| 8731 | 8730 | US | This shows good blackberry and black currant flavors, with the smooth, rich tannins for which Oakville is noted. But there's no particular intensity or ageworthiness. Drink up. | | 87 | 75 | California | Oakville | Napa | | | Pine Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Pine Ridge |
| 8732 | 8731 | Italy | This Sangiovese from central Italy offers abundant freshness and pretty aromas of wild berry, almond, cola and dried ginger. There's a touch of dried herb and licorice that gives the wine a bright, buoyant finish. | | 87 | 17 | Central Italy | Colli di Faenza | | | | Rontana 2008 Sangiovese (Colli di Faenza) | Sangiovese | Rontana |
| 8733 | 8732 | US | Full of fig and grapefruit flavor, this was never aged in oak. A small addition of Sémillon adds to its richness and long finish. | | 87 | 12 | California | Lake County | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Shooting Star 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Shooting Star |
| 8734 | 8733 | US | This is somewhat lean, but its elegantly tailored in its brisk acidity and dryness. While the cherry and berry flavors are modest, the wine's austerity makes it versatile with an enormous range of foods. | | 87 | 38 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Stephen Ross 2010 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | Stephen Ross |
| 8735 | 8734 | Italy | Made with organically farmed Sangiovese, this pretty red delivers savory aromas of spice, cola and steak sauce, with cool, fruit intensity and bright acidity on the finish. | Bio-571 | 87 | 14 | Central Italy | Sangiovese di Romagna | | | | Tenuta Amalia 2010 Bio-571 (Sangiovese di Romagna) | Sangiovese | Tenuta Amalia |
| 8736 | 8735 | Italy | A blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Sagrantino, this is a rich, chewy red with savory aromas of cured meat and spice. There's a touch of ripe fruit and even a note on the finish that resembles cinnamon or ground nutmeg. | Prova d'Autore | 87 | 25 | Central Italy | Umbria | | | | Roccafiore 2008 Prova d'Autore Red (Umbria) | Red Blend | Roccafiore |
| 8737 | 8736 | Italy | Dark and savory, this has spicy aromas of clove, cinnamon, prune and red currant. It shows freshness and medium density overall. | Clemente VII | 87 | 18 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Castelli del Grevepesa 2009 Clemente VII (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Castelli del Grevepesa |
| 8738 | 8737 | US | Tasting sweet and hot, this sure is ripe. It has extracted flavors of jammy blackberry, cherry and cola. Drink now. | | 87 | 85 | California | Chalk Hill | Sonoma | | | Chalk Hill 2009 Merlot-Malbec (Chalk Hill) | Merlot-Malbec | Chalk Hill |
| 8739 | 8738 | US | Eberle's Sangioveses are always dry, acidic and cherried. On their own, they're tight, rustic little monsters. Drink them with appropriate fare, and suddenly you're in Tuscany. Get out your Italian cookbook and find something with beef, fettucine, ragu and plenty of cheese. | Hidden Valley Vineyard 51%, Wine Bush Vineyard 36%, Filipponi & Thompson Vineyard 13% | 87 | 24 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Eberle 2009 Hidden Valley Vineyard 51%, Wine Bush Vineyard 36%, Filipponi & Thompson Vineyard 13% Sangiovese (Paso Robles) | Sangiovese | Eberle |
| 8740 | 8739 | Italy | Composed of Sangiovese, Sagrantino, Merlot and Montepulciano, this offers pretty tones of spice and wild berry, with background tones of tobacco and worn leather. | | 87 | | Central Italy | Montefalco Rosso | | | | Fongoli 2009 Montefalco Rosso | Red Blend | Fongoli |
| 8741 | 8740 | US | Earthy notes of clay and mushroom lend a rugged complexity to aromas of roasted plums and cherries on this lush yet composed wine. The palate is densely concentrated with black cherry flavor, but anchored with bright acidity and a blanket of velvet tannins. | | 89 | 25 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Shalestone 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Shalestone |
| 8742 | 8741 | US | Touches of vanilla, toast and sweet biscuit waft sumptuously from this classically-styled Chardonnay-Pinot Noir sparkler. Delicate and supple in mousse, it finishes vivaciously and fresh with a streak of lemon-lime acidity. | Brut | 89 | 29 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Sparkling Pointe 2010 Brut (North Fork of Long Island) | Champagne Blend | Sparkling Pointe |
| 8743 | 8742 | US | A thin wisp of smoke lends complexity to a bouquet full of sunny peaches and apricots on this perfumed Riesling. Off-dry in style, sweet pink-grapefruit flavor quenches the palate. It's dancingly light in body yet surprisingly powerful in concentration. | | 89 | 14 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Standing Stone 2013 Riesling (Finger Lakes) | Riesling | Standing Stone |
| 8744 | 8743 | US | 100% varietal with the majority of the fruit coming from Weinbau Vineyard, it brings notes of plum, whole green pepper and coffee. The palate lies on the lighter side of medium bodied, fleshing out with some time open, with a lovely texture but with some grit to the tannins. Perhaps some additional time in the bottle with smooth it out. | | 89 | 30 | Washington | Wahluke Slope | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Tamarack Cellars 2012 Cabernet Franc (Wahluke Slope) | Cabernet Franc | Tamarack Cellars |
| 8745 | 8744 | US | Savory aromas of bay leaf and fennel pair with mushrooms and freshly turned dirt on this single-vineyard wine. The flavors are also more earthy than fruity, with oregano, thyme, tea, espresso, cola and only a hint of cranberry. The tannins are strong, so this will last for a few years. | La Encantada Vineyard | 89 | 61 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Testarossa 2012 La Encantada Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Testarossa |
| 8746 | 8745 | US | Vintage after vintage, there's a smoky, dusty undertone to this intensely mineral Riesling. It's dry on the palate with streaks of fresh lemon, lime and herb that linger long and lean on the finish. Fine and fleeting in texture, yet remarkably powerful in presence. | Dry | 89 | 30 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Tierce 2012 Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes) | Riesling | Tierce |
| 8747 | 8746 | Italy | A pretty fragrance of crushed flowers, woodland berries and sweet spices waft from the glass of this savory Rosso. The juicy palate offers upfront wild cherry, black raspberry, cinnamon and vanilla alongside dusty tannins. Pair it with cold cuts, hearty first courses or medium seasoned cheeses. | | 89 | | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tornesi 2012 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese | Tornesi |
| 8748 | 8747 | Italy | A blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this savory wine boasts structure and drinkability. Aromas of toast, chocolate and ripe plum carry over to the palate along with dark cherry, white pepper and smooth, velvety tannins. It's made for early drinking so enjoy soon. | Rosso dei Notri | 89 | 21 | Tuscany | Toscana | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tua Rita 2012 Rosso dei Notri Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Tua Rita |
| 8749 | 8748 | Italy | A potpourri of violets, sweet baking spices and woodland berries take center stage. The savory palate offers up wild cherry, black raspberry and cinnamon alongside supple tannins and fresh acidity. Drink soon. | | 89 | 12 | Piedmont | Nebbiolo d'Alba | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Veglio 2012 Nebbiolo d'Alba | Nebbiolo | Veglio |
| 8750 | 8749 | Italy | Made entirely with Sangiovese, this straightforward wine offers aromas of forest floor, violet, red berry and spices. The juicy palate delivers ripe black fruit accented with notes of white pepper, cinnamon, black tea and clove alongside firm but ripe tannins. Enjoy this now through 2018. | Castelgreve | 89 | 20 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Castelli del Grevepesa 2011 Castelgreve (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Castelli del Grevepesa |
| 8751 | 8750 | France | This is a heavily wooded wine, with tannins giving a firm and dry character at this stage. It has weight and a powerful structure, but needs time to develop riper fruit and plum flavors. It's always likely to show wood flavors, but certainly wait until 2017. | Confidential | 89 | 22 | Southwest France | Côtes du Marmandais | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Cave du Marmandais 2011 Confidential Red (Côtes du Marmandais) | Red Blend | Cave du Marmandais |
| 8752 | 8751 | France | Fortified Tannat certainly has tannins, but it lends itself well to this sweet style. It's rich, obviously ageworthy with ripe black fruits and concentrated sweetness that's balanced by acidity. It should be aged until 2018. | Maydie Vintage | 89 | 28 | France Other | Vin de Liqueur | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château d'Aydie 2011 Maydie Vintage Tannat (Vin de Liqueur) | Tannat | Château d'Aydie |
| 8753 | 8752 | France | Even after four years, this wine is showing strong wood flavors. Hopefully this burnt toastiness will calm down, because the fruit has potential. It is rich and packed with blueberry and black currant fruits while still firmly tannic. Drink from 2017. | Chemin de Compostelle | 89 | 18 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Hauterive 2010 Chemin de Compostelle Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Château de Hauterive |
| 8754 | 8753 | France | The blend is 86% Syrah and 14% Mourvèdre. The wine is medium bodied, not very rich or textured, but solid, with some slightly dusty tannins on the finish. Aromas and flavors cover an appealing range, from hints of garrigue, vanilla and cedar to ripe raspberries. Drink it now and over the next few years. | JT | 89 | 20 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château de Nages 2012 JT Red (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château de Nages |
| 8755 | 8754 | US | Well built, this feels firm and structured and tastes alive and fruity. Aromas suggest blackberry and dark plum, and it tastes of those fruit too, with a velvety texture. It's medium-bodied, balanced by firm tannins and good acidity, and well-rounded in flavor. | | 89 | 14 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Clos du Lac 2011 Syrah (Sierra Foothills) | Syrah | Clos du Lac |
| 8756 | 8755 | France | This is the freshest of the sweet wine produced by Henri Ramonteau at Cauhapé. It is a lively, fruity wine, full of refreshing acidity as well as pineapple, apricot and honey flavors. The end shows a touch of spice. Drink now. | Ballet d'Octobre | 89 | 18 | Southwest France | Jurançon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Cauhapé 2012 Ballet d'Octobre (Jurançon) | Gros and Petit Manseng | Domaine Cauhapé |
| 8757 | 8756 | France | This is an effusively fruity white that's full bodied but not over the top. Citrus notes accent melon and pineapple, a reflection of the wines composition: 40% Rolle (better known as Vermentino), 40% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. Drink it up by early 2015, or look for the next vintage. | | 89 | 14 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domaine de la Petite Cassagne 2012 White (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style White Blend | Domaine de la Petite Cassagne |
| 8758 | 8757 | France | Ripe white fruits are cut by a refreshing grapefruit acidity. It's so bright, crisp with a bounce to its texture that's irresistible. The aftertaste is a shower of bright flavors. Drink now. | Vielle Vigne d'Idylle | 89 | 16 | France Other | Vin de Savoie | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine de l'Idylle 2013 Vielle Vigne d'Idylle Jacquère (Vin de Savoie) | Jacquère | Domaine de l'Idylle |
| 8759 | 8758 | US | Zesty lemons and limes are perfumed with whiffs of orange blossom on this brisk, revitalizing dry Riesling. Tart tangerine acidity penetrates deeply on the palate, leading a finish that's crisp and clean. | Dry | 89 | 15 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Dr. Konstantin Frank 2013 Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes) | Riesling | Dr. Konstantin Frank |
| 8760 | 8759 | Chile | Tarry, briary, gritty aromas take some getting used to. This blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan and Marsanne conveys sharp, juicy acidity. Flavors of currant, red plum and spice finish on the racy and raw side, with herbal notes and a lasting peppery flavor. | The Blend Collection | 89 | 45 | Aconcagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Errazuriz 2011 The Blend Collection Red (Aconcagua Valley) | Red Blend | Errazuriz |