Monday, October 26, 2009

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Wine


Autum Leaves New London

Greetings from New London,

Many Thanks to Lisa Sanseverino from Iberia Wines. She poured and poured and poured some more at our weekly tasting last Friday. Thank you all for the great turnout - she loved your comments and questions. And the great wines of Portugal were a true delight.

This week at Brie & Bleu we will be featuring some Fall classics on the menu. Sauerbraten with real Potato Dumplings - From a very old family recipe.

Try it with a nice glass of red like maybe a Muga Rioja, or perhaps a favorite Octoberfest Beer. Remember Kitchen is now open until 10 p.m. - Please Reserve Early.

***


Speaking Of Beer

Beer In Glass 2

Last Wednesdays Beer tasting was a great success. Thanks to all of our Beer Aficionados for the great turnout.

Due to popular demand we will be extending the program right through the month of November.
We will be offering a new selection of beer every week, paired with appetizers & cheese that will make you appreciate beer in a whole new way.

No Charge - starts at 5:00 p.m. - This is a perfect after work stop over - we hope you will join us.


****
Connecticut Cajun Phil Hubbard

Now - we want to announce to you that Lunch Time in November just got VERY interesting. The Connecticut Cajun himself - Chef Phil Hubbard - will be cooking authentic Cajun Cuisine at The Beanery on the
5th, 12th, and 19th of November.

If you have been waiting for a reason to visit the authentic 1900's seating area at City News this is it.
If you had no idea that we even had a busy lunch time scene going on at City News & The Beanery - this is a great opportunity to make plans and meet your friends downtown for something special. We have lots of seating and the mood will be festive - we hope you can join us. Questions:
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Option # 2 for The Beanery

***


We mentioned last week a special announcement for Scotch & Cigar Lovers. We received a lot of email about it - so we are including the information again this week. This will be a great night out - please pass the word along.

City News in Conjunction with the Thames Club will be hosting an Ashton Cigar
"Taste Of Excellence" Dinner.

Ashton only does this event a few times a year and only with approved merchants like City News.

Saturday November 14th - 6:00 p.m.

The venerable Thames Club will be the site for an evening of great food, amazing whiskey, and award winning cigars from Ashton. There will also be a door prize of Ashton Cigars & Humidor valued at over $150.
Ashton Ambassador Mr. Andrew Green will be on hand to keep it lively.

$65 includes E V E R Y T H I N G.
Drinks, dinner, cigars, and the chance to win the big prize. If you have been waiting for a special occasion to get out of the house - this is it.

Seating is very limited for this event. You must reserve early with your credit card - which will be billed by the Thames Club directly.

Call the Thames Club - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 5 5 0 4
Ask for Club Manager Paula Guido - Explain that you are a guest of City News and would like to make a reservation. It is just that simple.

If you have been wondering just what goes on at the Thames Club this is a perfect opportunity to take a little tour. It is the second oldest private club in the United States - and it is right here in New London.

Please Join Us For A Great Evening.

******

Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.

New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.

New wine dinners & special events coming to City
News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.

Please Join Us 3
Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday October 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.



1 - FELSNER Felsner Gruner Veltliner $13

Here's a favorite sight around here - a big green one-liter bottle with an Austrian flag bottle cap on it.

From the Felsner family estate overlooking the Danube river, this light Gruner shows bright, fresh fruit with a mellow peach and apricot finish.

A perfect pairing with antipasti, light cheeses and seafood, and just a fun bottle to have around!



2 - Cono Sur Pinot Noir $12

cono sur pinot noirThis little hit from Chile features a bicycle on the label - the "Bicycle Pinot" (people ask for it by name).

Honestly, at this price point it's the best Pinot Noir we've found, made by a small farming collective committed to sustainable agriculture.

Classic Pinot wild berry tones mingling with a touch of smoke and a long finish - we've stocked this wine before but believe this is their best vintage yet. It blows the doors off mass-produced brands at the same price!















3 - Tenuta Vitanza Chianti Tenuta Vitanza Chianti Colli Senesi $18

On the subject of sustainable farming, tiny Vitanza runs a fossil-fuel free estate (wow).

They also are the producer of some of the best Brunello de Montalcino in the world (check this space as the holidays approach).

This is their gorgeous, old-school Chianti - fine, elegant, not overblown, with classic Italian leather and smoke tones.
A great food wine - this would pair perfectly with a lamb chop, but is silky enough to match with pork and mushrooms.

An impeccable wine from Tuscany.

Speaking of which:














4 - Gaja Ca'Marcanda Promis 2006 $50

Gaja Ca'Marcanda PromisThe myth, the legend - for winegeeks everywhere, you only have to say the one word: GAJA.

Angelo Gaja is an extraordinary winemaker and Italian gentleman - in The Pantheon of Major Dudes, we put him up there with, say, Enzo Ferrari - In idle moments, we gaze with longing at the magnum of 2005 Gaja Barbaresco resting in the cellar - but that particular bottle is $500.

So let's call this "entry-level" Gaja, a wine the rest of us can spring for on special occasions!

Promis is made from a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese, from the loam and clay soils of coastal Tuscany. Gorgeous, round and musical with an endless finish - made with the care and genius of all Gaja wines. Please come early to try a sip!








BRIE & BLEU:
Octoberfest Anyone?

This week - A true Classic.
Please Reserve Early

Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten
with potato DUMPLINGS.

Perfect with a nice glass of red wine OR a great OctoberFest Brew.


Sweet Potato & sausage soup
Sweet Potato &
Sausage Soup


Classic Combinations
Great Wine & Beer
Affordable Indulgence.

Rediscover A
Great Night Out.

C I T Y N E W S
NEW LONDON
Tomas Lochem

Congratulations To Cigar Master Tomas Lochem on the great story in The Day newspaper.
If you missed the article by Anthony Cronin
CLICK HERE

We are proud to offer the entire line of Lochem
Cigars at City News.
***
We have to take a minute to thank everyone for turning out last Sunday for the second installment of the Red Tree Poetry Series at City News. The last Sunday of each month will host a new author at a wine & cheese reception at City News. A reading by the author followed by Q&A is all part of the fun - from 2-4 p.m.
There is no charge for these readings - we hope you can join us.

City News is a great place to have a lunch, meet friends, or for just buying the daily papers. All in the original 1900's architecture that we uncovered almost a year ago.

And as always - thanks for your support we appreciate it.

Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Portuguese Royalty - Special Announcement

pumpkin Man
Card Available At City News

Greetings from New London,

A Special Guest This Friday.

Lisa SanseverinoFriday will be a special night featuring a lineup of four great new finds from Portugal - our guest, Lisa Sanseverino - direct from her sold out engagements in Lisbon - will be here to help out and answer your questions.

We'll be tasting both rustic and modern styles, and although the names are different, the varietals are familiar - local versions of grapes such as Tempranillo and Grenache. Please come by and try these outstanding values from this ancient region!

And Brie & Bleu will be offering menu items to compliment these delicious wines.

***


NEXT UP
- beer circus
For all of our Beer Aficionados - mark your calendars for this Wednesday - 10.21.09
We are presenting a beer tasting at Brie & Bleu - No Charge. Hosted by our own Matt Spring, we will be offering a selection of beer paired with appetizers & cheese that will make you appreciate beer in a whole new way.
It starts at 5:30. This is a perfect after work stop over - we hope you join us.

Beer In Glass 2

We are listening to all of the comments you have given us and I can assure you right now that we will make every effort we can to bring as many of the beer requests to our shelves in the coming weeks as we can.






****

Now a special announcement for Scotch & Cigar Lovers. City News in Conjunction with the Thames Club will be hosting an Ashton Cigar
"Taste Of Excellence" Dinner.

Ashton only does this event a few times a year and only with approved merchants like City News.

Saturday November 14th - 6:00 p.m.

The venerable Thames Club will be the site for an evening of great food, amazing whiskey, and award winning cigars from Ashton. There will also be a door prize of Ashton Cigars & Humidor valued at over $150.
Ashton Ambassador Mr. Andrew Green will be on hand to keep it lively.

$65 includes E V E R Y T H I N G.
Drinks, dinner, cigars, and the chance to win the big prize. If you have been waiting for a special occasion to get out of the house - this is it.

Seating is very limited for this event. You must reserve early with your credit card - which will be billed by the Thames Club directly.

Call the Thames Club - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 5 5 0 4
Ask for Club Manager Paula Guido - Explain that you are a guest of City News and would like to make a reservation. It is just that simple.

If you have been wondering just what goes on at the Thames Club this is a perfect opportunity to take a little tour. It is the second oldest private club in the United States - and it is right here in New London.

Please Join Us For A Great Evening.

******

Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.

New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.

New wine dinners & special events coming to City
News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.

Please Join Us 3
Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday October 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.



1 - Touquinheiras Alvarino Vino Verde $16




Yep - that's the same grape as "Albarino" in Spain, a bright coastal white with buttery smoothness. This actually reminded us of dry Rieslings from Alsace.

Something different and immaculately balanced, suited best for grilled seafood, oysters, smoked meats and cheeses.












2 - Grou 2 Vinho Tinto $12

Grou 2 VinhoHere's a great big chewy red - Aragones (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, and Syrah grapes - this is clearly related to Port flavors, robust, dark and plummy, unfiltered and unoaked.

This would pair well with red meats, robust cheeses, or just an evening on the sofa with your feet up.

An excellent value please try it this weekend.












3 - Herdade do Pombal Alentejo Herdade do Pombal Alentejo $14

Again, Aragones, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet, plus Cabernet Sauvignon to add tannin and structure.

Refined, elegant and balanced - the price was a real surprise.

A mature, harmonious wine with daily red affordability. This would match perfectly with a beef or lamb entree next door at Brie & Bleu.












4 - Quinta Das Baceladas $21
Rated 90 Points by Wine Spectator.

Quinta Das BaceladasMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon plus the traditional Baga grape from the Bairrada region. Blackberry, chocolate and plum notes, this sees one year in French oak, adding smokiness and balanced tannins.

A beautiful full bodied red with lots of detail, made in very limited production - just like our special guest.

Please be sure to try it and please take a minute to say hello to our special guest Lisa Sanseverino - it is her first time in New London, and we would like to make a nice impression.

















A quick note about our Coffee Bar - The Beanery - located at City News & Thames River Greenery at 70 State Street.

We are completing many of the additions, upgrading the menu, and welcoming new staff members to our team this week. We are excited about the improvements and hope that you will stop in to take a look if you happen to be downtown during the week.
City News is a great place to have a lunch, meet friends, or for just buying the daily papers. All in the original 1900's architecture that we uncovered almost a year ago.

And as always - thanks for your support we appreciate it.

Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Is That A Corkscrew? Or are You Just Happy To See Me?

steak and fries
Rediscover A Great Night Out At Brie & Bleu
Great Food And Delicious Wine By The Glass
Reserve Early - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Greetings from New London,

It was a great turnout for the Fall Food Stroll - thanks for stopping in.

Brie and Bleu has been getting new "rave" reviews. The attention to the menu is based on your comments and suggestions. Chef Andrew has been listening carefully and we are adding a few more classic dishes. Some might call them Comfort Food - we think that they are truly traditional bistro items, and we hope you enjoy them.



Beer In Glass 2Also - coming next week we will bring back beer tastings hosted by our own Matt Spring.

They will be held at Brie & Bleu and we hope that all of our Beer Lovers will join us.

Time and day will be in next weeks email.







******




Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.

New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.

New wine dinners & special events coming to City
News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.


*******
Please Join Us 3
Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday October 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.



1 - Gruet Blanc de Noirs $18
Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs

This is a sparkling methode champenoise, made by the great Gruet family from Champagne, who, once upon a time, went on vacation to Albuquerque.

They took one look at the high chalky mesas of New Mexico and decided on the spot that they could grow French vines and make a worthy
Champagne-style sparkler in America.

Why are we breaking out the bubbly? Just because - because it's what we want to have with lobster tomorrow night, and because we want to celebrate all our friends in New London as the autumn turns chilly.





2 - Domaine La Manarine Cotes du Rhone $15

La ManarineThis is a light Rhone with an interesting story, sourced from a family vineyard of young winemaker Gilles Gasq, an understudy of the great winemaker Paul Jeune from Domaine Montpertuis.

When Gilles mentioned his family's hilly plot of Grenache vines, Paul Jeune inspected the site and declared it deserved its own bottling!

100% Grenache - a rarity in the Rhone - without any other blending grapes it could not be given a "village level" status, and had to be labeled with the generic "Cotes du Rhone" name. The winemakers didn't care - the wine is so fine and elegant it speaks for itself. Light and mellow, a big favorite here at the shop.





3 - Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rouge
"La Croix du Roy" $38

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rouge
The town of Sancerre in France's Loire Valley is best know for its Sauvignon Blanc, considered by many to be the best in the world - but they also grow Pinot Noir.
This is a wine that would make me get up off the couch and come to a wine tasting - beautiful French Pinot Noir that rivals great Burgundy at half the price.

Only six hectaires of the Crochet family estate is planted with Pinot. Light, elegant, with minty flavors of wild raspberry. With fall flavors at the dinner table, a perfect complement to pork, turkey or salmon.



4 - Bogle Phantom 2006 $24

Bogle Phantom 2006The flagship of the Bogle portfolio, a deep ruby California blend of Petit Syrah, Zinfandel and Mourvedre. Rich, smooth, and detailed - we highly recommend it.

But around here we call it "The Phantom of the Bogle" because of its frequent disappearing acts. This is a hard wine to get a hold of! First, the delivery truck came and The Phantom was on the invoice, yet the wine had vanished - "The truck driver did it!" said they - Days later, I was informed that The Phantom was gone, only for it to mysteriously appear. But one Phantom had broken, spilling its contents onto the surviving bottles like some kind sacrifice. Creepy! Taste it before it's too late!





We want to thank you once again for the tremendous support and all of the comments we have been getting over the past couple of weeks..

We are committed to the qualities that brought many of you through our doors from the beginning - great wine and service, a friendly approachable staff, and a place where beginners, experts and collectors alike will feel right at home.

Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The One Bottle A Day Wine Diet

Rediscover New London
Photo is from the commercial currently running in Prime Time.
Thanks for all of the great comments.

Greetings from New London,
Thank you all for the many emails and calls about the commercial currently running in Prime Time that features Brie & Bleu in the CL&P promotional campagin.
Charlotte CLP

Click on the photo to
see the profile



If you have not seen it here is the link to the video.
Clink on the link and then click the video window to play.
Brie & Bleu On TV

*******

ChessFest IV
We want thank everyone that turned out for
ChessFest IV held at City News Last Sunday. A great afternoon was had by all. If you are interested in joining the weekly City News Chess Society - please call Bryan Desautell for more information - 8 6 0 - 4 4 9 - 3 6 6 7

*******
Berkshire Brewing is back. We again offer a large selection of our favorite microbrew from Deerfield, Massachusetts in Bomber and Growler sizes!

In other news, Pawcatuck Rhode Island's own Cottrell Yankee Ale and the new, much-trumpeted Mystic Bridge IPA are now a fixture at Brie & Bleu - New London's original bistro.

And as if all that was not enough - we are adding a nice selection of "Hard Ciders" to choose from.
The Fall is officially here.
Hard Ciders


***
Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.
New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.
New wine dinners & special events coming to City News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.

Please Join Us 11.1.08
Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday October 9 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.



1 - Pares Balta Blancs de Pacs 2008 $11

pares balta2
We've always loved this bottle - from the grapes one finds in sparkling Cava, but vinified as still wine.

We're all familiar with these varietals, yes class?
Macabeo, Parellada and Xarello - can't you taste that note of Xarello?

The new label has a bright yellow B on it to make it easy to spot from 100 yards, plus a cute ladybug which means it's all organically farmed

This is a very affordable indulgence. Great with food or just sipping with friends.













2 - Louis Latour Valmoissine Pinot Noir 2007 $15

Valmoissine bottle"We Take Under-$20 Pinot Seriously" Part 2.

Last week we poured Culley from New Zealand - This week we pour a familiar friend.

This earthy French jewel has been a fixture around here for years. Our delivery driver John pointed out that this a new vintage so let's find out what the 2007 bottling is all about.

The Domaine de Valmoissine is located on the site of the ancient monastery and university of Valmoissine at 500 metres above sea-level which guarantees sunshine during the summer months whilst remaining cool and limits the possibility of spring frosts. The grapes are entirely hand-picked before being fermented in stainless steel open-vats for a short period of 4-5 days.


Another great food wine from Latour - It tastes like it should be priced a lot higher - please try it this week.



3 - Chateau Valcombe Cotes du Ventoux 2005 $14

Valcombe Cotes du Ventoux

The terroir of Valcombe is situated at an altitude of 1000 feet on the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux, one of the most majestic sites in Provence known as the "Giant of Provence".

A big, complex Rhone from the slopes of Mount Ventoux. Grenache and Carignan with a touch of Syrah and Cinsault from vines averaging 60 years old.
(I thought I tasted a hint of Cinsault, didn't you?)

Peppery and dense, a perfect match for steak and potatoes or deep conversation over matters of great importance.



4 - Goretti Montefalco Rosso Le Mura Saracene 2006 $16

Goretti MontefalcoThe Goretti Family of the Umbria region of Italy creates this Montefalco Rosso at Fattoria Le Mura Saracene from a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot. The process begins in stainless steel tanks, then 12 months in oak barrels followed by 8-10 months in bottle.

To start the experience, deep ruby and purple coloring followed by intense aromas of blackberries and a floral bouquet.

Their website adds:

"With hints of cloves and roasted red peppers, flavors of black cherries and toasted oak, then a bit later lilacs mingle with a pleasantly bitter plum. Bright tannins combined with all these wonderful flavors and aromas weave a rich vibrant wine that leaves one with a lingering finish."

Made from Sangiovese with a bit of Sagrantino, this lovely red from Umbria (right in the calf of the Italian boot) can mimick old-school Chianti without pickling your tongue.

We say that it's lush and herbal, great pairings would be roasted lamb or fresh fettucine with pesto - I've been reminded that Sagrantino wines were traditionally used in exorcisms in Italy - I haven't been to a good exorcism in years - This could be a good bottle to have around as we approach Halloween. You be the judge - give it a try this Friday.


*******

"Old World European Charm - it reminds us of home."


That was the comment a couple from France made this past week about Brie & Bleu. They were sipping wine nibbling on cheese and watching the rain drip on the couple at the table next to them.

We have tried many times over the years to address the leak issues we have. The best minds in the business have put in their two cents worth of wisdom, and in the end most say - "its an old building - and New London has a lot of leaks downtown."

Well - this week a full
union crew has installed a seamless membrane roof "system" on the building.
All new, latest technology. We are hoping that this will do the trick. If not - I think we will settle for the Old World European Charm - there is nothing left to do.
Unless of course we try a good old fashion Italian exorcism - hey, that may not be such a bad idea.

Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA.