| 105991 | 105990 | Italy | This is a highly recommendable Pinot Grigio for those looking for a fun and personable companion to seafood and light vegetable dishes. Aromas here include citrus, pear and aromatic green apple. The wine is clean, crisp and zippy on the close. | | 87 | 12 | Northeastern Italy | Delle Venezie | | | | Kris 2008 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie) | Pinot Grigio | Kris |
| 105992 | 105991 | US | The Lucas 2007 Limited Reserve Syrah shows the potential the Syrah grape has in upstate New York. Dense raspberry and strawberry fruit vie with aromas of barbecued meat on the nose while a thick layer of vanilla cushions the fine tannins and smokey notes in the mouth. The juicy finish throws up an enticing licorice note. Nicely done. Drink now to 2011. | Limited Reserve | 87 | 25 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | | | Lucas Vineyards 2007 Limited Reserve Syrah (Finger Lakes) | Syrah | Lucas Vineyards |
| 105993 | 105992 | Argentina | Starts with a nice mix of peppery, live-fruit aromatics along with earth. Has good weight and balance, while the flavors of plum, raspberry and black cherry are mellow and touched up by hints of spice, vanilla and herbs. Shows good character and composition. | Altas Cumbres | 87 | 10 | Mendoza Province | Luján de Cuyo | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Lagarde 2008 Altas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon (Luján de Cuyo) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Lagarde |
| 105994 | 105993 | US | A good choice for fans of older wines, the Raphael 2002 Merlot shows mature forest floor and earth scents but is still hanging on to some raspberry and blackberry fruit. The crisp palate has a mouthwatering character and a touch of singed plum flavor. Woody tannins chime in on the medium finish. Drink before 2011. | Estate Bottled | 87 | 25 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | | | Raphael 2002 Estate Bottled Merlot (North Fork of Long Island) | Merlot | Raphael |
| 105995 | 105994 | US | Very dry and earthy, with tobacco, herb and blackberry flavors. Could be richer, but the structure is impeccable, and the wine is elegant. Ready now. | | 87 | 38 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Raymond Burr 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Raymond Burr |
| 105996 | 105995 | Chile | Opens with floral berry aromas and standard-issue black fruit notes. The palate has moderate weight and stickiness, while the flavors of cassis, berry and rubber are smoky. Juicy and alert enough, but also dense and rich, with caramel and berry syrup on the finish. | Reserve | 87 | 9 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Alicia 2007 Reserve Malbec (Maipo Valley) | Malbec | Santa Alicia |
| 105997 | 105996 | US | Give this young, fruity wine a few years in the cellar. The flavors are all primary blackberry, blueberry and cherry jam. The tannins and a touch of espresso bitterness might easily help this Zin develop through 2012. | Rocky Top | 87 | 17 | California | Amador County | Sierra Foothills | | | Sobon Estate 2007 Rocky Top Zinfandel (Amador County) | Zinfandel | Sobon Estate |
| 105998 | 105997 | US | This is a robust, ripe and fruity Zinfandel that impresses for the sheer exuberance of its flavors. They range from black cherries and red currants to cola, chocolate, black pepper and the sweet, glyceriney taste of high alcohol. | | 87 | 39 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Stephen & Walker 2007 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Stephen & Walker |
| 105999 | 105998 | US | Plum and cherry notes struggle to show themselves under a heavy layer of coconut and sawdust from new American oak. This wine is tightly wound and dense in the mouth, with refreshing acidity and a medium-to-long finish. A year or two in the cellar will allow for better integration. | Optiumus | 87 | 23 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | | | Swedish Hill 2007 Optiumus Red (Finger Lakes) | Red Blend | Swedish Hill |
| 106000 | 105999 | US | Meritage wines must be Bordeaux blends; otherwise, they can be all over the map. This is an all-purpose, affordable red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Black cherry and olive, smoke and some noticeable alcohol (14.4% is credited) define a sturdy red in wide distribution. | Genesis | 87 | 16 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Hogue 2007 Genesis Meritage (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Meritage | Hogue |
| 106001 | 106000 | US | A bit heavy now, with lots of unintegrated parts. The new oak sticks out from the tannins, and the blackberry, blueberry and cherry fruit is all primary and jammy. If you drink now, decant, but this 100% Cab should be better after 2010. | | 87 | 36 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | M by Martellotto 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | M by Martellotto |
| 106002 | 106001 | US | Serious and solid, this Cab Franc delivers the goods with a complex nose of vanilla, coconut and orange clove pomanders layered over coffee and bittersweet chocolate. There's nice fruit in the mouth, with plum and blackberry shot through with notes of cinnamon. Medium, oaky finish. Serve with roast beef. Best 2011–2012. | Double Barrel | 87 | 14 | Texas | Texas | | | | Messina Hof 2007 Double Barrel Cabernet Franc (Texas) | Cabernet Franc | Messina Hof |
| 106003 | 106002 | US | This big, thick, oaky Zinfandel is powerful in flavor and not particularly subtle. It overwhelms with truckloads of blackberry and cherry jam, stewed plums, chocolate, mocha, pepper and cedar, and stings the palate with hard, astringent tannins and heat. The suggestion is ageability, but it's a gamble beyond 2012. | Barrel 32 Lily Hill Estate | 87 | 48 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Bella 2007 Barrel 32 Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Bella |
| 106004 | 106003 | US | Buena Vista has a good reputation for this bottling, and the great '07 vintage has resulted in another fine Chardonnay, at a good price. Racy in acidity, the wine shows mineral-infused citrus fruit, apple and honeysuckle notes that finish with a touch of off-dry sweetness. | | 87 | 18 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Buena Vista 2007 Chardonnay (Carneros) | Chardonnay | Buena Vista |
| 106005 | 106004 | Argentina | Dark berry and meaty fruit on the nose, with plum and blackberry aromas. The palate is zestier, with bright acidity tempering any weight. The finish is solid, with nothing off or outlandish to consider. A good, solid, concentrated Syrah without a whole lot of varietal character. | Don Baltazar Reserva | 87 | 13 | Other | San Juan | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Casa Montes 2006 Don Baltazar Reserva Syrah (San Juan) | Syrah | Casa Montes |
| 106006 | 106005 | France | Starts off a touch funky, but that subsides after a couple of minutes in the glass. Black plum and cassis are strong on the nose and mouth, backed by accents of vanilla, black pepper spice and roasted coffee granules. The finish is long and evolving, moving from black fruit flavors to cherry pits and ending on sweet oak flavors. | Cariñu | 87 | 15 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Vin de Pays du Val de Cesse | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Château Cabezac 2006 Cariñu Red (Vin de Pays du Val de Cesse) | Red Blend | Château Cabezac |
| 106007 | 106006 | US | Here's a pretty, polished Pinot for drinking now with a nice steak. It's dry and silky, with good varietal flavors of cherries, cola, rhubarb, grilled mushrooms and smoky oak, finished with dusty spices. There's even a touch of barnyard. | Bella Luna Vineyard | 87 | 45 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Churchill Cellars 2007 Bella Luna Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Churchill Cellars |
| 106008 | 106007 | France | A young wine, with crisp apple and grapefruit salad freshness. It is bright, glowing with vibrant fruit and a light touch of toast. | | 87 | 18 | Burgundy | Saint-Véran | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Chalet Pouilly 2008 Saint-Véran | Chardonnay | Domaine du Chalet Pouilly |
| 106009 | 106008 | US | Very peppery and briary, with a slightly green, minty edge to the riper wild berries and tobacco. A good, gutsy Zinfandel of character and a sense of place. | Estate Grown | 87 | 25 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Fritz 2007 Estate Grown Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Fritz |
| 106010 | 106009 | US | Light strawberry, raspberry and Bing cherry fruit, medium weight, straight-ahead, nicely ripened. The tannins are soft and the balance works just fine. | Lawrence Vineyards | 87 | 32 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Gård 2006 Lawrence Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gård |
| 106011 | 106010 | US | A classic, boldly full-bodied offering of the variety from vineyards in Sonoma Valley, Knights Valley and Alexander Valley, this wine is defined by blackberry, cassis and mocha, its mouthfeel velvety and luxurious. The finish is lengthy and accented in sage. | | 90 | 35 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Arrowood 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Arrowood |
| 106012 | 106011 | Italy | Aromas of rose petal, violet, red berry and a whiff of baking spice lead the nose on this luminous red. On the accessible palate, notes of clove and chopped herb accent the wild cherry core. It's balanced, with bright acidity and velvety tannins. Drink through 2022. | | 90 | 39 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Massucco 2010 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Massucco |
| 106013 | 106012 | Italy | Fruity and fresh, this opens with aromas of tilled earth, wild berry and cassis. The fresh, spicy palate doles out black cherry, white pepper, clove and a hint of green tea alongside velvety tannins. Enjoy through 2017. | | 90 | 23 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Muri-Gries 2013 Lagrein (Alto Adige) | Lagrein | Muri-Gries |
| 106014 | 106013 | Italy | Pretty Nebbiolo scents of red berry, mint and leather emerge on this straightforward red. On the solid, balanced palate, firm tannins support red cherry, grilled herb and clove. Drink through 2021. | | 90 | 60 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Ricossa 2011 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Ricossa |
| 106015 | 106014 | Italy | This opens with enticing scents of woodland berry, iris, wild rose and a balsamic note. The palate is still is still rather closed but offers raw red berry, chopped sage and star anise alongside bracing tannins and brisk acidity. Give this time to unwind and fully open. Drink after 2019. | Tebavio | 90 | 60 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tenuta L'Illuminata 2011 Tebavio (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Tenuta L'Illuminata |
| 106016 | 106015 | US | Plummy blackberry and cherry flavors abound in this Cabernet Franc, anchored by a taut frame of fine, firm tannins and cranberry acidity. It seems lavishly oaked, but pronounced aromas of cedar and toast integrate smoothly on the palate. The long finish is marked by an enticing pencil-shaving edge. | | 90 | 45 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Bedell 2014 Cabernet Franc (North Fork of Long Island) | Cabernet Franc | Bedell |
| 106017 | 106016 | France | With bright fruit and intense acidity, this is a crisp, perfumed rosé. Clean, fresh lines of red and citrus fruits are cut by the tight, mineral texture. It is both delicious wine and refreshing. | Charles Thomas | 90 | 17 | Provence | Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Bejot Vins et Terroirs 2015 Charles Thomas Rosé (Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire) | Rosé | Bejot Vins et Terroirs |
| 106018 | 106017 | US | This is a generous and ripe version of the variety, reflective of warmer Napa Valley sites, and a wine that's completely delicious in its abundance of apple and caramel. | | 90 | 18 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Beringer 2014 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Beringer |
| 106019 | 106018 | France | Time to rock with this new, lightly oaked cuvée from Esclans, a fresh, bright, full wine with forward fruit. Despite its alcohol, the wine has a light touch with a hint of pepper and rounded red fruits making it ideal for food. The wine will be best to drink from late 2016. | Rock Angel | 90 | 35 | Provence | Côtes de Provence | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château d'Esclans 2015 Rock Angel Rosé (Côtes de Provence) | Rosé | Château d'Esclans |
| 106020 | 106019 | France | Organic grapes grown north of the Mediterranean port city of Toulon have produced a ripe wine with an intense burst of red-currant fruits given extra dimension by perfumed wild-strawberry flavors. The wine's richness means it will be better with food than as an apéritif. | | 90 | 15 | Provence | Coteaux Varois en Provence | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Trians 2015 Rosé (Coteaux Varois en Provence) | Rosé | Château Trians |