Last Weekend Grab Bag

The reference in the title, of course, is to the fact that this is the last weekend to shop before Christmas. To accommodate the greatest number of people, we will have special store hours beginning Sunday.

Sunday, December 20, 9am-9pm
Wednesday, December 23, 8am-10pm
Thursday, December 24, 8am-7pm
Friday, December 25, Closed
Thursday, December 31, 8am-8pm
Friday, January 1, noon-4pm

We do anticipate that our stores will be busy, so please plan accordingly.

New Products

We are adding several different styles from the Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Collection. These are outstanding champagnes that offer possibly the best price:value ratio among our sparkling wines.

Our vision for the wine is simple, almost simplistic: It must be an expression of its terroir. The oak used for our barrels is sourced from the Écueil forest or from Champagne-Ardenne. Each plot is pressed and vinified separately and the juice is moved by gravity as far as possible and not pumped, to conserve the musts’ intrinsic qualities. The wines stay in tank or barrel in contact with their lees deposits, without racking, for the whole autumn period, so they develop their full complexity and unique personality. For the wines made in oak barrels, no stirring or filtering is carried out. The chilling process then takes place... outside in the winter cold!

Look for the following styles:

Brut, Non-Vintage. 91 points from Wine Spectator: "Well-balanced, this well-cut, aperitif-style version features a mix of savory accents of fleur de sel, almond skin and raisin bread, paired with dried apricot, lemon curd and honey notes. The mouthwatering acidity brings you back for another sip."

Brut, 2008 Vintage. 90 points from Wine Spectator: "A fresh version that offers a lively, lacy bead and subtle flavors of green pear, slivered almond, dried apricot and fleur de sel. Disgorged January 2015. Drink now through 2020. 370 cases made."

Demi Sec. 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay. This is our lowest-priced Demi Sec Champagne. On the nose, red fruit and floral notes that gradually reveal the predominance of the Pinot Noir grapes. It's full-bodied, with a lively attack. Enjoy with desserts or as an aperitif.

Extra Brut. Drier than Brut but not as dry a Brut Nature (Natural). This is our only Extra Brut Champagne. 91 points from Wine Spectator: "An elegant, well-cut sparkler, with a lively, lacy texture carrying a ripe note of poached apple and accents of chalk, almond skin and sea salt. Disgorged October 10, 2013. Drink now through 2019. 250 cases made."

Breaker Wheated Bourbon Whisky is meant to serve as a counterpart to Breaker Bourbon Whisky. By replacing the rye in our mashbill with wheat, we have created a bourbon that is slightly softer on the palate. Remaining true to tradition, this bourbon is aged in new, deeply charred 53-gallon White American Oak barrels for a minimum of 5 years. Only eight barrels are carefully hand selected by our Master Distiller for each batch that we bottle. 45% ABV. Limited availability, at $56.99.

2014 Michel Tete Domaine du Clos du Fief Julienas Tradition. Beaujolais wines like this are really popular at this time of year. Currently, this is our only wine from Julienas and each store has only a few cases. Rated 92 points by Wine Advocate: "The 2014 Juliénas Tradition comes from 45-year-old vines and underwent a 10- to 12-day maceration. It has a lively, vivacious nose with animated red cherry and wild strawberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe, citrus fresh red and black fruit, leading to a generous finish that is harmonious and tender. It will be hard to find Juliénas better than this little gem in 2014." Only $16.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale. If it tastes like Christmas, it probably works with K-9. Flavor notes: Sweet malt base with roasted, nutty, and spicy flavors Pairs with: Buttery cheeses; sweet breads; spice cake; squash, yams, and sweet potatoes; hearty meats and stews. 7.4% ABV.

                                                             Links n Stuff

We published several blog posts with additional recommendations for the holidays. Click here for wine, craft beer and sparkling wine. Click here for craft beer and sparkling wine. Click here for craft beer. Click here for sparkling wine and table wine. And click here for table wine only.

Click here for other gift ideas, like cheese and pre-made gift sets. Stock will vary by store.

Click here for events in our Lawrenceville store. Click here for events in our Woodbridge store.

Click here for the most misunderstood wine terms.

Have a great weekend!