We're so excited we could pop 🍾
- Dan Matheny
- 12 minutes ago
- 6 min read
It might be Halloween, but holiday items are making their way out into the store this week!
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Bar closing early Tuesday, 11/4 at 5pm
Calendar 🗓
November 1 (Saturday) - Soup Saturday with Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo and... the release of Christmas items!
November 4 (Tuesday) - Alternative Wine Dinner, our annual alternative to watching election results. Reservations required; bar closing early at 5pm. (FULL - waitlist available.)
November 7 (Friday) - Fall Art Walk Wine Tasting, 5-7pm.
November 8 (Saturday) - Second Saturday Special, TBD.
November 20 (Thursday) - Beaujolais Nouveau! Flights and French fare, no reservations required.
November 27 (Thursday) - Closed for Thanksgiving.
November 28 (Friday) - Black Friday Brunch & the release of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout --- including on tap!
December 6 (Saturday) - Champagne Tasting! Reservations required. Bar closing early 5pm and the store at 6pm. (FULL - waitlist available.)
December 13 (Saturday) - Second Saturday Special, TBD.
December 25 (Thursday) - Closed for Christmas.
News 🗞
I know it's only Halloween, but we've had several shoppers in already looking for Christmas items and gifts for this year. With prices rising and inventory fluctuating, I don't blame them... spreading out the cost isn't a bad idea. So along that vein, instead of waiting until Black Friday, we are releasing our Champagnes and Christmas wines and beers early! This Saturday, November 1, we will be putting all of them out in the store for you to shop. You'll see some old favorites and some new options... some of our new champagnes we're particularly excited about. More items will of course be arriving in the coming weeks, but we're getting started with what we've got. In the bar, we will be continuing our Soup Saturday series with another soup special: Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo! A Wine Merchant creation with not one, not two, but three meats. A base of a rich, Cajun-spiced roux with vegetables, tender chicken, smoky andouille sausage, and juicy shrimp, probably with some white rice and green onions on top. Not exactly Halloween-ish or Christmasy, but it'll taste good. A little warmth on a chilly day, all day Saturday while supplies last, but we will have Ohio State on the TV at noon, so come early.
Wine Feature ⭐️
A big California red, the Bootleg 2019 Prequel Red Blend, $36.99. Known for their "exuberant, bold and complex blends that challenge convention," Bootleg is a small winery located in Paso Robles. As far as I know, they only make three wines: a Cabernet Sauvignon and two red blends. Their name invokes the rebel spirit of their winemaking forefathers who smuggled vine cuttings from France to plant in California. While smuggling is no longer involved (at least not that we know of), they give their winemaker, Gabriel Venezuela, no restrictions -- he can use whatever grapes from whichever appelation to create whatever blend he wants. Gabriel Venezuela... sounds like an alias to me, but hey, all in the Bootleg spirit. The Prequel consists of 80% Syrah and 20% Petite Sirah, a deep purple color with aromas of lavender, blueberry, and woodsmoke with notes of forest fruits, black pepper, and toasted oak. A substantial, supple wine that can stand on its own but also pairs beautifully with mushrooms or lamb.
Wine Pick 🥂
A fun little pick this week, Trambusti 2023 Celsus Chianti. This is a true, old-world Chianti, and you'll see why upon first glance. It is bottled in the traditional round bottle with the dried straw or wicker basket around it called a... do you know it?? A fiasco. All Chiantis used to be bottled like this, and you would know what the wine was the second you looked at it, but it's rare to see anymore. Trambusti is a family-owned winery in Tuscany that has been around since 1934, celebrating their 90th anniversary last year. Being a Chianti, the Celsus is of course 100% Sangiovese, a medium-bodied "classic Italian red wine with vibrant cherry, plum, and herbal aromas, balanced acidity, and firm tannins." It's young but oh so easy to drink. The perfect accompaniment for pizza and pasta, and it obviously makes a great gift or table centerpiece, too, and it won't break the bank at $16.99.
Food Feature 🐟
Fresh Cod this week! Prices finally went down enough that we could grab a white fish. We of course also have Fresh Salmon, but it's always nice to have something else alongside it. Cod is one of the world's most versatile fish... sear it, bake it, poach it, grill it, fry it. It's the best fish for Fish & Chips, but my favorite way to prepare it is just baked in foil with cherry tomatoes, spinach, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Simple and comforting. They are long, thick cuts for $22.99/lb, and they'll sell quickly, so get here quicker.
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Faroe Islands Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Icelandic Cod - $22.99
*Fresh Hanger Steak, 1/2lb - $14.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
Sea Wings Sustainably Sourced Crab Claw Meat, 1lb - $24.99
Frozen Center Cut Bone-In Dry-Aged CAB Ribeyes, 16oz - $19.99
Frozen Center Cut Boneless Dry-Aged CAB Strips, 14oz - $18.99
Frozen Wagyu Baseball Steaks, 6oz - $10.99
Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99
Frozen Beef Tenderloin, 6oz 2pk - $18.99
Frozen Whole Beef Tenderloin, Double - $18.99/lb
Frozen Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $13.99
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 Veal Rack, 6-bone - $31.99/lb
Frozen Lamb Rack - $20.99
Frozen Dearborn Spiral Honey Glazed Ham - $5.99/lb
Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99
Frozen Cooked Pork Osso Bucco, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Cooked Marinated Pork Shank, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Tender Belly Cherry Wood Smoked & Dry Rubbed Uncured Bacon, 2.5lb - $19.99
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99
Frozen Artistan Bratwurst (Mushroom & Parsley), 4pk - $10.99
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 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 Tribeca Bake House Rosemary Bread - $5.99
Frozen Bake House Artisan Multi-Grain Bread - $4.99
Frozen Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
Frozen French Macarons, 12pk - $9.99
Frozen Brittany Blend Mixed Vegetables, 2lb - $8.99
New Wine🍷
Marc Hebrart NV 1er Cru Brut Rosé Champagne, France - $68.99
Michel Wirth NV "Nuances de Blanc" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne, France - $89.99
Michel Wirth 2022 "Les Meuniers de Raoul" Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne, France - $104.99
Girard-Bonnet NV "Recueil Extrait No. 1" Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne, France - $99.99
H. Billiot NV "Essence de Billiot" Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Brut Nature Champagne, France - $134.99
Pierre Gimonnet NV "Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay" Special Club Extra Brut Champagne, France - $129.99
Famille Moussé 2019 "Les Fortes Terres" Special Club Extra But Champagne, France - $134.99
Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Champagne with Ice Jacket, France - $74.99
Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Champagne with Refrigerator, France - $99.99
Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling (Winter Scene), Germany - $11.99
Fritz Windisch Christmas Tree Riesling, Germany - $19.99
Fritz Windisch Christmas Tree Dornfelder, Germany - $19.99
Glunz Family Winery Vin Glögg Mulled Wine, California - $15.99
Borghetto 2019 Chianti Classico, Italy - $16.99
Trambusti 2023 Celsus Chianti, Italy - $15.99
Sweet Sunset Vineyards NV Chocolate Cuvée, California - $13.99
DS Zero Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine, Italy - $19.99
Château Villefranche 2022 Sauternes, France - $27.99
Palais de Cristal Pineau des Charentes Fortified Dessert Wine, France - $29.99
New Beer & More 🍺
Tröegs Blizzard of Hops IPA, 6pk cans - $11.99
Southern Tier Tiramisu Imperial Stout, 4pk bottles - $12.99
Southern Tier Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale, 4pk bottles - $12.99 (Saturday)
Allagash Ski House Winter White Ale, 6pk cans - $12.99 (Saturday)
Tröegs Mad Elf Holiday Ale, 6pk bottles - $16.99 (Saturday)
Abita Christmas Ale, 6pk cans - $10.99 (Saturday)
Fat Head's Holly Jolly Christmas Ale, 6pk cans - $12.99 (Saturday)
Fat Head's Pimp My Sleigh, 4pk cans - $11.99 (Saturday)
Jackie O's Christmas Ale, 6pk cans - $11.99 (Saturday)
Masthead Robot Santa Christmas Ale, 4pk cans - $12.99 (Saturday)
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Peroni Italian Pilsner (1/4 barrel) - $116.99
La Chouffe Belgian Blonde - $161.99
Alesmith Yulesmith Red DIPA - $128.99
Masthead Sleigh All Day IPA - $121.99
Heart State Winter Break Hazy IPA - $121.99
Final Thoughts 💬
Our Alternative Dinner is coming up next Tuesday, which also means it's Election Day. Don't forget to take a few moments out of your day to vote, whether that's next Tuesday or beforehand at the Hancock County Board of Elections (you can find their hours here). It may not be a presidential election, but there are still important matters on the ballot, so do your due dilligence and hit the polls. Okay... PSA over.
Cheers and Happy Halloween from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
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