deVine Thoughts

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Cline Cellars is a family owned and operated winery located in the Carneros wine appellation of Sonoma County, California that specializes in Zinfandels and French Rhône-style wines. Owner Fred Cline was one of the first vintners to plant French Rhone varietals in California, and is one of the original Rhone Rangers.

Cline Cellars is best known for production of their “ancient vines” wines out of Contra Costa County and their 2017 Ancient Vines Zinfandel – $21.49 (regularly $26.99) is our Weekly Online Feature of the Week . Head winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos, who joined the operation in 2000, made this Zinfandel primarily from a wide selection of the oldest (more than 100 years old), most historic and shyest-bearing Zinfandel blocks in the Contra Costa County. These ancient, dry-farmed vineyards consistently produces fruit of stunning concentration. This red is also Vegan friendly.

Winemaker Notes: “Our 2017 Ancient Vines Zinfandel shows spicy, bright strawberry, coffee and chocolate characters. Ripe fruit and soft tannins make this a mouth-coating rich vintage. Aging on new and used oak has lent this wine a subtle vanilla quality that nicely complements the explosive fruit notes. Enjoy now or cellar for 5 to 7 years. Accompany this Zin with slow cooked BBQ pork, chicken mole or spinach mushroom casserole.”

2017 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel (California – Contra Costa, United States) – $21.49 (regularly $26.99)

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Wow, it seemed like yesterday we were having two events at the store to celebrate deVine’s 15th Anniversary (cake included). Well its been a year already, and what a year! Unfortunately, we cannot gather together to taste at the store for our 16th Anniversary (on Feb 28th), so instead we offer a special deal on a special wine this week befitting the occasion – the 2017 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port – 375mL half bottle – $69.99 (regularly $86.99).

Vintage port declarations happen usually 3 times in a decade, but unprecedently, Taylor Fladgate declared 2016, 2017 and arriving later this year, the 2018, three in succession. This writer will go out on the limb (and not much of a limb) to say the 2017 offered here is the greatest Taylor since the perfect 100 point Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 1994 version of this port.

Taylor is one of the legendary Portuguese port houses famous for only making Port and what outstanding ports they deliver year in year out. The house style is a full-bodied, masculine, long lived yet finessed style.

You can enjoy this superstar port now with a 10 hour decant and experience the vibrancy and stellar fruit concentration of a truly great young vintage port – the half bottle size is perfect for a small gathering (which we should be doing with current restrictions), you can seal it and enjoy this over a 3-4 day period to see its potential evolution in bottle down the road. Or, alternatively, just stash it away for a few decades for a more mature and complex presentation of itself, a great way to celebration an important occasion down the road.

Every port lover should have some of the 2017 Taylor’s in their cellar, it is already a legend and will reward those with some with a great after dinner sipping experience. Don’t miss it! Quantities are limited.

deVine’s thanks everyone of you for your continued patronage.

2017 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $69.99 (regularly $86.99)

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

This week’s feature is the 2019 Flor de Vetus Verdejo – $17.99 (regularly $22.49). It is a white wine from the Rueda located in Villabuena del Puente (Zamora) about an hours drive SW of Valladolid. Flor de Vetus is made of 100% Verdejo. Verdejo (“Vurr-day-ho”) is an uncommon, light-bodied white wine that grows almost exclusively in Spain. The wine is an outstanding alternative to wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, with surprising changes in flavors coming with age – turns almondy with some bitter flavors of grass and fennel. While that is interesting, this writer prefers Verdejo young, where the stunning flavors of lime, Meyer lemon, grapefruit, grass, fennel, and citrus blossom makes for a lovely summertime drink, there is a nice chalky touch on the finish with an exotic seductiveness in the background. It’s often likened to Sauvignon Blanc but really, it deserves its own category.

The grapes come from old vines located in the westernmost part of Rueda in Segovia, at an altitude of about 900 metres. The vineyards are planted on hillsides with fine sun exposure that affords the wine fruitiness with fine acidity to pair with Sushi, spiced fish stews, white meats or grilled seafood.

Vetus comes from the Latin word veto – vetare, which means ‘forbidden, not allowed’. Harvesting takes place three weeks later than in the rest of the DO. Total production of 35,800 bottles.

2019 Bodegas Vetus Flor de Vetus Verdejo (Rueda, Spain) – $17.99 (regularly $22.49)

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Villa Maria Winery was started by George Fistonich when he was merely 21 years old – he leased five acres of land from his father in Mangere, Auckland and started off with just an acre of vines, making his first wine in 1962 with grapes harvested from this one block. Throughout the 1960s Villa Maria was a one-man band, with George’s wife, Gail, supporting him in his venture.

Today, Villa Maria is New Zealand’s most awarded winery, a global conglomerate, employing over 250 staff and exporting to over 60 countries world wide.

This week’s feature is the 2020 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc – $15.99 (regularly $19.99). Sauvignon Blanc has found a natural home in New Zealand’s dry, sunny Marlborough region and Villa Maria is no exception. Sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region, this intense Sauvignon Blanc is alive with a myriad of flavours dominated by gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus and herbaceous aromas.

Showcasing everything fresh and vibrant about Marlborough – firstly, the classic Awatere Valley aromas jump out of the glass, such as lemongrass, jalapeno peppers and some freshly picked herbs. The cool climate in the Awatere Valley is influenced by Mt. Tapuae-o-uenuku and the cool alpine winds and fresh sea breezes protect the natural acidity in this wine. Then, the Wairau Valley has warmer summer months, with dry nor-westerly winds influencing vineyards to produce a pungent Sauvignon Blanc with ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavours, which shows up on the palate.

A perfect aperitif/starter wine, serve chilled on warm summer days. Try with a fish course.

2020 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $15.99 (regularly $19.99)

Return to devinewines.ca