Ripped from the Headlines

Important news from our industry...

Joe Canal's in Woodbridge announces a free (21 & over, with ID) tasting of Irish Whiskey on Sunday, March 16, from 1-3pm. Perfect timing - the day before St. Patrick's Day. On the tasting menu:

Redbreast 12 year Single Pot Still Whiskey
John Powers
Tullamore D.E.W.
Green Spot Single Pot Still

Slainte!

Makers Mark to Boost Capacity by 50%
Source: Shanken Daily News

Beam Inc.’s Maker’s Mark has revealed details on a new $67 million distillery expansion plan. The project will add a third still to the existing Maker’s Mark distillery and is slated to increase the facility’s Bourbon production by 50%. In addition to installing the new still—which is expected to take 18 months—Beam plans to construct new warehouses over a seven-year period. This new investment comes on top of $50 million Beam has already poured into the Maker’s Mark distillery in recent years.

The news follows last year’s controversial plan by Maker’s Mark to lower its alcohol in an effort to meet booming demand. After a sharp consumer backlash, the brand swiftly reversed that decision, but in June reportedly began exploring a “state of the art rinse process” designed to extract more Bourbon from each barrel.

Maker’s continues to be one of the driving forces behind the Bourbon category’s renaissance, rising by 5.3% to 1.25 million cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank. Globally, the Bourbon brand was among the 15 biggest growth brands among Impact’s Top 100 Spirits by volume, posting a nearly 11% increase to 1.44 million cases.

Goose Island Plans Major Expansion, New National Ad Campaign
Source: Shanken Daily News

In the wake of a 70% jump in sales last year, Goose Island Beer Co. is laying plans for significant expansion. The Chicago-based craft brewer, acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011, has leased a 130,000-square-foot warehouse near its headquarters on Chicago’s north side, where it plans to house hundreds of new Bourbon barrels for production of its Bourbon County Stout series, which is aged for more than a year.

Bourbon County, offered just one day a year, has sold out in a matter of hours everywhere it’s been released. The product, offered in flavors such as coffee, rye and vanilla, has become a cult favorite, with beer lovers in cities such as Miami and Houston camping out overnight in front of retail stores the day after Thanksgiving to ensure they could buy it.

“The bigger warehouse will allow us to quadruple our capacity for Bourbon County,” says Goose Island CEO Andrew Goeler. “We’ll get more product out to our markets, although we’ll still be far short of meeting demand.”

Once a regional brewer before being taken national last year by Anheuser-Busch, Goose Island brews some of its labels at A-B plants in different states, but Goeler says the company wants to keep Bourbon County a made-in-Chicago product.

Goose Island is also introducing its first national ad campaign, including print and digital spots. The ads feature Goose Island’s Fulton Street Brewery in Chicago and run under the tagline, “To what’s next.” Meanwhile, Goose Island—whose volume neared the 350,000-barrel mark in 2013—is planning the release of 18 new beers in 2014.

"Disneyland of Food"

That's planned for Bologna, Italy. It's related to the Eataly chain, which has locations in New York City, Chicago, and more than 20 other international destinations. Click for the story.

Weekend Head Start

Since we're at the cusp of the weekend, it's a good time for us to review our Friday-Saturday agenda. That way, when you see the events that you're interested in, the schedule is right here for you. And if your Saturday night includes wine or beer with dinner, you'll be able to stop in and sample. Oh, and don't forget that these tastings are free*!

On Friday, both the Lawrenceville and Woodbridge store will have a wine tasting that runs from 4-6pm. Click here to see the tasting menu for both stores. In Lawrenceville, 3 out of the 4 wines have Bottle Club® prices under $10.00, with the fourth wine priced under $25.00, making them all great choices for any day of the week. One of those sub-$10 wines, the Charles & Charles Red Blend, rated 90 points from Wine Spectator.

In Woodbridge, two of the wines are Bottle Club® priced under $11.00, and another wine is one of the absolute best values in the store (Ridgeline Napa Cabernet Sauvignon).

The action next moves to the Growler station at both stores. At 5pm in Lawrenceville, the final Goose Island specialty tapping of the month will be the Bourbon County Stout. In Woodbridge, the 6pm tapping will be Slumbrew Snow Angel. Both stores will have new featured breweries for March, so keep watching the web site for the important details.

We welcome you back on Saturday, for another round of tastings. Here, Woodbridge goes first, with the wine tasting running from 1-3pm. The tasting menu will be the same on both Friday and Saturday. The scenario, however, is different in Lawrenceville.

The Saturday tasting in Lawrenceville will run from 2-4pm, as usual. The tasting menu, on the other hand, will be completely different, as we welcome 90+ Cellars for a tasting of their wines. 90+ Cellars are known for delivering Saturday night taste for a Tuesday night price. To see the tasting menu, please click here.


Make sure to mark your calendar for our upcoming tastings and events. In addition to our regular Friday/Saturday wine tastings, here's the agenda just for March:

In Lawrenceville:
Friday, March 14, tasting of Punzone Lemoncino and Originale Liqueur
Friday, March 21, tasting of Dad's Hat Whiskey
Thursday, March 27, tasting of Shiner Ruby Redbird & Shiner White Wing

In Woodbridge:
Friday, March 28, tasting of Dad's Hat Whiskey

*As we noted above, these tastings are free; 21 & older, with valid ID, of course.

Wednesday Grab-Bag

Topics have been piling up like the snow has this winter, so I think we need a grab-bag to clear off my car, I mean, my desk.

Scotch Dinner on April 9

This dinner will feature an exceptional meal paired with The Macallan Single Malt (12 year, 15 year and 18 year) and the Famous Grouse. Dinner will be held at Centro Grille in Robbinsville. Space is limited, so call Centro at 609-208-9300 to RSVP. Questions? Ask at Customer Service in Lawrenceville, 609-520-0008.

The Macallan’s curiously small spirit stills are the smallest on Speyside. Their unique size and shape give the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the ‘new make’ spirit and provide the viscosity and rich, fruity, full-bodied flavors so characteristic of The Macallan. There are fourteen of these curiously small stills, crafted from copper, each holding an initial ‘charge’ of 3,900 liters. These stills are so famous that they have appeared on the back of a Bank of Scotland £10 banknote!

New Products

While we're on the subject of Scotch whisky, we've added the BenRiach 15 year Madeira Finish to our shelves. Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, this whisky is then finished in Madeira barrels, sourced from the semi-tropical Portuguese island of Madeira, hundreds of miles off the coast of north-west Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean. During this second period of maturation the whisky derives many interesting characteristics specific to the Madeira barrel. The nose offers vanilla and spices with watermelon and peaches, with a rich backdrop of Madeira and oak wood. An avalanche of butterscotch, hazelnuts, peaches and spices, with a rich Madeira finish envelop the palate.

Flavored vodkas are still going strong. In stock now in Lawrenceville, and coming soon to Woodbridge, is the Smirnoff Sorbet® Light Pineapple Coconut. This is a full-flavored, sorbet-inspired vodka with natural fruit flavor, containing juicy, ripe pineapple and creamy toasted coconut notes.  It offers sophisticated fun with only 78 calories per 1.5 fl. oz.

Try this cocktail recipe: Weekend in the Tropics

1.5 oz Smirnoff Sorbet Light® Pineapple Coconut
1.5 oz pineapple juice
1.5 oz mango juice

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the above ingredients. Stir, then garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Tastings and Other Stuff

We understand that warmer weather will get here eventually. When that happens, you'll enjoy a clean, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, either with a light meal or on its own. Our distributor is discontinuing Omaka Springs Sauvignon Blanc, and we just made a big buy on this wine. At only $10.98 in the Bottle Club®, Omaka Springs will please your wallet and palate. Omaka Springs Estate Sauvignon Blanc shows the best that Marlborough has to offer.  This wine displays a burst of tropical fruits - guava, passion fruit, and a hint of ripe melon, complimented by a vibrant acidity, herbaceous tomato stalk notes and nuances of green capsicum.  The careful addition of a small amount of Semillon lends good structure and adds to the texture and length.

Both stores will have a tasting of Shiner Ruby Redbird & Shiner White Wing. The tasting will first land in Lawrenceville on Thursday, March 27, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Next will be Woodbridge, on Thursday, April 3, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The tastings will be at the Growler station.

Ruby Redbird is their summer seasonal, brewed with tart Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit and a "kick" of Ginger. White Wing is a year-round Belgian white, brewed with authentic Belgian yeast, along with hints of coriander and orange peel.

Our final tasting note is a Woodbridge-only event. On Saturday, April 5, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, we'll pour samples of Miller Fortune.

You first notice Miller Fortune's distinctive malty aromas, backed with subtle citrus notes. The taste is nicely balanced, with hoppy tones and a restrained sweetness that matches its light body. The crisp, clean finish is in keeping with the 6.9% ABV.

We hope you'll join us for these tastings, as well as our regular weekend wine tastings.

Easy Cocktails

David Rudd is a Floor Manager and resident mixologist at our Woodbridge store. Because we have so many great ingredients on our shelves, David added a POS program offering cocktail recipes. Below, David shares a couple of those recipes.

Fireball & Rumchata

Sazerac’s Fireball whiskey is the hottest whiskey going these days and there is no shortage of ways to enjoy this ULTRA-POTENT cinnamon flavored whiskey (they don’t call it “Fireball” for nothin’).  Next time you’re looking for a delicious party shot, mix it with the OTHER hot liquor or the moment – RUMCHATA.  Equal parts, chilled: tastes just like Cinnamon Toast Crunch™.

The Sandtrap

You and your golf buddies had a great (or not so great) day on the course and you wanna take the day to the next level – give your buddy a Sandtrap!!!  3 parts Seagram's 7 whiskey, 2 parts cherry brandy and one part each lemon juice, sweet vermouth and dry vermouth.  Shake, chill and pour.  Garnish with a lemon.  This ain’t no mulligan.

A Slew of New

With a bit of a weather break, the delivery trucks were lined up at our loading docks, and everyone hustled to empty those trucks. Here's a glimpse at what we've added to our shelves.

We've received a very small amount of the BenRiach 15 Year Pedro Ximinez Sherry Finish. Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, this whisky is then finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry butts, sourced from the bodegas of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucia, Southern Spain. During this second period of maturation the whisky derives many interesting characteristics specific to the Pedro Ximenez butt.

Just 510 six-packs are available world-wide, and the Pedro Ximenez Finish is part of the first BenRiach "Wood Finish Series", released November 2006. This expression has a nose of honey, sultanas and dark chocolate, with a flood of Pedro Ximenez Sherry. On the palate, it's cream and honey, infused with papaya, rosehips, eucalyptus and dark chocolate, all interwoven with rich Pedro Ximenez Sherry and oak wood.This is priced at only $79.99.

While we're discussing spirits, look for Masterson's 10 Year Rye Whiskey. Masterson’s is a 100% rye whiskey that far exceeds industry standards. Their artisans incorporate only the most fragrant and plump grains of rye and pure glacial water from the northern Rockies into a meticulous distillation process that utilizes an old-fashioned pot still.

Oak barrels are one of the many ways Masterson’s attains its unique taste profile. And white oak has the tightest grain and is heavier than other oak wood, allowing the wood to maintain its integrity during the ten-year aging process while imparting a subtle but distinct flavor.

Masterson’s is all rye and only rye, meeting the strictest definition of traditional rye whiskey. The rye is grown in the verdant Pacific Northwest, and they choose only rye that exhibits the perfect combination of weight, plumpness and rich, earthy fragrance. These key characteristics, along with the meticulous distillation process, give Masterson’s its uniquely smooth taste. This is an exceptional value at $59.99.

Of course, we've also added a number of wines to our shelves. One requested item that's now on our shelves is the Duck Commander line. The line consists of a Red Blend, Chardonnay and Pink Moscato, and all three are priced at only $11.99.

The Triple Threat Red Blend exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. This medium bodied wine is fruit forward, silky and soft with smooth tannins.

Duck Commander Wood Duck Chardonnay offers rich tropical fruit aromas with hints of lemon and crisp apple laced around the complex nose. The palate is vibrant and full of pear, melon and apple pie with a silky, creamy finish.

The Miss Priss Pink Moscato has luxurious aromas of white peaches, honeysuckle and caramel. Luscious passion fruit and honeydew melon flavors with hints of sweet vanilla are perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity.

An outstanding 100% Pinot Noir just arrived from Kathryn Hall. Winegrowers Stephen and Cathy Pepe own a truly exceptional piece of land. Combine their amazing site with the vineyard leadership of Wes Hagen, and you find a team determined to grow fruit that fully expresses the personality of its vineyard. With very limiting soils and a strict adherence to natural winegrowing, the Clos Pepe vineyard optimizes the complexity and nuance of Pinot Noir.

The WALT “Clos Pepe” Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir displayed its remarkable character even as pre-fermented juice. They knew they had something special on their hands and exercised extreme care throughout vinification in order to preserve the distinctive perfumes, flavors and textures of the wine. Displaying a Burgundian disposition, this wine is dark, earthy, smokey and spilling over with red fruits. The texture allures with its richness and density while the wine’s supple lift and delicate mouthfeel warrant an enduring balance and completeness. 

WALT “Clos Pepe” rated 92 points from Wine Spectator, and is priced at $53.99  in the Bottle Club®. And this is also available in extremely limited quantities.

This six-pack of new products should get you through the weekend. Look for more product introductions next week. 

Duck!

Once again, in response to multiple requests, Joe Canal's is pleased to announce the arrival of three varieties of a new label. You'll be able to find the full Duck Commander line of wines at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Based on the philosophy of the Robertson family, from the wildly successful DUCK DYNASTY® TV show, the wines are grounded in what matters; family, friends, good food and fun. We're carrying the Chardonnay, Pink Moscato, and Red Blend, and all are priced at only $11.99.

The Triple Threat Red Blend exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. This medium bodied wine is fruit forward, silky and soft with smooth tannins.

This Red Blend brings together 3 distinct varietals: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. To add complexity and retain character, each variety was fermented separately, then blended together prior to bottling. Zinfandel brings a fruity spice, while Merlot contributes a generous mouthfeel, and the rich tannins from the Cabernet round out the blend.

Duck Commander Wood Duck Chardonnay offers rich tropical fruit aromas with hints of lemon and crisp apple laced around the complex nose. The palate is vibrant and full of pear, melon and apple pie with a silky, creamy finish.

This Chardonnay underwent partial malolactic fermentation, allowing the wine to retain crisp varietal characteristics while imparting a smooth texture to the finished wine. The varietal was aged “sur lie” increasing the wines rich, creamy mouthfeel. The majority of the wine was then introduced to French and American oak, while the balance was aged in Stainless Steel.

The Miss Priss Pink Moscato has luxurious aromas of white peaches, honeysuckle and caramel. Luscious passion fruit and honeydew melon flavors with hints of sweet vanilla are perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity.

The winemakers cap and drain the juice to increase the varietal intensity, and avoid malolactic fermentation to maintain the wine’s vibrant acidity. To preserve its fresh, fragrant aromas and flavors, the Moscato is cold-fermented at 50°F and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks. The Moscato is then blended with just a whisper of rosé wine to give the wine its pretty pink color.

If You Cook It, They Will Come

On occasion, we like to offer up some interesting recipes from our winery partners. We're regularly asked about pairing wines with food, and we know these recipes pair perfectly with items that we have on our shelves.

Merry Edwards produces some of the best Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, period. Their Dolce Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, like much of the Merry Edwards collection, typically rates over 90 points in Wine Spectator. Merry Edwards wines also do very well in restaurants; in the 24th annual poll by Wine & Spirits Magazine, released in April 2013, Merry Edwards was ranked #4 Pinot Noir, #6 Sauvignon Blanc and #8 brand among the top 50 in restaurants.

With that kind of a background, don't we recommend scanning their web site recipe page when you're hungry. Here are two of our easy-to-make favorites:

Potato Crusted Salmon

Ingredients
1 russet potato, peeled and grated
4 6.5-ounce wild salmon fillets, pin bones removed and skin off
2 tablespoons tablespoons olive oil
pinch kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, mix the grated potatoes with some salt and pepper. Pack a 1/8 of an inch layer of the potato on the inside side of each fillet. Heat a large pan with the olive oil on medium high heat. When hot, add the salmon fillets potato side down. Cook until the potatoes are golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Flip and finish cooking to desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium rare. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Serves 4

Crabmeat Mango Salad

Ingredients

6 ounces fresh ripe mango, diced into small cubes

1 tablespoon of chopped white onion

1 tablespoon chopped red bell pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

4 ounces jumbo lump crabmeat

6 ounces spring mix salad

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Make the dressing for the Spring Mix Salad (see ingredients below) and toss with spring mix. Pile the spring mix in the bottom of the plate. For the best visual results use a shallow bowl. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc.

In a separate bowl, make the Crabmeat Mango Sauce (see ingredients below). Add the mango, white onion, red bell pepper and cilantro and crabmeat. Toss lightly. Place dressed crabmeat on top of the spring mix or use a mold to make it into a preferred shape.  

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon plum sauce

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and toss with the spring mix.

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Ingredients

4 ounces mayonnaise

1 teaspoon horseradish

1 ounce Dijon mustard

Mix all ingredients together and see above.

Many of the wines we have for sale include the company web site, or QR code, or other identifier on the label. We all need cooking inspirations on occasion, and exploring the Merry Edwards web site, or the web site of another wine that you enjoy, can provide that inspiration.

  

By Popular Request...

At Joe Canal's, we've always been responsive to special requests. Even with the substantial shelf space that we have in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, it's just impossible to carry everything that our wholesalers make available. Our Special Order Managers have handled everything from a single bottle up to a full-scale celebration, and we're glad to be able to help.

There are times, however, when we have so many requests for a particular item, or for a specific type of product, that we find a way to create some extra shelf space and add something to our inventory. That's the case here, as we are adding two Sparkling Sake's to our shelves.

We already carry a number of products from the House of Gekkeikan, including their Sake and Plum Wine. Their Sparkling Sake is something that can be enjoyed on its own, or even in a cocktail. Zipang Sparkling Sake is a unique and fun new sake from the House of Gekkeikan. Lightly carbonated, Zipang’s sparkling style is produced naturally by secondary fermentation in a closed tank. Celebrate with Zipang Sparkling Sake!

Zipang Sparkling Sake is lively and bright with hints of tropical fruits, medium-bodied with a refreshingly light finish. It pairs well with a wide array of light appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, as well as with spicy food. Zipang Sparkling Sake is best served chilled and enjoyed in a flute. Enjoy simply as an aperitif or in a sparkling cocktail. It's also sulfite- and gluten-free, at only 7% ABV. This bottle size is 250ML, which is about 8.5 ounces, and is priced at only $7.99.

Since we mentioned cocktails, try these recipes:
 

Ninja Belini

Ninja Belini
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
1 part peach schnapps
Pour the peach schnapps into a chilled champagne flute and top with Zipang Sparkling Sake.

Zipang Mimosa
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
2 parts fresh orange juice
Pour the fresh orange juice into a chilled champagne flute and top with Zipang Sparkling Sake.

Sparkling Umé
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
½ part Gekkeikan Plum Wine
Pour the Gekkeikan Plum Wine into a chilled champagne flute and top

with Zipang Sparkling Sake.
We're also adding Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake to both Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Packaged in a 300ML bottle, Hou Hou Shu is a modern style sparkling sake from Okayama prefecture. The bubbles are produced from natural fermentation and give the sake a full, sweet flavor.

This offers a light, slightly sweet flavor and gentle, natural carbonation which makes for a drinking experience very similar to champagne. At only 6% alcohol, the fruity taste pairs well with the same types of foods that go well with either sake or champagne, so seafood, fruit or anything light.  It can be enjoyed with acidic desserts, like blueberries and cassis, or mixed in a cocktail with a splash of lemon. Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake is only $13.99 in the Bottle Club®. 

If you want us to look into adding other products, please let a Manager know!

Cab Cab Carm

Some incredible wines, and amazing values as well, are coming from Chile. Wine has been made in Chile since the Spanish first settled there, and the industry has evolved into one of the world's top producers.

Today's wine comes from the Maipo Valley. Located in the Metropolitan Region to the south of Santiago in the foothills of the Andes, which causes high thermal variation of 20ºC (about 68ºF) between day and night. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, dry falls, moderate winters and springs free of frost.

We've been fortunate to add the Viña Santa Rita Triple C 2008 to our shelves. The origin of the wine's name is pretty obvious, as it's a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. This vintage is a pretty special wine, earning 93 points from Wine Spectator, along with a spot (#47) on the 2013 Top 100. Here's the brief review: "A powerful red, with a surplus of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant flavors that are pure and focused, wrapped in layers of vanilla and cream. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and wild herb notes. Drink now through 2020."

Viña Santa Rita should be a familiar label. We carry their 120 wines, named for an incident during their war for independence. According to legend, 120 patriots, exhausted after a long, hard battle during the fight for Chile’s independence, reached the land belonging to Santa Rita. On that fateful night in 1814, these forces of liberty found refuge in the estate cellars. And we also carry their Reserva wines, which are young, fruity, dynamic, and well-structured. So even their everyday wines are well-made and enjoyable.

But the Triple C is something much more. This superb wine is a blend of three Bordeaux grape varieties that have been carefully grown by Santa Rita for more than 80 years. This wine benefits from the best of both: Old and New World combining the elegance of traditional grape varieties with New World techniques.The wine is robust on the palate, with silky tannins.

As with any wine of this caliber, we only have limited quantities available. Our regular retail price is $34.99, but the Viña Santa Rita Triple C 2008 is on sale in the Bottle Club® for only $29.99.  

Springtime Cocktails

Maybe we're tired of the winter already, or maybe it was the beginning of baseball's spring training, but we're really ready to try out some springtime cocktails. We have a couple of weeks to practice, and when the weather does finally break, we'll be on top of our mixology game.

Cherry Blossom-tini
2 1/4 parts Ty-Ku Sake
3/4 part Cointreau
3/4 part cranberry juice
1/4 part fresh lime juice
2 dashes  orange bitters

Pour all of the ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass.

La Primavera
1 1/2 oz Corsair Gin
3/4 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Korean aloe vera honey tea
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Pour all of the ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass. garnish with aloe vera leaves.

Lavender Sapphire Collins
1 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz lavender syrup
3 oz club soda
Lemon wedge for garnish

Squeeze half a lemon into a Collins glass. Add lavender syrup and then Bombay Sapphire Gin. Stir. Add ice. Top off with club soda and garnish with lemon.


A quick and tempting trio. Please let us know how you enjoyed these cocktails.

Snow Grumble Grumble Snow

We don't remember moving to Siberia; that's our best explanation for this weather. Can we please trade this mess in for a warm summer day?

So if we're going to get you to come visit us, we'll make the trip worthwhile. In Lawrenceville, we have a free wine tasting today, from 4-6pm. The tasting menu is here. Also today, at 5pm, we're tapping Matilda, from Goose Island, our featured brewery in February, at the Growler station. You can find tasting notes and pricing information here. The scheduled events wrap up on Saturday, with another free wine tasting, from 2-4pm.

At our Woodbridge store, things are similar, but still different. Our free Friday wine tasting also runs from 4-6pm, and the tasting menu is here. At 6pm, while the wine team is cleaning up, our beer team steps up with a double tapping of Slumbrew, our Featured Brewery for February. We'll tap Trekker Tripel and Sittin' On Hop of the World. Tasting notes and pricing information can be found here.

The Saturday wine tasting in Woodbridge is a departure from our routine. The time is different (5-7pm), and the wines will be different than what we're tasting on Friday. We'll offer samples of four different wines from 90+ Cellars. 90+ Cellars offers Saturday night taste at a Tuesday night price. To see the full menu, with pricing information, please go here.

At Joe Canal's, we're committed to offering the best products at the best prices. And having the opportunity to sample products before you buy is one great way for you experience that. Because at Joe Canal's, the Good Times Start Here...For Less!

Beat The Snow!

Like everyone else, we've been seriously disrupted by the snowy, messy winter. Delivery schedules are off, the staff can't get to work some days, and can't get home on others. With all that going on, we've had some new products come in that we haven't even had time to talk about yet. So let's fix that now, before we get stuck in the house again.

Both the Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores have the Jenna Sparr Cotes du Rhone Villages 2011 in stock. We last had the 2009 vintage of this wine, and it was a proven winner. This wine has earthy aromas of prunes, stewed fruit and licorice. It is full-bodied with plum, licorice and spicy flavors. At only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®, this Grenache-Syrah blend is a perfect anytime wine.

With the threat of a pretty major storm arriving during the night, some of our team like nothing better than to sit at the window at home and watch it snow while sipping on a serious single malt Scotch. If you're like us, then the just-added Glengoyne 18 year old Highland malt is for you.

The slowest distillation process in Scotland. Six years spent preparing the perfect oak casks before they receive their first drop of spirit. Barley dried by air, never peat. Glengoyne gives you pause to reflect that it's only by investing valuable time and infinite care that you can create something of real worth. Glengoyne - it's worth the wait.

This dram has spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. This is the result of 18 long years and a generous proportion of first-fill sherry casks. And of the patience Glengoyne takes over the slowest distillation in Scotland. 43% ABV. Only $97.49 in the Bottle Club®.

We also find that red wine warms us on these cold nights, and a newly-arrived Italian red should do the trick. The Masseria Trajone Salice Salentino comes from Apuglia, in Southeastern Italy, and is a blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grapes. The wine is medium-bodied, with flavors of dark berries, allspice and raisins, with soft tannins partnering with notes of black pepper on the long finish. You'll find a touch of smokiness on the nose as well. This is also an everyday red, with a tasty price point of  $8.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Lastly, let's note the arrival of the Charles & Charles Red Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, vintage 2012. This wine scored 90 points from Wine Spectator. The Charles & Charles project is a collaboration between Charles Smith and Charles Bieler of Three Thieves, Bieler Père et Fils, and Sombra Mezcal. The aromas have the same signature blackberry, violet, currant and mocha that it's had in previous vintages but also takes on more of a cigar box component. The price? Only $9.69 in the Bottle Club®, making this another great option as an everyday red.  

Since the snow isn't supposed to start until after our regular closing time, we hope you'll take advantage of the weather window and take a bottle home with you. It'll make being snowed in tomorrow much more fun.
 

The Next Great Napa White

We briefly noted the Emmolo Wine Company in an earlier post, but we wanted to dig a bit more deeply today. The winery is located in Rutherford, the heart of the Napa Valley, within a very short distance of Honig, Frog's Leap, Beckstoffer and, of course, Caymus. You might say that Caymus is part of the extended family, as Cheryl Emmolo, the owner and founder, is the mother of Chuck Wagner, from Caymus. So you take a great location, add in an outstanding winemaking family, and the results are amazing.

A perfect pair

The Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted in the 1950's, and had been included in Caymus white wines, as well as other prestigious Napa labels. Emmolo Wine Company focused their attention exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.

In an appellation most often associated with big red wines, Emmolo leads with a white. If you could bottle freshness, it would be the Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc. The personality of the River Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford is prominent in this wine. It's true to the varietal with well-integrated citrus, lemongrass, hints of passion fruit, melon, apricot and nicely woven minerality throughout. Crisp and clean, yet nicely textured.  

Sauvignon Blanc inside

After a whole cluster pressing, the Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged in 100% cement tanks. These tanks are unlined, allowing the wine to go through a micro-oxygenation process (meaning the wine is able to breathe as it does through a barrel.) The use of cement tanks allowed Emmolo to maintain the vibrant crisp components of Sauvignon Blanc, producing wines that taste clean. Concrete allows the wines to ferment slowly, giving the wine greater depth. The tanks also impart mineral notes in the wine due to the materials used when building the tank (sand, crushed rock and limestone). Ther tanks are chemical-free and one of the most natural vessels available in winemaking.

Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc is available for only $19.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Ripped from the Headlines

The wine and spirits business gets into the news on occasion. ICYMI, here are some recent events on our world.

In the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City, a thief stole the whole truck, containing 11 kegs and three 24-can packs of Heineken, along with three cases of Georgi Vodka. Read the story here.

In France, police arrested 20 people in the theft of over €1 million worth of prestigious grands crus wines from Bordeaux vineyards. Thefts happened about every 15 days over a 6 month period. Read more here.

Girl Scout cookies paired with beer? These folks think so.

If you had just over $13.6 billion in cash, you might have out-bid Suntory (Osaka, Japan) for the Beam, Inc. portfolio. Other Beam brands include Maker's Mark, Basil Hayden and Knob Creek. The full story is here.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie partnered with noted French winemaking family Perrin to create a surprise hit Rose wine last year, under the name Chareau Miraval. We carried the wine until it sold out, and it even rated a spot (#84) in the 2013 Wine Spectator Top 100. They're extending their partnership to produce a "Super Provence" wine, to be stylistically similar to a Super Tuscan.  Read about that here.

Just In Time!

Let us also remind you that Valentine's Day is coming up this Friday, so you  may want to finish your shopping before we close at 7pm tonight. That way, you can relax about it until Friday. We'll go ahead and suggest some wines for Valentine's Day.

For the casual approach, we think GumDrop wines offer excellent value. These are all well-made, California sweet wines, making the perfect as an aperitif, or for after dinner. We stock the GumDrop Moscato, Pink Moscato, and Sweet Red. All are priced at just $7.96 in the Bottle Club®.

GumDrop Moscato is fragrant, luscious and light-bodied. Bursting with bright fruit flavors of peach and honeydew melon with a long, lingering finish. GumDrop Pink Moscato is also fragrant, luscious and light-bodied, with just a kiss of red wine. Brimming with exotic notes of orange blossom, honeyed peach and sweet cherry, this wine is love at first blush! Serve chilled. GumDrop Sweet Red is a floral, rich and velvety red wine blend. Enticing aromas and flavors of berries balanced with a full mouth feel and natural sweetness for a smooth, easy-drinking finish. Serve this chilled as well.

Exclusively at our Woodbridge store, may we suggest the Vinos Sin Ley Monastrell 2011. VSL Monastrell is a bright, pure expression of Monastrell. Made in the high-elevation region of Yecla from 45+ year-old vines. The vines are head pruned in the traditional manner and the vineyards are dry farmed (no irrigation). Organic farming allows VSL Monastrell to reveal a greater sense of purity. Minimal oak aging allows VSL Monastrell to better emphasize the true identity of the Monastrell grape. This wine has such a ripe, red berry, floral and spice character, with succulent and juicy flavors, it will pair with a wide range of cuisines and foods. VSL Monastrell's sweet fruit is well balanced and its acidity will help it pair well with Asian, Indian, Cajun and southwestern Tex-Mex spices.

Priced at only $12.99 in the Bottle Club®, the Vinos Sin Ley Monastrell rated 92 points from Wine Advocate. From the review: "Another stunning value from Yecla, the 2011 Vinos Sin Ley Monastrell (100% Mourvedre from organic vineyards) possesses a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, and chalky, earthy soil, and a heady, rich, full-bodied finish. It combines elegance with richness despite the fact that this area is known more for the rusticity of its wines than their finesse."

We'll wrap up today's suggestions with another wine that's available in both our Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores. The Pierre Henri-Morel Cotes du Rhone Village Signargues 2011 shows aromas of very ripe black fruit. It is gourmand with liquorice aromas and a spicy finish. You'll find potent flavors of black tea, plum and raisin. Very silky and interesting. It keeps changing in the glass.

This scored 91 points from Wine Spectator. From their review: "An elegant style, with silky texture and pure, unadorned bitter plum, blood orange and singed alder notes all racing along through the rooibos tea-tinged finish, revealing a buried mineral accent." All that for only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Someone on Twitter called Valentine's Day "Singles Awareness Day". We don't know about that, but we do know that Joe Canal's can help you find the perfect bottle of wine, spirits or beer for Valentine's Day, and every day of the year. This week, our Lawrenceville store has added a wine tasting on Wednesday night, 5-7pm, to further assist you in the selection process. In Woodbridge, the regular Friday night tasting will include a chocolate sampling, because that's another great combination. 

For more information about our wine tasting, please visit the Events Page on our web site. 

Olympic Spirits

Image by Benziger Family Winery

With the Olympic Games taking over prime time TV, we thought we'd offer a guide for those who might enjoy an alcoholic beverage with the television coverage.

To stay true to the choices normally associated with the host country, saying "Na zdrovya" (To Your Health) with vodka (think Stoli or Russian Standard) is appropriate. And since the Olympic Games started in ancient Greece, a nice bottle of Greek wine would also be fitting.

The rings are normally blue, black, red, yellow and green, on a white flag, so that at least one color of every nation's flag is included. So to really get into the spirit of the Games, drinks in those same colors are suggested. With an assist from Rachel Ray, here are some recipes:

Blue
Rim the glass with blue sugar
1 1/2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
3/4 oz. orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
3/4 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Yellow
 Rim the glass with Lemon Jell-o powder
2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cointreau
Combine the vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Black
Rim the glass with black salt

Make a margarita:
1 lime wedge, plus 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
Ice
2 1/4 ounces Camarena  silver tequila
1 1/2 ounces triple sec
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice; add the lime juice, tequila, triple sec and Simple Syrup. Cover; shake vigorously until cold, about 15 seconds. Strain into the salt-rimmed glass and toss in the lime wedge. 

 

Green

Rim the glass with minced fresh mint & sugar 

Make a pineapple mojito (serves 8):

1 bunch fresh mint, stems discarded
2 limes, cut into 8 wedges
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup canned crushed pineapple
1 cup Bacardi Silver Rum
4 cups ice cubes
1 cup club soda

In each of 8 highball glasses, crush together one-eighth of the mint leaves, 2 lime wedges and 1 tbsp. sugar. Stir in 2 tbsp. pineapple juice, 2 tbsp. crushed pineapple and 2 tbsp. rum until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 cup ice cubes and a splash club soda into each glass. 

 

Red

Rim the glass with Old Bay 

3 oz vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz olive brine

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an olive, and serve.

After all that effort, give yourself a Gold Medal and relax!

 

 

Friday Grab-Bag

I need to clear out my in-box, so let me briefly introduce some new products with special pricing.

We have the end-of-vintage close out of Rusden Driftsand Red 2010. One of Australia's most respected wineries, Rusden grows their grapes in Vine Vale, with a terroir that is deep white sand over red clay.

2010 was one of the lowest yielding Grenache vintages in their history. This makes for a very fruit driven style, balanced with some real lifted spice that their Grenache is famous for. The Shiraz adds white pepper on the nose and sweetness on the palate, while the Mataro component adds some rich, gamey complexity. Rated 91 points by IWC, this is in the Bottle Club® for only $16.98.

David Ramey is held in the highest esteem as a true innovator, a talented wine artisan and an industry revolutionary. More than 30 years ago David helped lead the charge away from technically proficient, squeaky clean wines toward natural winemaking methods that embrace the importance of terroir, creating distinctive wines of unique character. He's the consulting winemaker for the Brassfield Estate Winery Volcano Ridge Vineyard Eruption Red 2012 that's new to our shelves.

The 2012 Eruption Red is rich and intense. The wine has aromas of fresh blueberries, toasted brioche, black cherries, and mocha, giving way to flavors that are jammy, ripe and unctuous. The palate explodes with blackberries, dark currants, and clove while it layers supple and round coating tannins, making the wine hedonistic while being simultaneously elegant. Made from Syrah, Malbec, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah, Eruption is only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Another VIW (Very Important Winemaker) in the Napa Valley is Chuck Wagner. Among his other projects, Chuck brought us Caymus. We're now carrying his Emmolo Napa Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.

If you could bottle freshness, the Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc would be it. The personality of the River Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford is prominent in this Sauv Blanc. It's true to the varietal with well-integrated citrus, lemongrass, hints of passion fruit, melon, apricot and nicely woven minerality throughout. Crisp and clean; yet nicely textured. $19.99 in the Bottle Club®.

The Merlot is a rich example of the varietal, with Pomerol-like characteristics. It's highlighted by layers of ripe berries, earthy notes and hints of smoke and truffle on the finish. It’s bold, yet balanced. $54.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Our grab-bag wouldn't be complete without whisky. We've just brought in the Glenmorangie Companta, in 750ML bottles. On the nose, Companta (Scots Gaelic for ‘friendship’) exudes rich, autumnal scents of red berries and damp forest floors, with a hint of fragrant woodsmoke complementing notes of aromatic, nutty oak. Upon tasting, a spicy palate redolent of cherries and stewed fruits is slowly revealed, as notes of sugared plums, blood orange and rose-hip syrup emerge alongside milk chocolate and brown sugar. Companta lingers on with a rich, mouth-coating finish. $92.99 in the Bottle Club®.

So my in-box is a little lighter, and you know about some great new products. My job here is done for today.

Greatest Hits

We routinely introduce you to new products. Given that some are available in limited quantities, we think it's important to get that information out as quickly as we can. That being said, we're also going to re-visit some of the items that we currently carry, as a reminder that we have the best variety and value in New Jersey!

With Valentine's Day coming up next Friday, a sparkling wine is a great place to start this review. We know that lots of sparkling wine will be opened on February 14, and we think you ought to start with a Champagne.

L. Aubry Fils Champagne has already established itself as a top seller, and it's a great value as well. This non-vintage Champagne rated 92 points from Wine Advocate, and is only $34.99 in the Bottle Club®. That great price point makes it one of our most affordable true Champagnes. Citrus and mineral notes take the lead with green apple and pear flavors in the background.  A slight ginger note takes hold on the finish.  Aubry has a dry, clean style that has a very attractive green apple juiciness that keeps you coming back for more.

From the Wine Advocate review: "This contains just one-quarter each Chardonnay and Pinot; 45% Meunier; and a mixture of Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau (a.k.a. Pinot Gris). Nearly half of it is reserve wine, and more than half of that from a solera going back to 1998. If that sounds like a recipe for delivering complexity, you’re right and won’t be disappointed! Bittersweet perfume suggestive of gentian and iris mingles with intimations of fresh lime and sea breeze that in turn manifest themselves on a seductively silken palate in both juicy, vivacious exuberance and mouthwatering saliva-inducement. A scallop-like sweetly saline and mineral amalgam takes hold in a vibrant finish that leaves me caught between the urge to linger and the urge to take the next sip. This exceptional value by appellation standards is almost sure to prove worth following for several years, even if, sadly, few wine enthusiasts are likely to put that prediction to the test."  

A personal favorite is the Mocali Fossetti Rosso. As an everyday wine, this hits the intersection of quality, value and taste just about perfectly. This is 100% Sangiovese Grosso, the grape used to make Brunello.  This smells like a Brunello and even drinks like one, but the Bottle Club® price of $10.46 can’t be beat.

The 100% Sangiovese Grosso in fermented solely in stainless steel.  This is a deep hearty glass of Tuscan wine with wonderful freshness of fruit.  Made from all Montalcino fruit; it's an incredible value from this zone.  Sangiovese Grosso has thicker skins and smaller berries, yielding a more structured wine with deeper fruits, all that is present here with spiced aromas and dusty tannins.  A wonderful introduction to the wines of Montalcino.

Italian wines are all about Amore, and that's perfect for Valentine's Day.

Of course, the French know about love as well. If you want a very nice red wine for dinner, after the Aubry Champagne aperitif, the Pierre Henri-Morel Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues is a great choice. Signargues is the furthest South of all the appellations in the

Côtes du Rhône, and consists of four communities.

This also scored 91 points from Wine Spectator, making it another great value at only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®. From their review: "An elegant style, with silky texture and pure, unadorned bitter plum, blood orange and singed alder notes all racing along through the rooibos tea-tinged finish, revealing a buried mineral accent. Drink now through 2016." Our team adds, "Very silky and interesting.  It keeps changing in the glass.  Enjoy with pork, chicken or beef stews."

Our posts haven't given enough love to our beer department, so we want to mention one of our newer beers, Miller Fortune. Chris Spicacci, the Beer Supervisor at our Woodbridge store, just enjoyed a 6-pack and had this to say: "Miller Fortune is a golden lager brewed in part with Cascade hops to give it a citrusy bite and caramel malt to impart an amber hue. The flavor is moderately bitter with hints of sweetness, resting somewhere between a full-flavored craft beer and a light lager. 6.9%ABV."

Miller Fortune is available in 12 ounce bottles, 6- or 12-packs, as well as 24 ounce cans. The 6-packs are priced at $6.99, the 12-packs at $13.49, and the cans are $1.79 each. Miller Fortune is about instigating whatever the night has in store.

We hope that our gentle reminder about Valentine's Day will be helpful. As always, if you have questions, please ask our store staff.

Worth the Effort

We've received a nice mix of new products recently, and we wanted to share that information. We think that these items are worth the effort of going out in this miserable weather. Some of these are available in very limited quantities, so grab your boots and stop in to Joe Canal's.

Based on requests, we have a small amount of Coho Headwaters Red, rated at 91 points by Wine Advocate. Normally, it's available by allocation only, so we suggest getting your bottle asap.

Coho Headwaters Napa Valley Red Wine is a "Bordeaux blend" of four varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (56%); Merlot (38%); 5% Petite Verdot and 1 % Cabernet Franc. The majority (77%) of the vineyards for this wine are in the new "Coombsville" appellation of the Napa Valley. This rock strewn "terroir" provides deep and opaque red color, with supple red cherry/wild berry and cassis fruit aromas.

The same fruit tones and integrated oak nuances offer complex flavors and power on the palate. The supple tannins offer a silky fine-grained texture to the wine and a lingering, fruit-forward finish.

Headwaters is regularly priced at $44.99, but it's only $39.99 in the Bottle Club®. This definitely won't last long.

Another of Wine Spectator's 2013 Top 100 list is now available at Joe Canal's. The 2010 Chateau Doisy Daëne Barsac (94 points, #45 of the Top 100) is on our shelves, in limited quantities. From the WS review: A juicy, compact style, with tangerine, apricot, toasted almond and heather notes all rolled together at the core, waiting to unfurl fully through the unctuous, passion fruit-filled finish. Plenty remains in reserve, but this is hard to resist now. Drink now through 2030.   

The winemaker adds, "Doisy Daëne wine has a style of its own that privileges a bursting fruit concentrated by the "noble rot", strength, balance and subtlety of the flavors. The Doisy-Daëne style is all at once the expression of a great calcareous soil and a truly aesthetic family tradition, the one of distinguished white wines, of crystal-like purity, combining power and freshness, in an infinite youth."

Barsac, like most fine dessert wines, are challenging. The harvest is performed by experienced grape pickers in 3 to 6 successive selective pickings in order to collect at the ideal ripening stage, the grapes concentrated by the "noble rot". During three quarters of a century, oenological progress and sensible traditions have combined to create the characteristics of Doisy-Daëne's grapes. With this know-how an astonishingly simplified process has been elaborated. Extracted through slow pressings, the rich and pure juice ferments in oak barrels renewed by third. Aging then starts with 10 month in oak barrels, in the coolness of the cellars and is regulated by the weekly toping of the barrels and regular rackings. This is followed by 9 month in stainless steal tank before bottling.

The regular price of the Doisy Daëne Barsac is $69.99, but it's currently in the Bottle Club® for only $54.99/750ML bottle.

Also from France, also rated over 90 points, and also new to our stores is the 2010 Domaine Servin Chablis Vieilles Vignes Massale. This vineyard, situated in the area of Les Pargues, was replanted over 40 years ago using a technique of propagation whereby cuttings for the vines were selected from the best vines already in the vineyard and not from a clone. This rarely used technique is known as “Selection Massale”. These old uncloned vines produce extremely tiny yields and express a diversity of aromas from the Chablisien terroir.

100% Chardonnay, the nose is complex with mineral and white flower notes. The palate is rich, round and long with yellow fruits dominating. An incredible long finish with excellent balance. Scoring 92-93 points from Wine Advocate, this carries a regular price of $24.99, and is only $21.99 in the Bottle Club®.

A trio of wines well worth venturing out into the winter for.

Only the Best!

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge now have an extremely limited supply of Gran Patrón Piedra, an incredible extra añejo tequila. Better for our shoppers is that, right now, Gran Patrón Piedra is available nowhere else in the US other than New Jersey.

This extraordinary extra añejo tequila is crafted entirely from the “Tahona” process, a time consuming and ancient method for creating tequila. To produce Gran Patrón Piedra, first Patrón selects the highest-quality, 100 percent agave from the Highlands of Jalisco, which they then steam-cook and slowly crush with a large volcanic stone Tahona wheel. The resulting juice is then fermented and distilled along with the agave fiber. Piedra, which means “stone” in Spanish, is one of very few tequilas that is still produced in this age-old way. After distillation, Gran Patrón Piedra is meticulously aged for more than three years in new American and French oak barrels for a deep mahogany color and sweet, subtle aroma of fruit, fresh mushroom, light citrus, and toasted French oak. The distinctive Gran Patrón Piedra bottle, which was inspired by the Tahona stone, is packaged in an elegant box that converts into a beautiful display case.

The taste is sweet, yet rich and complex, combining an herbaceous agave flavor with light vanilla, and fresh mushroom finish that is both long-lasting and incredibly smooth. At 40% ABV, it's a subtle tequila meant for sipping.

Gran Patrón Piedra is priced at $315.99.