Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/912565
66 / the tasting panel / december 2017 88 Pedroncelli Winery 2015 Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley ($20) Bright with notes of plum; medium body and smooth texture; crisp, balanced, and long; a good value. 93 Michael Pozzan Wines 2014 Sailor's Grave Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($45) Lush nose of black and purple fruits; generous and rich with ripe flavors; deep berries and spice with intensity and finesse; 90% Yountville and 10% Oakville. 91 Agricola Punica 2016 Samas Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia ($20) Made from hand- harvested Vermentino and Chardonnay grapes grown in sandy soil; smooth and lush with ripe tropical fruit and rich texture; dry, succulent, and bright. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 88 Les Frères Couillaud 2015 Château de la Ragotière Sélection Vieilles Vignes, Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie ($17) This centuries-old estate's schist and micaschist soil produces late-maturing and well-structured wines; clean, aromatic nose; crisp, tangy, and lively. VINEYARD BRANDS 91 Gruet Winery 2012 Gilbert Gruet Grande Reserve Blanc de Blanc, New Mexico, USA ($35) Refreshing, clean, and juicy with earthy notes and mineral elements; elegant, complex, and bright; a surprise from New Mexico with a long, lively, and balanced finish. 92 Black Kite Cellars 2015 Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands ($48) Bright and sumptuous with tangy acidity and smooth texture; lovely ripe fruit and fine balance; a lengthy finish showing true finesse. 91 Zocker 2015 Paragon Vineyard Grüner Veltliner, Edna Valley ($20) Fresh and juicy with silky consistency and dry flavors; lively, zesty, and long; a California version of Austria's prime variety. 92 Sidebar Cellars 2016 Kerner, Mokelumne River ($25) California's only version of this German hybrid variety is made by master winemaker David Ramey; glossy, crisp, and lifted with racy acidity and bright, aromatic style. 90 Steele Wines 2016 Pinot Blanc, Santa Barbara ($19) Smooth and lush with juicy fruit; rich texture and good acid structure; balanced and long with mellow finesse. 92 1000 Vines 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Mariposa ($25) Soft nose; fluid and fresh with succulent, clean fruit and creamy texture; elegant and restrained from an appellation east of Modesto. BLUE REVIEWS 92 CheckMate Artisanal Winery 2014 Knight's Challenge Chardonnay, Sunset Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, BC VQA ($75) Ripe nose; rich and dense with lush texture and mature flavors; long, intricate, and intense; a surprisingly fine effort from Canada. MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS 93 Schramsberg Vineyards 2013 Méthode Traditionnelle Brut, North Coast ($42) Golden amber color ; ripe, fresh, and rich flavors; round and deep with balance and a great, long finish from Napa's best sparkling wine producer.