VINTUS: Extraordinary Wines From the Finest Sites in the World
 I don’t often plug importers, or distributors, but recently I was invited to participate in the 2008 National Portfolio Tour of the Vintus brand, in conjunction with Martignettis, the area’s largest distributor (and noted retailer). The tasting was conducted at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse in Park Square, Boston, upstairs in the stately Battle Room. Quite an elegant space to showcase some truly special wines, many of which I’ve written about below. The wines shown hail from many countries: France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Portugal and the US and the producers are all exceptional family-owned, estate-based properties. My sincere thanks to Alex Michas of Vintus for this amazing opportunity to taste some fantastic wines.
Here were some of my favorites (prices noted are approximate net retail, actual prices may vary by market):
Bruno Paillard Brut Premiere Cuvee, Champagne, France ($46.00/bottle)
Lovely, perfumed nose with yeasty, floral aromas. Medium-bodied with firm acidity. Well balanced. Nice tight palate with citrus, apple and pear notes. Moderate length with a crisp, clean finish. A very nice Brut.
Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blanc Reserve Privee, Champagne, France ($69.00/bottle)
Yeasty nose with toffee, floral and citrus aromas. Medium-bodied with firm acidity. Well balanced. Creamy palate with green apple, apricot and melon notes. Moderate length with a toasty finish. Delightful.
2004 Marcel Deiss Pinot Blanc, Bergheim, Alsace ($19.99/bottle)
Lively nose with grapefruit, apricot and apple aromas. Light-bodied with firm acidity. Good balance. Fruity palate with citrus and melon notes. Moderate length with a crisp, yet honeyed finish. Seductive. Drinking well now – not for aging. A tremendous value.
2003 Marcel Deiss Burg, Bergheim, Alsace ($64.99/bottle)
Exotic, spicy nose with rose water, lemon zest and allspice hints. Simply beautiful. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well balanced. Fruity palate with lychee, floral and honey notes. Long finish with a complex, yet crisp finish. Drinking well now and should improve for another 3 to 5 years. A blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Sylvaner. Amazing.
2004 Nicolas Joly Coulee se Serrant, Savennières-Coulee de Serrant, France ($86.00/bottle
Restrained nose with apricot, floral and almond paste hints. Medium-bodied with firm acidity. Well balanced. Flinty palate with pear, white plum and wet stone notes. Moderate length with a crisp, tart finish. Drinking well now, but needs time to fully evolve – try again in another 3 to 5 years. A truly special bottle.
2005 Mas Belles Eaux Les Coteaux, Coteaux du Languedoc, France ($19.99/bottle)
Composition: 70% Syrah; 20% Grenache; 10% Mourvedre
Lively, spicy nose with black cherry, dried herb and black pepper hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and supple tannin. Good balance. Lush, fruity palate with red berry, black cherry and mineral notes. Moderate length with hints of roasted game and dried herb on the aftertaste. Drinking well now and should hold for another 3 to 5 years. A good value.
2004 Chateau La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol, France ($110.00/bottle)
Dense nose with black cherry, cocoa and tobacco leaf aromas. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and full, dry tannin. Well balanced. A nice core of dark fruit with cherry, currant and plum notes. Moderate length, somewhat closed. Drinking well, but needs another 5 to 7 years to evolve – should hold for a very long time. Not cheap, but high-quality Bordeaux rarely is…
2005 Chateau Providence, Pomerol, France ($225.00/bottle)
Fragrant, powerful nose with black cherry, dark chocolate and licorice hints. Lovely. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm, dry tannin. Well balanced. Rich palate with dense, black fruit, cedar and vanilla notes. Long finish, tight with endless complexity and beauty. A real treasure that will age for decades.
2006 Schiopetto Pinot Grigio, Collio, Italy ($35.00/bottles)
Lively, fruity nose with lemon, apple and mineral hints. Medium-bodied with firm acidity. Well balanced. Tropical fruit palate with floral, melon and mineral notes. Moderate length with a crisp finish. Drinking well now and should hold for 3 to 5 years. A Pinot Grigio with structure and distinctiveness.
2001 Enrico Santini Montepergoli, Bolgheri, Italy ($35.00/bottle)
Composition: 40% Merlot; 35% Cabernet Sauvignon; 20% Syrah; 5% Sangiovese
Super rich nose with blackberry, black currant, plum and tar aromas. Luscious. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm, dry tannin. Well balanced. A nice core of dark fruit on the palate with cocoa, dark chocolate, black cherry and tarry notes. Superb. Moderate length – tight. Needs time to evolve – try again in 3 to 5 years. A magnificent wine.
2005 Ferrer Bobet, Priorat, Spain ($45.00/bottle)
Composition: 53% Carignane; 35% Grenache; 7% Syrah; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tight, restrained nose with black cherry, dried herb, mineral and anise aromas. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Well balanced. Elegant on the palate with a dark fruit core and subtle nuances of black pepper, cassis, licorice and rose petals. Pretty. Moderate length – a little tight – needs time to evolve – try again in 3 to 5 years. A great value for Priorat.
2007 Blue Grove Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Philadelphia, South Africa ($19.99/bottle)
Lively, exotic nose with fresh grapefruit, kiwi and tropical fruit aromas. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Good balance. Somewhat restrained palate with a good concentration of citrus fruit – nice minerality. Moderate length with a clean, refreshing finish. Overall a very nice effort. Drinking well now – not for aging.
2006 Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec, Agrelo, Argentina ($19.99/bottle)
Lovely, fruity nose with black cherry, cassis and floral hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and smooth, supple tannin. Well balanced. Lush, fruit-laden palate with red berry, fresh cherry and black pepper notes. Moderate length with a smooth, but complex finish – anise and dried herbs. Drinking well now and should hold for another 3 to 5 years.
2006 Finca Decero Remolino Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Agrelo, Argentina ($21.99/bottle)
Lively nose with black currant, raspberry and tobacco hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Well balanced. Dark fruit core on the palate with black cherry, tar and eucalyptus notes. Moderate length with a smooth finish – a hint of vanilla and allspice on the aftertaste. Drinking well now and should hold for another 3 to 5 years.
2006 Finca Decero Amano, Agrelo Argentina ($49.99/bottle)
Composition: 60% Malbec; 35% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Petit Verdot
Powerfully dense nose with black cherry, tar and traces of violets. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannin. Well balanced. Dark fruit core on the palate with jammy black currant, cassis, and cocoa notes. Wow. Long finish with hints of black pepper, vanilla, dried fruit and blackberry – infinitely complex. Drinking well now and could use time to evolve – try again in 3 to 5 years. Stunning.
2007 Delta Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($19.99/bottle)
Lively nose with citrus and tropical fruit aromas – pretty – not overdone like some NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Good balance. Fruity palate with grapefruit, kiwi, quince and lemon notes. Moderate length with a clean, refreshing finish. Drinking well now – not for aging. Nice.
2006 Delta Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand ($22.99/bottle)
Dark, fruity nose with black cherry, raspberry, and floral hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity and supple tannin. Well balanced. Rich, fruity palate with red berry, rose petal and roasted game notes. Burgundian in style. Moderate length with a smooth finish and hints of raspberry, dried herb and vanilla on the aftertaste. Drinking well now and should hold for another 3 to 5 years.
2006 Delta Hatter’s Hill Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand ($29.99/bottle)
Dense, fruity nose with black cherry, roasted game and smoke hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannin. Well balanced. Dark fruit core on the palate with black cherry, tar and game notes. Full throttle. Long finish – tight and little closed. Needs time to evolve, but the wine seems to possess great potential.
2006 Mitolo Jester Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia ($19.99/bottle)
Intense, fruity nose with black cherry, eucalyptus and black pepper hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and supple tannin. Well balanced. Dark fruit core on the palate with black currant, blackberry and dried herb notes. Pretty and powerful – but not overdone. Moderate length with a smooth finish – hints of vanilla and black cherry on the aftertaste. Drinking well now and should hold for another 3 to 5 years.
2006 Mitolo Savitar Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia ($66.99/bottle)
Dense, darkly-scented nose with black cherry, dried fruit and concentrated floral aromas. Lovely. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm, dry tannin. Well balanced. Tightly-packed palate with black cherry, tar and roasted game notes. Long finish, tight with anise, red berry and light vanilla on the aftertaste. Needs time to evolve – try again in 3 to 5 years. Simply stunning wine.
2004 Disznókõ 4 Puttonyos, Tokaj, Hungary ($24.99/bottle)
Sweet, creamy nose with lemon, honey and toffee aromas. Beautiful. Full-bodied with firm acidity that perfectly balances the residual sugar. Well balanced. Lush palate with creamy custard, orange rind and butterscotch. Infinitely long finish with unfolding complexity – almond, citrus and floral hints on the aftertaste. Drinking well now and should hold for another 10 years-plus.
2001 Quinta do Noval LBV, Port ($24.99/bottle)
Lively, fruity nose with black cherry, allspice and black pepper hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and supple, integrated tannin. Well balanced. Dark fruit core on the palate with lush sweetness. Dried fruit, cocoa and blackberry jam – beautiful Port. Long finish, smooth yet complex. An amazing LBV – drinking well now and should hold for another 10 years-plus. Outstanding value.
2003 Quinta do Noval Vintage, Port ($199.99/bottle)
Massive nose filled with densely fruity aromas – classic. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannin. Well balanced. Closed, tightly-packed palate with loads of black fruit. Seductively sweet. Long finish and noticeably complex, despite its youth. Drinking well, but needs many more years to evolve and mature – 20 years-plus. The price isn’t a typo – but this wine is truly what vintage Port is all about.
Richard Sanford of Alma Rosa was in attendance with his lovely wines. They were showing beautifully – check out my previous two newsletters for detailed tasting notes.
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