deVine Thoughts

Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $21.49 , regularly $26.99.

The Bodega Catena Zapata is certainly one of the standout and most respected wineries in Argentina. Famous for its production of world class Malbecs, it is Argentina’s oldest family winery, started by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena back in 1902. The winery itself is distinguished by its pyramid-like design based on Mayan architecture, located in the sub-appellation of Agrelo.

Our feature this week is their High Mountain Vines Malbec, a deep violet color red with purple reflections. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyards offers intense aromas, soft texture, and concentrated flavor. Deep aromas of ripe red and dark fruits are joined by delicate violet and lavender notes, with traces of vanilla and mocha. A rich, concentrated mouthfeel is highlighted by flavors of blueberries and blackberries with a touch of leather and cinnamon. The wine has well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and a flinty minerality that provides exceptional length to the finish. Pair with grilled red meats or pasta with red sauce.

Prost!

Catena High Mountain Vines Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) – $21.49 , regularly $26.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

The Rosé season is here and while a lot of products are still in transit, we have had some 2024’s arrive just in time for our tasting last week. The freshness of the 2024’s certainly shows through. As we get some hotter temperatures (hopefully), drinking pinks will be more and more the in-thing to do. Hope you have yourself and great summer!

Pictured from left to right:

2024 Domaine la Rigouline Rosé (Provence, France) – $26.49
2023 Emilio Moro Cepa Hito Rosado (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $29.99
2024 Mazzarosa Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Superiore DOC (Abruzzo, Italy) – $29.99
2023 Domaine Turenne Camille Rosé (Provence, France) – $26.99
2024 Lightfoot & Wolfville Rosé (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $35.99

Other interesting pinks not pictured:

2024 La Playa Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Rosé (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $18.49
NV Meffre Medditerranee Roquemartine Grapefruit & Blood Orange Rosé (Rhone Valley, France) – $18.99
2024 San Marzano Tramari Rosé di Primitivo (Puglia, Italy) – $23.99
2024 Agricola Gorgo Bardolino Chiaretto (Veneto, Italy) – $23.99
2024 Domaine Rimauresq Cotes de Provence Cru Classé Rosé (Provence, France) – $41.99

Prost everyone!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Domaine Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Blanc & Rouge (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99.

The story of Domaine Ferraton Pere & Fils was started in the Rhone Valley in 1946 by Jean Orens Ferraton. His son, Michel runs the show and has extended holdings into the Northern Rhone with Syrah based wines. With the help of the famous Michel Chapoutier, they were certified organic in 1998 and has since moved up to Demeter-certified biodynamic in 2015. With holdings in both North and Southern Rhone, they are committed to respecting nature and the land, being rigorous and precise in its work in order to create the best wines and very affordable ones too.

Our weekly specials this week is their La Tournée Blanc and Rouge. The white is a Vermentino-Viognier blend offering orchard and stone fruit melange while the red is a Syrah-Greanche blend offers raspberry and blackberry fruit with hints of violets and black pepper. La Tournée literally means ‘a tour”, these are wines to share, telling the story a tour from the cafes found along the early morning round of their delivery truck, joining friends for a glass and a laugh. The same convivial places we find today going back on the road for an epic round with this old time truck.

2023 Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Blanc (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99

2021 Ferraton Pere & Fils La Tournée Rouge (Rhone Valley, France) – $15.49, regularly $18.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

As we watch intently over the next week or so as the Oilers look to end a very long drought, how about something different from Korea and Japan to imbibe while we watch the action with bated breath.

Soju is is a clear and colorless distilled alcoholic beverage from Korea, traditionally made from rice, but later from other grains and has a flavor similar to vodka. It is usually consumed neat and very popular with fruit flavors infused. Its alcohol content varies from about 12.5% to 53% alcohol by volume (ABV). Since 2007 low alcohol soju (below 20%) has become the most common type.

Shochu is a Japanese distilled beverage. It is typically distilled from rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, or brown sugar, though it is sometimes produced from other ingredients such as chestnut, sesame seeds, potatoes, or even carrots. Far less fruity than most with a nutty or earthy taste profile. Typically shōchū contains 25% alcohol by volume.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Japanese fruit based beverages are pure and dangerously addictive as most taste like freshly picked fruit from the orchard.

Pictured from left to right:

Chum Churum Strawberry Soju (Korea) – 360mL – $11.99
Muhak Good Day Lychee Soju (Korea) – 350mL – $12.49
Choya Yuzu Soda (Japan) – 350mL – $5.99
Nakano Nashi Pear (Japan) – 300mL – $24.99
Tan Taka Tan Premium Shiso Shochu (Japan) – 720mL – $44.99

Other drinks worthy of your consideration:

Jinro Chamisul Fresh Soju (Korea) – 360mL – $12.49
Moon Spirits Green Apple Soju (Alberta, Canada) – 375mL – $12.49
Chum Churum Grape Soju (Korea) -360mL – $11.99
Nakano Nakano Obaachan’s Yuzu-Shu Citrus (Japan) – 300mL – $22.99
Dan-Dan Premium Kagoshima Sweet Potato Imo-Shochu (Japan) – 720mL – $44.99
Nakano Peach Momo (Japan) – 300mL – $23.49

Go Oilers!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Domaine de Cristia Collection Ventoux (Rhone Valley, France) – $19.99, regularly $24.99.

Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux wines excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties and our feature winery this week, Domaine de Cristia fits nicely into this descriptor.

Domaine de Cristia has come on like gangbusters over the last decade, since proprietors Baptiste Grangeon took over from his father in 1999. The style here seems to be a synthesis of old-line tradition with their emphasis on ancient Grenache vines and a healthy respect for modernist techniques and everything they make is outstanding (from Cotes-du-Rhone to Chateauneuf-du-Pape).

Our feature this week is their Collection Ventoux, a 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah classic blend made from 33 year old fruit aged seven months in concrete and steel vats – spicy and full of peppery berry fruit in a fine finessed silky package. Culinary suggestions include a nice slow cooked beef stew with aromatics, cheeses and game. A fine QPR that speaks of the terroir here!

Domaine de Cristia Collection Ventoux (Rhone Valley, France) – $19.99, regularly $24.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Cantine Levorato Merlot (Veneto, Italy) – $15.99, regularly $19.99.

Cantine Levorato dates back to 1928 when Umberto Levorato, and then Gino and Giovanni, Umberto’s brother and son respectively, sold their wines in barrels or demijohns in the city of Venice. Today the tradition continues and has developed further with Carlo, Giovanni’s son, supported in the business by his sister Silvia and brother Marco. Together they profoundly changed the production and organizational structure of the winery, leading the family business to successfully establish itself on the foreign market with products made from precise taste for those who appreciate genuine flavors, but also honest and refined details.

Our feature this week is their Merlot with its ruby red hue, robust and full-bodied with enticing aromas of black cherry, fresh plums, youthful tannins, and moderate aromatics. A wonderful match for rustic spaghetti, pizza, or braised reds meats. Culinary suggestions include pasta, pizza, red and white meats, cheeses and game.

Levorato Merlot (Veneto, Italy) – $15.99, regularly $19.99

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the Temple Brewer Mataro Shiraz Grenache (Langhorne Creek, Australia) – $19.99, regularly $24.99.

Temple Bruer was established as a small vineyard and nursery in the early 1970’s on a property situated on the main road between the towns of Strathalbyn and Milang, in the grape growing district of Langhorne Creek in South Australia. Temple Bruer is regarded as a leader in the organic wine scene, used as the “model” for organic farming for Australia. Owner David Bruer knows organic wine is healthier and their organic practices that are sustainable – sustainability and health are all entwined in their house philosophy. They own and manage four Organic Certified vineyards in Langhorne Creek, Eden Valley, Loxton and Moorook. In addition, they contract other organically certified vineyards to grow fruit in Currency Creek and McLaren Vale, all based in South Australia.

Our weekly special this week is their Mataro Shiraz Grenache – aromas of cranberries and plums, cherry, violets, cinnamon and black pepper. A balanced medium to full-bodied spicy palate, with lots of raspberry, bramble, plum and beetroot fruit. Weighty yet polished with lingering small and fine tannins. Pair with grilled red meats.

Prost!

Temple Brewer Mataro Shiraz Grenache (Langhorne Creek, Australia) – $19.99, regularly $24.99.

Rivera Cappellaccio Castel del Monte Aglianico Riserva (Puglia, Italy) – $18.99, regularly $26.99.

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Author: Dirk Chan

A Happy Mother’s Day to all mother’s out there and hope your day is full of love, joy and plenty of wine! Here are our suggestions for the festive day:

Sparkling for Brunch:

NV Pere Ventura Chic Barcelona Cava Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $19.99
NV De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Brut (Loire Valley, France) – $26.99
NV Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49
2022 Aphros Phaunus Pet Nat Sparkling Rosé (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $46.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut (Champagne, France) – $77.99
NV Henri Billiot et Fils Rosé (Champagne, France)- $81.99
2012 Champagne Gardet Charles Rose de Saignee Brut Premier Cru (Champagne, France) – $124.99
2015 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $389.99

Something Pink:

2023 San Marzano Tramari Rosé di Primitivo (Puglia, Italy) – $23.99
2023 Emilio Moro Cepa Hito Rosado (Ribera del Duero, Spain) – $29.99
2023 Lightfoot & Wolfville Rosé (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $35.99

A few whites and reds for that special meal:

2023 Domaine Labbé Abymes (Savoie, France) – $22.99
2023 Schloss Lieser Riesling Trocken (Mosel, Germany) – $31.99
2022 Vasse Felix Chardonnay (Margaret River, Australia) – $53.99
2019 Domaine Duchesse de Magenta Puligny Montrachet Les Houilleres (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $124.99
2022 Bleasdale Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon (Langhorne Creek, Australia) – $23.49
2021 Graceland Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $45.99
2021 Catena Alta Historic Rows Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) – $65.99
2020 Massolino Filli Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) – $82.99
2013 Tommasi Amarone Riserva Ca’Florian (Veneto, Italy) – $139.99
2011 Le Dome (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $249.99

Chocolate Pairings:

2023 Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) – $29.99
2021 Brigaldara Recioto della Valpolicella (Veneto, Italy) – 375mL – $39.99
2015 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $85.99
1982 Thunevin-Calvet Maury Vin Doux Naturel (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $86.99
Taylor Fladgate Golden Age Tawny Port 50 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $349.99

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Author: Dirk Chan

Our online feature this week is the AdegaMae Dory Tinto (Lisboa, Portugal) – $16.99, regularly $20.99.

Created in 2010, AdegaMae, owned by the Alves family, is located 40km northwest of Lisbon, steps away from the Atlantic Ocean influence that gives their wines a very special freshness and acidity; at the same time, they offer excellent minerality that comes from the predominantly clay-limestone soils. The red wines showcase the family’s long history in viticulture, fully embracing their continental terroir, in vineyards sheltered by the mountain chain, where the climate provides wider temperature variations, warmer summers and early maturation.

Our weekly special this week is their Dory Tinto, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Aragonez. Ruby coloured with fine aromatic intensity, delivering notes of violets, wild berries, cassis and pepper. Its fruitiness resurfaces on the juicy palate. A very elegant and fine wine with appealing slightly spicy tannins. Easy to enjoy everyday drinker to pair with grilled red meats.

Prost!

AdegaMae Dory Tinto (Lisboa, Portugal) – $16.99, regularly $20.99.

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