spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

country stringclasses 49 values	description stringlengths 18 829	designation stringlengths 1 95 ⌀	points int64 80 100	price float64 4 2.5k ⌀	province stringclasses 478 values	region_1 stringlengths 3 50 ⌀	region_2 stringclasses 18 values	variety stringclasses 726 values	winery stringlengths 1 54	taster_name stringclasses 19 values	taster_twitter_handle stringclasses 15 values	title stringlengths 12 135 ⌀
Argentina	Sharp and sassy for the most part, but with airing things improve a bit and you start to find red fruit and honest spice. The feel is lean and vibrant, with jumpy acids creating a crisp mouthfeel. Will settle somewhat but won't ever deliver much in the way of rich berry fruit or a chewy mouthfeel.	null	84	11	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Malbec	Terrazas de Los Andes	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Terrazas de Los Andes 2007 Malbec (Mendoza)
US	This dry wine has an appealing fruit character, light spiciness and a firm grip of tannin. It will pair well with roast birds or grilled sausages.	null	88	20	California	Mendocino County	null	Pinot Noir	Sketchbook	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Sketchbook 2014 Pinot Noir (Mendocino County)
France	This is a powerful wine with complex structure, dense fruits and a solid texture. It's dry, firm, dark and still very young. The core of the wine is still tannin, the black cherry fruit giving so much richness before the fresh acidity cuts in. Drink from 2018.	null	94	175	Burgundy	Corton	null	Pinot Noir	Chanson Père et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Chanson Père et Fils 2011 Corton
US	Clean and proper, if a bit soft and simple. Shows modest cherry-berry flavors with a touch of oak.	Wilson Vineyard	83	13	California	Clarksburg	Central Valley	Merlot	The Crusher	null	null	The Crusher 2008 Wilson Vineyard Merlot (Clarksburg)
US	Rich, almost unctuous, with a lush, lanolin mouthfeel, this is a passionfruit creamsicle of a wine. The fruit is a seductive and generous mix of peach, Asian pear and tropical; the alcohol a full-bodied 14.5%. The Roussanne part (58% of the blend) is barrel fermented; the Viognier done in stainless. Blended together they harmonize beautifully.	Slice of Pape Blanc	94	30	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Viognier-Roussanne	Tranche	null	null	null
New Zealand	A blend of batches made in neutral oak and stainless steel, there's no obvious toast or vanilla to this fruit-driven Chardonnay. Apple, pear and citrus notes lead the way, showing decent weight on the palate before ending slightly short.	null	85	16	Marlborough	null	null	Chardonnay	Freefall	null	null	null
Italy	Made entirely from Pinot Nero, this fragrant Metodo Classico offers tantalizing red berry, citrus, rose and cake spice scents. It's bright and elegantly sparkling, delivering juicy strawberry, tart cherry, tangerine and pastry cream flavors, framed by crisp acidity. A hint of cinnamon closes the quenching finish, calling for a second bottle.	Leonia Rosé Metodo Classico	92	null	Tuscany	Pomino	null	Pinot Nero	Marchesi de' Frescobaldi	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Marchesi de' Frescobaldi 2012 Leonia Rosé Metodo Classico Pinot Nero (Pomino)
Italy	Aged two years in barrique, this is a plush and modern Amarone with deep layers of spice, ripe fruit, cola, tobacco, leather and mesquite. It shows, soft, sweet intensity and loads of cherry on the close.	null	90	30	Veneto	Amarone della Valpolicella	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Tezza	null	null	null
Austria	This is serious, structured Blaufränkisch. It has ripe berry fruits, a solid structure and bright, juicy acidity that give the wine potential to age well. Cellaring should bring out the bloom of rich cherries and ripeness, so drink from 2016.	Hochäcker	90	26	Burgenland	null	null	Blaufränkisch	Weninger	null	null	null
Italy	Barolo Pernanno offers a bold and modern interpretation of Nebbiolo that sports tones of vanilla, cinnamon, toasted nut and spice framed around vertical tones of berry fruit, cola and balsam. In fact, there is a medicinal vein of chopped herb or mint that adds to the wine's intensity.	Pernanno	91	86	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Cascina Adelaide	null	null	Cascina Adelaide 2007 Pernanno (Barolo)
France	90–92. Barrel sample. Dry, dusty tannins from ripe fruit dominate this concentrated wine. It's solid and chunky, with lush fruit showing through a dark structure.	Barrel Sample	91	null	Bordeaux	Pessac-Léognan	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Latour-Martillac	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Latour-Martillac 2012 Barrel Sample (Pessac-Léognan)
US	With its sophisticated mix of mineral, acid and tart fruits, this seductive effort pleases from start to finish. Supple and dense, it's got strawberry, blueberry, plum and black cherry, a touch of chocolate, and that underlying streak of mineral. All these elements are in good proportion and finish with an appealing silky texture. It's delicious already, but give it another decade for full enjoyment. Drink now through 2028.	Grace Vineyard	95	185	Oregon	Dundee Hills	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Domaine Serene	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a fantastic wine with dense, well-extracted concentration (it's thick, but not impenetrable) and intense balsam aromas of cola and freshly herbs. It offers coffee-like favors but also herbal notes, licorice and plush red fruit.	Riserva	90	null	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Sangiovese	Casa Emma	null	null	null
New Zealand	Although the stars at Saint Clair are the Reserve and Pioneer Block wines, the regular SB bottling has maintained a high level of quality. The 2008 boasts exuberant passion fruit and grapefruit aromas and flavors, backed by fresh, grassy notes. It's medium in body, with a mouthwatering, fresh finish.	null	88	17	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Saint Clair	null	null	null
France	This blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc is the most successful of the Baumard sparkling wines. It is fruity, very fresh and crisp while also having the potential for some bottle aging. Acidity and a tangy aftertaste contribute to its lively freshness.	Carte Turquoise Brut	89	24	Loire Valley	Crémant de Loire	null	Sparkling Blend	Domaine des Baumard	null	null	null
Argentina	A solid and appealing large-format wine that is 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is composed and shows honest aromas of blackberry and cassis. It's juicy and fresh in the mouth, with decent berry fruit but not much in the way of trimmings, i.e. oak, tannins, depth or length. Still, for value hunters it'll get the job done.	White Pearl	85	13	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon	Antonio Cesar Cavalli	null	null	null
Spain	Aromatic notes of talcum powder and scented candles give this Bordeaux blend from Navarra a light, pleasant bouquet. But the palate is more starching and hard than ideal, leaving a spiky, jagged feel to the wine's raspberry and plum fruit. So rugged and jarring that food is downright mandatory. Ripped but punishing.	Ars Mácula	84	25	Northern Spain	Navarra	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Tandem	null	null	null
New Zealand	This ultra rich style could be mistaken for a Chardonnay. Light gold in color, heady aromas of lemon curd, butter, ripe banana and bruised apple lead into a palate of baked stone fruit and toast, with medium to low acidity.	null	82	15	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Fern Ridge	null	null	Fern Ridge 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
Italy	There's a lactic note that resembles cherry yogurt or creamy milk chocolate. After that, this ripasso delivers dried fruit, resin and measured notes of exotic spice. There's also a perfumed quality that recalls pressed flowers or lavender and the wine has a lean, slightly sharp feel in the mouth. Imported by Omniwines Distribution.	Torre del Falasco	86	30	Veneto	Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso	null	Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara	Cantina Sociale della Valpantena	null	null	null
Italy	This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah shows dark fruit tones of cherry and plum, backed by a rich, soft mouthfeel. This easygoing selection would pair well with roast chicken or pork.	Acquagiusta	87	15	Tuscany	Maremma Toscana	null	Red Blend	Tenuta La Badiola	null	null	null
US	Rich aromas of cassis, blackberry jam and black raspberry are lifted by cracked chocolate and chopped mint on this wine from attorney David Hardee and winemaker Joey Tensley. It's a very big, juicy and rich wine once sipped, with luxurious fudge, black cherry compote, fragrant plums, mission figs and even dates on the palate, but with acidity and ample tannins to match.	7 Percent	92	36	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Syrah	Carina Cellars	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Carina Cellars 2012 7 Percent Syrah (Paso Robles)
France	On the mineral side of Meursault, the has a very textured feel, with acidity to go with the honey note. Finely balanced, warm and ripe, this has a crisp, tight finish.	Les Clous	90	55	Burgundy	Meursault	null	Chardonnay	Henri de Villamont	null	null	null
US	Tightly wound blueberry, black plum and barnyard aromas show on the nose of this Bordeaux blend. Presented with judicious acidity, the palate combines its fruit flavors with savory touches of smoked meat and licorice, finishing on a salted caramel note.	null	87	30	California	South Coast	South Coast	Meritage	Hawk Watch Winery	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Hawk Watch Winery 2013 Meritage (South Coast)
US	Shows the richness and fullness of body that this cool region of Santa Barbara is known for in Pinot Noir. The wine exhibits the twin elements of complexity and ageability. Somewhat tannic now, it's flamboyantly flavored, with a mélange of cherries, black raspberries, red currants, cola, licorice, Asian spices and smoky oak, and is very dry. Best now and through 2012.	Calmant Creek Vineyard	92	49	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	La Fenêtre	null	null	null
US	The Daou brothers have become increasingly known for their rich, unctuous and lavish high-end wines, but this bottling offers a taste of that opulence for just $30. Plump blueberry and soft, cedar-like spice scents show on the nose, while the palate bursts with black cherry, dark chocolate and caramel flavors, powered by ample acidity. It will age gracefully, but is already delicious.	null	93	30	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Daou	null	null	null
US	Soft and a bit one-dimensional, but pretty tasty, with well-ripened blackberry and mocha flavors that finish with a hint of anise. Feels polished and supple, but not for the cellar. Drink now.	null	87	25	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Sterling	null	null	null
US	This tastes soft, sweet and simple. The blend is Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Columbard and Gewurztraminer.	null	80	10	California	California	California Other	White Blend	Immersion	null	null	Immersion 2011 White (California)
US	Good example of a clean, proper Viognier at a relatively affordable price. It's crisp and elegant, showing the variety's lush side, with tropical fruit, wildflower, buttered toast, sweet cream and vanilla flavors.	null	87	18	California	Central Coast	Central Coast	Viognier	Wild Horse	null	null	null
Italy	This is a pretty expression of Primitivo, showing a nice balance of ripe fruit and blackberry set against savory tones of spice and tobacco. That balance continues onto the palate, where the wine is plush, rich and slightly sweet.	Jèma	90	null	Southern Italy	Salento	null	Primitivo	L'Astore Masseria	null	null	null
US	Savory notes of spring ramp and clay mingle with fresh apple and blossom on this dry, light-bodied Riesling. Earthy, savory tones extend on the palate as well, but finish briskly with a streak of lemony acidity.	Single Wheel Dry	82	18	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Riesling	Hosmer	null	null	null
Germany	Frankly sweet and almost flabby, with plenty of sugar, petrolly minerality and ripe pear flavors, but this wine lacks the buoyant citrusy zest needed for balance and length.	Westhofener Kirchspiel Spätlese	85	32	Rheinhessen	null	null	Riesling	Groebe	null	null	null
US	There's plenty of toasty oak, but it only serves to accent the mixed berries and dried herbs that form the core of this juicy wine. Finishes with complex espresso, mocha and chocolate flavors that carry a slight bitter note.	null	87	18	New York	North Fork of Long Island	Long Island	Merlot	Corey Creek	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a pretty Brunello that shows interesting complexity and bright aromas that really distinguish this wine from other 2008s. The aromas lean toward herbal and menthol tones, with accents of cola and black licorice. There's more fruit in the mouth, especially cherry, with crisp freshness too.	Molino della Suga	91	null	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese Grosso	Bonacchi	null	null	Bonacchi 2008 Molino della Suga (Brunello di Montalcino)
Italy	Aromas of black cherry, ground pepper, clove and chopped herb jump out of the glass and carry over to the vibrant, easy-drinking palate. Racy acidity and round tannins support the juicy fruit. It's made for sheer drinking pleasure so enjoy soon.	Fisetta	88	15	Piedmont	Barbera d'Alba	null	Barbera	Ciabot Berton	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Ciabot Berton 2014 Fisetta (Barbera d'Alba)
US	A beautifully elegant, refined Chardonnay. Because it's not overloaded with oak, it displays the basic finesse of the grapes from this cool-climate vineyard. Crisp and dry, it's rich and complex in citrus, tropical fruit, peach, mineral and honeysuckle flavors, at a fair price.	null	90	20	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Artesa	null	null	null
Italy	Here's an easy-drinking expression of Nebbiolo that sees 12 months of wood aging in large oak casks for extra spice and tobacco on the finish. Otherwise, the freshness of the fruit is what you taste here backed by bright acidity and firm tannins.	null	88	29	Piedmont	Nebbiolo d'Alba	null	Nebbiolo	Pioiero	null	null	null
US	Flashy oak and deep, pure blackcurrants show from the first whiff, and the purple color stains the sides of the glass in this wine with enough glycerine to float the Sixth Fleet. Doesn't disappoint on the palate, with ripe blackberry flavors and gorgeous, velvety tannins. Closes long, with a sweet, richly-fruited finish. Cellar Selection.	null	95	100	California	Oakville	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Oakford	null	null	null
Portugal	A finely balanced wine that shows structure as well as rich fruits. It has ripe red fruits, spice and toast that hang well together, the fruit held in check by the structure of the wine. This would be worth aging for two years or more.	null	90	null	Alentejano	null	null	Portuguese Red	Cortes de Cima	null	null	null
Italy	L'Anima, which is Italian for “the soul,” is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer, and it shows pretty aromas of white flower, honey and exotic fruit. The density and creaminess of the mouthfeel recall the wine's warm-climate Tuscan roots.	L'Anima	87	17	Tuscany	Toscana	null	White Blend	Livernano	null	null	Livernano 2010 L'Anima White (Toscana)
US	There's some richness in this chocolate- and cherry-flavored wine, but it really falls off quickly, leading to a thin finish. Lacks the sweet concentration this winery's Port-style wines used to have.	Royal Escort Paladini Vineyard	85	72	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Port	Prager	null	null	null
France	Despite the huge weight of fruit and accompanying structure, this is a stylish wine. It's impressively dense, concentrated and solid. At the same time, the juicy black fruits give a generous, full-in-the-mouth character. Drink this very fine wine from 2022.	null	94	135	Bordeaux	Saint-Julien	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Ducru Beaucaillou	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2011 Saint-Julien
Portugal	A light, bright, deliciously lemony wine, with an attractive aromatic lift. Fruity, ready to drink now.	Vinha Conchas	85	9	Lisboa	null	null	Portuguese White	Quinta da Cortezia	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Quinta da Cortezia 2010 Vinha Conchas White (Lisboa)
France	The new wood flavors on this wine are becoming well integrated with the velvet fruit textures. The tannins are now an adjunct to the fruit, which shows fresh spice and sweetness. It is becoming a fine, balanced wine, delicate and perfumed.	null	91	null	Bordeaux	Margaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Kirwan	null	null	null
France	This wine has equal amounts of ripe berry fruit and structure. There is a smoky character, wood and spice notes, balanced acidity and a leather-like touch to the texture. It is slowly developing, and it has the potential to be rich. Age this for 6–8 years.	Domaine du Clos Frantin	90	null	Burgundy	Vosne-Romanée	null	Pinot Noir	Albert Bichot	null	null	null
South Africa	Thelema's trademark mintiness is a star here, as are the rich, savory flavors of black currant, coffee and spice on the palate. Poised but giving, the wine has an ageable quality and will be delicious with roast lamb or beef.	null	89	41	Stellenbosch	null	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Thelema	null	null	null
France	There's an attractive maturity to this bottling of Cuvée Flamme, giving a wine that is certainly dry, but is also rich. The initial fruitiness has been replaced with almond, yeast and toast flavors, balanced with a final ripe burst of baked apple.	Cuvée Flamme Brut	90	null	Loire Valley	Saumur	null	White Blend	Gratien et Meyer	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Gratien et Meyer NV Cuvée Flamme Brut (Saumur)
Argentina	Chakana has put out many good wines in recent vintages but this rough and tumble blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah comes across minty and forced on the nose and then grating on the palate. Yes, it's got color and power. But it lacks the balance and body that you'd expect. Frankly, it seems acidified.	Estate Selection	84	35	Mendoza Province	Luján de Cuyo	null	Red Blend	Chakana	null	null	null
US	This is the winery's first release of this vineyard-designated wine. Cocoa, fresh herb, tire rubber and cherry aromas are followed by cassis flavors backed by tightly wound tannins.	Bacchus Vineyard	89	39	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Three Rivers	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Three Rivers 2012 Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	Sourced from Ceja Vineyards, this wine impresses in crisp dried red fruit and perfumed floral aromatics that go on for days. Velvety in texture and robust in power, it offers big shoulders around a tartness of acidity and complex baking spice.	null	93	29	California	Sonoma Valley	Sonoma	Grenache	Inspiration	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Inspiration 2015 Grenache (Sonoma Valley)
US	Juicy, soft red layers of fruity dark cherry and blackberry accentuate this sophisticated, boldly ripe wine, with integrated oak and firm supportive tannin.	Collins Vineyard	90	50	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Zinfandel	Leonard Wine Company	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Leonard Wine Company 2014 Collins Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)
US	There's something overwhelmingly herbal and weedy about this wine, which shows a simple structure of tannin and lingering flavors of cherry cola.	Reserve	84	65	California	Alexander Valley	Sonoma	Cabernet Sauvignon	Ferrari-Carano	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Ferrari-Carano 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)
France	A rich wine that shows the power of Gevrey, even in a lesser vintage. The fruit fills the glass with aromas of red plums, sweet raspberries and cranberry juice. There is spice here along with juicy fresh acidity. It is worth aging 3–4 years, but is delicious now.	null	91	50	Burgundy	Gevrey-Chambertin	null	Pinot Noir	Manuel Olivier	null	null	null
US	The aromas of flowers, mineral, peach and almond are initially light but pleasing. The stone-fruit flavors are full bodied and sweet, pulling up ever so slightly on the finish.	Boushey Vineyard	89	35	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Marsanne-Viognier	àMaurice	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	àMaurice 2014 Boushey Vineyard Marsanne-Viognier (Yakima Valley)
Portugal	This is impressive, both for Vinho Verde and or a cooperative wine. The Alvarinho grape shows its best here with richness, intensity and flavors of plums, pineapple and ripe pears. Imported by Tri-Vin Imports.	Alvarinho Deu la Deu	90	16	Vinho Verde	null	null	Alvarinho	Adega de Monção	null	null	null
France	Using fruit sourced from a small appellation to the west of Cahors and east of Bergerac, this blend of Merlot and Malbec shows a light, approachable character. It's full of red berry fruit, with sweet tannins and juicy acids on the finish.	Pigmentum	87	12	Southwest France	Buzet	null	Merlot-Malbec	Georges Vigouroux	null	null	null
France	It's sad that only 5,080 bottles of this wine were produced, as it's truly a stunner. Dark and developed, complex and concentrated, this wine exhibits such superb balance and finesse, with nuanced notes of minerality, scrubland, whole tobacco leaf, black pepper and licorice root all gracing the dark fruit core of the nose and mouth. It's lush and full on the palate, and medium tannins provide a solid structure, making the wine drinkable now or ready to age.	L'Hospitalitas - La Clape	93	75	Languedoc-Roussillon	Coteaux du Languedoc	null	Rhône-style Red Blend	Gérard Bertrand	Lauren Buzzeo	@laurbuzz	Gérard Bertrand 2008 L'Hospitalitas - La Clape Red (Coteaux du Languedoc)
France	This is bright and fruity wine that has a smoky character as well as brilliant black fruits and acidity. Aromatic and concentrated, the wine is still developing, still with considerable acidity. That will broaden out as the wine matures to give a rich, always lively wine. Drink from 2018.	Clos Jus Premier Cru	91	30	Burgundy	Givry	null	Pinot Noir	Vignerons de Buxy	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Vignerons de Buxy 2014 Clos Jus Premier Cru (Givry)
France	Made from fruit that was sourced from old vines, some of which were planted in 1912, this wine is dense and concentrated. It demonstrates both elegance and an immense tannic character. Acidity and flavors of blackberry and spice are all present. This demands to be aged for a long time.	null	96	null	Burgundy	Chambertin Clos de Bèze	null	Pinot Noir	Domaine Bruno Clair	null	null	null
US	Nice mix of berry, chocolate and spicy herb flavors, with good persistence. The excellent fruit sources yield an easy-drinking red blend that stays light and fruity from midpalate on through.	null	87	13	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon	Waterbrook	null	null	null
US	Blended with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah, this medium-bodied, soft and juicy red offers notions of berry pie and dusty leather, as backbeats of chocolate and blackberry play on the palate. With an intensely lengthy finish marked by clove this wine is memorably inviting.	null	90	28	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Merlot	Whitehall Lane	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Whitehall Lane 2013 Merlot (Napa Valley)
US	This pale-colored, light-bodied wine is elegantly crisp, an easy, fine wine to down over roast salmon or pork. It shows subtle flavors of cherries and cola, with darker overtones of pomegranate jam and balsam. Not an ager, but fine now and over the next four years.	Sleepy Hollow Vineyard	90	38	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	La Rochelle	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a Pinot Grigio that ranks high in terms of fresh, easy-drinking white wine options from northern Italy. The bouquet delivers crisp tones of honeydew melon, herb and a distant mineral dusting. In the mouth, it shows balanced freshness and a bright peach finish.	null	87	17	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige	null	Pinot Grigio	Erste Neue	null	null	Erste Neue 2011 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige)
France	Aromatic notions suggest Bosc pear, the ripe peel of Navel oranges, the crunch of apple—all conveying perfect ripeness countered with freshness. This wine is refreshing and full fruited and yet rounded. It's a harmoniously balanced, dry wine of total freshness.	Le Dragon	93	41	Alsace	Alsace	null	Riesling	Josmeyer	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Josmeyer 2014 Le Dragon Riesling (Alsace)
Chile	Ripe and full on both the bouquet and palate. It's a rich wine from a good year, and thus the prune, licorice and chocolate aromas take center stage. In the mouth, this multigrape blend that ranges from Bordeaux varieties to Pinot Noir is on the money. It's round, rewarding and full of deep black fruit and sweet, balancing fudge and candy. Better sooner than later, seeing that the perceptible acidity is minor.	Borobo	92	70	Rapel Valley-Casablanca Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Lapostolle	null	null	null
US	Merryvale's Profile has been one of the most reliable Bordeaux blends for a long time, and the '03, which is mainly Cab Sauvignon, is a very fine expression of the house style. A blend of impressive vineyards, it's opulent in black currant flavors, and is most notable for its softly elegant balance. It's the kind of wine that will dazzle even people who say they don't like reds. Best now–2011 or so.	Profile	93	95	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Merryvale	null	null	null
France	From vines planted to the west of Chablis, this is a soft, ripe and fruity wine. It has some tension from the minerality while keeping the white fruit flavors to the fore. Drink now or, better, from late 2016.	null	88	19	Burgundy	Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre	null	Chardonnay	Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen 2014 Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre
Spain	A yellowish tint and woody aromas include a note of baked apple. A somewhat full-bodied palate is endowed with a resiny texture, while this tastes of woody dried apple and papaya. Round and persistently oaky on the finish.	Finca Alto Cantabria	87	20	Northern Spain	Rioja	null	Macabeo	Bodegas Valdemar	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Bodegas Valdemar 2015 Finca Alto Cantabria Macabeo (Rioja)
Greece	This spicy blend of native grape Agiorgitiko and Cabernet offers a muscular nose of leather, tobacco and earthy dried herbs, and on the palate, cherry, leather and tobacco. It's a slightly rustic blend that will benefit from aging, but paired with grilled meats is good now. Imported by American Wine Distributors.	Agiorgitiko - Cabernet Sauvignon	86	23	Peloponnese	null	null	Red Blend	Vatistas	null	null	null
Portugal	Soft, fruity wine from the Castelão grape grown in sandy vineyards, this is smooth and ripe, with a good edge of acidity. The wine has great berry fruits, just a touch of tannin, ready to drink now.	Azul Portugal	86	10	Palmela	null	null	Castelão	Wines & Winemakers	null	null	null
US	So forward and appealing right now, it's hard to resist, but this could gain a little traction with a two or three years of age. It's polished in cherry jam and blackberry-pie filling, with earthy tones of coffee, figs, sage and cedar. The intricate tannins play nicely against the acidity, which gives it an upscale feeling.	null	91	24	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Merlot	Flora Springs	null	null	null
Italy	With aromas of violet, tilled soil and red berries, this blend of Sangiovese and Merlot recalls sunny Tuscany. It's loaded with wild cherry flavors accented by white pepper, cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is uplifted by vibrant acidity and fine tannins.	Belcore	89	27	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	I Giusti e Zanza	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	I Giusti e Zanza 2011 Belcore Red (Toscana)
Italy	Prosecco Superiore Dei Casel is a soft, foamy wine with apple mousse, lemon zest and soft layers of peach cobbler. The wine is delicate, elegant and fine.	Dei Casel Extra Dry	88	18	Veneto	Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore	null	Glera	Adami	null	null	null
Chile	Herbal, spicy and rubbery smelling, with mulchy berry aromas. Feels soft, creamy and confected, with more milk chocolate and vanilla flavor than legitimate fruit. Sweet and soft on the finish.	Gold Reserve	82	14	Maule Valley	null	null	Carmenère	P.K.N.T.	null	null	null
Spain	Reedy cherry and berry aromas are smoky and schisty, with a high level of purity and complexity. This wine is tannic but in great shape, with lockdown structure. Schisty plum, cassis, black cherry and cocoa flavors finish firm and mildly peppery tasting, with oodles of class and aging potential. Drink through 2022.	Clos Figueres	94	85	Catalonia	Priorat	null	Red Blend	Clos Figueras	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Clos Figueras 2010 Clos Figueres Red (Priorat)
Germany	Like drinking a fruit cocktail. This exceptionally pretty white is succulent and balanced, with good depth and penetrating flower notes. The broad, medium-length finish is dominated by ripe cantaloupe and green apple notes. Drink now or hold a few years.	Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Spätlese	88	23	Mosel	null	null	Riesling	St. Urbans-Hof	null	null	null
Portugal	This is an aromatic wine with generous fruit and soft tannins. Its wood aging has given the wine extra richness as well as spice. The wine is ready to drink.	Alteza	84	10	Lisboa	null	null	Portuguese Red	Casa Santos Lima	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Casa Santos Lima 2015 Alteza Red (Lisboa)
US	A solid Amador County Primitivo from a consistently good producer that is subtle with bright red and blue fruit with a layer of mint and earthy cedar. Well crafted, it tastes light and soft from start to finish.	Indian Creek Vineyard	90	24	California	Amador County	Sierra Foothills	Primitivo	Andis	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Andis 2011 Indian Creek Vineyard Primitivo (Amador County)
Spain	Gets off early with fresh tomato, spiced red plum, tobacco and vanilla aromas. The palate is fine but tight, with herbal fruit flavors, pepper, tomato and sharp acidity. Finishes with olive and tomato notes. Not the sweetest or softest thing going, but good if you like Navarran wines and their patented herbal, red-fruit character.	Crianza	86	17	Northern Spain	Navarra	null	Tempranillo	Ochoa	null	null	null
US	With mid-summer comes the annual release of J's nonvintage Cuvée 20. This year's bottling is richer than last year's, and offers broad citrus, raspberry, vanilla and yeasty brioche flavors. The wine feels clean, vibrant and smooth.	Cuvée 20 Brut	90	32	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Sparkling Blend	J Vineyards & Winery	null	null	null
Chile	Strikingly pungent on first take, with crackling aromas of cactus, nettle, lime and grapefruit. Feels zesty, deep and layered, with an even mix of tropical fruit flavors, stone fruits and green notes. About as right as it gets for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.	EQ Coastal	91	20	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Matetic	null	null	null
Italy	Floral scents of rose, acacia and a whiff of white tree fruit lead the way. On the palate, bright acidity lifts up white peach, green apple and lemon drop while a creamy mousse adds softness. It closes on a note of candied citrus zest.	Dry	89	30	Veneto	Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze	null	Glera	Col Vetoraz	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Col Vetoraz 2014 Dry (Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze)
US	Sharp and spicy, this light Chardonnay hints at almond and coconut, solidly anchored in green apple fruit. The finish thins out quickly, but it's a fine food wine.	Traditions	86	13	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Milbrandt	null	null	null
Portugal	Get past the pharmacy aromas and this is a pleasant, if rather fat, wine. It has some pear juice flavors along with a final light acidity.	Cister da Ribeira Branco	83	10	Douro	null	null	Portuguese White	Quinta de Ventozelo	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Quinta de Ventozelo 2009 Cister da Ribeira Branco White (Douro)
France	Red fruits and a soft tannic profile give a ready-to-drink feel. It's generous, balanced, the black fruits giving a sweet, jammy feel. Pepper and spice at the end are paired with juicy acidity.	null	88	17	Southwest France	Cahors	null	Malbec	Domaine de Cause	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine de Cause 2011 Malbec (Cahors)
Greece	Black cherry, cigarbox, pepper and mocha give this vclvety red class. Sultry, integrated and unfolding, the wine offers additional warming spice, cinnamon and chocolate on the palate. Mellow black fruits and a delicious cinnamon finish seal the deal.	Metoxi X	89	25	Mount Athos	null	null	Red Blend	Tsantali	null	null	null
Chile	Plump, sweet and tropical on the nose, but also not that focused or powerful. The palate is flat in feel and a bit sticky, with vague, candied flavors of papaya and melon. There's even an Animal Cracker quality to the finish. Good but not great.	Novas Limited Selection	85	17	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Emiliana	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Emiliana 2008 Novas Limited Selection Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)
Chile	Nice for a warmer-climate Chardonnay, with toast, white fruit, cinnamon and baked notes to the bouquet. Feels healthy and round, with fleshy peach, apple and spice flavors. Falls off a touch on the finish, but overall it runs smoothly.	Toro de Piedra Reserva	87	14	Maule Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Viña Requingua	null	null	null
US	Last year, I wrote of this wine that it's firm in acids and minerals, with apple, citrus and peach flavors and a clean, streamlined finish. The same goes for the '04. It's a totally dry, elegantly steely wine that won't compete with fancy fish or poultry dishes.	null	89	22	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	MacRostie	null	null	null
US	Menthol adds a lifted quality to scents of sweet cherry and plum on this pretty, light-bodied Pinot. On the palate, sweet berries and prune are edged with a frame of gentle tannins and a hint of bitterness. Finishes with a soft whiff of barnyard and forest floor.	null	85	30	New York	North Fork of Long Island	Long Island	Pinot Noir	Castello di Borghese	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Castello di Borghese 2007 Pinot Noir (North Fork of Long Island)
France	Made with the involvement of Hubert de Bouärd of Château Angélus as consultant, this wine is superrich and packed with dark fruit. Despite its high alcohol for a Bordeaux, it is balanced and fruity with tannins the are comfortably cushioned by the fruit and freshened by acidity. Drink from 2021.	Les Cerisiers	91	28	Bordeaux	Francs Côtes de Bordeaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château de Francs	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château de Francs 2014 Les Cerisiers (Francs Côtes de Bordeaux)
US	Fresh fruit flavors suggest a bowl full of berries and cherries. Crisp acids help to focus the wine, with spot-on varietal flavors and balance. Both elegant and complex, it's a lovely bottle from an under-the-radar producer.	Estate	90	40	Oregon	Chehalem Mountains	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Carabella	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Carabella 2013 Estate Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains)
US	Does a good job of making a Syrah in a distinctly Paso Robles style. The wine is very soft and velvety, but dry, with forward black raspberry pie filling, mocha and cinnamon spice flavors.	null	87	20	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Syrah	Minassian-Young	null	null	null
France	A solid claret, with cherry and plum fruit accented by dried herbs and a touch of vanilla. This is a basic Saint-Emilion that stays true to its appellation and doesn't try to be more than it is: a user-friendly wine that goes down easy.	null	86	20	Bordeaux	Saint-Émilion	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Baron Philippe de Rothschild	null	null	null
France	The 12-acre Rotenberg vineyard in Wintzenheim produces vibrant, racy wines, like this blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris. It is fresh and intense, with concentrated flavors of sweet white currants. Imported by Lauber Imports.	Rotenberg	95	47	Alsace	Alsace	null	Alsace white blend	Domaine Marcel Deiss	null	null	null
US	One of the first bottles to bear the name of this new growing region, the aromas are light with notes of baking spice, cherry, vanilla and Red Vines. The fruit flavors are sweet and supple, backed by lightly grainy tannins.	Single Vineyard	88	30	Idaho	null	null	Syrah	3 Horse Ranch Vineyards	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2014 Single Vineyard Syrah
France	The touches of wood aging are apparent in the almond and toasty edge to this perfumed wine. Quince and apricot fruit show strongly through the tight dry texture and minerality. It's a wine made to be drunk young with great fruit. Drink now.	Spring	88	20	Loire Valley	Vouvray	null	Chenin Blanc	Domaine Vincent Carême	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Vincent Carême 2015 Spring (Vouvray)
New Zealand	A simple, fresh and appealing Riesling, light to medium in body and off dry in style. Apple and citrus notes dominate, with some slightly riper melon notes evident as well. Drink over the next few years.	null	86	19	Canterbury	null	null	Riesling	Mt. Beautiful	null	null	null
US	The defining characteristic of Carter seems to be a taste of steel or gun metal running through the spine. It's here again, with compact fruit and drying tannins. That fruit has a dark core, and it's polished and textural, with lightly herbal highlights. This is a wine to track in the cellar over the next decade or longer.	Carter Vineyard	94	63	Oregon	Eola-Amity Hills	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Ken Wright	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Ken Wright 2014 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)
France	This is an earthy effort that shows the tough soil of Cahors in its minerally, tight character. Dark in color, this is laced with intense acids and firm tannins.	Pigmentum	85	12	Southwest France	Cahors	null	Malbec	Georges Vigouroux	null	null	null
Italy	This structured red offers plum, violet, toast, balsamic and menthol aromas. The taut palate delivers red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and orange zest flavors, set against fine-grained tannins. An espresso note closes the finish.	Riserva	92	53	Tuscany	Vino Nobile di Montepulciano	null	Red Blend	Boscarelli	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Boscarelli 2012 Riserva (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)

Argentina

Sharp and sassy for the most part, but with airing things improve a bit and you start to find red fruit and honest spice. The feel is lean and vibrant, with jumpy acids creating a crisp mouthfeel. Will settle somewhat but won't ever deliver much in the way of rich berry fruit or a chewy mouthfeel.

null

84

11

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Malbec

Terrazas de Los Andes

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Terrazas de Los Andes 2007 Malbec (Mendoza)

US

This dry wine has an appealing fruit character, light spiciness and a firm grip of tannin. It will pair well with roast birds or grilled sausages.

null

88

20

California

Mendocino County

null

Pinot Noir

Sketchbook

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Sketchbook 2014 Pinot Noir (Mendocino County)

France

This is a powerful wine with complex structure, dense fruits and a solid texture. It's dry, firm, dark and still very young. The core of the wine is still tannin, the black cherry fruit giving so much richness before the fresh acidity cuts in. Drink from 2018.

null

94

175

Burgundy

Corton

null

Pinot Noir

Chanson Père et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Chanson Père et Fils 2011 Corton

US

Clean and proper, if a bit soft and simple. Shows modest cherry-berry flavors with a touch of oak.

Wilson Vineyard

83

13

California

Clarksburg

Central Valley

Merlot

The Crusher

null

The Crusher 2008 Wilson Vineyard Merlot (Clarksburg)

US

Rich, almost unctuous, with a lush, lanolin mouthfeel, this is a passionfruit creamsicle of a wine. The fruit is a seductive and generous mix of peach, Asian pear and tropical; the alcohol a full-bodied 14.5%. The Roussanne part (58% of the blend) is barrel fermented; the Viognier done in stainless. Blended together they harmonize beautifully.

Slice of Pape Blanc

94

30

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Viognier-Roussanne

Tranche

null

New Zealand

A blend of batches made in neutral oak and stainless steel, there's no obvious toast or vanilla to this fruit-driven Chardonnay. Apple, pear and citrus notes lead the way, showing decent weight on the palate before ending slightly short.

null

85

16

Marlborough

null

Chardonnay

Freefall

null

Italy

Made entirely from Pinot Nero, this fragrant Metodo Classico offers tantalizing red berry, citrus, rose and cake spice scents. It's bright and elegantly sparkling, delivering juicy strawberry, tart cherry, tangerine and pastry cream flavors, framed by crisp acidity. A hint of cinnamon closes the quenching finish, calling for a second bottle.

Leonia Rosé Metodo Classico

92

null

Tuscany

Pomino

null

Pinot Nero

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi 2012 Leonia Rosé Metodo Classico Pinot Nero (Pomino)

Italy

Aged two years in barrique, this is a plush and modern Amarone with deep layers of spice, ripe fruit, cola, tobacco, leather and mesquite. It shows, soft, sweet intensity and loads of cherry on the close.

null

90

30

Veneto

Amarone della Valpolicella

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Tezza

null

Austria

This is serious, structured Blaufränkisch. It has ripe berry fruits, a solid structure and bright, juicy acidity that give the wine potential to age well. Cellaring should bring out the bloom of rich cherries and ripeness, so drink from 2016.

Hochäcker

90

26

Burgenland

null

Blaufränkisch

Weninger

null

Italy

Barolo Pernanno offers a bold and modern interpretation of Nebbiolo that sports tones of vanilla, cinnamon, toasted nut and spice framed around vertical tones of berry fruit, cola and balsam. In fact, there is a medicinal vein of chopped herb or mint that adds to the wine's intensity.

Pernanno

91

86

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Cascina Adelaide

null

Cascina Adelaide 2007 Pernanno (Barolo)

France

90–92. Barrel sample. Dry, dusty tannins from ripe fruit dominate this concentrated wine. It's solid and chunky, with lush fruit showing through a dark structure.

Barrel Sample

91

null

Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Latour-Martillac

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Latour-Martillac 2012 Barrel Sample (Pessac-Léognan)

US

With its sophisticated mix of mineral, acid and tart fruits, this seductive effort pleases from start to finish. Supple and dense, it's got strawberry, blueberry, plum and black cherry, a touch of chocolate, and that underlying streak of mineral. All these elements are in good proportion and finish with an appealing silky texture. It's delicious already, but give it another decade for full enjoyment. Drink now through 2028.

Grace Vineyard

95

185

Oregon

Dundee Hills

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Domaine Serene

null

Italy

Here's a fantastic wine with dense, well-extracted concentration (it's thick, but not impenetrable) and intense balsam aromas of cola and freshly herbs. It offers coffee-like favors but also herbal notes, licorice and plush red fruit.

Riserva

90

null

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Sangiovese

Casa Emma

null

New Zealand

Although the stars at Saint Clair are the Reserve and Pioneer Block wines, the regular SB bottling has maintained a high level of quality. The 2008 boasts exuberant passion fruit and grapefruit aromas and flavors, backed by fresh, grassy notes. It's medium in body, with a mouthwatering, fresh finish.

null

88

17

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Saint Clair

null

France

This blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc is the most successful of the Baumard sparkling wines. It is fruity, very fresh and crisp while also having the potential for some bottle aging. Acidity and a tangy aftertaste contribute to its lively freshness.

Carte Turquoise Brut

89

24

Loire Valley

Crémant de Loire

null

Sparkling Blend

Domaine des Baumard

null

Argentina

A solid and appealing large-format wine that is 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is composed and shows honest aromas of blackberry and cassis. It's juicy and fresh in the mouth, with decent berry fruit but not much in the way of trimmings, i.e. oak, tannins, depth or length. Still, for value hunters it'll get the job done.

White Pearl

85

13

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon

Antonio Cesar Cavalli

null

Spain

Aromatic notes of talcum powder and scented candles give this Bordeaux blend from Navarra a light, pleasant bouquet. But the palate is more starching and hard than ideal, leaving a spiky, jagged feel to the wine's raspberry and plum fruit. So rugged and jarring that food is downright mandatory. Ripped but punishing.

Ars Mácula

84

25

Northern Spain

Navarra

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Tandem

null

New Zealand

This ultra rich style could be mistaken for a Chardonnay. Light gold in color, heady aromas of lemon curd, butter, ripe banana and bruised apple lead into a palate of baked stone fruit and toast, with medium to low acidity.

null

82

15

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Fern Ridge

null

Fern Ridge 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)

Italy

There's a lactic note that resembles cherry yogurt or creamy milk chocolate. After that, this ripasso delivers dried fruit, resin and measured notes of exotic spice. There's also a perfumed quality that recalls pressed flowers or lavender and the wine has a lean, slightly sharp feel in the mouth. Imported by Omniwines Distribution.

Torre del Falasco

86

30

Veneto

Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso

null

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Cantina Sociale della Valpantena

null

Italy

This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah shows dark fruit tones of cherry and plum, backed by a rich, soft mouthfeel. This easygoing selection would pair well with roast chicken or pork.

Acquagiusta

87

15

Tuscany

Maremma Toscana

null

Red Blend

Tenuta La Badiola

null

US

Rich aromas of cassis, blackberry jam and black raspberry are lifted by cracked chocolate and chopped mint on this wine from attorney David Hardee and winemaker Joey Tensley. It's a very big, juicy and rich wine once sipped, with luxurious fudge, black cherry compote, fragrant plums, mission figs and even dates on the palate, but with acidity and ample tannins to match.

7 Percent

92

36

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Syrah

Carina Cellars

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Carina Cellars 2012 7 Percent Syrah (Paso Robles)

France

On the mineral side of Meursault, the has a very textured feel, with acidity to go with the honey note. Finely balanced, warm and ripe, this has a crisp, tight finish.

Les Clous

90

55

Burgundy

Meursault

null

Chardonnay

Henri de Villamont

null

US

Tightly wound blueberry, black plum and barnyard aromas show on the nose of this Bordeaux blend. Presented with judicious acidity, the palate combines its fruit flavors with savory touches of smoked meat and licorice, finishing on a salted caramel note.

null

87

30

California

South Coast

Meritage

Hawk Watch Winery

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Hawk Watch Winery 2013 Meritage (South Coast)

US

Shows the richness and fullness of body that this cool region of Santa Barbara is known for in Pinot Noir. The wine exhibits the twin elements of complexity and ageability. Somewhat tannic now, it's flamboyantly flavored, with a mélange of cherries, black raspberries, red currants, cola, licorice, Asian spices and smoky oak, and is very dry. Best now and through 2012.

Calmant Creek Vineyard

92

49

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

La Fenêtre

null

US

The Daou brothers have become increasingly known for their rich, unctuous and lavish high-end wines, but this bottling offers a taste of that opulence for just $30. Plump blueberry and soft, cedar-like spice scents show on the nose, while the palate bursts with black cherry, dark chocolate and caramel flavors, powered by ample acidity. It will age gracefully, but is already delicious.

null

93

30

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Daou

null

US

Soft and a bit one-dimensional, but pretty tasty, with well-ripened blackberry and mocha flavors that finish with a hint of anise. Feels polished and supple, but not for the cellar. Drink now.

null

87

25

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sterling

null

US

This tastes soft, sweet and simple. The blend is Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Columbard and Gewurztraminer.

null

80

10

California

California Other

White Blend

Immersion

null

Immersion 2011 White (California)

US

Good example of a clean, proper Viognier at a relatively affordable price. It's crisp and elegant, showing the variety's lush side, with tropical fruit, wildflower, buttered toast, sweet cream and vanilla flavors.

null

87

18

California

Central Coast

Viognier

Wild Horse

null

Italy

This is a pretty expression of Primitivo, showing a nice balance of ripe fruit and blackberry set against savory tones of spice and tobacco. That balance continues onto the palate, where the wine is plush, rich and slightly sweet.

Jèma

90

null

Southern Italy

Salento

null

Primitivo

L'Astore Masseria

null

US

Savory notes of spring ramp and clay mingle with fresh apple and blossom on this dry, light-bodied Riesling. Earthy, savory tones extend on the palate as well, but finish briskly with a streak of lemony acidity.

Single Wheel Dry

82

18

New York

Finger Lakes

Riesling

Hosmer

null

Germany

Frankly sweet and almost flabby, with plenty of sugar, petrolly minerality and ripe pear flavors, but this wine lacks the buoyant citrusy zest needed for balance and length.

Westhofener Kirchspiel Spätlese

85

32

Rheinhessen

null

Riesling

Groebe

null

US

There's plenty of toasty oak, but it only serves to accent the mixed berries and dried herbs that form the core of this juicy wine. Finishes with complex espresso, mocha and chocolate flavors that carry a slight bitter note.

null

87

18

New York

North Fork of Long Island

Long Island

Merlot

Corey Creek

null

Italy

Here's a pretty Brunello that shows interesting complexity and bright aromas that really distinguish this wine from other 2008s. The aromas lean toward herbal and menthol tones, with accents of cola and black licorice. There's more fruit in the mouth, especially cherry, with crisp freshness too.

Molino della Suga

91

null

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese Grosso

Bonacchi

null

Bonacchi 2008 Molino della Suga (Brunello di Montalcino)

Italy

Aromas of black cherry, ground pepper, clove and chopped herb jump out of the glass and carry over to the vibrant, easy-drinking palate. Racy acidity and round tannins support the juicy fruit. It's made for sheer drinking pleasure so enjoy soon.

Fisetta

88

15

Piedmont

Barbera d'Alba

null

Barbera

Ciabot Berton

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Ciabot Berton 2014 Fisetta (Barbera d'Alba)

US

A beautifully elegant, refined Chardonnay. Because it's not overloaded with oak, it displays the basic finesse of the grapes from this cool-climate vineyard. Crisp and dry, it's rich and complex in citrus, tropical fruit, peach, mineral and honeysuckle flavors, at a fair price.

null

90

20

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Artesa

null

Italy

Here's an easy-drinking expression of Nebbiolo that sees 12 months of wood aging in large oak casks for extra spice and tobacco on the finish. Otherwise, the freshness of the fruit is what you taste here backed by bright acidity and firm tannins.

null

88

29

Piedmont

Nebbiolo d'Alba

null

Nebbiolo

Pioiero

null

US

Flashy oak and deep, pure blackcurrants show from the first whiff, and the purple color stains the sides of the glass in this wine with enough glycerine to float the Sixth Fleet. Doesn't disappoint on the palate, with ripe blackberry flavors and gorgeous, velvety tannins. Closes long, with a sweet, richly-fruited finish. Cellar Selection.

null

95

100

California

Oakville

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Oakford

null

Portugal

A finely balanced wine that shows structure as well as rich fruits. It has ripe red fruits, spice and toast that hang well together, the fruit held in check by the structure of the wine. This would be worth aging for two years or more.

null

90

null

Alentejano

null

Portuguese Red

Cortes de Cima

null

Italy

L'Anima, which is Italian for “the soul,” is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer, and it shows pretty aromas of white flower, honey and exotic fruit. The density and creaminess of the mouthfeel recall the wine's warm-climate Tuscan roots.

L'Anima

87

17

Tuscany

Toscana

null

White Blend

Livernano

null

Livernano 2010 L'Anima White (Toscana)

US

There's some richness in this chocolate- and cherry-flavored wine, but it really falls off quickly, leading to a thin finish. Lacks the sweet concentration this winery's Port-style wines used to have.

Royal Escort Paladini Vineyard

85

72

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Port

Prager

null

France

Despite the huge weight of fruit and accompanying structure, this is a stylish wine. It's impressively dense, concentrated and solid. At the same time, the juicy black fruits give a generous, full-in-the-mouth character. Drink this very fine wine from 2022.

null

94

135

Bordeaux

Saint-Julien

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Ducru Beaucaillou

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2011 Saint-Julien

Portugal

A light, bright, deliciously lemony wine, with an attractive aromatic lift. Fruity, ready to drink now.

Vinha Conchas

85

9

Lisboa

null

Portuguese White

Quinta da Cortezia

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Quinta da Cortezia 2010 Vinha Conchas White (Lisboa)

France

The new wood flavors on this wine are becoming well integrated with the velvet fruit textures. The tannins are now an adjunct to the fruit, which shows fresh spice and sweetness. It is becoming a fine, balanced wine, delicate and perfumed.

null

91

null

Bordeaux

Margaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Kirwan

null

France

This wine has equal amounts of ripe berry fruit and structure. There is a smoky character, wood and spice notes, balanced acidity and a leather-like touch to the texture. It is slowly developing, and it has the potential to be rich. Age this for 6–8 years.

Domaine du Clos Frantin

90

null

Burgundy

Vosne-Romanée

null

Pinot Noir

Albert Bichot

null

South Africa

Thelema's trademark mintiness is a star here, as are the rich, savory flavors of black currant, coffee and spice on the palate. Poised but giving, the wine has an ageable quality and will be delicious with roast lamb or beef.

null

89

41

Stellenbosch

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Thelema

null

France

There's an attractive maturity to this bottling of Cuvée Flamme, giving a wine that is certainly dry, but is also rich. The initial fruitiness has been replaced with almond, yeast and toast flavors, balanced with a final ripe burst of baked apple.

Cuvée Flamme Brut

90

null

Loire Valley

Saumur

null

White Blend

Gratien et Meyer

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Gratien et Meyer NV Cuvée Flamme Brut (Saumur)

Argentina

Chakana has put out many good wines in recent vintages but this rough and tumble blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah comes across minty and forced on the nose and then grating on the palate. Yes, it's got color and power. But it lacks the balance and body that you'd expect. Frankly, it seems acidified.

Estate Selection

84

35

Mendoza Province

Luján de Cuyo

null

Red Blend

Chakana

null

US

This is the winery's first release of this vineyard-designated wine. Cocoa, fresh herb, tire rubber and cherry aromas are followed by cassis flavors backed by tightly wound tannins.

Bacchus Vineyard

89

39

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Three Rivers

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Three Rivers 2012 Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

Sourced from Ceja Vineyards, this wine impresses in crisp dried red fruit and perfumed floral aromatics that go on for days. Velvety in texture and robust in power, it offers big shoulders around a tartness of acidity and complex baking spice.

null

93

29

California

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma

Grenache

Inspiration

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Inspiration 2015 Grenache (Sonoma Valley)

US

Juicy, soft red layers of fruity dark cherry and blackberry accentuate this sophisticated, boldly ripe wine, with integrated oak and firm supportive tannin.

Collins Vineyard

90

50

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Zinfandel

Leonard Wine Company

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Leonard Wine Company 2014 Collins Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)

US

There's something overwhelmingly herbal and weedy about this wine, which shows a simple structure of tannin and lingering flavors of cherry cola.

Reserve

84

65

California

Alexander Valley

Sonoma

Cabernet Sauvignon

Ferrari-Carano

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Ferrari-Carano 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)

France

A rich wine that shows the power of Gevrey, even in a lesser vintage. The fruit fills the glass with aromas of red plums, sweet raspberries and cranberry juice. There is spice here along with juicy fresh acidity. It is worth aging 3–4 years, but is delicious now.

null

91

50

Burgundy

Gevrey-Chambertin

null

Pinot Noir

Manuel Olivier

null

US

The aromas of flowers, mineral, peach and almond are initially light but pleasing. The stone-fruit flavors are full bodied and sweet, pulling up ever so slightly on the finish.

Boushey Vineyard

89

35

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Marsanne-Viognier

àMaurice

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

àMaurice 2014 Boushey Vineyard Marsanne-Viognier (Yakima Valley)

Portugal

This is impressive, both for Vinho Verde and or a cooperative wine. The Alvarinho grape shows its best here with richness, intensity and flavors of plums, pineapple and ripe pears. Imported by Tri-Vin Imports.

Alvarinho Deu la Deu

90

16

Vinho Verde

null

Alvarinho

Adega de Monção

null

France

Using fruit sourced from a small appellation to the west of Cahors and east of Bergerac, this blend of Merlot and Malbec shows a light, approachable character. It's full of red berry fruit, with sweet tannins and juicy acids on the finish.

Pigmentum

87

12

Southwest France

Buzet

null

Merlot-Malbec

Georges Vigouroux

null

France

It's sad that only 5,080 bottles of this wine were produced, as it's truly a stunner. Dark and developed, complex and concentrated, this wine exhibits such superb balance and finesse, with nuanced notes of minerality, scrubland, whole tobacco leaf, black pepper and licorice root all gracing the dark fruit core of the nose and mouth. It's lush and full on the palate, and medium tannins provide a solid structure, making the wine drinkable now or ready to age.

L'Hospitalitas - La Clape

93

75

Languedoc-Roussillon

Coteaux du Languedoc

null

Rhône-style Red Blend

Gérard Bertrand

Lauren Buzzeo

@laurbuzz

Gérard Bertrand 2008 L'Hospitalitas - La Clape Red (Coteaux du Languedoc)

France

This is bright and fruity wine that has a smoky character as well as brilliant black fruits and acidity. Aromatic and concentrated, the wine is still developing, still with considerable acidity. That will broaden out as the wine matures to give a rich, always lively wine. Drink from 2018.

Clos Jus Premier Cru

91

30

Burgundy

Givry

null

Pinot Noir

Vignerons de Buxy

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Vignerons de Buxy 2014 Clos Jus Premier Cru (Givry)

France

Made from fruit that was sourced from old vines, some of which were planted in 1912, this wine is dense and concentrated. It demonstrates both elegance and an immense tannic character. Acidity and flavors of blackberry and spice are all present. This demands to be aged for a long time.

null

96

null

Burgundy

Chambertin Clos de Bèze

null

Pinot Noir

Domaine Bruno Clair

null

US

Nice mix of berry, chocolate and spicy herb flavors, with good persistence. The excellent fruit sources yield an easy-drinking red blend that stays light and fruity from midpalate on through.

null

87

13

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon

Waterbrook

null

US

Blended with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah, this medium-bodied, soft and juicy red offers notions of berry pie and dusty leather, as backbeats of chocolate and blackberry play on the palate. With an intensely lengthy finish marked by clove this wine is memorably inviting.

null

90

28

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Merlot

Whitehall Lane

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Whitehall Lane 2013 Merlot (Napa Valley)

US

This pale-colored, light-bodied wine is elegantly crisp, an easy, fine wine to down over roast salmon or pork. It shows subtle flavors of cherries and cola, with darker overtones of pomegranate jam and balsam. Not an ager, but fine now and over the next four years.

Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

90

38

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

La Rochelle

null

Italy

Here's a Pinot Grigio that ranks high in terms of fresh, easy-drinking white wine options from northern Italy. The bouquet delivers crisp tones of honeydew melon, herb and a distant mineral dusting. In the mouth, it shows balanced freshness and a bright peach finish.

null

87

17

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige

null

Pinot Grigio

Erste Neue

null

Erste Neue 2011 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige)

France

Aromatic notions suggest Bosc pear, the ripe peel of Navel oranges, the crunch of apple—all conveying perfect ripeness countered with freshness. This wine is refreshing and full fruited and yet rounded. It's a harmoniously balanced, dry wine of total freshness.

Le Dragon

93

41

Alsace

null

Riesling

Josmeyer

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Josmeyer 2014 Le Dragon Riesling (Alsace)

Chile

Ripe and full on both the bouquet and palate. It's a rich wine from a good year, and thus the prune, licorice and chocolate aromas take center stage. In the mouth, this multigrape blend that ranges from Bordeaux varieties to Pinot Noir is on the money. It's round, rewarding and full of deep black fruit and sweet, balancing fudge and candy. Better sooner than later, seeing that the perceptible acidity is minor.

Borobo

92

70

Rapel Valley-Casablanca Valley

null

Red Blend

Lapostolle

null

US

Merryvale's Profile has been one of the most reliable Bordeaux blends for a long time, and the '03, which is mainly Cab Sauvignon, is a very fine expression of the house style. A blend of impressive vineyards, it's opulent in black currant flavors, and is most notable for its softly elegant balance. It's the kind of wine that will dazzle even people who say they don't like reds. Best now–2011 or so.

Profile

93

95

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Merryvale

null

France

From vines planted to the west of Chablis, this is a soft, ripe and fruity wine. It has some tension from the minerality while keeping the white fruit flavors to the fore. Drink now or, better, from late 2016.

null

88

19

Burgundy

Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre

null

Chardonnay

Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen 2014 Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre

Spain

A yellowish tint and woody aromas include a note of baked apple. A somewhat full-bodied palate is endowed with a resiny texture, while this tastes of woody dried apple and papaya. Round and persistently oaky on the finish.

Finca Alto Cantabria

87

20

Northern Spain

Rioja

null

Macabeo

Bodegas Valdemar

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Bodegas Valdemar 2015 Finca Alto Cantabria Macabeo (Rioja)

Greece

This spicy blend of native grape Agiorgitiko and Cabernet offers a muscular nose of leather, tobacco and earthy dried herbs, and on the palate, cherry, leather and tobacco. It's a slightly rustic blend that will benefit from aging, but paired with grilled meats is good now. Imported by American Wine Distributors.

Agiorgitiko - Cabernet Sauvignon

86

23

Peloponnese

null

Red Blend

Vatistas

null

Portugal

Soft, fruity wine from the Castelão grape grown in sandy vineyards, this is smooth and ripe, with a good edge of acidity. The wine has great berry fruits, just a touch of tannin, ready to drink now.

Azul Portugal

86

10

Palmela

null

Castelão

Wines & Winemakers

null

US

So forward and appealing right now, it's hard to resist, but this could gain a little traction with a two or three years of age. It's polished in cherry jam and blackberry-pie filling, with earthy tones of coffee, figs, sage and cedar. The intricate tannins play nicely against the acidity, which gives it an upscale feeling.

null

91

24

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Merlot

Flora Springs

null

Italy

With aromas of violet, tilled soil and red berries, this blend of Sangiovese and Merlot recalls sunny Tuscany. It's loaded with wild cherry flavors accented by white pepper, cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is uplifted by vibrant acidity and fine tannins.

Belcore

89

27

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

I Giusti e Zanza

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

I Giusti e Zanza 2011 Belcore Red (Toscana)

Italy

Prosecco Superiore Dei Casel is a soft, foamy wine with apple mousse, lemon zest and soft layers of peach cobbler. The wine is delicate, elegant and fine.

Dei Casel Extra Dry

88

18

Veneto

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

null

Glera

Adami

null

Chile

Herbal, spicy and rubbery smelling, with mulchy berry aromas. Feels soft, creamy and confected, with more milk chocolate and vanilla flavor than legitimate fruit. Sweet and soft on the finish.

Gold Reserve

82

14

Maule Valley

null

Carmenère

P.K.N.T.

null

Spain

Reedy cherry and berry aromas are smoky and schisty, with a high level of purity and complexity. This wine is tannic but in great shape, with lockdown structure. Schisty plum, cassis, black cherry and cocoa flavors finish firm and mildly peppery tasting, with oodles of class and aging potential. Drink through 2022.

Clos Figueres

94

85

Catalonia

Priorat

null

Red Blend

Clos Figueras

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Clos Figueras 2010 Clos Figueres Red (Priorat)

Germany

Like drinking a fruit cocktail. This exceptionally pretty white is succulent and balanced, with good depth and penetrating flower notes. The broad, medium-length finish is dominated by ripe cantaloupe and green apple notes. Drink now or hold a few years.

Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Spätlese

88

23

Mosel

null

Riesling

St. Urbans-Hof

null

Portugal

This is an aromatic wine with generous fruit and soft tannins. Its wood aging has given the wine extra richness as well as spice. The wine is ready to drink.

Alteza

84

10

Lisboa

null

Portuguese Red

Casa Santos Lima

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Casa Santos Lima 2015 Alteza Red (Lisboa)

US

A solid Amador County Primitivo from a consistently good producer that is subtle with bright red and blue fruit with a layer of mint and earthy cedar. Well crafted, it tastes light and soft from start to finish.

Indian Creek Vineyard

90

24

California

Amador County

Sierra Foothills

Primitivo

Andis

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Andis 2011 Indian Creek Vineyard Primitivo (Amador County)

Spain

Gets off early with fresh tomato, spiced red plum, tobacco and vanilla aromas. The palate is fine but tight, with herbal fruit flavors, pepper, tomato and sharp acidity. Finishes with olive and tomato notes. Not the sweetest or softest thing going, but good if you like Navarran wines and their patented herbal, red-fruit character.

Crianza

86

17

Northern Spain

Navarra

null

Tempranillo

Ochoa

null

US

With mid-summer comes the annual release of J's nonvintage Cuvée 20. This year's bottling is richer than last year's, and offers broad citrus, raspberry, vanilla and yeasty brioche flavors. The wine feels clean, vibrant and smooth.

Cuvée 20 Brut

90

32

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Sparkling Blend

J Vineyards & Winery

null

Chile

Strikingly pungent on first take, with crackling aromas of cactus, nettle, lime and grapefruit. Feels zesty, deep and layered, with an even mix of tropical fruit flavors, stone fruits and green notes. About as right as it gets for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

EQ Coastal

91

20

Casablanca Valley

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Matetic

null

Italy

Floral scents of rose, acacia and a whiff of white tree fruit lead the way. On the palate, bright acidity lifts up white peach, green apple and lemon drop while a creamy mousse adds softness. It closes on a note of candied citrus zest.

Dry

89

30

Veneto

Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze

null

Glera

Col Vetoraz

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Col Vetoraz 2014 Dry (Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze)

US

Sharp and spicy, this light Chardonnay hints at almond and coconut, solidly anchored in green apple fruit. The finish thins out quickly, but it's a fine food wine.

Traditions

86

13

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Milbrandt

null

Portugal

Get past the pharmacy aromas and this is a pleasant, if rather fat, wine. It has some pear juice flavors along with a final light acidity.

Cister da Ribeira Branco

83

10

Douro

null

Portuguese White

Quinta de Ventozelo

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Quinta de Ventozelo 2009 Cister da Ribeira Branco White (Douro)

France

Red fruits and a soft tannic profile give a ready-to-drink feel. It's generous, balanced, the black fruits giving a sweet, jammy feel. Pepper and spice at the end are paired with juicy acidity.

null

88

17

Southwest France

Cahors

null

Malbec

Domaine de Cause

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine de Cause 2011 Malbec (Cahors)

Greece

Black cherry, cigarbox, pepper and mocha give this vclvety red class. Sultry, integrated and unfolding, the wine offers additional warming spice, cinnamon and chocolate on the palate. Mellow black fruits and a delicious cinnamon finish seal the deal.

Metoxi X

89

25

Mount Athos

null

Red Blend

Tsantali

null

Chile

Plump, sweet and tropical on the nose, but also not that focused or powerful. The palate is flat in feel and a bit sticky, with vague, candied flavors of papaya and melon. There's even an Animal Cracker quality to the finish. Good but not great.

Novas Limited Selection

85

17

Casablanca Valley

null

Chardonnay

Emiliana

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Emiliana 2008 Novas Limited Selection Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)

Chile

Nice for a warmer-climate Chardonnay, with toast, white fruit, cinnamon and baked notes to the bouquet. Feels healthy and round, with fleshy peach, apple and spice flavors. Falls off a touch on the finish, but overall it runs smoothly.

Toro de Piedra Reserva

87

14

Maule Valley

null

Chardonnay

Viña Requingua

null

US

Last year, I wrote of this wine that it's firm in acids and minerals, with apple, citrus and peach flavors and a clean, streamlined finish. The same goes for the '04. It's a totally dry, elegantly steely wine that won't compete with fancy fish or poultry dishes.

null

89

22

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

MacRostie

null

US

Menthol adds a lifted quality to scents of sweet cherry and plum on this pretty, light-bodied Pinot. On the palate, sweet berries and prune are edged with a frame of gentle tannins and a hint of bitterness. Finishes with a soft whiff of barnyard and forest floor.

null

85

30

New York

North Fork of Long Island

Long Island

Pinot Noir

Castello di Borghese

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Castello di Borghese 2007 Pinot Noir (North Fork of Long Island)

France

Made with the involvement of Hubert de Bouärd of Château Angélus as consultant, this wine is superrich and packed with dark fruit. Despite its high alcohol for a Bordeaux, it is balanced and fruity with tannins the are comfortably cushioned by the fruit and freshened by acidity. Drink from 2021.

Les Cerisiers

91

28

Bordeaux

Francs Côtes de Bordeaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château de Francs

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château de Francs 2014 Les Cerisiers (Francs Côtes de Bordeaux)

US

Fresh fruit flavors suggest a bowl full of berries and cherries. Crisp acids help to focus the wine, with spot-on varietal flavors and balance. Both elegant and complex, it's a lovely bottle from an under-the-radar producer.

Estate

90

40

Oregon

Chehalem Mountains

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Carabella

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Carabella 2013 Estate Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains)

US

Does a good job of making a Syrah in a distinctly Paso Robles style. The wine is very soft and velvety, but dry, with forward black raspberry pie filling, mocha and cinnamon spice flavors.

null

87

20

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Syrah

Minassian-Young

null

France

A solid claret, with cherry and plum fruit accented by dried herbs and a touch of vanilla. This is a basic Saint-Emilion that stays true to its appellation and doesn't try to be more than it is: a user-friendly wine that goes down easy.

null

86

20

Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Baron Philippe de Rothschild

null

France

The 12-acre Rotenberg vineyard in Wintzenheim produces vibrant, racy wines, like this blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris. It is fresh and intense, with concentrated flavors of sweet white currants. Imported by Lauber Imports.

Rotenberg

95

47

Alsace

null

Alsace white blend

Domaine Marcel Deiss

null

US

One of the first bottles to bear the name of this new growing region, the aromas are light with notes of baking spice, cherry, vanilla and Red Vines. The fruit flavors are sweet and supple, backed by lightly grainy tannins.

Single Vineyard

88

30

Idaho

null

Syrah

3 Horse Ranch Vineyards

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2014 Single Vineyard Syrah

France

The touches of wood aging are apparent in the almond and toasty edge to this perfumed wine. Quince and apricot fruit show strongly through the tight dry texture and minerality. It's a wine made to be drunk young with great fruit. Drink now.

Spring

88

20

Loire Valley

Vouvray

null

Chenin Blanc

Domaine Vincent Carême

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Vincent Carême 2015 Spring (Vouvray)

New Zealand

A simple, fresh and appealing Riesling, light to medium in body and off dry in style. Apple and citrus notes dominate, with some slightly riper melon notes evident as well. Drink over the next few years.

null

86

19

Canterbury

null

Riesling

Mt. Beautiful

null

US

The defining characteristic of Carter seems to be a taste of steel or gun metal running through the spine. It's here again, with compact fruit and drying tannins. That fruit has a dark core, and it's polished and textural, with lightly herbal highlights. This is a wine to track in the cellar over the next decade or longer.

Carter Vineyard

94

63

Oregon

Eola-Amity Hills

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Ken Wright

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Ken Wright 2014 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills)

France

This is an earthy effort that shows the tough soil of Cahors in its minerally, tight character. Dark in color, this is laced with intense acids and firm tannins.

Pigmentum

85

12

Southwest France

Cahors

null

Malbec

Georges Vigouroux

null

Italy

This structured red offers plum, violet, toast, balsamic and menthol aromas. The taut palate delivers red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and orange zest flavors, set against fine-grained tannins. An espresso note closes the finish.

Riserva

92

53

Tuscany

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

null

Red Blend

Boscarelli

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Boscarelli 2012 Riserva (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)