The Tasting Panel magazine

August 2016

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64  /  the tasting panel  /  august 2016 DOMESTIC 91 Duckhorn 2015 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County ($20) Smooth, peachy nose; juicy and crisp with clean, racy style; lively, balanced and long. A steal at this price. 91 Murrieta's Well 2014 The Whip, Livermore Valley ($24) Six varieties combine to make this aromatic and complex wine; smooth and luscious with juicy, ripe flavors; smooth, floral and lovely. 29% Semillon, 27% Chardonnay, 18% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Orange Muscat, 8% Muscat Canelli, 6% Viognier. WENTE FAMILY ESTATES 90 Bluestone Vineyard 2014 Estate Chardonnay, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia ($24) Bracing acidity and creamy texture; toasty, balanced and rich; nicely made by the scion of the founding Hartman family. 91 Sarah's Vineyard 2014 Chardonnay, Bruzzoni Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains ($32) Ripe and rich with dense, toasty style buttressed by fresh, bright acidity; lush and juicy with depth and barrel- fermented characteristics. 92 McIntyre Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay, Block K1, Santa Lucia Highlands ($42) Steve McIntyre is a Central Coast viticulture guru; creamy and lush with bright, racy fruit; smooth and mellow, tangy and crisp with a long, fresh finish. 91 Lasseter Family Winery 2014 Voilà, Sonoma Valley ($46) A lovely use of the underutilized Semillon in combination with Sauvignon Blanc and Musqué; smooth, creamy, lush and subtly influenced by oak; showing notes of fig and citrus with fine balance. 50% Semillon, 29% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Sauvignon Musqué. 90 Q Collection 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($20) Tangy and fresh nose; smooth and lush with plum, spice and juicy acidity; long with good balance and lovely style. WINERY EXCHANGE 92 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2012 Estate Syrah, Paso Robles ($38) A generous Syrah from longtime Paso growers the Merrill family; deep, smooth and lush with ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit. 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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