You Asked For It - You Got It!

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Greetings from New London,
As we mentioned last week, you are all asking for "Value - Value - Value." We are making it a top priority and will provide it in everything we offer to you.

With that in mind we are announcing our first Guest Chef Wine Dinner for 2009. STOP reading - pick up the phone and reserve your seats now. 860-443-9463.
You will kick yourself in the pants if you miss this one.

Thursday January 29 - 6 p.m. - Piedmonte Wine Dinner with James Wayman of River Tavern.


We got together with our friends at the River Tavern in Chester and over several glasses of dusty red wine have organized a salute to the food and wine of Italy. Presiding over the mighty Viking Range will be Mr. James Wayman - He has been an executive chef at the River Tavern in Chester for four years, before that, the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts graduate was chef at Water Street Cafe in Stonington for six years.

THE MENU:
First: Ciccioli (Italian Pork Rillet) crostini with dried fruit mostarda & the mostarda is the northern Italian precursor to mustard that is similar to chutney.
Served with Contratto Arnelle Gavi di Gavi 2007

Second: Handmade Tagliatelle with wild black trumpet mushrooms (gathered by Chef Wayman),pancetta & sage cream.
Served with Fratelli Alessandria Barbera d' alba 2005

Third: Roasted leg of lamb with Juniper & honey, creamy polenta, caramelized onions & fennel.
Served with Fratelli alessandria Barolo 2004

For dessert: Whipped ricotta with orange, dates & espresso.
Served with Sergio Grimaldi Brachetto 2007

Now - here is where the value kicks in - the cost of the wine alone - if you could find it - would push this night into Platinum Card territory. Our first wine dinner of 2009 is priced at just $85, plus tax & service.

Put the disappointments of 2008 behind you and join us for a special night. Meet James Wayman and share a glass of wine while he describes each delicious course. Seating is limited, please reserve early.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

The Monday Tasting 1.12.09

Chateau St. Nicholas Bordeaux 2005 $18

Snow terror grips New London!
As the village ground-zero public announcement system crackles with dire instructions, I realize this day shall see us crippled by yet more blizzard - wiping the sleep from my eyes, I am gripped with fear: have we store of yams to last the winter? What of the onions? Will the provision of salted cod hold out?!?

My worries are soon quelled: Four Mile River Farms beef in the deep freeze, onion, carrot, celery, shallot, potato - if I can hunt a clove of garlic and a trifle of mushroom, we shall concoct a potent stew! And wine! Provenance has seen me a bottle of 2005 Chateau St. Nicholas Bordeaux - perfect! A drop for the kettle and the rest for our merriment! Order Now

The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 16 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Lingenfelder Gewurztraminer 2006 $15

The Hare Label Gewürtztraminer from Lingenfelder is a lively, aromatic wine made from Gewürtztraminer, a traditional aromatic grape variety from the Pfalz region in Germany. The floral, aromatic qualities of this Gewürtztraminer are sure to provide a unique wine tasting experience, whether you enjoy it as an aperitif, with a meal, or just on its own. Perfect with Asian, Thai and Indian cuisine.

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2 - Errazuriz Merlot 2006 $12



Merlot with just a touch of Carmenere from the Curio valley in Chile. Bright cherry red in color, the nose boasts and interesting combination of black and red fruits with spice.

Cherries and blackberries blend with notes of black pepper, cloves, and a light touch of smoke. Medium bodied on the palate, with gripping tannins and good structure.

Toast and fruit combine with refreshing acidity for a delightful, soft-textured wine with a pleasing finish. Order Now











3 - Puzelat KO "In Cot We Trust" 2005 $21

From Thierry Puzelat, one of the two brothers at Clos du tue Boeuf, comes this odd little number. This wine is bio-dynamically farmed Malbec from of all places, the Loire valley.

As with many Loire wines it's all about character and terroir.

A solid core of fruit and tannins rests on wafting scents of wet stone,
Loire Garrigue and Monkey. For the Francophile and the adventurous.. Order Now





4 -Chateau La Rame Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
2005 $26

Situated 40 kilometers southeast of the city of Bordeaux, Chateau La Rame is among the oldest and most renowned properties in the Sainte Croix du Mont appellation.

The estate was purchased by Claude Armand, the father of the current owner, Yves Armand. The 20 hectares of Chateau La Rame are set on a clay-limestone soil blessed with an exceptional substratum marked by a bed of fossilized oysters dating from the Tertiary era - really old.

The hillside vineyards overlook the Garonne River and face full south as they slope down towards the river.

The wine was slightly austere but intense with deep fruit and powerhouse tannins last we tasted it six months ago. Since then it's been sitting in our cellar "Mellowing Out", I wonder how it tastes now?

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We especially appreciate all of the comments and suggestions that you take the time to send in - it is very important to us. We do not take your support for granted - thank you for making us into the most talked about & copied wine store in Connecticut.

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


AAA.

Our Special Network,My Fair Lady,Jean Manciat,Trapiche Tributo,Chateau La Rame,Torre Dei Beati,Vigneto Cocciapazza,Cascina Ballarin Tre Ciabot Barolo

Greetings from all of us in New London, The list of wines for the Friday tasting is just below these words of interest. We Have A Special Network Too. *** We have a reliable network too - It's made up of you - our customers. All of you that continue to contribute suggestions and comments and support all of the ideas and special events that come from them during the year. Thank you. ***

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Movies In The Park - The Hygienic Art Park - Across From Our Store This Wednesday night - July 23 @ 8 p.m. - NO CHARGE 1964 My Fair Lady - Starring Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison Have dinner at Brie & Bleu or order up a beautiful picnic basket, and then stroll across the street to the park and watch the movie. Or just grab your favorite blanket and a bottle of wine from our cellar for a great summer night. NEW MOVIE EVERY WEDNESDAY. Order your basket now. 860.437.2474 Coming up: July 30: 'Rebel Without A Cause' (1955). ···

Dave's Fave The Monday Tasting Click on the photo to order it now Jean Manciat Jean Manciat Macon Charnay 2006 $18 My sister Krista just sent me the menu from her friend Randy Goodman's new cafe, "Bar Avignon" in Portland Oregon. What a terrific wine list! Randy has been a high-profile sommelier in Portland for over a decade and it's inspiring to see the many places where our choices intersect: grower Champagne, wines from the Loire, Rioja, Barbaresco, Bourgogne... Here's one wine featured at Bar Avignon which we've been enjoying all summer, a charming white Burgundy from Macon Charnay, bright Chardonnay with a long finish (and organic and biodynamic like all Jo Dressner imports). Cheers and success to Randy and Nancy at Bar Avignon - if you find yourself in Portland, stop in and say hi! Bar Avignon DA.

Wine Tasting Please Join Us Friday July 25 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge Can't Make It To The Tasting? - Order it now - click on the photos Jim Morrison works especially hard each and every week to make the Friday night line up interesting - here are his selections and comments for this week. This Just In - After a flurry of phone calls and e mails we were able to snag a few cases of Trapiche Tributo this week. Rated 95 points by Robert Parker, I'm going to take it one step further, it's the best Malbec ever produced in Argentina, the quintessential expression of old, high altitude Malbec vines. Trapiche made this wine only once, as a homage to the man who worked the vineyard for so many years, Felipe Villafane. $50 1 - Chateau La Rame Bordeaux blanc 2007 $16 Situated 40 kilometers southeast of the city of Bordeaux, Chateau La Rame is among the oldest and most renowned properties in the Sainte Croix du Mont appellation. The estate was purchased by Claude Armand, the father of the current owner Yves Armand. The 20 hectares of La Rame are set on a clay-limestone soil blessed with the exceptional substratum of a fossilized oyster bed dating from the Tertiary period. The hillside vineyards face south and slope down toward the Garonne river. This cuvee is a dry Sauvignon blanc, aromatic and focused, well suited to accompany a plate of oysters, and thus complete the cycle of life. 2 - Torre Dei Beati Cerasuolo Rose $20 3 - Vigneto Cocciapazza Montepulciano $35 We opened a bottle of the Torre Dei Beati at last week's tasting after we sold out of the Belle Pente Rose ( if you didn't get a chance to try the Belle Pente rose, there are two more cases coming this week, a riot of Rhubarb, Black Pepper and Strawberries, yum!). The wine was a surprise and a pleasure, vigorous and layered with pronounced fruit and structure. So we decided to open it again, with it's father the Cocciapazza Montepulciano. The vineyard yields for these wines are kept extremely low and the selection process at harvest time is nothing short of rigorous: the 2000 vintage (their first) was completed after six passes through the vineyard, in order to only harvest the most perfectly ripened grapes. The grapes are then subjected to the sorting table, tended to by four people, two preside, and who pick out any berries that look anything less than perfect. During the winemaking process the production is further limited in the interest of quality. A drawing off of some of the must during maceration occurs to increase the red wine's concentration. The drawn off juice or exsanguination is not wasted, but used to make one of the most attractive rosés you've ever tasted. 4 - Cascina Ballarin Tre Ciabot Barolo 2000. $35 Cascina Ballarin was founded in1928 and is a small but prestigous producer with a total anual production of about 30,000 bottles. The winery has holdings in the communes of La Morra, Monforte d'Alba and Novello, blending wine from all three to create Tre Ciabot. The 2000 vintage in Barolo was exceptional, and this shows the character of that great vintage and the results of several years of bottle maturation. The wine has ideal Barolo flavors of roasted red cherries, and blackberry fruit beneath a bouquet of lavender, violets and licorice. An ideal pairing for our Slow roasted short ribs or Duck Breast salad at Brie and Bleu. Please Call Us Anytime With Questions - 8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Thanks so much for all of your support and the regular stream of comments and suggestions - We could not do it with out you - We are enjoying our best Summer ever. Thank you. Please Join us in New London. It's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend. AAA.