If I Could Buy Only One – April 27th Vintages Release
We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from the April 27th release, which one would it be and why?”
Il Poggio Sannio Fiano 2022, Campania, Italy
$18.95, Frontier Wine Merchants
Sara d’Amato – At this time of year, I’m still in the mood for a comforting, aromatic white with some viscosity and intensity that I can sip slowly but I’d like it to be free of the trappings of oak. My Only One this week fits that bill perfectly – a fiano sourced from the hills north of Naples in the southern Italian region of Campania. I poured this for my intro to Italy class this week and while it’s not precise or nervy, it exemplifies the ample warmth of the fiano grape. You’ll find notes of lemongrass, verbena, peach, melon and pineapple on its richly satisfying palate. Offers impressive concentration for the price.
Piattelli Reserve Malbec 2021, Salta, Argentina
$17.95, Breakthru Beverage Group
David Lawrason – The first blast of summer sets the mind to BBQ, and this great value red should be stocked for those casual larger dock and deck gatherings. Piattelli is a grand property located in Cafayate in the Salta province of northern Argentina, where I happen to be as we speak. They grow malbec on the home site but have gone south to Mendoza for this offering. It offers rich satisfaction for $18, with very ripe jammy mulberry fruit, subtle thyme and oak vanillin and spice. It is full bodied, almost creamy, just a touch sweet and warming. Tannins are quite soft. Chill a bit!
Isole E Olena Chianti Classico 2020, Tuscany, Italy
$43.95, Halpern Enterprises
Michael Godel – This is a big Chianti Classico. It will be loved by fans of Barolo and Brunello, but never confused with those wines. Schist soils, favourable exposure and experience conspire to raise spirits for the season with this gratifying, standard bearing and load carrying Classico-Annata. Hard to find a more exacting example for the cuvée style in which a few complimentary varieties used in higher percentages than the increasing norm are gathered for what a Chianti Classico can and to be frank, should be. The most sapidity is expressed by way of a Paolo de Marchi Classico and few roll off the tongue like an Isole. As good as it gets for 2020 and deserving of the “Only One” distinction, also because it is one of the last finished Olena wines made by the legendary winemaker.
Kir Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023, Macedonia, Greece
$18.00, Kolonaki Group Inc
Megha Jandhyala – What I like most about spring, other than the gorgeous flowers in bloom everywhere, is the perfectly balanced weather we have here in southern Ontario (at least on good days)! Neither cold nor balmy, it is sunny but cool and revitalizing. My “only one” this week, the Kir Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko 2023 mirrors the “Goldilocks” ambience of Ontario springtime. This assyrtiko comes from the coolest viticultural area in Greece – the mountainous vineyards of Amyndeon in Northwest Macedonia. Bright and salty, it is positively brimming with peaches, apricots, lemons, and citrus zest. What I like most about it though is its fleshy but firm and vibrant palate. Moreover, at $18, it represents exceptional value!
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.
Lawrason’s Take
Megha’s Picks
Michael’s Mix
Sara’s Selections
