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.

Bold New Look, Sella and Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna, San Sole, Vale do Bomfim, Steltzner Claret , Il Tarocco Chianti Classico,

Well, what do you think?
The newsletter get's a brand new look starting this week. We have been trying for sometime now to find a method that will allow us to share the information and news that we have each week that would also accommodate pictures and links to relevant items. We also needed a way that would allow all of our readers, friends, and customers to receive this information across all platforms of computers and email service providers. We think we have found it - it may take a little tweaking to get it just the way we like it, but we think we are on the right track.

Our new format also allows for better communication with you directly. There should be less likely a chance that your comments and suggestions are filtered out as "spam" - we hate when that happens - we need your input.

Also with this new format we hope to address one of the most frequent comments we get. Lots of people say that by the time they get to the wine store we have sold out of something that caught their eye in this newsletter. Starting this week, clicking on the image for any of the wines mentioned below will take you to a shopping area for that item. We will hold it at the store for you or deliver it right to your front door.

And we hope to introduce some of our new visitors to the other things that we do. We are celebrating 35 years in business and our small group of related companies compliment each other well. It all started with Thames River Greenery "The Mother Ship" as we sometimes say. And, over the years we have added products and services that we feel better serve our customers. It allows us to offer the best of all possible worlds when it comes to gift giving, special occasions or a little personal indulgence.

If you visit the TRG website simply click a category and look around. We are adding to the Wine & Spirits Section of the TRG web site on a regular basis - we have added a few favorites to get the ball rolling, but check back often, it will change frequently.

So, a new look, but the same award winning information. We have a great line up of wine for this Friday. The list is just below a few items of interest.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS
· Our good friend and New London neighbor David Spon is featured in the new issue of Food & Wine Magazine. David designs and builds the kind of wine cellars that you see in the movies. Some of his clients are household names, and his cellars are works of art on their own.The article: "A Cellar Designer's Underground Secrets" can be read here: David Spon - Cellar Designer

· Just across the street from our store The Hygienic Art Gallery has a wonderful show that showcases the city of New London, it's called Urban Landscape: Hand-made City.
The show features the work of Gregory Bowerman, Jenn Collins, and Milton Moore.
Take a little time after our tasting to walk over and have a look - New London never looked so good. The exhibition runs from: March 22 - April 19, 2008 More Information
· Wednesday April 9 - 6 p.m. French Wine Dinner
Featuring flights of 2005 White Burgundy and Bordeaux.
The wines of Christian Moreau, Oliver Leflaive, Chateau De Pez, and Tourelles de Longueville will make it a night of indulgence not to be missed.
"Open Seating" format - The biggest names in Burgundy & Bordeaux - $100 plus tax & service.

· Wednesday April 16 - 6 p.m. Cult Wine Dinner Series - "Open Seating"
Each year the names "Clio" and "El Nido" sit at the top of the "Best Of" lists. They are very difficult to find and always scored by the big reviewers and magazine's high in the 90's.
The 2005 vintage is no exception. Robert Parker: "Clio 95 points, El Nido 98 points."
Join us for a dinner that will give you bragging rights, truly a night to remember.
$125 plus tax and service.

Those of you that have attended our "Cult Wine Dinner Series" in the past know that they are, with out a doubt, over the top. Seating is very limited because the availability of the wine is painfully scarce. We are one of the very few shops in the United States that receives an allocation of these wines.

Think about it this way: If the entire production of a particular wine is only 300 cases - and often that is a "six-pack" for the case - those 300 cases must be divvied up among all of their customers world wide. Perhaps only 100 cases make it to the USA. Now all of the big boys, fancy shops, and restaurants in all the right zip codes start waving their hands and shouting "Me, Me, Me!" Roughly that's just a couple of cases for each state. Think about all of the tony shops in Connecticut with hedge fund managers and movie stars as their regular customers, any one of them could take the entire allocation without a problem.

So how do we wind up with enough of these wines pour for you at a dinner? It's because of the incredible interest, support, and the impression that our friends & customers have made on the importers, distributors, and in some cases the winemaker when they have made a visit to the store. In this particular case we also made a trip to the vineyard in Spain and shared an entire day with the family that makes the wine. We had the great fortune of actually standing in the warm afternoon sun and sampling the grapes that made the wine we will be pouring at this dinner. The winemaker himself said "these are the best grapes I've tasted in ten years."
Please reserve early - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting
Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2004 $14
Dave Says: "I had a what the heck was I thinking moment last week when I tasted this for the first time at the Italian dinner last week. I knew this was a cult favorite, and it's been staring me in the face for years, but I nonchalantly ignored it. Why, I don't know, I guess I assumed it was some super-hot fruit bomb from the Mediterranean. What I found instead was a truly elegant, detailed, lighter-bodied gem that I could have been bringing home all this time! From the island of Sardinia, the grape Cannonau is an ancient local version of Grenache, earthy and spicy, and the Reserva sees oak cask aging for at least two years. And it's still just $14, the same price it's been for my long, empty years of ignorance... Let me redeem myself by pouring it for you on Monday!"

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday March 28 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - San Sole Chardonnay 2007 $11
The San Sole wines, both Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, are some of our best selling wines for one simple reason. The wines under promise and over deliver. You've probably seen the wines in the store with their very plain labels and thought how good can it be? The answer is really good, surprisingly good. And while you don't usually associate Italy with Chardonnay, the Veneto region of Italy makes some of the greatest white wine in the world, so why not Chardonnay? The wine receives no oak, combine that with the mild climate of Veneto and you have a Chardonnay that is lighter, more aromatic and more food friendly then the Chardonnay of Chile and Argentina. And a better value than anything coming out of California. Inexpensive and versatile, this wine is a real daily drinker.

2 - Vale do Bomfim Douro Reserva 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.

Dominick Symington was a guest on our WineRadio Show. Shot on location at the family estate in Portugal, our own Jim Morrison spoke candidly with Dominick and it gives us wonderful insight and a backstage look into one of the greatest names in the business.


3 - Steltzner Claret 2005 $18
Claret is an English word that refers to Bordeaux style blends, in this case from the Stag's Leap district of Napa Valley California. Classically, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The winery is family owned and they use all estate fruit, Alison Stelzner even comes to visit us in New London every year with the new vintage. Year after year Stelzner Claret proves itself to be a tremendous California wine under $20, a rare thing these days. If you've been drinking Malbec, maybe it's time to revisit Napa, and if you've been spending $25 or $30 for Napa Cab, it is definitely time to try Stelzner Claret.


4 - Il Tarocco Chianti Classico Riserva 2001 $32
100% Sangiovese from the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany. The winery describes itself as having " new equipment and modern technologies on ancient land ". The combination produces a wine that is lush and structured, yet transparent , allowing us to taste into the wine, and through the wine and into the poor stoney soil of Chianti. The owner-winemaker Paolo Osti uses lengthy macerations for heft and intensity of flavor, and prolonged aging in barrique and tonneau to create roundness and opulence. Fruit, and structure, minerality and
acidity, this is one of our best examples of Chianti.


Thanks very much for your support we appreciate it. And it is important that you know how much we value your comments and suggestions - we are listening. We try to implement your ideas as often as possible. Some take longer than others to introduce but we like to hear all of them.

In the coming weeks you can look forward to more special guests, new menu items, and one of a kind events. All based on your input.

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

AAA.

Do Over!, Altano Douro, Vale Do Bomfim, Prazo de Roriz, Quinta de Roriz

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

Well because of the "Storm Of The Century" - I think that's how it was described last week - we were forced to cancel last Friday night's tasting.
According to our records that was the first time we missed a scheduled Friday tasting since we opened.
We hope that you all enjoyed a nice day off.

So this week it is a "Do Over".

The wines are great and we know you will want to try them - they are listed just below this quick update about Brie & Bleu -


This Week At Brie & Bleu -
Dinner Specials:
Friday March 23 - lemon cod with panko bread crumbs and brown butter
Saturday March 24 - orange glazed grilled rack of pork Fred the cheese of the week is Piave Vecchio and Italian cheese.

Seats Still Available for dinners on: 3/20 & 3/27 - please call for more information.

The featured cheese of the week at Brie & Blue is Piave Vecchio, which is a great Italian snacking cheese at $12/lb this week. Piave is made from the pasteurized milk of cows that graze on mountain pastures in Italy's Veneto region. It is not a farmstead cheese. It is made by a cooperative, in 15- pound wheels that are only about 2 inches tall, with the cheese's name impressed in the rind. As with many recently introduced cheeses, information on Piave's manufacture is scarce. From the dense texture and butterscotch aroma and flavor, it appears that the curd is both cooked and pressed, as for Gruyere, Gouda or Parmigiano-Reggiano. Piave may remind you of any or all of those cheeses. It has the texture of a young Parmigiano-Reggiano, not crystalline yet nor dry enough for grating, but heading in that direction. It has the toasted walnut character of Gruyere and the caramel-like sweetness of an aged Gouda. The cheese pairs well with a rich white or virtually any red wine should work.
Enjoy,
Mrs. Z


WINE TASTING PLEASE JOIN US
Friday March 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


1 - Altano Douro Tinto 2004 $9
A red table wine from the Douro region of Portugal. Straight-forward, easy to drink and ideal for an improptu weeknight gathering. This wine is either at the head of its class in quality or below the curve in price. Altano Douro is a premium wine brand that Symington uses to market wines made from the traditional Port grapes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Altano Douro is a delicious value and an excellent table wine. It’s a medium-bodied red that emits scents of red fruit, herbs, spices, and an earthy musk. For the price, the wine shows loads of finesse - just like Jim.

2 - Vale Do Bomfim Reserva 2004 $14
This is what the reviews have to say:
“An intense bouquet of ripe fruit seasoned with spicy vanilla oak leads the charge to flavors of vivid red-berry and cassis fruit gently layered over firm tannins.” - Ben Giliberti, Washington Post
"Best Buy", 88 Points
“… bold, exuberantly flavored blend… shows good depth of fruit…” - Wine Enthusiast

3 - Prazo de Roriz 2004 $16
The Prazo de Roriz table wine is made with a blend of Douro grapes; especially Tinta Roriz, a grape that acquired its name from the Roriz estate when it was first brought to the Quinta in the 19th century from Spain where the grape is known as Tempranillo.
"Best Buy", 89 Points
“The Symington family continues to make strides in their table wine production… full-bodied, smooth-textured… brining blackberry, blueberry and spice and mineral notes to the table.”
- Wine Enthusiast

4 - Quinta de Roriz Reserva 2000 $25
"Rich and deeply flavored, with brooding dark plum, dark chocolate and heady, spicy flavors. Almost like drinking a dry Port. Plenty of tannins in this as well, with good grip on the powerfully smoky and decadent finish. The preferred Port grape, Touriga Nacional, dominates as 45 percent of the blend. "
Score: 92 points - Wine Spectator

Thanks very much for your support - we appreciate it.
And we hope to see you on Friday night - weather permitting - the deck will be open.

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


AAA.

Dominic Symington, Duckhorn, Constant Bliss, Symington Family, Altano Douro, Vale Do Bomfim, Prazo de Roriz, Quinta de Roriz

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


We have a great selection of wines for the Friday night tasting they are listed below - here are a couple of items of interest and the answers to a couple of questions that came in during the week.




• Well, our wine tasting on Friday night - the one that featured the "big guns" from Duckhorn Vineyards - brought the people out. Or was it the return of our own "Rascal from Rioja" Jim Morrison? Fresh from the trip to Spain, full of stories and a new outlook on life.

Lets just say it was a combination of both.

Our cellar was full of people. Chatting, sipping, meeting and greeting.
Thank you all for showing so much support and for making it so much fun every week.
There were lots of new people too. From places like Hartford, Madison, Old Saybrook and Providence.
Where else can you meet new people and share the experience of trying great wine? - For free.

"We wish we had a store like this at home" - That was the sentiment that was expressed - The out-of-towners said that they were tired of shopping in places with overwhelming selections, snobby unfriendly attitudes and feeling as if their local stores were doing them a favor by selling them a bottle of wine - or even worse making them feel like an idiot.

When it comes down to it - behind all of the fancy labels and famous names it is what is inside the bottle that counts. The best wines are not the ones that are the most expensive, they are the ones that bring the most enjoyment - that is why we are here. We want you to judge the wine for yourself - you are the best judge. We believe that by knowing our customers on an individual basis we can help them to feel comfortable trying new things and to experience the excitement of discovering their own tastes. Whether it is wine to go with Chinese take-out, a special gift, dinner party wine, or a large wedding, we are more than happy to use our "expertise" to help select the perfect wine for any occasion.

• Speaking of idiots...
We are often asked after pouring a glass of wine, "What should I be tasting?" Its a hard question to answer because no one can, or should, be able to tell you what to taste. I remember, reading the description of a wine I had tried and thinking "I don't taste any of those things, I must be an idiot." Now, the case could be made that I am an idiot, but not because I don't taste plums, saddle soap, figs and Converse All Stars in my Cote Rotie.

In addition to what you are actually tasting there is the problem of communicating that to another person. I had this discussion with a friend who sent along this essay that he found on a British website. Its called New English Review. The article is Language, truth and wine by Colin Bower.

Here is the link: http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=5509&sec_id=5509



• We are in the process of switching all of our videos to the "Flash flv" format - in hopes of making it easier for everyone to view. At the moment they are all available in "Quicktime" only - This is a bunch of technical jargon that you do not have to worry about - when we switch it will be invisible to the user - that's you - your computer will will the work for you and it should allow everyone to see what all of the fuss is about. Thanks for your patience.




• All of the menus for our Tuesday and Wednesday night wine dinner series have been posted on the Calendar of Events page - If you see something that you like, it is best not to wait to make your reservations. Call, because seating is limited.


THIS WEEK AT BRIE & BLEU:

Dinner Specials:
Friday: Lemon Cod
Saturday: Lamb with fattoosh salad & garlic pilaf
The wine selections were not available to me at press time - but - rest assured that we will have a couple of choices just right for every pocket.
This has got to be the best food & wine dinner value in the area. Please give it a try.

The featured cheese is Constant Bliss.

The featured cheese of the week at Brie & Blue is Constant Bliss at $8. Constant Bliss is based on a Chaource recipe, which is modified to suit the production schedule and cheesemaking facility at Jasper Hill. The result is a cheese which hardly even resembles a Chaource. It is a slow ripened lactic curd made only with fresh, right out of the cow, uncooled, evening milk. We actually begin the cheesemaking process before the cows have finished milking. Constant Bliss is made with raw whole milk. This is not a double or triple crème cheese as is sometimes thought. Seasonal variations in the milk result in variations on the surface and flavor of the cheese. We like to use Constant Bliss to highlight our milk, and rather than overpowering the natural microflora of our milk with cotton white mold, we prefer to see a mottling of diverse molds and yeasts, which are prevalent particularly in the summer months when the cows are out on grass. It is aged 60 days before it leaves the farm, and is a ‘sell it or smell it’ item for retailers.

Constant Bliss is named after a revolutionary war scout killed in Greensboro by native Americans in 1781. He was guarding the Bayley Hazen Military Road with his compatriot Moses Sleeper, who died with him.
Enjoy,
"Mrs.Z"

WINE TASTING PLEASE JOIN US
Friday March 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

The wines are all from the region that our own Jim Morrison - has just visited. The stories are still fresh in his mind and he can give all of us first hand information about each and everyone one of them. We would like to thank the Symington family for their generous hospitality and Dominic Symington in-particular for his personal attention. Thank You. And to Jim Kowalyshyn from Vineyard Brands for opening the doors and including us.

Take a minute to visit our calendar of events page - In the next 24 hours - you can watch video shot on location with Dominic Symington in Portugal - it will give you an idea of what it takes to produce a world-class wine. And please taste them on Friday they are truly wonderful.

1 - Altano Douro Tinto 2004 $9
A red table wine from the Douro region of Portugal. Straight-forward, easy to drink and ideal for an improptu weeknight gathering. This wine is either at the head of its class in quality or below the curve in price. Altano Douro is a premium wine brand that Symington uses to market wines made from the traditional Port grapes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Altano Douro is a delicious value and an excellent table wine. It’s a medium-bodied red that emits scents of red fruit, herbs, spices, and an earthy musk. For the price, the wine shows loads of finesse - just like Jim.


2 - Vale Do Bomfim Reserva 2004 $14
This is what the reviews have to say:
“An intense bouquet of ripe fruit seasoned with spicy vanilla oak leads the charge to flavors of vivid red-berry and cassis fruit gently layered over firm tannins.” - Ben Giliberti, Washington Post
"Best Buy", 88 Points
“… bold, exuberantly flavored blend… shows good depth of fruit…” - Wine Enthusiast

3 - Prazo de Roriz 2004 $16
The Prazo de Roriz table wine is made with a blend of Douro grapes; especially Tinta Roriz, a grape that acquired its name from the Roriz estate when it was first brought to the Quinta in the 19th century from Spain where the grape is known as Tempranillo.
"Best Buy", 89 Points
“The Symington family continues to make strides in their table wine production… full-bodied, smooth-textured… brining blackberry, blueberry and spice and mineral notes to the table.”
- Wine Enthusiast

4 - Quinta de Roriz Reserva 2000 $25
"Rich and deeply flavored, with brooding dark plum, dark chocolate and heady, spicy flavors. Almost like drinking a dry Port. Plenty of tannins in this as well, with good grip on the powerfully smoky and decadent finish. The preferred Port grape, Touriga Nacional, dominates as 45 percent of the blend. "
Score: 92 points - Wine Spectator

We hope to see you Friday night.
Please join us. It is fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA