| 36061 | 36060 | US | In its youth, this wine is tightly wound and austere, despite a wealth of ripe cherry fruit. The acidity and tannins wrap it up in a concealing cloak of dry astringency. But it has the inherent balance to age over the next 10 years, gradually softening and mellowing. | Ryan | 90 | 40 | California | Mt. Harlan | Central Coast | | | Calera 2009 Ryan Pinot Noir (Mt. Harlan) | Pinot Noir | Calera |
| 36062 | 36061 | Italy | This is a plush, earthy Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva that opens with aromas of ripe fruit, leather, tobacco and exotic spice. The wine shows impressive elegance in the mouth, thanks to its polished tannins and drying, mineral finish. | Cagiòlo Riserva | 90 | 28 | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | | | Cantina Tollo 2008 Cagiòlo Riserva (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) | Montepulciano | Cantina Tollo |
| 36063 | 36062 | Chile | Casas del Bosque makes some of the most pungent, expressive Sauvignon Blancs in Chile. This vintage fits the blueprint; it's forward, punchy and full of passion fruit, white grapefruit and tarragon on both the bouquet and palate. Shows mineral components, saline and scallion on the finish. A high-quality wine with a commensurate price tag. | Gran Reserva | 90 | 15 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Casas del Bosque 2011 Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Casas del Bosque |
| 36064 | 36063 | France | With its new wood and mint flavors, this is a smooth, polished wine, full of delicious ripe black fruit flavors and acidity. The wine is elegant, the wood already well integrated into the fruit. Age for 3–4 years. | | 90 | 11 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Saint-Sernin 2009 Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Château Saint-Sernin |
| 36065 | 36064 | Italy | This southern Italian blend of Gaglioppo and Cabernet Sauvignon opens with soft aromas of ripe blackberry, espresso, dark chocolate and spice. There's a note of sweet cherry on the finish, followed by smoothly polished tannins. The wine is elegant and clean. | Arvino | 90 | | Southern Italy | Calabria | | | | Statti 2008 Arvino Red (Calabria) | Red Blend | Statti |
| 36066 | 36065 | Portugal | A sophisticated wine that shows the Douro structure while also bringing out great ripe swathes of black fruits. There is a fine balance, good depth of flavor, with a tannic character that promises aging. | Churchill Estates | 90 | | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Churchill's 2009 Churchill Estates Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Churchill's |
| 36067 | 36066 | France | A big, bold wine that is full of dense fruit and sweet berry flavors. It has weight and richness, the structure stuffed with pure, ripe Malbec fruit that has not been in wood. Delicious and worth aging 2–3 years. | K-Or | 90 | 18 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos Troteligotte 2009 K-Or Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Clos Troteligotte |
| 36068 | 36067 | US | Very rich and ripe, marked by pure, intense flavors of cherries, blueberries and spicy cloves. It displays the balanced elegance and thoughtful winemaking of this winery. Young and juicy now, it should develop in the bottle for a year or two, but some sharpness in the finish will ultimately limit ageability. | Dutton Ranch | 90 | 35 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Dutton-Goldfield 2010 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Dutton-Goldfield |
| 36069 | 36068 | Chile | A complete wine that starts with lemony oak-based aromas that come with notes of herb, spice and dark-berry fruit. Feels layered, ripe and fresh, with full, sweet flavors of brown sugar, herb and baked berry and plum. Chocolaty and smooth on the finish. Drink now through 2014. | Limited Edition | 90 | 22 | Central Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Echeverria 2008 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Echeverria |
| 36070 | 36069 | Italy | Made from a blend of five indigenous grapes from Abruzzo and Puglia (Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia), this is a soft and luscious wine, with generous aromas of ripe fruit, spice and moist tobacco. There's a sweet spot on the finish followed by thickly extracted but soft tannins. | Edizione Cinque Autoctoni | 90 | 43 | Central Italy | Abruzzo | | | | Farnese 2008 Edizione Cinque Autoctoni Red (Abruzzo) | Red Blend | Farnese |
| 36071 | 36070 | Italy | Passo del Lupo Riserva delivers personality and surprises thanks to its extremely polished aromas of Indian spice, red berry, natural rubber and cola. The wood integration is lovely, and the wine is both spicy and fresh on the close. | Passo del Lupo Riserva | 90 | 40 | Central Italy | Conero | | | | Fazi Battaglia 2006 Passo del Lupo Riserva (Conero) | Red Blend | Fazi Battaglia |
| 36072 | 36071 | Italy | Wines from the extinct Vulture volcano in the deep south of Italy tend to show a linear, elegant side, with etched mineral notes of smoke and crushed granite. This wine offers all those characteristics, but does so with a modern twist, showing notes of spice and plush red fruit. | | 90 | 28 | Southern Italy | Aglianico del Vulture | | | | Feudi di San Gregorio 2008 Aglianico del Vulture | Aglianico | Feudi di San Gregorio |
| 36073 | 36072 | US | This clean and leesy Chardonnay was fermented half in stainless, half in neutral oak. Its flavors are apple, melon and celery, with a lightly beery, textural mouthfeel that refreshes and lingers. Just a hint of toast comes up on the finish. | Estate | 89 | 35 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Blakeslee 2009 Estate Chardonnay | Chardonnay | Blakeslee |
| 36074 | 36073 | US | Good concentration and a classic Oregon Pinot mix of herb and fruit characterize this winning effort. Dried herb, thistle, berry, cherry and a Dr. Pepper streak are all in the mix, with hints of earth and stem. | Estate | 89 | 28 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Blakeslee 2009 Estate Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Blakeslee |
| 36075 | 36074 | US | Shows the firm tannins and full-bodied richness of Petite Sirah, but it's not an ager because it's a little too low in acid for the long haul. So enjoy it now for the wealth of blackberries, cherries, anise and mocha. | Estate | 89 | 26 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Vina Robles 2009 Estate Petite Sirah (Paso Robles) | Petite Sirah | Vina Robles |
| 36076 | 36075 | France | A taut wine with dense tannins and tight black-currant flavors. There is a stalky element here, although the wine's structure should soften over the next 2–3 years. | Cuvée le Clos | 89 | 17 | Southwest France | Côtes de Bergerac | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos des Terrasses 2008 Cuvée le Clos Red (Côtes de Bergerac) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Clos des Terrasses |
| 36077 | 36076 | Chile | Smoky on the nose, with a hint of rubber and good red-fruit purity. Feels tight, with modest tannic grab and dark flavors of baked berry, leather and earthy density. Shows complexity on the finish via tobacco and light herbal notes. | Single Vineyard | 89 | 17 | Loncomilla Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cremaschi Furlotti 2009 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Loncomilla Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cremaschi Furlotti |
| 36078 | 36077 | France | A blockbuster of a wine, very dense, packed with medicinal flavors and notes imparted by wood aging. It shows the solid structure of the 2008 vintage, and certainly needs aging. | Lou Prince | 89 | 70 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Prince 2008 Lou Prince Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Domaine du Prince |
| 36079 | 36078 | Chile | Rubbery and gassy at first, with a ton of barrel power that pushes charred aromas onto the nose. Feels correct and well-balanced, with honest Pinot flavors of red fruits, herbs and baked earth. Tastes and feels harmonious. | Wild Ferment | 89 | 28 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Errazuriz 2010 Wild Ferment Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley) | Pinot Noir | Errazuriz |
| 36080 | 36079 | Portugal | A perfumed, floral white, its citrus character is laced with flavors of apricot and green plums. This is a summer day's wine with a cool, refreshing feel to its smooth and ripe texture. | Tiara | 89 | 30 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Niepoort 2010 Tiara White (Douro) | Portuguese White | Niepoort |
| 36081 | 36080 | Portugal | This single-variety wine from Alorna has a sophisticated quality that's found in the estate's other cuvées. It is structured, with spicy wood accents balancing the black currant flavors. A bitter chocolate note lends an edge to this finely made wine. | | 89 | | Tejo | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Alorna 2009 Touriga Nacional (Tejo) | Touriga Nacional | Quinta da Alorna |
| 36082 | 36081 | Portugal | The spice and juicy fruit give the wine its intense strawberry flavor. To balance its fruit, the tannins lend a firm background structure. The wine has just the right weight, and its soft aftertaste, it's ready to drink now. | Grande Escolha | 89 | 38 | Tejo | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima 2008 Grande Escolha Alfrocheiro (Tejo) | Alfrocheiro | Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima |
| 36083 | 36082 | Portugal | A sweet wine that is packed with botrytis and also intense acidity. Honey, apricot and orange peel of the Riesling are blended with spicy Gewurztraminer, giving a taut, still young wine. Keep 3–4 years. | Late Harvest | 89 | 25 | Tejo | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima 2010 Late Harvest White (Tejo) | White Blend | Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima |
| 36084 | 36083 | Chile | Emphasizes intense passion fruit aromas that grow more pungent upon breathing. Feels tangy as it dances on the palate, with passion fruit, lemon-lime and tarragon flavors. Long and focused on the finish, with tons of zest. | 1865 Single Vineyard | 89 | 19 | Leyda Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | San Pedro 2011 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | San Pedro |
| 36085 | 36084 | Chile | Dense and dark smelling, with coconut, tobacco, perfumed berry fruit and leather aromas. Feels powerful and layered, with tough tannins and a rugged overall mouthfeel. Flavors of dark berry, toast, herb and spice are rewarding, while the finish is herbal and chocolaty. | Reserva de Familia | 89 | 20 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Carolina 2009 Reserva de Familia Carmenère (Rapel Valley) | Carmenère | Santa Carolina |
| 36086 | 36085 | US | Dark, sappy and reductive, it shows skillful winemaking and sensitivity to vineyard management. The color is there, the aromas are pure and the flavors are balanced, without being overripe. It captures a pleasing mix of berries and currants. Tannins are quite dry and lightly peppery. | | 88 | 35 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Hestia Cellars 2005 Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Hestia Cellars |
| 36087 | 36086 | France | A crisp, fresh wine that has an edge of raspberry and red berry flavors over a very citrus character. It is dry, tight and structured with cranberries and red currants, the red fruits giving some extra weight. | Rosé Majeur Brut | 88 | 55 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Ayala NV Rosé Majeur Brut (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Ayala |
| 36088 | 36087 | US | This off-dry (11.5% alcohol) Riesling is a fruit-driven wine, with a tangy sweet/tart mouthfeel reminiscent of Vouvray. Meyer lemon, apricot, lime and candied pineapple flavors pile on. There's plenty of natural acid to cut through the sweetness. | | 88 | 18 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Cor Cellars 2007 Riesling (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Riesling | Cor Cellars |
| 36089 | 36088 | France | With fruit from the Aube and from the Côte des Blancs, Drappier has been able to put together a blend of Chardonnay from four different vineyards. In taste, warmth dominates—this is not a hugely crisp wine, the richness prevailing. But the warm pear and peach flavors all come together, a wine that is in the Drappier pure fruit style. | Quattuor Blanc de Quatre Blancs Brut | 88 | | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Drappier NV Quattuor Blanc de Quatre Blancs Brut Chardonnay (Champagne) | Chardonnay | Drappier |
| 36090 | 36089 | US | An unusual blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec and Zinfandel, this wine shows the multi-variety approach increasingly taken by Paso vintners, for the sake of complexity. It's soft and very ripe, with jammy blackberry, cherry and raspberry flavors, finished with milk chocolate, licorice, violets and peppery vanilla. | Kiamie Kuvée | 88 | 44 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Kiamie 2005 Kiamie Kuvée Red (Paso Robles) | Red Blend | Kiamie |