Grower Champagne, Txakolina, Dan Kleck Red Horse Ranch, Chateau De Pez, Gaja Ca' Marcanda

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - 84 Bank Street
Shop On Line: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html
Calendar of Events: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

First let me say that we have a super line up of wine for the Friday tasting -
The list is just below these items of interest.


• I have to take a minute to thank Stu Devine from New Zealand's Villa Maria Wines and Jim Kowalshyn from Vineyard Brands the folks that import those wines, for their fine work last Friday night. Especially Stu who drove in all the way from Auckland to meet our friends - many thanks gentlemen.

• Most of us have had one of the big brand name Champagnes - But I just have to talk to you a little bit about our crusade to offer you "Grower/Producer Champagnes" - We would not make such a point to introduce these exceptional wines to you if we did not believe that they represent great value and real excitement. The big brands are available just about everywhere. And they taste the same as they did when your parents served them up to celebrate your birth. They are remarkably consistent, and in a world that is full of unpleasant surprises you can be sure that these wines will taste the same again and again, and never disappoint - just like a bag of Doritos.

Now wait a minute - I can hear the flat open hands slapping the desktops right now - "Honey! They are becoming Champagne snobs!" - STOP. We are not saying that you should never drink a big name brand again - But they can be pricey - the grower champagnes that we are talking about cost the same and in many cases less than the brands that you are familiar with. We just want you to try the difference - you decide.

One last thing - click on this link to our calendar page and read about our special Champagne tasting on
December 19th - and listen to the difference for yourself: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

• We are still taking orders for gift baskets, special desserts, cheese and gourmet gifts - in every conceivable combination - all can be delivered by Thames River Greenery - just for the asking. If you have not taken the time to look at the Greenery website this might be the right time - the link is at the top of this page and you may see something that will solve a gift giving dilemma.


This Week At Brie & Bleu
Featured Cheese:

Colleen's Feature This Week: Cearphilly from England

Caerphilly is the cheese of the week at Brie & Bleu at $10\lb.
The cheese is a tomme-style cow's milk cheese. The heart of the cheese is crumbly and slightly acidic, while the rest of the mass when mature has a silky, smooth texture. The taste is earthy and lemony. Historically known as a Welsh coal miners' lunch, Caerphilly's rustic great flavor has propelled it onto the plates of well-heeled gourmets. Caerphilly is a cheddar-type of cheese, originally produced in Wales, but mostly made now across the border in England. It is a crumbly, firm, white, cow's milk cheese, with a slightly salty flavor. It is not aged for long (one to two months), and is good for melting. Purchase a bottle of Pinot Noir for an additional 10% off the cheese at Thames River Wine and Spirits.
Cheers,
Colleen


Please Join Us - Wine Tasting
Friday December 15th - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina $18
(pronounced Shock -oh -leena) - This is the wine that we discovered in the fairy-tale village of San Sebastian - just 18 kilomoeters south of the French border in the basque region of Spain. This sleek green bottle was on virtually every restaurant and cafe table we saw. The wine is crisp, clean, low in alcohol and just about the best everyday wine with food we have ever tasted. San Sebastian is obsessed with food - it is often said that when the great chefs of Europe need to recharge their batteries - they go to San Sebastian. This tiny area of Spain boasts more Michelin rated restaurants than Paris. This is a wine you should consider buying by the case - and when your guests ask how you discovered this wine you can say - "Oh I've been drinking Shock -oh -leena for years."

2 - Red Horse Ranch Paso Robles Cabernet 2005 $14 from wine maker Dan Kleck.
Winemaker Dan Kleck has loads and loads of "street cred" - His wine credentials make him a "go to" man when poeple have a special project or a problem. You may have met him in our cellar - a tall affable fellow that is happy to sign bottles and take photos with his fans. His Silverstone wines are so highly rated and produced in such limited numbers that they are routinely hard to find - we are one of the few places you can count on to have them. The Red Horse Ranch brand is a treat. It is great with food and has Dan's quality & expertise all over them.

3 - Chateau De Pez Saint Estephe Bordeaux 2003 $38
The critics line up to talk about this wine - Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits Magazine, and scores of others from around the world. They all tag this with ratings in the 90's. And I could list them here.
What is more important to know is the "back story".
Created in the 15th century, Pez is the oldest domain in Saint Estèphe. The Pontac family, who also created Haut-Brion, gave Pez its vineyards. The domain was sold as a property of the state after the French Revolution and owned by a succession of families before Champagne Louis Roederer purchased it in 1995. In 2005, per the review of 2003 vintage, Château de Pez was one of the only nine reclassified wines as a "Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel." Located west of the town of Saint-Estèphe, Château de Pez consists of 74 continuous acres, with 54 acres planted with prime grape varieties, mainly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. You need to try this on Friday night - it is a master class on wine making history in each sip and you will most likely be asking - "its only how much?"

4 - Gaja Ca' Marcanda Magari 2004 $65
Along the Tuscan seaboard extending south from Livorno lies the Maremma. For centuries a forgotten marshland, it has established itself over the last quarter century as one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions. It is in this region that Angelo Gaja began a new winemaking venture. Despite much ridicule by his colleagues and immediate family - I can hear his wife now: "Angelo, what are you - crazy?" - His goal was to transfer the experience of his Piedmontese culture to the Maremma - The Maremma provided a perfect opportunity to apply his experience for growing international varieties. In 1996, along the road between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, Gaja began planting 150 acres of vineyards, primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Mr. Gaja has had the last laugh and probably a lot less questions from Mrs.G. This is magnificent wine and this Friday night is a great opportunity to try them - see what a bold vision really tastes like.

We have a lot of fun around here - thank you, one and all.
Your interest and support make it all possible. We plan on sharing a great holiday season with you.

We hope to see you this week - Please Join Us. It is fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.


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