Take a Ferrari Home With You!

We really mean a Ferrari-Carano wine. They are one of California's great producers, and we've been carrying several of their wines for some time. We just had the opportunity to bring in a beautiful summer white wine from Ferrari-Carano at nearly 50% off, so we had to share that with you.

Great Wine Begins in the Vineyard

The fact that the winery’s name incorporates the word “Vineyards” is a deliberate way to empha-size that grape source and terroir play important roles in the final product. From a small, 30-acre plot of grapes purchased in 1979, to today’s 19 estate vineyards in six different appellations totaling over 1,500 acres, Ferrari-Carano owns some of the finest wine growing properties in all of California.

Directed by Don Carano and orchestrated under the supervision of Steve Domenichelli, Director of Vineyard Operations, Ferrari-Carano’s vineyard practices are extremely labor intensive. Steve and his team implement irrigation and nutrient regimes, trellis system and canopy management, rootstock and clone combinations, and pruning and cane selection for each vineyard site and each block within a vineyard. Because of Sonoma, Napa/Carneros and Mendocino County's diverse geological makeup, even within one vineyard parcel there may be several different types of soil with different degrees of nutrients for vines and water-holding capacity.

Steve and his team have long practiced sustainable farming techniques, such as recycling organic matter for use as mulch in the vineyards, planting cover crops and other plant species to avoid soil erosion and to add desirable nutrients back to the soil as well as attract desirable insects, and integrating animals to naturally enhance biodiversity and nutrient recycling.

Ferrari-Carano’s unique, white wine blend, the 2012 Bella Luce, means “beautiful light” in Italian. Bella Luce is a fragrant and light wine with refreshing acidity that is made from varieties that complement one another in aromas, flavors and texture.

Winemaker Notes

Individual lots of white wine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Canelli are gently pressed into stainless steel tanks for 48 hours of cold settling, and then racked to stainless steel tanks for a cold fermentation. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation in order to retain its bright flavors and crisp acidity. After fermentation, each lot of wine is evaluated before creating the final blend.

                            Food Pairing

Bella Luce has delicious layers of Muscat, honeydew, orange, lychee, pineapple, peach and apple, along with lingering cream, vanilla, lemon and a floral finish. Bella Luce is a delicious and refreshing wine that is perfect as an apéritif, or with shellfish, light pasta dishes, and light appetizers.

                            Vintage Notes

Grapes from select vineyard sites combine to create this aromatic and refreshing wine. Overall, 2012 was a very good year with ideal weather conditions for the vines. Spring produced great set and average rainfall lead to normal and above-normal yields. Consistently warm temperatures during the summer months without any heat spikes or major rain events allowed for longer “hang time” leading to fully ripe flavors. The grapes for Bella Luce were harvested from mid-September to mid-October.

Regular Price: $15.99
Bottle Club® Price: $8.98

What to Drink for July 4th

Beer. Thank you.

Ok, we cannot live by beer alone, although an ice cold beer does pair beautifully with summertime. And since we cannot live by beer alone, and our July 4th plans often involve other people, here are a few suggestion to accompany the beer you're getting at Joe Canal's. If you keep the ratios the same, you can up-size these into pitcher drinks.

Yankee Doodle

½ oz. Lucid Absinthe
1 oz. Tito's Vodka (It's an American holiday, so have an American vodka)
¼ oz. simple syrup
Splash of lemon juice
Drizzle of raspberry brandy
Ginger beer
Fresh blueberries and sugar cube for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, add fresh blueberries and simple syrup and muddle.  Add Lucid Absinthe, Tito's Vodka, lemon juice and shake. Strain into a highball glass and top with raspberry brandy and ginger beer.  Garnish with fresh blueberries and a sugar cube and serve.

Ruben's Cooler No. 2

You make this as a pitcher drink from the beginning.

2 cup thinly sliced unpeeled cucumber
2 ½ cup Hendrick's gin
1 ¼ cup St-Germain liqueur
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp kosher salt
1 ½ cup club soda

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange cucumber slices in single layer on prepared sheet. Freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Prepare in advance! Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep frozen.

Combine gin, liqueur, lemon juice, salt, and 2 cups ice in a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Stir club soda and frozen cucumber slices into pitcher. Fill 12-ounce highball glasses with ice. Pour cocktail into glasses and serve.

Rockets’ Red Glare

1 ½ oz. Patron Silver Tequila
1 ½ oz. cranberry juice
½ oz. orange liqueur
1 oz. lime juice
blue sugar and watermelon star for garnish

Add all ingredients into a blender with ice.  Blend and pour into a blue sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with watermelon star and serve.

Red Fireworks

1 part Malibu Red
2 parts orange juice
1 splash of grenadine
1 orange wedge/zest

Pour Malibu and orange juice over ice in a highball glass. Add a splash of grenadine. Garnish with an orange wedge or zest.

List compiled via Latintimes.com and Foodandwine.com.

The Grab Bag

We made it to another weekend! While many of us will still work, in one way or another over the weekend, we're here to help you enjoy your off-duty hours. And one way we do that is by hosting wine tastings on Friday and Saturday, at both of our stores. Click here for information about this weekend's wine tastings, and other fun, upcoming events.

Holiday reminder: The Independence Day holiday is next Saturday, and we suggest shopping early for the best selection (and to beat the crowds). Our store hours on July 4th will be 9am-8pm.

New Products

The Lost Abbey Track #8: The Number of the Beast. From the Ultimate Box Set: “We’ve never released a Bourbon Barrel version of our Judgment Day. So we thought it might be interesting to take the base beer for Cuvee de Tomme, age it in first fill Bourbon Barrels and let mother nature take over. Of course, because this is a Rock and Roll inspired Box Set beer, we couldn’t just leave well enough alone. Upon sampling the base beer, it became apparent that the raisins used to brew the base beer were going to drive the flavor bus of this beer. The conversations turned to Oatmeal Raisin cookies and the essence of a freshly baked treat. So we added some cinnamon sticks to the barrels and threw in some dried chiles as well.” 13.7% ABV. 375ml bottles.

Sutter Home Malbec, 1.5L. Explore an international favorite with the velvety Sutter Home Malbec. Offering bold blackberry, blueberry, and dark cherry flavors with hints of spice and toasty oak, this food-friendly wine is perfect for sharing with friends and family. Pair it with earthy porcini mushroom risotto, grilled steaks, sticky barbecued ribs, and blue cheeses. Only $8.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010. This is actually a new vintage of a wine we have previously carried. Given the reviews, however, it rated a mention here.

"Aromas of warm stones, dark fruits and walnuts follow to a full body, soft tannins and a savory finish. This shows ripe fruit and salty undertones that give it a wonderful juiciness. It's dense and tight now but will give so much pleasure in the future. Best ever from here. Drink or hold". - James Suckling, 97 points. Only $53.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Lagunitas CitruSinensis Pale Ale. We took some fresh Sanguinello Blood oranges, juiced 'em, concentrated that juice (without heat) and threw it into a wheatier version of our New Dogtown Pale Ale. The end result? A refreshingly hopped pale-ish ale with a huge citrus burst! 7.9% ABV.

Ripped from the Headlines

Wine thieves found guilty. Click here for the story.

Want a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed wine cellar? Johnny Depp has one on sale, part of his estate in France. It's on the market for only £16.5M. Click here for the story. No wine cellar pictures, though.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Be Our Guest

Whether you're looking for something to do this weekend, or you're planning further out in the summer, you've come to the right place. Here's a look at what's coming up at our Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores.

Independence Day Holiday, July 4th

It is close-next weekend. Our store hours will be 9am-8pm.

Events in Lawrenceville

We will keep our regular wine tasting schedule for this weekend, and that's 4-6pm on Friday, and 2-4pm on Saturday. Click here for the tasting menu. We will not schedule wine tastings for July 3rd and 4th.

Starting July 5th, we'll celebrate Christmas in July with all craft beer lovers. From the 5th through to the 31st, we'll tap at least one special keg at the Growler station. Scheduled tappings include Dogfish Head 120 Founders KBS, and Sierra Nevada Scotch IPA. To see the full list, please click here.

On July 18th, we're tasting some products from Cooperstown Distillery. Click her for more information, including notes on a raffle drawing for baseball tickets. Later in July the 25th), we'll have a tasting of Flying Fish beer. And on August 1, join us for Mixology lessons from Crop Organic Vodka.

To stay current, click here for the Event Calendar on our website.

Events in Woodbridge

We will also keep our regular wine tasting schedule for the weekend. Stop in for samples on Friday, from 4-6pm, or on Saturday, from 1-3pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

Although we also will not have a scheduled tasting on the 3rd or 4th, we'll still have a tasting of Senor Sangria on Thursday, July 2, from 2-4pm. Summer is sangria season, and Senor Sangria is a best-seller, year after year.

The balance of July will also be event-filled. Our tasting of Cooperstown Distillery will be Saturday, July 11. We're hosting a Christmas in July Toy Drive and Sampling on Sunday, July 12. Details will be posted shortly for this great after-hours event.

Look for tastings of Troegs (7/16) and Shiner Beer (7/23). Our Crop Organic Vodka Mixology event will be July 24. Please note the change of brewery for our 7/31 Small Plates pairing-the beer will now be from Founders.

Click here for the updated information on our website Event Calendar.

So What's New?

That's certainly a familiar greeting, and it's also an apt question as we review our delivery schedule. Below are just a few of the new items at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Flying Dog Sriracha Pale Ale. This brew blends a lighter bodied beer (a pale ale) and a mix of chili peppers. 5.5% ABV. There is limited availability for this Brewhouse Rarity.

Kutch 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. "Dark red cherries, plums, spices, menthol and rose petals meld together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Dark, mysterious and supple in the glass, the 2013 is super pure and pretty today. Expressive savory notes from the 100% whole clusters add lift and nuance on the finish. The 2013 is a blend of fruit from Sonoma Stage, where the terrain is rich in clay, and McDougall, which is characterized by sandier soils. This is one of the best artisan Sonoma Coast Pinots readers will find for the money." - Antonio Galloni, 93 points. $40.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Victory Summer Love Ale, in cans. Canned craft beer is a must-have for the summer, since cans simply travel better than bottles.

With the sublime, earthy familiarity of noble European hops backed up by fresh, clean German malts, Summer Love Ale ends with a surprising burst of lemony refreshment from fistfuls of American whole flower hops. Love Summer, now. Pair with pizza, chicken and salads.

Chateau D'Esclans Rock Angel Cotes de Provence Rose. Another summer specialty, a quality rose like this is an ethereal experience. This rose will elude the boundaries between being a superb aperitif rose and a fine wine. It enjoys the versatility of being successfully paired with a range of fine cuisine.

Layer Cake California Sauvignon Blanc. Layer Cake is one of our popular and interesting brands. Layer Cake Wines always over-deliver, and are about affordable luxury. Layer Cake Wines are made on four continents and in five countries. This Sauvignon Blanc is another cure for the summer heat, as the wine is light, fresh and packed with flavor.

As always, if you're looking specifically for new items, simply ask any store associate for assistance.

A European Vacation

The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux was one of the best in recent memory. All across the region, Left Bank or Right, wines fared well with both the ratings professionals (WS, WA et al) and consumers. So when we can get hold of an exceptional wine at a very competitive price, we make sure to bring it in.

Chateau Faugeres produces wines with a unique character which are constantly developing, becoming more and more elegant and attractive. The 2009 Saint Emilion Grand Cru consistently scored between 92 and 94 points.

This was the first harvest to be vinified entirely in the new cellar, designed by Mario Botta and known as the "cathedral of wine", using all the latest processing technology, such as cold storage rooms, visual sorting, gravity flow on three levels, pneumatic crushing and automatic density control.

The wines of this vintage are characterized by exceptional concentration, rarely equaled, and outstanding balance.

The fruit is excellent, rich, complex and dense on the palate, with velvety tannins displaying perfect ripeness, with a very long finish, both powerful and elegant. With thanks to Mother Nature.

James Suckling, 94 Points: "Aromas of smoke, meat, minerals, dried flowers and sandalwood with fruit. Full body, with round, velvety tannins and lots of juicy ripe fruit. Chewy and delicious. Needs at least four to five years to soften."

Wine Advocate, 93 points: "Full-bodied and dark ruby/purple, with a nose of graphite, pen ink, blueberries and black raspberries, the wine is deep, dense and pure, with a broad, savory texture and a long finish with no astringency.  Drink this beauty over the next 15-20 years."

Wine Spectator, 93 Points: "Dense in its layers of blackberry, linzer torte and plum sauce, but caressing in feel, with silky structure and a long finish that has a well-buried, chalky minerality. Almost approachable now, but the precision and balance are there for the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2025."

85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. $49.99 in the Bottle Club®.

This and That

This: Tonight is the Bourbon Dinner at Vidalia Restaurant in Lawrenceville. There's still time to sign up, but not much. For the details, please call the store at 609-520-0008, or click here. Our Store Manager, Toni Carver, will be your host for this dinner pairing.

That: Dominique Lafon Bourgogne Blanc 2013. The quality of a top village Puligny-Montrachet. Fresh and saline, with succulent lemon notes, a laser like acidity and a long crushed oyster shell finish. Dominique Lafon produced only 400 cases of his 2013 Bourgogne Blanc for the world! $33.99 in the Bottle Club®.

This: 13 Celsius Sauvignon Blanc. Summer screams for a Sauvignon Blanc. especially from New Zealand. This wine offers vibrant aromatics of bright citrus, a crisp edge of minerality and sweet herbs elegantly tease the refined acidity and refreshing finish that define iconic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Only $11.99 in the Bottle Club®.

That: Speaking of summertime, we're bringing back the Dekuyper Pucker Watermelon. Crisp and refreshing, this liqueur is perfect for a unique margarita or a punched up martini. Visit the Dekuyper website for cocktail recipes.

This: Both of our stores will be open from 9am to 8pm on Saturday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday.

That: Christmas in July for Lawrenceville will be celebrated starting July 5, and going until the end of the month. We will tap a specialty keg every day at the Growler station, at 5pm.

This: Christmas in July for Woodbridge will be celebrated on July 12, with a special after-hours event. Details for the Toy Drive and Tasting will be available shortly.

Start of Summer Grab Bag

Yes, in addition to Father's Day, Sunday also brings us the calendar version of the start of summer. The start of summer seems to be the most personal of any season, doesn't it? Some people say that summer starts on Memorial Day weekend, while others tie it to the end of the school year. We rather like summer, so we'll vote for whatever interpretation gives us the most warm weather.

Store Events

Click here for yesterday's blog post, where we preview this weekend's events at both stores. Bridging the first two categories is the Bourbon Dinner that Store Manager Toni Carver is hosting on Monday, at Vidalia's in Lawrenceville. Click here for more information on this fun and tasty event.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Click here for some of our favorites. In addition, we carry three expressions of Dad's Hat Rye, a Pennsylvania whiskey. The distillery's name is a tribute to the founder's father, so you get a good story to match the good whiskey.

New Products

2012 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard. Horsepower Vineyards is about tradition and history—and making history. It’s a connection between a vigneron and his roots. An homage to craft and family. An embrace of the earth that seems at once old-fashioned and new. And at its simplest, it’s a man slowly working the vineyard with his horse, just like generations before him.

The Wine Advocate rating is 95-98 points. "The 2012 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers classic peppery spices, flowers, licorice, cured meats, toast and assorted red and black fruit qualities to go with a full-bodied, exceedingly structured feel on the palate. Showing additional fruit and flesh over the 2011, this beautiful Syrah will require short-term cellaring and have upwards of two decades of ultimate longevity."

The release price was $259. Our regular price is $174.99, and our Bottle Club® price is $154.99. This is a new project from the founder of Cayuse.

90+ Cellars. We already carry several of their wines, which really hit the price/quality matrix. We're adding Lot 122 Chardonnay, from Mendocino, CA. Lot 122 is a brilliant yellow gold in color with aromas of green apple and white peach backed by a touch of honey. The wine is round, full-bodied, and fresh with an elegant creamy texture and a tangy finish. Serve it with a crab and avocado salad topped with cilantro and lime, or grilled chicken with a lemon and caper sauce.

Also look for Lot 113 Big Red Blend. Big fat aromas of cassis, blackberry, and plum with traces of vanilla and cedar. Full-bodied and larger than life, you'll have to stretch out your mouth for that first sip. Greet your guests with a smile when you pour them a glass as they walk through the front door. Tell them to get ready for one big adventure.

Ripped from the Headlines

Innovation in Bordeaux? Why they may approve additional varietals in the classic blends. Click here for the story.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

All-in-One Calendar

Because so many people will travel to one store or the other for our special events, it's been pretty useful for us to list all of our upcoming events in this one place. That, plus the fact that the store calendars are filled in quite nicely.

Events in Lawrenceville

We start the weekend on Friday, 5-7pm, with a special tasting of Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky. This is a new Single Grain Scotch whisky, developed in partnership with Diageo and global sporting icon David Beckham and British entrepreneur Simon Fuller.

The House of Haig is built on nearly 400 years of distilling heritage and the House of Haig can trace its whisky producing roots back to the seventeenth century.

Haig Club™ is made at Cameronbridge distillery in Scotland. The whisky has been crafted using a unique process that combines grain whisky from three cask types. This creates a fresh, clean style that showcases butterscotch and toffee for an ultra-smooth taste.

Haig Club™ is hugely versatile and delicious served neat or in a cocktail. The whisky's subtle taste pairs very well with food, especially seafood.

On Saturday, enjoy our regular wine tasting, from 2-4pm. In the same time slot, we're offering complimentary Gift Tag Wax Sealing on Dewar's Higher Marques. Click here for more information on that perfect last-minute gift idea.

We're extending the weekend to Monday, June 22, with our Bourbon Dinner at Vidalia Restaurant in Lawrenceville. Hosted by Toni Carver, our Store Manager, you'll enjoy a delicious dinner paired perfectly with an assortment of bourbons. And since it's the day after Father's Day, a ticket (or two) to this dinner would be an amazing present for the bourbon-loving dad in your life. Click here for details.

Looking ahead, July will include tastings from Cooperstown Distillery and Flying Fish Brewing Co., as well as a mixology event, featuring Crop Vodka. In addition, look for Christmas in July, which will be all about Growler station specials. More details will be available shortly.

Events in Woodbridge

We start the weekend early in Woodbridge, with tonight's free tasting from Flying Fish, 5-7pm. Established in 1996, Flying Fish is New Jersey's largest craft brewer.

Tomorrow is a tasting double-header. We offer our Friday wine tasting a little earlier than usual, from 3-5pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

The second half of our Friday agenda is a tasting of Guinness Blonde, from 5:30-8pm. Guinness Blonde is an American Lager.

On Saturday, we'll have overlapping events. Our wine tasting will be held at the regular time, from 1-3pm, with the same tasting menu as Friday. From 2-4pm, we're offering the Gift Tag Wax Sealing on Dewar's Higher Marques.

In addition to our wine tastings, July brings a number of other special events. Look for a Senor Sangria tasting on July 2, and a tasting from Cooperstown Distillery on July 11. We're having an after-hours event on July 12, our Christmas in July Toy Drive & Tasting. Details will be available shortly for that fun evening.

And there's more. We'll host tastings of Troeg's and Shiner Beers later in July. We'll close out July with a Weyerbacher Small Plates Dinner on July 31. Four courses will be expertly paired with five beers. Additional details will be coming soon.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Wine+ Wednesday

Today's headline covers everyone who prefers an alliteration, while also noting that we've been accepting deliveries of more than just wine. Let's take a look at some of the most recent arrivals at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Domaines Ott Clos Mireille Blanc de Blancs Côtes de Provence. While producing some of the best rosé wines anywhere, Domaines Ott isn't just a one-trick winery.

The Clos Mireille Blanc de Blancs is 70% Semillon and 30% Vermentino, grown in an area where the microclimate and sea spray provide favorable conditions for the production of exceptional wines.

This wine is a pale yellow color, having crystal highlights with hints of bronze. Fruity white peach, citrus and tropical fruit nose. Fresh, lively bite with white fruit aromas, full-bodied and generous in the mouth; garrigue flower and citrus zest notes. A fresh, elegant finish, leaving an impression of refined sophistication.

$38.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Yellow Tail Sangria Blanco. Summer in New Jersey always means having a white sangria nearby. The Sangria Blanco has tropical fruit flavors of pineapples. Ripe peaches give the wine a sweet, rounded mouth feel. Fresh limes ensure a crisp, refreshing finish.

In 750ML and 1.5L bottles, in Woodbridge only.


Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum. A ripe, juicy and ruby red grapefruit profile balanced with background notes of molasses and tropical fruit. Slightly tart with natural flavors that yield a refreshingly crisp finish. A summer's sunset in a bottle.

The Bottle Club® prices are $19.99 for the 750ML, and $25.99 for the 1.75L.

Feudo di Santa Tresa Frappato Sicilia IGT. Added by customer requests, Frappato is a native Sicilian varietal that has a thin skin and large berries. It contributes fresh fruit character to the Cerasuolo di Vittoria blend and is a lively, fruit-forward wine when vinified on its own.

Often a revelation to wine drinkers, Frappato is elegant and refreshing – surprisingly more delicate than many of the muscular reds of Sicily, yet full of character. Santa Tresa Frappato could be termed a “modern classic” – a modern interpretation of an antique style of wine – with all the character of the Frappato grape variety, made in a really modern, approachable way. In Vittoria, it is often enjoyed slightly chilled, with grilled fish.

The bouquet is fresh and lively, reminiscent of wild strawberries and delicate sweet spices. The palate is smooth and long, with hints of spice. The acidity races through the wine, lifting the fruit and releasing a whole variety of fruit flavors in the mouth.

Grilled or barbecued poultry and tomato-based pasta dishes go very well with Frappato, and it complements certain fish dishes brilliantly. One favorite is Pistachio covered tuna – there are lots of different ways to serve tuna in Sicily and this is one of the best!

Currently available only in Lawrenceville, but coming soon to Woodbridge. Priced at $11.99.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye combines the distinctive flavor of Canadian rye grain with the unmistakable smoothness of Crown Royal for a truly exceptional Canadian whisky.

On the nose: Baking spices, cereal, light wood spices. The palate: Gentle oak note, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, develops into soft peppery notes. The finish: Smooth and creamy.

$31.99 in the Bottle Club®.

A Beautiful Wine

A beautiful Pinot Noir may not be your everyday red, but it's definitely there for weekends and special occasions. Pair it with anything from a salad to salmon to ham, chicken, turkey and beef, it's as versatile a wine as you could want. And over the last decade or so, some truly amazing Pinot Noir's have come from Oregon. That's why today's focus is on Evening Land.

The Evening Land has long been a symbol of the dream quest to find the mythical Greek garden where the golden fruits of immortality grew – tethered to the setting sun on the western rim of the known world – just beyond the reach of mortals.

Inspired by the myth, we began our own journey to find the "perfect vinegarden" along the coastal world in which we could grow exceptional Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Evening Land Vineyards was born in 2005 with the purchase of Occidental Vineyard on California's Sonoma Coast.  We later traveled north to acquire Seven Springs Vineyard in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills. Finally, we crossed an ocean to begin producing wine in Burgundy.

Situated in the southeastern Eola-Amity Hills, our Seven Springs Vineyard is dry-farmed using biodynamic practices.  The Pacific Ocean breeze, volcanic soil, eastern exposure, and high elevation contribute to the natural preservation of the grapes' acidity and enrich the wines with elegant flavors and minerality.

Sixty-five acres were initially planted in the early 1980’s.  Today, Seven Springs Vineyard is a 70 acre vineyard.  The vineyard's soil consists of iron-rich, volcanic rock with a thin layer of top soil - less than 36 inches  right along the volcanic flow line.

The 2012 Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills rated 93 points from Wine Spectator. "Silky, expressive and minerally, this medium-weight red layers its blackberry, black cherry, tar and river stone flavors and aromatics on an open frame, lingering easily on the polished finish. Drink now through 2022."

We have a couple of other wines from Evening Land, and they are also highly-rated, exceptional Pinot Noirs.

The 2012 Pinot Noir, Seven Springs Vineyard, Eola Amity Hills is a deep garnet in color with a ruby edge. The nose is dominated with freshly picked blackberries, toasted almonds, baking spice and hints of citrus. The palate is pleasantly balanced, shows soft tannins and notes of freshly made grenadine. The finish is endless and expresses beautiful minerality, a lingering acidity, and perseverant fruit that all undeniably and characteristically come from the Seven Springs Estate. It rated 96 points from Wine Spectator.

Finally, the 2012 Pinot Noir, La Source, Seven Springs Vineyard, Eola Amity Hills scored 98 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "Seductive, silky and supple, this red layers its gorgeous currant, plum, blueberry and spice flavors on a lithe frame, coming together harmoniously on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2022." The winemaker notes: "This wine is dark red and garnet in color with light edges. The nose has hints of baking spice, dried violets, warmed raspberries, licorice, cocoa, sweet tobacco, and burnt marshmallow. Narrow on the entry, due to its fine tannins, the wine opens up to a very elegant, well-structured palate with beautiful acidity that leads to a lasting finish." Currently, La Source is only available in Woodbridge.

Evening Land wines are created with energy, purity, transparency and elegance with insistence on true appreciation of site. Whether you're looking for a special Pinot for the weekend or for your cellar, Evening Land offers you great choices.

Mid-Year Gift Giving Time

We're going to offer a gentle reminder that Father's Day is this coming Sunday. Even if you missed our bottle-engraving events this past weekend, we still have great gift choices available.

2013 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most sought-after ultra-premium California wines. We've just received a shipment of the latest vintage, the 2013. Caymus Napa Valley delivers big aromas and flavors that include cocoa, cassis and vanilla. Caymus prides itself on producing wines that are as approachable in youth as well at maturity.

Like all wines of this stature, availability is fairly limited. Priced at only $64.99 in the Bottle Club®. We always sell out of the Caymus, so we recommend getting your bottle, or bottles, as soon as you can.

For those who prefer a Scotch whiskey, we can recommend the Laphroaig 15 year old. Laphroaig 15 year old was first created 30 years ago. Barrels were individually selected for their particularly mellow rounded flavor, then batch bottled at the higher export strength of 43% ABV. The resulting flavor soon became a firm favorite, winning many awards. Its highlight was being chosen for the famous ‘Erskine Charity Bottling’ in 2000, when 270 bottles were drawn from a single 15 year old cask signed by HRH The Prince of Wales for this charity of which he is a patron.

On the nose, there are initial scents of grapefruit and fresh mint. A touch of water releases salted caramel, with signature Islay peat smoke underlying sweet orchard fruit aromas. On the palate, enjoy pink peppercorns, light peat smoke with a soft dryness, before a finish of tobacco and faint sea salt.

If you're inclined toward the Laphroaig 15, please note that we have a coupon posted on our website for an additional saving. Please click here to view the coupon. Only $69.99 in the Bottle Club®, before the coupon savings.

While there's no time for a bottle engraving, a purchase of Dewar's Higher Marques offers you the option of a wax seal gift tag. Click here for more information on this, which will run from 2-4pm on Saturday, at both stores.

Maybe a shared special dinner interests you. On Monday, June 22, we are hosting a Bourbon dinner at Vidalia's in Lawrenceville. Great Bourbons, like Elmer T. Lee, Basil Hayden and more will be paired with some of Vidalia's exceptional dishes. Lawrenceville's Store Manager Toni Carver will be your host for the evening. Please click here for information.

Of course, if you don't want to make a final decision yourself, a Joe Canal's Gift Card is available from any cashier, in any denomination.

At Joe Canal's, we have hundreds of items that will make great gifts. If you're not sure, just ask any store associate for assistance.