Burgundy Tasting, Terry Theise WineRadio, Import, Penfolds Grange, De Forville Chardonnay, Louis Latour, Babcock Fathom

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
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - 60 State Street
www.thamesriver.com
Calendar of Events: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Brie & Bleu: http://www.brieandbleu.com/


You will not believe what is on the list for you on Friday night - Hold on to your hats - then take a look. The list is below our news and items of interest.


• A big thank you goes to Mr. Howard Asadow of World Wide wines - Howard presided over our Special Tasting of Burgundy at the Thames Club on Saturday night. There was more Burgundy in one place and at one time than many people try in a lifetime. 1st Cru's, Premier Crus, Grand Cru's - The upbeat, friendly atmosphere in the Presidents Room was a perfect setting for a little Corton-Charlemange. The food parings from Brie & Bleu included foie gras, poached chicken, smoked fish and cheese assortments that were fabulous. Thank you to everyone that attended and for making it so much fun.

• Steve "D" - The man, the myth the legend - After tasting the first ten or fifteen Burgundies on Saturday - Steve stood up and exclaimed "Lets give it up for Doc Gibbs and the Emerill Live Band!" - we love you too, man.

• WineRadio - If you have not yet seen our interview with Terry Theise - shot on location at the Union League Restaurant in New Haven - you must. Terry Theise is Food & Wine Magazine man of the year and is generally acknowledged as being the man that has introduced more great wine to more Americans than anyone else. Visit our Calendar of events page and scroll down to the WineRadio section: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

• There has been a lot of talk about our store IMPORT - it is ready for the holidays and loaded with a wonderful collection from around the world. For a tiny sneak peek take a look here: http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
Better yet stop in and browse for awhile - say hello to Chris Lamb - she will show you around.

• Remember - our third annual all day tasting with Jonathan Edwards Vineyards is all set for Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. It starts at 12 noon and continues until 6p.m. Stop into the store meet the folks from Connecticut's own -
Jonathan Edwards Vineyards and try some of their award winning wines.


THIS WEEK AT BRIE & BLEU -

Colleen has made your Holiday cheese buying easy this week - Here is the featured CHEESE:

If you missed the Wensleydale with cranberries on special last week at Brie & Bleu we have Stilton with Mango & Ginger for $16\lb. This cheese is another good holiday selection so, please come in to get your stock for the holidays. Stilton with mango & cheese isa young, immature cousin to the world famous British blue cheese, is extra creamy and deliciously tangy but somehow unfinished all by itself - much like plain yogurt. Hence the need to introduce fruit . Available with apricots, lemon, ginger, and five other wicked flavors. Each of these flavorful additions tames the brash White Stilton. After your first bite you will immediately recognize that the combination is a natural fit. The expert cheesemakers have added exactly the right amount of fruit such that the cheese is not overly sweet. Aged for a minimal time period, our family of flavored White Stiltons are fresh tasting products. Owing to their delicious flavors, beautiful presentations and wickedly scrumptious names, they are among the best selling blended cheeses in the U.K.

Happy Turkey Day,
Mrs. "Z"


PLEASE JOIN US
Wine Tasting - Friday November 24th - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
The Holidays are all about sharing - we are very happy to share this selection with you on Friday night.
First come, first served.

1 - De Forville Chardonnay 2005 - $15 - from Barbaresco Piemonte
The historic De Forville winery (it has been run by the same family since 1860), is a consistent maker of fabulous Barbarescos of a traditional nature. they have created a remarkably priced white wine that is tremendous with food. An excellent choice for Thanksgiving and a great wine to pour for the parade of guests that will be stopping by during the season.

2 - Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine - $14 pinot noir 2004
The family-run company of Maison Louis Latour is one of the most highly-respected négociant in Burgundy. Renowned throughout the world for the quality of its red and white wines, the company has built a reputation for tradition and innovation. The Domaine de Valmoissine is located on the site of the ancient monastery and university of Valmoissine at 500 meters above sea-level. The grapes are entirely hand-picked before being fermented in stainless steel open-vats for a short period of 3-4 days. The wine is then matured in old oak casks from Maison Louis Latour’s cooperage in Beaune in which the wines flavors and aromas develop naturally with the mellow wood flavors of the oak. Latour is a famous name that will impress your guests - but the style of the wine resembles Burgundy’s classical ‘Vin Vermeil’ that the first Louis Latour was producing at the end of the 18th century. Elegance and finesse packed with fruit, and a vivid bright red color. The resurrection of this style of wine already has a dedicated following - and it is hard to beat for the price.

3 - Babcock Fathom 2002 - $24
We used to sell this for $34 a bottle - then the wine maker decided to stop making this wine and we bought it very well. Same as it ever was - just $10 less a bottle. One of California's brightest stars in the field of winemaking is Bryan Babcock. Not only was Bryan selected by the Los Angeles Times as one of the "Ten Best Winemakers of the Year", he was also named as "Most Courageous Winemaker of the Year" for his daring style. Since 1984 Bryan has been producing wines of exceptional quality from his family owned winery located on the far western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley in northern Santa Barbara County. This wine has an Inky dark ruby color, almost black. Good blackberry and vanilla aromas, fruit and oak, aromatic and intense. Big and full flavor, sweet oak and lush fruit; so rich that the fruit almost conceals significant tannins and lemony acidity. Far from subtle, but easy to drink; this is a big blockbuster of a wine.

4 - Penfolds Grange - $250 - Thats right - it is not a typo - First come, first served.
Robert Parker rates this 98 points. Wine Spectator says "Collectable" - the list of accolades goes on and on.
We will be tasting bottle #18339 from the 2001 vintage. Inky/blue/purple to the rim, with a stunning perfume of blueberries, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earth, it boasts good acidity, huge tannins, magnificent concentration, and a multilayered, textured mouthfeel. It is a big, but impeccably well-balanced Shiraz.
We have on the shelf - bottles #18534, #18187 and #18550 from the 2001 vintage - AND - bottles #28034, #28155,#28251 from the 2000 vintage. If you are looking for a special gift - for loved ones or clients - a "matched" gift- boxed set of this wine will be talked about for years. It is significant and very difficult to locate - please stop in and try this legendary wine from Australia. First come, first served.


As always we take great pleasure in sharing the the great wines and spirits of the world with you. We open bottles that for the most part go to collectors, movie stars and diplomats. Why should they have all the fun?
You are the stars of our show. Your support, comments and suggestions make us better everyday.
Thank you, from all of us.

Happy Thanksgiving - we hope to see you on Friday night.

AAA.