Crazy Beautiful

  CRAZY BEAUTIFUL.

Loosely translated, Jolie Folle means "crazy beautiful."
The same could be said for the winemaking philosophy of owner Brian Smith and his wife Gina - despite the naysayers, they've found a way to produce a highquality, expressive, hand-crafted wine at an approachable price point. Brian creates terroir driven wines of character. As part of their sustainable winemaking philosophy, Brian and Gina use lightweight, eco-friendly one liter bottles which contain more wine, but involve less waste..

"Aromas of wild strawberry and white peach mingle with notes of white pepper and stone dust. The round, fresh finish is balanced and juicy."

The wine is one of our most exciting rosés of the season.
The grapes were sourced from vineyards located in Sainte Victoire, in the heart of Provence. Planted on clay and limestone soils. The hand-picked fruit was gently pressed and cold fermented in stainless steel.  
Great Value - and one of the wines we will pour this Friday.

This Friday Night

We have had the last couple of Friday nights off!
An unusual occurrence - like a Super Moon.
We hope you will join us this week as we indulge in wines presented by Mr. Tom Belchor of Martin Scott Selections.

A native of New Zealand, and trained as a winemaker, Tom brings an entertaining, and very knowledgeable perspective to his tastings.

Please join us.

BELTANE FARMS
Do any of you remember the first time we invited the folks at Beltane Farms to Join us?

We had them bring along a few of their goats, and we set up a petting zoo for the kids to enjoy.

No goats this time - but their cheese is sublime.

 

Cheese Maker:

Danse de la Lune
We make about 50 to 80 of these wheels every week and each one is given special care and attention every day. This bloomy-rind cheese is usually around 4oz and makes a perfect addition to any cheese plate.

Ricotta
We believe fresh whole milk ricotta is the best. Our goat milk ricotta thick and creamy and adds a spectacular flavor to pizzas or pasta dishes.

Vespers
Our Vespers are truly a unique cheese. Only 30 to 60 wheels are made every week, as this cheese requires the most care and attention. Inside each wheel a layer of natural vegetable runs through the middle, while the outside is covered in a sweet bloomy rind. A beautiful addition to an afternoon bottle of white, or and evening bottle of red.

Try them this Friday Night.


CALENDAR:

Friday July 18th
Tom Belchor - Martin Scott Wines
 
Friday July 25th
Alan Godycki - Fine Terrior Wines

Friday August 1st
Roger Hoadley - Slocum & Sons

Friday August 15th
Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnic

Friday August 22nd
Angellini Wines

New Years 2010

A Successful New Year's Eve Party
Is just a call away. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Wednesday December 30th:
Bubbly Night featuring all of our sparkling options for New Year's Eve - Cava, Prosecco, Vouvray and yes, even CHAMPAGNE.

As always the fun starts at 6:00 P.M.

After you find your favorite bubbly at our tasting here is a quick idea for News Years Day:

After all of the fun, you make need to re-adjust your system - we like the classic approach.

1 - Mimosa's

The simple method of mixing champagne and orange juice, popularized in Paris and London in the 1920s, has had an enduring appeal.

1 oz. fresh orange juice
Champagne

1. Pour orange juice into a champagne flute. Pour in enough champagne to fill the flute to the rim and stir to combine.

2 - Eggs Benedict:

2 cups distilled white vinegar
2 & a half tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
8 slices Canadian bacon
3 egg yolks
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1quarter tsp. Tabasco
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
8 eggs, cracked into separate small bowls
4 English muffins, pulled apart by hand and toasted
Paprika or cayenne, for garnish

1. Bring 16 cups water to a boil in a tall 6-quart saucepan over high heat. Add vinegar and 2 tsp. salt, lower heat to medium, and bring to a simmer.

2. Heat oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat; add bacon; cook, turning once, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

3. Combine yolks, lemon juice, 4 tsp. warm water, Tabasco, and remaining salt in a blender; turn to medium speed and slowly drizzle in butter to make the hollandaise. Transfer to a bowl; set aside, covered.

4. Swirl simmering water with a spoon to create a whirlpool. Carefully slide each egg into water; poach until just firm, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to a paper towel-lined plate. Divide muffin halves between 4 plates; top each half with 1 slice of bacon and 1 egg. Spoon 2-3 tbsp. sauce over each egg. Sprinkle with paprika or cayenne.
SERVES 4

*****

Still Available :
Calera Jensen Pinot Noir 2006 ($65) is in the house! Josh Jensen's single vineyard Pinot Noir offering is here, impossible to find, the gold standard of velvety California Pinot Noirs, from the winemaster's flagship vineyard. We have six entire bottles - first come, first served.

AND - we still have a few bottles left of
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.

*****
We Love BOURBON
And It Makes An Excellent Gift

Small Batch Bourbon -
As the name suggests, these ultra-premium, small batch bourbons are made in limited quantities. Aged from six to nine years in new, charred American white oak barrels, each is characteristic of pre-Prohibition whiskey, with strong, rich flavors and aromas. A small batch bourbon is a complex balance of taste and flavor.

This is the #1 Rated Bourbon Whiskey in the World
Rated 99 out of 100 by the World's Spirits Championships

"Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve' is aged an unheard of 20 years, and bottled at 90.4 proof.
This whiskey is wonderfully smooth and rich.
No other bourbon today can stand 20 years of aging, but this bourbon does it with style. My grandfather, 'Pappy Van Winkle' was a true character. This bourbon, like 'Pappy', is full of the character that makes it a very special whiskey. It, too, has been put in a class of a fine after dinner cognac." - Julian III and Preston Van Winkle

A bottle of fine bourbon and carefully selected cigars is the ultimate gift for the connoisseur in your life. We can even arrange for a private tasting and cigars in our beautiful lounge - think about it.

*****

Please Join Us
WEDNESDAY December 30 - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
Wednesday December 30th:
Bubbly Night featuring all of our sparkling options for New Year's Eve - Cava, Prosecco, Vouvray and yes, even CHAMPAGNE!

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

******

As the year comes to a close we sincerely want to wish all of you and your loved ones, a safe, happy, and healthy New Year.

Thank you all for your support of our local businesses, it makes a big difference - we appreciate it.

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

AAA.

You Are Definitely on The List - Please Join Us

Happy Holidays
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Greetings from New London,

Its been a great busy week here - thanks for all of the excitement. Parties, reunions, poetry readings, and secret rendezvous.

Just a couple of very quick notes this week.

Remember 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.

The full assortment of cheeses, breads, imported nuts, charcuterie, and specialty foods are all on display.


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

******


Friday December 4 2009
6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Crios Torrontes 2009 $15

Winemaker Susana Balbo has been a winemaking powerhouse in Argentina since the early 1980's - we're a fan of all of her "Crios" table wines, but this Torrontes may be the most compelling. Sourced from 30-year old Torrontes vines situated at 5,800 feet elevation in Cafayate, Argentina, the wine is unoaked and meant to be enjoyed young. A remarkable floral and fruity nose, with citrus similar to Sauvignon Blanc, yet weightier and more aromatic. Torrontes is truly it's own delicacy, and Balbo is widely considered to be the master of the varietal. Sublime paired with light cheeses, and stunning paired with crab or lobster!

2 - Domaine de la Solitude Cotes-du-Rhone 2007 $14

From the Lancon Family, situated near Chateneuf-du-Pape for five centuries, comes this elegant, affordable old-school Rhone. Syrah and Grenache, loads of plummy fruit and smoke, silky mouthfeel and a bright ruby color. A beautifully rounded full-bodied French red, this wine also will mature and integrate nicely over the next five years.

3 - Diemersdal Pinotage 2007 $14

Often affordable Pinotage tastes like it got a spoonful of barbeque sauce in each bottle - this is NOT one of those numbers! From the Durbanville Region of South Africa, this wine displays remarkable harmony and balance. With a nose of coffee and dark chocolate, the palate is full-flavoured and smoothly textured with dark fruit, Asian spice and roasted flavours. Yes, one can percieve it's heritage with that touch of smoke, but we've found it to be an extremely enjoyable table red if you'd like to try something different!

4 - Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2008 $18

This old vine Grenache comes to us from the Campo de Borja region in Northeastern Spain. The yields of these vines are extremely low (less than 2 tons per acre), resulting in a wine of serious concentration and structure. Purple lavender in color, lush and smoky with flavors of blackberry, strawberry and tones of leather and vanilla from the oak. This wine will age and mellow beautifully. It's always a favorite around here and represents a great value - we just got the new vintage in and have a stack of it!he 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 response to our new gourmet selections at The Greenery has been beyond our expectations.
Thank you.

And as always thanks for the suggestions and comments - we will use them to better serve you during this holiday season.

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.

Your Holiday Checklist Starts Right Here

Your Holiday Checklist - Starts Right Now.
We have solutions galore.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Greetings from New London,
This week the tasting falls on Friday The Thirteenth.
This might bother a typical package store - but not us. We have the perfect cure for Triscadecaphobia. Please Stop in on Friday Night so we can share it with you.

***

New London In the news again
The New York Times Article featured a photo
of our store - (that's us in the background)

If you missed the story read it HERE

***

Thanks to everyone for coming out to support the inaugural session of "Trabadour Nights" at City News.
The next performance date will be added soon.

****

Mark your Calendars For
Friday November 20th

Local Author Marci Alborghetti will be signing copies of her new book
"The Chrismas Glass" during the wine tasting in our store.

Also - look for the profile in The Day newspaper coming on Sunday November 15th.

****

Our annual Jonathan Edward's Thanksgiving tasting is just around the corner more details next week.

***

Wednesday Beer Tasting - Continues.

Great Beer, Great Food, No Charge.
Does It Get ANY Better Than That?
Stop By After Work.
84 Bank Street New London

***

Remember - Just Two Weeks Left:
The Connecticut Cajun himself - Chef Phil Hubbard is cooking authentic Cajun Cuisine at The Beanery on Thursday the 12th, and Thursday 19th of November.

MENU THIS WEEK
Chicken Creole

This is the classic chicken dish in Creole and Cajun country. The diced chicken dish is made with a classic roux as well as a mixture of veggies, brown sugar and lemon - It's served with white rice and is soooo good!
This is the first dish Phil learned to cook in New Orleans.

Shrimp, Creole Tomato and Corn Bisque

This is a real treat! It's an elegant first course or a hearty main dish - either way - you will want more!!!

The bisque has a blend of peppers, shrimp and cream along with spices and veggies that can easily become habit forming.

SWEET POTATO PONE

If you have never had this classic Southern dessert you are in for a treat. This is the recipe that Phil got from Leah Chase, the 87 year old owner and chef of the famous Dookey Chase's in New Orleans.

This has been the favorite dessert for years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) - and for good reason!


If you have been waiting for a reason to visit the authentic 1900's seating area at City News this is it.

This is a great opportunity to make plans and meet your friends downtown for something special.
We have lots of seating and the mood will be festive - we hope you can join us. Questions:
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Option # 2 for The Beanery

***

Please join us.

The Triscadecaphobia
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday November 13 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.



1 - Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc $16

Our friend Michael Kane from Rosenthal Wine Merchants possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and a boundless, infectious enthusiasm. Example:

"The 20 hectares of Chateau La Rame are set on a clay-limestone soil blessed with an exceptional substratum marked by a bed of fossilized oysters dating from the Tertiary era."

From vines averaging 45 years old, this sublime Sauvignon Blanc Sec is one of our perpetual favorites, with lemon laser clarity and a touch of brine.
That's a lot going on for $16!







2 - Consenso Cabernet Sauvignon $12

This little Italian Cab comes from Valeggio sul Mincio, near Lake Garda in Northern Italy.


From the small family vineyards of Luigi Rizzi, this is a soft, velvety red with dark plummy tones and an unmistakably Italian touch of smoke and leather.

The price makes it a fantastic deal - but would you expect anything less? From the people that bring us Per Marco & San Sole - this is another great choice.




Muga Rioja Reserva $27

Bodegas Muga have been making their wines in the same facility in Haro, Spain, for two centuries.

This 2005 Reserva is bright ruby in color, with plenty of dark cherry, with coffee and char notes from the ancient, arid vineyards.

The wine is aged starting in large oak vats, then continues for 24 months in small barrel for the development of fine tannins. Elegant, perfectly balanced, an affordable classic.

4 - McLaren Vale "Squid Ink" Shiraz 2006 $34

This is a very low-production Shiraz from a tiny cooperative near Adelaide in Southern Australia.

2005 was a dry season, and the Shiraz grapes grown here were tiny, blue-black and stained the fingers - hence the name (no squids were harmed in the making of the wine).

Ripe berry nose, firm tannins and a long finish - winemaker Brian Light declared it, "The most intense wine we have bottled."


It's become a cult favorite around here, but now is sold out worldwide - we've got TEN bottles and plan to crack one for you, the eager drinking public- please join us.

P E R F E C T P I E S
& PERFECT CAKES

Listen - its time to place your orders for Holiday Cakes & Pies from You Take The Cake.

Everything from Pumpkin Cheesecake to the most sublime Coconut & Pecan Pies 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 D E A D L I N E
Sunday November 22nd.
YOU TAKE THE CAKE

*******

This edition is dedicated to the memory of
Dr. John Caltabiano.
He really made a difference.

AAA.

The Wine Diaries - Drink Away The Pain

City News Presents
Troubadour Nights - A Series of Live Performances
Starting This Friday From 5:00 - 7:00 p. m.
No Charge
Stop by on your way to or from our weekly Wine Tasting or your
Dinner at Brie & Bleu.
Greetings from New London,

Thanks to everyone for the tremendous support that you have been showing to us at Brie & Bleu.
Remember Kitchen is now open until 10 p.m. - Please Reserve Early.

***

This Friday night is the inaugural session of
"Trabadour Nights" at City News. In an effort to rekindle the "Bohemian Experience", our friends at Little Red Tree Publishing are organizing the same kind of entertainment that you might find if you were sneaking around the West Village after midnight.

Join us for a little wine, a little cheese, and some great performance. No Charge - and the early start time makes it a perfect stop on your way to dinner or our weekly wine tasting. Please join us - 5-7 p.m.

****

Remember:
The Connecticut Cajun himself - Chef Phil Hubbard - will be cooking authentic Cajun Cuisine
at The Beanery on the
5th, 12th, and 19th of November.

If you have been waiting for a reason to visit the authentic 1900's seating area at City News this is it.

This is a great opportunity to make plans and meet your friends downtown for something special.
We have lots of seating and the mood will be festive - we hope you can join us. Questions:
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 - Option # 2 for The Beanery

***

LAST CALL - City News in Conjunction with the Thames Club will be hosting an Ashton Cigar "Taste Of Excellence" Dinner.

Saturday November 14th - 6:00 p.m.

Call the Thames Club - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 5 5 0 4
Ask for Club Manager Paula Guido - Explain that you are a guest of City News and would like to make a reservation. It is just that simple.

******

Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.

New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.

New wine dinners & special events coming to City
News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.

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

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Martinsancho Verdejo $18

La Seca in the heart of D.O. Rueda. Now widely renowned for its fresh white wines made from Verdejo, in the 1970s, the Verdejo grape was practically wiped out by more prolific varieties such as Viura and Palomino.

Visionary Angel Rodríguez realized the treasure in his 17th-century Martinsancho Verdejo vineyard and refused to uproot it.
For his untiring efforts in reestablishing Verdejo's prominence in its region of origin he was officially honored by King Juan Carlos.

Like an old friend stopping in from out of town, one of our favorite Spanish whites has returned again - Martinsancho! Light, bright and ethereal with a briny finish. A classic varietal from coastal Spain, perfect for salads, shellfish and cheese courses.


2 - La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux $9

The color is a medium deep crimson, as usual, with good brilliance. Aromas and flavors are bursting with raspberry-tinged garrigue, ripe and inviting.

Big, full bodied presence - all fruit and a yard wide. Spice and peppercorns are showing already but only as a backdrop to the fruit. Loads of garrigue; this is what garrigue is all about.

The more I drink, the more I want. "The Old Farm," also known as "The Chicken Red," this bargain-priced French beauty is a Granache-based light, fine Rhone - an everyday favorite around here and we also have it in jumbo mags at $18.





3 - Costozza Cabernet Sauvignon $16

No that's not a typo - this wine used to go for $26 on the shelf, but our guy Mark in Northern Italy has put it on deep sale as we move towards the next vintage.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Veneto region (better known for the world's finest Pinot Grigio), this is a big, dark earthy Cab.

The Costozza "fire sale" has been an in-store secret, but now the secret's out - we're pouring it on Friday, available as long as the 2003 vintage lasts!

4 - Syzygy Cabernet Sauvignon $40

People come into the store and ask for this wine by name! No, but seriously - we think it's pronounced "Shedjee."

What we really have here is an incredibly voluptuous Cabernet from Washington State's Columbia Valley.

The high-altitude and endless winds of the region produce some of the best wines of our West Coast.

As a cult favorite, Syzygy stands out as a big red blockbuster, but still resonably priced.

Please drop in and sample it!

Cider "Cocktail" Anyone?

Classic Combinations
Great Wine & Beer
Affordable Indulgence.

Rediscover A
Great Night Out.
Brie & Bleu
New London's
Waterfront Bistro

Please Reserve Early
8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4

Thank you all for the many comments and emails about the changes and additions we have been making.
We love your feedback - good and bad - it is important to us.
And as always - thanks for your support we appreciate it.

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


AAA.

Portuguese Royalty - Special Announcement

Card Available At City News

Greetings from New London,

A Special Guest This Friday.

Friday will be a special night featuring a lineup of four great new finds from Portugal - our guest, Lisa Sanseverino - direct from her sold out engagements in Lisbon - will be here to help out and answer your questions.

We'll be tasting both rustic and modern styles, and although the names are different, the varietals are familiar - local versions of grapes such as Tempranillo and Grenache. Please come by and try these outstanding values from this ancient region!

And Brie & Bleu will be offering menu items to compliment these delicious wines.

***

NEXT UP -
For all of our Beer Aficionados - mark your calendars for this Wednesday - 10.21.09
We are presenting a beer tasting at Brie & Bleu - No Charge. Hosted by our own Matt Spring, we will be offering a selection of beer paired with appetizers & cheese that will make you appreciate beer in a whole new way.
It starts at 5:30. This is a perfect after work stop over - we hope you join us.



We are listening to all of the comments you have given us and I can assure you right now that we will make every effort we can to bring as many of the beer requests to our shelves in the coming weeks as we can.

****

Now a special announcement for Scotch & Cigar Lovers. City News in Conjunction with the Thames Club will be hosting an Ashton Cigar
"Taste Of Excellence" Dinner.

Ashton only does this event a few times a year and only with approved merchants like City News.

Saturday November 14th - 6:00 p.m.

The venerable Thames Club will be the site for an evening of great food, amazing whiskey, and award winning cigars from Ashton. There will also be a door prize of Ashton Cigars & Humidor valued at over $150.
Ashton Ambassador Mr. Andrew Green will be on hand to keep it lively.

$65 includes E V E R Y T H I N G.
Drinks, dinner, cigars, and the chance to win the big prize. If you have been waiting for a special occasion to get out of the house - this is it.

Seating is very limited for this event. You must reserve early with your credit card - which will be billed by the Thames Club directly.

Call the Thames Club - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 5 5 0 4
Ask for Club Manager Paula Guido - Explain that you are a guest of City News and would like to make a reservation. It is just that simple.

If you have been wondering just what goes on at the Thames Club this is a perfect opportunity to take a little tour. It is the second oldest private club in the United States - and it is right here in New London.

Please Join Us For A Great Evening.

******

Other Highlights for the coming season include:
Wine dinners, beer dinners, guest chefs, authors and holiday surprises.

New food & wine series coming to Brie & Bleu.

New wine dinners & special events coming to City
News, Brie & Bleu, and our one of a kind cellar.

Please join us.

Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday October 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Alvarino Vino Verde $16




Yep - that's the same grape as "Albarino" in Spain, a bright coastal white with buttery smoothness. This actually reminded us of dry Rieslings from Alsace.

Something different and immaculately balanced, suited best for grilled seafood, oysters, smoked meats and cheeses.












2 - Grou 2 Vinho Tinto $12

Here's a great big chewy red - Aragones (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, and Syrah grapes - this is clearly related to Port flavors, robust, dark and plummy, unfiltered and unoaked.

This would pair well with red meats, robust cheeses, or just an evening on the sofa with your feet up.

An excellent value please try it this weekend.












3 - Herdade do Pombal Alentejo $14

Again, Aragones, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet, plus Cabernet Sauvignon to add tannin and structure.

Refined, elegant and balanced - the price was a real surprise.

A mature, harmonious wine with daily red affordability. This would match perfectly with a beef or lamb entree next door at Brie & Bleu.

4 - Quinta Das Baceladas $21
Rated 90 Points by Wine Spectator.

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon plus the traditional Baga grape from the Bairrada region. Blackberry, chocolate and plum notes, this sees one year in French oak, adding smokiness and balanced tannins.

A beautiful full bodied red with lots of detail, made in very limited production - just like our special guest.

Please be sure to try it and please take a minute to say hello to our special guest Lisa Sanseverino - it is her first time in New London, and we would like to make a nice impression.

A quick note about our Coffee Bar - The Beanery - located at City News & Thames River Greenery at 70 State Street.

We are completing many of the additions, upgrading the menu, and welcoming new staff members to our team this week. We are excited about the improvements and hope that you will stop in to take a look if you happen to be downtown during the week.
City News is a great place to have a lunch, meet friends, or for just buying the daily papers. All in the original 1900's architecture that we uncovered almost a year ago.

And as always - thanks for your support we appreciate it.

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


AAA.