28021 | 28020 | US | Smoky, toasty oak forms an obvious part of this full-bodied wine's personality, from the first whiff to the spicy, cedary flavors and on to the finish. Moderate tannins add texture. | | 86 | 12 | California | Yolo County | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Black's Station 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Yolo County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Black's Station |
28022 | 28021 | Spain | Light and mostly fresh up front, this is a wine to drink now. Regular apple and citrus flavors are simple and easy, with zero complexity. This is an average everyday white with no clear faults but not much character either. | | 86 | 13 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Larchago 2015 Viura (Rioja) | Viura | Larchago |
28023 | 28022 | US | This big, bold wine offers lots of fruit flavor, firm tannins and a full body. Ripe berries flood the palate, while a gripping texture makes it feel tight on the finish. | | 86 | 22 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Boyle MacDonald 2012 Zinfandel (Sierra Foothills) | Zinfandel | Boyle MacDonald |
28024 | 28023 | US | The aromas of herb, kiwi and citrus are quite light. The tropical flavors are elegant and spritely, tingling the palate with a light effervescence. | | 86 | 10 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Sean P. Sullivan | @wawinereport | Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sauvignon Blanc | Chateau Ste. Michelle |
28025 | 28024 | France | Produced from Niellucciu, this wine is ripe, perfumed and also packed with crisp acidity. Fresh raspberry, citrus and a touch of caramel are brought comfortably together by the acidity and zesty aftertaste. Drink now. | | 86 | 20 | France Other | Patrimonio | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Clos Alivu 2015 Rosé (Patrimonio) | Rosé | Clos Alivu |
28026 | 28025 | US | Dusty crushed mineral and pressed apple notes lend a rustic tone to this softly effervescent sparkling blend. Stark lemon-lime acidity frazzles the midpalate but leads a brisk, refreshing finish. Drink now through 2018. | Bollicini | 86 | 16 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Damiani 2014 Bollicini Sparkling (Finger Lakes) | Sparkling Blend | Damiani |
28027 | 28026 | US | Aged in new French oak for 17 months, this wine tilts heavily toward wood flavors. It has toasted oak aromas plus rich and almost sweet fruit and chocolate flavors accented by black pepper and smoked bacon. Very oaky, it has a tannic texture and smoky finish. | Love Ranch Vineyard | 86 | 33 | California | Madera | Central Valley | Jim Gordon | @gordone_cellars | Dante Robere 2014 Love Ranch Vineyard Mourvèdre (Madera) | Mourvèdre | Dante Robere |
28028 | 28027 | Italy | Aromas of cured meat, violet and grilled herb waft out of the glass. The rather diluted palate offers wild cherry, game and a salty note alongside fleeting tannins and zesty acidity. | | 86 | 32 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | La Togata 2014 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese | La Togata |
28029 | 28028 | Brazil | Hot saucy plum and berry aromas set up an abrasive tannic palate that's choppy and short. Dark plum and berry aromas finish with jagged, hard tannins and bright acidity. | Agnus | 86 | 12 | Serra Gaúcha | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Lidio Carraro 2014 Agnus Tannat (Serra Gaúcha) | Tannat | Lidio Carraro |
28030 | 28029 | US | Blended with 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Petite Sirah, this velvety and dense wine conveys a pronounced element of charred oak. A reduced note from the barrel permeates at first before allowing aromas and flavors of baked plum to show. | | 86 | 52 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Long Meadow Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Long Meadow Ranch |
28031 | 28030 | US | While the nose suggests intensely ripe, almost ruddy black plums and cherries, the palate of this full-bodied blend is surprisingly lean. Black fruit flavors, accented by swathes of sage and thyme, are surprisingly crisp and tart. It's a delicately concentrated wine finishing on a meandering fade of soft tannins. | Island Series | 86 | 27 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Martha Clara 2014 Island Series Malbec-Merlot (North Fork of Long Island) | Malbec-Merlot | Martha Clara |
28032 | 28031 | New Zealand | Simple but well made, this medium-bodied, supple wine features plenty of tart cherry fruit and a crisp finish. | | 86 | 15 | Marlborough | | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Matua 2014 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) | Pinot Noir | Matua |
28033 | 28032 | US | Plusher and rounder than the Special Reserve bottling, Millbrook's standard label Merlot suggests soft red-cherry flavor accented with cocoa powder, savory mushroom and beetroot. Gentle acidity and fine-grained tannins accentuate its plump juicy feel. Drink now through 2019. | | 86 | 20 | New York | New York | New York Other | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Millbrook 2014 Merlot (New York) | Merlot | Millbrook |
28034 | 28033 | Italy | This opens with delicate scents of violet and wild berry. The slender, nervous palate offers suggestions of sour cherry, clove and powdered sage set against bracing acidity. Close-grained tannins leave a drying, rather astringent finish. | | 86 | | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Pietranera 2014 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese | Pietranera |
28035 | 28034 | US | There's a bittersweet tartness to the tannin profile within this wine that is otherwise dusted in cedar, dried herb and black currant. With a big, full-bodied presence of oak, it shows ripe and robust fruit character and plenty of bite. | District Collection | 86 | 85 | California | St. Helena | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Raymond 2013 District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Raymond |
28036 | 28035 | US | Bramble and dusty mineral notes extend from nose to finish in this dry Riesling, lending a savory tone to freshly pressed apple and dried orange peel flavors. Its voluminous, mouth-filling texture is pleasant, balanced neatly by a strike of lemonade acidity. | Dry | 86 | 17 | New York | New York | New York Other | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Suhru 2014 Dry Riesling (New York) | Riesling | Suhru |
28037 | 28036 | US | Meant to reflect the three elements of terroir, nature and man, this small-production wine is well represented in compost, dried herb, mild tannin and oak. The acidity is moderate and in some ways disjointed, while the finish features highlights of vanilla and currant. | Coombsville Vineyard | 86 | 89 | California | Coombsville | Napa | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Threesome Cellars 2012 Coombsville Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Coombsville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Threesome Cellars |
28038 | 28037 | Argentina | This new Chardonnay from chalky soils smells of lanolin and waxy orange. On the palate, this shows some minerality but mostly it's bulky and citric. Briny stone-fruit flavors finish flat. | Perfiles Calcareo | 86 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Trapiche 2016 Perfiles Calcareo Chardonnay (Mendoza) | Chardonnay | Trapiche |
28039 | 28038 | Moldova | There's a slight note of oxidation in the bouquet that leads to aromas of pineapple upside down cake, apple and Meyer lemon. Flavors of apple pie and canned peaches precede a dry, crisp finish. | Golden Land Dry | 86 | 9 | Moldova | | | Jeff Jenssen | @worldwineguys | Lion-Gri 2014 Golden Land Dry Pinot Gris (Moldova) | Pinot Gris | Lion-Gri |
28040 | 28039 | US | This wine is made from 50% Sémillon, 29% Sauvignon Blanc and 21% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué clone, the fruit sourced from both the Monte Rosso and Leveroni vineyards. It's fleshy and full of fig flavor, laced in mild lemon, quince and oaky vanilla. | Voilà | 86 | 46 | California | Sonoma Valley | Sonoma | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Lasseter 2014 Voilà Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon (Sonoma Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon | Lasseter |
28041 | 28040 | France | This is a blend of local grapes including Jacquère and Altesse. It is a ripe style of wine that is full of pear, melon and sweet orange fruit. It is ready to drink, fruity and deliciously bright. | | 86 | 15 | France Other | Savoie | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Philippe Viallet 2015 White (Savoie) | White Blend | Philippe Viallet |
28042 | 28041 | Italy | This easy-drinking red opens with pretty aromas of purple wild flower and red berry. The slim, simple palate offers tart sour cherry and orange zest alongside brisk acidity and angular, somewhat fleeting tannins. | | 86 | 15 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Pinino 2014 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese | Pinino |
28043 | 28042 | Italy | Aromas of violet, cured meat, sage and a whiff of underbrush lead the nose. The light simple palate offers up cranberry, sour cherry and a hint of orange zest alongside both firm acidity and relaxed tannins. | | 86 | 23 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | Kerin O’Keefe | @kerinokeefe | Poggio il Castellare 2014 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese | Poggio il Castellare |
28044 | 28043 | US | This 75-case production of Pinot Noir explodes with flavors of cherries, cola, pomegranates, persimmons, exotic spices and toasty oak. Fine acidity reins all the flavor in, leading to a dry, refined finish. The wine is sourced from grapes in the southern Santa Lucia Mountains. Drink now–2028. | Barrel Select | 90 | 58 | California | San Luis Obispo County | Central Coast | | | Asuncion Ridge 2010 Barrel Select Pinot Noir (San Luis Obispo County) | Pinot Noir | Asuncion Ridge |
28045 | 28044 | US | This red wine might just make you purr with satisfaction. It delivers everything you want in a Merlot. It's dry, but soft, with plush tannins and rich flavors ranging from red cherries and currants to cocoa, violets and cedar. | Pocai Vineyard | 90 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Ballentine 2010 Pocai Vineyard Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Ballentine |
28046 | 28045 | US | This is the first, and least expensive, of the winery's 2010 Cabs. For $20, you get a dry, smooth, opulent wine, filled with classic black currant, tea and oak flavors. | | 90 | 20 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Benziger 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Benziger |
28047 | 28046 | Germany | Hints of pine needle and sage lend a refreshingly herbaceous note to this crisp, dry Riesling. The mousse is delicately structured, with a creamy mouthfeel cut by a strike of lemon acidity. | Scharzhofberger Brut | 90 | 28 | Mosel | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier 2009 Scharzhofberger Brut Riesling (Mosel) | Riesling | Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier |
28048 | 28047 | Argentina | Selección is proving itself to be a consistent modern Malbec (the last four vintages have rated 89 or 90 points). This rendition shows graphite, inky berry notes and savory spice aromas such as cumin and cardamom. It's rich and full bodied, with tobacco, coconut and baked plum and berry flavors. A smooth finish is neither tannic nor overpowering. | Selección | 90 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Alamos 2011 Selección Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | Alamos |
28049 | 28048 | Germany | While herbaceous and green on the nose, this almost-dry kabinett is luscious and fruity on the palate, with bursts of white grapefruit and tangerine. It's bold and expansive in mouthfeel, with a brace of citrus pith on the finish. | Baron K Kabinett | 90 | 18 | Rheingau | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Baron Knyphausen 2011 Baron K Kabinett Riesling (Rheingau) | Riesling | Baron Knyphausen |
28050 | 28049 | Germany | While intensely ripe on the nose, with scents of white peach, tangerine and quince, this is a dry, remarkably savory wine. It's dense and bold in body, but brightened by fresh herbal tones and a zesty lemon-pith finish. | Saulheimer Hölle Trocken | 90 | 50 | Rheinhessen | | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Thörle 2011 Saulheimer Hölle Trocken Riesling (Rheinhessen) | Riesling | Thörle |