But Wait, There's More!

More new products to discuss, that is.

Hayes Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Two different wines-not a blend. Located in the northern Central Coast of California, the lore of Hayes Valley extends back to the days of missionaries and the historic El Camino Real. The land was planted with wine grapes in the late 1800’s, but the vineyards eventually succumbed to Prohibition.

Agriculture was restored to the Valley in the late 1990’s with the planting of new vines. The Hayes Valley is an ideal climate for growing grapes—cool, foggy nights followed by warm sunny days.

Hayes Valley Wines are grown and produced at Clos LaChance Estate Vineyards and Winery in California’s Northern Central Coast, which was one of the first certified sustainable wineries in California.

The Cabernet shows aromas of cocoa, dried cherry, black currants and a hint of cigar, with vanilla and spice undertones. Rich cherry and blackberry flavors upon first sip. Medium tannins and acidity create perfect balance. A bit of bakers spice and rosemary on the finish.

Pair with Beef Dishes (New York Steak with Gorgonzola Butter, Prime Rib, Grilled Filet), Grilled Lamb with Mushrooms, Chocolate Brownies with Walnuts or Pecans, Blue Cheeses (Camembert, Aged Jack, Parmesan, Gorgonzola).

In the Merlot, bramble berry, vanilla and a hint of fresh dill on the nose. A hint of cocoa and dried strawberry. On first sip, bright acidity and blackberries dominate. Secondary flavors of raspberries, savory and rosemary follow. The finish is very smooth with soft tannins and a hint of that vanilla peeking through.

This wine would pair great with Beef dishes (Grilled Flank Steak or a Beef Brisket Pot Roast) or Lamb dishes (Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks or Roasted Rack of Lamb).

Each is priced at only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Dreaming Tree Pinot Noir

This is the newest wine from the partnership between Steve Reeder and Dave Matthews.

When Steve Reeder and Dave Matthews first met, they realized they had a few things in common, like a passion for making wine at least as strong as their passion for drinking it.

They set out into wine country, looking for a way to make quality wines accessible to everyone. Along the way, they found inspiration in the down-to-earth characters and unforgettable flavors that give the region its rare kind of charm.

"We think this wine hits all the right notes. No matter what your journey may be, this is the perfect wine to share along the way." - Sean McKenzie, Winemaker.

$13.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Prats & Symington Douro Post Scriptum de Chryseia 2011

2011 was another exceptionally dry year whose effects were mitigated by the abundant rainfall of the previous winter, which was crucial in building good water reserves deep in the subsoil. The opportune rains of late August/early September, and the dry, sunny conditions which ensued, proved decisive in delivering grapes of exceptional quality in our vineyards of Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz. A great year for wine.

Deep garnet center with vivid velvet-red rim. Aromas of plums and attractive resinous notes. Lush and mouth-filling with satisfying pure and compact black fruits, displaying undertones of mineral and spice, underscored by fine acidity. 90 points from Wine Spectator. $23.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Touriga Nacional – 56%, Touriga Franca – 30%, Tinta Barroca – 7%, Tinta Roriz – 7%.

Tozai Snow Maiden Junmai Nigori

Produced in Kyoto by the Kizakura Brewery, this unfiltered sake is flavorful, full, and creamy. While fairly dry, it displays abundant flavors of fresh fruit underscored by the assertive character of the rice. Tozai "Snow Maiden" Junmai Nigori is remarkably food-friendly, and an excellent overall value. Enjoy slightly chilled. Only $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

By Popular Request...

At Joe Canal's, we've always been responsive to special requests. Even with the substantial shelf space that we have in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, it's just impossible to carry everything that our wholesalers make available. Our Special Order Managers have handled everything from a single bottle up to a full-scale celebration, and we're glad to be able to help.

There are times, however, when we have so many requests for a particular item, or for a specific type of product, that we find a way to create some extra shelf space and add something to our inventory. That's the case here, as we are adding two Sparkling Sake's to our shelves.

We already carry a number of products from the House of Gekkeikan, including their Sake and Plum Wine. Their Sparkling Sake is something that can be enjoyed on its own, or even in a cocktail. Zipang Sparkling Sake is a unique and fun new sake from the House of Gekkeikan. Lightly carbonated, Zipang’s sparkling style is produced naturally by secondary fermentation in a closed tank. Celebrate with Zipang Sparkling Sake!

Zipang Sparkling Sake is lively and bright with hints of tropical fruits, medium-bodied with a refreshingly light finish. It pairs well with a wide array of light appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, as well as with spicy food. Zipang Sparkling Sake is best served chilled and enjoyed in a flute. Enjoy simply as an aperitif or in a sparkling cocktail. It's also sulfite- and gluten-free, at only 7% ABV. This bottle size is 250ML, which is about 8.5 ounces, and is priced at only $7.99.

Since we mentioned cocktails, try these recipes:
 

Ninja Belini

Ninja Belini
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
1 part peach schnapps
Pour the peach schnapps into a chilled champagne flute and top with Zipang Sparkling Sake.

Zipang Mimosa
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
2 parts fresh orange juice
Pour the fresh orange juice into a chilled champagne flute and top with Zipang Sparkling Sake.

Sparkling Umé
4 parts Zipang Sparkling Sake
½ part Gekkeikan Plum Wine
Pour the Gekkeikan Plum Wine into a chilled champagne flute and top

with Zipang Sparkling Sake.
We're also adding Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake to both Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Packaged in a 300ML bottle, Hou Hou Shu is a modern style sparkling sake from Okayama prefecture. The bubbles are produced from natural fermentation and give the sake a full, sweet flavor.

This offers a light, slightly sweet flavor and gentle, natural carbonation which makes for a drinking experience very similar to champagne. At only 6% alcohol, the fruity taste pairs well with the same types of foods that go well with either sake or champagne, so seafood, fruit or anything light.  It can be enjoyed with acidic desserts, like blueberries and cassis, or mixed in a cocktail with a splash of lemon. Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake is only $13.99 in the Bottle Club®. 

If you want us to look into adding other products, please let a Manager know!

Springtime Cocktails

Maybe we're tired of the winter already, or maybe it was the beginning of baseball's spring training, but we're really ready to try out some springtime cocktails. We have a couple of weeks to practice, and when the weather does finally break, we'll be on top of our mixology game.

Cherry Blossom-tini
2 1/4 parts Ty-Ku Sake
3/4 part Cointreau
3/4 part cranberry juice
1/4 part fresh lime juice
2 dashes  orange bitters

Pour all of the ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass.

La Primavera
1 1/2 oz Corsair Gin
3/4 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Korean aloe vera honey tea
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Pour all of the ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass. garnish with aloe vera leaves.

Lavender Sapphire Collins
1 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz lavender syrup
3 oz club soda
Lemon wedge for garnish

Squeeze half a lemon into a Collins glass. Add lavender syrup and then Bombay Sapphire Gin. Stir. Add ice. Top off with club soda and garnish with lemon.


A quick and tempting trio. Please let us know how you enjoyed these cocktails.

Revisiting Sushi Wines

Our office manager, Karen, is indulging in a sushi dinner tonight at a local restaurant. She was asking around for suggestions, and of course the first thing to come to mind is the traditional sushi beverage, sake!

Sake is a traditional Japanese wine made from rice. Its roots are debated, but sake was first documented in the Kojiki, Japan's first written history, which was compiled in 712! Sake is made with a special kind of rice that's different from other rices that are made to be eaten. Sake rice has less protein and fat, and a special inner layer of starch. Sake rice is polished before it's brewed to remove the outer coating and leave only the starch, since it improves the taste of the starch dramatically. Different types of rice make different types of sake, and over 80 varieties of sake rice are grown in Japan!

Sake is unlike traditional wine, where the sugars present in fruit are converted to alcohol through fermentation. Sake, like beer, gets the sugars that are converted to alcohol from starch rather than fruit. Sake is traditionally higher in alcohol than other wines, averaging at around 15% - 16% alcohol.

I'd heard that sake was pretty much an acquired taste and that it was kinda harsh to drink. At first sip, I understood what everyone meant. However, like the acidic red I wrote about a few weeks ago paired with my spaghetti sauce, the sake transformed into something wonderful when I took a sip after I had a bite of sushi. What was very strong and tannic became almost sweet on my taste buds. It was delicious!

I also advised Karen that a wine I've enjoyed many times with sushi is the great, every day value Fado White. At only $4.99 a bottle in our Bottle Club, you can't go wrong choosing this easy-drinking Portuguese blend. It's crisp, dry, and full of refreshing citrus fruit that will pair beautifully with your Japanese feast.