Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
Happy New Year! And best wishes to all of our readers and customers -
Thank You for a great 2007.
We start the New Year off with a great lineup on Friday night.
Since this is a vacation week for some of us just a couple items of interest before the wines for Friday.
• We are happy to announce that we are now officially a Davidoff Select Merchant.
The first boxes of the finest cigars being hand crafted in the world today have made their way into gift baskets with wine & fine spirits over the Christmas holidays. If you know someone that enjoys fine cigars - consider adding them to your next gift order. There will be much more information to share with you in the weeks ahead. Ask us about the special pricing and selection the next time you visit or call.
• We have two dozen grower champagnes, plus Cava, prosecco, and other sparkling wines from North America, Italy , and France. Of particular interest, is the Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale 1999, LeMesnil-Sur-Oger Grand Cru, perhaps the best Champagne we've ever had , $175 a MAGNUM. Head and shoulders better and above both, Cristal & Dom Perignon and less than HALF the price. High prices and orange labels are for Hedge Fund managers, desperate aging hipsters and snooty big-shots - Grower Champagne - This is wine for people in the know.
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 4, 2008 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Martin Sancho Verdejo 2006 $16 - Spain
This wine comes from ancient, 150-year-old vines in the Rueda wine region, just about half way between Madrid and Bilbao. The vines are grown in alluvial soils, which are smooth, white rock with very little sediment for several feet. The owner, Angel Rodriquez, takes great pride in his 25-acre vineyard, which has been passed down for many generations. This is a beautiful white wine full of green fruits, spice, a slight smokiness, bitter almond, and melon. From free-run juice, the new wine is racked into centuries-old subterranean oak bocoyes prior to clarification and bottling. 2006 was an unusually early harvest that has resulted in a bold classic Verdejo character, with deep minerality complementing abundant ripe fruit and texture in a long, weighty finish.
2 - Apaltagua Envero 2004 $16 - Chile (rated 89 points by Stephen Tanzer)
The Apaltagua Winery is located in the prestigious Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley. They specialize in one distinguished, but lesser known, grape varietal - Carmenère. Carmenère is considered the "lost Bordeaux" variety, as it was originally planted in Bordeaux, but was abandoned there because it was too late ripening for the Bordeaux climate.
Tanzer: "Deep ruby. Explosively fruity, with strong raspberry, cherry jam and redcurrant scents, with a complicating note of cinnamon. Lush and silky on the palate, with a pure raspberry quality that's extremely easy to like. Pliant, suave and elegant, with a long, sweet red berry tone to the finish and very soft tannins. This is an excellent value and is drinking well right now." - For me, this is a perfect wine for a nice steak or grilled chops. Keep that in the back of your mind when you try it on Friday night.
3 - Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2006 $36 - South Africa
This is a house favorite - The Chocolate Block - always draws attention and devoted fans whenever we are able to share it.
Boekenhoutskloof, founded in 1776, is far up the "Valley" in the Franschhoek foothills. Situated 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, South Africa, it falls within the Cape's abundant winelands. It is a dramatic and enchanting place and should you ever have the opportunity to visit, as we did last year, you must make the trip.
This is a new vintage from an old friend - please try it on Friday night.
Watch as we taste with the winemaker HERE: http://blip.tv/file/206160
See our photos HERE: http://thamesriver.com/wine/photos.html
Visit their great website HERE: http://www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za/
4 - Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa California $50 - http://www.heitzcellar.com/
Joe and Alice Heitz established Heitz Wine Cellars in 1961! They were originally from Illinois and South Dakota respectively, but met in California in the mid 1940's. When Heitz Cellars opened in 1961, the Napa Valley had fewer than twenty wineries. Today there are more than two hundred. The original winery on St. Helena Highway is still open to the public as a sales and tasting room for visitors and is a glimpse into the origins of Heitz Cellars. The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the richest in years. The gorgeous varietal fruit flavors on the palate are just exquisite and impeccably balanced with complex tannins. It is a fabulous wine illuminating the purity and radiance of the cabernet grapes and showcasing the talents of the winemaker --- a joy to drink now and into the future. This will go quickly - try it on Friday night and see for yourself why these wines are sought after - everywhere.
Thanks for your support - we have a great year lined up - full of surprises and excitement.
We hope to see you on Friday night.
Please Join Us - It Is Fun, Informal and a Great Way To Start Your Weekend.
AAA.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Edition, Segura Viudas, Varaschin Prosecco , Gruet Blanc de Noirs , A. Margaine Champagne
Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
HOLIDAY HOURS: We Will Be Open Monday December 24th - until 9 p.m. -
Last Minute Shopping Is Not A Problem.
The New Year is peeking at us from around the corner and to celebrate we have a HUGE tasting planned for Friday night - I only hope that you can join us.
There has been a parade of friends and customers stopping into the store to wish us the best for the holidays and the coming New Year.
Thanks for making it such a party all of the time, and thank you very much for your tremendous support - it has been a great year.
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 28 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
This Week:
It's all about the BUBBLY - By popular demand it's an all sparkling line up - and the bubbly will be flowing like water.
Cava, Champagne, Prosecco,…need we continue? Good fizz is wonderful at any time of year but this is the season when we feel we can indulge ourselves -
With so many sparkling choices to select from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly?
Need a case or two? Remember that we can deliver your holiday party needs right to your doorstep - all you need to do is ask.
1 - Segura Viudas Brut reserva Cava $10
Cava - is sparkling wine from Spain. And this one makes your mouth water from the first sip. A very affordable party wine that will fill the bill with food and mid-night toasts too. The bubbles are very persistent - unlike others in this price range. This Cava has a racy flavor and it feels light-bodied with a nice gold color, and a lively fresh aroma and subtle scents of lemon. This is a great party wine. Raise your glass to Spain on Friday night.
2 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut Rose $13
This is a house favorite. We sell cases and cases of it - in fact we even serve it by the glass at Brie & Bleu. Varaschin's wine-firm was founded in S. Pietro di Barbozza around 1930 by Matteo Varaschin - This is a Brut Rosé - It is a great bottle to open as you grab that cook book off of the shelf or tear the recipie out of the The Times magazine section at a quarter to twelve on Sunday. It gets the juices going - and allows you to come up with a plan for the rest of the day. It is great with food. It is aromatic and elegant with soft floral and fruit notes - It is NOT a bottle of sweet fizzy wine - We promise.
3 - Gruet Blanc de Noirs $17
In 1983, the Gruet family was traveling through the Southwestern part of the United States, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequence, 170 miles south of Albuquerque. The land was inexpensive and the opportunity golden. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet, whose Champagne house, Gruet et Fils had produced fine Champagne in Bethon, France, since 1952, made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard, exclusively planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. His children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie, and family friend Farid Himeur then relocated to the great state of New Mexico to begin their American wine making adventure - and the rest, as they say, is history. This is gorgeous - rich & creamy, with delicious hints of berries. Give this a try on Friday night.
4 - A. Margaine Champagne $42.
This Champagne is part of our "Grower-Producer" portfolio. We are proud to offer the largest selection of boutique Champagne's in the state of Connecticut. This particular wine is one of the best Champagne values in our store because we made our commitment to purchase it before the recent dollar shift with the Euro. We will not be able to offer it at this price again. When you compare this Champagne - or for that matter any of our small producer Champagnes to the big brands you will never be disappointed.
And when you compare the price for these "grower's" top Cuvés with prices for the big brands - then it becomes almost laughable - because these wines sell for half as much and in some cases less than half as much as the big brand names. And that's because they do not have designer bottles, and enormous PR budgets, and product placement expenses to pass along to us - the consumers.
Most of the familiar big names of Champagne are manufactured using industrial protocols in modern factories - and they are produced in huge quantities.
The flavors that one tastes are decided upon by a committee in a boardroom - and we can get any of these famous brands for you if you need them - BUT
We have decided offer a magnificent collection of “Grower Champagne.” Champagne that is produced by individuals and their families in limited quantities.
They pick the grapes themselves, make the wine and bottle it themselves. They make in an entire year what the big names produce in a matter of hours.
Crafted with old world traditions, these are artisanal wines that reflect the land were they came from and the people that made them - and present wonderfully unique, almost magical flavors in the glass.
Offer Grower Champagne to your family and friends this year - and taste the difference.
All of these Grower-Producer Champagne's deserve your attention - they represent something quite special, and I hope you will try this one on Friday night.
All of us want to wish you and your families our warm regards for Christmas and the coming holidays - We hope to see you this week.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
HOLIDAY HOURS: We Will Be Open Monday December 24th - until 9 p.m. -
Last Minute Shopping Is Not A Problem.
The New Year is peeking at us from around the corner and to celebrate we have a HUGE tasting planned for Friday night - I only hope that you can join us.
There has been a parade of friends and customers stopping into the store to wish us the best for the holidays and the coming New Year.
Thanks for making it such a party all of the time, and thank you very much for your tremendous support - it has been a great year.
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 28 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
This Week:
It's all about the BUBBLY - By popular demand it's an all sparkling line up - and the bubbly will be flowing like water.
Cava, Champagne, Prosecco,…need we continue? Good fizz is wonderful at any time of year but this is the season when we feel we can indulge ourselves -
With so many sparkling choices to select from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly?
Need a case or two? Remember that we can deliver your holiday party needs right to your doorstep - all you need to do is ask.
1 - Segura Viudas Brut reserva Cava $10
Cava - is sparkling wine from Spain. And this one makes your mouth water from the first sip. A very affordable party wine that will fill the bill with food and mid-night toasts too. The bubbles are very persistent - unlike others in this price range. This Cava has a racy flavor and it feels light-bodied with a nice gold color, and a lively fresh aroma and subtle scents of lemon. This is a great party wine. Raise your glass to Spain on Friday night.
2 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut Rose $13
This is a house favorite. We sell cases and cases of it - in fact we even serve it by the glass at Brie & Bleu. Varaschin's wine-firm was founded in S. Pietro di Barbozza around 1930 by Matteo Varaschin - This is a Brut Rosé - It is a great bottle to open as you grab that cook book off of the shelf or tear the recipie out of the The Times magazine section at a quarter to twelve on Sunday. It gets the juices going - and allows you to come up with a plan for the rest of the day. It is great with food. It is aromatic and elegant with soft floral and fruit notes - It is NOT a bottle of sweet fizzy wine - We promise.
3 - Gruet Blanc de Noirs $17
In 1983, the Gruet family was traveling through the Southwestern part of the United States, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequence, 170 miles south of Albuquerque. The land was inexpensive and the opportunity golden. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet, whose Champagne house, Gruet et Fils had produced fine Champagne in Bethon, France, since 1952, made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard, exclusively planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. His children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie, and family friend Farid Himeur then relocated to the great state of New Mexico to begin their American wine making adventure - and the rest, as they say, is history. This is gorgeous - rich & creamy, with delicious hints of berries. Give this a try on Friday night.
4 - A. Margaine Champagne $42.
This Champagne is part of our "Grower-Producer" portfolio. We are proud to offer the largest selection of boutique Champagne's in the state of Connecticut. This particular wine is one of the best Champagne values in our store because we made our commitment to purchase it before the recent dollar shift with the Euro. We will not be able to offer it at this price again. When you compare this Champagne - or for that matter any of our small producer Champagnes to the big brands you will never be disappointed.
And when you compare the price for these "grower's" top Cuvés with prices for the big brands - then it becomes almost laughable - because these wines sell for half as much and in some cases less than half as much as the big brand names. And that's because they do not have designer bottles, and enormous PR budgets, and product placement expenses to pass along to us - the consumers.
Most of the familiar big names of Champagne are manufactured using industrial protocols in modern factories - and they are produced in huge quantities.
The flavors that one tastes are decided upon by a committee in a boardroom - and we can get any of these famous brands for you if you need them - BUT
We have decided offer a magnificent collection of “Grower Champagne.” Champagne that is produced by individuals and their families in limited quantities.
They pick the grapes themselves, make the wine and bottle it themselves. They make in an entire year what the big names produce in a matter of hours.
Crafted with old world traditions, these are artisanal wines that reflect the land were they came from and the people that made them - and present wonderfully unique, almost magical flavors in the glass.
Offer Grower Champagne to your family and friends this year - and taste the difference.
All of these Grower-Producer Champagne's deserve your attention - they represent something quite special, and I hope you will try this one on Friday night.
All of us want to wish you and your families our warm regards for Christmas and the coming holidays - We hope to see you this week.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Experts Agree, Domaine du Salvard Cheverny, Clos la Coutale Cahors, Bouchard Monthelie Les Duresses, Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino
Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - 84 Bank Street
Shop On Line: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html
Calendar of Events: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - 70 State Street - www.thamesriver.com
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - 84 Bank Street - : http://www.brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - 60 State Street - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
This has been a tough week - all of our best laid plans were disrupted by the storm, and as we go to press there is another storm beating us silly.
But there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel - The Friday night tasting has a great line up and the list is just below a few items of interest.
• First a word about cheese.
The greatest minds in the business agree: White wine is a more likely cheese partner than the mighty red. That's right, white wine - it's true. We have carefully chosen a selection of cheese that will pair perfectly with the Grower Champagne, Cava, Champagne, Prosecco, Moscato, and other miraculous whites that we feature at the wine store. And with so many sparklers to choose from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly? We proved this just last week at our Champagne & Pizza tasting.
Make any night of the week unforgettable with this perfect sampling: sinful, creamy goodness comes in the form of Delice de Bourgogne - Jasper Hill Farm’s Constant Bliss has a bit more bite, and a bit of a crumble, American Gruyere is creamy and pungent, while cave-aged Swiss Gruyere is crystalline and nutty. Got bubbly?
That’s not to say that we can’t find some killer pairings with red wines: the zesty twang of Cato Corner Bridgid’s Abbey; mushroomy Tomme Crayeuse; the refined, grassy sheep Ossau Vielle Cave; or the dense, buttery crumble of Double Gloucester. Serve any one of these with a glass of red to your friends and family over the holidays and you will be kissed on all four cheeks. Brie & Bleu has options galore and we can deliver all of your holiday needs to your front door. A holiday party needs wine and cheese.
• To answer one of the most asked questions from the last week or so - Our winter series of food and wine dinners will begin just after the holidays - around the second or third week of January. Great menus, fabulous wine, and special guests. Watch for the list on the calendar of events and right here in the weekly email - & watch for The Return of Fondue - coming soon.
• Holiday Hours - 10a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
• Customized pairing for your holiday menu - no charge - bring in your menu, we will go over it with you and make suggestions. It really does make a difference.
• Delivery is no problem - the Thames River Greenery delivery team is at your service.
Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 $13
Dave Says:
Where's DuBoeuf? Okay, this came out last month, and it is the 25th anniversary of Nouveau imported into this country (remember how excited your aunt was back in the Reagan years?), but I suspect many of you are chuckling, and you should know that we are proud of our fine customers for chuckling... Yeah, we got into the small grower-producer Nouveau guys, who import, say, 700 cases into the country, while Georges imports, oh, 16,000 cases, but still, even the pros whisper, "It's supposed to be good this year." Cripes, Jim just caught me writing this - "You're not pouring that are you?" Well, YEAH man, why not? Now I'm curious, let's crack one Monday!
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday December 21 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Domaine du Salvard Cheverny 2006 $16
Domaine du Salvard Cheverny is produced from vines grown by the Delaille family, which has cultivated their 37 acre parcel since about 1930. Location-wise, Cheverny in the east portion of Touraine near the village of Blois. This area is about 150 miles from Paris, just south of the Loire River. The Domaine is ranked amongst the top producers in this 'best kept secret terroir'. This delicious white is similar in style to a Pouilly-Fumé - It' a Sauvignon Blanc with lots of herbaceous and mineral character. This is a very friendly and easy drinking wine and It is Imported by Kermit Lynch Wines - and many of you know that we are big fans of Mr. Lynch. He knows how to pick them. Be sure to try it on Friday night.
2 - Clos la Coutale Cahors 2005 $16
Malbec from the place where they invented the stuff, another Kermit Lynch selection.
This is what Kermit has to say: "Astonishing elegance, red fruit with spicy overtones. A well-constructed wine. Clos La Coutale can be drunk young thanks to its good fruit, but has great aging potential, between 10-20 years. This wine accompanies duck, red meat and tasty cheeses perfectly. It is found in the best French restaurants like l'Auberge de l'Ile where Serge Dubbs, named the Best Sommelier in the World, (1990) works." This is what our own Jim Morrison says: "This is one of the few Cahors I have ever bought. I've always tried to find a wine that was obviously Malbec yet obviously not Argentine. I should have just asked Kermit." Two experts - two thumbs up. Please try it and add your two cents on Friday.
3 - Domaine Bouchard Monthelie Les Duresses 1er Cru 2005 $42
Red Burgundy from the much hailed 2005 vintage, an excellent and affordable example of varietal, region and vintage. We have literally dozens of wines from the Cote d'Or; village, premier cru and grand cru wines - we have one of the best selections available in the state. This is a very good value and deserves your attention on Friday night. If you are looking for a special bottle to serve over the holidays or if you need a gift that will make an impression, this will do the job nicely. Burgundy lovers will snap this up quickly - arrive early.
4 - Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino 2001 $58
We bought cases & cases of this wine for a huge corporate wine basket order. It is difficult to find - so we bought a little extra just to have around the house. Jim was quickly reminded that this may be his very favorite Brunello. "I've had this wine head to head with many Gambero Rosso darlings and as my taste matures, I prefer it more and more. A Real Brunello drinker's Brunello in an authentic style. Open and complicated with depth and finesse, a true masterpiece, same as it ever was." Be sure to try this on Friday - it will go quickly - but it is definitely worth your consideration. You may decide to make it your very own Stocking Stuffer.
We want to thank all of our customers and friends for the tremendous support you have shown to us - It is a great holiday season.
We hope to see you all on Friday night, and be sure to say hello the next time you visit the store.
Please Join Us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - 84 Bank Street
Shop On Line: http://thamesriver.com/wine/instock.html
Calendar of Events: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - 70 State Street - www.thamesriver.com
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - 84 Bank Street - : http://www.brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - 60 State Street - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
This has been a tough week - all of our best laid plans were disrupted by the storm, and as we go to press there is another storm beating us silly.
But there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel - The Friday night tasting has a great line up and the list is just below a few items of interest.
• First a word about cheese.
The greatest minds in the business agree: White wine is a more likely cheese partner than the mighty red. That's right, white wine - it's true. We have carefully chosen a selection of cheese that will pair perfectly with the Grower Champagne, Cava, Champagne, Prosecco, Moscato, and other miraculous whites that we feature at the wine store. And with so many sparklers to choose from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly? We proved this just last week at our Champagne & Pizza tasting.
Make any night of the week unforgettable with this perfect sampling: sinful, creamy goodness comes in the form of Delice de Bourgogne - Jasper Hill Farm’s Constant Bliss has a bit more bite, and a bit of a crumble, American Gruyere is creamy and pungent, while cave-aged Swiss Gruyere is crystalline and nutty. Got bubbly?
That’s not to say that we can’t find some killer pairings with red wines: the zesty twang of Cato Corner Bridgid’s Abbey; mushroomy Tomme Crayeuse; the refined, grassy sheep Ossau Vielle Cave; or the dense, buttery crumble of Double Gloucester. Serve any one of these with a glass of red to your friends and family over the holidays and you will be kissed on all four cheeks. Brie & Bleu has options galore and we can deliver all of your holiday needs to your front door. A holiday party needs wine and cheese.
• To answer one of the most asked questions from the last week or so - Our winter series of food and wine dinners will begin just after the holidays - around the second or third week of January. Great menus, fabulous wine, and special guests. Watch for the list on the calendar of events and right here in the weekly email - & watch for The Return of Fondue - coming soon.
• Holiday Hours - 10a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
• Customized pairing for your holiday menu - no charge - bring in your menu, we will go over it with you and make suggestions. It really does make a difference.
• Delivery is no problem - the Thames River Greenery delivery team is at your service.
Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 $13
Dave Says:
Where's DuBoeuf? Okay, this came out last month, and it is the 25th anniversary of Nouveau imported into this country (remember how excited your aunt was back in the Reagan years?), but I suspect many of you are chuckling, and you should know that we are proud of our fine customers for chuckling... Yeah, we got into the small grower-producer Nouveau guys, who import, say, 700 cases into the country, while Georges imports, oh, 16,000 cases, but still, even the pros whisper, "It's supposed to be good this year." Cripes, Jim just caught me writing this - "You're not pouring that are you?" Well, YEAH man, why not? Now I'm curious, let's crack one Monday!
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday December 21 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Domaine du Salvard Cheverny 2006 $16
Domaine du Salvard Cheverny is produced from vines grown by the Delaille family, which has cultivated their 37 acre parcel since about 1930. Location-wise, Cheverny in the east portion of Touraine near the village of Blois. This area is about 150 miles from Paris, just south of the Loire River. The Domaine is ranked amongst the top producers in this 'best kept secret terroir'. This delicious white is similar in style to a Pouilly-Fumé - It' a Sauvignon Blanc with lots of herbaceous and mineral character. This is a very friendly and easy drinking wine and It is Imported by Kermit Lynch Wines - and many of you know that we are big fans of Mr. Lynch. He knows how to pick them. Be sure to try it on Friday night.
2 - Clos la Coutale Cahors 2005 $16
Malbec from the place where they invented the stuff, another Kermit Lynch selection.
This is what Kermit has to say: "Astonishing elegance, red fruit with spicy overtones. A well-constructed wine. Clos La Coutale can be drunk young thanks to its good fruit, but has great aging potential, between 10-20 years. This wine accompanies duck, red meat and tasty cheeses perfectly. It is found in the best French restaurants like l'Auberge de l'Ile where Serge Dubbs, named the Best Sommelier in the World, (1990) works." This is what our own Jim Morrison says: "This is one of the few Cahors I have ever bought. I've always tried to find a wine that was obviously Malbec yet obviously not Argentine. I should have just asked Kermit." Two experts - two thumbs up. Please try it and add your two cents on Friday.
3 - Domaine Bouchard Monthelie Les Duresses 1er Cru 2005 $42
Red Burgundy from the much hailed 2005 vintage, an excellent and affordable example of varietal, region and vintage. We have literally dozens of wines from the Cote d'Or; village, premier cru and grand cru wines - we have one of the best selections available in the state. This is a very good value and deserves your attention on Friday night. If you are looking for a special bottle to serve over the holidays or if you need a gift that will make an impression, this will do the job nicely. Burgundy lovers will snap this up quickly - arrive early.
4 - Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino 2001 $58
We bought cases & cases of this wine for a huge corporate wine basket order. It is difficult to find - so we bought a little extra just to have around the house. Jim was quickly reminded that this may be his very favorite Brunello. "I've had this wine head to head with many Gambero Rosso darlings and as my taste matures, I prefer it more and more. A Real Brunello drinker's Brunello in an authentic style. Open and complicated with depth and finesse, a true masterpiece, same as it ever was." Be sure to try this on Friday - it will go quickly - but it is definitely worth your consideration. You may decide to make it your very own Stocking Stuffer.
We want to thank all of our customers and friends for the tremendous support you have shown to us - It is a great holiday season.
We hope to see you all on Friday night, and be sure to say hello the next time you visit the store.
Please Join Us. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
TOP SECRET, Etude Cabernet, Steltzner Merlot, Tres Picos Garnacha,
Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/index.html
Brie & Bleu - http://brieandbleu.com/
Thames River Greenery - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
The line up for the Friday night tasting is just below a few items of interest. And the list includes something special.
• We have a wine so special that we cannot list it's name - we promised the distributor.
All I can tell you is that it is from one of the greatest and most sought after names in California. It retails for $58 a bottle. And people have been known to weep openly after taking their first sip.
It's almost impossible to find on the shelves of any store - and certainly no one else would open it up with out charge the way that we will on Friday night.
It is all about SHARING - Come early - and bring a box of tissues.
• Most asked question of the week:
"Is it too late to order gift baskets and have them delivered for the holiday?"
No it is not too late - AND, remember you can mix and match any of the items from any of our stores - for example: You may add Moonstruck Chocolates from Thames River Greenery to a wine and cheese basket, or Christopher Radko Ornaments from IMPORT to a gourmet basket, or a beautiful centerpiece from TRG to a bottle of wine - no problem. And we will wrap and deliver it right to the front door of the people receiving it.
Place just one call to order from all our stores: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - 1-6 p.m. - No Charge
Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence 2004 $10
Dave Says:
It's cold and gray in New London, seems like you're always walking into a headwind, you can't find your gloves from last year and the zipper on your parka broke. Isn't it time we go to the South of France? Mais oui, let us travel there via this lovely Cotes de Provence. The Provencal vineyards of Domaine Houchart are situated at the foot of stunning Mount St. Victoire, and amongst the Grenache and Syrah vines grow pine, almond and olive trees, along with herbs such as thyme and rosemary. Monday, right here on old Bank Street, we can close our eyes and drift off to that vineyard in the hot sun. Sounds nice, non?
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday December 14 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - IT'S A SECRET - California 2005 - $58 - Sonoma Coast - Single Vineyard.
2 - Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 $15 - Included in the Wine Spectator Top 100
This is a favorite of ours and for good reason. Deep and sweet, Tres Picos Borsao is cherry red in color with a hints of purple. In the nose, there is a bouquet of mature red fruits with traces of flowers that are typical of the best Garnachas. In the mouth, it is rich and well-structured with flavors of blackberries, vanilla and plums. Perfectly combined, Tres Picos Borsao leaves us with a long, silky and balanced finish. We have offered this wine for quite awhile - now that it has made "The List" - everyone will discover what you may already know - this is an amazing wine for the price. Please try it again or for the very first time on Friday night.
3 - Steltzner Merlot 2004 $28
From Stag's Leap District Napa Valley www.steltzner.com
Richard Steltzner established his first Stags Leap District vineyards in 1965 on a nice little spot on the Silverado Trail in Napa. Steltzner Vineyards' first commercial release was in 1977, and the Steltzner Family established their own modest facility in 1983, with a 3,000 case capacity in the Stags Leap District. Allison Steltzner has been to our store and for those of you that had the opportunity to meet her you will agree that the entire family is deeply committed to making the best wine possible. This merlot has some great blueberry aromas along with a hint of smokiness and it is "like buddah" in your mouth. Please try it on Friday night.
4 - Etude Cabernet 2003 $90 www.etudewines.com
Very Limited Production - All of the major publications and reviewers rate this wine in the 90's. It is one of the finest examples of it's kind.
This is how the winemaker describes the wine: "Vibrant raspberry and blueberry aromas along with a bright perfume note are the signatures of this balanced and refined Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the wine offers forward flavors of dark berries, violets and cassis that lead to a highly structured and complex finish packed with notes of bittersweet chocolate, black plum and almond." This is a wine that fancy restaurants and big shot collectors like to keep to themselves - but you can try it with us on Friday night.
It is a busy holiday season - take a break from the running around and join us on Friday night to try some very special wines.
Thank you for all of the cards, emails, and calls - we appreciate your support, and we hope to see you this week.
Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Thames River Wine & Spirits - http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/index.html
Brie & Bleu - http://brieandbleu.com/
Thames River Greenery - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
The line up for the Friday night tasting is just below a few items of interest. And the list includes something special.
• We have a wine so special that we cannot list it's name - we promised the distributor.
All I can tell you is that it is from one of the greatest and most sought after names in California. It retails for $58 a bottle. And people have been known to weep openly after taking their first sip.
It's almost impossible to find on the shelves of any store - and certainly no one else would open it up with out charge the way that we will on Friday night.
It is all about SHARING - Come early - and bring a box of tissues.
• Most asked question of the week:
"Is it too late to order gift baskets and have them delivered for the holiday?"
No it is not too late - AND, remember you can mix and match any of the items from any of our stores - for example: You may add Moonstruck Chocolates from Thames River Greenery to a wine and cheese basket, or Christopher Radko Ornaments from IMPORT to a gourmet basket, or a beautiful centerpiece from TRG to a bottle of wine - no problem. And we will wrap and deliver it right to the front door of the people receiving it.
Place just one call to order from all our stores: 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7
Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - 1-6 p.m. - No Charge
Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence 2004 $10
Dave Says:
It's cold and gray in New London, seems like you're always walking into a headwind, you can't find your gloves from last year and the zipper on your parka broke. Isn't it time we go to the South of France? Mais oui, let us travel there via this lovely Cotes de Provence. The Provencal vineyards of Domaine Houchart are situated at the foot of stunning Mount St. Victoire, and amongst the Grenache and Syrah vines grow pine, almond and olive trees, along with herbs such as thyme and rosemary. Monday, right here on old Bank Street, we can close our eyes and drift off to that vineyard in the hot sun. Sounds nice, non?
Wine Tasting Please Join Us
Friday December 14 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - IT'S A SECRET - California 2005 - $58 - Sonoma Coast - Single Vineyard.
2 - Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 $15 - Included in the Wine Spectator Top 100
This is a favorite of ours and for good reason. Deep and sweet, Tres Picos Borsao is cherry red in color with a hints of purple. In the nose, there is a bouquet of mature red fruits with traces of flowers that are typical of the best Garnachas. In the mouth, it is rich and well-structured with flavors of blackberries, vanilla and plums. Perfectly combined, Tres Picos Borsao leaves us with a long, silky and balanced finish. We have offered this wine for quite awhile - now that it has made "The List" - everyone will discover what you may already know - this is an amazing wine for the price. Please try it again or for the very first time on Friday night.
3 - Steltzner Merlot 2004 $28
From Stag's Leap District Napa Valley www.steltzner.com
Richard Steltzner established his first Stags Leap District vineyards in 1965 on a nice little spot on the Silverado Trail in Napa. Steltzner Vineyards' first commercial release was in 1977, and the Steltzner Family established their own modest facility in 1983, with a 3,000 case capacity in the Stags Leap District. Allison Steltzner has been to our store and for those of you that had the opportunity to meet her you will agree that the entire family is deeply committed to making the best wine possible. This merlot has some great blueberry aromas along with a hint of smokiness and it is "like buddah" in your mouth. Please try it on Friday night.
4 - Etude Cabernet 2003 $90 www.etudewines.com
Very Limited Production - All of the major publications and reviewers rate this wine in the 90's. It is one of the finest examples of it's kind.
This is how the winemaker describes the wine: "Vibrant raspberry and blueberry aromas along with a bright perfume note are the signatures of this balanced and refined Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the wine offers forward flavors of dark berries, violets and cassis that lead to a highly structured and complex finish packed with notes of bittersweet chocolate, black plum and almond." This is a wine that fancy restaurants and big shot collectors like to keep to themselves - but you can try it with us on Friday night.
It is a busy holiday season - take a break from the running around and join us on Friday night to try some very special wines.
Thank you for all of the cards, emails, and calls - we appreciate your support, and we hope to see you this week.
Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
New York Times, Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape , Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Masi Campofiorin Ripasso, Beckman Estate Cabernet
Greetings from all of us in New London,
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
Coming Soon - City News - http://www.thamesriver.com/citynews/index.html
It is a very busy week here - So we have just a couple of items of interest before we list the wines for our tasting on Friday night.
And there are a couple real favorites on the list, be sure to arrive early - they will go quickly.
• You may have seen the photos of our stores in Sundays local paper - we hosted the now annual display of Ballerina's dancing in the store front windows as part of the Light & Song celebration: http://theday.com/re_print.aspx?re=e99e87b0-e00c-4aa7-9685-f5187103faf0
• The Sunday New York Times has a nice article in the Holiday Magazine Section, on page 100, about Grower Champagne. Now - how long have we been singing the praises of Grower Champagne? - Their list of favorites is virtually a menu of what we have on our shelves right now. Please take a look the next time you visit the store - and if you would like to see the article, here is a link to the story titled Brut Force: http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2007/12/02/style/t/index.html?8dpc#pageName=02ssfair
And if you still have not seen our most recent interviews with the Grower Champagne Maestro, Terry Theise, take a look on the WineRadio section of our calendar of events page - it will enlighten you on the magic that's in the bottle. Here: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge Santa Ema Merlot Reserve 2005 $12
Dave Says: First off, in Beaujolais Nouveau news, three small grower-producer Nouveaux have arrived via boat (the Duboeuf came via their fleet of old Concordes). What are they like, you ask? Never fear - I and fellow Wine Consultant (Hartford Courant's language) Adam Demorest have volunteered to sample and compare all of them over the weekend, so by the time you read this, we will be awash in New-Found Nouveau Know-How.
And for Monday, "We ARE SO drinking Merlot!!!" Santa Ema Reserva is a big stunner from Chile with a small table-wine price. So don't neglect this grape because of the rantings of a fictional cinema nebbish: come on in and try it Monday!
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us Friday December 7 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 -Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape BLANC 2006 $70 -
Rated 95 points Wine Spectator
Alain Junguenet made a name for himself as a Grand Prix racecar driver, before turning his passion for wine and his friendship with many of France’s foremost vignerons into a second career that was to bring him much more notoriety. “The name Alain Junguenet on a bottle,” wrote Robert Parker in December, 1991, “is an indication of a fine wine that is probably under-valued in terms of its quality,” and that remains all the more true today.
This is what Wine Spectator has to say about this wine: "Supertight and pure, with blanched almond, star fruit, acacia and lemon verbena notes all gliding along a bright, minerally frame. Lingering hints of orange blossom, honeysuckle and lime add further complexity. Should age beautifully."
Their red wine was rated number 1 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list - This is a wine you really will not want to miss - please try it on Friday night.
2 - Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2005 $27 www.byronwines.com
The Byron name is familiar to you because it is often on the top rated lists of all the noted publications. The Santa Maria Valley is an appellation apart, 300 miles south of Napa Valley, 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Byron Vineyard and Winery was founded in 1984 by winemaker Ken Brown. With years of experience as a winemaker in Santa Barbara County, Ken recognized the region's potential for great wines in the Burgundian style, and was the first winemaker to introduce Rhone-style grape varieties to the area.
With the aid of noted architect R. Scott Johnson, who designed the Opus One winery in Napa Valley and San Francisco's Transamerica building, Ken designed a multi-level winery that replaces pumping with gravity flow, resulting in more complex, dynamic wines. The result is a remarkably smooth wine. This wine displays aromas of dark plum and dark cherry, accented by hints of brown sugar, brown spice, vanilla, and smoke. The flavor profile has a core of dark cherry and dark plum with hints of clove and brown spices, backed by a smoky finish. An absolutely excellent food wine - you will be a hero when you serve this to your family and friends over the holidays. Try it on Friday night and see why we have made this a "house favorite" here at the store.
3 - Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2002 $16
Ripasso is an Italian red wine from Valpolicella made by fermenting young wine with the skins and lees left over from making Amarone.
The Boscaini family have been the owners of the Masi vineyards for six generations. Masi is a specialized producer of premium wines from the Venetian area. This led writer Hugh Johnson to refer to Masi as "a touchstone for Verona wines. Masi rediscovered and refined the technique of double fermentation using semi-dried grapes. This speciality of Masi, resulting from the refermentation of wine from fresh Veronese red grapes with a percentage of semi-dried grapes of the same varietals , splendidly encompasses the qualities of the Verona area: the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese grape varieties, and the originality of the techniques of "appassimento" (semi-drying) and double fermentation by Masi. It combines simplicity and grace with power and majesty. It is rich, full-bodied, round and velvety, and has an aging potential of 10 to 15 years."
This is a great bottle of wine for the price. We drink it ourselves and I think that after you try it on Friday night it may become a favorite of yours too. Here is a link to a photo of the family - look at these folks - they care about what they make: http://www.masi.it/agricola/components_table/FAMIGLIA_PAGE.pag
4 - Beckman Estate Cabernet 2004 $24
This is still our best selling California Cabernet, all estate fruit, only 1500 cases made. For the life of us we cannot figure out why the price has not gone through the roof. The name Beckman has been whispered around as the "next big thing" for a while now. Awed and inspired by a perfect convergence of soil, microclimate, wind and sun - Tom Beckmen purchased a stunning, unplanted 365-acre hillside property overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley in 1996. Respect for the land is a fundamental element of the Beckmen Vineyards philosophy. In this spirit, beginning in 2006, Steve Beckmen began farming 100 percent of the Purisima Vineyard biodynamically. In the years since Beckmen first started farming Purisima Mountain Vineyard, it has proved to be an ideally situated property that consistently bears superior fruit. The stellar vineyard, together with Tom and Steve Beckmen's approach to winegrowing and their innovative viticultural practices, represents a coming of age for Santa Barbara County winegrowing.
For lovers of Cabernet you will not want to miss this one. The nose of this wine is almost bottomless with aromas of jammy black cherry, earth, and chocolate. Flavors start off big and follow up with a seductively long finish. Please try it on Friday.
Your support during this holiday season is tremendous - thank you all for shopping locally, we appreciate it.
Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions - we are listening and there is a lot on the way.
Please Join Us -
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
IMPORT - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html
Coming Soon - City News - http://www.thamesriver.com/citynews/index.html
It is a very busy week here - So we have just a couple of items of interest before we list the wines for our tasting on Friday night.
And there are a couple real favorites on the list, be sure to arrive early - they will go quickly.
• You may have seen the photos of our stores in Sundays local paper - we hosted the now annual display of Ballerina's dancing in the store front windows as part of the Light & Song celebration: http://theday.com/re_print.aspx?re=e99e87b0-e00c-4aa7-9685-f5187103faf0
• The Sunday New York Times has a nice article in the Holiday Magazine Section, on page 100, about Grower Champagne. Now - how long have we been singing the praises of Grower Champagne? - Their list of favorites is virtually a menu of what we have on our shelves right now. Please take a look the next time you visit the store - and if you would like to see the article, here is a link to the story titled Brut Force: http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2007/12/02/style/t/index.html?8dpc#pageName=02ssfairAnd if you still have not seen our most recent interviews with the Grower Champagne Maestro, Terry Theise, take a look on the WineRadio section of our calendar of events page - it will enlighten you on the magic that's in the bottle. Here: http://www.thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge Santa Ema Merlot Reserve 2005 $12
Dave Says: First off, in Beaujolais Nouveau news, three small grower-producer Nouveaux have arrived via boat (the Duboeuf came via their fleet of old Concordes). What are they like, you ask? Never fear - I and fellow Wine Consultant (Hartford Courant's language) Adam Demorest have volunteered to sample and compare all of them over the weekend, so by the time you read this, we will be awash in New-Found Nouveau Know-How.
And for Monday, "We ARE SO drinking Merlot!!!" Santa Ema Reserva is a big stunner from Chile with a small table-wine price. So don't neglect this grape because of the rantings of a fictional cinema nebbish: come on in and try it Monday!
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us Friday December 7 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 -Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape BLANC 2006 $70 -
Rated 95 points Wine Spectator
Alain Junguenet made a name for himself as a Grand Prix racecar driver, before turning his passion for wine and his friendship with many of France’s foremost vignerons into a second career that was to bring him much more notoriety. “The name Alain Junguenet on a bottle,” wrote Robert Parker in December, 1991, “is an indication of a fine wine that is probably under-valued in terms of its quality,” and that remains all the more true today.
This is what Wine Spectator has to say about this wine: "Supertight and pure, with blanched almond, star fruit, acacia and lemon verbena notes all gliding along a bright, minerally frame. Lingering hints of orange blossom, honeysuckle and lime add further complexity. Should age beautifully."
Their red wine was rated number 1 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list - This is a wine you really will not want to miss - please try it on Friday night.
2 - Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2005 $27 www.byronwines.com
The Byron name is familiar to you because it is often on the top rated lists of all the noted publications. The Santa Maria Valley is an appellation apart, 300 miles south of Napa Valley, 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Byron Vineyard and Winery was founded in 1984 by winemaker Ken Brown. With years of experience as a winemaker in Santa Barbara County, Ken recognized the region's potential for great wines in the Burgundian style, and was the first winemaker to introduce Rhone-style grape varieties to the area.
With the aid of noted architect R. Scott Johnson, who designed the Opus One winery in Napa Valley and San Francisco's Transamerica building, Ken designed a multi-level winery that replaces pumping with gravity flow, resulting in more complex, dynamic wines. The result is a remarkably smooth wine. This wine displays aromas of dark plum and dark cherry, accented by hints of brown sugar, brown spice, vanilla, and smoke. The flavor profile has a core of dark cherry and dark plum with hints of clove and brown spices, backed by a smoky finish. An absolutely excellent food wine - you will be a hero when you serve this to your family and friends over the holidays. Try it on Friday night and see why we have made this a "house favorite" here at the store.
3 - Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2002 $16
Ripasso is an Italian red wine from Valpolicella made by fermenting young wine with the skins and lees left over from making Amarone.
The Boscaini family have been the owners of the Masi vineyards for six generations. Masi is a specialized producer of premium wines from the Venetian area. This led writer Hugh Johnson to refer to Masi as "a touchstone for Verona wines. Masi rediscovered and refined the technique of double fermentation using semi-dried grapes. This speciality of Masi, resulting from the refermentation of wine from fresh Veronese red grapes with a percentage of semi-dried grapes of the same varietals , splendidly encompasses the qualities of the Verona area: the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese grape varieties, and the originality of the techniques of "appassimento" (semi-drying) and double fermentation by Masi. It combines simplicity and grace with power and majesty. It is rich, full-bodied, round and velvety, and has an aging potential of 10 to 15 years."
This is a great bottle of wine for the price. We drink it ourselves and I think that after you try it on Friday night it may become a favorite of yours too. Here is a link to a photo of the family - look at these folks - they care about what they make: http://www.masi.it/agricola/components_table/FAMIGLIA_PAGE.pag
4 - Beckman Estate Cabernet 2004 $24
This is still our best selling California Cabernet, all estate fruit, only 1500 cases made. For the life of us we cannot figure out why the price has not gone through the roof. The name Beckman has been whispered around as the "next big thing" for a while now. Awed and inspired by a perfect convergence of soil, microclimate, wind and sun - Tom Beckmen purchased a stunning, unplanted 365-acre hillside property overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley in 1996. Respect for the land is a fundamental element of the Beckmen Vineyards philosophy. In this spirit, beginning in 2006, Steve Beckmen began farming 100 percent of the Purisima Vineyard biodynamically. In the years since Beckmen first started farming Purisima Mountain Vineyard, it has proved to be an ideally situated property that consistently bears superior fruit. The stellar vineyard, together with Tom and Steve Beckmen's approach to winegrowing and their innovative viticultural practices, represents a coming of age for Santa Barbara County winegrowing.
For lovers of Cabernet you will not want to miss this one. The nose of this wine is almost bottomless with aromas of jammy black cherry, earth, and chocolate. Flavors start off big and follow up with a seductively long finish. Please try it on Friday.
Your support during this holiday season is tremendous - thank you all for shopping locally, we appreciate it.
Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions - we are listening and there is a lot on the way.
Please Join Us -
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA
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