30871 | 30870 | Italy | Melini's Riserva, from a 98 acre vineyard in Radda in Chianti, is still firmly traditional in character. With its firm, dry bitter cherry fruit flavors and just a light touch of wood, it shows how classic Chianti winemaking still has a place, provided it is used in the right way. | Riserva La Selvanella | 87 | 23 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Melini 1998 Riserva La Selvanella (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Melini |
30872 | 30871 | US | A bit shy on the nose now, showing herbal, vegetal notes, including tomato and beetroot, accompanied by flamboyant oak. It's unyielding on the palate, too, with some solid tannins to shed. Could blossom after 2003, so give it time in the cellar. | Temperance Hill | 87 | 22 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | | | Westrey 1999 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Westrey |
30873 | 30872 | US | A touch of the veggies, particularly asparagus and bell pepper, mix with citrus in this fuller-bodied white. While it isn't exactly a heavyweight, the ample body is weighed down by lower than average acidity. On the back end, the long, persistent finish is adequate, but the green element that's so present up front comes back in force. | | 87 | 15 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Whitehall Lane 2000 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Whitehall Lane |
30874 | 30873 | Spain | A big step down from the past two vintages. This Verdejo lacks fortitude and clarity; it's grassy and flat on the nose, then cloying on the palate. Flavors of bland citrus are disjointed and underwhelming. Finishes grassy and green. | | 82 | 10 | Northern Spain | Rueda | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cantarranas 2011 Verdejo (Rueda) | Verdejo | Cantarranas |
30875 | 30874 | Spain | Grassy on the nose, then foamy and abrasive on the tongue, with a mix of oxidized flavors, bitter citrus and grassy accents. It finishes pithy tasting and citrusy. | Brut | 82 | 10 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Conde de Caralt NV Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Conde de Caralt |
30876 | 30875 | Spain | Oxidized citrus aromas are flabby, as is the palate. Flavors of apple and peach are basic, while the finish feels dull and dried out, with no kick or lasting flavor other than mild bitterness. | | 82 | 19 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valtea 2011 Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | Valtea |
30877 | 30876 | Argentina | The nose is minty, herbal and strangely exotic, while the palate falls flat in delivering strongly herbal, tomato-based flavors. | Estate | 82 | 29 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Alpamanta 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Alpamanta |
30878 | 30877 | Spain | This is one unusual wine. It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Tempranillo and Garnacha, but it smells like a root-based perfume mixed with herbs and tobacco. It's over the hill in feel and green and herbal in flavor, with a raisiny aftertaste. | Jaloco | 82 | 30 | Central Spain | Extremadura | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Medina 2005 Jaloco Red (Extremadura) | Red Blend | Bodegas Medina |
30879 | 30878 | Argentina | This is cloudy to the eye, with a mix of vinegar, briny plum and milk chocolate on the nose. The mouthfeel is blowsy, while the flavors are briny and pickled. | Pianissimo Made with Organically Grown Grapes Malbec | 82 | 12 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Caligiore 2011 Pianissimo Made with Organically Grown Grapes Malbec Rosé (Mendoza) | Rosé | Caligiore |
30880 | 30879 | US | This is a simple, one-dimensional Chardonnay. It's dry in style with thin citrus and apricot flavors and just a hint of oak. | | 82 | 12 | California | California | California Other | | | Carmenet 2011 Chardonnay (California) | Chardonnay | Carmenet |
30881 | 30880 | Spain | This wine is raisiny on the front end, heavy and prune-driven in the middle, and even more raisiny on the finish. Overripe in style with 60% Garnacha and 40% Tempranillo. | Propiedad | 82 | 45 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Palacios Remondo 2008 Propiedad (Rioja) | Red Blend | Palacios Remondo |
30882 | 30881 | US | Dry and gritty with cherry and raspberry flavors that finish thin and peppery. Nothing particularly wrong, just a simple little Pinot Noir. | | 82 | 21 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Parkers Estate 2011 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County) | Pinot Noir | Parkers Estate |
30883 | 30882 | Spain | Pazo Señorans generally makes great wine, but this aged Albariño is past its prime. The nose is soft and smells mostly of toffee and vanilla, while the wine has a maderized tint and stalky, geriatric flavors of bland apple and oxidized citrus. This wine should have been drunk five years ago. | Selección de Añada | 82 | 75 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Pazo de Señorans 2005 Selección de Añada Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | Pazo de Señorans |
30884 | 30883 | Argentina | Juniper and onion aromas are not inviting, and there's little fruit to back them up. The mouthfeel is oily, while flavors of briny citrus lead to a pickled-tasting finish. Tasted twice, with consistent results. | Reserve | 82 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Salentein 2011 Reserve Chardonnay (Uco Valley) | Chardonnay | Salentein |
30885 | 30884 | Spain | Gritty, piercing aromas of herbal, leafy red fruits do little to set this wine on course. In the mouth, it's high-toned and acidic, and thus the flavors are tart, choppy and short. | | 82 | 11 | Central Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Sinfonía 2011 Tempranillo (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla) | Tempranillo | Sinfonía |
30886 | 30885 | Argentina | Overall this is a weak wine with resiny aromas of varnish followed by woody flavors of banana and vanilla. The finish is more or less the same, only less potent. | Alta Collection | 82 | 19 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Tapiz 2011 Alta Collection Chardonnay (Mendoza) | Chardonnay | Tapiz |
30887 | 30886 | US | With its raisiny aroma that hits the nose first, this lacks desirable freshness. On the light- to medium-bodied palate, a strawberry note surfaces, which leads into the short-lived finish. | | 82 | 14 | Virginia | Monticello | | | | Trump 2011 Rosé (Monticello) | Rosé | Trump |
30888 | 30887 | US | The dominant dark-cherry aroma smells bitter and high pitched. The palate feels supple and medium bodied, and it tastes a touch confected, like blackberry jelly used to fill donuts. | Reserve | 82 | 25 | Virginia | Virginia | | | | Ingleside 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Virginia) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Ingleside |
30889 | 30888 | US | Feeble scents of tropical fruit and rose petal mark the nose of this wine, which leads into the light- to medium-bodied palate that offers bright acids, soft flavors and a delicate, tapering finish. | | 82 | 18 | Virginia | Virginia | | | | Chateau Morrisette 2010 Chardonnay (Virginia) | Chardonnay | Chateau Morrisette |
30890 | 30889 | US | A Mendocino Sangiovese with odd vanilla notes that's stingy in fruit and tannin. | | 82 | 13 | California | Mendocino | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Girasole 2010 Sangiovese (Mendocino) | Sangiovese | Girasole |
30891 | 30890 | US | While the nose is overall a bit soapy, the aromas of berry and banana are Gamay-like in character. The wine feels flat on entrance, but the acids pick up pace toward the midpalate. It finishes short, ending on a mocha note. | | 82 | 16 | Virginia | Virginia | | | | Stanburn 2011 Cabernet Franc (Virginia) | Cabernet Franc | Stanburn |
30892 | 30891 | Argentina | The nose deals a mix of exotic aromas along with offputting sweat, compost and funky cheese. The palate is pasty feeling and tannic, with lactic flavors of oak, licorice and medicinal berry. On the finish, clove and spice notes dominate. | Roble | 82 | 13 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Telteca 2010 Roble Merlot (Mendoza) | Merlot | Telteca |
30893 | 30892 | Argentina | Tropical fruit aromas are the lead-in, but upon airing the wine's pineapple and mango scents turn austere and prickly. The mouthfeel here is astringent and acidic, and the flavors are briny, even pickled. | Don David Reserve | 82 | 17 | Other | Calchaquí Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Michel Torino 2012 Don David Reserve Chardonnay (Calchaquí Valley) | Chardonnay | Michel Torino |
30894 | 30893 | Spain | This basic wine opens with earthy red-berry aromas. The palate offers choppiness and green-leaning flavors of berry and tea. The finish is scratchy and hollow. An OK Garnacha on its best day. | Cátulo | 82 | 12 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas la Casa de Lúcolo 2010 Cátulo Garnacha (Navarra) | Garnacha | Bodegas la Casa de Lúcolo |
30895 | 30894 | Spain | Maderized aromas of applesauce and dust are not terribly welcoming. Meanwhile, the palate is mild and tastes nutty, like soft apples and spice. This is acceptable barrel-fermented Viura but it lacks freshness and character. | Conde de Valdemar Finca Alto Cantabria | 82 | 15 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2011 Conde de Valdemar Finca Alto Cantabria Viura (Rioja) | Viura | Bodegas Valdemar |
30896 | 30895 | Spain | Peach and melon aromas come with accents of vanilla and honey. The palate on this Garancha Blanca is chunky, without much acidic cut. Flavors of grapefruit and orange are flabby, pithy and dull, while bitterness controls the finish. | Menguante | 82 | 24 | Northern Spain | Cariñena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo 2011 Menguante Garnacha Blanca (Cariñena) | Garnacha Blanca | Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo |
30897 | 30896 | US | There may be an interesting wine lurking in the dark shadows here, but the oak and alcohol are overpowering in ways that mask the plummy cinnamon within. | Estate | 82 | 30 | California | South Coast | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Orfila 2010 Estate Sangiovese | Sangiovese | Orfila |
30898 | 30897 | US | Not quite ripe, with earthy, green tomato, raspberry Newton cookie and spicy oak flavors. Drink now. | Huntington | 82 | 22 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Pali 2011 Huntington Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) | Pinot Noir | Pali |
30899 | 30898 | Spain | Scratchy, candied aromas of red fruits get things off to a rough start. The wine is acidic in feel, with tart, herbal red-fruit flavors. And it finishes pickled, with an herbal sharpness. | | 82 | | Northern Spain | Cariñena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Abrazo 2011 Garnacha (Cariñena) | Garnacha | Abrazo |
30900 | 30899 | France | A lean wine with some austerity. It has a firmly tannic character while missing the fruit for the future. | | 82 | 15 | Bordeaux | Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Brethous 2010 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Brethous |