Special Holiday Hours - Let's Have Some Fun!

This Friday Night

A Holiday SpectacularPresented by Eric Belnier

We have selected our favorites for the season.  

We hope you can join us this Friday from 5-8 PM
Let's Have Some Holiday Fun! 

Thank you one and all for taking the time to shop locally with us.  It makes a difference to all of the downtown merchants. Sure, it is easier to shop online - but you can't sample a new gourmet item, try a wine from a tiny town in France or actually laugh out loud reading a new card that is just right for someone special on your list.

This is the local connection - and we thank you.

Special Items
Have Arrived For The Holidays.

On Our Shelves Now

We have too many things to list here. But those of you that know us have seen the variety of unique items that we have. Stocking Stuffers in every category.  One of a kind things that will make your family and friends smile. Please join us this Friday and take a good look around.

 

Only 600 Cases Produced

Only 5 Six-Packs in Connecticut.   

We have one of them.

The pinnacle wine for Terlato Vineyards, EPISODE stands shoulder to shoulder with
the very best Bordeaux Blends in the world.

The Terlato family makes this Bordeaux blend of classic varietals from the best Napa Valley fruit. Made with a focus on quality from select fruit that meets the highest standards, EPISODE stands out as truly elegant wine-a classic.

EPISODE is crafted in very limited quantities.

For the wine appreciator in your life - a very special gift. At a special holiday price.

Normal Price  $199

Email Price    $169 

 

 

 

ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY CHEESE NOW

 

This is the time to order your cheese platters and gourmet specialties. Make your entertaining easy.

We will have several to sample this Friday night.

 

 

 

We Have What It takes

We love trying to get hard to find items.

And we have a pretty good success rate.

Don't be afraid to ask if you don't see it.
We will put our top people on it.

CALENDAR 

RSVP Line:  860-443-6817
No Charge - All rsvp events start at 6:00pm  

Wednesday December 17 - RSVP Required

Italy - The Wines Of Conte Vistarino

6:00 PM presented by Ted Brown Vinifera Wines

FINAL TASTING BEFORE THE NEW YEAR

Friday December 19th

Eric Belnier - Monsieur Touton Selections

BUZZ

     

HOLIDAY HOURS:
Closed Christmas Day

Friday 26th -
Wine store open
Flower Shop Closed

Saturday 27th -
Wine Store Open
Flower Store Open

New Years Day
Both Stores Closed

Friday January 2nd
Regular Hours Resume

 

 

Pre Thanksgiving Specials

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

Drink Different. We say it all of the time. And this Friday night we have a very interesting selection for you to sample. A particular favorite is the story of Monsieur Marcel Deiss. A true character - that makes exceptional wine. Domaine Marcel Deiss is a mid-size estate (27 hectares) located in Bergheim near Ribeauvillé in Alsace. It is a deeply-rooted family estate as the Deiss ancestors can be traced in the village back in 1744. Under the guidance of Jean-Michel Deiss, the vineyards have been gradually turned organic, then farmed along the biodynamic method since 2003. The wines of Marcel Deiss are acclaimed for their terroir differentiation more than their variety characteristics, and Jean-Michel Deiss' passion for this terroir expression led him to reconsider the single variety system which is considered as the rule in Alsace. All of the wines featured this Friday night have genuinely fascinating stories behind them. We hope you can start your weekend with us here in New London. Meet your friends here, try a little wine and cheese, and then head off to dinner at one of the new restaurants that have opened downtown. New London is buzzing. Please Join Us This Friday Presented By Tom Belcher Martin Scott Wines

Marcel Deiss     Alsace is a unique landscape sculpted by both rivers and volcanic events, but bearing the unmistakable and essential traces of a more ancient geological past as the bottom of a wide ocean. It is no wonder that the wines of this region are like nowhere else on earth, and it is no wonder that the winemakers of this region are some of the most unique characters in the world of wine.    Jean-Michel Deiss is one of those characters. Deiss, along with his partner Marie-Hélène Cristofaro, run Domaine Marcel Deiss, started by Jean-Michel's father in 1947. The domaine's namesake, Marcel Deiss, was the direct descendant of a family of winegrowers who settled in the Alsace town of Bergheim in 1744 when it was part of France (arriving before it was part of Germany, and then part of France, and then part of Germany, and then part of France again -- over the next 300 years).   Deiss is quite possibly at once both the "essential" Alsatian winemaker -- for his tireless advocacy of the region's potential and the incredible quality of his wines -- and yet also the black sheep of the region who never quite does things the way anyone else does or thinks they should be done. He's just sort of troublemaker I enjoy and is a magnet for criticism over any number of different things. Deiss' wines defy description in many ways. Their flavors transcend categories and grape varieties, and end up being astonishingly unique expressions of a place and vintage. They are as idiosyncratic as they are delicious, and remain some of my favorite wines in the world. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Please try them this Friday.

Le Bec Fin       Domaine Tardieu-Laurent was established in 1994. It is a partnership between Dominique Laurent, a former pattisier (and with the girth to go with it) and one of the hottest names in Burgundy, and Michel Tardieu, a dynamic young winemaker. Tardieu-Laurent is an extremely unusual operation in that they are a négociant only, buying young wines from growers all over the Rhône, which they mature and blend before bottling. They own no vineyards and don't buy grapes, only wine.   Tardieu-Laurent is very much an "artisan" producer, making between half a dozen and 20 or so barrels of each wine. The majority of the wines are from the southern Rhône although superb cuvees of Cote Rôtie and Hermitage are also produced. The wines are all aged in small oak casks (often 100% new) and bottled with no fining nor filtration. Michel Tardieu proclaims himself as a confirmed terroirist, insisting that his aim with each appellation is to express powerfully the fruit and sense of place, never masking these factors with wood.  "An outstanding Côtes du Rhône, the 2009 Les Becs Fins is a tank aged blend of mainly Grenache, yet with smaller components of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. Very fresh and pure, with excellent aromas of raspberry, candied violets, licorice, and mineral, the wine hits the palate with a medium-bodied, silky texture, great acidity, and plenty of length and polish on the finish.

Barco Reale di Carmignano  Barco Reale di Carmignano is a red-wine DOC of Tuscany, Italy's most famous wine region. The title was granted in 1994. Barco Reale means 'the Royal Park' and is a reference to the Barco Reale Mediceo, a 4000-acre game reserve established by the de' Medici family in the 17th century. The park was surrounded by a high wall which stretched for almost 31 miles around its periphery. The relationship between the wine and the park is not entirely clear, however.   The wine's origins can be traced back as far as the 14th Century, when, in 1369, a document was drawn up demonstrating that Carmignano was four times as expensive as any other wine of the time. In the early 1700s the Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici established the area of Carmignano as a nursery for grape varieties, which included the planting of internationally renowned Cabernet Sauvignon imported from France. He also issued a decree controlling the wine's production standards and sales, enforced by the Congregazione di Vigilanza. Take a sip of Italian history this Friday night.

Stuff We Love:

Costiolo - A Quintessential Quaffer    This is one of those wines that make you forget about the concept of the 100 point wine.  for those of us wine lovers that are serious about wine it is nice to find a wine that brings us back to what we first enjoyed about this magical elixir, wine aka- fermented grape juice. A very light and refreshing wine that is slightly sweet and slightly frizzante, aromas of cherry and raspberry fruit with highlights of fresh rose petal, floral aromas.  This wine has a nice freshness on the tongue with an abundance of sweet berry fruit and a nice touch of spritz to leave the tongue refreshed and ready for the next sip.  Serve this wine slightly chilled and watch the bottle disappear.

Roundhouse Spirits - Pumpkin King Cordial    Pumpkin King Cordial is an all-natural artisan liqueur made with fresh roasted Munson Farms pie pumpkins, award-winning Roundhouse Gin, and traditional spices.  Only 5 miles from the fields to the distillery ... that's as local as it gets! The balance between pumpkin flavor, sweetness, and spices is a delicate dance that distiller Ted Palmer successfully achieves with his twenty years of experience.  Ted experimented for three years before perfecting this recipe.  Pumpkin King Cordial is made at 60 proof with enough explosive pumpkin flavor to accommodate non-alcoholic mixers in beautiful cocktails. SILVER MEDAL, 2014 Denver International Spirits Festival

Rain City Spirits - DRIP "Drip" Coffee Liqueur Seattle Coffee + Rain City Spirits = Drip. This unique coffee liqueur redefines what you know as coffee liqueur. "Drip begins with a unique blend of coffee roasted by Seattle's top artisan roasters. We then use a proprietary brew method to extract as much flavor as possible from the coffee while leaving behind the bitterness and acidity. The coffee is then finished with our Rain City Spirits and just a touch of pure cane sugar...that's it. Think of an iced Americano with a kick. At Rain City Spirits we believe in challenging the status quo, we believe it is time for spirits to get back to their roots. We do this by throwing out the traditional "rules" of  Liqueur production, and focusing strictly on quality and keeping to a sense of place." Each step in the creation of Rain City Spirits  is carefully thought out with the end goal of simply producing the best products possible. This philosophy combined with the amazing natural resources Washington provides allows them to create the most unique and amazing Coffee Liqueur you will ever taste."

Gluhwein - Drink this all season long    Glühwein is the German version of what the English call "mulled wine." It's basically a spiced red wine served warm (usually spiced with ingredients such as cinnamon, sugar, cloves, vanilla, and lemon peel). This type of wine seems to be popular throughout Europe and is known by a different name in every country! This is really just the perfect drink for this season as it helps to keep you nice and toasty on the inside and rosy on the outside. Imagine yourself in southern Germany walking through a beautiful Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkts), holding a steaming cup of this wine in your hands as you peruse the market's wares. It comes in a large, 1-liter bottle, and it's best served warm. Honestly, a warm glass of this on a blustery winter day will melt all your troubles away!  What does it taste like? You can definitely taste the citrus in this as well as that generous splash of cinnamon. It's also nice and sweet, it is definitely a drink to sip slowly and enjoy. Enjoy with friends after a night out in the cold or just save it for yourself to drink over several days.

Flowers Perennial - In Stock For The Holidays    "For over 20 years, Flowers has been devoted to and inspired by Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast with a strong commitment to purity and terroir.  Since all of our Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are 100% varietal wines we do not normally have the opportunity to blend varieties.  However, Perennial is a unique and captivating blend that was first introduced with the 1997 vintage and has been consistently crafted with the same dedication as our varietal wines.  It is intended to challenge style and intrigue the mind.  As with our inaugural vintage, in 2010 we have searched out eclectic vineyard sites closest to the California coastline to find the varieties that contribute to our targeted blend style. Perennial is a red blend that is intended to drink a lot like a Pinot Noir with a broader fruit profile but the same balanced acidity, fresh flavors, and soft round tannins.  With Pinot Noir and Syrah at its core, Perennial combines elegance and finesse with spicy depth and complexity.    Pinot Meunier  and Dolcetto, can contribute to the blend as well as Chardonnay which marries flavors, provides a lift to the fruit and extends the finish.   Each plays a supporting role bringing the blend together representing a "Flowers style" for the given vintage - every year unique.    We hope you enjoy and experience the subtle differences from vintage to vintage as the blend will always be a discovery and exploration of flavor." This is a wine that is perfect for a gift or on the holiday table. You can present this to your guest's or host with complete confidence.

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.

Lavender Fromage Blank We just got in a limited run of Nettle Meadow's Honey-Lavender Fromage Blank unsalted goat cheese from Warrensburg, NY. It's a delicious and perfect blend of honey and just a touch of lavender that absolutely melts on your tongue. You have got to try this on Friday night. Epoisses cheese needs five to eight weeks to mature and during this period requires attentive and regular manual attention. It is as Spring finishes that it is especially tasty as it has been made with milk produced when the cows were first turned out to grass, or at the beginning of Winter because it has been made with rich and aromatic milk, produced by cows pasturing on the new growth of autumn... The nose is strong, with a good bouquet and aromas of the undergrowth. In the mouth, its body is supple, creamy, and never too strong. Its taste is straightforward, subtle and balanced, with light notes of dry fruits. When the Epoisses is properly matured and slightly runny, you will really enjoy this inimitable cheese, in the full bloom of maturity. Traditional Chevrot Aperfectly ripe Chevrot could make a convert out of the most reluctant goat cheese eater. Creamy, even molten under the rind, yet firm and velvety smooth at the heart, a Chevrot in its prime is a peak experience. Many people find goat cheese too tart, too chalky or too downright goaty, but Chevrot is none of the above. Made by a century-old cooperative in the Poitou region of western France, just south of Brittany, Chevrot reflects expert cheesemaking.

 

  BUZzzz



CALENDAR 

Friday November 7th
Tom Belcher - Martin Scott Wines

Friday November 21st
Eric Bellnier - M. Touton Selections

Wednesday November 26 - mid day tasting before Thanksgiving 

Ryan Connolly - Michael Skurnik Wines

Friday December 12
John Orfice - Allan S. Goodman Selections

Biggest News Of The Year - So Far

A Cold Week In New London

Greetings from New London,
Big News on the event front to tell you about.
Last week we announced our wine dinner with the River Tavern. It sold out like it was a Springsteen concert - thank you.

This week we are pushing the bar a little higher. In coordination with the Hygenic Art Show's 30th opening, we have a great line up to help you plan ahead. We unveil the evolution of what a food & wine event should be.

The original 1900's interior of City News will be set for a wine dinner & presentation of Italian lifestyle & travel.

TWO special guests will host
The Food, Wine, and Lifestyle of Tuscany.
Reserve your seats early.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Ashley Turney - Founder Owner Live It Italy

Anne Haviland - Chef Owner Anne's Kitchen




Saturday January 31 - 6 p.m. at City News.
We start with a flutes of Prosecco and introduction to the original 1900's architecture of City News.

Ashley Turney will introduce us to the secrets of Tuscany accompanied by an authentic menu prepared by Anne Haviland. Wine served with each course.

· Pasta Fagioli with Pancetta
· Orange and Red Onion salad with EVOil and Pignola
· Hunters Style Rosemary Chicken
· Biscotti and Bacci

$50 plus tax & service
Put 2008 behind you and join us for a special night. Meet Ashley Turney and Anne Haviland and share a glass of wine while they take us to Italy with each delicious course.

Plenty of time to walk around the corner to the
Hygienic Art Show 8 p.m. opening.
Seating is limited, please reserve early.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 9 4 6 3

Dave's Fave
The Monday Tasting 1.19.09

Berger Blauer Zweigelt 2007 $14

As The Leader of The Free World in bringing one-liter Austrian pop-top wines to the people, we can not keep this tubby number on the shelves. So why is some on the shelves? Perhaps it has been misunderestimated.

Zweigelt, or "Blauer Zweigelt" is an ancient varietal from the foothills of the Alps. One look at the bottle suggests a long tradition of wintertime apres-ski comfort meals. A smoky pheasant stew with gnocchi perhaps?

Reflecting on this, I asked importer Terry Theise, "What kind of authentic Austrian cuisine might one match with this superb wine?" He laughed, "I dunno, It's just FUN, I'd have it with spaghetti and meatballs!!" Order Now

The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 23 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Pala "Crabilis" Vermentino 2007 $16


Crabilis - which means "ancient goat shelter" in Sardinian dialect, is the name of avine-covered limestone-sandy hill not far from the Pala winery.

Crabilis lends its name to Pala's Vermentino, as this is the most widely planted grape in this 25- hectare vineyard area. After harvest and gentle pressing, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks where it rests for a few months before bottling.

Straw-colored with greenish reflections and a persistent floral and herbaceous aromas with notes of thyme. Medium to full-bodied on the palate with good balance and a long finish. Serve with seafood dishes and lightly seasoned soups.Order Now



2 - Grosjean Premetta 2007 $28


Perhaps the lightest, and finest red wine you will ever drink.

Made from the local grape Premetta in the Vallee D'Aoste in Italy's Northwest corner.

The two world wars have not been kind to the Vallee D'Aoste and in the last hundred years the vineyards have shrunk from 3000 hectares to just over 500 hectare.

The entire region produces less than 200,000 cases, less than most single brands of wine.


A perfect red wine to poultry or fondue, very fine tannins, floral notes on the nose and cherry on the tongue. A very old fashioned, in a very good way. Order Now





3 - Cline Cashmere 2007 $16

Cline Cashmere blend consists of 39% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 23% Mourvèdre. The lion's share of Grenache for this luscious blend is harvested from Massoni Vineyard in Oakley, California.

The vineyard uses cluster-thinning and leaf-pulling to increase fruit concentration. Lusciously bodied, with earthy undertones and a lingering aroma, the wine is best enjoyed with hearty dishes on a cold night. Order Now





4 - Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Vacqueyras 2005 $36

Sang des Cailoux, or Blood of thepebbles, is located on a plateau of scrubland, facing the Dentelles de Montmirail Vacqueyras. The vineyard is bathed in sunlight and shaken by the mistral, the fierce wine that rips through the Rhone.
A blend of Granache, Syrah, Mouverde, and Cinsault. A wine of great structure, with spice and roses. Will age very well for the next several years and improve much as a good Chateauneuf-du-Pape improves.


Best served with game meat and Lamb, rosemary and other Garrigue-esque spices.

Order Now


We are pleased to introduce City News as another venue for special dinners & events. We think you are going to love the space. We also have a great line up for the coming months - all based on suggestions and comments from you - our friends and supporters. Look for all of the news right here in the email and on our websites. Thank you all for making this so much fun.

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


AAA.

Happy New Year 2008, Davidoff Select Merchant, Martin Sancho Verdejo, Apaltagua Envero, Chocolate Block, Heitz Cellars

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html
Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/
IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html


Happy New Year! And best wishes to all of our readers and customers -
Thank You for a great 2007.

We start the New Year off with a great lineup on Friday night.
Since this is a vacation week for some of us just a couple items of interest before the wines for Friday.

• We are happy to announce that we are now officially a Davidoff Select Merchant.
The first boxes of the finest cigars being hand crafted in the world today have made their way into gift baskets with wine & fine spirits over the Christmas holidays. If you know someone that enjoys fine cigars - consider adding them to your next gift order. There will be much more information to share with you in the weeks ahead. Ask us about the special pricing and selection the next time you visit or call.

• We have two dozen grower champagnes, plus Cava, prosecco, and other sparkling wines from North America, Italy , and France. Of particular interest, is the Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale 1999, LeMesnil-Sur-Oger Grand Cru, perhaps the best Champagne we've ever had , $175 a MAGNUM. Head and shoulders better and above both, Cristal & Dom Perignon and less than HALF the price. High prices and orange labels are for Hedge Fund managers, desperate aging hipsters and snooty big-shots - Grower Champagne - This is wine for people in the know.

Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday January 4, 2008 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Martin Sancho Verdejo 2006 $16 - Spain
This wine comes from ancient, 150-year-old vines in the Rueda wine region, just about half way between Madrid and Bilbao. The vines are grown in alluvial soils, which are smooth, white rock with very little sediment for several feet. The owner, Angel Rodriquez, takes great pride in his 25-acre vineyard, which has been passed down for many generations. This is a beautiful white wine full of green fruits, spice, a slight smokiness, bitter almond, and melon. From free-run juice, the new wine is racked into centuries-old subterranean oak bocoyes prior to clarification and bottling. 2006 was an unusually early harvest that has resulted in a bold classic Verdejo character, with deep minerality complementing abundant ripe fruit and texture in a long, weighty finish.


2 - Apaltagua Envero 2004 $16 - Chile (rated 89 points by Stephen Tanzer)
The Apaltagua Winery is located in the prestigious Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley. They specialize in one distinguished, but lesser known, grape varietal - Carmenère. Carmenère is considered the "lost Bordeaux" variety, as it was originally planted in Bordeaux, but was abandoned there because it was too late ripening for the Bordeaux climate.
Tanzer: "Deep ruby. Explosively fruity, with strong raspberry, cherry jam and redcurrant scents, with a complicating note of cinnamon. Lush and silky on the palate, with a pure raspberry quality that's extremely easy to like. Pliant, suave and elegant, with a long, sweet red berry tone to the finish and very soft tannins. This is an excellent value and is drinking well right now." - For me, this is a perfect wine for a nice steak or grilled chops. Keep that in the back of your mind when you try it on Friday night.


3 - Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2006 $36 - South Africa
This is a house favorite - The Chocolate Block - always draws attention and devoted fans whenever we are able to share it.
Boekenhoutskloof, founded in 1776, is far up the "Valley" in the Franschhoek foothills. Situated 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, South Africa, it falls within the Cape's abundant winelands. It is a dramatic and enchanting place and should you ever have the opportunity to visit, as we did last year, you must make the trip.
This is a new vintage from an old friend - please try it on Friday night.

Watch as we taste with the winemaker HERE: http://blip.tv/file/206160

See our photos HERE: http://thamesriver.com/wine/photos.html

Visit their great website HERE: http://www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za/


4 - Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa California $50 - http://www.heitzcellar.com/
Joe and Alice Heitz established Heitz Wine Cellars in 1961! They were originally from Illinois and South Dakota respectively, but met in California in the mid 1940's. When Heitz Cellars opened in 1961, the Napa Valley had fewer than twenty wineries. Today there are more than two hundred. The original winery on St. Helena Highway is still open to the public as a sales and tasting room for visitors and is a glimpse into the origins of Heitz Cellars. The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the richest in years. The gorgeous varietal fruit flavors on the palate are just exquisite and impeccably balanced with complex tannins. It is a fabulous wine illuminating the purity and radiance of the cabernet grapes and showcasing the talents of the winemaker --- a joy to drink now and into the future. This will go quickly - try it on Friday night and see for yourself why these wines are sought after - everywhere.



Thanks for your support - we have a great year lined up - full of surprises and excitement.

We hope to see you on Friday night.

Please Join Us - It Is Fun, Informal and a Great Way To Start Your Weekend.


AAA.