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88 / the tasting panel / may 2016 DOMESTIC 90 Buty Winery 2014 Sémillon, Sauvignon & Muscadelle, Columbia Valley ($25) Smooth, creamy and lush with dense, ripe and seamless fruit; rich and deep with finesse and style. 90 Ventana Vineyards 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco, Monterey ($28) Fragrant peach nose; aromatic and lush with deep flavors of minerals and spice; smooth and long, dense and balanced. 100% Sauvignon Musqué, an aromatic clone of Sauvignon Blanc. MEADOR ESTATE 91 Jordan 2014 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($32) A Russian River Chard from the noted Alexander Valley–based producer. Smooth and juicy with bright pear, crisp acidity and lovely texture; balanced and long on the finish. 93 WindRacer 2012 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($40) A project from wine industry veterans Barbara Banke and Peggy Furth. Rich vanilla nose and smooth style; lush and creamy but not heavy; pretty and deep, balanced and ripe. JACKSON FAMILY WINES 95 Williams Selyem 2014 Gewürztraminer, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County ($40) It's time to take another look at Gewürztraminer. Deep golden color ; lovely spice nose; floral and juicy with syrupy sweetness and a core of crisp acidity; luscious and lovely. 91 Marimar Estate 2013 Pinot Noir, Don Miguel Vineyard, Earthquake Block, Russian River Valley ($52) Another lovely wine from Marimar Torres. Smooth and juicy with tangy acidity and bright cherry fruit; crisp, lively and long. 93 Bonterra Vineyards 2012 Biodynamic Single Vineyard "The Butler," Butler Ranch Vineyard, Mendocino County ($55) Biodynamics is paying off in spades for this Mendocino producer. Smooth and generous with ripe blackberry and spice; dense with leather, toast and rich, deep, warm flavors. 78% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mourvèdre. FETZER VINEYARDS 92 Pepper Bridge Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ($60) One of Washington State's most dependable producers. Silky and bright with dense, balanced flavors of plum, cassis and soft herbs; mellow, bright and long. Sustainable. 92 Lazy Creek Vineyards 2014 Estate Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($60) Don and Rhonda Carano's Mendocino project comes of age. Intense ripe cherry and berry fruit; mellow with hints of brown sugar and vanilla; toasty and long. FERRARI-CARANO 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