New Products for Mid-March

Because it's close to St. Patrick's Day, we'll start our weekly review of our new items with a special Irish whiskey.

Over the last year or so, we've added the Canal's Family Selection line. These are unique whiskeys that have been hand-selected for our stores. (As a quick refresher, every barrel of whiskey ages differently from all the other barrels, based on where it sits within the warehouse. Blended whiskey combines barrels for a specific taste profile, while a single-barrel bottling means that one barrel is used to fill a specific number of bottles, so bottles from single barrel A will taste different than bottles from single barrel B). Given the nature of the products, they are always available in limited quantities.

Up to this point, every Canal's Family Selection whiskey has been domestic. That's changed with the Knappogue Castle Canal's Family Selection Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Single malts are considered the royalty of whiskeys, and this is no exception. This is un-peated, so the flavor is clean, crisp and true. As a drinkable collectible, you'll see that each bottle is individually numbered, which is typical of a single-barrel selection.

Entry is balanced, focused, and integrated, slightly astringent and nicely fruity. Midpalate has delicate tastes of marshmallow, brown sugar, oaky vanilla, and marzipan. A polished and mature Irish single malt whiskey selected and bottled at the ideal age.

This is a great St. Patrick's Day choice to enjoy or to give as a gift. It's available in limited quantities for $44.99.

The Hayes Ranch Cabernet and Chardonnay have been popular, quality choices for wines in the under $10 range. We've just added the Hayes Ranch Red Blend to our shelves. Brandon Bartfalvi, Senior Wine Manager at our Lawrenceville, recently sampled this new selection, and said, "A fun, straight-forward style offering ripe blackberry and dark fruits intermingled with spice and oak. You get an uncomplicated but rich and smooth blend that is a solid value! This is a great house wine!"

In the Bottle Club® for only $8.66.



For the 2010 Pecchenino Le Coste Barolo DOCG, we'll just let the reviewers discuss this wine:

"Cherry, floral, tar, iron and mineral aromas and flavors mark this red, which is savory and fruity in equal measure. The sweet fruit is balanced by serious tannins, and the aftertaste reveals medicinal herb, tar, sweet spice and underbrush notes. Best from 2018 through 2032. 466 cases made." - Wine Spectator, 94 points.

"The 2010 Barolo Le Coste is exceptionally elegant and graceful with an especially heightened focused on the smallest and most subtle nuances naturally present in Nebbiolo. Etched notes of smoke, dried berry, licorice, asphalt and pipe tobacco add complexity and intensity to the bouquet. Revisiting this wine in eight to ten years will yield exciting results. Drink: 2017-2030." - Wine Advocate, 93 points.

"Another dazzling wine, the 2010 Barolo Le Coste races across the palate with bright red cherry, plum, spice, hard candy, mint and rose petal overtones. The Le Coste is a bit more primary, perfumed, sweet and pliant, especially through the mid-palate - than the San Giuseppe. Sinewy, powerful and tannic, the Le Coste is what traditionally made Barolo is all about. The 2010 spent three years in cask." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, 96 points.

As you might expect, this is available in very limited quantities. $51.99 in the Bottle Club®. Compare that to our regular price of $58.99, and the release price of $76.00.

New Stuff for the New Year

Every year in mid-January, a number of our wholesale distributors close for a week. For that time, we don't get any products from them, let alone new items. But it's a good opportunity for all of us to get our storage areas in order, following the business of the holiday season.

Thank goodness that's all behind us, so we can continue rolling out new products.

For the Scotch lovers out there, we're now stocking the Springbank 9 Year Old Gaja Barolo cask. Springbank is one of the few distilleries left in Campbelltown, and this whisky marries their complex and rich spirit with a fine wine cask, adding flavor and nuance. Limited production means limited availability, and it's priced at $97.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Speaking of Barolo, we also just received very limited quantities of the 2004 Azelia Riserva Barolo Voghera Brea. This received 97 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A seductive red, this boasts a pure bouquet of cherry and cherry jam flavors. Rich and expressive, unfolding on a bed of firm, supportive tannins, with lively acidity and a long, lingering aftertaste of fresh cherry, tobacco and mineral notes. Best from 2015 through 2033. 350 cases made." It's produced from vines that are more than 75 years old, and released after 6 years in the cellar. This fine wine is currently in the Bottle Club® at $104.99.

Due to arrive any day now is the 2012 Butter Chardonnay, from Jam Cellars. This wine has an ethereal creaminess on the palate, woven with smooth vanillin scented oak. Tropical flavors of pineapple and honeydew intertwine delicately on the mid pallet and linger on to the finish. Priced at only $14.89 in the Bottle Club®, we will also have limited quantities of the Butter.

Also due to arrive within the next day or so is the 2008 Santa Rita Triple C, from Chile. It rated 93 points from Wine Spectator, placing #47 in the 2013 Top 100. Their review: "A powerful red, with a surplus of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant flavors that are pure and focused, wrapped in layers of vanilla and cream. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and wild herb notes. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère." Our regular price is $34.99, and it will be on sale  in the Bottle Club® for only $29.99.

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are your best bets during the Big Game week, and all through the year.