| 16531 | 16530 | Italy | Earthy, enticing violet, pressed rose, new leather crushed mint and game aromas follow through to succulent, savory palate, along with Marasca cherry and cranberry notes. Star anise, white pepper and clove accents add depth while youthfully assertive, refined tannins and vibrant acidity provide an ageworthy framework. Drink 2022–2034. | Angelo | 96 | 98 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Albino Rocca 2014 Angelo (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Albino Rocca |
| 16532 | 16531 | US | This is a new project from Christophe Baron. The aromas pop, with notes of earth, plum, nori, iron, sea salt, herb, olive tapenade, black pepper and smoked meat. The palate is concentrated and structured, with rich yet restrained bacon fat and smoke flavors that bring a sense of vibrancy and richness along with a near endless finish. It brings a fair amount of tannic heft that will benefit from some additional time in the bottle. Best from 2024-2028. | | 96 | 240 | Oregon | Walla Walla Valley (OR) | Oregon Other | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Hors Categorie 2014 Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR)) | Syrah | Hors Categorie |
| 16533 | 16532 | France | This wine comes from a vineyard, created in 1894, in which the vines are planted against walls to get the maximum reflected heat. It is a majestic wine—a smooth wave, opulent and rich with intense acidity and just a hint of spice. The wine is just ready to drink, although it will be even more impressive from 2018. | Clos d'Entre les Murs | 95 | 120 | Loire Valley | Saumur | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Parnay 2011 Clos d'Entre les Murs (Saumur) | Chenin Blanc | Château de Parnay |
| 16534 | 16533 | Portugal | Beautifully perfumed, this is a ripe and structured wine. It has fine dusty tannins, intense blackberry fruits and a dark-licorice aftertaste. Acidity keeps the wine fruity and fresh although with those firm tannins, it will need time. Drink from 2027. | Quinta da Roeda | 95 | 55 | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Croft 2015 Quinta da Roeda (Port) | Port | Croft |
| 16535 | 16534 | Italy | New leather, red berry, tobacco and menthol are some of the aromas you'll find in this powerfully structured but elegant wine. The firm palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and cinnamon flavors framed by noble, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2025–2045. | Cerretta | 95 | 75 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Germano Ettore 2013 Cerretta (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Germano Ettore |
| 16536 | 16535 | US | The aromas explode with notes of potpourri, olive, smoked meat, fire pit, orange peel, mineral, mushroom, garrigue and white pepper. The palate is lifted, bright but intensely flavored, loaded with flower, berry, olive and charcuterie flavors. The finish seems near endless and the sense of balance is exquisite. It's shockingly good. | Sur Echalas Vineyard | 95 | 120 | Oregon | Walla Walla Valley (OR) | Oregon Other | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Horsepower 2014 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache (Walla Walla Valley (OR)) | Grenache | Horsepower |
| 16537 | 16536 | US | From Draper clone vines planted in 1965, this bright gold-hued wine brings myriad details to its apple, jicama, white peach and nut oil flavors. A whiff of smoke carries throughout, and its sheer complexity strains the vocabulary. Stay with it as more subtle layers unfold. Though seductive now, it should mature well through 2030. | Original Vines | 95 | 60 | Oregon | Dundee Hills | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | The Eyrie Vineyards 2015 Original Vines Chardonnay (Dundee Hills) | Chardonnay | The Eyrie Vineyards |
| 16538 | 16537 | Portugal | This wine is ripe with tannins and powerful with ripe fruit. A solid character gives it density. The tannins and the richness of the wine are ripe and concentrated with fruit. Drink from 2026. | Quinta da Vargellas Vintage | 95 | 58 | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Taylor Fladgate 2015 Quinta da Vargellas Vintage (Port) | Port | Taylor Fladgate |
| 16539 | 16538 | Australia | Rich, dense and intense, this is a big, muscular rendering of Barossa Shiraz. Scents of maple syrup and menthol intertwine with flavors of ripe plums and grilled meat. It's mouthcoating and long on the tannic finish, so give it some time in the cellar; drink 2020–2030. | The Family Tree | 95 | 65 | South Australia | Barossa Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Lambert 2013 The Family Tree Shiraz (Barossa Valley) | Shiraz | Lambert |
| 16540 | 16539 | Portugal | Six grapes are in the blend of this generous, opulent wine. It has fine, velvet-smooth tannins, with a background dryness that gives structure. Black fruits shine through, enhanced by the spice and toast of the wood aging. Drink from 2019. | Rubrica Tinto | 95 | 50 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Luis Duarte 2014 Rubrica Tinto Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Luis Duarte |
| 16541 | 16540 | Portugal | Powerful, dusty tannins dominate this ripe wine. With its great blackberry fruits, currants and juicy acidity, it is already balanced. The power comes from the dry tannins and the rich, concentrated fruits. Drink from 2026. | Dalva Vintage | 95 | 52 | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | C. da Silva 2015 Dalva Vintage (Port) | Port | C. da Silva |
| 16542 | 16541 | US | For fans of the variety, this is a consistently blockbuster wine, well made and remarkably fruity and floral. Violet aromas ride quietly over rounded flavors of cherry pie as the body takes on full-figured dimension. Richly voluptuous, there's balance here within the firm robust tannin structure and heady licorice-laden end. | Palisades Vineyard | 95 | 50 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Carlisle 2015 Palisades Vineyard Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) | Petite Sirah | Carlisle |
| 16543 | 16542 | US | Sweet butter and caramel notes linger amidst smoke and char on this unabashedly oaky, full-bodied Iowa Seyval Blanc. Savory pressed apple flavors are pleasant but subdued. | | 84 | 16 | Iowa | Iowa | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Jasper 2007 Seyval Blanc (Iowa) | Seyval Blanc | Jasper |
| 16544 | 16543 | US | Dry and brittle, with less than fully ripened cherry fruit. There's actually a vegetal edge, which makes the acids and tannins uncomfortably hard. A poor example of this celebrated vineyard. | Babcock Vineyards | 84 | 40 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Pacific Coast 2008 Babcock Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Pacific Coast |
| 16545 | 16544 | US | Too oaky, with buttered toast and vanilla swamping the underlying pineapple fruit. The malolactic fermentation has added buttered popcorn notes. An over-manipulated wine made to appeal to the popular style. | | 84 | 21 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Rutherford Hill 2009 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Rutherford Hill |
| 16546 | 16545 | Italy | Terra di Siena is an easygoing Tuscan red that begs for a pairing with cheesy pasta or risotto. The fat element in those foods would be balanced by the wine's fresh acidity and easy berry flavors. | Terra di Siena | 84 | 12 | Tuscany | Chianti Colli Senesi | | | | Tenuta di Trecciano 2010 Terra di Siena (Chianti Colli Senesi) | Sangiovese | Tenuta di Trecciano |
| 16547 | 16546 | US | Aromas of ripe nectarines entice on the nose of this clean, crisp, medium-bodied Chardonnay. While initially quite soft, there's a tartness towards the midpalate that reflects hints of underripe stone fruit and quince. | | 84 | 16 | New York | New York | New York Other | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Tousey 2010 Chardonnay (New York) | Chardonnay | Tousey |
| 16548 | 16547 | France | Produced by the largest Bordeaux cooperative, this is a freshly fruity wine, with simple red fruit flavors and soft tannins. There is a smoky edge and pink raspberry acidity. | Chevalier de Saint-André | 84 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Univitis 2009 Chevalier de Saint-André (Bordeaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Univitis |
| 16549 | 16548 | Italy | This is an easy, fruit-driven Chianti Classico that shows cherry, white almond and pressed violets. There's a darker side in the mouth that translates into raw notes of cola and smoked bresaola. | | 84 | 20 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | | | Fattoria la Castellina 2008 Chianti Classico | Sangiovese | Fattoria la Castellina |
| 16550 | 16549 | Italy | Bellini's easygoing Chianti opens with dried spice, white pepper and red fruit, following to the palate with fresh acidity and a lean consistency. Pair this wine with a heaping plate of pasta and tomato sauce. | | 84 | 13 | Tuscany | Chianti | | | | Bellini 2010 Chianti | Sangiovese | Bellini |
| 16551 | 16550 | Spain | Abnormal by white wine standards, with oily aromas of smoked meat, air freshener and exotic spices. Feels flabby but also dilute, with just enough verve to keep it alive. Flavors of melon and apple are round and spicy, but it's already breaking up and won't last much longer. | Dama de Toro | 84 | 11 | Northern Spain | Toro | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Fariña 2010 Dama de Toro Malvasia (Toro) | Malvasia | Bodegas Fariña |
| 16552 | 16551 | Italy | Easy, simple and clean, this no-fuss Chianti opens with white cherry, forest berry and blue flowers. It's a subtle, soft wine with a compact but watery close. | | 84 | 10 | Tuscany | Chianti | | | | Caposaldo 2010 Chianti | Sangiovese | Caposaldo |
| 16553 | 16552 | France | Soft, lightweight wine, with gentle tannins and a thin fruit character. There is plenty of acidity to give freshness. Drink now. | | 84 | 14 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Dame Jane 2010 Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Dame Jane |
| 16554 | 16553 | US | Shows Zinfandel's rustic, rugged side, with irregular tannins, high alcohol and ripe berry fruit and spice flavors. Almost as sweet as a minor Port. Ready to drink now. | Pauline's Vineyard | 84 | 32 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Kokomo 2009 Pauline's Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Kokomo |
| 16555 | 16554 | US | Tastes like the wine equivalent of a dessert pastry. It's soft and sugary sweet, with raspberry and cherry pie filling, white chocolate and vanilla flavors. High alcohol gives it a peppery heat. | 1000 Vines | 84 | 24 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Minassian-Young 2009 1000 Vines Zinfandel (Paso Robles) | Zinfandel | Minassian-Young |
| 16556 | 16555 | Spain | Smells like grapey berry fruits and violets. Feels clampy and tannic, with a rubbery mouthfeel and oaky, slightly green flavors of blueberry and black currant. Grainy and grabby on the finish. | | 83 | 11 | Central Spain | Vino de la Tierra de Castilla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Sinfonía 2010 Tempranillo (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla) | Tempranillo | Sinfonía |
| 16557 | 16556 | US | A tough, gritty wine, dry and tannic, with some decent berry and cherry flavors. It's the kind of red wine that will happily wash down a cheeseburger. | Rosso di Napa | 83 | 11 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Ca' Momi 2009 Rosso di Napa Red (Napa Valley) | Red Blend | Ca' Momi |
| 16558 | 16557 | France | A thin wine that is all dry tannins and not enough fruit. It is lightweight with just a hint of juiciness. | | 83 | 30 | Bordeaux | Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château du Vallier 2007 Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château du Vallier |
| 16559 | 16558 | US | Dark in color, this rosé made from Grenache grapes is quite sour and a little off-balance, though the bottle it comes in is very pretty. | Georgetown Divide, Rouge Grenache | 83 | 10 | California | El Dorado | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Duarte Georgetown 2009 Georgetown Divide, Rouge Grenache Rosé (El Dorado) | Rosé | Duarte Georgetown |
| 16560 | 16559 | Italy | This Sangiovese from the far away 2005 vintage shows aged aromas of spice, candied fruit and polished mineral. It's bright in the mouth in terms of acidity, but not much fresh fruit is left. | Rubbia al Colle Drumo | 83 | 15 | Tuscany | Toscana | | | | Fratelli Muratori 2005 Rubbia al Colle Drumo Sangiovese (Toscana) | Sangiovese | Fratelli Muratori |