| 29041 | 29040 | Italy | From the Nervo Cru, this dark Barbaresco shows a slight edge in terms of concentration and aromatic intensity. Notes of dark fruit, hazelnut and roasted espresso bean compose the bouquet, and the wine delivers smooth softness on the finish. Those characteristics suggest that this may be ready to drink earlier than others. | Vigneto Nervo | 90 | 60 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Pertinace 2009 Vigneto Nervo (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Pertinace |
| 29042 | 29041 | Italy | This opens with smoky overtones and pulpy richness, with tones of cinnamon, crushed clove, blackberry and plum. The palate shows accents of fresh cola and chopped mint. | | 90 | 34 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Pietro Rinaldi 2008 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Pietro Rinaldi |
| 29043 | 29042 | Italy | Tight and streamlined, this has fresh acidity, polished tannins and pretty aromatic highlights of dried berry, licorice and cured meat. It shows an elegant personality. | Pora Riserva | 90 | 67 | Piedmont | Barbaresco | | | | Produttori del Barbaresco 2007 Pora Riserva (Barbaresco) | Nebbiolo | Produttori del Barbaresco |
| 29044 | 29043 | Israel | Dense layers of dark fruits—black plum, cassis and cherry—integrate with complex accents of black tea leaves, tanned hide and woody spice. Supporting tannins provide the palate a firm structure, framing the lush, concentrated black-fruit-driven flavor. Drinkable now, but it should age nicely though 2016. | Edom | 90 | 35 | Judean Hills | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Psagot 2010 Edom Red (Judean Hills) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Psagot |
| 29045 | 29044 | Chile | This smells like fortified wine and licorice at first, then more like earth and smoked meat. High acidity gives this blend a racy quality but also astringency, while the flavors of blackberry, prune and licorice are very nice. It's tannic and strong but not quite punishing on the finish. | Triple C | 90 | 40 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Rita 2007 Triple C Red (Maipo Valley) | Red Blend | Santa Rita |
| 29046 | 29045 | US | Aged eight years prior to disgorgement, then again in the bottle, the Brut Séduction is a testament to how utterly delicious aged sparkling wine can be. Creamy in texture, with baby-soft bubbles and a rich, umami-laden warmth, it's brightened by lemon-lime acidity and hints of orange blossom and citrus rind that linger. | Brut Séduction | 90 | 60 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Sparkling Pointe 2002 Brut Séduction Sparkling (North Fork of Long Island) | Sparkling Blend | Sparkling Pointe |
| 29047 | 29046 | US | This is a well-made, delicately floral style of Pinot Grigio, with notes of apple blossoms, crisp tree fruits and bracing minerals that add length and texture. | | 90 | 14 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Wind Rose 2011 Pinot Grigio (Yakima Valley) | Pinot Grigio | Wind Rose |
| 29048 | 29047 | Chile | Heavy and needing air at first, the nose evolves from being dense with an iodine note to meaty and intriguing. On the palate this is tannic and mouthfilling but fair on the palate, with cherry, cassis, tobacco and herb flavors. A note of cassis remains on the finish, which goes out with gusto. | Vertice Apalta Vineyard | 90 | | Colchagua Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Ventisquero 2007 Vertice Apalta Vineyard Red (Colchagua Valley) | Red Blend | Ventisquero |
| 29049 | 29048 | US | Big, rich and sappy, this tastes like cherry and raspberry jam that has been boiled down and made into wine—a suggestion of its youth. It is very fine, with keen acidity and a noble structure tinged with minerality. Give it 3–5 years to age. | Rancho Ontiveros | 90 | 48 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Hug 2009 Rancho Ontiveros Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Hug |
| 29050 | 29049 | US | This well-made, pure Sauvignon Blanc seems to have a noticeable amount of residual sugar—not surprising in a high acid vintage such as 2011. Zesty, lightly grassy, spicy and stylish, it's fresh and rich on the palate, with a finishing streak of minerality. | | 90 | 15 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Jones of Washington 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Sauvignon Blanc | Jones of Washington |
| 29051 | 29050 | US | An excellent follow up to the winery's 2008 Malbec, this well-made wine includes 5% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—all from the Two Coyote Vineyard. Cherries and plums are lightly dusted with an accent of cocoa from having spent 21 months in 30% new oak. The finish is clean as a whistle. | | 90 | 18 | Washington | Rattlesnake Hills | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Lookout Point 2009 Malbec (Rattlesnake Hills) | Malbec | Lookout Point |
| 29052 | 29051 | Italy | This opens with cherry and candied blueberry aromas. It presents a thick, succulent quality that should pair well with braised beef or grilled lamb. | Monvigliero | 90 | 49 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Mauro Sebaste 2007 Monvigliero (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Mauro Sebaste |
| 29053 | 29052 | Italy | There's a subdued but firm quality to this wine that also shows aromas of ripe fruit, cured meat, blackberry and cigar box. The palate shows bright freshness and velvety tannins. | | 90 | 50 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Inalto 2006 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Inalto |
| 29054 | 29053 | US | Whole clusters of Syrah are co-fermented with Viognier to create this tight, concisely crafted wine. This is a firm expression of field and grape, with bright berry fruit and chocolaty tannins. The slightly chalky finish may smooth out with a bit more bottle age. | Rachis | 90 | 53 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Dusted Valley 2009 Rachis Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Syrah | Dusted Valley |
| 29055 | 29054 | Italy | There's a hint of strawberry at the start that soon segues to savory aromas of cured meat and spice. The ripeness translates to the mouth where there's a touch of cherry. Age for five more years. | | 90 | 50 | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Giacomo Fenocchio 2008 Barolo | Nebbiolo | Giacomo Fenocchio |
| 29056 | 29055 | Italy | Dry and sophisticated, this delivers aromas of dried fruit, ginger, spice and cola. There's a hint of Christmas spice that gives the wine a touch of softness and warm succulence on the finish. | Camilla | 90 | | Piedmont | Barolo | | | | Grimaldi Bruna 2008 Camilla (Barolo) | Nebbiolo | Grimaldi Bruna |
| 29057 | 29056 | US | This is fresh and lively, with crisp coastal acidity, elegance and sophistication. It offers oak-inspired citrus, tropical fruit and mineral flavors. | Estate Vineyard | 90 | 27 | California | Sonoma Coast | Sonoma | | | Gundlach Bundschu 2010 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) | Chardonnay | Gundlach Bundschu |
| 29058 | 29057 | US | Tasting rich and vital, this has a wealth of raspberry, cherry and cola flavors to the long, spicy finish. It's just what you want Pinot Noir to be: dry, silky and elegant. It doesn't seem to be an ager, so drink by 2014. | Hallberg Vineyard | 90 | 60 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Halleck 2008 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Halleck |
| 29059 | 29058 | US | Another successful vintage for this wine, it maintains a clean, well-defined mouthfeel that barely registers the 1.3% residual sugar. The aromas of pear, melon and citrus rind introduce similar flavors, along with a suggestion of sweet orange candy. | Evergreen Vineyard | 90 | 16 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Tempus Cellars 2011 Evergreen Vineyard Riesling (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Riesling | Tempus Cellars |
| 29060 | 29059 | US | Soft and simple, with sweet flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, cola and smoky oak. Gets the Pinot job done with admirable silkiness and crispness. | | 86 | 38 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Graton Ridge 2009 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Graton Ridge |
| 29061 | 29060 | US | Not quite up there with previous vintages, although they've held the price and that's a good thing. The cold vintage took its toll, making this wine tart and somewhat green and herbal. Shows enough citrus and peach fruit to get by. | | 86 | 19 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Matanzas Creek 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County) | Sauvignon Blanc | Matanzas Creek |
| 29062 | 29061 | US | A nice Cabernet to drink now. It has very ripe, upfront cherry and blackberry pie flavors, with firm tannins and a sweet vanilla note. | | 86 | 20 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Olema 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Olema |
| 29063 | 29062 | US | Barbecue and lusty stews are what this wine wants. It's dryish to sweet in raisin, blackberry jam, chocolate, beef jerky and spice flavors, and the tannins are big and tough. | | 86 | 27 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Pech Merle 2009 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Pech Merle |
| 29064 | 29063 | US | This is a feminine wine, soft, generous and fruity. The raspberry and cherry flavors are jammy. There's some heat on the finish from high alcohol. Drink now. | Alisos Vineyard | 86 | 30 | California | Santa Barbara County | Central Coast | | | a-non-ah-mus 2007 Alisos Vineyard Grenache (Santa Barbara County) | Grenache | a-non-ah-mus |
| 29065 | 29064 | US | A bit tough and gritty, with firm tannins and thick, heavy flavors of ripe cherries and cola. Lacks some grace and elegance in the texture. Drink now. | | 86 | 44 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Arista 2009 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Arista |
| 29066 | 29065 | US | Ripe to the point of overripe, with dried blackberry, cherry and raisin flavors, this Zin also is hot in alcohol. Drink now with rich, fatty barbecue to soften its tough tannins. | Maple Vineyards | 86 | 39 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Armida 2009 Maple Vineyards Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Armida |
| 29067 | 29066 | Spain | Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin. The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola and spice flavors. Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato. | Rioja Bordón Reserva Tempranillo | 86 | 15 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Franco-Españolas 2005 Rioja Bordón Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Franco-Españolas |
| 29068 | 29067 | Spain | Heavy and dense up front, with dark, forceful aromas. The palate is crisp and tight, with firm plum and berry fruit in front of a short, basic finish. A good, standard wine with good depth and character; 100% Tempranillo. | Pintoresco | 86 | 9 | Central Spain | Extremadura | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga 2009 Pintoresco Tempranillo (Extremadura) | Tempranillo | Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga |
| 29069 | 29068 | US | Tones of black cherry and cassis are pure and pristine on this fresh, herb-infused Cabernet. Vibrant acidity and soft, furry tannins on the midpalate give way to a finish that's flecked with spice and menthol. | | 86 | 26 | Colorado | Grand Valley | | Anna Lee C. Iijima | | Canyon Wind 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Canyon Wind |
| 29070 | 29069 | Spain | Opens with a warm, baked nose of raisin, roasted plum and tobacco. The palate is scouring and crisp due to sharp acids, and thus the flavors follow suit in that they're lean and tart and focus on pie cherry and red plum. Lean, zesty and lively Rioja to drink now. | Vendimia Seleccionada Crianza | 86 | 17 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Muriel 2005 Vendimia Seleccionada Crianza (Rioja) | Tempranillo | Bodegas Muriel |