My daughter lost her tooth late one evening, two days before Christmas. Expecting magic, she announced how excited she was for the tooth fairy to trade her for a large candy cane. I was relieved that this order would actually be something the tooth fairy could pull off on such short notice. Surprisingly, there wasn’t one to be found anywhere in the house, and so once she was asleep I zoomed off to the supermarket. The displays were heavily picked over, with only newfangled flavors like Sour Patch or Winterberry Blast available - the few packages I could find of traditional candy canes were either miniatures or jumbo packs of 72. I realized I probably presented as some lunatic stoner at that hour- in sweatpants, frantically pacing the same aisles in search of a late night confection fix. But the few staff working those late hours were 100% committed to the cause when I explained my situation. They were Team Tooth Fairy all the way, searching high and low, double checking, doubling back, walky-talkies hot. It was absurd and amazing and, for brevity, I'll simply say that all ended well.

Days later, my wife sends me to the store for tomato paste for a specific dish and once again I'm scrambling the aisle, this time the small local market. It's not with the canned tomatoes, nor with the pastas, nor the tins. Will it be in tube or can? Near the oils or anchovies? These are the questions a stranger asks me, volunteering to join my quest. Steadfast and driven, he's always two seconds ahead of each thought and seven steps ahead of my search. He loves this little store he tells me. Doesn't look like it but they have pretty much everything, he insists. His enthusiasm is sweet. He is a helper. Though the clerk suggested they must be out many minutes ago, I am compelled to continue this chapter with Samwise for the night. And sure enough, this funny stranger eventually beams at the bottom shelf at the end of Aisle K, and hands me the last small can of tomato paste. 

Maybe these two outings are not connected at all. Maybe I just have a forlorn shopping face. Maybe some people just want to help. But I was thinking this morning about all who have passed through these doors, or wandered into our little wine shop, on what may be an otherwise routine day. Perhaps lost or in need of guidance, searching for just the right bottle to enjoy with an old friend in town, or maybe a thank you gift. For a partner's promotion. Or perhaps to accompany a warm pot roast on a cold evening. Whatever the occasion, I hope you've found that right bottle many times over here. And I hope you were met with the same zeal and almost absurd enthusiasm from us to help you on your quest. We'll be here today, all weekend, everyday. Here for you. Here to help.
 

TONIGHT...THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: Portuguese Whites and Cabernet Franc Red Flights
2021 Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho
2022 Nortico Alvarinho
2021 Filipa Pato Dinamico Dinamica Vinho Branco
2021 Les Athletes du Vin Chinon
2021 Domaine du Bel Air Jour de Soif Bourgueil
2020 Phantome Cellars Cabernet Franc
Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 1/11: BURGUNDY Wine Tasting Flights
2022 Alain Normand Bourgogne Blanc
2022 Paul Nicolle Chablis Vielles Vignes
2021 Quentin Jeannot Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge
2021 Domaine Charleux Bourgogne Rouge
Flights $20 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm!

Cheers,
Daniel