ROSENTHAL IMPORTS WINE TASTING
featuring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal
SAT. DEC. 6, 2-5pm, BELMONT store

Please join us for a taste of the distinctive, terroir-driven wines of Rosenthal Wine Merchant. For thirty years, Neal Rosenthal has carefully selected artisanal wines that profoundly express their origins and traditions — “the best of wines will always proudly tell you from where they come.”
The informative and inspiring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal will be at VINTAGES’ Belmont shop 2-5pm to present the wines. Michael is a veritable fountain of precise and passionate knowledge about what’s in your glass! No “tasting notes” necessary!

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!

Join us for the “Grand Opening” of VINTAGES’ new Belmont center location. Wine tasting from 12-6pm featuring our favorite “hip sips!”

32 Leonard Street, Belmont

Kick off Memorial Day Weekend with pink & chic ROSE!

Friday, May 23, 4-7pm in Belmont Center

Saturday, May 24, 2-5pm in West Concord

BAROLO & BARBARESCO Wine Tasting Sat. May 17, 2-5pm (West Concord)
Celebrating the ALBA WINE EXHIBITION in Piedmont, Italy
Join us for a tasting of BAROLO & BARBARESCO from top producers in Italy’s Piedmont region. VINTAGES’ Eric Broege just returned from the prestigious ALBA WINE EXHIBITION, and will host this tasting of superb wines from favorite producers.
Three Barbarescos and three Barolos — and a newly-arrived Langhe white wine — a springtime favorite! Don’t miss out!
Barbaresco
2004 PAITIN BARBARESCO “Sori Paitin” $40
Eric met with Giovanni Pasquero to taste this classic example of Neive terroir: the predominantly clay soil creates a more powerful, bolder personality. “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori Paitin is intense and powerful in its expression of dark fruit, spices, earthiness and tar. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019. 92 pts.” — Wine Advocate

2000 ROAGNA BARBARESCO “Paje” $62.
“Luca Roagna is one of the most promising young winemakers in the Langhe.” –WA
“Sweet, long and round, it reveals attractive layers of smoke, tar, cocoa, black cherries, cedar and tobacco in a big, full-bodied style. Ideally it is best cellared for a few years, but it also drinks beautifully today. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. 91 pts.”-WA

1997 GIUSEPPE CORTESE BARBARESCO “RABAJA” $75 During a visit to the Cortese winery last year, Eric Broege asked Giuseppe if he had any “older” wines available — well, just so happens he did! The highly-touted 1997 vintage created some very sumptuous Barbaresco! We are thrilled to offer this perfectly-cellared, ready-to-drink Barbaresco from this small, traditional family estate that has always taken great care with their wines.

“The 1997 Rabaja is the finest Cortese Barbaresco I have tasted in over a decade. Aged completely in old foudres, it is a traditionally made Piedmontese exhibiting notes of root vegetables, raspberry and cherry jam, cedar and balsam wood, smoke, and minerals. The wine is full-bodied, powerful yet elegant, supple-textured, and surprisingly deep as well as delineated. Drink this hedonistic as well as intellectually satisfying Barbaresco over the next 10-12 years. 92 pts.”–Robert Parker

Barolo
2004 MARCARINI BAROLO “Brunate” $62 “Soaring aromatics emerge from the estate’s 2004 Barolo Brunate. Menthol, dark cherries, spices, new leather and licorice are all to be found in this generous, layered wine. Sweet, ripe tannins provide a lovely bookend to this rich, classic Barolo from the Brunate vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. 93 pts.”–Wine Advocate

2003 ROAGNA BAROLO “Vigna Rionda” $62 “The 2003 Barolo Vigna Rionda is the newest addition to the estate’s line-up. Barolo lovers are well aware that Vigna Rionda is one of the most legendary sites in wine, so a new label is sure to elicit a high level of interest. Roagna’s Vigna Rionda is made from the oldest and most historic part of the hill, the same plots that were the source of the most legendary Riondas made in the past. Roagna’s 2003 Barolo Vigna Rionda opens with the essence of rose petals followed by gorgeous layers of red cherries, baking spices, cocoa, leather, menthol and licorice. At once delicate and powerful, it captures the essence of this famed site with remarkable elegance. Barolo is never inexpensive, but this wine offers superb value for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. 92 pts.”– Wine Advocate

1993 ROAGNA BAROLO “Rocca e la Pira” Riserva $110 “Roagna’s 1993 Barolo Riserva La Rocca e La Pira spent a whopping eleven and a half years in oak! Its tannins have mostly melted away, leaving a sublime, ethereal Barolo redolent of dried roses, plums, prunes, baking spices, leather, menthol and anise. It possesses outstanding balance and enough underlying structure to drink well for another decade. The opportunity to purchase an older, ready-to-drink vintage directly from the producer doesn’t come around too often and Roagna should be commended for making wines like this 1993 Barolo Riserva available. It is a lovely effort. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017. 92 pts.”–WA

white
2007 MARZIANO ABBONA Langhe Bianco “Valledell’olmo” $17.99 VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE
Spring pleasures: fragrant tree blossoms, gentle breezes, and Abbona “Valledell’olmo!” This aromatic blend of 70% Arneis and 30% Chardonnnay is a most welcome arrival each year. Lovely silky texture, with notes of pear, honeysuckle, and herbs. Just as spring blossoms are fleeting, so is this wine –they only make a tiny amount, and it’s gone all too quickly — run, don’t walk!

Please join FERDINANDO ZANUSSO, owner of I CLIVI winery in Friuli, Italy, at a wine tasting on Wednesday, May 14 at VINTAGES’ Belmont center location.

The I CLIVI white wines, made from 60-year-old Tocai and Verduzzo grapes, offer great concentration, complexity and subtlety. Their red wine is old-vine Merlot aged in french barrique. The wines can vary tremendously from vintage to vintage, and make for a fascinating comparison. Ferdinando will present his wines, discuss his non-interventionist, artisanal approach to “natural” winemaking, and be available for your questions. Ferdinando will be at VINTAGES from 4-6:30pm (dinner at OLEANA follows).

whites
2003 I CLIVI Galea $23
2002 I CLIVI Galea $22
1999 I CLIVI Galea $32
1997 I CLIVI Galea $35
reds
2000 I CLIVI Galea Rosso $24

Please join FERDINANDO ZANUSSO, owner of I CLIVI winery in Friuli, Italy, at a wine tasting dinner on Wednesday, May 14 at OLEANA restaurant in Cambridge. The exotic flavors of Ana Sortun’s cuisine will pair beautifully with the lush, distinctive white and red “natural” wines of I CLIVI. Cost for the dinner & wines is $90/person plus tax and tip. Call OLEANA to reserve: 617-661-0505.

The I CLIVI white wines, made from 60-year-old Tocai and Verduzzo grapes, offer great concentration, complexity and subtlety. Their red wine is old-vine Merlot aged in french barrique. The wines can vary tremendously from vintage to vintage, and make for a fascinating comparison. Ferdinando will present his wines and discuss his non-interventionist, artisanal approach to “natural” winemaking. These wines will be poured at the dinner (menu to follow):

whites
2003 I CLIVI Galea $23
2002 I CLIVI Galea $22

2002 I CLIVI Brazan $22
1999 I CLIVI Galea $32
1997 I CLIVI Galea $35
reds
2000 I CLIVI Galea Rosso $24
1999 I CLIVI Galea Rosso (not for sale)

Sergio Manetti, the late founder of MONTEVERTINE, located just outside of Radda in the heart of Chianti Classico, was Tuscany’s signature grape. Manetti strongly felt that this noble grape should stand on its own. He took issue with “super-tuscan” wines that propped up the elegant, graceful sangiovese with copious amounts of cabernet and merlot. Manetti pursued a lonely course in his beliefs and left the Chianti Classico consortium in the early 1980’s. His son Martino proudly carries on the family traditions.

2003 MONTEVERTINE di MONTEVERTINE $45 A wine of great concentration and powerful structure from a traditional Chianti blend of 90% sangiovese, 10% canaiolo and colorino. The Montevertine 2003 has formidable tannins and firm structure. At the same time, it offers an ethereal bouquet of crushed red cherries Continue Reading »