The Tasting Panel magazine

May 2018

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74  /  the tasting panel  /  may 2018 WINES Talbott 2016 Kali Hart Chardonnay, Monterey County ($23) Finished with a screwcap, this pedigreed white hails from the winery's estate vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It's clean and pure with rich and buttered baked apple and caramel on the nose. The wine is also surprisingly lean on the palate, and while sur lies stirring gives it richness, the toasty oak adds depth; the texture itself, meanwhile, weaves a mineral edge with green apple tartness and MacIntosh roundness. Broad and generous, it's aged nine months in 70% stainless steel tanks and 30% French oak barrels. 92 E. & J. GALLO Early Mountain 2017 Rosé, Virginia ($24) From its pretty salmon-pink hue to its scents of spring flowers and persimmon, this blend of 73% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 7% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc hails from the foot of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Super linear with fine acidity and a thread of minerality, the wine shows peach and floral notes uplifted by a touch of sweet basil. 90 Valle 2016 Pinot Grigio, Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC, Italy ($17) Aromas of apricot nectar on wet stone are what we expect from the terroir-driven beauty of Pinot Grigio from this specific region. Pear blossom and ripe Asian pear are fresh, perfumed, and crisp on the palate. The finish gets richer with a caramel pudding profile. 90 The White Knight 2016 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie IGT, Italy ($12) Honeysuckle and white peach emerge from the glass with an echo of minerality. Searing acidity gilds the stone fruit with a backdrop of lemon and honey. Clay soils and proximity to the sea impart salinity on the sweet apricot notes. 90 3 BADGE BEVERAGE CORP. Franco Francesco 2016 Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy ($14) This is a simple, easy-drinking red with lean acidity and bright red fruit. Cherry and tart blackberry lead the way with delicate, feminine strides. There's an underlying structure that makes this one of the best wines of its kind under $20. 90 In each issue, The Tasting Panel's Publisher and Editorial Director Meridith May selects her favorite wines and spirits of the month. Check here for the latest arrivals in our offices, the hottest new brands on the market, and an occasional revisited classic. Publisher's Worthy of a smooch. French-style double bizou. Wildly infatuated. Seriously smitten. Head over heels in love. PICKS

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