If I Could Buy Only One – Jan 6th, 2018 VINTAGES Release

As part of our VINTAGES recap, we asked our critics: “If you could buy only one wine from this release – which one would it be and why?”

Our picks from the January 6th VINTAGES release:

David Lawrason: Like most I will be financially circumspect about any wine purchases at this time of year. Unlike most, I suspect, I am a fan of good white Bordeaux. So I am delighted to find a quite classy example sitting on the shelf this weekend for under $20. It is a blend of 65% sauvignon and 35% semillon from an estate 60 kms southeast of Bordeaux in the Entre-Deux-Mers region. The property was purchased by the Sichel family, with attention paid to vineyard refurbishment. So considerable experience and resources have been brought to this project, and the result shows in a stylish, exacting wine that rings very true to the overall “Graves” style of this more inland region. You can almost smell the pine forest. In any event, the Château d’Argadens Blanc 2016 is a bargain. I would have expected to pay double. (By the way, my WineAlign colleagues seem to have experienced a bottle with considerable sulphur. At a different tasting at a different time I did not encounter this issue)

Sara d’Amato: If you’re tapped out after the holidays but are still looking for a big, comforting red with which to hibernate through this cold period then Courtois La Source is your answer. Domaine Courtois is owned by the Jaume family, responsible for many a great value in the southern Rhône, and this is no exception. The grapes are sourced from a relatively high elevation site in Vinsobres and highlight some seriously aromatic syrah as well as licorice flavoured grenache. This widely appealing Côtes-du-Rhône will make the choice of opening a second bottle an easy one.

Michael Godel: Villa Trasqua Chianti Classico 2013 from the Hulsbergen brothers (Alan and Sven) is an example of the new 100 per cent sangiovese echelon of Chianti Classico from naturally rippling and undulating vineyards in Castellina in Chianti. I have to admit to fully agreeing with Sven when he tells me “you can drink this with red sauce.” I did in fact taste it alongside one prepared by him at the estate. The round, soft yet structured CC was, for the vintage and the pasta a perfect match. It’s that simple and you should try it, on a Monday night, as we did, in Chianti Classico, or anywhere else.

Use these quick links for access to all of our Top Picks in the New Release. Non-Premium members can select from all release dates 30 days prior.

Michael’s Mix
Szabo’s Smart Buys
Sara’s Sommelier Selections