spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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France	Hugely concentrated, powerful and ageworthy, this has mint and new wood aromas. It has rich damson and blackberry fruits that push through the mineral texture and dark tannins, filling the mouth with its exuberant ripeness. Age for four years.	Les Acacias	92	40	Southwest France	Cahors	null	Malbec	Mas del Périé	null	null	null
US	A whisper of a wine made from Chardonnay grapes as a pétillant naturel, or pet-nat, this third vintage of Lily's Cuvée should prove as enormously popular as the prior two, dry, delicious and unbearably light. No sugar or yeast are added and the grapes are whole-cluster pressed. There's no better wine for midday picnics or hikes in the woods.	Lily's Cuvée	90	30	California	Anderson Valley	null	Chardonnay	Donkey & Goat	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Donkey & Goat 2013 Lily's Cuvée Chardonnay (Anderson Valley)
US	From the producer's beloved Atlas Peak planting, M is a powerhouse of brawny flavor and earthy minerality, a mix of chocolate, coffee and blackberry jam that's burly in size and scope. Spicy, it layers on savory elements of tar, leather and tobacco, complementing with ease the forceful fruit and supportive oak.	M by Michael Mondavi	94	200	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Michael Mondavi Family Estate	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Michael Mondavi Family Estate 2013 M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
US	From a vineyard above Santa Paula, this bottling shows black plum, underripe berry and cedar touches on the nose. Tart black fruit marks the palate, lifted by dried lilac elements and lava rock minerality, all held together by upright tannins. Persistent acidity leaves the mouth zinging.	South Mountain Vineyard	88	24	California	Ventura County	Central Coast	Petit Verdot	Clos des Amis	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Clos des Amis 2015 South Mountain Vineyard Petit Verdot (Ventura County)
US	Tart and sharp, with a pleasing tang and snap. The complex, clean and crisp flavors layer fig, citrus rind and clove with high notes of candied orange and citrus blossom. Great varietal character, cool-climate acidity; this is very sophisticated winemaking with spot-on flavors.	null	90	17	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Sémillon	Chinook	null	null	null
Spain	Hidalgo may be based in Sherry, but this foray into Rioja is a success. This warm-vintage wine is rich and ripe, with earthy, baked plum and blackberry aromas. A full, drawing, muscular palate along with lusty flavors of black cherry, blackberry, oak and many spices finishes full, lush and harmonious. Drink this tannic heavyweight through 2028.	Tradición H	93	30	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo	Hidalgo	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Hidalgo 2012 Tradición H (Rioja)
Italy	This Amarone has aromas of ripe black fruit and vanilla. The palate delivers plum and blackberry flavors layered with chocolate and oak. It's not overly complex, but the big fruit and spice flavors satisfy. It's fast approaching its ideal drinking window, so enjoy soon.	null	90	110	Veneto	Amarone della Valpolicella Classico	null	Red Blend	Corte Aleardi	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Corte Aleardi 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
US	Interesting scents of spice, herb and pine mix with tropical pineapple fruit. It all leads into a buttery finish, delivering a lot of flavor for the price. Barrel fermented, malolactic and sur lie aging—the full Monty.	null	86	10	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Hyatt	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Hyatt 1999 Chardonnay (Yakima Valley)
US	A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this wine is soft and tannic, with a puckery mouthfeel. The cherry-berry flavors are jammy. Ready now.	Cuvée Lago	84	40	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Red Blend	St. Francis	null	null	St. Francis 2007 Cuvée Lago Red (Russian River Valley)
US	If you're looking for a classic Foothills Zin, briary and brambly, with the tannic strength to cut through lamb or short ribs, try this one. It's bone dry and fruity, with a rich sweetness to the finish.	null	86	13	California	Amador County	Sierra Foothills	Zinfandel	Easton	null	null	null
US	Sweet and nutty, like a chocolate-covered black cherry power bar with roasted almonds. Tasty, if simple, and a good price.	null	84	10	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Five Rivers	null	null	null
US	Scents of apple blossom, pear and honeycomb waft from this aromatic Pinot Blanc. Medium bodied in style, it's refreshingly tart with tangerine acidity balanced by fresh apple and pear flavors. Effortlessly quaffable.	Morris Vineyard	87	18	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Pinot Blanc	Heron Hill	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Heron Hill 2011 Morris Vineyard Pinot Blanc (Finger Lakes)
US	With 70 g/L residual sugar, this 100% varietal wine drinks quite sweet, with notes of peach, sage and dried Nestea Iced Tea.	Late Harvest	85	12	Washington	Washington	Washington Other	Riesling	Washington Hills	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Washington Hills 2012 Late Harvest Riesling (Washington)
France	The magnificently named vineyard, the seat of God, is set in the hills next to Saint-Aubin. This wine is crisp while also having a warm, rich backdrop of yellow fruit. The chalk soil gives the wine its tight minerality and texture. It will be ready to drink from 2017.	Clos de la Chaise Dieu	88	28	Burgundy	Hautes Cotes de Beaune	null	Chardonnay	Château de Santenay	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château de Santenay 2014 Clos de la Chaise Dieu (Hautes Cotes de Beaune)
Italy	This is a hearty, rich Ripasso with loads of dark intensity and smooth flavors of ripe cherry, spice, leather, dark chocolate and barbecue sauce. The wine feels opulent and rich and leaves a long impression of ripe cherry flavors.	Vigneti di Torbe	88	null	Veneto	Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Domìni Veneti	null	null	null
Italy	La Serena offers an amazing wine with rich smoothness and loads of chocolate and cherry intensity. In the mouth, the wine tastes round and soft with bright almond and cinnamon notes on the close. Pair it with saltimbocca, or veal steaks wrapped in ham and sage leaf.	null	94	null	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese Grosso	La Serena	null	null	null
Chile	A lot of roughness and herbal character require patience and forgiveness. There's tree bark, cola and a strong leafy character to both the nose and palate of this Merlot, which shows classic Chilean olive and peppery notes on the finish along with a good mouthfeel.	null	85	20	Aconcagua Valley	null	null	Merlot	Arboleda	null	null	null
New Zealand	A bold, flavorful Chardonnay with a long track record of excellence, Pegasus Bay's 2006 is smoky and toasty, with orange and pineapple fruit flavors that linger on the finish.	null	89	37	Waipara Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Pegasus Bay	null	null	null
US	A sharp herbal note permeates the crisp red fruit aromas. The wine is surprisingly smooth, and the tannins have a sanded, silky quality. The flavors are a pleasing mix of strawberry, cherry, milk chocolate and caramel.	Artz Vineyards Red Wine	89	30	Washington	Red Mountain	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	Fall Line	null	null	null
US	Rather mute and compact in the nose, but don’t judge it solely on that. In the mouth, it remains a bit closed, but it opens up to show grip and solid black fruit. A sturdy, full mouthful is what you get in this good effort from a southern Oregon producer.	null	86	15	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Siskiyou Vineyards	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Siskiyou Vineyards 1998 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
Italy	This wine offers an aromatic medley of sweet cherry fruit and chalky mineral tones. This Merlot with 10% Sangiovese has great texture and a threadwork of blueberry fruit, Pez candy and drying, dusty tannins on the finish.	Coldoro	88	65	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Merlot	Terralsole	null	null	Terralsole 2005 Coldoro Merlot (Toscana)
France	Fresh and fruity, it shows crispness as well as white fruits, orange zest and a lively lemon aftertaste. Drink now.	Les Pierres Blanches	86	20	Burgundy	Viré-Clessé	null	Chardonnay	Domaine André Bonhomme	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine André Bonhomme 2012 Les Pierres Blanches (Viré-Clessé)
US	Soft and accessible, this pushes pretty cherry fruit forward with pleasant notes of toast and mocha. Fermented with native yeast, it has an extra dollop of texture and detail.	La Collina Vineyard	88	55	Oregon	Dundee Hills	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Beacon Hill	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Beacon Hill 2014 La Collina Vineyard Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills)
Italy	San Pietro is a beautifully perfumed Barolo with delicate tones of blue flowers, violets, licorice, crushed mineral, cola and forest berry. The floral nuances transfer to the mouth, adding to the wine's overall persistency and complexity. Hold five more years.	San Pietro	93	60	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Tenuta Rocca	null	null	null
Italy	Touches of ripe cherry and strawberry emerge at the front of the bouquet, followed by notes of cola and rum cake. The blend consists of Nero di Troia and Morellone, and the fruit is harvested according to biodynamic principles. Tight tannins appear on the finish.	null	87	42	Southern Italy	Puglia	null	Red Blend	Cefalicchio	null	null	null
US	This Cabernet Sauvignon smells ripe, with cherry cola, red currant and red plum aromas. Pleasant tones of church incense and vanilla lead to an oaky palate. Cherry and geranium come through, but the oak is prevalent and leads to a long, smoky finish.	Reserve	86	50	Virginia	Virginia	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Gray Ghost	Carrie Dykes	null	Gray Ghost 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Virginia)
US	Aromas like brown sugar and bourbon meet bold oaky, spicy flavors in this medium-bodied wine. This will be good for fans of those exotic oak flavors.	null	85	12	California	California	California Other	Merlot	Leese-Fitch	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Leese-Fitch 2013 Merlot (California)
France	The steep south-facing Chêne Marchand vineyard provides fruit for this very concentrated and impressive wine. Its weight doesn't come from richness, but rather a powerful structure that underpins a mineral tang and intense freshness.	Le Chêne Marchand	92	42	Loire Valley	Sancerre	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Pascal Jolivet	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Pascal Jolivet 2010 Le Chêne Marchand (Sancerre)
Italy	Made with organically cultivated fruit, this opens with scents of ripe red berry, dark spice and an earthy whiff of tilled soil. The smooth, easy-drinking palate offers juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry and a hint of white pepper alongside bright acidity.	null	88	16	Sicily & Sardinia	Vittoria	null	Frappato	Vigna di Pettineo	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Vigna di Pettineo 2013 Frappato (Vittoria)
US	A showcase of the vintage and varietal, this is a luxuriously thick and decadent wine, integrated in tannin and oak, with a length on the palate. Chocolate truffle, pencil lead and tobacco all have parts to play, meeting succulent raspberry and blueberry.	null	93	95	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Darioush	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Darioush 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Argentina	Generic berry aromas are a touch gritty. This Malbec feels grabby and rubbery, while savory, lightly stewed and herbal berry flavors end with a light brushstroke of oak along with a lasting note of gamy meat.	null	86	null	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Malbec	Whatabout Me	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Whatabout Me 2014 Malbec (Mendoza)
Spain	Cherry cough drop, leather and moss aromas open it up, followed by red raspberry and some natural bitterness. Finishes with some gritty tannin and a slightly cooked, raisiny aftertaste. More of a throwback in style.	Reserva	86	16	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo	Montecillo	null	null	null
France	Made from Malbec, this lightly structured wine tastes rich while also fruity. Caramel flavors go over the red berry fruits and give a rounded, still fresh aftertaste.	Chevalier Famaey	84	12	Southwest France	Côtes du Lot	null	Rosé	Château Famaey	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Famaey 2013 Chevalier Famaey Rosé (Côtes du Lot)
Argentina	This is a perfectly solid, fresh Torrontés, with lime, pineapple and banana aromas and similar flavors. Add in some acid-based agility and lift, and this ranks as an everyday quaffer of the first order. Drink immediately.	null	85	10	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Torrontés	Fat Gaucho	null	null	null
Italy	Made with 95% Malvasia and 5% Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of resin, dried fruit and flaky pastry. On the sweet but rather fresh palate, clover honey and pine nut accent a core of mature apricot.	Castello di Brolio	88	44	Tuscany	Vin Santo del Chianti Classico	null	Red Blend	Barone Ricasoli	null	null	null
US	There's a very good wine here that's yearning to express itself, but it's locked inside a straitjacket of tannins. Feels hard, astringent and resistant in the mouth. But it's huge in concentrated blackberries, cherries, anise and cedar, and gives the impression of drama and importance. Give it at least five years, and it could develop well beyond that.	null	93	225	California	Rutherford	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Promise	null	null	Promise 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford)
Italy	Nuarè is a bright and cheerful Pinot Noir with fruit sourced from northern Italy that shows pretty nuances of forest berry and blue flower. The mouthfeel is lean and compact but the low price is one of this wine's biggest selling points.	Nuarè	87	13	Northeastern Italy	Delle Venezie	null	Pinot Noir	Natale Verga	null	null	Natale Verga 2008 Nuarè Pinot Noir (Delle Venezie)
Italy	This single-vineyard Barolo shows ripe berry aromas and whiffs of incense and espresso. The palate shows almost overripe cherry fruit, layered with herbs, coffee and underbrush notes. It has big but ripe tannins and is fast approaching optimum drinkability. Enjoy it over the next few years.	Bussia	91	82	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Prunotto	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Prunotto 2009 Bussia (Barolo)
US	An absolutely lovely Pinot, the best in Gainey's long career. Dry, smooth and silky, it defines Pinot's more Burgundian side, with mushroomy notes along with perfectly ripe cherries and raspberries, accented with brilliant acidity. The oak treatment is tasteful and blends in seamlessly, offering a hint of toast. The wine treads an exciting line between ripeness and earthiness, while keeping alcohol to a refreshingly low 14.1%. This is a connoisseur's wine.	Limited Selection	95	48	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Gainey	null	null	null
US	A smooth, crisp Syrah-based Rhône blend, and a good value in a dry, full-bodied red wine. It has strong flavors of berries and cherries that veer into raisins, but not too much.	Cuvée	85	12	California	Central Coast	Central Coast	Red Blend	Liberty School	null	null	null
US	A half dozen unrelated red grapes are tossed into the mix here, making a serviceable blend with no distinctive flavor or focus. It's a stewpot red, fine for everyday enjoyment.	Farmhouse	85	11	America	null	null	Red Blend	David Hill	null	null	null
US	Starts out with aromas of toast, strawberries and citrus. Tart and dry and very fresh; this should hold well in the bottle for some time. Winemaker Eric Fry only makes between 500 and 600 cases each year and disgorges it in small batches so it's always fresh when released.	Cuvée	90	30	New York	North Fork of Long Island	Long Island	Champagne Blend	Lenz	null	null	null
US	Aromas of overripe red apple, cranberry, raspberry and white pepper predominate, along with light oxidative notes. The jammy red fruit and apple flavors are luscious and sweet, bringing a pleasing sense of texture along with a lingering finish.	null	88	36	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Garnacha	Flying Dreams	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Flying Dreams 2012 Garnacha (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	Made by David Low of Anthill Farms in extremely small quantities, this is a new brand devoted to light-bodied wines from fine, cool-climate sites. Tight in dried cranberry and cherry, this is indeed a light and subtle undertaking, dusty and perfumed in rosewater fragrance.	English Hill	88	46	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	The Withers Winery	Virginie Boone	@vboone	The Withers Winery 2013 English Hill Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
New Zealand	A bright and bouncy Merlot, with charming cherry flavors accented by hints of tobacco, cinnamon and clove. A dollop of Malbec (15%) contributes acidity and spice. Imported by Total Beverage Solution.	Distinction	86	14	Hawke's Bay	null	null	Merlot	Kemblefield	null	null	null
US	There's an orchard of fruit in this dry, smooth wine. The flavors range from blackberries and plums to cherries, with slightly bitter coffee notes. The tannins and acids stick out a bit now. Try holding until mid-2006.	null	86	33	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Zahtila	null	null	null
France	Quince and lemon aromas continue on the palate. Crisp and tightly textured, it's spoiled by a metallic flavor that hardens the aftertaste.	La Reine Blanche	85	24	Loire Valley	Sancerre	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Jean Reverdy et Fils	null	null	null
US	Thoroughly delicious, this clever blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne is a joyride of green and yellow fruit, citrus and pear, honeydew melon and sweet orange peel. It's complex and distinctive.	Ambiance Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Marsanne-Viognier	92	25	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Rhône-style White Blend	Forgeron	null	null	null
Italy	Light and lean, this could easily be labeled a rosé. The aromas reinforce that notion thanks to the tones of rose petal, pink grapefruit and bitter almond.	Pergola Rosso	83	17	Central Italy	Marche	null	Red Blend	Angelini	null	null	null
Portugal	The Loureiro grape, grown mainly in the Lima Valley in the center of Vinho Verde, produces a distinctly mineral style of wine. This wine has that character as well as some riper tropical fruit notes and pure citrus acidity. The combination is intensely fruity and very refreshing.	null	90	9	Vinho Verde	null	null	Loureiro	J. Portugal Ramos	null	null	null
Spain	Quite ripe for a traditional crianza. The bouquet starts out on the stewy side but soon sheds its weight to reveal flavors of blackberry, black cherry and earth. The mouthfeel is a bit creamy due to the wine's mild oak and overall ripeness. Drink now through 2010.	Viña Real Crianza	88	18	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo	CVNE	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	CVNE 2004 Viña Real Crianza (Rioja)
Spain	A mostly neutral bouquet shows mild notes of almond and apple, but little more. Flavorwise, this delivers modest almond and papaya flavors in front of a wan, nutty tasting finish.	Viura-Chardonnay	84	9	Northern Spain	Navarra	null	White Blend	Vega Sindoa	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Vega Sindoa 2014 Viura-Chardonnay White (Navarra)
Italy	Here's an enjoyable selection, offering ripe raspberry and black cherry flavors supported by bright acidity. Simple but well made, pair this with mildly seasoned cheeses, cured meats or ravioli.	Capitel della Crosara	86	17	Veneto	Valpolicella Ripasso	null	Red Blend	Montresor	null	null	null
US	Once past the whiff of tack-room leather, this young wine opens to reveal broad, sappy plummy fruit. It's not only unique but a whole lot of fun.	Estate	87	30	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Zweigelt	Wilridge	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Wilridge 2010 Estate Zweigelt (Yakima Valley)
US	A bit edgy in tannins and with some green flavors, but not a bad Cabernet for the price. Dry and robust, it shows blackberry and currant flavors, with a touch of smoky oak.	null	84	8	California	California	California Other	Cabernet Sauvignon	Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi	null	null	null
France	Very structured wine that shows its wood aging as well as textured black plum fruits. It has spice, toast and a smoky character. Underneath are blackberry fruits and a strong layer of acidity. Age for 3–4 years.	Cru Réserve	90	24	Bordeaux	Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Bertinerie	null	null	null
US	Coming from a warm site in a warm vintage, this wine offers aromas of butter and baked apple. The palate yields lightly creamy flavors. The concentration is pulled back but what's there is quite pretty.	Estate Vineyards	86	14	Washington	Wahluke Slope	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Jones of Washington	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Jones of Washington 2014 Estate Vineyards Chardonnay (Wahluke Slope)
US	Quite roasty-toasty, this is heavily scented with coffee and smoke. Smooth tannins surround plummy fruit, and there is enough concentration for a good, long finish. The blend includes 8% Cab Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and a splash of Merlot. Just 150 cases were made.	null	91	40	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Franc	Northstar	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Northstar 2004 Cabernet Franc (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
US	A little too soft, despite nice, dry varietal flavors. The cola, cherry, rhubarb and oak woodspice flavors just lack the acidity to come alive, much less last in the bottle.	Alfaro Family Vineyard	84	30	California	Santa Cruz Mountains	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Martin Alfaro	null	null	null
Italy	At the heart of Chianti Classico, Badia a Passignano is among the most beautiful wine properties in the world with an ancient abbey that crowns softly rolling hills. This wine is packed tightly with bright cherry, spice and tobacco notes, and lingering touches of wild berry and cola.	Badia a Passignano Riserva	90	53	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Sangiovese	Marchesi Antinori	null	null	Marchesi Antinori 2008 Badia a Passignano Riserva (Chianti Classico)
US	Bill Easton's “large” production GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) blend out of the Sierra Foothills exhibits intense mushroom and licorice notes and makes for a great first entry into Easton's headier wines. An affordable Rhône-red pairing with earthy dishes.	Tête-à-Tête	89	18	California	Sierra Foothills	Sierra Foothills	Rhône-style Red Blend	Domaine de la Terre Rouge	null	null	null
US	The well-known négociant continues to amaze with affordable yet tasty wines. This bottling shows ripe raspberry, teriyaki, beef jerky, chocolate and chalk on the nose. The palate discloses bacon fat and roasted pork at first, then leans toward cloves, anise and beef blood. It's quite easy to drink.	null	88	18	California	Monterey County	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Cameron Hughes	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Cameron Hughes 2013 Pinot Noir (Monterey County)
France	An attractively aromatic wine, the berry fruits shining in the glass. The palate, though, is lean, with some green pepper flavors as well as vivid acidity. It is well made, but lightweight.	null	87	null	Bordeaux	Haut-Médoc	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Magnol	null	null	null
US	They left a lot of sweetness in this steel-fermented Pinot Grigio, so if you like that sugary edge, this one's for you. The flavors are of vibrantly ripe tangerines, pineapples and fresh green apples.	null	83	20	California	Paicines	Central Coast	Pinot Grigio	Donati	null	null	Donati 2006 Pinot Grigio (Paicines)
US	Violets and compost dance through the aromas, leading into an intensely fruity palate loaded with sappy berry richness, nuanced with scents and streaks of cured meat, garrigue, earth and graphite. Blending 77% Syrah with 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, it strikes a perfect balance among fruit, earth, and rock. At its core it is still wrapped tight, immaculately clean, and still almost impenetrably dense.	Rediviva of the Stones Red	95	55	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	Buty	null	null	null
South Africa	Toasted hazelnut, Honeycomb cereal, apple pie and orange cream lead the powerful nose of this decadent Chenin. The medium-weight palate is lush and smooth in texture, with ample acidity to counter the ripe baked apple and honeydew fruit. Toasted, buttered nuts and sweet spice flavors abound on the finish. Drink now.	Magnetic North Mountain Makstok	90	100	Olifants River	null	null	Chenin Blanc	Alheit	Lauren Buzzeo	@laurbuzz	Alheit 2014 Magnetic North Mountain Makstok Chenin Blanc (Olifants River)
Argentina	Berry, pine and cinnamon aromas make for a good opening, while the palate is lean yet endowed with solid plum and black cherry flavors. Quite pure and streamlined, with full tannins and perky acids. This is not a fat, flat New World Cabernet.	null	88	20	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	BenMarco	null	null	null
Italy	Aromas include white spring flowers, banana peel and tropical fruit. The bright palate offers juicy white peach, green apple and citrus alongside lively acidity. It's simple but well-made.	Le Fornaci	86	15	Lombardy	Lugana	null	Turbiana	Tommasi	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Tommasi 2013 Le Fornaci (Lugana)
Spain	Aromas of prune, raisin, tomato leaf and rose petals lead to a somewhat heavy palate with a stewy character and big tannins. Baked, raisiny red-fruit flavors come with a note of caramel or molasses, while desiccated berry flavors dominate the finish.	Raiza Reserva	86	15	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Tempranillo	Vicente Gandia	null	null	null
US	Gritty in tannins and rustic in the mouth, this Charbono also is deficient in acidity. With those reservations, it's dry and rich in cherry, cocoa and tobacco flavors.	null	85	33	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Charbono	Tofanelli Family	null	null	null
US	Thurston Wolfe pioneered Zinfandel in Washington. This is the seventh vintage from the Zephyr Ridge vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, vinified to California-style alcohol levels of 15.5%. A fruit bomb to be sure, but along with jammy raspberries and strawberries you'll find interesting nuances of pencil lead, oak and chocolate.	Howling Wolfe	90	18	Washington	Horse Heaven Hills	Columbia Valley	Zinfandel	Thurston Wolfe	null	null	null
Chile	This yellow-looking Chardonnay smells briny and like oily popcorn. The palate is both watery in feel and resiny. Nutty, salty flavors of popcorn crowd out apple notes, while the finish is dilute.	Supertuga Block	84	30	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Ritual	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Ritual 2015 Supertuga Block Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)
France	Big and dry, this wine shows the tannic, firm character of the vintage. It has a dark, dense core of wood tannins while the juicy black currant fruit is still developing. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2018.	null	88	null	Bordeaux	Montagne-Saint-Émilion	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Teyssier	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Teyssier 2011 Montagne-Saint-Émilion
Austria	The slightest hints of mirabelle plum and peach play on the nose. The body is of exquisite lightness and an almost weightless elegance that swings and vibrates with soft citrus notes. This is slender and fresh, lemon-scented and subtle with a caressing, gossamer but nonetheless citric finish.	Kellerberg Smaragd	93	49	Wachau	null	null	Grüner Veltliner	Domäne Wachau	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Domäne Wachau 2014 Kellerberg Smaragd Grüner Veltliner (Wachau)
Israel	Dense layers of dark fruits—black plum, cassis and cherry—integrate with complex accents of black tea leaves, tanned hide and woody spice. Supporting tannins provide the palate a firm structure, framing the lush, concentrated black-fruit-driven flavor. Drinkable now, but it should age nicely though 2016.	Edom	90	35	Judean Hills	null	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Psagot	Lauren Buzzeo	@laurbuzz	Psagot 2010 Edom Red (Judean Hills)
Portugal	Earthy aromas lead to a wine that has some greenness, with dry tannins and bell pepper flavors. It is not likely to age.	Mina Velha	82	7	Lisboa	null	null	Portuguese Red	Quinta de São Sebastião	null	null	null
New Zealand	On the lean and mean side, with green-bean aromas and sour melon flavors that veer toward pickled jalapeño on the finish. Characterful and distinctive, but not my style.	Home Block	82	25	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Wairau River	null	null	null
Switzerland	The bouquet of this wine shows condensed fruit notes of green apple and lemon pith, with a slight nuance of vanilla on the nose. Full bodied and creamy on the palate, it exhibits balanced acidity on the finish.	null	90	21	Neuchâtel	null	null	White Blend	Château d'Auvernier	Jeff Jenssen	@worldwineguys	Château d'Auvernier 2012 White (Neuchâtel)
France	Ripe and soft, it offers attractive acidity given richness by red berry fruits. It's ready to drink, with a final balanced, velvet texture.	Eté Indien	86	18	Beaujolais	Brouilly	null	Gamay	Vignerons de Bel Air	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Vignerons de Bel Air 2013 Eté Indien (Brouilly)
US	Flavor is what this Zin is all about. It's deep and long in blackberry jam, black currants, raisins, cassis liqueur and black-pepper spice, along with a hint of smoky oak. The tannins are firm and the finish is dry.	Timber Crest Vineyard	88	32	California	Dry Creek Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Kokomo	null	null	Kokomo 2011 Timber Crest Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)
Italy	From the celebrated Ravera cru, Elvio Cogno delivers a classic and elegant expression of Nebbiolo with tight tannins, long aging potential and nuanced aromas of small berry fruit, cola, leather, licorice and smoky cedar tones. Save this wine in your cellar 10 years or more.	Ravera	93	75	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Elvio Cogno	null	null	Elvio Cogno 2007 Ravera (Barolo)
US	A splendid, near-perfect Pinot, although it's very young and will benefit from time in the bottle. Few Pinots offer richer, more massive flavors. Just explodes on the palate with raspberries, cherries, persimmons, Dr. Pepper cola, mocha and cinnamon spices, yet the tannin-acid structure keeps it all balanced. A joy to drink as it warms and changes in the glass. Now–2014.	Meredith Estate	97	54	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Merry Edwards	null	null	null
France	Very herbaceous, with some attractive weight. The wine is grapefruit juice right down the line, tight and citric textured. Drink this summer.	Château Coustaut la Grangeotte	86	null	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Blanc	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Yvon Mau	null	null	null
US	There are subtle wild cherry and blackberry high notes in this stellar Syrah, much of it whole-cluster pressed from a cool site in a cool year. That combination of site and year dance into a peppery, leathery, savory, slightly smoky Syrah, medium in body, that's more about complexity and finesse than power.	The Recluse Broken Leg Vineyard	93	40	California	Anderson Valley	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Syrah	Donkey & Goat	null	null	null
US	A nicely done microscopic-production Syrah out of Livermore Valley's Madden Ranch, the source for many a Syrah, not always so deliciously rendered. Winemaker Greg Jenkins (wife and partner is Olympian Peggy Fleming) works with a variety of grape sources from his historic Novitiate Winery in Los Gatos, using John Madden's hillside vineyard fruit in this case to make an intense wine full of cassis, vanilla, anise and chocolate.	Madden Ranch	90	40	California	Livermore Valley	Central Coast	Syrah	Fleming Jenkins	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Fleming Jenkins 2008 Madden Ranch Syrah (Livermore Valley)
Argentina	Clean, light and fresh; it's the perfect white wine for a picnic. Lithe, lucid flavors of tangerine and pink grapefruit are sweet and ripe, and worthwhile. The stony, citric tail is good, too.	Organic	85	10	Other	Famatina Valley	null	Torrontés	Pircas Negras	null	null	null
US	Savory tones of roasted beet, truffle and soil juxtapose pristinely ripened cherry and plum in this elegantly balanced Cabernet Franc. It's supple and juicy yet nuanced and earthy. Crisp acidity freshens a long, softly tannic finish.	null	89	20	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Cabernet Franc	Red Newt Cellars	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Red Newt Cellars 2014 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes)
France	Meaty and full of black-fruit aromas. Offers clearly definable Syrah flavor, but there's not much depth to the chunky fruit. Best from a carafe at your favorite bistro.	Reserve	83	10	Languedoc-Roussillon	Vin de Pays d'Oc	null	Syrah	Domaine la Chevaliere	null	null	null
Portugal	This is a firmly structured, dark wine. It has black cherry and berry fruit, a solid core of tannins and tight acidity. With its dense character, there is every chance of this impressive wine aging well, yielding a more rounded wine. Drink from 2016.	Vega	90	9	Douro	null	null	Portuguese Red	DFJ Vinhos	null	null	null
France	89-91 Barrel sample. Black colored wine. The harvest here finished in November, and the extra richness shows in the smooth, extracted caramel structure. But the delicious plum juice flavors are seductive.	Barrel sample	90	null	Bordeaux	Saint-Émilion	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Gracia	null	null	null
US	This wine is full bodied and rich on the palate, with a woody reminder of oak. Spicy apple notes are lifted by spritzy acidity.	Estate Grown	87	30	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Broadway Vineyards	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Broadway Vineyards 2014 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Carneros)
Chile	This six-grape blend opens with aromas of charred oak, shoe polish, lemon rind, plum and currant. It's tight, tannic and clampy in feel, with charred berry, spicy herb and citric notes. Bell pepper, spaghetti sauce and rawness define the finish on this snappy, coarse blend. Drink through 2017.	Leyenda del Toqui	88	75	Cachapoal Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Casas del Toqui	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Casas del Toqui 2009 Leyenda del Toqui Red (Cachapoal Valley)
Italy	Bricco dell'Uccellone is an historic wine that shaped the modern history of Barbera d'Asti and Piedmont in general. Aged 15 months in oak casks, the wine is bountiful and harmonious with aromas of cherry, blackberry and spice. There's a bright splash of crisp fruit on the close.	Bricco dell'Uccellone	92	null	Piedmont	Barbera d'Asti	null	Barbera	Braida di Giacomo Bologna	null	null	Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2007 Bricco dell'Uccellone (Barbera d'Asti)
Italy	This structured white opens with aromas of oak, citrus, baking spice and dried tree fruit. The full-bodied palate delivers nectarine, dried apricot, toasted almond, oak-driven vanilla and a candied ginger note. Fermenting 40% of the wine in oak casks gives it depth.	Plenio Riserva	88	35	Central Italy	Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico	null	Verdicchio	Umani Ronchi	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Umani Ronchi 2012 Plenio Riserva (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico)
Italy	One of the best wines made on the beautiful island of Sicily, Donnafugata's Mille e Una Notte exhibits gorgeous smoothness in the mouth and exceedingly rich aromas of black currants, chocolate, spice and tobacco. Under all that are notes of toasted almond and pistachio that are characteristic of the Nero d'Avola grape.	Mille e Una Notte	93	80	Sicily & Sardinia	Contessa Entellina	null	Nero d'Avola	Donnafugata	null	null	null
France	Milk chocolate, mocha, garrigue and mineral notes contribute to the fragrant nose. Full bodied with pronounced alcohol, the wine is surprisingly lacking in concentation on the midpalate. The tannins are round and easy, and the acidity is supporting, finishing short.	Domaine de l'Estagnol	83	null	Languedoc-Roussillon	Minervois	null	Rhône-style Red Blend	Les Celliers Jean d'Alibert	null	null	null
Italy	Thick, hearty and with a muscular or masculine personality, this ripasso offers loads of intensity, richness and persistency. The aromas here recall cherry liqueur, mesquite, cola and black spice.	Campo San Vito	90	26	Veneto	Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Villa Monteleone	null	null	null
US	There is lots of garrigue and purple flower elements to the nose of this bottling, with hints of vanilla and cola against the dark red fruit base. The thyme, sage and marjoram touches come through on the sip as well, decorating the sweeter red cherry fruit.	Di Domenico	91	36	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Grenache	Le Vigne	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Le Vigne 2014 Di Domenico Grenache (Paso Robles)
Italy	This is a gorgeous rosé that should be paired with salmon canapés, poached bream or shellfish risotto. The color is a beautiful pale pink and the aromas include white almond, cassis, wild berries and rose.	null	88	null	Sicily & Sardinia	Etna	null	Rosé	Tenuta delle Terre Nere	null	null	null
Israel	Lightweight and easy in the mouth, with bright, juicy red fruit aromas and flavors spiced up by olive tapenade and fruitcake accents. Clean and balanced with a medium-length finish.	null	86	15	Galilee	null	null	Merlot	Galil Mountain	null	null	null

France

Hugely concentrated, powerful and ageworthy, this has mint and new wood aromas. It has rich damson and blackberry fruits that push through the mineral texture and dark tannins, filling the mouth with its exuberant ripeness. Age for four years.

Les Acacias

92

40

Southwest France

Cahors

null

Malbec

Mas del Périé

null

US

A whisper of a wine made from Chardonnay grapes as a pétillant naturel, or pet-nat, this third vintage of Lily's Cuvée should prove as enormously popular as the prior two, dry, delicious and unbearably light. No sugar or yeast are added and the grapes are whole-cluster pressed. There's no better wine for midday picnics or hikes in the woods.

Lily's Cuvée

90

30

California

Anderson Valley

null

Chardonnay

Donkey & Goat

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Donkey & Goat 2013 Lily's Cuvée Chardonnay (Anderson Valley)

US

From the producer's beloved Atlas Peak planting, M is a powerhouse of brawny flavor and earthy minerality, a mix of chocolate, coffee and blackberry jam that's burly in size and scope. Spicy, it layers on savory elements of tar, leather and tobacco, complementing with ease the forceful fruit and supportive oak.

M by Michael Mondavi

94

200

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Michael Mondavi Family Estate

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Michael Mondavi Family Estate 2013 M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

US

From a vineyard above Santa Paula, this bottling shows black plum, underripe berry and cedar touches on the nose. Tart black fruit marks the palate, lifted by dried lilac elements and lava rock minerality, all held together by upright tannins. Persistent acidity leaves the mouth zinging.

South Mountain Vineyard

88

24

California

Ventura County

Central Coast

Petit Verdot

Clos des Amis

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Clos des Amis 2015 South Mountain Vineyard Petit Verdot (Ventura County)

US

Tart and sharp, with a pleasing tang and snap. The complex, clean and crisp flavors layer fig, citrus rind and clove with high notes of candied orange and citrus blossom. Great varietal character, cool-climate acidity; this is very sophisticated winemaking with spot-on flavors.

null

90

17

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Sémillon

Chinook

null

Spain

Hidalgo may be based in Sherry, but this foray into Rioja is a success. This warm-vintage wine is rich and ripe, with earthy, baked plum and blackberry aromas. A full, drawing, muscular palate along with lusty flavors of black cherry, blackberry, oak and many spices finishes full, lush and harmonious. Drink this tannic heavyweight through 2028.

Tradición H

93

30

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo

Hidalgo

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Hidalgo 2012 Tradición H (Rioja)

Italy

This Amarone has aromas of ripe black fruit and vanilla. The palate delivers plum and blackberry flavors layered with chocolate and oak. It's not overly complex, but the big fruit and spice flavors satisfy. It's fast approaching its ideal drinking window, so enjoy soon.

null

90

110

Veneto

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

null

Red Blend

Corte Aleardi

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Corte Aleardi 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

US

Interesting scents of spice, herb and pine mix with tropical pineapple fruit. It all leads into a buttery finish, delivering a lot of flavor for the price. Barrel fermented, malolactic and sur lie aging—the full Monty.

null

86

10

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Hyatt

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Hyatt 1999 Chardonnay (Yakima Valley)

US

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this wine is soft and tannic, with a puckery mouthfeel. The cherry-berry flavors are jammy. Ready now.

Cuvée Lago

84

40

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Red Blend

St. Francis

null

St. Francis 2007 Cuvée Lago Red (Russian River Valley)

US

If you're looking for a classic Foothills Zin, briary and brambly, with the tannic strength to cut through lamb or short ribs, try this one. It's bone dry and fruity, with a rich sweetness to the finish.

null

86

13

California

Amador County

Sierra Foothills

Zinfandel

Easton

null

US

Sweet and nutty, like a chocolate-covered black cherry power bar with roasted almonds. Tasty, if simple, and a good price.

null

84

10

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Five Rivers

null

US

Scents of apple blossom, pear and honeycomb waft from this aromatic Pinot Blanc. Medium bodied in style, it's refreshingly tart with tangerine acidity balanced by fresh apple and pear flavors. Effortlessly quaffable.

Morris Vineyard

87

18

New York

Finger Lakes

Pinot Blanc

Heron Hill

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Heron Hill 2011 Morris Vineyard Pinot Blanc (Finger Lakes)

US

With 70 g/L residual sugar, this 100% varietal wine drinks quite sweet, with notes of peach, sage and dried Nestea Iced Tea.

Late Harvest

85

12

Washington

Washington Other

Riesling

Washington Hills

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Washington Hills 2012 Late Harvest Riesling (Washington)

France

The magnificently named vineyard, the seat of God, is set in the hills next to Saint-Aubin. This wine is crisp while also having a warm, rich backdrop of yellow fruit. The chalk soil gives the wine its tight minerality and texture. It will be ready to drink from 2017.

Clos de la Chaise Dieu

88

28

Burgundy

Hautes Cotes de Beaune

null

Chardonnay

Château de Santenay

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château de Santenay 2014 Clos de la Chaise Dieu (Hautes Cotes de Beaune)

Italy

This is a hearty, rich Ripasso with loads of dark intensity and smooth flavors of ripe cherry, spice, leather, dark chocolate and barbecue sauce. The wine feels opulent and rich and leaves a long impression of ripe cherry flavors.

Vigneti di Torbe

88

null

Veneto

Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Domìni Veneti

null

Italy

La Serena offers an amazing wine with rich smoothness and loads of chocolate and cherry intensity. In the mouth, the wine tastes round and soft with bright almond and cinnamon notes on the close. Pair it with saltimbocca, or veal steaks wrapped in ham and sage leaf.

null

94

null

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese Grosso

La Serena

null

Chile

A lot of roughness and herbal character require patience and forgiveness. There's tree bark, cola and a strong leafy character to both the nose and palate of this Merlot, which shows classic Chilean olive and peppery notes on the finish along with a good mouthfeel.

null

85

20

Aconcagua Valley

null

Merlot

Arboleda

null

New Zealand

A bold, flavorful Chardonnay with a long track record of excellence, Pegasus Bay's 2006 is smoky and toasty, with orange and pineapple fruit flavors that linger on the finish.

null

89

37

Waipara Valley

null

Chardonnay

Pegasus Bay

null

US

A sharp herbal note permeates the crisp red fruit aromas. The wine is surprisingly smooth, and the tannins have a sanded, silky quality. The flavors are a pleasing mix of strawberry, cherry, milk chocolate and caramel.

Artz Vineyards Red Wine

89

30

Washington

Red Mountain

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

Fall Line

null

US

Rather mute and compact in the nose, but don’t judge it solely on that. In the mouth, it remains a bit closed, but it opens up to show grip and solid black fruit. A sturdy, full mouthful is what you get in this good effort from a southern Oregon producer.

null

86

15

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Siskiyou Vineyards

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Siskiyou Vineyards 1998 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

Italy

This wine offers an aromatic medley of sweet cherry fruit and chalky mineral tones. This Merlot with 10% Sangiovese has great texture and a threadwork of blueberry fruit, Pez candy and drying, dusty tannins on the finish.

Coldoro

88

65

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Merlot

Terralsole

null

Terralsole 2005 Coldoro Merlot (Toscana)

France

Fresh and fruity, it shows crispness as well as white fruits, orange zest and a lively lemon aftertaste. Drink now.

Les Pierres Blanches

86

20

Burgundy

Viré-Clessé

null

Chardonnay

Domaine André Bonhomme

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine André Bonhomme 2012 Les Pierres Blanches (Viré-Clessé)

US

Soft and accessible, this pushes pretty cherry fruit forward with pleasant notes of toast and mocha. Fermented with native yeast, it has an extra dollop of texture and detail.

La Collina Vineyard

88

55

Oregon

Dundee Hills

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Beacon Hill

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Beacon Hill 2014 La Collina Vineyard Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills)

Italy

San Pietro is a beautifully perfumed Barolo with delicate tones of blue flowers, violets, licorice, crushed mineral, cola and forest berry. The floral nuances transfer to the mouth, adding to the wine's overall persistency and complexity. Hold five more years.

San Pietro

93

60

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Tenuta Rocca

null

Italy

Touches of ripe cherry and strawberry emerge at the front of the bouquet, followed by notes of cola and rum cake. The blend consists of Nero di Troia and Morellone, and the fruit is harvested according to biodynamic principles. Tight tannins appear on the finish.

null

87

42

Southern Italy

Puglia

null

Red Blend

Cefalicchio

null

US

This Cabernet Sauvignon smells ripe, with cherry cola, red currant and red plum aromas. Pleasant tones of church incense and vanilla lead to an oaky palate. Cherry and geranium come through, but the oak is prevalent and leads to a long, smoky finish.

Reserve

86

50

Virginia

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Gray Ghost

Carrie Dykes

null

Gray Ghost 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Virginia)

US

Aromas like brown sugar and bourbon meet bold oaky, spicy flavors in this medium-bodied wine. This will be good for fans of those exotic oak flavors.

null

85

12

California

California Other

Merlot

Leese-Fitch

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Leese-Fitch 2013 Merlot (California)

France

The steep south-facing Chêne Marchand vineyard provides fruit for this very concentrated and impressive wine. Its weight doesn't come from richness, but rather a powerful structure that underpins a mineral tang and intense freshness.

Le Chêne Marchand

92

42

Loire Valley

Sancerre

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Pascal Jolivet

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Pascal Jolivet 2010 Le Chêne Marchand (Sancerre)

Italy

Made with organically cultivated fruit, this opens with scents of ripe red berry, dark spice and an earthy whiff of tilled soil. The smooth, easy-drinking palate offers juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry and a hint of white pepper alongside bright acidity.

null

88

16

Sicily & Sardinia

Vittoria

null

Frappato

Vigna di Pettineo

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Vigna di Pettineo 2013 Frappato (Vittoria)

US

A showcase of the vintage and varietal, this is a luxuriously thick and decadent wine, integrated in tannin and oak, with a length on the palate. Chocolate truffle, pencil lead and tobacco all have parts to play, meeting succulent raspberry and blueberry.

null

93

95

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Darioush

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Darioush 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Argentina

Generic berry aromas are a touch gritty. This Malbec feels grabby and rubbery, while savory, lightly stewed and herbal berry flavors end with a light brushstroke of oak along with a lasting note of gamy meat.

null

86

null

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Malbec

Whatabout Me

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Whatabout Me 2014 Malbec (Mendoza)

Spain

Cherry cough drop, leather and moss aromas open it up, followed by red raspberry and some natural bitterness. Finishes with some gritty tannin and a slightly cooked, raisiny aftertaste. More of a throwback in style.

Reserva

86

16

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo

Montecillo

null

France

Made from Malbec, this lightly structured wine tastes rich while also fruity. Caramel flavors go over the red berry fruits and give a rounded, still fresh aftertaste.

Chevalier Famaey

84

12

Southwest France

Côtes du Lot

null

Rosé

Château Famaey

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Famaey 2013 Chevalier Famaey Rosé (Côtes du Lot)

Argentina

This is a perfectly solid, fresh Torrontés, with lime, pineapple and banana aromas and similar flavors. Add in some acid-based agility and lift, and this ranks as an everyday quaffer of the first order. Drink immediately.

null

85

10

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Torrontés

Fat Gaucho

null

Italy

Made with 95% Malvasia and 5% Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of resin, dried fruit and flaky pastry. On the sweet but rather fresh palate, clover honey and pine nut accent a core of mature apricot.

Castello di Brolio

88

44

Tuscany

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

null

Red Blend

Barone Ricasoli

null

US

There's a very good wine here that's yearning to express itself, but it's locked inside a straitjacket of tannins. Feels hard, astringent and resistant in the mouth. But it's huge in concentrated blackberries, cherries, anise and cedar, and gives the impression of drama and importance. Give it at least five years, and it could develop well beyond that.

null

93

225

California

Rutherford

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Promise

null

Promise 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford)

Italy

Nuarè is a bright and cheerful Pinot Noir with fruit sourced from northern Italy that shows pretty nuances of forest berry and blue flower. The mouthfeel is lean and compact but the low price is one of this wine's biggest selling points.

Nuarè

87

13

Northeastern Italy

Delle Venezie

null

Pinot Noir

Natale Verga

null

Natale Verga 2008 Nuarè Pinot Noir (Delle Venezie)

Italy

This single-vineyard Barolo shows ripe berry aromas and whiffs of incense and espresso. The palate shows almost overripe cherry fruit, layered with herbs, coffee and underbrush notes. It has big but ripe tannins and is fast approaching optimum drinkability. Enjoy it over the next few years.

Bussia

91

82

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Prunotto

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Prunotto 2009 Bussia (Barolo)

US

An absolutely lovely Pinot, the best in Gainey's long career. Dry, smooth and silky, it defines Pinot's more Burgundian side, with mushroomy notes along with perfectly ripe cherries and raspberries, accented with brilliant acidity. The oak treatment is tasteful and blends in seamlessly, offering a hint of toast. The wine treads an exciting line between ripeness and earthiness, while keeping alcohol to a refreshingly low 14.1%. This is a connoisseur's wine.

Limited Selection

95

48

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Gainey

null

US

A smooth, crisp Syrah-based Rhône blend, and a good value in a dry, full-bodied red wine. It has strong flavors of berries and cherries that veer into raisins, but not too much.

Cuvée

85

12

California

Central Coast

Red Blend

Liberty School

null

US

A half dozen unrelated red grapes are tossed into the mix here, making a serviceable blend with no distinctive flavor or focus. It's a stewpot red, fine for everyday enjoyment.

Farmhouse

85

11

America

null

Red Blend

David Hill

null

US

Starts out with aromas of toast, strawberries and citrus. Tart and dry and very fresh; this should hold well in the bottle for some time. Winemaker Eric Fry only makes between 500 and 600 cases each year and disgorges it in small batches so it's always fresh when released.

Cuvée

90

30

New York

North Fork of Long Island

Long Island

Champagne Blend

Lenz

null

US

Aromas of overripe red apple, cranberry, raspberry and white pepper predominate, along with light oxidative notes. The jammy red fruit and apple flavors are luscious and sweet, bringing a pleasing sense of texture along with a lingering finish.

null

88

36

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Garnacha

Flying Dreams

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Flying Dreams 2012 Garnacha (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

Made by David Low of Anthill Farms in extremely small quantities, this is a new brand devoted to light-bodied wines from fine, cool-climate sites. Tight in dried cranberry and cherry, this is indeed a light and subtle undertaking, dusty and perfumed in rosewater fragrance.

English Hill

88

46

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

The Withers Winery

Virginie Boone

@vboone

The Withers Winery 2013 English Hill Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

New Zealand

A bright and bouncy Merlot, with charming cherry flavors accented by hints of tobacco, cinnamon and clove. A dollop of Malbec (15%) contributes acidity and spice. Imported by Total Beverage Solution.

Distinction

86

14

Hawke's Bay

null

Merlot

Kemblefield

null

US

There's an orchard of fruit in this dry, smooth wine. The flavors range from blackberries and plums to cherries, with slightly bitter coffee notes. The tannins and acids stick out a bit now. Try holding until mid-2006.

null

86

33

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Zahtila

null

France

Quince and lemon aromas continue on the palate. Crisp and tightly textured, it's spoiled by a metallic flavor that hardens the aftertaste.

La Reine Blanche

85

24

Loire Valley

Sancerre

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Jean Reverdy et Fils

null

US

Thoroughly delicious, this clever blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne is a joyride of green and yellow fruit, citrus and pear, honeydew melon and sweet orange peel. It's complex and distinctive.

Ambiance Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Marsanne-Viognier

92

25

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Rhône-style White Blend

Forgeron

null

Italy

Light and lean, this could easily be labeled a rosé. The aromas reinforce that notion thanks to the tones of rose petal, pink grapefruit and bitter almond.

Pergola Rosso

83

17

Central Italy

Marche

null

Red Blend

Angelini

null

Portugal

The Loureiro grape, grown mainly in the Lima Valley in the center of Vinho Verde, produces a distinctly mineral style of wine. This wine has that character as well as some riper tropical fruit notes and pure citrus acidity. The combination is intensely fruity and very refreshing.

null

90

9

Vinho Verde

null

Loureiro

J. Portugal Ramos

null

Spain

Quite ripe for a traditional crianza. The bouquet starts out on the stewy side but soon sheds its weight to reveal flavors of blackberry, black cherry and earth. The mouthfeel is a bit creamy due to the wine's mild oak and overall ripeness. Drink now through 2010.

Viña Real Crianza

88

18

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo

CVNE

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

CVNE 2004 Viña Real Crianza (Rioja)

Spain

A mostly neutral bouquet shows mild notes of almond and apple, but little more. Flavorwise, this delivers modest almond and papaya flavors in front of a wan, nutty tasting finish.

Viura-Chardonnay

84

9

Northern Spain

Navarra

null

White Blend

Vega Sindoa

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Vega Sindoa 2014 Viura-Chardonnay White (Navarra)

Italy

Here's an enjoyable selection, offering ripe raspberry and black cherry flavors supported by bright acidity. Simple but well made, pair this with mildly seasoned cheeses, cured meats or ravioli.

Capitel della Crosara

86

17

Veneto

Valpolicella Ripasso

null

Red Blend

Montresor

null

US

Once past the whiff of tack-room leather, this young wine opens to reveal broad, sappy plummy fruit. It's not only unique but a whole lot of fun.

Estate

87

30

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Zweigelt

Wilridge

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Wilridge 2010 Estate Zweigelt (Yakima Valley)

US

A bit edgy in tannins and with some green flavors, but not a bad Cabernet for the price. Dry and robust, it shows blackberry and currant flavors, with a touch of smoky oak.

null

84

8

California

California Other

Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

null

France

Very structured wine that shows its wood aging as well as textured black plum fruits. It has spice, toast and a smoky character. Underneath are blackberry fruits and a strong layer of acidity. Age for 3–4 years.

Cru Réserve

90

24

Bordeaux

Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Bertinerie

null

US

Coming from a warm site in a warm vintage, this wine offers aromas of butter and baked apple. The palate yields lightly creamy flavors. The concentration is pulled back but what's there is quite pretty.

Estate Vineyards

86

14

Washington

Wahluke Slope

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Jones of Washington

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Jones of Washington 2014 Estate Vineyards Chardonnay (Wahluke Slope)

US

Quite roasty-toasty, this is heavily scented with coffee and smoke. Smooth tannins surround plummy fruit, and there is enough concentration for a good, long finish. The blend includes 8% Cab Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and a splash of Merlot. Just 150 cases were made.

null

91

40

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Franc

Northstar

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Northstar 2004 Cabernet Franc (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

US

A little too soft, despite nice, dry varietal flavors. The cola, cherry, rhubarb and oak woodspice flavors just lack the acidity to come alive, much less last in the bottle.

Alfaro Family Vineyard

84

30

California

Santa Cruz Mountains

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Martin Alfaro

null

Italy

At the heart of Chianti Classico, Badia a Passignano is among the most beautiful wine properties in the world with an ancient abbey that crowns softly rolling hills. This wine is packed tightly with bright cherry, spice and tobacco notes, and lingering touches of wild berry and cola.

Badia a Passignano Riserva

90

53

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Sangiovese

Marchesi Antinori

null

Marchesi Antinori 2008 Badia a Passignano Riserva (Chianti Classico)

US

Bill Easton's “large” production GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) blend out of the Sierra Foothills exhibits intense mushroom and licorice notes and makes for a great first entry into Easton's headier wines. An affordable Rhône-red pairing with earthy dishes.

Tête-à-Tête

89

18

California

Sierra Foothills

Rhône-style Red Blend

Domaine de la Terre Rouge

null

US

The well-known négociant continues to amaze with affordable yet tasty wines. This bottling shows ripe raspberry, teriyaki, beef jerky, chocolate and chalk on the nose. The palate discloses bacon fat and roasted pork at first, then leans toward cloves, anise and beef blood. It's quite easy to drink.

null

88

18

California

Monterey County

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Cameron Hughes

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Cameron Hughes 2013 Pinot Noir (Monterey County)

France

An attractively aromatic wine, the berry fruits shining in the glass. The palate, though, is lean, with some green pepper flavors as well as vivid acidity. It is well made, but lightweight.

null

87

null

Bordeaux

Haut-Médoc

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Magnol

null

US

They left a lot of sweetness in this steel-fermented Pinot Grigio, so if you like that sugary edge, this one's for you. The flavors are of vibrantly ripe tangerines, pineapples and fresh green apples.

null

83

20

California

Paicines

Central Coast

Pinot Grigio

Donati

null

Donati 2006 Pinot Grigio (Paicines)

US

Violets and compost dance through the aromas, leading into an intensely fruity palate loaded with sappy berry richness, nuanced with scents and streaks of cured meat, garrigue, earth and graphite. Blending 77% Syrah with 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, it strikes a perfect balance among fruit, earth, and rock. At its core it is still wrapped tight, immaculately clean, and still almost impenetrably dense.

Rediviva of the Stones Red

95

55

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

Buty

null

South Africa

Toasted hazelnut, Honeycomb cereal, apple pie and orange cream lead the powerful nose of this decadent Chenin. The medium-weight palate is lush and smooth in texture, with ample acidity to counter the ripe baked apple and honeydew fruit. Toasted, buttered nuts and sweet spice flavors abound on the finish. Drink now.

Magnetic North Mountain Makstok

90

100

Olifants River

null

Chenin Blanc

Alheit

Lauren Buzzeo

@laurbuzz

Alheit 2014 Magnetic North Mountain Makstok Chenin Blanc (Olifants River)

Argentina

Berry, pine and cinnamon aromas make for a good opening, while the palate is lean yet endowed with solid plum and black cherry flavors. Quite pure and streamlined, with full tannins and perky acids. This is not a fat, flat New World Cabernet.

null

88

20

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

BenMarco

null

Italy

Aromas include white spring flowers, banana peel and tropical fruit. The bright palate offers juicy white peach, green apple and citrus alongside lively acidity. It's simple but well-made.

Le Fornaci

86

15

Lombardy

Lugana

null

Turbiana

Tommasi

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Tommasi 2013 Le Fornaci (Lugana)

Spain

Aromas of prune, raisin, tomato leaf and rose petals lead to a somewhat heavy palate with a stewy character and big tannins. Baked, raisiny red-fruit flavors come with a note of caramel or molasses, while desiccated berry flavors dominate the finish.

Raiza Reserva

86

15

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Tempranillo

Vicente Gandia

null

US

Gritty in tannins and rustic in the mouth, this Charbono also is deficient in acidity. With those reservations, it's dry and rich in cherry, cocoa and tobacco flavors.

null

85

33

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Charbono

Tofanelli Family

null

US

Thurston Wolfe pioneered Zinfandel in Washington. This is the seventh vintage from the Zephyr Ridge vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, vinified to California-style alcohol levels of 15.5%. A fruit bomb to be sure, but along with jammy raspberries and strawberries you'll find interesting nuances of pencil lead, oak and chocolate.

Howling Wolfe

90

18

Washington

Horse Heaven Hills

Columbia Valley

Zinfandel

Thurston Wolfe

null

Chile

This yellow-looking Chardonnay smells briny and like oily popcorn. The palate is both watery in feel and resiny. Nutty, salty flavors of popcorn crowd out apple notes, while the finish is dilute.

Supertuga Block

84

30

Casablanca Valley

null

Chardonnay

Ritual

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Ritual 2015 Supertuga Block Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)

France

Big and dry, this wine shows the tannic, firm character of the vintage. It has a dark, dense core of wood tannins while the juicy black currant fruit is still developing. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2018.

null

88

null

Bordeaux

Montagne-Saint-Émilion

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Teyssier

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Teyssier 2011 Montagne-Saint-Émilion

Austria

The slightest hints of mirabelle plum and peach play on the nose. The body is of exquisite lightness and an almost weightless elegance that swings and vibrates with soft citrus notes. This is slender and fresh, lemon-scented and subtle with a caressing, gossamer but nonetheless citric finish.

Kellerberg Smaragd

93

49

Wachau

null

Grüner Veltliner

Domäne Wachau

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Domäne Wachau 2014 Kellerberg Smaragd Grüner Veltliner (Wachau)

Israel

Dense layers of dark fruits—black plum, cassis and cherry—integrate with complex accents of black tea leaves, tanned hide and woody spice. Supporting tannins provide the palate a firm structure, framing the lush, concentrated black-fruit-driven flavor. Drinkable now, but it should age nicely though 2016.

Edom

90

35

Judean Hills

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Psagot

Lauren Buzzeo

@laurbuzz

Psagot 2010 Edom Red (Judean Hills)

Portugal

Earthy aromas lead to a wine that has some greenness, with dry tannins and bell pepper flavors. It is not likely to age.

Mina Velha

82

7

Lisboa

null

Portuguese Red

Quinta de São Sebastião

null

New Zealand

On the lean and mean side, with green-bean aromas and sour melon flavors that veer toward pickled jalapeño on the finish. Characterful and distinctive, but not my style.

Home Block

82

25

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Wairau River

null

Switzerland

The bouquet of this wine shows condensed fruit notes of green apple and lemon pith, with a slight nuance of vanilla on the nose. Full bodied and creamy on the palate, it exhibits balanced acidity on the finish.

null

90

21

Neuchâtel

null

White Blend

Château d'Auvernier

Jeff Jenssen

@worldwineguys

Château d'Auvernier 2012 White (Neuchâtel)

France

Ripe and soft, it offers attractive acidity given richness by red berry fruits. It's ready to drink, with a final balanced, velvet texture.

Eté Indien

86

18

Beaujolais

Brouilly

null

Gamay

Vignerons de Bel Air

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Vignerons de Bel Air 2013 Eté Indien (Brouilly)

US

Flavor is what this Zin is all about. It's deep and long in blackberry jam, black currants, raisins, cassis liqueur and black-pepper spice, along with a hint of smoky oak. The tannins are firm and the finish is dry.

Timber Crest Vineyard

88

32

California

Dry Creek Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Kokomo

null

Kokomo 2011 Timber Crest Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)

Italy

From the celebrated Ravera cru, Elvio Cogno delivers a classic and elegant expression of Nebbiolo with tight tannins, long aging potential and nuanced aromas of small berry fruit, cola, leather, licorice and smoky cedar tones. Save this wine in your cellar 10 years or more.

Ravera

93

75

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Elvio Cogno

null

Elvio Cogno 2007 Ravera (Barolo)

US

A splendid, near-perfect Pinot, although it's very young and will benefit from time in the bottle. Few Pinots offer richer, more massive flavors. Just explodes on the palate with raspberries, cherries, persimmons, Dr. Pepper cola, mocha and cinnamon spices, yet the tannin-acid structure keeps it all balanced. A joy to drink as it warms and changes in the glass. Now–2014.

Meredith Estate

97

54

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Merry Edwards

null

France

Very herbaceous, with some attractive weight. The wine is grapefruit juice right down the line, tight and citric textured. Drink this summer.

Château Coustaut la Grangeotte

86

null

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Blanc

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Yvon Mau

null

US

There are subtle wild cherry and blackberry high notes in this stellar Syrah, much of it whole-cluster pressed from a cool site in a cool year. That combination of site and year dance into a peppery, leathery, savory, slightly smoky Syrah, medium in body, that's more about complexity and finesse than power.

The Recluse Broken Leg Vineyard

93

40

California

Anderson Valley

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Syrah

Donkey & Goat

null

US

A nicely done microscopic-production Syrah out of Livermore Valley's Madden Ranch, the source for many a Syrah, not always so deliciously rendered. Winemaker Greg Jenkins (wife and partner is Olympian Peggy Fleming) works with a variety of grape sources from his historic Novitiate Winery in Los Gatos, using John Madden's hillside vineyard fruit in this case to make an intense wine full of cassis, vanilla, anise and chocolate.

Madden Ranch

90

40

California

Livermore Valley

Central Coast

Syrah

Fleming Jenkins

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Fleming Jenkins 2008 Madden Ranch Syrah (Livermore Valley)

Argentina

Clean, light and fresh; it's the perfect white wine for a picnic. Lithe, lucid flavors of tangerine and pink grapefruit are sweet and ripe, and worthwhile. The stony, citric tail is good, too.

Organic

85

10

Other

Famatina Valley

null

Torrontés

Pircas Negras

null

US

Savory tones of roasted beet, truffle and soil juxtapose pristinely ripened cherry and plum in this elegantly balanced Cabernet Franc. It's supple and juicy yet nuanced and earthy. Crisp acidity freshens a long, softly tannic finish.

null

89

20

New York

Finger Lakes

Cabernet Franc

Red Newt Cellars

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Red Newt Cellars 2014 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes)

France

Meaty and full of black-fruit aromas. Offers clearly definable Syrah flavor, but there's not much depth to the chunky fruit. Best from a carafe at your favorite bistro.

Reserve

83

10

Languedoc-Roussillon

Vin de Pays d'Oc

null

Syrah

Domaine la Chevaliere

null

Portugal

This is a firmly structured, dark wine. It has black cherry and berry fruit, a solid core of tannins and tight acidity. With its dense character, there is every chance of this impressive wine aging well, yielding a more rounded wine. Drink from 2016.

Vega

90

9

Douro

null

Portuguese Red

DFJ Vinhos

null

France

89-91 Barrel sample. Black colored wine. The harvest here finished in November, and the extra richness shows in the smooth, extracted caramel structure. But the delicious plum juice flavors are seductive.

Barrel sample

90

null

Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Gracia

null

US

This wine is full bodied and rich on the palate, with a woody reminder of oak. Spicy apple notes are lifted by spritzy acidity.

Estate Grown

87

30

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Broadway Vineyards

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Broadway Vineyards 2014 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Carneros)

Chile

This six-grape blend opens with aromas of charred oak, shoe polish, lemon rind, plum and currant. It's tight, tannic and clampy in feel, with charred berry, spicy herb and citric notes. Bell pepper, spaghetti sauce and rawness define the finish on this snappy, coarse blend. Drink through 2017.

Leyenda del Toqui

88

75

Cachapoal Valley

null

Red Blend

Casas del Toqui

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Casas del Toqui 2009 Leyenda del Toqui Red (Cachapoal Valley)

Italy

Bricco dell'Uccellone is an historic wine that shaped the modern history of Barbera d'Asti and Piedmont in general. Aged 15 months in oak casks, the wine is bountiful and harmonious with aromas of cherry, blackberry and spice. There's a bright splash of crisp fruit on the close.

Bricco dell'Uccellone

92

null

Piedmont

Barbera d'Asti

null

Barbera

Braida di Giacomo Bologna

null

Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2007 Bricco dell'Uccellone (Barbera d'Asti)

Italy

This structured white opens with aromas of oak, citrus, baking spice and dried tree fruit. The full-bodied palate delivers nectarine, dried apricot, toasted almond, oak-driven vanilla and a candied ginger note. Fermenting 40% of the wine in oak casks gives it depth.

Plenio Riserva

88

35

Central Italy

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico

null

Verdicchio

Umani Ronchi

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Umani Ronchi 2012 Plenio Riserva (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico)

Italy

One of the best wines made on the beautiful island of Sicily, Donnafugata's Mille e Una Notte exhibits gorgeous smoothness in the mouth and exceedingly rich aromas of black currants, chocolate, spice and tobacco. Under all that are notes of toasted almond and pistachio that are characteristic of the Nero d'Avola grape.

Mille e Una Notte

93

80

Sicily & Sardinia

Contessa Entellina

null

Nero d'Avola

Donnafugata

null

France

Milk chocolate, mocha, garrigue and mineral notes contribute to the fragrant nose. Full bodied with pronounced alcohol, the wine is surprisingly lacking in concentation on the midpalate. The tannins are round and easy, and the acidity is supporting, finishing short.

Domaine de l'Estagnol

83

null

Languedoc-Roussillon

Minervois

null

Rhône-style Red Blend

Les Celliers Jean d'Alibert

null

Italy

Thick, hearty and with a muscular or masculine personality, this ripasso offers loads of intensity, richness and persistency. The aromas here recall cherry liqueur, mesquite, cola and black spice.

Campo San Vito

90

26

Veneto

Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Villa Monteleone

null

US

There is lots of garrigue and purple flower elements to the nose of this bottling, with hints of vanilla and cola against the dark red fruit base. The thyme, sage and marjoram touches come through on the sip as well, decorating the sweeter red cherry fruit.

Di Domenico

91

36

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Grenache

Le Vigne

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Le Vigne 2014 Di Domenico Grenache (Paso Robles)

Italy

This is a gorgeous rosé that should be paired with salmon canapés, poached bream or shellfish risotto. The color is a beautiful pale pink and the aromas include white almond, cassis, wild berries and rose.

null

88

null

Sicily & Sardinia

Etna

null

Rosé

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

null

Israel

Lightweight and easy in the mouth, with bright, juicy red fruit aromas and flavors spiced up by olive tapenade and fruitcake accents. Clean and balanced with a medium-length finish.

null

86

15

Galilee

null

Merlot

Galil Mountain

null