Main Street Award, Portrait of A City, Beer Me Daddy!, Palacio De Fefinanes, La Chasse Du Pape, Clos Roche Blanche, O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain

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
Coming Soon: Import - 60 State Street


• Congratulations to Joe Standart, his team and all of the people that helped to make his show:
Portrait of A City The New London Project - a huge success.
This is a "Big City Show" - and all of the hard work paid off - Bravo.

Friday night brought hundreds of people downtown. By 8:30 people were roaming from gallery to gallery, many had glasses of wine - live music was being performed on the sidewalks, parks and stages that surround us - It looked more like New Orleans than New London.

• Thanks to so many people for the kind words when we received Connecticut's Main Street Award - complete with an Official Statement signed by the Governor for "Best Adaptive Re-use of a Building" 2006. When is the last time the Governor of Connecticut honored a wine store - I mean officially? Somebody contact Wine Spectator or the Times! If this doesn't get us noticed - nothing will.

• Our Wine Dinner Series continues this Wednesday - at 6 p.m. - We look forward to seeing you there.

This week at Brie & Bleu - The featured cheese this week is a beautifully presented cheese - Fougerus usually at $25/lb this week it is $23/lb. This cheese belongs to the Brie group. Commercially it was produced at the beginning of 20th century. It is unpasteurized, soft-white cheese of disc shape with penicillin mould rind. This cheese is very similar in texture and taste to Coulommiers. It is supple and sweet and has a salty taste. Take an additional 10% off the cheese when paired with with Cotes du Rhone wine such as Parallele 45 from France and purchased at the same time from Thames River Wine & Spirits.

Beer Me Daddy! - Beer Tasting - Thursday June 29 - 5-8 p.m. - No Charge

This week Kristin is pouring 4 tasty beers that should bring a smile to your summer taste buds.
And if you happened to join us last week you know that the grill was fired up and the "Saw -Seech" was delicious.
Sausage and beer is a match made in heaven.

The Beer:

1 - Vermont - Otter Creek Wolavers Organic Wit Bier - $8./6pk
Soft, orangy citrus with a coriander kick.

2 - Pennsylvania - Victory-Hop Devil IPA - $8/6pk
This is a hoppy beast and true to its name. Practically the "King" in it's field.

3 - Vermont - Magic Hat Circus Boy - $8/6pk
Sweet and malty with flavors of honey and wheat.

4 - Colorado - Flying Dog - In Heat Wheat - $8/6pk
A fabulous German style Hefewiezen - a great summer beer please try it.

Wine Tasting - Friday June 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Palacio De Fefinanes Albarino - $19
This is a delicious white wine from Galicia. Peaches, melons, and a dash of mineral come to mind but you be the judge.
Great with salads, seafood, soft cheeses - please try it.

2 - La Chasse Du Pape - $12
Deep purple in color and an intense aroma of fruit. This is a spicy little number that has chalked up awards all over the place. Including with Robert Parker "87 points - a terrific value". You will enjoy serving this one with roasted meats and Mediterranean foods.

3 - Clos Roche Blanche - $12
Organic farming practices and very low yields help to make this a wine of exceptional character.
Only 200 cases imported - Juicy, spicy finish.

4 - O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet 2002 - $68 - rated 90 points WS
Hey this is a big wine. Wonderful fruit, harmony and finesse, this is simply a fun wine to drink. Ripe, rich and fleshy, it exhibits a tight beam of currant, black cherry and wild berry that's complex and concentrated, finishing with fine-grained tannins and a sense of authenticity.

We hope to see you this Friday.
Thanks for your support - and all of the comments and emails - we appreciate it.

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


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