| 24661 | 24660 | US | Ripe, premium fruit and fairly high alcohol levels define this wine. A hot year and ripe fruit combine to create complexity in the nose, with an interesting mix of spices (cardamom, clove), lots of tannin, some darker fruit, and hints of smoke and earth. The only down side: it lacks weight and it finishes very tannic. | Reserve | 88 | 35 | Oregon | Umpqua Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Girardet 1999 Reserve Pinot Noir (Umpqua Valley) | Pinot Noir | Girardet |
| 24662 | 24661 | Italy | Mildly grassy in the nose, with accents of fig, melon and citrus rind. It's got some hay and funky earthiness to the otherwise tangy, citrus-driven palate. The acidity isn't overpowering, so the mouthfeel is a bit creamy. Overall it's a good mainstream wine unlikely to offend anyone. | | 88 | 19 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Aquileia | | | | Foffani 2000 Sauvignon Blanc (Friuli Aquileia) | Sauvignon Blanc | Foffani |
| 24663 | 24662 | US | Buttered toast and baked bread aromas announce that this is a well-oaked SB. Apple, melon and lemon flavors all get support from powerful oak, while the finish is spicy, toasty, warm and full. This is a flavorful, full-bodied wine, but it is on the opposite end of the spectrum from lean. | | 88 | 16 | California | Lake County | | | | Steele 1999 Fumé Blanc (Lake County) | Fumé Blanc | Steele |
| 24664 | 24663 | Spain | This is quite meaty, oaky and powerful, with a buttery texture supporting soft citrus, melon and green apple flavors. A smoky, toasty finish screams of the oak treatment it went through, and while it's soft and luscious throughout, it's a tad flat as well. | Fransola | 88 | 22 | Catalonia | Penedès | | | | Torres 2000 Fransola Sauvignon Blanc (Penedès) | Sauvignon Blanc | Torres |
| 24665 | 24664 | Italy | Here's a super Tuscan that's made for food, not fireside sipping. It's full of red fruit, mostly currants and plum. There's a menthol/eucalyptus element in there as well. It's already into its aging process and it'll be at its best in another couple of years. However, for a well-regarded wine that's all Cabernet, it is a tad thin in the middle. | Selvamaggio | 88 | 27 | Tuscany | Toscana | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Villa La Selva 1997 Selvamaggio Cabernet Sauvignon (Toscana) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Villa La Selva |
| 24666 | 24665 | US | All stainless steel fermented using Dijon clones. A clean, delicate style, but with an elegant touch and nuances of honey, clove. Very well balanced and textured, with a light but long progression of flavors. | | 88 | 16 | Oregon | Rogue Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Paschal 1999 Chardonnay (Rogue Valley) | Chardonnay | Paschal |
| 24667 | 24666 | US | Their estate Chardonnay is all barrel fermented. A bigger style, with lots of texture but not too much oak. Leesy, creamy, with buttery, tropical fruit. Again, well-balanced and stylish. | Estate | 88 | 18 | Oregon | Rogue Valley | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Paschal 2000 Estate Chardonnay (Rogue Valley) | Chardonnay | Paschal |
| 24668 | 24667 | Italy | Very ripe, with earthy aromas of black plum, berry liqueur and bitter chocolate. The mouthfeel is meaty and muscular, but not hard. A wall of moderate tannins builds after a few sips, but the overall feel is still soft. The finish is medium in length, with adequate depth. | Riserva - Don Alberto | 88 | 40 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Le Miccine 1998 Riserva - Don Alberto (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese | Le Miccine |
| 24669 | 24668 | Italy | In this vintage, Monsanto's flagship wine, made from 90% Sangiovese Grosso, is a prime example of traditional Chianti. It features racy, dry cherry fruit, hard edges and structure galore. Whether it will evolve into a more open and friendly wine remains to be seen; normally Il Poggio ages well and improves in the bottle. | Il Poggio Riserva | 88 | 50 | Tuscany | Chianti Classico | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Castello di Monsanto 1998 Il Poggio Riserva (Chianti Classico) | Sangiovese Grosso | Castello di Monsanto |
| 24670 | 24669 | New Zealand | This restaurant favorite struts its stuff in the nose, providing an ample blast of pungent grapefruit, passion fruit and mint. The palate is mildly grassy, with yet more grapefruit along with touches of flint and stone. The finish is clean and proper, with citrus flavors flowing on a stream of vital acidity. | Reserve | 88 | 18 | Marlborough | | | | | Brancott 2001 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) | Sauvignon Blanc | Brancott |
| 24671 | 24670 | US | About 40% is barrel aged and put through malolactic. This is a heavier, more substantial effort than their regular Chardonnay, with more butterscotch flavors showing. With good fruit, some weight and texture, it's well made and a good value. | Blue Moon | 88 | 10 | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon Other | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Bridgeview 2000 Blue Moon Chardonnay (Oregon) | Chardonnay | Bridgeview |
| 24672 | 24671 | US | Dijon clone again. This has just the vaguest hint of onion, but otherwise is much improved over this property's '99. There is good, juicy, crisp fruit mixing apple/apricot and light citrus. Balanced acids and a well integrated middle that leads into a somewhat hot, stiff finish. Young and edgy, but well made. | Clos du Soleil Vineyard | 88 | 35 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Domaine Serene 2000 Clos du Soleil Vineyard Chardonnay (Willamette Valley) | Chardonnay | Domaine Serene |
| 24673 | 24672 | New Zealand | With almost 2% residual sugar, you might expect this wine to taste sweet. It does—to a point. The strong lime-like finish provides a balancing counterpoint that makes this floral wine very drinkable with food. Clove and cinnamon notes add complexity to ripe pear fruit. | Classic | 88 | 15 | Marlborough | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Framingham 2001 Classic Riesling (Marlborough) | Riesling | Framingham |
| 24674 | 24673 | New Zealand | Some oak adds butter, vanilla and cream to the nose, and then melon, banana and citrus come on in spades on the palate. The barrel influence provides a fine mouthfeel, and the finish is properly acidic, tangy and eminently clean. Even with the oak, this is a sure thing with shellfish. | Reserve | 88 | 15 | Hawke's Bay | | | | | Mills Reef 2001 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay) | Sauvignon Blanc | Mills Reef |
| 24675 | 24674 | New Zealand | Rounder and plummier than you might expect, thanks to only 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest being Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Nicely integrated cedar, mocha and dried herb notes round out the flavors, finishing with fresh acidity. Drink now–2005. | Private Bin | 88 | 19 | Hawke's Bay | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Villa Maria 2000 Private Bin Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Hawke's Bay) | Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot | Villa Maria |
| 24676 | 24675 | France | This wine sees only 10–15% new oak, which allows the gritty peach and tangerine fruit flavors to shine through, dressed up by hints of toasted hazelnuts. White peaches and a powdered talc texture give the impression of richness without excess weight. Finishes long, with notes of mineral and citrus. | | 88 | 42 | Burgundy | Puligny-Montrachet | | | | Louis Latour 2000 Puligny-Montrachet | Chardonnay | Louis Latour |
| 24677 | 24676 | US | A bit soft and heavy in structure, with cherry, cola and sandalwood flavors. Pretty good, but at this price, it needs greater vibrancy and depth. Drink now. | | 85 | 45 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | | | Kings Mountain 2007 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Kings Mountain |
| 24678 | 24677 | US | Pinot maestro Longoria continues to try his hand at Bordeaux blends despite the uphill challenge. This '07 is a Cab Franc-based bottling. It's uneven, with cherry pie filling flavors, edgy tannins and unintegrated sweet, caramelized oak. There's even a bit of heat from high alcohol. Ready now. | Evidence | 85 | 38 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Longoria 2007 Evidence Red (Santa Barbara County) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Longoria |
| 24679 | 24678 | Germany | If the first duty of an icewine is to be sweet, this satisfies that need. Its sugar is also reasonably balanced in this case by 10% alcohol and crisp acids. What's missing is the purity of fruit, as some slightly singed, earthy notes creep into its aromas and finish. | Penguin Eiswein | 85 | 63 | Rheinhessen | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Louis Guntrum 2007 Penguin Eiswein Silvaner (Rheinhessen) | Silvaner | Louis Guntrum |
| 24680 | 24679 | Spain | Floral, sweet and not the least bit complicated or strained. This is easygoing red wine for easy times. It's a bit candied and baked, but that's Garnacha from Central Spain. Decently balanced and sturdy, especially given the price tag. | | 85 | 6 | Northern Spain | Campo de Borja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Borgia 2008 Grenache (Campo de Borja) | Grenache | Viña Borgia |
| 24681 | 24680 | US | A good everyday Zinfandel whose full-bodied, spicy fruitiness will satisfy with barbecue. It's a rugged, somewhat rustic wine with briary flavors of wild blackberries, leather, cola and pepper. Drink now. | Conte Vineyard | 85 | 18 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Wine Guerrilla 2008 Conte Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) | Zinfandel | Wine Guerrilla |
| 24682 | 24681 | France | Hard and unyielding for Viognier, with lemon and mineral elements that seem a bit out of character for the variety. Nevertheless, it's a crisp refreshing white for the summer. | Le Viognier | 85 | 30 | France Other | Vin de Pays des Portes de Méditerranée | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Domaine Juliette Avril 2007 Le Viognier Viognier (Vin de Pays des Portes de Méditerranée) | Viognier | Domaine Juliette Avril |
| 24683 | 24682 | US | A hard, tannic wine, this shows concentrated raspberry fruit flavors, but does not have the fullness and texture of this winery's 2006 releases. Perhaps it's the vintage character, or maybe the wines were somehow stripped during vinification. Give it lots of aeration. | Olivia Vineyard | 85 | 32 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Apolloni 2007 Olivia Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Noir | Apolloni |
| 24684 | 24683 | US | A little overripe and underripe around the edges, with mint and plumped raisin flavors framing the black cherries and cedar. Good, but rustic, and ready now. | | 85 | 12 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Castle Rock 2007 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Castle Rock |
| 24685 | 24684 | France | A green wine showing fruits that are underripe. While it has some soft flavors, red berries and simple tannins, that green underlay is a major downside. | | 85 | | Bordeaux | Pauillac | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Croizet-Bages 2007 Pauillac | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Croizet-Bages |
| 24686 | 24685 | France | Very fresh, with well-judged wood and very juicy fruit, a wine that is almost shocking in its youthful acidity. It bursts in the mouth, fruit and bright. | | 85 | 23 | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Fonbel 2007 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château de Fonbel |
| 24687 | 24686 | France | This is a disappointment. The wine is tart, stalky and, at the same time, light. It has an edge of green that suggests underripe fruit. Developing fast. | | 85 | 24 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Siran 2007 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Siran |
| 24688 | 24687 | US | This has plenty of cranberry and raspberry fruit flavor, supported with juicy, mouth-cleaning acidity. Beyond that, it's a simple, food-friendly quaffer. | | 85 | 24 | Oregon | Southern Oregon | Southern Oregon | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Cliff Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Southern Oregon) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cliff Creek |
| 24689 | 24688 | Italy | A distinctive mineral vein runs through this crisp white wine from the Cusumano brothers of Sicily. Made in Alcamo, in the southwest part of the Mediterranean island, the wine is fresh, easygoing and offers a touch of piquant spice on the close. | Alcamo | 85 | 10 | Sicily & Sardinia | Alcamo | | | | Cusumano 2008 Alcamo White (Alcamo) | White Blend | Cusumano |
| 24690 | 24689 | US | Doesn't have quite the concentration of many more expensive Merlots, but fills a nice niche in an affordable red wine that's full-bodied, dry and elegant. Offers pleasant flavors of cherries, red currants, cola and oak. | | 85 | 10 | California | California | California Other | | | Cycles Gladiator 2007 Merlot (California) | Merlot | Cycles Gladiator |