The Tasting Panel magazine

March 2015

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78  /  the tasting panel  /  march 2015 DOMESTIC 89 Steele Wines 2013 Viognier, Lake County ($18) Aromatic with creamy flavors and a good acid structure; ripe and balanced with depth and good length; a charming rendering of this variety. 92 Peju 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($22) Bright and racy with passion fruit, citrus and gooseberry; clean, polished and mouth- filling; balanced, long and seductive. 90 St. Supéry 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Dollarhide Estate, Napa Valley ($35) Silky texture with fresh honeysuckle, gooseberry and herbs; fresh, clean and showing some oak influence; rich and complex on the finish. 91 Malibu Rocky Oaks 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Malibu Coast ($30) Smooth and lush with round, polished flavors of plum, spice and toast; mellow, balanced and quite impressive. 10% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. 90 PasoPort Wine Co. 2009 Portray Ruby, Paso Robles ($32) Dense and Porto-like with intensity and depth; lush and vivid on the finish. 48% Zinfandel, 32% Petite Sirah, 20% Syrah. 90 Terroir Coquerel 2011 Tempranillo, Calistoga–Napa Valley ($42) Frenchwoman Christine Barbe, a Sauvignon Blanc specialist, makes the wines here for proprietors Clay and Brenda Cockerell. Bright and tangy with keen spice and crisp acidity. 92 Claiborne & Churchill 2012 Runestone Barrel Select Pinot Noir, Edna Valley ($48) Lush and juicy with black cherry, rich raspberry and spice; pretty, generous and lovely with balance, style and a long finish. 91 Tablas Creek 2012 Espirit de Tablas, Paso Robles ($55) This spciy blend was formerly known as Esprit de Beaucastel, for Perrin family's Rhône estate, where the vines were sourced. Fresh and juicy with graceful style and elegant, juicy berry fruit; spicy, smooth and long. 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 9% Counoise. VINEYARD BRANDS IMPORTS 90 Fable Mountain Vineyards 2012 Jackal Bird, Western Cape, South Africa ($35) A dense white blend with juicy pear and citrus; excellent depth and length. 45% Chenin Blanc, 20% Grenache Blanc, 17% Roussanne, 9% Chardonnay, 9% Viognier. TERROIR SELECTIONS 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

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