spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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US	Front-loaded fruit has a strawberry soda pop flavor, but the wine gains a little extra depth from the tannins and barrels, which add texture, spice and a bit of salty chocolate.	Righteous	86	20	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Sangiovese	Righteous	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Righteous 2008 Righteous Sangiovese (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
US	Barrel fermented and aged on the lees for almost a year, this is a nutty, slightly oily wine that shows the influence of the barrel, but lacks the fruit density to match it. The 14% alcohol hits the palate with some heat. High-toned and a bit harsh.	Estate Reserve	85	18	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Chardonnay	David Hill	null	null	null
US	Some wines are meant for immediate consumption. Others require age. This wonderful wine satisfies on both sides. It's softly rich and polished in tannins, with accessible blackberry, cassis and oak flavors. Yet it has the structure and depth to go for years. Now–2016, at least.	Paramour	95	90	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Blackbird Vineyards	null	null	null
Chile	Leather, earth and bold fruit on the nose, and then sweet plum, berry and chocolate on the palate. It's a blend of Cabernet, Malbec, Merlot and Carmenère that really couldn't have come together much better. It's rich, ripe and tasty, and at 14.6% alcohol it's nothing if not a New World heavyweight. Imported by Palm Bay Imports.	Quatro Reserva	90	15	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Red Blend	MontGras	null	null	null
France	Clean, ripe apple notes glide across nose and palate in a fruity, refreshing, balanced and easy-drinking white. Drink soon while aromas are at their peak.	Les Natures	88	21	Alsace	Alsace	null	Pinot Blanc	Jean-Baptiste Adam	null	null	null
Chile	Opens with an enticing package of cedar, tobacco, herb, leather and black-fruit aromas. The palate has live-wire acidity and overall the wine is bright, piercing and full, with herbal black cherry, cassis and cola flavors. The finish is a little quick and short on flavor but big on texture and tannins. Made from Syrah, Cab Sauvignon and Carmenère.	Kuyen	89	30	Maipo Valley	null	null	Red Blend	Antiyal	null	null	null
France	With touches of the typical minerality of the appellation, this is a young, tight wine. Crisp apple, lemon and spice add interest to this perfumed wine. It will be better to drink from 2017.	null	88	24	Burgundy	Pouilly-Fuissé	null	Chardonnay	Patriarche Père et Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Patriarche Père et Fils 2015 Pouilly-Fuissé
US	The winery's reserve-style Pinot Noir is based on concentration and power, not immediate appeal. It's a heavy, richly tannic wine, with roasted oak, cherry, grilled meat, anise and cinnamon spice flavors, almost as full-bodied as a Syrah. Try sometime in 2011.	faîte	87	65	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Paraiso Vineyards	null	null	null
Austria	The aromas are of new wood and spice. But the red cherry flavors of Blaufränkisch are enough to absorb this wood, giving a spicy but fruity wine that happily fills the glass with ripe fruit.	Vom Leithagebirge	86	30	Burgenland	null	null	Blaufränkisch	Hans Moser	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Hans Moser 2006 Vom Leithagebirge Blaufränkisch (Burgenland)
US	Almost all syrah with just a smidgeon of viognier (0.4%) added, it has notes of cherry, mint, and blackberry. Buttery oak spices (22% new French) accent sweet fruit flavors though a long, expressive finish.	Estate	89	30	Oregon	Umpqua Valley	Southern Oregon	Syrah	Abacela	null	null	null
Georgia	Floral and herbaceous on the nose, there's an abundant freshness to the red plum and pomegranate flavors on this elegant Saperavi. Dry in style, with brisk acidity, it balances a crisp, fruity profile with a backbone of coarse tannins.	Marani Kondoli Vineyards	88	16	Kakheti	null	null	Saperavi	Telavi	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Telavi 2009 Marani Kondoli Vineyards Saperavi (Kakheti)
Portugal	This crisp and fresh wine suggests citrus and green apple fruits. It is light, fragrant and ready to drink with its bright final acidity.	Terra de Lobos Branco	84	null	Tejo	null	null	Portuguese White	Quinta do Casal Branco	null	null	null
France	Made entirely from Grenache Blanc, this is a throwback to decades ago, when many Rhône wines were made in sweet styles. Pineapple, melon and honey are delivered aboard a rich, viscous wine that's not not heavy or warm, despite 16% alcohol.	Vin Doux Natural (Rasteau)	90	null	Rhône Valley	Côtes du Rhône Villages	null	Grenache Blanc	Domaine des Escaravailles	null	null	null
Italy	The wine is aged one year in oak to achieve a soft mouthfeel backed by aromas of mature cherry, blackberry jam and exotic spice. The wine is extremely dense and rich—almost too much so— and delivers a powerful blast of cherry fruit on the close.	Trebulanum	85	26	Southern Italy	Campania	null	Casavecchia	Fattoria Alois	null	null	Fattoria Alois 2006 Trebulanum Casavecchia (Campania)
US	You'll want to stash this young Cab away for a while because it's too closed and tannic now for enjoyment. But it has a very rich, concentrated core of cassis flavor and is dry and balanced in acidity. Should negotiate the next 6–8 years easily, and maybe longer.	null	91	55	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Frazier	null	null	Frazier 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
US	The nose smells washed out, with hazy notes of char and cassis that come with a touch of sulfur. Light to medium bodied, the palate feels slick, soft and sweet tasting, with a candied cherry note that appears on the finish.	GRV	82	null	Virginia	Virginia	null	Red Blend	General's Ridge	null	null	null
Italy	Here's an easy-drinking (and well-priced) Pinot Grigio with little extraction and simple aromas of citrus and white peach. The wine is watery and thin in the mouth but it does offer that trademark touch of acidity on the close.	null	84	10	Northeastern Italy	Delle Venezie	null	Pinot Grigio	Mariana	null	null	null
US	Quite a good wine, but the powerful oak is a bit intrusive at this time. It swamps the mouth with caramel and crème brûlée. Below all that seems to be a fine, pineapple-flavored Chardonnay. Everything may knit together in a year or so.	Proprietress Reserve	87	60	California	Los Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Vine Cliff	null	null	null
US	From the relatively hot South Coast comes a big, powerful, chewy wine, with aromas of dried blackberries, light leather, some smoke and purple flowers. The real heft is on the palate, where sour tar is laced through stewed black plums, dark chocolate and herbs like dill and oregano. The tannins are a bit stiff.	Signature Reserve	91	62	California	South Coast	South Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hawk Watch Winery	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Hawk Watch Winery 2011 Signature Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (South Coast)
US	Sourced entirely from the Sagemoor vineyard, this richly endowed Viognier smothers the palate in a lush mix of fat, candied citrus and tropical fruits. Honeysuckle and orange pekoe tea flavors trickle into the lingering, lip-smacking finish.	null	93	24	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Viognier	Tamarack Cellars	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Tamarack Cellars 2012 Viognier (Columbia Valley (WA))
US	Aromas of citrus peel, plum, herb, wood shavings and medicine cabinet are followed by plump cherry flavors. The tannins bring a slight sense of astringency.	Crawford Vineyard	87	28	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Malbec	Camaraderie	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Camaraderie 2013 Crawford Vineyard Malbec (Yakima Valley)
Portugal	The blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto gives a fruity, fresh and fragrant wine, with lively bright acidity. A lemon edge is filled out by ripe apricot flavor, resulting in a rounded finish. Drink from 2016.	Companhia das Lezirias Samora Branco	85	11	Tejo	null	null	Portuguese White	Wines & Winemakers	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Wines & Winemakers 2014 Companhia das Lezirias Samora Branco White (Tejo)
Italy	The nose was interesting; earthy with plenty of plummy fruit and a touch of musk. On the palate, with the fruit more muted, the earthiness became more apparent, and what fruit remained thinned out even more as it reached the finish.	null	84	26	Piedmont	Nebbiolo d'Alba	null	Nebbiolo	Poderi Colla	null	null	null
US	This is the first varietally labeled Grenache from Tempus, and it's lovely. Lush, with fresh raspberry scents and flavors, this is a juicy, fruit-driven wine with excellent grip and density.	null	88	25	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Grenache	Tempus Cellars	null	null	null
Argentina	Potent smelling, with black pepper, lots of oak and true berry fruit aromas. The palate is a bit pointed and high in acidity, while the flavors of raspberry, currants and red plum are solid. Finishes a little jagged and acidic, but at worst that staunch acidity will keep it alive for years to come. Hold until at least 2011.	Viña Fausto Orellana de Escobar Single Vineyard	89	50	Mendoza Province	La Consulta	null	Malbec	Trapiche	null	null	null
US	Long a producer of high quality and good value, Navarro seems to be raising the bar higher on its Pinot Noir. A vivid, potent and concentrated fruit component lights up this full-bodied wine from the first whiff through the finish. Black cherry, violet and cassis come together in a powerful beam of flavor. A good backbone of acidity and firm tannins supports that power nicely.	Deep End Blend	93	55	California	Anderson Valley	null	Pinot Noir	Navarro	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Navarro 2014 Deep End Blend Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
US	Truchard has produced a Roussanne for many years, but the quality seems to vary according to vintage. The 2012 is a very good wine. It's dry, yet honeyed, with orange, peach and white-flower flavors. The texture is creamy, but highlighted with brisk acidity. It would be a great accompaniment to rich, complex dishes, but a simple roasted chicken would be wonderful as well.	null	91	25	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Roussanne	Truchard	null	null	Truchard 2012 Roussanne (Carneros)
Spain	Textbook Verdejo aromas of tangerine, passion fruit and grapefruit are simple and clean. A light, zesty, slightly spritzy palate frames flavors of grapefruit, lemon and orange pith. A mix of tropical and citrus notes drives a snappy but ordinary finish.	null	87	13	Northern Spain	Rueda	null	Verdejo	Cyatho	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Cyatho 2013 Verdejo (Rueda)
Argentina	Among Cobos's high-end 2011 Malbecs, this one comes across as the most complete, layered and complex of the group. Aromas of fine oak and pencil lead augment blackberry and baked plum scents. The mouthfeel is smooth, round and rich, while flavors of tea, savory spices and black fruits dance long into the night. A ripe but not too heavy finish is earthy, calm and complete. Drink through 2019.	Bramare Marchiori Vineyard	94	95	Mendoza Province	Perdriel	null	Malbec	Viña Cobos	null	null	null
Italy	This opens with subdued aromas of citrus blossom and yellow stone fruit while the weighty palate doles out unripe apricot, yellow peach and bitter almond. Showing the heat of the vintage, this shows less overt freshness than it does in cooler vintages. You'll also notice a hint of evident alcohol on the close.	null	87	15	Central Italy	Umbria	null	Grechetto	Argillae	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Argillae 2015 Grechetto (Umbria)
US	This smells deep and bass-like, with resonating notes of honeyed white currant, spiced breakfast toast and apricot preserves, accented with touches of caramel and toasted nut. It feels round, rich and opulent, with a nice lift of acids that give the wine some spring.	Richland Reserve	88	22	Virginia	Virginia	null	Chardonnay	Potomac Point	null	null	Potomac Point 2010 Richland Reserve Chardonnay (Virginia)
New Zealand	A consistent standard-bearer for the variety as expressed in Marlborough, the 2016 Private Bin boasts ample red currant and pink grapefruit aromas and flavors, perked up by a touch of leafiness. It's medium-bodied and perhaps a bit rounder and softer in the mouth than some, but finishes dry and stony.	Private Bin	90	14	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Villa Maria	null	null	null
Italy	Light-bodied and juicy, this is an eminently quaffable Barbera, with loads of bing cherry fruit and a refreshingly fruity but short finish. The open-knit structure makes this easy to partner with flavorful fish. Drink now.	'l Clumbé	87	18	Piedmont	Barbera d'Asti	null	Barbera	Massimiliano Vivalda	null	null	null
US	Floral, this medium-bodied white is creamy and touched by richer notions of pear, pineapple and vanilla, reflective of its warmer appellation in a warm year. French oak (40% of it new) aged the wine for under a year. With a touch of honeysuckle and nutmeg, the minerality is subtle.	Stuhlmuller Vineyards Reserve	89	32	California	Alexander Valley	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Summers	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Summers 2013 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay (Alexander Valley)
France	89–91. Barrel sample. This is a solid effort that's packed with blackberry fruits and dark tannins. The wine has weight and structure that is balanced with the fruitiness.	Barrel Sample	90	null	Bordeaux	Haut-Médoc	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Sénéjac	null	null	null
US	It's lush and fragrant with sweet cherry and plum, truffle and smoke, moist earth and mocha. Surprisingly delicate in the mouth, and yet not shy with the flavors, which stack generously one upon the other, finishing with black olive and slightly bitter baker's chocolate.	null	90	28	Washington	Wahluke Slope	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Franc	Nefarious Cellars	null	null	null
Italy	Here is the debut vintage from a new estate managed by Castello di Volpaia's Federica Mascheroni Stianti. The blend of Merlot and Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc offers bright cherry notes followed by youthful tones of black fruit and light touches of spice and smoke. The wine is soft and round on the palate with sweet fruit flavors and a pleasant, soft feel.	Morello di Prile	89	22	Tuscany	Maremma	null	Red Blend	Prelius	null	null	null
South Africa	Herbal and spicy, here's an easygoing Merlot that's perfect for entertaining. Pepper and anise add character to the black fruit core, and the pronounced acidity keeps things lively and clean on the finish.	null	85	11	Western Cape	null	null	Merlot	KWV	null	null	null
US	This is mostly young fruit from Ash Hollow, and it shows. Very light through the middle, though cleverly buttressed with a smattering of Cab Franc from Pepper Bridge and Cab Sauv from Spring Valley. It's silky and smooth, with interesting nuances of herb and grass, and a playful lift to the middle which extends rather surprisingly into the finish. The oak is well played, adding butter, toffee and toast in clever proportions.	null	90	30	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Merlot	Reininger	null	null	null
Italy	Tart and slightly bitter, this Lambrusco has all the right qualities to pair with fettuccine in cream sauce. Bright berry flavors are followed by creamy foam and fresh acidity.	null	84	15	Central Italy	Emilia	null	Lambrusco	Venturini Baldini	null	null	Venturini Baldini 2012 Lambrusco (Emilia)
US	Good acidity and juicy cherry flavors in this blush wine. But it's a little too sweet in extracted fruit, and palls after a sip or two. Drink now.	Rose of Syrah	85	25	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Rosé	Peju	null	null	null
US	Big, thick and brawny, this shows a substantial streak of vanilla over firm, ripe, tasty mixed black fruits. Clean, rich and powerful, with substantial oak spices, it's the most masculine of the three Domaine Serene Pinots in the current lineup.	Evenstad Reserve	91	52	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Domaine Serene	null	null	null
France	Full and wood-aged, this wine is smoothly textured. It's ripe and spicy, with apricot fruit and some minerality. Rich and worth aging for 2–3 years.	null	89	null	Southwest France	Bergerac Sec	null	Bordeaux-style White Blend	Clos des Terrasses	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Clos des Terrasses 2008 White (Bergerac Sec)
Italy	Mature dark berry, cake spice, baked earth, leather and a whiff of game are just some of the aromas you'll find on this impressive wine. The chewy palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, white pepper and aromatic herb alongside a backbone of firm, ripe tannins and racy acidity. Drink 2019–2031.	Tre Tine	95	125	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Giuseppe Rinaldi	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Giuseppe Rinaldi 2011 Tre Tine (Barolo)
US	A rich, oaky style of Chardonnay that spent five months sur lie in neutral French oak. The wine has a soft, mildly sour taste and lurking wet stone notes.	Pamela's Vineyard	84	28	California	Mendocino County	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Chardonnay	There Wines	null	null	null
US	Here's a balanced, intricately structured young Cab. It opens with upfront aromas of cherry pie, coffee, cocoa and vanilla, and while the tannins are firm, they're finely ground and pliant. The flavor is pure cherry, seasoned with oak. Good now, and should hold for some years.	null	90	46	California	Rutherford	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Sawyer	null	null	null
US	Despite the single-vineyard designation and relatively high price, this is a simple Sauvignon Blanc, with direct flavors of pineapple jam, fig and smoky vanilla. The main problem is excessive sweetness.	Monte Lago Vineyards	83	20	California	Clear Lake	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Sauvignon Blanc	Croze	null	null	null
US	Has this vineyard ever produced anything less than a spectacular Pinot Noir? Hitching Post's '06 showcases its exotic spiciness and the way its power is modulated with an elegant structure. Cloves, nutmeg, allspice and white pepper are just a few of the spices that tantalize the cherry, orange and cola flavors. The wine feels wonderful in the mouth, rich and long-lasting. Ageable, too, with a window extending beyond 2012.	Cargasacchi Vineyard	94	42	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Hitching Post	null	null	Hitching Post 2006 Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
France	With its highly mineral aroma, this is almost like smelling chalk. It's an austere wine, with high acidity, crystal clear on the palate, full of grapefruit flavors and flint texture. Age this wine at least 4 years.	Blanc de Blancs	91	50	Champagne	Champagne	null	Chardonnay	Delamotte	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Delamotte NV Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay (Champagne)
Chile	On the nose, there are cider, oak and baked corn notes. The palate is full of oak and resin flavors that prevent the fruit from emerging immediately. It tastes of hickory, apple and melon on the palate and finish.	Alpha	86	22	Casablanca Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Montes	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Montes 2010 Alpha Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)
US	This is buttery to a fault, with the overpowering aroma of microwave popcorn. Once in the mouth, the simple fruit flavors are buried, and the finish leaves a lightly bitter impression.	Estate Reserve	85	18	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Chardonnay	David Hill	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	David Hill 2010 Estate Reserve Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)
Spain	Roasted black-fruit, horsehide and rubbery aromas filter onto a tannic palate with all sorts of fruit extract and pulp for support. This is a rich, ripe wine from a warm vintage with tons of berry power, oak, herbal notes, tobacco and prune on the flavor profile. The finish is ripe, with spice and licorice flavors.	C21	91	25	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tinto Fino	Cepa 21	null	null	null
Italy	This offers a classic Nebbiolo nose of rose petal, dark berry, tilled earth and a balsamic note. The lean palate shows sour red berry, grilled herb, clove and a hint of mocha on the finish. Tightly compacted tannins and brisk acidity need time to unwind. Drink after 2019.	Bricco delle Viole	89	65	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	460 Casina Bric	null	null	null
Israel	This Bordeaux-style blend of 50% Cab Sauv, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot exhibits an attractive herbal character throughout, with notes of forest foliage accenting the blackberry, cherry and currant core. Gripping and firm in the mouth, with a soft hint of sweet spice on the close.	Petit Castel	87	50	Haut-Judeé	null	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Domaine du Castel	null	null	null
US	A juiciness of cherry and vanilla spark the opening of this wine, a celebration of the vintage, appellation and in this case, fruit-forwardness of the variety. With a backbone of oak and cedar, it has smooth tannins and medium weight, finishing in mocha chocolate. Drink now through 2022.	Barrel Select	91	60	California	Rutherford	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Provenance Vineyards	null	null	null
US	Graceful and aromatic, this 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot is the top end wine from the estate-grown DuBrul vineyard. It has both elegance and intensity, and expresses power without falling prey to over-ripeness, excessive oak or other tricks of the trade. It captures the fruit and earth and herb of the Bordeaux grapes, tossing in hints of graphite and cedar and smoke. A wine that demands your attention, and warrants your applause.	DuBrul Vineyard Red	95	120	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Red Blend	Côte Bonneville	null	null	null
France	With Hubert de Bouärd (whose family owns Château Angélus in Bordeaux) as consultant, this estate has produced a ripe wine that has the crispest, purest fruit flavors. Red berries and apples shoot through the lightly tannic texture. The wine will be better from late 2016.	Impatience	91	19	Provence	Côtes de Provence	null	Rosé	Château de Berne	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château de Berne 2015 Impatience Rosé (Côtes de Provence)
South Africa	Lively and elegant, this fruit-filled wine from Kevin Arnold is perfect for a gourmet meal in the summer. Fresh tropical fruit flavors like lychee mingle with a balanced acidity and impressive mouthfeel. Long finish.	null	89	22	Stellenbosch	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Waterford	Susan Kostrzewa	@suskostrzewa	Waterford 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch)
Hungary	Honeyed apricot and orange peel on the nose and palate typify this elegant but playful botrytis wine. The wine's lively acidity gives it a bounce on the tongue, adding dimension to the citrus components and lending it more to food pairing with desserts or a cheese plate.	Aszú 5 Puttonyos	89	39	Tokaji	null	null	Tokaji	Royal Tokaji	null	null	null
France	Firmly tannic and with smoky flavors, this is potentially a rich wine with attractive acidity and red-fruit flavors. Drink this wine from 2018.	null	85	65	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Supérieur	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Pabus	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Pabus 2014 Bordeaux Supérieur
Italy	With fish, salad or spicy vegetarian fare, you absolutely can't go wrong with a wine like this. An expression of Pinot Bianco (or Weissburgunder in German), the grape offers more heft and weight in the mouth and subtle, but steady aromas of pear and white peach.	null	88	15	Northeastern Italy	Alto Adige	null	Pinot Bianco	Tiefenbrunner	null	null	null
France	Soft, lilting wine that is gentle, ripe and ready to drink. The fruits have some sweetness, the tannins are light, and the acidity is fresh and never too intrusive.	null	87	35	Burgundy	Monthélie	null	Pinot Noir	Bouchard Père & Fils	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Bouchard Père & Fils 2007 Monthélie
Chile	Very aromatic, to the point of being flowery. The palate is sweet and dense, with a heavy, round mouthfeel and candied mango, melon and applesauce flavors. Finishes just pure enough, with weight and pith entering the fray. Don't wait long to drink.	Reserva	85	14	Limarí Valley	null	null	Viognier	Los Molles	null	null	null
France	From one of the top estates in Cahors, this complex, dense wine is both structured and packed with great fruit. At the moment, the tannins are in charge, big, bold and dense. Over the next few years the opulent black fruits will come out strongly, bringing richness along with impressive concentration. Drink from 2019.	Cèdre Héritage	94	20	Southwest France	Cahors	null	Malbec	Château du Cèdre	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château du Cèdre 2012 Cèdre Héritage Malbec (Cahors)
Chile	Plum, berry, licorice and balsamic aromas are earthy and classy. This feels chunky and heavy but not ponderous. Flavors of prune, rooty spices, mint and chocolate finish with mocha and fig notes. Enjoy this ripe, full-bodied wine anytime through 2017.	Tierras Moradas	91	50	Maule Valley	null	null	Carmenère	San Pedro	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	San Pedro 2010 Tierras Moradas Carmenère (Maule Valley)
US	This is one of those earthy Chards, the kind that bring to mind dusty brown spices. It's got appley and smoky, woody flavors, and is dry.	Reserve	84	15	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Chardonnay	Castle Rock	null	null	null
Italy	ALREADY PUBLISHED, WINE WAS SENT TWICE. Here's a soft and round, Merlot-like Sardinian red with plush tones of cherry, red apple, vanilla and chopped mint. It renders a dusty texture in the mouth thanks to its tannic structure and ends with a sprinkling of exotic spice.	Le Ghiaie	88	22	Sicily & Sardinia	Cannonau di Sardegna	null	Cannonau	Meloni	null	null	Meloni 2001 Le Ghiaie (Cannonau di Sardegna)
France	The wine misses fruit, although it does have a firm structure and tannins. A fresher character at the end gives a lift of acidity.	null	84	null	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Clairet	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Turcaud	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Turcaud 2014 Bordeaux Clairet
Australia	A relatively simple, fruity wine, with cassis fruit accented by hints of bright cherries and rhubarb. It's medium-bodied, maybe even a little light in substance, with dried herb and chocolate making an appearance on the finish. Drink now.	Three Monks	85	16	Victoria	Victoria	null	Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot	Taltarni	null	null	null
US	The historic Dr. Konstantin Frank winery has long been a source for consistent, well-priced wines in the Finger Lakes. Pretty on the nose, with delicate floral and stone-fruit aromas, it builds in intensity and power on the palate, with a crush of sweet-tart grapefruit and nectarine flavors. Hints of fresh herb, honeycomb and zippy lemon-lime acidity add nuance and balance to a long finish.	Semi Dry	90	15	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Riesling	Dr. Konstantin Frank	null	null	null
US	Tough in tannins and acidic in the Mayacamas style. Feels hard and dry and earthy. The cherry-berry flavors have a tomatoey edge. But this Merlot, which contains 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a classy elegance, and opens up as it breathes in the glass.	null	87	35	California	Mount Veeder	Napa	Merlot	Mayacamas	null	null	null
US	There's not much Chardonnay grown on Howell Mountain, but here's one to check out. It has an unusually pungent earthiness, leading to rich flavors of yellow apricots, lemon tart and kumquats, with a complex touch of mushroom. Bone dry and crisp, it should develop bottle complexities over the next 5–6 years.	null	91	45	California	Howell Mountain	Napa	Chardonnay	Freemark Abbey	null	null	null
Chile	Smells sharp and green, as though the grapes had been pushed into overproduction. Yet there are pretty blackcurrant flavors and richness in the mouth of this dry, balanced wine. The texture is nice and velvety smooth.	Reserve	84	8	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Calina	null	null	null
US	The winery's robust blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, some of which comes from Monte Rosso, is structured and surprisingly high-toned, offering herbal cherry, raspberry, cigar box and peppery spice. Aged in bottle for a while, it's enjoyable now and has the bones to get better; try after 2016.	Tesoro	92	49	California	Sonoma County	Sonoma	Red Blend	Muscardini	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Muscardini 2010 Tesoro Red (Sonoma County)
US	A bit thin, but dry and okay with simple fare, like fruit salad and ham sandwiches. Shows modest flavors of cherries, vanilla and spice.	null	84	15	California	California	California Other	Rosé	Vision Cellars	null	null	Vision Cellars 2008 Rosé (California)
US	This is the priciest of Tablas Creek's three new white-Rhône-style releases. A blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc, it's rich, dense and oaky. It shows ripe, concentrated orange, mango and apricot flavors, enhanced by oaky notes, with fleshy weight and density. Not an ager, but a distinctive and enjoyable wine.	Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc Grown & Bottled on the Estate Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Picpoul Blanc	92	40	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Rhône-style White Blend	Tablas Creek	null	null	Tablas Creek 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc Grown & Bottled on the Estate Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Picpoul Blanc White (Paso Robles)
Italy	Gaja's classic Barbaresco is gorgeous in 2010, showing an intense perfume of violet, earth and ripe red fruits punctuated by balsamic notes. The palate delivers rich wild cherry notes layered with mint, cinnamon and eucalyptus. This is structured and elegant and will develop more complexity over time. Drink this after 2018.	null	95	255	Piedmont	Barbaresco	null	Nebbiolo	Gaja	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Gaja 2010 Barbaresco
France	With its onion-skin color, this already shows age. The palate, with its mature reflection and beautiful rounded texture, confirms this. Rich, well balanced and gently mature, it has retained enough red fruits to keep an element of freshness. It is a food wine, rich and full in the mouth.	Réserve Brut Rosé	92	75	Champagne	Champagne	null	Champagne Blend	Charles Heidsieck	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Charles Heidsieck NV Réserve Brut Rosé (Champagne)
Spain	Toasty right away, with lightly baked apple aromas. The palate has a fine feel and good overall intensity, while the flavors of lemon, white grapefruit and apple are subtle and clean. Long and persistent, and showing quite a bit for a standard nonvintage Cava.	Petit Albet Brut Cava	89	19	Catalonia	Cava	null	Sparkling Blend	Albet I Noya	null	null	null
US	With crisp acidity and a refreshing berry skin tartnness, this is a beautiful rosé that approaches the loveliness of a fine French blush. It has subtle flavors of strawberries, rapsberries, tangerine zest, rose petals and spices, and is super-dry. Great job.	Victories	90	20	California	California	California Other	Rosé	Fleming Jenkins	null	null	null
Italy	Scents of white flower, pear and a hint of ground almond emerge on this lively white. The vibrant palate offers green apple and a hint of mineral alongside racy acidity.	null	87	27	Northeastern Italy	Collio	null	Pinot Grigio	Castello di Spessa	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Castello di Spessa 2014 Pinot Grigio (Collio)
Argentina	Lush, forward and complete, with a full mix of sweet and spicy aromas leading to bright berry flavors accented by licorice and vanilla from well-managed oak. Salentein is making better wines now than ever before, and this toasty, warming number is a prized bull that can only help Argentinean Malbec preserve its good name.	Reserve	90	21	Mendoza Province	Uco Valley	null	Malbec	Salentein	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Salentein 2006 Reserve Malbec (Uco Valley)
US	Drinks kind of hard and raw now, a very dry, tannic wine. You'll find pretty flavors of blackberries and cherries, but it seems to need time to throw some sediment and chill. Try holding for a few years.	null	85	25	California	Mendocino County	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Cabernet Sauvignon	Duncan Peak	null	null	null
France	The weight here is palpable, sweet peach and strawberry going with richness. There is enough acidity, but the pepper edge is less attractive.	null	86	25	Provence	Bandol	null	Rosé	Domaine de Souviou	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine de Souviou 2009 Rosé (Bandol)
US	The only one of the Cayuse Syrahs that is co-fermented with Viognier, this opens with a stunning, floral bouquet, showing extraordinary depth and texture. The wine has a floral top, a thickly fruity middle and a base with smoke, rock and meat. Still very young, it is already a complete, fully-realized, near-perfect wine with a finish that extends for many minutes. This should age for 25 –30 years. Right now, it's almost frozen in place; still a bit tannic, but with superb aging potential.	Cailloux Vineyard	99	65	Oregon	Walla Walla Valley (OR)	Oregon Other	Syrah	Cayuse	null	null	null
US	Give this wine some air to blow off reduced aromas and you'll uncover scents of cotton candy and cherry cough drops. The smooth palate is all candied cherries and sweet jam flavors that could use a bit more structure for better balance. No improvement with age.	null	82	20	Colorado	Grand Valley	null	Syrah	Canyon Wind	null	null	null
US	New French oak dominates this wine with buttered toast and caramel flavors. Despite this heavy hand, the underlying wine somehow shines through, with orange, mango, pear and peach flavors, brightened with brisk acidity.	Wulff Vineyards	86	42	California	Oak Knoll District	Napa	Chardonnay	Lobo	null	null	null
Italy	This informal Sangiovese-based red wine (in a screwcap bottle) shows bright berry nuances of cassis, cranberry and forest fruit. The wine finishes in an easy-drinking but crisp style.	null	83	12	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Sangiovese	Poggio alle Sughere	null	null	Poggio alle Sughere 2008 Sangiovese (Toscana)
Spain	This opens with dry, traditional Tempranillo aromas of cherry, plum, tobacco and even some asphalt and woodsmoke. The palate is smooth and loamy, with mild tomatoey acidity keeping things fresh. Wiry cherry, plum and baked flavors finish with mocha and stewed notes. Drink now.	Reserva	89	31	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tempranillo	Peña Roble	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Peña Roble 2006 Reserva (Ribera del Duero)
US	Very focused Key-lime aromas meet with strongly earthy, wet-clay scents on the nose of this wine that also offers a subtle minty kick. The palate is citrus-driven, with kumquat and tangerine flavors that give way to a warmer cream element before settling on a tense pink-grapefruit pith element.	Estate	93	36	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Zotovich Cellars	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Zotovich Cellars 2013 Estate Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)
Germany	Dusty rocks, smoke and spice notes cast an intensely mineral haze to this dry Riesling. It's a sharp revitalizing wine, brightened by zesty lime and lemon flavors that shimmer through a long finish. Drink now through 2020.	Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Steinkaut Trocken	89	19	Rheingau	null	null	Riesling	Dr. Nägler	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Dr. Nägler 2014 Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Steinkaut Trocken Riesling (Rheingau)
US	Rich, ripe and tropical, this calls to mind bananas soaked in cream. Round and lightly spicy, it's a forward, fruit-driven wine with a veneer of spice and toast, but enough acid to keep it lively.	null	88	18	Oregon	Oregon	Oregon Other	Chardonnay	King Estate	null	null	null
Chile	Briary and rubbery smelling, this also shows aromas of leafy herbal plum. Fairly pinched and tannic, this delivers a raw mouthfeel. Skins-based flavors of plum and currant are slightly bitter, while the finish pinches like the palate.	Reserva	86	14	Colchagua Valley	null	null	Cabernet Franc	Calcu	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Calcu 2013 Reserva Cabernet Franc (Colchagua Valley)
US	The fruit that was used to make this Pinot Grigio was sourced from a High Valley vineyard situated at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The resulting wine is full of citrus and green apple aromas and flavors. The finish shows a touch of sweetness.	Sassolini	86	14	California	Lake County	null	Pinot Grigio	Ramspeck	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Ramspeck 2011 Sassolini Pinot Grigio (Lake County)
Chile	For Chilean Zinfandel, which isn't something you see every day, it has its positives. The nose is a bit sheer, with grape skins, citrus peel and coffee making their mark. Scratchy raspberry flavors seem sugary, while the finish is full of mocha and vanilla. Overt, creamy, sweet and pretty good as a whole.	Reserva	85	null	Central Valley	null	null	Zinfandel	Millaman	null	null	null
Spain	Red fruit aromas are a bit rough and scalped in front of a chunky palate. Charred, burnt, oaky flavors of raspberry and cassis stress ripeness and weight before finishing with buttery oak, a slightly greasy feel and roasted berry flavors. Drink through 2020.	Reserva	90	40	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tempranillo	Lecco	null	null	null
Italy	You'll enjoy the elegance and refined nature of this Barolo from the Serralunga d'Alba municipality. Bright aromas of cherry, vanilla, cola and ginger are carefully woven into the wine's bouquet and the mouthfeel is characterized by long, drying mineral notes.	Cerrati Vigna Cucco	92	null	Piedmont	Barolo	null	Nebbiolo	Cascina Cucco	null	null	Cascina Cucco 2006 Cerrati Vigna Cucco (Barolo)
Italy	The 2007 vintage was beautiful in Umbria, and this proves to be a stand out wine with enormous power, personality and depth. It delivers gorgeous intensity with pulses of black cherry, chocolate fudge, spice, leather and pipe tobacco. The finish is soft and rich.	Collepiano	93	60	Central Italy	Sagrantino di Montefalco	null	Sagrantino	Arnaldo Caprai	null	null	null
Argentina	Lightly brambled and ever so slightly green, with pleasant strawberry and raspberry aromas. The mouthfeel is a touch choppy and grabby, but it's not too thin and rough to make it unpleasant. Not bad for the price.	null	83	6	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Tempranillo	Funky Llama	null	null	null
New Zealand	Slightly pungent and sweaty at first, this wine gradually opens to reveal a core of white-grapefruit aromas and flavors. It's medium in weight and richly textured, with a long, velvety finish. Drink now.	Wairau Reserve	90	32	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Saint Clair	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	Saint Clair 2016 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)

US

Front-loaded fruit has a strawberry soda pop flavor, but the wine gains a little extra depth from the tannins and barrels, which add texture, spice and a bit of salty chocolate.

Righteous

86

20

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Sangiovese

Righteous

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Righteous 2008 Righteous Sangiovese (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

US

Barrel fermented and aged on the lees for almost a year, this is a nutty, slightly oily wine that shows the influence of the barrel, but lacks the fruit density to match it. The 14% alcohol hits the palate with some heat. High-toned and a bit harsh.

Estate Reserve

85

18

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Chardonnay

David Hill

null

US

Some wines are meant for immediate consumption. Others require age. This wonderful wine satisfies on both sides. It's softly rich and polished in tannins, with accessible blackberry, cassis and oak flavors. Yet it has the structure and depth to go for years. Now–2016, at least.

Paramour

95

90

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Blackbird Vineyards

null

Chile

Leather, earth and bold fruit on the nose, and then sweet plum, berry and chocolate on the palate. It's a blend of Cabernet, Malbec, Merlot and Carmenère that really couldn't have come together much better. It's rich, ripe and tasty, and at 14.6% alcohol it's nothing if not a New World heavyweight. Imported by Palm Bay Imports.

Quatro Reserva

90

15

Colchagua Valley

null

Red Blend

MontGras

null

France

Clean, ripe apple notes glide across nose and palate in a fruity, refreshing, balanced and easy-drinking white. Drink soon while aromas are at their peak.

Les Natures

88

21

Alsace

null

Pinot Blanc

Jean-Baptiste Adam

null

Chile

Opens with an enticing package of cedar, tobacco, herb, leather and black-fruit aromas. The palate has live-wire acidity and overall the wine is bright, piercing and full, with herbal black cherry, cassis and cola flavors. The finish is a little quick and short on flavor but big on texture and tannins. Made from Syrah, Cab Sauvignon and Carmenère.

Kuyen

89

30

Maipo Valley

null

Red Blend

Antiyal

null

France

With touches of the typical minerality of the appellation, this is a young, tight wine. Crisp apple, lemon and spice add interest to this perfumed wine. It will be better to drink from 2017.

null

88

24

Burgundy

Pouilly-Fuissé

null

Chardonnay

Patriarche Père et Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Patriarche Père et Fils 2015 Pouilly-Fuissé

US

The winery's reserve-style Pinot Noir is based on concentration and power, not immediate appeal. It's a heavy, richly tannic wine, with roasted oak, cherry, grilled meat, anise and cinnamon spice flavors, almost as full-bodied as a Syrah. Try sometime in 2011.

faîte

87

65

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Paraiso Vineyards

null

Austria

The aromas are of new wood and spice. But the red cherry flavors of Blaufränkisch are enough to absorb this wood, giving a spicy but fruity wine that happily fills the glass with ripe fruit.

Vom Leithagebirge

86

30

Burgenland

null

Blaufränkisch

Hans Moser

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Hans Moser 2006 Vom Leithagebirge Blaufränkisch (Burgenland)

US

Almost all syrah with just a smidgeon of viognier (0.4%) added, it has notes of cherry, mint, and blackberry. Buttery oak spices (22% new French) accent sweet fruit flavors though a long, expressive finish.

Estate

89

30

Oregon

Umpqua Valley

Southern Oregon

Syrah

Abacela

null

Georgia

Floral and herbaceous on the nose, there's an abundant freshness to the red plum and pomegranate flavors on this elegant Saperavi. Dry in style, with brisk acidity, it balances a crisp, fruity profile with a backbone of coarse tannins.

Marani Kondoli Vineyards

88

16

Kakheti

null

Saperavi

Telavi

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Telavi 2009 Marani Kondoli Vineyards Saperavi (Kakheti)

Portugal

This crisp and fresh wine suggests citrus and green apple fruits. It is light, fragrant and ready to drink with its bright final acidity.

Terra de Lobos Branco

84

null

Tejo

null

Portuguese White

Quinta do Casal Branco

null

France

Made entirely from Grenache Blanc, this is a throwback to decades ago, when many Rhône wines were made in sweet styles. Pineapple, melon and honey are delivered aboard a rich, viscous wine that's not not heavy or warm, despite 16% alcohol.

Vin Doux Natural (Rasteau)

90

null

Rhône Valley

Côtes du Rhône Villages

null

Grenache Blanc

Domaine des Escaravailles

null

Italy

The wine is aged one year in oak to achieve a soft mouthfeel backed by aromas of mature cherry, blackberry jam and exotic spice. The wine is extremely dense and rich—almost too much so— and delivers a powerful blast of cherry fruit on the close.

Trebulanum

85

26

Southern Italy

Campania

null

Casavecchia

Fattoria Alois

null

Fattoria Alois 2006 Trebulanum Casavecchia (Campania)

US

You'll want to stash this young Cab away for a while because it's too closed and tannic now for enjoyment. But it has a very rich, concentrated core of cassis flavor and is dry and balanced in acidity. Should negotiate the next 6–8 years easily, and maybe longer.

null

91

55

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Frazier

null

Frazier 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

US

The nose smells washed out, with hazy notes of char and cassis that come with a touch of sulfur. Light to medium bodied, the palate feels slick, soft and sweet tasting, with a candied cherry note that appears on the finish.

GRV

82

null

Virginia

null

Red Blend

General's Ridge

null

Italy

Here's an easy-drinking (and well-priced) Pinot Grigio with little extraction and simple aromas of citrus and white peach. The wine is watery and thin in the mouth but it does offer that trademark touch of acidity on the close.

null

84

10

Northeastern Italy

Delle Venezie

null

Pinot Grigio

Mariana

null

US

Quite a good wine, but the powerful oak is a bit intrusive at this time. It swamps the mouth with caramel and crème brûlée. Below all that seems to be a fine, pineapple-flavored Chardonnay. Everything may knit together in a year or so.

Proprietress Reserve

87

60

California

Los Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Vine Cliff

null

US

From the relatively hot South Coast comes a big, powerful, chewy wine, with aromas of dried blackberries, light leather, some smoke and purple flowers. The real heft is on the palate, where sour tar is laced through stewed black plums, dark chocolate and herbs like dill and oregano. The tannins are a bit stiff.

Signature Reserve

91

62

California

South Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hawk Watch Winery

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Hawk Watch Winery 2011 Signature Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (South Coast)

US

Sourced entirely from the Sagemoor vineyard, this richly endowed Viognier smothers the palate in a lush mix of fat, candied citrus and tropical fruits. Honeysuckle and orange pekoe tea flavors trickle into the lingering, lip-smacking finish.

null

93

24

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Viognier

Tamarack Cellars

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Tamarack Cellars 2012 Viognier (Columbia Valley (WA))

US

Aromas of citrus peel, plum, herb, wood shavings and medicine cabinet are followed by plump cherry flavors. The tannins bring a slight sense of astringency.

Crawford Vineyard

87

28

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Malbec

Camaraderie

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Camaraderie 2013 Crawford Vineyard Malbec (Yakima Valley)

Portugal

The blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto gives a fruity, fresh and fragrant wine, with lively bright acidity. A lemon edge is filled out by ripe apricot flavor, resulting in a rounded finish. Drink from 2016.

Companhia das Lezirias Samora Branco

85

11

Tejo

null

Portuguese White

Wines & Winemakers

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Wines & Winemakers 2014 Companhia das Lezirias Samora Branco White (Tejo)

Italy

The nose was interesting; earthy with plenty of plummy fruit and a touch of musk. On the palate, with the fruit more muted, the earthiness became more apparent, and what fruit remained thinned out even more as it reached the finish.

null

84

26

Piedmont

Nebbiolo d'Alba

null

Nebbiolo

Poderi Colla

null

US

This is the first varietally labeled Grenache from Tempus, and it's lovely. Lush, with fresh raspberry scents and flavors, this is a juicy, fruit-driven wine with excellent grip and density.

null

88

25

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Grenache

Tempus Cellars

null

Argentina

Potent smelling, with black pepper, lots of oak and true berry fruit aromas. The palate is a bit pointed and high in acidity, while the flavors of raspberry, currants and red plum are solid. Finishes a little jagged and acidic, but at worst that staunch acidity will keep it alive for years to come. Hold until at least 2011.

Viña Fausto Orellana de Escobar Single Vineyard

89

50

Mendoza Province

La Consulta

null

Malbec

Trapiche

null

US

Long a producer of high quality and good value, Navarro seems to be raising the bar higher on its Pinot Noir. A vivid, potent and concentrated fruit component lights up this full-bodied wine from the first whiff through the finish. Black cherry, violet and cassis come together in a powerful beam of flavor. A good backbone of acidity and firm tannins supports that power nicely.

Deep End Blend

93

55

California

Anderson Valley

null

Pinot Noir

Navarro

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Navarro 2014 Deep End Blend Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)

US

Truchard has produced a Roussanne for many years, but the quality seems to vary according to vintage. The 2012 is a very good wine. It's dry, yet honeyed, with orange, peach and white-flower flavors. The texture is creamy, but highlighted with brisk acidity. It would be a great accompaniment to rich, complex dishes, but a simple roasted chicken would be wonderful as well.

null

91

25

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Roussanne

Truchard

null

Truchard 2012 Roussanne (Carneros)

Spain

Textbook Verdejo aromas of tangerine, passion fruit and grapefruit are simple and clean. A light, zesty, slightly spritzy palate frames flavors of grapefruit, lemon and orange pith. A mix of tropical and citrus notes drives a snappy but ordinary finish.

null

87

13

Northern Spain

Rueda

null

Verdejo

Cyatho

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Cyatho 2013 Verdejo (Rueda)

Argentina

Among Cobos's high-end 2011 Malbecs, this one comes across as the most complete, layered and complex of the group. Aromas of fine oak and pencil lead augment blackberry and baked plum scents. The mouthfeel is smooth, round and rich, while flavors of tea, savory spices and black fruits dance long into the night. A ripe but not too heavy finish is earthy, calm and complete. Drink through 2019.

Bramare Marchiori Vineyard

94

95

Mendoza Province

Perdriel

null

Malbec

Viña Cobos

null

Italy

This opens with subdued aromas of citrus blossom and yellow stone fruit while the weighty palate doles out unripe apricot, yellow peach and bitter almond. Showing the heat of the vintage, this shows less overt freshness than it does in cooler vintages. You'll also notice a hint of evident alcohol on the close.

null

87

15

Central Italy

Umbria

null

Grechetto

Argillae

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Argillae 2015 Grechetto (Umbria)

US

This smells deep and bass-like, with resonating notes of honeyed white currant, spiced breakfast toast and apricot preserves, accented with touches of caramel and toasted nut. It feels round, rich and opulent, with a nice lift of acids that give the wine some spring.

Richland Reserve

88

22

Virginia

null

Chardonnay

Potomac Point

null

Potomac Point 2010 Richland Reserve Chardonnay (Virginia)

New Zealand

A consistent standard-bearer for the variety as expressed in Marlborough, the 2016 Private Bin boasts ample red currant and pink grapefruit aromas and flavors, perked up by a touch of leafiness. It's medium-bodied and perhaps a bit rounder and softer in the mouth than some, but finishes dry and stony.

Private Bin

90

14

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Villa Maria

null

Italy

Light-bodied and juicy, this is an eminently quaffable Barbera, with loads of bing cherry fruit and a refreshingly fruity but short finish. The open-knit structure makes this easy to partner with flavorful fish. Drink now.

'l Clumbé

87

18

Piedmont

Barbera d'Asti

null

Barbera

Massimiliano Vivalda

null

US

Floral, this medium-bodied white is creamy and touched by richer notions of pear, pineapple and vanilla, reflective of its warmer appellation in a warm year. French oak (40% of it new) aged the wine for under a year. With a touch of honeysuckle and nutmeg, the minerality is subtle.

Stuhlmuller Vineyards Reserve

89

32

California

Alexander Valley

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Summers

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Summers 2013 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay (Alexander Valley)

France

89–91. Barrel sample. This is a solid effort that's packed with blackberry fruits and dark tannins. The wine has weight and structure that is balanced with the fruitiness.

Barrel Sample

90

null

Bordeaux

Haut-Médoc

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Sénéjac

null

US

It's lush and fragrant with sweet cherry and plum, truffle and smoke, moist earth and mocha. Surprisingly delicate in the mouth, and yet not shy with the flavors, which stack generously one upon the other, finishing with black olive and slightly bitter baker's chocolate.

null

90

28

Washington

Wahluke Slope

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Franc

Nefarious Cellars

null

Italy

Here is the debut vintage from a new estate managed by Castello di Volpaia's Federica Mascheroni Stianti. The blend of Merlot and Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc offers bright cherry notes followed by youthful tones of black fruit and light touches of spice and smoke. The wine is soft and round on the palate with sweet fruit flavors and a pleasant, soft feel.

Morello di Prile

89

22

Tuscany

Maremma

null

Red Blend

Prelius

null

South Africa

Herbal and spicy, here's an easygoing Merlot that's perfect for entertaining. Pepper and anise add character to the black fruit core, and the pronounced acidity keeps things lively and clean on the finish.

null

85

11

Western Cape

null

Merlot

KWV

null

US

This is mostly young fruit from Ash Hollow, and it shows. Very light through the middle, though cleverly buttressed with a smattering of Cab Franc from Pepper Bridge and Cab Sauv from Spring Valley. It's silky and smooth, with interesting nuances of herb and grass, and a playful lift to the middle which extends rather surprisingly into the finish. The oak is well played, adding butter, toffee and toast in clever proportions.

null

90

30

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Merlot

Reininger

null

Italy

Tart and slightly bitter, this Lambrusco has all the right qualities to pair with fettuccine in cream sauce. Bright berry flavors are followed by creamy foam and fresh acidity.

null

84

15

Central Italy

Emilia

null

Lambrusco

Venturini Baldini

null

Venturini Baldini 2012 Lambrusco (Emilia)

US

Good acidity and juicy cherry flavors in this blush wine. But it's a little too sweet in extracted fruit, and palls after a sip or two. Drink now.

Rose of Syrah

85

25

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Rosé

Peju

null

US

Big, thick and brawny, this shows a substantial streak of vanilla over firm, ripe, tasty mixed black fruits. Clean, rich and powerful, with substantial oak spices, it's the most masculine of the three Domaine Serene Pinots in the current lineup.

Evenstad Reserve

91

52

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Domaine Serene

null

France

Full and wood-aged, this wine is smoothly textured. It's ripe and spicy, with apricot fruit and some minerality. Rich and worth aging for 2–3 years.

null

89

null

Southwest France

Bergerac Sec

null

Bordeaux-style White Blend

Clos des Terrasses

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Clos des Terrasses 2008 White (Bergerac Sec)

Italy

Mature dark berry, cake spice, baked earth, leather and a whiff of game are just some of the aromas you'll find on this impressive wine. The chewy palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, white pepper and aromatic herb alongside a backbone of firm, ripe tannins and racy acidity. Drink 2019–2031.

Tre Tine

95

125

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Giuseppe Rinaldi

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Giuseppe Rinaldi 2011 Tre Tine (Barolo)

US

A rich, oaky style of Chardonnay that spent five months sur lie in neutral French oak. The wine has a soft, mildly sour taste and lurking wet stone notes.

Pamela's Vineyard

84

28

California

Mendocino County

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Chardonnay

There Wines

null

US

Here's a balanced, intricately structured young Cab. It opens with upfront aromas of cherry pie, coffee, cocoa and vanilla, and while the tannins are firm, they're finely ground and pliant. The flavor is pure cherry, seasoned with oak. Good now, and should hold for some years.

null

90

46

California

Rutherford

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sawyer

null

US

Despite the single-vineyard designation and relatively high price, this is a simple Sauvignon Blanc, with direct flavors of pineapple jam, fig and smoky vanilla. The main problem is excessive sweetness.

Monte Lago Vineyards

83

20

California

Clear Lake

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Sauvignon Blanc

Croze

null

US

Has this vineyard ever produced anything less than a spectacular Pinot Noir? Hitching Post's '06 showcases its exotic spiciness and the way its power is modulated with an elegant structure. Cloves, nutmeg, allspice and white pepper are just a few of the spices that tantalize the cherry, orange and cola flavors. The wine feels wonderful in the mouth, rich and long-lasting. Ageable, too, with a window extending beyond 2012.

Cargasacchi Vineyard

94

42

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Hitching Post

null

Hitching Post 2006 Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

France

With its highly mineral aroma, this is almost like smelling chalk. It's an austere wine, with high acidity, crystal clear on the palate, full of grapefruit flavors and flint texture. Age this wine at least 4 years.

Blanc de Blancs

91

50

Champagne

null

Chardonnay

Delamotte

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Delamotte NV Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay (Champagne)

Chile

On the nose, there are cider, oak and baked corn notes. The palate is full of oak and resin flavors that prevent the fruit from emerging immediately. It tastes of hickory, apple and melon on the palate and finish.

Alpha

86

22

Casablanca Valley

null

Chardonnay

Montes

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Montes 2010 Alpha Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley)

US

This is buttery to a fault, with the overpowering aroma of microwave popcorn. Once in the mouth, the simple fruit flavors are buried, and the finish leaves a lightly bitter impression.

Estate Reserve

85

18

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Chardonnay

David Hill

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

David Hill 2010 Estate Reserve Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)

Spain

Roasted black-fruit, horsehide and rubbery aromas filter onto a tannic palate with all sorts of fruit extract and pulp for support. This is a rich, ripe wine from a warm vintage with tons of berry power, oak, herbal notes, tobacco and prune on the flavor profile. The finish is ripe, with spice and licorice flavors.

C21

91

25

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tinto Fino

Cepa 21

null

Italy

This offers a classic Nebbiolo nose of rose petal, dark berry, tilled earth and a balsamic note. The lean palate shows sour red berry, grilled herb, clove and a hint of mocha on the finish. Tightly compacted tannins and brisk acidity need time to unwind. Drink after 2019.

Bricco delle Viole

89

65

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

460 Casina Bric

null

Israel

This Bordeaux-style blend of 50% Cab Sauv, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot exhibits an attractive herbal character throughout, with notes of forest foliage accenting the blackberry, cherry and currant core. Gripping and firm in the mouth, with a soft hint of sweet spice on the close.

Petit Castel

87

50

Haut-Judeé

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Domaine du Castel

null

US

A juiciness of cherry and vanilla spark the opening of this wine, a celebration of the vintage, appellation and in this case, fruit-forwardness of the variety. With a backbone of oak and cedar, it has smooth tannins and medium weight, finishing in mocha chocolate. Drink now through 2022.

Barrel Select

91

60

California

Rutherford

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Provenance Vineyards

null

US

Graceful and aromatic, this 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot is the top end wine from the estate-grown DuBrul vineyard. It has both elegance and intensity, and expresses power without falling prey to over-ripeness, excessive oak or other tricks of the trade. It captures the fruit and earth and herb of the Bordeaux grapes, tossing in hints of graphite and cedar and smoke. A wine that demands your attention, and warrants your applause.

DuBrul Vineyard Red

95

120

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Red Blend

Côte Bonneville

null

France

With Hubert de Bouärd (whose family owns Château Angélus in Bordeaux) as consultant, this estate has produced a ripe wine that has the crispest, purest fruit flavors. Red berries and apples shoot through the lightly tannic texture. The wine will be better from late 2016.

Impatience

91

19

Provence

Côtes de Provence

null

Rosé

Château de Berne

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château de Berne 2015 Impatience Rosé (Côtes de Provence)

South Africa

Lively and elegant, this fruit-filled wine from Kevin Arnold is perfect for a gourmet meal in the summer. Fresh tropical fruit flavors like lychee mingle with a balanced acidity and impressive mouthfeel. Long finish.

null

89

22

Stellenbosch

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Waterford

Susan Kostrzewa

@suskostrzewa

Waterford 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch)

Hungary

Honeyed apricot and orange peel on the nose and palate typify this elegant but playful botrytis wine. The wine's lively acidity gives it a bounce on the tongue, adding dimension to the citrus components and lending it more to food pairing with desserts or a cheese plate.

Aszú 5 Puttonyos

89

39

Tokaji

null

Tokaji

Royal Tokaji

null

France

Firmly tannic and with smoky flavors, this is potentially a rich wine with attractive acidity and red-fruit flavors. Drink this wine from 2018.

null

85

65

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Supérieur

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Pabus

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Pabus 2014 Bordeaux Supérieur

Italy

With fish, salad or spicy vegetarian fare, you absolutely can't go wrong with a wine like this. An expression of Pinot Bianco (or Weissburgunder in German), the grape offers more heft and weight in the mouth and subtle, but steady aromas of pear and white peach.

null

88

15

Northeastern Italy

Alto Adige

null

Pinot Bianco

Tiefenbrunner

null

France

Soft, lilting wine that is gentle, ripe and ready to drink. The fruits have some sweetness, the tannins are light, and the acidity is fresh and never too intrusive.

null

87

35

Burgundy

Monthélie

null

Pinot Noir

Bouchard Père & Fils

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Bouchard Père & Fils 2007 Monthélie

Chile

Very aromatic, to the point of being flowery. The palate is sweet and dense, with a heavy, round mouthfeel and candied mango, melon and applesauce flavors. Finishes just pure enough, with weight and pith entering the fray. Don't wait long to drink.

Reserva

85

14

Limarí Valley

null

Viognier

Los Molles

null

France

From one of the top estates in Cahors, this complex, dense wine is both structured and packed with great fruit. At the moment, the tannins are in charge, big, bold and dense. Over the next few years the opulent black fruits will come out strongly, bringing richness along with impressive concentration. Drink from 2019.

Cèdre Héritage

94

20

Southwest France

Cahors

null

Malbec

Château du Cèdre

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château du Cèdre 2012 Cèdre Héritage Malbec (Cahors)

Chile

Plum, berry, licorice and balsamic aromas are earthy and classy. This feels chunky and heavy but not ponderous. Flavors of prune, rooty spices, mint and chocolate finish with mocha and fig notes. Enjoy this ripe, full-bodied wine anytime through 2017.

Tierras Moradas

91

50

Maule Valley

null

Carmenère

San Pedro

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

San Pedro 2010 Tierras Moradas Carmenère (Maule Valley)

US

This is one of those earthy Chards, the kind that bring to mind dusty brown spices. It's got appley and smoky, woody flavors, and is dry.

Reserve

84

15

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Chardonnay

Castle Rock

null

Italy

ALREADY PUBLISHED, WINE WAS SENT TWICE. Here's a soft and round, Merlot-like Sardinian red with plush tones of cherry, red apple, vanilla and chopped mint. It renders a dusty texture in the mouth thanks to its tannic structure and ends with a sprinkling of exotic spice.

Le Ghiaie

88

22

Sicily & Sardinia

Cannonau di Sardegna

null

Cannonau

Meloni

null

Meloni 2001 Le Ghiaie (Cannonau di Sardegna)

France

The wine misses fruit, although it does have a firm structure and tannins. A fresher character at the end gives a lift of acidity.

null

84

null

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Clairet

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Turcaud

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Turcaud 2014 Bordeaux Clairet

Australia

A relatively simple, fruity wine, with cassis fruit accented by hints of bright cherries and rhubarb. It's medium-bodied, maybe even a little light in substance, with dried herb and chocolate making an appearance on the finish. Drink now.

Three Monks

85

16

Victoria

null

Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot

Taltarni

null

US

The historic Dr. Konstantin Frank winery has long been a source for consistent, well-priced wines in the Finger Lakes. Pretty on the nose, with delicate floral and stone-fruit aromas, it builds in intensity and power on the palate, with a crush of sweet-tart grapefruit and nectarine flavors. Hints of fresh herb, honeycomb and zippy lemon-lime acidity add nuance and balance to a long finish.

Semi Dry

90

15

New York

Finger Lakes

Riesling

Dr. Konstantin Frank

null

US

Tough in tannins and acidic in the Mayacamas style. Feels hard and dry and earthy. The cherry-berry flavors have a tomatoey edge. But this Merlot, which contains 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a classy elegance, and opens up as it breathes in the glass.

null

87

35

California

Mount Veeder

Napa

Merlot

Mayacamas

null

US

There's not much Chardonnay grown on Howell Mountain, but here's one to check out. It has an unusually pungent earthiness, leading to rich flavors of yellow apricots, lemon tart and kumquats, with a complex touch of mushroom. Bone dry and crisp, it should develop bottle complexities over the next 5–6 years.

null

91

45

California

Howell Mountain

Napa

Chardonnay

Freemark Abbey

null

Chile

Smells sharp and green, as though the grapes had been pushed into overproduction. Yet there are pretty blackcurrant flavors and richness in the mouth of this dry, balanced wine. The texture is nice and velvety smooth.

Reserve

84

8

Colchagua Valley

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Calina

null

US

The winery's robust blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, some of which comes from Monte Rosso, is structured and surprisingly high-toned, offering herbal cherry, raspberry, cigar box and peppery spice. Aged in bottle for a while, it's enjoyable now and has the bones to get better; try after 2016.

Tesoro

92

49

California

Sonoma County

Sonoma

Red Blend

Muscardini

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Muscardini 2010 Tesoro Red (Sonoma County)

US

A bit thin, but dry and okay with simple fare, like fruit salad and ham sandwiches. Shows modest flavors of cherries, vanilla and spice.

null

84

15

California

California Other

Rosé

Vision Cellars

null

Vision Cellars 2008 Rosé (California)

US

This is the priciest of Tablas Creek's three new white-Rhône-style releases. A blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc, it's rich, dense and oaky. It shows ripe, concentrated orange, mango and apricot flavors, enhanced by oaky notes, with fleshy weight and density. Not an ager, but a distinctive and enjoyable wine.

Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc Grown & Bottled on the Estate Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Picpoul Blanc

92

40

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Rhône-style White Blend

Tablas Creek

null

Tablas Creek 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc Grown & Bottled on the Estate Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Picpoul Blanc White (Paso Robles)

Italy

Gaja's classic Barbaresco is gorgeous in 2010, showing an intense perfume of violet, earth and ripe red fruits punctuated by balsamic notes. The palate delivers rich wild cherry notes layered with mint, cinnamon and eucalyptus. This is structured and elegant and will develop more complexity over time. Drink this after 2018.

null

95

255

Piedmont

Barbaresco

null

Nebbiolo

Gaja

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Gaja 2010 Barbaresco

France

With its onion-skin color, this already shows age. The palate, with its mature reflection and beautiful rounded texture, confirms this. Rich, well balanced and gently mature, it has retained enough red fruits to keep an element of freshness. It is a food wine, rich and full in the mouth.

Réserve Brut Rosé

92

75

Champagne

null

Champagne Blend

Charles Heidsieck

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Charles Heidsieck NV Réserve Brut Rosé (Champagne)

Spain

Toasty right away, with lightly baked apple aromas. The palate has a fine feel and good overall intensity, while the flavors of lemon, white grapefruit and apple are subtle and clean. Long and persistent, and showing quite a bit for a standard nonvintage Cava.

Petit Albet Brut Cava

89

19

Catalonia

Cava

null

Sparkling Blend

Albet I Noya

null

US

With crisp acidity and a refreshing berry skin tartnness, this is a beautiful rosé that approaches the loveliness of a fine French blush. It has subtle flavors of strawberries, rapsberries, tangerine zest, rose petals and spices, and is super-dry. Great job.

Victories

90

20

California

California Other

Rosé

Fleming Jenkins

null

Italy

Scents of white flower, pear and a hint of ground almond emerge on this lively white. The vibrant palate offers green apple and a hint of mineral alongside racy acidity.

null

87

27

Northeastern Italy

Collio

null

Pinot Grigio

Castello di Spessa

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Castello di Spessa 2014 Pinot Grigio (Collio)

Argentina

Lush, forward and complete, with a full mix of sweet and spicy aromas leading to bright berry flavors accented by licorice and vanilla from well-managed oak. Salentein is making better wines now than ever before, and this toasty, warming number is a prized bull that can only help Argentinean Malbec preserve its good name.

Reserve

90

21

Mendoza Province

Uco Valley

null

Malbec

Salentein

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Salentein 2006 Reserve Malbec (Uco Valley)

US

Drinks kind of hard and raw now, a very dry, tannic wine. You'll find pretty flavors of blackberries and cherries, but it seems to need time to throw some sediment and chill. Try holding for a few years.

null

85

25

California

Mendocino County

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Cabernet Sauvignon

Duncan Peak

null

France

The weight here is palpable, sweet peach and strawberry going with richness. There is enough acidity, but the pepper edge is less attractive.

null

86

25

Provence

Bandol

null

Rosé

Domaine de Souviou

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine de Souviou 2009 Rosé (Bandol)

US

The only one of the Cayuse Syrahs that is co-fermented with Viognier, this opens with a stunning, floral bouquet, showing extraordinary depth and texture. The wine has a floral top, a thickly fruity middle and a base with smoke, rock and meat. Still very young, it is already a complete, fully-realized, near-perfect wine with a finish that extends for many minutes. This should age for 25 –30 years. Right now, it's almost frozen in place; still a bit tannic, but with superb aging potential.

Cailloux Vineyard

99

65

Oregon

Walla Walla Valley (OR)

Oregon Other

Syrah

Cayuse

null

US

Give this wine some air to blow off reduced aromas and you'll uncover scents of cotton candy and cherry cough drops. The smooth palate is all candied cherries and sweet jam flavors that could use a bit more structure for better balance. No improvement with age.

null

82

20

Colorado

Grand Valley

null

Syrah

Canyon Wind

null

US

New French oak dominates this wine with buttered toast and caramel flavors. Despite this heavy hand, the underlying wine somehow shines through, with orange, mango, pear and peach flavors, brightened with brisk acidity.

Wulff Vineyards

86

42

California

Oak Knoll District

Napa

Chardonnay

Lobo

null

Italy

This informal Sangiovese-based red wine (in a screwcap bottle) shows bright berry nuances of cassis, cranberry and forest fruit. The wine finishes in an easy-drinking but crisp style.

null

83

12

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Sangiovese

Poggio alle Sughere

null

Poggio alle Sughere 2008 Sangiovese (Toscana)

Spain

This opens with dry, traditional Tempranillo aromas of cherry, plum, tobacco and even some asphalt and woodsmoke. The palate is smooth and loamy, with mild tomatoey acidity keeping things fresh. Wiry cherry, plum and baked flavors finish with mocha and stewed notes. Drink now.

Reserva

89

31

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tempranillo

Peña Roble

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Peña Roble 2006 Reserva (Ribera del Duero)

US

Very focused Key-lime aromas meet with strongly earthy, wet-clay scents on the nose of this wine that also offers a subtle minty kick. The palate is citrus-driven, with kumquat and tangerine flavors that give way to a warmer cream element before settling on a tense pink-grapefruit pith element.

Estate

93

36

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Zotovich Cellars

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Zotovich Cellars 2013 Estate Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Germany

Dusty rocks, smoke and spice notes cast an intensely mineral haze to this dry Riesling. It's a sharp revitalizing wine, brightened by zesty lime and lemon flavors that shimmer through a long finish. Drink now through 2020.

Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Steinkaut Trocken

89

19

Rheingau

null

Riesling

Dr. Nägler

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Dr. Nägler 2014 Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Steinkaut Trocken Riesling (Rheingau)

US

Rich, ripe and tropical, this calls to mind bananas soaked in cream. Round and lightly spicy, it's a forward, fruit-driven wine with a veneer of spice and toast, but enough acid to keep it lively.

null

88

18

Oregon

Oregon Other

Chardonnay

King Estate

null

Chile

Briary and rubbery smelling, this also shows aromas of leafy herbal plum. Fairly pinched and tannic, this delivers a raw mouthfeel. Skins-based flavors of plum and currant are slightly bitter, while the finish pinches like the palate.

Reserva

86

14

Colchagua Valley

null

Cabernet Franc

Calcu

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Calcu 2013 Reserva Cabernet Franc (Colchagua Valley)

US

The fruit that was used to make this Pinot Grigio was sourced from a High Valley vineyard situated at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The resulting wine is full of citrus and green apple aromas and flavors. The finish shows a touch of sweetness.

Sassolini

86

14

California

Lake County

null

Pinot Grigio

Ramspeck

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Ramspeck 2011 Sassolini Pinot Grigio (Lake County)

Chile

For Chilean Zinfandel, which isn't something you see every day, it has its positives. The nose is a bit sheer, with grape skins, citrus peel and coffee making their mark. Scratchy raspberry flavors seem sugary, while the finish is full of mocha and vanilla. Overt, creamy, sweet and pretty good as a whole.

Reserva

85

null

Central Valley

null

Zinfandel

Millaman

null

Spain

Red fruit aromas are a bit rough and scalped in front of a chunky palate. Charred, burnt, oaky flavors of raspberry and cassis stress ripeness and weight before finishing with buttery oak, a slightly greasy feel and roasted berry flavors. Drink through 2020.

Reserva

90

40

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tempranillo

Lecco

null

Italy

You'll enjoy the elegance and refined nature of this Barolo from the Serralunga d'Alba municipality. Bright aromas of cherry, vanilla, cola and ginger are carefully woven into the wine's bouquet and the mouthfeel is characterized by long, drying mineral notes.

Cerrati Vigna Cucco

92

null

Piedmont

Barolo

null

Nebbiolo

Cascina Cucco

null

Cascina Cucco 2006 Cerrati Vigna Cucco (Barolo)

Italy

The 2007 vintage was beautiful in Umbria, and this proves to be a stand out wine with enormous power, personality and depth. It delivers gorgeous intensity with pulses of black cherry, chocolate fudge, spice, leather and pipe tobacco. The finish is soft and rich.

Collepiano

93

60

Central Italy

Sagrantino di Montefalco

null

Sagrantino

Arnaldo Caprai

null

Argentina

Lightly brambled and ever so slightly green, with pleasant strawberry and raspberry aromas. The mouthfeel is a touch choppy and grabby, but it's not too thin and rough to make it unpleasant. Not bad for the price.

null

83

6

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Tempranillo

Funky Llama

null

New Zealand

Slightly pungent and sweaty at first, this wine gradually opens to reveal a core of white-grapefruit aromas and flavors. It's medium in weight and richly textured, with a long, velvety finish. Drink now.

Wairau Reserve

90

32

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Saint Clair

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

Saint Clair 2016 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)