Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/221505
BLUE REVIEWS 94 Ad Vivum Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sleeping Lady Vineyard, Napa Valley ($125) Velvety smooth and rich with ripe plum, black raspberry and notes of tar and spice; lovely juicy style with wellintegrated flavors, complex and balanced with great depth and immediate charm. 92 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli 2004 Barolo Riserva, Italy ($115) Aged in Slavonian oak for at least three years and in bottle for at least two years. Ripe, rich and balanced; long and lovely on the finish. DOMAINE SELECT WINE ESTATES 93 Blackbird Vineyards 2011 Paramour, Napa Valley ($125) Smooth and rich with plum, blackberry and chocolate; lush, juicy and showing bright, tangy acidity and lovely balance; deep and long. 95 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, S.L.V., Napa Valley ($125) Smooth and dense with lovely black fruit and bright juicy acidity; elegant and ripe with youthful, tangy flavors; notes of butter and vanilla; beautifully balanced and destined for even greater heights, if you have the patience. STE. MICHELLE WINE ESTATES SPARKLING AND FORTIFIED 91 Champagne Collet NV Brut Rosé, Champagne, France ($60) Juicy and bright with fresh, clean flavors, a fine, shimmering bead and loads of style. Very classy. CELLAR DOOR SELECTIONS 93 Schramsberg Vineyards 2005 J. Schram, North Coast ($115) Lush and juicy with rich fruit and tangy acidity; complex and lively with apple fruit and notes of citrus; elegant, dense and long. 95 TREASURY WINE ESTATES 91 Casa E. di Mirafiore 2007 Barolo Lazzarito, Italy ($125) This winery, founded by the Emauele, Count of Mirafiore and Fontanafredda (son of Italian king Victor Emmauel II) in the 1870s, has been revived; Lazzarito is dense and ripe; rich and balanced. DOMAINE SELECT WINE ESTATES 97 Shafer Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside Select, Napa Valley ($240) Ripe and rich with exquisite plum, blueberry, rich cassis and sweet oak; beautifully structured, built to last with hints of licorice and spice; long, elegant and polished. 95 Beluga Gold Line Russian Noble Vodka, Russia ($129) Smooth vanilla and lush nose; silky and rich texture, elegant, dry and refined with subtlety, balance and depth; bracing and refreshing with exquisite style; long, focused and sublime. BELUGA NORTH AMERICA BESPOKE COLLECTION Beringer Vineyards 2010 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($160) A massive, mind-blowing wine with dense, ripe blackberry, cassis and subtle oak; notes of spice, minerals and toast; balanced, complete and vibrant with enormous aging potential. SPIRITS 94 Herradura Colección de la Casa Reserva 2013 Tequila, Mexico ($90) Toasty agave and vanilla nose; pale amber color; silky and smooth with lovely agave, spice and vanilla oak; elegant, complex and showing great finesse; lush and long with depth and exceptional style; lovely and perfect for sipping with lovely spice in the finish. BROWN-FORMAN 93 Michter's Unblended Small Batch American Whiskey, USA ($45) Smoky, caramel nose with cherries; herbal, spicy with sweet butterscotch and smooth vanilla almonds; mellow and balanced, long and lovely. WILSON DANIELS 91 Quinta do Noval 2008 Vintage Port, Pinhão, Portugal ($112) A cool-weather, low-yield year resulted in the declaration of a vintage at Noval; smooth and ripe with luscious, juicy flavor; lovely, deep, and balanced. CHATHAM IMPORTS 100 Suntory Yamakazi 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Japan ($1600) Rich caramel, toffee, molasses nose; amazing with rich, creamy, luscious and intense flavors; crème brulée with notes of mocha, allspice and clove; astonishing, unique and a must for collectors. VINTUS 95 Laurent-Perrier NV Brut Grand Siècle, Champagne, France ($150) Lush and rounded with elegant fruit, creamy texture and depth; rich, balanced and ripe with considerable finesse and medium weight style; long, complex and quite brilliant. LAURENT-PERRIER USA CAMPARI AMERICA 95 The Balvenie Tun 1401, Batch 9 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland ($250) Medium amber color; oak and orange in the nose; honey and showing sweet vanilla oak and hints of orange peel; notes of sherry and generous, voluptuous style; creamy, luscious and intense; finishes with whoop not a whimper; stunning; The Balvenie is the sister distillery to Glenfiddich. WILLIAM GRANT & SONS 70 / the tasting panel / december 2013 TP1213_064-103.indd 70 11/23/13 8:34 PM