Wine-Flu? We Have The Cure

Happy Holidays
We have something for everyone.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Greetings from New London,

Hey - we still have a few bottles left of this
New York Times - Rated #1 of '07s by Eric Asimov -
Domaine Montpertuis - First come, first served.

ALSO - Cloudy Bay - THE wine of New Zealand - rewrote the book on Sauvignon Blanc around the world - Impossible to get, impossible to forget.
But we called in a few "markers" and you can get as much as you like from us for the holidays.

*****

The Tasting This Week:
Portugal Part Deux!
With the help of our host Lisa Sansevarino from Iberia Wines we've come to learn that Portugal makes a lot more wine than Port. Grapes we may never have heard of (but have experienced elsewhere) from some of the most ancient vineyards in the world.

These wines are detailed, rich and all represent outstanding value - totally under the radar - what fun!
And they are a remarkable value - don't miss them.
More details below.

*****

The holiday season is the perfect time for rum. Rum is mostly famous for being the active ingredient in popular cocktails, like the Cuba Libré, the Mojito and the Mai-Tai.

What is less well-known, however, is that, like single malt scotch, tequila and a host of other spirits, many of the best rums are so refined that they don't need mixers to taste great.

Rum makes a great holiday gift:
It's an essential in any respectably stocked bar, and it's something special the recipient can share with friends (lucky you) the whole year.

Here are some of our current favorites:

Cruzan Single Barrel - A real stand-out, and one of my favorites. This rum is big and creamy in the front of the mouth, but surprises with a very long finish accented with hints of earth and spice.

Old Monk is one of our top selling rums. A velvety smooth dark rum with a hint of vanilla. Honored the world over, Old Monk had been awarded gold medals at Monde World Selections since 1982. With the first drop of Old Monk Rum, the sheer aroma of distilled cane sugar grown in lush green fields of India, stirs up the age old legend. Old Monk Rum is a form of the legendary 'Som-ras' of India's centuries old scriptures - The Drink of Gods and Lords of India.

El Dorado - This rum is dark and amber-colored, with an intriguing smoky sweetness on the nose. The flavor is all fruitcake and treacle in the front of the mouth, but shows an unusual dry finish.

English Harbor - Five Year Old - It's pale color-almost like dry sherry-is mirrored in the flavor; this is the most delicate and refined of rums, with an almost feminine character. The longer it sat in the glass, the more elegant and polished it became.

Neisson Reserve - One of the few rums made from the juice of sugar cane-as opposed to molasses-which gives it a more polished, refined character. It's full and rich in the mouth, with subtle hints of vanilla, dried fruits and exotic spices, and a long, lingering and sweet finish.

Pyrat - A rich blend of 15-year-old rums from various parts of the Caribbean, it is packed with ripe fruit flavors-apricots, banana and fresh oranges-all held together by pronounced vanilla and honey.

Barbancourt 15 year Reserve - Round, rich and creamy, like old-fashioned plum pudding with lots of heavy cream. Voluptuous and sensual, but with a spicy kick in the long finish.

We have a great selection of rum - stop in and have a look.

C I T Y N E W S
NEW LONDON

Santa Knows Where To Get A Good Cigar

We have The perfect stocking stuffer for the cigar lover in your life.

We have a beautiful selection of gift packs from the finest cigar makers in the world.

They are priced right for the holidays and ready to go.




Hard to Find
Perdomo Reserve
Gift Boxs with free Cigar Cutter - start at $45.00

And a great selection of fine cigars, humidors, accessories and gift sets.

And we also have the finest smoking lounge on the planet. Authentic 1900's ambiance - stop by and take a look.

Cigar Society Lounge
is open everyday.

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

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

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Caves da Cepa Vinho Verde $8

Turns out our old omnipresent Vinho Verde was like seeing Coca-Cola for sale on the shelf - it made our Portuguese experts wince and turn away like Dracula from the sun!

No problem - it has been replaced with a MUCH higher quality wine - for only a dollar more. Light and lovely - Caves da Cepa shows beautiful light apricot fruit with the fizzy tingle that we all expect from our green wines. Perfect with Atlantic cod and shellfish.

Penedo da Moura Vinho Tinto $8

This little wine from the Estremadura region has a rich aroma and tart fruit flavors. With hints of dry figs, oak and spices this wine is excellent with grilled meats, but light and elegant with relatively low alcohol. One of our favorite bargain sleepers!

Monte das Servas Escolha $14

Aragonez (40%), Alicante Bouschet (25%), Trincadeira (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) give this wine a deep, concentrated color with complex aromas. Elegant and dense, showing good tannic structure with cinnamon and plum notes. Full-bodied with a long lingering finish.

Monte das Aservas Colheita Seleccionada$ $20

A blend of Aragonez (20%), Touriga Nacional (40%) Alicante Bouschet (20%), Trincadeira (20%) - this wine sees more oak than its little brother, and has a full fruity flavor with an endless smoky finish. A stunning full-bodied red for the price!

****

Please join us. Its fun informal and a great way to start your weekend.

First - we want to thank everyone for the fantastic holiday wishes and support you have been giving to us during these past couple of weeks.

All of the merchants in downtown New London appreciate the "Shop Local" mantra that so many people have embraced - it makes a difference.

Next -
The rumors are true - we will begin accepting reservations for our new series of wine dinners in the coming weeks - we just want to get through the holidays before we announce the menus and the special guests.

We have a lot of things planned for New Year - Special guests, dinners, live performances & more - so please stayed tuned.

AAA.

Thanksgiving Tasting & News 2009

Happy Thanksgiving
We have solutions galore.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Greetings from New London,
This week we have more wine than you can shake a stick at. TWO big tastings to satisfy all of your Thanksgiving needs. Details are below.

Next, we have to remind you that all of the Cheese and Specialty Foods at Brie & Bleu are available Seven Days A Week - From 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. - right through the holidays. The entire department is now open at Thames River Greenery.

We ask you: What holiday table is complete without the full assortment of cheeses, breads, imported nuts, charcuterie, and specialty foods that we are known for?


We will even deliver them right to your front door with the centerpiece you have ordered for the holiday.


Please stop in and take a look at our new gourmet department.

Or call us with any questions that you might have.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

******

Thanks for a great turn out last Friday for our book signing reception with Marci Alborghgetti in our wine cellar. Her new book The Christmas Glass is available at City News.

Read the article in the Day Paper HERE

*****

Fifth Annual
Jonathan Edwards Winery
W I N E T A S T I N G
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
STARTS AT 3 P.M.

The Fifth Annual Jonathan Edwards Winery Thanksgiving Tasting - this Wednesday starting at 3 p.m.

This Wednesday we are proud to present our 5th Annual Jonathan Edwards Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Taste-a-thon!

It's the day before Thanksgiving - did you get maple syrup for the yams? Shallots for the mushroom gravy? Foil pans for the extra stuffing?? No worries!! Our favorite Connecticut winemaker will set up shop in the cellar starting at 3PM, so there will be plenty of time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for these four lovely, local, Jonathan Edwards creations:

2008 Estate Connecticut Gewurztraminer
This wine was harvested in October, fermented at cool temperatures to enhance the bouquet and aged for 6 months in stainless steel to preserve its crisp characteristics. A crisp, dry finish follows fragrant aromas of grapefruit and lemon zest. Enjoy on its own or with spicy dishes such as Thai food or Sushi.

2008 Estate Connecticut Chardonnay

Enjoy the bright citrus bouquet of green apples and lemons, framed with smoky vanilla oak from large French barrels. This silky smooth, easy-drinking wine pairs perfectly with seafood and fresh cheeses or is excellent all by itself on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel

The Zinfandel is harvested from low yielding 50 year old head-pruned vines. Up-front, jammy blackberry/raspberry fruit is followed by a smooth round easy finish. Pasta dishes are a perfect match for this wine.

2007 Napa Valley Merlot

The 2007 offering is sourced from a thirty-five year old vineyard on the south side of Calistoga. A gorgeous dark ruby color is pleasing to the eye and the deep black cherry aroma paired with a long complex finish will thrill your other senses as well. This robust Merlot will continue to develop in the bottle for at least 5-8 years. Enjoy this with red pasta dishes, meats and your favorite cheeses.

The Thanksgiving Leftovers Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday November 27 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.
"THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS TASTING"
After all the feasting, anybody still up for another wine tasting? Of course you are - You Are Professionals!

We can't predict what will still be on the shelf Friday, but what's better than leftovers?

We will search out something wonderful, or just ask YOU, our friends and customers, to point out which wines you would love to sample!

Dave says: "Fun is guaranteed."

Get off the couch and come on down - get a little air, it will do you good.

******

P E T I T E F O U R S
Are A Specialty of
You Take The Cake

Don't wait to place your orders for the holidays from You Take The Cake.

Everything from Petite Fours to holiday cakes, Buche Noel's, and Cheesecakes, are just a call away.

Everything is baked from scratch - delivery to your front door is available - all you need to do is take credit for all the hard work.

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

O R D E R E A R L Y

YOU TAKE THE CAKE

Buche de Noel


Holiday Petite Fours


German Chocolate

*****

We sincerely appreciate your comments and suggestions.

And of course it is your support that makes all of this possible - it looks like it will be a great holiday season for us - thank you.

The biggest achievement we made this week was relocating all of the cheese and specialty foods to our new gourmet department. We were still filling the cases when people came in to purchase cheese for Thanksgiving.

We know that making all of the items from Brie & Bleu available everyday was important to you. We will continue to use your suggestions as a guide to serve you better.

AAA.

Six New Ways To Use Wine In The Bedroom - July 4 2009

National Recognition - The Knot Magazine
Thanks to all of the people that voted for us!
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7


Greetings from New London,

Hey - We got a little national attention this past week. Thanks to the readers of The Knot Magazine. We were selected among the top florists across the country.

A great line up for Friday night to kick off the holiday weekend - the list is just below a few items of interest.

The Shoreline Acoustic Music Society will be hosting the 3rd annual Acoustic Music Festival on July 10, 11, and 12, 2009 in the Hygienic Art Park. There will be plenty of seating. Beer, wine, soda, water and snacks will be available for purchase.
Admission will be:
Friday 5:00-10:00pm - $3.00;
Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm - free;
Saturday 3:00-11:00pm - $5.00;
Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm - free.
The line-up will be:
Friday, July 10
5:00-5:15 - Carl Franklin
5:20-5:50 - Bruce McDermott
6:00-6:15 - Bob Vogel
6:30-6:45 - Dean Denis
7:00-7:30 - Blonde Furniture
7:35-7:50 - Bernadette Golden
7:55-8:10 - Darin Keech
8:15-8:45 - Will DSol
8:50 -9:20 - Bubblin' Crude
9:30- 10:00 - Matzah Cigar

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

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

1 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut NV $15

It is believed that Prosecco was already produced in Roman times, possibly as the vinum pucinum praised by Pliny the Elder.

It is, at any rate, one of the oldest wine grapes in Italy and ranks about thirtieth in importance among the country's some 2,000 grape varieties. The name of Prosecco is derived from the northern Italian village of Prosecco (Trieste), where the grape is believed to have originated.


Light and soft the wine pairs well with food or is perfect on it's own when the sun finally decides to shine.





2 - Mas Cal Demoura Qu'es Aquo Rose 2008 $20

In 1970, when there was a great exodus from the Languedoc due to a loss of faith in its vineyards to provide a sufficient living, Jean-Pierre Jullien named his domaine "Cal Demoura", which in Occitan means "one must remain". He came from a long line of vignerons and, at that time, he followed most of his colleagues as they closed their caves and attempted to survive by participating in the local cooperative. Jean-Pierre's son, Olivier, refused to follow the path of the cooperative and established his own domaine, the "Mas Jullien", in 1985.

Jean-Pierre, in a reversal of the usual process, took the example of his son, resigned from the cooperative and recreated his own estate in 1993. He sold off a portion of his vineyards and retained only the best 5 hectares. With these, he began making a wine of regal dimensions that helped to lead the qualitative revolution in the Languedoc. In 2004, Jean-Pierre retired, selling the estate to its current owners, Isabelle and Vincent Goumard. Seduced by the estate's winemaking philosophy, as well as by the potential of its terroir, the couple spent a year working side by side with Jean-Pierre in the vineyard and in the cellar, before taking full control of the estate.

The five hectares are located in the village of Jonquières and in the neighboring community of Saint Felix, approximately 45 minutes northwest of Montpellier, just south of Clermont l'Hérault. They are situated in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac, an independent subdivision within the Coteaux du Languedoc AOC that was recognized in 2004.

The vineyards feature five grape varieties in approximately equal parts: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. The average age of the vines is 25 years with significant parcels of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan being considerably older. The soil is very dry and stony with a deep but porous topsoil. The various parcels of the domaine are distributed over a terroir that is both geographically and climatically diverse. These variations, combined with an assortment of different cépages, result in wines of complexity and finesse.

"Qu'es Aquo" Rose: A rich, expressive and aromatic rosé, the Qu'es Aquo is made in the same spirit as the domaine's red wines, using the same five cépages - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan - but in a different blend that favors Cinsault and Syrah. The rosé is saignée and vinified like a white wine to emphasize its aromatics. The Qu'es Aquo is a substantial rose that pairs well with food.



3 - Cascina Ballarin Cino 2006 $15

A blend of 20% Nebbiolo, 40% Barbera and 40% Dolcetto from the center of Piedmonte Italy.

Bright ruby-red; very vinous, intense, fresh nose showing a range of fresh fruit and flowers; rich, luscious taste that's smooth and medium-bodied; excellent as an everyday wine.

4 - Castro Ventosa Tinto 2006 $11

The Bierzo D.O. is located in the northwest of the Province of Castilla y León, just above Portugal. Castilla was one of the original Spanish regions to unite against the Moors in the Middle Ages and thus became the north-west stronghold for the Catholics. The region has a great historical past with many remains that testify of its rich history.

The winery is situated in the village of Valtuille de Abajo at the foot of the slope of the Castro, the ruin of an ancient Roman fort that dominates the village of Valtuille de Abajo. Some of Castro Ventosa's vineyards are planted on that same hill just around the ruins, the name Castro Ventosa means "The Windy Castle".

The Tinto Joven Vineyards are spread out in different locations in the village of Vatuille in Bierzo and all are agianst a slope. The winery is situated at the foot of the South Western slope of el Castro (the ancient castle); 590 meters above sea level. The climate is continental with some Oceanic influences; the medium yearly temperature is 13º Centigrade with an average of 800 millimeters of rain per year.

Close attention is given to the vines and hardly any machinery is used in the vineyards to retain tradition but also old methods are best suited to the area.
Fermetation takes place in stainless steel tanks and the wine is bottled 1 month after the end of harvest.

Junipero
G I N

We have amazing spirits on our shelves:

The History:
is old school. Sipping it takes you back in time. You can imagine Churchill pulling down this stuff while trying to decide what to do about those Germans.

Junipero makes a really perfect gin martini: The juniper, as you'd imagine from the name, is up front yet not overpowering. But it's more spicy than evergreen, so you don't feel like you're constantly chewing pine cones when you drink it.

Of course there's more to it than that, though, and Junipero, like most other gin makers, keeps its recipe secret. It's hard to put your finger on much beyond some lightly bitter orange and lemon peel and something that gives it a kick of sweetness, but I can say that whatever Junipero puts in this gin, it works really well in the glass.

At the classic 94.6 proof, I was sure Junipero would be blazingly harsh consumed straight, but it wasn't.

Better, though, was to toss a few rocks in. As the ice melts, the water brings out the fruit peel flavors and mellows the juniper berry further. Summer is for GIN.

CITY NEWS
Featured Cigar

Oliva Series V

The History:

Serie V is a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blended with specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero, and finished with a high priming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.

Blending Notes: This cigar is blended to deliver full body taste while maintaining an unparalleled smoothness. This flavorful blend exhibits complex tobacco with rich coffee and dark chocolate tones.


We offer the full line of Oliva Cigars - singles or by the box.

CITY NEWS
Newspapers
Magazines
Candy

Fine Cigars Including:
Winston Churchill
Partagas
Ashton
Avo
CAO
Oliva
Romeo y Julieta
Padron
Perdomo
H.Upman
Montecristo
Punch
La Gloria Cubana
Arturo Fuente
& MORE

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


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.

Obama's Favorite Wine?

Card Available At City News

Greetings from New London,
There is a lot going on around here - New events, special guests, updated calendar - plenty to talk about and review.

But first I have to talk about the Friday tasting. Our own Jim Morrison works hard each week to bring you exciting choices that simply cannot be found on every Tom, Dick, or Eddie's package store shelves.

This week he has focused on the wine of Portugal. And in keeping with our promise of providing exceptional value in all our offerings - you will be amazed at the bang for the dollar that these wines provide.

By the way, Jim doesn't just throw a dart at a map to come up with an idea - in this particular case he went behind the lines - deep into Portuguese territory to meet the wine makers and get the real story.

That is why I want to urge you to watch the interview he did for our WineRadio show with Dominic Symington - arguably the biggest, most influential name in the Portuguese wine business. Jim sat in Mr. Symington's private study and talked with the icon about his famous family, and the wine that we are pouring this Friday night. I hope you can join us. Watch The Interview HERE

<<>>

New Events & Reminders:

Before I tell you about new additions to the calendar let me remind you about the big weekend coming up. This Saturday - January 31 - is the 30th opening of the Hygenic Art Show. It starts at 8 p.m.
Activity for children starts at 11 a.m.

The town will be busy and there are many things to do and see all day Saturday - for example:

From 1-4 p.m. at City News Round up the kids in the neighborhood herd them into the SUV and bring them down to meet the authors of The Cat That Lost It's meOW.
Susan Epstein, Antoinette Ledzian, and Illustrator Richard Ledzian will be on hand to meet, greet, sign, and talk about their new book.

A great way for the younger crowd to participate.

<<>>

The support for our Food, Wine & Lifestyle of Tuscany event is fantastic - thank you. The menu and other details are in the snazzy side bar to the right. BUT if you want to attend you must reserve a space now. This is a great way to start your evening at the Hygienic.

The fun starts at 6 p.m.

TWO special guests will host
The Food, Wine, and Lifestyle of Tuscany.
Please Reserve Your Seats Early.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

<<>>

SPECIAL EVENT: He's Back.
Wednesday February 11 - 6 p.m.
Dinner with Eitenne Hugel

We have been very fortunate to attract the biggest most famous names in the wine business. Eitenne is one of the most dynamic and personable guests we have ever hosted. His family has been making wine since 1639.

If you are familiar with our dinners you know they are intimate affairs and can not be compared to anything else. You will eat, drink, and hob-nob on a one-to-one basis with a wine making legend.

Seating is very limited - reserve now.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Having Dinner with Eitenne Hugel is an experience that will last a lifetime. Eitenne loves to serve his wine with Asian foods - here is the line up.

Menu:

Chicken Dim Sum
Shrimp with Ginger Butter
Korean Shortrib Kebab
Rack of Lamb with Hoisin ~ Orange Glaze
over Rice Noodles with Edamame and Scallion
Coconut Flan with Caramel Sauce

Wine List:
Hugel Gentil
Hugel Pinot Blanc Hugel Gewurztraminer
Hugel Grains Noble

$65 plus tax and service.

<<>>
coming soon:

2/25 German Wine Tasting with Konrad Hahn proprietor of Von Schlenintz

3/2 Austrian Wine Dinner with Markus Huber of Huber Vineyards

5/15 Sake Dinner with Chad Beverlin of Vine Connections

Dave's Fave
The Monday Tasting 1.26.09

Vina Arboleda Carmenere 2007 $18

This elegant Chilean red has won over enthusiasts with Old-World nuance and deftly managed oak. The Carmenere grape is an ancient transplant from the Medoc region of Bordeaux. Vinekeeps in Chile preserved the varietal inadvertently, believing it to be Merlot! You can imagine the confusion. Of course, after the French phylloxerra outbreak of 1867, nary a vine remained in France, which led historians to - STOP!
So how does it taste?! Me, I love it. I had it with steak last weekend and it was bangin!

This reminds me of a story, Miles Davis told to his bassist Marcus Miller: "Have you ever read a review which actually sounded like the music? No way. Music is its own language. You have to hear it."

Same reason we like to pour for you in person. Close your eyes, disregard the label, the scores - Is the wine to your taste? Please drop in and find out! Order Now

A Special Salute To Portugal
The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - J Ramos "Loios" Vinho Alentejano 2007 $9


Loios is a wine produced in the Alentejo region, located in the south of Portugal . Its name originates from the title given in the 15th century to the members of the ancient Priest Congregation of St. John Evangelist, known simply as Loios.

Loios monks have always had a deep connection to the history of Alentejo, especially to its wines. Thus, this wine has been named after them and is made from traditional grape varieties of the region.

A blend of Rabo de Ovelha and Roupeiro, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks. This is a young, fresh wine which highlights the delicate, yet instantly approachable nature of these grapes. Pale yellow in color, lime and mineral aromas show through on the nose.

The palate demonstrates great acidity with notes of apples and other citrus fruits. A perfect aperitif wine, easily pairing with all dishes, especially antipasti and other lighter fare.Order Now


2 - Vale do Bomfim 2005 $14

One of my personal favorites, having had the opportunity to stay at the quinta or farm where this wine is produced.

This wine hails from the geologically delimited region of the upper Douro. That simply means that the region is determined not by political boundaries but by the geology that produces the soil that creates the wine. The soil is a mineral rich silt like clay with pieces of schist that have been deposited by the Douro river for millenia.

This is essentially unfortified Port, using the same port varietals such as Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriza, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Barroca. The Symington family, of Warres and Grahams port, has been producing this wine for generations for their own consumption at the Port lodge, but have only recently begun exporting it to the American market.

Interestingly, when I first tasted the wine, I was overwhelmed by the strong floral notes of Cabernet Franc. I occurred to me that perhaps Touriga Franc was Portuguese for Cab Franc. Although Dominic Symington insists that the two grapes are different varietals, I am reminded of the saying; if it walks like Cab Franc and smells like Cab Franc - but I'll let you be the judge.

Either way it is exciting for us to find inexpensive wines of such high quality that come from a family with such a heritage of wine making, produced the same way they were 400 years ago when the Symingtons began winemaking in the Douro. Order Now


3 - Quinta da Garrida Dao Reserva 2004 $32

Quality wine production in this DOC had been stifled under the dictatorship of Salazar. Under his policy, growers were only allowed to sell their grapes to the regional cooperatives, whose practices typically blended good quality with bad. Few producers grew enough grapes to make their own wine and the regional reputation suffered.

Upon Portugal joining the European Union, these cooperative obligations were overturned and the region - like many areas in Portugal - is undergoing a quality renaissance. This small, hilly region is entirely enclosed by mountain ranges - the Serra de Lapa frame the region to the north; the Serra da Estrela to the east; the Caramulo and Buçaco ranges to the west; and the Lousã mountains to the south.

These formidable mountain ranges prevent much of the maritime influence and easterly continental winds from affecting this cool, mild climate. Though the allowed acreage for this DOC is about 386,000 ha, but only about 20,000 ha are planted with vines. Most of these are planted in rolling hills along the mountain foothills of these formidable mountains at altitudes of between 400 and 500 meters above sea level. Here, aspect is everything and vines that catch the most sunlight achieve better ripeness levels.

Except for small patches of red clay found near the village of Vila Nova de Tazem, the region is primarily made up of granite (which has also found its way into the local traditional architecture). The granite absorbs and reflects heat, helping to ripen the grapes. High quality reds are based on Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz; the key white grape is Encruzado which when produced carefully - makes wines that are zesty, yet full-bodied enough to barrel ferment. The supply of both red and white wines is limited in supply, making this region one of rather high demand. Order Now


4 - Warres Otima Ten Year Tawny Port $24

Warre's has been leading the Port trade since it was established as the first British Port House in 1670. A pioneer of a great tradition with over 300 years of history, Warre's legacy is built on the superb quality of Warre's Vintage Ports and on an unwavering commitment to quality and successful innovation. These characteristics are reflected in wines Warre's Otima, an award-winning 10 Year-Old Tawny Port in chic, ultra-modern packaging.

Warre's has established itself as one of the most forward thinking Port producers, balancing its long tradition with total dedication to premium quality and successful innovation. Warre's launch of Otima 10 & 20 Year Old Tawny caused a revolution in Port that introduced a completely new concept to consumers, helping to rejuvenate Port's image in the main markets. Otima is now widely acknowledged as the most successful new development in the Port trade for over 25 years. The merit of Otima was to show Port's versatility as an all year round, anytime drink, appealing to both women and men, dispelling many of the myths attached to Port.

The clean, modern design was matched by an excellent wine that has been winning Gold and Silver medals at the world's leading blind tasting competitions year after year.

Order Now

Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions this week - we need that input, and appreciate the time you take to participate.

You wanted more dinners - you got it.
More special guests - you got it.
Value, Value, Value - you got it.

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


AAA.

Holiday Edition 2008

Friday Night In The Big City

Greetings from New London,
Like most of New London we had to close early because of the storm on Friday - it was the right thing to do. So this Friday will be extra special.

Many thanks for all of the support and enthusiasm over this holiday season - we appreciate it. The Day After Christmas Wine Tasting is all set and it includes a "first timer" - check out the list just below a few items of interest.

Saturday night at Brie & Bleu was a cozy winter affair - and an impromtu gathering of fans and friends led to an intimate dinner. The wine was flowing, the flurries were falling and a topic came up that we should mention. Some of our readers work for banks, pharmaceutical companies, and other large organizations that "FILTER" your email. Many of them remove all of the graphics and photos that we include each week. The images are replaced with an "X" or other symbol that indicates where the image would be. We want to remind you that all of our emails can be seen in their Full Uncut Directors Version - HERE

And they are fully searchable - so if you are trying to remember what that hard to find gem from three tastings ago was - you can look for it in our archives.

This Just In:
Trapiche Single Vineyard Gift Packs $150
Free Decanter with every purchase.
Limited Quantities.
First come, First Served - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Each year, Trapiche´s chief oenologist and winemaker Daniel Pi and his team, will select Mendoza's three best Malbec grape growers to communicate Trapiche´s foundations: the richness of diversity.

"It's been only recently, after 20 years in the industry", said Pi, "that I realize just how blessed I have been to work in Argentina, a country with the most diverse wine growing areas and unique climatic conditions."

Three outstanding wines, three remarkable grape growers, one variety: Malbec. The essence of Trapiche's Single Vineyard Malbecs lies in the combination of these factors.
Reserve Yours Now - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3
Order Now

Friends & Neighbors:
The State Street Studios will host a reception at their sweet new digs on Sunday December 28, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00p.m. Located just next door to Thames River Greenery & City News, and ALVA Gallery at 60 State Street all five studios will showcase their work.
INFORMATION: 8 6 0 - 9 6 1 - 4 0 0 1

Make Someone Happy
We have seriously fine cigars in stock at City News, including many famous brands like Partagas, H. Upman, Avo, Padron, and Punch to name just a few.

We select our cigars in the same manner that we stock our famous wine cellar. We seek out the experts & artisans of the industry, choose carefully, and stock items that are hard to find & represent real quality. Handmade with tradition and pride - not on a machine that can make thousands in an hour - but by people that might make 30 or 40 on a good day.

Combine cigars with fine wine & spirits in a gift basket 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.

We Rely On The Experts & Artisans
Full Boxes, Singles & Gift Box Samplers Ready To Go.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
City News
70 State Street New London

The Monday Tasting 12.22.08

Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs $17
Let's pop some bubbly on Monday afternoon!

Champagne winemaker Gilbert Gruet planted plots of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the hills near Albequerque, New Mexico in the early 1980's.

Sparkling wines with the quality of Champagne from the sunny American Southwest?

The secret lies in the limestone soils and the high altitude - the limestone mimics the terroir of Champagne, and at 4,300 feet, Gruet's vineyards are some of the highest in North America, giving the fruit cool nights and long maturation.

This Blanc de Noirs is 100% Pinot Noir with at least two years maturation - the wine has tons of berry fruit plus brioche toastiness that harkens to vintage Champagne. Priced under 20 bucks!! Order Now

Holiday Edition 2008
The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 12 -26 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $30


The Marlborough region is blessed with a unique terroir where a cool, maritime South Pacific climate produces wines of great fruit intensity.

Widely regarded as the quintessential expression of the acclaimed Marlborough wine region, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is an international benchmark wine noted for its vibrant aromatics, layers of pure fruit flavours, and fine structure.

Meticulous viticulture combined with modern technology and traditional vinification methods, consistently produces a style that has become the reference for this remote southern wine region.
We are offering this wine at our wine tasting for the first time in our history. Order Now








2 - Pares Balta Mas Elena 2005 $15




Parés Baltà is situated South of Barcelona, in the Penedès region of Catalunya. The winery was founded in the 1930's in an area that has been producing wine since the 1700's. Parès Balta is owned by the Cusiné family and produces red, white, as well as Cava wines.

Parés Baltà prides itself in using ecologically friendly farming techniques, such as using sheep to fertilize the vineyards, thus eliminating any need for artificial fertilizers and bees to facilitate pollination. In 2004 the winery was certified "organic.

The Mas Elena is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon 31%, Merlot Pujols 25%, Merlot Miret 36 % and Cabernet Franc 8%. The four varieties were macerated and fermented separately. Maceration lasted for 18 to 23 days. Malolactic fermentation was induced using indigenous bacteria.

The wine was fermented for eight months in 2nd and 3rd fill French Oak barrels from Allier. A full bodied Bordeaux blend in the French style. Order Now







3 - Green & Red Chiles Canyon Zinfandel 2006 $28

FromGreen & Red Vineyard, named for its red iron soils veined with green serpentine, is located in the steep hills on the east side of Napa Valley.

The planting was started in 1972 on ground originally in vineyards in the 1890's. The vineyards are a small percentage of the 200-acre property, which ranges in elevation from 900 to 2,000 feet.

Vines on our red hillsides produce a vigorous, spicy black pepper and berried wine. Dryed rose petals over anise and black cherry. Tastes of dark red berries dashed with Christmas spices. Goes well with rare roasted wild duck. Order Now











4 - Domaine de la Pertuisane "Le Nain Violet" 2005 $24

Made from grapes from extremely low yielding 50 year old Grenache and Carignan Vines. Harvested from steep schistous slopes surrounding the village of Maury in Roussillon. Le Nain Violet is wild yeast fermented and after 18 months in French oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined for the truest expression terroir. Big and succulent and very French.

Order Now









Thanks very much for your support over the holiday season - we appreciate it.
The new year is just around the corner - and so are some of the exciting things we have been working on - Dinners, Special Events and Guests - all based on your input. We welcome all comments and suggestions, we need your help to stay on the leading edge and to get better at what we do. We love to hear from you.

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


AAA.