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Taste a selection of Rosenthal Imports Wines in Concord & Belmont!
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WINE TASTING:
"Everyday" Rosenthal: Great Values from Southern France

CONCORD & BELMONT:
Fri. Jan. 25, 4-7p & Sat. Jan. 26, 1-5pm

massiac house
Dom. Massiac, Massif Centrale

"Everyday Rosenthal" = Value + character from the Rhone Valley and Languedoc  

 



"Value with character?" What does that mean?  
While great wines are found in most major wine regions, there  is a stark contrast between US/ New World and traditional European "value" wines. In the $10-$15 dollar range. The US/New World model has  always been corporate, brand-driven, mass-produced wines, in many ways built along the lines of processed food brands and fast food chains. The European model is more regionamonpertuis landlly specific, and family-business oriented. While the noblest grand cru appellations (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo, Brunello) can command high prices, wines located in "lesser" regions are limited to modest prices, no matter how much hands-on care, experience and equipment are put into the vines and cellar. Family-run estates selected by quality-driven importers such as Rosenthal are the "sweet spot" of  our "everyday" wines -- producing wines of character with a strong local identity.

 

fenouillet soard brothers
Patrick & Vincent Soard of Dom. Fenouillet

Which brings us to this week's tasting featuring the wines of Southern France's Rhone Valley and Minervois regions, long known for producing wines packed with character and delivering tremendous value. Highlighting some of the most well known Southern French grape varieties such as

Viognier, Syrah, Grenache, and the little-known Counoise-- this selection may expand your appreciation for what these humble country wines can deliver... and you may want to grab a few bottles to accompany warming winter stews and roasts.   

 

   

EVERYDAY ROSENTHAL: wine tasting

Belmont & Concord stores:  

Fri. Jan. 25, 4-7pm &  

Sat. Jan. 26, 2-6pm

 

2011 Dom. Massiac Viognier VdP d'Oc $15.99 (organic)

  

2011 Dom. Massiac Minervois Rouge "Sentinelle de  Massiac" $12.99 (organic)  

 

2011 Dom. de Fenouillet Ventoux Rouge $12.99

 

2010, Dom. Monpertuis, Counoise VdP du Gard "Vignoble de la Rami�re" $15.99

cuilleron
Yves Cuilleron 

 

2011 Yves Cuilleron Syrah "Les Vignes d'� C�t�" VdP des Collines Rhodaniennes $19.99

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL 25% OFF ENDS JAN. 31 
2006 Clos du Mont Olivet Chateauneuf du Pape "Cuvee Papet"
Reg. $65; now $48.75 net!  
mont olivet cuvee papet

 

Last week we sent out an offer for 2006 Mont Olivet Chateauneuf "Cuvee Papet" and had the wine open to taste in Belmont for Friday evening and Saturday. We had also planned to take the opportunity provided by the national holiday for a two-day weekend, Sunday and Monday, to go to Chatham with our new puppy Ernest. It's always tricky leaving Saturday evening with the almost two-hour drive and then throwing together a quick meal upon arrival. I opted for "Croquetas de Bacalao," Salt Cod and Potato cakes served over a kale and shaved fennel salad. A quick and tasty meal, provided that you put in the required preparation. We arrived at 8:30 pm and while Carolyn attended to Ernest, I quickly threw a skillet on the burner and poured a liberal amount of olive oil in and began forming the croquetas and then rolling them in homemade bread crumbs prior to frying. A few minutes later, dinner was served, and we had just enough 2006 Cuvee Papet left from the tasting for two glasses with dinner. Wow! What a beautiful, elegant, deeply flavored, compelling wine, but fine and understated in a way that Chateauneuf du Pape is not generally thought of. This wine had the depth, weight and power of a Grand Cru Burgundy, while maintaining the warm, stony quality that is the hallmark of great Grenache from this fabled appellation. And you might be thinking, why am I telling you this? Because sometimes there is a perfect moment, in wine and food, when you put two things together and they not only compliment each other, but they also allow you to see each thing more clearly. And the Salt Cod brought out a new understanding of Chateauneuf du Pape, and more specifically Mont Olivet Chateauneuf "Cuvee Papet".

    

  

Winter Wine Provisions:
Amarone Classico

Quantities limited. Available in both stores.

 

2006 LE SALETTE Amarone Classico $45;  

12 bottle case Special -- $33.75/bottle!  

SPECIAL ENDS JAN. 31. 

 

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the opportunity to purchase the 2006 Le Salette Amarone Classico. It is one thing to work to obtain terrific wines at a terrific prices, it is our job to do this, but it is quite a different thing to offer something terrific at a great price and be met with a resoundingly enthusiastic, and overwle salette amarone classicohelmingly positive response that will enable us to purchase the remaining 2006 Amarone and continue to offer the $33.75 per

bottle ( 12 bottle case purchase of this wine), till the end of the month. Or while supplies last.  

 

 

Barolo? Simply the Best
2008 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia $150

 

2008 GIACOMO CONTERNO Barolo "Cascina Francia" $150

15% off ($127.50) six bottle purchase
20% off ($120) 12 or more bottles 

SPECIAL ENDS JAN. 31, 2013.  

There are fconterno cascina baroloew things as exceptional and reliable as Giacomo Conterno Barolo. People spend a lot of time researching, cross-referencing, looking at Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate or other worthy critical reviews. They don't realize how simple it really is. Roberto Conterno's cellar in Monforte d'Alba produces arguably some of the finest examples of wine in the world. He produces singular examples of Barolo, Cascina Francia and Monfortino Riserva, which express the full dynamic range of Nebbiolo's power, complexity, elegance and finesse. When you visit Roberto and taste from his ancient barrels, you see a fiercely committed man whose single greatest challenge is living up to the stratospheric standards of quality roberto conternoand rigorous, uncompromising traditional values exemplified by his father and grandfather. Giacomo Conterno wines are noble & reserved, with a clenching intensity that draws you in and commands your atConterno old bottlestention.   

 

For people who simply use "like" or "don't like" as their barometer for wine consumption, they are likely denying themselves some of the single greatest pleasures in the known wine world. 

 

2008 Giacomo Conterno Barolo "Cascina Francia" $150 per bottle
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15% off ($127.50) six bottle purchase
20% off ($120) 12 or more bottles
SPECIAL ENDS JAN. 31, 2013 

 

2010 VILLACRECES Ribera del Duero "Pruno" 94 pts. $19.99
($16.99 ea for 12 bottle purchase)

 

If you're a Tempranillo fan, this wine is a no-brainer. And if you're not, "Pruno" may make you a convert!

"Wow! From a vineyard adjacent to Spain's greatest as well as most expensive red wine, Vega Sicilia, this 2,500-case cuvee made for Eric Solomon is spectacular. Full-bodied with an opaque purple color in addition to an extraordinaryvillacreces pruno labelbouquet of charcoal, wood smoke, creme de cassis and blackberries intermixed with hints of acacia flowers and licorice, this stunning, multidimensional 2010 is loaded. Its texture, richness, complexity, purity and length result in a wine that considerably over-delivers. Normally, one would expect to pay $75 to $150 for a wine that tastes like this, but this beauty can be yours for $20 or less! Moreover, it will keep for a decade.  94 pts." --Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

 

BARBARESCO TASTING SAT. FEB. 9. with Daniela Rocca of ALBINO ROCCA
Mark your calendar...
albino rocca bottles

ALBINO ROCCA Barbaresco Tasting
Sat. Feb. 9, 2-5pm  VINTAGES Concord store

We are thrilled to host DANIELA ROCCA from the ALBINO ROCCA winery at VINTAGES for a tasting in the Concord store on Sat. Feb. 9
  
Introducing "Ernest!"
New Field Spaniel Puppy for VINTAGES!
Ernie puppy-1
Kaper's Dark and Stormy "Ernest"

Born during "Super Storm Sandy" and arriving at our home on Christmas day at 8 weeks old, Ernie's zest for life and fiery personality have created a storm-surge in our lives. His unrelenting passion and commitment to every endeavor will suit him well as he begins training to become Vintages' new "Wine Dog." Using his unparalleled sense of smell, Ernie will sniff out "wine dog deals" -- the best wines at the best prices. This week's 2006 Le Salette Amarone 25% off case purchase and 2006 Mont Olivet Chateauneuf "Cuvee Papet" 25% off net bottle, gives us a glimpse at the full potential of this amazing little pup. Ernie is easing into his new responsibilities, and is just a part-timer in the Concord shop. He loves meeting new people! 

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DID YOU KNOW?
VINTAGES' website
home page-1 There are a lot of "Vintages" on the internet, but don't be confused -- there's really only one that counts: www.VINTAGESONLINE.COM.
 
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Come visit --  www.VINTAGESONLINE.COM 
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Join us for the Wine Tasting Fri. & Sat. in Belmont & Concord. Also, mark your calendar for Barbaresco on Feb. 9 with Daniela Rocca!   -Eric & Carolyn   Carl & Brian

VINTAGES store locations

53 Commonwealth Ave.
West Concord, MA 978-369-2545

32 Leonard Street
Belmont, MA 617-484-4560
 
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