VINTAGES HEADLINES:
*98-point 2001 BRUNELLO from VALDICAVA
*NEW ARRIVALS – France, Italy, New Zealand
*Italian "Red Wine Value of the Year" – Abbona's “Papa Celso”Dolcetto
*WINE TASTING FRI. MARCH 31, 5-7pm

*2001 BRUNELLO from VALDICAVA - 98-pts.

“The 2001 Brunellos offer a dramatic introduction to the new millennium for Tuscany's most famous red. They are rich and powerful yet show wonderful balance and length…. "It's all down to balance," said Vincenzo Abbruzzese, the owner and winemaker of Valdicava, who made the best 2001 Brunello I have tasted so far during my blind tastings in Tuscany. I scored it 98 points on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale. There's a fabulous intensity of fruit that begins with the aromas and finishes minutes later on the finish of the palate. "The 2001 is a new definition for Brunello. The 1999 may have more tannins, but the 2001 has more fruit and structure and everything else." The quality of the 2001 Brunellos certainly supports Abbruzzese's claims. Many of the 2001 Brunellos show gorgeous fruit already.”—J.S., Wine Spectator

2001 VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO $123 (Tuscany)  “Black hued, with intense aromas of crushed berries and licorice with hints of oak. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Superb. One of the best Brunellos I have had in a long time.” 98 pts. Wine Spectator

NEW ARRIVALS: France

2003 CHATEAU SOCIANDO-MALLET HAUT-MEDOC 94 pts. $62  (Bordeaux) “Reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1975, this is an incredibly powerful, amazingly rich offering possessing extraordinary freshness and precision, an inky blue/purple color to the rim, and a stunning nose of crushed rocks, creme de cassis, acacia flowers, and graphite. This full-bodied, powerful effort is crammed with concentration, has elevated tannins, but low acidity, and, I am sure, a relatively high pH. Rich, profoundly concentrated, and serious, this is the kind of stuff that makes a mockery of Bordeaux’s classification system. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035. One of the cru bourgeois estates that always performs at classified growth quality levels, Sociando Mallet has, for 20 years, been the insider’s choice for top quality wine that will easily withstand two decades of cellaring. Bottles of the 1970, 1975, and 1982 from my cellar are still youthful and evolving! 94 pts.” –Robert Parker

2004 CLOS DU MONT OLIVET CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC $35 (Rhone Valley) VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE We visited this winery and tasted this delicious, rare white made in miniscule quantities. Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc has a reputation as a heavy, even plodding white; yet aided by the excellent 2004 vintage and skill in the cellar, Clos du Mont Olivet has transformed this blend of Rousanne, Marsanne, Viognier and Clairett into something quite magnificent. Dense, rich, velvety texture. Pure peach and nectarine flavors, but not “fruity;” displays a more serious character, chewy and luscious. Aged 10% in oak. A world-class white and a tremendous value at $35. Extremely limited quantities.

MAS AMEIL “LE PLAISIR” COTES-DU-ROUSSILLON BLANC $14.99 (VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE) Blend of Maccabeu and Grenache Blanc. Tight and brisk mineral aromas, soft supple white pit fruit (peach and nectarines) flavors with very good minerality and acidity. Very clean, but lively fruity character with 10% of the wine aged in barrel.

NEW ARRIVAL: New Zealand, by way of Loire Valley

2004 CLOS HENRI MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC $30  (New Zealand) VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE Clos Henri is an exciting new vineyard development in Marlborough begun by the internationally recognized winemaking family, HENRI BOURGEOIS of Sancerre, France. Clos Henri's objective is to create unique and exceptional wines following the traditions and art of Henri Bourgeois. Clos Henri plans to unite the history of French winemaking with the purity of New-World varietal character, thereby letting the family rediscover their passion for winemaking, while forging a new direction in an unspoiled land.

Wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks and were aged on fine lees for six months. Passion fruit, guava and exotic flowers dominate the Clos Henri 2004 Sauvignon blanc nose. The palate continues with its passionfruit character and adds ripe white pineapple and an underlying grapefruit rind. The Clos Henri really sets itself apart from other Sauvignons in the area by its palate weight, roundness and depth and persistence of flavor. Should age well for the next 5 years at least.

NEW ARRIVALS: Italy --Piedmont

1999 SAN FEREOLO DOLCETTO DI DOGLIANI “1593” $30 VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE A superb Barrique-aged reserve dolcetto from winemaker Nicoletta Bocca in Dogliani, Piedmont. “1593” refers to the date of the earliest document mentioning the dolcetto grape. This bottling of selected grapes is Bocca’s way of paying tribute to the proud and persistent history of Dolcetto in Dogliani. Seamlessly integrated sweet tannins, medium-bodied with characteristic flavors of crushed berries and chocolate; this is a wine you’ll savor to the last drop.

2003 SAN FEREOLO LANGHE BIANCO (RIESLING/ GEWURZTRAMINER) $19.99 VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE Delightful and rare blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer from the Dogliani region in Piedmont. White flower aromas, supple, waxy, viscous texture; fresh pear flavors with intriguing layered interest.

2004 MARZIANO ABBONA “PAPA CELSO” DOLCETTO di DOGLIANI $19.99 Three Glasses Award &  ITALIAN RED WINE VALUE OF THE YEAR 2006  (Piedmont)  Dolcetto “Papa Celso” achieved the Three Glasses award for complex aromas of blackberry jam and dark chocolate on the nose, followed up by seamless harmony on the very potent, flavorful palate sustained by elegant acidity. Firm grip backed up by perfectly managed acidity and soft alcohol makes this a delectable and truly great Dolcetto. The wine has been made in honor of Marziano’s deceased father since 1974.

New Arrival: Amador, California

2004 EASTON ZINFANDEL AMADOR COUNTY $14.99 Bill Easton’s Amador Zinfandel is made from grapes that grow on beautiful, rolling mountain sites that have the classic, vermilion-colored, Amador decomposed granite soil. The 2004 has full black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas with a beautiful balance and a big, sumptuous, and juicy mouthfeel. It also presents complex spicy aromas, with a nice creamy texture derived from the 10 months time it receives in French oak barrels.

*”NEW ARRIVALS” WINE TASTING FRIDAY, MAR 31, 5-7PM

Whites
2003 VERGET MACON-VERGISSON "La Roche" $14.99 (Burgundy)"The Rock" is back with a vengeance. As it is primarily a north-facing area, and therefore cooler, 2003 Mâcon-Vergisson is glorious in 2003. Grapes in this vineyard ripened perfectly without any undue heaviness. Delightful lemon butter scents, wet stones, and refreshing acidity.

2003 RIJCKAERT POUILLY-FUISSE "Vers Chanes" Special $25 (reg. $35) (Burgundy) "Mineral-scented and offering a broad, light to medium-bodied character, the 2003 Pouilly-Fuisse Vers Chanes is fresh, pure, and focused. This wine tightens in the finish, displaying notes of lemon. Drink it over the next 3 years."-- Wine Advocate

2003 SAN FEREOLO LANGHE BIANCO (RIESLING/ GEWURZTRAMINER) $19.99  (see description above)

Reds
2004 MARZIANO ABBONA “PAPA CELSO” DOLCETTO di DOGLIANI $19.99 -Italian Red Wine Value of the Year (See description above)

2002 VALDICAVA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO $32 (Tuscany) "Vincenzo Abruzzesi continues to regularly out-perform the vast majority of his peers in Montalcino. Just what hard work and integrity can do are already evident in the 2002 Rosso di Montalcino, once again one of the best in the appellation and far superior to the level of the vintage itself in its ripeness, elegance, length, and freshness." --Wine Advocate


Salute!

Eric & Carolyn
VINTAGES-Adventures in Wine
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