Celebrate Hugel Day With Us - Lets Drink!

Drink Different! HUGEL - Winegrowing Ancestors Since 1639 The first traces of the Hugel family in Alsace can be traced back to the XVth century. Some two centuries later, Hans Ulrich Hugel settled in Riquewihr, which had been devastated by the terrible Thirty Years War. In 1639 he was made a freeman of the city and soon took charge of the very powerful Corporation of Winegrowers. In 1672 his son built a fine house in the Rue des Cordiers, and over the doorway was carved the family crest which was the origin of the company’s logo still used today. The Hugel family gained an enviable reputation for their winegrowing skills and for the meticulous way in which they cultivated their vineyards. In 1902, Frédéric Emile Hugel left the old family property and established himself in premises in the centre of Riquewihr which still form the heart of the family business. This Friday night meet Jennifer Young the Hugel Family Ambassador for Frederick Wildman Imports. She will lead our tasting of the Hugel portfolio - don't miss this special night.  Start your weekend here  - a little wine, a little cheese, and maybe a surprise or two. Don't Wine Without Us Please join us on Friday night. 5-8pm - No Charge         The Only Wine You Need  For The Holidays         The Wines Of Hugel are the perfect match for the rich and savory dishes of Thanksgiving - This Friday night we offer a special presentation to celebrate the holiday and Hugel Day. "With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, there is no better time to begin planning your Thanksgiving holiday menu and include the perfect wines to complement the always-abundant and scrumptious spread. HUGEL, of course, has a wine for each course! The tricky job is finding the right wine to go with the variety of tastes, textures and aromas that make up the never-ending repast.  On #HUGELDAY, NOVEMBER 10th—we are running wine specials on Rieslings, and all other varieties, for this favored national holiday!"Charlotte Hugel         Gentil "HUGEL" Produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. This is the perfect introduction to Alsace wines as it combines the qualities of all our white varietals. This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines assembled from noble grape varieties were called "Gentil". Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.         Pinot Blanc HUGEL It is now the most planted varietal in Alsace. Delicate, subtle and well built, it makes an excellent aperitif because, although nicely rounded, it is also refreshing. The perfect all-purpose dry white wine, it goes well with country buffets, seafood and white meats. It is the most approachable wine of Alsace and also the most consistent year in year out. Not far in style from an unoaked Chardonnay such as a Macon or Chablis. This is one of our favorite wines all year long. Please try it this Friday night.         Gewurztraminer  The spice of Alsace and one of Famille Hugel's signature wines. It is both aromatic and extroverted through its floral and spicy notes. Gewurztraminer is an invitation to accompany a variety of spicy Asian dishes as well as smoked salmon and strong cheeses. "This wine has a wonderfully intense and lively colour with a nice crystalline metallic sheen over a young, fresh and alert pale green with hints of pale yellow. When rolled in the glass its legs are structured and oily. It has a magnificent pure and sophisticated nose which generously releases a sense of freshness, openness and perfumed, expressive, fruity and floral spontaneity with delicate hints of Muscat, white peach, lemon balm, rose, hawthorn, jasmine, freesia, lime tree and cherry blossom, lychee and pear. One is immediately impressed by its rare elegance and aromatic charm." Wine Maker         Pinot Gris Famille Hugel  Pinot Gris truly dry and gastronomic which reveals itself at the table! Rich and rounded, although still dry, it is ideal with terrines, white meats and fish in sauce. Of all the Alsace varieties, Pinot Gris has the greatest ageing potential. "A very fresh yellow, pale green with dominant hints of green with lighter hints of the pale yellow of lime trees in spring, some silver, crystalline highlights, a pleasant energetic sheen, full and lively legs. The aroma is still a bit restrained and serious but with the fresh, clear, precise and well stated fruitiness of lime, fresh kiwi, lemongrass, gooseberry, fresh moss and a lightly mineral flinty nuance.  On the palate this is a dry, refreshing and lively wine with a pleasant sense of tension and vivacity which enlivens the palate, it's rounded and full flavor amply quenches the thirst." Wine Maker         SPECIAL EVENT         SOLD OUT - WAIT LIST ONLY Wednesday November 14th 6:00pm - RSVP Required No Charge - 860-443-6817 FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT SHERRY Robert Colopy, Sherry Ambassador and New England Market Manager for Gonzalez Byass of Jerez de la Frontera, will lead you through the extraordinary range sherry wine has to offer. Gonzalez Byass is the oldest family-owned winery in Jerez, the capital of the sherry wine region, founded in 1835.  Gonzalez Byass is world renowned for their FINO sherry brand Tio Pepe, the first dry sherry ever exported from Spain in 1840 and the very first trademark of Spanish commercial products. Today the company ages sherry wines in more than 70,000 barrels in their cellars in Jerez.         The Perfect Hostess Gift.         The Wow Factor - Fill it with Wine, Cheese, Flowers, Chocolate Truffles...You get the idea.  Order now for timely deliveries or bring it with you to break the ice at the front door. 860-443-6817.         Questions - 860-443-6817 Friday November 9th - Special Hugel Tasting - Don't Miss It. Wednesday November 14th - RSVP REQUIRED The History Of Sherry - Gonzalez & Byass Tasting Friday November 16th - Barberani Wines Friday December 7th - James Gilles Friday December 14th - Alan Goodman Friday December 21st - Eric Bellnier         ​Meet your friends, sample and taste and start your weekend with us. Drink Different! 860-443-6817

The Experts We Trust - Lets Drink!

Drink Different! Regular customers know that we like bringing unusual, hand-picked yet approachable wines to our shelves. We look for wines that are of intrinsically high quality irrespective of the price point – with all of our selections we like to say 'Drink Different!'  The truth is in the glass  – just taste them and discover thrillingly distinctive and enjoyable wines. Our goal is to look just a little bit harder for wines that are off the beaten track and which offer both good value for money and unqualified.....Yummyness.   Most of the wine we offer comes from family owned vineyards.  People that work in the fields, harvest the grapes and make the wine authentically - no tricks, no manipulation, the same methods that generations before them have used to make something special. These wines are not mass produced, they do not come from modern factories - they come from the heart, with equal amounts of pride and accountability for whats in the bottle. Take a look the next time you visit our store. Start your weekend here  - a little wine, a little cheese, and maybe a surprise or two. Don't Wine Without Us Please join us on Friday night. 5-8pm - No Charge Please Bring Your Friends And Join Us On Friday 5:00 - 8:00pm - No Charge This Friday we welcome Mr. Chris McDermott back to the store. He has carefully cherry picked wines from his portfolio that are exactly what you need now. We are featuring wine that pairs perfectly with the chill in the air.  DR FRANK GEWURZTRAMINER Finger Lakes - New York  Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” a movement that forever changed the course of wine growing in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention. This is a delicious, zesty wine with complex mineral overtones and a long, clean, fresh finish with notes of ripe pineapple and green apple.   These old vine vineyards are among the oldest in the United States. While they produce fewer grapes, the quality of the fruit results in more complex wines. 100% Gewürztraminer from Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake estate vineyards. Please try it this Friday night. Légende Bordeaux Blanc Château Lafite Rothschild Owner of Château Lafite Rothschild for five generations, the Rothschild family has been based in this Bordeaux vineyard since 1868. High values and the respect of traditional methods make them passionate about harmony and excellence.  Their skills have patiently enriched through the generations, with world-renowned success. Lovingly cared for by a multitude of winegrowers, the common characteristic of Bordeaux’s vineyards is the elegance and freshness of their wines which, while they reflect a rich culture and are are surrounded by a certain grandeur, are nonetheless easy to drink.   The Collection’s Bordeaux Blanc, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, explodes with freshness on the palate, in a direct, straightforward style, going beyond a “high tech” product to offer the simple pleasure of a fresh, lively white.   This is a real treat, please try it this Friday. Planeta La Segreta Bianca SICILY ‘It is a new way of thinking about the journey through Sicily; after Menfi, Vittoria, then Noto, then Etna, then Milazzo. Not a random route, but one strongly linked to the variety of countryside, to the winds, to the character of the people and thus of their wine…’ - Diego Planeta La Segreta takes its name from the woods which surround our vineyard at Ulmo. This young fresh wine principally produced from Grecanico grapes gains personality and style with the addition of some international variety grapes.  All grapes are cultivated in the vineyards owned by Planeta. La Segreta is the perfect approach to Sicilian wine, guaranteed by the Planeta family’s patient input, from vine to wine. A tremendous food wine and something you should be drinking now. Please try it this Friday. SPECIAL EVENT Gonzales & Bayass - Sherry Tasting Wednesday November 14th 6:00pm - RSVP Required No Charge - Limited Seating 860-443-6817 In 1849 Manuel Maria Gonzalez created his own brand Tio Pepe, the first registered trade mark in Spain. In 1835, a young man called Manuel María González Angel arrived in Jerez, intent on making a name for himself in the thriving and lucrative sherry business. Encouraged by the consistent growth in exports, that same year he purchased a small winery and began to produce and export his own wines. This was the start of Bodegas Tío Pepe - Today, Bodegas Tío Pepe is known around the world as one of the leading producers of sherry and Brandy de Jerez.  Join Us for Tapas, History and a portfolio tasting of the most awarded Sherry producer in the world. West+Wilder  A great bottle of wine that happens to come in cans. Drinks Well Anywhere! This crisp sparkling white is sunshine in a can. The lively green papaya, jasmine, and lemon lime zest signal refreshment. The majority of fruit for this wine comes from coastal Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Albariño, with small touches of Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Gris to focus the palate. Pleasingly graceful with its playful acidity and balance, this wine is delightful to drink and turns heads with its style.  Absolutely perfect for any on the go occasion. Football games, camping - this is the best in cans so far!  Please try it this Friday Night. Questions - 860-443-6817 Friday October 12th - Chris McDermott Friday October 19th - Zambuni Wines Friday October 26 - Eric Bellnier - Halloween Tasting SATURDAY October 27 - Mad River Spirts Tasting - 1-4pm Wednesday November 14th - RSVP REQUIRED The History Of Sherry - Gonzales & Byass Tasting Friday November 9th - Special Hugel Tasting - Don't Miss It. ​Meet your friends, sample and taste and start your weekend with us. Drink Different! 860-443-6817

The Drops Of God

One series of books that succeeds in humanizing wine and placing it within a larger social, emotional, and intellectual context is the Japanese manga series The Drops of God. Authored by brother and sister team Yuko and Shin Kibayashi (under their pseudonym "Tadashi Agi") and illustrated by Shu Okimoto, the manga uses wine as a medium for self-discovery, friendship and love-while educating its readers along the way. It's engaging, informative, gripping and aspirational in a way that traditional wine books are not.
 
They subtly explain vintage variation, correct wine service, blind tasting as both a sensory experience and an avenue to determining quality, and historical appellations are all topics granted attention. This is a different kind of wine book. It's engaging, informative, gripping and aspirational in a way that traditional wine books are not. 

The books are a quick read. They tout exciting plot lines, sharp illustrations and alluring wines that capture immediate attention. 
 
Book One's opening scene begins with the protagonist reverently pouring a ribbon of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru "Richebourg" into a bulbous Burgundy glass, swirling it patiently and noting that it smells like "the scent of a hundred flowers combined." Later scenes add texture and meaning.

The plot hinges upon a blind tasting competition between two men vying for their father's esteemed wine collection.  Whoever correctly identifies twelve wines - the "twelve apostles" and a thirteenth, the "Drops of God" in a manner most like their father described in his will wins the storied collection as an inheritance. Eleven of the twelve apostles have been revealed so far.

We have printed a list of those wines for you, pick it up on Friday  -  And we have have a wine that was mentioned in the series for you to try. We hope to see you at the weekly tasting.

DROPS OF GOD

Japanese sommelier's journey to Burgundy
The winemaker behind the Maison Lou Dumont label is Koji Nakada, a former Japanese sommelier at a French restaurant in Tokyo, who moved to Burgundy with his Korean wife Jae Hwa Park.

In 2000, they formed micro-negociant firm Maison Lou Dumont, named for their goddaughter and the mountains where they grew up. In their Gevrey-Chambertin cellar, they produce 23 wines, some of which are mentioned in the popular Japanese wine manga "Drops of God." The Japanese characters (kanji) on the labels mean earth, sky and man, the elements Nakada sees as essential to producing wine.

What struck me about all the Maison Lou Dumont wines I tasted were their elegance, sensual aromas, delicacy and sense of terroir. Nothing is excessive or overdone, neither oak nor extraction. Which is why the Passe-tout-Grains is such a lovely, satisfying red.

Saransot Dupre - Medoc

   

Saransot Dupre's red wine has always been marked by fully-mature tannins joined together with a supple and round personality. These qualities give it an elegance that makes the wine easily enjoyable in its youth.

This character comes from a vineyard planted mostly with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Contrary to the Médoc practice which favors a predominance of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Château's planting is actually a return to tradition since Merlot and Cabernet Franc were the commmune's main grape varieties according to INAO when the Listrac appelation was created in 1957.

Saransot Dupre - Medoc  

Tenuta Roveglia vineyards are on the southern shores of Lake Garda in an area heralded for its wine since the Romans. "Our Lugana embodies this wine region's most acclaimed features: a fruity accent with a dry, subtle finish and a delicate refined bouquet."

Tenuta Roveglia grows and harvests its own grapes and bottles its own wine.

Born in the thirties, Tenuta Roveglia boasts the most extensive vineyard in the area of Lugana. Tenuta Roveglia has 125 acres of vineyards within the more than 245 acres of the estate.
  
The grapes come from the area of Lugana designated as premier cru, which was already heralded for its wine by the ancient Roman poet Catullo two thousand years ago.   

Tasting Notes: Lugana is a high quality wine characterized by its gentle yellow color with brilliant reflections and aromatic notes of peach and vanillin. This wine offers fruity accent with a dry, subtle elegant finish, and is particularly well suited for poultry, light pasta and seafood dishes. Lugana is also the perfect aperitif.


WHISKEY NEWS

New England Distilling, Portland Maine
In 1851 Maine became the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages. Under Portland's Mayor Neal Dow-the "Father of Prohibition"-the Maine law was passed through Legislation, and many states followed suit.
Fast forward 162 years. Portland, for a city of its size, boasts one of the largest concentrations of breweries and distilleries in America. Helping to bridge the gap between the past and the present is Ned Wight, owner of New England Distillery. 
MADE IN MAINE
IN STOCK NOW:
Ingenium Dry Gin
Eight Bells Rum
Gunpowder Rye Whiskey 


TALISKER STORM
Talisker in any guise is a very special and idiosyncratic single malt, defining an Island style that is all its own. The last year has seen Diageo expand the existing portfolio with three new Talisker expressions, namely Storm, Dark Storm (matured in heavily charred casks), and Port Ruighe (port finish), all released without age statements. Of this trio, Talisker Storm seems the pick, with one commentator describing it as "...everything that you love about other Taliskers with the settings
 
PENDLETON BLENDED CANADIAN WHISKEY
A few years back, I was looking for a go-to standard without the familiar, harsh bite of Jameson or Bushmills, or the hefty price tag of Red Breast. I love Pendleton's slightly sweeter, bourbon-like profile, with hints of raisins and toast and a rich flavor reminiscent of a pecan pie, with plenty of deep-caramel goodness. It is just the thing for a shot added to hot drink on chilly evenings, or when I'm making Irish coffee for Sunday brunch with friends.
 
DARK HORSE DISTILLERY RESERVE BOURBON
SOLD OUT
This small-batch bourbon, made in Kansas City using locally sourced corn and rye, comes in sexy, hand-numbered and signed bottles-which I love-but it's the smooth, smoky, leather-and-maple flavor, which owes its clean finish to copper still distillation (a process more typical in Scotch production), that makes this one of my favorite bourbons for sipping neat.

 

 First Come, First Served
turned right up."

Wine Made From Steele?

 

Wine and Cheese Tasting

Every Friday from 5-8 PM

No Charge

Message from The Man Of Steele:

This year  marks my forty-fifth year of being involved in making wine in California.

From my start as a cellar worker at Stony Hill in Napa Valley in 1968, to starting Edmeades in the Anderson Valley and being there for ten years, to then starting Kendall-Jackson and working there for the first nine vintages of that wildly successful winery (I left the year we broke the million cases per year production mark), to the start of our own STEELE Wines in 1991-it has been an incredible ride.

From viewing the actual number of wines we bottle, you might think that we are a large winery. However, this is not the case, as we specialize in many wines where the final bottling is less than 1,000 cases.

This approach allows us to maintain the practice of true craftmanship in the production of our small lot bottlings. I hope you enjoy our wines.

Jed Steele

Owner/Winemaker  

This Friday night we will taste the wines of Jed Steele.

Steele Chardonnay

Out Kaste Red

Steele Zinfandel 

Steele Chardonnay Cuvee

The Cuvee consistently exhibits excellent depth of flavor, wonderful acidity and complex aromas.

The Santa Maria vineyards add a tropical fruit character to the wine, flavors and aroma of mango, pineapple, and papaya. The Sonoma vineyards attribute citrus character and acid to the cuvee.

The Mendocino vineyards flavor profile leans toward citrus fruit and minerality from DuPratt and Lolonis contributes the warmest-climate grapes to the cuvee with flavors and aromas of baked apples and cinnamon. 

 

 

 

 

Out Kaste Red Blend

 

"Because of the location - We in Lake County, feel ourselves to have become an "Outcast."

 

The special blend in this bottle clearly demonstrates the excellence of wine from Lake County grapes.
In drinking and enjoying this wine, you will be helping us to shed the chains that have for so long bound us in the role of "Out Kaste".

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEELE ZINFANDEL

This wine is known for its spicy, brambly and mildly tarry character.  The nose has the previously mentioned characteristics in addition to a bacon (or pancetta) and a white pepper element.   

The palate is full of berries, spice and a hint of cola, with a dusty chocolate finish. The wine has great structure, is well balanced, and has a nice finish.

Food Pairing

Enjoy this wine with roasted meats (particularly if accompanied by a rich red fruit reduction), BBQ of any kind, rib steak fresh from the broiler, and a variety of cheeses.

 

 

WHISKEY NEWS

 Balcones Rumble

A one-of-a-kind Texas spirit made from the finest local wildflower honey, mission figs, turbinado sugar and natural Texas Hill Country spring water and aged to perfection in small oak barrels.

Rumble defies categorization, both in ingredients as well as the final product. It has elements reminiscent of tequila, scotch, young cognac and rum.

Just five years ago, Balcones was little more than an idea fueled by a ruthless drive to create something new, something genuine, something worthwhile - a Texas whisky tradition.

It all started with an old welding shop under a bridge. We hammered and welded our own stills, and sawed and nailed on that little shack to build the distillery that we use to this day.

Since then, we have released seven unique spirits of which we are very proud and won 40 national and international awards from the world's top judges and critics. We don't just make whisky in Texas. We make Texas whisky. 

 We got it on our shelves - but it does go quickly.

 

NEW ARRIVALS

Jasper Hill Moses Sleeper - A bloomy-rind cheese developed by Mateo Kehler at Jasper Hill Farm. When young the flavor is buttery, bright, and savory, and when longer-aged it is creamier and takes on the aroma and flavor of vegetables.

Brie de Nangis  - Hails from Brie, just southwest of Paris, France, and is one of the milder, more buttery Bries.  Brie de Nangis is creamy and smooth and has a slightly chalky center that becomes runny with age. This cheese pairs well with a Sauvignon Blanc and bigger reds such as Merlot.

Fromager d'Affinois - This French innovation may look like pudgy brie, but it's actually much creamier. The mild, buttery flavor has a sweetness that goes very well with champagne and fresh fruit.

It may remind you of a triple-creme, so loaded it is with silky fat. It's one of Our Top 10 sellers, every year, without fail.

Ask for a sample the next time you visit the store.

 

 

 

Please Join Us.

It's Fun, Informal, And A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

 

Thames River Greenery

Thames River Wine & Spirits

70 State Street

New London, CT 06320

 

860-443-6817