If I Could Buy Only One – June 6th Vintages Release
We asked our writers,“If you could buy only one wine from the June 6th, which one would it be and why?”
Artuke Rioja 2024, Rioja, Spain
$19.95, All The Right Grapes
John Szabo – I’ll be chilling my only one this week, a thoroughly delicious, post-modern red from one of Rioja’s leading ’new wave’ producers: This is Arturo and wife Kike’s homage to the cosechero (harvester) wines of days gone by. These were young, fruity, carbonic maceration wines made in the villages of Rioja by local winegrowers and sold in bulk. They often mixed red and white grapes, as Artuke does here with 5% viura mixed with 95% tempranillo, raised entirely in concrete. The result is a rightly chillable red, fruity, soft, juicy and easy, though with sneaky depth and underlying complexity.
Megha Jandhyala – My “only one” this week is a relatively uncommon rendering of Rioja – modern in its sensibility and simultaneously a celebration of tradition. The 2024 Artuke red is made in the old cosechero-style that used to be practiced in the region, wherein red wines were whole bunch fermented and did not undergo oak-ageing. It is light and juicy, with transparent, lucent fruit flavours and pretty, floral aromas. Candid, with a guileless charm I find irresistible, this is a wine to be enjoyed while it is tender and young. I would drink it lightly chilled, paired with delicately spiced tandoori salmon or vegetarian kebabs.
Bisquertt Crazy Rows Cinsault 2024, Itata Valley, Chile
$16.95, Woodman Wines & Spirits
David Lawrason – In the spirit of the Chillable Reds theme of this release, I would grab a few bottles of this dandy, fresh, good value young cinsault, a grape coming on around the world to make this style of wine. It is the palest and ‘lightest’ of the varieties used in blends in the south of France, but now often flying solo. This shows lovely soft, sweet, black cherry/red plum fruit with some violet florality. It is quite cushy, a touch warm and soft. Very easy drinking and pleasant, to sip solo or go with almost anything off the grill.
La Massa 2021, Tuscany, Italy
$35.95, Terra Firma Brands
Michael Godel – The previous 2020 Fattoria La Massa ‘La Massa’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy was one of Giampaolo Motta’s finest at this level of expression, so in consideration of the vintage, how could 2021 possibly disappoint? “La Massa” is the first to market of the three IGT labels, (plus Carla 6 and Giorgio Primo), off of 27 Conca d’Oro in Panzano hectares planted to sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and alicante bouschet. Labeled as IGT, namely because of 60-70 percent sangiovese, and well, Giampaolo Motta, a winemaker who would not want to be part of a club that would have him as a member. The ’21 is fuller, woodier and deeper, yet still maintains its impossible and deregulated appellative integrity. To be honest it feels, tastes and is expressed like Chianti Classico Riserva, ready to flow, yet can only improve with a few years further age.
Use these quick links for access to all of our June 6th Top Picks in the New Release. Non-premium members can select from all release dates 60 days prior.
John’s Top Picks – June 6th
Lawrason’s Take – June 6th
Megha’s Picks – June 6th
Michael’s Mix – June 6th
