 53 Commonwealth Ave. West Concord, MA 978-369-2545 Open Mon-Fri 10-8; Saturday 10-7 info@vintagesonline.com |
VINTAGES WINE TASTINGS FRI. DEC. 7 SAT. DEC. 8 VINTAGES " (Eric) Broege, also an artist, quickly developed an ability to sniff out unusual wines that best represent the places where the grapes grow." VINTAGES
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VINTAGES headlines:
WINE TASTING: Friday, Dec. 7, 4:30-7:30pm “Cork dorks rave about ‘grower’ champagnes; me too. Let nouveau zillionaires stalk Dom and the widow Clicquot; my bubblies bask in the bona fides of underdog status. Egly-Ouriet and other dedicated vignerons produce limited quantities of fabulous fizz. Never heard of them? Good. Snobbery’s about taste, Champagne taste.” –Samurai Sipper, New York Times
EGLY-OURIET: Francis Egly is at the top of the small-grower elite, NV EGLY-OURIET Grand Cru Brut “Tradition” $58 Chalky, toasty, creamy, full-bodied concoction that defines Champagne. “Ripe peach and yellow plum on the nose, with a suave toasted hazelnut quality adding interest. Vibrant yellow fruit flavors are impressively fresh, showing impressive depth and chewy texture. Energetic with striking clarity and great finishing persistence.” –Tanzer, IWC EGLY-OURIET Grand Cru "Blanc de Noirs" $125 "This is what Champagne from Reims used to be like 100 years ago," Francis Egly exclaims, "before timid winemakers started cutting their cuvées with Chardonnay." This single-vineyard Champagne from the noblest of terroirs in Ambonnay is 100% Pinot Noir from 70-year-old vines; the wine spends 51 months on its lees, and is fermented in barrel. This is almost exclusively wine from the exemplary 2002 vintage (although it does not say so on the label.) The nose is a feast for the senses—the perfumes of a cooling raspberry tart, dusted with cinnamon; cardamom candy; the zest of lemons and limes; candied ginger and crushed stones. Unbelievable! Lush and almost thick on the palate, “Crayeres” shows notes of currants and strawberries, nuts and pie crust—so much so you'd think this was a still red wine. This is truly the benchmark for all great Pinot Noir Champagne —perhaps for all Champagne. 2000 EGLY-OURIET Grand Cru Brut Prestige “Millesime” $125 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay from 40-year-old vines in Ambonnay, aged completely in barrel (25% new.) Virtually no dosage. Dazzlingly gold in the glass, with aromas of ginger-infused crème bruleé and honeyed nuts, followed by sweet peaches and white flowers. The mouth is luxurious and enticingly rich; a peach turnover with toasted almonds. Like a great Meursault, with bubbles! Very fresh and lively. NV GUY LARMANDIER ROSÉ BRUT Premier Cru $65 (Vertus) Beautiful, generously-endowed wine, with plenty of attractive 1999 GUY LARMANDIER BRUT MILLESIME “Cuvee Prestige Blanc de Blancs” Grand Cru $75 (Cramant) This superbly delicious vintage champagne offers pure chalky-citrus flavors that are surprisingly addictive. A distinctive, ultra-stylish way to celebrate. “Pale gold with a strong, fine mousse. Pungent, chalky citrus peel and green apple on the nose. Impressively pure, razor-sharp lime and lemon flavors are focused, spicy and deep. This combines vibrancy and real concentration, finishing with excellent depth and length. 92 pts.” – Stephen Tanzer 2002 ROGER COULON “Millesime” Blanc de Noir $75 “Light yellow with a delicate bead. Rich, smoky orange and dried peach ar
> > > > > > > > > *WINE TASTING Sat. Dec. 8, 2-5pm“VINO VERONA” Valpolicella & Soave featuring LE SALETTE AMARONE 2004 LE SALETTE Valpolicella Classico Sup. Ripasso “I Progni” $28 Blend of Corvina 55%, Rondinella 35%, and Molinara 5% made in ripasso style-- initial fermentation in
2003 LE SALETTE Amarone “La Marega” $75 Blend of Corvina 65%, Rondinella 20%, and Croatina. Grapes are dried for 5 months, aged in oak and barrique for 3 years. “The 2003 Amarone Classico La Marega is a polished effort bursting with layers of cassis, blackberries, chocolate and violets. Ample and sweet on the palate, it reveals outstanding length and finessed tannins. Amarone is never inexpensive, but this wine delivers a lot of pleasure for the money.”—Wine Advocate 1999 LE SALETTE Amarone “Pergola Vece” $135 Blend of Corvina 70%, Rondinella 10%, Croatina. Only produced during the best harvest years from the best cru grapes. Grapes are dried for 6 WHITE-SOAVE Since 1887 the Tessari family has owned vineyards in the town of Fitta at the highest elevation in Soave Classico. In 1982, parents Giovanni and Rosetta decided to stop selling their harvest to the local cooperative and begin vinifying and bottling their own wine. Now the four Tessari sisters --Meri, Valentina, Ariana and Allesandra-- take full advantage of their 12 hectares of extraordinary vineyards—some over 50 years old planted in volcanic soil – to create impressive wines of distinctive elegance and purity, with subtle, complex aromas and mineral-driven flavors with citrus and almond notes. Wine connoisseurs are taking notice –this is not your father’s Soave.
White 2005 SUAVIA Soave Classico “Montecarbonare” $27 “Three Glasses” winner “The harmony is fully realized in the 2005 Montecarbonare, which is as succulent, vibrant, and well-defined as only a truly distinctive wine can be. The vineyards are up to 50 years old, which contributes to the subtle flavor profile. It is a wine destined to become even greater with aging, but already fully deserves Three Glasses.” –Gambero Rosso 2003 SUAVIA Recioto di Soave “Acinatium” 500ml $42 (Dessert wine) Sweet “meditation” wine made from 100% dried Garganega grapes. Sweet notes of acacia honey and apricot jam together with fresh notes of pineapple and mango. Velvety texture with a balanced sweetness. Reviving freshness and radiant mineral notes. GET FESTIVE and HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY! Eric, Carolyn & Celine |
FINAL HOLIDAY WINE TASTINGS of 2007! 
It’s time to pop those corks – join us for a tasting that has become a holiday tradition at VINTAGES: Grand Cru Champagne from estate-grower EGLY-OURIET. Considered our “house” champagne, Domaine EGLY-OURIET is a tiny, grand cru “grower” estate in Ambonnay that in the last decade has achieved cult status. We have supported Egly-Ouriet since our start, and are pleased to offer our customers a taste of this very exclusive bubbly.
with his estate surrounded by 100% grand cru Pinot Noir vineyards. Part of what makes Egly so special is the lands on which his grapes flourish. Egly owns vines in Bouzy, Verzenay and in the heart of Ambonnay. These perfect, south-facing vines are on average 40 years old (ancient for Champagne vines) and are vinified separately, to preserve as much individual character as possible. Few Champagne houses can match the quality and originality of Egly wines. If we weren’t in the business of selling wine, we would keep these champagnes all to ourselves. If you want to taste the best in Grand Cru grower Champagne, look no further. 
strawberry and cherry fruit presented in a medium-bodied, softer style. It is impeccably clean and well-defined, with plenty of effervescence, and a clean, vibrant finish.
omas are brightened by lemon zest and musky minerality. Fleshy pit fruit flavors are supple but lively, showing a subtle anise quality on the close. Impressively complex, persistent wine with both weight and finesse. 92 pts.” – Stephen Tanzer
Verona, and has been in the Scamperle family for over a century. VINTAGES has visited Le Salette and owners FRANCO and MONICA SCAMPERLE many times and have a deep appreciation for the hard work and ambitious vision that guides their winemaking. To highlight their excellent vineyards, Franco and Monica were among the first to bottle vineyard-specific wines in the region. Instead of aiming for "bigger" wines, they have focused on making wines from the traditional dried Corvina and Rondinella grapes that are aromatic, deeply flavorful, complex, and elegant. Enjoy! 
October followed by a second fermentation in March on Recioto lees. “The 2004 Ripasso I Progni (predominantly aged in cask) reveals a lovely core of sweet, perfumed fruit with excellent length and an attractive personality.” –Wine Advocate 
months on trays, aged in barrel for 3 years and 8 mos. in bottle. “Jammier and with important notes of chocolate and cinnamon on its warm and expansive nose, its rich, round palate shows much ripe fruit, velvety tactile sensations, a lengthy finish, and a freshness which keeps the sweetness in balance.”—Wine Advocate
perfect conditions to ripen and express its generous array of subtle aromas.”—Gambero Rosso 