As you may know we have made it a practice for almost forty years to put small quantities of exceptional wines into "George's Cellar" immediately upon receiving them from the producer. There they lie at a perfect 55° for years and years. We do not promote our Cellar Wines, but instead have them available for our regular customers who may be looking for a special wine for a special occasion.

 

A rare opportunity has presented itself: While recently doing a physical inventory of our Cellar we (happily) discovered that we had duplicated a few wines. Bottom line, we have twice as many bottles as we intended - a cash flow nightmare! George has issued a mandate to price these overstocks to sell quickly. Watch this space over the next several weeks for George's Cellar Clearance. These exceptional wines are in limited supply and we reserve the right to limit quantities sold to any individual. A different wine will be offered each week. It is a pleasure for me to announce the limited release of one of the most extraordinary wines in the world, impeccably stored in George Schaefer's personal cellar.

 

Our second cellar special: The 1995 Chateau Petrus needs no introduction. The 30 acres of vineyards in Pomerol, planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc produces one of the most noteworthy wines in Bordeaux. (There is no physical chateau on the property, so the wine is more commonly called, simply, Petrus). Under the direction of Jean-Pierre Moueix's son, Christian, and their oenologist, Jean Claude Berrouet, Petrus receives the care of a pampered child. The grapes are picked only in the afternoon, when the morning dew has evaporated, so as not to risk even the slightest dilution of quality. Vinification and aging: The composition of the topsoil and the subsoil at Petrus is almost all clay (whereas in adjacent properties the soil is a mixture of gravel-sand or clay-sand). Merlot flourishes in this soil. The vines are unusually old and are only replanted after they reach 70 years of age. Replanting takes place plot by plot, instead of vine by vine, in order to guarantee that the average age of vines is maintained at a high level.

 

Robert Parker rates this wine at 96 points. "Unquestionably one of the vintage's superstars, the 1995 Petrus is taking on a personality similar to the extraordinarily backward, muscular 1975. This is not a Petrus that can be approached in its youth. The wine exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by a knock-out nose of pain grille, jammy black fruits, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it possesses teeth-staining extract levels, massive body, and rich, sweet black fruits buttressed by powerful, noticeable tannin. A formidably endowed wine with layers of extract, this is a huge, tannic, monstrous-sized Petrus that will require a minimum of 10 years of cellaring. Forget all the nonsense about Merlot producing sweet, soft, ready to drink wines, because low yielding, old Merlot vines made in the way of Petrus and other top Pomerols frequently possess as much aging potential as any great Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine in the world. Look for the 1995 Petrus to last for 50+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2050. Petrus, the undisputed King of Pomerol, was an inconsistent performer between 1976 and 1988, but since 1989 there have been few Bordeaux wines that match this property for its extraordinary combination of power, richness, complexity, and elegance." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, February 1998.

 

Special clearance price for this wine, this week only, is $1,399.97. To the best of our knowledge, this is the best price in the country. We have seen it selling in London at over $3,000 per bottle  

 

CHATEAU PETRUS 1995, Pomerol, $1,399.97

There's an old saying that Nouveau Beaujolais should be consumed by Easter. That's a bunch of baloney, and I'll tell you why. For one thing, this year Easter arrived about a month early, and, at any rate, while the rule of thumb might apply to a mass-produced inexpensive Nouveau, the estate grown Louis Tete Nouveau Beaujolais 2007 is rich with fruit, lively and fresh, a fun and easy-sipping wine that'll be great for all the Spring and Summer cookouts and picnics in your future. Put a little, or full-blown chill on it, and you've got your perfect warm weather quaff. We've specially-priced this Nouveau for our customers who read this, so be sure to take advantage of this artfully crafted wine at a very tempting price. Imagine this wine with barbecued ribs or chicken. Yeah!

 

LOUIS TETE NOUVEAU BEAUJOLAIS 2007, France, $9.97 (regularly $16.95)

I wouldn't feel right if I didn't point out a great Australian Shiraz any chance I had. One can always expect extra depth and character in the wines sourced from the Barossa Valley, and the Yalumba is no exception. From one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Australia, this is another winner. "88 pts. The 2005 Shiraz & Viognier (5%) spent 17 months in French and American hogsheads, 10% new. Purple-colored, it has a reticent bouquet of violets, earth, plum, and blueberry. This leads to a firm, full-bodied wine with layers of fruit, light tannins, and 2-3 years of aging potential. Drink this tasty wine through 2012. This wine is an excellent value." Wine Advocate, October 2007

 

YALUMBA SHIRAZ 2005, Barossa, $13.97 (regularly $19.95)

The New Belgium Brewing Company has sent us a dazzling seasonal release, called Springboard. Like all their beers (Fat Tire being the first and most famous), this beer is packed with character and flavor. Brewer Jeff Lebesch was inspired by his acupuncturist to create a brew using Chinese herbs as ingredients. While stuff like gogi berries, schisandra and wormwood might sound unusual, the taste of this creation leaves you smiling for more. This cloudy blonde has a deliciously dry finish. You'll be impressed, I promise. This seasonal beer will only be available through this month, but don't fret. There will always be an interesting batch of something just as well-crafted to enjoy. Visit their web site, newbelgium.com, to get the full story. This premium-priced brew is worth every penny; a little goes a long way!

 

NEW BELGUIM BREWING SPRINGBOARD ALE, Fort Collins, Colorado, $9.49/ 6 pack

Considered the jewel of French cheeses, Époisses (ay-PWOSS) originated as early as the XVIth century in a community of monks in the small village of Époisses. Two centuries later, when the monks left the village, the recipe was handed over to the peasants in the valley. The wives of the Burgundy farmers assumed the responsibility for making the cheese. Over time, they introduced their own traditional skills into the process, and improved the quality of this outstanding cheese.

 

But the wars meant the loss of a significant part of the male population, leaving the women to face the work in the fields alone. Without time to take care of the cheese making or selling the cheese in local markets, the dairies became neglected. By 1954 Époisses had all but disappeared from the farms.

 

In 1956, a pair of craft farmers, Robert and Simone Berthaut decided to re-launch the production of Époisses by mobilizing the traditional skills of those who still knew how to make the cheese. Berthaut Époisses increasingly gained favor among its devotees and became a spectacular success.

 

During maturation, the cheese receives manual and individual care. It is washed two to three times a week, with water loaded more and more with Marc de Bourgogne. Its rind then slowly takes on a beautiful red-orange tint. Its aroma is rich. Its flavors stay sweet and subtle. Époisses has aroused such interest among French cheese connoisseurs that it is regarded as a cultural heritage and has been AOC-protected since 1991. Perfect match, a beautiful Chablis.

 

This luscious triple cream cheese, Brillat Savarin (bree-YAH sah-vah-RAN), was created in 1930 and named after a famous French epicurean and gastronome. This luscious triple cream cheese has a milky aroma with faintly lemon, tangy tones and a velvety texture. The flavor is similar to the aroma but with meadowsweet creaminess which is most addicting. The adage for this cheese used to be "the younger the better" but the Brillat Savarin affiné becomes even more buttery and decadent.

 

Brillat Savarin is often served for dessert, with the sweetest fruits or the freshest herbs. Champagne, Crémant de Bourgogne, White Graves and Sancerre are terrific matches. "The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star,"-- Monsieur Jean Anthelme Brillat Savarin

 

EPOISSES DE BOURGOGNE $22.99/8.8 OZ (REG. $24.99)

BRILLAT SAVARIN$24.97/lb

(REG. $27.99 Lb)

Join us on Thursday evening, April 3, for a free tasting of kosher wines, just in time for your Passover celebration. Kosher wine today means much more than Manischewitz - it's white and red, sweet and dry, and countries all over the world are making quality wines that just happen to be kosher. Stop by and try some!

 

4/3 THU- 5:30-7:30, FREE

Continuing our extremely fun series of Third Thursday Wine Classes focusing on individual grapes, this month we'll look at Chardonnays. And not just any Chardonnays, but those on the Top Shelf - the good stuff. Rombauer, Far Niente, even a Puligny-Montrachet from Burgundy! The food department will, of course, offer some appropriate snacks - please remember, if you would prefer a vegetarian tasting plate, let us know when you register. As always, reservations in advance are required so call or e-mail right now because space is limited.

 

04/17 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.

Join us for a fun and creative cocktail tasting seminar led by accomplished mixologists. We'll show you how to make a variety of tasty springtime cocktails, including the French Riviera, Ginger Gimlet, Mango Margarita and Lemongrass Mojito. We'll use a variety of spirits, fruits and spices to help you mix it up as we move into warmer weather. Enjoy this opportunity to taste some new recipes and expand your cocktail repertoire!

 

4/24 THU 6:30 - 8 pm $25 per person CAP Members (regularly $35)

 

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.