Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar - Issue 168, May/June 2013
by Josh Raynolds

2010 Zinfandel Florence Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
Opaque ruby. Dark berries, lavender and spices on the nose, with a mineral quality building in the glass. Vibrant and precise, offering sappy blackberry and blueberry flavors lifted by tangy acidity. Gains sweetness and depth with air but maintains its freshness. Dusty tannins add shape and grip to the intense, mineral-driven finish. (JR)
92 points 

2011 Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles Heart Arrow Ranch Mendocino County
Bright violet color. High-pitched, spicy aromas of red and blackcurrant, cherry pit and anise, with a peppery overtone. Juicy and precise, offering tangy red berry flavors and a touch of bitter cherry. Clean and nervy on the mouth-watering finish, which features notes of allspice and orange zest and very silky tannins. Intriguing wine that has the texture of a Beaujolais but the flavor intensity one expects from zin.
90 points

2010 Zinfandel Old Vine Todd Brothers Ranch Old Vines Alexander Valley
Inky ruby. Intense, mineral-accented aromas of red and dark berries, licorice and black cardamom. Picks up sexy floral notes with air and offers bright black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Zesty acidity adds lift to the very persistent finish, which leaves traces of minerals and cracked pepper behind. I really like this zin’s vivacity.
92 points

"...impressive purity, effervescence, tiny, well-formed bubbles, good body, a slight austerity, and a dry, surprisingly intense style..."

-Wine Advocate, Issue 203

Smooth Ambler posted on Face Book:

Success for Smooth Ambler at the San Francisco Spirits Competition: Four Entries, Four Medals

For Immediate Release:

MAXWELLTON, W.V. (May 1, 2013) Smooth Ambler Spirits, West Virginia’s premier craft distillery, took home four medals from the San Francisco Spirits Festival, one for each of its entries. The medals were awarded as follows: Greenbrier Gin earned bronze,  Barrel Aged Gin and Old Scout Bourbon each took Silver, and Old Scout Rye was awarded a gold.

The 13th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition took place in March and had a record number of entries. Distillers and importers submitted 1407 spirits from 63 countries into 85 different classifications. The 34 judges comprise some of the “finest palates” from around the world. As the first international spirits competition in the United States, participation is considered a rite of passage for top quality spirits and a great leading indicator for future market successes.

“This is the second time we’ve entered the San Francisco Spirits Competition, one of the most significant competitions in the country, and it is awesome to have our hard work recognized, for all of our entries, and to be ranked among the greatest spirits producers in the world,” said owner and head distiller, John Little.

About Smooth Ambler Spirits

Smooth Ambler Spirits proudly hails from West Virginia and uses age-old “Appalachian know-how” to inform their entire production from grain to glass. The love of the craft is apparent in every spirit produced and the results are darn delicious.

Long Meadow Ranch 2012 Sauvignon Blanc is chosen as a wine to best complement the oyster.

Narsai David: Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Award Winners 2013

May 3, 2013 3:09 PM

BERKELEY (KCBS) – Being a judge in the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition is one of my favorite assignments. I love oysters, and finding the wine that gives you the perfect balance when eating an oyster is more involved than you might think.

Judges are instructed to take a small oyster, slurp it raw, then chew for a few seconds before even picking up the glass of wine. Otherwise you could be seduced by the aromas and characteristics of the wine before even getting to the oyster. Only after tasting the oyster do you then take a sip of wine.

The idea is to find the wine that will be the best complement to the oyster. Judging is done in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with all the scores combined.

To Read more...Go to Article

The Quarterly Review of Wines has given the 2007 DiamAndes Gran Reserva the following good review. 

2007 DiamAndes Gran Reserva, Mendoza (70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon), This is a Michel Rolland wine, one of the best winemakers in Argentina, and wine consultant to the world. Ripeness is the operative word for the wine, with a ripe floral nose and ripe and generous flavors of earth, subtle cassis, cedar spice tones, and cherry. There are enough chewy tannins to cellar for a few years as well. Generous and long with soft finish that will be even better with decanting. This is what serious Malbec can become.... Delicious.

Castello de Rampolla d'Alceo 2008

Potent, sleek and spicy. Withe the unusual addition of Petit Verdot, this Super Tuscan is a wine of exceptional depth and complexity.

100 pts: James Suckling

96+ pts: Wine Advocate