Wine Loves Everyone - Love It Back.

Card Available At Thames River Greenery

Greetings from New London,
The Flock Theater was in fine form at City News over the weekend. Part of The Holly and The Ivy living history play taking place throughout New London until December 14. Witness 200 years of NL history come alive. It's just one more reason to visit downtown during the holidays. Details Here

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Monday - 12.8.08 - 2nd and Final Presentation for 2008
Round two of our annual Champagne & Pizza extravaganza starts at 6 p.m. -
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

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Fine Cigars and Spirits -
Made by hand and individually numbered the Padron Anniversary Series cigars are impossibly hard to find. We have them in stock with many other famous brands for the holiday season. Combine cigars with one of the amazing Single Malt Whiskies we have on our shelves and you've got a gift that will bring hours of enjoyment to the connoisseur in your life. Of course we will gift wrap your choices at no extra charge.

Singles & Gift Box Samplers Ready To Go.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Our Friends and Neighbors

Read The Story HERE

New London & The New York Times

New London and it's residents seem to be featured in The Paper of Record a lot lately. You may have seen the article that featured our very own Miss Charlotte just a couple of weeks ago. Well it has happened again. Local artist Barkley Hendricks was the subject of a beautiful review this past Friday in the Arts Section. If we have said it once, we have said it a thousand times - New London is loaded with interesting people - come on down to the Big City.

Guilt Free
Dave's Fave

The Monday Tasting 12.8.08

Les Deux Rives Corbieres Rouge 2007 $9
We've had so many great Granache-based goodies recently I'm going to continue the theme with this gem from the Mediterranean coast of France.
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan, with all the sunshine and ripe spicy fruit of southern France.

So once you've bought the flatscreen, the emerald pendant, and the Lexus convertible with the red bow, you can enjoy the guilt-free relaxation of a bargain French red and a hunk of cheese! Enjoy! Order Now

Wine Loves Everyone -
Love it back.
The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 12 - 6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Pares Balta Blanc de Pacs 2006 $11


Ever since Patricio Brongo from Pares Balta stopped by the store and tried us on this wine, we've been selling it like beer in the Fenway bleacher seats.

It's so omnipresent, own nickname for it is "Pares Hilton." But this tasty white can still be confusing, like, what is it? "Why, it's a blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarello of course." What does that mean?


That means it's actually still Cava. Cava without the bubbles. Simpler still, it's YUMMY. produced From estate fruit, organically farmed.

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2 - Cune Rioja Crianza 2005 $14




This Crianza of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha is medium ruby color and displays aromas of black cherry fruit with a touch of leather and roasted meat.

Fermented in stainless steel and aged in American oak, it offers a soft attach of lush red and black fruit that is nicely integrated with oak, round tannins and a long finish.

Exhibits modern winemaking techniques, especially managing oxygenation.

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3 - Costozza Cabernet 2002 $24

From year to year, Italy and France trade the title of world's leading wine producer. But Italians point out it was the ancient Romans who introduced wine making to France.


In fact, Italians were cultivating grapes some 2,500 years ago, before the rise of the Roman Empire.

The Veneto produces more premium wines than any other part of Italy. In the heart of the region, an hour's drive west of Venice, fields of grapes surround charming hill towns. The village of Costozza lies at the base of Monte Brosimo. This 1,312-foot hill is part of the Colli Berici, a mountain range of volcanic origin. Both the soil and mild climate are ideal for growing grapes.

Costozza has been documented as a winemaking center since at least 1250, but archaeological excavations indicate it's possible that wine was being made in the Berici Hills thousands of years earlier. The village of 2,000 has a delightful old restaurant, Taverna Aeolia. Astronomer Galileo Galilei mentioned in his memoirs that he was a guest there 400 years ago. Order Now



4 - The Chocolate Block 2007 $36

We Love This Wine.
In fact - we love it so much we went all the way to South Africa to visit the vineyards and hang out with the people that make it.
Here are three links to choose from:
1 - Our Photos
2 - Our Interview With The Wine Maker
3 - The Official Website

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS:
The 2007 Chocolate Block is a blend of Syrah (55%); Grenache noir (20%); Cabernet Sauvignon (16%); Cinsault (5%) and Viognier (4%). Although the varieties have remained the same for this wine since the initial 2002 vintage, the percentages of grapes in the blend may vary. An increase in Cabernet Sauvignon meant less Cinsault made the final assemblage for the 2007 vintage. 2007 was a bumper vintage for us. We believe this to be the best Chocolate Block to date. For the 2007 vintage no Viognier was blended as white wine to lift the perfume profile of the wine but only the skins and some stalks of the Viognier were used and fermented in partnership with a few selected batches of Syrah. The making of the Chocolate Block has been a yearly learning curve for us in our winemaking approach and in hindsight we believe that better integration of the Viognier can only be achieved with co-fermenting the Syrah and Viognier.

TASTING NOTES:
Fresh berry flavours and a fine white pepperiness add a spicy profile to the nose. This is a wine of elegance and linearity. The palate seems almost seamless with the soft approachable tannins rounding off the mouthfeel. Maximum ageing potential of 8 years.

Order Now

Thanks very much for your support over the holiday season - we appreciate it.
Please join us. It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


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NL Art World, Barkley Hendricks, Hygienic Art XXIX, Chalone vineyards, Cefalicchio Canosa Rosso, Saint-Sulpice, Heredad de Aduna

Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
www.thamesriver.com

This week is full of news from the New London Art World - our list of wines for Friday is just below these items of interest.


• New London is the home to an exciting and ever expanding art culture, and along with that we are surrounded by some of the most interesting and creative people you can imagine. So, as we were flipping through the latest edition of Vogue Magazine, this item caught our eye and you should know about it. “The Vogue 25” cultural highlights of 2008.

The list includes the works of Barkley Hendricks - well known local artist and professor of art at Connecticut College. “Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool,” the first career retrospective of the American artist’s paintings, will be on view at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University from Feb. 7 through July 13, 2008.
Take a minute to read more about Barkley and this show HERE: http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2008/01/birth_cool.html

Congratulations Barkley - we dig you man.


• The Garde Arts Center is putting the finishing touches on their Winter Film Festival -February 14 - 19. This is a highlight of the New London winter scene and if you expect to get your favorite seats - Then I suggest you get your tickets early - for more details GO HERE: http://tickets.gardearts.org/show.asp



• And of course if it's January, it is time for the Annual Hygienic Art Show. Open to all artists - beginner and experts alike. Who's to say that the little pad next to your telephone, the one that might be tossed into the kitchen drawer with the loose batteries, forgotten keys, and the lint-roller that is down to it's last couple of clean sheets - who's to say that little pad with the doodles and numbers - is not art? Well, why not enter it this year and find out?

This is a great event - it always has a big turnout - get all of the details HERE: http://www.hygienic.org/default.asp

HYGIENIC ART XXIX













January 26 - February 10, 2008

• Save The Date - Fashion Show and Wine Tasting February 21st. Produced in cooperation with Niza - the Women's Boutique of Mystic. A great night of fashion, music, wine, and FUN. Lots more details coming here in the email and of course on our Calendar of Events page HERE: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html


• And finally - A quick note about our Private Dinner with Italy's Winemaker of The Year - Cosimiro Maule, from Nino Negri Vineyards. We will be serving eight of his wines, two per course. There are just four seats left as we go to press. If you have a lover of Italian culture, food and wine in your life - this is a gift that will make them giddy. Truly a night to remember. You will be sitting down to dinner with a wine industry legend. Our own Anne Haviland is working with Signore Maule on the menu which will be posted on the calendar when it is finished. Please join us for our first winemaker dinner of 2008 - Monday January 28 - 6 p.m. - $85 plus tax & service. - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - January 21 - No Charge
Dave Says:
"First off, allow me to rant about beer for a moment: As you may know, we don't stock tons of beer. For the most part, only what our 1957 Peerless fridge (formerly of Patsy's on Bank Street) will hold. You kids already know where to get your 30-packs-o-suds and it ain't here! We're keeping cold a pile of uber-brew including local favorites Cottrell, Trinity and Harpoon... Berkshire Brewing, fresh and delicious, in bombers and now in 64oz growlers! Samuel Smith 4-packs, Castle Lager, Pilsner Urquell (the original Pilsner from Pilzn), Belgian Chimay bombers, and one of my favorites, Moosehead - straight outta Halifax. We always keep Lindemann's fruit-infused Lambics in the cellar, cold Grolsch swing-tops upstairs (oh they still make them), and for bands-on-a-budget, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Narragansett bottles! Do you really need something more? If you do, just ask...
As for "Dave's Fave" on Monday hmmm... well let's have some beer! Come on down and sample our three current varieties from Deerfield Mass's own Berkshire Brewing: Steel Rail Pale Ale, Lost Sailor IPA, and Coffeehouse Porter ($3.50 a bomber)

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

1 - Chalone vineyards Monterey county Chardonnay 2006 $12 - www.chalonevineyard.com
As one of the first wineries to recognize Monterey County’s potential for exceptional Chardonnay, Chalone Vineyard began making wines high up on the Gavilan mountain range in 1966. Today, there are more acres of Chardonnay grapes planted in Monterey than any other county in California. The reason why is: Chardonnay develops its finest flavors when grown in cool, marine-influenced climates. This is how winemaker Robert Cook describes this wine: "Elegant and fruit-focused, Chalone 2006 Monterey County Chardonnay captures the bright pear, apple, citrus and stone fruit character of grapes grown in Monterey County along California’s Central Coast. Hints of floral and spice highlight the aromas and echo on the palate. The wine’s vibrant fruit expression reflects the cool marine fog and winds that caress these foothill and benchland vineyards. The perfectly balanced flavors mingle crisp, natural acidity with a rich, creamy texture from sur lie aging. Enjoy our Chardonnay with flavors from the ocean, such as crab cakes, grilled fish, prawns sautéed in butter and garlic, or scallops and angel hair pasta tossed with a cream sauce. Or pour with grilled chicken or pork, creamy chowders and mushroom risotto." - I just love those California fly-boys, don't you?
For those of you that are convinced that Chardonnay is not for them - you might be surprised by this one - especially at this price - this may be your new favorite "Chard."


2 - Cefalicchio Canosa Rosso D.O.C. 2003 $11 - Bio-Dynamic - www.vignetidipuglia.it
Amazing History - This wine comes from the Apulian settlement of Canusium, near the Ofanto river. The city is ideally situated to control this major waterway, and was built on a hill, on the same site as the modern town. Founded by Diomedes, or so the legend goes, it became a Roman town in 318 AC and took in the survivors of the Roman army defeated in the battle of Canne. First a municipium and then a colonia during the Imperial Age, it was famous for its wool industry and pottery production. A diocese since the 4th century, it was devastated by barbarian raids and only regained its prosperity under the Longobards. In 840-70 it was destroyed by the Saracens. A prosperous town under Norman rule (11th-12th centuries), damaged by dynastic wars during the Angevin period (14th-15th centuries), in 1502 it heroically stood by the Spaniards against the French, who only managed to occupy it after a long siege. In 1530 it was given to Charles V by Philibert of Orange. It was plagued by bandits and earthquakes for a long time.

And what is the best medicine for battling bandits and earthquakes? Thats right, wine.
This wine is produced with strict Bio-dynamic principles and, manual harvesting; the carefully selected and harvested clusters are crushed and softly pressed; the must ferments at length along with the skins at a controlled temperature; refinement takes place in stainless steel. A deep ruby red color is the result. This is a full bodied wine with great aromas and it pairs well with full flavored dishes like red meats and aged cheeses. It would be very difficult to find this much history in a bottle for this price - please try it on Friday night.


3 - Ch Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2005 $12
This wine came in mislabeled 2004, We think somebody, somewhere made a mistake, with the great 2005 vintage and the recent unpleasentness with the Euro, this is underpriced for what is in the bottle. The Chateau Saint Sulpice is a 100-acre estate situated in a village of the same name in the northern section of Entre-Deux-Mers, just south of St. Emilion and 14 miles northeast of Bordeaux. The property is planted mainly with Merlot and is very carefully tended by owner-winemaker Pierre Duberge and his son Christophe. Pierre says: "The 2005 vintage produced excellent, fruit and the wines are characterized by extremely ripe, powerful, and extracted wines with structured tannins." Pierre has said unequivocally the 2005 vintage is "the best wine we have made in 20 years." The wine shows lots of red-fruit aromas. It is concentrated, full and dense in the mouth, with silky tannins and a supple finish. If you are a Bordeaux wine fan - this is the opportunity to grab a case or two at a great price. It will go quickly, please try it on Friday night.


4 - Heredad de Aduna Rioja $28 - 1997.
This is a house favorite - we have offered it from the beginning. In a world that is full of unpleasent surprises it is always nice to know what to expect from a wine like this - Athenticity. Heredad de Aduna, with a long family tradition, still make their wines in the traditional manner, thanks to the knowledge and good work of their elders, especially their father and maestro, Jose Martinez Aduna. Bodegas Heredad de Aduna specialize in a large variety of young red wines, Vintages, Reservas and Grandes Reservas that reach a widely-spread market that knows how to appreciate the quality of the end product, proof of which are the number of prizes they have received since they started out as harvesters. This wine wins gold medal awards all over Europe in blind tastings - you must try this if you appreciate Rioja - still a great value at this price - just a dollar more than the last time we featured it back in 2005. Please try it.



Thanks very much for your support, we appreciate your confidence and commitment to us. It is precisely why we are able to get the guests and offer special items, that you will not find anywhere else. Lots of excitement in the coming months, stay tuned.



Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend - we hope to see you this week.







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