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Thursday, December 15, 2005
Trader Joe’s Pulls Italian White Off Store Shelves Nationwide
Trader Joe’s — which had pulled its Chiaro del Bastardo Italian white wine from the shelves of its Ohio stores after “Uncorkedâ€? raised questions about two apparently different batches that were bottled under the same label — has expanded that action to all of its stores nationwide, a TJ’s spokeswoman said Thursday.
The action came two days after a Ventura, California reader of “Uncorkedâ€? found what he identified as “two distinctly different-colored Bastardos exactly as the article describedâ€? on the shelf of his local Trader Joe’s in Ventura. The reader’s comment was posted on “Uncorked” Tuesday morning (12-13-05).
“We thought the issue was isolated to the Ohio market and that is why we started there,� said Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said in an e-mail response to questions. But now, she said, “the wine has been pulled in all markets.�
Reached by telephone Thursday afternoon, Mochizuki …
…declined to say whether the action is temporary or permanent or what prompted it, saying she would not comment beyond her e-mailed responses. When Trader Joe’s initially pulled the wines from its Ohio stores a week ago, a company vice president suggested the action was temporary until the company could gather information from the wine’s supplier in Italy.
“What we found is that the blend of grapes of the darker colored Chiaro del Bastardo Bianco is not what we initially approved, although there is nothing wrong, qualitatively, with the darker blend …,â€? Mochizuki said in her e-mail.
Trader Joe’s operates more than 200 stores in 19 states and has emerged as a national leader in retail wine sales in part because of the popularity of its line of Charles Shaw “Two-Buck Chuck� wines.
By the way: In its “Fearless Flyer” catalog that touts the Chiaro del Bastardo, Trader Joe’s points out that Chiaro “means light or clear in Italian.”
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
Note: for an update on what the winery owner and winemaker who made the Chiaro has to say on this topic, check out this follow-up entry on Uncorked.
Photos by Jim Witmer
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This Week’s Wine-Tastings: Our Rewards from the Horrors of Holiday Shopping
A glass of bubbly to celebrate the final holiday gift? Methinks you’ll find something in the following list of local wine tastings and events, which comes to us courtesy of …
…a local wine listserv:
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, December 16, 2005 4-8 pm
NV Bollinger
Three vintages of Caymus: 1999, 2000, 2001
Saturday, December 17, 2005 1-6 pm
2001 and 2003 Gevrey-Chambertins, 2001 Vieux Telegraphe, Taittinger La Frances
Jay’s is offering lunch 11:30 am–2 pm, December 1 – December 23. Wines by the glass will include 1999 Alexander Valley Silver Oak Cabernet and Rombauer Chardonnay.
Italian Luncheon with Ardie Bonnano, Saturday, January 14 12:30 PM RSVP 222-2892 $60
Diver Sea Scallops with Stewed Escarole and Cannelini Beans, Mixed Greens in a Spinach Frittata Socle with White Balsamic Vinaigrette, Seafood Lasagna, Petite Grilled Veal Chop with Chianti Reduction and Roasted Baby Vegetables, Pine and Almond Shortbread with Spumoni and Espresso Chocolate Sauce
Jay’s 30th Anniversary Luncheon, Saturday, February 18 12:30 PM RSVP 222-2892 $75
Celebrating Jay’s thirty years of great seafood and wine will be five wine representatives with their own wines and stories to tell about working with Jay.
Amuse Buche – Caviar-Smoked Salmon Flutes, Saffron-Buckwheat Crepe with a Ragout of Lobster and Chantrelle Mushrooms in a White Wine Cream Sauce, Three Crab Smoked Tomato Bisque with Basil Oil and Boursin Cheese Crouton, Phyllo Shredded Shrimp with Mixed Greens, Spiced Almonds and Fried Brie with a Sweet and Sour Vinaigrette, Duo or Seared Filet and Chilean Sea Bass in a Crawfish-Morel Mushroom Sauce with Truffle Oil, Anniversary Surprise Dessert
Arrow – Oakwood NO TASTINGS until January!
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM)
DLM Oakwood
Friday, December 16, 2005 5-8 pm
Gruet Blanc de Noir La Poule Blanc 2003, Todd Norman Syrah 2003, Teira Zinfandel 2003, Brown Bag!
Saturday, December 17, 2005 1-6 pm
Duval-Leroy 1996 Brut, Hess Collection Chardonnay 2003, Stump Jump GSM 2004, Mauro Molino Barolo 2001, Vintage Port, Bonus Bottle!
Wednesday, December 28 5:30 – 8:30 pm: DLM Oakwood will be tasting champagnes!
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, December 15, 2005 5-8 pm
2003 La Tour Saint-Martin Menetou-Salon, 2003 Bocquenet Nuits St. Georges, Dievole Simply Sangiovese, 2003 Yalumba Shiraz Viognier, 2001 Marengo Bricco Viole Barolo, 2002 Darioush Cabernet, Mystery Wine!
Saturday, December 17, 2005 12-5 pm
2003 Basa Blanca, 2004 Marquis Philips Shiraz, 2003 Chateau Le Cone Merlot, 2004 Altos Las Hormigas Reservera Malbec, 2001 Sanctus St. Emillon, Ruinart Brut, Mystery Bottle!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, December 16, 2005 3-7 pm
2004 O’Brien Chardonnay, 2003 Sophenia Malbec, 2003 Marcarini Barbera D’ Alba, 1999 Ristow Cabernet Sauvignon.
Saturday, December 17, 2005 12-5 pm
2003 Luna Pinot Grigio, 2002 Blackjack Pinot Noir, 2003 Sparkling Shiraz, 2002 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook, OH
Tuesday – Thursday 11:30 – 7 pm Friday and Saturday 11:30 – 8 pm
Wines beginning Friday, December 16, 2005
Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin Demi Sec, Lingenselder 2002 Bird Label Riesling, Lockwood 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Kistler 2004 Chardonnay, Chateau Bianca Pinot Noir, D’Arenberg the Ironstone Pressings 1998, Merryvale Profile 1999, Augsburger Christkindlmarkt Gluhwein.
Beer: Christian Morlein
www.cuveewinebar.net
B. R. Scotese
Fairfield Wine tasters! Wednesday, December 21, 2005 4:30 pm will find many of the Fairfield Wine group at B. R. Scotese! The restaurant is no smoking on Wednesdays!
Scotese’s will be open for lunch during December starting Monday, December 5 with entrees such as Flank Steak with sweet and sour onions and gorgonzola. The wines they will be pouring by the glass are Pacific Peaks Chardonnay, Biso Pinot Grigio, Straccali Chianti, and Parducci Red Zinfandel.
SIPS - 1035 S. Main Street, Centerville (close to Kroger and Elder Beerman)
Wine tasting every Saturday, by the glass tasting 7:30 am – 11 pm.
Franciscan 2002 Cabernet, Evans and Tate Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Tim Berens and Dan Faehnle – Jazz on Saturday night.
SIPS Wine Dinner - Monday Dec 19th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
French wines from the portfolio of Frederick Wildman and Sons. Presented by Allied Wines. Dinner will be accompanied by LIVE music from Smooth Renditions
The night begins with Viognier accompanied by seared scallops on a pillow of ginger potatoes served with asparagus spears.
Followed by a spicy Rhone Rose paired with blackened tilapia, pan-fried peppers and artichoke hearts.
Next, a Chateauneuf-de-pape served with mushroom and goat cheese risotto on a fluffy pastry crust.
The fourth course will be N.Y. strip spattered with a red wine reduction sauce served with red Bordeaux from Paulliac.
Brut Champagne served with a butternut squash soup topped with cinnamon and toasted pistachios. Coffee will be served, along with their house-made dark chocolate espresso truffles after the meal.
$50. That includes tax and gratuity. RSVP (937) 434-7477
Market Wine Imports
2nd Street Public Market
Saturday 10-3 PM
2003 Piesporter Michelsberg Kabinett, 2004 Flagstone Noon Gun White Blend, Bacchusfeuer Gluhwein (Hot Spiced Winters Treat), 2002 Firestick Shiraz Cabernet Blend.
Trader Joe’s, Town and Country Shopping Center Wine tastings: Sunday 4:00 to 7:00, Tuesday 5:45 to 8:00.
DiSalvo’s Deli and Italian Store The Deli’s Wine of the Month: Citra Montepulciano from the Abruzzo region of Italy.
Winds Café – Yellow Springs, Ohio
WINE 101 - a class for the new wine drinker, or as a refresher course. Two consecutive Saturdays, January 21st and 28th. Call the Wine Cellar for more information. 937-767-9441.
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH, 513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads.
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