Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/884376
october 2017 / the tasting panel / 71 92 Leviathan 2013 Red Wine, California ($40) Very dark ruby color ; smooth, meaty, and lush with intense zest, depth, and acidity. 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 24% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc for Leviathan's tenth anniversary bottling. TERROIR LIFE 96 Williams Selyem 2014 Calegari Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($58) Bright and juicy nose from a vineyard that exemplifies true Russian River Valley style; sleek, velvety, and elegant with ripe raspberry and cherry fruit; fresh and tangy; an ethereal example for anyone wanting to make wine from this exalted variety. 93 Penner-Ash Wine Cellars 2015 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton AVA ($65) Smooth and luscious with ripe Rainier cherry fruit from what many call the Grand Cru Vineyard of Oregon; rich texture and bright flavors; supple, deep, and balanced. 94 Testarossa Winery 2015 Diana's Chardonnay, California ($72) A refined and elegant multi-vineyard blend with a velvety texture and great finesse; there is also impressive depth, with toasty oak, crisp acidity, and restrained complexity. 94 Ledson Winery & Vineyards 2014 Taylor's Cabernet Sauvignon, Mountain Terraces Vineyard, Moon Mountain District ($90) Rich ruby color ; glossy and lush wine from one of Sonoma's most reliable wineries with dense style and elegant structure; ripe blackberry and cherry fruit; intense and full-bodied; long and deep. 96 VinRoc Wine Caves 2014 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($100) Dark, rich, and concentrated with smooth texture and deep plum and berry fruit; toasty, elegant, and long; a stunning, cult-worthy wine that's a bargain compared to others in its class. IMPORTS 88 Thomas Schmitt 2015 Private Collection Pinot Noir, Rheinhessen, Germany ($14) A shift in focus for a family known for producing some of Germany's best Reislings; pale ruby color ; crisp and dry with earth and savory notes; silky and long. SCHMITT SÖHNE USA 89 Sella & Mosca 2013 Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardegna DOC, Italy ($17) In Sardinia, many people live well past the century mark, and they say this wine is one of the reasons; bright, earthy nose; smooth, juicy, and medium- bodied with earth, spice, and leather notes. 100% Cannonau (Grenache). PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL 91 Rubus 2014 Castleton Shiraz, Barossa, Australia ($19) Mint and anise nose from a private label created and used by importer/distributor Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD; juicy and smooth; lush, spicy, and fresh; tangy and long. KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD. 93 Schmitt Söhne 2015 Beerenauslese Riesling, Rheinhessen, Germany ($20) Golden color from a winemaking family dating back two centuries; silky texture with lovely sweet botrytis notes; lush with candied apricot and succulent flavors; sweet and intense. SCHMITT SÖHNE USA 92 Alpha Estate 2014 Hedgehog Vineyard Xinomavro, Amyndeon, Greece ($22) A modern Greek wine with depth, freshness, and finesse from a label founded by an experienced viticulturalist and achemist- enologist; clean, bright, and juicy with spice and depth; long, rich, and balanced. DIAMOND WINE IMPORTERS 90 Clos Alivu 2016 Rosé, AOP Patrimonio, France ($22) Pale salmon pink from the mountainous hillsides of Patrimonio, Corsica's oldest appellation; smooth texture with mellow, luscious flavor ; crisp, fresh, and racy; clean and stylish; 100% Nielluccio. JEFF WELBURN SELECTIONS 92 Schloss Vollrads 2016 Spätlese Riesling, Rheingau, Germany ($31) Smooth with tangy acidity and luscious sweetness from a winery adhering to 800-year-old viticulture traditions; elegant, rich, and long. SCHMITT SÖHNE USA 91 Carmel Winery 2012 Kayoumi Shiraz, Galilee, Israel ($35) Dense nose with hints of spice and pepper from a company that owns the two largest wineries in Israel; smooth and ripe with juicy blackberry and spice; generous, open, and balanced. Kosher. 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier. ROYAL WINE CORP. 92 Tabor Winery 2013 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon, Galilee, Israel ($44) Lush notes of ripe blackberry and plum from a winery located in the foothills of Mt. Tabor and led by a fourth-generation grape grower ; rich and concentrated; dense and balanced. Kosher. ROYAL WINE CORP.