| Deal of
the Week | |
2005 Storybook Mountain Cellars
Seps Estate
Cabernet
From organic vineyards, atop the steepest mountainside vineyards in the Mayacamas Range in Napa, selecting only premium fruit from severly restricted yields - this is the technique that earned Storybook platitudes from the world's most noted wine critics.
Grapes for this Cab are selected from winery owner Jerry Seps' finest estate plot, not much is made as Storybook is known primarily as a Zinfandel producer.
But the land and climate gives Storybook the correct soil (clay) and climate (cool) and exposure (easterly) to make a wine in much the same atmosphere as classified Bordeaux.
With a cool climate and low alcohol, this wine does not adopt the sweeter is better philosophy, instead, it maintains varietal integrity and shows layers of dark berry fruit, encased in herbs and even eucalyptus.
Wine & Spirits Magazine gave it 93 points and listed it as among the "Year's Best Cabernet Sauvignons."
In celebration of our wine dinner with Storybook, the winery has made a handful of cases available to us for a dramatic price, a "storybook" ending, if you will.
Reg. price: $65
Our price: $30 net.
Please email us at orders@thevinbin.com with your requests.
Very limited availabity. |
| Wine & Cheese Workshops |  |
Our first Wine and Cheese class of the semester will be held Monday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Assabet Valley School's After Dark Program.
A second class will be held Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town of Sudbury Senior Center Dining Room.
Call 978-443-1092 to register.
Cost is $70 for Assabet, and $45 for Sudbury,
which includes all cheese and wine.
This one-night seminar can help you take the mystery out of cheese and wine selection.
You'll learn how to navigate a cheese counter at your local cheese shop, find out what wine combination works best for you and discover how the addition of different fruit, preserves, honeys, nuts and raisins can greatly improve your cheese experience.
The seminar will include samplings of local and imported cow, goat and sheep's milk artisan cheeses, still and sparkling red and white wine and artisan bread. Please bring a wine glass and a bottle of water to class.
As an added bonus this year, we have expanded the wine portion of the seminar, adding an additional four wines and we will be aided by a wine importer.
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| Discount Policy |
6 bottles+: 10%
12 bottles+: 15%
24 bottles+: 20%
Sale items may be added for quantity discount, but do not receive additional reductions. |
| Hours/Contact |  | |
Sunday: Noon to 6
M-Thr: 10a to 9p
Friday: 10a to 10p
Saturday: 9a to 9p
508-480-9463
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The Newsletter
est. Sept. 16, 2004 | |
2010 Regional Gold Winner Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 |
Hi Folks,
Shake the beach out of your ears and wipe the saltwater from your eyes, what we are about to present is indeed correct, as ridiculous as it sounds:
Our lead story this week and lead offer are connected,  involving the "storied" California estate of Storybook Mountain Vineyards, one of the top 100 wine estates in the world ( Wine & Spirits Magazine).
Our first offer - dinner with Storybook wines, hosted by celebrity Chef Bill Bradley and vineyard manager Rick Williams on Sept. 15 for the ridiculous price of $45.
Our second offer - in anticipation of Rick's visit, we were granted a one-time-only, take it or leave it offer on their 93-point 2005 Storybook Seps Estate Cabernet Sauvignon at a ridiculously low price of $30 a bottle. Regular price is $65. Here's the catch - there are only 36 bottles remaining. More details on the wine in our left-hand column.
Now, back to just routine sensational news - we're getting closer to our 6th Anniversary Grand Tasting and Wine Sale. Details below on the event, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Coral Seafood. Tickets are $10 and are limited.
Yes! Another week of A Bucket o' Suds. It worked so well  the first week, we will repeat it -- the new season of brews is among us and we shall make it easy for you to sample the best Harvest beers. A single-bottle selection of Oktoberfest and Pumpkins will be in the front barrel - all individually priced - so you can create your own sixpack, or threepack, or onesies.
Cheese School: The Vin Bin will present two wine and cheese pairing workshops this fall, one with Assabet After Dark Monday, Oct. 4, from 6:30 to 9, and a new offering at Sudbury Recreation Department Tuesday, Oct. 12. We are stepping up the wine component this year for both workshops to include a wider variety.
Friday Night's Tasting - our pre-Labor Day tasting will include some new Robert Kacher Selections and a new Cabernet Sauvignon we know you will enjoy.
Marlboro's Labor Day festivities will include Sts. Anargyroi's Grecian Festival on Central and Cashman streets.  Look for the Vin Bin table filled with Greek specialties including cheese, coffee, olive oil and chocolate. Festival hours are Saturday-Sunday Noon to 8 p.m., and Monday, Noon to 5 p.m.
The Vin Bin will be open Sunday, Sept. 5, but closed on Monday, Labor Day.
 The Vin Bin is actively seeking new staff for this fall and winter. If you have a passion for wine, cheese or fancy foods we could use you. Call us at 508-480-9463 or stop in.
We look forward to seeing you this weekend,
Cheers!
Rick, Julie, Kim, Erica, Chris, Joyce, Mike, Val, Amy, Erin & Erin, Danielle and Amber.
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Dinner with Storybook
C hef Bill Bradley has established himself as a celebrity in the Greater Boston culinary circles, opening up several award winning restaurants, including his most recent accomplishment - Incontro in Franklin.
He now molds the minds of emerging chefs as he brings his talents to Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts school in Cambridge.
Chef Bill and Storybook Cellars manager Rick Williams are old friends, and, taking advantage of scheduling, have created a wine dinner at Cordon Bleu's restaurant Technique.
Storybook Cellars, located along the mountain ranges  separating Napa from Sonoma, has won critical acclaim in the past 30 years. Known for primarily Zinfandel, Robert Parker said Storybook represented " the pinnacle of wine quality in California, and made one of the six best Zinfandels in the world."
Wine & Spirit Magazine said it was one of the top 100 estates in the world, naming it "Artisan Winery of the Year," as the winery is certified organic.
So between Chef Bill and Storybook's Zinfandels, we are going to have a world class wine dinner. The winery has also agreed to allow diners a chance to purchase wines at discount the night of the dinner, including two wines which are not currently available in Massachusetts - the Viognier and the Zin Gris Rose.
Here's the menu:
Reception
Tuna Crudo with Watermelon and Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Whipped Goat Cheese and Roasted Figs
Grilled Lamb Spiedini with Red Grapes and Moorish Spices
Smoked Game Bird Terrine with Currant Compote
2009 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zin Gris - "Blood of Zinfandel"
Amuse Bouche
2005 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Mayacamas Range Zinfandel
First Course
Pan Seared Salmon with Cippolini Onions, Wilted Greens
With Pine Nuts and Raisin Parsley Vinaigrette
2005 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Eastern Exposure Zinfandel
Main CourseBraised Short Ribs with Thyme Glazed Turnips, Chantenay Carrots and Stone Ground Polenta 2005 Storybook Estate Reserve Zinfandel
DessertCaramelized Braeburn Apples with Bridgids Abbey Cheese Puffs and a Quince-Chiogga Beet Relish 2009 Seps Estate Viognier
Dinner is $45, plus tax and tip.
Reservations: 617.218.8088
Technique Restaurant
at Le Cordon Bleu
Boston College of Culinary Arts
215 First St., Cambridge
Begins at 6 p.m. with Reception.
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Friday Night's Tasting
B ack to old friend Robert Kacher this Friday, and two brand new wines for us from the Domaine de Saint-Antoine, a Merlot and Grenache.
Produced from the fertile vineyards of the Costieres de  Nimes, the wines are lavishly concentrated, allowed to ferment in stainless steel to fortify the fruit, then aged slightly in older oak to round them out, adding a softness of vanilla.
Bobby Kacher imparts his influence on the cuvees made for him, so you know the wines will be pleasing to our palates while maintaining the sense of place.
We will also try the newest vintage of the Domaine de Pouy, certainly not a new wine to Vin Bin Nation, but we get to explore the celebrated 2009 vintage from France. Pouy is the Ugni Blanc - Colombard blend made from the Armagnac vineyards in Gascony.
 And, to welcome the holiday weekend, a hefty Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. Actually, I tried this wine a few weeks ago and was looking for an opportunity to slip it into a tasting.
It's pretty impressive, from Nine North Wine Co., the 2007 Twenty Bench Cabernet. It had what I look for in an affordable Napa Cab, juicy black berries, plumy with chewy deep cherry mint flavors. Very soft tannins.
So, our tasting begins at 5 p.m. Friday, and wines are specially priced for the evening. Please join us.
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Our 6th Anniversary
Wine Tasting and Sale
Saturday, Sept. 18, 2 to 5 p.m.
If it's September, then it's the Vin Bin's annual Grand Wine Tasting. It's our biggest event of the year and each year it grows in popularity.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Sept. 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. as we will take our Grand Tasting into the Coral Seafood Banquet Hall next door.
Last year's event drew more than 500 people. | Among the goodies, more than 60 bottles of wine from every region in the world, from every day value wines to premium collectables
We'll also feature several Massachusetts breweries, with commitments from Mayflower, Haverhill, Berkshire and we await word from the newest member of the store - Elements Brewing Co.
There'll be a spread of local, New England and imported cheeses - a colossal hit last year.
And music -- this year, the Hudson Women of Note acappella chorus will perform along with members of the Middle Eastern band Skordalia.
And best of all - the discounts. Yes, they'll be generous discounts on all wines tasted that day. You can place your orders and stock up for the holidays to come.
We always have new releases in September for items due in the fall. We should have the first of the 2009 Bordeaux as well to try.
Tickets are $10 which will provide you with a souvenir wineglass. If you order a minimum of 12 bottles of wine, we will refund your $10 - and you keep the glass.
Tickets are limited. You may buy your tickets now at the Vin Bin.
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 "We all must have a belief in something...I believe I'll have another glass of wine"
Cheers!
Rick and Julie Lombardi
The Vin Bin |
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