2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME!
Fabulous COTE ROTIE & GIGONDAS
NOTE: These wines from Chateau Saint Cosme are very limited; please email or call VINTAGES 978-369-2545 to reserve.
“The brilliant young Louis Barruol continues to augment his impressive negociant line of wines from the northern Rhone as well as his handful of southern Rhones while also concentrating on the fabulous estate wines from Gigondas, among the best two or three wines of the appellation. Barruol represents all that is good that is happening in France and other countries - a young man taking over for his parents and revolutionizing what was being done, cutting yields, cleaning up the cellars, and looking at how to make the most expressive wines possible from not only Gigondas, but from purchased fruit and wine. As for his northern Rhones, he consistently does a fabulous job with Cote Rotie. Using 100% stems, he gets none of the vegetal character that can come from stem use. As Barruol says, the 2006s are wines of great charm, seductiveness, and beautiful fruit, with freshness and vibrancy, whereas 2005 represents density, structure, tannin, and a certain austerity. To Barruol’s credit, I taste through 60-70 domaines in Gigondas, and his wines… were among the finest.” –Wine Advocate

2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME Cote Rotie 94 pts. $80/bottle ($68 case price)
“The 2006 Cote Rotie, which comes largely from the Cote Brune vineyard Vialliere with another part from Les Plans, looks superb. Dense ruby/purple with sweet tannins, beautiful acidity, fabulous flavor intensity and penetration, and again, great aromatics, this is a terrific Cote Rotie that should ultimately eclipse the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. 92-94 pts.” –Wine Advocate

2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME Gigondas 92 pts. $35/bottle ($29.75 case price)
“The 2006 Gigondas, which one would call Tradition or Classique, looks to eclipse the 2005. Dense black cherry fruit and cassis, a deep ruby/purple color, floral black cherry and blackberry fruit notes, with plenty of tannin, good acidity, and freshness characterize this wine, which is structured and potentially long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020+ 92 pts.”–Wine Advocate

LA TOSA, Colli Piacentini, northern Italy: wines made with great care to evoke precise aromas and an astounding purity of fruit.
The “La Tosa” estate was founded in 1980 by brothers Stefano and Ferruccio Pizzamiglio on 16 hectares of land near Piacenza on the hillsides of Vigolzone, an ideal location for the production of fine wines. Trained as a physicist, Stefano Pizzamiglio doesn’t leave anything to chance — he works rigorously in the vineyard and cellar, alongside his wife Augusta, to achieve the purity and precision that are the hallmarks of his wines.

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

whites
2007 LA TOSA “Valnure” Frizzante $14.99
Blend of Malvasia di candia, Ortrugo & trebbiano. A VINTAGES’ summer tradition–don’t start the season without it! Enticing aromas, nectarine and plum flavors, crisp and juicy with a delightful frizzante sparkle.

2007 LA TOSA Sauvignon (Blanc) $24 -VINTAGES Exclusive
100% Sauvignon blanc. Quite a surprise, with distinctive, intense varietal character and a palate packed with crisp, pulpy fruit. Sauvignon is brilliant, straw yellow in color. Shows aromas of ripe tropical fruit and apricot with fresh citrus on the finish.

2007 LA TOSA “Sorriso di Cielo” Malvasia $26 - VINTAGES Exclusive
100% Malvasia. Exudes superb harmony, building a flawless symphony of aromas and a supple palate. Pitch-perfect balance of pure, ultra-ripe fruit and zesty acidity. A very distinctive, gorgeous wine!

reds
2005 LA TOSA Gutturnio $15.99
Gutturnio is a blend of the fruity barbera grape with the spicy, savory bonarda, a local variety also known as croatina. A ripe, plush wine, yet one with a good acidic backbone. Lots of impact, A good mix of fruit and savor makes it a versatile wine with food.

2005 LA TOSA “Luna Selvatica” Cabernet Sauvignon $40 –VINTAGES Exclusive
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. ‘Luna Selvatica” is bright ruby red in color with violet hues. Floral aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate, leather and minerals. Suave and perfumed in the mouth with penetrating currant flavors. Rich, complex, fresh and well-balanced with a long finish. Beautiful!

“LABRUSCA” Lambrusco in Red & White! HIP SIPS OF SUMMER!
Since 1910, the LINI family of Correggio in Emilia Romagna has made traditional Lambrusco, the dry, lightly sparkling red wine. A real Lambrusco is a delightful treat, not syrupy, but refreshing. “Labrusca” is the grape’s ancient name, from where it grew at the edges of the fields. Try these refreshing Lambruscos from Fabio Lini and daughter Alicia at your next summer gathering!
2007 LINI LAMBRUSCO Rosso “Labrusca” $15.99
The Lini family’s “traditional” Lambrusco Rosso, low in alcohol, with bright acidity and loads of fruit, is a perfect pairing for the classic dishes of Emilia like lasagne and tagliatelle bolognese, tortellini in brodo, and the region’s famous cured meats (prosciutto, culatello, etc.) and Parmigiano Reggiano.

2007 LINI LAMBRUSCO Bianco “Labrusca” $15.99
Labrusco Bianco “has a scent of red apples and white grapes,” writes Ray Isle, wine editor of Food & Wine Magazine, “and a racy zestiness that makes it an ideal aperitif wine.” Serve it with Prosciutto, cantalope wedges, and grissini.

Jean-Marc Burgaud is a young Beaujolais winemaker on the rise. Tenacious and diligent, he has great ambitions for his wines, and in Morgon, he has the vineyards to achieve them. The Morgon Cote de Py is his signature wine.
2006 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD MORGON Cote du Py $17.99 Deep blackberry and dark cherry-scented perfume; ripe cherry, blackberry, and spice-filled character. A wine of substantial structure & outstanding length. Can be enjoyed now, but definitely benefits from cellaring. Excellent example of Morgon, superb value!

2006 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD Chateau de Thulon Beaujolais-Villages $11.99 Gamay from 50-year-old vines in an historic 12th c. property. Beautiful violet and strawberry aromas; lighter ruby color, with ripe plum and berry fruit. Terrific mineral undertones lend surprising structure and a smooth, long finish. A perfect summer red!

2007 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD “Rosez!” Beaujolais- Villages Rose $12.99 A truly mouth-thrilling ride through sun-drenched gamay! Crisp & refreshing!

VINTAGES has held many memorable wine dinners over the years, but last year’s TOMMASO BUSSOLA Amarone wine dinner in Boston’s Chinatown was certainly a stand-out from every perspective — the Amarones and Valpolicellas were amazing, the food was fit for an emperor, and Kevin Spacey was filming on the street outside! Tommaso and his wife Daniele took it all in stride. Here are two new robust arrivals from the ever ebullient Bussola!

2004 TOMMASO BUSSOLA Valpolicella “TB” $46 ($39.10 case price)Tommaso Bussola’s wines have received a good deal of critical acclaim over the last few years, and with good reason. These are remarkable wines of the highest level. The TB is “wonderfully seamless in its vibrant dark cherries, chocolate and spice notes. It offers outstanding depth, notable poise and a long, finessed finish.”

2004 TOMMASO BUSSOLA “Errante” Rosso Veronese $55 ($46.75 case price) Made in an opulent, full-throttle style, Bussola’s L’Errante presents deep color and an array of flavors: blackberries, cassis, licorice, minerals and sweet toasted oak. L’Errante is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon with most of the fruit dried or “raisined” before fermentation. Aged in 100% new oak for 16 months. Ultra-lush, richly delicious!

2004 ENZO BOGLIETTI BAROLO “Brunate” $85 ($72.25 case price) “Dark red with ruby highlights. Sexy aromas of currant, plum, violet and brown spices, with an overlay of sweet oak. Suave on entry, then tight and a bit imploded in the middle. There’s very good purity and cut to the flavors of black cherry, violet and menthol.”– IWC

2004 ENZO BOGLIETTI BAROLO “Case Nere” $85 ($72.25 case price) “Violet in the nose, with notes of black cherry, leather, game and nutty oak. Densely packed but juicy and nicely delineated, with good verve and grip to the black and red fruit, loamy earth and menthol flavors. A rather elegant style, finishing with suave tannins and some recurring oak tones. But this also possesses the spine for a positive evolution in bottle.”–IWC

The dynamic Enzo Boglietti is one of the new generation of Barolo producers. Based in the town of La Morra - and with holdings in some of Barolo’s greatest vineyards - Continue Reading »

2005 JEAN RIJCKAERT ARBOIS Savagnin VV “Grand Elevage” $32
VINTAGES grabbed this bottle for dinner the other night and we were blown away by the depth, complexity, and overall delicious nature of this Arbois from Rijckaert. Buttered popcorn, creamy minerals in the nose; concentrated, fleshy, and flavorful, this medium-bodied wine is packed with minerals, spices, white pepper, notes of candied limes and lemon. Highly recommended; made from the vibrant Savagnin grape.

2000 DOMAINE MONTBOURGEAU “Cuvee Speciale” $30 (Jura) Newly introduced to the US market, this wine from a tiny estate in the Jura is a sappy, deep gold-colored white that offers aromas of amontillado sherry, fresh, vibrant fruit, but with a lot of purity, depth and complexity. Very compelling! A wonderful aperitif or after dinner wine.

“WINES through which THE EARTH SPEAKS”

Belmont: Friday, June 6, 5-7:30pm
West Concord: Sat. June 7, 2-5pm

Please join us for a tasting of the exceptional wines of EDMUNDS ST. JOHN. Since 1985, Steve Edmunds has been making wine from vineyards in Mendocino, El Dorado, Napa, Sonoma, & San Luis Obispo. Steve’s professed goal as a winemaker is parallel to VINTAGES’ as merchants: “To produce wines of the highest level of quality, integrity, and authenticity, the hallmarks of which are balance, nuance, and elegance, wines that express their origins in place and time, wines through which “the earth speaks” in a clear and strong voice.”

Please join us in Belmont on Friday, June 6 or West Concord on Saturday, June 7 to taste these exceptional California wines!

2006 Edmunds St. John PINOT GRIS $19.99
2007 Edmunds St. John HEART OF GOLD (Grenache Blanc & Vermentino) $24
2006 Edmunds St. John BONE JOLLY Gamay $17.99
2005 Edmunds St. John ROCKS & GRAVEL (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) $22
2005 Edmunds St. John PARMALEE HILL SYRAH $30

Join us for a taste of distinctive, delicious wines from six superb importers!

12-3pm
Michael Kane - Rosenthal Wine Imports
2005 Chat. Peyrassol Blanc $27
2000 Dom. de Montbourgeau $30
2003 Montevertine $45
2004 Brovia Barbera d’Alba $25
2005 Grosjean “Torrette” Superieur $30

Garret Vandermolen - Carolina
2007 Chat Graville-Lacoste Graves 16.99
2007 Dom Terrebrune Bandol Rose $30
2002 Radikon Ribolla Gialla $72
2004 Marcarini Barolo Brunate $62
2000 Roagna Barbaresco Paje $62

Charles Oliver — Ideal Wine
2006 Langhe Freisa $15.99
2007 Abbona Bianco “Valledel’olmo” $17.99
2006 VERGET Chablis “Cuvee de la Butte” $35
2006 St. Innocent Pinot Noir “Temperance Hill” $24
2005 Ferdinano Principiano Barbera d’Alba “Romualda” $38

3-6pm
Jeannie Rogers - Adonna Imports
2002 I Clivi Galea $22
1999 I Clivi Galea $32
2000 I Clivi Galea Rosso $24
2004 Aldo Bianco Barbaresco $40

Andrew Bishop — Oz Pacific
2006 Marisa Cuomo “Ravello Bianco” $25
2006 Marisa Cuomo “Furore Bianco” $25
2005 Marisa Cuomo “Furore Rosso” $25
2005 Marisa Cuomo Furore Bianco “Fiorduva” $55

George Schwartz — VIAS Imports
2006 Battistoti Trentino Nosiola $19.99
2005 Suavia Soave Montecarbonare $28
2006 Colle dei Bardellini Rossese $27
2004 Produttori del Barbaresco $34
2005 Cantele Amativo $36
2003 Cimbolo Sangiovese Umbria $42

Cheese, salumeria, bread, pate — buon appetito!