deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Great Bordeaux in the Magnum (1.5L) format are very hard to come by, you practically have to buy them as Futures. We are featuring five magnums that we have held back and now offering them for sale. All hail from great vintages such as 2005 (which is approaching maturity), as well as 2009 and 2010, two other great vintages. Impress your guests with a big bottle Bordeaux!! Very limited availability.

Pictured left to right:

2005 Château Lagrange (Bordeaux – St. Julien, France) – 1.5L – $309.99

2005 Château Smith Haut Lafitte (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – 1.5L – $599.99

2009 Château Cantemerle (Bordeaux – Haut-Medoc, France) – 1.5L – $174.99

2009 Château Haut Bailly (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – 1.5L – $699.99

2010 Château Haut-Bergey (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – 1.5L – $164.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

There are some wine made from more obscure grapes (obscure in the sense they are not a household name), so we thought we’d taste some of the little known grape varietals from around the world in this stand-up event entitled Obscure Varietals. Obscure for our region, a lot of these are actually quite common in their points of origin. We’ll sample some wines made from Baga, Refosco, Negrette, Blaufrankisch grapes and more. Maybe you’ll discover a new favourite.

Register for the event here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Have you ever had an alcoholic drink that tastes just like fresh juice? Well, you must try these Japanese based Nakano Fruit Sakes. The various fruit flavors are so intense that defies description, yet the 7% alcohol sneaks up on you. Pictured left to right are pear, mandarin orange, peach and a citrus blend. They’re tart and not overly sweet, but oh the fruit is like eating off the tree freshly picked. Enjoy these chilled, but watch it, or you’ll be inebriated when you down the whole bottle or two..

Nakano Nashi Pear (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99

Nakano Mikan No Osake Mandarin Orange (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99

Nakano Peach Momo (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99

Nakano Nakano Obaachan’s Yuzu-Shu Citrus (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Nothing like enjoying port on a cold winter night. The pride of Portugal, join us on Saturday, January 27 at 7pm, as we sample two flights of port – one Ruby, one Tawny. We will explore many types of port wines, from Late Bottled Vintage, Single Quinta Vintage Ports and Vintage Ports – we will include a recently released 2015 Single Quinta Vintage port in this sit-down event. The Tawnies will include a 20 and 30 Year Old and the single vintage Colheita as well.

Always popular as an after dinner drink, port is just wonderful to sip on in front of the fireplace. Gift this to a port lover, or a port beginner wanting to learn and experience something special. .

Register for the event here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Robert Burns (also known as Rabbie Burns) was a famous Scottish poet and lyricist who is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. There’s a national Scottish holiday named after him. Many a scotch tasting will happen around the world.

This year, we’re doing a Rabbie Burns Goes Travelling whisky tasting, sampling whiskies from around the world. The whisky world landscape has changed over the years, gone are the days when we only think of Scotch as the only game in town. As witnessed by recent ‘Whiskies of the Year’ declarations, winners are now coming from everywhere in the world. Join us for this stand-up event, where we’ll taste whiskies from Japan, India, Taiwan, Ireland, USA, Canada and of course Scotland. Perhaps you can convince Kaitlyn to recite some poetry at the end of the night..

Register for the event here..

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Author: Dirk Chan

Every wine producing region seems to produce a Chardonnay these days it seems. Some are good and some can be pretty insipid. I look for the requisite pineapple, tropical fruits, guava, mangoes and some lemon notes. But more than that, I look for balance and terroir (go to France for this). Alas, some prefer creamy butter (then look to the US). There is a reason why Chards are popular, they’re easy to enjoy and easy to pronounce off a menu.

With so many styles, it is best to tell us what your preferred style is and we’ll be happy to pick one out for you in whatever price point you need. Pair with grilled chicken, hearty fish or a vegetarian lasagna.

In the meantime, here are a few good ones: (first, pictured left to right):

2016 d’Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $20.99

2014 Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay (Paarl, South Africa) – $36.99

2016 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $58.99

2013 Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $119.99

Other suggestions:

2015 Elderton Unwooded Chardonnay (South Australia) – $18.99

2011 Mission Hill Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $24.99

2015 Château de Fuisse Saint-Veran (Burgundy – Maconnais, France) – $31.99

2015 Planeta Chardonnay (Sicily, Italy) – $47.99

2010 Domaine Lucien Jacob Savigny-Vergelesses Premiere Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $49.99

2014 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Cote Bouguerots (Chablis, France) – $139.99

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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 2018 with all the best for happiness, good health and prosperity.

May good fortune and luck follow you wherever you go and in all that you do for the coming year, 2018.

We thank you for your continued patronage!

Ed, Annabelle, Chad, Dirk, Kaitlyn, Cody, Bob, Kandice, Percy, Jean and Mark

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

 

Pictured (left to right)

2008 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage (Champagne, France) – $94.99

NV Champagne J-M Seleque Solessence Brut (Champagne, France) – $49.99

2005 Bollinger La Grande Année Brut (Champagne, France) – $189.99

 

Sparkling

2013 Domaine Rosier Cuvee du Rosier (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $19.99

NV Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava (Penedès, Spain) – $19.99

NV La Tordera Saome Prosecco DOC Brut (Veneto, Italy) – $21.99

NV Rolet Cremant du Jura Brut Rose (Jura, France) – $28.99

2012 Anthonij Rupert Wines L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs (Franschoek, South Africa) – $38.99

NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Rose Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – 1.5L – $47.99

2014 Quinta do Soalheiro Espumante Bruto Alvarinho (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $48.99

 

Champagne

2010 Champagne Pol Cochet Millesime Blanc de Blancs (Champagne, France) – $59.99

NV Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs (Champagne, France) – $66.99

NV Nicolas Maillart Brut Rosé Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $71.99

NV Ruinart R de Ruinart Brut (Champagne, France) – $84.99

NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut (Champagne, France) – 1.5L – $159.99

NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru VP Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $159.99

2002 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut (Champagne, France) – $239.99

2000 Devaux Millesime Brut Reserve (Champagne, France) – 1.5L – $249.99

2002 Krug Brut (Champagne, France) – $409.99

NV Krug Rosé (Champagne, France) – $464.99

 

Something Sweet & Sparkling

2016 Yalumba Christobel’s Moscato (Eden Valley, Australia) – $16.99

2016 G. D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $25.99

 

Here are our store hours leading up to the New Years:

December 25, 26 – CLOSED
Wednesday, Dec 27 – 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Dec 28 – 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday, Dec 29 – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, Dec 30 – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, Dec 31 – 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Sunday, Jan 1 – Closed

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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 this year add a little meditation course for Amaro or Port.

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.

2013 Domaine Rosier Cuvee du Rosier (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $19.99

NV Luis Pato Bruto Vinho Espumante Rosado (Bairrada, Portugal) – $19.99

2012 Anthonij Rupert Wines L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs (Franschoek, South Africa) – $38.99

Champagne

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

NV Champagne Pierre Paillard Brut Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $58.99

NV Comte Audoin de Dampierre Cuvée des Ambassadeurs (Champagne, France) – $72.99

NV Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru VP Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $159.99

NV Moet & Chandon MCIII (Champagne, France) – $629.99

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!

2017 Hess Family Amalaya Salto Torrontes Riesling (Calchaqui, Argentina) – $16.99

2015 Erbes Urzinger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) – $23.99

2016 Tentenublo Rioja Blanco (Rioja, Spain) – $35.99

2010 Domaine Lucien Jacob Savigny-Vergelesses Premiere Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $49.99

2010 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Trocken (Nahe, Germany) – $89.99

2015 Domaine Roux Pere & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Les Macherelles Premier Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $124.99

2016 Domaine de Cristia Collection Rosé (Provence, France) – $21.99

2016 Agricola Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo (Abruzzi, Italy) – $28.99

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.

2014 Cave Saint-Verny Puy de Dome Pinot Noir (Loire Valley, France) – $19.99

2015 Jean-Marc Burgaud Beaujolais Villages Les Vignes de Thulon (Beaujolais, France) – $23.99

2014 Dominique Piron Chiroubles (Beaujolais, France) – $25.99

2014 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Côte du Py (Beaujolais, France) – $28.99

2012 Domaine Pavelot Savigny les Beaune (Burgundy, France) – $39.99

2015 Trisaetum Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) – $44.99

2009 Quinta do Portal Grande Reserva (Douro, Portugal) – $49.99

1989 Château de Chaintres Saumur-Champigny (Loire Valley, France) – $71.99

2013 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $74.99

2011 Stephane Vedeau Cote-Rotie J. Boutin Bonnevaux (Rhone Valley, France) – $85.99

2010 Poderi di Luigi Einaudi Barolo Cannubi (Piedmont, Italy) – $114.99

22009 Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $179.99

1995 Château Clinet (Bordeaux – Pomerol, France) – $319.99

Dessert

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

2009 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) – 250mL – $24.99

2014 Donnafugata Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria (Sicily, Italy) – 375mL -$47.99

2009 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Jebsal Vendange Tardive Pinot Gris – 375mL (Alsace, France) – $59.99

2004 Chateau d’Yquem – 375mL (Sauterne, France) – $319.99

Port & Amaro (Post Dinner)

Port is always good for the final touches of a meal, but the digestif Amaro from Italy is on fire.

Lucano 1894 Basilicata Amaro (Sicily, Italy) – $39.99

Berta Amaro (Sicily, Italy) – $66.99

1995 Barros Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $24.99

2011 Porto Quevedo Late Bottled Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $33.99

2012 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $84.99

1965 Messias Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $214.99

1987 Niepoort Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $169.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $227.48 or our December Club 6-Pack – $177.90 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.

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

Top of the Season to everyone!

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