Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1050740
64 / the tasting panel / november 2018 BLUE REVIEWS 88 Tabor Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee, Israel ($15) Graceful, vivid, and flavorful with spice, racy fruit, and acidity. Smooth, rich, and balanced, this kosher release is refreshing with a lengthy finish. ROYAL WINE CORP. 90 Bervini 1955 NV Spumante Extra Dry Rosé, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy ($18) Delicate pink hue; refreshing yet confident with dry, racy notes of strawberry; crisp and lively with a persistent, tangy finish. WINE TREES USA 91 1000 Stories 2016 Batch No. 43 Zinfandel, California ($19) Deep ruby color ; ripe and luscious with blackberry and spice. Tangy, long, and balanced, this wine was aged in new and used bourbon barrels under the tutelage of winemaker Bob Blue. 19% Petite Sirah is blended in. FETZER VINEYARDS 88 Predator Wines 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi ($15) Smooth, earthy, and toasty with notes of sweet plum; spicy and juicy, it's a decent, inexpensive wine with an ABV of 13.5%. 88 Nebel 2017 Riesling, Rheinhessen, Germany ($13) Fresh, tangy, and crisp; lively, bright, and aromatic with notes of candied apricots; lush and long. WINE TREES USA 89 Apothic 2016 Inferno Red Blend, California ($18) A small-batch limited release with a toasty vanilla nose; smooth and lush with intensity and finesse. Ripe, rich, and dense, this wine ages in whiskey barrels and shows both balance and style. E. & J. GALLO 91 Don Olegario 2017 Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain ($20) Aromatic, juicy, and bright; fresh, nervy, and precise with depth and flair, it's a solid example of this late- ripening variety. KOBRAND WINE AND SPIRITS 88 Maison CR 2017 Côte D'Azur Sélection Rosé, IGP de Mediterranée, France ($14) Crisp and juicy with racy acidity and a pure, long finish. These grapes (Grenache, Syrah, and Vermentino) are grown on limestone- and sand-based slopes and undergo 12–15 days of fermentation at a low temperature. SPEAKEASY WINE & SPIRITS 91 Domaine Chandon Limited Edition California Rosé, California ($22) Refreshing and crisp with bright acidity and a smooth, lively, and balanced flavor profile. Snappy and long, it's a perfect poolside sparkler. MOËT HENNESSY USA 91 Herzog Wine Cellars 2016 Late Harvest Riesling, Monterey ($25) Tangy and fresh, this is a smooth and balanced wine that exudes fresh flavors and a nice tension between acidity and sweetness on the palate. Kosher. 91 Mercer Family Vineyards 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills ($20) Small amounts of Syrah, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec are blended into this smooth, lush, and well-balanced wine. It's toasty and rich with a long and generous finish. DELICATO 91 Gradis'ciutta 2016 Chardonnay, Collio DOC, Italy ($22) Creamy and ripe with lush texture and solid depth. A beautiful unoaked Chard with complexity and length from an area known for producing excellent whites. VINEYARD BRANDS SPIRITS 91 Sugarlands Distilling Company Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, USA ($50) Deep, ruddy amber color and a refined rye nose; rich and deep with silky texture, toasty oak, and a long finish. Showing balanced notes of spice and grain, it's both youthful and nicely balanced. 94 Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, USA ($20) Smooth and toasted with pronounced vanilla notes; silky and balanced yet lush and intense. A gorgeous iteration from America's top whiskey brand.