deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

I’ve always been fascinated with big bottles of wine at any event – it immediately adds that feeling of something special is going to happen – 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.

So, for Christmas, whether it be at the dinner table, or as a special gift to a loved one, consider a magnum. At deVine’s, we buy magnums all year long just for this time of the year. Below 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 of each for sale), so shop early for the best selection.

Listed below are all in magnum (1.5L) format unless specified. First, the pictured ones (left to right):

2002 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $649.99

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

2010 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $224.99

2001 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $169.99

2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $169.99

Now the rest of the recommendations:

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

NV Gremillet Brut Selection (Champagne, France) – $134.99

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

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

2014 Quinta de Cabriz Colheita Selecionada (Dao, Portugal) – $45.99

2011 Bodegas Lan Crianza (Rioja, Spain) – $45.99

2012 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $59.99

2011 Frescobaldi Nipozzano (Tuscany, Italy) – 3.0L – $129.99

2011 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $144.99

2015 Domaine Pavelot Savigny les Beaune Premier Cru La Dominode (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $159.99

2010 Château Haut-Bergey (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $159.99

2007 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $179.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Castiglione (Piedmont, Italy) – $199.99

2009 Château Cantemerle (Bordeaux – Haut-Medoc, France) – 3.0L – $324.99

2011 Comm. G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero (Piedmont, Italy) – 3.0L – $359.99

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

2004 Penfolds Grange (South Australia, Australia) – $1,599.99

Have yourself a Merry Magnum Christmas!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, for those of you who haven’t started your shopping, here are some wine related suggestions for gifting:

First off the famous Riedel house, renown for their stemware and decanters – no better way to enjoy your wine! (left to right):

Riedel Marne Decanter – $214.99

Riedel ‘O’ Decanter- $249.99

Other Riedel products:

Riedel Apple Decanter – $49.99

Riedel Veritas Champagne Glass – $41.99

Riedel Veritas New World Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rose Champagne Glass – $41.99

Riedel White Microfibre Polishing Cloth – $12.49

Other Miscellaneous Gift Ideas:

Valentino’s Redwood Inlay Hip Flask – $49.99

Coravin Model 2 Wine Preservation System – $449.99

Franmara Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker – (Red & Stainless available) – $26.99

Private Preserve Wine Preserver – $16.49

Random House Winter Cocktails – $24.95

Franmara Gel Bead Bottle Cooler – $14.99

Nuance Wine Finer – $36.99

Rimmey Custom Made Mountable Wine Rack – $69.99

Franmara Drop Stop Foil Pourers – $5.99

Finally, if you are pressed for time, we have three pre-made (convenient in and out quick) packages – December Mixed Case – $227.48, December Club 6-Pack – $177.90, and our Twelve Beers of Christmas Festive Case – $99.99

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

Top of the Season to everyone!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

The popular American wine publication reviews over 15,000 wines every year, and in mid November, they issue their Top 100 Wines of the Year amids much 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. This year’s list is less American centric than other years, and we are fortunate to get the right wines with the right vintage for your consideration. Note many of these are limited so get yours early to avoid disappointment.

Also, remember to register for our Top Wines of the Year tasting that will feature four wines from this Wine Spectator list as well as four of deVine’s staff favourites for 2017.

Check out the available Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines..

Register for the Top Wines of the Year Tasting.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

I’ve always been fascinated with big bottles of wine at any event – it immediately adds that feeling of something special is going to happen – 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.

So, for Christmas, whether it be at the dinner table, or as a special gift to a loved one, consider a magnum. At deVine’s, we buy magnums all year long just for this time of the year. Below 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 of each for sale), so shop early for the best selection.

Listed below are all in magnum (1.5L) format unless specified. First, the pictured ones (left to right):

2002 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $649.99

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

2010 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $224.99

2001 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $169.99

2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $169.99

Now the rest of the recommendations:

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

NV Gremillet Brut Selection (Champagne, France) – $134.99

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

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

2014 Quinta de Cabriz Colheita Selecionada (Dao, Portugal) – $45.99

2011 Bodegas Lan Crianza (Rioja, Spain) – $45.99

2012 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico (Tuscany – Chianti, Italy) – $59.99

2011 Frescobaldi Nipozzano (Tuscany, Italy) – 3.0L – $129.99

2011 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $144.99

2015 Domaine Pavelot Savigny les Beaune Premier Cru La Dominode (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $159.99

2010 Château Haut-Bergey (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $159.99

2007 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $179.99

2010 Vietti Barolo Castiglione (Piedmont, Italy) – $199.99

2009 Château Cantemerle (Bordeaux – Haut-Medoc, France) – 3.0L – $324.99

2011 Comm. G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero (Piedmont, Italy) – 3.0L – $359.99

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

2004 Penfolds Grange (South Australia, Australia) – $1,599.99

Have yourself a Merry Magnum Christmas!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 14th!

Every year, deVine Wines will host our annual Customer Appreciation Day – Thursday, December 14th to say a special “Thank You!” for your ongoing support and patronage.

deVine Wines will be offering our customers a 10% discount ** on all in-stock regular priced wines and spirits plus additional select items up to 30% off. The sale will run all day, starting at 10:00 AM until we close at 8:00 PM. There will be a wine station and one beer station set up for free sampling from 3-6pm. It’s a great opportunity to do all of your Christmas shopping in one day.

A plug also for other 104th Street businesses also having Customer Appreciation specials – they include Cavern, Evoolution, Eye Care Group, habitat etc and Unit B Coworking. Read about all the specials in this Word document here..

**The sale excludes beers and ciders as well as wines stored in our vintage keeper or vintage room. Cannot be combined with other sale items and no rain checks.

See you on Thursday, December 14th.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

The popular American wine publication reviews over 15,000 wines every year, and in mid November, they issue their Top 100 Wines of the Year amids much 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. This year’s list is less American centric than other years, and we are fortunate to get the right wines with the right vintage for your consideration. Note many of these are limited so get yours early to avoid disappointment.

Also, remember to register for our Top Wines of the Year tasting that will feature four wines from this Wine Spectator list as well as four of deVine’s staff favourites for 2017.

Check out the available Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines..

Register for the Top Wines of the Year Tasting.

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Christmas is fast approaching, and back by popular demand is our seasonal Twelve Beers of Christmas Festive Case – $99.99. With the tremendous increase in Craft and Specialty beers, we’ve chosen some special brews for you this year. There are some beers that we’ve held back only for this sampler that are not available at retail so grab yours while supply lasts. Only 36 cases available and already selling fast!

You can read more detailed information on the specific beers that comprise this case and purchase the Twelve Beers of Christmas Festive Case online here..

Salute!

Return to devinewines.ca

Author: Dirk Chan

Two more new beer Christmas Advent calendars have arrived at deVines this week. Always among the most trending and popular gift ideas for the fast approaching holiday season, these are wonderful gifts for those who like to be surprised.

For the agnostic or uninitiated, an advent calendar is a specially constructed calendar used to count or celebrate the days in December leading up to Christmas from the 1st to the 24th. The ‘advent’ part comes from Christian tradition, whose 24 day advent season generally starts between November 27 and December 3rd. Each physical advent calendar presents a rectangular “window” front with 24 doors in non-consecutive order to be opened, one each day until Christmas.

The origin of the Advent Calendar can be traced back to the 19th Century where Protestants made a chalk line for every day in December unil Christmas Eve and that has continued to this day.

We will have a few available in the store of all of the below but we are not stockpiling them. Secure yours sooner than later to avoid disappointment.

Also, a reminder the popular deVine’s 12 Beers of Christmas will be available very shortly.

Pictured left to right:

Phillips Snowcase Beer Advent Calendar (BC, Canada) – $99.99