| 3211 | 3210 | Spain | This unusual varietal wine hits with a giant wall of herbal aromas that suggest tomato leaf, oregano and basil. The palate is firm and structured in feel, with smacking tannins and flavors of dark berry fruits, green herbs and coffee. A peppery tasting finish with residual green flavors and mocha works for this decidedly herbal-leaning but high-quality wine. Drink now. | Inspiración | 88 | 45 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2005 Inspiración (Rioja) | Maturana | Bodegas Valdemar |
| 3212 | 3211 | Spain | Scratchy plum and raspberry aromas are fresh and forward, while the mouthfeel follows suit; it's juicy, with narrowing acidity and brightness. Flavors of raspberry, plum and cherry end zesty and long, with crisp acidity maintaining focus. This is a blend of Carignan (Mazuelo), Garnacha and Syrah. | | 88 | 13 | Catalonia | Montsant | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bula 2010 Red (Montsant) | Red Blend | Bula |
| 3213 | 3212 | US | Though not indicated on the label, once again the Morrison Lane vineyard—the oldest Syrah planting in Walla Walla—is the source of the fruit. The wine is peppery and tannic, with cherry fruit and dried herbal accents. There's a whiff of toast in the finish. | | 88 | 32 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Bunchgrass 2009 Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Bunchgrass |
| 3214 | 3213 | Spain | This straightforward, perfectly clean blend of Carignan, Syrah and Garnacha would function as a great everyday house red. It's lively and a little racy and grating on the palate, with standard, fresh berry flavors touched up by a sprinkle of chocolaty oak. A modest finish keeps the vibe positive. | Blau | 88 | 12 | Catalonia | Montsant | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Can Blau 2010 Blau Red (Montsant) | Red Blend | Can Blau |
| 3215 | 3214 | Italy | Sweet peach nectar and fragrant white flower open the nose of this lush Gewürztraminer. The wine feels slightly sweet and sticky on the palate with rich density and a waxy finish. | Sanct Valentin | 88 | 38 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | | | Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano 2011 Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer (Alto Adige) | Gewürztraminer | Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano |
| 3216 | 3215 | US | Sourced from dry farmed, organic vines planted in 1918, Carol Shelton's Monga is a mouthful of a wine, layered with cinnamon spice, blueberry, chocolate and oak, and still very concentrated and dry, with room to grow and mellow. | Monga Zin, Lopez Vineyard | 88 | 21 | California | Cucamonga Valley | South Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Carol Shelton 2009 Monga Zin, Lopez Vineyard Zinfandel (Cucamonga Valley) | Zinfandel | Carol Shelton |
| 3217 | 3216 | Spain | This is a big, modern, warm Garnacha with a lot of oak and vanilla on the bouquet as well as blackberry and cassis. It's jammy on the tongue, but there's enough acidity to keep the pulse up. Dark black cherry, berry and rubbery flavors are followed by end-notes of raisin, chocolate and vanilla. | Fauno Organic Grapes | 88 | 40 | Catalonia | Priorat | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Casa Rojo 2009 Fauno Organic Grapes Garnacha (Priorat) | Garnacha | Casa Rojo |
| 3218 | 3217 | Italy | This red blend from Umbria offers a decadent bouquet that consists of rich chocolate and bright cherry intensity. The wine is smooth and chewy with a plush, velvety texture. | Elicius | 88 | | Central Italy | Umbria | | | | Castello di Montegiove 2008 Elicius Red (Umbria) | Red Blend | Castello di Montegiove |
| 3219 | 3218 | France | A solid, ripe, juicy black fruited wine, delicious already with its fragrant fruits. It has structure that supports the attractive surface, giving shape to this lightly textured wine. Keep for 4–5 years, but also drink now. | | 88 | 60 | Bordeaux | Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de la Croix 2009 Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château de la Croix |
| 3220 | 3219 | France | A delightfully clean and fruity wine, the epitome of Provence rosé. It has fresh acidity, crisp lemon and red currant fruit and just a light sprinkling of spice. | Whispering Angel | 88 | 20 | Provence | Côtes de Provence | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château d'Esclans 2012 Whispering Angel Rosé (Côtes de Provence) | Rosé | Château d'Esclans |
| 3221 | 3220 | France | Stalky wine, its black currant fruits tight and still developing. It has a juicy character that comes from the intense youthful acidity and that will blend over the next 4–5 years. | Cru de Plouget | 88 | | Bordeaux | Côtes de Bourg | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Dupeyrat Plouget 2010 Cru de Plouget (Côtes de Bourg) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Dupeyrat Plouget |
| 3222 | 3221 | US | Polished and pretty, this Merlot delivers plenty of juicy cherry, red currant, mocha and toast flavors that are lovely to drink now. The wine is smooth and softly tannic—just what you want Merlot to be. | | 88 | 17 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Chelsea Goldschmidt 2011 Merlot (Dry Creek Valley) | Merlot | Chelsea Goldschmidt |
| 3223 | 3222 | US | This wine is a little direct, but very tasty, showing rich, ripe cherry, red currant, cocoa and sweet oak flavors, wrapped into lovely tannins. A polished, pretty wine for drinking now. | | 88 | 35 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Peju 2009 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Peju |
| 3224 | 3223 | US | This dry, tannic wine is astringent now, in the way of a young Cabernet. It has a heart of ripe blackberries and currants, and finishes dry and clean. There's a rustic edge that suggests drinking over the next 2–3 years. | Eakle Ranch | 88 | 28 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Pope Valley Winery 2010 Eakle Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Pope Valley Winery |
| 3225 | 3224 | Spain | With damp earth and crusty leather aromas, this is a heavy wine with baked fruit, a syrupy mouthfeel and flavors of mocha, carob, leafy berry and earth. On the finish, it's full bodied and soft, with ripe black-fruit flavors that register as thick and a touch raisiny. Drink now. | RSV 1601 El Duque de Lerma | 88 | 75 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Real Sitio de Ventosilla 2004 RSV 1601 El Duque de Lerma (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Real Sitio de Ventosilla |
| 3226 | 3225 | US | Masses of sweet blackberry jam give this Cabernet an easy deliciousness. The fruit and oak are balanced with fine tannins and a gentle scour of acidity. Not one for the cellar, but it will benefit from an hour or two in the decanter. | | 88 | 35 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Stryker Sonoma 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stryker Sonoma |
| 3227 | 3226 | Italy | Pecorino is a fascinating white grape from Central Italy that deserves a special look. This expression bursts open with tones of acacia flower and stone fruit and delivers medium density and richness on the finish. | Trabocchetto | 88 | 19 | Central Italy | Colline Pescaresi | | | | Talamonti 2012 Trabocchetto Pecorino (Colline Pescaresi) | Pecorino | Talamonti |
| 3228 | 3227 | US | This fine-honed Chardonnay hews to the Eyrie house style. It may seem austere at first, but the green and yellow fruit flavors are ripe, not vegetal, and the firm acidity makes it a fine food match. Give it plenty of time to breathe before serving. | Estate | 88 | 27 | Oregon | Dundee Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | The Eyrie Vineyards 2011 Estate Chardonnay (Dundee Hills) | Chardonnay | The Eyrie Vineyards |
| 3229 | 3228 | US | This Rhône-style blend is fruity and delicious. It has raspberry, cherry, licorice, mocha and spice flavors, wrapped into easy tannins, brightened with a bite of lime acidity. Ready to enjoy now. | Touchy-Feely | 88 | 60 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | The Farm Winery 2009 Touchy-Feely G-S-M (Paso Robles) | G-S-M | The Farm Winery |
| 3230 | 3229 | Italy | Thea Riserva opens with dark and austere notes of black licorice, tar, black cherry and crushed granite. There's a dusty quality to the close followed by a dry but fresh finish. | Thea Riserva | 88 | 21 | Central Italy | Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore | | | | Tre Monti 2009 Thea Riserva (Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore) | Sangiovese | Tre Monti |
| 3231 | 3230 | US | Shows the dark color, thick tannins and deep, concentrated flavors you expect from Petite Sirah. It's a big gulp of blackberry jam, espresso, dark chocolate and crushed black pepper, and the finish is thoroughly dry. Lacks the acidic vibrancy needed for aging, but a fine wine to drink now. | Truehart Vineyard | 88 | 35 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Trueheart 2010 Truehart Vineyard Petite Sirah (Sonoma Valley) | Petite Sirah | Trueheart |
| 3232 | 3231 | Spain | Ripe apple aromas make the nose nice, even though it's flattening with age. Likewise on the palate, which delivers pithy orange and dry melon flavors along with indications that it's just starting to fade. Notes of green herbs and scallion come up on the finish. Drink this mature white immediately. | | 88 | 17 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Val do Sosego 2011 Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | Val do Sosego |
| 3233 | 3232 | US | A blend of grapes from several vineyards, this is named for a famous jazz tune. The blending both softens and expands the mid-palate, and seems to have boosted the aging curve. It's ready to drink, with strawberry fruit, a dusting of cocoa, a hint of wet cement, and a finish with cola and sassafras. | Nuages | 88 | 35 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | J. Christopher 2010 Nuages Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | J. Christopher |
| 3234 | 3233 | US | Frankly delicious, offering wave after wave of black cherry jam, red currant, licorice, mocha, vanilla and buttered cinnamon toast flavors, wrapped into soft, smooth tannins. | Gesture | 88 | 35 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | J. Lohr 2010 Gesture G-S-M (Paso Robles) | G-S-M | J. Lohr |
| 3235 | 3234 | Austria | Rotgipfler is almost an exclusivity to Thermenregion. This bright, fruity wine is deliciously crisp with spice, pepper and pear flavors. It has a light lemon edge brought out by the refreshing acidity. Screwcap. | | 88 | 20 | Thermenregion | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Johanneshof Reinisch 2012 Rotgipfler (Thermenregion) | Rotgipfler | Johanneshof Reinisch |
| 3236 | 3235 | US | This is one of Lynmar's most expensive Chardonnays, of their six 2011s. It's also one of the most forward and oakiest. Your first impression is of sweet buttered toast, sprinkled with brown sugar and drizzled with melted butterscotch. Then the tropical fruits kick in, brightened with citrusy acids. It's an impressive feat, but the wine feels overworked, and lacks the sustaining interest of Lynmar's other bottlings. | Monastery | 88 | 70 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Lynmar 2011 Monastery Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) | Chardonnay | Lynmar |
| 3237 | 3236 | Chile | The nose sends up signals of a balanced, easygoing wine with oak blended nicely into pear and apple fruit. The palate is lively and mildly oaky, with baked apple, orange and woodspice flavors. A snappy, oaky finish with intense acidity closes the show. | EQ | 88 | | San Antonio | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Matetic 2011 EQ Chardonnay (San Antonio) | Chardonnay | Matetic |
| 3238 | 3237 | Spain | The nose on this blend of Gewurztraminer and Macabeo defines neutral; it's clean but shows little more than a whiff of apple. The palate is fresh and quick moving, with mild peach, pear, apple and melon flavors that culminate in a solid finish that's not very exciting but doesn't stray. | Treyu | 88 | 16 | Northern Spain | Empordà | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Oliver Conti 2011 Treyu White (Empordà) | White Blend | Oliver Conti |
| 3239 | 3238 | US | This is a good value for a sophisticated Merlot from Napa Valley. It's not an ager, but it's delightful now for its dryness, smooth tannins and complex cherry and red currant flavors with hints of herbs and sweet peas. | | 88 | 19 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Parcel 41 2011 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Parcel 41 |
| 3240 | 3239 | Italy | There's a dark and masculine quality to this Sangiovese from Romagna that makes this wine perfect for pork or breaded veal. Dark cherry and prune are backed by bright acidity. | Pruno Riserva | 88 | 40 | Central Italy | Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore | | | | Drei Donà Tenuta La Palazza 2009 Pruno Riserva (Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore) | Sangiovese | Drei Donà Tenuta La Palazza |