19351 | 19350 | Portugal | A mixed bag of varieties went into this soft and fruity wine. It has gentle tannins that are lifted by acidity and black currant fruitiness. With its lifestyle label (a small Vespa motor scooter), it is obviously meant to be an easy-going ready-to-drink wine. And it succeeds. | Bonavita | 87 | 10 | Lisboa | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Casa Santos Lima 2014 Bonavita Red (Lisboa) | Portuguese Red | Casa Santos Lima |
19352 | 19351 | Germany | Smoke and dusty minerals meld into tart, green gooseberry and lime flavors on the palate of this brisk, dry Silvaner. It's a fine-footed wine showing varietally characteristic notes of citrus and fresh herb. Spine tingling acidity leads a brisk finish. | Castell Trocken | 87 | 16 | Franken | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Castell 2014 Castell Trocken Silvaner (Franken) | Silvaner | Castell |
19353 | 19352 | Italy | Pretty scents of woodland berry, fragrant purple flower and baking spice float out of the glass. The vibrant, straightforward palate offers crushed wild cherry, white pepper and a hint of star anise alongside bright acidity and sleek tannins. | | 87 | 19 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Castello d'Albola 2013 Chianti Classico | Red Blend | Castello d'Albola |
19354 | 19353 | Italy | This vibrant red has red berry, new leather and fresh herb aromas that meld together. The sleek, light-bodied palate offers juicy wild cherry, cinnamon and a hint of star anise set against racy acidity and fine-grained tannins. | | 87 | 26 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Castello di Verrazzano 2013 Chianti Classico | Red Blend | Castello di Verrazzano |
19355 | 19354 | France | This is a perfumed wine that is soft, full of red cherry fruit and gentle tannins. It does have a dry core that gives the wine shape and there is plenty of juicy fruitiness at the end. The wine is made for the Hospices, a charity in Lyon. | Domaine des Hospices Civils de Lyon | 87 | | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Villages | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Collin-Bourisset 2014 Domaine des Hospices Civils de Lyon (Beaujolais-Villages) | Gamay | Collin-Bourisset |
19356 | 19355 | Italy | Simple and easy drinking, this opens with aromas of red berry and purple flower. The light-bodied palate offers strawberry, cherry and a hint of baking spice alongside zesty acidity. Enjoy soon. | | 87 | 21 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montepulciano | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Dei 2014 Rosso di Montepulciano | Red Blend | Dei |
19357 | 19356 | Portugal | This hugely structured wine is solid with tannins. It has a dark, dry texture that is still masking the potential of the fruits. It is developing those blackberry flavors slowly and will need some time. Drink from 2019. | | 87 | 15 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Herdade Grande 2013 Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Herdade Grande |
19358 | 19357 | US | A vibrant, racy Sauvignon Blanc with concentrated notes of white grapefruit, herbs, and onion peel. It's mouthwatering and richly flavored with mineral notes speckling the finish. | Estate Grown | 88 | 18 | Oregon | Umpqua Valley | Southern Oregon | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Melrose 2011 Estate Grown Sauvignon Blanc (Umpqua Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Melrose |
19359 | 19358 | US | At the age of nearly six years, this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend remains deliciously fresh, offering ripe blackberry, cherry, currant, chocolate and oak flavors. It's soft in tannins, which limits ageability, although it's already throwing some sediment. Drink over the next two years. | Bleu Saphir | 88 | 58 | California | Santa Ynez Valley | Central Coast | | | Millésimé 2007 Bleu Saphir Red (Santa Ynez Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Millésimé |
19360 | 19359 | US | From 62-year-old, dry-farmed vines, the Esola Zinfandel is leathery, full of tobacco and dust surrounded by spicy red fruit. With great structure and savoriness, it's soft with a light, lingering finish and will develop further with grace another 5–7 years. | Esola Vineyard-Old Vine | 88 | 20 | California | Shenandoah Valley (CA) | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Amador Foothill Winery 2009 Esola Vineyard-Old Vine Zinfandel (Shenandoah Valley (CA)) | Zinfandel | Amador Foothill Winery |
19361 | 19360 | US | Made in the modern style, with fairly high alcohol, lots of sweet oak, and massively extracted cherry, berry and mocha flavors. It's smooth in tannins and complex, and is showing its best now and over the next few years. | San Andreas Red | 88 | 49 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | | | Black Ridge 2008 San Andreas Red Red (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Black Ridge |
19362 | 19361 | Spain | Raisin, kirsch and leather aromas define the nose on this crianza. The palate is properly dry, with good acidity and clampy tannins. Flavors of dry oak, herbal notes, raspberry and raisin end in a solid but slightly rough finish. This will go better with food than on its own. | Finca del Marquesado Crianza | 88 | 10 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2007 Finca del Marquesado Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Valdemar |
19363 | 19362 | US | A good example of how well the Central Coast can make Chardonnays that satisfy even without oak barrel aging. The wine is clean and brisk in acidity, with ripe flavors of limes, kiwis and green melons. | No Oak | 88 | 21 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Tolosa 2011 No Oak Chardonnay (Central Coast) | Chardonnay | Tolosa |
19364 | 19363 | Italy | Nussbaumer is a fresh and beautifully intense expression of Gewürztraminer from northern Italy that lavishes on bright aromas of honeysuckle, citrus blossom and jasmine. The wine is almost too perfumed and shows thick, waxy creaminess on the close. | Nussbaumer | 88 | 40 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | | | Tramin 2011 Nussbaumer Gewürztraminer (Alto Adige) | Gewürztraminer | Tramin |
19365 | 19364 | US | A blend of undisclosed varieties from the Central Valley, and a great bargain. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the lush red fruit, spice, mocha and anise flavors, and how easy this wine is to like. | Roadside Red | 88 | 16 | California | California | California Other | | | Victor Vineyards 2011 Roadside Red Red (California) | Red Blend | Victor Vineyards |
19366 | 19365 | Chile | Cassis, blackberry, animal hide, herb and olive aromas create a good nose. The palate is thick feeling, with herbal black-fruit flavors, carob and spice. On the back side, it's bold but burns a little with heat, oak and acidity. By and large, this captures the good elements of Carmenère. | Reserva Privada | 88 | 19 | Maule Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Casas Patronales 2010 Reserva Privada Carmenère (Maule Valley) | Carmenère | Viña Casas Patronales |
19367 | 19366 | France | Given one year's aging, this fruity wine has blossomed out with pear and peach flavors that go beyond the initial youthful herbaceousness. It has a good depth of flavor, a wine that is both bright with acidity and rich with ripe fruit. | Les Deux Tours | 88 | 16 | Loire Valley | Touraine | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Patrick De Ladoucette 2010 Les Deux Tours Sauvignon Blanc (Touraine) | Sauvignon Blanc | Patrick De Ladoucette |
19368 | 19367 | France | Initially fresh and herbaceous, then exotic with a tropical-fruit note, this wine boasts both a steely edge and a ripe center. It's young and could age, but at the moment it is fruitily delicious. | Les Deux Tours | 88 | 16 | Loire Valley | Touraine | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Patrick De Ladoucette 2011 Les Deux Tours Sauvignon Blanc (Touraine) | Sauvignon Blanc | Patrick De Ladoucette |
19369 | 19368 | Portugal | The maturity of this wine gives it velvetine richness, spice and leather texture. The fruit on this smooth, ripe wine is mellow and offers acidity and red cherries. It's a delight to drink now. | | 88 | 50 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta do Mouro 2007 Red (Alentejano) | Portuguese Red | Quinta do Mouro |
19370 | 19369 | Italy | This is a fascinating expression of Pinot Grigio from Rive Alte that opens new windows onto the popular wine. The bouquet is sophisticated and bright with peach, crushed white pepper, exotic fruit and white rose. In the mouth, the wine feels creamy and rich. | Sot Lis Rivis | 88 | 27 | Northeastern Italy | Isonzo del Friuli | | | | Ronco del Gelso 2011 Sot Lis Rivis Pinot Grigio (Isonzo del Friuli) | Pinot Grigio | Ronco del Gelso |
19371 | 19370 | US | This large-production Zin has lots to like, beginning with the smooth, dry tannins and continuing through the classic flavors of black currants, briary forest berries and exotic spices. It contains some Petite Sirah, which gives it added body and depth. Drink now with barbecue, beef tacos and pepperoni pizza. | | 88 | 24 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Seghesio 2011 Zinfandel (Sonoma County) | Zinfandel | Seghesio |
19372 | 19371 | Italy | Thick peach and apricot intensity opens the bouquet of this delightful Friulano from northeast Italy. Those rich stone fruit qualities are well supported by the wine's overall density and its creamy texture. | Stabili della Rocca | 88 | 22 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | | | Tenuta di Angoris 2011 Stabili della Rocca Friulano (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | Friulano | Tenuta di Angoris |
19373 | 19372 | US | How about a pizza with prosciutto, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese with this dry, tart Chardonnay? The keen acidity will cut through the richness, while the suggestion of sweet, toasted oak will play well with the meat's umami smokiness. | Estate Tolosa Vineyards | 88 | 26 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Tolosa 2010 Estate Tolosa Vineyards Chardonnay (Edna Valley) | Chardonnay | Tolosa |
19374 | 19373 | Italy | Available for almost half the price as this estate's Nussbaumer expression of Gewürztraminer (with its bright floral intensity), this base rendition of the same grape opens with candied fruit and honey aromas. The mouthfeel is sticky and chewy. | | 88 | 21 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | | | Tramin 2011 Gewürztraminer (Alto Adige) | Gewürztraminer | Tramin |
19375 | 19374 | Chile | This medium-weight Chard is fresh and mildly dusty smelling, with aromas of pear and apple. The palate is lifted, fresh in feel and offers punchy acidity in front of lime, gooseberry and herb flavors. For under $20, this is nicely made and hints at elegance. | Sibaris Reserva Especial | 88 | 16 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Undurraga 2011 Sibaris Reserva Especial Chardonnay (Maipo Valley) | Chardonnay | Undurraga |
19376 | 19375 | US | Gigantic, huge, enormously extracted Zinfandel. So strong, it's practically a food group. Offers tiers of raspberries, cherries, blackberries, black currants, raisins, dark chocolate and spices. The alcohol level is very high, giving it a hot finish. It's a classic example of this old vine, superripe style. | Luvisi Vineyard | 88 | 42 | California | Calistoga | Napa | | | Vermeil 2010 Luvisi Vineyard Zinfandel (Calistoga) | Zinfandel | Vermeil |
19377 | 19376 | US | Blended with 20% Petit Verdot, this unusual offering brings notes of mushroom, herbs, smoke and dark cherries. It's tightly wound with a firm squeeze of tannins. | The Albatross | 89 | 80 | Washington | Red Mountain | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Gorman 2011 The Albatross Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gorman |
19378 | 19377 | Australia | Subtle aromas of grilled bread, citrus curd and peach set the stage for a plump, medium-bodied wine that boasts restrained flavors of white peach, pineapple and lime. Drink now–2016. | Flint Rock | 89 | 22 | Western Australia | Great Southern | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Howard Park 2013 Flint Rock Chardonnay (Great Southern) | Chardonnay | Howard Park |
19379 | 19378 | Australia | This is a nice Bordeaux-style blend with pretty cherry and currant fruit and some cedar shadings, but lack the complexity of others in its style. It's straight forward, polite and restrained. | Quintet | 89 | 125 | Victoria | Yarra Valley | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Mount Mary 2010 Quintet Red (Yarra Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Mount Mary |
19380 | 19379 | US | This wine is big, very full bodied and very lush in texture. Super-ripe in flavor, it rides at the place where plum notes segue to prune, and black cherry to cherry syrup, which is a very tasty place to be. Plenty of fine tannins frame all that concentration, yet the mouthfeel stays soft. | Altitude 2401 Reserve Fair Play Farms | 89 | 20 | California | California | California Other | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Perry Creek 2012 Altitude 2401 Reserve Fair Play Farms Barbera (California) | Barbera | Perry Creek |