Wine Wednesday, with Craft Beer

We're back to our regularly-scheduled Wednesday posting, featuring newly-arrived products at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Here's what has just arrived:

Gnarly Head wines have been popular choices at both of our stores. The Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir have delivered exceptional value. Gnarly Head features 35 to 80 year-old, gnarled, head trained vines that, over the decades, have learned to do one thing well - produce exceptionally full flavored grapes. We've just added Gnarly Head Authentic Red and Gnarly Head Merlot to our shelves.

Authentic Red is a rowdy blend based on Zinfandel, Syrah and Merlot, with a splash of Malbec. The Zin component in this blend hails from some of the oldest vines in California, and these brash, unruly vines produce full flavored grapes. Authentic Red has a juicy core of lush black cherry and raspberry flavors with layers of spice and vanilla. Boldly pair this wine with BBQ ribs, a hearty burger, or go all out with New Orleans style red beans and rice.

Gnarly Head Merlot is boldly fruit-driven, with concentrated black stone fruit flavor. The winemakers carefully select grapes from California’s finest growing regions, choosing only the best fruit. Gnarly Head Merlot rallies to heighten the boldness of this often quiet, soft-spoken wine. Its dark fruit and balanced tannins score big on your palate.

GH Merlot has lush, velvety tannins and rich fruit, with aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry, and blackberry with ripe plum, sweet herbs and a hint of spice. Don’t be shy, Gnarly Merlot is bold enough to pair with hearty dishes, try with piping hot pizza, pork loin, porterhouse steak and roasted vegetables.

These wines are available for only $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Lagunitas Equinox is a creamy, pale oat ale hopped up with a huge charge of Equinox and Simcoe hops for a piney, eucalyptusy, cedary, sprucey, foresty blast. Available in 22oz. bottles.

J. Lohr wines, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon, are also top sellers for us. We're now carrying wines from the J. Lohr Cuvée Series, 2011 vintage.

This magnificent trio of wines features three distinct blends, and represents an artistic approach to winemaking using similar blending philosophies practiced by the Grand Cru Chateaux from Pauillac, St. Emilion and Pomerol—yet with a distinctly California accent. J. Lohr Cuvée PAU is Cabernet Sauvignon-based with Bordeaux varietal blenders, which may include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Cabernet Franc is the backbone for Cuvée St. E, which is complemented by similar varietal blenders. With its base in Merlot, Cuvée POM gains vibrancy with the addition of these spice-rack varietals.

Grapes for each wine are harvested exclusively from J. Lohr's most exceptional Paso Robles vineyards, with gravelly, well-drained structure so reminiscent of the legendary vineyards of Bordeaux, and are produced in limited quantity from only the most exceptional vintages.

Cuvée St. E captures the ripe but savory side of Bordeaux style wine. The 2011 is dark in color with a red hue. The initial aroma is plum confection with dark chocolate and hazelnut. Zesty pomegranate fruit and blood orange linger on the palate. The blunt texture of Cabernet Franc finishes with dark-fruited chocolate, perhaps contributed by the Malbec in the blend.

The 2011 J. Lohr Cuvée PAU blends red and blue fruit aromas with a hazelnut-like barrel bouquet. The bright palate is dense with fruit, offering notes of violet and black tea. Racy fruit in the finish speaks to the Merlot and Malbec in this Bordeaux style blend. Open and decant an hour before serving.

This 2011 vintage marks the debut of Malbec at double-digit percentages in the Cuvee POM blend. Bright aromas of plum and pomegranate are spiced by a bouquet of cedar and cocoa powder. A restrained palate weight, bright acidity and luxury-soft mouthfeel make this wine a chef’s favorite.

Tröegs Sunshine Pils® is also a summer seasonal craft brew. The sun's role dominates the Hop Cycle as vines grow before the human eye and budding hop cones reach maturity beneath the sun's rays. Sunshine Pils combines the refreshing snap of a Euro-style Pilsner with an assertive hop character. Crisp. Hoppy. Pilsner. Since Sunshine Pils is a summer beer, it is a fine complement with all types of salads. It also pairs well with shellfish and mild fish filets.

Available in bottles in both stores, cans at Woodbridge only.


And as always, if you're looking for other new products, just ask one of our store associates.