If I Could Buy Only One – July 7th, 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 July 7th VINTAGES release:

Sara d’Amato: This fresh, ethereal and effortlessly enjoyable Bardolino from Monte del Frá is summer ready – perfect for poolside barbecues and al fresco rendezvous. After a lightly chilled glass, you may wonder why you would drink anything else this summer. A typical blend of corvina, rondinella, and a hint sangiovese planted to the east of Lake Garda on the Veronese shores. Buy it, drink it and don’t overthink it.

Monte Del Frá Bardolino 2016

David Lawrason: Long time readers may recognize my soft spot for Vacqueyras, a small appellation that makes quite rich, hearty, sometimes rustic grenache-based reds. Not as refined as Chateauneuf or Gigondas, but there is something soulful about the wines. The Lavau 2014 Vacqueyras is a generous, almost opulent example with very pretty aromas of floral violet, ripe plum and well-integrated pepper and fresh herbs. The ripeness is close to perfection. It is full bodied, rounded, fairly dense and rich and smooth with fine tannin. Deep fruit here; very good to excellent length. And excellent value.

Lavau Vacqueyras 2014

Michael Godel: When the weather throws this much heat on repeat and you still want to drink red wine it’s just got be gamay. Other light red grapes will do but from this VINTAGES release the Baptiste & Laurent 2015 Le Meilleur Des 2 Mondes Saint Amour is the answer. Dark yet bright, rich yet savoury and tart while in control of its fruit. These are the tenets of structure and finance for gamay that while well-extracted stays humble and true to its quaffable and affable roots. Saint-Amour brings the Bojo love with a proper and respectful oeuvre.

Baptiste & Laurent Le Meilleur Des 2 Mondes Saint Amour 2015

John Szabo, MS: My pick this week goes to the excellent 2010 Antica Hirpinia Taurasi. Hirpinia refers to the modern region of Irpinia, a hilly area heavily laced with volcanic ash around the town of Avellino inland from Naples. This is the home of DOCG Taurasi is, one of the three main (and most important) growing regions for Aglianico. The grape is widely considered one of southern Italy’s finest red varieties with a history that stretches back to the Greeks – the name is an Italian corruption of ellenico, meaning “from Greece”, even if the grape is no longer found there. This is a beautifully mature example, full of wild violet and hibiscus – beguilingly perfumed – also with plenty of dark fruit, earth, burnt rubber, hot rocks and more, a wild aromatic ride. It’s full, savoury, firm but not hard, with excellent length, drinking really well now, and with complexity that would make many a Brunello or Barolo shy. Best 2018-2025.

Antica Hirpinia Taurasi 2010

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Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay 2016

 

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

New Release and VINTAGES Preview