If I Could Buy Only One – April 13th Vintages Release
We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from the April 13th release, which one would it be and why?”
Le Serre Nuove Dell’ornellaia 2021, Tuscany, Italy
$78.95, Mark Anthony Group
Megha Jandhyala – My “only one” this week is the 2021 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia. The second wine of acclaimed Tuscan producer, Ornellaia, and the product of an excellent vintage, this Bordeaux-inspired blend is self-possessed, enchanting, and concentrated. It is steeped in a multiplicity of flavours, including plush red plums, blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco, dried herbs, violets, nutmeg, vanilla, and cloves. Already complex, refined, and elegant, it will only improve with a few years in a cellar. To me, this exceptional, age-worthy wine is well worth its premium price – I would buy a couple of bottles of it for special celebrations over the next decade.
Fontodi Chianti Classico 2020, Tuscany, Italy
$44.95, Rogers & Company
Michael Godel – The vintage marks 40 years of experience for proprietor Giovanni Manetti and it’s a big one in so many ways. The 2020 is definitely richer and also showing more overt structure from the Panzano UGA, especially when you look at this Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG 2020 Annata side by side with the Manetti’s (Filetta di Lamole), and yet the vintage kinship is organized like cousins with familial ties. Not hard to find high acid from 2020 and so all together there are many parts to put this vintage in the arena of long age-ability. Apt and ample viscosity makes for a mouthful of sangiovese and the variety always remains at the heart of a Classico by Fontodi. People, this is quintessential Chianti Classico that deserves a place in your cellar.
Château La Thébaïde 2021, Rhône, France
$34.95, PV Wines & Spirits
David Lawrason – Reasons for my “only one” vary, but usually include some personal stylistic preference, and long time readers will recognize that southern Rhone reds are a style I like. There is most often excellent value involved as well. Gigondas is more expensive than neighbouring village appellations, but almost always shows more finesse, which is the ticket here. It comes from the rare blending of 65% grenache and 35% mourvedre, with no syrah in the mix. So, it shows a very pretty nose of grenache strawberry and mourvedre blackberry jam with well integrated rose florals, fine pepper and oak spice. It is open and lush up front then the mourvedre rigidity and tannin on the finish. So it is offering two worlds in one, and it is done very nicely. I would be tempted to buy more than one, and set this aside for ageing through to 2030.
Freire Lobo Vigno Branco 2021, Dão, Portugal
$17.95, Terra Firma Brands
Sara d’Amato – For those unfamiliar with encruzado, the gem of Portugal’s mountainous Dão region, this high-elevation grown blend is a terrific introduction at under $20. Elisa Freire Lobo was one of the first female winemakers in the region and uses both organic and biodynamic practices to enhance her traditional growing and production methods. Notes of peach, melon and elderflower are typical of this encruzado-led blend that features an undercurrent of racy acidity balanced by creamy lees on the palate. Salty, briny and quite dry. A textural delight.
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
Megha’s Picks
Michael’s Mix
Sara’s Selections
