Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/35876
Distiller’s Selection Single Malt, Tasmania ($160) A single malt from Tasmania with lovely vanilla oak and sweet with hints of maple syrup and grass; lush and long with mellow flavors and a long finish. 92 MARSALLE COMPANY Lark Cask #659 Premium Orange Liqueur, USA ($20) Clear and bright; thick and sweet with fresh, natural Brazilian orange flavors and some nice heat on the finish; rich, juicy and long with lovely balance and style. 92 BEAM GLOBAL SPIRITS & WINE Vive la Différence! RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY AND ANDERSON VALLEY are two of Sonoma’s best-known AVAs, but their characters are very different. While RRV Chards and Pinots are rich and extracted, those same varietals from Anderson Valley are brighter, crisper and more Burgundian in style. The differences between these two cool-climate appellations are being explored—dazzlingly—by longtime friends Barbara Banke and Peggy Furth in their new Wind Racer wines. Peggy loves the RRV style, while Barbara is a proponent of Anderson Valley terroir—hence, two versions of each varietal. Barbara also has her own Pinot Noir project, Maggy Hawk, also based on a vineyard plot deep in Anderson Valley and named after her Thoroughbred racehorse. I recently tasted through all of these wines and found them to have a pedigree all their own. Rivery Valley ($40) Lush, ripe and concentrated with smooth, creamy texture and lots of oak; rich, dense and showing spice and depth. 90 92 Valley ($50) Dense, rich and showing ripe cherry, cola and spice; opulent and smooth with good structure and balance; long and complex. 89 91 Wind Racer 2007 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($50) A crisp display of cherry and raspberry fruit and a core of tangy acidity; nervy, Burgundian and balanced with fresh flavors and good depth; long and zesty. Wind Racer 2007 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley ($40) Bright and racy (no malolactic) with minerals, tangy acidity, pure, focused flavors and elegant style; vibrant, lush and balanced with good length and a lively finish. Wind Racer 2007 Pinot Noir, Russian River Wind Racer 2007 Chardonnay, Russian 2007 Pinot Noir, Afleet, Anderson Valley ($63) Dense, bold and extracted with intense blackberry and cherry fruit; dusty, deep and 91 voluptuous with minerals and ripe fruit; lush and long. Valley ($63) Racy, nervy and showing pinpoint focus and tangy, elegant flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice; pretty, pure and stylish with great finesse and balance. 93 Valley ($63) Rich and luscious with ripe cherry and juicy raspberry; crisp yet powerful and dense, complex and showing minerals and lovely floral notes; long and bright. 93 Maggy Hawk 2007 Pinot Noir, Stormin’, Anderson Maggy Hawk 2007 Pinot Noir, Jolie, Anderson Maggy Hawk John DeKuyper & Sons O3