The Jesus Factor, Gaya, Le Grascete, Saint Gayan,

Greetings from all of us In New London,

Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Brie & Bleu - 860-437- 2474
www.thamesriver.com

We are running a little late this week - so just a quick note or two before the list of wine for Friday night. Which, by the way, has a real blockbuster on it -
you won't want to miss it. We hope you can join us.

• A big note of thanks to everyone that attended the dinner with Casamiro Maule last Monday. It was an honor to have Italy's Winemaker of The Year as our guest - it was a special night.


• A reminder that Fiddleheads Food Co-op is holding a Winter's Farmers Market on Saturdays throughout February, March and April - from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Located at the Fiddlehead's Food Co-op, in the old California Fruit building on Broad Street. 25-30 vendors selling farm produce and related goods. A real opportunity to buy fresh, local farm goods during the winter. Plenty of parking makes this an easy visit. - Above Tony D'd Restaurant across from the courthouse.


• Dave's Fave - Monday Tasting - No Charge
Chateau Fontbernard Montagne Saint-Emilion 2005 $13
Dave Says: "Last week I said we had six Bordeaux in house under $15 -- as of this writing, the number is now eight! (Starting at $7.00!) This one, Chateau Fontbernard, belongs to the same grower-producer collective I mentioned last week, it's a little more robust and earthier than last week's selection, beautifully made, and super affordable. Stop in Monday afternoon for a free glimpse inside the bottle!"


Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday January 8 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Tolosa No-Oak Chardonnay 2005 $18.
Jim Says: "Are the days of butter slathered, over oaked california Chardonnay over? I'm not sure, but here's another bight and crisp Cali Chard, fermented in stainless steel,presenting pure, unadulterated fruit. Now if they could just ease back on their Zinfandel extraction,they might get something going out there."

This is a pure expression of Chardonnay, with lime blossom, ripe peach and tangerine fruit layered over a core of cool-climate minerality. Beautiful weight and richness, balanced by elegant, crisp acidity, and a touch of sweet anise on the finish. We especially love this wine with all manner of shellfish: Dungeness crab, red abalone, diver scallops, Pacific oysters; all in the simplest of preparations. - Please try it on Friday night.


2 - Domaine Saint Gayan Rasteau 2004 $17
Domaine Saint Gayan is a small estate located at the foot of the spectacular Dentelles de Montmirail in the Gigondas appellation - This is what our friend Robert Parker says: "An excellent estate dedicated to making robustly styled, natural wines that are always among the best of the traditional heavyweights of Gigondas." This is from one of the lesser known Cotes du Rhone Villages, just to the north of the famed Chateauneuf du Pape. Saint Gayan is One of the great estates of the Southern Rhone, the owners, Jean-Pierre Meffre and his wife Martine produce wines of enormous power and concentration. With 1/3 of the vines being about 100 years old and the yields consequently low, the Gigondas has all the complexity and intensity of flavor one can expect from the Rhone. - This is a favorite and a great value for the dollar.

Importers Information: This meaty and succulent single-village Cotes-du Rhone is one of our favorite Rhone wines 70% Grenache and a whopping 30% Mourvedre. The size of these vineyards totals only .75 hectare,1/3 of which contain 100 year-old vines! Vinification follows traditional methods: 50% of the grapes are crushed, 50% fermented whole-berry; fermentation is brought to 31-32 degrees Celsius, and the wine is kept two years in tank and one year in cask before bottling.


3 - Le Grascete Bolgheri Rosso 2003 $30.
Nestled between Ornelia and Sassicaia, Azienda Agricola Le Grascete gives us this Super Tuscan of Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese, one of only two wines they produce. The grapes are meticulously hand harvested, and aged in French oak for 18 months, then 6 more months in bottle before release. The result is a wine with the power and depth you would expect from a Super Tuscan without the $150 price tag from the Bolgheri D.O.C.

Speaking of $150 Super Tuscans from a Rock Star wine maker...


4 - Gaja Ca'marcanda 2003 $150.
Last week Casamiro Maule, this week Angelo Gaja, or at least his wine. Along the Tuscan seaboard extending south from Livorno lies the Maremma. For centuries a marshland, it has established itself over the last quarter century as one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions. It is in this region that wine icon Angelo Gaja, looking like he just dismounted a Vespa in a Fellini movie, began a new winemaking venture — Ca'Marcanda. His aim was to transfer the experience of his Piemontese culture to the Maremma - to first acquire a thorough understanding of the potential of the different soil types and then to emphasize their specificity and uniqueness in the wines that are produced. The Maremma provides a perfect opportunity to apply this experience to growing international varieties.

In 1996, along the road between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, Gaja began planting 150 acres of vineyards, primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Angelo Gaja arrived on the wine scene and set about redefining the wines of Piedmonte, especially Barbaresco. The Ca' Marcanda estate (the translation is "the house of endless negotiations") is Angelo's effort in the D.O.C. of Bolgheri. Gaja wines accomplish something nearly impossible, they are shockingly approachable in their youth, yet have virtually unlimited aging potential. Many times I've pulled the cork on a Gaja wine expecting to find an untamed beast of of wine, only to be greeted by a supple wine, whose true nature is revealed by penetrating flavor. A masterpiece by a master wine maker.

Rated 92 points by Tanzer: "(A blend of 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc). Deep ruby. Rich, almost roasted aromas of black cherry, plum, and dark coffee, complicated by peat and an intensely balsamic menthol character. Concentrated flavors of red cherry, plum and milk chocolate are far from jammy. Wonderfully harmonious acids convey a sense of elegance and seamlessness on the extremely long finish."

We are pleased to share this with you on Friday - This is a special bottle that as we like to say, usually goes to movie stars or rich guys with pinot envy - but why should they have all of the fun? This is a wine that really has "The Jesus Factor" - made by man - but somehow touched by a higher power. Authentic and one of a kind - It may be a bargain at the price.


Thanks for your support we appreciate it - and it is the reason that we are able to bring in guests like Casamiro Maule, and offer wine like the Gaya at our weekly tasting.

There are lots of new things on the horizon, many of them based on your comments and suggestions - we are listening.


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

AAA.