20191 | 20190 | Portugal | The label made from cork adds a curiosity value to this big, firmly tannic wine. With its weight, considerable structure and chunky black fruits, it's definitely a wine to age. Give it 5–6 years. | Quinta da Dôna | 90 | 44 | Bairrada | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Caves Aliança 2009 Quinta da Dôna Red (Bairrada) | Portuguese Red | Caves Aliança |
20192 | 20191 | US | This is a fine, impressive Cabernet that shows the soft tannins and slight herbaceousness of Alexander Valley, yet is rich in cherry jam, cassis liqueur, chocolate and sweet oak flavors. Feels plush and fancy in the mouth. Drink soon. | | 90 | 39 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Dewitt 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Dewitt |
20193 | 20192 | France | Already harmonious, this is a potentially opulent wine with a dry core surrounded by ripe red cherry and berry fruit. At the end, the spice adds a fuller note. | Aux Cras Premier Cru | 90 | | Burgundy | Nuits-St.-Georges | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair 2011 Aux Cras Premier Cru (Nuits-St.-Georges) | Pinot Noir | Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair |
20194 | 20193 | France | Firm in tannins, but bright with cherry fruits, this has lovely youthful acidity. Firmer tannins promise good aging over the next 4–5 years. | La Colombière | 90 | | Burgundy | Vosne-Romanée | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair 2011 La Colombière (Vosne-Romanée) | Pinot Noir | Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair |
20195 | 20194 | US | With a heady bouquet of berry and peppery spice, new Edmeades winemaker Ben Salazar is showing great talent with Mendocino Zinfandel, producing a fairly large-scale bottling full of intense spice and soft tannins. Graham crackers and oak play gingerly in the background. This is a wonderful wine and a new beginning for Edmeades. | | 90 | 20 | California | Mendocino County | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Edmeades 2010 Zinfandel (Mendocino County) | Zinfandel | Edmeades |
20196 | 20195 | Italy | A symbolic expression of Italian winemaking, this blend of five grapes (Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia) crosses regional borders and delivers various local wine traditions in a single bottle. The wine is bold, rich and very masculine with huge vanilla oak spice, black cherry and chocolate. | Edizione Cinque Autoctoni | 90 | 44 | Italy Other | Italy | | | | Farnese 2009 Edizione Cinque Autoctoni Red (Italy) | Red Blend | Farnese |
20197 | 20196 | Italy | Pietramora Riserva is a dark and masculine wine with aromas of blackberry, black cherry and plum backed by soft renderings of spice, rum cake and leather. The wine shows nice density that is filling without being heavy. | Pietramora Riserva | 90 | 45 | Central Italy | Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore | | | | Fattoria Zerbina 2008 Pietramora Riserva (Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore) | Sangiovese | Fattoria Zerbina |
20198 | 20197 | Portugal | The Aveleda estate is the source of the fruit for this dry, delicious Vinho Verde. It's a reference for the food-friendly, lemon and grapefruit style, adding minerality and a taut texture to the forward fruitiness. Drink this summer, or hold for up to six months. | Quinta da Aveleda Estate Bottled | 90 | 9 | Vinho Verde | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Aveleda 2012 Quinta da Aveleda Estate Bottled White (Vinho Verde) | Portuguese White | Aveleda |
20199 | 20198 | Argentina | A pitch-black color is a good indication of the power and concentration this old-vine Malbec has in store. Aromas of blackberry, fir forest and ink set up an over-the-top-rich palate, with heavy extraction and giant flavors of minty blackberry and chocolate. Pull out the knife and fork to cut through the deep, chocolaty finish. Drink now through 2017. | Swinto | 90 | 40 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Belasco de Baquedano 2010 Swinto Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | Belasco de Baquedano |
20200 | 20199 | Portugal | With many characteristics of the granite-soil based Dão, this is a dense, mineral and dark fruited wine. It has blackberry and plum-skin fruits as well as a firm, tannic core. Even though it's tightly structured now, it is drinkable, but would benefit from another year's aging. | Vista Reserva | 90 | 14 | Beiras | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Caves Aliança 2010 Vista Reserva Touriga Nacional (Beiras) | Touriga Nacional | Caves Aliança |
20201 | 20200 | US | Rich and robust with smooth tannins, this Lake County Cabernet tastes deliciously austere, with leather, cedar and earth layered over crisp mountain berry fruit. More like the Xurus 2007 than the 2008, it should age just as gracefully, with its savory nature strengthening over time. | Sonatina Vineyard | 90 | 75 | California | Lake County | | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Xurus 2009 Sonatina Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Xurus |
20202 | 20201 | Italy | Le Colture is one of the best producers of Prosecco Superiore and this Dry expression spells out why. The wine is soft and layered with pretty nuances of peach, white flower and fresh tangerine. You'll love those drying mineral notes at the end that contrast this sparkler's natural sweetness. | Dry | 90 | 30 | Veneto | Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze | | | | Le Colture NV Dry (Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze) | Glera | Le Colture |
20203 | 20202 | US | Impenetrably black in color and very tannic, this is a big, aloof Syrah. It's bone dry and hard to appreciate now, with elusive blackberry fruit that surfaces briefly, then disappears into a hard finish. The vineyard is in the cool, damp southern part of the valley. Kudos to Lost Canyon for holding it back this long, but it still needs time. Try after 2016. | Trenton Station Vineyard | 90 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Lost Canyon 2008 Trenton Station Vineyard Syrah (Russian River Valley) | Syrah | Lost Canyon |
20204 | 20203 | US | This is a juicy blend of blueberry-swaddled Carignane, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah that's also got cherry and raspberry fruit lurking around the edges. Firm, spicy and delicious, it's an out-of-the-ordinary blend that'll surprise and please, especially alongside Asian-inspired short ribs or anything caramelized. | The Deviant | 90 | 42 | California | Calaveras County | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Newsome-Harlow 2010 The Deviant Red (Calaveras County) | Red Blend | Newsome-Harlow |
20205 | 20204 | US | Pricey for a blush wine, but this is an excellent one, among the best rosés of the year. It's fairly dark in color and full-bodied, but very rich in strawberry and spice flavors, and the finish is smooth and dry. | Chiara Rosé of Zinfandel | 90 | 35 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Chiarello Family Vineyards 2012 Chiara Rosé of Zinfandel Rosé (Napa Valley) | Rosé | Chiarello Family Vineyards |
20206 | 20205 | US | Another classic Gewürz from this fine winery, their best ever. As the label indicates, it's dry, but has an apparent sweetness, with honey-infused orange, Asian pear and litchee nut flavors, and those fabulous exotic spices that are so unique to the variety. | Dry | 90 | 20 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Claiborne & Churchill 2012 Dry Gewürztraminer (Central Coast) | Gewürztraminer | Claiborne & Churchill |
20207 | 20206 | US | The 2010 BlackJack is loaded with tart cranberry and pomegranate fruit flavors. There is a streak of iron and darker notes that come through in earthy, slighted roasted tannins. The complexity is intriguing and adds depth to a rather light vintage. | Estate BlackJack | 90 | 55 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | David Hill 2010 Estate BlackJack Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | David Hill |
20208 | 20207 | Italy | You won't find many wines like this on the market today. The blend is Tai grapes with 30% Sauvignon. The bouquet is broad and intense with complex aromas of peach, apricot, cinnamon, passion fruit, toasted almond and butterscotch. In the mouth, the texture is long, creamy and soft. | Olmèra | 90 | 44 | Veneto | Veneto | | | | De Stefani 2010 Olmèra White (Veneto) | White Blend | De Stefani |
20209 | 20208 | France | A structured wine, packed with red fruits and delightful acidity. There is a core of dark tannin and a solid structure as well as the bright freshness at the end. Because it has this structure, it's worth aging for 4–5 years. | | 90 | 42 | Burgundy | Beaune | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine des Croix 2011 Beaune | Pinot Noir | Domaine des Croix |
20210 | 20209 | France | This wine has great strawberry flavors with soft tannins and sweet fruits. It's fragrant, delicate, and very pure in style, with just a hint of structure and likely to age over the medium term. | | 90 | | Burgundy | Chambolle-Musigny | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | François Bertheau 2011 Chambolle-Musigny | Pinot Noir | François Bertheau |
20211 | 20210 | France | Big, bold and tannic, this is powerful Gamay from La Tour du Bief vineyard in Juliénas. It has weight, and a concentrated texture that bodes well for the wine's future. Along with this structure are the fragrant black and red currant fruits, already delicious to drink. | Clef du Bief | 90 | | Beaujolais | Moulin-à-Vent | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Georges Duboeuf 2011 Clef du Bief (Moulin-à-Vent) | Gamay | Georges Duboeuf |
20212 | 20211 | France | A rich Pouilly Fuissé, concentrating on ripe tropical fruits and a rounded structure. The wine has weight, richness and a good density. With all these complex characters, it's a wine that needs to age over at least three years. | Clos Reyssié | 90 | | Burgundy | Pouilly-Fuissé | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Georges Duboeuf 2011 Clos Reyssié (Pouilly-Fuissé) | Chardonnay | Georges Duboeuf |
20213 | 20212 | US | Grgich Hills is better known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but this is really a great Sauvignon Blanc, although they call it Fumé Blanc. The wine is dry, yet enormously flavorful in citrus and tropical fruits, with a mouthwatering, savory hit of green gooseberry followed by creamy, leesy richness. | Fumé Blanc Estate Grown Dry | 90 | 30 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Grgich Hills 2011 Fumé Blanc Estate Grown Dry Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Grgich Hills |
20214 | 20213 | US | This excellent wine has good concentration and pretty, fruit-sweet flavors of berry, cherry, and a splash of Dr. Pepper. It brings in elegant details of truffle and more of that pleasant cola character, and lingers through a generous finish. | Hawks View Vineyard | 90 | 38 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Hawks View 2010 Hawks View Vineyard Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Hawks View |
20215 | 20214 | Italy | Like all the wines created by Roccolo Grassi, you can really feel that extra push towards quality and elegance here. La Broia is an oak-aged Soave with a soft consistency and loads of peach, tangerine, melon and white fruit intensity. The finish is smooth and creamy. | La Broia | 90 | 20 | Veneto | Soave | | | | Roccolo Grassi 2010 La Broia (Soave) | Garganega | Roccolo Grassi |
20216 | 20215 | Italy | From the celebrated Cartizze cru, this delicate sparkling wine shows delicate tones of talc powder and honey backed by citrus and stone fruit. What sets the wine apart is the elegance and soft perlage it shows overall. | Dry | 90 | | Veneto | Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze | | | | Ruggeri & C. NV Dry (Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze) | Glera | Ruggeri & C. |
20217 | 20216 | US | A nicely made wine at an attractive price, this offers crowd-pleasing elements of juicy black cherry, cassis and cedar around smoky oak and a medium-bodied concentration that remains succulent on the palate. | | 90 | 30 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Previous 2012 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Previous |
20218 | 20217 | France | This wine comes from vines south of the Mont Sainte-Victoire and close to the edge of the Aix-en-Provence region. The cool vineyard site helps the wine keep extreme freshness. Plenty of wild strawberry flavors are lifted by acidity and a refreshing citrus edge. | Rose Infinie | 90 | 16 | Provence | Côtes de Provence | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Provence Wine Maker 2015 Rose Infinie Rosé (Côtes de Provence) | Rosé | Provence Wine Maker |
20219 | 20218 | US | Coming from two area standouts—Lewis and Phinny Hill vineyards—this wine shows appealing aromas and flavors of shaved coconut, Mounds Bar, cherry and baking spices. The barrel influence is prominent but it largely stands up to it. | Baby Bear | 90 | 60 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Pursued by Bear 2012 Baby Bear Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Pursued by Bear |
20220 | 20219 | US | This is a simply delicious and assertive wine that smells like roses and lemon zest, tastes like fresh apricots and biscotti and has a tangy, appetizing balance. It will be super as an apéritif for a summer time outdoor dinner. | Estate | 90 | 25 | California | Mendocino | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Rivino 2014 Estate Viognier (Mendocino) | Viognier | Rivino |