Mark Laderriere - Vina Robles Wines

Our Good Friend

Mark Laderriere was visiting from the West Coast and made time to visit with us on a typical Wednesday afternoon in New London. One of California's best producers Vina Robles sets the bar rather high - take a minute to watch Mark and get some behind the scenes information that is not printed in the press.

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Vina Robles is the realization of a long-held dream. It is the collaboration of international talents and recognition of an area of exceptional viticultural promise. It began as the world-wide search by Hans Nef, a Swiss restaurateur and developer, for the perfect place to grow Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.

Paso Robles is located approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the northern part of San Luis Obispo County. Thirty miles inland, its warm climate is due to the Santa Lucia Mountains that block out most of the cooling Pacific Ocean influence during the day. The Templeton Gap is a saddle in the range that channels the moderating late afternoon breezes and cool air at night across the region.

The appellation of Paso Robles is geographically diverse. Numerous soil types and elevation changes, together with diverse valleys and canyons, account for varied climates and sites that yield high quality production of a diversity of varietals, notably reds.

Dominus, Moonstruck, "Tre Venezie", Zeni Pinot Grigio, Cono Sur, Luigi Baudana, Celebrity Ratings

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
IMPORT - 860-443-6817
www.ThamesRiver.com




Our Friday night line up is listed just below these items of interest and information.
Included on the list is a legendary name - Dominus.
Robert Parker rates this one 95 points - This is the 20th vintage of this powerhouse from California.

We hope to see you this Friday night.

• If you missed The Party last Friday night- it was hopping. Mild weather, spring fever, and calm seas brought the people out.
The heater on the deck was on and the tables were full - it was a beautiful night. The tasting in our cellar focused on the wines of Spain and Portugal and we saw lots of new faces. Thanks for making our weekly fete so much fun - we appreciate it.

• Remember, lots of people have discovered the best kept secret in New London: Buy wine at the wine store - then take it next door for dinner at Brie & Bleu. Dinner and a great bottle of wine that leaves you with enough money to fill your tank in the morning - oh yeah.

• Moonstruck Chocolates - http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/Oscars2006.aspx
This is the company that has been featured on TV and supplies chocolate to the stars -
Now available at Brie & Bleu - take a peek in our display cooler - we are offering some of their favorite items.

This Week At Brie & Bleu:

Here are the dinner specials at Brie & Bleu for this week - our staff will help you pick the perfect wine

Friday 3/30/07- Crab Cakes with radish & lemon aoli and corn salsa.
Saturday 3/31/07 - Lasagna Bolognase with a fresh arugala salad.

Featured cheese: of the week at Brie & Bleu is Tallegio at $9/lb. The cheese is produced in Lombardy, Italy. The cheese is a cow's milk with a high fat content (48%) giving it a very creamy, semi-soft texture that turns runny as it ages. The rind is washed with a reddish-orange color that has mold. The taste of the cheese is extremely pungent, stinky cheese has a very creamy and mellow taste. It's initial salty impact is followed by fruity, yeasty undertones. The cheese pairs well with a young full-bodied wine such as Merlot or with a dessert Riesling and serve with fruit on a cheese board, in salads, or mixed into hot pasta or polenta since it melts well.
Give it a try,
Colleen


Wine Tasting Please Join Us -
Friday March 30 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Zeni Pinot Grigio ramato $17
This is the first rosé tasting of the Spring - The northeastern Italian regions of Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia were historically referred to as the "Tre Venezie"(three Venices), and represent the vast chunk of territory once associated with the great city of Venice. Today, these regions are more politically distinct, but their wines converge on the tables of Venice, where the incomparable array of seafood - cuttlefish in their ink; scampi (shrimp) dressed in olive oil and lemon juice; flaky branzini (sea bass) baked in salt crust - is perfectly complemented by the Tre Venezie¹s minerally, crisp, fragrant white wines. - This wine is a classic of the Tre Venezie: A powerful pinot grigio with a slight pink tinge due to some skin contact during fermentation.
This is the kind of wine you'll see in Venice all the time but rarely does it make it Stateside. (the term "ramato" means "coppery," in reference to the coppery color of the wine due to the skin contact). Give this one a try - you might decide to keep a case around the house all season long.

2 - Cono Sur Pinot Noir - Rapel, Chile - $12
This is an interesting, if slightly odd Pinot Noir. The open nose is quite striking, with a slightly, herbal character, along with some sweet plummy fruit. The palate is rich, fruity and appealing. Pinot Noir is generally known as a sexy wine and this is a great choice for the latest food trends. In general terms this is a wine that will make any white meat look good. Also soups, stews, and flavorful fish dishes.


3 - Luigi Baudana Barbera D'Alba "Donatella" 2004 $26
This entire estate is only 4.5 hectares. And - just one half of a hectare is devoted to Barbera. The entire production less than 2100 cases.
Since 1975 Luigi and Fiorina Baudana have been growing grapes on their tiny estate. Their wines are remarkable for their power and their finesse, their depth of flavor and their sheer drinkability. This is a fantastic wiine for the price AND it drinks with the intensity of a 1963 Marchello Mastriani.

Most people don't realize it but we are the inventors of the "Celebrity Tasting Scale" -
We have used it for years here behind the scenes.
The world is full of 100 point scales, and descriptions of all manner - "gun flint, with a touch of raspberry, on a sunny day" (C&M-take note)
But I have always felt that a better way to describe wine is our system. For example "It's bold, raw, it reminds me of a 1951 Robert Mitchum.

4 - Dominus 2003 95 points $126 - The 20th vintage
Dominus is the proprietary red wine produced in the heart of Napa Valley by Christian Moueix and his team. Since 1983, their goal has been to express the unique terroir found at the historic Napanook Vineyard.

Robert Parker says: "The 2003 Dominus has turned out even better than I thought from barrel. There are 4,800 cases of this 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot blend. A big, sweet nose of roasted coffee, Provencal herbs, black currants, cherry jam, plums, allspice, and forest floor is followed by a spicy, rich, full-bodied, fragrant, intense wine. The tannins are sweet, but noticeable in this beautifully complex, strikingly aromatic 2003. It has much more similarity to a great Bordeaux than anything from Napa Valley. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025."
We say:
This California Powerhouse drinks like a 1953 Ava Gardner - Think "Mogambo"

Thanks for all of your calls and emails this past week - we appreciate it.
It's all about sharing, having some fun and maybe discovering something or someone new - see you there.

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


AAA

Spanish Wine Dinner, Dominic Symington On Location in Portugal

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Dominic Symington speaks candidly from Portugal

Greetings from New London

In case you have not seen it yet take a look at the video we shot on location in Portugal with Dominic Symington - this is a behind the scenes look at one of the greatest names in the wine industry. Exclusive - and only available right here -


The Spanish Wine dinner that we had on Thursday night was a perfect evening -
and the wine list was remarkable - we poured 13 wines in all.
Can you dig it - The surprise list of wine read like poetry. And it is why these special evenings are probably the greatest value that any food and wine lover could imagine.

Here is the full list:

• Txomin TTxaniz Txakolina $18
• Naiades Verdejo 2005 $30
• Barahonda Bellum El Principio 2005 $20
• Alto Moncayo 2003 $40
• Emilo Moro Malleolus 2002 $57
• Finca Sandoval 2004 $40
• Vinas Del Cenit 2003 $45
• Vinedos De Paganos El Pundito 2003 $55
• Bodegas El Nido Clio 2004 $45
• Vinos Pinol Mather Teresina 2003 $50
• Numanthia-Termes Termes 2004 $24
• Numanthia-Termes Numanthia 2004 $54
• Numanthia-Termes Termanthia 2003 $190

Do Over!, Altano Douro, Vale Do Bomfim, Prazo de Roriz, Quinta de Roriz

Greetings from all of us in New London,
www.thamesriver.com
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
IMPORT - 860-443-6817

Well because of the "Storm Of The Century" - I think that's how it was described last week - we were forced to cancel last Friday night's tasting.
According to our records that was the first time we missed a scheduled Friday tasting since we opened.
We hope that you all enjoyed a nice day off.

So this week it is a "Do Over".

The wines are great and we know you will want to try them - they are listed just below this quick update about Brie & Bleu -


This Week At Brie & Bleu -
Dinner Specials:
Friday March 23 - lemon cod with panko bread crumbs and brown butter
Saturday March 24 - orange glazed grilled rack of pork Fred the cheese of the week is Piave Vecchio and Italian cheese.

Seats Still Available for dinners on: 3/20 & 3/27 - please call for more information.

The featured cheese of the week at Brie & Blue is Piave Vecchio, which is a great Italian snacking cheese at $12/lb this week. Piave is made from the pasteurized milk of cows that graze on mountain pastures in Italy's Veneto region. It is not a farmstead cheese. It is made by a cooperative, in 15- pound wheels that are only about 2 inches tall, with the cheese's name impressed in the rind. As with many recently introduced cheeses, information on Piave's manufacture is scarce. From the dense texture and butterscotch aroma and flavor, it appears that the curd is both cooked and pressed, as for Gruyere, Gouda or Parmigiano-Reggiano. Piave may remind you of any or all of those cheeses. It has the texture of a young Parmigiano-Reggiano, not crystalline yet nor dry enough for grating, but heading in that direction. It has the toasted walnut character of Gruyere and the caramel-like sweetness of an aged Gouda. The cheese pairs well with a rich white or virtually any red wine should work.
Enjoy,
Mrs. Z


WINE TASTING PLEASE JOIN US
Friday March 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


1 - Altano Douro Tinto 2004 $9
A red table wine from the Douro region of Portugal. Straight-forward, easy to drink and ideal for an improptu weeknight gathering. This wine is either at the head of its class in quality or below the curve in price. Altano Douro is a premium wine brand that Symington uses to market wines made from the traditional Port grapes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Altano Douro is a delicious value and an excellent table wine. It’s a medium-bodied red that emits scents of red fruit, herbs, spices, and an earthy musk. For the price, the wine shows loads of finesse - just like Jim.

2 - Vale Do Bomfim Reserva 2004 $14
This is what the reviews have to say:
“An intense bouquet of ripe fruit seasoned with spicy vanilla oak leads the charge to flavors of vivid red-berry and cassis fruit gently layered over firm tannins.” - Ben Giliberti, Washington Post
"Best Buy", 88 Points
“… bold, exuberantly flavored blend… shows good depth of fruit…” - Wine Enthusiast

3 - Prazo de Roriz 2004 $16
The Prazo de Roriz table wine is made with a blend of Douro grapes; especially Tinta Roriz, a grape that acquired its name from the Roriz estate when it was first brought to the Quinta in the 19th century from Spain where the grape is known as Tempranillo.
"Best Buy", 89 Points
“The Symington family continues to make strides in their table wine production… full-bodied, smooth-textured… brining blackberry, blueberry and spice and mineral notes to the table.”
- Wine Enthusiast

4 - Quinta de Roriz Reserva 2000 $25
"Rich and deeply flavored, with brooding dark plum, dark chocolate and heady, spicy flavors. Almost like drinking a dry Port. Plenty of tannins in this as well, with good grip on the powerfully smoky and decadent finish. The preferred Port grape, Touriga Nacional, dominates as 45 percent of the blend. "
Score: 92 points - Wine Spectator

Thanks very much for your support - we appreciate it.
And we hope to see you on Friday night - weather permitting - the deck will be open.

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


AAA.

Dominic Symington, Duckhorn, Constant Bliss, Symington Family, Altano Douro, Vale Do Bomfim, Prazo de Roriz, Quinta de Roriz

Greetings from all of us in New London,
www.thamesriver.com
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
IMPORT - 860-443-6817


We have a great selection of wines for the Friday night tasting they are listed below - here are a couple of items of interest and the answers to a couple of questions that came in during the week.




• Well, our wine tasting on Friday night - the one that featured the "big guns" from Duckhorn Vineyards - brought the people out. Or was it the return of our own "Rascal from Rioja" Jim Morrison? Fresh from the trip to Spain, full of stories and a new outlook on life.

Lets just say it was a combination of both.

Our cellar was full of people. Chatting, sipping, meeting and greeting.
Thank you all for showing so much support and for making it so much fun every week.
There were lots of new people too. From places like Hartford, Madison, Old Saybrook and Providence.
Where else can you meet new people and share the experience of trying great wine? - For free.

"We wish we had a store like this at home" - That was the sentiment that was expressed - The out-of-towners said that they were tired of shopping in places with overwhelming selections, snobby unfriendly attitudes and feeling as if their local stores were doing them a favor by selling them a bottle of wine - or even worse making them feel like an idiot.

When it comes down to it - behind all of the fancy labels and famous names it is what is inside the bottle that counts. The best wines are not the ones that are the most expensive, they are the ones that bring the most enjoyment - that is why we are here. We want you to judge the wine for yourself - you are the best judge. We believe that by knowing our customers on an individual basis we can help them to feel comfortable trying new things and to experience the excitement of discovering their own tastes. Whether it is wine to go with Chinese take-out, a special gift, dinner party wine, or a large wedding, we are more than happy to use our "expertise" to help select the perfect wine for any occasion.

• Speaking of idiots...
We are often asked after pouring a glass of wine, "What should I be tasting?" Its a hard question to answer because no one can, or should, be able to tell you what to taste. I remember, reading the description of a wine I had tried and thinking "I don't taste any of those things, I must be an idiot." Now, the case could be made that I am an idiot, but not because I don't taste plums, saddle soap, figs and Converse All Stars in my Cote Rotie.

In addition to what you are actually tasting there is the problem of communicating that to another person. I had this discussion with a friend who sent along this essay that he found on a British website. Its called New English Review. The article is Language, truth and wine by Colin Bower.

Here is the link: http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=5509&sec_id=5509



• We are in the process of switching all of our videos to the "Flash flv" format - in hopes of making it easier for everyone to view. At the moment they are all available in "Quicktime" only - This is a bunch of technical jargon that you do not have to worry about - when we switch it will be invisible to the user - that's you - your computer will will the work for you and it should allow everyone to see what all of the fuss is about. Thanks for your patience.




• All of the menus for our Tuesday and Wednesday night wine dinner series have been posted on the Calendar of Events page - If you see something that you like, it is best not to wait to make your reservations. Call, because seating is limited.


THIS WEEK AT BRIE & BLEU:

Dinner Specials:
Friday: Lemon Cod
Saturday: Lamb with fattoosh salad & garlic pilaf
The wine selections were not available to me at press time - but - rest assured that we will have a couple of choices just right for every pocket.
This has got to be the best food & wine dinner value in the area. Please give it a try.

The featured cheese is Constant Bliss.

The featured cheese of the week at Brie & Blue is Constant Bliss at $8. Constant Bliss is based on a Chaource recipe, which is modified to suit the production schedule and cheesemaking facility at Jasper Hill. The result is a cheese which hardly even resembles a Chaource. It is a slow ripened lactic curd made only with fresh, right out of the cow, uncooled, evening milk. We actually begin the cheesemaking process before the cows have finished milking. Constant Bliss is made with raw whole milk. This is not a double or triple crème cheese as is sometimes thought. Seasonal variations in the milk result in variations on the surface and flavor of the cheese. We like to use Constant Bliss to highlight our milk, and rather than overpowering the natural microflora of our milk with cotton white mold, we prefer to see a mottling of diverse molds and yeasts, which are prevalent particularly in the summer months when the cows are out on grass. It is aged 60 days before it leaves the farm, and is a ‘sell it or smell it’ item for retailers.

Constant Bliss is named after a revolutionary war scout killed in Greensboro by native Americans in 1781. He was guarding the Bayley Hazen Military Road with his compatriot Moses Sleeper, who died with him.
Enjoy,
"Mrs.Z"

WINE TASTING PLEASE JOIN US
Friday March 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

The wines are all from the region that our own Jim Morrison - has just visited. The stories are still fresh in his mind and he can give all of us first hand information about each and everyone one of them. We would like to thank the Symington family for their generous hospitality and Dominic Symington in-particular for his personal attention. Thank You. And to Jim Kowalyshyn from Vineyard Brands for opening the doors and including us.

Take a minute to visit our calendar of events page - In the next 24 hours - you can watch video shot on location with Dominic Symington in Portugal - it will give you an idea of what it takes to produce a world-class wine. And please taste them on Friday they are truly wonderful.

1 - Altano Douro Tinto 2004 $9
A red table wine from the Douro region of Portugal. Straight-forward, easy to drink and ideal for an improptu weeknight gathering. This wine is either at the head of its class in quality or below the curve in price. Altano Douro is a premium wine brand that Symington uses to market wines made from the traditional Port grapes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Altano Douro is a delicious value and an excellent table wine. It’s a medium-bodied red that emits scents of red fruit, herbs, spices, and an earthy musk. For the price, the wine shows loads of finesse - just like Jim.


2 - Vale Do Bomfim Reserva 2004 $14
This is what the reviews have to say:
“An intense bouquet of ripe fruit seasoned with spicy vanilla oak leads the charge to flavors of vivid red-berry and cassis fruit gently layered over firm tannins.” - Ben Giliberti, Washington Post
"Best Buy", 88 Points
“… bold, exuberantly flavored blend… shows good depth of fruit…” - Wine Enthusiast

3 - Prazo de Roriz 2004 $16
The Prazo de Roriz table wine is made with a blend of Douro grapes; especially Tinta Roriz, a grape that acquired its name from the Roriz estate when it was first brought to the Quinta in the 19th century from Spain where the grape is known as Tempranillo.
"Best Buy", 89 Points
“The Symington family continues to make strides in their table wine production… full-bodied, smooth-textured… brining blackberry, blueberry and spice and mineral notes to the table.”
- Wine Enthusiast

4 - Quinta de Roriz Reserva 2000 $25
"Rich and deeply flavored, with brooding dark plum, dark chocolate and heady, spicy flavors. Almost like drinking a dry Port. Plenty of tannins in this as well, with good grip on the powerfully smoky and decadent finish. The preferred Port grape, Touriga Nacional, dominates as 45 percent of the blend. "
Score: 92 points - Wine Spectator

We hope to see you Friday night.
Please join us. It is fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA

Stefano Inama, Duckhorn Tasting, Our Man In Madrid

Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
IMPORT - 860-443-6817
www.thamesriver.com

Well this has been an exciting week - and we have a truly great line-up of wines for the tasting on Friday night.
The list is just below these other items of interest and information. I thought I would pull the corks on something special this week -
Let's do it - an all Duckhorn line up.

I am calling this Fridays tasting - The Welcome Home Jim Morrison Tasting.
And I hope that many of you can join us to taste and to listen as Jim tries to convince us that he was working very hard in Spain.
And that it really was no fun at all. Come On big Jim - you're talking to us.

As some of you know we have been getting erratic transmissions from our man in Madrid.
Jim has been using the Blackberry to phone in and keep us posted.
But every-time he calls, the music in the background is so loud, it is almost impossible to understand what he is saying.

The last call came in on Friday night - Jim was shouting something about being blind-folded and swinging at a Pinata -
Then there was the sound of a scuffle and a woman came on the line.
She said that Señor Morrison would have to call us back - "He very tired now."
Please join us on Friday night - lets see if we can get the rest of the story.


• Last Wednesday morning the front door opened and who waltzes in but Stefano Inama - one of the most exciting winemakers working in Italy today.
He was candid and shared many thoughts and ideas with us - we never know who might come through that front door.
You can watch a bit of our visit with Stefano on our calendar page -
Just scroll down a bit to the WineRadio section: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
You will need Quicktime to watch our videos - this is a fast & free download if you do not already have it.
Get it here: www.quicktime.com - The whole process should take less than a minute if you need it.

• Thanks to everyone at Connecticut College that made our big Saturday night bash up at Harris Hall so much fun.

• Our Tuesday & Wednesday food series continue with a new slate of menus will be posted very soon on the website - keep a lookout and if you see something that strikes your fancy - call & reserve. Space is limited. - 860-443-9463

• The Bulgarian Connection:
Two of our favorite local artists that have had recent residencies in Bulgaria are showing some of their results.
Kat Murphy is the featured artist for March at La Belle Aurore Bistro - 860-739-6767
Opening reception id Wednesday, March 7th - 6-9 p.m. - 75 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic.
This is a wonderful organic bistro and a nice opportunity to "Dine Out For Art." www.labelleaurorebistro.com

AND - Mark Patnode - Showing 'Scenes From Bulgaria' - An art exhibit featuring a series of 14 works which were completed during a recent residency at the Sharon House in Smolyan, Bulgaria. Opening February 24 - March 24, 2007.
Located at 3rd Rail Studio, 49 Plain Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 - 914-712-9831 or visit : http://www.3rdrailstudio.com


This Week At Brie & Bleu:
Featured This Week - An Amazing Marinated Feta -
The featured cheese this week at Brie & Blue is marinated feta from Australia at $19/lb. The marinated feta is definitively creamy with impeccable taste. The cheese is crafted with skill and care by a farmhouse cheesemaker in Victoria, Australia, 34° Marinated Feta is made from a combination of sheep and goat’s milk. Marinated in a blend of olive and canola oil, fresh thyme, whole peppercorns and garlic, this rich and flavorful cheese is exceptionally smooth and satisfying. Eat this creamy feta straight from the tub, or enjoy with 34° Fresh Australian olives and green salads. Pairs well with a light, dry wine with fruity, grassy flavors, such as Ruston Sauvignon Blanc purchased at Thames River Wine and Spirits for an additional 10% off the cheese.
Enjoy, "Mrs. Z"

ALSO Our own Jim Lalumiere
Will be serving up delicious Cheese & Beer Parings at the Riverside Restaurant in Danielson.
Saturday March 17 - St. Patricks Day
Beer Dinner @ The Riverside Restaurant, 13 Water St. Danielson, Connecticut - (860) 774-3508


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday March 9 - 6-9 p.m. No Charge

I will let the reviews and accolades speak for themselves this week. Duckhorn is a name that does not need much introduction.
Please Join Us for great wine and a welcome back to our own Jim Morrison. We can debrief him together.

Co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has spent a quarter century establishing itself as one of North America's premier producers of Bordeaux varietal wines. From its modest inaugural vintage of 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, to its addition of Sauvignon Blanc in 1982, Duckhorn Vineyards has crafted a tradition of quality and excellence that continues today. For nearly three decades, the commitment to crafting wines of distinction has remained at the heart of the Duckhorn Vineyards philosophy. As its Napa Valley estate properties continue to mature, the winery will continue creating world-class wines from exceptional vineyards.

1 - Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2005 - $28
Wine Enthusiast
December 1, 2006
"I love this wine. Duckhorn has been on a roll with Sauvignon Blanc, and this is the best yet. It's dry and refreshingly crisp in acidity, with delicious citrus, fig, honeysuckle, green apple and spice flavors. A bit of barrel fermentation makes it even richer." 91 points, Editors' Choice

2 - Duckhorn Napa Merlot 2004 - $54
Wine Enthusiast
March 2007
"There's a beautiful Merlot in here but you're going to have to paddle against the powerful tannins to find it. It brings to mind the old Duckhorn Three Palms Merlots, which were similarly tough and tannic in youth, but aged well. This wine is ripe in chocolate, blackberry, cassis, coconut macaroon and plum sauce flavors, but needs four or five years to begin to come around." 90 points, Cellar Selection

3 - Duckhorn Estate Cabernet 2003 - $95
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
January/February 2007
"Ruby-red. Blackcurrant, dark chocolate, tar and licorice on the nose. Then spicy and bright if a bit lean and minty on the mouth, with cassis, licorice and mineral flavors. The tannins are supple." 88 points

4 - A Surprise. - It is going to a great night and we will let Jim pick something to share with us.
I hope you can join us.


Thanks very much for all of your support - we appreciate it.
And we especially appreciate people taking the time to send us their comments and suggestions.

Please Join Us - It Is fun, Informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA