Buy the Case – July 2022
Great wines to buy by the case
These are not 97 point wines (but not too far off!).
With the recent proliferation of online wine sales, our inboxes, like yours, are overflowing with offers that look too good to be true. It’s tempting to click and purchase. But if you’ve lost all confidence in hyper-inflated scores and florid descriptions, we can’t blame you. In fact, we agree with you. A few wines are worth it. Many are not.
But we have a solution to buying wines by the case with confidence.
WineAlign was established a dozen years ago to help consumers make better, more informed wine purchases at the LCBO. Then we introduced the WineAlign Exchange, our curated wine subscription service of mixed private imports. Now, we’re going one logical step further: making the best of the best private import wines available to you to buy by the full case. The WineAlign crü tastes hundreds of wines each month to find a small handful on which they all align; they’re a demanding bunch. That’s why you trust them. And these ‘aligned wines’ are what we can now offer to you by the case.
We’re delighted to provide this service to help you drink better wine with the convenience of home delivery, while eliminating the hazards of the unknown. From the hundreds (thousands) of wines imported into Ontario each month, the WineAlign crü tastes and cherry-picks the best. To make the cut, we require unanimous consensus (rather rare!). Many of these wines already make it into the WineAlign Exchange subscription service. But some we find some good enough to buy by the full case. These are the wines we’d like to offer you from time to time.
Wines are sold in 12 bottle cases unless otherwise indicated. Click on the [Buy A Case Now] button to purchase a case and have it delivered directly to your door.
Disclaimers: We don’t import wines and have no inventory to move. We have no exclusive allegiances. We are the most dreaded cherry-pickers. We apply the same rigour to this selection process that we do for everything else published on WineAlign. When we find wines that are worth it, we’ll let you know. Otherwise, we’ll be one less sensational headline in your inbox.
Featured Wines:
Le Giuncare Castelli Di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico 2018, Marche, Italy
($40/bottle, $480/case, Mondo Vino)
About Terre Monte Schiavo Monte Schiavo is a modern and dynamic winery that produces a wide variety of high quality wines. The company is situated in Maiolati Spontini, near Ancona, in the heart of the traditional Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi region. All the vineyards grow on the bright, sundrenched, south-west slopes of the gentle hilly spurs. Monte Schiavo was established in 1978 and has been a part of Pieralisi group since 1995.
Review: “Riserva in this case means a selection of grapes from the uppermost portion of Pieralisi’s Tassanare vineyard, where you’ll also find the well source called Le Giuncare. The nose is lovely, so fresh and floral, complex and composed, a really special example. And the palate delivers its share of pleasure, a creamy, apple and pear, sweet grass and daffodil-inflected amalgam of balanced and concentrated flavours. Beautifully composed and even-keeled, comfortably fresh wine..” 92 points, John Szabo, MS
Food Pairings: pair with pasta with pesto, seafood risotto, seafood paella, spaghetti with clams.
Drink: now – 2024
Quantity: 19 12-bottle cases left
Pirathon Silver Shiraz 2017, Barossa Valley, South Australia
($33/bottle, $198/6-bottle case, AMV-Whiz Trading)
About Pirathon Wines: Pirathon is an ancient word for pinnacle and Pirathon believes Shiraz is the pinnacle grape of the Barossa and that the north-western Barossa is the pinnacle sub-appellation for Shiraz. Pirathon Shiraz is a full bodied wine encompassing the great flavour, texture and structure of the north-western Barossa. Higher altitude, gullies, hills, slopes, and undulations provide different topographies, microclimates and individualistic parcels of grapes with unique flavours and characters from their own site. Grapes for Pirathon are grown by dedicated high quality growers. Pirathon Shiraz showcases and celebrates the pinnacle north-western Barossa region and pinnacle Barossa grape with a complex and distinguished wine.
Review: “Fruit for the Pirathon Silver in this excellent vintage was sourced from the sub-regions of Greenock, Moppa, Belvidere, Koonunga, and Ebenezer in northwest Barossa. Generously perfumed with notes of licorice, black pepper, and black currant that contribute to a sensual and broody profile. Rich and velvety with gorgeous ripe tannins and a velvety texture with added dimension from graphite and mineral.” 94 points, Sara d’Amato
Food Pairings: try with grilled or roast beef, venison, or a big beefy stew.
Drink: now – 2026
Quantity: 30 6-bottle cases left
Puente Del Ea Reserva Rioja 2015, Rioja, Spain
($34.95/bottle, $420/case, Airen Imports)
About Puente del Ea: The winery was founded in 2001 and is located in ‘Rioja Alta’, specifically, in the municipality of Sajazarra, one of the westernmost places of the D.O.Ca Rioja, and within the region of the capital of Rioja, Haro.
Their location is a privileged area for the production of high quality wines, both for its favourable soil for the cultivation of vines and for its climate. It is one of the most extreme climates within the denomination of origin, creating excellent candidates for the production of great Rioja wines. Puente del Ea has 4 hectares of vineyards all planted with tempranillo vines.
Review: “From Sajazarra in classic Rioja clothing. Combines tempranilo (70 per cent) with garnacha and graciano (each 15 per cent) sent to barriques for 20 months. A warm, generous and forthright vintage makes for a tempranillo of full fruit compliment despite or in spite of the traditional full-on wood aging. The fruit does well to stand up and be counted in the face of so much savour and spice. Very tannic, wholly impressive, structured and capable of aging a decade or more, with ease.” 92 points, Michael Godel
Food Pairings: try with roasted lamb or juicy lamb chops, or Jamon, Chorizo or other cured pork.
Drink: now – 2027
Quantity: 10 cases