Root 1, Crios Rosé, Bodegas Bernabe Navarro Beryna, Beckman Cabernet

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


We hope you are enjoying a beautiful holiday weekend.


We have delicious and temptable wines lined up for Friday night - the list is just below these few items of interest. For all of the people that STILL think that there is nothing new in New London - get out a pencil - there are a few things to put on your list - it is going to be a busy weekend in New London - we hope to see you here:

• Sunday night was the opening of the new Outdoor Pavillion at the Bulkely House. Eight To The Bar played on the big stage and the dance floor was hoppping. The bar was packed and the people were pretty. A big round of applause should go to Lou Mase for the tremendous effort he put into this project. The Summer nights will be filled with music and the arts - be sure to visit the Bulkeley House to take a look - it's right across the street from us.

• Thanks to everyone who attended our Spirits and Smoke night.
Especially Alan Hall who has never missed one of these events in the three years that we've been doing them - Thanks for the support.
And, as predicted by our own Jim Morrison, the Michters Single Barrel Rye swept the table, even against Scotches that cost $20 dollars more a bottle.

• Friday June 1st 6pm at 102 green street on the corners of Golden and Green -
just one block from our store.
Last year Frank Lo looked us dead in the eye and said
"If I bring Manolo Blahnik, will they come?"
Friday night we'll find out as he opens MUSE, a shoe store and gallery space.

"It's a a fusion of an up-scale shoe store and ArtGallery created by Denny Rivera and Frank Marchani, opening with new works by owner Denny Rivera. Opening Night Celebration - the curtain goes up at 6pm, and Frank will be serving wine from Thames River Wine and Spirits and beer from Cottrell

AND - Across the street - At the Golden Street gallery -
The New exhibit "WHAT DO YOU SEE" new works by New
London Artists Kat Murphy and Greg Bowerman will open at 6 p.m. too.

• We have added TWO seats for this month's Cult Wine Dinner - The wines of Viader Vineyards.
Robert Parker consistently rates these limited production wines in the 80's & 90's. Prices reach $200+ per bottle.

Robert Parker says:
"Viader is one of the most magnificently situated California vineyards I have ever visited,
Located on a steeply terraced slope on Howell Mountain, the vineyard consists of 18 acres. With a Bordeaux-like mouthfeel the emphasis is on finesse as opposed to power. The beautifully packaged product (a heavy glass bottle with broad shoulders and a designer label) is filled with a wine that is as distinctive as the packaging. All the Viader wines offer compelling evidence that they should last and evolve, hopefully improve, for at least 12-15+ years."
This is a great night for any wine lover - please call early to reserve the last two seats. 860-443-9463

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday June 1st - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Root 1 Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $12
The Root 1 name reflects the fact that Chile is one of the only places in the world where ungrafted rootstock has not been affected by phylloxera. Winemaker Felipe Tosso crafted Root 1: Sauvignon Blanc from grapes grown on vines with ungrafted root systems in the Casablanca Valley. As one of the premier Sauvignon Blanc winegrowing regions in Chile, the pre-coastal valley, located just 11 miles from the Pacific Ocean, has sandy clay loam soil and a climate that produces a late harvest. It is hard to imagine that this wine is only $12 a bottle. Please try it.

2 - Crios Rose of Malbec 2006 $12
This wine is made by Susana Balbo, considered to be one of the best wine makers in Argentina.
A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. This has a surprising amount of body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of ripe wild strawberries accompanied by some spice and a clean, dry finish. This is the wine to serve with warm-weather meals when there is a mix of traditional white & red wine foods.
Keep one in the fridge at all times and you’ll always have a delicious wine to enjoy with light snacks and cheeses.

We have been invited to a private reception for Susana early next month at the Argentinean Consulate in New York - we will have her as a guest on our show that afternoon. So if you have a question or two that you would like us to ask - bring them on Friday night. We will put her in the hot seat, with your questions.

Embassies and Consulates can be tricky territory.
The last thing I remember about a previous trip to the Argentinean Consulate was drinking champagne from a crystal flute - across the room, a beautiful woman looked up and smiled at me. I was already composing my letter to the Penthouse Forum when she started to walk towards me.
She stopped, and then leaned in, to whisper in my ear:
"Be careful," she said, "that first step can be a doo-zeee." Then she bit my earlobe - and that was it.
When I woke up, I was face down in the pampas grass of an estancia about three hours outside of Buenos Aries.

It all worked out in the end - and I see no reason to hold a grudge.
But I won't be letting my guard down this time around.


3 - Bodegas Bernabe Navarro Beryna 2004 $22
2004 is proving itself to be a stellar vintage all over Spain and Alicante is no exception -
This one drinks like Pure Silk. It goes beyond well balanced, with wonderful notes of sweet blueberry, black raspberry, black cherry and creme de cassis. Rich and lush, and smooth the whole way through, this is a great wine for everyone, not just Spanish wine lovers. And it is a great value - be sure to try this on Friday night.

4 - Beckman Cabernet 2004 $24
This is the best California cabernet that we carry for under $25, all of the fruit concentration that you expect from California, with better structure than normally seen at this price point. We've been selling this wine for three years, and we've been waiting for this guy to become "the next big thing" only to realize that maybe it's better if he doesn't get too much press.
When was the last time you could buy a top quality California Cabernet with a production of only 1500 cases for $24?
Try this on Friday - you will be glad you did.


The season is upon us - thanks so much for all of your support, comments, and suggestions - We appreciate it.
We have a big line up for the summer - the best is yet to come.

Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA

Cloudy Bay, Claar Cellars, Alto Moncayo, Don Melchor

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

We have a great lineup of wine for you on Friday – they are listed just below these items of interest. An especially busy week here in New London – Let me break it down:

• Just take a look at the grueling schedule that we had to keep this past week.

Monday: Drive to Greenwich Meet our friends Mario Batali & Lidia Bastianich at Lidias house for a wine party. Eat Lidia’s & Mario’s food and try all of their new wines.
How could we refuse an invitation like this – when Lidia calls – we go.

Take a peek at our video of Mario & Lidia - scroll down to the last blog entry and click play.

Tuesday: Drive to Norwalk Attend the pre-release tasting party for the 2005 French Burgundy that will be available early September – This is a luncheon for big wigs and industry insiders – I don’t know how we got on the list. It might have been the crisp hundred that Jim was able to press into the correct palm – once inside we sat shoulder to shoulder with the experts. Glass after glass, bottle after bottle, we tried about 45 wines – no exaggeration. The whole thing started at 11am sharp. By 12:30 everyone is holding hands and singing Frère Jacques.

Then the food was served – Roast duck club sandwiches, lobster quiche, grilled salmon – the pace was killing us – but getting to try wine that would retail for hundreds of dollars a bottle – which of course they hold back until the end – made it all worth while. Sure you are rolling your eyes and slapping your hands on the table - saying – come ON your talking to us! Ladies and gentlemen of the jury – I implore you, we must have more respect for the people that eat and drink professionally. :-)

Wednesday: Shake off French wine hangover & prepare for Food Stroll in New London. Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and came out for Food Stroll, we had over four hundred people join us for the wine tasting in the cellar.

Thursday: Continue to shake off French wine hangover & host Rosé Wine Dinner at Brie & Bleu. A beautiful selection of Rosé wines served with dinner. And hopefully we proved once again that rosé is the perfect wine for summer.

Friday: Wine tasting 6-9 p.m. – in The Cellar.

We had to spend the rest of the weekend in a steam room – swatting each other with eucalyptus branches and sipping green tea – Jim looks much better now.

• There are only a few seats left for the Spirits & Smoke tasting on our deck. 6 p.m. Thursday 5/24 $40 – Super premium spirits, a light menu, and a nice cigar round out this popular series.

• There are only two seats left for the Viader Cult Wine Dinner 6 p.m. Thursday 5/31. By now the secret is getting out – These dinners are feasts that are unparalleled in all of Connecticut. Falstaff would be proud. $100, plus tax and service.

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday May 25 – 6-9 p.m. – No Charge

1 - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $28 - www.cloudybay.co.nz This is by far the most famous Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Highly allocated, we have only two cases and will be pouring this wine for the first time. First come, first served. Exceptional richness, with ripe flavors and a powerful, crisp finish.

2 - Claar Cellars Merlot 2003 $15 - www.claarcellars.com Now widely recognized as one of the premier growing regions in the world, the Columbia Valley has been producing great wines for far less than their Napa equivalents. Delicious. It’s time to give merlot another visit.

3 - Alto Moncayo Veraton 2004 $24 We were able recently to put the Veraton 2003 up against the Veraton 2004 and if it's possible, the 2004 was even better than the much beloved 2003. When the wine came in , we bought deep. We have a few dozen cases, but that is it for the year. The wine is supple and luscious, very approachable, yet complex enough to keep even the most jaded collector spinning. Please try this on Friday – you will be glad you did.

4 - Concha y Toro Don Melchor 2004 $55
The best wine produced in Chile period. Always in the Wine spectator top 100.Produced in the Bordeaux tradition, the wine drinks like a 2nd growth. Tremendous structure and aging potential. We will decant this wine for 5 hours and have one bottle ready to sample at 6pm.
Only 11 bottles available for sale – period.

Thanks for making all of this so much fun.
We are invited to these events and are able to hobnob with all kinds of exciting people because of your support. Time and time again we hear from our suppliers and guests that the quality and genuine interest of our customers is rarely seen – give yourself a nice round of applause.

Please Join Us. It’s fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. Please say hello the next time you are in the store.

AAA.

Fun With Mario and Lidia

Click To Play

Bastianich Family Wine Party
A quick visit behind the scenes with two of the worlds great chefs.

For the second year in a row we were invited to spend an afternoon with Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich. Lots of food, lots of wine, great people, it reminded me of our nights at Brie & Bleu. Take a couple of minutes to peek behind the scenes - WineRadio Takes You There.

Viader Wine Dinner, Domaine Fournier, Domaine LaFond Tavel, Waterstone, Flora Springs Trilogy

Greetings From All Of Us In New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits – 860-443-9463
www.thamesriver.com


We have a tasty selection of wines for you to try this Friday evening – we really hope that you can join us. The list is just below a few items of interest.

• Many thanks to Joe Mascaro for hosting the Italian wine dinner last Thursday night -
And thank you to Mr. Rob Mackin, for providing the wines and the fly-on-the-wall insight into the great estates of Italy.

It was something like 18 wines, but nobody was able to get a final count.
It went a little something like this:
Brunello – Barbaresco – Barolo - cha-cha-cha.

Remember – all you have to do is ask, and we can put a private affair together for you too. – cha-cha-cha.

• Rosé is the underdog of the wine world. Wine lovers who enjoy sitting down with a full-bodied glass of red have a hard time taking something pink seriously. But rosé is moving up fast, powered by rising quality and an inherent food-friendliness. With the warm days of summer just around the corner, there's no time like the present to enjoy rosé's fresh, fruity pleasures. And that is why we are presenting an evening devoting to this luscious treat - We have a few seats left for the Rosé dinner Thursday 5/17.
It will feature boutique rose Champange and wine from Domaine Ott. Lets put the perception that rosé is just a lot of sweet crap to rest, once and for all.
Reserve early – 860-443-9463.

• Please join us for Spirits & Smoke on the deck Thursday 5/24
Along with some of the fantastic single batch bourbons that we carry we have quietly been building our Rye Whiskey selections. Rye is being rediscovered and recreated as a super premium spirit and we will offer it along with a nice cigar. It is a match made in heaven – seating is limited please call to reserve your seats. 860-443-9463

• There are just a few seats left for our next Cult Wine Dinner.
Thursday May 31 – 6 p.m. - $100 plus tax and service.
The wines of Viader will be served – including Magnums of “V”.
This is a great night to share with someone special – and a must for all wine lovers that want a chance to try some of the most sought after wines that are nearly impossible to find.
Reserve early.


• A special note about Saturday night - Brie & Bleu will be closed for a private party.
It’s Brenna's Graduation Feté.
Remember – you can have your party here too – just call and ask about the details.


Wine Tasting – Please Join Us
Friday May 18 – 6-9 p.m. – No charge

1 - Fournier Sauvignon Blanc 2005 $9
Hiers to several generations of wine-growers, Paul (the father), Claude and Jacques (the sons) are running the vineyards handed down by their ancestors, with an unfailing respect for tradition, and a guarantee of quality. This pale golden colored wine is a perfect everyday wine for your summer tables. A case or two at this price is a very good deal. Please try it this Friday.

2 - Domaine Lafond Tavel rose 2005 $14
Tavel along with Bandol comprise the two great rose Villages, this is classic French rosé,
and truly remarkable. Domaine Lafond's Tavel is a forceful, rich, personality-filled rosé, offering strawberry and cherry fruit with a whiff of the famed "herbes de Provence. Winemaker:
"The culminant aromas are complex, red and white fruits mixing with floral tinges.
With time, these fruity aromas tend to turn mellow adding touches of spice and plums.”

Taste for yourself what the French have known for decades – Rosé wine is a great match with food, and should be part of your summer tradition.


3 - Waterstone Cabernet 2004 - $30
Waterstone Napa Cabernet is made from grapes sourced from one of the most acclaimed estates in Napa - if not the world. Under agreement with our distributor we cannot reveal which estate. Suffice to say, when not selling grapes to Waterstone they are producing a wine that is unattainable. (Bob- please take note).
This is a chance to sample one of the great Napa terroirs at a fraction of the price.

4 - Flora Springs Trilogy 2003 $60
This wine is ranked #7 in Napa Valley’s 50 Best Cabernet’s for quality to price ratio by Wine Spectator. It has a deep delicious color and a smooth elegance.
You may have seen our interview with Sean Garvey, 3rd generation family member when he stopped by the store. – if not take a minute to visit our calendar of events page: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Scroll down to the WineRadio section and listen to him talk about this wine.
Of course you can see it on iTunes too.


Thanks for all of the feedback and your support– we are listening. And we will keep you posted with additional changes and updates for the coming summer season –
it’s going to be a lot of fun – cha-cha-cha.

Please Join Us – It’s fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA

Marc Perrin, Matthieu Perrin, Quilceda Creek, Viader, Cenit Tinto

Greetings from all of us in New London,

We have a great line up of wine for Friday night the list is just below these items of interest.

• It has been a busy week here in New London with lots of excitement. Our remodeling job at Brie & Bleu was finished ahead of schedule and under budget – someone get the studio chiefs on the phone – I think we are ready to direct.

• Our dinner with Marc & Matthieu Perrin from the Chateau Beaucastel last Thursday night was a real joy. There are some wines that have a magic to them - from the instant they touch your lips to the memories that linger for days after their consumption. These wines are more than the sum of their parts, as if someone added two and three and got six - they shine brighter and deeper than it seems possible for a simple splash of liquid in a glass. Beaucastel is one of these wines.

We sat with Marc and we drank Beaucastel '78,'81,'83,'89,'96,'03,'04 - & that was just the REDS. Believe me when I tell you that sitting arms length away from the man that made the wine and listening to him tell the stories that only he can convey, it is a very special experience. When we say “Private Dinner & Meet The Winemaker” – we mean it.

A very special note of thanks has to go to Hank Mann – a good friend and clubhouse regular, for helping to make our vertical tasting possible. Even though he was unable to attend the feté – he provided the 78, 81, 83, 89, from his own cellar. These wines are painfully hard to find and even caused Marc Perrin to raise an eyebrow – “How did you get these?” he asked. We all raised our glasses to Hank on that night – and I do so again right now.

You can watch brief highlights of the dinner and our full interview with Marc Perrin on our website, on our blog, and of course – on iTunes. It should all be posted by late Monday or Tuesday.

• Quilceda Creek 2004 $225

We have it.

Last year Wine Spectator ranked this wine as the best American wine, Robert Parker gave the '02 and '03 100 points, and this wine has the highest average Parker score of any wine in the world. This year Wine Spectator rated this wine 95 points collectable , which is consistent with their assessment of previous vintages. Wine writer Stephen Tanzer indicates he will rate this vintage between 93-96 points.
12 bottles for the year – period. First come first served.

• Our summer menus and dinner series are almost finalized – here is a First Look.
If you see something that you like please call to reserve – seating is limited:

Rosé Wine Dinner Thursday 5/17 - $60
Featuring Rose Champagne and Domaine Ott.

Smokes & Spirits Thursday 5/24 - $40
On The Deck, ladies don’t be shy – Compare for yourself the subtleties of fine Rye’s and Whiskey. Add a nice cigar to top it off. Possible side effects may include euphoria, sudden bursts of laughter and a lingering sense of savoir-faire.

“Cult Wine” Series continues
Viader Vineyards - Thursday 5/31 $100


Wine Tasting – Please Join Us
Wines for tasting Friday May 11 – 6-9 p.m. – No Charge

1 - Anakena Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $8
A delicate and crisp pale gold Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. This subtle wine shows complex citric and herbal aromas and hints of tropical fruit as pineapple and passion fruit. At the palate is elegant, fresh and with a long finish. Delicious as an aperitif, or with poultry, seafood, salmon, and salads.

2 - Zeni Pinot Grigio Ramato 2005 $17
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

3 - Col Des Vents Corbieres 2004 $12 Languedoc France
"Col des Vents" refers to the hills of the Corbières region which are swept by night winds coming off the sea and cooling the vineyards. Ripe blueberry and cherry flavors. A real value – that deserves your attention.

4 - Cenit tinto 2003 $45 - Tempranillo from Zamora Spain (near Toro),
You may have heard Faith Middleton rave about this wine on her NPR radio show this past week. “Very intense cherry, potent aromas, rich in ripe fruit, spices from the oak well-integrated, with minerals (dry earth), spirituos but the fruit keeps its freshness. Full mouth, bold, rich with ripe fruit, big, spiritous, tasty but not sweet tannins" 95 points by Jose Penin, Guia Penin. “ This is a powerhouse, that is worth the price. Give it a try on Friday night.


Thanks again for all of the kind words and emails – it is your support that makes it all happen.
We are implementing most of your requests and will reveal even more in next week’s update.
Please Join Us – it’s fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.


AAA