If I Could Buy Only One – January 9th VINTAGES Release

If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?

Nals Margreid Punggl 2018 Pinot Grigio, Südtirol-Alto Adige, Italy
$31.95, Mondo Vino
David Lawrason – For most of my career I have been only moderately enthusiastic about Italian pinot grigio as a genre. Because the vast majority, even though improved recently, are fairly simple wines. Likeable, refreshing and clean, but simple.  But here, from the higher altitude Alto Adige in a warm vintage, comes a very fine and sophisticated pinot grigio with a generous nose in full bloom. There is lovely ripe yellow pear aroma nicely meshed with white flowers, clover honey and some leesy character. It is medium-full bodied, substantial yet lively and vaguely spritzed with excellent flavour focus and length. It is more expensive than most grigio’s to arrive on our shores, but to me, worth every cent.


Mastroberardino 2018 Aglianico, IGT Campania, Italy
$23.95, Profile Wine Group
John Szabo – “January seems as good a time as any to try something new, so consider the Mastroberardino Aglianico 2018. Mastroberardino family has been making wine since the 1700s and were officially incorporated in 1888. But more important than their long history is the family’s long-term commitment to the native varieties of Campania, resisting the post-war urge to plant more fashionable French varieties. Aglianico has survived, and thrived, in large part to their efforts. And thank goodness, as it’s surely one of southern Italy’s, and Italy’s, greatest red grapes, planted since Pompeii was a thriving trading town. It’s also a perfect winter red: dark, firm, chewy, swarthy even, with plenty of tannins and sour cherry acids wrapped around a core of wild red and black fruit and pot pourri.  Be sure to decant and serve with salty protein; $20 gets you a taste of history.”


Château Pierre de Montignac 2015, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
$25.95, Charton Hobbs
Sara d’Amato– This Cru Bourgeois Médoc has really come into its own offering an impressive degree of complex bottle aged character and structure for a relatively small price. Representative, polished and still with a wealth of fruit remaining on the palate. Ready to enjoy now with a wintry stew.

Heartland Stickleback 2018 Red, Langhorne Creek, South Australia
$14.95, The Vine Agency
Michael Godello – Value and being gifted as much wine for the money is a January rite of passage and that is why the $15 Heartland Stickleback Red 2018 is an ideal only one pick. That and an obscure reference to a 1974 British progressive art rock band’s musical opus. Stickleback, as in a bony, scaleless fish, definitely not kosher and as per Genesis, a lyric in Carpet Crawlers from the double album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. In the form of wine it is a haughty red blend of pulsating acidity that casually swims upstream, though with force and determination. Tart and demonstrative, well crafted, delineated and balanced. Warm, warm finish. Quite satisfying. Can’t help but think of the only known (commercial) music reference “The liquid has congealed, which has seeped out through the crack, and the tickler takes his stickleback, back, back.”


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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
John’s Top Picks
Michael’s Mix
Sara’s Sommelier Selections

New Release and VINTAGES Preview

 


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