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Say Vino: May 20, 2008
By Sterling Pratt
 We
email Say Vino every Tuesday evening. It contains news
from the wine world, our own opinions, and special offers
for our subscribers. Say Vino is available by email, at
our
website
and is also posted in our store.
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Schaefer's is for sale
 First
it was Marshall Field's, then Wrigley, and now Schaefer's.
After 72 years, our venerable post-Prohibition fine wine
shop is for sale. The decision was extremely difficult, but
we're not getting any younger and we'd like to go out on
top. It's been a great run. Our family and our lives have
all revolved around the wonderful people who work and shop
in our family enterprise.
Our father started this neighborhood business as a tavern, a
place for friends to meet, where they could wind down after
a long day. In 1959 we added a room to sell wine, unheard of
at the time. Many of this area's firsts in fine wine
happened inside these walls.
Since then we have become known internationally for the high
standards we set in our selection and in our services. Few
fine wine and gourmet stores in the country have taken such
good care of their neighbors and friends.
It is for that reason that we are writing to let you all
know of our decision. We wish it didn't have to happen, but
we'll toast your friendship and loyalty every day.
It's much too early to discuss any other details including a
time frame, but we'll keep you posted here.
Thanks for the memories,
George Schaefer Gene Schaefer Flynn
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Forty percent off isn't the only reason to jump on this
outtasight red
 Always
one of our faves from Argentina, we just bought the last of
the 2004 for a bargain price that we want to pass on to you.
But don't wait. Don't even think twice about it. Hit the
link below and buy a case. Today. Trust us, you won't regret
it. The Flichman estate makes this single-vineyard rarity
only when everything's right. The 2004 is a great example of
how to get it right if you want to make a wine with complex
oak scents of pencil box with graphite and berry overlays. A
blend of Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet, this was aged in French
and American oak for 12 months, and it shows it. Truly a
beautiful wine, don't wait.
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Crazy for Garnacha
 Some
like a spicy Zinfandel. Some like a bruiser Shiraz. What do
you like when it gets a little warmer out and the cover
comes off the grill for the official start of burnt meat
season? For me there's nothing quite like a Spanish red made
from Garnacha. This grape grows all across the
Mediterranean, in southern France down almost to the tip of
Spain. It's perfect because it has plenty of depth and ruby
red personality without being too hot or too tannic. Here
are our latest two finds, one's 100% Garnacha, the other's a
blend, but both are great values and get our thumbs up!
All Garnacha, stainless-fermented and aged, this brings
plenty of ripe personality in an uncomplicated framework.
 Sixty-five
percent Garnacha, 35% Graciano, this plummy red has an
elegance to make it a pick for cocktail red-of-the-week, and
a depth to handle any burger you can concoct. The "sur" in
its name refers to the southern accent this wine takes on
with the Graciano grown in Navarrra.
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 You
be the judge
Several years ago we were presented with a mixed case of
treasures, real Burgundy benchmarks. Domaine Comte de Vogüé
can trace its history back to 1450 and is the greatest
estate in Chambolle Musigny. The domaine owns a staggering
7.25 hectares of the fabled Le Musigny vineyard which
constitutes 80% of the whole site. In addition, it has 2.75
hectares of Bonnes-Mares. We were so impressed with this
case we did what anybody would do, we set the case aside for
a really great occasion. Well, then we misplaced the case
for a couple of years. Then we located it
 again
in our cellar next door.
We're not sure it was in the cellar all that time, it may
have been in a dusty corner of our warehouse for a while.
But it doesn't belong in the cellar. As many of you know we
recently did an exhaustive inventory of our cellar and found
all those extra 1995 First Growths. This case was there too.
 Since
they're one-of-a-kind wines the best way we can think of to
handle them is to auction them to you, our most loyal
customers. They're being sold on an as-is basis, in three
distinct lots. The lots cannot be broken. This is how this
works: you should email us your bid on each lot using the
links provided below. At the end of one week we will get
back to the highest bidder(s) with the good news. Enjoy!
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Best burgers by far
 We
know summer really is on the way when boxes of
Schmeisser's Patties start flying out of our freezer. A
box of Schmeisser's are the one thing we are sure to have
on hand when it's time to fire up the grill. These hefty
burgers (over 1/3 pound) are lean, juicy, and seasoned to
perfection. Each box has 16 burgers. With a box in the
freezer we are always prepared for a quick and convenient
summer supper. Also, they are made by the Schmeissers, a
family of butchers (can you say wurst?) who have been
serving the far northwest side and beyond since 1951. We
love that.
Speaking of wurst, as long as we're grilling burgers, we
might as well throw a few brats and dogs on the grill.
Wisconsin may be famous for their brats, but Schaefer's is
so much closer. We've done the research (believe me) and
found Schmeisser's Bavarian Brats to be excellent in
flavor and texture. Fine ground pork and veal are mildly
seasoned with old world spices, juicy and delish.
Pre-cooked and in packs of two, convenient and so easy.
Schmeisser's Old Fashioned Frankfurters are some of the
tastiest sausages you will grill this summer. A little
fancier than the ones made by that Oscar guy, these are
made of pork, beef and veal, spices, toasted onions and
just the right touch of garlic. They are great served
Chicago-style or as "char dogs," but for an "elegant" hot
dog, skip the ballpark mustard and slather that dog with
Rothschild's Red Pepper & Onion Relish. Seasoned diced
tomatoes are blended with roasted red peppers to make this
one sophisticated condiment that makes these real "super
dogs". Forget Wisconsin, we are your brat stop. (mary)
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Best eco-two-fer going
 Okay,
now follow me. We've been searching for a French beer for
several of our customers for over a month. Kronenbourg's not
around, and most of the rest aren't as good as their Belgian
cousins. Ah-hah! From local Warrenville we get this amazing
French-style country ale that's a terrific Spring quaff, and
here's the good part: consider the carbon footprint. It
takes a lot more diesel jet fuel to get a true French ale to
our shelves. Here's a great, great replica that's local. Why
this could almost walk here. So, two of these, or maybe
three, can slide down without the guilt attached to the
imported stuff. Sante!
Due to shipping limitations we are unable to sell this
online. You can order it via email and we will hold it for
you to pick up in our store.
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This Saturday in Our Tasting Room
Stop by for our FREE Saturday Tasting, 11:00-5:00, when
we'll be dishing up the very best in Memorial Day treats.
All-American fare from Zinfandel to hot-dogs top the menu.
See you here!
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Droplets
 Some droplets
of interesting wine news you may have missed. Just click the
links to read.
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See you next week!
 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.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Schaefer's
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