Your Brain on Wine, Root 1, Attitude Sauvignon Blanc, Arcadian, Venta La Ossa,Domaine Du Tunnel Cornas

Greetings From All Of Us
In New London

Good news! The weekly shipment has arrived, and it's mellow.

We try to breathe new life into the familiar, our unique approach and offerings are the perfect mix of contemporary and classic, and destined to leave a lasting impression. Why shop at a warehouse or local "packy" when you can be groovy?

Our Master of Ceremonies Jim Morrison, and our team at the wine store have a beautiful evening planned for you this Friday. I hope you can join us. The list of wine for the weekly tasting is just below the news & information.

1 - Thanks to Rick Koster of the Day Newspaper - for mentioning that we bring in as much Restoration Ale from New Orleans' Albita Brewing Company, as we can. Restoration Ale was conceptualized just after Hurricane Katrina as part charity brew/part offering to the Powers-That-Be that the Abita Brewery was spared by the storm. As such, the company donates $1 for every six-pack sold to the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. Full Story Here

2 - The Garde Arts Center and The Connecticut Lyric Opera have teamed up to bring us: Die Fledermaus. This is a full staging of Johann Strauss' uproarious comic operetta, Die Fledermaus, on Friday, April 18th at 8 pm, an event sponsored by The New London County Medical Association. Start your evening at our tasting, grab a bite at Brie & Bleu and then take a stroll up to The Garde to round out your evening. Folks, this is a Big City evening out, right here in New London. More Information Here

3 - 2008 Hygienic Art - Annual Juried Exhibition
Opening Reception Saturday, April 26, 7-10 pm
This year's guest juror is Jeffery Andersen, executive director of the Florence Griswold Museum and a noted expert in American Impressionism and the Lyme Art Colony. Alternatively, the Hygienic Art Gallery is known as a Contemporary Art Gallery. The resulting fusion of the two artistic genres in a juried exhibition is likely to produce an outstanding and unique exhibition. More Information Here:

4 - Wednesday April 9 - 6 p.m. Take Her To Paris

Vintage French Wine Dinner

The biggest names in Burgundy & Bordeaux Featuring flights of 2005 White Burgundy and Bordeaux. "Open Seating" format.

The wines of Christian Moreau, Oliver Leflaive, Chateau De Pez, and Tourelles de Longueville will make this a night of indulgence not to be missed. The value of the wine alone, if you could find them, makes this a show-stopper.

MENU:
Crab and Asparagus Salad Served with
Oliver Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 2005 - $50

Duck Confit Served with
Domaine Bouchard Monthelie 1er cru 2005 - $42

Grass Fed Beef Medallions with roasted wild mushrooms and Truffle potato puree Served with Chateau de Pez 2005 - $52 and Les Tourelles de Longueville 2005 - $54

Cheese Plate Served with
Domaine D'Ambinos Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu 1976 - $68

5 - Wednesday April 16 - 6 p.m. Cult Wine Dinner Series

Those of you that have attended our "Cult Wine Dinner Series" in the past know that they are, with out a doubt, over the top. Seating is very limited because the availability of the wine is painfully scarce. We are one of the very few shops in the United States that receives an allocation of these wines. Join us for a dinner that will give you bragging rights, truly a night to remember.

MENU:
Lump Crab Appitizer.
Grilled Filet Mignon with herb roasted mushrooms.
Mashed Potatoes with fresh grated horse radish.
Black Chocolate tart with fresh fruit puré.
Illy Espresso.

WINE:
Pares Balta Sauvignon Blanc - $11
Juan Gill - Tempranillo - $16
Clio - rated 95 points - Robert Parker - $50
El Nido - rated 98 points Robert Parker - $130

Each year the names "Clio" and "El Nido" sit at the top of the "Best Of" lists. They are very difficult to find and always scored by the big reviewers and magazine's high in the 90's. The 2005 vintage is no exception.

Robert Parker: "Clio 95 points, El Nido 98 points."

The winemaker himself said "these are the best grapes I've tasted in ten years."

$125 plus tax and service.
Please reserve early - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

We are available for private dining events, wine classes, private wine tasting parties, full blown wine dinners, cooking demonstration dinners, you name it.
Jim Morrison, Chef Daryl Goldstein, and our entire staff are ready to service the perfect special event for your friends, family, or office.

For more information just give us a call: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Dave's Fave
Special Monday Tasting

Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $12
Click on the photo to order it now

This is a brilliant little Sauvignon Blanc, from Root:1, sister wine of the very popular Cabernet. 2007 (remember they're six months ahead of the curve down in Chile, so yes, '07) had a very cool, long ripening season -- the wine is made with slow fermentation, then sits on the lees for two more months. The result is a balanced, structured Sauvignon Blanc with cool citrus and tropical fruit essences... But forget all that, this is simply a brazen attempt by me to defy the gray and wet gloom of Southeastern Connecticut in April: I am going to start drinking white wine early this season, I'm going to sit right down on the deck with a chilled bottle of this, an arugula salad and a big hunk of seared sea bass - even if it's SLEETING!

Click Photos For Ordering Information

Attitude Sauvignon Blanc by Pascal Jolivet 2006 $19.
Pascal is an extremely soft spoken man who takes a seriously "non-interventionalist" approach to winemaking. When I asked him how he made is wine, he was somewhat taken aback. "I do not make the the wine, the wine makes itself". In fact the French do not have a word for winemaker, and this I had forgotten. They instead use the term proprietaire recoltant, which simply means grower, as in grape grower. No one has ever made good wine from bad grapes, and every winemaker will tell you that most winemaking occurs in the vineyard. Interestingly, there is no equivalent in English for terroir, that confluence of factors whereby the source of the wine is imprinted upon it. And I suppose that was his point, instead of making wine, he farms fruit as naturally as possible an allows the land of the Loire Valley to speak for itself through the wine. His winery is even gravity fed, so that the wine never passes through pumps, but has a gentle journey from press to barrel to bottle to glass. The result is Sauvignon Blanc that more closely resembles Sancerre than New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or God forbid Fume Blanc. Crisp and focused with classic citrus and chalky minerality. Perfect for seafood or our Fondue at Brie and Bleu. Perhaps the Sauvignon Blanc of the season.

Arcadian Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2005 $34
Joe Davis is one of the two great Pinot Noir winemakers of California. His 2001 Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir occupies a place in the Pantheon of my heart right next to Josh Jensen's 1997 Mills Pinot Noir. Both men were deeply influenced by Burgundy and it shows in their winemaking as they take ripe California fruit and create Grand Cru. Joe traces his interest in winemaking to a bottle of 1978 Dujac that inspired him to make the greatest Pinot Noir possible. Growing in the cool Santa Lucia Highlands, Arcadian's fruit slow ripens in the sun to achieve a ripeness of sugars and tannins in the skins and even seeds. The fruit is repeatedly foot tread for a cool, slow fermentation that maintains the complexity and delicacy of true Pinot Noir. The wines receive all new French oak, but the barrels are pre-seasoned for up to three years before they are filled. The barrel imparts no oakiness that would interfere with the fruit, instead the barrel allows the wine to coalesce into one of the finest, expressive, intricate Pinot Noirs I have ever had.





Venta La Ossa 2004 $16
100% Tempranillo from La Mancha in central Spain, this wine however is nothing like Rioja. The old vines and very hot climate of La Mancha have created a very big, rich version of Tempranillo. The wine more closely resembles the wines of Toro and Zamora like Numanthia and Cenit than even the most modern Riojas. As with all the wines imported by Jorge Ordonez, the combination of ancient vineyards, extended maceration and prolonged aging in new American Oak barrels, has created a powerhouse of Spanish fruit and exotic spices. As recently as six months ago this wine was being sold in the state of Connecticut for $25, to make room for the new vintage the distributor has discounted the wine allowing us to sell it for $16 a bottle, $9 a bottle below list. It will run out, enjoy it while you can.



Domaine Du Tunnel Cornas 2005 $50
Cornas gets very little respect, always in the shadow of the much more famous Cote-Rotie and Hermitage. Yet I've had Cornas that stood up to and even exceeded Cote-Rotie and even Hermitage La Chapelle. How is it that nobody notices Cornas? Part of it has to do with the cult of personality that surrounds Cote-Rotie and Hermitage wine makers, names like Guigal and Jaboulet. And the Famous vineyards, La Mouline, La Turque, La Landonne and the aforementioned La Chapelle. Little Cornas with only 235 acres produces less than 20,000 cases total, and despite the stunning quality, has never developed the reputation of other Northern Rhone appellations. So what is it? Syrah, Syrah for the ages. From 100 year old vines, aged 14 months in Barrique, the wine is described as crisp and lively, vibrant and chewy, concentrated with a very persistent finish and a great tannic structure. The wine is very young, and drinking it now is akin to what my friend Armando refers to as "infanticide", yet I can't resist previewing this monster. People are forever asking me about wines that can age twenty or thirty years, this is it folks, we'll be trying one Friday. It will be somewhat unapproachable and tight, but let's see if we can't coax it out of it's bottle and get it to express itself to us. A few hours in a decanter with low light and soft music should do it.



Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Thanks very much for your support we appreciate it.
We value all of your comments and suggestions - we are listening.

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

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

AAA.


P.S.
People have been asking for "collections." Pre-selected groups of wine - a better way to try new things. "We want to experiment." - OK.

Our Wine Collections are here. And we add select spirits to the mix too.
Click on the picture below and then scroll down to see what we have for you.

But we don't stop there. We will work with you for a customized touch, creating a learning experience that will leave you giddy.

Chinon, Trapiche Broquel Chardonnay, Terre Rouge Vin Gris D'amador , Oliver Leflaive Cuvee Margot Bourgogne, Luigi Baudana Barolo

In our last episode we introduced all of you to the fresh new look that the weekly email has taken. We talked about all of the rich new features that allow us to communicate more directly with you and we showed you a picture a wild looking girl with tattoos - lots of comments about that picture.

The three pictures shown above, are from an order that was placed this past week. Wine and flowers have never looked so good! We are changing the face of traditional gift baskets. Fresh flowers with hand-picked wines, packaged for high visual impact & appeal. Your options are endless. Call us at The Greenery if you have any questions. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

A GREAT LINE UP:
Jim Morrison, our Washington Bureau Chief and moderator of our weekly tasting, and his team at the wine store have a fabulous tasting planned for you.

The list of wine is just below a few items of interest.

·Saturday was a lot of fun. If you happened to be at the "Family Wine Tasting" organized by Kerry you know what I am talking about. Remember all you have to do is ask - and you can have one too. It's your club house.

We are available for private dining events, wine classes, private wine tasting parties, full blown wine dinners, cooking demonstration dinners, you name it. Jim Morrison, Chef Daryl Goldstein, and the entire staff are ready to service the perfect special event for your friends, family, or office. For more information just give us a call: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

·People have been asking for "collections." Pre-selected groups of wine - a better way to try new things. "We want to experiment." - OK.

Our new Wine Collections are here. And we add select spirits to the mix too.
Click on the picture below and then scroll down to see what we have for you.

But we don't stop there. We will work with you for a customized touch, creating a learning experience that will leave you giddy.


· Wednesday April 9 - 6 p.m. Vintage French Wine Dinner
Featuring flights of 2005 White Burgundy and Bordeaux.
The wines of Christian Moreau, Oliver Leflaive, Chateau De Pez, and Tourelles de Longueville will make it a night of indulgence not to be missed.
"Open Seating" format - The biggest names in Burgundy & Bordeaux - $100 plus tax & service.

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

Those of you that have attended our "Cult Wine Dinner Series" in the past know that they are, with out a doubt, over the top. Seating is very limited because the availability of the wine is painfully scarce. We are one of the very few shops in the United States that receives an allocation of these wines. The winemaker himself said "these are the best grapes I've tasted in ten years."

Please reserve early - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Dave's Fave
Special Monday Tasting

Domaine du Grand Breviande Chinon 2006 $12

Last week Eric Asimov wrote a great little piece about Chinon in The New York Times and gave this house the nod for "Best Value." Normally when a wine gets a "Best Value" in The Times there's no point in looking for it because it all sold fifteen minutes ago. In this case, there was no point looking because the vintage he was talking about sold out four months ago. Too bad. The good news? The 2006 vintage is here! Will the lovely herbal wildberry tones of 2005 return? Will the Cab Franc be tamed or too Franc? Can you stand the suspense? No! Come quick, try it Monday!

P.S. Their "Best Value" was listed at $13 - we sell it for $12. Aww S N A P!


1 - Trapiche Broquel Chardonnay 2006 $15
If you've come to any of our Argentina wine dinners you'll remember the tremendous single vineyard Malbecs from Trapiche, (the new gift packs are in by the way). Their commitment to producing the greatest Malbec in Argentina is impressive. They have created wines that stand on the shoulders of their vinocultural ancestors of Bordeaux and Cahor. Yet the wines are distinctly Argentine and reflect the terroir of specific vineyards and dedication of individual farmers in Mendoza. With that said, I often overlook some of their more affordable daily drinkers like the Torrontes at $8 a bottle, or this fascinating Chardonnay. Why fascinating?, Well, they have again given a nod to classicism, while creating a wine that is distinctly "Hecho en Argentina". There are typical Chardonnay flavors and even the steely minerality I associate with Burgundy. The wine sees the judicious use of oak, yet is not "oaky". The barrel time has served to integrate the wine, without interfering with the freshness and vivacity of the fruit. Furthermore, the warm climate has created a lush and viscous wine without the butteryness of California Chardonnay. So again, very Argentine. It is great to see that Argentina, with our friends at Trapice leading the way, has found it's own voice, and is singing it's own song. With an understanding of typicity, they have still created wines all their own.


2 - Terre Rouge Vin Gris D'amador 2004 $14
Terre Rouge is one of my favorite Californian wineries for the simple reason that they essentially make French wines, only they make them in California. The Tete-a-Tete is Cotes du Rhone-esque, and the Noir is a ChateauNeuf du Pape a' la west coast baby. So it came as no surprise that their rose reminded me of Tavel, one of the great rose regions of the world. Prodominately Mourvedre, with Grenache and Syrah in suppoerting roles, the wine is robust and rich with pronounced strawberry and cherry, and a little spice. And It IS NOT SWEET. A quick lesson on wine; when you crush a red grape, Cabernet, Merlot, Mourvedre, you get a white juice. What makes red wine red is the color, tannins and phynols that are extracted from the skins by the white juice as the skins soak in the juice. This process is called Maceration. Extended maceration, red wine. No maceration, white wine (ie. Blanc de Noir). Short maceration, rose. The wine can then be fermented dry, whereby the yeast is allowed to eat all the sugar, fructose, and produce alcohol. At some point there is enough alcohol to kill the yeast and it dies leaving behind a relatively small amount of residual sugar. If you stop the fermentation, the sugar remains undigested, the wine therefore is sweet. The point of all this is that Rose is not inherently sweet, and just because Beringer makes a ubiquitous cherry soda called white Zinfandel, doesn't mean we should ignore rose, with it's long and noble history. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say spring is coming, it's time to start drinking rose.


3 - Oliver Leflaive Cuvee Margot Bourgogne 2005 $24
The never ending search for affordable Burgundy continues. The Margot is a light bodied and "open" Pinot Noir. In other words the wine is not tight or closed, we can taste right into it and into the soil from whenst it came. There is a classic nose of loam, forest floor and leather, which raises from soft fruit and a gunflint minerality almost never found in simple Bourgogne rouge. This wine came to me at the height of my interest in eating ducks and mushrooms. The flavor of those foods providing perfect harmonics for the darker earth tones of the Margot. I left a half full bottle out on the counter one night, and when I came to, I mean woke up the next day I figured the wine would be shot. Yet, it was not . In fact the wine had become even more generous and had not lost any of it's complexity, or intensity. There is a lot to see here in this wine, it may not be for everyone, but it sure is for me.



Luigi Baudana Barolo 2000 $40
From the 4.5 hectare estate of Luigi and Fiorina Baudana and the excellent 2000 Piedmonte vintage. You may remember Wine Spectator absurdly referring to the 2000 vintage in Piedmonte as a "100 point" or perfect vintage, (I like to refer to the 2001 as "more perfect"). Perfect or not, it was a very good year in Piedmonte, and estates like Baudana made great, great wine. I have described Barolo as a mosaic, a beautiful whole made up of thousands of tiny parts. The wine is well knit and proportionate, all flavors being balanced against each other. The interaction between fruit and acidity, the tannins of the grapes in concert with the tannins of the barrels, the nose of rose petals against truffles and tar, all happening at once with power and subtlety. So why this Barolo? Three reasons. One, the 2000 vintage is one of the most perfect vintages ever! Two, this wine will be eight years old in the fall, making it the the rarest of things, a mature wine, a well aged wine, a wine with bottle age that was meticulously cared for by people with more patience than you and I. And Three, this wine was clearly priced before our recent issues with the Euro. So you've got to ask yourself, when is the next time I'll be able to buy a $40 mature Barolo from a perfect vintage?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 - Vale do Bomfim Douro Reserva 2005 $14
One of my personal favorites, having had the opportunity to stay at the quinta or farm where this wine is produced. This wine hails from the geologically delimited region of the upper Douro. That simply means that the region is determined not by political boundaries but by the geology that produces the soil that creates the wine. The soil is a mineral rich silt like clay with pieces of schist that have been deposited by the Douro river for millenia. This is essentially unfortified Port, using the same port varietals such as Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriza, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Barroca. The Symington family, of Warres and Grahams port, has been producing this wine for generations for their own consumption at the Port lodge, but have only recently begun exporting it to the American market. Interestingly, when I first tasted the wine, I was overwhelmed by the strong floral notes of Cabernet Franc. I occurred to me that perhaps Touriga Franc was Portuguese for Cab Franc. Although Dominic Symington insists that the two grapes are different varietals, I am reminded of the saying; if it walks like Cab Franc and smells like Cab Franc..., but I'll let you be the judge. Either way it is exciting for us to find inexpensive wines of such high quality that come from a family with such a heritage of wine making, produced the same way they were 400 years ago when the Symingtons began winemaking in the Douro.

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


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


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


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

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

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

AAA.

St. Patrick's Day, Columbia Crest Reserve Syrah, Domaine Monpertuis Cuvee Counoise, Chateau Ducasse, Bio-Weingut Hofer Gruner Veltliner

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

NEW - Order and Shop on line twenty-four hours a day: http://www.thamesrivergreenery.com/

Our list of wine for Friday night is just below a couple of items of interest.
There are a couple of format problems with the text that we could not work out - so please bear with us, Jim is doing the best that he can to work it out for next week.


• We hope you are enjoying this St. Patrick's Day weekend - and if you still need a touch of green don't forget that New London's first annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. State Street will be closed to traffic from approximately 1:00p.m. - 1:45 p.m. as the parade makes it way up State Street to Hannifin's Pub across from the Garde Art Center. I don't think you will find a better place to celebrate than Hannifin's - it's been one big party from the day that they opened.

• Just a couple of seats left for our Italian dinner on Tuesday night. Our own Mama Mia - Anne Haviland will be in the kitchen creating a feast that celebrates sunny, southern Italy. Add to that perfectly paired wine with each course and you have a beautiful night on your hands. Remember that this is the new "open seating plan" - you may sit anywhere you like with whom ever you like. Our Wine Dinners have to be the best food and wine value in the United States - a great night to share with friends - please reserve early. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

• The Spanish Rioja Dinner on Wednesday April 4 - is Sold Out - thank you.

• Keep an eye on the Calendar of Events for the latest news on Wine Dinners and other special events: http://thames-river-wine-spirits.com/wine/calendar.html

• Thanks for your support - we appreciate it. And we are listening to all of the comments and suggestions that we get every week. We are working on all of your requests and comments - including: menu suggestions, wine by the glass comments, wine dinner ideas, & special guests - just to name a few. The upcoming months have lots of surprises planned - we can hardly wait.
AAA.



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



wine tasting

Bio-Weingut Hofer Gruner Veltliner 2007 $12 In Big
Green 1 Liter bottles with a crown cap. Hofer is an
certified organic winery with farming practices that
exceed E.U. guidelines. The Gruner Veltliner they
produce is fermented Trocken (dry) in stainless steel,
the wine is crisp and bright with pronounced
grapefruit citrus. This is drinking wine. Simple and
Joyous summer wine that has shown up a little early.
Terry Theise on the subject "Just think about it:
you’re sitting in a leafy garden on a warm summer
evening with
friends, just chillin’ and schmoozin’ over plates of
cold-cuts, listening to the birds, glad to be alive.
You’d be happy if the wine you’re sluggin’ down were
merely pleasant; after
all, it’s not about the wine, it’s about something
larger in which wine plays a necessary part. But the
moment you taste the wine . . . Hey; this is good.
Suddenly life seems absolutely perfect, and you are
somewhere above your body, looking at the happy faces
of your friends and hearing the cheerful clamor of
plates, glasses and voices. You take another sip, and
rejoin the merriment. "

Chateau Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc 2006 $16 Ch. Ducasse
has come back to us after gone far too long. We found
this wine last September and used it for a few private
tastings and wine dinners. By the time we figured out
how good it was, it was gone. We got a whopping five
cases, for all of you who have been asking about
Ducasse, now is the time. From the Kermit Lynch
brochure, "Ducasse is a dry white from the noble
terroir of Barsac. Think of Yquem’s Y and
Suduiraut’s S. The finesse, complexity, and
flavor interest are comparable to a white
Graves. The old vines are 55% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon,
and 10% Muscadelle. There is a freshness and subtlety
to the bouquet, and an impression of depth. Depth as
opposed to superficiality. There is a
gunflint aspect, along with citrus perfumes like
citronelle and orange blossom. On the palate too,
freshness, liveliness, depth, while the finish
mirrors the wine’s exquisite bouquet. "

Domaine Monpertuis Cuvee Counoise 2005 $14 I found
this in a restaurant in Brooklyn last week, and was so
pleased that I ordered three cases for the store from
the table. Monpertruis, I've had their Cote du Rhone
and their Neuf du Pape but 100% Counoise , Get Out !
It was perfect with the duck confit and the mushrooms
and celery root puree appetizers, and it transitioned
perfectly into the hanger steaks. Full bodied and
weighty, dark fruit and distinctly French. Tired of
Carmenere? think Malbec is passe and Tannat is so last
week? Here's some Counoise for you.

Columbia Crest Reserve Syrah 2004 $18 The Reserve
series from Columbia Crest often gets overlooked, but
these have remained one of the best wine values for
years. And now more so. The Reserve Syrah took a "deep
post" this month, that is to say the distributor put
the wine on sale to make room for the next vintage.
This has allowed us to sell a $24 for $18, whose your
buddy now?

Rioja Dinner, St. Urbans-Hof, Hugel Gentil, Le Pinot Noir Chanfleure,Mas de Gourgonnier, Beast Cabernet Sauvignon,

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
NEW: order online - 24 hours a day - seven days a week: http://www.thamesrivergreenery.com/

Our selection for the Friday tasting is just below these items of interest.

CORRECTION - DATE CHANGE -
There was a bit of confusion for the upcoming wine dinner dates - our apologies for the mix-up.

The Correct Dates:
Southern Italy Dinner - Tuesday March 18 - 6 p.m. - $50 plus tax & service
Rioja Gran Reserva Dinner - Wednesday April 2 - 6 p.m. - $75 plus tax & service

Both dinners will feature wine with each course and in the case of the Rioja Dinner a rare opportunity to sample a "Gran Reserva" Vertical Tasting.
Here are the vintages you will enjoy: 81, 82, 85, & 91

And in addition to the best value in North America - we are using the "Open Seating" plan that many of you have requested. So, sit with those friends that are visiting from out of town, or canoodle in the corner - just the two of you, it's your choice.

Here is a handy link to our calendar of events - we will be posting the menu details there: http://thames-river-wine-spirits.com/wine/calendar.html

AAA.

Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - March 10 - No Charge
St. Urbans-Hof Riesling 2007 $15
Dave Says: "Let us consider, for a moment, Riesling, the queen of white grapes: could it be in Riesling we find, through the interplay of acidity and sugars, the most profound and transparent lens through which we experience terroir? Yeah, sure thing, but all I was really looking for was a tart and sweet comfort wine with which to experience Netflix movies from the sleeping bag on the couch. In this estate grown and bottled gem from the Mosel-Saar valleys of Germany, we accomplish both of these noble ideals! Please stop in Monday afternoon and give it a try."


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


Hugel Gentil 2005 $12 The Hugels have been making
wine in Alsace since 1639 and own one of the oldest
wine casks in the world "Sainte Caterine" dated 1715.
This sense of history and place comes through in their
wines as they express the varied terroirs of Alsace.
The Gentil is a field blend of classic Alsace
varietals such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris
and Sylvaner. Anyone who has met Etienne Hugel at our
wine dinners can attest he is enthusiastic about Asian
cuisine (actually he is enthusiastic about a lot of
things, but mostly food and wine). True to his
passion, this wine is a perfect pairing for Thai,
Schezuan or Indian food. This wine can take the heat,
but is also well paired with cheese, pate, fried
mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, pho, white bean soup,
mixed green salad...

Louis Latour Le Pinot Noir Chanfleure 2005 $15 From
the back label "100% Pinot Noir for it's varietal and
100% Cote D'Or for it's origin" Your $15 Pinot Noir
from California isn't entirely either. Under
California state law the wine only has to be mostly
Pinot Noir and mostly from California. Have you ever
wondered why the wine book your reading describes
Pinot Noir as a light bodied fine wine, but every time
you buy a California Pinot Noir it's a rich, heavy,
clumsy, ponderous fruit mallet to the mouth? Could it
be the Syrah or Carmenere from South American they are
adding? David Bruce, I'm addressing you. I refuse to
give up my obsession. Are you going to let our
emotional life be run by Wine Spectator?

Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence 2005
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan combine to
create a wine of richness and intense fruit, that is
none the less transparent enough to reveal a true
expression of Provencal soil. Organically farmed for
decades, the property also produces olives, fruit and
vegetables, practicing true biodiversity. Real French
wine, made as naturally and traditionally as possible.
Absolutely perfect for fish stew or any Mediterranean
dish like chicken Mirabella

Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. From our friends at
Buty, this wine comes from the Horse Heaven Hills in
Walla Walla Washington. Again the Columbia valley
gives us a wine that not only has lush body, but is
well knit and balanced. The Columbia valley can be
well over 100 degrees during the day, and drop down to
50 or 60 degrees at night with the persistent winds
out of the east. It is the huge temperature
variation from day to night that creates a wine of
powerhouse fruit sitting on a firm foundation of
tannic structure. Not simply ripe, this wine is
buildt.


We hope that you will join us on Friday.
It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.

Wine Dinners Return, Barons de Rothschild, Crios Torrontes, Castro Ventosa Mencia, El Masroig Sola Fred,Miguel Torres Manso de Velasco

Greettings form 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





There is a lot going on this week - including a tremendous line-up for Friday night.
I would like to briefly mention something that came up at a dinner we attended a couple of nights ago. The question came up as to why people feel intimidated because they do not know much about wine. Somehow people have gotten the impression that not knowing the difference between a merlot and a cabernet is something to hide - that is a load of crap. America is not a wine-drinking culture. For most of the world wine is something that is on the table and served with food - no big deal - it is part of everyday life.

We believe that drinking wine and learning about wine is a lot of fun, and that's why we encourage you to try wine at our weekly tasting. You do not need a magazine to tell you what to enjoy. In fact that's one reason why our shelves are not littered with those little cards with ratings and opinion's from reviewers.

We offer wine that we have tried ourselves, in many cases we have met the winemaker personally and we want to share our discoveries and something special with you - so that you may form your own opinion. Don't be too concerned with learning about wine - learning to enjoy wine is the first step. The rest will fall into place.

Our list for the Friday tasting is just below these few items of interest.


• First we should probably address all of the rumors about Billy Joel being in the store this week. We have had our fair share of celebrities, including Academy Award winners. And it is true that Mr. Joel is occasionally seen on the Cross Sound Ferry ( he is usually escorted to the wheelhouse to make the trip quietly - I am fairly certain though they do not let him steer - USCG regulations and so forth...) - The best that I can do here is deny that we had a visit this week. We respect the privacy of all our friends and customers. I will remind you that there may still be some seats available for his upcoming Mohegan Sun appearance.

• We had some very kind word's mentioned about us in Sunday's Day paper - in the Perspective Section: "...The cheese and wine shop has a wine cellar that rivals the best that France has to offer..." - If you missed it here is a link for the story : http://theday.com/re.aspx?re=2021ee6a-e12d-4572-842b-e73bf393e6e0
People are discovering downtown New London and all it has to offer.

• Also in Sunday's paper - in The MarketPlace magazine section a story by Eileen Jenkins about the magical qualities of Cognac. The story notes that Cognac is not just for Grumpy Old Men anymore. Cynthia Keller of Restaurant Du Village in Chester talks about the history, production methods, and the fact that it just may be the "perfect" New England drink. It warms you from the inside out, it's meant to be sipped and savored." I mention all of this because we feature all of the Cognac shown in the story - one of the finest selections to be found anywhere. Ask us about it - we even have bottles with Cognac from 1929! - take a look the next time you are in the store.


• Wine Dinners Return - Our own Anne Haviland will be in the kitchen - she is just back from a fabulous European Odyssey - rested, re-charged, and ready for 2008.
This is a new format, based on your comments and suggestions we are opening up the seating plan. These dinners will be "open plan" seating - so you are free to sit with your friends, and family however you choose. A cozy dinner for two? Why not. Two or three couples getting together for a night out? - You bet. Each delicious course is paired carefully with wine and a little something special with the dessert. The final details of the menus and wine lists will be posted on the website and here in the email next week.

Here are the first two dates.

1 - Wednesday March 19 - 6 p.m. - "Sunny Southern Italy" -
food and wine of Italy - $50 - plus tax & service

2 - Wednesday April 4 - 6 p.m. - "Rioja Spain" -
food and wine of Spain - $75 - plus tax & service


Dave's Fave -
Monday Tasting - March 3 - Tasting - No Charge

Domaine Barons de Rothschild Aussieres Rouge 2005 $14
Dave Says: "One thing I love about working in our wine "cave" is knowing which of our little buddies (bottles of wine) have been hanging around for a while. As in this case, you're liable to spot one, "Huh - well this guy got overlooked...for six months! I bet it's drinking great by now." Wine settles so well in out cellar even a few weeks can make a difference. Remember that next time you're in a some big, heated, overlit supermarket-style liquor store...

This is a lovely wine from one of Barons de Lafite Rothschild's vineyard revitalization projects. Chateau d'Aussieres has been producing wine in the Languedoc since the Roman era, now totally refurbished with plantings of Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and Mourvedre. This Aussieres Rouge is a great winter wine, perfect for hearty stews or lamb. Please stop in for a taste Monday afternoon!"


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday March 8 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Crios Torrontes 2007 $15
You have seen this name here before - created by Susana Balbo, Argentina's leading female winemaker. Her Crios wines were named "Brand Of The Year" in 2007.
Crios means "offspring" (as in children). Susana selected a word to express the notion that these are wines that haven’t quite "grown up" to the same level of quality and maturity as her more expensive Susana Balbo label wines, but they receive the same loving care and attention throughout the winemaking process. The label features a series of three connected and overlapping hands, an image inspired by a Mayan artifact. The three hands represent Susana and her two children. The key word here is aromatics, a glass of Torrontes is literally brimming with floral notes. It is for wines like this that we use the term bouquet. It drinks and smells something like a Viognier with the finish of a Sauvignon Blanc.This is one of the two defining grapes of Argentina,the other of course being Malbec. It is only in the very high altitude of Argentina, in this case 5000 feet above sea level, and extremely dry climate that Torrontes shows it's finest expression. This wine will go quickly - still one of the best values coming from South America. please try it on Friday night.


2 - Castro Ventosa Mencia $10
Every once in a while an unfamiliar wine region pops up and demands a little attention. Bierzo Spain is one of those areas. It's in the northwestern corner of Spain - a really beautiful area, almost on the eastern border of Galicia, above Portugal on the Atlantic coast. If you have never heard of Bierzo don't worry - that's why we are here. This is the perfect opportunity to taste a great bottle from an unfamiliar area that will open your eyes. JM: "For those of you who joined us last week for the Bourguiel, this wine will continue our discussion of geography and varietal. Mencia is Spanish for Cabernet Franc, from the region of Bierzo in Northern Spain, and the vastly different climate produces a very different wine from the same varietal. Gone are the flavors of wet stones and earth, and in their place dark fruit and potpouri. The much hotter climate also produces a much bigger, denser wine, closer to it's Cabernet Sauvignon cousin."


3 - Celler El Masroig Sola Fred 2005 $10.
El Masroig is a small, agricultural town of merely five hundred inhabitants, nestled in the beautiful and unspoiled Priorat wine-producing region of Catalonia Spain. Occupied for nearly seven hundred years by the Romans, followed by several centuries of the Visigoths, and then four hundred years by the Moors, the influences were certainly varied. It has its own cooperative for wine and olive oil production which are its principal activities along with the cultivation and harvesting of almonds. It is one of the most beautiful parts of Spain that I have ever seen. The surrounding mountain ranges are visible from every window, and the view covers miles and miles of unbroken land. And aside from Africa, it has the most amazing sky full of stars that I have ever seen. It is also an area that is devoted to food - the locals are obsessed with fresh ingredients and family recipes. This is one of the local wines that makes he food shine.
JM: "Another value priced Spanish wine, this time Carignan from Montsant. Made from dry farmed fruit from vineyards of decomposing granite with a surprisingly low yield of 5 tons a hectare. The wine is opaque with intense fruit and chocolate notes and all for only ten dollars."

4 - Miguel Torres Manso de Velasco Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $32
The Torres family surname has been linked with wine for more than three centuries. Chile has ideal growing conditions for grapes, but it is the absence of phylloxera, a root aphid, that truly distinguishes the country as a viticultural paradise. The Cabernet vines from Manso de Velasco were planted in 1902, on original root stock.Ungrafted vines can live well over 100 years, producing ever decreasing quantities of better and better fruit. JM: "The combination of old vines and low yield makes this wine one of the best wines of Chile and one of the best cabernet values I've ever seen." This will go quickly - please be sure to try it on Friday night.
Winemaker notes: "Extraordinarily rich aroma of ripe fruit. Its aristocratic Cabernet Sauvignon tannins have a majestic, regal structure, heightened by the creamy background of oak from the Nevers forest that is used in its long barrel-aging."

Thanks very much for your comments, suggestions, and support - we appreciate it.
And thanks for making it so much fun - we have a lot planned for the coming months.


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

El Nido Clio 2005, J.J. Vincent Bourgogne Blanc, Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, Domaine Roger Perrin,

Winemaker Loren Gill - at the Bodegas Juan Gill

It was a great week even with the snow storm or perhaps especially because of the snow storm. There were those lucky people that found a table at Brie & Bleu and settled into a beautiful night of candle light and a cozy wine drinking. For those of you that made it out during the storm - we salute you. Thanks very much for coming out.

• Also a word of thanks to our friends at Niza Boutique & Renewal Medical Day Spa - for hosting a night of fashion and fun. A tremendous turn out made it fun for all.

• A special note of thanks to Henry & Carol Mann - for being gracious hosts and for opening their cellar to us - Bottle after bottle of luscious vintage Bordeaux. Thank you - we do not take it for granted.


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday February 29 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge.

1 - J.J. Vincent Bourgogne Blanc 2004 $15
The firm of Marcel Vincent & Fils, producer of Chateau Fuisse, was founded in 1864. The current winemaker Jean-Jacques Vincent, great-grandson of the founder, is as alert to modern innovations as he is loyal to proven traditional methods. Experts have described him as "one of the most brilliant makers of white Burgundy". The artisanal "Selections" that bear his name are made with fruit (never juice) purchased from a small number of growers with whom he has long-term relationships. This Bourgogne Blanc, although inexpensive, still represents one of the great winemaking hands of burgundy. Careful employment of malolactic fermentation and judicious use of oak have created a wine of distinction. This is True Burgundy at only $15 a bottle.


2 - Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Cuvee Alouettes Bourgueil $15
For a wine importer Mr. Kermitt Lynch sets an important standard - the quality of his wines is undeniable - They are very often the best examples of their type. This particular wine comes from the Loire Valley in France - It is made from the Cabernet Franc grape, wine that is often described being an acquired taste - because of the mineral qualities it has. Have you ever read a review where the person describing the wine refers to "Lead Pencil" and "Earth?" - And you think to yourself - "what the hell are they talking about?" - This is the wine to try, it is a great example of those characteristics. This is a wine made for food - not for sipping alone.

This is what our own Jim Morrison says: "If you drink wine long enough, you find yourself drinking Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. These wines are definitely an acquired taste as they are replete with what we call "non-fruit flavors". The smell of wet stones, and river bank brambles. The smell of a freshly ridden horse and the wood of an old barn door. As strange as that sounds, that is the smell of Bourgueil France. And this is the wine that will help you understand that geography is more important than varietal, and that drinking wine is about the smell of standing on freshly tilled dirt with your dog, after rain has just fallen, all in a single sip."
Well, what can I say - he gets carried away sometimes. But try this wine on Friday and see for yourself what flavors you can discover.

3 - Domaine Roger Perrin Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Prestige 2006 $20
This is another Kermitt Lynch selection. It is always rated in the "90's" by Tanzer & Robert Parker - S.Tanzer: "Dark red. Pungent bouquet evokes raspberry and cherry, with a suave floral quality building with air. Pliant red berry flavors offer good depth and sweetness, picking up anise and mocha qualities on the close. Finishes with gentle grip and very good length. This should drink well young." J.Morrison: "Expensive for a Cotes du Rhone for sure, but I guarantee this wine will outshine Vacqueyras, Gigondas, even Chateauneuf du Pape from many other producers. Principally Granache, it is the Counoise and Vaccarese that give this wine it's distinctly southern Rhone character." Hand harvested from 45 year old vines, the fruit goes through a meticulous selection and a long maceration. The wine is big and spiced,with intense fruit and stoney earth from the galets roules (round pebbles) of the southern Rhone. Absolutely perfect with lamb or other rich dishes. Please try it on Friday night.


4 - Bodegas El Nido Clio 2005 $50 - Jumilla Spain
If you follow the scores given to wines by retired California lawyers like Robert Parker, follow this: Clio 2002 93pts, Clio 2003 96pts, Clio 2004 97pts. Parker has not yet rated this wine for 2005. Stephan Tanzer gave the 2005 Clio 93pts and he is not one for hyperbole or flights of fancy. He tends to be extremely cautious with +90 pt scores, and historically he scores everything a few points lower than Parker.

Jumilla Spain is located about 90 minutes South West from Valencia. Here is a photo of the fruit that was used to make this wine. We had the privilege of sampling the grapes from the first wagon load coming in from the fields - the winemaker himself said they were the best grapes he had tasted in ten years. Take a close look. This is where the wine is made. It is not a factory, this is a family operation with a small group of people taking the time to make a very special product. You can taste the pride they have in every sip. Please try this wine on Friday night - it is the real thing.











Grapes for the 2005 Clio
Other photos here: http://thames-river-wine-spirits.com/wine/photos.html

We received less than half of last year's allocation, and this is it until the 2006.

JM: "I can see it now, the Wine Spectator's top 100 wines comes out in December and Clio 2005 is way up at the top, everyone comes in the store, list in hand, but they can't get the wine, it's been sold out for months - Meanwhile, in a comfy leather chair in front a fireplace somewhere, a happy couple sips Clio and offers up a toast and a knowing laugh to the people of Jumilla."
10 six packs in stock, 10% discount on a six bottle case.


Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions - and especially for your support - we appreciate it.

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




AAA.

Fashion Show, Maryhill Winemakers, Santi Solane, Vistabla Corte B, Fratelli Alessandria Barolo,

Greetings from New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-447-2474

wwww.thamesriver.com

It's a short week for many of us - if you have today off - congratulations. The wines for Friday's tasting are listed just below these items of interest.

• Last weeks experiment was very successful - if you missed it, it went a little something like this: The wines that were featured at the tasting were also featured by the glass and by the bottle at Brie & Bleu. People really enjoyed being able to try the wine in the cellar and then have a glass or two upstairs with their dinner. Great feedback from many of you - thanks. We will continue working on this.

• Thanks to everyone that attended the special Valentines Day wine dinner hosted by Joe Mascaro - a great night, lots of food and wine and fun. Remember, all you have to do is ask - and you can have your own private dinner with a customized menu and wine list - it is easy, no matter what the occasion.

• This Thursday - February 21 - 6 p.m. - Mark the calendar - A Fashion Show & Champagne Reception in the big room - Sponsored by Niza Boutique of Mystic AND Renewal Medical Day Spa. Showcasing Cupcake Fashion by Brenda Lee, and offering insight into anti-aging procedures from Renewal. Brie and Bleu will be serving it's full menu with special Fondues and wine. For more information just call -Niza at 860-536-7270. OR the wine store - 860-443-9463.

• We Are Listening - based on all of the requests and feedback from you - we are putting the final touches on our upcoming Wine Dinner Series. The menus, wine, and pricing offer a choice for everyone. The final menus, names, dates, and prices will be posted on the website and right here in the email. Here are some highlights: - "Sunny Southern Italy", "Rioja & the great foods of Spain", "Food & Wine of The Rich & Famous." - We will also be offering wine dinners with an open seating plan. So if you would prefer a cozy dinner for two with the same great menu - not a problem. Remember to reserve early.


• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge

Wilhelm Walch Prendo Pinot Noir 2004 $14
Dave Says: "Here's an odd bird for you. Regulars are probably familiar with Prendo Pinot Grigio, which flows like the River Thames all summer long around here. When we first tasted this Pinot Noir last year, it had such a smoky note one might think it was from South Africa or something. It's from Northern Italy of course, which immediately leaps to mind when one thinks of Pinot Noir???"

"What a pedigree: winemaking virtuosa Elena Walch renewed the vineyards of her grandfather Wilhelm in the shadow of the Dolomites to produce this small line of lovely, inexpensive wines. We tasted this wine again recently and it had changed, the woody note replaced with more recognizably Pinot-y berries and brambles. But it's still its own animal. The Walchs have let this one be itself for a reason: it's up to us to figure it out! Let's try Monday."


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday February 22 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

Maryhill Winemakers White 2006 $14
If you're ever in Portland Oregon, Take a ride up the I-5 to Washington. When you get to the vineyards of Camus, head East along the 14 into some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Carved by glacial meltwater, the Columbia Gorge with it's steep cliffs and dramatic waterfalls is one of the great wine growing regions of North America. Maryhill of Goldendale Washington produces this sunny and charming wine , a blend of Chardonnay (for body),Sauvignon Blanc ( for acidity), Semillion ( for nuttiness) and Viognier ( for floral aromatics). This wine reminds me of Caymus Conundrum, although not as sweet and half the price.

Santi Solane Valpolicella Ripasso 2005 $16
The Solaneis produced using a method called "rigoverno" whereby 20% of the harvest is separated and dries on mats, as if to produce Amarone. These desiccated grapes are then added back to the wine in a secondary fermentation. The result is a true "baby Amarone" , with all the raisin, black cherry, and dried fruit flavors in a much more approachable and affordable wine. Perfect for a cold day and a hot stew or sausage lasagna.

Vistabla Corte B 2004 $26
We've gotten used to finding another great big Argentine Malbec every week. But when you get right down to it, making a big wine is not the same as making a fine wine. Little by little, as Argentina's winemaking matures, we see wines that reflect not just a hot climate, but a true vinoculture. The Corte B impressed us immediately as far more interesting than your average South American wine. A blend of Malbec , Cabernet and Bonarda (making it distinctly Argentine) the wine has an inherent complexity that is enhanced by the very balanced hand of the winemaker. Oak is used as it should be used, to organize and integrate the wine, not as a major flavor component. The words " tostado medio, de los bosquea de Allier" on the label say it all - "medium toast" - it's like music to the ears.

Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero 2003 $60
Barolo is one of the hardest wines to describe. There are so many flavors and the wine is so tightly knit, that all one can say sometimes is that it tastes like Barolo, a flavor unto itself. Alessandria is certainly one of the great producers of the region, receiving Tre Bicchieri, the highest award given from the prestigious Gambero Rosso nearly every year. This year's Monvigliero is unusual in that it delivers all the fruit we've come to expect from that vineyard, with an extra measure of structure. The combination is almost paradoxical, the smallest, finest flavors woven into a muscular powerhouse of penetrating flavor. A wine as light as Burgundy, that shames and embarrasses the greatest wines of Napa and Bordeaux.

Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions, and for your support. We appreciate it.
We hope to see you this week - please join us.

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




AAA.

Valentines Day, Domaine de la Pepiere, Louis Latour, Chateau Villerambert, Gasparini Capo di Stato,

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

First a big thank you to all of the people that made last week's get together a real happening. I hope that you all got to try the Gaya Ca'Marcanda - it was b e a u t i f u l. The tasting this Friday has an interesting twist - and it answers a frequent question that people ask almost every week. People want to know why we do not offer the same wine at Brie & Bleu by the glass as we feature at the tasting. They say "we want more but we do not want a whole bottle." So this week we will try a little experiment - Our list of wine for Friday night will be available by the glass and by the bottle at Brie & Bleu - and it includes a REAL STEAL - the details are just below a few items of interest.

• Thanks to the readers of The Day that included Brie & Bleu in the areas "Most Romantic Spots" article in Sunday's Market Place magazine section - we appreciate it.

• Lots of people have asked about ordering something special for Valentines Day. It is not an easy answer because of all the options that we have. It is not a problem to combine items from any of our stores to make a gift that is just right for the person in your life. Wine, flowers, cheese, coffee, cards, or gift certificates that are good in any of the stores. As a starting point for flowers take a look at our all new ordering site for Thames River Greenery: www.thamesrivergreenery.com . Mix and match any combination, and remember we will deliver what ever you decide right to the front door or office of the person receiving it. You may place your orders on line 24 hours a day - but remember to order early for timely deliveries.

• Don't forget the Winter Film Series at The Garde Arts Center - it starts this week and it is the perfect place to catch up on the Academy Award nominated films that you may have missed. And it's all on the Big Screen. For more details look here: http://gardearts.org/

• If you are planning to visit The Garde you may want to include Brie & Bleu in your plans. Start the night off with a nice glass of wine, a little fondue, or something else from the menu and then take a stroll up to see the show. Just let your server know that you are going to the movie and they will get you on your way in plenty of time.

• We have been paying particular attention to your requests about the menu and wine pairings at Brie & Bleu - so we are making additions and changes that will be fazed in starting this Tuesday. These include the new "Flights" of wine & cheese. Three wines, three cheeses, each matched carefully with the wine. We have even added a "flight" of three of the finest Artisanal Sake's available & three remarkable cheeses. If you have ever wondered what all of the talk about Sake has been about, this is a great way to try it. And remember, this is not the Sake that you may have had before - sometimes dispensed from a machine in restaurants - it is a fine wine made by following centuries old traditions. Live a little - try it. We have included the "flights" menu below - take a minute to look them over..

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday February 15 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2006 $12
No, it's not sweet! In fact it's quite crisp. Fermented sur Lie for added body, this dry white wine is from the Western Loire valley, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Pronounced lime and lemon zest flavor with brilliant minerality, this wine drinks like a Sauvignon Blanc from the more famous Middle Loire. Organic? this is beyond organic, this my friends is Biodymanic. That means the production of this wine involves sustainable farming and Druid / Wicca rituals. Think I'm kidding, look it up.

2 - Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir 2005 $15.
It is hard to find Pinot Noir under $20 a bottle that actually tastes like Pinot Noir. This wine has long been a favorite for exactly that reason, it is varietally correct. Light bodied, with tart cherry and earth flavors, a simple Pinot Noir. Perfect for duck, pork, chicken with mushrooms and of course a nice stinky cheese.

3 - Chateau Villerambert Minervois 2003 $15.
Long a house favorite. This estate has been making wine since the 12th century, but only in the last few years has it bottled that wine "au Chateau" and gotten the recognition they deserve. A blend of Syrah and Granache from the very warm Minervois in the Languedoc. Dark fruit and licorice flavors, from a very full bodied wine. If you like Cabernet or Shriaz, give this a try.

4 - Gasparini Capo di Stato 1999. $18
From the domain of Count Loredan Gasparini, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec. Suggested retail on this wine is still $36 a bottle, but it took a deep "Post Off" this month from the distributor. That's industry speak for "we don't know what to do with this." Well, WE do, we're going to drink it. A great example of fine wine, mature and balanced and drinking perfectly right now.


Cheese & Wine Flights - This week at Brie & Bleu:

East Meets West
Three remarkable cheeses pared with three artisanal Sake’s

Selles-sur-Cher & “Dreamy Clouds”
A French goat milk cheese made in the Central region of France.
paired with Rihaku Shuzo, Sake Junmai “Dreamy Clouds “
•
Queso Cabrales & Pride of The Village
Queso Cabrales Is a natural cheese made in the artisan tradition by rural dairy farmers in Northern Spain.
Paired with Sudo Honke, Sake Junmai Ginjo, “ Pride of the Village"
•
Shropshire Blue & “Divine Droplets”
A blue cows milk cheese made in the United Kingdom paired with
Takasago Shuzo, Sake Daiginjo, “Divine Droplets”

European Traditions
Three perfect wines pared with three classic cheeses

Fontina Val d’ Aosta & Inama Foscarino Soave
A cow’s milk Italian cheese served with
Inama Soave from the Venetto
•
La Mancha Manchego & Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva
Sheep’s milk cheese from Spain served with Sierra Cantabria
Rioja Gran Reserva 1998, Rioja Spain.
•
Classic Brie & Chateau Pibran Bordeaux
Brie from Normandy France served with
Chateau Pibran Bordeaux 2005, from Pauillac France.

Thanks for all of your support and for making it so much fun. And we sincerely appreciate all of the help you are giving us with your input about food, menus, and wine ideas for Brie & Bleu - we are listening. We hope to see you this weekend.

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


AAA.

The Jesus Factor, Gaya, Le Grascete, Saint Gayan,

Greetings from all of us In New London,

Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437- 2474
www.thamesriver.com

We are running a little late this week - so just a quick note or two before the list of wine for Friday night. Which, by the way, has a real blockbuster on it -
you won't want to miss it. We hope you can join us.

• A big note of thanks to everyone that attended the dinner with Casamiro Maule last Monday. It was an honor to have Italy's Winemaker of The Year as our guest - it was a special night.


• A reminder that Fiddleheads Food Co-op is holding a Winter's Farmers Market on Saturdays throughout February, March and April - from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Located at the Fiddlehead's Food Co-op, in the old California Fruit building on Broad Street. 25-30 vendors selling farm produce and related goods. A real opportunity to buy fresh, local farm goods during the winter. Plenty of parking makes this an easy visit. - Above Tony D'd Restaurant across from the courthouse.


• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Chateau Fontbernard Montagne Saint-Emilion 2005 $13
Dave Says: "Last week I said we had six Bordeaux in house under $15 -- as of this writing, the number is now eight! (Starting at $7.00!) This one, Chateau Fontbernard, belongs to the same grower-producer collective I mentioned last week, it's a little more robust and earthier than last week's selection, beautifully made, and super affordable. Stop in Monday afternoon for a free glimpse inside the bottle!"


Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday January 8 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Tolosa No-Oak Chardonnay 2005 $18.
Jim Says: "Are the days of butter slathered, over oaked california Chardonnay over? I'm not sure, but here's another bight and crisp Cali Chard, fermented in stainless steel,presenting pure, unadulterated fruit. Now if they could just ease back on their Zinfandel extraction,they might get something going out there."

This is a pure expression of Chardonnay, with lime blossom, ripe peach and tangerine fruit layered over a core of cool-climate minerality. Beautiful weight and richness, balanced by elegant, crisp acidity, and a touch of sweet anise on the finish. We especially love this wine with all manner of shellfish: Dungeness crab, red abalone, diver scallops, Pacific oysters; all in the simplest of preparations. - Please try it on Friday night.


2 - Domaine Saint Gayan Rasteau 2004 $17
Domaine Saint Gayan is a small estate located at the foot of the spectacular Dentelles de Montmirail in the Gigondas appellation - This is what our friend Robert Parker says: "An excellent estate dedicated to making robustly styled, natural wines that are always among the best of the traditional heavyweights of Gigondas." This is from one of the lesser known Cotes du Rhone Villages, just to the north of the famed Chateauneuf du Pape. Saint Gayan is One of the great estates of the Southern Rhone, the owners, Jean-Pierre Meffre and his wife Martine produce wines of enormous power and concentration. With 1/3 of the vines being about 100 years old and the yields consequently low, the Gigondas has all the complexity and intensity of flavor one can expect from the Rhone. - This is a favorite and a great value for the dollar.

Importers Information: This meaty and succulent single-village Cotes-du Rhone is one of our favorite Rhone wines 70% Grenache and a whopping 30% Mourvedre. The size of these vineyards totals only .75 hectare,1/3 of which contain 100 year-old vines! Vinification follows traditional methods: 50% of the grapes are crushed, 50% fermented whole-berry; fermentation is brought to 31-32 degrees Celsius, and the wine is kept two years in tank and one year in cask before bottling.


3 - Le Grascete Bolgheri Rosso 2003 $30.
Nestled between Ornelia and Sassicaia, Azienda Agricola Le Grascete gives us this Super Tuscan of Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese, one of only two wines they produce. The grapes are meticulously hand harvested, and aged in French oak for 18 months, then 6 more months in bottle before release. The result is a wine with the power and depth you would expect from a Super Tuscan without the $150 price tag from the Bolgheri D.O.C.

Speaking of $150 Super Tuscans from a Rock Star wine maker...


4 - Gaja Ca'marcanda 2003 $150.
Last week Casamiro Maule, this week Angelo Gaja, or at least his wine. Along the Tuscan seaboard extending south from Livorno lies the Maremma. For centuries a marshland, it has established itself over the last quarter century as one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions. It is in this region that wine icon Angelo Gaja, looking like he just dismounted a Vespa in a Fellini movie, began a new winemaking venture — Ca'Marcanda. His aim was to transfer the experience of his Piemontese culture to the Maremma - to first acquire a thorough understanding of the potential of the different soil types and then to emphasize their specificity and uniqueness in the wines that are produced. The Maremma provides a perfect opportunity to apply this experience to growing international varieties.

In 1996, along the road between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, Gaja began planting 150 acres of vineyards, primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Angelo Gaja arrived on the wine scene and set about redefining the wines of Piedmonte, especially Barbaresco. The Ca' Marcanda estate (the translation is "the house of endless negotiations") is Angelo's effort in the D.O.C. of Bolgheri. Gaja wines accomplish something nearly impossible, they are shockingly approachable in their youth, yet have virtually unlimited aging potential. Many times I've pulled the cork on a Gaja wine expecting to find an untamed beast of of wine, only to be greeted by a supple wine, whose true nature is revealed by penetrating flavor. A masterpiece by a master wine maker.

Rated 92 points by Tanzer: "(A blend of 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc). Deep ruby. Rich, almost roasted aromas of black cherry, plum, and dark coffee, complicated by peat and an intensely balsamic menthol character. Concentrated flavors of red cherry, plum and milk chocolate are far from jammy. Wonderfully harmonious acids convey a sense of elegance and seamlessness on the extremely long finish."

We are pleased to share this with you on Friday - This is a special bottle that as we like to say, usually goes to movie stars or rich guys with pinot envy - but why should they have all of the fun? This is a wine that really has "The Jesus Factor" - made by man - but somehow touched by a higher power. Authentic and one of a kind - It may be a bargain at the price.


Thanks for your support we appreciate it - and it is the reason that we are able to bring in guests like Casamiro Maule, and offer wine like the Gaya at our weekly tasting.

There are lots of new things on the horizon, many of them based on your comments and suggestions - we are listening.


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

AAA.