If I Could Buy Only One – March 18 VINTAGES Release

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

($19.95, The Vine Agency)
Sara d’Amato – Known as “le géant de Provence”, the imposing Mont Ventoux in the southeast of the Rhône Valley is home to some exceptional values in the region and is a go-to for me when I’m looking for everyday whites, rosés and reds. The mountain is technically part of the Alps but it stands notably apart providing shade, elevation and slope to its vines resulting in fresher styles that are less alcoholic, especially when planted on the western aspect. The Pesquié Édition 1912M Ventoux 2020 red is a typical blend of grenache with a healty dose of syrah that tends to be particuarly aromatic in Ventoux. Generous, perfumed and licorice-tinged with substance but not heavy, featuring suppple tannins and lingering flavours of Strawberry, sweetly ripened cherry and violet.

($19.95, Connexion Oenophilia)
Michael Godel – Really quite interesting to see this Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon 2017 released in VINTAGES two years after the winery’s 2018 but the proof and reasons are in the pudding. Hunter Valley’s sémillon are legendary and Margan,s represent the value gateway but some seasons are simply better than others. Less candied components from ’17 and a more serious, structured and time delivered varietal wine suggests that two (or even three) extra years did well to show us what’s up. Moving away from hints, suspicions and temptations towards a varietal speak that’s clear and succinct, in saltiness, petrol emission and newly minted intensity. Some vintages produce stars and at $19.95 this is just about as good as it gets for age-worthy Hunter Valley sémillon.

Megha Jandhyala – My “Only One” this week is the Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon 2017. Established in 1996, Margan is a family-owned winery based in Broke, Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region. All their wines are sustainably farmed and made. At under $20, this sémillon represents excellent value and a great opportunity to explore the variety for those less familiar with it. The nose is expressive and inviting, but the palate is what really speaks to me. I really like its captivating, rich, melodious tones of lemon oil, beeswax, ripe grapefruit, and lime zest. Its texture too, is alluring, mellifluous, yet pulled taut by focussed, linear acidity. I have bought a couple of bottles that I am looking forward to trying with creamy, tangy, sauces delicately infused with spices like malai kofta and navratan korma.

($17.95)
David Lawrason – ……And my mission was stock up for spring and summer, I would consider a case of Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2022 from Argentina. Having spent a week in late February in the northern wine region of Cafayate, I became addicted to a well chilled glass or two of torrontes to kick off every meal. It is the mainstay white of this low latitude (26south) and high elevation (1800metre) Andean enclave in the province of Salta. Torrontes an very aromatic off-shoot of the criolla and muscat varieties that when well made delivers purity, exuberance and balance in a dry to vaguely off-dry style. There is certainly lots of fruit – tropical and citrus (lime, pomelo, mandarin) with subtle fresh herbs (thyme, basil). It is medium weight, lively and juicy but not the least tart. A great spring fling.

($23.55, John Hanna & Sons Limited)
John Szabo – One to try this week: Lustau Escuadrilla Rare Amontillado Sherry. Here’s my pitch for this superb amontillado, one of Lustau’s rarest sherries, from a solera with an average age of about 12 years. With the icy grip of winter still clinging on, this will warm the heart and soul. It’s a marvel of depth and complexity, medicinal and tonic, intensely flavoured beyond the mean at this price, with exceptional length. The sort of wine to chill lightly and pull out with the cheese board, to enjoy slowly, in small sips.