Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/4337
Blue Reviews domestic 92 Coterie Cellars 2007 Roussanne, Saralee's Vineyard, Rus- sian River Valley ($26) Lush and silky with floral, peach and mineral notes; aromatic, elegant and showing a firm core of acidity; a lovely wine from a winery to watch. 91 Cordon 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Royal Oaks Vineyard, Santa Ynez ($15) Smooth and silky with juicy, brisk acidity and fresh citrus fruit; bright, balanced and long. 90 Murphy- Goode Win- ery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($20) Lush and juicy with ripe plum and blackberry fruit; smooth, dense and nicely struc- tured with notes of coffee, spice and cedar; a charming, deep wine with a long finish and lovely balance. JACKSON FAMILY ESTATES 89 Trenza 2008 Blanco, Edna Valley ($20) A charming blend of Albariño and Grenache Blanc; bright and aromatic with peach, tangy citrus and notes of spice and flowers; long finish. NIVEN FAMILY WINE ESTATES 91 Rossi-Wallace 2007 Char- donnay, Rutherford, Napa Valley ($25) Ric Forman and Cheryl Em- molo have crafted a pure Chardonnay —no oak, no malolactic—that is sleek, lush and bracing; silky, dense and fruit- driven with balance and nerve. 91 Talley Vineyards 2007 Char- donnay, Rosemary's Vine- yard, Arroyo Grande ($50) Lush and smooth with rich fruit and pure, firm acidity; racy, complex and bal- anced with excellent length and hints of oak and lovely Burgun- dian flavors. 89 Mettler Family Vineyards 2007 Epicenter Old Vine Zinfan- del, Lodi ($20) Lush and spicy with ripe blackberry and vanilla oak; dense, long and juicy with depth and richness. CREATIVE WINES INTERNATIONAL 94 Alysian 2007 Pinot Noir, Floodgate Vineyard, West Block, Rus- sian River Valley ($55) Juicy and pure with lovely struc- ture, ripe red cherry fruit and true Burgundian style; an outstanding wine made by Gary Farrell. Blue Anthony Dias In each issue, Editor-in- Chief Anthony Dias Blue selects a wide range of the best wines and spirits from among the more than 500 he samples over the course of a month. The reviews are subjective editorial evalua- tions, made without regard to advertising, and products are scored on a 100-point scale: 85-89 VERY GOOD; 90-94 OUTSTANDING; 95-100 CLASSIC. Once products are select- ed for publication, produc- ers and importers will be offered the option of having their review accompanied by an image (bottle photo or label art) for a nominal fee. There is no obligation to add an image, nor does the decision affect the review or score in any way. The "twisty" icon indi- cates wines sealed with a screwcap closure. For additional Blue Reviews, go to www.tastingpanelmag.com. Reviews 52 / the tasting panel / november 2009