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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/41359
CHEERS WINE PANEL (90) Decoy Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2009 (California). A relatively new entry into the Duckhorn Family of wines, this pinot noir offers rich and lingering flavor of plum, berry and cherry; the backbone of tannin and acidity are beautifully rounded out with the forward fruit; great quality for the price. ($22) (90) Domaine a Chopin et Fils, Bourgogne 2009 (France). Amazing complexity for an inexpensive red Burgundy; lots of terroir and body on this wine; this could be overrun from their famous Chambolle-Musigny Vineyards. ($19) (90) J. Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero 2009 (Italy). This is not a dark wine and has a slight fresh red-fruit nose; a good example of pinot noir growing in the right place, so it has the acidity to drive the flavors; pretty cherry with a dark, tea and bark-like note and fine-grained tannins. ($22) (90) Kudos Willamette Pinot Noir 2009 (Oregon). Made by winemaker Laurent Montalieu of Solena Cellars; nice bright, ruby color in the glass with ripe red fruits of cherry, raspberry and strawberry; balanced by earthy notes of spice and tobacco; soft pleasant tannins. ($15) (90) Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Rouge Cuvée Margot 2009 (France). Although known for his world class white wine, Leflaive has applied his mastery to Burgundy's other great grape, pinot noir; the palate the wine bursts with crunchy and juicy fruit, underlying spicy nuances and a long, satisfying finish. ($20) (90) Momo Pinot Noir 2010 (New Zealand). Mocha, cherry truffles and oak are intermixed harmoniously on the (87) Hangtime Pinot Noir 2009 (California). Showing moderate weight in the nose, there are some slightly funky earth notes that quickly move out to reveal nice spice aromas along with ripe cranberry and cherry; smooth, supple and medium bodied, the spice character gains momentum on the palate, but ripe fruit flavors never meander far away. Moderate length on the finish. ($15) 46 | SEPTEMBER 2011 nose and palate; beautiful acidity help to bring out the lush fruit flavors. ($17) (89) Nevermore Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2009 (Oregon). Brilliant garnet in color with alluring scents of cherry in the nose, warm, round flavors, superb depth and length and a lasting finish. ($23) (88) Schug Carneros Pinot Noir 2008 (California). Fruity aroma; cherry, strawberry and vanilla taste. ($20) (86) Angeline Pinot Noir 2009 (California). Light color, the depth of cherry juice; subtle balanced aroma; creamy mouth feel full of black cherry, pepper and cocoa. ($10) Cheers National Wine Panel The Cheers National Wine Panel is comprised of beverage experts from restaurants and retail wine stores around the country. David Alphonse Back Bay Restaurants Boston, MA Timothy Baldwin The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, CO Ron Balter Italian Village Chicago, IL Adam Betts Urban Tavern San Francisco, CA Stacey Blacker Sayers Liquors Florence, NJ Sandy Block Legal Sea Foods Boston, MA Ralph J. Bondon Berbiglia Wine & Spirits Kansas City, MO Bryan Brick K&L Wine Merchants Redwood City, CA Steve Burnell Washington State Liquor Control Board Ken Collura Andina Restaurant/ Pearl Wine Shop Portland, OR Gary Franklin Brown Derby Stores Springfield, MO John Foy Consultant Hoboken, NJ Maggie Gephard Liquorama Wine Cellar Hyde Park, NY Josh Haugh Food & Beverage Director Hyatt Regency Bethesda Bethesda, MD Jackie Kantrowitz The Wine List Hyannis, MA Louis Koppel Wine Host Spencer's for Steaks and Chops Salt Lake City, Utah Walter Kotrba Bottle Smart Lawrenceville/ Woodbridge, NJ Larry LaScola Bottle King Liquors Livingston, NJ Brad Lewis ABC Fine Wines & Spirits Orlando, FL Daniel A. Manning Haskell's Minnetonka, MN Jack Mantle Frugal MacDoogal's Nashville, TN Jerry Martellero Stew Leonard's Wines Farmingdale, NY Rick McLeod Prime Wines & Spirits Kenmore, NY Jorge L. Mendoza The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne Miami, FL Dustin Mitzel Happy Harry's Bottle Shop Grand Forks, ND Michael Mulderig Total Wine & More Claymont, DE William O'Brien The Liquor Store Jackson Hole, WY Phil Perry Terra Nova Wine & Spirits Madison, MS Robin Riddell Martin Wine Cellar New Orleans, LA Hervé Rousseau Owner, Flûte New York, NY Richard R. Schneider Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ Charles Scicolone Vino Italian Wines and Spirits New York, NY Michael Sorg Liquor Barn Louisville, KY Matthew R. Scott Kent Rathbun Concepts Dallas, TX Jeff Sukowski Sal's Beverage World Elmhurst, IL Matt Swingos Swingos on the Lake Lakewood, OH Dennis Tafuri Cask 591 Restaurant & Lounge Long Branch, NJ Steve Tindle Shaw's Crab House Chicago, IL W. Edwin True Sherlock's Beer & Wine Warehouse Marietta, GA Gabriel S. Varela Meat Market Steakhouse Miami, FL Jeff Vignaux Premium Wine & Spirits Amherst, NY John Wabeck Firefly Washington, DC Wilfred Wong Beverages & More! Concord, CA www.cheersonline.com