Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/931490
60 / the tasting panel / january/february 2018 WINES 96 Flora Springs 2014 St. Helena Rennie Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($150) Dark and velvety with lush flavors of plum, berry, and sweet oak; mellow, refined, and intense with tangy style and hints of vanilla and spice; long and balanced; fresh and elegant. 92 Black Kite Cellars 2015 River Turn Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ($60) Bright crimson color ; silky and succulent with racy acidity and crispness; fresh and savory with balance and excellent length; another lovely Jeff Gaffner wine. 92 Buglioni 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Italy ($58) Deep ruby color ; rich and earthy nose; intense and meaty with plum, berry, and spice; dense, ripe, and long with serious concentration. 60% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, and 5% Oseleta. WILSON DANIELS 90 Carmel Winery 2012 Limited Edition, Galilee, Israel ($70) Smooth berry nose; silky and bright with tangy, fresh berry fruit; balanced, juicy, and complex. Kosher. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. ROYAL WINE CORP. 91 Donnafugata 2012 Tancredi, Terre Siciliane IGT, Italy ($40) Edgy flavors and a savory style; smooth, long, and rich; more evidence of the Sicilian renaissance from a label with a diverse portfolio of elegant Meditteranean wines. FOLIO FINE WINE PARTNERS 93 Foley Estates 2014 Barrel Select Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills ($60) Pale with an intense berry nose; silky, crisp, and elegant; fresh and balanced; a lovely Burgundian Pinot made by Kris Curran, Sea Smoke's original winemaker. KOBRAND CORP. 91 Fonseca Bin No. 27 Finest Reserve Porto, Douro, Portugal ($21) A blend of select reserve Ports chosen for their full-bodied palates; dark ruby color ; smooth and dense with toasty notes and rich, ripe, and deep flavors. KOBRAND CORP. 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