City News, Fall Food Stroll, Mas de Gourgonnier, Chateau Soucherie, Suberli Morellino, Ramsay Napa Merlot, Bogle Phantom

Greetings from all of us in New London.
It has been a busy week around here. We are putting the finishing touches on City News Located just one block from the train station at 70 State Street.

Featuring big city newspapers, magazines, coffee, candy, refreshments, fine cigars & tobacco, New London souvenirs, post cards, travel & personal necessities and much more.
Stop in to see the original decor from New London's 1900's!


See our list of wine for the Friday tasting below,
But our own Jim Morrison has a surprise for you first.

JUST IN:
Caymus Cabernet 2006 $75 1 case
Shafer Merlot $55 2006 2 cases (sorry the Relentless and Hillside Select are gone until next year)

AND!

DOMAINE DUJAC Chambolle Musigny 2006 $100 6 bottles
DOMAINE DUJAC Vosne Romanee 1er Aux Malconsorts $250
3 bottles only
Call 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

FALL FOOD STROLL
Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 5:30-8:30 PM

Fall will officially kick off in the District at New London Main Street's annual Fall Food Stroll.

This year has the largest number of participating businesses in the historical waterfront district! Taste and shop in over 55 venues!

Whether you are a real foodie, or just want to check out The District, this Stroll will be sure to have something to offer for everyone!

Dave's Fave
The Monday Tasting 10.6.08
Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence 2006 $16

(Pronounced: "Mmm, yum") I've always been charmed by this spicy red in the tubby bottle. I've poured it Monday before, but the new 2006 vintage has arrived and needs to be sampled!

From a small, beautiful vineyard of grape vines and olive trees in Provence, Gourgonnier produces even-handed wines of Rhone varietals and Cabernet Sauvignon, and some of the most prized olive oil in France.

And they are the modern model of a fully organic and biodynamic agricultural producer. Wild rasberry tones with touches of smoke, nutmeg and black pepper, defined by ripe round tannins (translation: "Mmm, yum").
Get It Now

The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday October 10 - 6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Chateau Soucherie Anjou Blanc 2007 $16


The Tijou family has a long history as "viticulteurs" in the Loire Valley region near Angers. In fact, they have practiced their craft, father to son, since 1780. The actual Domaine de la Soucherie was purchased from the Marquis de Brissac in 1952.

Treatments in the vineyards are kept to an absolute minimum as the objective is to produce a wine in as natural a manner as possible. All grapes are harvested manually. The prime parcels of Chenin Blanc are harvested by a series of passes through the vineyards in order to obtain grapes of ultimate ripeness.

The wine is extremely dry and will age well for years. Very well paired with shellfish, or any rich food such as duck confit or our Cassoulet. Order Now


2 - Suberli Morellino di Scansano 2006





















In an effort to use only traditional Tuscan varietals and no international grapes as permitted by the DOC, the required 85% Sangiovese is blended with 12% Malvasia and 3% Alicante, for extra aromaticity.

The wines is aged 10 months in 350-liter tonneaux, of which about 30% are new. Intense purple with hints of ruby, this wine is loaded with lush black currant and black cherry, layered over supple tannins and notes of tobacco and espresso.

A great, authentic expression of Tuscan terroir.

Order Now


3 - Ramsay Napa Merlot 2005 $15


















Remember when Napa Merlot was $15 a bottle?
Ramsey is the second label of pioneering California wine maker Kent Rasmussen who planted his first vines in Napa in 1979. This Merlot comes from three Napa Valley vineyards: two in Rutherford and one in the eastern part of the Valley. The small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend comes from two vineyards: one in southeast Napa and the other near Saint Helena.

The nose is quintessential Merlot, with loads of tarry dark berry fruit and an understated but firm peppery note, along with sweet oak characteristics. Lots of dark fruit and a wonderful counter current full of the bright nuances of plum, herb, sage, dill, and cassis. Well-balanced in the mouth with pleasant tannins and good acidity. Order Now


4 - Bogle Phantom 2005 $24


Wine maker's notes: The time is here to start looking over your shoulder.

Three unique varietals combine lush berry and fierce spice into a wine characterized by its incandescence. Brighter fruit and brighter spice highlight this vintage of the deep ruby apparition. Aromas of plums and cherries are embraced by touches of black pepper. From the deep dark depths, subtle notes of anise, juniper and vanilla emerge and compliment the concentrated fruit characters of this wine.

Though this wine is remarkable now, age in the bottle will only integrate the three unique varietals more. Welcome the winery ghost into your home again with this latest vintage.

Order Now

Thank You For Your Support

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

AAA.

MORE INFORMATION

Rioja Dinner, St. Urbans-Hof, Hugel Gentil, Le Pinot Noir Chanfleure,Mas de Gourgonnier, Beast Cabernet Sauvignon,

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
NEW: order online - 24 hours a day - seven days a week: http://www.thamesrivergreenery.com/

Our selection for the Friday tasting is just below these items of interest.

CORRECTION - DATE CHANGE -
There was a bit of confusion for the upcoming wine dinner dates - our apologies for the mix-up.

The Correct Dates:
Southern Italy Dinner - Tuesday March 18 - 6 p.m. - $50 plus tax & service
Rioja Gran Reserva Dinner - Wednesday April 2 - 6 p.m. - $75 plus tax & service

Both dinners will feature wine with each course and in the case of the Rioja Dinner a rare opportunity to sample a "Gran Reserva" Vertical Tasting.
Here are the vintages you will enjoy: 81, 82, 85, & 91

And in addition to the best value in North America - we are using the "Open Seating" plan that many of you have requested. So, sit with those friends that are visiting from out of town, or canoodle in the corner - just the two of you, it's your choice.

Here is a handy link to our calendar of events - we will be posting the menu details there: http://thames-river-wine-spirits.com/wine/calendar.html

AAA.

Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - March 10 - No Charge
St. Urbans-Hof Riesling 2007 $15
Dave Says: "Let us consider, for a moment, Riesling, the queen of white grapes: could it be in Riesling we find, through the interplay of acidity and sugars, the most profound and transparent lens through which we experience terroir? Yeah, sure thing, but all I was really looking for was a tart and sweet comfort wine with which to experience Netflix movies from the sleeping bag on the couch. In this estate grown and bottled gem from the Mosel-Saar valleys of Germany, we accomplish both of these noble ideals! Please stop in Monday afternoon and give it a try."


Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday March 14 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


Hugel Gentil 2005 $12 The Hugels have been making
wine in Alsace since 1639 and own one of the oldest
wine casks in the world "Sainte Caterine" dated 1715.
This sense of history and place comes through in their
wines as they express the varied terroirs of Alsace.
The Gentil is a field blend of classic Alsace
varietals such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris
and Sylvaner. Anyone who has met Etienne Hugel at our
wine dinners can attest he is enthusiastic about Asian
cuisine (actually he is enthusiastic about a lot of
things, but mostly food and wine). True to his
passion, this wine is a perfect pairing for Thai,
Schezuan or Indian food. This wine can take the heat,
but is also well paired with cheese, pate, fried
mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, pho, white bean soup,
mixed green salad...

Louis Latour Le Pinot Noir Chanfleure 2005 $15 From
the back label "100% Pinot Noir for it's varietal and
100% Cote D'Or for it's origin" Your $15 Pinot Noir
from California isn't entirely either. Under
California state law the wine only has to be mostly
Pinot Noir and mostly from California. Have you ever
wondered why the wine book your reading describes
Pinot Noir as a light bodied fine wine, but every time
you buy a California Pinot Noir it's a rich, heavy,
clumsy, ponderous fruit mallet to the mouth? Could it
be the Syrah or Carmenere from South American they are
adding? David Bruce, I'm addressing you. I refuse to
give up my obsession. Are you going to let our
emotional life be run by Wine Spectator?

Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence 2005
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan combine to
create a wine of richness and intense fruit, that is
none the less transparent enough to reveal a true
expression of Provencal soil. Organically farmed for
decades, the property also produces olives, fruit and
vegetables, practicing true biodiversity. Real French
wine, made as naturally and traditionally as possible.
Absolutely perfect for fish stew or any Mediterranean
dish like chicken Mirabella

Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. From our friends at
Buty, this wine comes from the Horse Heaven Hills in
Walla Walla Washington. Again the Columbia valley
gives us a wine that not only has lush body, but is
well knit and balanced. The Columbia valley can be
well over 100 degrees during the day, and drop down to
50 or 60 degrees at night with the persistent winds
out of the east. It is the huge temperature
variation from day to night that creates a wine of
powerhouse fruit sitting on a firm foundation of
tannic structure. Not simply ripe, this wine is
buildt.


We hope that you will join us on Friday.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.