36391 | 36390 | US | Chalky tannins and dried herb mark the entry of this wine, which stays varietal despite the addition of 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sage, peppercorn and high-toned cherry complete the picture, with well-integrated, generous tannins framing the overall picture, finishing in swirls of cinnamon and vanilla. | Estate Grown | 88 | 42 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Markham 2011 Estate Grown Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Franc | Markham |
36392 | 36391 | US | Smoke, blackberries, black cherries, pencil lead and woody mints show on the nose of this wine from a label once owned by the California winemaking pioneer. The palate is heavily sprinkled with oregano, thyme and anise against a background of tart blueberry juice, and the tannins need some mellowing though 2017–2018, when it will drink even nicer. | | 88 | 60 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Martin Ray 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Martin Ray |
36393 | 36392 | Italy | Acacia flower, toasted hazelnut and Bartlett pear aromas take shape in the glass. The palate delivers stone fruit, citrus zest and mineral alongside bright acidity. | Radici | 88 | 25 | Southern Italy | Fiano di Avellino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Mastroberardino 2013 Radici (Fiano di Avellino) | Fiano | Mastroberardino |
36394 | 36393 | France | Michel Redde makes some attractive Sancerres, like this wine, across the river from its base in Pouilly. It is crisp and light as the vintage dictates. Green fruits, a touch of herbaceousness and lively acidity are well integrated already. Drink from the end of 2015. | Les Tuilières | 88 | 32 | Loire Valley | Sancerre | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Michel Redde et Fils 2013 Les Tuilières (Sancerre) | Sauvignon Blanc | Michel Redde et Fils |
36395 | 36394 | France | A classic Provence red: charming, light and fresh, with pretty red fruit and straightforward flavors of plum and bramble. There's a bit of tannin here but this is a wine to drink young, before the fresh fruit fades. Try with grilled spare ribs. | | 87 | 11 | Provence | Côtes de Provence | | | | Domaine Houchart 2006 Red (Côtes de Provence) | Red Blend | Domaine Houchart |
36396 | 36395 | Spain | Pink meets orange in terms of hue, while the nose gives a nice blend of sweet and snappy berry and citrus. The palate has a little weight and heft along with dry, white-peppery flavors of nectarine and apricot. Pithy, citrusy and healthy throughout. Good wine for the money. | Protocolo | 87 | 7 | Central Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Dominio de Eguren 2009 Protocolo Rosé (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla) | Rosé | Dominio de Eguren |
36397 | 36396 | Italy | Apart from an obvious emphasis on oak-related aromas of vanilla, spice and carpentry shop, this is a satisfying Rosso that would pair with roast chicken, potatoes, garlic and rosemary. The garlic and rosemary would take the edge off those wood tones. | | 87 | 20 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | Fattoria Scopone 2008 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Fattoria Scopone |
36398 | 36397 | Uruguay | The best wine from this bodega. It's focused and spicy, with black fruit and depth to the nose and none of the weird, rubbery, roasted characteristics that are sometimes found in Uruguayan wines. Round on the palate, with black cherry and cassis. A good option for grilled meats. | Identity | 87 | 15 | Canelones | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Gimenez Mendez 2008 Identity Cabernet Sauvignon (Canelones) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gimenez Mendez |
36399 | 36398 | US | Fruity and spritzy, this fragrant, screwcapped Chardonnay is scented with apples, pears, a hint of grapefruit and spice. It's front-loaded, nicely balanced at 13% alcohol, and best enjoyed lightly chilled. | | 87 | 15 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | A to Z 2008 Chardonnay (Oregon) | Chardonnay | A to Z |
36400 | 36399 | US | This Grenache-based wine includes 10% Tempranillo, 4% Malbec and 2% Syrah in the sophisticated blend. Recently bottled, it's still tight, tannic, and hiding much of its fruit. The aromas give an indication of what's to come—cranberry fruit and lemony acidity, with some firm tannins. | | 87 | 22 | Oregon | Southern Oregon | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Abacela 2008 Garnacha (Southern Oregon) | Garnacha | Abacela |
36401 | 36400 | France | This fresh and flavorful rosé is as easy to like as its gentle price tag. There's loads of youthful strawberry and peach fruit, propped up by a bright line of acidity that carries the flavors through to a medium finish. Pick this for your next warm weather gathering. | | 87 | 11 | Provence | Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence | | | | Bieler Père et Fils 2009 Rosé (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence) | Rosé | Bieler Père et Fils |
36402 | 36401 | US | Very tough and tannic now, and dry too, so that the ultimate impact is disagreeably harsh. That, despite a solid core of blackberries, black currants, violets, bacon and minerals. The question is one of ageability. The answer is that it's a gamble, as the wine, like the stock market, could go either way. | Morehouse Vineyard | 87 | 50 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Carr 2007 Morehouse Vineyard Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley) | Syrah | Carr |
36403 | 36402 | US | This is a good, dry Chardonnay, marked by brisk acidity and a steely minerality. The fruit veers toward pineapples and apricots, while oak adds notes of buttered toast and caramel. Feels like it wants to be richer than it is, but it's elegant. | Bien Nacido Vineyard | 87 | 38 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Castello di Amorosa 2008 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) | Chardonnay | Castello di Amorosa |
36404 | 36403 | US | Organically grown and selected from a mix of specific vineyard blocks, Rex Hill's reserve is rather light in 2007, with tannins that are a bit out of proportion to the fruit. It's a carefully controlled effort, but thin and dilute, with strawberry/watermelon fruit and some tomato leaf creeping into the finish. | Reserve | 87 | 42 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Rex Hill 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Rex Hill |
36405 | 36404 | US | Rich in cherries, raspberries, licorice, cola and sandalwood, this Pinot finishes dry and spicy. It has a lovely, silky mouthfeel, yet is quite sharp in acidity, and a bit one-dimensional. Best now. | Block 216 Clone 5 Pommard | 87 | 48 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Sierra Madre 2008 Block 216 Clone 5 Pommard Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Sierra Madre |
36406 | 36405 | US | This is a sharp, tart Pinot, scented with pine needles and showing wild strawberry fruit flavors and plenty of sharp acidity. In the mouth the fruit also reveals a cherry candy core, pretty but brief, and quickly winds down through a citrusy finish. | La Colina Vineyard | 87 | 50 | Oregon | Dundee Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Torii Mor 2008 La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills) | Pinot Noir | Torii Mor |
36407 | 36406 | Italy | Earthy aromas of white mushroom and dried roses that are characteristic of Tuscan Sangiovese are what you notice first here. The wine then segues to fruit and spice aromas, although those berry notes are on the mature and jammy side. Fresh acidity and firm tannins suggest a pairing with red meat. | | 87 | | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Vasco Sassetti 2005 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Vasco Sassetti |
36408 | 36407 | US | Fresh and straightforward, this stainless steel-fermented Pinot Gris has simple, pleasant pear fruit flavors, and just a suggestion of caramel running through it. Perfectly suited for every day quaffing. | | 87 | 13 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Illahe 2009 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Gris | Illahe |
36409 | 36408 | Italy | A brambly note of forest floor or exotic spice emerges first from the nose of this ruby-colored Rosso and is followed by floral notes of violets and dried lavender. The wine is fresh, thin and offers easy informality overall. | | 87 | 20 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | La Colombina 2008 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | La Colombina |
36410 | 36409 | Italy | Mocali's Fossetti estate delivers a fantastically crisp and easy white blend of Chardonnay, Moscato and Trebbiano with the natural creaminess, floral aromatics and freshness you'd expect of those three grapes respectively. It's the perfect fish or pasta salad wine. | Fossetti | 87 | 15 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Mocali 2009 Fossetti White (Toscana) | White Blend | Mocali |
36411 | 36410 | US | Clean, brisk and balanced, with good varietal flavors of pineapples, limes, peaches and exotic tropical fruits, brightened with zesty acidity. This is a good price for a classic California Chardonnay. | | 87 | 13 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Irony 2008 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Irony |
36412 | 36411 | US | Laced with baked apples, ginger and savory spices, there's something unique about the nose on this off-dry Riesling. On the palate, honeyed apples and pears combine with a tart lemon-lime acidity and a hint of bitterness on the finish. | | 87 | 14 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Keuka Spring 2009 Riesling (Finger Lakes) | Riesling | Keuka Spring |
36413 | 36412 | US | Softly lush, a nice, fruit-forward Cabernet to drink now. Shows well-ripened blackberry and black currant flavors, finished with a touch of smoky oak. Good price for a Stags Leap Cab. | Signature Series | 87 | 19 | California | Stags Leap District | Napa | | | Kirkland Signature 2007 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Kirkland Signature |
36414 | 36413 | Italy | Lean and compact with subdued aromas of cherry and wild berry, this is an informal Rosso to drink with roast chicken or home-cooked meatloaf. The wine is smooth and rich on the palate and it offers a cleaning touch of acidity on the finish. | | 87 | 23 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | La Fornace 2007 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | La Fornace |
36415 | 36414 | US | Currants, black and red, are the dominant flavors of this drily elegant wine. You'll also find notes of briary blackberries and dark, unsweetened baker's chocolate. Best in the next few years before it loses fruity freshness. | | 87 | 24 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Lake Sonoma 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Lake Sonoma |
36416 | 36415 | US | The curve on this wine has been going up and up, and this '09 is their best yet. It's bone dry and savory in acids, with ultraclean citrus, mineral and white flower flavors. Just delicious as a cocktail sipper. | | 87 | 10 | California | Lake County | | | | Line 39 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Line 39 |
36417 | 36416 | Italy | This blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo offers a nose of berry fruit and light almond shadings backed by an easy, informal mouthfeel. Pair this fruit-driven red with pasta or pizza. | Fossetti | 87 | 12 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Mocali 2008 Fossetti Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Mocali |
36418 | 36417 | US | As always with Morgan's Pinot Gris, the 2009 is bone dry and ultracrisp in acidity, with mouthwatering citrus, apricot and green apple flavors. Great as a cocktail sipper, especially with shrimp cocktail. | R&D; Franscioni Vineyard | 87 | 17 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Morgan 2009 R&D; Franscioni Vineyard Pinot Gris (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Gris | Morgan |
36419 | 36418 | US | Clean and crisp in acidity, this polished PG features citrus fruit, pear, white flower and spice flavors. It's a racy, mouth-cleansing wine that's nice as an apéritif as the day comes to a close. | | 87 | 12 | California | California | California Other | | | Murphy-Goode 2008 Pinot Grigio (California) | Pinot Grigio | Murphy-Goode |
36420 | 36419 | US | Hooray for Novy for producing this fine, inexpensive wine and for putting their name proudly on it, instead of hiding behind a second label. It's dry and crisp and totally drinkable, with pleasant berry, cherry and spice flavors. | Four Mile Creek | 87 | 9 | California | North Coast | North Coast | | | Novy 2008 Four Mile Creek Red (North Coast) | Red Blend | Novy |