Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/61075
BLUE REVIEWS 88 Chardonnay, California ($14) Smooth and bright with notes of toasty oak and fresh vanilla; tangy acidity and juicy notes; long and balanced. Francis Ford Coppola 2010 Votre Santé 88 Calina 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Central, Chile ($10) Smooth and ripe with lush plum, cassis and spice; fresh and juicy, long and balanced; rich and quite charming. JACKSON FAMILY WINES 88 88 France ($12) Fresh, tangy and juicy with plum, raspberry and racy acidity; medium-bodied and lively with balance and charm; 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Grenache, 5% Carignan. Vine Zinfandel, Lodi ($12) Ripe and sweet with wild spice and rich fruit; intense and a bit coarse—but a style that people like. Gnarly Head 2010 Old DFV WINES 89 88 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($13) Fragrant and lush with ripe blackberry, blueberry, tobacco and spice; rich and neatly structured with depth, power and lovely style. Massimo Prestige Vineyards 2010 DFV WINES Africa ($16) Smooth and lush with dense fruit and bright fl avors of spice and meaty notes. Neil Ellis Wines 2009 Shiraz, Elgin, South VINEYARD BRANDS Naked Earth 2009 Red, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Distillers Editions 2011 Classic Malts DIAGEO'S CLASSIC MALTS ARE A SET OF TEN single malts designed to showcase the several regions of Scotch whisky production. Each year, the program releases a limited-edition collection of special expressions—the Distillers Editions. They include some of the most exquisite and rare editions of single malt Scotch whiskies hailing from the most celebrated distilleries in Scotland. The 2011 Classic Malts Distillers Editions were chosen by the Master Distillers to undergo a second maturation process. Each is double-matured in a unique type of cask wood specifi cally chosen to complement its charac- teristics. Each Distillers Edition bottle is marked with the date of distillation, bottling and batch number to refl ect its unique maturation process and celebrate its rarity. Here are my notes on these superb single malts. CANNON WINES LIMITED 92 91 92 93 94 93 44 / the tasting panel / april 2012 Caol Ila Distillers Edition 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch ($81) Smoky, grassy, burning leaves in fall; creamy with vanilla and sweet oak; elegant and smooth with delicate, feminine fl avors; briny, toasted and fl eshy with lush texture and lovely style. Malt Scotch ($67) Smooth and smoky with nice grain elements; balanced and creamy with lovely toast and fl oral notes; elegant, refi ned and long. ($81) Smooth sherry, malt, honey nose; silky and malty with vanilla, sweet oak and toast; elegant, creamy, feminine and aromatic with mellow, lush fl avors and a long, dry fi nish. Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Lagavulin Distillers Edition 16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch ($77) Fleshy, funky, smoky nose; toasted, smoky and briny with peat fi re and sea breeze; complex and long with lovely vanilla sweetness and depth; fl eshy, dense and bursting with fl avor. Talisker Distillers Edition 10 Year Old Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch ($83) Smoky, spiced, fruity and toasty nose; toasted and smoked with notes of grass, banana, butterscotch and vanilla; peppery, complex and rich; lush and balanced. Oban Distillers Edition 14 Year Old West Highland Single Malt Scotch ($77) Smooth dry grain nose with hints of salt and smoke; lovely creamy vanilla, dried fruits and caramel; toasty oak with lush fl avors and warm fl avors; a classic among the Classic Malts. Cragganmore Distillers Edition 12 Year Old Speyside Single