SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION 12.20.09

Happy Holidays
We have something for everyone.
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Greetings from New London,

With the big holidays falling on Fridays, we're planning TWO very special Wednesday Night tastings to toast out 2009!






This Wednesday December 23rd: Ken Powers from Victory Brewing Company will take over our wine cellar with flagons of beer!

The hoppy madness will commence at 6:00PM, starring Golden Monkey Ale, Hopdevil and Wilddevil beers with some large formats and rare surprises!

"Having trained in Germany, we appreciate the artistic freedom we have here in the US. Here creativity is embraced by a fervent core of consumers and we are happy to serve that audience with our experience in traditional methods, selection of choice, often imported ingredients, and the best processing that technology can offer us. We relish the opportunity to please both ourselves and our audience with our flavorful creations. We've invested more than our lives in this. Take a look."
Bill Covaleski
Brewmaster & President

****

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.

*****

JUST IN:
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.

*****
BOURBON
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 23 - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
This Wednesday December 23rd:
Ken Powers from Victory Brewing Company will take over our wine cellar with flagons of beer! The hoppy madness will commence at 6:00PM, starring Golden Monkey Ale, Hopdevil and Wilddevil beers with some large formats and rare surprises! www.victorybeer.com

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.



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
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The Elves at TRG are always working.
So a little something like the blizzard this Sunday would never keep them from their appointed duties.

While many of you were tucked snugly into your beds & "slanket's" - a couple of us made it downtown to clear a path to the front door. Then one-by-one our team arrived. There is a lot of work to do and orders to get ready for the coming week.

Rows and rows of wine baskets, gourmet baskets, plants, and too many other things to list.

I mention all of this only to say thank you.
It is your remarkable support and your commitment to shop locally with us over the past weeks & months that makes it all possible. We will never take your confidence in our work for granted - you have our promise.

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.
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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.
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******

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.

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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.

Special Announcement - Please Join Us

Greetings from New London,
Lots of news this week, special tastings, live music, book signings, and holiday information galore.
Those details are all below this first announcement:

We have had a good deal of comments lately about Brie & Bleu.
Many of them go a little something like this:

"We love Brie & Bleu - you have amazing cheese, great food, and gourmet products - BUT - we never know when you are open!"

AND when you are open - your closed for something private!

"How can we buy cheese and food for the holidays if you're not open?"

" What if I can't get to the store when you are open or not open?"

Well - you are right.
We recognize your frustration - The reason we book the entire space for private functions is economics. And it is especially difficult during the holiday season - which we are heading into right now.
We must take advantage of the holiday functions and private parties that are coming our way.
(By The Way - Book Your Private Party Early -
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So - TWO big changes that we hope will address most of the issues.

1 - In order to accommodate all of the requests for private use of Brie & Bleu - we are suspending regular dinner & food service until after the holiday season. Instead we will focus our efforts on the special tastings, beer dinners, wine dinners, & private functions that we have scheduled.

2 - Beginning TODAY.
I mean right now as you read this, we have expanded the gourmet department at Thames River Greenery to include all of the items we sell at Brie & Bleu.

The full assortment of cheeses and gourmet products have relocated just around the corner to 70 State Street.
All of your cheese and gourmet needs are now available all day everyday right here at The Greenery.

Gourmet products from D'artagnan, spreads, jams, jellies and kitchen items from Stonewall Kitchen, imported olives, charcuterie, & imported nuts and olive oil, the full line of Tate's Cookies, tea from Harney & Sons, coffee & espresso from Illy, and fine chocolates from Moonstruck, to name just a few. We really encourage you to visit the store here to see the changes first hand - it looks amazing.

So we invite you to rediscover what a great gourmet department can be. Please visit us at 70 State Street and have a look around, you are going to like what you see.

****

Don't Forget that this
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.

If you missed the article in last Sunday's paper about Marci and the book CLICK HERE to see the full story. Please be sure to say hello to Marci when you stop in for the tasting.

****

Now, if all of this was not enough for a big Friday night - we have one more thing to add - our live performance series "Trabadour Nights" at City News,
continues this week.

Friday Night - No Charge - From 5-7 p.m.
In addition to our "House Band" of troubadours the featured guest will be Rick Spencer.

BIO:

Rick Spencer is known internationally for his work as a singer, songwriter and performer of music in the American folk music tradition.

For over 25 years he has traveled and performed at venues which include concert stages, folk festivals, museums, schools, libraries, pubs and others.

In concert Rick's presentations are always interactive and entertaining. Audience participation is requested and required!
Snappy and spicy guitar or smooth 5-string banjo accompaniment is to be expected and guest artists are likely to join in on stage.

The repertoire includes a good dose of up tempo traditional music, unique arrangements of contemporary songs from a variety of sources, sensitive or amusing original pieces and an unexpected surprise or two.

***

Last Appearence Of The Season:
The Connecticut Cajun himself - Chef Phil Hubbard is cooking authentic Cajun Cuisine at The Beanery this Thursday the 19th of November. 11:30 - 2:00

MENU THIS WEEK

Crawfish Etouffee (AY-TOO-Fay)

This is from the heart of Cajun country, this is a spicy (but not so hot that it's uncomfortable) sauce that is served with white rice.

If you have never had crawfish - start with this dish - you won't regret it!

Cream of Garlic Soup
The secret to this soup is a luscious puree of caramelized garlic and onions tghickened with French bread. This is one of the signature dishes at Bayona in the French Quarter, voted one of the three best restaurants in New Orleans in several polls of food writers and patrons both.

Apple Praline Tarts
Individual little pies with the taste of the Bayou combined with apple and sweet cream.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

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:
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***

Coming Next Week - Our Annual Jonathan Edwards Winery Thanksgiving celebration - Wednesday November 25 - don't miss the fun - mark your calendars. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday November 20 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Segura Viudas Cava $10 / $18 magnums

This is our favorite everyday bulletproof sparkling - from the good people who bring you Freixenet, this is the original Spanish Cava.

Inexpensive, bone dry, perfect for mimosas, brunches, and Thanksgiving celebratory reunions!

What's better than showing up with a mag of bubbly?

A lovely, bready treat, perfect for toasts and kicking off the holidays.












2 - Georges DeBeouf Beaujolais Nouveau $10


Le Nouveau est arrive!
Yes, the third Thursday in November has come.

Which means flagons of fresh Beaujolais have been delivered directly to us via supersonic air freight.

Light, fruity Gamay - silly, delicious, a seasonal favorite. Perfect for the holiday table too.

Let's try this year's harvest!






3 - Calera Pinot Noir $26

From our friend Josh Jensen, the Pinot pioneer of California.

This is Josh's vineyard blend, 100% Pinot Noir, from Monterey and San Benito Counties.

Seeing eleven months in French Oak, this Pinot is a Burgundy-styled classic with plentiful West Coast fruit.

Delicate, earthy, a perfect match for turkey time or casual sipping.

4 - Chocolate Block $36

From our friends at Boekenhoustkloof in South Africa, a perennial favorite of ours, this is their take on Chateauneuf de Pape.

A Rhone-styled blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet.
Hard to obtain - but we've stocked up on it!

This is not some South African smoke bomb - it's an elegant full-bodied red, glowing with dark plum and cherry, and yes, a hint of cocoa on the finish. If this is your first time trying this wine - it will open your eyes, it really is something special. We liked it so much that we flew to South Africa to talk with the wine maker. To watch our interview click HERE- and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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.

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O R D E R D E A D L I N E

for Thanksgiving

Sunday November 22nd.
YOU TAKE THE CAKE

Four Layer Pumpkin Cake


Coconut Layer Cake


German Chocolate

*****

All of the changes and additions announced this week come directly from your input.
We sincerely appreciate your comments and suggestions, it is how we stay ahead of the pack.

And of course it is your support that makes all of this possible - thank you.

And we know that some people will not be entirely pleased with all of the changes - we ask only that you give it a chance to work.

If it needs fine tuning we will make adjustments -
One thing is for certain - the best is yet to come.

AAA.

Secret Valentine Edition

The Old Girl Is Frisky Again - Happy Valentine's Day
Card available at City News
Valentine's Day is still one of the single busiest days of the year when it comes to gift giving. Traditional gifts include flowers, champagne, chocolates, or a cozy dinner with someone special. We have made an effort to select items in every category that will go easy on the pocket - but still deliver big where it counts - the heart strings.

If you haven't heard by now we have to mention that we have the greatest selection of Champagne & sparkling wine in the world.

Boutique Grower Champagne that is made in limited amounts and sparkling wine and Italian Prosecco that start around $12.

We will combine a bottle of bubbly with hand made chocolate from Moonstruck
dress them up in a basket and deliver it to the one you love with enough left over to make you giddy.






Flowers are a specialty for us - and even though roses are the traditional choice consider this - We have many options to choose from that make a big statement without breaking the bank.

We can add wine & chocolates to an order for about the same price as a dozen roses - give a call to The Greenery and we can help with options you may not have thought about.

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Or poke around the website for Inspiration - Here


Every Valentine's Day we get an amazing collection of treats from You Take The Cake. Valentine's goodies that bring a smile to anyone that sees them. All of these hand made wonders go quickly, and many of you have asked for a "heads up" on when they will be available. They arrive on Monday morning 2.9.09.

Think about an assortment of hand made Petit Fours, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, or Valentine cookies delivered in a basket to someone you love. You may reserve them by phone - or arrange for delivery -
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Made With Love

<<>>

Events & Reminders:

Dinner at Brie & Bleu and
a Movie on the Big Screen

The Garde Arts Center
presents
Winter Film Festival
Starts Wednesday February 11th 7:30 p.m.
FILM FESTIVAL

Oscar Time In New London

Every year the Garde Arts Center brings us Oscar nominated films on the Big Screen. Check out the schedule - save me a seat in the first row of the loge! Starts Wednesday February 11th 7:30 p.m.

<<>>

<<>>
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

The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday February 13 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - San Sole Pinot Grigio 2007 $11













Our biggest selling wine of all time. With it's plain yellow label, this is a wine that under promises but over delivers. Wonderfully expressive of classic Pinot Grigio flavors, citrus, tropical fruit and lemongrass. Affordable delicious wine for daily drinking, it's what we are all about.. Order Now


2 - Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel 2007 $26

This wine was #10 on last years Wine Spectators top 100. We have a little bit left over from the holidays, so lets crack one of these bad boys and see if it's all that.

From The Wine Spectator: "The Seghesio family has been making wine for a century in northern Sonoma County and farms more than 400 acres of Zinfandel in Alexander and Dry Creek valleys. They make a range of vineyard-designated Zinfandels, such as Home Ranch and Cortina, and a bottling from the oldest vines. But for this Sonoma County 2007, winemaker Ted Seghesio tapped his diverse grape sources for a more widely available, well-priced wine. Aged 11 months in 75 percent American oak, it's complex, with a supple texture and a spicy finish.". Order Now


3 - Trapiche Vina Fausto Orellana Malbec 2005 $50

The Fausto Orellana's vineyard is located in La Consulta, San Carlos, in the southern Valle de Uco, an area with a shorter growing season than other traditional areas due to late frost in the spring and early frost in the fall, with an average day/night temperature swing between 15°C and 18°C during the season. This is one of the coolest grape growing areas in Mendoza. These characters favor the development of superior polyphenolic compounds and this optimal ripening and maturation results in wines of balance, depth and concentration.

Here, the vineyards are afforded spectacular views of the Andes. Don Fausto is 67, and his firm tone of voice indicates a patient, methodical approach in the vineyards. He left Bolivia in 1981 looking for a better future in Argentina, and after he came upon the Valle de Uco, he fell in love with the place and bought two estates. Over 25 years later, he rides through his vineyards by bicycle, and he takes enormous pride in his considerable accomplishments. Though he has faced many hardships, including hailstorms, Don Fausto is philosophical: "You have to face it and move forward in life, giving back to the land what it gave us," he says. Don Fausto's story is one of viticulture as a triumph of great effort.

Don Fausto's 57 year-old vineyard has alluvial, well-drained soils with a sandy-loam texture, rocky subsoils and a small percentage of silt. The roots extend down to a depth of one meter. The soil's texture has very good permeability. The trellis system is low espalier, and the vines are simple and double Guyot pruned. The vines are planted in relatively high density, i.e. 5,000 plants per hectare, to encourage competition among the vines and vertical root penetration, and yields are kept low to 2,600 kilogram per hectare. Furrow irrigation is utilized and the vines are planted on their own rootstock.Order Now


4 - Chateau Duhart-Milon Pauillac Grand Cru Classe 2005 $105

94 points Robert Parker:

"The finest Duhart-Milon ever made? This structured, tannic, dense ruby/purple-tinged Pauillac offers up hints of cassis, licorice, chocolate, and earth. Medium to full-bodied with good purity, strong tannins, and undeniable elegance, it reveals a character not dissimilar from its renowned sibling, Lafite-Rothschild. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot, it is unquestionably outstanding, but to my taste, slightly less opulent than the estate's ethereal 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030."

Order Now



Happy Valentine's Day to each and every one of you.

Thank you for supporting all of our venues and making us number one in New London.

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

AAA.