58231 | 58230 | France | This big, spicy wine shows the strides that have been made at Lamothe-Guignard over the last five years. The character of the wine is powerful, sweetness concentrated into a hugely rich texture, flavors of sweet peach and lychee showing through, all the time balanced. | | 93 | | Bordeaux | Sauternes | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lamothe Guignard 2006 Sauternes | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Lamothe Guignard |
58232 | 58231 | US | A great wine that combines the modern, ultraripe winemaking style with Rutherford's fine, complex tannins and herbs. Feels plush and velvety in the mouth, exploding in blackberry, cherry, cassis and chocolate flavors grounded with sweet sage. An ager. Beautiful now through 2012, at least. | Reserve | 93 | 85 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | Frank Family 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Frank Family |
58233 | 58232 | US | Here the blend is two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest an even split between Cab Franc and Merlot. Straightforward and unadorned, this wine is tightly defined, with sleek and juicy red fruit flavors. Cranberry, raspberry, pie cherry and even a bit of pomegranate mingle together, with substantial acids. The 50% new oak is barely evident, but some pleasing toastiness seeps into the finish. | Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine | 93 | 40 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Soos Creek 2006 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine Red (Red Mountain) | Red Blend | Soos Creek |
58234 | 58233 | France | Rich, sweet chocolate flavors balance with equally sweet blackberries in this opulent wine. This ripeness goes right through to the heart of the concentrated texture, even the tannins sharing in the generosity. This is a delicious wine, but wait for five years and it will be even better. | | 93 | | Bordeaux | Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château la Fleur-Pétrus 2006 Pomerol | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château la Fleur-Pétrus |
58235 | 58234 | France | A big, ripe chocolate-flavored wine with spice, new wood and a smooth, polished character. It is rich, with black currant jelly flavors, but this richness is balanced with a lively freshness and subtlety in its tannins. The finish is long, the flavors echoing the perfumes on the nose. | | 93 | | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Rauzan-Ségla 2006 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Rauzan-Ségla |
58236 | 58235 | Italy | There's no other wine like this in the world, and it won't appeal to everyone. Anfora is matured in ceramic amphorae for seven months in a throwback to ancient winemaking techniques to achieve a deep golden color and penetrating aromas of resin, caramel, chestnut honey and cola. The firmstructure could match that of a mature red and the wine imparts resinous, almost syrupy density. | Anfora | 93 | 120 | Northeastern Italy | Venezia Giulia | | | | Gravner 2003 Anfora Ribolla Gialla (Venezia Giulia) | Ribolla Gialla | Gravner |
58237 | 58236 | Italy | Mount Etna's Don Peppino vineyard is responsible for some of the volcano's most precious and highest quality fruit. This wine opens with a light hue and delicate aromas of violets, white almonds, cranberries and fresh plums. The nose is polished and refined. It's hard to believe that sucha violent volcano can produce such a feminine wine. | Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino | 93 | 96 | Sicily & Sardinia | Etna | | | | Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2006 Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino (Etna) | Red Blend | Tenuta delle Terre Nere |
58238 | 58237 | US | Mount Eden makes their estate Cab the old-fashioned way: to age. The '05 is quite tannic and shut down right now, with a hard astringency, especially on the finish. However, it's rich in black currants, mocha and cedar, and is a natural for many years in the cellar. The score could rise considerably after 2011. | Estate Bottled | 93 | 50 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | | | Mount Eden Vineyards 2005 Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Eden Vineyards |
58239 | 58238 | US | The Allen bottling typically needs time to come around. This '06 shows the dusty tannins that close it down a bit in its youth, suggesting a good five years in the cellar. Silky and refined, it should evolve to a fine wine, with its cherry pie, mocha, cola and spice flavors. If you drink now, decant. Beautiful with a fine grilled steak. | Allen Vineyard | 93 | 78 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Williams Selyem 2006 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Williams Selyem |
58240 | 58239 | France | Smoky and spicy aromas set the scene for a wine that plays on its wood and toast. These give a smooth texture to the berry fruits and dried raisins. At this stage in its development, the wine is still tight, but as it opens out its concentration will come through more, and the freshness of2006's Merlot will show strongly. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos Fourtet 2006 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Clos Fourtet |
58241 | 58240 | Germany | Displays the majesty of Rhein Riesling in a dry format, combining muscle (13% alcohol) with elegance and length. Layers of dried and fresh fruit unfold on the palate, backed by a solid underpinning of minerality and spice. | Hochheim Kirchenstück Erstes Gewächs | 92 | 55 | Rheingau | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domdechant Werner 2006 Hochheim Kirchenstück Erstes Gewächs Riesling (Rheingau) | Riesling | Domdechant Werner |
58242 | 58241 | Italy | This boutique winery in central Sicily benefits from extreme isolation that has helped it nurture its own clone of Nero d'Avola. Oak tones and vanilla come in the foreground of cherry, blueberry and leather. The wine is balanced and soft with bright freshness on the close. | Vrucara | 92 | 35 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Feudo Montoni 2004 Vrucara Nero d'Avola (Sicilia) | Nero d'Avola | Feudo Montoni |
58243 | 58242 | US | Silky and luscious, this extraordinary Sémillon from the makers of the Chateau Rollat red wines sends up cascading scents of orange blossom, orange peel, citrus and light tropical, moving into the mouth with beautifully integrated fruits dappled with honey and tea. Elegant and impressively long, it concludes with a light kiss of toast. | | 92 | 22 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Ardenvoir 2007 Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sémillon | Ardenvoir |
58244 | 58243 | France | An intense, tight wine, with stalky black currant fruit. It exhibits delicacy and elegance rather than power. Fresh fruit with an attractive smoky element make this a wine that is going to develop further, and it has a fresh, vibrant finish. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château d'Issan 2006 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château d'Issan |
58245 | 58244 | France | The wine starts lively, almost fresh. Only after a while in the mouth do you taste the intense richness underneath. The structure is of pear skins, with white fig and sweet dried apricot syrup. The botrytis, dry at the heart of the wine, gives the whole ensemble great balance. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Sauternes | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2006 Sauternes | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey |
58246 | 58245 | France | An evocatively perfumed wine, with aromas of pine, eucalyptus and spice. To taste, it is open, generous, its tannins cushioned inside ripe, jelly black fruits. Everything mingles well, the core of dryness an essential component of the richness of the wine. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Pessac-Léognan | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Malartic-Lagravière 2006 Pessac-Léognan | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Malartic-Lagravière |
58247 | 58246 | France | A ripely smooth, polished wine, the new wood a major constituent of its character. It has a severe structure, dark and concentrated, but the texture of the very ripe fruit is rounded, jammy, giving a more generous potential. Age for at least five years. | | 92 | | Bordeaux | Pessac-Léognan | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Pape Clément 2006 Pessac-Léognan | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Pape Clément |
58248 | 58247 | US | Soft and luscious, with a sweet peppermint patty taste firming up the blackberries, currants, pepper and cedar flavors. Shows real discernment and class. Drink in the next five years. | | 92 | 48 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Venteux 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Venteux |
58249 | 58248 | Italy | This is a sophisticated and smooth Chardonnay with an extraordinarily soft and silky texture in the mouth. The wine's aromas recall peach blossom, caramel and butter squash and are delivered with intensity and confidence. Pair it with honey-roasted ham or stuffed pork roll. | Grâfin de la Tour | 92 | 60 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | | | Villa Russiz 2006 Grâfin de la Tour Chardonnay (Collio) | Chardonnay | Villa Russiz |
58250 | 58249 | US | If you like the spicy, wild berry character of Zinfandel, you'll love this one. It's dry and crisp and medium-bodied, with a blast of forest-picked cherries, raspberries, blackberries and mulberries, accented with cocoa, tangerine zest, pepper and Asian spices. Really lip-smackingly delicious. | Nova Vineyard Old Vine | 92 | 24 | California | Lake County | | | | Jelly Jar 2006 Nova Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel (Lake County) | Zinfandel | Jelly Jar |
58251 | 58250 | US | This is pure Cabernet from Red Mountain's Klipsun vineyard; there is nothing subtle or gentle about this wine. It's a powerhouse, sharp and astringent, with edgy flavors of berry and granite. The rock/mineral component dominates the finish, which lingers and gently fades. Overall, this is a wine to cellar and to watch; it tastes like a high-altitude Malbec from a 7,000-foot Argentine vineyard. | La Bestia Klipsun Vineyard | 92 | 45 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lachini 2005 La Bestia Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Lachini |
58252 | 58251 | US | A Right Bank style—48% Merlot/46% Cab Franc/6% Petit Verdot—this is meaty, spicy, herbal and earthy. There's nothing subtle here, but flavors a'plenty, everything from tomato and strawberry to riper hints of black cherry, cassis and plum. Spice, black coffee and earth dominate the back palate, which slides into very dry, mouth-scraping tannins. | Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine | 92 | 45 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Mark Ryan 2006 Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine Red (Red Mountain) | Red Blend | Mark Ryan |
58253 | 58252 | US | When Russian River Zinfandel succeeds, and this one does, it marries the variety's wild, feral personality to the valley's perfect terroir to produce distinctive wines. Ottimino's 2005 Von Weidlich is very tannic, but classic in presentation, showing blackberry, currant and intense black pepper aromas and flavors. Might tempt you to cellar it, but it's best over the next year for sheer exuberance. | Von Weidlich Vineyard | 92 | 36 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Ottimino Vineyards 2005 Von Weidlich Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) | Zinfandel | Ottimino Vineyards |
58254 | 58253 | US | The newest vintage of Long Shadows Pirouette is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 5% Malbec and 4% Cab Franc. Combined with the benefits of a stellar vintage, this is substantial, textural and complex. The toasty new oak flavors are more than matched by rich layers of berries, cassis and black cherries. It glides into a seductive midpalate, adding flavors of dusty cocoa, espresso liqueur and toasted grain. It would show quite well against California Meritage-style wines costing twice as much. | Red Wine | 92 | 55 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Pirouette 2005 Red Wine Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | Pirouette |
58255 | 58254 | Germany | Starts off with beautiful scents of ripe peaches, orange blossom and a briny minerality, then delivers all of that and more in a slightly creamy, sensuous mouthful of flavor. The purity of ripe fruit is noteworthy, extending through the long, filigreed finish. | Bockenauer Felseneck Spätlese | 92 | 41 | Nahe | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Schäfer-Fröhlich 2007 Bockenauer Felseneck Spätlese Riesling (Nahe) | Riesling | Schäfer-Fröhlich |
58256 | 58255 | US | Talley's Rincon bottling is a big, complicated Pinot that's quite unresolved in youth. The 2006 is typical. Dark and full-bodied, it has opulent flavors of black currants, with tart notes of coffee and tobacco, and is completely dry. It's also quite tannic. Should come into its own after 2010 and glide for several more years. | Rincon Vineyard | 92 | 58 | California | Arroyo Grande Valley | Central Coast | | | Talley 2006 Rincon Vineyard Pinot Noir (Arroyo Grande Valley) | Pinot Noir | Talley |
58257 | 58256 | Italy | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot are blended to produce a wine of enormous intensity and personality. You'll get aromas of inky black fruit, barbecue sauce, cola, root beer and black cherry. The wine tastes beautifully smooth and soft in the mouth. | Serramarrocco | 92 | 52 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Tenuta di Serramarrocco 2005 Serramarrocco Red (Sicilia) | Red Blend | Tenuta di Serramarrocco |
58258 | 58257 | US | Locked down by hard tannins, this nonetheless is a beautiful Zinfandel, dry and rich in flavor. It bursts with savory wild berry, tobacco, mocha and pepper flavors, and feels elegant and refined. The tannins call for enormously rich beef, pasta, sauces and cheeses. | Shaw Vineyard Reserve Century Vines | 92 | 35 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Kunde 2005 Shaw Vineyard Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley) | Zinfandel | Kunde |
58259 | 58258 | Mexico | Most Monte Xanic wines are well made and fall into this region on our 100-point scale. This Cab-Merlot blend begins with herbal tomato aromas, leafy touches and spice notes. It's a lot like basic Bordeaux, but with a creamy feel, rubbery tannins and more overt oak. This finishes with mocha, coffee, chocolate and peppery flavors. | Cabernet Blend | 86 | 23 | Valle de Guadalupe | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Monte Xanic 2011 Cabernet Blend Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Valle de Guadalupe) | Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot | Monte Xanic |
58260 | 58259 | US | A bit of a disappointment, given the excellence of the winery's 2010 vineyard designates. Tart cranberry fruit carries a whiff of saddle leather, and finishes with a fair amount of leafy herbal notes. It's sealed with screwcap, so decanting it would be a good idea if you plan to drink it soon. | Reserve | 86 | 38 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Raptor Ridge 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Raptor Ridge |