Special Edition Wine Class

Classic Guigal Rhones with Importer Patrick Will
Tuesday, February 9
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Road in Clayton
$25 per person
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations...
We hope that you can join us for this special edition wine class featuring the wines from Marcel Guigal in France's Rhone Valley. Patrick Will, who's company Ex Cellars imports Guigal's wines to the USA is our guest speaker for this exciting event. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Here are the wines for the class...

2006 Guigal Cotes du Rhone ("Best Buy" Wine Advocate)
2005 Guigal Gigondas (91-93/100 Wine Advocate)
2005 Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape (93/100 Wine Advocate)
2007 Guigal Condrieu "Doriane" (95/100 Wine Advocate)
2005 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde (92/100 Wine Advocate)
2003 Guigal Hermitage (94/100 Wine Advocate)

"There are many admirable things about Marcel Guigal, but most significant is that he has been a qualitative locomotive that has brought attention to the Rhone Valley, and has raised the quality bar for the entire region. More importantly, he realizes that most consumers will have access only to his least expensive wines from the Cotes du Rhone, so he has made every effort to continue to increase the quality of both his white and red Cotes du Rhones. His Cotes du Rhone whites have jumped in quality as he has settled on a general blend of approximately 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc." -Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Special Tasting with 7 Seas Beverage
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Road in Clayton
Tuesday, February 9
5:30 PM until 7:00 PM
Please call 314.863.6282 for information...
We're pouring new releases on Tuesday (2/9) from a favorite local supplier: 7 Seas Beverage. They're focused on small wineries, family-owned-and-operated farms and soon-to-be-famous, underrated producers. Wines that are usually great deals with prices not influenced by reviews from the critics, magazines, etc. Stop by our original location on Tuesday for this fun tasting of wines with soul, baby! Here's the lineup...

2008 McManis Viognier On Sale $9.99
2006 Dante Bonarda Mendoza On Sale $10.99
2006 Pargua Roman Numeral ll Maipo Valley On Sale $17.99 (91 WA)
2006 Pairaso Saint Lucia On Sale $16.99
2005 B Cellars Blend 25 Cabernet/Syrah Napa Valley On Sale $45.99 (91 WA)

Friday Tasting: Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend
Friday, February 5
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Road in Clayton
5:30 PM until 7:00 PM
Please call 314.863.6282 for information...
We're only tasting one wine on Friday but boy what a wine! Stop by the shop and sample the new, highly-rated '08 Sarah's Blend from Australia's Marquis Philips. Sarah's Blend has a stunning track record with raves from the critics. Taste it with us Friday and you'll see the amazingly high quality of this fine Aussie value.

2008 Marquis Philips "Sarah's Blend"
On Sale $11.99
Compare to The Wine Advocate's Price of $15.00
"...assorted black fruits lead to a full-bodied, already complex, rich wine with loads of ripe fruit. The finish is long, smooth, and filled with flavor." -Rated 91/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Saturday Tasting: New Releases from Classique Wine & Spirits
Saturday, February 6
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Road in Clayton
Noon until 4:00 PM
Please call 314.863.6282 for information...
Stop by the shop this Saturday for a tasting of new releases from Classique Wine & Spirits. Classique's Ramona Marten joins us on Saturday to sample some tasty new releases from California, France and Washington State. Here are the wines for Saturday along with sale prices for the tasting.

2007 Domaine Capitaine "Les Aumones" Vouvray On Sale $14.99
2007 Twenty Rows Napa Cabernet Sauvignon On Sale $17.99
2006 Tilda "Petulance" Syrah/Grenache Columbia Valley On Sale $17.99
2005 Chateau La Blanque Grand Cru St. Emillon On Sale $22.99
2005 Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas On Sale $36.99 (90 WS)

Artisan Chocolate Tasting
Sunday, February 7
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Road in Clayton
1:00 PM until 3:00 PM
Please call 314.863.6282 for information
Join us on Sunday, February 7 for a tasting of artisan chocolate just in time for Valentine's Day. We carry a fine selection from some of the best makers on the planet. Our Cheesemonger, Simon Lehrer, will be your guide for this open house event. It's FREE and will open your eyes (taste buds too) to the incredible world of artisan chocolate. Here are just a few that we'll be tasting...

Pralus, France
Francois Pralus has cacao plantations from Sao Tome to Venezuela. He personally selects the finest beans from the best plantations.These cacao beans are grown with great care then harvested, fermented, roasted and transformed into chocolate in his hometown of Roanne, France. Each selection is 75% cacao bean (rich and dark) from a single country of origin. Stunning quality that represents the finest cacao growing regions.

Blanxart, Spain
Blanxart is an artisan chocolate producer with humble beginnings in Barcelona, Spain in 1954. A small family started the company by making bon bons which they sold locally. They hand-selected cacao beans and combined them with local ingredients and a commitment to produce the highest quality. This quality commitment continues to this day with an integrity that seems almost lost in a world of discounters and cheap, low quality products. The texture of Blanxart's chocolates is somewhat rustic and the flavors are rich, full-bodied and unique. We love to pair them with a glass of full-bodied red wine.

Michel Cluizel, France
Cluizel has been making artisan chocolate in France since 1948. Our Cluizel selections include single origins and some with flavors. If we had to pick just one chocolate producer this would be it. Thankfully we don't! Stop by the shop for this special event and taste some of the best chocolates around.

Special Tasting with 7 Seas Beverage The Wine Merchant, Ltd. 20 South Hanley Road in Clayton Tuesday, February 9 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM Please call 314.863.6282 for information... We're pouring new releases on Tuesday (2/9) from a favorite local supplier: 7 Seas Beverage. They're focused on small wineries, family-owned-and-operated farms and soon-to-be-famous, underrated producers. Wines that are usually great deals with prices not influenced by reviews from the critics, magazines, etc. Stop by our original location on Tuesday for this fun tasting of wines with soul, baby! Here's the lineup... 2008 McManis Viognier On Sale $9.99 2006 Dante Bonarda Mendoza On Sale $10.99 2006 Pargua Roman Numeral ll Maipo Valley On Sale $17.99 (91 WA) 2006 Pairaso Saint Lucia On Sale $16.99 2005 B Cellars Blend 25 Cabernet/Syrah Napa Valley On Sale $45.99 (91 WA)

Classes

Wine Merchant Classes
Current Schedule
Classes at The Merch are fun and informative and a great way to learn about wine. Our classes are taught by members of our Award-Winning Staff which includes Sommeliers, Certified Sommeliers, Certified Wine Educators and knowledgeable, wine industry veterans. Here is a list of current classes along with a link to our complete class schedule.

Sauce Magazine Says...
"If you want to learn about the taste, geography, history and use of wine for daily dining and social pleasure, there is no better place..."
-Sauce Magazine

Wine & Cheese Pairing: French Classics
Friday, February 5
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations
This excellent class will teach you about the magical pairing of French wine and cheese. Ooh, la, la!
$35 per person

California Cabs
Saturday, February 6
Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations
Great class for lovers of rich, bold Cabs from the Golden State.
$35 per person