| 8941 | 8940 | Chile | A spicy, dry berry aroma forms a strong opening that's crisp, focused and slightly herbal in character. The palate feels juicy and tight, with crisp tannins that set up racy cassis, plum and mocha flavors. Clean and fresh on the finish. | Parras Viejas | 89 | 39 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Helena 2010 Parras Viejas Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Santa Helena |
| 8942 | 8941 | US | This has vigorous tannins and flavors of red cherry pie, red currant and spice. Not a long-term ager, but it offers plenty of upscale pleasure now. | Mt George Vineyard Estate Grown | 89 | 35 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Silverado 2008 Mt George Vineyard Estate Grown Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Silverado |
| 8943 | 8942 | US | Half of the wine was fermented with native yeasts, and 30% saw new oak. What shines is the juicy, fresh, delicious fruit—a jumble of raspberries and cherries—plus the finish, which hangs deliciously. | JV Estate | 89 | 25 | Oregon | Dundee Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Stoller 2010 JV Estate Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills) | Pinot Noir | Stoller |
| 8944 | 8943 | Italy | A pure expression of Nerello Mascalese, this delicate wine opens with aromas of wild berry, smoky spice, crushed stone and tobacco. It shows a dry, dusty finish, with subtle accents of cassis and dried raspberry. | Il Monovitigno | 89 | 41 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Benanti 2007 Il Monovitigno Nerello Mascalese (Sicilia) | Nerello Mascalese | Benanti |
| 8945 | 8944 | Italy | The bouquet on this blend of Syrah and Merlot offers soft layers of cherry and chocolate fudge. The palate is round, rich and creamy, with sensations of ripe fruit and tobacco. | Cusora | 89 | 28 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Caruso & Minini 2010 Cusora Red (Sicilia) | Red Blend | Caruso & Minini |
| 8946 | 8945 | France | With rich fruit that is balanced by tight acidity, this shows both the structure and the fragrant red berry flavor of the vintage. The acids cut through the wine to shape its freshness, highlighting its dark tannins. It needs to age for 4–5 years. | | 89 | 25 | Bordeaux | Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Pierre de Montignac 2010 Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Pierre de Montignac |
| 8947 | 8946 | France | An attractively fruity wine, this is rich in cherry and light spice flavors and is laden with acidity. It has a dry set of tannins, but it is so densely juicy that it is ready to drink now. | | 89 | 22 | Beaujolais | Juliénas | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos de Haute-Combe 2011 Juliénas | Gamay | Clos de Haute-Combe |
| 8948 | 8947 | Italy | This fresh blend of Nero d'Avola and Syrah opens with a ripe raspberry note, and it shows a soft, plush texture and a chewy close. It has a ripe blackberry flavor, with a smooth, creamy texture. | Benuara | 89 | 14 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Cusumano 2011 Benuara Red (Sicilia) | Red Blend | Cusumano |
| 8949 | 8948 | France | Powerful and concentrated, this has a dark red-plum flavor and solid tannins. It is dense, and it shows the structure of the vintage. This is worth aging, and it certainly needs food to show at its best. | | 89 | 16 | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Villages | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine des Nugues 2010 Beaujolais-Villages | Gamay | Domaine des Nugues |
| 8950 | 8949 | US | This is the reserve of the Erath lineup and the winery's best effort—along with the Battle Creek bottling—in 2010. Pretty scents and flavors of raspberry and rose water mingle with the ripest cherry fruit in the lineup. Focused, balanced and elegant. | La Nuit Magique | 89 | 65 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Erath 2010 La Nuit Magique Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Erath |
| 8951 | 8950 | Italy | There's a ripe and opulent quality that gives the wine loads of intensity and consistency. The purity of the fruit is excellent, and the finish reveals nicely integrated acidity. | | 89 | 22 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Feudo Montoni 2010 Nero d'Avola (Sicilia) | Nero d'Avola | Feudo Montoni |
| 8952 | 8951 | France | Big and properly dense in texture, this has a great swathe of pure black-plum flavor. It's ripe and filled out with dusty tannins.. | Château Leret Réserve | 89 | 17 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Georges Vigouroux 2009 Château Leret Réserve Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Georges Vigouroux |
| 8953 | 8952 | Italy | A pure expression of Syrah, this opens with toasted notes of almond and spice, backed by dark fruit and prune notes. It shows a plush, creamy consistency, with a spicy oak note as well. | Il Lemos | 89 | | Southern Italy | Salento | | | | Leone de Castris 2008 Il Lemos Syrah (Salento) | Syrah | Leone de Castris |
| 8954 | 8953 | US | Distinctive as always, this is another powerful Zinfandel from Martini, which has a long history with this mountain vineyard. The cool 2010 vintage was kind, bringing the wine to its usual high-alcohol superripeness, yet maintaining vital acidity. Notes of raisins, blackberry jam and chocolate are all found in this heady, Porty wine. Drink now with rich barbecue and stews. | Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine | 89 | 50 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Louis M. Martini 2010 Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley) | Zinfandel | Louis M. Martini |
| 8955 | 8954 | Italy | Here is a Primitivo di Manduria that opens with soft aromas of black cherry, plum, prune and tobacco. The wine is integrated and balanced, with lingering tones of sweet spice on the finish. The palate feels velvety smooth. | Il Matané | 89 | 24 | Southern Italy | Primitivo di Manduria | | | | Matané 2010 Il Matané (Primitivo di Manduria) | Primitivo | Matané |
| 8956 | 8955 | Chile | Ripe, concentrated and bullish from the start, this has a roasted berry aroma that leads to a saturated, tannic palate. The flavors on this full-bodied Cabernet run from toasted and crusty to blackberry-like and minerally. Toastiness and a sense of darkness remain on the finish. | Gran Reserva Cuvée | 89 | 20 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Misiones de Rengo 2010 Gran Reserva Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon (Rapel Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Misiones de Rengo |
| 8957 | 8956 | Chile | This is a focused, cool-climate wine, with cherry, raspberry and spice aromas. It's edgy and fresh on the palate, with racy strawberry and cherry flavors that are accented by chocolate and spice notes. The finish is both tangy and zesty as well as spicy and chocolaty. Only 280 cases made. | Alazan | 89 | 32 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Kingston Family 2011 Alazan Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley) | Pinot Noir | Kingston Family |
| 8958 | 8957 | US | This is a spicy, lively wine with interesting flavors of black cherry cola. It's not a big wine, but it offers a mouthful of pleasure. | Freedom Hill Vineyard | 89 | 60 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lange 2010 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Lange |
| 8959 | 8958 | France | Firm tannins set this wine on a path to aging. At the same time, it has a fine layer of intense fruitiness, and it is crisp and packed with blackberry fruit. It has the typical minerality and structure of Juliénas, so give it 2–3 years. | Les Mouilles | 89 | 22 | Beaujolais | Juliénas | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Pardon et Fils 2011 Les Mouilles (Juliénas) | Gamay | Pardon et Fils |
| 8960 | 8959 | US | This is appealing for its flavors of fresh-sliced Bosch pear, plus a pear-like graininess on the palate. It has some residual sugar, just enough to round out the acids, and overall it's a nicely balanced wine drinking very well right now. | | 89 | 14 | Oregon | Eola-Amity Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Redhawk 2011 Pinot Gris (Eola-Amity Hills) | Pinot Gris | Redhawk |
| 8961 | 8960 | US | Rich and full bodied, this is delicious to drink now for its array of blackberries, currants, dark chocolate and toast flavors. The tannins are just a bit jagged, so give it a few hours in the decanter. | | 89 | 32 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Renteria 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Renteria |
| 8962 | 8961 | US | This is the best of the new releases from Seven Bridges, a Portland-based winery with a penchant for Washington State fruit. Smooth, balanced and mouth-filling, this offers a truffle highlight that sits over the bright berry and cherry flavors. | Golden Ridge Vineyard | 89 | 26 | Oregon | Walla Walla Valley (OR) | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Seven Bridges 2009 Golden Ridge Vineyard Merlot (Walla Walla Valley (OR)) | Merlot | Seven Bridges |
| 8963 | 8962 | US | This Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux-style blend is extraordinarily rich, with flavors of raspberry and cherry tart, milk chocolate, red licorice and sweet oak, plus soft, gentle tannins. It shows a direct deliciousness that makes it easy to like. | Geyserville Ranch | 89 | 48 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Trione 2008 Geyserville Ranch Red (Alexander Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Trione |
| 8964 | 8963 | Chile | The aromatic opening includes a forest-like note, plus mineral and earthy berry scents. The palate feels chunky and wide, with solid tannins that don't bite or dominate. Flavors of herb, olive, spice, molasses and cassis are typical for the Alto Maipo, while the finish is defined by racy acids that should allow this wine to age nicely for another five-plus years. | T.H. Alto Maipo | 89 | 25 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Undurraga 2010 T.H. Alto Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Undurraga |
| 8965 | 8964 | US | This is a big, rich, somewhat heavy Pinot Noir, stuffed with flavors of raspberry and cherry pie, red licorice and oak. It's impressive for its sheer volume, with zippy acidity that helps balance the high alcohol. It needs a few hours in the decanter to round off the edges, and it should hold in the bottle for several years. | | 89 | 55 | California | Sonoma Mountain | Sonoma | | | Aiken 2010 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Mountain) | Pinot Noir | Aiken |
| 8966 | 8965 | US | The Mark V bottling usually gets the most new oak, but in this light vintage the wood has been kept in check. Tasted prerelease, it blossomed over several hours, similar in style and flavor to the winery's Reserve, possessing fine balance and a pretty red-fruit flavor. | Mark V | 89 | 65 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Anam Cara 2010 Mark V Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Anam Cara |
| 8967 | 8966 | US | This shows a somewhat more concentrated midpalate than the regular bottling, though all of the Anam Cara Pinots share common ground. This is a balanced, elegant wine, offering a mix of strawberry, earth and pepper flavors all done with a delicate hand. | Nicholas Estate Reserve | 89 | 45 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Anam Cara 2010 Nicholas Estate Reserve Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Anam Cara |
| 8968 | 8967 | US | Lush, soft and delicious, this has flavors of chocolate, ripe crushed summer blackberries and a hint of dried currants. This richness is augmented by lots of smoky, sweet oak. It could develop in the bottle, but the fruit might fall out before the tannins soften. | | 89 | 125 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Axios 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Axios |
| 8969 | 8968 | Italy | Aged for one year in oak, this opens with peach, apricot, lemon mousse, vanilla and toasted almond notes. It shows freshness and a leaner mouthful than you might expect given the bold intensity of the bouquet. | Laudàri | 89 | 32 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Baglio del Cristo di Campobello 2010 Laudàri Chardonnay (Sicilia) | Chardonnay | Baglio del Cristo di Campobello |
| 8970 | 8969 | France | This is an aromatic wine, with smooth tannins that make this ready to drink. With age it will gain complex spicy flavors, with richness and juicy acidity on the finish. | La Négrette de Bouissel | 89 | 19 | Southwest France | Fronton | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Bouissel 2011 La Négrette de Bouissel Negrette (Fronton) | Negrette | Château Bouissel |