Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/931490
62 / the tasting panel / january/february 2018 BLUE REVIEWS 88 Castoro Cellars 2016 Estate Chardonnay, Paso Robles ($16) Bright gold color ; smooth texture and creamy style with toast, vanilla notes, and ripe fruit; rich and well-balanced with a lasting finish. 91 Catalina Sounds 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($13) Vibrant citrusy nose; juicy orange and lime with a silken texture and tangy acidity; fresh, clean, and racy; an amazing value. REGAL WINE COMPANY 91 Steele Wines 2016 Viognier, Lake County ($19) Aromatic nose; smooth and softly juicy with tangy acidity and bright floral notes; further proof of Jed Steele's skills after a nearly 50- year career in winemaking. 88 Crowded House 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($10) Graceful and refreshing with lively acidity, citrus, and grass; bright with balance and style; remarkable at this price. REGAL WINE COMPANY 90 Gruet Winery Sauvage NV Brut Sparkling, USA ($20) Clean and fruity with balance and depth; a fresh and tangy wine made in the exacting méthode champenoise and very reasonably priced. 92 Ricardo Santos 2017 Semillon, Mendoza, Argentina ($16) Deep golden color ; sumptuous with ripe tropical fruit and a creamy texture; notes of vanilla and toast; balanced, satisfying, and long. GLOBAL VINEYARD IMPORTERS 89 Malibu Rocky Oaks 2016 Chardonnay Collective, California ($17) Fresh and smooth with clean, ripe fruit and a sleek texture; stylish, balanced, and long; an excellent value from an oceanside vineyard. 91 Firriato 2016 Jasmin Zibibbo, Terre Sicilane IGT, Italy ($19) Juicy and bright with some Muscato spice, but not sweet; fresh, dry, and racy with minerality and a tangy style. Drink this with oysters. SPIRITS 93 Aermoor Cloud-Sourced Vodka, USA ($37) Delicate vanilla nose; buttery mouthfeel with subtly sweet flavors; elegant and glossy; balanced and lovely. Distilled from sugarcane. 93 Boondocks American Whiskey, USA ($50) A mellow whiskey aged 11 years and made by renowned master distiller David Scheurich; showing toasted marshmallow and vanilla; oaked, rich, and charming. 91 Havana Club Añejo Clásico Rum, Puerto Rico ($22) Medium amber color with a toasty nose; lush and creamy with rich vanilla and spice; long and balanced; a wor thy homage to the original. 92 Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA ($30) Deep amber color with a lush, warm style and notes of toasted oak, spice, and dried fruit; velvety and luscious with depth and complex intensity. 92 Martini & Rossi Reserva Speciale Bitter Liqueur, Italy ($27) Scarlet hue with a bitter, herbal nose; a smooth and spicy effort with sweet vanilla, nice balance, and a long finish; Martini's answer to Campari. BACARDI 95 Parker's Heritage Collection 11 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA ($130) Smooth, toasty, and intense with rich spice and vanilla notes; balanced (when watered) and showing notes of cherry, caramel, and hickory smoke; nuanced and masterful. 92 Ragtime Rye American Straight Whiskey, USA ($41) Distilled from New York State–grown rye; spicy, earthy, and smooth; rounded and complex; a very balanced and authentic label from the Brooklyn-based New York Distilling Company.