18241 | 18240 | France | Beginning to mature, this rich wine with its beautiful honey and spice flavors is, as always with Petit Manseng, finely balanced with acidity. The texture is smooth and opulent, its mango fruit cut with lemon-like tang. Drink from 2018. | Séduction | 92 | 32 | Southwest France | Jurançon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Jurque 2014 Séduction (Jurançon) | Petit Manseng | Château de Jurque |
18242 | 18241 | France | With its spice and mint aromas, this wine shows its 30% new wood aging strongly. On the palate, the mint flavors balance with rich black fruit and a strong, firmly tannic backbone. Rich and full of potential, it will be ready to drink from 2020. | Cuvée Réserve de l'Aïeul | 92 | 25 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Eugénie 2015 Cuvée Réserve de l'Aïeul Malbec-Tannat (Cahors) | Malbec-Tannat | Château Eugénie |
18243 | 18242 | France | This Merlot-dominated wine brings out both the juicy fruit typical of the vintage and a tight, smoky character that lends perfume. Still young, it's firmly structured and will age well. Drink from 2020. | | 92 | 25 | Bordeaux | Lalande de Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Moncets 2014 Lalande de Pomerol | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Moncets |
18244 | 18243 | France | This wine is very young, with its bright purple color, spice and wood aromas and firm texture. Although the wood is still integrating, its ripe blackberry fruit and rich texture show it has great potential and needs to age. Drink from 2020. | Château de Grézels Prestige | 92 | 21 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Saint-Didier-Parnac 2016 Château de Grézels Prestige Malbec-Merlot (Cahors) | Malbec-Merlot | Château Saint-Didier-Parnac |
18245 | 18244 | France | Richly structured, this wine is dense and solid. It has swathes of ripe fruit, bold tannins and an impressive firm character. Its future is assured with its dense texture, black fruit and acidity all coming into place. Drink from 2021. | | 92 | 15 | Bordeaux | Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Tour Grand Mayne 2015 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Tour Grand Mayne |
18246 | 18245 | France | Old forgotten Corsican varieties have been revived for this imaginative blend. Vinified and aged in cement eggs, it has extra richness and concentration. Ripe melon, yellow fruit and spice notes mingle with its crisp acidity. Drink now. | Chiesa Nera | 92 | | France Other | Vin de France | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos Venturi 2014 Chiesa Nera White (Vin de France) | White Blend | Clos Venturi |
18247 | 18246 | US | Cherry liqueur, candied rose petals, rhubarb, sweet truffle and wet earth converge for a very sultry and dynamic nose on this bottling, showing that quite a bit of complexity can come from one clone. Well-integrated flavors of dark red fruit, vanilla and nutmeg show on the sip, which is woven together by persistent acidity. | Clone 2A | 92 | 58 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Fess Parker 2015 Clone 2A Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Fess Parker |
18248 | 18247 | US | The tang of orange rinds and fresh lemon cake meet with hints of toasted coconut and white flowers on the nose of this solid bottling by Bill Foley's eponymous winery. The texture is crisp but grippy and tense on the sip, with seared orange slices and oak smoke flavors. | JA Ranch | 92 | 45 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Foley 2015 JA Ranch Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) | Chardonnay | Foley |
18249 | 18248 | Portugal | Fermented in open granite lagars, this rich wine with its violet aromas is generous and has considerable power. It comes from a great vintage and shows that in its dark fruits and still-firm tannins. This is a serious wine, showing the grapes from the hard soils of the Dão at their best. Drink from 2019. | | 92 | 32 | Dão | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Julia Kemper Wines 2011 Touriga Nacional (Dão) | Touriga Nacional | Julia Kemper Wines |
18250 | 18249 | US | There's a distinctive old-school quality that comes from these century-old vines, which make a slightly lighter wine with intriguing, almost pre-aged aromas of dried cherry, balsamic raspberry and salt-and-pepper spice. The palate is driven by a crushed rock texture and a bright acidity that drives deep into the finish, with flavors of aged cola and dried red fruit. It's even greater with a slight chill. | Besson Vineyard Old Vine | 92 | 38 | California | Santa Clara Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | La Marea 2015 Besson Vineyard Old Vine Grenache (Santa Clara Valley) | Grenache | La Marea |
18251 | 18250 | Chile | Toasty, charred aromas point at pencil lead and graphite in addition to inky black fruits. This old-vines Cabernet is voluminous but tight on the palate, with sandpaper tannins. Saturated, blackened flavors of cassis and blackberry finish with mocha and coffee notes along with abrasive residual tannins. Drink through 2028. | Manso de Velasco | 92 | 60 | Curicó Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Miguel Torres 2012 Manso de Velasco Cabernet Sauvignon (Curicó Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Miguel Torres |
18252 | 18251 | US | Very light in the glass, this single vineyard expression shows, fresh pomegranate and rose petals on the expressive nose. It's tight and bright in the glass, with light raspberry, cranberry, fennel and chaparral spice. | Buona Terra Vineyard | 92 | 44 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Montemar Wines 2013 Buona Terra Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Montemar Wines |
18253 | 18252 | US | Richly layered with fruit, this full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend has wonderful concentration, a good sense of depth and a creamy texture that has mild and supportive tannins. The mouthfeel is very supple and the dark berry and black-cherry flavors are ripe and delicious. | Estate Reserve La Boheme | 92 | 44 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Naggiar 2014 Estate Reserve La Boheme Red (Sierra Foothills) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Naggiar |
18254 | 18253 | Italy | Toast, moist underbrush, grilled herb and balsamic aromas lead the nose. On the full-bodied austere palate, fine-grained tannins support tart cherry, cranberry, vanilla and star anise. Give this several more years to unwind and develop. Drink 2013–2033. | Cannubi | 92 | 108 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2013 Cannubi (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Poderi Luigi Einaudi |
18255 | 18254 | US | Very light in the glass, this bottling shows tons of underripe cranberry, dried rose petals, marjoram, white pepper and tangy olives on the nose. The light-bodied palate shows similar qualities, with fully extracted flavors of tart red fruits, purple flowers and white tea. | Gold Coast Vineyard | 92 | 42 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Point & Line 2015 Gold Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Point & Line |
18256 | 18255 | Portugal | This is classic Petit Verdot in Portugal: dark red, structured and firmly tannic with great fruits. The grape, normally found in Bordeaux, seems to be very much at home in this schist soil and hot climate of the Douro. Its tannins are there, but the blackberry fruit and acidity are just as important. Drink this from 2018. | | 92 | 30 | Duriense | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta da Romaneira 2014 Petit Verdot (Duriense) | Petit Verdot | Quinta da Romaneira |
18257 | 18256 | US | Plump aromas of white peach, lemon syrup, butterscotch and prominent oak show on the nose of this bottling, one of the richer ones in the current Talley lineup. The oak smoke flavors mix with vanilla and a finish of caramel on the palate, but the winery's reliably bright acidity hold the larger elements in check. | Rincon | 92 | 44 | California | Arroyo Grande Valley | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Talley 2015 Rincon Chardonnay (Arroyo Grande Valley) | Chardonnay | Talley |
18258 | 18257 | Portugal | Touriga Nacional is the principal component of this rich blend from the lower Douro vineyards of Valle da Fonte. It is a concentrated wine with black plum and spice flavors. They are underlined by the dark tannins and black chocolate. This makes for a wine that needs further aging. Drink from at least 2019. | Vinhas Velhas Old Vines | 92 | 25 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Valle da Fonte 2014 Vinhas Velhas Old Vines Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Valle da Fonte |
18259 | 18258 | US | Neutral French oak played a part in this wine's fermentation, giving it weight and substance without distraction. Exotic on the nose, it's fleshy and high toned in guava and lemon zest, with a memorable length of mineral-like stone that gives it texture and complexity. | Frediani Vineyard | 92 | 30 | California | Calistoga | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Vermeil 2016 Frediani Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Calistoga) | Sauvignon Blanc | Vermeil |
18260 | 18259 | US | A heartier and meatier take on Pinot Noir, this bottling shows black plums, hoisin, hickory smoke and pepper on the nose. The palate is also rich with plum sauce and strong fennel flavors, showing oak smoke as well. Quite tasty overall for those seeking some heft. | | 92 | | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Westerly 2014 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Westerly |
18261 | 18260 | Portugal | This producer, firmly established in Vinho Verde and the Douro, also has vineyards at Quinta da Aguieira in the central coastal region of Bairrada. A blend of local white grapes along with some Chardonnay, this wine is ripe, with a touch of saltiness and minerality, plus plenty of concentration from old vines. With its rich texture and crisp aftertaste, this is ready to drink. | Reserva da Familia Branco | 92 | 20 | Bairrada | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Aveleda 2015 Reserva da Familia Branco White (Bairrada) | Portuguese White | Aveleda |
18262 | 18261 | US | There's a deep sense of crushed rock minerality in this bottling, which is rare for a variety typified by rose petals and red fruit. It's darker on the fruit front, with black raspberry and elderberry on the nose along with sagebrush, turned loam and dust. The palate adds boysenberry, eucalyptus, fennel and light but impactful tannins to the mix, making for a very complex wine. | | 92 | 38 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Bodega de Edgar 2013 Garnacha (Central Coast) | Garnacha | Bodega de Edgar |
18263 | 18262 | US | Buoyant aromas of boysenberry juice, white pepper and a touch of rosemary show on the nose of this blend of 34% Merlot, 33% Tempranillo and 33% Syrah, whose name means “my steps” and is an homage to the parents of winemaker Edgar Torres. Sticky tannins frame a medium-weight body full of sage, bay leaf and peppercorn flavors, which decorate the elderberry fruit. This is still a very young wine. | Mis Pasos | 92 | 48 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Bodega de Edgar 2014 Mis Pasos Red (Paso Robles) | Red Blend | Bodega de Edgar |
18264 | 18263 | US | Crisp and clean aromas of chalk and lime pith meet with riper touches of honeydew and Anjou pear on the nose of this blend of 66% Grenache Blanc and 34% Roussanne, which hints at a biting acidity on the sip. The freshness extends to the palate, where riper guava tones are deftly cut by citrus peels and finished with a minty lift. The structure is tense and ideal, while the acidity is available but not overwhelming. | Le Cigare Blanc | 92 | 28 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Bonny Doon 2014 Le Cigare Blanc White (Central Coast) | Rhône-style White Blend | Bonny Doon |
18265 | 18264 | US | Intricate baking spice aromas and buttery apple-tart flavors meet a delicate yet expansive mouthfeel in this light-bodied, irresistible and off-dry wine. The spicy elements weave in and out of the silky texture and continue to echo on the finish. | Blanc de Blancs Méthode Champenoise | 92 | 32 | California | North Coast | North Coast | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Breathless NV Blanc de Blancs Méthode Champenoise Chardonnay (North Coast) | Chardonnay | Breathless |
18266 | 18265 | US | Beautifully bright aromas of pomegranate, cherry, rose petals, hibiscus and cola draw the nose deeply into this bottling by Sonja Magdevski, who's focusing almost exclusively on Grenache these days. The tannins are firmer than expected for a lighter style, carrying impressive flavors of violet, cola and rose. It's delicate but grippy. | Larner | 92 | 45 | California | Ballard Canyon | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Casa Dumetz 2015 Larner Grenache (Ballard Canyon) | Grenache | Casa Dumetz |
18267 | 18266 | Israel | This wine starts off with an assertive aroma of brambly berry, followed shortly after by touches of warm compote and sweet spice. The tannins are structured but fine, lending support to the otherwise round palate brimming with fleshy dark-cherry and black-plum flavors. 100 cases imported; enjoy now–2017. | Reserve | 89 | 65 | Galilee | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Flam 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Galilee) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Flam |
18268 | 18267 | Israel | This fruit-forward Syrah is brimming with aromas and flavors of raspberry, boysenberry and blueberry, all graced with a hint of vanilla cream. The mouthfeel boasts a satiny texture, with fine tannins, and the flavors evolve from fleshy fruit to spice and toasty oak. Drink now–2016. | Reserve | 89 | 50 | Galilee | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Flam 2010 Reserve Syrah (Galilee) | Syrah | Flam |
18269 | 18268 | US | Crushed chalk and wax notes add a striking minerality to this delicately framed, semisweet Riesling. A juicy wine, it offers an abundance of ripe stone-fruit and citrus flavors, with an earthen, waxy slick that lingers on the finish. | Riesling 12 Lake Dana Vineyard | 89 | 30 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Fox Run 2010 Riesling 12 Lake Dana Vineyard Riesling (Finger Lakes) | Riesling | Fox Run |
18270 | 18269 | US | Dry and smoothly tannic, this wine is packed with complex blackberry-pie, currant, anise, herb and cedar flavors. This is nearly as good as the winery's more costly Walking Tree Vineyard Block Collection Cabernet, but it's just a little less concentrated. | | 89 | 13 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Geyser Peak 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Geyser Peak |