| 2706 | 2705 | Chile | Heavy and gold in color, with aromas of browned butter, wheat and corn cakes. The bouquet and color are heavy, and so is the palate: There you get oak barrel and toast, but little to no fruit. Even the finish is woody, with just a hint of melon and banana. A good experimental wine for those eager to taste oak; otherwise steer clear. | | 87 | 8 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Santa Monica 2001 Chardonnay (Rapel Valley) | Chardonnay | Viña Santa Monica |
| 2707 | 2706 | US | The new clone on the block finally makes it onto the front label. Soft and silky, this wine has cherry-berry flavors with an earthy streak of tobacco and sage. There are some firm tannins that kick in on the finish, which suggest six months of aging. | Dijon Clones Selection | 87 | 25 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Wolff 2001 Dijon Clones Selection Pinot Noir (Edna Valley) | Pinot Noir | Wolff |
| 2708 | 2707 | Chile | The initial nosing reveals a char-broiled character along with maple. That nose turns even darker with airing, indicating that no barrel was spared in the making of this wine. The flavor profile is all dark berries and cream, with yet more wood at the heart. On the tail end, it's dry, broad and full of tannins and extract that coat the mouth. Best Buy. | | 87 | 12 | Aconcagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Errazuriz 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Aconcagua Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Errazuriz |
| 2709 | 2708 | Italy | A rich, aromatic, honeyed style of Chardonnay, with 100% malolactic fermentation to increase the softness and sweet wood flavors. Soft peach flavors increase the tropical intensity of the wine. | | 87 | 35 | Northeastern Italy | Colli Orientali del Friuli | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Girolamo Dorigo 2000 Chardonnay (Colli Orientali del Friuli) | Chardonnay | Girolamo Dorigo |
| 2710 | 2709 | US | As easy and tasty as a summer wine gets, this blush also has a lovely coppery-pink color. Flavors of fresh strawberries and spice burst on the palate, and drink just a tad off-dry. | Rose de Pinot Noir | 87 | 15 | California | Green Valley | Sonoma | | | Iron Horse 2002 Rose de Pinot Noir Pinot Noir (Green Valley) | Pinot Noir | Iron Horse |
| 2711 | 2710 | US | From a vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, a young, jammy wine bursting with candied flavors of raspberries and cherries. It drinks very concentrated and intense. There's a caramelly note that may come from well-charred barrels in this dry, full-bodied wine. | | 87 | 32 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Opolo 2000 Pinot Noir (Central Coast) | Pinot Noir | Opolo |
| 2712 | 2711 | US | Tasty and wonderfully drinkable. The basic flavors are cola and soy, with extra nuances of blackberries, cherries and quite a bit of smoky, sweet oak. Drinks very dry and spicy. | Sleepy Hollow Vineyard | 87 | 35 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Savannah-Chanelle 2000 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Pinot Noir | Savannah-Chanelle |
| 2713 | 2712 | Italy | A taut, citrusy and minerally wine from a grape variety that's often more open and fruity, this offering is nonetheless impeccably fresh and clean, picking up some minty notes on the finish. | | 87 | 16 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Aquileia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Merk 2001 Tocai (Friuli Aquileia) | Tocai | Merk |
| 2714 | 2713 | Chile | Some earthy, herbal cranberry scents are given life by a touch of smoky oak. The palate is sweet and wholesome, and very well balanced. The finish gives a hint of syrup and oak, but the fruit is ripe and succulent enough to handle that. | Edicion Limitada - 66 Barricas | 87 | | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Morandé 2001 Edicion Limitada - 66 Barricas Cabernet Franc (Maipo Valley) | Cabernet Franc | Morandé |
| 2715 | 2714 | US | Almost addictive with its fresh, clean flavors of sweet lemon, fig, tart green apple and cinnamon, encased in lively acidity. This zesty white wine has extra layers of complexity and depth. It's also one of the most versatile food wines around. | | 87 | 18 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | J Vineyards & Winery 2002 Pinot Gris (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Gris | J Vineyards & Winery |
| 2716 | 2715 | Italy | Despite the modest price, this wine needs some time in the glass or in a decanter to open up. It starts off slowly, then builds pear and quince aromas and flavors through the long, tart, minerally finish. Best Buy. | Teraje | 87 | 10 | Northeastern Italy | Friuli Grave | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Pradio 1999 Teraje Chardonnay (Friuli Grave) | Chardonnay | Pradio |
| 2717 | 2716 | Italy | A Soave that has been partially barrel fermented is unusual, but it works in this wine, which has great concentration, roundness and softness and the complexity of toast. | Colbaraca Classico | 87 | 11 | Veneto | Soave | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Masi 2002 Colbaraca Classico (Soave) | Garganega | Masi |
| 2718 | 2717 | Italy | This luscious, balanced Pinot Grigio isn't overly complex, but scores for its cactus pear and toasted almond aromas and flavors and its peppery, refreshing finish. It's medium-bodied, with just a hint of unreleased CO2 to enliven it. | Vigneto Ai Palazzi | 87 | 15 | Veneto | Piave | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Masottina 2001 Vigneto Ai Palazzi Pinot Grigio (Piave) | Pinot Grigio | Masottina |
| 2719 | 2718 | Chile | Solid and sturdy, and more big than small, this Syrah runs toward the red-fruit spectrum. But the nose offers dried fruit, herbs and clove, while there's more clove and fennel underneath the fruit on the palate. There's oak throughout, especially on the finish, but it's not overdone. And if many Syrah-based wines need time to settle, this one seems made for immediate drinking. | Alpha | 87 | 20 | Curicó Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Montes 2001 Alpha Syrah (Curicó Valley) | Syrah | Montes |
| 2720 | 2719 | Chile | This Merlot excels beyond its bargain classification by showing purity and a high level of fruit quality. The bouquet exudes plum, chocolate and some creaminess, while the palate bursts with blackberry, bitter chocolate and espresso. Round and satisfying, with enough structure to last a year or two—or until the next vintage comes around. | Xplorador | 87 | 7 | Rapel Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Concha y Toro 2002 Xplorador Merlot (Rapel Valley) | Merlot | Concha y Toro |
| 2721 | 2720 | France | Friendly apple fruit sits easily on nose and palate before a refreshing, clean finish. This is an easy, fruit-driven white ideal for a party. | Cuvée René Dopff | 86 | 13 | Alsace | Alsace | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Dopff & Irion 2014 Cuvée René Dopff Pinot Blanc (Alsace) | Pinot Blanc | Dopff & Irion |
| 2722 | 2721 | France | Made from the local Sciaccarellu grape, this is a delicious, light and perfumed wine. It has tight acidity to go with the red currant flavors and the crisp texture. The wine is poised and refreshing. | | 86 | 10 | France Other | Ile de Beauté | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Union de Vignerons de l'Île de Beauté 2015 Rosé (Ile de Beauté) | Rosé | Union de Vignerons de l'Île de Beauté |
| 2723 | 2722 | US | Lively aromas like crisp apple and white peach join more creamy, pastry-like flavors of butter, vanilla and toasted almond in this medium-bodied wine. It is soft in texture and so fruity it seems sweet on the finish. | | 86 | 13 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Van Ruiten 2015 Chardonnay (Lodi) | Chardonnay | Van Ruiten |
| 2724 | 2723 | France | This wine is tangy and textured with light tannins, a bite of citrus acidity and plenty of fruit. It's bright and has a juicy, lively aftertaste. Drink now. | Château Terres Douces | 86 | 10 | Bordeaux | Bordeaux Rosé | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Vignobles Bonhur 2015 Château Terres Douces Rosé (Bordeaux Rosé) | Rosé | Vignobles Bonhur |
| 2725 | 2724 | Spain | Largely neutral on the nose, then tangy and still fresh on the palate, this drink-now Viura is clean but unexciting. Flavors of generic citrus finish firm, with a pithy aftertaste. | | 86 | 12 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Otano 2014 Viura (Rioja) | Viura | Viña Otano |
| 2726 | 2725 | Italy | Aromas suggesting honeydew melon, exotic fruit and a hint of tomato leaf lead the nose. The simple palate is a bit less expressive, offering grapefruit and a hint of white peach alongside lively acidity. | Urra di Mare | 86 | 11 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | MandraRossa 2015 Urra di Mare Sauvignon (Sicilia) | Sauvignon | MandraRossa |
| 2727 | 2726 | Italy | Made with white vinification of Aglianico grapes, this has aromas of dried-up chamomile flower and overripe citrus fruit. The simple palate offers crushed white currant alongside zesty acidity. | Neroametà | 86 | 30 | Southern Italy | Campania | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Mastroberardino 2013 Neroametà Aglianico (Campania) | Aglianico | Mastroberardino |
| 2728 | 2727 | US | In many ways, this is a fascinating sip, but the components are a bit confusing altogether. Aromas of minty berries, tobacco, rustic leather and a very strong camphor scent introduce the nose, and then a lively, quite foamy acidity consumes the palate, where flavors of sweet berries are cut by garden herbs and pepper. It's a little too overpowering. | Old Vine | 86 | 29 | California | Cucamonga Valley | South Coast | Matt Kettmann | @mattkettmann | Joseph Filippi 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel (Cucamonga Valley) | Zinfandel | Joseph Filippi |
| 2729 | 2728 | France | A pleasant mix of dark berries and fruit lead the bouquet of this friendly wine, with solid notes of black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry throughout. A hint of spice adds interest to the finish, with medium-light tannins and ample acidity resulting in good overall balance. | | 86 | 10 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Pays d'Oc | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Le Petit Cochonnet 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Pays d'Oc) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Le Petit Cochonnet |
| 2730 | 2729 | France | A softly earthy tone is all the nose gives away. The palate is brisk, neutral and has both freshness and a slightly bitter edge. Drink soon. | | 86 | 19 | Alsace | Alsace | | Anne Krebiehl MW | @AnneInVino | Leon Beyer 2014 Pinot Blanc (Alsace) | Pinot Blanc | Leon Beyer |
| 2701 | 2700 | US | A good wine, grape-wise, with sharply etched, pure fruity flavors of citrus, fig and sweet tobacco. Acidity is fresh and juicy, and the wine is fully dry. Barrel fermented, it is super-oaky, maybe too much so, from the charry aromas to the woody flavors. | Seta | 87 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Signorello 2001 Seta Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc | Signorello |
| 2702 | 2701 | US | This is a full-bodied Pinot, packed with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors and framed in spicy nuance. A shade hot on the finish, ending with an unusually bright licorice and herbal edge. | Julia's Vineyard | 87 | 45 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Silver 2000 Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) | Pinot Noir | Silver |
| 2703 | 2702 | Italy | An open-knit, friendly nose features lots of nectarine and ripe apple scents. Medium-weight, with plenty of stone fruit on the palate, it finishes with a cleansing burst of peppery spice. Try as an apéritif. | | 87 | 15 | Northeastern Italy | Isonzo del Friuli | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Bortoluzzi 2001 Pinot Grigio (Isonzo del Friuli) | Pinot Grigio | Bortoluzzi |
| 2704 | 2703 | Chile | This is a great house pour for fans of Chilean Merlot with its consistent fruit, soft acidity and low tannins. On the nose and palate, a core of sweet, Red Delicious apple is accented by dry leather, toasty vanilla and dried herbs. Simple, but well crafted. | Estate Bottled Reserve | 87 | 12 | Colchagua Valley | | | | | Château La Joya 2000 Estate Bottled Reserve Merlot (Colchagua Valley) | Merlot | Château La Joya |
| 2705 | 2704 | Chile | This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot starts off a bit murky and brooding but then displays raspberry and plum fruit, and some big-time heft. A tad oaky and simple, but with grilled meats it should more than do the trick. If you like 'em big and a touch funky, get tattooed. | Big Tattoo Red | 87 | 9 | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Two Brothers 2001 Big Tattoo Red Red (Colchagua Valley) | Red Blend | Two Brothers |