| 24991 | 24990 | Spain | Granulated berry and plum aromas are slightly reduced and come with an animal note on this Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. A flush, weighty palate is well balanced, while flavors of dark plum and cassis finish tannic and a bit rubbery. | Organic | 87 | 11 | Levante | Utiel-Requena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Spartico 2016 Organic Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon (Utiel-Requena) | Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon | Spartico |
| 24992 | 24991 | US | Very focused and vibrant, this wine has plenty of good acidity that lends a crisp mouthfeel, along with fresh and buoyant flavors of red cherry and cranberry that are nicely concentrated. Moderate tannins add to the grippy texture, and will make this wine work well with rich foods. | | 87 | 28 | California | North Coast | | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Stargazer Barn 2013 Merlot | Merlot | Stargazer Barn |
| 24993 | 24992 | US | This leads with light baking spice and apple pie aromas. The palate is broad, with abundant vanilla flavors that suggest strong oak influence. | | 87 | 17 | Washington | Horse Heaven Hills | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | The Conqueror 2015 Chardonnay (Horse Heaven Hills) | Chardonnay | The Conqueror |
| 24994 | 24993 | US | Luscious grapefruit and lychee juxtapose earthier notes of saffron and fennel that extend from nose to finish. It's a dry, full-bodied Gewürztraminer with sunny acidity lending freshness to the midpalate. Drink now through 2019. | Lonesome Stony Estate Reserve | 87 | 11 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Three Brothers 2016 Lonesome Stony Estate Reserve Gewürztraminer (Finger Lakes) | Gewürztraminer | Three Brothers |
| 24995 | 24994 | Italy | Ripe black plum, toasted oak and menthol aromas lead the way in this wine. The firm palate offers blackberry jam, vanilla and licorice flavors set against grainy tannins. Drink through 2019. | Sorangela | 87 | 23 | Piedmont | Barbera d'Asti | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Tre Secoli 2015 Sorangela (Barbera d'Asti) | Barbera | Tre Secoli |
| 24996 | 24995 | US | This blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Syrah and 20% Zinfandel is a little simple at first on the nose, with loamy soil and tart elderberry aromas eventually apparent. It's quite dry on the sip, with dried oregano and marjoram, and then come flavors of black fruit, graphite and black pepper. | Main Squeeze | 87 | 20 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Twisted Paso 2014 Main Squeeze Red (Paso Robles) | Red Blend | Twisted Paso |
| 24997 | 24996 | Chile | A toasty but green-smelling bouquet mixes scents of grass with charred oak and berry fruits. A creamy, lactic palate deals flavors of green herbs, mint and milk chocolate, all of which carry over to a minty finish. | Elegido Gran Reserva | 87 | 18 | Colchagua Costa | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Valle Hermoso 2015 Elegido Gran Reserva Carmenère (Colchagua Costa) | Carmenère | Valle Hermoso |
| 24998 | 24997 | France | This wine is all bright cherry fruit with juicy acidity and a jammy character. It's delicious now, with its light tannins and bright raspberry aftertaste. Drink now. | Vignobles des Roches | 87 | 18 | Beaujolais | Morgon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Vignobles Bulliat 2016 Vignobles des Roches (Morgon) | Gamay | Vignobles Bulliat |
| 24999 | 24998 | France | This is an attractively crisp, citrus-flavored wine. With lime and ripe apple fruits, the tangy texture bursts with freshness. The wine is ready to drink. | | 87 | 20 | Burgundy | Saint-Véran | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Vins Auvigue 2014 Saint-Véran | Chardonnay | Vins Auvigue |
| 25000 | 24999 | US | Lightly creamy fruit and vanilla flavors follow melon, apple and baking spice aromas in this wine. It's a pleasant, straightforward easy-drinker. | | 87 | 12 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Waterbrook 2015 Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Chardonnay | Waterbrook |
| 25001 | 25000 | US | This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec offers vanilla, herb and cherry aromas that seem a bit coarse. The palate is full of baking spice flavors—notably vanilla. It's heavy on the oak notes, despite having aged in just 42% new French barrels, the rest older French and American. | | 87 | 25 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | 4 Cellars 2014 Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Red Blend | 4 Cellars |
| 25002 | 25001 | US | Toast and dill accent zesty green apple and lemon flavors in this lithe, sharply composed Chardonnay. Fresh acidity abounds on the palate, leading a moderately long, slightly tart finish. Drink now through 2019. | | 87 | 35 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Bedell 2015 Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island) | Chardonnay | Bedell |
| 25003 | 25002 | France | This wine brings out all the fruitiness of Gamay, along with an extra perfumed character. It is soft, rounded and smooth, with cherry fruits and a touch of spice. Drink now. | | 87 | | Beaujolais | Beaujolais-Villages | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Bulliat 2014 Beaujolais-Villages | Gamay | Bulliat |
| 25004 | 25003 | US | Made in the Pride style, this is a big, powerful wine that should age well. It's enormously ripe, with flamboyant cassis, cherry pie filling, milk chocolate, licorice and smoky oak flavors that are wrapped into thoroughly modern, softly refined tannins. Just beautiful, and should develop through 2012. | | 93 | 56 | California | Sonoma-Napa | Napa-Sonoma | | | Pride Mountain 2006 Merlot (Sonoma-Napa) | Merlot | Pride Mountain |
| 25005 | 25004 | US | This is a big, kick-butt wine that shows the powerful fruit and hard tannins that make Pinots from this vineyard ageable. You'll find it tough and gritty now, with rich, deep flavors of cherries, currants, cola and cedar. Best beyond 2011. | Sanford & Benedict Vineyard | 93 | 56 | California | Sta. Rita Hills | Central Coast | | | Testarossa 2007 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) | Pinot Noir | Testarossa |
| 25006 | 25005 | US | This is a very good wine, but judging from the acidity and tannins, it will benefit with some time in the cellar. Dry and silky, it shows rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, currants, chocolate-covered mints, anise and cedar that are lush and decadent. Decant now, and should come into its own in mid-2010. | Raffaelli Vineyard | 93 | 59 | California | Santa Cruz Mountains | Central Coast | | | Cumbre of Vine Hill 2006 Raffaelli Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Cumbre of Vine Hill |
| 25007 | 25006 | Austria | This is Knoll's flagship wine, from the Dürnstein Schütt vineyard. It is powerful, intense stuff, a roll-call of ripe flavors, even in the difficult 2007 vintage. The wine brings out spice, yellow fruits, fresh apple skins and peppered grapefruit. The extra element is the complexity that goes deep into flavors that need to develop over several years. | Ried Schütt Smaragd | 93 | | Wachau | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Emmerich Knoll 2007 Ried Schütt Smaragd Riesling (Wachau) | Riesling | Emmerich Knoll |
| 25008 | 25007 | Austria | A full-bodied, spicy style of Grüner that still keeps its sense of minerality and structure. The wine is fruity, its pear flavors dominant at first. But then the concentration and the freshness both deepen the taste and lift it at the same time. An impressive wine, epitomizing both rich Grüner and a taut, cool-climate character. | Axpoint Smaragd | 93 | 74 | Wachau | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Franz Hirtzberger 2007 Axpoint Smaragd Grüner Veltliner (Wachau) | Grüner Veltliner | Franz Hirtzberger |
| 25009 | 25008 | France | A truly grassy aroma leads to a fresh, herbaceous and crisp wine. To top its crispness, it also has some weight, wood flavors and a creamy core with a white pear texture. It could benefit from aging, at least three years, to bring out the inherent richness of the wine. | | 93 | 40 | Bordeaux | Pessac-Léognan | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Haut-Bergey 2007 Pessac-Léognan | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château Haut-Bergey |
| 25010 | 25009 | Italy | This is an extraordinary wine with deep and delicate layers of yeast, wild berries, rose bud and smoky ash. There is a distinctive wood element that comes off as roasted almond and creamy butter, yet the wine is balanced and seductive to the end. You get personality and the highest quality of Italian sparkling wine. | Soldati Millesimato Riserva D'Antan | 93 | | Piedmont | Piedmont | | | | La Scolca 1995 Soldati Millesimato Riserva D'Antan Sparkling (Piedmont) | Sparkling Blend | La Scolca |
| 25011 | 25010 | US | Delicious. This is a full-bodied blush bubbly with instant appeal, from the coppery color to the long, spicy finish. Shows lush flavors of creamy raspberries and red cherries, brioche, vanilla and cinnamon spice, with a nutty sweetness. Elegant and complex. Drink now. | Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé | 93 | 36 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | | | Domaine Carneros NV Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé Sparkling (Carneros) | Sparkling Blend | Domaine Carneros |
| 25012 | 25011 | US | This is one of the few Cab Francs in California that works on its own. It's really a gorgeous wine, showing the full-bodied firmness of Cabernet Sauvignon, but without the tannic weight and density. The flavors veer toward scrumptious red cherries, red currants, milk chocolate and anise, with a dry, complex finish. Lovely with a fine grilled steak and rosemary new potatoes. | | 93 | 60 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Pride Mountain 2006 Cabernet Franc (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Franc | Pride Mountain |
| 25013 | 25012 | US | The dryness and length of this Pinot Noir make it especially recommendable. It just feels lush and important in the mouth, offering a wealth of cherry, raspberry, currant, mocha and spice flavors, with a meaty note of beef jerky. Should develop for a good six years in the bottle. | Hein Vineyard | 93 | 44 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Rockroom Winemaking Cooperative 2006 Hein Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) | Pinot Noir | Rockroom Winemaking Cooperative |
| 25014 | 25013 | Chile | Montes Folly is the benchmark by which all other Chilean Syrahs must measure themselves. Yes, it's entirely New World in its approach, but how can you gripe about such a potent brew of balsam wood, tanned leather, licorice, mineral and monster black fruit? The palate is big but balanced by live-wire acidity, and even at 15% alcohol it's harmonious. A real winner; one of the best Folly wines to date. | Folly | 93 | 95 | Santa Cruz | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Montes 2006 Folly Syrah (Santa Cruz) | Syrah | Montes |
| 25015 | 25014 | US | From the winery's Annapolis Vineyard, at the cool, northern tip of the “true” Sonoma Coast, comes this chunky young Pinot Noir. Although the grapes were destemmed before fermentation, the tannins are significant, a reflection of the low yields and tough skins the berries develop. In fact, the wine is almost Zinny in its full body and spicy, briary fruit. It clearly needs time. Best after 2011. | Far Coast | 93 | 70 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Hartford Court 2007 Far Coast Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Hartford Court |
| 25019 | 25018 | Italy | This is a lovely and impressive sparkler with luminous intensity and more than a decade of careful aging. Aromas recall cedar wood, pineapple, apricot and hazelnut. It's an evolved and opulent wine with loads of personality and density. | Brut | 92 | 85 | Lombardy | Franciacorta | | | | Ca' del Bosco 1996 Brut Sparkling (Franciacorta) | Sparkling Blend | Ca' del Bosco |
| 25016 | 25015 | Chile | Ripe, smooth and pure, with aromas of asphalt, tobacco and cedar-lined cigar box along with dry, elevated fruit. The palate is balanced to a tee, with floral, fresh flavors of berry, cola, herbs and tobacco. Seña has been on a roll lately, and this vintage is entirely inviting, balanced and savory. Drinkable now, but best from 2010 to 2013. | | 93 | 78 | Aconcagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Seña 2006 Red (Aconcagua Valley) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Seña |
| 25017 | 25016 | Austria | Martin Mittelbach rolls out this intense, concentrated wine, which packs spice, ripe pineapple and apricots and a final floral character that fills the mouth. A wine to age for at least four years. Screwcap. | Höhereck | 93 | 40 | Wachau | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Tegernseerhof 2008 Höhereck Grüner Veltliner (Wachau) | Grüner Veltliner | Tegernseerhof |
| 25020 | 25019 | US | Always pretty, always polished, St. Jean's '05 Cinq Cepages is a solid red wine that drinks well now and should develop with a few years in the cellar. It's dry and firm in tannins, with flavors of blackberries, cassis and new smoky oak, marked by a soft texture of finely ground tannins. | Cinq Cepages | 92 | 75 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Chateau St. Jean 2005 Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Chateau St. Jean |
| 25018 | 25017 | Italy | Opulence and intensity set this wine apart and place it high on a list of the world's best sparkling wines. Made with creamy Chardonnay grapes, the brilliant bubbly delivers complexity and harmony thanks to its deep shadings of mature fruit, mineral and yeast. Fabulous. | Riserva del Fondatore | 93 | 90 | Northeastern Italy | Trento | | | | Giulio Ferrari 1999 Riserva del Fondatore Chardonnay (Trento) | Chardonnay | Giulio Ferrari |