spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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US	Warm aromas of lemon preserves, smoked honeysuckle and lightly honeyed Marcona almonds are cut with a citrus freshness on the nose of this estate-grown wine. A citrus-blossom character starts the sip followed by rounded saltiness and apple-flesh flavor in the midpalate. It's altogether very luscious and yet enlivening to the mouth.	null	91	28	California	Ballard Canyon	Central Coast	Roussanne	Stolpman	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a fun and cheerful Merlot that should be consumed with informal meals at home. The wine is not aged in oak and consequently, you taste fresh fruit notes of cherry and blueberry. It's soft, easy and smooth on the close.	null	86	16	Veneto	Piave	null	Merlot	Moletto	null	null	Moletto 2007 Merlot (Piave)
US	A very ripe, sweet boysenberry aroma sets the tone for this very full-bodied, fruit-drenched wine. It fairly oozes blackberry flavors, feels rich and broad on the palate and has a firm but not very tannic texture. It's easy to enjoy this exuberant wine now through 2023.	V Block	92	60	California	Yountville	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Liparita	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Liparita 2013 V Block Cabernet Sauvignon (Yountville)
Italy	A blend of Grillo, Cataratto and Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of tropical fruit and apricot. The rich palate is loaded with golden apple and yellow peach flavors that are accented by notes of vanilla and lemon drop.	Piano Maltese	87	13	Sicily & Sardinia	Terre Siciliane	null	White Blend	Tenuta Rapitalà	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Tenuta Rapitalà 2013 Piano Maltese White (Terre Siciliane)
US	Tart red cherry and fresh herb lend a crisp, cool tone to this elegantly composed Syrah. The palate is plush and concentrated in red plum and cherry flavors that are balanced by bristling cranberry acidity. Velvet tannins cap the finish.	null	89	35	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Syrah	Atwater	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Atwater 2011 Syrah (Finger Lakes)
US	This has appealing flavors of tropical fruit, orange, peach and vanilla, with a creamy texture and an overall sense of elegance. The acidity is brisk and clean.	Hooker Breakaway	87	24	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Lawer	null	null	Lawer 2011 Hooker Breakaway Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)
Argentina	The barn door is open and the horses have left. This is close to DOA, with mushy, weak aromas and flavors, and almost no distinct fruit at any point.	Laborum Single Vineyard Oak Fermented	81	36	Other	Cafayate	null	Torrontés	El Porvenir	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	El Porvenir 2014 Laborum Single Vineyard Oak Fermented Torrontés (Cafayate)
US	From 20-year-old vines, this spent 10 months in French oak, 20% new. It's finished with a screwcap and tastes a bit reductive, so give it plenty of breathing time. It's well-muscled with tangy cranberry and purple fruit. Drink now through 2020.	null	90	26	Oregon	Willamette Valley	null	Gamay Noir	WillaKenzie Estate	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	WillaKenzie Estate 2013 Gamay Noir
Italy	There's a lot of mature fruit and some strawberry jam here backed by prunes, raisins, tobacco, incense and cola. Pretty nuances of white stone and dried hay appear on the nose and the wine ends with sweet, sticky flavors of ripe berry.	Villa Rizzardi	89	90	Veneto	Amarone della Valpolicella Classico	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Guerrieri Rizzardi	null	null	Guerrieri Rizzardi 2003 Villa Rizzardi (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico)
Italy	Tai (made with 100% Tocai grapes) is a lively white wine with fragrant aromas of yellow rose, honeysuckle and passion fruit. A thick, creamy mouthfeel is loaded tight with rich honey flavors.	Tai	87	33	Veneto	Veneto	null	Tocai	De Stefani	null	null	De Stefani 2010 Tai Tocai (Veneto)
US	Sultry pear and baked apple are the stars. Lemony and creamy on the palate, this offers slight hints of honey and tropical fruit. It boasts a long finish and robust yet restrained oak that should relax in time.	River Road Ranch	90	32	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Trione	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Trione 2011 River Road Ranch Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)
Chile	The aromas are hard at first, then rubbery and leathery, with a tarry black-fruit note. After the palate opens with aggressive, rubbery tannins, flavors of licorice and grapy, medicinal oak burst onto the scene. Long on the finish, but with a lasting resiny flavor.	Dueño de la Luna	87	45	Maule Valley	null	null	Carignan	Meli	null	null	null
Chile	Lactic and creamy smelling, with a muddled, green edge that never really settles. The palate is tannic and mildly green, with herbal olive and berry flavors. And the finish is basically more of the same. Standard base-level Carmenère.	Reserva	84	12	Maule Valley	null	null	Carmenère	Chilensis	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Chilensis 2008 Reserva Carmenère (Maule Valley)
Chile	Briar fruit aromas show notes of moss, leather and herbs on the nose. This is solid, chewy and tannic, with blackberry flavors that are herbal along the edges and a bit green in the middle. A spicy, dark note marks the finish, with a hint of coffee.	Reserva	87	11	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Santa Carolina	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Santa Carolina 2013 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley)
Austria	Appetizing and fruity peardrop notes dominate the nose. The palate has a refreshing touch of green apple and light, easy fruitiness within a slender and dry frame. Lovely zestiness marks the finish.	L&T	89	22	Niederösterreich	null	null	Grüner Veltliner	Bründlmayer	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Bründlmayer 2016 L&T Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich)
Chile	Smooth and citrusy on the nose, with grapefruit and minerally aromas. The palate is medium in weight, with good acidity and pithy green fruit and grapefruit flavors. Brings bite and a dusting of green chile spice on the finish.	Reserva Sauvignon Blanc-Carmenére	86	12	Maule Valley	null	null	White Blend	Oveja Negra	null	null	null
US	Albariño's natural acidity is amplified in this wine, which comes from one of California's chilliest growing regions and the coolest vintage in years. Consumed on its own, the acidity is so high, it's almost sour. But this is a food wine if ever there was one. With salty tapas, it will be perfect.	Estate	87	24	California	Monterey	Central Coast	Albariño	Cambiata	null	null	null
US	Principally Cabernet Franc, it's tight and reductive, with a tarry note. In the mouth it is surprisingly soft, almost silky, offering plummy fruit flavors that seem to be quickly maturing. Drink soon.	16th Street Bridge	86	15	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	O•S Winery	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	O•S Winery 2011 16th Street Bridge Red (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	This is a moderately aromatic, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, Bordeaux-style blend, with notes of cedar, char and cherry. It's lighter in style, with tart cranberry and cherry flavors.	Reserve Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc	86	25	Idaho	null	null	Red Blend	Snake River	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Snake River 2009 Reserve Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc Red
Italy	Corvina, along with smaller percentages of Rondinella and Molinara, is the base for this meaty expression of Ripasso. Aromas here include raw cherry, blackberry tart, dark vanilla bean and barbecue spice.	Monterè Cà de' Rocchi	87	14	Veneto	Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Tinazzi	null	null	null
France	Dominated by grapefruit and pineapple flavors, this is very fresh and herbaceous. The wine is crisp and clean, with acidity at the end. Drink over the next year.	null	86	15	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Blanc	null	Bordeaux-style White Blend	Château Lauretan	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Lauretan 2010 Bordeaux Blanc
US	A little green and minty, with some stalky flavors, but dry and vibrant in acidity. Offers good cherry and raspberry pie flavors that are wrapped into a silky texture, with beautiful tannins. Drink now.	null	87	40	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Lynmar	null	null	null
Croatia	The regular aromas and flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are here but faint—citrus, grass—and there's a stinky egg quality that overrides the whole. Earthy but odd, this wine may be a tough one to love, but it also has an interesting charm.	Unfiltered	82	null	Kutjevo	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Krauthaker	Susan Kostrzewa	@suskostrzewa	Krauthaker 2005 Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc (Kutjevo)
Macedonia	Made from 100% Vranec, this wine has aromas of sour cherry, black plum and black pepper. It is full bodied with flavors of tart cherry, blackberry, and leather.	null	89	15	Tikves	null	null	Vranec	Stobi	null	null	null
US	A wonderful array of aromas wafts up from the glass, resembling pencil shavings (a good thing!), cigar box, touch of earthiness and cherry compote. The mouthfeel is luxurious; layered flavors of black currant, black cherry, chocolate and clove stay lively through the long finish. It drinks well now, but will improve through at least 2019.	The Mutt	92	25	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hoopla	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Hoopla 2012 The Mutt Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
US	Ripe and oaky in the modern style, with strong apricot, tangerine, pineapple and peach flavors and a buttery, creamy texture. Offers lots of upfront Chardonnay character.	null	86	17	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Chardonnay	Educated Guess	null	null	null
Austria	This is a wine that is so young. It is aromatic, fruity and still settling together in its potential concentration and structure. Look forward to a wine that has pear fruits, a tight, mineral character, and structure. Look forward to an impressive and serious future. Drink from 2016.	Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd	94	null	Wachau	null	null	Riesling	F X Pichler	Roger Voss	@vossroger	F X Pichler 2012 Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd Riesling (Wachau)
US	From stunningly set vines overlooking the Carmel Valley that in this vintage produced only 1.25 tons an acre (or 1.12 pounds per plant) comes this stellar wine, redolent on the nose with black plum, mulberry, turned earth, wet mud, woody sagebrush, incense and sandalwood. There is great energy on the palate, with mulberry and elderberry flavors enhanced by light coffee, soil and fennel bulbs.	Estate Reserve	95	55	California	Carmel Valley	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Albatross Ridge	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Albatross Ridge 2014 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir (Carmel Valley)
South Africa	A rich, full-bodied nose of tropical fruit leads on this complex Sauvignon Blanc from Jardin. The wine has a crisp wave of fruit with a spicy overall character, but there is complexity and roundness as well. An elegant wine that's integrated and ageable.	null	88	14	Stellenbosch	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Jardin	Susan Kostrzewa	@suskostrzewa	Jardin 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch)
US	The aromas are incredibly light—barely a whisper. The cherry and plum flavors, meanwhile, are more giving but it still doesn't seem to show enough expression, especially surprising considering the appellation and producer.	Newsprint	87	25	Washington	Red Mountain	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Guardian	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Guardian 2015 Newsprint Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain)
Italy	Badarina is a newer cru, with slightly higher altitudes, that benefits from southeastern exposures. This expression exhibits density and high extraction with excellent intensity and staying power. The wine is modern, plush, decadent and ripe with black fruit, cola, smoked meat and pretty balsam notes. Hold it in your cellar five or more years.	Badarina Vigna Regnola	93	49	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Grimaldi Bruna	null	null	null
US	Another Joe Davis wine that's benefited from patience, this bottling offers more mature character than the same vineyard's 2009. Umami touches of soy, shiitake and leather underscore the cherry and raspberry scents on the nose. It has a grippy texture and a subtly presented range of flavors—from dried anise and Christmas spice to elderberry, cranberry and dried plum skin.	Clos Pepe Vineyard	94	65	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Arcadian	null	null	null
Spain	Granular, edgy and minerally like a daily vitamin tab, this is a sharp-sided white wine with cleansing pineapple, nectarine and lemony flavors in front of a high-toned, mineral-laden finish that is clean and tight. Very fresh, lively and a little more narrow than in the past.	null	87	19	Northern Spain	Valdeorras	null	Godello	Viña Godeval	null	null	null
US	Much better than the watery 2004, this wine still seems a bit light and thin for its Reserve status. It's got some tart, sharp flavors of wild blackberry, but the herbal flavors suggest unripe grapes.	Reserve	84	23	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Syrah	Snoqualmie	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Snoqualmie 2005 Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
New Zealand	Light and fresh, with modest grapefruit flavors matched by herbal notes and some flowery aromatics. Probably best as an apéritif. Imported by Pernod Ricard, USA.	null	86	13	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Brancott	null	null	null
US	Sourced from vines planted in 1972, this saw 50% new French oak. Despite the high alcohol and generous oak, the wine is neither overblown, nor tasting heavily of barrel. Strawberries, white pepper, a dash of minerality and a streak of vanilla all wrap together in a complex wine with a generous finish.	Black Oak Vineyard	91	28	Oregon	Elkton Oregon	Southern Oregon	Pinot Noir	River's Edge	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	River's Edge 2012 Black Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir (Elkton Oregon)
US	This barrel-fermented estate wine is luscious and creamy, coating the palate with generous flavors of apricot, peach and melon. The concentration is impressive, as are the barrel flavors on the finish. Vanilla, coconut, caramel and lightly buttered almonds all contribute to the nuanced detail.	Germaine Vineyard	92	25	Oregon	Eola-Amity Hills	Willamette Valley	Viognier	Cristom	null	null	null
US	This spicy white blend mixes Viognier, Sémillon and Pinot Gris. Notes of green berries and other green fruits—notably banana—all have an herbal underpinning.	Flygirl	87	15	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	White Blend	Airfield Estates	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Airfield Estates 2011 Flygirl White (Yakima Valley)
France	Despite containing 50% Viognier, this is a restrained Côtes du Rhône white, with subtle citrus and wet stone shadings and a refined, medium-weight mouthfeel. It finishes well, with plenty of length and hints of citrus and honey. Drink it over the next year or two.	Les Laurelles	89	19	Rhône Valley	Côtes du Rhône	null	Rhône-style White Blend	Les Vins de Vienne	null	null	null
France	This ripe and creamy wine is full of great flinty and green fruit flavors. It is a pure, fresh expression of the chalk soil Sauvignon, with its crisp aftertaste.	Domaine les Grands Groux	90	19	Loire Valley	Sancerre	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Domaine Fouassier	null	null	null
Italy	There's a pretty mineral note of brimstone or talc powder that runs straight though this luminous Prosecco. At the fringes are floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle with a touch of sweet softness on the close.	Alné Extra Dry	87	null	Veneto	Prosecco	null	Glera	La Tordera	null	null	La Tordera NV Alné Extra Dry (Prosecco)
Chile	A magenta color and ripe grapy aromas of black fruits accented by spice and olive open this plump wide-bodied Carmenère. Spicy black cherry and blackberry flavors are stout and rock solid on a unwavering finish. Drink through 2020.	Gran Reserva	92	22	Maule Valley	null	null	Carmenère	Alcance	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Alcance 2014 Gran Reserva Carmenère (Maule Valley)
Italy	This Cabernet Sauvignon emphasizes delicate, feminine aromas that are rare to find in the variety. Small berry, toasted almond and herbs are buoyant and fresh. But Cabernet's hearty character definitely comes through midpalate thanks to jackhammer tannins and thick concentration. Drink after 2012.	Monile	92	49	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Viticcio	null	null	null
US	Classy in style and classic in flavors, this single vineyard selection offers strawberry fruit with highlights of melon and orange peel. It's dappled with notes of coffee and cola, smoothed out from 16 months in French oak, one-fifth of it new.	Temperance Hill Vineyard	91	36	Oregon	Eola-Amity Hills	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	St. Innocent	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	St. Innocent 2014 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)
Italy	Subtle dark-skinned berry, brown spice, leather and truffle scents gently lift out of the glass. The palate is polished and full-bodied palate, with licorice, clove and white pepper notes underscoring a juicy black cherry core. Firm, refined tannins provide structure. Drink 2019–2027.	null	92	65	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	La Poderina	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	La Poderina 2012 Brunello di Montalcino
US	This Syrah is done in a surprisingly soft style, with light, peppery, rather pale fruit flavors. It's pleasant, but not a typical representative of the grape's usual power.	Estate	86	40	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Syrah	Walla Faces	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Walla Faces 2012 Estate Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
Chile	This atypical Chilean red hails from the Maule Valley and eschews oak and ripeness and instead delivers wiry raspberry, currant and dried-earth aromas in front of a high-acid, racy palate that's medium in body. Snappy, spicy red plum and raspberry flavors are fresh and edgy, with scraping acidity creating a zesty, scrubbing finish. Drink through 2020.	Cauquenina Viñas Viejas de Cauquenes	90	30	Itata Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Clos des Fous	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Clos des Fous 2012 Cauquenina Viñas Viejas de Cauquenes Red (Itata Valley)
Portugal	Soft, sweet raspberry fruit-flavored wine. It has a line of acidity while its main character is the light, sweet aftertaste. Screwcap.	Coreto	83	6	Lisboa	null	null	Rosé	DFJ Vinhos	Roger Voss	@vossroger	DFJ Vinhos 2010 Coreto Rosé (Lisboa)
France	From a south-facing steep slope, this wine is ripe while beautifully balanced between crisp acidity, apples and pears. The steely texture and mineral edge give the wine added complexity. It's a fine wine, best after another six months in early 2018.	Côte de Marloup	91	40	Loire Valley	Sancerre	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Domaine Bernard Fleuriet et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Bernard Fleuriet et Fils 2015 Côte de Marloup (Sancerre)
France	Damien Laureau is a new name in Savennières, taking over in 1999 from his uncle. As with all Savennières, this is dry, but the wood aging rounds out the fruit to give a superrich wine. Flavors of mango and pear jam go with the smooth vanilla of the wood. It feels sweet, but tastes dry. The acidity keeps the alcohol at bay.	Les Genêts	90	23	Loire Valley	Savennières	null	Chenin Blanc	Damien Laureau	null	null	null
Italy	Maculan is celebrated for its excellent expressions of international grapes grown in the Veneto. This easy blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offers a cheerful bouquet of cherry fruit and mild exotic spice.	Brentino	87	18	Veneto	Veneto	null	Red Blend	Maculan	null	null	Maculan 2009 Brentino Red (Veneto)
France	Pierced with acidity, this has intense black currant fruits and some smoky bacon flavors from the wood aging. It is firm, dry, concentrated, although not yet fully expressive.	null	87	17	Bordeaux	Médoc	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Lacombe Noaillac	null	null	null
Italy	Rather closed aromas burn off in the glass to reveal mature black berry fruit and cooking spices. The palate delivers stewed plums, espresso and toasted oak alongside bracing tannins. Enjoy soon with four-cheese gnocchi.	null	87	26	Tuscany	Rosso di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Fossacolle	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Fossacolle 2012 Rosso di Montalcino
US	A full-boat, five-varietal Bordeaux blend. It's nicely balanced, and retains some inviting aromas of violets and candied rose petals, leading into a lip-smacking, fruit-driven mid-palate with blueberries, boysenberries and a whisper of saffron and chocolate. There is plenty of acid underpinning, and a judicious use of barrels that keeps the fruit front and center. The best yet from Tildio.	Profundo Red Wine	90	35	Washington	Wahluke Slope	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	Tildio	null	null	null
US	This wine is still in its shell, with notes of dark raspberries, cocoa and barrel spices. It's lusciously rich, dense and layered with firm tannins that need time in the cellar to soften. Just a baby now, it will be best from 2017 on.	null	92	50	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Merlot	Northstar	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Northstar 2010 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
France	The nose is subdued but the palate shows the effortless, weightless charm of Sylvaner, with hints of green pear and lime as well as notes of stone and earth. It offers expressive slenderness.	null	89	17	Alsace	Alsace	null	Sylvaner	Domaine Charles Baur	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Domaine Charles Baur 2013 Sylvaner (Alsace)
France	This is a selection from parcels on the Rimauresq estate. Well balanced, it has enough weight and texture to be food-friendly. Intense red fruits dominate, put easily against fresh acidity that finishes the wine with a lift.	R de Rimauresq	90	22	Provence	Côtes de Provence	null	Rosé	Château Rimauresq	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Rimauresq 2014 R de Rimauresq Rosé (Côtes de Provence)
US	Beaucoup d'oak. Delicious, toasty, roasty, mocha-flavored oak. But the fruit is missing in action. The color suggests that there is some light, plummy fruit underlying all the oak, but it's hiding.	null	84	28	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Zinfandel	Saviez	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Saviez 1998 Zinfandel (Napa Valley)
Italy	Aromas of violet, chocolate, woodland berry, leather and a whiff of meat juices lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. On the palate, juicy black cherry and crushed raspberry take center stage while accents of espresso, cedar, white pepper and menthol play supporting roles. It's balanced with bright acidity and assertive tannins. Drink 2016–2022.	Gran Selezione	91	70	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Red Blend	Castello di Meleto	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Castello di Meleto 2010 Gran Selezione (Chianti Classico)
Portugal	The oak aging gives this wine an attractive, spicy character. A blend of four of the Douro's most familiar varieties, it is rich, full of black fruit with a rich core of tannin and balanced acidity. Drink now.	Reserva	86	12	Douro	null	null	Portuguese Red	Adega Vila Real	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Adega Vila Real 2014 Reserva Red (Douro)
Italy	Here's a very pretty Riserva Sangiovese from the interesting Chianti Rufina subzone of Tuscany that opens with plush cherry richness, toasted almond and creamy chocolate mocha. A spot of crisp freshness holds up the rear.	Riserva	88	null	Tuscany	Chianti Rufina	null	Sangiovese	I Veroni	null	null	null
US	Quite light, but pretty, with delicate cherry and chocolate flavors. There is a bit of a hole in the middle, but it's a decent quaff in a difficult vintage.	null	85	20	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Seven of Hearts	null	null	null
Italy	A light, easy quaffing wine that typifies the Pinot Grigio available in the U.S. market, offering modest apple, peach and citrus flavors. It's cleanly made and priced right for the quality.	null	84	8	Lombardy	Pavia	null	Pinot Grigio	Conviviale	null	null	null
Chile	Pear and apple aromas are light and oaky but nothing out of the ordinary. A creamy palate is just vital enough, while woody flavors of barrel spice run side by side with peach and melon notes. A clean, mild finish provides for a good ending.	Reserva	86	12	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	MontGras	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	MontGras 2014 Reserva Chardonnay (Colchagua Valley)
Spain	Freshness is in demand as the nose shows dampness, tobacco and wood more than bright fruit. In the mouth, there's oak-driven flavors of vanilla and tobacco accenting basic red fruit. Has a lot of snap and zest but comes off kind of thin and on the mature side. Drink now for best results; its lifespan appears limited.	Crianza	85	28	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tempranillo	Monte Negro	null	null	null
Italy	This is a bright expression of Nero d'Avola with youthful fruit flavors and pretty aromas of pistachio nut and almond. The wine is polished and clean with bright acidity on the close.	3 Carati	88	50	Sicily & Sardinia	Sicilia	null	Nero d'Avola	Avide	null	null	null
US	Begins with pretty but light aromas of peaches and cream and vanilla, and turns watery and citrusy in the mouth, with high acidity. Whistle-clean, it finishes with lemony notes.	null	83	14	California	Mendocino	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Pinot Blanc	Saint Gregory	null	null	null
US	Shows the generosity and instant appeal of this fine vineyard, and also a structural integrity that lifts it above simple deliciousness. The cherry, orange, red licorice, cola and spice flavors are wrapped into firm tannins and brightened with cool coastal acidity.	Rancho Santa Rosa	91	45	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Rusack	null	null	Rusack 2006 Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
US	Black Box hops onto the popular sweet red wine train with this blend. It is, as advertised, sweet, but not too much, giving a sugary edge to the blackberries and cherries.	Sweet	84	25	California	California	California Other	Red Blend	Black Box	null	null	null
France	An attractively crisp wine, this has fragrant acidity and a lively raspberry-fruit character cut with a tight mineral edge. The wine is ready to drink.	YL	87	28	France Other	Ile de Beauté	null	Rosé	Yves Leccia	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Yves Leccia 2015 YL Rosé (Ile de Beauté)
US	So dry, so crisply acidic, so silky in the mouth, and so rich in flavor. This is a truly distinctive Pinot Noir. It shows the variety's elusive personality, now rich in cherries and currants, withdrawing into minerals and herbs. Yet the final impression is of fine, silky decadence. Should develop in fascinating directions over the next 6–8 years.	Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block	95	90	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Brogan	null	null	Brogan 2007 Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
France	Notes of freshly peeled red apples are inviting and continue on the soft, rounded and generous palate. It has a lovely midpalate mouthfeel and drinks just off dry, with an accent of vanilla and the merest touch of cinnamon.	Tradition	88	17	Alsace	Alsace	null	Pinot Gris	W. Gisselbrecht	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	W. Gisselbrecht 2015 Tradition Pinot Gris (Alsace)
US	Here's a big, gutsy Cab from bubbly specialist Chandon. It's dry and ripe, with a blackberry jam flavor. This finishes long and spicy. Drink now-2015.	null	87	35	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Domaine Chandon	null	null	Domaine Chandon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
US	Fruity and front-loaded, with a tongue-tingling mouthfeel. The tasty black cherry fruit quickly fills the mouth with a burst of fresh fruit. The wine is designed for near-term enjoyment.	Coast Range Estate	88	45	Oregon	Willamette Valley	null	Pinot Noir	Trisaetum	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Trisaetum 2009 Coast Range Estate Pinot Noir
US	Muted aromatics hide beneath thick, leathery tannins and a puckering structure of crisp red currant and cranberry in this full-bodied wine that will benefit from time. Cellar through 2020.	Hendry Vineyard	90	55	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hendry	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Hendry 2012 Hendry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
US	An interesting, even eccentric Syrah that's really quite different from anything else out there. No mere fruit bomb, it's a meaty wine, in the sense of being chewy, but also in the aromas and flavors of both roasted and raw beef. That's not to mention the extraordinary blackberries and currants, dusted with a blast of freshly ground black pepper. First-class and unique.	Rosella's Vineyard	94	48	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Syrah	Zepaltas	null	null	Zepaltas 2006 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah (Santa Lucia Highlands)
France	The wine from this clos or walled vineyard in the city of Reims has spent eight years aging before disgorgement. It's a rare wine, with a wonderful balance between its toasty character and the crisp, dry apple and green-fruit flavors. It will certainly age further, so wait—if you can—until 2019.	Clos Lanson	96	196	Champagne	Champagne	null	Chardonnay	Lanson	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Lanson 2006 Clos Lanson Chardonnay (Champagne)
Spain	For all intents and purposes, this is a red wine. It's 90% red in color, and the nose and palate are chunky and wide. Flavors of red licorice and candied berry lack snap, and the finish tastes bitter and feels flat.	Viñedo N° 5 Rose	82	13	Northern Spain	Navarra	null	Garnacha	Señorío de Sarria	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Señorío de Sarria 2012 Viñedo N° 5 Rose Garnacha (Navarra)
France	The wine is rich and still shows firm tannins, along with full-bodied blackberry fruitiness and a tight, crisp texture. It's solid and concentrated, full of juiciness at the end. Drink from 2016.	null	89	14	Bordeaux	Côtes de Bourg	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Fongalan	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Fongalan 2010 Côtes de Bourg
US	A fine young Cab and a worthy followup to the 2004. Dry and tannic, it shows lush, complex flavors of black currants, mocha and cedar, with an herbaceous quality suggesting green olives. This delicious wine should develop over the next six years.	Bavarian Lion Vineyard	91	45	California	Knights Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Adobe Road	null	null	null
Austria	Harvested in January 2007, this has the true purity and freshness of icewine. There is lightness and delicacy as the ripe apricot sweetness is pierced with floating acidity. There is a sweet, but fresh and clean finish.	Cuvée Eiswein	90	20	Burgenland	null	null	White Blend	Hafner	null	null	null
US	Don't look for complexity in an inexpensive Pinot, but Oak Knoll gives you your money's worth, with pretty fruit in a forward, light, rather simple but quite pleasing little sipping wine.	null	85	15	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Oak Knoll	null	null	null
Portugal	Rounded style of Vinho Verde with some weight to go with the extreme citrus and bright grapefruit flavors. It has a little softness round the edges, but the core is taut, mineral, tangy.	Azul Portugal Escolha	87	11	Vinho Verde	null	null	Portuguese White	Wines & Winemakers	null	null	null
France	Muscular, powering its way with richness and structured tannins. The white pear and almond flavors seem to sit on top of this dense wine, which will need to age. It reflects the super-rich side of white Burgundy in 2005.	Les Caillerets Premier Cru	89	50	Burgundy	Meursault	null	Chardonnay	Henri de Villamont	null	null	null
Italy	Bravo Giacomo Neri! This wine raises the bar on modern Brunello and offers a peek view into the future and potential of this incredibly expressive wine. Super concentrated and intense, whiffs of roasted espresso bean, tannery, summer-ripe black cherries, and porcini mushrooms peel back layer after layer. A firmly tannic touch is there to remind you to drink this wine anytime after ten years. Imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc.	Cerretalto	96	130	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Casanova di Neri	null	null	null
Spain	This smells of baked black fruit, coconut, vanilla and char, with a palate that's ultrasaturated and almost cloying. The compact flavors are of concentrated blackberry liqueur and cassis, which narrow to berry and oak notes on the finish.	Alaya	90	35	Central Spain	Almansa	null	Garnacha	Atalaya	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Atalaya 2010 Alaya Garnacha (Almansa)
Italy	This wine starts off with aromas of dark fruit, mint and toasted oak. The palate shows lots of toasted wood flavors in the form of coffee and vanilla, as well as plum and bitter cherry fruits. Still quite tannic now, so drink after 2015, but don't cellar it for much longer than that.	null	87	18	Tuscany	Vino Nobile di Montepulciano	null	Red Blend	Tenuta Santavenere	null	null	null
US	A bit overripe and raisiny-pruny despite some rich blackberry flavors, with hard, drying tannins and some bitterness. Doesn't show the lushness and appeal of the other Bonds. Could surprise down the road, but it's just average now.	Quella	86	275	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	BOND	null	null	null
Spain	Floral white-flower aromas settle on buttercup and lees notes, while in the mouth this is creamy but low on structure. Yeasty peach and apple flavors finish chunky, and overall low acidity is an issue.	Pi	85	20	Spain Other	Spain	null	Garnacha Blanca	Bodegas Langa	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Bodegas Langa 2012 Pi Garnacha Blanca (Spain)
Australia	There aren't many white wines coming out of Langhorne Creek, but this Verdelho is a good one, offering crisp, citrusy notes of pear and pineapple, medium body and a clean, refreshing finish. Drink now.	Potts' Catch	87	14	South Australia	Langhorne Creek	null	Verdelho	Bleasdale	null	null	null
Argentina	Floral red-fruit aromas are modest but clean. The palate is a bit chunky but overall it's in good shape. Flavors of berry and cassis are ordinary, but the flavor profile is perfectly good. A touch of chocolate and oak rise up on the finish.	Reserva	88	15	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Tamarí	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Tamarí 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza)
Germany	This late-release GG is a stunning showcase of how just a few years of bottle age impact a dry, richly concentrated Riesling. Yellow peach and grapefruit tones shine brightly still, but are glazed by layers of slick, penetrating minerals. While moderate in alcohol, it feels dense and creamy on the palate. The finish meanders almost endlessly, punctuated playfully by strikes of lemon-lime acidity. It's singing now, but should improve till at least 2020.	Wehlener Sonnenuhr Old Vines GG Erste Lage Dry	95	50	Mosel	null	null	Riesling	S.A. Prüm	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	S.A. Prüm 2011 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Old Vines GG Erste Lage Dry Riesling (Mosel)
Italy	This blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah shows a decadently soft side thanks to its aromas of black cherry, tobacco, chocolate and subtle spice. It delivers density and substance on the finish and would pair with pasta and creamy porcini sauce.	Cum Laude	91	31	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Castello Banfi	null	null	null
US	This wine shows those crisp, bright, mouthwatering Central Coast acids. They perk up the lime and tropical fruit flavors enhanced with a touch of vanilla and smoke from barrels. Finishes spicy and dry.	Paragon	85	15	California	Edna Valley	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Edna Valley Vineyard	null	null	null
US	It’s hard to keep the Chardonnay from getting ripe in California, and so this bubbly has strong, fruity notes from the citrus and peach-accented aromas through the peachy finish. Of course there’s toast, and the rough scour of acidity. It’s quite clean and refreshing, but definitely a warm-climate sparkling wine.	Blanc de Blancs	86	22	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Champagne Blend	Mumm Cuvée Napa	null	null	Mumm Cuvée Napa NV Blanc de Blancs (Napa Valley)
Italy	This opens with aromas of white rose and lavender. The refreshing palate delivers white peach, juicy citrus and accents of sage and rosemary. It's balanced with bright acidity.	null	87	17	Northeastern Italy	Friuli Grave	null	Traminer	Antonutti	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Antonutti 2013 Traminer (Friuli Grave)
Italy	Passerina is a little-known grape from central Italy that offers good structure and density in the mouth. It's not necessarily aromatic, but it does offer tones of almond skin, butterscotch and Golden Delicious apple.	Servator	85	null	Central Italy	Marche	null	Passerina	La Canosa	null	null	La Canosa 2008 Servator Passerina (Marche)
Portugal	Alvarinho from the north of the Vinho Verde gives a ripe, creamy textured wine that also has a cool feel to it. It is juicy, with a fine floral character as well as ripe lemon and apple flavors. Drink this wine now.	Toucas	87	20	Vinho Verde	null	null	Alvarinho	Wines & Winemakers	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Wines & Winemakers 2014 Toucas Alvarinho (Vinho Verde)
US	Hints of sea salt and crushed stone add layers of minerality to this Riesling that's just a shade off-dry. The palate is concentrated with notes of tangerine juice, lemon peel and pressed apples, balanced by puckery lemon acidity.	Dry	87	18	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Riesling	Glenora	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Glenora 2011 Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes)
France	The name of the wine comes from the red rocks that make up the vineyard. It is fruity with ripe red-plum fruit and a generous tannic structure. With its youthful vigor, the wine is likely to develop further, although it is bright and fruity now.	Lo Sang del Païs	87	18	Southwest France	Marcillac	null	Fer Servadou	Domaine du Cros	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine du Cros 2015 Lo Sang del Païs (Marcillac)

US

Warm aromas of lemon preserves, smoked honeysuckle and lightly honeyed Marcona almonds are cut with a citrus freshness on the nose of this estate-grown wine. A citrus-blossom character starts the sip followed by rounded saltiness and apple-flesh flavor in the midpalate. It's altogether very luscious and yet enlivening to the mouth.

null

91

28

California

Ballard Canyon

Central Coast

Roussanne

Stolpman

null

Italy

Here's a fun and cheerful Merlot that should be consumed with informal meals at home. The wine is not aged in oak and consequently, you taste fresh fruit notes of cherry and blueberry. It's soft, easy and smooth on the close.

null

86

16

Veneto

Piave

null

Merlot

Moletto

null

Moletto 2007 Merlot (Piave)

US

A very ripe, sweet boysenberry aroma sets the tone for this very full-bodied, fruit-drenched wine. It fairly oozes blackberry flavors, feels rich and broad on the palate and has a firm but not very tannic texture. It's easy to enjoy this exuberant wine now through 2023.

V Block

92

60

California

Yountville

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Liparita

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Liparita 2013 V Block Cabernet Sauvignon (Yountville)

Italy

A blend of Grillo, Cataratto and Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of tropical fruit and apricot. The rich palate is loaded with golden apple and yellow peach flavors that are accented by notes of vanilla and lemon drop.

Piano Maltese

87

13

Sicily & Sardinia

Terre Siciliane

null

White Blend

Tenuta Rapitalà

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Tenuta Rapitalà 2013 Piano Maltese White (Terre Siciliane)

US

Tart red cherry and fresh herb lend a crisp, cool tone to this elegantly composed Syrah. The palate is plush and concentrated in red plum and cherry flavors that are balanced by bristling cranberry acidity. Velvet tannins cap the finish.

null

89

35

New York

Finger Lakes

Syrah

Atwater

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Atwater 2011 Syrah (Finger Lakes)

US

This has appealing flavors of tropical fruit, orange, peach and vanilla, with a creamy texture and an overall sense of elegance. The acidity is brisk and clean.

Hooker Breakaway

87

24

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Lawer

null

Lawer 2011 Hooker Breakaway Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Argentina

The barn door is open and the horses have left. This is close to DOA, with mushy, weak aromas and flavors, and almost no distinct fruit at any point.

Laborum Single Vineyard Oak Fermented

81

36

Other

Cafayate

null

Torrontés

El Porvenir

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

El Porvenir 2014 Laborum Single Vineyard Oak Fermented Torrontés (Cafayate)

US

From 20-year-old vines, this spent 10 months in French oak, 20% new. It's finished with a screwcap and tastes a bit reductive, so give it plenty of breathing time. It's well-muscled with tangy cranberry and purple fruit. Drink now through 2020.

null

90

26

Oregon

Willamette Valley

null

Gamay Noir

WillaKenzie Estate

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

WillaKenzie Estate 2013 Gamay Noir

Italy

There's a lot of mature fruit and some strawberry jam here backed by prunes, raisins, tobacco, incense and cola. Pretty nuances of white stone and dried hay appear on the nose and the wine ends with sweet, sticky flavors of ripe berry.

Villa Rizzardi

89

90

Veneto

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Guerrieri Rizzardi

null

Guerrieri Rizzardi 2003 Villa Rizzardi (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico)

Italy

Tai (made with 100% Tocai grapes) is a lively white wine with fragrant aromas of yellow rose, honeysuckle and passion fruit. A thick, creamy mouthfeel is loaded tight with rich honey flavors.

Tai

87

33

Veneto

null

Tocai

De Stefani

null

De Stefani 2010 Tai Tocai (Veneto)

US

Sultry pear and baked apple are the stars. Lemony and creamy on the palate, this offers slight hints of honey and tropical fruit. It boasts a long finish and robust yet restrained oak that should relax in time.

River Road Ranch

90

32

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Trione

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Trione 2011 River Road Ranch Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Chile

The aromas are hard at first, then rubbery and leathery, with a tarry black-fruit note. After the palate opens with aggressive, rubbery tannins, flavors of licorice and grapy, medicinal oak burst onto the scene. Long on the finish, but with a lasting resiny flavor.

Dueño de la Luna

87

45

Maule Valley

null

Carignan

Meli

null

Chile

Lactic and creamy smelling, with a muddled, green edge that never really settles. The palate is tannic and mildly green, with herbal olive and berry flavors. And the finish is basically more of the same. Standard base-level Carmenère.

Reserva

84

12

Maule Valley

null

Carmenère

Chilensis

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Chilensis 2008 Reserva Carmenère (Maule Valley)

Chile

Briar fruit aromas show notes of moss, leather and herbs on the nose. This is solid, chewy and tannic, with blackberry flavors that are herbal along the edges and a bit green in the middle. A spicy, dark note marks the finish, with a hint of coffee.

Reserva

87

11

Colchagua Valley

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Carolina

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Santa Carolina 2013 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley)

Austria

Appetizing and fruity peardrop notes dominate the nose. The palate has a refreshing touch of green apple and light, easy fruitiness within a slender and dry frame. Lovely zestiness marks the finish.

L&T

89

22

Niederösterreich

null

Grüner Veltliner

Bründlmayer

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Bründlmayer 2016 L&T Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich)

Chile

Smooth and citrusy on the nose, with grapefruit and minerally aromas. The palate is medium in weight, with good acidity and pithy green fruit and grapefruit flavors. Brings bite and a dusting of green chile spice on the finish.

Reserva Sauvignon Blanc-Carmenére

86

12

Maule Valley

null

White Blend

Oveja Negra

null

US

Albariño's natural acidity is amplified in this wine, which comes from one of California's chilliest growing regions and the coolest vintage in years. Consumed on its own, the acidity is so high, it's almost sour. But this is a food wine if ever there was one. With salty tapas, it will be perfect.

Estate

87

24

California

Monterey

Central Coast

Albariño

Cambiata

null

US

Principally Cabernet Franc, it's tight and reductive, with a tarry note. In the mouth it is surprisingly soft, almost silky, offering plummy fruit flavors that seem to be quickly maturing. Drink soon.

16th Street Bridge

86

15

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

O•S Winery

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

O•S Winery 2011 16th Street Bridge Red (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

This is a moderately aromatic, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, Bordeaux-style blend, with notes of cedar, char and cherry. It's lighter in style, with tart cranberry and cherry flavors.

Reserve Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc

86

25

Idaho

null

Red Blend

Snake River

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Snake River 2009 Reserve Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc Red

Italy

Corvina, along with smaller percentages of Rondinella and Molinara, is the base for this meaty expression of Ripasso. Aromas here include raw cherry, blackberry tart, dark vanilla bean and barbecue spice.

Monterè Cà de' Rocchi

87

14

Veneto

Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Tinazzi

null

France

Dominated by grapefruit and pineapple flavors, this is very fresh and herbaceous. The wine is crisp and clean, with acidity at the end. Drink over the next year.

null

86

15

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Blanc

null

Bordeaux-style White Blend

Château Lauretan

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Lauretan 2010 Bordeaux Blanc

US

A little green and minty, with some stalky flavors, but dry and vibrant in acidity. Offers good cherry and raspberry pie flavors that are wrapped into a silky texture, with beautiful tannins. Drink now.

null

87

40

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Lynmar

null

Croatia

The regular aromas and flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are here but faint—citrus, grass—and there's a stinky egg quality that overrides the whole. Earthy but odd, this wine may be a tough one to love, but it also has an interesting charm.

Unfiltered

82

null

Kutjevo

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Krauthaker

Susan Kostrzewa

@suskostrzewa

Krauthaker 2005 Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc (Kutjevo)

Macedonia

Made from 100% Vranec, this wine has aromas of sour cherry, black plum and black pepper. It is full bodied with flavors of tart cherry, blackberry, and leather.

null

89

15

Tikves

null

Vranec

Stobi

null

US

A wonderful array of aromas wafts up from the glass, resembling pencil shavings (a good thing!), cigar box, touch of earthiness and cherry compote. The mouthfeel is luxurious; layered flavors of black currant, black cherry, chocolate and clove stay lively through the long finish. It drinks well now, but will improve through at least 2019.

The Mutt

92

25

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hoopla

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Hoopla 2012 The Mutt Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

US

Ripe and oaky in the modern style, with strong apricot, tangerine, pineapple and peach flavors and a buttery, creamy texture. Offers lots of upfront Chardonnay character.

null

86

17

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Chardonnay

Educated Guess

null

Austria

This is a wine that is so young. It is aromatic, fruity and still settling together in its potential concentration and structure. Look forward to a wine that has pear fruits, a tight, mineral character, and structure. Look forward to an impressive and serious future. Drink from 2016.

Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd

94

null

Wachau

null

Riesling

F X Pichler

Roger Voss

@vossroger

F X Pichler 2012 Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd Riesling (Wachau)

US

From stunningly set vines overlooking the Carmel Valley that in this vintage produced only 1.25 tons an acre (or 1.12 pounds per plant) comes this stellar wine, redolent on the nose with black plum, mulberry, turned earth, wet mud, woody sagebrush, incense and sandalwood. There is great energy on the palate, with mulberry and elderberry flavors enhanced by light coffee, soil and fennel bulbs.

Estate Reserve

95

55

California

Carmel Valley

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Albatross Ridge

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Albatross Ridge 2014 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir (Carmel Valley)

South Africa

A rich, full-bodied nose of tropical fruit leads on this complex Sauvignon Blanc from Jardin. The wine has a crisp wave of fruit with a spicy overall character, but there is complexity and roundness as well. An elegant wine that's integrated and ageable.

null

88

14

Stellenbosch

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Jardin

Susan Kostrzewa

@suskostrzewa

Jardin 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch)

US

The aromas are incredibly light—barely a whisper. The cherry and plum flavors, meanwhile, are more giving but it still doesn't seem to show enough expression, especially surprising considering the appellation and producer.

Newsprint

87

25

Washington

Red Mountain

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Guardian

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Guardian 2015 Newsprint Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain)

Italy

Badarina is a newer cru, with slightly higher altitudes, that benefits from southeastern exposures. This expression exhibits density and high extraction with excellent intensity and staying power. The wine is modern, plush, decadent and ripe with black fruit, cola, smoked meat and pretty balsam notes. Hold it in your cellar five or more years.

Badarina Vigna Regnola

93

49

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Grimaldi Bruna

null

US

Another Joe Davis wine that's benefited from patience, this bottling offers more mature character than the same vineyard's 2009. Umami touches of soy, shiitake and leather underscore the cherry and raspberry scents on the nose. It has a grippy texture and a subtly presented range of flavors—from dried anise and Christmas spice to elderberry, cranberry and dried plum skin.

Clos Pepe Vineyard

94

65

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Arcadian

null

Spain

Granular, edgy and minerally like a daily vitamin tab, this is a sharp-sided white wine with cleansing pineapple, nectarine and lemony flavors in front of a high-toned, mineral-laden finish that is clean and tight. Very fresh, lively and a little more narrow than in the past.

null

87

19

Northern Spain

Valdeorras

null

Godello

Viña Godeval

null

US

Much better than the watery 2004, this wine still seems a bit light and thin for its Reserve status. It's got some tart, sharp flavors of wild blackberry, but the herbal flavors suggest unripe grapes.

Reserve

84

23

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Syrah

Snoqualmie

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Snoqualmie 2005 Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

New Zealand

Light and fresh, with modest grapefruit flavors matched by herbal notes and some flowery aromatics. Probably best as an apéritif. Imported by Pernod Ricard, USA.

null

86

13

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Brancott

null

US

Sourced from vines planted in 1972, this saw 50% new French oak. Despite the high alcohol and generous oak, the wine is neither overblown, nor tasting heavily of barrel. Strawberries, white pepper, a dash of minerality and a streak of vanilla all wrap together in a complex wine with a generous finish.

Black Oak Vineyard

91

28

Oregon

Elkton Oregon

Southern Oregon

Pinot Noir

River's Edge

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

River's Edge 2012 Black Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir (Elkton Oregon)

US

This barrel-fermented estate wine is luscious and creamy, coating the palate with generous flavors of apricot, peach and melon. The concentration is impressive, as are the barrel flavors on the finish. Vanilla, coconut, caramel and lightly buttered almonds all contribute to the nuanced detail.

Germaine Vineyard

92

25

Oregon

Eola-Amity Hills

Willamette Valley

Viognier

Cristom

null

US

This spicy white blend mixes Viognier, Sémillon and Pinot Gris. Notes of green berries and other green fruits—notably banana—all have an herbal underpinning.

Flygirl

87

15

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

White Blend

Airfield Estates

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Airfield Estates 2011 Flygirl White (Yakima Valley)

France

Despite containing 50% Viognier, this is a restrained Côtes du Rhône white, with subtle citrus and wet stone shadings and a refined, medium-weight mouthfeel. It finishes well, with plenty of length and hints of citrus and honey. Drink it over the next year or two.

Les Laurelles

89

19

Rhône Valley

Côtes du Rhône

null

Rhône-style White Blend

Les Vins de Vienne

null

France

This ripe and creamy wine is full of great flinty and green fruit flavors. It is a pure, fresh expression of the chalk soil Sauvignon, with its crisp aftertaste.

Domaine les Grands Groux

90

19

Loire Valley

Sancerre

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Domaine Fouassier

null

Italy

There's a pretty mineral note of brimstone or talc powder that runs straight though this luminous Prosecco. At the fringes are floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle with a touch of sweet softness on the close.

Alné Extra Dry

87

null

Veneto

Prosecco

null

Glera

La Tordera

null

La Tordera NV Alné Extra Dry (Prosecco)

Chile

A magenta color and ripe grapy aromas of black fruits accented by spice and olive open this plump wide-bodied Carmenère. Spicy black cherry and blackberry flavors are stout and rock solid on a unwavering finish. Drink through 2020.

Gran Reserva

92

22

Maule Valley

null

Carmenère

Alcance

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Alcance 2014 Gran Reserva Carmenère (Maule Valley)

Italy

This Cabernet Sauvignon emphasizes delicate, feminine aromas that are rare to find in the variety. Small berry, toasted almond and herbs are buoyant and fresh. But Cabernet's hearty character definitely comes through midpalate thanks to jackhammer tannins and thick concentration. Drink after 2012.

Monile

92

49

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Viticcio

null

US

Classy in style and classic in flavors, this single vineyard selection offers strawberry fruit with highlights of melon and orange peel. It's dappled with notes of coffee and cola, smoothed out from 16 months in French oak, one-fifth of it new.

Temperance Hill Vineyard

91

36

Oregon

Eola-Amity Hills

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

St. Innocent

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

St. Innocent 2014 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)

Italy

Subtle dark-skinned berry, brown spice, leather and truffle scents gently lift out of the glass. The palate is polished and full-bodied palate, with licorice, clove and white pepper notes underscoring a juicy black cherry core. Firm, refined tannins provide structure. Drink 2019–2027.

null

92

65

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

La Poderina

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

La Poderina 2012 Brunello di Montalcino

US

This Syrah is done in a surprisingly soft style, with light, peppery, rather pale fruit flavors. It's pleasant, but not a typical representative of the grape's usual power.

Estate

86

40

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Syrah

Walla Faces

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Walla Faces 2012 Estate Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

Chile

This atypical Chilean red hails from the Maule Valley and eschews oak and ripeness and instead delivers wiry raspberry, currant and dried-earth aromas in front of a high-acid, racy palate that's medium in body. Snappy, spicy red plum and raspberry flavors are fresh and edgy, with scraping acidity creating a zesty, scrubbing finish. Drink through 2020.

Cauquenina Viñas Viejas de Cauquenes

90

30

Itata Valley

null

Red Blend

Clos des Fous

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Clos des Fous 2012 Cauquenina Viñas Viejas de Cauquenes Red (Itata Valley)

Portugal

Soft, sweet raspberry fruit-flavored wine. It has a line of acidity while its main character is the light, sweet aftertaste. Screwcap.

Coreto

83

6

Lisboa

null

Rosé

DFJ Vinhos

Roger Voss

@vossroger

DFJ Vinhos 2010 Coreto Rosé (Lisboa)

France

From a south-facing steep slope, this wine is ripe while beautifully balanced between crisp acidity, apples and pears. The steely texture and mineral edge give the wine added complexity. It's a fine wine, best after another six months in early 2018.

Côte de Marloup

91

40

Loire Valley

Sancerre

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Domaine Bernard Fleuriet et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Bernard Fleuriet et Fils 2015 Côte de Marloup (Sancerre)

France

Damien Laureau is a new name in Savennières, taking over in 1999 from his uncle. As with all Savennières, this is dry, but the wood aging rounds out the fruit to give a superrich wine. Flavors of mango and pear jam go with the smooth vanilla of the wood. It feels sweet, but tastes dry. The acidity keeps the alcohol at bay.

Les Genêts

90

23

Loire Valley

Savennières

null

Chenin Blanc

Damien Laureau

null

Italy

Maculan is celebrated for its excellent expressions of international grapes grown in the Veneto. This easy blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offers a cheerful bouquet of cherry fruit and mild exotic spice.

Brentino

87

18

Veneto

null

Red Blend

Maculan

null

Maculan 2009 Brentino Red (Veneto)

France

Pierced with acidity, this has intense black currant fruits and some smoky bacon flavors from the wood aging. It is firm, dry, concentrated, although not yet fully expressive.

null

87

17

Bordeaux

Médoc

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Lacombe Noaillac

null

Italy

Rather closed aromas burn off in the glass to reveal mature black berry fruit and cooking spices. The palate delivers stewed plums, espresso and toasted oak alongside bracing tannins. Enjoy soon with four-cheese gnocchi.

null

87

26

Tuscany

Rosso di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Fossacolle

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Fossacolle 2012 Rosso di Montalcino

US

A full-boat, five-varietal Bordeaux blend. It's nicely balanced, and retains some inviting aromas of violets and candied rose petals, leading into a lip-smacking, fruit-driven mid-palate with blueberries, boysenberries and a whisper of saffron and chocolate. There is plenty of acid underpinning, and a judicious use of barrels that keeps the fruit front and center. The best yet from Tildio.

Profundo Red Wine

90

35

Washington

Wahluke Slope

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

Tildio

null

US

This wine is still in its shell, with notes of dark raspberries, cocoa and barrel spices. It's lusciously rich, dense and layered with firm tannins that need time in the cellar to soften. Just a baby now, it will be best from 2017 on.

null

92

50

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Merlot

Northstar

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Northstar 2010 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

France

The nose is subdued but the palate shows the effortless, weightless charm of Sylvaner, with hints of green pear and lime as well as notes of stone and earth. It offers expressive slenderness.

null

89

17

Alsace

null

Sylvaner

Domaine Charles Baur

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Domaine Charles Baur 2013 Sylvaner (Alsace)

France

This is a selection from parcels on the Rimauresq estate. Well balanced, it has enough weight and texture to be food-friendly. Intense red fruits dominate, put easily against fresh acidity that finishes the wine with a lift.

R de Rimauresq

90

22

Provence

Côtes de Provence

null

Rosé

Château Rimauresq

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Rimauresq 2014 R de Rimauresq Rosé (Côtes de Provence)

US

Beaucoup d'oak. Delicious, toasty, roasty, mocha-flavored oak. But the fruit is missing in action. The color suggests that there is some light, plummy fruit underlying all the oak, but it's hiding.

null

84

28

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Zinfandel

Saviez

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Saviez 1998 Zinfandel (Napa Valley)

Italy

Aromas of violet, chocolate, woodland berry, leather and a whiff of meat juices lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. On the palate, juicy black cherry and crushed raspberry take center stage while accents of espresso, cedar, white pepper and menthol play supporting roles. It's balanced with bright acidity and assertive tannins. Drink 2016–2022.

Gran Selezione

91

70

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Red Blend

Castello di Meleto

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Castello di Meleto 2010 Gran Selezione (Chianti Classico)

Portugal

The oak aging gives this wine an attractive, spicy character. A blend of four of the Douro's most familiar varieties, it is rich, full of black fruit with a rich core of tannin and balanced acidity. Drink now.

Reserva

86

12

Douro

null

Portuguese Red

Adega Vila Real

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Adega Vila Real 2014 Reserva Red (Douro)

Italy

Here's a very pretty Riserva Sangiovese from the interesting Chianti Rufina subzone of Tuscany that opens with plush cherry richness, toasted almond and creamy chocolate mocha. A spot of crisp freshness holds up the rear.

Riserva

88

null

Tuscany

Chianti Rufina

null

Sangiovese

I Veroni

null

US

Quite light, but pretty, with delicate cherry and chocolate flavors. There is a bit of a hole in the middle, but it's a decent quaff in a difficult vintage.

null

85

20

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Seven of Hearts

null

Italy

A light, easy quaffing wine that typifies the Pinot Grigio available in the U.S. market, offering modest apple, peach and citrus flavors. It's cleanly made and priced right for the quality.

null

84

8

Lombardy

Pavia

null

Pinot Grigio

Conviviale

null

Chile

Pear and apple aromas are light and oaky but nothing out of the ordinary. A creamy palate is just vital enough, while woody flavors of barrel spice run side by side with peach and melon notes. A clean, mild finish provides for a good ending.

Reserva

86

12

Colchagua Valley

null

Chardonnay

MontGras

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

MontGras 2014 Reserva Chardonnay (Colchagua Valley)

Spain

Freshness is in demand as the nose shows dampness, tobacco and wood more than bright fruit. In the mouth, there's oak-driven flavors of vanilla and tobacco accenting basic red fruit. Has a lot of snap and zest but comes off kind of thin and on the mature side. Drink now for best results; its lifespan appears limited.

Crianza

85

28

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tempranillo

Monte Negro

null

Italy

This is a bright expression of Nero d'Avola with youthful fruit flavors and pretty aromas of pistachio nut and almond. The wine is polished and clean with bright acidity on the close.

3 Carati

88

50

Sicily & Sardinia

Sicilia

null

Nero d'Avola

Avide

null

US

Begins with pretty but light aromas of peaches and cream and vanilla, and turns watery and citrusy in the mouth, with high acidity. Whistle-clean, it finishes with lemony notes.

null

83

14

California

Mendocino

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Pinot Blanc

Saint Gregory

null

US

Shows the generosity and instant appeal of this fine vineyard, and also a structural integrity that lifts it above simple deliciousness. The cherry, orange, red licorice, cola and spice flavors are wrapped into firm tannins and brightened with cool coastal acidity.

Rancho Santa Rosa

91

45

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Rusack

null

Rusack 2006 Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

US

Black Box hops onto the popular sweet red wine train with this blend. It is, as advertised, sweet, but not too much, giving a sugary edge to the blackberries and cherries.

Sweet

84

25

California

California Other

Red Blend

Black Box

null

France

An attractively crisp wine, this has fragrant acidity and a lively raspberry-fruit character cut with a tight mineral edge. The wine is ready to drink.

YL

87

28

France Other

Ile de Beauté

null

Rosé

Yves Leccia

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Yves Leccia 2015 YL Rosé (Ile de Beauté)

US

So dry, so crisply acidic, so silky in the mouth, and so rich in flavor. This is a truly distinctive Pinot Noir. It shows the variety's elusive personality, now rich in cherries and currants, withdrawing into minerals and herbs. Yet the final impression is of fine, silky decadence. Should develop in fascinating directions over the next 6–8 years.

Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block

95

90

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Brogan

null

Brogan 2007 Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

France

Notes of freshly peeled red apples are inviting and continue on the soft, rounded and generous palate. It has a lovely midpalate mouthfeel and drinks just off dry, with an accent of vanilla and the merest touch of cinnamon.

Tradition

88

17

Alsace

null

Pinot Gris

W. Gisselbrecht

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

W. Gisselbrecht 2015 Tradition Pinot Gris (Alsace)

US

Here's a big, gutsy Cab from bubbly specialist Chandon. It's dry and ripe, with a blackberry jam flavor. This finishes long and spicy. Drink now-2015.

null

87

35

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Domaine Chandon

null

Domaine Chandon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

US

Fruity and front-loaded, with a tongue-tingling mouthfeel. The tasty black cherry fruit quickly fills the mouth with a burst of fresh fruit. The wine is designed for near-term enjoyment.

Coast Range Estate

88

45

Oregon

Willamette Valley

null

Pinot Noir

Trisaetum

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Trisaetum 2009 Coast Range Estate Pinot Noir

US

Muted aromatics hide beneath thick, leathery tannins and a puckering structure of crisp red currant and cranberry in this full-bodied wine that will benefit from time. Cellar through 2020.

Hendry Vineyard

90

55

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hendry

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Hendry 2012 Hendry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

US

An interesting, even eccentric Syrah that's really quite different from anything else out there. No mere fruit bomb, it's a meaty wine, in the sense of being chewy, but also in the aromas and flavors of both roasted and raw beef. That's not to mention the extraordinary blackberries and currants, dusted with a blast of freshly ground black pepper. First-class and unique.

Rosella's Vineyard

94

48

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Syrah

Zepaltas

null

Zepaltas 2006 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah (Santa Lucia Highlands)

France

The wine from this clos or walled vineyard in the city of Reims has spent eight years aging before disgorgement. It's a rare wine, with a wonderful balance between its toasty character and the crisp, dry apple and green-fruit flavors. It will certainly age further, so wait—if you can—until 2019.

Clos Lanson

96

196

Champagne

null

Chardonnay

Lanson

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Lanson 2006 Clos Lanson Chardonnay (Champagne)

Spain

For all intents and purposes, this is a red wine. It's 90% red in color, and the nose and palate are chunky and wide. Flavors of red licorice and candied berry lack snap, and the finish tastes bitter and feels flat.

Viñedo N° 5 Rose

82

13

Northern Spain

Navarra

null

Garnacha

Señorío de Sarria

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Señorío de Sarria 2012 Viñedo N° 5 Rose Garnacha (Navarra)

France

The wine is rich and still shows firm tannins, along with full-bodied blackberry fruitiness and a tight, crisp texture. It's solid and concentrated, full of juiciness at the end. Drink from 2016.

null

89

14

Bordeaux

Côtes de Bourg

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Fongalan

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Fongalan 2010 Côtes de Bourg

US

A fine young Cab and a worthy followup to the 2004. Dry and tannic, it shows lush, complex flavors of black currants, mocha and cedar, with an herbaceous quality suggesting green olives. This delicious wine should develop over the next six years.

Bavarian Lion Vineyard

91

45

California

Knights Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Adobe Road

null

Austria

Harvested in January 2007, this has the true purity and freshness of icewine. There is lightness and delicacy as the ripe apricot sweetness is pierced with floating acidity. There is a sweet, but fresh and clean finish.

Cuvée Eiswein

90

20

Burgenland

null

White Blend

Hafner

null

US

Don't look for complexity in an inexpensive Pinot, but Oak Knoll gives you your money's worth, with pretty fruit in a forward, light, rather simple but quite pleasing little sipping wine.

null

85

15

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Oak Knoll

null

Portugal

Rounded style of Vinho Verde with some weight to go with the extreme citrus and bright grapefruit flavors. It has a little softness round the edges, but the core is taut, mineral, tangy.

Azul Portugal Escolha

87

11

Vinho Verde

null

Portuguese White

Wines & Winemakers

null

France

Muscular, powering its way with richness and structured tannins. The white pear and almond flavors seem to sit on top of this dense wine, which will need to age. It reflects the super-rich side of white Burgundy in 2005.

Les Caillerets Premier Cru

89

50

Burgundy

Meursault

null

Chardonnay

Henri de Villamont

null

Italy

Bravo Giacomo Neri! This wine raises the bar on modern Brunello and offers a peek view into the future and potential of this incredibly expressive wine. Super concentrated and intense, whiffs of roasted espresso bean, tannery, summer-ripe black cherries, and porcini mushrooms peel back layer after layer. A firmly tannic touch is there to remind you to drink this wine anytime after ten years. Imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc.

Cerretalto

96

130

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Casanova di Neri

null

Spain

This smells of baked black fruit, coconut, vanilla and char, with a palate that's ultrasaturated and almost cloying. The compact flavors are of concentrated blackberry liqueur and cassis, which narrow to berry and oak notes on the finish.

Alaya

90

35

Central Spain

Almansa

null

Garnacha

Atalaya

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Atalaya 2010 Alaya Garnacha (Almansa)

Italy

This wine starts off with aromas of dark fruit, mint and toasted oak. The palate shows lots of toasted wood flavors in the form of coffee and vanilla, as well as plum and bitter cherry fruits. Still quite tannic now, so drink after 2015, but don't cellar it for much longer than that.

null

87

18

Tuscany

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

null

Red Blend

Tenuta Santavenere

null

US

A bit overripe and raisiny-pruny despite some rich blackberry flavors, with hard, drying tannins and some bitterness. Doesn't show the lushness and appeal of the other Bonds. Could surprise down the road, but it's just average now.

Quella

86

275

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

BOND

null

Spain

Floral white-flower aromas settle on buttercup and lees notes, while in the mouth this is creamy but low on structure. Yeasty peach and apple flavors finish chunky, and overall low acidity is an issue.

Pi

85

20

Spain Other

Spain

null

Garnacha Blanca

Bodegas Langa

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Bodegas Langa 2012 Pi Garnacha Blanca (Spain)

Australia

There aren't many white wines coming out of Langhorne Creek, but this Verdelho is a good one, offering crisp, citrusy notes of pear and pineapple, medium body and a clean, refreshing finish. Drink now.

Potts' Catch

87

14

South Australia

Langhorne Creek

null

Verdelho

Bleasdale

null

Argentina

Floral red-fruit aromas are modest but clean. The palate is a bit chunky but overall it's in good shape. Flavors of berry and cassis are ordinary, but the flavor profile is perfectly good. A touch of chocolate and oak rise up on the finish.

Reserva

88

15

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Tamarí

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Tamarí 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza)

Germany

This late-release GG is a stunning showcase of how just a few years of bottle age impact a dry, richly concentrated Riesling. Yellow peach and grapefruit tones shine brightly still, but are glazed by layers of slick, penetrating minerals. While moderate in alcohol, it feels dense and creamy on the palate. The finish meanders almost endlessly, punctuated playfully by strikes of lemon-lime acidity. It's singing now, but should improve till at least 2020.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr Old Vines GG Erste Lage Dry

95

50

Mosel

null

Riesling

S.A. Prüm

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

S.A. Prüm 2011 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Old Vines GG Erste Lage Dry Riesling (Mosel)

Italy

This blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah shows a decadently soft side thanks to its aromas of black cherry, tobacco, chocolate and subtle spice. It delivers density and substance on the finish and would pair with pasta and creamy porcini sauce.

Cum Laude

91

31

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Castello Banfi

null

US

This wine shows those crisp, bright, mouthwatering Central Coast acids. They perk up the lime and tropical fruit flavors enhanced with a touch of vanilla and smoke from barrels. Finishes spicy and dry.

Paragon

85

15

California

Edna Valley

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Edna Valley Vineyard

null

US

It’s hard to keep the Chardonnay from getting ripe in California, and so this bubbly has strong, fruity notes from the citrus and peach-accented aromas through the peachy finish. Of course there’s toast, and the rough scour of acidity. It’s quite clean and refreshing, but definitely a warm-climate sparkling wine.

Blanc de Blancs

86

22

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Champagne Blend

Mumm Cuvée Napa

null

Mumm Cuvée Napa NV Blanc de Blancs (Napa Valley)

Italy

This opens with aromas of white rose and lavender. The refreshing palate delivers white peach, juicy citrus and accents of sage and rosemary. It's balanced with bright acidity.

null

87

17

Northeastern Italy

Friuli Grave

null

Traminer

Antonutti

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Antonutti 2013 Traminer (Friuli Grave)

Italy

Passerina is a little-known grape from central Italy that offers good structure and density in the mouth. It's not necessarily aromatic, but it does offer tones of almond skin, butterscotch and Golden Delicious apple.

Servator

85

null

Central Italy

Marche

null

Passerina

La Canosa

null

La Canosa 2008 Servator Passerina (Marche)

Portugal

Alvarinho from the north of the Vinho Verde gives a ripe, creamy textured wine that also has a cool feel to it. It is juicy, with a fine floral character as well as ripe lemon and apple flavors. Drink this wine now.

Toucas

87

20

Vinho Verde

null

Alvarinho

Wines & Winemakers

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Wines & Winemakers 2014 Toucas Alvarinho (Vinho Verde)

US

Hints of sea salt and crushed stone add layers of minerality to this Riesling that's just a shade off-dry. The palate is concentrated with notes of tangerine juice, lemon peel and pressed apples, balanced by puckery lemon acidity.

Dry

87

18

New York

Finger Lakes

Riesling

Glenora

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Glenora 2011 Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes)

France

The name of the wine comes from the red rocks that make up the vineyard. It is fruity with ripe red-plum fruit and a generous tannic structure. With its youthful vigor, the wine is likely to develop further, although it is bright and fruity now.

Lo Sang del Païs

87

18

Southwest France

Marcillac

null

Fer Servadou

Domaine du Cros

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine du Cros 2015 Lo Sang del Païs (Marcillac)