spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

country stringclasses 49 values	description stringlengths 18 829	designation stringlengths 1 95 ⌀	points int64 80 100	price float64 4 2.5k ⌀	province stringclasses 478 values	region_1 stringlengths 3 50 ⌀	region_2 stringclasses 18 values	variety stringclasses 726 values	winery stringlengths 1 54	taster_name stringclasses 19 values	taster_twitter_handle stringclasses 15 values	title stringlengths 12 135 ⌀
Spain	Perfectly drinkable Monastrell year after year despite the silly name. Plum and roasted berry aromas and flavors are sweet, ripe, clean and on the generic side of the fence. A little rugged and hot at 15%, but lusty and good for the price.	null	86	8	Levante	Jumilla	null	Monastrell	Wrongo Dongo	null	null	null
US	This shows real Chardonnay character with its pure, crisp essence of lime and orange that marks this smoky, slightly sweet bubbly. It's a little rough around the edges, but fine for drinking now.	Reserve Blanc de Blancs	87	30	California	Sonoma-Napa	Napa-Sonoma	Sparkling Blend	Chandon	null	null	Chandon NV Reserve Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (Sonoma-Napa)
Italy	This opens with aromas of camphor, dried herb and red berry while the firm palate shows black licorice, peppercorn, sour cherry and a hint of tobacco. A backbone of assertive tannins provides structure. Drink after 2020.	Bricco San Pietro	90	38	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Podere Ruggeri Corsini	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Podere Ruggeri Corsini 2012 Bricco San Pietro (Barolo)
Austria	Ripe yellow pears are barely tempered by citrus freshness. The palate has a slight bitter note but lovely ripeness nonetheless.	null	85	null	Niederösterreich	null	null	Grüner Veltliner	Fritsch	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Fritsch 2013 Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich)
US	This is one of the best Bordeaux blends now available from Paso Robles. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, it's enormously ripe in blackberry jam, currant, chocolate and cedar flavors that finish lush and spicy. The tannins are strong, but negotiable with barbecue.	Ensemble Lock Vineyard	90	42	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Écluse	null	null	Écluse 2010 Ensemble Lock Vineyard Red (Paso Robles)
US	Citrus fruits and figs are backed with a healthy dose of acidity in this somewhat tart offering.	null	83	7	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	White Blend	Covey Run	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Covey Run 1998 White (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	A dazzlingly good Pinot Noir. Hard to exaggerate the precision of flavor and structure. Shows the massively ripe character of the vintage, with a starburst of raspberries, cherries, cola, minerals and spices, while the acidity and tannins are just about perfect. This crowd pleaser is just extraordinary now, and should develop in the bottle over the next six years.	Precioso	95	75	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Keller Estate	null	null	null
Germany	Delicate lemony color. Fragrant nose of peach and apricot crème pastry, with hints of sherbet and grapefruit and a stony mineral focus. Crisp, racy with a youthful fruit cocktail medley of flavors. Light-bodied but focused and taut. Not hugely concentrated, but well balanced and persistent.	Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese	90	null	Mosel	null	null	Riesling	Joh. Jos. Prüm	null	null	Joh. Jos. Prüm 2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese Riesling (Mosel)
Portugal	Wood-aged, sophisticated wine in homage to the present Countess of Santar. This is beautifully smooth with just a hint of oily texture, lime juice and sweet melon flavors. Worth aging another year to bring its great flavors together.	Casa de Santar Condessa de Santar	91	35	Dão	null	null	Portuguese White	Dão Sul	null	null	null
Italy	Subdued aromas of menthol, cassis, clove and sunbaked earth slowly unfold in the glass. The round, juicy palate offers mature black cherry, spiced blackberry, mocha and grilled herb alongside dusty tannins. Drink 2018–2024.	La Prima Gran Selezione	91	50	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Red Blend	Castello Vicchiomaggio	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Castello Vicchiomaggio 2012 La Prima Gran Selezione (Chianti Classico)
Italy	Here's a delightful sparkling wine that offers berry aromas and a touch of flint. The palate opens with rather large bubbles, but delivers fresh strawberry, white cherry and pink grapefruit flavors that finish with a note of walnut.	Tridentum Brut Rosé	89	24	Northeastern Italy	Trento	null	Pinot Nero	Cesarini Sforza	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Cesarini Sforza 2007 Tridentum Brut Rosé Pinot Nero (Trento)
US	This is a supple, forward and pleasantly drinkable wine. If it is to be criticized it's that it lacks precision and focus. The fruit flavors are a diffuse mélange of cherry, berry and plum, leading to a chalky finish that tastes of tartaric acid with a splash of chocolate.	Winemaker's Cuvée	87	30	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Panther Creek	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Panther Creek 2006 Winemaker's Cuvée Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
Bulgaria	The color of light straw, this wine has fragrances of white flowers and citrus blossoms. Quite linear in the mouth, it offers pure flavors of green apple and ripe summer peach with a touch of lemon zest that makes its presence known on the zippy finish.	null	89	11	Thracian Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Bulgariana	Jeff Jenssen	@worldwineguys	Bulgariana 2013 Chardonnay (Thracian Valley)
Chile	Apple, grapefruit and citrus aromas are neither hard nor pushy, while the palate is fleshy and offers standard citrus, grapefruit and passionfruit flavors. Pithy on the finish but it holds steady. Made for everyday drinking.	Reserva	86	13	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Caliterra	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Caliterra 2010 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley)
US	Give this Cab extra points for the dazzle factor. It shows the most beautifully ripe flavors of blackberries and cassis, and a powerful but tasty coating of smoky oak. The tannins are so sweet and fine, but the excessive softness robs the wine of structure.	Reserve	88	95	California	Knights Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Ledson	null	null	null
France	This shows more texture than fruit, but it has weight and richness that will come forward in the next two years. Its clean apple fruit is likely to be the dominant factor.	null	86	null	Burgundy	Chablis	null	Chardonnay	Domaine du Chardonnay	null	null	null
US	This deftly hits on all cylinders, delivering big fruit, firm acid, fresh mineral and rich, toasty new-barrel highlights. Juicy, textural and deep, it's a wine to gulp, to savor and to share.	The Big Sissy	94	38	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Gorman	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Gorman 2013 The Big Sissy Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	Fire up the barbecue for this lusty, spicy Zinfandel. It's ripe in raspberry and cherry fruit, with lots of dusty cinnamon, clove, anise and pepper spice flavors. The sweetness and acidity will play well against tomato-based grill sauces.	Centánni Vineyard	89	31	California	Dry Creek Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Vite Vecchio	null	null	null
US	This delivers cedary, smoky aromas and tasty plum and berry flavors. There's a good balance between mild tannins, firm acidity and moderately rich fruit character. Nothing over the top, all in proportion.	California Cuvée	87	11	California	California	California Other	Pinot Noir	Castle Rock	null	null	null
US	This seems like it came from a considerably cooler vintage and also like it has had some age. Light aromas of herb, wood spice, medicine cabinet, leather and mesquite are followed by tart light-bodied cranberry flavors. The tannins bring a slight sense of astringency.	M Series Reserve	85	107	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Mellisoni	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Mellisoni 2013 M Series Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	This is unmistakably a mountain-grown Merlot, hefty with dark fruit and layers of baking spice. Concentrated and ready to age another 5–7 years, it has a long and leathery finish.	null	87	20	California	El Dorado	Sierra Foothills	Merlot	Lava Cap	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Lava Cap 2009 Merlot (El Dorado)
Portugal	The wine is attractive with its ripe apple flavors and shot of lemon. It is off dry, with a fruity character that makes it a great apéritif wine. Drink now.	Vinhas Altas	86	null	Vinho Verde	null	null	Portuguese White	Enoport	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Enoport 2016 Vinhas Altas White (Vinho Verde)
Italy	Easy, tonic and fresh, this playful Prosecco delivers everything you look for in an informal, Italian sparkling wine. The delivery is clean and crisp and the wine imparts aromas of stone fruit and white mineral.	null	85	18	Veneto	Prosecco del Veneto	null	Prosecco	Casalnova	null	null	null
Portugal	This Alvarinho, grown in the southern part of the Vinho Verde region, has richness as well as typical peach and pear flavors. The acidity comes through with its citrus edge to give a crisp aftertaste to a ripe-fruit flavored wine.	null	88	13	Minho	null	null	Alvarinho	Aveleda	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Aveleda 2012 Alvarinho (Minho)
France	A fresh, high-acid wine, with flavors of raspberry and apple. It's crisp, with fruit that is barely ripe. Needs plenty of chilling.	null	84	14	Provence	Côtes de Provence	null	Rosé	Provence Rosé	null	null	null
US	Rich and showy, but a little too strong in everything, showing flamboyant tropical fruit, caramelized oak, butterscotch and sweet vanilla cream flavors. It's all quite delicious, but the wine ultimately lacks subtlety and distinction, especially at this price.	null	87	50	California	San Francisco Bay	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Hestan	null	null	null
US	Quite a good Pinot, dry and complex. Although it's pale in color and lightly silky in the mouth, it packs a punch, delivering waves of cherry, cranberry, spice and sandalwood flavors. One quibble is that acidity is high, which calls for rich fare to pair it with, such as Ahi tuna, beef and lamb.	Las Brisas Vineyard	91	32	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Mahoney	null	null	Mahoney 2007 Las Brisas Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros)
Hungary	There's plenty of ripe, fleshy red fruit on the nose and palate of this red, accented by hints of black pepper and fresh green herb. Soft and easy drinking, it has gentle acidity and tannins.	Portugieser	86	15	Villány	null	null	Blauer Portugieser	Gere Attila	null	null	null
Italy	There's a playful touch of smoky toast and dusty minerality that adds a deeper dimension to this modern and beautifully constructed wine (one third is aged in barrique). Pair it with leafy greens, seafood and white meat.	Castel Ringberg	88	21	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Elena Walch	null	null	null
US	This wine has savory red fruit and a minty backdrop, with tannins that taste a tad overgrown. Simple and straightforward, this is ready to drink now.	Cherokee Lane	84	11	California	Lodi	Central Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Tortoise Creek	null	null	null
US	This is a decadently rich Chardonnay, although it depends for its appeal mainly on oak and ripe fruit, rather than nuance. Explodes with pineapple jam, golden mango, crème brûlée, buttered toast, honey and cinnamon spice flavors. Ready now.	Reserve	88	32	California	Santa Maria Valley	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Riverbench	null	null	null
US	This is 100% Riesling, and the intense, floral aromas suggest a smattering of Gewürztraminer, at least in essence if not in fact. Beeswax, lemon candy, orange blossom and other juicy citrus components swirl around the palate, making this an exceptionally complex and beguiling wine. Though labeled dry, it carries an impression of fruit sweetness, rather than the bracing minerality of some other dry Rieslings. A wine that is almost Germanic in its attack, and a truly lovely bottle.	Dry	91	20	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Riesling	Apex	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Apex 2006 Dry Riesling (Yakima Valley)
US	Fresh blackberry and cherry aromas are cloaked in exotic shades of cocoa powder, soil and spice on the nose of this Cabernet Franc. The palate is a bit more reserved, suggesting crisp black-fruit flavors bolstered by fine tannins and a zesty acidic backbone. The finish is brisk but clean.	null	87	21	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Cabernet Franc	Barnstormer	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Barnstormer 2014 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes)
France	A slightly rubbery note on the nose is really the only quibble with this wine, but a quick decanting should help clear it up. Beyond that, it displays cocoa and coffee notes layered over a core of black cherry fruit. It's medium to full in body, with a slightly creamy texture and a long, softly dusty finish. Drink now–2020.	null	89	25	Rhône Valley	Vacqueyras	null	Rhône-style Red Blend	Louis Bernard	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	Louis Bernard 2010 Red (Vacqueyras)
US	This Syrah-Grenache blend is enormously rich, ripe and heady. It wears its 16% abv well, without ever feeling hot or awkward. Instead, fine acidity and firm tannins give the dark chocolate and blackberry jam flavors the balanced lusciousness of Port, without the sweetness.	Hommage à nos Pairs Reserve	90	95	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Syrah-Grenache	Clos Solène	null	null	null
Italy	There's an awkward note of alcohol here backed by toasted chestnut or hazelnut. After a few minutes in the glass however, the wine regains its confidence in the form of cured meat and ripe blackberry aromas.	null	83	null	Veneto	Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Le Bertarole	null	null	Le Bertarole 2007 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso
Spain	This basic Tempranillo is violet in color and shows rubbery aromas of black fruit and wild berry. It feels skittish on the palate, with grapey flavors of plum and berry. Juicy, candied and a little warm on the finish.	null	85	11	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tempranillo	Condado de Oriza	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Condado de Oriza 2011 Ribera del Duero
US	Made in the Failla style of this bottling, a big, rich, softly potent wine whose notable feature is the sheer explosiveness of the fruit. Seems to change every second, now offering ripe blackberries, now crushed raspberry preserves, then bacon and smoked meats, mocha, sautéed mushrooms, licorice, charred oak. And always there is the black pepper. Pure California in its essence and immediate charm.	Phoenix Ranch	94	44	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Syrah	Failla	null	null	null
US	This Syrah starts off earthy, musky, big and brawny and can't escape the wood-oaked herbal greenness on the finish. It's simply too high in alcohol.	Reserve	84	46	California	Temecula Valley	South Coast	Syrah	Lorenzi Estate	null	null	null
France	Made from Malbec, this is a full-bodied, dry rosé, with ripe strawberry fruit. It has the acidity that carries the wine, but is more of a food rosé than an apéritif.	Bouquet de Cavagnac	85	12	Southwest France	Lot	null	Rosé	Domaine de Cause	null	null	null
France	Belonging to the Stefani family for several generations, this estate has produced a tangy, zesty wine, textured and bright with red currant fruit flavors. It is so fresh and crisp with its lively, tight aftertaste.	null	87	18	France Other	Ile de Beauté	null	Rosé	Domaine Santa Giulietta	null	null	null
France	The extra age on this bone-dry wine has paid off, as the taut character of a young wine has been tempered with toast, creating a round feeling. It is perfectly in harmony now, beautiful and crisp.	Oenophile Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut	92	72	Champagne	Champagne	null	Chardonnay	Pierre Gimonnet et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Pierre Gimonnet et Fils 2005 Oenophile Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Chardonnay (Champagne)
Austria	Tawny in color, this is a blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. It is rich with intense acidity and a fruity character. With its orange peel flavor, it is both sweet and very crisp. Screwcap.	Beerenauslese	87	17	Burgenland	null	null	Austrian Red Blend	Gernot and Heike Heinrich	null	null	null
Italy	Pretty notes of Italian espresso, chocolate and spice revolve around a core of solid black fruit. This is an elegant and refined wine that boats a traditional style that is never overdone or too powerful. In fact, it showcases its delicate berry nuances very nicely in the mouth. Drink after 2014.	Riserva	93	90	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese Grosso	Fattoria dei Barbi	null	null	null
France	Taut and textured, yet ripe and soft, this has a nectarine flavor that's balanced by a note of fresh lime. The finish is easy, nervy and zingy.	Domaine Chenevières	86	14	Burgundy	Mâcon-Villages	null	Chardonnay	Georges Duboeuf	null	null	null
US	Minerality is front and center on this bottling, with concentrated pencil lead the focus, backed up by sandalwood and dried rose petals but no overt fruit. The palate offers ripe cranberries and buttered cherries, yet the graphite and iron mineral core remain prominent. Drink 2018–2028, allowing the fruit to blossom and slight star-anise warmth to emerge.	Soberanes Vineyard	92	55	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Bernardus	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Bernardus 2013 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)
France	This serious wine is still very young. Its black fruits and firm tannins are showing considerable potential, with acidity and a firm core still developing. This will be a powerful wine and one that needs to age. Drink from 2016.	null	90	18	Beaujolais	Morgon	null	Gamay	Château de Pizay	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château de Pizay 2013 Morgon
Australia	This is the midlevel entry in Yalumba's Shiraz-Viognier range, slotting in above the Y Series but below the Hand Picked. It's a medium-bodied, slightly creamy-textured wine, with prominent green olive and peppercorn nuances to its plummy flavors. It fades a little on the finish, so drink now–2013.	null	86	19	South Australia	Eden Valley	null	Shiraz-Viognier	Yalumba	null	null	null
France	91–93. Barrel sample. Surrounded by the city of Libourne, Quinault l'Enclos has produced a Merlot-dominated wine that's ripe and soft on the palate. There's a good sense of structure, balancing fresh black-currant flavors with delicious acidity.	Barrel Sample	92	null	Bordeaux	Saint-Émilion	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Quinault L'Enclos	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Quinault L'Enclos 2012 Barrel Sample (Saint-Émilion)
US	This distinctive wine has a light to medium color, with complex and somewhat earthy aromas. Very tasty and diverse flavors suggest black tea and rhubarb. It has medium body, a soothing, smooth texture and lingering finish.	Gloria Estate	91	58	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Freeman	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Freeman 2013 Gloria Estate Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
Italy	Here's an easy Pinot Grigio with sweet flavors of white peach and nectarine and a thin, firm mouthfeel. The wine ends with a piquant touch of spice and crisp acidity.	null	86	19	Northeastern Italy	Collio	null	Pinot Grigio	Attems	null	null	null
US	There is lots of cranberry tartness in this Syrah, giving it a mouthwatering zinginess. You'll also find rich, attractive flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, bacon and sandalwood flavors. It's a good, dry selection to drink now, but give it time to breathe in a decanter or in a glass.	Alondra de los Prados Vineyard	90	75	California	Santa Ynez Valley	Central Coast	Syrah	Margerum	null	null	Margerum 2008 Alondra de los Prados Vineyard Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley)
Argentina	This ripe offering smells of corn, baked apple and oak. It's creamy and woody in the mouth, with modest acidity. Flavors of creamed corn, caramel and soft melon finish plump, with a baked quality. It lacks vivacity.	null	85	30	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Chardonnay	El Enemigo	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	El Enemigo 2013 Chardonnay (Mendoza)
France	93-95 Barrel sample. Ripe, sweet and opulent, with bright tannins and fruits, a velvet wine, the tannins well integrated. Beautiful.	Barrel sample	94	null	Bordeaux	Saint-Julien	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château du Glana	null	null	null
US	A little too sweet and sugary for comfort, with jellied flavors of pineapples, peaches and apricots. Good acidity provides some balance.	null	83	15	California	Sonoma Valley	Sonoma	Sauvignon Blanc	Wellington	null	null	Wellington 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley)
US	This muscular, peppery wine has tight focus and good flavor intensity. Bright cherry fruit shines through the pinpoint core, gracefully expanding throughout the medium-length finish.	Meredith Mitchell Vineyard	90	38	Oregon	McMinnville	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Raptor Ridge	null	null	null
Italy	Alluring aromas of citrus, white flower and a whiff of tropical fruit come together on this. The racy palate offers lemon zest, mango, sage, saline and an almond note alongside vibrant acidity.	null	89	10	Sicily & Sardinia	Sicilia	null	Grillo	Stemmari	null	null	null
France	Soft and rounded, this has a raspberry flavor and a fine, full feel. It has the tannic structure of the vintage, which fits into the sumptuous, cushioned texture.	null	89	24	Burgundy	Côte de Beaune-Villages	null	Pinot Noir	Joseph Drouhin	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Joseph Drouhin 2010 Côte de Beaune-Villages
Spain	In general O. Fournier gets it right, be it in Spain or Argentina. But this Ribera del Duero struggles from the outset. It's rubbery, damp and lacks clarity of fruit. And the feel is sharp and lemony, seemingly a combo of excessive oak and raw fruit. Imported by Fine Wines from Spain.	Spiga	80	29	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tinto del Pais	O. Fournier	null	null	null
Portugal	An attractive, bright, red-fruited wine, laced with intense acidity and a layer of tannins. The wine has great texture and some sweetness. A very drinkable red.	Lello Tinto	85	9	Douro	null	null	Portuguese Red	Borges	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Borges 2009 Lello Tinto Red (Douro)
US	Port-like, with raisiny, baked cherry and caramel flavors. Finishes dry.	Grand Reserve	80	40	California	California	California Other	Petit Verdot	French Hill	null	null	French Hill 2006 Grand Reserve Petit Verdot (California)
Germany	Dusty potpourri and mineral tones lend an earthy tone to this lean, off-dry wine. It's fresh with lemon, lime and quince flavors, but straightforward in style with a brisk, herbal finish.	Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Kabinett	86	14	Mosel	null	null	Riesling	Leonard Kreusch	null	null	null
Italy	Aromas of wildflower, orchard fruit and hazelnut open on the nose. The lively, linear palate shows crunchy green pear, bitter almond and a hint of nutmeg alongside racy acidity.	null	87	17	Northeastern Italy	Friuli Colli Orientali	null	Friulano	Petrucco	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Petrucco 2014 Friulano (Friuli Colli Orientali)
France	One of the small Sauvignon Blanc areas close to Sancerre, Menetou-Salon produces a light, crisp and herbal style of wine. This fits that bill well, its freshness contained within the flavors of hedgerow fruits and tangy acids.	Côtes de Morogues	88	22	Loire Valley	Menetou-Salon	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Fournier Père et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Fournier Père et Fils 2010 Côtes de Morogues (Menetou-Salon)
US	This isn't one of your tropical fruit and oak, acidic cool-climate monster Chards. It's soft and earthy, with a dried sage and oregano edge to the green apple and white peach flavors.	Rhinefarm Vineyard	86	24	California	Sonoma Valley	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Gundlach Bundschu	null	null	null
US	Brilliantly ripe in pure, clean cherries, black raspberries, red currants, cola, vanilla, buttered toast and sandalwood, this lovely Pinot Noir is backed up with crisp, cool-climate acidity. It's very fine and classic now, and should hold for a few years.	Stone Corral	91	48	California	Edna Valley	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Kynsi	null	null	Kynsi 2006 Stone Corral Pinot Noir (Edna Valley)
Mexico	Relying on fruit from the Guadalupe and Santo Tomás valleys, this wine shows a core red-berry aroma that settles on cassis and cherry notes. It's bright, acidic and fruity, with wild berry, plum and brown sugar flavors. This is long and powerful on the finish due to its juicy acidity.	Macouzet	88	30	Valle de Guadalupe and Santo Tomás	null	null	Syrah	Vinisterra	null	null	null
US	Ripe to the point of being overripe, this has a sweet raisin and prune note to the blackberry flavor. It's clear that the winemaker was trying to make a flashy, opulent Cab, but this one carries it over the top. Not likely to benefit from age, so drink up.	null	85	90	California	Howell Mountain	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Pine Ridge	null	null	Pine Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)
Portugal	Made from one of the star grapes of Vinho Verde, this is a ripe, creamy wine. It has hints of lemon zest, along with grapefruit and a herbal aftertaste. It is crisp and ready to drink.	Arca Nova Colheita	86	12	Vinho Verde	null	null	Loureiro	Quinta das Arcas	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Quinta das Arcas 2013 Arca Nova Colheita Loureiro (Vinho Verde)
France	Named after the street number of the producer's winery, this Champagne is mineral and dry. It has fine acidity, along with citrus fruits and a crisp aftertaste. The texture is tangy, taut and gives the wine its food friendly character. Drink now.	Cuvée 555 Brut	92	65	Champagne	Champagne	null	Chardonnay	Voirin-Jumel	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Voirin-Jumel NV Cuvée 555 Brut Chardonnay (Champagne)
Chile	Even if this isn't the best Casa Real in recent years, it stands out from the crowd and doesn't have to work hard to do so. The nose is tight and clean, with leather, spice and cherry aromas. The palate is packed with cherry and cassis, and the finish is lively but balanced. Despite a down vintage, this is Chilean Cabernet at its finest. Imported by Vineyard Brands.	Casa Real	91	50	Maipo Valley	null	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Santa Rita	null	null	null
France	From a mosaic of 90 different scattered parcels, oenologue Georges Pauli has constructed a firm style of wine, with Saint-Estèphe's characteristic tannins and fresh black currant fruits. This is a structured wine, which should certainly age well. Imported by Fruit of the Vines, Inc.	null	88	17	Bordeaux	Saint-Estèphe	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Lilian Ladouys	null	null	null
Italy	This wine delivers notes of forest floor and small berries backed by clove, green spice, pretty herbal and menthol notes. It's a bit raw and thorny in the mouth but it does offer refreshing crispness and sweet fruit on the finish.	Montevasco	86	null	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Sangiovese	Castello Vicchiomaggio	null	null	null
Spain	Covers all the principle bases via aromas of ripe dark fruit, bacon, spice and herbs. The palate is a bit soft but it's serious, with raspberry, cherry and plum flavors. Tastes slightly roasted on the finish, with spice and solid tannins. Ranks as a very good all-occasion red. Imported by Pasternak Wine Imports.	Viña Real Plata Crianza	88	21	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo Blend	CVNE	null	null	null
France	This is a very dark wine, rich in dried fruits, plums and dense tannins. The wood aging is an important element here, giving a firm and dry character. With its richness comes weight and concentration. A bitter edge suggests overextraction.	null	87	26	Bordeaux	Lalande de Pomerol	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Haut-Goujon	null	null	null
US	Aromatically appealing, it features notes of allspice, herbs, cola and cherry. The palate is lighter in style with a scrape-y feel, not fully delivering on all that the aromas have to offer.	null	86	15	Oregon	Oregon	Oregon Other	Pinot Noir	Windy Bay	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Windy Bay 2012 Pinot Noir (Oregon)
US	Tastes tannicly rough and astringent, with coffee and Porty blackberry flavors that seem like they were sweetened with artificial sugar.	Grandmere	82	25	California	Amador County	Sierra Foothills	Zinfandel	Renwood	null	null	null
US	A blanket of sweet-seeming, oaky, baking-spice flavors wraps around ripe fruit in this medium-bodied, supple and relaxed wine. It will be a lot of fun for people who like the full-on new-oak style.	Estate Family Reserve	88	40	California	Shenandoah Valley (CA)	Sierra Foothills	Zinfandel	Amador Cellars	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Amador Cellars 2013 Estate Family Reserve Zinfandel (Shenandoah Valley (CA))
Italy	Floral scents of wisteria and hawthorn mingle with white stone-fruit aromas. On the creamy, rather sweet palate, bright acidity lifts green apple, white peach and candied lemon peel while a confectionery note wraps around the finish. It's polished, with a silky mousse.	Domus-Picta Dry	89	18	Veneto	Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore	null	Glera	Spagnol	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Spagnol 2016 Domus-Picta Dry (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore)
US	A little raw in acidity, with some green olive notes, but the rustic nature works in favor of the wine, grounding its rich blackberry, currant and chocolate flavors with earthiness. Tasted in a flight of much more expensive wines, this Cab did very well.	Split Oak Vineyard	87	12	California	California	California Other	Cabernet Sauvignon	Morro Bay	null	null	Morro Bay 2007 Split Oak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Argentina	There are fumé blancs that are oak-backed and others that aren't. This one is the former. The nose is full of toast and vanilla, while the fruit is on the ripe, weighty side, with peach, melon and lemon flavors. Fairly rich in the mouth, with whetting acidity.	Ciclos	86	27	Other	Cafayate	null	Fumé Blanc	Michel Torino	null	null	null
US	It's a little bitter and harsh in profile, with some overripeness. But if you can get past that, you'll find a dry, fruity and spicy Zin.	null	83	15	California	California	California Other	Zinfandel	Donovan-Parke	null	null	null
Australia	Plums, vanilla, toasty oak and a bit of chocolate fudge. The 2007 Angels Share features all of those flavors in a full-bodied, chewy Shiraz. The long, richly textured finish suggests pairing with grilled steak or lamb chops.	Angels Share	90	35	South Australia	McLaren Vale	null	Shiraz	Two Hands	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	Two Hands 2007 Angels Share Shiraz (McLaren Vale)
France	Too enthusiastic use of wood has left this wine bereft of fruit and unbalanced.	null	84	20	Bordeaux	Médoc	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Monfort Bellevue	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Monfort Bellevue 2012 Médoc
France	A finely poised wine that combines the freshest of fruit and bright acidity, with underlying richness. There is a terroir-driven minerality here, giving a taut structure, but this is surmounted with delicious citrus and crisp plum flavors. While it is very approachable, give it a few years for the full potential to show. Imported by Robert Kacher Imports.	En Virondot Premier Cru	92	99	Burgundy	Chassagne-Montrachet	null	Chardonnay	Domaine Marc Morey	null	null	null
US	Very rich, very ripe, an opulent Chardonnay that shows the greatness of this vineyard. Massive in pineapple tart, grilled peach and pear and green apple fruit, with decadent layers of crème brûlée and vanilla custard. Wonderful acidity makes all this richness clean and zesty.	Bien Nacido Vineyard	94	39	California	Santa Maria Valley	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Testarossa	null	null	null
Italy	Made from the Kerner grape, which is a hybrid of Trollinger and Riesling, this silky wine begins with aromas of apricot and grapefruit, with undertones of nutmeg and clove. The crisp palate delvers white peach, pear and mineral alongside fresh acidity.	null	88	20	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige Valle Isarco	null	Kerner	Abbazia di Novacella	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Abbazia di Novacella 2012 Kerner (Alto Adige Valle Isarco)
US	Rich tropical fruit collides with searing lemon-lime acidity on this semidry Traminette. The palate is racy and sharp, but softened slightly by a delicate, lacy sweetness that lingers on the finish.	null	85	13	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Traminette	Castel Grisch	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Castel Grisch 2013 Traminette (Finger Lakes)
Italy	Leafy underbrush, truffle, woodland berry and toast aromas lead the nose. The chewy, solid palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, grilled sage and ground aniseed alongside bracing tannins and assertive acidity. Drink 2018–2028.	Cannubi Boschis	90	70	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Cantina del Nebbiolo	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Cantina del Nebbiolo 2011 Cannubi Boschis (Barolo)
Portugal	Coming from the cool climate of the Lisbon vineyards, this is a fresh and fruity wine. Some Touriga Nacional perfumes emerge from the soft tannins and final acidity. It's an attractive wine to drink now.	Point West	86	9	Lisboa	null	null	Touriga Nacional	DFJ Vinhos	Roger Voss	@vossroger	DFJ Vinhos 2011 Point West Touriga Nacional (Lisboa)
Italy	Bright and fragrant, this has pretty aromas of wild berry, kitchen spice, sage and a hint of game. The straightforward palate offers red cherry and clove while supple tannins and fresh acidity give it an easy-drinking vibe.	null	87	20	Tuscany	Rosso di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Molino di Sant'Antimo	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Molino di Sant'Antimo 2014 Rosso di Montalcino
France	Still young, this has the potential to be a rich, rounded wine. Already the citrus-drenched yellow fruits are asserting themselves along with a warm, ripe texture. Give this wine until 2016.	null	90	null	Loire Valley	Pouilly-Fumé	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Domaine des Mariniers	null	null	null
US	High, brisk acidity is the star in this Central Coast Chard. It gives a good kick to the ripe guava, nectarine, mineral and vanilla flavors. Good value, and very versatile with food.	Pinnacles Ranches	85	12	California	Monterey County	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Estancia	null	null	Estancia 2006 Pinnacles Ranches Chardonnay (Monterey County)
US	Citrus, spice and pear on the nose give way to waves of spice, white fruit and flowers on the palate. A pretty wine with a soft finish.	Reserve	84	30	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Riesling	Lamoreaux Landing	Susan Kostrzewa	@suskostrzewa	Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Reserve Riesling (Finger Lakes)
US	Tropical pineapple and guava flavors are restrained and balanced in this bright, soft and seductively smooth vineyard designate. Its high-toned acidity delivers stone and lemon peel characteristics, finding more citrus-tinged focus on the finish.	Ellis Alden Vineyard	92	32	California	Alexander Valley	Sonoma	Sauvignon Blanc	Judge Palmer	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Judge Palmer 2015 Ellis Alden Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Alexander Valley)
Italy	Scaccomatto (“checkmate” in Italian) is an extraordinary synthesis between muffa nobile (botrytis) and the Albana grape native to Romagna, on the Adriatic flank of Italy. Aromas are immediate and intense and recall peach, honey, dried flowers and natural rubber. A silky, rich mouthfeel is backed by perfect sweetness and cooling acidity.	Scaccomatto Passito Botrytis	92	50	Central Italy	Albana di Romagna	null	Albana	Fattoria Zerbina	null	null	null
US	A great Pinot Grigio, the kind that restaurateurs should scoop up for their by-the-glass program. Dryish and refreshingly tart, it offers flavors of pineapples, pears, honeysuckle, vanilla and pepper spice. Easy to find, with 15,000 cases produced.	The Birdman	88	15	California	Central Coast	Central Coast	Pinot Grigio	Big House	null	null	null
Spain	A tough wine to enjoy. The nose has a cheesy top layer, while the base aromas are of bell pepper and lettuce. It's very tangy and juicy in the mouth, with searing red-cherry flavors and green accents. Snappy and whispy to the max.	Crianza	82	9	Northern Spain	Navarra	null	Tempranillo Blend	Príncipe de Viana	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Príncipe de Viana 2005 Crianza Red (Navarra)
South Africa	This Shiraz/Viognier starts with the fragrant aromas of Viognier—apricot, honey—mingled with the smoky spice of Shiraz. On the palate, smooth, integrated flavors of rich fruit, herbs and pepper are serious, but the wine has an easygoing edge. Good minerality keeps it clean. A versatile food wine.	null	85	35	Stellenbosch	null	null	Shiraz-Viognier	Radford Dale	null	null	null
France	92-94. Barrel sample. Packed with dark tannins and spicy wood, the wine is rich, dark and very structured. It is powered as much by its tannins as its wood.	Barrel Sample	93	null	Bordeaux	Pauillac	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château d'Armailhac	null	null	null

Spain

Perfectly drinkable Monastrell year after year despite the silly name. Plum and roasted berry aromas and flavors are sweet, ripe, clean and on the generic side of the fence. A little rugged and hot at 15%, but lusty and good for the price.

null

86

8

Levante

Jumilla

null

Monastrell

Wrongo Dongo

null

US

This shows real Chardonnay character with its pure, crisp essence of lime and orange that marks this smoky, slightly sweet bubbly. It's a little rough around the edges, but fine for drinking now.

Reserve Blanc de Blancs

87

30

California

Sonoma-Napa

Napa-Sonoma

Sparkling Blend

Chandon

null

Chandon NV Reserve Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (Sonoma-Napa)

Italy

This opens with aromas of camphor, dried herb and red berry while the firm palate shows black licorice, peppercorn, sour cherry and a hint of tobacco. A backbone of assertive tannins provides structure. Drink after 2020.

Bricco San Pietro

90

38

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Podere Ruggeri Corsini

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Podere Ruggeri Corsini 2012 Bricco San Pietro (Barolo)

Austria

Ripe yellow pears are barely tempered by citrus freshness. The palate has a slight bitter note but lovely ripeness nonetheless.

null

85

null

Niederösterreich

null

Grüner Veltliner

Fritsch

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Fritsch 2013 Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich)

US

This is one of the best Bordeaux blends now available from Paso Robles. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, it's enormously ripe in blackberry jam, currant, chocolate and cedar flavors that finish lush and spicy. The tannins are strong, but negotiable with barbecue.

Ensemble Lock Vineyard

90

42

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Écluse

null

Écluse 2010 Ensemble Lock Vineyard Red (Paso Robles)

US

Citrus fruits and figs are backed with a healthy dose of acidity in this somewhat tart offering.

null

83

7

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

White Blend

Covey Run

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Covey Run 1998 White (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

A dazzlingly good Pinot Noir. Hard to exaggerate the precision of flavor and structure. Shows the massively ripe character of the vintage, with a starburst of raspberries, cherries, cola, minerals and spices, while the acidity and tannins are just about perfect. This crowd pleaser is just extraordinary now, and should develop in the bottle over the next six years.

Precioso

95

75

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Keller Estate

null

Germany

Delicate lemony color. Fragrant nose of peach and apricot crème pastry, with hints of sherbet and grapefruit and a stony mineral focus. Crisp, racy with a youthful fruit cocktail medley of flavors. Light-bodied but focused and taut. Not hugely concentrated, but well balanced and persistent.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese

90

null

Mosel

null

Riesling

Joh. Jos. Prüm

null

Joh. Jos. Prüm 2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese Riesling (Mosel)

Portugal

Wood-aged, sophisticated wine in homage to the present Countess of Santar. This is beautifully smooth with just a hint of oily texture, lime juice and sweet melon flavors. Worth aging another year to bring its great flavors together.

Casa de Santar Condessa de Santar

91

35

Dão

null

Portuguese White

Dão Sul

null

Italy

Subdued aromas of menthol, cassis, clove and sunbaked earth slowly unfold in the glass. The round, juicy palate offers mature black cherry, spiced blackberry, mocha and grilled herb alongside dusty tannins. Drink 2018–2024.

La Prima Gran Selezione

91

50

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Red Blend

Castello Vicchiomaggio

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Castello Vicchiomaggio 2012 La Prima Gran Selezione (Chianti Classico)

Italy

Here's a delightful sparkling wine that offers berry aromas and a touch of flint. The palate opens with rather large bubbles, but delivers fresh strawberry, white cherry and pink grapefruit flavors that finish with a note of walnut.

Tridentum Brut Rosé

89

24

Northeastern Italy

Trento

null

Pinot Nero

Cesarini Sforza

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Cesarini Sforza 2007 Tridentum Brut Rosé Pinot Nero (Trento)

US

This is a supple, forward and pleasantly drinkable wine. If it is to be criticized it's that it lacks precision and focus. The fruit flavors are a diffuse mélange of cherry, berry and plum, leading to a chalky finish that tastes of tartaric acid with a splash of chocolate.

Winemaker's Cuvée

87

30

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Panther Creek

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Panther Creek 2006 Winemaker's Cuvée Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

Bulgaria

The color of light straw, this wine has fragrances of white flowers and citrus blossoms. Quite linear in the mouth, it offers pure flavors of green apple and ripe summer peach with a touch of lemon zest that makes its presence known on the zippy finish.

null

89

11

Thracian Valley

null

Chardonnay

Bulgariana

Jeff Jenssen

@worldwineguys

Bulgariana 2013 Chardonnay (Thracian Valley)

Chile

Apple, grapefruit and citrus aromas are neither hard nor pushy, while the palate is fleshy and offers standard citrus, grapefruit and passionfruit flavors. Pithy on the finish but it holds steady. Made for everyday drinking.

Reserva

86

13

Casablanca Valley

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Caliterra

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Caliterra 2010 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley)

US

Give this Cab extra points for the dazzle factor. It shows the most beautifully ripe flavors of blackberries and cassis, and a powerful but tasty coating of smoky oak. The tannins are so sweet and fine, but the excessive softness robs the wine of structure.

Reserve

88

95

California

Knights Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Ledson

null

France

This shows more texture than fruit, but it has weight and richness that will come forward in the next two years. Its clean apple fruit is likely to be the dominant factor.

null

86

null

Burgundy

Chablis

null

Chardonnay

Domaine du Chardonnay

null

US

This deftly hits on all cylinders, delivering big fruit, firm acid, fresh mineral and rich, toasty new-barrel highlights. Juicy, textural and deep, it's a wine to gulp, to savor and to share.

The Big Sissy

94

38

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Gorman

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Gorman 2013 The Big Sissy Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

Fire up the barbecue for this lusty, spicy Zinfandel. It's ripe in raspberry and cherry fruit, with lots of dusty cinnamon, clove, anise and pepper spice flavors. The sweetness and acidity will play well against tomato-based grill sauces.

Centánni Vineyard

89

31

California

Dry Creek Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Vite Vecchio

null

US

This delivers cedary, smoky aromas and tasty plum and berry flavors. There's a good balance between mild tannins, firm acidity and moderately rich fruit character. Nothing over the top, all in proportion.

California Cuvée

87

11

California

California Other

Pinot Noir

Castle Rock

null

US

This seems like it came from a considerably cooler vintage and also like it has had some age. Light aromas of herb, wood spice, medicine cabinet, leather and mesquite are followed by tart light-bodied cranberry flavors. The tannins bring a slight sense of astringency.

M Series Reserve

85

107

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Mellisoni

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Mellisoni 2013 M Series Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

This is unmistakably a mountain-grown Merlot, hefty with dark fruit and layers of baking spice. Concentrated and ready to age another 5–7 years, it has a long and leathery finish.

null

87

20

California

El Dorado

Sierra Foothills

Merlot

Lava Cap

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Lava Cap 2009 Merlot (El Dorado)

Portugal

The wine is attractive with its ripe apple flavors and shot of lemon. It is off dry, with a fruity character that makes it a great apéritif wine. Drink now.

Vinhas Altas

86

null

Vinho Verde

null

Portuguese White

Enoport

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Enoport 2016 Vinhas Altas White (Vinho Verde)

Italy

Easy, tonic and fresh, this playful Prosecco delivers everything you look for in an informal, Italian sparkling wine. The delivery is clean and crisp and the wine imparts aromas of stone fruit and white mineral.

null

85

18

Veneto

Prosecco del Veneto

null

Prosecco

Casalnova

null

Portugal

This Alvarinho, grown in the southern part of the Vinho Verde region, has richness as well as typical peach and pear flavors. The acidity comes through with its citrus edge to give a crisp aftertaste to a ripe-fruit flavored wine.

null

88

13

Minho

null

Alvarinho

Aveleda

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Aveleda 2012 Alvarinho (Minho)

France

A fresh, high-acid wine, with flavors of raspberry and apple. It's crisp, with fruit that is barely ripe. Needs plenty of chilling.

null

84

14

Provence

Côtes de Provence

null

Rosé

Provence Rosé

null

US

Rich and showy, but a little too strong in everything, showing flamboyant tropical fruit, caramelized oak, butterscotch and sweet vanilla cream flavors. It's all quite delicious, but the wine ultimately lacks subtlety and distinction, especially at this price.

null

87

50

California

San Francisco Bay

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Hestan

null

US

Quite a good Pinot, dry and complex. Although it's pale in color and lightly silky in the mouth, it packs a punch, delivering waves of cherry, cranberry, spice and sandalwood flavors. One quibble is that acidity is high, which calls for rich fare to pair it with, such as Ahi tuna, beef and lamb.

Las Brisas Vineyard

91

32

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Mahoney

null

Mahoney 2007 Las Brisas Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros)

Hungary

There's plenty of ripe, fleshy red fruit on the nose and palate of this red, accented by hints of black pepper and fresh green herb. Soft and easy drinking, it has gentle acidity and tannins.

Portugieser

86

15

Villány

null

Blauer Portugieser

Gere Attila

null

Italy

There's a playful touch of smoky toast and dusty minerality that adds a deeper dimension to this modern and beautifully constructed wine (one third is aged in barrique). Pair it with leafy greens, seafood and white meat.

Castel Ringberg

88

21

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Elena Walch

null

US

This wine has savory red fruit and a minty backdrop, with tannins that taste a tad overgrown. Simple and straightforward, this is ready to drink now.

Cherokee Lane

84

11

California

Lodi

Central Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Tortoise Creek

null

US

This is a decadently rich Chardonnay, although it depends for its appeal mainly on oak and ripe fruit, rather than nuance. Explodes with pineapple jam, golden mango, crème brûlée, buttered toast, honey and cinnamon spice flavors. Ready now.

Reserve

88

32

California

Santa Maria Valley

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Riverbench

null

US

This is 100% Riesling, and the intense, floral aromas suggest a smattering of Gewürztraminer, at least in essence if not in fact. Beeswax, lemon candy, orange blossom and other juicy citrus components swirl around the palate, making this an exceptionally complex and beguiling wine. Though labeled dry, it carries an impression of fruit sweetness, rather than the bracing minerality of some other dry Rieslings. A wine that is almost Germanic in its attack, and a truly lovely bottle.

Dry

91

20

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Riesling

Apex

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Apex 2006 Dry Riesling (Yakima Valley)

US

Fresh blackberry and cherry aromas are cloaked in exotic shades of cocoa powder, soil and spice on the nose of this Cabernet Franc. The palate is a bit more reserved, suggesting crisp black-fruit flavors bolstered by fine tannins and a zesty acidic backbone. The finish is brisk but clean.

null

87

21

New York

Finger Lakes

Cabernet Franc

Barnstormer

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Barnstormer 2014 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes)

France

A slightly rubbery note on the nose is really the only quibble with this wine, but a quick decanting should help clear it up. Beyond that, it displays cocoa and coffee notes layered over a core of black cherry fruit. It's medium to full in body, with a slightly creamy texture and a long, softly dusty finish. Drink now–2020.

null

89

25

Rhône Valley

Vacqueyras

null

Rhône-style Red Blend

Louis Bernard

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

Louis Bernard 2010 Red (Vacqueyras)

US

This Syrah-Grenache blend is enormously rich, ripe and heady. It wears its 16% abv well, without ever feeling hot or awkward. Instead, fine acidity and firm tannins give the dark chocolate and blackberry jam flavors the balanced lusciousness of Port, without the sweetness.

Hommage à nos Pairs Reserve

90

95

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Syrah-Grenache

Clos Solène

null

Italy

There's an awkward note of alcohol here backed by toasted chestnut or hazelnut. After a few minutes in the glass however, the wine regains its confidence in the form of cured meat and ripe blackberry aromas.

null

83

null

Veneto

Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Le Bertarole

null

Le Bertarole 2007 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

Spain

This basic Tempranillo is violet in color and shows rubbery aromas of black fruit and wild berry. It feels skittish on the palate, with grapey flavors of plum and berry. Juicy, candied and a little warm on the finish.

null

85

11

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tempranillo

Condado de Oriza

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Condado de Oriza 2011 Ribera del Duero

US

Made in the Failla style of this bottling, a big, rich, softly potent wine whose notable feature is the sheer explosiveness of the fruit. Seems to change every second, now offering ripe blackberries, now crushed raspberry preserves, then bacon and smoked meats, mocha, sautéed mushrooms, licorice, charred oak. And always there is the black pepper. Pure California in its essence and immediate charm.

Phoenix Ranch

94

44

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Syrah

Failla

null

US

This Syrah starts off earthy, musky, big and brawny and can't escape the wood-oaked herbal greenness on the finish. It's simply too high in alcohol.

Reserve

84

46

California

Temecula Valley

South Coast

Syrah

Lorenzi Estate

null

France

Made from Malbec, this is a full-bodied, dry rosé, with ripe strawberry fruit. It has the acidity that carries the wine, but is more of a food rosé than an apéritif.

Bouquet de Cavagnac

85

12

Southwest France

Lot

null

Rosé

Domaine de Cause

null

France

Belonging to the Stefani family for several generations, this estate has produced a tangy, zesty wine, textured and bright with red currant fruit flavors. It is so fresh and crisp with its lively, tight aftertaste.

null

87

18

France Other

Ile de Beauté

null

Rosé

Domaine Santa Giulietta

null

France

The extra age on this bone-dry wine has paid off, as the taut character of a young wine has been tempered with toast, creating a round feeling. It is perfectly in harmony now, beautiful and crisp.

Oenophile Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

92

72

Champagne

null

Chardonnay

Pierre Gimonnet et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Pierre Gimonnet et Fils 2005 Oenophile Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Chardonnay (Champagne)

Austria

Tawny in color, this is a blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. It is rich with intense acidity and a fruity character. With its orange peel flavor, it is both sweet and very crisp. Screwcap.

Beerenauslese

87

17

Burgenland

null

Austrian Red Blend

Gernot and Heike Heinrich

null

Italy

Pretty notes of Italian espresso, chocolate and spice revolve around a core of solid black fruit. This is an elegant and refined wine that boats a traditional style that is never overdone or too powerful. In fact, it showcases its delicate berry nuances very nicely in the mouth. Drink after 2014.

Riserva

93

90

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese Grosso

Fattoria dei Barbi

null

France

Taut and textured, yet ripe and soft, this has a nectarine flavor that's balanced by a note of fresh lime. The finish is easy, nervy and zingy.

Domaine Chenevières

86

14

Burgundy

Mâcon-Villages

null

Chardonnay

Georges Duboeuf

null

US

Minerality is front and center on this bottling, with concentrated pencil lead the focus, backed up by sandalwood and dried rose petals but no overt fruit. The palate offers ripe cranberries and buttered cherries, yet the graphite and iron mineral core remain prominent. Drink 2018–2028, allowing the fruit to blossom and slight star-anise warmth to emerge.

Soberanes Vineyard

92

55

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Bernardus

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Bernardus 2013 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)

France

This serious wine is still very young. Its black fruits and firm tannins are showing considerable potential, with acidity and a firm core still developing. This will be a powerful wine and one that needs to age. Drink from 2016.

null

90

18

Beaujolais

Morgon

null

Gamay

Château de Pizay

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château de Pizay 2013 Morgon

Australia

This is the midlevel entry in Yalumba's Shiraz-Viognier range, slotting in above the Y Series but below the Hand Picked. It's a medium-bodied, slightly creamy-textured wine, with prominent green olive and peppercorn nuances to its plummy flavors. It fades a little on the finish, so drink now–2013.

null

86

19

South Australia

Eden Valley

null

Shiraz-Viognier

Yalumba

null

France

91–93. Barrel sample. Surrounded by the city of Libourne, Quinault l'Enclos has produced a Merlot-dominated wine that's ripe and soft on the palate. There's a good sense of structure, balancing fresh black-currant flavors with delicious acidity.

Barrel Sample

92

null

Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Quinault L'Enclos

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Quinault L'Enclos 2012 Barrel Sample (Saint-Émilion)

US

This distinctive wine has a light to medium color, with complex and somewhat earthy aromas. Very tasty and diverse flavors suggest black tea and rhubarb. It has medium body, a soothing, smooth texture and lingering finish.

Gloria Estate

91

58

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Freeman

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Freeman 2013 Gloria Estate Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Italy

Here's an easy Pinot Grigio with sweet flavors of white peach and nectarine and a thin, firm mouthfeel. The wine ends with a piquant touch of spice and crisp acidity.

null

86

19

Northeastern Italy

Collio

null

Pinot Grigio

Attems

null

US

There is lots of cranberry tartness in this Syrah, giving it a mouthwatering zinginess. You'll also find rich, attractive flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, bacon and sandalwood flavors. It's a good, dry selection to drink now, but give it time to breathe in a decanter or in a glass.

Alondra de los Prados Vineyard

90

75

California

Santa Ynez Valley

Central Coast

Syrah

Margerum

null

Margerum 2008 Alondra de los Prados Vineyard Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley)

Argentina

This ripe offering smells of corn, baked apple and oak. It's creamy and woody in the mouth, with modest acidity. Flavors of creamed corn, caramel and soft melon finish plump, with a baked quality. It lacks vivacity.

null

85

30

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Chardonnay

El Enemigo

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

El Enemigo 2013 Chardonnay (Mendoza)

France

93-95 Barrel sample. Ripe, sweet and opulent, with bright tannins and fruits, a velvet wine, the tannins well integrated. Beautiful.

Barrel sample

94

null

Bordeaux

Saint-Julien

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château du Glana

null

US

A little too sweet and sugary for comfort, with jellied flavors of pineapples, peaches and apricots. Good acidity provides some balance.

null

83

15

California

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma

Sauvignon Blanc

Wellington

null

Wellington 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley)

US

This muscular, peppery wine has tight focus and good flavor intensity. Bright cherry fruit shines through the pinpoint core, gracefully expanding throughout the medium-length finish.

Meredith Mitchell Vineyard

90

38

Oregon

McMinnville

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Raptor Ridge

null

Italy

Alluring aromas of citrus, white flower and a whiff of tropical fruit come together on this. The racy palate offers lemon zest, mango, sage, saline and an almond note alongside vibrant acidity.

null

89

10

Sicily & Sardinia

Sicilia

null

Grillo

Stemmari

null

France

Soft and rounded, this has a raspberry flavor and a fine, full feel. It has the tannic structure of the vintage, which fits into the sumptuous, cushioned texture.

null

89

24

Burgundy

Côte de Beaune-Villages

null

Pinot Noir

Joseph Drouhin

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Joseph Drouhin 2010 Côte de Beaune-Villages

Spain

In general O. Fournier gets it right, be it in Spain or Argentina. But this Ribera del Duero struggles from the outset. It's rubbery, damp and lacks clarity of fruit. And the feel is sharp and lemony, seemingly a combo of excessive oak and raw fruit. Imported by Fine Wines from Spain.

Spiga

80

29

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tinto del Pais

O. Fournier

null

Portugal

An attractive, bright, red-fruited wine, laced with intense acidity and a layer of tannins. The wine has great texture and some sweetness. A very drinkable red.

Lello Tinto

85

9

Douro

null

Portuguese Red

Borges

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Borges 2009 Lello Tinto Red (Douro)

US

Port-like, with raisiny, baked cherry and caramel flavors. Finishes dry.

Grand Reserve

80

40

California

California Other

Petit Verdot

French Hill

null

French Hill 2006 Grand Reserve Petit Verdot (California)

Germany

Dusty potpourri and mineral tones lend an earthy tone to this lean, off-dry wine. It's fresh with lemon, lime and quince flavors, but straightforward in style with a brisk, herbal finish.

Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Kabinett

86

14

Mosel

null

Riesling

Leonard Kreusch

null

Italy

Aromas of wildflower, orchard fruit and hazelnut open on the nose. The lively, linear palate shows crunchy green pear, bitter almond and a hint of nutmeg alongside racy acidity.

null

87

17

Northeastern Italy

Friuli Colli Orientali

null

Friulano

Petrucco

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Petrucco 2014 Friulano (Friuli Colli Orientali)

France

One of the small Sauvignon Blanc areas close to Sancerre, Menetou-Salon produces a light, crisp and herbal style of wine. This fits that bill well, its freshness contained within the flavors of hedgerow fruits and tangy acids.

Côtes de Morogues

88

22

Loire Valley

Menetou-Salon

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Fournier Père et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Fournier Père et Fils 2010 Côtes de Morogues (Menetou-Salon)

US

This isn't one of your tropical fruit and oak, acidic cool-climate monster Chards. It's soft and earthy, with a dried sage and oregano edge to the green apple and white peach flavors.

Rhinefarm Vineyard

86

24

California

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Gundlach Bundschu

null

US

Brilliantly ripe in pure, clean cherries, black raspberries, red currants, cola, vanilla, buttered toast and sandalwood, this lovely Pinot Noir is backed up with crisp, cool-climate acidity. It's very fine and classic now, and should hold for a few years.

Stone Corral

91

48

California

Edna Valley

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Kynsi

null

Kynsi 2006 Stone Corral Pinot Noir (Edna Valley)

Mexico

Relying on fruit from the Guadalupe and Santo Tomás valleys, this wine shows a core red-berry aroma that settles on cassis and cherry notes. It's bright, acidic and fruity, with wild berry, plum and brown sugar flavors. This is long and powerful on the finish due to its juicy acidity.

Macouzet

88

30

Valle de Guadalupe and Santo Tomás

null

Syrah

Vinisterra

null

US

Ripe to the point of being overripe, this has a sweet raisin and prune note to the blackberry flavor. It's clear that the winemaker was trying to make a flashy, opulent Cab, but this one carries it over the top. Not likely to benefit from age, so drink up.

null

85

90

California

Howell Mountain

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pine Ridge

null

Pine Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)

Portugal

Made from one of the star grapes of Vinho Verde, this is a ripe, creamy wine. It has hints of lemon zest, along with grapefruit and a herbal aftertaste. It is crisp and ready to drink.

Arca Nova Colheita

86

12

Vinho Verde

null

Loureiro

Quinta das Arcas

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Quinta das Arcas 2013 Arca Nova Colheita Loureiro (Vinho Verde)

France

Named after the street number of the producer's winery, this Champagne is mineral and dry. It has fine acidity, along with citrus fruits and a crisp aftertaste. The texture is tangy, taut and gives the wine its food friendly character. Drink now.

Cuvée 555 Brut

92

65

Champagne

null

Chardonnay

Voirin-Jumel

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Voirin-Jumel NV Cuvée 555 Brut Chardonnay (Champagne)

Chile

Even if this isn't the best Casa Real in recent years, it stands out from the crowd and doesn't have to work hard to do so. The nose is tight and clean, with leather, spice and cherry aromas. The palate is packed with cherry and cassis, and the finish is lively but balanced. Despite a down vintage, this is Chilean Cabernet at its finest. Imported by Vineyard Brands.

Casa Real

91

50

Maipo Valley

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Rita

null

France

From a mosaic of 90 different scattered parcels, oenologue Georges Pauli has constructed a firm style of wine, with Saint-Estèphe's characteristic tannins and fresh black currant fruits. This is a structured wine, which should certainly age well. Imported by Fruit of the Vines, Inc.

null

88

17

Bordeaux

Saint-Estèphe

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Lilian Ladouys

null

Italy

This wine delivers notes of forest floor and small berries backed by clove, green spice, pretty herbal and menthol notes. It's a bit raw and thorny in the mouth but it does offer refreshing crispness and sweet fruit on the finish.

Montevasco

86

null

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Sangiovese

Castello Vicchiomaggio

null

Spain

Covers all the principle bases via aromas of ripe dark fruit, bacon, spice and herbs. The palate is a bit soft but it's serious, with raspberry, cherry and plum flavors. Tastes slightly roasted on the finish, with spice and solid tannins. Ranks as a very good all-occasion red. Imported by Pasternak Wine Imports.

Viña Real Plata Crianza

88

21

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo Blend

CVNE

null

France

This is a very dark wine, rich in dried fruits, plums and dense tannins. The wood aging is an important element here, giving a firm and dry character. With its richness comes weight and concentration. A bitter edge suggests overextraction.

null

87

26

Bordeaux

Lalande de Pomerol

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Haut-Goujon

null

US

Aromatically appealing, it features notes of allspice, herbs, cola and cherry. The palate is lighter in style with a scrape-y feel, not fully delivering on all that the aromas have to offer.

null

86

15

Oregon

Oregon Other

Pinot Noir

Windy Bay

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Windy Bay 2012 Pinot Noir (Oregon)

US

Tastes tannicly rough and astringent, with coffee and Porty blackberry flavors that seem like they were sweetened with artificial sugar.

Grandmere

82

25

California

Amador County

Sierra Foothills

Zinfandel

Renwood

null

US

A blanket of sweet-seeming, oaky, baking-spice flavors wraps around ripe fruit in this medium-bodied, supple and relaxed wine. It will be a lot of fun for people who like the full-on new-oak style.

Estate Family Reserve

88

40

California

Shenandoah Valley (CA)

Sierra Foothills

Zinfandel

Amador Cellars

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Amador Cellars 2013 Estate Family Reserve Zinfandel (Shenandoah Valley (CA))

Italy

Floral scents of wisteria and hawthorn mingle with white stone-fruit aromas. On the creamy, rather sweet palate, bright acidity lifts green apple, white peach and candied lemon peel while a confectionery note wraps around the finish. It's polished, with a silky mousse.

Domus-Picta Dry

89

18

Veneto

Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

null

Glera

Spagnol

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Spagnol 2016 Domus-Picta Dry (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore)

US

A little raw in acidity, with some green olive notes, but the rustic nature works in favor of the wine, grounding its rich blackberry, currant and chocolate flavors with earthiness. Tasted in a flight of much more expensive wines, this Cab did very well.

Split Oak Vineyard

87

12

California

California Other

Cabernet Sauvignon

Morro Bay

null

Morro Bay 2007 Split Oak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

Argentina

There are fumé blancs that are oak-backed and others that aren't. This one is the former. The nose is full of toast and vanilla, while the fruit is on the ripe, weighty side, with peach, melon and lemon flavors. Fairly rich in the mouth, with whetting acidity.

Ciclos

86

27

Other

Cafayate

null

Fumé Blanc

Michel Torino

null

US

It's a little bitter and harsh in profile, with some overripeness. But if you can get past that, you'll find a dry, fruity and spicy Zin.

null

83

15

California

California Other

Zinfandel

Donovan-Parke

null

Australia

Plums, vanilla, toasty oak and a bit of chocolate fudge. The 2007 Angels Share features all of those flavors in a full-bodied, chewy Shiraz. The long, richly textured finish suggests pairing with grilled steak or lamb chops.

Angels Share

90

35

South Australia

McLaren Vale

null

Shiraz

Two Hands

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

Two Hands 2007 Angels Share Shiraz (McLaren Vale)

France

Too enthusiastic use of wood has left this wine bereft of fruit and unbalanced.

null

84

20

Bordeaux

Médoc

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Monfort Bellevue

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Monfort Bellevue 2012 Médoc

France

A finely poised wine that combines the freshest of fruit and bright acidity, with underlying richness. There is a terroir-driven minerality here, giving a taut structure, but this is surmounted with delicious citrus and crisp plum flavors. While it is very approachable, give it a few years for the full potential to show. Imported by Robert Kacher Imports.

En Virondot Premier Cru

92

99

Burgundy

Chassagne-Montrachet

null

Chardonnay

Domaine Marc Morey

null

US

Very rich, very ripe, an opulent Chardonnay that shows the greatness of this vineyard. Massive in pineapple tart, grilled peach and pear and green apple fruit, with decadent layers of crème brûlée and vanilla custard. Wonderful acidity makes all this richness clean and zesty.

Bien Nacido Vineyard

94

39

California

Santa Maria Valley

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Testarossa

null

Italy

Made from the Kerner grape, which is a hybrid of Trollinger and Riesling, this silky wine begins with aromas of apricot and grapefruit, with undertones of nutmeg and clove. The crisp palate delvers white peach, pear and mineral alongside fresh acidity.

null

88

20

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige Valle Isarco

null

Kerner

Abbazia di Novacella

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Abbazia di Novacella 2012 Kerner (Alto Adige Valle Isarco)

US

Rich tropical fruit collides with searing lemon-lime acidity on this semidry Traminette. The palate is racy and sharp, but softened slightly by a delicate, lacy sweetness that lingers on the finish.

null

85

13

New York

Finger Lakes

Traminette

Castel Grisch

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Castel Grisch 2013 Traminette (Finger Lakes)

Italy

Leafy underbrush, truffle, woodland berry and toast aromas lead the nose. The chewy, solid palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, grilled sage and ground aniseed alongside bracing tannins and assertive acidity. Drink 2018–2028.

Cannubi Boschis

90

70

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Cantina del Nebbiolo

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Cantina del Nebbiolo 2011 Cannubi Boschis (Barolo)

Portugal

Coming from the cool climate of the Lisbon vineyards, this is a fresh and fruity wine. Some Touriga Nacional perfumes emerge from the soft tannins and final acidity. It's an attractive wine to drink now.

Point West

86

9

Lisboa

null

Touriga Nacional

DFJ Vinhos

Roger Voss

@vossroger

DFJ Vinhos 2011 Point West Touriga Nacional (Lisboa)

Italy

Bright and fragrant, this has pretty aromas of wild berry, kitchen spice, sage and a hint of game. The straightforward palate offers red cherry and clove while supple tannins and fresh acidity give it an easy-drinking vibe.

null

87

20

Tuscany

Rosso di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Molino di Sant'Antimo

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Molino di Sant'Antimo 2014 Rosso di Montalcino

France

Still young, this has the potential to be a rich, rounded wine. Already the citrus-drenched yellow fruits are asserting themselves along with a warm, ripe texture. Give this wine until 2016.

null

90

null

Loire Valley

Pouilly-Fumé

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Domaine des Mariniers

null

US

High, brisk acidity is the star in this Central Coast Chard. It gives a good kick to the ripe guava, nectarine, mineral and vanilla flavors. Good value, and very versatile with food.

Pinnacles Ranches

85

12

California

Monterey County

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Estancia

null

Estancia 2006 Pinnacles Ranches Chardonnay (Monterey County)

US

Citrus, spice and pear on the nose give way to waves of spice, white fruit and flowers on the palate. A pretty wine with a soft finish.

Reserve

84

30

New York

Finger Lakes

Riesling

Lamoreaux Landing

Susan Kostrzewa

@suskostrzewa

Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Reserve Riesling (Finger Lakes)

US

Tropical pineapple and guava flavors are restrained and balanced in this bright, soft and seductively smooth vineyard designate. Its high-toned acidity delivers stone and lemon peel characteristics, finding more citrus-tinged focus on the finish.

Ellis Alden Vineyard

92

32

California

Alexander Valley

Sonoma

Sauvignon Blanc

Judge Palmer

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Judge Palmer 2015 Ellis Alden Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Alexander Valley)

Italy

Scaccomatto (“checkmate” in Italian) is an extraordinary synthesis between muffa nobile (botrytis) and the Albana grape native to Romagna, on the Adriatic flank of Italy. Aromas are immediate and intense and recall peach, honey, dried flowers and natural rubber. A silky, rich mouthfeel is backed by perfect sweetness and cooling acidity.

Scaccomatto Passito Botrytis

92

50

Central Italy

Albana di Romagna

null

Albana

Fattoria Zerbina

null

US

A great Pinot Grigio, the kind that restaurateurs should scoop up for their by-the-glass program. Dryish and refreshingly tart, it offers flavors of pineapples, pears, honeysuckle, vanilla and pepper spice. Easy to find, with 15,000 cases produced.

The Birdman

88

15

California

Central Coast

Pinot Grigio

Big House

null

Spain

A tough wine to enjoy. The nose has a cheesy top layer, while the base aromas are of bell pepper and lettuce. It's very tangy and juicy in the mouth, with searing red-cherry flavors and green accents. Snappy and whispy to the max.

Crianza

82

9

Northern Spain

Navarra

null

Tempranillo Blend

Príncipe de Viana

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Príncipe de Viana 2005 Crianza Red (Navarra)

South Africa

This Shiraz/Viognier starts with the fragrant aromas of Viognier—apricot, honey—mingled with the smoky spice of Shiraz. On the palate, smooth, integrated flavors of rich fruit, herbs and pepper are serious, but the wine has an easygoing edge. Good minerality keeps it clean. A versatile food wine.

null

85

35

Stellenbosch

null

Shiraz-Viognier

Radford Dale

null

France

92-94. Barrel sample. Packed with dark tannins and spicy wood, the wine is rich, dark and very structured. It is powered as much by its tannins as its wood.

Barrel Sample

93

null

Bordeaux

Pauillac

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château d'Armailhac

null