| 5041 | 5040 | US | A classic Napa Valley Chardonnay, this is smooth, rich, balanced and well composed. Flowery aromas of honeysuckle open the way for lemon curd and ripe apple to compete with a depth of crème brûlée character that provides plenty of complexity, with additional accents of honey and spice. | Cuvée Sauvage | 91 | 40 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Franciscan 2012 Cuvée Sauvage Chardonnay (Carneros) | Chardonnay | Franciscan |
| 5042 | 5041 | US | Attractively priced, this Cab—with 5% Petit Verdot—offers meaty bacon and smoky oak character around sizable tannins, black currant, black licorice and a finishing dust of mocha. | Obsidian Block Reserve | 91 | 36 | California | St. Helena | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Gibbs 2010 Obsidian Block Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gibbs |
| 5043 | 5042 | US | Kian Tavakoli is the winemaker for this small-production Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A brambly, full-bodied wine, it's concentrated in black fruit with a spicy streak of clove. | | 91 | 54 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Greyscale 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Greyscale |
| 5044 | 5043 | Chile | From a warm vintage, this blend is ripe yet still balanced, with aromas of prune, blackberry, tree bark and leather. The palate is saturated and broad, boasting flavors of dark, baked, black fruit accented by pepper and chocolate on the finish. Drink now. | Canto de Apalta Cellar Selection | 91 | 22 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Lapostolle 2012 Canto de Apalta Cellar Selection Red (Rapel Valley) | Red Blend | Lapostolle |
| 5045 | 5044 | US | Winemaker Anna Monticelli spent a harvest at Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux and worked under Philippe Melka at Seavey and Bryant Family. She leaves her own mark on this structured, silky, robust and rich Cabernet, bright in red cranberry and clove. Firehouse Vineyard is on the winery estate and given to floral and herbal notes, both of which suggest themselves slowly here. | Firehouse Vineyard | 91 | 85 | California | Rutherford | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Piña 2011 Firehouse Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Piña |
| 5046 | 5045 | Italy | This full-bodied wine offers classic Nebbiolo aromas of underbrush, black cherry, leather and a whiff of baking spices. It's still young, delivering raspberry, clove, cinnamon and grilled herb framed by tightly woven tannins. Give this time to unwind. Drink after 2019. | Pora Riserva | 91 | 65 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Produttori del Barbaresco 2009 Pora Riserva (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Produttori del Barbaresco |
| 5047 | 5046 | US | This is a modestly priced Napa Cabernet that's feral and brambly, the flavors well-composed and soft in black plum and black cherry. It's well balanced and structured, with ample tannins and length on the finish. | | 91 | 32 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Renteria 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Renteria |
| 5048 | 5047 | US | Warmed croissant yeastiness matches up with sea salt and lemon butter on the nose of this bottling from the pioneering Santa Barbara Winery. The salinity carries on the palate, with apple pie and butterscotch presenting a nicely oaked but not overdone palate. | Reserve | 91 | 25 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Santa Barbara Winery 2012 Reserve Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) | Chardonnay | Santa Barbara Winery |
| 5049 | 5048 | US | Fruity frills of strawberry surround a core of black New Mexican chiles, with cinnamon and clove emerging the longer one sniffs. There's nice tension between the fruit flavors and the nearly bell pepper greenness. Throw a chill on it and serve with barbecued pork. | Estate | 91 | 28 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Still Waters 2010 Estate Cabernet Franc (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Franc | Still Waters |
| 5050 | 5049 | US | This is a delicious Chardonay. It dances in pear, peach and lemon notes. Balanced and addictive, it's easy to love and not overly complicated at all. Encased in just enough oak to provide texture and weight, this is a great wine for parties or casual dinners, pairable with just about anything. | Complicated | 91 | 18 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Taken Wine Co. 2013 Complicated Chardonnay (Sonoma County) | Chardonnay | Taken Wine Co. |
| 5051 | 5050 | France | A rich and medium sweet wine, full of spice, lychees and ripe fruits. There is a tangy texture, a strong sense of minerality as well as herb, yellow fruits and nutmeg flavors. It is still young and needs time. Drink from 2017. | Zotzenberg Grand Cru | 91 | | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Boeckel 2012 Zotzenberg Grand Cru Pinot Gris (Alsace) | Pinot Gris | Boeckel |
| 5052 | 5051 | US | With rich melon aromas, ripe apple flavors and a soothing, almost soft texture, this wants some rich, sophisticated cooking to go with it, like sautéed fish with a classic French sauce. Subtle acidity keeps the notes of almond and apple lingering on the finish. | Reserve | 91 | 14 | California | Lake County | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Wildhurst 2013 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Wildhurst |
| 5053 | 5052 | Lebanon | Aromas of cherry and vanilla continue to the palate alongside notes of toffee, smoked meat and roasted red pepper. A well-balanced wine, with flavors that are equal parts fruity and savory, the finish boasts lingering tannins and bright acidity. Fine Terroir Selections, Misa Imports. | Grande Réserve | 91 | 30 | Lebanon | | | Mike DeSimone | @worldwineguys | Ixsir 2009 Grande Réserve Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon (Lebanon) | Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon | Ixsir |
| 5054 | 5053 | US | Slightly funky scents of asphalt and sweaty socks come along with graphite, pressed blackberry and New Mexico chile. The palate is led by tobacco-laced zing, opening with boysenberry flavors, and finishing with decent acidity and mouth-coating tannins. | Estate | 91 | 60 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Mount Eden Vineyards 2010 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Eden Vineyards |
| 5055 | 5054 | Portugal | The Reserva version of Mural makes a powerful statement. Dark in color and packed with concentrated fruit, it is full of tannins as well as brooding black-plum flavors. Spice and juicy acidity complete the ensemble. It's a solid wine that needs to age to soften the tannic structure. Drink from 2017. | Mural Reserva | 91 | 12 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta do Portal 2011 Mural Reserva Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Quinta do Portal |
| 5056 | 5055 | Portugal | This wine is a fine exposition of the structure and density of a serious Douro wine. A field blend, it is packed with dark berry fruits and sweet tannins, with a strong mineral element that reflects the tough schist of the vineyards. It's drinkable now, but the wine will be better in 2016. | VT '08 | 91 | 47 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta do Sagrado 2008 VT '08 Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Quinta do Sagrado |
| 5057 | 5056 | US | Made from a mix of vineyards across the Napa Valley, this pays tribute to the early days of grape growing in the region and is a wine equally worthy of recognition. Exhibiting dark cherry stone and wild strawberry aromas, the palate is complex, tannic and round, a subtle suggestion of smoke on the finish balanced by bright acidity. | Founding Farmers | 91 | 35 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Robert Biale 2012 Founding Farmers Zinfandel (Napa Valley) | Zinfandel | Robert Biale |
| 5058 | 5057 | US | This is a lightly aromatic wine, with notes of lees, apple, mineral and spice. It's medium bodied, with a thick, textured feel showing good weight and intensity to the fruit flavors alongside well-balanced acidity. A uniquely styled wine without an easy comparison in the region. | Celilo Vineyard | 91 | 26 | Washington | Columbia Gorge (WA) | Washington Other | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Savage Grace 2013 Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay (Columbia Gorge (WA)) | Chardonnay | Savage Grace |
| 5059 | 5058 | US | Coming in at 12.8% alcohol—nearly unheard of for a Washington red, particularly in a warm vintage—it brings appealing notes of dark plum accented by black pepper and dried herbs. It's silky soft in feel with a dazzling sense of texture and purity with little apparent oak influence. | Dineen Vineyard | 91 | 27 | Washington | Rattlesnake Hills | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Savage Grace 2013 Dineen Vineyard Malbec (Rattlesnake Hills) | Malbec | Savage Grace |
| 5060 | 5059 | US | There's been no price increase for this outstanding value, but the quality keeps going up and up. It's packed with juicy red berry and cassis fruit—supple, tangy, deep and lingering. The finish carries a suggestion of chalk, more in the sense of minerality than any artificial dryness. | Five Vineyards | 91 | 20 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Arbor Crest 2012 Five Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Arbor Crest |
| 5061 | 5060 | US | Sanguine and brawny, it's concentrated in dark plum and blueberry fruit, with an earthy element teasing around the edges. The finish is marked by power and grip. | Creò Clajeux Vineyard | 87 | 75 | California | Chalk Hill | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Genius Wines 2009 Creò Clajeux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Chalk Hill) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Genius Wines |
| 5062 | 5061 | US | This vintage of the winery's Sauvignon Blanc doesn't reflect the tropicality that's started to define the region. It has more warmth to the nose than the grassy pungency common elsewhere, but the stronger differences are on the palate, with cooked apple, squeezed lemon and a brisk acidity, though not a particularly long finish. Altogether, this is a mellow, subdued wine. | | 87 | 21 | California | Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Happy Canyon Vineyard 2012 Sauvignon Blanc (Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara) | Sauvignon Blanc | Happy Canyon Vineyard |
| 5063 | 5062 | Portugal | Quite why Smart Dog is a good name for a wine is a mystery. The wine itself a rich, soft Syrah with attractive ripe blackberry and plum flavors and soft, finely integrated tannins. It's an enjoyable wine that's ready to drink. | Smart Dog | 87 | 10 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | J. Portugal Ramos 2012 Smart Dog Syrah (Alentejano) | Syrah | J. Portugal Ramos |
| 5064 | 5063 | Portugal | An instantly enjoyable, balanced rosé. It's fresh, clean and full of red berry fruits, with a crisp finish. Drink now. | Periquita | 87 | 11 | Península de Setúbal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | José Maria da Fonseca 2013 Periquita Rosé (Península de Setúbal) | Rosé | José Maria da Fonseca |
| 5065 | 5064 | Italy | The nose on this dense wine opens with aromas of roasted coffee bean and toasted sensations. The concentrated palate offers espresso, chocolate, mature plum and vanilla alongside an infusion of brooding tannins. | Pressenda | 87 | 80 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Abbona Marziano 2010 Pressenda (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Abbona Marziano |
| 5066 | 5065 | Italy | Aromas of underbrush, espresso and toasted oak carry over to the palate along with raw red berry. But there's not enough fruit richness to stand up to the astringent tannins and racy acidity. | Scarrone | 87 | 65 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Bava 2010 Scarrone (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Bava |
| 5067 | 5066 | US | Almost like a salad in your glass, this fresh-tasting, dry white wine smells like sugar snap peas and just-picked greens. It tastes snappy and crisp with parsley and thyme flavors, and has a refreshing texture. | Iberian Series | 87 | 18 | California | Yolo County | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Berryessa Gap 2013 Iberian Series Verdelho (Yolo County) | Verdelho | Berryessa Gap |
| 5068 | 5067 | Argentina | Spunky, youthful aromas of wild berry and currant are aggressive but fresh in style. This is a juicy, forward, bright Malbec with boysenberry flavors followed by a short wave of bitter chocolate and toast. It finishes in the same style. | Barrel Select | 87 | 14 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodega Norton 2012 Barrel Select Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | Bodega Norton |
| 5069 | 5068 | Portugal | There is a strong barnyard aroma here, although the palate is cleaner and more modern. With rich tannins and a dark plum character, it's ripe and structured. There is a strong mineral element, giving the wine power and density. Drink from 2016. | Lello | 87 | 8 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Borges 2011 Lello Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Borges |
| 5070 | 5069 | US | A tasty, lighter style of Pinot Noir, it offers fresh cherry and raspberry aromas, juicy fruit flavors and a delicate texture. There's enough complexity to keep you coming back for another sip. | | 87 | 13 | California | Mendocino | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Castle Rock 2012 Pinot Noir (Mendocino) | Pinot Noir | Castle Rock |