The Tasting Panel magazine

and sage. Release date: January 2010. Summerland Winery's Marketing Man- ager, Lauren Galbraith, tasted the trade on Summerland's 2008 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir – which is destined to release in Octo- ber. The liquid is aged for 11 months in one- year-old, two-year-old and neutral French oak barrels. Cherry notes are abundant and already quite ripe, while its color is rosier (and lighter than pre- vious vintages) but it carries some weight. Last year, TASTING PANEL Editor-in- Chief Anthony Dias Blue tasted a barrel sample of the Lan- caster Estate 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon; still in its infancy, it scored a 95 in his book: "Ripe, sweet plum; dense, with lovely oak; power- ful." It is soon to be released, and we are anticipating an inspirational wine. At this year's barrel tasting, the Lan- caster 2007 Estate Cab (to be released Sept. 2010) showed an equal intensity—this harvest's clusters were loose and the berries were small. It was also an early ripener, so we're expecting lots of fl avor and complex- ity as well. The stately Bordeaux-style blend from Pine Ridge Vineyards in Napa Valley show- cases the estate's fi nest vineyard fruit throughout fi ve appellations. From the deep, inky opacity to its dense fl avor, the Pine Ridge 2007 Fortis (to release Sept. 2011) will prove groundbreaking. According to proprietors Don and Gwen Othman, the short-crop yields of 2007 in Edna Valley put the skin-to-juice ratio out of whack for the Kynsi Winery 2007 Stone Corral Vineyard Pinot Noir. We did love the fl oral aromas and lav- ender notes, but we'll have to wait till the spring of 2010 to experience more. There's so much personality in the Charles Krug Winery 2008 Slinsen Vine- yard Cabernet Sauvignon we had to ask Marc Mondavi a little bit more about the vineyard site. " This vineyard stops against the base of the Mayacamas Mountains to the west, sloping up against the western hills. The rocky shallow soil and unique climactic characteristics are ideal for growing the high- est-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in Napa V alley. My dad bought it 40 years ago." Replanted in 2002, the Yountville-based vineyard, with its well- drained soil, exposed us to a glimpse of dark chocolate, nutmeg and ripe raspberry. Sebastiani's Cher ryblock Es- tate Vineyard de- rived its name from the cherry orchard fi rst planted on the property in 1919. The terra rosa soil at the site is well- known throughout the world for pro- ducing red wines of intense color and depth. Blocks of Merlot and Malbec are also planted on the estate and make blending partners for this old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sebastiani 2007 Cherryblock Cab- ernet Sauvignon is due for release in fall 2010. Summerland's Lauren Galbraith. Gwen and Don Othman, Kynsi Winery, Edna Valley. Marc Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery. Sebastiani Winemaker Mark Lyon. june 2009 / the tasting panel / 71

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