Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/49694
BLUE REVIEWS 91 93 95 Bucci 2007 Reserva, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Italy ($45) Smooth and lush with tangy fruit and subtle notes of honeysuckle and spice; long, bright and balanced; complex. EMPSON USA Jermann 2008 Chardonnay, Were Dreams, Raccolto Duemilaotto, sFriuli, Italy ($66) Lush and creamy with ripe fruit and lovely texture; long and elegant, stylish and quite delicious. EMPSON USA Dr. Loosen 2009 Riesling Auslese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Mosel, Germany ($64) Bright and exquisite with elegant peach and racy minerality; fragrant, feminine and brilliant with a core of racy but refi ned acidity; sweet but delicate and tangy; nervy and extremely long; amazing. LOOSEN BROS. USA 90 Casa Lapostolle 2008 Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($90) Dark, dense and lush with ripe, rich plum and spice with Chilean green herbs in evidence; intense and powerful, long and balanced. MOËT-HENNESSY USA Spain ($44) Mature, dried fruit and spice with complexity and ripe, aromatic fruit; long and juicy, rich and layered. 92 92 91 FREDERICK WILDMAN & SONS Vietti 2006 Barolo, Italy ($48) Smooth and dense with ripe, tangy fruit; generous, earthy, complex and balanced; crisp, charming and juicy with great length and lovely style. DALLA TERRA Maison Joseph Drouhin 2009 Morey-Saint-Denis, France ($50) Smooth and juicy with density, spice and bright cherry with ripe notes and good fi nesse; long and balanced. DREYFUS, ASHBY & CO. 52 / the tasting panel / december 201 1 Baron de Ley 2001 Gran Reserva, Rioja, SPIRITS 91 Bowmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland ($45) Smoke nose; luscious spice and honey with notes of citrus, caramel and peat; mellow, creamy and smoky but always focused and elegant; lush, bready and showing vanilla and subtle fl avors. SKYY SPIRITS 92 93 90 Beronia 2004 Selección de 198 Barricas Reserva, Rioja, Spain ($80) Silky and ripe with lovely pure plum and raspberry fruit; elegant, fresh and balanced; long and racy. SAN FRANCISCO WINE EXCHANGE Viñedos Organicos Emiliana 2005 Gê, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($92) Deep and rich with concentrated plum, spice and berry fruit; rich, tangy and complex with balance and fi nesse. 30% Syrah, 30% Carmenère, 24% CS, 16% Merlot. BANFI VINTNERS Bertani 2001 Amarone di Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($136) Dense, concentrated and rich with mature plum and berry fruit with notes of oak, licorice and spice; supple, lush and nicely structured with a long, ripe, layered fi nish; seamless and opulent. PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL 92 Le Macchiole 2007 Paleo Rosso, Toscana, Italy ($126) A 100% Cabernet Franc; lush and spicy with elegance and intensity; ripe, deep and lovely, as always. DOMAINE SELECT 93 95 93 Beluga Noble Russian Vodka, Russia ($30) Vanilla and spice nose; smooth, lush vanilla tones with creamy texture and a lovely, elegant and silky mouthfeel; rich but graceful. BELUGA NORTH AMERICA Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d'Auge 1981, France ($249) Fragrant, toasted apple nose; smooth and elegant with spice, creamy vanilla oak and lively fl avors; long, complex and refi ned. ANCHOR DISTILLERS Camus 1971 Vintage Cognac, France ($580) Jasmine and licorice from Colombard, vanilla and spice with toasted oak; smooth and luscious with complexity and great depth; aromatic and entirely lovely. CIL US INC. 94 Samaroli Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland ($282) A gorgeous select bottling of Highland Park by independnt Italian merchant Silvano Samaroli; rich, creamy, dense and complex, with sweet vanilla and wood tones. DOMAINE SELECT 94 Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky Special Release, USA ($65) Corn-spice nose; smooth and creamy with toasty oak and vanilla; fl eshy, rich and spicy with lovely depth and style. BALCONES DISTILLING