Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/91577
BLUE REVIEWS 93 Jean-Luc Colombo 2010 Syrah La Louvée, Cornas, France ($85) Spicy nose; silky texture and bright blackberry, cassis and raspberry fruit; notes of violets and chocolate with vivid fruit, tangy acidity and a long, elegant fi nish, built to age. PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL 91 90 91 Castello di Volpaia 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy ($27) A classic rendition of Sangiovese: bright, fresh and juicy with berries and a hint of violets; tangy, charming and nervy with depth and lovely structure; long and balanced. WILSON DANIELS Osoyoos Larose 2007 Le Grand Vin, Okanagan Valley, Canada ($45) A bright and tangy Bordeaux-style blend with lovely juicy plum; fresh and sleek with a core of fi rm acidity. VINCOR Laurent-Miquel 2007 Syrah Larmes des Fées, Saint- Chinian, France ($50) Smooth and generous with elegant structure, silky fruit and lovely notes of spice and rich plum; lush with ripe fruit and stylish fl avors. ADVENTURES IN WINE VALUE AND BY-THE-GLASS RECOMMENDATIONS 88 Kitchen Sink Wines NV Red Reserve, California ($13) A pot-pourri blend (43% Zinfandel, 30% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 6% Petite Sirah, 1% miscellaneous red) that works; good depth and ripe berry fruit, with spice, tangy acidity and nice length. ADLER FELS WINERY 88 Bodegas Franco- Españolas 2011 Royal Blanco, Rioja, Spain ($10) A smooth and ripe Viura with rich, dense fl avors; fl oral, lush and nicely rounded with a long fi nish. VISION WINE & SPIRITS LLC 52 / the tasting panel / november 2012 92 89 Striking 90 90 Marziano Abbona 2009 Barbera d'Alba Rinaldi, Italy ($25) Dark, lush and rich with ripe plum, blackberry and spice; juicy, ripe and long with lovely depth. Marziano Abbona 2007 Barbaresco ($50) Smooth and ripe, lush and dense with elegant fl avors of spice and plum fruit; earthy yet refi ned and nicely balanced with good length. 95 Marziano Abbona 2007 Barolo Terlo Ravera, Italy ($69) Deep ruby color; rich, ripe and dense with full-on plum, berries and spice; lovely notes of chocolate, tar and roses; long and exquisite. Marziano Abbona 2007 Barolo Pressenda, Italy ($73) Lush and ripe nose; smooth texture; dense and meaty with elegance and lovely minerals and spice and tangy acidity; built to last. Doña Paula 2010 Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina ($9) Smooth and lush with ripe plum, raspberry and bright, tangy acidity; clean, balanced, fresh and very appealing; charming and an enormous value. TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES 90 88 Italian Imports ENOTECA DE RHAM CELEBRATED ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY in 2011, making it one of the oldest export houses in Italy. Run by American expat Barbara de Rham, it represents some 50 boutique wineries from throughout Italy, including many Tre Bicchieri–winning wineries. I met with Barbara recently to taste through the wines of two of her labels: Le Ragose (Veneto) and Marziano Abbona (Piemonte). The wines are imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons. Le Ragose 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Veronese IGT, Italy ($31) Dark, smooth and ripe with deep plum, berries and soft herbs; lush and long. 94 Le Ragose 2005 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($51) Deep dark and intense with ripe, raisiny berry fruit and great depth; elegant, powerful and complete with a long, luscious fi nish; superb. Le Ragose 2007 Recioto della Valpolicella, Italy ($55/500 ml.) Deep lush and sweet with creamy texture and ripe berry fruit; ripe, smooth and rich. 88 Le Ragose 2008 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, Italy ($23) Lush, dense and herbal with spice, blackberry and tar; rich, long and balanced. 88 Irony 2010 Merlot, Napa Valley ($16) Smooth and lush with ripe plum and notes of chocolate; supple and showing good acid structure; long and bright. DFV WINES