SailFest 2009 -

Greetings from New London,

SailFest 2009 is here.

We have a great tasting planned for Friday night.
The list is just below a couple of items of interest.

In response to one of the most asked questions from our listeners -

This year we will be keeping Brie & Bleu and the deck open - so those of you planning dinner at Brie and Bleu will have an opportunity to view the Fireworks on Saturday night from "The Front Row." There is not a better seat anywhere in The City.

Take a look at the side bar to the right for Chef Daryl's menu planned for this weekend.

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SUMMER MOVIES

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Hygienic Art Park (79 Bank Street Across From The Wine Store): Summer Flickers, Wednesday nights June 24 - September 9 at 8pm.

Join us for screenings all summer long at the beautiful Art Park. Movies start just after 8 at sundown. Some consessions provided. Bring a blanket, chair, picnic, libations, family and friends!

July 8: The Girl Can't Help It (1956)
July 15: Drum (2004, directed by Jason Filardi)
July 22: To Have and Have Not (1944)
July 29: Do the Right Thing (1989)
August 5: Blazing Saddles (1974)
August 12: The Muppet Movie (1979)
August 19: Coffee & Cigarettes (2003)
August 26: Faire Harbour Film Fest
September 2: Double Indemnity (1944)
September 9: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

For more info, visit hygienic.org

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Do you know anyone
That Loves The Game Of Golf?

Our friends at the Thames Clubare extending an invitation for a special evening to meet Globe Trotting Golf Author Brian McCallen.


This is a great opportunity to see the Thames Club and to meet America's Expert on the
Greatest Golf Destinations in The World.

Please call the Thames Club to make your reservation. The cost is just $20 per person and includes a reception and the evening with Brian McCallen. Just let them know you are our guest when making your reservation.

Thames Club: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 5 5 0 4

290 State Street
(across from the Garde Theater)

Thames Club

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Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday July 10 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Les Deux Tours Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $17

The Loire Valley did not invent Sauvignon Blanc, but men like Baron de Ladoucette have come to define it with wines from Sancerre and Pouilly Fume.

This is a humble little number with a Touraine appellation that nonetheless shares the same soil and meticulous wine making of the standard bearers of the La Doucette family.

Stainless steel fermentation on fine lees creates a wine of body and richness, while preserving the racy acidity and floral notes that define Loire Sauvignon Blanc.

This wine is a natural pair for goat cheese, the Loire's other great contribution to human society.


2 - Chateau Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2006 $14

This bulletproof bottle sits patiently on the shelf, its price still unchanged where it seems all others have inched upwards.

Wine maker Pierre Duberge oversees the small 100-acre vineyard and the classic winemaking process.

Bordeaux, it's what's for dinner.











3 - Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2007 $15

This has intense, deep red-violet color, and ruby hues, showing the concentration of the grapes.

The wine shows aromas of black fruit jam and liqueur, with notes of vanilla, chocolate and smoke.

On the palate, it is ample and rich, with a long finish and soft tannins.

4 - Paolo Bea Rosso Montefalco 2004 $68

Paolo Bea Rosso Montefalco 2004 $68 References in the archives of Montefalco, the beautiful hill town in Umbria, document the presence of the Bea family in this locality as early as 1500.

This tiny estate is the classic Italian fattoria, producing wine, raising farm animals for trade and home consumption and working the land to produce olives, fruits and vegetables. To this day, the Bea family raises and produces much of what they consume on a daily basis. Paolo Bea, the senior member of the family at 72 years of age, is the guiding force behind the production of this series of intense and idiosyncratic wines. He is assisted by his two sons, Giuseppe, who farms the vineyards, and Giampiero, who assists in the vinification and is responsible for all commercial aspects of the winery.

The entire property encompasses 15 hectares: 5 of which are dedicated to the vineyards, 2 to olives, and the remainder to the fruits, vegetables and grains that are grown. Sagrantino is the predominant grape, covering 60% of the vineyard surface.

The remaining 40% is planted to Sangiovese and Montepulciano, with a small parcel planted to several white varieties. The vineyards are cultivated virtually organic.

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The sun is out and our decks are ready - come on down.

Thanks for all of the support, comments and suggestions - we appreciate all of it.

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


AAA.

Special New Year's Edition 2009

Are You Ready For The Big Night?
All Stores Will Be Open - Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
From olives, crackers & dips - to a perfect centerpiece.
We can delivery the party right to your front door.

Greetings from New London,
We hope that you all have had as much fun as we did during the last year. Many of you have shared the moments with us - thank you one and all.

We have a very special Friday night planned for you, but first we have to remind everyone that we have the Finest Collection of Champagne in the State of Connecticut, right here in little old New London.
And you don't have to drop fifty to a hundred dollars a bottle to find great stuff!

Every year, we encourage our friends and customers to try new sparkling wines. In addition to the Cavas from Spain and Proseccos from Italy, there are many tremendous Champagnes to explore that aren't Clicquot, Moet, Taittinger, etc. We offer the finest Grower Champagne. This is estate wine produced by hand in very small quantities and bottled by real wine makers and their families. It is not made in a factory by people holding clipboards and checking the gauges on batch numbers that have six-digits.

But that's not all we also carry Cava $10, Prosecco $15, Gruet Blancs de Noir $17 and other delicious and affordable options for dancing on table tops and christening ships. Think about it - aren't you over due to be dancing on a table?
We can help - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

The Monday Tasting 12.29.08

Chateau Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2005 $14

Cold indoor weather calls for a mellow full-bodied red wine. For the last Monday tasting of 2008
I'd like to pour one of our favorite go-to staples - this rich, earthy Merlot-based Bordeaux from just south of St. Emilion.

This bulletproof bottle sits patiently on the shelf, its price still unchanged where it seems all others have inched upwards.

Wine maker Pierre Duberge oversees the small 100-acre vineyard and the classic winemaking process - he declared the 2005 vintage to be "The best wine we have made in 20 years." Drop by Monday afternoon and see what he's talking about!
Order Now

New Year's Edition 2009
The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 2nd - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Salomon Gruner Veltliner 2007 $18


The Gruner Veltliner has became the darling of hot shot sommeliers in NYC, and while wine trends usually get me headed the other way, Gruner Veltliner has an enduring quality that is hard to ignore. It works with ALL KINDS OF FOOD. All of those hard to pair dishes become child's play with Gruner Veltliner. Artichokes? No problem. Asparagus, curry, thai peppers, orange chutney, No Problem. From Importer Terry Theise:
"This 2007 is extraordinarily aromatic, with generous fruit, snappy structure, beany and lentilly, forthright and generous. The best vintage yet." Order Now

2 - Les Deux Rives Corbieres 2007 $9


Sometimes it's easy to overlook the little things in life, like $9 Corbieres. Dave poured this wine recently at a Dave's Fave, and the first guy to taste it bought all that we had. This got my attention, so I bought one for myself and I'll be damned, this is great wine!

The wine is a blend of 40% Granache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourverde and 10% Carignan which is fairly typical for Corbieres, if more complicated than you would expect for $9.

Despite it's humble origins, the wine reminds me of some of our finer offerings form the Rhone. If you like meat, especially lamb, or if you just want to spend your evening as I do, sitting on the couch drinking and watching Dancing with the Stars, this is the wine for you.
Order Now








3 - Ego Bolgheri Rosso 2005 $18

Bolgheri is home to some of the biggest names in Italian wine, Sassacaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia being the most famous. The vineyards of Le Grascete are so close to Sassacaia and Ornellaia that they are literally an empty wine bottle's throw away.

Made from hand harvested estate fruit the wine is surprisingly structured and intense for $18.

This is a wine that will definitely benefit from decanting and a little patience, but once you're there, you're all the way there. Order Now




4 - Willunga Creek Black Duck Merlot 2005 $30

Made Another wine from our new buddy Chris at 2fly wines. Willunga Creek is a family owned winery in Mc Laren Vale Australia.
McLaren Vale is one of Australia's premiere wine producing regions, and the Black Duck conveys this unique climate and style. The wine is VERY rich, with well integrated tannins, copious fruit and a hint and Cinnamon. Lots of stuffing here, Rubenesque. A tremendous value for those in pursuit of the ultimate wave.

Order Now

Thanks very much for your support over the past year - we sincerely appreciate it.

And from all of us we wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy New Year for you and your family.

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


AAA.