| 49201 | 49200 | France | Very firm tannins coming from ripe black fruits give this structured wine, produced by the winemaking team from Château Montrose, a solid, dense feel. The core of dryness is surrounded by rich fruits and bright acidity. The wine presents the possibility of good aging; drink from 2018. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Saint-Estèphe | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Tronquoy-Lalande 2011 Saint-Estèphe | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Tronquoy-Lalande |
| 49202 | 49201 | Austria | Subtle notes of white currant, lime peel and Conference pear mingle on nose and palate, framed by a linear, tight and toned body. This comes across as elegant, straight-backed and poised, showing off breeding and refinement. Refreshing, pure and very long. | Alte Reben Weisser Burgunder | 92 | 37 | Niederösterreich | | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Ebner-Ebenauer 2012 Alte Reben Weisser Burgunder Weissburgunder (Niederösterreich) | Weissburgunder | Ebner-Ebenauer |
| 49203 | 49202 | US | Drinking at its prime, the Isabella blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Malbec and 11% Petit Verdot. Muscular and solid, the fruit flavors of cherry and plum are framed with ripe tannins. Accents of toasted walnuts, coffee and cream complete a thoroughly satisfying finish. | Isabella | 92 | 38 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Elsom Cellars 2009 Isabella Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | Elsom Cellars |
| 49204 | 49203 | US | A long-time producer of great Chardonnay, Flora Springs hits a new level with this reserve commemorative bottling. The wine is spectacularly rich in tropical fruits, green apples and limes, with elaborate buttered toast and vanilla flavors from new oak, and a wonderfully creamy, leesy complexity. | Flora's Legacy | 92 | 70 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Flora Springs 2012 Flora's Legacy Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Flora Springs |
| 49205 | 49204 | US | This is Londer Vineyard fruit though the vineyard is no longer a designation of its own. Still, like vintages past, Fulcrum has worked its magic with the long-coveted spot, crafting an herbal, savory Pinot that's mouth-filling in blueberry fruit. Voluptuously soft, this is a great wine for the table, perhaps paired with a pork roast dripping in mushrooms. | | 92 | 54 | California | Anderson Valley | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Fulcrum 2011 Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) | Pinot Noir | Fulcrum |
| 49206 | 49205 | US | A single-vineyard Sangiovese made Chianti-style, meaning it's dry as dust with pronounced acidity. Pretty rich in flavor, though, with a ripe streak of cherries and sweet chocolate. Dry, dusty tannins kick in in the finish. | Alegria Vineyards | 87 | 16 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Acorn 2000 Alegria Vineyards Sangiovese (Russian River Valley) | Sangiovese | Acorn |
| 49207 | 49206 | US | This Gallo brand exploits extensive new Pinot plantings in the appellation to produce a wine that's clean and correct, rather than exciting. The flavors range from cranberries to black cherries, and the tannins are silky. Will improve with a year or so in the cellar. | | 87 | 24 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Frei Brothers 2001 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Frei Brothers |
| 49208 | 49207 | US | This is tasty stuff, not only because it has the prettiest lemon and lime tastes, but the crisp acidity makes it lively on the palate. It's dryish, with a honeyed, ripe sweetness that lasts long into the finish. | Estate Grown & Bottled | 87 | 11 | California | Monterey County | Central Coast | | | Lockwood 2000 Estate Grown & Bottled Sauvignon Blanc (Monterey County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Lockwood |
| 49209 | 49208 | Italy | Starts off with fresh but simple aromas of apple wedges, greens and limes, but shows altogether more interesting flavors—the apple and citrus are complemented by hints of oil or shale. Turns minerally on the finish. | | 87 | 13 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Banear 2001 Pinot Grigio (Friuli Grave) | Pinot Grigio | Banear |
| 49210 | 49209 | Chile | Smooth and richly aromatic, with pear and apple notes to go with the full allotment of oak and butter. This is Bisquertt's attempt at a top-shelf Chard, and it isn't a bad effort. The palate deals plenty of pear and mango flavors, while the finish is warm and oaky. Well made, yet a bit flat. Drink this year for best results. Best Buy. | Estate Bottled Reserve | 87 | 12 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Château La Joya 2001 Estate Bottled Reserve Chardonnay (Colchagua Valley) | Chardonnay | Château La Joya |
| 49211 | 49210 | Italy | This blended white combines Tocai Friulano (60%) with Pinot Bianco (25%) and Pinot Grigio (15%) in a tasty, corpulent wine well worth its modest price. Bold flavors of oranges, pink grapefruits and ripe cherries mingle in the mouth; the only quibble is that it finishes a little short. | Pino & Toi | 87 | 10 | Veneto | Veneto | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Maculan 2002 Pino & Toi White (Veneto) | White Blend | Maculan |
| 49212 | 49211 | Chile | The nose is a tiny bit pickled, probably a sign of American oak, but there's also raspberry and garden-like freshness. The palate is ripe and juicy, with plenty of sweetness. As a whole it's tasty, balanced and expressive. For a day-to-day Cabernet, this one is recommended. | | 87 | 7 | Central Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Morandé 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Morandé |
| 49213 | 49212 | Chile | The bouquet kicks up hints of graham cracker, iodine and earth. The mouth is fat and broad, with a goodly amount of typical plum and cherry flavors. The finish is simple yet clean, with tight tannins and moderate length. Good and well made; a wine for everyday consumption. | Reserve | 87 | 14 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Ema 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Santa Ema |
| 49214 | 49213 | US | The Cherryblock Cabs seem to share a common minty characteristic that's particularly noticeable in this vintage. There's also a decent amount of cassis, earth and tobacco, and the finish remains firmly tannic. Drink or hold. | Cherryblock | 87 | 120 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Sebastiani 1992 Cherryblock Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Sebastiani |
| 49215 | 49214 | US | Plenty of flavor, with tastes of black raspberry jam, cherry, tobacco and pepper. Has a nice texture, satiny and velvety, with good acidity. Straddles the border between simple and complex, but it's certainly tasty with a good, long finish. | Bien Nacido Vineyard | 87 | 33 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Benziger 2000 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Benziger |
| 49216 | 49215 | Italy | From one sniff, you know this is Gewürz, its rose-petal and lychee aromas erupting out of the glass. But the flavors are less expansive, picking up notes of peppery spice on the finish. | Lunare | 87 | 43 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Cantina Terlano 2001 Lunare Gewürztraminer (Alto Adige) | Gewürztraminer | Cantina Terlano |
| 49217 | 49216 | Italy | A full, rich, concentrated wine, with fat, ripe fruit and a touch of acidity. Big and powerful, it has a fresh, clean aftertaste. | | 87 | 13 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Cantina Tramin 2002 Pinot Bianco (Alto Adige) | Pinot Bianco | Cantina Tramin |
| 49218 | 49217 | Chile | Opens with lofty, airy aromas of flowers and pears, and then in the mouth comes a full rush of grapefruit and orange pith. Finishes nicely, tasting of tangerine with hints of licorice and tarragon. In terms of mouthfeel, it's a plump, medium-acid wine, so drink it now. Best Buy. | | 87 | 8 | Maule Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Casa Julia 2001 Sauvignon Blanc (Maule Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Casa Julia |
| 49219 | 49218 | Italy | From what is claimed to be the highest vineyard in Europe, at 3,000 feet, comes this surprisingly ripe, full-flavored Müller-Thurgau, with soft acidity and a fine, crisp, green finish. | Feldmarschall von Fenner | 87 | 27 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Tiefenbrunner 2002 Feldmarschall von Fenner Müller-Thurgau (Alto Adige) | Müller-Thurgau | Tiefenbrunner |
| 49220 | 49219 | Italy | A single-vineyard Sangiovese from Piccini's top estate, Poggio Teo offers up aromas of black tea and anise balanced by flavors of black fruit. It's smooth in the mouth, but not particularly lush, finishing with plenty of juicy acidity. | Poggio Teo | 87 | 20 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Valiano 1999 Poggio Teo (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Valiano |
| 49221 | 49220 | Italy | This sleek, easy-to-drink wine starts off with aromas of plum and lack cherry allied to subtle scents of sandalwood. The wood continues on the palate, but just as an accent—the emphasis is on the fruit. | | 87 | 15 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Valiano 2001 Chianti Classico | Sangiovese | Valiano |
| 49222 | 49221 | Italy | An intense, herbaceous wine that also manages to be light. Acidity and green fruits keep the poise and the freshness, while the flavors of green plums and gooseberries are balanced with some structure. | | 87 | 22 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Villa Russiz 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (Collio) | Sauvignon Blanc | Villa Russiz |
| 49223 | 49222 | Chile | Woody aromas smell much like warm cedar, and that's backed up by some nice cherry and cassis. There's plenty of pleasant red fruit on the palate, and not a hint of green. Some chocolaty earthiness makes it all the more cheerful. It's an easy drinker that delivers solid Cab character without a lot of fuss and heavy extraction. | Reserve | 87 | 16 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Casas del Bosque 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Rapel Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Viña Casas del Bosque |
| 49224 | 49223 | Portugal | With its flamboyant aromas of oranges, tangerines and apricots, this screams “Muscat” at the top of its lungs. The plump flavors of tropical and citrus fruits make it easy to like and easy to drink. Great as an apéritif. | Muscat of Alexandria | 87 | 10 | Terras do Sado | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | João Pires 2001 Muscat of Alexandria Muscat (Terras do Sado) | Muscat | João Pires |
| 49225 | 49224 | Chile | This is a late release, but it's in good shape. The nose is earthy and dense, with just a nip of wet fur and forest floor. The palate is all about sweet berries and ripeness, while the finish is warm and lengthy. It's solid and without any obvious flaws even if it doesn't thump its chest and overwhelm you. | Estate Reserve | 87 | 10 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | La Playa 1999 Estate Reserve Merlot (Colchagua Valley) | Merlot | La Playa |
| 49226 | 49225 | Italy | Inviting aromas of butter, almond and citrus open into a rich, thickly textured wine studded with peach, almond butter and citrus pith. The slightly bitter notes echo through the finish, providing a welcome sense of balance to round mouthfeel and fatty flavors. | | 87 | 8 | Northeastern Italy | Delle Venezie | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Lagaria 2001 Chardonnay (Delle Venezie) | Chardonnay | Lagaria |
| 49227 | 49226 | Italy | Not a typically fruity Grigio, this one relies more on spices and minerals to make a palate impression. Hints of almond and dried cinnamon start things off, followed by stony, mineral flavors backed by pears and allspice. | | 87 | 11 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Villa Carra 2001 Pinot Grigio (Friuli Grave) | Pinot Grigio | Villa Carra |
| 49228 | 49227 | US | A pleasant wine, with mild melon, mineral, citrus, peach and herb flavors. Light textured, medium bodied and quite refreshing. Clean on the finish. | | 87 | 13 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Chateau St. Jean 2001 Fumé Blanc (Sonoma County) | Fumé Blanc | Chateau St. Jean |
| 49229 | 49228 | Chile | Concha y Toro is making a big, burly Merlot for this line and it should have mass appeal given how rich, extracted and oaky it is. The nose is dense as chocolate cake and deep as a well. The mouth is chewy and thick, with chocolate-covered berries and another whack of wood. | Marques de Casa Concha | 87 | 14 | Peumo | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Concha y Toro 2001 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot (Peumo) | Merlot | Concha y Toro |
| 49230 | 49229 | Italy | A soft, rounded wine with hints of oak from the one-third barrel aging. Concentrated and firm, it is already well in balance, with soft, creamy flavors. | Kastelatz | 87 | 23 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Elena Walch 2002 Kastelatz Pinot Bianco (Alto Adige) | Pinot Bianco | Elena Walch |