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Vin Chicago's
January Newsletter!
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We start out the new year by asking a favor. We've been nominated by Chicago Reader for the "Best Wine Shop" award, and we'd really like to win it. Any help you can provide by clicking here to stuff the ballot box would be greatly appreciated!
Lots of fun things already in the works in 2024 at Vin Chicago. Read on to see what new wines we've brought in and what events we have on the calendar. We aim to make this year our best and most action packed yet!
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We are excited to announce that Vin Chicago has been nominated as a candidate for "Best Wine Shop" by the Chicago Reader.
While we are pleased to be in the running, it would be more of a thrill to win. And that takes your help!
To vote, simply click on this link and then scroll to the very bottom of the page to select Vin Chicago. Being that this is a Chicago based poll, we encourage you to vote early, and to vote often!
Click to Vote for Vin Chicago!
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New Arrivals from Around the World! | |
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We have a broad range of new arrivals to tell you about today, with a focus on hot bottlings from Bordeaux, Napa and Willamette Valley.
Included are loads of big-scoring wines, including the double 96-Point rated Château Sansonnet that we bring you for just over 40 bucks a bottle.
Click on the link below to see all that we've brought in for you this month or, better yet, stop by one of our stores this weekend so that we can show you the wines in person!
Check out our Newest Arrivals:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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A certified sommelier, Jen Blair has followed the classic Vin Chicago career path - starting out as a customer, getting recruited for part-time work, getting drawn in as a full-timer and then promoted to Assistant Manager, Manager and now Director of Operations. If you've known Jen for even a brief time, you'll know that Italian wines and Champagne are her regular wheelhouse. As such, we were surprised and delighted that she selected a wine from the other side of the planet for her staff pick. She writes...
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Zuccardi "Concreto" Paraje Altamira Malbec 2020
Sebastián Zuccardi has been doing some very cool things in Argentina. Fermented in concrete amphorae using native yeasts, this Malbec accomplishes the difficult task of having depth and structure while still managing to be light on its feet. The concrete lets the grape speak for itself and damn, it has a lot to say! It's insanely engaging, with flavors of dark berry fruit, bramble, gravelly minerality, button mushroom, forest moss and herbs. It is a cliche, but the Concreto so surpassed my expectations that I started running out of superlatives to describe the wine. And those that know me, know I'm never at a loss for words!
29.99
Check out Jen's Selection on our website:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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Vin Chicago's Mike Baker Highlights a 2024 Region to Watch | |
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For our first newsletter of 2024, I was asked to talk about a wine region that I'm particularly excited about - one that maybe isn't all that well known. Thinking of a wine I recently had from Raúl Pérez, the answer came quick to mind.
Bierzo is a tiny, mountainous zone in Spain's northwest Autonomia of Castilla y León. Made primarily from the Mencia grape, red wines from here are sometimes compared to Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Pinot Noir from Burgundy or Cabernet Franc from the Loire. Really, though, they have a character all their own.
In general, you'll want to give these wines a bit of air to allow the nuanced aromas and flavors to reveal themselves. Offering floral notes, a nice touch of rusticity and a whole lot of character, the wines have a whole lot going on. In recent years, more of these gems have been making their way to the States, but the region is still pretty much unknown - and thus the prices are still quite low. Check out these two wines that we have available now, and keep your eyes open for more throughout the coming year!
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Vinos Valtuille "Pago de Valdoneje" Bierzo Mencia 2022
A fantastic introduction to the world of Bierzo and the Mencia grape. This juicy, sophisticated and complex bottling from Vinos Valtuille is super tasty!
15.99
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Raúl Pérez La Vizcaina "La Vitoriana" Bierzo Tinto 2021
Raúl Pérez is one of the most exciting winemakers in all of Spain, and he is the true wizard of Bierzo. The quality/price ratio for his dynamic "La Vitoriana" Mencia is off the charts!
39.99
Check out these unique Bierzo reds on our website:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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This Gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon Comes from a Former Vin Chicago Staffer | | |
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Obsidian "Obsidian Ridge Vineyard" Red Hills of Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Those of you who have been shopping Vin Chicago for a long time are probably tired of hearing us rave about Alex Beloz and the wines he makes from the Obsidian Ridge Vineyard high up in California's Mayacamas Mountains. The reason we love his wines so much is not (just) because Alex started his wine career at our Elston Avenue store, it's because they are freaking gorgeous!
His new 2021 release is classic California mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in every way except for the price. There is serious structure here, along with loads of dense, deep, dark fruit. Alex and his team like to say that the grapes don't know which county they're in. It's true, and if this wine came from a mountainside estate vineyard in Napa Valley, it would easily be twice the price!
32.99
Check out this classic California Cabernet on our website:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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February Events at Vin Chicago! | |
February 1: Vinyl at Vin
The theme for our Barrington store's monthly Vinyl at Vin night is "Award Season." Join Tim and Dawn as they spin up discs featuring movie soundtracks and music from award winning Broadway shows! They'll have four tasting tables running, and some locally-sourced small bites to nibble on. Grab the music lover in your life and come join in the fun. Click here for tickets
When: Thursday, Feb. 1st, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Vin Chicago, Barrington
Cost: $10
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February 7: Sneak Preview Tasting
Mark Wednesday, February 7th in your calendar and join us at our Elston Avenue store as we pop the corks of 30 new arrivals. We've been having a great crowd lately for these events. It's a fun, casual opportunity to taste and learn about a bunch of new wines. Tickets are just $10, so round up a big group of friends and make it a night! Click here for tickets
When: Wednesday, Feb. 7th, 6:30-8:00
Where: Vin Chicago, Chicago
Cost: $10
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Wine Spectator "Top 100" Winners! | | |
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We still have a bunch of Wine Spectator "Top 100" winners in stock. Click below to for the most updated list!
View our "Top 100" Winners:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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In the past few months, we have had some requests for non-alcohol wine. We reached out to our vendors for samples, tasted a bunch and picked our favorites!
Check out our Non-Alcohol Wines:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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Click Here to View our New Arrivals! | |
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If you've read this far and haven't yet clicked on anything, here is one more invitation to check out our new arrivals. Lots of fun stuff!
Check out our Newest Arrivals:
Chicago • Highland Park • Barrington
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