Patio season is upon us!
- Dan Matheny
- May 15
- 5 min read
Updated: May 16
It would rain for an entire week right when we put it out though... thanks, Ohio.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
May 15 (Thursday - TODAY) - Bar closing at 4:30 for a private event. Store remains open.
May 24 (Saturday) - 12-2p, Rosé in May. A 2024 rosé tasting with 6 wines and food pairings. Reservations required, and a few spots remaining!
June 14 (Saturday) - Second Saturday - Huhn in June, our annual chicken dinner event. No reservations required.
June 15 (Sunday - CLOSED) - Father's Day... don't forget!
News 🗞
Just a couple of weeks now until our annual Rosé in May tasting event. If you aren't familiar, this is when we gather a sampling of the best and most interesting current vintage rosés we can find, and we pour six of them for you, alongside a variety of curated dishes to complement the wines. We've got about 1000 rosés to pick from, and we're almost done with the menu, so we're excited. It will take place on May 24 this year, which we did not realize was Memorial Day weekend when we started... but alas, here we are. If you are around and at all interested, give us a call. We have some spots still avaiable. It may be a small group this year, but that will make it all the better. Now in other news, Halibut Cheeks are back again this week. I know, I know, I said they're very rare and now we have them for the third time, but they're just too good, and I'm going to continue rolling with this good fortune while we have it. If you'd like some cheeks, stop down or give us a call ASAP because they never last long.
Wine Feature ⭐️
We're going with a white this week, the Frog's Leap 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley. If you know me, you know I'm a big fan of Frog's Leap. They treat the land right, they treat their people right, and they used to make wine in a bathtub. They produced their first Sauvignon Blanc 42 years ago and said at that time, "The 1981 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc is what we feel a Sauvignon Blanc should be. It is a dry wine of substantial scale the carries itself well, as it retains a delicacy to complement food, not overwhelm." They do the same thing today, with 100% certified organic Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, dry farmed and methodically pruned to keep alcohol low, acidity high, and the flavors crisp and complex. The 2023 vintage is "four-dimensional: subtle floral-tropical aromas lift the wine upwards, generous stone and citrus fruit flavors broaden its appeal, and savory minerality adds depth. All the while, the great balance and umami of the wine — the result of dry-farmed vines and 6 months aging sur lie — gives the wine tension, sustain and a long finish." Truly a Sauvignon Blanc that could come from nowhere else.
Wine Pick 🥂
I've got a new bargain bottle for you to try out: Viña de Gaitanejos 2023 Brisa Cabernet Sauvignon. We tried this out with a distributor, and I bought three cases of it, if that tells you anything. This is 100% Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon from Ribera del Río Guadiana, what we're told is the "California of Spain." Now I'm not sure there is such a thing, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with this wine, so I'll just take their word for it. "This earthy and medium-bodied red doesn't really taste like California Cabernet Sauvignon nor does it strongly resemble the most familiar Spanish red styles like Rioja... Medium-intensity blue fruits are wedded to truffle and black pepper complexities which carry over to the resolved and relaxed finish. This is no muscular brute but rather a super sip-able red that can take a light chill and righteously rule the party." It's a little drier, a little earthier, a little more reserved and expressive of its terroir, but if you like Cabs, give it a try. If you like Spain, give it a try. You can't find much better at $9.99 a bottle.
Oyster(s) of the Week 🦪
An oldie and a newbie this week, Glacier Bays and Goldilocks. Glacier Bays are from Bedec Bay in New Brunswick, small to medium in size (2-2.5"), "moderately salty with a clean finish, featuring subtle fruity pear-like overtones." Goldilocks, also known as Rochambeau Oysters, are a little larger (2.5-3") from the York River in Virginia, where the clean waters of the river meet the salty waters of the Chesapeake Bay, giving the oysters a sweet and salty balanced flavor.
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Halibut Cheeks - $23.99/lb
*Fresh CAB Bone-In Ribeyes - $18.99/lb
*Fresh North Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $13.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
*Fresh Medusa White Anchovies - $12.99
*Fresh Block & Barrel Applewood Smoked Ham - $8.99/lb Sea Wings Canned Lump Crab, 1lb - $26.99
Frozen Wagyu Baseball Steaks, 6oz - $10.99
Frozen 6oz Filet Mignon, 2pk - $18.99
Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99
Frozen Whole Beef Tenderloin, Single or Double - $18.99/lb
Frozen Chuck Prime Burgers, 5pk - $14.99
Frozen Dearborn Spiral Honey Glazed Ham - $5.99/lb
Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99
Frozen Skin-Off Pork Belly - $3.99/lb
Frozen Berkshire Pork Tenderloins, ~1lb - $12.99
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99
Frozen Cooked Heritage Pork Osso Bucco, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Weisswurst Veal Sausage - $8.99/lb
Frozen Greco Italian Sausage, 4pk - $9.99
Frozen Kobe Hot Dogs, 5pk - $13.99
Frozen Rack of Lamb - $23.99/lb
Frozen Saku Block Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna, 8-10oz - $14.99
Frozen U-13/15 Raw Jumbo Shrimp Deveined (2lb package) - $39.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lbxxxxxxxxxxxzxxxxxxxxxxz
Frozen Lobster Tails (4oz), 2pk - $25.99
Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, or Roasted Vegetable) - $14.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes, 2pk - $5.99
Fresh/Frozen Cheese Ravioli, 1lb - $9.99
Fresh/Frozen Spinach & Cheese Ravioli, 1lb - $10.99
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Butternut Squash or Veal) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
Frozen Tribeca Oven Bread (Rosemary) - $5.99
Frozen Bake House Artisan Multi-Grain Bread - $4.99
Frozen Brioche Hot Dog Buns - $3.99
Frozen Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
Frozen French Macarons, 12pk - $9.99
New Wine🍷
McNab Ridge 2023 French Colombard, California - $14.99
Force & Grace 2022 Chardonnay, Carneros - $22.99
Baca 2022 Double Dutch Zinfandel, Paso Robles - $23.99
Mac & Billy 2022 M Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles - $25.99
von Winning 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Germany - $19.99
Pasaeli 2024 Rosé, Turkey -$14.99
Famille Bourgeois 2020 Petit Clos Pinot Noir, New Zealand - $31.99
Just Peachy Bubbly, France - $10.99 (back in stock!)
Gorman Winery 2021 Old Scratch Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain - $42.99 (back in stock!)
New Beer & More 🍺
Innis & Gunn Origial Scottish Golden Ale, 4pk cans - $12.99
Coronado Aloha Warrior American IPA, 6pk cans - $14.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Destihl Easy Haze Hazy IPA - $128.99
Half Acre Daisy Cutter IPA - $131.99
Branch & Bone Dignity and Toil Lager - $121.99
Juniper Du Hast Helles Lager - $119.99
Ithaca Apricot Wheat - $109.99
Saugatuck Blueberry Lemon Shandy - $134.99
Final Thoughts 💬
The curse of the patio continues on another year... last year, I put the patio out and it snowed. This year, a week of rain. Who knows what next year will bring? Regardless, the tables are out, the temperature is pretty darn good (if a little steamy), and as always, the drinks are flowing. I would say this weekend is looking pretty good, but I don't want to jinx it, so instead I will just say...
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
Comments