SUPERBOWL
“Pass the Salsa”* Spanish Wine Tasting
Concord & Belmont
Fri. FEB. 5, 4-7pm  * Sat. FEB. 6, 2-6pm
Faced with another SuperBowl sans Pats, our consolations are few, but tasty! Join us this weekend for a tasting of rich, juicy Spanish wines perfect with chili, chips and more! Even though Bill, Tom, and the rest of us will just be passing the salsa this year, we can still drink in style while watching what might have been.
white
2008 BODEGA CONCLASS Verdejo $12.99 (Rueda)
Ricardo Sanz’s family has been making wine in the Rueda for six generations.  Now, with his more modern methods, he produces his own line of wines.  This is actually a blend of Verdejo, Viura, and Sauv Blanc—dry with crisp citrus notes, great with ceviche!

2008 MARTIN CODAX BURGANS Albariño (Rias Baixas) $12.99 A project between importer Eric Solomon and Luciano Almoedo, a champion of Rias Baixas and its most famous white grape. A refreshing, juicy Albariño—the perfect answer to white chili or some serious guacamole.

red
2005 BODEGA MUSTIGUILLO Mestizaje (El Terrerazo) Special $12.99 (was $15.99)
A blend of 70% Bobal, 10% Tempranillo, 10% Cab, 10% Garnacha.  What’s Bobal?  A native to Valencia known for its bullhead-shaped grape bunches (i.e. boval) that’s quickly gaining an international audience.  Mustiguillo is a winery dedicated to Bobal’s history and significance in viticulture!

2007 CAPÇANES Mas Donis Barrica Old Vines (Montsant) $12.99
From village commune to kosher producer to quality wine co-op, Capçanes has been crafting its philosophy and wines since 1933.  Mas Donis starts with 10-50 year old Garnacha vines (85%), adds a helping of Syrah and a healthy amount of time in oak (barrica).

2007 BODEGAS Y VINEDOS MAURODOS PRIM’A Toro (Toro) $23
Mostly Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo family) with a touch of Garnacha, this gets the royal treatment with 12 months in French & American oak.  “A serious example of Toro at a nearly frivolous price.” (WA)  Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

NEW! 2007 CELLER CAL PLA Porrera Black Slate (Priorat)$23 Debut blend of 60% Garnacha, 40% Carinena — vines 60-100 years old!  Vi del la Vila is the village appellation of this concentrated blend.

*SuperBowl Salsa!

ALTESINO BRUNELLO Seminar & Tasting featuring Mr. GUIDO ORZALESE, Managing Director

Mr. Orzalese will guide us through a tasting of Brunello di Montalcino at VINTAGES’ Belmont shop on Thursday, Feb. 11.

NEW TIME!

WHEN: Thurs. Feb. 11, 6:30-7:30pm
WHERE: VINTAGES Belmont Center
COST: $25/person, includes light appetizers
CALL: 617-484-4560 to reserve w/ cc

Wines in seminar:
2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli $130
2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino $75
2004 ALTESINO Rosso di Montalcino $30
2007 ALTESINO Rosso di Montalcino $30
2007 ALTESINO Rosso di Altesino $19.99
2006 ALTESINO Alte d’Altesi  $25

Founded in 1970’s, ALTESINO consists of three vineyards located NE of the village of Montalcino: Montosoli, La Velona and Altesino itself. The town is on a hill at an elevation of around 600m, which protects the Montosoli vineyard to the north, which lies at 390m. Altesino Brunello is sourced from a combination of these three vineyards, and in excellent vintages they produce a single vineyard Brunello “Montosoli.

Montosoli covers just 4 ha and is unusual in its north and NW exposure, rather than the sun-facing south. It is characterized by slightly lower temperatures, especially at night, so the flowering is a little longer and usually later than other areas. The hang-time at Montosoli is longer and it is usually the last vineyard to be harvested, a couple of days after Altesino and often 15 days after La Velona. The cooler microclimate is beneficial during summers of intense heat.

NEW ARRIVALS WINE TASTING: Italy & France

BELMONT: Fri & Sat. Jan. 29 & 30, 4-7pm Belmont
CONCORD: Sat. Jan. 30, 2-5pm

white
2008 CHATEAU DE LASCAUX Coteaux du Languedoc $17.99 (Southern France) compellingblend of Vermentino, Rousanne, Marsanne, Viognier

2008 MASARI Agnobianco $19.99 (Veneto)
elegant blend of Garganega & Durella

red
2008 COLLE TICCHIO Cesanese del Piglio $17.99 (Lazio) 100% Cesanese grape near Rome; a refreshing red

2008 ALBINO ROCCA Rosso di Rocca $17.99 (Piedmont) juicy blend of nebbiolo, barbera & cab franc

2008 CEUSO “Scurati” Nero d’Avola $16.99 (Sicily)
Nero d’Avola - big, dark fruit, chewy tannins

2007 CATALDI MADONNA Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $19.99 (Abruzzo) dark, dense fruit, beautiful harmony!

WINE TASTING:

TERRE ROUGE & EASTON
Wines from an original “Rhone Ranger”

VINTAGES has enjoyed a long relationship with owner/winemaker Bill Easton and his two portfolios of wine from one very distinctive place: Sierra Foothills in California. Please join us on Saturday in Concord or Belmont to taste a selection of TERRE ROUGE & EASTON wines.

TERRE ROUGE means “Red Earth,” one of the hallmarks of the Amador & Sierra foothills region. The TERRE ROUGE portfolio focuses on Rhône varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne. High elevation sites up to 3200′ contribute to the complexity of the Terre Rouge wines.

The EASTON wines focus on traditional California varietals that thrive in Amador County and the Sierra Foothills: old-vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wines featured at the tasting on Sat:

whites

2005 EASTON SAUVIGNON BLANC Sierra Foothills 19.99  Made from 4 acres of grapes  in the Monarch Mine Vineyard, overlooking the American River Canyon at 2,300 feet. Aged for 9 mos. on lees in neutral French oak. No malolactic fermentation preserves the crisp texture. Wonderfully complex tropical flavors finishes with a minerality that speaks of the vineyard site. It is the perfect foil for seafood and absolutely satisfying as an aperitif.

2004 TERRE ROUGE 2004 Rousanne $25

This delightful white is made with a clone of Roussanne  that originates from the Chave vineyard at Hermitage. This difficult grape ripens unevenly, so it must be harvested in several passes. All the effort results in a silky-textured wine with a golden color and exquisite quince, honey-nut, and beeswax aromas. Luscious and on the verge of sweetness. Only 400 cases annually.

reds

2006 TERRE ROUGE “Tête a Tête” $17.99 “Tête-à-Tête” is an easy-drinking blend of Rhone varietals: Syrah, Mourvèdre & Grenache. Aged for 16 mos. in French barrel, this quaffer offers sappy, spicy, flavors and great texture.

2006 TERRE ROUGE Syrah $19.99

Made from younger Syrah vineyards that sit at different elevations. The upslope lots provide finesse and meaty, white pepper nuances, while the downslope lots provide structure, concentration, and a smoky, spicy Syrah sensibility. Together, a delicious harmony! Aged for 18 mos in French oak (25% new).

2007 EASTON Amador County Zinfandel $17.99

Amador County Zinfandel comes from 40-60 year-old vines planted on beautiful, rolling mountain slopes that have the classic, vermilion-colored, decomposed granite soil. The finished wine has black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas with beautiful balance and a sumptuous, juicy mouth feel.

2003 EASTON Fiddletown Old Vine Zinfandel $30

(Rinaldi-Eschen vineyard) These vines are about as old as they come in California, with some vines dating to the original planting in 1865!  This vineyard is farmed with simplicity: pruning, plowing, and finally picking when Bill knows the time is right. Crop yields are incredibly low, 1- 1½ tons per acre. Each year brings a different wine and a revelation. EASTON Fiddletown Zin is always 100% Zinfandel from the Rinaldi-Eschen Vineyard. The finished wine has thick, brambly blackberry fruit with pepper, anise, clove, and other exotic spices. Fat and mouth filling, this Zin has great persistence on the palate.

NOTE: Bill Easton will not be at these tastings. (We wish he could be!)

RENATO RATTI BAROLO
Wine Tasting:
FRI. JAN. 8, 5-7pm, Belmont
SAT. JAN 9, 12-5pm, Concord
Presented by Eric Broege, wine director

What better way to begin the new year than with a taste of great Barolo? VINTAGES is very pleased to present the wines of our friend Pietro Ratti, owner & winemaker of the historic RENATO RATTI estate. Pietro’s family has done much to raise the profile of the Barolo region and literally put Barolo on the map! This is a great opportunity to taste a full range of new releases from a top Barolo estate, including three Barolos, a nebbiolo, barbera and a dolcetto. Terrific stuff!

“This is a wonderful set of new releases from Renato Ratti, one of Piedmont’s historic names. The 2005s are especially beautiful for their soft, textured fruit and well-integrated French oak.” –WA

2005 RATTI Barolo ‘Rocche’ $96 · 96pts
(15% off six pack = $81.60/btl)
Shows ripe strawberry and black cherry aromas, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit, vanilla and white pepper character. Long and rich. Best after 2012. 900 cases made. 96 pts. -WS

2005 RENATO RATTI Barolo “Conca” $86 · 94pts
(15% off six pack = $73.10/btl)
“Intense aromas of dried flowers and berries. Concentrated and full, with ripe fruit and supervelvety tannins. Long and gorgeous. Best after 2013. 575 cases. 94 pts.” - WS

2005 RENATO RATTI Barolo “Marcenasco” $50 · 96pts
“This fabulous Nebbiolo displays aromas of very ripe strawberry and cappuccino. Full-bodied, with super-velvety tannins and incredible concentration. All the tannins are coated with gorgeous fruit. Best after 2013. 5,000 cases. 96 pts.”- WS

2007 RATTI Nebbiolo d’Alba “Ochetti” $23  “Blackberry, spice and grilled meat aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins, ripe fruit and a spicy finish. Rich and generous. Like a very good Barolo. Drink now. 5,400 cases made.” -WS

2008 RATTI Barbera d’Alba “Torriglione” $19.99
“Sweet and smooth on the palate, with raspberry and cherry flavors complicated by a leathery nuance and framed by strong but harmonious acidity. Fine-grained with good length.” -IWA

2008 RATTI Dolcetto d’Alba “Colombe” $15.99
Classic example of dolcetto d’alba. Ratti’s dolcetto has always highlighted the elegance and versatility of this grape. Herb-tinged cherry fruit, with superfine, minerally tannins.

CHAMPAGNE TASTING: EGLY-OURIET Grand Cru and more!

FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 4:30-7:30pm Concord

POP THOSE CORKS! Join us for this festive tasting featuring grand cru champagne from top grower EGLY-OURIET. Francis Egly’s outstanding, outsized grand cru champagnes have earned a cult following and raised the bar for distinctive bubbly with extended aging on the lees and disgorgement date on every bottle. Did we mention they’re amazingly delicious???

ROGER COULON Brut “Tradition” $50
“the rare Delicious! wine - that is, a wine that is not only tasty but truly exciting . . . this is the kind of wine you could give to or serve to a wine lover and have a friend for life.” - wsj

PIERRE PETERS BRUT Blanc de Blancs “Grand Cru” $58
“Vivid citrus and green apple aromas are complicated by subtle lees, spice and brioche qualities, as well as a slow-building floral quality. Firm and focused, offering tangy orange and orchard fruit flavors along with anise and sweet butter.”–IWA

GASTON CHIQUET Blanc de Blancs ‘Grand Cru’ $60
Exotically perfumed, smoky bouquet of pungent flowers, pear skin, orange, lime, sweet butter and minerals; smells like a Meursault. Fleshy orchard fruit flavors are complicated by musky herbs, turning nuttier with air.”- IWA

EGLY-OURIET Brut Tradition ‘Grand Cru’ $72  92 pts.
“The blend for the Tradition bottling is 75% pinot noir and 25% chardonnay, all from the grand cru villages Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay. “Energetic lemon, peach pit, pear, redcurrant and honeysuckle on the nose. Spicy, finely etched orchard fruit flavors are given depth and a refreshingly bitter edge by fruit skin and quinine. Gains weight on the broad, chewy, impressively persistent finish.” - IWA

EGLY-OURIET Brut Rose ‘Grand Cru’ $105  92 pts.
“Wild strawberry, cherry skin and potpourri on the nose, which is complicated by candied ginger and gentle leesiness. Supple red fruit flavors are firmed by dusty minerals and given bite by a late note of white pepper. A juicy, deeply flavored pink Champagne that could handle rich fish dishes or aged cheeses.”–IWA

WINE TASTING: Grower Champagnes from the Thierry Thiese Portfolio Fri. Dec. 18, 5-7:30pm, Belmont.

Nothing says “CELEBRATE” like the explosive sound of a champagne cork! Tom Modica from Atlantic Imports will present select grower champagnes from the Thierry Thiese collection. Champagnes for this tasting may include:

PIEDMONT/BOCA Nebbiolo Wines: Older Vintages from 1984-1991
WINE TASTING Thurs. Dec. 16, 4:30-7:30, Belmont
Presented by JEANNIE ROGERS

The Boca DOC region in eastern Piedmont was once a thriving wine production region, focused on nebbiolo-based wines. By the 1990’s, Antonio Cerri was one of the last remaining winemakers using traditional methods to make these delicious, age-worthy Boca wines. Swiss winemaker Christoph Kunzli purchased the estate from Cerri with additional properties, and has revived the production of BOCA DOC wines.

A number of Cerri’s older vintages from the 1980’s, aged in large barrel for 10+ years before bottling, have been shipped directly from the cellar and have just arrived in Boston. Importer Jeannie Rogers of Adonna Imports will present these wines and tell the fascinating story behind these wines.

These wines will be available at the tasting:

1984 ANTONIO CERRI Boca “Campo delle Piane”$58

1985 ANTONIO CERRI Boca “Campo delle Piane” $58

1987 ANTONIO CERRI Boca “Campo delle Piane” $58

1989 ANTONIO CERRI Boca “Campo delle Piane” $58

1991 ANTONIO CERRI Boca “Campo delle Piane” $58

BAROLO & BARBARESCO: “Seven Villages of the Langhe”

FRIDAY, DEC. 11, 5-7pm: Belmont
SATURDAY, DEC. 12, 12-5: Concord (or until wine runs out)

Wine Director and Piedmont expert ERIC BROEGE will be your guide through the distinctive villages of the Langhe, Piedmont’s wine-growing region.  Taste and discover the unique flavors and characteristics of the Langhe’s cru vineyards transferred through its signature grape, NEBBIOLO, which reaches its great expressiveness only in the Langhe.

Seven villages — seven outstanding wines! Please join us!

JOIN US for a tasting of BORDEAUX and BURGUNDY selected from VINTAGES’ stellar collection for holiday dining and gifts! 

FRI. DEC. 4: Belmont 4-7pm
SAT. DEC. 5: Concord 2-5pm

Featured wines include:

Bordeaux
2003 CHAT. d’ARMAILHAC Pauillac Grand Cru Classe $65 “The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019. 90 pts.”-WA

2006 CHAT. CANTERMERLE Haut-Medoc $35
“Quality has improved dramatically at this estate, and the 2006 is a quintessentially elegant Bordeaux displaying a dark ruby/purple color, a lovely bouquet of forest floor, sweet cherries, cranberries, and black currants, medium body, a textured, sweet, tannic mouthfeel, and a long finish. Everything is beautifully pure as well as perfectly balanced in this outstanding effort. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Excellent value. 90 pts.” -Parker, WA

2006 CHATEAU PIPEAU St. Emilion Grand Cru $35 “What can one say about this richly fruity, exuberant St.-Emilion that is designed to provide enormous pleasure? Although not as concentrated as the top vintages can be, the 2006 Pipeau exhibits sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of earth, spice box, and fruitcake. Medium-bodied and round with plush tannin and a good finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years. Good value.” -WA

2006 CHATEAU de BRONDEAU Bordeaux Superieur $15.99 Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Pretty cherry fruit and soft tannins.

White Burgundy
2007 LOUIS CARILLON Puligny-Montrachet $60
“A highly aromatic nose of green fruit, acacia blossom and citrus leads to racy, pure and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a discreet touch of minerality and excellent length for a villages level wine. This delivers first-rate quality for its level. Outstanding! 91 pts.” - Burghound

2006 CHANDON de BRIAILLES Pernand de Vergelesses “Ile de Vergelesses” $60  Long a VINTAGES favorite, Chandon de Briailles and winemaker Claude de Nicolay craft ultra-elegant burgundy from pristine, organic fruit. “Elegant and complex nose with more of a citrus component that merges into medium-bodied flavors that possess good underlying tension and excellent length on the linear, vibrant and lingering finish. 90 pts. Outstanding Top Value!“– Burghound

2007 CHAT. du CHATELARD Beaujolais Blanc $19.99

Owned by Sylvain & Isabelle Rosier, this estate was completely rebuilt in the 1700’s after the French Revolution. “My favorite of all the whites was a 2008 Beaujolais blanc from Château du Chatelard. This fresh, stony chardonnay was one I could drink for hours …”
–Eric Asimov, NY Times, Nov. 2009.