Dan Kleck, Silverstone, Donhoff Spatlese, Brie & Bleu

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 tasting lined up for Friday - including the winemaker himself - the details are below the news.

First - Thanks to Mr. Dermit Hanafin for throwing one roaring party in New London last Friday.
Dermit is the proprietor of Hanafins Public House one of the finest Irish bars this side of the Pecos.
If you have not yet seen his place you should make the effort. Hannifins was St. Patrick's Day Headquarters for New London and the scene was absolutely inspiring. There was music and food and singing and dancing and people began to line up early in the day.
It is a great example of the kind of life people can bring to New London when they put their mind to it.

This week at Brie & Bleu -

Have you met the newest addition to our Cheese Market staff? - Colleen McNerney
Colleen is making it a habit of carefully selecting a couple of cheeses each week to feature and sample for you.
We think she has also memorized the "Food Group Pyramid" - so test her on it the next time you stop by.
Here are her selections for this week:

1 - "Toma is an Italian cheese from Piedmont region. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It exists in several versions depending on a period of maturation. The young cheese is sweet and milky, but if it is allowed to mature for up to 12 months, the flavour becomes more tangy, often sharp. Toma is cheese surface ripened, meaning it ripens from the rind inward. This simple mountain cheese has a thin rind with a custard-like interior with small pores and a gentle sweet-sour nature. Toma is a perfect table cheese but can also be used for cooking. It begs to be paired with a big Piedmont red."

2 - "Shropshire ia a cow's milk blue cheese from the United Kingdom that is technically a cross between Stilton and Cheshire. The orange color comes from the addition of annatto, a natural food coloring. Shropshire, while generally creamier and less nutty than Stilton, is sometimes stronger. This cheese is selected in Britain and then maintained at its peak ripeness in artisinal premium temperature and humidity controlled caves. The cheese is crumbly yet firm and creamy texture, sharp, rustic with a slightly tannic flavor. It is excellent on the cheese-board and is also very versatile in the kitchen; it makes fabulous soups and sauces. It is best accompanied by good English brown ale and as with Stilton, all big reds."


ALSO - As we close in on the last of the Comfort food dinners for the season, I want to make sure that I thank all of the folks that joined us.
Time after time - course after course and glass after glass - it is the wonderful people and dynamic conversation that have made this series such a success. Truly - thanks for making all of our dinners the best party in town.
We have just begun to look over the menus and wines for the "Alfresco Series" - the best is yet to come.

Wednesday Night Wine Dinner - It is Pan Asian foods and FIVE jaw dropping Rieslings -
Including the 2004 Donhoff Spatlese - $48 - rated 97 points!
This is one of our most popular themes and the dumplings seem to be the perfect way to share the love.

Thursday Night- Beer Tasting 5-8 p.m. - No Charge.
Jorgé Casablanca, our Senior Beer Analyst, has been out patrolling the seedy underbelly of the beer world looking for the perfect combination of hops, water and the 11 secret herbs & spices that make the original recipe so special. We have not seen him in days - but he will be in the cellar to share his story on Thursday night - please join us.


Wine Tasting - Meet Dan Kleck
Friday March 24th - 6-9 P.M. - No Charge

SILVER STONE owner and winemaker, Dan Kleck, has been producing premium wines for the past 26 years.
He began his career in the mid-1970’s, focusing upon the Long Island region in New York, where he was involved with Chardonnays, Merlots and other varietals at wineries such as Hargrave Vineyard, Bidwell Vineyards and Palmer Vineyards.

Winemaker Dan Kleck returns to our cellar - with the results of his hard work. -
You may recall Dan was here last season with samples and a First Look of a special project he was working on.
He tasted our customers took notes and went back to the vineyard - you won't be disappointed with the results.
And the wines are available - in our store - first come, first served. - very limited production.
Dan will be saying hello and signing bottles in our cellar - please join us.

1 - 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco - $18 - www.silverstonewines.com
Sourced from the cool-climate appellation of Arroyo Seco, Cedar Lane Vineyard is planted in the well-drained cobblestone soils deposited at the mouth of Arroyo Seco Canyon in Monterey County. Distinctive climatic conditions ensure vibrant fruit character with crisp acidity, essential elements in styling a classic version of this exotically aromatic white wine. Barrel Fermented in the time-honored tradition of the white wines of Bordeaux’s Graves District, this Sauvignon Blanc has a supple texture to the finish. It is intended for immediate consumption, and partners well with shrimp, shellfish and grilled summer vegetables.

2 - 2003 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido/Latchford Vineyard - $30
Crafted from fruit derived from two distinctive vineyards, this wine marries the best possible vineyard characteristics into a sumptuous offering that provides richness of texture, perfumed aromatics and fresh cherry fruit flavors. By combining these two exceptional sites, Dan has crafted a lovely wine of balance and grace. Fermented in small, open-top bins punched down by hand, the wine is minimally handled for optimal flavor retention. Aged for one year in small French cooperage, the wine was bottled, unfined and unfiltered, in the fall of 2004. Just 370 cases were produced.

3 - 2003 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley - $21
Consistently one of California’s highest ranking vineyards, Bien Nacido has produced outstanding chardonnays for over twenty years, leading Wine & Spirits magazine to declare it one of the “Top 25 Great Vineyards of the World.” Hand-harvested fruit arrived at the winery with textbook numbers. Whole-cluster pressed, the juice was settled overnight prior to barreling in 60% new French Oak for fermentation. That's a fancy way of saying that the result is rich, complex, and impeccably balanced. Only 392 cases produced.

4 - 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $35
Selecting fruit primarily from the valley floor near Rutherford, this was complemented with small lots derived from mountain fruit in the upper reaches of the Mayacamas Range. Bottled without any fining or filtration, this wine exhibits a tapestry of robust aromas and flavors, with the Cabernet Sauvignon providing concentration and intensity.Classic styling, richly structured and flavored.
Bring on the steak! Only 534 cases produced.

Dan Kleck is an important winemaker - AND he happens to be one of the nicest guys you can meet.
Stop in - say hello and have him sign a bottle of his wine for you.

Thanks for your support we all appreciate it.

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

AAA.