Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/391612
78 / the tasting panel / october 2014 BLUE REVIEWS BLUE REVIEWS 89 Ferrari-Carano 2013 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County ($14) Silky texture with peach, citrus and melon fruit; crisp, fresh and polished with vanilla notes and bright acidity; complex, balanced and long. 88 Domaine Gioulis 2010 SOFOS The Wise Old Man, Corinth, Greece ($12) Clean, smooth and juicy with bright plum and racy acidity; tangy and balanced. 50% Argiorgitiko, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. NATURAL MERCHANTS 88 Finca El Origen 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina ($12) Dense and juicy with toasty notes and ripe plum; deep, rich and balanced with youthful qualities. CAROLINA WINE BRANDS USA 88 Domaine de Bila-Haut 2012 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France ($13) Ripe and dense with lush blackberry and spice; tangy and earthy with spice and a long, juicy finish; a charming wine made by Rhône star Michel Chapoutier. Grenache, Carignan, Syrah. HB WINE 89 Carnivor Wines 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($15) Dark, forward and rich with blackberry, cassis and coffee notes; smooth texture and dense style; ripe, balanced and long on the finish. E&J GALLO 88 Château de Berne 2013 Terres de Berne, Provence, France ($18) A light pink rosé from 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache; smooth and dry with juicy acidity and fresh strawberry fruit; fragrant, bright and long. INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS AND WINES Masters of Chablis THE DOMAINE LAROCHE 2012 VINTAGE DATING BACK TO 1850 AND SINCE 2009 an integral part of the AdVini group, Domaine Laroche is one of the most traditional, "purist" wine houses in Chablis, virtually synonymous with this region, but also one of the most progressive. In the cellar, under Technical Director Grégory Viennois, wines from each of the domaine's individual plots—including nearly a dozen premier crus and three grand crus—are assigned to an individual "tâcheron, " who sees the wine through to completion and ensures that it is a true expression of its terroir. I recently tasted these highly impressive wines from the 2012 vintage. Kudos to Laroche for bottling under screwcap, which Michel Laroche was the the first in France to initiate, in 2001. Laroche winery. 88 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Saint Martin, France ($31) A cuvée from the best plots of the estate; tangy acidity and bright citrus; smooth and lively with good structure. 90 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Premier Cru Les Vaudevey, France ($42) Elegant and crisp with juicy acidity and racy citrus; fresh, bright and lengthy. 92 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Premier Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes, France ($51) Lush and juicy with tangy acidity and vibrant fruit; silky and fresh with a long, vivid finish. 94 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Premier Cru Les Blanchots, France ($98) Smooth and juicy with lush, elegant texture and lovely notes of vanilla and crisp acidity; bright and lingering. 96 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, France ($136) Juicy and fresh with lovely structure and silky texture; rich, vibrant and complex with depth and great finesse; long and exquisite on the finish. 95 Domaine Laroche 2012 Chablis Grand Cru Le Réserve de l'Obédience, France ($161) Smooth and lush with bright, searing acidity and vivid fruit; rich, elegant and balanced with lovely depth and style. WILSON DANIELS