| 871 | 870 | US | This is an amazingly tasty and focused wine that has the most distinctive black pepper character. It's medium-bodied, dark and smoky looking and quite flavorful, backing up the pepper with lively raspberry notes and staying lively from the first sip to the last. | Estate Bottled | 90 | 29 | California | Mendocino Ridge | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Greenwood Ridge 2013 Estate Bottled Syrah (Mendocino Ridge) | Syrah | Greenwood Ridge |
| 872 | 871 | US | Chocolate and blackberry form an impressively generous and full-bodied personality in this 100% varietal wine aged 22 months in a hearty percentage of new oak. Big tannin and traces of cigar and espresso continue on the brawny theme. | | 90 | 42 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Herencia 2013 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Herencia |
| 873 | 872 | US | Not such a rarity these days, Albariño is turning heads in California and Oregon. This tart, juicy, and deliciously fresh effort is loaded with tangy citrus and green apple fruit. It's leesy and textural, tasting of wet stones: in sum, a wonderfully refreshing summer white. | | 90 | 18 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | J. Scott Cellars 2015 Albariño (Oregon) | Albariño | J. Scott Cellars |
| 874 | 873 | Hungary | This delicate Hungarian white wine is a blend of 86% Furmint, 9% Yellow Muscat and 5% Kabar. It has enticing aromas of white flowers, botrytis, gardenia, apple blossom and apricot that prepare your palate for flavors of peach juice, citrus zest, grapefruit juice, caramelized pineapple and a crisp clean finish. | Dry | 90 | 16 | Tokaji | | | Jeff Jenssen | @worldwineguys | Chateau Dereszla 2014 Dry (Tokaji) | White Blend | Chateau Dereszla |
| 875 | 874 | Portugal | Sousão gives intense color and that, along with its attractive perfume, makes a dense, intensely fruity wine. It is rich and weighty, the tannins well integrated with a ripe, juicy aftertaste. | | 90 | 40 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta do Vallado 2009 Sousão (Douro) | Sousão | Quinta do Vallado |
| 876 | 875 | Portugal | The latest release from the partnership between the Roquette family of Quinta do Crasto in the Douro and the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. The wine brings out considerable minerality, a herbal edge along with forward black currant fruit. It is austerely structured at this stage and needs aging for several years. | | 90 | | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Roquette e Cazes 2007 Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Roquette e Cazes |
| 877 | 876 | Spain | Ripe and sweet, with lush, raisiny aromas. The palate is flush, deep and layered, with baked berry, prune, toast and coffee flavors. This is a lot like Vall Llach's signature '07, but it's a bit more restrained and at $50 it's a better deal than the $95 wine. Still, it's a heavyweight to drink now through 2013. | Idus | 90 | 50 | Catalonia | Priorat | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Vall Llach 2007 Idus Red (Priorat) | Red Blend | Vall Llach |
| 878 | 877 | Italy | Here's an elegant and clean blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from coastal Tuscany that offers intensity and well-measured aromas of ripe cherry, espresso bean and tobacco. The wine is plush and soft, with plump berry notes on the finish. | Alfeo | 90 | | Tuscany | Bolgheri Superiore | | | | Ceralti 2008 Alfeo (Bolgheri Superiore) | Red Blend | Ceralti |
| 879 | 878 | France | Full-bodied wine, spiced with nutmeg and toast and give richness by sweet blackberry juice flavors. It is densely structured, rich with great fruit character as well as a powerful drive of rich tannins. Age this wine at least four years and more. | | 90 | 35 | Bordeaux | Saint-Estèphe | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Bel-Air Ortet 2009 Saint-Estèphe | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Bel-Air Ortet |
| 880 | 879 | France | A solid effort, with attractive, balanced black currant fruits and ripe acidity. The wine layers fruit and integrated tannins. It feels chunky and dense, finishing dry. | | 90 | 45 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Ferrière 2009 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Ferrière |
| 881 | 880 | US | Impressive for its depth and deliciousness. The grapes are from Cline's estate on the Sonoma side of the Carneros district. The wine is dry, full-bodied and tannic, although you can drink it now. It's very rich in blackberries, currants, mushu plum sauce, grilled beef and smoky sandalwood, and seems at its best now. | Sonoma Estate | 90 | 20 | California | Los Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Cline 2008 Sonoma Estate Syrah (Los Carneros) | Syrah | Cline |
| 882 | 881 | Spain | Ripe black fruit aromas aren't overly complex or nuanced but they are generous. Feels tight, gritty and healthy, with firm tannins in front of black cherry and blackberry flavors. Mellows on the finish, where plum and prune flavors take over. Not a hard, fierce Priorat; drink now through 2014. | Coraje | 90 | 44 | Catalonia | Priorat | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Fuentes 2008 Coraje Red (Priorat) | Red Blend | Fuentes |
| 883 | 882 | US | Here's a big, rich, fruity Cabernet that satisfies for its array of blackberry, cherry, currant, mineral and oak flavors. It's dry and tannic, and the overall quality is quite high. The price makes it a good Buy. Drink through 2014 | | 90 | 22 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Fuse 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Fuse |
| 884 | 883 | Italy | This elegant 80-20 Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc blend delivers mature aromas of ripe berry, black cherry and fresh aromas of dried herbs and powdered licorice. The somewhat subdued bouquet leads to a generous mouthfeel that leaves a long-lasting impression. | Campo al Fico | 90 | | Tuscany | Bolgheri Superiore | | | | I Luoghi 2008 Campo al Fico (Bolgheri Superiore) | Red Blend | I Luoghi |
| 885 | 884 | US | Pretty dark in color and full bodied for a sparkling wine, even one that's majority Pinot Noir. But it's delicious and dry, which surely are prime requisites for any bubbly. Shows ripe, flashy raspberry, strawberry, orange, vanilla, honey, yeast and toast flavors, and the mouthfeel is silky and refined. | Brut Rose | 90 | 28 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | J Vineyards & Winery NV Brut Rose Sparkling (Russian River Valley) | Sparkling Blend | J Vineyards & Winery |
| 886 | 885 | US | So soft, silky and sweet in blackberries, cherries and red currants, it could be a big, ripe Pinot Noir. That's a compliment. Petite Sirah can often be overpowering. This one's delicate, elegant and frankly delicious. Best now and over the next four years. | | 90 | 27 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Kokomo 2008 Petite Sirah (Dry Creek Valley) | Petite Sirah | Kokomo |
| 887 | 886 | France | This Grenache-heavy blend (with 20% Syrah) offers a good amount of bittersweet cocoa powder and rich jammy black berries and all-fruit preserves on the nose and mouth. A hint of gaminess adds interest to the bouquet, while the crushed velvet texture and firm tannins transition into a long finish laced with earthy spice. | La Mère Grand | 90 | 25 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Minervois | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Loup Blanc 2007 La Mère Grand Red (Minervois) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Loup Blanc |
| 888 | 887 | Portugal | Aromas of fresh-cut hay lead to a wine that has considerable concentration and good balance from wood aging. Very citrus with pineapple touches, it finishes with an herbaceous feel. The wine comes from a vineyard planted at the end of the 19th century. | Reserva Branco | 90 | 60 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Maritávora 2009 Reserva Branco White (Douro) | Portuguese White | Maritávora |
| 889 | 888 | US | A complex mix of wild berry, cherry and somewhat brambly fruits provides a substantial core to this wine. The fruit rolls on through a slightly chalky patch, then finishes with a flourish of toast and graphite. | Slide Mountain Vineyard | 90 | 72 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Owen Roe 2009 Slide Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley) | Cabernet Franc | Owen Roe |
| 890 | 889 | US | A rich, tasty Pinot, packed with black cherry pie filling, cola, orange zest, star anise, cinnamon and sandalwood flavors that finish sweet and long. The texture is satisfying. Drink over the next several years. | Red Label | 90 | 44 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Pacific Ridge 2009 Red Label Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Pacific Ridge |
| 891 | 890 | US | If you like your Voigniers flamboyant, this one's for you. It's an explosion of tangerines, golden mangoes, peaches and pears, with buttery, creamy overtones and a finish of honey. Lots of zesty acidity adds a balancing scour to the mouthfeel. | Estate | 90 | 28 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Phoenix Ranch 2009 Estate Viognier (Napa Valley) | Viognier | Phoenix Ranch |
| 892 | 891 | US | Delicious is the word that comes to mind drinking this Pinot Noir. It's young and vibrant in acidity, with waves of raspberries, persimmons, honey, cinnamon, cloves and smoky sandalwood. Good over the next five years. | | 90 | 29 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | 2nd Chance 2009 Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | 2nd Chance |
| 893 | 892 | US | A riot of licorice, cassis, toast and berry, this 83% Cabernet Sauvignon/17% Petit Verdot Bordeaux-style blend is currently showing a lot of barrel flavors, with subdued but not insignificant fruit. Medium-grained tannins give the finish some gravitas. | Stone Tree Vineyard Intuition Reserve | 90 | 58 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Bergevin Lane 2008 Stone Tree Vineyard Intuition Reserve Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Bergevin Lane |
| 894 | 893 | Australia | This is an unusually complex Shiraz for the price, ably marrying meaty-savory notes with tart berries and plenty of weight on the palate. Crisp structure, finishes long, with lingering acids. Drink now–2018. | Heavy Metal | 90 | 15 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Hungerford Hill 2008 Heavy Metal Shiraz (South Eastern Australia) | Shiraz | Hungerford Hill |
| 895 | 894 | Italy | Jacopo Biondi Santi hits a home run with this beautiful Morellino. The wine is smooth and dense, with lively cherry notes, soft spice and tobacco. It's straightforward and plush, but elegant at the same time. | Castello di Montepò | 90 | 29 | Tuscany | Morellino di Scansano | | | | Jacopo Biondi-Santi 2008 Castello di Montepò (Morellino di Scansano) | Sangiovese | Jacopo Biondi-Santi |
| 896 | 895 | Italy | Le Buche is an interesting winery to watch, and its various Tuscan blends show great promise. Memento is equal parts Sangiovese and Syrah with a soft, velvety texture and a bright berry finish. | Giuseppe Olivi Memento | 90 | 45 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Le Buche 2006 Giuseppe Olivi Memento Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Le Buche |
| 897 | 896 | US | Aged a little more than two years in 90% new French oak and then in bottle, time has been kind to this wine, a Syrah of dark mushroom and baked blackberry, that's savory and silky with a slight hint of mint on the finish. Mighty and impressive. | Signature Selection | 90 | 70 | California | Temecula Valley | South Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Leonesse Cellars 2007 Signature Selection Syrah (Temecula Valley) | Syrah | Leonesse Cellars |
| 898 | 897 | US | Dusty and tight, with a whiff of coffee and cocoa introducing an elegant wine with interesting streaks of metal and graphite. Young fruit and fine tannins are in perfect balance, and the wine has a lovely delicacy. | Dividend | 90 | 39 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Market Vineyards 2008 Dividend Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Market Vineyards |
| 899 | 898 | Italy | This vintage of Marsiliana (the top wine from the Maremma property of Prince Corsini) shows rich tones of espresso, chocolate, dark fruit, leather and spice. The wine is soft and well extracted, with a slightly tough, chewy finish. | | 90 | | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Marsiliana 2005 Red (Toscana) | Red Blend | Marsiliana |
| 900 | 899 | Italy | Tuscany's Mazzei family delivers a wonderful Chianti Classico from their Fonterutoli estate that would pair perfectly with grilled meats or oven-roasted pasta. This is a soft, lush wine with bright cherry and spice notes, which drive a long, velvety finish. | Fonterutoli | 90 | 28 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Mazzei 2009 Fonterutoli (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Mazzei |