Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/11486
sOMMeLier’s NOTE 88 Mouton Cadet Rouge 2007 Bordeaux, France ($8) Clean, smooth and bright with racy acidity, fresh plum fruit and excellent balance; impressive how, even in a mediocre year, this modest but consistent wine can be quite charming. CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. Cabernet Sauvignon, Colección Privada, Uco Valley, Argentina ($11) Bright and juicy 88 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($14) Bright and lush with racy acidity and ripe blackberry fruit and clean, tangy fi nish; long, dense and charming. JACKSON FAMILY WINES 89 Mendoza, Argentina ($15) Fresh and smooth with lovely plum and spice; juicy, tangy and balanced with a long, lively fi nish. VINE CONNECTIONS 88 88 Fetzer 2007 Valley Oaks Shiraz, California ($12) Smooth and bright with juicy raspberry and tangy acidity; fresh, lively and long with good balance. BROWN-FORMAN Columbia Valley ($16) Rich and silky with dense, ripe plum and blueberry; juicy with deep fl avors and a long, smooth, fruit-forward fi nish. STE-MICHELLE WINE ESTATES 90 Italy ($18/500 ml.) Creamy, lush late- harvest Muscat with depth and lovely notes of honey and spice. 92 june 2010 / the tasting panel / 69 Banfi 2007 Florus Muscadello di Montalcino, Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, La Posta 2008 Cocina Malbec, with lively plum fruit and good acid structure; fresh and balanced, smooth and long. DIAGEO CHATEAU & ESTATE WINES Murphy-Goode Winery 2007 Navarro Correas 2007 ed AVA in Sonoma County: The area can fl at out produce great Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. As one of the warmer areas in Northern California, Alexander Valley has the ability to consistently produce fully- ripened fruit, while the pres- ence of the Russian River pulls the morning coastal fog in, extending the cool nights. The large diurnal shift that results gives the grapes the ability to produce wonderful structure and balance in the fi nished wines. t here is a reason why Alexander Valley is both the largest and the most plant- Jeff Eichelberger is the Sommelier at Bar Masa at ARIA in CityCenter in Las Vegas. Roth Estate 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley A wonderful expression of Alexander Valley showing bittersweet chocolate, ripe cherry, black currant leaf and cassis. The tannins are young but approachable and will continue to improve in the bottle. —Jeff Eichelberger PHOTO: RONDA CHURCHILL