8131 | 8130 | France | This is a fruity wine, gentle with its white fruits and citrus flavors. It has just a touch of minerality from the granite soil that brings out acidity and a tangy aftertaste. Drink this refreshing wine now. | Sur Lie | 88 | 12 | Loire Valley | Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | La Berrière 2016 Sur Lie (Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu) | Melon | La Berrière |
8132 | 8131 | US | Coming from the winery's estate vineyard high up in Upper Mill Creek, this wine is starting to show a bit of age, offering aromas of anise, dried cherry, green pepper and cigar ash. Equal parts dark and green, the flavors come off a bit disjointed, with bell-pepper notes on the finish. | Cut Bank Estate | 88 | 60 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Walla Walla Vintners 2012 Cut Bank Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Vintners |
8133 | 8132 | US | NEXT is a new label for King Vintners, a new division of King Estate. This blends grapes from southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley, putting a pleasing toasty character around the light red fruit. A streak of burnt coffee suggests that the barrel influence is still being integrated. | NEXT | 87 | 40 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | King Vintners 2016 NEXT Pinot Noir (Oregon) | Pinot Noir | King Vintners |
8134 | 8133 | France | This wine, blending one-third each of the three main Champagne grapes, is crisp, although with a dosage that gives it a soft edge. Full of ripe apple and warm melon fruit, it has acidity as well as a gentle texture. The wine is balanced and ready to drink. | Brut Extra Quality | 87 | 40 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Marie Copinet NV Brut Extra Quality (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Marie Copinet |
8135 | 8134 | Italy | Deep-amber colored, this orange wine has aromas of sunbaked earth, brimstone, overripe orange zest and pressed wild flower. The lean but lively palate offers dried nectarine slices, toasted almond and a hint of dried apricot alongside bright acidity. A salty note closes the finish. While lovers of orange wine might embrace this, it's definitely not for everyone. | Natural Art | 87 | 45 | Northeastern Italy | Delle Venezie | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Miklus 2011 Natural Art Ribolla Gialla (Delle Venezie) | Ribolla Gialla | Miklus |
8136 | 8135 | France | This wine is soft and on the sweet end of the Brut spectrum. It is packed with red fruits, but its light on the acidity and finishes with a gentle ripe aftertaste. It would be delicious as an apéritif Champagne. | Brut Rosé | 87 | 53 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Nicolas Feuillatte NV Brut Rosé (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Nicolas Feuillatte |
8137 | 8136 | Argentina | Rubbery black-fruit aromas are a bit fiery. This Malbec is tightly wound, with rubbery tannins and more than enough acidity. Spiced plum and berry flavors give way to a bold, forward finish with herbal, savory notes. | | 87 | 13 | Mendoza Province | Luján de Cuyo | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Nieto Senetiner 2016 Malbec (Luján de Cuyo) | Malbec | Nieto Senetiner |
8138 | 8137 | Italy | Aromas of pring flower, gold apple and Anjou pear lead into the crisp refreshing palate along with a hint of nectarine. Tart acidity gives it a bright, juicy finish. | Brut | 87 | 18 | Veneto | Prosecco Treviso | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Ornella Molon NV Brut (Prosecco Treviso) | Glera | Ornella Molon |
8139 | 8138 | US | Boldly etched with milk chocolate and baked plum notes, this wine is ripe, robust and jammy in spirit. Leather, black pepper and cinnamon accents season it nicely. | | 87 | 43 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Papapietro Perry 2014 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Papapietro Perry |
8140 | 8139 | Spain | Clean white-fruit aromas include a note of pastry. This brut is tight and crisp on the palate, with flavors of green apple, lime and green herb that lead to a fresh finish. | Marrugat Brut Selection | 87 | 14 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Pinord NV Marrugat Brut Selection Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Pinord |
8141 | 8140 | Argentina | Berry aromas with subtle spice accents are damp and soothing. In the mouth, this is the opposite: All dry tannins and rawness. Hard-driving black-fruit flavors pull up short on a peppery finish. It's an honest but rough wine. | Una Selección | 87 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Ricardo Santos 2015 Una Selección Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Ricardo Santos |
8142 | 8141 | US | This wine's oaky entry derives from 10 months aging in French and American oak. It's creamy and voluptuous in style, with simple flavors of apple and a moderately long finish. | Reserve | 87 | 25 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Rutherford Ranch 2015 Reserve Chardonnay (Carneros) | Chardonnay | Rutherford Ranch |
8143 | 8142 | New Zealand | A straightforward example of Central Otago Pinot Noir, this shows notes of dark cherry, brambly fruit and mocha, accompany powerful yet fine grained tannins and balanced acidity. Oak spice and a slightly savory quality meet on the finish. Drink now. | Pisa Terrace | 87 | 27 | Marlborough | | | | | Sineann 2015 Pisa Terrace Pinot Noir (Marlborough) | Pinot Noir | Sineann |
8144 | 8143 | US | This offers clean, clear blackberry fruit, along with pretty baking spices. No details of barrel aging were provided, but some toasty flavors are there and well integrated. The acids, however, leave a chalky aftertaste. | | 87 | 39 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Spangler 2013 Petit Verdot (Oregon) | Petit Verdot | Spangler |
8145 | 8144 | Italy | Aromas of white rose, sage, citrus and grapefruit carry over to the palate along with ripe peach and orange zest. It's semisweet and lightly sparkling, with a slightly sweet finish and a frothy mousse. | Imperiale Fior d'Arancio Orange | 87 | | Veneto | Colli Euganei | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Stella Rosa NV Imperiale Fior d'Arancio Orange Moscato (Colli Euganei) | Moscato | Stella Rosa |
8146 | 8145 | US | Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, this wine is dominated by tropical fruit, swimming in pineapple and banana aromas and flavors. Unfettered by oak, it boasts sizzling acidity and, while tasty, is somewhat one-dimensional. | Unoaked | 87 | 34 | California | Yountville | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Tamber Bey 2016 Unoaked Chardonnay (Yountville) | Chardonnay | Tamber Bey |
8147 | 8146 | Argentina | Oily aromas of peanut and burnt match ride high on the nose of this plump and pulpy tropical-leaning white. Typical lychee and honeydew flavors are slightly bitter in front of a fleshy palate with moderate acidity. | Reserva | 87 | 17 | Other | Argentina | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Terrazas de Los Andes 2016 Reserva Torrontés (Argentina) | Torrontés | Terrazas de Los Andes |
8148 | 8147 | Canada | This snappy blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Sémillon and Muscat brings a pungent, somewhat grassy profile front and center. Stone fruits with a touch of lime fill in the core, with some bite to the finish. | Oldfield Series 2Bench | 87 | 20 | British Columbia | Okanagan Valley | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Tinhorn Creek 2015 Oldfield Series 2Bench White (Okanagan Valley) | White Blend | Tinhorn Creek |
8149 | 8148 | New Zealand | Ripe berries and oak spice dominate on this Pinot Noir from the bottom of New Zealand's North Island. The palate follows with balanced acidity and silky tannins but the oaky characters dominate all the way through, finishing on the bitter side. | | 87 | 25 | Wairarapa | | | | | Urlar 2013 Pinot Noir (Wairarapa) | Pinot Noir | Urlar |
8150 | 8149 | New Zealand | Thoughts of Black Forest cake, cherry chocolate brownies, and baked plums are immediately conjured upon smelling this Pinot Noir from one of New Zealand's largest producers. Violets, dusty books, and cola are in the mix too. The palate promises more of the same, with silky tannins and balanced acidity. It's on the rich side, but is an undeniable crowd pleaser. | Cellar Selection | 87 | 26 | Marlborough | | | | | Villa Maria 2014 Cellar Selection Pinot Noir (Marlborough) | Pinot Noir | Villa Maria |
8151 | 8150 | US | This small-production wine is lightly spiced, robust and herbal. Dense and powerful wild strawberry and earth notes give it a sense of place. | Black Dog Ranch | 87 | 45 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Beresini Vineyards 2013 Black Dog Ranch Pinot Noir (Carneros) | Pinot Noir | Beresini Vineyards |
8152 | 8151 | France | There is a touch of lemon cheesecake on the nose—both creamy and zesty. The palate seems translucent in its lightness with its fizzing froth. The finish is clean, refreshing and dry. Drink soon. | Clérotstein Auxerrois | 87 | 22 | Alsace | Crémant d'Alsace | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Cave de Cleebourg NV Clérotstein Auxerrois Sparkling (Crémant d'Alsace) | Sparkling Blend | Cave de Cleebourg |
8153 | 8152 | France | With grapes coming from the Marne Valley, this wine is rich with ripe grapes. At the same time, it has a balance with an acidity and soft aftertaste that makes it immediately drinkable. | Cuvée Perle Rosé Brut | 87 | 35 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Claude Baron NV Cuvée Perle Rosé Brut (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Claude Baron |
8154 | 8153 | US | Rose and turned earth notes mark the entry of this concentrated, tannic wine. Robust strawberry and black cherry flavors fill it out, wrapped in toasted oak. | Reserve | 87 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Concannon 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Concannon |
8155 | 8154 | France | This concentrated, herbal wine has a good balance between the great fruit and the tangy, zesty texture. With its fruity character and spicy aftertaste, it's already a pleasure to drink. | | 87 | 15 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château le Grand Verdus 2016 Bordeaux Blanc | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château le Grand Verdus |
8156 | 8155 | France | Crisp and fruity, this wine is full of apple and citrus flavors. It also features a touch of wood and spice, with a creamy aftertaste from the light wood aging. Drink now. | | 87 | 30 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Mont-Pérat 2016 Bordeaux Blanc | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Mont-Pérat |
8157 | 8156 | France | This is a tight, mineral-textured wine. Crisp fruit keeps it bright, but the texture adds a more serious, structured note. Wait until late 2017 for it to come completely together. | | 87 | 12 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Rosé | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Petit Moulin 2016 Rosé (Bordeaux Rosé) | Rosé | Château Petit Moulin |
8158 | 8157 | Chile | Earthy spicy aromas of tea and leather frame herbal berry and cherry notes. This has a fresh jumpy palate and snappy flavors of spiced pie cherry, plum and oak-based vanilla. A bit of saltiness rises up on a juicy, racy finish. | Reserva Especial | 87 | 15 | San Antonio | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cono Sur 2015 Reserva Especial Pinot Noir (San Antonio) | Pinot Noir | Cono Sur |
8159 | 8158 | US | A sweet smell of honeysuckle and grapefruit candy permeates the nose of this bottling, along with cut honeydew melon and apple blossom. Sugary mandarin juice is the primary flavor on the palate, but it's properly offset by acidity a chalky texture. | | 87 | 29 | California | Central Coast | | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Coquelicot 2016 Riesling | Riesling | Coquelicot |
8160 | 8159 | US | Oregon's recent overproduction of young Pinot Noir has opened the door for this easygoing, forward and fruity style. Clean and simple red fruits offer no subtle flavors—just a little boost to the finish from the supporting tannins. | | 87 | 25 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Cow Bell 2015 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Cow Bell |