T minus 14 days 'til Christmas

Dan Matheny
1 day ago
5 min read

That means 11 shopping days... does that scare you?

Hours of Operation

Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm

Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm

Calendar 🗓

December 11 (Thursday) - Bar closed at 4:30pm for a private event.

December 13 (Saturday) - Second Saturday Soup Special: Chicken Enchilada Soup

December 24 (Wednesday) - Closing early at 6pm for Christmas Eve.

December 25 (Thursday) - Closed for Christmas.

December 31 (Wednesday) - Closing early at 6pm for NYE.

News 🗞

I mentioned this last week, but it's definately worth repeating: Call us ASAP for your holiday specialty food orders. I have pretty much ordered all that I'm going to order and at the price point that I'm willing to pay. Beef prices keep shooting up and... well, my freezers runneth over. We have Wagyu Prime Rib, Choice Prime Rib (Boneless or Bone-In), American Kobe Strip Loin, Whole Choice Beef Tenderloins, and yes, Lobster Tails and of course King Crab.. These are all fantastic items to put on your holiday table, so get your menus together and give us a call... we always have a little sumpin special down here for you. Now, this weekend is Second Saturday, and here at the Wine Merchant it's also another, Soup Saturday with a classic Chicken Enchilada Soup. Tender chicken in a creamy tomato broth with green chiles, onions, roasted sweet corn, and red peppers, finished with cheddar cheese and of course Southwestern spices. What toppings will we put on there? Your guess is as good as mine at this point. Maybe some cheese, maybe some sour cream, or jalapeños, or green onions, or cilantro... you'll have to stop in and see for yourself.

Wine Feature ⭐️

Chipping away at these Top 100 wines... this week, #7 of the year, Produttori del Barbaresco 2021 Barbaresco from Piedmont, Italy. To me, Barbaresco is one of those Italian wines that kind of goes under the radar, overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, Barolo. Don't underestimate Barbaresco, though, as they also produce some of the best Nebbiolo in the world. In the 19th century, wine producers in Barbaresco actually made a bid to join Barolo but were rejected, and thus the winemaker cooperative now known as Produttori del Barbaresco was born, focusing exclusively on the Nebbiolo grape. This is "a vibrant, well-defined red, offering rose, cherry, strawberry, white pepper and mineral flavors. Sleek and elegant, this firms up on the linear finish. Balanced and approachable now yet would benefit from a bit more time to knit together. Excellent length. Best from 2027 through 2040." Now you know Barolos are the king of Italian wine and can bring that kind of price tag, but "Barbaresco defies the odds and remains incredibly well priced but also very much Barolo's equal in terms of quality, complexity, age ability, and simple winemaking precision." Take home #7 for $57.99, an excellent gift for the wine-lover or Italophile in your life.

Wine Pick 🥂

Qupé 2022 Syrah from California's Central Coast is the pick this week, $22.99 a bottle. In researching this bottle, I l earned that Qupé Vineyards was recently acquired by an old friend of ours, Andrew Murray. (And by friend, I mean we like his wine.) According to Murray, "The 2022 vintage was a classic and nearly perfect vintage for the Central Coast Syrah... Qupé has been crafting cool-climate Syrah from the Central Coast for over 40 years. We know where the best fruit comes from and we leverage our long-term relationships to have our vineyard partners farm specific sites to our very strict requirements – low yield, clean, unblemished fruit, all certified sustainable. We want this wine to speak of its cool-climate origins, while showcasing the diversity of the Central Coast." With 90+ points, this bottle will give you blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and a bit of vanilla and coffee, finishing off with that classic Syrah peppery spice. It's been a minute since we had a domestic Syrah at this price point (and the last one was probably by Andrew Murray...), so don't miss out on it.

Oysters 🦪

I can't describe these any better than they've already been described... "Silver Bell oysters are among the most celebrated in New England. Farmed in the nutrient-rich waters of Wellfleet Harbor, they develop a vivid, clean brininess that oyster lovers crave. A bold, briny flavor complemented by succulent meats and a smooth, lingering seaweed finish. When lined up for a taste test, true brine fans invariably reach for a Silver Bells first. During the holiday season, enjoying these oysters also supports Toys for Tots."

Market Items 🛒 *holiday items available nowr*

Wagyu Prime Rib/Ribeye - $34.99/lb

Choice Prime Rib (Boneless or Bone-In) - $20.99/lb

American Kobe Strip Loin - $24.99/lb

Whole Choice Beef Tenderloins - $19.99/lb

King Crab - Price available at request

Fresh Faroe Islands Salmon - $18.99/lb

Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen

Sea Wings Sustainably Sourced Crab Claw Meat, 1lb - $24.99

Frozen Sy Ginsberg's Beef Salami, 2lb - $19.99 (1 remaining)

Frozen Hanger Steaks, 1/2lb - $14.99

Frozen Beef Tenderloin, 6oz 2pk - $21.99

Frozen Whole Beef Tenderloin, Double - $18.99/lb

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 Veal Rack, 6-bone - $31.99/lb

Frozen Lamb Rack - $20.99/lb

Frozen Dearborn Spiral Ham -$54.99

Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99

Frozen All-Natural Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, 14oz - $13.99

Frozen Cooked Pork Osso Bucco, 16oz - $9.99

Frozen Cooked Marinated Pork Shank, 16oz - $9.99

Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99

Frozen Greco Italian Sausage, 4pk - $12.99

Frozen Saku Block Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna, 8-10oz - $19.99

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 (4oz), 2pk - $25.99

Frozen Soft Shell Crab - $24.99

Frozen Sam Adams Beer-Battered Cod - $5.99/lb

Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Pepperoni or Roasted Veggie) - $15.99

Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99

Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes, 4pk - $9.99

Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Veal Ravioli - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)

Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Butternut Squash Ravioli - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)

Frozen Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99

Frozen French Macarons, 12pk - $9.99

Frozen Brittany Blend Mixed Vegetables, 2lb - $8.99

New Wine🍷

Evidence of Divine Intervention 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $147.99

Adobe Flats 2024 Pinot Noir, Sonoma - $16.99

Fairweather 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles - $18.99

Ethos 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley - $27.99

New Beer & More 🍺

Other Half Snaps Lager, 4pk cans - $17.99

King County Beer Collective Here Comes Santa Claws DDH IPA, 4pk cans - $21.99

Industrial Arts Safety Glasses Non-Alcoholic IPA, 6pk cans - $11.99

Masthead Midwest Red IPA, 4pk cans - $11.99

Masthead Ice Melter DIPA, 4pk cans - $13.99

Pinkus Organic Ur-Pils, 4pk bottles - $13.99

Ace Imperial Blue Raspberry Cider, $13.99

McKeown's Original Cider, 6pk cans - $12.99 (arriving Friday)

Keo Cypriot Beer, 6pk bottles - $12.99 (arriving Friday)

Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢

Masthead Sleigh All Day IPA - $121.99

Heart State Winter Break Hazy IPA - $121.99

Forbidden Root Sumava Czech Lager - $134.99

Final Thoughts 💬

Just a mere 2 weeks -- 11 shopping days -- and it's Christmas Day, We're sitting pretty well on our inventory of wine, beer, and specialty foods, but that could change any minute. While we may not be a one-stop-shop, we get pretty close to make it just a little easier for you. Be it gifts for friends and family, wines for a holiday gathering, or dinner for Christmas or New Year's, we've made sure to have it all available for you. So... don't delay. Stop in or give us a call and we'll make sure to make this a special holiday season.