Wal-Mart Striper Series,Berkshire Brewing,Bedell First Crush,Rose des Tourelles,Michel Torino,Rust en Vrede Estate

Greetings from all of us in New London, We have a sweet selection of wines for this Friday night - including something special from South Africa. The list is just below our news and information. Hey - for those of you that still think that nothing goes on in New London - take a look at all of the upcoming events and openings. Some of them are Big Deal national events. New London, it's not just for sailors anymore.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Brie & Bleu Something Special Every Week Reservations: 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 ··· NATIONAL EVENT: The Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series Saturday June 21st - New London City Pier Big Kick-Off Party & Boat Show & Music Friday June 20 5-9 p.m. New London City Pier in New London, Conn., June 21 for an $85,000 catch-and-release striped bass tournament that will award the winning team as much as $30,000. Join the excitement, see the action - Learn More Here ··· Whaling City Cyclone Bike Race - Sunday, June 22nd 2008, from 8am to 4pm 500 licensed competitive cyclists with friends & families will come to the area for a day of racing on a closed circuit of roads on Fort Trumbull. $7,000 in Prizes. The Whaling City Cyclone races will take place on a 1 km course closed to traffic on Fort Trumbull in New London. The circuit will include 6 turns per lap and great viewing with the waterfront and Bank Street as a back drop. The race distances will range from 10 miles to 50 miles. See The Course HERE Bill Humphreys, BikeGuy LLC. 5 Devitt Loop Old Lyme, CT 06371. Bikeguys@sbcglobal.net www.bikeguy.biz 860 227-8280 ··· Grand Opening of The TSETSE Gallery located at the historical Crocker House,190 State St., New London CT Saturday, June 21th 2008 Starting at 3PM. Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 pm. Although new to Connecticut ,The TSETSE Gallery with headquarters in RI has been in operation since 1995. 'Building Community Through Art' is at the pinnacle of their goals and serves as the mission of The TSETSE Gallery. If you would like to know more about the Gallery or how you can be involved before the opening, feel free to call Founder and President, Therese M. Lavallee at their corporate office: 401.453.3337 ···

Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting Click on the photo to order it now Berkshire Brewing Hefeweizen Ale 22oz Bomber $4 Last week's Chiaretto Rose was so lovely and surprising and yummy I felt like the cleverest guy in the world bringing $12 pink wine to a dinner party of enthusiasts... so I just wanted to re-trumpet the glories of last week's find! But it's a new week of Tropical heat in Conecticut. Summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the beer! Let's open the citrusy, very German-inspired wheat seasonal offering from our favorite cool cats in Deerfield, Mass. -- Berkshire Brewing. Tried and true, come on down and have a sip after work!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday June 20 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Bedell First Crush white 2007 $15 From the North Forth of Long Island. This is the debut vintage of the First Crush White. It is produced of 82% Chardonnay and 18% Viognier, entirely in stainless steel-free from oak aging. The nose is primary and full of bright, green apple-y aromas. as well as a floral, lightly spicy, and fresh citrus notes. The wine tastes of fresh citrus and melon fruit, white peach, lychee and orchid flowers. 2 - Rose des Tourelles Bordeaux Rose 2007 $21 From the vineyard of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, a second growth classified estate in Pauillac. The wine is the exsanguination, or bleeding off of juice during the production of their estate wine. Comprised of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This is Second Growth Rose. 3 - Michel Torino Tannat 2005 $17 Tannat is the new Black. All of the Michel Torino wines are hand-harvested in the estate's own vineyards. Additionally, Andrés Höy, Torino's production manager, practices sustainable, environmentally- friendly farming by minimizing the use of fertilizers and chemicals in the vineyard. The unique Cafayete climate manifests itself in the elegant, focused profile of Michel Torino's wines. These are wines with an indelible sense of place, wines which complement food rather than overpower, wines which are true to their origin. The wine has intense aromas of minerals, cloves and white chocolate, with vanilla notes. On the palate, there is a full fruit with Italian "amaro" chocolate flavors with a long finish. 4 - Rust en Vrede Estate 2003 $45 Specializing in the production of red wine only, Rust en Vrede has established itself as one of South Africa 's premium red wine estates. Full-bodied and complex, Rust en Vrede wines reflect the uniqueness of the Stellenbosch terroir. Rust en Vrede is proud to be part of a remarkable three hundred years old wine tradition and continues to persue the excellence synonymous with wines produced by Stellenbosch's private estates. Acclaimed as one of the top 100 wines of the world four years in a row. Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

It has been a great week - even a suprise visit from the owner of Toad Hollow Vineyards. There has been a lot of feedback about the dinner specials at Brie & Bleu - thank you so much for your support - we have much more planned for you. We love to hear from you, and we appreciate all of your comments. Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. We hope to see you this week. AAA.

Father's Day, Chiaretto,Fournier Sauvignon Blanc,Domaine Houchart,Wynns,Montevertine 2003

Greetings from all of us in New London, We have a fine selection of wines for this Friday night, the list is just below our news and information. Fathers Day is justt around the corner. We have lots of ways to say I Love You Dad. Father's Day - Sunday June 15. Order early for timely deliveries. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7 call anytime or ORDER HERE

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Braised Short Ribs This Week at Brie & Bleu Grass fed, free range beef from Painted Hill Farms in Oregon. Painted Hill Farms Brie & Bleu Dinner Special Friday & Saturday - June 13 - 14 Reservations: 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 Once again the press is full of news about the benefits of drinking wine - if you missed the New York Times story, here is a link that will make you look ten years younger: Ageless Beauty ··· ALVA Gallery is reopening as an outlet for art and fashion with the intention of presenting New York style at New London prices. The gallery promotes unique and interesting fashions to wear and to display. There are cases of jewelry from far and near as well as uniquely designed clothing, handbags and other accessories. In addition we are presenting decorative pieces in blown glass and ceramic and a whole new range of affordable artists. ALVA Gallery aims to be a creative emporium for men and women. ALVA will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. ··· POSH is a Home & Body Boutique with "something for everyone." The shop will have handbags, accessories, spa items, children's toys and accessories and home décor. POSH plans to open July 1. The store is located at The Crocker House 184 State Street in New London.

Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting Click on the photo to order it now Provenza Garda Classico Chiaretto 2006 $12 If you come to our wine tastings, you may no longer shudder with horror when faced with a sample of pink wine... One of our little projects is exposing people to really GOOD rose, the old-fashioned kind, not that bubble-gum box-wine stuff. Rose is cheap, fun, and perfect for warmer weather - this is a new one for us, from beautiful Lake Garda in Northern Italy, at the foot of the Alps. Made from Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera grapes, the winemaker lets the juice sit on the crushed skins just overnight, leaving a beautiful light-watermelon color. Chilled, it is known for pronounced strawberry notes and a long finish - I wouldn't know because I haven't even tasted it yet, but I'm really curious about this authentic specialty... We'll call it "Dave's Hunch" this week, please join me!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday June 13 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Fournier Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $11 The Fournier family are amongst the largest vineyard owners in the appellations of Sancerre, Pouilly Fume and Menetou Salon in the Loire Valley France. This little number is made from declassified fruit from those prestigious vineyards. Light, crisp and with only 12% alcohol, the perfect accompaniment to seafood and soft cheese. 2 - Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence rose 2007 $11 Owned by the Quiot family from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the 200 acre estate lies at the foot of Mont Sainte Victoire near Aixen-Provence. This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet, and Mourvedre. Salmon-pink in color, with elegant flavors of red berries, the wine something like Domaine Ott on a budget. 3 - Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet/Shiraz/Merlot 2004 $12 The This wine is blended to capture all the elegant fruit character Coonawarra has to offer in a wine that drinks best when relatively young. Cabernet provides the flavour, length and structure, with shiraz imparting a spicy complexity and richness. Merlot adds softness.It is a finely structured and supple wine showing ripe plum and spicy fruit flavours combined with soft, understated oak. 4 - Montevertine 2003 $46 A great Montevertine is situated in the heart of the Chianti district about halfway between Florence and Siena and lying specifically about 3 kilometers distance from the village of Radda in Chianti. The Montevertine estate was first developed in the 11th century and was purchased by Sergio Manetti in 1967. The first vintage of Montevertine produced and bottled under the supervision of Signor Manetti was 1971. By 1981, due to Signor Manetti's devotion to the Sangiovese grape, Montevertine left the Chianti Classico consortium, forgoing the Chianti Classico denomination in order to compose wines almost entirely of Sangiovese. The Montevertine estate is now in the hands of Martino Manetti, son of Sergio, who remains dedicated to the style and philosophy of his father. There are approximately 10 hectares of vineyards at Montevertine planted almost exclusively to the Sangiovese grape. Small amounts of Colorino and Canaiolo are planted to supplement the Sangiovese. Some Malvasia is planted as well. Wine production at Montevertine is essentially devoted to three wines. The Pian del Ciampolo, composed of Sangiovese with a tiny amount of Canaiolo blended in, is the basic red wine of the estate. It sees 18 months of aging in large barrels and is the most precocious of the wines. The Montevertine is the standard bearer of the estate. It is aged 24 months in large barrel and is based on at least 90% Sangiovese with some Colorino added. 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 hope to see you this week.

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

AAA.

Beautiful Wedding, Francois Cazin,Von Schleinitz Spatburgunder,Can Blau,Les Tourells de Longueville

Greetings from all of us in New London, We want to offer our congratulations to Stan & Bet Mickus. They were married in our wine cellar this week and it was a beautiful affair. One of the nicest events we have seen. A wonderful day and a lot of fun. Well with all of the excitement around here this week you are probably asking yourself - how will they make time for this weeks tasting? Fear not - our very own wedding consultant Jim Morrison and the team at the winestore have a great line up for Friday night - The list and his comments are just below these items. We hope to see you this week.

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday June 6 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Francois Cazin Cour-Cheverny 2006 $15 Cour-Cheverny is made from Romartin, a local variety of grape introduced to the region in 1519. The wine exhibits bright acidity and classic Loire minerality, with a fresh lemon finish that lasts for days. 2 - Von Schleinitz Spatburgunder Weissherbst 2005 $11 From Weissherbst is the German word for rose wine, where then red color and tannins of the Pinot Noir grape are only slightly extracted . The fine Pinot Noir aromas and vibrancy make this rose a perfect summer wine. 3 - Can Blau Montsant 2006 $18 Robert Parker: "This is a brilliant offering from Montsant, the Spanish appellation that could be called the poor person's Priorato. A blend of old vine Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache planted on clay and slate soils, it reveals an inky ruby/purple color, a classic raspberry and black cherry bouquet, medium body, wonderful minerality and definition, and surprising freshness as well as intensity for its price. It should drink well for 2-4 years." 4 - Les Tourells de Longueville 2005 $56 The Wine Spectator, "Wonderful aromas of crushed raspberry, Indian spices and flowers follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. The second wine of Pichon-Longueville-Baron. Best after 2011" Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Thank you 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.

Joe Friday,Inama Soave,Toad Hollow,Rutini Trumpeter,Alonso Del Yerro

Greetings from all of us in New London, Because of the holiday week we are keeping it short for this installment. As Detective Joe Friday might say: "just the facts." BUT - Jim Morrison and our team at the wine store have a great selection of wine for Friday night - with a little something special that will go quickly. We hope to see you this week.

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday May 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Inama Soave Classico 2006 $14 "Most people in the world want predictable wines. I want to make wines that are bloody different, and wines that are different year to year " - Stephano Inama. And so he does, 100% Garganega, hand harvest from vineyards of Basaltic Lava. Light yellow in color, with an elegant nose of Camomile and Elder flower. 2 - Toad Hollow Eye of the Toad Pinot Noir Rose 2007 $11 From their website: "This is our NINTH vintage of Pinot Noir Rosé and, by far, our best to date. The wine has incredible body and weight for a Rosé of Pinot Noir. The color is a beautiful pink with a hint of "Beaujolais blue". This wine has a nose of rose petals and violets. Whether in sun or shade, this is a truly dry, uncomplicated statement of Pinot Noir at its lightest and most delicate which we proudly call our ROSÉ." 3 -Rutini Trumpeter Malbec Syrah 2006 $12 Rutini Wines is one of the oldest and most celebrated wineries in Argentina. Its origins date back the late 19th century when Italian immigrant Felipe Rutini planted his first vines at what remains the site of the present-day winery in Maipú, in the province of Mendoza. The Rutini winery was founded in 1885, and has since then been consistently commended for the outstanding quality and character of its wines. Rutini Wines currently owns estates in five different areas of Mendoza, including Maipú, Rivadavia, La Consulta, Altamira and Tupungato, with a total of 255 hectares under vine. This diverse source of vineyard sites allows us to cultivate each individual grape variety in the area that offers the best suited growing conditions. Of particular value is the source of old vines in the highly coveted region of La Consulta, where many believe the best Malbec grapes in Mendoza are being grown today. Here our vines reach ages of 65 years. The concentrated yields produced by these vines, combined with the high altitude, cool air and intense sunshine in this region, create grapes with rich fruit character, deep colour and smooth, ripe tannins. 4 - Alonso Del Yerro Ribera Del Duero Cuvee Maria 2005 $60 Robert Parker has rated the 2005 vintage 94 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. Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Thank you for your support - we apprciate it. We hope to see you this week. Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. AAA.

T.V. Diner,Greg Lemond,Brooklyn Brewery,Torino Torrontes,Frederic Magnien,Mandolin Pinot Noir,Il Forteto Brunello,

Greetings from all of us in New London, We have a fine selection of wines for this Friday night, the list is just below our news and information. We have to thank Billy Costa and the good folks at The T.V. Diner for featuring us on their show. If you missed the segment about us take a look HERE A quick note for many of our friends at Pfizer. We have received several comments about their ability to receive the weekly email with "@pfizer" email addresses. The method we use to send the email in its new version is sometimes refused by the Pfizer email security filters. It has to do with the graphics and from the source that it is sent from. So, if you have friends at Pfizer you can let them know that we are aware of the problem and that adding us to their "address book" may help the mail to get through. If anyone happens to know the webmaster for Pfizer - we would love too work with them to fix the problem. We have a great season planned for you - please join us.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Meet Three-time Tour de France Winner & Former World Champion Cyclist Greg Lemond Thursday, May 22nd 2008, 11:00 am Ft. Trumbull State Park ALL THE DETAILS HERE ··· Hygienic Galleries - May 31 - June 28 "Moments, Matter and Cosmic Order" More Information ··· Comming Soon

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Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting Click on the photo to order it now Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse 750ml $12 I'm pouring a beer again Monday folks - this one is so outrageously good, and in such short supply that I surely am going to regret ever letting on it's even here... our friend Garrett Oliver at Brooklyn Brewing has established a very cool connection with Schneider Brewery in Bavaria ("Schneider Weisse"), and this Weissbock (wheat beer) is the latest fruit of their efforts. This special release is brewed in Brooklyn by Oliver and Schneider Master Brewer Hans-Peter Drexler using American hops and German yeast, re-fermented in bottle. When I and several friends cracked one of these, it was all "Wow!!" and "Oh my God!" peppered with colorful expletives - we invite you to come in Monday, try it, and have an outburst of your own!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday May 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Michel Torino Torrontes 2006 $16 The vineyards of Michel Torino are located in The Cafayate valley, 5500 feet above sea level. The high altitude ensures dry sunny days and cool nights, creating a Torrontes of tremendous aromatics. The wine has a nose similar to Viognier, nutmeg, allspice, coriander, but the finish is light and crisp like a Sauvignon Blanc. The combination makes for a wine well suited to Thai food and seafood, cheese and jamon. 2 - Frederic Magnien Bourgogne Rose 2007 $16 Frédéric Magnien has established himself as a bona-fide star of the Cote de Nuits. Although he owns no vineyards, Frédéric is a fifth-generation Morey-St.-Denis winemaker who takes great pride and commitment in selecting the growers with whom he works and the vineyards from which he sources fruit. He works only with growers who follow his stringent guidelines about pruning, green-harvesting and deciding when to harvest, all of which leads to low-yielding, quality fruit. In some instances, Frédéric himself undertakes the vineyard work. Careful sorting of the grapes in both the vineyards and in the meticulously clean cellar further ensures the final high level of quality fruit. This is undoubtedly the only rosé in the world containing grapes from Clos Vougeot, Bonnes Mares, and Chambertin (and even a little Chambertin-Clos de Beze)! 3 - Mandolin Pinot Noir 2007 $15 Mandolin, a small winery with large ambitions, is generating considerable attention for its stylish wines. Developed by Brent Shortridge and Philip Zorn, Mandolin has the luxury of drawing on top vineyard sources in some of California's best growing regions, yielding balanced wines with bright fruit and a long finish. In fact, it is this characteristic that led to the name of the winery - the mandolin instrument, heralded for its brilliant tone and great carrying power, was the inspiration. The Mandolin winemaking style leans toward emphasizing balance and expressive fruit flavors, rather than sweetness or excessive oak, and the result is a very accessible, flavorful wine that appeals to experienced wine drinkers and neophytes alike. The broad appeal of Mandolin wines is credited to their full middle palate, which maximizes the fruit character of the wines. 4 - Il Forteto Brunello di Montalcino 2001 $45 From the New York Times "Brunello is noteworthy for being one of the few wines that by Italian law must be 100 percent sangiovese. Now, Italian newspapers are reporting that a number of leading Tuscan producers have been indicted for adding merlot, cabernet sauvignon or petit verdot to their wines. Among the producers cited are such top Tuscan names as Antinori, Frescobaldi and Argiano. Each has denied the accusations. I have no idea whether these particular producers are guilty of compromising their brunellos, but anybody who is surprised by the idea of wine fraud in Montalcino might also be shocked to learn about steroids in baseball and gambling in Casablanca" It's times like these when it's good to buy wine from your friends. We buy Forteto Brunello from a man we have known for years. He travels to Montalcino, he walks the vineyards, he knows the winemakers. He specializes in small producers looking to make and sell great wine, not big houses jockeying for market share and Parker scores. This is real Brunello, 100% Sangiovese Grosso , from a great vintage. Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Wow - what a week! Receptions, graduations, weddings, parties of all shapes and sizes - thank you for the tremendous show of support. We hope to see you this week. Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. AAA.

Perfect 10, Roger Hoadley,Schonborn Silvaner Kabinett,Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc,Los Cardos,Perrin et Fils Cotes du Rhone,Haut-Surget Pomerol

Greetings from all of us in New London, We have a fine selection of wines for this Friday night, the list is just below our news and information. This is a busy week here in New London. The annual Spring Food Stroll is on Wednesday and it is Commencement weekend for Connecticut College. We want to give a special thank you to Roger Hoadley from Slocum & Sons. Many of you got to met him last Friday night. Our favorite rascal of the wine trade poured with distinction and made lots of new friends at last weeks tasting. And this week Jim Morrison returns from the vineyards of Argentina - and he should be rested, clean & sober by show time on Friday. I hope you will join us to welcome him back. And a special thank you this week to all of you. Our friends and customers have been taking the time to send comments and suggestions that are vey important to us and we appreciate it.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Braised Beef served with Spring Asparagus Salad 17.95 Brie & Bleu Dinner Special Friday & Saturday - May 16 - 17 Reservations: 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 Braised beef with morels & fresh peas. Served with spring asparagus salad. The Perfect Wine: Paired with Chateau Villerambert Minervois from France. Full bodied dry red wine made of syrah and grenache. Perfect for braised meats or sausage. If you like full bodied wines like Cabernet and Merlot, you'll like Minervois. $8 glass / $20 bottle ··· Food Stroll - Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 5:30-8:30 PM Spring will officially kick off in The District at New London Main Street's annual Spring Food Stroll. More Info Here ···

Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting Click on the photo to order it now Graf v. Schonborn Silvaner Kabinett Trocken 2006 $18 This is one of those wines that everybody likes to look at, but dares not buy, probably just for the simple reason that nobody knows what it is... bottled in the traditional squat "Bocksbeutel" glass, I'm happy to report that dry, white Silvaner is delicious wine. These Silvaner grapes grow amongst Riesling plantings in Franconia, Germany, on the estate of Hallburg castle which dates back to the 13th century. A classic, ancient varietal for the region, the wine is cool, soft and aromatic with beautiful balance. Give it a try Monday after work - it's free!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday May 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos Here is what our own "Rock Star" Dave Anderson has to say about the wine for this Friday. 1 - Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles 2006 $24 This is a lovely white Burgundy, the royalty of Chardonnay, and is quite affordable considering all the fruit that goes into the wine comes from the famed villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. The wine is aged for 8 months, half in French oak, half in stainless steel, so the oak treatment is extremely restrained and delicate. All Olivier Leflaive wines are made carefully with the least amount of intrusion - their philosophy reflects a deep respect for the ancient vineyards and they approach the vinification with minimal manipulation. "Les Setilles" is a beautiful example of this classic style, great fruit and finish, made with precision and clarity. 2 - Dona Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $10 Just try to find a better Cabernet for ten bucks! Very deep ruby red with lots of spice, minerality and smooth minty tannins. The fruit gains concentration from the locale, a high-altitude Argentinian plateau, stressed by mountain winds. Careful oak treatment brings out chocolate and vanilla tones. A great table red with a lot going on - another great example of why we look to South America for outstanding value. 3 - Perrin et Fils Cotes du Rhone Villages 2006 $14 The Perrin family have become like our French cousins who come and visit us a few times every year. We'll never forget the evening with Marc Perrin tasting Chateau de Beaucastel vintages back to 1978! Alas, I've got to wait at least 12 years before I crack my bottle, now that I know how it ages like nothing else. What to drink in the meantime? Classic, affordable Cotes-du-Rhone Villages. The "Villages" term is reserved for only for the vineyards plots deemed to be the best in the region. Half Grenache, half Syrah, a full-bodied Rhone with notes of blackberries, licorice and spice. A great table wine with an impeccable pedigree. 4 - Chateau Haut-Surget Lalande-de-Pomerol 2005 $25 A great fan of Merlot since traveling to St. Emillon and Pomerol, This is the new vintage of an affordable Bordeaux we always keep on the shelf. Situated north of the more famous (and pricey) Pomerol appellation, Lalande-de-Pomerol is known for big, earthy Merlot-dominated wines. Chateau Haut-Surget has proved to be very consistent vintage to vintage, 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The reputation of the 2005 vintage continues to grow across the board in France, we look forward to trying it ourselves with you as our guest! Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Thanks very much for the input - all of the comments and suggestions are appreciated. With your continued support we are making changes and adding programs and events, fine tuning the menu and putting together a great season. The best is yet to come. We hope to see you this week. Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. AAA.

Tenuta Vitanza Chianti, Macrostie Chardonnay, Sierra Cantabria, Cline Cashmere, Duckhorn Merlot,

ThamesRiver.com Visit Our Stores Here Thames River Greenery - Thames River Wine & Spirits - Brie & Bleu - City News - Import

Greetings from all of us in New London, Mother's Day is just around the corner on the 11th, don't forget to order early - we have lots of ways to say "I love you mom" - Mother's Day We have a beautiful line up for Friday night - including a very famous name from California. And speaking of famous names - we have a special guest in the cellar this week - Roger Hoadley will be on hand to answer your questions and regale us with stories of the wine trade. Mr. Hoadley is on loan to us from Slocum & Sons, one of Connecticut's largest distributors of fine wine. Many of you know that we have dispatched our Jim Morrison to Argentina this week. He has worked hard to earn this trip and he will be drinking wine tirelessly on our behalf. That's the kind of dedication that is hard to find now a days. So let's raise our glasses to Jim this week and imagine that he is doing the Tango in Buenos Aires - while we enjoy the wines for this week. The list is just below a few items of interest.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Pampered Poultry Duck Confit on wilted arrugula Brie & Bleu Dinner Special Friday & Saturday - May 9 - 10 Reservations: 8 6 0 - 4 3 7 - 2 4 7 4 Crispy Roast Duck Confit with Lyonnaise Potatoes & Wilted Arugila - $14.95 This French classic can't be beat! We have the meatiest, most succulent duck legs available from D'Artagnan. Crispy on the outside, rich in flavor & juicy on the inside. The Perfect Wine: Paired with Louis Latour Valmossine Pinot Noir. This clear, light-ruby wine from the hills of Var in Provence is a Burgundian-style red made in the style of the ancient "Vin Vermeil," Fresh with bright flavors, light-bodied but crisp red fruit and earthy notes that follow the nose. There's a wisp of tannins along with clean fruit in the finish - Just $6 a glass, $18 a bottle. ··· Thursday May 8 - Maasdam Arrives The Cruise Ship season begins with the arrival of Holland America's Maasdam. We never get tired of watching these majestic liners ease into New London's harbor. A perfect spot for watching is the deck at Brie & Bleu. Have dinner, a glass of wine and watch the departure. ··· Food Stroll - Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 5:30-8:30 PM Spring will officially kick off in The District at New London Main Street's annual Spring Food Stroll. More Info Here

Dave's Fave Special Monday Tasting Click on the label to order it now Tenuta Vitanza Chianti Colli Senesi 2005 $16 CIAO, VITANZA!!! "Charm, Love and Passion," is their motto... Let's go to Italy - Bellissima! Every day I descend our cellar steps and give a nod to the CHARM of the big mags of Vitanza Brunello de Montalcino 2001 at the top of the Italian rack, smoldering, getting more delicious every day, secure in the knowledge that every grape crushed in those bottles actually came from Montalcino! (Yeah, I went there) I'll pick up one of those big boys my next big supper! Hey, wait - there, with the pink label - Vitanza Rosso de Montalcino! I LOVE that wine and the price is quite within my stratosphere indeed! But now along comes Vitanza Chianti, as if the small family operation at Vitanza knew cheap musicians in Connecticut have a PASSION for elegant, smoky Sangiovese! Just try to find a comparable Chianti at this price, with such a noble lineage. You've got to try it!

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday May 9 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos 1 - Macrostie Chardonnay Carneros 2006 $24 Fruit from the high hills of Carneros go into this lovely, balanced wine - 2006 was a winemaker's dream with a very long, cool growing season. Aged in French oak, on the lees for six months. This wine is made by fanatics, if there is a better example of this type of chardonnay from Carneros - we would like to know about it. Beautiful lemony scents and a creamy custard & butter finish. This is a medium weight Chardonnay and a modern Californian benchmark. 2 - Sierra Cantabria Rioja Crianza 2003 $17 Classic: the Sierra Cantabria vineyards are set in an ancient village in Northern Spain, the upper reaches of Rioja. Very low yield, old vines digging deep in stony, red soil (as if on Mars): Tempranillo grapes, 14 months in oak, smoky and voluptuous - a shining, affordable pearl from Rioja! Noted wine expert Robert Parker had this to say about the 2001: "I have served friends the brilliant 2001 Crianza (98% Tempranillo and 2% Graciano) just to prove what great wine can be purchased even with a weak dollar. It is a complex, elegant, deep ruby/purple-tinged offering boasting a sweet nose of lead pencil shavings, white chocolate, blackberries, and cherries. Medium-bodied with supple tannin as well as admirable structure, definition, and ripeness, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 5-8 years." Rated 91 points. 3 - Cline Cashmere 2005 $15 Cline initially created this blend as an auction lot for the Hospice du Rhone charity that's held in Paso Robles California each year. Cashmere is a very flavorful, smooth wine offering big cherry, raspberry and chocolate notes with hints of cracked black pepper and plum. A portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold will be donated by Cline Cellars to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Our own Dave Anderson has this to add: "All of our friends keep requesting this wine - okay okay, you can have it!!! From Cline, out in little Oakley, California, just between Napa and the Bay Area, these hippie-freaks make big, gorgeous, velvety Rhone-varietal reds, which you, our valued wine-freak-friends know means: Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre - but mostly Mourvedre here, oddly enough! Rhone via California - big, lush and ripe - not quite like rocky old France. Cline made this wine for a cancer research benefit and couldn't stop! Proceeds continue to fund the cause." 4 - Duckhorn Merlot 2005 $56 A great fan of Merlot since traveling to St. Emillon and Pomerol, Dan Duckhorn felt that this elegant varietal was under appreciated in North America. "I liked the softness, the seductiveness, the color," says Dan, "the fact that it went with a lot of different foods; it wasn't so bold, didn't need to age so long, and it had this velvety texture to it. It seemed to me to be a wonderful wine to just enjoy. I became enchanted with Merlot." From its modest inaugural vintage of 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, to its addition of Sauvignon Blanc in 1982, Duckhorn Vineyards has crafted a tradition of quality and excellence that continues today. Dave Anderson: "While Jim's in Argentina, we will take the time to explore the wine of a mysterious, distant land: a place called "Napa" in the State of "California" where they apparently keep making wine - red and white wine just for your pleasure! This particular treat is one of my (Dave's) favorite wines from this alien locale, actually, if my crusty memory serves, right where I used to go to dinner at the vineyard in St. Helena while we watched UNLV basketball games and Buster Douglas beat up Mike Tyson... Oh boy, one sip takes me back to the cusp of 1990! This is Merlot with a Capital Napa - one of the finest examples from the USA, one of California's best at any price, the star of our Friday night show: "THE DUCK!" Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3 As always, thank you for making this the best party in Connecticut - week after week. With your continued support we are making changes and adding programs and events, and putting together a great season. We are listening. We hope to see you this week. Please join us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. AAA.