| 39271 | 39270 | US | From a superior block at the Red Willow vineyard, this pure Syrah was aged in 100% new French oak. It's concentrated and tangy, with wild berry fruit streaked with oolong tea, licorice, dark chocolate and coffee liqueur. | Red Willow Chapel Block | 91 | 45 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Barrage Cellars 2010 Red Willow Chapel Block Syrah (Yakima Valley) | Syrah | Barrage Cellars |
| 39272 | 39271 | Austria | Restraint on nose and palate gently leads to citrussy concentration. This is a classy, concentrated selection, with a backbone of fine acidity and very fine, persistent bubbles—both are the must-have attributes of a good apéritif. The long, dry finish will impress those in the know. | Extra Brut | 91 | 22 | Österreichischer Sekt | | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Bründlmayer NV Extra Brut Sparkling (Österreichischer Sekt) | Sparkling Blend | Bründlmayer |
| 39273 | 39272 | US | Full of delicious dark-fruit flavors, this is smooth and deep, comforting but sophisticated. The fruit flavors are ripe and satisfying, the texture is velvety and broad, the body is full but not heavy. | Hawk Creek | 91 | 18 | California | Fair Play | Sierra Foothills | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Charles B. Mitchell 2012 Hawk Creek Zinfandel (Fair Play) | Zinfandel | Charles B. Mitchell |
| 39274 | 39273 | France | The Négrette grape, found almost exclusively in the Fronton appellation near Toulouse, has produced a firm, wood-aged, ripe wine that's packed with attractive juicy red fruits, spice and acidity. The wine has a more serious side, with tannins that will allow it to age. Drink from 2016. | La Guillotte | 91 | 19 | Southwest France | Fronton | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Bouissel 2012 La Guillotte Negrette (Fronton) | Negrette | Château Bouissel |
| 39275 | 39274 | France | Undoubtedly one of the top wines from the Costières de Nîmes, this is 90% Mourvèdre, from the oldest vines on the estate, matured in oak for 18 months. It's dark and plummy, full bodied and richly textured, with hints of chocolate fudge and closet cedar. Drink now–2020. | La Bolida | 91 | 40 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château d'Or et de Gueules 2010 La Bolida Red (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château d'Or et de Gueules |
| 39276 | 39275 | US | Bright and alive in crisp pear and fresh citrus, this is a lovely, spicy Chardonnay, integrated and pleasing on the palate. The juicy fruit flavors delve into a creamy texture that lingers through to the finish. | Limited Release | 91 | 35 | California | Los Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Black Stallion 2012 Limited Release Chardonnay (Los Carneros) | Chardonnay | Black Stallion |
| 39277 | 39276 | France | The wine shows very ripe fruits that are now at their peak. It is rich, rounded with touches of spice, toast and mature berries. The acidity is now totally integrated into this full-bodied wine that is ready to drink. | Cuvée Grand Réserve | 91 | 12 | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Villages | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Lacarelle 2011 Cuvée Grand Réserve (Beaujolais-Villages) | Gamay | Château de Lacarelle |
| 39278 | 39277 | France | Proprietor Michel Gassier is turning out excellent values at all levels. This supple red blends 72% Grenache with 24% Syrah and 4% Mourvèdre. Raspberry and rhubarb notes on the nose give way to flavors of ripe cherries, baking spices and dried herbs. The finish is long and velvety. Drink now–2020. | Vieilles Vignes | 91 | 15 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château de Nages 2011 Vieilles Vignes Red (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château de Nages |
| 39279 | 39278 | France | Very young, this is currently all about juicy black fruits and accompanying tannins. It should develop well to give a richly structured wine that has both fruits and a dark, mineral character, hinting at wood aging. Drink from 2018. | Grande Réserve | 91 | 60 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Laur 2012 Grande Réserve Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Château Laur |
| 39280 | 39279 | US | A classic Cab blended with smaller handfuls of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, this 2011 is balanced and supple in plum, cassis and minty chocolate. The oak is accented in pretty ways by clove, sage and cardamom spice. Structured and soft, the finish is lengthy and the wine perfectly capable of waiting until 2019–2021 in a cellar. | | 91 | 70 | California | Stags Leap District | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Cliff Lede 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cliff Lede |
| 39281 | 39280 | France | Now mature, this smoky, wood-aged wine is rich and complex. It has firm and dry tannins that are typical of the Tannat although these are a part of a solid, dark wine. The aftertaste brings out a perfumed, rich side that is attractive. The wine is ready to drink. | Terre à Terre | 91 | 38 | Southwest France | Gers | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine de Gensac 2008 Terre à Terre Tannat (Gers) | Tannat | Domaine de Gensac |
| 39282 | 39281 | US | Pronounced Kay-lee, this Syrah is unabashedly funky. If you like a wine with generous aromas of barnyard and garden, along with potent, ripe, berry-laden fruit, this delivers in spades. Barrel aging adds chocolate and dark espresso character to the finish. | Ceidleigh | 91 | 39 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Efeste 2011 Ceidleigh Syrah (Red Mountain) | Syrah | Efeste |
| 39283 | 39282 | New Zealand | Not only does this wine show off some attractive floral notes, it also delivers that supple texture so desired in Pinot Noir. Mocha, herb and black cherry notes all make appearances, but the fruit dominates, gliding into a long, silky finish. Drink now–2017. | | 91 | 39 | Marlborough | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Greywacke 2011 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) | Pinot Noir | Greywacke |
| 39284 | 39283 | New Zealand | This wine exhibits pristine Syrah character from the first whiffs of cracked peppercorns, herbs and berries. It's only medium to full bodied, yet finishes long, picking up hints of espresso as it fades. | Elspeth Gimblett Gravels | 91 | 45 | Hawke's Bay | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Mills Reef 2010 Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Syrah (Hawke's Bay) | Syrah | Mills Reef |
| 39285 | 39284 | Argentina | Murky, stewy, soupy aromas deliver little to no freshness or fruit, while the palate is tannic and tastes bitter, mildly weedy and minty. Seems roasted and devoid of quality. Unclean and unimpressive. | Vástago de Gea | 80 | 15 | Mendoza Province | Luján de Cuyo | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Staphyle 2008 Vástago de Gea Cabernet Sauvignon (Luján de Cuyo) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Staphyle |
| 39286 | 39285 | Argentina | Smells like corn stalks and also of oxidation. The palate is wet but shapeless, and the flavors are waxy and jumbled. It's yet another pass-it-by, underperforming Mendoza Chardonnay. | | 80 | 14 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cinco Sentidos 2009 Chardonnay (Mendoza) | Chardonnay | Cinco Sentidos |
| 39287 | 39286 | Italy | A perfect wine from a classic vintage, the 2007 Masseto (100% Merlot from a 17-acre vineyard of the same name) opens with an unabashedly opulent bouquet of delicious blackberry, cherry, chocolate, vanilla, exotic spice and cinnamon. Masseto excels both in terms of quality of fruit and winemaking and delivers plush, velvety tannins and an extra long, supple finish. It will make a special and valuable collection to your cellar. | Masseto | 100 | 460 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2007 Masseto Merlot (Toscana) | Merlot | Tenuta dell'Ornellaia |
| 39288 | 39287 | Italy | Here's a “wow” wine you won't easily forget. Messorio is all Merlot, and happily delivers the softness, richness and overall opulence that we love in this noble grape variety. What elevates this particular expression and vintage is the true elegance and sophistication evident here. This is a huge wine, but it's not exaggerated and the finish is as long and smooth as they come. | Messorio | 99 | 320 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Le Macchiole 2007 Messorio Merlot (Toscana) | Merlot | Le Macchiole |
| 39289 | 39288 | France | The palate opens slowly, offering an initial citrus character, followed by wood and then, finally, wonderfully rich, but taut fruit. There is still a toast character here, with apricots and pear on top of the citrus, but it is still only just developing. In 10–15 years, it will be a magnificent wine. | | 98 | 800 | Bordeaux | Pessac-Léognan | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Haut-Brion 2007 Pessac-Léognan | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Haut-Brion |
| 39290 | 39289 | US | Pretty much as good as Napa Cabernet gets. Shows the blackberries, black currants, blueberries and spicy plums of Oakville and scads of spices, and the tannin-acid structure is, in a word, superb. The oak elaboration is just about perfect, adding a tasteful layer of smoky, buttered toast. The finish goes on and on. | | 98 | 75 | California | Oakville | Napa | | | Vine Cliff 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Vine Cliff |
| 39291 | 39290 | US | A true sensation. Shows the richness and concentration you want in a great Napa Cab, but also a structure that lifts it above the soft, mushy wines that are so prevalent. There's real tannin and acid architecture framing the opulent blackberry, black currant, mineral and cedar flavors, and the finish is dry, dry, dry. Every sip offers something different as it changes in the glass. A world-class wine that defines elegance, power and complexity. Should age effortlessly for at least a decade. | 16 Rows | 97 | 150 | California | Oakville | Napa | | | Vine Cliff 2007 16 Rows Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Vine Cliff |
| 39292 | 39291 | Italy | This wine shows growing intensity the longer it stays in the glass and a very silky, polished feel in the mouth. Aromas include red fruit, spice and rosemary: this is a beautiful, balanced wine that will have a long life in your cellar. | Masseto | 97 | 460 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2006 Masseto Merlot (Toscana) | Merlot | Tenuta dell'Ornellaia |
| 39293 | 39292 | Italy | L'Apparita is a divine and delicate expression of Merlot with rich layers of black cherry, blackberry, spice, mocha, cedar, exotic spice and polished stone that are seamlessly woven together. The wine hits the palate with the softness and richness of the world's best Merlots and leaves a fading impression of fruit and spice that can be counted in many long, delicious minutes. Hold until 2018. | L'Apparita | 96 | 169 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Castello di Ama 2006 L'Apparita Merlot (Toscana) | Merlot | Castello di Ama |
| 39294 | 39293 | Italy | This beautiful vintage of Paleo (an oak-aged expression of Cabernet Franc) shows dark, inky intensity and loads of mature black fruit, spice, plum, prune and blackberry. It is extremely smooth and rich with a long-lasting fade that consists of fruit and clove-like flavors. Yet, the tannins are still firm, so put this wine aside in your cellar for at least five years. | Paleo | 96 | 125 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Le Macchiole 2006 Paleo Cabernet Franc (Toscana) | Cabernet Franc | Le Macchiole |
| 39295 | 39294 | Italy | No doubt you will very much enjoy this super Tuscan blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. The wine is rich, smooth and opulent: The quality of the fruit is also excellent with background shadings of black mineral, mature cherry, clove, rum cake, smoked ham and cola. | Oreno | 96 | 100 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Tenuta Sette Ponti 2007 Oreno Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Tenuta Sette Ponti |
| 39296 | 39295 | US | One of the richest Cabernets of the vintage. Amazingly soft and velvety in the mouth, yet there's a solid grip of acidity and tannins that balance the richness. The flavors are extraordinary, ranging from blackberry and cherry-pie filling through currant liqueur and milk chocolate to leather. So decadent now, it's hard to resist, but should develop for 4–6 years. | Kathryn Hall | 96 | 80 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Hall 2007 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Hall |
| 39297 | 39296 | US | So dry, so crisply acidic, so silky in the mouth, and so rich in flavor. This is a truly distinctive Pinot Noir. It shows the variety's elusive personality, now rich in cherries and currants, withdrawing into minerals and herbs. Yet the final impression is of fine, silky decadence. Should develop in fascinating directions over the next 6–8 years. | Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block | 95 | 90 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Brogan 2007 Buena Prierra Vineyard Helio Doro Block Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Brogan |
| 39298 | 39297 | US | Extraordinary for how drinkable it is right now, and for how it will evolve. Shows the crisp acidity and minerality of this cool-climate vineyard, with rich flavors of raspberries, cherry liqueur, cola, exotic spices, vanilla, buttered cinnamon toast and smoky sandalwood. Yet the tannic integrity should help it change in fascinating ways over the next six years. Decant for several hours. | Dutton Ranch Freestone Hill Vineyard | 95 | 58 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Dutton-Goldfield 2008 Dutton Ranch Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Dutton-Goldfield |
| 39299 | 39298 | Italy | Siepi is a gorgeous super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Merlot that exhibits richness, intensity and purity. This is a luscious and opulent expression with deep aromas of cherry, blackberry, chocolate, espresso bean and spice. The finish is super long and delicious. | Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi | 95 | 120 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Mazzei 2007 Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Mazzei |
| 39300 | 39299 | US | This late-disgorged wine has been released at the age of 11 years. It's a beautiful wine, notable especially for the ultrafine feeling of the mousse, or bubbles. So refined and silky. Rich too are the flavors, in limes, strawberries, toasty lees and minerals. A spectacular sparkling wine that has many years of development ahead. | Carneros Cuvée | 95 | 50 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Gloria Ferrer 1999 Carneros Cuvée Sparkling (Carneros) | Sparkling Blend | Gloria Ferrer |