Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/898117
november 2017 / the tasting panel / 67 91 Roger Roessler Wines 2015 Big Bend Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ($30) Soft and velvety with a buttery style and texture from Winemaker Drew Huffine; bright with a core of crisp acidity; lively and clean. 92 Piña Napa Valley 2015 Low Vineyard Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District ($34) Vanilla and ripe pear nose from a warm sub- appellation of Napa Valley; smooth and creamy with balanced fruit and subtle oak; long and fresh. 92 Seven Hills Winery 2014 Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($35) Dense and ripe; glossy and rich with lovely balance; juicy berry fruit and a long, deep finish; 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. 92 Schramsberg Vineyards 2014 Blanc de Blancs Méthode Traditionnelle, North Coast ($40) Smooth and fresh with tangy citrus and crisp acidity; bright and racy with lively flavors and considerable finesse, yet light enough to be enjoyed as an apéritif. 93 Black Kite Cellars 2015 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands ($48) Silky with crisp acidity, ripe fruit, and vanilla oak notes; a lovely, well-made wine by Jeff Gaffner ; long and complete. 92 The Farm Winery 2014 Touchy-Feely, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($60) Medium- bright ruby color from the owner of Argentina's Achaval Ferrer ; glossy and luscious with spice, blueberry, and cassis; a Rhône-style blend with 82% Grenache and 18% Syrah. 92 Penner-Ash Wine Cellars 2015 Pinot Noir, Yamhill- Carlton ($65) Delicate with juicy cherry and tangy acidity; smooth, savory, and fresh; a balanced blend from the winery's Estate, Fennwood, and Gran Moraine vineyards. JACKSON FAMILY WINES 92 Double Canyon 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills ($65) Lush, deep, and pure from a densely-planted, 90-acre vineyard near the Columbia River ; rich texture and lovely balance; long with great finesse; a classic from this new label. 92 Ledson Winery & Vineyards 2013 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Alexander Valley ($110) Deep crimson color ; smooth and succulent with ripe plum, cocoa, and spice; dense, complex, and intense; another winner from this consistently-excellent winery. 95 Tierra Roja 2014 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($155) Rich, elegant, and deep with plum, blackberry, and cassis; lush and ripe; balanced and long; a stunning Napa superwine. OBSESSION WINE COMPANY IMPORTS 88 Masi 2016 Modello Rosso delle Venezie IGT, Italy ($11) Smooth and tangy with racy acidity and bright herbal notes; silky, crisp, and juicy from selected foothill vineyards in Italy's Veneto region. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 88 Caposaldo 2016 Chianti, Italy ($11) Clean and fresh from 100% handpicked grapes; juicy and bright; crisp, long, and balanced; 75% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Malvasia. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 92 Ricardo Santos 2017 Semillon, Mendoza, Argentina ($16) Deep golden color from a label named for its founder, the first winemaker from Argentina to export Malbec to the U.S.; rich and creamy with ripe tropical fruit and smooth texture; notes of vanilla and toast. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTERS 92 Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium 2016 Schiefer QbA Dry Riesling Trocken, Mosel, Germany ($17) Lush and flavorful with dry, silky style from a winery known for hundreds of years of steep slope viticulture; crisp citrus and lingering acidity; long and refined. SCHMITT SÖHNE USA 91 Alpha Estate 2016 Turtles Vineyard Malagouzia, Florina, Greece ($18) Smooth, fresh, and juicy with bright, tangy flavors of ripe fruit; lush and deep yet racy and crisp; a Greek variety to watch. DIAMOND WINE IMPORTERS 91 Marqués de Cáceres 2014 Crianza, Rioja, Spain ($19) Glossy, bright, and luscious with tangy blackberry and cassis; an inexpensive, modern, and totally charming Rioja that is mostly Tempranillo. VINEYARD BRANDS 92 Schloss Vollrads 2016 Estate Dry Riesling, Rheingau, Germany ($20) Smooth and zesty with steely, tangy peach and citrus from one of the oldest vineyards in Germany; elegant and long. SCHMITT SÖHNE USA 90 Marichal 2015 Reserve Collection Tannat, Canelones, Uruguay ($20) People need to tune in to this underappreciated variety, made with style and finesse in Uruguay; silky texture, bright plum, and berry fruit with an earthy component. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTERS