May 1st is May Day. Besides being International Workers Day, it’s also a celebration that dates back to about 500 B.C. and comes from the ancient Roman celebration of Floralia, a festival that celebrated Flora, the goddess of flowers and fertility. I’m not sure which one you’ll be celebrating, but we certainly have the correct goods to make this Sunday a success.
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday
10am to 6pm!
Calendar
May 6 - Art Walk we’ll be open till 8pm to share this evening with you. Stop in for DORA drinks and if you are hungry, we’ll put a pizza on for you.
May 7 - It’s Patio & Porchetta Saturday! A succulent pork belly wrapped around the loin and stuffed with sausage and Italian seasoning… we’re going to roast it and dress it with truffle mayo and arugula then serve it on a toasted naan. Or, if you’d like, we’ll do it as a porchetta pizza. This all-day love affair with the pig will be from noon to 6pm! Also on the cold drink front, we’ll be serving Bellini Spritzes! Cooperative weather or not, this will be the first Saturday for the 2022 Patio season…
May 21 - It’s Rose’ All Day (near the end of May) Reservations are required for this yearly celebration. We’ll be trying six different 2021Rose’s with a festive and fun menu for the event. If Rose’ is your go to for this Spring- or for that matter any season- this tasting is a must! Call soon, we’ll fill up fast!
Store News
By hook or by crook everything came in this week... new beers, new wines, new charcuterie and cheeses and some great new cuts of beef. It’s hard to guarantee anything these days. We are missing deliveries every week, but some how some way we received almost everything ordered, which includes quite a few new goods to share with you. Come on down and take a look at what we have to share with you. It changes every week and it’s always something good.
Wine News
O.K. so a woman walks in a wine store…Seriously, this is not a joke. Quietly she asks if we have any Mouton. I, unfortunately, explain that it’s been a few years and prices have been crazy. China has also been buying it all and it has declassified in sales. This, of course, being my attempt to explain why I haven’t shelled out the big bucks for a bottle since 2015. Guilt reigns heavy… so you got it, I pull the trigger. What I find out is that in 2021 the the 2018 vintage of Chateau Mouton Rothschild was named the #1 wine in the world! I almost want another now. So yes, it’s a pricey wine for the the cellar, but you know…this wine is never going to go bad and it’s only going to gain in value. This is THAT bottle that you’ll drink for that very special birthday, wedding or anniversary because you can lay it down and enjoy anytime over the next 50 years. That’s right, it’s that special and they’re not making any more. If you’re not interested in a $899.99 bottle that’s the #1 wine in the world, how about its little brother at $79.99. Rothschild’s second growth Gran Cru 2018 Chateau d’Armailhac seems like a bargain. These Bordeaux's are no more than superbly blended Cabernet heavy wines that are capable of long term cellaring or for consumption on any given night…
Dan’s Feature
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is my feature for this week. Sure it’s $66.00, but in my opinion it’s a bargain. Plus, nothing is too good for mom on Mother’s Day. Brunello is noted as the Queen of Italian wine so what could be more appropriate to share with any mother on this fine day. “This delicious, bold red offers inviting aromas of fragrant blue flowers, spiced plum, forest floor and pipe tobacco. Full and enveloping in feel, it delivers a great depth of juicy black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and baking spice flavors framed in velvety tannins”. I’ve visited this winery and besides it being a beautiful facility, I have always been a fan of there Ciacci Toscana which has been on our shelves for close to 10 years. Is the Brunello worth it…you bet, when we tasted this wine we were all in agreement that this bottle screams “Happy Mother’s Day” to that special Queen in your life.
Dan’s Pick
Gerard Bertrand’s 2016 Picpoul De Pinot is my pick for this week. This crisp, dry white wine is a great bottle to share while sitting in the sun. Picpoul or “lip smacker” as it’s commonly referred to in France has always been a great Spring/Summer wine. This wine, crafted 100% from the Picpoul grape variety, comes in a yellow color with shimmering flashes. The intense, complex nose reveals notes of white fruit, citrus fruit, honey and white flowers. Full-bodied and lively on the palate, it offers a remarkable crisp freshness. These grapes are picked cold and fermented cold to retain the raciness that this wine exhibits and at $12.99 it’s certainly a wine worth trying.
Food News
I’m bringing in beef like an old ranch hand… Be they Tenderloins, Ribeyes, Strips or Coulotte. Both strips and Ribeyes are coming in as CAB Prime and at $22.99 per pound for either of these cuts i’ll view them both as a bargain. Sure, we have great Pork and obviously Salmon but these steaks are beautiful, I don’t eat steak every night in fact it’s at best one day a week but when I do it’s a Prime cut from my favorite meat counter, (mine). Get down here and get a couple great steaks cut to your order.
Food Feature
OK, it’s a little over one week until Mother’s Day… so if you’re still undecided we have a meal already planned out for you. This year’s Mother’s Day meal package will include an entree of Butternut Squash Ravioli with a butter and sage sauce, Brittany blend vegetables and dessert, accompanied with a beautiful bottle of 2021 Rose’. We simply calculate the price at $19.99 per person times the # of persons. So if there’s 5 of you well it’s simple 5 x $19.99 =s $99.95. Please call to reserve your box now, just let us know how many you’ll be serving for this year’s celebration and we will take care of the rest.
Market Items
*Fresh Dry Aged Prime Ribeyes- $35.99 per steak
*Fresh Dry Aged Prime Strip Steaks- $39.99 per steak
*Fresh CAB Prime hand cut Strip Steaks - $22.99lb
*Fresh CAB Prime hand cut Ribeyes- $22.99lb
*Fresh CAB Choice Culotte- $13.99lb
*Fresh Wagyu Burgers 2pk- $8.99
*Fresh Double Cut Pork Chops- $12.99 per chop
Frozen CAB Steak Burgers 4pk - $11.99
Frozen 8 ounce Beef Tenderloin filets- $16.99
Frozen 8 ounce Pork Ribeyes- $8.99
Frozen Bacon Wrapped 5oz Pork Filets- $5.99 per filet
Rinaldi Italian Sausage 4 links per pound- $6.99
Fresh Oysters “Standish Shore” Mass. - $24 a dozen
*Fresh Loch Duart Scottish Salmon -$16.99lb
*Fresh Wild Caught Arctic Char -$17.99lb
Frozen Bakkafrost Salmon Burgers Chipotle Lime 2pk - $10.99
Frozen Bakkafrost Salmon Burgers Spinach and Feta 2pk - $10.99
Buddy’s Detroit Style 8 Pizzas Original Pepperoni or Cheese - $17.99
Au Gratin potatoes 4 pack- $9.99
Truffle Au Gratin potatoes 2 pack- $7.99
Frozen Chilean Sea Bass 6oz- $16.99
Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade avg.14oz- $29.99
Frozen Lobster Tails $12.99 each
Frozen U-16/20 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $19.99lb
Frozen U-10 Scallops – $29.99lb
Frozen Fontinini Fully Cooked Meatballs 6-2oz balls for $8.99
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Paparedelle from Italy - $9.99lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Strozzapreti from Italy - $9.99lb (serving for 2)
1932’s Arrabbiata Pasta Sauce- $7.99
1932’s Pomodorina with Fresh Basil Pasta Sauce- $7.99
1932’s Pomodorina with Barolo Pasta Sauce- $7.99
Cacio e Pepe Crema Sauce- $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Maurizio Spaghetti Chitarra Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Drakes Jumbo Ravioli with Veal 1lb- $12.99
Drakes Jumbo Butternut Squash Ravioli 1lb- $12.99
Drakes “Parla” Spinach Florentine Ravioli- 16 count- $11.99
Drakes Eggplant Parmesan- $13.99
Tribeca Bakery Sourdough, Rosemary & Asiago Cheese Bread- $5.50
New Wines
Rothschild 2018 Chateau d’Armailhac Grand Cru $79.99
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2018 Bordeaux, France $899.99
Gerard Bertrand 2021 Cote des Roses South West France $17.99
Gerard Bertrand 2016 Picpoul De Pinot South West France $12.99
New Beers
Old Nation Strawberry IPA 4 -16oz Cans $14.99
Troegs LaGrave Triple Golden Ale 4 Pack Bottles $14.99
Wiedemann’s Summertime Lime 6 Pack Cans $9.99
R. Shea Brewing Hop Getaway 4 16oz Cans $12.99
Prairie Blueberry Boyfriend 4 Pack Cans $11.99
Shorts Icky, Icky,Icky 6 Pack Cans $11.99
Shorts Margarita IPA 6 Pack Cans $13.99
Jackie O’s King Size Bunk Beds sgl bottles $15.99
Fat Heads Wet Hopped Head Hunter IPA 4 Pack 16oz Cans $13.99
3 Floyds Rites of Ramm IPA 6 Pack bottles $12.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel
Fat Heads Head Hunter IP $134.99
North Coast Scrimshaw $119.99
Jackie O’s Kind of Fuzzy $125.99
Final Thoughts
International Workers Day, Floralia, there’s always something to celebrate. I’ve learned at this age, Wednesday is a celebration. There’s no reason to wait for a calendar date to celebrate. It should be any day you choose and for any reason you wish. Just try to make every day that special day of celebration. Have a great weekend!
Cheers from all of us here at The Wine Merchant!