| 28561 | 28560 | US | Oaky and direct in ripe tropical fruit, with a gooseberry taste more akin to Sauvignon Blanc, this Chard is unripe and simple. | Special Reserve | 81 | 14 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Michael Pozzan 2007 Special Reserve Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) | Chardonnay | Michael Pozzan |
| 28562 | 28561 | Italy | This Primitivo has a raw nose with notes of tin can and petroleum that take away from the natural integrity of the fruit. The wine is light and thin in appearance with a sour note on the close. | Terra S. Giovanni | 81 | 14 | Southern Italy | Salento | | | | Valle dell'Asso 2005 Terra S. Giovanni Primitivo (Salento) | Primitivo | Valle dell'Asso |
| 28563 | 28562 | Spain | Rooty on the nose, with green herb, tea and raspberry aromas. Patience and airing only brings it to the acceptable level, which means the wine's reasonably good prune and dark-fruit flavors are scuttled by a disjointed, overly acidic mouthfeel. | Fill del Temps Gran Selecció | 81 | 25 | Catalonia | Terra Alta | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Covilalba 2004 Fill del Temps Gran Selecció Red (Terra Alta) | Red Blend | Covilalba |
| 28564 | 28563 | Spain | This is mucky and sweet. Its best foot is not put forward via the compost-like nose, and from then on there's little more than prune, leather and a sticky mouthfeel. | | 80 | 8 | Northern Spain | Cariñena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Castillo de Monséran 2006 Garnacha (Cariñena) | Garnacha | Castillo de Monséran |
| 28565 | 28564 | US | Too powerful in feline and gooseberry aromas and flavors, this dry, tart in-your-face Sauvignon Blanc just isn't ripe enough to recommend. | | 80 | 18 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Elizabeth Rose 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Elizabeth Rose |
| 28566 | 28565 | US | Greenwood Ridge often does a good job at Sauvignon Blanc, but not this year. The wine is irritating in unripe feline flavors and it's also off-dry, with 1.9% residual sugar. | | 80 | 18 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Greenwood Ridge 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Anderson Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Greenwood Ridge |
| 28567 | 28566 | US | This unoaked Sauvignon Blanc is really powerful in feline characteristics. Too powerful. Unless you like that peculiar smell and taste, it will turn you off. | | 80 | 10 | California | California | California Other | | | Ironstone 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (California) | Sauvignon Blanc | Ironstone |
| 28568 | 28567 | Spain | There's something not right about the way this winery is fermenting its Cavas because both this and Oriol Rossell's regular brut are excessively foamy. As a result, this gran reserva's apple and spice aromas and flavors are rendered moot by the gaseous explosion that occurs when liquid hits palate. | Gran Reserva Brut Nature | 80 | 27 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Oriol Rossell NV Gran Reserva Brut Nature Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Oriol Rossell |
| 28572 | 28571 | US | Irresistible is the word that comes to mind to describe this Pinot, which is available only in magnums. The vintage was California's finest ever, and the wine shows spectacularly ripe red currant, cherry, tangerine zest, licorice and beef jerky flavors, with just the right touch of smoky oak. Yet the structural balance of acidity and fine tannins gives it the perfect architecture. Best now in its flashy youth and for the next 4 or 5 years. | Precioso | 96 | 150 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Keller Estate 2005 Precioso Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) | Pinot Noir | Keller Estate |
| 28569 | 28568 | Spain | Eight grapes comprise this weird, peanutty, almost dirty red blend. The nose is like a salad of bitter greens and peanut vinaigrette, and the palate shows big fruit, bigger tannins and then a finish of asparagus and green beans. Imported by USA Wines Inc. | Las Ocho | 80 | 25 | Levante | Utiel-Requena | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Chozas Carrascal 2004 Las Ocho Red (Utiel-Requena) | Red Blend | Chozas Carrascal |
| 28570 | 28569 | US | Smells and tastes like caramel and stewed cherry and blackberry flavors that taste overtly sweet. However, this rustic blend of Syrah and Sangiovese may have its fans. | Scoprire | 80 | 55 | California | California | California Other | | | Millésimé 2005 Scoprire Red (California) | Red Blend | Millésimé |
| 28571 | 28570 | US | Port-like, with raisiny, baked cherry and caramel flavors. Finishes dry. | Grand Reserve | 80 | 40 | California | California | California Other | | | French Hill 2006 Grand Reserve Petit Verdot (California) | Petit Verdot | French Hill |
| 28573 | 28572 | US | An enormously opulent wine, brimming with gobs of red cherries, currants, mocha, clove, cinnamon and pepper flavors. Impresses for the lushness and integrity of the structure. Brilliant wine, just gorgeous, a real crowd-pleaser. With its recent track record, Kynsi enters the front ranks of California Pinot Noir producers. | Stone Corral Vineyard | 95 | 45 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Kynsi 2005 Stone Corral Vineyard Pinot Noir (Edna Valley) | Pinot Noir | Kynsi |
| 28574 | 28573 | Australia | Astralis has become one of Australia's top collectibles, and Roman Bratasiuk's 2005 version is once again top-shelf stuff. It's full-bodied and rich without being over the top, balancing dark-chocolate-covered blackberries and blueberries with more complex savory notes (spice, grilled meat). While it's a big, hulking wine at first, the finish shows great elegance and finesse, ending with silky tannins. Best from 2014. Imported by Wine Brokers Unlimited. | Astralis | 95 | 350 | South Australia | Clarendon | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Clarendon Hills 2005 Astralis Syrah (Clarendon) | Syrah | Clarendon Hills |
| 28575 | 28574 | US | The wine is fantastic, albeit tannic. It's not a gushy one to open tonight. The tannins have a dry astringency, but even so, you can taste fabulously ripe blackberries, black cherries and currants. This wine should begin to come into its own next year and hold for many years. | Mise en Place | 94 | 44 | California | Oakville | Napa | | | Textbook 2005 Mise en Place Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Textbook |
| 28576 | 28575 | US | Starts with an opulent, inviting aroma of smoky honey, vanilla, tangerines, Meyer lemons, yellow apricots, green apples and minerals. In the mouth, the flavors are very similar—an explosion of fruits, spices and toast. Just a tremendous wine, but for all the volume and complexity, it's completely balanced. | | 94 | 20 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Alma Rosa 2006 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) | Chardonnay | Alma Rosa |
| 28577 | 28576 | US | Available only in magnums, this Chard consists of a single barrel from the estate vineyard, which is in the Petaluma area, a very cool region. The wine is very fine. It's equal parts ripe green pears, Meyer lemons and smoky oak, with a firm, steely underpinning of minerals. Should age well for a Chardonnay, especially in the big bottle. | Precioso | 94 | 150 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Keller Estate 2005 Precioso Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) | Chardonnay | Keller Estate |
| 28578 | 28577 | France | Supersweet, but never cloying, with acidity, pear skin tannins and delicate sweet brown sugar and honey flavors. It is a great example of how Loire Chenin manages to keep its balance and freshness while still offering long-aging botrytis character. Keep for at least 10 years. | Sélection de Grains Nobles | 93 | 75 | Loire Valley | Coteaux du Layon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine Philippe Delesvaux 2004 Sélection de Grains Nobles Chenin Blanc (Coteaux du Layon) | Chenin Blanc | Domaine Philippe Delesvaux |
| 28579 | 28578 | Italy | This is a beautifully executed, amber-colored vin santo with pristine notes of dried fruit, honey, molasses and caramel. It doesn't have any of those resin-driven, smoky notes that you sometimes find and is instead very harmonious and clean in the mouth. It imparts a luscious, velvety feel that ends sweet and tart. | | 93 | 55 | Tuscany | Vin Santo del Chianti | | | | Fattoria Petrolo 1999 Vin Santo del Chianti | White Blend | Fattoria Petrolo |
| 28580 | 28579 | US | This is a very low-production, best-of-barrels selection by the winemaker. It's an extremely tight young wine, austere and almost searing in acidity, with a yeasty taste from sur lies aging. If you're looking for opulent, immediately accessible Chardonnay, this isn't for you. But the wine has tantalizing hints of grilled pineapples and nectarines, and the powerful structure suggests cellaring. Stash this away for a couple of years. | Intrinity | 93 | 45 | California | Santa Lucia Highlands | Central Coast | | | Pessagno 2005 Intrinity Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands) | Chardonnay | Pessagno |
| 28581 | 28580 | Argentina | Overdone aromas of candle wax, incense and air freshener show the musky side of the grape, while the palate is heavy with nectarine and citrus flavors. Finishes a little pithy and mealy, with a final wave of muskiness. | Estate Bottled | 83 | 8 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Rio Seco 2008 Estate Bottled Torrontés (Mendoza) | Torrontés | Rio Seco |
| 28582 | 28581 | Argentina | Starts out short and dry on the nose, with little fruit character. The palate is also on the hard and lean side, with tart strawberry and raspberry flavors. Short but mild on the finish; fades away fast. | Saurus Patagonia Select | 83 | 20 | Other | Neuquén | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Familia Schroeder 2007 Saurus Patagonia Select Merlot (Neuquén) | Merlot | Familia Schroeder |
| 28583 | 28582 | Italy | Despite good persistence and appealing earth and leather flavors, this Barbaresco fails to hit the mark. Aromas of paint thinner undermine the cherry fruit and flatten out the flavors in the mouth. | Vila Riserva | 83 | | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Pier 2001 Vila Riserva (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Pier |
| 28584 | 28583 | US | Honey-sweet and simple, with crisp, jammy flavors of berries, cherries and cocoa. It's a Bordeaux blend with a splash of Viognier. | Sedulous | 83 | 28 | California | Mendocino | | | | Rivino 2006 Sedulous Red (Mendocino) | Red Blend | Rivino |
| 28585 | 28584 | US | Smells like tobacco and pepper, and then turns tannic and dry in the mouth, with blackberry flavors emerging after it warms up. A decent everyday Zin. | | 83 | 9 | California | California | California Other | | | Smoking Loon 2007 Zinfandel (California) | Zinfandel | Smoking Loon |
| 28586 | 28585 | US | A hard, tough, tannic and acidic wine. Not showing much charm, because the cherry-berry flavors, while dry, are swamped with astringency. Zinfandel and Teroldego. | Lot 310 Philosopher's Stone | 83 | 32 | California | Paso Robles | Central Coast | | | Cinnabar NV Lot 310 Philosopher's Stone Red (Paso Robles) | Red Blend | Cinnabar |
| 28587 | 28586 | US | Vanilla, cherry, strawberry and spice on the nose is followed by slightly smokier, bigger flavors on the palate. The wine has a fruity character backed by pepper and spice. Clean and suited for myriad flavors, from seafood salad to grilled lamb. | Dry | 83 | 12 | New York | Finger Lakes | Finger Lakes | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2008 Dry Rosé (Finger Lakes) | Rosé | Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards |
| 28588 | 28587 | US | Not quite ripe, with an herbal, almost vegetal taste that cuts across the cherries and red currants. Acidic and tannic, too. This hard, austere wine is unlikely to improve. | El Capitan | 83 | 30 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | Jalama 2006 El Capitan Red (Santa Barbara County) | Red Blend | Jalama |
| 28589 | 28588 | Argentina | Wayward and slightly weedy on the nose, with candied fruit notes that help it along. The palate is more acidic and rhubarby than ideal, although the tartness is offset by a creamy flavor of carob bean. Short and hot on the finish; acceptable but not well executed. | Los Cardos | 83 | 10 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Doña Paula 2008 Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Doña Paula |
| 28590 | 28589 | US | Black fruit, pepper and spice lead this likeable sip from Kentucky. Red berry, cranberry and plum fruit mixed with pepper and vanilla gives it dimension, and the finish is both tart and spicy. A nice everyday red perfect for winter cuisine. | Estate | 83 | 35 | Kentucky | Kentucky | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Elk Creek Vineyards 2007 Estate Cabernet Franc (Kentucky) | Cabernet Franc | Elk Creek Vineyards |