United We Eat & Drink

Hello from New London,
As always we have what we believe is a beautiful line-up of wines picked out for the Friday tasting. The list is just below a few items of interest.

The first thing we want to take a look at is our selection of Irish Whiskey - it is SO nice.

The Irish may or may not have invented whiskey (the jury's still out on that), but after a recent tasting of the best the island has to offer, I'm beginning to think they just might have perfected it.

Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve ($85)
The Midleton distillery produces a lot of standard Jameson whiskey, all of it light and impeccably clean. Those qualities make this 18-year-old version a perfect example of the good things that long, careful aging can do. Notes of dill and toasted coconut in the nose; velvety, sweet, and nutty in the mouth. Delightful.

Knappogue Castle 1995 Single Malt Whiskey ($40)
This whiskey shows a translucent, floral malt flavor with more citrus than grain: drinking it is like drinking lemon pound cake, in a good way.

Midleton Very Rare 2008 Vintage ($134)
A blend of several very old whiskeys (some of which have as many as 25 years on them), with some younger ones folded in for sprightliness. More complex than the Jameson 18-year-old and particularly pleasant because of the way the bright, citrus peel notes of the younger whiskeys intertwine with the musky-sweet, orange blossom honey notes of the older ones.

Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey ($34)
My favorite of the Bushmills single malts-indeed, of the entire tasting-happened to be the venerable Northern Ireland distillery's youngest. Lively, fresh acidity lies atop a cushion of barley sweetness: the quintessence of "moreishness". If you like a darker whiskey, you might prefer the chocolatey 16-year-old or the spicy, leathery 21-year-old.

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A reminder that our Spring & Easter collection of Moonstruck Chocolate arrives this week.
A perfect gift or maybe just a personal indulgence.

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United We Eat

Take a look at the specials being served this week at Thames River Beanery

MONDAY:
PANINI: Pastrami with Monterey Jack cheese, roasted red peppers & spinach.
SANDWICH: BBQ Chicken with Blue Cheese Crumbles

TUESDAY:
PANINI:
Prosciutto with salami & provolone cheese
SANDWICH: BLT - The Original & Still The Best
Thick-Cut Bacon, Crispy Romaine Lettuce & Tomato
on Toasted White Bread.

WEDNESDAY:
PANINI: Tomato & Mozzarella with fresh basil drizzled with olive oil and melted in the mighty press
SANDWICH: Corned Beef Served on a five inch club roll.

THURSDAY:
PANINI: Chicken & Brie Roasted chicken, brie & sliced green apples with our homemade raspberry vinaigrette
SANDWICH: California Wrap Tomatoes, spinach, hummus, cucumbers, red onion, roasted red pepper, sprout's, avocado, bibb lettuce & crumbled feta cheese.

FRIDAY:
PANINI:
1 - Four Cheese Melt - on French Baguette
2 - Homemade Tuna Melt & cheddar cheese.

Chef Scotty is dong a great job featuring the cheese from Brie & Bleu and gourmet products from Stonewall Kitchen to make many of the specials that we serve everyday.

Please stop in and try something special.

"You Are Getting Thirsty..."
Friday March 19 - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge



Domaine de Ballade Sauvignon Blanc $10

Another little treasure from Gascony on France's northern Atlantic coast. Has the price of Sancerre and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc gotten to you too? Here's is a lovely substitute - white flowers and lemon with a marvelous round finish. Crisp, clear and exquisitely made, a wonderful match for seafood and salads. This weekend I'm going to fry up some cod with an arugula salad...plus a couple bottles of Ballade = dinner party!











Delas Cotes-du-Ventoux $12

Welcome back old friend! From the East bank of the Rhône river at the foot of the Ventoux mountain range. The Grenache grapes undergo traditional winemaking in stainless steel vats. The Syrah, on the other hand, is vinified in successive batches as soon as it is picked, to preserve the aromas and fruit. Deep ruby red with berry-fruit bouquet and flavors. Gorgeous French red with an impeccable lineage, still so affordable, it's silly...


Landi Lacrima di Morro di'Alba $20


100% Lacrima from San Marcello in the Italian province of Ancona - right on the "calf" of the Italian boot on the Adriatic coast.

This local grape has been grown in the same region since the 10th century. Ruby red color with a floral scent of rosehips and spice.

An elegant, lighter cherry-blossom wine, a good substitute for Pinot Noir. We fell in love with its graceful wild rasberry tones.

Exactly why we have the tasting - try something you may never have heard of!

Donnafugata Nero d'Avola "Sedara" $16

A spicy, silky red of the Sicilian "Nero d'Avola" varietal (we will never run out of local Italian varietals folks, there are thousands).

Since I'm hungry, let's get the winemaker's recommendations:

"Try the wine with lightly cooked fresh tuna. Tonno con polenta (tuna with cornmeal). Cannelloni ai pistilli di zafferano farciti al fegato grasso (pasta tubes flavored with saffron and stuffed with foie gras). "Farsu magru" the traditional meat roll stuffed with eggs, ham, cheese and herbs).

Serve: In goblets of medium size." We would do well to abide by these instructions!

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Thanks for turning out last Friday for our music & tasting in the cellar. And our thanks also to DJ Dave Freeberg for showing us that real vinyl really does "taste better."

And of course we hope to see you at this weeks tasting.
Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.

AAA.