Something Special For The New Year

We thought we would start the New Year off 

with something special.

Joseph Drouhin
2005 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru - $210

Clos Vougeot is a large vineyard (125 acres) located bewteen Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny. Joseph Drouhin owns two parcels in this mythical vineyard, both on a mild incline with a due east exposure.

The most glorious and famous of all Burgundy vineyards.  The Clos (French for "enclosure") was first planted and surrounded by a wall at the end of the 12th Century by the monks of Citeaux.
They built a castle which is now the seat of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.

Tasting notes by Véronique Boss-Drouhin:

"A revelation and a true wonder! The ruby red colour is magnificent and takes on a deeper hue with age. The aromas are intense and evoke raspberry and wild cherry, becoming more complex with age: undergrowth, truffle, candied fruit.
A sublime structure, with refined tannins. It is a perfect example of this ideal of elegance according to Drouhin. A remarkable balance and a lingering persistence of flavors on the palate.  It is a wine that always leaves the greatest impression".

2005 Vintage
A pure delight in all the appellations. Both Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits have a consistent structure, based on good balance between acidity, alcohol and tannin.  It is this balance that gives the wines such elegance.  The tannins are ripe and refined.  They harmonize nicely with a refreshing acidity devoid of astringency and a normal level of alcohol.

In summary, 2005 has a lot in common with some great vintages of the past: the beautiful richness of 1990, the harmonious character of 1989 and the haunting bouquet of 1961.

If you need a reason to get out of the house on Friday night - this is a good one. One of the best examples of its type - a benchmark by which others are judged. We believe strongly, as many of you know, that everyone should have the opportunity to try these wines that for the most part are reserved for special occasions and the "Wolves of Wall Street."

We will decant this beauty early and start pouring at 5:00pm.
First come, first served.

There will of course be others to try, delicious, warming, and perfect for the weekend. So, grab your friends and meet us here on Friday night.

Happy New Year!

If you missed the tasting last Friday night - it was a good one.

Drinking Grand Cru White Burgundy was a real treat.

The French have decided to take a very serious run at reintroducing us to their remarkable wines. And they want to make a big impact in the 10-15 dollar range.
They want to show us that it is not neccessary to spend $40 and up to get a great bottle of French wine.

What that means here in New London is that we will have the opportunity to enjoy superior French wines for a fraction of the old price. Wines that will drink like they cost much, much, more.

For example:

La Grand Ribe 'Centenaire' Cotes du Rhone Red
RATED 93 Points - Robert Parker.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate Says:
" The blockbuster 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Centenaire tastes more like a Chateauneuf du Pape than a Cotes du Rhone. Dominated by Grenache with a small amount of Syrah included in the blend, the wine possesses great intensity, a terrific texture, full-bodied power, and wonderful purity and Provencal typicity.

This sensational effort is filled with red and black fruit, roasted herb, barbecue smoke, meat juice and bouquet garni characteristics. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years or longer. Sleeper of the vintage. "


AND - it is only $12.  

 

TAVEL - Les Lauzeraies

Only one wine is made in Tavel in the southern Rhone region of France: Rosé. Louis XIV and Balzac are reported to have savored this succulent beverage, which is made chiefly from grenache and cinsault grapes whose skins are fermented briefly to extract color. Only red grapes can be legally used for rose in France.

Les Lauzeraies is part of Les Vignerons de Tavel, a cooperative founded in 1937. The organization today has 85 members that grow the grapes for the region's heralded roses.

The 2010 Les Lauzeraies Tavel is coppery in color, with strawberry notes on the nose. The lean, simple flavors are nicely piquant and refreshing. It's a classic summer sipper, nice change from innocuous whites and hip varietals.  

The Rosé of Kings & The King Of Rosé 

Drink like Louis XIV for just $12. 

 

Domaine Poiron Dabin

This is a wine that generally please everyone. That's why it is a perfect choice to serve at a casual dinner or to present as an Aperitif.

Matches well with fish in sauce, foie gras, sauerkraut, 'tartiflette', 'fondue savoyarde', melon with Parma ham or fruit desserts.

A deep golden yellow with straw-colored tints. Suave and heady, with rose and pepper aromas. Full-bodied and bewitching with a persistent intensity accompanied for a long time with a hint of residual sugar.

This Pinot Gris is an original wine for the Nantes region. Its limited production has put an end to an absence of three centuries.
Please try it this Friday.

Just $15   

We also have a number of other special wines that were uncovered by our Wine Detectives on their recent trip to France. They are seriously worth considering for your enjoyment. Take a look around the store the next time you visit.

We hope to see you this Friday Night. Tasting Schedule * Friday April 5th - Monsieur Touton * Friday April 9th - World Wide Wines * Friday April 26th - Stefan Wich BUZZ  Coming soon: Beer Dinners. Wine & Food Events. Scotch Tastings. More Skype visits from industry luminaries. New Episodes of The Wine Detectives    Drink Different.

Ground Breaking News

What A Beautiful Audience

How would you like to taste wine with Michael Mondavi himself? You will have your chance in November - and in the next few weeks we will publish a list of guests that will set a new benchmark for bringing our friends and customers directly to the makers of the greatest wines in the world.

First of their kind, ground breaking, one on one - that's what we are working on now. And it is only because of your remarkable support that we are able to make these types of events happen. Thank you for being part of the revolution. Drink Different.

This Friday - 10.16.12

1 - Cline 2011 Cashmere - $16

Let's face it: $16 wine values from the Côtes Du Rhône region of southeastern France are among the world's best red wine values. But that doesn't mean that California versions, using similar grape blends, shouldn't also share space on your wine rack. Cline Cellars has been doing Rhône for years, and one of their most recent incarnations, seductively named "Cashmere," is a treat.

Garnet/ruby color. High-toned, slightly grapey nose, with appealing brightness and notes of fresh herbs, raspberry, Kirsch, and coffee grounds. Turns more toward cherry flavors and hints of milk chocolate in its smooth, warm and balanced texture. Good acids on the finish to cut through burgers, lamb chops or a mushroom/onion tart. (A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah)


Cline Cellars proudly supports Living Beyond Breast Cancer and over the years has contributed more than $200,000 to breast cancer foundations.

We are proud to support their efforts this Friday night - please join us.


 2 - Paso a Paso Verdejo - $12

 
This winery is located in the best terroir of La Mancha found in the eastern region of the ¨Denomination of Origin. Sandy soils with lots of chalk. Winters are very cold; summers are hot with cool nights and it is a very arid climate. The grapes for this wine come from 14 hectares ( 34 acres) of Verdejo vines planted in 1998. The yield is 4T/ha (1.60 T/acre). After very careful vineyard selections, only the best vines of Verdejo grapes are hand harvested.

Tanzer's Internation Wine Cellars::
"Green-tinged gold. Very fresh scents of quince, melon and agave. Juicy and broad in the mouth, with good depth to its pit and orchard fruit flavours. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with strong cut and a lingering citrus pith note. This offers excellent value. "


This has got to be one of the best values we have offered in a long time - this is a wine that you will want to have around for the rest of the year. Perfect for dinners, hosting a holiday get together, or just sipping with friends. It is as they say - a crowd pleaser.  Please try it on Friday night.

The Fall Season - Events

WINE WORKS LIKE MAGIC

Please Mark Your Calendars

Wednesday - 10.24.12 - The Wines Of South Africa
No Charge - Please RSVP - Limited SeatingPresented by Knauth & Visser. Paired with small plates.
Learn about the great South African Winelands and try wine that is available here for the first time.

SPECIAL - Friday - 11.16.12 - No Charge - RSVP Required

Very Limited Seating
Jim Kowalyschyn Espris Du Vin Wine &
Samantha Brennen Artisinal Cheese of
New York.
Wine and cheese pairings presented by two of the leaders in the field.

SATURDAY - 11.17.12 - 3PM
Eric Bellnier presents Essential Italian Wines for the holidays.
Special pricing on Award Winning Fontodi Wines.

ALSO -

Friday October 19
Mangetout Restaurant
We have a collaboration dinner event with Mangetout the
Organic Cafe just up the block.

An Organic Oktoberfest Dinner and wine pairing
Friday, October 19 
Just Two Seatings
6pm & 8pm.

We will be pairing wine with each course. You must contact Mangetout directly to make reservations. Seating Is Very Limited. 8 6 0 - 4 4 4 - 2 0 6 6. Do Not Wait To Call if you are interested.

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT Will will be joined by a special guest - Please Join Us. 1 - Clos des Mures a Single Vineyard Syrah - $16 Jean-Claude Mas has blazed the trail for premium winemaking in the Languedoc region of the South of France. Since taking the helm of the centuries-old Domaines in 2000, his driving mission has been to use only premium quality grapes to craft superior wines with a modern, New World flair. Intense purple violet with garnet tints. Complex nose with blackcurrants, violet, blackberries, turning to cacao and spices. Well balanced and smooth tannins, full bodied. WINEMAKER: "Grapes, some of which are cultivated on 40-year old vines, benefit from hot summer days and a cooling sea breeze. A deep garnet red wine.Complex on the nose with aromas of blackcurrants, violets and blackberries that evolve into hints of cocoa and spice. Elegant and fruit-filled on the palate, liquorice and toasted notes lead   to a long-lasting and well-balanced finish over smooth tannins.  The Syrah vines are between 26 and 46 years old, the Grenache 47 years old. The wine is aged for 10 months in French and American Seguin Moreau and François Frére oak barrels 30% new oak barrels, 35% 1 year old oak barrels, 35% 2 year old oak barrel. Intense purple violet with garnet tints. Complex nose with blackcurrants, violet, blackberries, turning to cacao and spices. Well balanced and smooth tannins, full bodied. Strong fruity characters with a long finish evolving towards liquorice and toasted notes. Elegant and refined.  Food pairing: Preferably pasta dishes, beef stews, red meat, game, pate and soft full flavor cheeses."     2 - La Forge Estate, Languedoc France - $14    Deep Bright and lovely light garnet-red colour. Nose: Very elegant with a quintessence of red berries, strawberry, cherry, and soft spices aromas with a hint of vanilla. Palate: It's a medium bodied wine, with ripe tannins and acidity which testify his capability to age. It develops very delicate aromas and a long lasting finish. Pinot Noir causes more discussion and dispute in the wine world than any other grape variety, most of which centers around the wine style which best represents the 'true' Pinot Noir. Examples from Central Otago are so different from those grown in Santenay that even an untrained palate can tell them apart. Yet both are unmistakably, unquestionably Pinot Noir. It is this strength of character which has made Pinot Noir such an internationally successful and desirable grape variety. Pairs well with grilled red meats such as lamb, veal, pork and game. Also goes well with soft cheeses such as brie or goat's cheese. 3 - Domaine Paul Mas Carignan 2010 - $14 Never heard of Carignan? Until around 1990, it was the most widely grown grape in France. The workhorse grape of France and Spain, its ancestral home (where it is called Cariñena), Carignan is traditionally used in blends and is the primary, unsung ingredient in French wines that are labeled simply "Red table wine" or "Vin de Table." That is why most people have heard of Carignan only in passing, or not at all. Located on the hillsides of the Hérault overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Savignac vineyard is the ideal growing location for Carignan grapes. These mature vines, some over 50-years old, have reached a perfect natural balance. Even though produced in the Côteaux du Languedoc, Cru Grés de Montpellier appellation, this single varietal wine can only be designated IGP Pays de L'Hérault.   100% Carignan On the nose, spices and blackberry give way to aromas of cherry jam and cocoa over toasted oak notes. A full-bodied, rich and mellow wine, with delicious velvety tannins and complex flavors.    BUZZ - News & Events          As promised our dance card is filling up for the coming season. Please take a moment to check your calendar with our posted dates. If you see something that you like, don't wait to call because things fill up quickly. We will be adding more attractions and finalizing more special guests in the next couple of weeks Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions that we receive every week. We try to incorporate as many of your ideas as possible. AND Thank you for the support, we know there are a lot of choices you can make for shopping - but keeping your business local and supporting small business in New London is greatly appreciated. We hope to see you soon.

 ThamesRiver.com

Please Join Us On Friday Night.

It Is Fun Informal And A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

Wine & Cheese Tasting Every Friday 5-8 PM - No Charge

Mon Dieu! Cheap Bordeaux!

 

 When you think about Bordeaux, what comes to mind? The British fop sipping "claret" in his drawing room? The Wall Streeter buying futures for his insta-cellar? We've been conditioned to believe that Bordeaux must be expensive to be good, which isn't surprising given how much power is concentrated in the hands of a few in the fabled region. All anyone talks about are the "classed growths"--that is, the top-ranked (and priciest) wines, which were set by brokers back in the 19th century.

Today we favor the weathered paysan who plows his vineyard with a draft horse, not the chateau owned by an insurance company.

The region of Bordeaux is huge, producing more high-quality wine than any other in France, and that kind of scale should work to our advantage. We started exploring the fringes (Bordeaux has 57 appellations) and kept finding world-class reds at numbers that we all can handle.

Been-there, done-that grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot--yes Merlot, are new again. The Cabernets have sharp angles and smoky notes, the Merlots are silken and aromatic, and both are often pointed up with a dash of peppery Cabernet Franc. By seeking out the "lesser" appellations, We findin wines that, unlike many classed growths, aren't as tailored for the critics. Less oaky, less alcoholic Cabernet can be a revelation, and these days you're more likely to find it in outer-borough appellations than in blue-chip areas.

Chateau Bellvue Bordeaux Superieur 

      

The appellation Bordeaux Superieur applies to wines from the Bordeaux district containing 1% more alcohol than the requirement for the appellation of Bordeaux. What this means is the wine will be slightly more full-bodied as a result of the increased alcohol level.   

The blend is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

The 18 months of oak aging softens this wine and makes it a candidate for immediate consumption.  The wine is soft and round with pleasant notes of cassis and red fruits on the nose and palate.   

This is an easy drinking Bordeaux.This wine will pair well with stews and most red meat dishes, particularly a nice grilled ribeye steak.

  

On the nose, the wine is rich with buttered cherries, red flowers, and a hint of something fresh and earthy in the background - like tomato leaves in a summer garden. It's a very appealing combination. Surprisingly, the wine is not a fruit blockbuster on the palate. It's actually quite elegant, with tart cherry and savory herb playing with already-smooth tannin. Not a Bordeaux you need to age for 25 years, this one's ready now.

On a side note, the term Bordeaux Supérieur does not necessarily mean the wine is better than a plain old Bordeaux. It actually just means it has higher alcohol content. Just a little party fact for you.  

 MARGAUX - Chateau De La Coste

 

 Producing 2,500 cases a year, the Château de la Coste vineyard spreads in the northern part of the Margaux appellation.  

Margaux boasts 21 château with classified growth status and is known to produce elegant, delicate, and fragrant wines.  

This excellence is a result of the soil quality, the unique weather conditions, and natural drainage which exists in the vineyards. Many say Margaux is the most feminine appellation in all of Bordeaux.   

   

This wine is a harmonious blend of flavors and is best matched with roasted red meats such as duck, peppered beef, and lamb shank. The velvety flavors of the wine shine through when served with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and mushroom risotto dishes. Enjoy the wine with variety of cheeses such as Montrachet and aged Monterey Jack. 

Chateau Bellevue, Entre-Deux-Mers 

 

Château Bellevue is located on 84 hectares of vineyard and produces a range of Bordeaux whites and reds. The château is located on a large hill, overlooking the vineyards, and is locally nicknamed the "Tuscany of Bordeaux". Winemaker, Daniel Sore, utilizes the art of modern wine-making to produce Bordeaux wines that are characteristic of the local terroir.

The name Entre-Deux-Mers translates as 'Between Two Seas'. The seas in question are the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which form the area's southern and northern boundaries respectively.  

Entre-Deux-Mers occupies a substantial slice of the Bordeaux region, stretching from the edge of Bordeaux city in the west, to the farmland outside Bergerac in the east. The landscape is mostly fertile and green, rolling gently between 33 and 330ft (10-100m) above sea level.  

However, vineyards have replaced some of the green landscape, with large patches of land being rapidly devoted to viticulture. The soils of Entre-Deux-Mers are predominantly of alluvial type (sand and clay in varying proportions) - which is to be expected, given its name and location.

Please join us and try these wines on for size. 

Wine & cheese tasting every Friday from 5-8 PM No Charge.

 

Toad Hollow Vineyards - Wine Tasting

Join Us This Friday Night

August 10 - 5-8 PM - No Charge

Francine Williams

The owner of

Toad Hollow Vineyards

Returns Home To New London

Under her maiden name of Francine Smith, "Frankie" graduated from New London High School in 1966 and worked at Electric Boat before moving to California.

Though she loves her work and the wine country, there are definitely things besides family and friends Frankie looks forward to in her trips back to Connecticut.
"The two things I miss the most are fried clams and pizza," she says. "In California, everyone's hot on fancy designer pizza."

We are honored once again to host an evening with one of wine's most recognizable stars.

Francine will be here to share a glass of wine, sign bottles, takes photos and recount her adventures west of the Mississippi. If you can make it to just one of our events this month - make it this one.

Wine and Cheese 5-8 PM - No Charge.

BACKGROUND:
How it All Began - The name Toad Hollow conjures nostalgic images of pastoral scenery: a winding country road and a gently flowing river with big oak trees and grasses swaying in the summer breeze. This is a place where you can relax and enjoy a sip or two of wine while gazing out on a pond hopping with Toad Hollow friends.

Toad Hollow is the collaboration of two old friends who retired, more or less, to an existence of peace and quiet in the Hollow, after a life of whirlwind world travel. Neither of these two gentlemen believed in self-denial.

Todd Williams and Rodney Strong - Dr. Toad and The Dancing Badger (as they were fondly called) were sitting on the veranda one day gazing out over Mr. Badger's beautiful hillside vineyards that ran from the banks of the Russian River clear up to the house. During their conversation they decided they wanted to find a way to repay the warmth and friendship shown them along the way. The two old friends had in common a love of good food and fine wine, so they made a decision. "We'll make fine wines!"

Toad Hollow as a boutique winery in 1993. 
Through Todd's relentlessly infectious personality and a damned fine product, the winery went from moving 300 annual cases of unoaked chardonnay to a hugely successful company with several types of wine and yearly sales of over 200,000 cases - without ever sacrificing quality or the sense of joy. 

Frankie says adherence to the founding principles is not only good business sense but perpetuates the spirit of Toad Hollow. Just the way she speaks in casual conversation is indicative of her pride and enjoyment.  "We try and produce wonderful wines at reasonable prices," she says. "We think you should be able to enjoy wonderful wines on a daily basis and not worry about the cost. If you want a $50 or $100 bottle of wine for special occasions, that's excellent." She laughs. "But you can afford to drink Toad Hollow Monday through Thursday."

Please Join Us On Friday Night.
It Is Fun Informal And A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

Wine & Cheese Tasting Every Friday 5-8 PM - No Charge

70 State Street New London, CT 06320