ARTALE NEWSLETTER 9/22-9/29

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CHEESE FEATURES

Maple Bacon Cheddar
$7.99 reg. $9.99
White cheddar with maple syrup and bacon pieces between the curds. Pairs well with a burger, an omelet, or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Harvest Apple Cinnamon Cheddar
$12.99 reg. $14.99
Well-balanced sweet apple and cinnamon with young cheddar notes

Smoked Cheddar
$9.99 reg. $11.99
Cold smoked with hickory in house at The Great American Cheese Collection.

Merlot Bellavitano
$11.99 reg. $13.99
Berry and plum notes merge with the sweet, nutty crunch of Italian Farmstead Cheese. Rich and creamy with a melted butter finish, this cheese is sure to please.

Espresso Bellavitano
$11.99 reg. $13.99

OLD FORESTER FEATURE

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon 86 Proof
$24.99 reg. $29.99
Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during and after Prohibition. At 86 proof, Old Forester delivers a genuine bourbon experience, with rich, full flavor and a smooth character that is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water or in a classic cocktail.

Old Forester Statesman Kentucky Straight Bourbon
$59.99 reg. $69.99
Inspired by the dynamic characters in the film,”Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” Old Forester Statesman offers bold flavor blended to a smooth 95 proof from hand-selected casks of our famed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky from the warmest places in the warehouse. Because true character is only revealed after a little heat, the Statesman product offers an exceptional balance of heat and spice.

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
$49.99 reg. $54.99
1870 Original Batch echoes George Garvin Brown’s original batching process. Back then, Brown batched barrels obtained from three distilleries to create a consistent flavor profile. To emulate that process today, we also select barrels from three warehouses, each barrel originating from a different day of production, with a different entry proof and a different age profile. The three expressions of Old Forester are then batched together and minimally filtered to craft Old Forester 1870 Original Batch.

Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
$67.99 reg. $84.99
Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon history – the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This expression follows the Bottled in Bond standards that whisky must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery and bottled at 100 Proof. The concept behind these regulations – the idea of ‘sealed in quality’ – was something Old Forester introduced in 1870, as America’s First Bottled Bourbon.

Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Kentucky Straight Bourbon
$59.99 reg. $69.99
On October 22nd. 1910, a fire on the bottling line halted production of Old Forester. Mature whisky ready to be bottled, instead was stored in a secondary barrel. What emerged was a delightful whisky, remarkable enough to become an entirely new expressions – Old Fine Whisky.Today mimicking this historic bottling, this unique expression of Old Forester has undergone a second barreling, granting it exceptional character, a smooth and sweet flavor and a clean, crisp finish. Entering the second barrel at a low 100 proof allows more of the sweet wood sugars to dissolve into the whiskey.

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon
$69.99 reg. $84.99
The Volstead Act of 1920 which initiated Prohibition in the USA granted permits to six distillers in Kentucky to continue to bottle bourbon for medicinal purposes. Through one of these permits, Old Forester continued to be produced as medicinal whiskey on Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row. It is the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company that has been available for sale before, during and after Prohibition.During this time, all whiskies had to be bottled at 100 Proof. With a barrel entry proof of 100, the “angel’s share” would have created a 115 proof whiskey after maturation. To pay homage to this era, Old Forester presents 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon at 115 proof to represent the rich flavor profile this bourbon had nearly 100 years ago.

FRENCH WINE SALE

Whites

Domaine Michel Girard
Sancerre
2020
$21.99 Reg. $23.99

Winery Notes
A delicate and complex Sancerre with great depth of fruit; the boisterous green aromatics often found in Sauvignon Blanc have been skillfully restrained, allowing fruity layers of green apples and lemons to show through.

Domaine De Fussiacus
Saint-Veran
2019
$19.99 Reg. $23.99

Winery Notes
A wine with a golden-green robe, rounded and fruity onto the palate. Demonstrates excellent floral notes of acacia, with hints of vegetable, aniseed and liquorice. Only 30% is aged in oak. Really delicious Chardonnay for the price.

Reds

J. L. Chave Selection
Offerus
Saint-Joseph
2018
$29.99 Reg. $32.99

93 Points Wine Spectator

Winery Notes
This is lively, with bright black cherry and blackberry coulis flavors racing along, lined with a fresh sanguine note and backed by a minerally edge on the finish. A flash of bay leaf in the background adds range. Drink now through 2030. 3,100 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. Syrah

Louis Jadot
Cote de Beaune-Villages
2017
$29.99 Reg. $38.99

Winery Notes
Light-bodied red with hints of candied strawberry and cherry, plus dusty tannins and hints of spice at the finish. The House of Louis Jadot has been producing exceptional Burgundy wines since its founding in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot. For the past 150 years Louis Jadot has continued as one of the great names of Burgundy and has gained international reputation for its superb red and white Burgundy wines. Louis Jadot is not only one of the largest producers of estate Burgundies of the Cote d’Or, it is one of the most celebrated exporters of premium Burgundies, owning close to 140 acres of vineyards from 24 of the most prestigious sites in Burgundy. Pinot Noir

Pas De Probleme
Pinot Noir
2019
$14.99 Reg. $16.99

Winery Notes
With aromas of raspberry, dried currants and wild strawberry in the glass, this wine is pleasant to drink with silky tannins that allow the mocha, pepper and warm spices to coat the palate. Pairs well with Pan roasted lamb chops with couscous and black currant sauce, grilled chicken with roasted eggplant baba ganoush, goat cheese stuffed portabella mushroom, salmon with cauliflower rice and golden raisins, pot roast dinner, fennel crusted pork loin with sweet potato mash.

Regis Bouvier
Bourgogne En Montre Cul
Red Burgundy Wine
2017
$28.99 Reg. $32.99

Winery Notes
A small restaurant in Beaune long ago had a minimalist concept that I loved: two big communal tables, no menu, and no wine list. You showed up, and the chef, seated at the bar, would finish his glass of rouge and saunter off to the kitchen to cook whatever hunks of pork he happened to be offering that day and boil some potatoes. Dinner was just that, a massive portion of meat and potatoes served on a wooden slab, with a few lonely leaves of lettuce, perhaps to clear the conscience. The house rouge—bright, zippy, loads of fun—was none other than Bouvier’s En Montre Cul, priced so that you could order bottle after bottle, and such a pleasure to drink it guaranteed a good time. Looking back, the food wasn’t even that good, but it didn’t really matter. Sometimes the wine more than makes up for shortcomings in the kitchen.
Pinot Noir

Domaine Prieur-Brunet
Santenay-Maladiere
Premier Cru
2018
$44.99 Reg. $49.99

92 Points Robert Parker

Winery Notes
Exhibiting attractive aromas of cherries, raspberries, spices and orange rind, the 2018 Santenay 1er Cru Maladière (Domaine Prieur-Brunet) is medium to full-bodied, layered and complete, with succulent acids and a deep core of fruit. Frédéric Barnier notes that this parcel is planted with quite high-quality vine material.

Clarence Dillon
Clarendelle
Bordeaux
Inspired by Haut-Brion
2019
$15.99 Reg. $18.99

Winery Notes
A deep color and a soft bouquet of liquorice and blackcurrant. The wine has violet and slightly toasty nuances on the palate. The texture is velvety and the flavor altogether powerful and elegant. There is a wonderful refined balance between high-quality tannin, concentration, tension, and freshness. A lovely vintage for Clarendelle!

Chateau Lecuyer
Pomerol
2018
$56.99 Reg. $62.99

Winery Notes
Nice fruit forward Pomerol with loads of Merlot fruit and a delightful perfumed element to it. A rich & powerful wine with good balance with a bouquet of black current, mint and pretty earthy tones. It comes from a highly respected small seven-acre vineyard located in the heart of Pomerol. This wine is always a crowd pleaser and great for this price range. Great with a wide range of dishes including lamb chops, roasts and chicken.
Blend: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc

BEER OF THE WEEK

Great Lakes
Oktoberfest

Marzen Lager
$9.99
6pk btl

Brewer’s Notes:
Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a real malt party, packed with toasty autumnal flavors perfect for hearty hoisting. Über smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).
Prost!

FALL BEER HIGHLIGHTS

Alemsith Aleschmidt Oktoberfest
$10.99 | 6pk can
Avery The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest
$11.99 | 6pk can
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen
$11.99 | 4pk btl
Bell’s Octoberfest Lager
$10.99 | 6pk btl
Blind Pig Oktoberfest Marzen Lager
$10.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Brooklyn Oktoberfest Lager
$8.99 | 6pk btl
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale
$8.99 | 6pk btl
Great Lakes Oktoberfest Marzen
$9.99 | 6pk btl
Hopewell Endgrain Oktoberfest Marzen
$10.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Left Hand Oktoberfest Lager
$10.99 | 6pk can
Maplewood Festbier Lager
$10.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Marz Oktoberfestbier
$12.99 | 4pk 12oz can
Metropolitan Afterburner Oktoberfest
$10.99 | 6pk can
Southern Tier Cold Brew Coffee Pumking Nitro
$14.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Southern Tier Harvest IPA
$10.99 | 6pk btl
Southern Tier Pumking
$14.99 | 4pk btl
Southern Tier Pumking Nitro
$14.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Urban Chestnut Okatz Oktoberfest
$6.99 | 4pk 16oz can

NEW BEER ARRIVALS

2nd Shift DDH Citra-fied Little Big Hop IPA
$9.99 | 4pk 16oz can
903 Pineapple Magic Slushy Sour
$7.50 | 16oz can
903 Snowball Stout
$13.99 | 4pk 12oz can
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
$12.99 | 4pk btl
Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet
$19.99 | 4pk btl
Destihl Wild Sour: Blueberry Crumble
$11.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Koningshoeven La Trappe Tripel
$10.99 | 750ml
On Tour Oktoberfest Marzen
$9.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Phase Three Brave Noise Hazy Pale Ale
$10.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Pollyanna Lexical Gap IPA
$9.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Transient Hyper Drive DDH DIPA
$15.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Transient The Juice is Loose Hazy DIPA
$17.99 | 4pk 16oz can
Une Annee Abbey Tripel
$9.99 | 4pk 16oz can

What’s Anthony Been Drinking Lately?

Posted by Artale on

What I drank this Sunday...

Tor Rock Syrah ‘Hommage Allan’ (Napa Valley)
2012 Vintage

$59.99

This is a dense and powerful wine, with full-blown, extracted blackberry, black licorice, loamy earth, bay leaf and dried herb flavors. Delivers notably extracted and chewy tannins, which went perfect with the bbq pork ribs I smoked for Mother’s Day.

What’s Anthony Been Drinking Lately?

Posted by Artale on

What’s Anthony been drinking lately?

Mastroberardino Nova Serra Greco di Tufo 2017

$19.99

This creamy, elegant white wine is light to medium-bodied and leads with a waft of almond blossom that carries to baked nectarine, stony mineral, ground ginger, and honey flavors on the palate. A perfect pairing for any seafood dish or sitting on the porch staring at your neighbors across the way.

Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2018

$27.99

I crushed this Chardonnay while FaceTiming with my friends. We all agreed that it offers subtle aromas of jasmine flower, citrus oil, green apple and pear. The elegant aromatics are complemented by fresh kiwi, lemon drop and Pippin apple flavors. The fruit-focused mid-palate is followed by subtle mineral notes and a hint of crystallized ginger in the finish. Quarantine has never seen a chardonnay like this before.

Massican Annia Napa Valley White Blend 2017

$41.99

A complex and inviting white, showing intricate nuances of roasted almond, matcha, honeysuckle and orange zest, mingling with supple, juicy Asian pear, tangerine and ripe melon notes. The smooth texture and a thread of acidity add to the appeal. Ribolla Gialla, Tocai Friulano and Chardonnay. Watch out! You’re going to be the hit of your front yard barbecue with this wine!

Trimbach Riesling Alsace 2017

$22.99

A sleek, minerally white, with well-cut acidity defining flavors of white peach, pine and preserved lemon, showing a rich hint of passion fruit coulis. Fine and creamy, offering a lasting finish. Makes me want to be quarantined in Alsace with plateful of sweetbreads.

Thanksgiving Day Beer

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You’d be hard-pressed to find a beer better suited for the Thanksgiving Day table than a Belgian-style saison. A saison’s nuanced complexity lends itself well to a wide variety flavors and textures while its effervescence helps cleanse the palate from all the decadent dishes associated with a holiday feast.

Below are some of our current and long-standing favorites:

  • Brasserie Dupont Vieille Provision
    Iconic in its own right, Dupont Saison set the standard for Saison as we know it today: coppery blonde with subtle cracked peppercorn driven by their house yeast strain, hints of grass and earth from noble hop varietals, capped by a mousse-like foam from their ritualistic bottle conditioning process. (4pk & 750ml)
  • Brasserie Blaugies Darbyste
    From a small, family-run farmhouse brewery in Southern Belgium, Blaugies turns out some really incredible rustic saisons using a yeast strain borrowed from Dupont. Darbyste utilizes a high proportion of wheat for a unique texture and fermented with fig juice for just a touch of fruity tartness. (375ml)
  • White Rooster Lieu et Heure (Time and Place)
    This upstart farmhouse brewery from Sparta, IL has been turning out some of the most memorable beers I’ve had this year. Lieu et Heure sets itself apart from the above saisons in that the resulting beer is blended from multiple batches of saison aged 16-24 months in French wine barrels. Lieu et Heure possesses a pleasant, refreshing tartness with just enough wild funk to keep you guessing. (750ml)

Bonus Turkey Day Beers!

  • Prairie Street x Crust & Crumbles ‘Bread Beer’
    Rockford’s own Prairie Street Brewing and Crust & Crumbles Bakery teamed up to bring you a dark mild ale brewed with loaves of C&C’s rustic country white sourdough. Quite literally liquid bread, you can have your stuffing and drink it too! (500ml)
  • Metropolitan Arc Welder Dunkel Rye
    A rich, malt-driven Bavarian-style dark lager with a proportion of rye lending a spicy, toasty, nutty depth. One of my all time favorite Metropolitan beers! (6pk)
  • Spiteful IPA
    A straight forward American IPA built around Citra & Amarillo hops. Drinkable, balanced, and the perfect hoppy compliment to any feast! (6pk can)
  • Odell 180 Shilling
    A strong Scottish-style ale hailing from the front range of the Rocky Mountains. This amped up version of Odell’s flagship 90 Shilling took a quick dip in an oak barrel and displays notes of toffee, plum, vanilla, and dried cherry with just a lick of boozy warmth. A heady beer equally deserving of a main course pairing or a side kick with dessert. (12oz bottle)
  • The Bruery Vermont Sticky Maple 
    An Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with Vermont maple syrup added. Clocking in at 11.3% abv, if this beer doesn’t scream dessert (or Uncle Bruce belligerently flipping over the Monopoly board in frustration during family game time) I don’t know what would. (16oz can)
  • Snowdrift Red Cider
    This brilliant red cider gets its natural color from a specific red-fleshed varietal of apple a few generations removed from their native ancestors in the hills of Kazakhstan. Bright acidity with flavors of cranberries, watermelon, rhubarb and strawberries makes for a welcome pairing with Thanksgiving dinner or dessert. “Very nice!” (500ml)