Friday Grab Bag

Our weekly round-up of assorted odds and ends.

Events

Lawrenceville
Our regular wine tastings will be held at the normal times, 4-6pm today and 2-4pm tomorrow. To see the full tasting menu, please click here.

Also on Saturday, from 2-4pm, we're offering complimentary engraving of Johnnie Walker Blue bottles. Ask for full details at the store.

In addition to our wine tastings, look for the following events:

Bottle engraving on Sunday, June 8, 2-5pm. Click here for details.

Beer & Burgers After Hours event on Sunday, June 22, 7:70-9:30pm. This will be a fund-raiser for Ryan's Quest, as well as a great night featuring representatives from 15 breweries. Click here for more information.

Woodbridge
Our regular wine tastings will be held at the normal times, 4-6pm today and 1-3pm tomorrow. To see the full tasting menu, please click here.

We're having a bottle engraving weekend on June 7 and 8.  On Saturday, June 7, from 2-4pm, we're offering complimentary engraving of Johnnie Walker Blue bottles. Ask for full details at the store.And please click here for full details on the engraving for Sunday, June 8, 4-7pm.

Carla Facciolo

There will be a celebrity sighting on Saturday, June 21, from 1-5pm. TV's Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo will be in the store for a special bottle signing.

The Woodbridge Beer & Burgers After Hours event will be Sunday, June 29, 7:70-9:30pm. This will be a fund-raiser for Meals on Wheels, as well as a great night featuring representatives from 15 breweries. Click here for more information.

Looking out a little further, contact Wine Manager Debbie Miller Nelson (dnelson@joecanals.net) for details on a special Caymus dinner at LouCas in Edison on Thursday, July 10.

What's New

Look for Project Paso wines in our stores, starting with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The Cabernet is polished, vibrant and distinctive, with an aromatic nose filled with blackberry, sweet leather and undertones of smokiness. Hints of Belgian milk chocolate, nutmeg and black pepper add complexity to the supple fruit profile. Black currants and fresh fig compromise the core of this rich wine, while mocha-scented oak lingers throughout the wonderfully tannic finish. The mouth-watering acidity in the mid-palate will pair nicely with many cuisines. Enjoy with succulent braised short ribs, pan roasted veal chops with chanterelle mushrooms or lasagna with a hearty Bolognese sauce.

Project Paso's Zinfandel shows its Paso Robles roots with explosive scents of plum, dark cherry, cracked white pepper and violet. As bold and rich as this wine is on the nose, it is similarly robust on the palate. Flavors of ripe raspberry, pomegranate and cinnamon bark invigorate the senses and deliver a lush softness to the palate. This wine offers a compelling blend of dark juicy fruit and floral tones. The 20% Syrah adds uniqueness to this wine, an edge of wild fruit that integrates seamlessly with the vanilla and dill notes coming from the 12 months American oak aging. The finish is impressively long, framed by light, dusty tannins.

This robust Zinfandel pairs well with full-flavored dishes, enjoy with an appetizer of cured meats and olives, a bbq pulled pork sandwich on a homemade sesame bun or pecan and bourbon bread pudding for dessert.

These wines will be available for only $11.29 in the Bottle Club®.

Ripped from the Headlines

We're again re-visiting the bourbon shortage issue. There's some good news this time, as Diageo is planning a new distillery. Read the article here.  

With so many Commencements happening now, we offer our Congratulations to the Class of 2014.

What To Watch For

With the Memorial Day holiday, it was a slow week for new wine and spirits items. Here's a quick look at what's just arrived, or will arrive shortly.

Belvedere Mango Passion

Tropical fruit is a natural for the summer, and Belvedere Mango timed its arrival perfectly. Not even white sandy beaches say summer like Belvedere Mango Passion. This guilt-free creation is made with real fruit and contains no artificial flavor or added sugar of any kind. Belvedere's unparalleled maceration process of soaking mango, passion fruit, tangerine, mandarins and lime directly into the vodka, has created the ideal summertime beverage.  Perfect with tonic or ginger ale and a slice of lime.

Hints of mango, supported by notes of ripe passion fruit and a zest of mandarin is sure to please the most finicky of noses. Tropical fruit bursts onto the palate, as snaps of mango and zesty lime battle for your attention. Luscious fruit notes, tempered by soft tangerine and a hint of sweet spice, lead to a lingering finish of juicy mango and aromatic passion fruit with a refreshing lime lift. Available in the 750ML size for only $33.99.

It might not be Mixology Monday, but here's a great recipe for the Belvedere Mango Passion. I think it just became 5 o'clock here!

Poolside Passion Pitcher

6 oz Belvedere Mango Passion

Top with fresh pressed lemonade

Combine ingredients with ice in a large pitcher and serve with slices of fresh mango. Serves 4-6.

Cameron Hughes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Lot 395

If you're grilling salmon or chicken this summer, and that covers most everyone, you'll need a Pinot Noir. Look for Cameron Hughes Lot 395, a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, as the perfect partner for those grilled meals. 

Inviting aromas of fresh raspberry, cherry and cola spice swirl around a dark earth core of forest floor, black fruits, and wet stone. Beautifully aromatic and intense. On the palate, a juicy texture is supported by dark fruits and cherry spice along with well-integrated French oak. Terrific structure is perfectly balanced by broad sweeping tannins. No need to decant - just pop and pour!

When you can find an outstanding Pinot Noir for under $20, grab it. Lot 395 is available for only $16.96 in the Bottle Club®.

The New Brew Review

Profiles of some of this week's anticipated beer deliveries. A welcome to those who are new to our Bottle Blog. Every Monday through Friday, we blog about the world of beer, wine and spirits, along with related topics like food and travel. Please check back often, to stay up to date with Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Ballast Point Sea Monster Imperial Stout

A beast of an Imperial Stout. Sea Monster Imperial Stout explores the darkest reaches of the traditional oatmeal stout. This bold, rich brew first lures you in with roasted coffee notes, then grabs hold with hints of bittersweet chocolate and currant. Backed with a perfect hop balance, you’ll soon discover this is one monster of mythic proportions. 10% ABV, 65 IBU's.

Fegley's Brew Works Blueberry Belch

Made With Real Blueberry Fruit. Each 15bbl batch is made using 150 pounds of 100% real fruit, and no added sweeteners or flavors.

Blueberry Belch is a fantastic summer session beer that pairs well with poultry and salads, as well as earthy cheeses like camembert and fontina. It goes great with the PA Dutch and German dishes at Fegley’s Brew Works in the Lehigh Valley, and it's a hit at brunch with egg dishes, pancakes, waffles and bacon.

With a definite aroma of blueberries, this slightly cloudy (unfiltered real fruit) ale has notes of blueberries that stand out on the initial taste with a pleasing acidity. The fruit flavor follows throughout combined with a satisfying breadiness, and its moderate carbonation brings back the great flavor again…and again…

Voted Best Summer Ale, Philadelphia Summer Ale Fest 2011. 4.2% ABV, 10 IBU's.


Also look for Fegley's Brew Works Space Monkey, a Saison/Farmhouse Ale brewed with real raspberries.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

A refreshing neo-Berliner Weisse, Festina Peche is available in 4-packs and on draft during the sweaty months.

Sadly, there are only a few breweries left in Berlin still brewing the Berliner Weisse style, which is characterized by its intense tartness (some say sour). There were once over 70 breweries in Berlin alone making this beer!

In addition to fermentation with an ale yeast, Berliner Weisse is traditionally fermented with lactic cultures to produce its acidic (or green apple-like) character. Served as an apertif or summertime quencher, Festina is delicately hopped and has a pale straw color. To soften the intense sourness, Berliner Weisse is traditionally served with a dash of essence of woodruff or raspberry syrup.

In Festina Peche, since the natural peach sugars are eaten by the yeast, the fruit complexity is woven into both the aroma and the taste of the beer so there is no need to doctor it with woodruff or raspberry syrup. Just open and enjoy!

Lagunitas NightTime Ale

There are two kinds. There is the DayTime kind, which is bright and welcoming and then there is the NightTime kind, which should never be confused with the DayTime. NightTime is dark and deep and may take you to unexpected places, places that the DayTime cannot. But then, the NightTime is not suited for ordinary life and ordinary tasks. In fact, NightTime may be the answer for that sort of thing, meaning that those sorts of things may never get done. Things take time in the NightTime, things slow down and you can pause (you have to, actually) and investigate carefully to find that level of objective detachment that is only possible under the spell of the NightTime. Seek the Day, but fear not the Night. 8.6% ABV, 73 IBU's.

Left Hand Homefront IPA

It’s more American than apple pie, It’s an American IPA. Burnished copper color with a creamy white head. An aggressive aroma of pine followed by a nice citrus finish reminiscent of lemon curd and orange peel. Biscuit, honey, and grapefruit pith notes play ball on your tongue, followed by a memorable dry bitter finish.

Nearing the end of the beer’s fermentation, orange zest and maple bats are added to the tank. Louisville Slugger sends each participating brewery specially engraved bats to add to the aging process.

Originally developed in 2011 by Fremont Brewing Co. and Center of the Universe Brewing Co., Homefront IPA will be released by seven additional breweries this year: Left Hand Brewing Co., Cigar City, Perennial Artisan Ales, Sly Fox, St. Arnold’s, 21st Amendment, The Phoenix Ale Brewery, and Stone Brewing Co. All sales of Homefront IPA will go towards Operation Homefront, a national non-profit providing emergency assistance to military families and wounded warriors.

A good beer with a good cause.

Santa Barbara Sunshine!

A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the NADIA Cabernet Sauvignon fulfills and highlights the delicious potential of the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot were all crushed and fermented separately and blended at 10

months.

The wine is aged for 16 months in 30% new French oak, 20% new American oak and the remaining 50% in neutral French oak.

This focused and supple Bordeaux blend unveils aromas of velvety currant and plum entwined with hints of juniper berry and a touch of orange peel. Opulent in mouth feel, this wine boasts sound acidity, firm tannins and a whisper of sweet oak giving this wine a soft but lasting finish.

Regularly priced at $25.99, this is available in the Bottle Club® for only $19.99

Friday Grab Bag

Before everyone takes off for the long weekend, allow us to present our weekly round-up of stuff.

Memorial Day

This holiday was created to honor those who died while serving in the armed forces of the United States. We pause to remember those who gave all.

Special Events

Our calendars are filling rapidly.

Lawrenceville:  Today, please join us for a free tasting of Michter's Whiskey, 4-6pm. Tomorrow, we have free hot dogs (while supplies last), from 1-3pm, along with a visit from the Bud Light lime-a-Rita car.

Our regular Friday (4-6pm) and Saturday (2-4pm) wine tastings resume next weekend.

Eligible for engraving on June 8

On Saturday, May 31, from 2-4pm, we're offering free engraving on Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottles. On Sunday, June 8, from 2-5pm, we're offering engraving on a select number of bottles. Click here for details on the June 8 event.

We have a special After Hours Beer & Burgers fundraiser for Ryan's Quest on June 22, 7:30-9:30pm. Get the details for this fun event here.

Carla Facciolo

 Woodbridge: Tomorrow, we have free soft pretzels (while supplies last), from 1-3pm.

Our regular Friday (4-6pm) and Saturday (1-3pm) wine tastings resume next weekend.

On Saturday, June 7, from 1-3pm, we're offering free engraving on Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottles.

Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo will visit on Saturday, June 21, from 1-5pm, for a bottle signing event.

There will also be an After Hours Beer & Burgers event in Woodbridge on June 22, from 7:30-9:30pm. Details will be posted shortly.

Ripped From The Headlines

-According to the U.S. Beer Market Impact Databank Review and Forecast, total U.S. beer volume—excluding non-alcoholic brews—fell 1.5% between 2009-2014. However, specialty beers rose by 14% in that same time frame. IPA's have been a key growth area. (Source: Shanken Daily News)

-Former NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Damon Huard are now in the wine business. Click here for details.

-After the recent news that maybe resvaritrol didn't work as first suggested, a new bit of research offers better news. This bit of scientific research found that red wine was effective at removing the bacteria which causes cavities and tooth loss. Click here for the article, but we think more extensive study should be undertaken.

Enjoy the holiday weekend. Be safe and have fun.

Then This Happened

To prepare for the busy holiday weekend, our buyers brought in more great new products. There are some outstanding values here, so we had to blog again.

Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, Canal's Family Selection

The newest addition to the Canal's Family Selection (CFS) series! CFS spirits are always bottled from hand-selected barrels. Here, each bottle came from a single barrel, meaning this is a very limited-edition whiskey.

Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey is the first truly new variety of American straight whiskey introduced since Prohibition. Bernheim is also the first whiskey to use winter wheat as its primary grain creating a soft, sweet flavor and medium finish.

Produced at the namesake Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, Bernheim is aged in Rickhouse Y at Heaven Hill's Nelson County facilities. Bernheim has earned numerous medals and distinctions for their award-winning taste since beginning in January of 2000.

As a straight whiskey, Bernheim meets all the same criteria as Bourbon or rye -- Bernheim is aged a minimum of two years in a new, charred oak barrel, distilled at less than 160 proof, and contains no coloring, flavoring or blending agents.

This is definitely something unique for the whiskey (or whisky) lover, and would make a great gift for Father's Day or Graduation. But you have to act fast, as each store received only about 1 case. Priced at $29.99.

Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne 2013

Mont Gravet has a pale, bright yellow color, with a very intense and refreshing nose. It displays flavors of citrus fruit and black currant leaf.

This is also a Wine Spectator Best Value. From their review: "Shows good acidity behind the bright green herb and crunchy pippin apple flavors, with notes of citrus zest. Hints of richness emerge on the creamy finish. Colombard. Drink now."

At only $7.49, this should be your summertime white wine. Mont Gravet will be a perfect pairing with seafood and salads.

Cameron Hughes Russian River Chardonnay Lot 415

As the premier American negociant, Cameron Hughes always delivers amazing quality and solid value. This Russian River Chardonnay is no exception.

Lot 415 shines with vivid notes of white peach, floral honey, lime, dried apricot, and crushed rocks. Focused fruit and lavish texture conspire to deliver a long and sinuous mineral finish. Splendid.

You'll find Lot 415 to be a perfect compliment to grilled chicken or lobster mac & cheese. This should arrive in the next day or two, and is priced at $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Curious Beasts Red

The Evocative Wrapped Bottles collection is made up of beautifully labeled wine bottles in an innovative, patent-pending resilient wrapped paper, made in the United States. The wraps perform like a fully synthetic paper but print as traditional pulp-based paper. It’s made with a poly layer between two sheets of traditional paper; the poly layer imparts tear-resistant qualities. The resulting "wine wrap" achieves the look and feel of a hand-wrapped bottle while production of the packaging remains at a high level of consistency. The wraps are 100% FSC certified and recyclable via single-stream recycling.

A rich blended wine that is composed of fruit harvested with one thought in mind: Big ripe rich FLAVOR. Not for the faint of heart, this is a BLOOD RED WINE, meant to deliver on the promise of its label . . . dark as night, rich as sin, and scary good. Serve with beef, lamb or pork Blend: Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Franc. Only  $14.99 in the Bottle Club®. This also should arrive in the next day or two.

If you're getting an early start on the holiday weekend, be safe and have fun. Otherwise, please check this space tomorrow for the Friday Grab Bag, and don't miss our tastings (beginning tonight in Lawrenceville) and free food (both stores on Saturday).

This Just In

Here's our weekly review of new products at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Bacardi Mango Fusion

We ought to start with a rum that is all about summertime. Bacardi has created a unique fusion of mango and orange rums that creates an unforgettable taste experience. Mango Fusion fuses the refreshing and juicy flavor of mango with a recognizable hint of orange.

The Bacardi Mango Fusion is currently available in the 1 liter bottle, and it's priced at $20.99.

Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon

Strictly speaking, this is not new to our store. This is, however, only available on occasion, and always sells out quickly.

The Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon showed a beautiful degree of richness and structure because of the season’s excellent weather. Coppola added small amounts of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot to enrich the complexity of the fruit profile. Full-bodied with sturdy tannins, deep, layered fruit character, and a lushness on the palate, Coppola Director’s Cut Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a mélange of red and black berry flavors, cherries, cassis, notes of lavender, and a broad range of spices and toasted oak. Will show best with a few years of aging, but can be enjoyed now after an hour or two of decanting.

Decadent and complex, Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet is fragrant with exotic notes of clove and toasted oak. Aged primarily in French oak barrels, this wine will develop further for several more years.

Only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Carla Facciolo Wines

These wines should arrive today at our Woodbridge store only. In advance of the bottle signing appearance (June 21) by TV's Mob Wives star Carla Facciolo, Woodbridge will carry the Facciolo Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Prosecco.

The Montepulciano is deep and dark in color, with hints of blackberry and chocolate in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied with good structure and balance and a finish that lingers on and on. Ideal to pair with steaks, stews, roasts and pastas with with red sauce.

Not your typical Trebbiano, a wine that is a pale straw in color with hints of green apple in the nose. on the palate the wine bursts with freshness, balanced acidity and a finish that is dry, crisp and delicious. The ideal wine to serve with seafood, poultry and casual conversation.

The Montepulciano and Trebbiano are priced at $8.99 each in the Bottle Club®, while the Prosecco is available for only $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Block 478 Wines

Under the direction of consulting winemaker Alison Crowe, Block 478 wines express the individual character of each vineyard site, resulting in consistent wines from each vintage. Every block of grapes harvested is 10 acres or less; because of this they are able to focus their attention on every vine.

Their minimalist approach to winemaking and hands-on attention to detail, results in consistently high quality wines year after year. Every step of the winemaking process is done carefully. The grapes are sorted 3 times before fermentation: on the vine, going into the picking bins, and on a sorting table before fermentation. The result is the purest expression of the fruit in the wine.

We are bringing in four varities of Block 478 wine: Chardonnay ($11.96 in the Bottle Club®), Pinot Noir ($12.96 in the Bottle Club®), Zinfandel ($12.96 in the Bottle Club®) and the cabernet Sauvignon ($14.96 in the Bottle Club®).

Laetitia NADIA Cabernet Sauvignon

A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the NADIA Cabernet Sauvignon fulfills and highlights the delicious potential of the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard. Th e Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot were all crushed and fermented separately and blended at 10 months. 

Th e wine is aged for 16 months in 30% new French oak, 20% new American oak and the remaining 50% in neutral French oak.

Th is focused and supple Bordeaux blend unveils aromas of velvety currant and plum entwined with hints of juniper berry and a touch of orange peel. Opulent in mouth feel, this wine boasts sound acidity, fi rm tannins and a whisper of sweet oak giving this wine a soft but lasting finish. 

Regularly priced at $25.99, this is available in the Bottle Club® for only $19.99, and should be in the stores within the next day or two.

As usual, we have more new products that we can review. Please ask one of team members to show you our new items when you're next in the store.

From Bordeaux, Carrying 92 Points!

The 2010 Chateau Hanteillan Haut-Medoc is an excellent wine that rated 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and Cellar Selection. From WE: An extraordinary value following the tradition of the great wines from Haut-Medoc but at an awesome price. Ripe and dense, with great tannins; opulent, rich black fruit; and a fresh, juicy aftertaste.

 The estate, which dates to 1179, consists of 82 hectaires, planted to 50% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

After harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed and crushed. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats, which are equipped with a thermal regulation system. The vats are then left 2 or 3 weeks for maceration before going forward with the running-off of the wine.

During the maceration and the running-off, Cellarmaster Béatrice Friquet takes a sample from each vat, and after many tastings, chooses the different vats, which are going to be blended together. Chateau Hanteillan's wines are aged traditionally in oak barrels for 18 to 24 months before bottling, which is done on-site.

And the end result is today's featured wine, available in the Bottle Club® for only $14.96

Summer Kick-Off

I think it's safe to say that we're all happy to have reached the unofficial start of summer. Whether you're enjoying the extra day off in the back yard, on the beach (for everyone up north) or down the shore (for everyone in the south), we have some suggestions for you.

Of course, Memorial Day weekend is often associated with ice cold beer. You know that Joe Canal's has that covered, whether you prefer a craft beer or a national brand. Many people like sangria in the summer, and we have plenty of choices (don't miss the Senor Sangria tasting in Lawrenceville on Thursday). But on a Mixology Monday, we have to highlight a few cocktails that are perfect for the holiday weekend.

We're going with punchbowl drinks exclusively, which are always appropriate for parties.

Canadian Punch

16 oz Wild Turkey Rye whiskey
8 oz Appleton Gold Jamaica Rum
3 Lemons, sliced thinly
Half a pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into half-inch rings
3/4 cup Sugar
5 cups Water
1 Quart-sized ice block (fill a quart bowl with water and freeze overnight)
Nutmeg (whole)

Combine the whiskey, rum, lemon and pineapple in a punch bowl and let stand for at least 3 hours (overnight is best). Dissolve the sugar in the water and stir into the whiskey mixture. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. To serve, slide the ice block into the bowl and grate about a quarter of a whole nutmeg over the top. Ladle out 3-ounce servings into punch cups. (This recipe makes about 24 servings.)

Mount Gay Rum Punch

19 oz Mount Gay Eclipse Rum
18 oz Water
12 oz Grenadine
13 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
4 oz Lime juice
1 oz Angostura Bitters
1 tsp Freshly grated nutmeg

Add all the ingredients to a punch bowl and stir to combine. Let stand for 2 hours and serve in punch cups filled with ice. Garnish each cup with a cherry.

Fancy Bourbon Punch

1 liter, Maker's Mark Bourbon
1 cup granulated sugar
Peels of 3 lemons and 1 orange
Juice of the 3 lemons and 1 orange
1 liter of strong tea, preferably green tea
250ML sparkling wine
Freshly grated nutmeg

In a punch bowl, muddle the citrus peels and sugar until the sugar starts to clump together

Brew the tea for about 30 minutes, remove the tea leaves or bags, and allow to cool

Stir in the juice of the peeled fruit, tea and bourbon

Top with sparkling wine and freshly grated nutmeg just before serving.

You have all week to pick up the ingredients at Joe Canal's and practice.

Friday Grab Bag

We're wrapping up our week with a collection of assorted topics that we think you should know about.

Tastings and Events

Lawrenceville: We have our regularly scheduled wine tastings on Friday (4-6pm) and Saturday (2-4pm).

On Thursday, May 22, we'll host a free tasting of Senor Sangria, from 5-7pm. At 6pm, we'll have a specialty tapping of Big Muddy Brewing Co. Galaxy IPA. On Friday, May 23, we're hosting a free tasting of Michter's whiskey, from 4-6pm. And on Saturday, May 24, we're giving away free hot dogs, from 1-3pm (while supplies last), plus we're having a visit from the Bud Light Lime-a-Rita car.

Woodbridge: We have our regularly scheduled wine tastings on Friday (4-6pm) and Saturday (1-3pm). At 6pm on Friday, we'll have the specialty tapping of Big Muddy Brewing Co. Vanilla Stout.

On Saturday, May 24, we're giving away soft pretzels (while supplies last), from 1-3pm. Looking ahead, we just confirmed a celebrity appearance and bottle signing by Carla Facciolo, from TV's Mob Wives for Saturday, June 21, from 1-5pm.

Carla Facciolo

Get It Before It's Gone

We have a few remaining cases of the 2011 vintage of the Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, at the impossibly low Bottle Club® price of $64.99. One of the iconic Napa wines, this vintage rated at 92 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A fleshy, showy youngster, putting ripe fruit and jazzy oak on display. An impressive 2011 that reverberates with ripe cherry, plum and currant notes that will be at their most appealing early on, as this veers toward dryer tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2020." 

What's New

Smith & Son Wine Co. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

2011 Concannon Chardonnay, $6.98 in the Bottle Club®. 

Beach Bag White, 1.5L, $13.49.

Ripped from the Headlines

Remember that talk about resveratrol, an anti-oxidant found in red wine and chocolate, and about its health benefits? Here, Forbes highlights a study that questions the results. We think much more research is needed.

We're Number 1! Wine Spectator says that the US leads the world in consuming wine. Read the article here.

Planning a wedding or special event? Click here to see the Top 10 trends in wedding drinks, from Signature Cocktails to a keg bar!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Take a Look at What We Just Got!

Our buyers have been pretty active lately. We know that people are out and about more, and with Memorial Day, Graduations and Father's Day coming up, we have plenty of reasons to add new items to our shelves.

We covered craft beer in yesterday's blog post (click here to read it), so we'll cover wine and spirits today.

The Balvenie

The Balvenie is one of our most popular single malt Scotch whisky's, and it's also a brand that offers several line extensions. The latest addition to our stores is the 12 year old Single Barrel.

First released in 2013, this Single Barrel expression from The Balvenie has been aged for 12 years in a first fill Bourbon cask of a single distillation. While each cask is subtly different, The Balvenie Malt Master hand selects only those casks characterized by sweetness and subtle vanilla oak to be bottled as The Balvenie Single Barrel. Each bottling forms a limited edition of no more than 300 hand-numbered bottles drawn from a single cask, making each bottle unique and unrepeatable.  The Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year old is bottled at the higher strength of 47.8%.

On the nose, honey notes are overlaid with sweet fruits and subtle spices, while the taste is rich and complex with a deep vanilla oakiness. The finish is lingeringly sweet. And, befitting a superior dram like this, the availability is limited. Priced at $79.99.

Domaine de la Colombe Rosé Coteaux Varois en Provence 2013

Warmer weather always means Rosé season. This outstanding wine is Syrah 30%, Grenache 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%.  The vinification of rosés is a mix of both traditional and modern techniques: stripping, pressing and cool-steeping of the grapes, followed by bleeding the must that is fermented under controlled temperatures of 18°-20°C in order to extract the maximum aroma.

The wine is a light pink with an expressive nose. The palate offers a fresh and clean fruit with a lot of finesse. Domaine de la Colombe Rosé is a great pairing for seafood, fresh fishes and grilled meat. It stand very well by itself as an aperitif. Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Taylor Fladgate 1964 Single Harvest

Taylor's holds one of the most extensive reserves of very old cask aged Port of any producer. They include a collection of rare Single Harvest Ports. These are Ports from a single year which age to full maturity in seasoned oak casks and display the year of harvest on the label.

Taylor’s has decided to make a limited release, each year, of a Single Harvest Port made 50 years previously. 

The first in the series is a 1964 Single Harvest of exceptional character.The 1964 Single Harvest release will be followed a year later by the launch of an equally rare and exceptional 1965. Further annual releases of 50 year old Single Harvest Ports will follow.

During its five decades of aging in oak casks, this wine has taken on an attractive pale mahogany color, with olive amber highlights. On the nose, the wine displays fine oaky aromas and complex spicy, nutty, cigar box notes against a warm mellow background of butterscotch and molasses. The smooth, velvety palate is lifted by a crisp acidity which gives the wine an attractive freshness in spite of its age. The finish is immensely long with rich, spicy, black pepper flavors lingering on the palate.

Our allocation was three bottles, at our Woodbridge store only. $244.99 in the Bottle Club®.

It's a difficult transition, but next up is an everyday red wine.

Portillo Malbec

Portillo Malbec 2011 is the FIRST Malbec in Argentina to achieve a Zero Carbon Footprint certification from The Carbon Trust-- a world-leading organization helping businesses, governments and the public sector to accelerate the move to a low-carbon economy through carbon reduction, energy-saving strategies and commercializing low-carbon technologies.

The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. After destemming, the grapes are transferred to stainless steel tanks, where cold maceration takes place at a temperature of 45 -50°F. Fermentation lasts for 10 to 15 days. After fermentation, the wine is racked by gravity, with no pumping, and is aged in stainless steel tanks.

The wine is a deep ruby red. Rich with fruit, the nose is reminiscent of plums and blackberries. Fresh flavors of red currant and black cherry supported by sweet, round tannins ending in a long finish with notes of cinnamon and cloves. Only $8.99 in the Bottle Club®.

As with our craft beer deliveries, we simply can't list every wine and spirit product that we receive. Next time you're in the store, however, don't hesitate to ask one of our team members about our new items.

Craft Beer Week Deliveries

It seems like we celebrate Craft Beer Week every day at Joe Canal's. Our Growler stations are open throughout the shopping day, plus we have canned and bottled craft beer in virtually every possible package type. So while we certainly support Craft Beer Week, we just wonder what took everyone else so long to catch up!

Click here to visit our coupon page. There, you'll find money-saving offers on several craft beers, as well as wine.

Here are some of the craft brews that are scheduled for delivery to Joe Canal's this week:

Smuttynose Bouncy House IPA

What is Bouncy House? It’s the next step in Smuttynose's quest to brew the perfect low-alcohol, high-flavor, hoppy American ale. They learned a few things from brewing ParadoX recently, like lowering the alcohol content and avoiding the term "session". When you taste Bouncy House, you’ll taste a modest malt bill of North American 2-row, British pale ale malt, C-60 and Aromatic malt mashed for a refreshingly light body that leaves plenty of spotlight for a melange of Warrior, Calypso, El Dorado and Citra hops. This is a year-round IPA.

Blue Mountain Brewery Local Species

A hybrid beer unlike any other. Belgian fermentation, American hops, Virginia foothills deep-well water and Kentucky bourbon barrels. Bizarrely delicious. 6.6% ABV.

Flying Dog Brewery Easy IPA

This is an American Session IPA. Aromas of grapefruit and subtle spice meld into lemon and pine hop notes balanced with crisp cracker malt. Pair this with tailgates, mowing the lawn, and anything else that calls for a light, yet flavorful, beer. It's available year 'round, and has a 4.7% ABV.

Weyerbacher Viridis Lupulus

Viridis Lupulus is a celebration of the renewal of spring!  This new seasonal “Spring Hop” brew will be released  each year in spring/early summer.  Each brew will feature a different selection of hops from year to year.  Viridis Lupulus is unfiltered and bottle conditioned, packaged in a 750ml cork and cage bottle.

For 2014, Viridis Lupulus is made with a ridiculous amount of El Dorado, Centennial and Bravo hops. Weyerbacher used a new piece of equipment on this new brew: The Hop Minion! It’s a dry-hopping recirculation pump and special vessel which helps get the most out of the hops added to the fermenters. Please don’t cellar it – Viridis Lupulus is best consumed fresh!

Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company Highwater Hefeweizen

From nearby Bucks County, PA. Highwater Hefeweizen is NCBC's version of an authentic Bavarian wheat beer.  Brewed with nearly 60% white wheat, Pilsen malt, and a touch of Munich for color and flavor they ferment this beer with an authentic German Hefeweizen yeast that gives it a distinctive fruity banana flavor matched with a light spicy clove finish. German Hallertau and Tettnanger hops are used exclusively in this brew as well making this beer as truly German and authentic as possible.  4.8% ABV.

The Bruery Smoking Wood

Brewed with beachwood and cherrywood smoked malt, and aged in rye whiskey barrels, Smoking Wood is a delicious demonstration of what wood has to offer when it comes to beer. This imperial smoked porter is brewed with a hefty amount of rye malt, contributing to a full body and light spiciness. Toasty oak, caramel and vanilla flavors balance the smokiness, contributing to an intense yet refined flavor profile. ABV: 10%.

The above six-pack of new craft beers are only a small sampling of the great choices at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Whether you prefer Growlers or bombers, mix-a-six or a case, we have some of the best beers and ales around, with the lowest prices and outstanding customer service. Come and celebrate Craft Beer Week with Joe Canal's.

Thirsty Tuesday, Too?

If you haven't already tried the Santa Martina Rosso, you've likely seen it on our shelves. It's a "daily red" kind of wine, perfect with a meal or with friends. We've just added the Pinot Grigio from Santa Martina, offering the same kind of quality and value as in the red.

Grown in the northeastern region of Veneto, Italy, Santa Martina is made from 100% Pinot Grigio. The grapes are hand-picked from hillside vineyards 750 feet above sea level with well-drained, mineral-rich, volcanic basaltic rock and calcerous clay soils.

After handpicking, grapes are brought to the winery for vinification. The grapes are gently crushed by pneumatic press and selected yeasts are added prior to three weeks of cold fermentation at 57°F.

It has a crisp, vibrant texture and delicate aromas of white fruit and apple are offset by notes of acacia blossoms and almonds.

Santa Martina Pinot Grigio is available for the Bottle Club® price of only $9.96. The warmer weather is the perfect time to try out a new white wine with a salad, with seafood, or with friends.

Cheers to our Graduates

With so many colleges and universities located within a short distance of our two stores, we want to wish the best to the Class of 2014. If you're leaving the area, we hope you'll be back to visit us. With graduation parties on our mind, we offer a few themed cocktails for the occasion.

The Graduate

1 1/2 oz Southern Comfort
1/2 oz Amaretto
1 oz pineapple juice

Shake ingredients together with crushed ice. Pour into highball glass, garnish with mint leaves.

The Phd

You'll find several different recipes bearing this name. We like this one for its simplicity.

2 oz Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
6 oz Lemonade

Pour ingredients over crushed ice in a pint glass. Stir. Garnish with mint leaves.

 The Celebration

You'll also find several different recipes bearing this name. We like this one for its balance and range of flavors.

1 oz Hennessy Cognac
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Lemon juice
1 1/2 oz Bacardi Rum

Shake all ingredients over ice and pour into cocktail glass and garnish with orange peel.