Once again, you asked, we listened new wines on our list this week…you just have to be careful what you ask for!
Sure we like normal, but we like switching things up now and again as well!!
Calendar of Events
September 2nd – Monday Labor Day CLOSED
September 6th – Friday 12th Anniversary Tasting 5pm-7pm
September 10th – Tuesday Quarterly Wine Tasting 36 spots at $36.00 ***Reservation Required
September 28th – Saturday Best Wurst Saturday!!
October 4th – Charity Tasting – Clothe-A-Child
October 12th – Saturday Hogtoberfest!
November 1st – Charity Tasting – Findlay Elite Gymnastics
November 5th – Tuesday Fall Alternative Wine Dinner ***Reservation Required
November 21st – Beaujolais Nouveau
December 3rd – Champagne Tasting ***Reservation Required
New Wines
Famille Lancon 2018 La Solitude Cotes du Rhone Blanc $14.99
La Fleur Renaissance Sauternes 2016 Bordeaux France $16.99
Chateau Haut-Beausejour Saint Estephe 2015 Bordeaux France $40.99
Misty Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Marlborough New Zealand $13.99
Alegre Rioja Tinto 2016 Spain $24.99
New Beers
Flying Dog The Fear 6pk Bottle $16.99
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin 4pk Can $11.99
New Holland Ichabod 6pk Can $10.99
Bell’s Oktoberfest 6pk Bottle $10.99
Abita Pecan 6pk Bottle $9.99
Rhinegeist Franz 6pk Can $9.99
Hofbrau Oktoberfest 6pk Bottle $9.99
3 Floyds Munsterfest 6pk Bottle $13.99
Fat Head’s Spooky Tooth 4pk Bottle $10.99
Prairie Pirate Noir 12oz Bottle $11.99
Prairie Pirate Bomb 12oz Bottle $11.99
BACK IN STOCK Old Nation M43 4pk 16oz Can $14.99
Beer Tasting
Abita Springs, Louisiana and Windsor, Vermont, I feel certain are both wonderful communities but having never been to either, it’s full speculation. I do know one thing about each community…They brew darn good beers…From Abita we’ll try Subtle Tea Golden Ale and then their fall favorite Pecan Ale. From Clown Shoes we’ll try their Baked Goods Hoppy Pale and then Sunhat, a Hazy Farmhouse IPA. Taste what both of these regions produce and see why you can just tell that both communities have to be a very pleasant place to hang out and have a few great beers…
Feature Item
This week’s feature is Elizabeth Spencer’s “Proprietary Selected” Special Cuvee Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. I’ve always been a fan of Pinot Noir and this particular bottle rings all the bells and for $39.99 it’s a fair price. This Pinot comes from a vineyard just north of San Pablo Bay in the Petaluma Gap. Production is by partial whole-cluster fermentation with an extended cold soak to preserve fresh fruit flavors. This wine is a brilliant garnet with cherries, chai tea, berries and exotic spice notes on the nose. Rich red fruit in the body with plum and pomegranate, smooth tannins and French oak notes. “ So how can you say no to this…this weather is still Pinot weather, grill time, cookouts, lighter fare reds is what this wine is all about. Stop in and get a few before they’re all gone!
Dan's Pick
My pick this week is Alegre 2016 Rioja Tinto from Spain and with a Robert Parker score of 92 pts and a price point of $24.99, it’s well worth trying. “Alegre Rioja Tinto is a blend of roughly 75% Tempranillo from the Obarenes zone, and 25% Garnacha from Cárdenas. The grapes are fermented primarily in wooden vats using at least 25% whole bunches, and given a 30+ day maceration. The wines are then aged in a mix of used French barriques and demi-muid. Once again, the blend of vivid fruit and intense mouthfeel is uncommon in wines from this era.” OK, so we know how it was made, what’s it taste like? Aromas of sweet, vanilla-laced berry lead to a palate that has a brambly array of berry flavors with soft, fluffy tannins. You’re right these aren’t my words, but I’ll defer to James Suckling anytime. Just a good solid example of a classic old world wine that I’m sure will please those who are big on Spanish Red.
Friday & Saturday Sandwich Special
Smoked Bologna, that’s right SMOKED BOLOGNA! I mean why not, you take 6 lbs. of Dearborn Bologna pop it in our smoker for lets say 3 hours and serve it up with a little cheese and a spicy mayo on a nice toasted bun…how can that not be a good thing. I’ve always wanted to give this “wich” a try and this week we’re doing it. So stop in this Friday and Saturday and give this delightful new creation a try, you’ll be asking for seconds!
Final Thought
I know I don’t have to worry about this anymore but next Wednesday is the first day of school… and, since I personally had 47 it always brings back memories. I still experience a lot of firsts and do my best to embrace them but at this time of the year I more often than not go back to a first 12 years ago, the first day of this business. Labor Day weekend was the beginning of this store and while I’m the only one still standing from the original staff I’m lucky to have a core group here to assist and who most likely can remember their first day. Many of you have been here through it all and soon we’ll be celebrating our 12th Anniversary and we hope you mark your calendars now to come down and celebrate it with us…
Cheers from all of us at the Wine Merchant!