The Tasting Panel magazine

April 2016

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april 2016  /  the tasting panel  /  77 IMPORTS 92 Robert Weil 2014 Tradition Riesling, Rheingau, Germany ($19) Silky and off-dry with juicy citrus and lush, balanced flavors; elegant and refined; racy, crisp and smooth. A stunning value. LOOSEN BROS. USA 91 Domaine J. A. Ferret 2014 Pouilly-Fuissé, France ($35) Definitive Fuissé from this Jadot-owned property. Rich depth backed by tangy acidity; juicy, fresh and balanced with nice minerality. KOBRAND 94 Wittman 2014 GG Trocken Riesling Westhofen Morstein, Rheinhessen, Germany ($40) Pure, crisp, dry and precise flavors of citrus with minerals and tangy acidity; a stunning expression of the noble Riesling grape from a family that has been making wine since the 1600s and has now converted to biodynamic winemaking. LOOSEN BROS. USA 92 Croft Reserve Tawny Porto, Portugal ($20) A venerable Port house (est. 1588) with a modern bent. Dark, rust amber ; smooth, soft and nutty with bright, sweet fruit and mild rancio; silky, balanced and long. KOBRAND 91 Ritual 2014 Monster Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($40) Paul Hobbs consulted on this ambitious project from Agustin Huneeus and the wines are made by Benziger alumn Rodrigo Soto. Lush, ripe and savory with cherry, spice and tangy style; deep, intense and elegant. HUNEEUS VINTNERS 91 Bodegas Baigorri 2007 Tempranillo Reserva, Rioja, Spain ($40) From a state-of-the-art gravity-fed winery in Rioja Alavesa. Mellow plum, lovely spice and mature fruit; dense, rich and complex with bottle age. THE ARTISAN COLLECTION 90 Georges Vigouroux 2011 Château de Haute-Serre Malbec Géron Dadine Cuvée Prestige, Cahors, France ($40) A Cahors pioneer and Malbec specialist; sweet toasty oak and rich blackberry fruit; dense and spicy with tannins and nice complexity. PLANET WINE 92 Binomio 2010 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva, Italy ($50) This newish producer uses a clone of Montepuliciano called "Africa" for its clusters the shape of the African continent. Spicy, ripe blackberry and plum; lush fruit and an intense, stylish finish. DALLA TERRA 94 Maison Louis Jadot 2013 Côte de Beaune Clos des Ursules, France ($76) Silky and pure with exquisite cherry, raspberry and spice with soft earth notes and elegant structure; juicy, feminine and long. Tasted with Jacques Lardière in February. KOBRAND 94 Château de Beaucastel 2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France ($109) Another stunner from Famille Perrin. Bright, fresh and elegant with refined red berry fruit and clean flavors of ripe plum and soft spice; shows great aging potential. 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, with others. VINEYARD BRANDS VALUE AND BY-THE-GLASS RECOMMENDATIONS 90 Giesen 2015 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($14) Aggressive, grapefruit nose; juicy and tangy with silky texture and bright, long and fresh. PACIFIC HIGHWAY WINES & SPIRITS 91 Villa Wolf 2014 Pinot Blanc, Pfalz, Germany ($11) Racy, crisp and long; tangy, fresh and showing citrus and rounded flavors; pure, bright and balanced. LOOSEN BROS. USA 89 Albamar 2015 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($12) Lush peach nose; juicy and tangy with citrus and lively acidity; fresh, balanced and long. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTERS 88 Vento di Mare 2014 Organic Grillo, Valle del Belice, Sicilia, Italy ($12) Silky and soft with juicy style and bright aromatics; mellow and smooth with balance and fresh fruit; lush and long. One of a new line of Sicilian imports. MIDDLETON FAMILY WINES 91 Ritual 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($16) An impressive effort from Agustin Huneeus and company. Ripe and juicy with tangy acidity; racy, rich and aromatic with lush mouthfeel; deep and snappy with a long, clean finish. HUNEEUS VINTNERS 88 Fetzer 2014 Eagle Peak Merlot, Mendocino County ($10) Clean, smooth and lush with juicy plum and berry fruit; dense, balanced and long. CONCHA Y TORO 88 Cycles Gladiator 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast ($11) This controversial "naked lady on a bike" label is now back in the hands of its original winemaker, Adam LaZarre. Ripe, spicy style showing blueberry and plum with sweet oak. WINE HOOLIGANS and refined; racy, crisp and smooth. A stunning value. 91 91 Casablanca Valley, ($16) Agustin Huneeus and company.

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