Montecillo Rioja Crianza, Ceretto Arneis "Blange" , Tenuta San Leone Bardolino Superiore, Perrini Primitivo, Mas de Can Blau, Juan Gil

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 will get right to the list of wine for Friday night - just below these items of interest.

• August 15 - A Taste of Chesapeake Maryland Cuisine - Sold Out, Thank you.

• The Scotch & Cigar evening on Thursday August 23 is Sold Out - Thank You.

• For those of you that have been waiting: The 2002 Penfolds Grange has just arrived. It took a modest price increase and is now $255 a bottle just 6 bottles available - first come, first served.



Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - 8/13/07
"Montecillo Rioja Crianza 2003 $12

Dave Says: "This takes me back to the days when my buddy Patrick and I would sit around broke with a bottle or two of Montecillo, a hunk of cheese and a crusty baguette for dinner. The murky midwinter boredom would slowly lift as the Rioja kicked in and we reviewed the great Miles Davis quintets. Ahh, but that was a simpler time, back in 2004.

This little number was still in oak casks way back then (for the "Crianza" designation, reds must see a minimum two years age --one in oak and one in the bottle). It's a spicy, lighter-bodied Tempranillo, ruby red and smoky. Come on in and try a taste Monday afternoon!"

Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday August 17 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Ceretto Arneis "Blange" 2006 $18
This is a traditional Piemontese white with a twist. Arneis produces a wine with very low acidity in good years and virtually no acidity at all in off years. Italians are not used to this, and to correct the problem Ceretto ferments the wine in sealed tanks that capture the CO2 given off. This CO2 is kept with the wine until bottling, and the wine consequently has a light sparkle to it that makes it considerably livelier than it would be otherwise.
Wine Makers Notes: "It's a pale greenish yellow, and has a surprisingly delicate bouquet, with some pleasant yeasty smells from the sparkle, and also hints of butterscotch. On the palate it is zesty, with nice fruit, and rather tart -- an impression produced by the CO2, because once it has bubbled away the acidity is much reduced. The finish is clean, with faint butterscotch notes. Again, a wine for fish, though in this case things that are not quite so elaborate -- say grilled sea bass. I think it would also go well with vegetable-based dishes. Clean fresh fruits with nuances of lemon zeal. Bright flavors and powerful, with a long elegant finish."

2 - Tenuta San Leone Bardolino Superiore 2005 $14
Italian Verone Winemaker Luigi Rizzi ages this wine with double the skin contact to produce a rich, supple wine with more plumpness and flavor than you would ever expect! This is a great value - and it deserves your attention on Friday night.

3 - Perrini Primitivo 2004 $16
The ancient ancestor of Zinfandel from southern Italy, the immigration from this part of southern Italy to California in the 19th and early 20th c. is the reason that California has such old Zinfandel vines . People brought what they had and over the years Primitivo evolved into Zinfandel. This wine is certified organic by ICEA. It has smooth cherry and blackberry aromas and an easy finish - enjoy it on friday night.

4 - Mas de Can Blau 2004 $45 - Rated 92 points -
POW! - this is a show stopper from Spain. And even at $45 it is a steal.
This is what Robert Parker's Wine Advocate said about this wine:
"The 2004 Mas de Can Blau, the first vintage of this cuvee, comes from the estate’s oldest Carinena, Garnacha, and Syrah vines. It received malolactic fermentation in barrel, was aged for 20 months in new French oak, and bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby/purple-colored, it offers a flamboyant nose of pain grille, scorched earth, tar, and kirsch. Full-bodied with a supple texture, the wine has layers of sweet fruit, nicely integrated oak, tannin, and acidity, in its racy personality. Drink this outgoing wine over the next 8-10 years." Be sure to try this wine on Friday night.

While I am on the subject of Spanish wine - I want to mention that we have recently received the 2005 vintage of a particular favorite of ours.
The 2005 Juan Gil is on the shelf and it is amazing. Robert Parker has consistently rated this wine in the 90's, and this vintage will be no exception.
We had the pleasure of being in Spain at the vineyard in Jumilla when the first grapes for the 2005 vintage arrived at the bodega for crushing.
(see photos here: http://thamesriver.com/wine/photos.html ) -
Visit their website here: http://www.juangil.es/ing/index.htm

We were standing in the warm sunshine and the tarp covering the old wooden wagon was pulled back. Vineyard owner Miguel Gil plucked a few grapes from the pile and handed them to us. We all ate the sweet, juicy, warm fruit - and I remember thinking to myself that "these are the best grapes I have ever tasted" - Then, Miguel looked at us and said that these were the best grapes he had tasted in the last ten years - "this will be a great vintage" - he said.

At $16 a bottle it has to be one of the best values we have ever offered. Ask for it, give it a try, you will not be disappointed. And as you take that first sip or two, imagine that you are standing in the warm spanish sunshine - it feels so good, don't you agree?

Thanks for all of your support - we appreciate it.

We have new programs and events that are about to be posted - please keep your eye on the Calendar & Events page of the website, and of course right here in the weekly email.

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




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