If I Could Buy Only One – November 14th VINTAGES Release

If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?

Domaine du Chêne 2017 Saint-Joseph, Rhône, France
$29.95, Marchands des Ameriques Inc.

Michael Godel- It is rare to be gifted this level of concentration and quality in syrah at this price from the northern Rhône so get woke and make note of this lovely wine. Domaine du Chêne Saint-Joseph is indeed deep, dark, muscular, chiseled and handsome one and also tannic, but there is a softness in its belly. It’s also so bearable at 13 per cent alcohol. Already showing the light because of a vintage that sheds fat and anger early so this will just be amazing over the next three to five years.

Pieropan Vigna Garzon 2015 Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG, Veneto, Italy
$63.95, Von Terra Enterprises

David Lawrason – I am not an Amarone enthusiast or collector. There is something about amarone’s beefed up character, often raisined with borderline sweetness that dissuades me, and distracts me from the aromas and flavours. But this is a very compelling wine, with fine detail and complexity – with nicely arrayed very ripe cherry, rosemary-like herbality, maturing leather and pepper. It hides it 16.5% alcohol so well and the length is outstanding. All in all earning a 95 point rating.

John Szabo –“ For my “only one” this week, I’m going big: Pieropan 2015 Vigna Garzon Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG – It’s a perfect wine for any collectors on your gift list this holiday season, a wine that says “let’s be friends for a long time”. Recommend they cellar it at least 3-5 years, though even longer would be preferable. Hopefully you’ll still be still friends in the 2030s when this reaches full maturity, and you get a call to enjoy it together. The grapes here are from Pieropan’s Garzon vineyard, purchased as a virgin parcel high up in the Val d’IIlasi at near 400m, and planted in 2000 on pure limestone. It’s a classic in the genre.”