The Wine Sellers

WINES TO WATCH
Hullabaloo 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel
$14.99 ($13.49 case price)
It wouldnt be autumn/winter in the Midwest
without a great zinfandel. Black raspberry notes
with dusty brown spice in the background.
Medium weight, loads of easy fruit throughoutMalmost too easy!
Charles Lafitte Brut Prestige $12.99
(11.69 case price)
Sparkling wine from France offers a delicate
nose with notes of floral, lime and orange
flower. The mouth gradually reveals aromas of
white-flesh fruits such as apple, ending with a
refreshing, slightly minty finish.
Holiday 2010
Ca' Momi 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon,
Napa $23.50 ($21.15 case price)
Ripe cab has a rich palate, complex nose and lots
of layers, providing depth and dense color. Soft
and rich in cassis, cherry, spice, chocolate and
oak flavors anchored with warm, earthy tanninsMbalancing nicely with pure vanilla and
chocolate toasted oak. Nice to find a cab featuring all Napa fruit at this price!
“In wine there is truth.” – Roman Proverb
Let Bacchus Be Your Guide
Our customers know that the Wine SellersP 11th annual
Bacchus Fest was held October 15 at Marina Grand Resort. Now herePs the surpriseMitPs still going on!
Jacqui explains, NWhatever is popular at Bacchus helps determine inventory until we close for season.O
So itPs the party that lasts right
through fall, the holidays and winter, moving from Bacchus to the
shop to your home.
Not only was this yearPs event a
sell-out, but more orders were
taken than at any previous Bacchus. We take this enthusiasm as
further proof that there are more
exceptional wines than ever beforeMand you can find a superb selection right here in the shop.
We choose an occasional wine for Bacchus not because of
its broad appeal, but to offer a broader experience for Bacchus goers and shop customers. James VanDerKolk of Imperial Beverage presented one such offering with the
Traverso 2006 Schiopettino $39.50. It is a
full-bodied Italian with some wild elements,
yet impressive in its density and richness.
Wine is an adventure!
After sampling the cross section of Spanish,
Italian and especially French wines, traveling
from Europe to Australia was as easy as moving over a table or two and meeting with Rebecca Loewy of Old Bridge Cellars. The Old
Bridge portfolio of premium Australian wines
includes the John Duval 2007 Entity Shiraz
$52 and masterpieces from DPArenberg,
such as the 2009 Broken Fishplate Sauvignon
Blanc $18.50 and 2008 Laughing Magpie
Shiraz/Viognier $32.
New Zealand was at the next table. Among
And although Bacchus selections
Jacqui Schiewe
her eclectic collection, Jenny Ferguson of
are only a smattering of the wines in
Veritas Distributors showed the Sherwood 2009 Pinot
shop, they represent a myriad of possibilities. They emNoir $24, from Marlborough, NZ, which has just come
brace a global perspective. They represent all price ranges.
into the market. Sherwood is always nicely priced and
They appeal to the novice as to the connoisseur.
highly prized at The Wine Sellers, where it is a perennial
The Bacchus advantage is due in large part to the perfavorite.
sonal involvement of the winemakers, importers and distributors, who gladly share their intimate knowledge of
The party returned to the states, as Bacchus always has a
the wines they present. Jacqui and these pros hand pick
strong and varied California flavor. Whether Cabernet
the wines for the event.
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir,
Zinfandel, Chardonnay or others, the overall premium
Two hand pickers were Gary and Georgine Kahle of Hand
quality had us taking orders all night. Debby Wisnewski of
Picked Selections. TWS has sold fine wines from the Hand OK Distributors sold out several of the exclusive SchramsPicked portfolio for years, but this was the first time we
berg selections. Our recent experience at Schramsberg is
tasted their Jean Laurent NV Blanc de Noirs Brut, Aube,
described in NCamp CaliforniaO inside this issue.
Champagne $61. It is light, ephemeral, gorgeous. Holidays are in good hands with this champagne.
Continued on p. 3
The Wine Sellers is wheelchair accessible.
We accept American Express, VISA,
Mastercard, Discover and Diners Club.
We will be on hiatus February, March
and April.
Winter hours you’ll find us in the shop
most weekends. Just to make sure,
phone first at 888-824-WINE.
16409B Red Arrow Hyw
Union Pier, Michigan 49129
Every day is
10-percent day!
Buy one case
(even mix
or match),
10-percent off!
The NGrape PressO is now available via email! If you would like
to receive your copy in your inbox instead of your mailbox,
send us a note at [email protected].
G rape G oe s G re e n & D ig ita l!
2007 Château Cluzan ($12.99)
Typical blend of 67 percent merlot, 27 percent cabernet
sauvignon, 7 percent cabernet franc displays a very correct earthiness on the nose. Rich and quite plump on
entry with dark red fruits, cigar box notes and a tiny bit of
cedar. Good valueMvery serviceable! From Bordeaux region, France.
Peirano Estate Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay
($14.95)
Big fat nose reminiscent of vanilla, toast and cedar. Quite
rich with yummy golden apple flavors and a long finish.
From Lodi, California.
Address Service
Requested
Predator 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel ($16.95)
Intriguing and exotic nose hints at bacon, red florals and
espresso. Very silky with lots of fruit on a medium to full
body: jammy berries, cocoa, nice streak of citrus acidity.
Quite complex! From Lodi. 91 PointsMBTI.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
UNION PIER, MI
49129
PERMIT NO. 7
January
S A L E
Every day is
percent day!
Buy one case
even mix
or match
percent off!
WI N E E VE NTS
T h is i s w h a t y o u g e t f o r d a r i n g t h e w in t e r in H ar b o r
C o u n t r y M t h e W i n e S e ll e r s g r e a t J a n u a r y S a l e ! H a v e
a ha p p y 20 1 1 a s e v e r y w i n e i n t he s h o p i s o f f e r e d at
d i s c o u n t s o f 5 t o 5 0 p e r c e n t , w i t h d is c o u n t s c h an g i n g al l t h e t im e t o k e e p t h i n g s i n t e r e s t i n g d u r in g o u r
only sa le of th e yea r. We are in th e shop on Sa tu rday s
a nd S u nd ay s a nd b y c ha n c e o r a p p o i nt me nt .
The Taste Washington event sponsored by
the Washington State Wine Commission in
partnership with Stephanie Izard Girl and the
Goat Restaurant was November 12.
Exceptional wines continue to flow out of
Washington and the Pacific Northwest and
into the shop. Excellent examples are the jawdropping ultrapremium Andrew Will Cellars
2007 Ciel du Cheval $64.50 offered at Bacchus, and the Milbrandt Vineyards 2006
Merlot, The Estates $28.
Bacchus
Continued from p. 1
Even Jacqui discovers something new at each and
every Bacchus, because learning is what tastings
are for. Information pours freely. This year, many
attendees were surprised to learn first-hand the
quality of Hickory Creek Winery right in our own
backyard Baroda. Hickory Creek is the first
Michigan winery to have a table at Bacchus, and
when you taste the 2009 Zero Oak Chardonnay
$29, 2006 Melange $28.50 and others, youPll
understand why the honor is deserved. We featured winemaker Mike DeSchaaf in our last Grape
Press. Our thanks to Sarah Robinson of Paw Paw
Wine Distributors, who joined Mike at his table.
We invite you to the shop through December to
keep the party going. Bacchus is just beginning!
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
UNION PIER, MI
49129
PERMIT NO. 7
Bodegas Virgen Del Aguila 2009 ia Garnacha
($11.99)
100 percent garnacha, reminiscent of crushed berries and
red floral notes on nose. Big, juicy, concentrated wine
with a good weight and a 30-plus second finish for an
amazing price! From Carin˜ena, Spain.
When we think of Chianti, we most often
think Chianti Classico. But Classico
is only one of eight sub-zones of
Chianti production. At the Simply
ItalianMGreat Wines U.S. Tour
2010 in Chicago on October 27,
Jacqui attended a tutorial on Chianti
DOCG wine, then followed with a
grand tasting of a cross-section
of Italian producers. A classic
example of Chianti Classico is the
2006 Vignamaggio, Terre Di Prenzano $24.
It was featured at Bacchus.
Address Service
Requested
Alfredo Roca 2009 Pinot Noir ($13.95)
An incredible pinot for the money. Earthy nose followed
by fleshy ripe cherries in a new world style. Weighty with
a hint of cola. Pair with grilled pork tenderloin, grilled
salmon. From San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina.
TASTINGS
CAMP CALIFORNIA
A small group of industry professionals from throughout the U.S., including Jacqui, gathered in California in
September to. . .go to camp. Camp Schramsberg, that
is, a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at Schramsberg
Winery, the most prestigious domestic producer of
sparkling wines. The campers picked grapes, studied in
class sessions led by renowned chef and enologist
Holly Peterson at the Culinary Institute of America,
and tasted great Schramsberg wines. Campers can
even earn CEUs. ItPs a fantastic peer consulting opportunity, or a unique experience for wine lovers. Harvest
was late this year, so attendees had the full attention
of the Ncamp counselors,O including owner Hugh
Davies. The Camp Schramsberg Spring Blending Session is March 13L15, 2011. 800-877-3623 x2408 or
http://schramsberg.com
If you just want to drink Schramsberg wines and not help
make them, by all means visit the shop for the 2006 Brut
Rose´ $47, the 2007 Blanc de Noirs $41, or if there is
any left of our allotment, the 2003 Blanc de Blanc $46.
After camp, we still had the energy to make our first
visit to historic Chateau Montelena in Napa. Their
2008 Chardonnay $53 was sourced from the very
same vineyard that made history in the 1970s, and the
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $49 has all the elegance a
cab should have.
So this is what two tons of grapes look like!
Then to Calistoga and Larkmead Vineyards, where we met
with manager Cam Baker, a genuine Sweet Home Chicago
guy south side, who spent time in Grand Beach during
his younger years. LarkmeadPs Firebelle Proprietary blend
is no longer in distribution. We anxiously await the arrival
of their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon next spring.
Our wonderful visit and tasting at Envy Estate Winery
was really a return call for consulting winemaker Nils
Venge, who visited the Michigan wine market this
summer. We also met with Envy vintner Mark Carter.
We let them know we are featuring EnvyPs stunning
2007 Petite Sirah $55, and the spectacular 2008
Sauvignon Blanc $26.
HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING
HerePs something no one wants for
ChristmasMpurple teeth. ThatPs why
Wine Wipes $7.95 makes a great
stocking stuffer. Just run Wine
Wipes over your teeth, and wipe
the wine off your smile!
Veritas Chocolates are fresh,
all-natural creations that also belong in a holiday stocking. In
Vino Veritas 3 oz., $5.95 is
made to pair with wines. We also
carry the intensely flavored True
Flats 2.5 oz., $4.
Many of our customers save certain wine bottles because they are
reminders of special occasions,
such as a birthday or an engagement. You can add a functional
touch of understated elegance to
those keepsakes with wine bottle
tea light candelabras $14.95.
They fit right into the neck, and include two tea lights.
Every day is
percent day!
Buy one case
even mix
or match
percent off!
Watch out winter L the Fireside Wines are here! We introduced this yearPs crop of Firesiders at Bacchus, and they
were hot sellers, so many of our customers have already
gotten the jump on olP man Winter. These hefty, weighty
wines will take the snap out of any cold snap and the chill
out of any wind chill. Have a warm and wonderful season!
Every day is
percent day!
Buy one case
even mix
or match
percent off!
B ob’ s fire sid e WI NES
Another home de´cor gift that says
Home Sweet Home is one of our
popular wine signs. Our latest favorite is “Show Me the Way to
Chardonnay.” $22
Too big for the stocking, but fitting nicely under the tree is the innovative by-the-glass DECANTUS™
wine aerator $60. We havenPt
mentioned it in a while, but we always take great pride in offering a
wonderful selection of glass decanters.
Or just give yourself the giftMof
time. Let The Wine Sellers create a
wine-themed gift basket or give a
gift-certificate, for the wine lovers
on your Ngood list.O