| 17851 | 17850 | US | This is the first wine from this new winery. Clean, light berry fruit is the whole show, and it's a forward, fruity Zin with friendly, simple flavors. | Cervina | 85 | 22 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Venus 1998 Cervina Zinfandel (Sonoma County) | Zinfandel | Venus |
| 17852 | 17851 | US | This gets the award for the most confusing label of the month. It says Vigil “Tradicion” and also names the vineyard, then writes Mokelumne River Old Vines, and finishes with Lodi. Talk about information overload! Bottom line: it's a fruity, oaky, simple and straightforward bottle of Zin. 'Nuff said. | Marissa Vineyard | 85 | 16 | California | California | California Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Vigil 1998 Marissa Vineyard Zinfandel (California) | Zinfandel | Vigil |
| 17853 | 17852 | South Africa | Hits the fat and the lean of Sauvignon Blanc with both fig and grassy flavors. A well-balanced wine, it shows a smooth mouthfeel and a long finish. This is one to have with grilled fish. | Private Collection | 85 | 14 | Stellenbosch | | | | | Saxenburg Estate 1999 Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch) | Sauvignon Blanc | Saxenburg Estate |
| 17854 | 17853 | US | Firm, fruity wine, with good clean varietal flavors. Simple and ripe, with a big, tannic finish. | Rocky Top | 85 | 15 | California | Shenandoah Valley (CA) | Sierra Foothills | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sobon Estate 1998 Rocky Top Zinfandel (Shenandoah Valley (CA)) | Zinfandel | Sobon Estate |
| 17855 | 17854 | France | Most everyone's first Bordeaux is back for another year, with fruity black-cherry aromas spiked with just a touch of vanilla and cedar. Juicy acidity keeps this crowd-pleaser lively through the lightly tannic finish. A good introduction to the genre. | Mouton Cadet | 85 | 11 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Baron Philippe de Rothschild 1998 Mouton Cadet (Bordeaux) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Baron Philippe de Rothschild |
| 17856 | 17855 | US | Thick, chewy, cherry fruit, with lots of wood behind it. Simple, forward and quite pleasant, without pretension. | Walker Vineyard | 85 | 18 | California | El Dorado | Sierra Foothills | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Boeger 1997 Walker Vineyard Zinfandel (El Dorado) | Zinfandel | Boeger |
| 17857 | 17856 | South Africa | Dark cherry and toast shows on the nose of this straightforward Cabernet. The wine offers more of the same and some earthy shadings on the dry and even palate. Finishes with medium length, and displays a hint of chocolate on the back end. | | 85 | 14 | Paarl | | | | | Backsberg 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paarl) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Backsberg |
| 17858 | 17857 | US | Alcoholic, volatile nose, with some pickley edges to it. The wine is smooth and fruity, with a quick, hot, alcoholic finish and very dry tannins. | | 85 | 18 | California | Fiddletown | Sierra Foothills | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sobon Estate 1998 Zinfandel (Fiddletown) | Zinfandel | Sobon Estate |
| 17859 | 17858 | US | Some earthy elements mingle with the fruit, which has a ripe tomato edge. Good structure, without the harshness or heat that affects so many '97s. If anything, it's a little underripe, with bell pepper, beet and earthy flavors. | Dante Dusi Vineyard Reserve | 85 | 22 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Martin & Weyrich 1997 Dante Dusi Vineyard Reserve Zinfandel (Paso Robles) | Zinfandel | Martin & Weyrich |
| 17860 | 17859 | US | Full berry cocoa and pepper aromas on the nose open to solid black cherry and chocolate flavors. The mouthfeel is big, but there's fairly high acidity, too, and some big tannins with a decided bite on the back end. The elements are there in this dense and chunky wine; only time will tell if they come into greater harmony. | | 85 | 15 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Kenwood 1998 Zinfandel (Sonoma County) | Zinfandel | Kenwood |
| 17861 | 17860 | US | The nose of this Russian River Valley, single-vineyard offering shows positive dark berry fruit bearing mild meaty accents. Made in a lighter style, the flavors follow the aromatic opening and the wine finishes dry with medium tannins, red berry and tea notes. | Ricci Vyd | 85 | 25 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Mayo 1998 Ricci Vyd Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) | Zinfandel | Mayo |
| 17862 | 17861 | US | Lithe and nicely balanced, this flavorful wine shows a red berry-herb bouquet and a pleasingly dry, gently spicy palate. The mouthfeel is good, and shows some texture despite the fact that it's light-weight on the palate. An interesting chalk note comes in on the back end of this pleasant, easy-drinking surprise. | Special Selection | 85 | 8 | California | California | California Other | | | Stone Creek 1998 Special Selection Zinfandel (California) | Zinfandel | Stone Creek |
| 17863 | 17862 | US | Plenty of herbal, mushroomy notes in the nose. The wine is light, soft and fruity. The mushroom flavors could be a real asset with the right food. Finishes true to form, with nothing off. | | 85 | 8 | California | California | California Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Talus 1998 Zinfandel (California) | Zinfandel | Talus |
| 17864 | 17863 | US | A very oaky nose leads into a tough, tannic wine. There's good fruit under all the wood and tannin, and the tight, rugged finish should smooth out in time. | Private Reserve | 85 | 15 | California | Mendocino | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Windsor 1997 Private Reserve Zinfandel (Mendocino) | Zinfandel | Windsor |
| 17865 | 17864 | France | Magalanne's top wine is a wood-matured blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 30% Carignan. It's nicely balanced and spry on the palate, easily moving from raspberry, cherry and citrus to leather, spice and herb before ending on some stony, dusty notes. Drink it over the next year or two. | Lou Biou Signargues | 88 | 22 | Rhône Valley | Côtes du Rhône Villages | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domaine de Magalanne 2011 Lou Biou Signargues Red (Côtes du Rhône Villages) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Domaine de Magalanne |
| 17866 | 17865 | US | The winery has made SB since 1982, blending in Sémillon and barrel-aging in new oak to craft a fuller style of the wine that's well structured. In this vintage 16% Sémillon was used and barrel fermentation took place in 15% new oak. The result: a light, ethereal wine abundant in tropical aromas and flavors that's crisp on the palate. | | 88 | 29 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Duckhorn 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Duckhorn |
| 17867 | 17866 | US | The nose on this wine from the Willow Creek area plays between the lighter elements of bright red cherries and heavier hints of tar, with a bit of sour plum thrown in as well. The palate is loaded with chalky tannins, offering flavors of black cherries and licorice, but it could use some more time in bottle. | Westside Estate Bottled | 88 | 32 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Dunning Vineyards 2012 Westside Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Dunning Vineyards |
| 17868 | 17867 | Argentina | Loamy, ripe berry aromas come with leather and raisiny notes. This blend of five grapes is heavy, tannic and weighty, but not overtly out of balance. Stewed berry and raisiny flavors are as ripe as they can get and still stay somewhat fresh, while the finish is raisiny. Overall this is a one-dimensional, fully ripe wine. | Reserva | 88 | 25 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Durigutti 2012 Reserva Red (Mendoza) | Red Blend | Durigutti |
| 17869 | 17868 | US | Forward and quite light (the vintage was a cool one), this offers fruit flavors of pomegranate and tart berry. There is a generous swath of chocolate wrapping it, creating a rather silky yet simple, straightforward wine best enjoyed in the near term. | Leland | 88 | 50 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Erath 2011 Leland Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Erath |
| 17870 | 17869 | Italy | Aromas of black currant, plum, toast and espresso lead the nose on this young, soft Cabernet. The rich, easy-drinking palate doles out ripe black cherry and blackberry accented with notes of mocha and vanilla. Round tannins give it a smooth texture. | Vitiano | 88 | 14 | Central Italy | Umbria | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Falesco 2012 Vitiano Cabernet (Umbria) | Cabernet | Falesco |
| 17871 | 17870 | US | If a Cabernet can be smooth and creamy, this one is. It offers plenty of fruit flavor, firm tannins that coat the mouth in a good way, plus a plush texture that keeps it from being even a bit harsh. With medium body, a great mouthfeel and lingering finish, there's much to like. | 337 | 88 | 15 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Noble Vines 2012 337 Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Noble Vines |
| 17872 | 17871 | Spain | Concentrated on the nose, with oak aromas that are under control, this Garnacha is fresh and firm on the palate. Flavors of loamy berry and cassis are ripe almost to the point of being raisiny. A plump yet dry and spicy finish ends with oak-based resin and creaminess. | Old Vines | 88 | 16 | Northern Spain | Campo de Borja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Quo 2011 Old Vines Grenache (Campo de Borja) | Grenache | Quo |
| 17873 | 17872 | Argentina | Dark in color, this chunky, ripe Malbec opens with blackberry, earth and rubber aromas. That bold, full quality carries onto the palate, which is staunch and bullish, with pepper and berry flavors that finish dry, yet weighty and lush. | Portillo Estate Bottled | 88 | 11 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Salentein 2013 Portillo Estate Bottled Malbec (Uco Valley) | Malbec | Salentein |
| 17874 | 17873 | US | Tropical and creamy, the aromas thick in grapefruit and pineapple, this light, citrus-tinged, refreshing 100% Sauvignon Blanc is well-balanced and easy to enjoy, approachable with some depth. | Carol's Vineyard | 88 | 24 | California | St. Helena | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | J. Lohr 2013 Carol's Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (St. Helena) | Sauvignon Blanc | J. Lohr |
| 17875 | 17874 | Germany | Savory whiffs of nuts and mineral convey elegance to ripe white peach and grapefruit aromas on this off-dry Riesling. Easy-drinking in style, it's pleasantly tart, finishing on a sweet, lingering kiss of honey. | Dr. L | 88 | 12 | Mosel | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Loosen Bros. 2013 Dr. L Riesling (Mosel) | Riesling | Loosen Bros. |
| 17876 | 17875 | US | This grape can be styled as super acidic or tropically lush, and this version leans to the latter. The nose is consumed with white peach and light guava, but the tropical elements come alive on the palate, with passionfruit and tangerine skin laying atop a medium-low acidity. | | 88 | 25 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Peachy Canyon 2013 Grenache Blanc (Paso Robles) | Grenache Blanc | Peachy Canyon |
| 17877 | 17876 | Italy | Aromas of dried apricot and acacia honey lead the nose on this smooth dessert wine. The concentrated palate delivers candied citrus and white almond balanced by just enough freshness. | Cratis | 88 | 36 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Scubla 2010 Cratis Verduzzo Friulano (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | Verduzzo Friulano | Scubla |
| 17878 | 17877 | US | Well-made, well-balanced and medium-bodied, this combines moderate blackberry and black cherry flavors with subtle spicy notes. The texture is tannic enough to be great with food, but smooth enough to enjoy sipping. | Jimmy's Dream | 88 | 28 | California | Amador County | Sierra Foothills | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Uphill Vineyards 2010 Jimmy's Dream Cabernet Sauvignon (Amador County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Uphill Vineyards |
| 17879 | 17878 | US | Fruity and slightly effervescent, this is a classic California Sauvignon Blanc. Balanced and lingering in crisp melon and tropical fruit, it provides enough creamy texture to go well with food. | | 88 | 15 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Quivira 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Quivira |
| 17880 | 17879 | US | Though not known as a particularly cool region, the hills southwest of San Jose turn out solid Pinot Noirs for this winery. Aromas recall olives, forest floor and cloves, and flavors are quite smooth, with buttered cherries, peppery spice, cola and vibrant acidity that cuts a clean, quick finish. | Estate | 88 | 36 | California | Santa Clara Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Sarah's Vineyard 2011 Estate Pinot Noir (Santa Clara Valley) | Pinot Noir | Sarah's Vineyard |