| 60751 | 60750 | Australia | This wine may lack the dramatic power of its top-flight brethren, but it still satisfies, delivering reasonably complex notes of cherries, rhubarb and olive carried by silky tannins and moderate alcohol. Drink this terrific value over the next year or two. | | 89 | 12 | South Australia | South Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Milton Park 2009 Shiraz (South Australia) | Shiraz | Milton Park |
| 60752 | 60751 | Argentina | Opens with horsey, leathery aromas that are funky and wild, but are surrounded by solid berry-fruit scents. Picks up steam on the palate, which is easygoing, solidly built and just firm enough. Tastes of blackberry, cola, spice and chocolate, then finishes smooth and creamy. | B Crux | 89 | 25 | Mendoza Province | Uco Valley | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | O. Fournier 2008 B Crux Red (Uco Valley) | Red Blend | O. Fournier |
| 60753 | 60752 | South Africa | This Chenin seems to have an older soul than its peers, with mature notes of honeyed almond and sweet spice that infiltrate the Anjou pear and hard peach flavors. Citrus pith adds a touch of bitterness to the otherwise toasty, sweet spice-infused finish. | De Tradisie | 89 | 19 | Stellenbosch | | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Rudera 2009 De Tradisie Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch) | Chenin Blanc | Rudera |
| 60754 | 60753 | US | Lots of nice blackberry, cassis, plum and new oak flavors in this dry, tannic Cabernet. It hews to an old-fashioned style, with an earthiness that suggests time in the cellar. Try after 2014. | | 89 | 100 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Silver Oak 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Silver Oak |
| 60755 | 60754 | Italy | Talenti's Rosso is an impressive expression of Sangiovese, with bold brushstrokes of ripe berry, spice, blue flower, toasted nut and dried herb. This is a compelling red wine from Tuscany that would pair well with lasagna or cheesy pasta. | | 89 | | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | Talenti 2010 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Talenti |
| 60756 | 60755 | Italy | A bold, inky-black style that is slightly overdone and a touch overripe. Despite aromas of blackberry preserves, prune and rum cake, this is a strongly masculine wine that puts its savory side first. The close is packed tight with smoked bacon and cured beef aromas. Textured tannins create some astringency on the finish. | | 89 | 48 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | La Rasina 2007 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | La Rasina |
| 60757 | 60756 | Italy | This wine has a more vinous nose with bold cherry and raspberry aromas followed by leather, spice and Spanish cedar. Textured and firm, bright and fresh. | Riserva | 89 | 80 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | La Torre 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino) | Sangiovese Grosso | La Torre |
| 60758 | 60757 | Argentina | Clean, pure and uncomplicated on the nose, showing depth and clarity. Smells and tastes much like a good Malbec or Cabernet might; it's sweet and fruity, with black cherry, pastry, baking spices and a certain rubbery quality that seems to come with Bonarda. On the money for this variety. | Reserve Old Vine | 89 | 16 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Maipe 2010 Reserve Old Vine Bonarda (Mendoza) | Bonarda | Maipe |
| 60759 | 60758 | Italy | An aging wine with a garnet-ruby color and bricking at the rim. Aromas of barbecue smoke, cured meat, leather, tobacco and dark fruit give way to tight, finely textured tannins on the palate. | | 89 | 45 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Villa Poggio Salvi 2007 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Villa Poggio Salvi |
| 60760 | 60759 | Australia | Not the darkest, biggest or richest Shiraz to ever come out of Australia, this is nevertheless a delightful wine. A green peppercorn note accents red raspberry and cherry fruit, with just a hint of vanilla in the background. Drink it over the next year or two. | Made with Organic Grapes | 89 | 16 | South Australia | South Australia | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Yalumba 2010 Made with Organic Grapes Shiraz (South Australia) | Shiraz | Yalumba |
| 60761 | 60760 | Spain | A meaty, bulky, earthy style of Ribera with smoky, charred, new-oak aromas setting up a reduced-seeming palate with roasted, sweet flavors of black fruits and cured meats. Feels rich, sticky and candied on the finish. Needs a couple of years to knit together; may improve with bottle age. | María | 89 | 102 | Northern Spain | Ribera del Duero | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Alonso del Yerro 2008 María (Ribera del Duero) | Tinto Fino | Alonso del Yerro |
| 60762 | 60761 | Argentina | Deep purple in color, with a dense, compact bouquet showing ripe blackberry, density and heat. Full-force on the palate, with drying tannins along with prune, blackberry, licorice and peppery flavors. Serious and tannic, with richness, extract and power. | | 89 | 20 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Angulo Innocenti 2010 Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | Angulo Innocenti |
| 60763 | 60762 | US | Rich and oaky, with pineapple jam, tangerine juice, buttered toast and vanilla spice flavors. It's a big, opulent wine, but a little in your face. Drink now. | | 89 | 37 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Cakebread 2010 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Cakebread |
| 60764 | 60763 | Italy | Here's a really pretty Rosso with a bright, fruit-driven bouquet. It opens with notes of raspberry and wild berry, with background tones of cinnamon and crushed clove. The finish is acidic and crisp. | | 89 | 18 | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino | | | | Castelli Martinozzi 2010 Rosso di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Castelli Martinozzi |
| 60765 | 60764 | Australia | This wine almost quivers with freshness when first sniffed, it's so vibrant and citrusy. Then it broadens out nicely on the palate, delivering ripe melon and apple flavors and ample weight. Drink it now and over the next few months. | | 89 | 23 | South Australia | Kangaroo Island | | Joe Czerwinski | @JoeCz | Hazyblur 2010 Pinot Gris (Kangaroo Island) | Pinot Gris | Hazyblur |
| 60766 | 60765 | US | A screwcapped, Rhône-style white, blends 43% Viognier, 39% Roussanne and 18% Marsanne in a tightly wound, fresh, lively wine. Spicy apple and pear fruit flavors run into a medium long finish with some near-term aging potential. | Lightning White | 88 | 20 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Airfield Estates 2010 Lightning White White (Yakima Valley) | Rhône-style White Blend | Airfield Estates |
| 60767 | 60766 | US | This has a soft entry, its fruit beginning to show secondary flavors of bakery pastries. Mulberry and prune, soft and spicy, make for a pleasing, accessible wine that finishes with a lick of cinnamon. It is already drinking well. | | 88 | 32 | Washington | Yakima Valley | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Airfield Estates 2010 Pinot Noir (Yakima Valley) | Pinot Noir | Airfield Estates |
| 60768 | 60767 | US | Lots of ripe blackberry and cherry fruit in this Cabernet, accented with notes of licorice and oak. It's a good wine, full-bodied, tannic and dry. Very good now, especially after a brief decant, but too dependent on fruit for a higher score, and doesn't seem like an ager. | Terraced Hillside Estate | 88 | 45 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Amizetta 2009 Terraced Hillside Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Amizetta |
| 60769 | 60768 | Italy | There's a dark smoky element to this hearty Brunello that recalls cured beef, moist earth, cedar, leather and rum cake. The wine is silky and smooth, with a noticeably clean quality to the finish. | | 88 | | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Armilla 2007 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Armilla |
| 60770 | 60769 | Italy | This wine's ripe cherry fruit and milk chocolate notes suggest softness and roundness. But the wine shows astringency and firmness on the close. | | 88 | 59 | Tuscany | Brunello di Montalcino | | | | Bellaria 2007 Brunello di Montalcino | Sangiovese Grosso | Bellaria |
| 60771 | 60770 | Spain | Opens with grainy, whispy aromas of reedy raspberry and smoky blackberry. Feels tannic and aggressive, so it punches ahead with lively, firm flavors of raspberry, plum and strawberry. Finishes oaky, with vanilla and dill notes. Bold Rioja to drink now. | Conde de Valdemar Reserva | 88 | 20 | Northern Spain | Rioja | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Bodegas Valdemar 2006 Conde de Valdemar Reserva (Rioja) | Tempranillo Blend | Bodegas Valdemar |
| 60772 | 60771 | US | Fusion blends 79% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah, 5% Zinfandel and 1% Alicante Bouschet a delicious case in point. Gamy, with flavors of dark earth, thick blackberry jam and dark plum, it's the tobacco kicker on the finish that'll bring you back. | Fusion | 88 | 19 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Borra 2009 Fusion Red (Lodi) | Red Blend | Borra |
| 60773 | 60772 | US | This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 20% Merlot has a fruity nose, the Syrah's leathery-ness is quite strong, surrounded by raspberry sweetness and red cherry from the Cab and Merlot. Although it's been in bottle some time, the finish is grippy and strongly tobacco-infused. | Confluence | 88 | 25 | California | Humboldt County | North Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Cabot Vineyards 2007 Confluence Red (Humboldt County) | Red Blend | Cabot Vineyards |
| 60774 | 60773 | Spain | This seems to be an attempt to mock the Moscato d'Asti style from Italy, but it doesn't quite pull it off. The nose is powdery and full of gardenias, but the feel is thick and it doesn't have that clean, ethereal personality that the best Moscatos exhibit. Not a bad wine by any means, and probably best with desserts. | Flare Método Charmat | 84 | 12 | Levante | Valencia | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Anecoop NV Flare Método Charmat Moscatel (Valencia) | Moscatel | Anecoop |
| 60775 | 60774 | Spain | The bouquet seems nutty and salinic, and overall this extra dry (meaning fairly sweet) focuses on soft and sugary mango and melon flavors. It's not as lively as it needs to be to balance the sweetness, so ultimately the wine comes up a touch flat. Imported by Freixenet USA. | Aria Estate Extra Dry | 84 | 12 | Catalonia | Cava | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Segura Viudas NV Aria Estate Extra Dry Sparkling (Cava) | Sparkling Blend | Segura Viudas |
| 60776 | 60775 | US | Other than a sugary sweetness, this wine shows all the hallmarks of a very nice Pinot Noir from this famed vineyard. The raspberry, cherry and vanilla flavors are accented by dusty spices, and the texture is silky. But the wine just doesn't taste dry. | Bien Nacido Vineyard Grand Reserve | 84 | 25 | California | Santa Maria Valley | Central Coast | | | Villa Mt. Eden 2005 Bien Nacido Vineyard Grand Reserve Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley) | Pinot Noir | Villa Mt. Eden |
| 60777 | 60776 | US | Either there's some residual sugar or the high alcohol, 15.8%, gives this wine a sweet taste, or both. Either way, it tastes like liquified raspberry, cherry and blackberry jam, with a squeeze of chocolate syrup. One-third new oak adds caramel and butterscotch. | Marian's Vineyard | 84 | 28 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | | | St. Amant 2005 Marian's Vineyard Zinfandel (Lodi) | Zinfandel | St. Amant |
| 60778 | 60777 | US | This wine has a ridiculous alcohol of 16.3%, which makes it prickly, and the dryness makes it taste even hotter, since there's no sugar to balance and soften. It's got extremely ripe blackberry-pie flavors. Be careful if you drink this; a little goes a long way. | Soucie Vineyard Old Vine | 83 | 22 | California | Lodi | Central Valley | | | M2 2004 Soucie Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi) | Zinfandel | M2 |
| 60779 | 60778 | US | The vineyard has had a mixed record of producing reds, usually expensive, not always great. This Syrah is too sugary sweet, with jammy berry and fruit flavors and lots of caramelly oak. | Stagecoach Vineyard | 83 | 65 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Black Bart 2005 Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah (Napa Valley) | Syrah | Black Bart |
| 60780 | 60779 | US | Call it country-style, with the minty sharpness and slightly sweet, candied raspberry, cherry and blackberry flavors. The acidity reprises on the finish, accentuating and harshening the tannins. | | 83 | 20 | California | Central Coast | Central Coast | | | Hahn 2005 Cabernet Franc (Central Coast) | Cabernet Franc | Hahn |