| 64184 | 64183 | US | Merryvale has a terrific record with their Starmont Chard, and they haven't raised the price for many years. The ‘06 is right up there with the best of them. It's rich and creamy, filled with true Chard flavors of peaches, pears, honey, buttered toast and cinnamon spice. | Starmont | 90 | 20 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Merryvale 2006 Starmont Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Merryvale |
| 64185 | 64184 | France | Mid gold color. Slightly muted aromas of ripe stone fruit. Sweet, light to medium-bodied with ample flavors of ripe fruit, peach pie, caramel, apple crisp and soft brown sugar. Fresh, with lively acidity and a smooth texture. Medium length with a sweet, spicy finish. | Turckheim Clos Jebsal Vendage Tardive | 90 | 114 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 2007 Turckheim Clos Jebsal Vendage Tardive Pinot Gris (Alsace) | Pinot Gris | Domaine Zind-Humbrecht |
| 64186 | 64185 | Portugal | A properly rich wine that benefits from its wood aging to give a polished, minty feel to the plush black plum fruits. Solid tannins are easily enveloped by fruit, while retaining a firm structure. Keep for 2-3 years. | Monte da Cal Reserva | 90 | 20 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Dão Sul 2008 Monte da Cal Reserva Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Dão Sul |
| 64187 | 64186 | Italy | A fat rich wine with an exuberant personality. Plenty of hefty, ripe fruit, a big chunky palate and a good, long luscious finish. While it is not as complex as some other 2003 Barolos, it is friendly and solid and will work beautifully with food. | Dardi Le Rose Bussia | 90 | 79 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Poderi Colla 2003 Dardi Le Rose Bussia (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Poderi Colla |
| 64188 | 64187 | South Africa | 73% Merlot, with Cabernet and Petite Verdot making up the difference, this is a finely crafted and delicious effort. Medium-bodied and creamy, the Merlot gives this wine a feminine feel, despite solid, soft tannins. Dark, extracted black fruits have some accents of forest and black olive, while leather adds to the cherry and cassis nose. Could use time to soften further, but very approachable now. | | 90 | 55 | Stellenbosch | | | | | Tokara 2003 Red (Stellenbosch) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Tokara |
| 64189 | 64188 | Italy | Giacosa Fratelli (to be distinguished from the venerable house of Bruno Giacosa) tends to make good, solid wines but never anything really earth shattering. This proved to be one of his best, a lovely nose of dark fruit, chocolate, soy and smoked meat. Quite soft on the palate, but rich and layered,and although it showed a touch of mid palate hollowness, the finish was good if somewhat chunky. Needs 3-5 years to really come round. | Bussia | 90 | 50 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Giacosa Fratelli 2003 Bussia (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Giacosa Fratelli |
| 64190 | 64189 | Germany | Starts off with some intriguing notes of musk and spice, the turns intensely sweet, with powerful honey and orange marmalade flavors that coat the mouth and refuse to leave. There's just too much sugar in the end, and not enough acid or minerality to provide the ideal balance. Still, it is impressive, and if you measure pleasure solely by grams per liter of residual sugar, this will surely strike gold. | Trockenbeerenauslese - 375 ml | 90 | 350 | Rheingau | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Schloss Vollrads 2007 Trockenbeerenauslese - 375 ml Riesling (Rheingau) | Riesling | Schloss Vollrads |
| 64191 | 64190 | Italy | This stylish Barbera has a bright, fresh nose of sweet strawberry, roses and licorice. On the palate, the freshness of the fruit comes through. beautifully. Full flavored without being full bodied. Slightly old fashioned and delicious. | | 90 | 19 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Alba | | | | Pio Cesare 2005 Barbera d'Alba | Barbera | Pio Cesare |
| 64171 | 64170 | France | Grown on rocky subsoil, this ripe and fruity wine has good acidity and plenty of black-cherry fruit. A darker core of tannins gives the wine a rich texture. With open fruits and plenty of acidity, the wine is developing well. Drink from 2019. | Les Lavières Premier Cru | 92 | 60 | Burgundy | Savigny-lès-Beaune | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Bouchard Père & Fils 2014 Les Lavières Premier Cru (Savigny-lès-Beaune) | Pinot Noir | Bouchard Père & Fils |
| 64172 | 64171 | Italy | Blue flower, woodland berry, cake spice, menthol and a whisper of vineyard dust come together on the nose while the smooth, juicy, palate doles out ripe red cherry, crushed strawberry, star anise and cinnamon. It's a lovely wine, with polished, enveloping tannins and fresh acidity that provide an elegant, accessible structure. | Narin | 92 | | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Carlo Giacosa 2013 Narin (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Carlo Giacosa |
| 64192 | 64191 | France | Pale lemon color with slight green hue. Well defined citrus aromas with strong minerality coming through. Crisp, juicy and very refreshing with a taut, focused palate that is packed with a medley of lively ruby grapefruit, tangerine, lime and peach flavors. Firm minerality follows through on the palate adding an appealing savory edge. Medium-bodied with a long mouthwatering finish. | | 90 | 20 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Hugel 2008 Riesling (Alsace) | Riesling | Hugel |
| 64173 | 64172 | US | Well-integrated aromas of dried mint and black cherry meet with baking spice, cappuccino and dried-beef notes on the nose of this bottling. Dried cherry, smoked beef, bittersweet chocolate and coffee flavors show on the sip, where a solid tannic structure and good density ensures a long life for this wine. | Private Reserve | 92 | 52 | California | South Coast | South Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Carter Estate 2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (South Coast) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Carter Estate |
| 64193 | 64192 | France | Mid-lemon hue. Nicely layered aromas of ripe store fruit, hints of petrol and an appealing earthy minerality. Bright and well defined flavors of peach, apricot, nectarine and spice with the minerality following through, adding complexity on the palate. Very fresh and juicy with a smooth texture and a moderately long finish. | KB | 90 | 14 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Kuentz-Bas 2008 KB White (Alsace) | Alsace white blend | Kuentz-Bas |
| 64174 | 64173 | Italy | Balsamic aromas, leather, truffle, soil and ripe berry scents take center stage. The chewy, structured palate offers succulent Morello cherry, fleshy raspberry and cake spice alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. A star anise note closes the finish. Drink 2018–2025. | Morassino | 92 | 45 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Cascina Morassino 2013 Morassino (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Cascina Morassino |
| 64194 | 64193 | Italy | A lush fruit nose, with plenty of blackberry jam, woodsmoke and anise. Quite chunky on the palate, but amaiable and easy going, although not a particularly long finish. A pleasant food friendly wine for a weekday night after a hard day at work. | Barturot | 89 | 32 | Piedmont | Dolcetto d'Alba | | | | Ca' Viola 2005 Barturot (Dolcetto d'Alba) | Dolcetto | Ca' Viola |
| 64195 | 64194 | Italy | A flashy, modern-style wine, Modus takes traditional Tuscan flavors of leather and tobacco, dresses them up with cassis, vanilla and toast and wraps all that in a cocoon of lush, supple tannins. An immediately approachable blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. | Modus | 89 | 25 | Tuscany | Toscana | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Ruffino 2003 Modus Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Ruffino |
| 64196 | 64195 | US | Chenin Blanc may arguably be the least-appreciated great white grape in the world; outside of the Loire valley, no one bothers to showcase it. But Washington state has some Chenin vines approaching 30 years of age, and that fruit is the centerpiece of this ripe, round, floral and slightly spritzy offering from Pacific Rim. Fruit flavors of ripe pear and key lime make this a vivacious and lip-smacking crowd-pleaser, lifted with natural acids and finished at just 12.5% alcohol. | | 89 | 11 | America | | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Pacific Rim 2006 Chenin Blanc (America) | Chenin Blanc | Pacific Rim |
| 64197 | 64196 | Italy | From the hot 2003 vintage, this vineyard-designate Riserva Chianti (Sangiovese with small components of Canaiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon) is thin and marked by tertiary aromas of dried fruit and butterscotch. Drink now. | Vigna Santa Riserva | 86 | 26 | Tuscany | Chianti | | | | Fattoria di Petrognano 2003 Vigna Santa Riserva (Chianti) | Sangiovese | Fattoria di Petrognano |
| 64198 | 64197 | US | Ripe red cherries with hints of fresh green herbs and menthol perfume both the nose and palate of this elegant, medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, intense fruit flavors gain complexity with sprinklings of olives, cedar and sturdy tannins that lead to a long, sour cherry finish. | | 86 | 15 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Fox Run 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Fox Run |
| 64199 | 64198 | Italy | Cetamura is a consistently excellent value wine from Tuscany that shows bright berry and forest fruit nuances backed by a crisp but thin mouthfeel. Those qualities make it an ideal choice for cheesy pasta. | Cetamura | 86 | 11 | Tuscany | Chianti | | | | Badia a Coltibuono 2008 Cetamura (Chianti) | Sangiovese | Badia a Coltibuono |
| 64200 | 64199 | Italy | A bit muddled aromatically at first, give this wine a few minutes in the glass to find its voice. Once it does, it delivers an easy, straightforward rendition of cherry, blueberry and toasted almond. | Carandelle | 86 | 24 | Tuscany | Maremma | | | | Podere San Cristoforo 2008 Carandelle (Maremma) | Sangiovese | Podere San Cristoforo |
| 64175 | 64174 | Italy | Toast, underbrush, leather, truffle, mature black-skinned berry and game are some of the aromas you'll find on this. The round, juicy palate offers ripe Morello cherry, a hint of stewed berry, grilled herb, hazelnut and clove while firm, fine-grained tannins offer seamless support. Drink 2018–2025. | Rabajà | 92 | 47 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Castello di Verduno 2013 Rabajà (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Castello di Verduno |
| 64176 | 64175 | France | While the name means “burnt,” it really refers to the southern exposure of this warm vineyard. Wood aged in new barrels, this wine has a toasty character that is well balanced by the rich fruits. Acidity and a mineral texture give this wine aging potential. Drink from 2017. | Les Brûlés | 92 | 75 | Burgundy | Pouilly-Fuissé | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Fuissé 2014 Les Brûlés (Pouilly-Fuissé) | Chardonnay | Château de Fuissé |
| 64177 | 64176 | US | The name references the mix of fermentation techniques—40% neutral oak, 40% stainless steel and 20% new French barrels. Peach and papaya fruit are accented by a light streak of honey and a whiff of wet stone. This is both nuanced and beautifully proportioned. | Mélange | 92 | 29 | Oregon | Southern Oregon | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | DanCin 2015 Mélange Chardonnay (Southern Oregon) | Chardonnay | DanCin |
| 64178 | 64177 | France | This wine is well balanced, with red-berry and plum-fruit flavors giving richness. A ripe, juicy character comes with the tight acidity. The smoky wood is just right. Drink from 2019. | Aux Clous Premier Cru | 92 | | Burgundy | Savigny-lès-Beaune | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine d'Ardhuy 2014 Aux Clous Premier Cru (Savigny-lès-Beaune) | Pinot Noir | Domaine d'Ardhuy |
| 64179 | 64178 | France | Pale lemon with green hints. Subtle nose showing more savory herbal aromas, fresh cut nettles and a spicy balsamic note. Opened up on the palate with lots of bright creamy lemon and grapefruit custard flavors, spice, flowers and a strong earthy minerality. Medium-bodied with a smooth, creamy texture and a long taut citrussy finish. | Collection | 90 | 29 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Kuentz-Bas 2008 Collection Muscat (Alsace) | Muscat | Kuentz-Bas |
| 64180 | 64179 | France | Attractive deep lemon color. Quite pronounced mineral nose with layered aromas of honied stone fruit salad with fusel, balsamic, floral and earthy notes. Taut palate, yet juicy with mouthwatering citrus, peach and apricot flavors. Strong minerality follows through to a long juicy finish. | Collection | 90 | 29 | Alsace | Alsace | | | | Kuentz-Bas 2008 Collection Riesling (Alsace) | Riesling | Kuentz-Bas |
| 64181 | 64180 | Italy | Lovely, complex nose of dark fruit, licorice, rose and woodmeal. Delivered the same but in a muted form in the mouth. It seemed to be running out of steam in mid-palate, it came back to post a pleasant and nicely layered finish. | La Serra | 90 | 59 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Marcarini 2003 La Serra (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Marcarini |
| 64182 | 64181 | Italy | Many 2000 Barolos are showing signs of retreating into their shells, none more so than this. This was initially very dumb, and only after a good deal of swirling and plenty of time in the glass did it begin to show anything. At last, dark fruit, earth, rose petal and road tar began to emerge. On the palate it was tannic and again took its time to open, but again it showed some complexity, with a medium finish. A wine that needs a decade in the cellar. | Vigneto Boscareto | 90 | 79 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Beni di Batasiolo 2000 Vigneto Boscareto (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Beni di Batasiolo |
| 64183 | 64182 | South Africa | With his focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Etienne Le Riche is able bring deep knowledge to this varietal. His skill shows in this wine which manages to combine great fruitiness with all the right tannins, dryness, along with just a touch of austerity. The bramble fruit flavors give the wine a lift just when it needs it. | | 90 | | Stellenbosch | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Le Riche 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (Stellenbosch) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Le Riche |