Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/3815
1 / the tasting panel / october 2009 The Message Brief Encounters Whether THE TASTING PANEL goes to the brand execs or the brands call us, there is an abundance of news to report, from the latest releases to behind-the-scenes experiences with some of the world's most infl uential importers, winemakers, distillers . . . well, you name it. We may not have enough pages in each issue to devote as much attention as we would like to each person whose path we cross, but please note that if it's in the publication, we deem it noteworthy —Meridith May, Publisher & Executive Editor Yabby Lake Wines Upwardly Mobile Distributor overlap: Katherine Strange (seated on winemaker Tom Carson) has distribution rights to Yabby Lake and Cooralook wines in Southern California. A ndrew Pfeffer, West Coast Divi- sion Manager for Luxco Spirited Brands, and his 19-year-old daugh- ter Katie hiked 24 miles deep into the wilderness of the Wind River Moun- tain Range in Wyoming, towards Gannet Peak, the tallest mountain in the state. W hen it comes to cool- climate regions sur- rounding Melbourne, in Australia's southern tip, Tom Carson, chief winemaker and General Manager for Yabby Lake, has some things to say. His wines, crafted under the value- oriented Cooralook brand and the estate-grown Yabby Lake la- bel, come from some of Victoria's top vineyard sites. "I believe in sensitive winemak- ing," Carson says. "My saying is 'expression over impression,' which is how the character of the region comes through without obscuring the inherent quality of the wine." Backed by a maritime climate, Yabby Lake's Mornington Penin- sula is surrounded on three sides by sea, and its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay exhibit a shining light from within, amplifi ed by juicy fruit, structure and a lush body weight. www.YabbyLake.com Yabby Lake 2005 Estate Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula (SRP $50) is savory, silky and struc- tured. PHOTOS: MERIDITH MAY