| 42871 | 42870 | US | With alcohol under 13%, this spicy, well-constructed Pinot Gris is decidedly cut in a European mold. Grapefruit and fiddlehead fern flavors combine, with surprising concentration and length. For food matches think along the lines of what goes best with a spicy, grassy Sauvignon Blanc. | | 89 | 17 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Coeur de Terre 2008 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley) | Pinot Gris | Coeur de Terre |
| 42872 | 42871 | Portugal | Oily-textured wine, flavored with mango and peaches. It's so soft and unctuous that freshness seems to have been left behind. In its place is the ripest fruit giving an open texture and an opulent aftertaste. | Fitapreta Branco | 89 | 15 | Alentejano | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Fitapreta Vinhos 2008 Fitapreta Branco Antão Vaz (Alentejano) | Antão Vaz | Fitapreta Vinhos |
| 42873 | 42872 | Italy | This is an easygoing Chardonnay-based sparkling wine (made in the classic method in which secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle) with pristine aromas of mature fruit and a touch of freshly baked bread. The quality of the effervescence is steady, creamy and tonic. | Brut 25 | 89 | 26 | Lombardy | Franciacorta | | | | Fratelli Berlucchi NV Brut 25 Chardonnay (Franciacorta) | Chardonnay | Fratelli Berlucchi |
| 42874 | 42873 | Greece | Fresh, fruity and flirty, this white offers vanilla, fresh fruit and minerals on the nose and on the palate, a lovely balance of citrus, spice and flowers. Vibrant and layered, with a minerally, cheerful finish. | Aspro Classic | 89 | 15 | Cephalonia | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Gentilini 2008 Aspro Classic White (Cephalonia) | White Blend | Gentilini |
| 42879 | 42878 | US | Outside of a couple of Michigan wineries, Adelsheim may be the only domestic producer of this obscure white grape, a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. This aromatic, European-styled wine carries scents of pear and citrus, with crisp fruit flavors buoyed by a bracing minerality. | Ribbon Springs Vineyard Auxerrois | 89 | 22 | Oregon | Ribbon Ridge | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Adelsheim 2008 Ribbon Springs Vineyard Auxerrois Pinot Auxerrois (Ribbon Ridge) | Pinot Auxerrois | Adelsheim |
| 42875 | 42874 | US | Marked by beautifully smooth, rounded tannins, this supple, polished Merlot offers very ripe flavors of cherries, red currants, violets, anise and sandalwood. If you like your wines when they're all primary fruit, drink it now. Otherwise, stash it away for three or four years. | | 89 | 39 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Napa Smith 2007 Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | Napa Smith |
| 42880 | 42879 | Spain | Floral and sweet on the front side of the nose and more dark, grilled and coffee-like on the back end. The palate is more juicy and snappy than some, with no shortage of acidity. Tastes of live-wire cherry and plum, with a long, driving finish. Needs time to settle; drink in late 2010. | Crianza | 89 | 30 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Vilano 2006 Crianza (Ribera del Duero) | Tempranillo | Viña Vilano |
| 42876 | 42875 | US | Oranges and tangerines are the dominant flavors of this lively, dry white wine. It's marked by brisk acidity, with a touch of creamy oak. A bit direct, but enjoyable nonetheless, it's a fine cocktail sipper, or to drink with little appetizers, especially smoked white fish. | | 89 | 19 | California | Anderson Valley | | | | Navarro 2008 Muscat Blanc (Anderson Valley) | Muscat Blanc | Navarro |
| 42881 | 42880 | Italy | This is a genuine and straightforward red wine from Piedmont that would pair with oven-roasted pasta or meat loaf. The wine (made from Nebbiolo and 20% Vespolina) is lean and fresh in the mouth, but ends with a very focused blast of almond and marzipan like flavors. | | 89 | 52 | Piedmont | Ghemme | | | | Dessilani 2004 Ghemme | Red Blend | Dessilani |
| 42882 | 42881 | France | The $70 price tag is silly, but the wine itself is very good, combining soft tannins with ample cherry fruit and layers of dried spices. It's full and round in the mouth, long, warm and comforting on the finish. Drink now-2015. | Dédication | 89 | 70 | Rhône Valley | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Maison Bouachon 2003 Dédication Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Maison Bouachon |
| 42883 | 42882 | Greece | This alluring red blend start with aromas of cherry, blueberry, cedar and spice and leads into pretty layers of red berry, cherry and violets on the palate. Soft and full with good acid balance, it's a lovely combination of native and international varieties. | Gaia S | 89 | 40 | Peloponnese | | | Susan Kostrzewa | @suskostrzewa | Gaia Wines 2007 Gaia S Red (Peloponnese) | Red Blend | Gaia Wines |
| 42884 | 42883 | US | Here's a dry, crisply elegant Pinot Noir to drink now with fine fare. It's quite ripe, and retains a nice silkiness that frames black cherry, red currants, Dr. Pepper cola, raspberry preserve and smoky sandalwood. Best now–2012. | | 89 | 30 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Tin House 2007 Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Tin House |
| 42885 | 42884 | France | Almost half of this wine's production of 1,800 cases came to the U.S., which should make this broad, mouthfilling white relatively easy to find. The largely neutral palate suggests pineapple, honey and cinnamon, with citrus and spice lingering on the finish. Drink now. | Domaine Grand Veneur La Fontaine | 89 | 70 | Rhône Valley | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Alain Jaume et Fils 2006 Domaine Grand Veneur La Fontaine White (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) | Rhône-style White Blend | Alain Jaume et Fils |
| 42886 | 42885 | US | Half the fruit is sourced from the Carabella vineyard, half from the Hyland vineyard. This is a young, tense, tight wine, still melding itself together. Melon, green pineapple, green banana and Streaks of butter and toast suggest that all the right flavor components are in place. The wine remains steely and compressed; definitely a white wine that should be decanted. | | 89 | 30 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Winderlea 2007 Chardonnay (Willamette Valley) | Chardonnay | Winderlea |
| 42887 | 42886 | Italy | This is a bright and perky red wine with well-defined layers of ripe fruit, spice and smoky oak. Made with the native Raboso grape, the wine shows impressive sophistication and detail. Pair with lamb or roast pork. | Raboso | 89 | 25 | Veneto | Piave | | | | Moletto 2003 Raboso Raboso (Piave) | Raboso | Moletto |
| 42888 | 42887 | US | Dry and delicious, with sweet oak-inspired flavors of red berries, cola, leather and dusty Indian spices. Could be crisper in acidity, but it's a fine, briary Zinfandel to drink now. | Old Vine | 89 | 22 | California | Dry Creek Valley | Sonoma | | | Pezzi King 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) | Zinfandel | Pezzi King |
| 42877 | 42876 | Portugal | Made from Cerceal, this is a delicious wine, lifted by some wood flavors giving a creamed baked apple flavor, with white currants and a final, refreshing burst of citrus. | | 89 | 36 | Beiras | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Quinta de Foz de Arouce 2008 White (Beiras) | Portuguese White | Quinta de Foz de Arouce |
| 42878 | 42877 | Israel | With 16 months in French oak, this is a big wine with big flavors. Fleshy black plum guts, black cherry, crushed African violet petals and a touch of tobacco appear in the bouquet, while cherry pit, pepper and cigar spice fill out the palate. Medium weight and lush in the mouth with solid tannins and acidity, this is a good choice now with strong meat dishes or a candidate to hold onto for a couple more years. | Reserve Kosher | 89 | 25 | Galilee | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Recanati 2006 Reserve Kosher Cabernet Sauvignon (Galilee) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Recanati |
| 42889 | 42888 | Portugal | The second wine of the Bruno Prats and Symington family joint venture, this is a deliciously fruity wine, but with a fine elegant backbone of light tannins and smoky wood. As befits a second wine in the Bordeaux tradition, this is ready to drink. | Post Scriptum de Chryseia | 89 | 24 | Douro | | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Prats & Symington LDA 2007 Post Scriptum de Chryseia Red (Douro) | Portuguese Red | Prats & Symington LDA |
| 42890 | 42889 | US | Brings a welcome restraint to Cabernet, offering a dry, somewhat tannic wine of great elegance. Easy to like for its balanced flavors of blackberries and black currants, with gentle influences of oak. Pretty good price for a wine of polish and sophistication. | | 89 | 19 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Rodney Strong 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rodney Strong |
| 42891 | 42890 | US | This barrel selection actually was given less exposure to new French oak than the estate bottling, a telling fact, which demonstrates Anam Cara's commitment to fruit and terroir. Elegant and charming, it links pomegranate, raspberry and cherry fruit to silky tannins, achieving a lovely purity of expression in a year of moderate ripeness. | Nicholas Estate Reserve | 89 | 45 | Oregon | Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Anam Cara 2007 Nicholas Estate Reserve Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains) | Pinot Noir | Anam Cara |
| 42892 | 42891 | Spain | On the spot and sweet, with black cherry and roundness on the nose. Plays above its price league via ripe plum and berry flavors, bounce, body and build. Whole, concentrated and shows good structure, depth and character. About as good as inexpensive Garnacha gets. | Monte Oton | 89 | 7 | Northern Spain | Campo de Borja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Borsao 2008 Monte Oton Garnacha (Campo de Borja) | Garnacha | Borsao |
| 42893 | 42892 | France | With its dry, tight texture, this is an austere wine. The fruit is full of piercing black currant acidity, structured with firm tannins. Smoky wood does give an extra dimension, but the wine needs several months more in bottle. | Cuvée Tradition | 89 | 32 | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Bellerose Figeac 2007 Cuvée Tradition (Saint-Émilion) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Bellerose Figeac |
| 42894 | 42893 | France | A wine that has freshness, some wood and a soft series of tannins, almost velvet. There is a stalky juiciness here, to complete a wine that offers the freshest acidity, with only hints of darker fruits. | | 89 | 50 | Bordeaux | Pauillac | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Duhart-Milon 2007 Pauillac | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Duhart-Milon |
| 42895 | 42894 | France | A wine that emphasizes the fruity character of the year, putting aside any missing tannins. Wood still dominates the fruit, giving spice and bitter chocolate flavors, but the green edge present in the futures tasting has gone, to give final cranberry and black currant freshness. | | 89 | 25 | Bordeaux | Margaux | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Monbrison 2007 Margaux | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Monbrison |
| 42896 | 42895 | France | Siaurac, at 153 acres, is the largest estate in Lalande de Pomerol. The 2007 shows the relative lightness of the vintage, but boosts it up with chocolate and dark plum flavors. The wine finishes freshly, but still with tight tannins. | | 89 | 31 | Bordeaux | Lalande de Pomerol | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Siaurac 2007 Lalande de Pomerol | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Siaurac |
| 42897 | 42896 | France | Wood dominates this wine, the wine itself relatively light, but finely composed. There are spicy tannins with intense acidity, crisp black currants, bursting through the overlay of wood. | | 89 | 80 | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Château Troplong Mondot 2007 Saint-Émilion | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Château Troplong Mondot |
| 42898 | 42897 | Argentina | Rather flat and oily smelling, resulting in a low-pulse bouquet. The mouth is wet and chunky as it features sweet mango and cantaloupe flavors. Orange candy and sweetness is about all you get on the finish. | | 82 | 16 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Tapiz 2008 Chardonnay (Mendoza) | Chardonnay | Tapiz |
| 42899 | 42898 | US | Raw and simple, with lemon and lime flavors that taste unnaturally oaked in sweet smoky vanilla. | | 81 | 16 | California | Livermore Valley | Central Coast | | | Fenestra 2008 Chardonnay (Livermore Valley) | Chardonnay | Fenestra |
| 42900 | 42899 | US | Dry, acidic and watery, with a suggestion of lemon and lime fruit. | | 81 | 12 | California | Monterey | Central Coast | | | Lockwood 2008 Chardonnay (Monterey) | Chardonnay | Lockwood |