A Six-Pack of New

Every vendor of ours was rushing to make deliveries in time for Easter. If it's Thursday, then they just made it. And while we're on the subject of Easter, our stores will be open from 9am to 4pm on Sunday. Here are six of the newest products to grace our shelves.

Great Divide 20th Anniversary Ale

This Belgian-style Ale is a golden example of Great Divide's traditional bold character, but with a little something special to commemorate this milestone. Fermented with Viognier grape juice, 20th Anniversary is both delicate and assertive. Big without being brutish, cunning without being cloying, this is a grown-up beer for a big-time celebration. 8.2% ABV.

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout is another revered incarnation of their legendary imperial stout. They toned down the hops a bit to allow cocoa nibs to contribute some pleasing bitterness, while vanilla notes from the oak combine with the cocoa to create an aroma and flavor akin to a gourmet chocolate bar. A dash of cayenne keeps things lively, adding just a bit of heat to the finish. Another great Yeti? Hell yes. 9.5% ABV.  Both Anniversary and Yeti are available in 22oz Bombers.

Now the "Six-Pack" reference in the title of this post refers to the total number of new products that we'll discuss; it's not completely about the beer today. For our beer lovers, please watch our social media on Monday's, as that's when we'll highlight most of the anticipated deliveries.

Stickybeak Cabernet Sauvignon

From the winery notes: "They say curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. There are so many sides to Napa Cabernet, although we lean toward the least trodden path - true Cabernet aromatics of violets, blackcurrant, perfumed spice and leafy notes with a seamless palate that is not overdone. Well, it almost got the better of us, but finding both a Napa valley floor and hillside vineyard to express this seamless balance was the reward we needed.

Our objective is to create a seamless Cabernet Sauvignon - nothing overdone, especially the oak. To achieve this, we sought vineyards from both the valley floor in Rutherford and Oakville, and the high reaches of Diamond Mountain. The blend of earthy, fruit driven Cabernet from the valley floor combined with chiseled hillside tannins and acidity is very appealing. This, along with a small parcel of Merlot, gave us our desired palate weight and texture.

2011 was a cooler year in Napa, which is reflected in the earthy notes and minerality on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fleshy and ripe, with notes of red currant, chocolate and coffee. Rich and deep, the wine has finely structured tannins and just a hint of eucalyptus on the finish." Only $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Efe Raki

From the "you haven't tried this yet?" files, we introduce Efe Raki. Raki is an unsweetened, anise-flavored alcoholic beverage that's often enjoyed as an aperitif. Raki is closely associated with Turkish culture, and it is the national drink.

Efe is the first privately-run Raki producer in Turkey, and we'll carry their Classic (Blue) and Fresh Grapes labels. 

Efe Fresh Grape Raki is produced from fresh grapes ripening under the Aegean Sun, Efe Fresh Grape Raki has an indispensable taste for Raki lovers with a flavor that appeals to different palates.

Efe Fresh Grapes is the premium and smoother version of Classic Blue Efe.
 
Selected top-quality grapes and anise seeds of the Aegean coast gives Efe Raki its distinct taste and unmistakeable aroma every time. Triple-distilled grape alcohol is re-distilled in pot stills to offer the quality that is appreciated by even the most discriminating Raki drinkers. 

Banshee Rose of Pinot Noir 2013

Seriously, summer will be here, and you'll want a beautiful Rose on hand.  

2013 was a great year for making rosé and the summer of 2014 will be an even better time for drinking it.  The vintage offered Pinot Noir possessing nuanced layers of fruit and great tension, enabling Banshee to make the kind of lively, pale, fragrant and vivacious rosé that everyone loves.  It is an absolute knockout.

This is a wine of flirtatious hints.  The flavors are all early spring freshness as opposed to mid-summer lushness.  White flowers and apricot blossom aromas lead into kumquat, wild mountain strawberry, stone fruit and mint flavors all riding atop a pringly spine of acidity.  Open bottles disappear quickly. 

Only $17.96 in the Bottle Club®.

So there's the 411 on 6 new items. Please stop in on Friday for the Grab Bag.