NL Art World, Barkley Hendricks, Hygienic Art XXIX, Chalone vineyards, Cefalicchio Canosa Rosso, Saint-Sulpice, Heredad de Aduna

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

This week is full of news from the New London Art World - our list of wines for Friday is just below these items of interest.


• New London is the home to an exciting and ever expanding art culture, and along with that we are surrounded by some of the most interesting and creative people you can imagine. So, as we were flipping through the latest edition of Vogue Magazine, this item caught our eye and you should know about it. “The Vogue 25” cultural highlights of 2008.

The list includes the works of Barkley Hendricks - well known local artist and professor of art at Connecticut College. “Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool,” the first career retrospective of the American artist’s paintings, will be on view at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University from Feb. 7 through July 13, 2008.
Take a minute to read more about Barkley and this show HERE: http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2008/01/birth_cool.html

Congratulations Barkley - we dig you man.


• The Garde Arts Center is putting the finishing touches on their Winter Film Festival -February 14 - 19. This is a highlight of the New London winter scene and if you expect to get your favorite seats - Then I suggest you get your tickets early - for more details GO HERE: http://tickets.gardearts.org/show.asp



• And of course if it's January, it is time for the Annual Hygienic Art Show. Open to all artists - beginner and experts alike. Who's to say that the little pad next to your telephone, the one that might be tossed into the kitchen drawer with the loose batteries, forgotten keys, and the lint-roller that is down to it's last couple of clean sheets - who's to say that little pad with the doodles and numbers - is not art? Well, why not enter it this year and find out?

This is a great event - it always has a big turnout - get all of the details HERE: http://www.hygienic.org/default.asp

HYGIENIC ART XXIX













January 26 - February 10, 2008

• Save The Date - Fashion Show and Wine Tasting February 21st. Produced in cooperation with Niza - the Women's Boutique of Mystic. A great night of fashion, music, wine, and FUN. Lots more details coming here in the email and of course on our Calendar of Events page HERE: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html


• And finally - A quick note about our Private Dinner with Italy's Winemaker of The Year - Cosimiro Maule, from Nino Negri Vineyards. We will be serving eight of his wines, two per course. There are just four seats left as we go to press. If you have a lover of Italian culture, food and wine in your life - this is a gift that will make them giddy. Truly a night to remember. You will be sitting down to dinner with a wine industry legend. Our own Anne Haviland is working with Signore Maule on the menu which will be posted on the calendar when it is finished. Please join us for our first winemaker dinner of 2008 - Monday January 28 - 6 p.m. - $85 plus tax & service. - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - January 21 - No Charge
Dave Says:
"First off, allow me to rant about beer for a moment: As you may know, we don't stock tons of beer. For the most part, only what our 1957 Peerless fridge (formerly of Patsy's on Bank Street) will hold. You kids already know where to get your 30-packs-o-suds and it ain't here! We're keeping cold a pile of uber-brew including local favorites Cottrell, Trinity and Harpoon... Berkshire Brewing, fresh and delicious, in bombers and now in 64oz growlers! Samuel Smith 4-packs, Castle Lager, Pilsner Urquell (the original Pilsner from Pilzn), Belgian Chimay bombers, and one of my favorites, Moosehead - straight outta Halifax. We always keep Lindemann's fruit-infused Lambics in the cellar, cold Grolsch swing-tops upstairs (oh they still make them), and for bands-on-a-budget, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Narragansett bottles! Do you really need something more? If you do, just ask...
As for "Dave's Fave" on Monday hmmm... well let's have some beer! Come on down and sample our three current varieties from Deerfield Mass's own Berkshire Brewing: Steel Rail Pale Ale, Lost Sailor IPA, and Coffeehouse Porter ($3.50 a bomber)

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday January 25 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Chalone vineyards Monterey county Chardonnay 2006 $12 - www.chalonevineyard.com
As one of the first wineries to recognize Monterey County’s potential for exceptional Chardonnay, Chalone Vineyard began making wines high up on the Gavilan mountain range in 1966. Today, there are more acres of Chardonnay grapes planted in Monterey than any other county in California. The reason why is: Chardonnay develops its finest flavors when grown in cool, marine-influenced climates. This is how winemaker Robert Cook describes this wine: "Elegant and fruit-focused, Chalone 2006 Monterey County Chardonnay captures the bright pear, apple, citrus and stone fruit character of grapes grown in Monterey County along California’s Central Coast. Hints of floral and spice highlight the aromas and echo on the palate. The wine’s vibrant fruit expression reflects the cool marine fog and winds that caress these foothill and benchland vineyards. The perfectly balanced flavors mingle crisp, natural acidity with a rich, creamy texture from sur lie aging. Enjoy our Chardonnay with flavors from the ocean, such as crab cakes, grilled fish, prawns sautéed in butter and garlic, or scallops and angel hair pasta tossed with a cream sauce. Or pour with grilled chicken or pork, creamy chowders and mushroom risotto." - I just love those California fly-boys, don't you?
For those of you that are convinced that Chardonnay is not for them - you might be surprised by this one - especially at this price - this may be your new favorite "Chard."


2 - Cefalicchio Canosa Rosso D.O.C. 2003 $11 - Bio-Dynamic - www.vignetidipuglia.it
Amazing History - This wine comes from the Apulian settlement of Canusium, near the Ofanto river. The city is ideally situated to control this major waterway, and was built on a hill, on the same site as the modern town. Founded by Diomedes, or so the legend goes, it became a Roman town in 318 AC and took in the survivors of the Roman army defeated in the battle of Canne. First a municipium and then a colonia during the Imperial Age, it was famous for its wool industry and pottery production. A diocese since the 4th century, it was devastated by barbarian raids and only regained its prosperity under the Longobards. In 840-70 it was destroyed by the Saracens. A prosperous town under Norman rule (11th-12th centuries), damaged by dynastic wars during the Angevin period (14th-15th centuries), in 1502 it heroically stood by the Spaniards against the French, who only managed to occupy it after a long siege. In 1530 it was given to Charles V by Philibert of Orange. It was plagued by bandits and earthquakes for a long time.

And what is the best medicine for battling bandits and earthquakes? Thats right, wine.
This wine is produced with strict Bio-dynamic principles and, manual harvesting; the carefully selected and harvested clusters are crushed and softly pressed; the must ferments at length along with the skins at a controlled temperature; refinement takes place in stainless steel. A deep ruby red color is the result. This is a full bodied wine with great aromas and it pairs well with full flavored dishes like red meats and aged cheeses. It would be very difficult to find this much history in a bottle for this price - please try it on Friday night.


3 - Ch Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2005 $12
This wine came in mislabeled 2004, We think somebody, somewhere made a mistake, with the great 2005 vintage and the recent unpleasentness with the Euro, this is underpriced for what is in the bottle. The Chateau Saint Sulpice is a 100-acre estate situated in a village of the same name in the northern section of Entre-Deux-Mers, just south of St. Emilion and 14 miles northeast of Bordeaux. The property is planted mainly with Merlot and is very carefully tended by owner-winemaker Pierre Duberge and his son Christophe. Pierre says: "The 2005 vintage produced excellent, fruit and the wines are characterized by extremely ripe, powerful, and extracted wines with structured tannins." Pierre has said unequivocally the 2005 vintage is "the best wine we have made in 20 years." The wine shows lots of red-fruit aromas. It is concentrated, full and dense in the mouth, with silky tannins and a supple finish. If you are a Bordeaux wine fan - this is the opportunity to grab a case or two at a great price. It will go quickly, please try it on Friday night.


4 - Heredad de Aduna Rioja $28 - 1997.
This is a house favorite - we have offered it from the beginning. In a world that is full of unpleasent surprises it is always nice to know what to expect from a wine like this - Athenticity. Heredad de Aduna, with a long family tradition, still make their wines in the traditional manner, thanks to the knowledge and good work of their elders, especially their father and maestro, Jose Martinez Aduna. Bodegas Heredad de Aduna specialize in a large variety of young red wines, Vintages, Reservas and Grandes Reservas that reach a widely-spread market that knows how to appreciate the quality of the end product, proof of which are the number of prizes they have received since they started out as harvesters. This wine wins gold medal awards all over Europe in blind tastings - you must try this if you appreciate Rioja - still a great value at this price - just a dollar more than the last time we featured it back in 2005. Please try it.



Thanks very much for your support, we appreciate your confidence and commitment to us. It is precisely why we are able to get the guests and offer special items, that you will not find anywhere else. Lots of excitement in the coming months, stay tuned.



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







AAA.

Pares Balta Mas Elena, Felsner Gruner Veltliner, San Romano Dolcetto di Dogliani, Fabre Montmayour, Sierra Cantabria, Ivan Ruiz

Greetings From All Of Us In New London,

Just a couple of remarks and a big announcement - before we list the wines for Friday night.

• One of the most frequent requests that we get from you is to add more
"Winemaker Dinners." Well, we are listening.
We have been extremely fortunate to host some of the greatest names in the wine world -
Rock Stars of their profession.
So many of you say:
"How do you get them to come to New London? - they don't even appear in big cities."
They answer is simple - it's you. Our customers & friends have created a buzz that is talked about in the business - it is your support that makes it happen.

For those of you that have attended our Meet The Winemaker series, you know it is not a room full of people shouting over each other and trying to get a look at the the guest from a mile away. Our dinners with the winemakers are special. We sit side by side with them - you get to eat with them, drink with them, and share an evening with them.

In some cases customers have gone on to stay in touch and have even made trips to visit them on their own home turff - or should I say terroir.

So, to kick off the 2008 season of dinners we have a big announcement - Truly a rare opportunity to meet one of the great winemakers in the world.
Our first guest of the season has been voted Italy's Winemaker of 2007
by the Gambero Rosso & Slow Food.

Casimiro Maule from Nino Negri vineyards will be our guest on
Monday January 28 - 6 p.m. -
Reserve Early - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3 - $85 plus tax & service.
http://www.gruppoitalianovini.com/ninonegri/ing/versioni.htm

Meeting Casimiro Maule is a life experience. Huge charisma. A person you would listen to for hours. Not only history of wine but history of a part of Italy - the Valtellina.

He is on his 37th Harvest at the winery. And is largely recognized as the one to have restored Valtellina winemaking to the exceptional standard it has reached today. His "Cinque Stelle" wine is among the elite of four wines to have received the Tre Bicchieri award, from Gambero Rosso, for 10 consecutive years, and the 2002 Cinque Stelle was voted the BEST wine of the year by Gambero Rosso 2006. Our menu will be paired with the wines, which will be served with each course - a night to remember.


Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Pares Balta Mas Elena 2004 $15
Dave Says: "We discovered this wine last year and dug it right off the bat, maybe because of our penchant for Cab Franc, which adds an earthy touch. From Penedes on the Catalonian coast of Spain, this is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is organically farmed, while flocks of sheep graze on weeds and frolick, and kept bees pollinate and buzz happily in the Spanish sun... When Patricio Brongo visited us from the vineyard (See the interview on Wineradio), Jim asked him, "So the sheep basically run the place, don't they?" "...Yes," he conceded."
Anyway, this is one of our favorite table reds, and the 2004 bottling has a chic black and orange bottle. I haven't tried the new vintage yet, hope you will join me Monday!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday January 18 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


1 - Felsner Gruner Veltliner "Lossterrassen" 2006 $14
The Felsner family estate is run by Manfred and Renate Felsner, the family’s 9th generation of winemakers. Manfred was just 15 years old when his grandfather gave him a vineyard for his birthday. He’s made wine ever since, winning a plethora of awards along the way. The estate’s steep slopes ideally angled to catch the Austrian sunshine, and free-draining ‘loess’ soil, ripen the Grüner Veltliner to plump perfection. Noted wine reviewer Jancis Robinson writes: “It starts discreetly, the nose fresh and subtle, lively and a touch peppery. The flavours the same: crisp, pristine, definite but far from obvious, its fruit becoming rounder – apricots and apples – an elusive taste of orange flowers and tinged with a delicious hint of white pepper. Intensely appetizing and lingering well. Extremely appealing apéritif, but I see this working with dishes from roast pork to sushi. A very special wine you should not miss!” - This is a wine that would go very well with most food and it is great with cheese too. - give it a try on Friday night.

2 - San Romano Dolcetto di Dogliani "Vigna del Pilone" 2003 $15
This is a wine that can be traced back over a thousand years. Hand harvested after aggressive pruning to limit the yield and assure quality.This single vineyard Dolcetto is bottled unfiltered and has an aging potential of up to ten years. Like all the wines of Piedmonte, Dolcetto works very well with food including white and red meats, either roasted or stewed, as well as 1st courses and mature cheeses. Close your eyes on Friday night and sip - you will be transported to Italy. A very good value at this price - and an especially cheap way to visit Italy.

3 - Fabre Montmayour Gran Reserva Cabernet 2003 $18 -
only 2000 cases produced for the world market.
This wine is brought to us by a gentleman named Ivan Ruiz - a human dynamo that has dedicated his life to the food and wine industry. After moving to the USA from his native Columbia at age 17, he started as a "garbage boy" at a White Castle hamburger joint near Summit New Jersey. Now at age 41 he is not only the importer of the finest wines from South America, he is also a friend and confidant to some of the greatest chefs working today - he also teaches the chapter on Latin American wines for the American Sommelier Association. This is what he says about this Cabernet: "The Fabre Montmayou wines were born from a dream, combining old and new worlds,adventure and rigour, with constant dedication to quality. The selection of soil, vines, and grape varietals with the most natural methods show the constant search for perfection. The Fabre Montmayou wine holds true to the high standards set by the traditions of the Bordeaux region, paying close attention to care, preserving its strong character: an authenticity guaranteeing high quality." - This is an intense ruby colored wine. Full bodied, with a delicate and complex finish. If you would like to read more about this modern day Horatio Alger story - look here: http://www.ivanselections.com/wine./ivans_bio.html

4 - Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva 1998 $35
From Jorge Ordonez, a man that goes way beyond buying and selling wine; he advises, cajoles, teaches, pleads, strong-arms, consults with wineries all over Spain to update techniques, explore old grapes and new properties, and - bottom line - make better wine. He candidly offers fresh ideas and constructive criticism on quality control, vineyard management, dreaming up new blends, marketing, and packaging. His astonishing track record - 13O wines from 4O wineries - speaks volumes. Some of our favorite wine comes from his portfolio - and this is no exception. The world’s most influential wine critic Robert Parker has twice named Señor Ordoñez Wine Personality of the Year, and called him one of the most influential wine personalities of the past twenty years. This is a very well aged and well priced Rioja from our good friend Jorge Ordonez. All of the power and complexity that you would expect from a ten year old Rioja. This will go quickly - please try it on Friday night.



Lots more on the horizon to share with you - it's going to be an exciting year.
Thanks very much for your support and for making this the best party we could ask for.


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



AAA.

Casimiro Maule, Meet Italy's Winemaker of 2007, Private Dinner

Meeting Casimiro Maule is a life experience. Huge charisma. A person you would listen to for hours. Not only history of wine but history of a part of Italy.

Casimiro Maule is from Trento and graduated from the enology school at San Michele. He got a call from Negri 35 years ago, asking him to come to work as their winemaker. Voted Winemaker of the year in 2007 by Gambero Rosso.

He is on his 37th Harvest at the winery. And is largely recognized as the one to have restored Valtellina winemaking to the exceptional standard it has reached today...he was named winemaker of the year by Gambero Rosso 2007 (received 2 tre bicchieri and another 2 of his wines made the finals), 5 Stelle is among the elite of four wines to have received Tre Bicchieri for 10 consecutive years...and the 2002 Cinque Stelle was voted the BEST wine of the year by Gambero Rosso 2006

Reserve Now - seating is limited.

$85 plus tax and service

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Girl Power, Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino, Claar Cellars,Betz Pere de Famille

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


We are welcoming the New Year with a beautiful lineup for Friday - including a powerhouse from Washington.
We are running a bit late this week so just a couple of quick notes before the list of wines - Thanks so much for all of the emails with comments and suggestions and your remarkable support - we appreciate all of it.

• In the coming weeks we will be sharing lots of new information with you - for the New Year.
Everything we are unveiling is based upon your requests, suggestions and comments - we are listening.

• New menu items at Brie & Bleu - but don't worry, your favorites will still be available. We will be re-introducing ideas and items that you have been asking for. And we will be pairing the wines by the glass with our menus and specials for your convenience too.

• New wine dinners and classes - Also a series of food demonstrations and classes - all of this and much more as the weeks unfold.


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday - January 11 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge







Girl Power! - Adele Rouze



1 - Domaine Adele Rouze Quincy 2006 $20.
The is an interesting story - the wine is the creation of twenty-six-year-old Adèle Rouzé. She's the daughter of Jacques Rouzé, a well-respected vigneron who is also the president of the Quincy wine brotherhood. She is a certified agricultural appraiser and after completing additional studies in winemaking in Bordeaux, Adèle returned to her home with the idea of making her own cuvée. Jacques allowed her parts some old-vine parcels, all of which face either south or southeast. Certain parcels were planted between 1920 and 1930, and others during the 1950s. The majority of these are along the left part of the Cher River. Some of these parcels include Crèves Coeurs, Les Rimonés, Les Nouzats, La Plante, Les Victoire and Villalin. The vineyards are not organic, but worked by lutte raisonée or responsible farming, where only natural products are used in the soil and spraying is kept to a minimum.

Once the grapes are picked, the grapes are pressed. Adèle makes careful effort to eliminate the last juice of the pressing, often containing bitter and herbal flavors. All of Adèle's tiny production fits into one tank! The vineyards of Quincy are located in the center of France, in the Cher département. It is part of the large network of Loire valley vineyards, found in the eastern area not far from the vineyards of Sancerre, Reuilly, Menetou-Salon and Pouilly-Fumé. The wine is delicious and has aromas of citrus fruit and freshly-cut herbs. Flavors of grapefruit and lime, with a nice medium-body and a crisp, mineral finish - this is Girl Power at it's finest. Please try it on Friday night.


2 - Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino 2000 Italy - Copertino reserva $15.
Puglia, which spans Italy’s long stiletto “heel” from northwest to southeast, rivals Sicily for being the largest producer of Italian wine. In fact, this 360 kilometer region produces almost twice as much wine as all of Australia. Bright ruby red in color, this wine is made from a blend of Negroamaro (95%) and Malvasia Nera (5%). Medium bodied, it’s nicely structured with supple tannins and good acidity. It offers flavors of spice, and tart plums. The flavors last for a while too - the wine has a long, spicy finish. Although enjoyable on its own, it was better with food. This wine would go well with Italian meatballs and sausage for example. A great price on a bottle that really works well with food.


3 - Claar Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - Washington - $20 - www.claarcellars.com
Claar Cellars is a family owned Estate Winery. Audrienne and Russell Claar (rhymes with "fair"), developed the first farm in 1950 and planted the first grapes in 1980. Then their daughter Christa & Son-In Law Bob took an interest in the wine business. They were both Active Duty Naval Officers until 1983, when Bob retired and Christa transferred into the Naval Reserve. Since then they have developed over 300 acres into premium wine grapes, apples and asparagus. This Cabernet is well known for it's complex aromas of black olives, cedar, plums and currant. In the mouth there are intense blackberry flavors and elegant tannins. Just a touch of mocha in the finish adds an extra dimension to this rich Cabernet sauvignon. Please tryit it on Friday - Go Navy.

4 - Betz Pere de Famille $64 www.betzfamilywinery.com
This is a big gun - it has credentials a mile long - Steve Tanzer, of the International Wine Cellar newsletter, ranked it the third highest Cabernet in Washington, a point or two behind Quilceda Creek and Leonetti Reserve. Tanzer: “93(+?) Bright, deep ruby-red. Musky, minerally, spicy aromas of blackberry, blueberry, leather and tree bark. Quite penetrating on the palate, with terrific intensity and cut to the black cherry and currant flavors. Denser and larger-scaled than the Clos de Betz. This, too, finishes with excellent cut, growing sweeter and longer as it opens in the glass. There's firm tannic spine here but no impression of dryness.” This will go quickly - if you have the opportunity try not to miss this one.

Here is what Bob Betz says about his winery: Our winery is a labor of love. Our first vintage was 1997, when we produced about 150 cases total. Our goal is to craft 2000-2500 cases annually, limiting ourselves to a quantity that we can directly watch over. By working with selected, dedicated grape growers and employing methods that we believe craft superior wine, we hope to create wines of individual character, a blend of richness, balance and pleasure. Our winemaking focuses on the purity of the individual varieties and the vineyards they come from. We do those things that a small winery has the luxury of doing: we know every barrel."


We look forward to seeing you on Friday night.

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


AAA.

Happy New Year 2008, Davidoff Select Merchant, Martin Sancho Verdejo, Apaltagua Envero, Chocolate Block, Heitz Cellars

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html


Happy New Year! And best wishes to all of our readers and customers -
Thank You for a great 2007.

We start the New Year off with a great lineup on Friday night.
Since this is a vacation week for some of us just a couple items of interest before the wines for Friday.

• We are happy to announce that we are now officially a Davidoff Select Merchant.
The first boxes of the finest cigars being hand crafted in the world today have made their way into gift baskets with wine & fine spirits over the Christmas holidays. If you know someone that enjoys fine cigars - consider adding them to your next gift order. There will be much more information to share with you in the weeks ahead. Ask us about the special pricing and selection the next time you visit or call.

• We have two dozen grower champagnes, plus Cava, prosecco, and other sparkling wines from North America, Italy , and France. Of particular interest, is the Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale 1999, LeMesnil-Sur-Oger Grand Cru, perhaps the best Champagne we've ever had , $175 a MAGNUM. Head and shoulders better and above both, Cristal & Dom Perignon and less than HALF the price. High prices and orange labels are for Hedge Fund managers, desperate aging hipsters and snooty big-shots - Grower Champagne - This is wine for people in the know.

Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 4, 2008 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Martin Sancho Verdejo 2006 $16 - Spain
This wine comes from ancient, 150-year-old vines in the Rueda wine region, just about half way between Madrid and Bilbao. The vines are grown in alluvial soils, which are smooth, white rock with very little sediment for several feet. The owner, Angel Rodriquez, takes great pride in his 25-acre vineyard, which has been passed down for many generations. This is a beautiful white wine full of green fruits, spice, a slight smokiness, bitter almond, and melon. From free-run juice, the new wine is racked into centuries-old subterranean oak bocoyes prior to clarification and bottling. 2006 was an unusually early harvest that has resulted in a bold classic Verdejo character, with deep minerality complementing abundant ripe fruit and texture in a long, weighty finish.


2 - Apaltagua Envero 2004 $16 - Chile (rated 89 points by Stephen Tanzer)
The Apaltagua Winery is located in the prestigious Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley. They specialize in one distinguished, but lesser known, grape varietal - Carmenère. Carmenère is considered the "lost Bordeaux" variety, as it was originally planted in Bordeaux, but was abandoned there because it was too late ripening for the Bordeaux climate.
Tanzer: "Deep ruby. Explosively fruity, with strong raspberry, cherry jam and redcurrant scents, with a complicating note of cinnamon. Lush and silky on the palate, with a pure raspberry quality that's extremely easy to like. Pliant, suave and elegant, with a long, sweet red berry tone to the finish and very soft tannins. This is an excellent value and is drinking well right now." - For me, this is a perfect wine for a nice steak or grilled chops. Keep that in the back of your mind when you try it on Friday night.


3 - Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2006 $36 - South Africa
This is a house favorite - The Chocolate Block - always draws attention and devoted fans whenever we are able to share it.
Boekenhoutskloof, founded in 1776, is far up the "Valley" in the Franschhoek foothills. Situated 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, South Africa, it falls within the Cape's abundant winelands. It is a dramatic and enchanting place and should you ever have the opportunity to visit, as we did last year, you must make the trip.
This is a new vintage from an old friend - please try it on Friday night.

Watch as we taste with the winemaker HERE: http://blip.tv/file/206160

See our photos HERE: http://thamesriver.com/wine/photos.html

Visit their great website HERE: http://www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za/


4 - Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa California $50 - http://www.heitzcellar.com/
Joe and Alice Heitz established Heitz Wine Cellars in 1961! They were originally from Illinois and South Dakota respectively, but met in California in the mid 1940's. When Heitz Cellars opened in 1961, the Napa Valley had fewer than twenty wineries. Today there are more than two hundred. The original winery on St. Helena Highway is still open to the public as a sales and tasting room for visitors and is a glimpse into the origins of Heitz Cellars. The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the richest in years. The gorgeous varietal fruit flavors on the palate are just exquisite and impeccably balanced with complex tannins. It is a fabulous wine illuminating the purity and radiance of the cabernet grapes and showcasing the talents of the winemaker --- a joy to drink now and into the future. This will go quickly - try it on Friday night and see for yourself why these wines are sought after - everywhere.



Thanks for your support - we have a great year lined up - full of surprises and excitement.

We hope to see you on Friday night.

Please Join Us - It Is Fun, Informal and a Great Way To Start Your Weekend.


AAA.

Christmas Edition, Segura Viudas, Varaschin Prosecco , Gruet Blanc de Noirs , A. Margaine Champagne

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/

Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html

IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html


HOLIDAY HOURS: We Will Be Open Monday December 24th - until 9 p.m. -
Last Minute Shopping Is Not A Problem.


The New Year is peeking at us from around the corner and to celebrate we have a HUGE tasting planned for Friday night - I only hope that you can join us.
There has been a parade of friends and customers stopping into the store to wish us the best for the holidays and the coming New Year.
Thanks for making it such a party all of the time, and thank you very much for your tremendous support - it has been a great year.

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


This Week:

It's all about the BUBBLY - By popular demand it's an all sparkling line up - and the bubbly will be flowing like water.

Cava, Champagne, Prosecco,…need we continue? Good fizz is wonderful at any time of year but this is the season when we feel we can indulge ourselves -
With so many sparkling choices to select from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly?

Need a case or two? Remember that we can deliver your holiday party needs right to your doorstep - all you need to do is ask.

1 - Segura Viudas Brut reserva Cava $10
Cava - is sparkling wine from Spain. And this one makes your mouth water from the first sip. A very affordable party wine that will fill the bill with food and mid-night toasts too. The bubbles are very persistent - unlike others in this price range. This Cava has a racy flavor and it feels light-bodied with a nice gold color, and a lively fresh aroma and subtle scents of lemon. This is a great party wine. Raise your glass to Spain on Friday night.


2 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut Rose $13
This is a house favorite. We sell cases and cases of it - in fact we even serve it by the glass at Brie & Bleu. Varaschin's wine-firm was founded in S. Pietro di Barbozza around 1930 by Matteo Varaschin - This is a Brut Rosé - It is a great bottle to open as you grab that cook book off of the shelf or tear the recipie out of the The Times magazine section at a quarter to twelve on Sunday. It gets the juices going - and allows you to come up with a plan for the rest of the day. It is great with food. It is aromatic and elegant with soft floral and fruit notes - It is NOT a bottle of sweet fizzy wine - We promise.

3 - Gruet Blanc de Noirs $17
In 1983, the Gruet family was traveling through the Southwestern part of the United States, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequence, 170 miles south of Albuquerque. The land was inexpensive and the opportunity golden. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet, whose Champagne house, Gruet et Fils had produced fine Champagne in Bethon, France, since 1952, made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard, exclusively planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. His children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie, and family friend Farid Himeur then relocated to the great state of New Mexico to begin their American wine making adventure - and the rest, as they say, is history. This is gorgeous - rich & creamy, with delicious hints of berries. Give this a try on Friday night.

4 - A. Margaine Champagne $42.
This Champagne is part of our "Grower-Producer" portfolio. We are proud to offer the largest selection of boutique Champagne's in the state of Connecticut. This particular wine is one of the best Champagne values in our store because we made our commitment to purchase it before the recent dollar shift with the Euro. We will not be able to offer it at this price again. When you compare this Champagne - or for that matter any of our small producer Champagnes to the big brands you will never be disappointed.

And when you compare the price for these "grower's" top Cuvés with prices for the big brands - then it becomes almost laughable - because these wines sell for half as much and in some cases less than half as much as the big brand names. And that's because they do not have designer bottles, and enormous PR budgets, and product placement expenses to pass along to us - the consumers.

Most of the familiar big names of Champagne are manufactured using industrial protocols in modern factories - and they are produced in huge quantities.
The flavors that one tastes are decided upon by a committee in a boardroom - and we can get any of these famous brands for you if you need them - BUT

We have decided offer a magnificent collection of “Grower Champagne.” Champagne that is produced by individuals and their families in limited quantities.
They pick the grapes themselves, make the wine and bottle it themselves. They make in an entire year what the big names produce in a matter of hours.
Crafted with old world traditions, these are artisanal wines that reflect the land were they came from and the people that made them - and present wonderfully unique, almost magical flavors in the glass.

Offer Grower Champagne to your family and friends this year - and taste the difference.
All of these Grower-Producer Champagne's deserve your attention - they represent something quite special, and I hope you will try this one on Friday night.


All of us want to wish you and your families our warm regards for Christmas and the coming holidays - We hope to see you this week.


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



AAA.

The Experts Agree, Domaine du Salvard Cheverny, Clos la Coutale Cahors, Bouchard Monthelie Les Duresses, Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - 84 Bank Street
Shop On Line: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html
Calendar of Events: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - 70 State Street - www.thamesriver.com
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - 84 Bank Street - : http://www.brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - 60 State Street - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html

This has been a tough week - all of our best laid plans were disrupted by the storm, and as we go to press there is another storm beating us silly.

But there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel - The Friday night tasting has a great line up and the list is just below a few items of interest.

• First a word about cheese.
The greatest minds in the business agree: White wine is a more likely cheese partner than the mighty red. That's right, white wine - it's true. We have carefully chosen a selection of cheese that will pair perfectly with the Grower Champagne, Cava, Champagne, Prosecco, Moscato, and other miraculous whites that we feature at the wine store. And with so many sparklers to choose from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly? We proved this just last week at our Champagne & Pizza tasting.

Make any night of the week unforgettable with this perfect sampling: sinful, creamy goodness comes in the form of Delice de Bourgogne - Jasper Hill Farm’s Constant Bliss has a bit more bite, and a bit of a crumble, American Gruyere is creamy and pungent, while cave-aged Swiss Gruyere is crystalline and nutty. Got bubbly?

That’s not to say that we can’t find some killer pairings with red wines: the zesty twang of Cato Corner Bridgid’s Abbey; mushroomy Tomme Crayeuse; the refined, grassy sheep Ossau Vielle Cave; or the dense, buttery crumble of Double Gloucester. Serve any one of these with a glass of red to your friends and family over the holidays and you will be kissed on all four cheeks. Brie & Bleu has options galore and we can deliver all of your holiday needs to your front door. A holiday party needs wine and cheese.

• To answer one of the most asked questions from the last week or so - Our winter series of food and wine dinners will begin just after the holidays - around the second or third week of January. Great menus, fabulous wine, and special guests. Watch for the list on the calendar of events and right here in the weekly email - & watch for The Return of Fondue - coming soon.

• Holiday Hours - 10a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.

• Customized pairing for your holiday menu - no charge - bring in your menu, we will go over it with you and make suggestions. It really does make a difference.

• Delivery is no problem - the Thames River Greenery delivery team is at your service.


Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 $13
Dave Says:
Where's DuBoeuf? Okay, this came out last month, and it is the 25th anniversary of Nouveau imported into this country (remember how excited your aunt was back in the Reagan years?), but I suspect many of you are chuckling, and you should know that we are proud of our fine customers for chuckling... Yeah, we got into the small grower-producer Nouveau guys, who import, say, 700 cases into the country, while Georges imports, oh, 16,000 cases, but still, even the pros whisper, "It's supposed to be good this year." Cripes, Jim just caught me writing this - "You're not pouring that are you?" Well, YEAH man, why not? Now I'm curious, let's crack one Monday!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday December 21 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Domaine du Salvard Cheverny 2006 $16
Domaine du Salvard Cheverny is produced from vines grown by the Delaille family, which has cultivated their 37 acre parcel since about 1930. Location-wise, Cheverny in the east portion of Touraine near the village of Blois. This area is about 150 miles from Paris, just south of the Loire River. The Domaine is ranked amongst the top producers in this 'best kept secret terroir'. This delicious white is similar in style to a Pouilly-Fumé - It' a Sauvignon Blanc with lots of herbaceous and mineral character. This is a very friendly and easy drinking wine and It is Imported by Kermit Lynch Wines - and many of you know that we are big fans of Mr. Lynch. He knows how to pick them. Be sure to try it on Friday night.

2 - Clos la Coutale Cahors 2005 $16
Malbec from the place where they invented the stuff, another Kermit Lynch selection.
This is what Kermit has to say: "Astonishing elegance, red fruit with spicy overtones. A well-constructed wine. Clos La Coutale can be drunk young thanks to its good fruit, but has great aging potential, between 10-20 years. This wine accompanies duck, red meat and tasty cheeses perfectly. It is found in the best French restaurants like l'Auberge de l'Ile where Serge Dubbs, named the Best Sommelier in the World, (1990) works." This is what our own Jim Morrison says: "This is one of the few Cahors I have ever bought. I've always tried to find a wine that was obviously Malbec yet obviously not Argentine. I should have just asked Kermit." Two experts - two thumbs up. Please try it and add your two cents on Friday.

3 - Domaine Bouchard Monthelie Les Duresses 1er Cru 2005 $42
Red Burgundy from the much hailed 2005 vintage, an excellent and affordable example of varietal, region and vintage. We have literally dozens of wines from the Cote d'Or; village, premier cru and grand cru wines - we have one of the best selections available in the state. This is a very good value and deserves your attention on Friday night. If you are looking for a special bottle to serve over the holidays or if you need a gift that will make an impression, this will do the job nicely. Burgundy lovers will snap this up quickly - arrive early.

4 - Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino 2001 $58
We bought cases & cases of this wine for a huge corporate wine basket order. It is difficult to find - so we bought a little extra just to have around the house. Jim was quickly reminded that this may be his very favorite Brunello. "I've had this wine head to head with many Gambero Rosso darlings and as my taste matures, I prefer it more and more. A Real Brunello drinker's Brunello in an authentic style. Open and complicated with depth and finesse, a true masterpiece, same as it ever was." Be sure to try this on Friday - it will go quickly - but it is definitely worth your consideration. You may decide to make it your very own Stocking Stuffer.


We want to thank all of our customers and friends for the tremendous support you have shown to us - It is a great holiday season.

We hope to see you all on Friday night, and be sure to say hello the next time you visit the store.

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




AAA.

TOP SECRET, Etude Cabernet, Steltzner Merlot, Tres Picos Garnacha,

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/index.html

Brie & Bleu - http://brieandbleu.com/

Thames River Greenery - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html

IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html


The line up for the Friday night tasting is just below a few items of interest. And the list includes something special.


• We have a wine so special that we cannot list it's name - we promised the distributor.
All I can tell you is that it is from one of the greatest and most sought after names in California. It retails for $58 a bottle. And people have been known to weep openly after taking their first sip.

It's almost impossible to find on the shelves of any store - and certainly no one else would open it up with out charge the way that we will on Friday night.
It is all about SHARING - Come early - and bring a box of tissues.

• Most asked question of the week:
"Is it too late to order gift baskets and have them delivered for the holiday?"
No it is not too late - AND, remember you can mix and match any of the items from any of our stores - for example: You may add Moonstruck Chocolates from Thames River Greenery to a wine and cheese basket, or Christopher Radko Ornaments from IMPORT to a gourmet basket, or a beautiful centerpiece from TRG to a bottle of wine - no problem. And we will wrap and deliver it right to the front door of the people receiving it.
Place just one call to order from all our stores: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7


Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - 1-6 p.m. - No Charge
Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence 2004 $10
Dave Says:
It's cold and gray in New London, seems like you're always walking into a headwind, you can't find your gloves from last year and the zipper on your parka broke. Isn't it time we go to the South of France? Mais oui, let us travel there via this lovely Cotes de Provence. The Provencal vineyards of Domaine Houchart are situated at the foot of stunning Mount St. Victoire, and amongst the Grenache and Syrah vines grow pine, almond and olive trees, along with herbs such as thyme and rosemary. Monday, right here on old Bank Street, we can close our eyes and drift off to that vineyard in the hot sun. Sounds nice, non?


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


1 - IT'S A SECRET - California 2005 - $58 - Sonoma Coast - Single Vineyard.

2 - Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 $15 - Included in the Wine Spectator Top 100
This is a favorite of ours and for good reason. Deep and sweet, Tres Picos Borsao is cherry red in color with a hints of purple. In the nose, there is a bouquet of mature red fruits with traces of flowers that are typical of the best Garnachas. In the mouth, it is rich and well-structured with flavors of blackberries, vanilla and plums. Perfectly combined, Tres Picos Borsao leaves us with a long, silky and balanced finish. We have offered this wine for quite awhile - now that it has made "The List" - everyone will discover what you may already know - this is an amazing wine for the price. Please try it again or for the very first time on Friday night.


3 - Steltzner Merlot 2004 $28
From Stag's Leap District Napa Valley www.steltzner.com
Richard Steltzner established his first Stags Leap District vineyards in 1965 on a nice little spot on the Silverado Trail in Napa. Steltzner Vineyards' first commercial release was in 1977, and the Steltzner Family established their own modest facility in 1983, with a 3,000 case capacity in the Stags Leap District. Allison Steltzner has been to our store and for those of you that had the opportunity to meet her you will agree that the entire family is deeply committed to making the best wine possible. This merlot has some great blueberry aromas along with a hint of smokiness and it is "like buddah" in your mouth. Please try it on Friday night.


4 - Etude Cabernet 2003 $90 www.etudewines.com
Very Limited Production - All of the major publications and reviewers rate this wine in the 90's. It is one of the finest examples of it's kind.
This is how the winemaker describes the wine: "Vibrant raspberry and blueberry aromas along with a bright perfume note are the signatures of this balanced and refined Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the wine offers forward flavors of dark berries, violets and cassis that lead to a highly structured and complex finish packed with notes of bittersweet chocolate, black plum and almond." This is a wine that fancy restaurants and big shot collectors like to keep to themselves - but you can try it with us on Friday night.

It is a busy holiday season - take a break from the running around and join us on Friday night to try some very special wines.

Thank you for all of the cards, emails, and calls - we appreciate your support, and we hope to see you this week.



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


AAA.

New York Times, Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape , Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Masi Campofiorin Ripasso, Beckman Estate Cabernet

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
Coming Soon - City News - http://www.thamesriver.com/citynews/index.html

It is a very busy week here - So we have just a couple of items of interest before we list the wines for our tasting on Friday night.
And there are a couple real favorites on the list, be sure to arrive early - they will go quickly.

• You may have seen the photos of our stores in Sundays local paper - we hosted the now annual display of Ballerina's dancing in the store front windows as part of the Light & Song celebration: http://theday.com/re_print.aspx?re=e99e87b0-e00c-4aa7-9685-f5187103faf0

• The Sunday New York Times has a nice article in the Holiday Magazine Section, on page 100, about Grower Champagne. Now - how long have we been singing the praises of Grower Champagne? - Their list of favorites is virtually a menu of what we have on our shelves right now. Please take a look the next time you visit the store - and if you would like to see the article, here is a link to the story titled Brut Force: http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2007/12/02/style/t/index.html?8dpc#pageName=02ssfair

And if you still have not seen our most recent interviews with the Grower Champagne Maestro, Terry Theise, take a look on the WineRadio section of our calendar of events page - it will enlighten you on the magic that's in the bottle. Here: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html


• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge Santa Ema Merlot Reserve 2005 $12
Dave Says: First off, in Beaujolais Nouveau news, three small grower-producer Nouveaux have arrived via boat (the Duboeuf came via their fleet of old Concordes). What are they like, you ask? Never fear - I and fellow Wine Consultant (Hartford Courant's language) Adam Demorest have volunteered to sample and compare all of them over the weekend, so by the time you read this, we will be awash in New-Found Nouveau Know-How.
And for Monday, "We ARE SO drinking Merlot!!!" Santa Ema Reserva is a big stunner from Chile with a small table-wine price. So don't neglect this grape because of the rantings of a fictional cinema nebbish: come on in and try it Monday!



Wine Tasting - Please Join Us Friday December 7 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 -Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape BLANC 2006 $70 -
Rated 95 points Wine Spectator
Alain Junguenet made a name for himself as a Grand Prix racecar driver, before turning his passion for wine and his friendship with many of France’s foremost vignerons into a second career that was to bring him much more notoriety. “The name Alain Junguenet on a bottle,” wrote Robert Parker in December, 1991, “is an indication of a fine wine that is probably under-valued in terms of its quality,” and that remains all the more true today.
This is what Wine Spectator has to say about this wine: "Supertight and pure, with blanched almond, star fruit, acacia and lemon verbena notes all gliding along a bright, minerally frame. Lingering hints of orange blossom, honeysuckle and lime add further complexity. Should age beautifully."
Their red wine was rated number 1 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list - This is a wine you really will not want to miss - please try it on Friday night.

2 - Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2005 $27 www.byronwines.com
The Byron name is familiar to you because it is often on the top rated lists of all the noted publications. The Santa Maria Valley is an appellation apart, 300 miles south of Napa Valley, 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Byron Vineyard and Winery was founded in 1984 by winemaker Ken Brown. With years of experience as a winemaker in Santa Barbara County, Ken recognized the region's potential for great wines in the Burgundian style, and was the first winemaker to introduce Rhone-style grape varieties to the area.

With the aid of noted architect R. Scott Johnson, who designed the Opus One winery in Napa Valley and San Francisco's Transamerica building, Ken designed a multi-level winery that replaces pumping with gravity flow, resulting in more complex, dynamic wines. The result is a remarkably smooth wine. This wine displays aromas of dark plum and dark cherry, accented by hints of brown sugar, brown spice, vanilla, and smoke. The flavor profile has a core of dark cherry and dark plum with hints of clove and brown spices, backed by a smoky finish. An absolutely excellent food wine - you will be a hero when you serve this to your family and friends over the holidays. Try it on Friday night and see why we have made this a "house favorite" here at the store.

3 - Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2002 $16
Ripasso is an Italian red wine from Valpolicella made by fermenting young wine with the skins and lees left over from making Amarone.
The Boscaini family have been the owners of the Masi vineyards for six generations. Masi is a specialized producer of premium wines from the Venetian area. This led writer Hugh Johnson to refer to Masi as "a touchstone for Verona wines. Masi rediscovered and refined the technique of double fermentation using semi-dried grapes. This speciality of Masi, resulting from the refermentation of wine from fresh Veronese red grapes with a percentage of semi-dried grapes of the same varietals , splendidly encompasses the qualities of the Verona area: the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese grape varieties, and the originality of the techniques of "appassimento" (semi-drying) and double fermentation by Masi. It combines simplicity and grace with power and majesty. It is rich, full-bodied, round and velvety, and has an aging potential of 10 to 15 years."

This is a great bottle of wine for the price. We drink it ourselves and I think that after you try it on Friday night it may become a favorite of yours too. Here is a link to a photo of the family - look at these folks - they care about what they make: http://www.masi.it/agricola/components_table/FAMIGLIA_PAGE.pag


4 - Beckman Estate Cabernet 2004 $24
This is still our best selling California Cabernet, all estate fruit, only 1500 cases made. For the life of us we cannot figure out why the price has not gone through the roof. The name Beckman has been whispered around as the "next big thing" for a while now. Awed and inspired by a perfect convergence of soil, microclimate, wind and sun - Tom Beckmen purchased a stunning, unplanted 365-acre hillside property overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley in 1996. Respect for the land is a fundamental element of the Beckmen Vineyards philosophy. In this spirit, beginning in 2006, Steve Beckmen began farming 100 percent of the Purisima Vineyard biodynamically. In the years since Beckmen first started farming Purisima Mountain Vineyard, it has proved to be an ideally situated property that consistently bears superior fruit. The stellar vineyard, together with Tom and Steve Beckmen's approach to winegrowing and their innovative viticultural practices, represents a coming of age for Santa Barbara County winegrowing.

For lovers of Cabernet you will not want to miss this one. The nose of this wine is almost bottomless with aromas of jammy black cherry, earth, and chocolate. Flavors start off big and follow up with a seductively long finish. Please try it on Friday.



Your support during this holiday season is tremendous - thank you all for shopping locally, we appreciate it.
Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions - we are listening and there is a lot on the way.


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


AAA

Dance Ballerina - Dance, Chateau de Pizay Morgon, Adelsheim Pinot Gris, Archery Summit Arcus Estate, Steele Stymie Merlot, Alonso del Yerro Ribera

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

Shop On Line Page: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html

Calendar Page: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html


It was a fantastic Thanksgiving, thanks for all of your support and warm wishes. We have a nice line up for you on Friday night - including some pricey bottles that may find their way to your holiday tables. The list is just below a few items of interest.

• We will be open late - until 9 p.m. - every day except Sunday - right through all of the holidays.

• We are your passport to world's great food and wine regions - and we are right here and open late when you need us.We especially want to remind you that we have some remarkable gifts and gift baskets that can be delivered to friends and family with just one call. And we would like to you take a look at our shop on line page - there are items there that any wine lover will find irresistible. Take a look here: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html

• You really need to pop into IMPORT to take a look. Unique gifts, home furnishings, and wonderful necessities, now decorated for the holidays and we will keep it open late every Thursday until 9 p.m. - for that matter all of London's Merchants will be open for your strolling and shopping pleasure.
Start your evening at Brie & Bleu nibble at the cheese samples, have a glass of wine, maybe order an appetizer or dinner, and then go for a little walk. Get some fresh air and visit the downtown merchants that are open late on Thursdays for holiday shopping.

• Saturday December 1st - Seven ballerinas will be performing this year in Ballet on Display thanks to the overwhelming generosity of ECB who will be providing free previews of The Nutcracker in several of State Street's storefront windows. The special window performances will begin at 5:15 pm and will end at approximately 5:45 PM. Appearance windows will include Thames River Greenery & Beanery, City News , IMPORT, and ALVA Gallery. Performances will include dances by the Snow Queen, Mirliton Princess, and Flower, plus Chinese and Spanish ensembles. Watch as Live Ballerinas Dance in selected windows downtown. Presented by New London Main Street - this is a magical performance and fantastic for kids.
More details here: http://newlondonmainstreet.org/events/lightsandsong2007.php


• Our Special Champagne Tasting Dec 10th is sold out - thank you.
But for those of you in need of Champagne remember that we carry over 20 Grower Producer Champagnes, the largest collections in Connecticut. And other Sparkling wines from Spain , Italy , The Loire Valley, Oregon, Long Island , and New Mexico - that's right, New Mexico. You have to try it.
Learn more here: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Just click on the picture of Terry Theise and the WineRadio episode about Grower Champagne.

"Dave's Fave" - MONDAY TASTING - No Charge

Chateau de Pizay Morgon 2006 $12

Please visit our own David Anderson and try his latest selection.

Dave Says: "You're never going to get a wine that does everything for you forever for twelve bucks. What you can get for twelve bucks is the perfect wine for a day, or a meal, or a certain group of friends, or even just your end-of-day mood - a charming wine that just makes you happy - I love this."

"Now let's get this out in the open: Morgon is -wince- Beaujolais. But everybody, including The Guy in The Movie, loves Pinot Noir, right? The Gamay grape, from Southern Burgundy, is absolutely in the same sphere. Do I know the ratings or points on this little number? No clue. But I do know I brought this to some of my best friends for Thanksgiving and immediately got "this is great," "tastes like berries and cream," and all was good." - Stop in on Monday and let Dave show you what he is talking about.


Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday November 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Adelsheim Pinot Gris 2006 $19
Some of you may have met David Adelsheim when he made a visit to our store. David was also one of the first guest's that we had on our WineRadio show. The entire family really cares about making the best wine possible - after all, their name is on every label.

Pinot Gris, originating in Burgundy like the other members of the Pinot family, has had a long history all over Europe. Oregon winegrowers introduced Pinot gris to New World viticulture and in forty years the variety has become the white wine of Oregon. Adelsheim Vineyard can lay claim to being one of the very oldest producers of this variety outside of Europe. With this wine, their 23rd vintage, the experience shows – they have long been acknowledged as producing a reference standard for the “Oregon style”.

This is how their winemaker describes the 2006 vintage: "Crisp, bright flavors have always been the hallmark of Adelsheim Pinot gris. In this 2006, you’ll find beautifully delineated Bosc pear, white peach, and Winesap apple, with a touch of spice. It pulls off the difficult feat of providing a gentle creaminess that lends a mouth-filling texture and long finish, yet still impressing as a wine that’s crisp and clean. Try it with mildly spicy foods (such as ceviche), not so mildly spicy Thai cuisine, rich fish entrees, and even classic oven-roasted fowl."

2 - Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir 2004 $90
With some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the Willamette Valley, Arcus Estate vineyard beautifully expresses the terroir of the valley’s Dundee Hills. Saturated with fruit, this wine shows great depth and is luscious with plush, integrated tannins and notes of vanilla bean and fresh berries that persist through the finish. It is a wine that is made in tiny amounts and doled out carefully in scanty portions by stingy distributors. You will find this wine in fancy restaurants with three digit pricing - but you can try with us for free this friday night.

3 - Steele Stymie Merlot 2002 $45
From the label: " Stymie was one of the most famous race horses in American history. Once Stymie gained a lead, he would never relinquish it . So dramatic was his racing that his name became an offical word in our vocabulary . To " stymie " someone is to never let them advance. It was a winning wager on Stymie by my father that gave him the capital to move our entire family from New York to San Francisco in 1950. The Steele-Stymie is reserved for our rarest, small production wines of the highest quality." This superb Merlot is the perfect “special occasion” wine and pairs well with big hearty foods. Exceptional with any preparation of lamb or beef, steaks, cherry-wood grilled venison chops, ragout, and any other full-flavored dish. And you will be missing out if you don’t try this Merlot with chocolate." Please try this wine on Friday night - it is worth your attention.

4 - Alonso del Yerro Ribera del Duero "Maria" 2005 $60
Robert Parker has rated the 2004 vintage 96 points. And this is what he had to say: "From high elevation vines, the Alonso del Yerro Maria represents a strict selection of the winery’s finest barrels. Aged sur-lie for 18 months with frequent batonnage, it is one of the finest Ribera del Dueros I have tasted over the last year. A deep purple color is followed by scents of espresso, creme de cassis, scorched earth, and pain grille. It reveals the lushness and silky texture of a great Pomerol married to a Spanish personality. Full-bodied and rich, but light on its feet, this beauty can be drunk now and over the next decade. This superb offering suggests this producer from the somewhat over-crowded Ribera del Duero appellation deserves consumers’ attention. No other than the great French winemaking guru, Stephane Derenoncourt, oversees the viticulture and winemaking at this estate." This will go quickly - but if you can arrive before it is gone you will have the opportunity to try a truly exceptional wine, we hope you can join us.



The holidays are stressful and full of obligation. Our goal is to make your shopping as easy as possible at all of our stores. We are happy to take orders, direct your calls, and make arrangements for wrapping and delivery to your friends and family with just one call.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7. That is the main number for Thames River Greenery. We can handle just about any request from that main number - whether it is a single greeting card or a corporate order for 200 wine and cheese baskets - just say the word. You shop, we will wrap and deliver.

Thanks for your great support and all of the calls and email - we all appreciate the comments and suggestions - we are listening.

Please Join us, it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. We hope to see you on Friday night.



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Thanksgiving Edition - 2007 - Foreau Vouvray, L'Ecole no. 41, Tenuta San Leone Amarone , Buty Winery - Rediviva of the Stones

Greetings from all of us inNew London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - 860-443-6817
City News - Coming Soon

www.ThamesRiver.com

This is the Thanksgiving Edition - and there is so much to prepare for this week - that we will mention just a few items of interest before the list of wine for Friday night.

• First, we have gotten a lot of questions about our schedule for the holiday:
We will be open - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. -
And we are on call for you to bring in your menus and recipe ideas so that we might match it with the perfect wine for each dish. We even have ideas for the perfect "welcome to our home" glass of wine. Of course we have great Kosher selections and a complete selection of beer and spirits too.

• There is no doubt that the Nouveau Beaujolais craze is alive and well - even though it has cooled a bit over the past year or so there are still plenty of us that wait for the new release with excitement and stock up accordingly. There is however something else you should know about. You need to know what the Italians have been drinking instead of Beaujolais for about five hundred years. Our own Dave Anderson has the Italian alternative to share with you this Monday starting at noon. It is a fabulous change of pace at a great price. This is a food wine that you can stock up on and pour with abandon.

Special Monday Tasting with Dave Anderson - Dave's Fave:
Cantine del Colle Novello di Primo Cielo 2007 $9

Dave Says:

"Monday, we're going after a seasonal tradition in our own quirky way - oui, oui "Le Nouveau est Arrivee," but we've also been charmed by Beaujolais Nouveau's Italian counterpart, NOVELLO... Yum out. Bright fruit flavors from this year's harvest in southern Italy. So when big uncle Bob blurts out over the Thanksgiving table, "We're sick of this old stuff, bring us some fresh wine!" BOOM - break out the Novello. We love it, stop by Monday afternoon for a taste!"

• On Wednesday afternoon we welcome our good friends from the Jonathan Edward's Winery in North Stonington. This is our yearly tradition. Our FOURTH annual Jonathan Edwards tasting right here in the store signals Thanksgiving in a big way. The folks at Jonathan Edwards do a fabulous job - we are very happy to continue the holiday tradition with them. Please join us - from 1 - 6 p.m. This year they will feature their Petit Sirah.

• MORE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Q- Can I still book a private party or wine tasting or have a special menu made up for my Holiday or Office Party?

A- YES. We will accommodate you if at all possible - early, late - even on Monday when Brie & Bleu is normally closed. The easiest way to check the dates and your options is to call - 860-443-9463 - any day after 10a.m.

Q- Will you be offering gift baskets and gift wrapping again this year?
A- Yes. We will have a variety of gift basket ideas to choose from and the ability to combine different items from all of our stores into a single basket or gift delivery too. Wine, cheese, flowers, plants, decorative items you name it. You shop - we will dress it, wrap it, ship or deliver it - no fuss, no muss, no messy mop-up.

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

1 - Foreau Vouvray sec 2004 $32
Philippe Foreau is the third generation of the Foreau family to produce Vouvray from this fabled domaine which his grandfather purchased in 1923.
Wine Spectator - "400 cases imported Gorgeous nose of papaya, peach and cream. This fools you into thinking it's a lush wine, but it's really bone-dry, with nervy citrus peel, mineral and chamomile flower notes. Long, minerally finish is precise and resonant." This is amazingly dense and rich in the mouth, with a remarkable elegance and a nearly perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Please give it a whirl on Friday night.


2 - L'Ecole no. 41 Merlot 2004 $30
L'Ecole Nº 41 is known for producing superior quality wines that are rich, flavorful and full-bodied. Stephen Tanzer rated this 87 points
“Good full, deep red. Currant, game, tobacco, chocolate and nutty oak on the nose. Juicy, leanish and suave, with good lift to the currant and spice flavors. Not especially complex but shows good life in the mouth. Finishes with a light dusting of tannins.” ST. I had a bottle of this last night at Brie & Bleu. Our own Kristen Webbers selected it for me to go with the Braised Beef over noodles special - it was luscious. See if it works for you, this Friday night.

3 - Tenuta San Leone Amarone della Valpolicella 2003 $30
This is a deep ruby red with wonderful aromas of cherry, vanilla, and spice. It has a velvety feel with a great body - like a Super Model. This is for pouring into a large glass and serving with a fine roast. Also it would be an excellent companion for conversation - like a Super Model?

4 - Buty Winery - Rediviva of the Stones 2004 $50
This is their most popular and hard to get wine, very, very, very limited production of this vintage. This small Walla Walla winery (it's pronounced "beauty") is on the cutting edge of quality and innovation. Caleb Foster and Nina Buty Foster founded their family business in 2000, but Caleb's winemaking experience dates back a decade. His résumé includes eight years with Rick Small at Woodward Canyon, winemaking positions at Mount Baker Winery and Glen Fiona, and further experience working crush in New Zealand and South Africa. "We could make 10,000 cases tomorrow and sell all of it," says Caleb matter-of-factly. "The demand is there. But we have a new daughter, and we always wanted a very small winery." Then again, he muses, "every market wants more; and the fruit's there to get. So I struggle with that." While he struggles, I suggest you get a bottle or two of Buty, before someone beats you to it. Try something very special this Friday night - it will go quickly.

As always we take great pleasure in sharing the the great wines and spirits of the world with you. We open bottles that for the most part go to collectors, movie stars and diplomats. Why should they have all the fun? You are the stars of our show. Your support, comments and suggestions make us better everyday. Thank you, from all of us. And we hope that you enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

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


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Terry Theise on Grower Champagne and his all new advice on winning at LOVE.

Click To Play


The Man, the Myth, the Legend! If it is true that the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom, Terry Theise has been there and back. A brief perusal of his writing makes it quickly apparent that the man has no reservations about conveying his thoughts and feelings on wine, life, sex, philosophy and general cosmology. In Terry's world, it's all inter-related. So, without further ado, we encourage you to jump headlong into the wonderful world of Terry Theise German, Austrian and Champagne Estate Selections. Prepare yourself for a psychotropic experience.

Madeleine Peyroux, Single Gourmet, Champagne and Pizza, ,Johanneshof Reinisch,Hugel Gewurztraminer,Vina Albali, Dom Martinho, Il Tarocco

Greetings from all of us in New London -
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - 860-443-6817

Great wine on Friday - Just perfect for the upcoming holiday's - the list is below these few items of news & interest.

• First many thanks to the Hartford Courant, and Melissa Pionzio for the profile they did on us in last Thursday's edition. If you missed it, take a look at the great photo that went with the story. It is posted on our calendar page - here: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Contact Melissa Pionzio here: mpionzio@courant.com

• Monday November 12 - Our Wine & Cheese Italian Style, A food demonstration & wine and cheese paring is full - Thank you. The next edition will be in January. For information call 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 - this makes a great "stocking stuffer" for foodies.

• Saturday November 17 - 12:00 Noon - 2:00 p.m. - Live Radio Broadcast & Prize Drawing.
Single Gourmet of Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island is hosting a wine & beer tasting. In addition, radio personality Bruce Newbury will be hosting a live broadcast of his popular show "Dining Out With Bruce Newbury." This is open all all men and women that are interested in learning more about Single Gourmet, the regions best social, dining, and events club. Single Gourmet is not a dating service. It is simply a way for singles to get out and enjoy area restaurants. If you are unable to attend the event on Saturday November 17, please stop by Brie & Bleu to leave an entry to win a free membership in Single Gourmet. Listen to the show on WXLM 102.3 FM

• Madeleine Peyroux - Garde Arts Center Saturday November 17 - 8 p.m.
If you have not made your plans for Saturday night, consider the amazing show that is coming to The Garde. Start your evening with us and then make your way up to the Garde Theater for a performer that is selling out across the country.

The New York Times says: "A Mona Lisa Voice" - French-American jazz singer, songwriter and guitarist is a growing phenomenon in contemporary music and is winning the hearts of music lovers all over the world with her dazzling “Billie Holliday” sound.
For all of the details and ticket information go here: http://tickets.gardearts.org/show.asp


• Burgundy Lovers - take a look at our updated Shop On Line Page - we have some sweet choices. http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html

• Monday December 10 - 6 p.m. - Champagne & Pizza Tasting.
This is not a typo - It is a special night. And we plan on proving a very important point: "That the only thing we have to fear...is - oops - no, that's not it. We plan on proving that the only thing you need to drink a bottle of Champagne...Is a bottle of Champagne.

It was an identical, staff only, tasting a year ago that inspired this special evening.
We will will taste through the remarkable Champagne of Marc Hebrart, Pierre Gimmonnet, Pierre Peters, Aubry Fils , Vilmart and A. Margaine, including Tete de Cuvee and Special Club Champagnes. Without a doubt - these are some of the finest boutique Champagnes in the world. You will not find them anywhere else in Connecticut. When the night is done - you will know the truth about Champagne. $50 -
please use your credit card to make a reservation - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.


Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
The Perfect Turkey Wine? - You Be The Judge

Johanneshof Reinisch "St. Laurent vom Steinfeld" 2004 $14

Dave Says: "This Monday afternoon, let us sample together this little mystery from Austria. I've been on an Austrian kick recently, spurred on by the recent visit of Terry Theise, and the fun we've all had with his big ol' bottles of Berger Zweigelt... As for this St. Laurent, this much I know: it is red wine. Luckily, they totally clear it up for us on the bottle label (verbatim): "From uncertain origin and nowadays observed as an Austrian speciality these wines of the St. Laurent grape impress with a bouquet reminding on hackberries and marzipan." Can't you taste the hackberries now? I can't wait!" And bring in your holiday menus we will help you pair the perfect wine with each and every food - Dave will not be stumped.


Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday November 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


1 - Hugel Gewurztraminer 2005 $23 www.hugel.com
It's no secret that we are big fans of the House of Hugel. The wine is exceptional. And many of you know that Etienne Hugel has shared the dinner table with us and our customers. Many of you have also seen the interviews that we have done with Etienne on our WineRadio show.
The Hugel family started making wine 1639 in Alsace France. Only in Alsace does the aromatic expressiveness of this variety attain such summits. Spicy and suave, it can be enjoyed on its own, but makes a marvellous accompaniment to all rich, spicy dishes, smoked fish, Oriental cuisine. This a great food wine. Please try it.

2 - Vina Albali Reserva 1999 $9
This is from the heart of the La Mancha region of Spain. (that's right - Man of La Mancha) This area is Spain's largest wine producing area. Much of La Mancha's wine is industrially produced and used for blending. There is, however, a smaller wine growing area within La Mancha around the city of Valdepeñas that is known for several good quality wines that are among the best values in Spain. Felix Solis is the maker of this respected Viña Albali Reserva, made from the flavorful Cencibel grape (known as Tempranillo in the Rioja region). You will be surprised at how favorably this wine compares to Rioja's - but it is half the price. You might want a case of this for the upcoming holiday's - please try it at this week's tasting.

3 - Quinta do Carmo Dom Martinho 2004 $14 - from Alentejo Portugal
Dom Martinho is one of the three red wines grown and produced at the spectacular Quinta do Carmo estate. Located in the Alentejo, the home of
great still winemaking in Portugal, the estate itself is vast and beautiful. 300 of its more than 2000 acres are planted to vineyards in two distinct
soils: a black slate for the one, and a brilliant deep limestone for the other. Dom Martinho is one of the single great parcels of the vineyard and gives its name to the estate’s youngest, fruit driven red. Since 1992, the Domains Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)
have been contributing a great deal to the quality of this estate while continuing the tradition of wine-making. The soil consists of two main geologi-
cal types: clay-limestone and clay-slate. The methods of cultivation keep to the old techniques, using the double cordon rigorous system. Beautiful garnet color makes this nearly black - The nose very rich in black fruit (blackberries, blackcurrants) aromas, spice. Full-bodied, rich and supple on the palate with good concentration. Tremendous value for the dollar - a great wine for the holiday table - do not miss trying this one on Friday night.

4 - Il Tarocco Chianti Classico 2001 $26
The blending grape for this wine is BLACK canaiolo - and that helps to give it an intense ruby color. Elegant aroma of beautiful mature red fruit with floral notes and balanced taste, full, intense and persistent. This wine is great with tasty pasta, white and red meats, stewed meat, matured cheeses and rich plates of flavor and substance. While the price is a few dollars more - it delivers in spades. You will be able to serve this wine to your guests and family with the expectation of hearing oooh's and ahhh's. It is a lot of wine for the price.


Thanks so much for all of the calls, emails, and your support. We appreciate it.
We have some great events planned for the coming months - watch for details right here in the email, or on our website.

We are at your service - Please Join Us -
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.




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INCLUSIONS, The Perfect Pairing, Txakolina , Las Rocas, Domaine du Gour de Chaule , McCrea Boushey Vineyard

Greetings From All Of Us In New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - 860-443-6817
www.thamesriver.com

With the coming holidays in mind we have selected a great line-up of wines that are great with food, and perfect for sharing with family and friends. The list is just below these items of interest.

• Thanks to everyone that came out to support the premier of INCLUSIONS at The Garde last Friday night. Even with all of the traffic issues that plagued the area - there was a fantastic turnout. It was a true New London Happening. The Red Carpet was buzzing. New London TV Icon "Murray - The Eye - Renshaw had his cameras set up and did a beautiful job interviewing the guests as they arrived. And there was even an impromptu marriage proposal on the Red Carpet! I'm sure that all of the action will be on the next episode of The Renshaw report. Local Channel 26.

Gordon Videll and his crew made the City of New London shine in his movie, and if we do say so ourselves, our cellar never looked so good than it did on the big screen. Bravo Gordon - We will see you on location.

• Belissima! -
One of the most frequent requests that we get is for "somekind of food & wine class."
And so, we have pooled the enormous talents of Michelle DeCeaser and Andrea Issacs to present the food and wines of the world. A Passport to travel and learn about the regions and their local food & wine - We Start With Italy.

Monday November 12 - 6 p.m. - The first session starts with Andrea Issacs demonstrating the secrets of making Fresh Mozzarella. You will then have the chance to explore the secrets of eating fresh mozzarella - At the same time we will serve it with Prosecco, Italy's sparkling wine. Michelle DeCeaser will explain Prosecco and why it is nearly perfect for serving with any food. It is the perfect way to start things off.

For the rest of the hour - here is the line up:

- We pair Robiola cheese with Gavé wine from the Piedmont region.
- Next, it's Parmesano Reggiano paired with Emilia Romagne -
with a demonstration and serving of Pasta Cacio al Pepe.
- Then, Piave Vecchio paired with Valpolicella from Italy's Veneto region.
- Finally, Dolce Gorgonzola paired with Lombardi wine and a demonstration and serving of Bruschetta with Carmelized Pears and Gorgonzola Dolce.

All sessions are just $25 and include everything. Food, wine, instruction, recipe guides, and your passport to travel the world of food & wine with Andrea and Michelle. All sessions will be on Monday evenings and start at 6:00 p.m. Please call to reserve early. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3


• Hygienic Art Galleries

ART=GIFT Hygienic "Mini Series" Holiday Boutique
Opening Saturday November 17, 7-10 pm

Exhibition Runs from Opening November 17th-Sunday December 23

"Get your shopping on at Hygienic's "Mini Series" Boutique where ART=GIFT.
An invitational event featuring small works by selected artists"

Hygienic Art Galleries
79-83 Bank Street
New London, CT
HOURS Thurs 11-3, Friday 11-6, Saturday 11-6, Sunday 12-3


Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Berkshire Brewing Co.'s "Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale" and "Lost Sailor India Pale Ale" - $3.50/22oz Bomber
Dave Says: "Surprise - I'm pushing beer this week - these are our first offerings from Berkshire Brewing out of South Deerfield, Massachusetts. They brew Truly Great Beer - everything is fresh, unfiltered, unpasteurized, no chemical additives or preservatives. My beer-guzzling friends have all been startled by how tasty these are. Brewer Chris Lalli drives the beer down here himself in the mornings cold (you've got to keep them cold). They represent everything wonderful about local handmade product and we are proud to have their suds in the cooler!"


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

1 - Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina 2006 $20
When we first discovered this wine, on the tables of just about every cafe and restaurant in the storybook village of San Sabastian in Spain, it was a revelation. San Sabastian is a mecca for the great chefs of Europe. It is often said that when Michelin Star Chefs need to re-charge their batteries and find new inspiration - they go to San Sabastian. It is all about the food there - and what do they drink? It is this wine in the slender green bottle.
Pronounced - "Shock - oh - Lina." In the café's it is poured with great flourish, holding the bottle about a foot from the glass to release the flavors and the hint of effervescence that fill your senses. Crisp and clean with the color of young straw - and exceptional with food.

The price has squeaked up a couple of dollars since we introduced it a couple of years ago - but if you have just one wine on your holiday table - this might be the one you need. Much awaited and much beloved, we have a very limited four cases for the year. From the heart of Basque freedom country - you need to try this on Friday night.

2 - Las Rocas Vinas Viejas Garnacha 2005 $16
Ancient vines are just part of the secret that makes this wine a delicious treat. From Calatayud Spain - located about 150 miles northeast of Madrid.
This wine is very dark and a slightly hazy reddish-purple color. The aromas are classic Grenache, a heaping bowl of fresh raspberries. It's juicy and tart, with plenty of acidity and even a dose of scratchy tannin to save it from "fruit bomb" status. Excellent with pork or poultry. This wine is friendly with a great velvety finish. Also very limited, only two cases for the year - it will go quickly. Please try it on Friday night.


3 - Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas 2003 $32
The Domaine du Gour de Chaulé, situated in the heart of the village of Gigondas, was founded in 1900 by Eugene Bonfils, the grandfather of the current proprietor, Aline Bonfils. All the wine produced at the estate was sold in bulk to negociants until 1972 when the mother of Madame Bonfils began to bottle a small percentage for sale to private clients. The tradition of estate bottling has continued to grow under the direction of Aline Bonfils so that now approximately 50% of the annual production is selected for sale in bottle (approximately 25,000 to 30,000 bottles). This wine is a deep ruby red color, great aromas of spice and chocolate. This is a great bottle for the coming holiday - it is perfect for food, friends, and family.

4 - McCrea Boushey Vineyard Syrah 2003 $58
Washington state - similar to California's South Central Coast - is known for Syrah. The Columbia Valley in particular is a hotbed, with many top producers sourcing their grapes from this American Viticultural Area and several Columbia Valley subappellations including the Wahluke Slope. Washington Syrah generally tends to be more understated than California Syrah, which is beloved by many for its big, juicy dark fruit. There's some complexity in the aromas of mushrooms, boysenberry, earth and spice. It's robust and has lovely fruit that leaves a lingering sweetness and spicy richness, that helps hide its 14.8 percent alcohol. Ruby with blue overtones it has an almost liqueur-like feel in the mouth. This is a big boy, with lush dark berry fruit, chocolate and silky tannins. This is on the pricey side of the street - but it delivers. Try it for yourself and decide if it is a bottle to share or keep as a secret.



We have lots of new things planned for the coming month's - all based on your requests. Thanks for all of the calls and emails, and for your continued support. We all appreciate it.

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


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