Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/21004
95 Spring Mountain Vineyard 2005 Elivette, Napa Valley ($150) Lush aroma; lovely smooth texture with bright cherry, cocoa and black raspberry notes; juicy and elegant with purity and charming soft herbs; supple, long and balanced with style and finesse. 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc. Clones, Clos du Soleil Vineyard, Dundee Hills ($45) Silky smooth and elegant with bright acidity and lovely fresh citrus and peach fruit; pure, beautifully balanced and long. 92 Riesling, Eden Valley ($17) Silky texture with dry, juicy citrus and peach; bracing and fresh with balance, nerve and excellent length. 90 Peninsula, Michigan ($25) Smooth and juicy with lovely velvety texture and crisp, bright black raspberry fruit; supple, balanced and nervy with lots of charm and style; long and bracing. 88 France ($24) Smooth and lush with bright acidity, lovely citrus and spice; long and clean with depth and balance; dry and racy with juicy, pure flavors. IMPORTS 90 Friuli, Italy ($21) Smooth and rich with racy acidity and ripe citrus and spice; complex and elegant with lovely texture and a long finish. 90 QUINTESSENTIAL december 2010 / the tasting panel / 53 QUINTESSENTIAL La Tunella 2009 Pinot Grigio, Colli Orientali del La Selvanella, Italy ($24) Fresh and smooth with juicy plum and racy blackberry fruit; charming and pure with balance and fine structure. 90 HESS COLLECTION 2 Lads 2008 Cabernet Franc, Old Mission Provence Rosé, France ($20) Brisk and juicy with fresh raspberry and cherry fruit; spicy with a hint of tobacco, lively and balanced with lots of charm. 89 REGENCY WINES Gustave Lorentz 2008 Riesling Réserve, Alsace, Selección, Mendoza, Argentina ($20) Smooth and rich with lovely structure and depth; rich color, dense and aromatic with lush vanilla and spice; juicy and balanced with excellent length. 90 GALLO Fattorie Melini 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Alamos 2008 Malbec, Domaine de Brigue 2007 Petit Rimauresq Côtes de Peter Lehmann 2009 Dry Domaine Serene 2008 Chardonnay, Dijon 2009 Riesling, Riche, Waipara Valley, New Zealand ($25) Bright, beautiful sweet peach fruit; juicy and 92 balanced; spatlese style, intense and elegant with grace and finesse. INFINITY IMPORTS Sancerre, France ($26) Dense and juicy with minerals, citrus and spice; smooth, balanced and bright with good length and fresh style. VINEYARD BRANDS 89 Syrah, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($19) Dark and spicy with juicy plum, cassis and ripe berry fruit; complex and elegant with ripe, dense flavors and nuances of spice, pepper and tangy fruit. 90 CAROLINA WINE BRANDS USA Viña Casablanca 2008 Nimbus Domaine Vincent Delaporte 2009 Mountford Estate Clos Quebrada de Macul, Maipo Valley, Chile ($60) Lush and smooth with deep flavors of black plum, spice, chocolate and herbs; rich, dense and softly tannic with rich texture, ripe fruit and a long, concentrated finish. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTING 91 Superiore, Italy ($65) Dense, ripe and fleshy with spice and rounded plum and black raspberry fruit; earth, complexity and depth; long and lush. 90 EMPSON USA VALUE AND BY-THE-GLASS RECOMMENDATIONS 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, California ($11) Silky and crisp with lively citrus and notes of grass; fresh, racy and juicy; clean, balanced and charming with good length and style. CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. 89 Campania, Italy ($10) Fresh and aromatic with dense tropical and apple fruit; smooth and clean with balance and good length. PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL 88 Tempranillo–Cabernet Sauvignon, Castilla, Spain ($9) Silky texture with bright, tangy lively berry fruit and racy acidity; fresh and juicy with racy acidity and a long, zesty finish. UNDERDOG WINE MERCHANTS 88 Tempra Tantrum 2009 Vivi 2009 Falanghina, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Santadi 2004 Terre Brune, Carignano del Sulcis Domus Aurea 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon,