WINE TASTING: SAT. SEPT 12, 2-5pm Belmont

CASTELVECCHIO WINES, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Harsh terroir gives rise to expressive wines
VINTAGES EXCLUSIVES
New releases –and VINTAGES Exclusives-- from Italy’s northeast region of Gorizia near the Slovenian border. The Terraneo family has cultivated this estate for 20 years, revealing the potential for wines of admirable character. CASTELVECCHIO whites & reds have a distinct personality all their own; engaging aromas and textures with a spicy minerality from the “karst” soil and harsh climate of this Carso appellation. Definitely a cut above– all exclusive to VINTAGES! 

2008 CASTELVECCHIO Pinot Grigio Carso $19.99 Exuberant, tightly-wound style of Pinot Grigio with underlying chalky minerality and vibrant acidity. A Pinot Grigio with oomph!

2008 CASTELVECCHIO Malvasia Istriana $19.99
Compelling white wine with notes of herbs and honeycomb with waxy, sappy fruit, and a very lively personality. A great pairing with a range of foods from light pastas to Thai and Asian dishes.

2008 CASTELVECCHIO Sauvignon Blanc $19.99
Classic Sauvignon Blanc bracingly crisp, steely wine. Deliocate and austere SB character. Tightly wound.

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Summer Sippers: VINTAGES EXCLUSIVES
2008 OTTELLA “RosesRoses” $14.99

2008 ADAMI PROSECCO Giardino “Tranquillo” $17.99 –bubble-free Prosecco!
Top Prosecco estate ADAMI breaks new ground with a “still” version of their wine from their excellent Giardino vineyard. Surprised? Tasting is believing! Delicate aromas and flavors, fresh, with flavors of green apple. An ideal wine for lighter meals, fish and as an aperitif, it is also pleasant to sip between meals. An all-day summer wine!

CASTELVECCHIO WINES, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Harsh terroir gives rise to expressive wines
VINTAGES EXCLUSIVES
New releases –and VINTAGES Exclusives-- from Italy’s northeast region of Gorizia near the Slovenian border. Enjoyed for their very expressive and distinctive style with a spicy, mineral note from the “karst” soil and harsh climate of this Carso appellation.  Definitely a cut above– all exclusive to VINTAGES

NEW! 2006 CASTELVECCHIO Cabernet $30
The Terraneo family from Castelvecchio considers their Cabernet to be their most important wine contribution. Rich, smooth and elegant, with mineral underpinning. Refreshing maritime influence, dry climate allows natural viticulture. Enjoy with summer’s grilled meats and spicy flavors.

“Naturally Complex”– I CLIVI

2004 I CLIVI Bianco Degli Arzillari Venezia Giulia $14.99
Out of the Friulian hinterlands of northeast Italy— more natural magic from the cellars of I CLIVI. Father and son Ferdinando and Mario Zanusso offer a new bottling of Verduzzo, an indigenous, native grape from 60-year-old vines in the Arzillari vineyard. Fully-ripened grapes from low-yield vines lend a depth and concentration to this unusual and compelling white wine. Organic cultivation in the vineyard and non-interventionist, artisanal winemaking ensure the absolute integrity of this hand-crafted, long-lasting wine. Among the flavors are fennel, dried apricot, hay, savory qualities. Aged on its lees, Arzillari Verduzzo has a deep golden color and wonderful texture–truly a white for red wine lovers — great texture, grip, and tannic structure.
Only 2000 bottles made. Rare, distinctive AND affordable– wine adventures and value, only at VINTAGES.

WINE TASTING: NEW ARRIVALS from Barbaresco, Friuli & Piedmont
Presented by ERIC BROEGE
Belmont: FRI. MAR. 20, 4:30-7pm
Concord: SAT. MAR. 21 12-6pm
Estates include: Ca’ de Baio, Ferrando, DeForville, & I Clivi (see above for wine info).

2004 I CLIVI Bianco Degli Arzillari Venezia Giulia $14.99
2007 DEFORVILLE Piemonte CHARDONNAY $17.99
2007 FERRANDO Canavese Rosso “La Torrazza” $19.99
2004 DEFORVILLE Barbaresco “Loreto” $39
2005 CA’ del BAIO Barbaresco “Asili” Special price $48
2005 CA’ del BAIO Barbaresco “Marcarini” Special price $45

WINEMAKER TASTING with PIEROPAN from VENETO, Italy
MON. MARCH 16, 4-6pm BELMONT STORE

The ancient walled commune of Soave is the home of the exalted PIEROPAN estate. The winery was founded by Leonildo Pieropan in 1890 and the family continues the tradition of excellent wines, including their single-vineyard Soave Classico wines, La Rocca, Calvarino. Fighting the tidal wave of high-volume jug wine, Pieropan has always embraced quality and shown the world just how great the wines of Soave can be.

2007 PIEROPAN Soave Classico $17.99

2005 PIEROPAN “La Rocca” $45

2006 PIEROPAN “Calvarino” $32

2004 PIEROPAN “Le Colombare” Recioto

2004 PIEROPAN “Ruberpan” $50

The visit will mark the premier of Ruberpan, which is the first red produced by the estate. It’s a blend of 60% Corvina with the balance being Corvinone, Rodinella, and Croatina from Valpolicella vineyards acquired by the estate.

Introducing… NEW & EXCLUSIVE PORTFOLIO from Italy’s MARCHE region. JOIN US for a wine tasting SAT. MARCH 14, 2-5 pm (Belmont & Concord)

The story of these wines begins with a chance encounter…a year ago, Mirco Gaggioni was visiting the Boston area– he is from Marche, Italy; his wife is from Acton, MA. While strolling through West Concord, he came into VINTAGES, and was very surprised at the tremendous selection and quality of our Italian wines. He introduced himself and we agreed to taste his portfolio of wines from the Marche region.
Now it was our turn to be surprised–we immediately recognized the quality and uniqueness of Mirco’s properties. VINTAGES found an importer to bring in the wines and they have just arrived! Yet another example of how VINTAGES works to find distinct, unique wines and introduce them to our customers and our market, continuing to broaden the selection of quality Italian wines in Massachusetts.

VINTAGES is very excited to introduce these exclusive wines from Le Marche to our customers and to the U.S. market! We hope they are not “exclusives” for long – our goal for all these great wines is for them to find the larger audience and exposure they deserve. By the way, did we mention– these wines are EXCELLENT VALUES!

NEW to our market, from LE MARCHE, ITALY:
The Marche region is located in central Italy along the eastern, Adriatic coast. Long known for excellent VERDICCHIO white wines, Marche’s other native grapes are attracting notice and gaining popularity. Elegant, fragrant, stylish wines are the calling card of this new portfolio.

2007 FIORINI BIANCHELLO del METAURO “Vigna Sant’ Ilario”  $12.99
Fine and complex white wine from the Bianchello grape; delicate fragrance, fresh ripe fruit and a pleasing minerality on the finish. Vineyards are situated on hillsides overlooking the Metauro river.

2007 CONTI di BUSCARETO Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi $15.99
Low yields and stringent selection of grapes create a classic example of this historic wine from Le Marche. Straw-colored, with white flower aromas, vibrant, crisp fruit on the palate.

2007 CONTI di BUSCARETO Lacrima di Morro d’Alba  $17.99 100% Lacrima Nera; unique, aromatic, grape with ruby color. Opens with aromas of rose petal and red berries, followed by light woodsy and spicy aromatics. Fresh fruit flavors, soft tannins, and persistent floral and fruit notes through finish. Amazingly beautiful!

2006 CONTI di BUSCARETO Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi “Ammazzonte” $25
“Ammazzonte” is the top white wine of this estate. This late-harvest selection of Verdicchio grown at high elevations is hand-picked at full ripeness to showcase the distinctive characteristics of this grape variety. Silky, smooth texture; burgundian elegance and minerality on the finish – outstanding!

JOIN US for a tasting of these Le Marche wines  next Saturday, March 14!

WINE TASTING Sat. Feb. 7, 2-5p, Belmont store
SERGIO MOTTURA WINES, ORVIETO, Italy
Organic, indigenous, traditional wines
Presented by David Mitchell, Violette Imports.

The SERGIO MOTTURA estate, 130 hectares nestled on the border of Northern Lazio and Umbria, is dedicated to organic, natural viticulture, indigenous grapes, and traditional wines created with modern techniques and sensibility. The estate has been in the Mottura family since 1933 and they have been actively involved in conserving the natural beauty of the area.

whites
2006 SERGIO MOTTURA Orvieto “Vigna Tragugnano” $16.99  This single-vineyard Orvieto is a blend of all three allowed grape varieties: 40% Procanico, 30% Verdello, & 30% Grechetto. Nose opens with a sweet, warm fragrance of wild mustard flower and vanilla; with a little maturity, mint, sage, thyme and other aromas emerge. Mellow, complex flavors. An excellent aperitif with tomato bruschetta and young cheeses.

2007 SERGIO MOTTURA Orvieto “Poggio della Costa” $25  Made from 100% Grechetto, from its namesake clone. Aged in steel, this lively and aromatic wine is extremely versatile with a wide range of foods from pasta e fagioli, to lasagna, carbonara, ossobucco, etc.

2006 SERGIO MOTTURA “Latour Civitella” $38 “Tre Bicchieri” Award winner; VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE
Made from 100% Grechetto grapes hand-selected from the estate’s best vineyards. “Latour Civitella” is fermented and aged in oak barrels from Burgundy’s renowned Domaine Latour. What began as an experiment with barrel-aged Grechetto became a winemaking success! Fresh fruit flavors with richer texture and color; a great accompaniment with strong, savory dishes.

Red
2006 SERGIO MOTTURA Civitella Rosso; Reg. $23; Tasting special $19.99
Blend of 85% Merlot & 15% Montepulciano. Ruby red color with soft ripe fruit, lush texture, and spicy balsam notes.

GREAT VALUES from FRANCE & ITALY
reds
2004 VERGET du SUD CHATEAU des TOURETTES Cabernet Sauvignon “Endes” $19.99
Run circles around your friends’ “Big Domestic Cab” with this ‘little’ European Import. Made by Jean-Marie Guffens of Burgundy fame, this beautiful ruby-garnet colored Cabernet Sauvignon has a character that makes me imagine a hypothetical blend of a Medoc Bordeaux and an excellent Super-Tuscan. Classic creme de cassis aromas intermingle with roasted red cherries as well as notes of cedar. In the mouth the wine is perfectly ripe with flavors of red-berry fruits, balsamic notes, and a long toasty finish.

2006 CHATEAU L’ERMITAGE Syrah “Via Compostelle” Costieres des Nimes Special $12.99! Winter’s chill instills a craving for the sun-splashed warmth of Mediterranean reds. This value-priced Syrah from the Costerieres des Nimes in southern France is grown in vineyards that line the 11th c. pilgrimage route from Europe to Santiago di Compostella.  “Via Compostelle” offers fresh, vibrant and uplifting aromas of blueberries, blackberries, violets, and minerals.  Syrah’s classic hint of white pepper punctuates the finish of this southern french beauty that behaves more like a Crozes-Hermitage from the northern Rhone. A great deal!

whites
2004 JEAN RIJCKAERT Cotes du Jura, Savagnin “Les Sarres” Reg. $23 Special $19.99  Add this to your new year’s resolution: lean, taut, fit, crisp, (but not lacking in exotic complexity), Savagnin, an indigenous white from the Cotes du Jura. Located east of Burgundy, the Jura shares the same Jurassic limestone foundation as Burgundy, giving their wines noteworthy characteristics of creamy stones, dusty chalk, and lemon-tinged minerals. Reminiscent of a great burgundy– think premier cru Chablis–but with a little something different, maybe fresh spring herbs–this is a wine that strikes a perfect balance between multi-dimensional flavor and great ‘Drinkability.’ A perfect match with fondue, scallops, lobster, or a simple buckwheat pasta with aged Fontina, wild mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts.

2005 LA COLOMBERA “Timorasso” Colli Tortonesi Reg. $19.99 Now $14.99!  “Timorasso” is an indigenous Piedmontese varietal unique to Colli Tortonesi, a region sandwiched between Gavi and Oltrepo Pavese. Aromas of baked-spiced, honey-tinged apples jump from the glass. The flavor of the wine is decidedly drier with orchard fruits predominating, leading to a long, powdery- mineral finish. Serve cool, but not overchilled — you’ll miss the parade of flavors!

NEW ARRIVALS: VINTAGES EXCLUSIVES
VINTAGES is pleased to offer the following wines EXCLUSIVELY to our customers. VINTAGES works with selected wineries and importers to bring in wines with exceptional merit that are not represented in our market or in the U.S. When customers see a “VINTAGES Exclusive,” they they know they’re about to enjoy a distinctive, delicious, wine adventure!

REFRESHING WINES WITH CHARACTER from Fruili-Venezia-Giuila

NEW! CASTELVECCHIO 2007 WHITES — VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE!
A trio of customer favorites from northeastern Italy on the Slovenian border town of Gorizia. These wines are very expressive and distinctive with a spicy, mineral note on the finish from the “karst” soil and climate of this Carso appellation. Worth investigating –definitely a cut above! (These wines were featured at the Belmont store tasting last Friday.)

2007 CASTELVECCHIO Carso Pinot Grigio $19.99
Richer style of Pinot Grigio with underlying minerality and a spicy note. A Pinot Grigio with oomph!

2007 CASTELVECCHIO Traminer Aromatico $19.99
Lovely aromas of pear, honey and rose petals burst out of the glass, followed by a delicate, blossoming fruit on the palate. Intriguing, elegant, wonderful aperitif!

2007 CASTELVECCHIO Malvasia Istriana $19.99
From 100% Malvasia, aromas of honeycomb on the nose, waxy, sappy fruit; very lively personality. A nice complement to Asian flavors, seafood pastas, and lighter dishes.