Something smells fishy around here
- Dan Matheny
- Jul 30
- 5 min read
Oh yeah, it's the Ahi Tuna we're serving
and the Perch we're selling this week!
(This joke might backfire; it doesn't actually smell fishy...)
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
July 27-31 (Mon-Fri) - It's 🦈 Shark Week 🦈 and we're doing Ahi Tuna Sashimi & Crudo all week!!!
August 1 (Saturday) - Car Tunes in Downtown Findlay, special will be a Porchetta Sandwich.
August 7 (Friday) - Summer Art Walk -- Wine Tasting 5-7 in the store and Food Special in the bar. Open late until 9pm.
August 8 (Saturday) - Second Saturday and our celebration of National Oyster Day!!!!
News 🗞
It's a big week, folks, because as you must already know (since we've been harping on about it...) it's SHARK WEEK! We've been serving Ahi Tuna all week long, and there's just tonight and tomorrow left. We've got Ahi Tuna Crudo and Sashimi -- Crudo being diced Ahi Tuna tossed in Ponzu with Chili Crisp, Green Onions, and Everything Seasoning and Tortilla Chips to dip, and Sashimi being simply a plateful of sliced Ahi Tuna topped with Everything Seasoning and Green Onion, then Wasabi and Ponzu on the side. Clean and full of protein, and the flavor is out of this world. We're finishing this up on Friday as supplies last, and then Saturday is Car Tunes here in Downtown Findlay. We'll have plenty of cold refreshments ready to go in a DORA for everybody who's participating, and when you need some air conditioning and a snack, stop in for a Porchetta Sandwich. This is one of our staples here at the Wine Merchant. Slow roasted Italian Porchetta, which is pork belly wrapped around a seasoned pork loin, then Arugula, Provolone Cheese, Tomato, and Truffle Mayo on a tasty bread roll. All day Saturday while supplies last.
Wine Feature ⭐️
Something a little different this week... Cederberg 2020 Merlot-Shiraz from South Africa. Cederberg is a small, family-owned winery in the mountains of the Western Cape where the winemaker is fifth-generation and his daughter is the sixth. It is located on the highest point in the Western Cape, very isolated and naturally virus-free for the grapes, so there is little to no chemical intervention and everything is sustainably farmed. With a high-altitude Mediterranean climate, which is almost an oxymoron if you think about it, the grapes do very well. This is a 60-40 blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Shiraz. Usually when you see Shiraz, you think Australia, but many years ago, winemakers took Shiraz cuttings from Australia and planted them in South Africa, and here we are. "Ripe berries and a touch of cinnamon fill the nose. This blend offers herbs and red fruit (cherries, cranberries, sweet plums), emerging slowly on the palate to create balance. Black pepper and clove complete the flavor profile. It has a good structure and a long, spicy finish." And the best part? It's only $17.99.
Wine Pick 🥂
The other week we got in a delightful new Pinot Grigio that I think many of you will be pleased with, the Cantine di Ora 2025 Pinot Grigio. This is a classic Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy but turned up a notch, I would say. The quality is very good for a $15.99 price tag, and the bottle is a knockout. It's another label that was designed by our friend Anthony here in town. From the Trentino-Alto Adige of Northern Italy, "Each bottle is a journey through the unique landscape of Alto Adige, a path marked by enveloping minerality, impeccable structures, and distinctive aromas, making our wines true ambassadors of the beauty and uniqueness of this region in the world." It is a special region where coastal Italy begins to flow into the mountains -- this is where the Dolomites begin, after all, and Pinot Grigio rules the land. "The bouquet is dominated by fruit with a pleasant hint of pear. On the palate, soft and dry, with great elegance and hints of golden apple. Good balance of body and acidity."
Food Feature 🐟
This we got in a shipment of the elusive Lake Erie Perch! This stuff is shockingly tough to get given that it's from down the street. Fresh Perch, $24.99/lb. I don't know if I really need to describe perch to you, but I'll try... It's a mildly sweet firm by flaky white fish from the Lakes. No fishy taste at all. It's of course most known for being fried, but you can cook it the way you would cook any other white fish that you like. It's mild and relatively thin, so it doesn't need much... some salt, pepper, and lemon is all that I would do.
Oysters 🦪
We got extra oysters this week because we sold out pretty quickly last week... so we're loaded up with Moonrise. These are from East Dennis, MA on Cape Cod. They have plump meat, strong brine, and a sweet mineral finish, measuring in at about 3 inches.
Market Items 🛒
Fresh Faroe Islands Salmon - $18.99/lb
Fresh Perch - $24.99/lb
Fresh Hand-Cut Prime Ribeyes - $22.99/lb
Fresh Bavette Steak - $21.99/lb
Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
Fresh Red Vodka Caviar, 4oz - $19.99
Sea Wings Canned Crab (Claw), 16oz - $25.99
Frozen Wagyu Baseball Sirloins, 8oz - $12.99
Frozen Hanger Steaks, 1/2lb - $14.99
Frozen Choice Hanger Steaks, 8oz-2pk - $29.99
Frozen Australian Lamb Racks, ~1.5-1.75 lb - $39.99
Frozen Bone-In Veal Loin Chop - $18.99/lb
Frozen Pounded Veal Leg Cutlets, 1lb (4 per pack) - $18.99
Frozen Ground Veal, 2lb - $21.99
Frozen Smithfield Smoked Spiral Ham, avg. 5-6lb, $10.99/lb
Frozen All-Natural Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, 14oz - $13.99
Frozen Cooked Marinated Pork Shank, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Bone-In Frenched Pork Chop, 16oz - $8.99
Frozen Duroc Bone-In Pork Chops, 2pk - $14.99/lb
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99
Frozen Greco Italian Sausage, 4pk - $14.99
Frozen Snake River Farms American Wagyu Gourmet Frankfurter, 5pk - $14.99
Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Saku Block, ~1lb - $17.99
Frozen Portico Peeled & Deveined Jumbo Shrimp - $18.99/lb
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $32.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails, 4-7oz - $34.99/lb
Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Veggie) - $15.99
Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes -$5.99 2pk / $9.99 4pk
Frozen Seasoned Potato Wedges, 1lb - $8.99
Fresh/Frozen Drake's Butternut Squash Ravioli - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Drake's Veal Ravioli - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Pear & Blue Cheese Fiocchi - $19.99/lb (serving for 2)
Frozen Baker's Source Roasted Garlic Bâtard Bread - $7.99
Frozen Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
Frozen French Macarons, 10ct - $10.99
New Wine🍷
Admire 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California - $25.99
Il Molino di Grace 2024 Spiralis Trebbiano, Italy - $19.99
New Beer & More 🍺
Great Lakes Brewing Bourbon Barrel Rye, 4pk cans - $17.99
Bitburger Gluten Reduced Lager, 6pk cans - $12.99
Tröegs Leaf Seeper IPA, 6pk cans - $11.99 (it's back!)
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, 4pk bottles - $14.99 (it's back!)
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Allagash White - $127.99
Stone Hazy Delicious IPA - $114.99
Half Acre Reef Knot Lager - $118.99
Tröegs Perpetual IPA - $114.99
Final Thoughts 💬
Chelsea and I took the day Monday and attended a wine show in Columbus for one of our distributors. We tried many wines (on your behalf of course) met many winemakers... including the famous Mary Taylor! Well she doesn't actually make the wine, but she finds talented winemakers and special properties and takes them under the umbrella of Mary Taylor wines. If you know us, you know we love her wines, so it was exciting to meet her. And for her to meet me, I'm sure. In fact she's probably writing about me in her own newsletter right now...
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
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