Wines Worth Buying This Week

You ask. We answer.

So many of you ask us at our tastings, cellar consultations and plain old conversations what you should buy, what you should drink now and what you should keep for later.

So we thought a regular feature based literally on what we are buying, how many bottles we are buying, and for what intended purpose (stocking the cellar, guzzling now etc.) may help you out.

This is a list of the wines we would – and do – buy to drink or cellar at home.

This week’s top wine is the Chateau Pontet-Canet. It is included in the list, but for us, it is in our fantasy shopping list, as it’s whopping $189 price tag is about $150 out of our budget. However, if it’s in yours, invite us over won’t you?

Drink Now(ish)

Domaine J. Laurens “Le Moulin” Blanquette de Limoux Brut, Langeudoc-Roussillon, France
$18.95 Vintages 180323
We drink bubbly all year long, and this is a very enjoyable sipper that promises to make many an appearance on our spring time tables. It’s also a lovely stand in for those wanting Champagne, but find it a bit out of reach. Apple cider, brioche and yeasty notes on the nose, while the medium bodies palate is bright with energetic – though fine – bubbles, orchard fruit and leesy notes. Fresh, focused and thoroughly tasty, try this with a big bowl of popcorn while watching the increasingly (and blessedly) late-hour sunsets.
Purchase: 2 (to drink over the summer)

Via Latina Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, Portugal 2013
$17.95 Vintages 398644
Pretty, light and easy drinking, with peach, pear and white flower aromas. The palate is surprisingly creamy, though still showing the typical bright acid you would expect from Alvarinho. Orchard fruit flavours with bitter rose petal finish, this is a great sipper to welcome the warm weather or pair with fresh grilled seafood.
Purchase: 2

Domaine Le Verger Chablis, Burgundy, France 2013
$22.95 Vintages 1818289
Pretty, easy drinking and very approachable, this is fresh and bright with flavours of lemon, mineral, saline and green apple. Lovely wine that’s perfect for warm spring days and feasts of fresh oysters, salty prosciutto, mussels in white wine and herbs or simple fish and chips.
Purchase: 1

Boutari Grande Reserve, Naoussa, Greece 2008
$17.95 Vintages 140111
Consistently excellent at fantastic value, this is Boutari’s top wine and best known. Made from native Xinomavaro and aged 2 years in barrel and another 2 in bottle to help tame the grape’s naturally high tannins. Tawny brick in colour, with an intriguing nose of macerated cherry, chocolate box and vanilla pod. Medium bodied with dry, fine tannin and mellow flavours of new leather, black licorice and kirsch with a herbal uplift on the finish. Drinking well now, but could easily go a decade. Try this with slow roast leg of lamb, herb crusted pork tenderloin, or stuffed eggplant.
Purchase: 4 (a few for now, a few for later)

Drink Later

Marchesi de Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni, Tuscany, Italy 2011
$21.95 Vintages 21.95
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% each of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, this is shows red cherry, chocolate and fresh figs on the nose. Red cherry with moderate spice and firm tannin on the palate. Bright and fresh but with real power and substance this can be enjoyed now with a good decanting, but it’s worth cellaring for a year or two – and likely until 2021.
Purchase: 3 (save for next year and beyond)

Villa Cerna Riserva Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 2010
$28.95 Vintages 349407
Lush and deep with a savoury nose of dark earth, cherry, leather and some horsey notes. Silky on the palate with firm but well integrated tannins. Concentrated and rich, this cries out for braised meats and will continue to develop another 5 years.
Purchase: 2 (save for next year and beyond)

Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 5e Cru, Bordeaux, France 2011
$189 Vintages 297739
An exceptional wine that perfectly balances dark fruit with a savoury earthiness for intrigue and elegance. Dark earth, stewed black currants, black olive and a line of salinity on the nose, while the palate is both dense and poised with fine but firm tannin. Dark fruit and spice flavours are lifted by a rosemary/thyme herbal note with a slight leathery-barnyard element. Very, very good and will reward long term cellaring beyond 20 years. The price point may take it out of contention for your Tuesday night pizza wine, but it would be an excellent choice as a gift for a birth or wedding.