Six New Ways To Use Wine In The Bedroom - July 4 2009

National Recognition - The Knot Magazine
Thanks to all of the people that voted for us!
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Greetings from New London,

Hey - We got a little national attention this past week. Thanks to the readers of The Knot Magazine. We were selected among the top florists across the country.

A great line up for Friday night to kick off the holiday weekend - the list is just below a few items of interest.

The Shoreline Acoustic Music Society will be hosting the 3rd annual Acoustic Music Festival on July 10, 11, and 12, 2009 in the Hygienic Art Park. There will be plenty of seating. Beer, wine, soda, water and snacks will be available for purchase.
Admission will be:
Friday 5:00-10:00pm - $3.00;
Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm - free;
Saturday 3:00-11:00pm - $5.00;
Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm - free.
The line-up will be:
Friday, July 10
5:00-5:15 - Carl Franklin
5:20-5:50 - Bruce McDermott
6:00-6:15 - Bob Vogel
6:30-6:45 - Dean Denis
7:00-7:30 - Blonde Furniture
7:35-7:50 - Bernadette Golden
7:55-8:10 - Darin Keech
8:15-8:45 - Will DSol
8:50 -9:20 - Bubblin' Crude
9:30- 10:00 - Matzah Cigar

SUMMER MOVIES

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Hygienic Art Park (79 Bank Street Across From The Wine Store): Summer Flickers, Wednesday nights June 24 - September 9 at 8pm.

Join us for screenings all summer long at the beautiful Art Park. Movies start just after 8 at sundown. Some consessions provided. Bring a blanket, chair, picnic, libations, family and friends!

July 8: The Girl Can't Help It (1956)
July 15: Drum (2004, directed by Jason Filardi)
July 22: To Have and Have Not (1944)
July 29: Do the Right Thing (1989)
August 5: Blazing Saddles (1974)
August 12: The Muppet Movie (1979)
August 19: Coffee & Cigarettes (2003)
August 26: Faire Harbour Film Fest
September 2: Double Indemnity (1944)
September 9: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
For more info, visit hygienic.org

Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday July 3 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut NV $15

It is believed that Prosecco was already produced in Roman times, possibly as the vinum pucinum praised by Pliny the Elder.

It is, at any rate, one of the oldest wine grapes in Italy and ranks about thirtieth in importance among the country's some 2,000 grape varieties. The name of Prosecco is derived from the northern Italian village of Prosecco (Trieste), where the grape is believed to have originated.


Light and soft the wine pairs well with food or is perfect on it's own when the sun finally decides to shine.





2 - Mas Cal Demoura Qu'es Aquo Rose 2008 $20

In 1970, when there was a great exodus from the Languedoc due to a loss of faith in its vineyards to provide a sufficient living, Jean-Pierre Jullien named his domaine "Cal Demoura", which in Occitan means "one must remain". He came from a long line of vignerons and, at that time, he followed most of his colleagues as they closed their caves and attempted to survive by participating in the local cooperative. Jean-Pierre's son, Olivier, refused to follow the path of the cooperative and established his own domaine, the "Mas Jullien", in 1985.

Jean-Pierre, in a reversal of the usual process, took the example of his son, resigned from the cooperative and recreated his own estate in 1993. He sold off a portion of his vineyards and retained only the best 5 hectares. With these, he began making a wine of regal dimensions that helped to lead the qualitative revolution in the Languedoc. In 2004, Jean-Pierre retired, selling the estate to its current owners, Isabelle and Vincent Goumard. Seduced by the estate's winemaking philosophy, as well as by the potential of its terroir, the couple spent a year working side by side with Jean-Pierre in the vineyard and in the cellar, before taking full control of the estate.

The five hectares are located in the village of Jonquières and in the neighboring community of Saint Felix, approximately 45 minutes northwest of Montpellier, just south of Clermont l'Hérault. They are situated in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac, an independent subdivision within the Coteaux du Languedoc AOC that was recognized in 2004.

The vineyards feature five grape varieties in approximately equal parts: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. The average age of the vines is 25 years with significant parcels of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan being considerably older. The soil is very dry and stony with a deep but porous topsoil. The various parcels of the domaine are distributed over a terroir that is both geographically and climatically diverse. These variations, combined with an assortment of different cépages, result in wines of complexity and finesse.

"Qu'es Aquo" Rose: A rich, expressive and aromatic rosé, the Qu'es Aquo is made in the same spirit as the domaine's red wines, using the same five cépages - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan - but in a different blend that favors Cinsault and Syrah. The rosé is saignée and vinified like a white wine to emphasize its aromatics. The Qu'es Aquo is a substantial rose that pairs well with food.



3 - Cascina Ballarin Cino 2006 $15

A blend of 20% Nebbiolo, 40% Barbera and 40% Dolcetto from the center of Piedmonte Italy.

Bright ruby-red; very vinous, intense, fresh nose showing a range of fresh fruit and flowers; rich, luscious taste that's smooth and medium-bodied; excellent as an everyday wine.

4 - Castro Ventosa Tinto 2006 $11

The Bierzo D.O. is located in the northwest of the Province of Castilla y León, just above Portugal. Castilla was one of the original Spanish regions to unite against the Moors in the Middle Ages and thus became the north-west stronghold for the Catholics. The region has a great historical past with many remains that testify of its rich history.

The winery is situated in the village of Valtuille de Abajo at the foot of the slope of the Castro, the ruin of an ancient Roman fort that dominates the village of Valtuille de Abajo. Some of Castro Ventosa's vineyards are planted on that same hill just around the ruins, the name Castro Ventosa means "The Windy Castle".

The Tinto Joven Vineyards are spread out in different locations in the village of Vatuille in Bierzo and all are agianst a slope. The winery is situated at the foot of the South Western slope of el Castro (the ancient castle); 590 meters above sea level. The climate is continental with some Oceanic influences; the medium yearly temperature is 13º Centigrade with an average of 800 millimeters of rain per year.

Close attention is given to the vines and hardly any machinery is used in the vineyards to retain tradition but also old methods are best suited to the area.
Fermetation takes place in stainless steel tanks and the wine is bottled 1 month after the end of harvest.

Junipero
G I N

We have amazing spirits on our shelves:

The History:
is old school. Sipping it takes you back in time. You can imagine Churchill pulling down this stuff while trying to decide what to do about those Germans.

Junipero makes a really perfect gin martini: The juniper, as you'd imagine from the name, is up front yet not overpowering. But it's more spicy than evergreen, so you don't feel like you're constantly chewing pine cones when you drink it.

Of course there's more to it than that, though, and Junipero, like most other gin makers, keeps its recipe secret. It's hard to put your finger on much beyond some lightly bitter orange and lemon peel and something that gives it a kick of sweetness, but I can say that whatever Junipero puts in this gin, it works really well in the glass.

At the classic 94.6 proof, I was sure Junipero would be blazingly harsh consumed straight, but it wasn't.

Better, though, was to toss a few rocks in. As the ice melts, the water brings out the fruit peel flavors and mellows the juniper berry further. Summer is for GIN.

CITY NEWS
Featured Cigar

Oliva Series V

The History:

Serie V is a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blended with specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero, and finished with a high priming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.

Blending Notes: This cigar is blended to deliver full body taste while maintaining an unparalleled smoothness. This flavorful blend exhibits complex tobacco with rich coffee and dark chocolate tones.


We offer the full line of Oliva Cigars - singles or by the box.

CITY NEWS
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Fine Cigars Including:
Winston Churchill
Partagas
Ashton
Avo
CAO
Oliva
Romeo y Julieta
Padron
Perdomo
H.Upman
Montecristo
Punch
La Gloria Cubana
Arturo Fuente
& MORE

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The sun is out and our decks are ready - come on down.

Thanks for all of the support, comments and suggestions - we appreciate all of it.

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


AAA.

Sip Slowly you may live longer - Best Zinfandal Ever?

Father's Day Sunday June 21
We have lots of affordable ways to remember "The Old Man."
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Greetings from New London,

We are running a bit late this week so we will proceed with very little delay to the list for this Friday night. We hope to see you at the tasting.

·····

A note of thanks goes to Mallove's Jewellery in Waterford for the HUGE turn out at the Pandora Party last week. We saw many of you out there and met lots of new friends too. There was a line of cars waiting to turn into Utopia Plaza that made it look like Woodstock.

****

We do have a lot of options for Father's Day - So whatever your dad might be into, we have options - Not many local stores can make that claim.

Call early for timely delivery - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Wine Tasting
Please Join Us
Friday June 19 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Castelo de Medina Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $14

100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Spanish D.O. of Rueda. Known throughout the world for the indigenous varietal Verdejo, Rueda also provides the perfect Terroir for Sauvignon Blanc.

Straw yellow with greenish hues, bright and crystalline. Aromas of cut grass, anise, fennel, apple and some hay, Castelo de Medina is a perfect expression of the kind of crisp and kenetic white wine that northern Spain is famous for.

The mouth is big, powerful, fresh and well balanced. The finish is very persistent, with great body and a lingering flavors.










2 - Delas Cotes-du-Ventoux 2007 $11
The appellation of Côtes-du-Ventoux sits on the East bank of the Rhône river at the foot of the Ventoux mountain range. The appellation extends for 18,000 acres and mirrors the climatic conditions and grape varieties of its neighbor, the Côtes-du-Rhone.

The Côtes-du-Ventoux comes from a blend of wines from the Apt commune in the heart of the Cote du-Ventoux appellations. The grapes are Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%). The average Delas production is 16,670 cases per year.

After harvest, the Grenache grapes are fermented the traditional way in stainless steel tanks mixed daily to allow a soft extraction of carbolic acid. On the other hand, Syrah is fermented by only the vintage wine in order to fully bring out the fruity aromatic power of this type of vine. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are mixed and then preserved in stainless steel tanks, in a temperature-controlled wine warehouses for six to eight months until bottled.

The color is a dark ruby red. There is a dominace of red berries with a combination of power and freshness that carries over onto the palate.






3 - Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 2007 $12

Only by using grapes from around the state can they deliver on that promise. Coastal vineyards impart the core of intense fruit flavors found in their wines year after year.


The grapes were late bloom usually meaning a late crop. The harvest was an amazingly large harvest. The fat, juicy clusters weighed and produced more juice than anticipated and managed to fill every tank and barrel many winemakers had on hand. Rumor has it some winemakers simply had to stop harvest until they had enough room in their winery to receive more grapes.

The stainless steel tanks were filled to capacity with grapes for fermentation. The grapes were then chilled and crushed for three days. This helped extract color and fruit flavors before it was inoculated with yeast. After 10-14 days of primary fermentation, the wine was dry and was pressed off for aging in oak barrels.

Blending also provides the layers of flavors that sing more like a band than a solo act. The 2005 blend also includes Monterey Merlot for a juicy, rich fruit middle and a touch of Syrah with its luscious blueberry notes. Cabernet fruit provides plenty of plum, cherry, and boysenberry aromas. French oak adds a touch of caramel and cedar.

The wine drinks deep in rich berry fruit flavors, with just enough oak to make it interesting and a great lingering finish. The composition is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 4% Merlot.

4 - Green and Red Chiles Mill Zinfandel 2006 $28

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Green and Red makes the best Zinfandel in the world. Their vineyards are high in the Napa hills and are comprised of mineral rich soil with green and red hues. They foot tread their grapes for a slow, cool fermentation, creating a wine of uncommon complexity and elegance. This is one of the few California wine that improves with age , and the only Zinfandel I've ever had that drinks beautifully after eight or ten years.

From their website:
"Green & Red Vineyard, named for its red iron soils veined with green serpentine, is located in the steep hills on the east side of Napa Valley. The planting was started in 1972 on ground originally in vineyards in the 1890's. The vineyards are a small percentage of the 200-acre property, which ranges in elevation from 900 to 2,000 feet. Our separate vineyards are at different elevations with different exposures.

Green & Red Vineyard directs its farming practices to emphasize the particularity of the grapes from this many faceted piece of earth. Each vineyard receives different amounts of water determined by soil texture, depth and exposure encouraging root depth through varying soil strata. A no till native cover crop is mowed minimizing erosion. In row weeds are controlled mechanically and manually. The vines are cropped to 3 tons to the acre. Selective leaf pulling and cluster thinning focus intensity in the fruit.

OUR LABEL is adapted from a wine chalice painted by Exekias in the 6th century B.C. depicting the Homeric "Hymn to Dionysus" wherein he is abducted by pirates. Against the better advice of the helmsman, who recognized the god of wine, the pirates tried to bind Dionysus, whereupon he changed into a raging lion. The ship's hull filled with wine. A grapevine entwined the mast from which clusters were born. The sailors, terrified, jumped overboard and were instantly metamorphosized into dolphins, The helmsman, who had shown proper respect to the god, was spared. "

St. George
A B S I N T H E

We have amazing spirits on our shelves:

The History:
Absinthe was the drink of choice among artist and writers in the mid to late19th century. It inspired poets and appeared in works by Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. It was enjoyed by the scandalous playwright Oscar Wilde, the eccentric Toulouse-Lautrec, the poets Charles Baudelaire and Edgar Allen Poe, and the famous 20th century author Ernest Hemingway, just to mention a few.

By the end of the 19th century, grape phylloxera had destroyed two-thirds of the vineyards on the continent of Europe. The price of wine skyrocketed and was soon in short supply. The Aristocrats bought and consumed what was available, leaving the middle-class "la bourgeoisie" of artisans and tradesmen searching for a cheaper alternative.

Absinthe was already growing in popularity and was a perfect alternative, being a distilled spirit, it was much stronger than wine and had a mysterious effect that heightened the senses. It was perfect for the emerging Bohemian culture growing in Europe.

St. George Spirits Absinthe Verte is made with fine brandy, star anise, mint, wormwood, lemon balm, hyssop, meadowsweet, basil, fennel, tarragon and stinging nettles.

This infamous liquor reveals seductive flavors of anise complimented with sweet grassy tones, light citrus, white pepper, and light menthol notes.

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Ashton VSG

The History:
When the Ashton Virgin Sun Grow (VSG) line was released in 1999, it was instantly hailed as a success. Cigar Insider even went so far as to say that "connoisseurs are seeking out the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown with a fervor not seen in the industry for years..."

Prior to being lit, the cigar has rich roasted mocha notes with a fantastic aroma of vanilla flavors. The band's classic white, black, and gold give it an almost royal appearance.

Fortunately, when lit, the flavors remain just as impressive. Almost immediately rich earth and mocha flavors are apparent.
Over time that is complimented by deep roasted notes.

Overall, the Ashton VSG offers dark, luscious flavors without sacrificing its smooth balance, everything you would expect from a cigar developed for Ashton by Carlos Fuente.

The Ashton VSG line is often compared to the Padron Anniversary line. The comparison has merit, as both cigars are known for pairing full flavor with smoothness in a way that is uncommon, even for the best handmade cigars in the $8 and up price range.

We offer the full line of Ashton, Padron, & Fuente cigars - a great Father's Day gift.

CITY NEWS
Newspapers
Magazines
Candy

Fine Cigars Including:
Winston Churchill
Partagas
Ashton
Avo
CAO
Oliva
Romeo y Julieta
Padron
Perdomo
H.Upman
Montecristo
Punch
La Gloria Cubana
Arturo Fuente
& MORE

8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

We hope to see you and your favorite Dad at the tasting this week. Get the old boy out of the house for some fresh air.

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


AAA.