If I Could Buy Only One – October 5th Vintages Release

We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from the October 5th release for Thanksgiving, which one would it be and why?”

Barbeito 5 Year Old Malvasia Reserva, Madeira, Portugal
$17.95, Le Sommelier Inc.
Michael Godel – This Barbeito 5 Year Old Malvasia Reserva, DOP Maderia, Portugal is your must buy because a Madeira with this level of complexity without paying even a small fortune is unheard of. The nose is bloody fantastic, orange in marmalade, evergreen after a rain and a Portuguese snack cart with the smell of warm nuts wafting in the air. A wow nose if ever a Madeira wanted your attention with that orange burst which could only come from heritage varieties grown on what handful of trees are left in this world. The nuttiness is so subtle and so purposefully powerful without trying. Still such a subtle example of Madeira and multi-purposeful for more than just a bowl nuts. Yes this is dessert wine but it can and should be so versatile so do not be afraid to taste this alongside some aged meat, beef, game or dried as ham, also winter sausage. Sip it late night, sip it anytime. The wine no longer needs to be in the glass to smell it halfway across the room.

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Use these quick links for access to all of our October 5th Top Picks in the New Release. Non-Premium members can select from all release dates 30 days prior.
Lawrason’s Take – October 5th
Megha’s Picks – October 5th
Michael’s Mix – October 5th
Szabo’s Smart Buys – October 5th

If I could buy only one...