| 48931 | 48930 | US | Some vegetal notes mix into flavors of raspberries and cherries, detracting from the full enjoyment of this Pinot Noir. Other than that, it's dry, briskly acidic and full bodied. Drink up. | Lindsay's Vineyard | 87 | 75 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Two Sisters 2010 Lindsay's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Two Sisters |
| 48932 | 48931 | Italy | Umani Ronchi makes some of the best Verdicchio you will find in the United States today. There's a sweet candied quality to the bouquet that is followed by ripe fruit and pineapple. In the mouth, the wine is smooth and silky. | Casal di Serra | 87 | 17 | Central Italy | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore | | | | Umani Ronchi 2011 Casal di Serra (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore) | Verdicchio | Umani Ronchi |
| 48933 | 48932 | US | Light in color and only just faintly aromatic, Amador Cellars' Sangiovese tastes of red cherry and blueberry with a tight tannin structure that suggests giving it 3–5 years more time. | Clockspring Vineyard | 87 | 22 | California | Amador County | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Amador Cellars 2010 Clockspring Vineyard Sangiovese (Amador County) | Sangiovese | Amador Cellars |
| 48934 | 48933 | US | Sourced from five excellent Walla Walla vineyards, this wine spent about 15 months in barrel, one quarter new. It has dried cherry fruit, almost like an Amarone in style, though with no sweetness. Tannins are drying and finish with a slight bitterness. Tasted twice from different bottles. | | 87 | 29 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Amavi 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Amavi |
| 48935 | 48934 | US | One of the more controlled, tighter Viogniers out there, without showing the variety's rich flamboyance. It could be a Pinot Gris, with brisk acidity and a clean, cold, steely mouthfeel, except that the citrus fruits do have rich suggestions of mangoes. Still, it shows tremendous elegance and will be delicious in many settings. | Phi | 87 | 25 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Ampelos 2012 Phi Viognier (Santa Ynez Valley) | Viognier | Ampelos |
| 48936 | 48935 | Italy | This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo shows a juicy, rich feeling with bold cherry fruit, blackberry and a touch of bitter chocolate. It's a broad, heavy wine with ripe intensity and thick texture. Pair it with rustic, hearty country foods. | Vignafranca | 87 | 17 | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | | | Barba 2009 Vignafranca (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) | Montepulciano | Barba |
| 48937 | 48936 | Spain | This is straightforward, no-frills Garnacha with plum and berry aromas followed by a tight, slightly tannic palate that houses raspberry and plum flavors. The finish is smooth for the most part, with some heat and herbal flavors. | Artazuri | 87 | 12 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Artazu 2011 Artazuri Garnacha (Navarra) | Garnacha | Bodegas Artazu |
| 48938 | 48937 | US | You'll find some fancy elegance in this dry, balanced Cabernet. It's full bodied and tannic, as you expect a Cab to be, and offers a burst of fresh blackberry and cherry fruit. Good price for the quality. | | 87 | 15 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Bridlewood 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Bridlewood |
| 48939 | 48938 | Chile | Toasty oak aromas are mild and fold in some baked apple notes. The palate feels layered and rich, while toasty flavors of peach, nectarine and melon end in a medium-length finish that's well controlled and juicy. | Tributo Single Vineyard Block #Maitenal | 87 | 16 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Caliterra 2011 Tributo Single Vineyard Block #Maitenal Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley) | Chardonnay | Caliterra |
| 48940 | 48939 | Spain | This Tempranillo is electric purple in color, with aromas of rubber, horse hide and grapy berry. It's round and jammy feeling, with tannic grip and jammy flavors of baked, earthy berry fruits, followed by a savory, meaty, roasted tasting finish. | Dimidium Nobleza | 87 | 17 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Casado Morales 2010 Dimidium Nobleza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Casado Morales |
| 48941 | 48940 | France | A truly aromatic Riesling that has a wonderful series of fruit and spice perfumes. It's ripe and full in the mouth, offering a strongly mineral edge as well as rich apple and citrus. Textured and still very tangy, the complex wine needs to age, so drink from 2017. | Eichberg Grand Cru | 92 | 30 | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Charles Baur 2012 Eichberg Grand Cru Riesling (Alsace) | Riesling | Domaine Charles Baur |
| 48942 | 48941 | US | Blueberry, dried lilac, crushed violet and black pepper form a classic nose on this Merlot-led Bordeaux blend from Paso Robles' celebrated Westside. The well-integrated, complex palate features fruit, herbs, spice and tar, as if each one plays back-to-back solos. | Zenith Estate Cuvée | 92 | 65 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Midnight 2009 Zenith Estate Cuvée Red (Paso Robles) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Midnight |
| 48943 | 48942 | US | Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie and Winemaker Joey Tensley converge on a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon that's worth sitting on until at least 2019. Woody, cigar box aromas pick up notes of camphor and flashes of red fruit, and the flavors fall in line around the cedar, with blueberry, black cherry and milk chocolate. | Fergalicious | 92 | 40 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Ferguson Crest 2011 Fergalicious Red (Santa Ynez Valley) | Red Blend | Ferguson Crest |
| 48944 | 48943 | US | An aromatic profile of crushed mint, hot gravel and red fruit introduces this blend of 83% Grenache and 17% Mourvèdre. It's lightweight on the palate, but with complex flavors of herb and spice that swirl around a core of blackberry fruit and finish with mouthwatering acidity. | Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Dore Vineyard | 92 | 40 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Foxen 2012 Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Dore Vineyard Red (Santa Ynez Valley) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Foxen |
| 48945 | 48944 | US | Quirky, art-minded winemaker Matthias Sanguis crafts a stellar Syrah, with a lush bouquets of violets, blue raspberry, black peppercorns and vanilla. The palate, bound together with a lean acidic line down the middle, presents dark but tart cherries, sweet tobacco and the tang of plum peel. | Bossman | 92 | 75 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Sanguis 2011 Bossman Syrah (Central Coast) | Syrah | Sanguis |
| 48946 | 48945 | US | This blend of 50% Syrah, 23% Petite Sirah, 17% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache presents a delicious strawberry cake nose, backed up with dried purple flowers and cigar box backbone. On the palate, elegant purple fruits are laced with leather and pepper, finishing with a cleansing tartness. | Portolan | 92 | 80 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Sextant 2011 Portolan Red (Paso Robles) | Red Blend | Sextant |
| 48947 | 48946 | US | One of two Sparkman Syrahs, Darkness showcases fruit from two stellar Yakima valley vineyards, Boushey and Olsen. A whiff of Syrah funk, herb and earth ties into dried blueberry with a brambly, plummy component. Lovely details of nutmeg with a streak of vanilla keep the flavors interesting through a long finish. | Darkness | 92 | 62 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sparkman 2012 Darkness Syrah (Yakima Valley) | Syrah | Sparkman |
| 48948 | 48947 | US | A smoky oak fire meets cooked meats and plum sauce on the nose of this wine, which retains great balance even at 16% alcohol. The mouthfeel is luxurious, complementing the cherry, red currant, licorice and black pepper flavors, wrapped around orange peel bitterness and well-integrated oak. | | 92 | 35 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Summerwood 2011 Zinfandel (Paso Robles) | Zinfandel | Summerwood |
| 48949 | 48948 | Italy | This single-vineyard offering opens with aromas of blue flower, tilled soil, ripe berry, balsamic notes and a hint of leather. The palate is still young and needs time to develop fully but already delivers layers of dark cherry, licorice, grilled herb and black pepper alongside brooding tannins. Drink 2016–2026. | Basarin | 92 | 34 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Adriano Marco & Vittorio 2011 Basarin (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Adriano Marco & Vittorio |
| 48950 | 48949 | Portugal | Rui Madeira's flagship red is a formidable, powerful wine. It has intense tannins that are surrounded by dark fruits and rich, juicy acidity. The core is dry, concentrated and dense, and the wood aging shows against the background of ripe fruits, promising good aging potential. Drink from 2018. | Vinhas Velhas Grande Reserva | 92 | 23 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Castello d'Alba 2012 Vinhas Velhas Grande Reserva Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Castello d'Alba |
| 48951 | 48950 | US | This is pure Chenin Blanc from Kiona's 1976 planting, fermented in concrete eggs and left on the lees for five months. A pretty golden hue, this bone dry wine did not undergo malolactic and has retained its sturdy acid base. Rich with glycerine, it's scented with and has flavors of lemon oil, orange peel and candied pineapple. | Red Mountain White Wine | 92 | 50 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Matteo 2013 Red Mountain White Wine Chenin Blanc (Red Mountain) | Chenin Blanc | Matteo |
| 48952 | 48951 | Chile | As per usual, Purple Angel is a full-force experience. Hailing from a warm year, this is dense and purple in color, as it should be. Aromas of graphite, oak, tobacco and black fruit set up a jammy, full palate with saturated flavors of spice-laden blueberry and boysenberry. Finishing notes of tobacco, herb and oak cement this big-boned wine's ripe, beefy status. Drink through 2018. | Purple Angel | 92 | 85 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Montes 2012 Purple Angel Carmenère (Colchagua Valley) | Carmenère | Montes |
| 48953 | 48952 | Portugal | This estate wine is seriously structured, with tones of dried herbs alongside richer elements of dense tannins and ripe black fruits. A bright acid backbone maintains a fresh and lively character. It might be best to lay down this selection for further integration. | | 92 | 23 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Herdade do Rocim 2011 Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Herdade do Rocim |
| 48954 | 48953 | US | Plush and dusty, this splendid Merlot offers unusual depth and texture, even for Washington versions of the much-maligned grape. Along with black cherry fruit come highlights of herb and olive, spicy oak and rich earth. The density and detail carry through a long finish. | | 92 | 52 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Woodward Canyon 2011 Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Woodward Canyon |
| 48955 | 48954 | Portugal | This is a finely perfumed wine, full of ripe Castelão grapes. It has a smooth, polished feeling from the wood aging, yet still allows plenty of room for a dense black-fruit character. It will need to age and will be best after 2016. | Pegos Claros Reserva | 92 | 17 | Palmela | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Wines & Winemakers 2011 Pegos Claros Reserva Castelão (Palmela) | Castelão | Wines & Winemakers |
| 48956 | 48955 | France | This is the second wine of Château Labégorce. It has much of the elegance of the top wine with firm tannins and generous fruits kept in stylish proportion. Black currant and berry fruits lie under the dark, dry exterior. The wine is dense, needing several years' aging. Drink from 2018. | Zédé de Labégorce | 92 | 40 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Labégorce Margaux 2010 Zédé de Labégorce (Margaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Labégorce Margaux |
| 48957 | 48956 | France | Fronholz is from a single vineyard, a heady, perfumed wine with ripe, smooth undertones. While there is plenty of acidity, it's the opulent, ripe texture that comes right up front. A light touch of honey and melon roundness give a creamy aftertaste. Drink now, but better from 2017. | Fronholz | 92 | 47 | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Ostertag 2012 Fronholz Riesling (Alsace) | Riesling | Domaine Ostertag |
| 48958 | 48957 | Portugal | Produced from old vines, this is an impressive wine, rich and dense. It brings together dark tannins and opulent black fruits that cushion the firm structure. A lively acidity and a silky character show that the wine is ready to drink. | Dona Maria Reserva | 92 | 40 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Dona Maria-Júlio Bastos 2009 Dona Maria Reserva Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Dona Maria-Júlio Bastos |
| 48959 | 48958 | Italy | Aromas of crushed plum, asphalt, oak, toast, exotic spice and forest floor lead the nose. The palate delivers black cherry, mocha, licorice and mineral alongside bracing, tightly woven tannins that need time to unwind. Drink 2017–2031. | Sorì Tildin | 92 | 500 | Piedmont | Langhe | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Gaja 2011 Sorì Tildin Red (Langhe) | Red Blend | Gaja |
| 48960 | 48959 | US | Lightly toasted tobacco, blueberry pie and cedar scents lead the way on this single-vineyard Cab. Fresh blueberry on the palate combines with a great arc of flavors that ends in a chewed cigar finish. | Lone Oak Vineyard Estate | 92 | 33 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Cooper-Garrod 2009 Lone Oak Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cooper-Garrod |