Election Edition 2008

Greetings from all of us in New London,
Great turnout for Halloween - thank you.

And a quick note to the three girls that came as "French Maids" - we found the feather duster - but Dave wants to keep it.

The wine tasting on Friday night includes a very special forty dollar gem, the full list is just below our news.

Your comments from the survey continue to guide us. Thanks for taking the time to make suggestions, we are working to implement all of the great ideas. We hope to see you all this week.


Call 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Champagne & Pizza

This is not a typo - It is a special night. And we plan on proving a very important point: "That the only thing we have to fear...is - oops - no, that's not it. We plan on proving that the only thing you need to drink a bottle of Champagne...Is a bottle of Champagne.

It was an identical, staff only, tasting two years ago that inspired this special evening.

We will will taste through the remarkable Champagne of Marc Hebrart, Pierre Gimmonnet, Pierre Peters, Aubry Fils , Vilmart and A. Margaine, including Tete de Cuvee and Special Club Champagnes. All grower producer Champagne, Real artisanal wine, produced in tiny quantities and with exceptional quality.

Without a doubt - these are some of the finest boutique Champagnes in the world. You will not find them anywhere else in Connecticut. When the night is done - you will know the truth about Champagne.

Monday November 17 - 6 p.m. - $50
Please call early to reserve - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3.

Sarah has something special for

The Monday Tasting 11.3.08

Occassionaly employees need "personal time."
Dave mumbled something about Vegas, French Maids, and a feather duster just after the Halloween party last Friday night. That's the last we saw of him.

Fortunately the newest member of the wine store staff - the lovely Sarah - has stepped up and wants to share. (How do we find these people?)

Casaia Rosso Toscano $14
Sarah: "I'm new; a couple months into my rapid wine education. Jim texted me to come over to the store to sample some wines and I walked out with the Casaia Rosso Toscano, a lovely, plush Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon blend by Seiterre in Tuscany.

I went home to where I am still living out of boxes, and filled the only wine glass I own. The first thing to hit me was full, ripe cherries, falling off the trees. My apartment seemed bigger. I could feel hints of the salt in the dry air from the vinyard's proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The 50 percent Sangiovese lends to the provacative tartness of the wine.

Please join me this Monday to enjoy this warm, full bodied bottle. Tuscany, Connecticut? Why not."
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The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday November 7 - 6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Tramin Pinot Grigio 2007 $15

Made from 100% Pinot Grigio from southern Alto adige. After a gentle pressing, the must is clarified by natural sedimentation and fermented. Refined five months in stainless steel tanks, this is a very typical Italian-styled Pinot Grigio.

Bright yellow in color with coppery reflections and clear fruit aromas of pear, citrus, honeysuckle, tropical fruits and light spices. Firm, velvety and rich on the palate, with well integrated acidity.


A very round and satisfying wine. Recommended with fish antipasti, risotto with asparagus, omelettes and pasta.

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2 - Sola Fred Montsant 2005 $10


In the zone of the Montsant appellation, the soils are mainly Chalky, with some zones of clay and slate, all with high minerality and low fertility.

The region is mountainous, located at the boundary between the Mediterranean and the continental climates, with a dry summer and winter and a moist spring and fall.Montsant is also a land of old vine Grenache and Carignan planted just after phylloxera.

Vines with very low yields on which the bunches mature evenly and reach optimum concentration at the moment of harvest.
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3 - Domaine La Manarine Cotes du Rhone 2005 $15

Domaine La Manarine comprises 9.5 hectares of vineyards situated on what is known as the "Le Plan de Dieu". For generations, this specific terroir has been recognized as unique.

Recent research has identified the particular character of the underlying soil: a deep layer consisting of more than 60% hard limestone "galets" (large smooth pebbles).

The climate is typically Mediterranean: relatively hot and dry with an average rainfall of between 600 and 800 mm per year. The rains usually come in the form of thunderstorms in late August which provide the vines with the water necessary to finish the maturation process (which tends to shut down under stressful drought conditions).

Grenache Noir is the main grape variety of the region. It performs particularly well on this type of soil and gives wines with more elegance and aroma than is otherwise common, creating in this case one of the finest Cotes du Rhone we have ever seen.
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4 - Kathryn Kennedy Lateral 2005 $40

"This Lateral is inspired by the famous wines of the St. Emilion district of Bordeaux. The blending of Cabernet Franc and Merlot is the cornerstone of this model. Another key to Lateral's consistent quality is the use of multiple vineyards from more than one region.

Select growers from the cooler coastal valleys are chosen with primary consideration for the flavor their grapes can add. Winemakers Marty Mathis and Chris Condos have been carefully assembling the Lateral blend for over 10 vintages.

Soft and juicy entry, gentle and lively texture. Mild tannins supported by ideal acid balance. gorgous flavors of bright red fruits lead to echos of licorace, tree bark and earthy tar notes. Not at all a monster wine, nor a high in alcohol style, this 2005 Lateral get very high marks for it's dead on "right bank" character.

A killer value for a true top flight Bordeaux blend that has become known for it's friendly easy to like personality.
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Thanks very much for your support and all of the comments and suggestions.
We appreciate it.

This Thursday is the last Cruise Ship arrival for the season. If you have been waiting to see one of these ships glide into port - this is it. It would be hard to find a better place to watch than the deck at Brie & Bleu - come on down.

Also, thanks again for all of the comments about City News. We will be posting a schedule of special guests and events as early as next week. We hope to make it a regular stop for literary, lifestyle & cultural interests. And, as always, all suggestions are welcome.

Remember, all comments are completely anonymous and you can add them HERE
We look forward to hearing from you.

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

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