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Wine of the Week
Division 2025 Nouveau Nouveau
100% Gamay Noir
Columbia Valley AVA
$17.99, $16.19 for Wine Club Members
By now, you must know how much we love Beaujolais, aka Gamay Noir. One of the hottest regions in the wine world right now is Beaujolais. Located north of Lyon (the food mecca of France) in eastern France, Beaujolais overlaps Burgundy in the north and Rhône in the south. The picturesque Beaujolais vineyards run along the Saône River, where winemakers have crafted deliciously supple and fruity wines since the days of Ancient Rome. We concur with this phenomenon for its oh-so-friendly disposition.
All that being said, we haven't been supporters of Nouveau from France. It just never felt right to race a wine across the ocean to celebrate harvest here in America. Enter Division Wine Co. out of Portland, Oregon. This year marks their fourteenth vintage of their Beaujolais-inspired Nouveau made with 100% Gamay Noir from Carousel Vineyard, planted at the northern boundary of the Yakima Valley, within the Columbia Valley AVA.
Like the best Nouveau, theirs is fresh, fruity, and easy-drinking. You can serve it with a light chill if you would like, and it is always to be enjoyed in the company of good friends and family. We opened a bottle upon arrival last week and were thrilled by the easy drinkability of this wine. Oh so friendly. A type of wine all ages can understand and enjoy.
Looking ahead, next week will be our 12th annual Beaujolais tasting. Every year since we opened the shop, we have chosen the week prior to Thanksgiving to pay homage to this wonderful wine. We feel it is one of the best-suited wines for your Thanksgiving table. As in the past, we will be focusing on "Cru" Beaujolais. These are 10 villages throughout the region that have been identified as having the highest quality of Gamay produced. Each village has its own soil type that gives the wine its own personal identity. The time is right for loving Gamay.
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Our Annual Top Thanksgiving
Holiday Wine Picks
This is the biggest single day for wine all year long.
At your table you will have people who don't regularly enjoy a glass of wine such as a grandparent or young adults and considering their taste is just as important as any seasoned drinker's. They might want something a little sweeter or something substantially bolder in flavor.
You also have food pairings to think about that reach far beyond a basic turkey. You are balancing rich and fatty, savory and sweet elements. This gets tricky. Let us help you.
Jot down your menu ideas, go through your guest list and bring them in with you if you're feeling unsure. When making your final decisions, consider the following: amount of guests, their individual tastes, how long they will be staying with you and your budget. We can do the math for you.
Consider coming in early and avoid major decision making during busy hours to allow for the best personal experience.
The shop is full of ideas for you to roam about and choose from. For those of you running short on time, we have put together a handful that we feel best represent the holiday. A little from each, perhaps?
All salesmanship aside, Hannah, Stefano, Nancy and I wish you the happiest time with your family and close friends. You come through our doors with a genuineness and sincerity that makes this more than a paycheck. Your loyalty is high on our gratitude lists.
We have extended hours the week of Thanksgiving: Sunday-Wednesday.
CLICK TO VIEW WINES
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NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Hannah Green
Viñedos de la Reina Duquesa Blanc 2022
Valle de San Vicente, Mexico
$16.99, $15.29 for Wine Club Members
Viñedos de la Reina is one of the only wineries that specializes in wines made exclusively from the Valle de San Vicente. Vineyards lie adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and enjoy a moderate climate and formidable rocky soils on the slope of a hill facing the sea. The white grape vines cover a 9.5 acre plot at an elevation of 820 feet over soils rich in clay. All wines are made from estate grapes, picked and sorted by hand.
The winery name, which translates to “Vineyards of the Queen,” honors the wife of the head of the founding family. With a broad and deep experience in wine, the Curiel family began this project with the intention of showing that Mexico could make wines with the kind of profound structure and balanced required for a wine to age gracefully. True to there intentions, these are some of Mexico’s finest wines given time in the cellar, and they reward those who have the patience to allow them to age. Current winemaker Hector Leonardo Villaseñor Neira is originally from Chile, with a background in organic and biodynamic viticulture.
Their 2022 Cuvée Blanc was destemmed and pressed, then fermented in stainless steel tank at a low temperature for 23 days. The wine was left to settle for six months before bottling, then underwent a light filtration along with only 40 ppm sulfites added for stability. This wine is a delight. Dominated by Viognier, this wine shows none of the viscosity or weight in the mouth that can be found with this variety; instead, the palate shows a precise and crisp blend of fruit and minerality. The nose shoes green apple and honeycomb, while the palate shows notes pf apricot and a hint of the sea.
70% Viognier, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, 13% Chardonnay
Paoloni Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2021
Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
$15.99, $14.39 for Wine Club Members
The Paoloni Estate was founded by Paolo Paoloni in 1998. Paolo lives at his vineyard site where he takes great pride in farming in cooperating with the vineyard’s ecosystem. All wines are from these estate vineyards, which Paolo planted himself in 1997. His vineyard sites are more sloped and rolling than most in the region, and are at a higher elevation than the majority of the valley as well. These higher elevation sites contain more granite in the soil, which results in a higher minerality and less of the saline presence that some of the lower elevation sites in the valley contain. Paolo’s winemaking technique mirrors an Old-World, Italian approach to winemaking (as he is originally from Italy), granting his wines fresh minerality and wonderfully nuanced floral aromas. He works with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot along with Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Brunello and Aglianico. All of his vines were directly imported Italy.
Their 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a medium-bodied, refreshing red that leads with the quality of its fruit. Fermented in stainless steel tank over three weeks, the wine is then racked into neutral French oak foudre and aged for 18 months. The signature Paoloni trains are here in spades: the wine is balanced, with soft tannins, bright fruit and a layered, structured finish.
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
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NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Stefano Brandi
Mark Ryan
Woodinville, Washington
We recently, as many of you know, had the pleasure to host a tasting with Mr. McNeilly himself, old friend of the store, and founder, owner and winemaker of Mark Ryan.
Founded in 1999 in Woodinville, Washington, Mark Ryan Winery quickly earned high reputation under the guidance of Mark Ryan McNeilly, a largely self-taught winemaker. McNeilly began producing wine in garages of friends and family, as well as developing in the meantime his craft with the mentorship from some of the region’s most experienced vintners. Over the years, the winery expanded both in size and acclaim, eventually relocating production to Walla Walla in 2017, which helped it become the 14th largest winery in the state. Today, the Mark Ryan Winery includes several satellite labels, such as Lu & Oly, Board Track Racer, NumbSkull, and the Underground Wine Project. The Monkey Wrench wines are made to be versatile, similarly to the tool they are named after: they are accessible to drink today, but with the depth to be cellared for years to come.
Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench Chardonnay 2024
Woodinville, Washington
$29.99, $26.99 for Wine Club Members
The 2024 Monkey Wrench Chardonnay blends grapes from two different vineyards that reflect the diversity of the Columbia Valley. Candy Mountain vineyard, in the AVA of the same name, with its warm climate, brings ripeness and concentration. The vineyard is characterized by southwest-facing slopes and clay-rich soils, yielding small berries with intense character and vibrant acidity. Olsen Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA is by contrast a cooler site with diurnal temperature variations and a long growing season, contributing lifted aromatics and powerful flavors. The fruits from both sites were hand-harvested and whole cluster pressed to minimize phenolic extraction and preserve aroma. The wine fermented at cool temperatures in used French oak (53%) and stainless steel tanks (47%). During the 6 months of aging, the Chardonnay was gently stirred to suspend the lees, adding depth and weight to the palate. 32% of the blend did not undergo malolactic fermentation to preserve natural acidity that adds tension and energy.
“Crisp aromas of Granny Smith apple lead the way, layered with lemon curd, ripe pear, and peach blossom. Flavors of green apple, pear, peach, and a hint of vanilla interlace seamlessly, culminating in a long, lingering finish. Drinking window: 2025-2032.” Winemaker
This Chardonnay will be an ideal pairing for roasted poultry, butternut squash and pumpkin dishes—soup, roasted, gratin, and risotto—, roasted root vegetables and Brussel sprouts, crab cakes, and crustaceans and shellfish in general, buttered scallops, halibut with lemon-and-herbs butter, and pies and tarts—sweet and savory.
100% Chardonnay
Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench Red Blend 2022
Woodinville, Washington
$34.99, $31.49 for Wine Club Members
The 2022 Monkey Wrench Red combines the power of Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec with the depth and volume of Horse Heaven Hills Merlot. The fruit from Red Mountain offers intense layers of ripe fruit with an expansive and textured palate. Horse Heaven Hills fruit provides fantastic sweetness across the palate with dark, brooding fruit and broad flavors. The cooler weather allowed the grapes to develop slowly, leading to fantastic balance between sugar, acid, and flavor development. Late summer heat, and one of the warmest Octobers on record, helped produce wines with exceptional balance, depth, and purity. The fruit was hand harvested between the end of September and the end of October. The wine was fermented in open-top fermenters for about 10 days. The wine is lightly pressed to barrel where it finishes primary and secondary fermentation and is then aged for 22 months in 55% new French oak. The wine was racked three times and fined prior to bottling.
“A rich blend of plum sauce, brown spice and grilled herbs wafts up from the 2022 Monkey Wrench. It's silky smooth yet energetic and spry, with dark red berry fruits and hints of spiced citrus that slowly saturate toward the close. The 2022 tapers off with medium length and a floral resonance, leaving sweet tannins that add youthful tension without slowing its momentum. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2030. 92 Points” Vinous
This red blend is a perfect match for roast beef, braised lamb, smoked brisket, roasted mushrooms and potatoes, and chocolate, blackberry or cranberry tarts.
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
Friday Tasting
WeatherEye
Red Mountain, Washington
with Winery representative-Samantha Lloyd
Friday, November 14th, 3-5:30 pm
ATTENTION, Washington Wine Enthusiasts! This is one of the most talked-about new projects in Washington—come explore and see why.
Perched on the ridgeline of Red Mountain, WeatherEye Vineyards is one of the most exciting and innovative vineyards in the United States — a visionary project more than 15 years in the making. The vineyard spans dozens of small, meticulously designed blocks draped over the mountain’s peak and north-facing slopes. Once considered too rocky and windswept for vines, these rugged hillsides now produce grapes of remarkable intensity and character.
Every block is carefully matched to its own microclimate — from altitude and exposure to soil composition — and farmed using a mix of trellising styles, including vertical shoot positioning, head-trained vines, en échalas (single stake), and even individually sheltered vines inspired by the Canary Islands. Vine densities range from 300 to over 4,000 vines per acre, creating extraordinary diversity across the property. The result: wines of impressive concentration, structure, and personality.
A defining feature of WeatherEye is its integration with the native landscape. Rather than clearing natural vegetation, local flora like Rabbitbrush, Wild Lupine, Sagebrush, and clovers grow among the vines year-round. This unique approach enhances biodiversity, supports healthy soils, and infuses the wines with a distinctive sense of place — reminiscent of the wild herbal notes (“garrigue”) found in the Rhône Valley.
Vineyard Manager and founding partner Ryan Johnson has spent years bringing this bold vision to life. Drawing on his extensive experience managing Red Mountain icons Ciel du Cheval and Force Majeure, Ryan has pushed the limits of what’s possible in Washington viticulture.
WeatherEye is planted to a range of Rhône, Bordeaux and complementary varieties, including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Tempranillo, Graciano, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette. Every decision in the vineyard is driven by the goal of expressing the site’s full potential — nothing at WeatherEye is done by convention, only by intention.
The excitement surrounding WeatherEye continues to grow. Wine writers and critics alike have hailed it as one of the most ambitious vineyard projects in the country, with wines already considered among Washington’s finest.
The lineup:
2021 Hillfighter White $41.99
2022 Estate Roussanne $79.99
2020 Hillfighter Red $54.99
2022 Estate Grenache $79.99
2022 Estate Mourvèdre $79.99
2022 Estate Syrah $79.99
Friday, November 14th. 3-5:30 pm
$5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership.
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Tea Dive Pop-Up
Saturday, November 15th. 12-3 pm. FREE EVENT!
with Gabriel Lukeris, Importer
Tea Dive is a fledgling tea company in Bellingham determined to bring premium tea from around the world directly to you. Gabriel and Dan are building this labor of love from scratch–their goal? Making you fall in love with tea culture!
Gabriel really likes tea a lot! He worked in the wine industry for 18 years before discovering tea is just as complex and exciting. He’s since dedicated himself to experiencing and learning the art of tea. He’s been sharing his passion teaching workshops and presenting at the Northwest Tea Festival since 2017.
Dan is an award winning artisan cheesemaker with 15 years of experience in production operations, retail, food safety and quality management. He’s always had a love for food, and food culture. He recently traveled to Japan where he got to experience their wonderful teas straight from farm-to-tea houses.
From Gabriel and Dan: "Our first release is a collection of Japanese teas. These teas are from a small family-owned tea garden in Shizouoka. Their two hectares are farmed organically and they are considered a pioneer of natural farming in an otherwise highly industrialized industry. We chose these teas to start out with because of their high quality, and diversity.
We’re so thankful to Ted and the entire Seifert and Jones staff for hosting our first official tea popup."
Gabriel and Dan will be brewing and pouring the following teas between 2-5 pm. NO FEE!
The Lineup
Hojicha–Japanese roasted green tea $12.99
Kukicha–Japanese twig tea 30g $12.99
Wakoucha–Japanese black tea 30g $12.99
Genmaicha–Japanese grean tea with roasted rice 30g $10.99
Saturday, November 15th 12-3 pm. FREE EVENT! |
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Upcoming Tastings
WeatherEye—Red Mountain, Washington
With Samantha Lloyd
Friday, November 14th, 3-5:30 pm
Tea Dive Pop-Up—Local Tea Importer
With Gabriel Lukeris
SATURDAY, November 15th, 3-5:30 pm
POP-UP Poberaj Wines—Columbia Gorge, Washington
Meet the owner/winemaker, Jure Poberaj
WEDNESDAY, November 19th, 3-5:30 pm
12th Annual Beaujolais Tasting for Thanksgiving
With Amy Pickering
Friday, November 21st, 3-5:30 pm
No Tasting Friday November 28th
All tastings $5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership at every event.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
HOURS OF HAPPINESS
Tuesday-Saturday
10-6 PM
360-393-3271
ORDER ON-LINE
Email: ted@sjwinemerchants.com
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