StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
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world in style, deep brick red color, and aged 26 months in oak; full bodied with hints of the classic tar and roses on the nose; an elegant alternative to cabernet for holiday entertaining. ($46) (92) Daou Vineyards Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (California). From the site of the original HMR Vineyards in the Adelaida AVA of Paso Robles comes this world-class cabernet; plummy nose with rich, elegant and balanced flavors of cherry, light oak and olives; satisfying tannins on the finish; a great example of what cabernet can do in Paso Robles. ($30) (92) Piper Heidseck Rose Sauvage NV (France). A gor- geous rose sparkler composed of 55% pinot noir, 30% pinot meunier and 15% chardonnay, of which 10% to 20% are reserve wines; delivers cher- ry and strawberry aromas and a refreshing tartness. ($36) (92) Vina Montes Colchagua Valley Twins 2010 (Chile). Made from 50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% malbec; the bou- quet is quite lovely; earthy at first, with some truffle notes, and then oak spice and perfume move in along with black currant, ripe plum and black cherry; medium-full, it is soft and beautifully balanced and possess- es juicy and ripe red and black cherry, plum and blueberry flavors; the palate is quite smooth, but has firm tannin at the back of the palate bolstering the structure. ($19) (92) Anna de Codorniu Brut Cava (Spain). Using only white grape varieties, chardonnay and the traditional paralleda, this elegant sparkling wine from north- east Spain is one of the great wine bargains of the season; lots of finesse, elegance, and energy in a bottle at this price. ($15) (92) Vigne Regali Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui D.O.C.G 2011 (Italy). One of the quintessential dessert wines, this low alcohol, red fruit driven sparkler is a holiday staple for wine lovers; a wonderful match with a chocolate dessert, it's a great way to finish a holiday meal with style, class, and a glass that's just plain fun. ($20) (92) Zinzilla Zinfandel, NV (California). Rich Parducci has continued his family's rich heritage with his whimsical interpretation of zin, adding just a touch of petite sirah; wonderful touches of black- berries and raspberries; big, bold, and guaranteed to turn your teeth purple. ($20) Four Stars (91) Belle Glos Clark and Telephone Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir (California). Red berry aroma; raspberry, strawberry, oak and some cedar; polished tannins; long finish. ($36) (91) Tosca Prosecco NV (Italy). This fresh, fruity and fun sparkler is loaded with peach, apple and apricot flavors; clean, crisp and refreshing with a lingering fruity finish. ($14) (91) Les 4 Terroirs Limoux, Terrois des Cimes Chardonnay 2010 (France). A bouquet with lots of fresh and juicy exotic fruit aromas; equally complex on the palate, where mild acidity lets the fruit flavors rule; melon, citrus and tropical notes combine and it has quite a long finish. ($18) (91) Domaine Harmand- Geoffroy Gevrey-Chambertin 2009 (France). Elegant yet rich, clean, bright fruit flavors, soft tannins and a long finish. ($45) (91) Domaine Eden Santa Cruz Chardonnay 2009 (California). Creamy, smooth and fresh; a classy wine to go with lobster and scallops. ($25) (91) The Federalist Russian River Chardonnay 2010 (California). Everything that is good about chardonnay is what this wine represents: butter with hints of granny smith apple and slight tropical fruit notes round it out; great for those special dinners, especially turkey. ($22) (91) Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010(California). Inviting aromatic ripe sweet cherry fruit; smooooth on StateWays www.stateways.com November/December 2012 the palate; perfect with roast chicken or turkey; just a whisper of tannin. ($23) (91) The Federalist Russian River Chardonnay 2010 (California). Everything that is good about chardonnay is what this wine represents: butter with hints of granny smith apple and slight tropical fruit notes round it out; great for those special dinners, especially turkey. ($22) (91) A-Z Rose 2011 (Oregon). Subtle hints of strawberry with an easy crisp finish; a great value that works well with food, from appe- tizers to seafood. ($13) (90) J Brut Rose (California). This is a lovely rose bubbly that also comes in a beautiful package; a great holiday gift for flavor and packaging. ($33) (90) Brutocao Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (California). A mild bouquet, but with subtle complexity; medium-full on the entry, it is initially mild but soon expands, showing off well- balanced fruit from front to back, and the mix between black cherry, currant and red berries is very tasty. ($20) (90) Babarosa Prosecco NV (Italy). Lovely floral aromas open the bouquet and a whiff of biscuit lingers in the background; the palate displays tasty flavors of ripe apple and pear, and the finish comes across smooth and creamy; pinpoint acidity keeps things very nicely balanced. ($15) (90) Mt. Rozier Stellenbosch, The Beekeeper Merlot 2010 (South Africa). A bit jammy in the nose, with a mint-like note tinting mild black raspberry and plum aromas; soft and round, it has a very nice mouth-feel that is almost plush but still well balanced, and dis- plays a generous mix of black fruit fla- vors draped by smooth tannins. ($15) (90) Olema Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (California). Aroma notes of black- berry and dark cherry layered with hints of cedar, followed by flavors of berries and fresh brewed espresso; light spice and cocoa notes; good tan- nins and structure to this full-bodied wine. ($22) 27