2007 KEN WRIGHT PINOT NOIR!
JUST ARRIVED– Limited quantities.
“Ken Wright Cellars has long been one of the reference points for Pinot Noir fanatics.” –Robert Parker

KEN WRIGHT CELLARS was founded in 1993. Located in rural Carlton, Oregon, Ken Wright is the ultimate terroirist: he views pinot noir as the perfect vehicle for expressing the characteristics of a particular vineyard site. Ken has been instrumental in elevating Willamette Valley pinot noir to one of the most sought-after wines in the world.

The 2007 vintage in Oregon produced classically styled wines; wines that favor freshness and purity, length and elegance, over brooding dark fruit and concentration –exactly what pinot noir excels at.
VINTAGES is pleased to offer the following 2007 Ken Wright bottlings –quantities extremely limited. A great Thanksgiving wine!

2007 KEN WRIGHT Abbott Claim $60
2007 KEN WRIGHT Savoya 60
2007 KEN WRIGHT McCrone $60
2007 KEN WRIGHT Guadalupe $60

WINE DOG DEAL! 2005 Dom. Monpertuis “Cuvee Counoise” $11.99!
Delightfully fresh and juicy red made from Counoise, one of the 13 lucky grapes that can be grown in Chateauneuf du Pape. Wild berry and cherry liqueur flavors and aromas. Delicious!

Eric Broege “Uncorked!”
PROFILE by Fred Bouchard, published in Massachusetts Beverage Business, October 2008

ERIC BROEGE · 44 · Owner, Buyer · Vintages, West Concord and Belmont

Still a painter and musician, Eric Broege is today a discerning buyer for his two small shops, one in formerly dry Belmont Center. Eric defends his passion for individualistic wines of distinctive terroirs (mainly in Italy, Spain, France) with strong opinions, articulate explanations and a simple, bold business plan.
(following are excerpts from the full interview)
“Part of this is totally personal. I want to take pride in what I’m doing here, as a sort of wine curator.”
“If you have a small space, every inch is valuable. I don’t have room for anything I don’t want or wouldn’t recommend.”
“My idea is that I’m in business to help my customers, not distributors. My obligation is to put the best products in my customers’ hands.”
“If somebody’s selling an oaky wine for ten bucks, I ask, “How’d the oak get in there?” If somebody says, “Sell me a $15 Cab that tastes like Silver Oak,” I say, “Please go bug the guy down the street.”
“I want a wine that I don’t fully understand, that shows me something I never noticed the last time.”

Click on the “BEST IN SHOW” button on the left to scroll through some of our latest offerings. Burgundy is first; Barolo and Barbaresco follow. Enjoy!

WINE DOG DEAL! Basque Cider $10.99
Tantalizing, refreshing dry cider from ESPANA!

ISASTEGI “Sagardo naturale” Natural Cider $10.99 Basque Country, Spain
Sagardo naturala, or natural cider, has been produced in the Basque Country for over 2,000 years. The Sagardo is made from native apple varieties and fermented in large oak barrels until the spring, when it is bottled unfiltered. No sugar is added; the cider is lightly spritzy, very dry and refreshing, and low alcohol at 6% Perfect for fall; a great Halloween refresher! 

PODERI ALDO CONTERNO: Legend of Piedmont & Barolo
The wines of ALDO CONTERNO possess a towering reputation not only in Barolo, but among the greatest wines of the world. Founded in 1969, the estate is centered in the Bussia zone of Monforte and is run by brothers Franco and Giacomo. The first release of the estate’s signature wine, Barolo Riserva “Granbussia,” was in 1971. “Granbussia” continues to be an icon wine of Barolo; we are proud to offer these wines from excellent vintages.

2001 ALDO CONTERNO Barolo Riserva “Granbussia” $248.20/bottle case price ($292) 95 pts.
“This wine expresses to the highest degree what Barolo is all about. Austere and elegant at the same time, it is intense and superlatively built. An effortless Three Glasses.”–Gambero Rosso

“Fat, sweet, rich and deep; at once succulent and seamless, with a wonderfully layered texture and great early appeal. Very full without coming across as weighty. The slow-building finish features substantial sweet tannins. “Shows the magic side of 2001,” Franco offers. “It can keep for a long time but it’s great right now. 95 pts.” –IWC

“Wonderfully harmonious in its sweet, expressive aromatics and perfumed, ripe red fruit. Medium in body, this delicate Granbussia is surprisingly open at this stage. It is impossible to resist now, although it may start to close up in bottle. This is a remarkably fresh and vibrant Granbussia that should develop beautifully over the following years and decades. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2026. 94 pts.”–Wine Advocate

Note: 2001 is the last vintage of Granbussia until the 2005 is released several years from now. No Granbussia was made in 2002, ‘03, or ‘04.

2000 ALDO CONTERNO Barolo “Granbussia” Special 20% off 6-btl purchase $220/bottle “The 2000 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is long and powerful, with a generous quality to its ripe fruit and a sweet, opulent texture. It offers notable persistence on the palate and a pretty note of freshness on the finish that provides balance to the wine’s very ripe, forward style. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020. 93 pts.“–Wine Advocate

1999 ALDO CONTERNO Barolo “Bussia” 90 pts. ($85/bottle case price) “The 1999 Barolo Bussia, is fresh garnet in color, smoky and tarry in aroma, medium in weight, but with fine sustaining tannins and a silky texture. It is a wine to drink between 2005 and 2015. 90 pts.“–Wine Advocate

DOMENICO CLERICO: Modern Marvels
“One of the most gifted winemakers in Piedmont…these are wines of extraordinary richness, amazing aromatics, that satiate both the hedonistic and the intellectual senses.” -Robert Parker

“Clerico’s stunning 2004s are shaping up to be among the best wines of the vintage. These Barolos are aromatically compelling and packed with layers of fruit, with much depth, complexity and personality. They are really something to marvel over and are well worth the wait.”–Wine Advocate

2004 DOMENICO CLERICO Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 97 pts. $93.50/bottle cs price ($110) “The 2004 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra sweeps across the palate with stunning depth and expansiveness in its dark cherries, menthol, spices, chocolate and sweet toasted oak. It offers exceptional length and delineation, with a note of freshness that provides lift on the close. It is a profound effort from Domenico Clerico. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. 97 pts.”

ELIO ALTARE
The Altare estate was established in 1948 with vineyards and traditional farming. In the 1970’s, young Elio traveled to Burgundy to research winemaking and decided to adopt more rigorous practices in the vineyards and cellar to produce more elegant, balanced wines. His relentless experimentation and research continues, resulting in spectacular wine!

2004 ELIO ALTARE Barolo “Aborina” 95 pts. $113.05/btle for case purchase ($133)
“The 2004 Barolo Arborina is a surprisingly super-ripe, concentrated and soft-textured wine loaded with sweet fruit. It offers outstanding length and ripe tannins in a very seductive style of Barolo. 95 pts.”

2006 ELIO ALTARE Barbera d’Alba $30
“Gorgeous aromas of crushed blackberry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with tangy fruit flavors and a citrusy finish. Drink now.” –WS

BRUNO GIACOSA, BARBARESCO & BAROLO (Piedmont, Italy)
“At a time in life when many of his colleagues have begun to slow down, Bruno Giacosa continues to make stunning wines of the highest level. Of course Giacosa has the good fortune of having the services of long-time oenologist Dante Scaglione, who is one of the most prodigiously talented winemakers in Italy. Simply put, 2004 will go down as one of the all-time great Giacosa vintages for both Barolo and Barbaresco.“–Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

2004 BRUNO GIACOSA Barbaresco “Rabaja” $225 97 pts. ($191.25/btl case price)
“The 2004 Barbaresco Rabaja is off the charts. It boasts phenomenal richness and complexity in its dark, brooding aromatics and powerful structure, with suggestions of roses, tar, menthol, coffee beans and baking spices that emerge from the glass in an endless display of elegance married to sheer force. Although the Rabaja will be released as a white label non-Riserva, it is very close to Riserva-level quality. I would not be surprised to see the Rabaja merit a higher score in another year or two. This magnificent wine will especially appeal to readers who enjoy a structured style of Barbaresco. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. 97 pts.“- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

2004 BRUNO GIACOSA Barbaresco “Santo Stefano” $270 ($229.50/btl case price) 95 pts. Single-vineyard Barbaresco. “Giacosa’s 2004 Barbaresco “Santo Stefano” is a superb wine. Sweet, floral, mentholated aromatics meld into an expressive core of ripe fruit, with superb length and elegant tannins to round out the finish. Made in a more linear style than the Asili and Rabaja, it doesn’t possess the expansiveness of those two wines, but it does reveal tremendous depth, harmony and balance. This pure, sweet, long Barbaresco is the best Santo Stefano in years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. 95 pts.”–Robert Parker

2004 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto $270 ($229.50/btl case purchase) 96 pts.
“Giacosa’s 2004 Barolo Falletto is so compelling it will be hard not to drink it in its youth. This gorgeous Barolo reveals a deeply structured frame layered with sweet dark fruit, mint, spice and pine. At once delicate and powerful, it is a beautifully finessed wine that is sure to provide much pleasure. A recent bottle of the 1982 is a testament to the virtues of this great site as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. 96 pts.” –Robert Parker

DOM. DANIEL BOCQUENET
Brilliant Perfectionist in Burgundy

“The enormously talented Daniel Bocquenet told me that 2006 “was marked by the lousy August yet also by a surprisingly warm September. But if you kept only the best grapes, the quality was excellent, indeed I would go so far as to say that it’s not far off of what 2005 achieved.” I have said it many times but it’s worth repeating: few domaines offer the price/quality ratio that Bocquenet’s wines do … nothing short of brilliant.”–Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Echezeaux $138 ($117.30)
“This is also beautifully perfumed and not surprisingly much more complex with spicy and beautifully layered black fruit aromas where this sense of nuance and depth continues onto the rich, sweet and firm medium plus weight flavors underpinned by a solid core of ripe tannins and excellent length. This could easily surprise to the upside as the structural elements are still very primary and youthfully austere. 92 pts.” –Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Nuits-St-George Aux St Julien $65 ($55.25 cs price) “A beautifully perfumed nose that is classic Nuits with earth and slightly animale red berry fruit aromas that merge into precise, pure and admirably intense medium full flavors… while keeping all of its typical power and punch. 89 pts.“–Burghound

2006 BOCQUENET Vosne-Romanee $65 ($55.25 cs price) “A ripe, spicy and nicely complex nose introduces moderately firm and unusually robust as well as distinctly primary flavors… 89 pts.“–Burghound