Inclusions Premier, Shafer Merlot, Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre, Domaine du Grand Breviande,Domaine Les Hautes Noelles

Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-447-2474
IMPORT - 860-443-6817
Calendar of events: http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

A great week is ahead of us - The wine list for Friday includes a really big name too.
But first, these items of interest.


• This is our Big Hollywood Weekend - Friday night at the Garde Theater -
The World Premier of I N C L U S I O N S.
This movie was locally produced and shot right here in The Whaling City - All profits from this showing will be donated to Make a Wish Foundation and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Please join us to support this important local event. Start your evening with us, and then make your way up to The Garde for the show.
For more details go here: http://tickets.gardearts.org/show.asp
To see the preview go here: http://www.crlvideo.com/

• Many thanks to Doug Rankin and Mr. Terry Theise for making a visit to our store last week - watch for the episode on WineRadio in the next few days.

• Many of you know that we have been trying to work with RJ Julia Bookseller in Madison, (the best bookstore ...on the planet?) to feature their visiting authors right here in New London. What's better than a meet the author book signing and a glass of wine? Well, the planets have finally aligned themselves and we hope to have none other than Rudolph Chelminski - the author of "I'll Drink To That" right here in the store in mid-November. I'll Drink To That is The remarkable saga of the wine and people of Beaujolais and Georges Duboeuf, the peasant lad who brought world recognition to this little known region. Published this month by Penguin Books.

Mr. Chelminski was raised in Connecticut - but when Life magazine dispatched him to to Paris thirty years ago he decided to stay. His articles have appeared in numerous national magazines, ranging from People and Time to The Atlantic Monthly. His other recent books include The Perfectionist.
New York Times: "A riveting behind-the-scenes look at the world of three-star French "haute cuisine" as revealed through the biography of one of Frances most celebrated chefs, "The Perfectionist" is an unforgettable portrait of Bernard Loiseau, and the sophisticated, unforgiving world of French gastronomy."

So, if you would like to add your name to the reception list please CALL the store - there is no charge, but we need to know how many bottles of wine to open - I know the answer is to open all of them - but we would like to get a head count. The final date and all of the details will be added to the calendar of events page and we will keep you posted right here as well. 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

• Dinner with Etienne Hugel - Monday Oct. 29 - Sold Out - Thank you.


Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday October 2 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge.

1 - Domaine Les Hautes Noelles 2006 Muscadet cotes de Grandlieu $11
Here’s a challenge: scour the world for a riper, more concentrated, more explosively flavorful and joyous Muscadet than Hautes Noelles. You won’t be able to find one! From his 17 hectares in the Cotes de Grandlieu sub-zone, proprietor Serge Batard crafts staggeringly intense Muscadet that nonetheless displays all the zingy acidity and palpable minerality you’d expect from this seaside appellation. Prolonged lees aging and bottling without racking give the wines extra texture and richness. Furthermore, Batard vinifies his parcels separately, harvesting by hand and blending just before bottling for maximum control over the final wine. Truly amazing quality here - please try it on Friday night.

2 - Domaine du Grand Breviande 2005 Chinon $12
"Black olive, dried leaf, peppery, cranberry, earthy nose" -These are the things that reviewers say about this wine. Then they throw in a little - Soft, very dry, elegant entry with dried cedar, tobacco leaf, peppery, cranberry, smoky, floral flavors. The fact is even without all of the fancy descriptions, this is a lot of wine for the money. Please try it on Friday.

3 - Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2003 $20 - Wine Spectator 87 points.
Named one of the most influential wine personalities of the last 20 years by Robert M. Parker Jr. in 1998, Leonardo LoCascio is America’s foremost authority on Italian wine. Mr. LoCascio makes frequent trips to Italy throughout the year, scouring the countryside for undiscovered treasures. His meticulous selection process is geared to finding wines that combine high quality and good value. The result is dozens of wines turned down for every one selected. The process tends to favor small to mid-sized wineries, often independent and family-owned. This is one of those wines.

The Washington Post recently reviewed this wine and said: "Tastes Like a ripe bouquet of spring flowers, vanilla and baked fruit, followed on the palate by silky, red berry fruit with hints of raisins and plums...Winery Allegrini is one of the most important wineries in the Valpolicella region. Its winemaking style emphasizes the unique character of the indigenous grapes." You have to try this on Friday night.


4 - Shafer 2005 Merlot $50
Robert Parker places this wine in the "90 Point" category. It speaks for itself - this powerhouse will not last long, please be sure to arrive early and try this most famous of California's wines - And see our interview with Doug Shafer himself on WineRadio.


I hope that you can join us this Friday night for the tasting and at The Garde Theater for the premier of Gordan Videll's film Inclusions.

Thanks very much for supporting all of our efforts - we appreciate it. And thanks also for all of the suggestions, comments, calls and email concerning our decision to carry on the tradition that Parade News started almost 50 years ago - we have some great plans for the space.

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



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