The Tasting Panel magazine

January 2016

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DOMESTIC 91 La Follette 2013 Chardonnay, North Coast ($20) Science meets intuition in all of Greg La Follette's wines. This one is classic: clean and rounded with lush, ripe pear and juicy style; elegant and silky on the finish. WINE CREEK LLC 91 Spottswoode 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa County 40%, Sonoma County 60% ($38) Fresh and elegant Napa- Sonoma blend with ripe fruit and tangy citrus; lush and bright, balanced and juicy with depth and a long finish. 90 Dashe Cellars 2014 Les Enfants Terribles Zinfandel, McFadden Farm, Potter Valley ($26) An unusual Mendocino Zin made by carbonic maceration. Fresh, clean and juicy with raspberry, cassis and spice. 94 DeLille Cellars 2013 D2, Columbia Valley ($49) A deeply seductive Washington State Bordeaux-style blend with lovely vanilla and spice; intense with ripe plum and blackberry; long and elegant. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot. BACCHUS WINE FUND 91 K Vintners 2013 K Syrah, The Beautiful, Walla Walla Valley ($50) From self-taught maverick winemaker Charles Smith. Silky and tangy with green pepper and spice; smooth blackberry and cassis; juicy and long with wonderful balance. CHARLES SMITH WINES 91 Lone Madrone 2014 Oveja, Old Oak Vineyard, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles ($35) A ripe, round and velvety Rhône-style white with creamy texture; balanced with notes of peach and spice; bright on the finish. 54% Picpoul Blanc, 46% Grenache Blanc. 93 Halter Ranch 2013 Ancestor Estate Reserve, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($55) This historic Paso ranch is now the domain of Swiss-born vintner Hansjörg Wyss. Dark, dense and rich with exquisite texture and depth; ripe with sweet vanilla oak. Exemplary Paso Robles red. 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Malbec, 22% Petit Verdot. 93 Benovia Winery 2013 Pinot Noir, Cohn Vineyard, Sonoma County ($70) From one of the oldest Pinot vines in the Russian River area, planted in 1970. Deep, cloudy red currant color ; lush, warm berry; savory and gentle with finesse and complexity— long and charming. 98  /  the tasting panel  /  january-february 2016 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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