Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night!
- Dan Matheny
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Will keep us from being open for OYSTERS this weekend.
Nor should it keep you away...
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
January 24 (Saturday) - OYSTER DAY!!!
February 6 (Friday) - Winter Art Walk Wine Tasting, 5-7pm.
February 14 (Saturday) - Valentine's Day Dinner, 6-8pm. Reservations required. (FULL - accepting waitlist reservations.)
February 17 (Tuesday) - Our annual Fat Tuesday at the Wine Merchant! Dan's famous Dumbo and more on the docket.
News 🗞
Yeah I know that's kinda the mailman's oath, but it applies to us too because it's Oyster Day, this Saturday, January 24. Hopefully the weather holds up because we've invested a pretty penny already in the not 1000 but 1200 oysters that are now here. We have three kinds, two from Massachussets and one from PEI. We normally like to get oysters from three different locations, but the availability this week was pretty scarce... turns out it's the end of oyster season in Canada, so we did what we could. They will still be three fantastic oysters from crisp and cold northern waters. We'll of course be serving by the half shell as a single varietal or sampler platter of all three, and then we'll have a couple of special styles on the menu... you might see some caviar... you might see some crab.... and of course special wines! Oysters are one of the most fun pairings out there, and we've got some nice bottles in mind. Don't let some measly snow keep you away. Now thinking ahead a few weeks... if you are interested in a Valentine's Day Meal Kit, let us know. We've got some ideas in mind that we can run with for you, or we can custom build something to your preferences. Either way, we've got some fantastic items in stock for a wonderful dinner at home for you and your loved one.
Wine Feature ⭐️
This is an exciting one... Dolum Estates 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This 94-point bottle sells for $100 at the winery, and we have it HALF OFF at $49.99. The grapes in this bottle are taken from small sub-districts throughout Napa, including Stags Leap and 40+ year old vines in Oakville. The 2019 growing season was mild and foggy, leading to elegant acidity and soft tannins, with aging in French oak, allowing the expressiveness of the grapes to really shine. This Cabernet "has expressive aromas displaying roast plum, dark rose florals, chocolate, dark fruit, cinnamon and some sweet toasty oak. Intensity is first and foremost. It unfurls in the glass, revealing dark plum and black truffle scents infused with warm summer berries. Perfectly uniform acidity, wholly refined tannins, with silken texture." There is some of that iconic Napa wild mint in there too. As they say on their website, "Dolum Estates was born to create limited quantities of super premium Napa Valley red wines. Each unique and elegant - classics and unmistakably Napa." That sounds about right because it is already sold out with the distributor, so try it now because it's one and done for us.
Wine Pick 🥂
It's been a bit of a struggle getting in wines from South Africa over the past year or so, but we got our hands on a good one this week: Wildekrans 2022 Estate Pinotage. As you may or may not know, Pinotage is the primier grape of South Africa. It's a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault and celebrated its 100th birthday just last year. Pinot Noir, though elegant and refined, can be a difficult grape to grow and was not very successful in South Africa, and Cinsault is heartier, and thus Pinotage was born. Wildekrans is a sustainable and eco-friendly winery located in the Western Cape, with cool ocean breezes and low-yielding vines creating some truly fine wines. It was actually founded in the 1970s as a farm for wheat, olives, and of all things ostriches, but they soon realized it was ideal for grapes, and here we are. This Pinotage is invitingly rich with notes of mulberry, mocha, and light spice with a surprising complexity and fruity finish. It would be a great choice for red meat, anything smoked or barbecued, and of course charcuterie.
Oysters 🦪
As mentioned, three varieties this week for Oyster Day on Saturday. The first being Savage Blondes from Savage Harbour, PEI. This is the only of the three we've brought in before, or at least in recent memory. These medium-sized oysters are light in color but not in flavor, with a crisp brine and sweet, stony finish. Fireside Oysters come to us from near Dennis, MA, a brackish area where the fresh water of Quivett Creek meets salty Cape Cod. They are plump and firm with a balanced flavor of ocean brine with a creamy vegetal note. They're also seasonal and somewhat limited, so we're excited to try them. Moonrise Oysters are from farther east in East Dennis, MA, also Cape Cod. They are medium in size with plump meat, intense salinity, an umami note, and an apparently very unique sweet finish. We'll let you know if we agree later this week.
Market Items 🛒
Fresh Faroe Islands Salmon - $18.99/lb
Fresh Choice Bone-In Ribeye - $22.99/lb
Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
Sea Wings Sustainably Sourced Crab Claw Meat, 1lb - $24.99
Truffle Mousse Pâté, 5oz - $8.99 (1 remaining)
Frozen Hanger Steaks, 1/2lb - $14.9
Frozen Wagyu Ribeyes, 12-14oz - $35.99
Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99
Frozen Beef Tenderloin, 6oz 2pk - $21.99
Frozen Whole Beef Tenderloin, 3.5lb - $100
Frozen Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $15.99
Frozen Little Town Jerky Fully Cooked Rare Beef Tri-Tip - $15.99/lb
Frozen Pounded Veal Leg Cutlets, 1lb (4 per pack) - $18.99
Frozen Ground Veal, 2lb - $21.99
Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99
Frozen All-Natural Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, 14oz - $13.99
Frozen Cooked Marinated Pork Shank, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99
Frozen Skin-On Chicken Breast & Thigh, 2pk - $4.99/lb
Frozen Greco Italian Sausage, 4pk - $14.99
Frozen Portico Peeled & Deveined Jumbo Shrimp - $18.99/lb
Frozen Portico Bikini Shrimp, 2lb - $27.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $32.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails (5-6oz), 2pk - $25.99
Frozen King Crab - $91.99/lb
Frozen Sam Adams Beer-Battered Cod - $5.99/lb
Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Pepperoni) - $15.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes -$5.99 2pk / $9.99 4pk
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Butternut Squash Ravioli - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Pear & Cheese Fiocchi - $18.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Porcini Tortellone - $15.99/lb (serving for 2)
Frozen Bake House Artisan Multi-Grain Bread - $4.99
Frozen Baker's Source Roasted Garlic Bâtard Bread - $7.99
Frozen Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
Frozen Brittany Blend Mixed Vegetables, 2lb - $8.99
New Wine🍷
Dolum Estates 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $49.99
Gen 5 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi - $10.99
Opstal 2022 Carl Everson Chenin Blanc, South Africa - $31.99
Massanois NV Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso 3L, Italy - $34.99
New Beer & More 🍺
Tröegs Nugget Nectar, 6pk cans - $13.99
Bell's Hopslam, 4pk cans - $14.99
Twin Oast Meet Your Maker Oast House Reserve BBA Imperial Stout, 4pk cans - $19.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Maine Lunch IPA - $195.99
Allagash White - $127.99
Scrimshaw Pilsner - $148.99
Bell's Hopslam (1/4 barrel) - $236.99
Final Thoughts 💬
I don't know if you saw the threatened 200% tariff on French wine and Champagne this week, but it's certainly got us a little concerned. We don't have space to buy in bulk, so if you know of a wine cave for sale around here... I'll take it. Either that or I keep browsing properties in France. Please hang with us as we continue to try to navigate these challenges... we're doing our best to keep providing you with the very best.
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391