Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1036886
october 2018 / the tasting panel / 59 Ménage à Trois 2016 Lavish Merlot, California ($14) This wine exudes ripeness as its savory notes of bittersweet chocolate melt across the palate. This is a "Merlot with more," as it combines 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Sirah, and 5% Petit Verdot for layers of violets and additional chocolate. Heady notes of vanilla and mocha, meanwhile, wind their way around mouth-filling plum and blueberry. 92 TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES Ménage à Trois Sparkling Rosé, Italy ($15) With its pearlescent hue, liltingly soft bubbles, and perfume of cranberry and red flowers, this sparkler may speak Italian, but it translates perfectly to the American palate. Confident notes of candied cherries and water- melon burst the bubbles for a lengthy mid-palate that introduces a touch of sweetness. 91 TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset No. 69 Brut, Crémant de Bourgogne, France ($25) A Pinot Noir–based rosé made in the saignée method, No. 69 was inspired by the year of Jean-Charles Boisset's birth. Like Boisset himself, it's as earthy as it is ethereal, with assertive bubbles arising in a mist of liveliness. Crisp with notes of dried mandarin orange, bittersweet cocoa, and ripe cherry, this sparkler sings. 93 BOISSET COLLECTION Marqués de Cáceres 2014 Reserva, Rioja DOC, Spain ($31) This bottling is only produced in the finest vintages from old vines. Earth, cedar, and black tea are deep and shadowy on the nose, while high acidity dries the palate with wisps of slate and desiccated rose petals. It's regal with tremendous energy and a sense of gravitas. 93 VINEYARD BRANDS Provenance Vineyards 2016 Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley ($35) The first Chardonnay from Provenance, this is sourced from outstanding sites like the Sangiacomo and Winery Lake vineyards, among others, in the cool Carneros AVA. Barrel-aged in French oak for a year, this weighted white lends an elegant mouthfeel thanks to aging on the lees. Aromas of lemon curd and white peach are instantly attractive and alluring. The combination of minerality and toasted oak is well-integrated, forming a duality with a crème-brûlée effect and bright acidity. It's a job well done. 93 TREASURY WINE ESTATES LVE 2017 Côtes de Provence Rosé, France ($25) This wine is part of the LVE collec- tion, produced in partnership with award-winning musician John Legend. It comprises 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, and 15% Syrah grown in the Montagne Sainte-Victoire region of Provence on stony, limestone- based soils. Delicate aromas of watermelon, rose petal, and fig entice as stunning flavors of strawberry and nectarine emerge on a mineral-slate path, paving the way for a crisp, clean finish. 93 BOISSET COLLECTION Chronology 2015 Red Wine, California ($25) Combining Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, this inspirational red is a blend of 28% Petite Sirah, 24% Grenache, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 5% Cab Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Angelica, 3% Syrah, and 2% Mourvèdre. Deep, inky carmine in color, it offers up scents of red tea, roses, and mul- berry. Red fruit and flowers on a bed of tilled soil create a sensual mouthfeel, while notes of cinnamon, black currant, and mocha add even more richness. Aged 21 months (stainless steel and barrel). 92 BOISSET COLLECTION Goldschmidt Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yoeman Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($75) White chocolate and deep plum make for lovely aromatics in this sensationally juicy red. Plush and round, mocha tannins show a flowing grace. Dark cherry, tree bark, and coffee bean lead boldly through the duration of the tasting experience. 94 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 2016 Riesling, Rangen de Thann, Clos St. Urbain Grand Cru, Alsace, France ($120) This charming white "waxes poetic" on the nose: Beeswax and peach establish a beautiful start for a super sipper. High-wire acidity spells r-a-c-y with pears and orange blossom. Minerality dives in and stays there, salted and tightly wrapped around almond and lemon rind. 98 KOBRAND WINE AND SPIRITS Kangarilla Road 2016 The Devil's Whiskers Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia ($40) Take in the floral scent infused with dark plum before diving into a wash of blue and red berries, dense and satiny, with a hint of graphite and black violets. A thin thread of white pepper, soy sauce, and dark chocolate keeps it savory, while sweet citrus keeps it perky. 92 M IMPORTS, LLC American Vintage 2015 Red, California ($35) All-American varieties Zinfandel (65%) and Petite Sirah (35%) make for a deep, dark, and indulgent red. Black plum, graphite, and mocha- cedar are deliriously fragrant. On the palate, ripeness reigns, with blackberry and strawberry coating a heathery brush. Approachable with round tannins, the finish goes into cherry-liqueur mode with a juicy, sweet finish. 92 BOISSET COLLECTION +