If I Could Buy Only One – August 16th Vintages Release

We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from the August 16th release, which one would it be and why?”

Mullineux Old Vines White Wo Swartland 2024, South Africa
$39.95, Nicholas Pearce Wines Inc.
Michael Godel – The current and modern South African recursions of blending white varieties off of old vine plantings is a Swartland specialty that dates back approximately 25 or so years. Mullineux is entrenched in the revolution and the Mullineux Old Vines White WO Swartland 2024 has long been a going concern. Andrea and Chris Mullineux’s takes often provide more elegant solutions to certain problems with successes just as impressive as efficiencies. They generally look to two-thirds chenin blanc, with smaller proportions of clairette blanche, grenache blanc, semillon, viognier, and verdelho. Where else in the world can vine-growing and maturing experience from ancient soils and so many thriving grape varieties add up to this much complexity and pleasure? The 2024 is about as concentrated and fruit-centric as any, while the underlying mineral thematic controls the wine’s manifest destiny. This will be fascinating to taste eight to ten years from now and also each and every step along the way.

Kir Yianni Ramnista Xinomavro 2020, Naoussa, Greece
$38.95, Kolonaki Group Inc
John Szabo – If longevity – the potential to evolve and develop favourably over time into something even more compelling, is part of your definition of fine wine – then consider buying a few bottles of my ‘only one’ this week: Kir Yianni Ramnista Xinomavro 2020. I’ve had 20+ year old bottles from this single vineyard in northern Greece and I can report that it ages magnificently, most recently a 1999 just a couple of months ago, which was stunning. I can also say that more current vintages, like this 2020, are even better. The late Yiannis Boutari, founder of the Kir-Yianni estate, was undoubtedly a pioneer and key figure in reviving and promoting the fortunes of the Naoussa appellation, and especially its protagonist red variety xinomavro, clearly one of the country’s best. The grape bears a resemblance to the nebbiolo of Piedmont in its pale garnet colour and abundance of acids and tannins, and also its potential longevity, which at this price is very rare indeed. But this example also shows thorough ripeness and less rusticity than bottlings of yore, also more profound fruit, and depth of flavour and length. You needn’t wait a quarter-century to drink, but you could; better yet, buy multiple bottles and follow over the next 10-20 years.

Alléno & Chapoutier Croix De Chabot Blanc 2023, Rhône, France
$39.95, Profile Wine Group (Vin Vino)
David Lawrason – We are allowed some sentimentality in this ‘only one’ exercise. Not just the ‘best wine’ or the ‘best value’. But when quality and value combine with good memories, respect for the winery, and the delivery of something fairly classic yet rare, I just must take advantage. On my first visit to Chapoutier almost 40 years ago a Canadian flag was flying at the gate and enjoyed a great lunch an tasting, capped by tasting a mature white Hermitage “Chante-Alouette” made from the marsanne grape. This not Hermitage, or even Crozes-Hermitage, but it is 100% marsanne from 30 year-old vines growing on granite and granite sands in Saint-Joseph, just across the Rhone River. It was aged in 600-litre barrels on the fermentation lees for 7 months. There is a real sense of grace and richness here. The nose is complex, well integrated with apricot, vague marmalade, honeysuckle, fennel and wood spice. Quite exotic. It is medium-full bodied, almost creamy yet elegant, with a terrific mineral underpinning. The length is excellent to outstanding. It will age 10 years but not required. There were decent stocks in Vintages Flagship stores on publication.

Renieri Re Di Renieri 2021, Tuscany, Italy
$61.95, Connexion Oenophilia
Megha Jandhyala – If I could buy only one wine from the most recent Vintages release, I would splurge on a bottle of the 2021 Renieri Re di Renieri. My favourite thing about this blend of Bordeaux varieties from Tuscany is its intensely aromatic and concentrated flavour profile. Cedar, vanilla bean, black cardamom, dark cherries, blackberries, dark plums, and dried herbs are just some of the flavours on display here. Potent and spry, with firm, grippy tannins, this wine is still in its adolescence. A couple of years in the cellar though, and it will mellow and integrate, morphing into a state of velvety refinement, whilst retaining its concentration and complexity.

Use these quick links for access to all of our August 16th Top Picks in the New Release. Non-premium members can select from all release dates 30 days prior.

John’s Top Picks – August 16th
Lawrason’s Take – August 16th
Megha’s Picks – August 16th
Michael’s Mix – August 16th