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66 / the tasting panel / march 2014 WHITES 90 Tablas Creek 2012 Patelin de Tablas Blanc, Paso Robles ($20) Smooth and mellow with ripe plum and raspberry with nice earth, spice and floral notes; dense and balanced with lots of charm. 53% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre. 2% Counoise. VINEYARD BRANDS 90 Handley Cellars 2012 Pinot Blanc, Mendocino County ($22) Fresh and juicy with ripe Alsatian style; minerally, spicy and crisp with balance, depth and style. 90 Lazy Creek Vineyards 2012 Gewürztraminer, Anderson Valley ($22) Aroma of rose petals; smooth, elegant and spicy; fresh and floral, long and balanced. FERRARI-CARANO 90 R2 Wine Co 2011 Vin Blancs, Santa Barbara County ($24) Creamy and aromatic with sweet white flowers and orange blossoms; smooth and long. 48% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne, 12% Viognier 90 Vietti 2012 Roero Arneis, Italy ($23) Fresh, ripe and juicy with fine acid structure and racy citrus; bright, lively and dense with a long, snappy finish. DALLA TERRA 91 Flora Springs 2012 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Napa Valley ($35) Lush and rich with notes of barrel ferment and ripe pear fruit; complex, elegant and balanced. REDS 90 Kendall-Jackson 2011 Grand Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County ($28) Smooth and ripe with lush flavors of plum and spice; silky and nicely structured with soft herbs and notes of mocha; long and balanced. 90 MacMurray Ranch 2012 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($28) Silky and smooth with tangy cherry and hints of oak and spice; ripe, juicy and complex with depth and finesse. GALLO In each issue, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dias Blue selects a wide range of the best wines and spirits from among the more than 500 he samples over the course of a month. The reviews are subjective editorial evaluations, made without regard to advertising, and products are scored on a 100-point scale: 85-89: VERY GOOD 90-94: OUTSTANDING 95-100: CLASSIC Once products are selected for publication, producers and importers will be offered the option of having their review accompanied by an image (bottle photo or label art) for a nominal fee. There is no obligation to add an image, nor does the decision affect the review or score in any way. The "twisty" icon indicates wines sealed with a screwcap closure. For additional Blue Reviews, go to www.tastingpanelmag.com. Prices are for 750 ml. bottles unless otherwise noted. Anthony Dias BLUE REVIEWS BLUE REVIEWS