As you may know, we have been offering treasures from "George's Cellar" at unbeatable prices for the past three weeks. George has issued a mandate to price certain overstocks from the 1995 vintage to sell quickly, and these unique and perfectly stored wines have been flying out the door. We continue this week with our fourth incredible Cellar Special, Chateau Latour 1995. Currently selling at $450-1000 throughout the country, you can't beat this one at $429.97!

 

Chateau Latour sits at the very southeastern tip of Pauillac in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, less than a quarter-mile from the Gironde. A First Growth under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate has just 160 acres and produces up to 40,000 cases of wine each year. Their proximity to the river softens the weather extremes the area is prone to, allowing them to consistently harvest earlier than other nearby estates. Upon its initial release, Robert Parker pointed out that "under the inspiring leadership of its new owner, Francois Pinault, Latour appears to be returning to the old style, classic, blockbuster, massive wines that were meant to last 40-50 years. The 1995 Latour was made from a traditional blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot." On retasting the wine in 2000, he gave the wine an impressive 96 points and revised his suggested drink-dates, declaring it "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050." Wine Spectator, in their retasting of the 1995 and 1996 vintages last year gave it 94 points and described it as "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time. Best after 2009."

 

While we do not often promote our Cellar Wines, we are happy to continue sharing this - as well as the other previously mentioned special wines - with our customers for as long as our overstock lasts. These exceptional wines are in limited supply and we reserve the right to limit quantities sold to any individual. Please click on the link below to order yours today!

 

CHATEAU LATOUR 1995, Pauillac $429.97 

Passover starts this weekend, and that means wine - lots of wine (4 cups per person). At many seder tables, this also means not just any wine but kosher wine. What, you might ask, is the difference? Does it have to be sweet? Does it need to come from Israel? And what is that mevushal thing anyway? There is nothing specifically Jewish about kosher wines. Kosher wine is a process, not an appellation - it can be made anywhere in the world. From crushing through sealing the bottle, only Shabbat-observant Jews may handle the grapes, equipment and ultimate product, wine in a sealed bottle. All equipment and machinery used can be used only for the production of kosher products, and no animal additives of any kind (such as gelatin or egg whites for clarifying the wine) can be added. The sweet thing comes from Jewish immigrants making wine from the native Concord grapes here in the U.S. - on their own, they don't taste great, so sugar was added to make them more palatable and kosher wine became associated with the sweet stuff. Today kosher winemakers increasingly use vitis vinifera grapes, producing the standard Chardonnay, Cabernet etc., so there's no reason to think kosher = sweet. Mevushal literally means 'cooked' or 'boiled', and that's what they used to do - a wine that is Mevushal has been altered so that keeps its kosher status no matter who opens it or pours it or drinks it. What that means today is that the wine has been flash-pasteurized, and according to the experts at UC Davis, there is no discernable difference in the taste.

 

So, all that being said, what would I serve? We tend to offer both a white and a red, and just in case Bubbe needs something sweet, I've got a suggestion for that, too. This year's picks are the Barkan Sauvignon Blanc - from Israel, crisp and clean with flavors of herbs and a tart finish; Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon - also from Israel, a soft Cab with lots of easy fruit and berry flavors; and Bartenura Malvasia - from Italy, low in alcohol, slightly sweet and very perfumy with a strong sense of apricots (mishmishim in Hebrew) in both the aroma and the taste. Enjoy the holiday!

 

BARKAN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2005, Israel $13.95

GAMLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004, Israel $22.95

Seventy-degree weather makes us think of only one thing! Okay, baseball season's here too, but get outside and enjoy a picnic as soon as possible. Grab an hour and a few provisions and make the best of the great weather this week! Grab a crusty baguette, a slice of our tasty Pate de Campagne, coarsely ground "country" pate that could be described as a really delicious peppery liver sausage. Slice up some French style saucisson, encrusted with freshly ground black pepper or aromatic herbes de Provence and serve with the best butter you can find. Don't forget Maille Old Style Whole Grain Dijon Mustard and the Maille Cornichons. The mustard has lots of crunchy grains and just the right dose of vinegar to make this mustard so distinctively French. The gherkins are selected for maximum crunch and are made with a truly amazing blend of natural aromatic plants to give these tiny pickles their unique, sweet flavor. Tell your boss you'll be back late, call your best friend and head for the park. Enjoy! (mary)

 

PATE DE CAMPAGNE WITH PEPPERCORNS $10.97/Lb (Reg. $12.99/ Lb)

SAUCISSON WITH BLACK PEPPER $9.97/Lb (Reg. $11.99 / Lb)

SAUCISSON WITH FINES HERBS $9.97 /Lb (Reg. $11.99 / Lb)

MAILLE WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD $3.97/7.5 oz (Reg. $4.29)

MAILLE CORNICHONS $4.97/oz (Reg. $5.99)

 

Delicious and bubbly - what could be more fun? Sparkling wine is a great pairing with almost any food, and it adds a sense of the festive, too. But it can be pricy, so what to do? Marques de Gelida is the answer! Spanish Cava is made using the same method as French Champagne, but it is geared to accompany picnics, not fois gras. This one is great, light and full of tiny bubbles, with hints of apple skin and white peaches. It's made from 35% Macabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada and 15% Chardonnay, aged 3+ years before its release. This is a great example of what Cava can be. It has a different, earthiery feel to it than traditional Champagne and makes the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon at the park or just in your own backyard.

 

MARQUES DE GELIDA CAVA, Peñedes Spain $13.97 (regularly $15.95)

There are still a few seats remaining for our Third Thursday Wine Class. This month our guide will be Kristin Savino and 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! As always, reservations in advance are required so call or e-mail right now because space is limited.

 

4/24 THU 6:30 - 8 pm $25 per person CAP Members (non-CAP $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.