If I Could Buy Only One – November 28th VINTAGES Release

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

Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2013 Brunello Di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
$64.95, Le Sommelier
David Lawrason – It’s amazing how wine can evoke such specific memories. I visited this important estate in August 2007, and enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Donatella and her daughter. It was elegant but charmingly simple and very convivial. But before lunch I was in tasting mode, going through recent releases, and I remember being stopped in my tracks by the fragrance of one wine, but I don’t remember the specific label.  How complete and sensorial it was.  Well, it happened again with this bottling. This is what we all want every red wine to be. A very elegant, perfumed and fine Brunello from a leading estate. The nose wafts very finely tuned and complex currants, raspberry, spice, fresh herbs and florals. It is medium-full bodied, very smooth with fine acidity, warmth and spice on the palate. Tannins have melted nicely but maintain a gentle grip. The length is excellent to outstanding. I would enjoy at it at will over the next three years. I can’t see age actually improving it.

Charles Baker Picone Vineyard 2017 Riesling, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
$37.20, Stratus Vineyards
Michael Godel- The concept behind this single vineyard wine, is for the top tier one to be possessive in the matters of majestic and dignified, which quite honestly it is. Funny vintage that ’17 was and yet in riesling there can be this slow melt, tide and release of intricacy and intimacy, which this Picone does. Like taking a picture with the slowest shutter speed, allowing the sensor a full allotment of time in its exposure to light. This is the dramatic and hyper-effect and how Baker captured the highest riesling resolution imaginable. The succulence in the acids over top juicy, juicy fruit and this great entanglement is majestic and dignified. My goodness Charles, I think you’ve done it.

Tenuta Sette Ponti 2017 ORENO IGT Toscana, Italy
$86.95, Trialto Wine Group Ltd.
John Szabo – Usually at this time of year I’d be stocking up on some great value, inexpensive bottles to have on hand for the expected drop-ins and arrival of guests, just sort of good house wine to be able to pour generously without digging too deep a holiday hole. This year, well… I’ll take that money and instead treat myself and immediate family to something special like the Tenute Sette Ponti 2017 Oreno. It’s a concentrated, intense and luxuriant edition of Sette Ponti’s top wine, a massive mouthful, tame enough to enjoy now with a good splash decant, but also cellar-worthy for another couple of decades.”