Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/21004
Aspiring for Greatness with Roth Estate Merlot with floral notes; medium amber color; mellow and toasty with caramel and spice; elegant and floral with lovely spice and subtle wood; smooth and feminine with some serious heat. 92 BROWN-FORMAN 92 The Black Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, Scotland ($25) A blended Scotch with a bit more character than most others; smoky, Islay malts are front and center with rich undertones of oak, dried fruits and spice; smooth, balanced and assertive with finesse and lovely texture. RÉMY COINTREAU USA France ($18) 95 Lovely, vibrant copper color with flashes of orange and gold; remarkable nose that suggests nut meats (almond, hazelnuts) vanilla, caramel, sweet oak, toffee, dried peach and hints of rancio complexity; elegant yet generous with lovely silky smooth mouth feel and sensuous texture. BIRKEDAL HARTMANN IMPORT CO. floral nose; medium amber color; thick and lush with honey, spice flavors and a core of bright spirit; long, sweet and nicely balanced; quite delicious with limitless cocktail potential. SIDNEY FRANK IMPORTING CO. 93 Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur, Germany ($25) Honey and In the competitive retail wine market, a big fan of the newly released Roth 2008 Alexander Valley Merlot is Jason Jenkins, owner of Vine & Barrel wine shop in Petaluma, California. He feels the richness and concentrated flavors can stand up against the best offerings from Napa Valley at a much better value. “It’s a big boy and definitely a Merlot made for grown-up palates.” Jenkins says. december 2010 / the tasting panel / 55 Conjure Cognac, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, USA ($50) Fragrant debut Merlot early this fall. Chris Vyenielo, General Manager of Roth Wines and the brand’s parent company Lancaster Estate, says their new release is a definitive example of the direction the Roth label is headed. “This Merlot has real guts, true intensity and generous fruit flavors,” he said. “Roth Estate wants to be known for making full-flavored and approachable world-class wines from Sonoma County.” M The finished product is a densely structured wine with aromas of black cherry, violet, cedar and smoke. On the palate, rich flavors of blueberry, black currant and dark chocolate match up nicely with chewy tannins, smooth mouthfeel, and a long gracious finish. —Christopher Sawyer erlot, anyone?Just when you thought new domestic bottlings of the legendary Bordeaux red grape variety had come to a screeching halt, Roth Estate in Alexander Valley launched its PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER SAWYER