spawn99/wine-reviews · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Italy	Red berry and intense white pepper aromas lead the nose on this bright, easygoing red. The fresh, easy-drinking palate offers wild cherry, clove and toasted almond alongside loose knit tannins. Serve chilled for an ideal summer red.	null	87	19	Southern Italy	Calabria	null	Gaglioppo	Statti	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Statti 2014 Gaglioppo (Calabria)
US	A lovely Chardonnay to drink tonight, this one, from the winery's fine Carneros vineyard on the Napa side, shows bright, mineral-infused pineapple, lime and spicy clove and pepper flavors. The acidity will balance a rich dish, such as seared scallops in a coconut-curry sauce.	Clos Pegase Vineyard	89	24	California	Carneros	Napa-Sonoma	Chardonnay	Clos Pegase	null	null	Clos Pegase 2006 Clos Pegase Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
US	While sultry and rich with ripe black-fruit flavors, this concentrated Pinot Noir is surprisingly multidimensional on the nose and palate. Green herb and brisk acidity add freshness. Hints of mushroom and wet soil, along with penetrating, chewy tannins, add depth and balance.	Proprietor's Special Reserve	89	30	New York	New York	New York Other	Pinot Noir	Millbrook	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Millbrook 2010 Proprietor's Special Reserve Pinot Noir (New York)
US	Sour fruit, funky root beer, dried salami and asphalt aromas show on the nose of this rustic bottling. Dried fruit and espresso flavors mark the palate.	Kick Ass	83	25	California	Carmel Valley	Central Coast	Red Blend	Galante	null	null	null
US	Pinot maestro Longoria continues to try his hand at Bordeaux blends despite the uphill challenge. This '07 is a Cab Franc-based bottling. It's uneven, with cherry pie filling flavors, edgy tannins and unintegrated sweet, caramelized oak. There's even a bit of heat from high alcohol. Ready now.	Evidence	85	38	California	Santa Barbara County	Central Coast	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Longoria	null	null	null
US	A likeable, easy Pinot that straddles the line between simplicity and complexity. Darkly colored, with earthy, berry aromatics; in the mouth it has the soft, silky texture and crisp acids you want in a good Pinot. Flavors are of cherries and spices. Fruit-driven and a good accompaniment to a wide range of food.	null	86	21	California	Sonoma County	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Benziger	null	null	Benziger 2000 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County)
France	The nose is loaded with mineral, pencil lead and blackberry notes. Generously juicy on the palate, this exudes youthful fruit backed by terroir-influenced notes. The tannins are structured and lightly sinewy yet soft all at once. The acidity is fresh, carrying the well-concentrated flavors of this chunky wine into a medium finish. This is a decidedly Old World in style, with evident fruit purity and provenance of place. Drink now and for three more years.	null	90	14	Languedoc-Roussillon	Saint-Chinian	null	Rhône-style Red Blend	Château Saint Baulery	null	null	Château Saint Baulery 2010 Red (Saint-Chinian)
US	Clean, fresh and simple, this does not claim to be “unoaked” but it carries that style in its flavors, a snappy mix of green apple, pineapple and grapefruit. Good everyday drinking.	Traditions	87	13	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	Milbrandt	null	null	null
US	This is 93% Cab from Waliser and Yellow Jacket (estate) vineyards; and 7% Pepper Bridge Malbec. Fragrant with scents of berries, red currant and spicy plum, it's a substantial and thickly tannic wine. Initially the Cab sports strong barrel flavors of chocolate and smoke, but just a little breathing time and they unwrap into appealing layers of spice, coffee and toffee through the finish. Decant this.	null	92	25	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Cabernet Sauvignon	Beresan	null	null	null
US	While the nose suggests intensely ripe, almost ruddy black plums and cherries, the palate of this full-bodied blend is surprisingly lean. Black fruit flavors, accented by swathes of sage and thyme, are surprisingly crisp and tart. It's a delicately concentrated wine finishing on a meandering fade of soft tannins.	Island Series	86	27	New York	North Fork of Long Island	Long Island	Malbec-Merlot	Martha Clara	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Martha Clara 2014 Island Series Malbec-Merlot (North Fork of Long Island)
US	You can do better for the price. The wine is soft and hot, with peppery flavors of stewed fruits, but it offers plenty of rustic Zin personality.	BK Collins Old Vines	85	35	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Zinfandel	Benessere	null	null	null
Italy	Here's a creamy, foamy Prosecco with pretty peach nuances backed by mature pear and Golden Delicious apple. The wine has an extremely smooth texture with a bright, zesty close and lingering floral notes.	Vigneto Giardino Dry	88	21	Veneto	Prosecco di Valdobbiadene	null	Prosecco	Adami	null	null	null
Italy	Raw oak, coconut and roasted coffee bean aromas carry over to the palate along with licorice and espresso but it lacks fruit richness. Astringent, grainy tannins clench the bracing finish.	Lurens	85	60	Piedmont	Barbaresco	null	Nebbiolo	La Bioca	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	La Bioca 2013 Lurens (Barbaresco)
US	This Cabernet is very dry, with a high level of acidity. It lacks generosity, but it's elegant. The green edge mellows as it warms in the glass, giving way to a note of blackberry jam. Drink up.	Reserve OC Collection	85	19	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Frisby	null	null	null
US	An incredibly briny character shows on this wine's nose, with wet sand and even hints of anchovy showing up alongside sour yogurt and salted citrus. It's bouncy on the palate, tingling the tongue, with flavors of nectarine, salty sea water and poached pears.	3-D	91	64	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Brewer-Clifton	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Brewer-Clifton 2012 3-D Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)
France	A fresh rosé, so crisp, bright and lively. This is real pleasure, the red berry fruits bursting out of the glass, lifted by delicious acidity. Very crisp, pure in taste.	Vieilles Vignes	91	null	Provence	Côtes de Provence	null	Rosé	Domaine Saint-André de Figuière	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Saint-André de Figuière 2009 Vieilles Vignes Rosé (Côtes de Provence)
US	Blackberry and vanilla make for a sweet, syrupy bouquet. The fruit on the palate is nice—it's mostly cherry and cassis. The finish is potent and slightly tart. Now it's hard to assess, as it's short on dimensions. Could use some time to integrate its components.	null	90	120	California	Santa Cruz Mountains	Central Coast	Cabernet Sauvignon	Kathryn Kennedy	null	null	Kathryn Kennedy 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)
US	Made by Ric Forman from Zin grown on the Nichelini Vineyard in Chiles Valley and Sangiovese from the Antinori family's Antica Vineyard on Atlas Peak, this wine is rich and dense in red fruit that's layered and ripe. Aged for a year in used Burgundy barrels, it retains juicy freshness and elegance, with subtle touches of vanilla and baking spice.	null	93	28	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Zinfandel	Rossi Wallace	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Rossi Wallace 2015 Zinfandel (Napa Valley)
Austria	A spice driven wine, full of ripe flavors, wild flower honey and intense acidity. This is a beautiful wine, its richness totally balanced by a fresher side. Age this wine for a long time. Drink from 2018.	Trockenbeerenaulese	94	null	Burgenland	null	null	Sämling	Angerhof Tschida	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Angerhof Tschida 2010 Trockenbeerenaulese Sämling (Burgenland)
US	A bit light in aromas, this appellation blend slowly shows dried cranberry, slight raspberry, juniper and wet earth. The clean but simple flavors surround iron, more dried cranberry and a pinch of dried herbs.	null	87	35	California	Sta. Rita Hills	Central Coast	Pinot Noir	Sanford	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Sanford 2013 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
France	Gold in color and unctuously sweet, this is a dense wine. The sweetness is cut with a dry edge and some fresh acidity. It tastes delicious now with flavors of wild honey and apricot skins, but it will certainly age well. Drink until 2024.	Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives	93	45	Alsace	Alsace	null	Pinot Gris	Rieflé	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Rieflé 2011 Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Australia	This blend of Riesling, Marsanne and Sauvignon Blanc is a good, all-purpose mutt of a white. With floral, gingery aromas ushering in a drier, herb-tinged palate, its parts may not come together gracefully, but it's still a good drink.	The Stump Jump	85	10	South Australia	McLaren Vale	null	White Blend	D'Arenberg	null	null	null
US	A full, fruity, slightly hot Chardonnay. The barrel aging—all French, 60% new—brings the expected toastiness. This is a solidly made, fruit-forward style, immediately ready for drinking.	null	86	21	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Chardonnay	DaMa	null	null	null
US	You might take this for a Cab because of the intensely pure cassis entry. Then in the midpalate, the prettiest cherries show up, along with lots of new-oaky flavors and elaborate tannins. All the parts are pretty in this exceptionally smooth, stylish Merlot. A great price for such a wine.	null	92	25	California	Yountville	Napa	Merlot	Noah	null	null	null
US	Fortress is establishing a formidable record for Sauvignon Blanc. The '06 is rich, elegant, and enormously drinkable. There's great delicacy to the mouthfeel, with stony, mineral flavors that add tang to the lime, Meyer lemon and smoky spice flavors that finish so dry and crisp. The Red Hills of Lake County is proving to be an extremely promising source of Bordeaux varieties, both red and white.	Musque Clone	91	18	California	Red Hills Lake County	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Sauvignon Blanc	Fortress	null	null	null
US	A lovely Merlot, softly tannic and rich, with oak-influenced herbs, cherries, blackberries and cassis. It's stongly flavored, but nuanced, with an elegant structure. Drink now.	null	88	24	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Merlot	Charles Krug	null	null	Charles Krug 2008 Merlot (Napa Valley)
France	A rich wine, this has a mineral as well as a fruity character. With a high proportion of Chardonnay in the blend, it is full of orange peel, apple and pink grapefruit flavors that are refreshing, with a crisp kick at the end. The wine is finely textured and tangy, with soft acidity as the aftertaste.	Folies de la Marquetterie Brut	91	95	Champagne	Champagne	null	Champagne Blend	Taittinger	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Taittinger NV Folies de la Marquetterie Brut (Champagne)
US	Lots of ripe tropical fruit and peach flavors in this Chard, along with oak notes of buttered toast. You'll also find mouthwatering acidity and a creamy, leesy finish.	Soberanes Vineyard	86	40	California	Santa Lucia Highlands	Central Coast	Chardonnay	Bernardus	null	null	Bernardus 2012 Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands)
France	An earthy hint accompanies the scent of ripe pear on the nose. The palate is diffuse with fruity pear and fresh lemon resulting in a very refreshing, textured wine with some concentration. The finish is lasting and dry.	Schoenenbourg Grand Cru	90	40	Alsace	Alsace	null	Pinot Gris	Dopff Au Moulin	Anne Krebiehl MW	@AnneInVino	Dopff Au Moulin 2014 Schoenenbourg Grand Cru Pinot Gris (Alsace)
Argentina	A ripe, modern success with everything a fan of New World reds might want. The nose is floral and beautiful, with fine oak scents supporting brilliant raspberry, plum and spice aromas. It's deep, smooth and pressing in the mouth, with a delicious set of blackberry, coconut, vanilla and creamy flavors. A beauty to drink now through 2017.	Nicolas Catena Zapata	94	120	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Red Blend	Bodega Catena Zapata	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Bodega Catena Zapata 2007 Nicolas Catena Zapata Red (Mendoza)
US	This is a sweet red blend with nice packaging, bearing a slightly burnt aroma lurking in the background.	null	83	13	California	California	California Other	Red Blend	Smart Cookie	null	null	null
Spain	A slightly heavier version of Verdejo, especially given 2007's cool conditions in Rueda. The wine has waxy peach and papaya aromas follwed by apricot, pineapple and mango flavors. It definitely opens on the palate and then finishes with a fleshy texture, additional fruit and even some nuts. Good complexity yet still a forward type of white wine.	Fuente Elivra	89	14	Northern Spain	Rueda	null	Verdejo	Pedro Escudero	null	null	null
Spain	Bouncy, rubbery berry aromas come with latex and Band-Aid scents. A wiry, crisp mouthfeel sets up limited but spunky red-fruit flavors that are also a bit herbal and stalky. A briny finish shows juicy acidity but mediocre flavors.	Joven	84	13	Northern Spain	Ribera del Duero	null	Tempranillo	Señorío de Sotillo	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Señorío de Sotillo 2013 Joven (Ribera del Duero)
France	Surprisingly dry, this has richness rather than sweetness, and intense, powerful botrytis. The honey is intensely perfumed, along with baked apples and spice. Certainly a long-aging wine.	null	94	40	Bordeaux	Barsac	null	Bordeaux-style White Blend	Château Coutet	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Coutet 2005 Barsac
US	Light tawny in color, this palate-pleasing effort boasts stone fruit, orange blossom and fresh herb flavors. It's elegant and food-friendly in style, with the sort of detail that usually comes with a higher price tag.	null	89	14	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Gris	Duck Pond	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Duck Pond 2016 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)
Italy	Cedar, black currants, prune and tobacco aromas unfold in the glass. The warm, forward palate delivers dried black cherry, licorice, black pepper and tobacco alongside astringent tannins. While the tannins need to unwind, it's shy on fresh acidity and the fruit is starting to dry up—a result of the hot vintage—so drink sooner rather than later.	null	87	35	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	San Fabiano Calcinaia	null	null	null
US	Brisk acidity brightens the ripe raspberry and cherry fruit, giving it a clean, lively mouthfeel. There's a jacket of tannins, but it's fine and easy, and oak brings just the right touch of sweet toast flavor. Lovely to drink now, and it should develop bottle complexities over the next 8–10 years.	Coastlands Vineyard	93	75	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Williams Selyem	null	null	null
US	This Merlot is soft, simple and seemingly sweet in fruit and oak. With ripe cherry, mocha and spice flavors, it will partner well with a cheeseburger.	null	85	15	California	Sonoma County	Sonoma	Merlot	Buena Vista	null	null	null
Italy	Pressed wild flower, hay, fennel and ripe berry scents mingle together in the glass. The refreshing palate combines crushed strawberry, juicy red cherry, saline and a hint of baking spice alongside bright acidity.	Rosso	90	30	Sicily & Sardinia	Etna	null	Nerello Mascalese	Graci	null	null	null
US	My first impression was how sweet and soft this wine is. But it's not really sweet, just ripe in jammy fruit and young, caramelly oak. It's also pretty tannic. Keenan's regular '02 is actually more rewarding, and I don't think this rather ungainly Reserve will surpass it.	Reserve	85	89	California	Napa	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Keenan	null	null	null
US	Here's a stylish, flashy Napa red that's ready to drink now, even without decanting. It's rich and layered with blackberries, cherries and cassis, folded into sweet, soft, complex tannins. It's a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend with 14% Sangiovese, which seems to add acidity.	PureCoz	88	65	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Red Blend	Pure Cru	null	null	null
Argentina	Tropical and friendly, this feels a little bulky and chunky, but with enough acidity for balance. Flavors of citrus and mango are medium intense, while the finish is soft. Drink soon.	Elsa	85	10	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Torrontés	Valentin Bianchi	null	null	null
Italy	This opens with dark-skinned berry, mocha and leather aromas. The palate is dense, suggesting red cherry, licorice and white pepper flavors, while close-grained tannins leave a grippy finish.	null	89	60	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Carillon	null	null	null
US	The 2008 Sineann Pinots are an elegant, refined group of wines, more expressive of Burgundian varietal character than any in memory, and the Resonance, as usual, is among the best. It has a vibrant purity to the fruit that rings true and long through mixed red berries, vivid acids, streaks of iron and earth, and sails on into a detailed and seamless finish.	Resonance Vineyard	92	48	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Sineann	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Sineann 2008 Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)
France	Here's a wine that, while expressing the structure of the vintage, brings warmth and a rich blackberry flavor as well. It has a fine texture and a firm, upright feel. Ready for drinking in a year.	null	85	7	Bordeaux	Bordeaux Supérieur	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Kirkland Signature	null	null	null
Italy	Granaio lacks the big, juicy intensity of other Tuscan wines but it does deliver fine notes of red cherry, smoke and graphite. The wine sports a bright, luminous color and ends with a quick blast of sour cherry.	Granaio	86	20	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Sangiovese	Melini	null	null	null
France	Crisp and dry, this is tight with acidity and with red-currant fruit. It is mineral textured, shot through with crisp red-berry flavors and finished with a refreshing aftertaste.	Authentic Brut Rosé	88	40	Champagne	Champagne	null	Champagne Blend	Canard-Duchêne	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Canard-Duchêne NV Authentic Brut Rosé (Champagne)
Argentina	Tight on the nose, with hints of resin, lemon peel and black fruit that smell inviting when all added up. The palate is juicy, arguably a bit acidic, and runs fresh with red cherry and plum flavors. Spunky and properly tannic.	null	87	10	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon	Alma de los Andes	null	null	null
New Zealand	Starts off with hints of bell pepper and grapefruit, then adds stone fruit flavors on the palate. It remains focused and citrusy throughout, with a strong, minerally core. Powerful, yet lingers elegantly on the finish.	Catherine's Run	91	20	Awatere Valley	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	The Crossings	null	null	null
France	A great success for this southern Médoc chateau, this is fine, elegant and perfumed. It bursts with a black fruit flavor, balanced by smooth tannins and acidity. It's a wine for medium-term aging over the next six years.	null	92	null	Bordeaux	Haut-Médoc	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Cantemerle	null	null	null
France	This is a smooth wine whose tannins have been already integrated into the blackberry fruits. It is ripe, still young of course, and with a stalky texture in the background. With acidity and fruitiness, the wine needs to age. Drink from late 2017.	Cuvée Prestige	87	11	Bordeaux	Bordeaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château la Barotte	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château la Barotte 2015 Cuvée Prestige (Bordeaux)
Argentina	Cherry, cassis and spice aromas are mild and comported. The wine feels chewy and just dense enough, with baked cassis, berry and herb flavors that finish toasty and hot, with a rubbery note. Clean aromas and full fruit flavors are this wine's best attributes.	Zagal	87	14	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Cabernet Sauvignon	Hacienda del Plata	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Hacienda del Plata 2010 Zagal Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza)
New Zealand	This is a light-bodied, quaffable Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe aromas and flavors of peach and nectarine marry with passion fruit and some slightly discordant herbal notes, then finish quickly.	Arona Certified Sustainable	86	13	Marlborough	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Barker's Marque	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	Barker's Marque 2014 Arona Certified Sustainable Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
US	Young and fresh, it has excellent minerality. The fruit is light and lively, leaning toward grapefruit, green apple and a smidge of just-ripe melon. It's a lovely summer sipper, with a few good years of life ahead.	null	87	16	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Gris	Hawkins Cellars	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	Hawkins Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)
US	There's a robust heartiness to this Rhône-style blend that makes it perfect for drinking on cold nights with spicy barbecue or stew. Mainly Syrah and Petite Sirah, it's rich in blackberry, bacon and black pepper flavors. Bone dry and moderate in alcohol, it represents great quality for the price, and it should be relatively easy to find, with nearly 12,000 cases produced.	Red4	90	17	California	Paso Robles	Central Coast	Red Blend	Vina Robles	null	null	null
France	91–93. Barrel sample. Rich and soft, this wine has fine acidity and sweet black fruits. It has a good depth of rich flavor, and a palate that's rounded and smooth. The tannins show a velvet character.	Barrel Sample	92	null	Bordeaux	Margaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Marquis de Terme	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Château Marquis de Terme 2012 Barrel Sample (Margaux)
Spain	On first take, this is oily and smells of bitter almond and walnut. The mouthfeel is clunky and heavy, with low acidity. Bitterness is the lead flavor, and then honey and brown sugar enter the picture. On the finish it struggles to drive through the tape.	MR Mountain Wine	85	35	Andalucia	Málaga	null	Moscatel	Telmo Rodríguez	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Telmo Rodríguez 2009 MR Mountain Wine Moscatel (Málaga)
US	Carrefour's Sauvignon Blanc has nearly doubled in price over the last year, but the '06 isn't any better than the 2005. Like it, it has catty aromas and flavors, with hints of citrus, as well as zingy acidity.	null	84	20	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Sauvignon Blanc	Carrefour	null	null	null
US	Rich and flavorful, this Cabernet has jammy flavors of cassis, cherries, milk chocolate, licorice and vanilla. The wine is almost sweet and very soft in structure, the kind of Cab that adheres to today's cult parameters. Drink now through 2010.	null	87	60	California	Yountville	Napa	Cabernet Sauvignon	Bardessono	null	null	Bardessono 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Yountville)
France	This ripe, crisp wine features swathes of red currants and cherries. The fruitiness is balanced by good acidity and by a final, mineral texture that gives the wine balance. Drink now.	Benoît Girard	89	25	Loire Valley	Sancerre	null	Rosé	Domaine Girard	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Domaine Girard 2015 Benoît Girard Rosé (Sancerre)
US	With orange and peach flavors, this blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and Malvasia is a simple, sweet-tasting wine.	null	82	13	California	California	California Other	White Blend	Stark Raving	null	null	null
US	The aromas are exuberant, with notes of lime, orange zest, ripe peach and flowers. The palate, as advertised, is bone dry with stone-fruit flavors that show crystalline clarity and linger on the finish that features plenty of lime accents.	Reserve Dry	90	28	Washington	Yakima Valley	Columbia Valley	Riesling	Columbia Crest	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Columbia Crest 2016 Reserve Dry Riesling (Yakima Valley)
US	The standout fruit flavors are melon and grapefruit, with a backing of wet stone and spice. It's a refreshing style, and a useful white-wine choice for shellfish and other white fish or simple poultry dishes.	null	88	24	Oregon	Rogue Valley	Southern Oregon	Pinot Blanc	South Stage	Paul Gregutt	@paulgwine	South Stage 2014 Pinot Blanc (Rogue Valley)
US	Ripe, luscious raspberries lend a brambly tone to this dry, invigorating Pinot Noir rosé. The palate is concentrated with summer berry flavors pierced with a stream of tart lemonade acidity.	Dry	88	16	New York	Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Rosé	Silver Thread	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Silver Thread 2013 Dry Rosé (Finger Lakes)
Italy	This 70-30 blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese features aromas of cherry, toast, maple syrup, ink and spice. The wine boast thick, seemingly impenetrable extraction and a dense, chewy mouthfeel.	Il Mandorlo	87	18	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Triacca	null	null	null
Italy	A blend of 80% Grillo and 20% Viognier, this conveys heady aromas of fragrant white flowers, exotic fruit and apricot. The palate delivers rich yellow peach, mango and citrus with a hint of sweet vanilla.	Dalila	87	14	Sicily & Sardinia	Terre Siciliane	null	White Blend	Stemmari	Kerin O’Keefe	@kerinokeefe	Stemmari 2012 Dalila White (Terre Siciliane)
South Africa	Winemaker: Charles Hopkins. There are some meaty, gamy hints in the nose of this wine, partnered with tones of green peppercorn, red currant and cherry. It's tart and salty on the palate, with bright, almost spritzy acidity, though gripping tannins soon takeover and carry through the close.	Cape Winemakers Guild Op Die Berg	88	null	Ceres Plateau	null	null	Pinot Noir	De Grendel	Lauren Buzzeo	@laurbuzz	De Grendel 2015 Cape Winemakers Guild Op Die Berg Pinot Noir (Ceres Plateau)
Portugal	Grown in the schist terraces of the Douro, this wine is a Touriga Franca-dominated blend. Thyme and eucalyptus flavors are balanced by richly structured red berry fruit and tannins. It will be ready from 2018.	null	88	18	Douro	null	null	Portuguese Red	Antonio Lopes Ribeiro	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Antonio Lopes Ribeiro 2012 Red (Douro)
France	Opulent yet so elegant, this wine has already achieved great balance. It comes from the soft richness of the generous fruit, the spice from both the wood and the fruit, and the roundness of the texture, which envelops you in its warmth and ripeness. And, at the end, just to give a great lift, along comes the acidity.	Les Baudes Premier Cru	95	90	Burgundy	Chambolle-Musigny	null	Pinot Noir	Louis Jadot	Roger Voss	@vossroger	Louis Jadot 2005 Les Baudes Premier Cru (Chambolle-Musigny)
Italy	A 50-50 blend of Merlot and Syrah, this easygoing wine opens with aromas of red currant, graphite and cracked peppercorn. The lively palate offers blackberries, blueberries and clove alongside tangy acidity and dusty tannins.	Inedito	87	18	Tuscany	Toscana	null	Red Blend	Terre del Marchesato	null	null	null
Argentina	Aromas of freshly cut wood, pencil eraser and spice crowd out berry scents. Choppy grating tannins make for a firm mouthfeel, while flavors of savory spices and briary black fruits finish oaky, with residual scratchy tannins. Give this plenty of air for it to show its best.	Gran Syrah	89	25	Other	Argentina	null	Syrah	Finca Las Moras	Michael Schachner	@wineschach	Finca Las Moras 2014 Gran Syrah Syrah (Argentina)
US	Light in ruby-red, see-through red color, it's spicy and alive, with a silky cherry pit aroma and undercurrent of herbal earthiness. Balanced and soft, it can accompany a slow-roasted pork tenderloin adorned in morel mushrooms or a classic BLT. Of course, it's also stellar on its own.	Devoto Garden Vineyard	93	32	California	Green Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Wait Cellars	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Wait Cellars 2012 Devoto Garden Vineyard Pinot Noir (Green Valley)
Argentina	Salmon colored, with light melon and almond aromas that are hardly distinct but by the same token are nice enough. Sweet and simple in the mouth, with no discernible fruit flavor to latch onto. Imported by Broadbent Selections, Inc.	Montfleury Gran	83	12	Mendoza Province	Mendoza	null	Rosé	Weinert	null	null	null
France	This is a golden, mature and sweet wine that comes from the white wine appellation of the Madiran region. It balances ripe apricot and honey with intense acidity to create a beautiful wine. The zesty marmalade and final crispness are delicious. Drink now.	Gouttes de Soleil	92	26	Southwest France	Pacherenc du Vic Bilh	null	Gros Manseng	Château de Gayon	null	null	null
Mexico	Overtly simple and drying, this has crisp acidity and oily flavors of popcorn and tart white fruits. It finishes with citrus and astringency. This would likely be better with seafood or salad than on its own.	Emblema	84	21	Valle de Guadalupe	null	null	Sauvignon Blanc	Paralelo	null	null	null
France	Under the same control as Château Ferrière, this wine reveals the same sense of power, style and elegance. It is polished, packed with ripe fruit and dense tannins. Tobacco and cedar aromas make this an immediately enticing wine that still offers great potential for aging.	null	90	21	Bordeaux	Margaux	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château la Gurgue	null	null	null
Italy	Surely, not many wine lovers have heard of the Cococciola grape from Central Italy. Here's your chance to taste it. Fresh and fragrant, the wine offers lush aromas of honey, jasmine and exotic fruit.	Casale Vecchio	86	20	Central Italy	Terre di Chieti	null	Cococciola	Farnese	null	null	Farnese 2011 Casale Vecchio Cococciola (Terre di Chieti)
US	Scents of prune, coffee and smoke lead into a chewy, substantial wine with plenty of concentration. The cherry fruit has a syrupy character, and it's loaded with dark layers of coffee, licorice and char. The best of the new releases from Lone Canary.	null	88	22	Washington	Columbia Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Merlot	Lone Canary	null	null	null
US	From a selection of the original vines at this heritage vineyard, which was planted in the early 1970s, this is densely layered with strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit. Details are well-integrated, bringing light notes of toasted coconut and caramel. The texture and mouthfeel express the little extras that old vines, when handled properly, can deliver.	Maresh Vineyard Red Barn Blocks	95	70	Oregon	Dundee Hills	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Kelley Fox	null	null	null
Germany	Representing a bit of a chink in von Kesselstatt's impressive array of 2009s, this wine features slightly restrained notes of pineapple and green apple in a slightly uneasy alliance of sweet and sour. Drink up.	Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Kabinett	86	30	Mosel	null	null	Riesling	Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt	Joe Czerwinski	@JoeCz	Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt 2009 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Kabinett Riesling (Mosel)
Chile	This is the first year we've reviewed this winery's range of wines, and so far the results are not that good. Like other Peteroa wines, this has a lot of funk, bramble and other unfocused aromas and flavors. It's okay on a good day but devoid of the cleanliness and charms we desire.	Reserve	81	12	Central Valley	null	null	Merlot	Peteroa	null	null	null
France	92-94 Barrel sample. The wine feels very soft, with sweet spice and light tannins. It is packed with blackberry fruits, although there is a sold, firm structure under the ripe fruit.	La Dame de Montrose Barrel sample	93	null	Bordeaux	Saint-Estèphe	null	Bordeaux-style Red Blend	Château Montrose	null	null	null
US	Just what you want from a Sonoma Coast Chard. It's bone dry, crisp in cool-climate acidity, and elegant, with a minerally tang to the Meyer lemon fruit. Oak barrels bring richer notes of vanilla and buttered toast. Beautiful, and should hold through 2012.	null	93	40	California	Sonoma Coast	Sonoma	Chardonnay	Fogdog	null	null	null
Chile	Sweet as sin on the nose, with a ton of barrel-driven spice, resin and vanilla. The palate is full, creamy and resiny in feel, with more oak than anything on the flavor profile. There's baked apple and spice too, while the finish is severely oaky.	Amplus	86	24	Leyda Valley	null	null	Chardonnay	Santa Ema	null	null	null
Germany	Blackberry and cherry notes are approachable but slightly muted in this straightforward, medium-bodied red wine. It's a touch herbal and green, with a tart finish marked by fine tannins. Drink now.	Made With Organic Grapes	87	12	Rheinhessen	null	null	Dornfelder	Schlink Haus	Anna Lee C. Iijima	null	Schlink Haus 2013 Made With Organic Grapes Dornfelder (Rheinhessen)
Italy	Apricot, peach cobbler, sticky honey, white flower and macadamia nut color a seductively sweet wine from Puglia, the heel of the Italian “boot.” Thanks to strong sunshine and cooling breezes, Malvasia grapes lose their water mass, resulting in rich concentration and intense fragrances.	Gravisano Passito	89	30	Southern Italy	Murgia	null	Malvasia Bianca	Botromagno	null	null	null
Italy	Aromas of wild berry, thyme and a whiff of cellar floor lead the nose on this structured red while the full-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, white pepper, sage and anise. Tightly wound tannins provide framework. Give it a few years to unfurl then drink up.	null	90	90	Tuscany	Brunello di Montalcino	null	Sangiovese	Tenuta di Sesta	null	null	null
US	If you're looking for flavor, and who isn't, this fruity Pinot Noir hits the spot. It's pale in color and light in the mouth, but rich in raspberries, cherries, pomegranates and cola, with sweet, smoky oak influences. Should develop in the bottle over the next six years.	Hinterlands	92	38	California	Mendocino	Mendocino/Lake Counties	Pinot Noir	Phillips Hill	null	null	null
US	This wine is half Viognier, with the balance Roussanne (35%) and Marsanne. The aromas of wild flowers, pear, peach, almond and grape skin lead to sweet full-feeling stone fruit notes that are quite flavorful. It shows a pleasing sense of balance.	Southern	89	32	Washington	Walla Walla Valley (WA)	Columbia Valley	Rhône-style White Blend	Rôtie Cellars	Sean P. Sullivan	@wawinereport	Rôtie Cellars 2016 Southern White (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
US	Quite spicy and nicely oaky in aroma and flavor without seeming overdone, this wine offers smooth and elegant red and black cherry flavors and a generous, soothing texture.	Estate	90	36	California	El Dorado	Sierra Foothills	Cabernet Sauvignon	Cedarville Vineyard	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Cedarville Vineyard 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (El Dorado)
US	Here's your basic Sierra Zin, slightly sweet and rustic, with edgy tannins and minty, green pepper flavors. Riper notes of blackberries, cherries and raspberries help the score.	null	83	10	California	Sierra Foothills	Sierra Foothills	Zinfandel	Montevina	null	null	null
US	Light but enticing jasmine and honeydew melon flavors give this full-bodied, dry wine a lot of personality, and the mouthfeel is just rich enough to coat the palate and help the finish linger. It's crafted from 70% Viognier and 30% Roussanne.	The Choir	90	20	California	Mendocino County	null	White Blend	Atrea	Jim Gordon	@gordone_cellars	Atrea 2016 The Choir White (Mendocino County)
US	Made from organic grapes and packaged in a 500-ml Tetra Pak, this Chard is made from ripe fruit with a toasty caramel molasses halo around it, and finishes sweet. It would be quite drinkable on a camping trip or tailgate party.	null	85	7	California	Mendocino	null	Chardonnay	CalNaturale	Virginie Boone	@vboone	CalNaturale 2009 Chardonnay (Mendocino)
US	Dr. Pepper, black plum and poppy-seed aromas show on this bottling by Ken Brown, who planted the first Syrah in Santa Barbara County in 1978. The soft palate offers cola, candied black cherry and violet flavors, lacking many of the gamy qualities found in the region.	Watch Hill Vineyard	89	45	California	Santa Barbara County	Central Coast	Syrah	Ken Brown	Matt Kettmann	@mattkettmann	Ken Brown 2013 Watch Hill Vineyard Syrah (Santa Barbara County)
Italy	This wine has a lovely nose with plenty of delicate floral nuances that come on the heels of bursting cherry, blueberry, almonds and smoked bacon. The mouthfeel is elegant and refined and there are sweet, nutty notes that carry through to the close.	Terra di Lamole	87	null	Tuscany	Chianti Classico	null	Sangiovese	I Fabbri	null	null	null
US	Made from organically grown grapes, a mix of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Franc, this is a grippy, structured and full-bodied wine, youthfully exuberant in power and oak. Chocolate, black cherry and dried herb inform the flavors and aromas.	null	89	45	California	Napa Valley	Napa	Merlot-Cabernet Franc	Lateral	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Lateral 2013 Merlot-Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley)
US	Very light strawberry fruit competes with a powerful flavor of damp earth. The wine seems thin and on the green side.	Isaac's Reserve	83	25	Oregon	Willamette Valley	Willamette Valley	Pinot Noir	Abiqua Wind	null	null	null
US	Opening with an earthy touch of compost and wild mint, this wine develops rich flavor within its broad frame of refreshing acidity, including savory touches of cardamom, cranberry and cola. The tension between fruit and texture gives it complexity and nuanced power in the glass.	Estate Vineyard	92	60	California	Russian River Valley	Sonoma	Pinot Noir	Ledson	Virginie Boone	@vboone	Ledson 2014 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
Spain	Loud citrus and berry aromas precede an overloaded palate that carries stalky plum flavors. Pickled tasting on the finish.	Tempranillo	80	9	Northern Spain	Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León	null	Rosé	Peñascal	null	null	null
Italy	This is a pretty, luminous straw-colored sparkler with subtle shadings of honey, stone fruit, white flower and mineral. The wine is crisp and drying in the mouth but it also imparts a slight sensation of sweetness in the form of peach flavors.	Olive Garden Brut	86	13	Veneto	Prosecco del Veneto	null	Prosecco	Zonin	null	null	Zonin NV Olive Garden Brut (Prosecco del Veneto)

Italy

Red berry and intense white pepper aromas lead the nose on this bright, easygoing red. The fresh, easy-drinking palate offers wild cherry, clove and toasted almond alongside loose knit tannins. Serve chilled for an ideal summer red.

null

87

19

Southern Italy

Calabria

null

Gaglioppo

Statti

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Statti 2014 Gaglioppo (Calabria)

US

A lovely Chardonnay to drink tonight, this one, from the winery's fine Carneros vineyard on the Napa side, shows bright, mineral-infused pineapple, lime and spicy clove and pepper flavors. The acidity will balance a rich dish, such as seared scallops in a coconut-curry sauce.

Clos Pegase Vineyard

89

24

California

Carneros

Napa-Sonoma

Chardonnay

Clos Pegase

null

Clos Pegase 2006 Clos Pegase Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)

US

While sultry and rich with ripe black-fruit flavors, this concentrated Pinot Noir is surprisingly multidimensional on the nose and palate. Green herb and brisk acidity add freshness. Hints of mushroom and wet soil, along with penetrating, chewy tannins, add depth and balance.

Proprietor's Special Reserve

89

30

New York

New York Other

Pinot Noir

Millbrook

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Millbrook 2010 Proprietor's Special Reserve Pinot Noir (New York)

US

Sour fruit, funky root beer, dried salami and asphalt aromas show on the nose of this rustic bottling. Dried fruit and espresso flavors mark the palate.

Kick Ass

83

25

California

Carmel Valley

Central Coast

Red Blend

Galante

null

US

Pinot maestro Longoria continues to try his hand at Bordeaux blends despite the uphill challenge. This '07 is a Cab Franc-based bottling. It's uneven, with cherry pie filling flavors, edgy tannins and unintegrated sweet, caramelized oak. There's even a bit of heat from high alcohol. Ready now.

Evidence

85

38

California

Santa Barbara County

Central Coast

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Longoria

null

US

A likeable, easy Pinot that straddles the line between simplicity and complexity. Darkly colored, with earthy, berry aromatics; in the mouth it has the soft, silky texture and crisp acids you want in a good Pinot. Flavors are of cherries and spices. Fruit-driven and a good accompaniment to a wide range of food.

null

86

21

California

Sonoma County

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Benziger

null

Benziger 2000 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County)

France

The nose is loaded with mineral, pencil lead and blackberry notes. Generously juicy on the palate, this exudes youthful fruit backed by terroir-influenced notes. The tannins are structured and lightly sinewy yet soft all at once. The acidity is fresh, carrying the well-concentrated flavors of this chunky wine into a medium finish. This is a decidedly Old World in style, with evident fruit purity and provenance of place. Drink now and for three more years.

null

90

14

Languedoc-Roussillon

Saint-Chinian

null

Rhône-style Red Blend

Château Saint Baulery

null

Château Saint Baulery 2010 Red (Saint-Chinian)

US

Clean, fresh and simple, this does not claim to be “unoaked” but it carries that style in its flavors, a snappy mix of green apple, pineapple and grapefruit. Good everyday drinking.

Traditions

87

13

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

Milbrandt

null

US

This is 93% Cab from Waliser and Yellow Jacket (estate) vineyards; and 7% Pepper Bridge Malbec. Fragrant with scents of berries, red currant and spicy plum, it's a substantial and thickly tannic wine. Initially the Cab sports strong barrel flavors of chocolate and smoke, but just a little breathing time and they unwrap into appealing layers of spice, coffee and toffee through the finish. Decant this.

null

92

25

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Beresan

null

US

While the nose suggests intensely ripe, almost ruddy black plums and cherries, the palate of this full-bodied blend is surprisingly lean. Black fruit flavors, accented by swathes of sage and thyme, are surprisingly crisp and tart. It's a delicately concentrated wine finishing on a meandering fade of soft tannins.

Island Series

86

27

New York

North Fork of Long Island

Long Island

Malbec-Merlot

Martha Clara

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Martha Clara 2014 Island Series Malbec-Merlot (North Fork of Long Island)

US

You can do better for the price. The wine is soft and hot, with peppery flavors of stewed fruits, but it offers plenty of rustic Zin personality.

BK Collins Old Vines

85

35

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Zinfandel

Benessere

null

Italy

Here's a creamy, foamy Prosecco with pretty peach nuances backed by mature pear and Golden Delicious apple. The wine has an extremely smooth texture with a bright, zesty close and lingering floral notes.

Vigneto Giardino Dry

88

21

Veneto

Prosecco di Valdobbiadene

null

Prosecco

Adami

null

Italy

Raw oak, coconut and roasted coffee bean aromas carry over to the palate along with licorice and espresso but it lacks fruit richness. Astringent, grainy tannins clench the bracing finish.

Lurens

85

60

Piedmont

Barbaresco

null

Nebbiolo

La Bioca

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

La Bioca 2013 Lurens (Barbaresco)

US

This Cabernet is very dry, with a high level of acidity. It lacks generosity, but it's elegant. The green edge mellows as it warms in the glass, giving way to a note of blackberry jam. Drink up.

Reserve OC Collection

85

19

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Frisby

null

US

An incredibly briny character shows on this wine's nose, with wet sand and even hints of anchovy showing up alongside sour yogurt and salted citrus. It's bouncy on the palate, tingling the tongue, with flavors of nectarine, salty sea water and poached pears.

3-D

91

64

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Brewer-Clifton

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Brewer-Clifton 2012 3-D Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

France

A fresh rosé, so crisp, bright and lively. This is real pleasure, the red berry fruits bursting out of the glass, lifted by delicious acidity. Very crisp, pure in taste.

Vieilles Vignes

91

null

Provence

Côtes de Provence

null

Rosé

Domaine Saint-André de Figuière

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Saint-André de Figuière 2009 Vieilles Vignes Rosé (Côtes de Provence)

US

Blackberry and vanilla make for a sweet, syrupy bouquet. The fruit on the palate is nice—it's mostly cherry and cassis. The finish is potent and slightly tart. Now it's hard to assess, as it's short on dimensions. Could use some time to integrate its components.

null

90

120

California

Santa Cruz Mountains

Central Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon

Kathryn Kennedy

null

Kathryn Kennedy 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)

US

Made by Ric Forman from Zin grown on the Nichelini Vineyard in Chiles Valley and Sangiovese from the Antinori family's Antica Vineyard on Atlas Peak, this wine is rich and dense in red fruit that's layered and ripe. Aged for a year in used Burgundy barrels, it retains juicy freshness and elegance, with subtle touches of vanilla and baking spice.

null

93

28

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Zinfandel

Rossi Wallace

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Rossi Wallace 2015 Zinfandel (Napa Valley)

Austria

A spice driven wine, full of ripe flavors, wild flower honey and intense acidity. This is a beautiful wine, its richness totally balanced by a fresher side. Age this wine for a long time. Drink from 2018.

Trockenbeerenaulese

94

null

Burgenland

null

Sämling

Angerhof Tschida

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Angerhof Tschida 2010 Trockenbeerenaulese Sämling (Burgenland)

US

A bit light in aromas, this appellation blend slowly shows dried cranberry, slight raspberry, juniper and wet earth. The clean but simple flavors surround iron, more dried cranberry and a pinch of dried herbs.

null

87

35

California

Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast

Pinot Noir

Sanford

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Sanford 2013 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

France

Gold in color and unctuously sweet, this is a dense wine. The sweetness is cut with a dry edge and some fresh acidity. It tastes delicious now with flavors of wild honey and apricot skins, but it will certainly age well. Drink until 2024.

Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives

93

45

Alsace

null

Pinot Gris

Rieflé

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Rieflé 2011 Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives Pinot Gris (Alsace)

Australia

This blend of Riesling, Marsanne and Sauvignon Blanc is a good, all-purpose mutt of a white. With floral, gingery aromas ushering in a drier, herb-tinged palate, its parts may not come together gracefully, but it's still a good drink.

The Stump Jump

85

10

South Australia

McLaren Vale

null

White Blend

D'Arenberg

null

US

A full, fruity, slightly hot Chardonnay. The barrel aging—all French, 60% new—brings the expected toastiness. This is a solidly made, fruit-forward style, immediately ready for drinking.

null

86

21

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Chardonnay

DaMa

null

US

You might take this for a Cab because of the intensely pure cassis entry. Then in the midpalate, the prettiest cherries show up, along with lots of new-oaky flavors and elaborate tannins. All the parts are pretty in this exceptionally smooth, stylish Merlot. A great price for such a wine.

null

92

25

California

Yountville

Napa

Merlot

Noah

null

US

Fortress is establishing a formidable record for Sauvignon Blanc. The '06 is rich, elegant, and enormously drinkable. There's great delicacy to the mouthfeel, with stony, mineral flavors that add tang to the lime, Meyer lemon and smoky spice flavors that finish so dry and crisp. The Red Hills of Lake County is proving to be an extremely promising source of Bordeaux varieties, both red and white.

Musque Clone

91

18

California

Red Hills Lake County

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Sauvignon Blanc

Fortress

null

US

A lovely Merlot, softly tannic and rich, with oak-influenced herbs, cherries, blackberries and cassis. It's stongly flavored, but nuanced, with an elegant structure. Drink now.

null

88

24

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Merlot

Charles Krug

null

Charles Krug 2008 Merlot (Napa Valley)

France

A rich wine, this has a mineral as well as a fruity character. With a high proportion of Chardonnay in the blend, it is full of orange peel, apple and pink grapefruit flavors that are refreshing, with a crisp kick at the end. The wine is finely textured and tangy, with soft acidity as the aftertaste.

Folies de la Marquetterie Brut

91

95

Champagne

null

Champagne Blend

Taittinger

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Taittinger NV Folies de la Marquetterie Brut (Champagne)

US

Lots of ripe tropical fruit and peach flavors in this Chard, along with oak notes of buttered toast. You'll also find mouthwatering acidity and a creamy, leesy finish.

Soberanes Vineyard

86

40

California

Santa Lucia Highlands

Central Coast

Chardonnay

Bernardus

null

Bernardus 2012 Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands)

France

An earthy hint accompanies the scent of ripe pear on the nose. The palate is diffuse with fruity pear and fresh lemon resulting in a very refreshing, textured wine with some concentration. The finish is lasting and dry.

Schoenenbourg Grand Cru

90

40

Alsace

null

Pinot Gris

Dopff Au Moulin

Anne Krebiehl MW

@AnneInVino

Dopff Au Moulin 2014 Schoenenbourg Grand Cru Pinot Gris (Alsace)

Argentina

A ripe, modern success with everything a fan of New World reds might want. The nose is floral and beautiful, with fine oak scents supporting brilliant raspberry, plum and spice aromas. It's deep, smooth and pressing in the mouth, with a delicious set of blackberry, coconut, vanilla and creamy flavors. A beauty to drink now through 2017.

Nicolas Catena Zapata

94

120

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Red Blend

Bodega Catena Zapata

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Bodega Catena Zapata 2007 Nicolas Catena Zapata Red (Mendoza)

US

This is a sweet red blend with nice packaging, bearing a slightly burnt aroma lurking in the background.

null

83

13

California

California Other

Red Blend

Smart Cookie

null

Spain

A slightly heavier version of Verdejo, especially given 2007's cool conditions in Rueda. The wine has waxy peach and papaya aromas follwed by apricot, pineapple and mango flavors. It definitely opens on the palate and then finishes with a fleshy texture, additional fruit and even some nuts. Good complexity yet still a forward type of white wine.

Fuente Elivra

89

14

Northern Spain

Rueda

null

Verdejo

Pedro Escudero

null

Spain

Bouncy, rubbery berry aromas come with latex and Band-Aid scents. A wiry, crisp mouthfeel sets up limited but spunky red-fruit flavors that are also a bit herbal and stalky. A briny finish shows juicy acidity but mediocre flavors.

Joven

84

13

Northern Spain

Ribera del Duero

null

Tempranillo

Señorío de Sotillo

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Señorío de Sotillo 2013 Joven (Ribera del Duero)

France

Surprisingly dry, this has richness rather than sweetness, and intense, powerful botrytis. The honey is intensely perfumed, along with baked apples and spice. Certainly a long-aging wine.

null

94

40

Bordeaux

Barsac

null

Bordeaux-style White Blend

Château Coutet

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Coutet 2005 Barsac

US

Light tawny in color, this palate-pleasing effort boasts stone fruit, orange blossom and fresh herb flavors. It's elegant and food-friendly in style, with the sort of detail that usually comes with a higher price tag.

null

89

14

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Gris

Duck Pond

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Duck Pond 2016 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)

Italy

Cedar, black currants, prune and tobacco aromas unfold in the glass. The warm, forward palate delivers dried black cherry, licorice, black pepper and tobacco alongside astringent tannins. While the tannins need to unwind, it's shy on fresh acidity and the fruit is starting to dry up—a result of the hot vintage—so drink sooner rather than later.

null

87

35

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

San Fabiano Calcinaia

null

US

Brisk acidity brightens the ripe raspberry and cherry fruit, giving it a clean, lively mouthfeel. There's a jacket of tannins, but it's fine and easy, and oak brings just the right touch of sweet toast flavor. Lovely to drink now, and it should develop bottle complexities over the next 8–10 years.

Coastlands Vineyard

93

75

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Williams Selyem

null

US

This Merlot is soft, simple and seemingly sweet in fruit and oak. With ripe cherry, mocha and spice flavors, it will partner well with a cheeseburger.

null

85

15

California

Sonoma County

Sonoma

Merlot

Buena Vista

null

Italy

Pressed wild flower, hay, fennel and ripe berry scents mingle together in the glass. The refreshing palate combines crushed strawberry, juicy red cherry, saline and a hint of baking spice alongside bright acidity.

Rosso

90

30

Sicily & Sardinia

Etna

null

Nerello Mascalese

Graci

null

US

My first impression was how sweet and soft this wine is. But it's not really sweet, just ripe in jammy fruit and young, caramelly oak. It's also pretty tannic. Keenan's regular '02 is actually more rewarding, and I don't think this rather ungainly Reserve will surpass it.

Reserve

85

89

California

Napa

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Keenan

null

US

Here's a stylish, flashy Napa red that's ready to drink now, even without decanting. It's rich and layered with blackberries, cherries and cassis, folded into sweet, soft, complex tannins. It's a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend with 14% Sangiovese, which seems to add acidity.

PureCoz

88

65

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Red Blend

Pure Cru

null

Argentina

Tropical and friendly, this feels a little bulky and chunky, but with enough acidity for balance. Flavors of citrus and mango are medium intense, while the finish is soft. Drink soon.

Elsa

85

10

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Torrontés

Valentin Bianchi

null

Italy

This opens with dark-skinned berry, mocha and leather aromas. The palate is dense, suggesting red cherry, licorice and white pepper flavors, while close-grained tannins leave a grippy finish.

null

89

60

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Carillon

null

US

The 2008 Sineann Pinots are an elegant, refined group of wines, more expressive of Burgundian varietal character than any in memory, and the Resonance, as usual, is among the best. It has a vibrant purity to the fruit that rings true and long through mixed red berries, vivid acids, streaks of iron and earth, and sails on into a detailed and seamless finish.

Resonance Vineyard

92

48

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Sineann

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Sineann 2008 Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

France

Here's a wine that, while expressing the structure of the vintage, brings warmth and a rich blackberry flavor as well. It has a fine texture and a firm, upright feel. Ready for drinking in a year.

null

85

7

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Supérieur

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Kirkland Signature

null

Italy

Granaio lacks the big, juicy intensity of other Tuscan wines but it does deliver fine notes of red cherry, smoke and graphite. The wine sports a bright, luminous color and ends with a quick blast of sour cherry.

Granaio

86

20

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Sangiovese

Melini

null

France

Crisp and dry, this is tight with acidity and with red-currant fruit. It is mineral textured, shot through with crisp red-berry flavors and finished with a refreshing aftertaste.

Authentic Brut Rosé

88

40

Champagne

null

Champagne Blend

Canard-Duchêne

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Canard-Duchêne NV Authentic Brut Rosé (Champagne)

Argentina

Tight on the nose, with hints of resin, lemon peel and black fruit that smell inviting when all added up. The palate is juicy, arguably a bit acidic, and runs fresh with red cherry and plum flavors. Spunky and properly tannic.

null

87

10

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon

Alma de los Andes

null

New Zealand

Starts off with hints of bell pepper and grapefruit, then adds stone fruit flavors on the palate. It remains focused and citrusy throughout, with a strong, minerally core. Powerful, yet lingers elegantly on the finish.

Catherine's Run

91

20

Awatere Valley

null

Sauvignon Blanc

The Crossings

null

France

A great success for this southern Médoc chateau, this is fine, elegant and perfumed. It bursts with a black fruit flavor, balanced by smooth tannins and acidity. It's a wine for medium-term aging over the next six years.

null

92

null

Bordeaux

Haut-Médoc

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Cantemerle

null

France

This is a smooth wine whose tannins have been already integrated into the blackberry fruits. It is ripe, still young of course, and with a stalky texture in the background. With acidity and fruitiness, the wine needs to age. Drink from late 2017.

Cuvée Prestige

87

11

Bordeaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château la Barotte

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château la Barotte 2015 Cuvée Prestige (Bordeaux)

Argentina

Cherry, cassis and spice aromas are mild and comported. The wine feels chewy and just dense enough, with baked cassis, berry and herb flavors that finish toasty and hot, with a rubbery note. Clean aromas and full fruit flavors are this wine's best attributes.

Zagal

87

14

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hacienda del Plata

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Hacienda del Plata 2010 Zagal Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza)

New Zealand

This is a light-bodied, quaffable Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe aromas and flavors of peach and nectarine marry with passion fruit and some slightly discordant herbal notes, then finish quickly.

Arona Certified Sustainable

86

13

Marlborough

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Barker's Marque

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

Barker's Marque 2014 Arona Certified Sustainable Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)

US

Young and fresh, it has excellent minerality. The fruit is light and lively, leaning toward grapefruit, green apple and a smidge of just-ripe melon. It's a lovely summer sipper, with a few good years of life ahead.

null

87

16

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Gris

Hawkins Cellars

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

Hawkins Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)

US

There's a robust heartiness to this Rhône-style blend that makes it perfect for drinking on cold nights with spicy barbecue or stew. Mainly Syrah and Petite Sirah, it's rich in blackberry, bacon and black pepper flavors. Bone dry and moderate in alcohol, it represents great quality for the price, and it should be relatively easy to find, with nearly 12,000 cases produced.

Red4

90

17

California

Paso Robles

Central Coast

Red Blend

Vina Robles

null

France

91–93. Barrel sample. Rich and soft, this wine has fine acidity and sweet black fruits. It has a good depth of rich flavor, and a palate that's rounded and smooth. The tannins show a velvet character.

Barrel Sample

92

null

Bordeaux

Margaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Marquis de Terme

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Château Marquis de Terme 2012 Barrel Sample (Margaux)

Spain

On first take, this is oily and smells of bitter almond and walnut. The mouthfeel is clunky and heavy, with low acidity. Bitterness is the lead flavor, and then honey and brown sugar enter the picture. On the finish it struggles to drive through the tape.

MR Mountain Wine

85

35

Andalucia

Málaga

null

Moscatel

Telmo Rodríguez

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Telmo Rodríguez 2009 MR Mountain Wine Moscatel (Málaga)

US

Carrefour's Sauvignon Blanc has nearly doubled in price over the last year, but the '06 isn't any better than the 2005. Like it, it has catty aromas and flavors, with hints of citrus, as well as zingy acidity.

null

84

20

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Sauvignon Blanc

Carrefour

null

US

Rich and flavorful, this Cabernet has jammy flavors of cassis, cherries, milk chocolate, licorice and vanilla. The wine is almost sweet and very soft in structure, the kind of Cab that adheres to today's cult parameters. Drink now through 2010.

null

87

60

California

Yountville

Napa

Cabernet Sauvignon

Bardessono

null

Bardessono 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Yountville)

France

This ripe, crisp wine features swathes of red currants and cherries. The fruitiness is balanced by good acidity and by a final, mineral texture that gives the wine balance. Drink now.

Benoît Girard

89

25

Loire Valley

Sancerre

null

Rosé

Domaine Girard

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Domaine Girard 2015 Benoît Girard Rosé (Sancerre)

US

With orange and peach flavors, this blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and Malvasia is a simple, sweet-tasting wine.

null

82

13

California

California Other

White Blend

Stark Raving

null

US

The aromas are exuberant, with notes of lime, orange zest, ripe peach and flowers. The palate, as advertised, is bone dry with stone-fruit flavors that show crystalline clarity and linger on the finish that features plenty of lime accents.

Reserve Dry

90

28

Washington

Yakima Valley

Columbia Valley

Riesling

Columbia Crest

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Columbia Crest 2016 Reserve Dry Riesling (Yakima Valley)

US

The standout fruit flavors are melon and grapefruit, with a backing of wet stone and spice. It's a refreshing style, and a useful white-wine choice for shellfish and other white fish or simple poultry dishes.

null

88

24

Oregon

Rogue Valley

Southern Oregon

Pinot Blanc

South Stage

Paul Gregutt

@paulgwine

South Stage 2014 Pinot Blanc (Rogue Valley)

US

Ripe, luscious raspberries lend a brambly tone to this dry, invigorating Pinot Noir rosé. The palate is concentrated with summer berry flavors pierced with a stream of tart lemonade acidity.

Dry

88

16

New York

Finger Lakes

Rosé

Silver Thread

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Silver Thread 2013 Dry Rosé (Finger Lakes)

Italy

This 70-30 blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese features aromas of cherry, toast, maple syrup, ink and spice. The wine boast thick, seemingly impenetrable extraction and a dense, chewy mouthfeel.

Il Mandorlo

87

18

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Triacca

null

Italy

A blend of 80% Grillo and 20% Viognier, this conveys heady aromas of fragrant white flowers, exotic fruit and apricot. The palate delivers rich yellow peach, mango and citrus with a hint of sweet vanilla.

Dalila

87

14

Sicily & Sardinia

Terre Siciliane

null

White Blend

Stemmari

Kerin O’Keefe

@kerinokeefe

Stemmari 2012 Dalila White (Terre Siciliane)

South Africa

Winemaker: Charles Hopkins. There are some meaty, gamy hints in the nose of this wine, partnered with tones of green peppercorn, red currant and cherry. It's tart and salty on the palate, with bright, almost spritzy acidity, though gripping tannins soon takeover and carry through the close.

Cape Winemakers Guild Op Die Berg

88

null

Ceres Plateau

null

Pinot Noir

De Grendel

Lauren Buzzeo

@laurbuzz

De Grendel 2015 Cape Winemakers Guild Op Die Berg Pinot Noir (Ceres Plateau)

Portugal

Grown in the schist terraces of the Douro, this wine is a Touriga Franca-dominated blend. Thyme and eucalyptus flavors are balanced by richly structured red berry fruit and tannins. It will be ready from 2018.

null

88

18

Douro

null

Portuguese Red

Antonio Lopes Ribeiro

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Antonio Lopes Ribeiro 2012 Red (Douro)

France

Opulent yet so elegant, this wine has already achieved great balance. It comes from the soft richness of the generous fruit, the spice from both the wood and the fruit, and the roundness of the texture, which envelops you in its warmth and ripeness. And, at the end, just to give a great lift, along comes the acidity.

Les Baudes Premier Cru

95

90

Burgundy

Chambolle-Musigny

null

Pinot Noir

Louis Jadot

Roger Voss

@vossroger

Louis Jadot 2005 Les Baudes Premier Cru (Chambolle-Musigny)

Italy

A 50-50 blend of Merlot and Syrah, this easygoing wine opens with aromas of red currant, graphite and cracked peppercorn. The lively palate offers blackberries, blueberries and clove alongside tangy acidity and dusty tannins.

Inedito

87

18

Tuscany

Toscana

null

Red Blend

Terre del Marchesato

null

Argentina

Aromas of freshly cut wood, pencil eraser and spice crowd out berry scents. Choppy grating tannins make for a firm mouthfeel, while flavors of savory spices and briary black fruits finish oaky, with residual scratchy tannins. Give this plenty of air for it to show its best.

Gran Syrah

89

25

Other

Argentina

null

Syrah

Finca Las Moras

Michael Schachner

@wineschach

Finca Las Moras 2014 Gran Syrah Syrah (Argentina)

US

Light in ruby-red, see-through red color, it's spicy and alive, with a silky cherry pit aroma and undercurrent of herbal earthiness. Balanced and soft, it can accompany a slow-roasted pork tenderloin adorned in morel mushrooms or a classic BLT. Of course, it's also stellar on its own.

Devoto Garden Vineyard

93

32

California

Green Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Wait Cellars

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Wait Cellars 2012 Devoto Garden Vineyard Pinot Noir (Green Valley)

Argentina

Salmon colored, with light melon and almond aromas that are hardly distinct but by the same token are nice enough. Sweet and simple in the mouth, with no discernible fruit flavor to latch onto. Imported by Broadbent Selections, Inc.

Montfleury Gran

83

12

Mendoza Province

Mendoza

null

Rosé

Weinert

null

France

This is a golden, mature and sweet wine that comes from the white wine appellation of the Madiran region. It balances ripe apricot and honey with intense acidity to create a beautiful wine. The zesty marmalade and final crispness are delicious. Drink now.

Gouttes de Soleil

92

26

Southwest France

Pacherenc du Vic Bilh

null

Gros Manseng

Château de Gayon

null

Mexico

Overtly simple and drying, this has crisp acidity and oily flavors of popcorn and tart white fruits. It finishes with citrus and astringency. This would likely be better with seafood or salad than on its own.

Emblema

84

21

Valle de Guadalupe

null

Sauvignon Blanc

Paralelo

null

France

Under the same control as Château Ferrière, this wine reveals the same sense of power, style and elegance. It is polished, packed with ripe fruit and dense tannins. Tobacco and cedar aromas make this an immediately enticing wine that still offers great potential for aging.

null

90

21

Bordeaux

Margaux

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château la Gurgue

null

Italy

Surely, not many wine lovers have heard of the Cococciola grape from Central Italy. Here's your chance to taste it. Fresh and fragrant, the wine offers lush aromas of honey, jasmine and exotic fruit.

Casale Vecchio

86

20

Central Italy

Terre di Chieti

null

Cococciola

Farnese

null

Farnese 2011 Casale Vecchio Cococciola (Terre di Chieti)

US

Scents of prune, coffee and smoke lead into a chewy, substantial wine with plenty of concentration. The cherry fruit has a syrupy character, and it's loaded with dark layers of coffee, licorice and char. The best of the new releases from Lone Canary.

null

88

22

Washington

Columbia Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Merlot

Lone Canary

null

US

From a selection of the original vines at this heritage vineyard, which was planted in the early 1970s, this is densely layered with strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit. Details are well-integrated, bringing light notes of toasted coconut and caramel. The texture and mouthfeel express the little extras that old vines, when handled properly, can deliver.

Maresh Vineyard Red Barn Blocks

95

70

Oregon

Dundee Hills

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Kelley Fox

null

Germany

Representing a bit of a chink in von Kesselstatt's impressive array of 2009s, this wine features slightly restrained notes of pineapple and green apple in a slightly uneasy alliance of sweet and sour. Drink up.

Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Kabinett

86

30

Mosel

null

Riesling

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt

Joe Czerwinski

@JoeCz

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt 2009 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Kabinett Riesling (Mosel)

Chile

This is the first year we've reviewed this winery's range of wines, and so far the results are not that good. Like other Peteroa wines, this has a lot of funk, bramble and other unfocused aromas and flavors. It's okay on a good day but devoid of the cleanliness and charms we desire.

Reserve

81

12

Central Valley

null

Merlot

Peteroa

null

France

92-94 Barrel sample. The wine feels very soft, with sweet spice and light tannins. It is packed with blackberry fruits, although there is a sold, firm structure under the ripe fruit.

La Dame de Montrose Barrel sample

93

null

Bordeaux

Saint-Estèphe

null

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

Château Montrose

null

US

Just what you want from a Sonoma Coast Chard. It's bone dry, crisp in cool-climate acidity, and elegant, with a minerally tang to the Meyer lemon fruit. Oak barrels bring richer notes of vanilla and buttered toast. Beautiful, and should hold through 2012.

null

93

40

California

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma

Chardonnay

Fogdog

null

Chile

Sweet as sin on the nose, with a ton of barrel-driven spice, resin and vanilla. The palate is full, creamy and resiny in feel, with more oak than anything on the flavor profile. There's baked apple and spice too, while the finish is severely oaky.

Amplus

86

24

Leyda Valley

null

Chardonnay

Santa Ema

null

Germany

Blackberry and cherry notes are approachable but slightly muted in this straightforward, medium-bodied red wine. It's a touch herbal and green, with a tart finish marked by fine tannins. Drink now.

Made With Organic Grapes

87

12

Rheinhessen

null

Dornfelder

Schlink Haus

Anna Lee C. Iijima

null

Schlink Haus 2013 Made With Organic Grapes Dornfelder (Rheinhessen)

Italy

Apricot, peach cobbler, sticky honey, white flower and macadamia nut color a seductively sweet wine from Puglia, the heel of the Italian “boot.” Thanks to strong sunshine and cooling breezes, Malvasia grapes lose their water mass, resulting in rich concentration and intense fragrances.

Gravisano Passito

89

30

Southern Italy

Murgia

null

Malvasia Bianca

Botromagno

null

Italy

Aromas of wild berry, thyme and a whiff of cellar floor lead the nose on this structured red while the full-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, white pepper, sage and anise. Tightly wound tannins provide framework. Give it a few years to unfurl then drink up.

null

90

Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino

null

Sangiovese

Tenuta di Sesta

null

US

If you're looking for flavor, and who isn't, this fruity Pinot Noir hits the spot. It's pale in color and light in the mouth, but rich in raspberries, cherries, pomegranates and cola, with sweet, smoky oak influences. Should develop in the bottle over the next six years.

Hinterlands

92

38

California

Mendocino

Mendocino/Lake Counties

Pinot Noir

Phillips Hill

null

US

This wine is half Viognier, with the balance Roussanne (35%) and Marsanne. The aromas of wild flowers, pear, peach, almond and grape skin lead to sweet full-feeling stone fruit notes that are quite flavorful. It shows a pleasing sense of balance.

Southern

89

32

Washington

Walla Walla Valley (WA)

Columbia Valley

Rhône-style White Blend

Rôtie Cellars

Sean P. Sullivan

@wawinereport

Rôtie Cellars 2016 Southern White (Walla Walla Valley (WA))

US

Quite spicy and nicely oaky in aroma and flavor without seeming overdone, this wine offers smooth and elegant red and black cherry flavors and a generous, soothing texture.

Estate

90

36

California

El Dorado

Sierra Foothills

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cedarville Vineyard

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Cedarville Vineyard 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (El Dorado)

US

Here's your basic Sierra Zin, slightly sweet and rustic, with edgy tannins and minty, green pepper flavors. Riper notes of blackberries, cherries and raspberries help the score.

null

83

10

California

Sierra Foothills

Zinfandel

Montevina

null

US

Light but enticing jasmine and honeydew melon flavors give this full-bodied, dry wine a lot of personality, and the mouthfeel is just rich enough to coat the palate and help the finish linger. It's crafted from 70% Viognier and 30% Roussanne.

The Choir

90

20

California

Mendocino County

null

White Blend

Atrea

Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Atrea 2016 The Choir White (Mendocino County)

US

Made from organic grapes and packaged in a 500-ml Tetra Pak, this Chard is made from ripe fruit with a toasty caramel molasses halo around it, and finishes sweet. It would be quite drinkable on a camping trip or tailgate party.

null

85

7

California

Mendocino

null

Chardonnay

CalNaturale

Virginie Boone

@vboone

CalNaturale 2009 Chardonnay (Mendocino)

US

Dr. Pepper, black plum and poppy-seed aromas show on this bottling by Ken Brown, who planted the first Syrah in Santa Barbara County in 1978. The soft palate offers cola, candied black cherry and violet flavors, lacking many of the gamy qualities found in the region.

Watch Hill Vineyard

89

45

California

Santa Barbara County

Central Coast

Syrah

Ken Brown

Matt Kettmann

@mattkettmann

Ken Brown 2013 Watch Hill Vineyard Syrah (Santa Barbara County)

Italy

This wine has a lovely nose with plenty of delicate floral nuances that come on the heels of bursting cherry, blueberry, almonds and smoked bacon. The mouthfeel is elegant and refined and there are sweet, nutty notes that carry through to the close.

Terra di Lamole

87

null

Tuscany

Chianti Classico

null

Sangiovese

I Fabbri

null

US

Made from organically grown grapes, a mix of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Franc, this is a grippy, structured and full-bodied wine, youthfully exuberant in power and oak. Chocolate, black cherry and dried herb inform the flavors and aromas.

null

89

45

California

Napa Valley

Napa

Merlot-Cabernet Franc

Lateral

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Lateral 2013 Merlot-Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley)

US

Very light strawberry fruit competes with a powerful flavor of damp earth. The wine seems thin and on the green side.

Isaac's Reserve

83

25

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Pinot Noir

Abiqua Wind

null

US

Opening with an earthy touch of compost and wild mint, this wine develops rich flavor within its broad frame of refreshing acidity, including savory touches of cardamom, cranberry and cola. The tension between fruit and texture gives it complexity and nuanced power in the glass.

Estate Vineyard

92

60

California

Russian River Valley

Sonoma

Pinot Noir

Ledson

Virginie Boone

@vboone

Ledson 2014 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Spain

Loud citrus and berry aromas precede an overloaded palate that carries stalky plum flavors. Pickled tasting on the finish.

Tempranillo

80

9

Northern Spain

Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León

null

Rosé

Peñascal

null

Italy

This is a pretty, luminous straw-colored sparkler with subtle shadings of honey, stone fruit, white flower and mineral. The wine is crisp and drying in the mouth but it also imparts a slight sensation of sweetness in the form of peach flavors.

Olive Garden Brut

86

13

Veneto

Prosecco del Veneto

null

Prosecco

Zonin

null

Zonin NV Olive Garden Brut (Prosecco del Veneto)