| 15031 | 15030 | Italy | An ancient import from Greece, Uva di Troia finds its best expression in Puglia, southern Italy. This Riserva opens with plush aromas of black cherry, cola and spice. Soft wood influences give the wine a velvety feel. | Riserva Le More | 88 | 30 | Southern Italy | Castel del Monte | | | | Santa Lucia 2007 Riserva Le More Uva di Troia (Castel del Monte) | Uva di Troia | Santa Lucia |
| 15032 | 15031 | US | Here's a nice Sauvignon Blanc for drinking now. It shows how well this variety grows in the warmer parts of the county, with citrus, apricot, peach and spice flavors. Crisp acidity provides zesty balance to this deliciously drinkable young wine. | | 88 | 19 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Straight Line 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Barbara County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Straight Line |
| 15033 | 15032 | France | This blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Carignan starts off tight and firm, but with time it reveals attractive aromas and flavors of small red berries and plums accented by garrigue and a hint of sweet woody smoke. It's firmly structured, with gripping tannins and a faint cocoa accent to the dry finish. | Coste d'Aleyrac | 88 | 21 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Château de Lancyre 2009 Coste d'Aleyrac Red (Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château de Lancyre |
| 15034 | 15033 | Portugal | This wine heads the range of good value wines under the Monte Alentejano name. It has some weight and a tangy, structured character, and has not lost its black-plum flavors. Drink now. | Monte Alentejano Reserva | 88 | 10 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | DFJ Vinhos 2007 Monte Alentejano Reserva Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | DFJ Vinhos |
| 15035 | 15034 | France | A severe wine whose tannins show no sign of softening yet. Very mineral in texture, with black currants and dark-fruit skins, it is structured and concentrated, and should pair well with rich foods. | | 88 | | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Prince 2006 Malbec-Merlot (Cahors) | Malbec-Merlot | Domaine du Prince |
| 15036 | 15035 | Germany | Starts off with wet stone and lime aromas, then folds in Granny Smith flavors on the palate, giving it just the right mix of mineral, citrus and apple. It's lightweight but potent, with a lean but wiry frame. Drink now–2018. | | 88 | 25 | Mosel | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Thanisch) 2010 Riesling (Mosel) | Riesling | Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Thanisch) |
| 15037 | 15036 | Italy | Casale Vecchio is a dark and spicy expression of Montepulciano that opens with sweet aromas of jammy fruit and blackberry preserve. Layers of moist pipe tobacco, new leather and crushed granite or mineral form a nicely integrated finish. | Casale Vecchio | 88 | 18 | Central Italy | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | | | | Farnese 2009 Casale Vecchio (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) | Montepulciano | Farnese |
| 15038 | 15037 | US | An interesting and even somewhat eccentric wine. There are notes of green tea and herbs, but enough pure orange fruit to make it rich. Lots of zingy acidity, too. | Sierra Madre Vineyard | 88 | 25 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Fontes & Phillips 2009 Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) | Chardonnay | Fontes & Phillips |
| 15039 | 15038 | Chile | Shy and clean on the nose, which offers up only mild grapefruit and lime. The feel is tight and stony, with pithy citrus and green apple flavors. Leans towards green and herbaceous on the finish, but never fully goes green while maintaining clarity and crispness. | La Gloria | 88 | 12 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Veramonte 2011 La Gloria Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Veramonte |
| 15040 | 15039 | US | On the light side for a reserve, this nicely balanced, elegant wine is from the southwest block of the estate vineyard. Red berries and pomegranate fruit, moderate acidity, smooth tannins and a full middle are the hallmarks. With a little decanting, it's ready to go. | Reserve | 88 | 45 | Oregon | Umpqua Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Abacela 2007 Reserve Tempranillo (Umpqua Valley) | Tempranillo | Abacela |
| 15041 | 15040 | Portugal | In the full style of an Alentejo white, this is packed with flavors of tropical fruit and yellow stone fruit. Its richness is balanced by a good crisp line of citrusy acidity that yields a harmonious whole. | Branco | 88 | 35 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Altas Quintas 2010 Branco White (Alentejano) | Portuguese White | Altas Quintas |
| 15042 | 15041 | Italy | Montepulciano grapes are aged six months in oak to render sweet nuances of cinnamon and toasted almond that rest over a dense core of jammy fruit. The wine is lush, soft and velvety on the finish. | Mekan | 88 | 17 | Southern Italy | Molise | | | | Cantine Cipressi 2006 Mekan Montepulciano (Molise) | Montepulciano | Cantine Cipressi |
| 15043 | 15042 | US | No one will ever complain that this Napa Valley-Sonoma County blend isn't fruity enough. It's deliciously explosive in jammy blackberries, cassis, cherries and milk chocolate. Oak adds notes of caramel. But flavor isn't everything, and this wine would benefit from greater restraint and structural integrity. | Encomium | 88 | 70 | California | California | California Other | | | Keating 2009 Encomium Cabernet Sauvignon (California) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Keating |
| 15044 | 15043 | Chile | Round and grassy smelling, but turning more pungent and pointed with airing. Shows good grip and a slight spritz on the palate in front of grassy, green flavors of lime, bell pepper and tarragon. Pithy on the finish, where jalapeño and white-pepper notes rise up and take over. | Corralillo | 88 | 16 | San Antonio | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Matetic 2011 Corralillo Sauvignon Blanc (San Antonio) | Sauvignon Blanc | Matetic |
| 15045 | 15044 | Portugal | A soft, fruity wine, with spice, strawberry and currant flavors. It has a warm, open feel, with a hint of tannin. Its name refers to the winding Douro River Valley. | Twisted | 88 | 18 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Niepoort 2009 Twisted Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Niepoort |
| 15046 | 15045 | Canada | Done half in stainless and half in barrel, this soft and supple wine boasts grapefruity acids and lightly buttery pear-flavored fruit. Medium long, fresh and complex, with a parting kiss of cinnamon spice. | | 88 | 15 | British Columbia | Okanagan Valley | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Quails' Gate 2009 Chardonnay (Okanagan Valley) | Chardonnay | Quails' Gate |
| 15047 | 15046 | Chile | Floral red-fruit aromas get heavier with airing. Feels thick and full, with soft tannins and mild acidity. Tastes oaky but not overoaked, with caramel, vanilla and standard red-berry and plum flavors. A touch stewy on the finish, with a resiny oak flavor hanging in there. | Q | 88 | 19 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Quintay 2010 Q Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley) | Pinot Noir | Quintay |
| 15048 | 15047 | France | Tight, structured wine, with intense acidity as well as red berry fruits. It feels lean and sinewy, needing a few more months to settle and round out. Keep a year. | Les Ravinets | 89 | | Beaujolais | Juliénas | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Ferraud et Fils 2010 Les Ravinets (Juliénas) | Gamay | Ferraud et Fils |
| 15049 | 15048 | US | A delicious Pinot Noir, made in the light, forward style that's so popular today. Drink it now for the silky lushness of the raspberry and cherry jam, sweet toasted oak and cinnamon spice flavors. | Bridge Selection | 89 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | HKG 2009 Bridge Selection Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | HKG |
| 15050 | 15049 | US | This is one of Iron Horse's drier wines, with a low dosage, but it's still fairly sweet. There's a coating of sugar on the raspberries, oranges and limes. The bubbles are a bit scoury now, but this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend could develop nuances in the cellar after, say, 2013. | Brut X | 89 | 50 | California | Green Valley | Sonoma | | | Iron Horse 2006 Brut X Sparkling (Green Valley) | Sparkling Blend | Iron Horse |
| 15051 | 15050 | US | The Clifton is holding back at the moment, its tannins feel a little scrapey and the fruit is showing a cool-climate aspect, although the Wahluke is generally one of Washington's hot spots. Gravelly and dry, with a long finish that somehow holds your interest long after the fruit has faded. | Clifton Vineyard | 89 | 35 | Washington | Wahluke Slope | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | K Vintners 2008 Clifton Vineyard Syrah (Wahluke Slope) | Syrah | K Vintners |
| 15052 | 15051 | Spain | Big and dark, with firm black cherry and blackberry aromas. Offers size, structure and crispness in the mouth, with driving, muscled flavors of cherry, black plum and integrated oak. Spicy and dry on the back end, with more than a hint of vanilla. | Melior | 89 | 14 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Matarromera 2009 Melior (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Matarromera |
| 15053 | 15052 | US | Lots of fruity richness in this Pinot. Brims with ripe raspberry and cherry jam flavors, with oaky overtones of buttered cinnamon toast. The alcohol is nice and moderate. Drink over the next four years. | | 89 | 34 | California | North Coast | North Coast | | | On Point 2009 Pinot Noir (North Coast) | Pinot Noir | On Point |
| 15054 | 15053 | US | Here's a lovely red wine, soft and appealing, and perfect for drinking now. It's dry and silky in tannins, with intricately layered cherry, smoked meat, pepper and sandalwood flavors. | | 89 | 35 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Peju 2007 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Peju |
| 15055 | 15054 | US | Spicier than most Cab Francs, with a scour of pepper, but lush and flavorful in red cherries, tobacco and sandalwood. Easy to drink, this fine red wine has lots of interest. Drink now. | Reserve | 89 | 95 | California | Rutherford | Napa | | | Peju 2007 Reserve Cabernet Franc (Rutherford) | Cabernet Franc | Peju |
| 15056 | 15055 | US | Smooth in tannins, rich and ripe in black cherry, mocha and spice flavors, and beautifully oaked, this Cabernet shows real elegance and style. It's a bit earthier and more abrupt than the modern style exemplified in neighboring Napa Valley, but still a fine wine. | Sunny Slope Vineyard | 89 | 65 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | | | Signaterra 2008 Sunny Slope Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Signaterra |
| 15057 | 15056 | US | This is an unusual mix of both Rhône and Bordeaux grapes—46% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah, 13% Cabernet, 11% Grenache, 7% Merlot and 4% Malbec. It comes together in a somewhat diffuse red with good balance, good fruit and highlights of barrel and spice. Very tasty, just not particularly focused. | Vixen Red | 89 | 35 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sinclair Estate Vineyards 2008 Vixen Red Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | Sinclair Estate Vineyards |
| 15058 | 15057 | Spain | Dusty and yeasty on the nose, with nectarine and peach aromas. The palate is dry and crisp, with green apple, green melon and powdered spice flavors. It's long, linear and dusty on the finish, with white pepper notes. Finely textured and fairly elegant. | Brut Nature Gran Reserva | 89 | 30 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Sumarroca 2006 Brut Nature Gran Reserva Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Sumarroca |
| 15059 | 15058 | US | This unusual blend of Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo and Mourvèdre is the kind of red wine that needs spicy, salty beef or lamb to balance it. It's tannic, acidic and peppery, with a roasted meat edge to the blackberry fruit. Calls to mind Italian-style fare, rich in olive oil and cheeses. | Tinto | 89 | 30 | California | San Luis Obispo County | Central Coast | | | Trenza 2008 Tinto Red (San Luis Obispo County) | Red Blend | Trenza |
| 15060 | 15059 | France | Unlike most Costières de Nîmes, this is 95% Grenache, giving it a round, expansive mouthfeel and soft tannins. Warm baking spices complement black cherry fruit. Drink now–2015. | Confidence | 89 | 18 | Rhône Valley | Costières de Nîmes | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Château Beaubois 2009 Confidence Red (Costières de Nîmes) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château Beaubois |