If I Could Buy Only One – Feb 2, 2019 VINTAGES Release

For the Feb 2nd VINTAGES release, we asked: “If you could buy only one wine from this release – which one would it be and why?”

David Lawrason: Marchand Tawse Côtes De Nuits Villages 2015, Burgundy, France ($39.95)
This is a fine pinot from an excellent vintage, and I almost prepared to call a good value – a rare accolade for Burgundy. From higher elevations up and behind the main vineyards of the Cotes de Nuits this has a lovely fragrant and piquant nose of pomegranate/raspberry with wild forest/lichen, very fine oak spice, vanillin and a touch of resin. It is light to medium bodied, very firm and attenuated but not too sour or tannic. This has laser focus, excellent balance, minerality and excellent length.

Michael Godel: The first Monte Olmo was 1964 so now here we are with the Tedeschi Capitel Monte Olmi Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2012 nearly 50 years into the legacy for one of Amarone’s most seminal wines. The two point fivehectare plot lies in the southwest part of the Classica area. It is now a 10,000 bottle per year production, made from roughly 30-plus per cent each corvina, corvinone and rondinella plus five per cent made up of oseleta and three other endemic varieties. The oldest blocks of Monte Olmi are employed and the ferments head into grandi botti for four years. Let’s say this. Riccardo Tedeschi knows tradition, family values and what needs to be done with this special hand me down. It’s now expressly his and 2012 may just be the first to tie it all together, in his image and in his way. It’s 17 per cent alcohol because the vintage insists on the accumulation and yet the balance is spot on. Perfect fruit and expressive acids ensure that everything gets on the same page. This Amarone will live into infamy.

Sara d’Amato: Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône 2016, Rhône, France, ($29.95)

Just steps away from the stony soil that grows the revered wines of Beaucastel of Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes this rich and endearing blend at a serious value. Its intensity is balanced by and underlying freshness and it remains balanced enough for immediate consumption. The ripe tannic grip can keep it alive for another half decade or more but why wait? The fresh youthful, tender fruit on the palate delivers immense appeal. A mid-week hedonist treat – yes please!

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Lawrason’s Take
Michael’s Mix
Sara’s Sommelier Selections