If I Could Buy Only One – Aug 19th, 2017 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 Aug 19th VINTAGES release:

Michael Godel: The warm weather certainly stresses the ideal but most days I want to be able to taste the clarity of fruit in my glass of red wine. In fact the warmer the weather the lighter and colder I want my red wine to be and yet it still has to carry some confidence and power. I also want it to play nice with the food I choose to eat alongside. Le Secret Des Capitelles Saint Chinian 2014 is a lovely and restrained blend of grenache and syrah from Saint-Chinian, less viscous and syrupy than so many appellative brethren and sistren from near and far. There is a definite streak of brushy, bay garrigue, plus fennel, lavender and rosemary. It’s a veritable herb garden in a glass with light but powerful blackberry fruit. I for one totally appreciate the lightness of Saint Chinian being.

John Szabo, MS: This week’s ‘only one’ was easy to pick: Raats 2016 Original Chenin Blanc Unwooded. For late summer sipping, it’s well nigh perfect, and another prime example of South Africa’s extreme value. Bruwer and his cousin Gavin Raats are chenin and cabernet franc specialists, sourcing grapes from specific soil types and old, low-yielding vineyards in Stellenbosch, Paarl, Durbanville Hills and Paardeberg. Vines are on average 25 years old, grown 250m above sea level. The 2016 “Original” unwooded old vines Chenin from a blend of such sites offers fabulous aromatics, dripping with ripe citrus, melon and apple fruit, with excellent length and depth and appealing sapidity. Carafe and serve chilled for maximum effect.

David Lawrason: I have awarded this very fine Il Grappolo Sassocheto Brunello Di Montalcino 2010 the highest score of any wine in this release. It was a complete surprise as I moved along the tasting bench – with arresting aromas of a classic Euro red. My review goes into all the complexties. I had not heard of this property and had no expectation. And then came that firm yet elegant structure achieved only in great years. So many Euro 2010s have it, so I urge you to keep your eyes peeled as they continue to pop up on shelf. As I tasted it, and enjoyed its excellent length, I said to myself, now here’s a wine would love to have on hand to pull out of the cellar when I really wanted to simply enjoy, rather than analyse, fine aged red. Without paying a crazy price.

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.

Szabo’s Smart Buys
Lawrason’s Take
Michael’s Mix