| 18931 | 18930 | Italy | Tenuta Rapitalà steals the scene with this stunning warm-climate Chardonnay. The wine shows huge intensity and persistency, with lingering tones of apricot, vanilla, exotic fruit, pineapple and a touch of toasted almond. It's a sophisticated effort that raises the level of Sicilian winemaking. | Grand Cru | 92 | 30 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Tenuta Rapitalà 2011 Grand Cru Chardonnay (Sicilia) | Chardonnay | Tenuta Rapitalà |
| 18932 | 18931 | Italy | This vintage of Deliella represents an enormous jump forward in quality and intensity. Nero d'Avola vines grow in chalky soils, create extremely elegant aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, cured meat, toasted pistachio and barbecue spice. In the mouth, the wine is rich, velvety and long lasting. | Deliella | 92 | 90 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Feudo Principi di Butera 2008 Deliella Nero d'Avola (Sicilia) | Nero d'Avola | Feudo Principi di Butera |
| 18933 | 18932 | US | This is made in the smooth, oaky and rich style of the modern cult Cabernet. It offers lots of ripe, jammy blackberries, plus notes of sweet, intense black and red currants, dark chocolate tart, black licorice and smoky oak. The tannins are tough but structured, so give it six years in the cellar and see what happens. | | 91 | 125 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Axios 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Axios |
| 18934 | 18933 | Italy | Merlot and Nerello Mascalese make for perfect blending partners, creating a wine with cherry softness and bright fruit intensity, plus volcanic minerality and elegance. Polished and clean on the finish. | Sciara | 91 | 17 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Barone di Villagrande 2008 Sciara Red (Sicilia) | Red Blend | Barone di Villagrande |
| 18935 | 18934 | France | A dense, dark-colored wine, this reveals the full power of Tannat's tannins. It also has tarry black-fruit and licorice flavors, with a foursquare chunky character. It's drinkable now, but it will be less stark in 4–5 years. | Odé d'Aydie | 91 | 22 | Southwest France | Madiran | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château d'Aydie 2009 Odé d'Aydie Tannat (Madiran) | Tannat | Château d'Aydie |
| 18936 | 18935 | France | Owned by Beaune négociant Louis Jadot, this wine is big, bold and fruity, with black cherry flavor and acidity. It shows the structure and the potential of wood-aged Gamay. | | 91 | | Beaujolais | Moulin-à-Vent | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château des Jacques 2011 Moulin-à-Vent | Gamay | Château des Jacques |
| 18937 | 18936 | France | Full, ripe and juicy, this has a flavor of fresh black-currant juice, which is balanced by the dry, firm tannins that promise aging. | | 91 | 20 | Bordeaux | Médoc | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château des Lattes 2010 Médoc | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château des Lattes |
| 18938 | 18937 | France | Solid and perfumed, this expresses all the power of Malbec, with a fruitiness that comes through the firm, dry tannins. Notes of new wood and juicy plum combine well in this concentrated, full-bodied effort, which needs several years to age. | | 91 | 19 | Southwest France | Cahors | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Haut-Monplaisir 2009 Malbec (Cahors) | Malbec | Château Haut-Monplaisir |
| 18939 | 18938 | France | Using fruit sourced from vineyards on an eastward extension of the ridge of Castillon and Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, this finely structured wine shows a judicious amount of oak influence, which supports the ripe blackberry flavor. It's a complex, spicy effort, and its fruit is finely layered with acidity and toast. | Comtesse de Ségur | 91 | 20 | Southwest France | Montravel | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Laulerie 2009 Comtesse de Ségur (Montravel) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Laulerie |
| 18940 | 18939 | France | Despite the high alcohol level, this is classic Bordeaux, with style, elegance and fine balance between tannin and ripe black-currant fruit. It demonstrates the concentration and rich structure of the vintage, yet the finish has a light, bright, fruity touch. | Cuvée Prestige | 91 | 70 | Bordeaux | Lalande de Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château le Manoir 2010 Cuvée Prestige (Lalande de Pomerol) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château le Manoir |
| 18941 | 18940 | Italy | A new wine from Planeta, this pretty expression of Nerello Mascalese shows an elegant and refined personality. It drinks like a Pinot Noir, with bright berry fruit and background notes of forest berry, almond paste and black volcanic powder. | | 91 | | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Planeta 2010 Nerello Mascalese (Sicilia) | Nerello Mascalese | Planeta |
| 18942 | 18941 | France | Concentrated fruits dominate this ripe, juicy wine. Firm tannins lend structural support to this generous, textured selection. Age it for another year. | La Fournaise du Pérou | 91 | 19 | Beaujolais | Côte de Brouilly | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Robert Perroud 2010 La Fournaise du Pérou (Côte de Brouilly) | Gamay | Robert Perroud |
| 18943 | 18942 | Italy | Tascante is a new brand from Tasca d'Almerita that is derived from the words “Tasca” and “Etna” spelled backwards. From the slopes of the mighty Sicilian volcano, this wine is loaded with mineral, dark spice, ginger, forest berry and dried herb. The mouthfeel is tight and lean, with age-worthy tannins. | Ghiaia Nera | 91 | | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Tascante 2010 Ghiaia Nera Nerello Mascalese (Sicilia) | Nerello Mascalese | Tascante |
| 18944 | 18943 | US | This bone-dry, full-bodied Syrah has firm tannins and intense concentration. It's a little warm in alcohol, with flavors of dark chocolate, blackberry jam, cassis liqueur, grilled bacon and black pepper, plus a coating of sweet, smoky oak. You might want to give this wine a year or so in the cellar to let everything meld together. | Samantha's Vineyard | 91 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | MacLaren 2010 Samantha's Vineyard Syrah (Russian River Valley) | Syrah | MacLaren |
| 18945 | 18944 | Italy | Soft and plush, this blend of Montepulciano (80%) and Aglianico has beautiful intensity to its long-lasting aromas of blackberry, maraschino, chocolate, exotic spice and leather. There's a bright touch of mint and licorice on the finish. | Ramitello | 91 | 18 | Southern Italy | Biferno Rosso | | | | Di Majo Norante 2010 Ramitello (Biferno Rosso) | Red Blend | Di Majo Norante |
| 18946 | 18945 | France | A blend of Gros Manseng and Camarelet, this fruity effort is packed with flavors of apricot and peach, plus a rich, exotic mango twist. Delicious to drink now. | Chante des Vignes | 91 | 16 | Southwest France | Jurançon Sec | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Cauhapé 2011 Chante des Vignes (Jurançon Sec) | White Blend | Domaine Cauhapé |
| 18947 | 18946 | France | Using fruit sourced from 94-year-old vines, this is a powerful and concentrated wine. It has a serious, complex mix of fruit and tannin, with notes of leather and spice that lend power and density. Age this for at least another year. | Vignes de 1918 | 91 | 17 | Beaujolais | Régnié | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Dupré 2011 Vignes de 1918 (Régnié) | Gamay | Domaine Dupré |
| 18948 | 18947 | Chile | This is sweet and rich up front, with marzipan, balsam wood, berry and kirsch aromas. Expect a full and creamy mouthfeel, with a mix of herb, spice, olive and dark-fruit flavors. Extra spice notes in the form of clove, nutmeg and wood grace the finish of this Carmenère-Syrah-Cabernet-Petit Verdot blend. Drink now–2017. | | 91 | 49 | Curicó Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Escalera 2008 Red (Curicó Valley) | Red Blend | Escalera |
| 18949 | 18948 | US | This barrel-fermented Chardonnay seemingly tastes as sweet as a dessert, although it's technically dry. With its pineapple and tangerine tart, crême brulée and Key lime pie flavors, Chardonnay doesn't get richer than this. Brisk, citrusy acidity gives much needed balance. | | 91 | 24 | California | Sonoma County-Lake County | North Coast | | | Fleuron 2011 Chardonnay (Sonoma County-Lake County) | Chardonnay | Fleuron |
| 18950 | 18949 | US | Delicate and detailed, this balanced Pinot Noir displays a perfect mix of wild berry, mushroom, green tea and a whiff of compost. These threads of flavor, and others associated with them, create a delightful tapestry that continues through the lengthy finish. | Winery Block | 91 | 65 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Bergström 2010 Winery Block Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Bergström |
| 18951 | 18950 | France | The sense of structure that is so evident in 2010 wines is particularly apparent in this perfumed, rich and firmly tannic selection. It shows the hard edges of granite soil, plus juicy red fruit. Concentrated and complex, it needs several years to mature. | Côte du Py | 91 | 24 | Beaujolais | Morgon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Trenel Fils 2010 Côte du Py (Morgon) | Gamay | Trenel Fils |
| 18952 | 18951 | US | This has Cabernet Sauvignon-driven flavors of ripe summer blackberries, black currants, cassis liqueur and smoky oak. It's dry with smooth tannins, and it shows lots of class. With 8,000 cases produced, it should be relatively easy to find. | Sophia's Cuvee | 91 | 29 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Worthy 2008 Sophia's Cuvee Red (Napa Valley) | Red Blend | Worthy |
| 18953 | 18952 | US | This new designation from Rex Hill is a bit reticent aromatically, but full on the palate, with plummy fruit and a light hint of barnyard. Good texture and nicely threaded flavors roll onto the smooth, lingering finish. | Old School | 91 | 58 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Rex Hill 2010 Old School Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Rex Hill |
| 18954 | 18953 | France | This is a firm and stony wine, with dry tannins that give structure to the intense acidity and the red cherry flavor. It's dense and concentrated, with a solid feel that demands several years of aging. | | 91 | 28 | Beaujolais | Moulin-à-Vent | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Richard Rottiers 2011 Moulin-à-Vent | Gamay | Richard Rottiers |
| 18955 | 18954 | US | Creamy and leesy, with a complex mix of mineral, fresh herb, citrus rind and pungent botanicals, this is an interesting and refreshing style of Pinot Gris. Give it a good chill and watch it open as it warms. | | 91 | 16 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Spindrift Cellars 2011 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Gris | Spindrift Cellars |
| 18956 | 18955 | US | Picked and vinified expressly for this rosé, the grapes were sourced from the Armada Vineyard. It has a pale, copper-like onion-skin shade, it is aged for a year longer than most rosés, but it has lost none of its freshness. The pretty strawberry note gains complexity and textural interest as it lingers on the palate. Persistent, focused, leesy and long, this elegant rosé looks deceptively light, but offers powerful flavors. | Edith | 91 | 35 | Oregon | Walla Walla Valley (OR) | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Cayuse 2010 Edith Rosé (Walla Walla Valley (OR)) | Rosé | Cayuse |
| 18957 | 18956 | Australia | For a fortified wine with a light amber hue, this is wonderfully fresh and citrusy, with aromas and flavors of marmalade and bergamot. Honeyed, toffee-like notes add depth, with the richness of the wine brought home by the slightly viscous finish. | | 89 | 19 | Victoria | Rutherglen | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Campbells NV Tokay (Rutherglen) | Tokay | Campbells |
| 18958 | 18957 | Spain | It's not easy assessing this blend of Monastrell and Petit Verdot from a warm vintage. It's fiery and almost citric on the nose, while the palate is ripe as can be, with spicecake and blackberry syrup flavors. It's not missing any potency or ripeness, but the longer you work with it the larger and more medicinal it gets. Think big Zinfandel from California when you take this on. | Monastrell / Petit Verdot | 89 | 36 | Levante | Jumilla | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Pico Madama 2003 Monastrell / Petit Verdot Red (Jumilla) | Red Blend | Pico Madama |
| 18959 | 18958 | Italy | Great execution and delivery: This lively Brut layers on stone fruit, floral and mineral tones in well-measured doses. The mouthfeel is creamy and soft, gliding over the palate in an attractive and refreshing way. | Brut Crede | 89 | 19 | Veneto | Prosecco di Valdobbiadene | | | | Bisol NV Brut Crede (Prosecco di Valdobbiadene) | Prosecco | Bisol |
| 18960 | 18959 | Portugal | Freshly aromatic, this is a Portuguese equivalent of a Gewürztraminer. It has all the lychees and spice as well as a thick, almost viscous texture. Good acidity helps the balance. Delicious, as an apéritif or with Asian food. | Fernão Pires | 89 | | Estremadura | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Casa Santos Lima 2006 Fernão Pires Fernão Pires (Estremadura) | Fernão Pires | Casa Santos Lima |