The Tasting Panel magazine

June 2017

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june 2017  /  the tasting panel  /  89 Jessica Colburn of the Austin Hope Collection revealed Love & Hope. Bill Brandel, CSW, is VP/ Marketing for The Tasting Panel and The Somm Journal. He presented the Côté Mas and Kim Crawford rosés. ROSÉ REVEAL NUMBER TEN Galil Mountain 2015 Sangiovese Blend Rosé, Upper Galilee, Israel ($17) 65% Sangiovese, 17% Pinot Noir, 9% Grenache, 9% Barbera A daring blend of Italian and French grapes, this Israeli wine showcases global grape varieties coalescing to produce a perfumed rosé with a delicate palate. Bordering Lebanon to the north, the Upper Galilee lies in Israel's north, a mountainous area with the Mediterranean Sea to its west for a temper- ate climate of warm days and cool nights. This kosher wine is made in a New World style. The Sangiovese grapes are harvested by hand and then cold- fermented. The Sangiovese, Grenache and Barbera grapes went through the saignée method—bleeding the juice from the red wine tanks—and each was fermented separately. The color is deep pink-carmine with Sangiovese's sour cherry character, along with a sweet melon scent. The soils are basalt-volcanic, with vineyards grown in elevations that range from 130 to above 3,500 feet. "I first thought this was a Tavel from Provence," stated Jordan Abraham. "It was dry on the palate but the fruit was sun-kissed—bright and rich, with blood orange, raspberry, apricot and a garrigue herbal quality." "Wow—what an attractive wine! Loved the red plum notes, the cranberry tartness and the floral tones. I couldn't believe this was from Israel—I first guessed it was a Tuscan rosé of Sangiovese. A fun wine!" rhapso- dized Justin Chin. YARDEN WINES ROSÉ REVEAL NUMBER ELEVEN Stella Rosa Imperiale Moscato Rosé, Piedmont, Italy ($18) 85% Moscato Canelli, 15% Moscato Rosa The scent of sweet orange and peach aromas gave the biggest clue to our panel and the majority of us guessed: Moscato. The only sparkling wine of the tasting, the bubbles alight on the nose and tongue with grace. The grapes for this Northern Italian gem are selected from specific Riboli family–cultivated hillside vineyards in and around the commune of Asti, which, because of their ample drainage, contribute to the concentration of the flavor of the wine. Moscato and the rare Moscato Rosa grape variet- ies are blended together; alcohol is a low 9.5% and residual sugar is 8%. The grape must is fermented in pressurized stainless steel tanks and bottle-aged. "Floral to the max," Michael Ploetz enthused. "The red fruit, peach and citrus is opulent with a fine mousse." Justin Chin was enamored: "This wine changes the game for aperitifs. It's off-dry and refreshing with fresh strawberry and watermelon in a creamy, effer- vescent body. It's versatile for brunch, picnic and food pairing." RIBOLI FAMILY WINE ESTATES

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