Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Halloween Tasting Please Join Us


The Halloween Tasting
Friday 5-8 PM - No Charge
Please Join Us




Located in Sant' Angelo in Colle in the commune of Montalcino, Tenuta Il Poggione was established at the end of the 19th century by Lavinio Franceschi and is still owned today by the 5th generation of its founder, siblings Leopoldo and Livia Franceschi.

Tenuta Il Poggione is one of the original three producers of Brunello di Montalcino. The estate covers a surface area of 1,482 acres, of which 309 acres are planted to vine, 173 acres with olive groves and the rest are arable and woodland used for grazing and raising cattle and pigs to promote biodiversity and a natural approach to farming. Many of the vines are grown at more than 1,315 feet above sea level and are among the oldest in the appellation. The estate is also blessed by its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea (about 30 minutes distance by car) to the west and the Orcia River Valley and Mt. Amiata in the south.

Led by father-son winemaking team, Fabrizio and Alessandro Bindocci, Il Poggione's guiding principle is to pay meticulous attention to the vineyards with regular monitoring of vineyard conditions along with constant efforts to preserve the typical characteristics yet improve grape quality through research and selection. Harvest is conducted entirely by hand and the wine is made in the traditional method, though modern, state-of-the-art equipment is used. Total control of the vinification process is guaranteed, thanks to the new cellar built in 2004 and the introduction of extremely advanced technology, but as tradition is important, the company keeps the large Allier French oak barrels used for aging its wines five meters below ground.

Please Join Us This Friday  For Halloween
Presented By Bob Neville
World Wide Wines 
 
 
 
 

Mazzoni Pinot Grigio 

A Tuscan Pinot Grigio created by two distinguished winemaking families; Franceschi from Italy and Terlato from the United States. The partnership between Italy's Franceschi family and the Terlato family has flourished for more than 35 years when the Terlato's began importing their world-class Brunellos to the United States.
MAZZONI is made from hand-harvested 100% Pinot Grigio and each family brings its expertise to the making of this wine. It is crafted at a state-of-the-art winery in the prestigious Montalcino zone, and is the perfect confluence of old and new world techniques guided by the desire to create world class wine today, and for future generations.
  
Flavors of citrus fruit and tropical fruit. On the palate it is fresh, with a mineral note which underlines its savory tones.  
 

 
 

Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino  
  
Il Poggione is one of the most highly regarded Brunello di Montalcino producers with a rich history and reputation for stylistic consistency. This is a younger, more accessible version of Brunello, but already very well-developed with a strong character, Rosso di Montalcino is a very important wine for Tenuta Il Poggione.  

Produced entirely from Sangiovese grapes from the youngest of the estate's vineyards, Rosso di Montalcino is matured for 12 months in large barrels before undergoing a period of bottle aging. Some have called this a "Baby Brunello."
  
Very well structured, mellow, long lasting flavor with smooth, velvety tannins.  
 
 

 
 

Nipozzano Riserva   
Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG is on of the historic wines produced at the Castello di Nipozzano.  

Nipozzano Riserva is a lovely ruby-red. The nose opens with dark wild berries and cherry, hints of candy floss and pleasant floral notes of lilac and chocolate. The spicy component emerges with nuances of clove and green peppercorn. The palate is characterized by a distinct tactile approach in which the stamp of the terroir is underlined by a lively minerality. The tannin texture is tight but not sharp which is also an expression of the uniqueness of the soils of Nipozzano. The finish returns to the intense fruity notes already identified on the nose.

This wine has a silky richness that is hard to describe. Please try it on Friday night.



Stuff We Love:
The Ultimate Whiskey Cocktails in a Bottle



We all love a good cocktail, but sometimes you just aren't in the position to make a cocktail at the drop of a hat. Sure, cocktails have been bottled before, but they haven't ever really been comparable to what your favorite bartender whips up for you. Until now.

Fluid Dynamics has released cocktails aged in barrels, and they are pretty spectacular, maybe even more spectacular than the drinks that your favorite bartender makes for you (ingredients have a chance to merge and become a richer whole because of the aging process).

With options including The Saratoga, The St. Nick, the Brandy Manhattan, and the 1850 Cocktail there are plenty of options to
keep even the biggest cocktail aficionado satisfied too.

They come in "cocktail sized" bottles too - super convenient.
Ask for a sample this Friday.
 

MONKEY 47 

Just Another Gin?
"Certainly Not! Admittedly, it appears somewhat eccentric to claim that a recipe for gin has the power to unite great British traditions, the exoticness of India, and the purity and nativeness of the Black Forest. And yet it is precisely this eccentricity that defines the enigmatic character of Montgomery Collins, from whom our Schwarzwald Dry Gin originates. MONKEY 47 - Distilled from 47 predominantly unusual but regional botanicals such as lingonberries and blended with natural spring water. Cheers!"

Ask for a sample this Friday night -
Forget What You Thought You Knew About Gin.
 


Low Gap Whiskey  

Low Gap California Whiskey is made exclusively from malted Bavarian winter wheat, which has a high protein content and is ideal for fermentation. Once the wheat has been malted and mashed, it is fermented into a craft beer with an 8.8% ABV. Following fermentation, the wash is twice distilled in an antique 15-hectoliter cognac still. After distillation, the whiskey is aged in three different types of barrels: new American oak casks, 350-liter French Limousin oak barrels that were previously used to age brandy, and used American oak barrels that were previously used to mature Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon.

After the whiskey has aged for a minimum of two years, it is brought to proof using rainwater and bottled by hand. The whisky has an oaky aroma, with touches of grain, vanilla and apples. The aroma fades into notes of sweet caramel, red fruits and berries on the palate, and ultimately leads to a finish accented by raisins, prunes and plums. The whiskey earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.





Jasper Hill Moses Sleeper

Jasper Hill Farm, the expansive dairy project hatched by brothers Mateo and Andy Kehler, was first established in Greensboro, Vermont, during the summer of 2002. With their small herd of Ayrshire cows, the Kehlers began to make an array of cheeses that would soon bring them renown, including a soft, bloomy-rinded barrel called Constant Bliss and the savory, Stilton-esque Bayley Hazen Blue.

Inspired by French Brie, Moses Sleeper is named for a Revolutionary War scout who was killed while helping to defend Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. 
The cheese has a thin bloomy-rind and a soft, milky core that offers an array of flavors at peak ripeness: cauliflower, crème fraîche and toasted nuts.  



Swiss Nufenen
The milk for the Nufenen comes from alpage herds, which is to say that the Braunvieh cows are brought up into the mountains in the summer, to graze on the unique blend of grasses, herbs and other flora found in the rolling alpine pastures, during which time these seasonal cheeses are fabricated. 

The flavor is buttery, nutty and fruity, a little bit of a "spicy" personality as the name implies - although it's not spicy in the sense of hot but more of an herbal, complex quality - with meaty, hazelnut and caramelized onion notes and a subtle barnyard pungency on the finish.  
 



BAT RED BORDER

 
  BUZzzz





CALENDAR
 

Friday October 31st - Halloween
Bob Neville - World Wide Wines

Friday November 7th
Tom Belcher - Martin Scott Wines

Wednesday November 12
Edward Brown - Vinifera

Friday November 21st
Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections

Wednesday November 26 
Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnik Wines


 


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Foodstroll Edition

Wine And Cheese Tasting
Every Friday 5-8 PM No Charge

A short week makes for a short email.
We hope that you will stop in to say hello during New London's Fall Food Stroll
tonight - Wednesday October 15th. We will be sampling beer, wine, and cheese.

And at the same time we will be hosting our RSVP only tasting of the Shannon Ridge vineyards portfolio. Presented by Angelini Wines - It starts at 6:00 PM for everyone that signed up - we will see you then.

This Friday Night we welcome Eric Bellnier from
Monsuier Touton Selections.
5-8 PM - No Charge



Villa Jolanda Prosecco


With the holidays just around the corner you need to think about the perfect way to greet your guests. We think that the moment they step over the threshold of your house you put a glass of prosecco in their hand. It takes the edge off right away and defines you as a perfect host.
Villa Jolanda is just the thing. Try it this Friday night. It is very affordable, it is crisp, light, and made by one of the best known producers in all of Italy.
 
It can be served with with a main course - light sparkling wine goes with everything. But it is a delight on its own. AND it comes in beautiful glass bottles that are worthy of display - consider a magnum sized bottle for only $26.



Seguret Cotes du Rhone

Rated 93 points by Wine Spectator:
"This mouthfilling red displays unctuous plum and boysenberry fruit flavors that course along nicely, thanks to lively spice and toasted anise notes, with a strong graphite streak. Fleshy, but excellent acidity is well-embedded on the finish."

Seguret Terrasse Pavee Cotes du Rhone Villages is a dark, solid rain. It's ready to drink now, and great with hearty fare, be it finger food or a lavish sit-down gathering. The perky spice, toasted anise and graphite notes pair beautifully with meats, roasts, tomato sauces and rich stews alike, or even roast chicken.

We're imagining the lovely caramelized edge on grilled or browned racks of lamb, standing rib roasts, or a full beef tenderloin with a red wine reduction simmered with star anise, cloves and bay leaves on the table, and how well any of these choices would pair with this sturdy Cotes-du-Rhone Villages. Grilled sharp cheddar and Virginia ham sandwich bites are a great starter with your first glasses. Or, you could offer a buffet of sliders three ways: beef, lamb and pork with a tangy barbecue sauce. What are you in the mood for? You could consider your options while enjoying a French Reblochon cheese. Or, just have a delicious glass of this Seguret all by itself. It wouldn't be so bad to get lost in a deep, delicious glass of this Wine Spectator's Top 100 Outstanding Values.

Please try it on Friday night.


Chateau d'Aiguilhe
89-92 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
 
"One of the best-run estates in the underrated and undervalued appellation of Cotes de Castillon is Chateau d'Aiguilhe.  The blend is usually 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, lots of cassis, crushed rock and floral characteristics, a round, generous, savory, broadly textured style and sweet tannins. Drink it over the next decade."

92 points Wine Spectator
"Very lush and expressive, with caressing plum sauce, mulled blueberry and blackberry fruit and melted licorice and warm fruitcake flavors, all gliding together through the finish. Offers lovely range and a seductive mouthfeel."

All of the critics agree that this is something special - but you are the ultimate judge. This is a killer bottle for a very affordable price.  

Please try it on Friday night and rate it yourself. 







Fromage de Brebis

With a handsomely sweet taste and delicate silky texture, Fromage d'Affinois de Brebis is a decidedly sophisticated sheep's milk brie. Produced in the Rhone-Alps region of France, this fromage has a bloomy, edible white rind that encompasses a creamy, rich paste on the inside. Contrary to the more commonly known cow's milk brie, the use of sheep's milk in this cheese often hailing the name Le Berger de Rocastin, offers a savory taste and texture that builds in complexity as it ages.

Saint-Nectaire

St. Nectaire is a French semisoft, washed rind cheese from the Auvergne region of France. Made from the milk of Salers cows that feed on rich, volcanic pastures, St. Nectaire is both a fermier (farmhouse) and industrial cheese. Depending whether the processes are artisanal (raw milk) or industrial (pasteurized milk), the texture attributes in St. Nectaire are vastly different. 

AOC awarded, St. Nectaire takes six to eight weeks to mature on rye straw mats, imparting a peculiar pungent smell to the cheese. When properly aged, it has a grayish-purple washed rind, dotted with white, yellow and red molds. The creamy, supple, silky textured paste melts in the mouth to reveal flavors of nuts, hay, cellars and mushroom.

Do not miss them on Friday night. Try them with a sip of prosecco. 

All Wednesday night events begin at 6:00 pm.
No Charge - 860-443-6817
All events are an opportunity to purchase at special prices
 
   

SOLD OUT- Thank You
Wait List Only

buzing fly

 
  BUZzzz


CALENDAR
 

Friday October 17
Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections
NLCPS - in the lounge.

Friday October 24
Damian Chombard - Owner of Chateau Lamothe
 
A return appearance - at his request because he loved our customers.
Damian will be in the USA for just 1 week and will make only one stop at a local store. His choice: right here in New London. Please mark your calendar.

Friday October 31st - Halloween
Bob Neville - World Wide Wines

Friday November 7th
Tom Belcher - Martin Scott Wines

Wednesday November 12
Edward Brown - Vinifera

Friday November 21st
Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections

Wednesday November 26 
Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnik Wines

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Drink Like A Top Chef

This Friday

Bastianich Adriatico Pinot Grigio
 
Lydia and Joe Bastianich would not put their name on something that was not top quality.

"Perfectly exposed hillside vineyards and rocky soil, located at the crossroads of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, make all the difference in creating the first Pinot Grigio we are proud to call Bastianich."
Round and full-bodied with good mineral and acidic structure. Hints of ripe apple and pear.
"Pinot Grigio should be refreshing and delicious, 
not thin and acidic! Ripe apple and great minerality on the broad, satisfying palate."
A perfect food wine. 
 

 
CHRISTO - Marietta Cellars

Full-bodied yet surprisingly soft, this mouth filling wine offers plenty of thick, juicy black fruits and pepper with intense notes of blueberries, lavender, and dried flowers. There's not a hard edge, but the wine is intense and richly textured. There's an earthy, volcanic aroma of tar, smoke, and juicy, ripe blueberry notes.
This is a
killer red blend - This blend is full of Rhone varietals such as syrah, grenache, petite sirah and even a touch of viognier. The nose is beautiful and unmistakable with dark, juicy fruit notes, particularly blueberry and hints of lavender. This is a big wine on the palate with its blueberry and black cherry fruit notes and soft, tantalizing tannins.
 
 
 
 
 
Chateau Ducasse   - White Bordeaux

Hervé Dubourdieu's easy charm and modest disposition are complemented by his focus and ferocious perfectionism.
Americans don't drink much white Bordeaux - we favor the reds - but we do like Sémillion-Sauvignon Blanc blends. One thing is for sure: You're not going to confuse this wine with a big, juicy Chardonnay. It doesn't overpower, but for drinking with food, it's hard to beat.
Hervé blends a high proportion of Sémillon (60%) and a splash of Muscadelle (5%) with Sauvignon Blanc (35%), creating a rich, full, aromatic mid-palate to complement the clean finish. These are the perfect go-to whites that pair well with anything from fish to poultry, picnic fare to Indian curries.
This may be your new favorite weekend white - please try it on Friday night.
NEW ARRIVALS    

Corsair Triple Smoke  
Artisan Whiskey of the Year - Whisky Advocate 2013
Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
Owned and operated by Andrew Webber and Darek Bell, Corsair Artisan Distillery is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky as well as Nashville, Tennessee. 

Corsair "Triple Smoke" is created by smoking malted barley in three different ways - one smoked with cherry wood, the other smoked with peat, and the third smoked with beechwood. Pot distilled and then barreled in new charred oak, "Triple Smoke" has the sweetness and barrel notes of an American whiskey and the rich smoke of a single malt. 

Aromas of toasted date bread, smoked jerky, roasted nuts and chocolate lead to nuanced flavors of fruit, toffee and peat. The finish is long and persistent with notes of almond brittle, smoke and peppery spices.

Drink Different - if you enjoy a nice cocktail you need this on your bar. 
   
PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey  

PennyPacker was developed in the 70s as an export brand to embody everything American; The Penny, Abraham Lincoln and The American Flag. It was the number one selling Bourbon in the European market in the 70s. PennyPacker was introduced to the US market in May of 2013. With 70% corn it has a certain amount of sweetness with a light finish, which makes it ideal for sipping or mixing in cocktails.

   
Schonauer Apple Liqueur  

This product is typical German specialty and ranks among the best selling brands of its kind in Germany. It can be consumed straight, as well as on the rocks or mixed with soda, tonic or in a variety of cocktails.

Schönauer Apple Liqueur was popularized by German university students in the 1970s as the only way to start a party. This is a delicious mix of Germany's best apples and grain spirits. In 2003, Schönauer received a Gold Medal and 95 point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute. 2nd place got an 83. You can compare apples to apples but Schönauer is in a class by itself. They stated that Schönauer was sweetly tart, with baked apple flavors, and almost no discernable alcohol taste. For those who claim to love Green Appletinis, think about when you bite into an apple. What color is it? Shouldn't your appletini be the same color? If it's made with Schönauer, it will be the color of real apples. Schönauer contains no artificial colors or flavorings.

Put this into the mix this holiday season.




Seal Cove Farm Olga (Cow's Milk)
Olga is the product of an experiment pioneered by Seal Cove Farm Cheesemaker Barbara Brooks and her Ukrainian intern, Olga. Made from a mix of goats' milk from her own herd and organic cows' milk from a neighboring farm, this cheese has a bright and buttery zing from the cows' milk and followed by the mellow musky flavor of late fall goats' milk. The aging of the cheese gives it a firm and dignified paste, with a lingering caramel-toned sweet finish.

Champlain Valley Triple Cream
Famous for his all-natural, award-winning cream cheese, Carleton Yoder is at it again up in Vergennes, VT. This time he's crafted a lightly aged triple creme from his neighbor's pastured organic cow milk.  We get them fresh - ensuring that every downy rind is thin and perfectly edible. Enjoy the fluffy, buttery, undeniably creamy treat with a sparkling beverage of choice.

Sample them this Friday night - they are glorious.
 

buzing fly

 
  CALENDAR


Friday October 17

Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections
NLCPS - in the lounge.

Friday October 24
Damian Chombard - Owner of Chateau Lamothe
 
A return appearance - at his request because he loved our customers.
Damian will be in the USA for just 1 week and will make only one stop at a local store. His choice: right here in New London. Please mark your calendar.

Friday October 31st - Halloween
Bob Neville - World Wide Wines

Friday November 7th
Tom Belcher - Martin Scott Wines

Wednesday November 12
Edward Brown - Vinifera

Friday November 21st
Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections

Wednesday November 26 
Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnik Wines
 

Sunday, October 05, 2014

Doctors Orders - Take Your Medicine

 

Wine And Cheese Tasting
Every Friday 5-8 PM No Charge
   

If you need an excuse to get out of the house and come downtown for the weekly tasting - how about "Doctors Orders."
A weekly dose of something to clear your head and get you in the right frame of mind for the weekend.

This Friday - 5-8 PM
Chateau La Reyne - "Le Prestige"

South America is where most people associate great Malbec - but did you know it was originally a grape made famous in France?

Located in the town of Puy L'Eveque, the vineyards of Chateau La Reyne are comprised of carefully tended 35 year old vines. Owned and operated by the Vidal family, the winery is currently run by the family's fifth generation, Johan. He combines their traditional production methods with today's modern technology in order to produce quality wines that still reflect the terrior of his family's land.

This rich, concentrated Malbec displays intense notes of blackberry, cherry and red currants on the nose and palate. Light floral notes merge with dense tannins and balanced acidity on the long, spicy finish. Enjoy with beef, lamb or duck.  






Torrebruna - Sangiovese
Virtually synonymous with the red wines of Tuscany, and all the romanticism that goes with the territory, Sangiovese is the core constituent in some of the great names in Italian wine. Italy's love affair with Sangiovese - and indeed the world's - is generations old.

At the dawn of the 21st Century, Sangiovese equated to roughly one in every 10 vines on the Italian peninsula.

"For our Torrebruna we attentively select the best Sangiovese grapes with the aim of producing and authentic Tuscan red dominated by fruity and spicy notes that only this vine can express thanks to the Tuscan soil and climate." -winemaker


bogle Phantom  
Bogle Phantom

The wait is over...Phantom has reappeared for the season! Bogle's tantalizing apparition of rich berry and relentless spice returns to tease wine lovers. Full of flavor, concentration and intensity, this mysterious wine will haunt you well after the last sip is gone.

Bright red cherry fruit and black pepper tempt you to take that sip, with hints of brawny juniper, rich blackberry and briary boysenberry in the background. Succulent in mouthfeel, the wine showcases its versatile grape varietals: Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre.  

Aged for over 24 months in 1 and 2 year old American oak, tones of spicy vanilla and toasted coconut moderate the firm tannins and create a focused and intense finish.  

Enjoy this passionate and commanding red wine, yet another vintage impossible to ignore.  Please try it this Friday night.


Back In Stock

Very Hard To Find
Michel Couvreur Whiskey
Michel Couvreur is a Belgian and an independent bottler of single malt scotch. His cellars are located in Bouze-les-Beaune in the heart of Burgundy. Michel ages his single malts for years in sherry butts and then in demijohns or giant bottles kept in total darkness in the exceptional well-protected underground galleries of Bouze-les-Beaune.

Vatted from 54 whiskies aged more than 12 years (12 to 27 years) in oak casks, this malt has a rich amber color, a nose full of dried flowers, tobacco leaf, Jerez wine and fat almond, and a powerful, fruity, long finish. What a fantastic accompaniment to smoked salmon when served over ice. It is also perfect as a dinner digestive served at room temperature.

If you have a whiskey lover in your life, take a good look at these.
A great gift.





 
Nancy's Hudson Valley Camembert, Quickes Glouchester Cheddar
& Capri Goat & Honey. Try them all this Friday night.


All Wednesday night events begin at 6:00 pm.
No Charge - 860-443-6817
All events are an opportunity to purchase at special prices


Wednesday October 15 - Sold Out Thank You  




The Wines Of Shannon Ridge  
In the late 1980's they began working with wine grapes from Lake County and recognized the area's potential to grow great mountain fruit.  At altitudes of 2,100 to 2,400 feet above sea level these steep mountain ridges are cooled by steady winds off Clear Lake and from the higher peaks just north. The vines produce small berries with concentrated flavors.  Lake County California and the folks at Shannon Ridge make award winning wines.
  

   

 
Wednesday October 29th
Burgundy Tasting
rsvp required
  
* Marie Pierre Manciat Pouilly Fuisse  
  "Les Petites Bruyeres"  
* Billaud Simon Chablis per Cru Vaillons  
* Janotsbos Pernand Vergelesses Blanc  
* Franck Givaudin Irancy 2012
* Lou Dumont Morey St. Denis 2010  

Diedre Magnello is one of the most knowledgeable people in the wine business.  A sought after presenter we are proud to share our stage with her for the special tasting of wine from Burgundy. Deidre's frequent trips to the Burgundy region allow her a personal connection and access to some of the best producers and their wine in Burgundy.  

This will be an opportunity to purchase wine from her amazing portfolio at a special price. Please join us and discover why Burgundy is the most sought after wine on the world.

Wednesday November 12
Vinifera - Italian Wines  

Wednesday November 26 - The day before Thanksgiving.
Ryan Connolly will present the Michael Skurnik Holiday Portfolio.
An opportunity to discover wine that you need for the holiday season.  





buzing fly



 


Coming In November
Amarone Tasting