| 56521 | 56520 | US | Stevenot has a good record at producing this stainless-steel-fermented wine. It's a savory, complex white, with high acidity framing honeyed flavors of Meyer lemons, limes, papayas, pine tar, slate and vanilla, with a hint of petrol. That sweet-tart tension makes the wine the perfect foil for Asian fusion fare. | | 88 | 14 | California | California | California Other | | | Stevenot 2007 Verdelho (California) | Verdelho | Stevenot |
| 56522 | 56521 | US | This is the first release of this new wine from Stonestreet. It's Merlot with some Cabernet, Syrah and Cab Franc. Grown in Jess Jackson's high mountain vineyards, it's rich and soft in black currant, cherry, mocha and smoky oak flavors, with smooth, easy tannins. Best now and through 2010. | Fifth Ridge | 88 | 35 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Stonestreet 2004 Fifth Ridge Red (Alexander Valley) | Red Blend | Stonestreet |
| 56523 | 56522 | US | From the county right across the Golden Gate from San Francisco comes this dry, elegant Pinot Noir. It has a great structure, with fine acidity, smooth tannins and oak that's been nicely integrated with the fruit. The cherry, black raspberry, orange and cola flavors are tasty. | | 88 | 42 | California | Marin County | North Coast | | | J. Jacaman 2006 Pinot Noir (Marin County) | Pinot Noir | J. Jacaman |
| 56524 | 56523 | US | High in acidity, and with a tangy, minerally flourish, this Chard has ripe flavors of pineapples and papayas, enriched with smoky-sweet, vanilla-accented oak. It's a fashionable wine that will go well with rich fare, such as scallops in a cream sauce. | Corby Vineyard | 88 | 27 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Londer 2006 Corby Vineyard Chardonnay (Anderson Valley) | Chardonnay | Londer |
| 56525 | 56524 | US | Shows the crisp, dry Alsatian interpretation that Anderson Valley gives to Gewürz. The wine bursts with Asian spices that titillate the palate, alongside Mandarin orange, Asian pear, lychee, honeysuckle and vanilla flavors that are delicious. Drink now for its youthful vivacity. | Dry | 88 | 26 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Londer 2007 Dry Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley) | Gewürztraminer | Londer |
| 56526 | 56525 | Italy | Thick, dark concentration sets the stage and segues to spice and oak aromas lavished over black fruit, blueberry, granite and leather. There's also a soapy, lavender-like quality in the back. The wine has thick tannins and good length with bursting fruit flavors. | | 88 | 24 | Southern Italy | Campania | | | | Mastroberardino 2006 Aglianico (Campania) | Aglianico | Mastroberardino |
| 56527 | 56526 | Italy | The nose here is truly beautiful and reminiscent of exotic fruit and delicate spring flowers. This is a nicely made wine with balanced aromas and a full but compact feel in the mouth that is crisp and approachable. | Nova Serra | 88 | 24 | Southern Italy | Greco di Tufo | | | | Mastroberardino 2006 Nova Serra (Greco di Tufo) | Greco | Mastroberardino |
| 56528 | 56527 | Italy | This is a luminous and powerful Fiano di Avellino with a very elegant and linear quality that sets it apart. You'll get herbs, cantaloupe and fresh lime. It performs well in the mouth thanks to its thick, creamy texture and boosting alcohol. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers. | Béchar | 88 | 30 | Southern Italy | Fiano di Avellino | | | | Antonio Caggiano 2007 Béchar (Fiano di Avellino) | Fiano | Antonio Caggiano |
| 56529 | 56528 | US | Drier and a little firmer than the '04, Davis Family's '05 Pinot is quite extracted in ripe, long hangtime fruit flavors, but the oak influences are as obvious. Cherries, raspberries, red currants, pomegranates and cola flood the mouth, ending in a swirl of peppery Asian spices. | | 87 | 40 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Davis Family 2005 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Davis Family |
| 56530 | 56529 | US | A bit on the sweet, soft side, with mashed raspberry, cherry and blackberry flavors seasoned with vanilla, but the peppery taste and firm tannins uplift this Zin and give it a frisson of pleasure. | Maple Vineyard | 87 | 39 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Dutcher Crossing 2006 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Dutcher Crossing |
| 56531 | 56530 | US | Erath is now part of the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio. The white wines, which have long been a strength of the brand, remain fresh and lightly fruity. The flavors of this young Pinot Gris suggest pear skin, grapefruit and lime, and there are bracing acids providing some additional lift. The '07 seems to show a bit more textural density than the previous vintage. | | 87 | 14 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Erath 2007 Pinot Gris (Oregon) | Pinot Gris | Erath |
| 56532 | 56531 | US | Claret is the old British term for the wines of Bordeaux. This wine, the first such from Francis Ford Coppola's Sonoma County winery, is a good buy. It's a bit rustic, but offers smooth flavors of blackberries, currants and chocolate. | Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Black Label Claret | 87 | 20 | California | California | California Other | | | Francis Ford Coppola 2006 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Black Label Claret Red (California) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Francis Ford Coppola |
| 56533 | 56532 | Austria | On the nose this is classic Bordeaux, the dusty black currant and tight fruit very obvious. This is a lean wine, with a core of dry tannins, but there is definite black currant juice freshness, the wine showing high finishing acidity. | | 87 | | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Hans Moser 2005 Cabernet Merlot (Burgenland) | Cabernet Merlot | Hans Moser |
| 56534 | 56533 | US | Here's a ripe, juicy Chardonnay. Grown in a warm climate, it shows powerful pear jam, baked apple pie and smoky vanilla flavors, with a note of sweetened jasmine tea and a dry, spicy finish of cloves and pepper. | Farrow Home Ranch | 87 | 22 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Amista 2006 Farrow Home Ranch Chardonnay (Dry Creek Valley) | Chardonnay | Amista |
| 56535 | 56534 | US | Marked by crisp acidity and mint-infused cherry pie filling flavors, this Pinot finishes a bit sharp. It needs rich fare to soften it, like Ahi tuna or lamb. | Reserve | 87 | 38 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Artesa 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir (Carneros) | Pinot Noir | Artesa |
| 56536 | 56535 | Italy | This is a well-crafted, elegant wine with pretty mineral tones that frame a core of black cherry and spice. The wine offers the precise qualities—structure, good freshness and clean fruit aromas—that promise a successful pairing with most Mediterranean foods. | Maru | 87 | 12 | Southern Italy | Salento | | | | Castello Monaci 2006 Maru Negroamaro (Salento) | Negroamaro | Castello Monaci |
| 56537 | 56536 | US | This is the kind of elegant wine one expects from Chateau Lafayette, with its flirtation of mint, chocolate and soft pepper on the nose, and its integrated berry and spice flavors on the palate. Smooth but sturdy tannins and a long finish seal the deal. | Owner's Reserve | 87 | 55 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2005 Owner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Chateau Lafayette Reneau |
| 56538 | 56537 | Italy | Here's a pleasantly fragrant blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera that does a good job of delivering ripe berry notes that are intense, but not exaggerated. Black pepper, clove and chili notes are present but well dosed. Pair it with pecorino cheese or braised meats. | Schiaccianoci | 87 | | Southern Italy | Salento | | | | Vigne & Vini 2005 Schiaccianoci Negroamaro (Salento) | Negroamaro | Vigne & Vini |
| 56539 | 56538 | Italy | Round, voluptuous and soft, this golden Falerno del Massico (made from an antique clone of Falanghina) delivers stone fruit, pear, grapefruit and tart citrus shadings. It tastes full and satisfying and is a modern interpretation of what the ancient Romans drank. | | 87 | 22 | Southern Italy | Falerno del Massico | | | | Villa Matilde 2006 Falanghina (Falerno del Massico) | Falanghina | Villa Matilde |
| 56540 | 56539 | US | Somehow, Wildhurst manages to keep the price down on their Sauvignon Blanc, which is really refreshing and vigorous. Backed by crisp acidity, this unoaked wine has charming lemongrass, pineapple, fig and peppery spice flavors. | Reserve | 87 | 12 | California | Lake County | | | | Wildhurst 2007 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Wildhurst |
| 56541 | 56540 | Australia | Citrusy and fresh, this low-alcohol (11.5%) blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc strikes the right chord as an apéritif or fish complement. It's lean, lemony and long, with hints of toast and paraffin adding a modicum of complexity. | Red Bucket | 87 | 13 | South Australia | Adelaide Hills | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Longview 2006 Red Bucket Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc (Adelaide Hills) | Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc | Longview |
| 56542 | 56541 | US | With very ripe fruit and firm tannins, this mountain Cab shows attractive flavors of cassis and cedar. It's pretty tough and astringent in youth, so decant it and drink with rich marbled beef. | Tephra Ridge Vineyard | 87 | 40 | California | Lake County | | | | Langtry 2005 Tephra Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Langtry |
| 56543 | 56542 | France | Lively, fresh and crisp, brightened with citrus flavors. White currant fruits burst out of the wine, leaving an aftertaste of crisp steeliness. | En Paradis | 87 | | Burgundy | Pouilly-Vinzelles | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Louis Latour 2006 En Paradis (Pouilly-Vinzelles) | Chardonnay | Louis Latour |
| 56544 | 56543 | Italy | Here is a sophisticated and austere Aglianico from one of Campania's best producers, with elegantly aged notes of resin, tar and asphalt over ripe black fruit, plums and spice that are very typical of the variety. The aromatic intensity matches the wine's density and structure. | | 87 | | Southern Italy | Campania | | | | Mastroberardino 2005 Aglianico (Campania) | Aglianico | Mastroberardino |
| 56545 | 56544 | Italy | There's a toasted element to this organic white wine that adds a layer of almond nut and honey and that helps to enhance the natural fruit. The wine offers mature peach, melon and a creamy mouthfeel. | Vigna del Monaco | 87 | | Southern Italy | Taburno | | | | Ocone 2007 Vigna del Monaco Falanghina (Taburno) | Falanghina | Ocone |
| 56546 | 56545 | Spain | Powerpacked stuff, no ifs, ands or buts. But it's also a tannic heavyweight with a clamp-down palate that feels a bit like chewing on bolts. Starting aromas of raisin, char and black olive are brooding and mulchy, while the main act is dark, with coffee and cassis. Better flavors than feel; however, time could tame the beast. | Finca La Planeta | 87 | 55 | Catalonia | Priorat | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Celler Pasanau 2004 Finca La Planeta Red (Priorat) | Cabernet Blend | Celler Pasanau |
| 56547 | 56546 | Italy | Correct and straightforward, this fragrant rosé offers fresh tones of raspberry, pomegranate and violet. The wine also has a dusty, mineral quality and some spice in the form of clove and nutmeg that adds an interesting and exciting twist. This is one of Italy's best rosés. | Rosé | 87 | 11 | Southern Italy | Castel del Monte | | | | Rivera 2007 Rosé Bombino Nero (Castel del Monte) | Bombino Nero | Rivera |
| 56548 | 56547 | US | Aromatic with ripe black plums, violets and cedar, this elegant Pinot Noir is chock-full of red cherry and dried plum flavors, fringed with soft, velvety tannins. Vibrant acidity leads to a long finish, flecked with graphite and dried herb notes. | | 88 | 19 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Keuka Spring 2010 Pinot Noir (Finger Lakes) | Pinot Noir | Keuka Spring |
| 56549 | 56548 | France | Juicy and fruity, this has apple and lemon flavors that combine with a steely edge. It's refreshing and crisp, with a bright, lively character, and a tang on the finish. | La Sereine | 88 | 20 | Burgundy | Chablis | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | La Chablisienne 2010 La Sereine (Chablis) | Chardonnay | La Chablisienne |
| 56550 | 56549 | Italy | Definitely a big wine, this vineyard-designated Valpolicella has a dark garnet color and thick aromas of ripe fruit, spice and tobacco. The finish is long and smooth. | Campo Prognài | 88 | 24 | Veneto | Valpolicella Superiore | | | | Latium di Morini 2009 Campo Prognài (Valpolicella Superiore) | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Latium di Morini |