| 481 | 480 | US | This Stella Mae is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It remains a rather lean wine in the Sparkman portfolio, despite having alcohol at 14.6%. Here are lightly earthy flavors of strawberry and herb, with a hint of green in the tannins. | Stella Mae | 87 | 45 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sparkman 2009 Stella Mae Red (Red Mountain) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Sparkman |
| 482 | 481 | Italy | This pretty Cannonau-based wine opens with ripe aromas of blackberry, tobacco and dried spice. The mouthfeel is smooth, plush and dense. | Costera | 87 | 18 | Sicily & Sardinia | Isola dei Nuraghi | | | | Argiolas 2008 Costera Cannonau (Isola dei Nuraghi) | Cannonau | Argiolas |
| 483 | 482 | US | The alcohol is nice and low in this dry Pinot Noir. It has a silky texture and complex flavors of red cherries, persimmons, cola and spices. Acidity is great but there's something slightly off, suggesting a trace of unripeness. Drink now. | Ocean's Ghost | 87 | 60 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Babcock 2010 Ocean's Ghost Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Babcock |
| 484 | 483 | South Africa | A glimmer of toast and honey add depth to the green fig, apple and underripe peach center of this wine. Fresh and zippy on the palate, the vibrant fruit and sweet citrus flavors carry through to the mouthwatering finish. Drink up. | | 87 | 12 | Stellenbosch | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Cape View 2011 Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch) | Chenin Blanc | Cape View |
| 485 | 484 | South Africa | A fresh and fruity wine that's ready to drink now. This has attractive aromas and flavors of green apple and lime followed by a clean, mouthwatering finish. There's a soft herbal streak that adds depth to the nose and mouth. | Petit | 87 | 12 | Western Cape | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Ken Forrester 2011 Petit Chenin Blanc (Western Cape) | Chenin Blanc | Ken Forrester |
| 486 | 485 | France | Bulky and rugged but sound, with some drying tannins on the finish. It compensates by offering attractive flavors of black cherries, black olives and hints of asphalt and garrigue. Try it with hearty braises or stews. | | 87 | 13 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône Villages | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Louis Bernard 2009 Red (Côtes du Rhône Villages) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Louis Bernard |
| 487 | 486 | US | This smooth, lush Cabernet is brimming with blackberry, black currant, blueberry cedar and spice flavors. It's classic Cabernet. You'll find quite a scour of acidity running through the middle, which suggests this wine should pair with rich, fatty meats. | L de Lyeth | 87 | 13 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Lyeth 2010 L de Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Lyeth |
| 488 | 487 | Italy | A blend of Friulano and Verduzzo, this delivers aromas of candied fruit, yellow rose, butterscotch, spice and apricot. It opens a clear window onto the natural characteristics of both grape varieties. | Tovè | 87 | 15 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | | | Marco Cecchini 2010 Tovè White (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | White Blend | Marco Cecchini |
| 489 | 488 | Italy | Pinot Grigio from the Friuli Grave tends to show extra creaminess and structure in the mouth. Here is a stellar example that's backed by flavors of peach, citrus and Golden Delicious apple. | | 87 | 18 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | | | Vigneti Le Monde 2010 Pinot Grigio (Friuli Grave) | Pinot Grigio | Vigneti Le Monde |
| 490 | 489 | Italy | This bright white is redolent of tomato leaf, wild salvia and citrus. The brightness of the bouquet is followed by a satisfyingly creamy mouthfeel. | | 87 | 13 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | | | Vigneti Le Monde 2010 Sauvignon (Friuli Grave) | Sauvignon | Vigneti Le Monde |
| 491 | 490 | Spain | Lime, apple and mineral aromas come with a note of eggy yeast. The mouthfeel is regular and a touch foamy, with semisweet flavors of kiwi, apple and gooseberry. Mild and feeling good on the finish, it's basic but well worth a go. | Reserva Brut | 87 | 19 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | V&N; Cellars NV Reserva Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | V&N; Cellars |
| 492 | 491 | Austria | This is a soft, creamed-apple style of wine, with a great shaft of acidity cutting through the crisp fruit. Kiwi and gooseberry fruits are lifted on the bright, lively finish. | Kellermeister Privat Goldberg | 87 | 18 | Kremstal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Winzer Krems 2011 Kellermeister Privat Goldberg Grüner Veltliner (Kremstal) | Grüner Veltliner | Winzer Krems |
| 493 | 492 | US | Tart and lively, this medium-bodied Sangiovese was co-fermented with small amounts of Syrah and Viognier. The Viognier contributes scents of citrus and stone fruit, which add some welcome complexity. | | 87 | 30 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Zerba Cellars 2008 Sangiovese (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Sangiovese | Zerba Cellars |
| 494 | 493 | US | Produced by Three Rivers for celebrity winemaker Geoff Tate, the Insania is actually rather tame. Pretty fruit flavors of berry, cherry and plum introduce the wine gracefully, then run into some stiff, drying, chalky tannins. | | 87 | 35 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Insania 2009 Red (Red Mountain) | Red Blend | Insania |
| 495 | 494 | US | This is intensely aromatic, with loads of tropical fruit, apple blossom and white peach notes on the nose and palate. It's fresh, tasty and big in body, yet deftly balanced. Soft, lemony acidity on the midpalate gets a boost of citrus rind and saline on the finish. | | 87 | 12 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Knapp 2011 Chardonnay (Finger Lakes) | Chardonnay | Knapp |
| 496 | 495 | US | This El Dorado wine opens with aromas of sweet floral jasmine and is very pretty through and through. Its acidity sings perfectly through the middle of the wine, lifting the flavors of apple and dried apricot as well as the notes of lemon and lime on the finish. This should pair with a range of midweek dinners. | Battonage | 87 | 18 | California | El Dorado | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Lava Cap 2010 Battonage Chardonnay (El Dorado) | Chardonnay | Lava Cap |
| 497 | 496 | Spain | This barrel-fermented Verdejo is interesting, but it's also a bit low on acidity. It smells like pine and blowsy flowers. Creamy, soft and cuddly on the palate, this has flavors of baked apple, wood resin and banana. It finishes round and sweet. Drink now. | Collection Blanco | 87 | 25 | Northern Spain | Rueda | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Loess 2009 Collection Blanco Verdejo (Rueda) | Verdejo | Loess |
| 498 | 497 | US | This wine has the variety's trademark notes of herb, green bell pepper, with a woodsy qulaity. This is a full-bodied effort, bearing a long, spicy finish. | Babcock Vineyard | 87 | 30 | California | Suisun Valley | North Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | MICA Cellars 2009 Babcock Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Suisun Valley) | Cabernet Franc | MICA Cellars |
| 499 | 498 | US | There are lot's of cherry, cola, sandalwood and exotic spice flavors in this Pinot Noir. It's dry and silky, with a nice crispness from the acidity. | Annabella | 87 | 17 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Michael Pozzan 2010 Annabella Pinot Noir (Carneros) | Pinot Noir | Michael Pozzan |
| 500 | 499 | France | This is a big, spicy wine, with very ripe flavors of red berries. It''ss concentrated, with layers of pepper a tight lemon-zest acidity. | L'Esprit de Provence | 87 | 20 | Provence | Côtes de Provence | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Grand Cros 2011 L'Esprit de Provence Rosé (Côtes de Provence) | Rosé | Domaine du Grand Cros |
| 501 | 500 | Spain | Aromas of watermelon and a dusting of natural vanilla mark the bouquet. On the palate, it's fleshy but still crisp and focused, with nectarine, red apple and strawberry flavors. The finish lasts, with some sweetness. | Rosado | 87 | 11 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | El Coto 2011 Rosado Rosé (Rioja) | Rosé | El Coto |
| 502 | 501 | US | A Verdelho with a taste of nuts—like Marcona almonds—it gets more fruity and aromatic after a good swirl. This is marked by a tangy sweetness on the finish. | Silvaspoons Vineyard | 87 | 15 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Fenestra 2010 Silvaspoons Vineyard Verdelho (Lodi) | Verdelho | Fenestra |
| 503 | 502 | Austria | Deliciously perfumed, this is as light as a feather, with baked apple and lemon flavors. It's crisp and honey sweet—a great apéritif. | Muscato | 87 | 18 | Österreichischer Sekt | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Gunter Triebaumer NV Muscato Moscato (Österreichischer Sekt) | Moscato | Gunter Triebaumer |
| 504 | 503 | US | Sauvignon Blanc has been a consistent performer for Hanna, usually yielding a rich, ripe wine with brisk acidity. The '11 is one of their best efforts. It's tart, clean and savory, with the pineapple, tangerine and Meyer lemon flavors touched with a slight sweetness. | | 87 | 19 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Hanna 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Hanna |
| 505 | 504 | France | A simple but attractive Côtes du Rhône, with impressively pure cherry-berry fruit, medium body and a slightly chunky feel. Drink it over the next couple of years. | Réserve Grand Veneur | 87 | 15 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Alain Jaume et Fils 2009 Réserve Grand Veneur Red (Côtes du Rhône) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Alain Jaume et Fils |
| 506 | 505 | Spain | Full and smoky, with bacon, blackberry and tire rubber on the nose. This is a bit grating in feel due to full tannins and acids, with wild berry flavors, bitter oak, black plum and darkness. Lengthy on the finish. | | 87 | 16 | Northern Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Aleo 2009 Tempranillo (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León) | Tempranillo | Aleo |
| 507 | 506 | Italy | A blend of 70% Pinot Grigio and 30% Ribolla Gialla, this bright white opens with floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, white pepper and stone fruit. The Ribolla Gialla element adds structure and notes of caramel and pineapple. | | 87 | 12 | Northeastern Italy | Venezia Giulia | | | | Altùris 2011 White (Venezia Giulia) | White Blend | Altùris |
| 508 | 507 | US | Medium bodied, this sharply defined wine brings in plenty of notes of herb, root and earth around its light berry fruit. It captures the defining flavors of Wahluke Slope Syrah in a somewhat muted style, reflecting the abbreviated growing season. | Clifton Vineyard | 87 | 28 | Washington | Wahluke Slope | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Camaraderie 2009 Clifton Vineyard Syrah (Wahluke Slope) | Syrah | Camaraderie |
| 509 | 508 | US | This is a mix of fruit from both warm and cool vineyards, crafting a clean, fresh, lightly herbal wine with a pleasing dusty character. Hints of cocoa and toast annotate the tart berry fruit, with a thread of smoke and chalk running through the tannins. | | 87 | 28 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Camaraderie 2009 Tempranillo (Yakima Valley) | Tempranillo | Camaraderie |
| 510 | 509 | US | This would be a straightforward Bordeaux red blend if not for the 5% Petite Sirah within. Together, it's 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec as well, sourced from Howell Mountain and valley floor sites. Dusty and herbal, the wine is thick and sizably tannic, with dense black fruit, leather and coffee. | Quantum | 91 | 65 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Beringer 2014 Quantum Red (Napa Valley) | Red Blend | Beringer |