SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION 12.20.09

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

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






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

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

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

****

Wednesday December 30th:
Bubbly Night featuring all of our sparkling options for New Year's Eve - Cava, Prosecco, Vouvray and yes, even CHAMPAGNE.
As always the fun starts at 6:00 P.M.

*****

JUST IN:
Calera Jensen Pinot Noir 2006 ($65) is in the house! Josh Jensen's single vineyard Pinot Noir offering is here, impossible to find, the gold standard of velvety California Pinot Noirs, from the winemaster's flagship vineyard. We have six entire bottles - first come, first served.

AND - we still have a few bottles left of
New York Times - Rated #1 of '07s by Eric Asimov -
Domaine Montpertuis - First come, first served.

ALSO - Cloudy Bay - THE wine of New Zealand - rewrote the book on Sauvignon Blanc around the world - Impossible to get, impossible to forget.
But we called in a few "markers" and you can get as much as you like from us for the holidays.

*****
BOURBON
Makes An Excellent Gift

Small Batch Bourbon -
As the name suggests, these ultra-premium, small batch bourbons are made in limited quantities. Aged from six to nine years in new, charred American white oak barrels, each is characteristic of pre-Prohibition whiskey, with strong, rich flavors and aromas. A small batch bourbon is a complex balance of taste and flavor.

This is the #1 Rated Bourbon Whiskey in the World
Rated 99 out of 100 by the World's Spirits Championships

"Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve' is aged an unheard of 20 years, and bottled at 90.4 proof.
This whiskey is wonderfully smooth and rich.
No other bourbon today can stand 20 years of aging, but this bourbon does it with style. My grandfather, 'Pappy Van Winkle' was a true character. This bourbon, like 'Pappy', is full of the character that makes it a very special whiskey. It, too, has been put in a class of a fine after dinner cognac." - Julian III and Preston Van Winkle

A bottle of fine bourbon and carefully selected cigars is the ultimate gift for the connoisseur in your life. We can even arrange for a private tasting and cigars in our beautiful lounge - think about it.

*****

Please Join Us
WEDNESDAY December 23 - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge

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

Wednesday December 30th:
Bubbly Night featuring all of our sparkling options for New Year's Eve - Cava, Prosecco, Vouvray and yes, even CHAMPAGNE!

Please join us. Its fun informal and a great way to start your weekend.



Santa Knows Where To Get A Good Cigar

We have The perfect stocking stuffer for the cigar lover in your life.

We have a beautiful selection of gift packs from the finest cigar makers in the world.

They are priced right for the holidays and ready to go.




Hard to Find
Perdomo Reserve
Gift Boxs with free Cigar Cutter - start at $45.00

And a great selection of fine cigars, humidors, accessories and gift sets.

And we also have the finest smoking lounge on the planet. Authentic 1900's ambiance - stop by and take a look.




Cigar Society Lounge
is open everyday.

70 State Street New London
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

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

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

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

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

We have a lot of things planned for New Year - Special guests, dinners, live performances & more - so please stayed tuned.

AAA.

Wine-Flu? We Have The Cure

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

Hey - we still have a few bottles left of this
New York Times - Rated #1 of '07s by Eric Asimov -
Domaine Montpertuis - First come, first served.

ALSO - Cloudy Bay - THE wine of New Zealand - rewrote the book on Sauvignon Blanc around the world - Impossible to get, impossible to forget.
But we called in a few "markers" and you can get as much as you like from us for the holidays.

*****

The Tasting This Week:
Portugal Part Deux!
With the help of our host Lisa Sansevarino from Iberia Wines we've come to learn that Portugal makes a lot more wine than Port. Grapes we may never have heard of (but have experienced elsewhere) from some of the most ancient vineyards in the world.

These wines are detailed, rich and all represent outstanding value - totally under the radar - what fun!
And they are a remarkable value - don't miss them.
More details below.

*****

The holiday season is the perfect time for rum. Rum is mostly famous for being the active ingredient in popular cocktails, like the Cuba Libré, the Mojito and the Mai-Tai.

What is less well-known, however, is that, like single malt scotch, tequila and a host of other spirits, many of the best rums are so refined that they don't need mixers to taste great.

Rum makes a great holiday gift:
It's an essential in any respectably stocked bar, and it's something special the recipient can share with friends (lucky you) the whole year.

Here are some of our current favorites:

Cruzan Single Barrel - A real stand-out, and one of my favorites. This rum is big and creamy in the front of the mouth, but surprises with a very long finish accented with hints of earth and spice.

Old Monk is one of our top selling rums. A velvety smooth dark rum with a hint of vanilla. Honored the world over, Old Monk had been awarded gold medals at Monde World Selections since 1982. With the first drop of Old Monk Rum, the sheer aroma of distilled cane sugar grown in lush green fields of India, stirs up the age old legend. Old Monk Rum is a form of the legendary 'Som-ras' of India's centuries old scriptures - The Drink of Gods and Lords of India.

El Dorado - This rum is dark and amber-colored, with an intriguing smoky sweetness on the nose. The flavor is all fruitcake and treacle in the front of the mouth, but shows an unusual dry finish.

English Harbor - Five Year Old - It's pale color-almost like dry sherry-is mirrored in the flavor; this is the most delicate and refined of rums, with an almost feminine character. The longer it sat in the glass, the more elegant and polished it became.

Neisson Reserve - One of the few rums made from the juice of sugar cane-as opposed to molasses-which gives it a more polished, refined character. It's full and rich in the mouth, with subtle hints of vanilla, dried fruits and exotic spices, and a long, lingering and sweet finish.

Pyrat - A rich blend of 15-year-old rums from various parts of the Caribbean, it is packed with ripe fruit flavors-apricots, banana and fresh oranges-all held together by pronounced vanilla and honey.

Barbancourt 15 year Reserve - Round, rich and creamy, like old-fashioned plum pudding with lots of heavy cream. Voluptuous and sensual, but with a spicy kick in the long finish.

We have a great selection of rum - stop in and have a look.

C I T Y N E W S
NEW LONDON

Santa Knows Where To Get A Good Cigar

We have The perfect stocking stuffer for the cigar lover in your life.

We have a beautiful selection of gift packs from the finest cigar makers in the world.

They are priced right for the holidays and ready to go.




Hard to Find
Perdomo Reserve
Gift Boxs with free Cigar Cutter - start at $45.00

And a great selection of fine cigars, humidors, accessories and gift sets.

And we also have the finest smoking lounge on the planet. Authentic 1900's ambiance - stop by and take a look.

Cigar Society Lounge
is open everyday.

70 State Street New London
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Please Join Us
Friday December 18 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Caves da Cepa Vinho Verde $8

Turns out our old omnipresent Vinho Verde was like seeing Coca-Cola for sale on the shelf - it made our Portuguese experts wince and turn away like Dracula from the sun!

No problem - it has been replaced with a MUCH higher quality wine - for only a dollar more. Light and lovely - Caves da Cepa shows beautiful light apricot fruit with the fizzy tingle that we all expect from our green wines. Perfect with Atlantic cod and shellfish.

Penedo da Moura Vinho Tinto $8

This little wine from the Estremadura region has a rich aroma and tart fruit flavors. With hints of dry figs, oak and spices this wine is excellent with grilled meats, but light and elegant with relatively low alcohol. One of our favorite bargain sleepers!

Monte das Servas Escolha $14

Aragonez (40%), Alicante Bouschet (25%), Trincadeira (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) give this wine a deep, concentrated color with complex aromas. Elegant and dense, showing good tannic structure with cinnamon and plum notes. Full-bodied with a long lingering finish.

Monte das Aservas Colheita Seleccionada$ $20

A blend of Aragonez (20%), Touriga Nacional (40%) Alicante Bouschet (20%), Trincadeira (20%) - this wine sees more oak than its little brother, and has a full fruity flavor with an endless smoky finish. A stunning full-bodied red for the price!

****

Please join us. Its fun informal and a great way to start your weekend.

First - we want to thank everyone for the fantastic holiday wishes and support you have been giving to us during these past couple of weeks.

All of the merchants in downtown New London appreciate the "Shop Local" mantra that so many people have embraced - it makes a difference.

Next -
The rumors are true - we will begin accepting reservations for our new series of wine dinners in the coming weeks - we just want to get through the holidays before we announce the menus and the special guests.

We have a lot of things planned for New Year - Special guests, dinners, live performances & more - so please stayed tuned.

AAA.

Duckhorn Give-Away

Happy Holidays
We have something for everyone.
Greetings from New London,
A great line up this Friday includes (hold on to your hats) Duckhorn Merlot. This is not the first time that we have pulled the cork on this California star - but people always get giddy when we do. We hope you can join us.

A quick heads up:
New York Times - Rated #1 of '07s by Eric Asimov -
Domaine Montpertuis - WE GOT IT!
This will not last long.

****

Mary Posner read to a standing room only crowd last Sunday.

A woman that routinely hung out with the likes of Miles Davis & the "Beat" poets read selections from her new book.

The Book Is Available at
City News.


To learn more about our Poetry Series check out the information in the side bar under City News.

******

St. Bernard's Reunion Party

Another fabulous reception at City News.
Our space is a perfect setting for parties and receptions of all kinds. Authentic 1900's New London architecture makes a special backdrop. Call us to reserve your gathering - 860-443-6817

****

Remember - Scotch makes a great holiday gift: It's an essential in any respectably stocked bar, and it's something special the recipient can share with friends (lucky you) the whole year.
Here are five of our current favorites.

The Glenrothes Select Reserve
Nutty and caramely; this Scotch from Speyside brings to mind flavors like dulce de leche or pralines and cream.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old
The peatiest of the bunch, this Islay Scotch is like liquid smoked bacon. The perfect gift for the man who (thinks he) has everything.

Highland Park 18 Year Old
Very smoky with notes of citrus, vanilla, and sea salt caramels; from the Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of Scotland.

The Balvenie Madeira Cask
Citrus aromas, with a sweet finish. Very smooth, which is typical of a Scotch from Speyside.

Oban 18 Year Old
Apples and spice with a burnt-orange finish. From the Western Highlands, it's a great gateway to peatier Islay versions.

Please Join Us

Friday December 11 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

1 - Jean Manciat Macon Charnay 2007 $18

Jean Manciat has a small family estate (14 acres) in the Macon region of Burgundy - unlike the mass-produced coop wines that dominatea the American market, this wine is made using traditional artisanal forms of vine tending and hand-harvesting.

As with all selections from the wine importing sleuths at Louis/Dressner, this product is both organic and biodynamic. The wine itself is a revelation - bright fruit and clean acidity with flinty minerality, made unoaked in stainless steel vats.
A classic style made by a tiny independent producer at a very fair price!

2 - Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2005 $24

Another classic from central Spain (we've really been getting lucky with Rioja around here) This blend of Tempranillo with small parts Granache and Mazuelo is one of the roundest and smoothest of the style, a pleasure to drink with no hard edges, but retaining the unmistakably smoky character of old-school Rioja. Hand-picked old vine grapes are fermented in traditional style for maximum extraction and color, then aged in American oak for 22 months. A pretty and satisfying red for the colder weather.

3 - Flying Fish Merlot 2007 $15

This Washington State Merlot is simply unbeatable at this price point - spicy, smooth and detailed, sourced from carefully selected sites in the Columbia River Valley - a unique growing region with constant winds, long sunny days and cool nights. Grapes ripen slowly resulting in forward fruit, but with exceptional backbone and character - plum, cherry and cocoa with managed oaky vanilla tones. And in honor of the local wild salmon, Flying Fish donates a portion of the profits to theOcean Conservancy

4 - Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2006 $50

Just realized we are featuring two "animal wines" this week, The Fish and The Duck! Well, there was a point to this - for those of you who'd like to perceive the difference between a $15 and a $50 wine, Friday will be a splendid opportunity!

Duckhorn Merlot from St. Helena in the Northern Napa Valley is quite simply one of our favorite California wines of all time. Blended with trace amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, aged in French oak, this wine has rich texture, lush layers of ripe plum and bright raspberry underscored by notes of sandalwood, walnut and spice. A luxurious treat for the holidays.


*****

We love the holidays around here - There is extra excitement in the store. New people milling around. Unusual orders coming in from far off places, and lots of familiar things too. Annual orders and requests that have been in the same family for years and years. We are proud and grateful to be included in so many family traditions.

One example is a woman that calls from San Francisco every year to send a cemetery wreath to her grandmother's marker in Stonington. They placed their first order with us 26 years ago.

"It gives me piece of mind." she says - "I know you will do a great job and I don't have to worry."

Honestly - we promise never to take that kind of confidence for granted.

We have a lot of things planned for New Year - Special guests, dinners, live performances & more - so please stayed tuned, and remember to keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times.

We will do a great job, and you won't have to worry.
AAA.


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You Are Definitely on The List - Please Join Us

Happy Holidays
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Greetings from New London,

Its been a great busy week here - thanks for all of the excitement. Parties, reunions, poetry readings, and secret rendezvous.

Just a couple of very quick notes this week.

Remember all of the Cheese and Specialty Foods at
Brie & Bleu are available Seven Days A Week -
From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. right through the holidays.
The entire department is now open at Thames River Greenery.

The full assortment of cheeses, breads, imported nuts, charcuterie, and specialty foods are all on display.


We will even deliver them right to your front door with the centerpiece you have ordered for the holiday.


Please stop in and take a look at our new gourmet department.

Or call us with any questions that you might have.
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******


Friday December 4 2009
6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Crios Torrontes 2009 $15

Winemaker Susana Balbo has been a winemaking powerhouse in Argentina since the early 1980's - we're a fan of all of her "Crios" table wines, but this Torrontes may be the most compelling. Sourced from 30-year old Torrontes vines situated at 5,800 feet elevation in Cafayate, Argentina, the wine is unoaked and meant to be enjoyed young. A remarkable floral and fruity nose, with citrus similar to Sauvignon Blanc, yet weightier and more aromatic. Torrontes is truly it's own delicacy, and Balbo is widely considered to be the master of the varietal. Sublime paired with light cheeses, and stunning paired with crab or lobster!

2 - Domaine de la Solitude Cotes-du-Rhone 2007 $14

From the Lancon Family, situated near Chateneuf-du-Pape for five centuries, comes this elegant, affordable old-school Rhone. Syrah and Grenache, loads of plummy fruit and smoke, silky mouthfeel and a bright ruby color. A beautifully rounded full-bodied French red, this wine also will mature and integrate nicely over the next five years.

3 - Diemersdal Pinotage 2007 $14

Often affordable Pinotage tastes like it got a spoonful of barbeque sauce in each bottle - this is NOT one of those numbers! From the Durbanville Region of South Africa, this wine displays remarkable harmony and balance. With a nose of coffee and dark chocolate, the palate is full-flavoured and smoothly textured with dark fruit, Asian spice and roasted flavours. Yes, one can percieve it's heritage with that touch of smoke, but we've found it to be an extremely enjoyable table red if you'd like to try something different!

4 - Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2008 $18

This old vine Grenache comes to us from the Campo de Borja region in Northeastern Spain. The yields of these vines are extremely low (less than 2 tons per acre), resulting in a wine of serious concentration and structure. Purple lavender in color, lush and smoky with flavors of blackberry, strawberry and tones of leather and vanilla from the oak. This wine will age and mellow beautifully. It's always a favorite around here and represents a great value - we just got the new vintage in and have a stack of it!he 2007 offering is sourced from a thirty-five year old vineyard on the south side of Calistoga. A gorgeous dark ruby color is pleasing to the eye and the deep black cherry aroma paired with a long complex finish will thrill your other senses as well. This robust Merlot will continue to develop in the bottle for at least 5-8 years. Enjoy this with red pasta dishes, meats and your favorite cheeses.



The response to our new gourmet selections at The Greenery has been beyond our expectations.
Thank you.

And as always thanks for the suggestions and comments - we will use them to better serve you during this holiday season.

AAA.

Thanksgiving Tasting & News 2009

Happy Thanksgiving
We have solutions galore.
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Greetings from New London,
This week we have more wine than you can shake a stick at. TWO big tastings to satisfy all of your Thanksgiving needs. Details are below.

Next, we have to remind you that all of the Cheese and Specialty Foods at Brie & Bleu are available Seven Days A Week - From 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. - right through the holidays. The entire department is now open at Thames River Greenery.

We ask you: What holiday table is complete without the full assortment of cheeses, breads, imported nuts, charcuterie, and specialty foods that we are known for?


We will even deliver them right to your front door with the centerpiece you have ordered for the holiday.


Please stop in and take a look at our new gourmet department.

Or call us with any questions that you might have.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

******

Thanks for a great turn out last Friday for our book signing reception with Marci Alborghgetti in our wine cellar. Her new book The Christmas Glass is available at City News.

Read the article in the Day Paper HERE

*****

Fifth Annual
Jonathan Edwards Winery
W I N E T A S T I N G
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
STARTS AT 3 P.M.

The Fifth Annual Jonathan Edwards Winery Thanksgiving Tasting - this Wednesday starting at 3 p.m.

This Wednesday we are proud to present our 5th Annual Jonathan Edwards Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Taste-a-thon!

It's the day before Thanksgiving - did you get maple syrup for the yams? Shallots for the mushroom gravy? Foil pans for the extra stuffing?? No worries!! Our favorite Connecticut winemaker will set up shop in the cellar starting at 3PM, so there will be plenty of time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for these four lovely, local, Jonathan Edwards creations:

2008 Estate Connecticut Gewurztraminer
This wine was harvested in October, fermented at cool temperatures to enhance the bouquet and aged for 6 months in stainless steel to preserve its crisp characteristics. A crisp, dry finish follows fragrant aromas of grapefruit and lemon zest. Enjoy on its own or with spicy dishes such as Thai food or Sushi.

2008 Estate Connecticut Chardonnay

Enjoy the bright citrus bouquet of green apples and lemons, framed with smoky vanilla oak from large French barrels. This silky smooth, easy-drinking wine pairs perfectly with seafood and fresh cheeses or is excellent all by itself on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel

The Zinfandel is harvested from low yielding 50 year old head-pruned vines. Up-front, jammy blackberry/raspberry fruit is followed by a smooth round easy finish. Pasta dishes are a perfect match for this wine.

2007 Napa Valley Merlot

The 2007 offering is sourced from a thirty-five year old vineyard on the south side of Calistoga. A gorgeous dark ruby color is pleasing to the eye and the deep black cherry aroma paired with a long complex finish will thrill your other senses as well. This robust Merlot will continue to develop in the bottle for at least 5-8 years. Enjoy this with red pasta dishes, meats and your favorite cheeses.

The Thanksgiving Leftovers Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday November 27 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.
"THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS TASTING"
After all the feasting, anybody still up for another wine tasting? Of course you are - You Are Professionals!

We can't predict what will still be on the shelf Friday, but what's better than leftovers?

We will search out something wonderful, or just ask YOU, our friends and customers, to point out which wines you would love to sample!

Dave says: "Fun is guaranteed."

Get off the couch and come on down - get a little air, it will do you good.

******

P E T I T E F O U R S
Are A Specialty of
You Take The Cake

Don't wait to place your orders for the holidays from You Take The Cake.

Everything from Petite Fours to holiday cakes, Buche Noel's, and Cheesecakes, are just a call away.

Everything is baked from scratch - delivery to your front door is available - all you need to do is take credit for all the hard work.

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O R D E R E A R L Y

YOU TAKE THE CAKE

Buche de Noel


Holiday Petite Fours


German Chocolate

*****

We sincerely appreciate your comments and suggestions.

And of course it is your support that makes all of this possible - it looks like it will be a great holiday season for us - thank you.

The biggest achievement we made this week was relocating all of the cheese and specialty foods to our new gourmet department. We were still filling the cases when people came in to purchase cheese for Thanksgiving.

We know that making all of the items from Brie & Bleu available everyday was important to you. We will continue to use your suggestions as a guide to serve you better.

AAA.