ALESSANDRIA: hip sips for summer in Red & White
NEW! 2009 ALESSANDRIA Langhe Favorita $19.99
2009 ALESSANDRIA Pelaverga Verduno $19.99
VINTAGES’ Exclusives

The folks at Alessandria in Barolo have done it again – delivered one of the most compelling white wines of the summer – this time from local grape “Favorita.” A white with fresh aromas, lush, lip-smacking fruit in the mouth, and powdery minerals on the finish. A great pairing with the underground runaway hit PELAVERGA red.  It doesn’t get any better than this — blow away your hosts or guests; serve ALESSANDRIA Pelaverga Verduno $19.99 and Langhe Favorita $19.99 at your next social opportunity! Chill the red and the white for best results!

VINTAGES in WineZag
What an inspiration to meet ADAM JAPKO recently, a dedicated oenophile who documents his wine experiences in his blog WineZag. Well-written with an informed and refreshing point of view, it rewards investigation. Adam wrote these kind words about Eric Broege and VINTAGES after stumbing into one of our typical over-the-top tastings of Barolo, and a days-old bottle of 1991 Clos Centeilles Minervois.
“I owe the discovery of this wine to Eric Broege, President and Wine Director at Vintages. I break habits hard, so I only recently connected and started doing some business with Eric at his shop in West Concord which appears exclusively stocked with wines he wants to personally drink, especially the deep Barolo, Barberesco, and Burgundy inventories. He travels to Europe regularly and clearly searches out honest, natural, artisan wines that express their unique geographies.  It does not take long to see that Eric’s passion and knowledge are respectively effusive and deep; both impressive and most certainly infectious.”

Click to read the article

NEW & EXCLUSIVE: DEVOIS du CLAUS
Pic St. Loup, Languedoc
Scents and flavors of summer!

Eric originally visited this tiny cellar in Pic St. Loup five years ago. We purchased the wines and featured them in the Concord store where they were well-received. When we tried to order the next vintage, no one could get in touch with the winery; it seemed to simply disappear! This February, Eric returned to southern France and attended VINISUD, the major wine expo of the region. He was pleasantly surprised to see that DEVOIS du CLAUS had a booth there. All the wines were just as good as he remembered — this time we were able to place the order and now, after several years’ hiatus, they’re back!!

2007 DEVOIS de CLAUS Pic St. Loup $22
90% Syrah, 10% Grenache Deep, deep dark red and black berries. Wow! Tremendously rich and powerful wine. Tremendous concentration, depth of fruit and unctuousness. Ripe and full cassis flavors. 833 cases produced.

2008 DEVOIS de CLAUS Blanc “Cuvee Luca” $22
100% Grenache Gris. Deep, ripe, pit fruit– white nectarine, white peaches. Nose reminiscent of Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc. Big, powerful, concentrated rich, white wine. Pair with swordfish, lobster or other flavorful seafood. 58 cases produced.

NEW & Deluxe from PROVENCE!
Celebrate summer’s special occasions with Bandol white or rose!

WHITE

2009 CHAT. PIBARNON Bandol Blanc $35 Exclusive

Deluxe blend of Clairette and Bourblenc from Bandol in Provence – the white counterpart to the powerful Bandol rouge. Burst of fresh provencal olives, pine and jasmine scents on the nose. Ripe peach and apricot flavors with rich honeyed notes.  On the palate, the wine offers a wonderful balance of rich, dry texture and sappy, mouthwatering complexity.  Pibarnon’s bandol Blanc is planted on north-facing slopes to preserve its freshness and natural acidity, and is made with very little sulfites. Enjoy this richly delicious white with grilled chicken and fish, roasted vegetable salads, swordfish, lobster and other summer delights!

ROSE!

2009 CHAT. PRADEAUX Bandol Rose $30 (Provence)

Bandol is the King of Rose, with 60% Mourvedre and 40% Cinsault leading the charge. Enticing aromas of redcurrant and cherry, with compelling notes of herbs, white flowers, anise and minerals. Smooth & fleshy with berry and blood orange flavors and tangy notes of white pepper and quinine.  Offers superb complexity and is very flexible at the table. Tremendous!

Oeno-Adventure in Red & White from Corsica

DOM. MAESTRACCI “E Prove” Corse Calvi

2008 DOM. MAESTRACCI e PROVE Blanc $17.99
“The Maestracci 2008 E Prove Blanc de Blanc – from Vermentino – is one of the most unusual whites you will taste this year, and you should. …This luscious, juicy wine sticks to the palate with a mineral, herbal tang that you simply have to experience.” –WA

100% Vermentino. Piney, sappy nose complicated with pungent herbal aromas and briny oyster shell. Juicy, sappy fruit, tangy citrus and mineral notes. A rewarding, delightful find– definitely a crave-inducing white!

2007 DOM. MAESTRACCI e PROVE Rouge $19.99

Blend of Niellucio (Sangiovese) Grenache, Sciacarello, and Syrah. Long maceration; aged three years in cask. Blackberry fruit and floral aromas. Earthy, tinged with roasted herbs — southern Rhone meets Tuscany.

“Nice deep garnet, and what an aroma! Hard to beat for the buck– a big, beautiful, complex red that reeks of the south and the Île de Beauté, as Corsica is called in France. There is anise, thyme, rosemary, the wildflowers of the maquis, animal notes, a discreet touch of oak. The palate is full, deep, and tannic– a great food wine. The nose of it is really special.”
–KLWM Newsletter

SUMMERTIME WHITES from ITALY

From LIGURIA –
2008 COLLE DEI BARDELLINI Pigato $17.99 (Liguria) “the ultimate summer wine”
Grown in vineyards along the Italian Riviera, PIGATO is one of the best pairings for fish, seafood and shellfish. Also shines with pesto and lighter pasta dishes. A fresh, briny character, citrus fruit with aromas of sage and thyme. Beautiful minerality lends a crisp yet silky finish. One taste, and it will be easy to find many occasions to enjoy PIGATO!

From Veneto -
NEW & EXCLUSIVE! 2007 OTTELLA Lugana Superiore “Molceo” $25 “Tre Bicchieri”
We are very pleased to offer the U.S. debut of the “Molceo” white wine from OTTELLA – winner of this year’s “Three Glasses” award. Beautiful pale gold color; rich and powerful fruit character followed by clean, refreshing minerality. A perfect partner for the red “Campo Sireso” Cabernet & Merlot blend.

From Umbria –
2009 PERTICAIA Trebbiano Spoletino (Umbria, Italy) $22 Exotically delicious!
This estate in Montefalco, Umbria has once again produced a beautifully-balanced, rich white from Trebbiano Spoletino. Pale gold with green highlights. Tropical fruit notes– papaya & mango — ripe fruit and freshness. Swordfish, scallops, seafood pastas or an aperitif. Delectable!

Yves CuilleronSyrah for Summer!

SYRAH: The real deal from the northern Rhone

2009 YVES CUILLERON Syrah VDP $17.99 (Northern Rhone)
From Yves Cuilleron, one of the greatest producers of Cote Rotie, St. Joseph & Condrieu, comes a charming, mid-weight Syrah for the table. Northern Rhone is the world’s epicenter for Syrah, and produces the grape’s greatest expression in Cote Rotie.
The Cuilleron family estate was established in the 1920’s; young Yves took the helm in 1987. With great passion & an exacting, hands-on approach, he quickly rose to the top echelon of producers in the region. The 2009 Syrah VDP is a refreshing example of 100% syrah from its native habitat that’s ready to enjoy now. Ripe blackberries, violet notes, black pepper, silky tannins. Great for barbecue & charcuterie.

It’s time to DRINK PINK!

Summer has just begun, but Rozay season is well underway! VINTAGES offers up to a dozen different ways to drink pink while beating the heat! If you want to try them all, now’s the time to get started!

FRANCE
NEW! 2009 CHAT. EPERONNIERE Rose de Loire $17.99 (Loire Valley)
Aromas of strawberry and pear. Fresh fruit flavors through to the finish, with a perfectly fresh and dry landing.

2009 COTEAUX du VENDOMOIS Lieu-dit Cocagne Rose $9.99 100% Pineau d’Aunis, this bargain rose packs a sophisticated punch. Pale salmon color, racy acidity. Mouthwatering!

2009 MAS AMIEL “Le Plaisir” Rose $14.99 (Roussillon, France) EXCLUSIVE
Just arrived, the delightful rose “Le Plaisir” from the historic Mas Amiel property in Roussillon, southern France. From 70% Grenache Noir, this rosé delivers crushed berries, pomegranate, racy minerality, and wonderful complexity. A zesty finish guarantees pure pleasure!

2009 DOM. du BAGNOL Cassis Rose $28 (Provence)
This exquisite rose evokes the scents of the delightful seaside town of Cassis. Sweet currant, strawberry and herb flavors. Very well-balanced and graceful, lively with firm minerality.

2009 CHAT. PRADEAUX Bandol Rose $30 (Provence)
Bandol is the King of Rose, with 60% Mourvedre and 40% Cinsault leading the charge. Enticing aromas of redcurrant and cherry, with complicating notes of herbs, white flowers, anise and minerals. Smooth & fleshy with berry and blood orange flavors and tangy notes of white pepper and quinine.  Offers superb complexity and is very flexible at the table. Tremendous!

ITALY
2009 PROPRIETA SPERINO Rosa del Rosa $14.99 (Piedmont) Nebbiolo blend named for Monte Rosa, the 2nd highest peak in the Alps. Drinks like a juicy watermelon!

2009 LE FRAGHE Bardolino Chiaretto Rose “Rodon” $14.99 (Veneto) This Chiaretto (or rose) is a blend of Corvina and Rondinella. Notes of wild rose followed by wild strawberry and redcurrant. Crisply refreshing with a persistent finish, “Rodon” is a perfect balance of delicate flavors and inviting minerality.

The Singular Wines of CLOS CENTEILLES

Minervois (Languedoc, Southern France)
Maximizing Minervois while reviving “lost” wines of the Languedoc

Patricia Boyer-Domergue

The wines of CLOS CENTEILLES epitomize the authentic, original wine mastery we have championed for years. The first time I visited Patricia Boyer-Domergue in Minervois, it was a revelation! How could southern French reds, known for their sturdy, rustic, yet satisfying charm, be so refined, elegant, complex, and most surprisingly, age-worthy? How could wines from Minervois lead me to draw comparisons to Barbaresco or Burgundy? Starting from my first trip to the La Liviniere zone within Minervois, it has been apparent that something special is going on at CLOS CENTEILLES. Continue Reading »

Maria Theresa Mascarello

PIEDMONT TASTING TRIP:

2005 BARTOLO MASCARELLO Barolo

PRE-ARRIVAL SPECIAL PURCHASE

It was love at first sip. Our visit to the BARTOLO MASCARELLO winery in Barolo was a highlight among many during the “nebbiolo prima” invitational tasting in Alba, Italy attended by VINTAGES’ Carolyn & Eric. The legacy and legend of Bartolo, the icon of ultra-traditionalists, lives on; even so, the wines are even more alluring and expressive under the guiding hand of daughter Maria Theresa. There is a purity, a nuanced expression, a clarity of fruit and supple elegance that make these Barolos very memorable and enticing — we are thrilled to share them with you! Continue Reading »