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.