pg.26LOCAL TALENTNIAGARA RIVER WINERIES

pg.2

pg.16ARGENTINA

PREMIUM WINES

PIEDMONT &TUSCANY

pg.22WHISKY

WISE

welcomeoctober 15

VINTAGES

plus...PRODUCT INFO & TASTING NOTES pages 30-47

TEAR-OUT SHOPPING LIST pages 49-50

VINTAGES SPECIAL OFFERS pages 54-55

*vintages.com

2 VINTAGES

DOUBLETAKE

The great Italian wine regions of Piedmont and Tuscany have one thing in

common: each has a single grape variety that defines its identity. In

Piedmont, it’s the diva Nebbiolo; in Tuscany, the sturdier Sangiovese. Yet,

like France’s Burgundy and Bordeaux, these two dynamic regions’ approach-

es to life and winemaking couldn’t be more different. Join VINTAGES as

we explore these spectacular winegrowing regions, meet two of their top

producers, and introduce you to a host of fine wines.

From signature grapes to winemaking traditions, Italy’s grand Piedmont andTuscany regions have forgedtwo unique identities throughthe centuries.

VINTAGES 3

4 VINTAGES

A TALE OF TWO FAMILIESThough one proffers wine samples from inside a humble farmhouse kitchen

while the other operates from palatial premises, the Fenocchios of Piedmont and

the Antinoris of Tuscany are both driving forces in their respective regions.

It was started as a tiny venture in 1864 by Stefano Fenocchio,and the Fenocchio winery remains in the family today. Visitors tothe Barolo-area property – which has grown some from its earlyyears – are likely to be invited into the family kitchen, whichdoubles as the tasting room. Giacomo, the father of the generationcurrently running the operation, was a firm believer in tradition.In fact, he’s been quoted as saying, “You don’t change a methodor a culture, because they are not ours to change.” Giacomo’ssons, Claudio and Alberto, proudly carry on the traditions passedon to them from both their father and grandfather. The resultsare wines, including single-vineyard bottlings from Fenocchio’sfine Bussia property, which reflect the family’s down-to-earthheritage while offering a nod to modern techniques.

� The Fenocchios of Piedmont �

The Fenocchio winery, run by Claudio (pictured) and Alberto Fenocchio, encompassesabout 12 hectares in various locations including their renowned Bussia vineyards.

GIACOMO FENOCCHIOBUSSIA BAROLO 2005See Page 9 for tasting note.

Cherished traditions born of simple roots

Grand visions from a noble lineage

With holdings throughout Tuscany and beyond, the family-run house of Antinori is the epitome of aristocratic Italy.Though the company as we know it was formed in 1895,the family’s involvement in winemaking goes all the wayback to the 14th century. Antinori has expanded over thelast century or so to become one of the most importantproducers in Italy; they really began to hit their stride aftercurrent head Piero Antinori took over in 1966. He, alongwith a handful of others, was responsible for making theTuscan wine industry what it is today, andwas a pioneer in the Supertuscan move-ment that pushed against the stricturesof the regional appellation system, andresulted in the creation of the IGT systemthat recognized wines that broke appella-tion rules. Visit any of the many Antinoriproperties and you’ll find palace-likebuildings with vast expanses of vineyardsthat seemingly disappear into the distance. And yet, this is still a familyaffair – on a 21st-century Tuscan scale.

� The Antinoris of Tuscany �

RIGHT: The Antinori winery’soperations are overseen

by Piero Antinori, with hisdaughters (from left, pictured

at their Tignanello estate)Alberia, Alessia and Allegra.

TOP: Antinori vineyardssurround the Medieval Castello

della Sala. CENTRE LEFT: In centuries past, wineries sold

their products through tinydoors like this. CENTRE RIGHT:

Wrought-iron gates open into the family’s 15th-century

Florence palazzo.

VINTAGES 5

ANTINORI PIAN DELLEVIGNE BRUNELLO

DI MONTALCINO 2005See Page 12 for tasting note.

6 VINTAGES

PIEDMONT � Handcrafted wines coaxed from challenging terrain �

properties to be found. Producers akin to gentlemenfarmers practice their craft on small holdings, makingartisanal wines from vineyards often just outside thefamily home’s front door.

Piedmontese winemakers generally embrace the“one grape/one wine” philosophy found in Burgundy.That grape is the finicky Nebbiolo, which thrives in Piedmont’s perfect confluence of terroir features.With their continental climates, sandy soils, andvineyards on undulating hills ringed by mountains,the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations have madeNebbiolo what it is (this despite their size: Barolohas only 1700 hectares under vine; Barbaresco, lessthan 800). Although equal in pedigree, Barbaresco,with its slightly milder climate, makes Nebbiolosthat tend to be more elegant and approachable thanthe burly, long-lived Barolos. Other grapes thrive in Piedmont too, such as Dolcetto and Barbera, whichmake juicy, crowd-pleasing wines.

The region’s wines match its cuisine perfectly.Piedmont is where rice (used for risotto) first prosperedin Italy, and where truffle dogs and pigs can be seen working the hilly areas around Alba, snufflingfor the rare white version of the prized fungi.

Any alpine region presents challengesfor farming, and in Piedmont, thismeans that winemaking has always beenconfined to small, often isolated single-vineyard areas, with few grand

ABOVE: Barolo’s Castello Falletti,parts of which date to the

10th century. RIGHT: Piedmont,which translates as “foot of

the mountain” is defined by itsrolling hills surrounded by

the Italian Alps. BOTTOM RIGHT:Nebbiolo grapes.

VINTAGES 7

8 VINTAGES

LA QUERCIOLA

CHICCHIVELLO LANGHE

ROSSO 2008

DOC

Though they did not write a

review for this wine, in their

2010 guide, Gambero Rosso

rated it � � �

.

TASTING NOTE: This blend

of Dolcetto, Barbera and

Nebbiolo is a good example of

the Piedmontese style, with

aromas of hibiscus, leather,

pomegranate, tar and candied

strawberry. Dry, with very good

aroma replays, plus some

soft acids and gentle tannins

for balance. Serve it very

slightly chilled to bring the finer

aromas out. Enjoy with lamb

burgers, gourmet beef burgers,

or steaks. (VINTAGES panel,

Aug. 2011)

225227 (D) 750 mL

$13.95 �New at VINTAGES

PODERI DI LUIGI EINAUDI

DOLCETTO DI DOGLIANI

2009

DOC

TASTING NOTE: Supple and

harmonious, offering aromas

and flavors of ripe black cherry,

raspberry, dark chocolate and

iron aromas and flavors. The

vibrant structure keeps this

defined and persistent as the

finish lingers. Drink now

through 2014. Smart Buy.

Score: 90 (Bruce Sanderson,

winespectator.com, April 30,

2011)

232454 (XD) 750 mL

$18.95 �

GUASTI CLEMENTE &

FIGLI FONDA S. NICOLAO

BARBERA D’ASTI

SUPERIORE 2005

DOC

Gambero Rosso gave this wine

a rating of � � �

in its 2010

edition, but did not provide a

written review.

TASTING NOTE: Pretty, crowd-

pleasing Barbera with aromas

of spring flowers, cherry, herbes

de Provence, and coffee bean.

Dry, lovely fruit tones with a racy

acidity bringing excellent

refreshment to the wine even

after six years. Medium

bodied with a hint of tannin

coming in on the mid-palate

for balance. A great wine to

enjoy with grilled lamb chops.

(VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2010)

233890 (XD) 750 mL

$21.95 �

GUASTI CLEMENTE &

FIGLI RISERVA

BARBARESCO 2005

DOCG

TASTING NOTE: Fine Nebbiolo

with aromas of chestnut,

cherry, blackberry and cedar

spice. Dry with plentiful

fruit and finely matched tannins

and acidity. Very good aroma

replays, especially chestnut and

cherry. Medium bodied with

a long, balanced and focused

finish. Approachable now

with grilled steaks and wild

mushroom risotto, but will also

reward 3-5 years in a cellar.

(VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2010)

233908 (XD) 750 mL

$35.95 �New at VINTAGES

GIACOMO FENOCCHIO

BUSSIA BAROLO 2005

DOCG

This cru Barolo comes from

the finest part of Fenocchio’s

Bussia vineyards located

in Monforte d’Alba. They age

the wine for three years in

Slavonian oak casks and then

another year in bottle before

release. Enjoy it with slow-

cooked roast beef or grilled-

rare steaks.

TASTING NOTE: Fresh, elegant,

and lively, with good fruit

and fine balance. Drink 2010-

2015. Score: � � � � �

(decanter.com, Undated)

232421 (XD) 750 mL

$42.95 �Featured on the

back cover

New at VINTAGES

The village of Barolo isdominated by the CastelloFalletti and, to its left, theRomanesque San Donatochapel. The castle is used forwine tastings and educationalexhibits about wine production.

VINTAGES 9

10 VINTAGES

TUSCANY � Famous blends and expansive, sun-kissed vineyards �

too, yet only in the last 35 years or so has a realwinemaking renaissance emerged in Tuscany.Aristocratic families, such as the Antinoris andFrescobaldis, whose connections to winemaking go back to before Leonardo, led a charge to shakeup winemaking, creating Supertuscans that morphed into IGT-designated versions.

Unlike the Piedmontese approach to winemaking,the Tuscan philosophy is more akin to Bordeaux’s:the art of the blend. Though focused on the great localgrape Sangiovese, wineries – especially in ChiantiClassico, its satellites, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,selected IGT wines and some others – have flour-ished with the option of using multiple supplementalvarieties. There are exceptions: The wines ofBrunello di Montalcino made their mark by adheringto a clone of Sangiovese that’s now generally known as the Brunello grape.

With its expanses of land for grape growing, andwinemaking families with ample resources to spendon large properties, Tuscany has emerged as a majorstop on many a wine lover’s travels. The food is adraw, too, with good reason: Tuscan cuisine, such assteak Florentine, showcases fresh, local ingredients,simply crafted to accentuate flavours.

From art to politics to philosophicalpursuits, Florence was the point fromwhich many important legacies of the Renaissance emerged. Over thecenturies, winemaking has been key

This idyllic, sun-drenchedlandscape dotted with cypresstrees is typically Tuscan.

VINTAGES 11

ABOVE: A colourful fall vineyard in therolling hills near Siena. BELOW: Producersassess bottles of their Brunello diMontalcino. BOTTOM: Sangiovese grapes.

CORDELLA ROSSO DI

MONTALCINO 2009

DOC

TASTING NOTE: Beautifully

made wine from young

Sangiovese Grosso vines. Plum,

licorice, garden herbs, leather

(think freshly oiled baseball

glove) and cherry. Dry and

fruity with good acidity for

refreshment and gentle

tannins for balance. Medium

bodied with a medium-long,

very elegant finish. This is very

enjoyable now with grilled

lamb skewers, or cellar 1-2

years. (VINTAGES panel,

Aug. 2011)

251462 (XD) 750 mL

$19.95 �Featured as our

Wine of the Month

New at VINTAGES

ANTINORI PIAN DELLE

VIGNE BRUNELLO DI

MONTALCINO 2005

DOCG

TASTING NOTE: The 2005

Brunello di Montalcino is a

gorgeous, classy offering laced

with fragrant, mineral-infused

red fruit, flowers and spices.

This delicate, medium-bodied

Brunello reveals outstanding

length and a clean, refreshing

finish. With time in the glass, the

wine’s inner perfume emerges,

adding even greater complexity.

Antinori’s 2005 Brunello is

one of the successes of the

vintage ... Anticipated maturity:

2011-2021 ... Score: 92

(Antonio Galloni, erobertpark-

er.com, April 2010)

651141 (XD) 750 mL

$59.95 �Featured on the

back cover

SAN FELICE

CAMPOGIOVANNI

BRUNELLO DI

MONTALCINO 2005

DOCG

TASTING NOTE: Wild berry

and forest aromas open the

nose of this clean and direct

Brunello. There’s very nice

purity and intensity here and

the wine showcases layers of

red fruit, plum, spice, leather

and rose petal. The silky and

smooth mouthfeel would work

with meat dishes or hearty

pasta. Score: 91

(Monica Larner, Wine

Enthusiast, Oct. 1, 2010)

991075 (XD) 750 mL

$44.95 �12 VINTAGES

VINTAGES 13

SCOPETANI

CHIANTI RISERVA 2007

DOCG

TASTING NOTE: A fine Chianti

Riserva with classic aromas

of cherry, red berries, roasted

coffee, olive, and earth tones.

Dry, youthful and fresh wine that

will reward cellaring (3-5+

years), or match it tonight with

roast leg of lamb. (VINTAGESpanel, Nov. 2010)

164814 (D) 750 mL

$14.95 �VOLPAIA

CHIANTI CLASSICO 2008

DOCG(Giovannella Stianti)

TASTING NOTE: Volpaia’s 2008

Chianti Classico is a pretty,

mid-weight offering informed by

tobacco, flowers, herbs and

cherries. As is often the case in

cooler years, these high-

altitude vineyards tend to yield

a more ethereal style of wine.

Still, this Chianti Classico finds

its balance nicely with time

in the glass. It is a model of

restrained elegance.

Anticipated maturity: 2010-

2014. Score: 90 (Antonio

Galloni, erobertparker.com,

August 2010)

953828 (XD) 750 mL

$21.95 �

TENUTA DI NOZZOLE LA

FORRA CHIANTI CLASSICO

RISERVA 2007

DOCG(Ambrogio e GiovanniFolonari)

TASTING NOTE: The 2007

Chianti Classico Riserva La

Forra blossoms on the palate

with an exciting array of dark

fruit, smoke, earthiness and

licorice. French oak adds

volume and spiciness but with-

out detracting from the purity

of the fruit or the silkiness of

the tannins. This is a very

beautiful La Forra from Folonari.

The warm, inviting personality

of the vintage is on full display,

making this a terrific choice

for drinking over the next few

years. Anticipated maturity:

2010-2017. Score: 92

(Antonio Galloni, erobertpark-

er.com, Oct. 2010)

177279 (XD) 750 mL

$29.95 �

POLIZIANO VINO NOBILE

DI MONTEPULCIANO 2007

DOCG

TASTING NOTE: The 2007

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

impresses for its rich, weighty

personality packed with red

fruit. The roundness of the

fruit carries through nicely to

the finish, showing no hard

edges and fabulous balance.

Floral notes add brightness

and lift on the close. Anticipated

maturity: 2010-2017. These

are among the finest wines I

can remember tasting

from Poliziano, one of Monte-

pulciano’s reference-point

producers. Score: 90 (Antonio

Galloni, erobertparker.com,

Oct. 2010)

988055 (XD) 750 mL

$25.95 �

LEFT: A winery worker harvests grapes for Chianti in a vineyard purportedly once

owned by Machiavelli.

14 VINTAGES

VINTAGES 15

CASA DI TERRA MORECCIO

BOLGHERI 2009

DOC

TASTING NOTE: Despite its

very young age, this bright

30-30-40 blend of Syrah,

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

shows impressive sophistication

and personality. Neutral oak

is used to fine-tune the spice

aromas and the wine shows

intense flavors of blackberry,

cherry, leather and pipe

tobacco. Score: 89 (Monica

Larner, Wine Enthusiast,

Dec. 15, 2010)

232405 (XD) 750 mL

$19.95 New at VINTAGES

MARCHESI DE’

FRESCOBALDI TERRE

MORE DELL’ AMMIRAGLIA

2009

IGT Maremma Toscana

This is a brand new project

for Frescobaldi.

TASTING NOTE: This blend

of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,

Cabernet Franc and Syrah

features aromas of rich plum,

smoked meat, currants, vanilla

and leather. Dry with lots of fruit

surrounded by softening

tannins. A fine non-traditional

Tuscan blend with a very good

future ahead of it (cellar 3-5+

years), or enjoy it tonight with

grilled wild game along with

grilled zucchini and eggplant.

(VINTAGES panel, Jan. 2011)

239889 (XD) 750 mL

$19.95 New at VINTAGES

POGGIO VERRANO

CHANCE 2005

IGT Maremma Toscana,Limited Edition

TASTING NOTE: The 2005

Chance is impressive. A blend

of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

and Cabernet Franc ... This

shows notable delineation

and depth, with an attractive

roundness to the fruit that

flows through to the finish. The

finish tapers off just a touch,

which is the only thing that

keeps the score from going

higher, but I suspect that will

be less of a problem in more

favorable vintages. This is a

great example of the exuber-

ant, juicy reds being made

in the province of Grosseto ...

It is a fabulous effort from

Poggioverano. Anticipated

maturity: 2010-2020.

Score: 92 (Antonio Galloni,

erobertparker.com, Oct. 2010)

239707 (XD) 750 mL

$33.95

LUCE DELLA VITE LUCE

2008

IGT Toscana

The 2008 is not reviewed,

but all the vintages from 2003

to 2007 received scores

between 90 and 95 in the

Wine Spectator.

TASTING NOTE: Really jumps

out of the glass with aromas of

mint, plum, new leather, cedar,

coffee and vanilla. Dry with

textured tannins surrounding

the vibrant fruit. To use a

music metaphor, it offers the

whole range from bass to

treble, and yet there’s likely

even more to come down

the road. Cellar it 3-5+ years,

or enjoy it tonight, decanted,

with a juicy steak and a wild

mushroom risotto. (VINTAGESpanel, Aug. 2011)

651000 (XD) 375 mL

$49.95 685263 (XD) 750 mL

$99.95