Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
august 2018 / the tasting panel / 77 95 Rodney Strong Vineyards 2014 Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($75) Dark ruby hue with a ripe nose; flavorful and dense with notes of rich chocolate and a velvety texture; generous and intense. 90 Kenwood Vineyards 2016 Six Ridges Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($26) Creamy with flavorful notes of vanilla oak and toast; clean, fresh, and tangy with bright acidity. Sur-lie aged. 91 J. McClelland Cellars 2015 Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley ($35) Bright and juicy with a solid core of tight acidity; long and elegant; a smooth and refined release from the Scotto family. 93 Morgan 2016 Double L Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands ($64) Soft cherry and earth nose; silky texture with notes of cherry and spice; showing ripe fruit and good length. Aged ten months in 50% new French oak. 93 Jordan 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($56) A smooth and tangy Bordeaux- style wine with lively plum and berry fruit; medium-bodied and elegant; another winner in a long line from this acclaimed winery. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.7% Merlot, 5.8% Petit Verdot, 1.2% Malbec, and 0.3% Cabernet Franc. 94 Merry Edwards Winery 2016 Olivet Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($68) Deep ruby color ; a lovely and food-friendly expression of this famed vineyard; rich and deep with abundant minerals and spices; ripe with soft tannins and great depth; long and graceful. 92 Dolin 2012 The Troubadour Red, Malibu Coast ($45) Deep ruby color ; smooth, bright, and softly tannic with deep berry fruit, plum, and hints of spice; restrained and pretty. 42% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, and 9% Petit Verdot. 93 Robert Hall 2016 Cavern Select GSM, Paso Robles ($45) Spiced nose; creamy, nuanced, and lush; dense and rich with pronounced tanginess; clean, crisp, and long. 34% Grenache, 34% Syrah, and 32% Mourvèdre. 95 Spring Mountain Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District ($85) Opulent with spice and crisp notes of bright plum, toasted oak, and generous berry fruit; intense and long from an 845-acre estate with just 225 acres planted to vine. 90 Kenwood Vineyards 2016 Six Ridges Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($26) Creamy with flavorful notes of vanilla oak and toast; clean, fresh, and tangy with bright acidity. Sur-lie aged for seven months. IMPORTED 91 Azienda Agricola Inama 2015 Bradisismo Veneto Rosso IGT, Italy ($30) Deep ruby color ; racy, lively, and fresh, yet intense, long, and tannic— an interesting combo. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carménère. DALLA TERRA WINERY DIRECT 91 Trinity Hill 2014 Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand ($30) Saturated hue with a spicy nose; smooth and juicy with ripe plum and spice; rich and herbal; balanced with a lengthy finish. TERROIR SELECTIONS VALUE 91 Elk Cove Vineyards 2017 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley ($19) Smooth and lush; creamy and ripe with tangy, crisp acidity; a lovely, well-made wine made from fruit hand-harvested from Elk Cove's hillside vineyards.