Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/101724
Ja Hestan Vineyards 2008 Stephanie Red, Napa Valley ($60) All five Bordeaux varieties blended into a lovely, generous proprietary wine with juicy plum, blackberry and spice; smooth oak, mocha and tar; fine texture with vivd flavors and mellow style. 92 Quivira Vineyards 2010 Flight Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County ($38) This bottling is just one of several excellent Dry Creek Zins made by this longtime Sonoma player; firm acid structure backs racy raspberry and plum fruit; definitive oldvine Zinfandel. 90 V2 WINE GROUP Tower 15 2010 Petite Sirah, Paso Robles ($19) Dark and smooth with bright, juicy blackberry, cassis and black plum; fresh, balanced and dense with notes of chocolate and spice. 89 CORRECTION: In our 2012 Yearbook, we mistakenly placed the wrong bottle shot for the Schloss Vollrads QbA. On th sp (D th ad sp Driest Surprise Schloss Vollrads 2011 Riesling QbA, Rheingau, Germany ($20) While we in the business know better, for many consumers, German Rieslings still have quite a sweet reputation to overcome—and that can be a real challenge. Thankfully, the Schloss Vollrads Estate Manager, Dr. Rowald Hepp, is hard at work as he works to help consumers understand the full range of Riesling, from dry and minerally to fruity and to super-sweet. Leading the way on the sweet-meets-dry end of the spectrum is the 2011 Schloss Vollrads estate Qualitätswein, a fruity/sweet offering that offers a perfect balance of acidity and natural Riesling sweetness. Pure and tangy with a small amount of sweetness to balance the bright acidity; tangy, fresh and racy with stunning fruit flavors and a long, focused finish; vibrant and gorgeous. If ad do e SCHMITT SÖHNE PALI WINE COMPANY Breggo Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley ($60) Lovely cherry fruit, sweet oak and good acid structure mark this Mendocino winner; supple, spicy and complex with mellow flavors and lots of finesse. 92 Tablas Creek 2010 Estate Mourvèdre, Paso Robles ($40) Ripe and meaty with dense notes of earth, roasted herbs, mint, and chocolate; lovely texture—long, balanced and intense but not heavy. 90 VINEYARD BRANDS MacMurray Ranch 2010 Pinot Noir, Winemaker's Block Selection, Russian River Valley ($60) Smooth and ripe with rich cherry fruit with notes of cola and spice; lush and dense with balance and style. 90 E&J GALLO Goldschmidt 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon PLUS, Vyborny Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($110) Dark, rich, ripe and showing gobs of plum, tar and chocolate with concentration and firm tannic structure. Great now but even better in about five years; a wine for your cellar. 95 IMPORTS Robert Oatley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Margaret River, Australia ($20) A winery that continues to impress; juicy and lovely with keen, bright citrus and vibrant acidity; tangy, crisp and delightful. Bring on the oysters! 91 ROBERT OATLEY VINEYARDS Villa Russiz 2011 Sauvignon, Collio, Italy ($21) Bright and tangy with racy citrus and clean, vibrant style; fresh and juicy on the lingering finish. 90 EMPSON USA Robert Oatley 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Australia ($19) An exceptional value in Western Australian Cabernet; smooth and loaded with bright plum and nice vanilla-laced oak; rich but balanced by tangy acidity and showing excellent depth. 90 ROBERT OATLEY VINEYARDS Domdechant Werner 2011 Riesling Trocken Kirchenstück, Rheingau, Germany ($26) A pure expression of Riesling with fine grained minerals, racy citrus with apricot and lime; elegant, complex and complete; long and lovely. 92 SLOCUM & SONS january 2013 / the tasting panel / 61