If I Could Buy Only One – April 3rd VINTAGES Release

We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?”

Michael Godel – Planeta’s 2018 Frappato Vittoria is surely one of winemaker Patricia Tóth’s secret weapons, a charming and subtle varietal wine with the heart of a lion. It is one of the Island’s most consistent, combining creamy texture with acid vitality, all with the intention of elevating frappato to superstar status. This is a great and most wonderful grape, the OZ of Sicilia and more people need to know it by name. Welcome to an easy, almost perfect vintage for the effulgent one and while Cru Beaujolais gamay is surely the kinship (especially floral Saint-Amour) methinks this is a vintage to just think about frappato. Standing alone, regal and tall. This will drink in all weather, but a slightly chilled glass in the sunshine might just simulate an authentic Piazza Bologni, Palermo experience.

(#508655, $24.95, Noble Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.)

David Lawrason – Wines from the most famous appellation of the southern Rhone, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, can vary greatly in style and quality because it is a large region with hundreds of producers who have options to use up to 13 grape varieties. And I love the style and quality here. As any region becomes “premium” I am looking for more than just weight and flavour. I want some elegance and of course great depth. And this Château Mont-Redon steps up to the plate. It is a very stylish, structured and almost profound Châteauneuf that is about five years from prime. It just needs to unwind and soften a bit but all the pieces are in place. The nose shows classic, complex, youthful plum jam fruit, soft lavender, pepper, licorice and dried herbs. It is full bodied, smooth, dense and even with fine tannins and wet stones. The length is excellent.

(#959627, $56.95, Family Wine Merchants)

John Szabo – My only one takes me to France this week to discover a terrific red that serves as a bridge between syrah and shiraz, old world and new. The Domaine du Murinais Les Amandiers Crozes Hermitage 2019 is an arch-classic Northern Rhône syrah with its gamey, salami, cracked pepper and meaty notes, yet the heat of the 2019 yielded unusually dark and voluptuous fruit, thickly coating the palate, and generous 14.5% alcohol. As such, it fills a gap between the more full-on jamminess of many new world examples (i.e. Barossa Valley), and the leaner, iron and iodine-flavoured, more severe old world. N. Rhône style. In other words, everyone will love this wine.

(#19055 $29.95, H.H.D Imports)

Sara d’Amato – This week I’m looking forward to something refreshing, juicy and uncomplicated to kick off the spring break and the Vesevo Beneventano Falanghina 2019 is just the ticket. Nervy and lightly tropical with fleshy white pear and citrus zest brimming on palate, this is spring in a glass. Showing spot-on varietal character, light in weight and spirited with a tangy saltiness on the lingering finish.

(#289538, $16.95, Profile Wine Group)

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
Sara’s Sommelier Selections