| 13081 | 13080 | US | This Livermore producer has sourced from Livermore and Amador County—both Portuguese varieties and Cabernet Sauvignon—to make this Port-style wine, a mouthful of caramel toffee melted and toasty. A hint of marshmallow's there too. | Late Bottled Vintage Port | 85 | 40 | California | California | California Other | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Cedar Mountain 2000 Late Bottled Vintage Port Port (California) | Port | Cedar Mountain |
| 13082 | 13081 | France | This blend of Rolle (Vermentino), Viognier and Roussanne is fresh and floral, with a lean, crisp feel that acts to rein in the citrus blossom and melon notes. Drink now. | Expression | 85 | 15 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château Beaubois 2010 Expression White (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style White Blend | Château Beaubois |
| 13083 | 13082 | Spain | Tight aromas of citrus and red fruits aren't expressive but at least they're crisp. Same goes for the palate, which is tight and juicy as it offers flavors of pink grapefruit, citrus and burnt grass/hay. Good as value-priced quaffers go. | Protocolo | 85 | 7 | Central Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Dominio de Eguren 2010 Protocolo Rosé (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla) | Rosé | Dominio de Eguren |
| 13084 | 13083 | Spain | Smoky on the nose, but also a bit harsh, with reedy, peppery notes. The palate is soft, creamy and low on acidity, with sweet, candied red fruit flavors that have a stalky, burnt edge. Goes down easy but has some sticking points. | Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut | 85 | 18 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Freixenet NV Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Freixenet |
| 13085 | 13084 | South Africa | There's a touch of heat to the nose of this Shiraz that slightly overwhelms the black plum and berry aromas. In the mouth, initial licorice and mulled boysenberry flavors transition nicely into the short but peppery close. | | 85 | 13 | Stellenbosch | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Helderberg Wijnmakerij 2009 Shiraz (Stellenbosch) | Shiraz | Helderberg Wijnmakerij |
| 13086 | 13085 | South Africa | An interesting note of sweet smoke graces the nose of this Merlot, adding another layer to the otherwise traditional characteristics of rich black berry and dark plum guts. Round and satisfying in the mouth with approachable tannins and a medium finish. | | 85 | 10 | Western Cape | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Indaba 2010 Merlot (Western Cape) | Merlot | Indaba |
| 13087 | 13086 | Spain | A bit pruney and reduced on the bouquet, with lively acidity pushing traditional Rioja flavors of roasted berry, vanilla and cocoa powder. Falls off a bit on the finish, leaving buttery oak and milk chocolate flavors. | Antaño Reserva | 85 | 12 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | J. Garcia Carrion 2005 Antaño Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo | J. Garcia Carrion |
| 13088 | 13087 | US | This is a sweet, oaky Chardonnay, made to appeal to the modern palate. It has sugary pineapple, green apple, pear, buttered toast and vanilla custard flavors, fortunately brightened with zesty acidity. | | 85 | 13 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | L de Lyeth 2010 Chardonnay (Sonoma County) | Chardonnay | L de Lyeth |
| 13089 | 13088 | Spain | Sweet apple and peach aromas set up a foamy, simple palate with short, basic flavors of applesauce and generic citrus. Round on the finish, with a lasting impression of cider and apple pulp. Good for a standard quaffer. | Lady of Spain Brut | 85 | 14 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Paul Cheneau NV Lady of Spain Brut Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Paul Cheneau |
| 13090 | 13089 | US | Sugary sweet and soft, with jammy raspberry, cherry, mocha, vanilla, cinnamon, clove and pepper flavors. It's a country-style Zin made for washing down barbecue. | | 85 | 18 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Pezzi King 2009 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Pezzi King |
| 13091 | 13090 | Peru | Roasted and earthy smelling, with a pinch of iodine and even a whiff of bacon or ham. Rich, full and a touch sticky on the tongue, with baked berry and chocolate flavors. Mellow and sweet on the back end. 100% Malbec. | Halcón de la Viña | 85 | 15 | Ica | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Tacama 2008 Halcón de la Viña Malbec (Ica) | Malbec | Tacama |
| 13092 | 13091 | US | Heavy and oaky, with a full-bodied, soft mouthfeel. But it's rich and sweet in cherries, blackberries, plums, mocha and spices. Pretty good price for a nice, everyday Merlot. | Block 500 Estate | 85 | 15 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Trentadue 2009 Block 500 Estate Merlot (Alexander Valley) | Merlot | Trentadue |
| 13093 | 13092 | Spain | Cherry and spice aromas are fairly oaky and resiny. The palate is also resiny, with drying wood tannins along with clove and generic berry and cherry flavors. Tastes peppery and also like a clove-infused barrel on the finish. | | 85 | 15 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valdubón 2009 Ribera del Duero | Tempranillo Blend | Valdubón |
| 13094 | 13093 | Italy | This Barbaresco from the celebrated Rabajà cru presents aromas that are typical of the Nebbiolo grape: pressed blue flowers, tar, licorice, currants and wet earth. The presentation is correct but lacks specific definition although the wine is bright, polished and more focused in the mouth. | Rabajà | 89 | 26 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Cascina Luisin 2007 Rabajà (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Cascina Luisin |
| 13095 | 13094 | Italy | This compact and lean Barolo Riserva opens with a light but luminous ruby color with amber highlights. The aromas here are elegant and ethereal with loads of menthol, balsam and root beer-like overtones. In the mouth, this is a particularly polished and silky wine. | Arione dell'Ulivo Riserva | 89 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Gigi Rosso 2004 Arione dell'Ulivo Riserva (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Gigi Rosso |
| 13096 | 13095 | France | Fresh crushed strawberries combine with a ripe and sweet texture to give a delicious, glowing rosé. It is full in the mouth, with a touch of sweeter fruits, although acidity does give the wine a final lift. | Cuvée Rosé Brut | 89 | 99 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Laurent-Perrier NV Cuvée Rosé Brut (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Laurent-Perrier |
| 13097 | 13096 | France | A creamy Champagne that is softly sweet, balanced between ripe pear and crisp acidity. It remains tightly textured while also offering an attractive richness. | Carte Blanche Extra Dry | 89 | 43 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Louis Roederer NV Carte Blanche Extra Dry (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Louis Roederer |
| 13098 | 13097 | US | A good 100% Cabernet, with complex, pleasant cherry, blackberry and oak flavors. Quite tannic now, with a sandpapery mouthfeel, and very full-bodied. Feels a little ponderous, but could be going through an awkward phase. Try again after 2013. | Collector's Reserve | 89 | 120 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | Martin Estate 2007 Collector's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Martin Estate |
| 13099 | 13098 | Italy | Wood tones of leather, spice and tobacco are folded within dark berry fruit, cassis and blue flower to create a well-rounded and balanced Roero Riserva. You still get those distinctively drying tannins on the close although this expression puts more emphasis on softness and succulence. A Marc de Grazia selection; various American importers. | Roche d'Ampsej Riserva | 89 | | Piedmont | Roero | | | | Matteo Correggia 2006 Roche d'Ampsej Riserva (Roero) | Nebbiolo | Matteo Correggia |
| 13100 | 13099 | Italy | Black spice, root beer, tar and a touch of smoke are backed by prune, plum and dried currants. You'll also recognize aromas of green olive or caper and this Riserva Barbaresco is very elegant and feminine overall. Don't wait too long to drink this wine, it's at its height now. | Rio Sordo Riserva | 89 | 70 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Produttori del Barbaresco 2005 Rio Sordo Riserva (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Produttori del Barbaresco |
| 13101 | 13100 | Chile | Solid from front to back. The nose is your normal mix of cassis, blackberry, latex glove and licorice nibs, while the palate runs hard and condensed, with ripe black fruit flavors. A little clacky and tough on the tongue and cheeks, but true as you can ask for from a Colchagua Cabernet. | Axel | 89 | 20 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | La Playa 2007 Axel Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | La Playa |
| 13102 | 13101 | Italy | Smoke, toast, mesquite and barbecue tones emerge from the nose of this nicely concentrated Barbaresco from La Spinona. There's not much fruit here as the wine's aromas are mostly occupied by the secondary perfumes acquired through wood aging. Expect those to evolve and become more ethereal with time. | Bricco Faset | 89 | | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | La Spinona 2007 Bricco Faset (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | La Spinona |
| 13103 | 13102 | US | Three quarters Sauvignon Blanc and the rest Sémillon, this attractive white wine has an appealing snap to the fruit and an underlying acidity that sets it up in lively fashion. It's a food wine through and through, lightly toasty, with green berries and apples providing the clean fruit flavors. A fine value. | Snowflake White Wine | 89 | 16 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Davenport Cellars 2009 Snowflake White Wine White (Columbia Valley (WA)) | White Blend | Davenport Cellars |
| 13104 | 13103 | US | Pure Merlot, from the Red Mountain vineyard, this displays that AVA's stiff, hard-edged tannins, keeping the fruit pinned down into a compact core. Cassis and black cherry, iron filings and some tar are all carefully balanced. There's plenty of muscle for further aging, and a hint of heat in the finish. | Red Mountain Vineyard | 89 | 45 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Fidelitas 2007 Red Mountain Vineyard Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Fidelitas |
| 13105 | 13104 | Austria | Lovely red berry fruits, with great acidity and fine perfumes. The elegance of the wine is spoilt slightly by a rustic edge, although the red berry aftertaste is fresh and clean. | | 89 | 50 | Burgenland | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Judith Beck 2007 Pinot Noir (Burgenland) | Pinot Noir | Judith Beck |
| 13106 | 13105 | US | The fruit for this Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a dozen different vineyards, blended into a firm, purely varietal example of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. The rich aromatics of black fruits, baking spices, dust, and cocoa powder roll into a full-flavored midpalate, enhanced with a light floral component. | | 89 | 30 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | L'Ecole No. 41 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | L'Ecole No. 41 |
| 13107 | 13106 | France | Rich, as a Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir should be, this wine reflects the prime location of Mailly on the north slopes of the Montagne de Reims. It has some tannic structure as well as delicious line in black currant and acidity. It is a young bottling, so keep for several months. | Blanc de Noirs Brut | 89 | 52 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Mailly Grand Cru NV Blanc de Noirs Brut Pinot Noir (Champagne) | Pinot Noir | Mailly Grand Cru |
| 13108 | 13107 | France | While demi-sec is the description, this almost as dry as some Brut Champagnes. Its flavors are of walnuts and pear juice along with a fine drive of acidity. This is food Champagne, looking for richer white fish or scallops as a pairing. | Demi-Sec | 89 | 46 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Mailly Grand Cru NV Demi-Sec (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | Mailly Grand Cru |
| 13109 | 13108 | US | There is a lovely balance to this Viognier, and a sense that these cool-climate grapes were not pushed too far. The winemaker, happily, chose to make the wine that the vineyard gave her. Delicate and layered, with paper-thin suggestions of citrus rind, grapefruit and white peach. Still tightly knit, this wine very slowly unwinds long after you've swallowed that first sip or two. | Defiance Vineyard | 89 | 19 | Washington | Lake Chelan | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Nefarious 2009 Defiance Vineyard Viognier (Lake Chelan) | Viognier | Nefarious |
| 13110 | 13109 | Italy | Here's a Riserva Barolo from the excellent 2004 vintage with elegant and traditional characteristics and evolved aromas of smoked meat, pressed fruit, chopped spice and moist earth. The wine seems older than it is and ends with meaty flavors of cured beef and honey roasted ham. | Sotto Castello di Novello Riserva | 89 | 50 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Piazzo Armando 2004 Sotto Castello di Novello Riserva (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Piazzo Armando |