| 58531 | 58530 | France | A wood-polished wine, smoothed by mint, black currant and black plum fruits. It has a core of dry, dense tannins, but the fruit and wood around are accessible, giving a wine that has developed fast, and is certainly ready to drink now. | | 87 | 12 | Bordeaux | Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Clos Bourbon 2005 Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Clos Bourbon |
| 58532 | 58531 | Macedonia | This Chardonnay has an appealing nose that's both fruity and toasty, with complex, lush flavors of Chardonnay fruit, vanilla and toasted wood. A spirited but elegant wine that will pair well with poultry, cheeses or richer fish. | | 87 | 15 | Tikves | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Bovin 2008 Chardonnay (Tikves) | Chardonnay | Bovin |
| 58533 | 58532 | Greece | A lovely nose of citrus, apples and spice gives this Moschofilero from Mantinia a fresh but opulent appeal. On the palate, it's fuller bodied with rich fruit, but balanced by spice and minerals. A great white that can hold its own with myriad dishes. | | 87 | 12 | Mantinia | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Cambas 2007 Moschofilero (Mantinia) | Moschofilero | Cambas |
| 58534 | 58533 | France | Part of the Thienot Champagne group, Canard-Dûchene is only now getting distribution in this country. This top Blanc de Blancs is rich, full-bodied with some softness, but also retaining a good mineral, tight texture. | Charles VII Blanc de Blancs Brut | 87 | 60 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Canard-Duchêne NV Charles VII Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay (Champagne) | Chardonnay | Canard-Duchêne |
| 58535 | 58534 | France | A Merlot-dominated wine, but with enough tannin from Cabernet Sauvignon to give structure. It is balanced, fresh, moving towards fruitiness, taking in red berries, plums and bright final acidity along the way. | | 87 | 14 | Bordeaux | Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château La Grange Clinet 2006 Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château La Grange Clinet |
| 58536 | 58535 | US | Also sourced from the McKinley Springs vineyard in Washington's Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this is the regular Syrah compared with the Opulence, the reserve. The wines are clearly differentiated, the Envy showing rougher edges, tougher tannins and a more tannic, earthy character. There's a strong herbal streak also; this wine definitely needs hearty foods to complement it. | Envy | 87 | 32 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Coeur d'Alene 2006 Envy Syrah (Washington) | Syrah | Coeur d'Alene |
| 58537 | 58536 | US | Shows the herbal, sweet green pea quality that often marks Chards from the central Napa Valley, but that gives it an interesting twist. Otherwise, you'll find tropical fruits, cream, buttered popcorn and zesty acidity. | | 87 | 48 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | El Molino 2007 Chardonnay (Rutherford) | Chardonnay | El Molino |
| 58538 | 58537 | Greece | Red fruit and spices—cinnamon, pepper—dominate the nose of this solid, easygoing Agiorgitiko from Nemea. The palate offers perky red berry, spice and minerals in a full-bodied and smooth package. A dependable, elegant red. | | 87 | 22 | Nemea | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Estate Raptis 2004 Agiorgitiko (Nemea) | Agiorgitiko | Estate Raptis |
| 58539 | 58538 | Italy | Here's a hot, jammy Primitivo that has all the heat of the Southern Italian sun locked within. The wine boasts luscious dark concentration and a sweet, syrupy nose with spice, oak and tobacco. You can feel the heat in the mouth and the wine is soft and incredibly chewy to the touch. If you love big and bold wines, this is for you. | Alberello Cinquanta | 87 | 18 | Southern Italy | Primitivo di Manduria | | | | Giordano 2007 Alberello Cinquanta (Primitivo di Manduria) | Primitivo | Giordano |
| 58540 | 58539 | US | A polished, friendly wine, soft and gentle in the mouth, and carrying ripe flavors of cherries, black raspberries, mocha, bacon and pepper. Nice now if you want a dry, medium-bodied red. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. | Estate Grown | 87 | 16 | California | Suisun Valley | North Coast | | | Ledgewood Creek 2007 Estate Grown G-S-M (Suisun Valley) | G-S-M | Ledgewood Creek |
| 58541 | 58540 | Italy | This is one of those luminous Pinot Grigios that sits well in the mouth and satisfies on all fronts. The wine is redolent of exotic fruit and citrus but has the creamy density to match shellfish or prawns. | Vigneto ai Palazzi | 87 | 24 | Veneto | Piave | | | | Masottina 2008 Vigneto ai Palazzi Pinot Grigio (Piave) | Pinot Grigio | Masottina |
| 58542 | 58541 | France | A wine for all tastes, full enough for food, fresh enough as an apéritif, flavored with strawberry juice and a lemonade freshness. It's easy to drink, finely integrated, and a crisp, but soft aftertaste. | Rosé Impérial | 87 | 55 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Moët & Chandon NV Rosé Impérial (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Moët & Chandon |
| 58543 | 58542 | Chile | Warm and mulchy at first; this is a muscular, dark wine despite the bargain price, and it's tight, tannic and herbal but serious in weight, structure and depth. The palate shows creamy, oaky, herbal fruit in front of a full, grabby, tobacco-accented finish. Elevated size and structure is what brings it up a notch. | Special Cuvée Limited Release Reserva | 87 | 13 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Montes 2008 Special Cuvée Limited Release Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Montes |
| 58544 | 58543 | France | Soft, creamy, showing some minerality, with a taste of dusty quince skins. There is good acidity, the wine is bright, the style full but not too weighty. | Summertime Blanc de Blancs Brut | 87 | | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Pommery NV Summertime Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay (Champagne) | Chardonnay | Pommery |
| 58545 | 58544 | US | A rich, fruity wine with explosive blackberry and cherry jam, black currant, spicy plum and smoky cedar flavors. Direct and obvious now, but could develop bottle complexity over the next 4–6 years. | | 87 | 40 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | | | Ridge 2006 Red (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Ridge |
| 58546 | 58545 | France | Despite the initial sharp edge, this does develop into a fresh, fruity style of wine. The one problem is that the bottling of the sample tasted seems too recent, and it needs several months to ripen and blend. Keep for 3–6 months. | Brut Rosé | 87 | 60 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Thiénot NV Brut Rosé (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Thiénot |
| 58547 | 58546 | US | A lovely Sauvignon Blanc, tart and bone dry, with a bite of citrusy acidity that cleanses the palate. It carries pleasant flavors of Meyer lemons, limes, pink grapefruit and vanilla. | | 87 | 15 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Adler Fels 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Adler Fels |
| 58548 | 58547 | US | Fresh and vibrant, with ripe cherry, red currant, cola and cedar flavors wrapped into a silky texture. A bit rough and acidic, though. Could develop in the bottle for a few years. | | 87 | 50 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Twomey 2007 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) | Pinot Noir | Twomey |
| 58549 | 58548 | US | Very dry and crisp in acidity, this is a mouthwatering wine. It has flavors of citrus, gooseberry and lemongrass. Clean and elegant, it's a nice partner with puff pastry appetizers, bruschetta with chevre and grilled veggies. | | 87 | 24 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | White Cottage 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | White Cottage |
| 58550 | 58549 | US | This shows real varietal character with spicy peaches-and-cream flavors and a nice vein of smoky oak, and a honeyed, crisp finish. | | 85 | 9 | California | California | California Other | | | Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi 2006 Chardonnay (California) | Chardonnay | Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi |
| 58551 | 58550 | US | A Rhône blend based on Cinsault and Grenache, this is a bright, crisp rosé brimming with tea and raspberry flavors. It's dry and balanced, and is a good accompaniment to a wide variety of food. | Vin Gris de Cigare | 85 | 14 | California | California | California Other | | | Bonny Doon 2006 Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé (California) | Rosé | Bonny Doon |
| 58552 | 58551 | US | Leaping Lizard is turning out good value wines that show true varietal character. This Sauvignon Blanc, which doesn't seem to have any oak, shows crisp, bright flavors of pineapples, apricots and spices. It's a bit on the sweet side, but with good balancing acidity. | | 85 | 12 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Leaping Lizard 2005 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Leaping Lizard |
| 58553 | 58552 | Australia | This is a rustic style of Shiraz, with hints of beef bouillon and cola layered over earth and plum notes. Chewy tannins bring it home, suggesting a pairing with rare roasts. | | 85 | 12 | New South Wales | Western Plains | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Ram's Leap 2005 Shiraz (Western Plains) | Shiraz | Ram's Leap |
| 58554 | 58553 | Italy | Fazi Battaglia's amphora-shaped bottle is a museum worthy legend of Italian design. The contents, on the other hand, express simplicity and ease. This is a no-fuss wine that, over the years, has proudly adorned the checkered tablecloths of neighborhood trattorias all over Italy. Linear and compact, aromas include jasmine, peach blossom and dusty mineral. | Titulus | 85 | 13 | Central Italy | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico | | | | Fazi Battaglia 2006 Titulus (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico) | Verdicchio | Fazi Battaglia |
| 58555 | 58554 | South Africa | A floral nose of violets offers an intriguing start to a wine that's both a value and a fun find. On the palate, red wild berry, spice and smoke are balanced, and though this has a rusticity that tells of its terroir, overall, it's simply pretty. Imported by Cape Wine Ventures, LLC. | | 85 | 8 | Western Cape | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Tall Horse 2005 Shiraz (Western Cape) | Shiraz | Tall Horse |
| 58556 | 58555 | Australia | This is a clean and fruity Shiraz—and one that fits the Australian success formula almost predictably. Jammy blackberry and cassis fruit is framed by touches of oak-derived vanilla and spice, tannins are soft and the mouthfeel supple. It's well done, even if it lacks a certain degree of individuality. | | 85 | 13 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Kono Barú 2005 Shiraz (South Eastern Australia) | Shiraz | Kono Barú |
| 58557 | 58556 | US | The sweetness from the 10.5% residual sugar is the main thing this has going for it. The orange and vanilla flavors should be more concentrated, but it's a clean, crisp dessert wine at a fair price. | Moscato Allegro | 85 | 12 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Martin & Weyrich 2006 Moscato Allegro Muscat Canelli (Paso Robles) | Muscat Canelli | Martin & Weyrich |
| 58558 | 58557 | Australia | In a flight of inexpensive Australian Merlot, this wine stood out for its density and concentration. Which is not to say it's a big wine, but it does offer plenty of mixed berry fruit and hints of chocolate in a medium-bodied wine. Picks up some savory olive and coffee notes on the mouthwatering finish. | | 85 | 12 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | McWilliam's Hanwood Estate 2005 Merlot (South Eastern Australia) | Merlot | McWilliam's Hanwood Estate |
| 58559 | 58558 | Italy | This blend of Garganega, Trebbiano, Tocai, Cortese, Chardonnay and Riesling delivers clean simplicity and crisp aromas of stone fruit, lemon drop and mint leaf. It's lean and easy on the palate and would pair nicely with vegetable wraps, bite-sized quiche or any other finger food. | | 85 | 13 | Veneto | Custoza | | | | Monte del Frá 2006 Custoza | White Blend | Monte del Frá |
| 58560 | 58559 | Australia | Starts with aromas of clove, coffee and black olive, then adds brighter flavors of red berries on the palate before picking up some tea-like notes and a hint of chocolate on the finish. This medium-bodied Shiraz should prove versatile at the table. | | 85 | 14 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Nugan Family Estates 2005 Shiraz (South Eastern Australia) | Shiraz | Nugan Family Estates |