I hope the drink options are better in Hawaii than on this plane...
Hours of Operation
Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm
Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm
Calendar 🗓
January 11 (Saturday) - First Second Saturday of the year! Wisconsin Cheddar Soup with some delicious toppings, all day while supplies last.
January 25 (Saturday) - OYSTER DAY! This is not a national holiday, but it sure is official here. One day, one thousand oysters, so make your plans now. More details to come.
February 8 (Saturday) - Second Saturday, details TBD.
February 14 (Friday) - Valentine's Day Dinner, reservations required.
News 🗞
As you probably guessed from the title of the newsletter, I'm on my way to the Aloha State. You enjoy this frosty cold week... I'll be thinking of you from my beach chair. Or more likely, my seat at a nice seaside restaurant. That said, the girls are in charge this weekend, so treat them well. If you're not aware, we did install a new POS system for the business on Monday, so please be patient with us while we work through the kinks. And I know what you're thinking... yes, that's obviously that's why I decided to skip town 😏 We do have a collection of items that we are putting on sale due to the change, so stop in to see what we've got. Plus, the bar is stocked up and ready to go, including a new glass pour and a new beer list coming this weekend. For Second Saturday on 1/11, we will have another soup for you: Wisconsin Cheddar Soup that we will zhuzh up a bit with some special toppings. Creamy, savory, and full of flavor, all day while supplies last. I hope you've all been enjoying our Soup Saturdays because they're an easy way to get creative and are just plain satisfying on a cold winter's day.
Wine Feature ⭐️
The feature this week comes to us from Turley Wine Cellars in Napa Valley, the Turley 2022 Old Vine Zinfandel for $35.99. We occasionally have the Juvenile Zin from Turley, but it's been a long while since we've had this one... if ever? The vineyards used in this bottle are located all over California, all of them too small to produce wine on their own. The vines range in age from 50 to 130 years old because of Larry Turley's affinity for old vines – "where others might see decay, decrepitude and neglect, Larry looked beyond, finding instead health, history, and potential." Instead of tearing out old vines in favor of younger and less troublesome vines or even other crops, Turley saves old vineyards, "reinvigorating them through organic farming practices and preserving them in the ground for generations to come." Old vines naturally produce a more concentrated, complex, and balanced wine. In this bottle, you'll find 95% Zinfandel with the other 5% a combination of Mataro, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault. On the palate, ripe blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, juicy acidity and soft tannins. According to Turley, "There is no better way to gauge the classic character of old vine Zinfandel in California than through this wine."
Wine Pick 🥂
For a pick, we're going with a tasty little $12.99 red from Greece, the Seméli 2023 Feast Agiorgitiko. This probably isn't a grape you've heard of, but it's a great one to try at a very reasonable price. Agiorgitiko means "St George's Grape" and is thought to be one of Greece's oldest varieties, historically associated with the demigod Heracles and often called the "Blood of Heracles." It is a versatile grape, used to make everything from light rosés to deep, rich reds. This bottle is dry and medium-bodied, "crowd-pleasing, with its juicy cherry, blackberry and ripe cherry. Firm but velvety tannic structure holding the intense fruit core. Very enjoyable, bright and approachable but with enough complexity to be memorable and be enjoyed with food."
Oyster Selection 🦪
This week we have in Mayflower Point Oysters from Massachusetts. "These classic Cape Cod Bay oysters have the perfect balance of brine and sweetness. They are a great representation of a Massachusetts oyster and has a name that represents it appropriately." Around 3-3.5 inches with intense brine, creamy meat, and a gentle finish, these oysters go perfectly with a New England IPA.
Market Items 🛒
*Fresh Choice Ribeyes - $18.99/lb
*Fresh North Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Short Rib Burgers, 4pk - $13.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen
Canned Lump Crab, 1lb - $26.99
Frozen 6oz Filet Mignon, 2pk - $18.99
Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99
Frozen Chuck Prime Burgers, 5pk - $14.99 Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99
Frozen Cooked Demi-Glace Pork Shank, 1.5lb - $14.99 Frozen Cooked Osso Bucco, 16oz - $9.99
Frozen Berkshire Pork Tenderloins, ~1lb - $12.99
Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99
Frozen Pounded Veal Cutlet - $18.99/lb
Frozen Weisswurst Veal Sausage - $8.99/lb
Frozen Rinaldi Italian Sausage, 5pk - $8.99
Frozen U-13/15 Raw Jumbo Shrimp Deveined (2lb package) - $39.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails (4oz), 2pk - $25.99
Frozen King Crab (6-9s) - $42.99/lb
Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Italian Sausage or Roasted Vegetable) - $14.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes, 2pk - $5.99
Fresh/Frozen Cheese Ravioli, 1lb - $9.99
Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)
Tribeca Oven Bread (Sourdough or Rosemary) - $5.50
Brioche Hamburger Buns - $3.99
Brioche Hot Dog Buns - $3.99
French Macarons, 12pk - $8.99
Miner's Demi Glace - $9.99
New Wine🍷
Turley Old Vine Zinfandel, Napa Valley - $35.99
New Beer & More 🍺
Masthead Single Origin Coffee Stout, 4pk cans - $11.99
Destihl Tourbus DDH Hazy IPA, 4pk cans - $14.99
Abita Alphagator Imperial IPA, 6pk cans - $12.99
Toppling Goliath Cyber Sue IPA, 6pk cans - $12.99
Heart State Ache Orange Creamsicle Sour, 6pk cans - $10.99
Dragon's Milk Crimson Keep BBA Red Ale, 4pk bottles - $17.99 (back in stock)
Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢
Wiedemann's Royal Amber Ale - $109.99
Bell's Hopslam Honey DIPA - $235.99
Coronado Weekend Vibes IPA - $135.99
Final Thoughts 💬
I'm no wine snob... I'll drink damn near anything. But when flying first class to Hawaii, I expect a little bit more. C'mon, airline, step it up a bit. I paid thousands – yes, thousands – of dollars for this flight, and you're serving me a Cabernet Sauvignon that wholesales to me for... ready for it? $5.54. So I'm drinking Woodford Reserve (with one ice cube) right now because I'm gonna get my money's worth one way or the other.
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
📞 419-424-0391
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