Recent News

Le Nouveau Est Arrive!

BN2009It’s that time of the year again. Santa’s getting ready to take his chances with a long line of wiggly hopefuls. The big box retailers have all their sound systems cranked up with yuletide ditties. And the French happily send out their peculiar variety of “instant wine.” All we need now is an early snow and some decked-out sleighs!

Just like the swallows returning to Capestrano, the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau is a sure sign of the changing seasons.

Like it or not, the holidays are officially in full swing. The French government said so.

The Nouveau selections this year include the following producers: Bouchard, Chatelus, Drouhin,  Georges Duboeuf, Matray, and Mommessin. In addition the Alexander Valley Vineyards New Gewurztraminer from California joins the annual Nouveau reunion.

If you want some, you better hurry up and get it, because (fingers crossed… this is retail after all!) it won’t last long.

Jefferson Presidential Select Bourbon

Just arived and we have limited quanities! This bourbon is bold with roasted toasty note, vanilla, and spice.  Aged 17 years allows this bourbon to have deep complexity, with raisin, sherry, and chocolate notes on the finish. This is not shy bourbon with its 94 proof. You will fine it to be soft and elegant with good balance. At $100 a bottle you will see why it superior. Limited quantities are available. Stop in and have one of our friendly staff build a custom bourbon basket for the holidays.

Cheers,
- Jeff

Welcome Heavy Table Readers!

heavyTableWelcome to France 44’s website! We’re glad you came. You can check back here often to see what new items are in store. Matt (”the beer guy”) featured in the Heavy Table article, is practically as religious about posting new arrivals here as he is about getting them on the shelf. So if you want to stay up on what’s new in beer, check back often (or better yet, RSS us).

Another thing you can do is to follow us on Twitter. You can find the link near the top of our navigation panel on the left-hand side.

Finally, you can always check out our free tasting schedule, posted to the right of this column. We have free tastings of beer on Fridays and of wine on Fridays and Saturdays. You certainly can’t beat the price!

Staff Picks

It’s Spanish, Jim, but not as we know it

The world is awash in Spanish wine. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Spain has offered superb value for the money pretty much from the beginning of its modern-day growth spurt. But one shouldn’t be blamed for wondering if Spain produces anything red other than Tempranillo, Garnacha and Monastrell.
As one of the most ancient [...]

Pondering Popularity

Bell-bottoms.  Tight-rolled pants.  “Skinny” jeans (if the wearer is skinny?)  Twiggy.  Curvaceous.  Emaciated.  Six-inch-high, hairspray-encrusted bangs.  Long, flowing, natural tresses.  The mullet.  The “duck tail.”  The “Caesar.”  The “Euro-mullet”?!  Side burns.  Mustaches.  Clean-shaven.  Scruffy on purpose.  Shoulder pads.  High-waisted pants.  Very low-waisted pants.  Fat ties.  Skinny ties.  Tiki.  Fondue.  Sushi.  Diets.  Yoga.  Carbs.  No carbs!  [...]

For the Adventurous

A bold and savvy young lady called last week with a special assignment. The mission I was very pleased to accept came with the following instructions: assemble a mixed case of wine consisting of 9 reds and 3 whites, with an average cost of $15 – $20/ bottle. The wines were to showcase the best [...]

Cheese Shop Blog

TJ Maxx killed the gourmet store?

RIP Premier Cheese

Strathdon Blue is my kind of blue

Staff picks

Free Tastings

Nouveau Beaujolais – Sat. Nov 21

We’ll have all of our Nouveau open for sampling. These wines are affordable and are very compatible with your Thanksgiving and Holiday events.

Come on, now! You know how sad you’ll be if you miss out on the wine release of the year… How would you ever make it through the year? Tasting from 1pm – 4pm.

Flair Cocktails – Monday, Nov. 23

Jason Helseth (distributor, winemaker, mixologist and international man of mystery) joins us Monday night to show off some fancy new concoctions that are sure to impress all the cool cats at your next soiree.

Cranberry Cake, Gin Cider, and the White Honey Cream rub elbows with Pommegranite Martinis, Raspberry Sparklers and Wild Sangria. Many of these custom cocktails feature locally-made products, so you can support the home team while impressing your foodie friends. Sampling runs from 5pm to 8pm.

Belgian Sampling – Dec. 11

While some may argue with me on this, I find that cold weather is the best time to really enjoy Belgian brews. We’ll have some great ones opened for you to try: Lindeman’s Fruit Lambics, Cuvee Rene and Westmalle Trappist Dubbel and Tripel. As always, the sampling is free and open to the public. We’ll have the table set up by our beer cave. The beer flows from 4-7pm.

Winery BFF’s – Nov. 20 & 21

Join us as we explore wines made by France 44’s winery BFF’s! That is to say, either with owner or the winemaker are good friends of our store. The wines will be from Argyle and Bethel Heights from Oregon, Cline Duxoup and Pedroncelli from California and Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne from France. The wines will be open on Friday from 4pm to 7pm and on Saturday from 1pm to 6pm.

Other Services

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