“May the fourth be with you”
or
“Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin’…”
(either way, it’s May 4!)
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday
10am to 6pm
Calendar 🗓
May 13 (Saturday) - Rosé all day in the middle of May! This annual tasting event will require reservations and will include lunch. Give us a call then mark you calendars for this 12-2pm event! SOLD OUT
June 3 (Saturday) - A different type of dining experience…16 spots are available or as we count 4-4 tops for dinner. The price will be set at $75 per person and will include 4 courses! Prime Beef and a fresh seasonal vegetable will certainly be represented along with some house made favorites. Wines and beers will be available for purchase to accompany your dinner, and corkage fees will be waived. We’re only taking 16 people with us on this culinary journey, so give us a call and reserve your spots soon! ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAINING (as a result of a cancellation)
Store News 🏬
Oceana’s on the PCT for the next 5 months, Becca's in England for a couple of weeks, and Chelsea, Dan, and 3 part timers are holding down the fort. These are the times I’ve warned everyone about. While we seem to always have a new employee coming in, what we need is one of two things… the first would be a dedicated summer employee, someone possibly home from college that wants to work and learn and earn from a great summer experience here at the Wine Merchant. The second, someone who wants to be a part of the team down here and would like a bit of stability in their job, to which we can guarantee 40 hours of earnings each and every week. Someone looking for a different, permanent job, maybe a career change where they can share and grow from the experiences we have to offer here. We always listen to our customers for wine and beer suggestions and other requests, and once again, we’re looking to you for some assistance. Please pass on the message and of course let us know if you have someone in mind.
Wine News🍷
My allocation of 2020 J.L. Chave Hermitage arrived today, and I was promptly asked, “why do we need more of this?” My simple response was that this wine will outlive you. This is the wine I sell to people in anticipation of their 50th anniversary when they’re celebrating their 2nd or 3rd, or for the birth year of a child. It’s the bottle I’ve chosen for each of my grandchildren, as has Chelsea for her children. This is a wine that will be just coming of age in 20 or 30 years and can easily go 50 years or more. This wine is a future celebratory wine from maybe the greatest producer of Syrah in the world, and at $359.99 a bottle, I obviously don’t bring in a lot. However, if 2020 speaks to you as a very special year or for someone you love, and you or they want to celebrate a future occasion, this is one of just a few I have that can make this happen.
Dan’s Feature ⭐️
Mary Taylor Anjou Rouge is my feature for this week. This $15.99 bottle of wine is certain to please even the most discerning individual. “Mary Taylor’s Anjou Rouge, is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Anjou. The thing I love about wines under the Mary Taylor label, besides their focus on biodiversity, organic farming practices, and minimal-intervention winemaking, is that their wines don’t see oak, so you get fruit-forward, bright wines that, once decanted, are delicious young. The Anjou Rouge is an excellent example of this with a fruity and floral nose and beautiful dark berry, soil, and tobacco notes.” Thus all of our wines here are a blend of several vineyards with extremely individual terroir. This Anjou Rouge comes from 25-30 year-old vines. The blend is 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is made using no additives, and is macerated for 10 days in ambient temperature with ambient yeasts. The wine is non-filtered and is aged in stainless steel tanks. This is fresh wine that has not been adulterated, the wine that I remember drinking in Europe that is inexpensive and delicious. Think Bistro fare and onglet possibly (hanger steak), frites (our potatoes will work just fine) and of course some haricot verts (beautiful green beans that we have down here). That’s the meal I’m going to have this would be a great dinner that’s relatively inexpensive. Stop in and we’ll help make up that meal for you and yours!
Dan’s Pick 🥂
Domaine Lafond 2022 Roc-Epine Tavel Rose’ has always been one of my all time favorites. Tavel is a wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the southern Rhône wine region of France, across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC and just north of Avignon. Tavel is a little different than many French ones, while a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault it’s very obvious that it has a little more color, showing that it has had an extended skin contact with these red varietals. “A hot, dry Mediterranean climate means that the grapes have no difficulty in reaching full phenolic ripeness here. It is this that brings the unique depth of flavor to the resulting wines, coupled with extended skin contact during fermentation. Soaking the skins of the red grapes with the juice allows it to develop the deep pink color and higher tannin levels characteristics of Tavel wines”. Maybe that’s why I enjoy these rich rose’s or maybe it’s because a Tavel was my first introduction to Rose’ 46 years ago in this very same month. Yeah, I’m nostalgic but I also love this wine and it’s complex richness which pares well with any fowl, pork or even a big steak salad. At $21.99 it’s still a darn good price, remember this is not a patio or porch drinker, it’s asking for a place at the table, your table as well as mine…
Food News
We are so beefed up down here and the weather just doesn’t seem to want to cooperate. Sure my grill is partially covered but it’s not pleasant at the moment to enjoy that time communing with a hot grill and a cold beer…The time is near and we’ll soon be there, the best steaks you can
find in town and according to Chelsea we now have the best and the freshest chicken as well. Whenever you’re ready to jump into the grilling season stop and see us we have what you need!
Food Feature
Coulotte not the outfit, the beef cut! By any name Coulotte, Top Sirloin Cap or Picanha is a cut everyone can enjoy! Coulotte is a lean steak that comes from this hindquarter section of the cow, specifically between the loin and the round. Often a couple of inches thick, it is usually identified by the thin layer of fat that covers one side. The fat layer gives the cut much of its flavoring as there is little marbling inherent in coulotte. This cut is crazy tender with a beautiful fat cap that just melts and crisps as you cook it. Sliced thin and against the grain, this hunk of sirloin will literally melt in your mouth when treated properly, which is medium-rare. We have Imperial Wagyu, USDA Choice in whole 2lb. plus whole cuts and then also have 8oz. pre-cuts of choice. I told you earlier I was beefed up and this cut is just a small sample of what we have available for you so stop in and get this great cut!
Oyster News 🦪
Black Magic Oysters from the deep cold waters of Thunder Cove in the PEI are our oysters for this week. These eastern oysters have a clean brine and crisp, plump meats ending with a mild smooth finish. We have been loving these oysters! Black Magic oysters are the perfect meaty bite that is bright with salt. Here’s everything and more you need to know for these new oysters we’ve brought in… "Smooth salinity with a pronounced vegetal finish with a High to Medium Brine intensity, they’re grown in floating cages in Thunder Cove, where the tides go out 2-4 times a day by 6 feet. The bottom of the sea is mostly sandy shell beds with eel grass which gives that nice vegetal finish on the palate.” These oysters had me at “the perfect meaty bite that is bright with salt”… I’ll have a dozen, please!
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Wagyu Hanger Steaks, Single Pack - $14.99
*Fresh Wagyu Coulotte (Picanha) Sirloin Cap - $16.99/lb
*Fresh Wagyu Burgers 2pk - $8.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24 a dozen
*Fresh Faroe Island Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Halibut - $24.99/lb
*Fresh Michigan Family Farms Amish Free Range Chicken Boneless Skin-On Thighs, 2.2lb - $14.99
*Fresh Michigan Family Farms Amish Free Range Chicken Wings, 2lb - $13.99
Frozen CAB Steak Burgers 4pk - $14.99
Frozen Choice Sirloin Cap Strip Steaks, 8oz - $9.99
Frozen Prime Ribeyes, 14oz - $18.99
Frozen Choice Ribeyes, 16oz - $18.99
Frozen Prime Whole Tenderloin - $22.99/lb
Frozen Choice Whole Tenderloin - $18.99/lb
Frozen Center Cut 8oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $16.99
Frozen Center Cut 10oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $18.99
Frozen Lamb Sirloin Roast - $22.99/lb
Frozen Lamb Racks, 2lbs - $49.99
Frozen Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin - $12.99
Frozen Pre-Cooked Frozen BBQ Ribs (approx. 3lb racks) - $23.99
Frozen Sliced Philly Cheese Steak Meat - $9.99/lb
Frozen Italian Sausages, 4 per pound - $8.99
Frozen Nueske Cheddar and Bacon Sausages 5 per pound - $9.99
Frozen Epic Curing Black Pepper Bacon - $14.99
Frozen Marinated Pre-Cooked Pork Shank - $12.99
Frozen Chilean Sea Bass, 6oz - $16.99
Frozen Bakkafrost Salmon Burgers (Spinach & Feta) 2pk - $10.99
Frozen Buddy’s Detroit Style Pizzas (Cheese) - $17.99
Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade, avg. 10oz - $19.99
Frozen Lobster Tails - $9.99
Frozen U-16/20 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $19.99/lb
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Langoustines, approx .1/2lb - $7.99
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Paparedelle from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Strozzapreti from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Lobster & Crab Tortelli from Italy - $16.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Pear & Cheese Fiocchi from Italy - $7.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
1932’s Pasta Sauce (Arrabbiata, Pomodorina with Fresh Basil, Pomodorina with Barolo) - $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Spaghetti Chitarra Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Trofie Dried Pasta from Italy - $7.99
Tribeca Bakery Rosemary Bread - $5.50
Orwashers Sourdough Bread - $13.99
New Wine🍷
Ink Grade 2017 Andosol Red Blend Howell Mtn. $79.99
Cantina di Gambellara 2021 Monopolio Pinot Grigio Italy $14.99
Domaine Morin-Langaran 2021 Picpoul De Pinet France $16.99
New Beer 🍺
Harpoon Strawberry-Lemonade Shandy 6 pack btls. $9.99
Jackie Os Off Duty Lifeguard 6 pack cans $11.99
Fat Heads Hop Honcho Imperial IPA 4 pack cans $12.99
Stiegl Raspberry Radler 4 pack cans $12.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢 3 Floyds Zombie Dust $155.99
Juniper Soulshine IPA $120.99
Troegs Sunshine Pils $101.99
Outerbelt Glasstown Pale Lager $89.99
Final Thoughts 💬
I remember where I was on May 4, 1970… not even sure what year Star Wars came out. May 4th was absolutely one of those days that helped define who I was. Star Wars… well, not so much. Either way, today is May 4, 2023, a different time, a different place, and to some extent, a different world. So whichever day you remember most, I just have to say, may the fourth be with you…
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391