March 2026
A man walks into the store. He wears his grey hair slicked back over thick-framed glasses and a pewter tracksuit. His voice is like the motor of a classic car that’d explode if you drove it on the highway. He is in town from New York and needs a full-bodied red for a steak dinner.
I take him to the California reds. He spots a familiar bottle and excitedly reaches for it. “You know what this stuff is?” he asks, caterpillar brows raised. “Yeah,” I answer, “it’s a blend of--” “Night-night” “Night-night?” “Night-night. Two glasses of this and you’re out for the count. Night-night.” “Would you like a bottle?” “No. Show me more.” We move to the Malbecs. “Hooo buddy…” he purrs as he takes a Grand Vin off the shelf. “Hope you got your pajamas on, cause it’s night-night” This continued along our inventory. “That’s night-night right here” “Get cozy. It’s night-night.” “Gotta brush your teeth early with this one. You’re going night-night.” He sold me half our inventory that day. I came to understand that “night-night” applied to savory, high-alcohol reds. In honor of the coolest customer to ever shop here - which is saying a lot, because Don Johnson used to live in the neighborhood – we’re featuring Mother’s Milk Shiraz, a wine that’s as Night-Night as it gets. Shiraz is Australian for Syrah, which is grown in the Barossa Valley in the southern part of the continent. Juicy and plush, Mother’s Milk has structure and finesse that often eludes Australian Shiraz. Put the kids to bed – it’s Night-Night. |
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