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
Now Open: Import - 60 State Street
www.thamesriver.com
• Last Tuesday evening we hosted our own version of Cheese -a-Palooza.
We have to thank Boston's Formaggio Kitchen and Leslie Mann for presenting a great evening of wine and cheese.
Thanks to all that attended - and for making it so much fun.
• Wednesday's Dinner wrapped up our Grilling Series - the food and wine was fabulous - Thanks to our own Anne Haviland for presideing over the grill for a memorable dinner series all summer long. DON'T WORRY - Anne has already planned her menus for the upcoming weeks - take a look at our calendar page for details - and remember please reserve early if you see something that you like.
• We have already started matching wines to your holiday menus. top by or Drop off a copy of your menu during the week. There is no charge for the suggested parings and if you purchase the wines from us - enjoy a 10% savings.
• WineRadio is getting a lot of attention lately - if you don't already know, we produce a show that offers conversations with some of the worlds great wine makers. And now we are expanding to include well known food authorities as well. We have just been invited to TWO of New Haven's best know restaurants - The Union League And Ibiza - Fabulous food and remarkable wine lists - We will sit, eat, and drink with the chefs and wine directors and get a backstage pass to what they are doing NOW. We are being offered these opportunities because of your continued interest and support. AND on November 1st our all new WineRadio.com website will include VIDEO. Welcome to WineRadioTV. You may have seen a bit of this on our calendar page - if not take a minute to check it out - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
• If you are looking for a special treat to serve at your next gathering - I want to make sure that everyone knows about the Petit Fours that are made by our very own "Lisa A" and are available right here at Brie & Bleu. Lisa is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park as a pastry chef. The cakes, cookies and specialties like the petit fours, that she concocts out of thin air, are amazing - Please give them a try the next time you are in the store and consider them for your holiday tables or as a gift to your favorite host/hostess. These are special, handmade, beauties - you need to know about them - please take a look - the samples are on us.
• "Kristin Webers Presents Oktoberfest!" - Many of you know that Kristin works with us at the store in New London.
You should have seen the look on Kristin's face when she read that headline for the first time - Priceless.
But she eventually warmed up to the idea and has thrown herself headlong into the project. She has begun wearing authentic Tyrolean costumes around the store - The back seat of her car is full of CD's like "Favorite Bavarian Drinking Songs." - And she has even worked her hair into those braided pigtails that the kid's in The Sound of Music got away with. Join Kristin - Thursday October 19 - 6 p.m. - 860-443-9463
Take a look at the menu, the list of beers, and reserve early - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
THIS WEEK AT BRIE & BLEU
Featured Cheese This Week - Huntsman
Our cheesemonger Colleen has selected a store favorite:
Huntsman is the featured cheese at Brie & Blue this week at $15/lb. Hunstman is an English cows milk cheese, consisting of a layer of Stilton cheese between two layers of Double Gloucester cheese. The creamy, forceful Stilton is sandwiched between layers of mellow, satiny Double Gloucester. The result is an excellent flavor combination that is as delicious as it is beautiful. Pairs well with a light chardonnay such as Rutherford Vinters Chardonnay. Available at Thames River Wine and Spirits purchase at the same time for an additional 10% off the cheese.
Cheers,
Colleen
WINE TASTING - Please Join Us
Friday October 6th - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc - $38
Beaucastel needs no introduction The Chateau continues to be the benchmark by which all others are judged -
I remember not more than a year ago visiting with Marc Perrin - his family owns Beaucastel - and thanking him for opening my eyes to the Coudoulet. He said that this wine is a favorite of his and that he keeps it in his house all of the time. With the Coudoulet we get all of the expertise and a relatively modest price - for a Beaucastel. The superb Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet blanc, equal parts Viognier, Marsanne, and Bourboulenc, is an expressive wine with huge, soaring aromatics of citrus oil, rose petals, and a bit of peach. Lacy, ripe flavors, good acidity, and an expansive finish make for a lovely, full-throttle, dry white to drink over the next 2-4 years.
2 - Domaine Santa Duc Les vieilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone - $15 www.santaduc.com
I tried this wine for the first time in one of those new restaurants located in a museum in New York City. The wine list was impressive - and the place was packed. We sat at the bar - the wait for a table was painfull. After a few minutes reading the list I got the bartenders attention and called him over. "What do you and your friends like to drink?" He smiled and brought us two glasses of this wine - you have to try it.
Wines from this area - Côtes du Rhônes - have this in common - They're all dry, relatively full-bodied (especially those with lots of Syrah in the blend), and are generally smooth and round rather than harsh. They have either fruity, herbal or earthy aromas and flavors, sometimes all three; plum and/or raspberry are the primary fruity aromas. And they're all great values! Côtes du Rhônes are very food-friendly. They pair especially well with stews, roasts, chicken, bean dishes such as cassoulet, and hearty vegetable dishes. The lighter-bodied, less expensive Côtes du Rhônes are perfect with burgers, chili, and pizza - thats right - pizza.
3 - Querciabella Chianti Classico - $30 www.querciabella.com
Giuseppe Castiglioni was born in Milan and spent much of his adult life in Mexico. When he was ready to settle down, though, he stumbled upon an enchanting piece of land in Toscana, where he restored an old house to create a lovely home for himself and his family. Finding himself in the heart of Chianti’s wine country, he planted a few vines as a hobby and made wine for his family and friends to enjoy. It was onward and upward from there - Expanding his vineyards to a total of 25 hectares in Greve in Chianti, Castiglioni became engrossed by his wine and in 1987 hired enologist Guido de Santi to ensure that only the best wines would come from Querciabella. This team has developed Batàr, considered by many to be the greatest white wine of Toscana, as well as the top-notch Sangiovese/Cabernet blend known as Camartina, and they boast the rare distinction of presenting a Chianti Classico normale that was awarded Tre Bicchieri by the Gambero Rosso. Try it on Friday and see what the experts are talking about.
4 - Twomey Merlot $75 - (Rated 94 points Robert Parker) - www.twomeycellars.com
"SEXY" - That's how some reviewers describe this wine. And it is very hard to find - we have a limited supply, first come first served. An exotic perfume of pepper, herbs, black cherries, plums, and raspberries is accompanied by an exciting texture, a plush palate, and a concentrated, long heady, moderately tannic finish. This wine is very impressive. This is a top-flight single-vineyard wine aged completely in French oak. This is a pricey bottle of wine - but it delivers. For the holiday table or other special occasion you wont be disappointed. Please try it before it is snapped up on Friday night.
Thanks so much for all of your support - we appreciate it. And Thanks for all of the calls and email - we are listening.
We have an exciting holiday season in the works - stay tuned.
Please Join Us - it is fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
Thames River Wine & Spirits
AAA
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