| 3871 | 3870 | France | A finely crafted wine, its tight acidity generating a very fresh profile. There is an intensity of fruit as well as a mineral texture. For aging. Screwcap. | Clos de Saint-Yves | 91 | | Loire Valley | Savennières | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine des Baumard 2007 Clos de Saint-Yves (Savennières) | Chenin Blanc | Domaine des Baumard |
| 3872 | 3871 | Germany | The Thanisch wines from the Doctor vineyard rarely stand out in our magazine's blind tastings, making their value proposition questionable. That said, this is a finely elegant wine, with floral details on the nose and enduring stony notes on the finish that mark it as something special. At only 7.5% abv, you'd expect an intensely sweet wine, but the sugars are amply buffered by acids and minerality, so the overall impression is one of richness without excessive weight rather than sugary sweetness. | Berncasteler Doctor Auslese | 91 | 84 | Mosel | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Thanisch) 2009 Berncasteler Doctor Auslese Riesling (Mosel) | Riesling | Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Thanisch) |
| 3873 | 3872 | US | A real bruiser of a Zinfandel, dark in color, dry and tannic, brimming with massive flavors of wild blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate and pie spices. The tannins are hard, in the way of this mountain. Drink Now–2013 before it loses fresh fruit. | | 91 | 37 | California | Howell Mountain | Napa | | | Elyse 2007 Zinfandel (Howell Mountain) | Zinfandel | Elyse |
| 3874 | 3873 | US | A blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier, this was made in the passito style—grapes were dried to concentrate sugars, then pressed and fermented. The result is a terrific and unusual dessert wine, with candied fruits mixing papaya, guava, banana, Meyer lemon and more. The center is simply lush and fruity; the finish tails off gently with a honeyed kiss. | Passito | 91 | 28 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Francis Tannahill 2008 Passito White (Oregon) | Rhône-style White Blend | Francis Tannahill |
| 3875 | 3874 | US | Smooth as silk, all estate-grown, this classy Pinot lists five Dijon clones, Pommard, Wadenswil and “Suitcase clone La Tache” on its tech sheet. Vibrant and spicy, with cherries galore (sounds like a James Bond heroine) and a round, full, lush and satisfying mouthfeel. This is the one to drink now, while you cellar the Cuvée Giselle. | Lachini Family Estate | 91 | 45 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lachini 2008 Lachini Family Estate Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Lachini |
| 3876 | 3875 | Italy | Named for a beautifully restored castle and boutique hotel in Abruzzo, this beautiful Italian white (made with Trebbiano grapes) shows a delicious creamy texture with abundant aromas of stone fruit, honey and toasted almond. The wine is thick and textured on the close. | Castello di Semivicoli | 91 | 50 | Central Italy | Trebbiano d'Abruzzo | | | | Masciarelli 2007 Castello di Semivicoli (Trebbiano d'Abruzzo) | Trebbiano | Masciarelli |
| 3877 | 3876 | US | A nice, everyday Pinot, with a properly silky texture. The cherry, cola, red licorice and bacon flavors are satisfyingly rich, with elaborate oak overtones. It's a pretty good value in an under-$20 Pinot Noir. | Reserve | 86 | 18 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Castle Rock 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Castle Rock |
| 3878 | 3877 | France | Somewhat hard-edged wine, showing the sharpness of young Chenin Blanc. It has a future, though, as this edge drops away, because there is some good weight as well as bright fresh final acidity. Keep for several months. | Brut | 86 | 17 | Loire Valley | Crémant de Loire | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Moncontour NV Brut Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay (Crémant de Loire) | Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay | Château Moncontour |
| 3879 | 3878 | US | Very rich, ripe and oaky, but something of a fruit-oak bomb. Blasts the palate with pineapple jam, toasty meringue, caramel and buttered toast aromas and flavors. Lacks subtlety. | | 86 | 36 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Derbes 2006 Chardonnay (Carneros) | Chardonnay | Derbes |
| 3880 | 3879 | US | With no oak, this wine's inherent fruit stars, showing citrus, melons and peaches. With crisp acidity, it's clean, brisk and entirely dry, despite relatively low alcohol. But it's strong in those perfumed pyrazines that turn some people off. | | 86 | 18 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | Frog's Leap 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Rutherford) | Sauvignon Blanc | Frog's Leap |
| 3881 | 3880 | Australia | Juicy and extracted, with bright jam tones and an open-knit structure. There's plenty of berry fruit here and a nice plum tone to the palate that carries over to the fleeting finish. A good choice for a big crowd. | | 86 | 12 | South Australia | South Australia | | | | Hellbent 2008 Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon (South Australia) | Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon | Hellbent |
| 3882 | 3881 | US | At 2.3% residual sugar, this is nicely balanced between sweet and dry. The fruit links peach, apricot and pear with a honey in tea streak that carries into the finish. | | 86 | 10 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Washington Hills 2008 Riesling (Washington) | Riesling | Washington Hills |
| 3883 | 3882 | Portugal | Great nutty aromas come from the glass and follow into the palate of this sweeter style of white Port. It is rich, packed with almonds and a tangy orange zest edge. | White Reserva | 86 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Ramos-Pinto NV White Reserva (Port) | White Port | Ramos-Pinto |
| 3884 | 3883 | Italy | Here's a light and refreshing Rosso di Montalcino with sharp notes of berry, cherry, wet earth and violets. You'll also get some distant mineral tones that add dimension and personality. Pair this easy-drinking wine with your favorite home-cooked pasta dishes. | | 86 | | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | Sesti 2008 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Sesti |
| 3885 | 3884 | US | This red wine, named for the chef at the winery restaurant, is fruity and high-toned, with lots of cherry and berry flavor. All neutral oak, soft tannins, ready to drink. | Frank Chiullino Chef Blend Red | 86 | 55 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Tagaris 2007 Frank Chiullino Chef Blend Red Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | Tagaris |
| 3886 | 3885 | Spain | Aromas of fresh tomato, citrus peel and red fruits are a touch austere, but the mouth and flavors are more generous. The palate is well balanced and the flavors run sweet, ripe and chewy, with berry fruit and creamy licorice notes on the finish. A blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Garnacha from Catalonia. | | 86 | 12 | Catalonia | Terra Alta | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Las Colinas Del Ebro 2008 Syrah-Grenache (Terra Alta) | Syrah-Grenache | Las Colinas Del Ebro |
| 3887 | 3886 | Australia | A solid value, the Marquee Victoria Chardonnay has an appealing restraint, hitting pretty high notes on the nose but turning serious and weighty in the mouth. The cream and papaya flavors reach a nice intensity before fading to a mouthwatering finish of guava and pine nuts. Drink now. | Classic | 86 | 12 | Victoria | Victoria | | | | Marquee 2008 Classic Chardonnay (Victoria) | Chardonnay | Marquee |
| 3888 | 3887 | Spain | Definitely an herbal wine, with tomato, oregano, pizza sauce and savory aromas. The palate has good snap and verve to it, while the feel is on the lean side. Flavors of baked berry, earth, caramel and coffee ring true, and the dry, toffee-tinged finish is a nice ending. Ready to go now. | Reserva | 86 | 12 | Central Spain | Valdepeñas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Anciano 2003 Reserva Tempranillo (Valdepeñas) | Tempranillo | Anciano |
| 3889 | 3888 | US | As with the Avery Lane Merlot, this is a rather complex blend, here including Syrah, Cab Franc and Lemberger. Fruity and spicy, with strawberry and cherry candy flavors. Very pleasing picnic wine. | | 86 | 10 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Avery Lane 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Avery Lane |
| 3890 | 3889 | US | A nice, rich Sauvignon Blanc for drinking now with lots of different kinds of foods. With some new oak, it has fruity-sweet flavors of limes, Meyer lemons, apricots and lemongrass, with a tang of gooseberry. | Estate | 86 | 23 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Beltane Ranch 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Beltane Ranch |
| 3891 | 3890 | Spain | Tight and largely neutral white fruit aromas show a little apple but little more. The palate is friendly and easy, with melon as the lead flavor. Turns more citrusy and weighty on the finish, which fades fast. | Viña do Campo | 86 | 18 | Galicia | Ribeiro | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Docampo 2008 Viña do Campo White (Ribeiro) | White Blend | Bodegas Docampo |
| 3892 | 3891 | Portugal | A fresh-faced wine, bright with berry fruits, a light layer of tannins and a soft, easy texture. There is some stalkiness but this is great as a delicious, easy wine. | Chaminé | 86 | 12 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Cortes de Cima 2009 Chaminé Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Cortes de Cima |
| 3893 | 3892 | US | Rich in berry, cherry, cola, pepper and sandalwood flavors, but a bit off in texture. Feels jagged and angular, with some green tannins. Ready now. | Crane Ranch Vineyard | 86 | 36 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Crane Brothers 2006 Crane Ranch Vineyard Syrah (Napa Valley) | Syrah | Crane Brothers |
| 3894 | 3893 | US | Very oaky and very ripe, offering a flood of pineapple jam, pear, vanilla and toasty oak flavors. Crisp acidity provides needed balance and a clean, brisk mouthfeel. | Cool Coastal Vineyards | 86 | 18 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | De Loach 2008 Cool Coastal Vineyards Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) | Chardonnay | De Loach |
| 3895 | 3894 | France | Showing pure tropical fruits with a squeeze of lemon, this is a ripe, tasty wine, maybe a little short on acidity, but bringing out ripe lychee and mango flavors. | Les Bornés | 86 | | Loire Valley | Menetou-Salon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Henry Pellé 2008 Les Bornés (Menetou-Salon) | Sauvignon Blanc | Domaine Henry Pellé |
| 3896 | 3895 | Spain | Darker and earthier than most basic Garnachas, with aromas of compost, baked earth, crusty black fruits and leather. The palate has a nice, ripe, bodied feel, while flavors of blackberry and boysenberry bring just the slightest hint of herbal green. Toasty and solid on the finish. | Kickass | 86 | 13 | Northern Spain | Cariñena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | El Burro 2008 Kickass Garnacha (Cariñena) | Garnacha | El Burro |
| 3897 | 3896 | US | Showing the hard tannins and dryness of a young Petite Sirah, this is the kind of wine you normally would cellar. But there's a little streak of green unripeness that suggests aging will lead nowhere. So drink it now with big, lusty fare. | Fazekas | 86 | 34 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Enkidu 2006 Fazekas Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) | Petite Sirah | Enkidu |
| 3898 | 3897 | Spain | Opens with common berry fruit aromas as well as a medicinal, minty note. The palate has short length and definition along with bouncy medium-depth berry flavors. Warm, simple touches of licorice and mint define the finish. A blend of 60% Monastrell with 20% each Syrah and Tempranillo. | Roble | 86 | 15 | Levante | Yecla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valle de Salinas 2008 Roble Red (Yecla) | Red Blend | Valle de Salinas |
| 3899 | 3898 | US | A very nice, likeable and super-drinkable Sauvignon Blanc, at an everyday price. Nicely crisp and just slightly sweet, it shows fruity flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, pears and melons. | | 86 | 12 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Villa San Juliette 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Paso Robles) | Sauvignon Blanc | Villa San Juliette |
| 3900 | 3899 | US | Barrel-fermented in neutral wood, this gives a quick whiff of buttered croissant, then dives into a moderately ripe palate with lime, pineapple and lemon rind. It's an all-purpose and appealing wine that is drinking nicely right now. | Barrel Fermented | 87 | 25 | Oregon | Applegate Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Plaisance Ranch 2014 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (Applegate Valley) | Chardonnay | Plaisance Ranch |