BOSTON BARBARESCO FEST!
April 28-May 1, 2010
Save the dates!

The “Dynamic Duo of Barbaresco” is coming to Boston– winemakers (& cousins):
ALDO VACCA, Produttori del Barbaresco; & RENATO VACCA, Cantina del Pino

Aldo Vacca is the director of the PRODUTTORI del BARBARESCO, the world’s foremost wine cooperative. With ownership of nine top Barbaresco cru vineyards, the Produttori is known for high-quality, long-aging, traditionally made Barbaresco. Aldo will be in Boston and at VINTAGES April 30 & May 1 to present the newly-released 2005 Barbaresco Riservas.

“Produttori del Barbaresco is one of the few estates in the world that continues to produce fine, age worthy wines at consumer-friendly prices.”– WA

Renato Vacca is the owner & winemaker of CANTINA del PINO, located in the Ovello district of Barbaresco. A former member of the Produttori cooperative, Renato and his father Adriano formed their own winery in 1997. Renato’s Barbarescos have won high praise from critics and consumers alike. He makes a full range of traditional Piedmont wines: Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Langhe Freisa, and Barbarescos from Ovello and Albesani.
“Cantina del Pino is a great source for top-notch wines from Barbaresco.”–WA

MARK your CALENDAR! 2010 Boston Barbaresco Festival events include:

Wed. April 28: BARBARESCO WINE DINNER with RENATO VACCA of Cantina del Pino at Eastern Standard Kitchen in Boston. $125 all-inclusive. See menu.

Fri. April 30, 4:30-6:30pm: “DYNAMIC DUO” Barbaresco WINE TASTING at VINTAGES, Belmont Center, featuring Aldo Vacca & Renato Vacca, $10.

Fri. April 30, 7:30pm: PRODUTTORI del BARBARESCO WINE DINNER at IL CASALE in Belmont. $130 all-inclusive.

Sat. May 1: PRODUTTORI del Barbaresco Winemaker Tasting 2-5pm at VINTAGES, West Concord, $10.

PLEASE RSVP for these events as soon as you can. Seating is limited. email: info@vintagesonline.com
ph: 617-484-4560

Pride in our Piedmont Picks
Blowing our own horn

NEW! VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE!
WINE TASTING:
BAROLO from Fratelli ALESSANDRIA
Another outstanding Barolo find from Verduno!
WINE TASTING FRI. & SAT. MAR. 19 & 20

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of new BAROLOs from Fratelli Alessandria — a VINTAGES exclusive! VINTAGES’ Carolyn & Eric visited the cellar of Barolo producer FRATELLI ALESSANDRIA last May during the Alba Wine Exhibition. This historic Barolo estate, located in Verduno, was founded in the early 1800’s and is now managed by the Battista family. Son Vittore Battista guided us through the family’s 17th c. estate and cellars before presenting their distinctive, outstanding Barolos and lovely aromatic red wine from the indigenous Pelaverga grape. The exotic spices, beautiful

fruit, elegant tannins, and fine velvety texture of Alessandria wines won us over immediately! Since Alessandria had no MA importer, we arranged to bring the wines in — they are finally here– exclusively for VINTAGES customers! Please join us for the tastings on March 19 & 20.

“This is another set of compelling wines from Fratelli Alessandria. In fact, I can’t think of another producer making Barolos at this level that still sell for such reasonable prices.” — Antonio Galloni, WA

All Alessandria Barolos are made the same way, showcasing the character of the individual vineyard. Barolos are aged three years in large wood “botti.” Wines from Verduno are known for their exotic spicy aromas and elegant, fine-grained tannins.

2005 ALESSANDRIA BAROLO DOCG $50
“The 2005 Barolo is an absolutely beautiful wine that flows onto the palate with delicate layers of red fruit, spices, flowers, minerals and spices, all of which come together in a very attractive, classic style. 91 pts.“–WA

2005 ALESSANDRIA BAROLO “Monvigliero” $65
Bright ruby color; aromas of asian spices. Ripe, juicy, clear, beautiful fruit! Green apple note on finish.
“This is a gorgeous wine from Alessandria. Sweet roses, cherries, flowers and spices linger on the high-toned, ethereal close. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. 92 pts.“–WA

2005 ALESSANDRIA BAROLO “San Lorenzo” $65
Made from 25 year old vines. Deep, dark red berries, cinnamon and asian spices, sweet, ripe tannins.
“2005 Barolo San Lorenzo is a rich, expansive Barolo that literally explodes from the glass with masses of dark fruit. Tar, smoke, licorice, leather and subtle French oak develop in the glass, adding further complexity. 93+ pts.”–WA

2008 ALESSANDRIA Pelaverga $19.99
Native red grape grown only in the Verduno area. Juicy pomegranate and plums with notes of licorice and white pepper. Light ruby color. Delicious with antipasti and salumi.

SOTTIMANO Barbaresco
FRI & SAT. MAR. 12 & 13,  BELMONT CENTER
Fri. 4-7pm; Sat. 3-6pm

“These 2006 Barbarescos from Rino and Andrea Sottimano are divine.” - Antonio Galloni, WA

Young Andrea and father Rino Sottimano have been forging ahead over the past decade to produce wines of outstanding quality at their small estate on the border of Neive and Barbaresco.  Sottimano produces rich and concentrated Barbarescos with deep color and fine-grained tannins from their cru vineyards of Cottà, Currà, Fausoni, Basarin and Pajoré. Conscientious and sustainable viticulture is practiced; natural yeasts are used; no filtering or fining. Founded in 1974, the estate comprises 13 ha of Barbaresco vineyards in Treiso & Neive along with Dolcetto, Barbera and “dry” Brachetto. Annual total production is 5,000 cases.

SPECIAL PRICING ON 2006 Sottimano Barbaresco — nearly 30% off! FRIDAY & SAT. ONLY!

2006 SOTTIMANO Barbaresco Cotta (Neive) 93 pts.  Special $51 net (Reg. $70) “The wine shows plenty of softness in its dark fruit, licorice, tar and smoke in a generous, enveloping style, capped off with a long, resonating finish. As is often the case, the Cotta is the most accessible and sensual of these 2006s. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. 93 pts.“– WA

2006 SOTTIMANO Barbaresco Curra (Neive) 93 pts. Special $51 net (Reg. $70) “The 2006 Barbaresco Curra is a powerful, intense wine that impresses for its focus, length and balance. The Curra doesn’t have the immediacy or roundness of the Fausoni, but it compensates with incredible drive and persistence. Tobacco, licorice, roses, spices and red cherries add layers of nuance on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. 93 pts.”-WA

2006 SOTTIMANO Barbaresco Fausoni (Neive) 94 pts. Special $51 net (Reg. $70) “The 2006 Barbaresco Fausoni reveals a gorgeous core of cherries in liqueur, menthol, spices and flowers in a surprisingly rich, round style for the vintage. The wine possesses terrific harmony and balance, with a round, polished finish. Floral notes reappear on the finish, giving the wine a pretty sense of lift. In 2006 the Fausoni is all about elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. 94 pts.”-WA

2006 SOTTIMANO Barbaresco Pajore (Treiso) 92 pts. Special $51 net (Reg. $70) “Sottimano’s 2006 Barbaresco Pajore shows its tell-tale notes of spices, menthol, minerals and dark fruit, on a medium bodied, sinewy frame. The Pajore offers terrific balance with notes of tar, smoke and licorice that come to life on the finish. Patience is the key here, but this remains the most compact and clenched of the 2006s. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. 92 pts.”-WA

2007 SOTTIMANO Langhe Nebbiolo 91 pts.  $22 “Sottimano’s Langhe Nebbiolo is made from young vines in the Basarin vineyard in Barbaresco and spends 14 months in French oak. It is a Barbaresco in everything but name… This is a very serious bottle of wine for $25.”–WA

WINE TASTING: Sat. Mar. 13, Concord
DOM. JEAN-MARC BURGAUD BEAUJOLAIS
SAT. MAR. 13, 2-5pm, CONCORD

Blown away by BEAUJOLAIS!
VINTAGES’ Eric Broege visited Jean-Marc Burgaud in Beaujolais last week. The wines Eric tasted with Jean-Marc were amazing, truly defied any gamay expectation. They are the epitome of authentic, artisanal wines for the same price as typical mass-produced wines.  They are agile, fine and elegant, yet cutting, precise, with power & intensity. Jean-Marc Burgaud is a benchmark for superb wine at daily drinking prices.

Wines from DOM. JEAN-MARC BURGAUD
2009 BURGAUD Beaujolais Rose $11.99
Pale color, inviting berry nose, ripe, and juicy; green apple skin opens to crisp apple and pear flavors; well-balanced, great as an aperitif or with fish or seafood.

2008 BURGAUD Chateau de Thulon Beaujolais Villages $12.99
Made from the harvest of an enclosed, old-vine parcel that is treasured for its sweet fruit and perfumed aromatics. “Smells of cherry and holly berry, with high-toned, distilled-force concentration. In the mouth, this is juicy and satisfying; with faintly bitter cherry stone and holly berry notes nicely integrated into a generously juicy finish. Like so many of the better wines of this vintage, it combines a palpable sense of extract with delicacy and lift.” –WA

2008 BURGAUD Regnie “Vallieres” $14.99
“Saturates the palate with ripe, bright cherry fruit and persistent floral perfume; finishes with buoyancy and mouth-watering juiciness. Drink it young, but also hold a bottle or two for 2-3 years as there is an underlying density belied by the wine’s levity.” –WA

2008 BURGAUD Morgon “Cote du Py” $17.99
“Burgaud’s 2008 Morgon Cote de Py is scented with cherry, red currant, and narcissus. It combines cut and brightness of fruit with clean meatiness and stony minerality.”–WA

PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER
MONTEVERTINE 2006 Le Pergole Torte $110
96 pts. ($90/bottle pre-arrival case price)
$225 for 1.5L. “Run, don’t walk — call now!”

“I was blown away by the two wines I tasted from Montevertine and proprietor Martino Manetti.”–A Galloni, WA

Eric Broege visited Montevertine last April and tasted through these beautifully pure and exquisite expressions of sangiovese with Martino Manetti (and took his photo below). We are thrilled to offer this rare & exceptional wine to our clients.

“What a pleasure it is to taste the 2006 Le Pergole Torte now that it is in bottle. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an especially generous style for this wine. Notes of smoke, licorice, leather and underbrush develop with air, adding layers of complexity to the dark red fruit. Today the tannins are a bit on the firm side as is typically the case when this wine is young, but it is impossible not to admire the 2006 Pergole Torte for its superb purity. The heat of the vintage has given the fruit in these high altitude vineyards a level of ripeness and depth that is unusual, all while maintaining the classic sense of structure that defines the best Pergole Tortes. Run, don’t walk — this is breathtaking juice no one who loves Italian wine will want to be without. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2031. 96 pts.” --Antonio Galloni, WA

Also –
2005 MONTEVERTINE IGT $42 ($35.70 case price)
“There will be no 2005 Pergole Torte. Instead, all of the estate’s best fruit went into the 2005 Montevertine (Sangioveto, Canaiolo, Colorino). The wine is sweet and generous on the palate, where pretty notes of over-ripe, candied cherries, spices, leather and cured meat come to life. 90 pts.” –WA

Call Eric at 978-369-2545 to reserve your 2006 Montevertine LE PERGOLE TORTE.