Saturday Complimentary Wine Tastings--the 'Little Secret' by Philip S. Kampe

                               Caitlin Harrison  (Table 1)  Spirited Wine Host

Well, with a few feet of snow already on the ground and much more predicted this upcoming week, it was my responsibility to dedicate this past Saturday to sampling wines and educating my palate at the various complimentary wine tastings that take place each week in Berkshire County.

I bet these same tastings take place in your hometown all over the world. In my case, Berkshire County, Massachusetts is home to these, nearly outrageous wine tastings. What generally happens is you end up purchasing several of the wines that you sampled because you know what you are getting. Plus the wine is sold at a deep discount only at the tasting. Delivery of the wine often comes the same day or sometime later the following week or two.

There are three fabulous wine merchants where I live in western Massachusetts (Berkshire County).  Each wine merchant is unique. Their staff is eager to educate the wine buying consumers of Berkshire County. There are other wine merchants, maybe in your town, who follow the same protocol.

The three retailers that stand out of the crowd are Nejaime’s, located in both Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Dalton’s, Kelly’s Package Store and Spirited at the Lenox/Pittsfield border.

The wine business in Berkshire County relies on second home owners. The county's population is under 100,000 year round residents Due to their existence, the wine scene in Berkshire County is hopping. Add the wine driven locals to the scenario and the scene is popping.

The coalition of the second home owners and locals equates to better wines available for all consumers. The coalitions influence helps make retailers bring their best wines under $400 a bottle to tastings.

We are the ones that benefit.

One of the main benefits the consumer gets at tastings are ‘Sale Prices’ that are good for the duration of the tasting. Tastings generally run form 12-4pm on Saturdays. To learn more, first-hand, about wine tastings, sign-up online with your favorite wine merchant to receive their weekly wine newsletter, which features weekly sales, tastings, news and wine dinners.

These are the wines, the wine hosts and the prices that were in effect at Saturday’s e-mail special wine tasting at Spirited on Pittsfield, Lenox road.

Jim Nejaime is the proprietor
(Note: regular price is in parenthesis)  Sale price is applicable only on date of the tasting.

Table 1
Chateau ducasse Bordeaux Blanc 2013      $13.99  ($17)
Chateaux Clos Floridene Graves Blanc 2010      $24.99  ($40)
Chateau Croix du Trale Hunt-Medoc 2010      $14.99  ($18)

Chateau Panigon Cru Medoc  2011    $16.99    ($20)

Chateau Tour Pibran Paullic  2010     $32.99    ($40)

Chateau Saint-Pierre St.julien  2010   $95.00    ($130)

Table 2
Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc  2013    $14.99   ($20)
Chateau Du Bouscat Bordeaux Superieur Caduce  2010       $13.99   ($20)
Chateau Beausejour Pentimento St. Emilion  2010      $23.99    ($30)
Chateau Messile Aubert M-St. Emilion  2009     $29.99     ($40)

Chateau Baret Pessac-Leognan 2009     $29.99    ($40)

Table 3

Chateau Lespault Martillac-Pessac-Leognan  2010   $39.99   ($50)
Chateau Villars Fronsac  2009       $23.99   ($30)
Chateau Les Grand Chenes Medoc  2005    $34.99    ($50)
Chateau Siran Margaux  2009   $45    ($60)

Chateau La Dame de Montrose St. Estephe  2005   $59.99    ($80)

Table 4

Chateau Providence Pomerol  2010       $135     ($175)
Chateau Leoville Las Cases St. Julien  2004      $149         ($200)
Chateau Cos D’Estournel St. Estephe  2005      $249      ($400)
Chateau Chartreuse du Couplet Sauternes  2011  (375ml)    $19.99      ($25)
Chateau Suduirant Sauternes  2009  (375ml)     $49.99     ($70)
Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes  2005    $59.99    ($80)

As you can see, this free sampling would be a highlight to any palate, sommeliers included. Plus, you have the opportunity to purchase highly rated wines at a true discount.

The ball or should I say, the wine glass is in your court.......

                                Rick Paternaude  (Table 4)  Spirited Wine Host

             

                                   Eric Molleur  (Table 3)  Spirited Wine Host

                                  Sean Tucker  (Table 2) Spirited Wine Host

Philip S. Kampe
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com