| 14931 | 14930 | Argentina | Slightly earthy and herbal smelling but with enough clean fruit on the nose to make the grade. The palate is fairly flush, with blackberry, baked notes and bitter chocolate flavors. Fleshy and warm overall, with a thick finish that's lightly peppery and toasty. | | 86 | 10 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodega Norton 2009 Merlot (Mendoza) | Merlot | Bodega Norton |
| 14932 | 14931 | Italy | This expression of Moscadello di Montalcino opens with a dark, golden color and intense aromas of candied fruit, orange zest, roasted almond and dried apricot. The wine is thick and smooth with a strong element of sweetness balanced by a touch of crisp acidity. | 500ml | 86 | 35 | Tuscany | Moscadello di Montalcino | | | | Mocali 2004 500ml (Moscadello di Montalcino) | Moscadello | Mocali |
| 14933 | 14932 | US | Mostly Merlot, with Syrah and Cab Franc filling in the rest, this pleasant, everyday red has forward, clean, but simple fruit flavors. It adds light streaks of vanilla, cut leaf, and a suggestion of moist earth. A good companion for a simple burger. | Red | 86 | 14 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Murphy's Law 2008 Red Red (Yakima Valley) | Red Blend | Murphy's Law |
| 14934 | 14933 | Australia | Fresh and juicy, this easy-drinking blend provides simple mint and cassis aromas and flavors at a reasonable price, with just enough structure to stand up to burgers and the like. Drink now–2013. | Gamekeeper's Shiraz-Grenache-Touriga | 86 | 13 | South Australia | Barossa | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | St Hallett 2008 Gamekeeper's Shiraz-Grenache-Touriga Red (Barossa) | Red Blend | St Hallett |
| 14935 | 14934 | US | This wine comes from the San Lucas area of the southern Salinas Valley, on the way toward Paso Robles. It's a peppery wine, rustic, hot and dry, with strong jammy flavors of cherries and blackberries, and a long, spicy finish. Drink now. | | 86 | 42 | California | Monterey County | Central Coast | | | Pomar Junction 2007 Syrah (Monterey County) | Syrah | Pomar Junction |
| 14936 | 14935 | South Africa | A touch sharp with prominent acidity and soft tannins in the mouth. Tart dried cherry, raspberry and plum fill palate, with a clean, medium-length finish sealing the experience. Drink now. | Reserve | 86 | 15 | Robertson | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Rooiberg 2007 Reserve Shiraz (Robertson) | Shiraz | Rooiberg |
| 14937 | 14936 | US | A little simple and soft, but a pretty good approximation of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Shows raspberry jam, cola, red licorice and sandalwood flavors, wrapped into a silky texture. | | 86 | 17 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Sea Mist 2008 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Sea Mist |
| 14938 | 14937 | US | A chocolaty frame wraps around the tightly wound cherry-fruit core. There are delicious seams of coffee, vanilla and caramel, along with notes of tea and tobacco. It's fully accessible and intriguingly complex. | Suzanne's Estate Reserve | 91 | 50 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Left Coast Cellars 2014 Suzanne's Estate Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Left Coast Cellars |
| 14911 | 14910 | US | Juicy cranberry and pie cherry fruit brings this wine into clear focus. There is an underpinning of wet cement that comes across in the mid-palate, a sort of a stone wall that the fruit can't quite overcome. It fades into an astringent, tannic finish, still buoyed by those juicy acids. | Reserve | 87 | 20 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Snoqualmie 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Snoqualmie |
| 14939 | 14938 | France | With 45% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault this has turned into a highly flavored and aromatic wine. It has great fruits and a rich texture that has a herbal edge. It is certainly a food rosé and with its up-front fruit, it could do with a few months to calm down. Drink from late 2017. | Cuvée G | 91 | 21 | Provence | Bandol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Les Vignobles Gueissard 2016 Cuvée G Rosé (Bandol) | Rosé | Les Vignobles Gueissard |
| 14940 | 14939 | US | This 100% varietal wine is velvety and dense in all the right ways, striking a balance between fruit-forwardness and savory coomplexity. Blackberry, blueberry and coffee flavors lead the palate, highlighted in supple tannin. | | 91 | 32 | California | Calistoga | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Madrigal 2013 Petite Sirah (Calistoga) | Petite Sirah | Madrigal |
| 14912 | 14911 | Austria | The lightest wine from the 500-year-old Stadt Krems winery. It has an attractive edge of spice to go with its apple and cream texture. Not for aging, but a delicious apéritif wine. | | 87 | 16 | Kremstal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Stadt Krems 2009 Grüner Veltliner (Kremstal) | Grüner Veltliner | Stadt Krems |
| 14913 | 14912 | US | This 100% Tempranillo is soft and silky and vibrant in acidity, with pretty flavors of red cherries, raspberries and bacon. A nice wine to drink now with ham, sausage and similar salty, umami-rich fare. | Viva Tu! | 87 | 28 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Bodegas Paso Robles 2007 Viva Tu! Tempranillo (Paso Robles) | Tempranillo | Bodegas Paso Robles |
| 14914 | 14913 | US | Except for a slightly rustic edge to the way the wine feels in the mouth, this is a spectacular success. It stands next to much more expensive Merlots proudly. Dry and smooth in tannins, the cherry, red currant and pepper flavors are outstanding. | | 87 | 9 | California | California | California Other | | | Bogle 2008 Merlot (California) | Merlot | Bogle |
| 14915 | 14914 | Australia | Dark hints of charred oak and cola accent bright berry aromas, while the palate is marked by bold berry and black cherry flavors and a whack of vanilla. It's a medium-bodied red that comes across as a bit hard-edged because of its acidity despite having rather soft tannins. Drink now. | Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz-Merlot-Petit Verdot | 87 | 21 | Australia Other | South Eastern Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Brokenwood 2008 Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz-Merlot-Petit Verdot Red (South Eastern Australia) | Red Blend | Brokenwood |
| 14916 | 14915 | US | Some producer in Carneros didn't want the wine that went into this negociant's ‘07 Syrah, to judge by its quality. Lucky for Cameron Hughes. It's a fine wine, full-bodied and dry, with spicy flavors of currants, teriaki beef, black pepper and cola, with a bracing minerality that grounds the richness. Could be more concentrated, but it's a very great value. | Lot 178 | 87 | 12 | California | Los Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Cameron Hughes 2007 Lot 178 Syrah (Los Carneros) | Syrah | Cameron Hughes |
| 14917 | 14916 | Italy | Opens with a thick amber color and aromas of peppermint, apricot, white mineral and lavender honey. There's a floral component in the mouth but this wine also offers distinctive flavors of dried grass or herbs. | 500ml | 87 | 51 | Sicily & Sardinia | Passito di Pantelleria | | | | Colosi 2006 500ml (Passito di Pantelleria) | Zibibbo | Colosi |
| 14918 | 14917 | US | A mongrel blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, Grenache and Cabernet Franc, this fruity red has a sweet core of blueberry jam, round and forward and quite appealing. It's dusted with baking spices and fades gently into a soft finish. Hard to imagine a more agreeable bottle of Washington red at this price. | Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine | 87 | 8 | Washington | Washington | Washington Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Columbia Crest 2008 Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine Red (Washington) | Red Blend | Columbia Crest |
| 14919 | 14918 | US | Superrich, offering waves of pineapple, mango, buttered toast and vanilla flavors. The brilliantly crisp acidity of Edna Valley makes it all clean and brisk. Not much going on below the appealing surface, so drink now. Ahi tuna tartare comes to mind. | Reserve | 87 | 16 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Courtney Benham 2009 Reserve Chardonnay (Edna Valley) | Chardonnay | Courtney Benham |
| 14920 | 14919 | US | Confusingly, a sparkler labeled extra dry is actually extra sweet. It's a French convention that probably should not have been carried over into American labeling, for it simply muddies the water. This is not terribly sweet or sugary, and has a distinctive, lime-flavored citrus streak. | Extra Dry | 87 | 11 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Extra Dry White (Columbia Valley (WA)) | White Blend | Domaine Ste. Michelle |
| 14921 | 14920 | US | A perfect balance of watermelon and strawberry fruit flavors introduce this lovely rosé. It's bone dry and as perfect a companion to your holiday turkey as your mid-summer picnic. | Ramblin' | 87 | 18 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Dusted Valley 2009 Ramblin' Rosé (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Rosé | Dusted Valley |
| 14922 | 14921 | US | Rich cola, pomegranate, rhubarb, cherry, currant, tomato and flashy oak flavors in this dry Pinot Noir, and it has a nice, silky texture. Feels a bit heavy and one-dimensional, though, and seems to be showing its best, so drink now. | Amber Ridge Vineyard | 87 | 40 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Furthermore 2008 Amber Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Furthermore |
| 14923 | 14922 | France | With crisp black berry fruits, this is pure juice in a glass. It has fresh acidity, a light layer of tannin and a sweet underlay to the attractive fruitiness. | Sélection | 87 | | Beaujolais | Juliénas | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Georges Duboeuf 2009 Sélection (Juliénas) | Gamay | Georges Duboeuf |
| 14924 | 14923 | Italy | Le Arele is a woody, smoky red dessert wine with firm tannins behind chewy, sweet notes of mature blackberry, cherry, nutmeg, clove and ginger. Pair this wine with chewy chocolate brownies. | Le Arele 500ml | 87 | | Veneto | Recioto della Valpolicella Classico | | | | Giuseppe Lonardi 2007 Le Arele 500ml (Recioto della Valpolicella Classico) | Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara | Giuseppe Lonardi |
| 14925 | 14924 | Argentina | Simple and easy to like, with cassis and cherry aromas along with a hint of earth, moss and leather. The palate is fresh, juicy and healthy, with clean, regular raspberry and ripe currant flavors. And the finish is long and mildly toasty. Good, presentable and ready to drink. | Grand Reserve | 87 | 20 | Other | San Juan | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Graffigna 2006 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (San Juan) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Graffigna |
| 14926 | 14925 | US | This is a pretty, polished wine to drink now with a nice steak. It's soft and rich in jammy cherry, berry and spice flavors. Earns extra credit for sheer lusciousness and drinkability. | | 87 | 38 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Hauck 2006 Meritage (Sonoma County) | Meritage | Hauck |
| 14927 | 14926 | Italy | This crystalline sparkling wine delivers very distinctive aromas of apricot, mature melon, caramel, butterscotch and yellow rose. The wine has enough natural structure and acidity to pair with quiche Lorraine. | | 86 | | Veneto | Monti Lessini | | | | Fongaro 2006 Sparkling (Monti Lessini) | Sparkling Blend | Fongaro |
| 14928 | 14927 | Argentina | Despite being six years old, this is still kicking. The nose is raw and stewy, but it's also ripe and rubbery, with cassis and berry aromas. The palate is thick, bulky and chunky, with heavy, chewy berry fruit flavors in front of a slightly baked finish. One-dimensional but not bad for Argentine Cab. | Limited Reserve | 86 | 24 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña El Cerno 2004 Limited Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Viña El Cerno |
| 14929 | 14928 | South Africa | The light and soft bouquet offers faint glimmers of fresh-cut grass and tart green berries. More of the same unfolds in the mouth, with lime citrus and green gooseberry leading through to the crisp finish. | | 86 | 20 | Elgin | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Vrede en Lust 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Elgin) | Sauvignon Blanc | Vrede en Lust |
| 14930 | 14929 | Austria | A lean, austere wine with a mineral character over the berry fruit and acidity. That said, there is a warm layer of acidity and spice that is now coming to maturity in the firm structure. | Edition Chremisa | 86 | 24 | Niederösterreich | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Winzer Krems 2007 Edition Chremisa Zweigelt (Niederösterreich) | Zweigelt | Winzer Krems |