| 38610 | 38609 | US | Warmly sensuous in the mouth, this gentle and attractive Pinot Noir offers soft fruit, a mix of berries and plums, that slides gracefully across the palate. It's dappled with light hints of cracker and chocolate, and the balance is maintained until the very end, where there is a finishing heat spike from the 14.5% alcohol. | | 88 | 20 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Plowbuster 2008 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Plowbuster |
| 38581 | 38580 | US | This is a nice, plush Cabernet, soft and sweet in blackberry, currant and chocolate fruit flavors, but it's not a classic example of Mount Veeder Cabs, which are usually drier and more tannic. Drink in the short term. | | 87 | 86 | California | Mount Veeder | Napa | | | Atlas Peak 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mount Veeder) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak |
| 38582 | 38581 | Argentina | A touch of green is present on the bouquet, while cassis and raspberry aromas fill in the blanks. The palate is creamy and a touch sticky, with raspberry, plum and coconut flavors. A good wine with limitations; it's smooth but unctuous, with a full mouthfeel and good, familiar flavors. | Mayoral Grande Reserve | 87 | 32 | Mendoza Province | Luján de Cuyo | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Hacienda del Plata 2005 Mayoral Grande Reserve Malbec (Luján de Cuyo) | Malbec | Hacienda del Plata |
| 38583 | 38582 | US | A very nice, elegant and clean Cab that shows plenty of coastal climate balance. Fully dry, it has oak-accented flavors of blackberries, currants, mocha and spice. Good buy at this fair price. | | 87 | 17 | California | Mendocino-Lake County-Napa | North Coast | | | Hess 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino-Lake County-Napa) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Hess |
| 38584 | 38583 | Italy | Here's a young, fruity and easygoing expression of Syrah with aromas of crushed blueberries and chalky mineral nuances. The wine has good density and berry flavors, making for an approachable and correct companion to stay-home dinners. | Case Ibidini | 87 | 17 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Valle dell'Acate 2007 Case Ibidini Syrah (Sicilia) | Syrah | Valle dell'Acate |
| 38585 | 38584 | US | Elegant rather than powerful, this Chard has tropical fruit, apricot and oak flavors wrapped into a creamy texture. It turns sweet and spicy, like vanilla custard, on the finish. | Bien Nacido Vineyard Unbridled | 87 | 24 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Wild Horse 2007 Bien Nacido Vineyard Unbridled Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) | Chardonnay | Wild Horse |
| 38586 | 38585 | Italy | This is a succulent and juicy red wine with pretty cherry nuances, mature prune and spice. The wine tastes slightly sweet and offers clean flavors of blueberry and bright red fruit on the close. | | 86 | 10 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Cusumano 2007 Merlot (Sicilia) | Merlot | Cusumano |
| 38587 | 38586 | France | A deliciously light, fresh rosé, its crisp raspberry flavors enhanced by acidity. The finish is a full burst of fruit salad. | Rosé | 86 | 16 | Loire Valley | Touraine | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine des Corbillières 2007 Rosé Pinot Noir (Touraine) | Pinot Noir | Domaine des Corbillières |
| 38588 | 38587 | France | An herbal Sauvignon that is fresh and on the lean side. The flavors are of crisp green apples, very fruity, with a structure of lime zest and vivid acidity on the finish. Screwcap. | | 86 | 10 | Southwest France | Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Tariquet 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne) | Sauvignon Blanc | Domaine du Tariquet |
| 38589 | 38588 | Italy | Plump, ripe notes of blackberry jam, prune, spice cake, tobacco and black tea steal the show and make for a very prominent, sweet and intense nose. The mouthfeel is less bulky but it does offer the length you should expect. | | 86 | 9 | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | | | Farnese 2007 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | Montepulciano | Farnese |
| 38590 | 38589 | Italy | Here is a cheerful, distinctive Sangiovese with aromas that recall eucalyptus, blackberry, spice and cherry cola. It has personality and a clean, polished feel with succulent sweetness that would pair seamlessly with lamb marinated in rosemary olive oil. | | 86 | 9 | Central Italy | Terre di Chieti | | | | Farnese 2007 Sangiovese (Terre di Chieti) | Sangiovese | Farnese |
| 38591 | 38590 | US | Moderately ripe, with decent varietal character, this light and tart single vineyard offering tastes of simple berry/cherry fruit, with hints of more herbal elements. The finish gets chalky. | Sunnyside Vineyard | 86 | 40 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Amity 2006 Sunnyside Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Amity |
| 38592 | 38591 | US | Off-dry and fruity, this lively Riesling is notable for its strong honeysuckle scent and the follow-up flavors of lemon and honey. Its best flavors come on early; after a while it starts to recall a honey/lemon cough drop. | Wedding Dance | 86 | 20 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Amity 2006 Wedding Dance Riesling (Willamette Valley) | Riesling | Amity |
| 38593 | 38592 | Spain | Crisp and lean, with light, leafy aromas that aren't green but are not over-the-top ripe either. A nervy, agile wine with snappy red-fruit flavors of berry and apple skins. It finishes a little sharp and edgy, but honest. Call it a true crianza to drink with tapas. | Crianza | 86 | 16 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Faustino 2005 Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Faustino |
| 38594 | 38593 | Italy | There's an attractive, fruity quality to this wine that comes off in layers of cherry fruit, blueberry, almond paste and spice. Made with the robust Montepulciano grape, this wine takes a more delicate and tender approach. | | 86 | 13 | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | | | Capestrano 2006 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | Montepulciano | Capestrano |
| 38595 | 38594 | US | Lovely natural acidity keeps this sweet wine light on its feet, underscoring the honeyed pear fruit flavors with grapefruit and a hint of minerality. For a wine in this price range, with 11,000 case production levels, it's a marvelous achievement. | Special Harvest | 88 | 10 | Idaho | | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Ste. Chapelle 2008 Special Harvest Riesling | Riesling | Ste. Chapelle |
| 38596 | 38595 | US | A chewy, high-acid take on Merlot, with a strong herbal note to the tannins. It might almost pass for Carmenère. The fruit flavors are subdued but ripe enough, and the alcohol touches 14.7%. This is the sort of muscular Merlot that can take the place of Cabernet alongside a grilled steak. | Seven Hills Vineyard | 88 | 28 | Oregon | Walla Walla Valley (OR) | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Tempus Cellars 2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot (Walla Walla Valley (OR)) | Merlot | Tempus Cellars |
| 38597 | 38596 | US | Strawberry preserves, leather and chocolate are all in the mix here, nicely mingled and mutually supportive. This is a sinuous, fleshy, fruit-driven wine, but there's plenty of chocolaty oak in the soft, lightly peppery finish. Forward and appealing, this is one to enjoy right now. | Treehouse | 88 | 28 | Oregon | Dundee Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Vista Hills 2008 Treehouse Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills) | Pinot Noir | Vista Hills |
| 38598 | 38597 | US | Still young and pulling itself together, this barrel-fermented Chardonnay already has a soft, lush, appealing mouthfeel. Flavors build upon barrel toast, butter and caramel, with clean green fruits and a hint of nut oil in the finish. | Dijon Clone | 88 | 20 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Dijon Clone Chardonnay (Willamette Valley) | Chardonnay | Willamette Valley Vineyards |
| 38599 | 38598 | Australia | A big, burly, concentrated Grenache, Yangarra's High Sands bottling seems capable of evolving nicely over the next 3–5 years, although it is supple enough to drink now. Black cherry preserves gain structure on the finish in the form of finely dusty tannins. | High Sands | 88 | 80 | South Australia | McLaren Vale | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2006 High Sands Grenache (McLaren Vale) | Grenache | Yangarra Estate Vineyard |
| 38600 | 38599 | France | Another wacky Riesling from Marc Kreydenweiss, this one somehow works. There's Asian spice here and an odd collection of oxidative aromas but also undeniable concentration and good length. Serve this unusual wine by itself or with Indian fare. | Le Château Kastelberg Grand Cru | 88 | 105 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Marc Kreydenweiss 2007 Le Château Kastelberg Grand Cru Riesling (Alsace) | Riesling | Marc Kreydenweiss |
| 38601 | 38600 | Spain | Falls into the dark and roasted category, with aromas of leather, black fruits and toast. The palate is saturated and full, with dark, roasted black fruit, molasses and spice flavors. Warm on the finish almost to the point of being hot, but not quite. A very solid wine overall. | Crianza | 88 | 19 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Marques de Tomares 2006 Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Marques de Tomares |
| 38602 | 38601 | Italy | Mocali is a well-established estate in Montalcino and I Piaggioni is one of its super Tuscan wines. This youthful expression of Sangiovese offers hearty cherry aromas with loads of pretty spice and vanilla at the back. | I Piaggioni | 88 | 15 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Mocali 2008 I Piaggioni Sangiovese Grosso (Toscana) | Sangiovese Grosso | Mocali |
| 38603 | 38602 | US | Super-zesty in acidity, this unoaked Sauvignon Blanc also is dry and rich. It swamps the palate with lemon, lime, grapefruit, fig and green grass flavors that finish long and spicy. | Fou Fou le Blanc | 88 | 14 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Mutt Lynch 2009 Fou Fou le Blanc Sauvignon Blanc (Central Coast) | Sauvignon Blanc | Mutt Lynch |
| 38604 | 38603 | Australia | A remarkable value, Oxford Landing's GSM is a convincing argument in favor of blending. It offers a complex mélange of leather, spice and cherry notes, medium body and a fresh, vivacious finish. Considering it can probably be found for around $80 per case, this would make a great everyday wine for drinking over the next year or so. | GSM Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre | 88 | 8 | South Australia | South Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Oxford Landing 2007 GSM Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre G-S-M (South Australia) | G-S-M | Oxford Landing |
| 38605 | 38604 | Spain | Snappy and a little green on the nose, with hints of juniper and green apple. The palate is perfectly good but nothing special, while the flavors of apple and citrus are punchy and pure. Frothy but controlled, with lots of flavor and forward kick. Apéritif city! | Brut Reserva | 88 | 13 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Juvé y Camps 2006 Brut Reserva Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Juvé y Camps |
| 38606 | 38605 | Spain | Smooth, fresh aromas suggest apple blossoms and sea air. The palate offers a proper zesty mouthfeel, zingy acidity, natural creaminess and nice flavors of green apple, sour melon and pineapple. At the end, lemony zap and lemongrass grace the finish. | | 88 | 16 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | La Caña 2009 Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | La Caña |
| 38607 | 38606 | Italy | Here's a simple but genuine rendition of Brunello with measured aromas of cherry, wild berry and Indian spice. There's more personality in the mouth, however, where the wine shows a soft, supple and smooth texture. | | 88 | 72 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | La Togata 2005 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | La Togata |
| 38608 | 38607 | France | A quirky wine, but largely successful, with upfront tones of clove-spiced orange peel and baking bread followed by dried fruit notes in the mouth. The long finish is on the sweet side and winds down to a note of Asian candy. | Le Moine Mœnchberg Grand Cru | 88 | 55 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Marc Kreydenweiss 2007 Le Moine Mœnchberg Grand Cru Pinot Gris (Alsace) | Pinot Gris | Marc Kreydenweiss |
| 38609 | 38608 | US | This is a very big, extractedly fruity Bordeaux blend. Right now, it's tannic and sharp and dry, but it has explosive blackberry, black currant and dark chocolate flavors. Rather too angular and awkward for complete enjoyment, but cellar for 4–6 years and try again. | Non Plus Ultra | 88 | 65 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Paoletti 2007 Non Plus Ultra Red (Napa Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Paoletti |