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
32,870	US	A nice Pinot, showing real complexity. Dry and medium-bodied, the wine's acidity is brisk, and highlights flavors of cherries, red currants, pomegranates, cola, Chinese five-spice and Provençal herbs. Might develop for a few years, although it's hard to predict, since it's a new brand.	89	45	California	Pinot Noir
82,513	Germany	A whiff of lemongrass lends freshness to this brisk, citrusy Kabinett. It's not a complex wine but feels pleasantly zesty with subdued grapefruit sweetness. An ideal apéritif for drinking now through 2020.	87	11	Mosel	Riesling
88,112	US	This wine is a big one, going all out to make friends. New-oak aromas like clove, cedar and cinnamon explode out of the glass, then flavors of dark chocolate and cherry spread across the palate for a generous—almost thick—impression. Fine layers of tannins and firm acidity blanket the texture.	90	16	California	Syrah
28,262	Spain	This opens softly, with murky aromas of tomato and prune. It feels heavy and dense, with big tannins and mild acidity. The flavors of prune, mocha, fudge and stewed berry are rich and weighty. This is dense and ripe, a touch flat.	87	18	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
31,821	France	The wine has fine, juicy fruit over smooth tannins. Its smoky flavors, touches of wood aging and rich tannic structure are integrating well. It will be ready to drink from 2020.	90	17	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
33,674	Spain	Spicy plum and berry aromas are slightly earthy and on the money. This feels full and plump, but well balanced. Spicy dry plum and berry flavors are limited but focused, while this offers a vanilla note on a finish that fades out slow and easy. Drink through 2019.	90	32	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
117,606	Italy	Pressed blue flower, ripe dark-skinned berry, forest floor and baking spice aromas emerge on this big, bold red. The full-bodied palate delivers dried black cherry, ground pepper, anise and mocha alongside ripe, velvety tannins. It's warm but has enough fruit to support the hefty alcohol. Drink 2018–2025.	94	85	Tuscany	Sangiovese
85,136	Italy	Riserva Rancia opens with elegant hues of garnet and dark ruby and offers sophisticated notes of old spice, cured leather and dried currant berries. It achieves elegance, harmony and delivers pristine and persistent flavors that would marry red meat, pork or lamb.	92	35	Tuscany	Sangiovese
114,277	Italy	This wine definitely shows a ripe side in its cured meat, tobacco, sandalwood, smoked bacon and old spice. Delivers a rich, plump feel in the mouth, backed by gritty tannins and bright acidity. Despite the cooler vintage, this wine packs power, heat and a tiny touch of sweetness on the close.	91	79	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
129,910	Germany	Sun-kissed nectarine, tangerine and grapefruit flavors abound in this exceptionally light-footed Riesling. Off-dry in style, it's juicy and forward yet spine-tingling and racy. The finish is pristine, dry and intensely mineral.	91	28	Mosel	Riesling
103,104	US	Jolly Rancher-red in color, there's high-toned grapefruit and watermelon in this Rosé. Layers of tropical juiciness on the back of the tongue and a nice finish make this a refreshing wine before, during or after dinner.	87	24	California	Pinot Noir
54,185	US	This tight, focused wine offers strawberry and raspberry fruit, aged in one-third new French oak. The oak is barely evident, but the fruit-centric wine shows good structure and medium concentration.	90	70	Oregon	Pinot Noir
36,971	US	Bold and ripe, this tastes almost sweet due to the aroma and flavor of cherries and vanilla. It is full-bodied, fat in texture and carries heat on the finish. It matured in 40% new oak barrels.	88	31	California	Zinfandel
44,692	US	Delicious in flavor, with fresh, ripe blackberry and cherry flavors, while the oak overlay adds richer layers of sweet caramel and buttered cinnamon toast. A crisp spine of citrusy acidity adds brightness. An appealing Merlot for drinking now.	89	60	California	Merlot
71,351	Argentina	This smells rubbery, with oaky spice, but airing allows it to expand across a lively palate. Herbal, spicy red-berry flavors are strongest in the midpalate, while peppery flavors, rubbery tannins and scratchiness define the finish.	87	17	Mendoza Province	Malbec
9,889	Italy	Subtle aromas of wild flower and white stone fruit set the tone on this bright sparkler. On the fresh creamy palate, green apple, white peach and a note of candied nectarine zest reign.	88	40	Veneto	Glera
116,157	France	Funky notions of yeast still cloud the nose. The palate gives us tense, concentrated lemon and tangerine zest at first but you feel that there is more strength, almost raw force, at the core of this that still needs to develop and work out its balance. This is a big wine, energetic and dry, intense and generous but not yet fully fledged. Drinking it now would rob it of its as of yet untapped essence. For now it is lemon purity that holds sway but there will be so much more. Cellar from 2022–2035, at least.	95	80	Alsace	Riesling
62,192	US	Earthy cranberry, black tea and spicy clove deliver a combination of savory and herb, the tannins of the wine soft and subtle. The finish is lean.	86	40	California	Pinot Noir
48,116	US	Subtle lemon and apple on the nose belie the intense peachiness that awaits on the palate of this fruity dry Riesling. It's a shade rounder and richer on the palate than most Finger Lakes Rieslings from this vintage, but keenly balanced, finishing on a bracing lemon-lime note.	89	16	New York	Riesling
32,094	Germany	Pressed apple and pears seem to be dusted in pollen and saffron on the nose of this savory, spicy Riesling. It's off dry and delicate in style, but concentrated in lip smacking tangerine and lime flavors. Dusty, earthy tones persist through the moderately long finish.	89	26	Mosel	Riesling
77,438	US	Carefully made, but seems a bit dilute. Light and quite tart fruit flavors suggest rhubarb and cranberry; there are also hints of coffee grounds and smoke, though no new oak was used.	87	25	Oregon	Syrah
54,766	US	So sweet and strong in jammy blackberry fruit, this young Cabernet is hardly drinkable now. The vineyard is in the Oak Knoll District, and the wine shows the big tannins and fine acidity of this cooler part of Napa Valley. An obvious cellar candidate, it needs 6–8 years of bottle age to begin to mellow.	93	68	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
46,899	US	Minty earth tones frame this wine from a dramatic vineyard perched high amid the redwoods and shale soils of this mountainous region that impart forest underbrush, dried lilac and olallieberry aromas. The dark blackberry fruit flavors on the palate are enhanced by marjoram, dark clove, crushed fennel and Christmas spices.	94	60	California	Pinot Noir
57,235	US	Dried herb and wood spice aromas are followed by sappy black fruit flavors backed by a light squeeze of tannins. There's no mistaking the warm vintage it comes from.	90	30	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
36,896	France	This is a young and fruity Champagne, bursting with red fruits and the lightest of tannins. With its salmon-pink color, it is tangy and crisp, moving towards dry in its style. The aftertaste is fruity with a zing of acidity.	88	84	Champagne	Champagne Blend
89,114	US	If you can get past the acidity, which is pretty fierce, this is a fine, fresh Zinfandel. It's bone dry and rich in wild berries, currants, anise, thyme and black pepper. The tannins are dense, and need rich meats and cheeses.	87	27	California	Zinfandel
49,525	France	This women-owned château above Cadillac produced a crisp wine, tight and nervy. With lively acidity, it focuses on the citrus side of life, finishing with a mineral edge. It will drink best from the end of 2017.	87	12	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
126,954	US	Sweet and simple, with strong, honeyed flavors of pineapples, peaches, green apples, vanilla and buttered popcorn. Crisp, coastal acidity fortunately provides balance.	84	12	California	Chardonnay
56,898	US	With no new oak, La Sereinité is indeed serene, textured and round with vibrant acidity. The aromatics do the talking first, inviting one in with nuanced white peach, orange blossom and lime before the palate develops over time into richer, fuller flavors of crème brûlée. Throughout, the wine is balanced and expressive.	92	70	California	Chardonnay
75,376	France	With toasty wood-aging flavors, this is a rich, spicy wine. It has a note of nutmeg to balance the citrus- and apricot-like acidity and the ripe depth of flavor.	87	24	Burgundy	Chardonnay
59,520	France	This is a hugely rich wine with great black-plum fruit flavors. It's powerfully concentrated, densely tannic, solid and chunky.	93	135	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
46,337	US	Light, clear and aromatically reminiscent of pine, this smooth, soft wine offers spicy acidity around integrated tannins and oak, finishing with a length of cinnamon.	88	28	California	Pinot Noir
20,407	France	This is a concentrated wine, full of blackberry fruits with acidity and spice. The wood-aging character is balancing out well, giving structure without dominating the fruit. Drink from 2020. Grapes are vinified by variety and plot from the 60-acre vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%) and Petit Verdot (5%). The property was purchased by Jean-Christophe Mau in 2004.	89	50	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
6,120	Spain	Cedar and coconut aromas rest comfortably atop ripe black fruit scents. In the mouth this is juicy pure and well structured. Big chocolaty flavors of mixed black fruits show strong notes of charred wood and grilled meat on a toasty chocolaty finish. Drink through 2022.	92	41	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
96,650	US	This wine opens in a reduced way, with plenty of barrel influence apparent. It develops in the glass into a mix of chalky tannin and red and blue fruit, with accents of black licorice and white chocolate. Aged in new French, American and European oak, it has a tannic finish that should benefit with time. Drink now through 2021.	90	34	California	Petite Sirah
90,799	Italy	This wine reflects the difficulties of the 2009 vintage. It open with aromas of toasted oak and espresso that carry over to the palate along with restrained black berries, menthol and drying tannins. The fruit richness is already fading, giving this wine a lean, unbalanced character.	86	70	Tuscany	Sangiovese
24,988	Spain	Floral black-fruit aromas share space on the nose with olive and rubber notes. This Tempranillo feels rubbery and a touch collapsed, however its baked plum and jammy berry flavors are pleasing. Drink this easygoing wine now.	87	12	Catalonia	Tempranillo
70,849	Spain	Ripe, raisiny, lightly baked aromas set up a full palate with tomatoey acidity. Flavors of baked plum and cherry are backed by notes of mocha, tobacco, vanilla and herbs. A long, balanced, cedary finish helps this along. Drink now.	89	22	Northern Spain	Red Blend
110,534	Australia	Lime sherbet and wet-stone aromas are classic for the variety and region. This is a light- to medium-bodied wine, dry, with high acidity that drives it through a long, zesty finish. Drink it now with raw oysters or ceviche, or cellar it another five years to develop greater weight and complexity.	90	20	South Australia	Riesling
19,145	US	This is stunningly good single-vineyard wine. The fruit shows well-ripened apples and peaches all the way into pineapples and mangoes, offering up a cascade of flavors that tumble across the palate. Oak shadings are generous, but in balance. Displays a crispness and delicacy of acids more usually associated with cooler regions. Absolutely first class.	92	45	California	Chardonnay
62,939	Portugal	One of Portugal's priciest table wines, this vintage boasts cherry and plum aromas that just don't seem all that intense, followed by bright cherry flavors accented by modest cedar. The long finish is evidence of its quality, but it turns astringent and one wonders whether the fruit will outlast the tannins.	87	84	Douro	Portuguese Red
30,215	Italy	Compared to the 2007 vintage that awed and impressed, this 2008 Brunello seems slightly older than it really is. The aromas are already headed towards dried fruit, cured meat, crushed mineral and Band-Aid. The mouthfeel is freshly acidic and slightly textured. Drink now.	89	40	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
56,748	France	Any vintage Champagne from 2004 will still be young, and this is no exception. But with the fresh, light Deutz style, this is already offering delicious green plum and citrus flavors, supplemented by creamy acidity. The finish is soft, light, creamy.	90	69	Champagne	Champagne Blend
91,919	France	Situated to the north of the village of Listrac, this estate is one of several that carries the name Dupré. The wine is dominated by Merlot (60%). That explains the wine's high alcohol and lush character. It also shows signs of firm extraction that has left a tough dry core. It will soften, but it will not lose its overwhelming richness.	86	25	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
51,382	US	Too young for drinking now, or anytime soon for that matter. It's all primary blackberry and currant fruit, new oak and tannins. But there's a dramatic quality to the structure, a purity of parts that suggests the cellar. There are waves of licorice, mocha and buttered cinnamon toast, with everything vying for supremacy. Let all the elements battle it out for a good six years. This wine should age gracefully through 2015, at least.	94	125	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
18,113	US	Cold-fermented in stainless steel after being harvested at 31.4 degrees Brix, this Late-Harvest Riesling is ripe in apple and honey, with a sustained level of rich earth notes from the 134 g/L residual sugar. Crisp and light, it's balanced and ideal for after-dinner cheeses or poached pears.	89	30	California	Riesling
120,003	Portugal	The stately hillside line of cypress trees gives its name to this estate on the south bank of the Douro. This complex, rich and dark wine is densely textured. The tannins are still young, while the black berry fruits pack into the solid structure. This is a wine to age, so drink from 2018.	92	22	Douro	Portuguese Red
10,814	US	Dried fruit aromas of prune, fig and nearly raisin show on the nose of this red, which is enhanced by savory touches of salt, pepper and leather. There is a pleasant rustic quality to the sip, but a strong bitterness reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate, underripe plum skins and coffee grinds arises midpalate and doesn't dissipate.	85	72	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
82,901	Spain	This three-grape white blend starts with oily aromas and weight before finding some minerality and white-fruit notes. The palate has citrusy kick and zing to bolster green apple and orange flavors. The finish is wide, a touch clumsy and citrusy in flavor, with tang and lasting freshness.	85	14	Northern Spain	White Blend
34,118	US	Featuring the Wädenswil clone, this block selection carries a whiff of wintergreen and lavender. That minty lift elevates the palate's pretty cherry fruit. It's a harmonious wine, with perfectly proportioned acids and a faint truffle note as it fades gracefully.	93	60	Oregon	Pinot Noir
23,843	US	Rounded peach, cider apple, chalk and seltzer aromas mix with a touch of yeast on the nose of this bottling. There's a racy, tactile acidity on the palate, lending depth to its dried apple, pear and sea salt flavors.	88	23	California	Sauvignon Blanc
38,429	US	An attention-grabbing sense of umami introduces this wine, with darkly colored mushrooms, plum sauce, miso soup and black sage tickling the nose. There is dark chocolate with bits of espresso on the palate, which is leveled by plum skins and berry flesh, with bitter tar and black pepper on the finish.	93	65	California	Red Blend
113,570	US	Laetitia's best reserve ever. In a word, gorgeous. There's a soft silkiness, a caressingly smooth mouthfeel that just seduces the palate into submission. Then the deliciousness sinks in, all red currants, cherries, mocha, licorice, pepper and smoke, set off with fine acidity and tannins. So compulsively drinkable, you can't keep your hands off it. Best now through 2010.	95	40	California	Pinot Noir
106,749	US	Peach and faint berry flavors in a light, crisp rosé with just a hint of residual sugar. A versatile picnic wine that's a cheerful copper hue to boot.	83	11	New York	Rosé
14,075	US	Sweet and simple. Tastes like a supermarket fruit juice blend of mango, peach and orange.	82	11	California	Viognier
94,455	Italy	Juicy black cherry, tobacco, leather, underbrush, licorice, menthol, mint and balsamic notes all come together on this powerfully structured wine. The succulent, ripe fruit is supported by a solid tannic backbone. It's already delicious but it's still compact and brooding so give it time to unwind. Drink after 2020–2040.	95	130	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
30,508	France	Honeyed, tropical fruit aromas are showing strongly in this smooth, lightly toasty dry wine. Rich and rounded, it shows both the fresh fruit of the vintage and also the concentration of the white wines. It should be aged, but can be drunk now. Drink until 2020.	90	45	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
40,282	US	Ferguson is L'Ecole's newest estate vineyard, and this Bordeaux-style blend marks its single-vineyard debut. It's 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, grown at 1,500 feet in almost pure basalt. The minerality is a signature trait, along with raspberry, cassis and wild cherry fruit flavors. This seems sure to improve by 2020–2022.	92	60	Washington	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
59,099	US	Hard tannins and a brooding toughness mask the fruit on this wine, hiding the black cherry and currant under a cloak of dry astringency. However, it seems to have all the pieces in place to age gracefully. Should be fine by 2018–2020.	92	60	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
5,864	US	From coastal hills near Jenner, this is true Sonoma Coast fruit, and it shows in its cool-climate embrace of red fruit and white pepper. Leather saddle marks the personality of the texture and soft acidity keeps it full-bodied and relatively dense.	88	27	California	Syrah
101,204	France	Impressively ripe and dense, with maple syrup and citrus characters giving a delicious, full wine. Kiwi and green plum dominate the fruit, while the concentrated underlying structure gives a soft cushion of richness.	86	34	Burgundy	Chardonnay
57,198	Spain	Leathery, baked aromas of earthy berry fruits and coffee grinds take time to unwind. This feels solid and tight due to potent acidity, while the flavors lean in the direction of stewed prune and berry. On the finish, flavors of chocolate, cherry and cassis are integrated.	90	36	Northern Spain	Tempranillo Blend
89,826	US	Doug Margerum makes this traditional Chianti-like blend for a couple who owns the vineyard, and they must delight in the raspberry extract and graphite notes that show on the nose. Better still is the palate, with light and tight strawberry, a touch of cedar and an intriguing mix of light density yet grippy tannins that will shine even brighter in years to come. Drink 2018–2025.	92	60	California	Sangiovese
118,511	US	Here's a fresh, delicious Syrah for drinking now. It's lush and smooth in black raspberry and cherry purée, fennel, beef jerky and black pepper flavors, backed up with a juicy hit of acidity.	87	10	California	Syrah
65,298	US	A combination of 76% Zinfandel and 24% Petite Sirah, this vineyard's lineage traces back in stages. The core six acres of Zinfandel was planted before 1892, the other acreage much more recently. Still, the wine retains an old soul of leather, tobacco and baking spice, wrapped around a ham-fisted swath of toasted oak.	88	35	California	Zinfandel
121,707	France	From one of the top Beaune premier crus, this wine is structured and dense with tannins and with wood aging. At the same time, it has the rich fruitiness of the year, broad red berries and plums. They provide the delicious potential of this fine wine. Drink from 2022.	93	56	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
47,562	US	This bottling is an ode to Bill Foley's Texas roots. It shows dried strawberry, rich olallieberry, baked cherry, black-cardamom cream and plum cookies on the deliciously spiced, fruit-forward nose. The palate is refreshing and fresh, with black raspberry and black-pepper flavors.	88	55	California	Pinot Noir
55,484	Italy	This wine isn't very expressive, with alcohol dominating both the nose and the palate. It reveals some licorice notes on the palate, along with decent acidity, but no fruit richness.	84	35	Veneto	Red Blend
102,980	France	Celebrating 500 years since the Mellot family started in Sancerre, this wine is a blend from some of the best parcels in the domaine. It is rich and intensely fruity, showing herbal, spice and juicy apple and pear flavors. These are sustained by the nervy, steely edge that will give this wine the chance to age. Drink from 2018.	93	90	Loire Valley	Sauvignon Blanc
10,068	US	This blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot into a tightly woven package of red fruit, soft tannin and robust concentration. Full bodied, it shows the warmth and distinct power of the vintage.	88	50	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
96,479	France	A caramel aroma sets the scene for a ripe, smooth wine. It has ripe red fruits that have a nutty, toasty character that balances with the crisp acidity and tight texture. Drink now.	85	20	Loire Valley	Rosé
79,582	US	This is overoaked, with buttered toast, caramel and sweet vanilla flavors dominating everything else. Buried beneath the oak are crisp flavors of pineapples and oranges.	84	25	California	Chardonnay
37,631	US	A two-vintage blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the Deep River Red has a roasted character that's dark and flavorful, with notes of cassis, coffee and cacao. It's full bodied and dense, with notes of graphite and pepper.	88	29	Washington	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
37,343	France	This is a warm wine with a rounded feel, making it soft and full of red fruits. It features strawberry sweetness as well as a tighter, more tannic character. It could well age, so wait until 2016.	90	27	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
124,359	Italy	Iris, rose, leather and dark berry aromas lift out of the glass while the dense, straightforward palate offers licorice, dried black cherry, herb and a hint of espresso. Robust but polished tannins provide the framework.	88	40	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
80,540	US	Rich and dazzling, this has a chocolate-covered cherry flavor, complexed with notes of anise, wild mushrooms, bacon and smoky sandalwood. It feels soft and velvety all the way through. Drink it now.	92	36	California	Syrah
12,829	Italy	Menthol, worn leather, moist earth, black plum and a whiff of Oriental spice aromas lift out of the glass. The taut, rather lean palate shows raw cherry, orange zest, mocha and white pepper alongside austere, fine-grained tannins and nervous acidity.	88	29	Tuscany	Red Blend
28,275	US	This blend remains severely tannic, but it's also very ripe, with flavors of baked cherries, blackberries and prunes. It's a big, deep, dark, brooding wine that's probably at its best now.	87	42	California	Red Blend
57,230	France	This is an opulent, ripe wine that is full of black fruits and firm tannins. It is dense and concentrated with layers of juicy fruit piled over a drier core. It's a full-bodied wine that's still going to develop. Drink now or wait until 2017.	90	22	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
61,469	Spain	This is one of the most inky, concentrated, fiercely tannic vintages of Alion to date. Aromas of granite, boysenberry and grilled meat feed into a biting, full-bodied palate that can only benefit from more time. Blackberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors finish with mocha notes and stocky, rugged tannins. This is fierce and unrefined now; drink from 2018 through 2027.	90	95	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
73,497	France	Gently perfumed hints of ripe pear almost seem to have a floral dimension. On the palate the mellow, generous and totally ripe pear fruit unfolds fully and gives glimpses of very juicy ripe, dried and baked fruit. All of this richness is countered by lemony freshness. There is an earthy textural element, and more shimmering fruit reminiscent of bottled mirabelle plums. This is generous and just off dry, with a concentrated, convincing and very moreish balanced richness.	94	37	Alsace	Pinot Gris
55,382	France	Made from 65- to 80-year-old vines, this wine offers wood spice as well as apple and citrus fruit flavors. An underlying richness balances the acidity and crisp texture. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2017.	88	40	Burgundy	Chardonnay
96,503	US	This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon is softened by 19% Merlot, providing a sanguine experience marred by ponderously huge tannins that make the fruit almost impenetrable. Once pierced, expect currant, cedar and leather.	84	35	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
5,846	US	This wine is a blend of 52% Syrah, 26% Mourvèdre and 22% Grenache. Aromas of black licorice, herb, barrel spice and cassis are out front. The palate is chock-full of black fruit flavors that bring a dry, lightly astringent feel.	88	45	Washington	Rhône-style Red Blend
88,303	US	Very Beaujolais-like, and still showing a bit of spritz in the mouthfeel, this offers pretty cherry fruit in a fun, forward, clean and simple style. Note the low alcohol.	86	20	Oregon	Pinot Noir
16,142	Italy	Despite the difficult vintage, this is a fantastic wine. It opens with bright, bold aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry, tobacco, cedar, licorice and dried rosemary. There's a pleasurable touch of chocolate fudge that backs the smooth, rich tannins. This wine should last long in your cellar.	93	86	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
15,177	US	A very nice Pinot Noir that's dry and silky, with satisfying cherry, cola, oak and spice flavors. Not one to age, but fine for drinking now, and easily as good as many Pinots costing more.	87	19	California	Pinot Noir
53,807	Italy	Oak and oak driven spice dominate the nose and carry over to the palate along with butterscotch, coffee and buttered herb. Tightly tannic, it lacks fruit richness and has an astringent finish.	86	55	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
93,244	US	Made in a super Tuscan style, this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is lush and lovely. Lightly floral aromatics introduce notes of berry, plum and a whiff of leather. It xcellent balance and structure, with soft, yielding tannins. It was finished in 20% new oak.	90	35	Washington	Red Blend
80,119	US	Too oaky, with vanilla, smoky toothpick influences leading to sweet-and-sour pineapple flavors. This problem has plagued Kunde's reserve Chard for the last several vintages.	84	35	California	Chardonnay
32,286	US	Crisp and balanced in bright acidity and apple skin, this also offers subtle toasted oak and caramel, the best of both worlds, exuberant and elegant at the same time. Enjoy now or cellar until 2020.	93	38	California	Chardonnay
26,920	US	With an off-putting orange color, this Rhône-style blend seems sweet, with orange, apricot and vanilla flavors.	82	16	California	Rosé
1,033	US	Sea salt, Bosc pear, apple cider, squeezed lemon and shreds of vanilla frame a leaner nose on this wine from mid-Monterey County. The cider element carries to the rather pungent palate, proving quite high-toned and acidic with some minerality, grapefruit peel grip and long-lasting vibrancy on the finish.	88	22	California	Chardonnay
83,146	US	Vineyard-designated Grenache is a rarity in the Northwest. This one is all about subtlety and elegance of expression, with aromas of candied raspberry, thyme, spice and wildflowers leading to a textured, pillowy palate that possesses an ethereal lightness and great length.	91	55	Oregon	Grenache
40,810	Spain	Soft, baked aromas of rooty, dark-berry fruits are easier going than the wine's high-toned, acid-driven palate. Flavors of vanilla, coconut, tobacco, prune and spiced berry fruits finish with length and structure along with tobacco and nutmeg accents. Drink through 2020.	90	43	Northern Spain	Tempranillo Blend
9,124	France	This complex, spicy and fruity wine is big, with attractive acidity. It is piled with berry fruits that give a rich character. The fruits are supported by well-judged wood. This full-bodied wine will develop well; drink from 2017.	90	14	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
113,013	US	Dry, restrained and a bit mouthpuckering with tannins and acidity, this needs to pair with antipasti like Italian salumi. Its lean texture and tart cherry and cranberry flavors do make it appetizing and help it stand out from the crowd of simply ripe California reds.	86	18	California	Sangiovese
123,457	US	Barely ripe, with a pungent, ammonia edge to the citrus fruits. It's very dry and crisp in acidity.	82	12	California	Sauvignon Blanc
118,598	US	Here's a big, bold, lip-smacking Zin from Napa Valley. It shows ripe berry, cola, pepper, licorice and cocoa flavors, and is full-bodied and drily tannic. Great with pizza, enchiladas or Swedish meatballs.	86	14	California	Zinfandel
35,289	US	Not terribly complicated, but it offers plenty of everyday pleasure, with its array of cherry, plum, oak and spice flavors.	84	12	California	Merlot

32,870

US

A nice Pinot, showing real complexity. Dry and medium-bodied, the wine's acidity is brisk, and highlights flavors of cherries, red currants, pomegranates, cola, Chinese five-spice and Provençal herbs. Might develop for a few years, although it's hard to predict, since it's a new brand.

89

45

California

Pinot Noir

82,513

Germany

A whiff of lemongrass lends freshness to this brisk, citrusy Kabinett. It's not a complex wine but feels pleasantly zesty with subdued grapefruit sweetness. An ideal apéritif for drinking now through 2020.

87

11

Mosel

Riesling

88,112

US

This wine is a big one, going all out to make friends. New-oak aromas like clove, cedar and cinnamon explode out of the glass, then flavors of dark chocolate and cherry spread across the palate for a generous—almost thick—impression. Fine layers of tannins and firm acidity blanket the texture.

90

16

California

Syrah

28,262

Spain

This opens softly, with murky aromas of tomato and prune. It feels heavy and dense, with big tannins and mild acidity. The flavors of prune, mocha, fudge and stewed berry are rich and weighty. This is dense and ripe, a touch flat.

87

18

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

31,821

France

The wine has fine, juicy fruit over smooth tannins. Its smoky flavors, touches of wood aging and rich tannic structure are integrating well. It will be ready to drink from 2020.

90

17

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

33,674

Spain

Spicy plum and berry aromas are slightly earthy and on the money. This feels full and plump, but well balanced. Spicy dry plum and berry flavors are limited but focused, while this offers a vanilla note on a finish that fades out slow and easy. Drink through 2019.

90

32

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

117,606

Italy

Pressed blue flower, ripe dark-skinned berry, forest floor and baking spice aromas emerge on this big, bold red. The full-bodied palate delivers dried black cherry, ground pepper, anise and mocha alongside ripe, velvety tannins. It's warm but has enough fruit to support the hefty alcohol. Drink 2018–2025.

94

85

Tuscany

Sangiovese

85,136

Italy

Riserva Rancia opens with elegant hues of garnet and dark ruby and offers sophisticated notes of old spice, cured leather and dried currant berries. It achieves elegance, harmony and delivers pristine and persistent flavors that would marry red meat, pork or lamb.

92

35

Tuscany

Sangiovese

114,277

Italy

This wine definitely shows a ripe side in its cured meat, tobacco, sandalwood, smoked bacon and old spice. Delivers a rich, plump feel in the mouth, backed by gritty tannins and bright acidity. Despite the cooler vintage, this wine packs power, heat and a tiny touch of sweetness on the close.

91

79

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

129,910

Germany

Sun-kissed nectarine, tangerine and grapefruit flavors abound in this exceptionally light-footed Riesling. Off-dry in style, it's juicy and forward yet spine-tingling and racy. The finish is pristine, dry and intensely mineral.

91

28

Mosel

Riesling

103,104

US

Jolly Rancher-red in color, there's high-toned grapefruit and watermelon in this Rosé. Layers of tropical juiciness on the back of the tongue and a nice finish make this a refreshing wine before, during or after dinner.

87

24

California

Pinot Noir

54,185

US

This tight, focused wine offers strawberry and raspberry fruit, aged in one-third new French oak. The oak is barely evident, but the fruit-centric wine shows good structure and medium concentration.

90

70

Oregon

Pinot Noir

36,971

US

Bold and ripe, this tastes almost sweet due to the aroma and flavor of cherries and vanilla. It is full-bodied, fat in texture and carries heat on the finish. It matured in 40% new oak barrels.

88

31

California

Zinfandel

44,692

US

Delicious in flavor, with fresh, ripe blackberry and cherry flavors, while the oak overlay adds richer layers of sweet caramel and buttered cinnamon toast. A crisp spine of citrusy acidity adds brightness. An appealing Merlot for drinking now.

89

60

California

Merlot

71,351

Argentina

This smells rubbery, with oaky spice, but airing allows it to expand across a lively palate. Herbal, spicy red-berry flavors are strongest in the midpalate, while peppery flavors, rubbery tannins and scratchiness define the finish.

87

17

Mendoza Province

Malbec

9,889

Italy

Subtle aromas of wild flower and white stone fruit set the tone on this bright sparkler. On the fresh creamy palate, green apple, white peach and a note of candied nectarine zest reign.

88

40

Veneto

Glera

116,157

France

Funky notions of yeast still cloud the nose. The palate gives us tense, concentrated lemon and tangerine zest at first but you feel that there is more strength, almost raw force, at the core of this that still needs to develop and work out its balance. This is a big wine, energetic and dry, intense and generous but not yet fully fledged. Drinking it now would rob it of its as of yet untapped essence. For now it is lemon purity that holds sway but there will be so much more. Cellar from 2022–2035, at least.

95

80

Alsace

Riesling

62,192

US

Earthy cranberry, black tea and spicy clove deliver a combination of savory and herb, the tannins of the wine soft and subtle. The finish is lean.

86

40

California

Pinot Noir

48,116

US

Subtle lemon and apple on the nose belie the intense peachiness that awaits on the palate of this fruity dry Riesling. It's a shade rounder and richer on the palate than most Finger Lakes Rieslings from this vintage, but keenly balanced, finishing on a bracing lemon-lime note.

89

16

New York

Riesling

32,094

Germany

Pressed apple and pears seem to be dusted in pollen and saffron on the nose of this savory, spicy Riesling. It's off dry and delicate in style, but concentrated in lip smacking tangerine and lime flavors. Dusty, earthy tones persist through the moderately long finish.

89

26

Mosel

Riesling

77,438

US

Carefully made, but seems a bit dilute. Light and quite tart fruit flavors suggest rhubarb and cranberry; there are also hints of coffee grounds and smoke, though no new oak was used.

87

25

Oregon

Syrah

54,766

US

So sweet and strong in jammy blackberry fruit, this young Cabernet is hardly drinkable now. The vineyard is in the Oak Knoll District, and the wine shows the big tannins and fine acidity of this cooler part of Napa Valley. An obvious cellar candidate, it needs 6–8 years of bottle age to begin to mellow.

93

68

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

46,899

US

Minty earth tones frame this wine from a dramatic vineyard perched high amid the redwoods and shale soils of this mountainous region that impart forest underbrush, dried lilac and olallieberry aromas. The dark blackberry fruit flavors on the palate are enhanced by marjoram, dark clove, crushed fennel and Christmas spices.

94

60

California

Pinot Noir

57,235

US

Dried herb and wood spice aromas are followed by sappy black fruit flavors backed by a light squeeze of tannins. There's no mistaking the warm vintage it comes from.

90

30

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

36,896

France

This is a young and fruity Champagne, bursting with red fruits and the lightest of tannins. With its salmon-pink color, it is tangy and crisp, moving towards dry in its style. The aftertaste is fruity with a zing of acidity.

88

84

Champagne

Champagne Blend

89,114

US

If you can get past the acidity, which is pretty fierce, this is a fine, fresh Zinfandel. It's bone dry and rich in wild berries, currants, anise, thyme and black pepper. The tannins are dense, and need rich meats and cheeses.

87

27

California

Zinfandel

49,525

France

This women-owned château above Cadillac produced a crisp wine, tight and nervy. With lively acidity, it focuses on the citrus side of life, finishing with a mineral edge. It will drink best from the end of 2017.

87

12

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

126,954

US

Sweet and simple, with strong, honeyed flavors of pineapples, peaches, green apples, vanilla and buttered popcorn. Crisp, coastal acidity fortunately provides balance.

84

12

California

Chardonnay

56,898

US

With no new oak, La Sereinité is indeed serene, textured and round with vibrant acidity. The aromatics do the talking first, inviting one in with nuanced white peach, orange blossom and lime before the palate develops over time into richer, fuller flavors of crème brûlée. Throughout, the wine is balanced and expressive.

92

70

California

Chardonnay

75,376

France

With toasty wood-aging flavors, this is a rich, spicy wine. It has a note of nutmeg to balance the citrus- and apricot-like acidity and the ripe depth of flavor.

87

24

Burgundy

Chardonnay

59,520

France

This is a hugely rich wine with great black-plum fruit flavors. It's powerfully concentrated, densely tannic, solid and chunky.

93

135

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

46,337

US

Light, clear and aromatically reminiscent of pine, this smooth, soft wine offers spicy acidity around integrated tannins and oak, finishing with a length of cinnamon.

88

28

California

Pinot Noir

20,407

France

This is a concentrated wine, full of blackberry fruits with acidity and spice. The wood-aging character is balancing out well, giving structure without dominating the fruit. Drink from 2020. Grapes are vinified by variety and plot from the 60-acre vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%) and Petit Verdot (5%). The property was purchased by Jean-Christophe Mau in 2004.

89

50

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

6,120

Spain

Cedar and coconut aromas rest comfortably atop ripe black fruit scents. In the mouth this is juicy pure and well structured. Big chocolaty flavors of mixed black fruits show strong notes of charred wood and grilled meat on a toasty chocolaty finish. Drink through 2022.

92

41

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

96,650

US

This wine opens in a reduced way, with plenty of barrel influence apparent. It develops in the glass into a mix of chalky tannin and red and blue fruit, with accents of black licorice and white chocolate. Aged in new French, American and European oak, it has a tannic finish that should benefit with time. Drink now through 2021.

90

34

California

Petite Sirah

90,799

Italy

This wine reflects the difficulties of the 2009 vintage. It open with aromas of toasted oak and espresso that carry over to the palate along with restrained black berries, menthol and drying tannins. The fruit richness is already fading, giving this wine a lean, unbalanced character.

86

70

Tuscany

Sangiovese

24,988

Spain

Floral black-fruit aromas share space on the nose with olive and rubber notes. This Tempranillo feels rubbery and a touch collapsed, however its baked plum and jammy berry flavors are pleasing. Drink this easygoing wine now.

87

12

Catalonia

Tempranillo

70,849

Spain

Ripe, raisiny, lightly baked aromas set up a full palate with tomatoey acidity. Flavors of baked plum and cherry are backed by notes of mocha, tobacco, vanilla and herbs. A long, balanced, cedary finish helps this along. Drink now.

89

22

Northern Spain

Red Blend

110,534

Australia

Lime sherbet and wet-stone aromas are classic for the variety and region. This is a light- to medium-bodied wine, dry, with high acidity that drives it through a long, zesty finish. Drink it now with raw oysters or ceviche, or cellar it another five years to develop greater weight and complexity.

90

20

South Australia

Riesling

19,145

US

This is stunningly good single-vineyard wine. The fruit shows well-ripened apples and peaches all the way into pineapples and mangoes, offering up a cascade of flavors that tumble across the palate. Oak shadings are generous, but in balance. Displays a crispness and delicacy of acids more usually associated with cooler regions. Absolutely first class.

92

45

California

Chardonnay

62,939

Portugal

One of Portugal's priciest table wines, this vintage boasts cherry and plum aromas that just don't seem all that intense, followed by bright cherry flavors accented by modest cedar. The long finish is evidence of its quality, but it turns astringent and one wonders whether the fruit will outlast the tannins.

87

84

Douro

Portuguese Red

30,215

Italy

Compared to the 2007 vintage that awed and impressed, this 2008 Brunello seems slightly older than it really is. The aromas are already headed towards dried fruit, cured meat, crushed mineral and Band-Aid. The mouthfeel is freshly acidic and slightly textured. Drink now.

89

40

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

56,748

France

Any vintage Champagne from 2004 will still be young, and this is no exception. But with the fresh, light Deutz style, this is already offering delicious green plum and citrus flavors, supplemented by creamy acidity. The finish is soft, light, creamy.

90

69

Champagne

Champagne Blend

91,919

France

Situated to the north of the village of Listrac, this estate is one of several that carries the name Dupré. The wine is dominated by Merlot (60%). That explains the wine's high alcohol and lush character. It also shows signs of firm extraction that has left a tough dry core. It will soften, but it will not lose its overwhelming richness.

86

25

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

51,382

US

Too young for drinking now, or anytime soon for that matter. It's all primary blackberry and currant fruit, new oak and tannins. But there's a dramatic quality to the structure, a purity of parts that suggests the cellar. There are waves of licorice, mocha and buttered cinnamon toast, with everything vying for supremacy. Let all the elements battle it out for a good six years. This wine should age gracefully through 2015, at least.

94

125

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

18,113

US

Cold-fermented in stainless steel after being harvested at 31.4 degrees Brix, this Late-Harvest Riesling is ripe in apple and honey, with a sustained level of rich earth notes from the 134 g/L residual sugar. Crisp and light, it's balanced and ideal for after-dinner cheeses or poached pears.

89

30

California

Riesling

120,003

Portugal

The stately hillside line of cypress trees gives its name to this estate on the south bank of the Douro. This complex, rich and dark wine is densely textured. The tannins are still young, while the black berry fruits pack into the solid structure. This is a wine to age, so drink from 2018.

92

22

Douro

Portuguese Red

10,814

US

Dried fruit aromas of prune, fig and nearly raisin show on the nose of this red, which is enhanced by savory touches of salt, pepper and leather. There is a pleasant rustic quality to the sip, but a strong bitterness reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate, underripe plum skins and coffee grinds arises midpalate and doesn't dissipate.

85

72

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

82,901

Spain

This three-grape white blend starts with oily aromas and weight before finding some minerality and white-fruit notes. The palate has citrusy kick and zing to bolster green apple and orange flavors. The finish is wide, a touch clumsy and citrusy in flavor, with tang and lasting freshness.

85

14

Northern Spain

White Blend

34,118

US

Featuring the Wädenswil clone, this block selection carries a whiff of wintergreen and lavender. That minty lift elevates the palate's pretty cherry fruit. It's a harmonious wine, with perfectly proportioned acids and a faint truffle note as it fades gracefully.

93

60

Oregon

Pinot Noir

23,843

US

Rounded peach, cider apple, chalk and seltzer aromas mix with a touch of yeast on the nose of this bottling. There's a racy, tactile acidity on the palate, lending depth to its dried apple, pear and sea salt flavors.

88

23

California

Sauvignon Blanc

38,429

US

An attention-grabbing sense of umami introduces this wine, with darkly colored mushrooms, plum sauce, miso soup and black sage tickling the nose. There is dark chocolate with bits of espresso on the palate, which is leveled by plum skins and berry flesh, with bitter tar and black pepper on the finish.

93

65

California

Red Blend

113,570

US

Laetitia's best reserve ever. In a word, gorgeous. There's a soft silkiness, a caressingly smooth mouthfeel that just seduces the palate into submission. Then the deliciousness sinks in, all red currants, cherries, mocha, licorice, pepper and smoke, set off with fine acidity and tannins. So compulsively drinkable, you can't keep your hands off it. Best now through 2010.

95

40

California

Pinot Noir

106,749

US

Peach and faint berry flavors in a light, crisp rosé with just a hint of residual sugar. A versatile picnic wine that's a cheerful copper hue to boot.

83

11

New York

Rosé

14,075

US

Sweet and simple. Tastes like a supermarket fruit juice blend of mango, peach and orange.

82

11

California

Viognier

94,455

Italy

Juicy black cherry, tobacco, leather, underbrush, licorice, menthol, mint and balsamic notes all come together on this powerfully structured wine. The succulent, ripe fruit is supported by a solid tannic backbone. It's already delicious but it's still compact and brooding so give it time to unwind. Drink after 2020–2040.

95

130

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

30,508

France

Honeyed, tropical fruit aromas are showing strongly in this smooth, lightly toasty dry wine. Rich and rounded, it shows both the fresh fruit of the vintage and also the concentration of the white wines. It should be aged, but can be drunk now. Drink until 2020.

90

45

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

40,282

US

Ferguson is L'Ecole's newest estate vineyard, and this Bordeaux-style blend marks its single-vineyard debut. It's 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, grown at 1,500 feet in almost pure basalt. The minerality is a signature trait, along with raspberry, cassis and wild cherry fruit flavors. This seems sure to improve by 2020–2022.

92

60

Washington

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

59,099

US

Hard tannins and a brooding toughness mask the fruit on this wine, hiding the black cherry and currant under a cloak of dry astringency. However, it seems to have all the pieces in place to age gracefully. Should be fine by 2018–2020.

92

60

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

5,864

US

From coastal hills near Jenner, this is true Sonoma Coast fruit, and it shows in its cool-climate embrace of red fruit and white pepper. Leather saddle marks the personality of the texture and soft acidity keeps it full-bodied and relatively dense.

88

27

California

Syrah

101,204

France

Impressively ripe and dense, with maple syrup and citrus characters giving a delicious, full wine. Kiwi and green plum dominate the fruit, while the concentrated underlying structure gives a soft cushion of richness.

86

34

Burgundy

Chardonnay

57,198

Spain

Leathery, baked aromas of earthy berry fruits and coffee grinds take time to unwind. This feels solid and tight due to potent acidity, while the flavors lean in the direction of stewed prune and berry. On the finish, flavors of chocolate, cherry and cassis are integrated.

90

36

Northern Spain

Tempranillo Blend

89,826

US

Doug Margerum makes this traditional Chianti-like blend for a couple who owns the vineyard, and they must delight in the raspberry extract and graphite notes that show on the nose. Better still is the palate, with light and tight strawberry, a touch of cedar and an intriguing mix of light density yet grippy tannins that will shine even brighter in years to come. Drink 2018–2025.

92

60

California

Sangiovese

118,511

US

Here's a fresh, delicious Syrah for drinking now. It's lush and smooth in black raspberry and cherry purée, fennel, beef jerky and black pepper flavors, backed up with a juicy hit of acidity.

87

10

California

Syrah

65,298

US

A combination of 76% Zinfandel and 24% Petite Sirah, this vineyard's lineage traces back in stages. The core six acres of Zinfandel was planted before 1892, the other acreage much more recently. Still, the wine retains an old soul of leather, tobacco and baking spice, wrapped around a ham-fisted swath of toasted oak.

88

35

California

Zinfandel

121,707

France

From one of the top Beaune premier crus, this wine is structured and dense with tannins and with wood aging. At the same time, it has the rich fruitiness of the year, broad red berries and plums. They provide the delicious potential of this fine wine. Drink from 2022.

93

56

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

47,562

US

This bottling is an ode to Bill Foley's Texas roots. It shows dried strawberry, rich olallieberry, baked cherry, black-cardamom cream and plum cookies on the deliciously spiced, fruit-forward nose. The palate is refreshing and fresh, with black raspberry and black-pepper flavors.

88

55

California

Pinot Noir

55,484

Italy

This wine isn't very expressive, with alcohol dominating both the nose and the palate. It reveals some licorice notes on the palate, along with decent acidity, but no fruit richness.

84

35

Veneto

Red Blend

102,980

France

Celebrating 500 years since the Mellot family started in Sancerre, this wine is a blend from some of the best parcels in the domaine. It is rich and intensely fruity, showing herbal, spice and juicy apple and pear flavors. These are sustained by the nervy, steely edge that will give this wine the chance to age. Drink from 2018.

93

90

Loire Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

10,068

US

This blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot into a tightly woven package of red fruit, soft tannin and robust concentration. Full bodied, it shows the warmth and distinct power of the vintage.

88

50

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

96,479

France

A caramel aroma sets the scene for a ripe, smooth wine. It has ripe red fruits that have a nutty, toasty character that balances with the crisp acidity and tight texture. Drink now.

85

20

Loire Valley

Rosé

79,582

US

This is overoaked, with buttered toast, caramel and sweet vanilla flavors dominating everything else. Buried beneath the oak are crisp flavors of pineapples and oranges.

84

25

California

Chardonnay

37,631

US

A two-vintage blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, the Deep River Red has a roasted character that's dark and flavorful, with notes of cassis, coffee and cacao. It's full bodied and dense, with notes of graphite and pepper.

88

29

Washington

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

37,343

France

This is a warm wine with a rounded feel, making it soft and full of red fruits. It features strawberry sweetness as well as a tighter, more tannic character. It could well age, so wait until 2016.

90

27

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

124,359

Italy

Iris, rose, leather and dark berry aromas lift out of the glass while the dense, straightforward palate offers licorice, dried black cherry, herb and a hint of espresso. Robust but polished tannins provide the framework.

88

40

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

80,540

US

Rich and dazzling, this has a chocolate-covered cherry flavor, complexed with notes of anise, wild mushrooms, bacon and smoky sandalwood. It feels soft and velvety all the way through. Drink it now.

92

36

California

Syrah

12,829

Italy

Menthol, worn leather, moist earth, black plum and a whiff of Oriental spice aromas lift out of the glass. The taut, rather lean palate shows raw cherry, orange zest, mocha and white pepper alongside austere, fine-grained tannins and nervous acidity.

88

29

Tuscany

Red Blend

28,275

US

This blend remains severely tannic, but it's also very ripe, with flavors of baked cherries, blackberries and prunes. It's a big, deep, dark, brooding wine that's probably at its best now.

87

42

California

Red Blend

57,230

France

This is an opulent, ripe wine that is full of black fruits and firm tannins. It is dense and concentrated with layers of juicy fruit piled over a drier core. It's a full-bodied wine that's still going to develop. Drink now or wait until 2017.

90

22

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

61,469

Spain

This is one of the most inky, concentrated, fiercely tannic vintages of Alion to date. Aromas of granite, boysenberry and grilled meat feed into a biting, full-bodied palate that can only benefit from more time. Blackberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors finish with mocha notes and stocky, rugged tannins. This is fierce and unrefined now; drink from 2018 through 2027.

90

95

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

73,497

France

Gently perfumed hints of ripe pear almost seem to have a floral dimension. On the palate the mellow, generous and totally ripe pear fruit unfolds fully and gives glimpses of very juicy ripe, dried and baked fruit. All of this richness is countered by lemony freshness. There is an earthy textural element, and more shimmering fruit reminiscent of bottled mirabelle plums. This is generous and just off dry, with a concentrated, convincing and very moreish balanced richness.

94

37

Alsace

Pinot Gris

55,382

France

Made from 65- to 80-year-old vines, this wine offers wood spice as well as apple and citrus fruit flavors. An underlying richness balances the acidity and crisp texture. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2017.

88

40

Burgundy

Chardonnay

96,503

US

This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon is softened by 19% Merlot, providing a sanguine experience marred by ponderously huge tannins that make the fruit almost impenetrable. Once pierced, expect currant, cedar and leather.

84

35

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

5,846

US

This wine is a blend of 52% Syrah, 26% Mourvèdre and 22% Grenache. Aromas of black licorice, herb, barrel spice and cassis are out front. The palate is chock-full of black fruit flavors that bring a dry, lightly astringent feel.

88

45

Washington

Rhône-style Red Blend

88,303

US

Very Beaujolais-like, and still showing a bit of spritz in the mouthfeel, this offers pretty cherry fruit in a fun, forward, clean and simple style. Note the low alcohol.

86

20

Oregon

Pinot Noir

16,142

Italy

Despite the difficult vintage, this is a fantastic wine. It opens with bright, bold aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry, tobacco, cedar, licorice and dried rosemary. There's a pleasurable touch of chocolate fudge that backs the smooth, rich tannins. This wine should last long in your cellar.

93

86

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

15,177

US

A very nice Pinot Noir that's dry and silky, with satisfying cherry, cola, oak and spice flavors. Not one to age, but fine for drinking now, and easily as good as many Pinots costing more.

87

19

California

Pinot Noir

53,807

Italy

Oak and oak driven spice dominate the nose and carry over to the palate along with butterscotch, coffee and buttered herb. Tightly tannic, it lacks fruit richness and has an astringent finish.

86

55

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

93,244

US

Made in a super Tuscan style, this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is lush and lovely. Lightly floral aromatics introduce notes of berry, plum and a whiff of leather. It xcellent balance and structure, with soft, yielding tannins. It was finished in 20% new oak.

90

35

Washington

Red Blend

80,119

US

Too oaky, with vanilla, smoky toothpick influences leading to sweet-and-sour pineapple flavors. This problem has plagued Kunde's reserve Chard for the last several vintages.

84

35

California

Chardonnay

32,286

US

Crisp and balanced in bright acidity and apple skin, this also offers subtle toasted oak and caramel, the best of both worlds, exuberant and elegant at the same time. Enjoy now or cellar until 2020.

93

38

California

Chardonnay

26,920

US

With an off-putting orange color, this Rhône-style blend seems sweet, with orange, apricot and vanilla flavors.

82

16

California

Rosé

1,033

US

Sea salt, Bosc pear, apple cider, squeezed lemon and shreds of vanilla frame a leaner nose on this wine from mid-Monterey County. The cider element carries to the rather pungent palate, proving quite high-toned and acidic with some minerality, grapefruit peel grip and long-lasting vibrancy on the finish.

88

22

California

Chardonnay

83,146

US

Vineyard-designated Grenache is a rarity in the Northwest. This one is all about subtlety and elegance of expression, with aromas of candied raspberry, thyme, spice and wildflowers leading to a textured, pillowy palate that possesses an ethereal lightness and great length.

91

55

Oregon

Grenache

40,810

Spain

Soft, baked aromas of rooty, dark-berry fruits are easier going than the wine's high-toned, acid-driven palate. Flavors of vanilla, coconut, tobacco, prune and spiced berry fruits finish with length and structure along with tobacco and nutmeg accents. Drink through 2020.

90

43

Northern Spain

Tempranillo Blend

9,124

France

This complex, spicy and fruity wine is big, with attractive acidity. It is piled with berry fruits that give a rich character. The fruits are supported by well-judged wood. This full-bodied wine will develop well; drink from 2017.

90

14

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

113,013

US

Dry, restrained and a bit mouthpuckering with tannins and acidity, this needs to pair with antipasti like Italian salumi. Its lean texture and tart cherry and cranberry flavors do make it appetizing and help it stand out from the crowd of simply ripe California reds.

86

18

California

Sangiovese

123,457

US

Barely ripe, with a pungent, ammonia edge to the citrus fruits. It's very dry and crisp in acidity.

82

12

California

Sauvignon Blanc

118,598

US

Here's a big, bold, lip-smacking Zin from Napa Valley. It shows ripe berry, cola, pepper, licorice and cocoa flavors, and is full-bodied and drily tannic. Great with pizza, enchiladas or Swedish meatballs.

86

14

California

Zinfandel

35,289

US

Not terribly complicated, but it offers plenty of everyday pleasure, with its array of cherry, plum, oak and spice flavors.

84

12

California

Merlot