| 71161 | 71160 | US | This is 90% Cabernet Franc from the Chelle den Pleasant Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Strong scents and flavors of barnyard, bacon fat and tanned leather. The fruit is muted, and finishes with tarry tannins. Drink up. | | 85 | 30 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Red Sky 2010 Cabernet Franc (Washington) | Cabernet Franc | Red Sky |
| 71162 | 71161 | US | Super light in color, this Garnacha has a pretty nose of cassis liqueur and is bunny-soft with barely any tannic imprint at all. Pair with equally light fare like not-too-pungent cheeses, breadsticks and such, or drink while cooking the main meal. | | 85 | 24 | California | Clements Hills | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Riaza 2011 Garnacha (Clements Hills) | Garnacha | Riaza |
| 71163 | 71162 | Argentina | Despite showing baked, stalky aromas, this is a good, basic Patagonian Pinot with a medium-to-full body and some heat on the palate. Flavors of soft berry fruits, vanilla, molasses and stewed cherry and plum finish oaky and chocolaty, with a lasting note of herbal green. | | 85 | 15 | Other | Patagonia | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Southern Edge 2012 Pinot Noir (Patagonia) | Pinot Noir | Southern Edge |
| 71164 | 71163 | France | Very fruity and soft, this wine blends tropical pineapple aromas with a crisper, lemon zest palate. It's a gentle wine, its acidity tamed by the ripe fruits. Screwcap, | Cuvée Jeanne | 85 | 12 | Southwest France | Côtes de Gascogne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Tortoise Creek 2012 Cuvée Jeanne Sauvignon Blanc (Côtes de Gascogne) | Sauvignon Blanc | Tortoise Creek |
| 71165 | 71164 | Portugal | Pure Arinto from the Lisbon region, this wood-aged wine is delicious and Chardonnay-like in its richness, with great swathes of apples and cream flavors, layered with toast. This is a great advertisement for a neglected region in Portugal's viticulture. | Morgado Santa Catherina | 92 | 14 | Bucelas | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Companhia das Quintas 2005 Morgado Santa Catherina Arinto (Bucelas) | Arinto | Companhia das Quintas |
| 71166 | 71165 | Portugal | Meat, bacon and plum skin aromas are followed by dense, ripe tannins, piled on by black, solid fruits. This is a powered, intense wine, with superrich fruit, but encased in dry tannins. | Conde de Vimioso Reserva | 92 | 32 | Ribatejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Falua 2005 Conde de Vimioso Reserva Red (Ribatejano) | Portuguese Red | Falua |
| 71167 | 71166 | Italy | Fontalloro is a classic super Tuscan. The wine is ripe with gorgeous mineral tones, oak shavings, root beer and forest berry. It's a clear, pristine wine with a delicate embroidery of fruity flavors on the finish that would pair beautifully with classic Italian recipes. | Fontalloro | 92 | | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Fattoria di Felsina 2004 Fontalloro Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Fattoria di Felsina |
| 71168 | 71167 | Italy | Confident and self-assured, Torrione is a wine that transmits its essence without veils or tricks. Vibrant berry fruit, blue flower, mineral tones and bright crispness create a balanced ensemble and suggest a pairing with wild boar or rabbit. | Torrione | 92 | 40 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Fattoria Petrolo 2005 Torrione Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Fattoria Petrolo |
| 71169 | 71168 | Italy | Winemaker Barbara Tamburini is a rising star, and her l'Rennero Merlot is outstandingly juicy and succulent. Notes of ripe fruit such as black cherry and blueberry are backed by sweet spice and a rich, plush mouthfeel. The wine is powerful and chewy but also elegant and balanced at the same time. | I'Rennero | 92 | 45 | Tuscany | Val di Cornia Suvereto | | | | Gualdo del Re 2004 I'Rennero Merlot (Val di Cornia Suvereto) | Merlot | Gualdo del Re |
| 71170 | 71169 | US | From 130-year-old vines, this is a densely layered, bigtime Zin. The flavor concentration is just tremendous, a critical mass of briary, wild blackberries, black currants, dark chocolate, licorice and fabulous Asian spice. True, the alcohol is on the high side, but the wine finishes balanced and dry. Will take up to 10 years of cellaring. | Century Vines | 92 | 35 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Sausal 2005 Century Vines Zinfandel (Alexander Valley) | Zinfandel | Sausal |
| 71171 | 71170 | Italy | Coronato is a robust, modern super Tuscan only produced for export markets. Indeed, you can sense a New World appeal within its rich, succulent fabric thanks to penetrating notes of coffee, espresso, tar, aniseed, chocolate and bursting cherry. It's soft and velvety with enormous charm. | Coronato | 92 | 70 | Tuscany | Bolgheri | | | | Tenuta di Biserno 2005 Coronato (Bolgheri) | Red Blend | Tenuta di Biserno |
| 71172 | 71171 | Italy | This is an attractive 50-50 blend of Cab and Syrah with thick, lush notes of sweet vanilla, black pepper and ripe cherry. It takes a modern, New World approach and stands on its own in terms of complexity and persistence; it's clean and fresh in the mouth with polished tannins. | Cacciacone | 92 | 50 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Tenuta San Giorgio 2004 Cacciacone Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Tenuta San Giorgio |
| 71173 | 71172 | Italy | Summus (a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Syrah) is a brawny, powerful wine with meaty extraction and layered aromas of plum, blackberry and cherry. These fruity notes are framed by elegant mineral tones. | Summus | 92 | 69 | Tuscany | Sant'Antimo | | | | Castello Banfi 2004 Summus Red (Sant'Antimo) | Red Blend | Castello Banfi |
| 71174 | 71173 | Italy | Cignale always pleases and is consistent year after year thanks to its rich texture, meaty tones and complex aromas that recall blueberry, peppercorn and garden herbs. It is a joint venture between importer Neil Empson and producer Alessandro François. | | 92 | 74 | Tuscany | Colli della Toscana Centrale | | | | Cignale 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colli della Toscana Centrale) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cignale |
| 71175 | 71174 | Italy | Fattoria La Massa has produced an exciting wine that will appeal to those who love a big, opulent style. A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, this boasts an inky appearance, and delivers enormous tones of tobacco, leather, coffee bean, blue flowers and lead pencil. It's soft and lush and certainly does not lack power or concentration. | Giorgio Primo | 92 | 80 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Fattoria La Massa 2003 Giorgio Primo Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Fattoria La Massa |
| 71176 | 71175 | Italy | Thick, dark concentration sets the tone, but elegance and harmony are achieved thanks to delicate mineral and balsam notes that add buoyancy and personality. This is a wine that speaks volumes about its Tuscan territory and you can almost taste that sun-drenched, chalky minerality sucked up through the vines' roots. | Il Carbonaione | 92 | 60 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Poggio Scalette 2004 Il Carbonaione Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Poggio Scalette |
| 71177 | 71176 | Portugal | A young, powerful wine, dominated by bitter chocolate, cocoa and dense ripe black fruits. The wood element lifts this mix of flavors and gives a great sense of structure. Dark figs and herbs add complexity, while the tannins are powerful. | Domini Plus | 92 | 37 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | J.M. da Fonseca and Van Zeller 2004 Domini Plus Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | J.M. da Fonseca and Van Zeller |
| 71178 | 71177 | Australia | Featuring a voluptuous nose of stone fruit and citrus framed by roasted nuts and toasty oak, this is a rich, amply endowed Chardonnay with a big personality and bold flavors. Ripe peach notes join with citrus, hazelnuts and toast on the long finish. Drink now. | Reserve | 92 | 27 | Western Australia | Pemberton | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Wise 2005 Reserve Chardonnay (Pemberton) | Chardonnay | Wise |
| 71179 | 71178 | Spain | Méntrida is an island wine region in the middle of central Spain, and this blend of Garnacha and Syrah is lively, juicy and delicious. The nose is deep and luscious, with mounds of cassis and blackberry. The spunky palate shows big tannins but plenty of offsetting fruit and pulp. Finishing notes of chocolate and pepper leave a positive lasting impression. Should age for several more years; 400 cases produced. | | 91 | 24 | Central Spain | Mentrida | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Tres Patas 2005 Grenache-Syrah (Mentrida) | Grenache-Syrah | Tres Patas |
| 71180 | 71179 | Italy | Soft, opulent and plush, this Sangiovese-Merlot-Alicante from Trequanda is a well-executed wine with a thick layer of red fruit held in place by spice, caramel and chocolate fudge. | Il Drago e Le Sette Colombe | 91 | 32 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2004 Il Drago e Le Sette Colombe Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Donatella Cinelli Colombini |
| 71181 | 71180 | US | This marvelous vineyard has not been featured by Elk Cove previously. The characteristic blackberry fruit shines through, but winemaker Adam Campbell has wrapped it in the sort of elegant, lightly herbal, spicy flavors that define the Elk Cove style. Perfectly ripened at 14.5% alcohol, this wine manages to be both fruity and complex, open and layered. | Shea Vineyard | 91 | 38 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Elk Cove 2005 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Elk Cove |
| 71182 | 71181 | US | This blend of Umpqua and Applegate Valley fruit, cofermented with 2% Viognier, is crisp and varietal, with mixed berries, peppercorns and cured meats all vying for your attention. Seamless and balanced, it keeps the alcohol down around 14.3%, which keeps the integrated structure intact. Silky tannins carry a whiff of roasted coffee through the finish. | | 91 | 30 | Oregon | Southern Oregon | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Abacela 2004 Syrah (Southern Oregon) | Syrah | Abacela |
| 71183 | 71182 | Italy | Colvecchio is Castello Banfi's Syrah, which delivers layers of blueberry, cherry, leather, bacon, spicy herbs and liquid smoke. Its firm structure and fragrant intensity set it above the crowd. | Colvecchio | 91 | 36 | Tuscany | Sant'Antimo | | | | Castello Banfi 2004 Colvecchio Syrah (Sant'Antimo) | Syrah | Castello Banfi |
| 71184 | 71183 | Italy | This is a good example of Syrah's potential in Tuscany, giving off generous notes of bright cherry and boysenberry followed by toasted nuts, tobacco and smoked ham. This version has a particularly attractive finale, which is bursting with balsam and menthol freshness. | Collezione De Marchi Syrah | 91 | 52 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Isole e Olena 2004 Collezione De Marchi Syrah Syrah (Toscana) | Syrah | Isole e Olena |
| 71185 | 71184 | Italy | Sophisticated and vibrant with chewy succulence and firm tannins, the top wine of this up and coming Bolgheri estate boasts plush concentration, a nice linear quality and generous aromas of black currant, cedar, licorice, green herb and toasted nuts. There's good complexity and personality here due to the wine's many aromatic nuances and deep layers of fruit. Drink after 2012. | Argentiera | 91 | 80 | Tuscany | Bolgheri Superiore | | | | Tenuta Argentiera 2004 Argentiera (Bolgheri Superiore) | Red Blend | Tenuta Argentiera |
| 71186 | 71185 | Italy | Campaccio Riserva is a bold, modern blend of Sangiovese and Cab Sauvignon from an estate in Radda in Chianti. The wine delivers loads of fresh spice, clove, black peppercorn, coffee and vanilla over solid red fruit. | Campaccio Selezione Riserva | 91 | 69 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Terrabianca 2003 Campaccio Selezione Riserva Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Terrabianca |
| 71187 | 71186 | Italy | Gorgeous fine-tuning has shaped a vibrant wine that is rich in complexity. Aromas include blackberry, cigar box, espresso bean and the wine ends with thick, chewy tannins. There is meat on this wine's bones yet it closes crisp and fresh, not heavy. | Vallino delle Conche | 91 | 26 | Tuscany | Montescudaio | | | | La Regola 2004 Vallino delle Conche Red (Montescudaio) | Red Blend | La Regola |
| 71188 | 71187 | Spain | This is Albariño in fine form. The nose is succulent and marble-smooth, with pure citrus and melon aromas. The palate is lively but refined, with exuberant citrus flavors that come on strong but with proper restraint. Long and ripe on the finish, which only adds to the experience. Drink now. | | 91 | 25 | Galicia | Rías Baixas | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Lusco 2006 Albariño (Rías Baixas) | Albariño | Lusco |
| 71189 | 71188 | US | Lush enough to drink now, with decanting, but this powerfully ripe Chard will benefit from limited aging. It's explosive in oak-infused pineapple, papaya, peach, green apple and Asian spice flavors, but right now the oak is not integrated with the fruit, making for a disjointed quality. Give it until mid-2008, and for a couple years after. | Quail Hill Vineyard | 91 | 40 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Lynmar 2005 Quail Hill Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) | Chardonnay | Lynmar |
| 71190 | 71189 | Italy | Le Pergole Torte from Radda in Chianti is one of the classic protagonists of the super Tuscan scene. The wine is ruby colored and extremely elegant, with distinctive aromas of forest berry, cola, mint and white pepper. Distinctively polished tannins and long-lasting freshness mark the finish. | Le Pergole Torte | 91 | 90 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Montevertine 2004 Le Pergole Torte Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Montevertine |