| 106591 | 106590 | France | A wine that offers plenty of the charm of Margaux, with its soft tannins, layers of chocolate, smooth texture and juicy fruit. The wood at this stage is prominent, and needs to settle down. | Thomas Barton Réserve | 85 | 30 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Barton & Guestier 2007 Thomas Barton Réserve (Margaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Barton & Guestier |
| 106592 | 106591 | US | Jammy and yet still savory, a fairly straightforward Syrah from the Clements Hills area of Lodi, small production (240 cases), 100% varietal and made using native fermentation, the wine has solid tannin structure and a heady texture, but could use more oomph on the finish. | 47.5 Degree Limited Release Syrah | 85 | 35 | California | Clements Hills | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Borra 2008 47.5 Degree Limited Release Syrah Syrah (Clements Hills) | Syrah | Borra |
| 106593 | 106592 | Chile | Rather hard and baked on the nose, with a heavy helping of char and molasses. The palate is angular and tannic, while the flavors revolve around lemony oak and spice more than fruit. Spiky on the finish and sharp-edged as a whole. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah. | Cayao | 85 | 60 | Central Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Botalcura 2006 Cayao Red (Central Valley) | Red Blend | Botalcura |
| 106594 | 106593 | US | Not a ton of fruit on the nose but a respectable single-vineyard from Zin master Carol Shelton made from organically grown, dry-farmed 92-year-old vines, coaxed into a spicy, brambly wine from a very unusual appellation. | Monga Zin, Lopez Vineyard | 85 | 21 | California | Cucamonga Valley | South Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Carol Shelton 2008 Monga Zin, Lopez Vineyard Zinfandel (Cucamonga Valley) | Zinfandel | Carol Shelton |
| 106595 | 106594 | France | A soft, open wine, kept together by its dry tannins. Good black fruits, fresh acidity and an attractive smoky character. | | 85 | | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Supérieur | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Monroze 2008 Bordeaux Supérieur | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Monroze |
| 106596 | 106595 | Chile | Purple in color, with grapey aromas that lack complexity. The palate is deep and dense but edgy, with sugary flavors of candied black plum and black cherry. Finishes sweet like burnt brown sugar, with some coffee and anisette. Syrupy but generous. | Reserva | 85 | 12 | Maule Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Chilensis 2009 Reserva Malbec (Maule Valley) | Malbec | Chilensis |
| 106597 | 106596 | France | With its few years' aging, the wine exhibits a Chenin Blanc nutty quality backed by the greater weight of Chardonnay. Full-bodied, ready to drink. Screwcap. | La Calèche | 85 | | Loire Valley | Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine des Baumard 2006 La Calèche Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay (Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France) | Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay | Domaine des Baumard |
| 106598 | 106597 | US | Not in the same league as Donelan's Syrahs. The Grenache seems to drag it down. It's paler in color, there's a vegetal smell, and it's simple in berry, cola and spice flavors. Drink now. | Cuvée Moriah | 85 | 40 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Donelan 2008 Cuvée Moriah Grenache-Syrah (Sonoma County) | Grenache-Syrah | Donelan |
| 106599 | 106598 | South Africa | Soft red apple, hard peach, green fig and underripe banana peel all marry with an underlying yellow floral note. Light and easy in the mouth with a short but clean finish. | | 85 | 15 | Stellenbosch | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Ken Forrester 2009 Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch) | Chenin Blanc | Ken Forrester |
| 106600 | 106599 | Australia | Smells and tastes slightly sour, with simple flavors of pineapple and citrus that finish with a tart edge. | Unoaked | 83 | 11 | Western Australia | Western Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Bush Bike 2005 Unoaked Chardonnay (Western Australia) | Chardonnay | Bush Bike |
| 106601 | 106600 | Spain | The palate is big and cushioned, but the flavors are green, stewy and herbal. With carob and some veggies on the finish, there isn't convincing ripeness to this wine. | Inspiración Edición Limitada | 83 | 50 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2003 Inspiración Edición Limitada (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Valdemar |
| 106602 | 106601 | Spain | Strawberry, red plum and a strong hint of tomato leaf work the nose, followed by tangy raspberry flavors and a wash of acidity. Seems sort of scratchy and edgy, with a hard, dry peppery quality. | Reserva | 83 | 13 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Campo Viejo 2003 Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Campo Viejo |
| 106603 | 106602 | US | St. Helena is the source of this blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Entirely unoaked, it's a dry, crisp, rustic wine, and full-bodied for a rosé, with heavy flavors of cherry pie filling. | Home Vineyard Dry Rosado | 83 | 23 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Casa Nuestra 2007 Home Vineyard Dry Rosado Rosé (Napa Valley) | Rosé | Casa Nuestra |
| 106604 | 106603 | France | There's earthy, fleshy aromas on this wine that has acidity, red fruits and soft tannins. The rough edge of rusticity is not far away, though, spoiling the fresh fruits. | | 83 | | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Saint-Sulpice 2005 Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Saint-Sulpice |
| 106605 | 106604 | Australia | Despite plenty of weight in the mouth, this wine's simple apple and lime flavors are surprisingly crisp, turning nearly sour-lemony on the finish. Imported by Walca International. | | 83 | 12 | South Australia | Adelaide Plains | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Red Earth 2007 Chardonnay (Adelaide Plains) | Chardonnay | Red Earth |
| 106606 | 106605 | US | After a string of successful vintages, this wine has an oven-baked fruit taste, like blackberry and cherry pie-filling that burbled out from the crust and got caramelized. | | 83 | 45 | California | Yountville | Napa | | | Rocca 2004 Syrah (Yountville) | Syrah | Rocca |
| 106607 | 106606 | Spain | Yellow in color, with floral, citrusy aromas. Not a whole lot of definition to the palate; it's wet but dilute, with unrefined, nonproprietary citrus flavors. | Viña Sanzo | 83 | 17 | Northern Spain | Rueda | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valsanzo 2005 Viña Sanzo Verdejo (Rueda) | Verdejo | Valsanzo |
| 106608 | 106607 | Spain | Tightly wound and acidic, with forceful red-berry flavors that are spicy and zesty. Finishes a little on the raw side, with cranberry notes and a hard crescendo. Tempranillo with Garnacha and Cabernet. | Gran Feudo Crianza | 83 | 13 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Julián Chivite 2004 Gran Feudo Crianza Red (Navarra) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Julián Chivite |
| 106609 | 106608 | US | Has some Viognier and Sémillon for added richness, but there's still a pretty powerful blast of raw, green gooseberry that's less than ripe. There are also tiers of figs, melons and vanilla. | | 83 | 16 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Tamayo Family 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Tamayo Family |
| 106610 | 106609 | Spain | Roble means “oak” in Spanish, and oaky it is. The nose is creamy and candied, while the palate is soft, sticky and mixes raspberry with butter-like flavors. When people say they don't want too much oak on their basic wines, this is what they mean. | Torcanto Roble | 83 | 13 | Northern Spain | Toro | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Monte La Reina 2005 Torcanto Roble (Toro) | Tinta de Toro | Bodegas Monte La Reina |
| 106611 | 106610 | US | They left a lot of sweetness in this steel-fermented Pinot Grigio, so if you like that sugary edge, this one's for you. The flavors are of vibrantly ripe tangerines, pineapples and fresh green apples. | | 83 | 20 | California | Paicines | Central Coast | | | Donati 2006 Pinot Grigio (Paicines) | Pinot Grigio | Donati |
| 106612 | 106611 | Spain | Hard and mossy, and not bearing much resemblance to Cabernet as we know it. This wine has thickness and a creamy definition, but also lean fruit flavors that hint at raspberry and cranberry. | Viñedo No. 9 | 83 | 15 | Northern Spain | Navarra | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Señorío de Sarria 2004 Viñedo No. 9 Cabernet Sauvignon (Navarra) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Señorío de Sarria |
| 106613 | 106612 | Spain | Condensed up front, with aromas of berry compote and molasses. So why is this so tangy and tart in the mouth? Maybe the grapes weren't as ripe as they seem from the nose, and in the end it fails the all-important balance/wholesomeness test. | Joven | 83 | 16 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Hemar 2006 Joven (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Hemar |
| 106614 | 106613 | Spain | Zingy and sort of floral on the nose, but fairly pickled, less than pure fruit mars the flavor profile. White wine from La Mancha has never been a Spanish strong suit, and while this wine isn't cloying, sharp or dead on arrival, it doesn't add up to much. | Blanco | 82 | 10 | Central Spain | La Mancha | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca Antigua 2006 Blanco Viura (La Mancha) | Viura | Finca Antigua |
| 106615 | 106614 | Spain | Gumball aromas yield to scents of spice and wet animal fur, while the flavor profile settles on tart and thin, with a watery mouthfeel. This is a lean, funky wine that doesn't have a whole lot of Rioja character. | Esencia Valdemar | 82 | 10 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2006 Esencia Valdemar (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Bodegas Valdemar |
| 106616 | 106615 | France | Rustic, barnyard aromas with flavors of hedgerow red berries and light acidity. The style is fruity; the sweet fruits are shot through with some licorice and beetroot flavors. | | 82 | 13 | Bordeaux | Côtes de Bourg | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château du Bousquet 2005 Côtes de Bourg | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château du Bousquet |
| 106617 | 106616 | US | A little rough around the edges, with some green tannins and minty, herbal flavors. You get some candied cherries and currants, but the wine is pretty rustic. | Reserve Selection | 82 | 15 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Hayman & Hill 2005 Reserve Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Hayman & Hill |
| 106618 | 106617 | US | From the fine Spring Mountain appellation, this has sweet-and-sour flavors of apricots, pineapples and brown sugar. | | 82 | 29 | California | Spring Mountain District | Napa | | | Keenan 2006 Chardonnay (Spring Mountain District) | Chardonnay | Keenan |
| 106619 | 106618 | US | A brittle, peppery and ultimately disappointing wine, this 100% varietal lacks the smoothness and cherry-herb complexities you expect from a fine Rutherford Cab. Finishes sharp and dry. | Conn Creek Estate Vineyard | 82 | 45 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | Conn Creek 2004 Conn Creek Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Conn Creek |
| 106620 | 106619 | US | Soft and earthy, with dried herb and blackberry flavors tinged with smoky oak, this is a gentle Cabernet for drinking now. It has enough fanciness to partner with a nice steak or an upscale beef taco. | | 87 | 40 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Gundlach Bundschu 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gundlach Bundschu |