Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5037
In each issue THE TASTING PANEL's Publisher and Executive Editor, Meridith May, selects her favorite wines and spirits of the month. Check here for the latest arrivals in our offices, the hottest new brands on the market and an occasional revisited classic. wines 90 Yvon Mau 2008 Premius Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Pays du Comté Tolosan, France ($10) A perky and expressive white with a wake-up call nose of fresh citrus and spring flowers; peaches and grapefruit stay with you to the rich finish. FREIXENET USA 89 Steele Wines 2007 Writer's Block Syrah, Lake County ($15) Once the smoke and dust settles, and the coffee bean fades, a widening expanse of mocha, ripe boysenberry and plums set the stage; nice structure. 93 Vallformosa 2008 Sau- vignon Blanc, Penedès, Spain ($15) Starkly aromatic: flow- ers and a sea breeze. On the palate it expands to lemon cream and meringue with an oyster shell twist that tilts towards tropical. ECOSUR GROUP 92 Bodega Roca 2006 Ombu Merlot, San Rafael Valley, Argentina ($12) From 20-year-old vines. Richly concentrated on a bed of satin; mocha and coffee linger but the fruit is a WOW and the violets and chocolate are a bonus. What value! SPECIALTY CELLARS 88 Blue Coast Vineyards NV Merlot, Vin de Pays de Méditerranée, France ($22/3 liters) Fresh and fruity, and easy to drink. The 100% recyclable three-liter cardboard package is earth-friendly and this soft and ripe red is user-friendly. 89 Ironstone 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Si- erra Foothills ($25) A showy, richly endowed red with dusty tannins and ripe fruit. KAUTZ FAMILY Picks 93 Harlem Kruiden Li- queur, Netherlands ($23) Bold, smooth and exotic. Al- though this is a chilled-shot herbal liqueur, it has plenty of sophis- tication for sipping, not to men- tion mixing. Notes of mandarin, jasmine tea, chocolate and anise. NOLET SPIRITS 94 Landy XO Cognac, France ($120) Deeply warm and invit- ing, this is Snoop Dogg's cognac of choice, and for good reason. Rust- hued and ambrosial; orange peel, nutmeg and cinnamon lead the way to a vanilla cream, banana and tobacco middle. Melting candy, new leather and ripe plum round it out. No heat, just glow. W. J. DEUTSCH & SONS Publisher's spirits december 2009 / the tasting panel / 33