| 62071 | 62070 | Italy | Gualdo del Re's honey-toned Vermentino offers rich saturation and density thanks to the Tuscan sunshine. The wine is thick and glossy with warm notes of peach, nectarine and apricot. The finish is creamy and rich and would stand up to cheese-based dishes. | Valentina | 87 | 29 | Tuscany | Val di Cornia Suvereto | | | | Gualdo del Re 2007 Valentina Vermentino (Val di Cornia Suvereto) | Vermentino | Gualdo del Re |
| 62072 | 62071 | Italy | Villa Prandone Navicchio is a pretty expression of Pecorino from Central Italy with resiny aromas of mature apricot, cola and white peppercorn. There's depth and personality here and the wine offers a unique experience. | Villa Prandone Navicchio | 87 | | Central Italy | Offida Pecorino | | | | Il Conte 2007 Villa Prandone Navicchio (Offida Pecorino) | Pecorino | Il Conte |
| 62073 | 62072 | Chile | More than decent; this is good SB with no bells and whistles but lots of straight-ahead competence. The nose is dusty and plump, while the palate has roundness, weight and likable citrus, green melon and other common, fresh flavors. Sometimes the basics are more than enough; this is a casein point. | Reserva | 87 | 5 | Aconcagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | In Situ 2008 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Aconcagua Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | In Situ |
| 62074 | 62073 | Austria | This firmly structured wine brings out the spiciness of Blaufränkisch, boosting its structure. Beck's entry-level wine is finely crafted, the tannins and ripe berry fruits balancing well with the freshly grated nutmeg and final sweetness. Screwcap. | | 87 | 23 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Judith Beck 2007 Blaufränkisch (Burgenland) | Blaufränkisch | Judith Beck |
| 62075 | 62074 | US | Crisp in acidity and delicious, with honeyed flavors of pineapples, green apples, Meyer lemons, vanilla and peppery spices. Finishes a bit sugary sweet, which detracts from pure balance. | La Cruz Vineyard | 87 | 30 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Keller Estate 2007 La Cruz Vineyard Pinot Gris (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Gris | Keller Estate |
| 62076 | 62075 | Chile | This is a perfectly good and honest wine, with aromas of fresh lettuce yet not a whole lot of vivid fruit. So in that sense, it is like many SBs from cool-climate Limarí. But if the nose is shy, the palate offers nice, cheerful apple and melon flavors. Smooth enough and almost round, withno edgy acidity or overt zap. | Block Selection Reserve | 87 | 11 | Limarí Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | La Playa 2008 Block Selection Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Limarí Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | La Playa |
| 62077 | 62076 | US | Here's a good, rich, savory young Zin to get those tastebuds whistling. Clean acidity and smooth tannins frame Zinny flavors of wild berries, teriyaki and Asian spices. Drink now. | Saini Farms Old Vine | 87 | 22 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Lake Sonoma 2006 Saini Farms Old Vine Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Lake Sonoma |
| 62078 | 62077 | France | Appealing for its serious plum, barnyard, black pepper and licorice aromas. A bit simpler in the mouth, with some grippy tannins and just enough acidity to keep the dense, woodsy palate from feeling heavy. | Nord Sud | 87 | 13 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Vin de Pays d'Oc | | | | Laurent Miquel 2006 Nord Sud Syrah (Vin de Pays d'Oc) | Syrah | Laurent Miquel |
| 62079 | 62078 | Italy | This smooth and supple Chardonnay from northeast Italy boasts steadfast intensity and pretty aromas of citrus blossom, peach, honey and a touch of fresh vanilla bean. The wine's creamy density makes for a natural companion to pasta and lasagna. | Jurosa | 87 | | Northeastern Italy | Venezia Giulia | | | | Lis Neris 2006 Jurosa Chardonnay (Venezia Giulia) | Chardonnay | Lis Neris |
| 62080 | 62079 | Chile | Nice and welcoming on the nose, with melon, citrus and other punchbowl aromas. The palate is graced with fine acidity, which amplifies the wine's standard green apple and lime flavors. Clean and showing no glaring issues. Textbook everyday Chilean SB; we could drink this stuff forever. | Classic Series | 87 | 12 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Montes 2008 Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Montes |
| 62081 | 62080 | US | A good, rich, dry bubbly, with a creamy, leesy taste and long finish. The flavors of figgy vanilla and praline are unusual for a bubbly, but nonetheless are delicious. | Stelline di Moscato | 87 | 18 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Mosby NV Stelline di Moscato Orange Muscat (Santa Barbara County) | Orange Muscat | Mosby |
| 62082 | 62081 | Italy | Ripe fruit tones and layers of spice (clove, cinnamon and black pepper) fold seamlessly together as one. The wine represents a hardy blend of Negroamaro and Montepulciano and offers the solid structure and firmness that you should expect from these two masculine indigenous grapes. | | 87 | 20 | Southern Italy | Galatina | | | | Valle dell'Asso 2006 Negroamaro (Galatina) | Negroamaro | Valle dell'Asso |
| 62083 | 62082 | US | Here's a lush young Petite Sirah brimming with blackberry jam, cherry liqueur, dark chocolate and licorice flavors that taste a little sweet. It's tannic and immature now, but should age well for up to a decade. | Estate | 87 | 45 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Venteux 2006 Estate Petite Sirah (Paso Robles) | Petite Sirah | Venteux |
| 62084 | 62083 | US | This very rich, unctuous Syrah is immature and not especially subtle at this time. It's acidic and gooey in jammy blackberries and cherries and milk chocolate, with obvious oak influences. The idea seems to be ageworthiness, but that's a gamble. Could surprise. | Ulises Valdez Vineyard | 87 | 65 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Vice Versa 2005 Ulises Valdez Vineyard Syrah (Napa Valley) | Syrah | Vice Versa |
| 62085 | 62084 | Italy | Pinot Bianco from the Collio region of northeast Italy generally tends to deliver firm structure and texture. This wine is an excellent example of the variety because it balances density and heat versus elegance of aromas. Pair it with Thai or Chinese chicken dishes. | | 87 | 34 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | | | Villa Russiz 2007 Pinot Bianco (Collio) | Pinot Bianco | Villa Russiz |
| 62086 | 62085 | US | Waterstone's non-reserve Cabernet is often quite good and the '05 is just about their best ever. It's a fine wine, dry and full-bodied and rich in black currants, smoky oak and spices. Drink now and for the next several years. | | 87 | 26 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Waterstone 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Waterstone |
| 62087 | 62086 | Italy | Here's a Sicilian Nero d'Avola with heft and dimension: Aromas include allspice, cinnamon, cherry and sweet almond. It has a chewy, succulent feel and polished tannins on the close. The wine is made by Prosecco producers Villa Sandi. | Carrivàli | 87 | | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | AgroArgento 2005 Carrivàli Nero d'Avola (Sicilia) | Nero d'Avola | AgroArgento |
| 62088 | 62087 | Italy | Made with organically grown grapes, this 100% expression of Nero di Troia offers cheerful aromas of cherry, blackberry, spice and tobacco. The mouthfeel is dense and sandy because of the firm nature of the tannins. | | 87 | 20 | Southern Italy | Puglia | | | | Antica Enotria 2006 Nero di Troia (Puglia) | Nero di Troia | Antica Enotria |
| 62089 | 62088 | South Africa | This friendly wine starts with a spicy and aromatic nose and leads into floral, honeyed flavors, a balanced acidity and a touch of minerality underneath. Pretty and poised, it will pair well with shellfish and spicy Asian cuisine. | | 87 | 29 | Franschhoek | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Boekenhoutskloof 2005 Sémillon (Franschhoek) | Sémillon | Boekenhoutskloof |
| 62090 | 62089 | US | Tight and tart, wrapped up in a core of smoky black currant fruit. The acids seem a bit adjusted, and the wine needs time to breathe open, but the main thing is that it's a clean and well-defined evocation of the almost 40-year-old vineyard, the oldest in the Rattlesnake Hills. | Morrison Vineyard | 87 | 30 | Washington | Rattlesnake Hills | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Bonair 2006 Morrison Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Rattlesnake Hills) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Bonair |
| 62091 | 62090 | Italy | This dark wine is characterized by jammy notes of blackberry marmalade and sweet Christmas spice. It's lean and compact in the mouth with long-lasting flavors of blueberry and black currant. | Fidelis | 87 | 18 | Southern Italy | Aglianico del Taburno | | | | Cantina del Taburno 2005 Fidelis (Aglianico del Taburno) | Aglianico | Cantina del Taburno |
| 62092 | 62091 | Italy | Mostly Negroamaro (with 5% Malvasia Nera), this is a sweet-smelling wine with candy-like aromas of Christmas bread, allspice and plum cake. The wine delivers dense, firm structure with nicely aged fruit flavors on the close. | Riserva | 87 | 15 | Southern Italy | Copertino | | | | Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino 2001 Riserva Negroamaro (Copertino) | Negroamaro | Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino |
| 62093 | 62092 | Chile | Varietally correct, with familiar prickly aromas along with citrus and sweat. It's pretty much all you could ask for at under $10, and with honest lemon and pineapple flavors its committed and alive. Good mouthfeel with grab and body only secures its standing as a white wine Best Buy. | | 87 | 9 | Curicó Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Carmen 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Curicó Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Carmen |
| 62094 | 62093 | US | The highlight of a thin lineup, Cave B's Sauvignon Blanc brings tart fruit flavors of lemon and lime, grapefruit and melon. Thankfully, no oak was applied; this winery has a heavy hand with barrels. This new bottling is young enough to retain the crispness and liveliness of the natural fruit. | | 87 | 19 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Cave B 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sauvignon Blanc | Cave B |
| 62095 | 62094 | France | Heavily dominated by new wood, the wine is toasty, with a burnt edge to it. The fruit shows some juicy character, but it is not given a chance with the wood. | | 87 | | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Boyd-Cantenac 2006 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Boyd-Cantenac |
| 62096 | 62095 | France | An immediately attractive wine that carries its ripe fruit easily. Both the fruit and the structure are dense, with flavors of dried raisins balanced by fresh acidity. It is already maturing, so drink in 2 years. | | 87 | | Bordeaux | Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lafleur-Gazin 2006 Pomerol | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Lafleur-Gazin |
| 62097 | 62096 | France | Ripely juicy wine, its soft tannins lifted by fresh blackberry flavors. The crisp acidity in the juice shows prominently. It has some dry structure, but this is enveloped in this berry fruit character, which suggests it will mature quickly. | | 87 | | Bordeaux | Listrac-Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lestage 2006 Listrac-Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Lestage |
| 62098 | 62097 | France | Ripe fruit stars, with swathes of tannin. The fruit is juicy, with the typical 2006 freshness, jelly and jam textures giving sweetness. Generous, rich, and likely to be ready in the next 2–3 years. | | 87 | | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Moulin du Cadet 2006 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Moulin du Cadet |
| 62099 | 62098 | France | Rich, jammy aromas set the scene for an exuberant black fruited wine, with generous soft texture. The tannins have dried fruit and fig flavors, lifted by attractive freshness. | Fugue de Nenin | 87 | | Bordeaux | Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Nenin 2006 Fugue de Nenin (Pomerol) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Nenin |
| 62100 | 62099 | France | Firm, tense and dryly tannic, this is a solid wine, foursquare, its edges a little rough at present. The berry fruits are black, spicy from wood, creating a rich feel. In the end, black currant acidity and freshness finish the wine with a lift. | | 87 | 25 | Bordeaux | Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Patache d'Aux 2006 Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Patache d'Aux |