The new releases from Duckhorn are in and we have a limited supply available! Duckhorn is a lovely northern Napa winery (located in St. Helena) and while the walls are adorned with various images of ducks, the winery gets its name from founders Dan and Margaret Duckhorn. Their specialty has always been Bordeaux-style wines (think Saint-Emilion and Pomerol) and these two are no exceptions. The 2005 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot is only 86% Merlot, with the remainder made up of traditional Bordeaux grapes. According to the winemaker, it is "blended to offer the complexity and balance of a young wine, while embodying the diversity of the whole Napa Valley appellation. This wine is medium-bodied and balanced with a smooth entry, integrated soft tannins, and a long finish. The aroma is lifted with raspberry, red currant, blueberry, cherry cola, and delicate spice. The flavors are polished with blackberry, plum, black cherry, toast, and a hint of herb."

 

Their 2004 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is again a blend, 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Says winemaker Bill Nancarrow, it is "a full-bodied wine with an integrated palate structure, firm ripe tannins, and a lingering finish. The aroma is bright with a mix of raspberry, black currant, blueberry, and a floral note underscored by tobacco and oak. The flavors are subdued but complex with ripe cherry, blackberry, and blueberry followed by a spicy hint of pepper."

 

So recently released, reviews aren't even out yet. Please contact us via e-mail or at (847) 673-5711 to order some today.

Duckhorn Merlot 2005, Napa $54.97/750 ml, $659.64/case (regular price $63.95)

Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Napa $99.97/750 ml, $1199.64/case (regular price $120.95)

 

OK, this is one you have to try! Fritz Allendorf's Festival Rosé Secco is a Spätburgunder Perlwein, a dry, slightly sparkling wine, and made from the German clone of Pinot Noir. The Allendorf wine estate is situated in the heart of the Rheingau - the famous German wine-growing region between Wiesbaden and Rüdesheim on the Rhine. Producing wine has a long tradition in the family: in 1773 Philipp Anton von Allendorf married a daughter of a local wine grower and the family started making wine. Back in 1955, Fritz Allendorf, the father of the present owners, only possessed 1.5 hectares of vineyard. Today the family owns 58 hectares - and is one of the largest family-owned wineries in Germany. For many years, Spätburgunders from Germany were light, fruity and sometimes sweet, but in the last two decades quality-minded producers have made wines with lots of structure and stuffing, some of which can be downright Burgundian. This light and lovely pale pink wine is an excellent example of a high-class Pinot Noir rosé that doesn't break your budget, with delicate notes of spice and a soft finish - think perfect for turkey! As always, enjoy a 10% discount on sales of a case of 12!

Fritz Allendorf Festival Rosé Secco $12.95/750 ml, $139.86/case

From our friends at Screwpull, we now have the new Universal Wine Cooler in stock. This neat little item lies flat in the freezer for storage then slides over a bottle to keep it cold at the table or on the way to a Bring-Your-Own place. It has side strips of something resembling Spandex® which allow it to fit on ANY bottle, even sparkling wine, making it a must-have item. It makes a great gift, too!

Screwpull Universal Wine Cooler $15.00

As promised, more tales from our travels this summer to Sonoma: after our visit to AVV, we drove past literally dozens of wineries down route 29 for a visit to Domaine Carneros, at the base of Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Located in a classic château inspired by Champagne Taittinger's historic Château de la Marquetterie in France, Domaine Carneros is, in my opinion, just about the closest to French Champagne that you can find from California. They offer a terrific tasting tour which introduces you to both their sparkling and still wines (they make some great Pinot Noir) as well as the complicated process involved in making, bottling and storing sparkling wines. At the end of the tour, they include a wonderful display of Pinot Noir aroma descriptors, ranging from nutmeg, clove and allspice to strawberry, cherry and blackberry jam - very educational!

 

Their high-end bubbly, Le Rêve, is delightful, but the one to watch for is their Brut Rosé - dry yet full of fruit, especially hints of peaches and strawberries, this offered a great balance of spice and mineral in a pale pink package. While the current bottling is sold out, we expect to add this to our shelves soon, so keep an eye out for it!

Domaine Carneros Le Rêve 2000, Carneros $54.95/750 ml, $593.46/case

Last month the United States Congress designated September as National Bourbon Heritage Month. This month, there's still a few seats left for our Bourbon Tasting and Class on September 27.

 

Mui Baltrunas, Schaefer's Spirits Consultant, will present this special class on the history and the myths surrounding this mighty fine beverage. Several Bourbons will be opened for tasting. Come taste the flavor of America and join the celebration of a uniquely American invention. The cost for this class is $25 per person and reservations are required; just call 847-673-5711 to enroll.

Join us on Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 for an in-store class on the great wines of Tuscany. This world-famous wine region is home to some of the greatest red wines made today, including Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino, which we will sample that evening. We will also try different versions of Chianti Classico as well as an example of the renowned Tuscan dessert wine, Vin Santo. Detailed handouts and maps of the region will be provided as well as paired snacks from our deli department.

 

Price for this class will be $55 per person and attendance will be limited and filled on a first-come first-served basis. The class will be taught by Italian wine authority and former Schaefer's employee, Tom Hyland, who has made eight trips to the region over the past few years. To enroll, contact Tom Hyland at (773) 293-6790 or by email at: thwinewriter@comcast.net, rather than Schaefer's. Ciao!

From one family-run business to another, we wish all our friends at Dinkel's Bakery a very happy 85th anniversary! This home to tasty treats - like Schaefer's, also on its fourth generation - will be celebrating 85 years of continuous calories this weekend with a party. On Saturday, September 29, beginning at 10 am and continuing on until 2 pm, there will be a traditional German "oom-pah" band, a clown, giveaways, the LARGEST stollen Chicago has or ever will see, balloons, t-shirts, and of course THE anniversary CAKE!

 

Dinkel's also wishes to celebrate its oldest customer: this individual will receive special prizes and will be asked to share memories and stories as well as assisting in the grand cake-cutting ceremony. We encourage our customers to join the fun - Dinkel's is located at 3329 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

This Saturday at the store we'll feature Oktoberfest beers and cheeses, some terrific Argentinean wines as well as whites and reds perfect for Fall weather. As always, the Saturday tastings take place 11:00-5:00 and are free. Hope to see you there!

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.