Fall Food Stroll, Formaggio Kitchen, St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc, Chateau de Flaugergues Cuvee Sommeliere, Marques de Murrieta, Maquis "Lien"

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

• Last Friday night was lots of fun and for the 200 or so people that turned out for our tasting that included the famed Joseph Phelps INSIGNIA -thank you. One woman stood there in our wine cellar and remarked "I never would have tried a wine this expensive ($145) - it's sooo good!"

• Remember - Fall Food Stroll in New London Wednesday - 10/18 - Mr. Carl Orsini will be at Brie & Bleu presiding over the huge stainless steel JennAir, and serving the full assortment of his hand made Sausage. We like to call Carl The Sausage King of New England - but he reminds us that his Father was the king who started the company back in 1933 - Carl says that he is only the Prince of Sausage. Please join us - meet Carl and ask him all of the questions you like about his...... "Saus-eech".
To compliment - we will be tasting Italian wines in the cellar.
Fall Food Stroll is presented by New London Main Street
To purchase your Food Stroll buttons - which allow you access to all of the offerings in town Phone: 860-444-CITY (2489)
Or visit their website: http://newlondonmainstreet.org/events/fallfoodstroll06.php

• Thursday 10/19 - 6 p.m. - Our very own Kristin Webers will be hosting an Octoberfest Beer Dinner at Brie & Bleu. Kristin has been working diligently to make sure that you have a good time - the careful selection of just the right drinking songs, fine tuning the menu to match the beers, the crazy costume that her Auntie Helga had hidden in an old steamer trunk in her parents attic - the less said about that the better. Anyway, If you love beer perfectly matched with food - and you don't mind the occasional reference to "oom-pah" music - you will love this night. Join us for our Octoberfest Beer Dinner - please reserve early - seating is limited. 860-443-9463 -
or visit our website for more details - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html


• Boston's Formaggio Kitchen Returns - Second Installment - Tuesday October 24 -
Leslie Mann returns to lead the evening and introduce os to Autum Cheeses.
A whole range of cheeses that celebrate Fall. From French Cantal to local New England goat's milk cheese, we'll tour through Autumn in a range of taste, textures, and tradition."
This evening will be a lot of fun and will fill quickly - tell your favorite cheesehead and reserve now.
Eight artisan cheeses paired with four different wines will be served.
Seating is limited. Cost is $35 - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Please reserve early - 860-443-9463

• The rumors are true - Gourmet events for singles are just around the corner - keep an eye on the calendar of events page or call to add your name to the contact list - 860-443-9463

• JUST ADDED - German Wine dinner Thursday October 26 - 6 p.m.
Check the calendar of events page for full details: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Please make your reservations early - 860-443-9463

THIS WEEK AT BRIE & BLEU
Here is what are own "Mrs Z" has selected for the featured cheese this week.
The featured cheese is Florette.
Florette is the featured cheese at Brie & Blue this week at $4.00 a packet. Florette is a fresh goat's milk cheese from France. This goat cheese from the Guilloteau family of cheeses continues to round out their impeccable line of soft ripened selections. Besides its unique octagonal shape, it is also unique in that it very rarely develops a sharpness that is sometimes a potential downfall in a goat's milk brie style cheese. Instead, it is characterized by subtle, delicate flavors with a slight goat cheese aroma. The texture is satisfyingly creamy and spreadable. This is a must for any goat cheese lover! The cheese compliments a salad or as can be used as a dessert. Florette can also be enjoyed with fresh or dried fruits. Appropriate Wines: a Sauvignon dry white wine such as Silverstone Sauvignon Blanc, which can be purchased at Thames River Wine and Spirits for an additional 10% off the cheese.
Cheers,
Colleen

WINE TASTING -FRIDAY OCTOBER 20 - 6-9 P.M. - NO CHARGE

1 - St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc $18 www.stsupery.com
Wonderful aromas of ruby grapefruit, lime juice and honeysuckle join with a vibrant core of grapefruit, hints of pineapple, nectarine and lemon grass. The texture is inviting and supple with enough racy acid to keep it all focused. Yummy - great with cheese and appetizers. A nice way to get the party started.

2 - Chateau de Flaugergues "Cuvee Sommeliere" $15 (rated 92 points Robert Parker) www.flaugergues.com
History - you like history? This Chateau has it in spades. The Romans cultivated vines and olives here over 2000 years ago. The monks of Grand Mont maintained this tradition, and after them the ancestors of the current owners have continued to do so from 1696 until the present day. It is hard to believe that this wine is only $15. This is a dry, dark, ruby red wine that has a nice long finish and will go quickly - please be sure to try it this Friday.

3 - Marques de Murrieta Ygay Reserva Rioja $24 - We love this stuff.
Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta was founded by Luciano Francisco Ramon de Murrieta, a man born in Peru, of all places, in 1822. In 1848 he travelled to Bordeaux, to study; four years later he had returned to Rioja and was making wine. His venture was a resounding success, sufficiently so for Queen Isabel II, who had enticed her loyal servant back to Spain following her coronation in 1844, to confer on him the title of Marquesado de Murrieta; and so the estate of Marqués de Murrieta was born. Looking beyond matters of style, however, Marques de Murrieta is unquestionably one of the leading bodegas in Rioja; They not only turn out an admirable selection of wines, but also one of the Rioja benchmarks, the Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial. For this reason, above any other, this is an estate that all Rioja-curious wine drinkers should investigate. Smoothly textured with fully integrated tannins, liquorice and meaty flavors. Packed with fruit and fresh, cleansing, tingling acidity which persists right through the finish. Delicious - Please be sure to try this on Friday - first come, first served.

4 - Maquis "Lien" $18 - Global Vineyard
This distinctive "Super Chilean" blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec just received an outstanding 90 points in Wine & Spirits magazine. Made by the Hurtado family in Chile's Colchagua Valley, this fruity, concentrated wine is a terrific choice for fall fare. Global Vineyard is a national wine importer based in Berkeley, California, whose mission is to import the very best wines from lesser known wine growing regions, with a focus on emerging varietals and small, family-owned properties. There is a world of exciting wine that extends far beyond mainstream varietals, and Global Vineyard’s goal is to get Americans excited about these up-and-coming wines. You should definitely consider this wine for the holidays.

We are carefully picking wines to compliment the upcoming holiday tables that will show you are on the inside. It is easy to grab a bottle of Yellow Tail at virtually any store - not that there is anything wrong with that - but let the others take care of that.

We hope to see you this week - thanks again for your support - we appreciate it.

Please Join Us - It is fun, informal and a great way to start the weekend.




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