| 54511 | 54510 | Portugal | As befits a reserve wine, this blend was aged in wood for six months. That has given a ripe lightly toasty character to the wine along with its cool crispness that reveals its origin in the mountainous northern Alentejo. The wine is fruity with lemon and melon over the wood. Drink now. | Terra d'Alter Reserva Branco | 90 | 22 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Terras de Alter 2014 Terra d'Alter Reserva Branco White (Alentejano) | Portuguese White | Terras de Alter |
| 54512 | 54511 | Portugal | This is an impressively rich wine, packed with dark black fruits and solid tannins. While it certainly has power it also has a sense of style with the acidity and the concentration well contained. Drink from 2017. | Selecção Syrah-Touriga Nacional | 90 | 55 | Península de Setúbal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Lobo 2014 Selecção Syrah-Touriga Nacional Red (Península de Setúbal) | Portuguese Red | Lobo |
| 54513 | 54512 | Australia | Herbal, slightly peppery notes spice up this wine's aromas, while blackberry, plum and black olive fruit rounds out the palate. This is medium bodied and supple, with a silky finish and hints of licorice. | | 90 | 25 | South Australia | Barossa Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Kurtz Family 2013 Shiraz (Barossa Valley) | Shiraz | Kurtz Family |
| 54514 | 54513 | US | Deep black plum, clove, dried blueberry, dried roses and dried violets show on the very nice nose of this bottling by Bruce McGuire and pioneer Pierre Lafond. It's well structured on the sip, disclosing plums, sweet berries and touches of nutmeg and allspice. It's a strong showing for one of their more affordable bottlings. | SRH | 90 | 27 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Lafond 2014 SRH Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Lafond |
| 54515 | 54514 | US | Dark in color and voluptuous in body and texture, this wine was aged in French oak, 35% of it new. With a sizable presence on the palate, it generously reveals brooding flavors of apple and pear. | Flocchini Vineyard | 90 | 40 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Landmark 2014 Flocchini Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) | Chardonnay | Landmark |
| 54516 | 54515 | Italy | Aromas of yellow stone fruit, chopped herb and white flower lead the nose. The savory creamy palate doles out juicy peach, candied nectarine zest, sage and mineral alongside a softly foaming perlage. Fresh acidity brightens the rich flavors. | Felice | 90 | 20 | Piedmont | Moscato d'Asti | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta 2015 Felice (Moscato d'Asti) | Moscato | Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta |
| 54517 | 54516 | US | Exuberant dried-flower aromas kick off the nose on this wine that shows rosebuds and lilacs before diving into heady notes of cola, olallieberry, blackberry and touches of tobacco, cocoa and cappuccino. The floral tones extend to the palate that is balanced between black raspberry and rosewater flavors, spiced with a touch of white pepper. | | 90 | 28 | California | Monterey County | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Moxy 2011 Grenache (Monterey County) | Grenache | Moxy |
| 54518 | 54517 | US | This wine conveys a powerful sense of extraction and nuttiness, with aromas of caramelized nuts, marzipan, honey, toasted oak and even some marshmallow. It's quite quaffable on the palate—rich, nutty and honey-like, but with zesty acidity that wraps it all together. | Huber Vineyard | 90 | 39 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Pali 2014 Huber Vineyard Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) | Chardonnay | Pali |
| 54519 | 54518 | US | This is a big, satisfying wine, smelling like ripe black cherry and cranberry, tasting concentrated like espresso and cranberry, and feeling like it's wrapped in a thick blanket of insistent tannins. It needs time to mellow or pairing with a protein-heavy dish. Best to drink after 2020. | Passion | 90 | 32 | California | North Coast | North Coast | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Peace Water 2014 Passion Cabernet Sauvignon (North Coast) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Peace Water |
| 54520 | 54519 | US | There's an exuberance of succulent black cherry and raspberry within this medium-bodied to lighter-style of wine. It offers a stronger presence of fruit and spicy clove and cinnamon on the palate than on the nose. Leathery, firm tannins provide support without distraction. | Laguna de Santa Rosa | 90 | 39 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Pech Merle 2013 Laguna de Santa Rosa Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Pech Merle |
| 54521 | 54520 | US | An almost buttery aroma and attractive peach, apricot and honey flavors give this dry, light-bodied wine a lot of personality. Nicely balanced, and smooth on the palate, it keeps unfolding more flavor nuances as it breathes. | The Shell Mound | 90 | 29 | California | Marin County | North Coast | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Pey-Marin 2015 The Shell Mound Riesling (Marin County) | Riesling | Pey-Marin |
| 54522 | 54521 | Italy | This opens with enticing scents of dark berry, kitchen spice, blue flower and toast. The firmly structured palate delivers red berry, licorice, chopped herb and well-integrated oak alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink 2017–2022. | | 90 | 35 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Pio Cesare 2012 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Pio Cesare |
| 54523 | 54522 | US | From certified biodynamic fruit, 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Zinfandel, this vineyard-designate needs swirling, its tannins tightly wound and thickly conceived. Cedar, clove, sawdust and cranberry provide an elegant austerity of classic components, accented by a fragrance of violets. It gets better in the glass. | Goat Trek Vineyard | 90 | 55 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Quivira 2013 Goat Trek Vineyard Red (Dry Creek Valley) | Red Blend | Quivira |
| 54524 | 54523 | US | This firmly tannic, full-bodied wine smells lightly oaky, tastes rich and concentrated and has a velvety, mouthcoating texture. Cranberry and blueberry flavors fill out the middle. Best to drink after 2019. | The Palindrome | 90 | 25 | California | California | California Other | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Rock Wall 2013 The Palindrome Tannat (California) | Tannat | Rock Wall |
| 54525 | 54524 | US | The blackberry fruit is so powerful and rich, it punches right through this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. It's still tough in tannins, however, giving it a harshly astringent mouthfeel. It would be a shame to drink it too young, so give it until 2016. | Trifecta | 90 | 55 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Beaucanon 2010 Trifecta Red (Napa Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Beaucanon |
| 54526 | 54525 | US | Captures the purity of Santa Ynez Sauvignon Blanc with laser-sharp lemon, lime, pineapple and gooseberry flavors. The acidity is wonderful. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral oak barrels to give it just a touch of smoke. | Faith Vineyard | 90 | 25 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Brander 2011 Faith Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Brander |
| 54527 | 54526 | New Zealand | Subtly perfumed with black cherries and cola, this is nevertheless somewhat chunky and muscular on the palate. Dusty, substantial tannins frame flavors of mocha, black cherries and baking spices. Best 2015–2020. | Bannockburn | 90 | 45 | Central Otago | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Carrick 2010 Bannockburn Pinot Noir (Central Otago) | Pinot Noir | Carrick |
| 54528 | 54527 | Italy | This has a bright bouquet of iris, crushed cherry and mint. A mouthwatering black-cherry flavor leads the palate, with accents of nutmeg and white pepper. Made in a straightforward style, this will pair wonderfully with mildly seasoned cheeses or pasta topped with ragu. | | 90 | 19 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tenuta di Lilliano 2010 Chianti Classico | Red Blend | Tenuta di Lilliano |
| 54529 | 54528 | Italy | This distinctive Chianti Classico has a multifaceted bouquet of iris, crushed cherry and truffle along with accents of meat and balsamic herbs. It has a delicious wild cherry flavor, with a hint of orange zest. It's already enjoyable thanks to its forward personality. | | 90 | 21 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Volpaia 2010 Chianti Classico | Red Blend | Volpaia |
| 54530 | 54529 | US | Moderate alcohol brings a streamlined elegance to a variety that can be blowsy. The acidity and minerality firmly ground the tropical fruit flavors. | Estate Grown | 90 | 28 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Zotovich Cellars 2012 Estate Grown Viognier (Sta. Rita Hills) | Viognier | Zotovich Cellars |
| 54531 | 54530 | New Zealand | This dark-fruited Pinot Noir is sturdily constructed yet never seems hard or tough, thanks to the silkiness of its plentiful tannins. Black cherry fruit picks up shadings of mocha on the dusty finish. Drink 2015–2020. | | 90 | 30 | Central Otago | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Wild Earth 2010 Pinot Noir (Central Otago) | Pinot Noir | Wild Earth |
| 54532 | 54531 | Portugal | The cooperative of Reguengos is now a major force in the region. This wine, named after the hilltop town of Reguengos, is a powerful, condensed wine. It has dark black fruits, solid tannins and a smooth texture. Full-bodied and worth aging. Drink from 2015. | Reguengos | 90 | 10 | Alentejo | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Cooperativa Reguengos de Monsaraz 2012 Reguengos Red (Alentejo) | Portuguese Red | Cooperativa Reguengos de Monsaraz |
| 54533 | 54532 | Portugal | A rounded wine with spiced pear and citrus fruits, this is juicy and full bodied. A touch of textured minerality gives a sense of structure. It's still young and needs aging. Drink from 2015. | Grand'Arte | 90 | 11 | Lisboa | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | DFJ Vinhos 2012 Grand'Arte Alvarinho (Lisboa) | Alvarinho | DFJ Vinhos |
| 54534 | 54533 | France | Very spicy, full-in-the-mouth wine. It has just the right amount of acidity to keep it fresh, but its main thrust is towards rich pepper and weight. At the end, a tighter mineral character appears. Keep for 2–3 years. | | 90 | 20 | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Roland Schmitt 2012 Pinot Gris (Alsace) | Pinot Gris | Domaine Roland Schmitt |
| 54535 | 54534 | Spain | An opaque color suggests power and density, and for the most part that's what you get. Jammy, raisiny aromas culminate with prune and berry pie scents. There's pointy acidity to the palate, which amplifies cassis, blackberry and carob flavors. A warm, long finish is the conclusion. Drink through 2016. | Crianza | 90 | 38 | Northern Spain | Toro | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Elias Mora 2008 Crianza (Toro) | Tinta de Toro | Elias Mora |
| 54536 | 54535 | Italy | Here's a savory Chianti showing violet and plum aromas with hints of leather. The palate offers black cherry, prune and white pepper flavors, all nicely balanced with edgy but refined tannins and fresh acidity. It will pair beautifully with pastas and bean soups. | | 90 | 29 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Fattoria di Corsignano 2010 Chianti Classico | Red Blend | Fattoria di Corsignano |
| 54537 | 54536 | US | Spicy and intense, this excellent Pinot Gris is loaded with Gravenstein apple, cut pear, and a taste of orange peel. Surprising length and power for a Euro-styled wine with modest alcohol. | | 90 | 14 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Rainstorm 2012 Pinot Gris (Oregon) | Pinot Gris | Rainstorm |
| 54538 | 54537 | Italy | This riserva shows ripe aromas of plum and wild cherry accompanied by notes of underbrush and oak. It has lush black-cherry, raspberry, mint and cinnamon flavors, and hints of vanilla and chocolate. It's enjoyable now, thanks to the soft, round tannins and easygoing palate. | Riserva | 90 | 39 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tolaini 2010 Riserva (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Tolaini |
| 54539 | 54538 | Australia | Penfolds' 2009 Yattarna blends fruit from Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia, but remains a lean, taut Chardonnay. Flavors are crisp and citrusy, primarily kumquat, lemon and lime at this young age. Give it several years to see if it comes around. | Yattarna | 88 | 130 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Penfolds 2009 Yattarna Chardonnay (South Eastern Australia) | Chardonnay | Penfolds |
| 54540 | 54539 | US | Lots of tough, old-fashioned tannins on this pugnacious young Cabernet. While it has a good core of blackberries and currants, it's pretty brutal on the palate. Hard to tell if the fruit will outlast the astringency. Try after 2018. | | 88 | 54 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Pine Ridge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Pine Ridge |