| 50101 | 50100 | US | Ultrarich and fruity, this Cabernet shows the grapey ripeness Paso Robles is famous for. The wine is fresh and jammy in blackberries, cherries and raspberries. It's a little one-dimensional, and the alcohol is very high, but not hot. Drink now. | Viking Estate Vineyard | 89 | 75 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Adelaida 2007 Viking Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Adelaida |
| 50102 | 50101 | Italy | Elegance is the operative word here. This well-balanced Vino Nobile doles out cherry, spice, leather and dried tobacco in equal measure. The wine's natural acidity also does a nice job of meeting the tannins and structure. | Nocio dei Boscarelli | 89 | 34 | Tuscany | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano | | | | Boscarelli 2005 Nocio dei Boscarelli (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) | Prugnolo Gentile | Boscarelli |
| 50103 | 50102 | Italy | What sets this pretty Chianti Classico apart is its elegance and delicate harmony. Bright but subtle notes of forest berry, white cherry, cassis and vanilla are backed by fresh acidity and cooling freshness. | | 89 | | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Castello dei Rampolla 2007 Chianti Classico | Sangiovese | Castello dei Rampolla |
| 50104 | 50103 | US | This is a softly sophisticated Cabernet that will please fans of the variety who want a wine that's a little earthier than your riper Napa Valley versions. It has herb and tobacco flavors, but there's also a delicious sunburst of sweetly ripe cherries right in the middle that lasts through the finish. Should develop over the next 7–8 years. | Five Sisters Blend | 89 | 34 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | J. Rickards 2008 Five Sisters Blend Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | J. Rickards |
| 50105 | 50104 | Spain | Starts out with gentle matchstick aromas, but with time it's all about white fruits, green herbs and apple. The palate has a firm, standard, high-quality mouthfeel along with tart apple, white peach and pineapple flavors. The finish is pure lime and snap, while the refreshment quotient runs long and strong. | | 89 | 15 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Martín Códax 2009 Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | Martín Códax |
| 50106 | 50105 | Italy | Morellino di Scansano is a red wine on the rise and this beautifully balanced expression shows impressive intensity, freshness and quality of fruit. Those plump cherry nuances really hit home. | Tenuta Belguardo Bronzone | 89 | 28 | Tuscany | Morellino di Scansano | | | | Mazzei 2007 Tenuta Belguardo Bronzone (Morellino di Scansano) | Sangiovese | Mazzei |
| 50107 | 50106 | New Zealand | One of few Kiwi Pinots typically worth cellaring, Neudorf's 2008 Moutere bottling comes across as a bit oaky, with menthol and cedar notes forming a tight overlay to the cherry fruit. Tannins are silky yet firm, suggesting the wine will be at its best 2012–2018. | Moutere | 89 | 48 | Nelson | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Neudorf 2008 Moutere Pinot Noir (Nelson) | Pinot Noir | Neudorf |
| 50108 | 50107 | Italy | Aged in a combination of French barrique and larger oak casks, this Riserva Chianti Classico delivers typical Sangiovese aromas of red berry, violets and wet earth followed by tight freshness and some grittiness in the mouth. | Riserva | 89 | 24 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Castello di Gabbiano 2006 Riserva (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Castello di Gabbiano |
| 50109 | 50108 | US | Sweet and soft, like melted jam, this Barbera has plush blackberry, cherry and raspberry flavors. Given its tannins and acids, it will probably age for a long time. | | 84 | 34 | California | Mendocino County | | | | VJB 2006 Barbera (Mendocino County) | Barbera | VJB |
| 50110 | 50109 | US | Tastes overly sweet, almost like a dessert wine, the result of residual sugar. The flavors of cherries, black raspberries and chocolate are wrapped in a soft texture. | | 84 | 25 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | X 2006 Petite Sirah (Paso Robles) | Petite Sirah | X |
| 50111 | 50110 | Germany | From a usually reliable producer and a top vineyard site, this is a bit of a disappointment. Some floral, apple-y notes grace the predominantly crushed-stone aromas, while the impression on the palate is broad and slightly unfocused. | Dhron Hofberger Erstes Gewächs | 84 | 40 | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Grans-Fassian 2006 Dhron Hofberger Erstes Gewächs Riesling (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) | Riesling | Grans-Fassian |
| 50112 | 50111 | Austria | This fresh, fruity wine offers pure red fruits with light tannins. Very much in a Beaujolais style, this is juicy, with balancing acidity over sweet raspberry fruit flavors. Screwcap. | St. Laurent Classique | 84 | 10 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Hafner 2006 St. Laurent Classique St. Laurent (Burgenland) | St. Laurent | Hafner |
| 50113 | 50112 | France | A wine that tries too hard. The extract is strong, giving some bitterness. And, although the berry fruits are sweet and rich, the tannins edge the fruit with hardness. On the finish, some smokiness enhances the black currant juice, but that astringency just won't go away. | Thomas Barton Réserve | 84 | 25 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Barton & Guestier 2006 Thomas Barton Réserve (Margaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Barton & Guestier |
| 50114 | 50113 | Chile | Reasonably nice peach, melon and apple flavors are nothing extraordinary, but together they make for a decent nose. The palate is soft but not what you'd call flabby, while flavors of pear, apple and banana are innocuous and shouldn't send anyone running to the door. For best results, drinknow. | Clásico | 84 | 7 | Loncomilla Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Carta Vieja 2008 Clásico Sauvignon Blanc (Loncomilla Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Carta Vieja |
| 50115 | 50114 | Chile | Can't really say there's much difference between this and Carta Vieja's Classico SB. Both are bland, with chunky apple and pear characteristics. Neither has much of a pulse, but on the plus side they aren't nasty or aggressive. This “limited release” turns out to be a basic wine for basicoccasions. | Single Vineyard Limited Release Reserve | 84 | 10 | Loncomilla Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Carta Vieja 2008 Single Vineyard Limited Release Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Loncomilla Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Carta Vieja |
| 50116 | 50115 | France | Crisp acidity marks this mouthwatering white. Intense aromas of lemon and grass make for an intriguing nose. The palate is a bit dull, although the acidity gives the minerally finish a bit of staying power and makes it a good foil for fresh seafood. | | 84 | 13 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Vin de Pays d'Oc | | | | Domaine Begude 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de Pays d'Oc) | Sauvignon Blanc | Domaine Begude |
| 50117 | 50116 | Germany | Sweet and soft, although it does show enough concentrated apple, melon and citrus fruit to warrant recommendation. Finishes with the barest hint of minerality. | Noble House | 84 | 14 | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2007 Noble House Riesling (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) | Riesling | Dr. Pauly Bergweiler |
| 50118 | 50117 | US | Tough, tannicly dry and gritty, this simple country Zin needs big barbecued beef or chicken dishes slathered with sweet BBQ sauce. It's packed with blackberry and cherry jam, blood orange, licorice, beef jerky and spice flavors. | | 84 | 18 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Paso Creek 2006 Zinfandel (Paso Robles) | Zinfandel | Paso Creek |
| 50119 | 50118 | US | Dry and a little harsh in texture, this Pinot shows flavors of cherries, green mint candy and oak. It's dry and silky. Production was 16,663 cases. | | 84 | 24 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Schug 2007 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Schug |
| 50120 | 50119 | US | Soft and fruity, this Syrah is technically dry, but so fruity, it almost tastes like a candy. Shows red cherry, red currant, cola, roasted almond and licorice flavors, like a fruit bar you buy in the health store. | Soldiers of Fortune | 84 | 50 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | JAQK Cellars 2006 Soldiers of Fortune Shiraz (Napa Valley) | Shiraz | JAQK Cellars |
| 50121 | 50120 | US | Shows Pinot's dry, silky texture, but turns unripe and green, with cherry-mint flavors and high acidity. With Pinot, you get what you pay for. | | 84 | 14 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Kirkland Signature 2007 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) | Pinot Noir | Kirkland Signature |
| 50122 | 50121 | France | Both the gorgeous purple color and the nose of fresh grapes make this wine a dead ringer for Beaujolais. The soft palate shows notes of sweet strawberries but has sufficient acidity to leave a refreshing impression in the mouth. Drink now. | | 84 | 10 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Vin de Pays de L'Aude | | | | Les Jamelles 2007 Pinot Noir (Vin de Pays de L'Aude) | Pinot Noir | Les Jamelles |
| 50123 | 50122 | France | Starts off with a bit of a sweaty funk that soon blows off and allows more pleasant notes of bay leaves, thyme, red currant and rhubarb to come through. A touch sanguine and mulchy in the mouth with lighter body and acidity. | La Combe Des Oliviers | 84 | 13 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Corbières | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Lorgeril 2005 La Combe Des Oliviers Red (Corbières) | Red Blend | Lorgeril |
| 50124 | 50123 | France | Charming and straightforward, barnyard, charred meat and manure notes on the nose lead to a palate perfumed with mixed berry compote. Shows the faintest grip on the shortish finish. Try with baby lamb chops. | | 84 | 12 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Vin de Pays d'Oc | | | | Montpezat 2007 Merlot (Vin de Pays d'Oc) | Merlot | Montpezat |
| 50125 | 50124 | US | This southern Rhône-style blend is very soft and as sweet as a fruit pastry. It has jammy or pie-filling flavors of cherries, raspberries, red plums and cocoa, with a dusting of pepper and cinnamon. | Bright Red | 84 | 20 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Municipal Winemakers 2007 Bright Red Red (Santa Barbara County) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Municipal Winemakers |
| 50126 | 50125 | Austria | This is tight, showing bitter red berries as well as firm tannins. It has an awkward rough animal character that underlies the crisp acidity. The finish is better, showing delicious red cherries and layered freshness. Glass stopper. | | 84 | 22 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Gernot and Heike Heinrich 2006 Blaufränkisch (Burgenland) | Blaufränkisch | Gernot and Heike Heinrich |
| 50127 | 50126 | Austria | For an icewine, this is ultra-sweet. 2003 was a tough year for icewine, because there was not enough autumn mist, but the fruit was very ripe. This shows in the intense honey and burnt toffee flavors here, the acidity a mere hint. | Essencia Eiswein | 84 | 20 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Hafner 2003 Essencia Eiswein Grüner Veltliner (Burgenland) | Grüner Veltliner | Hafner |
| 50128 | 50127 | Chile | Plump but wholly generic, with semisweet aromas that are neither here nor there. The palate is round, with adequate to good mouthfeel. And the flavors of citrus are solid but kind of pithy and bitter. A full, chunky wine with virtues as well as some flaws. Drink right away for best results. | Estate Selection | 84 | 13 | Curicó Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Aresti 2007 Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc (Curicó Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Aresti |
| 50129 | 50128 | Italy | Luminous and bright, this well-priced Pinot Grigio doles out fresh fruit flavors of peach, apricot and tangerine. The wine is lean and firm with an easygoing approach and spicy crispness on the finish. | | 84 | 10 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Isonzo | | | | Blason 2007 Pinot Grigio (Friuli Isonzo) | Pinot Grigio | Blason |
| 50130 | 50129 | France | This structured wine has ripe black fruits followed by red berries. There is a good depth of flavor, the tannins giving the bright fruit weight and a mouthfilling character. | Merlot | 84 | 12 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Sainte Barbe 2006 Merlot (Bordeaux) | Merlot | Château Sainte Barbe |