It may not be the age of Aquarius… but please,
let the sunshine, let the sunshine, let the sunshine in! 😎
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday
10am to 6pm
Calendar 🗓
April 15 (Saturday) - Hey, we’re on a roll. Why not put something on the grill, some type of sandwich, something tasty and delicious? Sure, we’re having lunch and maybe an early dinner at the Wine Merchant this Saturday starting at 11:30,. What are we serving… roasted Porchetta direct from Italy, served on brioche buns, slathered with truffle mayo, a spot of lettuce, and maybe a tomato slice or two. That big, beautiful, 15-pound Italian Porchetta got here today and will be a real delight this Saturday! 😋
May 13 (Saturday) - Rosé all day in the middle of May! This annual tasting event will require reservations and will include lunch. Give us a call then mark you calendars for this 12-2pm event!
Now Pouring🍾
Store News 🏬
Well it’s official, the patio is out… minus two chairs that we’re still waiting on. I always think it prudent to share with everyone the Wine Merchant Patio etiquette: please don’t move the chairs and especially not the tables. No, I know there’s more than four of you, but take over two tables together, if available, but please don't move the tables or chairs! We don’t reserve tables (sorry). It’s first come, first served. Last, but certainly not least, never call the store from the patio to request another drink or that you’d like a server to come to the table (trust me, it has happened).
Wine News🍷
Kevin Bonanno stopped in this week. You may remember Bonanno Cabernet or possibly his red or white blends called “The Other.” This was a stop not to retry these wines, but one to share his import line from Italy. Needless to say, I was impressed. Impressed to the point that I believe I purchased six or seven new Italian wines that I was very, very smitten with. Unfortunately they won’t be in this week, but we’re hoping that maybe by next week we could begin to see them. Not only were these new reds and whites delicious but very, very price friendly. While I'm not always enjoying the surprises down here, this was truly a pleasant one. We’ll keep you apprised of their placement in the store... it’s something we’re all going to be excited about.
Dan’s Feature ⭐️
Ashes & Diamonds #3 2018 Cabernet is this week's feature. This wine was brought to us a few weeks ago, and I had Chelsea take the bottle home and give it the old college try (to be honest, I gave her a huge steak as well... I wanted a report based upon the pairing). She came back with photos and a detailed report… BRING IT IN! So that’s what we did. “Red Hen Vineyard is a property that sits in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, across Highway 29 from A&D Vineyard. With well-draining gravel and cobblestones suspended in alluvial silt and clay, the soil here acts like a sponge, naturally pulling rainwater down from the mountains and requiring little to no irrigation. It also encourages fine tannins and finesse in the resulting wines. Red Hen’s Cabernets have a quiet power, poise and impressive length with silky, weightless tannins that are the hallmark of this benchland site”. Alright enough of the technicalities, “this is an elegant and refined Cabernet, redolent with warm berry fruits, spice and savoury minerality. The palate is welcoming and medium-bodied with cool, fresh edges, perfectly pitched ripeness, fleshy weight and open-knit texture. Complex, concentrated and balanced, this radiates its great site and intelligent, considered winemaking.” Its cost is $99.99, and Red Hen Vineyard of the Oak Knoll District is no longer in the hands of the winemakers, so this is it: no 2019 or any other vintage from this vineyard site. Grab a piece of Wagyu down here, grab a bottle of this beautiful Cabernet, and get to work. It’s too nice out there not to enjoy all the enjoyable we have before us.
Dan’s Pick 🥂
Gerard Bertrand Languedoc 2022 Côte des Roses Rosé is this week's pick. This wine has always been one of my spring favorites. Stole these notes from Gerard himself: “The robe shows a soft, pale, brilliant pink with bluish tints developing over time towards more orangey nuances. The bouquet releases aromas of summer fruits, cassis and redcurrant. Floral notes of rose along with hints of grapefruit complete the picture. On taste, the finish is fresh, offering notes of candy. On the palate the impression is fresh and full, with great aromatic persistence and balance.” The wine is great, the bottle is really cool, and at $18.99, that’s all you need to know. We’ve carried this wine every year since it was introduced -- not because of the cool bottle, but because it’s simply a great aperitif, appetizer, first course, or entrée wine. Think Pink and pick up a few of these 2022s because spring without doubt has sprung!
Food News 🐄
Wagyu seems to be the word of the week! We have 3 different cuts of Imperial Wagyu. Burgers, Hanger Steaks, and Coulotte (or as others call it, Picanha). There is a very fair price on these products, so we're very excited to have them in. Both Prime and Choice whole cuts continue to rise in price, making me look in another direction, and I’m glad I did. To the rest of the beef eating world, these are normal cuts; however, to most of us, it’s a more exotic cut.
Food Feature 🥩
Of course it’s the Wagyu for the grill! For this week it’s the Imperial Wagyu Hanger steak. This cut is sometimes hard to find, as there’s only one cut from each cow, and these are second in tenderness only to the tenderloin. In France, these steaks are referred to as Onglet and are a prized cut of beef. We have in house packages of two 8oz pieces priced at $29.99. Two of our Choice 8oz Tenderloins are $34 total… Let’s see, hmmmm... Wagyu it is. These steaks promise to be the tenderest, most flavorful and delicious that you’ve possibly ever had. Anything over this price and I may walk away from these, but right now with the weather being beautiful and the grill shined and ready to go, that’s my feature!
Oyster News 🦪
It’s back to one of our favorites for this weeks oysters, Fortune Oysters from Nova Scotia. These cold water treats are the ones you enjoy with a little squeeze of lime, so dive in with no reservation. These tasty oysters are a small indulgence and unapologetically good, so suck every ounce of happy from every single moment. Enjoy - Irresponsibly!
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Wagyu Hanger Steaks (package of 2) - $29.99
*Fresh Wagyu Hanger Steaks (single) - $14.99
*Fresh Wagyu Coulotte (Picanha) Sirloin Cap - $16.99/lb
*Fresh Wagyu Burgers 2pk - $8.99
*Fresh CAB Steak Burgers 4pk - $14.99
*Fresh Smoking Goose Freedom 75 Ham - $49.99 half or $99.99 whole
*Fresh Double Cut Duroc Pork Chops - $12.99 per chop
*Fresh Oysters - $24 a dozen
*Fresh Faroe Island Salmon - $18.99/lb
Frozen Lamb Sirloin Roast - $22.99/lb
Frozen Center Cut 8oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $16.99
Frozen Center Cut 10oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $18.99
Frozen Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin - $12.99
Frozen Pre-Cooked Frozen BBQ Ribs (approx. 3lb racks) - $23.99
Frozen Sliced Philly Cheese Steak Meat - $9.99/lb
Frozen Italian Sausages, 4 per pound - $8.99
Frozen Nueske Cheddar and Bacon Sausages 5 per pound - $9.99
Frozen Epic Curing Black Pepper Bacon - $14.99
Frozen Marinated Pre-Cooked Pork Shank - $12.99
Frozen Chilean Sea Bass 6oz - $16.99
Frozen Bakkafrost Salmon Burgers (Spinach & Feta) 2pk - $10.99
Frozen Buddy’s Detroit Style Pizzas (Vegetable or Cheese) - $17.99
Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade avg. 10oz - $19.99
Frozen Lobster Tails - $9.99
Frozen U-16/20 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $19.99/lb
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Langoustines, approx. 1/2lb - $7.99
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Paparedelle from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Strozzapreti from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Lobster & Crab Tortelli from Italy - $16.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Pear & Cheese Fiocchi from Italy - $7.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
1932’s Pasta Sauce (Arrabbiata, Pomodorina with Fresh Basil, Pomodorina with Barolo) - $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Spaghetti Chitarra Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Trofie Dried Pasta from Italy - $7.99
Tribeca Bakery (Asiago or Rosemary) Bread - $5.50
Orwashers Sourdough Bread - $13.99
New Wine 🍷
Armas de Guerra 2020 Mencía, Spain - $17.99
Gerard Bertrand 2022 Côte des Roses Rosé, France - $18.99
Aslina 2021 Chardonnay, South Africa - $29.99
Joostenberg Estate 2022 Chenin Blanc - $14.99
Petit Cochon Bronzé 2022 Rosé - $19.99
New Beer 🍺
Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA, 4pk cans - $12.99
Maine Beer Co. Thank You IPA, 16.9oz bottle - $7.99
3 Floyds Rites of Ramm IPA, 6pk bottles - $12.99
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Half Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale - $118.99
Outerbelt Brewing Lager - $109.99
Maine Lunch IPA - $189.99
3 Floyds Zombie Dust - $155.99
Final Thoughts 💬
While I resorted to lyrics from the musical HAIR, I do wish to remind you it was not so long ago that it snowed on April 18th. Do I want snow? Absolutely not, but I just always get cautiously optimistic on days like today… Oh yeah, please continue and let that sunshine in, but even with rare meteorological events that we know can happen in Ohio, just think back to a little optimism that was inspired in 1968 from the musical. After all, a little optimism for the future is never a bad thing.
Cheers from all of us at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
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