| 88210 | 88209 | US | Tart and tight, this young wine is still pulling itself together. The tart raspberry fruit turns quite sour, with a streak of Band-aid, then an unintegrated wash of caramel. | | 85 | 25 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Locati Cellars 2008 Barbera (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Barbera | Locati Cellars |
| 88211 | 88210 | US | This 100% Cabernet is too sweet, tasting like a raspberry, mocha and caramel Starbucks drink. It's the poster child for overextracted, overoaked, high alcohol California Cabernet. | | 84 | 55 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Huge Bear 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Huge Bear |
| 88212 | 88211 | US | It hardly matters what varieties this white blend is made from. It's just fine for a ten buck wine, with sweet citrus fruit and vanilla flavors and a nice kick of acidity. | | 84 | 10 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | MommyJuice NV White (Central Coast) | White Blend | MommyJuice |
| 88213 | 88212 | US | Primary, light fruit flavors of strawberry touched with herb. Not much else going on in this young, still raw and grapey wine. | | 84 | 24 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Righteous 2009 Malbec (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Malbec | Righteous |
| 88214 | 88213 | Spain | Sweet and corny on the nose, and then soft and sweet in the mouth, with candy corn and cereal flavors. Finishes candied, sort of like a glass of corn flakes topped with a sparkle. | Aria Estate Extra Dry | 84 | 14 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Segura Viudas NV Aria Estate Extra Dry Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Segura Viudas |
| 88215 | 88214 | US | A little sweet and jammy in apicots, pineapples and limes, with a sugary finish. But acidity is just fine. Try with Vietnamese and Chinese pork, fish and chicken dishes whose sauces are sugared. | | 84 | 15 | California | California | California Other | | | Seven Daughters NV Sauvignon Blanc (California) | Sauvignon Blanc | Seven Daughters |
| 88216 | 88215 | US | A little sweet and simple, but for the price, a good approximation of Pinot Noir. It's rich in raspberry and cherry jam flavor. | | 84 | 11 | California | California | California Other | | | Bogle 2009 Pinot Noir (California) | Pinot Noir | Bogle |
| 88217 | 88216 | US | Yes, it's a good price, but this SB from Mendocino has loads of green pepper and peach fuzz that overpower its otherwise varietally familiar acidity and texture. | | 84 | 11 | California | Mendocino County | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Castle Rock 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Mendocino County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Castle Rock |
| 88201 | 88200 | Spain | Pointy and sharp at first, with earthy, dry aromas. Edgy feeling, with heat and scour to go with peppery, herbal berry flavors. Finishes mossy and warm, with a minty burn. Improves with airing. | Sangre de Toro | 85 | 12 | Catalonia | Catalunya | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Torres 2008 Sangre de Toro Tempranillo (Catalunya) | Tempranillo | Torres |
| 88202 | 88201 | Spain | Neutral for the most part, with fresh acidity, light bubbles and basic apple and peach flavors. A little sweet and confected but perfectly good. Solid for simple sipping and mimosas. | Carta Nevada Brut | 85 | 9 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Freixenet NV Carta Nevada Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Freixenet |
| 88203 | 88202 | US | Quite light, with tart rhubarb and strawberry fruit. There's more than a hint of peppery herb, and a tart, quick finish. | | 85 | 25 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Hawkins Cellars 2009 Sangiovese (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sangiovese | Hawkins Cellars |
| 88204 | 88203 | France | This is a soft, gentle wine, made for immediate consumption. It features bright cherry and pear-drop aromas and pleasant, if somewhat simple, fruit flavors. Two-thirds Grenache, with the rest being a blend of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. | Passe Colline | 85 | | Rhône Valley | Ventoux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Vignobles La Coterie 2010 Passe Colline Red (Ventoux) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Vignobles La Coterie |
| 88205 | 88204 | Spain | Grainy and leathery smelling, with medicinal plum and raspberry aromas. Perky but angular in the mouth, with freshening acidity leading to light but zesty strawberry and raspberry flavors. Shows drying tannins, vanilla and spice on the back end. | Vendimia Seleccionada | 85 | 14 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Riolanc 2009 Vendimia Seleccionada (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Riolanc |
| 88206 | 88205 | US | A bit thin and quite acidic, with a real bite, but otherwise it's pleasant enough, with cherry, raspberry, mocha and cinnamon flavors. | Lot 251 | 85 | 13 | California | Arroyo Seco | Central Coast | | | Cameron Hughes 2009 Lot 251 G-S-M (Arroyo Seco) | G-S-M | Cameron Hughes |
| 88207 | 88206 | US | Icarus, in Greek myth, got too close to the sun. So did this wine from Icaria. It's not bad, but simply overripe. Has a sweet taste of raisins, in addition to the sweet smokiness from oak. Drink now. | | 85 | 28 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Icaria 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Icaria |
| 88208 | 88207 | US | A little too sweet and soft. Tastes almost like a melted chocolate, red cherry and anise dessert. The finish is hot, too, making this wine pretty rustic. But it sure is delicious. | Estate | 85 | 25 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | La Storia by Trentadue 2009 Estate Petite Sirah (Alexander Valley) | Petite Sirah | La Storia by Trentadue |
| 88209 | 88208 | France | A soft, rounded wine, with delicious plum and black cherry fruit flavors. It is rich, along with acidity, ripe tannins and an easy, light finish. | St Amand Vieilles Vignes | 85 | 11 | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Villages | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Labouré-Roi 2009 St Amand Vieilles Vignes (Beaujolais-Villages) | Gamay | Labouré-Roi |
| 88218 | 88217 | France | A broad, rather soft example of rosé, this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan should be consumed over the next few months. | | 84 | 13 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Louis Bernard 2010 Rosé (Costières de Nîmes) | Rosé | Louis Bernard |
| 88219 | 88218 | US | Made in the sweet, simple way, with pineapple and orange jam fruit, buttered popcorn and vanilla flavors. However, the price isn't bad, and it will appeal to a lot of your friends at parties for its California richness. | | 84 | 10 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Mark West 2010 Chardonnay (Central Coast) | Chardonnay | Mark West |
| 88220 | 88219 | Spain | Concentrated and smoky, with shoe polish and other black aromas. It's ultratight in the mouth, collapsing on itself more than expanding. Flavors of earth and berry are loud. Rugged feeling on the finish. | Selección | 84 | 24 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Marqués de Elciego 2008 Selección (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Marqués de Elciego |
| 88221 | 88220 | US | This young Cabernet feels thin and earthy, with little to offer in the way of fruit. Aged in American oak, roughly one third new, it is tart and unyielding. | | 84 | 26 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Raised By Wolves 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Raised By Wolves |
| 88222 | 88221 | France | This blend of 80% Clairette and 20% Bourboulenc seems to be fading a little, losing its freshness in favor of greater palate breadth. The flavors are largely neutral, but hint at oranges. Drink up. | In Fine | 84 | 12 | Rhône Valley | Ventoux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Bourgeois Family 2009 In Fine White (Ventoux) | Rhône-style White Blend | Bourgeois Family |
| 88223 | 88222 | US | A simple wine, with sugary pineapple jam and buttered popcorn flavors, overwhelmed by sweet oak. | Fermata | 84 | 35 | California | Monterey | Central Coast | | | Wrath 2009 Fermata Chardonnay (Monterey) | Chardonnay | Wrath |
| 88224 | 88223 | US | A darkly colored red blend that tastes like coffee sweetened with blackberry liqueur and anise. It's a big, rich, thick wine that's rustic, but entirely drinkable with barbecue, burgers, pizza. | | 84 | 10 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | MommyJuice NV Red (Central Coast) | Red Blend | MommyJuice |
| 88225 | 88224 | US | An odd wine, as sweet as pear and peach fruit juice, yet with a strong dose of acidic, green gooseberry. The right salty-sweet foods will balance it. | Persephone Vineyard Estate | 84 | 22 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Peju 2010 Persephone Vineyard Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Peju |
| 88226 | 88225 | Spain | Despite an opening that features some vinegary sharpness and mulch, there's also decent berry fruit notes and milk chocolate sweetness to the nose. Feels about as you'd expect, which means it's zesty and lean, with cherry, plum and herbal flavors. Juicy and minty on the finish. | Mediterranean Red | 84 | 6 | Catalonia | Catalunya | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | René Barbier NV Mediterranean Red Tempranillo-Merlot (Catalunya) | Tempranillo-Merlot | René Barbier |
| 88227 | 88226 | France | This medium-bodied blend of Cinsaut, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache features bright raspberry and lime notes alongside a touch of apple. Very crisp; on the lean side for a Costières de Nîmes rosé. | Rhône Paradox | 84 | | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château Mas Neuf 2010 Rhône Paradox Rosé (Costières de Nîmes) | Rosé | Château Mas Neuf |
| 88228 | 88227 | US | Good acidity and a firm minerality provide the backbone to this citrus and tropical fruit-flavored wine. But it's too sweet, turning cloying after the first sip. | Back Seat Blonde | 84 | 17 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Coquelicot 2009 Back Seat Blonde White (Santa Ynez Valley) | White Blend | Coquelicot |
| 88229 | 88228 | US | A country-style red wine, made from indeterminate varieties. It's tough and stringy in the mouth, with earthy berry and tobacco flavors. | Lucca | 84 | 13 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Courtney Benham NV Lucca Red (Napa Valley) | Red Blend | Courtney Benham |
| 88230 | 88229 | Peru | Heavy on the bouquet, with baked, rustic black fruit aromas that turn cheesy and leathery with airing. Chunky but layered in the mouth, with thick, ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors. Sweet, lightly herbal and heavy on the finish. | Quantum | 84 | 20 | Ica | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Tacama 2008 Quantum Petit Verdot (Ica) | Petit Verdot | Tacama |