Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/960891
88 / the tasting panel / april 2018 BLUE REVIEWS 91 Angels & Cowboys 2017 Rosé, Sonoma County ($15) Dry, refreshing, and lively with bright, crisp acidity; predominantly Grenache, the ideal variety for this category; a first-class rosé at an excellent price. SHARE A SPLASH WINE CO. 90 Luca Bosio Vineyards 2016 Moscato, Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Italy ($18) Sweet and delicate with spice and floral notes; bright with citrus and soft spritz; delightful with a lengthy finish. QUINTESSENTIAL WINES 89 Lunar Harvest 2016 Merlot, Columbia Valley ($9) Bright raspberry nose with a juicy palate showing plum and berry fruit; lush with some herbal nuances; an amazing value. 88 Nebel 2016 Riesling, Rheinhessen, Germany ($14) Aromatic with sweet, off-dry style; nicely balanced with distinct minerality. 10.5% ABV. 88 Paringa 2016 Sparkling Shiraz, South Australia ($18) Dark ruby color with a rich blackberry nose; sparkling and dry; intense and ripe with deep berry notes from a family involved in the Australian wine industry for eight decades. QUINTESSENTIAL WINES 90 Pighin 2017 Pinot Grigio, Grave del Friuli DOC, Italy ($18) Bright, crisp, and lavish; fresh, racy, and long with plenty of flavor, this represents precisely what Pinot Grigio is all about. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 92 Susana Balbo 2015 Signature Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($20) Deep crimson color with a rich and dense mouthfeel; a lovely, luscious, and expressive wine made by one of Argentina's premier producers run by the prolific Susana Balbo. FOLIO FINE WINE PARTNERS 91 Tangent 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Paragon Vineyard, Edna Valley ($17) Juicy, bright, and fresh; crisp and bracing yet still elegant and balanced; made from estate fruit sourced from the coolest AVA in California. 88 Tercos 2017 Tercos Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina ($14) Smooth, spicy, and juicy with bright berry fruit and good balance; fresh and clean; a good example of the variety known here as Charbono. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTERS SPIRITS 93 Bowmore The Vintner's Trilogy Manzanilla Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 18 Years, Scotland ($127) Smoky, toasty nose; intense and spicy with a typical Islay funk imparted through its aging in both bourbon and Manzanilla Sherry barrels; long and smooth with considerable finesse. BEAM SUNTORY 92 Calvados Christian Drouin Cœur de Lion Selection, France ($40) Light amber color with a soft apple cider nose; ripe and lush with notes of baked apple and spice; mellow and balanced; a fine example of this underrated spirit. 96 Germain-Robin Augustine's Blend Brandy, USA ($700) Creamy, complex, and rich with great depth and elegant style; pure and balanced with refined flavors and toasted oak; lush and polished. E.&J. GALLO 95 Glenmorangie Spìos Private Edition No. 9, Scotland ($99) Crisp, elegant, and sweet with lovely spice, fine texture, and amazing balance. This annual release is the first of the series to mature in American ex-rye whiskey casks. 92 Lvov Vodka, Poland ($20) Ear thy nose with a creamy texture; lush with sweetened notes of vanilla; long, refreshing, and balanced; distilled from beets. ROYAL WINE CORP. 93 Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur, USA ($40) Light amber color with a floral nose; nectarous and rich with lovely flavors that hint at honeysuckle, lavender, and roses; this unique sipper truly comes together in the glass. 92 Soto Super Premium Junmai Daiginjo Sake, Japan ($45) Soft and silky with lovely finesse and balance; elegant and refined; not really a spirit, this is more of a brewed product like beer, but it's lovely nonetheless. Gluten-free with no additives, preservatives, or sulfites. 95 Guillotine Heritage Edition Vodka Révolutionnaire, France ($69) Stunning amber hue with a nose of rich caramel and orange rind; elegant and long finish with spiced cinnamon and tea. Distilled from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay from Aÿ vineyards in the Champagne region, the spirit rests in Limousin oak barrels and finds its way into French- made barrels.