Our single most anticipated event of the year is at hand. Our Winter Warehouse Sale begins on Friday, January 25th, 9 AM to 7 PM, and continues on Saturday, January 26th, 9 AM to 5 PM. This is the sale you've been waiting for! For those 18 hours we will be offering remarkable savings on everyday bargain-priced wines as well as many special wines rated outstanding by the press. All wines are discounted by a minimum of 25% and several are discounted by 50% (or more). Most of the wines will be open for tasting, many selling below wholesalers' cost, so whether you are looking for a few nice bottles or several cases, this is the time to buy.

 

The sale wines are not announced in advance. You have to come to the sale to find out what's happening, but believe me, you will be impressed with the great lineup and wonderful savings. Dress warmly, and casually, because it could be cold and will, at times, be crowded.

 

As always, if you are going to be out of town, or just can't stand the thought of crowds in bulky winter coats, we can do the shopping for you. Just call our Wine Department and ask for someone to be your Surrogate Shopper. Here's how it works: tell them the types of wines you like, how much you'd like to pay, and how many total bottles or cases you'd like. We'll do the rest. We'll bill the order to you and have it ready the following week for you to pick up. While you won't get a chance to personally taste the wines before buying, you will not miss out, and you may still alter your purchase after the sale (in case we liked something but you don't!). We need to get all orders in by noon Wednesday, January 23rd. That will give us plenty of time to make sure you get what you want. As they say, operators are standing by, so if you can't make the sale in person, give us a call today for your Surrogate Shopper order.

I am excited to announce the arrival of two stellar Spanish wines from Bodegas El Nido in Jumilla. The famous Australian winemaker, Chris Ringland, oversees the winemaking process of these two Spanish superstars, El Nido 2005 and El Nido Clio 2005. The grapes for both these wines come from 30 acres of 25-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon and 79 acres of 60-year-old Monastrell (Mourvedre). The vineyards are gently hand-harvested, selecting only the healthiest, ripest grapes, followed by fermentation in small open vats that hold only 3 or 4 tons per batch for 7 days. The grapes are basket pressed and fermentation is finished in oak barrels, then both wines are aged for 26 months in new barrels.

 

The Clio 2005 is 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has earned outstanding scores from the critics over the past several vintages, and this vintage is no exception. The first review for the 2005 is in from Stephen Tanzer: "93+ pts. Inky purple. Vibrant red and dark berries on the nose, with sexy vanillin oak, Asian spices, fresh flowers and bright minerality. A silky, graceful midweight, displaying vivid raspberry and blackberry flavors and slow-building tannic grip. More tangy than the 2004, and at least as elegant, finishing with outstanding clarity and persistence."

 

The El Nido 2005 is comprised of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Monastrell, and is, like previous vintages, close to perfection. Stephen Tanzer says: "94 pts. Opaque violet. Seductively perfumed bouquet of red and dark berry liqueur, graphite, Asian spices and incense. This saturates every nook and cranny of the palate with flavors of sweet raspberry, boysenberry, candied licorice, cinnamon and vanilla. Impressively fresh for such flavor impact, thanks to gentle tannins and vibrant finishing minerality. A lingering, subtle strawberry quality underscores this wine's impression of elegance over brute force."

Clio 2005, Jumilla, CAP $44.97/750 ml, $539.64/case (regularly $53.95)

El Nido 2005, Jumilla, CAP $139.97/750 ml, $1,679.64/case (regularly $159.95)

The First Shipment of Pata Negra Iberico has arrived in the USA. Finally, the first Iberico Cured Hams made exclusively from Pata Negra Iberico pigs is here. This is the ultimate Spanish culinary treasure, equivalent to Russian caviar or the finest French truffles! Raised at the "dehesas", indigenous forest of southwestern Spain, the Iberico pig, a descendent of the wild boar, still wanders free. Popularly known as the Pata Negra, or Black Hoof, the Iberico pig, with its diet of acorns and other naturally growing plants of the dehesa, is responsible for the unsurpassed taste and quality of the traditional dry-cured hams and sausages of Spain. These hams are swirled with high levels of flavorful natural fats, for which this pig has gained international notoriety. Very Limited Supply.

Fermin Pata Negra Jamon Iberico, Spain CAP $79.99/lb

Join us in our classroom on Thursday, February 7th for an introductory class on the Wines of Chile. This country has been blessed with a superb climate that features abundant sunshine mixed with cool breezes from the Pacific that create ideal ripening conditions. We will taste a total of ten wines, from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons and red blends. Former Schaefer's employee, Tom Hyland, who has been teaching wine classes to the public for more than fifteen years, will teach the class. He has visited Chile on several occasions and has written several articles on the subject. Class size will be limited, so to ensure your seat in class, please enroll right away.  We hope to see you on the evening of February 7th for a viticultural journey to Chile!

02/7 THU ~ 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., $35 per person. To sign up, phone Tom Hyland at 773-293-6790 or by email. Please do not contact Schaefer's.

I hope you can join me here on Thursday, February 21st, when I will be conducting a tasting class on Syrah which I'm calling: Syrah to Shiraz: Petit and Beyond. That will give us the chance to study a good number of wines from some of the finest producers, big and small. It'll be a world tour without the slide projector, guaranteed informative and fun. I'm planning on ten wines and some snacks from the food department. Reservations in advance are required because space is limited. Please come. It'll be more fun if you're here!

02/21 THU - 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., $20 for CAP members (and you will become a CAP member). Contact Schaefer's at 847-677-WINE (9463) or by email to sign up.

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.