My next newsletter will more or less be saying… 1 day left until WHAT!!!
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday
10am to 6pm!
Christmas Eve till 6pm
Closed Christmas Day
New Years Eve till 6pm
Closed New Years Day
Wine News
Apparently, I’m still bringing in new wines…These will be the last new wines of 2021. There’s enough going on that we have to do other than taste new wines and consider bringing them in. We’re keeping the store stocked quite well but just want to let you know that if you’re looking for something that we may not have in stock, there are very few days remaining to have us order them in for you. For the past six weeks I’ve had a secret bottle that I haven’t shared with you…It’s my go to bottle for someone looking for a great bottle of wine under $50.00. Reynolds Family Wines “Persistence” Red Blend was always $65.99 the next vintage goes to $75.00 a bottle but…we have it here for $44.99 ! We want more than anything to have available those special bottles for your holiday gatherings, so please let us know very soon if we can get anything special for you!
Dan’s Feature
My feature this week is from Quilt Wines of Rutherford California and Joey Wagner, the son of Chuck Wagner, and the winemaker who brought us Meiomi and now the Boen and Belle Glos Pinots. His 2019 Quilt Red Blend for $34.99 is a great value blend that will please everyone in the room. Described by the winemaker as having the color of “deep plum with scarlet red highlights. Abundant aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, and cranberry followed by hints of vanilla malt, sweet hickory, and black pepper. Rich and complex with flavors of ripe dark fruits, chocolate cherry, caramel, and blackberry pie. This wine has a lingering fruit-forward finish with firm acidity and subtle tannins. Enjoy with a grilled steak, spicy Cioppino, or a hamburger sprinkled liberally with blue cheese”. Well, sure all of these would go great with this bottle and sure we’ve got the beef! However, let me just say this is a crowd pleasing red blend concocted by a guy that knows how to concoct quite well. Be it for a gift, your next gathering or the dinner table, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a winner!
Dan’s Pick
Every year I receive a Christmas card from this guy and I don’t always carry his wine! I mean it’s a hand-signed, personal card and I’m sure you’re thinking it’s printed to look that way but NO it’s really written by and sent by Jim Barry. Jim has been putting out great Shiraz from the Clare Valley since 1977 and has bottles that are extremely worthy and priced as such so when I found an opening in our Australian selections I was Happy to bring in his 2017 Lodge Hill Shiraz for $19.99. Described by the winemaker as “a Shiraz that boasts wonderful notes of caramel and blackberry while it is smooth and ripe on the palate. The tannins are refined and open textured. Finishes beautifully.” It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Shiraz and the bigger the better! Is Shiraz still produced like that? Sure, but this is not one of them. Lodge Hill Shiraz is a perfect example of an elegant Clare Valley Shiraz, crafted by those who have been in the game long enough to get it right. Would I have this with a piece of Prime Rib for Christmas? You bet! This great little Shiraz deserves your attention simply because it is what it is and that’s a good thing.
Food News
We’re building some very special dinner boxes for this year’s upcoming New Years Eve. Each dinner box is made for two and will include: Brie, Demi Baguette and French Strawberry Jam, (2) CAB Choice Ribeye Filets, (2) 4oz Lobster tails, (2) Au Gratin potatoes, Haricot Verts for two ,a box of Macarons and, of course, a bottle of Sparkling— all from France. This celebratory dinner for two will be $99.99 and needs to be ordered in advance. Sure, OK you have to cook it, but you can’t beat the price and do you really want to go out on amateur night for dinner and a great bottle of sparkling? Stay home, start a fire (only if you have a fireplace) and enjoy the new year together!
* On another note… I’m hoarding Beef Tenderloin and Prime Rib and I truly hope that’s what you want for Christmas Dinner. On top of that, we have great Shrimp, Scallops, large Snow Crab Clusters, par baked breads from Tribecca Bakery, Haricot Vert and Potatoes Au Gratin from France. Whatever else you need, we either have it or if you give us a call we can get it. Bacalao, Elk Ribeye, not a problem! If you need a special fish or fowl or barnyard creature, we’ll do our best to have it for you before Christmas, because that’s what we enjoy doing!
Food Feature of the Week
I’m featuring Panettone this week. What’s a Panettone? It’s a specialty item from the fashion capital of Italy. Milan is many things, a great Northern Italian town with unbelievable good taste, not only in fashion but in food as well. For over a quarter century Milan has been putting out Christmas cakes or as they refer to them Panettone. These are not an Italian example of an American Fruit Cake. They’re a soft, delicate, oh so slightly sweet cake filled with (in our case) Limoncello cream or Chestnut cream. They are great as a hostess gift, dessert for your table and/or as french toast the next morning. Definitely a once a year item that I not only like selling for $24.99 but also eating! These traditional cakes are enjoyed all over Italy during the holiday season and since I can’t be there well, I’m going to sip on some Limoncello and eat my cake too…
Market Items…
Fresh Dry Aged 12oz Prime Ribeyes - $35.99
Fresh Dry Aged 12oz Prime Strip Steaks - $37.99
Fresh Wagyu Burgers 2pk - $8.99
Fresh Wagyu Burgers 4pk- $17.99
Fresh Bone In Choice Prime Rib the price is still holding at $16.99lb!
Fresh Whole CAB Choice Tenderloins $21.99
Fresh 8oz Center Cut Beef Tenderloins $16.99
Fresh Heritage 12 oz long bone Berkshire Chops $14.99 a chop Frozen Certified Angus Burgers 4pk- $11.99
Nueske Applewood Smoked Bratwurst 5 links per pound - $9.99
Dearborn Smoked Brats 5 links per pound- $7.99
Oysters “The Stag” PEI - $24 a dozen
Fresh Loch Duart Scottish Salmon -$16.99lb
Frozen Bakkafrost Salmon Burgers with Spinach & Feta 2pk - $10.99
Buddy’s Detroit Style 8 Pizzas Original Pepperoni or Cheese - $17.99
Frozen Snow Crab Clusters 8oz and up $25.99lb
Frozen Lobster Tails $12.99 each
Frozen Large Langostines - $15.99lb
Frozen U-13/15 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $17.99lb
Frozen U-10 Scallops – $29.99lb
1932’s Arrabbiata Pasta Sauce- $6.99
1932’s Pomodorina with Fresh Basil Pasta Sauce- $6.99
Cacio e Pepe Crema Sauce- $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Trofie Artisan Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Drakes “Parla” Lobster Ravioli- 32 count - $18.99
Drakes “Parla” Spinach Florentine Ravioli- 16 count- $11.99
Drakes Eggplant Parmesan- $13.99
Tastee Choice Risotto Di Mare from Italy $12.99
Tribeca Bakery Sourdough, Rustic Olive, Rosemary and Asiago Cheese Bread $5.50
New Wines
Quilt Fabric of the Land 2019 Red Blend Napa Valley $34.99
Maison Joseph Drouhin 2020 Chardonnay Burgundy France $16.99
McBride Sisters 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough NZ $16.99
Wither Hills 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough NZ $14.99
Paolo Scavino 2017 Prapo Barolo $73.99
Twenty Rows 2017 Sonoma County Pinot Noir $22.99
Krupp Brothers 2018 “The Water Witch” Red Blend Napa $89.99
Reynolds Family 2018 Persistence $44.99 WAS $65.99!!!
Beers
Urban Artifact Pie Bird 4 pack cans $14.99
Ellicottville Blueberry Maple Pancake 6 pack Bottles $11.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel
Rebel Mettle Lager $109.99
Hi-Wire Lo Pitch Session IPA $119.99
New Holland Cabin Fever $105.99
Final Thoughts
Well it’s hard to believe where we’re at on the calendar… I know I’m getting older but the last few years have been such a unique period that I’m not always sure where we’re at on that calendar. Either way, we’re headed towards another holiday season that hopefully will feel a little more familiar, with maybe a few more family members in attendance. Either way, it’s that time of the year, so please be safe, be happy and enjoy this joyous time of year even if you’re like me and aren’t really sure what time of year it is…
Cheers from all of us here at The Wine Merchant!