| 2581 | 2580 | US | The aromas of flowers, mineral, peach and almond are initially light but pleasing. The stone-fruit flavors are full bodied and sweet, pulling up ever so slightly on the finish. | Boushey Vineyard | 89 | 35 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | àMaurice 2014 Boushey Vineyard Marsanne-Viognier (Yakima Valley) | Marsanne-Viognier | àMaurice |
| 2582 | 2581 | US | Les Collines and Stone Valley fruit make up 75% of this wine with the rest coming from Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Summit View. It offers generous aromas of blueberry puree, dried herbs, red fruit, woodspice, dried flowers and mineral. The flavors bring the same but are more pulled-back than the aromas suggest, with a bit of astringency that holds the wine back. | | 89 | 32 | Washington | Walla Walla Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Amavi 2013 Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Amavi |
| 2583 | 2582 | US | Examples of this variety are rare in the state. Aromas pop with heaping amounts of fresh flowers and orange peel that are reminiscent of freesia in their intensity. The coffee and blue-fruit flavors are smooth and sultry, showing pleasing depth. | One Upland Vineyard | 89 | 50 | Washington | Snipes Mountain | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Brian Carter Cellars NV One Upland Vineyard Touriga Nacional (Snipes Mountain) | Touriga Nacional | Brian Carter Cellars |
| 2584 | 2583 | US | Specks of rosemary give the aromatic entry of this wine a nice herbal invitation. This subtlety is followed by more bombastic waves of big, juicy black cherry, berry and oak. The tannins are still substantial, suggesting cellaring, through 2021. | | 89 | 45 | California | Carneros | Napa-Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Charthia 2013 Pinot Noir (Carneros) | Pinot Noir | Charthia |
| 2585 | 2584 | France | The gravel soil on this Lévèque family property makes a great place to grow white grapes. A 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this fresh wine suggests the ability to age. It is fruity now, hinting at apricots as well as citrus. It can be drunk now for its freshness, although wait until late 2016 for it to develop greater depths. | | 89 | 20 | Bordeaux | Graves | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château de Chantegrive 2013 Graves | Bordeaux-style White Blend | Château de Chantegrive |
| 2586 | 2585 | France | Spice and ripe fruit, with attractive tannins and a soft texture. This wine is open, generous, rich and packed with black currant fruitiness. Give this wine another 2–4 years, but it could well be drinkable sooner. | Cuvée Aliénor | 90 | 20 | Bordeaux | Fronsac | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Mayne Vieil 2011 Cuvée Aliénor (Fronsac) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Mayne Vieil |
| 2587 | 2586 | Austria | This is a crisp, but also rich style of Federspiel. It is full of ripe pear and apple flavor as well as a fine pinch of pepper. Acidity creeps in the background to balance this ready-to-drink wine. Screwcap. | Loibner Klostersatz Federspiel | 90 | | Wachau | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | F X Pichler 2012 Loibner Klostersatz Federspiel Grüner Veltliner (Wachau) | Grüner Veltliner | F X Pichler |
| 2588 | 2587 | Australia | The most aromatically complex of the FE 2012 Rieslings, the Poison Hill offers beguiling scents of tangerine sherbet and Earl Grey tea. It's almost too perfumy for its soft, medium-bodied structure and slightly dusty-textured finish, but those floral elements are also its appeal. Drink now–2020+. | Poison Hill Vineyard | 90 | 35 | Western Australia | Frankland River | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Frankland Estate 2012 Poison Hill Vineyard Riesling (Frankland River) | Riesling | Frankland Estate |
| 2589 | 2588 | Austria | This is a serious wine, despite the ripe fruitiness on its surface. It is full of peach and mango flavors, but structured by a cool, mineral feel. Tangy acidity and tight texture adds tension. It still needs to age 2–4 years. Screwcap. | Steinbügel | 90 | | Niederösterreich | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Graf Hardegg 2010 Steinbügel Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich) | Grüner Veltliner | Graf Hardegg |
| 2590 | 2589 | Germany | Exquisitely smoky and savory dried herb tones calibrate rich, tropical fruit aromas on this dry yet voluptuously textured Riesling. The palate is penetrating with minerality and a soft, elegant lemon-lime acidity. Finishes long and rich. | Gimmeldinger Biengarten Trocken | 90 | 42 | Pfalz | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | A. Christmann 2010 Gimmeldinger Biengarten Trocken Riesling (Pfalz) | Riesling | A. Christmann |
| 2591 | 2590 | US | Single vineyard, 100% varietal Malbec can be spot on, and this succeeds with a balanced flavor profile of mixed berries and earthy tannins. There's a hint of volatility, that quickly blows off. Decanting for an hour or so is advised. | Gamache Vineyard | 90 | 35 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | àMaurice 2010 Gamache Vineyard Malbec (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Malbec | àMaurice |
| 2592 | 2591 | Italy | This traditionally styled Barolo has a classic fragrance of violet, rose and leather, with balsamic notes. The palate reveals ripe berry and spice with notes of pipe tobacco and while the acidity is tame the wine is massively tannic. Hold this for a few more years, but drink it before 2020. | Bussia | 90 | 92 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Barale Fratelli 2009 Bussia (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Barale Fratelli |
| 2593 | 2592 | Italy | This shows enticing aromas of mint, spice and balsamic herbs and delivers a restrained palate of black cherry, with undertones of sage, white pepper, coffee and espresso. This is still aggressively tannic and needs time to soften. | Castellero | 90 | 82 | Piedmont | Barolo | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Barale Fratelli 2009 Castellero (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Barale Fratelli |
| 2594 | 2593 | US | Rich cherry fruit anchors this excellent, estate-grown Merlot. It's lush and textural, with deep, dark fruit flavors and pleasant roasted notes of coffee and smoke. Half the barrels were new American oak, the rest French, mostly new. | | 90 | 25 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Gamache 2009 Merlot (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Merlot | Gamache |
| 2595 | 2594 | Australia | Made in a superripe, dense, almost fudge-like style, The Ripper tastes like a plummy, chocolaty Christmas cake with slightly coarse tannins on the finish. It's Port-like in flavor, but without the heat from elevated alcohol. Drink it over the next few years. | The Ripper | 90 | 20 | Western Australia | Geographe | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Hope Estate 2010 The Ripper Shiraz (Geographe) | Shiraz | Hope Estate |
| 2596 | 2595 | Austria | Crisp, clean, mineral wine, with hints of a more aromatic character in the background, this is packed with apple and lemon flavors. A straight line of delicious acidity cuts like a knife through the wine. For aging over 3–5 years. Screwcap. | Zöbing | 90 | | Kamptal | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Hirsch 2012 Zöbing Riesling (Kamptal) | Riesling | Hirsch |
| 2597 | 2596 | Israel | This is a balanced and complex fifty-fifty blend, with herbal accents of licorice root, coffee bean and foliage that mingle harmoniously with ripe fruit notes of blackberry, wild raspberry and cherry. Medium weight and lushly textured, but not overdone, with a long finish that delivers light hints of mocha and pepper. | | 90 | 39 | Galilee | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Pelter 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz (Galilee) | Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz | Pelter |
| 2598 | 2597 | Germany | Wet stone and earth notes add a distinct minerality to intensely fruity peach and apricot flavors on this ripe, but dainty Riesling. Zippy acidity and a flurry of fresh, green herbs make for a brisk finish. | Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese | 90 | 29 | Mosel | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Peter Nicolay 2011 Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese Riesling (Mosel) | Riesling | Peter Nicolay |
| 2599 | 2598 | Australia | An easy-drinking introduction to Shiraz from Western Australia's Great Southern region, the 2010 Omrah offers gentle cherry and cedar notes accented by hints of chocolate and roasted meat. It's medium to full bodied, with a round, supple mouthfeel that ends in a wash of softly dusty tannins. | Omrah | 90 | 20 | Western Australia | Western Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Plantagenet 2010 Omrah Shiraz (Western Australia) | Shiraz | Plantagenet |
| 2600 | 2599 | Germany | Whiffs of slate and petrol add nuance to white flower and pineapple aromas on this intensely minerally, dry Riesling. The palate is lush and full with ripe nectarine flavor, freshened with a swathe of fresh green herbs on the finish. | Trocken | 90 | 25 | Rheinhessen | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Rheingraf 2011 Trocken Riesling (Rheinhessen) | Riesling | Rheingraf |
| 2601 | 2600 | Australia | There's a lot to like in this effort: ample dark fruit, complex notions of tea leaves and dried grasses, and a richly textured, long finish. The wine is medium bodied and not very tannic, making it easy to sip repeatedly. Drink it over the next 8–10 years. | Finisterre | 90 | 30 | Western Australia | Margaret River | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Robert Oatley 2009 Finisterre Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Robert Oatley |
| 2602 | 2601 | US | Ripe, flashy fruit stars in this unoaked Chardonnay, in the form of pineapples, kiwis, limes and pears. The grapes for this delicious wine come from the winery's estate vineyard, in the cool southwestern pocket of the Russian River Valley. | Unoaked | 90 | 27 | California | Green Valley | Sonoma | | | Iron Horse 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay (Green Valley) | Chardonnay | Iron Horse |
| 2603 | 2602 | US | La Clarine Farm's rosé is slightly cloudy, sourced mostly from Syrah grapes, with unusual additions of Mourvèdre, Sémillon and Viognier. Winemaker Hank Beckmeyer says the Syrah grapes barely ripen and that's why he likes them for this wine. Light at 12.8% alcohol, it's an intriguing melange of earthy dark strawberry and mint, crisp in acidity. | | 90 | 17 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | La Clarine Farm 2012 Rosé (Sierra Foothills) | Rosé | La Clarine Farm |
| 2604 | 2603 | Chile | Oak, resin, vanilla and creamy aromas run side by side with cherry, cassis and berry scents on this blend of Cabernet, Carmenère, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The palate is tight, juicy and textured, with good density. Flavors of creamy oak, mocha, raspberry and plum set up a medium-length, strong finish. Drink through 2017. | Axel Primero | 90 | 40 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | La Playa 2010 Axel Primero Red (Colchagua Valley) | Red Blend | La Playa |
| 2605 | 2604 | US | This is a rich, robust Pinot Noir, defining the big, tannic style. It explodes in cherry, cola and pomegranate fruit flavors, with the added note of caramelized oak. You can drink this wine now, but it should hold in the bottle for 6–8 years, gradually mellowing. The vineyard is in the cooler southern part of the valley, near Carneros. | Los Olivos | 90 | 42 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Maldonado 2011 Los Olivos Pinot Noir (Napa Valley) | Pinot Noir | Maldonado |
| 2606 | 2605 | US | This Cab wants a few more years to let its internal inconsistencies resolve. The primary cherry and blackberry fruit has faded and is turning nutty. But it's still pretty tannic. Needs to throw some sediment to let the inherent fruit emerge. Try after 2016. | Bell Mountain Vineyard | 90 | 52 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Medlock Ames 2008 Bell Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Medlock Ames |
| 2607 | 2606 | Chile | Earthy aromas include pencil eraser, wild herbs and eucalyptus along with tea and blackberry. This is very smooth and lush in the mouth, a reflection of a warm vintage. Flavors of olive, herbs, tobacco and black fruits are textbook for the variety, while a mellow, polished finish is silky and easygoing. Drink through 2016. | Edición Limitada | 90 | 23 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Morandé 2009 Edición Limitada Carmenère (Maipo Valley) | Carmenère | Morandé |
| 2608 | 2607 | Chile | This wine from the Santa Carolina family opens with ripe blackberry, prune and minerally aromas. It's rubbery and deep on the palate, with dark, toasty flavors of blackberry and bitter chocolate. A lightly herbal and spicy tasting finish with medium intensity fades away with lactic creaminess. | Raices Nobles | 90 | 21 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Ochagavia 2010 Raices Nobles Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Ochagavia |
| 2609 | 2608 | US | Though labeled simply Columbia Valley, this is a classic example of Wahluke Slope Syrah. Well-integrated layers of citrus, berry, roasted coffee beans, vanilla cookie and Graham cracker combine into a most accessible, yet complex wine. It's ready to drink, and should be consumed over the next 3–4 years. | | 90 | 17 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Barnard Griffin 2011 Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Barnard Griffin |
| 2610 | 2609 | US | Thick, heavy, potent and mouth-coating, this is a liquorous, almost syrupy wine, sure to please those who like big fruit, big tannins, and big barrel flavors. Chocolate, espresso, tar and bourbon barrel flavors dominate, in keeping with the house style. | Bacchus Vineyard | 90 | 28 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Barrister 2009 Bacchus Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Barrister |