| 37621 | 37620 | US | This is a white Rhône blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, and it shows exuberant fruit and a nice, spicy richness. The flavors of apricots, pears and pineapples have a caramelized, honeyed finish. | V Cuvée | 87 | 32 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Vixen 2006 V Cuvée White (Santa Barbara County) | Rhône-style White Blend | Vixen |
| 37622 | 37621 | US | This bistro-style red is dry and lusty in cherry, tobacco and spice flavors. The winery has not revealed what varieties are in it, but it tastes like a juicy, old-fashioned field blend, and will go well with a range of fare. | The Villain | 87 | 29 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Vixen NV The Villain Red (Santa Barbara County) | Red Blend | Vixen |
| 37623 | 37622 | Austria | While this wine has the right piercing, shattering acidity of an eiswein, there's a toffee/caramel element that takes away from its purity. Perfumes are good, and there's a lively touch of white fruit. | Kellermeister Privat Eiswein | 87 | 35 | Niederösterreich | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Winzer Krems 2005 Kellermeister Privat Eiswein Riesling (Niederösterreich) | Riesling | Winzer Krems |
| 37624 | 37623 | Italy | This is one of the more exotic Barberas. The dark fruit is mixed with scents of licorice, curry and violets. On the palate, there is plenty of dark fruit, but it still retains its likeable spicy character. Although the finish is short to medium, this is a pleasant wine, and a natural match with a good juicy steak. | Torriglione | 87 | 17 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Alba | | | | Renato Ratti 2005 Torriglione (Barbera d'Alba) | Barbera | Renato Ratti |
| 37625 | 37624 | Austria | A simple but delicious Grüner Veltliner from terraced vineyards above the city of Stein. It's very fresh, but has a full-textured character, with kiwis and some spice. The finish is delicious clear and green. Glass stopper. | Hochterrassen | 87 | 18 | Kremstal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Salomon-Undhof 2006 Hochterrassen Grüner Veltliner (Kremstal) | Grüner Veltliner | Salomon-Undhof |
| 37626 | 37625 | Italy | Le Mie Donne has a complex nose of smoked meat, musky fruit and earthiness. Although they carry through to the palate, they come in a less intense form, and the finish is short to medium. Could have used a little more concentration, but a pleasant complex wine. | Le Mie Donne | 87 | 24 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Alba | | | | Cascina Adelaide 2004 Le Mie Donne (Barbera d'Alba) | Barbera | Cascina Adelaide |
| 37627 | 37626 | Italy | This is lighter Barbera showing a pleasant very ripe, plummy character. The wine has evolved early, and gives a seamless backdrop to the pretty flavors of spice and Christmas pudding. Easygoing and complex. Imported by MW Imports. | | 87 | 15 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Alba | | | | Pertinace 2005 Barbera d'Alba | Barbera | Pertinace |
| 37628 | 37627 | US | There's a reason why Syrah is on a roll in America, and it's wines like this that make the case. Soft and juicy, it's a mellow, sensual wine, with a taffeta mouthfeel that carries rich flavors of cherry-pie filling, red licorice and vanilla oak that are delicious and worthy of a second glass. | | 87 | 16 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Bishop's Peak 2004 Syrah (Edna Valley) | Syrah | Bishop's Peak |
| 37629 | 37628 | US | A pretty cherry red, this tart young wine tastes like fresh raspberries and cherries. It is compactly built, varietal and clean, with a crisply-defined finish. | | 87 | 22 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Airfield Estates 2005 Merlot (Yakima Valley) | Merlot | Airfield Estates |
| 37630 | 37629 | France | Full, rich, quite heavy in style, this is only just brut, with its crushed strawberry flavor and low acidity. It works, as a fine wine for a red-fruit dessert, the balance remaining right up to the very soft aftertaste. | Blason Brut Rosé | 87 | 80 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Perrier Jouët NV Blason Brut Rosé (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Perrier Jouët |
| 37631 | 37630 | Italy | From one of the best producers in the little-traveled region of Molise on Italy's Adriatic flank, this wine shows the far reaches of the Aglianico grape in southern Italy. This expression shows bright fruit tones of blackberry and cherry, backed by velvety tannins. | Contado Riserva | 88 | 17 | Southern Italy | Molise | | | | Di Majo Norante 2010 Contado Riserva Aglianico (Molise) | Aglianico | Di Majo Norante |
| 37632 | 37631 | US | A two-vintage blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the Deep River Red has a roasted character that's dark and flavorful, with notes of cassis, coffee and cacao. It's full bodied and dense, with notes of graphite and pepper. | Deep River Red | 88 | 29 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Flying Trout 2009 Deep River Red Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Flying Trout |
| 37633 | 37632 | Portugal | This is big, ripe and fruity, with noticeable black- and red-cherry notes. It has balanced tannins and, though relatively dry in character, is likely to develop quickly. | Vintage | 88 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Rozes 2010 Vintage (Port) | Port | Rozes |
| 37634 | 37633 | Italy | Youthful and bright, Oltremé gives a new perspective to the Susumaniello grape. This demonstrates an informal style, which emphasizes the integrity of the fresh fruit flavors—cherry, blackberry and plum—which are surrounded by a soft, velvety texture. | Oltremé | 88 | 18 | Southern Italy | Salento | | | | Tenute Rubino 2011 Oltremé Susumaniello (Salento) | Susumaniello | Tenute Rubino |
| 37635 | 37634 | Italy | The white variety of Pallagrello is a rare native grape, which is found in only a handful of spots in southern Italy. This wine shows very nice structure and creaminess, with a touch of fresh acidity on the finish. | Fontanavigna | 88 | 31 | Southern Italy | Terre del Volturno | | | | Terre del Principe 2011 Fontanavigna Pallagrello (Terre del Volturno) | Pallagrello | Terre del Principe |
| 37636 | 37635 | US | Chalky tannins override the deep, black-cherry flavor. Cassis and licorice streaks are also present, and there is no quibble with the concentration. Perhaps more bottle age will smooth out the chalky finish. | Champoux Vineyard | 88 | 39 | Washington | Horse Heaven Hills | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Three Rivers 2009 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Three Rivers |
| 37637 | 37636 | US | The Flash Point is a new name for the familiar Trio Reserve, which uses grapes that are sourced entirely from the Boushey Vineyard. Here the toasty oak barrel flavors dominate, while the fruit tends toward a light strawberry flavor, with more mocha than grape flavor. | Flash Point Reserve | 88 | 28 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Trio Vintners 2010 Flash Point Reserve Sangiovese (Yakima Valley) | Sangiovese | Trio Vintners |
| 37638 | 37637 | France | Big and powerful tannins give this wine a dry, dense and extracted feel. Black fruits power through the structure, offering a rich experience. No shy violet, this is a wine with considerable concentration and aging potential. | Château Ballan-Larquette | 88 | 15 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Vignobles Chaigne et Fils 2010 Château Ballan-Larquette (Bordeaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Vignobles Chaigne et Fils |
| 37639 | 37638 | France | Winemaker Jacques Grange produces relatively small quantities of this blend of 70% Grenache and 10% each of Bourboulenc, Clairette and Viognier. It's moderately weighty, but also refreshing, with bright notes of pineapple, star anise and balsam fir. Drink it over the next six months. | Saint-Esprit | 88 | 12 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Delas Frères 2010 Saint-Esprit White (Côtes du Rhône) | Rhône-style White Blend | Delas Frères |
| 37640 | 37639 | Germany | Initial waves of charred oak and smoke impose against a delicate backdrop of black cherry and bramble, but fruity and herbaceous green flavors come through nicely on the midpalate, layered with hints of earthy mushrooms and dusty minerals. | Hecklinger Schlossberg R GG Trocken | 87 | 138 | Baden | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Huber 2009 Hecklinger Schlossberg R GG Trocken Spätburgunder (Baden) | Spätburgunder | Huber |
| 37641 | 37640 | Argentina | Spice, mint, herb, raspberry and currant aromas form a good nose. Things run a bit choppy and rough on the palate, but overall it works, bearing roasted berry and herb influences, with grabby tannins. This is a full, stocky, spicy and mildly green-leaning Cabernet. | 1300 | 87 | 15 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Andeluna 2010 1300 Cabernet Sauvignon (Uco Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Andeluna |
| 37642 | 37641 | France | Full bodied and rich, this has flavors of apple and lemon, with a warm and ripe feel that is balanced by a final mineral character. It needs several months to come together. | Mouton Cadet | 87 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Baron Philippe de Rothschild 2011 Mouton Cadet (Bordeaux Blanc) | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Baron Philippe de Rothschild |
| 37643 | 37642 | US | This is aged in 100% new American oak, putting tight berry and cassis flavors behind plenty of dried herb notes and astringent tannins. Fine for drinking with a thick steak, but not so much for sipping on its own. | | 87 | 45 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Barons V 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Barons V |
| 37644 | 37643 | Spain | Spunky and mildly abrasive on the nose, this has some punch and character. It feels fresh, lean and narrow, with a traditional Rioja mix of herb-influenced red-fruit and dry spice notes. The mild finish offers tobacco and raspberry flavors. | Reserva | 87 | 23 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Castillo Labastida 2006 Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Castillo Labastida |
| 37645 | 37644 | Spain | This wine smells baked and rasiny, and the bouquet brings charcoal and toast notes into play. It feels mature and ready, with raisin, molasses, chocolate and rooty berry flavors. Ripe and ready on the finish. The blend is Garnacha, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now. | Bonfill | 87 | 45 | Northern Spain | Empordà | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Celler Arché Pagès 2007 Bonfill Red (Empordà) | Red Blend | Celler Arché Pagès |
| 37646 | 37645 | France | Overripe, this seems like an oddly structured wine. The fruit is buried under the wood influence and tannins, which introduce a licorice character. | | 87 | | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Clos de Sarpe 2008 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Clos de Sarpe |
| 37647 | 37646 | France | The wood, with its heavy toast and licorice flavors, is dominant. That element makes for a wine that has weight but loses its fruit amid the firm extraction. | | 87 | 34 | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Fombrauge 2009 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Fombrauge |
| 37648 | 37647 | US | This is a single-vineyard Chard grown on Westside Road, in the heart of the northern valley's Pinot country. It's a very elaborated wine, high in acidity, showing tiers of tart green apple, Kaffir lime, pear, smoky oak, and Champagne-like lees and brioche flavors. Just great, and should hold for six years or more. | Westside Farms | 94 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Gary Farrell 2005 Westside Farms Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) | Chardonnay | Gary Farrell |
| 37649 | 37648 | US | This is a new single-vineyard bottling for Goldeneye, grown in the cooler Deep End western part of the valley. It's a feral kind of Pinot. Not for it the tame fruit of warmer climates. This one brims with wild berries: cherries, raspberries, something animal and leathery, and mossy tastes of balsam and tar. For all that explosion, the wine's tannins and acids keep it controlled and balanced, and it never loses its silky lightness. Best now and for six years or so. | Gowan Creek Vineyard | 94 | 75 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Goldeneye 2005 Gowan Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) | Pinot Noir | Goldeneye |
| 37650 | 37649 | Chile | Clos Apalta continues to push the envelope for Chilean icon wines. It's always been a blend of four or five Bordeaux grapes, and the 2005 is every bit as structured, tight and ripe as any predecessor. There is an intense blanket of new oak that tastes of mint, cinnamon, sawdust and black licorice. When that subsides (maybe in another 12 months), expect racy and complex berry flavors, pinpoint tannins and preserving acidity. Hold for another two years; then drink through 2014. | Clos Apalta | 94 | 75 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Lapostolle 2005 Clos Apalta Red (Colchagua Valley) | Red Blend | Lapostolle |