If I Could Buy Only One – July 10th VINTAGES Release

We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?”

Domaine Queylus Tradition Chardonnay 2018

($29.95, Marchands Des Ameriques Inc.)

John Szabo – I’ve been celebrating the international cool climate chardonnay celebration (i4c) every third weekend in July since its inception in 2010, and this year will be no different, in fact I’m looking more forward to in-person, winemaker face-to-face tastings in Niagara than perhaps at any other point in my career. So, in light of that, my only pick this week is naturally a Chardonnay from the Niagara Peninsula: Domaine Queylus Tradition Chardonnay 2018. It’s one of the best chardonnays I’ve had from Queylus to date, in the classic Niagara-style, Old-New world divide, a bridge of sorts between worlds. Depth, complexity and length especially are highly impressive. Terrific wine, best now-2026 or so.

Domaine Du Chalet Pouilly Pouilly Fuissé 2018

($37.95, Appellation Wines)

Sara D’Amato – To put me in the mood for the upcoming annual i4C, the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration taking place next week in Niagara of which there are many virtual and in-person events (link: https://www.coolchardonnay.org/), I’ll be drinking this engaging example Domaine du Chalet Pouilly Fuissé 2018 from the premier appellation of the Mâcon, Pouilly Fuissé. Bright and lively with added complexity contributed by bottle age. Delivering both opulence and freshness at once, this charmer is sure to please widely.

($34.95, Trialto Wine Group)

David Lawrason – This Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2018 will shatter a tepid, humid Ontario eve like no other wine. What a refined, lighthearted but dead serious Mosel riesling, from one of the great houses of the region. The sense of delicacy is quite astounding, while remaining structured and showing real flavour intensity. The nose is very generous with fine green apple, lemon/grapefruit, linden and spice. It is light bodied, off-dry (halbtrocken) but so tidily balanced sweetness is not an issue. It finished with acid crunch and minerality. The length is excellent. And so is the value!

Henry Of Pelham Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2016

($24.95, Henry of Pelham Family Est. Winery)

Michael Godel – The exceptional growing season of 2016 has by now persuaded many to find greatness in Niagara reds and so with a cabernet-merlot track record like Henry of Pelham’s the positive odds are stacked high. This Henry Of Pelham Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2016, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment may take you back to the ideal 2012 vintage and receives the torch from a lineage that remembers both 2002 and 1998. Along the way some promise from 2007, 2010 and also 2015 are worth includng but anyone who has tasted ’98, ’02 and ’12 at least seven years post vintage will sometimes understand a great notion. The fruit substance from ’16 is off the charts for an estate wine that chooses to delay, find fleshy to acid friendly co-existence in bottle, only to emerge juicy, succulent and oh so ready. At a cost of $25 Niagara does not gift more breadth, texture, balance and revelry than this by H of P. In Reserve form you can expect a 15 year run. At the estate level six to seven years is ideal.

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.

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