| 18001 | 18000 | US | Focused and dense, this intense wine captures the essence of ripe raspberries. Aged in 50% new French oak, it's got a strong vein of coffee and mocha. The flavors broaden out and penetrate, finishing with highlights of cedar, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Drink now through the 2020s, but decant if you want the full expression. | Abetina | 94 | 105 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Ponzi 2014 Abetina Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Ponzi |
| 18002 | 18001 | US | An impressive wine from this St. Helena winery, with the vineyard below Howell Mountain. It's rich and classic, showing ripe blackberry, blueberry, currant and earthy flavors, with wonderfully thick, refined tannins. An elaborate, Cabernet that should benefit from up to six years in the cellar. | | 92 | 58 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Mad Hatter 2008 Red (Napa Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Mad Hatter |
| 18003 | 18002 | Italy | A clear pedigree wine, this elegant Barbaresco offers notes of mature berry, cola, coffee and cedar wrapped around drying, firm tannins. Cellar age it two or three more years and pair it eventually with a sophisticated dish such as quail and wild rice. | Sorì Sartù | 92 | | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Massimo Penna 2008 Sorì Sartù (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Massimo Penna |
| 18004 | 18003 | Italy | Very distinctive and unique in terms of its aromatic delivery, this beautiful Barbaresco boasts complex layers of licorice, root beer and white cherry that help support a lively vertical lift. A light ruby appearance is followed by tight astringency and crushed black pepper. Pajoré plays the elegance card very well. | Pajoré | 92 | 57 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Rizzi 2008 Pajoré (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Rizzi |
| 18005 | 18004 | Italy | This Barolo Riserva delivers loads of pleasure and good cheer thanks to those delicious aromas of melted chocolate, vanilla cream and bursting red cherry. Ethereal tones of spice, cola and licorice color the close and help give dimension to the wine's soft, velvety texture. | Bussia Munie Riserva | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Franco Conterno 2005 Bussia Munie Riserva (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Franco Conterno |
| 18006 | 18005 | Italy | Soft, ripe cherry and velvety tones of spice and nutmeg open the bouquet of this balanced Barolo from the powerful 2007 vintage. The wine shows concentration and power with lingering tones of chocolate, espresso and cured meat over a solid structure. | Cerretta | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Germano Ettore 2007 Cerretta (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Germano Ettore |
| 18007 | 18006 | Italy | Nebbiolo from the Serralunga area of the Langhe tends to veer towards bolder concentration, dark color and thicker aromatic intensity. This expression illustrates this trend very nicely and adds its own distinct layers of licorice and tar to the overall picture. | Serralunga | 92 | 31 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Giovanni Rosso 2007 Serralunga (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Giovanni Rosso |
| 18008 | 18007 | Italy | A fine wine for dinner parties and important family reunions, this bright Barolo exudes elegance and finesse thanks to its delicate aromas of blue flower, dried lavender, cassis and forest berry. The wine is sheer and smooth with taut firmness on the close. | Vigna Lazzairasco | 92 | 44 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Guido Porro 2007 Vigna Lazzairasco (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Guido Porro |
| 18009 | 18008 | Italy | Barolo Neirane (from the Verduno area of the Langhe, Piedmont) offers pretty Nebbiolo complexity with dark concentration and lasting aromas of vibrant fruit, dark spice, red rose and cherry cola. The wine presents a velvety, soft texture in the mouth with a sweet cherry aftertaste. | Neirane | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Agostino Bosco 2007 Neirane (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Agostino Bosco |
| 18010 | 18009 | France | Great density here, with firm tannins and big fruit flavors, very generous and opulent, while also structured. The whole wine is suffused with black plum sweetness. It is also ageworthy. | Les Charmes | 92 | 125 | Burgundy | Chambolle-Musigny | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Alex Gambal 2009 Les Charmes (Chambolle-Musigny) | Pinot Noir | Alex Gambal |
| 18011 | 18010 | US | This is an outlier in the Brian Carter lineup of Euro-style blends, a single vineyard, pure varietal Cabernet. As such, it drills down deeply into the character of Washington terroir as captured in a Cab-friendly site, the Stone Tree Vineyard in the heart of the Wahluke Slope AVA. Dark, deep, concentrated, smoky, with tendrils of earth and rock reaching all the way through the tart and tannic finish. | Stone Tree Vineyard 1 | 92 | 48 | Washington | Wahluke Slope | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Brian Carter Cellars 2008 Stone Tree Vineyard 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Brian Carter Cellars |
| 18012 | 18011 | Italy | From the Serralunga d'Alba area of Barolo production (an area known for thicker, denser, more structured wines) comes this bold and beautiful expression of Nebbiolo. The wine boasts huge intensity and luscious, soft roundness on the close. | | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Cantine Gemma 2007 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Cantine Gemma |
| 18013 | 18012 | France | Serious, concentrated fruit and structure on this grand cru Chablis. White fruits, laced with lime and rounded with some toast, all contribute to a powerful, complex wine. | Les Clos | 92 | 85 | Burgundy | Chablis | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Chanson Père et Fils 2008 Les Clos (Chablis) | Chardonnay | Chanson Père et Fils |
| 18014 | 18013 | US | This is a deeply flavored, earthy wine. You'll find rich raspberry and cherry fruit, but also a mushroomy taste, as well as intense baking spices. Impressively complex, it's fairly tannic, and seems immature. Give it 4–5 years in a good cellar. | Burgonet | 92 | 42 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | TR Elliott 2008 Burgonet Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | TR Elliott |
| 18015 | 18014 | US | Dry, hard in tannins and rustic in the way of some youthful Petite Sirahs. If you drink it now, you'll find plenty of sweet, flashy cherries and raspberries, but the wine will feel hard and astringent. Needs time. Should begin to blossom after 2014 and drink well for many years after. | Vaca Mountain | 92 | 45 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Envy 2008 Vaca Mountain Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) | Petite Sirah | Envy |
| 18016 | 18015 | US | If there is a better vineyard than Boushey in Washington for Syrah, it has not yet been discovered. This young wine tastes like younger vines, with more green and less meat in the flavors. But the complexity and depth of Boushey fruit is there, and the wine takes you on a ride through a mélange of intriguing herb, fruit, cured meat and barrel flavors. | Boushey Vineyard | 92 | 55 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | JM Cellars 2008 Boushey Vineyard Syrah (Yakima Valley) | Syrah | JM Cellars |
| 18017 | 18016 | Italy | Vintner Enzo Rapalino has crafted a luscious, thick Barbaresco with warm wood tones of spice and toasted almond backed by delicious notes of bright berry and wild raspberry. The wine shows firm, determined tannins and a very solid structure for a long aging future. | | 92 | | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | La Ganghija 2008 Barbaresco | Nebbiolo | La Ganghija |
| 18018 | 18017 | Italy | Mario Marengo's Barolo offers spicy notes of clove and nutmeg at the back of bright berry, cola and coffee. The wine boasts generous fullness and depth thanks to its ripe tannins and long, silky feel. Drink in 5–10 years | | 92 | 50 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Mario Marengo 2007 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Mario Marengo |
| 18019 | 18018 | Italy | Barolo Parafada is a lush, meaty and expressive wine with power, heft and bright aromas of cured meat, Bresaola, leather, dried rose, licorice and cola. The wine presents a solid wall of tannins and gritty firmness that will need at least another five years of bottle aging. | Parafada | 92 | 65 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Palladino 2007 Parafada (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Palladino |
| 18020 | 18019 | US | A dry, late-harvest wine from 20-year-old vines. Floral with a subtle honey note, more like pollen; lemon and orange candy, sleek and deep. | Heritage | 92 | 18 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | pb 2010 Heritage Pinot Gris (Yakima Valley) | Pinot Gris | pb |
| 18021 | 18020 | US | A rich, lusty and satisfying Zinfandel, showing classic varietal flavors of ripe, wild red berries, tobacco, soy sauce, bacon and white pepper. Alcohol is notable in the slight heat and glyceriny sweetness, but those elements are welcome parts of the wine's personality. Drink now. | East Bench | 92 | 26 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Ridge 2009 East Bench Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Ridge |
| 18022 | 18021 | Italy | From the Monforte d'Alba area of Barolo production, this lovely wine shows wonderful intensity and a bold, chewy feel. There are ripe fruit aromas, meaty notes of beef jerky and ethereal tones of licorice and cola. The wine is full and generous in the mouth with a spicy finish. | Gabutti Bussia | 92 | 60 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Stroppiana 2007 Gabutti Bussia (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Stroppiana |
| 18023 | 18022 | Italy | This is a very enjoyable Barolo with sweet, modern tones of oak, toast and spice balanced with sophisticated tones of cola, red berries and smoky tar. You'll feel the natural softness and velvety nature of the 2007 vintage on the tannins of this richly concentrated wine. | Montanello | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Tenuta Montanello 2007 Montanello (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Tenuta Montanello |
| 18024 | 18023 | US | Made from three selections of Pinot Noir and aged in one-year-old barrels, this is a forward Pinot Noir, rich in raspberries, cherries, spicy bacon and smoky sandalwood flavors. It's a dazzler, and best now for its youthful appeal. | Three Plumes | 92 | 42 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | TR Elliott 2008 Three Plumes Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | TR Elliott |
| 18025 | 18024 | Italy | Barolo Famiglia Anselma opens with luscious, dark concentration and spicy tones of clove, pepper and honey-roasted almond. Delicate aromas of cassis, cola and licorice fill in the back and help build endurance and persistency for what is a long, pleasurable mouthfeel. | Famiglia Anselma | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Anselma 2007 Famiglia Anselma (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Anselma |
| 18026 | 18025 | Italy | Barolo Rocche opens with inky-dark concentration, chewy ripe cherry flavors and lingering hints of cola, mint and licorice. The more the wine opens in the glass, the more it evolves aromatically to include tones of barbecue, mesquite and smoke. | Rocche | 92 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Brovia 2007 Rocche (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Brovia |
| 18027 | 18026 | France | With smoky aromas and strict tannins, this is initially an austere wine. The fruit remains firm and tight, very powerful, while the final acidity gives a delicious, more juicy finale. | Les Vaucrains | 92 | 96 | Burgundy | Nuits-St.-Georges | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Camille Giroud 2008 Les Vaucrains (Nuits-St.-Georges) | Pinot Noir | Camille Giroud |
| 18028 | 18027 | France | Mesnil sur Oger is at the pinnacle of Chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs of Champagne. This complex, rich wine is full and creamy initially. Then a dry core of pure grapefruit and lime kicks in, giving a line of purity and freshness that goes right through to the lingering finish. | Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut | 92 | | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Pascal Doquet NV Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay (Champagne) | Chardonnay | Pascal Doquet |
| 18029 | 18028 | Austria | There is a fine layer of minerality in this wine, coming from the dry stones of the vineyard. It produces a tight texture that dominates at this stage. Underneath, green and yellow fruits are waiting to come out, bringing with them a great lift of acidity and delicious refreshing crispness. | Pfaffenberg Reserve | 92 | 48 | Kremstal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Rainer Wess 2007 Pfaffenberg Reserve Riesling (Kremstal) | Riesling | Rainer Wess |
| 18030 | 18029 | US | Always powerful in new oak notes and extravagantly rich in fruit and winemakers bells and whistles, this 2006 is very typical of the property. It's a food group in itself, offering tiers of pineapple crème brûlée, lemondrop, cinnamon-dusted meringue, vanilla custard and buttered toast. Drink now. | | 92 | 40 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Robert Young 2006 Chardonnay (Alexander Valley) | Chardonnay | Robert Young |