The Tasting Panel magazine

January / February 2017

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january/february 2017  /  the tasting panel  /  145 BIG MAN ON CAMPUS Robert Mondavi Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley ($155) Robert Mondavi and the To Kalon Vineyard need no introduction, even to some of those outside of the industry, but this particular showing makes The Tasting Panel realize that the Robert Mondavi Winery is certainly not resting on its laurels and why it's this year's "Big Man on Campus." To Kalon lives up to its phenomenal repu- tation in this dynamic interpretation of its dusty, earthy, sweet chocolate-brandied soil. Soft and rich with underlying muscle (but no tight grip, no bite or greenness) that is bathed in violet, graphite and a preternaturally divined plum and blueberry. 95 —Meridith May, Publisher's Picks, January 2016 CONSTELLATION WINES U.S. MOST NAUTICAL Odfjell 2014 Orzada Carignan, Cauquenes, Chile ($22) Although Norwegian ship owner Dan Odfjell (pronounced ode-fyel) has successfully navi- gated the seven seas, he also treads well on land. Odfjell Vineyards bottles what they consider to be the best of Chile, with sustainability as a cornerstone of their production. All of Odfjell's vineyards are 100 percent organic and are cur- rently beginning to employ Biodynamic practices. The gravity-flow winery enables a gentler winemaking process. In seaman's terms "Orzada" refers to sailing up against the wind before setting a direction—just one of the reasons why Odfjell Vineyards is The Tasting Panel's "Most Nautical" winery of 2016. Juicy and bright; spicy and bursting with black raspberry fruit. Stunning ripe fruit and minerals; no oak and lots of flavor; fresh, modern and long. 93 —Anthony Dias Blue Reviews, November 2016 FOLEY FAMILY WINES Pusser's Rum Gunpowder Proof, Guyana ($35) This 17th-century-style British Navy rum is a history lesson in a bottle: the ship's "pusser" (purser) once doled out the sailor's ration of rum, and gunpowder was used to prove the strength of the alcohol (hence "proof"). Based on the recipe used when the Royal Navy gave out the last daily ration of rum to its sailors in July 1970, Pusser's Rum Gunpowder Proof is pro- duced at the original Admiralty strength. Fine and potent stuff. Smooth, rich with flavors of toasted orange rind, tamarind and brown sugar; lush and powerful; long and balanced. 109 proof. 93 — Anthony Dias Blue, Blue Reviews, June 2016 SHAW-ROSS INTERNATIONAL IMPORTERS, LLC BEST DRESSED Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, Champagne, France ($60) Charles Heidsieck started his own Champagne house in 1851, vowing to value quality first and foremost, from the supe- rior fruit to the long aging in the cellar and beautiful design of the bottle. The bottle emulates the shape of the crayères, or chalk quarries, in the Champagne region. It has similar proportions to a magnum bottle, which allows for better aging, and the look is completed by a sleek label. Charles "Champagne Charlie" Heidsieck was one of the first to recognize the importance of the U.S. as a Champagne market—the rest is history. Long, bright, toasty and yeasty; stunning. 95 —Anthony Dias Blue, Blue Reviews EXTRA! September-October 2016 FOLIO FINE WINE PARTNERS value supe- and bottle chalk has bottle, Cabernet Vineyard, Vineyard Man repu- its muscle Publisher's BIGGEST BANG

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