Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1004126
july 2018 / the tasting panel / 67 95 Testarossa Winery 2016 Barrel Selection Niclaire Pinot Noir, California ($90) Bright ruby color ; soft plum and berry nose; smooth, lush texture; meaty and rich with balance, depth, and complexity; another winner from this consistently underrated producer. 91 Tangent 2016 Stone Egg Albariño, Paragon Vineyard, Edna Valley ($32) Bright, flavorful, and tangy with racy acidity and a refined style; clean and luscious; produced from estate grapes fermented separately in a concrete egg-shaped tank. 92 Ponzi Vineyards 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($65) Meaty and dense with ripe cherry and savory notes alongside salinity and spice; another winner from this historic family winery, which celebrated its 45th anniversary during this vintage. VINTUS WINES 92 Rodney Strong Vineyards 2016 Upshot Red Blend, Sonoma County ($28) Deep ruby red; smooth and weighty with notes of earth and chocolate; juicy and long with style and finesse; a product of an excellent winery that's become one of Sonoma's best. IMPORTED 92 Bodega Chacra 2017 Barda Pinot Noir, Patagonia, Argentina ($30) Lovely, bright cherry on the nose and palate; crisp, balanced, and fresh with tangy acidity; grown on slightly sandy soils in Chacra's youngest vineyards and aged ten months in French oak. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 92 Tenuta di Nozzole 2013 La Forra Sangiovese Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG ($50) Deep earth and berry nose; polished and flavorful with complex structure and tangy fruit; another stylish Folonari success. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 92 Château La Nerthe 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France ($60) Smooth, dense, and luxurious with ripe aromas; a lovely, perfectly balanced Rhône blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc from one of the best producers in the region. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 91 Benoît Mérias Montlouis 2014 Les Maisonnettes Chenin Blanc, Montlouis-sur- Loire, France ($27) Produced from 100% organic Chenin aged on the lees in Burgundy barrels; bright and tangy with green apple notes; silky, fresh, and racy; crisp, long, and intense. SHIVERICK IMPORTS 92 Craggy Range Vineyards 2015 Te Muna Road Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand ($45) Deep ruby color with an earthy and bright cherry nose; velvety, dense texture with aromatic berry fruit. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 92 Tenuta di Nozzole 2015 Chianti Classico Sangiovese Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG ($30) Smooth and lush with ripe berries and spice; tangy, racy, and complex with a long finish; another classic Folonari wine. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS VALUE 90 Boutinot Wines Feudo Maccari 2017 Olli Grillo, Terre Siciliane IGP ($20) Typically used in the production of Marsala, this Sicilian grape proves it can make lovely table wine; clean, velvety, and aromatic with abundant flavor. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 89 Rich Wine Company 2015 Rich & Spicy Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($15) Silky and bright with tangy plum and succulent spice; dry, rich, and deep; long and balanced.