Dan Kleck, Silver Stone, Roger Hoadley, Thames Club, Eric Solomon Wines

Greetings from New London -
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - 84 Bank Street
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - 70 State Street
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - 84 Bank Street

We have a great line up for the Friday tasting - the list is highlighted in RED just below the news.

But we have to say thank you to a couple of people first.

First - Thank you to Mr. Dan Kleck - http://www.silverstonewines.com/
Dan greeted customers in our cellar all night on Friday - His Silver Stone wines were fabulous and Dan had every reason to be proud - his limited production wines continue to please. He makes only two or three hundred cases of these wines - period. We are lucky to see any of them at all - let alone have the man responsible join us to drink them and reveal their secrets. And once again before he left, he paid the highest compliments of all to our customers - you - thanks for stopping by to meet Dan and for making us the talk of the industry. It would not happen without you.

Next - On Saturday night noted wine authority Roger Hoadley - stood before a group of men and women at the Thames Club here in New London and led a dinner that set new standards for the members and guests that attended.
Between courses that included poached salmon with white beans and beef so tender one could have used a teaspoon to eat it. He waxed poetic on the wine regions, the producers and the hedonistic aspects and qualities of the wine business that filled us all with envy. By the time dessert and port was served there wasn't a dry eye in the house! After dinner guests adjourned to the Presidents Room for drinks, and Davidoff's - thanks so much to everyone that attended and especially to Roger Hoadley for making it so much fun.

On Monday morning we will be on location in Boston.
We are setting up our "studio" at the Millenium Bostonian Hotel - We have been invited to interview some of the hottest winemakers working today. Names like Frederic Jaboulet, Nicolas Potel , Pascal Jolivet, and Patrick Leflaive to name just a few.
They have all agreed to be guests on our show - WineRadio.

Brie & Bleu -
Here are the featured cheeses for this week -

Wensleydale cheese - http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/
Traditional, hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a shape of cylinder with natural rind. Wensleydale can be used as table cheese and is very tasty with apple pie. This cheese is based on the recipe that can be traced back to the Cistercian monks who came over with William the Conqueror in the 11 century. There are two types of the British classic Wensleydale: White, a flat disc that is highly-pressed and has a honey flavor to it and Blue or Yorkshire, which has blue veins, double cream and is a cousin of Stilton - the blue variety comes in large drums. Good Wensleydale has a supple, crumbly, moist texture and resembles a young Caerphilly. The flavor suggests wild honey balanced with a fresh acidity.

Bruder Basil cheese -
A cow's milk cheese from Germany that has a firm texture and a dark brownish colored natural rind. The pale yellow cheese is covered with small random holes and the flavor is rich with a slight smokiness. It is excellent for grilling and sandwiches and is often served as a snack or appetizer. It is produced in small brick shapes and is covered with wax.


BEER TASTING - Thursday March 30 - 5-8 p.m. - No Charge


Wine Tasting Friday March 31 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
The wines of Eric Solomon selections are featured

"The Name of Eric Solomon On A Bottle of Wine Is Synonymous With High Quality" -- Robert Parker

1 - Gramona Gessami 2004 - $16 - http://www.europeancellars.com/
Bright straw-colored yellow with mineral tones. An aromatic burst. Like a walk in the spring, this wine reminds one of the coolness of fresh air, a bunch of white flowers, (roses, jasmine, etc.), fennel, apricots and peaches all wrapped in a sweet atmosphere full of freshness, with a subtle mineral glow and a citric breeze. Long, smooth aftertaste. Great with fish and cheese.

2 - La Casenvoe Masiam - $14
Like so many other accomplished people, Etienne Montes parlayed the fruits of one successful carrer into a second as winemaker. An award-winning photojournalist, he retired in 1987 to his familly estate, La Casenove, nestled between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, within 10 miles of the Spanish frontier. One of the oldest viticultural areas of France, vines in the Roussillon were cultivated by the Romans, and perhaps even before that. With some of the most dramatic topography in France, many of the zones are composed of extremely steep hillsides. Much of the vineyard land looks more like that of the Priorat in Spain than it does like wine regions of France. This area of French Catalonia still possesses many cultural remnants of being part of the Catalan region including the language, cuisine, and art. The winemaking in the region has undergone a revolution in the last 10 years and you should take the time to try this one.

3 - Roger Sabon Cotes Du Rhone 2001 - $16
Roger Sabon is described by Robert Parker as "one of the more intellectual vignerons in Châteauneuf du-Pape"
His vineyard holdings are surprisingly small, around 14 hectares, which are divided between his properties in Lirac, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhône. The Châteauneuf vineyards are well situated in Les Cabrieres, La Crau, Courtherzon and Nalys and the average age of his vines is unusually high with some of them dating back to the early 1900s. Dense raspberry, plum, licorice, tar and bacon notes are supported by thick, muscular tannins in this concentrated, showy red. Solid, spicy and medium-bodied, with modest tannins, good balance and enough cherry and berry flavor to keep you interested.


4 - Clos Mimi Petite Rousse 2004 - $20
"A marvelous effort as well as a super value, Clos Mimi’s 2004 Petite Rousse No shy wine, it possesses lofty alcohol as well as loads of personality and soul. Aromas of Asian spices, licorice, pepper, herbs, blackberries, and cassis soar from the glass of this smoky, fragrant red. In the mouth, it is a plush, opulent, full-bodied offering that is impossible to resist. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. It’s a shame there are not more high quality, personality-filled wines such as this from California. Hats off to Clos Mimi! (92 points)" - Robert Parker - There is a lot of wine in this bottle for the price - give it a try.


Thanks for your emails, your calls, and your support - we appreciate it.

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


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