VINTAGES goes to Piedmont, Italy!
Total Immersion in Barolo & Barbaresco

VINTAGES owners return from ALBA Wine Exhibition in Piedmont, Italy
Eric & Carolyn just returned from a week-long stay in Barolo & Barbaresco as part of the annual ALBA WINE EXHIBITION. This prestigious, invitation-only program offers the opportunity for a comprehensive evaluation of the new releases of Barolo and Barbaresco and other Piedmont wines.

Each morning began with a 2-3 hour tasting of 150+ wines organized by appellation and type. This is not a pick & choose situation; each participant tastes and evaluates every single wine. Informative? You bet. Following that, we made appointments each day with several top wineries in Barolo and Barbaresco; some familiar, some new discoveries. More regional tastings in the afternoon offered access to different wines and vintages. Finally, dinners with — you guessed it – more wine! This week-long program is nothing less than a total immersion in Barolo and Barbaresco and the wine traditions of the Piedmont region. Engaging work, indeed – all with the goal of evaluating and selecting only the very best wines for VINTAGES’ discerning customers!

VINTAGES was the only wine merchant from New England invited to participate in the Alba Wine Exhibition. This tremendous opportunity was earned through our ongoing commitment to– and knowledge of– the wines of Italy’s Piedmont region.

Each week, we will highlight a Piedmont producer we visited during our trip. We invite you to investigate these small-production wines that continue to express the distinctive character of this fascinating region and its indigenous grapes.
THIS WEEK: CANTINA del PINO, Barbaresco

MAS AMIEL ROSE “Le Plaisir”
Just arrived, the 2008 edition of the delightful rose “Le Plaisir” from the historic Mas Amiel property in Roussillon. southern France.  A blend of 70% black grenache, 20% syrah, 10% carignan picked by hand and aged on fine lees in tank  Aromas of fresh and tart red fruit. Wild strawberry flavors; smooth, yet dry finish.

 Sexy aromas of strawberry, raspberry, peach and fresh flowers are expansive and strikingly pure. Light and fresh, displaying exuberant red berry and pit fruit flavors,

VINTAGES CELLAR SELECTIONS
BARBARESCO & CALIFORNIA

VERY LIMITED-EXCEPTIONAL CELLAR SELECTION
BRUNO GIACOSA 2004 Barbaresco Asili Red Label Riserva 98 pts! $390/btl (case price $331.50/btl)
“The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is even more compelling than the Rabaja. It floats on the palate with an ethereal core of sweet fruit that calls to mind a profound Musigny, but with the unmistakable structure of Nebbiolo. The perfumed purity of the fruit carries all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. Made in a soft, seductive style, this remarkable wine is decidedly more approachable and easy to appreciate today than the Rabaja. The Asili should prove more accessible at an earlier age. Bruno Giacosa says his 2004 Asili Riserva will turn out to be just like his 2000 Asili Riserva, the wine he still thinks is the best he’s ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. 98 POINTS.” -Wine Advocate

CELLAR SELECTION: PETER MICHAEL CHARDONNAY & CABERNET BLEND
2007 PETER MICHAEL CHARDONNAY “Belles Cotes” $85  “The 2007 Chardonnay Belle Cote is sensational. An intoxicating nose of lemon blossoms, poached pear, white peach, and crushed stone soars from the glass of this full-bodied wine. It has zesty acidity, great purity, length, and depth, and is certainly a profound example of Chardonnay from hillside vineyards in Knight’s Valley. This wine should drink well for up to a decade. 97 pts.” -Wine Advocate

2006 PETER MICHAEL “Les Pavots” Proprietary Red $195  “The 2006 Les Pavots (a 2,730-case blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits big notes of chocolate fudge intermixed with dark berry fruit, forest floor, underbrush, and some smoky oak. The wine is full-bodied, with remarkable intensity, low acidity, and a fleshy, opulent mouthfeel. This wine should drink well for 15-20+ years. 96 pts.” -Wine Advocate

NEW ARRIVALS: Jura, Alps, Rhone
wines to fascinate & intrigue

“Good bottles galore come from Italy and France, Spain and other historic Old World wine-producing regions. It’s far more difficult to find inexpensive wines of real interest from the United States.” — Eric Asimov, NY Times

2005 Jacques Puffeney, Arbois Rouge viellles vignes $38 ($85 for 1.5L)
Jacques Puffeney, the great master of the Arbois, has now bottled the ultimate version of his old vines cuvée of Arbois rouge: an old-style field blend of Trousseau, Poulsard, and Pinot Noir from his vineyards in the picturesque village of Montigny-les-Arsures in Arbois.  This is the final vintage of this wine; the time has come for the vineyard to be replanted. But what finer vintage to declare as the last: the exceptional 2005!

Flavors: profound minerality of the Jura on stark display alongside the sweet, grainy tannins and the fruit of the forest underbrush.  Slightly animal, exotic, compelling, the nuances of the Arbois Rouge “Vieilles Vignes” build with every sip. A treasure to savor!

2008 MAISON VEVEY ALBERT Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Vallee d’Aoste, northern Italy.  Boston price $22; VINTAGES Price $17.99!
This rare Alpine white wine is grown at high altitude in the Mont Blanc area on the French border by brothers Mirko and Mario Vevey, sons of the pioneering founder Albert Vevey. Only 5,000 bottles of this organic white wine from indigenous blanc de morgex are produced annually. Crisp, with alpine floral notes, it’s literally a breath of fresh air! Enjoy as an aperitif or with fish and seafood.

2008 DOM. LA MANARINE Cotes du Rhone Blanc $14.99
Started by Gilles Gasq in April 2001, this “petite” domaine with 9.5 ha is located within the commune of Travaillan. Gilles is a talented young winemaker who has honed his skills working as an assistant to Paul Jeune, the proprietor of Domaine de Monpertuis and Chateau Valcombe. This Cotes du Rhone blanc is a Clairette and Bourblenc blend, very fresh, perfect for summer outings!

NEW ARRIVALS: Spain, Burgundy, Tuscany

2006 ALTESINO “Rosso di Altesino” $17.99 (Brunello di Montalcino) From a top Brunello producer, a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot and Cabernet  aged in steel. This accessible red possesses attractive notes of dark fruit, earthiness and herbs, with excellent length and balance. Taste of Tuscany at a nice price!