41311 | 41310 | Portugal | The natural acidity of Arinto is well known for sparkling wines in Bucelas close to Lisbon. Here it has the same fresh, crisp, tight character and vibrant texture. It's light, creamy and fruity, a fine apéritif style. | Reserva Bruto Nature | 85 | 17 | Tejo | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Lapa NV Reserva Bruto Nature Arinto (Tejo) | Arinto | Quinta da Lapa |
41312 | 41311 | Germany | Plush and supple, this is an easy-drinking blend of Dornfelder, Portugieser, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a soft, juicy wine full of primary black cherry and berry flavors, without even a whisper of tannins, but enjoyable for uncomplicated, immediate consumption. | Red Sheep | 85 | 14 | Rheinhessen | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Schäfer 2014 Red Sheep Red (Rheinhessen) | Red Blend | Schäfer |
41313 | 41312 | Italy | The shy nose doesn't give much away except for a hint of beeswax. The lean palate shows suggestions of mineral and lime alongside bracing, almost crackling acidity. | | 85 | 18 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tenuta La Ponca 2014 Malvasia (Collio) | Malvasia | Tenuta La Ponca |
41314 | 41313 | Argentina | Gritty aromas of asphalt, herbs, tomato and plum make for a tough opening. This is syrupy and grabby on the palate, with creamy berry and cooked brown-sugar flavors. A sinewy finish tastes medicinal and a touch weedy. | Vino Tinto | 85 | 60 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cicchitti 2013 Vino Tinto Red (Mendoza) | Red Blend | Cicchitti |
41315 | 41314 | Italy | Here's an informal, easygoing white that offers sensations of banana, peach and pear. It's simple and refreshing, with brisk acidity. | | 85 | 14 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Italo Cescon 2014 Pinot Grigio (Friuli Grave) | Pinot Grigio | Italo Cescon |
41316 | 41315 | US | This starts out well, with soft, plummy fruit. It then turns a corner into an odd, lingering finish with residual flavors of sour fruit, plastic and gun metal. | Le Verre Cuvée | 85 | 21 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Joleté 2014 Le Verre Cuvée Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Joleté |
41317 | 41316 | Germany | Sweet and cheery, this plush, easygoing Dornfelder boasts bright raspberry and plum flavors accented by a blossomy flair. With sunny acidity and no perceivable tannins, it's a softly structured but enjoyable sip. Drink now. | Sweet | 85 | 11 | Rheinhessen | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Karl Josef 2014 Sweet Dornfelder (Rheinhessen) | Dornfelder | Karl Josef |
41318 | 41317 | South Africa | A fruit-forward style of Pinotage, this boasts ripe notes of raspberry, strawberry and blueberry upfront, with subtle accents of black pepper, vanilla oak and purple flowers in the background. Medium tannins lend some structure to the rich fruitiness of the palate, but fade fast on the finish. | | 85 | 10 | Western Cape | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Stellar Organics 2014 Pinotage (Western Cape) | Pinotage | Stellar Organics |
41319 | 41318 | Italy | This opens with subdued aromas that suggest chamomile flower, passion fruit and a whiff of adhesive bandage. The lean, stringy palate shows notes of crunchy celery, grapefruit and a hint of stone alongside nervous acidity. | | 85 | | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | La Rajade 2014 Sauvignon (Collio) | Sauvignon | La Rajade |
41320 | 41319 | Italy | Fun and fresh, this informal white offers whiffs of white flower and pear. The straightforward palate presents notes of apple and peach alongside lively acidity. It's not complex, but it is well made. | | 85 | 11 | Northeastern Italy | Delle Venezie | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Lagaria 2014 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie) | Pinot Grigio | Lagaria |
41321 | 41320 | France | The wine is fine, fresh and crisp. It has balanced acidity and lively pink grapefruit fruit flavors that give the wine a good, clean, clear character. There is a juicy bright, refreshing aftertaste. Drink now. | Sur Lie | 85 | 12 | Loire Valley | Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Le Charmel 2014 Sur Lie (Muscadet Sèvre et Maine) | Melon | Le Charmel |
41322 | 41321 | US | Rustic and sauvage, this wine has an herbal quality that's hard to shake; it's both so defining and distracting. Cherry and pomegranate also figure in. | | 85 | 60 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Melhill 2012 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Melhill |
41323 | 41322 | Portugal | This is an attractive, aromatic blend of Arinto and Antão Vaz. It has a softly citrus character with riper, fuller peach and pineapple fruit. It's full, fruity and ready to drink. | Montaria Branco | 85 | 8 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Parras Vinhos 2014 Montaria Branco White (Alentejano) | Portuguese White | Parras Vinhos |
41324 | 41323 | US | This fails to overcome its thin, unripe fruit. Strong scents of smoke and oak carry into the flavors, bringing a bitter end to the finish. | | 85 | 25 | Oregon | Applegate Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Plaisance Ranch 2012 Merlot (Applegate Valley) | Merlot | Plaisance Ranch |
41325 | 41324 | US | Bittersweet and youthful, this wine is overburdened by tannin and a weightiness of oak. Blackberry and gunpowder showcase its 100% varietal devotion, before more oak presents itself on the finish. | One Hundred Percent | 85 | 36 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Pope Valley Winery 2012 One Hundred Percent Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Pope Valley Winery |
41326 | 41325 | Portugal | A fresh, citrus-flavored wine that is all about fruitiness. It is light, bright and tangy with orange and lemon zest. It is floral, crisp and ready to drink. | Vinha da Foz Branco | 85 | 15 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Foz 2014 Vinha da Foz Branco White (Douro) | Portuguese White | Quinta da Foz |
41327 | 41326 | Portugal | The wine shows its youth with firm, mineral tannins and only a light hint at the fruit. It does have plenty of acidity so it will develop a fresh, fruity character in a few months. The aftertaste is firm and still needing time. Drink from 2017. | Rede Colheita Tinto | 85 | 12 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Rede 2014 Rede Colheita Tinto Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Quinta da Rede |
41328 | 41327 | Spain | Oddly tropical aromas of pineapple and orange peel dominate this juicy number. In the mouth, a sense of grape skins and abrasive tannins make things coarse. Minimal berry flavors mix with citrus leftovers prior to a drawing finish. | | 85 | 14 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Rios de Tinta 2014 Ribera del Duero | Tempranillo | Rios de Tinta |
41329 | 41328 | US | This is done in a soft, loose-knit, wide-open style—not the usual crisp and racy Riesling found in the Northwest. Apple and orange fruits are accented with notes of cracker and grain. It feels a bit flat in the finish. Drink up. | | 85 | 22 | Oregon | Applegate Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Schmidt 2014 Riesling (Applegate Valley) | Riesling | Schmidt |
41330 | 41329 | Italy | This opens with aromas that recall white flower, orchard fruit and a light medicinal note. The lean, rather diluted palate offers apple skin, mineral and a hint of bitter almond alongside brisk acidity. | | 85 | 28 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Subida di Monte 2014 Friulano (Collio) | Friulano | Subida di Monte |
41331 | 41330 | Italy | Light scents of spring blossom and pear waft out of the glass. The simple palate is rather diluted and decidedly lean, showing hints of apple skin, mineral and brisk acidity. | I Vigneti | 85 | 20 | Northeastern Italy | Vigneti delle Dolomiti | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tenuta Peter Sölva & Söhne 2014 I Vigneti Pinot Grigio (Vigneti delle Dolomiti) | Pinot Grigio | Tenuta Peter Sölva & Söhne |
41332 | 41331 | US | A pleasantly smooth texture, mellow fruit flavors and not-too-heavy body give easy drinkability to this very affordable wine. The fruit flavors are quiet but present and the balance is on the soft side. | | 85 | 10 | California | California | California Other | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Belle Ambiance 2013 Pinot Noir (California) | Pinot Noir | Belle Ambiance |
41333 | 41332 | US | Fans of oaky wines will like this one for its showy butter and vanilla aromas, flavors full of caramel, butter and vanilla, and almost-thick texture. | Teal Bartolucci Vineyards Big Valley Ranch Organically Grown Grapes | 85 | 33 | California | Lake County | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Chacewater 2013 Teal Bartolucci Vineyards Big Valley Ranch Organically Grown Grapes Chardonnay (Lake County) | Chardonnay | Chacewater |
41334 | 41333 | Portugal | This is a full, fruity, rich and concentrated wine. It has bright red berries, some firm tannins and a good dense texture. It's also light and crisp, with acidity that cuts through the ripe fruitiness. Drink now through 2019. | Paxis Tinto | 87 | 9 | Lisboa | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | DFJ Vinhos 2010 Paxis Tinto Red (Lisboa) | Portuguese Red | DFJ Vinhos |
41335 | 41334 | France | Perfumed and fruity, this is a gentle, lightly structured wine. It has red fruits, soft tannins and plenty of bright acidity. It's not a wine for long aging and can be drunk now–2018. | Les Beaumonts | 87 | 27 | Burgundy | Chorey-lès-Beaune | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine A. Machard de Gramont 2011 Les Beaumonts (Chorey-lès-Beaune) | Pinot Noir | Domaine A. Machard de Gramont |
41336 | 41335 | France | This is a fruity, fresh wine full of black currant and berry flavor. Delicately structured, there's a vein of fresh green herbs and bell-pepper flavors that lend crispness to the finish. | | 87 | | France Other | Savoie | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine de l'Idylle 2011 Mondeuse (Savoie) | Mondeuse | Domaine de l'Idylle |
41337 | 41336 | France | Light, bright and fruity, this is a delicious glass of wine. It's fresh and crisp with fragrant white fruits layered with zesty citrus. It has a cool feel, with bright acidity adding lift to the finish. | | 87 | 20 | France Other | Chignin | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine les Cantates 2012 Jacquère (Chignin) | Jacquère | Domaine les Cantates |
41338 | 41337 | US | A 100-percent Cab Franc aged in all new French oak, this wine opens with aromas of vanilla and coconut, before imparting a taste of soft cassis and raspberry jam. Tightly structured, let it open for an hour or so before enjoying with roast chicken or quiche Lorraine. | Silvaspoons Vineyards | 87 | 26 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Enoteca Five 2010 Silvaspoons Vineyards Cabernet Franc (Lodi) | Cabernet Franc | Enoteca Five |
41339 | 41338 | US | This is a classic, well made Lake County Sauvignon Blanc. It's creamy with fig, vanilla, cantaloupe and pineapple flavors, but with a crisp finish. | | 87 | 16 | California | Lake County | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Guenoc 2012 Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Guenoc |
41340 | 41339 | US | A complement to the winery's Estate-labeled Tempranillo, it's made in a more fruit forward, less tannic style—though there are still firm, grainy tannins aplenty. It has notes of pencil shavings, red fruit and sweet spices accented by mouthwatering acidity. Try it with food—preferably Spanish tapas—to see it at its best. | | 87 | 21 | Oregon | Southern Oregon | Southern Oregon | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Abacela 2010 Tempranillo (Southern Oregon) | Tempranillo | Abacela |