The Tasting Panel magazine

July 2016

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68  /  the tasting panel  /  july 2016 BLUE REVIEWS SPIRITS 92 Dry Line Dry Gin, USA ($45) From Cape Cod's first distiller y. Juniper nose; minty, aromatic and smooth with rich botanicals; lush, spicy and long. SOUTH HOLLOW SPIRITS 92 Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin, Spain ($38) Soft nose; smooth and spicy with notes of olive, thyme, rosemary and basil; dry, rich and expressive; the gin for the Mediterranean Diet. GLOBAL PREMIUM BRANDS 94 Wild Turkey Decades Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA ($150) Smoky, enticing nose; toasty, mellow, balanced and rich; sweet oak, lush grains and a long, creamy finish. CAMPARI AMERICA 92 Flaming Leprechaun Triple Distilled Rum, Ireland ($23) Smooth, racy and bright; essence of honey and a nice touch of spice. One of a line of spirits under this catchy brand name. 3 HEARTS OF IRELAND 92 Bailoni Gold- Marillenschnaps Apricot Liqueur, Austria ($42.95) Clear, dry and smooth with apricot and floral notes; beautifully balanced and long on the finish. Great cocktail ingredient. HPS EPICUREAN Quest for Perfection AT CLOS DE LA TECH, SILICON VALLEY ENTREPRENEUR T. J. RODGERS THINKS LARGE T. J. RODGERS IS A TALENTED PERFECTIONIST. For starters, he is the founder, President, CEO and a Director of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. As if that weren't enough to occupy his attention, he has set out to produce America's best Pinot Noir. Modeling his approach after Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Rodgers and his winemaker wife Valeta Massey Rodgers have developed three vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Woodside, overlooking the Silicon Valley. Just to the west of Ridge's famed Montebello vineyard, Clos de la Tech spread climbs to more than 2,300 feet above sea level. Winemaking takes place in a technologically advanced gravity-flow facility located in huge caves burrowed into the mountainsides. The vineyards are so steep, Rodgers had to design and build a tractor that could handle a 35% slope. The grapes are crushed by treading. Four of the five wines produced sport a state-of-the-art silicon chip on their bottles. The Rodgerses made their first wine in 1996 and are now producing 1,800 cases with a stated goal of 10,000. 91 Clos de la Tech 2010 Pinot Noir, Estate, Santa Cruz Mountain Estates ($42) Earthy and tannic, juicy black cherry with balance and depth. 94 Clos de la Tech 2010 Pinot Noir, Domaine Valeta, Santa Cruz Mountains ($62) From a 2.5-acre vineyard located at 2200-feet above sea level; ear thy, lightly herbal and spicy; high acidity and low tannins; juicy and extremely Burgundian. 94 Clos de la Tech 2010 Pinot Noir, Domaine Lois Louise Côte Sud, Santa Cruz Mountains ($62) Juicy and balanced; dense with great structure and a charming astringency on the finish; clean and rich; balanced with elegance and style. 92 Clos de la Tech 2010 Pinot Noir, Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge, Santa Cruz Mountains ($82) Lovely, warm black cherry nose; lush, dense and meaty; full-bodied, rich, smooth and long. 96 Clos de la Tech 2010 Pinot Noir, Domaine du Docteur Rodgers, San Francisco Bay ($102) Lush, earthy, spiced; silky smooth, medium-bodied; perfumed, elegant and complex; deep, Burgundian and rich without being heavy.

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