Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474
Wow, the streets were full, the galleries were open, and it was a great opening weekend for the Hygienic Art Show. Thanks so much to everyone that came out to support New London and this annual art extravaganza. We have a great line up of wines for the Friday tasting - including a very special selection from Argentina. The list is just below these of items of interest.
• We get a lot of requests to show the labels of the wines we feature at the weekly tasting - so we are giving it a try for this edition of the newsletter. Most of you should be able to see them without a problem, we apologize if you do not.
• There is a lot of excitement for Monday's dinner with Casimiro Maule - Italy's Wine Maker of The Year. The private dinner is sold out - thank you. But there will be opportunities for photographs and bottle signings if you would like to participate and meet one of the truly great winemakers in the world.
• Have You Had Your Fondue Today?Based on your requests - I am happy to report that the menu changes at Brie & Bleu are taking place and we have brought back one of our most requested items - Fondue.
Featured on our Fondue Menu - is our original recipe of Fontina and Grüyere cheese, garlic, dates, shallots, and a hint of white truffle oil - it is a show stopper, especially when it is combined with a nice glass of wine. Wouldn't this be a great way to start your evening at the Garde Winter Film Festival? - http://gardearts.org/
• We were reminded this week of something that we take for granted. A customer pointed out that they had been shopping with some friends at the big discount liquor store just around the corner from us and they were very surprised that our prices were virtually the same and in a couple of cases we were even less expensive than the big store. - That has always been the case, and we are proud of the fact that we are a store that has something for everyone. Did you know that the State of Connecticut determines the minimum price for all beer, wine, and spirits sold in the state? It is actually against the law to sell products for less than the published minimum. The prices are published in something called The Beverage Guide every month, and if a store violates the published price their license can be suspended. So, you may continue to shop with confidence - our prices are probably the same as the big box store that cannot offer the same service or the interest that we have in what you are looking for.
The NY Times - The Paper Of Record - caught up with our reporting this weekend. We broke the news about Barkley Hendricks last week in our newsletter, and in today's Times there is a nice article about local artist Barkley Hendricks - Coincidence? - if you missed it here is a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/27artsubct.html?ex=1359090000&en=2548351bcf749065&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Barkley Hendricks
Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Chateau Gravat Medoc 2005 $10
Dave Says:
"Okay, the '05 Bordeaux are creeping in the door, and I am proud to announce: We've got SIX, count them, SIX '05 BORDEAUX under $15!!! The Gravat is one of my personal favorites, and it's only ten bucks. Lovely, earthy, unmistakably French, from a small artisinal domaine. This is not a collector wine, it is French table wine made for French people. Don't let the low price scare you: Chateau Gravat is a small winemaker in Medoc which belongs to a collective of small houses (whose wine we also have), represented by an exporter in Blanquefort who bottles and directly exports it. No advertising, low production costs, so the winemakers tend to their vines and and their cellars, while the exporter worries about how to get it to nuts like us in the U.S. who want the real deal! Come on in and let me pour you a taste Monday afternoon."
Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday February 1 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge
1 - Cuné Monopole Rioja Blanco 2005 $18.
I bet you didn't even know they made white wine in Rioja! Cuné is present on all of Spain’s highest regarded wine lists. It was one of the first wineries of Rioja to bottle its own wines. In 1900, the winery had an extraordinary aging capacity of 80,000 bottles, which was most unusual at the time, as most wineries were selling their wines as soon as possible.
In 1879, two brothers decided to set up a business in the recently flourishing trade of the wine business. C.V.N.E., Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company) or la Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, was created. This cellar takes us back to the origins of the company and is still kept in the traditional neighborhood of the Haro station. The Cuné winery in Haro, is made up of a group of buildings, mostly from the 19th century and arranged around a courtyard surrounded by pavilions for the purpose of wine production, aging, and bottling. Monopole was created in 1915 to change the style of rustic and oxidized wines formerly produced in Rioja from the Viura grape variety. Since its arrival it has become a classic fresh white Rioja. This is a terrific food wine - and a real treat at this price. I love it with Fondue - If you are in the mood on Friday night you may wish to try it yourself at Brie & Bleu.
2 - Le Pigeoulet en Provence Vin de pays de Vaucluse 2006 $16
Produced by Vignobles Brunier of Vieux Telegramme fame and brought to us by the venerable importer Kermit Lynch.
Our Jim Morrison says: "Garrigue? this stuff is lousy with garrigue." The Wine Spectator rated this 87 points and said: "Pretty, pure beam of black cherry fruit backed by herb and tobacco notes. Fruit takes an encore on the modestly structured finish. Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault. Drink now. Score: 87."
This is a great value from a highly regarded source. It has ripe and juicy fruit flavors and a nice a long finish. This is a wine that would be perfect with red meats, roasted poultry or a robust cheeses. If you are a fan of this type of wine - and really, who isn't? - then please take a minute to try it on Friday night. It will go quickly, it is a great price for this quality of a wine.
3 - Heller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 $18
All the way from Carmel California, yes they make wine in California now, who knew?
The vineyards are dry farmed at over 1200 elevation. The vineyards have been producing wine since 1970 and are one of the very few vineyards that are certified organic. The use of cover crops and predatory wasps ensure not herbicides or pesticides are needed. Their winemaker says: "Opulent cassis fruit with notes of sweet oak and cocoa. Concentrated mouth feel with lush fruit flavors throughout the middle palate. Explosive fruit character: high viscosity: big but balanced tannin and extremely long finish combine making this a perfect expression of cabernet fruit from our world renown vineyards." If your looking to make your wine drinking "green" too - this might be a place to start.
4 - Trapiche Tributo Malbec. 2003 $50 ** Special Edition **
In the winter of 2005 Felipe Villafane, one of Trapiche's greatest grape farmers died at the age of 104. The Malbec produced from his magnificent fruit was without equal. Described as "a typical man of the countryside, honest,simple,and hardworking" and one hell of a farmer.
Established in 1883, Trapiche is the most widely recognized Argentinean wine producer in the world. Located in Mendoza at the foothills of the Andes mountains, Trapiche has some of the most extensive landholdings in the area, with over 2,500 acres of its own vineyards.
In Spanish, the simple word “Tributo” has the deeper meaning of tribute or homage. This word was chosen to pay homage to one of the finest growers to supply Trapiche with grapes: Señor Felipe Villafañe. This is the first time that Trapiche has released a special, limited release wine like this. Since Malbec is the main grape cultivated in La Consulta, hometown of the grower for most of his 104 years, it is fitting that a Malbec wine has been produced to honor his life. Felipe is admired and remembered for his clear mind, his dedication to his land and his sense of humor. He passed away during the winter of 2005. The drawing of Felipe on the label was rendered by a local artist who was a drinking mate of Señor Felipe Villafañe.
The grapes for the wine come from an excellent vineyard in La Consulta. Such was the quality of the vineyard and work of Señor Felipe Villafañe that this vineyard was one of only three vineyards featured in the debut vintage of the Trapiche Single Vineyard Malbecs in 2003. The fruit was manually harvested and placed into 20 kg plastic cases for protection during transport to the winery. Following a double-selection sorting process, the wine underwent a long maceration in small concrete vats. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, and was aged in bottle an additional year in Trapiche’s cellar. This wine is available in 6-bottle wooden cases.
Wine Maker Tasting Notes: The wine shows expressive aromas of crushed, spicy red cherries and blackberries, along with herb and toasted oak notes. On the palate, the wine has a dense, rich character, and though the wine has considerable structure, the ebullient, ripe fruit steals the show, accompanied by noble, fine-grained tannins and a very long finish. Pair this wine with strong, bold flavored dishes such as a grilled Porterhouse steak with mushrooms.
This will definitely go fast - please try it on Friday night, it is a very special offering, difficult to find, and we are very excited to have it in house.
It will be a busy week here at the store - We hope to see you at the tasting.
Thanks for all of your support, we appreciate it. And we sincerely appreciate all of the comments and emails - we are listening.
Please Join Us.
It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
AAA
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