Blue Moon Grab Bag

If you're not paying attention to celestial doings, we'll have a "Blue Moon" tonight. It's not likely to actually look blue (we heard that it could appear red), but it gets its name for being the second full moon within a calendar month. If we heard the news correctly, the next one will be in January, 2018. That will conclude today's science lesson, so we'll get back to the actual reason that you visited our blog.

Store Events

Please click here to link to yesterday's blog post, highlighting events at both stores. Click here for Lawrenceville only. Click here for Woodbridge only. One reminder is that tonight is the final Christmas in July Growler tapping in Lawrenceville. Click here to see what's on tap.

New Products

2012 District 7 Chardonnay. Our cool climate estate vineyards, located just outside of the town of Greenfield, are blessed with a climate that is perfect for growing top quality Chardonnay. With morning fogs that often linger until mid-day, the intricate fruit flavors have time to develop while preserving crucial acidity. These just-right conditions place Monterey on par with the best growing regions of the world.

Each vintage, we strive to craft a Chardonnay that strikes a perfect balance between rich and refreshing. Through the judicious use of oak, we seek to complement, not detract from, the gorgeous tropical fruit flavors that are the hallmark of District 7. Our 2012 vintage has aromas of tropical fruit and butterscotch that lead into a lively blend of pear, pineapple and citrus flavors. It is a versatile wine with food, pairing particularly well with grilled seafood, roast chicken, or your favorite salad.

Available in the Bottle Club® for only $10.96.

2014 Coat & Badge Merlot. These notes are courtesy of Brandon Bartfalvi, Senior Wine Manager at our Lawrenceville store: "A medium-full bodied Merlot, offering flavors of ripe, dark cherries, plum, earth and a touch of cocoa with fresh acidity. Well balanced and approachable.  A great new find from Washington state!!"

Available in the Bottle Club® for only $13.96.

                                                           Ripped From The Headlines

Red wine may prevent serious depression. Is there anything it can't do? Click here for the story.

Beer is the next American job creator. That's what Forbes says. And the beer industry already employs about 1.75 million people in the US.  Click here for the story.

Have a great weekend!

Craft Beer, Wine and Literary Events

You probably didn't expect to see "literary" in today's headline. That's ok, because until recently, we didn't expect to write that word. We'll explain it in detail below, but that illustrates how well-rounded we are.

Events in Lawrenceville

We will have our regular wine tasting schedule this weekend. Please stop in on Friday, 4-6pm, or Saturday, from 2-4pm, to sample some great wines. Click here for the tasting menu.

Our exploration into the world of books comes up on Friday, from 5-7pm. Please join noted author Lew Bryson, as he'll be signing copies of his book, "Tasting Whiskey".

Lew Bryson, who lives in nearby Bucks County, has been writing about beer and spirits since 1995. He is the managing editor of Whisky Advocate magazine and the author of six books, the most recent of which is "Tasting Whiskey," a synthesis of almost 20 years of learning, visiting, and writing about this amazing drink, the places where it's made, and the people who make it.

Copies of "Tasting Whiskey" will be available for purchase at this event.

Also on Saturday, we will host a Crop Organic Vodka Mixology event. Vodka is our most mixable spirit, but Crop Organic Vodka will help you elevate your cocktail game. Noon to 2pm this Saturday, August 1.

Tonight and tomorrow are the final nights for our Christmas in July Growler tapping series, as we wrap with a bang. Tonight, we're tapping DuClaw Moon Gun. Christmas in July closes with Troegs Mad Elf (16oz and 32oz only). Both tappings are at 5pm. Click here for additional information.

Stay up to date with these and other fun times on our website's Event Calendar. Click here for that page.

Events in Woodbridge

Tomorrow is the big event in Woodbridge, particularly if you prefer craft beer. We're hosting a Founders Brewing Small Plates event. Attendees will enjoy six different brews from Founders (including KBS), expertly paired with six different courses. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity for special purchases of KBS. Please click here for all of the details, or just call the store at 732-726-0077 to reserve your place, as seating is limited. UPDATE: We apologize for the late notice, but the Founders Brewing event is being re-scheduled to a later date.

Our weekend also includes our regular wine tastings, which are 4-6pm on Friday, and 1-3pm Saturday. Click here for the menu.

Click here to access the full Event Calendar for Woodbridge.

This and That

As we like to do every Wednesday, here's a quick look at some of the newest arrivals to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Coat & Badge Chardonnay and Merlot

We've often discussed our buying power, and how that translates into exceptional products at amazing prices. That's in play here, with Coat & Badge wines, which are from Washington.

Lawrenceville Senior Wine Manager Brandon Bartfalvi recently sampled the Merlot. Here's his review: "A medium-full bodied Merlot offering flavors of ripe dark cherries, plum, earth and a touch of cocoa with fresh acidity. Well balanced and approachable. A great new find from Washington!!" Available in the Bottle Club® for only $13.96.

Our team will be sampling the Chardonnay later today. We'll update this blog with a review once we receive it. The Chardonnay is available for only $11.96 in the Bottle Club®. UPDATE: Lawrenceville Senior Wine Manager Brandon Bartfalvi just sent in his review of the Coat & Badge Chardonnay: "A fresh, aromatic nose of peach, apricot and white flowers. This medium-bodied white offers flavors of ripe peach and citrus zest with lively acidity and a touch of toast on the finish. Very refreshing!"

L. L. Kinahan’s 10-Year Single Malt Whiskey

The "L. L." stands for Lord Lieutenant, which goes back to the brand's early days. Daniel Kinahan started in the whiskey business on Trinity Street in Dublin, in 1779. By 1807, the quality of the whiskey was recognized by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who marked barrels for his own collection with an "L.L." Because so many others tried to mimic their style, Kinahan's was granted the first protection of a whiskey trademark in history.

War closed the distillery, but it was revived in early 2014, right back on Trinity Street in Dublin.

Kinahan’s 10-Year Single Malt Whiskey is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for at least 10 years. The Malt Master samples each individual barrel, selecting only whiskeys that deliver the original rich, mellow, “L.L.Character” true to this historic Irish Whiskey. Non-chill filtered, and 46% ABV.

The suggested retail price of Kinahan’s 10-Year Single Malt is $68.99. It's available in our stores for only $59.99.

Maine Beer Co. MO

Our first run at an American Pale Ale. Flavors and aromas of zesty citrus, passionfruit, and pine present themselves throughout. A very subtle malt sweetness for balance, but this is intended to finish dry.

MO is available in extremely limited quantities. We have a similar allotment of Zoe and Lunch.

            2011 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Montrachet

96 points from Wine Advocate. Their review: "The 2011 Montrachet Grand Cru was one of the last to be picked. There are just five barrels, minus the bottle that Dominique sequestered for his fish supper. It is understated at first, but blossoms with aeration offering apricot, hints of passion fruit, cold limestone and eventually Turkish Delight. The palate is extremely well-balanced, pure and focused with orange peel, marmalade, quince and a suggestion of white chocolate. It is extremely intense with an enormously long tail on the finish. This is utterly entrancing: a Montrachet that justifies the reputation of the name. Drink now-2030."

We received exactly one bottle of this extraordinary wine, and it's in Woodbridge. It's available out of the Fine Wine case for the Bottle Club® price of $1319.99.

Port Call

Dessert wines in general, and Port in particular, are often under-appreciated. Maybe we're all too busy to savor a glass after a nice meal, but we ought to re-think that. Port, and other dessert wines, have been around for centuries, so we could benefit from a Port Appreciation Day.

Port traces its roots back to the 17th century. The legend is that two wine merchants in the seventeenth century were exploring Portugal’s Douro valley and discovered the Abbot of a Lamego monastery adding grape spirit to his wine early on in its fermentation to preserve its sweetness.

They decided to use this method of ‘fortification’ to preserve their wines for the long sea journey back to England. This wine took its name from the city where these traders had their base: Oporto (Porto), from where it is to this day shipped to the world.

Port is still produced in this way, by intentionally interrupting the fermentation of the grape must (or juice) by the addition of a clear grape spirit called aguardente, generally referred to as ‘brandy’. This preserves a large amount of the grapes’ natural sugars, thereby giving Port its characteristic sweetness and richness. Today's featured New Product, Graham's Vintage 2000 Port, has a 20% ABV, rather than the 12% or so that is common to red table wines.

The mountainous Upper Douro region of Northern Portugal became the world’s first officially demarcated wine region in 1756. This protected region is the only place in the world that can produce authentic Port, just like authentic Champagne only comes from Champagne, France.

All of Graham’s wines are aged beneath the riga pine beams of the earth-floored Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, which has stored Graham’s wines since it was built in 1890. Located at the estuary of the Douro River and cooled by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean Graham’s 1890 Lodge is crucial to the slow and balanced evolution of Graham’s wines.

The character of any glass of Port is in large part determined by the way in which it has been aged. Port styles can be divided between those aged in bottle and those aged in wood, whether small oak casks or large vats. Port is always aged in seasoned casks, unlike dry wine, which uses new wood. (An aside for our Scotch drinkers; check your favorite labels to see which are finished in ex-Port casks.)

Vintage Ports spend only about 18 months in wooden vats before they are bottled. Once bottled, they have no further contact with air and therefore there is only slow change in the color of the wine: the structure, complexity and character of the wine changes slowly with time. Port wine ages more slowly in bottle than in barrel.

In contrast, Tawny Ports are aged in contact with oxygen, which permeates the oak of the barrels. The color thus changes, from the original deep purple-red of the young wine to lovely tawny shades. Depending on the length of time spent in barrel, Aged Tawny Port ranges in color from the cedar-red of a 10 Years Old, to the deeper amber of the 40 Years Old.

At Joe Canal's, we have a dazzling selection of Ports, as well as other dessert wines. We also have team members ready and able to discuss the choices with you. Start your own Port exploration today!

How to Shop at Joe Canal's

Our two stores are among the largest and highest-volume wine, beer and spirits outlets in New Jersey. Because of our low prices and exceptional customer service, many of our shoppers aren't "regulars," and may benefit from this quick tutorial.

How We Save You Money

Our strong purchasing power helps us bring in great products from around the world at reasonable prices. Thanks to your loyalty, we're often offered special opportunities for specific items, which we sell at the lowest possible price. And we have our own shopper's club, called the Bottle Club®, and members enjoy added savings throughout the store (look for the orange price tag). Membership in the Bottle Club® is free! Just sign up as you check out, or join at our website, www.jcanals.com.

How We Organize 

Our wines, beers and spirits are generally kept in separate locations within the stores. Special sale items and displays are the exception to that rule. There are an assortment of signs within each store that will also help you get to where you're going.

Spirits are grouped by type. All vodkas are together, for example. Irish whiskey is separate from, but near, Scotch whisky. International Single Malt whisky (brands like Amrut, for example) can be found closest to Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Of course, our rarities are also kept together, often in a locked case.

We also have an extensive collection of liqueurs that are generally subdivided by style. Our cream liqueurs (Bailey's, etc.) will be together, and will also be close to coffee liqueurs, orange liqueurs, and everything else in that broad category.

Beer is usually divided into two major categories: national brands and craft beer. Big-selling international brands (Stella, Corona, etc.) will usually be grouped with the domestic national brands.

Some of the craft beer selection at Woodbridge

There are, of course, variations to this design, usually because of the space required to display any particular product.

Top 100 Wine Display

We sort our wines in what we consider the most logical way. First, we separate by country, then by state or region. With our domestic wines, we then group by varietal and wine color within each state. In other words, all of California Cabernet's will be on one (large) area, and our Cabernet from Washington will be elsewhere. Our California Red Blends will be together, and our California White Blends will be together, but in a different location.

Generally, our international wines will be grouped together by region, and by wine color. For example, you won't find a Bordeaux in the middle of the Burgundy section. On the other hand, you will find everything from Ribera del Duero in the same area.

Don't forget to look out for our tasting events, for the ultimate try-before-you buy experience.

Other Stuff

Cheese display in Lawrenceville

We do sell mixers (soda and juice, for example), cheese, other snacks, cups and glassware at both of our stores. The ABC does restrict what we can sell (beyond the wine, beer and spirits), but we offer some great choices in those categories.

                  Customer Service

We believe that our exceptional customer service is our most important attribute. You can shop in a lot of different places, but we aim to make you feel comfortable when you shop in our stores.

If you ever have questions while you're shopping, please ask any of our store associates for assistance. Our Managers and Supervisors are generally wearing red shirts, and our stock team and cashiers were various Joe Canal's t-shirts (but they all should have the same style on any particular day).

Each store also has a Customer Service counter, should you have a special request, need to request/return a keg, or need personal assistance for any reason. There may not be someone at the counter at all times, but your wait will be minimal.

We also know that there may be times when you need assistance getting your purchases from the store out to your car. Our associates are happy to help. Simply let the cashier know that you need assistance, and the cashier will call a stock associate to the front.

Shopping From Home

Most of the products in our vast inventory can be found online at www.jcanals.com. We also post money-saving coupons on our website, with new offers posted every Tuesday. And you can also stay current with our Growler menu by looking under the Beer tab on our website.

Thank You

With all of the choices that you have in the marketplace, we do appreciate your patronage at Joe Canal's. Follow this blog, our Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to stay informed about specials, sales, tastings and celebrity appearances.

Weekend Update and More

Writing headlines and subject lines are a different skill set than long form writing, which is why newspapers and magazines typically employed different people for those tasks. Here, your blogger handles both assignments, and we like to change things up on occasion.

Changing the subject line, however, isn't changing the basic message of our Friday blog post. We have to give you enough information to last until our next posting, which will be Monday.

In-Store Events

We outlined our upcoming events (both stores) in yesterday's blog post. Click here to link back to that post. In particular, we want to draw your attention to the Founders Brewing Small Plates event in Woodbridge next Friday, July 31. Click here for more information on that tasty event. And we're in the final week of our Christmas in July Growler tappings in Lawrenceville. Click here for details.

New Products

If you're someone who prefers the autumn beers and ales, they are starting to arrive. Consult our store staff for specifics.

Domaine Bernard Defaix 2014 Petit Chablis. Produced on the flatter grounds of Chablis, the Petit Chablis is characterized by its freshness.

Its pale robe and its vivacity redolent of mineral hints convey the subtlety of the Chardonnay grape grown in this stony soil. The wine is bottled 8 months after the harvest in order to preserve all of its tangy, racy freshness. An attractive advantage of this appellation is its excellent value for money. We only produce small quantities of this wine. 100% Chardonnay.

Only $13.99 in the Bottle Club®, making it a great value from this classic appellation.

Prophecy Pinot Noir showcases the best of California. Upon the first swirl, this Pinot Noir delights the senses with a bouquet of toasted oak and ripe raspberry. Plush and smooth, the mouthfeel is round and filled with luscious layers of red cherry and strawberry that are complemented by notes of brown spice.

Priced at $11.99, this will pair with grilled chicken or salmon.

Re Manfredi Vigneto Serpara Aglianico del Vulture DOC 2008. 94 points from Wine Advocate: "An evolved and sophisticated expression, the 2008 Aglianico del Vulture Serpara gives us a great taste of the pedigree and potential of Aglianico del Vulture. This is a massively full-

bodied wine with an inky dark and impenetrable appearance. The bouquet shows thick layers of dried blackberry, spice, leather, cola and tobacco. You'd be hard pressed to beat this massive level of vinous intensity. Polished, but firm, tannins characterize the mouthfeel and the wine shows elegant tertiary tones of ash, tar and licorice that give it extra momentum and persistence."

The vineyards are in south central Italy, at the foot of Mount Vulture in the Basilicata region. That's about half-way between Naples and the Adriatic.

Limited availability, priced at $46.99.

Ripped from the Headlines

Winemaker Charles Smith (between our two stores, we currently carry at least five of his wines) has opened up an urban winery next to the Boeing facility in Seattle. Road trip! Click here for the story.

Have a great weekend!

Beer, Wine and Spirits Events

At Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, we appreciate the fact that you have made us your favorite choice when shopping for wine, beer and spirits. You've enabled us to grow into New Jersey's leading wine, beer and spirits Superstore, which then allows us to offer you even more-special purchases, lowest prices on everyday items, and outstanding events and programs.

As we like to do on Thursday, here's a look at the upcoming events at both of our stores.

Events in Lawrenceville

We have a wine and craft beer weekend scheduled. On Friday, we have our regular wine tasting, from 4-6pm. Click here for the tasting menu. On Saturday, we welcome our friends from Flying Fish Brewing Co. for a tasting, from 2-4pm. Flying Fish opened in 1996, and has grown to become the largest craft brewery in New Jersey.

Looking ahead one week, we have another interesting weekend scheduled. We start with a wine tasting on Friday, from 4-6pm. Then, starting at 5pm, we'll host a book signing. Come meet author Lew Bryson, where he'll sign copies of his latest book, "Tasting Whiskey."

Lew is the managing editor of Whisky Advocate magazine, and has written a total of six books. Amazon.com had this to say about "Tasting Whiskey:" "Whiskey lovers will devour this fresh and comprehensive guide to everything there is to know about the world's whiskeys, including Scotch and bourbon as well as Tennessee, Irish, Japanese, and Canadian whiskeys. You'll learn about the types of whiskey and the distilling traditions of the regions where they are made, how to serve and taste whiskeys to best appreciate and savor them, how to collect and age whiskey for great results, and much more. There are even recipes for cocktails and suggestions for food pairings. This is the guide no whiskey drinker will want to be without!"

"Tasting Whiskey" is available in paperback or Kindle.

The weekend of events will wrap up on Saturday, August 1, with a mixology event that features Crop Organic Vodka. Since vodka is the most versatile of all the spirits, this event will help you with your bartending skills.

Please click here to visit the Event Calendar on our website.

Events in Woodbridge

In Woodbridge, our weekend starts tonight, with a tasting of Shiner Beer. First brewed in 1909, Shiner is the flagship brand of Spoetzl Brewer, which is located in Shiner, Texas. On Friday, it's our turn for the Crop Organic Vodka mixology event, 4-6pm. Finally, we have our regular wine tasting on Saturday, 1-3pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

Next weekend will be about craft beer and wine. We'll have our regular weekend wine tastings, Friday from 4-6pm, and Saturday, 1-3pm. The big (and delicious) event will be in-store on Friday, 7/31. That's our Founders Brewing Small Plates and Tasting event. We'll pair five courses with five different Founders brews. Attendees will also have the opportunity for special purchases (KBS, anyone?). Due to space restrictions, we are limited to 25 attendees. You don't want to miss this fun evening. Click here for more information.

The weekend continues on August 1, as we host our regular weekly wine tasting, 1-3pm.

Please click here to visit the Woodbridge Event Calendar.

What to Look For

It's the middle of the week and the middle of the summer, so we should take a look at what's new in our stores.

Coney Island Brewing Co. Hard Root Beer

The gypsy should have predicted this. The most dignified beverage of days past, re-imagined for your future self. The wooden planks under your feet and a hot dog in your hand; the only difference is that now you’re tall enough to ride the ride.

Coney Island Hard Root Beer is a new twist on an old favorite. With hints of vanilla, licorice and birch, this root beer will bring you back to the boardwalk. 5.8% ABV.

At this time, we have a very limited quantity, in Lawrenceville only.

The Shepherd Napa Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Aromas of lime, passion fruit, and gooseberry with notes of kiwi and jasmine. The mouth is delicate and smooth with flavors of lemon, grapefruit, and lychee. Firm acidity provides a zesty finish of citrus, mineral, and spice.

The Shepherd will be on the tasting menu at both stores this weekend, giving you the important try-before-you-buy opportunity. Sauvignon Blanc is great for summer pairings, like salads and fish. Only $10.96 in the Bottle Club®.

                   Rogue Farms Marionberry Braggot

Marionberry Braggot combines Marioberries, grown and hand-picked at Rogue Farms, with Hopyard Honey, collected from 7,140,289 Rogue Farms honeybees to create a true taste of the terroir of the Wigrich Appellation.

17 INGREDIENTS: Rogue Farms Honey & Wildflower Honey; Rogue Farms Dare™, Risk™, Dare™ R-1, Dare™ R-3, Risk™ R-1, Risk™ R-3, Risk™ R-7, Maier Munich & C120 Malts; Rogue Farms Flaked Rye; Rogue Farms Rebel Hops; Rogue Farms Marionberries & Marionberry Juice; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.

11.4 ABV. Very limited availability.

Frog's Leap Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5L

Balance, restraint and respect for terroir. All in a wine that explains without trying why Cabernet is King.

The 2012 vintage had nearly perfect growing conditions for developing depth of flavor and complexity; warm days, cool nights, and a beautiful crop of evenly ripened, small berries. The grapes were harvested at full maturity while retaining high acidity and low pH. Even in its youth—right out of the tank—the aromas were mature and defined. We bottled the wine just a bit earlier than usual with slightly less exposure to the barrel to ensure preservation of the wine’s character.

This Cabernet Sauvignon has all the hallmarks of the legendary Cabernets of Rutherford: the deep, cassis-currant aromas, the classic notes of "Rutherford Dust," and the earthen flavors of cedar and black olive. The mouthfeel is plush across the palate with velvety tannins, yet balanced by bright acidy and firm structure that hints at promising years to come. Pair it with rack of lamb, N.Y. Strip, or just another glass! This wine is destined to give decades of drinking pleasure.

The 1.5 Liter (magnum) size is available for the Bottle Club® price of $104.99.

North and South

The North end of New Zealand's South Island is a magical place for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. And as we're into the hottest part of the year here, a light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice for the lighter summer foods we're now enjoying. In New Zealand, they've found a balance between the centuries-old warrior culture and today's viticulture.

Symbolizing the timeless tradition of sharing wine between good friends and family, the ‘Pikorua’ represented on our label is a Maori eternity icon traditionally given as an offering of friendship. It resembles two ('rua’) intertwined pikopiko ferns – the pale green new-growth frond that thrives in shady, damp areas of New Zealand’s woods. The ferns represent two people travelling their own path of life but always coming back together because of their strong bond.

Pikorua Sauvignon Blanc delivers the hallmarks of the now world-famous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Refreshingly crisp, it delivers bright tropical fruits with a touch of gooseberry and lightly herbal notes. We recommend enjoying Pikorua Sauvignon Blanc with good friends and family, either on its own or with lighter flavored dishes, oysters, poultry or spicy, Asian-influenced meals.

Chillin' and Grillin'

With the weather turning decidedly toward summer over the last few days, many of us are doing more grilling. Sometimes it's for flavor, and sometimes it's just to keep extra heat out of the house. Whatever your reasons for grilling, and whether you're gas or charcoal, our industry partners have some great ideas and pairings.

Grilled Salmon with Creole Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Recipe courtesy Chateau Ste. Michelle.

8- 6oz salmon fillets
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 lemon
Creole mustard-tarragon sauce, recipe follows

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat grill to medium-high.

Rub salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place salmon on grill and cook about 2 minutes. Rotate 90 degrees to make cross hatch marks on the flesh and cook 2 more minutes. Turn fish over and cook 2-3 minutes; rotate 90° again and cook a few more minutes. Depending on the thickness of the fish, it may take more or less time. Transfer salmon to a serving platter and squeeze lemon juice over each piece. Drizzle with Creole Mustard-Tarragon Sauce sauce and serve.

Creole Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp chopped shallots
1 cup dry white wine - Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
¾ cup white wine vinegar
¼ cup heavy cream
4 Tbsp Creole mustard
8 oz unsalted butter, softened & cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
1-2 Tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place shallots, wine and vinegar in a heavy non-reactive saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until liquid is reduced to about ¼ cup. Add cream and return to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half and slightly thickened. Whisk in creole mustard. Remove from heat and whisk in butter a few pieces at a time, incorporating each piece before adding the next. If the sauce cools too much to fully incorporate the butter, place over low heat for a minute, but do not boil. Stir in tarragon, lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pair with Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris

Blue Cheese Burger with Chive Aioli

Recipe courtesy St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

Ingredients:

1½ pounds ground beef
1 large red onion, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
½ cup mayonnaise
1 bunch chives, sliced thin
1 clove garlic, finely minced
6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
Salt and black pepper
Sliced tomatoes and baby spinach for garnish
4 Hamburger buns

Preparation:

Coat the sliced red onion with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and marinate for about 1 hour.

Mix the chives, garlic and mayonnaise together and reserve for later use.

Preheat a grill or cast iron griddle pan over medium high heat.

Form the ground beef into 4 to 6-ounce patties about 5 inches in diameter.

Grill the onion slices on the preheated grill for 2-3 minutes per side or until well marked and just tender. Remove onions from the grill and reserve someplace warm.

Season both sides of the hamburger patties with salt and black pepper and lightly coat with olive oil. Place the patties on the preheated grill and cook about 3 minutes per side for medium or until desired temperature. When the burgers are nearly done, distribute the crumbled blue cheese evenly over the 4 patties so the cheese begins to melt. Remove the patties and reserve.

To assemble; spread a liberal amount of the chive aioli over the bottom piece of each bun and add the finished burgers. Garnish with grilled onions, tomatoes and baby spinach as desired.

Serve immediately, with St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel.

Ommegang Summer Chicken with Orange Hennepin Glaze

Recipe courtesy of Brewery Ommegang

CHICKEN
1 large roasting chicken, cut up
1 cup Ommegang
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ cup olive oil
1 bunch of scallions, both white and green stems snipped
3 chopped garlic cloves
3 Tbsp. orange zest
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes a pinch of salt and pepper

MARINADE
1 cup orange marmalade
1 cup Hennepin
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp. Allspice

CHICKEN
Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken, marinate for 1 hour. Grill the chicken or roast it in a 425 degree oven.

MARINADE
Heat ingredients together and brush over grilled or roasted chicken. Serve with Cranberry Almond Rice.

Serves 4 to 6

Provide by Elena’s Sweet Indulgence, Oneonta, NY. Enjoy with Ommegang Hennepin.

Pineapple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin

Recipe courtesy of Evan Williams Bourbon.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. pork tenderloin
1/2 cup Evan Williams Bourbon
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pineapple, peeled and cored
1 cup Evan Williams Bourbon
1 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup sugar

Instructions:
Place pork tenderloin in plastic bag with blended marinade ingredients and set in refrigerator to marinate overnight. Cut pineapple into 1/2 inch pieces and mix with remaining ingredients in heavy saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, then simmer uncovered for about 40 minutes or until sauce reaches a marmalade consistency. Remove pork from marinade and grill over hot coals for about 20 minutes. Slice pork and spoon sauce over the top.

Fireball BBQ Chicken

Sweet mustard chicken with a hint of cinnamon and whisky. Courtesy of Fireball Whisky.

12 chicken thighs
4 tablespoons yellow mustard
4 tablespoons brown sugar
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 teaspoons Fireball Whisky (for the rub)
1/8 cup Fireball Whisky (for the sauce)
12 oz of your favorite BBQ sauce
Your favorite BBQ Rub

In a bowl mix the mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and 4 teaspoons of Fireball Whisky. Partially remove skin and fully coat chicken with 1/3 of the mixture and sprinkle on your rub. Put skin back on and coat with the rest of the mustard mixture and more rub. Grill chicken until done. In a separate pan, mix BBQ sauce and 1/8 cup Fireball Whisky on low heat until sauce is well mixed and warm. Use this as a dipping sauce or coat chicken with sauce.

The Grab Bag

It's time for our weekly review and preview. We always have lots to share on a Friday, so let's get started.

Store Events

We outlined our upcoming events in yesterday's blog post. Click here for that post, so you can see the information for both stores. Click here for the Event Calendar for Lawrenceville only; click here for the Woodbridge Event Calendar.

New Products

We have this important reminder for anyone who enjoys craft beer. Other than what we'll note here, we're not likely to get any additional deliveries of summer beers and ales. Our autumn beers and ales have already started arriving.

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin is now in stock in Woodbridge only.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin is back in stock, Woodbridge only.

Schlafly Summer and Schlafy Kolsch. Limited availability, Woodbridge only.

We've doubled our Mead selection in Lawrenceville. Look for expanded selections from The Colony Meadery, Golden Coast Mead, Dansk Mjod and Moonlight Meadery.

Elysian Brewing is back in stock in Lawrenceville, after a bot of a hiatus. Look for Superfuzz, Loser, Dragonstooth and Dayglow.

We've brought in several brews from Pennsylvania's Appalachian Brewing Co. We're now carrying their Outtafocus Double IPA, Chocolate Avenue Stout and Jolly Scot. Lawrenceville only.

Château Devise d’Ardilley Haut-Médoc 2012. 91 points from Wine Enthusiast. "Balance makes this wine so impressive. Ripe and rich black fruits are laden with firm tannins without losing sight of their freshness. The structure and solid character of the wine point to good aging. Drink from 2018."

We had last carried the 2009 vintage of this wine. Only $16.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Ripped from the Headlines

New York's Next Winemaking Frontier?  The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is reviewing an unconventional new American Viticultural Area application in New York state. The proposed Champlain Valley of New York AVA, with the backing of the Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association, has designated itself specifically for hybrid grape varieties.

According to the petition, filed by North Star Vineyard owner Colin Read, the distinguishing feature of the proposed AVA is its short growing season, suitable only for cold-hardy North American hybrid varieties such as Frontenac, La Crescent and Marquette.

Frescobaldi's Inmate Harvest Interns. If Italian prisons are anything like their American counterparts, there is a fine tradition of making vino della latrina with fruit salad cups and socks as agents of fermentation. But that’s not really the Frescobaldi Way, as the 700-year-old, 30-generation Tuscany-based Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi has a bit of a quality reputation to uphold. Instead, Lamberto Frescobaldi is taking fine wine to the big house: Since the 2012 vintage, he’s been making a white blend of Vermentino and Ansonica from a vineyard on the prison island of Gorgona, and the 2014 vintage is now out. The prisoners—including, according to the Italian Tribune, “celebrity” killer Benedetto Ceraulo, who was famously contracted to off fashion heir Maurizio Gucci—work the project, and the goal is rehabilitation and education for them, most of whom are serving lengthy sentences for serious crimes. But Gorgona now boasts a recidivism rate of just 20 percent, compared to the 80 percent average for Italian prisoners.

"I’m very happy to see how the Gorgona project is growing from year to year," said Frescobaldi in a statement. (This year he doubled the vineyard size by planting 2.5 more acres.) "Our family is very proud of what we’re achieving: providing practical training for the inmates on the island that will lead to employment opportunities after incarceration." Frescobaldi so far has invested $130,000 in the project and partnered with the likes of tenor-vintner Andrea Bocelli; this year, Cescot, a hospitality company, is involved, and one lucky/industrious inmate will receive a full scholarship and internship in food studies.

News courtesy of Wine Spectator.

Have a great weekend!

Decisions

Today we're giving you the information you'll need to decide what events you want to participate in at our stores. Most of the events listed below are free, so we'll only raise the issue when there's a cost involved.

Events in Lawrenceville

We open up with a wine tasting on Friday, from 4-6pm. Click here for the tasting menu. You'll note that one of the wines is the 2011 Chateau St. Jean Sonoma Chardonnay, which we've recently highlighted on this blog. That's a great price for a this high quality wine, and you can see for yourself about how well it's drinking now.

On Saturday, we're hosting a tasting from Cooperstown Distillery. Craft spirits is a hot category now, and Cooperstown is one reason why. Tasting hours are 2-4pm. Click here for more information.

Over the next few weeks, we're mostly sticking to our regular wine tasting schedule. The exceptions are Saturday, July 25, when we're hosting a tasting of Flying Fish Brewery products, and Saturday, August 1, when we're hosting a Crop Organic Vodka Mixology event.

And we also need to mention our on-going Christmas in July tappings. Up until July 31, we're tapping a great Growler keg every day. Click here to see the full list of beers and times; prices will be posted in the store. Spoiler Alert: tomorrow we have one of the most sought-after beers anywhere all ready to go.

To see our full schedule of events in Lawrenceville, please click here.

Events in Woodbridge

The weekend starts today in Woodbridge, with a Troegs Beer tasting, from 5-7pm. We continue with our regular wine tastings, which are Friday, 4-6pm, and Saturday, 1-3pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

Next weekend will also feature tasting events on all three days. Please stop in for a tasting of Shiner Beer on Thursday, 7/23, the Crop Organic Vodka Mixology event on Friday, 7/24, and a wine tasting on Saturday, 7/25.

We close the month with a terrific event on July 31. We're hosting an in-store Small Plates event with Founders Brewing. Five courses, including dessert, will be expertly paired with a different brew from Founders. There will be other special opportunities available only to participants (here's a hint: KBS). Tickets for this event are just $55.00, and our limit is 25 people. Click here for more information, or just call the store (732-726-0077) to reserve your place.

To see the full schedule of events in Woodbridge, please click here.

Summer Slammed

The middle of the week is always a great time to turn our attention to our newest arrivals. We'll probably be very busy with deliveries over the next few weeks, in part because many of our wholesale distributors shut down for a full week in August. For our craft beer lovers, we're probably two or three weeks away from the first autumn beers of the season. Below are just a few of our newest products. Ask any manager for assistance in finding these items, or anything else in our stores.

Cockburn's White Port

Based on requests for a white port, we've added this great choice from Cockburn's. White Port is a style of Port that is really worth getting to know better.

Cockburn’s Fine White has the best of both worlds. It has the natural sugars of ripe grapes as well as the dryness of a slightly longer fermentation. The result: a slightly drier, easy-going, easy to drink White Port perfect for a summer’s afternoon, so sit back and relax.

Serve it chilled, straight from the ice bucket or the fridge. Or try making your own Port Tonic cocktail. A good slice of fresh lemon, orange, lime or even grapefruit; ice; a sprig of fresh mint or rosemary; tonic water and generous splash of Cockburn’s Fine White Port.

Available for only $12.99.

Alfred Gratien Champagne

Champagnes from Alfred Gratien have a lengthy tradition and, disregarding the mass-produced ethos and fashions of modern times, still remain true to that tradition today. What you get is a "hand-crafted" champagne that represents quality and uniqueness.

Brut: This great classic clearly shows the style of Alfred Gratien. It's a refined blend dominated by fruity Pinot Meunier combined with the elegance of Chardonnay.

Color: Light-gold, very beautiful

Sparkle: Fine, extremely long-lasting mousse

Bouquet: Citrus fruits, mangoes, peaches and apricots

Palate: A wonderful balance of aromatic strength and the freshness of exotic fruits

Overall impression: A refined blend in which the elegance of the Chardonnay melds with the fruitiness of the Pinot Meunier and the enduring flavor of the Pinot Noir. That is the art of champagne production.

92 points from Wine Spectator. $38.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Brut Rosé: The Alfred Gratien style is clearly revealed in this Rosé Champagne. A refined blend where the elegance of chardonnay and the fruity notes of Pinot Meunier mingle with delicacy.

Color : light-rose color with soft copper glints.

Sparkle : Fine and extremely long-lasting mousse.

Bouquet :The chardonnay aromas mingle subtly with the fruity bouquet of Pinot Noir.

Palate : Fine balance between aromatic strength and the freshness of small red berries dominated by raspberry.

Overall impression: A high quality Champagne that completes the Alfred Gratien range. The rosé is obtained by the addition of Pinot Noir still wine.

Also 92 points from Wine Spectator. $44.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Crown Royal, Cask Strength, Canal's Family Selection

At Joe Canal's, we sometimes partner with others to add outstanding products to our shelves. These partnerships allow us to offer you unique, limited-availability wines and spirits at reasonable prices. The Canal's Family Selection (CFS) designation means that the item was hand-selected for quality, taste and value.

Crown Royal is the standard of excellence for Canadian whisky. It is an extraordinary blend of 50 full-bodied Canadian whiskies, matured to perfection. It's delicately smooth and creamy, with hints of oak and the sweet flavor of vanilla. The finish is long and lingering. At cask strength, this weighs in at 51.5% ABV.

Very limited availability, at $54.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles

Sometimes the wine is an old favorite, but the vintage is new and noteworthy. That's the case with the Olivier Leflaive Les Setilles. Year in and year out, this wine represents impeccable quality and unsurpassed value in the French wine category. This wine exceeds expectations of even the most discriminating of palates.

Roughly 60% of the wine is aged in Allier oak, only 10% of which is new. The remaining 40% of the wine is aged in stainless steel to preserve clean varietal character. And it's 100% Chardonnay.

The 2013 vintage rated 91 points from James Suckling. "This is bright and delicious with sliced lemon, pineapple and minerals. Full body, crisp acidity and a clean finish. 60% barrels and made from vineyards at the foot of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. Drink now."

Available for $23.99.

It's Ultra, Man

At Joe Canal's, we have a well-deserved reputation for having the lowest prices on the vast majority of our products. You've either done this yourself, or seen it in our stores: you come to our store with your list, and you are focused on that. By not looking around, you miss some of the other items we carry, like these ultra-premium spirits.

Some of the ultra-premium collection in Woodbridge

Whether you're looking for an outrageous gift or a luxurious item for your home bar, consider the ultra-premium items. Please note that this is just a partial list of what we have in stock.

Cîroc X

Vodka, which is the biggest-seller in our Spirits category, has been experiencing something of a boomlet in the ultra-premium brands. The newest to reach our shelves is Cîroc X. That's Ten, as in the numeral, not the letter.

Cîroc X is made using a blend of fine French grapes, including the first harvest grapes of 2013 vintage, which are said by vintners to be the crispest of the harvest. It's is great for a night out; it’s an easy mixing spirit and is something that always marks celebrations.

Available for $209.99

Beluga Gold Line

Beluga Gold Line is a limited edition product, dedicated to the true connoisseurs of strong spirits. The trademark blend of artisinal water and malt spirit passes through five rounds of filtering. Each bottle has a serial number and a cork stopped with sealing wax. Each bottle comes with an elegant hammer and brush to clean out the wax, emphasizing authenticity and individuality, with an imposing attitude.

Available for $99.99.

                                      Gran Patrón Piedra

Aged for over three years for a rich and balanced taste. After all that time in barrel, it has a deep mahogany color. Fresh fruit & mushroom with hints of toasted French oak tantalize the nose. The palate is sweet yet complex, with notes of agave, vanilla & mushroom. The finish is smooth and long-lasting.

Gran Patrón Piedra is made from the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave. It's crafted using the centuries-old tahona process, and is presented in a distinctive crystal bottle and elegant box.

40% ABV. Available for $299.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Brora 35

Brora 35 is a Highland single malt that was distilled in 1978. Aged in a combination of refill American and European oak, this has the classic Brora waxiness.

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt from the closed distillery (shuttered in 1983) at Brora on the Sutherland coast. It is the equal-oldest Brora bottled in this series and the thirteenth of a limited series of annual releases. Annual allocation has extended availability of this irreplaceable malt but stocks are now depleted.

Distilled in 1978 and matured in refill American Oak and European Oak casks for over 35 years old - only 2,964 individually numbered bottles were produced.

The nose is a beautiful, old Highlands classic, offering a melange of fruit, Sauternes, nuts, and wisps of smoke. The whisky attacks the palate with buttery sweetness, bright fruit — apples, citrus, and a bit of banana — then mellows out as the woodier, more maritime notes take hold. The distinct salt and seaweed notes are stronger here than in recent years, with the finish pushing on toward iodine and more smokiness than the nose would indicate. It’s this fireside character that lingers for ages, until you cut it again with a sip of that sweet nectar that comes on like sweet relief.

Simply gorgeous and hard to put down (as always). 48.6 ABV. Priced at $1119.99 in the Bottle Club®. Only one bottle available per store!

Glenfiddich 40 Year Old

An exemplary single malt. Our Malt Master handpicks some of the oldest casks in the world, marrying 40 year old vattings to craft a peerless whisky. Infinite depth and layer upon layer of aroma and flavor create a 40 year old unrivaled by other rare whiskies of this age.

Each bottle is individually numbered and wrapped in hand-stitched calf leather. Each is accompanied by a leather bound book telling its 40 year old story, with certification hand-signed by our longest-serving craftsmen.

The nose: Beautifully rich with layer upon layer of dried fruits, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and ripe black cherries. Waves of gentle wood smoke, polished leather and cloves.

The palate: Silky smooth and luxurious. Intense dried fruit notes are followed by rich fruitcake, dates, raisins and stewed apples. Over time slightly dry oak notes appear, with a hint of bitter chocolate and the faintest peat notes.

The finish: Incredibly long lasting and complex. Truly memorable.

Only 600 bottles are released to the world each year. We have one available at each store, priced at $3754.99.

Remy Martin LOUIS XIII

LOUIS XIII is an exceptional blend of some 1200 century-old eaux-de-vie, which will bring hundreds of aromas to the cognac.

This succession of blends creates a balance between the different aromas and contributes to the smooth harmony of LOUIS XIII.

This blending stage keeps the memory of taste alive, and brings out the timelessness of LOUIS XIII.

The LOUIS XIII cask is made of Limousin oak, which have the perfect tannins and porosity for the ageing of an eau-de-vie. Over time, casks are blended together to produce what will become LOUIS XIII. Three or more Cellar Masters will oversee the process.

Available for $3190.49.

Whether it's an ultra-premium spirit, or a similar wine, Joe Canal's has the product to meet your needs. These are typically either locked in a case, or stored off the sales floor. If you're shopping for a product in this category, just ask a manager for assistance.