Wine Fever - enjoying wine is a way of life

Are You Ready For The Bitter Truth?

2011-12-29T12:58:00.006-05:00

This Friday night we will help to prepare you for The Big weekend.
We will pull the corks and twist the caps on things that snap, crackle, AND pop.
Please Join Us - and lets get ready for the New Year together.

THE BITTER TRUTH?
One thing to mention is the arrival of the super swank aromatic bitters brought to us by Bob Neville of World Wide Wines. All the way from Germany, you just have to try it to believe it. Your cocktails will never be the same.
We have several types including this one.

Celery Bitters?
A lost ingredient. Defunct for decades. Now revived to please the most discriminating palate.
The Bitter Truth - Celery Bitters are the first celery bitters to be offered commercially in decades. This cocktail ingredient, which had already existed in the 19th century, enriches cocktails with unusual flavors.

It's ideal for traditional corpse-reviver cocktails such as the Bloody Mary, Bullshot and Prairie Oyster, as well as Martini Cocktails and the Gin & Tonic.

Try it on Friday - see if its just whats been missing from your cocktails at home. Drink Different.

All your favorite cheese is in stock for New Years.
The cases are full - stinky & sweet.

And finally - our wishes to you all for a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.
It is hard to express our thanks for the tremendous support that you have shown to us, we sincerely appreciate it.

Thames River Greenery
Flowers, Wine, Cheese, And So Much More.

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Thames River Greenery
ThamesRiver.com
70 State Street
New London, Connecticut 06320
860-443-6817

A Big Night In New London

2011-12-22T15:51:00.002-05:00

A VERY BUSY WEEK FOR ALL OF US RIGHT?

This Friday we will be pulling the corks on a few very special bottles.
You should start your weekend here. Bring your friends, family, and out of towners to try a little wine and to see New London at it's finest. There will be skaters on The Rink, lights on the buildings, and local stores open to welcome you all.

And just around the corner Hot Rod's - they are throwing an anniversary party.
Safe Harbor Beer will be featured and the Safe Harbor Girl herself will be there
to meet, greet, sign free posters and take photos.

Live Music hosted by Andre Danford starts at 8:00 p.m. and if all that was not reason enough to visit Hot Rod's - there will be a DJ too. If you still haven't tried the Official Beer Of New London this is a great opportunity to share it with your friends.

And just a reminder to those of you that placed special orders last week for those amazing Italian wines presented by Eric Bellnier - All orders are ready for pick-up, or if you prefer - give us a call to arrange delivery.

Thanks to everyone shopping locally this year. All of the merchants appreciate it. And they continue to offer last minute ideas and gifts for just about anyone on your list. We hope to see you all this week.

Thames River Greenery

Flowers, Wine, Cheese, And So Much More.

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Thames River Greenery
ThamesRiver.com

70 State Street

New London, Connecticut 06320

860-443-6817

Special Guest - This Friday

2011-12-13T14:50:00.003-05:00

In addition to our regular Friday night salute to the grape - we have a special guest joining us and pouring one of a kind wines from Italy in our "Back Room."

1. Zeni Pinot Grigio 2010
2. Sardus Pater Is Solus Carignan 2007
3. Caruso and Minini Sachia Perricone 2007
4. Cascina Chicco Bric Loira Barbera D’Alba 2008
5. Icardi Barbaresco 2006
6. Sapaio Volpolo 2006
7. Monte Faustino Amarone 2006

Please Join Us

One Hundred Years Old!

2011-12-07T14:50:00.003-05:00

GREAT GIFT IDEAS: For those of you that have been in the store - you know that its hard to describe the various ways that we can combine all of the goodies that we have. Flowers, cheese, gourmet specialty items, beer, fine wine and spirits, premium cigars, and the list goes on. We encourage you to visit downtown New London, visit the local shops and if time allows please stop in to say hello here at The Greenery. There are samples to try, ideas to discover, and fine holiday wishes in the air.

Our wine list for Friday is just below these gift ideas.
Here are just a few interesting items that are available.

A Case of the Winning Wine
Red, White and Bubbly.
Anyone who entertains often or occasionally needs a red, white and sparkling wine that will reliably please a range of palates. Here are three that are consistently good from year to year.

William Fevre Champs Royaux Chablis is the basic bottling of a well-regarded Chablis producer.

Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera is a lithe, bright food-friendly red from Piedmont.

Roederer Estate Brut NV, is a perennial favorite sparkling wine from California by way of the famous (French) Louis Roederer Champagne House.

All about $19 per bottle.
They also make a very affordable gift basket for the wine lovers in your life.

Shackelton Never Left Home Without It.
Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland - "Shackleton Series" - $159

A Sip of History

Shackleton Whiskey. When British explorer Ernest Shackleton abandoned his journey to the South Pole during a blizzard in 1908, he left behind a bunch of gear and a few bottles of Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt Whiskey.

In 2007, those bottles were dug out of the ice and the spirit was copied through a mix of science and artful blending. Bright with citrus notes and a smoky-peppery finish, the result is a high proof (47.3% ABV) warmer that will battle the worst of winter.

One sip and your giftee will see why Shackleton carried
25 cases of the stuff on his journey.

Just Six Bottles Available - First Come First Served.

Pillows & Posies - From Pinc! & Thames River Greenery - $45
Delivery Included

Our flower shop teams up with The Head Mistress at Pinc!

Pinc! is a unique boutique located just a few doors down at 52 State Street.

Kim Petty is the "Head Mistress" at Pinc! and the creator of must have items for your home.

White roses and red spray roses, evergreens and berries in a red glass holder are delivered along with a handcrafted Christmas pillow. The duo is perfect on a mantle, coffee table or any small spot that needs a dash of color.
The pillow is soft red velvet trimmed with vintage ribbon and matching buttons.

Cheese - Glorious Cheese

Cheese is, in our humble opinion, one of the most wonderful foods in existence, and we've been fortunate to find the finest varietals available.

Of course, when we find something truly fabulous we can't wait to share it with you,
great things like Humbolt Fog, Cato Corner Farms,
Roaring Forties Blue, Cotswald,
and Parmigiano-Reggiano just to name a few.

And we have all of the accompaniments like Raincoast Crisps. A perfect marriage of sweet and salty, crispy slices of artisan bread are flavored with things like Kalamata olives and succulent Adriatic figs. Enjoy them on their own or paired with a soft cheese like chèvre, Brie or a good triple crème variety. Cheese and wine baskets make beautiful gifts.

Christopher Radko
ornaments are known all over the world. He has done it again - simply and wonderfully. Topped with sparkling snow, this cheerful red ceramic Radko ornament jar is filled with flowers & truly a gift of the season.

This red ceramic ornament jar, designed by Christopher Radko, is from the phenomenally popular series from Teleflora's Flowers-in-a-Gift collection.

Perfect for flowers, candy or just displayed alone.

Moonstruck Chocolates
In 1993, a simple but remarkable concept took root in Portland, Oregon.

That concept was to handcraft superior chocolates - chocolates that would not only taste exquisite, but that would look exceptional, as well. The result would be a chocolate indulgence for all the senses.

It all makes for a chocolate experience without compare, and we invite you to share in that experience yourself. Our chocolate case is full of holiday truffles. Please take a look - they are quite special.

This Friday Night

Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon - $48
93 points - Robert Parker's "The Wine Advocate"
Voted Best Nappa Winery 2 Years In A Row

While Frank Family Vineyards may be better known for their buttery, rich Chardonnay, they make a lovely Cabernet too. The 2008 vintage blends in small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, whch give the wine added complexity aromatically and structurally. The bouquet spills out of the glass with licorice, briar fruit and vanilla aromas, with subtler tones of honey, roasted nuts and cocoa powder. Full-throttle briar fruit on the palate is complemented by flavors of cinnamon and toast, dried currants and cherries, with cedary spice on the finish. Velvety tannins and good acidity make this a delight in the glass now and one you'll enjoy for years to come.

Winemaker Notes:
The 2008 Frank Family Vineyard's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a dense inky purple color. The aromas are abundant; expressing ripe briar-berries juicy black cherries and wild blueberries. Notes of cassis, roasted chestnut, sandlewood, and earth intermingled throughout, followed by espresso bean and a hint of cinnamon. The palate is lavish and vibrant bursting with juicy black-raspberries, cranberry marmalade and a touch of watermelon rind. The lively fruit is balanced by well structured tannins providing a plush, yet structured mouthfeel that is elegant and supple with lasting grip."

A great special occasion bottle for your holidays - please try it this Friday night.

Chateau Clos du Moulin - Bordeaux - Regular Price $18 / Special $14
Wine Spectator 92 Points - Classic French Medoc

The first activity recorded in Saint-Estèphe goes back as far as the Middle Bronze Age, the first vines date from the Roman Occupation. But it was the Bordeaux merchants who by aging and selling Saint-Estèphe wines themselves were largely responsible for this appellation's fame. And in the nineteenth century, noted for its prosperity, the great estates of today were created. The movement continues today with the merging of small estates.

A land of great wines, Saint-Estèphe is situated almost in the centre of the Médoc, close to the Gironde Estuary. The appellation is equal distance from Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave.

The beds of soil are characterized by their remarkable diversity, the result of their undulating relief and excellent drainage. Quartz and well-rounded pebbles mingled with light, sandy surface soil are found everywhere, giving the wines a distinctive finesse. And the subsoil is made up of the famous Saint-Estèphe limestone, which outcrops on the west of the commune.

Tasting Notes
"Thanks to ideal conditions of climate and geology, Saint-Estèphe wines are characterized by their sturdy qualities and robust constitution. Accordingly, they can be laid down for a very long time while yet preserving their youth and freshness. Distinguished by a subsoil which is more clayey than that in the other communal appellations which lie by the river, the wine here attains a distinctive individuality : a very rich tannic structure, a fine deep red color and an exceptional backbone with aromas of great finesse."

Botanica Chenin Blanc South Africa - $22
Rated 5 Stars Platter's 2011 Wine Guide To South Africa
Rated 92 Points Tanzier's International WIne Cellar

One of only two examples of Chenin Blanc out of 58 wines to be rated 5 Stars in Platter's 2011,
Botanica is worth seeking out.

"What is striking about this wine is just how subtle and understated it is: there's stone fruit on nose and palate, pure but not exaggerated, while a slight sweetness and bright acidity play off against each other to good advantage."

This wine was absolutely beautiful. Its ranks up there as being one of the best Chenins that we have ever tasted.
Big and lush with green apple and honey notes melded with soft undertones of lemon grass, and sweet almond.

Wonderful mouth feel. This wine is for someone who wants something more than the quazi high volume Chenin blancs that every store has.

There are only 350 cases of this wine produced. We have 2 of them. If you have time to try only one wine this week - please try this one. And try it with the cheese and fondue that we are also tasting - it will open your eyes.

Sant'Elena Pinot Grigio 2007 - regular price $23 / Very Special Price $14
91 points - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
92 points - The Wine Spectator

Situated in Friuli, Sant' Elana is in northern Italy, south of Austria and bordering Slovenia to the east. It is known for stunningly good white wines.

What sets this Pinot Grigio apart from most traditional Pinot Grigios is its vibrant color and structure. While most immediately face the soft press and bottling after the harvest, this Pinot Grigio is macerated for thirty-six hours to obtain deep color and then left on the lees for six months.

A delicate and complex process usually not reserved for the variety, it vaults this wine into the top tier of the world's Pinot Grigios.

It is the estate's mission to produce small amounts of exceptionally flavorful, healthy fruit from its vines.
To reach this goal, high density vineyard plantings, rigorous canopy management and green harvesting are employed, as are a team of experienced grape harvesters who pick by hand only ripe, undamaged fruit. Only one bottle of wine is produced per plant!

If you choose just one white wine to serve to your friends and family this year - this is it. At this special price it is first come first served - supply is limited.

Our new location has been getting rave reviews from you. Your suggestions, comments, and remarkable support have exceeded our expectations. So this week and for the upcoming holiday season we will be sharing some very special items. We hope that you will join us and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Special Event

2011-11-30T17:23:00.004-05:00

2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the unification of italy.

UNA is the official wine created to celebrate the occasion.

Drink Different

SPECIAL EVENT

The Celebration Of Lights And Song & The Ribbon Cutting For The Rink

SATURDAY December 3rd - 3:00 - 5:30 pm

Come celebrate New London's diverse community this holiday season with music and dance performances from around the world. Festival kicks off with Children's Reindeer Procession leading Santa to the Parade Plaza at 3pm. Children are encouraged to dress like Santa's helpers and reindeer to lead Santa to the Parade Plaza. Meet at New London Fire Dept. on Bank Street at 2:45pm to participate. MORE INFORMATION

Do You Fondue?

The ice skaters are gathering here in The City, so we thought it would be the perfect
time to sample a little fondue and wine. Our very own Brie & Bleu recipe.

Adults can play while the kids skate-a-way.

In case you missed it - The Beer Advocate a national publication that rates and watches the beer world - recently featured a review of New London's own Safe Harbor Beer.

The reviewer gave the Official Beer Of The Whaling City

an "A-Outstanding." - Congratulations! - Ask for Safe Harbor at your favorite restaurant, bar, and retail store.

The Tasting For Friday

Masciarelli Villa Gemma Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - $94

93 points - Robert Parker's "The Wine Advocate"

93 points - "The Wine Spectator"

Really dark purple in the glass. Big brooding nose with obvious blackberries and spice a secondary licorice note on the end. The mouth feel is huge, coating but with heavy tannins at this point, drying oakiness on the mid palate is unpleasant, good structure and obvious quality, lacking on fruit but a long finish.

Perhaps the finest example of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in top vintages gaining scores of 93/100 from Winespectator and Robert Parker. The Villa Gemma is a wine from low yields using lots of new oak to produce a polished artistic wine.

Pioneer winemaker Gianni Masciarelli began this estate in 1981 and led the charge to bring Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines to the forefront of Italian wines both internally and abroad.

His greatest wine, the Villa Gemma is generally regarded as the best Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ever made.

Very limited supply - It will go quickly.

Meerlust Rubicon 2007 - Top 100 Wines of 2006 - $28

Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines

Long recognized for producing world-class wines, Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the traditional dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of Hannes Myburgh, eighth generation custodian of this seventeenth-century national monument.

On The Meerlust Rubicon has been voted number 27 on the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 wines for 2006. The Rubicon 2007 was made by the previous Cellar Master at Meerlust, Giorgio Dalla Cia, who was responsible for creating the first commercial Rubicon blend in 1980 together with Nicolaas Myburgh, the father of the current owner, Hannes Myburgh. Giorgio worked as the Cellar Master at Meerlust for 25 years.

"Over a quarter of a century ago, this was one of the first South African Bordeaux Blends. It is still one of the best, a ripely tannic, firm wine that owes a lot to the structure given by ripe grapes from mature vines. Great acidity, great black currant fruits, and great style" reported Wine Enthusiast.

Winemaker: "Very deep, youthful color, and intense almost purple hue. Very classic Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood and intense spiciness. Still young and still intense, promising further maturation potential. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins."

The 2007 Rubicon is the first vintage of this iconic wine to receive the coveted 5 star rating in the 2012 edition of the Platter's South African Wine Guide.

Niner Wine Estates Cabernet Sauvignon - $28 / Special $24

Rated 92 Points Wine Spectator

California is one of the most diverse wine regions in the world, with almost 100 grape varieties grown in over 100 viticultural areas, including dozens of different microclimates and soil types, as well as a very individualistic set of winemakers, many with international experience, which adds to and deepens that diversity.

Set apart by unique climate and geography, Paso Robles Wine Country provides prime growing conditions for more than 40 varietals planted over 26,000 acres of vineyards. More than 170 wineries craft this fruit into premium wines, gaining recognition around the world. The fruit, the wines and the distinct environment have quickly made Paso Robles California's third largest and fastest growing wine region.

Aromas of cherries, blackberries, and dried cranberry, come together with notes of dark chocolate, oak, and burnt earth on the nose. A sip reveals ripe berry fruit flavors, accented by suggestions of oak, chocolate, graphite, and tobacco. A layered, supple, fairly dry Cabernet, it's a fine choice for people that are seeking balance in their red wines.

Sant'Elena Pinot Grigio 2007 - regular price $23 / Very Special Price $14
91 points - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
92 points - The Wine Spectator

Situated in Friuli, Sant' Elana is in northern Italy, south of Austria and bordering Slovenia to the east. It is known for stunningly good white wines.

What sets this Pinot Grigio apart from most traditional Pinot Grigios is its vibrant color and structure. While most immediately face the soft press and bottling after the harvest, this Pinot Grigio is macerated for thirty-six hours to obtain deep color and then left on the lees for six months.

A delicate and complex process usually not reserved for the variety, it vaults this wine into the top tier of the world's Pinot Grigios.

It is the estate's mission to produce small amounts of exceptionally flavorful, healthy fruit from its vines.
To reach this goal, high density vineyard plantings, rigorous canopy management and green harvesting are employed, as are a team of experienced grape harvesters who pick by hand only ripe, undamaged fruit. Only one bottle of wine is produced per plant!

If you choose just one white wine to serve to your friends and family this year - this is it. At this special price it is first come first served - supply is limited.

Special Pricing

2011-11-29T14:16:00.003-05:00

The Celebration Of Lights And Song & The Ribbon Cutting For The Rink

SATURDAY December 3rd - 3:00 - 5:30 pm

In case you missed it - The Beer Advocate a national publication that rates and watches the beer world - recently featured a review of New London's own Safe Harbor Beer.

The reviewer gave the Official Beer Of The Whaling City an "A-Outstanding."

Congratulations! - Ask for Safe Harbor at your favorite restaurant, bar, and retail store.

Fontodi Flacienello della Pieve - regular $165 / Very Special Price $125
Rated 96 Points - Robert Parker
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Manetti's 2004 Flaccianello della Pieve (100% Sangiovese aged in 100% new oak) is simply stunning. Fresh and vibrant, it offers compelling aromatics and endless layers of fruit that develop in the glass, with superb length on the palate and gorgeous overall balance.

On the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007 and 95 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, light toasty oak, cream and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Wonderful. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Medium-deep red. Multifaceted nose offers red- and blackcurrant, flowers, tobacco and licorice, accented by an elegant mineral quality. This displays incredible freshness, with a delicate balsamic quality perfectly framing the red and dark fruit flavors. Finishes extremely long, with spectacularly suave tannins."

Sant'Elena Pinot Grigio 2007 - regular price $23 / Special Price $14
91 points - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
92 points - The Wine Spectator

ALSO IN STOCK & Ready For The Holidays

Cartilage and Brown Pinot Noir - $15

Fontodi Chianti Classico - $65 / $34

Frank Family Cabernet - $44

Sant Ellena Ros di Rol "Cru Merlot" - $16 - Rated 93 Points - Robert Parker

Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir - $27

Calera Central Coast Chardonnay - $14

Niner Estates Cabernet - Paso Robles - $24

Chateau Beaucastel - $128

Muga Reserva White Rioja - $17

Hugel Reisling - $20

Roderer Champagne Gift Packs - $45

Lucien Albrecht Champagne - $20

Whistle Pig Whiskey - $78

Michter Rye & Bourbon - $42

High West Silver & Double Rye - $48

Vintage Port / White Port

The Cool Factor

2011-11-21T09:49:00.004-05:00

Very Best Wine Under Twenty - Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-17T18:17:00.002-05:00

Post Election Drinking

2011-11-09T09:54:00.002-05:00

Big Names

2011-11-02T15:37:00.001-04:00

The New Rules Of Wine - Drink Different

2011-10-26T15:27:00.001-04:00

Stick Your Neck Out - Drink Different

2011-10-20T15:54:00.001-04:00

The Wine Of Italian Royalty

2011-10-11T15:20:00.001-04:00

Drink Different

2011-09-29T16:49:00.002-04:00

WINE - It's Not Just For Breakfast

2011-09-22T08:08:00.001-04:00

The Little Wine Shop That Could

2011-09-14T16:18:00.003-04:00

Cult Following - Please Join Us

2011-09-07T15:23:00.003-04:00

Read The Full Story - Click The Title Link

Post Hurricane News

2011-09-01T18:44:00.002-04:00

When Pigs Fly

2011-08-25T08:12:00.003-04:00

Click the Title Link For The Full Story

A Tribute To New London

2011-08-18T08:07:00.003-04:00

click the title above for the full story

Upgraded To Triple AAA - Please Join Us

2011-08-10T16:47:00.002-04:00

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Wine Without The Mystery

2011-08-03T15:31:00.002-04:00

Follow The Title Link For The Full Story

New London The Bountiful

2011-07-27T13:42:00.002-04:00

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The Groupon Tasting!

2011-07-19T18:27:00.003-04:00

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Free Wine - Free Music, & Lots Of Fun

2011-07-13T13:25:00.002-04:00

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We Just "Upped The Ante"

2011-06-29T08:08:00.001-04:00

Click The Title Link For The Full Issue

Grand Opening News

2011-06-20T15:02:00.002-04:00

THE WAIT IS OVER
click the title link for the full story

You Only Get One Mom

2011-04-25T15:33:00.003-04:00

Follow The Title Link For The Full Edition

It's Official We Are Moving

2011-04-12T13:37:00.003-04:00

Great Old Friends

2011-04-07T15:25:00.001-04:00

Follow The Title Link For The Full Issue

Affordable Burgundy? PLEASE JOIN US

2011-04-01T12:58:00.002-04:00

FOLLOW THE TITLE LINK FOR THE FULL ISSUE

Jolly Good Hollywood!

2011-03-22T15:44:00.001-04:00

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Port Of Call - Argentina - Please Join Us

2011-03-15T17:05:00.003-04:00

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Rock Em Sock Em Wine Tasting

2011-03-08T15:21:00.003-05:00

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Rock Star Meets Cable Star

2011-03-01T18:30:00.003-05:00

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Oscar Night Selections

2011-02-22T14:13:00.002-05:00

Click The Title To See The Full Issue

Meet Our Old Friends

2011-02-17T15:43:00.007-05:00

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The Valentine's Day Issue

2011-02-08T18:55:00.001-05:00

Be My Valentine
Click The Title Link To See The Full Edition.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

2011-02-04T13:39:00.002-05:00

Vacation Notice 2011 Happy New Year

2010-12-28T18:35:00.001-05:00

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Holiday News & Schedule

2010-12-19T13:28:00.003-05:00

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A Very Merry Christmas Tasting

2010-12-14T19:03:00.003-05:00

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Revel With A Cause!

2010-12-07T14:41:00.004-05:00

Size May Matter After All
Click The Title Link
To Read The Full Issue

Holiday Royalty

2010-12-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

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Thanksgiving Special Edition 2010

2010-11-22T13:11:00.002-05:00

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Look Ma - No Turkey!

2010-11-16T17:41:00.001-05:00

Click The Title Link To See The Entire Issue

You Asked For It

2010-11-10T10:41:00.003-05:00

Click On The Title Link To See The Full Issue.

The Fabulous Stork Club

2010-11-03T14:41:00.002-04:00

Click the link for the full issue

Special Halloween Edition

2010-10-25T12:02:00.005-04:00

Click The Title Above to See The Full Issue.

Booze And The Blues

We Are Putting The Band Back Together

2010-10-19T15:37:00.003-04:00

Follow The Link Above To Read The Full Issue.

The Marilyn Monroe Issue

2010-10-13T11:13:00.002-04:00

Follow The Title Link To See The Full Issue.

We Like This

2010-10-04T16:39:00.003-04:00

We have a Social Network Too.
See You Friday Night.
860-443-6817
Greetings From New London,
We have a great line up for the Friday tasting -
the list is just below these items of interest.

FIRST

WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME JAZZ BEGINS

We begin a series of Free Lunchtime Jazz
Performances this Wednesday at 12:30
Thames River Beanery & City News
70 State Street New London

Notable "Session Men" from Connecticut College
will take the stage Wednesday's from 12:30 - 2:00
for our lunchtime customers.

Order your lunch, grab a seat, and all of a sudden that long day in the office isn't as bad as you thought.

Great Food - Great Music - Great New London

The Beanery continues to turn out mouth
watering lunch specials everyday.
Boar's Head Meats - Home made soup and salad's,
this is exactly what you are looking for.

If you have not been downtown for lunch lately - what are you waiting for? All of our lunch items are made with 100% Boars Head meats, Stonewall Kitchens spreads and condiments, and we use the best gourmet cheeses from our own Brie & Bleu cheese cases - it does not get any better.

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Press Option # 2
for the coffee bar

NEXT -
Saturday October 9th - 6-8 p.m.
The Thames Club is hosting a Wine & Food reception that will celebrate and feature the wine of Italy, France, and Spain. Six wines in all and each wine will be served with a regional specialty.

This is not a formal dinner.
The reception style evening will allow you to mingle and explore The Club.
Located across from the Garde Art Center at
290 State Street.

$35 All Inclusive AND there are some great door prizes. BUT you must register in advance.
Call the Thames Club 860-443-5504 or
Follow this link to register online.

NEXT -
Quiet Opening -
Brie & Bleu will be serving this Friday & Saturday.

NEXT -

Friday October 9th
6-9 p.m. - No Charge

Bogle Phantom

The coveted Phantom, Bogle's apparition of three unique varietals - is back on our shelves!

Winemaker:
"It combines lush berry and spice into a wine of complex character.
Vivid essence of black pepper, dark fruit and juniper haunts the nose, while brighter flavors of blackberries and blueberries glance off the palate.

From the shadows, toasty cinnamon and nutmeg emerge, subtly embracing the deeply luscious and succulent fruit to create a full-bodied, ruby rich wine."

Captured in 1, 2 and 3 year old American oak barrels, this wine showcases one of the best distinct varietals have to offer. If this is your first time trying
The Phantom - do not be afraid. We are here to help.

Though the wine is remarkable now, age in the bottle will only integrate the three varietals more. Welcome the winery ghost into your home again with this latest vintage, and enjoy with full-flavored and hearty meals...before it vanishes again.

Squid Ink Shiraz - Limited Quantities $37

Winemaker:
"This This Shiraz selected from our Squid Ink vineyard has once again produced a very limited wine of magnificent intensity.

The grapes from these vines are almost black blue in colour and when handled leave a dark pigment. With this in mind...

We III Associates believe that Squid Ink will also leave its mark on you!

Complex flavours of blackberry, chocolate & spice combine with new American Oak, with fine grain tannins, that grip until the finish."

When we are lucky enough to secure this wine - it sells like hot cakes. We take as much as we are allowed and offer it to you on a first come, first served basis.

We will have a very limited amount to serve at the tasting - please arrive early to try it and to decide for yourself if it scratches that "itch."

Quattro Mani

Food & Wine Magazine Top 100 To Drink Now

Produced by the skilled hands of Movia's Ales Kristancic, toh-kai was made entirely from single vineyard, Tocai grapes grown in Movia's organically farmed Exto Gredic vineyard. Located directly on the Italian border with Slovenia.

The wine is made at the Movia winery in accordance with the biodynamic principles and with the same care and attention that distinguishes Movia wines.

Produced from "young vines" (which at Movia means 20+ years), Quattro Mani is styled to be fresh and fruit forward, without sacrificing quality. "The vine is still young and sometimes does not understand our objective but it is able to show its youth and its freshness. For that reason, it has a short time of maturation so all the character of the wine is based on its primary characteristics," says Kristancic.

The iconic Ales Kristancic was recently selected as one of top 12 winemakers in the world by a panel of experts made up of twenty of the most internationally renowned critics and his wines can be found on leading wine lists in the US and in Europe. His distinct vision stems from the wisdom of eight generations spent among the vines and in the cellar coupled with a natural intuition toward the relationship between nature, soil, vines, and wine.

Listen, this is one of the best values we have in the store. And something you should seriously think about stocking up on for the coming holidays. Please try it on Friday night.

We really appreciate all of the comments about the increasing inventories that we are bringing in as the season begins to change.

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

AAA.

Fine And Rare

2010-09-22T16:18:00.002-04:00

Link

Fall Preview Edition

2010-09-07T16:37:00.003-04:00

Greetings From New London,
Well to all of the brave souls that ventured out into the storm last week to share a little quality time with us - we salute you. And thank you - we appreciate it.
For those that made it - It was Shafer Merlot. It turns out that Shafer Merlot is an excellent choice for braving a storm.

The list of wine for this Friday & a preview of the coming season is just below a few items of interest.

NEXT

Many of you know that one of the highlights of the Parade Project here in downtown New London, is the fountain that is shaped like the tail of a whale.

Susan Tamulevich and The good folks at The Custom House have arranged to raffle off the ceremonial "turning on" of the fountain and this is your chance to be part of The Permanent Record. It is entirely possible that your picture winds up on the cover of The Day as you turn the great valve filling the pipes and starting the cascade of water that will greet natives and tourists alike as they visit downtown for the next one hundred years.

How can you pass this up???

Press Release:
Tickets are available at The Custom House & TRG.
It's $5 per ticket, 3-for-$10, to buy your chance to Turn on the Whale Tail Fountain!

The Whale is the crown jewel in New London's $10-million Parade renovation & YOU could be the one to turn on the fountain for the first time!

A winner will be chosen from all entries once fountain construction is complete. (September 17)

Contributions supports further programs on the Parade and your community-friendly Custom House Maritime Museum.

If you need more information - send them a note:
CLICK RIGHT HERE
Or give them a call - 860-447-2501

NEXT

The Beanery continues to turn out mouth watering lunch specials everyday - Take a look at this:

A Grilled Italian Roasted Ham, Gouda, Picante Provolone & Sopressata Sandwich.

Simple. Perfect. And made with love.

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Press Option # 2
for the coffee bar

Friday September 10th
6-9 p.m. - No Charge

Esperance Vin de pays des Landes 2009 $12

This little number from Gascony is 100% Colombard, which is fairly unusual, but true to wines of this region it is fresh and light, with floral notes and low alcohol, making it another perfect wine for an afternoon picnic at Harkness or Lobster rolls at Captain Scott's!

The wine received a Gold Medal at the Concours General Agricole in Paris.

As I was reminded by importer Fred Seggerman, "Not everyone gets a gold medal in Paris you know!!"

Sella and Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2006 $15

One of our regular customers just stared at me in silence when I told her the wine she had just bought and enjoyed was now gone. She did blink occasionally but I knew she was wounded.

I explained that most of our running-dog lackey sales people don't really care and would rather we bought omnipresent corporate wine just to make it easier on everybody - it ain't easy.

A wine we adore is dropped, forgotten, or maliciously heaved by somebody in the supply chain every day.

Then there are the happy surprises - the light, lyrical red Cannonau di Sardegna was one of our favorites for years. We sold the last bottle of the 2005 vintage in March and it was gone.
Ta da - it's back! Let's try the '06 Friday.

Chateau Greysac Bordeaux Medoc 2006 $20

Here's a new number being shepherded across the Atlantic by our guy Jim Kowalyshin. We're trying to stock up on Bordeaux as the evenings grow shorter and we actually begin wearing more than one layer of clothing on these lovely autumn days. To begin: Greysac from Medoc - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, with a touch of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Classic Bordeaux - "...fresh red berries mingled with notes of cedar and spice and a lovely palate of red fruit..."

It's harvest season - think of those massive blue-black Merlot grapes carefully hand-picked and crushed four years ago... let's crack that bottle!

•••

We really appreciate all of the comments about the increasing inventories that we are bringing in as the season begins to change.

Among the changes is a rebirth of our French section - this week alone we have added eleven new items - with another 20 or so coming in the next couple of weeks.
Here is just a partial list:

Brouilly, Chateau de la Chaize
Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits "Les Dames de Vergy" Domaine Guyon
Bourgogne Blanc, Francois Carillon
Chateau Greysac (Medoc)
Vouvray, Chateau de Montfort
Carignan "Vieilles Vignes" Domaine Paul Mas
Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine Paul Mas
GSM, Domaine Paul Mas
Clos de Savagnac "Gres de Montpelier" Domaine Paul Mas
Costieres de Nimes "les Grande Cabanes" Chateau Lamargue
Puligny-Montrachet, Francois Carillon
Savigny-Les Beaune, Domaine Guyon

Regions & Style Include:
Alsace
White Bordeaux
White Burgundy
Chablis
White Loire Valley
Grower Champagnes
Red Bordeaux
Red Burgundy

New inventory is arriving daily. You will see each section of our cellar redefined and expanded in the coming weeks.

And as far as fine spirits go - lets just say that we are preparing for the cooler months ahead. You can already see the difference in our Rum & Single Malt sections.

All made possible by your support - we appreciate it and have a lot of plans for the months ahead.

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

AAA.

Hurricane Earl Issue

2010-09-02T05:26:00.003-04:00

From The Storm Center
New London has been in the eye of the storm for years,
a little wind and some rain won't slow us down.

Greetings From New London,
If you were wondering why we waited so long to send out the email this week - it is a simple answer. We were trying to gauge the storm. Many of you have concerns about the weather - so we have had to play it by ear this week. We can promise you this: If our lights are on, there will be wine.

We might even pull the corks on something very special, maybe a Shafer Merlot, maybe a bottle of extremely hard to find rum - we will not let the storm get in the way. Instead we will celebrate the holiday weekend - Give us a call or check your Twitter accounts before you head out for the evening to be sure.

NEXT
TONIGHT - THURSDAY - 9.2.10
Duke Robillard & Debbie Davies, fresh off their dual wins for Best Traditional Blues Male and Female Artists of the Year at the 2010 Blues Music Awards, play an exciting show to close out the 2010 Summer Nights in the District concert series.

Duke and Debbie are two of the premier blues guitar players touring today. Debbie is a nine time Blues Music Awards Nominee and the Los Angeles Times says, "she wields an electric guitar as if it were a wand."

Duke Robillard is a 4 time winner for The Best Blues Guitarist and 18 time nominee at The Blues Music Awards, Grammy nominated in 2007 and 2010 and he has a new CD just out on August 24 on Stony Plain titled, 'Passport to The Blues' - a rocking and gritty blues workout. Duke is, "a soloist of stunning force and originality" according to The New York Times.

NEXT

Friday September 3rd
The Storm Center tasting
6-9 p.m. - No Charge

If The Lights Are On - There Will Be Wine.
Lets Celebrate The Holiday Weekend

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Wine Works Wonders!

2010-08-24T18:04:00.002-04:00

Greetings From New London,
The wine list for Friday is just below these items of interest. Joining us in the cellar will be Bob Neville from World Wide Wines. Mr. Neville will be pouring and answering all of your questions from 6-9 p.m.

NEXT

The Fifth annual New London ChessFest
was canceled last week due to rain. Look for it again this weekend. Click here for details.

NEXT

Thanks for all of the mail regarding our own Dave Anderson and the big wedding last weekend at the Eugene O'Neill Center. We have the photos, and the stories - but we thought it better to wait until his return to show them - so he can defend himself. It was an absolutely great day.

NEXT

Friday August 27th
6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Two Great Sicilian Wines In The Line Up

Planeta La Segreta Bianco $15

This crisp white is produced from Grecanico grapes (grown in Sicily for more than two thousand years).

Versatile, tart and lovely with seafood, salads and pan-sauteed garden squash and zuchinni.

"A perfect approach to Sicilian wine with its excellent relationship between price and quality, guaranteed by the Planeta family's patient input from the vine to the wine."

Planeta La Segreta Rosso $15

Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta's family have been rooted in Sicilian agriculture for generations.

Here is their gorgeous Nero d'Avila blend: "La Segreta takes its name from the wood that surrounds our vineyard at Ulmo.

This young fresh wine produced mainly from Nero d'Avola grapes, flagship of Sicilian wine, earns personality and style with the addition of international variety grapes.

All the grapes are carefully cultivated in Planeta owned vineyards."

Steele Writer's Block Cabernet Franc $18

This Cabernet Franc blend comes from Jed Steele's vineyards in Kelseyville California (made with doses of Merlot Syrah and Zin).

The small amount of Zinfandel is sourced from the fairly young (under 25 years old) Duncan Vineyard located near Mount Konocti, the dormant volcano that dominates the landscape.

Spicy and interesting with a ripe, loamy, uniquely West Coast character.

•••

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

En Passant

Meet The Anderson's

AAA.

The Wedding Edition

2010-08-18T12:09:00.002-04:00

Wedding Bells Are Ringing!
Greetings From New London,
The wine list for Friday is just below these items of interest.

It is a special week here in New London. Our own Dave Anderson ties the knot with the lovely Jill Mauritz - two of the nicest kids you ever what to meet - we will have all of the
Star Studded - Red Carpet coverage that you can imagine including the behind the scenes video next week.

While Dave is away we have a couple of special guests that will join us in the cellar - This week please join us and welcome Mr. Stefan Wich from the mighty House of Hartley & Parker. Stefan is pouring to sold out crowds wherever he appears - and this week he will be pulling the corks for us. All of the fun starts at 6:00 p.m.

NEXT

Friday August 20th
6-9 p.m. - No Charge

Monsieur Gerarde Bertrand

Gerard Bertrand Rose of Syrah $12

Gerard Bertrand is a very interesting character, an ex-rugby star who's developed a large operation of vineyards in Southern France. He's created a series of quality wines at all price points, still unmistakably French and Terroir-driven. First up, a fruity and lush Syrah rose from France's southern Languedoc region. A traditional summer style - dry and crisp with good body and weight. Perfect with salads, prosciutto and melon.

Gerard Bertrand Tautavel Red $18

A flagship red from Monsieur Bertrand - this lovely Rhone-style blend come from further south in Roussillon. Syrah, Grenache and Carignan hand harvested and barrel aged for six months. Elegant with notions of rosemary, clove and black currant. A perfect compliment to grilled lamb skewers or a quality hamburger!

Sauvignon Blanc $10

These carefully crafted values come from Argentina's high-altitude Mendoza region. This Sauvignon falls evenly between "California" and "New Zealand" styles - light tropical fruit and citrus, white flowers and a nice grassiness. Crisp and clean with good acidity - a perfect lemony compliment to clam strips or a bucket of steamed mussels!

Arido Malbec $10

Another outstanding bargain from Arido - delicate violet and currant aromas give way to robust cherry Malbec pepper and spice. The Arido vineyards are 3500 feet above sea level with hot sunny days and cool nights, perfect for long, even seasons of ripening for the grapes. This malbec weighs in at a relatively modest 13.5% alcohol - not overdone. We love it!

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

The Wine You Should Be Drinking Now

2010-08-03T17:25:00.002-04:00

Greetings From New London,

First we want to thank all of the people that came out to greet Frankie Williams and to welcome her home to New London. We sipped wine, listened to stories, and demonstrated what an amazing group our customers and friends are. It was a special night.

NEXT

A scheduling note for Thames River Greenery.
The Greenery Will Be Closed This Saturday
August 7th.
It is time to grab a long weekend - don't you agree.

NEXT

In 1860, Gaspare Campari, master drink maker at the Bass Bar in Turin, Italy, developed the formula for a new liqueur featuring more than 60 ingredients including fruit peels, spices, herbs, and barks. Campari, the cherry-red apéritif he created, celebrates its 150th birthday this year.

An early cocktail featuring the spirit was the Americano, made with Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred and served over crushed ice with twists of both lemon and orange peels. Perhaps the most iconic Campari concoction is the Negroni, which was invented in 1919 at Italy's Casoni bar when Count Camillo Negroni ordered his Americano with one part gin as well as equal parts Campari and vermouth.

If you would like to raise the bar a little at your next get together - try adding Campari - and offer truly classic cocktails. We have it in stock.
Watch Campari Here

NEXT
W have a couple of special guests coming in August To pour featured wines in the cellar - we will announce them here - starting next week.

NEXT

Friday August 6th
6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Baguala Torrontes $8

Here's a new find from Argentina for our fans of super-affordable Torrontes.

This has more body, acidity and depth than the one you've grown to know and love, still with the unmistakable wildflower nose only found in Argentina's signature white grape.

We love Astica too, but hope to provide another quaffable, summery white in addition. Variety is the spice of life!

Domaine de Fenouillet Cotes de Ventoux $14

This old French friend has just reappeared in the gorgeous 2008 vintage. This is one of the best Ventoux we've ever carried and still quite affordable (you may remember it with its forgettable olive drab label).

If we had to pick one word, it would be Balance. Composed of Grenache, Syrah, old-vine Mourvedre and Cinsault. A lovely, harmonious Rhone with a bit of prickly tannin which is a perfect complement to robust salads or picnics with grilled chicken and summer squash.

Costozza Cabernet $16

Another of our staff favorites, a wine that blinks into fashion then slinks back into obscurity on the shelf (we're still getting the 2004 vintage, Italian wine fans).

An odd duck - Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the northern Veneto region (best known for Pinot Grigio and Prosecco).

Earthy, unmistakably Italian, but with five years in bottle, mellow and sublime. This wine activates your taste buds for things like grilled red meats - say, a nice wood-charred hangar steak sliced and served with arugula, shaved Parmesan and toasted pine nuts.

Amazing
Desserts

Polka Dot Cheesecake

Party Perfect Desserts
Delivery Is Available.

You Take The Cake

8 6 0 - 7 0 1 - 0 0 7 4

Everything Baked From Scratch

Local Calendar
and Links

New London always has a reason to
visit downtown.
Please take a look.

J A Y & S A R A
Live At Jazz Underground

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Jazz Underground

New London

Jazz Underground at 33 Golden street in New London
has reintroduced the best in live jazz to New London.

The Custom House Maritime Museum/New London Maritime SocietyCalendar Of Events

Summer Flickers Schedule

Movies at

The Hygeniec Art Park.
Every Wednesday Night.
It does not get any better. And we have great "grab & go" wine, beer, & snack items to satisfy any movie lovers needs.

Garde Arts Center Schedule

The Garde Theater
has an amazing variety of performances to choose from. Start your evening downtown with a little wine and a bite to eat - and then take a stroll to see the show.

Summer Nights In The District Concert Series.

There is a full schedule of live music to be enfffjoyed all Summer long. Follow the link above to read the recent story and full calendar.

Fine Cigars
Start With
Fine Tobacco

We Have Them

Save The Date
CIGAR DINNER
Friday August 27 6:30pm.
To Benefit The Montville Youth Football Team.
Steak,Whiskey,Cigars, Door Prizes.

For Complete Information

Call or email
Chris Jaskiewicz
8 6 0 - 9 0 8 - 8 2 4 4

···

Tatuaje Brown Label In Stock.

C I T Y N E W S
PRESENTS

The newly discovered collection of 1969 interviews, conducted in Paris, reveals a very complex man - possibly the most telling to date.
Available now.

Special Events
Special Guests
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
70 State Street
New London

Special Event - Toad Hollow

2010-07-26T16:25:00.002-04:00

It Is Always Cool In New London
Greetings From New London,

This week we are very happy to welcome home New London native Francine "Frankie" Williams.

Frankie is the owner of Toad Hollow Vineyards and you may have seen the story in The Day paper about her.
If you missed Rick Koster's story CLICK HERE TO READ IT NOW

Meet Toad Hollow Owner Frankie Williams this Friday in our cellar from 6-9 p.m. Frankie will be with us pouring wine, telling stories, shaking hands, and kissing babies!

This is a woman that personifies the pioneering principles of the California wine industry.

"Toad Hollow Vineyards began operation in 1994, with 3000 cases of 1993 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

Our Chardonnay is 100% Stainless Steel fermented, using no oak at all. Since then we have added additional wines, a Russian River Merlot (Richard McDowell Vineyard), a Russian River Pinot Noir (Goldies Vines) a Zinfandel from Paso Robles and a Rose of Pinot Noir from Carneros.

In 1995 we started to import wines made by our French friends at Sieur D'Arques and now have two sparklings and three still wines in our portfolio.
Our mission is to produce quality wines that are interesting at a reasonable price.

Our labels are whimsical, supporting another element of our philosophy - we believe drinking wine should be FUN!" - Frankie Wiliiams

Please mark your calendars for a great night.

NEXT

Friday July 30th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Chardonnay "Francines Selection" $15

Nine months in all STAINLESS STEEL TANKS.
NO WOOD!

100% malolactic treatment and was left on the "lees" for (8)eight months. This was done to maintain the acidity and to give the wine the middle mouth complexity desired.

The vineyards used are 90% Mendocino County and 10% Sonoma County.
The residual sugar is less than 0.2% (DRY).

Alcohol is 13.76%....but due to the balance of Fruit VS. Acid, you don't taste the "heat"
42,000 cases produced in the same fashion as the '93 vintage (our first) of which we produced 3000 cases.

And we feel that the wine is every bit as good as our best vintage to date ('94).

Dry Rose of Pinot Noir "Eye of the Toad" $12

At a time when most American Rosé wines have either an overabundance of residual sugar or are "flabby" and lacking in acidity, we here at Toad Hollow continue to produce true French-Style, bone dry, and elegant Rosé wine produced from the noble Pinot Noir grape.

This is our ELEVENTH vintage of Pinot Noir Rosé and, by far, our best to date. The wine has incredible body and weight for a Rosé of Pinot Noir. The color is a beautiful pink with a hint of "Beaujolais blue".

This wine has a nose of rose petals and violets. Whether in sun or shade, this is a truly dry, uncomplicated statement of Pinot Noir at its lightest and most delicate which we proudly call our ROSÉ

Spice and pepper bring out the wonderful wild strawberry flavors. A wine that is great with sushi and wasabi or spicy Thai food. We know that you'll love it.

"Erik's The Red" Blend $14

Named for the famous Norseman-sailor-conqueror and, obviously, a man with a great palate-Erik the Red. This is a wonderful blend of EIGHTEEN - yes, count em'-different varietals of grapes from the beautiful Paso Robles area of the Central Coast of California.

Toad Hollow - like Erik - is not afraid to hop into the fray and make a wine that is not only big and chewy, but still has a modicum of understated elegance. WOW! What a wine.

This is our third bottling of a red wine under the Erik's the Red label and, as you will see, with each bottling the wine becomes more interesting and complex.

Similar to the temperament of the commanding Scandinavian explorer, this wine is not for the "faint of heart" as it is big, robust and powerful. But when you come across a mighty meal that is up to the challenge, such as prime rib or a rack of lamb, Erik's the Red is sure to slay any other wine in its path!

Merlot Russian River Valley Reserve $16

In 1995 we pulled out 16 acres of Golden Delicious apples and planted the soil to Merlot. Although the Russian River Valley that we call home is known for its ability to grow stellar Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, we decided that we would plant the grape that gave the mighty Petrús its center-this grape is Merlot!

We knew that Merlot, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, was supposed to be a supple, sexy and elegant red wine and not a big, tannic bomb. Thanks to Richard McDowell, our vineyard manager, and for whom the vineyard is named, we have nurtured this vineyard and the grapes that it produces into the consummate benchmark of the Merlot style.

This Merlot Reserve was planted, grown and bottled by Toad Hollow Vineyards. This is the fifth vintage of our first reserve wine. As we have explained in the past, Merlot does best in sandy, claylike soils as proven in the Province of Pomerol in France where the mighty Petrús is produced-the pinnacle of all Merlots! We had the soil, we had the cuttings, and we had the perfect medium temperature range preferred by the Merlot grape to do its best!

This is a gentle but sinuous noble red wine that welcomes most company with a warm generosity of taste as well as the versatility of filling many sensory needs on many levels.

This is a wine that will cellar and age beautifully for ten to fifteen years, but also sports the spontaneity of a young thoroughbred raring to run now or to carry easily into the next decade.

We hope that you enjoy drinking this beautiful wine as much as we did making it!

- Frankie Williams

Dazzling
Desserts

Smith Island Cake

Party Perfect Desserts
Delivery Is Available.

You Take The Cake

8 6 0 - 7 0 1 - 0 0 7 4

Everything Baked From Scratch

Local Calendar
and Links

New London always has a reason to
visit downtown.
Please take a look.

Nine times All-Ireland Fiddle Champion
EILEEN IVERS Packed New London's New Parade Plaza last Thursday night.
There is always a great reason to visit downtown.

Free Concert On
The Parade

The Custom House Maritime Museum/New London Maritime SocietyCalendar Of Events

Summer Flickers Schedule

Movies at

The Hygeniec Art Park.
Every Wednesday Night.
It does not get any better. And we have great "grab & go" wine, beer, & snack items to satisfy any movie lovers needs.

Garde Arts Center Schedule

The Garde Theater
has an amazing variety of performances to choose from. Start your evening downtown with a little wine and a bite to eat - and then take a stroll to see the show.

Summer Nights In The District Concert Series.

Fine Cigars
Start With
Fine Tobacco

Not The
Ad Campagin

We offer a carefully selected variety of Seriously Fine cigars.
Made by experts that have spent a lifetime learning their craft.

Please stop in to have a look.

Visit Our
1900's Cigar Lounge.

Open Until 8 p.m.
Every Wednesday

70 State Street
New London

Follow City News On FaceBook for the latest news, specials, and events.

There is a full schedule of live music to be enjoyed all Summer long. Foll
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

Special News & Schedule

2010-07-19T18:26:00.003-04:00

Thames River Greenery Schedule

Because of a busy event schedule and prior commitments our flower shop will be closed this week and will re-open on Monday July 26th.

Our Coffee Bar and City News
Will Be Open As Usual.

If you wish to place an order for the following week
CLICK HERE.

Greetings From New London,

We have an especially busy week ahead of us here at TRG. Large high profile events that were put into place months ago - require all of our resources and manpower.

We feel that the best way to honor those commitments is to close the flower portion of Thames River Greenery to devote all of our capabilities to the task.

The Beanery and City News will be open as usual and serving our morning and afternoon fare.

NEXT

Paul Brockett Roadshow playing at Jonathan Edwards Winery Thursday July 22nd 7-10PM $12 www.jedwardswinery.com
Rock & Roll! Come out and holler while wine salesman Dave plays loud electric bass! www.paulbrockettroadshow.com

When Dave Anderson is not pouring wine - or driving vintage Ferrari's - he plays a mean bass guitar too.

Best Summer Drink Ever!
It's Scientific

Extensive research has revealed: one part Beefeater Gin, 2 parts "Q-Tonic" organic tonic water shaken with a generous helping of crushed ice + 3 paper-thin slices of cucumber = Perfection!

We have all the liquid ingredients you need.
All you have to do is add the cucumber.

NEXT

Toad Hollow July 30th - 6-9 p.m.
Toad Hollow Special Event Friday July 30th.
Meet Toad Hollow Owner Frankie Williams.

Frankie will be with us pouring wine, telling stories, shaking hands, and kissing babies!

Meet a woman that
personifies the pioneering principles of the California wine industry.

Toad Hollow wines are very seriously crafted from premium vineyards along the California Coast.

Toad Hollow won 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!
Please mark your calendars for a great night.

It Is Always COOL In Our Cellar
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday July 23rd - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Frank Family Chardonnay $34

We're going back - way back -
to say, 1982?

A big, lush Chardonnay from the Napa Valley.

"Is it oaky?"
YES it's really oaky!

We are proud to host Frank Family's first appearance in Connecticut - all of their wines are classic examples of California's finest.

Velvety and substantial, all vanilla and coconut. What was old is new again - enjoy with a big Caesar salad and a pile of Nicoise olives!

Everything about this wine is lush - from the painted label design to the old school satiny finish in your mouth. Please try this on Friday night - you will be surprised.

Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier $12

Please give us a do-over.
We poured this a few weeks ago but ran out quickly so you may have missed it.

Don't miss it!
Yalumba is the oldest winery in Australia and they happen to specialize in the Viognier grape from France's Rhone Valley. Odd.

Then they blend it with Oz's signature red Shiraz (Syrah). The result?
A gorgeous, light aromatic red, perfect for the hot weather.

Recommended with charcoal-grilled burgers and sweet corn.

We also recommend drinking this red wine "cool" - not chilled - but simply cooled a bit - you will love it.

Frassina Rosso Toscana $15

Paradiso di Frassina is situated 5 km from Montalcino, in a secluded position but within easy reach of the town.

It is owned and run by Giancarlo Cignozzi
Giancarlo is dedicated to the pursuit of perfection in perfect symbiosis with nature.

He was awarded organic certification in 2008 after 9 years of developing his organic vineyard based on playing music to the vines.

Sangiovese, Cabernet and Syrah with a touch of Ancellotta. Honestly, the 10% of Ancellotta totally makes the difference. A grown-up, lovely "SuperTuscan" (named because these rascals are growing Cabernet Sauvignon in Tuscany). Rich, heavy, in keeping with this week's old-school theme.

Now we're talking steaks. Fresh tomatoes are starting to appear - halve those beauties, grill them with the steaks and bury them in olive oil, black pepper and sea salt.
And - if your in the mood - grab that old "Cordeen" out of the attic and see if you can remember how to play Ave Maria - the wine will help - honestly.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Be 17% Smarter Right Now

2010-07-14T10:14:00.003-04:00

G O T F L O W E R S ?

According to Dr. Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, if you're learning a new skill, you'll pick it up 17% faster when exposed to the smell of flowers - any flowers, so long as you like the scent. We recommend hydrangeas. Because they are so pretty.

Greetings From New London,

The lyric's of a great WW I song say it best:
"...How you gonna keep them down on the farm once they've seen Paree....?"

Many of you know our kitchen staff at Brie & Bleu has taken advantage of offers presented by a large well known Rhode Island establishment.

While we get our new people in place, and everything running the way we like - Thanks for your patience.

NEXT

New London had a fair share of personalities passing through last week - And Dave Anderson - as usual - was there.

Senate Candidate Linda McMahon & Dave Anderson

NEXT

Thanks very much to the crew and family of the
USS TOLEDO for choosing to share some off duty time with us - Go Navy!

It Is Always COOL In Our Cellar
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday July 16th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Domaine du Tariquet Ugni Blanc-Colombard $10

Another gem from Tariquet - from France's northern Gascony coast,
this is a perfect hot weather wine - crisp, refreshing with a touch of tropical fruit.

A little softer than their very popular Sauvignon Blanc.

Enjoy with shelfish and salads or sitting in a garden with a fountain bubbling a few feet away. This is a wine that wipes away the heat, humidity, and the long hours of work that make sipping a wine like this so enjoyable. Unbeatable for the price.

Dominio de Haredia Rioja $14

Medium-bodied, old school Rioja, 100% Tempranillo with a classic mellow cherry fruit plus tobacco smoke and leather.

Drinking beautifully now, stands up exceptionally well with grilled meats while not overpowering the palate.

This is a wine drinkers wine - solid, authentic, and faithful to the tradition behind it. This is a wine that drinks like something twice its cost - please try it this Friday.

La Capra Cabernet $12

From Charles Back of Fairview (of "Goats do Roam" fame), this table red displays the smoky character unique to South Africa, but somehow remains fruity easy
and crisp.

Another lovely summer wine that would work perfectly with a bit of char from a wood-grilling picnic.

Fruit sourced from the Stellenbosch region, the wine displays a hefty cassis and currant nose with blackberry and plum notes swirling in cedar smoke.

Charles Back is a wine pioneer in South Africa and an all around maverick in the business world of wine.

He is not afraid to poke his finger into the eye of the powers that be - and that includes making fun of some of the biggest names in wine for their pretense and ostentation.

His motto is a good one: "Let's have a little fun before we die."
Friday night is a good time to start - we hope to see you at this weeks tasting.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Stay Cool - SailFest Edition

2010-07-06T18:34:00.003-04:00

S U M M E R T I M E
click here
Greetings From New London,
Sure its hot - the Summer is here. But there is no better place to share good Summer fun than right here in New London.

CORRECTION:
Last week we mentioned that the Toad Hollow Special Event was on the 23rd. - Ooops - We meant to say that is was on the 30th.

NEXT

B R I E & B L E U

SailFest Weekend

Many of you know that we traditionally close
Brie & Bleu at 5 p.m. on Fireworks night.

We will reopen this year at seven - first come, first served - a limited menu will be available.
And seating for the fireworks is the best.
The only place closer to the action is on the barge with the guys holding the matches.

Reservations & Information:
Brie & Bleu - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Thames River Greenery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Hours:
Thursday - Friday - & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Special Events & Parties: Tuesday & Wednesday

Limited Seating
Please Reserve Early
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3
Email Reservation Here
Please Use "Cigar Event" In Subject Line

It Is Always COOL In Our Cellar
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday July 9th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux du Languedoc $12

Better known here simply as "Picpoul" or "that green bottle," we are happy to welcome back an old summer favorite.

Picpoul is one of the oldest known varietals grown in the Languedoc, tailored over centuries to the abundant seafood of France's Mediterranean coast.

Fresh, citrusy and floral, with a light mineral balance. Perfect with grill-opened oysters and clams, fish skewers or lobster bisque.

Pierre Amadieu Cotes du Rhone $14

Here's a newly discovered pearl for you Cotes-du-Rhone fans - from Pierre Amadieu who specializes in the wines of the lower Rhone valley near Gigondas.

Hand-harvested Grenache and Syrah from stony clay and limestone soils, Pierre describes his winemaking style as "Burgundian" in that he creates unmanipulated wines expressing the land with balance and finesse.

Pleasant fruity aromas of blackberries and plums, opening up to a slightly liquorice finish.

Valle Dell'Acate Cerasuolo di Vittoria $18

This gem from Sicily took a big price break, maybe because nobody knows what it is.

The perfect candidate for a tasting! (We didn't know either, but didn't care after a sip). A spicy, robust Mediterranean profile, with lots of tannin and structure.

70% Nero d'Avola and $30 Frappato from a small farming cooperative.

They say this wine can age 30 years, but we don't see the point when you could open it with grilled lamb chops tomorrow!

Local Calendar

New London always has a reason to
visit downtown.
Please take a look.

Summer Workshops by Guido Garaycochea

Oil Painting Workshop
Several approaches to painting in layers by glazing oil colors will be demonstrated with a variety of interesting subject matters.

Tuesday July 20
Tuesday August 17
Expressiones Cultural Center

Summer Flickers Schedule
Movies at
The Hygeniec Art Park.
Every Wednesday Night.
It does not get any better. And we have great "grab & go" wine, beer, & snack items to satisfy any movie lovers needs.

Garde Arts Center Schedule

The Garde Theater
has an amazing variety of performances to choose from. Start your evening downtown with a little wine and a bite to eat - and then take a stroll to see the show.

Summer Nights In The District Concert Series.

There is a full schedule of live music to be enjoyed all Summer long. Follow the link above to read the recent story and full calendar. (thank you to Rich Martin & friends for making this happen)

Dazzling
Desserts

Fresh Custard
Tarts
Party Perfect Desserts
Delivery Is Available.

You Take The Cake

8 6 0 - 7 0 1 - 0 0 7 4

Everything Baked From Scratch

Fine Cigars
Start With

Fine Tobacco

Not The
Ad Campagin

We offer a carefully selected variety of Seriously Fine cigars.
Made by experts that have spent a lifetime learning their craft.

Please stop in to have a look.

Visit Our
1900's Cigar Lounge.

Open Until 8 p.m.

Every Wednesday

70 State Street
New London

Follow City News On FaceBook for the latest news, specials, and events.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Fourth Of July Edition 2010

2010-06-28T17:53:00.001-04:00

Fourth Of July Weekend
The Summer Is Here
Special Events, Private Tastings, Special Guests.
Please Join Us.
Greetings From New London,
The Summer is here. There is no better place to share good Summer fun than right here in New London.

Lots of you have been asking for "Grab & Go" summer items - All you have to do is ask:

New London Beach Passes 2010

"You get a pass!" We are issuing 2010 "beach passes" to our sun-drenched customers. Super-fine summertime drinkies in special package deals - $30 out the door! We know you're hot and sweaty! Let's put the chill on:

Beach Pass #1 "The BQE"
(The Beefeater Q-Tonic Expressway) $30

Classic, perfect Beefeater gin and a 4-pack of our favorite organic real-quinine-havin' tonic.
Cold - In a sand bucket with a starfish.

Beach Pass #2 "The WRR"
White, Rose and Red $30

"Grooner" Veltliner - fresh and citrusy + La Vielle Ferme dry Rhone rose + Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier = surf party. Seriously fine wine (all screwcaps, for the beach). Includes a pile of plastic cups, convenient for tanning.

They are designed to get you in and out with everything you need to bring to a pool side party or to the beach for a lazy afternoon. All Priced At $30 complete - out-the-door - not a penny more.

NEXT

B R I E & B L E U

Fourth Of July Weekend

Celebrate the Forth of July Weekend with us - the Sangria will be flowing ( Our Secret Recipe) The deck will be open, and our award winning bistro menu has never been better. (Yankee Magazine Editor's Choice Award 2010)

** ALSO - Now Accepting Reservations For
The Toad Hollow Vineyards Special Event
on Friday July 23rd - 6 p.m. **

Reservations & Information:
Brie & Bleu - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Thames River Greenery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Hours:
Thursday - Friday - & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Special Events & Parties: Tuesday & Wednesday

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday July 2nd - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Tiasta Torrontes $12

Gorgeous Torrontes from Argentina harvested from 30-year old vines in Mendoza.

Bright tropical flowery fruit and crisp citrus work perfectly with light salads and shellfish.

Pietra Majella Montepulciano d"Abruzzo
$8 750ml / $14 Magnum!

We always keep this spicy Italian red on hand, and are happy to now carry it in jumbo size. Medium-weight Montepulciano and Sangiovese with a taut balance of earthiness and acidity. We recommend sipping it with the mushroom and gorgonzola bruschetta at Brie & Bleu.

Cuvee des Colosses $20

We thought this wine would be great at Brie & Bleu with it's lovely French Rhone focus. But we can't pronounce it, can't really describe it, maybe this was just a dumb idea - Mais non! It's simply delicious - Syrah, Carignan et Grenache. As the label says, it's a "Sunny and Fruity Wine!"
Please try it on Friday night.

Local Calendar

New London always has a reason to
visit downtown.
Please take a look.

Summer Flickers Schedule
Movies at
The Hygeniec Art Park.
Every Wednesday Night.
It does not get any better. And we have great "grab & go" wine, beer, & snack items to satisfy any movie lovers needs.

Garde Arts Center Schedule

The Garde Theater
has an amazing variety of performances to choose from. Start your evening downtown with a little wine and a bite to eat - and then take a stroll to see the show.

Summer Nights In The District Concert Series.

There is a full schedule of live music to be enjoyed all Summer long. Follow the link above to read the recent story and full calendar. (thank you to Rich Martin & friends for making this happen)
Dazzling
Desserts

Lady Finger
Fruit TrifleParty Perfect Desserts
Delivery Is Available.

You Take The Cake

8 6 0 - 7 0 1 - 0 0 7 4

Everything Baked From Scratch

Featured This Week
VALDEON
Spanish Blue

YOU WILL BE REGARDED AS A
GRILL-MASTER LEGEND.

Adding Spanish Blue Cheese to your burgers this Summer will change everything.

A blue cheese from the mountain range, Picos de Europa in Northern Spain, matured in limestone caves for 2 to 5 months.

With a distinctively strong, tangy flavor and powerful smell, it is soft and creamy and has bluish-green streaks running through it.

The rind is sticky and soft and is gray or brown. Traditionally wrapped in leaves, such as chestnut or fig leaves.

We have Valdeon in stock and ready for your grilling pleasure.

You Must Try These Amazing Cheeses.

PLEASE VISIT OUR EXPANDING GOURMET DEPARTMENT AT
Thames River Greenery
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Our Experts
Work The Fields

Not The
Red Carpet

Who do you think knows more about tobacco - someone that rides up on a chopper wearing a pork pie hat, ready to face the cameras - or a man that has been working the fields for 30 years?

When we started offering cigars we thought that we would use the same guidelines that we use at our wine store.

We offer a carefully selected variety of Seriously Fine cigars. Made by experts that have spent a lifetime learning their craft.

They are not always the trend setting brands that make all of the headlines - but they are the best examples of their type - anywhere.

Please stop in to have a look.

Please stop in and enjoy
our one-of-a-kind
cigar lounge.

Lounge Open Until 8 p.m.
Every Wednesday

70 State Street
New London

Follow City News On FaceBook for the latest news, specials, and events.

Summer Fun In New London

2010-06-24T11:54:00.003-04:00

The Summer Is Here
Special Events, Private Tastings, Special Guests.
Please Join Us.

Greetings From New London,
The Summer is here. There is no better place to share good Summer fun than right here in New London.

We are running a little late this week. Many of our readers like to get the information as early in the week as possible to help them plan.

We have the first set of wine dinners coming soon and we will publish the details in the next transmission.

So without further adieu here are the specials for Brie & Bleu and the wine list for Friday night.

B R I E & B L E U

SPECIAL THIS WEEK:

1 - Black & Blue Chicken
Blackend Chicken with blue cheese & garlic mashed potatoes.

2 - Surf & Turf
Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin & Fresh Tiger Shrimp.

Reservations & Information:
Brie & Bleu - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Thames River Greenery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Hours:
Thursday - Friday - & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Special Events & Parties: Tuesday & Wednesday

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday June 25th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

Otto's Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc $14

This gem from New Zealand has a lovely citrus start then a briny finish with a touch of herbal tones and tropical fruit. Well, we are talking about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc after all! We would put this up against Cloudy Bay in a brown paper bag and choose it at half the price. Perfect with Brie & Bleu fish tacos.

Otto's Constant Dream Pinot Noir $16

The winemaker was unable to import anything labeled "OCD" because it apparently has to do with some sort of medical condition (that part is actually true...) Here at the wine shop we are obsessive and compulsive about Pinot Noir and every time we issue a superlative we are rebutted... So, again under 20 bucks we offer an ethereal fresh wild raspberry Pinot with a tangy, loamy character. Bright and perfect for the warm weather and sublime with a seared salmon salad.

Baguala Malbec $8

Another totally obscure bargain - change up your super-affordable Malbec! Variety is the spice of life!

This wine has all the rich cherry fruit smoke and detail still without breaking a ten-spot.

We pair it with the beef tips and mushrooms. Tasted on your behalf, but you'd better try it yourself Friday!

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

The Tony Awards Tasting

2010-06-16T17:01:00.003-04:00

64th Annual Tony Awards

Greetings From New London,
Congratulations to all of our friends at The ONeill Theater Center for the Tony Award recognition - very exciting.

There were so many local connections to last weeks Tony Awards that our Friday tasting is going to feel like one of those swanky after-parties.

If your looking for "degrees of separation" to The Tony Awards - stop right here. Our own Dave Anderson was smack dab in the middle of everything. So close to the action that Angela Lansbury was bumming cigarettes off him in the powder room - Why Dave was in the powder room is another story entirely. Perhaps he will share some of those details with us on Friday night.

Our favorite pictures of Dave and the lovely Jill Mauritz,
General Manager of The O'Neill Center, at the awards.

Jill - Dave - & Tony

NEXT -

B R I E & B L E U

This week at Brie & Bleu, in addition to the regular menu specials will include:

Australian, grass fed, beef tenderloin & sauteed Tiger Shrimp.

Sauteed chicken with asparagus tips, green spring peas and bow-tie pasta - served with an aged 3 year old Gouda cream sauce.This would be phenomenal with the Inama Suave that we have on the shelves right now.

We look forward to seeing you at Brie & Bleu. If you have questions please give us a call:

Brie & Bleu - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Thames River Greenery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Hours:
Thursday - Friday - & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Special Events & Parties: Tuesday & Wednesday

Friday June 18th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

Yalumba Chardonnay $12
Our favorite new "un-oaked" Chard at a great price - Yalumba is the oldest family-owned winery in Australia, started by Samuel Smith in the 1870s (you beer fanatics). Crisp, clean, with notes of lime and pineapple.

Sentinelle de Massiac Minervois $12
We fell in love with this new vintage from Southern France - a spicy and lean Minervois, balanced and smoky. The perfect match with beef tips with mushrooms from Brie and Bleu.

Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier $12
Aussie Shiraz blended artfully with a touch of Viognier. Yalumba has the oldest Viognier plantings in the world! (We also carry their lovely white Viognier). An elegant big red with a very long finish, notes of fresh plum and roasted.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Because We can - Please Join Us

2010-06-10T15:42:00.002-04:00

Current Issue On Sale Now
We Have Great Magazines
Stop In A Take Look

Greetings From New London,

The show of support last weekend for the opening of Brie & Bleu was fantastic - thank you all very much for coming out. And I can assure you that the staff was very appreciative for the kind words that many of you shared with them and in some cases your patience while they worked out the opening week snags.

Your response to our wine by the glass choices was over the top - This week we are adding Juan Gil to the list. This is the same show stopping wine from Jumillia Spain that we sell in the wine store. This is arguably the best vintage ever -
and we are proud to offer it to you by the glass.

Juan Gil?
By The Glass?
Its unheard of.
But that my friends is exactly why we are doing it.

Someone has to stand-up and say enough.
No more crazy restaurant prices for wine. Enjoy Juan Gill for just $7 a glass.

We are serving the great wines of the world by the glass, and with pricing that allows you to enjoy that 2nd glass of wine. Why are we doing this? Because we can.

So thanks again for your patience and your amazing support - we look forward to seeing you at Brie & Bleu. If you have questions please give us a call:
Brie & Bleu - 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4
Thames River Greenery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Hours:
Thursday - Friday - & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Special Events & Parties: Tuesday & Wednesday

Friday June 11th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

Chateau Soucherie Anjou Blanc $18
Chatea Soucherie of France's Loire Valley has been passed down each generation since 1790 alway made in an unspoiled, classic style. This week we'll entertain with both the white and reds of the new vintage.

This gorgeous Chenin Blanc is one of the clearest, laser-line minerally French whites we have seen of the new vintage. A pearl from the ancient limestone seabeds of the Loire. The perfect match for cod, scallops or lobster.

Chateau Soucherie Anjou Rouge $18

Here is the Soucherie rouge - Cabernet Franc, but not the earthy style we often see - crisp, elegant, aromas of fresh cut berries and lingering flavors of roasted beets and spice.

The Tijou family has a long history making wine in this part of France. In fact, the family has been passing its traditions on to new generations since 1780.

Pierre-Yves Tijou took over Chateau Soucherie from his father in 1968. He runs the estate with his wife, Brigitte, and their two sons. In its past almost all of the wine produced was sold off to a negociant.

At the beginning of Pierre-Yves Tijou's tenure as winemaker he began to bottle a portion of the production. Today he estate-bottles the entire harvest.

Guenoc Victorian Claret 2007 $14

The label of this wine from the Guenoc Valley (say 30 miles north of Napa, past Calistoga)

features the image of actress Lilly Langtree, who actually planted the vines of the estate over a century ago herself.

"Claret" is the old English term for a Bordeaux blend, so we are looking at primarily Merlot plus Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc.

Dark garnet in color, with flavors cherry, raspberry and chocolate.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Brie & Bleu Is Open - Please Join Us

2010-06-03T10:32:00.003-04:00

Brie & Bleu

New London's Bistro
84 Bank Street
8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4

Greetings from New London,
We are running little late this week - so I will keep it down to a few essentials. We have been very busy getting Brie & Bleu ready to open - that is tonight, Thursday, by the way. We open at 5:00 p.m., and we are excited to offer a great new menu that has old favorites and new additions. Please give us a call for more information or to make reservations.
8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 - Brie & Bleu
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Thames River Greenery

We hope to see you soon.

The wine list for The Friday Night Tasting - Starts Now:

Friday June 4th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc $9

This gorgeous little white keeps being a source of pleasant surprise around here, from the cool Luberon mountains of the Rhone. Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and Roussanne, lovely chilled with seafood, salads and pesto. Made by the Perrin family - the people that make Beaucastel.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir $12

This sustainably grown Pinot is from Chile - at this price we are very picky when it comes to Pinot, but this bottle definitely over-delivers. Fresh, juicy and crisp, notes of cherry, strawberry and raspberry with a touch of smoke. Perfect for a piece of seared salmon.

Kaiken Malbec $12

Gorgeous, velvety balanced big red at a surprising price. A little gem from Argentina with deep plummy notes and a long finish. A perfect match for grilled meats and barbeque!

Vietti Dolcetto d'Alba Tre Vigne $21

We've lived with this wine for a couple of months now, and it just seems to be getting better. It's great. Perfect? The finest Dolcetto grapes from the Barolo area, an old elegant style of Italian red which matches beautifully with food. Balanced and elegant - spice, zing, fruit with linear tannins. Simply one of our favorite Italian reds!

Thanks for all of the input for Brie & Bleu. We sifted through all of the Email, took note of all of the phone calls, and tried our best to work them all together to meet your requests and expectations.

We look forward to seeing all of our old friends and meeting the new ones too during the coming weeks.

Please Join Us - Its fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Let The Season Begin! Brie & Bleu is Open

2010-05-24T13:28:00.003-04:00

New London's Bistro
84 Bank Street
8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let the season begin!
The wine list for the Friday Tasting includes an Organic Certified selection from the Perrin Family. All the details are just below a few items of interest.

Some of you may have seen the lights on at
Brie & Bleu this past weekend. The City was full of people and there were a number of graduation parties taking place all over New London. We were very happy to be hosting two of those affairs. One at Brie & Bleu and one at City News.

We are excited to start regular lunch and dinner service at Brie & Bleu and look forward to greeting all of you.

The menu
will be a combination of old favorites and new additions.

The wine by the glass selections will be a thoughtfully selected list that will allow you to enjoy a nice glass of wine at a reasonable price -
none of this "restaurant mark-up" stuff for you.

Of course we still encourage you to shop at the wine store and BYOB your selection -
no corkage fees for those wines or beer.

Our wine by the glass selections will include wines from California, Italy, South Africa, France, & Germany to name just a few. And we will keep them changing to make things interesting.

So thanks for your patience and your amazing support - we look forward to seeing you at Brie & Bleu. If you have questions please give us a call at the The Greenery 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7.

NEXT

Rogue Ale

Great beer is something that we really care about - and in the next few weeks you will be seeing a dramatic improvement in the amount and selection of the beer we have in stock. This week we feature ROGUE.

HISTORY:
"In the early 1990s Dead Guy Ale was created as a private tap sticker to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead (November 1st, All Souls Day) for Casa U Betcha in Portland, Oregon.

The Dead Guy design proved so popular with consumers and especially Grateful Dead fans, that we made it the label for our Maierbock ale.
Even though the association with the Grateful Dead band is pure coincidence, we have gratefully dedicated Dead Guy Ale to the Rogue in each of us."
- John Maier, Brewmaster, Rogue Ales

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
2008 World Beer Championships-Gold
2007 World Beer Championships-Silver
2006 World Beer Championships-Silver

Friday May 28th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux $22

A beautifully crafted crisp, elegant Chardonnay from the ancient mineral soils of Chablis.

The Champs Royaux is vinified with same care as the Fevre Grand Cru Burgundies, fresh, refined with a pleasant roundness from restrained barrell aging.

Very refined bouquet, developing citrus, white-fleshed fruit and floral notes. Fresh and supple, the wine is marked by the mineral notes that are typical of the region.

An amazing summer wine that is about as good with seafood & shellfish as it gets. Try it on Friday.

Toad Hollow Rose of Pinot Noir $12

From our good friend Frankie Williams of
Toad Hollow comes this gorgeous blush summer wine.

They report:
"This is our ELEVENTH vintage of Pinot Noir Rosé and, by far, our best to date. The wine has incredible body and weight for a Rosé of Pinot Noir. The color is a beautiful pink with a hint of "Beaujolais blue."

Whether in sun or shade, this is a truly dry, uncomplicated statement of Pinot Noir at its lightest and most delicate.

Perrin et Fils Reserve Cotes-du-Rhone "Nature" $14

A new treat from Perrin, their "Nature" organic cotes du rhone, grown with no chemical treatment in the vineyards. Ironic, because all wines from the Perrins, including flagship Chateau du Beaucastel are organic - but this represents a new blend that makes it clear on the label! Primarily Grenache with 20% Syrah, this is a lush table red, with aromas of ripe red berries and a hint of pepper.

Langhe Cino Rosso $15

From the Langhe valley situated between Barolo and Barbaresco, this blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto offers a smplendid example of Italian Piemontese red at an affordable price. Notes of rasberry and violet with a smooth finish and very flexible with food. Beautiful with pasta, roasts, hearty salads and soft cheeses.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

Set Your Life To Vibrate

2010-05-19T11:21:00.001-04:00

On Sale Now
New York Magazine

Betty White & Tracy Morgan
on the cover of the current issue.

Watch The Photo Shoot HERE

We have great Magazines - Stop In & Take A Look

Greetings from New London,
A little late this week - there is a lot going on - But the list for the Friday tasting is just below a few words of interest - Hope to see you this week.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Their most popular beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, is a delightful interpretation of a classic style. It has a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium Cascade hops give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor.
"Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the flagship beer, the one that made Chico famous. It is a flawless beer that opens with bright, perky high notes of maltiness and orange blossom and segues into a delectable hoppiness."

This was a big hit at our last beer tasting - if you enjoy great beer - don't miss this classic brew. In stock and piled high.

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
Great American Beer Festival (American Pale Ale: 1995, 1994, 1993; Classic English Pale Ale: 1992; Pale Ale: 1990, 1989, 1987)

Friday May 21th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

Hugel et Fils Pinot Gris Classic "Hugel" $18

This rich Pinot Gris is a 2006 vintage and is the current release. Hey, no worries, the Hugel family of Alsace has a method to their madness.
They've been doing this for 370 years. We'll defer to the masters: "Hugel Pinot Gris is one of our family secrets! It is the most food-friendly of all our wines and is ideal with veal, roast chicken, all seafood and even ripe cheeses!" Completely dry with no oak aging, this white wine ages very well. Remarkable!

Mulderbosch Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon $12

An odd duck, but certainly not your mom's cold duck! (thank you, I'll be here all week.)

This may sound famliar to many of you who attended last weeks tasting, since it may well be what you sampled and cleaned us out of!

After the Crios Rose Malbec left the building in about 20 minutes, we switched to this lovely little South African wine, a rusty rose of Cabernet of all things.

We'll double up on it, and we'll even crack more of the Crios too if you missed it last Friday!

Bodegas Luzon Verde Jumilla Monastrell $10

This is an affordable favorite around here, beloved by those who look for the "organic" label on all things ingested. Let us make a point here - the vast majority of wines we stock are organic by American standards, the fruit grown without pesticides and hand-harvested with utmost respect for the soils the precious grapevines must mature in for decades. In this case, these relatively young Monastrell vines are situated in Jumilla Spain, in a stony clayscape that looks like Mars (naturally pest-free). The end result is rich, dense red with a dark peppery character.

Bodegas Juan Gil Jumilla Monastrell $18

Let's take wine from Jumilla one step further with the return of Uncle Juan!
Yes, Juan Gil 2007 is here. This gorgeous new vintage is a bit different from the last, finer, more elegant, more detailed, not quite as "bam-pow" on the tongue - still juicy, but exquisite, with a long finish.
To continue our point, this popular wine has been out of stock since last year, but as big a hit as Juan Gil is, it's still an artisanal product. There's no businessman yelling "Ramp up production!" You just get what you get from those gnarly grapevines in that ancient seabed, nothing less than the beauty of the fruits and the cycles of the earth expressed through wine - Meet your new favorite Juan Gil.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.

National Press Again? Its True

2010-05-11T10:49:00.002-04:00

National Press
Two Weeks In A Row?

Current Issue Of The Knot
Americas Premier Wedding Resource
Names Us As A Best Pick For 2010

Greetings from New London,

Well, the planets must be aligned just right or something - because we no sooner finished hanging our Editor's Choice Award from Yankee Magazine, when we received another notification from The Knot magazine. The Knot is considered America's wedding "Bible".

We are very proud to be included in their current issue as a
Best Pick for 2010 - voted on by the brides themselves.

We do not take these awards or your support for granted. They remind us that we have to keep our standards for products and services high and to pay close attention to the details - and that is our promise.

Yankee Magazine:

We want to thank Yankee Magazine for recognizing us this year with an Editor's Choice Award for Brie & Bleu.

".....You'll love this bustling fromagerie on the Thames River for its water views and superb bistro fare."

NEXT -
Anchor Steam
San Francisco's famous Anchor Steam, the classic of American brewing tradition since 1896, is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing.

The Anchor Brewing Company has been making beer in San Francisco since 1896. Uniquely San Franciscan, Anchor has played a significant, though small, role in California's majestic history.

The rich history of Anchor Brewing can be traced all the way back to the Gold Rush, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle arrived in San Francisco with his wife Marie and infant son Frederick. Brekle applied for citizenship in 1854, and his brewing and business acumen would soon lead to his ownership of a little San Francisco brewery on Pacific, between Larkin and Hyde, which would one day become known as Anchor.

We Love Anchor Steam - it is in stock and ready for you to enjoy.

NEXT
Well it was just a matter of time - wasn't it?

Friday May 14th - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

Friends Old and New

Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc $10

Another crisp, light and lovely Sauvignon from Gascogny.

Bright with lime freshness and mineral purity, perfect with lobster, steamer clams or seared scallops.

This is the wine we bring to Captain Scott's Lobster Dock - sit at a picnic table and munch on clam fritters!
It does not get any more local than that!

Crios Malbec Rose $12

Yes, a rose of Malbec, one of the darkest, dry blush wines we've come across.

If you didn't chill it, you might even pretend it was a fruity Pinot Noir.

But when you DO chill it, you'd want to collect all the grilled shrimp skewers and crab claws you could find.

Pan-seared trout with red new potatoes and asparagus?

From Susanna Balbo - our favorite winemaker from Argentina.

Don Ramon Red $9

Uncle Don is a seriously affordable daily table red from Spain.

Very much like an old-school Rioja - Tempranillo with a base of Grenache keeping it light and pretty.

Aged in enormous old oak barrels, this is a surprisingly fantastic red, often ignored, but a staff favorite!

Ramirez de la Piscina Rioja $24

Speaking of old-school Rioja, let's get serious with this beautifully aged Reserva from 2001.
We can get a hold of it because the big supermarket stores have overlooked it.

Rich, delightful, a steal for a wine on the verge of being a vintage Spanish classic. We would pair it with grilled hangar steak, olives and capers - that's right - capers.

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

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

AAA.