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Stonestreet 2009 Monument Ridge Cab- 93 ernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley). Dark in color and full-bodied, this bone dry Cabernet is tannic and hard, despite having concentrated flavors of blackberry jam and black currant. It has plenty of structural integrity, and feels elegant in the mouth. Try holding it for a few years. If you drink it now, give it a few hours in the decanter. Editors’ Choice. —S.H. abv: 15.3% Price: $45 92 Bernardus 2009 Marinus Red Wine (Carmel Valley). This is the winery’s best Marinus since 2007, and is as good as the ’04—which is arguably the best ever. It offers immediate pleasure, with soft tannins and acids framing perfectly ripened blackberry, cherry, cola and earthy flavors. Ready to drink now. —S.H. abv: 14.1% Price: $46 92 Château Vignelaure 2011 Rosé (Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence). This is a vibrantly rich wine that is brimming with delicious red fruit notes and bright acidity. Full and concentrated, it has weight without being heavy. It is a finely made wine, with a crisp finish. Blue Coast International. —R.V. abv: 13% Price: $21 6 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | JULY 2012 92 Domäne Wachau 2010 Achleiten Riesling Smaragd (Wachau). This is a rich and smooth yet mineral-textured wine. It has weight, but it’s balanced with intense acidity, a tight texture, and pink grapefruit and mandarin fruit. This needs to age for several years. Screwcap. Vin Divino. Cellar Selection. —R.V. abv: 13.5% Price: $50 92 Efeste- 2009 Emmy (Wahluke Slope). Emmy is 67% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache and 11% Syrah, all sourced from the excellent Stone Tree Vineyard. Tart and chewy, it delivers full throttle fruit flavors of black cherry and plum, with hints of clean earth, mineral and gun metal. Modeled on the blends of the southern Rhône, it shows beautiful balance throughout a long finish. —P.G. abv: 14.9% Price: $38 92 Highlands 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain). This is an inky-black wine, with soft, jammy flavors of black berries, cherries, dark chocolate and oak. The tannins are mountain thick but as refined as modern winemaking can make them. And the finish? Sweet and dry at the same time, which only a good wine can accomplish. Needs 5–7 years in the cellar. Cellar Selection. —S.H. abv: 15% Price: $75 92 Hogue 2010 Genesis Riesling (Columbia Valley). Irresistible from the get-go, this fragrant wine offers up inviting aromas of citrus, stone and exotic tropical fruits. Flavors of ripe peaches, brightened with vivid acidity, keep it in perfect balance. The 1.4% residual sugar is barely noticeable; the finish lingers gracefully and refreshes the palate, inviting the next sip. Editors’ Choice. —P.G. abv: 12.1% Price: $16 92 Jarvis 2007 Estate Grown Cave Fermented Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley). Cabernet Franc is a difficult variety on its own, but Jarvis does an excellent job. This is still quite tannic, with a hard, astringent mouthfeel to the cherry, blackberry and dark-chocolate flavors. Give this a few more years of aging, although it doesn’t seem like a longterm ager. —S.H. abv: 14.7% Price: $80 92 Jean Daneel 2010 Signature Chenin Blanc (Western Cape). This oaked Chenin shows great structure and power now, with the potential to cellar nicely for another three years or beyond. Toasted brioche, wood-grilled peaches and quince aromas open up immediately on the bouquet and carry through to the palate alongside seductive accents of sweet spice, almond skin and orange oil. The texture is round and full, and the spice-driven finish is long and satisfying. Z Wines USA. —L.B. abv: 14% Price: $28
Kendall-Jackson 2010 Grand Reserve 92 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara-Monterey). A very rich Chardonnay that’s creamy and smooth in the mouth. A touch of oak and lees gives weight and density to the lime and peach fruit, while brisk acidity contributes brightness. A great price for a wine of this distinction. Editors’ Choice. —S.H. abv: 13.5% Price: $21 92 Kendall-Jackson 2009 Grand Reserve Merlot (Sonoma County). This Merlot starts off tough and tannic, with rich flavors of blackberries, currants and toasty oak, girded with minerals and spices and finishing totally dry. It feels elegant and balanced, showing a fine sense of control. Drink over the next 5–6 years. —S.H. abv: 14.5% Price: $26 92 La Rochelle 2010 Rosella’s Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands). Expensive, yes, but very fine, especially if you’re looking for a Chardonnay that’s drier, more elegant and more streamlined than the opulent, buttery modern style. Sleek and crisp in acidity, this features citrus, tropical fruit and mineral flavors, with a balanced addition of smoky oak. —S.H. abv: 14.9% Price: $65 92 Maison Bleue 2010 Jaja Red Wine Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (Yakima Valley). A vibrant, flashy, fruit-laden nose introduces this lively G-S-M blend. The three component grapes all contribute different red, blue and purple berry flavors, nicely wound together with supporting acidity. Sappy, fresh and seductive, with the potential for a few years of aging. Editors’ Choice. —P.G. abv: 14.5% Price: $25 92 Salomon-Undhof 2011 Wiedenberg Tradition Grüner Veltliner (Kremstal). A beautifully concentrated wine that balances flavors of baked apple and spicy pepper. It feels full in the mouth, with a tense texture and intense acidity. Drink now, but better to hold for two years. Screwcap. Fruit of the Vines, Inc. —R.V. abv: 12.5% Price: $25 92 St. Supéry 2009 Dollarhide Malbec (Napa Valley). California Malbec by itself tends to be straightforward, which might be why the winemaker blended this one with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The result is excellent, one of the best Malbecs in California, with rich blackberry, currant and cedar flavors. The strong tannins suggest it should pair well with beef. —S.H. abv: 14.3% Price: $50 92 Steven Kent 2008 Home Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Livermore Valley). A gorgeous wine, with herb, mint and tapenade flavors. ThisCabernet has a big mouthfeel, with elegance and a powerful finish. The tannins are sophisticatedly silky and the wine should age 5–7 years with aplomb. —V.B. abv: 14.4% Price: $60 92 Teso La Monja 2009 Almirez (Toro). This has an opaque purple color, with a supremely concentrated and potent dark-fruited bouquet. Feels amped up, warm and exotic, with black fruit flavors alongside notes of peppery spice and bitter chocolate. Toasty and chocolaty on the finish. Drink now through 2016. Fine Estates From Spain. Editors’ Choice. —M.S. abv: 14.5% Price: $28 92 Walla Walla Vintners 2009 Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley). This is a tight, black-fruited wine, with generous flavors that include espresso and licorice. At first it’s quite firm and a bit unyielding, it slowly peels open layer after layer, tossing out hints of dried herb, tobacco and mocha. Editors’ Choice. —P.G. abv: 14.2% Price: $28 WineMag.com | 7
Page 1 and 2: BUYING GUIDE JULY 2012 Chardonnay g
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Page 11 and 12: Vina Robles 2008 Syrée (Paso Roble
Page 13 and 14: 87 BEST BUYS Charles & Charles 2010
Page 15 and 16: in acidity; and there may even be a
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Page 21 and 22: wines. It’s also sweet and high i
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Page 37 and 38: SPAIN RUEDA 91 Naia 2008 Naiades Ve
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Page 47 and 48: citrus. On the palate it’s easy a
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88 Château de Calavon 2011 Rosé (
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89 Arndorfer 2008 Die Leidenschaft
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92 Salomon-Undhof 2011 Pfaffenberg
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ST. LAURENT 91 Johanneshof Reinisch
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ing, closing on a toasty, orange ri
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Reserves, this one shows a healthy
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90 Corsair Ryemageddon (USA: Corsai
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