The Tasting Panel magazine

June 2016

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90  /  the tasting panel  /  june 2016 WINES Bonterra 2014 Viognier, 58% Mendocino & 42% Lake County ($16) Made with organic grapes, the scent of magnolia and tarragon comes through with a stony bottom end. Rich up front and crisp on the finish, which sits on the tongue with a sweet apricot tartness. 89 ADELAIDA 2015 Rosé, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($20) Stunningfrom its chalky strawberry brilliance to its prom-dress pink hue, the blend of 51% Grenache, 24% Carignan, 14% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Counoise and 2% Syrah knocked me out when I tasted it at the winery's brand new, gorgeous tasting room atop Adelaida Mountain. The lemongrass-peach middle is an unexpected "ooooh" due to a strapping, searing minerality that keeps the mouth awake, but aware of greatness. 96 Plungerhead 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($18) Acid-grabbing structure in a grapey-plum wash of blue flowers is just the beginning of this quaffable red. Red ribbons of raspberry and pomegranate are brushed with cocoa and coffee from mid-palate to finish. The mineral-rich soil shows through and the ultimate food-pairing ability is greenlighted all the way. 90 3 BADGE ENOLOGY Tenuta Sassoregale 2012 Sangiovese, Maremma Toscana, Italy ($18) Chocolate, cherry and toasted oak combine with Old World acidity and a fine gripping tannin structure. The chalky palate continues to be texturally expres- sive, making it a sensory pleasure with food. Notes of Gorgonzola cheese, black olive and animale offer an Earth Mother status to this rustic beauty. 93 SM WINE GROUP USA Herzog Limited Edition 2014 "Camouflage" 30th Anniversary Red Blend, California ($25) An ambitious co-fermented field blend of 12 varieties—the likes of uniquely matched grapes such as Tinto Cao, Primitivo, Petite Sirah and Sangiovese—creates this limited-edition domestic red. The nose comes across as treading lightly on the senses, but the chalky, dusty tannins take hold with heady notes of earth, orange rind and raspberry chiffon. With each sip, the palate goes deeper for a wonderful accomplishment of flavor, texture and intrigue. 94 Camfield Family Wines 2013 Shiraz, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia ($30) Savory notes of black olive and espresso work well with dense black fruit and violets. Cherry finishes with a firm finish and mocha notes linger. A sturdy wine that is grown in a Mediterranean climate in the foothills of the Pyrenees in Victoria. 89 GUMTREE VINEYARDS PICKS In each issue The Tasting Panel's Publisher and Editorial Director 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. Publisher's Worthy of a smooch. French-style double bizou. Wildly infatuated. Seriously smitten. Head over heels in love. ADELAIDA District, Stunning

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