SORRY - Event cancelled - urgent family matter for Mr. Orzalese

ALTESINO BRUNELLO Seminar & Tasting featuring Mr. GUIDO ORZALESE, Managing Director

Mr. Orzalese will guide us through a tasting of Brunello di Montalcino at VINTAGES’ Belmont shop on Thursday, Feb. 11.

NEW TIME!

WHEN: Thurs. Feb. 11, 6:30-7:30pm
WHERE: VINTAGES Belmont Center
COST: $25/person, includes light appetizers
CALL: 617-484-4560 to reserve w/ cc

Wines in seminar:
2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli $130
2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino $75
2004 ALTESINO Rosso di Montalcino $30
2007 ALTESINO Rosso di Montalcino $30
2007 ALTESINO Rosso di Altesino $19.99
2006 ALTESINO Alte d’Altesi  $25

Founded in 1970’s, ALTESINO consists of three vineyards located NE of the village of Montalcino: Montosoli, La Velona and Altesino itself. The town is on a hill at an elevation of around 600m, which protects the Montosoli vineyard to the north, which lies at 390m. Altesino Brunello is sourced from a combination of these three vineyards, and in excellent vintages they produce a single vineyard Brunello “Montosoli.

Montosoli covers just 4 ha and is unusual in its north and NW exposure, rather than the sun-facing south. It is characterized by slightly lower temperatures, especially at night, so the flowering is a little longer and usually later than other areas. The hang-time at Montosoli is longer and it is usually the last vineyard to be harvested, a couple of days after Altesino and often 15 days after La Velona. The cooler microclimate is beneficial during summers of intense heat.

NEW ARRIVALS WINE TASTING: Italy & France

BELMONT: Fri & Sat. Jan. 29 & 30, 4-7pm Belmont
CONCORD: Sat. Jan. 30, 2-5pm

white
2008 CHATEAU DE LASCAUX Coteaux du Languedoc $17.99 (Southern France) compellingblend of Vermentino, Rousanne, Marsanne, Viognier

2008 MASARI Agnobianco $19.99 (Veneto)
elegant blend of Garganega & Durella

red
2008 COLLE TICCHIO Cesanese del Piglio $17.99 (Lazio) 100% Cesanese grape near Rome; a refreshing red

2008 ALBINO ROCCA Rosso di Rocca $17.99 (Piedmont) juicy blend of nebbiolo, barbera & cab franc

2008 CEUSO “Scurati” Nero d’Avola $16.99 (Sicily)
Nero d’Avola - big, dark fruit, chewy tannins

2007 CATALDI MADONNA Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $19.99 (Abruzzo) dark, dense fruit, beautiful harmony!

WINE TASTING:

TERRE ROUGE & EASTON
Wines from an original “Rhone Ranger”

VINTAGES has enjoyed a long relationship with owner/winemaker Bill Easton and his two portfolios of wine from one very distinctive place: Sierra Foothills in California. Please join us on Saturday in Concord or Belmont to taste a selection of TERRE ROUGE & EASTON wines.

TERRE ROUGE means “Red Earth,” one of the hallmarks of the Amador & Sierra foothills region. The TERRE ROUGE portfolio focuses on Rhône varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne. High elevation sites up to 3200′ contribute to the complexity of the Terre Rouge wines.

The EASTON wines focus on traditional California varietals that thrive in Amador County and the Sierra Foothills: old-vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wines featured at the tasting on Sat:

whites

2005 EASTON SAUVIGNON BLANC Sierra Foothills 19.99  Made from 4 acres of grapes  in the Monarch Mine Vineyard, overlooking the American River Canyon at 2,300 feet. Aged for 9 mos. on lees in neutral French oak. No malolactic fermentation preserves the crisp texture. Wonderfully complex tropical flavors finishes with a minerality that speaks of the vineyard site. It is the perfect foil for seafood and absolutely satisfying as an aperitif.

2004 TERRE ROUGE 2004 Rousanne $25

This delightful white is made with a clone of Roussanne  that originates from the Chave vineyard at Hermitage. This difficult grape ripens unevenly, so it must be harvested in several passes. All the effort results in a silky-textured wine with a golden color and exquisite quince, honey-nut, and beeswax aromas. Luscious and on the verge of sweetness. Only 400 cases annually.

reds

2006 TERRE ROUGE “Tête a Tête” $17.99 “Tête-à-Tête” is an easy-drinking blend of Rhone varietals: Syrah, Mourvèdre & Grenache. Aged for 16 mos. in French barrel, this quaffer offers sappy, spicy, flavors and great texture.

2006 TERRE ROUGE Syrah $19.99

Made from younger Syrah vineyards that sit at different elevations. The upslope lots provide finesse and meaty, white pepper nuances, while the downslope lots provide structure, concentration, and a smoky, spicy Syrah sensibility. Together, a delicious harmony! Aged for 18 mos in French oak (25% new).

2007 EASTON Amador County Zinfandel $17.99

Amador County Zinfandel comes from 40-60 year-old vines planted on beautiful, rolling mountain slopes that have the classic, vermilion-colored, decomposed granite soil. The finished wine has black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas with beautiful balance and a sumptuous, juicy mouth feel.

2003 EASTON Fiddletown Old Vine Zinfandel $30

(Rinaldi-Eschen vineyard) These vines are about as old as they come in California, with some vines dating to the original planting in 1865!  This vineyard is farmed with simplicity: pruning, plowing, and finally picking when Bill knows the time is right. Crop yields are incredibly low, 1- 1½ tons per acre. Each year brings a different wine and a revelation. EASTON Fiddletown Zin is always 100% Zinfandel from the Rinaldi-Eschen Vineyard. The finished wine has thick, brambly blackberry fruit with pepper, anise, clove, and other exotic spices. Fat and mouth filling, this Zin has great persistence on the palate.

NOTE: Bill Easton will not be at these tastings. (We wish he could be!)

BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO
2004 IL POGGIONE Brunello di Montalcino $80 95 pts. (15% off six-pack)
Saving the best for last

$80/bottle; $68/bottle with 6-pak purchase!

RENATO RATTI BAROLO
Wine Tasting:
FRI. JAN. 8, 5-7pm, Belmont
SAT. JAN 9, 12-5pm, Concord
Presented by Eric Broege, wine director

What better way to begin the new year than with a taste of great Barolo? VINTAGES is very pleased to present the wines of our friend Pietro Ratti, owner & winemaker of the historic RENATO RATTI estate. Pietro’s family has done much to raise the profile of the Barolo region and literally put Barolo on the map! This is a great opportunity to taste a full range of new releases from a top Barolo estate, including three Barolos, a nebbiolo, barbera and a dolcetto. Terrific stuff!

“This is a wonderful set of new releases from Renato Ratti, one of Piedmont’s historic names. The 2005s are especially beautiful for their soft, textured fruit and well-integrated French oak.” –WA

2005 RATTI Barolo ‘Rocche’ $96 · 96pts
(15% off six pack = $81.60/btl)
Shows ripe strawberry and black cherry aromas, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit, vanilla and white pepper character. Long and rich. Best after 2012. 900 cases made. 96 pts. -WS

2005 RENATO RATTI Barolo “Conca” $86 · 94pts
(15% off six pack = $73.10/btl)
“Intense aromas of dried flowers and berries. Concentrated and full, with ripe fruit and supervelvety tannins. Long and gorgeous. Best after 2013. 575 cases. 94 pts.” - WS

2005 RENATO RATTI Barolo “Marcenasco” $50 · 96pts
“This fabulous Nebbiolo displays aromas of very ripe strawberry and cappuccino. Full-bodied, with super-velvety tannins and incredible concentration. All the tannins are coated with gorgeous fruit. Best after 2013. 5,000 cases. 96 pts.”- WS

2007 RATTI Nebbiolo d’Alba “Ochetti” $23  “Blackberry, spice and grilled meat aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins, ripe fruit and a spicy finish. Rich and generous. Like a very good Barolo. Drink now. 5,400 cases made.” -WS

2008 RATTI Barbera d’Alba “Torriglione” $19.99
“Sweet and smooth on the palate, with raspberry and cherry flavors complicated by a leathery nuance and framed by strong but harmonious acidity. Fine-grained with good length.” -IWA

2008 RATTI Dolcetto d’Alba “Colombe” $15.99
Classic example of dolcetto d’alba. Ratti’s dolcetto has always highlighted the elegance and versatility of this grape. Herb-tinged cherry fruit, with superfine, minerally tannins.

HAPPY 2010! VINTAGES celebrates ten years of Wine Adventures 2000-2010!

Ten years of tastings, trips & toasts — and a whole lotta great wine– since we began in January, 2000. We raise our glass to our awesome & adventurous customers:  thanks for 10 great years–here’s to 10 more! Stay tuned for upcoming events!