| 75451 | 75450 | US | Estate-grown, barrel-fermented, and richly extracted, this young Viognier has not yet shed its sharp edges. The fruit is generous and compact, a mix of peach, apricot and pineapple, with liquorous barrel flavors dominating. | | 88 | 28 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Abeja 2010 Viognier (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Viognier | Abeja |
| 75452 | 75451 | US | Carneros is really the perfect place to grow Albarino, due to its cool climate that lets the grapes ripen yet preserves vital acidity. This is really a fine example. It's juicy in acidity and dry in green apples and limes, with a touch of white flower and a hint of toasty oak. | | 88 | 26 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Artesa 2010 Albariño (Carneros) | Albariño | Artesa |
| 75453 | 75452 | Spain | Somewhat neutral on the nose, with light cherry and raspberry aromas. Solid in the mouth, with slightly clacky tannins and flavors of earthy red fruits, light oak and earth. Just ripe and racy enough on the finish, with a calm, reserved personality. | Vendimia Seleccionada Gran Reserva | 88 | 30 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Muriel 2004 Vendimia Seleccionada Gran Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Bodegas Muriel |
| 75454 | 75453 | France | A relatively full-bodied, chunky red with firm tannins, this is a burger wine par excellence, and priced so that you don't feel you've overspent. Slightly herbal overtones mark the black cherry fruit, just enough to impart a savory quality. | In Fine | 88 | 12 | Rhône Valley | Ventoux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Bourgeois Family 2009 In Fine Red (Ventoux) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Bourgeois Family |
| 75455 | 75454 | US | Plenty of sleek character in this well-grown Napa Petite Sirah. Shows lots of class and balance for a variety that can be hard to control. Likeable for its array of fresh, ripe berry, cherry, currant, bacon and spice flavors, and the smoothness of its tannins. | Lot 229 | 88 | 15 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Cameron Hughes 2009 Lot 229 Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) | Petite Sirah | Cameron Hughes |
| 75456 | 75455 | Spain | Licorice, tobacco and berry aromas lead to a crisp and zesty palate that is led by acidity and tastes of red plum, apple skins and raspberry. Tight and mildly astringent on the finish, with snap out the door. Drink now. | Secreto Reserva | 88 | 30 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Mayor 2005 Secreto Reserva (Ribera del Duero) | Tinto Fino | Viña Mayor |
| 75457 | 75456 | US | An elegant wine, with nicely framed red berry fruit flavors. Hints of dried herbs and modest tannins put everything in balanced proportion. | Indian Wells | 88 | 18 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Indian Wells Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Chateau Ste. Michelle |
| 75458 | 75457 | Spain | Sweet berry aromas blend with dark chocolate and leather on the nose. The palate is proper feeling and well balanced, with oak-driven chocolaty flavors supporting berry fruit. Finishes with a dry, spicy aftertaste. | II Crianza | 88 | 14 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Covila 2007 II Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Covila |
| 75459 | 75458 | France | The price of this entry-level cuvée has crept up over the years, but it remains a very good wine at a realistic price point. Crushed stone on the nose leads into dusty cherry flavors with hints of garrigue. Medium-bodied yet refreshing on the finish. Drink now and over the next 6–9 months. | | 88 | 18 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | E. Guigal 2010 Rosé (Côtes du Rhône) | Rosé | E. Guigal |
| 75460 | 75459 | Italy | A late-harvest wine made with aromatic Traminer grapes, Trama opens with a dark brown or copper color and musky aromas of dried hay, candied fruit, apricot, candied orange peel and lemon drops. The sweet, syrupy mouthfeel is washed clean by crisp acidity. | Trama Vendemmia Tardiva | 88 | | Tuscany | Maremma | | | | Fortediga 2007 Trama Vendemmia Tardiva Traminer (Maremma) | Traminer | Fortediga |
| 75461 | 75460 | South Africa | A balanced and well-structured wine, this Merlot expresses attractive aromas of black plum, soft sweet licorice and delicate spice. The mouth is lush and round with soft tannins and a chocolaty finish. Drink now. | | 88 | 15 | Western Cape | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Guardian Peak 2010 Merlot (Western Cape) | Merlot | Guardian Peak |
| 75462 | 75461 | US | A beautiful wine, in the Iron Horse style, with plenty of ripe fruit balanced with crisp acidity. The lime, strawberry and raspberry flavors have a pleasantly yeasty edge, with a slightly sweet finish. | Wedding Cuvée | 88 | 38 | California | Green Valley | Sonoma | | | Iron Horse 2007 Wedding Cuvée Sparkling (Green Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Iron Horse |
| 75463 | 75462 | US | Easier to find than Jeriko's Pommard or Dijon bottlings, the Reserve is dark and earthy with mushroom, dark cherry and a tiny bit of spice floating behind the scenes. The 14.7% alcohol level brings this wine into a bigger style of Pinot territory but is welldone and should get even better with time. | Reserve | 88 | 38 | California | Mendocino | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Jeriko 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir (Mendocino) | Pinot Noir | Jeriko |
| 75464 | 75463 | France | Gaïa is this small domaine's luxury cuvée of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, matured in a combination of tank and wood. It's a creamy-textured, medium-bodied wine that remains slightly tannic without being hard while featuring notes of dried cherries and blueberries. Drink now–2015. | Gaïa | 88 | 22 | Rhône Valley | Ventoux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Le Grand Vallat 2007 Gaïa Red (Ventoux) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Le Grand Vallat |
| 75465 | 75464 | Spain | Light, airy and dusty on the nose, with apple and melon along with a touch of yeast. The palate is plump and healthy, with a good bead, nice acids and cidery, lightly briney apple and green fruit flavors. Shows some complexity beyond what's normal for Cava. | Winemakers Select | 88 | 15 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Marques de Monistrol 2007 Winemakers Select Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Marques de Monistrol |
| 75466 | 75465 | Spain | Clean and penetrating on the nose, with leather and warm berry/cherry aromas. Comes across bright and lively, with good balance and an appealing, easygoing set of wild berry and spice flavors. Shows length and follow-through on the finish. Very good for affordable RDD. | Barrica | 88 | 16 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Martín Berdugo 2009 Barrica (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Martín Berdugo |
| 75467 | 75466 | US | Always a Rhône-style blend, this latest version of McCrea's non sequitur puts the emphasis on Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. At first it smells a little pruney, but in the mouth it layers in cola and chocolate, and the fruit keeps on trucking and does not fade or fail. Prime time drinking right now. | Non Sequitur | 88 | 20 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | McCrea Cellars NV Non Sequitur Red (Washington) | Rhône-style Red Blend | McCrea Cellars |
| 75468 | 75467 | Spain | Spunky up front, with lighter-framed cherry, raspberry and graphite scents as well as a touch of grassy green. The palate is firm and certainly not soft, with lightly herbal red berry, mocha and tobacco flavors. Both sweet and spicy on a crisp, acid-driven finish. Drink now. | Real Reserva | 88 | 30 | Northern Spain | Cigales | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Museum 2005 Real Reserva Tempranillo (Cigales) | Tempranillo | Museum |
| 75469 | 75468 | Spain | A powerful specimen that plows straight ahead on the bouquet, dealing out whiffs of rubber, smoke and hickory along the way. Meaty feeling and deep, with roasted blackberry, woodspice and bitter chocolate flavors. Dark and chocolaty on the finish, with a note of bacon. | | 88 | 15 | Northern Spain | Campo de Borja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Pagos del Moncayo 2009 Garnacha (Campo de Borja) | Garnacha | Pagos del Moncayo |
| 75470 | 75469 | South Africa | Jammy black cherry and plum aromas and flavors are jazzed up by notes of licorice, bramble and sweet spice. The structure is tight with gripping tannins and medium acidity that shows real staying power through the finish alongside a lovely sweet woody accent. | Touch of Oak | 88 | 40 | Tulbagh | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Rijk's 2009 Touch of Oak Pinotage (Tulbagh) | Pinotage | Rijk's |
| 75471 | 75470 | US | Hints of spice, dried herb and black tea lend an elegant earthiness to concentrated, but crisp, black cherry and berry flavors on this Cabernet Franc. The palate is full bodied but structured with a flurry of soft tannins that linger on the finish. | | 87 | 25 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Billsboro 2010 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes) | Cabernet Franc | Billsboro |
| 75472 | 75471 | US | With fruit sources split between Wallula and Canyon Vineyard Ranch vineyards, this off-dry (3.6 g/L residual sugar), enjoyable Pinot Gris is medium bodied with notes of lime, pineapple and petroleum jelly. | | 87 | 12 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Blue Pirate 2011 Pinot Gris (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Pinot Gris | Blue Pirate |
| 75473 | 75472 | US | A veneer of vanilla gives this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot a pastry-like scent, which coats the underlying note of wild-berry pie filling. The palate offers bright acids and firm tannins, which layer the finish. | New World | 87 | 28 | Virginia | Monticello | | | | Trump 2008 New World Red (Monticello) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Trump |
| 75474 | 75473 | US | A single-vineyard Syrah from an up-and-coming vineyard, this wine is chock full of notes of coarsely ground black pepper along with celery salt, smoked meat, cherry and iron. The acid is tart and fresh with the tannins a touch dry on the finish. | May's Discovery Vineyard | 87 | 32 | Washington | Horse Heaven Hills | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Two Vintners 2010 May's Discovery Vineyard Syrah (Horse Heaven Hills) | Syrah | Two Vintners |
| 75475 | 75474 | Spain | This young Garnacha is fresh and fruity, and entirely approachable and likable given the price. The palate is fairly smooth and medium in weight, with blackberry flavors that fade to darkness on the finish. This was made for everyday sipping. | Old Vine | 87 | 9 | Northern Spain | Cariñena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valcantara 2011 Old Vine Garnacha (Cariñena) | Garnacha | Valcantara |
| 75476 | 75475 | Italy | This blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot opens with savory aromas of cured meat and dusty black pepper with some black olive, licorice and dried cassis. The wine shows a brawny personality with tight, slightly gritty tannins on the close. | Poggio Stella Pleos | 87 | 19 | Tuscany | Rosso di Toscana | | | | Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2008 Poggio Stella Pleos Red (Rosso di Toscana) | Red Blend | Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano |
| 75477 | 75476 | Spain | This is an oaky but airy Chardonnay with peach, melon and vanilla aromas. The palate mixes fresh acidity and creaminess with oak-based flavors of vanilla as well as more standard melon and banana. The finish features mostly woodspice and vanilla flavors. | | 87 | 15 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Vega Sindoa 2011 Chardonnay (Navarra) | Chardonnay | Vega Sindoa |
| 75478 | 75477 | Spain | Here's a rosé from last season that's still bright and lively. Aromas of raspberry and watermelon are fresh and inviting, while the palate is medium in intensity, with red licorice and strawberry flavors. Drink now and this wine should still be crisp and refreshing. | Garnacha | 87 | 9 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Vega Sindoa 2011 Garnacha Rosé (Navarra) | Rosé | Vega Sindoa |
| 75479 | 75478 | France | A light-colored rosé, this is fresh, soft and fruity. It has attractive raspberry and flaked apple flavors, with well-integrated acidity. It makes a good apéritif style of Champagne with its gentle, warm aftertaste. | Brut Rosé | 87 | 47 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Henri Abele NV Brut Rosé (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Henri Abele |
| 75480 | 75479 | US | Hints of fresh herbs add depth to bright red-cherry and strawberry notes on this brisk, refreshing wine. Striking acidity and soft, delicate tannins draw out a long, cherry-menthol finish. | | 87 | 15 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Heron Hill 2010 Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes) | Cabernet Franc | Heron Hill |