| 8641 | 8640 | France | Medium-intense scents of ripe blackberry and raspberry unfold on the nose of this wine, with additional accents of garrigue and softly toasted oak in the background. Dark fruit flavors abound on the palate, with a solid sweet-spice flavor that stays through the lasting finish. | Vieilles Vignes | 89 | 35 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Côtes du Roussillon Villages | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Domaine du Clos des Fées 2009 Vieilles Vignes Red (Côtes du Roussillon Villages) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Domaine du Clos des Fées |
| 8642 | 8641 | Spain | Briny, slightly herbal aromas suggest lifted horse hide and leather notes. This is lively on the palate, with herbal, foxy flavors of plum and cassis that finish with toasty oak, licorice and heat. This is a bright, honest introduction to what Priorat wines are about. | Negre | 89 | 22 | Catalonia | Priorat | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca Tobella 2009 Negre Red (Priorat) | Red Blend | Finca Tobella |
| 8643 | 8642 | France | This wine, solid and dense, is full of firm tannins as well as red cherry fruits. It's also fruity, with a great juicy character that permeates right through the wine. For drinking now, but better kept for 2–3 years. | Domaine de Lavernée | 89 | | Beaujolais | Chiroubles | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Georges Duboeuf 2011 Domaine de Lavernée (Chiroubles) | Gamay | Georges Duboeuf |
| 8644 | 8643 | US | Delicious and soft in raspberries, cherries and the sweet vanilla and the cinnamon toast of new oak, this is a charming Pinot to drink now. It's light and airy in the mouth. Perfect with a simply prepared grilled steak or lamb chop. | Sierra Mar Vineyard | 89 | 60 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Walt 2011 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | Walt |
| 8645 | 8644 | Portugal | Full, rounded and rich, this wine shows some wood flavors as well as complex tannins and acidity. There's a funky edge to it that suggests a rustic character. At the end, though, the acidity of the vintage dominates. | Vintage | 89 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta Vale Dona Maria 2011 Vintage (Port) | Port | Quinta Vale Dona Maria |
| 8646 | 8645 | Italy | This is a straightforward Amarone, with red fruit and spice aromas. The palate delivers cherry and raspberry flavors and a hint of white pepper. It's not as rich as some Amarones, but the lithe tannins and fresh acidity make it very drinkable. | Ca' Bertoldi | 89 | 40 | Veneto | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Recchia 2006 Ca' Bertoldi (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico) | Red Blend | Recchia |
| 8647 | 8646 | US | The Kingpin Cabernet leans into the flavors of savory herb and leaf, with peppery accents to the light strawberry fruit. It's a pleasant, relatively light style that fades into a gentle finish. | Kingpin | 89 | 62 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sparkman 2010 Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Sparkman |
| 8648 | 8647 | US | This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, sends up toasty aromatics richly imbued with the scents of new oak. John Bookwalter consistently makes wines in this style, which in a cooler year such as 2010, can seem to mask the fruit. Give it plenty of breathing time and the blackberry and black cherry core will begin to emerge from the toast, mocha and coffee. | Foreshadow | 89 | 45 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | J. Bookwalter 2010 Foreshadow Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | J. Bookwalter |
| 8649 | 8648 | France | Medium sweet in style, this is as much about ripe tropical and pineapple fruits as about spice and richness. It's an opulent, full-bodied wine, showing its spice right up front. At the same time, it is well balanced, hinting at acidity at the end. Drink from 2015. | Vieilles Vignes | 89 | 19 | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Jean-Marc Bernhard 2011 Vieilles Vignes Gewurztraminer (Alsace) | Gewürztraminer | Jean-Marc Bernhard |
| 8650 | 8649 | Portugal | While there is an initial barnyard edge, once that blows off, it reveals a dense and solid wine, packed with ripe black fruit and sweet tannins. The acidity brings out spice and edgy, mineral characters. | Vintage | 89 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Kopke 2011 Vintage (Port) | Port | Kopke |
| 8651 | 8650 | Italy | This leads with pretty fragrances of plum and black cherry, with hints of oak and vanilla. The palate is soft and round, offering dark fruit and chocolate flavors layered with cinnamon and nutmeg. | | 89 | 18 | Veneto | Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | La Dama 2010 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso | Red Blend | La Dama |
| 8652 | 8651 | US | A first for Lauren Ashton, this barrel-fermented Sémillon was sourced from the excellent Dineen Vineyard. It's firm and tightly packed with melon, jicama, pineapple and green banana fruit. Highlights of honeysuckle and lemon verbena are also in the mix. The finish is a little short, but more bottle age might well bump up the score. | | 89 | 27 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lauren Ashton Cellars 2012 Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sémillon | Lauren Ashton Cellars |
| 8653 | 8652 | US | If fruit were the only thing that counted, this Pinot would get a perfect score, with an upfront burst of cherries, strawberries and raspberries. The oak appliqué is rich and balanced, and the tannin-acid structure is just fine. Its powerful fruit notes suggest to give it 6–7 years. | | 89 | 48 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Mansfield-Dunne 2011 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | Mansfield-Dunne |
| 8654 | 8653 | US | Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, this bubbly is light in body and elegant, with a cloud-like lightness. The palate is high toned with flavors of oranges, limes, honey and vanilla bean. The bubbles are scoury. Drink up. | Blanc de Blancs | 89 | 38 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Mumm Napa 2008 Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (Napa Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Mumm Napa |
| 8655 | 8654 | Italy | This has a fragrance of black fruit, vanilla and oak. On the palate, it shows mature blackberry and plum-cake flavors, along with very evident oak and toasted notes. While this is still alluring, the fruit and freshness are starting to fade, so drink soon. | Riserva Fondatori | 89 | 60 | Veneto | Amarone della Valpolicella | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Musella 2008 Riserva Fondatori (Amarone della Valpolicella) | Red Blend | Musella |
| 8656 | 8655 | US | Complex in Middle Eastern and baking spices, Occasio's Petite Sirah is meant to be a tribute to the Livermore Valley's early days of viticultural promise and it delivers in a modern way. With a juicy mouthfeel of red and black fruit, it retains vibrant acidity and finishes long. | Del Arroyo Vineyard | 89 | 35 | California | Livermore Valley | Central Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Occasio 2010 Del Arroyo Vineyard Petite Sirah (Livermore Valley) | Petite Sirah | Occasio |
| 8657 | 8656 | France | Gold in color, this is a mature wine interesting for its roasted almond and spice flavors, very ripe and rich. Drink this full-bodied wine now. | Cuvée des Comtes d'Eguisheim | 88 | 43 | Alsace | Alsace | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Leon Beyer 2007 Cuvée des Comtes d'Eguisheim Gewurztraminer (Alsace) | Gewürztraminer | Leon Beyer |
| 8658 | 8657 | France | The richness of the vintage is very apparent in this full-bodied wine. With weight, structure and dark black fruits, it is textured and showing some vanilla and spice. Smooth, developing well and ready to drink in 2014. | | 88 | | Southwest France | Buzet | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Lionel Osmin & Cie 2010 Red (Buzet) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Lionel Osmin & Cie |
| 8659 | 8658 | US | Lots of rich, savory Pinot flavors in this silky wine. It's kind of generic, and not showing much sense of terroir, but it is a properly grown coastal wine whose brisk acidity highlights cola, pomegranate and persimmon flavors. Drink up. | | 88 | 35 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | MacMurray Ranch 2011 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | MacMurray Ranch |
| 8660 | 8659 | Italy | Made with the Friulano grape—formerly known as Tocai Friulano—this white offers lemon peel and mineral aromas that carry over to the palate. It's long and linear, with a crisp finish. | | 88 | 30 | Northeastern Italy | Collio | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Mario Schiopetto 2011 Friulano (Collio) | Friulano | Mario Schiopetto |
| 8661 | 8660 | US | This is a solid Cabernet that shows the promise of the appellation in the central part of Monterey's Salinas Valley. It's dry and medium-bodied, with savory red-cherry candy, cranberry and currant flavors. | | 88 | 12 | California | Arroyo Seco | Central Coast | | | Muirwood 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Arroyo Seco) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Muirwood |
| 8662 | 8661 | US | An unusual blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Meunier, this bubbly is, in a word, delicious. It's ripe with oranges, pineapples, honey and vanilla, with crisp acidity and a Champagne-like sourdough leesiness. | Cuvée M | 88 | 22 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Mumm Napa NV Cuvée M Sparkling (Napa Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Mumm Napa |
| 8663 | 8662 | US | Decadent in coffee, toffee and caramel tones, the leathery mouthfeel of this wine is met head-to-head by a juiciness of ripe, dense blackberry fruit. An approachable Petite Sirah that will also please lovers of the variety's chewiness and concentration. | Seven Sinners | 88 | 19 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Nine North Wine Company 2010 Seven Sinners Petite Sirah (Lodi) | Petite Sirah | Nine North Wine Company |
| 8664 | 8663 | Italy | This savory selection offers a spicy bouquet of black pepper, nutmeg and clove, along with blackberry and cherry notes. It has a refined and vibrant palate, with black cherry, pepper and spice notes framed by silky tannins and refreshing acidity. | Vigneto I Cantoni | 88 | 25 | Veneto | Valpolicella Classico Superiore | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Novaia 2010 Vigneto I Cantoni (Valpolicella Classico Superiore) | Red Blend | Novaia |
| 8665 | 8664 | US | The American oak aging (80%) plays a significant role here but not in a bad way. There are notes of toast and Mounds bar with ripe flavors and a cranberry-filled finish. | | 88 | 16 | Washington | Rattlesnake Hills | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Roza Ridge 2010 Syrah (Rattlesnake Hills) | Syrah | Roza Ridge |
| 8666 | 8665 | US | All varietal, the aromas juxtapose notes of dark plum and chocolate with generous wood spices. The wood and fruit seem to tussle on the palate, with the wood winning out on the finish. | | 88 | 58 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Tenor 2013 Malbec (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Malbec | Tenor |
| 8667 | 8666 | US | The aromas offer light notes of vanilla, plum and clove. The palate is full and generously flavored, with the tannins bringing some grit. | | 88 | 21 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Three Rivers 2013 Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Three Rivers |
| 8668 | 8667 | US | Fresh boysenberry aromas and Concord grape scents are lifted by cracked peppercorn on the nose of this bottling. There is a touch of dill to the palate, where black cherry and chocolate flavors also arise on the lighter, simple yet tasty bottling. | | 88 | 38 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Graveyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Graveyard |
| 8669 | 8668 | US | The nose on this bottling shows fresh boysenberry and primary grape scents, with lots of sweet rosemary and purple flower nuance. The sip is not overly complicated, with tar at first and then waves of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, lifted by thyme and peppercorns. | Graveyard Vineyard Reserve | 88 | 50 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Graveyard 2014 Graveyard Vineyard Reserve Syrah (Paso Robles) | Syrah | Graveyard |
| 8670 | 8669 | Austria | Very ripe and sumptuous notes of blueberry pie make for an appetizing proposition. This blueberry fruit plays the major role on this medium-bodied but fresh, easy-drinking red. It is full of joy and provides a dense, balance palate of ripeness and ease. | | 88 | 16 | Burgenland | | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Gunter Triebaumer 2015 Blaufränkisch (Burgenland) | Blaufränkisch | Gunter Triebaumer |