Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/884376
70 / the tasting panel / october 2017 DOMESTIC 89 Edna Valley Vineyard 2016 Rosé, Central Coast ($14) Soft pink color in its inaugural vintage; smooth and juicy with floral notes and bright raspberry fruit; mellow and lush; dry and balanced. Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. E. & J. GALLO 89 Toad Hollow Vineyards 2016 Pinot Noir, Monterey ($17) Pale ruby color with a whimsical label design by artist Maureen Erickson; juicy cherry and earth notes; savory and angular with style and depth; long and complex at a remarkable price. V2 WINE GROUP 90 Joseph Carr 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($26) Smooth and lush with ripe plums and berry fruit from Food & Wine's 2012 "Winemaker of the Year" Aaron Pott; toasty and juicy with a long, balanced finish. 90 Talbott Vineyards 2015 Kali Hart Estate Pinot Noir, Monterey ($26) Spicy cherry nose from one of the Central Coast's most esteemed estate programs; bright, luscious, and crisp with notes of earth, berry, and spice; aromatic and lively. E. & J. GALLO 91 Medeiros Family Wines 2014 Saudade, Santa Clara Valley ($30) Deep, dense, and thick from a label founded in 2012; ripe, supple, and balanced with intense, lush plum and blackberry fruit. 49% Cabernet Franc, 25% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Merlot. 90 Chappellet 2016 Signature Chenin Blanc, Napa Valley ($32) Smooth and juicy, fresh and tangy with spice, crisp fruit, and good balance; a special passion of the Chappellet family. 92 Midnight Cellars 2014 Estate Merlot, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles ($36) Silky, rich, and luscious with velvety texture and dense berry fruit from the Eugene District vineyard; concentrated and rich; long and spicy with a medium tannin finish. 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.bluelifestyle.com. Prices are for 750 ml. bottles unless otherwise noted. Anthony Dias BLUE REVIEWS Presented by