Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/142283
BLUE REVIEWS 88 Riondo 2012 Monte Forte Lot 6, Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Italy ($9) Spritzy and fresh with smooth, juicy fruit; tangy and spicy with lively acidity and balance; lush and clean. It Was a Very Good Year: 2011 Vintage Ports RIONDO USA Great years—when there is a magical confluence of many determining factors—are rare in the Douro. In the past decade only four vintages have risen to the standard required for a "declared" year: 2003, 2007, 2009 and, just released, 2011. And, even then, not all the Port houses declared all of these. There is no disagreement about 2011. Virtually every house declared it. (For the Quinta do Noval Nacional it was the first declared vintage since 2003.) The wines are truly exquisite: powerful, elegant and ready to drink immediately with great potential for long aging. They may be the best vintage ports ever made. Here are the remarkable wines of The Fladgate Partnership and Quinta do Noval. 92 Croft 2011 Quinta da Roêda ($93) Deep and dark, smooth and creamy; ripe and lush with rich blackberry and cassis; velvety, tangy and long with subtle spice. KOBRAND 94 Fonseca 2011 ($115.50) Smooth and creamy with sweet vanilla and elegant herbs and lovely wood; ripe and smooth; complex and dense. 88 William Cole 2012 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Columbine Special Reserve, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($16) Smooth and creamy with juicy, clean fruit and racy acidity; bright, tangy and balanced. GLOBAL VINEYARD 88 Lost Angel 2010 Merlot, California ($10) Smooth, clean and bright with juicy acidity and soft herbs; fresh and balanced. 84% Merlot, 9% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. FOLEY FAMILY WINES 89 Little Black Dress 2010 Divalicious Red, California ($11) Spicy blackberry and smooth vanilla; bright and fresh with smooth texture and ripe, juicy berries; balanced and charming. 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carignan, 14% Petite Sirah, 5% Counoise, 5% Zinfandel, 4% Tannat, 4% Mourvèdre, 4% Garnacha, 8% Malbec & other KOBRAND 96 Taylor Fladgate 2011 ($115.50) Deep and rich with vanilla, ripe blackberry, and plum; elegant and precise with lovely notes of licorice and spice; amazing. KOBRAND 92 Taylor Fladgate 2011 Quinta da Vargellas Vinha Velha ($268) Creamy and lush with rich wood and spice; deep and structured; long and lovely. KOBRAND 94 Quinta do Noval 2011 Pinhão Vineyard ($110) Smooth, creamy; vanilla notes and lovely floral style; fresh, ripe blackberry and blueberry; balanced and intense. VINTUS 96 Quinta do Noval 2011 Vintage Nacional ($650) Deep, dark and intense with concentration and power; huge and dense; rich, elegant, and very long; the first Vintage Nacional since the magnificent 2003. BROWN FORMAN 88 Masked Rider Winery 2011 Gunsmoke, California ($13) Clean, dry and spicy with tangy acidity and edgy style; fresh, balanced and racy. 33.3% Petite Sirah, 17.6% Shiraz, 16.4% Segalin, 9.4% Refosco, 9.4% Petit Verdot, 13.8% mixed reds. PANTHER ROCK WINE COMPANY 88 Château de Lagarde 2012 Le Petit Merlot, Cuvée Nature, Bordeaux, France ($15) Smooth and juicy with clean, tangy plum and soft herbs; lush and spicy with edgy style and a long finish. Organic. DOMAINES ARNAUD DE RAIGNAC 88 Aia Vecchia 2010 Lagone, Toscana, Italy ($15) Smooth and ripe with juicy plum and raspberry fruit; vivid Tuscan style with lush flavors and balance; long and lively. DALLA TERRA VINTUS 86 / the tasting panel / july 2013 TP0713_066-99.indd 86 6/24/13 5:49 PM