If I Could Buy Only One – June 10th, 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 June 10th VINTAGES release:

Michael Godel – Here in this tidiest and yet wildly formidable $16 package is where the most excellent twain of syrah plus grenache and carignan meet. With respect to the M. Chapoutier 2015 Les Vignes de Bila Haut it would be hard to decide which factors in more; the wealth of exceptional vineyards in an embarrassment of terroir riches or simply flawless, larger scale winemaking. I’d wager heavily a combination of the two. Pure blackberries ride on peppery pins and needles. This is a perfect vintage for the Bila Haut, a modern and high diversity-driven red. How so much wine can be provided for so little is beyond me.

David Lawrason – Great to see a big malbec maturing so well. Which leads me to conclude that perhaps the French ownership of this grand winery within the Clos de Los Siete enclave has somehow built an expectation of ageing ability into this wine. If so, more Argentine producers should be going to school. Diamandes de Uco 2008 Gran Reserva has the most impressive, intense aromatics of any wine on this release – lovely blackberry fruit is perfectly etched with herbs, oak resin, vanillin. It is full bodied to be sure, quite dense, warm and rich on the palate, with some heat on the finish. The length is excellent. This is a BIG wine, with character and extension. And it is more than fairly priced for the quality delivered.

John Szabo, MS – Ahh, would that this endless April finally cede to the sunshine and warmth of a proper June… For that eventuality, a perfect summer sipper at a price keen enough to stock up on is the Semeli 2016 Feast Moschofilero from the Peloponnese in Greece. There’s plenty of character here for $12.95 in a light and fresh, breezy, very aromatic and floral style, which would make many a pinot grigio blush in embarrassment. The palate is perfectly light bodied and lean, crisp, crunchy, and low alcohol (12%), tailor-made for patio/deck/dock/terrace sipping. I’d happily even spritz this up.

Sara d’Amato – Second best to being on the French Riviera is the aroma of lavender and thyme in a glass of perfectly pink Provençal rosé. My plan is to stock up this weekend on Château Léoube’s Rosé de Léoube. Léoube’s wine and olive oil maker is Romain Ott of the Ott dynasty, one might call him “Côtes d’Azur royalty”. Romain left the famed Domaines Ott around the time it was appropriated by Louis Roederer in 2004. The 2016 Rosé de Léoube is a blend of organically grown grenache and cinsault with a hint of syrah and mourvèdre. Crystalline soils, Mediterranean sea breezes, little rainfall and perma-sunshine are largely responsible for the stylish, pale, dry wines of the Côtes de Provence. Buy some for now and some for later this year when rosé on the shelves of the LCBO is mostly dried up.

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.

Sara’s Sommelier Selections
Lawrason’s Take
Michael’s Mix
Szabo’s Smart Buys