encantado Red (Alentejo, Portugal) – $15.49, regularly $18.49.

Monte da Ravasqueira has been linked to the José de Mello family for several generations. Located in the municipality of Arraiolos, about an hour’s drive from Lisbon, the estate occupies a vast area of ​​typical Alentejo landscape.

The vineyards of Monte da Ravasqueira are carefully managed and monitored with the main objective of producing high quality wines. It comprises an area of 45 hectares, most of which are planted on clay-limestone soils with granite outcrops. Located in Alentejo, Monte da Ravasqueira offers a wide variety of wines resulting from 29 plots of vines. They are also engaged in a number or other activities involving the production of cork, olive oil and honey, as well as rearing fine cattle and fattening of black pig from Alentejo.

Our weekly special this week is their Encantado Red, a blend of Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Franca and Syrah vinified separately and then combined before aging in French oak barrels for 8 months prior to bottling. Nose of forest aromas with a lush mid palate displaying layers of black berry fruit, baking spice and licorice notes finishing on medium tannins and fine length. There is also a slight truffle note that is interesting and beguiling. Try with grilled meats.

Monte da Ravasqueira Encantado Red (Alentejo, Portugal) – $15.49, regularly $18.49.

Prost!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Hugo Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $20.99, regularly $27.49.

Hugo Wines is a family owned & operated winery in the foothills of McLaren Vale. The family focus on producing estate grown single vineyard wines from the Family Estate. Their passion is to make single site wines showcasing a unique sense of place with a direct connection to the land, while always being reminded of what’s truly important: family.

The original estate was purchased by John Hugo’s maternal great grandfather, George Sauerbier in 1860.

Our weekly special this week is their McLaren Vale Shiraz from two estate blocks planted in 1972 and 1988 respectively. Maturation took place in a mix of 75% French and 25% American oak hogsheads, 20% of which were new, for a period of 18 months. This is a rich and refined red with fine opulence. Impenetrable inky black in colour with a very deep dark purple black hue. Wafting from the glass is an intense bouquet of blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits which are followed by vanillin oak, a whiff of dark chocolate and peppered fennel like notes. Rich, full and opulent, lavish blackberry, dark plum and liquorice fruits are layered across the palate like silk sheets. Lurking beneath are elements of vanillin cedar, mocha and pepper. Excellent power with velvet smooth tannins and a long seductive conclusion. Try with grilled red meats.

Hugo Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $20.99, regularly $27.49

Prost!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Sottano Clasico Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $19.49, regularly $24.99.

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 weekly special this week is their Clasico Cabernet Sauvignon– an intense ruby color and aromas of ripe coffee, cassis, black fruits, black pepper, cedar and vanilla. On the palate, it is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and balanced acidity, offering a rich and full-bodied persistent experience. Pair with grilled red meats.

Prost!

Sottano Clasico Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $19.49, regularly $24.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the San Felice Chianti Classico (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $21.49 regularly $26.49.

Agricola San Felice is steeped in local lore and history. Named after a local early Christian Saint from the 18th century, the property was bought by the Grisaldi Del Taja family – the founding members of the Chianti Classico consortium. The family produced wine for several centuries until 1968 when the estate passed to Enzo Morganti, where he restructured and transformed this venerable estate, concentrating on high quality winemaking, systematic scientific research and thoughtful vineyard purchases, which included the Campogiovanni vineyard in Montalcino in 1984. Today the property includes a 1,853 acre resort, 445 acres of vineyards and a 44 acre parcel dedicated to experimental viticulture and genetic improvement of Sangiovese. The winery makes regular appearances in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100.

The San Felice vineyards are situated amongst the gently rolling hills of the Castelnuovo Berardenga area of Chianti Classico. The winery’s annual production is around one million bottles (1,025,000 of Chianti, 80,000 of Brunello, 40,000 of Rosso di Montalcino and 55,000 of Bolgheri), divided into 16 labels, made entirely from estate-owned grapes.

Our feature this week is their Chianti Classico, a delightfully aromatic (violets) Sangiovese based wine which includes some Pugnitello – an ancient Tuscan grape that was nearly extinct when San Felice began working with it in the late 1980s. This Chianti Classico is smooth, expressive, pure and characterful, with black cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant, earth, tobacco, and a precise minerality. Harmonious, dry and long with fine structure and fresh acidity – it’s ideal choice with charcuterie, roast turkey or grilled beef.

San Felice Chianti Classico (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $21.49, regularly $26.49.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Happy New Year to All!

There are some of you doing the ‘Dry January Challenge’, so we’ve brought in a few new items to help you through it. These are some of the best tasting dealcoholized wines we’ve tasted so we hope you enjoy these.

Pictured from left to right:

Colibri Free to Fly Spumante Rosé (Italy) – $24.99
Divin Sauvignon Blanc Non-Alcoholic (Loire Valley, France) – $23.99
Moderato Merlot-Tannat Non-Alcoholic (France) – $31.99
Pettersson & Munthe Lavender Chai Sparkling Tea (Sweden) – $21.99

Other interesting non-alcoholics not pictured:

NV Leitz Zero Point Five Pinot Noir (Rheingau, Germany) – $17.99
NV Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling (Rheingau, Germany) – $21.49
NV Giesen Dealcoholized Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $23.49
NV Colibri Free to Fly Spumante White (Italy) – $24.99
Moderato Le Chardonnay – La Cuvee Revolutionnaire Non-Alcoholic (France) – $31.99

33 Acres Brewing Sunrise Yuzu & Blossom Adaptogenic Sparkling Water (BC, Canada) – $11.99
33 Acres Brewing Hibiscus & Prickly Pear Adaptogenic Sparkling Water (BC, Canada) – $11.99
Pettersson & Munthe Sparkling Tea (Sweden) – $8.99
Benjamin Bridge Pink Piquette Zero (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $3.99
Evolution Beverages Clever Mojito Mocktail Premium (Quebec, Canada) – $4.49

Prost everyone!

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