spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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US	Rambunctious and brawny, it's burly in dark color and oaky black cherry and blackberry, with a pastoral earthiness. Higher in alcohol and tannin than many other Marimar wines, it's velvety on the palate, finishing with a meaty taste of game or bacon.	Don Miguel Vineyard Cristina	87	57	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Marimar Estate	null	null	null
Spain	Dark, fiery, forceful and woody, with aromas of sawdust atop black fruit. The palate is zesty, lively and hard, with biting tannins raising up flavors of blackberry and pepper. Acidic, rough and tough, but with good flavors and a decent amount of integrity.	null	85	16	Central Spain	La Mancha	null	Tempranillo	Volver	null	null	null
Portugal	Young vines give a fruity style of wine with attractive violet aromas and black-fruit flavors. The wine has powerful dense tannins, spice from the wood aging and a cooler, mineral texture at the end. It is a rich wine, just now ready to drink.	null	92	35	Dão	null	null	Touriga Nacional	Quinta de Lemos	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Quinta de Lemos 2010 Touriga Nacional (Dão)
US	Among the four vineyards used by Angel Vine, the Avery stands apart for its detail, grip and length. Blue fruits take center stage—plums and berries—along with a tasty lick of coffee and chocolate. You may pick up a hint of the tack room and a streak of fennel in the finish.	Avery Vineyard	91	20	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Zinfandel	Angel Vine	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Angel Vine 2011 Avery Vineyard Zinfandel (Columbia Valley (WA))
Italy	Lapaccio is an easy and informal expression of Primitivo, with simple cherry and cola aromas. In the mouth, it shows a sweet-tasting red-fruit flavor.	Lapaccio	84	14	Southern Italy	Salento	null	Primitivo	Pasqua	null	null	null
US	Subtle, intricate aromas and equally sophisticated flavors of baking spices, tamarind and cherries make this a fascinating wine to taste. It's full bodied but lithe. Energizing acidity and firm tannins give it great structure and help carry the complex flavors through a lingering finish.	Helluva vineyard	93	35	California	Anderson Valley	null	Pinot Noir	Betwixt	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Betwixt 2015 Helluva vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
Chile	This chunky, full-volume wine straddles the line between soft tropical tones and a cool, crisp character. Hard-pounding orange and grapefruit flavors finish monotone and citric. This is vital but lacks sophistication.	Block Selection Tinga Reserve	84	12	Limarí Valley	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	La Playa	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	La Playa 2014 Block Selection Tinga Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Limarí Valley)
US	Strong aromas and flavors like buttered toast and caramel make this full-bodied wine an extrovert. The texture is broad and soft, and candy-like flavors keep coming on the finish.	DeMayo Vineyard	89	30	California	Livermore Valley	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Darcie Kent Vineyards	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Darcie Kent Vineyards 2014 DeMayo Vineyard Chardonnay (Livermore Valley)
US	This comes on like a fairly simple cherry and chocolate Cab, until some herbal (some might say stemmy) flavors kick in midpalate. The finish is oaky, mixing chocolate and coffee streaks.	null	87	16	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Pend d'Oreille	null	null	null
US	This is a highly structured wine with an abundance of fine-grained tannins and firm acidity to support pure raspberry and blackberry flavors. It tastes as if it was made for aging, so wait and drink after 2019.	Rennie Vineyard Organic Grapes	87	32	California	Yorkville Highlands	North Coast	Petit Verdot	Yorkville Cellars	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Yorkville Cellars 2013 Rennie Vineyard Organic Grapes Petit Verdot (Yorkville Highlands)
Italy	This is a beautifully fragrant Merlot from cool-climate northern Italy that shows pristine aromas of cherry, wild berry, red rose and Indian spice. The wine is structured and smooth on the finish with soft, plush tannins.	Maso delle Rose	91	39	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige	null	Merlot	Josef Weger	null	null	Josef Weger 2005 Maso delle Rose Merlot (Alto Adige)
New Zealand	This light to medium-bodied offering displays crisp and tangy lime and green apple flavors. It's a bit tart and austere overall, but features a lingering finish that would pair well with raw shellfish.	Dry	85	15	Marlborough	null	null	Riesling	Babich	null	null	null
France	From a 34-acre property that has vines both in Blaye and Bourg, this is concentrated, showing the ripe, generous fruit of the vintage. Still youthful, its blackberry juiciness lies behind its wood-aging flavors. Drink from 2020.	null	90	20	Bordeaux	Côtes de Bourg	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Métairie Neuve	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Métairie Neuve 2015 Côtes de Bourg
Chile	Earthy and smells a bit of compost along with dry leaves, grilled meat and herbal fruit. The palate is edgy, with snappy acidity propelling lean raspberry and cherry flavors. Peppery and light on the quick finish.	Reserva	84	15	Maule Valley	null	null	Merlot	Portal Del Alto	null	null	null
US	Heavy, sweet and super-oaky, like a liquid infusion of buttered popcorn, pineapple jam and vanilla meringue. Will appeal to many, but purists will find it heavy-handed and manipulated.	Proximus	84	56	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Adastra	null	null	Adastra 2006 Proximus Chardonnay (Carneros)
Italy	This dessert wine from southern Italy offers a fragrance of apricot, walnut and smoke. The palate delivers ripe but restrained apricot and honey with hints of walnut while the fresh acidity leaves the palate clean and refreshed. Drink after dinner or pair with apple pie. Serve slightly chilled.	Melizie Passito	89	45	Southern Italy	Irpinia	null	Fiano	Mastroberardino	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Mastroberardino 2012 Melizie Passito Fiano (Irpinia)
Germany	Initially plush, rounded sweet yellow apple and lemon drop flavors get a kick of acidity on the midpalate of this bright, fruity wine. Fresh and precisely framed, its finish is piercing and linear. Drink now through 2019.	Rhein	89	19	Germany	null	null	Riesling	J. Bäumer	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	J. Bäumer 2015 Rhein Riesling (Germany)
Croatia	The regular aromas and flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are here but faint—citrus, grass—and there's a stinky egg quality that overrides the whole. Earthy but odd, this wine may be a tough one to love, but it also has an interesting charm.	Unfiltered	82	null	Kutjevo	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Krauthaker	null	null	null
US	High alcohol lends an uncomfortable heat to this blend of Syrah, Grenache and Viognier. Raspberry and cherry flavors are brightened by citrusy acidity. It's ready to drink now.	Indelible	86	50	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Rhône-style Red Blend	Edmond August	null	null	Edmond August 2010 Indelible Red (Paso Robles)
France	Extra brut means that this Champagne is drier than most brut wines, while not totally dry as in brut zéro. This Extra Brut shows remarkable crispness, but also some ripeness with its apple and grapefruit flavors. It's one of those Champagnes that needs time to breathe, so open 30 minutes before you want to drink it—the bubbles won't disappear.	Grand Cru Extra Brut	90	null	Champagne	Champagne	null	Champagne Blend	Lamiable	null	null	null
France	Fresh and fruity, this is a red-berry flavored wine with as much acidity as fruit. It is lightly textured and crisp with red currant flavors. Drink from 2017. Enologist Jacques Chardat bought the property in 1991. Eric Delacroix is the consulting enologist.	null	85	null	Bordeaux	Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Labrousse	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Labrousse 2013 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
US	Lots of delicious raspberry and cherry flavors in this spicy wine, but it's just too sweet. That's probably a combination of residual sugar and extraordinarily high alcohol of 16.5%, which makes it almost Port-like.	null	87	35	California	Chiles Valley	Napa	Zinfandel	RustRidge	null	null	null
Portugal	A big dense wine, as tough as the rocks that make up the Dão soil. Its fruit is certainly there, a welter of black berries and plums. But in this young wine, the tannins are still in charge. This is going to develop, opening up, becoming less mineral, over the next three years.	Quinta do Penedo	88	6	Dão	null	null	Portuguese Red	Messias	null	null	null
Germany	Dusty minerals and subtle black cherry and bramble notes lend delicacy to this elegant, but slightly fragile, wine. Fresh cranberry acidity is brisk and cutting on the palate, leading a moderately long finish framed with soft, chalky tannins.	Dürkheimer	88	27	Pfalz	null	null	Pinot Noir	Pflüger	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Pflüger 2012 Dürkheimer Pinot Noir (Pfalz)
Portugal	Aged in barrel for 12 months, this is a rich wine. Supple tannins are integrated with the spice, toast and the black-currant fruit that are typical of the Baga grape. It is developing well, with its ripe fruits and crisp acidity at the end. Drink from 2018.	Cabo da Roca Reserva	91	20	Bairrada	null	null	Baga	Casca Wines	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Casca Wines 2015 Cabo da Roca Reserva Baga (Bairrada)
US	A very fine Pinot Noir that shows the crispness of its Central Coast origins, and also plenty of richness. Offers waves of cherries, red currants, cola and cedar, with a pleasantly stimulating bitterness. Drink this complex, food-friendly wine now and through 2011.	San Saba Vineyard	90	28	California	Monterey	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	San Saba	null	null	null
US	Very dry, tannic and full-bodied, with somewhat underripe tobacco, pepper and herb flavors behind the blackberries. More like a minor Zinfandel than a Syrah. The toughness and grittiness need softening meats and cheeses for balance.	null	83	10	California	Central Coast	Central Coast	Syrah	Cycles Gladiator	null	null	Cycles Gladiator 2008 Syrah (Central Coast)
US	The wine is blended with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Both bring their distinct contributions, the former in terms of firm tannins and black currants, the latter with a soft mellowness and suggestions of sweet red currants. The ripe red cherries seem to be all Cab Franc's. A layer of milk chocolate adds to the richness. Altogether, it's absolutely delicious and worth stashing in the cellar until 2015 or so. It's one of the best Cab Francs of the vintage.	null	93	70	California	St. Helena	Napa	Cabernet Franc	Hunnicutt	null	null	Hunnicutt 2010 Cabernet Franc (St. Helena)
US	This variety is extremely rare in Washington. Fruit-forward aromas of cranberry, cocoa powder and herbs are followed by tart, appealing flavors that linger.	Estate Wilridge Vineyard	90	35	Washington	Naches Heights	Columbia Valley	Zweigelt	Wilridge	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Wilridge 2013 Estate Wilridge Vineyard Zweigelt (Naches Heights)
US	This moderately off-dry (1% residual sugar) Columbia Valley Riesling explodes from the glass with big, round aromas suggestive of ripe melon, tropical fruits and citrus. The balance is perfect, with plenty of natural acidity. The winemaker notes, with unusual aplomb, that “With bottle aging the fermentation aromatics of Bazooka bubblegum will develop into classic, and very subtle petroleum aromas.” Who's going to argue with that?	null	91	15	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Riesling	J. Bookwalter	null	null	null
Italy	Fragrant blue flower, tilled soil and wild berry aromas lead the nose. The light-bodied, accessible palate offers tart cherry and a hint of chopped herb. It's fresh and easy drinking, with loose-knit tannins.	Saporoia	87	19	Tuscany	Rosso di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Baccinetti	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Baccinetti 2014 Saporoia (Rosso di Montalcino)
US	Hmm. A blend of 50% Sémillon from Amador County and 50% Viognier from El Dorado County that gives off much beyond a slight taste of Asian pear. Cloudy, it is also sharp and herbal.	Nr. 2	83	20	California	Sierra Foothills	Sierra Foothills	White Blend	La Clarine Farm	Virginie Boone	@vboone	La Clarine Farm 2012 Nr. 2 White (Sierra Foothills)
France	The smoky aroma and toasty wood character smothers the fruit. It is a tough wine at this stage although it does hint at some of the 2012 juicy fruit flavors. Drink this firm, solid wine from 2018.	null	87	20	Bordeaux	Saint-Estèphe	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château la Haye	null	null	null
Australia	This is a rich, powerfully oaky Shiraz, but masses of fruit show through on the finish, offering hope for the future. Now, it will appeal to the same steakhouse crowds who love Silver Oak and Caymus, but in a year or two expect the oak to partially integrate and the wine to become more complete. Drink 2010–2015.	Show Reserve	90	30	South Australia	McLaren Vale	null	Shiraz	Shingleback	null	null	null
US	Apple and tropical fruit aromas accented by mint, grass and herbal notes open to an equally bright palate of pineapple, mango and citrus flavors. In this classy, medium-bodied Chardonnay, these lively elements meet buttery vanilla notes in the mouth and flow into a long caramel finish with brisk, pepper-oak accents.	VSR	90	35	California	Monterey	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Lockwood	null	null	null
US	Almost garnet red in color, this off-dry Pinot Noir sparkling packs a punch with an abundance of juicy black cherry and plum flavor. Concentrated but festive and fun, with a candy-coated cherry finish.	Brut Rosé	85	25	New York	Cayuga Lake	Finger Lakes	Pinot Noir	Hosmer	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Hosmer NV Brut Rosé Pinot Noir (Cayuga Lake)
Austria	Crisp, clean, mineral wine, with hints of a more aromatic character in the background, this is packed with apple and lemon flavors. A straight line of delicious acidity cuts like a knife through the wine. For aging over 3–5 years. Screwcap.	Zöbing	90	null	Kamptal	null	null	Riesling	Hirsch	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Hirsch 2012 Zöbing Riesling (Kamptal)
Israel	Aromas of cassis, flint and violet prepare the palate for flavors of black currant, cherry pie, smoke and white chocolate with a hint of purple flowers. Fruit and savory flavors vie for attention among a web of lush tannins. The smooth finish is characterized by sustained floral notes.	null	90	45	Israel	null	null	Petite Sirah	Vitkin	Mike DeSimone	@worldwineguys	Vitkin 2009 Petite Sirah (Israel)
US	Despite some well-ripened red and black currant, licorice and cola flavors, this dry Zin has a bitterness in the finish that gives it a bit of a rustic feel. Drink now.	Gilsson Vineyard	84	27	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Tin Barn	null	null	null
US	Foxy, animal aromas begin your experience with this bubbly. It's rough and fruity, with a dose of sugar. It has a low price going for it, but most wine enthusiasts won't find much to like here.	Extra Dry	80	10	New York	New York	New York Other	Champagne Blend	Great Western	null	null	null
US	The winery's reserve-level bottling, this has the extra concentration to warrant the designation. Tart young berry/cherry fruit carries the brunt of the midpalate. The barrel treatment is delicately balanced, bringing in nuances of toast, coconut and almond. Very well made, and cellarworthy. Drink now through 2025.	Lorna Marie	93	70	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Patton Valley	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Patton Valley 2012 Lorna Marie Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
US	Here's a juicy, deliciously drinkable Cab. It's wonderfully ripe and rich, showing flavors of wild blackberries, black cherries, mocha, anise and cedar, with a wild, herbal streak of chamomile tea and peppermint. One of the best Cabs of the vintage from Dry Creek Valley.	null	92	45	California	Dry Creek Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Rued	null	null	null
France	This totally acidic wine is crisp and shockingly tart. Fruit has been overtaken by acidity that gives the wine a very fresh, very tangy character.	null	84	null	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Rosé	null	Rosé	Château de Lardiley	null	null	null
Portugal	A light, bright and breezy wine with an attractive citrus character and tight acidity. Great for an apéritif or with shellfish.	Monte Velho Branco	85	10	Alentejano	null	null	Portuguese White	Herdade do Esporão	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Herdade do Esporão 2010 Monte Velho Branco White (Alentejano)
US	Delicious as always, this blend brings a lot of pretty cherry and berry fruit. Big tannins and a rich mouthfeel make for a tasty, big-boned, chunky red blend, with plenty of cherry fruit flavor, and a chewy, drying finish that lingers as if demanding a grilled steak.	Rough Justice	89	20	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	Barrister	null	null	null
Chile	This winery, part of the San Pedro group, is on the right path as its wines have improved in recent vintages. This particular wine marks a high-water point; the nose mixes dry wood notes, leather, herbal berry and even some fine aged cheese. The palate is tight and forceful, with cassis, cherry and cola flavors. Powerful but poised. Drink now through 2012.	Reserva Especial	90	23	Limarí Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Viña Tabalí	null	null	null
US	This bottling, which used 40% whole clusters and 20% new French oak, shows delicate red cherry and dark cranberry fruit, with gingerbread spice and hibiscus on the layered nose. The palate is full of tangy red plum and cranberry flavors, with touches of licorice, sage and thyme.	Highlands Ranch	91	28	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Mignanelli	null	null	null
France	Dense and structured via dark, dry tannins, this is a big wine, showing power but not great subtlety. If you want solid Burgundy, this is the wine.	Les Petits Plets	87	null	Burgundy	Nuits-St.-Georges	null	Pinot Noir	Domaine de l'Arlot	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine de l'Arlot 2005 Les Petits Plets (Nuits-St.-Georges)
France	This wine proclaims itself with forward and nicely integrated aromas of black currants, lavender and toasty oak. The wine displays a great deal of finesse, and the mouthfeel is velvety and rich, with dried cherry and anise flavors that extend through the spicy, long and even finish. A very impressive red with some tannins to lose, this is one Minervois that's capable—and worthy—of aging.	Cumulo Nimbus	91	35	Languedoc-Roussillon	Minervois	null	Shiraz	Abbotts	null	null	null
US	Made in a dry, tart, minerally style, this is the kind of Chardonnay you can call Chablisian. It has an intricate structure of citrus and apricot fruit, and the oak application is modest but tasteful, providing hints of buttered toast. Understated but elegant, it's a fine, bracing Chardonnay to drink now.	null	90	28	California	Oak Knoll District	Napa	Chardonnay	Darms Lane	null	null	Darms Lane 2009 Chardonnay (Oak Knoll District)
Portugal	An impressive Pinot Noir that brings out plenty of the varietal's characteristics: the strawberry fruit flavors, the structure and the acidity. It is from the region north of Lisbon, which has a cool maritime climate, giving the wine its depth of flavor. Age for two years.	Q de Sant'Ana	90	28	Portuguese Table Wine	null	null	Pinot Noir	Quinta de Sant'Ana	null	null	null
France	Lively, fresh and packed with sweet red fruits, this is a crisp and clean Crémant. Its acidity acts like a knife, bringing out the fresh wild strawberry flavors and aromatic aftertaste.	Brut Rosé	85	26	Burgundy	Crémant de Bourgogne	null	Sparkling Blend	Cave de Bissey	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Cave de Bissey NV Brut Rosé (Crémant de Bourgogne)
US	This easy-drinking Zinfandel starts off with heady, almost Port-like aromas of berries and spice, then continues that theme on the palate, but with reasonable alcohol levels and moderate body. Chocolate, mixed berry and spice flavors trail away on the finish.	null	87	17	California	Dry Creek Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Dancing Bear Cellars	null	null	null
France	This is a solid, finely perfumed wine, the tannins giving concentration and structure. There is some severity as well, a sign that it is still settling into the bottle. But with its bitter chocolate character and tight texture, it should age well.	null	91	45	Bordeaux	Margaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Kirwan	null	null	null
US	Root beer, cola nut, black cherry, black raspberry and anise seed combine for an exciting nose on this bottling from a winery near Morgan Hill. The mouthfeel is full, with graphite and lively fennel-bulb spice mixing with blackberry fruit and an earthy elegance on the pleasing palate.	Murphy's Choice	90	50	California	Santa Cruz Mountains	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Clos LaChance	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Clos LaChance 2012 Murphy's Choice Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Italy	Penetrating and intense, with reserve-level qualities. The nose is full of bacon, leather and sandalwood in addition to pulsating red fruit. It represents the purest form of ripeness; the nose, the palate, the finish—everything is so forward it seems to be dripping juice. More chewy and soft than some of its neighbors, this may be the perfect wine to drink in the near future.	null	92	70	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Solaria	null	null	null
Italy	White almond, pressed rose, natural rubber, exotic fruit and tangy spice characterize this Grüner Veltliner. It's thickly textured, with tangy freshness on the close.	null	88	null	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige	null	Grüner Veltliner	Kuenhof	null	null	Kuenhof 2010 Grüner Veltliner (Alto Adige)
Argentina	Smoke, leather and game aromas mix with blackberry, while the palate is juicy, with plenty of crispness. Like many A-F wines, Quimera, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, is tangy and lively. Flavors of red currants and cherry have a high-toned personality, and the finish is bold. Drink now through 2014.	Quimera	88	50	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Red Blend	Achaval-Ferrer	null	null	null
Spain	Fiery, hot aromas feature raspberry, burnt leaves, balsamic notes and earth. It's wild and jumpy in the mouth, with rhubarb and cranberry defining the tight, underdeveloped palate, while the finish is tangy and almost peachy. Shows many cool-year characteristics of a 2002.	Reserva	84	20	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo	Baron De Ley	null	null	null
Italy	Aged in large casks, this opens with aromas of toast, oak, and espresso. The palate offers fleeting Golden Delicous apple and citrus along with more persistent toasted oak sensations. Overall it lacks the fruit richness needed to support the evident wood influence.	Vigneto Runcata	85	29	Veneto	Soave Superiore	null	Garganega	Dal Cero Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe	null	null	null
US	Properly varietal, dry and smoothly tannic, this has a ripe, rich blackberry-jam flavor, with a healthy overlay of sweet, smoky oak. It's a fine wine for drinking now.	Allomi	86	28	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hess	null	null	Hess 2009 Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
France	Lightly off-dry, flavored with sweet strawberries, the wine's easy flavors are just what's needed for a casual get-together.	Rosé Dry	85	10	France Other	Vin Mousseux	null	Red Blend	Marquis de la Tour	null	null	null
US	Fruit and oak combine in this young, sensuous wine to make for immediate drinkability, but it's ageable. Floods the mouth with ripe, forward flavors of blackberry pie with the smoky-sweet crust, and there are notes of cola, black currant liqueur and Indian spices. This is a very fine, elegant Cabernet, with superfine tannins. It should age well throughout the decade.	InSpire	94	60	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Boyanci	null	null	null
US	A strong and complex nose on this wine offers concentrated hibiscus and pomegranate fruit along with star anise, mace, cinnamon, rose petals and a bit of toasted bread. A sip reveals lots of flowery and herbal elements, proving light and elegant, but with lots of flavors, from tart berries to pencil lead and a lifting menthol element.	Sierra Mar Vineyard	93	55	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Bernardus	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Bernardus 2013 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)
US	Easy and direct, but appealing for its soft, silky texture and lush waves of raspberry parfait, cherry pie filling, oatmeal raisin cookie, vanilla granola and cinnamon spice flavors. Drink now.	Turner Vineyard	87	45	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Carr	null	null	null
Chile	Starts with green drawn aromas and a backing of basic berry fruit. The palate is angular and intense, with lemony, high-toned flavors of generic cherry and berry. Finishes hard, tart and citric, with toughness.	Crucero Reserva	83	13	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Siegel	null	null	null
US	Lots of oak and ripe fruit in this flashy Cabernet. Too much of both, in fact. Explodes in blackberries, cassis, buttered toast and caramel, wrapped into the ripest, sweetest tannins imaginable. But beyond the obvious palate flattery, there's not a whole lot going on.	null	87	49	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Castello di Amorosa	null	null	null
US	Dull and watery. Not much going on beyond the alcohol, although you'll find very modest citrus flavors.	null	82	15	California	Calaveras County	Sierra Foothills	Chardonnay	Albeno Munari	null	null	null
US	Here's a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, ripe and opulent, offering summer blackberry, sour cherry candy, currant, dried herb and rose petal aromas and flavors. The addition of 21% Merlot brings a candied softness, but it's still pretty tannic, and wants 4–5 years in the cellar.	Estate	92	55	California	Rutherford	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Sullivan	null	null	null
France	Warm and rounded wine, with almond flavor and the ripe red fruits to go with the intense and balancing acidity. The wine is rich, while also well textured, giving fine final acidity.	Perle de Nuit Blanc de Noirs Brut	87	22	Burgundy	Crémant de Bourgogne	null	Pinot Noir	Louis Bouillot	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Louis Bouillot NV Perle de Nuit Blanc de Noirs Brut (Crémant de Bourgogne)
France	Characteristically perfumed, this Pinot Gris is full bodied with a richness of texture. It is complex on the palate with notes of nuts, spice and an edge of citrus fruit. Age this wine and don't drink before 2016.	Cuvée Ste Catherine	94	47	Alsace	Alsace	null	Pinot Gris	Domaine Weinbach	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Weinbach 2011 Cuvée Ste Catherine Pinot Gris (Alsace)
US	Dry, with a berryskin tartness to the sour red cherries, cola and pepper, and wrapped into a silky texture. Mourvèdre is really a tough variety to perfect in California, and Cline deserves credit for trying.	Small Berry	86	35	California	Contra Costa County	Central Coast	Mourvèdre	Cline	null	null	null
Portugal	Broadened by spicy wood, this is a smooth, rich and opulent wine. It has sweet plum and black cherry flavors to go with its dense texture. There is a light sprinkling of pepper to go with the grated nutmeg and powerful core of tannins. For aging 5–6 years and more.	null	91	35	Douro	null	null	Touriga Nacional	Quinta do Vallado	null	null	null
US	Mulberry, fennel and smoldering campfire aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a winery whose direction shows great potential. A gamy and sharply acidic palate offers dried cherry and bay leaf flavors, finishing sour.	Russell Estate	87	null	California	Monterey	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	De Tierra	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	De Tierra 2012 Russell Estate Pinot Noir (Monterey)
US	Januik knows this vineyard inside and out and takes full advantage of its strengths. Despite the malolactic treatment, the wine remains firm in structure, with green apple and spiced pear fruit. It feels soft and creamy, but has enough acid to retain its lively finish, with a lick of light butterscotch and hazelnut crème. Full, rich and seamless.	Cold Creek Vineyard	90	30	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Januik Winery	null	null	null
Italy	Here's an impressive newcomer to the Montecucco (coastal Tuscany) wine scene. Thanks to abundant sunshine and fertile soils, this Sangiovese is thickly structured and enhanced by mature berry aromas and a playful touch of sour cherry.	Chorum	88	null	Tuscany	Montecucco	null	Sangiovese	Pieve Vecchia	null	null	null
US	Too green and acidic to earn a higher score, although it's pleasantly dry and clean, and there are some savory citrus flavors. But they're dominated by tart leafy tobacco and feline notes.	Reserve	82	20	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Sauvignon Blanc	Frei Brothers	null	null	null
US	Sweet as a dessert, with vanilla, buttercream, brown-sugared pastry crust and pineapple custard flavors. Lots of people like this style, but it's kind of simple.	null	83	15	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Chardonnay	Rutherford Ranch	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a wine made with an unusual blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Alicante and Carignan grapes. It opens with aromas of toasted oak, espresso and charred earth. The dense, extracted palate offers dried blackberry, baked plum, tobacco and licorice alongside a backbone of firm tannins. The fruit is drying up so drink soon.	Aragone	87	18	Tuscany	Maremma Toscana	null	Red Blend	La Mozza	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	La Mozza 2010 Aragone (Maremma Toscana)
US	This Chard doesn't taste quite ripe. There's a green pea note that compromises the citrus fruits and nectarines. Other than that, it's nicely crisp and creamy.	Thomson Vineyard	84	24	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Bravium	null	null	Bravium 2010 Thomson Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
France	While this wine is full, it has an indistinct character. A soft texture and only light fruitiness leave a dull impression.	null	84	13	Burgundy	Mâcon-Chardonnay	null	Chardonnay	Gerald Talmard	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Gerald Talmard 2016 Mâcon-Chardonnay
France	A great success, showing impressive concentration. It is almost severe to begin with, then sweet tannins sweep in. The higher than usual proportion of Merlot gives a wine that combines plumpness with black plums, figs and acidity. Obviously for aging.	null	95	null	Bordeaux	Saint-Émilion	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Cheval Blanc	null	null	null
France	One of the top Vouvray sparkling wines, this 2012 is still young. That gives it almond, quince and pear flavors along with intense bright acidity. It is still missing the richer, toasty character that will come with age. Drink from 2016.	Cuvée Prédilection Brut	91	20	Loire Valley	Vouvray	null	Chenin Blanc	Château Moncontour	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Moncontour 2012 Cuvée Prédilection Brut (Vouvray)
Italy	This is a big, mouthfilling wine, and one that suggests good things to come from the 2001 vintage in Piedmont. Starts off with clean, pure scents of cherries, plums and vanilla, with flavors that lean toward Queen Anne cherry, black-skinned plum, earth and cedar. Lush tannins cushion the long finish.	Roncaglie	90	56	Piedmont	Barbaresco	null	Nebbiolo	Poderi Colla	null	null	null
US	Intriguing lemongrass, Asian pear, chamomile, jasmine and pink grapefruit aromas arise on the nose of this dynamic single-block bottling. Tons of energy show on the sip, which is light and yet offers lots of intriguing flavors, from white sesame and chalk to lime peels and grippy yellow grapefruit pithiness.	Block UU Bien Nacido Vineyard	94	35	California	Santa Maria Valley	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Foxen	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Foxen 2015 Block UU Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley)
France	While displaying strong herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc flavors, the wine is also rich with fruitiness, offering a delicious series of green fruits followed by pineapple and tropical flavors. It's a wine that's right up front, crisp and bright at the end.	null	92	null	Bordeaux	Pessac-Léognan	null	Bordeaux-style White Blend	Château la Garde	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château la Garde 2012 Pessac-Léognan
France	From the large Beaulieu estate near Aix-en-Provence, this wine shows great fruitiness as well as a mineral texture and good depth. Ripe raspberry and red currant fruits are laced with acidity. It's very much a food rosé.	null	88	15	Provence	Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence	null	Rosé	Château Beaulieu	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Beaulieu 2013 Rosé (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence)
US	The aromas of pear, butterscotch and apricot show plenty of detail. The palate is full bodied in feel but with lighter-styled fruit flavors.	Stillwater Creek Vineyard	88	23	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Roussanne	Novelty Hill	null	null	null
Italy	Made with Nerello Mascalese, this opens with aromas of flint, ripe orchard fruit and a whiff of baked bread. The dry palate shows red apple, flint, lemon drop and Mediterranean herb alongside bright acidity and a persistent, elegant perlage.	Brut Metodo Classico	89	45	Sicily & Sardinia	Etna	null	Nerello Mascalese	Antichi Vinai 1877	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Antichi Vinai 1877 2011 Brut Metodo Classico (Etna)
US	Shows a control and nobility that's rare in California Viogniers, and you have to attribute that to the vineyard, as well as Ehren Jordan's winemaking skill. Dry and deftly oaked, the wine has a brilliant balance of acidity and fruit, with creamy flavors of peaches, grilled pineapples, honeysuckle flowers and vanilla-cinnamon. Just stunning in its intensity, one of the finest Viogniers in the state.	Alban Vineyard	94	35	California	Edna Valley	Central Coast	Viognier	Failla	null	null	null
US	This Zinfandel specialist tries its hand at Cabernet, with excellent results. With modest alcohol, the wine is thoroughly ripe, showing complex flavors of blackberries, crème de cassis, herbs and cedar. It will be fascinating to watch this Bordeaux-style wine develop over the years.	null	92	22	California	Alexander Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hobo	null	null	null
Italy	Pinot Grigio Campodipietra is a zesty, fresh wine to pair with appetizers or fried finger foods. It offers the characteristic easiness and informality of the grape variety with a soft, creamy mouthfeel that is typical of the Piave wine region in northern Italy.	Campodipietra	86	16	Veneto	Piave	null	Pinot Grigio	Dogarina	null	null	Dogarina 2009 Campodipietra Pinot Grigio (Piave)
US	Tastes young and rather raw in acidity, a tough, slightly green Pinot Noir that's totally dry. There are strong, upfront flavors of cherries, raspberries, cola and mint, edged with sweet smoky oak. Drink now.	Sierra Madre Vineyard	86	36	California	Santa Maria Valley	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Scott	null	null	null
France	A beautifully shaped wine that exudes richness balanced with lively fresh fruits. There is a tautness and minerality that adds complexity to the pineapple and spice flavors. The wine opens well in the mouth, ripeness and full fruit flavors melding easily. Delicious.	Les Folatières Premier Cru	93	101	Burgundy	Puligny-Montrachet	null	Chardonnay	Xavier Monnot	null	null	null
US	This was picked at the same time as the regular Viognier, but fermentation was stopped, leaving it as a sweet wine (about 4.8% r.s.). The fruit is laced with honey, lime and apricot; it's delicious without being cloying.	Dessert Wine	90	27	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Viognier	Chandler Reach	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Chandler Reach 2007 Dessert Wine Viognier (Yakima Valley)
US	This vineyard delivers a very smooth, soft, nicely textured Pinot Noir. Very ripe fruit leads into flavors of strawberry preserves dotted with milk chocolate. This is a silky wine, which offers flavor details in the Oregon herb-and-leaf mode. It sails through a very smooth finish.	Jacob-Hart Vineyard	92	49	Oregon	Oregon	Oregon Other	Pinot Noir	Rex Hill	null	null	null
New Zealand	Reflecting the difficulties of the vintage, this is a slightly edgy, coarsely textured wine, with sweet, oaky notes framing cherries and roasted beets. Try it with something slightly rustic, like beef stew.	Satellite	86	24	Marlborough	null	null	Pinot Noir	Spy Valley	null	null	null
Portugal	The flagship of the Altano range, this single-vineyard wine, aged in new wood, has beautiful smooth tannins to accompany its ripe berry fruits. It's open, rich and concentrated, and it could well age for 3–4 years.	Altano Quinta do Ataíde Reserva	90	24	Douro	null	null	Portuguese Red	Symington Family Estates	null	null	null
Italy	This is a fresh and easy Moscato that shows sweet tones of honey and peach nectar with background tones of white almond and melon. The wine is softly fizzy and creamy on the close.	null	84	9	Lombardy	Pavia	null	Moscato	Canti	null	null	Canti NV Moscato (Pavia)
Australia	Seamless luxury from stem to stern, this ‘baby Grange' is impressive juice. Blackberry, menthol and smoke play unusually elegantly on the nose, the texture is velvet on the tongue with dark berry, coffee, licorice and muted black pepper flavors. The superb, very long finish combines all the elements with wonderful finesse and a rare grace. Not inexpensive, but fairly priced; you could pay twice as much for half the wine, almost any day in any fine wine store in the country. To be released 5/01.	RWT	95	70	South Australia	Barossa Valley	null	Shiraz	Penfolds	null	null	Penfolds 1998 RWT Shiraz (Barossa Valley)

US

Rambunctious and brawny, it's burly in dark color and oaky black cherry and blackberry, with a pastoral earthiness. Higher in alcohol and tannin than many other Marimar wines, it's velvety on the palate, finishing with a meaty taste of game or bacon.

Don Miguel Vineyard Cristina

87

57

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Marimar Estate

null

Spain

Dark, fiery, forceful and woody, with aromas of sawdust atop black fruit. The palate is zesty, lively and hard, with biting tannins raising up flavors of blackberry and pepper. Acidic, rough and tough, but with good flavors and a decent amount of integrity.

null

85

16

Central Spain

La Mancha

null

Tempranillo

Volver

null

Portugal

Young vines give a fruity style of wine with attractive violet aromas and black-fruit flavors. The wine has powerful dense tannins, spice from the wood aging and a cooler, mineral texture at the end. It is a rich wine, just now ready to drink.

null

92

35

Dão

null

Touriga Nacional

Quinta de Lemos

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Quinta de Lemos 2010 Touriga Nacional (Dão)

US

Among the four vineyards used by Angel Vine, the Avery stands apart for its detail, grip and length. Blue fruits take center stage—plums and berries—along with a tasty lick of coffee and chocolate. You may pick up a hint of the tack room and a streak of fennel in the finish.

Avery Vineyard

91

20

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Zinfandel

Angel Vine

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Angel Vine 2011 Avery Vineyard Zinfandel (Columbia Valley (WA))

Italy

Lapaccio is an easy and informal expression of Primitivo, with simple cherry and cola aromas. In the mouth, it shows a sweet-tasting red-fruit flavor.

Lapaccio

84

14

Southern Italy

Salento

null

Primitivo

Pasqua

null

US

Subtle, intricate aromas and equally sophisticated flavors of baking spices, tamarind and cherries make this a fascinating wine to taste. It's full bodied but lithe. Energizing acidity and firm tannins give it great structure and help carry the complex flavors through a lingering finish.

Helluva vineyard

93

35

California

Anderson Valley

null

Pinot Noir

Betwixt

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Betwixt 2015 Helluva vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)

Chile

This chunky, full-volume wine straddles the line between soft tropical tones and a cool, crisp character. Hard-pounding orange and grapefruit flavors finish monotone and citric. This is vital but lacks sophistication.

Block Selection Tinga Reserve

84

12

Limarí Valley

null

Sauvignon Blanc

La Playa

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

La Playa 2014 Block Selection Tinga Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Limarí Valley)

US

Strong aromas and flavors like buttered toast and caramel make this full-bodied wine an extrovert. The texture is broad and soft, and candy-like flavors keep coming on the finish.

DeMayo Vineyard

89

30

California

Livermore Valley

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Darcie Kent Vineyards

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Darcie Kent Vineyards 2014 DeMayo Vineyard Chardonnay (Livermore Valley)

US

This comes on like a fairly simple cherry and chocolate Cab, until some herbal (some might say stemmy) flavors kick in midpalate. The finish is oaky, mixing chocolate and coffee streaks.

null

87

16

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pend d'Oreille

null

US

This is a highly structured wine with an abundance of fine-grained tannins and firm acidity to support pure raspberry and blackberry flavors. It tastes as if it was made for aging, so wait and drink after 2019.

Rennie Vineyard Organic Grapes

87

32

California

Yorkville Highlands

North Coast

Petit Verdot

Yorkville Cellars

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Yorkville Cellars 2013 Rennie Vineyard Organic Grapes Petit Verdot (Yorkville Highlands)

Italy

This is a beautifully fragrant Merlot from cool-climate northern Italy that shows pristine aromas of cherry, wild berry, red rose and Indian spice. The wine is structured and smooth on the finish with soft, plush tannins.

Maso delle Rose

91

39

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige

null

Merlot

Josef Weger

null

Josef Weger 2005 Maso delle Rose Merlot (Alto Adige)

New Zealand

This light to medium-bodied offering displays crisp and tangy lime and green apple flavors. It's a bit tart and austere overall, but features a lingering finish that would pair well with raw shellfish.

Dry

85

15

Marlborough

null

Riesling

Babich

null

France

From a 34-acre property that has vines both in Blaye and Bourg, this is concentrated, showing the ripe, generous fruit of the vintage. Still youthful, its blackberry juiciness lies behind its wood-aging flavors. Drink from 2020.

null

90

20

Bordeaux

Côtes de Bourg

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Métairie Neuve

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Métairie Neuve 2015 Côtes de Bourg

Chile

Earthy and smells a bit of compost along with dry leaves, grilled meat and herbal fruit. The palate is edgy, with snappy acidity propelling lean raspberry and cherry flavors. Peppery and light on the quick finish.

Reserva

84

15

Maule Valley

null

Merlot

Portal Del Alto

null

US

Heavy, sweet and super-oaky, like a liquid infusion of buttered popcorn, pineapple jam and vanilla meringue. Will appeal to many, but purists will find it heavy-handed and manipulated.

Proximus

84

56

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Adastra

null

Adastra 2006 Proximus Chardonnay (Carneros)

Italy

This dessert wine from southern Italy offers a fragrance of apricot, walnut and smoke. The palate delivers ripe but restrained apricot and honey with hints of walnut while the fresh acidity leaves the palate clean and refreshed. Drink after dinner or pair with apple pie. Serve slightly chilled.

Melizie Passito

89

45

Southern Italy

Irpinia

null

Fiano

Mastroberardino

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Mastroberardino 2012 Melizie Passito Fiano (Irpinia)

Germany

Initially plush, rounded sweet yellow apple and lemon drop flavors get a kick of acidity on the midpalate of this bright, fruity wine. Fresh and precisely framed, its finish is piercing and linear. Drink now through 2019.

Rhein

89

19

Germany

null

Riesling

J. Bäumer

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

J. Bäumer 2015 Rhein Riesling (Germany)

Croatia

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

Unfiltered

82

null

Kutjevo

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Krauthaker

null

US

High alcohol lends an uncomfortable heat to this blend of Syrah, Grenache and Viognier. Raspberry and cherry flavors are brightened by citrusy acidity. It's ready to drink now.

Indelible

86

50

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Rhône-style Red Blend

Edmond August

null

Edmond August 2010 Indelible Red (Paso Robles)

France

Extra brut means that this Champagne is drier than most brut wines, while not totally dry as in brut zéro. This Extra Brut shows remarkable crispness, but also some ripeness with its apple and grapefruit flavors. It's one of those Champagnes that needs time to breathe, so open 30 minutes before you want to drink it—the bubbles won't disappear.

Grand Cru Extra Brut

90

null

Champagne

null

Champagne Blend

Lamiable

null

France

Fresh and fruity, this is a red-berry flavored wine with as much acidity as fruit. It is lightly textured and crisp with red currant flavors. Drink from 2017. Enologist Jacques Chardat bought the property in 1991. Eric Delacroix is the consulting enologist.

null

85

null

Bordeaux

Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Labrousse

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Labrousse 2013 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

US

Lots of delicious raspberry and cherry flavors in this spicy wine, but it's just too sweet. That's probably a combination of residual sugar and extraordinarily high alcohol of 16.5%, which makes it almost Port-like.

null

87

35

California

Chiles Valley

Napa

Zinfandel

RustRidge

null

Portugal

A big dense wine, as tough as the rocks that make up the Dão soil. Its fruit is certainly there, a welter of black berries and plums. But in this young wine, the tannins are still in charge. This is going to develop, opening up, becoming less mineral, over the next three years.

Quinta do Penedo

88

6

Dão

null

Portuguese Red

Messias

null

Germany

Dusty minerals and subtle black cherry and bramble notes lend delicacy to this elegant, but slightly fragile, wine. Fresh cranberry acidity is brisk and cutting on the palate, leading a moderately long finish framed with soft, chalky tannins.

Dürkheimer

88

27

Pfalz

null

Pinot Noir

Pflüger

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Pflüger 2012 Dürkheimer Pinot Noir (Pfalz)

Portugal

Aged in barrel for 12 months, this is a rich wine. Supple tannins are integrated with the spice, toast and the black-currant fruit that are typical of the Baga grape. It is developing well, with its ripe fruits and crisp acidity at the end. Drink from 2018.

Cabo da Roca Reserva

91

20

Bairrada

null

Baga

Casca Wines

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Casca Wines 2015 Cabo da Roca Reserva Baga (Bairrada)

US

A very fine Pinot Noir that shows the crispness of its Central Coast origins, and also plenty of richness. Offers waves of cherries, red currants, cola and cedar, with a pleasantly stimulating bitterness. Drink this complex, food-friendly wine now and through 2011.

San Saba Vineyard

90

28

California

Monterey

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

San Saba

null

US

Very dry, tannic and full-bodied, with somewhat underripe tobacco, pepper and herb flavors behind the blackberries. More like a minor Zinfandel than a Syrah. The toughness and grittiness need softening meats and cheeses for balance.

null

83

10

California

Central Coast

Syrah

Cycles Gladiator

null

Cycles Gladiator 2008 Syrah (Central Coast)

US

The wine is blended with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Both bring their distinct contributions, the former in terms of firm tannins and black currants, the latter with a soft mellowness and suggestions of sweet red currants. The ripe red cherries seem to be all Cab Franc's. A layer of milk chocolate adds to the richness. Altogether, it's absolutely delicious and worth stashing in the cellar until 2015 or so. It's one of the best Cab Francs of the vintage.

null

93

70

California

St. Helena

Napa

Cabernet Franc

Hunnicutt

null

Hunnicutt 2010 Cabernet Franc (St. Helena)

US

This variety is extremely rare in Washington. Fruit-forward aromas of cranberry, cocoa powder and herbs are followed by tart, appealing flavors that linger.

Estate Wilridge Vineyard

90

35

Washington

Naches Heights

Columbia Valley

Zweigelt

Wilridge

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Wilridge 2013 Estate Wilridge Vineyard Zweigelt (Naches Heights)

US

This moderately off-dry (1% residual sugar) Columbia Valley Riesling explodes from the glass with big, round aromas suggestive of ripe melon, tropical fruits and citrus. The balance is perfect, with plenty of natural acidity. The winemaker notes, with unusual aplomb, that “With bottle aging the fermentation aromatics of Bazooka bubblegum will develop into classic, and very subtle petroleum aromas.” Who's going to argue with that?

null

91

15

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Riesling

J. Bookwalter

null

Italy

Fragrant blue flower, tilled soil and wild berry aromas lead the nose. The light-bodied, accessible palate offers tart cherry and a hint of chopped herb. It's fresh and easy drinking, with loose-knit tannins.

Saporoia

87

19

Tuscany

Rosso di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Baccinetti

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Baccinetti 2014 Saporoia (Rosso di Montalcino)

US

Hmm. A blend of 50% Sémillon from Amador County and 50% Viognier from El Dorado County that gives off much beyond a slight taste of Asian pear. Cloudy, it is also sharp and herbal.

Nr. 2

83

20

California

Sierra Foothills

White Blend

La Clarine Farm

Virginie Boone

@vboone

La Clarine Farm 2012 Nr. 2 White (Sierra Foothills)

France

The smoky aroma and toasty wood character smothers the fruit. It is a tough wine at this stage although it does hint at some of the 2012 juicy fruit flavors. Drink this firm, solid wine from 2018.

null

87

20

Bordeaux

Saint-Estèphe

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château la Haye

null

Australia

This is a rich, powerfully oaky Shiraz, but masses of fruit show through on the finish, offering hope for the future. Now, it will appeal to the same steakhouse crowds who love Silver Oak and Caymus, but in a year or two expect the oak to partially integrate and the wine to become more complete. Drink 2010–2015.

Show Reserve

90

30

South Australia

McLaren Vale

null

Shiraz

Shingleback

null

US

Apple and tropical fruit aromas accented by mint, grass and herbal notes open to an equally bright palate of pineapple, mango and citrus flavors. In this classy, medium-bodied Chardonnay, these lively elements meet buttery vanilla notes in the mouth and flow into a long caramel finish with brisk, pepper-oak accents.

VSR

90

35

California

Monterey

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Lockwood

null

US

Almost garnet red in color, this off-dry Pinot Noir sparkling packs a punch with an abundance of juicy black cherry and plum flavor. Concentrated but festive and fun, with a candy-coated cherry finish.

Brut Rosé

85

25

New York

Cayuga Lake

Finger Lakes

Pinot Noir

Hosmer

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Hosmer NV Brut Rosé Pinot Noir (Cayuga Lake)

Austria

Crisp, clean, mineral wine, with hints of a more aromatic character in the background, this is packed with apple and lemon flavors. A straight line of delicious acidity cuts like a knife through the wine. For aging over 3–5 years. Screwcap.

Zöbing

90

null

Kamptal

null

Riesling

Hirsch

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Hirsch 2012 Zöbing Riesling (Kamptal)

Israel

Aromas of cassis, flint and violet prepare the palate for flavors of black currant, cherry pie, smoke and white chocolate with a hint of purple flowers. Fruit and savory flavors vie for attention among a web of lush tannins. The smooth finish is characterized by sustained floral notes.

null

90

45

Israel

null

Petite Sirah

Vitkin

Mike DeSimone

@worldwineguys

Vitkin 2009 Petite Sirah (Israel)

US

Despite some well-ripened red and black currant, licorice and cola flavors, this dry Zin has a bitterness in the finish that gives it a bit of a rustic feel. Drink now.

Gilsson Vineyard

84

27

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Tin Barn

null

US

Foxy, animal aromas begin your experience with this bubbly. It's rough and fruity, with a dose of sugar. It has a low price going for it, but most wine enthusiasts won't find much to like here.

Extra Dry

80

10

New York

New York Other

Champagne Blend

Great Western

null

US

The winery's reserve-level bottling, this has the extra concentration to warrant the designation. Tart young berry/cherry fruit carries the brunt of the midpalate. The barrel treatment is delicately balanced, bringing in nuances of toast, coconut and almond. Very well made, and cellarworthy. Drink now through 2025.

Lorna Marie

93

70

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Patton Valley

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Patton Valley 2012 Lorna Marie Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

US

Here's a juicy, deliciously drinkable Cab. It's wonderfully ripe and rich, showing flavors of wild blackberries, black cherries, mocha, anise and cedar, with a wild, herbal streak of chamomile tea and peppermint. One of the best Cabs of the vintage from Dry Creek Valley.

null

92

45

California

Dry Creek Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Rued

null

France

This totally acidic wine is crisp and shockingly tart. Fruit has been overtaken by acidity that gives the wine a very fresh, very tangy character.

null

84

null

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Rosé

null

Rosé

Château de Lardiley

null

Portugal

A light, bright and breezy wine with an attractive citrus character and tight acidity. Great for an apéritif or with shellfish.

Monte Velho Branco

85

10

Alentejano

null

Portuguese White

Herdade do Esporão

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Herdade do Esporão 2010 Monte Velho Branco White (Alentejano)

US

Delicious as always, this blend brings a lot of pretty cherry and berry fruit. Big tannins and a rich mouthfeel make for a tasty, big-boned, chunky red blend, with plenty of cherry fruit flavor, and a chewy, drying finish that lingers as if demanding a grilled steak.

Rough Justice

89

20

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

Barrister

null

Chile

This winery, part of the San Pedro group, is on the right path as its wines have improved in recent vintages. This particular wine marks a high-water point; the nose mixes dry wood notes, leather, herbal berry and even some fine aged cheese. The palate is tight and forceful, with cassis, cherry and cola flavors. Powerful but poised. Drink now through 2012.

Reserva Especial

90

23

Limarí Valley

null

Red Blend

Viña Tabalí

null

US

This bottling, which used 40% whole clusters and 20% new French oak, shows delicate red cherry and dark cranberry fruit, with gingerbread spice and hibiscus on the layered nose. The palate is full of tangy red plum and cranberry flavors, with touches of licorice, sage and thyme.

Highlands Ranch

91

28

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Mignanelli

null

France

Dense and structured via dark, dry tannins, this is a big wine, showing power but not great subtlety. If you want solid Burgundy, this is the wine.

Les Petits Plets

87

null

Burgundy

Nuits-St.-Georges

null

Pinot Noir

Domaine de l'Arlot

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine de l'Arlot 2005 Les Petits Plets (Nuits-St.-Georges)

France

This wine proclaims itself with forward and nicely integrated aromas of black currants, lavender and toasty oak. The wine displays a great deal of finesse, and the mouthfeel is velvety and rich, with dried cherry and anise flavors that extend through the spicy, long and even finish. A very impressive red with some tannins to lose, this is one Minervois that's capable—and worthy—of aging.

Cumulo Nimbus

91

35

Languedoc-Roussillon

Minervois

null

Shiraz

Abbotts

null

US

Made in a dry, tart, minerally style, this is the kind of Chardonnay you can call Chablisian. It has an intricate structure of citrus and apricot fruit, and the oak application is modest but tasteful, providing hints of buttered toast. Understated but elegant, it's a fine, bracing Chardonnay to drink now.

null

90

28

California

Oak Knoll District

Napa

Chardonnay

Darms Lane

null

Darms Lane 2009 Chardonnay (Oak Knoll District)

Portugal

An impressive Pinot Noir that brings out plenty of the varietal's characteristics: the strawberry fruit flavors, the structure and the acidity. It is from the region north of Lisbon, which has a cool maritime climate, giving the wine its depth of flavor. Age for two years.

Q de Sant'Ana

90

28

Portuguese Table Wine

null

Pinot Noir

Quinta de Sant'Ana

null

France

Lively, fresh and packed with sweet red fruits, this is a crisp and clean Crémant. Its acidity acts like a knife, bringing out the fresh wild strawberry flavors and aromatic aftertaste.

Brut Rosé

85

26

Burgundy

Crémant de Bourgogne

null

Sparkling Blend

Cave de Bissey

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Cave de Bissey NV Brut Rosé (Crémant de Bourgogne)

US

This easy-drinking Zinfandel starts off with heady, almost Port-like aromas of berries and spice, then continues that theme on the palate, but with reasonable alcohol levels and moderate body. Chocolate, mixed berry and spice flavors trail away on the finish.

null

87

17

California

Dry Creek Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Dancing Bear Cellars

null

France

This is a solid, finely perfumed wine, the tannins giving concentration and structure. There is some severity as well, a sign that it is still settling into the bottle. But with its bitter chocolate character and tight texture, it should age well.

null

91

45

Bordeaux

Margaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Kirwan

null

US

Root beer, cola nut, black cherry, black raspberry and anise seed combine for an exciting nose on this bottling from a winery near Morgan Hill. The mouthfeel is full, with graphite and lively fennel-bulb spice mixing with blackberry fruit and an earthy elegance on the pleasing palate.

Murphy's Choice

90

50

California

Santa Cruz Mountains

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Clos LaChance

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Clos LaChance 2012 Murphy's Choice Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Italy

Penetrating and intense, with reserve-level qualities. The nose is full of bacon, leather and sandalwood in addition to pulsating red fruit. It represents the purest form of ripeness; the nose, the palate, the finish—everything is so forward it seems to be dripping juice. More chewy and soft than some of its neighbors, this may be the perfect wine to drink in the near future.

null

92

70

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Solaria

null

Italy

White almond, pressed rose, natural rubber, exotic fruit and tangy spice characterize this Grüner Veltliner. It's thickly textured, with tangy freshness on the close.

null

88

null

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige

null

Grüner Veltliner

Kuenhof

null

Kuenhof 2010 Grüner Veltliner (Alto Adige)

Argentina

Smoke, leather and game aromas mix with blackberry, while the palate is juicy, with plenty of crispness. Like many A-F wines, Quimera, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, is tangy and lively. Flavors of red currants and cherry have a high-toned personality, and the finish is bold. Drink now through 2014.

Quimera

88

50

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Red Blend

Achaval-Ferrer

null

Spain

Fiery, hot aromas feature raspberry, burnt leaves, balsamic notes and earth. It's wild and jumpy in the mouth, with rhubarb and cranberry defining the tight, underdeveloped palate, while the finish is tangy and almost peachy. Shows many cool-year characteristics of a 2002.

Reserva

84

20

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo

Baron De Ley

null

Italy

Aged in large casks, this opens with aromas of toast, oak, and espresso. The palate offers fleeting Golden Delicous apple and citrus along with more persistent toasted oak sensations. Overall it lacks the fruit richness needed to support the evident wood influence.

Vigneto Runcata

85

29

Veneto

Soave Superiore

null

Garganega

Dal Cero Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe

null

US

Properly varietal, dry and smoothly tannic, this has a ripe, rich blackberry-jam flavor, with a healthy overlay of sweet, smoky oak. It's a fine wine for drinking now.

Allomi

86

28

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hess

null

Hess 2009 Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

France

Lightly off-dry, flavored with sweet strawberries, the wine's easy flavors are just what's needed for a casual get-together.

Rosé Dry

85

10

France Other

Vin Mousseux

null

Red Blend

Marquis de la Tour

null

US

Fruit and oak combine in this young, sensuous wine to make for immediate drinkability, but it's ageable. Floods the mouth with ripe, forward flavors of blackberry pie with the smoky-sweet crust, and there are notes of cola, black currant liqueur and Indian spices. This is a very fine, elegant Cabernet, with superfine tannins. It should age well throughout the decade.

InSpire

94

60

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Boyanci

null

US

A strong and complex nose on this wine offers concentrated hibiscus and pomegranate fruit along with star anise, mace, cinnamon, rose petals and a bit of toasted bread. A sip reveals lots of flowery and herbal elements, proving light and elegant, but with lots of flavors, from tart berries to pencil lead and a lifting menthol element.

Sierra Mar Vineyard

93

55

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Bernardus

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Bernardus 2013 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)

US

Easy and direct, but appealing for its soft, silky texture and lush waves of raspberry parfait, cherry pie filling, oatmeal raisin cookie, vanilla granola and cinnamon spice flavors. Drink now.

Turner Vineyard

87

45

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Carr

null

Chile

Starts with green drawn aromas and a backing of basic berry fruit. The palate is angular and intense, with lemony, high-toned flavors of generic cherry and berry. Finishes hard, tart and citric, with toughness.

Crucero Reserva

83

13

Colchagua Valley

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Siegel

null

US

Lots of oak and ripe fruit in this flashy Cabernet. Too much of both, in fact. Explodes in blackberries, cassis, buttered toast and caramel, wrapped into the ripest, sweetest tannins imaginable. But beyond the obvious palate flattery, there's not a whole lot going on.

null

87

49

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Castello di Amorosa

null

US

Dull and watery. Not much going on beyond the alcohol, although you'll find very modest citrus flavors.

null

82

15

California

Calaveras County

Sierra Foothills

Chardonnay

Albeno Munari

null

US

Here's a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, ripe and opulent, offering summer blackberry, sour cherry candy, currant, dried herb and rose petal aromas and flavors. The addition of 21% Merlot brings a candied softness, but it's still pretty tannic, and wants 4–5 years in the cellar.

Estate

92

55

California

Rutherford

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sullivan

null

France

Warm and rounded wine, with almond flavor and the ripe red fruits to go with the intense and balancing acidity. The wine is rich, while also well textured, giving fine final acidity.

Perle de Nuit Blanc de Noirs Brut

87

22

Burgundy

Crémant de Bourgogne

null

Pinot Noir

Louis Bouillot

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Louis Bouillot NV Perle de Nuit Blanc de Noirs Brut (Crémant de Bourgogne)

France

Characteristically perfumed, this Pinot Gris is full bodied with a richness of texture. It is complex on the palate with notes of nuts, spice and an edge of citrus fruit. Age this wine and don't drink before 2016.

Cuvée Ste Catherine

94

47

Alsace

null

Pinot Gris

Domaine Weinbach

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Weinbach 2011 Cuvée Ste Catherine Pinot Gris (Alsace)

US

Dry, with a berryskin tartness to the sour red cherries, cola and pepper, and wrapped into a silky texture. Mourvèdre is really a tough variety to perfect in California, and Cline deserves credit for trying.

Small Berry

86

35

California

Contra Costa County

Central Coast

Mourvèdre

Cline

null

Portugal

Broadened by spicy wood, this is a smooth, rich and opulent wine. It has sweet plum and black cherry flavors to go with its dense texture. There is a light sprinkling of pepper to go with the grated nutmeg and powerful core of tannins. For aging 5–6 years and more.

null

91

35

Douro

null

Touriga Nacional

Quinta do Vallado

null

US

Mulberry, fennel and smoldering campfire aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a winery whose direction shows great potential. A gamy and sharply acidic palate offers dried cherry and bay leaf flavors, finishing sour.

Russell Estate

87

null

California

Monterey

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

De Tierra

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

De Tierra 2012 Russell Estate Pinot Noir (Monterey)

US

Januik knows this vineyard inside and out and takes full advantage of its strengths. Despite the malolactic treatment, the wine remains firm in structure, with green apple and spiced pear fruit. It feels soft and creamy, but has enough acid to retain its lively finish, with a lick of light butterscotch and hazelnut crème. Full, rich and seamless.

Cold Creek Vineyard

90

30

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Januik Winery

null

Italy

Here's an impressive newcomer to the Montecucco (coastal Tuscany) wine scene. Thanks to abundant sunshine and fertile soils, this Sangiovese is thickly structured and enhanced by mature berry aromas and a playful touch of sour cherry.

Chorum

88

null

Tuscany

Montecucco

null

Sangiovese

Pieve Vecchia

null

US

Too green and acidic to earn a higher score, although it's pleasantly dry and clean, and there are some savory citrus flavors. But they're dominated by tart leafy tobacco and feline notes.

Reserve

82

20

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Sauvignon Blanc

Frei Brothers

null

US

Sweet as a dessert, with vanilla, buttercream, brown-sugared pastry crust and pineapple custard flavors. Lots of people like this style, but it's kind of simple.

null

83

15

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Chardonnay

Rutherford Ranch

null

Italy

Here's a wine made with an unusual blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Alicante and Carignan grapes. It opens with aromas of toasted oak, espresso and charred earth. The dense, extracted palate offers dried blackberry, baked plum, tobacco and licorice alongside a backbone of firm tannins. The fruit is drying up so drink soon.

Aragone

87

18

Tuscany

Maremma Toscana

null

Red Blend

La Mozza

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

La Mozza 2010 Aragone (Maremma Toscana)

US

This Chard doesn't taste quite ripe. There's a green pea note that compromises the citrus fruits and nectarines. Other than that, it's nicely crisp and creamy.

Thomson Vineyard

84

24

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Bravium

null

Bravium 2010 Thomson Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)

France

While this wine is full, it has an indistinct character. A soft texture and only light fruitiness leave a dull impression.

null

84

13

Burgundy

Mâcon-Chardonnay

null

Chardonnay

Gerald Talmard

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Gerald Talmard 2016 Mâcon-Chardonnay

France

A great success, showing impressive concentration. It is almost severe to begin with, then sweet tannins sweep in. The higher than usual proportion of Merlot gives a wine that combines plumpness with black plums, figs and acidity. Obviously for aging.

null

95

null

Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Cheval Blanc

null

France

One of the top Vouvray sparkling wines, this 2012 is still young. That gives it almond, quince and pear flavors along with intense bright acidity. It is still missing the richer, toasty character that will come with age. Drink from 2016.

Cuvée Prédilection Brut

91

20

Loire Valley

Vouvray

null

Chenin Blanc

Château Moncontour

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Moncontour 2012 Cuvée Prédilection Brut (Vouvray)

Italy

This is a big, mouthfilling wine, and one that suggests good things to come from the 2001 vintage in Piedmont. Starts off with clean, pure scents of cherries, plums and vanilla, with flavors that lean toward Queen Anne cherry, black-skinned plum, earth and cedar. Lush tannins cushion the long finish.

Roncaglie

90

56

Piedmont

Barbaresco

null

Nebbiolo

Poderi Colla

null

US

Intriguing lemongrass, Asian pear, chamomile, jasmine and pink grapefruit aromas arise on the nose of this dynamic single-block bottling. Tons of energy show on the sip, which is light and yet offers lots of intriguing flavors, from white sesame and chalk to lime peels and grippy yellow grapefruit pithiness.

Block UU Bien Nacido Vineyard

94

35

California

Santa Maria Valley

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Foxen

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Foxen 2015 Block UU Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley)

France

While displaying strong herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc flavors, the wine is also rich with fruitiness, offering a delicious series of green fruits followed by pineapple and tropical flavors. It's a wine that's right up front, crisp and bright at the end.

null

92

null

Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan

null

Bordeaux-style White Blend

Château la Garde

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château la Garde 2012 Pessac-Léognan

France

From the large Beaulieu estate near Aix-en-Provence, this wine shows great fruitiness as well as a mineral texture and good depth. Ripe raspberry and red currant fruits are laced with acidity. It's very much a food rosé.

null

88

15

Provence

Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

null

Rosé

Château Beaulieu

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Beaulieu 2013 Rosé (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence)

US

The aromas of pear, butterscotch and apricot show plenty of detail. The palate is full bodied in feel but with lighter-styled fruit flavors.

Stillwater Creek Vineyard

88

23

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Roussanne

Novelty Hill

null

Italy

Made with Nerello Mascalese, this opens with aromas of flint, ripe orchard fruit and a whiff of baked bread. The dry palate shows red apple, flint, lemon drop and Mediterranean herb alongside bright acidity and a persistent, elegant perlage.

Brut Metodo Classico

89

45

Sicily & Sardinia

Etna

null

Nerello Mascalese

Antichi Vinai 1877

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Antichi Vinai 1877 2011 Brut Metodo Classico (Etna)

US

Shows a control and nobility that's rare in California Viogniers, and you have to attribute that to the vineyard, as well as Ehren Jordan's winemaking skill. Dry and deftly oaked, the wine has a brilliant balance of acidity and fruit, with creamy flavors of peaches, grilled pineapples, honeysuckle flowers and vanilla-cinnamon. Just stunning in its intensity, one of the finest Viogniers in the state.

Alban Vineyard

94

35

California

Edna Valley

Central Coast

Viognier

Failla

null

US

This Zinfandel specialist tries its hand at Cabernet, with excellent results. With modest alcohol, the wine is thoroughly ripe, showing complex flavors of blackberries, crème de cassis, herbs and cedar. It will be fascinating to watch this Bordeaux-style wine develop over the years.

null

92

22

California

Alexander Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hobo

null

Italy

Pinot Grigio Campodipietra is a zesty, fresh wine to pair with appetizers or fried finger foods. It offers the characteristic easiness and informality of the grape variety with a soft, creamy mouthfeel that is typical of the Piave wine region in northern Italy.

Campodipietra

86

16

Veneto

Piave

null

Pinot Grigio

Dogarina

null

Dogarina 2009 Campodipietra Pinot Grigio (Piave)

US

Tastes young and rather raw in acidity, a tough, slightly green Pinot Noir that's totally dry. There are strong, upfront flavors of cherries, raspberries, cola and mint, edged with sweet smoky oak. Drink now.

Sierra Madre Vineyard

86

36

California

Santa Maria Valley

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Scott

null

France

A beautifully shaped wine that exudes richness balanced with lively fresh fruits. There is a tautness and minerality that adds complexity to the pineapple and spice flavors. The wine opens well in the mouth, ripeness and full fruit flavors melding easily. Delicious.

Les Folatières Premier Cru

93

101

Burgundy

Puligny-Montrachet

null

Chardonnay

Xavier Monnot

null

US

This was picked at the same time as the regular Viognier, but fermentation was stopped, leaving it as a sweet wine (about 4.8% r.s.). The fruit is laced with honey, lime and apricot; it's delicious without being cloying.

Dessert Wine

90

27

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Viognier

Chandler Reach

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Chandler Reach 2007 Dessert Wine Viognier (Yakima Valley)

US

This vineyard delivers a very smooth, soft, nicely textured Pinot Noir. Very ripe fruit leads into flavors of strawberry preserves dotted with milk chocolate. This is a silky wine, which offers flavor details in the Oregon herb-and-leaf mode. It sails through a very smooth finish.

Jacob-Hart Vineyard

92

49

Oregon

Oregon Other

Pinot Noir

Rex Hill

null

New Zealand

Reflecting the difficulties of the vintage, this is a slightly edgy, coarsely textured wine, with sweet, oaky notes framing cherries and roasted beets. Try it with something slightly rustic, like beef stew.

Satellite

86

24

Marlborough

null

Pinot Noir

Spy Valley

null

Portugal

The flagship of the Altano range, this single-vineyard wine, aged in new wood, has beautiful smooth tannins to accompany its ripe berry fruits. It's open, rich and concentrated, and it could well age for 3–4 years.

Altano Quinta do Ataíde Reserva

90

24

Douro

null

Portuguese Red

Symington Family Estates

null

Italy

This is a fresh and easy Moscato that shows sweet tones of honey and peach nectar with background tones of white almond and melon. The wine is softly fizzy and creamy on the close.

null

84

9

Lombardy

Pavia

null

Moscato

Canti

null

Canti NV Moscato (Pavia)

Australia

Seamless luxury from stem to stern, this ‘baby Grange' is impressive juice. Blackberry, menthol and smoke play unusually elegantly on the nose, the texture is velvet on the tongue with dark berry, coffee, licorice and muted black pepper flavors. The superb, very long finish combines all the elements with wonderful finesse and a rare grace. Not inexpensive, but fairly priced; you could pay twice as much for half the wine, almost any day in any fine wine store in the country. To be released 5/01.

RWT

95

70

South Australia

Barossa Valley

null

Shiraz

Penfolds

null

Penfolds 1998 RWT Shiraz (Barossa Valley)