deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Tenuta del Portale Starsa (Basilicata, Italy) – $18.49, regularly $23.49.

Established in 1990 thanks to the passion of the D’Angelo family , Tenuta del Portale is located in Basilicata, in the heart of the Aglianico del Vulture wine production area in mountainous southern Italy.

Our weekly feature is their Starsa, made from 100% Aglianico. This wine tells a story – you discover a red that is guarded and strongly characterized by its extinct volcano; Monte Vulture (1326 meters, extinguished thousands of years ago), which with its slopes gently caressing and nourishing the 15 hectares of the company’s vineyards. Surrounded by seven hills and its two volcanic lakes, this place is rather magical when you see it.

Resplendent in its earthy notes (graphite and leather) that briefly sees Slovenian oak, this offers a bright ruby color, vibrant fruits (cranberries, pomegranate) and a briny, unami finish. Try with wild game pasta, pecorino or Taleggio. A marvelous wine to start the weekly special for the year!

Tenuta del Portale Starsa (Basilicata, Italy) – $18.49 , regularly $23.49

Read my travel blog to Portale from Sept 2018..

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Author: Dirk Chan

From all of us at deVine’s to you and yours, we wish you a very Happy New Year in 2024 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity. May good health and fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in all that you do for the coming year. We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Brad. Dirk, Chad, Kandice, Llyr, Bob and Mark

Here are some New Years Wine recommendations for your consideration. Have a fun New Years, and remember to drink responsibly.

First, pictured (left to right)
NV Pere Ventura Cuvee Barrique Gran Reserva (Penedès, Spain) – $25.99
2022 Aphros Phaunus Pet Nat Sparkling Rose (Portugal) – $46.99
NV Domaine Deliance Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noir Ruban Mauve (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $41.99
NV Champagne Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger (Champagne, France) – $112.99
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (Champagne, France) – $399.99

Sparkling
NV Cantine Riunite Maschio Prosecco Extra Dry (Veneto, Italy) – $19.99
NV Mezzacorona Mezza (Alto Adige, Italy) – $20.49
2022 Paltrinieri Lambrusco Solco dell Emilia (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $24.99
NV Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49

Champagne
NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut (Champagne, France) – 375mL $45.99
NV Champagne Baron-Fuente Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $58.99
NV Champagne Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $65.99
NV Champagne Gardet Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $78.99
NV Champagne Agrapart 7 Crus Brut (Champagne, France) – $114.99
2015 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $124.99
NV Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $149.99
NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $181.99
2004 Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Brut Liesse d’Harbonville (Champagne, France) – $289.99
1996 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $619.99

Something Sweet & Sparkling
2022 G. D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $26.99

Here are our store hours leading up to New Years:

Wednesday, Dec 27, Thursday, Dec 28 – 12-6pm
Friday, Dec 29, Saturday, Dec 30 – 11-7pm
Sunday, Dec 31 – 12-6pm
Monday, Jan 1 – Closed

Happy New Year everybody!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, 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 lovely port to end off the evening. With the year we’ve all been through, perhaps it is time to go big this year!!

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 (Alto Adige, Italy) – $20.49

NV Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49

2019 Mongarda Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (Veneto, Italy) – $29.99

NV Domaine Deliance Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $37.99

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

NV Champagne Baron-Fuente Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $58.99

NV Champagne Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $65.99

NV Henri Billiot et Fils Rosé (Champagne, France) – $81.99

2015 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $119.99

NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Granite (Champagne, France) – $219.99

2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (Champagne, France) – $399.99

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

2021 Villa des Anges Chardonnay (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $19.99

2022 Cave de Saumur Chenin Blanc Les Pouches (Loire Valley, France) – $21.99

2022 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica (Marches, Italy) – $23.99


2021 Allegrini Lugana Oasi Mantellina (Veneto, Italy) – $33.99

2021 Hubert Brochard Sancerre (Loire Valley, France) – $39.99

2020 Contino Blanco (Rioja, Spain) – $49.99

2019 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambee (Rhone Valley, France) – $76.99

2021 Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $99.99

2021 Francois Mikulski Meursault (Meursault, France) – $156.99

2022 Lantides Little Ark Rosé (Peloponnese, Greece) – $29.99

2021 Feudo Montoni Rose di Adele Nerello Mascalese (Sicily, Italy) – $39.99

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.

2021 Manos Negras Pinot Noir (Mendoza, Argentina) – $20.99

2022 Casa Girelli Cembra Pinot Nero (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) – $25.99

2019 13th Street Gamay (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $26.99

2018 Cune Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $29.99

2020 Franck Balthazar Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France) – $30.99

2020 Maison Albert Brenot Bourgogne Rouge (Burgundy, France) – $37.99

2019 Rust en Vrede Estate Vineyards Syrah (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $49.99

2021 Veronica Ortega Villa de Congosto Kinki (Bierzo, Spain) – $61.99

2019 Quinta do Portal Grande Reserva (Douro, Portugal) – $76.99

2016 Cotarella Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $104.99

2021 Stephane Vedeau Cote-Rotie J. Boutin Bonnevaux (Rhone Valley, France) – $119.99

2018 Gambal-Work Bentrock Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (California – Central Coast, United States) – $157.99

2019 Quinta dos Muros M7 (Douro, Portugal) – $199.99

2017 Poggio Al Tesoro Dedicato A. Walter Bolgheri (Tuscany, Italy) – $249.99

2009 Les Asteries (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $299.99

2010 Château Haut Bailly (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $369.99

Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.

2018 Château Pajzos Harslevelu Late Harvest Tokaj (Tokaj, Hungary) – 500mL – $24.49

2019 Château Coutet (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

2011 Château Climens Premier Cru (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $114.99

Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal whether its a ruby or a tawny. Try with blue-veined cheeses and roasted nuts.

1996 Barros Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $39.99

Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $69.99


2015 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $84.99

1994 Dow’s Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $249.99

Taylor Fladgate Golden Age Tawny Port 50 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $349.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $238.95 or our December 6-Pack – $157.50 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.

Note our hours of operations leading up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years.

Everyone, enjoy the holiday season. Best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Laventura Wines La Nave Tinto (Rioja, Spain) – $20.99 , regularly $25.99.

Laventura (literally “The Adventure”) is the brain child of Bryan MacRobert, a young South African who, after falling in love with Campo Viejo’s winemaker Clara Canals, settled down in Rioja to produce his own wines in the area. His motto is the Spanish proverb “Quien no se aventura no ha ventura” (“nothing ventured, nothing gained”). He launched his own Rioja wine with the 2013 vintage with grapes bought from different winegrowers. The wines were made in rented facilities in Rioja Baja but a small winery is under construction now in Logroño. His work for Eben Sadie, a leading wine producer in Swartland in South Africa has brought his name into the forefront.

Our feature this week is his La Nave Tinto, a smooth red wine with aromas of cherry, strawberry and blackberry fruit and spicy notes from a small vineyard. On the palate it is light, fresh and balanced. An easy-drinking wine with smooth tannins, marked acidity and a long and persistent finish. 40% Garnacha Tinta (Black Grenache), 30% Mazuela, 30% Tempranillo. Pair with grilled red meats or a hearty stew.

Laventura Wines La Nave Tinto (Rioja, Spain) – $20.99 , regularly $25.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Happy Holidays Everyone from deVines!!

I’ve always been fascinated with big bottles at any event, it immediately adds that feeling of something special going on – partly because the size infers lots of people, fun and joviality amongst friends and relatives.

Also, wines from magnums and even bigger formats usually show youth and vitality because the airspace to wine ratio is lower, and supposedly the wine ages slower.

Next time you want to celebrate, consider a magnum party. At deVine’s, we buy magnums all year long just for this time of the year. As Christmas is fast approaching, here is a very large list of available big formats at deVines for your consideration (availability is very limited, most we only have one or two bottles for sale), so shop early for the best selection as this is the part of the year when these bottlings start disappearing fast.

Pictured left to right:

NV Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut (Champagne, France) – $209.99

2018 Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $59.99

2014 Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux (Bordeaux – Moulis, France) – $104.99

2004 Penfolds Grange (South Australia, Australia) – $2,249.99

Other available magnums (except where indicated) for your consideration:

2022 Domaine Montrose Rosé (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $46.99

NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $49.99

Yoshi no Gawa Brewmaster’s Choice Honjozo (Japan) – 1.8L – $64.99

Tatsuriki Tokubetsu Honjozo (Japan) – 1.8L – $74.99

2017 Max Ferdinand Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhur Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $129.99

2017 Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) – $154.99

2015 Rocche Costamagna Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata (Piedmont, Italy) – $214.99

2018 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bricco Ambrogio (Piedmont, Italy) – $274.99

2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $149.99

Have yourself a magnum of a day!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the McPrice Myers High on the Hog Red (California – Paso Robles, United States) – $27.99, regularly $34.99.

McPrice ‘Mac’ Myers has been crafting high-expression wines of balance, value, and place in Paso Robles since 2002. He has been a lifelong “food and wine geek,” with his passion for unique sites in the Central Coast resulting in stellar wines that more than live up to the hype.

Our feature this week is his High on the Hog Red, it is a blend of 25% Grenache, 25% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Mourvedre. It is a wine you can drink for any occasion. Around the holiday dinner table in the Myers house, grandmother would always look proudly around at her family all gathered around the dishes piled high with food, and say, “we are really living high on the hog, aren’t we?” This blend is in memory of Grandma and her joy at seeing the family doing well.

Delicate lily and cotton candy aromatics, fresh black Tartarian cherries, briar-fruit cobbler, satsuma plum preserves, chocolate covered blueberries, dandelion root tea, muddled spearmint, the palate is soft, sateen, yet energetic, lively, and full of mouthwatering juiciness.

McPrice Myers High on the Hog Red (California – Paso Robles, United States) – $27.99 , regularly $34.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our ever popular Cases of the Month, both 12 and 6packs are even better for Christmas. First, they are 10% off regular price this month, and we can even gift wrapped them for free!! Want more? – delivery is free within city limits!

The December cases are chosen with both Christmas dinner and New Years in mind, such as bubbles and wines appropriate for Turkey dinner.

This would look good under the Xmas tree definitely!

December Case of the Month – $238.95

December 6 Pack of the Month – $157.50

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the 2018 Cune Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $25.49, regularly $29.99.

The history of Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España began back in 1879 (making them one of the oldest wineries in Spain) at this winery in the famous Barrio de la Estación train station in the town of Haro. Over more than 140 years, it has continued to grow around the Aldea del Vino (Wine Village), a sunny courtyard flanked by unique stone buildings with ceramic tile roofs, which has become the central hub of CVNE.

The first wine produced by CVNE took the name of the company’s initials. However, a simple and fortunate spelling error, confusing the V with a U, led to the creation of the now iconic Cune brand, now one of the leading wineries on the national market. The winery expanded its facilities in 2019, coinciding with its 140th anniversary and marking its continued commitment to producing the finest quality white, rosé and its various levels of red wines ranging from Crianzas to Gran Reserva’s.

Our weekly special this week is their 2018 Reserva, a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, Graciano & Mazuelo. Bright ruby red in color with very fine aromatic intensity of freshly picked berries along with notes of licorice typical of the Tempranillo variety. All this well-combined with the sweet cherry and raspberry notes of the spices that come from the aging in 225 litre barrels for 18 months. This is extremely well priced for a Reserva. The wine pairs perfectly with meat, fish, stews, and cheeses.

2018 Cune Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $25.49 (regularly $29.99)

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Author: Dirk Chan

Mark your calendar – deVine Days this year is set for Friday, Dec 1st through Sunday, Dec 3rd . Our annual “Thank You!” for your ongoing support and patronage this year will coincide with the Edmonton Downtown Business Association’s Winterval festivities.

As usual, deVine Wines will be offering our customers a 10% discount* on all in-store items (yes, including wine, beer, spirits and vintage keeper and vintage room products). No rain-checks and does not apply to products already discounted (cases of the month, bin-ends, tastings and weekly online offer).

Wait there’s more, the first 50 customers on Friday and Saturday will receive a $10 DBA gift card with a total purchase of $75 or more. You will be able to use the gift card for your subsequent visit and purchases.

For your shopping convenience, you can also shop online during that weekend as our entire inventory is available via our website that is available to you 24 hours a day. Enjoy shopping in the comforts of your own home. Note you won’t see the 10% discount when you order online in the system generated confirmation but rather it will be applied by us in the backend and you will see it on our second email confirmation when your order has been processed.

You can also visit us in the store during our extended store hours (till 8pm) on both Friday and Saturday and regular hours on Sunday.

In addition to the sale, do take advantage of our free delivery within Edmonton city limits option with a minimum $75 purchase – we deliver monday through fridays in the afternoons.

This is our biggest sale of the year to give everybody some much needed cheer! Shop early for best selection. Don’t miss out, its a great opportunity to do all your Xmas and New Year needs.

At this time of year, please remember those in need. Please bring a package for the Edmonton Food Bank or drop some money into the cash box by our till if you’re coming into to the store. For those taking advantage of our free delivery within Edmonton city limits, you can hand over a care package to our driver. Thank you in advance.

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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

Check out the available 2023 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines..

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