| 10951 | 10950 | France | This wine, made from organically grown grapes, is ripe, full of red-cherry fruits and soft tannins. It is an immediately attractive wine, packed with fruitiness and ready to drink. The village of Leynes is on the border between Beaujolais and Macon. | Cuvée Jadis Le Clos | 86 | 34 | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Leynes | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Lavernette 2014 Cuvée Jadis Le Clos (Beaujolais-Leynes) | Gamay | Château de Lavernette |
| 10952 | 10951 | France | This is a ripe wine that has a high proportion of Sémillon in the blend. That makes it rich: revealing yellow fruits as well as greener herbal characters. It is fruity, tangy and refreshing. Drink from spring 2017. | Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon | 86 | 12 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Blanc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Saint-Florin 2015 Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon (Bordeaux Blanc) | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Saint-Florin |
| 10953 | 10952 | France | This ripe Saint-Émilion is generous with its rounded perfumed Merlot. It gives the wine richness, juicy acidity and an open texture. Touches of tannin do bring in some structure, but the emphasis is on the fruitiness and fresh aftertaste. Drink from late 2017. | Fortin Plaisance | 86 | 20 | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Cheval Quancard 2014 Fortin Plaisance (Saint-Émilion) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Cheval Quancard |
| 10954 | 10953 | Portugal | This ripe, creamy wine contains the rare Vital in the blend. That grape gives crisp, tight acidity while the Chardonnay brings out the smoother, richer side of this balanced and fruity wine. Drink now. | Quinta de Pancas Chardonnay-Arinto-Vital | 86 | 15 | Lisboa | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Companhia das Quintas 2015 Quinta de Pancas Chardonnay-Arinto-Vital White (Lisboa) | Portuguese White | Companhia das Quintas |
| 10955 | 10954 | US | This young wine could use additional bottle age. The edges are sharp and there is some bite to the fruit. Citrus pith and rind flavors dominate, rather than flesh. It's spare and lightly bitter in the finish. | | 86 | 20 | Oregon | Rogue Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Del Rio 2015 Chardonnay (Rogue Valley) | Chardonnay | Del Rio |
| 10956 | 10955 | US | This wine is a blend of Monette's Vineyard Grenache and River Rock Syrah (15%). The volatiles are amped up, along with aromas of raspberries and herb. The flavors are full and liquorous, showing a fair amount of heat. | First and Mercer | 86 | 30 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Elephant Seven 2014 First and Mercer Grenache (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Grenache | Elephant Seven |
| 10957 | 10956 | Spain | Apple and citrus aromas are a touch briny. This feels pulpy, with standard weight and balance. Dry bready yeasty melon and white-fruit flavors finish with a salty side note. | Alba de Sierra | 86 | 14 | Northern Spain | Rueda | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Peñafiel 2015 Alba de Sierra Verdejo (Rueda) | Verdejo | Bodegas Peñafiel |
| 10958 | 10957 | Portugal | This attractive wine is full of ripe fruit, with soft tannins and only light acidity. It is developing well. Drink this wine from late 2017. | Terras do Grifo | 86 | 14 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Rozes 2013 Terras do Grifo Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Rozes |
| 10959 | 10958 | Argentina | Aromas of orange blossom, lychee and lemon peel are potent and oily. In the mouth, this is thick for Torrontés, with distinct oiliness. Flavors of tropical fruits and lychee are pithy and full of pyrazines. | | 86 | 19 | Other | Cafayate | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | San Pedro de Yacochuya 2015 Torrontés (Cafayate) | Torrontés | San Pedro de Yacochuya |
| 10960 | 10959 | France | Named after the fortress at Blaye on the banks of the Gironde, the wine is easygoing and approachable. It has generous black-currant fruits, shot through with acidity, and is given structure by some dense tannins. Drink this wine from 2017. | La Belle Citadelle | 86 | 15 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Supérieur | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | A. de Luze et Fils 2015 La Belle Citadelle (Bordeaux Supérieur) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | A. de Luze et Fils |
| 10961 | 10960 | US | This is a viscous, pruney dessert wine made from 45% Zinfandel and 55% Mixed Blacks. Labeled as 8% residual sugar, it exhibits that sweetness in an intensity of ripe, tannic blackberry and leather. | The Crown Jewels | 86 | 28 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Bodkin 2014 The Crown Jewels Red (Sonoma County) | Red Blend | Bodkin |
| 10962 | 10961 | Argentina | Gritty aromas of grilled beef and asphalt blend with savory berry scents. Frankly, this is rough on the palate, with abrasive tannins. Savory herbal green-leaning flavors are peppery and bitter on a grabby finish. | de los Andes Reserve | 86 | 25 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Altamira 2010 de los Andes Reserve Malbec (Uco Valley) | Malbec | Altamira |
| 10963 | 10962 | Italy | After a few swirls of the glass, you'll find subdued aromas recalling porcini mushroom, forest floor, camphor and a whiff of cellar floor. The lean palate offers raw sour cherry, espresso and a hint of coconut alongside raspy tannins that grip the mouth-drying finish. | Basarin | 86 | 40 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Arbéta 2012 Basarin (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Arbéta |
| 10964 | 10963 | US | Succulent black cherry, clove and oak mingle effortlessly in this simple, straightforward and light-bodied varietal wine. It also shows a wealth of rose and sage perfume on the nose. | | 86 | 26 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Ca' Momi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Ca' Momi |
| 10965 | 10964 | Italy | This opens with aromas of dark fruit and a whiff of used leather. The simple, light-bodied palate shows red cherry and a hint of spice alongside zesty acidity and easygoing tannins. | Cadetto | 86 | | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Castorani 2014 Cadetto (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) | Montepulciano | Castorani |
| 10966 | 10965 | US | This offers fresh flavors of pear fruit, with a lightly fleshy mouthfeel. The length and balance are in proportion. Drink now through 2018. | | 86 | 12 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Château Bianca 2015 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Gris | Château Bianca |
| 10967 | 10966 | France | Situated at the highest point of the Entre-deux-Mers region, the estate is dominated by the ripe Merlot in this wine. It is fruity and soft with lively acidity and gentle tannins. There is a touch of wood from the aging, although the fruitiness is what this wine is about. Drink from 2017. | Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot | 86 | 12 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Saint-Florin 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Bordeaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Saint-Florin |
| 10968 | 10967 | Argentina | Jumbled jammy berry aromas lack specificity. This has a forceful tartaric mouthfeel that supports tart plum and currant flavors. Keeping things consistent, this is angular and acidic on the finish, with sour plum and racy berry flavors. | Callejon del Crimen Reserva | 86 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca La Luz 2015 Callejon del Crimen Reserva Malbec (Uco Valley) | Malbec | Finca La Luz |
| 10969 | 10968 | Italy | This Chianti Classico Riserva has deep layers of spice, chocolate, wild berry, cherry, licorice and black pepper. The mouthfeel is smooth, long and fresh. | Riserva Famiglia Zingarelli | 90 | 24 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Rocca delle Macìe 2009 Riserva Famiglia Zingarelli (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Rocca delle Macìe |
| 10970 | 10969 | US | This small-production single-vineyard Pinot Noir is dry, elegant and may be deceptively simple in its youth. It feels delicate now, almost fragile, with the suggestion of barely ripe cherries and cola that's been left out overnight so it loses its spritz. It's a wine of nuance, not power, and could easily develop dramatically over the next six years. | Parmelee-Hill Vineyard | 90 | 48 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Saxon Brown 2009 Parmelee-Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Saxon Brown |
| 10971 | 10970 | US | This has lots of ripe, plush blackberry, olive and dark chocolate flavors. It packs a punch that lasts into a long, spicy finish. Delicious, classy, and lovely to drink now, although it will evolve through at least 2018. | Artemis | 90 | 55 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 2009 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
| 10972 | 10971 | Argentina | A bit leafy and earthy on first take, but this also smells of roasted meat, berry fruit and menthol. It feels layered and rich, with drying tannins and full-force plum and herb flavors. This is big, dark and herbal, finishing with hints of leather, tomato and oregano. | Single Vineyard Las Compuertas | 90 | 45 | Mendoza Province | Luján de Cuyo | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Terrazas de Los Andes 2008 Single Vineyard Las Compuertas Malbec (Luján de Cuyo) | Malbec | Terrazas de Los Andes |
| 10973 | 10972 | Italy | This blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc opens with jammy, almost impenetrable aromas of blackberry, maraschino cherry, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate. “Huge” is the operative word. | | 90 | 57 | Central Italy | Marche | | | | Il Pollenza 2007 Red (Marche) | Red Blend | Il Pollenza |
| 10974 | 10973 | Italy | This elegant Sagrantino boasts a dark, inky color, with aromas of blackberry, tobacco, spice, leather, tar and a touch of cherry cola. It shows power and concentration but is well balanced overall. | | 90 | 47 | Central Italy | Sagrantino di Montefalco | | | | Lungarotti 2009 Sagrantino di Montefalco | Sagrantino | Lungarotti |
| 10975 | 10974 | Portugal | This is rich, with an old wood feel and a sweet, still-fruity character. With its acid balance, this is fresh, round and perfumed. | 20-Years Old Tawny | 90 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Barros NV 20-Years Old Tawny (Port) | Port | Barros |
| 10976 | 10975 | US | This Syrah is considerably lighter in body than you'd expect for a variety that's often heavy and full bodied. It has the silkiness of a Pinot Noir, and it's dry and complex in wild berry, leather, black pepper and cedar flavors. It shows lots of elegance throughout, and could even pick up bottle notes over the next six years. | Morehouse Vineyard | 90 | 50 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Carr 2009 Morehouse Vineyard Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley) | Syrah | Carr |
| 10977 | 10976 | France | This négociant's top cuvée of Saint-Joseph has vibrant mixed berry notes that pick up lovely hints of licorice and garrigue, then turn chocolaty and velvety on the finish. Nicely done all the way around, with a drinking window extending from now through 2017. | Les Archevêques | 90 | 42 | Rhône Valley | Saint-Joseph | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Les Vins de Vienne 2009 Les Archevêques (Saint-Joseph) | Syrah | Les Vins de Vienne |
| 10978 | 10977 | France | Atypical for the appellation in that it's 80% Syrah, this is a dark-fruited, slightly pruny Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Chocolate and licorice notes add complexity to this full-bodied, firmly structured wine. With its long, chewy finish, consider deferring consumption until at least 2014. | Réserve | 90 | 68 | Rhône Valley | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domaine de Nalys 2009 Réserve Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Domaine de Nalys |
| 10979 | 10978 | US | Nicely focused, with a core of wild strawberry and black cherry, this bears herb and pepper highlights common to Oregon Pinot. It has a nice mouthfeel and is balanced throughout. | | 90 | 24 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Gresser 2009 Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Gresser |
| 10980 | 10979 | France | More Tardieu-Laurent than Côtes du Rhône, with hallmark exotic, nearly tropical notes suggestive of toasted coconut, vanilla and apricot. It's full bodied and plush in texture, with a long, cedary and velvety finish. Drink it over the next few years. | Guy Louis | 90 | 28 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Tardieu-Laurent 2009 Guy Louis Red (Côtes du Rhône) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Tardieu-Laurent |