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 that you are all enjoying the holiday weekend - we are.
Just a couple of quick notes this week - Then our list of wine for Friday - it is full of great discoveries and one Block Buster -
it's all just below these items of interest.
• First I have to mention that the long awaited 2005 Burgundies have arrived - with more on the way. Several have already sold out - we will stock and restock as much as we can - but there is a limited supply, so if you are one of the people that just can not get enough of real Burgundy - this is the time to make your move. We have a really nice selection - you will not see them in most stores.
• Thanks to Cindy Scott for hosting a swell party last week for her friends - Arriving by boat, Cindy and her party of 14 wined and dined while watching the sun set on the mighty Thames. Our deck was just the right spot for a private party - Special menu, special wine, lots of laughter - it was perfect.
Remember - your own private party can be set with a single call. Special menu, special wine, lots of laughter - it will be perfect. 860-443-9463
• Thanks to everyone that attended the Cult Wine Series dinner last Wednesday night.
Impossibly hard to find Pinot Noir from Oregon and California was flowing like water. And Anne Haviland served the perfect menu of Wild Salmon & Risotto to go along with it - fantastic. Just wait until you see what's next for the series - you will have to read it twice to make sure you have it right. We will set the date and the menu soon - it will be posted to the calendar of events page and right here in the email - reserve early.
• Thanks for making the cruise ship visit a big success. One of the best vantage points in the city had to be our deck at Brie & Bleu - when the mighty Explorer of The Seas departed after its day in New London on Saturday, it passed our deck full of people that raised their glasses and cheered when the ship's horn rumbled through the air with its DEEP resonating "basso-profundo." One young woman remarked " Oooh - that tickled in places I didn't even know I had!" - her date had a surprised look on his face, and then he quickly refilled her glass of Prosecco - It was a great night.
• Wednesday September 5 - our Endless Summer wine dinner will feature a choice - Anne Haviland's menu of - Heirloom tomato salad, grilled veal chops OR grilled swordfish both served with a fresh gremolata, and a dessert of fire roasted peaches with marscapone cheese - It all starts at 6 p.m. - wine is served with each course - $50 plus tax & service - call early to reserve the last seats available - 860-443-9463.
• The new wine of the week at Brie & Bleu:
Our very own Michelle Dicesare had selected a chardonnay: Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Ranches - pronounced (koo-TRAIR)
"Pretty floral aromas fade to tropical fruits; citrus follows through to the palette, finishing with slight minerality."
What Michelle is saying is - this is a delicious, light on the tongue wine that is great with cheese - even for people that swear they do not like Chardonnay - try it. $7 Glass - $35 Bottle.
Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday September 7 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Haut Terres de Comberousse " Roucaillat" - $15
Directed by a young Frenchman (Paul Reder) who, although working with the most basic equipment and in relatively primitive circumstances, is producing perhaps the most interesting white wines of the Languedoc region. These wines have a strong personality driven by the harsh conditions, the stony, spare soil, and the strong sea breezes from the Mediterranean. We think you will find this wine to be very desirable - but the production is very limited - If you like what you taste - snag it now.
2 - Mandolin Pinot Noir 2006 - $14 Monterey California
It is VERY hard to find a Pinot Noir under $15 that tastes like the real McCoy - but here it is.
The grapes for this Pinot Noir were sourced from the Santa Lucia Highlands, a mountain range running from the Monterey Bay to Paso Robles. Mandolin Pinot Noir features bright cherry and raspberry fruit flavors with hints of spice. This is luscious wine and will complement a wide array of foods, including grilled fish, lamb and aged cheeses. As the weather starts to cool this is a nice wine for your end of summer tables - and it is a great value at this price.
3 - Domaines des Cantarelles Syrah de Fayel 2005 - $11
This estate is located south east of Nimes. This region is the former delta region of the Rhone river and has the same warm climate and stoney soils of it's more famous neighbors. Full bodied, lush and complex, this wine has the added virtue of being affordable. Its color is extremely dark, and its nose reveals beautifully ripened black fruits. This wine is crammed full with flavors of blackberries, dark cherries, black olives, and cassis, intermingled with subtle smoky notes. It is concentrated, nicely extracted, and mouth-filling. On the finish, the wine reveals soft, supple tannins and even more layers of tangy black fruits. You must try it on Friday night. This is the kind of wine you should buy a case of - a great wine for everyday, at an unbeatable price.
4 - Beaux Freres Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2005 $80 www.beauxfreres.com
This is a wine that has never received a score less than 90 points - more typically it is rated in the mid to high nineties by The Wine Spectator and every other major reviewer that's out there. All of them EXCEPT ONE. You will not see a review signed by Robert Parker - arguably the single most influential wine reviewer that ever sharpened a number two pencil and put words to paper. Why? You will not see RP's review because he owns the vineyard - along with his brother-in-law and one other partner. And they make this amazing wine without compromise. Here is what they have said about this vintage:
"The color is dark ruby with plenty of purple highlights. The nose is very extroverted and shows no intention of shutting down. At present the wine reveals pure blue and black fruits, (primarily black cherries, raspberries, and a hint of blackberries) along with tell-tale beet root, earth and herb notes. In the mouth the wine is rich and full bodied, yet displays a lighter, more delicate finish. It is somewhat of a paradox that such an intense wine could also be light on its feet, but that is the style of this vintage. We believe that this season.s unique growing conditions leading up to harvest gave us the ideal grapes to produce a wine with impeccable balance in acidity, alcohol, tannin, and depth of fruit."
This wine is produced in such limited quantities that even Robert Parker has a hard time getting a case when he needs it.
I can't tell you how many times the phone has rung late at night - and RP is trying to get us to loan him a bottle or two - he is relentless.
Anyway - we have two cases of this magic elixir - First come, first served. This is a great opportunity to try what many call the "Best of The Best."
We are very happy to share it with you on Friday night - stop by early - it will go quickly.
Finally, a reminder that the reason we can get these kind of wines is because of you.
Our suppliers, and the winemakers, and the distributors all continue to comment on the quality of our customers.
They remark about the genuine interest, the turnout at tastings and the questions - especially from the people just discovering wine.
You make us look good - and because of that we are offered products that are almost impossible to find anywhere else.
And it is also the reason that we have world famous winemakers visit our store and join us for intimate dinners.
And it is absolutely the reason that it is so much fun. - Thank you.
Please Join Us -
It is fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend - we hope to see you this week.
AAA.
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