If I Could Buy Only One – Oct 13th, 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 Oct 13th VINTAGES release:

Michael Godel: Just the word Dolomiti gets me focused on what’s in the glass and for $14 this varietal Teroldego Vigneti Delle Dolomiti is more than just a passing interest. A light alcohol frame for very ripe fruit with the coolest stony, herbal and intense streak really hits the mark. It’s also a bit tannic with quite a peppery bite. Think cool-climate syrah with a chalkier, albeit liquid floral feel. Great interest and value here. Gonna be some teroldego nights this coming winter.

David Lawrason: Zowie! You may not be hankering for this style of wine in October in Ontario. But there is always next spring, and this Dr. Pauly Bergweiler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett is delicious. It is a racy yet refined riesling with very lively acidity, a touch of Co2 spritz and a fine sense of minerality. The nose is lifted with classic Mosel flint, lemon-lime, granny smith apple and honeysuckle. It is light bodied at a mere 7.5% alcohol, off-dry yet nicely taut and nervy. The length is excellent. So undervalued!

Sara d’Amato: The chill in the air has me in the mood for a spicy, muscular red this week. A higher proportion of syrah than the norm in Gigondas gives Meffre’s Sainte Catherine a rather pronounced note of black pepper spice lending an almost northern Rhône feel to this red blend. This warm vintage was carefully managed resulting in aromatic, well-defined wine. Broody with a sensual musk, black currant fruit and a touch of smoke are perfectly complimentary. Ultimately compelling with great length.

John Szabo – The smell of good wine is often immediately recognizable, before cognition can catch up and make sense of it all. This Henschke Henry’s Seven wine is such a case. It smells good, and then one sets about unravelling the why and how. At first it’s pure, neither encumbered by wood or clumsy, overripe fruit. The perfume fills the nostrils and titillates the olfactory bulb at many points, equally dispersed and spread about. The palate shows that elegance and finesse, that fine-grained tannic structure, that savory-saltiness that only comes from careful cultivation in a great terroir. Length and depth, and complexity, are exceptional. This is wine (and value) of the highest order, a blend of grenache-shiraz-mataro and viognier. Best 2018-2025.

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.

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