deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Château de Gaudou Chatelet de Gaudou Tradition (Cahors, France) – $18.49 , regularly $22.49.

Chateau de Gaudou has been producing wine for almost 300 years, the history of the name began in 1733 in the southern French wine region of Cahors, home of the Malbec grape. Overlooking the Vire sur Lot Valley, Château de Gaudou offers a breathtaking view of the Puy L’Evêque vineyards.

Starting off cultivating lavender, the Durou Family has for many generations now shown their perseverance and passion in producing exceptional wines, helping to build the construction and reputation of the Cahors appellation. The motto of the Gaudou house is to communicate emotion, conviviality and sharing.

Our feature this week is their Chatelet de Gaudou Tradition, a blend of 30+ year old 80% Malbec with the rest Merlot and Tannat, coming from different terroirs around the village of Vire sur Lot. The vineyard is sustainable heading towards organic certification.

Beautiful dark color, purple reflections, the nose offers red fruits and liquorice on a mineral background. On the palate, full-bodied, quite dense, tense palate framed by silky tannins with depth and slight earth coming from the gravel and clay soil. Try with carmelized braised endives, guinea fowl and aged cheeses.

Château de Gaudou Chatelet de Gaudou Tradition (Cahors, France) – $18.49 , regularly $22.49.

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Author: Dirk Chan

The Produttori del Barbaresco Cooperative is one of the most successful and consistent cooperatives in the world of winemaking. The winery is one of the stars of the Barbaresco region in the Piedmont in Northern Italy. Established in 1958, there are now 56 growers who contribute their Nebbiolo grapes to the cooperative. The region covers over 100 hectares of premium nebbiolo grapes. In 1967, they were amongst the first wineries to produce single vineyard Barbaresco’s – there is nine different Cru Riservas produced only in exceptional vintages like 2015, 2016, 2017 and now 2019 having not made any Riserva’s in 2018.

A limited amount of the 2019 Riserva’s will be arriving at deVines this coming week. They remain one of the few high scoring, spectacular Barbaresco’s that sell for a reasonable price for their quality. You will no doubt want to stock up and/or add to your existing verticals. Verticals going back 40 years have shown how great these wines can be. Superbly located – Gaja (6 min away) and Giacosa (13 min away) are neighbours whose wines sell for 5 to 7 times this price.

A must in every connoisseur’s cellar, a bargain in the expensive world of Nebbiolo. Barolo’s and Barberesco’s with this kind of scores sell for double this price. Quantities are very limited and sold on a first come first served basis. In some cases, we only have one six pack for sale and no more to be had from the agent – once they’re gone, they are gone..

Pictured, left to right:

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Pora – $109.99

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo – $109.99

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montefico (Piedmont, Italy) – $109.99

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Asili (Piedmont, Italy) – $109.99

Not pictured:

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano (Piedmont, Italy) – $109.99

2019 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja (Piedmont, Italy) – $109.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Franck Balthazar Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France) – $22.99 , regularly $30.99.

Franck Balthazar is the nephew of the late Noel Verset (a great pioneer in Cornas), and purchased the 97-year-old parcel in Chaillot from him when Noel retired. He blends this old plot with his own 46-year-old parcel, both of which are on the granitic and sunny slopes of Les Chaillots. Plowing is done with a horse, and in the tiny cellar the grapes are pressed without being destemmed.

Don’t let the simple Côtes du Rhône label fool you,. This is definitely not your typical Côtes du Rhône, it’s serious business from one of the best, most traditional winemakers in the region. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from a small one and a half hectare organically farmed vineyard about an hour south of Franck’s cellar in Cornas. Hand harvested, wild fermented and aged in steel, then bottled unfiltered with minimal sulfur added. The previous vintage of this wine was featured in both our Best Bang for the Buck and deVine’s Wines of the Year picks.

Franck Balthazar Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France) – $22.99 , regularly $30.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our special this week is the Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $16.99, regularly $21.49.

The majestic condors soar above the Andes Mountains capturing in their flight Argentina’s finest wine appellations. Each wine in the Flight of the Condor winery’s range shows varietally pure wines which excel in their region of origin.

Our feature of the week is their Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Mendoza with its consistent weather conditions in high elevation vineyards that produces wonderfully consistent reds. The grapes are selected for their balanced fruit profile. 4-5 days of cold soak was followed by 8-10 days of alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 6 months in contact with French oak prior to bottling.

The wine has a vibrant, fresh fruit profile, and is varietally pure with a linear structure and nuanced complexity of well integrated light oak contact. Try with grilled red meats and aged cheddars.

Flight of the Condor Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $16.99, regularly $21.49.

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Black Forest Distillery is a family-owned and operated craft distillery located in the Black Forest region of Germany. Founded in 1685 by the Kloepfer family, it is one of the oldest distilleries in the world – been making brandy, liqueurs, and spirits for over 300 years, and is renowned for its unique techniques and recipes.

A good third of the ingredients for the much celebrated Monkey 47 Dry Gin. In total, 47 handpicked ingredients go into its making including unusually ‘cranberries’. As well, its bottled at a healthy 47% ABV. After distillation, it is rested in earthenware vessels to allow the spirit to gently oxidize and soften.

Unrivaled complexity and quality. Citrus zest, mint, elderberry, juniper, ginger, and white pepper notes. The palate offers sweet orange, allspice and cloves. The long and lingering finish include spice, dried fruits and herb flavors. It has received notable critical acclaim throughout its lifetime. Concentrated and impactful, this is a sipping gin much too good to be used as mix. New 375mL format for Alberta.

Schwarzwald Monkey 47 (Germany) – 375mL – $64.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Perrin & Fils Studio by Miraval Rosé (Provence, France) – $17.99 , regularly $21.99.

The Miraval line of Rosés is owned by superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie while the wine is made by the Perrin & Fils family, who owns the famous Chateau de Beaucastel, a legendary Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

The rosés represents a singular know-how and perfect mastery of the art of blending -reflecting the values upheld by Miraval since its very beginnings – refinement, elegance and excellence. Inspired by colour, matter and light.

In time for Mother’s Day, our feature this week is their Studio by Miraval rosé, a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren. An alluringly clear pale pink color greets your eyes while the nose offers red berries and cherry blossoms. Full on the palate with highlights of blood orange and redcurrant. Studio by Miraval is strongly influenced by the sea sprays and the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. These salty soils give the wine a unique character and an almost iodized finish. Enjoy with a Cobb salad or a charcuterie board.

Perrin & Fils Studio by Miraval Rosé (Provence, France) – $17.99 , regularly $21.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

There is some very interesting wines coming out of Italy made from grapes that a lot of us haven’t heard of or tasted before or acquainted with. Turbiana, Schiava, Norello Mascalese and Sagrantino, not exactly household names. Thought we’d highlight five wines from these grapes that are very unique, interesting and worthy of consideration. If you’re in an adventurous mode, look no further.

Pictured from left to right:

2021 Allegrini Lugana Oasi Mantellina (Veneto, Italy) – $33.99
2022 Elena Walch Schiava (Alto Adige, Italy) – $33.99
2019 Pietradolce Archineri Etna Rosso DOC (Sicily, Italy) – $55.99
2022 Sibiliana Roceno Nerello Mascalese Rosso (Sicily, Italy) – $22.99
2018 Antonelli San Marco Montefalco Sagrantino (Umbria, Italy) – $61.99

Enjoy everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Quinta de Cabriz Escolha Red (Dao, Portugal) – $16.99 , regularly $23.99.

Quinta de Cabriz is located between the two main rivers that cross the Dão wine region, the Mondego and the Dão. It is a secular “quinta” (farm) with a 17 th century manor house alongside a chapel. This is one of the most famous “quintas” of the Dão region with 38 hectares of vineyards with the winery equipped with the most modern wine technology.

Cabriz Escolha was thought out and designed from the vineyard to bottling to match the richness and diversity of Portuguese gastronomy. It is therefore the perfect partner for bold food pairings like grilled red meats and game.

Our feature this week is their garnet colored Escolha Tinto, a red blend of Aragonez and Touriga Nacional (two indigenous Portuguese grapes) – it is a fruity, with red fruits and violet aromatics, soft, balanced notes that carry onto the jammy palate which is supper and smooth. A wine suited to virtually every occasion!

Quinta de Cabriz Escolha Red (Dao, Portugal) – $16.99 , regularly $23.99

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Author: Dirk Chan