WINE TASTING: New Arrivals
Two from FRANCE and two from ITALY

Fri. July 23, 4-7 & Sat. July 24, 3-6 BELMONT

“Utter ripeness of fruit, veneration for balance, aromatic integration, and meticulously calibrated oak are the principles rigorously followed by Stefano Pizzamiglio at LA TOSA. Wines that offer delight tonight, but can develop complexity and longevity.” -Gambero Rosso

2008 LA TOSA Riodeltordo $14.99

A “still” version of La Tosa’s famous “Valnure” — a blend of Malvasia & Ortrugo, but vinified

Stefano Pizzamiglia

tranquilo. Equally delicious, with more flexibility at the table.

2009 LA TOSA Gutturnio $16.99
Gutturnio is a blend of the fruity barbera grape (70%) with the spicy, savory Bonarda (30%).  A ripe, plush wine, yet one with good balance & structure. A good mix of fruit and savor makes it a versatile wine with food.

2009 LOUVETRIE Muscadet “Fief de Breuil” $17.99
The ultimate Muscadet. The Fiefs is an old vines bottling that is Dom. De La Louvetries top bottling, a selection of the most perfect Melon de Bourgogne grapes. The weight and volume of the wine are amped up a bit, without sacrificing the crystalline minerality, crisp acidity,  purity of fruit, and the infinite drinkability that is a hallmark of Muscadet. The Fiefs is a unique Muscadet because, while it is delicious upon release, it improves over time, becoming even more complex and refined over the next 10+ years! Quite an achievement for such a modestly priced wine.
2008 BURGAUD Morgon Cote du Py “Cuvee James” $28 Black tea, black fruit, intensely saturated. Made from selected Gamay from a small parcel at the top of the vineyard, aged in seasoned barrique, CUVEE JAMES turns up the volume on rich, concentrated fruit, with deep, powerful gripping tannins; the only successful oak-influenced Beaujolais I’ve ever tasted.

JEAN-MARC BURGAUD, Beaujolais
“Cuvee JAMES” Morgon

Amazingly beautiful and perfectly balanced Beaujolais – ripe fruit, suave, powerfully structured.

Jean-Marc Burgaud

2008 DOM. Jean-Marc BURGAUD Morgon Cote du Py “Cuvee James” $28 ($23.80 by the case) JEAN-MARC BURGAUD, a signature Beaujolais producer from Morgon, is upping the ante and laying his land out there for all to taste. Yeah, it’s good. In Burgaud’s hands, COTE DU PY produces a deep, dark and brooding wines, black garnet color, serious and powerful. Black tea, black fruit, intensely saturated. Made from selected grapes from a small parcel at the top of the vineyard, aged in seasoned barrique, CUVEE JAMES turns up the volume on rich, concentrated fruit, with deep, powerful gripping tannins; the only successful oak-influenced Beaujolais I’ve ever tasted.

Curiously, the name is inspired by the inevitable scene in a James Bond movie when the femme fatale sighs “Oh, James!” A spot-on moniker for this elegant, suave, brooding, yet powerfully seductive wine. 100 cases made; 10 available.

Hooray for MUSCADET!
A great value wine that deserves more fans

NEW! 2009 DOM. de la LOUVETRIE Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie “Fief de Breuil” $17.99 VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE
The ultimate Muscadet. The Fiefs is an old vines bottling that is Dom. De La Louvetries’ top bottling, a selection of the most perfect Melon de Bourgogne grapes. The weight and volume of the wine are amped up a bit, without sacrificing the crystalline minerality, crisp acidity,  purity of fruit, and the infinite drinkability that is a hallmark of Muscadet. The Fiefs is a unique Muscadet because, while it is delicious upon release, it improves over time, becoming even more complex and refined over the next 10+ years! Quite an achievement for such a modestly priced wine.

ABOUT MUSCADET
It seems there are a surprising number of wine drinkers who have not had the chance to try MUSCADET (moos keh day). What is it, and why would you want to drink it?  First, Muscadet is a DRY white wine, not sweet like Muscat can be. The grape is not memorable, so don’t worry about it, there won’t be a test. Muscadet is from the distinctively beautiful Loire Valley in France, home to great dry whites like Sancerre and Savennieres. Also, many of the Muscadets that come to the U.S. are certified organic – bonus points. An essential point: they are a perfect pairing with oysters or any seafood or fish.  A classic bistro white that is enjoyable with a range of foods. Muscadet is moderate in alcohol 11-12% so you won’t wilt while sipping in the heat. Finally, with all that to recommend them, Muscadets are inexpensive, often found for $12-20. Look for “Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie” — the two rivers crossing the growing region near the Atlantic ocean, lending a bracing maritime quality to the leesy “sur lie” flavors.  Try one; you’ll find an agreeable dining companion for summer meals and many others ahead.

ALESSANDRIA: hip sips for summer in Red & White
NEW! 2009 ALESSANDRIA Langhe Favorita $19.99
2009 ALESSANDRIA Pelaverga Verduno $19.99
VINTAGES’ Exclusives

The folks at Alessandria in Barolo have done it again – delivered one of the most compelling white wines of the summer – this time from local grape “Favorita.” A white with fresh aromas, lush, lip-smacking fruit in the mouth, and powdery minerals on the finish. A great pairing with the underground runaway hit PELAVERGA red.  It doesn’t get any better than this — blow away your hosts or guests; serve ALESSANDRIA Pelaverga Verduno $19.99 and Langhe Favorita $19.99 at your next social opportunity! Chill the red and the white for best results!

A BLISTERING DEAL to beat the heat!

2008 MASARI “AGNOBIANCO” $19.99; Buy 12 btls @ $14.99 each!

Buy by the case and save! 12 bottles for $14.99 each! That’s 25% savings!!!  AGNOBIANCO is an elegant blend of Garganega and Durella from the Soave area of the Veneto. Intriguing tangerine rind aromas, papaya fruit and pleasing bitter almond notes on the finish in a silky delivery system with driving minerality. A flexible, delicious wine for all your summer escapades. Now at a blistering bulk price for cooling off!

VINTAGES in WineZag
What an inspiration to meet ADAM JAPKO recently, a dedicated oenophile who documents his wine experiences in his blog WineZag. Well-written with an informed and refreshing point of view, it rewards investigation. Adam wrote these kind words about Eric Broege and VINTAGES after stumbing into one of our typical over-the-top tastings of Barolo, and a days-old bottle of 1991 Clos Centeilles Minervois.
“I owe the discovery of this wine to Eric Broege, President and Wine Director at Vintages. I break habits hard, so I only recently connected and started doing some business with Eric at his shop in West Concord which appears exclusively stocked with wines he wants to personally drink, especially the deep Barolo, Barberesco, and Burgundy inventories. He travels to Europe regularly and clearly searches out honest, natural, artisan wines that express their unique geographies.  It does not take long to see that Eric’s passion and knowledge are respectively effusive and deep; both impressive and most certainly infectious.”

Click to read the article

NEW & EXCLUSIVE: DEVOIS du CLAUS
Pic St. Loup, Languedoc
Scents and flavors of summer!

Eric originally visited this tiny cellar in Pic St. Loup five years ago. We purchased the wines and featured them in the Concord store where they were well-received. When we tried to order the next vintage, no one could get in touch with the winery; it seemed to simply disappear! This February, Eric returned to southern France and attended VINISUD, the major wine expo of the region. He was pleasantly surprised to see that DEVOIS du CLAUS had a booth there. All the wines were just as good as he remembered — this time we were able to place the order and now, after several years’ hiatus, they’re back!!

2007 DEVOIS de CLAUS Pic St. Loup $22
90% Syrah, 10% Grenache Deep, deep dark red and black berries. Wow! Tremendously rich and powerful wine. Tremendous concentration, depth of fruit and unctuousness. Ripe and full cassis flavors. 833 cases produced.

2008 DEVOIS de CLAUS Blanc “Cuvee Luca” $22
100% Grenache Gris. Deep, ripe, pit fruit– white nectarine, white peaches. Nose reminiscent of Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc. Big, powerful, concentrated rich, white wine. Pair with swordfish, lobster or other flavorful seafood. 58 cases produced.

NEW & Deluxe from PROVENCE!
Celebrate summer’s special occasions with Bandol white or rose!

WHITE

2009 CHAT. PIBARNON Bandol Blanc $35 Exclusive

Deluxe blend of Clairette and Bourblenc from Bandol in Provence – the white counterpart to the powerful Bandol rouge. Burst of fresh provencal olives, pine and jasmine scents on the nose. Ripe peach and apricot flavors with rich honeyed notes.  On the palate, the wine offers a wonderful balance of rich, dry texture and sappy, mouthwatering complexity.  Pibarnon’s bandol Blanc is planted on north-facing slopes to preserve its freshness and natural acidity, and is made with very little sulfites. Enjoy this richly delicious white with grilled chicken and fish, roasted vegetable salads, swordfish, lobster and other summer delights!

ROSE!

2009 CHAT. PRADEAUX Bandol Rose $30 (Provence)

Bandol is the King of Rose, with 60% Mourvedre and 40% Cinsault leading the charge. Enticing aromas of redcurrant and cherry, with compelling notes of herbs, white flowers, anise and minerals. Smooth & fleshy with berry and blood orange flavors and tangy notes of white pepper and quinine.  Offers superb complexity and is very flexible at the table. Tremendous!

WINE TASTING: New Arrivals featuring Corsican Wines

Fri July 9, 4-7pm & Sat. July 10, 3-6pm Belmont

featuring Corsican wines from Kermit Lynch

Oeno-Adventure in Red & White from Corsica

DOM. MAESTRACCI “E Prove” Corse Calvi

2008 DOM. MAESTRACCI e PROVE Blanc $17.99
“The Maestracci 2008 E Prove Blanc de Blanc – from Vermentino – is one of the most unusual whites you will taste this year, and you should. …This luscious, juicy wine sticks to the palate with a mineral, herbal tang that you simply have to experience.” –WA

100% Vermentino. Piney, sappy nose complicated with pungent herbal aromas and briny oyster shell. Juicy, sappy fruit, tangy citrus and mineral notes. A rewarding, delightful find– definitely a crave-inducing white!

2007 DOM. MAESTRACCI e PROVE Rouge $19.99

Blend of Niellucio (Sangiovese) Grenache, Sciacarello, and Syrah. Long maceration; aged three years in cask. Blackberry fruit and floral aromas. Earthy, tinged with roasted herbs — southern Rhone meets Tuscany.

“Nice deep garnet, and what an aroma! Hard to beat for the buck– a big, beautiful, complex red that reeks of the south and the Île de Beauté, as Corsica is called in France. There is anise, thyme, rosemary, the wildflowers of the maquis, animal notes, a discreet touch of oak. The palate is full, deep, and tannic– a great food wine. The nose of it is really special.”
–KLWM Newsletter

SUMMERTIME WHITES from ITALY

From LIGURIA –
2008 COLLE DEI BARDELLINI Pigato $17.99 (Liguria) “the ultimate summer wine”
Grown in vineyards along the Italian Riviera, PIGATO is one of the best pairings for fish, seafood and shellfish. Also shines with pesto and lighter pasta dishes. A fresh, briny character, citrus fruit with aromas of sage and thyme. Beautiful minerality lends a crisp yet silky finish. One taste, and it will be easy to find many occasions to enjoy PIGATO!

From Veneto -
NEW & EXCLUSIVE! 2007 OTTELLA Lugana Superiore “Molceo” $25 “Tre Bicchieri”
We are very pleased to offer the U.S. debut of the “Molceo” white wine from OTTELLA – winner of this year’s “Three Glasses” award. Beautiful pale gold color; rich and powerful fruit character followed by clean, refreshing minerality. A perfect partner for the red “Campo Sireso” Cabernet & Merlot blend.

From Umbria –
2009 PERTICAIA Trebbiano Spoletino (Umbria, Italy) $22 Exotically delicious!
This estate in Montefalco, Umbria has once again produced a beautifully-balanced, rich white from Trebbiano Spoletino. Pale gold with green highlights. Tropical fruit notes– papaya & mango — ripe fruit and freshness. Swordfish, scallops, seafood pastas or an aperitif. Delectable!