57001 | 57000 | Spain | Peachy, mildly sweet, smooth and inviting. Godeval always makes a true and easy wine that showcases the essence of Godello but doesn't go off the blueprint. Flavors of apple and citrus are well blended, and the grapefruity finish is only mildly pithy. Eminently drinkable white wine from Spain. | Cosecha | 88 | 19 | Northern Spain | Valdeorras | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Godeval 2008 Cosecha Godello (Valdeorras) | Godello | Viña Godeval |
57002 | 57001 | France | Only red wine can be made under the Cahors appellation, hence the Vin de Pays moniker for this white from Jean-Luc Baldès. It is rich, creamy, touched by apricots and ripe quince. It finishes softly, warmly, rather than crisply. | Clos Triguedina Le Sec du Clos | 88 | | Southwest France | Vin de Pays du Comté Tolosan | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Jean-Luc Baldès 2008 Clos Triguedina Le Sec du Clos Chardonnay-Viognier (Vin de Pays du Comté Tolosan) | Chardonnay-Viognier | Jean-Luc Baldès |
57003 | 57002 | Spain | Coconut and vanilla aromas are squarely in the lead, but the nose's berry base is more than solid. Plump, round and showing good overall balance, with flavors of cola, dark fruit and coconut. A ripe, bulky crianza with plenty of leftover oak on the finish. | Selección Crianza | 88 | 22 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Ramirez de la Piscina 2006 Selección Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Ramirez de la Piscina |
57004 | 57003 | Argentina | Spunky dark fruit aromas open the show, with leather, cheese and mocha coming in later. The palate is a little grabby and acidic, but the juicy flavors of plum, wild berry, citrus and cassis are good. Finishes with some bounce in its step due to full acidity, and overall it maintains freshness and zest. Malbec with smaller doses of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot. | Infinito | 88 | 30 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Sur de los Andes 2006 Infinito Red (Mendoza) | Red Blend | Sur de los Andes |
57005 | 57004 | US | Very ripe and bright in acidity, with clean, vibrant flavors of Meyer lemon custard, Key lime pie, vanilla sorbet and crème brûlée flavors. Could be more elegant, but it's certainly not shy. | Reserve | 88 | 14 | California | Mendocino | | | | Terra Sávia 2008 Reserve Chardonnay (Mendocino) | Chardonnay | Terra Sávia |
57006 | 57005 | US | Very rich, oaky and acidic, showing the crisp, minerally profile that usually marks white wines from this Monterey appellation. The flavors veer toward lemons, limes and Asian pears. Drink this drily elegant Chardonnay now. | Arroyo Vista | 88 | 25 | California | Arroyo Seco | Central Coast | | | J. Lohr 2007 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco) | Chardonnay | J. Lohr |
57007 | 57006 | Australia | Long a steak house staple, Kangarilla Road's Shiraz mixes dark berries and plums with touches of cedar, caramel and vanilla. The creamy-textured tannins pick up just enough dustiness on the finish to match well with fatty cuts, like ribeyes. Drink now-2015. | | 88 | 23 | South Australia | McLaren Vale | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Kangarilla Road 2007 Shiraz (McLaren Vale) | Shiraz | Kangarilla Road |
57008 | 57007 | Australia | There's a healthy 8% Viognier in the blend, but this wine doesn't come across as overtly apricotty. Instead, it delivers big blueberries and blackberries on the nose and hints of plum and cola, with just a hint of raisining. It's full bodied—almost viscous in texture—balanced by crisp acids on the finish. Drink now-2016. | | 88 | 27 | South Australia | McLaren Vale | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Kangarilla Road 2008 Shiraz-Viognier (McLaren Vale) | Shiraz-Viognier | Kangarilla Road |
57009 | 57008 | US | The wine brims with pineapples, Asian pears and papayas, dusted with every spice in your pantry. It's bone dry, with a crisp bite of acidity. A touch of oak and lees gives it a rich edge of cream and buttered toast. | | 88 | 17 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Kunde 2007 Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley) | Chardonnay | Kunde |
57010 | 57009 | Argentina | Cherry, cough drop, mineral, heat and red licorice on the nose, with medicinal raspberry and plum flavors. Snappy and fresh in the mouth, with a rooty finish touched up by vanilla. Flavorful and properly executed, with a slight intrusion of cherry cough medicine. | Reserve | 88 | 20 | Other | Neuquén | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Alpataco 2006 Reserve Malbec (Neuquén) | Malbec | Alpataco |
57011 | 57010 | Argentina | Hot and crusty smelling at first blush and then the nose turns to mocha and smoky berry. Good mouthfeel, rich and balanced, with a fresh quality as well. Solid, complete red wine with a nice berry-packed Merlot character. | | 88 | 10 | Mendoza Province | Tupungato | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Andeluna 2007 Merlot (Tupungato) | Merlot | Andeluna |
57012 | 57011 | France | Somebody was carried away with wood here. The wine is totally dominated by flavors of burnt wood— even the 50% new wood was too much in 2007. That said, the fruit could increase in weight and black berry flavors. But not just yet—in another three to four years. | La Commandery | 88 | 24 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château la Caminade 2007 La Commandery Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Château la Caminade |
57013 | 57012 | Australia | Made in a mouthfilling, supple style, this cheerful blend is easy to like and easy on the pocketbook. Black cherry and vanilla notes are perhaps a little simple, but carried along by a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish, they make for a satisfying glass of hearty red. Drink now-2014. | Memsie Shiraz-Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon | 88 | 15 | Victoria | Bendigo | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Water Wheel 2008 Memsie Shiraz-Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon Red (Bendigo) | Red Blend | Water Wheel |
57014 | 57013 | US | A very dry, somewhat herbal Merlot, with a brittle, tannic mouthfeel. It has flavors of black cherries, currants and sage. Feels elegant and sophisticated in the mouth, a wine to drink now. | | 88 | 18 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Waterstone 2006 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Waterstone |
57015 | 57014 | Argentina | Warm, rich aromas of wild berry carry a hint of dried cheese, while the rest of the bouquet is woodsy and spicy. The palate is juicy with fresh acidity, and the flavors of red plum and raspberry are solid. A structured wine with good DNA. Drink now through 2011. | Q | 88 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Zuccardi 2007 Q Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Zuccardi |
57016 | 57015 | US | A big, fat, ripe, unctuous wine. Shows massive black cherry, chocolate and cedar flavors, with prickly spices through the finish, and firm tannins. Bold and impressive now with rich fare. | | 88 | 40 | California | Livermore Valley | Central Coast | | | Steven Kent 2006 Petite Verdot (Livermore Valley) | Petite Verdot | Steven Kent |
57017 | 57016 | Italy | Elegant but gripping, with cherry, violet and leather notes on the nose, followed by a rapberry and rose-infused palate. Black earth and berry notes flavor the long finish. The very austere tannins will need until 2012 to come around. | Ravera | 88 | 74 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Azienda Agricola Cogno 2004 Ravera (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Azienda Agricola Cogno |
57018 | 57017 | Italy | A little earthy, but some charming aromas of licorice and tar show through on the slightly diffuse nose. Nebbiolo's normally grippy tannins have been beaten into submission here, providing a soft frame for leather and strawberry flavors which follow through to the moderate finish. Should gain complexity from a year or two in the cellar. | | 88 | 44 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Beni di Batasiolo 2004 Barbaresco | Nebbiolo | Beni di Batasiolo |
57019 | 57018 | Portugal | There is no dosage on this lightly pink, beautifully made wine. It has fresh crisp fruit, just hinting at raspberry, floating easily to its final fresh finish. | 3B Brut Nature Rosé | 90 | 24 | Bairrada | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Filipa Pato NV 3B Brut Nature Rosé Sparkling (Bairrada) | Portuguese Sparkling | Filipa Pato |
57020 | 57019 | Italy | Ramandolo is a traditional dessert wine made with Verduzzo Friulano grapes in northeast Italy. It shows candy-like aromas of butterscotch and caramel confection backed by apricot and dried rose potpourri. | | 90 | 58 | Northeastern Italy | Ramandolo | | | | La Roncaia 2008 Ramandolo | Verduzzo Friulano | La Roncaia |
57021 | 57020 | US | This is a thoroughly modern Cabernet. It could come from the Napa Valley floor, and is not particularly representative of Knights Valley. But it is flashy, with massively ripe blackberry, red currant, oak flavors, with oak providing a rich jacket of toast. So high in alcohol and soft, it seems unlikely to age, so drink up. | | 90 | 120 | California | Knights Valley | Sonoma | | | Linked 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Linked |
57022 | 57021 | US | Lots of elegance and sophistication in this drily tannic, smooth Cabernet. It's textbook Napa, with complex blackberry and currant flavors, touched by smoky oak. A very nice restaurant wine to drink now, and easy to find, with more than 16,000 cases produced. | | 90 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Louis M. Martini 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Louis M. Martini |
57023 | 57022 | Portugal | Rounded, warm wine, its walnut and kiwi fruit balanced by a soft texture. It has preserved its freshness, allowing the acidity to shine through. A serious wine, as well as delicious, to drink now. | Bruto | 90 | 40 | Vinho Espumante de Qualidade | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Murganheira 2004 Bruto Chardonnay (Vinho Espumante de Qualidade) | Chardonnay | Murganheira |
57024 | 57023 | France | This walled vineyard has produced a surprisingly tannic, if impressive, wine for a Savigny in this vintage. It has a dark and firm character, the red berry fruits just beginning to break through the firm and dry tannins. It needs 4–5 years' aging. | Clos des Guettottes | 90 | 42 | Burgundy | Savigny-lès-Beaune | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Pierre André 2009 Clos des Guettottes (Savigny-lès-Beaune) | Pinot Noir | Pierre André |
57025 | 57024 | Germany | Very honeyed and sweet, with bold flavors of apricot and mango that seem almost caramelized in their sugary intensity. Drink now and over the next few years. | Casteller Schlossberg Trockenbeerenauslese | 90 | 279 | Franken | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Castell 2007 Casteller Schlossberg Trockenbeerenauslese Silvaner (Franken) | Silvaner | Castell |
57026 | 57025 | Italy | The sparkling wine estate of Tuscany's Antinori family, Montenisa offers a cool collection of metodo classico wines that are creamy, rich and silky on the close. You'll get aromas of apricot, melon and crushed almond in this bubbly Brut. | Brut | 90 | 25 | Lombardy | Franciacorta | | | | Montenisa NV Brut Sparkling (Franciacorta) | Sparkling Blend | Montenisa |
57027 | 57026 | Italy | A benchmark Prosecco that leads the pack of quality Italian sparkling wine, Giustino B. is always released a few years after the harvest. This additional time in the bottle renders mature aromas of melon, apricot and yellow rose. | Giustino B. Extra Dry | 90 | 30 | Veneto | Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore | | | | Ruggeri & C. 2009 Giustino B. Extra Dry (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore) | Glera | Ruggeri & C. |
57028 | 57027 | Chile | Complex on the nose, with leather, dried flowers, tobacco, licorice, coconut and cassis aromas. It's solid as a rock on the palate, with herbal, spicy flavors of mature berry fruits and raisin. Spicy and a touch hot on the finish. Drink now through 2015. | Cabo de Hornos Special Reserve | 90 | 44 | Chile | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | San Pedro 2007 Cabo de Hornos Special Reserve Red (Chile) | Red Blend | San Pedro |
57029 | 57028 | US | Big and brooding with richly concentrated black plums and velvety, mouthfilling tannins, Roman Roth's namesake Merlot is boldly structured, but beautifully nuanced as well, with sprays of violet perfume and just a whiff of wet, earthy forest and dried herb notes. Drink now with a good decant, or hold for another 2–3 years. | | 90 | 50 | New York | Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | The Grapes of Roth 2005 Merlot (Long Island) | Merlot | The Grapes of Roth |
57030 | 57029 | US | This spicy, powerful Zinfandel has 10% of Petite Sirah blended in, which adds depth, richness and tannins. You can call the resulting wine rustic, in the sense of its wild berry and spice flavors and briary, brambly mouthfeel. But it's also classic Dry Creek Valley. Drink over the next few years with barbecue, or try a Mexican-inspired beef dish. | Quest | 90 | 38 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Quivira 2009 Quest Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Quivira |