Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/551222
74 / the tasting panel / august 2015 DOMESTIC 92 Balletto Vineyards 2012 Chardonnay, Sexton Hill Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($38) Exquisite fresh fruit backed by tangy acidity, rich vanilla and new oak; delightfully long finish. 90 Amity Vineyards 2013 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley ($22) Crisp and juicy with racy acidity and notes of peach and citrus; alive with tangy style. 92 Lasseter Family Winery 2013 Voilà, Glen Ellen ($46) Polished, dense and packed with style, finesse and complex flavors of fig, spice, vanilla and oak. 50% Semillon Heritage Clone, 30% Sauvignon Blanc Clone 1, 20% Sauvignon Blanc Clone Musqué. 94 Chehalem 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir, Ridgecrest Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge ($80) Black cherry over a racy acid structure; silky with balance and tangy style; smooth, rich and deep; long, elegant and lovely. 90 Goldschmidt 2013 Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Katherine Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($20) Smooth, ripe and lush with sweet plum, blackberry and soft texture; balanced, rich and long. 95 Adelsheim Vineyard 2012 Elizabeth's Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($60) Ripe, juicy cherry and raspberry with lively acidity and racy fruit; silky, with elegant flavors and lovely depth. 92 Sokol Blosser Winery 2012 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills ($38) Tangy berry fruit; savory and edgy with bright, ear thy style; complex and balanced on the finish. 93 Sequoia Grove Vineyards 2012 Rutherford Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford ($70) Deep flavors of plum, blackberry and spice; tangy, balanced and complex with style and considerable finesse. KOBRAND CORP 94 Ziata Wines 2012 Mia Madre, Napa Valley ($95) Lush and juicy with lovely blackberry and rich notes of cassis, tangy plum and spice; silky and elegant with notes of licorice and pure, ripe fruit; seamless with depth and lovely style; long and smooth, balanced and impressive. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. 90 Reuling Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ($70) Silky and bright with elegant flavors of pear fruit, sweet oak and vanilla; complex with a polished, seamless style. 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