Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
38 / the tasting panel / april 2017 1 JAB Clear, legible label, solid branding. Pow, right in the kisser. 2 JABS Eye catching label and memorable branding. This one's got a one two punch. 3 JABS Creatively inspiring in both packaging and branding. I'm seeing stars and parakeets. 4 JABS A near work of art and meaningful branding. Might not last another round. 5 JABS A masterpiece in packaging and new benchmark in branding. An instant knock-out! April's Aces by Jessie Birschbach Our Wine Editor, Jessie Birschbach, Certified Sommelier—or JABS, as we call her in the office—uses her experience as a sommelier and her background in marketing to rate retail wines on both the inside and the outside of the bottle. After all, in off-premise environments it's usually the packaging that hooks us then it's up to the wine to keep us on the hook. For this reason, we are nixing the traditional rating system and simply employing the "JABS" rating system to assess packaging and brand identity. As for the inside of the bottle, you can be sure that these wines have met the reasonably high yet unpretentious standard of simply being delicious and drinkable. PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG For info on submitting samples, email jabs@sommjournal.com. Son of a Butcher 2014 Red Wine, California ($20) Gritty nutmeg countered with ripe blackberry, raspberry and plum in this full-bodied red. The grit is sanded down by the fruity ripeness and a smooth, smoky background. Although it's a blend of mostly Tannat, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the back of the bottle claims it's "90% elbow grease, 10% je ne sais quoi, 100% Made in California by a French S.O.B." (The Frenchman in question is Yannick Rousseau.) Those numbers don't quite add up, but they still make a lot of sense to me as this S.O.B. is a well-made wine and well-designed packaging. ACME FINE WINES Lomita Tinto de la Hacienda 2014 Red Wine, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico ($25) Blueberry, dried cranberry, plum and vanilla baking spice in a medium body that taps into a small vein of salinity. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah estate fruit grown organically in the only Mexican wine region I can nombre, and it's delicioso. The label upon closer inspection becomes just slightly abstract. Classy from afar and a little weird up close; just my style. TRULY FINE WINES DeMorgenzon 2016 DMZ Cabernet Rosé, Western Cape, South Africa ($11.99) Strawberry, watermelon and jalapeño. This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from DeMorgenzon's cooler vineyards in the Western Cape. Simple and incredibly easy to drink, especially consider- ing the price. The bottle/ label looks like some sort of pink dollar bill. This must be the currency of Bacchus himself. CAPE CLASSICS Broken Earth Winery 2015 Grenache Blanc, Paso Robles ($24) Soft and citrusy; lemon peel, juicy lemon, green apple, fragrant lemon blossom and a dash of talcum powder in this just-medium-bodied white. This is estate grown Grenache Blanc on limited release from a certified California sustainable vineyard. The label reflects the terroir of the Estrella Bench within Paso Robles, and even better, so does the wine. Achaval-Ferrer 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina ($25) Bright and brambly; jammy blue and black fruits finish dry along with a few pencil shav- ings. I was actually a bit surprised at the seemingly higher acid in this full- bodied 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from various better-known regions of Mendoza: Valle de Uco, Luján de Cuyo, etc. Awesome unfined/unfil- tered texture. I've always found the Achaval-Ferrer label to be delicate and beautiful. STOLI GROUP USA/TENUTE DEL MONDO T he first Friday of April is National Walk to Work Day and due to the nature of my position as wine editor I'm going to recommend instead celebrating Walking Home from Work Day. I'm not suggesting that you too drink at work, but these are wines you'd enjoy so much, if you drank them at work, you'd probably have to walk home. So please folks, do try this at home. DOWN THE AISLE DOWN THE AISLE