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
54,265	US	This Perli is a gem, a gorgeous reminder that California Syrah can be a liquified representation of beauty. Carrying violet overtones, the wine offers just-picked raspberry and a pronounced entry of peppery spice. Soft it has a long finish and complex subtleties approaching magic. Sit this wine in your cellar if you dare—it's so good to drink now.	95	38	California	Syrah
127,377	Spain	Shows stalky hay on the nose along with apple and lemon drop. The palate is crisp, focused and elegant, with driving acidity and bright flavors of apple, lemon and nectarine. As a barrel fermented wine, it's lightly woody as it finishes long and strong. 90% Viura with Malvasia.	88	16	Northern Spain	White Blend
73,802	US	Dusty mineral notes add subtle complexity to refreshing apple, lemon and lime notes on this off-dry wine. Brisk and zesty on the palate, it finishes moderately long with a streak of lime-toned acidity.	87	20	New York	Riesling
37,574	Italy	This lively red opens with aromas of wild berry, blue flower and a whiff of tilled soil. The vibrant, straightforward palate offers juicy red cherry, strawberry and a hint of nutmeg alongside sleek tannins and racy acidity. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.	88	18	Tuscany	Red Blend
10,580	US	This is a thick and somewhat heavy white wine, wrapped in oak and ripe concentrated fruit. The profile is baked apple and pear with a side note of Good & Plenty candy anise.	84	25	California	Sauvignon Blanc
45,325	US	Velvety smooth, and brimming with ripe berry flavors, this wine feels broad and rich on the palate, carrying flavors like black plums and boysenberry jam. So ripe it's almost sweet, the wine is nothing if not generous and fruity. A 7% addition of Port-style sweet wine gives it that extra dimension.	88	20	California	Zinfandel
44,710	US	A dainty nose of sliced pears, squeezed lemon and slowly emergent guava characterizes this sparkling wine, made in Santa Barbara from Northern California fruit. The bubbles are quite foamy, disappearing magically on the palate, but not before showing light acidity and a flash of guava.	88	30	California	Sparkling Blend
13,753	US	An easy, fun rosé, with apricot, peach, orange and melon flavors, brightened with crisp acidity. The finish is nice and dry.	88	20	California	Rosé
88,980	US	The aromas are light, with notes of berry, herb, dried flower and spice. The palate brings plenty of plump cherry flavors along with pleasing spice accents. It's an intriguing example of this variety.	88	23	Washington	Malbec
108,729	France	This nonvintage cuvée sums up the Gosset style in its precise texture and crisp, taut acidity. A blend of fruit from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, it shows some attractive maturity. Given its balanced, perfumed aftertaste and great fruitiness, this is a Champagne to drink now.	92	58	Champagne	Champagne Blend
120,516	France	Full in the mouth, this is a rich style of rosé, with delicious red-berry crispness. It is ready for food with its tangy, textured aftertaste. Screwcap.	89	20	Provence	Rosé
61,636	Italy	Black licorice, cola and cherry liqueur open the nose and segue to black currant and crème de cassis aromas, then forest floor, bramble and Spanish cedar. This wine is linear, crisp and tight on the palate, with firm tannins. Give the wine five more years to soften.	91	70	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
78,307	US	Here is an utterly irresistible wine—spicy, sensuous and layered with beautifully ripened citrus, tree and tropical fruits. A whiff of pine needle continues as a flavor thread, along with vanilla, buttered nuts, lemongrass and macaroon. This wine just keeps on going.	95	35	Oregon	Chardonnay
62,873	Argentina	Much better than prior vintages, when it was known as Finca El Portillo. The nose is jammy and shows black fruit aromas, while the palate is complete and full but juicy, with plum and black cherry flavors. Pepper and toast flavors infiltrate the finish.	86	10	Mendoza Province	Merlot
64,601	US	Intensely fragrant of gardenias, fresh pears and lanolin, this dry sparkling may be a bit too perfumed for some, but its fresh apple and pear flavors are pleasant. Dry, with a high-toned acidity, it finishes on a slightly bitter, stony note.	85	19	New York	Sparkling Blend
60,823	Italy	This opens with aromas of toasted oak, black plum, graphite and grilled sage. The palate offers dried cherry, prune and dried tobacco leaf alongside extremely astringent tannins that completely dry out the mouth.	87	43	Tuscany	Sangiovese
76,989	US	The aromas of this Chardonnay are zesty and fresh yet rich, with barrel smoke, caramelized pear and vanilla tones. The integration continues on the palate, with a bit of oak followed by apple, white peach, nectarine and lime zest. It's flavorful and enjoyable now.	92	32	California	Chardonnay
125,970	US	Sage, brush and pencil shavings make for a savory, gravelly experience on the nose and palate of this full-bodied, high-elevation wine. Robustly tannic, it softens in the glass and on the finish in a stream of black pepper and dried herb.	90	45	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
74,303	US	Sourced from the Dineen Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills, this pure Cabernet sports generous plum and berry flavors that are lushly coated in dark notes of espresso, cacao and licorice. There is an underpinning of rock, adding structure and suggesting that this wine could be cellared for another decade.	90	39	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
61,197	France	Produced from three vineyards in the north of the Sancerre appellation, this is a crisp, ripe wine. It offers a blend of green plum and lime with a touch of white peach. The acidity, still young, will soften over the next few months when the wine will be even better. Drink from 2017.	90	20	Loire Valley	Sauvignon Blanc
60,570	Spain	A bigger wine at 14.5%, this offers the full allotment of leather, crude oil, violet petals and cassis. The palate is rich and relaxed, with blackberry, plum and lightly oaked vanilla flavors. It's integrated and smooth, with a touch of wood and caramel well woven into the wine's core fabric. Drink now.	88	14	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
117,753	Italy	A study in balance, this wine has dark berry and tobacco aromas that are elegant rather than overly intense. The palate reveals polished tannins and firm fruit flavors.	91	60	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
43,961	US	McKinley Springs vineyard sourced this outstanding blend of Cabernet Franc (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%) and Merlot (19%). A complex and inviting, dusty bouquet of herb, olive and tart fruits introduces a wine with smooth moves and subtle details. A perfect mix of Washington fruit with a Bordeaux grip.	91	32	Washington	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
10,603	France	With Hubert de Bouärd (whose family owns Château Angélus in Bordeaux) as consultant, this estate has produced a ripe wine that has the crispest, purest fruit flavors. Red berries and apples shoot through the lightly tannic texture. The wine will be better from late 2016.	91	19	Provence	Rosé
112,317	US	This full-bodied and earthy-tasting wine has berries and cherries in the aroma and beefy, savory flavors that fill out the rather tannic texture nicely.	86	33	California	Grenache
98,479	US	Stemmy in earthy pine and clove-like spice, this is a powerfully dense and delicious wine. It's on the higher side in terms of alcohol, though doesn't reflect it in bouquet or taste. Savory dark berry wraps itself around mushroomy truffles and black tea to linger on the tongue through a lengthy, weighty finish.	91	58	California	Pinot Noir
92,950	US	This BSH is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Ripe to the point of showing some scents of raisin and prune, this is most expressive of baking spice highlights, clove and licorice. It turns a bit volatile and the tannins seem to be quickly drying out. Drink up.	87	30	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
40,254	Italy	Wild berry, tilled earth, new leather and truffle aromas lead the nose of this vibrant red. The linear palate offers tart cherry, cranberry, white pepper and clove flavors, framed by tightly wound, polished tannins and firm acidity. Give it time to fully come together. Drink 2020–2033.	91	25	Tuscany	Red Blend
4,830	US	A little tough and gritty, but with rich, forward flavors of berry and cherry jam, cocoa, clove and anise flavors. A Merlot-based Bordeaux blend.	85	30	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
102,513	US	Fresh raspberry and cranberry flavors match the bright acidity and firm tannins in this lively, medium-bodied, dry red. With this vibrant texture it will pair with the richest osso buco, risotto or juicy steak.	89	25	California	Barbera
62,951	France	This is a firm style of wine, showing the mineral character of Pernand-Verglesses reds. The wine has a nervy, almost herbal profile, showing red currants and considerable acidity.	88	30	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
103,758	US	Full-bodied but easy to drink, this well-modulated wine from a section of Lake County known for excellent reds combines nicely ripe flavors with a smoothly tannic texture. It has ripe plum and raisin notes, a lightly spicy, smoky oak accent and a lingering finish.	90	26	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
47,933	US	Deliciously gentle. Makes you wonder why more people don't drink Syrah. With a soft complexity, the wine houses lush flavors of cherries, plums, mocha and violets, accented with sweet, smoky oak.	88	32	California	Syrah
126,893	France	Warm, soft-fruited wine, with fine ripe red berry fruits as well as a gentle tannic structure. There is an earthy Merlot edge to the blend, along with the more dry texture of Cabernet. For drinking next year.	87	27	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
23,227	US	Pink-grapefruit rind, sea salt, Meyer lemon and nectarine aromas show on the nose of this wine made by Santa Barbara-raised Steve Gerbac. The medium-bodied palate offers light touches of pan-seared apples, white peaches and tangerine peel with a deliciously salty edge to it all.	90	26	California	Chardonnay
48,932	US	Light in color and only just faintly aromatic, Amador Cellars' Sangiovese tastes of red cherry and blueberry with a tight tannin structure that suggests giving it 3–5 years more time.	87	22	California	Sangiovese
57,715	US	Sourced from a hillside block of the vineyard, Floodgate is about juicy, velvety texture with a side of grip, offering a fully decadent mouthfeel and sense of luxury. Floral on the nose, its flavors are nuanced, a touch of strawberry and cherry dotted in cola spice.	91	46	California	Pinot Noir
105,814	US	This extreme wine has vivid earthy aromas like wood smoke and cured meats and equally smoky, meaty flavors. The mouthfeel is quite dry and tannic, and any fruit flavors take a back seat to the gamey character.	84	24	California	Zinfandel
124,468	Argentina	Deep purple in color, and soupy on the nose, with a strong hint of lemon. The palate is almost astringent due to elevated acidity, thus the balance of this Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon-Bonarda blend is sketchy. Tastes more like grape juice than fine wine, with a hollow, tangy finish.	83	24	Mendoza Province	Red Blend
93,017	US	Aromas of clove, blackberry and dried fig lead to palate-staining cherry flavors. Lightly grainy tannins provide support, with the fruit seeming a bit dried out.	89	35	Washington	Malbec
20,693	US	A tiny-production wine from a windblown ridge in the Petaluma Gap, Badger Block is earthy and piquant in wild strawberry. Spicy and soft, it's almost velvety on the palate. Persistent in depth and length, the body is generous but balanced, spiked with the scent of fresh-picked rose petals.	92	75	California	Pinot Noir
16,347	Italy	This enjoyable Chianti Classico offers a sweet-smelling nose that recalls Christmas spice, cinnamon, pipe tobacco and blackberry. It has a friendly, sunny disposition and good concentration of flavors and aromas. Blue flowers, cherry and almonds put in appearances on the finish.	87	23	Tuscany	Sangiovese
97,881	US	The blackberry, black currant, cassis and licorice flavors on this wine are strong, ripe and complex, and a rich coating of oak brings toast and vanilla notes. But the wine, which is a blend based on Cabernet Franc and Merlot, is so tannic that it's hard to appreciate now. Give it until 2019 to come around.	89	80	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
47,827	Italy	Rubiolo is a zesty Chianti Classico, with earthy aromas of dark cherry, iris and a whiff of leather. The palate offers a mouthwatering black-cherry flavor, as well as hints of white pepper and cinnamon. It's fresh and enjoyable now.	89	23	Tuscany	Red Blend
113,715	US	Vivid flavors and zippy fruit acidity give this medium-bodied blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon a big but refreshing personality. It has vibrant citrus and fresh herb aromas, crisp grapefruit and lemon flavors, and a sense of depth on the palate without being heavy. There are so many ways this would start a meal off right.	91	24	California	White Blend
56,136	Italy	Red berry, underbrush, crushed herb and a whiff of porcini mushroom aromas lead the way. Linear and rather straightforward, the palate offers juicy sour cherry, cranberry and clove alongside polished tannins. It won't take years to come around. Drink 2019–2025.	89	46	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
38,732	US	Made in a rather austere style, with minimal time in oak, this wine offers crisp texture and body complemented by a tartness of Golden Delicious apple that finishes with creamy lushness.	90	25	California	Chardonnay
53,884	US	Caramelized oak and ripe apple provide rich texture and flavor that find ideal companionship in this wine's more rocky minerality and salty tang. Medium bodied, it's a food-friendly find, with ample structure and apple and pear flavor.	90	35	California	Chardonnay
80,635	US	As one might expect, this is Washington rosé with a French touch, courtesy of consulting winemaker Christian LeSommer. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc, given a four-hour soak and then fermented in neutral oak, it is exceptional in every way. Silky and flavorful with a mix of peach and strawberry, vanilla cookie and amazing length.	90	16	Washington	Rosé
73,810	US	This Sangiovese, which includes 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Syrah, is lightly scented with cracker, cola and strawberry; it's a gently spicy, simple but enjoyable red.	86	22	Washington	Sangiovese
58,727	France	Owned by the Ducourt family which has a number of chateaus in the eastern end of the Bordeaux vineyards, this estate has produced a piercingly fruity wine. With its acidity and crisp texture, it is a good reflection of the fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2018.	86	14	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
61,645	Australia	This ripe Grenache is full-bodied and fruit-driven, but seems to have the stuffing to last at least 3–4 years. Cherry-berry flavors are punched up by herb and spice shadings that linger on the finish.	91	29	South Australia	Grenache
87,355	Spain	Baked, earthy aromas of berry fruits are mature. This feels a bit rubbery and raw, with grabby tannins. Flavors of baked plum and berry fruits are limited in scope, while the finish is mature, sweet tasting and disjointed in feel.	86	16	Northern Spain	Tempranillo Blend
80,291	France	This pure Merlot is racy, ripe and ready to drink, with fruit that shows maturity. Tannins are well integrated into the structure, leaving plenty of room for the juicy fruit and mature, spicy flavors. Drink now.	88	35	Bordeaux	Merlot
128,687	US	Mostly old vine fruit creates the exceptional Cabernet, which also includes small amounts of the other four Bordeaux grapes in the blend. The lovely bouquet is now starting to develop some secondary aromatics, expressive and complex. Delicious raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, crisply defined by firm acids, are nudged into hedonism with a wash of pretty chocolate and buttery nuts.	94	75	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
32,983	US	The man who makes a million Syrahs dives into a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah on this bottling, which offers composting lilac, black pepper, fresh boysenberry, dried herb and a tarry quality on the nose. There's a strong blackberry-balsamic reduction flavor once sipped, as well as beef char, elderberry and more tar.	90	36	California	Rhône-style Red Blend
101,796	US	Andis's 100% Barbera tempts with ripe, dried black-cherry and mint flavors, and toasty layers of coffee and toffee that linger until the finish.	88	24	California	Barbera
55,979	France	A ripe and spicy wine, this is structured with black-currant fruits and lively acidity. It is still very young: its exuberant fruitiness likely to calm as it matures. Give this ripe wine until 2019.	88	13	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
103,552	France	An earthy hint on the nose cloaks ripe and charming red-apple fruit. The palate comes across as more diffuse but has ample freshness. The body is powerful but dry, characterized by the texture of apple peel. The lemon freshness on the dry finish is lasting.	91	48	Alsace	Riesling
94,511	US	This creamy and delicious blend of 80% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre truly outperforms all its parts. It offers high tones of red fruit, earthy licorice and tamed tobacco. Medium in body with well-behaved tannins, it has a dusty finish that's very appealing.	89	35	California	Red Blend
93,173	US	Mushroom and kirsch show through a wall of oak and thick tannin. This wine is still compressed and concentrated in flavor, with tea and tobacco providing a bittersweet end.	89	62	California	Pinot Noir
98,732	Portugal	Light and fruity, this has the softest structure. Red berry fruits give the wine a bright, jammy character with acidity offering some freshness. Drink now.	85	13	Douro	Portuguese Red
57,625	Spain	Dry, schisty aromas of cherry and spice are reserved and elevated. This is a bright wine with juicy acidity and complexity. Flavors of baked berry fruits are minerally at the core, while the finish is smooth, mature and steady, with lasting purity. Drink through 2019.	92	50	Catalonia	Red Blend
118,699	US	Simple, tart and thin, with cherry candy and oak flavors, as well as plenty of unripe green, vegetal ones.	82	20	California	Pinot Noir
20,642	Italy	Aromas of underbrush, tobacco leaf, leather, wild berry and a balsamic note take the lead. The palate offers juicy Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and sage alongside rather astringent tannins.	88	125	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
59,193	France	This is a ripe rosé that is full-bodied and rich. Its red plum and strawberry notes are right to the fore, with light tannins adding shape and texture. This dry and hefty wine is made to be paired with food.	88	16	Provence	Rosé
88,192	France	This is a balanced, fruity wine with a beautiful line of fragrant acidity. Apples, pears and a touch of chewy tannin all work together well to give a wine that is both firmly textured and fresh with fruit. It could be drunk now, although it will be best from 2016.	93	40	Burgundy	Chardonnay
21,415	US	This is a big wine that's not ready now—it's too tannic. That gives it a lockdown, numbing quality that blocks a full appreciation of the fruit. But what fruit! Blackberries pure and simple, reduced to their quintessence. Such is the inherent integrity of this wine that it should effortlessly negotiate 4 to 6 years, gradually softening.	91	54	California	Syrah
83,915	US	Tart in acidity, with simple cherry flavors that taste baked into a pie. But the finish is fully dry. Tannic, too, with the result that the mouthfeel is hard as nails.	83	24	California	Sangiovese
87,481	Italy	This is a vinous-smelling wine that recalls the sweet berry aromas you would naturally find in the wine cellar. It's a young wine that still needs to find its legs and that, at this point, delivers overt tones of toasted oak.	85	18	Tuscany	Sangiovese
117,652	US	This round and fruity blend mixes fruit from three vineyards: Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill Vineyard. Ripe black fruits matched to firm, dusty tannins are highlighted with streaks of sassafras and underscored with vivid acidity.	88	40	Oregon	Pinot Noir
76,317	France	Round and soft, this has fresh, attractive fruit, flavors of white pears, candy and green herbs. Just a touch of sweetness in the acidity of the aftertaste.	84	9	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
18,948	US	This barrel-fermented Chardonnay seemingly tastes as sweet as a dessert, although it's technically dry. With its pineapple and tangerine tart, crême brulée and Key lime pie flavors, Chardonnay doesn't get richer than this. Brisk, citrusy acidity gives much needed balance.	91	24	California	Chardonnay
42,441	Italy	Straightforward and refined, this presents a fruity aroma of wild berry and suggestion of Mediterranean brush. The smooth palate offers wild cherry and a hint of savory herb alongside supple tannins and bright acidity.	88	25	Tuscany	Red Blend
9,242	US	Dark in the glass, this blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah is rich and appealing, made in the typical Paso style. Vanilla, cola, spice cake and black cherry aromas lead to a palate laden with milk chocolate, more black cherry, and star anise flavors. The tannins are soft and lush.	91	34	California	Rhône-style Red Blend
115,407	US	Rich, tannic and full bodied, with black cherry jam, red currant, raisin and spice flavors that are penetrating and long. It's a heady wine that's high in alcohol—drink now with grilled beef or chicken slathered in barbecue sauce.	88	32	California	Zinfandel
63,700	US	Aromas of sugared plums, herbs and black currants lead to black- and blue-fruit flavors that are surprisingly soft. One misses the tannins Cabernet is known for but it makes up for it elsewhere.	88	20	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
68,185	US	A beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced and elegant. It's flashy in blackberries and currants, with an elaborate coating of oak, yet not over the top, withdrawing its fruit at the last minute to finish in a swirl of minerality and spice. Should develop over the next six years.	91	48	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
37,279	US	From a great site in this cool appellation, this wine shines with a powerful grip of ripe cherry and strawberry fruit and earthy undertones of dried herb and cardamom cola. Layered and dense, it has a seductively smooth texture and bite of minerality.	91	50	California	Pinot Noir
91,681	US	This is a simple Sauvignon Blanc, with sugary-tasting apricot, orange and vanilla flavors, plus some vegetal notes.	82	15	California	Sauvignon Blanc
62,306	US	A seriously good Cabernet that advances the cause of Sonoma Valley. It's soft and rich and decadently good, offering wave after wave of blackberry pie, cherry jam and sweet oak flavors that are a little on the sweet side. Shows enough acidity and tannin structure to provide balance. Drink now with a good steak, chop or lamb dish.	91	70	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
36,720	Argentina	Quite piercing on the nose, with unyielding cherry and hard-spice aromas. The palate is also intense, with saturated black cherry and raspberry flavors riding rough on a tight frame. Not the most friendly and easy Malbec.	84	12	Mendoza Province	Malbec
77,835	Germany	Cool, mineral elegance and pristine tangerine and quince flavors mark this zesty, sylphlike Riesling. It's dry and light bodied with a finish highlighted by lemony acidity. Drink now through 2019.	91	22	Mosel	Riesling
113,444	Australia	With the number of really good dessert wines available for under $12 per bottle severely limited, this is a refreshing ray of golden sweetness. Dried apricots add enough citrus pith to partially balance out the intensely sweet flavors. Drink in the lusciousness over the next couple of years.	89	11	South Australia	Chardonnay
72,260	France	With the dominance of Pinot Noir in the Aube region, it is no surprise to find a vintage Champagne that is 100% from that grape. With a round character from the Pinot, as well as a hot vintage, this is a full-bodied wine with vibrant fruit and lively acidity. Drink now.	91	100	Champagne	Pinot Noir
103,625	US	Rich and opulent, in the popular style, this Cabernet offers soft, oak-driven flavors of blackberries, black cherries and cherry liqueur. It's a gentle, delicious and fancy wine, if a little one-dimensional. Drink now.	87	45	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
57,844	US	Full bodied, quite flavorful and generous in texture, this wine will be a crowd pleaser. It smells like toast, vanilla and maple, tastes juicy and plummy, and has a lingering, almost sweet finish.	86	11	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
54,037	US	This wine is unusually soft and luscious, easy to drink, and marked by aromas of cinnamon and brown sugar followed by ripe lightly sweet flavors of blackberry jam. It has low acidity, low tannins and medium body.	85	13	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
87,429	Italy	This opens with balsamic aromas, leather, ripe raspberry, iris and a heady whiff of pressed powder while the succulent, delicious palate delivers ripe black raspberry, cake spice and aromatic herb. Firm, polished tannins provide structure and envelope the palate. Drink 2018–2025.	94	60	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
42,990	Italy	Made entirely with Merlot, this full-bodied wine opens with aromas of ripe berry, coffee, vanilla, exotic spice and a whiff of grilled herb. The concentrated palate doles out fleshy black cherries, juicy raspberries licorice, chocolate and tobacco, while velvety tannins provide the framework. A note of dried sage closes the finish. It's already approachable but will continue to age well for several years or more. Drink through 2023.	93	300	Tuscany	Merlot
42,932	Italy	The bouquet is marked by a steady stream of bright raspberry, rose, wild berry and bitter almond. It's sassy crispness on the finish should pair well with cheese or mayonnaise-based appetizers.	87	18	Northeastern Italy	Rosé
109,974	US	Dark in color, this aromatic brooder brings notes of pencil lead, herb and black and purple fruit. Flavors are rich and liquorous, showing tannic heft along with a bit of astringency. The variety isn't readily apparent but the wine is delicious all the same.	89	42	Washington	Cabernet Franc
48,519	US	The producer expertly captures the mix of coolness and intensity so true to the appellation, a tangle of brooding black cherry, blackberry and underlying smoke, that's both decadent and succulent on the palate, deeply satisfying in its finish of chocolate and black licorice.	92	65	California	Pinot Noir
8,479	France	Certainly rich, but this wine is also about purity of spicy fruit, bringing out the fresher side of the variety as well as the intensity.	88	28	Alsace	Gewürztraminer
51,848	Italy	Made from a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Alicante, 10% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, this opens with aromas of black currant, bell pepper and clove. The palate offers mature black cherry, ginger and a hint of vanilla while firm tannins grip the finish.	89	49	Tuscany	Red Blend
119,264	US	The winery made its bones with its fabulous Sacrashe Cabernet from Rutherford. This is their first release from Diamond Mountain, and the result is quite interesting. In fact, it's very good, but disappointing, considering the price. The wine is firm and hard in tannins, with blackberry, currant and new oak flavors, yet it's a little lacking in depth. Could be an ager, but don't bet the farm.	87	100	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
117,441	US	This extreme coastal vineyard behind Cambria delivers extremely pungent herbal aromas of bay leaves, incense, eucalyptus oil and pine, proving intensely intriguing and pleasing, like a walk through the wet pine forest. Similar elements show on the palate, with rosemary, wild mint, juniper and pine-needle tea spicing up the condensed plum flavors.	91	42	California	Pinot Noir
11,304	France	Fresh and fruity, this is a bright wine, full of almost shocking acidity and red-currant fruits. Its tannins are there, although more of an afterthought to the fruit. Drink this light fresh wine from 2017.	87	20	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
67,711	US	This is a soft, richly attractive red wine to drink now. It shows elaborate blackberry, cherry, currant, teriyaki beef, black pepper, anise and sandalwood flavors. An elegant mouthfeel, grows better as it breathes in the glass.	90	38	California	Syrah
50,535	Italy	Aromas recall rose petal, dark berry and orange zest. The palate delivers mature blackberry, cocoa, mocha and a licorice note alongside firm, fine-grained tannins.	89	28	Sicily & Sardinia	Red Blend

54,265

US

This Perli is a gem, a gorgeous reminder that California Syrah can be a liquified representation of beauty. Carrying violet overtones, the wine offers just-picked raspberry and a pronounced entry of peppery spice. Soft it has a long finish and complex subtleties approaching magic. Sit this wine in your cellar if you dare—it's so good to drink now.

95

38

California

Syrah

127,377

Spain

Shows stalky hay on the nose along with apple and lemon drop. The palate is crisp, focused and elegant, with driving acidity and bright flavors of apple, lemon and nectarine. As a barrel fermented wine, it's lightly woody as it finishes long and strong. 90% Viura with Malvasia.

88

16

Northern Spain

White Blend

73,802

US

Dusty mineral notes add subtle complexity to refreshing apple, lemon and lime notes on this off-dry wine. Brisk and zesty on the palate, it finishes moderately long with a streak of lime-toned acidity.

87

20

New York

Riesling

37,574

Italy

This lively red opens with aromas of wild berry, blue flower and a whiff of tilled soil. The vibrant, straightforward palate offers juicy red cherry, strawberry and a hint of nutmeg alongside sleek tannins and racy acidity. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.

88

18

Tuscany

Red Blend

10,580

US

This is a thick and somewhat heavy white wine, wrapped in oak and ripe concentrated fruit. The profile is baked apple and pear with a side note of Good & Plenty candy anise.

84

25

California

Sauvignon Blanc

45,325

US

Velvety smooth, and brimming with ripe berry flavors, this wine feels broad and rich on the palate, carrying flavors like black plums and boysenberry jam. So ripe it's almost sweet, the wine is nothing if not generous and fruity. A 7% addition of Port-style sweet wine gives it that extra dimension.

88

20

California

Zinfandel

44,710

US

A dainty nose of sliced pears, squeezed lemon and slowly emergent guava characterizes this sparkling wine, made in Santa Barbara from Northern California fruit. The bubbles are quite foamy, disappearing magically on the palate, but not before showing light acidity and a flash of guava.

88

30

California

Sparkling Blend

13,753

US

An easy, fun rosé, with apricot, peach, orange and melon flavors, brightened with crisp acidity. The finish is nice and dry.

88

20

California

Rosé

88,980

US

The aromas are light, with notes of berry, herb, dried flower and spice. The palate brings plenty of plump cherry flavors along with pleasing spice accents. It's an intriguing example of this variety.

88

23

Washington

Malbec

108,729

France

This nonvintage cuvée sums up the Gosset style in its precise texture and crisp, taut acidity. A blend of fruit from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, it shows some attractive maturity. Given its balanced, perfumed aftertaste and great fruitiness, this is a Champagne to drink now.

92

58

Champagne

Champagne Blend

120,516

France

Full in the mouth, this is a rich style of rosé, with delicious red-berry crispness. It is ready for food with its tangy, textured aftertaste. Screwcap.

89

20

Provence

Rosé

61,636

Italy

Black licorice, cola and cherry liqueur open the nose and segue to black currant and crème de cassis aromas, then forest floor, bramble and Spanish cedar. This wine is linear, crisp and tight on the palate, with firm tannins. Give the wine five more years to soften.

91

70

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

78,307

US

Here is an utterly irresistible wine—spicy, sensuous and layered with beautifully ripened citrus, tree and tropical fruits. A whiff of pine needle continues as a flavor thread, along with vanilla, buttered nuts, lemongrass and macaroon. This wine just keeps on going.

95

35

Oregon

Chardonnay

62,873

Argentina

Much better than prior vintages, when it was known as Finca El Portillo. The nose is jammy and shows black fruit aromas, while the palate is complete and full but juicy, with plum and black cherry flavors. Pepper and toast flavors infiltrate the finish.

86

10

Mendoza Province

Merlot

64,601

US

Intensely fragrant of gardenias, fresh pears and lanolin, this dry sparkling may be a bit too perfumed for some, but its fresh apple and pear flavors are pleasant. Dry, with a high-toned acidity, it finishes on a slightly bitter, stony note.

85

19

New York

Sparkling Blend

60,823

Italy

This opens with aromas of toasted oak, black plum, graphite and grilled sage. The palate offers dried cherry, prune and dried tobacco leaf alongside extremely astringent tannins that completely dry out the mouth.

87

43

Tuscany

Sangiovese

76,989

US

The aromas of this Chardonnay are zesty and fresh yet rich, with barrel smoke, caramelized pear and vanilla tones. The integration continues on the palate, with a bit of oak followed by apple, white peach, nectarine and lime zest. It's flavorful and enjoyable now.

92

32

California

Chardonnay

125,970

US

Sage, brush and pencil shavings make for a savory, gravelly experience on the nose and palate of this full-bodied, high-elevation wine. Robustly tannic, it softens in the glass and on the finish in a stream of black pepper and dried herb.

90

45

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

74,303

US

Sourced from the Dineen Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills, this pure Cabernet sports generous plum and berry flavors that are lushly coated in dark notes of espresso, cacao and licorice. There is an underpinning of rock, adding structure and suggesting that this wine could be cellared for another decade.

90

39

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

61,197

France

Produced from three vineyards in the north of the Sancerre appellation, this is a crisp, ripe wine. It offers a blend of green plum and lime with a touch of white peach. The acidity, still young, will soften over the next few months when the wine will be even better. Drink from 2017.

90

20

Loire Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

60,570

Spain

A bigger wine at 14.5%, this offers the full allotment of leather, crude oil, violet petals and cassis. The palate is rich and relaxed, with blackberry, plum and lightly oaked vanilla flavors. It's integrated and smooth, with a touch of wood and caramel well woven into the wine's core fabric. Drink now.

88

14

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

117,753

Italy

A study in balance, this wine has dark berry and tobacco aromas that are elegant rather than overly intense. The palate reveals polished tannins and firm fruit flavors.

91

60

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

43,961

US

McKinley Springs vineyard sourced this outstanding blend of Cabernet Franc (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%) and Merlot (19%). A complex and inviting, dusty bouquet of herb, olive and tart fruits introduces a wine with smooth moves and subtle details. A perfect mix of Washington fruit with a Bordeaux grip.

91

32

Washington

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

10,603

France

With Hubert de Bouärd (whose family owns Château Angélus in Bordeaux) as consultant, this estate has produced a ripe wine that has the crispest, purest fruit flavors. Red berries and apples shoot through the lightly tannic texture. The wine will be better from late 2016.

91

19

Provence

Rosé

112,317

US

This full-bodied and earthy-tasting wine has berries and cherries in the aroma and beefy, savory flavors that fill out the rather tannic texture nicely.

86

33

California

Grenache

98,479

US

Stemmy in earthy pine and clove-like spice, this is a powerfully dense and delicious wine. It's on the higher side in terms of alcohol, though doesn't reflect it in bouquet or taste. Savory dark berry wraps itself around mushroomy truffles and black tea to linger on the tongue through a lengthy, weighty finish.

91

58

California

Pinot Noir

92,950

US

This BSH is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Ripe to the point of showing some scents of raisin and prune, this is most expressive of baking spice highlights, clove and licorice. It turns a bit volatile and the tannins seem to be quickly drying out. Drink up.

87

30

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

40,254

Italy

Wild berry, tilled earth, new leather and truffle aromas lead the nose of this vibrant red. The linear palate offers tart cherry, cranberry, white pepper and clove flavors, framed by tightly wound, polished tannins and firm acidity. Give it time to fully come together. Drink 2020–2033.

91

25

Tuscany

Red Blend

4,830

US

A little tough and gritty, but with rich, forward flavors of berry and cherry jam, cocoa, clove and anise flavors. A Merlot-based Bordeaux blend.

85

30

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

102,513

US

Fresh raspberry and cranberry flavors match the bright acidity and firm tannins in this lively, medium-bodied, dry red. With this vibrant texture it will pair with the richest osso buco, risotto or juicy steak.

89

25

California

Barbera

62,951

France

This is a firm style of wine, showing the mineral character of Pernand-Verglesses reds. The wine has a nervy, almost herbal profile, showing red currants and considerable acidity.

88

30

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

103,758

US

Full-bodied but easy to drink, this well-modulated wine from a section of Lake County known for excellent reds combines nicely ripe flavors with a smoothly tannic texture. It has ripe plum and raisin notes, a lightly spicy, smoky oak accent and a lingering finish.

90

26

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

47,933

US

Deliciously gentle. Makes you wonder why more people don't drink Syrah. With a soft complexity, the wine houses lush flavors of cherries, plums, mocha and violets, accented with sweet, smoky oak.

88

32

California

Syrah

126,893

France

Warm, soft-fruited wine, with fine ripe red berry fruits as well as a gentle tannic structure. There is an earthy Merlot edge to the blend, along with the more dry texture of Cabernet. For drinking next year.

87

27

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

23,227

US

Pink-grapefruit rind, sea salt, Meyer lemon and nectarine aromas show on the nose of this wine made by Santa Barbara-raised Steve Gerbac. The medium-bodied palate offers light touches of pan-seared apples, white peaches and tangerine peel with a deliciously salty edge to it all.

90

26

California

Chardonnay

48,932

US

Light in color and only just faintly aromatic, Amador Cellars' Sangiovese tastes of red cherry and blueberry with a tight tannin structure that suggests giving it 3–5 years more time.

87

22

California

Sangiovese

57,715

US

Sourced from a hillside block of the vineyard, Floodgate is about juicy, velvety texture with a side of grip, offering a fully decadent mouthfeel and sense of luxury. Floral on the nose, its flavors are nuanced, a touch of strawberry and cherry dotted in cola spice.

91

46

California

Pinot Noir

105,814

US

This extreme wine has vivid earthy aromas like wood smoke and cured meats and equally smoky, meaty flavors. The mouthfeel is quite dry and tannic, and any fruit flavors take a back seat to the gamey character.

84

24

California

Zinfandel

124,468

Argentina

Deep purple in color, and soupy on the nose, with a strong hint of lemon. The palate is almost astringent due to elevated acidity, thus the balance of this Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon-Bonarda blend is sketchy. Tastes more like grape juice than fine wine, with a hollow, tangy finish.

83

24

Mendoza Province

Red Blend

93,017

US

Aromas of clove, blackberry and dried fig lead to palate-staining cherry flavors. Lightly grainy tannins provide support, with the fruit seeming a bit dried out.

89

35

Washington

Malbec

20,693

US

A tiny-production wine from a windblown ridge in the Petaluma Gap, Badger Block is earthy and piquant in wild strawberry. Spicy and soft, it's almost velvety on the palate. Persistent in depth and length, the body is generous but balanced, spiked with the scent of fresh-picked rose petals.

92

75

California

Pinot Noir

16,347

Italy

This enjoyable Chianti Classico offers a sweet-smelling nose that recalls Christmas spice, cinnamon, pipe tobacco and blackberry. It has a friendly, sunny disposition and good concentration of flavors and aromas. Blue flowers, cherry and almonds put in appearances on the finish.

87

23

Tuscany

Sangiovese

97,881

US

The blackberry, black currant, cassis and licorice flavors on this wine are strong, ripe and complex, and a rich coating of oak brings toast and vanilla notes. But the wine, which is a blend based on Cabernet Franc and Merlot, is so tannic that it's hard to appreciate now. Give it until 2019 to come around.

89

80

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

47,827

Italy

Rubiolo is a zesty Chianti Classico, with earthy aromas of dark cherry, iris and a whiff of leather. The palate offers a mouthwatering black-cherry flavor, as well as hints of white pepper and cinnamon. It's fresh and enjoyable now.

89

23

Tuscany

Red Blend

113,715

US

Vivid flavors and zippy fruit acidity give this medium-bodied blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon a big but refreshing personality. It has vibrant citrus and fresh herb aromas, crisp grapefruit and lemon flavors, and a sense of depth on the palate without being heavy. There are so many ways this would start a meal off right.

91

24

California

White Blend

56,136

Italy

Red berry, underbrush, crushed herb and a whiff of porcini mushroom aromas lead the way. Linear and rather straightforward, the palate offers juicy sour cherry, cranberry and clove alongside polished tannins. It won't take years to come around. Drink 2019–2025.

89

46

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

38,732

US

Made in a rather austere style, with minimal time in oak, this wine offers crisp texture and body complemented by a tartness of Golden Delicious apple that finishes with creamy lushness.

90

25

California

Chardonnay

53,884

US

Caramelized oak and ripe apple provide rich texture and flavor that find ideal companionship in this wine's more rocky minerality and salty tang. Medium bodied, it's a food-friendly find, with ample structure and apple and pear flavor.

90

35

California

Chardonnay

80,635

US

As one might expect, this is Washington rosé with a French touch, courtesy of consulting winemaker Christian LeSommer. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc, given a four-hour soak and then fermented in neutral oak, it is exceptional in every way. Silky and flavorful with a mix of peach and strawberry, vanilla cookie and amazing length.

90

16

Washington

Rosé

73,810

US

This Sangiovese, which includes 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Syrah, is lightly scented with cracker, cola and strawberry; it's a gently spicy, simple but enjoyable red.

86

22

Washington

Sangiovese

58,727

France

Owned by the Ducourt family which has a number of chateaus in the eastern end of the Bordeaux vineyards, this estate has produced a piercingly fruity wine. With its acidity and crisp texture, it is a good reflection of the fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2018.

86

14

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

61,645

Australia

This ripe Grenache is full-bodied and fruit-driven, but seems to have the stuffing to last at least 3–4 years. Cherry-berry flavors are punched up by herb and spice shadings that linger on the finish.

91

29

South Australia

Grenache

87,355

Spain

Baked, earthy aromas of berry fruits are mature. This feels a bit rubbery and raw, with grabby tannins. Flavors of baked plum and berry fruits are limited in scope, while the finish is mature, sweet tasting and disjointed in feel.

86

16

Northern Spain

Tempranillo Blend

80,291

France

This pure Merlot is racy, ripe and ready to drink, with fruit that shows maturity. Tannins are well integrated into the structure, leaving plenty of room for the juicy fruit and mature, spicy flavors. Drink now.

88

35

Bordeaux

Merlot

128,687

US

Mostly old vine fruit creates the exceptional Cabernet, which also includes small amounts of the other four Bordeaux grapes in the blend. The lovely bouquet is now starting to develop some secondary aromatics, expressive and complex. Delicious raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, crisply defined by firm acids, are nudged into hedonism with a wash of pretty chocolate and buttery nuts.

94

75

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

32,983

US

The man who makes a million Syrahs dives into a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah on this bottling, which offers composting lilac, black pepper, fresh boysenberry, dried herb and a tarry quality on the nose. There's a strong blackberry-balsamic reduction flavor once sipped, as well as beef char, elderberry and more tar.

90

36

California

Rhône-style Red Blend

101,796

US

Andis's 100% Barbera tempts with ripe, dried black-cherry and mint flavors, and toasty layers of coffee and toffee that linger until the finish.

88

24

California

Barbera

55,979

France

A ripe and spicy wine, this is structured with black-currant fruits and lively acidity. It is still very young: its exuberant fruitiness likely to calm as it matures. Give this ripe wine until 2019.

88

13

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

103,552

France

An earthy hint on the nose cloaks ripe and charming red-apple fruit. The palate comes across as more diffuse but has ample freshness. The body is powerful but dry, characterized by the texture of apple peel. The lemon freshness on the dry finish is lasting.

91

48

Alsace

Riesling

94,511

US

This creamy and delicious blend of 80% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre truly outperforms all its parts. It offers high tones of red fruit, earthy licorice and tamed tobacco. Medium in body with well-behaved tannins, it has a dusty finish that's very appealing.

89

35

California

Red Blend

93,173

US

Mushroom and kirsch show through a wall of oak and thick tannin. This wine is still compressed and concentrated in flavor, with tea and tobacco providing a bittersweet end.

89

62

California

Pinot Noir

98,732

Portugal

Light and fruity, this has the softest structure. Red berry fruits give the wine a bright, jammy character with acidity offering some freshness. Drink now.

85

13

Douro

Portuguese Red

57,625

Spain

Dry, schisty aromas of cherry and spice are reserved and elevated. This is a bright wine with juicy acidity and complexity. Flavors of baked berry fruits are minerally at the core, while the finish is smooth, mature and steady, with lasting purity. Drink through 2019.

92

50

Catalonia

Red Blend

118,699

US

Simple, tart and thin, with cherry candy and oak flavors, as well as plenty of unripe green, vegetal ones.

82

20

California

Pinot Noir

20,642

Italy

Aromas of underbrush, tobacco leaf, leather, wild berry and a balsamic note take the lead. The palate offers juicy Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and sage alongside rather astringent tannins.

88

125

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

59,193

France

This is a ripe rosé that is full-bodied and rich. Its red plum and strawberry notes are right to the fore, with light tannins adding shape and texture. This dry and hefty wine is made to be paired with food.

88

16

Provence

Rosé

88,192

France

This is a balanced, fruity wine with a beautiful line of fragrant acidity. Apples, pears and a touch of chewy tannin all work together well to give a wine that is both firmly textured and fresh with fruit. It could be drunk now, although it will be best from 2016.

93

40

Burgundy

Chardonnay

21,415

US

This is a big wine that's not ready now—it's too tannic. That gives it a lockdown, numbing quality that blocks a full appreciation of the fruit. But what fruit! Blackberries pure and simple, reduced to their quintessence. Such is the inherent integrity of this wine that it should effortlessly negotiate 4 to 6 years, gradually softening.

91

54

California

Syrah

83,915

US

Tart in acidity, with simple cherry flavors that taste baked into a pie. But the finish is fully dry. Tannic, too, with the result that the mouthfeel is hard as nails.

83

24

California

Sangiovese

87,481

Italy

This is a vinous-smelling wine that recalls the sweet berry aromas you would naturally find in the wine cellar. It's a young wine that still needs to find its legs and that, at this point, delivers overt tones of toasted oak.

85

18

Tuscany

Sangiovese

117,652

US

This round and fruity blend mixes fruit from three vineyards: Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill Vineyard. Ripe black fruits matched to firm, dusty tannins are highlighted with streaks of sassafras and underscored with vivid acidity.

88

40

Oregon

Pinot Noir

76,317

France

Round and soft, this has fresh, attractive fruit, flavors of white pears, candy and green herbs. Just a touch of sweetness in the acidity of the aftertaste.

84

9

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

18,948

US

This barrel-fermented Chardonnay seemingly tastes as sweet as a dessert, although it's technically dry. With its pineapple and tangerine tart, crême brulée and Key lime pie flavors, Chardonnay doesn't get richer than this. Brisk, citrusy acidity gives much needed balance.

91

24

California

Chardonnay

42,441

Italy

Straightforward and refined, this presents a fruity aroma of wild berry and suggestion of Mediterranean brush. The smooth palate offers wild cherry and a hint of savory herb alongside supple tannins and bright acidity.

88

25

Tuscany

Red Blend

9,242

US

Dark in the glass, this blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah is rich and appealing, made in the typical Paso style. Vanilla, cola, spice cake and black cherry aromas lead to a palate laden with milk chocolate, more black cherry, and star anise flavors. The tannins are soft and lush.

91

34

California

Rhône-style Red Blend

115,407

US

Rich, tannic and full bodied, with black cherry jam, red currant, raisin and spice flavors that are penetrating and long. It's a heady wine that's high in alcohol—drink now with grilled beef or chicken slathered in barbecue sauce.

88

32

California

Zinfandel

63,700

US

Aromas of sugared plums, herbs and black currants lead to black- and blue-fruit flavors that are surprisingly soft. One misses the tannins Cabernet is known for but it makes up for it elsewhere.

88

20

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

68,185

US

A beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced and elegant. It's flashy in blackberries and currants, with an elaborate coating of oak, yet not over the top, withdrawing its fruit at the last minute to finish in a swirl of minerality and spice. Should develop over the next six years.

91

48

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

37,279

US

From a great site in this cool appellation, this wine shines with a powerful grip of ripe cherry and strawberry fruit and earthy undertones of dried herb and cardamom cola. Layered and dense, it has a seductively smooth texture and bite of minerality.

91

50

California

Pinot Noir

91,681

US

This is a simple Sauvignon Blanc, with sugary-tasting apricot, orange and vanilla flavors, plus some vegetal notes.

82

15

California

Sauvignon Blanc

62,306

US

A seriously good Cabernet that advances the cause of Sonoma Valley. It's soft and rich and decadently good, offering wave after wave of blackberry pie, cherry jam and sweet oak flavors that are a little on the sweet side. Shows enough acidity and tannin structure to provide balance. Drink now with a good steak, chop or lamb dish.

91

70

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

36,720

Argentina

Quite piercing on the nose, with unyielding cherry and hard-spice aromas. The palate is also intense, with saturated black cherry and raspberry flavors riding rough on a tight frame. Not the most friendly and easy Malbec.

84

12

Mendoza Province

Malbec

77,835

Germany

Cool, mineral elegance and pristine tangerine and quince flavors mark this zesty, sylphlike Riesling. It's dry and light bodied with a finish highlighted by lemony acidity. Drink now through 2019.

91

22

Mosel

Riesling

113,444

Australia

With the number of really good dessert wines available for under $12 per bottle severely limited, this is a refreshing ray of golden sweetness. Dried apricots add enough citrus pith to partially balance out the intensely sweet flavors. Drink in the lusciousness over the next couple of years.

89

11

South Australia

Chardonnay

72,260

France

With the dominance of Pinot Noir in the Aube region, it is no surprise to find a vintage Champagne that is 100% from that grape. With a round character from the Pinot, as well as a hot vintage, this is a full-bodied wine with vibrant fruit and lively acidity. Drink now.

91

100

Champagne

Pinot Noir

103,625

US

Rich and opulent, in the popular style, this Cabernet offers soft, oak-driven flavors of blackberries, black cherries and cherry liqueur. It's a gentle, delicious and fancy wine, if a little one-dimensional. Drink now.

87

45

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

57,844

US

Full bodied, quite flavorful and generous in texture, this wine will be a crowd pleaser. It smells like toast, vanilla and maple, tastes juicy and plummy, and has a lingering, almost sweet finish.

86

11

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

54,037

US

This wine is unusually soft and luscious, easy to drink, and marked by aromas of cinnamon and brown sugar followed by ripe lightly sweet flavors of blackberry jam. It has low acidity, low tannins and medium body.

85

13

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

87,429

Italy

This opens with balsamic aromas, leather, ripe raspberry, iris and a heady whiff of pressed powder while the succulent, delicious palate delivers ripe black raspberry, cake spice and aromatic herb. Firm, polished tannins provide structure and envelope the palate. Drink 2018–2025.

94

60

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

42,990

Italy

Made entirely with Merlot, this full-bodied wine opens with aromas of ripe berry, coffee, vanilla, exotic spice and a whiff of grilled herb. The concentrated palate doles out fleshy black cherries, juicy raspberries licorice, chocolate and tobacco, while velvety tannins provide the framework. A note of dried sage closes the finish. It's already approachable but will continue to age well for several years or more. Drink through 2023.

93

300

Tuscany

Merlot

42,932

Italy

The bouquet is marked by a steady stream of bright raspberry, rose, wild berry and bitter almond. It's sassy crispness on the finish should pair well with cheese or mayonnaise-based appetizers.

87

18

Northeastern Italy

Rosé

109,974

US

Dark in color, this aromatic brooder brings notes of pencil lead, herb and black and purple fruit. Flavors are rich and liquorous, showing tannic heft along with a bit of astringency. The variety isn't readily apparent but the wine is delicious all the same.

89

42

Washington

Cabernet Franc

48,519

US

The producer expertly captures the mix of coolness and intensity so true to the appellation, a tangle of brooding black cherry, blackberry and underlying smoke, that's both decadent and succulent on the palate, deeply satisfying in its finish of chocolate and black licorice.

92

65

California

Pinot Noir

8,479

France

Certainly rich, but this wine is also about purity of spicy fruit, bringing out the fresher side of the variety as well as the intensity.

88

28

Alsace

Gewürztraminer

51,848

Italy

Made from a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Alicante, 10% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, this opens with aromas of black currant, bell pepper and clove. The palate offers mature black cherry, ginger and a hint of vanilla while firm tannins grip the finish.

89

49

Tuscany

Red Blend

119,264

US

The winery made its bones with its fabulous Sacrashe Cabernet from Rutherford. This is their first release from Diamond Mountain, and the result is quite interesting. In fact, it's very good, but disappointing, considering the price. The wine is firm and hard in tannins, with blackberry, currant and new oak flavors, yet it's a little lacking in depth. Could be an ager, but don't bet the farm.

87

100

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

117,441

US

This extreme coastal vineyard behind Cambria delivers extremely pungent herbal aromas of bay leaves, incense, eucalyptus oil and pine, proving intensely intriguing and pleasing, like a walk through the wet pine forest. Similar elements show on the palate, with rosemary, wild mint, juniper and pine-needle tea spicing up the condensed plum flavors.

91

42

California

Pinot Noir

11,304

France

Fresh and fruity, this is a bright wine, full of almost shocking acidity and red-currant fruits. Its tannins are there, although more of an afterthought to the fruit. Drink this light fresh wine from 2017.

87

20

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

67,711

US

This is a soft, richly attractive red wine to drink now. It shows elaborate blackberry, cherry, currant, teriyaki beef, black pepper, anise and sandalwood flavors. An elegant mouthfeel, grows better as it breathes in the glass.

90

38

California

Syrah

50,535

Italy

Aromas recall rose petal, dark berry and orange zest. The palate delivers mature blackberry, cocoa, mocha and a licorice note alongside firm, fine-grained tannins.

89

28

Sicily & Sardinia

Red Blend