| 23851 | 23850 | New Zealand | Tropical fruit flavors are brightened by lemon-lime citrus notes and a hint of the variety's trademark grassiness. A slippery smooth texture and balanced acidity make this easy to drink on its own. | Reserve | 88 | 11 | Marlborough | | | | | Phantom Bay 2016 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) | Sauvignon Blanc | Phantom Bay |
| 23852 | 23851 | Spain | Aromas of animal hide and latex are savory more than fruity. This feels overdone and soupy on the palate, with sticky tannins. Candied, baked flavors of plum, blackberry and black currant are spicy in flavor but syrupy in feel on the finish. | La Encina del Inglés | 88 | 22 | Andalucia | Málaga | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca la Melonera 2014 La Encina del Inglés Red (Málaga) | Red Blend | Finca la Melonera |
| 23853 | 23852 | Italy | Spring flower, pear and citrus aromas lead the way on this vibrant sparkler. The fruity scents carry over to the linear racy palate along with a hint of yellow apple and crisp acidity. | Strada di Guia 109 Brut | 88 | 25 | Veneto | Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Foss Marai NV Strada di Guia 109 Brut (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore) | Glera | Foss Marai |
| 23854 | 23853 | New Zealand | The notes weaves a tapestry of peach, butter, grass, peas and citrus followed by a palate that's all about the texture. With balanced acidity and a chalky mouthfeel propping up flavors of lemon and green herbs, this is a complex and food-friendly offering. | | 88 | 18 | Marlborough | | | | | Framingham 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) | Sauvignon Blanc | Framingham |
| 23855 | 23854 | US | Expansive, long and tannic, this wine is robust and powerfully concentrated, the flavors a mixture of tart cranberry, raspberry and black tea. | | 88 | 30 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Fritz 2014 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Fritz |
| 23856 | 23855 | France | The familiar Cordon Rouge, in an impressively restyled bottle, is soft, fruity and eminently drinkable. Its balance comes from the ripe apple fruit and the underlying softness of the creamy mousse. Acidity ties it all together. Drink this bottling now. | Grand Cordon | 88 | 45 | Champagne | Champagne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | G. H. Mumm NV Grand Cordon (Champagne) | Champagne Blend | G. H. Mumm |
| 23857 | 23856 | Italy | Aromas of spring blossom, pear and a whiff of bread crust eventually emerge on this delicately scented wine. Crisp and clean, the effervescent palate evokes ripe yellow apple, white peach and a citrus note alongside vibrant acidity. Elegant, continuous bubbles dance through to the dry finish. | Brut | 88 | 17 | Veneto | Prosecco Treviso | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Giol 2016 Brut (Prosecco Treviso) | Glera | Giol |
| 23858 | 23857 | US | Petite Verdot is a hard variety to succeed on its own, but Calcareous has produced a fine, dry wine made from that Bordeaux variety. It's full-bodied and complex, with flavors of currants, mushu plum sauce, violets, dark chocolate and anise. Such are the tannins that the wine should develop through 2010. | | 90 | 28 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Calcareous 2006 Petit Verdot (Paso Robles) | Petit Verdot | Calcareous |
| 23859 | 23858 | South Africa | From elegant white producer Paul Cluver, this wine starts with a beautiful nose of fragrant peach, honey and apricot, then unfolds into an enticing balance of lush peach, pineapple and apricot flavors. Elegant but fresh, the complex flavors mingle perfectly with a bright, zinging acidity. The lingering finish offers a touch of orange peel and dried apricot. Delicate but full of character. | Noble Late Harvest | 90 | 24 | Elgin | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Paul Cluver 2006 Noble Late Harvest Riesling (Elgin) | Riesling | Paul Cluver |
| 23860 | 23859 | South Africa | Smoky spice and dried herbs on the nose are followed by flavors of rustic spice and red fruit on the palate. Vibrant fruit and muscular tannins are integrated by a clean minerality. The wine has native character but will please many palates with its dimension. | The Left Bank | 90 | 15 | Western Cape | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Neil Ellis 2007 The Left Bank Red (Western Cape) | Red Blend | Neil Ellis |
| 23861 | 23860 | South Africa | This delicious rosé is a combination of sweet strawberry and a touch of lemon crispness on the nose and the palate. Its light, elegant character is supported by a dancing acidity and a balance of ripe berry flavors and minerality. A great food pairing choice or stellar solo sip. | Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rosé | 90 | 30 | Stellenbosch | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Simonsig 2007 Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rosé Sparkling (Stellenbosch) | Sparkling Blend | Simonsig |
| 23862 | 23861 | US | The richness of the aroma belies the elegance of this outstanding Pinot Noir. Tightly woven scents of sweet herb, tobacco, clove, forest floor fungus and spicy red fruits provide an introduction to a wine that can only be called svelte. It's as smooth as silk in the mouth, loaded with flavor and polished to a warm glow, which is exactly what it leaves you with after just one sip. | | 90 | 36 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Sineann 2007 Pinot Noir (Oregon) | Pinot Noir | Sineann |
| 23863 | 23862 | Italy | This Picolit is light in color and lean in form but it does do a very good job of presenting elegant aromas and nuances. You'll recognize sweet honey, almond, orange zest and subdued herbal tones. It's young and fresh in spirit. | | 90 | 30 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | | | Marco Cecchini 2005 Picolit (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | Picolit | Marco Cecchini |
| 23864 | 23863 | Spain | An elegant Rioja made in a more traditional style. The nose is a little baked and raisiny, with additional aromas of caramel and leather. The palate is where this wine shines: the feel is elegant and smooth, while the cherry and raspberry flavors are subtle and a little bit tangy. Mature and sexy stuff; more classic than modern, but not 100% old-school. | Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial | 90 | 54 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Marqués de Murrieta 2000 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Marqués de Murrieta |
| 23865 | 23864 | Italy | Brilliant and luminous, this tasty Picolit offers pretty golden highlights and aromas of citrus zest, almond, honey and cola. It exhibits a traditional, elegant style and ends with bright, refreshing notes of acidity. | | 90 | 60 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | | | Conte d'Attimis-Maniago 2004 Picolit (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | Picolit | Conte d'Attimis-Maniago |
| 23866 | 23865 | France | A ripe, crisp, yellow- and white-fruit-flavored wine. It shows taut minerality, the flintiness you find in Chablis. The structure is dominant in what is still a young wine, but the fruit is all there. Worth aging for a year. | Pur Chardonnay | 90 | 25 | Burgundy | Crémant de Bourgogne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Bailly-Lapierre 2005 Pur Chardonnay (Crémant de Bourgogne) | Chardonnay | Bailly-Lapierre |
| 23867 | 23866 | Portugal | Initial sweetness, followed by attractive soft fruit, this is a rich, balanced wine, golden in color. In addition to the richness, there is good fresh acidity, a layer of old wood that adds complexity. Very stylish. | Dry Aperitif White | 90 | | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Churchill's NV Dry Aperitif White (Port) | Port | Churchill's |
| 23868 | 23867 | Australia | A unique dessert wine made from botrytized Sémillon that's then fortified and aged for an average of eight years in barrel, this is a dark, coffee-brown wine, with a hint of green to its rim. Aromas are slightly nutty and molasses-like, with raisiny, almost Muscat-like flavors. Full-bodied and rich, it finishes long and sticky. | Black Noble | 90 | 38 | Australia Other | Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | De Bortoli NV Black Noble White (Australia) | White Blend | De Bortoli |
| 23869 | 23868 | Greece | A blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Limnio, this is a Bordeaux-like blend offering aromas of clove, mint and blueberry, and black fruit flavors. An elegant and integrated balance of fruit, wooded spice and acid gives the medium-bodied sip ageability. Paired with game or more complex red meat dishes, this blend is a classy alternative from an exotic locale. | Amethystos | 90 | 18 | Drama | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Domaine Costa Lazaridi 2006 Amethystos Red (Drama) | Red Blend | Domaine Costa Lazaridi |
| 23870 | 23869 | US | This very dry wine is dominated by its hard tannins, and comes across as a bit rigid and austere, especially by California standards. Yet it's very finely structured, with a keen edge of black pepper to the currant and blackberry flavors buried way beneath. Give it through 2009, but if you must drink now, decant. | Westside | 90 | 125 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | PharaohMoans 2006 Westside Syrah (Paso Robles) | Syrah | PharaohMoans |
| 23871 | 23870 | Spain | Questionable value at $70, but this is very good and rather unique white Rioja. Remelluri uses a multitude of common and unheard-of grapes, and they hit it with a lot of oak. Still, amid the oily richness there's balance, acidity and excellent layering of grass, spice, apple, banana and lemon flavors. Big at 14.5%, but it will go really well with baked fish or lobster. | Blanco | 90 | 71 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Remelluri 2006 Blanco White (Rioja) | White Blend | Remelluri |
| 23872 | 23871 | US | A full, fleshy, lushly fruited Pinot Noir, streaked with espresso and caramel from barrel aging. The fruit and overall structure are up to the challenge of the wood; lots of black cherry and even hints of cassis running through the core. A finish with some noticeable heat supports the 15.4% alcohol reading, but it's a tasty bottle of wine. | Sims Vineyard | 90 | 52 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Rex Hill 2006 Sims Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Rex Hill |
| 23873 | 23872 | Portugal | Sandeman's single quinta vintage is based around Quinta do Vau. Made in a deliberately fruity style, it is full of blackberry fruit jam flavors, with fleshy plums. The tannins are low-key, just showing through as a core of dryness. This is not a long-term aging vintage—best in 5–10 years. | Vau Vintage | 90 | 33 | Port | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Sandeman 2000 Vau Vintage (Port) | Port | Sandeman |
| 23874 | 23873 | Italy | This Recioto opens with a beautiful, vibrant ruby color with purple highlights and deep dimension only to segue into typical aromas of bramble, blueberries, blackberry and chopped herbs. It's got power, sweetness and structure with chewy, tart tannins. Recioto is an ancient wine made with the same blend of grapes that goes into Amarone. Pair this sweet red with dried cinnamon cakes, chocolate-based desserts or a selection of aged cheeses. | La Roggia | 90 | | Veneto | Recioto della Valpolicella Classico | | | | Speri 2004 La Roggia (Recioto della Valpolicella Classico) | Red Blend | Speri |
| 23875 | 23874 | Italy | Made with Malvasia grapes from the beautiful and rustic island of Salina (off the northern coast of Sicily), Capofaro's luscious dessert wine is richly redolent of honey, dried banana, apricot and dried flowers. This is a gorgeous wine with syrupy but smooth density and tangy candied fruit flavors. | Tenuta Capofaro 500ml | 90 | 50 | Sicily & Sardinia | Salina | | | | Tasca d'Almerita 2006 Tenuta Capofaro 500ml Malvasia (Salina) | Malvasia | Tasca d'Almerita |
| 23876 | 23875 | Italy | Vibrant and full of good cheer, this ruby-colored Recioto boasts cherry, red apple, Turkish spice, leather and dark chocolate. In fact, it would make a perfect companion to chocolate-based dishes. The mouthfeel is chewy and rich with lively cherry intensity and silky tannins. It is worth pointing out, however, that I tasted three corked bottles before finding a good one. | Capitel Fontana | 90 | 60 | Veneto | Recioto della Valpolicella Classico | | | | Tedeschi 2004 Capitel Fontana (Recioto della Valpolicella Classico) | Red Blend | Tedeschi |
| 23877 | 23876 | US | Thea's Selection is Lemelson's “measuring stick” Pinot Noir, as it is a blend of blocks from the different estate vineyards. This elegant release emphasizes aromas of pungent herbs, lifted with hints of rose petal and briary berry. In the mouth there is a lively, sappy, fruit-centric focus, showing concentrated raspberry (framboise) flavors. In short, a thoroughly delicious bottle that makes the case for blends over most single-vineyard offerings in Oregon. | Thea's Selection | 90 | 38 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lemelson 2006 Thea's Selection Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Lemelson |
| 23878 | 23877 | US | Martella's Hammer Syrah, which is a statewide blend, consistently is as good as, if not better than, its more expensive bottlings. As in the past, the '06 is very dry, crisp and somewhat tannic. What it lacks in fruity richness it more than makes up in structural balance and elegance, but you'll find enough cherry, currant, tobacco and sweet oak flavors to satisfy. | Hammer | 90 | 24 | California | California | California Other | | | Martella 2006 Hammer Syrah (California) | Syrah | Martella |
| 23879 | 23878 | US | While the majority of the grapes for this wine are from Napa, small additions come from Lake, Sonoma and Solano counties. It holds a healthy dose of Merlot too. Simple in richness and ripeness, its flavors highlight bacon and charred oak, the tannins dusty and firm. | | 85 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Educated Guess 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Educated Guess |
| 23880 | 23879 | Argentina | Basic aromas are low on fruit. This has a cutting, citric feel that's centered around juicy acidity. Sour grapefruit and tangerine flavors end with lasting citric acidity. | Estate Malbec | 85 | 10 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Finca El Origen 2016 Estate Malbec Rosé (Uco Valley) | Rosé | Finca El Origen |