Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/430172
december 2014 / the tasting panel / 129 Poet's Leap 2013 Riesling, Columbia Valley LONG SHADOWS VINTNERS Pol Roger 2004 Brut Rosé Champagne Extra Cuvée de Réserve, France FREDERICK WILDMAN Pride Mountain Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Sonoma County R2 Wine Co 2012 Signature Series S&B Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills Raptor Ridge Winery 2012 Crawford Beck Vineyards Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills Vineyard Vina Robles 2010 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles Ron Rubin 2012 Pinot Noir, Green Valley Vineyard, Russian River Valley Ruinart 1998 Brut Rosé Champagne, France MOËT-HENNESSY USA Salvestrin Estate 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, LeBlanc Crystal Springs Vineyard, St. Helena–Napa Valley Sanctuary Estates 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Usibelli Vineyard, Rutherford FETZER VINEYARDS Sebastiani Vineyards 2012 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley FOLEY WINE ESTATES Don Sebastiani and Sons 2012 "The Crusher" Petite Sirah, Growers Selection, Clarksburg Shafer Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay, Red Shoulder Ranch, Carneros, Napa Valley Signaterra 2012 Pinot Noir, Bella Luna Vineyard, Russian River Valley BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY Sonoma-Loeb 2012 Envoy Chardonnay, Carneros Stone the Crows 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Swanson Vineyards 2010 Alexis, Napa Valley Cave de Tain L'Hermitage 2010 Saint-Joseph Esprit de Granit, France OTHER WINE & SPIRITS Robert Talbott Vineyards 2012 Chardonnay, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Talley Vineyards 2012 Chardonnay, Rincon Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley MOST REBELLIOUS VILLA SAN-JULIETTE 2011 "CHORUM" RED, PASO ROBLES ($25) M aintaining the status quo can be a real snooze—being bland is just plain boring, but being a blend, well, that's a whole other story, especially if you ask Matt Ortman and his team at Villa San-Juliette Vineyard & Winery. Most winemakers would never let varietals from Bordeaux and Rhône share a bottle, but Villa San-Juliette 2011 "Chorum" (pronounced core-um) proves that conventions and rules were meant to be broken. Beyond the crossing of regions, this blend also has quite the cast of supporting characters: 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Grenache, 18% Petit Verdot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 11% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Syrah and 4% Petite Sirah. Wrangling this mix can be difficult—Ortman notes that he "must try to find the balance for each variety to influence but not to dominate. It becomes a long puzzle." A riddle we don't mind solving. This small production proprietary blend of single lot wines is VSJ's flagship label—only 800 cases made. Texturally, its sweet tobacco and cinnamon-coated red fruit is juicy- with-volume and charming. The Grenache gushes fruit with a rich mid-palate that Ortman is making his signature style. 94 —Meridith May, "The Influencers of Paso Robles," January 2014 www.villasanjuliette.com MOST TRANSPARENT DON FERMIN PLATA TEQUILA ($37) T here's something effortlessly cool about being totally clear about who you are—especially when it comes to high school insecurities. With a bright crystal clear bottle that proves it has nothing to hide, the liquid inside the Don Fermin Plata Tequila bottle is practically platinum. The brand's commitment to quality is equally transparent, with the team at Destilería Leyros using eco-friendly, state-of-the-art technology to distill world-class tequila. But while the distillation process is distinctly New World, Don Fermin's aged expressions are bottled in a strictly artisanal method, with a good barrel and time— proving that transparency in production methods can go a long way. Musky raspberries, mocha-covered pineapple and lavender-scented peached . . . such is the stuff of aroma therapy or possibly just a fantasy. But the scents soar from the glass in this pretty plata. The palate is clean, vibrant and without a bite. 92 —Meridith May, Publisher's Pick's, July 2014 GLASS BOTTOM DISTRIBUTORS www.glassbottomdistributors.com BEST ALL AROUND BLACK STALLION ESTATE WINERY 2010 LIMITED RELEASE CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY ($70) R emember that Senior in high school who was the class valedictorian, on homecoming court, captain of the football team and the nicest kid on the block? Well, the Black Stallion 2010 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is our Yearbook's version of this renaissance classmate. Boasting fruit from Napa Valley's most prestigious appellations and premier vineyards, this Cabernet showcases the winery's site-specific winemaking philosophy, which focuses on the diversity and quality of each vineyard site. This limited-release bottling is available exclusively at the beautiful winery and tasting room—which was once home to the historic Silverado Horseman's Center—situated on the Valley's historic Silverado Trail. Smooth and juicy with lovely plum and tangy style; bright and racy with lovely spice, fine struc- ture and good length with hints of chocolate and coffee. 92 —Anthony Dias Blue, Blue Reviews EXTRA!, August 2014 DFV WINES www.blackstallionwinery.com