56041 | 56040 | Spain | Sweet melon and peach aromas are candied. In the mouth, this is awkward, fizzy and cloying. The flavor profile has little positive to offer, while the finish turns bitter and grassy tasting. | 234 | 80 | 17 | Northern Spain | Somontano | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Enate 2013 234 Chardonnay (Somontano) | Chardonnay | Enate |
56042 | 56041 | US | A barrel fermented Chardonnay that is uncharacteristically soft and fruity. Aromas of bananas and bubble gum lead to slightly sweet, uncomplicated flavors. The texture and body are light. | | 80 | 10 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Campus Oaks 2012 Chardonnay (Lodi) | Chardonnay | Campus Oaks |
56043 | 56042 | Spain | The cold, rainy conditions of 2008 must have affected this wine. Vegetal aromas, vinegar and green notes drive the nose, while the flavor profile is briny and pickled to an extreme. High acidity and green flavors draw down the finish. | Reserva | 80 | 40 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca Valpiedra 2008 Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Finca Valpiedra |
56044 | 56043 | Portugal | This is the latest release of Portugal's most iconic wine. It's made only in selected years (the last vintage was 2000) from Ferreira's Quinta da Leda in the Douro Superior. This new vintage is superb. It's a richly tarry wine laden with dark plum fruits and tannins that are just beginning to mature. It's a ripe and luscious, demanding attention, yet will still age for many years. Drink now, or hold until 2020. | Barca Velha | 99 | 426 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Casa Ferreirinha 2004 Barca Velha Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Casa Ferreirinha |
56045 | 56044 | US | From first sniff this exquisite wine grabs you and won't let go. Brambly berries, redolent with rich umami notes of spice and pine needle cascade into a wine densely packed with fruit and herbs. It lingers, opens and becomes more and more expressive, with soil-generated flavors of forest floor. | Abbott Claim Vineyard | 97 | 65 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Ken Wright 2012 Abbott Claim Vineyard Pinot Noir | Pinot Noir | Ken Wright |
56046 | 56045 | US | The Freedom Hill selection from Ken Wright has never been better than this exceptionally rich, dark and dense Pinot Noir. Black cherry, smoke, earth and chocolate intertwine in a remarkably smooth, long, complex and extended finish. A sensational wine to enjoy right now. | Freedom Hill Vineyard | 96 | 65 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Ken Wright 2012 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Ken Wright |
56047 | 56046 | Portugal | Properly old gold in color, this is a wine from a single year, aged in casks. It's poised between amazing fruit and a wonderful velvet texture that is shot through with acidity. A feeling of lightness comes from the acidity that gives great freshness as well as complex flavors. It's ready to drink. | Very Old Single Harvest | 95 | 588 | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Taylor Fladgate 1964 Very Old Single Harvest (Port) | Port | Taylor Fladgate |
56048 | 56047 | US | This boasts a brilliant, linear progression from pepper to lush cherry and berry fruit. It's spicy and floral in nuanced, beautiful ways, with perfectly balanced acidity. Creamy and silky, this wine lingers, building complexity as it coats the palate. | Perli Vineyards | 95 | 40 | California | Mendocino Ridge | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Donkey & Goat 2011 Perli Vineyards Syrah (Mendocino Ridge) | Syrah | Donkey & Goat |
56049 | 56048 | France | Sweet fruit dominates this attractive, spicy wine. It has ample acidity, giving a fine, fresh black-currant character and tannins that are already melding into the wine. For medium-term aging of 3–5 years. | | 88 | 26 | Bordeaux | Haut-Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lamothe-Cissac 2011 Haut-Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Lamothe-Cissac |
56050 | 56049 | France | Dense and concentrated and still very young, the wine has ripe blackberry flavors, a sense of ripeness and a dry wood-and-tannin core. Give the wine at least 4–5 years. | | 88 | 18 | Bordeaux | Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Tanesse 2011 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Tanesse |
56051 | 56050 | US | The cherry, red currant and smoky oak flavors on this wine are delicious, and with the light, silky texture and vibrant acidity, you might think it was Pinot Noir. Beautiful to drink now with your favorite Italian-inspired beef entrée, but stay away from tomatoes. | Alegria Vineyard | 88 | 33 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Acorn 2010 Alegria Vineyard Dolcetto (Russian River Valley) | Dolcetto | Acorn |
56052 | 56051 | US | This wine is showing excessive oakiness at the moment, but it's so young that it could easily meld into the fruit with another few months in the bottle. Sharp and youthful, it has some real fruit power from the Gamache vineyard grapes. Apple and citrus rind dominate, with a touch of butter in the finish. | Gamache Vineyards | 88 | 19 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | AntoLin Cellars 2011 Gamache Vineyards Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Chardonnay | AntoLin Cellars |
56053 | 56052 | Italy | A delicious, classic Barbera with a dense core of rich black cherry and spice balanced by fresh acidity. Well made, with a long, clean finish, this is a perfect match for barbecued meats. | | 88 | 20 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Alba Superiore | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Borgogno F.lli Serio e Battista 2009 Barbera d'Alba Superiore | Barbera | Borgogno F.lli Serio e Battista |
56054 | 56053 | US | Borra's Fusion is 90% Viognier and 10% Gewurztraminer and the two varieties bring out nice things in each other here, the floral aromas at the wine's opening evolving into a crisp, soft, creamy center on the mid-palate, a taste of citrus and honeydew standing out. | Fusion | 88 | 17 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Borra 2012 Fusion White (Lodi) | White Blend | Borra |
56055 | 56054 | Chile | This is an earthy, somewhat flat wine with herbal berry aromas that fall away in quiet form. A full, grabby palate brings berry, raisin and tobacco flavors, all supported by a modest beam of acidity. A finish of earth, tobacco and mulchy flavors announce that 2009 was indeed a hot vintage in Chile. | Erasmo | 88 | 30 | Maule Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Caliboro Estate 2009 Erasmo Red (Maule Valley) | Red Blend | Caliboro Estate |
56056 | 56055 | US | A first-rate Sauvignon Blanc, delightful to drink now for its crisp fruitiness. Lovely acids highlight citrus, tropical fruit and gooseberry flavors that finish long and spicy. | | 88 | 18 | California | St. Helena | Napa | | | Charles Krug 2012 Sauvignon Blanc (St. Helena) | Sauvignon Blanc | Charles Krug |
56057 | 56056 | France | Just beginning its secondary phase, the wine has weight, dark tannins and complex dried fruit, licorice and spice. A stylish, elegant wine with some of the freshness of the vintage still in place. | | 88 | 25 | Southwest France | Montravel | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château le Raz 2008 Montravel | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château le Raz |
56058 | 56057 | Austria | From vines on the slopes of the north-west corner of Lake Neusiedl, this is a broad, juicy wine. It has red cherry flavors, soft, generous tannins and attractively balanced acidity. It's not a wine for long-term aging and is likely to be at its best in three years. Glass stopper | | 88 | 37 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Gernot and Heike Heinrich 2011 St. Laurent (Burgenland) | St. Laurent | Gernot and Heike Heinrich |
56059 | 56058 | Australia | This full-bodied Shiraz is bulky and a bit loosely knit. The overtly smoky notes persist on the palate, vying with maple syrup and dark fruit flavors. It's a big, flavorful wine that needs time to come together, so consume over the next few years. | St. Andrews | 88 | 50 | South Australia | Clare Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Wakefield 2006 St. Andrews Shiraz (Clare Valley) | Shiraz | Wakefield |
56060 | 56059 | Germany | The fruit profile on this Riesling is crisp and fresh with elegant hints of underripe peach and pineapple. Dry and full bodied with a broad, feathery texture on the palate, it's brisk with minerality and a delicate lime acidity. | Dry | 88 | 19 | Rheinhessen | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Weingut Liebfrauenstift 2011 Dry Riesling (Rheinhessen) | Riesling | Weingut Liebfrauenstift |
56061 | 56060 | US | This is half Syrah (from Chandler Reach) and half Cabernet Sauvignon (from Stillwater Creek), aged in 100% new French oak. The plush fruits are ripe and well-matched, and there are nuanced highlights of herb, leaf, bark and beet root. The tannins are tight and stiff, so some extra breathing time is a good idea. | Double Vision Red | 88 | 45 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Woodinville Wine Cellars 2010 Double Vision Red Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon | Woodinville Wine Cellars |
56062 | 56061 | Germany | While expressive on the nose with scents of dried cherries, potpourri and spice, the palate on this Pinot Noir is rather savory and austere. Fresh with green herbs and a tart sour-cherry profile, it makes a brisk companion to an array of light meat and game dishes. | Malterdinger Trocken | 88 | 49 | Baden | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Huber 2010 Malterdinger Trocken Pinot Noir (Baden) | Pinot Noir | Huber |
56063 | 56062 | US | Just what a Dry Creek Zin should be. It's dry, furry in tannins, heady in alcohol and with enough acidity to give brightness to the wild berry, currant, dark chocolate, tobacco and spice flavors. Classic in its way, and nice to drink now. | Voigt Family Vineyards | 88 | 24 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | J. Rickards 2010 Voigt Family Vineyards Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | J. Rickards |
56064 | 56063 | US | Shows lots of structure, with brisk acids, firm, granitic minerals and even a dusting of tannins. The flavors are evenly divided between sweet citrus fruits and new oak. Not an ager, but a wine of finesse and elegance. | Black Mountain | 88 | 24 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Joyce 2011 Black Mountain Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Chardonnay | Joyce |
56065 | 56064 | US | This is a red wine for white wine drinkers. It's silky and vibrantly crisp in acidity, like a Sauvignon Blanc, except the flavors are pure Pinot, suggesting sour cherry candy, persimmons and tart cranberries. Drink now–2017. | Tondre Grapefield | 88 | 35 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Joyce 2011 Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | Joyce |
56066 | 56065 | Chile | This Pinot is aromatic; rhubarb, dried raspberry, rubber, prickly herbal notes and spice scents all vie for attention. This is solid and creamy in feel, with cutting acidity and herbal, lightly leafy flavors of dried, spicy red fruits. A lightly herbal tasting finish is the finale. | Single Vineyard Las Brisas Vineyard | 88 | 22 | Leyda Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Leyda 2011 Single Vineyard Las Brisas Vineyard Pinot Noir (Leyda Valley) | Pinot Noir | Leyda |
56067 | 56066 | Austria | This is an intensely herbaceous wine that's very crisp, green and mineral driven. It's a textured wine that's tangy, nervy and full of fruit. Delicious to drink now for its freshness, but it will age for 2–3 years. Glass stopper. | Steirische Klassik | 88 | | Südoststeiermark | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Manfred Tement 2012 Steirische Klassik Sauvignon Blanc (Südoststeiermark) | Sauvignon Blanc | Manfred Tement |
56068 | 56067 | Israel | Here's a robust and jammy selection that offers assertive notes of black plum, blackberry and cassis on the nose and in the mouth. The texture is like crushed velvet, with additional nuances of licorice, fruitcake spice and light char, adding depth to the palate and length to the finish. | Kadita Single Vineyard | 88 | 75 | Galilee | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Margalit 2010 Kadita Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Galilee) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Margalit |
56069 | 56068 | US | Blended from several of Happy Canyon's best vineyards, this Sauvignon Blanc expresses the appellation's essence. It's rich and fruity in citrus and tropical fruits, with a honeyed richness and brisk acidity. | Sybarite | 88 | 21 | California | Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara | Central Coast | | | Margerum 2012 Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc (Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara) | Sauvignon Blanc | Margerum |
56070 | 56069 | Chile | Aromas of graphite, chocolate, olive, herbs and berry fruits open this cool-climate Syrah. Laser-beam acidity comes on like gangbusters, while those sharp acids create racy, almost tart flavors of currant and huckleberry. The finish is more flashy and racy than generous and tasty, and thus crispness is the defining character of this wine. | EQ | 88 | 43 | San Antonio | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Matetic 2011 EQ Syrah (San Antonio) | Syrah | Matetic |