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Tastes of Concord

The Tastes of Concord - Thursday, May 10th from
6:30 - 9:00 P.M. in the Concord Cafe.

It's our biggest tasting of the year!  Nearly 100 wines to try along with beer and spirits spread out around ten tables of food where you'll be served by the owners and chefs of local restaurants and kitchens. 

The tasting is held at the Concord Cafe in a large, atrium styled room that is close to the size of a ballroom and perfect for a large party (and serious tasting) like this. 

Experience an evening of locally prepared food and wine from around the world right in your own back yard at the annual Tastes of Concord.

There will be nearly 100 wines, spirits and beers along with the BEST food Concord has to offer from Verrill Farm, 80 Thoreau, Reasons to be Cheerful, Concord Cheese Shop, Debra's Natural Gourmet, Vincenzo's, The Colonial Inn, Slow Pokes BBQ, To Die For Dips and more!  Stay tuned for another email with the full line-up of wines.

The Tastes of Concord is like a city event right in your backyard! Usually you have to go into Boston for something this big. Bring your 21+ family, friends and dates. Dress code is casual. There will even be a live Bluegrass band to celebrate. 

When: Thursday, May 10th from 6:30 to 9:00 pm

Where: The Concord Cafe.  300 Baker Ave in Concord.

Tickets are available at our shop or online at the Concord Chamber of Commerce website.

Pinot Noir

Azienda Agricola Calatroni 2010 Pinot Nero (Noir)
Oltrepo Pavese, Italy

#1 Rated Pinot Noir during a large format blind tasting and now "exclusive" at our shops in Concord and Sudbury.

Regular Price $19.99
Special Price $15.99
In-stock now at both shops.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a Pinot Noir tasting at a fellow wine geek’s home.  Specifically, we were gathered there to blind taste 2009 Pinot Noirs from around the globe.  While the majority of the wines came from America (12 of 17) there was a representative from most of the better regions known for producing excellent examples of Pinot Noir.  A late addition to the lineup was a Pinot Nero (aka Pinot Noir) from the Lombard region in Northern Italy.  One of the guests had brought it as a warm up wine - pre-tasting- but the host reckoned it would make interesting fodder amongst this group of Pinots.

Blind tasting is a powerful, democratic equalizer. Before and even during a tasting, we don’t realize how much a label can influence our expectations and perceptions of a wine.  Believe it or not, many drinkers and some “experts” can’t tell the difference between red and white wine if the color has been hidden from them in opaque glasses.  Not knowing what you’re tasting gives every wine the chance to come out a winner based solely on its own merits.

After seeing the list of wines to be tasted, in no particular order, I made some general assumptions regarding what I would end up liking most and also what the general crowd would choose as best in show. I assumed I would like the classic styles from France and the lighter styles from Germany, while the more balanced American wines might make a showing. That’s just how my tastes roll.  On the other hand I assumed that the bigger, rounder, sun-kissed American wines would win the day because their bold flavors can overpower the more delicate, cool climate wines.  My tastes tend to run contrary to these bolder, richer wines.  But, as I said, blind tasting is a powerful equalizer and the number one wine was a bit of a shocker.

I suppose at this point it should come as no surprise to anyone that the number one wine of the evening (it tied for first place with a Californian wine) was the upstart Pinot Nero (not even on the list above) from Lombardy. This little $20 wine beat out 15 other wines, nine of them in the $40 - $70 range. A David vs. Goliaths. To be fair, not everyone picked this wine as their number one wine; the ranking was decided by voting for your top three. The wine with the most overall votes/points got bragging rights. I think for everyone there it was a surprising outcome. Very democratic, this is a wine of the people.

Azienda Agricola is essentially Italian for farm and that is exactly what Calatroni is – a working farm and winery run by Fausto, his wife Marisa and their two sons Cristian and Stefano. Like most vineyard farms in Oltrepo Pavese, the grapes planted here are varied and include not only Pinot Nero, but Riesling, Bonarda, Barbera, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio. Established in the early seventies, they farm 15 hectares (about 22 acres), on soils primarily of limestone, as sustainably as possible. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and the Pinot Nero ages for a time in barrique.



The wine is a shining, clear, ruby red. Fragrant and aromatically complex, it puts out red raspberry, red currant and cherry fruit flavors which marry well with a touch of green herb, spice and toast. The wine is dry with delicate tannins and a bright tart cherry component offset with limestone mineral, spice and a hint of tanned leather. With a supple mouth-feel, this wine is pleasurable to sip on while conversing about whatever moves you, but, really, drink this with food. Try pork, chicken, pasta, cheeses or a light beef dish. I think you will be delighted!

Cheers!

Azienda Agricola Calatroni 2010 Pinot Nero, Oltrepo Pavese, Italy

Regular Price $19.99
Special Price $15.99

Afternoon Red

Italy’s northernmost province, South Tyrol (Sudtirol), combines Alpine staidness with Italian joie-de-vivre (enjoyment of life).  South Tyrol is a region abounding with contrasts, between Mediterranean landscape and Alpine peaks, deeply rooted tradition and cosmopolitan curiosity. The allure of South Tyrol lies in its variety and the harmony of opposites.

And of course our friend and importer, Jeannie Rogers, has found a special Italian wine there.

2010 Georg Mumelter St. Magdalener

Regular $19.99

Our Price: $15.99 each

In this day when so many wines are hugely alcoholic, made from grapes picked well over a normal degree of ripeness, sometimes a style of wine from a different era is just what the doctor ordered; especially on a day like Easter (or really any afternoon) when you pop your first bottle well before the sun goes down.   

For times like these we don't want to serve a wine so big and rich that after a couple of glasses we're ready for a nap.  It has to be light and refreshing and that's exactly what this wine is.  It's not big and oaky and it's not tannic. This is a red wine that you serve cool.  Put it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before you drink it and it tastes as good as lemonade on a hot summer day. 

Who is Georg Mumelter and what is St. Magdalener? In northeast Italy, the tiny estate of the Mumelter family (named Griesbauerhof)  has been owned by the Mumelter family since 1785. One thousand feet above sea level at the foot of the picturesque hills of St. Magdalener and St. Giustina in Rencio, the estate is filled with sun-drenched vineyards and an ancient wine press. The generous sunlight, breezy south-facing position of the vineyards, and sandy clay soil provide the ideal conditions for the cultivation of this berry filled wine.

The delicious red that Mumelter calls St. Magdalener (named after the village) is Italy's answer to Beaujolais.  It's made of the Schiava grape with a small amount of another indigenous Italian grape called Lagrein.  It's fermented and aged in stainless steel, which helps to preserve its freshness and vibrant nature. 

The wine itself is pale red color with an aroma of strawberries, raspberries and tomato leaf, very appetizing.  The palate is bigger and more assertive than the color would suggest but still very drinkable. A faint hint of a crisp Gala apple on the finish adds to its appeal with food.

Like all of the wines we get from Jeannie, Georg and Margaret consistently turn out high quality, fully ripened grapes year after year, which is the result of very attentive vineyard care.  All of their winemaking practices are performed using the most traditional and natural methods possible.

Food Pairing?  Ham, of course.  I think it would go great with anything salty and with salmon, too.  I'm having a little glass while I type this email at 3 PM on a Friday and it's making me wish I didn't have to go back to work!  Stop by and try one now or stock up for Easter.  If you like Beaujolais or Oregon Pinot Noir this is a must try.  Remember, 20-30 minutes in the fridge before drinking for maximum enjoyment. 

Cheers!

Post Gas Tank Fill-Up Wine

2009 Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (organic)

Regular $10.99

Our Price: $7.99 each or
$84 for a case of 12 bottles

The wine you want to buy after you fill up your gas tank.

Masciarelli's Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is a stalwart.  Going back to long before I was drinking wine this Montelpulciano has been a favorite among many of our customers.  It doesn't have fancy packaging; it doesn't come with a cute animal on the label, and it certainly doesn't have a high price tag.

Could this be your new "house red?"  Why not...even if it's for just one night.  It's a CLASSIC, well-balanced Italian wine.   It smells of cherries, spice, tobacco and licorice that all blend together perfectly.  On the palate, it's dry, medium bodied, has a succulent texture and of course those charming earthy qualities you expect from a true Italian red.  The finish is refreshing with some fine tannins and lingering red fruits.  A delicious and solid Italian wine even if it were twice the price.

As I sat and sipped this wine, I decided to poke around the internet to see if others are still enjoying it as much as I do.  It turns out a whole new generation of people have discovered this wine.  It was a pleasure being reminded once again how great a wine this still is for the money and that prompted us to feature it.  

Going back twenty years to the 1992 vintage, the Wine Spectator called the Masciarelli Montepulciano, "A great bargain" at $6.  Fast forward to more recent days when Robert Parker's Wine Advocate said the following about each year:

2005 - "At $10 a bottle it is virtually impossible to beat for value."
2007 - "The 2007....is hard to beat for the money" at $10.
2008 - "The 2008...is a terrific wine for the money" at $10.


(the organically farmed Masciarelli vineyards)

The trend is obvious and the value is still there.  While this vintage hasn't yet been rated, it's amazing that we are able to sell the 2009 vintage for just $2 more than it cost in 1992.  How could that be?  Location, location, location.

Masciarelli has an American outpost right here in Weymouth, Mass.   Not only do they import their own wine from Abruzzo in Italy, but they also have a distribution company that brings their little wine right to our doorstep in a Masciarelli truck.  Their ability to cut out the middleman by doing the importing and distributing themselves keeps the price very fair for all of us wine drinkers.

Whether it's been a while since you've had the Masciarelli or if you've yet to try some, it's a great time to (re)discover the wine that put Abruzzo on map. 



(the Masciarelli family including the late Gianni Masciarelli)

World Class White

2010 Neyers Carneros Chardonnay


Regular $32.99

Our Price $24.99 each

93 Points and a "Smart Buy" recommendation from Wine Spectator:

"Notably rich and creamy, yet elegant and refined, this Chardonnay delivers a supple, fleshy beam of white peach, nectarine and fresh-cut flowers, with a creamy vanilla edge."

This is my favorite over $20 bottle of California Chardonnay.  I'm as happy drinking this as I am eating cake.  You really can't beat it's complexity and sheer deliciousness for the price.  It's one of those special wines where you finish the last sip, you look down at the glass and say to yourself, "Wow, that stuff sure is tasty!" 

Owner Bruce Neyers' experiences over the past several years include working with Kermit Lynch Imports: a group of more than 100 French and Italian vintners.  These wine producers have been important in shaping the style of the Neyers wines.  If you frequent our shops, you know that we are big fans of Kermit Lynch wines, so we have high expectations for Bruce's wines and those expectations are always exceeded.

Most of the producers in Kermit's portfolio farm organically, make their wines naturally without use of cultured yeast or laboratory designed winemaking aids, and are comfortable bottling their wines without either fining or filtration. Bruce (a former chemist) has long admired these types of wines, and eagerly adopted many of their natural winemaking practices.  We were delighted to see Wine Spectator give Bruce such a great score for his Carneros Chard.

The average price for a 93 Point California Chardonnay from Wine Spectator over the last two vintages is $57.  And we bring you Neyers Chard, at 93 points, helping to bring that average down at $24.99. 

With the summer-like temps next week, treat yourself (or your wife/husband) to this delicious wine.   We have this chilling right now in our cold box or come try it first in Concord or Sudbury this Saturday from 2:00 - 5:00 PM.