Hopefully you’ve got the day off! And…
The first Ohio State Football game this Saturday, and we’ll have it on at 3:30!!!
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday
10am to 6pm
Calendar 🗓
September 4 (Monday) - Closed for Labor Day, so make sure you stop in this weekend to stock up!!
September 8 (Friday) - Friday night Anniversary Tasting, 5-7pm. That’s right, Friday night wine tasting! $25.00 for four wines, four different and delectable bites to enjoy with your wine, and a bar that’s open until 9pm serving some of your old favorites. It’s an anniversary, after all (not however a statement on what’s to come).
September 9 (Saturday) - Second Saturday! Poutine it is: crispy fries, cheese curds, and a great gravy to complete the dish. This is our Fall favorite, and while not technically Fall, we’re getting a jump on the season!
September 23 (Saturday) - It’s Oktoberfest Findlay! Dinner from 6-8pm. (SOLD OUT)
October 14 (Saturday) - For this Second Saturday, Croque Monsieur and French Fries!!! I will have just returned from France, so what else would you expect?
Store News 🏬
This weekend marks 16 years for the Wine Merchant as we now know it. It started just after the flood of 2007, and we’ve since survived both the fire next door in 2012 and the pandemic of 2020. To say the least, there’s been challenges, but what means the most to me is that we overcame each of those obstacles, and the reason we did is twofold: 1) Chelsea stuck with me through it all, and 2) all of you. The best manager one could ever have and the most loyal and dedicated customers that a business could ever hope to have. Yep, that’s the news this week, and as always… hope to see you soon.
Wine News🍷
When it rains, it pours… we’ve had difficulties over the past few years getting in certain wines, particularly higher end Champagnes. However, that’s not the case as of this week! Somehow, some way, we finally resolved that problem. Right now, we have every Champagne that we have been after for the past three years. It was an expensive solution, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Dan’s Feature ⭐️
Well, we sold all of the FEL Pinot Noir, and even though we canvassed the whole state fore more, there was none to be found. Except… this Savoy Vineyard bottle… So as of now, I’m doing my best to scoop up the remaining bottles of these beauties. Is it FEL? You bet, but this is FEL on steroids. “FEL's flagship Pinot Noir is a reflection of the Savoy Vineyard that they call home. Perched between the last stand of old-growth redwoods in Anderson Valley and a flank of hills shrouded in oaks and chapparal, Savoy is a study in terroir. Like the vineyard, the wine’s texture is polished with delicate edges. The nearby woods come through in the spiced plum and sumac nose, while the rugged California hills are alive in the concentrated boysenberry and date palate, with a lingering floral quality of rose petal.” While not cheap at $79.99, this 95pt bottle will deliver notes of “very ripe fruit and an impression of sweetness pervade this fully ripe, rich and delicious wine from a noted site. Soft tannins and a full body embrace red and black cherries, spearmint and redwood forest nuances for an indulgent and complex expression.” I’ve told anyone who would listen that FEL Pinot Noir was one of my favorites, and in the 11th hour when it was about to become a memory, those who turned out to grab one of the last bottles understood. I’m now telling that story again. I’m most likely going to buy it all, but this time it really will be gone, and when I say gone, I mean a memory…
Dan’s Pick 🥂
This week’s pick is a new Chardonnay that we brought in a few weeks ago. Calera 2021 Chardonnay is described by the winemaker as being “both lively and alluring, this impeccably balanced Chardonnay shows its cool-climate coastal roots with tantalizing aromas of zesty green apple, summer grass, and mango. On the palate, energetic acidity adds poise and polish to the vibrant citrus flavors of orange and lemon that linger throughout a long, bright finish.” This Central Coast 90pt wine is rightfully described, but on a simpler note, I found this bottle quite pleasing, and at $25.99, it’s still a great price. It does not exhibit an overbearing oak or butter character, so I guess I would say it’s balanced but moreso in the direction of making it a pleasant Chardonnay for sipping on the patio, porch, or deck, or for pairing quite well with a variety of dishes from the sea… scallops, white fish, shrimp --- any or all of these will allow this wine to show its true colors. My recommendation is choose the seafood, cook it in butter, and allow this wine to shine.
Food News 🐟
We’re trying to make sure we have everything in for the OSU game Saturday and all the items for the grill this holiday weekend. Hot Dogs and Prime Strip Steaks are what we’re making sure we have plenty of. Halibut, Salmon, Cod, and Sashimi Tuna are all here as well. If you’re looking for anything else, there’s a good chance we have it. Stop in and pick up whatever you need for a long, exciting, and fun-filled weekend.
Food Feature 🥩
It's Prime Strip Steaks and Ribeye Tenderloin. I’m not sure what or when I’m cooking this weekend, but it’s quite possible both of these may be on the menu. When it comes to the Prime Strips and Ribeye Tenderloins cuts, what more needs to be said? The price is $22.99/lb for either and whatever weight you’re looking for. The weather report for this long weekend looks great, so come on down and we’ll rustle you up some of these so you can make this weekend something special!
Oyster News 🦪
This week, we’re sticking with our old favorites: Bella Summer Love! These PEI Oysters are simply perfect... deep cups, plump flesh, and packed with just enough salinity. In bringing in other oysters, we are more than often disappointed by their ever-changing size and quality, whereas Summer Loves are consistent in size, shape, and flavor. I enjoy trying other Oysters, but I also like knowing those we’re bringing in are always delicious.
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Prime Demkota Strip Steaks - $22.99/lb
*Fresh CAB Ribeye Filets - $22.99/lb
*Fresh Wagyu Hanger Steaks, 2 Pack (1lb) - $29.99
*Fresh Wagyu Burgers 4pk - $17.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24 a dozen
*Fresh Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Alaskan Halibut - $23.99/lb
*Fresh Icelandic Cod - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Sashimi-Grade Ahi Tuna - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Duroc Double Bone-In Pork Chops - $12.99
Frozen Michigan Family Farms Amish Free Range Chicken Boneless Skin-On Thighs, 2.2lb - $14.99
Frozen CAB Steak Burgers 4pk - $14.99
Frozen CAB Dry-Aged Ribeyes - $18.99/lb
Frozen Center Cut 8oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $16.99
Frozen Choice Sirloin Cap Strip Steaks, 8oz - $9.99
Frozen Lamb Sirloin Roast - $22.99/lb
Frozen Lamb Racks, 2lbs - $49.99
Frozen Dearborn Knockwurst - $8.99
Frozen Italian Sausages, 4 per pound - $8.99
Frozen Nueske Cheddar and Bacon Sausages 5 per pound - $9.99
Frozen Black Pepper Bacon - $14.99
Frozen Chilean Sea Bass, 6oz - $16.99
Frozen Buddy’s Detroit Style Pizzas (Cheese or Pepperoni) - $17.99
Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade, avg. 16oz - $19.99
Frozen U-16/20 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $19.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails, 2pk - $35.99
Frozen Whole Petite Potatoes - $8.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Strozzapreti from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Lobster & Crab Tortelli from Italy - $16.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
1932’s Pasta Sauce (Arrabbiata, Pomodorina with Fresh Basil, Pomodorina with Barolo) - $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Spaghetti Chitarra Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Trofie Dried Pasta from Italy - $7.99
Tribeca Bakery Bread (Asiago or Rosemary) - $5.50
New Wine🍷
FEL 2020 Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir, Napa Valley - $79.99
Louis Roederer 2015 Cristal Champagne, France - $450.99
New Beer 🍺
Jackie O's Double Mystic Mama, 4pk cans - $12.99
3 Floyds Munsterfest, 6pk bottles - $12.99
Brewdog Double Elvis Grapefruit DIPA, 6pk cans - $11.99
Great Lakes Nosferatu Imperial Red IPA, 4pk cans - $12.99
Stone Lemon Shark 27th Anniversary DIPA, 6pk cans - $16.99
Ellicottville Ohio Fan Zone IPA, 4pk cans - $11.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Outberbelt Glasstown Lager - $109.99
La Chouffe - $175.99
White Rajah IPA - $109.99
Coronado Weekend Vibes IPA - $121.99
Final Thoughts 💬
In 1976, I decided to move to Findlay, telling myself I would be here for 5 years… 47 years later and I’m still here. After finishing 30 years of teaching, I knew what would come next, and after enjoying retirement for all of one year, I found myself here at the Wine Merchant this very weekend 16 years ago. Our job that weekend was simple: inventory the entire store, bring up all the items in our new POS system, and be ready to open on the Tuesday after Labor Day. We drank a lot that weekend and truly enjoyed the task. On that fateful Tuesday 16 years ago, we closed the day with a total of $87... Yep, I had found my new career!
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
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