Greetings from all of us at
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - New London's Premier Cheese Market - 860-437-2474
We hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend.
It was a great week here in New London -
Thanks to everyone that attended the Cellar Club tasting for Wines of The Great North West -
I think personally that the "K Syrah" from K Vintners is probably the best syrah I have ever tasted.
We are the only place that one can find these wines in our area - period.
It was like pulling teeth to get the gentleman from the importer in Norwalk to visit us - but once he saw what we are doing -
he made sure that we would have these amazing wines from Oregon.
take a look for yourself: www.kvintners.com
On Friday night Mark Giordano from Bonny Doon Vineyards presided over our regular tasting.
Mark was a big hit with everyone - including the ladies - they would not leave this poor guy alone.
The wines were fantastic - Old Telegram, Heart of Darkness, Pacific Rim Riesling, and Big House Red are all in stock.
If you do not know about this company take a minute and look at the website: www.bonnydoonvineyard.com
The scene on Friday was beautiful - people were schmoozing with Mark in the Cellar - the wine was flowing -
The deck at Brie & Bleu was full - People were talking and laughing and sharing their wine with the table next to them -
The harbor was buzzing - ferries arriving and departing, sailboats crisscrossing to the left and to the right.
The sunset was perfect. Where else can you have so much fun??? Thank you all for making it work.
Before I get to the wine for this Friday I want to quickly mention a few upcoming items.
remember our calendar changes often - take a peek at: www.thamesriver.com/site_2/wine/calendar.html
Our French wine dinner on June 15, is SOLD OUT.
We have received many, many calls and we are trying to figure out a way to accommodate additional people.
It may be an additional seating or perhaps a second night the same week - we will keep you posted.
On Saturday June 4th - during the day - starting at 12:00 noon - NO CHARGE
Brie & Bleu will be hosting a cheese tasting with Beltane Farms from Lebanon Connecticut.
Beltane is famous for their artesian goat cheese - BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE -
Not only will you be able to try the cheese that is nearly impossible to find - they are bringing their GOATS with them!
Seriously - this is a chance for your kids to meet their "kyds".
Harbor school is sponsoring a raffle to name one of the goats and who knows what will happen after that.
This is a big chance for YOU to name that EWE. ( I just could not resist )
We will have an all day tasting at the wine store for the adults - truly something for everyone.
Tuesday June 7 - 6pm - the return of: "Wine Fever - A Sinner's Guide to Wine Appreciation".
There are many - many - maybe too many - "wine 101" classes available for you to choose from.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry offers a wine 101 class - we have a different approach.
We will help you with the basics too - Look, Smell, Taste, etc.
But we will send you out into the world with enough knowledge to enjoy asking for that wine list in a restaurant.
We will show you how to narrow your choices and make an educated selection on the right wine - then it's up to you to embellish -
I've always been fond of :
"This is an amusing little number I discovered on the Left Bank". - OR - "The Loire Valley? - Don't EVEN get me started on the Loire Valley".
The crowd will be EATING OUT OF YOUR HAND!
This is a regular series - space is limited - please call for more information. 860-443-9463
While I am on the subject - and this is in direct response to your requests -
We are starting our "blind tasting" series in June.
We call it: WHAT'S MY WINE?
In the tradition of all the great "Goodson & Todson" game shows of the past we are challenging all of our experts and beginners alike to join us for a one hour summer series that will surprise & delight you. I can't tell you how many experts get it WRONG when the label on a bottle of wine is covered.
Please call now to sign up - Lots of great wine & prizes - It's fun, It's a great way to meet new people, and of course there will be some wonderful "parting gifts" for the losers.
OK - THIS FRIDAY - June 3 2005 - 6-9 p.m. - NO CHARGE
Summer Wines Are "in".
1 - Germany Bürgerspital Rivaner - $12
Wines for every day and occasion - light, elegant wines of invigorating freshness with a fine fruity touch, pleasant acidity and marked character.
With a wine-growing area of 110 hectares, Bürgerspital wine-growing estate, at home in a beautiful courtyard right in the middle of Würzburg, is one of the largest wine-growing estates in Germany and one of the most important.
2 - Germany Franken Kabinett Riesling - $22
An obvious feature of most Franken wines is the oddly shaped bottle, the so-called Bocksbeutel, in which they are filled. To most German wine drinkers, this packaging is the synonym for a powerful, earthy, even rustic and completely dry white wine.
3 - Connecticut Chamard Estate Chardonnay - $13
The Estate Reserve Chardonnay is a rich, full bodied wine with complex aromas of ripe fruit and layers of spicy fruit and toasty oak flavors. This classic Chardonnay is beautifully balanced with a rich, creamy texture and a long, smooth finish.
4 - The fourth wine was still undecided at "Press Time". So I will simply say it's a red - and hope to see you all there.
Thanks for your interest and support - we all appreciate it.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S
Monday, May 30, 2005
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
One Year Anniversary
Greetings from all of us at Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
A sincere note of thanks to all of our customers and friends that have supported us and our programs
over the past year - can you believe it? - It has been a year this week.
Your enthusiasm and support has allowed us to try things and attract special guests that simply do not happen at other stores. I can honestly tell you that the best is yet to come - keep an eye on the website and right here in our weekly newsletter for upcoming guests and events.
We are running a bit late this week - so I will keep it short -
WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN -
Congratulations to all of the graduates at Connecticut College.
and thanks for introducing so many of your friends and family to all three of our stores.
Spring Food Stroll was a tremendous success - all of the hard work that Penny Parsekian
and everyone at NL Main Street put into the project paid off.
We had hundreds of people visit our stores - great job. Food - music - people - lots of fun.
Friday's visit from Fiddleheads Natural and Organic cooperative was great -
Thanks to everyone for giving them such a warm welcome - they felt right at home.
Organic wines, cheese, and food were featured in our stores and the response was terrific.
WINE TASTING -
Friday May 27th - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
This Friday we are featuring the wines of Bonny Doon - you need to take a look at their website -
This company has been turning the wine business on its head for 20 years.
VIVE LE SCREW-CAP! : http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/doontoons/view/6
These are the wines we are pouring on Friday night and a few words by Randall Graham
The company founder -
1 - Bonny Doon 2002 Madiran Heart of Darkness - $20
"There is something utterly delicious about being lucky and good, or at any
rate, working with individuals upon whom such fortune has been granted. ’02
was something of a crap shoot throughout Europa. In Madiran, it was very
successful, though the harvest chez Bortolussi concluded roughly two hours
before the onset of a solid month of rain. Not all growers completed their
harvest before the tempests.
There is a school of thought which postulates that the very best wines are
made by the great producers in what are according to conventional wisdom,
very good—but not great—years, like 2004. By this logic, is not maximum
ripeness which is synonymous with greatness, but balance and completeness.
Frequently, however, wines from the so-called ostensibly “great” years are
merely monolithic caricatures of great wine—distended and lacking definition,
attempting to make up with mere scale what they lack in complexity and detail". RG
2 - Bonnt Doon - Pacific Rim Riesling-$11
"We are fortunate to be unencumbered by an inflexible interpretation of the Pacific Rim, happily willing to encounter it in the most landlocked and/or Atlantic of neighborhoods. Thus, whereas the previous four or five iterations of Pac Rim have been rendered with increasing finesse and refinement, the 2003 is a richer and more tropical number resembling nothing so much as a very sappy Austrian riesling. The 2003 vintage in Germany was the most torrid in memory, so we do not quite see the achingly delicate tilleul notes that bring tears to the eyes of the most steel-spined Herr Doktor. Despite lacking the bristling, high-voltage crackle of the 2002, this wine nonetheless throbs with flavor and promise. Where the 2002 is brisk and the slightest bit twee, the 2003 is rich and a tad carnal. If the 2002 is white flower, the 2003 is ripe, juicy white peach. Happily we are still speaking of riesling and the 2003 is still tart enough not to be completely tarted up. It is a very stylish wine that would make the most pacifist-as it were-resident of the Pacific Rim nostalgic for the reign of the Hapsburgs".RG
3 - Bonny Doon - 2001 Old Telegram - $35
"This wine is 100 percent old-vine [100-plus years old which fits the definition of “old” in most books] mourvèdre from the singular sandscape of Oakley, CA in Contra Costa County. We have made OT roughly every other year since 1986 when the Bonny ship Le Cigare Volant® did not commandeer the entire ration of mourvèdre. We think this is perhaps the paradigmatic Bonny Doon wine – it is not hellaciously tannic, jet black, or syrupy in the Antipodean paradigm. It is very rich, fragrant, earthy, fruitful [blackberries, stewed plums], persistent, immensely complex and perfectly balanced. There is some debate about what allows a wine to age and improve with extended, quiet repose in someone’s cellar or mudroom closet. Some would suggest it is high acidity, or low pH or robust tannin levels or pure concentration. We tend to think it is balance or harmony and a good dose of minerality. It is not clear from whence the minerality derives in grapes grown in pure sand, but there you have it. Perhaps the answer to the perennial poser one considers while meditating on this appellation – What’s in the water? – can reveal more about the potential for vinous immortality than the sui generis nature of its great grape growers. We would suspect that this wine, if stored properly will continue to improve for 10 to 15 years".RG
4 - 2004 Vin Gris de Cigar - $12
"When we last spoke, spice and perfume merchants were haggling over lavender oil, rose petals and sandalwood while sipping
dry rosé at a sidewalk café in Grasse, deep in the heart of Provence. And why would they not sip rosé, a potation which
so strongly evokes the invigorating fragrance of wild aromatic herbs and botanicals common to the south of France?
The 2004 Vin Gris is not the pudgy, alcoholic endomorph one might expect from such a hot, early year. In fact, the acid is a bit more
pronounced compared to the previous vintage, perhaps because the wine is once again bone dry, unlike the ever so confected 2003. This
2004 is indeed one of the more classically styled editions of Vin Gris to date. All the signifiers we have come to associate with classic
Provençal style rosé are there—a definite suggestion of aromatic herbs, citrus rind, rosehips and hibiscus along with a very pleasing,
mild astringency on the back palate. This makes for a delicious apéritif, and allows the wine to pair much more elegantly with a wide
variety of foods. Here one might imagine poached salmon, assorted birds or, if one fancies oneself a true Provençal, a bowl of
bouillabaisse or a generous portion of ratatouille". RG
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S
A sincere note of thanks to all of our customers and friends that have supported us and our programs
over the past year - can you believe it? - It has been a year this week.
Your enthusiasm and support has allowed us to try things and attract special guests that simply do not happen at other stores. I can honestly tell you that the best is yet to come - keep an eye on the website and right here in our weekly newsletter for upcoming guests and events.
We are running a bit late this week - so I will keep it short -
WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN -
Congratulations to all of the graduates at Connecticut College.
and thanks for introducing so many of your friends and family to all three of our stores.
Spring Food Stroll was a tremendous success - all of the hard work that Penny Parsekian
and everyone at NL Main Street put into the project paid off.
We had hundreds of people visit our stores - great job. Food - music - people - lots of fun.
Friday's visit from Fiddleheads Natural and Organic cooperative was great -
Thanks to everyone for giving them such a warm welcome - they felt right at home.
Organic wines, cheese, and food were featured in our stores and the response was terrific.
WINE TASTING -
Friday May 27th - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
This Friday we are featuring the wines of Bonny Doon - you need to take a look at their website -
This company has been turning the wine business on its head for 20 years.
VIVE LE SCREW-CAP! : http://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/doontoons/view/6
These are the wines we are pouring on Friday night and a few words by Randall Graham
The company founder -
1 - Bonny Doon 2002 Madiran Heart of Darkness - $20
"There is something utterly delicious about being lucky and good, or at any
rate, working with individuals upon whom such fortune has been granted. ’02
was something of a crap shoot throughout Europa. In Madiran, it was very
successful, though the harvest chez Bortolussi concluded roughly two hours
before the onset of a solid month of rain. Not all growers completed their
harvest before the tempests.
There is a school of thought which postulates that the very best wines are
made by the great producers in what are according to conventional wisdom,
very good—but not great—years, like 2004. By this logic, is not maximum
ripeness which is synonymous with greatness, but balance and completeness.
Frequently, however, wines from the so-called ostensibly “great” years are
merely monolithic caricatures of great wine—distended and lacking definition,
attempting to make up with mere scale what they lack in complexity and detail". RG
2 - Bonnt Doon - Pacific Rim Riesling-$11
"We are fortunate to be unencumbered by an inflexible interpretation of the Pacific Rim, happily willing to encounter it in the most landlocked and/or Atlantic of neighborhoods. Thus, whereas the previous four or five iterations of Pac Rim have been rendered with increasing finesse and refinement, the 2003 is a richer and more tropical number resembling nothing so much as a very sappy Austrian riesling. The 2003 vintage in Germany was the most torrid in memory, so we do not quite see the achingly delicate tilleul notes that bring tears to the eyes of the most steel-spined Herr Doktor. Despite lacking the bristling, high-voltage crackle of the 2002, this wine nonetheless throbs with flavor and promise. Where the 2002 is brisk and the slightest bit twee, the 2003 is rich and a tad carnal. If the 2002 is white flower, the 2003 is ripe, juicy white peach. Happily we are still speaking of riesling and the 2003 is still tart enough not to be completely tarted up. It is a very stylish wine that would make the most pacifist-as it were-resident of the Pacific Rim nostalgic for the reign of the Hapsburgs".RG
3 - Bonny Doon - 2001 Old Telegram - $35
"This wine is 100 percent old-vine [100-plus years old which fits the definition of “old” in most books] mourvèdre from the singular sandscape of Oakley, CA in Contra Costa County. We have made OT roughly every other year since 1986 when the Bonny ship Le Cigare Volant® did not commandeer the entire ration of mourvèdre. We think this is perhaps the paradigmatic Bonny Doon wine – it is not hellaciously tannic, jet black, or syrupy in the Antipodean paradigm. It is very rich, fragrant, earthy, fruitful [blackberries, stewed plums], persistent, immensely complex and perfectly balanced. There is some debate about what allows a wine to age and improve with extended, quiet repose in someone’s cellar or mudroom closet. Some would suggest it is high acidity, or low pH or robust tannin levels or pure concentration. We tend to think it is balance or harmony and a good dose of minerality. It is not clear from whence the minerality derives in grapes grown in pure sand, but there you have it. Perhaps the answer to the perennial poser one considers while meditating on this appellation – What’s in the water? – can reveal more about the potential for vinous immortality than the sui generis nature of its great grape growers. We would suspect that this wine, if stored properly will continue to improve for 10 to 15 years".RG
4 - 2004 Vin Gris de Cigar - $12
"When we last spoke, spice and perfume merchants were haggling over lavender oil, rose petals and sandalwood while sipping
dry rosé at a sidewalk café in Grasse, deep in the heart of Provence. And why would they not sip rosé, a potation which
so strongly evokes the invigorating fragrance of wild aromatic herbs and botanicals common to the south of France?
The 2004 Vin Gris is not the pudgy, alcoholic endomorph one might expect from such a hot, early year. In fact, the acid is a bit more
pronounced compared to the previous vintage, perhaps because the wine is once again bone dry, unlike the ever so confected 2003. This
2004 is indeed one of the more classically styled editions of Vin Gris to date. All the signifiers we have come to associate with classic
Provençal style rosé are there—a definite suggestion of aromatic herbs, citrus rind, rosehips and hibiscus along with a very pleasing,
mild astringency on the back palate. This makes for a delicious apéritif, and allows the wine to pair much more elegantly with a wide
variety of foods. Here one might imagine poached salmon, assorted birds or, if one fancies oneself a true Provençal, a bowl of
bouillabaisse or a generous portion of ratatouille". RG
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
French Food & Wine / Scotch & Cigars
Wednesday June 15 - 6p.m.
French Wine Dinner - @ Brie & Bleu
Very Limited Seating - 860-443-9463
www.thamesriver.com

Wednesday June 22
Single Malt Scotch & Cigars

Featuring:
1 - Lagavulan 16 year old Islay - $60
A 16 year old distinctive and powerful Islay malt. It is deeply smoky and peaty with a velvety, complex finish.
In the twelfth century, Islay became the domain of the Lords of the Isles and saw the foundation of the clan Macdonald.
The clan seat, Dunyvaig Castle, stands sentinel over Lagavulin Bay and it was from here in 1314
that over 1.000 Islay warriors embarked to fight for Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.
2 - Cragganmore 12 year old Spayside - $42
A 12 year old elegant, sophisticated Speyside with the most complex aroma of any malt.
Astonishingly fragrant with sweetish notes and a smoky maltiness on the finis.
Mr John Smith founded Cragganmore distillery in 1869 in the mountain district, high on the River Spey where it meets the Avon and the Livet.
The distillery never closed for even a fortnight in any year up until the summer of 1901, when reconstruction began.
3 - Dalmore Cigar Malt Highland - $36
The strong malty flavours tantalise the tongue - covering it with a cloak of classic flavours which linger long in the mouth.
This outstanding taste is a perfect accompaniment with the finest of tobacco - both compliment each other.
Davidoff Grand Cru Series Cigars - Limited Seating - please call
French Wine Dinner - @ Brie & Bleu
Very Limited Seating - 860-443-9463
www.thamesriver.com

Wednesday June 22
Single Malt Scotch & Cigars

Featuring:
1 - Lagavulan 16 year old Islay - $60
A 16 year old distinctive and powerful Islay malt. It is deeply smoky and peaty with a velvety, complex finish.
In the twelfth century, Islay became the domain of the Lords of the Isles and saw the foundation of the clan Macdonald.
The clan seat, Dunyvaig Castle, stands sentinel over Lagavulin Bay and it was from here in 1314
that over 1.000 Islay warriors embarked to fight for Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.
2 - Cragganmore 12 year old Spayside - $42
A 12 year old elegant, sophisticated Speyside with the most complex aroma of any malt.
Astonishingly fragrant with sweetish notes and a smoky maltiness on the finis.
Mr John Smith founded Cragganmore distillery in 1869 in the mountain district, high on the River Spey where it meets the Avon and the Livet.
The distillery never closed for even a fortnight in any year up until the summer of 1901, when reconstruction began.
3 - Dalmore Cigar Malt Highland - $36
The strong malty flavours tantalise the tongue - covering it with a cloak of classic flavours which linger long in the mouth.
This outstanding taste is a perfect accompaniment with the finest of tobacco - both compliment each other.
Davidoff Grand Cru Series Cigars - Limited Seating - please call
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Natural & Organic / Wine, Beer, Cheese - and more
Last Thursday we hosted a SOLD OUT Spanish wine dinner at Brie & Bleu -
It was FABULOUS.
Not because the food was perfect - because it was. Each and every course.
Credit goes to Anne Haviland and Ryan Connolly at Brie & Bleu - BRAVO.
And not because the wine was perfect - because it was. Each and every drop.
From the nine dollar sparkling Cava served with the appetizers to the $175 per bottle "Aro Muga" served with the main dishes.
Credit goes to Jim Morrison and our distributors at TRW&S -- BRAVO.
No , it was FABULOUS because of the people.
A wonderful mix of interesting souls that are like minded about food and wine and LIFE.
BRAVO.
Our next dinner will spotlight French food & wine.
Check the calendar of events for details or call the store - 860-443-9463 - seating is limited.
http://www.thamesriver.com/site_2/wine/calendar.html
On Wednesday 5/18/05 -SPRING FOOD STROLL - 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Downtown New London will be alive with the Spring Food Stroll: www.newlondonmainstreet.org
An enchanted evening of delectable dishes sultry jazz and lively swing.
Brie & Bleu will be jumping - and we have some surprises - if you are downtown - please stop by.
Our deck is open and we will have a live performance from singer/songwriter Joy Dickson.
Virtually every restaurant and bar will be featuring something tasty - it will be lots of fun and a great way to support NL.
Now, can you guess what question we get over and over again??
It's on the short list - right after - "Can I put this on my tab"?
The question is: "Do you have any organic wine"?
Trust me - it happens a lot.
And it's not just from folks wearing Birkenstock sandals over those big squishy wool socks either......not that there's anything wrong with that.
No, the question comes from all kinds of people - even the ones just like you and me.
In many stores the response would go something like this:
"Sure, come right this way....we keep them in a special place".
Then the customer is led down a long hallway to a door marked "Egress".
"Go right through here - someone will be right with you".
Before the customer realizes what's happening they are standing alone in a dark, wet alley - and it's just too late.
Their socks are damp and their "mellow" has been ruined.
We - OF COURSE - are taking a different approach.
On Friday May 20th - from 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
We are hosting an event that will answer every question you may have had about Natural & Organic ANYTHING.
All natural and organic foods, wines and cheese means better, higher quality, super fresh goods - just like the great markets of Europe.
Please join us and see what it's all about.
We have invited the leaders of "Fiddleheads" the Natural Foods cooperative: - www.fiddleheadsfood.coop
to join us and share all of their information.
In the wine shop - We are featuring Organic Wines & Beer.
Next door at Brie & Bleu we will spotlight Natural & Organic Foods and Cheeses.
There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and find out about the market Fiddleheads is planing to build.
I am not going to list all of the wines, beers, cheese and foods that will be featured on Friday - the list is too long.
But trust us to show you the best of what is available. You will not be disappointed.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S
It was FABULOUS.
Not because the food was perfect - because it was. Each and every course.
Credit goes to Anne Haviland and Ryan Connolly at Brie & Bleu - BRAVO.
And not because the wine was perfect - because it was. Each and every drop.
From the nine dollar sparkling Cava served with the appetizers to the $175 per bottle "Aro Muga" served with the main dishes.
Credit goes to Jim Morrison and our distributors at TRW&S -- BRAVO.
No , it was FABULOUS because of the people.
A wonderful mix of interesting souls that are like minded about food and wine and LIFE.
BRAVO.
Our next dinner will spotlight French food & wine.
Check the calendar of events for details or call the store - 860-443-9463 - seating is limited.
http://www.thamesriver.com/site_2/wine/calendar.html
On Wednesday 5/18/05 -SPRING FOOD STROLL - 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Downtown New London will be alive with the Spring Food Stroll: www.newlondonmainstreet.org
An enchanted evening of delectable dishes sultry jazz and lively swing.
Brie & Bleu will be jumping - and we have some surprises - if you are downtown - please stop by.
Our deck is open and we will have a live performance from singer/songwriter Joy Dickson.
Virtually every restaurant and bar will be featuring something tasty - it will be lots of fun and a great way to support NL.
Now, can you guess what question we get over and over again??
It's on the short list - right after - "Can I put this on my tab"?
The question is: "Do you have any organic wine"?
Trust me - it happens a lot.
And it's not just from folks wearing Birkenstock sandals over those big squishy wool socks either......not that there's anything wrong with that.
No, the question comes from all kinds of people - even the ones just like you and me.
In many stores the response would go something like this:
"Sure, come right this way....we keep them in a special place".
Then the customer is led down a long hallway to a door marked "Egress".
"Go right through here - someone will be right with you".
Before the customer realizes what's happening they are standing alone in a dark, wet alley - and it's just too late.
Their socks are damp and their "mellow" has been ruined.
We - OF COURSE - are taking a different approach.
On Friday May 20th - from 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
We are hosting an event that will answer every question you may have had about Natural & Organic ANYTHING.
All natural and organic foods, wines and cheese means better, higher quality, super fresh goods - just like the great markets of Europe.
Please join us and see what it's all about.
We have invited the leaders of "Fiddleheads" the Natural Foods cooperative: - www.fiddleheadsfood.coop
to join us and share all of their information.
In the wine shop - We are featuring Organic Wines & Beer.
Next door at Brie & Bleu we will spotlight Natural & Organic Foods and Cheeses.
There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and find out about the market Fiddleheads is planing to build.
I am not going to list all of the wines, beers, cheese and foods that will be featured on Friday - the list is too long.
But trust us to show you the best of what is available. You will not be disappointed.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S
Monday, May 09, 2005
Wine Tasting - 5/13/05 - Please Join Us
Greetings from all of us in New London -
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
84 Bank Street - New London
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - New London's premier cheese market - 860-437-2474
www.thamesriver.com
It's a busy week here in town and we have a special line up for Friday night.
First I want to take a moment to say Congratulations to the people behind the Crocker House development.
They had their Open House on Saturday and they unveiled their labor of love - a beautiful project.
Standing there at 9 o'clock in front of the columns of the entrance I felt as though we were in SoHo.
It is this type of commitment that is changing NL. Bravo.
Also I hope some of you saw the article in USA Today that included NL - "Top Ten Places for Big City Art - With a Small Town Feel". The outside world is finding out what we already knew - we have a special place here.
One of the activities you should try to make time for is the Eigth Annual Fine Wine & Food Festival hosted by the Garde Theater.
It's fun and it is a great way to support the Garde Arts Center. General Admission is: $35 in advance or $40. at the door -Here is the web link for details: http://gardearts.org/04-05_shows/fwff.html
Now just to keep it interesting we thought that you might like to try something special - After you visit the Garde -
take a stroll down the boulevard - the weather will be warm and the first real hints of summer will be in the air.
We are pulling out the stops - When you get to our store here's what you will find.
FRIDAY MAY 13th - 6-9 p.m. - NO CHARGE
1 - Stags Leap Cask 23 - 2001 - $180. (rated 96 points)
Pouring this wine is like letting a genie out of the bottle: it gets bigger and bigger as the wine’s depth and breadth gradually reveal themselves. In the nose, you’ll notice berries, rosemary, and cardamom, while the palate fills with bright and creamy flavors of black plum, black olive, truffle, even a hint of chocolate-covered cherry. The smooth, very approachable entry reveals a luscious core of fruit down the center, while additional flavors fan out as the wine evolves in the mouth. The very long finish resonates like beautiful music—this wine just doesn’t stop! The 2001 CASK 23 promises to age exceedingly well, but enjoy it now with well-aged prime rib, bacon-wrapped foul, or a selection of artisan cheeses (rich Stilton, Gorgonzola, Morbier) accompanied by a spoonful of fig compote. Yeah baby, yeah....( all available at Brie & Bleu).
This is the same wine that won the gold medal in the famed blind Paris Tasting of 1976.
It blew the famous French wines right out of the water and put California wines on the map.
Learn all about it at: www.cask23.com/1976tasting.htm
2 - Domain Oliver Leflaive 2002 : Puligny-Montrachet $45
Take a look at the folks responsible for making the 2002 Puligny-Montrachet: www.leflaive.fr/english/millesimes/2002.htm
Robert Parker loves Leflaive and we think you will too.
It is an amazing bottle of white wine that should be on everyone's table this summer - but that is in a perfect world - where wine is free for the asking.
This is the perfect opportunity to try it - free for the asking.
This floral, mineral-scented wine exhibits excellent richness, breadth, and mouth-feel.
Its satiny-textured, light to medium-bodied character is well-focused, with candied citrus and mineral flavors -
Heavenly aromas of honeyed minerals and spiced oak are found in the nose of the 2002 Montrachet. This exceptional wine is light to medium-bodied, complex, deep, and concentrated. Copious quantities of fresh spiced apples, ginger, toast, buttered minerals, and anise can be found throughout its intricate personality as well as in its immensely impressive, suave finish.
3 - Lanson 1988 Noble Cuvée Brut Vintage Champagne - $101
The 1988 Vintage is an athlete able to charm the senses. Blended with rigorously selected grapes only from the top 100% rated Grands Crus vineyards, the Noble Cuvée is the ultimate expression of the Lanson style. The Noble Cuvée Brut Vintage is an incomparable accompaniment for all meals, particularly white meat and fish dishes. This Champagne will still remain fresh, delicious and magnificent over many years. A beautiful pale yellow color, brightened by fine bubbles. Aromas of citrus and white flowers ending on notes of candied mandarin. Notes of honey dominate this full-bodied and complex wine. The fresh finish lengthens and strengthens the elegance of this champagne. This is the kind of Champagne that movie stars drink when they do not need to impress people with a fancy label. It is an "insiders" choice - World famous - Alain Ducasse, the first French six stars chef, recommends in his restaurants the Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée. Please try it and see what they are talking about - remember, it's free - for the asking.
Please join us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your week end.
Please call us anytime with your questions, comments and ideas. We love to hear from you.
Thanks for your support.
TRW&S
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
84 Bank Street - New London
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - New London's premier cheese market - 860-437-2474
www.thamesriver.com
It's a busy week here in town and we have a special line up for Friday night.
First I want to take a moment to say Congratulations to the people behind the Crocker House development.
They had their Open House on Saturday and they unveiled their labor of love - a beautiful project.
Standing there at 9 o'clock in front of the columns of the entrance I felt as though we were in SoHo.
It is this type of commitment that is changing NL. Bravo.
Also I hope some of you saw the article in USA Today that included NL - "Top Ten Places for Big City Art - With a Small Town Feel". The outside world is finding out what we already knew - we have a special place here.
One of the activities you should try to make time for is the Eigth Annual Fine Wine & Food Festival hosted by the Garde Theater.
It's fun and it is a great way to support the Garde Arts Center. General Admission is: $35 in advance or $40. at the door -Here is the web link for details: http://gardearts.org/04-05_shows/fwff.html
Now just to keep it interesting we thought that you might like to try something special - After you visit the Garde -
take a stroll down the boulevard - the weather will be warm and the first real hints of summer will be in the air.
We are pulling out the stops - When you get to our store here's what you will find.
FRIDAY MAY 13th - 6-9 p.m. - NO CHARGE
1 - Stags Leap Cask 23 - 2001 - $180. (rated 96 points)
Pouring this wine is like letting a genie out of the bottle: it gets bigger and bigger as the wine’s depth and breadth gradually reveal themselves. In the nose, you’ll notice berries, rosemary, and cardamom, while the palate fills with bright and creamy flavors of black plum, black olive, truffle, even a hint of chocolate-covered cherry. The smooth, very approachable entry reveals a luscious core of fruit down the center, while additional flavors fan out as the wine evolves in the mouth. The very long finish resonates like beautiful music—this wine just doesn’t stop! The 2001 CASK 23 promises to age exceedingly well, but enjoy it now with well-aged prime rib, bacon-wrapped foul, or a selection of artisan cheeses (rich Stilton, Gorgonzola, Morbier) accompanied by a spoonful of fig compote. Yeah baby, yeah....( all available at Brie & Bleu).
This is the same wine that won the gold medal in the famed blind Paris Tasting of 1976.
It blew the famous French wines right out of the water and put California wines on the map.
Learn all about it at: www.cask23.com/1976tasting.htm
2 - Domain Oliver Leflaive 2002 : Puligny-Montrachet $45
Take a look at the folks responsible for making the 2002 Puligny-Montrachet: www.leflaive.fr/english/millesimes/2002.htm
Robert Parker loves Leflaive and we think you will too.
It is an amazing bottle of white wine that should be on everyone's table this summer - but that is in a perfect world - where wine is free for the asking.
This is the perfect opportunity to try it - free for the asking.
This floral, mineral-scented wine exhibits excellent richness, breadth, and mouth-feel.
Its satiny-textured, light to medium-bodied character is well-focused, with candied citrus and mineral flavors -
Heavenly aromas of honeyed minerals and spiced oak are found in the nose of the 2002 Montrachet. This exceptional wine is light to medium-bodied, complex, deep, and concentrated. Copious quantities of fresh spiced apples, ginger, toast, buttered minerals, and anise can be found throughout its intricate personality as well as in its immensely impressive, suave finish.
3 - Lanson 1988 Noble Cuvée Brut Vintage Champagne - $101
The 1988 Vintage is an athlete able to charm the senses. Blended with rigorously selected grapes only from the top 100% rated Grands Crus vineyards, the Noble Cuvée is the ultimate expression of the Lanson style. The Noble Cuvée Brut Vintage is an incomparable accompaniment for all meals, particularly white meat and fish dishes. This Champagne will still remain fresh, delicious and magnificent over many years. A beautiful pale yellow color, brightened by fine bubbles. Aromas of citrus and white flowers ending on notes of candied mandarin. Notes of honey dominate this full-bodied and complex wine. The fresh finish lengthens and strengthens the elegance of this champagne. This is the kind of Champagne that movie stars drink when they do not need to impress people with a fancy label. It is an "insiders" choice - World famous - Alain Ducasse, the first French six stars chef, recommends in his restaurants the Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée. Please try it and see what they are talking about - remember, it's free - for the asking.
Please join us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your week end.
Please call us anytime with your questions, comments and ideas. We love to hear from you.
Thanks for your support.
TRW&S
Monday, May 02, 2005
Wine Tasting - 5/6/05
Greetings from all of us at
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
www.thamesriver.com
Thanks to so many of you that attended the sold out Vina Robles wine dinner at Go Fish restaurant this past Wednesday - it was Mmmmmmm, good.
Jon Kodama knows how to throw a party and we met Mr. Marc Laderriere from the vineyard.
Jon's team in the kitchen paired the food and wine perfectly and added a surprise or two that made everyone giddy.
We still have a few bottles of the "Signature" in stock - first come, first served.
Thanks again for making it so much fun - and thanks to everyone at Go Fish. They made it look easy!
Our next Brie & Bleu wine dinner is scheduled for Thursday May 12.
ONLY 10 SEATS AVAILABLE.
An evening of Spanish Food and Wine - Magnifico!
We will be serving some of the finest Spanish wines available.
(for example - reservas from 1995 & 1998)
And each will be paired with a classic savory dish from Spain.
Presented at Brie & Bleu - on the deck -
Cost is $50. - Call 860-443-9463 to save your spot.
This Friday May 6, 2005 - 6-9 p.m. No Charge
1 - K Vintners - "House Wine" - $14 - www.kvintners.com
From Charles Smith's iconoclastic winery - check out the website -
For those of you that recognize the name - it IS the same producer of "K-Syrah & "Morrison Lane".
Contents of the bottle may vary as Charles has released several "lots" of this wine, each containing wine sourced from different places. Trying a bottle before purchasing cases is recommended, or call and we'll let you know what's currently in the bottle.
2 - Claar Cellars - 2000 - Cabernet-Merlot - $14 - www.claarcellars.com
Nose of cinnamon, black cherries, plum and leather. Generous spicy texture
with notes of violets, black current and coffee. Long smooth finish of soft
well integrated tannins with a hint of mocha.
3 - Seven Hills - Cabernet $ 27 - www.sevenhillswinery.com
A very collectable bottling from one of the most famous Northwest vineyards
Historically these wines age well for a decade or longer.
An elegant, layered Cabernet showing the depth of flavor that old vines give.
Rich plum and blackberry are complemented by cocoa and clove notes with hints of fennel and pepper.
Moderate acidity and an approachable texture surround the sensory profile
4 - Seven Hills - 2003 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain, Vintage Red Wine - $35
Seven Hills celebrates Vintage Walla Walla with the release of our 2003 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Vintage Red Wine. Ciel du Cheval is one of the most famous Washington vineyards, renowned as the source of numerous outstanding wines for over two decades. While the wine is young, it’s showing a pleasing intensity and integration, supporting a complex range of aromas and flavors. The blend is primarily Merlot for softness and round red fruit flavors, with substantial portions of Cabernet Sauvignon for power and structure, Cabernet Franc lending aromatics, and incorporating a small amount of Petit Verdot for its deep color and savory characters.
Thank you all for your support we appreciate it.
And the best is yet to come.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Please join us. It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
TRW&S
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
www.thamesriver.com
Thanks to so many of you that attended the sold out Vina Robles wine dinner at Go Fish restaurant this past Wednesday - it was Mmmmmmm, good.
Jon Kodama knows how to throw a party and we met Mr. Marc Laderriere from the vineyard.
Jon's team in the kitchen paired the food and wine perfectly and added a surprise or two that made everyone giddy.
We still have a few bottles of the "Signature" in stock - first come, first served.
Thanks again for making it so much fun - and thanks to everyone at Go Fish. They made it look easy!
Our next Brie & Bleu wine dinner is scheduled for Thursday May 12.
ONLY 10 SEATS AVAILABLE.
An evening of Spanish Food and Wine - Magnifico!
We will be serving some of the finest Spanish wines available.
(for example - reservas from 1995 & 1998)
And each will be paired with a classic savory dish from Spain.
Presented at Brie & Bleu - on the deck -
Cost is $50. - Call 860-443-9463 to save your spot.
This Friday May 6, 2005 - 6-9 p.m. No Charge
1 - K Vintners - "House Wine" - $14 - www.kvintners.com
From Charles Smith's iconoclastic winery - check out the website -
For those of you that recognize the name - it IS the same producer of "K-Syrah & "Morrison Lane".
Contents of the bottle may vary as Charles has released several "lots" of this wine, each containing wine sourced from different places. Trying a bottle before purchasing cases is recommended, or call and we'll let you know what's currently in the bottle.
2 - Claar Cellars - 2000 - Cabernet-Merlot - $14 - www.claarcellars.com
Nose of cinnamon, black cherries, plum and leather. Generous spicy texture
with notes of violets, black current and coffee. Long smooth finish of soft
well integrated tannins with a hint of mocha.
3 - Seven Hills - Cabernet $ 27 - www.sevenhillswinery.com
A very collectable bottling from one of the most famous Northwest vineyards
Historically these wines age well for a decade or longer.
An elegant, layered Cabernet showing the depth of flavor that old vines give.
Rich plum and blackberry are complemented by cocoa and clove notes with hints of fennel and pepper.
Moderate acidity and an approachable texture surround the sensory profile
4 - Seven Hills - 2003 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain, Vintage Red Wine - $35
Seven Hills celebrates Vintage Walla Walla with the release of our 2003 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Vintage Red Wine. Ciel du Cheval is one of the most famous Washington vineyards, renowned as the source of numerous outstanding wines for over two decades. While the wine is young, it’s showing a pleasing intensity and integration, supporting a complex range of aromas and flavors. The blend is primarily Merlot for softness and round red fruit flavors, with substantial portions of Cabernet Sauvignon for power and structure, Cabernet Franc lending aromatics, and incorporating a small amount of Petit Verdot for its deep color and savory characters.
Thank you all for your support we appreciate it.
And the best is yet to come.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.
Please join us. It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
TRW&S
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