| 46840 | 46839 | US | Another very good Grenache-Syrah blend from this winery, continuing a string of successful bottlings. The wine is notable for its lush cherry, blackberry, cassis, licorice and spice flavors, and for a superb structure comprised of refined tannins and crisp acidity. | The Brat | 92 | 36 | California | Calaveras County | Sierra Foothills | | | Prospect 772 2008 The Brat Red (Calaveras County) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Prospect 772 |
| 46841 | 46840 | US | On sweetness alone, this dessert wine earns a good score. The orange fruit flavors, which are so pure and pinpointed, are exorbitantly rich in wild honey and vanilla cream. The alcohol level is high, but there's a beautiful streak of vibrant acidity that provides balance. Easy to drink over repeated glasses. | Essensia | 92 | 25 | California | California | California Other | | | Quady 2009 Essensia Orange Muscat (California) | Orange Muscat | Quady |
| 46842 | 46841 | Italy | Argiano's Suolo is a true standout in the world of Tuscan Sangiovese. It achieves elegance, complexity and richness with bright cherry notes contrasted against sweet vanilla and spicy oak. The finish is long, smooth and persistent. | Suolo | 92 | 83 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Argiano 2006 Suolo Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Argiano |
| 46843 | 46842 | Italy | This is a seriously beautiful Chianti Classico characterized by impressive elegance and a smooth, long feel that lasts many long minutes on the palate. The nose is equally pristine with bright but integrated aromas of dark fruit, spice and polished river stone. | | 92 | 42 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Castello di Ama 2006 Chianti Classico | Sangiovese | Castello di Ama |
| 46844 | 46843 | US | Made with 19% Merlot, this Cabernet's tannins are quite hard and firm, giving it a tight astringency. Even so, the underlying fruit is so powerful, it breaks through in a mouthburst of blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries and an oaky, smoky richness that's almost chocolaty. A very fine, intense and ageworthy wine that should develop bottle complexity over the next decade or more. | Alexis | 92 | 75 | California | Oakville | Napa | | | Swanson 2007 Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Swanson |
| 46845 | 46844 | Italy | This fruit-forward wine opens with bursting notes of cherry, blackberry, vanilla, almond paste, cola and delicate touches of resin or wet river stone. It's an impressive achievement that straddles a fine line between modernity and tradition. | | 92 | 55 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Villa I Cipressi 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Villa I Cipressi |
| 46846 | 46845 | Portugal | A powerful wine, certainly, although in the elegant style of Quinta do Portal. Big black berry and plum flavors wrap around tannins that are still young, exuberant, needing time to settle down. The acidity and the solid tannic structure suggest good aging. | Reserva | 92 | 28 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta do Portal 2008 Reserva Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Quinta do Portal |
| 46847 | 46846 | US | Young, tannic and juicy, filled with sweet blackberry, cherry and cassis flavors, and well oaked, having been aged in 100% new French barrels. Those are the raw facts. The wine itself shows the pedigree of this fine estate, and will no doubt pick up bottle nuances over the years. But it seems to lack the precision of the great 2001, 2003 and 2004 vintages. Try after 2012. | Hillside Select | 92 | 215 | California | Stags Leap District | Napa | | | Shafer 2006 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Shafer |
| 46831 | 46830 | US | The blend is 70% Pinot Gris and 30% Viognier. The Gris provides the fruit base, with pear/apple flavors; the Viognier adds some light lemon and citrus blossom accents. This is a big wine, bone dry. | Pinot Gris-Viognier | 86 | 13 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Thurston Wolfe 2001 Pinot Gris-Viognier White (Columbia Valley (WA)) | White Blend | Thurston Wolfe |
| 46848 | 46847 | Italy | Brunello is the perfect winter wine to enjoy by a roaring fire with friends or a romantic partner. This expression from Terralsole is particularly well suited to this happy fate thanks to its silky, soft nature, firm tannins, spice aromas and bursting fruit tones. | | 92 | 75 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Terralsole 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Terralsole |
| 46849 | 46848 | US | A stunning and unusual white wine out of Lodi made by Jim Moore, with tremendous aromatics of honeysuckle and melon and a genius balancing between sweetness and acidity. Grapes—technically Moscato Giallo—were harvested from the Bella Vigna Vineyard fully ripe but at low brix, allowing this bottling to maintain a very low 12% alcohol level. An amazing deal for a wine that jumps out of the glass, all bright and starry eyed. | Moscato Secco | 92 | 16 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Uvaggio 2009 Moscato Secco Moscato (Lodi) | Moscato | Uvaggio |
| 46850 | 46849 | Italy | With a small percentage of Merlot for extra softness and plushness, this beautiful Sangiovese-based wine opens with amazing intensity, red cherry, chocolate, spice and leather. The rich, round mouthfeel would pair with creamy porcini mushroom risotto. | Crognolo | 92 | 40 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Tenuta Sette Ponti 2007 Crognolo Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Tenuta Sette Ponti |
| 46851 | 46850 | Italy | Lombrone Riserva is an earthy, nicely concentrated wine that needs more time to age and integrate. It shows great structure with tight tannins and a long, beautiful finish characterized by cherry and delicate spicy shadings. | Lombrone Riserva | 92 | 85 | Tuscany | Montecucco | | | | Collemassari 2006 Lombrone Riserva (Montecucco) | Sangiovese | Collemassari |
| 46852 | 46851 | France | This wine is spicy from new wood with ripe, black plum flavors and a polished feel to it. The dark tannins give a powerful structure, well integrated with the sweet fruit. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Labégorce Margaux 2008 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Labégorce Margaux |
| 46853 | 46852 | Italy | Fattoria dei Barbi's Brunello is very rich and decadent with black cherry, plum, prune and tobacco aromas. The wine shows great tannic structure and smooth consistency. Very nice. | | 92 | 49 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Fattoria dei Barbi 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Fattoria dei Barbi |
| 46854 | 46853 | US | For the second year running, this bottling is a superb Zinfandel. It's as rich and ripe as they get, bursting with fresh raspberries, cherries and mocha, and that briary, brambly quality of wild forest nettles. Yet it's thoroughly dry, with thick, refined tannins. Beautiful now for its effusive fruit, the wine should slowly slide over the next six years. | George's Vineyard | 92 | 32 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | JR Wine 2008 George's Vineyard Zinfandel (Napa Valley) | Zinfandel | JR Wine |
| 46855 | 46854 | US | A wonderfully complex, dry white wine, rich and acidic, with subtle flavors of citrus fruits, white flowers, vanilla, minerals and honey. Feels smooth and creamy, an interesting combination of richness and tartness and, above all, elegance. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Grenache Blanc. | Quartette | 92 | 25 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Koehler 2009 Quartette White (Santa Ynez Valley) | White Blend | Koehler |
| 46856 | 46855 | Italy | This hearty Brunello is packed tight with Christmas spice, vanilla bean, freshly ground espresso, black fruit and smoky mesquite. It's a thickly extracted, sophisticated and delicious wine that lasts a very long time on the palate. | | 92 | 40 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Molino di Sant'Antimo 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Molino di Sant'Antimo |
| 46857 | 46856 | Italy | Structured and dense, this bold Brunello offers big color, density and extraction. On the nose, it is characterized by elegant oak tones of vanilla and spice that are married to bright cherry after tones. | | 92 | 45 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Pietranera 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Pietranera |
| 46858 | 46857 | Italy | Casalino's Brunello is a dark, pleasurable wine enhanced by warm richness, mineral notes, toasted almond and sweet black cherry. The general smoothness and fullness of the texture is what sets this wine apart. | Casalino | 92 | 43 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Bonacchi 2006 Casalino (Brunello di Montalcino) | Sangiovese Grosso | Bonacchi |
| 46859 | 46858 | Italy | Caprili brings us a beautifully elegant and shapely Brunello that is enhanced by plump cherry and wild berry nuances. Subdued tones of vanilla and spice add a nice touch of zest on the long finish. | | 92 | 55 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Caprili 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Caprili |
| 46860 | 46859 | US | With a tiny bit of breathing room, this wine opens up magically into dark earth, crushed asphalt, blackberry jam, cappuccino and mocha on the nose, which predict a tarry texture. Indeed, the structure is firm and fine-tuned, yet vibrant with boisterous acidity, showing layered flavors of dark fruit enhance by cedar, sandalwood and incense notes. Drink 2017–2033. | | 94 | 42 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Kathryn Kennedy 2013 Merlot (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Merlot | Kathryn Kennedy |
| 46832 | 46831 | US | Not considered a noble varietal, Carignane can offer pleasure, and this one does. ItÕs quite rich and smells and tastes Porty, with dark chocolate and raisin notes, although the official alcohol is a moderate 13.6%. The plummy flavors are powerful, the tannins and acids soft. | | 86 | 20 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Preston 1999 Carignane (Dry Creek Valley) | Carignane | Preston |
| 46833 | 46832 | US | Winemaker Doug Meador says this is not a “California Fats” Chardonnay, by which he means he went light on the oak and allowed the fruit to speak for itself. It's pretty fruit, with the smell and taste of apples. However, that slight touch of oak adds just the right amount of vanilla and cream to the mix. —S.H. | Gold Stripe | 86 | 14 | California | Arroyo Seco | Central Coast | | | Ventana 2000 Gold Stripe Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco) | Chardonnay | Ventana |
| 46834 | 46833 | Australia | Combines smoky, slightly acrid aromas with pretty strawberry scents and then piles juicy berries onto the palate. Finishes tart with hints of smoke and wood. For summer grilling at home, this is a pretty good choice. Best Buy. | | 86 | 7 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Yellow Tail 2001 Shiraz (South Eastern Australia) | Shiraz | Yellow Tail |
| 46835 | 46834 | Australia | The Yarra Valley's relatively cool climate really shows through in this wine's smoky, herbal nuances, which sometimes threaten to take over from the primary cherry fruit. It's lean, more in the Rhône style, and finishes with tart cherries and hints of meaty portobello mushrooms. —J.C. | | 86 | 22 | Victoria | Yarra Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Yering Station 1999 Shiraz (Yarra Valley) | Shiraz | Yering Station |
| 46836 | 46835 | US | This variety, not usually used on its own, has produced an inky dark wine of considerable power and ample tannins. The blackberry and rhubarb fruit has great depth, and is very dry. It's not a bad wine, but seems better suited as a blender to Cabernet Sauvignon. It just might be interesting in 6–8 years. —S.H. | | 86 | 17 | California | Yorkville Highlands | North Coast | | | Yorkville Cellars 1997 Petit Verdot (Yorkville Highlands) | Petit Verdot | Yorkville Cellars |
| 46837 | 46836 | Italy | This is a garnet-ruby-colored Brunello with remarkable freshness and pristine berry aromas. Le Chiuse di Sotto would pair beautifully with roasted rabbit or white meat thanks to the polished, elegant feel it imparts on the close. | Le Chiuse di Sotto | 92 | | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Gianni Brunelli 2006 Le Chiuse di Sotto (Brunello di Montalcino) | Sangiovese Grosso | Gianni Brunelli |
| 46838 | 46837 | Italy | This textbook Brunello boasts a careful balance of elements. Sweet cherry and vanilla aromas segue to austere notes of exotic spice, cola and waxed leather. This is a tempered but elegant wine that would match savory duck with wild rice. | | 92 | | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Pinino 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Pinino |
| 46839 | 46838 | Italy | This is a direct and pungent Brunello with an intense, vertical lift and a steady delivery of fruit, spice and smoke aromas. It opens with dried raspberry, cassis, clove and pipe tobacco followed by fine tannins and persistency. | | 92 | 120 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Poggio di Sotto 2006 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Poggio di Sotto |