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.”