Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/898117
28 / the tasting panel / november 2017 1 JAB Clear, legible label, solid branding. 2 JABS Eye-catching label and memorable branding. 3 JABS Creatively inspiring in both packaging and branding. 4 JABS A near work of art and meaningful branding. 5 JABS A masterpiece in packaging and new benchmark in branding. PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG For info on submitting samples, email jabs@sommjournal.com. Jessie Birschbach, Managing Editor of The SOMM Journal and 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/ spirits/beer on both the inside and the outside of the bottle. For this reason, we forgo the tradi- tional 100-point rating system and employ only the "JABS" rating system to assess packag- ing and brand identity. As for the inside of the bottle, you can be sure that these wines/spirits/ beers have met the reasonably high yet unpretentious standard of simply being delicious. NOVEMBER J Vineyards 2010 Vintage Brut, Russian River Valley ($60) Less is more, and that's certainly the case with J Vineyards' packaging. The simple "J" is immediately recognizable from afar. Creamy stone fruit, vanilla, and roasted pears play against juicy lemon and blanched almonds before end- ing with shimmering minerality. This 2010 vintage brut made via méthode Champenoise with Russian River Chardonnay (50%) and Pinot Noir (50%) represents a great year for both of these varieties in Sonoma. An incredibly well-made sparkling. 7 Moons 2015 Red Blend, California ($12) I'm not joking when I say I know at least two people who have recently gotten a moon phase tattoo. Smart move, 7 Moons! I wonder how much they sold during the solar eclipse this year. They've also made their corks collectable by printing a differ- ent phase on each one—another smart move. I might have thought the phases referred to something biodynamic, but it's in reference to the seven different varieties of grape: Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Grenache. The result is a super chocolatey, rich, and slightly spicy full-bodied wine with dark ripe berries—the kind you'd have with barbeque or a cheeseburger. CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC. Virginia Dare Winery Bee's Box 2016 Pinot Noir, California ($19) The old- timey black-and-white beekeeper picture is odd enough to catch your eye. But once you pick up the bottle and read that the brand is in support of "Bee Friendly Farming" (a portion goes to organizations focused on protecting and saving the bees), you have to buy it. Released at the end of this summer, the majority of this Pinot Noir comes mostly from Clarksburg with additional grapes from Monterey and Santa Barbara. Bright, candied red fruit, super-ripe cranberries, and sweet baking spices, particularly the brown ones—clove and nutmeg. THE FAMILY COPPOLA