Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
april 2017 / the tasting panel / 79 Simi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County ($25) This is a stunning vintage for one of Alexander Valley's prestigious labels, with exotic jasmine and sweet black raspberry aromas. Boysenberry and mulberry jam and toast drape the mouth and the continuing parade of expressive fruit become more dramatic and voluptuous. Tannins are round and the texture is plush. 93 CONSTELLATION WINE U.S. Angove Family Winemakers 2015 Grenache, Warboys Vineyard, McLaren Vale, Australia ($75) This single- vineyard Grenache is made only in the best years—one of the finest sites in the region, with the oldest vines dating back to the early 1900s. The vineyard sits over chalky limestone in close proximity to the Gulf St. Vincent in South Australia. Spiced cedar and raspberry bramble lead to a curvy-textured Earth Mother of a wine. Ripe and balanced, this gem offers up a dash of pepper and spice in a light hand. As Tim Boydell, Angove's Director of Sales and Marketing, puts it, the wine is "gluggable." 94 TRI NCHERO FAMILY ESTATES J Vineyards 2015 Pinot Noir, 70% Monterey County/26% Sonoma County/4% Santa Barbara County ($25) This texturally impres- sive—luscious, graceful and generous—new release from J is their first multi-appellation wine. It may be the juiciest Pinot we've tasted (all our editors agreed). From its raspberry-earth nose to its cherry-lavender middle, the "J Black" label could just be the little black dress of wines. 93 E&J GALLO Parallel Wines 2014 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley ($55) This tiny-production white is plush and mouth-filling with oak and butter notes. Creamy vanilla and pudding and lemon oil sound rich but the acidity is at a parallel with these huge flavors, and the result is streamlined. 93 Calla Lily Estate 2014 Ultimate Red Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley ($39) Hong Kong entrepreneurs Anthony Fung and Andy Chui named the winery after the flower that symbolizes elegance, beauty and purity—and the calla lily is also the flowers sent to lovers. Cary Gott, a fourth- generation California winemaker, has crafted an earthy Pinot, with notes of cherries and red beet root. Tannins are chewy, with heady cedar-rhubarb-mocha accents. The fine acidity shows through. 92 Chimney Rock 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley ($85) Brambly raspberry spices up the aromatics; dusted rose petal tannins play into a graphite "tightness." It eventually relaxes into espresso savoriness and a spotlight of regal dark fruit—tart and earthbound—with a slate finish. Structure abounds, but the finish of cranberry-pome- granate favors the sumptuous expression of the region's terroir. 95 TERLATO WINES Ponzi Vineyards 2014 Pinot Noir Reserve, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($65) Blackberry, sweet black beans and sage seem to be born out of the earth on the nose of this unique red. It's a distinguished palate that follows, juicy and elegant, flowering with dark chocolate, rooibos tea, mocha-dusted black raspberry and a toffee-cedar finish. The fruit is a blend of LIVE Certified Sustainable fruit from Ponzi's oldest and most prized sites. 94 ©2017 LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, Acampo, CA Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon WINE ENTHUSIAST BEST BUY 2013 MERLOT 88 PTS 2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON PTS 88 2014 SAUVIGNON BLANC PTS 90 S A N D P O I N T W I N E . C O M LCF4174_SP_TP_3rdPG_AD_M4.indd 1 3/9/17 12:53 PM