Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/793596
38 / the tasting panel / march 2017 1 JAB Clear, legible label, solid branding. Pow, right in the kisser. 2 JABS Eye catching label and memorable branding. This one's got a one two punch. 3 JABS Creatively inspiring in both packaging and branding. I'm seeing stars and parakeets. 4 JABS A near work of art and meaningful branding. Might not last another round. 5 JABS A masterpiece in packaging and new benchmark in branding. An instant knock-out! I love gambling, but only in her most entertaining forms. For me personally, this means horse racing, craps and betting my friends they can't figure out how to fold up my son's stroller; but man oh man do I get excited about March Madness. Below are some great wines to enjoy for every green circle or red line our brackets endure for the back half of March. El Coto 2013 Rioja Crianza, Spain ($13) Sour cherry and raspberries countered with cinnamon- dominated baking spice in a medium, soft-bodied 100% Tempranillo. Just a touch of savory dill lingers on the palate. El Coto consists of a group of winemakers who own the largest vineyard holdings in Rioja. This enables them to pass the savings along to us, and the result is indeed a well- balanced crianza offering excellent value. The label, which appears as a detailed black and gray engraving, features a protective looking buck. Poor guy; 730 hectares of vineyards is a lot to look after. 90 FREDERICK WILDMAN & SONS 19 Crimes 2016 The Banished Dark Red, South Eastern Australia ($11.99) Blueberry, black cherry and saladitos (dried, salted plums) play against a bit of minty chocolate in a sappy textured fuller body. This sweet, dark and rich blend consists mostly of Shiraz with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. 19 Crimes refers to the 19 crimes for which a British citizen could be sent to Australia's penal colony—a clever concept for an Australian wine. The labels, featuring pictures of these "criminals," wraps around a matte black bottle. Shrewd approach, slick packaging. 89 MORGAN BUCKLY Gnarly Head 2014 Authentic Black, Lodi ($10) Chewy black cherry and blueberry that ends in dark-roasted espresso and bitter dark chocolate in a full-body. I believe "Authentic Black" refers to the dominant variety used in this blend— Petit Sirah. Good value here. The Gnarly Head name and head-trained gnarled old-vine Zinfandel image is an excellent example of cohesive, simple, effective marketing and speaks to the brand's current success. 89 DELICATO FAMILY VINEYARDS Intrinsic 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($20) Blackberry, cherry, purple flowers and crushed rock presented in full-bodied, rustic tannin form. Not too rustic though—these tannins may be from the country, but they live in the big city. The packaging/branding for this Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend (10% Cabernet Franc) is incredibly well- executed. The label art, created by Brooklyn street artist Zimer, is eye catching and then intriguing, like only the best sort of graffiti. The subtle die-cut on the label and font works well too. Well-made wine, well-designed label. 90 STE MICHELLE WINE ESTATES EOS Estate 2015 Tears of Dew Late Harvest Moscato, Paso Robles ($22) This late harvest 100% Muscat Canelli from Paso coats the pal- ate in apricot jam, candied orange peel and chamomile tea. A lemony vibrant vein runs throughout, elevating the layered texture and stone fruits with acid. Small production at 1,440 cases. Eos is the Greek goddess of dawn and thus represented on the clear bottle in the form of eyes and wings, like a classier, cleaner version of Ed Hardy. 90 FOLEY FAMILY WINES March's Best Bets by Jessie Birschbach Our Wine Editor, Jessie Birschbach, Certified Sommelier—or JABS, as we call her in the office—uses her experience as a som- melier and her background in marketing to rate retail wines on both the inside and outside of the bottle. After all, let's face it, in off-premise environments it's usually the packaging that hooks us then it's up to the wine to keep us on the hook. For that reason, she'll employ both the classic 100-point number scale on taste, and the "JABS" rating system to assess packaging and brand identity. PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG For info on submitting samples, email jabs@sommjournal.com. vein thus