If I Could Buy Only One – Sept 17th, 2016 VINTAGES Release

As part of our VINTAGES recap for September 17th, we asked our critics:

“If you could buy only one wine from this release – which one would it be and why?”

Here’s what they had to say about the release. You can find their complete reviews, scores and store inventory by clicking the highlighted wine name or bottle image below.

Our “If you could buy only one wine” picks from the September 17th VINTAGES release:

John Szabo, MS – Álvaro Castro of Quinta de Saes (and sister property Quinta da Pellada) is a bit of a cult figure in Portugal, and increasingly outside, too. The reason is simple: his wines are great. I’d love to have a case of his 2013 Quinta de Saes Red at home for those special occasions, which only happen once a day or so. It’s a typical blend of touriga nacional, jaen and tinto roriz, highly versatile at the table (pizza/pasta in red sauce, stews, roasts, grills, BBQed ribs, you name it), light-medium-bodied, and low in tannin and wood impact. Serve with a light chill.

David Lawrason – I have long sensed that the white wines of Italy’s northeastern Collio region – up against the Slovenian border – are among the best whites in the world, with an exquisite elegance. I can’t say this is categorically true because so few come to Ontario (they are too pricey and unbeknownst).  Nor have I visited this region. But I did taste several in one sitting years ago at VinItaly, and the memory remains. Schiopetto 2013 Sauvignon is seamless yet powerful and shows some minerality. But it is the exotic sauvignon expression that is most beguiling. A litany of unusual, and in the end effective flavours that you just have try for yourself. And it helps that Schiopetto is a leading light in the region. All this for less than $35. When brainteasers like this cross a wine lover’s doorstep you need to pounce.

Michael Godel – Wines that deliver a sense of place or, as we like to refer to it here in Ontario as “somewhereness,” always seem to stand out. The switchboard for the ideal is in Burgundy where the intrinsic reality is calculated in climats, that is, plots or blocks defined by the confluence of place, geology, slope, aspect and climate. This Simonnet Febvre & Fils Côte de Lechet Chablis 1er Cru 2013 is a striking Chablis, drawn out of an atypical vintage and from the venerable Kimmeridgian soils of the left bank climat. In Ontario there are Petit Chablis and Chablis always available on the LCBO’s General List. At any given time there are more Chablis, Premier and Grand Cru floating about in various VINTAGES locations. Only one can be found on the VINTAGES Essentials list and yet it is arguably the most essential white wine. What’s up with that? Has anyone ever spent a moment of regret on a single Chablis purchase from an Ontario store? You won’t regret spending $44 on this pitch perfect Côte de Lechet.

Sara d’Amato – I find it difficult to pass up a good value bubbly and Antech’s Blanquette de Limoux is one of my house staples. At under $20 it delivers elegance and nervy vibrancy but also a hint of buttery brioche which is wholly satisfying. Made from the aromatic blanquette grape variety, also known as mauzac, it is often blend with a touch of chardonnay and chenin blanc. The sparkling wines of Languedoc’s Limoux are worthy of more attention than they often get and the house of Antech is one of the leading producers.

Use these quick links for immediate access to all of our Top Picks in the New Release.

Szabo’s VINTAGES Preview – Ontario Harvest & Top Ontario

Buyers’ Guide to VINTAGES – Gutsy Global Finds

Sara’s Sommelier Selections
Lawrason’s Take
Michael’s Mix
Szabo’s Smart Buys
All September 17th Reviews