69339 | 69338 | US | With an opaque brick color and notes of toasty French oak, this wine announces its lofty ambitions. The fruit is subsumed by the oak right now but there is enough stuffing here to warrant aging for several years to allow for more integration. Smooth tannins suggest a lighter meat dish such as shepherd's pie. | Hodder Hill | 86 | 28 | Virginia | Virginia | | | | Glen Manor 2007 Hodder Hill Red (Virginia) | Bordeaux-style Red Blend | Glen Manor |
69340 | 69339 | Argentina | Starts with baked, candied, mildly raisiny aromas that hint at expiration, but the wine has good grab and acidity on the palate along with dry fruit flavors, licorice and spice. Persistent but not special, with a light, supple finish. It's 72% Malbec with Bonarda and Syrah. | Amado Sur | 86 | 15 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Trivento 2007 Amado Sur Red (Mendoza) | Red Blend | Trivento |
69341 | 69340 | Italy | Frappato is a light and fruit-forward Sicilian grape that makes a crisp and refreshing red wine that is often served slightly chilled with pasta or fish. Paolo Calì shows deep expertise with the variety and offers an extremely food-friendly expression with bright berry nuances. | Mandragola | 86 | 22 | Sicily & Sardinia | Vittoria Frappato | | | | Paolo Calì 2008 Mandragola (Vittoria Frappato) | Frappato | Paolo Calì |
69342 | 69341 | Chile | A common nose of apple, mild toast and baked corn is about what you'd expect from this brand and Chile. Like its cousin called Cefiro (from Viña Casablanca), it's geared toward apple, spice and vanilla. Not overoaked or forced; good but basic. | Reserva | 86 | 10 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Carolina 2008 Reserva Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley) | Chardonnay | Santa Carolina |
69343 | 69342 | US | There's a touch of unripeness in this wine that shows up as a taste of green peppercorn, although it's very subtle, and the blackberry and black cherry fruit quickly washes it away. Other than that, the wine is dry and rich in tannins. Drink now. | Monarch Mine Vineyard | 86 | 30 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | | | Terre Rouge 2007 Monarch Mine Vineyard Syrah (Sierra Foothills) | Syrah | Terre Rouge |
69344 | 69343 | France | With 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan and no oak aging, this is a fresh and juicy wine with characteristics of black cherry, black berry, thyme, Asian spice and cola. Solid acidity and a medium finish make this an easy pleaser. | Grande Tradition | 86 | 17 | Languedoc-Roussillon | Minervois | | Lauren Buzzeo | @laurbuzz | Château du Donjon 2007 Grande Tradition Red (Minervois) | Rhône-style Red Blend | Château du Donjon |
69345 | 69344 | Italy | Here's an interesting Sicilian expression of the French grape Tannat with black, inky aromas of soda, balsam, spice, mesquite and smoked ham. The wine closes with bright acidity and mouth-puckering astringency. | | 86 | 28 | Sicily & Sardinia | Sicilia | | | | Mirabile 2005 Tannat (Sicilia) | Tannat | Mirabile |
69346 | 69345 | France | Crisp, dry, light wine, its freshness coming from redcurrant fruits. A gentle caramel overlay gives extra weight. | Rosé | 86 | 15 | Loire Valley | Chinon | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Domaine du Grand Bouqueteau 2008 Rosé Cabernet Franc (Chinon) | Cabernet Franc | Domaine du Grand Bouqueteau |
69331 | 69330 | US | Supple and muscular, with appealing bacon fat aromas, this round and spicy effort. A tightness in the midpalate suggests that further bottle age is in order. | Domaine Danielle Laurent | 90 | 50 | Oregon | Willamette Valley | | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Soléna 2009 Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir | Pinot Noir | Soléna |
69347 | 69346 | Argentina | A simple, jammy-smelling wine with cherry aromas and a whiff of citrus too. Young, vibrant, acidic and juicy on the palate, with energetic but rubbery berry and plum flavors. Good yet basic wine overall, with heat on the finish. | Centenario Reserve | 86 | 12 | Other | San Juan | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Graffigna 2007 Centenario Reserve Malbec (San Juan) | Malbec | Graffigna |
69348 | 69347 | Argentina | Gritty, medicinal, almost reduced aromas of blueberry are devoid of softness, while the palate is also kind of tight and tough. Seems more clipped and underdone than the 2005, with narrow tannins and a medicinal burn. Has its merits and its intentions seem true, but something's not quite clicking here. | Select | 86 | 21 | Mendoza Province | Mendoza | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Inacayal 2006 Select Malbec (Mendoza) | Malbec | Inacayal |
69349 | 69348 | US | A good Merlot that shows a fine structure, without much complexity. The wine is dry and tannic and soft, with blackberry, black cherry, plum and oak flavors. Ready now. | Estate Bottled | 86 | 25 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | St. Supéry 2005 Estate Bottled Merlot (Napa Valley) | Merlot | St. Supéry |
69350 | 69349 | US | Blended with 18% Merlot, this shows a mix of black cherry, fig and sweet prune fruit flavors. Some smoke from barrel aging comes in, and it's good right up to the finish, which has a gluey undertone. | Barrel Select | 86 | 35 | Washington | Columbia Valley (WA) | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Vin du Lac 2007 Barrel Select Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley (WA)) | Cabernet Franc | Vin du Lac |
69351 | 69350 | Chile | This winery is part of the Santa Carolina group, and the Cefiro Chardonnay is toasted and mildly buttery and baked, with spiced apple and mild citrus flavors. The palate is basic but controlled, with a toasty, vanilla-tinged finish. Standard and familiar, but well executed. | Cefiro Reserva | 86 | 10 | Casablanca Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Viña Casablanca 2008 Cefiro Reserva Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley) | Chardonnay | Viña Casablanca |
69352 | 69351 | France | Sweet, strawberry jelly aromas lead to a wine that shows ripe, spiced and red plum flavors lifted by definite wood characters. The acidity is a constant right through this attractive wine. | Le Clé Saint-Pierre Oak Aged | 86 | 14 | Burgundy | Bourgogne | | Roger Voss | @vossroger | Mommessin 2007 Le Clé Saint-Pierre Oak Aged (Bourgogne) | Gamay | Mommessin |
69353 | 69352 | US | Though a bit sulfury at first, some nice aromas of grilled vegetables come through, followed by cedar chips and dragon fruit. It's fairly one-dimensional in the mouth, though nicely structured, with ripe acidity and gentle tannins. Short, dried-cherry finish. Try with grilled flank steak. Drink now. | | 86 | 22 | New York | North Fork of Long Island | Long Island | | | Peconic Bay Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (North Fork of Long Island) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Peconic Bay Winery |
69354 | 69353 | US | Modest in alcohol, which is nice, but it comes at the price of richness. This is a lean, earthy wine whose acidity and tannins co-star with the cherries and tobacco. Drink now. | | 86 | 38 | California | Sonoma County | Sonoma | | | Raymond Burr 2007 Cabernet Franc (Sonoma County) | Cabernet Franc | Raymond Burr |
69355 | 69354 | Chile | Opens with a mix of minerality, citrus and powdery white fruit scents. The palate packs tang and zest, while the flavors of green apple and lemon are lean, crisp and citric through the finish. Fresh but a little sharp and monotone. | Selected Terroir | 86 | 10 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Santa Ema 2009 Selected Terroir Sauvignon Blanc (Maipo Valley) | Sauvignon Blanc | Santa Ema |
69356 | 69355 | Italy | A popular restaurant choice, Santa Margherita epitomizes the light, breezy style that has made Pinot Grigio an American sweetheart. Aromas include peach, citrus, honey and pear. The wine is crisp and clean in the mouth with very friendly alcohol at an approachable 12%. | | 86 | 25 | Northeastern Italy | Alto Adige | | | | Santa Margherita 2008 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige) | Pinot Grigio | Santa Margherita |
69357 | 69356 | US | Every effort seems to have been made to extract the maximum amount of richness from this wine, but the result is simply heavy, not to mention oaky and drily tannic. The tastes of are ripe mashed blackberries, anise, pepper and dark, unsweetened cocoa. | Big River Ranch | 86 | 38 | California | Alexander Valley | Sonoma | | | Bella 2007 Big River Ranch Zinfandel (Alexander Valley) | Zinfandel | Bella |
69358 | 69357 | Italy | Bollini Pinot Grigio offers satisfying sensations of crisp lemon, stone fruit and melon. The wine is slightly sweet in the mouth and fills in the rear with pretty floral and fruit flavors. Pair it with finger foods and appetizers. With almost 200,000 cases made, this wine should be easy to locate. | | 86 | 14 | Northeastern Italy | Trentino | | | | Bollini 2008 Pinot Grigio (Trentino) | Pinot Grigio | Bollini |
69332 | 69331 | US | This lovingly made wine is packed with boysenberry, black cherry and swirls of vanilla cream around its soft, round texture and structure. Its long finish is laced with plum, whispers of smoke, licorice and a touch of cedar. Another 3–5 years in bottle will tame its tannins further and enhance every last nuance. | Ghielmetti Vineyard | 90 | 60 | California | Livermore Valley | Central Coast | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Steven Kent 2008 Ghielmetti Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Livermore Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Steven Kent |
69359 | 69358 | Chile | A bit sweet and candied on the nose, palate and finish, but good if you like creamy, sweet, vanilla notes in your Cabernet. The feel is sort of soft and soupy, while flavors of candied, gummy red berry and prune maintain enough vitality to bring things home. A lot like a cherry-cola ice cream float. | The Flying Winemaker | 86 | 13 | Maipo Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Cameron Hughes 2007 The Flying Winemaker Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cameron Hughes |
69360 | 69359 | US | A bit heavy and full-bodied for a Pinot Noir, with jammy, pie filling cherry and cola flavors. Turns chocolaty on the finish, like pudding. Delicious, but the structure is off. | Runestone | 86 | 40 | California | Edna Valley | Central Coast | | | Claiborne & Churchill 2007 Runestone Pinot Noir (Edna Valley) | Pinot Noir | Claiborne & Churchill |
69333 | 69332 | US | A voluptuous wine packed with almonds, a handful of herbs and citrus aromas and flavors, this big-boned, dry, barrel-fermented Roussanne finishes with a swirl of lemon. Available in 2013. | Monarch Mine Vineyard | 90 | 25 | California | Sierra Foothills | Sierra Foothills | Virginie Boone | @vboone | Terre Rouge 2010 Monarch Mine Vineyard Roussanne (Sierra Foothills) | Roussanne | Terre Rouge |
69334 | 69333 | US | Cabernet specialist Venge brings its vision of big, bold wines to Chardonnay, with mixed results. The wine is huge and fruity, with massive pineapple, pear, crème brûlée, buttered toast, caramel and vanilla spice flavors, in which oak obviously plays a part. Yet it's almost too much of a good thing. It earns its high score for sheer power, but you find yourself wanting greater subtlely and finesse. | Maldonado Vineyard | 90 | 39 | California | Napa Valley | Napa | | | Venge 2010 Maldonado Vineyard Chardonnay (Napa Valley) | Chardonnay | Venge |
69335 | 69334 | US | Very rich and ripe, marked by pure, intense flavors of cherries, blueberries and spicy cloves. It displays the balanced elegance and thoughtful winemaking of this winery. Young and juicy now, it should develop in the bottle for a year or two, but some sharpness in the finish will ultimately limit ageability. | Dutton Ranch | 90 | 35 | California | Russian River Valley | Sonoma | | | Dutton-Goldfield 2010 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) | Pinot Noir | Dutton-Goldfield |
69336 | 69335 | Chile | A complete wine that starts with lemony oak-based aromas that come with notes of herb, spice and dark-berry fruit. Feels layered, ripe and fresh, with full, sweet flavors of brown sugar, herb and baked berry and plum. Chocolaty and smooth on the finish. Drink now through 2014. | Limited Edition | 90 | 22 | Central Valley | | | Michael Schachner | @wineschach | Echeverria 2008 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Valley) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Echeverria |
69337 | 69336 | Italy | Made from a blend of five indigenous grapes from Abruzzo and Puglia (Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia), this is a soft and luscious wine, with generous aromas of ripe fruit, spice and moist tobacco. There's a sweet spot on the finish followed by thickly extracted but soft tannins. | Edizione Cinque Autoctoni | 90 | 43 | Central Italy | Abruzzo | | | | Farnese 2008 Edizione Cinque Autoctoni Red (Abruzzo) | Red Blend | Farnese |
69338 | 69337 | US | Pungent and grapey, with notes of violets and dusty chocolate. The astringent fruit shows varietal cassis flavor, somewhat overtaken by the extremely charred, coffee ground flavors of the finish. | | 86 | 32 | Washington | Wahluke Slope | Columbia Valley | Paul Gregutt | @paulgwine | Gilbert Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope) | Cabernet Sauvignon | Gilbert Cellars |