| 6631 | 6630 | US | This is a fine Merlot, that's dry, supple and highly drinkable. It has some complex flavors of cherries, currants and smoky oak, and the alcohol is refreshingly moderate. Ready to drink now. | Once Upon a Dream | 88 | 25 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Storyteller 2011 Once Upon a Dream Merlot (Sonoma County) | Merlot | Storyteller |
| 6632 | 6631 | Italy | Suavia is one of the best producers of Soave wine. This expression shows beautiful fullness in the mouth with a bright citrus finished backed by endnotes of melon and peach. | Monte Carbonare | 88 | 33 | Veneto | Soave Classico | | | | Suavia 2010 Monte Carbonare (Soave Classico) | Garganega | Suavia |
| 6633 | 6632 | US | Heady in alcohol and dense in tannins, this Syrah has a mouth-filling richness of blackberry jam, plums, dark chocolate and pepper. It's absolutely delicious. A bit too soft for aging, so drink up. | | 88 | 30 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Sutcliffe 2010 Syrah (Sonoma Valley) | Syrah | Sutcliffe |
| 6634 | 6633 | US | A savory Pinot Gris that shows how well the variety can grow in Carneros. It was barrel fermented, which gives a creamy richness to the citrus and tropical fruit flavors. A nice edge of acidity adds a clean, bright mouthfeel. | | 88 | 25 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Sutcliffe 2011 Pinot Gris (Carneros) | Pinot Gris | Sutcliffe |
| 6635 | 6634 | Argentina | This extremely dark-colored Malbec offers mellow blueberry and blackberry aromas. The palate is big, jammy feeling and features only pokes of acidic cut. Inky black-fruit flavors come with licorice, peppercorn notes and heat. The finish is solid but limited in scope. Drink now through 2016. | Finca la Escuela Estate Grown Altamira | 88 | 50 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | TintoNegro 2010 Finca la Escuela Estate Grown Altamira Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | TintoNegro |
| 6636 | 6635 | Spain | Jammy aromas of baked blackberry and plum are fiery at first and then flatten out with airing. A choppy palate offers a bumpy ride with ripe plum and berry flavors in front of a full-force, toasty finish that shows a strong grip courtesy of big tannins. This is two-thirds Garnacha with Syrah and Carignan. | Tempus | 88 | 23 | Catalonia | Terra Alta | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Altavins 2009 Tempus Red (Terra Alta) | Red Blend | Altavins |
| 6637 | 6636 | Italy | This is a fragrant and generous Chardonnay from Piedmont that shows bright tones of melon, exotic fruit and pineapple. The wine is rich and smooth in the mouth and grips the palate in a very satisfactory manner. | I Boschi | 88 | 25 | Piedmont | Piedmont | | | | Tenuta Olim Bauda 2008 I Boschi Chardonnay (Piedmont) | Chardonnay | Tenuta Olim Bauda |
| 6638 | 6637 | US | A light, lemony and crisp Chardonnay with a long, lemony finish begging for fresh seafood and spice—think fish tacos—Husch's Vine One has a hint of just-ripe pear layered in, too. Refreshing and aromatic, this is an all-around great value that'll pair well with a wide range of foods. | Vine One | 88 | 18 | California | Anderson Valley | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Husch 2011 Vine One Chardonnay (Anderson Valley) | Chardonnay | Husch |
| 6639 | 6638 | Italy | There's an evident note of tart grapefruit that segues almost immediately to sweeter tones of peach and honeydew melon. That slight sweetness is backed by creamy foam and soft, smooth perlage. | Extra Dry 47 | 88 | 24 | Veneto | Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore | | | | Bortolotti 2012 Extra Dry 47 (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore) | Glera | Bortolotti |
| 6640 | 6639 | Mexico | While this is fiery on the nose, you also get attractive, complex aromas of baked cherry, brandied plum, leather, coffee and chocolate. The flavor profile consists of red berry, chocolaty oak and spice, and things conclude with savory, roasted flavors cut by lasting acidity. This is a powerful, tannic yet sophisticated Nebbiolo that should improve with more time in the bottle. | Madera 5 | 88 | 27 | San Vicente | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cava Aragon 2011 Madera 5 Nebbiolo (San Vicente) | Nebbiolo | Cava Aragon |
| 6641 | 6640 | US | This is a big, robust, country-style Zin, that's power packed with fruit. The blackberry, blueberry and chocolate-covered raisin flavors go to your head fast, like Port. Bring your designated driver and enjoy with grilled beef. | Giana | 88 | 55 | California | St. Helena | Napa | | | Chiarello Family Vineyards 2010 Giana Zinfandel (St. Helena) | Zinfandel | Chiarello Family Vineyards |
| 6642 | 6641 | Italy | Costebianche refers to the calcium-rich soils in the vineyards of this estate in Piedmont, northern Italy. On those soils, this elegant Chardonnay delivers dusty notes of crushed mineral, white peach, almond skin and honey. In the mouth, the wine is fine and silky. | Costebianche | 88 | 20 | Piedmont | Piedmont | | | | Coppo 2010 Costebianche Chardonnay (Piedmont) | Chardonnay | Coppo |
| 6643 | 6642 | US | A refreshing wine, tart in acidity, with savory green leaf, gooseberry and tropical fruit flavors. Feels really clean and zesty in the mouth, finishing with a swirl of exotic spices. | Kylie's Cuvée | 88 | 21 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Dutton Estate 2011 Kylie's Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Dutton Estate |
| 6644 | 6643 | US | This rich, ripe wine hits all your Chardonnay sweet spots. It's honeyed in tropical fruits, with oaky notes of buttered toast and vanilla. The best thing is the clean, zesty acidity. | | 88 | 28 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Firestone 2011 Chardonnay (Santa Ynez Valley) | Chardonnay | Firestone |
| 6645 | 6644 | US | Sonoma Cabernet specialist Cohn turns his attention to Pinot, with good results. The wine is dry, silky and interesting, showing an array of cherry, cola, tobacco and peppery spice flavors. Has enough of a complex tannin structure to pair with lamb chops, or a great grilled salmon steak. | | 90 | 40 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | B.R. Cohn 2007 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | B.R. Cohn |
| 6646 | 6645 | Italy | A candied element of butterscotch, caramel and dried apricot opens the nose of this luminous and bright Chardonnay. The wine is smooth and soft in the mouth with enduring flavors of stone fruit and mineral (in fact, vineyard soils are heavy in chalk content). Baglio del Cristo is Sicily's hottest new winery to watch. | Laudàri | 90 | 21 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Baglio del Cristo di Campobello 2007 Laudàri Chardonnay (Sicilia) | Chardonnay | Baglio del Cristo di Campobello |
| 6647 | 6646 | Italy | This is a lovely Chardonnay from Tuscany with a full bouquet of honey and stone fruit aromas. The wine is thick and rich in texture with impressive intensity and persistency on the finish. | Fontanelle | 90 | 19 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Castello Banfi 2008 Fontanelle Chardonnay (Toscana) | Chardonnay | Castello Banfi |
| 6648 | 6647 | Austria | A classically sweet Welschriesling, not too heavy or cloying, but ripe with juicy peaches and dried apricots enriched with honey. There is a hint of drier botrytis to give the wine a fine texture. Drink now, not for aging. Screwcap. | Ruster Ausbruch | 90 | 44 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Gunter Triebaumer 2007 Ruster Ausbruch Welschriesling (Burgenland) | Welschriesling | Gunter Triebaumer |
| 6649 | 6648 | Australia | Lush and mouthfilling, this tropical-fruited Chard offers a ton of flavors at a surprisingly small price. Smoky toasted-almond notes accent star fruit and guava flavors. Drink now–2011. | Frasca's Lane Vineyard | 90 | 19 | Victoria | King Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Nugan Family Estates 2008 Frasca's Lane Vineyard Chardonnay (King Valley) | Chardonnay | Nugan Family Estates |
| 6650 | 6649 | New Zealand | Remarkably consistent in quality year after year, Peg Bay's 2007 Chardonnay opens with some slightly funky aromas that moderate with aeration to reveal a toasty, smoky wine with a core of melon fruit. It starts off seeming a touch narrow, but broadens and deepens on the palate, ending with impressive length. | | 90 | 39 | Waipara Valley | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Pegasus Bay 2007 Chardonnay (Waipara Valley) | Chardonnay | Pegasus Bay |
| 6651 | 6650 | Italy | This luminous Chardonnay from Tuscany offers intensely fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, stone fruit and citrus blossom. The wine is fresh and crisp in the mouth and there's enough natural glycerol to leave a creamy, smooth sensation. | Tenuta La Solatìa | 90 | 24 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Ruffino 2008 Tenuta La Solatìa Chardonnay (Toscana) | Chardonnay | Ruffino |
| 6652 | 6651 | US | A wonderfully drinkable Chardonnay that shows brilliant coastal character and lots of richness, at a decent price. Crisp and dry, it has elaborate flavors of pineapples, green apples, peaches, crème brûlée, buttered toast, vanilla and cinnamon spice. | | 90 | 24 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Schug 2008 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) | Chardonnay | Schug |
| 6653 | 6652 | France | Good, rich, fruited wine,with lively acidity and a pure fresh character. There is some maturity here, a wine with a fine texture, finishing with rich toast. | Pinot Noir Brut | 90 | 25 | Burgundy | Crémant de Bourgogne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Simonnet-Febvre NV Pinot Noir Brut (Crémant de Bourgogne) | Pinot Noir | Simonnet-Febvre |
| 6654 | 6653 | Italy | Here's a brilliantly golden-colored Chardonnay from sunny Sicily with aromas of mature fruit, spice, roasted nut and even a surprising note of white truffle. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth and the wine would taste great with risotto and wild mushrooms. | Tenuta Regaleali | 90 | | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Tasca d'Almerita 2007 Tenuta Regaleali Chardonnay (Sicilia) | Chardonnay | Tasca d'Almerita |
| 6655 | 6654 | Italy | Here's a luminous and bright Chardonnay with a well-balanced aromatic offering that spans from toasted nut to chalky mineral to exotic fruit. Overall, the wine tastes smooth and creamy, but there are a few sharp points of acidity that help move it along the palate. It's a sophisticated white wine in a very elegant bottle. | Grand Cru | 90 | 38 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Tenuta Rapitalà 2007 Grand Cru Chardonnay (Sicilia) | Chardonnay | Tenuta Rapitalà |
| 6656 | 6655 | US | Very dry, crisp and minerally, a subtle wine with some bottle age that shows real complexity and finesse. Not for fruit-forward fans, its pineapple, pear and herb flavors are drying out, leading to interesting, old-wine, honey-and-cashew nuances. Drink right away, before it dies. | Los Chamizal | 90 | 35 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Hopper Creek 2006 Los Chamizal Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley) | Chardonnay | Hopper Creek |
| 6657 | 6656 | Chile | All of Viu Manent's single-vineyard wines have the right stuff. This one starts out staunch and concentrated before it unfolds with inky, black-fruit aromas, warm earth and saturated blackberry and spice flavors. Ripe, rich and meaty. A prime New World Syrah with teeth and character. Drink now through 2012. | El Olivar Alto Single Vineyard | 90 | 25 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viu Manent 2007 El Olivar Alto Single Vineyard Syrah (Colchagua Valley) | Syrah | Viu Manent |
| 6658 | 6657 | US | A rich Sauvignon Blanc, with powerful, complex flavors of Meyer lemons, limes, lemongrass, tart green apples and white peaches. It's very dry and crisp in acidity. Shows an extra level of textural complexity that raises the score. | | 90 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | David Arthur 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | David Arthur |
| 6659 | 6658 | France | An astoundingly characterful rosé, the Mordorée Tavel has a hugely complex nose of cherry, carnation and strawberry set against a backdrop of herbes de Provence. Intensely flavorful in the mouth, this wine finishes on a long note of lemon zest and white cherries. An excellent foil for roast pork. | La Dame Rousse | 90 | 24 | Rhône Valley | Tavel | | | | Domaine de la Mordorée 2009 La Dame Rousse (Tavel) | Rosé | Domaine de la Mordorée |
| 6660 | 6659 | France | Beautifully perfumed wine, with fresh red fruits and some fine tannins. The wood element is perhaps too dominant for the weight of the wine. Hopefully this will subside. Give it 3–4 years. | Les Rugiens Premier Cru | 90 | 125 | Burgundy | Pommard | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Faiveley 2007 Les Rugiens Premier Cru (Pommard) | Pinot Noir | Domaine Faiveley |