GroNLP/ik-nlp-22_winemag · Datasets at Hugging Face

index int64 1 130k	country stringclasses 8 values	description stringlengths 34 829	points int64 80 100	price float64 4 3.3k	province stringclasses 21 values	variety stringlengths 4 26
17,571	France	A creamy, almost hazelnutty aroma hovers over juicy, fresh peach fruit. This wine is lively and fresh, with enough citrus verve to balance the fruit. It's simple but appetizing.	87	15	Alsace	Gewürztraminer
7,940	US	This unusual wine is half 2005, half 2006 Cab, and includes 10% Syrah. It's lively and broad, with plenty of smooth and creamy chocolate filling in around spicy raspberry and red currant fruit.	88	24	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
126,323	US	Aged for 18 months in French oak, this is made predominantly from Tempranillo and it is a simple rendering of soy, black cherry, leather and big tannin weight.	87	42	California	Red Blend
81,684	US	The restrained nose of this bottling shows red cherry, dusty earth, sagebrush and a bit of rosebud. The palate blends the sour and sweet tones of candied cranberry with thyme and bay leaf, proving quite clean and tasty.	88	55	California	Pinot Noir
21,364	France	A deliciously rich wine, this is full of ripe fruit and rich wood and spice flavors. It is generous, layering peach and pear fruitiness cut with acidity. A tangy edge gives the wine an attractive bite. Drink now.	86	25	Burgundy	Chardonnay
117,969	France	Green and yellow apple notes play on the nose. They also fizz frothily on the fresh easy palate—almost weightless and totally dry. There are slightly bitter edges to the dry finish which are not unpleasant. With its litheness, this comes across as very refreshing and wonderfully pure.	90	24	Alsace	Sparkling Blend
22,573	Italy	Bacca Bianca from the vineyards of Tenuta di Budonetto, is a blend of Inzolia, Grecanico and Chardonnay. This wine is slightly muddled aromatically, but it does possess a fresh, zesty mouthfeel.	86	15	Sicily & Sardinia	White Blend
121,084	US	Judicious use of oak makes Keuka Spring stand out in a line-up of Finger Lakes Chards. Subtle on the nose with whiffs of fresh apple and toasted hazelnuts, the wine's palate is quite full with luscious sweet melon, vanilla and cream. Hints of smoke and burnt sugar add a dimension of darkness to the finish.	87	14	New York	Chardonnay
62,359	US	This cuvée has a steely quality. The fruit hits solidly on raspberry, with a nice tang to the acids. It's still tight, focused and young, suggesting that further bottle age will lead to further improvement. It has a light touch of caramel in the finish.	90	65	Oregon	Pinot Noir
76,988	France	Rich while also structured, this is beginning to be delicious. Acidity comes from the black currant fruits while the structure shows dense tannins and wood-aging flavors. The wine is still young and prepared for a long haul, so don't drink before 2018.	92	65	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
51,636	US	The aromas are brooding, with notes of plum, barrel spice, incense and black cherry. The palate is rich and concentrated with blackberry flavors, backed by firm tannins that need some time to settle in. It's high on the hedonistic scale.	93	65	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
125,483	US	Another fine Chardonnay from this esteemed producer. Shows the house signature of dryness, zesty acidity and a minerally cleanliness like Spring snow melt. It's rich in tropical fruits, with additional layers of cream and vanilla from barrel fermentation.	90	27	California	Chardonnay
52,690	France	Light and smoky, this is a fruit-forward, soft wine. Berry flavors are balanced by the stalky texture. It's young, although very ready to drink.	86	19	Loire Valley	Cabernet Franc
22,051	France	This soft wine has gentle ripe white fruits and lemon-juice flavors. It ends fresh and crisp, with a touch of creaminess to add richness. Drink now.	85	34	Burgundy	Chardonnay
11,729	US	Young, tart and compact, this is still in the primary fruit phase of its development. Clean, impactful and nicely structured, its flavors run from cranberry to raspberry to light cherry, all running deep enough to suggest tucking it away in the cellar for a few more years.	90	55	Oregon	Pinot Noir
98,003	France	Pithy zesty notes rise from the glass. The palate has the same lifted, pithy, and slightly bitter edge but some residual sweetness rounds the pear apparent on the palate into fluid fruitiness. The bitter edge remains and the wine finishes dry.	86	18	Alsace	Pinot Gris
118,119	US	This hearty blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot is a great go-to wine for a crowd. Cabernet leads the way with cedar, cranberry and tobacco notes, clipped by sizable tannin. As it opens, layers of dense raspberry and vanilla flavors unfurl.	88	20	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
36,566	US	Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot split the blend with 8% Syrah in addition. The opening scents are toasty and inviting, and the wine enters the palate smooth and agreeable, with pretty red fruits. There's a lick of licorice and then the flavors seem to lighten up and finish tart and astringent. But decant this and let it breathe, and the wine can surprise with its staying power.	90	55	Washington	Red Blend
11,949	France	Warm and rounded, this is a soft, ripe rosé. The flavors of plums and red berries roll easily around the mouth, producing a wine that is full, rich and soft.	85	13	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
91,754	US	This red offers tightly wound strawberry and cassis around spicy leather and medium-boned weight and length.	86	27	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
101,268	US	Delicate hints of crushed mineral and white flower linger in this dry appley Riesling. Soft acidity lends a slightly broad, flat feel to the palate but the finish is clean and crisp.	86	16	New York	Riesling
126,476	US	Soft, sweet and a little hot, this has flavors of chocolate-covered raisin and black cherry jam. It's an easy wine to drink now with a nice grilled steak or juicy burger.	86	19	California	Cabernet Franc
27,993	US	Dried apple and caramel scents lead the nose of this wine, building toward a bigger presence of tannin and oak and meeting a stony acidity and sour lemon tartness along the way.	86	50	California	Chardonnay
71,739	US	There's a lot of complex, youthful charm in this Cabernet-based wine, which was grown in both of St. Supery's estate vineyards, Rutherford and Dollarhide. It's very rich and ripe in blackberries, cassis, blueberries and dark chocolate, with a savory spiciness. This really defines the Napa style, and demonstrates the great success of the 2007 vintage.	93	65	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
21,288	US	Lean and rich at the same time, this wine offers a brightness of citrus and pear at the entry. The midpalate becomes heavier in oak and ripe in tropical flavor.	87	32	California	Chardonnay
12,557	US	Perfumey in Buddha's Hand citrus, this offers a well-executed combination of steely acidity and wet stone with tropical citrus, apple and creamy vanilla, lingering harmoniously on the seamless finish.	88	19	California	Chardonnay
123,899	US	This is an elegant, subtle and spicy varietal wine that reflects its origins, impacted by coastal coolness and ferocity. Dried thyme, stemmy earth, black tea and a viscous grip of oak show its youth and quiet, brooding power.	91	60	California	Pinot Noir
35,037	Argentina	Woodsy spice, clove and chocolate announce the oak that is the lead factor throughout the wine. The nose is creamy and resiny green, with vanilla yogurt, plum and berry flavors coming next. Solid in terms of acidity and feel, but a little bit lactic due to the wood treatment.	86	17	Mendoza Province	Malbec
95,040	France	Generous and inviting notes of peach and yellow plum make for an exuberant, almost festive, nose. The palate is equally rich with generous stone fruit: peach, plum and mirabelle plum. A spike of lemony freshness provides a balance on the frothily fresh palate. Full marks for fruit and joy.	89	20	Alsace	Sparkling Blend
81,612	France	Medium sweet in style, this igentle wine has attractive fruitiness as well as spice, giving lychee and quince as well as some good acidity. Drink now.	85	27	Alsace	Gewürztraminer
31,147	Italy	From one of the most beautiful wine properties in Tuscany (owned by artist Sandro Chia and managed by his son Filippo), this gorgeous Brunello shows elegance, pedigree and quality fruit. Blackberry and bright cherry are backed by warmer tones of tobacco and cigar box. There's ageworthy structure and freshness too.	92	50	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
64,133	Italy	Elena Walch's fantasy wine is a blend of Chardonnay and four other varieties that she does not reveal. Eighteen months in oak give the wine a fine, toasty character and creamy fruit, but still leaves the hallmark Alto Adige crispness and freshness.	90	40	Northeastern Italy	White Blend
119,382	Italy	This opens with aromas of spirits, underbrush, menthol and dried tobacco leaf. The assertive palate displays dried sour cherry, raisin and licorice alongside astringent tannins. It lacks fruit richness while scorching alcohol dominates the finish.	86	55	Veneto	Red Blend
109,635	US	Really strong in gooseberry and feline spray aromas and flavors, with kinder notes of citrus fruits and vanilla. The wine is also slightly sweet.	82	18	California	Sauvignon Blanc
739	Italy	Roasted coffee bean and menthol aromas lead the nose while the evolved palate offers dark bitter chocolate, licorice and a toasted note. Showing the heat of the vintage, the fruit has largely dried up while astringent tannins lead to a bracing finish.	85	102	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
118,793	France	Complexing notes of botrytis are interspersed with an unusual pine aroma. The palate is bit simple but gives way to a very long finish with focused flavors of petrol and lemon.	89	40	Alsace	Riesling
105,053	US	Rounded and likable, this is a bang-up deal for a wine of fine quality, textured, light and fruity in stone fruit and pineapple.	87	13	California	Chardonnay
82,063	US	It's like Christmas in a glass the way the aromas on this wine settle keenly on pine and sugar plum. Earthy with a touch of dried herb, the wine's mouthfeel is velvety with a kick, the body full-figured in blackberry intensity, with the whole wrapped in substantial oak. The weight and firmness suggest cellaring, through 2017.	88	49	California	Pinot Noir
108,937	US	Very fruit-forward aromas of green apple, kiwi, passion fruit and even chopped scallion are pleasantly pungent on this wine by Dr. Enrique Ferro. Nectarine flesh mixes it up with white flowers on the palate, all held together by bright acidity. It taste good, but is rather powerful, reminiscent of the grassier New Zealand style.	88	24	California	Sauvignon Blanc
76,432	France	Made by major Chablis producer Jean-Marc Brocard, this wine is ripe, soft and attractively fruity. It has crisp acidity along with rich yellow fruits and a touch of minerality. The wine comes from a blend of different premier cru vineyards. Delicious and refreshing, it is ready to drink now.	90	15	Burgundy	Chardonnay
84,511	US	Beautifully balanced between maturity and freshness, this elegant bubbly combines appetizing cherry, almond and ginger flavors with a suave texture and long finish. It achieves a level of personality and sophistication beyond simple fruitiness.	91	20	California	Sparkling Blend
22,700	US	This is an appealing Chardonnay. It's a little sweet in apricot jam, peach, green apple, honey and buttered toast flavors, but the sweetness is balanced with crisp, citrusy acidity and a nice cut of minerality.	87	22	California	Chardonnay
82,440	US	Young vines, the first release from estate-grown fruit. The vanilla flavors of the barrels are front and center at the moment, though there are darker fruits in the background, along with smoke, licorice and a hint of tar. Good long-term potential.	86	34	Oregon	Petite Sirah
12,682	US	Sugary sweet in berry-cherry fruit, with a cut of acidity that doesn't feel natural. An awkward wine, but passable.	82	12	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
5,167	US	Not very Chardonnay-like, more like a Viognier or Pinot Gris with its aromatic floral, tropical fruit, citrus, melon and spice aromas and flavors. Still, it's very tasty, and dry as well, with a crisp spine of minerally acidity.	87	28	California	Chardonnay
82,575	US	Fruit from Seven Hills, Los Oidos, and Les Collines make up the majority of this wine. Aromas of baking spice and jammy raspberry notes are at the fore. The red-fruit flavors are full bodied and intense, trailing a bit on the finish. There are a lot of good things going on here but they don't all entirely come together.	88	40	Washington	Syrah
126,743	Italy	Hats off to the Mazzei brothers for crafting this rich, pleasurable wine that mirrors the sunny warmth and softness of the region. The unusual blend is Sangiovese and Alicante, and it's redolent of lively red cherries, tobacco and chocolate fudge.	90	19	Tuscany	Red Blend
56,980	US	Smooth and palate-coating, it's 100% varietal, with just the right balance between blackberry and black cherry fruit, and barrel-induced flavors of toffee, toasted macadamia nuts, and café crème.	91	28	Washington	Merlot
111,120	Italy	Produced with Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Mammolo, this opens with subtle aromas of turned soil, ripe plum and dark cooking spice. The palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, coffee, oak and a leathery note accompanied by solid tannins.	88	28	Tuscany	Red Blend
7,684	US	From a dark bottle, this salmon-colored rosé is medium-bodied and made in a bigger style than many others. Fully textured, it discloses flavorful touches of crunchy pear and cranberry. It would go well with a goat cheese salad adorned in dried cranberries and cherries.	90	25	California	Pinot Noir
82,163	US	This wine's peppery details act as counterpoint to its well-defined raspberry and cherry flavors. Streaks of toast and graphite add to the layers, suggesting further complexity will develop with another year or two in bottle.	91	62	Oregon	Pinot Noir
116,134	France	This is an unfocused wine with fruit flavors that miss the mark. Only the juicy aftertaste is attractive.	82	12	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
75,064	Portugal	Just fruit, this young wine shows attractive blackberry flavors and soft tannins. It's ripe and juicy, fresh while also rich. Drink now.	85	12	Douro	Portuguese Red
10,344	Italy	Morellino is a terrific red wine that is particularly food-friendly, easy-to-drink and delicious. This producer makes one of the best expressions available, characterized by bright blueberry, cherry and pulpy red fruit.	90	30	Tuscany	Sangiovese
107,456	US	Light raspberry-sorbet notes meet with fresh fennel fronds, pepper and cinnamon on the nose of this bottling from Chad Melville and family. It's tight and tart on the palate, with dried cranberry, pine needle and eucalyptus flavors that juxtapose with the more fruit-driven nose.	94	36	California	Pinot Noir
30,546	Argentina	Rooty, spicy aromas of black plum are more complex than those of your average Malbec. In the mouth, this shows a heavy, almost reduced mouthfeel that could use more spring. Dark, heavily toasted baked-plum flavors finish peppery and brooding, but without much texture or presence. Drink soon.	88	20	Mendoza Province	Malbec
75,585	US	This is clearly aimed at consumers who seek maximum power, aggressive tannins and the dark end of the flavor spectrum. Though down a bit from the 15.5% alcohol in 2012, it's still substantial. Dry roasted dark fruits are covered in brawnier flavors of coffee grounds, chocolate and graphite. Tannins are granular and carry some heat through the finish.	88	35	Oregon	Pinot Noir
73,624	US	Ripe, tannic and leathery (in a good sense), this brings concentrated flavors of cherry compôte, Campari and baking spices. It's aromatic and mouthfilling, and delivers ample pleasure.	92	75	Oregon	Pinot Noir
26,434	US	This wine pulls everything together for great enjoyment: vivid, fresh fruit aromas and a dash of oak spice, deep and layered fruit flavors like ripe but tangy black cherries, and a powerful but soothing texture that carries along all those flavor impressions through a long finish. Best now through 2020.	94	68	California	Pinot Noir
2,948	US	This vineyard has proven it can ripen good Malbec, but here it seems as if something has gone sideways. There is a gluey scent underneath the blackberry fruit, and the wine seems chalky and disjointed in the mouth, with more of the band-aid flavors in the finish.	83	26	Washington	Malbec
116,259	US	This wine is aromatically reticent with cocoa, berry, brown spices and light volatile notes. The palate is medium bodied with a thick feel and cranberry-like tartness.	85	45	Washington	Syrah
36,124	US	From a promising winery in the Morgan Hill area south of San Jose, this blend of 48% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 2% Carignane and 2% Petite Sirah shows deep, dark but not juicy black plum, condensed coffee and game aromas. There's firm structure to the palate, which is dense yet dry with elderberry, dark chocolate and violet flavors.	89	45	California	Rhône-style Red Blend
26,251	Italy	Marco Felluga's Mongris Riserva Pinot Grigio is a sophisticated and complex white wine that has been enhanced by creamy oak tones. Aromas here include dried apricot, toasted almond, vanilla and baked bread. The wine's texture is rich, dense and very satisfying. Pair this wine with lobster or crab.	90	30	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
40,668	US	This blend of 57% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon shows black plums, roasted figs, cinnamon stick, uncrushed clove and star anise on the nose. That great nose doesn't translate yet to the palate, which is sticky with dark plum skin tannins, and proves a bit too leathery for drinking right now. Wait awhile and this one might work better.	85	19	California	Red Blend
6,011	US	This impressive wine is succulent in delicious berry flavor that's been dipped in smoky leather. Supple firm tannin adds structure and strength, as a length of spice and tobacco plays palatable games on the finish.	90	24	California	Zinfandel
90,763	US	Incredibly rich blackberry-jam aromas meet with licorice, smoked beef and black rocks on the continually evolving and dynamic nose of this bottling from Paso Robles' west side. It's rich, juicy and expertly structured on the palate, where blackberry fruit meets with pencil-lead minerality and light espresso flavors. The tannic grip is solid and the acidity is strong, ensuring long ageability.	93	42	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
108,327	US	This is a full-bodied, unctuous white with a wealth of wood influence. It tempers in the glass into a mix of melon, stone fruit and vanilla.	87	26	California	Sauvignon Blanc
80,603	Portugal	This is a solid and structured wine that is rich and full on the palate. With ripe tannins and black plum flavors, it is dense, packed with big, bold flavors and a velvety texture that is looking towards a long future. Drink from 2017.	92	20	Douro	Portuguese Red
69,938	US	A good, classic California Zin, dry, medium-bodied and briary, filled with spicy tobacco, wild cherry and pepper flavors. It's a lot of fun, at a great price. Perfect with barbecue, beef stew, beef tacos, roast pork, chicken cacciatore.	86	11	California	Zinfandel
24,781	France	Produced from the Clos Mireille, within sight of the Mediterranean, this fresh-faced wine shows peach and citrus flavors rounded by ripeness, although with an attractive tangy aftertaste.	90	40	Provence	White Blend
123,894	Portugal	From a selection of different parcels near the Torto and Pinhão rivers, this is a beautifully ripe and fruity wine. With some firm tannins and a tight texture it shows plenty of the schist terroir of the Douro. Over that there are layers of rich dark fruits that are balanced with acidity. Drink the wine now.	91	27	Douro	Portuguese Red
104,719	US	Hard and tannic at first, this young wine grudgingly reveals a core of very tart cherry fruit, encased in flavors of stem and wood. A coffee-infused finish does not conceal the chewy, tough tannins.	86	24	Washington	Merlot
99,857	US	That friendly, familiar, cedar and cinnamon aroma that comes from oak barrels jumps out of the glass when sipping this full-bodied and deep-colored wine. It has gripping tannins that dry the mouth but will work well with pork, beef and lamb. And it blends in enough ripe fruit flavor for good balance. Best now through 2018.	89	40	California	Petite Sirah
106,128	Italy	You'll find aromas of red-skinned berry, aromatic herb and a whiff of exotic spice on this youthful red. Made to be enjoyed young, the palate offers sour cherry, unripe raspberry, sage and a hint of anise alongside racy acidity.	87	31	Tuscany	Sangiovese
98,780	US	Tastes a bit sweet and obvious now, with chocolate-covered cherry, blackberry jam, gingerbread cookie and smoke flavors. But it's pretty tannic, and well-balanced in acidity, so could develop bottle complexity down the road. Try after 2010.	87	25	California	Syrah
97,826	US	A rustic red blend, with tobacco, herb, cherry and red currant flavors that finish dry and spicy. Useful as a bistro-style wine.	84	16	California	Red Blend
47,512	Germany	Dark, almost russet in color, this is an eiswein that's definitely out of the ordinary, with notes of fusty library, walnut, dried apricots and figs that come across as a bit syrupy in texture. It seems a bit advanced compared to other eisweins, but it will likely remain at this plateau for decades.	93	316	Mosel	Riesling
72,224	Italy	Parafada offers a bouquet of prickly fruit such as wild berry, bramble and underbrush. You'll also recognize pretty tones of white truffle, moist earth, new leather and coffee. The wine is bright but still raw in the mouth and ends with mineral notes, a blast of menthol and an interesting powdery texture.	91	100	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
87,285	Germany	Intense note of caramel and smoke add complexity to fresh apple and tangerine flavors in this dry, mineral-rich wine. It's delicate in alcohol, yet remarkably round and clingy on the palate, cut by a stream of high-toned acidity on the finish.	92	55	Mosel	Riesling
124,541	US	Classic Gewürztraminer from start to finish, this luxuriously off-dry sipper bursts with heady rose petal and ripe, rich lychee notes. Zesty and bright with acidity, the finish is marked by delicious hints of lanolin and lime zest.	89	15	New York	Gewürztraminer
53,971	Argentina	Floral blueberry and plum aromas are not normal for Mendoza Malbec but are instead exotic, with notes of cumin and cardamom. This is punchy on the palate, with crisp, almost sharp acidity. Plum and berry flavors are peppery and racy, then tight as a drum on the finish. Drink this alert Malbec from Tupungato through 2022.	90	20	Mendoza Province	Malbec
13,118	US	This full-bodied wine smells like black currants and blackberries, tastes ripe, and is lightly tannic to give it a little grip. Bring on the beef or pork tenderloin.	89	15	California	Red Blend
11,473	US	Big, rich and dense, this Pinot Noir shows massive, in-your-face flavors of oak, raspberry-cherry jam and chocolate. You can give this a few years of aging or try decanting, but it seems best enjoyed soon for its sheer youthful power.	87	50	California	Pinot Noir
118,461	Italy	This opens with aromas of oak, espresso, mocha and plum. The firm palate offers oak extract, chocolate, licorice and black cherry alongside drying wood tannins.	89	93	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
69,208	France	With plenty of new wood, the wine has a velvet character, smooth and round. Only gradually does a plum skin, bitter chocolate element come in, giving structure and weight. This is a wine that should age well.	93	55	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
64,976	US	Almost completely transparent, this wine is lightly fruity and perfectly pleasant; there's just not much to it. Traces of apple, pear and white melon come up, quickly running into a short, thin finish.	85	17	Oregon	Pinot Gris
78,497	Spain	This is a modern Tempranillo with big berry fruit aromas offset by baking spice scents and earthiness. The palate feels bold and punchy, with round but present tannins and ripe flavors of baked blackberry, chocolate and mild spice. Drink this friendly, fruity, elevated wine through 2016.	89	20	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
112,844	France	A high proportion (65%) of Cabernet Sauvignon has given this wine a structured character. It's also brought out black-currant flavors that are allied to juicy acidity. The wood-aging was almost too much, giving the wine a bitter edge that needs to soften. Drink from 2018.	86	25	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
17,850	US	This is the first wine from this new winery. Clean, light berry fruit is the whole show, and it's a forward, fruity Zin with friendly, simple flavors.	85	22	California	Zinfandel
8,743	US	100% varietal with the majority of the fruit coming from Weinbau Vineyard, it brings notes of plum, whole green pepper and coffee. The palate lies on the lighter side of medium bodied, fleshing out with some time open, with a lovely texture but with some grit to the tannins. Perhaps some additional time in the bottle with smooth it out.	89	30	Washington	Cabernet Franc
104,194	US	Big, rich, and dramatic are just a few words that describe this 100% Cabernet grown on the low-yielding estate vineyard in Coombsville. It's lush with black currants, yet bracing in tannins, with a minerality that makes it feel firm and grounded. The barrels are 100% new French oak, lending a savory level of char and vanilla. This is clearly a wine to cellar for a long time. Start enjoying it in 2018, and it is likely to develop bottle complexity throughout the 2020s.	95	165	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
51,479	Australia	This is a smooth-textured, medium- to full-bodied wine loaded with scents of cedar and spice. Red berry fruit emerges on the palate and lingers alongside the cedar notes on the long finish. Drink now–2020.	91	49	South Australia	Grenache
47,396	US	A whiff of volatility distracts a bit from an otherwise enjoyable wine that has notes of butterscotch, tapioca and spice. The palate is medium bodied with sweet tropical fruit flavors. Tasted twice with consistent notes.	87	29	Oregon	Chardonnay
74,364	US	Here's a dry, somewhat brawny wine that has some charm. It's filled with briary, peppery flavors, with fruits suggesting blackberries and cassis. Good value in an inexpensive steak and chops wine.	84	12	California	Syrah
41,465	France	In the same family since 1835, this estate in Pouilly-Fuissé also makes wines in other surrounding appellations. This wine, with its soft and full white fruit, gentle structure and just enough acidity, is developing fast and will be ready from late 2016.	86	15	Burgundy	Chardonnay
108,370	France	Ripe and juicy, this is perfumed, full of red berry flavor and attractively soft tannins. The wine feels broad and rich, ready to drink from 2015.	86	20	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
39,801	US	So ripe and rich in fruit, you won't even notice the absence of oak. The grapes come mostly from Lodi, with a touch of Monterey. Brightened with crisp acidity, the flavors are of spicy, zesty tangerines and vanilla.	87	8	California	Chardonnay
58,921	Spain	Easy berry and plum aromas come across clean and pure. This has a staunch mouthfeel with rubbery, pinching tannins. Earthy, ripe berry and plum flavors turn even riper on the back palate and finish, which lingers in a solid state.	88	15	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
120,649	US	Dry and grassy, this Sauvignon Blanc has citrus, fig and spice flavors, brightened with crisp acidity. There's a lot of that gooseberry, feline thing.	86	28	California	Sauvignon Blanc
78,740	France	The small 11-acre estate is situated at the northern end of the Margaux appellation. This wine, with its high percentage (70%) of Merlot is richly fruity with generous tannins and brilliant, ripe blackberry flavors. It has just the right amount of structure to allow it to age. Drink from 2021.	92	35	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend

17,571

France

A creamy, almost hazelnutty aroma hovers over juicy, fresh peach fruit. This wine is lively and fresh, with enough citrus verve to balance the fruit. It's simple but appetizing.

87

15

Alsace

Gewürztraminer

7,940

US

This unusual wine is half 2005, half 2006 Cab, and includes 10% Syrah. It's lively and broad, with plenty of smooth and creamy chocolate filling in around spicy raspberry and red currant fruit.

88

24

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

126,323

US

Aged for 18 months in French oak, this is made predominantly from Tempranillo and it is a simple rendering of soy, black cherry, leather and big tannin weight.

87

42

California

Red Blend

81,684

US

The restrained nose of this bottling shows red cherry, dusty earth, sagebrush and a bit of rosebud. The palate blends the sour and sweet tones of candied cranberry with thyme and bay leaf, proving quite clean and tasty.

88

55

California

Pinot Noir

21,364

France

A deliciously rich wine, this is full of ripe fruit and rich wood and spice flavors. It is generous, layering peach and pear fruitiness cut with acidity. A tangy edge gives the wine an attractive bite. Drink now.

86

25

Burgundy

Chardonnay

117,969

France

Green and yellow apple notes play on the nose. They also fizz frothily on the fresh easy palate—almost weightless and totally dry. There are slightly bitter edges to the dry finish which are not unpleasant. With its litheness, this comes across as very refreshing and wonderfully pure.

90

24

Alsace

Sparkling Blend

22,573

Italy

Bacca Bianca from the vineyards of Tenuta di Budonetto, is a blend of Inzolia, Grecanico and Chardonnay. This wine is slightly muddled aromatically, but it does possess a fresh, zesty mouthfeel.

86

15

Sicily & Sardinia

White Blend

121,084

US

Judicious use of oak makes Keuka Spring stand out in a line-up of Finger Lakes Chards. Subtle on the nose with whiffs of fresh apple and toasted hazelnuts, the wine's palate is quite full with luscious sweet melon, vanilla and cream. Hints of smoke and burnt sugar add a dimension of darkness to the finish.

87

14

New York

Chardonnay

62,359

US

This cuvée has a steely quality. The fruit hits solidly on raspberry, with a nice tang to the acids. It's still tight, focused and young, suggesting that further bottle age will lead to further improvement. It has a light touch of caramel in the finish.

90

65

Oregon

Pinot Noir

76,988

France

Rich while also structured, this is beginning to be delicious. Acidity comes from the black currant fruits while the structure shows dense tannins and wood-aging flavors. The wine is still young and prepared for a long haul, so don't drink before 2018.

92

65

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

51,636

US

The aromas are brooding, with notes of plum, barrel spice, incense and black cherry. The palate is rich and concentrated with blackberry flavors, backed by firm tannins that need some time to settle in. It's high on the hedonistic scale.

93

65

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

125,483

US

Another fine Chardonnay from this esteemed producer. Shows the house signature of dryness, zesty acidity and a minerally cleanliness like Spring snow melt. It's rich in tropical fruits, with additional layers of cream and vanilla from barrel fermentation.

90

27

California

Chardonnay

52,690

France

Light and smoky, this is a fruit-forward, soft wine. Berry flavors are balanced by the stalky texture. It's young, although very ready to drink.

86

19

Loire Valley

Cabernet Franc

22,051

France

This soft wine has gentle ripe white fruits and lemon-juice flavors. It ends fresh and crisp, with a touch of creaminess to add richness. Drink now.

85

34

Burgundy

Chardonnay

11,729

US

Young, tart and compact, this is still in the primary fruit phase of its development. Clean, impactful and nicely structured, its flavors run from cranberry to raspberry to light cherry, all running deep enough to suggest tucking it away in the cellar for a few more years.

90

55

Oregon

Pinot Noir

98,003

France

Pithy zesty notes rise from the glass. The palate has the same lifted, pithy, and slightly bitter edge but some residual sweetness rounds the pear apparent on the palate into fluid fruitiness. The bitter edge remains and the wine finishes dry.

86

18

Alsace

Pinot Gris

118,119

US

This hearty blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot is a great go-to wine for a crowd. Cabernet leads the way with cedar, cranberry and tobacco notes, clipped by sizable tannin. As it opens, layers of dense raspberry and vanilla flavors unfurl.

88

20

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

36,566

US

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot split the blend with 8% Syrah in addition. The opening scents are toasty and inviting, and the wine enters the palate smooth and agreeable, with pretty red fruits. There's a lick of licorice and then the flavors seem to lighten up and finish tart and astringent. But decant this and let it breathe, and the wine can surprise with its staying power.

90

55

Washington

Red Blend

11,949

France

Warm and rounded, this is a soft, ripe rosé. The flavors of plums and red berries roll easily around the mouth, producing a wine that is full, rich and soft.

85

13

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

91,754

US

This red offers tightly wound strawberry and cassis around spicy leather and medium-boned weight and length.

86

27

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

101,268

US

Delicate hints of crushed mineral and white flower linger in this dry appley Riesling. Soft acidity lends a slightly broad, flat feel to the palate but the finish is clean and crisp.

86

16

New York

Riesling

126,476

US

Soft, sweet and a little hot, this has flavors of chocolate-covered raisin and black cherry jam. It's an easy wine to drink now with a nice grilled steak or juicy burger.

86

19

California

Cabernet Franc

27,993

US

Dried apple and caramel scents lead the nose of this wine, building toward a bigger presence of tannin and oak and meeting a stony acidity and sour lemon tartness along the way.

86

50

California

Chardonnay

71,739

US

There's a lot of complex, youthful charm in this Cabernet-based wine, which was grown in both of St. Supery's estate vineyards, Rutherford and Dollarhide. It's very rich and ripe in blackberries, cassis, blueberries and dark chocolate, with a savory spiciness. This really defines the Napa style, and demonstrates the great success of the 2007 vintage.

93

65

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

21,288

US

Lean and rich at the same time, this wine offers a brightness of citrus and pear at the entry. The midpalate becomes heavier in oak and ripe in tropical flavor.

87

32

California

Chardonnay

12,557

US

Perfumey in Buddha's Hand citrus, this offers a well-executed combination of steely acidity and wet stone with tropical citrus, apple and creamy vanilla, lingering harmoniously on the seamless finish.

88

19

California

Chardonnay

123,899

US

This is an elegant, subtle and spicy varietal wine that reflects its origins, impacted by coastal coolness and ferocity. Dried thyme, stemmy earth, black tea and a viscous grip of oak show its youth and quiet, brooding power.

91

60

California

Pinot Noir

35,037

Argentina

Woodsy spice, clove and chocolate announce the oak that is the lead factor throughout the wine. The nose is creamy and resiny green, with vanilla yogurt, plum and berry flavors coming next. Solid in terms of acidity and feel, but a little bit lactic due to the wood treatment.

86

17

Mendoza Province

Malbec

95,040

France

Generous and inviting notes of peach and yellow plum make for an exuberant, almost festive, nose. The palate is equally rich with generous stone fruit: peach, plum and mirabelle plum. A spike of lemony freshness provides a balance on the frothily fresh palate. Full marks for fruit and joy.

89

20

Alsace

Sparkling Blend

81,612

France

Medium sweet in style, this igentle wine has attractive fruitiness as well as spice, giving lychee and quince as well as some good acidity. Drink now.

85

27

Alsace

Gewürztraminer

31,147

Italy

From one of the most beautiful wine properties in Tuscany (owned by artist Sandro Chia and managed by his son Filippo), this gorgeous Brunello shows elegance, pedigree and quality fruit. Blackberry and bright cherry are backed by warmer tones of tobacco and cigar box. There's ageworthy structure and freshness too.

92

50

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

64,133

Italy

Elena Walch's fantasy wine is a blend of Chardonnay and four other varieties that she does not reveal. Eighteen months in oak give the wine a fine, toasty character and creamy fruit, but still leaves the hallmark Alto Adige crispness and freshness.

90

40

Northeastern Italy

White Blend

119,382

Italy

This opens with aromas of spirits, underbrush, menthol and dried tobacco leaf. The assertive palate displays dried sour cherry, raisin and licorice alongside astringent tannins. It lacks fruit richness while scorching alcohol dominates the finish.

86

55

Veneto

Red Blend

109,635

US

Really strong in gooseberry and feline spray aromas and flavors, with kinder notes of citrus fruits and vanilla. The wine is also slightly sweet.

82

18

California

Sauvignon Blanc

739

Italy

Roasted coffee bean and menthol aromas lead the nose while the evolved palate offers dark bitter chocolate, licorice and a toasted note. Showing the heat of the vintage, the fruit has largely dried up while astringent tannins lead to a bracing finish.

85

102

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

118,793

France

Complexing notes of botrytis are interspersed with an unusual pine aroma. The palate is bit simple but gives way to a very long finish with focused flavors of petrol and lemon.

89

40

Alsace

Riesling

105,053

US

Rounded and likable, this is a bang-up deal for a wine of fine quality, textured, light and fruity in stone fruit and pineapple.

87

13

California

Chardonnay

82,063

US

It's like Christmas in a glass the way the aromas on this wine settle keenly on pine and sugar plum. Earthy with a touch of dried herb, the wine's mouthfeel is velvety with a kick, the body full-figured in blackberry intensity, with the whole wrapped in substantial oak. The weight and firmness suggest cellaring, through 2017.

88

49

California

Pinot Noir

108,937

US

Very fruit-forward aromas of green apple, kiwi, passion fruit and even chopped scallion are pleasantly pungent on this wine by Dr. Enrique Ferro. Nectarine flesh mixes it up with white flowers on the palate, all held together by bright acidity. It taste good, but is rather powerful, reminiscent of the grassier New Zealand style.

88

24

California

Sauvignon Blanc

76,432

France

Made by major Chablis producer Jean-Marc Brocard, this wine is ripe, soft and attractively fruity. It has crisp acidity along with rich yellow fruits and a touch of minerality. The wine comes from a blend of different premier cru vineyards. Delicious and refreshing, it is ready to drink now.

90

15

Burgundy

Chardonnay

84,511

US

Beautifully balanced between maturity and freshness, this elegant bubbly combines appetizing cherry, almond and ginger flavors with a suave texture and long finish. It achieves a level of personality and sophistication beyond simple fruitiness.

91

20

California

Sparkling Blend

22,700

US

This is an appealing Chardonnay. It's a little sweet in apricot jam, peach, green apple, honey and buttered toast flavors, but the sweetness is balanced with crisp, citrusy acidity and a nice cut of minerality.

87

22

California

Chardonnay

82,440

US

Young vines, the first release from estate-grown fruit. The vanilla flavors of the barrels are front and center at the moment, though there are darker fruits in the background, along with smoke, licorice and a hint of tar. Good long-term potential.

86

34

Oregon

Petite Sirah

12,682

US

Sugary sweet in berry-cherry fruit, with a cut of acidity that doesn't feel natural. An awkward wine, but passable.

82

12

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

5,167

US

Not very Chardonnay-like, more like a Viognier or Pinot Gris with its aromatic floral, tropical fruit, citrus, melon and spice aromas and flavors. Still, it's very tasty, and dry as well, with a crisp spine of minerally acidity.

87

28

California

Chardonnay

82,575

US

Fruit from Seven Hills, Los Oidos, and Les Collines make up the majority of this wine. Aromas of baking spice and jammy raspberry notes are at the fore. The red-fruit flavors are full bodied and intense, trailing a bit on the finish. There are a lot of good things going on here but they don't all entirely come together.

88

40

Washington

Syrah

126,743

Italy

Hats off to the Mazzei brothers for crafting this rich, pleasurable wine that mirrors the sunny warmth and softness of the region. The unusual blend is Sangiovese and Alicante, and it's redolent of lively red cherries, tobacco and chocolate fudge.

90

19

Tuscany

Red Blend

56,980

US

Smooth and palate-coating, it's 100% varietal, with just the right balance between blackberry and black cherry fruit, and barrel-induced flavors of toffee, toasted macadamia nuts, and café crème.

91

28

Washington

Merlot

111,120

Italy

Produced with Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Mammolo, this opens with subtle aromas of turned soil, ripe plum and dark cooking spice. The palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, coffee, oak and a leathery note accompanied by solid tannins.

88

28

Tuscany

Red Blend

7,684

US

From a dark bottle, this salmon-colored rosé is medium-bodied and made in a bigger style than many others. Fully textured, it discloses flavorful touches of crunchy pear and cranberry. It would go well with a goat cheese salad adorned in dried cranberries and cherries.

90

25

California

Pinot Noir

82,163

US

This wine's peppery details act as counterpoint to its well-defined raspberry and cherry flavors. Streaks of toast and graphite add to the layers, suggesting further complexity will develop with another year or two in bottle.

91

62

Oregon

Pinot Noir

116,134

France

This is an unfocused wine with fruit flavors that miss the mark. Only the juicy aftertaste is attractive.

82

12

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

75,064

Portugal

Just fruit, this young wine shows attractive blackberry flavors and soft tannins. It's ripe and juicy, fresh while also rich. Drink now.

85

12

Douro

Portuguese Red

10,344

Italy

Morellino is a terrific red wine that is particularly food-friendly, easy-to-drink and delicious. This producer makes one of the best expressions available, characterized by bright blueberry, cherry and pulpy red fruit.

90

30

Tuscany

Sangiovese

107,456

US

Light raspberry-sorbet notes meet with fresh fennel fronds, pepper and cinnamon on the nose of this bottling from Chad Melville and family. It's tight and tart on the palate, with dried cranberry, pine needle and eucalyptus flavors that juxtapose with the more fruit-driven nose.

94

36

California

Pinot Noir

30,546

Argentina

Rooty, spicy aromas of black plum are more complex than those of your average Malbec. In the mouth, this shows a heavy, almost reduced mouthfeel that could use more spring. Dark, heavily toasted baked-plum flavors finish peppery and brooding, but without much texture or presence. Drink soon.

88

20

Mendoza Province

Malbec

75,585

US

This is clearly aimed at consumers who seek maximum power, aggressive tannins and the dark end of the flavor spectrum. Though down a bit from the 15.5% alcohol in 2012, it's still substantial. Dry roasted dark fruits are covered in brawnier flavors of coffee grounds, chocolate and graphite. Tannins are granular and carry some heat through the finish.

88

35

Oregon

Pinot Noir

73,624

US

Ripe, tannic and leathery (in a good sense), this brings concentrated flavors of cherry compôte, Campari and baking spices. It's aromatic and mouthfilling, and delivers ample pleasure.

92

75

Oregon

Pinot Noir

26,434

US

This wine pulls everything together for great enjoyment: vivid, fresh fruit aromas and a dash of oak spice, deep and layered fruit flavors like ripe but tangy black cherries, and a powerful but soothing texture that carries along all those flavor impressions through a long finish. Best now through 2020.

94

68

California

Pinot Noir

2,948

US

This vineyard has proven it can ripen good Malbec, but here it seems as if something has gone sideways. There is a gluey scent underneath the blackberry fruit, and the wine seems chalky and disjointed in the mouth, with more of the band-aid flavors in the finish.

83

26

Washington

Malbec

116,259

US

This wine is aromatically reticent with cocoa, berry, brown spices and light volatile notes. The palate is medium bodied with a thick feel and cranberry-like tartness.

85

45

Washington

Syrah

36,124

US

From a promising winery in the Morgan Hill area south of San Jose, this blend of 48% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 2% Carignane and 2% Petite Sirah shows deep, dark but not juicy black plum, condensed coffee and game aromas. There's firm structure to the palate, which is dense yet dry with elderberry, dark chocolate and violet flavors.

89

45

California

Rhône-style Red Blend

26,251

Italy

Marco Felluga's Mongris Riserva Pinot Grigio is a sophisticated and complex white wine that has been enhanced by creamy oak tones. Aromas here include dried apricot, toasted almond, vanilla and baked bread. The wine's texture is rich, dense and very satisfying. Pair this wine with lobster or crab.

90

30

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

40,668

US

This blend of 57% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon shows black plums, roasted figs, cinnamon stick, uncrushed clove and star anise on the nose. That great nose doesn't translate yet to the palate, which is sticky with dark plum skin tannins, and proves a bit too leathery for drinking right now. Wait awhile and this one might work better.

85

19

California

Red Blend

6,011

US

This impressive wine is succulent in delicious berry flavor that's been dipped in smoky leather. Supple firm tannin adds structure and strength, as a length of spice and tobacco plays palatable games on the finish.

90

24

California

Zinfandel

90,763

US

Incredibly rich blackberry-jam aromas meet with licorice, smoked beef and black rocks on the continually evolving and dynamic nose of this bottling from Paso Robles' west side. It's rich, juicy and expertly structured on the palate, where blackberry fruit meets with pencil-lead minerality and light espresso flavors. The tannic grip is solid and the acidity is strong, ensuring long ageability.

93

42

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

108,327

US

This is a full-bodied, unctuous white with a wealth of wood influence. It tempers in the glass into a mix of melon, stone fruit and vanilla.

87

26

California

Sauvignon Blanc

80,603

Portugal

This is a solid and structured wine that is rich and full on the palate. With ripe tannins and black plum flavors, it is dense, packed with big, bold flavors and a velvety texture that is looking towards a long future. Drink from 2017.

92

20

Douro

Portuguese Red

69,938

US

A good, classic California Zin, dry, medium-bodied and briary, filled with spicy tobacco, wild cherry and pepper flavors. It's a lot of fun, at a great price. Perfect with barbecue, beef stew, beef tacos, roast pork, chicken cacciatore.

86

11

California

Zinfandel

24,781

France

Produced from the Clos Mireille, within sight of the Mediterranean, this fresh-faced wine shows peach and citrus flavors rounded by ripeness, although with an attractive tangy aftertaste.

90

40

Provence

White Blend

123,894

Portugal

From a selection of different parcels near the Torto and Pinhão rivers, this is a beautifully ripe and fruity wine. With some firm tannins and a tight texture it shows plenty of the schist terroir of the Douro. Over that there are layers of rich dark fruits that are balanced with acidity. Drink the wine now.

91

27

Douro

Portuguese Red

104,719

US

Hard and tannic at first, this young wine grudgingly reveals a core of very tart cherry fruit, encased in flavors of stem and wood. A coffee-infused finish does not conceal the chewy, tough tannins.

86

24

Washington

Merlot

99,857

US

That friendly, familiar, cedar and cinnamon aroma that comes from oak barrels jumps out of the glass when sipping this full-bodied and deep-colored wine. It has gripping tannins that dry the mouth but will work well with pork, beef and lamb. And it blends in enough ripe fruit flavor for good balance. Best now through 2018.

89

40

California

Petite Sirah

106,128

Italy

You'll find aromas of red-skinned berry, aromatic herb and a whiff of exotic spice on this youthful red. Made to be enjoyed young, the palate offers sour cherry, unripe raspberry, sage and a hint of anise alongside racy acidity.

87

31

Tuscany

Sangiovese

98,780

US

Tastes a bit sweet and obvious now, with chocolate-covered cherry, blackberry jam, gingerbread cookie and smoke flavors. But it's pretty tannic, and well-balanced in acidity, so could develop bottle complexity down the road. Try after 2010.

87

25

California

Syrah

97,826

US

A rustic red blend, with tobacco, herb, cherry and red currant flavors that finish dry and spicy. Useful as a bistro-style wine.

84

16

California

Red Blend

47,512

Germany

Dark, almost russet in color, this is an eiswein that's definitely out of the ordinary, with notes of fusty library, walnut, dried apricots and figs that come across as a bit syrupy in texture. It seems a bit advanced compared to other eisweins, but it will likely remain at this plateau for decades.

93

316

Mosel

Riesling

72,224

Italy

Parafada offers a bouquet of prickly fruit such as wild berry, bramble and underbrush. You'll also recognize pretty tones of white truffle, moist earth, new leather and coffee. The wine is bright but still raw in the mouth and ends with mineral notes, a blast of menthol and an interesting powdery texture.

91

100

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

87,285

Germany

Intense note of caramel and smoke add complexity to fresh apple and tangerine flavors in this dry, mineral-rich wine. It's delicate in alcohol, yet remarkably round and clingy on the palate, cut by a stream of high-toned acidity on the finish.

92

55

Mosel

Riesling

124,541

US

Classic Gewürztraminer from start to finish, this luxuriously off-dry sipper bursts with heady rose petal and ripe, rich lychee notes. Zesty and bright with acidity, the finish is marked by delicious hints of lanolin and lime zest.

89

15

New York

Gewürztraminer

53,971

Argentina

Floral blueberry and plum aromas are not normal for Mendoza Malbec but are instead exotic, with notes of cumin and cardamom. This is punchy on the palate, with crisp, almost sharp acidity. Plum and berry flavors are peppery and racy, then tight as a drum on the finish. Drink this alert Malbec from Tupungato through 2022.

90

20

Mendoza Province

Malbec

13,118

US

This full-bodied wine smells like black currants and blackberries, tastes ripe, and is lightly tannic to give it a little grip. Bring on the beef or pork tenderloin.

89

15

California

Red Blend

11,473

US

Big, rich and dense, this Pinot Noir shows massive, in-your-face flavors of oak, raspberry-cherry jam and chocolate. You can give this a few years of aging or try decanting, but it seems best enjoyed soon for its sheer youthful power.

87

50

California

Pinot Noir

118,461

Italy

This opens with aromas of oak, espresso, mocha and plum. The firm palate offers oak extract, chocolate, licorice and black cherry alongside drying wood tannins.

89

93

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

69,208

France

With plenty of new wood, the wine has a velvet character, smooth and round. Only gradually does a plum skin, bitter chocolate element come in, giving structure and weight. This is a wine that should age well.

93

55

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

64,976

US

Almost completely transparent, this wine is lightly fruity and perfectly pleasant; there's just not much to it. Traces of apple, pear and white melon come up, quickly running into a short, thin finish.

85

17

Oregon

Pinot Gris

78,497

Spain

This is a modern Tempranillo with big berry fruit aromas offset by baking spice scents and earthiness. The palate feels bold and punchy, with round but present tannins and ripe flavors of baked blackberry, chocolate and mild spice. Drink this friendly, fruity, elevated wine through 2016.

89

20

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

112,844

France

A high proportion (65%) of Cabernet Sauvignon has given this wine a structured character. It's also brought out black-currant flavors that are allied to juicy acidity. The wood-aging was almost too much, giving the wine a bitter edge that needs to soften. Drink from 2018.

86

25

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

17,850

US

This is the first wine from this new winery. Clean, light berry fruit is the whole show, and it's a forward, fruity Zin with friendly, simple flavors.

85

22

California

Zinfandel

8,743

US

100% varietal with the majority of the fruit coming from Weinbau Vineyard, it brings notes of plum, whole green pepper and coffee. The palate lies on the lighter side of medium bodied, fleshing out with some time open, with a lovely texture but with some grit to the tannins. Perhaps some additional time in the bottle with smooth it out.

89

30

Washington

Cabernet Franc

104,194

US

Big, rich, and dramatic are just a few words that describe this 100% Cabernet grown on the low-yielding estate vineyard in Coombsville. It's lush with black currants, yet bracing in tannins, with a minerality that makes it feel firm and grounded. The barrels are 100% new French oak, lending a savory level of char and vanilla. This is clearly a wine to cellar for a long time. Start enjoying it in 2018, and it is likely to develop bottle complexity throughout the 2020s.

95

165

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

51,479

Australia

This is a smooth-textured, medium- to full-bodied wine loaded with scents of cedar and spice. Red berry fruit emerges on the palate and lingers alongside the cedar notes on the long finish. Drink now–2020.

91

49

South Australia

Grenache

47,396

US

A whiff of volatility distracts a bit from an otherwise enjoyable wine that has notes of butterscotch, tapioca and spice. The palate is medium bodied with sweet tropical fruit flavors. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

87

29

Oregon

Chardonnay

74,364

US

Here's a dry, somewhat brawny wine that has some charm. It's filled with briary, peppery flavors, with fruits suggesting blackberries and cassis. Good value in an inexpensive steak and chops wine.

84

12

California

Syrah

41,465

France

In the same family since 1835, this estate in Pouilly-Fuissé also makes wines in other surrounding appellations. This wine, with its soft and full white fruit, gentle structure and just enough acidity, is developing fast and will be ready from late 2016.

86

15

Burgundy

Chardonnay

108,370

France

Ripe and juicy, this is perfumed, full of red berry flavor and attractively soft tannins. The wine feels broad and rich, ready to drink from 2015.

86

20

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

39,801

US

So ripe and rich in fruit, you won't even notice the absence of oak. The grapes come mostly from Lodi, with a touch of Monterey. Brightened with crisp acidity, the flavors are of spicy, zesty tangerines and vanilla.

87

8

California

Chardonnay

58,921

Spain

Easy berry and plum aromas come across clean and pure. This has a staunch mouthfeel with rubbery, pinching tannins. Earthy, ripe berry and plum flavors turn even riper on the back palate and finish, which lingers in a solid state.

88

15

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

120,649

US

Dry and grassy, this Sauvignon Blanc has citrus, fig and spice flavors, brightened with crisp acidity. There's a lot of that gooseberry, feline thing.

86

28

California

Sauvignon Blanc

78,740

France

The small 11-acre estate is situated at the northern end of the Margaux appellation. This wine, with its high percentage (70%) of Merlot is richly fruity with generous tannins and brilliant, ripe blackberry flavors. It has just the right amount of structure to allow it to age. Drink from 2021.

92

35

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend