| 39511 | 39510 | Bulgaria | Though pleasant aromatically with lots of freshly cut grass and gooseberry notes, this full-bodied, dry Bulgarian Sauvignon Blanc has a dense, clunky mouthfeel and a bracingly high acidity. There's some decent lemon and grapefruit flavors, but plenty of tinned green asparagus as well. | | 82 | 9 | Bulgaria | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Targovishte 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Bulgaria) | Sauvignon Blanc | Targovishte |
| 39512 | 39511 | Spain | Cherry and raspberry aromas lead the charge, but as it airs out it becomes more raisiny and jammy smelling. The flavors are solid but distant, with simple red fruit, oak and barrel notes setting the pace. Highly drinkable and easygoing but not complex or elevated. | Finca Ygay Reserva | 88 | 26 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Marqués de Murrieta 2007 Finca Ygay Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Marqués de Murrieta |
| 39513 | 39512 | France | This blend of Vermentino (45%), Grenache Blanc (40%) and Roussanne (15%) is aged in a combination of oak and stainless steel, resulting in a round, mouthfilling wine that nevertheless remains crisp and easy to drink. Hints of smoke and marshmallow serve to accent the ripe melon, pineapple and honey flavors. Drink now. | Doria | 88 | 14 | Rhône Valley | Luberon | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Marrenon 2009 Doria White (Luberon) | White Blend | Marrenon |
| 39514 | 39513 | France | A blend of 50% Mourvèdre and 50% Syrah, this is a dark, earthy wine, featuring hints of black olive and espresso. Yet it's very lush and supple in the mouth, very forward and inviting, yet balanced by crisp acids on the finish. Drink now–2015. | Les Enfants Terribles | 88 | | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Mas Carlot 2009 Les Enfants Terribles Red (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Mas Carlot |
| 39515 | 39514 | Croatia | Ripe melon and subtle white flowers meld with fresh apple and pear on the nose and palate of this lovely Malvasia from Ivica Matoevi´c. Quite voluptuous in style with a silky, slightly oily mouthfeel, the palate is bright with sweet stone fruit and a pleasantly bitter almond note that lingers on the finish. | Alba | 88 | 20 | Istria | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Matošević 2009 Alba Malvasia (Istria) | Malvasia | Matošević |
| 39516 | 39515 | US | A savory sparkling wine, rich in raspberry, lime and vanilla flavors. Mainly Pinot Noir, with some Chardonnay, it's full bodied and somewhat sweet. | Classic Vintage Brut | 87 | 34 | California | Green Valley | Sonoma | | | Iron Horse 2006 Classic Vintage Brut Sparkling (Green Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Iron Horse |
| 39517 | 39516 | US | Good Pinot character, but dry and unyielding. If you search for richness, you'll find a core of raspberries and cherries. Die-hard Burgundians will like the earthy, subtle complexities. Drink now. | | 87 | 20 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | La Fenêtre 2009 Pinot Noir (Central Coast) | Pinot Noir | La Fenêtre |
| 39518 | 39517 | US | Rich and ripe, with tasty lime, strawberrry and yeast flavors that finish sweet and spicy. The bubbles are a bit clunky, but otherwise it's a nice brut. | Brut Cuvée | 87 | 22 | California | Arroyo Grande Valley | Central Coast | | | Laetitia NV Brut Cuvée Sparkling (Arroyo Grande Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Laetitia |
| 39519 | 39518 | US | Ripe fruit stars in this exuberant wine. It flatters with black cherry, blackberry, anise and cassis flavors that go on and on into a lnto a long, spicy finish. Beyond that it's a little sweet, and seems best now, with a salty, peppery steak or chop. | Chronology Grand Reserve | 87 | 30 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Lyeth 2008 Chronology Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Lyeth |
| 39520 | 39519 | Spain | Grassy and sweet smelling, with apple and lightly candied aromas. Nice and normal in the mouth, with sweet, ripe flavors of white fruits, powdered sugar and pear. Turns a bit cloying on the finish. Seems sweeter and less complex than in the past. | Reserva Heredad | 87 | 25 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Segura Viudas NV Reserva Heredad Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Segura Viudas |
| 39521 | 39520 | US | There's something softly seductive about this Cabernet. Its tannins are finely ground and acidity is low, resulting in a melted, velvety mouthfeel. The flavors are just fine, of black cherries and cedar. | | 87 | 20 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Arroba 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Arroba |
| 39522 | 39521 | Spain | Simple lime and salinic aromas are clean and fresh. The palate is juicy and tight, with lime, apple and dry spice flavors. Finishes balanced and citrusy, with proper length and mouthfeel. A good but regular Cava that's done right for the price. | Gran Tradición Brut | 87 | 10 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Berberana NV Gran Tradición Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Berberana |
| 39523 | 39522 | US | Chardonnay has not been Clos du Val's strong suit, and even though this is a reserve, it's hard to fall in love with. Dry and acidic, it lacks richness by today's standards, although you could charitably call it Chablisian. Still, it's an elegantly constructed wine with some complexity. | Reserve | 87 | 45 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Clos du Val 2009 Reserve Chardonnay (Carneros) | Chardonnay | Clos du Val |
| 39524 | 39523 | Italy | This interesting Italian white is gaining a bit of a cult following in the United States. Made with organically grown Verdicchio grapes, the wine shows pristine aromas of passion and stone fruit with a crisp, zesty feel in the mouth. It would pair perfectly with sea food or light lunches. | | 87 | 18 | Central Italy | Verdicchio di Matelica | | | | ColleStefano 2010 Verdicchio di Matelica | Verdicchio | ColleStefano |
| 39525 | 39524 | Spain | A touch murky and leafy at first, with vanilla and red fruit aromas. Runs crisp and tangy, with length, a lean structure and snappy pie cherry, red plum and vanilla flavors. Fresh and tight on the finish, with leftover juiciness. A good wine for tapas and basic salty foods. | Viña Real Plata Crianza | 87 | 18 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | CVNE 2007 Viña Real Plata Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | CVNE |
| 39526 | 39525 | Spain | Fresh, spicy cherry aromas are nice and clean. The palate is racy and staunch, with good acidity and tasty plum and berry flavors. Solid and medium-long on the finish, with a touch of minty herb flavor. Juicy and moderately oaky for a $10 value wine. | Vendimia Seleccionada | 87 | 10 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Dolmo 2009 Vendimia Seleccionada (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Dolmo |
| 39527 | 39526 | France | Fenouillet is better for its Beaumes de Venise, but this is a silky, supple charmer, a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Carignan that's round yet tender in the mouth, delivering ample cherry fruit. Drink now–2014. | Oversant | 87 | | Rhône Valley | Ventoux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domaine de Fenouillet 2009 Oversant Red (Ventoux) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Domaine de Fenouillet |
| 39528 | 39527 | US | This blend of Bordeaux varieties (39% Cab Sauv, 37% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Cab Franc and 4% Malbec) opens with a nice purity of fruit, mainly plum and cassis and shows a deftness of blending. There's a touch of green pepper at the finish. | 33 Degrees North Gracie Hill Vineyard, BDX | 87 | 33 | California | South Coast | South Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Fallbrook 2008 33 Degrees North Gracie Hill Vineyard, BDX Red (South Coast) | Red Blend | Fallbrook |
| 39529 | 39528 | Hungary | Perfectly dry, yet bursting with pure, ripe red fruit, Sauska's rosé would be a refreshingly easy apéritif to be enjoyed anytime of the year. Made with a hefty dose of Blaufränkisch, it's clean and fresh on the palate with pretty wildflower notes and zippy sour cherry acidity. | | 87 | 19 | Villány | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Sauska 2010 Rosé (Villány) | Rosé | Sauska |
| 39530 | 39529 | US | Shows a lovely Pinot Noir texture, feeling silky smooth and light in the mouth, with a nice scour of acidity. The raspberry and cola flavors are a little simple, but tasty. | | 87 | 30 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Sebastiani 2009 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Sebastiani |
| 39531 | 39530 | US | A nice, flavorful and dry Syrah for drinking now with barbecue or a rich lamb or beef stew. Soft and gentle, it's rich in blackberries, cherries, currants, beef jerky, pepper and smoky oak. | Clover Creek Vineyard | 87 | 20 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Brander 2009 Clover Creek Vineyard Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley) | Syrah | Brander |
| 39532 | 39531 | US | Brander's basic Syrah is a good, dry wine, and while it's a little on the light side, it has pretty flavors of blackberries, black pepper, cola and black currants. The alcohol is nice and low, under 14%. | | 87 | 22 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Brander 2009 Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley) | Syrah | Brander |
| 39533 | 39532 | Chile | Calina usually makes a nice value Chardonnay, and this vintage is no different. The wine has a chunky dry-peach opening, which is backed by a round, smooth palate and flavors of sweet pear, baked apple and roasted corn. Honey and orange notes make cameo appearances. Good for the price. | Reserva | 87 | 10 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Calina 2009 Reserva Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley) | Chardonnay | Calina |
| 39534 | 39533 | Chile | Green, mildly vegetal and lightly tropical, with a tangy, acid-driven palate and citrusy, sharp flavors of grapefruit, tangerine and orange. Quick on the finish but sizzling, with an abundance of mouth-washing acidity. Very food friendly even toward the end of its prescribed lifespan. | Tributo | 87 | 20 | Leyda Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Caliterra 2009 Tributo Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Caliterra |
| 39535 | 39534 | Spain | The bouquet of cherry and raspberry is sprightly and mildly leafy, with hints of leather and dried cheese. The palate is whispy, with red-fruit flavors of raspberry and plum along with mild herbal notes, cocoa powder and dry spice. A basic, lighter-bodied Rioja with a traditional tilt. | Crianza | 87 | 12 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Campo Viejo 2007 Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Campo Viejo |
| 39536 | 39535 | Italy | Fastened with a pretty pink wax capsule, Taso Valpolicella is a fresh and informal wine that would pair beautifully with pasta or pizza. The wine is redolent of white cherry, blueberry and almond paste. | Taso | 87 | | Veneto | Valpolicella Classico Superiore | | | | Villa Bellini 2006 Taso (Valpolicella Classico Superiore) | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Villa Bellini |
| 39537 | 39536 | Italy | This 70-30 Corvina and Rondinella Amarone blend is slightly disjointed on the nose with contrasting aromas of toasted oak and ripe fruit. It makes a nice impression in the mouth, however, thanks to its smooth, rich texture. | | 87 | 36 | Veneto | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico | | | | Corte Lenguin 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Corte Lenguin |
| 39538 | 39537 | Italy | There's a sweet, inviting aspect to the nose here that recalls Christmas spice, nutmeg, rum cake and mature blackberry. The wine feels compact and firm on the close and would pair with roasted ham with clove under the skin. | Campedel | 87 | 18 | Veneto | Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso | | | | Gamba 2007 Campedel (Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso) | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Gamba |
| 39539 | 39538 | US | A purplish Cab with smatterings of Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Merlot that starts out quite tannic, mellowing into a nicely balanced dinner-table wine, with hints of cranberry and black currant and subtle oak. A great deal for a well-made Cab that should get even better with another 2–3 years in bottle. | Southern Hills | 87 | 15 | California | Livermore Valley | Central Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Wente 2008 Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (Livermore Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Wente |
| 39540 | 39539 | US | A bit heavy for a Pinot Noir, lacking the lively zest the grape needs in California to balance the ripe fruit. Flavors range through blackberries and plums, with oak complications. Quite good, but doesn't seem like an ager. | Annadel Estate Vineyard | 87 | 45 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Westwood 2007 Annadel Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley) | Pinot Noir | Westwood |