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In This Issue
"90 points" worth of berries and cherries and almonds for under$15
The return of the great pumpkin
Mighty Médoc class from Chicago Wine School
Either-Or wine dinner at Dave's Italian Kitchen
Bored with beef?
Stonewall jammin'
This Saturday in our tasting room
Droplets
A Great Idea
Tri-Wine
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Frequently quoted wine publications
Robert Parker

 
 
Say Vino: October 28, 2008
By Don Wils 
 
DonWe 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.
"90 points" worth of berries and cherries and almonds for under $15!
 
CavallottoRobert Parker just reviewed this vintage of Cavallotto's "Vigna Scot" Dolcetto d'Alba and gave it a terrific review. Their Vigna Scot Dolcetto is deliciously soft, without the modern flash of many of the others found in this region, and offers great value. Intense and fruity on the nose, with delicious aromas of wild berries, cherries, red apple, and a slight bitter almond note, this one is a wonderful find. Dry and full-bodied on the palate, the Vigna Scot is warm and soft in the mouth, delightfully well balanced and will drink beautifully with salami, pasta dishes, and white meats. Unlike its Nebbiolo cousins, which are aged in Slovenian oak, this one sees only stainless steel. "The estate's 2006 Dolcetto d'Alba Bricco Boschis Vigna Scot is another terrific wine from this hillside vineyard in Castiglione Falletto. Masses of ripe dark fruit sweep across the palate, yet persistent notes of minerality give the wine a gorgeous sense of balance and proportion. In recent years the Vigna Scot has emerged as one of the most consistently successful and delicious Dolcettos around." - Wine Advocate As the man says, delicious - try one today!
 
 

CAVALLOTTO DOLCETTO D'ALBA VIGNA SCOT 2006, Piedmont $14.97 (regular $18.95)

The return of the great pumpkin
 
Pumpkin AleIn the early 1980s, photojournalist Bill Owens dreamed of opening his own brewpub, similar to what English counterparts had created centuries ago: a place to make and to serve hearty, honest brews. In 1983, the state of California repealed the law that had kept breweries and pubs separate entities - and Buffalo Bill's Brewery was born. It is actually the second oldest brewpub in the country, a shrine to those who fought for the brewpub's existence. Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale is one of the most sought after seasonal beers. It is thought that George Washington brewed beer using this bright orange squash. Nowadays Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale is an original microbrew that uses baked and roasted pumpkins. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are added to create what has been described as "pumpkin pie in a bottle".
 
Due to shipping limitations, we are unable to sell this item online, but you can order it via email and we will hold it for you to pick up in our store.
 
BUFFALO BILL'S BREWERY PUMPKIN ALE, California $8.99 / 6-pack
Mighty Médoc class from Chicago Wine School
Chicago Wine School 
The Médoc is a vineyard-rich peninsula in northwestern Bordeaux. It is also home to some of the world's finest Cabernet- and Merlot-based red wines. This class will cover the eight appellations of Bordeaux and taste the wines of the communes of Pauillac, St.-Julien, Margaux and St.-Estèphe among others. Learn which wines will age and develop -- and return benefits -- and which will not. There's economics and history here, and politics too as well as delicious red wine perfect for steaks and cheeses.
 
11/6 6:30-8:00 PM, $65. Contact the Chicago Wine School to register at 312-491-0284 or via e-mail
Either-Or wine dinner at Dave's Italian Kitchen!
 
Dave's Italian DinnersThe return of our incredibly popular wine dinners at Dave's in Evanston, and we can't tell you for sure who the VIP will be. But rest assured, you won't want to miss this. The wines will include the following: Evil Chardonnay, Marquis Philips Grenache, Little R Cabernet, Paringa Shiraz, Marquis Philips Shiraz and Jonsey Port. There'll be a great menu whipped up to match each of these wines. Oh, and the two likely candidates for guest VIP: Dan Philips himself (the man behind some of the greatest Aussie wines in the U.S.), or Chris Ringland, one of the world's and Australia's superstar winemakers!
 
WED 11/12 7:00 PM, $35, all-inclusive. Contacting Dave directly at daveglatt@yahoo.com to register. Leave him your name, the number in your party, and a best contact phone where he can reach you to confirm and get your method of payment. These dinners sell out quickly, so don't wait to email Dave.
Bored with beef?
 
Boars Head Roast BeefAre you sick of flavorless, dry, gray roast beef? Have no fear, Boar's Head is here! If you haven't tried it yet, it's about that time. The folks at Boar's Head Deli Provisions have the beef roasting process down to a science. Boar's Head Port-Marinated Roast Beef is a perfectly-cooked rare treat. Then it is browned and roasted on the outside to seal in the juices and that delicious port marinade. It is always perfectly pink and juicy on the inside. Never again will you have dry, gray, flavorless roast beef!
 
Next time you're in the mood for an easy dinner or snack, give this take on beef carpaccio a try:
  • Layer arugula or other peppery green on a plate.
  • Lay thinly sliced Boar's Head Port Marinated Roast Beef over the greens.
  • Sprinkle with capers and freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Drizzle with good extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice
  • Sprinkle kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.
BOAR'S HEAD PORT MARINATED ROAST BEEF $9.97 / lb (regular $10.99)
Stonewall jammin'
 
Stonewall Garlic & Onion JamWith the popularity of jellies, jams, preserves and conserves - both sweet and savory - skyrocketing these days, we couldn't resist sharing this one with you. Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam is outstanding! Made with all-natural ingredients including slow roasted garlic, sweet onions and balsamic vinegar, this is an incredible jam. The best reason to keep this jam in your pantry or refrigerator is its versatility. It's a delicious addition to any sandwich or panini, used as a glaze on meat or roasted vegetables or blended with cream cheese and served as a flavorful autumn dip. Try it on your next roast beef sandwich! A guaranteed crowd pleaser, you need to make sure this jam makes an appearance at your house this fall.
 
This Saturday in our tasting room
 
Join us for our weekly FREE Saturday Tasting, 11:00-5:00 - in George's memory, we'll be featuring some of his favorites from the Wine Dept. and the Deli Dept. Plus, our good friends from North Shore Distillery will pay us a visit! Don't miss our weekly party. See you here!
Droplets
DropletsSome droplets of interesting wine news you may have missed. Just click the links to read.
 
 
 
 
See you next week!
 

storeThat'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