Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/101724
Top choices for gift-giving this holiday season! BLUE REVIEWS Anthony Dias BLUE REVIEWS DOMESTIC Matanzas Creek 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County ($30) Smooth, fresh and peachy with juicy, aromatic flavors and a snappy, tangy style; clean, bright and long. 91 I n each issue, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dias Blue selects a wide range of the best wines and spirits from among the more than 500 he samples over the course of a month. The reviews are subjective editorial evaluations, made without regard to advertising, and products are scored on a 100-point scale: 85-89: VERY GOOD 90-94: OUTSTANDING JACKSON FAMILY WINES Robert Mondavi 2010 Fumé Blanc, Napa Valley ($19) America's original Fumé Blanc is still right on target; bright and juicy with smooth texture and lovely citrus and orange blossoms; silky and long with great balance and freshness. 90 CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. 95-100: CLASSIC Once products are selected for publication, producers and importers will be offered the option of having their review accompanied by an image (bottle photo or label art) for a nominal fee. There is no obligation to add an image, nor does the decision affect the review or score in any way. The "twisty" icon indicates wines sealed with a screwcap closure. For additional Blue Reviews, go to www.tastingpanelmag.com. 60 / the tasting panel / january 2013 Frank Family Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay, Napa Valley ($35) Smooth and creamy with lush vanilla and ripe fruit; elegant and rich with lovely flavors and balance; deep and long, very lovely. 90 Williams Selyem 2010 Chardonnay, Allen Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($50) Amid Williams Selyem's iconic Pinots, don't overlook their Chards; smooth, dense and ripe with creamy texture and sweet oak; focused and long with lovely intensity. 90 Transcendence Wines 2011 Chardonnay, Zotovich Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills ($34) Smooth, ripe, fresh and juicy with lovely balance and generous style; silky, bright and charming. 90 Truchard Vineyards 2009 Merlot, Carneros, Napa Valley ($31) A consistently first-rate Merlot from the cool-climate Carneros region; supple and lush with fresh plum, spice and deep flavors; lovely stuff. 90 Longoria Wines 2011 Albariño, Clover Creek Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley ($23) It's nice to see an American winery take on this charming Spanish varietal; juicy and bright with tangy acidity and vibrant flavors of lively citrus fruit, minerals and spice. 89 CORRECTION: In last month's issue, the price was incorrectly listed for this wine: Terlato Vineyards 2009 EPISODE, Napa Valley ($175) Lovely plum and spice aroma; lush texture and ripe, intense plum, cassis and spice with tar and licorice; powerful and complex; focused and massive but showing finesse and subtlety; long and vivid. TERLATO WINES INTERNATIONAL