spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Chile	This blend is green and herbal up front. Following the nose, the palate is solid and chewy, but raw. Flavors of berry, olive and mixed spices are herbal, minty and green, while finishing notes of herbs, chocolate and heat fit the bill. This is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Carmenère and Merlot.	Grand Reserve	85	18	Maule Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Balduzzi	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Balduzzi 2012 Grand Reserve Red (Maule Valley)
US	One of the best Californian Pinot Gris currently available, this is rich, creamy and complex, and it would make for a great alternative to Chardonnay. This wine traditionally ages in used oak, which imparts just a hint of wood-driven sweetness to the pear, peach, mango and lime flavors.	Trenton Station Vineyard	90	22	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Gris	Joseph Swan Vineyards	null	null	Joseph Swan Vineyards 2010 Trenton Station Vineyard Pinot Gris (Russian River Valley)
Italy	With no dosage, this 100% Turbiana opens with aromas of walnut and medicinal herb. The lively palate offers citrus zest, apple skin, bitter almond and a light note that recalls adhesive bandages, all set against a backdrop of large, steely bubbles.	Brut Nature Millesimato	85	null	Lombardy	Lugana	null	Turbiana	Perla del Garda	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Perla del Garda 2010 Brut Nature Millesimato (Lugana)
France	A rich wine, bone dry, its red currant fruits cutting through the creamy mousse. It's a serious rosé, with some tannins, spice, very textured and worth aging for a few months in bottle to bring out its incipient toastiness.	Rosé Brut Extra	90	null	Loire Valley	Crémant de Loire	null	Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon	Domaine des Baumard	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine des Baumard NV Rosé Brut Extra Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon (Crémant de Loire)
US	This is a soft, hot Merlot. It has ripe flavors of cherries, red currants, red licorice, cocoa and pepper, and finishes dry.	null	85	28	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Merlot	Pomar Junction	null	null	Pomar Junction 2007 Merlot (Paso Robles)
US	Earns a high score for sheer richness and decadance. Huge in blackberry, blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate, bacon, pepper and oak flavors, wrapped into big, velvety tannins. Impresses for its size, but is totally dry, and retains balance and elegance. Now–2015.	null	92	25	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Syrah	Falcone	null	null	Falcone 2008 Syrah (Paso Robles)
Spain	Ripe raisin and black-fruit aromas come with a licorice sidenote. This feels tight and pure but not demanding, with proper balance. Plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors give way to a spongy fruit-driven finish.	null	90	16	Galicia	Ribeira Sacra	null	Mencía	Regina Viarum	null	null	null
US	Far and away the best of the newly released single vineyard red wines from Mercer Estates, this tightly wound Petit Verdot sports firm plum and cassis fruit, wreathed in smoky earth, black tea, licorice and dark chocolate. Delicious now, or cellar it for a few extra years.	Spice Cabinet Vineyard	91	33	Washington	Horse Heaven Hills	Columbia Valley	Petit Verdot	Mercer	null	null	null
France	90-92 Barrel sample. The slight stalky character of this wine is part of a style that works. The ripeness is a streak through the tannins, with acidity giving an already delicious lift of freshness.	Barrel sample	91	null	Bordeaux	Pessac-Léognan	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion	null	null	null
France	Powerful and concentrated, this has flavors of black plum skin and damson, with a juicy layer surrounding the solid structure. Weighty and dense, it could age for several more years.	null	90	null	Southwest France	Cahors	null	Malbec	Château d'Ourbenac	null	null	null
Italy	This is one of those delicious amber-colored desserts wines that will put a smile on your face. The nose is richly redolent of dried apricot, honey, bee's wax, yellow rose and toasted almond. The mouthfeel is satin-like with cheerful sweetness and bright acidity.	Domus Aurea Passito	91	35	Central Italy	Albana di Romagna	null	Albana	Stefano Ferrucci	null	null	Stefano Ferrucci 2006 Domus Aurea Passito (Albana di Romagna)
Germany	Here's a good value in the world of Spätlese, with a clean, pretty nose of talcum powder and baby's breath. There's nice mineral intensity and an off-dry, mouth-puckering finish. This easy-to-like wine would be a good choice to serve as an apéritif to a crowd.	Oppenheimer Sackträger Spätlese	88	18	Rheinhessen	null	null	Riesling	Dr. Heyden	null	null	null
Spain	Pithy, heavy and chunky, with waxy fruit mixed with oak. The wine has a pretty good mouthfeel and balance, but it just doesn't do much in terms of aromatics or in the flavor category. Decent for a barrel fermented Viura but nothing to write home about.	Barrel Fermented White	84	12	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	White Blend	Marqués de Cáceres	null	null	null
US	Some pruny overripeness shows up in this Syrah, while masses of sweetly charred oak give a candied taste. Although the wine is technically dry, it's a bit clumsy. Give it a good decant and drink now.	null	85	50	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Syrah	Arns	null	null	Arns 2006 Syrah (Napa Valley)
US	Starts with a leathery, sweaty saddle note in the aroma, then turns dry and tannic in the mouth. Not offering much in the way of fruit now.	Cerise	83	24	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Rhône-style Red Blend	Anglim	null	null	null
Italy	Chianti Rufina Fattoria di Vetrice opens with easy spice and raspberry aromas with distant notes of blue flower and earth. It's a thin, fresh and approachable wine overall.	Fattoria di Vetrice	86	null	Tuscany	Chianti Rufina	null	Sangiovese	Grati	null	null	null
Chile	Hailing from a vineyard planted 900 meters above sea level, this Syrah-led blend is black as night, gaseous on the nose and loaded with heavy, ripe berry flavors. It's rich, chewy, dense and delivers a truck load's worth of blackberry, boysenberry, prune and chocolate on top of a rugged, brawny, saturated foundation.	LFE900 Single Vineyard	89	35	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Luis Felipe Edwards	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Luis Felipe Edwards 2010 LFE900 Single Vineyard Red (Colchagua Valley)
France	This wine is lean, austere with high acidity that leaves fruit well behind. It is structured and dry, only hinting at black-currant freshness. This third-generation family estate also hosts monthly musical and tasting events and sells fruit, vegetables and honey.	null	84	32	Bordeaux	Pessac-Léognan	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Bardins	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Bardins 2013 Pessac-Léognan
US	This wine is solidly built with tannin and oak, a searing earthiness dulling the fruit. Tar, earth and spicy cardamom aromas domainate its full-bodied concentration and youthful ripeness.	Gap's Crown Vineyard	85	65	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Armida	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Armida 2014 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
US	Peachy has long produced an Old School House Zin, but this is the first OSH Cab I know of. Like the Zin, it's a warming, rustic, friendly wine, awash in blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee and sweet oregano flavors, bone dry and finely tannic.	Old School House	87	25	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Peachy Canyon	null	null	null
US	Most of this wine hails from Force Majeure Vineyard, with Olsen in the Yakima Valley filling it out. Aromas of crushed granite, blackberry, wood spice and herbs are followed by vibrant red and black-fruit flavors that display depth and finesse. The finish carries.	Wild Eyed	93	48	Washington	Red Mountain	Columbia Valley	Syrah	Mark Ryan	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Mark Ryan 2013 Wild Eyed Syrah (Red Mountain)
Italy	Made with Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino, this opens with subdued, earthy aromas of leafy underbrush, tilled soil, berry and a hint of clove. The palate offers juicy wild cherry, raspberry, nutmeg and white pepper alongside mature and rather fleeting tannins. Drink through 2016.	null	87	20	Central Italy	Montefalco Rosso	null	Red Blend	Villa Mora	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Villa Mora 2010 Montefalco Rosso
Portugal	While not a declared vintage Port year, it did produce some impressive old tawnies, like this. It is such a balanced wine, fresh with ripe marmalade, raisin and old wood flavors. It has a wonderful milk chocolate aftertaste that is contrasted with its still-fresh acidity. Drink now.	Colheita Tawny	95	74	Port	null	null	Port	Kopke	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Kopke 1984 Colheita Tawny (Port)
US	Shows much in common with past vintages of this bottling. It's dry, tart in acidity and somewhat earthy, with a nice balance of cherries, herbs and cedar. Feels complex and distinguished, in a dry, elegant style.	de Villiers	90	35	California	Mt. Harlan	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Calera	null	null	null
Italy	A rich and golden-colored Frascati Superiore with intense aromas of orange zest, ginger, graham cracker and butterscotch. There are oxidized notes here but the wine is rich and succulent in the mouth.	Saula Carta Nera	85	15	Central Italy	Frascati Superiore	null	White Blend	Tenuta di Pietra Porzia	null	null	null
US	The tawny rim of this ruby-red Cabernet Sauvignon hints towards signs of early evolution. It's maturity is more evident on the palate with somewhat demure flavors of dark cherry, cedar and herb accented by touches of autumn leaf, soil and mushroom. Drink up now.	null	84	25	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Cabernet Sauvignon	Standing Stone	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Standing Stone 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes)
Italy	This is a crisp expression of Nebbiolo that is finessed and elegant. It opens with dusty aromas of dried currant, crushed stone and black pepper. The tannins are solid and polished; it needs at least 10 more years of cellar aging.	Pajoré	90	58	Piedmont	Barbaresco	null	Nebbiolo	Rizzi	null	null	Rizzi 2009 Pajoré (Barbaresco)
Italy	The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by the decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an apéritif or with dessert.	null	90	10	Piedmont	Moscato d'Asti	null	Moscato	Bartenura	null	null	null
Argentina	Green smelling. Feels thick, grabby and stewed, with herbal, saucy flavors of tomato and red berry. That same sauciness defines the herbal finish.	null	82	11	Mendoza Province	Tupungato	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Andeluna	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Andeluna 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Tupungato)
US	Quite a beautiful Cabernet, showing Oakville character of black currants and cedar and profoundly fine tannins, as well as a great depth of flavor and ageworthiness. Made from 100% Cabernet, it's lush and dramatic now, and should easily develop over the next 6–10 years.	null	94	55	California	Oakville	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Ghost Block	null	null	null
Spain	Warm, baked aromas smell of clay and raisin, and later a wave of minty green enters the picture. The palate is sort of lean, with some holes in the fabric, while flavors of wild berry and black fruits fold in a heavier note of molasses. Limited in its virtues; short in complexity.	null	85	25	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tinta Fina	Conde de San Cristóbal	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Conde de San Cristóbal 2006 Ribera del Duero
France	Lightly off dry, this rich, smooth wine has acidity to balance the honey and ripe pineapple flavors. With some aging, it will show a delicious, ripe balance of fruit and creamy texture, with some zest to add liveliness. Drink from 2017.	Demi-Sec	90	15	Loire Valley	Vouvray	null	Chenin Blanc	Domaine de la Gaverie	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine de la Gaverie 2014 Demi-Sec (Vouvray)
US	Not much going on. Clean and dry, with watery flavors of apples and oak.	Indindoli Vineyard	83	28	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Waugh Cellars	null	null	null
Portugal	This crisp, lightly spicy wine has attractive red fruit. It's refreshing yet still full and fruity. It's bright and touched by almond and rose hip flavors.	null	87	15	Alentejano	null	null	Rosé	Terra d'Alter	null	null	null
US	Light fresh aromas and flavors along with decent balance make this wine a versatile drink. The flavors are faint but clean, so it makes a good palate cleanser and should work well for a crowd.	Founders' Estate	86	10	California	California	California Other	Pinot Grigio	Beringer	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Beringer 2016 Founders' Estate Pinot Grigio (California)
Chile	Vegetal white fruits and briny, pickled notes drive the nose. Flavors of pickled citrus convey little body or character.	Reserva	81	13	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Santa Rita	null	null	null
US	This is quite a nice find: an excellent wine from a rare Spanish grape variety. The aromas are fascinating, like ripe black cherry and red roses. The flavors are fresh, concentrated, grapy and jammy, but the wine stays dry and well balanced. Already six years old, it's not at all tired-tasting.	null	90	36	California	Calaveras County	Sierra Foothills	Graciano	Metate Hill Vineyards	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Metate Hill Vineyards 2009 Graciano (Calaveras County)
US	This is the driest, most elegant and balanced of Ottomino's new single-vineyard Zinfandels. It has a Cabernet-like structure, although the wild blackberry, mulberry, plum and exotic spice flavors are all Zin, as are the dense, sandpapery tannins. Good now with upscale rich beef and cheese dishes, and should develop gradually in the bottle for many years.	Von Weidlich Vineyard	92	36	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Ottimino Vineyards	null	null	null
New Zealand	This medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc features some nice lime and grapefruit flavors, but it turns tart, chalky and almost metallic on the finish. It's certainly zesty, but it clangs off the rim instead of swooshing straight on through.	null	84	20	Martinborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Martinborough Vineyard	null	null	null
Portugal	Fruity, lacking the power of some vintages of Vargellas, but more than making up with richness, sweetness and delicious violet perfumes. There is some cranberry jelly flavor, an edge of dryness and firmness in the fruit, but it's more about ripeness.	Quinta de Vargellas Vintage	90	54	Port	null	null	Port	Taylor Fladgate	null	null	null
Italy	A bizarre blend of lime, unipe pineapple, banana and tropical fruit marks this clumsy, disjointed wine. It's not bad, but it's all elbows, with hard edges sticking out all over.	null	82	9	Veneto	Veneto	null	Pinot Grigio	San Giuseppe	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	San Giuseppe 2001 Pinot Grigio (Veneto)
Argentina	Smells good, with berry- dominated aromas. The palate is solid but acidic at the core, with sharpness on the palate that creates a juicy, crisp set of raspberry and plum flavors. Flattens out on the finish, where moderate oak-based butter notes rise up.	Seleccionada	86	18	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Bonarda	Alma del Sur	null	null	null
Italy	Made with 60% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with subdued aromas suggesting black-skinned fruit and cooking spice. The lean, simple palate offers suggestions of plum and a hint of clove alongside easygoing tannins. Drink soon.	null	85	11	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Querceto	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Querceto 2014 Red (Toscana)
Italy	Aromas of pressed acacia flower, nut and smoke lead the nose. The lively, lean palate doles out unripe Bartlett pear, yellow apple skin and a flinty mineral note alongside zesty acidity.	Ottant'anni	85	22	Southern Italy	Irpinia	null	Coda di Volpe	Agricola Bellaria	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Agricola Bellaria 2014 Ottant'anni Coda di Volpe (Irpinia)
US	Made from three vineyards within the appellation, this displays exemplary blending. Slightly reductive now, in its youth, it effortlessly melds together dark blackberry, strawberry and chocolate flavors, with a surly shock of pine forest-like earthiness. Decadent and velvety.	null	94	60	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Della	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Della 2015 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
US	Unripe and green, with acidic gooseberry, menthol and green peppercorn aromas and flavors.	null	82	16	California	Monterey County	Central Coast	Sauvignon Blanc	Bernardus	null	null	Bernardus 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Monterey County)
Italy	Here is a different take on Negroamaro with green, almost unripe, notes that merge with sweeter tones of forest berry, smoke and coffee. Sour cherry flavors appear on the finish.	Capoposto	85	22	Southern Italy	Puglia	null	Negroamaro	Alberto Longo	null	null	null
France	A perfumed wine, it has structured black fruits and a solid texture. It is rich, showing complexity through its tannins along with acidity and fruitiness. Still surprisingly young to taste, it should not be drunk until 2015.	Réserve Louis Leyre-Loup	91	null	Beaujolais	Morgon	null	Gamay	Domaine de Leyre-Loup	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine de Leyre-Loup 2011 Réserve Louis Leyre-Loup (Morgon)
France	The late Claude Lafond was the driving force behind the renaissance of Reuilly. His wines, such as this with its balance between crisp herbal flavors and ripe, almost tropical fruit, bring out the richness of the appellation. This wine, with its final minerality, is ready to drink.	Clos Fussay Tête de Cuvée	91	16	Loire Valley	Reuilly	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Claude Lafond	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Claude Lafond 2014 Clos Fussay Tête de Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc (Reuilly)
France	88-90 Barrel sample. Good, with dense tannins, a powerful wine that shows a rich structure. It has obvious acidity, but that fits into a fresh profile.	Barrel sample	89	null	Bordeaux	Graves	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château de Chantegrive	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château de Chantegrive 2008 Barrel sample (Graves)
US	Cola, black cherry, nutmeg and spicy vanilla show on the nose of this blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 25% Sangiovese and 25% Merlot, which winemaker Angela Soleno ages in bottle before releasing. The palate is framed by sticky tannins and offers dried black currant, black and green olive, clove and sarsaparilla flavors.	Kindred Spirit	91	85	California	Central Coast	Central Coast	Red Blend	Turiya	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Turiya 2012 Kindred Spirit Red (Central Coast)
US	From a boutique producer, this offers a soft, floral bouquet reminiscent of rose petals and face powder. That delicate entry belies a wine with grip and tannin, as well as some spicy, herbal toughness.	null	87	16	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Terrapin Cellars	null	null	null
US	This is a lush and fragrant wine, instantly appealing with aromas of orange blossom and sweet pear. Quite dry and concentrated, it brings further flavors of citrus, grapefruit and lemon rind as it plays out in a lingering, refreshing finish.	null	92	21	Oregon	Willamette Valley	null	Pinot Gris	WillaKenzie Estate	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	WillaKenzie Estate 2013 Pinot Gris
US	One of the champions of the old Mission grape varietal, this winery continues to make strides in showcasing its potential in modern winemaking, This blend of 75% Mission, 15% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 4% Zinfandel and 1% Cinsault shows classic watermelon and bubblegum aromas on the nose, leading into a well-balanced palate of strawberry fruit, lime tang and a chalky minerality.	Willow Creek Farm Rose of	90	16	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Mission	Proulx	null	null	null
Chile	Orangey aromas wrapped in not very subtle oak open this light-to-medium weight wine. Simple and a bit one-dimensional, it offers light pear flavors and a dry finish. Acceptable as an easy quaff, but not the stuff worthy of reserve designation.	Reserve	83	14	Maipo Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Santa Ema	null	null	null
US	A return to elegance, this aromatic, inviting wine suggests ripe fruit dusted with cocoa powder. Raspberries pack a juicy wallop, balanced against hints of clean earth and ripe tannins.	Shea Vineyard	91	60	Oregon	Willamette Valley	null	Pinot Noir	Ken Wright	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Ken Wright 2011 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
Italy	Red berry, rose and clove are some of the aromas you'll find on this bright, supple red. The smooth palate offers juicy black cherry, crushed strawberry and white pepper alongside fresh acidity. A mineral vein underscores the savory flavors and energizes the finish. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon. Drink through 2018.	null	90	22	Sicily & Sardinia	Vittoria	null	Frappato	Planeta	null	null	null
US	Boushey vineyard grapes deliver a well-integrated flavor set that runs the gamut from currant and fig and plum to earth, black tea, coffee, toast and tobacco. The wine was aged for 28 months in “mostly” neutral oak, but there is some influence from the barrels also.	null	91	30	Washington	Washington	Washington Other	Syrah	Red Sky	null	null	null
US	Give this wine until 2020 in the cellar to let all the parts begin to come together. Tasted in March, it's all about tannins, unintegrated oak and fresh, ripe raspberry jam fruit. There's a good wine in there somewhere but it's hiding right now.	null	88	40	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Bruliam	null	null	Bruliam 2012 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
US	Vibrant aromas of spice, cranberry and plum lead into a vivid, juicy, youthful wine with plenty of tangy fruit. The acids are way out in front, but the fruit has a zip to it, and there is little or no suggestion of new wood to get in the way.	null	87	15	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Kudos	null	null	null
Germany	Steely and smoky, this luscious, full-bodied wine has a gorgeous mineral tone. The palate is dry, yet decadently fruity and floral, with loads of dainty blossoms and yellow cherries. A rich, nuanced, impeccably balanced wine.	Nierstein Pettenthal GG Trocken	92	55	Rheinhessen	null	null	Riesling	Kühling-Gillot	null	null	null
US	Spicy and dry, this Zin offers flavors of currants, tobacco, pepper and cocoa. The tannins are thick, but acidity is low, giving it a soft mouthfeel. Could be more concentrated, but it's an elegant wine.	Mustang Springs	87	36	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Zinfandel	Peachy Canyon	null	null	null
US	Very ripe and deliciously forward in cherries, cola, bacon, anise and sweet smoky sandalwood, with silky tannins. The acidity is a bit low, giving the wine a softness that limits ageability. Now–2011.	null	88	44	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Freeman	null	null	Freeman 2007 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
US	An appealing wine showing likeable softness and flashy flavors. The palate brings cassis, mocha, licorice, sweet tobacco, sage, Asian spice and smoky oak; finishes long and rich. Notable for its superb structure.	null	91	27	California	Knights Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Beringer	null	null	null
US	From the estate vineyard, this pure Cabernet Sauvignon offers complex aromas of cassis and truffle, mint and toffee. Thick tannins wrap around dense, dark fruits. Muscular and textural, this is a wine that seemingly could age for decades.	Gunselman Bench Vineyard	92	35	Washington	Horse Heaven Hills	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Robert Karl	null	null	null
France	89-91 Barrel sample. Attractive lemon marmalade aromas already make this wine appealing. The palate, too, shows charm and elegance, with just a touch of new wood complexity. A complete wine, which seems to be coming together already.	Barrel sample	90	null	Bordeaux	Barsac	null	Bordeaux-style White Blend	Château Caillou	null	null	null
South Africa	Gooseberry, citrus and green pepper lead on this full-bodied white from Morgenhof. On the palate, round flavors of gooseberry and lemon are lifted by a crisp acidity, though the wine is generally bigger than it is fresh. A serious Sauvignon Blanc that can be sipped alone or with spicy cuisine, seafood.	Estate	89	19	Simonsberg-Stellenbosch	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Morgenhof	null	null	null
Italy	The wine's name: Grigio Mascalzone (loosely translated as “troublemaker”) pays homage to some of the difficulties winemakers may encounter when making Pinot Grigio. This copper-tinged wine boasts applesauce and cinnamon aromas, a spicy elegance and a tart mouthfeel. Imported by Superior Wines LLC.	Grigio Mascalzone	87	16	Northeastern Italy	Friuli Isonzo	null	Pinot Grigio	Lorenzon	null	null	null
Chile	Dense and dark smelling, with coconut, tobacco, perfumed berry fruit and leather aromas. Feels powerful and layered, with tough tannins and a rugged overall mouthfeel. Flavors of dark berry, toast, herb and spice are rewarding, while the finish is herbal and chocolaty.	Reserva de Familia	89	20	Rapel Valley	null	null	Carmenère	Santa Carolina	null	null	null
Italy	Refermenting in the bottle adds nice depth to the Bartlett pear, Granny Smith apple and nectarine zest flavors. A soft mousse adds elegance while crisp acidity gives it a clean, refreshing finish.	Sei Uno	89	24	Veneto	Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore	null	Glera	Bellenda	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Bellenda NV Sei Uno (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore)
Spain	Darker and a touch more stewy than the winery's less pricey old-vines effort. Airing loosens it up, but throughout it's a big, stewy wine with extracted blackberry and coffee cake flavors. The finish is equally on the rich side, with swirling toffee and coffee afternotes. It's a big wine with heft but also some chunkiness.	Masia Carreras	88	37	Northern Spain	Emporadà-Costa Brava	null	Red Blend	Cellar Marti Fabra Carreras	null	null	null
US	Pretty and pale, this wine is already showing some sunset shades around the rim, and drinking like a wine with more than just a couple of years under its belt. That works in its favor, as it offers cherry-pie fruit, cut tobacco, some minerality and a chocolate/coffee kiss in the finish.	Love Puppets	88	30	Oregon	Umpqua Valley	Southern Oregon	Pinot Noir	Brandborg	null	null	null
France	This wine is tangy and zesty, with a strong mineral texture that partners with the perfumed acidity, lively fruitiness and citrus flavors. It is likely to age well because of its tight texture. Drink from 2020.	null	89	50	Burgundy	Savigny-lès-Beaune	null	Chardonnay	Bouchard Aîné et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Bouchard Aîné et Fils 2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune
France	This organically grown wine celebrates lavender, used for perfumes and other famous products from Provence. Soft and gently fruity with attractive strawberry flavors plus a touch of spice, the wine is immediately drinkable as an apéritif.	Lavandelle	85	13	Provence	Côtes de Provence	null	Rosé	Domaines Pierre Chavin	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaines Pierre Chavin 2015 Lavandelle Rosé (Côtes de Provence)
Italy	What a wonderful wine to pair with spaghetti alle vongole or calamari fritti. Made from Grechetto grapes and aged only in stainless steel, this is fresh, youthful, tangy and crisp, with aromas of citrus, kiwi, honeydew and peach.	Grecante	88	20	Central Italy	Colli Martani	null	Grechetto	Arnaldo Caprai	null	null	null
France	Berry and bramble mingle with touches of cocoa and tree bark on the nose. The palate shows more bright fruit flavors supported by garrigue herbs and peppery spice. Forward and approachable but tasty and easy to drink.	Blason d'Aussières	86	20	Languedoc-Roussillon	Corbières	null	Rhône-style Red Blend	Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)	null	null	null
Italy	Delicate, attractive aromas of chamomile, pear and brimstone lead the nose on this graceful wine. The linear palate delivers green apple, juicy pear, savory herb and mineral alongside fresh acidity. It's linear, vertical and elegant. Hold for complexity. Drink 2015–2020.	Bianco	92	20	Sicily & Sardinia	Etna	null	White Blend	Tenuta delle Terre Nere	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2013 Bianco (Etna)
Italy	Costa Grimaldi tastes fruity and tart and offers mature notes of raspberry and strawberry over subtle shadings of spice, licorice and root beer. It's definitely a riper expression of Barolo and therefore not as layered or complex as other wines from this vintage. That said, it's a fine wine with super-firm tannins and bright cherry flavors.	Costa Grimaldi	88	105	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Poderi Luigi Einaudi	null	null	Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2004 Costa Grimaldi (Barolo)
US	Here's a nice dessert sipper that's perfect for nights on the patio, with some fresh fruit or a simple butter cookie. It's sweet and clean in acids, with savory Asian pear, tangerine, vanilla and cinnamon flavors. With only 11.5% alcohol, it won't go to your head.	null	86	9	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Muscat Canelli	Castoro Cellars	null	null	Castoro Cellars 2006 Muscat Canelli (Paso Robles)
Argentina	Cola, black cherry and lemony grit mark the bouquet, which is backed by acid-driven, lightly lemony flavors of cherry and raspberry. There's isn't a ton of volume, depth or follow-through to this wine; it is what it is: fresh, tangy and straightforward.	Premium	86	13	Mendoza Province	Luján de Cuyo	null	Malbec	Sur de los Andes	null	null	null
US	Another stunning Sangiovese from La Folia, it's fruity and soft. A smooth, velvety juiciness lingers through the midpalate and into the finish. Balanced in richness and texture, this is a beautiful fulfillment of what many have hoped for years could be possible with the grape in California.	null	92	32	California	Sierra Foothills	Sierra Foothills	Sangiovese	La Folia Winery	Virginie Boone	@vboone	La Folia Winery 2011 Sangiovese (Sierra Foothills)
US	Black and red cherry, pepper and fennel on the nose and palate recommend this rich Meritage. A full mouthfeel is punctuated by lively spice. A touch rustic but paired with meats and heartier dishes, a good go-to red.	null	85	28	New York	New York	New York Other	Meritage	Freedom Run	null	null	null
Italy	This ripe Taurasi opens with aromas of nail varnish, overripe black fruit and hints of tar and tire rubber. The dense, extracted palate is loaded with mature black plum, stewed prunes marinated in spirits, chocolate and balsamic notes. It has bracing tannins but is shy on freshness.	Nero Né	87	49	Southern Italy	Taurasi	null	Aglianico	Il Cancelliere	null	null	null
Italy	Made with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Syrah and 15% Merlot, this opens with aromas of black currant, freshly cut grass and a whiff of thyme. The easygoing palates doles out juicy black cherry, clove and a hint of smoke set against smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.	Message in a Bottle	88	20	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Il Palagio	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Il Palagio 2013 Message in a Bottle Red (Toscana)
Italy	Made from a blend of various aromatic grapes, this smooth dessert wine delivers dry apricot, candied tangerine, hazelnut and Mediterranean herb flavors. It has a lingering, polished finish.	Hekate	89	30	Sicily & Sardinia	Terre Siciliane	null	White Blend	Feudo Arancio	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Feudo Arancio 2010 Hekate White (Terre Siciliane)
France	One of a pair of wines from Palayson blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This, with its 80% Syrah and 20% Cabernet, is perfumed and spicy. With great violet aromas and firm spice and tannin, it does show power and alcohol. At the same time, it has the potential to round out into a smooth and full-bodied wine. Drink from 2017.	Grande Cuvée	89	40	Provence	Var	null	Cabernet-Syrah	Château de Palayson	null	null	null
France	There is already a fine balance between the ripe yellow fruits and juicy acidity. Together with the toast from wood aging, they make a rich, well textured wine that has excellent potential. Drink this finely structured wine from 2016.	Les Birbettes	91	49	Burgundy	Pouilly-Fuissé	null	Chardonnay	Château des Rontets	null	null	null
US	Comprised of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot, this is a juicy, savory and lengthy wine, with herbaceous elements of cedar, brush and peppercorn. A lush, full-bodied complement of baked plum and cherry ride out a lengthy finish.	Reserve Series Alcaeus Berger Vineyard	90	75	California	Sonoma Mountain	Sonoma	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Ancient Oak Cellars	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Ancient Oak Cellars 2012 Reserve Series Alcaeus Berger Vineyard Red (Sonoma Mountain)
US	Aromas of toasted marshmallow, lemon juice and papaya swarm the nose. The semisweet palate tastes floral and tropical, and it manages to keep its form with bright acidity. A touch of kiwi marks the finish.	Semi-Sweet	85	10	Missouri	Missouri	null	Vignoles	Mount Pleasant Winery	null	null	Mount Pleasant Winery NV Semi-Sweet Vignoles (Missouri)
US	An almost buttery aroma and attractive peach, apricot and honey flavors give this dry, light-bodied wine a lot of personality. Nicely balanced, and smooth on the palate, it keeps unfolding more flavor nuances as it breathes.	The Shell Mound	90	29	California	Marin County	North Coast	Riesling	Pey-Marin	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Pey-Marin 2015 The Shell Mound Riesling (Marin County)
US	The grapes come mainly from the Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard, which is a great one, source to many top-scoring Chardonnays over the years. The wine is brisk, tart and clean, with rich, dramatic flavors of pineapple, lime, honeysuckle and buttered toast. Really elegant and wonderful, and should blossom through early 2012.	Cuvée Diana	94	36	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Longoria	null	null	null
US	The first Ross Andrew vintage for this Old Block (original planting) Boushey Syrah, it clearly displays the vineyard's defining characteristics—a powerful mix of herb, funk, game and brambly berry fruit flavors. Depth, density, complexity and nicely layered highlights make this a wine that never quits on you. It tastes like old vine fruit should—subtle, supple and balanced.	Old Block Boushey Vineyard	94	65	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Syrah	Ross Andrew	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Ross Andrew 2009 Old Block Boushey Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
Spain	Gritty plum and currant aromas are basic but fresh. Ditto the palate, which shows acidic scratch but not too much. Prickly lightly oaked cherry and plum flavors end with scratchy freshness, lean tannins and lasting berry notes.	Viña Borgia	87	9	Northern Spain	Campo de Borja	null	Garnacha	Borsao	null	null	null
Austria	Smooth and rich, with ripe, spiced peach as well as a mineral edge. The acidity tightens the generous texture of this powerful wine, leaving the concentration deliciously fresh.	Alte Setzen Reserve	91	34	Traisental	null	null	Grüner Veltliner	Markus Huber	null	null	null
Italy	The Fuligni family makes very nice wines and this light Sangiovese is no exception. The wine is bright and crisp with a full and generous quality to its fresh berry tones. It would pair with pasta or grilled meat.	Ginestreto	87	36	Tuscany	Rosso di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Fuligni	null	null	null
Chile	As the production on this wine climbs (it's up to 35,000 cases now), the final product becomes more generic. An opening of bold berry fruit comes with a pounding mix of oaky vanilla and milk chocolate, while the palate has acidity for zest but also a lot of creamy oak. Very oaky on the finish, leaving a lasting impression that's more about resin and vanilla than fruit or individuality.	Marques de Casa Concha	85	21	Peumo	null	null	Merlot	Concha y Toro	null	null	null
Portugal	Rich and ripe, with soft tannins and black plum flavors. It is round, while still having a core of attractive tannins. The fruit dominates, giving a friendly, accessible wine.	Premium	86	14	Alentejo	null	null	Portuguese Red	Alente	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Alente 2007 Premium Red (Alentejo)
Germany	With a nose that's quite neutral, the sun-kissed, fruity flair of this dry Riesling surprises. It's a juicy, straightforward wine but briskly, elegantly composed as well. Drink now.	3 Stones Niederhäuser Dry	88	21	Nahe	null	null	Riesling	Mathern	null	null	null
US	A sturdy wine, with a bouquet of dark cherry, cola, toast, and a touch of barnyard. The initial flavors are sweet dried cherry, then turn toward more complex leather, sour plum and toast. Tobacco, and a reprise of the early barnyard note, play on the finish with nice back end aromatics	null	88	16	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Pinot Noir	Charles Krug	null	null	null
Italy	Aged for one year in American oak, this blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offers a perfumed quality that resembles Christmas spice and violet. It shows concentration and heft, and it boasts berry and cherry flavors on the finish.	Le Lodole	87	20	Tuscany	Rosso di Toscana	null	Red Blend	Bellini	null	null	Bellini 2009 Le Lodole Red (Rosso di Toscana)

Chile

This blend is green and herbal up front. Following the nose, the palate is solid and chewy, but raw. Flavors of berry, olive and mixed spices are herbal, minty and green, while finishing notes of herbs, chocolate and heat fit the bill. This is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Carmenère and Merlot.

Grand Reserve

85

18

Maule Valley

null

Red Blend

Balduzzi

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Balduzzi 2012 Grand Reserve Red (Maule Valley)

US

One of the best Californian Pinot Gris currently available, this is rich, creamy and complex, and it would make for a great alternative to Chardonnay. This wine traditionally ages in used oak, which imparts just a hint of wood-driven sweetness to the pear, peach, mango and lime flavors.

Trenton Station Vineyard

90

22

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Gris

Joseph Swan Vineyards

null

Joseph Swan Vineyards 2010 Trenton Station Vineyard Pinot Gris (Russian River Valley)

Italy

With no dosage, this 100% Turbiana opens with aromas of walnut and medicinal herb. The lively palate offers citrus zest, apple skin, bitter almond and a light note that recalls adhesive bandages, all set against a backdrop of large, steely bubbles.

Brut Nature Millesimato

85

null

Lombardy

Lugana

null

Turbiana

Perla del Garda

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Perla del Garda 2010 Brut Nature Millesimato (Lugana)

France

A rich wine, bone dry, its red currant fruits cutting through the creamy mousse. It's a serious rosé, with some tannins, spice, very textured and worth aging for a few months in bottle to bring out its incipient toastiness.

Rosé Brut Extra

90

null

Loire Valley

Crémant de Loire

null

Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon

Domaine des Baumard

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine des Baumard NV Rosé Brut Extra Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon (Crémant de Loire)

US

This is a soft, hot Merlot. It has ripe flavors of cherries, red currants, red licorice, cocoa and pepper, and finishes dry.

null

85

28

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Merlot

Pomar Junction

null

Pomar Junction 2007 Merlot (Paso Robles)

US

Earns a high score for sheer richness and decadance. Huge in blackberry, blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate, bacon, pepper and oak flavors, wrapped into big, velvety tannins. Impresses for its size, but is totally dry, and retains balance and elegance. Now–2015.

null

92

25

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Syrah

Falcone

null

Falcone 2008 Syrah (Paso Robles)

Spain

Ripe raisin and black-fruit aromas come with a licorice sidenote. This feels tight and pure but not demanding, with proper balance. Plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors give way to a spongy fruit-driven finish.

null

90

16

Galicia

Ribeira Sacra

null

Mencía

Regina Viarum

null

US

Far and away the best of the newly released single vineyard red wines from Mercer Estates, this tightly wound Petit Verdot sports firm plum and cassis fruit, wreathed in smoky earth, black tea, licorice and dark chocolate. Delicious now, or cellar it for a few extra years.

Spice Cabinet Vineyard

91

33

Washington

Horse Heaven Hills

Columbia Valley

Petit Verdot

Mercer

null

France

90-92 Barrel sample. The slight stalky character of this wine is part of a style that works. The ripeness is a streak through the tannins, with acidity giving an already delicious lift of freshness.

Barrel sample

91

null

Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

null

France

Powerful and concentrated, this has flavors of black plum skin and damson, with a juicy layer surrounding the solid structure. Weighty and dense, it could age for several more years.

null

90

null

Southwest France

Cahors

null

Malbec

Château d'Ourbenac

null

Italy

This is one of those delicious amber-colored desserts wines that will put a smile on your face. The nose is richly redolent of dried apricot, honey, bee's wax, yellow rose and toasted almond. The mouthfeel is satin-like with cheerful sweetness and bright acidity.

Domus Aurea Passito

91

35

Central Italy

Albana di Romagna

null

Albana

Stefano Ferrucci

null

Stefano Ferrucci 2006 Domus Aurea Passito (Albana di Romagna)

Germany

Here's a good value in the world of Spätlese, with a clean, pretty nose of talcum powder and baby's breath. There's nice mineral intensity and an off-dry, mouth-puckering finish. This easy-to-like wine would be a good choice to serve as an apéritif to a crowd.

Oppenheimer Sackträger Spätlese

88

18

Rheinhessen

null

Riesling

Dr. Heyden

null

Spain

Pithy, heavy and chunky, with waxy fruit mixed with oak. The wine has a pretty good mouthfeel and balance, but it just doesn't do much in terms of aromatics or in the flavor category. Decent for a barrel fermented Viura but nothing to write home about.

Barrel Fermented White

84

12

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

White Blend

Marqués de Cáceres

null

US

Some pruny overripeness shows up in this Syrah, while masses of sweetly charred oak give a candied taste. Although the wine is technically dry, it's a bit clumsy. Give it a good decant and drink now.

null

85

50

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Syrah

Arns

null

Arns 2006 Syrah (Napa Valley)

US

Starts with a leathery, sweaty saddle note in the aroma, then turns dry and tannic in the mouth. Not offering much in the way of fruit now.

Cerise

83

24

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Rhône-style Red Blend

Anglim

null

Italy

Chianti Rufina Fattoria di Vetrice opens with easy spice and raspberry aromas with distant notes of blue flower and earth. It's a thin, fresh and approachable wine overall.

Fattoria di Vetrice

86

null

Tuscany

Chianti Rufina

null

Sangiovese

Grati

null

Chile

Hailing from a vineyard planted 900 meters above sea level, this Syrah-led blend is black as night, gaseous on the nose and loaded with heavy, ripe berry flavors. It's rich, chewy, dense and delivers a truck load's worth of blackberry, boysenberry, prune and chocolate on top of a rugged, brawny, saturated foundation.

LFE900 Single Vineyard

89

35

Colchagua Valley

null

Red Blend

Luis Felipe Edwards

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Luis Felipe Edwards 2010 LFE900 Single Vineyard Red (Colchagua Valley)

France

This wine is lean, austere with high acidity that leaves fruit well behind. It is structured and dry, only hinting at black-currant freshness. This third-generation family estate also hosts monthly musical and tasting events and sells fruit, vegetables and honey.

null

84

32

Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Bardins

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Bardins 2013 Pessac-Léognan

US

This wine is solidly built with tannin and oak, a searing earthiness dulling the fruit. Tar, earth and spicy cardamom aromas domainate its full-bodied concentration and youthful ripeness.

Gap's Crown Vineyard

85

65

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Armida

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Armida 2014 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

US

Peachy has long produced an Old School House Zin, but this is the first OSH Cab I know of. Like the Zin, it's a warming, rustic, friendly wine, awash in blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee and sweet oregano flavors, bone dry and finely tannic.

Old School House

87

25

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Peachy Canyon

null

US

Most of this wine hails from Force Majeure Vineyard, with Olsen in the Yakima Valley filling it out. Aromas of crushed granite, blackberry, wood spice and herbs are followed by vibrant red and black-fruit flavors that display depth and finesse. The finish carries.

Wild Eyed

93

48

Washington

Red Mountain

Columbia Valley

Syrah

Mark Ryan

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Mark Ryan 2013 Wild Eyed Syrah (Red Mountain)

Italy

Made with Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino, this opens with subdued, earthy aromas of leafy underbrush, tilled soil, berry and a hint of clove. The palate offers juicy wild cherry, raspberry, nutmeg and white pepper alongside mature and rather fleeting tannins. Drink through 2016.

null

87

20

Central Italy

Montefalco Rosso

null

Red Blend

Villa Mora

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Villa Mora 2010 Montefalco Rosso

Portugal

While not a declared vintage Port year, it did produce some impressive old tawnies, like this. It is such a balanced wine, fresh with ripe marmalade, raisin and old wood flavors. It has a wonderful milk chocolate aftertaste that is contrasted with its still-fresh acidity. Drink now.

Colheita Tawny

95

74

Port

null

Port

Kopke

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Kopke 1984 Colheita Tawny (Port)

US

Shows much in common with past vintages of this bottling. It's dry, tart in acidity and somewhat earthy, with a nice balance of cherries, herbs and cedar. Feels complex and distinguished, in a dry, elegant style.

de Villiers

90

35

California

Mt. Harlan

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Calera

null

Italy

A rich and golden-colored Frascati Superiore with intense aromas of orange zest, ginger, graham cracker and butterscotch. There are oxidized notes here but the wine is rich and succulent in the mouth.

Saula Carta Nera

85

15

Central Italy

Frascati Superiore

null

White Blend

Tenuta di Pietra Porzia

null

US

The tawny rim of this ruby-red Cabernet Sauvignon hints towards signs of early evolution. It's maturity is more evident on the palate with somewhat demure flavors of dark cherry, cedar and herb accented by touches of autumn leaf, soil and mushroom. Drink up now.

null

84

25

New York

Finger Lakes

Cabernet Sauvignon

Standing Stone

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Standing Stone 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes)

Italy

This is a crisp expression of Nebbiolo that is finessed and elegant. It opens with dusty aromas of dried currant, crushed stone and black pepper. The tannins are solid and polished; it needs at least 10 more years of cellar aging.

Pajoré

90

58

Piedmont

Barbaresco

null

Nebbiolo

Rizzi

null

Rizzi 2009 Pajoré (Barbaresco)

Italy

The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by the decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an apéritif or with dessert.

null

90

10

Piedmont

Moscato d'Asti

null

Moscato

Bartenura

null

Argentina

Green smelling. Feels thick, grabby and stewed, with herbal, saucy flavors of tomato and red berry. That same sauciness defines the herbal finish.

null

82

11

Mendoza Province

Tupungato

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Andeluna

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Andeluna 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Tupungato)

US

Quite a beautiful Cabernet, showing Oakville character of black currants and cedar and profoundly fine tannins, as well as a great depth of flavor and ageworthiness. Made from 100% Cabernet, it's lush and dramatic now, and should easily develop over the next 6–10 years.

null

94

55

California

Oakville

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Ghost Block

null

Spain

Warm, baked aromas smell of clay and raisin, and later a wave of minty green enters the picture. The palate is sort of lean, with some holes in the fabric, while flavors of wild berry and black fruits fold in a heavier note of molasses. Limited in its virtues; short in complexity.

null

85

25

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tinta Fina

Conde de San Cristóbal

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Conde de San Cristóbal 2006 Ribera del Duero

France

Lightly off dry, this rich, smooth wine has acidity to balance the honey and ripe pineapple flavors. With some aging, it will show a delicious, ripe balance of fruit and creamy texture, with some zest to add liveliness. Drink from 2017.

Demi-Sec

90

15

Loire Valley

Vouvray

null

Chenin Blanc

Domaine de la Gaverie

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine de la Gaverie 2014 Demi-Sec (Vouvray)

US

Not much going on. Clean and dry, with watery flavors of apples and oak.

Indindoli Vineyard

83

28

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Waugh Cellars

null

Portugal

This crisp, lightly spicy wine has attractive red fruit. It's refreshing yet still full and fruity. It's bright and touched by almond and rose hip flavors.

null

87

15

Alentejano

null

Rosé

Terra d'Alter

null

US

Light fresh aromas and flavors along with decent balance make this wine a versatile drink. The flavors are faint but clean, so it makes a good palate cleanser and should work well for a crowd.

Founders' Estate

86

10

California

California Other

Pinot Grigio

Beringer

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Beringer 2016 Founders' Estate Pinot Grigio (California)

Chile

Vegetal white fruits and briny, pickled notes drive the nose. Flavors of pickled citrus convey little body or character.

Reserva

81

13

Casablanca Valley

null

Chardonnay

Santa Rita

null

US

This is quite a nice find: an excellent wine from a rare Spanish grape variety. The aromas are fascinating, like ripe black cherry and red roses. The flavors are fresh, concentrated, grapy and jammy, but the wine stays dry and well balanced. Already six years old, it's not at all tired-tasting.

null

90

36

California

Calaveras County

Sierra Foothills

Graciano

Metate Hill Vineyards

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Metate Hill Vineyards 2009 Graciano (Calaveras County)

US

This is the driest, most elegant and balanced of Ottomino's new single-vineyard Zinfandels. It has a Cabernet-like structure, although the wild blackberry, mulberry, plum and exotic spice flavors are all Zin, as are the dense, sandpapery tannins. Good now with upscale rich beef and cheese dishes, and should develop gradually in the bottle for many years.

Von Weidlich Vineyard

92

36

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Ottimino Vineyards

null

New Zealand

This medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc features some nice lime and grapefruit flavors, but it turns tart, chalky and almost metallic on the finish. It's certainly zesty, but it clangs off the rim instead of swooshing straight on through.

null

84

20

Martinborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Martinborough Vineyard

null

Portugal

Fruity, lacking the power of some vintages of Vargellas, but more than making up with richness, sweetness and delicious violet perfumes. There is some cranberry jelly flavor, an edge of dryness and firmness in the fruit, but it's more about ripeness.

Quinta de Vargellas Vintage

90

54

Port

null

Port

Taylor Fladgate

null

Italy

A bizarre blend of lime, unipe pineapple, banana and tropical fruit marks this clumsy, disjointed wine. It's not bad, but it's all elbows, with hard edges sticking out all over.

null

82

9

Veneto

null

Pinot Grigio

San Giuseppe

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

San Giuseppe 2001 Pinot Grigio (Veneto)

Argentina

Smells good, with berry- dominated aromas. The palate is solid but acidic at the core, with sharpness on the palate that creates a juicy, crisp set of raspberry and plum flavors. Flattens out on the finish, where moderate oak-based butter notes rise up.

Seleccionada

86

18

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Bonarda

Alma del Sur

null

Italy

Made with 60% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with subdued aromas suggesting black-skinned fruit and cooking spice. The lean, simple palate offers suggestions of plum and a hint of clove alongside easygoing tannins. Drink soon.

null

85

11

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Querceto

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Querceto 2014 Red (Toscana)

Italy

Aromas of pressed acacia flower, nut and smoke lead the nose. The lively, lean palate doles out unripe Bartlett pear, yellow apple skin and a flinty mineral note alongside zesty acidity.

Ottant'anni

85

22

Southern Italy

Irpinia

null

Coda di Volpe

Agricola Bellaria

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Agricola Bellaria 2014 Ottant'anni Coda di Volpe (Irpinia)

US

Made from three vineyards within the appellation, this displays exemplary blending. Slightly reductive now, in its youth, it effortlessly melds together dark blackberry, strawberry and chocolate flavors, with a surly shock of pine forest-like earthiness. Decadent and velvety.

null

94

60

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Della

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Della 2015 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

US

Unripe and green, with acidic gooseberry, menthol and green peppercorn aromas and flavors.

null

82

16

California

Monterey County

Central Coast

Sauvignon Blanc

Bernardus

null

Bernardus 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Monterey County)

Italy

Here is a different take on Negroamaro with green, almost unripe, notes that merge with sweeter tones of forest berry, smoke and coffee. Sour cherry flavors appear on the finish.

Capoposto

85

22

Southern Italy

Puglia

null

Negroamaro

Alberto Longo

null

France

A perfumed wine, it has structured black fruits and a solid texture. It is rich, showing complexity through its tannins along with acidity and fruitiness. Still surprisingly young to taste, it should not be drunk until 2015.

Réserve Louis Leyre-Loup

91

null

Beaujolais

Morgon

null

Gamay

Domaine de Leyre-Loup

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine de Leyre-Loup 2011 Réserve Louis Leyre-Loup (Morgon)

France

The late Claude Lafond was the driving force behind the renaissance of Reuilly. His wines, such as this with its balance between crisp herbal flavors and ripe, almost tropical fruit, bring out the richness of the appellation. This wine, with its final minerality, is ready to drink.

Clos Fussay Tête de Cuvée

91

16

Loire Valley

Reuilly

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Claude Lafond

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Claude Lafond 2014 Clos Fussay Tête de Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc (Reuilly)

France

88-90 Barrel sample. Good, with dense tannins, a powerful wine that shows a rich structure. It has obvious acidity, but that fits into a fresh profile.

Barrel sample

89

null

Bordeaux

Graves

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château de Chantegrive

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château de Chantegrive 2008 Barrel sample (Graves)

US

Cola, black cherry, nutmeg and spicy vanilla show on the nose of this blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 25% Sangiovese and 25% Merlot, which winemaker Angela Soleno ages in bottle before releasing. The palate is framed by sticky tannins and offers dried black currant, black and green olive, clove and sarsaparilla flavors.

Kindred Spirit

91

85

California

Central Coast

Red Blend

Turiya

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Turiya 2012 Kindred Spirit Red (Central Coast)

US

From a boutique producer, this offers a soft, floral bouquet reminiscent of rose petals and face powder. That delicate entry belies a wine with grip and tannin, as well as some spicy, herbal toughness.

null

87

16

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Terrapin Cellars

null

US

This is a lush and fragrant wine, instantly appealing with aromas of orange blossom and sweet pear. Quite dry and concentrated, it brings further flavors of citrus, grapefruit and lemon rind as it plays out in a lingering, refreshing finish.

null

92

21

Oregon

Willamette Valley

null

Pinot Gris

WillaKenzie Estate

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

WillaKenzie Estate 2013 Pinot Gris

US

One of the champions of the old Mission grape varietal, this winery continues to make strides in showcasing its potential in modern winemaking, This blend of 75% Mission, 15% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 4% Zinfandel and 1% Cinsault shows classic watermelon and bubblegum aromas on the nose, leading into a well-balanced palate of strawberry fruit, lime tang and a chalky minerality.

Willow Creek Farm Rose of

90

16

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Mission

Proulx

null

Chile

Orangey aromas wrapped in not very subtle oak open this light-to-medium weight wine. Simple and a bit one-dimensional, it offers light pear flavors and a dry finish. Acceptable as an easy quaff, but not the stuff worthy of reserve designation.

Reserve

83

14

Maipo Valley

null

Chardonnay

Santa Ema

null

US

A return to elegance, this aromatic, inviting wine suggests ripe fruit dusted with cocoa powder. Raspberries pack a juicy wallop, balanced against hints of clean earth and ripe tannins.

Shea Vineyard

91

60

Oregon

Willamette Valley

null

Pinot Noir

Ken Wright

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Ken Wright 2011 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir

Italy

Red berry, rose and clove are some of the aromas you'll find on this bright, supple red. The smooth palate offers juicy black cherry, crushed strawberry and white pepper alongside fresh acidity. A mineral vein underscores the savory flavors and energizes the finish. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon. Drink through 2018.

null

90

22

Sicily & Sardinia

Vittoria

null

Frappato

Planeta

null

US

Boushey vineyard grapes deliver a well-integrated flavor set that runs the gamut from currant and fig and plum to earth, black tea, coffee, toast and tobacco. The wine was aged for 28 months in “mostly” neutral oak, but there is some influence from the barrels also.

null

91

30

Washington

Washington Other

Syrah

Red Sky

null

US

Give this wine until 2020 in the cellar to let all the parts begin to come together. Tasted in March, it's all about tannins, unintegrated oak and fresh, ripe raspberry jam fruit. There's a good wine in there somewhere but it's hiding right now.

null

88

40

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Bruliam

null

Bruliam 2012 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

US

Vibrant aromas of spice, cranberry and plum lead into a vivid, juicy, youthful wine with plenty of tangy fruit. The acids are way out in front, but the fruit has a zip to it, and there is little or no suggestion of new wood to get in the way.

null

87

15

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Kudos

null

Germany

Steely and smoky, this luscious, full-bodied wine has a gorgeous mineral tone. The palate is dry, yet decadently fruity and floral, with loads of dainty blossoms and yellow cherries. A rich, nuanced, impeccably balanced wine.

Nierstein Pettenthal GG Trocken

92

55

Rheinhessen

null

Riesling

Kühling-Gillot

null

US

Spicy and dry, this Zin offers flavors of currants, tobacco, pepper and cocoa. The tannins are thick, but acidity is low, giving it a soft mouthfeel. Could be more concentrated, but it's an elegant wine.

Mustang Springs

87

36

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Zinfandel

Peachy Canyon

null

US

Very ripe and deliciously forward in cherries, cola, bacon, anise and sweet smoky sandalwood, with silky tannins. The acidity is a bit low, giving the wine a softness that limits ageability. Now–2011.

null

88

44

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Freeman

null

Freeman 2007 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

US

An appealing wine showing likeable softness and flashy flavors. The palate brings cassis, mocha, licorice, sweet tobacco, sage, Asian spice and smoky oak; finishes long and rich. Notable for its superb structure.

null

91

27

California

Knights Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Beringer

null

US

From the estate vineyard, this pure Cabernet Sauvignon offers complex aromas of cassis and truffle, mint and toffee. Thick tannins wrap around dense, dark fruits. Muscular and textural, this is a wine that seemingly could age for decades.

Gunselman Bench Vineyard

92

35

Washington

Horse Heaven Hills

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Robert Karl

null

France

89-91 Barrel sample. Attractive lemon marmalade aromas already make this wine appealing. The palate, too, shows charm and elegance, with just a touch of new wood complexity. A complete wine, which seems to be coming together already.

Barrel sample

90

null

Bordeaux

Barsac

null

Bordeaux-style White Blend

Château Caillou

null

South Africa

Gooseberry, citrus and green pepper lead on this full-bodied white from Morgenhof. On the palate, round flavors of gooseberry and lemon are lifted by a crisp acidity, though the wine is generally bigger than it is fresh. A serious Sauvignon Blanc that can be sipped alone or with spicy cuisine, seafood.

Estate

89

19

Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Morgenhof

null

Italy

The wine's name: Grigio Mascalzone (loosely translated as “troublemaker”) pays homage to some of the difficulties winemakers may encounter when making Pinot Grigio. This copper-tinged wine boasts applesauce and cinnamon aromas, a spicy elegance and a tart mouthfeel. Imported by Superior Wines LLC.

Grigio Mascalzone

87

16

Northeastern Italy

Friuli Isonzo

null

Pinot Grigio

Lorenzon

null

Chile

Dense and dark smelling, with coconut, tobacco, perfumed berry fruit and leather aromas. Feels powerful and layered, with tough tannins and a rugged overall mouthfeel. Flavors of dark berry, toast, herb and spice are rewarding, while the finish is herbal and chocolaty.

Reserva de Familia

89

20

Rapel Valley

null

Carmenère

Santa Carolina

null

Italy

Refermenting in the bottle adds nice depth to the Bartlett pear, Granny Smith apple and nectarine zest flavors. A soft mousse adds elegance while crisp acidity gives it a clean, refreshing finish.

Sei Uno

89

24

Veneto

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

null

Glera

Bellenda

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Bellenda NV Sei Uno (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore)

Spain

Darker and a touch more stewy than the winery's less pricey old-vines effort. Airing loosens it up, but throughout it's a big, stewy wine with extracted blackberry and coffee cake flavors. The finish is equally on the rich side, with swirling toffee and coffee afternotes. It's a big wine with heft but also some chunkiness.

Masia Carreras

88

37

Northern Spain

Emporadà-Costa Brava

null

Red Blend

Cellar Marti Fabra Carreras

null

US

Pretty and pale, this wine is already showing some sunset shades around the rim, and drinking like a wine with more than just a couple of years under its belt. That works in its favor, as it offers cherry-pie fruit, cut tobacco, some minerality and a chocolate/coffee kiss in the finish.

Love Puppets

88

30

Oregon

Umpqua Valley

Southern Oregon

Pinot Noir

Brandborg

null

France

This wine is tangy and zesty, with a strong mineral texture that partners with the perfumed acidity, lively fruitiness and citrus flavors. It is likely to age well because of its tight texture. Drink from 2020.

null

89

50

Burgundy

Savigny-lès-Beaune

null

Chardonnay

Bouchard Aîné et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Bouchard Aîné et Fils 2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune

France

This organically grown wine celebrates lavender, used for perfumes and other famous products from Provence. Soft and gently fruity with attractive strawberry flavors plus a touch of spice, the wine is immediately drinkable as an apéritif.

Lavandelle

85

13

Provence

Côtes de Provence

null

Rosé

Domaines Pierre Chavin

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaines Pierre Chavin 2015 Lavandelle Rosé (Côtes de Provence)

Italy

What a wonderful wine to pair with spaghetti alle vongole or calamari fritti. Made from Grechetto grapes and aged only in stainless steel, this is fresh, youthful, tangy and crisp, with aromas of citrus, kiwi, honeydew and peach.

Grecante

88

20

Central Italy

Colli Martani

null

Grechetto

Arnaldo Caprai

null

France

Berry and bramble mingle with touches of cocoa and tree bark on the nose. The palate shows more bright fruit flavors supported by garrigue herbs and peppery spice. Forward and approachable but tasty and easy to drink.

Blason d'Aussières

86

20

Languedoc-Roussillon

Corbières

null

Rhône-style Red Blend

Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)

null

Italy

Delicate, attractive aromas of chamomile, pear and brimstone lead the nose on this graceful wine. The linear palate delivers green apple, juicy pear, savory herb and mineral alongside fresh acidity. It's linear, vertical and elegant. Hold for complexity. Drink 2015–2020.

Bianco

92

20

Sicily & Sardinia

Etna

null

White Blend

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2013 Bianco (Etna)

Italy

Costa Grimaldi tastes fruity and tart and offers mature notes of raspberry and strawberry over subtle shadings of spice, licorice and root beer. It's definitely a riper expression of Barolo and therefore not as layered or complex as other wines from this vintage. That said, it's a fine wine with super-firm tannins and bright cherry flavors.

Costa Grimaldi

88

105

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Poderi Luigi Einaudi

null

Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2004 Costa Grimaldi (Barolo)

US

Here's a nice dessert sipper that's perfect for nights on the patio, with some fresh fruit or a simple butter cookie. It's sweet and clean in acids, with savory Asian pear, tangerine, vanilla and cinnamon flavors. With only 11.5% alcohol, it won't go to your head.

null

86

9

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Muscat Canelli

Castoro Cellars

null

Castoro Cellars 2006 Muscat Canelli (Paso Robles)

Argentina

Cola, black cherry and lemony grit mark the bouquet, which is backed by acid-driven, lightly lemony flavors of cherry and raspberry. There's isn't a ton of volume, depth or follow-through to this wine; it is what it is: fresh, tangy and straightforward.

Premium

86

13

Mendoza Province

Luján de Cuyo

null

Malbec

Sur de los Andes

null

US

Another stunning Sangiovese from La Folia, it's fruity and soft. A smooth, velvety juiciness lingers through the midpalate and into the finish. Balanced in richness and texture, this is a beautiful fulfillment of what many have hoped for years could be possible with the grape in California.

null

92

32

California

Sierra Foothills

Sangiovese

La Folia Winery

Virginie Boone

@vboone

La Folia Winery 2011 Sangiovese (Sierra Foothills)

US

Black and red cherry, pepper and fennel on the nose and palate recommend this rich Meritage. A full mouthfeel is punctuated by lively spice. A touch rustic but paired with meats and heartier dishes, a good go-to red.

null

85

28

New York

New York Other

Meritage

Freedom Run

null

Italy

This ripe Taurasi opens with aromas of nail varnish, overripe black fruit and hints of tar and tire rubber. The dense, extracted palate is loaded with mature black plum, stewed prunes marinated in spirits, chocolate and balsamic notes. It has bracing tannins but is shy on freshness.

Nero Né

87

49

Southern Italy

Taurasi

null

Aglianico

Il Cancelliere

null

Italy

Made with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Syrah and 15% Merlot, this opens with aromas of black currant, freshly cut grass and a whiff of thyme. The easygoing palates doles out juicy black cherry, clove and a hint of smoke set against smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.

Message in a Bottle

88

20

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Il Palagio

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Il Palagio 2013 Message in a Bottle Red (Toscana)

Italy

Made from a blend of various aromatic grapes, this smooth dessert wine delivers dry apricot, candied tangerine, hazelnut and Mediterranean herb flavors. It has a lingering, polished finish.

Hekate

89

30

Sicily & Sardinia

Terre Siciliane

null

White Blend

Feudo Arancio

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Feudo Arancio 2010 Hekate White (Terre Siciliane)

France

One of a pair of wines from Palayson blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This, with its 80% Syrah and 20% Cabernet, is perfumed and spicy. With great violet aromas and firm spice and tannin, it does show power and alcohol. At the same time, it has the potential to round out into a smooth and full-bodied wine. Drink from 2017.

Grande Cuvée

89

40

Provence

Var

null

Cabernet-Syrah

Château de Palayson

null

France

There is already a fine balance between the ripe yellow fruits and juicy acidity. Together with the toast from wood aging, they make a rich, well textured wine that has excellent potential. Drink this finely structured wine from 2016.

Les Birbettes

91

49

Burgundy

Pouilly-Fuissé

null

Chardonnay

Château des Rontets

null

US

Comprised of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot, this is a juicy, savory and lengthy wine, with herbaceous elements of cedar, brush and peppercorn. A lush, full-bodied complement of baked plum and cherry ride out a lengthy finish.

Reserve Series Alcaeus Berger Vineyard

90

75

California

Sonoma Mountain

Sonoma

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Ancient Oak Cellars

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Ancient Oak Cellars 2012 Reserve Series Alcaeus Berger Vineyard Red (Sonoma Mountain)

US

Aromas of toasted marshmallow, lemon juice and papaya swarm the nose. The semisweet palate tastes floral and tropical, and it manages to keep its form with bright acidity. A touch of kiwi marks the finish.

Semi-Sweet

85

10

Missouri

null

Vignoles

Mount Pleasant Winery

null

Mount Pleasant Winery NV Semi-Sweet Vignoles (Missouri)

US

An almost buttery aroma and attractive peach, apricot and honey flavors give this dry, light-bodied wine a lot of personality. Nicely balanced, and smooth on the palate, it keeps unfolding more flavor nuances as it breathes.

The Shell Mound

90

29

California

Marin County

North Coast

Riesling

Pey-Marin

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Pey-Marin 2015 The Shell Mound Riesling (Marin County)

US

The grapes come mainly from the Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard, which is a great one, source to many top-scoring Chardonnays over the years. The wine is brisk, tart and clean, with rich, dramatic flavors of pineapple, lime, honeysuckle and buttered toast. Really elegant and wonderful, and should blossom through early 2012.

Cuvée Diana

94

36

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Longoria

null

US

The first Ross Andrew vintage for this Old Block (original planting) Boushey Syrah, it clearly displays the vineyard's defining characteristics—a powerful mix of herb, funk, game and brambly berry fruit flavors. Depth, density, complexity and nicely layered highlights make this a wine that never quits on you. It tastes like old vine fruit should—subtle, supple and balanced.

Old Block Boushey Vineyard

94

65

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Syrah

Ross Andrew

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Ross Andrew 2009 Old Block Boushey Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))

Spain

Gritty plum and currant aromas are basic but fresh. Ditto the palate, which shows acidic scratch but not too much. Prickly lightly oaked cherry and plum flavors end with scratchy freshness, lean tannins and lasting berry notes.

Viña Borgia

87

9

Northern Spain

Campo de Borja

null

Garnacha

Borsao

null

Austria

Smooth and rich, with ripe, spiced peach as well as a mineral edge. The acidity tightens the generous texture of this powerful wine, leaving the concentration deliciously fresh.

Alte Setzen Reserve

91

34

Traisental

null

Grüner Veltliner

Markus Huber

null

Italy

The Fuligni family makes very nice wines and this light Sangiovese is no exception. The wine is bright and crisp with a full and generous quality to its fresh berry tones. It would pair with pasta or grilled meat.

Ginestreto

87

36

Tuscany

Rosso di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Fuligni

null

Chile

As the production on this wine climbs (it's up to 35,000 cases now), the final product becomes more generic. An opening of bold berry fruit comes with a pounding mix of oaky vanilla and milk chocolate, while the palate has acidity for zest but also a lot of creamy oak. Very oaky on the finish, leaving a lasting impression that's more about resin and vanilla than fruit or individuality.

Marques de Casa Concha

85

21

Peumo

null

Merlot

Concha y Toro

null

Portugal

Rich and ripe, with soft tannins and black plum flavors. It is round, while still having a core of attractive tannins. The fruit dominates, giving a friendly, accessible wine.

Premium

86

14

Alentejo

null

Portuguese Red

Alente

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Alente 2007 Premium Red (Alentejo)

Germany

With a nose that's quite neutral, the sun-kissed, fruity flair of this dry Riesling surprises. It's a juicy, straightforward wine but briskly, elegantly composed as well. Drink now.

3 Stones Niederhäuser Dry

88

21

Nahe

null

Riesling

Mathern

null

US

A sturdy wine, with a bouquet of dark cherry, cola, toast, and a touch of barnyard. The initial flavors are sweet dried cherry, then turn toward more complex leather, sour plum and toast. Tobacco, and a reprise of the early barnyard note, play on the finish with nice back end aromatics

null

88

16

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Pinot Noir

Charles Krug

null

Italy

Aged for one year in American oak, this blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offers a perfumed quality that resembles Christmas spice and violet. It shows concentration and heft, and it boasts berry and cherry flavors on the finish.

Le Lodole

87

20

Tuscany

Rosso di Toscana

null

Red Blend

Bellini

null

Bellini 2009 Le Lodole Red (Rosso di Toscana)