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!

WINE TASTING: New Arrivals from Spain & Italy
Sat. Oct. 17, 2-5pm Concord
featuring new Amarone from TOMMASO BUSSOLA

2003 TOMMASO BUSSOLA Amarone Classico $65
TOMMASO BUSSOLA is an exuberant, passionate man and his wines are characteristically robust and expressive. While the 2004 vintage of this Amarone Classico was released two years ago, only now did Tommaso decide that the 2003 version was ready for release. Eric’s tasting note from his visit to Italy: “A great Amarone! Roasted candied-cherry, infinitely complex and drinkable, approaching the quality of Tommaso’s Riserva. Tommaso believes this is the best Amarone Classico he has ever made.“

2006 DESCENDIENTES de JOSE PALACIOS “Corullon” 93 pts. $45 (Bierzo)
100% Mencia old-vine Mencia. “The purple-colored 2006 Villa de Corullon offers up a super-fragrant bouquet of lavender, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. Elegant and multi-dimensional on the palate, it has gobs of ripe fruit, succulent flavors, and impeccable balance. It has several years of aging potential and should offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2021.93 pts.”–WA

2008 EGIA ENEA Txakoli de Bizkaia $19.99 (Txakolina) - white
Located in the northern Basque country, Egia Enea is run by owner/winemaker Alfredo Egia. Their Txakolina is made from the grape “Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia.” “The 2008 Egia Enea Txakolina is sourced from a single vineyard within the sub-zone of Biskaia. It reveals an expressive nose of mineral, lime, melon, and petrol. Smooth textured, bracing, and racy on the palate… 90 pts.“

2007 PENAS DAS DONAS Godello “Almalarga” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) - white
This first vintage of the 2007 Almalarga Godello is named for the vineyard (70- to 100-year-old vines). “Aged on its lees for four months, it offers a superb aromatic array of mineral, crushed stone, lemon-lime, white peach, and melon. This is followed by a dry, elegant, ripe, concentrated wine with outstanding balance and length. Drink it over the next four years. 90 pts.” –WA

2008 PENAS DAS DONAS Mencia “Verdes Matas” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) -
“Bright ruby. Spicy red and dark berry aromas are complicated by cherry skin, licorice, dried violet and cracked pepper. Racy and sharply focused on entry, offering tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors, then opens up to show deeper, sweeter dark berries. For a tangy wine this is surprisingly lush, almost creamy, with gentle tannins and good lingering sweetness. I really like this wine’s blend of vivacity and roundness. 90 pts.” –IWA
 

WINE TASTING: New Arrivals from Spain: Ribeira Sacra, Txakolina, Madrid   Sat. Oct. 10, 3-6pm Belmont

Spain is continuing to up the ante with distinctive, even unexpected, combinations of flavors and textures. Old vines thrive in these rugged, dry climates to offer wines that are both ripe and fresh, with aromatic complexity as a bonus. Just in, these remarkable wines are also excellent values!

2008 BERNABELEVA Camino de Navaherreros $15.99 (Madrid) - red
100% Garnacha. Located outside of Madrid in rugged mountainous terrain, this estate makes wine from 80-year-old Garnacha vines, farmed organically. Named for the “bear’s forest,” Bernabeleva uses its high-altitude location and micro-climate to great advantage, creating rich, ripe wines with unexpected freshness and complexity.
 
2008 EGIA ENEA Txakoli de Bizkaia $19.99 (Txakolina) - white
Located in the northern Basque country, Egia Enea is run by owner/winemaker Alfredo Egia. Their Txakolina is made from the grape “Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia” (yes, it’s a mouthful). “The 2008 Egia Enea Txakolina is sourced from a single vineyard within the sub-zone of Biskaia. It reveals an expressive nose of mineral, lime, melon, and petrol. Smooth textured, bracing, and racy on the palate… 90 pts.“

Introducing PENAS das DONAS Almalarga & Verdes Matas from Ribeira Sacra
“Pena das Donas is a new estate in the high risk, high reward DO of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia (western Spain) where the steepness of the vineyards makes Sonoma’s Jackass Hill Vineyard look like a pool table.”( I’ve never seen Jackass Hill but I get the idea.)

2008 PENAS DAS DONAS Mencia “Verdes Matas” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) -
“Bright ruby. Spicy red and dark berry aromas are complicated by cherry skin, licorice, dried violet and cracked pepper. Racy and sharply focused on entry, offering tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors, then opens up to show deeper, sweeter dark berries. For a tangy wine this is surprisingly lush, almost creamy, with gentle tannins and good lingering sweetness. I really like this wine’s blend of vivacity and roundness. 90 pts.” –IWA
 
2007 PENAS DAS DONAS Godello “Almalarga” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) - white
This first vintage of the 2007 Almalarga Godello is named for the vineyard (70- to 100-year-old vines). “Aged on its lees for four months, it offers a superb aromatic array of mineral, crushed stone, lemon-lime, white peach, and melon. This is followed by a dry, elegant, ripe, concentrated wine with outstanding balance and length. Drink it over the next four years. 90 pts.” –WA

New arrivals: PRIORAT, Spain

One of the few full-bodied reds that offer compelling enjoyment with profound complexity and finesse is PRIORAT, the garnacha-based wines of Catalan SW of Barcelona. Distinctive brown slate soil known as “llicorella,” old-vine grapes that thrive in the harsh, arid climate, and winemaking pioneers that brought together the best of these characteristics have created wines of world-class character in a very short time.

CELLER de l’ENCASTELL is a small family-run vineyard and winery in the town of Porrera, Priorat, where “Roquers de Porrera” and “Marge” are vinified. Carme Figuerola and Raimon Castellví built the winery and got started in 1999, moved by their passion for wine and the exceptional quality of the soils where their vineyard grows - locally called “llicorella.” The wines “Marge” and “Roquers de Porrera” are perennial favorites of VINTAGES’ customers.

2007 Celler de l’Encastell “Marge” Priorat $28
“The 2007 Marge is the entry level wine from Raimon Castellvi, owner and winemaker of Roquers de Porrera. “Marge” is the local name for the stone walls made of slate taken from the Priorat vineyards. It is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 14% Syrah, 13% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for eight months in French and American oak. The wine is a glass-coating opaque purple with legs that ooze down the glass. The brooding nose reveals crushed stone, spice box, violets, tar, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a dense, rich, structured Priorat with 1-2 years of aging potential. Drink it through 2017. 90 pts.” -Wine Advocate

2005 Celler l’Encastell “Roquers de Porrera” $65
Deep red. Spicy blueberry and kirsch aromas are brightened by white pepper and minerals. Juicy dark fruit flavors, with firm tannins adding grip. Sweet vanillin oak spice builds on the long, sappy finish, which features a lingering raspberry note. 90 pts.”-IWC

2006 ALVARO PALACIOS “Les Terrasses” Priorat $38
“The 2006 Les Terrasses is a blend of 60% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It was aged for 12 mos. in 20% new French oak. Purple-colored, it exhibits a fragrant bouquet of cedar, mineral, spice box, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, dense, rich wine with excellent harmony, potential complexity, and a fruit-filled finish. It has enough structure to evolve for several years and will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2021. 91 pts.”  –Wine Advocate

2006 CLOS MOGADOR $90 95 pts.
“The opaque purple-colored 2006 Clos Mogador has an enticing nose of pain grille, pencil lead, truffle, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Full-bodied, dense, and layered on the palate, it has loads of succulent black fruit, spice box, ripe tannin, impeccable balance, and a lengthy, pure finish. Give it 5-7 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2015 to 2026. 95 pts.”

CLOS ERASMUS
Daphne Glorian, owner/winemaker of Clos Erasmus, is one of the pioneers of the PRIORAT appellation. Clos Erasmus was begun with the purchase of some old vineyards of Garnacha by Daphne Glorian, who happened to be in the area visiting some friends. What started as a “fun” project in 1990 soon became a very serious endeavor as the Priorat and Clos Erasmus rapidly ascended to world-class wine status.

2006 Clos Erasmus 97 pts. $200
“As usual Clos Erasmus is one of Spain’s finest wines. The 2006 Clos Erasmus offers an ethereal bouquet of balsam and sandalwood, incense, liquid mineral, black cherry, and black raspberry. Dense, rich, and voluptuous on the palate, it has plenty of well-concealed ripe tannin, tons of fruit, and potential complexity. Give it 5-7 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2015 to 2025. 97 pts.” -Wine Advocate

2006 Clos Erasmus “Laurel” $50 (arriving next week) “The 2006 Laurel sports aromas of slate/mineral, black licorice, incense, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. Ripe, sweet, and structured on the palate, this lengthy, succulent effort has enough tannin to support another 4-6 years of cellaring and will have a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2026. Laurel, one of Priorat’s greatest values dollar for dollar, is sourced from the younger vines of the estate and from declassified barrels of Clos Erasmus itself. 93 pts.”

“LEGENDS OF SPAIN” WINE DEALS!
Sip or cellar — your choice!

Love your dad (or yourself) with these outrageous deals from the upper echelons of Spanish wine! CALL VINTAGES 978-369-2545 TO ORDER!

2003 VEGA SICILIA “Valbuena” Ribera del Duero 94 pts.
Reg. $168/bottle; special $100/btl! OR $85/btl for a case of 12 purchase! Did we say ½ price??
“The 2003 Valbuena is purple-colored and super-fragrant with aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a powerful, concentrated wine with an opulent palate-feel, layers of flavor, and beautiful integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, no mean feat in the torrid 2003 vintage. Supple, sweet, and long, this superb effort will evolve for another 4-6 years and drink well through 2025. 94 pts.” -Wine Advocate

2006 ALVARO PALACIOS “Finca Dofi” Priorat 93 pts. Reg. $90; special $75; OR $63.75/bottle by the case!
“Ruby-red. Raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by graphite, tobacco and anise. Sweet red and dark berry flavors possess liqueur-like depth but are lithe and incisive, with impressive mineral lift on the back end. Juicy, finely etched red fruits dominate the long, sappy finish. A smoky quality arrived with air, adding further dimension and depth. 93 pts” — IWA

PRIORAT’S “PERFECT” WINE

CLOS ERASMUS 2006
Daphne Glorian, owner/winemaker of Clos Erasmus, is one of the pioneers of the PRIORAT appellation. Clos Erasmus was begun with the purchase of some old vines of Garnacha by Daphne Glorian, who happened to be in the area visiting some friends. What started as a “fun” project in 1990 soon became a very serious endeavor as the Priorat rapidly ascended to world-class wine status. Clos Erasmus is now considered a benchmark of the region and has recently received consecutive 100 Point scores from the Wine Advocate (2004 & 2005), the only wine of Spain to ever achieve such critical accolades.
We were delighted to catch up with Daphne recently at a tasting in Boston, and even more delighted to be able to offer her new 2006 releases.

2006 Clos Erasmus $200 ($170 case purchase)
75% Garnacha, 15% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Think of your wildest fantasy coming true and you may be able to conjure up the pleasure [Clos Erasmus] delivers now and will continue to deliver over the next 12-15 years.” - Wine Advocate on 2005 Clos Erasmus, 100 pts.

2006 Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ $50 ($42.50 case purchase)
The “Laurel” cuvee is the result of extreme triage in the vineyards and cellar. It is produced 100% from the Clos Erasmus vineyards but from the more recent plantings and is the result of declassification of some of the barrels of Clos Erasmus. The wine is aged for 16 months in one-year oak and bottled without fining or filtration. The blend is 65% Garnacha and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon with tiny yields of 14 hl/ha (about 1 ton an acre).

“Purple-colored it offers up a classic bouquet of smoke, cedar, mineral, black cherry, and black currant. Smooth-textured, rich, and deceptively easy-going, this full-flavored lengthy effort will evolve for 4-6 years but who will want to wait that long?“-Wine Advocate on 2005 Laurel

Join us for a taste of terrific wine values from SPAIN! Saturday, March 7, 2-5pm in both West Concord and Belmont stores.

WINE TASTING “EVERYDAY SPAIN”
SAT. MARCH 7, 2-5pm Belmont & Concord
Featuring the wines of importer ERIC SOLOMON, European Cellars
It’s been our pleasure over the years to know importer ERIC SOLOMON, travel to Spain with him, and be introduced to the many regions and varietals of this exciting viticultural hotbed, where great, storied winemaking traditions are carried out by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also where the avant garde thrives — in wine as well as in food. Eric has been a pioneer, a creative and visionary importer who has seen the great potential of ancient vineyards that had produced little more than low-grade cheap brandy, overlooked and undervalued sub-regions that had yet to be realized, and of course, his unparalleled championing of the Priorat - not to mention his partnership and collaboration with his wife Daphne Glorian of Clos Erasmus.
Eric has been a driving force in bringing the many faces of Spanish wine to the American market. And although he represents some of the greatest cellars in Spain, his greatest accomplishment might be the wealth of terrific value wines $9-$18. An amazing embarrassment of riches, wines from 80-year-old vines in small case lots, made with care and attention to detail. Aesthetics can be argued, traditional versus modern — but one thing can’t be disputed: no one has brought such a diversity of quality wines, grapes, and regions to the daily table– a far cry from the innocuous mass-produced wines found at these prices.

Whites
2007 BODEGAS VALDESIL Godello “Montenovo” $13.99 (Valdeorras) 100% Godello from Galicia in northwestern Spain.  Light gold-colored, it has an enticing nose of mineral, melon, and lemon curd. Creamy textures, ripe, and intensely flavored, this tasty effort can be enjoyed now.

2007 CONCLASS Verdejo (Rueda) $12.99
100% Verdejo.  Pale gold. Exotically perfumed bouquet of citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with salty minerals, pungent herbs and white pepper. Sharply focused lemon, lime and pink grapefruit flavors are impressively concentrated and pure, with bright mineral snap on the back end. The long finish boasts outstanding clarity and cut. These vines, reportedly 70-100 years old, are planted on 30 meters of chalk.

Reds
2006 ESPELT Saulo $12.99 (Emporda)
Blend of 60% Garnacha and 40% Carinena from the Emporda region in northeastern Spain near the Pyrenees.  Dark ruby-colored, it has a fragrant bouquet of licorice, black cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a succulent, ripe wine with loads of pure fruit, a seamless texture, and excellent length.

2005 CASTELL dei REMEI “Gotim Bru” $13.99
A signature wine of Solomon’s Spanish value portfolio. Blend of 60% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot aged for 10 mos. in French and American oak. Purple-colored, it provides a fragrant nose of spice box, tobacco, blueberry, and blackberry–terrific!

2006 BODEGAS ALMENSENAS “La Huella de Adaras” $14.99 (Almansa)
Blend of 60% Garnacha Tintorera, 30% Monastrell, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple-colored, it delivers aromas of spice box, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate it is slightly lean and structured with just enough fruit for balance.

2005 BODEGA MUSTIGUILLO “Mestizaje” $15.99
Blend of 70% Bobal with the balance equal parts Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cabernet. Purple in color, the wine offers aromas of pain grille, damp earth, vanilla, black cherry, and black currant. Thick and chewy on the palate, the wine has excellent depth and concentration leading to a tannic finish.

2004 CAPCANES Costers del Gravet $16.99 (Montsant)
Blend of 50% Cabernet, 30% Garnacha, 10% each Carinena & Tempranillo from higher elevations in the mountains of Catalan. Purple colored, Gravet opens with an attractive perfume of pain grille, minerals, spice box, black currant, and black cherry. This is followed by a layered, full-bodied wine with gobs of sweet black fruits, a plush texture, and a pure, lengthy finish.

MARIA LOPEZ DE HEREDIA from RIOJA, SPAIN! 

MARIA LOPEZ de HEREDIA will be here at VINTAGES Belmont to present the exceptional red & white wines of her family’s legendary RIOJA estate, Bodegas Lopez de Heredia. Meet Maria at our Belmont store from 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, January 29. DON’T MISS IT!

Following are the wines for the tasting, many with special pricing for Jan. 29 tasting only! Featuring vintages 1973-2002!

White/Rosado
Grapes: Gravonia is 100% Viura; Tondonia a blend of Viura with a little Malvasia. The estate often ages white wines in oak for as long as reds. The Gran reserva is aged for six years spending at least four years in cask.

1998 Viña Gravonia Crianza White Special $25; Reg. $28

1989 Viña Tondonia Reserva Spec. $40; Reg. $45

*1981 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva White $90 (special order only)

1997 LOPEZ de HEREDIA Viña Tondonia Rosado Special $25; Reg. $28
Blend of 60% garnacha, 20% tempranillo, and 20% viura.

Red/Rioja
Grapes: The tempranillo grape is always the predominant variety at 70% or 80% of the blend. Garnacho accounts for 10-15%, and the remainder is split between mazuelo and graciano.
Reservas: Matured for five years, with three years in oak casks.
Gran Reservas: Made only from exceptional grapes from the estate vineyards, and only in the best vintages. Aged in oak barrels at least six years, plus another 5-6 years in the bottle.

2002 Viña Cubillo Rioja Crianza Spec. $25; Reg. $28

2000 Viña Bosconia Rioja Reserva Spec. $30; Reg. $35

1999 Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva Spec. $40; Reg. $45

1987 Viña Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva Spec. $80; Reg. $90

*1987 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva $90 (special order only)

1981 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva Special $90; Reg. $120

*1973 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva $189 (special order only)

MEET THE WINEMAKER TASTING at VINTAGES Belmont

THURS. JAN. 29, 5:30-7:30pm in BELMONT: MARIA LOPEZ de HEREDIA, RIOJA, SPAIN

11 wines will be open at this tasting — 2002-1973!!!

VINTAGES is thrilled to have Maria Lopez de Heredia here in our Belmont shop to present the wines from her family’s legendary bodega in Rioja, Spain. Established in 1877, Lopez de Heredia is now run by the fifth generation, but little has changed in the wine cellars. “We’re proud of not changing,” says Maria, who co-manages this legendary bodega with her father. Maria will present a selection of wines — red, white and rose — at this tasting. Don’t miss it!

White/Rosado

Grapes: Gravonia is 100% Viura; Tondonia a blend of Viura with a little Malvasia. The estate often ages white wines in oak for as long as reds. The Gran reserva is aged for six years spending at least four years in cask.

1998 Viña Gravonia Crianza White Special $25; Reg. $28

1989 Viña Tondonia Reserva Spec. $40; Reg. $45

*1981 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva White $90 (special order only)

1997 LOPEZ de HEREDIA Viña Tondonia Rosado Special $25; Reg. $28

Blend of 60% garnacha, 20% tempranillo, and 20% viura.

Red/Rioja

Grapes: The tempranillo grape is always the predominant variety at 70% or 80% of the blend. Garnacho accounts for 10-15%, and the remainder is split between mazuelo and graciano.

Reservas: Matured for five years, with three years in oak casks.

Gran Reservas: Made only from exceptional grapes from the estate vineyards, and only in the best vintages. Aged in oak barrels at least six years, plus another 5-6 years in the bottle.

2002 Viña Cubillo Rioja Crianza Spec. $25; Reg. $28

2000 Viña Bosconia Rioja Reserva Spec. $30; Reg. $35 

1999 Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva Spec. $40; Reg. $45 

1987 Viña Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva Spec. $80; Reg. $90

*1987 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva $90 (special order only)

1981 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva Special $90; Reg. $120

*1973 Viña Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva $189 (special order only)

2006 CLOS MOGADOR $90
Located in Gratallops, in the heart of the Priorat hills, Rene Barbier, one of the founders of the Priorat revolution, creates his intensely concentrated wine from a blend of 40% Garnacha (from 80 year old vines), 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 5% Pinot Noir, Mourvedre and Merlot. This distinctive blend balances the power and massive structure typical of Priorat with an elegance and finesse that belies its aging potential. While the Clos Mogador will continue to improve for 10 years or more, it is delicious now. Vintage after vintage, this wine has consistently achieved the region’s highest expression (and scores). Super-concentrated, sweetly-fruited, and complex, this is a tour de force of a wine.