The Tasting Panel magazine

December 2016

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58  /  the tasting panel  /  december 2016 DOMESTIC 90 Amavi Cellars 2015 Semillon, Walla Walla Valley ($24) Clean, bright acidity behind lively apple fruit; fresh, balanced and refined. 88% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc. 91 Alma Rosa 2014 Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills ($28) Santa Barbara winemaking pioneer Richard Sanford scores again with this tangy and elegant Chardonnay; fresh and charming. 90 E. & J. Gallo 2014 Signature Series Chardonnay, Two Rock Vinyeard, Sonoma Coast ($33) A solid Sonoma Coast Chard from Gallo with ripe pear fruit and bright acid structure from cool-climate fruit. E&J GALLO 91 Panther Creek Cellars 2013 Chardonnay, French Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley ($35) Tony Rynders has made wine all over the world and really knows the Pacific Northwest. Rounded pear fruit and racy acidity; tangy and clean with balance and a long, generous finish. BACCHUS WINEWORKS 95 Pahlmeyer 2014 Chardonnay, Napa Valley ($75) A masterful essay in Napa Chardonnay in a deep, ripe, creamy style; ripe pear fruit, lush toasty oak and soft notes of vanilla; lovely balance and intensity. 92 Anaba 2014 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ($36) Anaba was the first winery in Northern California to utilize wind power ; a 45-foot wind turbine harnesses anabatic (warm, upward) winds. Elegant with vanilla oak, tangy pear fruit and bright acidity; generous length and lots of finesse. 92 Stony Hill Vineyard 2014 Chardonnay, Stony Hill Vineyard, Napa Valley ($48) A cult classic for most of its 64 years of production; a charming, fruit-forward wine made for food and for aging; elegant, understated and smooth with lovely pear fruit and firm acid structure. 92 Kukkula 2014 Noir Syrah, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($50) Northern Rhône style straight from Paso Robles; ripe blackberry and spice; concentrated, toasty and deep. 89% Syrah, 11% Counoise. 95 Halter Ranch 2014 Estate Syrah, Block 22, Paso Robles ($55) Deep, dark color ; rich, powerful and immense with long, intense fruit flavors; chewy and balanced. Another amazing Rhône varietal from Paso. 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 Annual Gi Win Review

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