| 966 | 965 | Italy | Packaged in a heavy, oversized black bottle, this brawny wine delivers power, bulging muscle and aromas that exaggerate in every way possible. The most noticeable feature (so noticeable, it knocks you in the face) is the wood element that comes off as fresh carpentry or wood shavings. The wine is heavy, syrupy and sweet tasting. | Vecchie Vigne | 85 | 48 | Southern Italy | Primitivo di Manduria | | | | Vinosia 2006 Vecchie Vigne (Primitivo di Manduria) | Primitivo | Vinosia |
| 967 | 966 | New Zealand | The 2004 and 2005 vintages of this wine were priced at $15, which gives some idea how fast the supply of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has increased. Kono's 2008 is on the light side, but tart and zippy, with a refreshing aspect to its pineapple and grapefruit flavors and herbal overtones. Drink now. | | 85 | 9 | Marlborough | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Kono 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) | Sauvignon Blanc | Kono |
| 968 | 967 | Chile | Light and tropical, with buttercup aromas and a touch of citrus. The palate is plump and slightly oily, but with good acidity. Apple, mango and banana flavors are fruity and sweet, but overall the wine holds it together. Drink right away. | Selected Terroir | 85 | 10 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Ema 2008 Selected Terroir Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley) | Chardonnay | Santa Ema |
| 969 | 968 | Italy | Corvina, Rondinella and Dindarella—three grapes native to the Verona area of Northern Italy—make up this fresh and lively, easy-sipping rosé. The wine awards pretty aromas of raspberry and white cherry. | Chiaretto | 85 | | Veneto | Bardolino Classico | | | | Tommasi 2006 Chiaretto (Bardolino Classico) | Rosé | Tommasi |
| 970 | 969 | Chile | Good introductory Carmenère. It's a touch green, which is common for this quality level, but there's also some coconut and mild burnt aromas to wade through. Lively and clanky on the palate, with red fruit, bramble and herbal snap. Good if you're not expecting too much. | Pionero | 85 | 9 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Morandé 2008 Pionero Carmenère (Maipo Valley) | Carmenère | Morandé |
| 971 | 970 | US | A little tough and gritty, but okay for everyday fare. Shows blackberry, currant, tobacco and herb flavors that turn sweetly fruity on the finish. | | 85 | 19 | California | California | California Other | | | One Hope 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (California) | Cabernet Sauvignon | One Hope |
| 972 | 971 | France | Although it is labeled “Extra Dry” (that is sweeter than Brut), this lively Champagne in its festive little pink bottle is very fresh, with delicious acidity. It finishes lightly, easily. | Pop Rosé Extra Dry | 85 | 15 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Pommery NV Pop Rosé Extra Dry (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Pommery |
| 973 | 972 | US | Sweet in jammy apricots and pineapples, with even richer notes of smoky vanilla and buttered toast. Crisp acidity fortunately provides some balance. From Venge Vineyards. | | 85 | 23 | California | Clarksburg | Central Valley | | | Saddleback 2008 Viognier (Clarksburg) | Viognier | Saddleback |
| 961 | 960 | France | This is a fragrant, spicy wine that is shot through with red fruits and fine acidity. The 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon blend is still firm with its tannins although the acidity and bright fruit are well in balance. Drink from 2018. | | 87 | 18 | Bordeaux | Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Cap Saint-Martin 2014 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Cap Saint-Martin |
| 974 | 973 | US | A bit earthy and herbal, and soft, with cherry and cocoa fruit flavors. The acidity and tannin structure could be firmer. | Alexander School Reserve Big Barrel | 85 | 35 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Alexander Valley Vineyards 2006 Alexander School Reserve Big Barrel Syrah (Alexander Valley) | Syrah | Alexander Valley Vineyards |
| 975 | 974 | US | It's soft, slightly oxidized, and generic. It's pleasantly quaffable, marked in the finish by some rather bitter toast. | Rough House Red | 85 | 30 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Covington 2006 Rough House Red Red (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | Covington |
| 976 | 975 | Italy | Fabio Sireci is behind some of Sicily's best Nero d'Avola and has more recently decided to flex his winemaker muscle on Pinot Noir. The results are a tad jammy and muddled (his vineyards are smack in the middle of the Mediterranean island), ending with ripe aromas of prune and raisin. | P | 85 | 12 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Feudo Montoni 2008 P Pinot Noir (Sicilia) | Pinot Noir | Feudo Montoni |
| 977 | 976 | US | Clean and crisp, with rich flavors of citrus, pear, green apple, vanilla and honey. Finishes with that well-known K-J sweetness. A blend based on Sauvignon Blanc. | Summation Vintner's Reserve | 85 | 17 | California | California | California Other | | | Kendall-Jackson 2008 Summation Vintner's Reserve White (California) | White Blend | Kendall-Jackson |
| 978 | 977 | US | Sweet and simple, with pleasantly exotic flavors of pineapples, green apples, pears, honeysuckle flowers, minerals, spices, vanilla, brown sugar and smoky oak. Easy to drink. | Estate Grown | 85 | 16 | California | Suisun Valley | North Coast | | | Ledgewood Creek 2007 Estate Grown Viognier (Suisun Valley) | Viognier | Ledgewood Creek |
| 979 | 978 | US | A little on the sweet side, but crisp in acidity, and front-loaded with pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine, honeysuckle and spicy vanilla flavors. Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Blanc, Chardonnay and Roussanne. | White X | 85 | 15 | California | North Coast | North Coast | | | X 2008 White X White (North Coast) | White Blend | X |
| 980 | 979 | France | A heavy dose of Sauvignon Blanc brings herbaceous, grassy, white currants and gooseberry flavors. It's young, and needs more time to coalesce. It is certainly fresh, fruity, right up front. | Sauvignon | 85 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Lamothe-Vincent 2008 Sauvignon (Bordeaux Blanc) | Sauvignon Blanc | Château Lamothe-Vincent |
| 981 | 980 | Italy | This wine doesn't seem to have fully evolved and its aromas are muddled in places with notes of mature fruit and natural rubber. In the mouth it has red fruit flavors and tight tannins, but it generally lacks definition. | Capitel della Crosara | 85 | 41 | Veneto | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico | | | | Montresor 2003 Capitel della Crosara (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico) | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Montresor |
| 982 | 981 | France | This totally fresh wine has benefited from the quality of whites in 2007 Bordeaux. It is lemony with pink grapefruit flavors giving an intense lift. There is some herbaceousness, with green herbs and juicy fruits. To drink now. | Premius Bordeaux Sauvignon | 85 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Yvon Mau 2007 Premius Bordeaux Sauvignon (Bordeaux Blanc) | Sauvignon Blanc | Yvon Mau |
| 983 | 982 | Italy | This is a northern Italian Cabernet with a light, informal style and low intensity. The wine delivers measured aromas of cherry, pine, cedar and ends with a crisp note of acidity. | Col di Luna | 85 | 16 | Veneto | Piave | | | | Bellenda 2005 Col di Luna Cabernet Sauvignon (Piave) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Bellenda |
| 962 | 961 | France | This is a ripe wine and full of fruit. It has structure as well with its firm tannins and smoky backdrop. It will broaden out well and give a rich wine from 2018. | | 87 | 20 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Supérieur | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Bel 2014 Bordeaux Supérieur | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château de Bel |
| 984 | 983 | US | Off-dry, with sugary flavors of apricots, pears, flowers, vanilla and dusty Asian spices. Crisp acidity provides needed balance. Try with Vietnamese, Thai or Burmese fare. | | 85 | 25 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Breggo 2008 Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley) | Gewürztraminer | Breggo |
| 985 | 984 | Romania | An intriguing nose of tobacco, mint, cherry and spice leads this earthy red. Flavors of spice, tobacco, red berry and tea are supported by ageable tannins and good complexity. | Rosso di Valachia | 85 | 12 | Dealu Mare | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Byzantium 2005 Rosso di Valachia Red (Dealu Mare) | Red Blend | Byzantium |
| 963 | 962 | France | A balanced wine, with softness that indicates a relatively high dosage. There is no complexity, but the wine is light, creamy, flavored with green plums and kiwi, just edged with bitterness. | Demoiselle Tête de Cuvée Brut | 85 | 40 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Vranken NV Demoiselle Tête de Cuvée Brut (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Vranken |
| 986 | 985 | Argentina | Coconut and dill aromas rise from the nose, and they are surrounded by berry, cassis and floral scents. The palate is tight, honest and a little hard, with middle-of-the-road berry flavors tinged with herbs. There's size and power to this wine, but also balance. Compared to previous years, it's a little less generous but still a good way to go. | Reserve Las Barrancas Vineyards | 88 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Pascual Toso 2007 Reserve Las Barrancas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Pascual Toso |
| 964 | 963 | France | From a large 177-acre estate in the southern Graves, this wine shows plenty of stalky, black currant fruits, fresh acidity and spice from wood. It has just the right characters for a food Bordeaux, dry core of tannins and vivid fruit around. | | 85 | 11 | Bordeaux | Graves | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Pavillon de Boyrein 2006 Graves | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Pavillon de Boyrein |
| 987 | 986 | Portugal | This is a sweet, rich Port. Its aromas are of soft berry jelly, with a ripe herbal character. To taste, it is concentrated, but the sweetness of the fruit masks its density. Berry and dried fruits make an attractive blend, leaving a firmer structure in the aftertaste. | Late Bottled Vintage | 88 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta de la Rosa 2004 Late Bottled Vintage (Port) | Port | Quinta de la Rosa |
| 988 | 987 | Australia | While lacking the vibrant fruit typical of the variety, there are some attractive hay and honey scents on nose. The full-bodied and soft-textured palate is cloaked in vanilla, which lingers on the finish. | | 88 | 25 | South Australia | Barossa Valley | | | | Sieber Rd 2007 Viognier (Barossa Valley) | Viognier | Sieber Rd |
| 989 | 988 | US | This is a classic, high-acid vintage. The strength is fruit, and it's a mix of citrus and light pineapple; all stainless fermented and finished at moderate alcohol. Quite different in style from the '06, but well-made. | | 88 | 20 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lachini 2007 Pinot Gris (Oregon) | Pinot Gris | Lachini |
| 990 | 989 | Spain | Mauro will always show you a lot, but frankly this 2005 seems soft and chunky. It has rich, baked, black-fruit aromas and then a mildly syrupy palate with huge blackberry and cassis flavors. The finish is wide and rich, but where are the tannins and structure that this wine is known for? Drink now for best results; it may not improve in the cellar. A Europvin, Christopher Cannan selection, imported by multiple importers, including Michael Skurnik Wines. | | 88 | 53 | Northern Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Mauro 2005 Red (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León) | Tempranillo Blend | Mauro |
| 965 | 964 | Italy | Here's a Trebbiano-based wine from the Lake Garda area in northern Italy that delivers smooth consistency and expressive notes of stone fruit, citrus, honey and crushed stone. The wine would pair well with lake fish or vegetable dishes. | Argillaia | 85 | 17 | Lombardy | Lugana | | | | Fabiano 2006 Argillaia (Lugana) | Trebbiano | Fabiano |