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
117,615	Italy	Blue flower, exotic spice, mature black-skinned fruit and chopped herb are some of the aromas you'll discover on this full-bodied wine. The chewy palate offers a core of fleshy black cherry while notes of cinnamon, licorice and tobacco provide backup. Tightly packed, youthfully austere tannins offset the juicy fruit flavors. Drink 2020–2030.	94	250	Tuscany	Sangiovese
116,289	Italy	Banditone is a chewy and ripe Syrah from Tuscany with plump aromas of blueberry and black fruit followed by dark chocolate and spice. The tannins are smooth and extra soft as well.	90	60	Tuscany	Syrah
5,360	US	All aged in single-use French oak, this offers pleasing nuances of corn on the cob, spice, mineral and chamomile. The prickly pear flavors are both elegantly styled and well balanced.	89	45	Washington	Chardonnay
111,218	Italy	Made for early drinking, this bright wine delivers red berry fruit lightly accented with sage and baking spices. It's not an ager so enjoy now through 2020.	88	34	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
40,240	US	Though labeled reserve, this is barely distinguishable from the winery's regular Cabernet. More toast, and a little chocolate is showing, but the fruit flavors—pale blackberry and black currant—are quickly covered up by the aggressive tannins.	85	32	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
91,474	US	Made from grapes picked early specifically for rosé, this bone-dry wine keeps alcohol low and flavors rich. A pale copper hue, it offers flavors that mimic a cava, without the bubbles. Racy minerality underscores a juicy, fruit-driven palate of lemon, lime and orange. A hint of coffee and crème brulée pokes through the refreshing finish.	91	45	Oregon	Rosé
41,313	Argentina	Gritty aromas of asphalt, herbs, tomato and plum make for a tough opening. This is syrupy and grabby on the palate, with creamy berry and cooked brown-sugar flavors. A sinewy finish tastes medicinal and a touch weedy.	85	60	Mendoza Province	Red Blend
64,197	US	Ripe red cherries with hints of fresh green herbs and menthol perfume both the nose and palate of this elegant, medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, intense fruit flavors gain complexity with sprinklings of olives, cedar and sturdy tannins that lead to a long, sour cherry finish.	86	15	New York	Cabernet Sauvignon
83,361	US	A huge wine, fat with the characteristic Cayuse funk, and accented with plenty of meaty asphalt. Potent and powerful, bursting with berries and plums, scented with the aromas of earth and sweet (not dried) herb, chicken stock and flavors that run through the same exotic range. Round and full, forward and balanced, drinking well and maybe just a bit rounder than its brethren.	96	70	Washington	Syrah
88,687	US	The color is light but that's deceptive. Brooding aromas of coffee, smoke, peat, earth, mineral and fire pit lead to lightly styled but rich, focused savory flavors that display both deftness and intensity, with a sense of texture.	94	85	Washington	Syrah
7,382	US	With low alcohol and a clean minerality, this Pinot represents the new direction that the variety is taking in California, helped by cooler vintages. It's dry, crisply acidic and complex, with the cherry-berry flavors assisted with notes of earthy herb and mushroom. A lovely wine now, and should gently develop over the next six years.	92	60	California	Pinot Noir
93,023	US	Zinfandel makes up 58% of this blend, followed by 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Sangiovese plus smaller doses of Syrah, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. It presents as oaky and dusty in plum, with a full-bodied, fruity profile that's soft and lush on the palate, finishing with bittersweet tobacco.	89	35	California	Red Blend
70,731	US	Herb and spice aromas mix with volatile notes. The flavors are light and elegant, but seem a bit faint.	83	40	Washington	Syrah
95,705	US	The Powers family are partners in the justly famed Champoux vineyard, and this is their 15th vintage making this wine. For some it will seem a bit too ripe, for others just right. Port-like aromas introduce flavors of fig, prune and kirsch. The wine seems to be drying out a bit; this is one to drink, not to cellar.	89	30	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
11,332	US	Fermented 40% whole cluster in concrete cubes, this stunning wine provides intensely pure aromas of red and black fruit, flowers and herbs. The dark-fruit flavors are exquisite and fresh with an extended finish.	93	30	Washington	Syrah
121,746	US	Tannic, thick and mired in tar and oak, this estate wine has a lack of fruit that puts it off balance.	83	20	California	Merlot
11,780	US	This light-bodied Pinot has some good raspberry and cherry pie flavors, as well as bright acidity. Decant to let it breathe, and drink now.	84	24	California	Pinot Noir
100,540	France	For the moment, the tannins are still firm and the generous red fruits have not yet penetrated the surface. The acidity is present, like a line of brightness that cuts through this richly tannic wine. This is a potentially opulent wine.	92	90	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
96,325	US	This pure Merlot coats the mouth with opulent berry and cherry fruit and silky tannins. Crafted from Ciel du Cheval, Conner Lee and Stonetree vineyard grapes, the poise, balance, integration and persistence are outstanding, as is the value.	92	30	Washington	Merlot
105,590	Argentina	A fairly oaky bouquet with overt wood grain, vanilla and creamy aromas includes cherry and plum scents. A mostly fresh, choppy palate is a bit rough, while currant and spiced-plum flavors end with woody, medicinal accents. Overall this works well.	88	19	Mendoza Province	Cabernet Sauvignon
83,423	US	The light yellow-gold color is more vivid than usual. Rich aromas are fragrant with floral, honeyed, buttery notes that seem to swell in the flavors as well. This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured wine that amps up the ripeness and buttered-toast flavors to a clearly heard volume, but stops short of blasting.	90	25	California	Pinot Gris
35,724	US	Second-generation winemaker Drake Whitecraft taps his friend Matt's vineyard for this fruit-forward bottling, which shows smashed black grapes, black cherry, black raspberry, lavender, lilac and cola on the nose. The palate is juicy with blueberry and blackberry, lifted by violet and lavender, and touched with white pepper spice.	91	35	California	Syrah
106,540	US	A dry, gritty red wine, lusty and tannic. The blackberry, cassis liqueur and smoky oak flavors suggest pairing with charred steak.	88	38	California	Malbec
129,895	US	A blend of vineyards including the winery's Mill Station site, this white shines in steely acidity and layers of lemon, lime and grapefruit flavor. Tart and tangy with a light-handed approach to ripeness, it doesn't hold back on complexity, offering subtle vanilla tones on the finish.	91	30	California	Chardonnay
105,602	US	This crisp, tangy and refreshing wine has lemon and green-apple aromas, bright citrus flavors, medium body and a lean texture, due mostly to the generous acidity. Raw oysters on the half shell, garlic shrimp and goat-cheese toasts come to mind as good pairings.	88	22	California	Viognier
8,807	Italy	Overripe black berries, vanilla, leather and a touch of coconut lead the nose. The palate delvers fleshy black cherry layered with chocolate and a coffee note alongside evolved, rather tired tannins. It's not an ager so enjoy this soon.	87	40	Tuscany	Sangiovese
25,575	France	Mango aromas bring out the tropical character of this superripe wine. It is soft and creamy, maybe too much so, since it lacks a crisper edge. It is ready to drink.	85	28	Burgundy	Chardonnay
14,040	Italy	This opens with earthy aromas of tilled earth and a hint of farmyard that eventually blow off to reveal dark, ripe fruit scents. The palate is more polished, showing ripe black-cherry, espresso and cinnamon flavors framed by chewy tannins.	87	22	Veneto	Red Blend
41,419	US	The best Syrah yet from this biodynamic producer, this was fermented with native yeast and spent 10 months in 40% new French oak. It's a sleek, subtle and immensely complex wine that knits together beautifully. Juicy boysenberries, composted earth, iron filings and veins of coffee liqueur and licorice compound into a long finish.	94	45	Oregon	Syrah
13,682	Spain	Time will only help this tough, rough Priorato that isn't offering a whole lot now besides tannin, dark-fruit flavors and searing oak. The flavors are middle-of-the-road in terms of friendliness and complexity, so expect a forward, hard-hitting wine. Should be more revealing in a few years.	86	55	Catalonia	Red Blend
46,149	France	A rather lifted nose of peach and blossom creates a heady opening. There also is the merest hint of vanilla. The palate reprises these notes with creamy vanilla, ripe peach and honeysuckle. Warmth is palpable on this rather luscious, incredibly generous and still-evolving wine. The finish is beautifully corralled into zesty sweetness by ripe lemon. This is layered and complex and must be savored slowly. It will continue to develop. Drink 2017–2027.	95	60	Alsace	Gewürztraminer
40,438	Italy	This wine offers a full, bright bouquet that is packed with notes of cherry, chocolate, exotic spice, leather, rum cake and a touch of cinnamon. The palate shows smooth, fine tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish.	92	45	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
107,101	Germany	Dusty mineral and savory herb complexities are layered amidst honeyed swathes of sweet grapefruit. This wine is ethereally light on the palate, but richly concentrated, finishing long with a dusting of sugar cookies and hazelnut.	91	34	Mosel	Riesling
81,809	Italy	Blue flower, ripe plum and baking spice aromas lead the nose on this robust wine. The palate lacks fruit richness, offering dried black cherry, licorice, dark spice and searing alcohol alongside assertive, drying tannins.	87	40	Tuscany	Sangiovese
57,912	France	Light, fruity, very crisp in character, this is an apple and citrus driven wine as much as red fruits. There is an attractive, exotic touch of pomegranate fruits that add an extra dimension to this lively, fresh wine.	89	46	Provence	Rosé
46,981	France	Close to the Sainte-Victoire mountain, this estate's vineyards run between 900 and 1,300 feet in elevation. That gives this attractive wine its cool feel. It is fruity while also having a tangy texture and fine acidity. The wine is well in balance and full of fruit.	86	13	Provence	Rosé
106,862	US	Extraordinarily ripe and sweet in blackberries, cassis and figs, with a lovely perfume of violets and cedar, this soft, lush Cabernet, which was blended with some Petit Verdot, is so decadent now, you can hardly resist it. But it's pretty tannic, with good acidity, and has the structure to ride out the next eight years.	94	95	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
14,134	France	This is a ripe, smoky wine with fine tannins and rich black fruit. Dense with black chocolate and damson flavors, it gives concentration and richness and will age well. Drink from 2020.	91	21	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
46,543	US	Buttered toast, vanilla cream, honey and jammy pineapple, lime and mango flavors give this Chardonnay incredible richness. Monterey acidity balances the palate briskly. Not particularly subtle, but a big, enjoyable wine.	87	38	California	Chardonnay
80,294	Italy	A blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, this opens with heady aromas of cut rose, red berry and dark spice. The round, simple palate doles out juicy Maresca cherry, crushed raspberry and a note of white pepper alongside silky, smooth tannins. There's no complexity but it is easy drinking and delicious.	88	15	Sicily & Sardinia	Red Blend
39,110	US	This brooding, brawny wine made from mountain fruit is all about mushroom and compost notes—a true expression of the vineyard's surroundings. Black cherry fruit and youthful tannins provide context, with a sizzling streak of acidity.	91	50	California	Pinot Noir
86,628	US	This is a big, crowd-pleasing take on Pinot Noir, with fresh and ripe red berries enhanced by barrel smoked toasted teriyaki pork and a pinch of violet on the nose. Ripe raspberry juice shows on the juicy palate, but so does wet slate minerality, dried sage and thyme and even nice pine needle and eucalyptus astringency.	92	36	California	Pinot Noir
56,308	US	Finished quite dry, this brings tart rhubarb and sour berry fruit to bear, backed with ample acidity. It was whole cluster pressed, blended with Pinot Noir saignée, and cold fermented in stainless steel. It's a good picnic rosé, ready for cured meats and soft cheeses.	86	20	Oregon	Rosé
47,039	France	A concentrated wine, relying on its generous black currant juice fruit rather than the more reticent tannins. The wine is dominated by Cabernet juiciness, a burst of fruit in the glass.	89	42	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
87,428	France	Structured and dense, this wine comes from the remains of a quarry on the hill of Corton. From the Louis Latour domaine, it is powerful and packed with black fruits, rich while still with the freshness of the year. It has a good future, so don't drink before 2023.	94	150	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
60,774	Spain	The bouquet seems nutty and salinic, and overall this extra dry (meaning fairly sweet) focuses on soft and sugary mango and melon flavors. It's not as lively as it needs to be to balance the sweetness, so ultimately the wine comes up a touch flat. Imported by Freixenet USA.	84	12	Catalonia	Sparkling Blend
55,135	Italy	This presents the nose whiffs of pineapple and wet stone while the lean palate offers rennet apple skin, tangerine and a hint of mineral. Bracing acidity dominates the finish.	85	13	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
28,893	US	Floral and brimming in baked-bread aromas, this full-bodied, full-flavored wine is simply layered, with muted characteristics of brambly berry, sage and leather.	86	23	California	Zinfandel
57,578	Italy	Italy's most iconic sparkler, this is made entirely from Chardonnay and aged on its lees for at least 10 years. Layers of flavors include yeasty sensations of baked bread, pastry cream, honey, vanilla, juicy pear and candied lemon peel. It has depth and complexity, with an ultrafine mousse that enhances the creamy texture. Drink through 2020.	93	130	Northeastern Italy	Chardonnay
111,023	US	A brilliant Chardonnay showing how well this region can ripen fruit while retaining brisk acidity. Oak barrels add an exotic touch of clove to the underlying pineapple fruit flavors. Feels rich and creamy, and aging on the lees provides a complex touch of sourdough. Drink now.	93	45	California	Chardonnay
89,505	US	Veins of smoke and nuts lend savoriness to the bouquet of this dry, full-bodied Chardonnay. It's rich, round and easy on the palate, balancing pressed apple and pear flavors with a fresh zest of lemon on the finish.	86	35	New York	Chardonnay
120,772	US	This bone-dry-tasting wine is made from grapes that were sourced from the Alayt Vineyard. It marries light hints of flowers to notes of citrus, apples and pears, which taste more like the fruits' textural skin than its sweet flesh. The impressive minerality, depth and length elevate this bottling to the A-list of Washington Rieslings.	92	17	Washington	Riesling
87,739	Portugal	A smooth and beautifully ripe wine that is full of rich red fruits, in a Burgundian style. Opulent and deliciously rich, its tannins are enveloped in a plump velvet cushion. It can age longer, but is almost drinkable now.	90	100	Douro	Portuguese Red
1,476	US	This has light but sweet fruit flavor, leaning heavily toward strawberry and Bing cherry candy. The fruit is a bit mismatched to the tannins, which are thick and chewy, but with additional bottle age the middle may fill out somewhat. It's got a pretty, fruity entry and a substantial, slightly earthy finish; it's just that midpalate that falls a bit short.	86	20	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
66,593	US	This wine doesn't try to conceal what it is, a 100% varietal exploration of a hearty grape, though in this case, from a relatively cool area. Black-purple in color, it offers structure and tension atop developed flavors of mocha chocolate and plum.	88	28	California	Petite Sirah
79,534	US	Dark in color, this accessible wine is deliciously layered and focused, offering a core of golden pear, Gravenstein apple and nutmeg, with a bright laser beam of acidity.	91	26	California	Chardonnay
100,400	US	The name references the clone number for this single-clone Cabernet Sauvignon. Since it is also a single-vineyard estate wine, it captures terroir in a meaningful expression. Still young, sharply defined and tannic, it is showing a lot of barrel flavors, especially clove. The Cabernet fruit is right in line with Gordon Brothers style, capturing the herbal aspects of the grape, in perfect balance, with a beautiful mix of cassis, earth and fresh, sweet herb. Very limited.	91	50	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
102,259	US	Freshly cut Anjou pear, crisp apple, hints of honeydew and lime skin show on the nose of this vibrant bottling by Greg Brewer. There is bouncy acidity and a fine-grained, chalky grip to the sip, delivering chilled green-melon and lime-sorbet flavors. It's tangy yet laced with stony minerality and intriguing texture.	93	36	California	Chardonnay
25,273	France	Vranken's releases seem to be bucking the trend towards drier Champagnes. This wine is soft and obviously the dosage is high. It is balanced and the fresh creamed apple flavors and light texture all work well together. It is in a light style, ready to drink.	87	53	Champagne	Champagne Blend
79,682	US	Earthy aromas of Chardonnay fruit and toast lead on this wine with a somewhat prickly character. Lean and simple, it wants more spice and a softer mouthfeel to make it work.	82	19	New York	Chardonnay
127,661	US	This is a very nice Cabernet that's gentle and soft in the mouth, with luscious blackberry and mocha flavors. It seems a little too light for aging, but should make for excellent drinking now and over the next year or two.	90	28	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
30,607	France	Structured and balanced, this wine has great fruits that go with the tannins and rich texture. There is an unusually low amount of Merlot (60%) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc for the area, yet there is a strongly juicy feel to the wine that gives a generous side. It is developing well; drink from 2016.	88	18	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
58,038	US	This blend of 42% Syrah, 31% Petite Sirah, 20% Zinfandel and 7% Grenache from the Templeton Gap area shows aromas of grape soda, pencil lead, sweet violets and effervescent cola, all fun yet elegantly restrained. Blueberry, black pepper and fresh purple fruit combine for a very lively wine, with strong acidity on the palate.	91	42	California	Red Blend
10,420	US	This wine takes time to unravel and reveal itself, rewarding the patient with a wealth of high-toned citrus and elegantly wound, medium-bodied honeyed pear and caramel. Lengthy and complex, it's one to consider aging and allowing to further mellow over time. Drink now through 2021.	91	93	California	Chardonnay
39,874	Italy	The Pio Cesare basic Barbera is a lean wine, with aromas of tart cherries and road tar. On the palate, the fruit and aromatics have melded together quite nicely, but despite a decent finish, the acidity is a little high.	84	21	Piedmont	Barbera
84,431	US	Veteran winemaker Lane Tanner teamed with Will Henry of the Henry Wine Group on this newer brand. This bottling shows scents of rose petals and earthy hibiscus as well as more brooding rooibos tea and plum aromas. The action-packed palate is subtly presented with flavors of iron, black plum, cranberry and clove.	90	49	California	Pinot Noir
118,713	France	Dense, concentrated, solid, this wine shows the stern side of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The tannins are dry, very firm and rough at the edges. The fruit is just as edgy, with black, juicy plums surrounded by smoky wood and tobacco. The wine needs to age, although it will always have a solid, structured character.	92	125	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
61,130	US	An earthy if slightly reserved nose offers mushroom and iron aromas on this bottling by the single-vineyard experts in Los Gatos. The wine comes alive on the sip, with bergamot, black tea, bay leaves, Greek spice and thyme decorating the woody elderberry fruits.	91	64	California	Pinot Noir
82,251	US	There's a nice dollop of warm butter on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard planted in 1975, but it's well restrained and enhanced by vanilla yogurt and graphite aromas. A crushed sea-shell minerality shines on the palate, where apple flesh, graphite and lemon rinds combine for a full sipping experience.	92	25	California	Chardonnay
2,508	Spain	Artadi's top wine is dynamite in a bottle. Ripe, saturated, oaky aromas of blackberry, leather, blueberry pie and aged cheese are incredibly potent and alluring. This is huge in the mouth, with lemony oak and broad tannins that don't grind. Intense blackberry, coffee, toast and smoky flavors finish a mile deep, with all sorts of textural grab and character. Best from 2016 through 2026.	95	300	Northern Spain	Tempranillo Blend
56,763	France	A rich, smoky style of wine that revels in its high toast character as well as ripe yellow fruit flavors. It is certainly full in the mouth, a burst of ripeness followed by balancing acidity and a texture of red apple skins. It would be worth aging for another year.	90	20	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
25,691	Italy	Milk chocolate and sweet cherry aromas appear alongside cured meat and plump black fruit. This is a straightforward Brunello with a creamy, soft close.	88	65	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
15,435	France	This comes from vines in Chichée on the warm right bank of the Serein River. It is a ripe wine, full of rich apricot and lime fruits and a straight line of acidity that gives the Chablis a crisp texture. The aftertaste is lively and the wine is ready to drink.	90	24	Burgundy	Chardonnay
37,542	US	Still settling into the bottle, this wine is aromatically quiet, with notes of white flowers and pear. It drinks off dry, with generous amounts of stone-fruit flavors. If the aromas blossom, it could move up a notch as the flavors are quite well proportioned.	88	16	Washington	Riesling
66,827	Spain	Dusty earthy cherry and plum aromas are a bit spicy, while this feels blocky, with rubbery tannins. Spicy herbal plum and raspberry flavors show a mild green note on the finish.	87	15	Northern Spain	Red Blend
67,090	France	Impressively dense, dark flavored wine, very rich and quite extracted. But it still keeps the elegance and some of the freshness of 2004, and there is plenty of blackberry flavor to push the wine along. Heavier than many 2004s, it still shows that great acidity.	94	70	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
39,909	US	“Rich” doesn't even begin to describe this Pinot. The fruit is front and center, blasting off with raspberries and cherries imposingly rich and sweet. Flavor is the star, at the cost of complexity. Drink now.	87	39	California	Pinot Noir
78,160	Italy	Oak, sweet vanilla, chocolate and plum cake aromas take center stage. The aromas carry on to the palate but there's not enough fruit to stand up to the oak or the astringent wood-driven tannins that leave the mouth feeling dried out.	87	66	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
111,213	US	This comes from estate-grown fruit in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Spicy and sharp-toned, it brings tart acidity and highlights of orange peel to flavors of wild mountain berries. The tannins are still a bit rough, but should smooth out with more bottle age.	88	48	Oregon	Pinot Noir
30,121	France	Produced from biodynamically grown grapes (as are all the Olivier Leflaive family grand and premier crus), this is a gorgeous, opulent wine. It has richness and great intensity as well as fine acidity and crisp apple fruits. Toast and vanilla come from the wood aging. The wine is so generous and packed with fruit as well as a strong mineral texture. Drink from 2022.	95	569	Burgundy	Chardonnay
69,111	US	Coming from an assortment of warm and cool climate vineyards and blended with 6% Roussanne, this pleasing wine offers notes of grilled corn on the cob, white peach, pepper and hay. Abundant stone fruit flavors are supported by a creamy feel, finishing just a touch bitter.	87	18	Washington	Chardonnay
5,955	France	Soft, lightly creamy Chardonnay, pleasantly fruity, offering some apple and pear flavors along with gentle acidity.	84	10	Burgundy	Chardonnay
68,402	US	From Sebastiani, proof that Pinot Noir has been overplanted in California. This has some pleasant Pinot character in the cherry, spice and earth flavors and light, silky tannins, but it's a simple, one-dimensional wine.	84	9	California	Pinot Noir
18,256	US	Plump aromas of white peach, lemon syrup, butterscotch and prominent oak show on the nose of this bottling, one of the richer ones in the current Talley lineup. The oak smoke flavors mix with vanilla and a finish of caramel on the palate, but the winery's reliably bright acidity hold the larger elements in check.	92	44	California	Chardonnay
22,045	Italy	Weedy underbrush and scorched soil aromas lead the way along with a smoked note. The bitter palate offers a green note of powdered sage and hazelnut but it lacks fruit. Clenching tannins grip the finish.	85	100	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
90,674	US	Fresh aromas, vivid citrus flavors, elegance and poise make this an attractive wine. It has a balance that is easy to enjoy and keeps calling for more sips, with pleasant notes of citrus and green fruit throughout.	90	14	California	Sauvignon Blanc
77,727	US	There's no oak on this Chardonnay, but you won't miss it at all. It's so decadent in long hangtime pineapple, tangerine, mango and spice flavors, superripe and just delicious. The alcohol is fairly high, but that's the price of all this richness.	92	32	California	Chardonnay
44,298	US	This bottling, which is bolstered by 9% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, shows zesty blackberry, boysenberry, thyme and cedar on the fruit-driven nose. The flavors are approachable and easy, with baked berries, black pepper and charred beef, laid across a very friendly and soft structure.	88	49	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
18,861	US	This 100% varietal wine conveys notes of mortared green herbs, plum, cherry, medicine cabinet and vanilla. It's medium bodied with a supple, enticing feel. Baking spice, cherry and coffee flavors linger on the (very, very) long, coffee-filled finish. The aromas don't all come together but this wine is worth exploring for the remarkable finish, which is about as good as it gets.	89	100	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
54,229	US	Scents and flavors suggest cherry pipe tobacco, along with streaks of dried leaf and lemon oil. It's a rough and tumble, every day red, with some chewy tannins.	86	27	Oregon	Cabernet Sauvignon
51,243	France	A pale wine with almost sugary flavors. It has a strawberry fruit character and soft acidity.	83	25	Loire Valley	Rosé
66,024	US	The aromas on this wine by Bryan Babcock find an intriguing balance between ripe nectarine flesh and tart stonefruit skins. It's a bit more lush in style than other Pinot Gris of the vintage, quite broad on the palate, with apple-pear flavors, lingering lemon skin bitterness and an acidity that soaks into the tongue.	90	25	California	Pinot Gris
125,790	US	Extraordinarily rich, complex and delicious, this wine defines a ripe approach to cool-climate Pinot Noir. In its youthful state, it's plastered over with smoky oak, but below that are abundant ripe red and black cherry flavors. Near-perfect acids and tannins create wonderful balance and harmony in this ageworthy wine. Cellar Selection.	92	60	California	Pinot Noir
116,618	US	This cuvée offers the pleasures of sweet, sappy red fruits, soft tannins and broad swaths of caramel, toasted hazelnuts and mocha. It coats the tongue with flavor and has a sort of insistence that the next sip will be even better.	92	45	Oregon	Pinot Noir
86,251	France	Soft, ripe and jammy, this is too ripe and misses structure. Its acidity does redeem it, but it is not going to develop much.	83	33	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
121,710	US	This tastes like an orange, peach and guava breakfast fruit drink—sweet and tart in acidity. It has some warmth from the alcohol.	84	16	California	Chardonnay
114,042	US	This is 100% varietal, from a heritage clone named for the owner and the winery, the Disney Silverado Heritage Clone. It contributes a dusty earthiness to the wine, a density and purity of fruit deep in dense blueberry and blackberry unctuousness. Cedar and graphite season it well, as firm, thick tannins fill up the finish.	90	125	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
32,239	France	A hint of flinty reduction still plays on the nose, barely letting any of the pure fruit notes escape but both ripe and crisp pear appear. The palate still shows some yeasty funk but convinces with purity, sheer power and concentration. This feels urgent and direct, strong and stony, boisterous with sheer force and drive. This needs time to settle but will be a very convincing, even forceful and energetic Pinot Gris with some bottle age. Drink 2020—2035.	94	80	Alsace	Pinot Gris
67,364	US	Opens with immense, luscious aromas of apricot liqueur, vanilla custard, fennel, orange blossom and honeysuckle. Explodes on the palate with enormous fruit and spice flavors; it’s intense and concentrated. Very sweet, but the acidity is high and cleansing. It has a velvety texture, and finishes long and sweet. Enjoy it with vanilla ice cream or crème brûlée	90	20	California	Riesling
56,428	Italy	Enticing aromas of citrus, spring blossom and white stone fruit set the tone on this elegant sparkler. Bright and polished, the silky palate offers Bartlett pear and green apple alongside vibrant acidity and a silky perlage.	91	23	Veneto	Glera

117,615

Italy

Blue flower, exotic spice, mature black-skinned fruit and chopped herb are some of the aromas you'll discover on this full-bodied wine. The chewy palate offers a core of fleshy black cherry while notes of cinnamon, licorice and tobacco provide backup. Tightly packed, youthfully austere tannins offset the juicy fruit flavors. Drink 2020–2030.

94

250

Tuscany

Sangiovese

116,289

Italy

Banditone is a chewy and ripe Syrah from Tuscany with plump aromas of blueberry and black fruit followed by dark chocolate and spice. The tannins are smooth and extra soft as well.

90

60

Tuscany

Syrah

5,360

US

All aged in single-use French oak, this offers pleasing nuances of corn on the cob, spice, mineral and chamomile. The prickly pear flavors are both elegantly styled and well balanced.

89

45

Washington

Chardonnay

111,218

Italy

Made for early drinking, this bright wine delivers red berry fruit lightly accented with sage and baking spices. It's not an ager so enjoy now through 2020.

88

34

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

40,240

US

Though labeled reserve, this is barely distinguishable from the winery's regular Cabernet. More toast, and a little chocolate is showing, but the fruit flavors—pale blackberry and black currant—are quickly covered up by the aggressive tannins.

85

32

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

91,474

US

Made from grapes picked early specifically for rosé, this bone-dry wine keeps alcohol low and flavors rich. A pale copper hue, it offers flavors that mimic a cava, without the bubbles. Racy minerality underscores a juicy, fruit-driven palate of lemon, lime and orange. A hint of coffee and crème brulée pokes through the refreshing finish.

91

45

Oregon

Rosé

41,313

Argentina

Gritty aromas of asphalt, herbs, tomato and plum make for a tough opening. This is syrupy and grabby on the palate, with creamy berry and cooked brown-sugar flavors. A sinewy finish tastes medicinal and a touch weedy.

85

60

Mendoza Province

Red Blend

64,197

US

Ripe red cherries with hints of fresh green herbs and menthol perfume both the nose and palate of this elegant, medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, intense fruit flavors gain complexity with sprinklings of olives, cedar and sturdy tannins that lead to a long, sour cherry finish.

86

15

New York

Cabernet Sauvignon

83,361

US

A huge wine, fat with the characteristic Cayuse funk, and accented with plenty of meaty asphalt. Potent and powerful, bursting with berries and plums, scented with the aromas of earth and sweet (not dried) herb, chicken stock and flavors that run through the same exotic range. Round and full, forward and balanced, drinking well and maybe just a bit rounder than its brethren.

96

70

Washington

Syrah

88,687

US

The color is light but that's deceptive. Brooding aromas of coffee, smoke, peat, earth, mineral and fire pit lead to lightly styled but rich, focused savory flavors that display both deftness and intensity, with a sense of texture.

94

85

Washington

Syrah

7,382

US

With low alcohol and a clean minerality, this Pinot represents the new direction that the variety is taking in California, helped by cooler vintages. It's dry, crisply acidic and complex, with the cherry-berry flavors assisted with notes of earthy herb and mushroom. A lovely wine now, and should gently develop over the next six years.

92

60

California

Pinot Noir

93,023

US

Zinfandel makes up 58% of this blend, followed by 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Sangiovese plus smaller doses of Syrah, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. It presents as oaky and dusty in plum, with a full-bodied, fruity profile that's soft and lush on the palate, finishing with bittersweet tobacco.

89

35

California

Red Blend

70,731

US

Herb and spice aromas mix with volatile notes. The flavors are light and elegant, but seem a bit faint.

83

40

Washington

Syrah

95,705

US

The Powers family are partners in the justly famed Champoux vineyard, and this is their 15th vintage making this wine. For some it will seem a bit too ripe, for others just right. Port-like aromas introduce flavors of fig, prune and kirsch. The wine seems to be drying out a bit; this is one to drink, not to cellar.

89

30

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

11,332

US

Fermented 40% whole cluster in concrete cubes, this stunning wine provides intensely pure aromas of red and black fruit, flowers and herbs. The dark-fruit flavors are exquisite and fresh with an extended finish.

93

30

Washington

Syrah

121,746

US

Tannic, thick and mired in tar and oak, this estate wine has a lack of fruit that puts it off balance.

83

20

California

Merlot

11,780

US

This light-bodied Pinot has some good raspberry and cherry pie flavors, as well as bright acidity. Decant to let it breathe, and drink now.

84

24

California

Pinot Noir

100,540

France

For the moment, the tannins are still firm and the generous red fruits have not yet penetrated the surface. The acidity is present, like a line of brightness that cuts through this richly tannic wine. This is a potentially opulent wine.

92

90

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

96,325

US

This pure Merlot coats the mouth with opulent berry and cherry fruit and silky tannins. Crafted from Ciel du Cheval, Conner Lee and Stonetree vineyard grapes, the poise, balance, integration and persistence are outstanding, as is the value.

92

30

Washington

Merlot

105,590

Argentina

A fairly oaky bouquet with overt wood grain, vanilla and creamy aromas includes cherry and plum scents. A mostly fresh, choppy palate is a bit rough, while currant and spiced-plum flavors end with woody, medicinal accents. Overall this works well.

88

19

Mendoza Province

Cabernet Sauvignon

83,423

US

The light yellow-gold color is more vivid than usual. Rich aromas are fragrant with floral, honeyed, buttery notes that seem to swell in the flavors as well. This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured wine that amps up the ripeness and buttered-toast flavors to a clearly heard volume, but stops short of blasting.

90

25

California

Pinot Gris

35,724

US

Second-generation winemaker Drake Whitecraft taps his friend Matt's vineyard for this fruit-forward bottling, which shows smashed black grapes, black cherry, black raspberry, lavender, lilac and cola on the nose. The palate is juicy with blueberry and blackberry, lifted by violet and lavender, and touched with white pepper spice.

91

35

California

Syrah

106,540

US

A dry, gritty red wine, lusty and tannic. The blackberry, cassis liqueur and smoky oak flavors suggest pairing with charred steak.

88

38

California

Malbec

129,895

US

A blend of vineyards including the winery's Mill Station site, this white shines in steely acidity and layers of lemon, lime and grapefruit flavor. Tart and tangy with a light-handed approach to ripeness, it doesn't hold back on complexity, offering subtle vanilla tones on the finish.

91

30

California

Chardonnay

105,602

US

This crisp, tangy and refreshing wine has lemon and green-apple aromas, bright citrus flavors, medium body and a lean texture, due mostly to the generous acidity. Raw oysters on the half shell, garlic shrimp and goat-cheese toasts come to mind as good pairings.

88

22

California

Viognier

8,807

Italy

Overripe black berries, vanilla, leather and a touch of coconut lead the nose. The palate delvers fleshy black cherry layered with chocolate and a coffee note alongside evolved, rather tired tannins. It's not an ager so enjoy this soon.

87

40

Tuscany

Sangiovese

25,575

France

Mango aromas bring out the tropical character of this superripe wine. It is soft and creamy, maybe too much so, since it lacks a crisper edge. It is ready to drink.

85

28

Burgundy

Chardonnay

14,040

Italy

This opens with earthy aromas of tilled earth and a hint of farmyard that eventually blow off to reveal dark, ripe fruit scents. The palate is more polished, showing ripe black-cherry, espresso and cinnamon flavors framed by chewy tannins.

87

22

Veneto

Red Blend

41,419

US

The best Syrah yet from this biodynamic producer, this was fermented with native yeast and spent 10 months in 40% new French oak. It's a sleek, subtle and immensely complex wine that knits together beautifully. Juicy boysenberries, composted earth, iron filings and veins of coffee liqueur and licorice compound into a long finish.

94

45

Oregon

Syrah

13,682

Spain

Time will only help this tough, rough Priorato that isn't offering a whole lot now besides tannin, dark-fruit flavors and searing oak. The flavors are middle-of-the-road in terms of friendliness and complexity, so expect a forward, hard-hitting wine. Should be more revealing in a few years.

86

55

Catalonia

Red Blend

46,149

France

A rather lifted nose of peach and blossom creates a heady opening. There also is the merest hint of vanilla. The palate reprises these notes with creamy vanilla, ripe peach and honeysuckle. Warmth is palpable on this rather luscious, incredibly generous and still-evolving wine. The finish is beautifully corralled into zesty sweetness by ripe lemon. This is layered and complex and must be savored slowly. It will continue to develop. Drink 2017–2027.

95

60

Alsace

Gewürztraminer

40,438

Italy

This wine offers a full, bright bouquet that is packed with notes of cherry, chocolate, exotic spice, leather, rum cake and a touch of cinnamon. The palate shows smooth, fine tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish.

92

45

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

107,101

Germany

Dusty mineral and savory herb complexities are layered amidst honeyed swathes of sweet grapefruit. This wine is ethereally light on the palate, but richly concentrated, finishing long with a dusting of sugar cookies and hazelnut.

91

34

Mosel

Riesling

81,809

Italy

Blue flower, ripe plum and baking spice aromas lead the nose on this robust wine. The palate lacks fruit richness, offering dried black cherry, licorice, dark spice and searing alcohol alongside assertive, drying tannins.

87

40

Tuscany

Sangiovese

57,912

France

Light, fruity, very crisp in character, this is an apple and citrus driven wine as much as red fruits. There is an attractive, exotic touch of pomegranate fruits that add an extra dimension to this lively, fresh wine.

89

46

Provence

Rosé

46,981

France

Close to the Sainte-Victoire mountain, this estate's vineyards run between 900 and 1,300 feet in elevation. That gives this attractive wine its cool feel. It is fruity while also having a tangy texture and fine acidity. The wine is well in balance and full of fruit.

86

13

Provence

Rosé

106,862

US

Extraordinarily ripe and sweet in blackberries, cassis and figs, with a lovely perfume of violets and cedar, this soft, lush Cabernet, which was blended with some Petit Verdot, is so decadent now, you can hardly resist it. But it's pretty tannic, with good acidity, and has the structure to ride out the next eight years.

94

95

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

14,134

France

This is a ripe, smoky wine with fine tannins and rich black fruit. Dense with black chocolate and damson flavors, it gives concentration and richness and will age well. Drink from 2020.

91

21

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

46,543

US

Buttered toast, vanilla cream, honey and jammy pineapple, lime and mango flavors give this Chardonnay incredible richness. Monterey acidity balances the palate briskly. Not particularly subtle, but a big, enjoyable wine.

87

38

California

Chardonnay

80,294

Italy

A blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato, this opens with heady aromas of cut rose, red berry and dark spice. The round, simple palate doles out juicy Maresca cherry, crushed raspberry and a note of white pepper alongside silky, smooth tannins. There's no complexity but it is easy drinking and delicious.

88

15

Sicily & Sardinia

Red Blend

39,110

US

This brooding, brawny wine made from mountain fruit is all about mushroom and compost notes—a true expression of the vineyard's surroundings. Black cherry fruit and youthful tannins provide context, with a sizzling streak of acidity.

91

50

California

Pinot Noir

86,628

US

This is a big, crowd-pleasing take on Pinot Noir, with fresh and ripe red berries enhanced by barrel smoked toasted teriyaki pork and a pinch of violet on the nose. Ripe raspberry juice shows on the juicy palate, but so does wet slate minerality, dried sage and thyme and even nice pine needle and eucalyptus astringency.

92

36

California

Pinot Noir

56,308

US

Finished quite dry, this brings tart rhubarb and sour berry fruit to bear, backed with ample acidity. It was whole cluster pressed, blended with Pinot Noir saignée, and cold fermented in stainless steel. It's a good picnic rosé, ready for cured meats and soft cheeses.

86

20

Oregon

Rosé

47,039

France

A concentrated wine, relying on its generous black currant juice fruit rather than the more reticent tannins. The wine is dominated by Cabernet juiciness, a burst of fruit in the glass.

89

42

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

87,428

France

Structured and dense, this wine comes from the remains of a quarry on the hill of Corton. From the Louis Latour domaine, it is powerful and packed with black fruits, rich while still with the freshness of the year. It has a good future, so don't drink before 2023.

94

150

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

60,774

Spain

The bouquet seems nutty and salinic, and overall this extra dry (meaning fairly sweet) focuses on soft and sugary mango and melon flavors. It's not as lively as it needs to be to balance the sweetness, so ultimately the wine comes up a touch flat. Imported by Freixenet USA.

84

12

Catalonia

Sparkling Blend

55,135

Italy

This presents the nose whiffs of pineapple and wet stone while the lean palate offers rennet apple skin, tangerine and a hint of mineral. Bracing acidity dominates the finish.

85

13

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

28,893

US

Floral and brimming in baked-bread aromas, this full-bodied, full-flavored wine is simply layered, with muted characteristics of brambly berry, sage and leather.

86

23

California

Zinfandel

57,578

Italy

Italy's most iconic sparkler, this is made entirely from Chardonnay and aged on its lees for at least 10 years. Layers of flavors include yeasty sensations of baked bread, pastry cream, honey, vanilla, juicy pear and candied lemon peel. It has depth and complexity, with an ultrafine mousse that enhances the creamy texture. Drink through 2020.

93

130

Northeastern Italy

Chardonnay

111,023

US

A brilliant Chardonnay showing how well this region can ripen fruit while retaining brisk acidity. Oak barrels add an exotic touch of clove to the underlying pineapple fruit flavors. Feels rich and creamy, and aging on the lees provides a complex touch of sourdough. Drink now.

93

45

California

Chardonnay

89,505

US

Veins of smoke and nuts lend savoriness to the bouquet of this dry, full-bodied Chardonnay. It's rich, round and easy on the palate, balancing pressed apple and pear flavors with a fresh zest of lemon on the finish.

86

35

New York

Chardonnay

120,772

US

This bone-dry-tasting wine is made from grapes that were sourced from the Alayt Vineyard. It marries light hints of flowers to notes of citrus, apples and pears, which taste more like the fruits' textural skin than its sweet flesh. The impressive minerality, depth and length elevate this bottling to the A-list of Washington Rieslings.

92

17

Washington

Riesling

87,739

Portugal

A smooth and beautifully ripe wine that is full of rich red fruits, in a Burgundian style. Opulent and deliciously rich, its tannins are enveloped in a plump velvet cushion. It can age longer, but is almost drinkable now.

90

100

Douro

Portuguese Red

1,476

US

This has light but sweet fruit flavor, leaning heavily toward strawberry and Bing cherry candy. The fruit is a bit mismatched to the tannins, which are thick and chewy, but with additional bottle age the middle may fill out somewhat. It's got a pretty, fruity entry and a substantial, slightly earthy finish; it's just that midpalate that falls a bit short.

86

20

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

66,593

US

This wine doesn't try to conceal what it is, a 100% varietal exploration of a hearty grape, though in this case, from a relatively cool area. Black-purple in color, it offers structure and tension atop developed flavors of mocha chocolate and plum.

88

28

California

Petite Sirah

79,534

US

Dark in color, this accessible wine is deliciously layered and focused, offering a core of golden pear, Gravenstein apple and nutmeg, with a bright laser beam of acidity.

91

26

California

Chardonnay

100,400

US

The name references the clone number for this single-clone Cabernet Sauvignon. Since it is also a single-vineyard estate wine, it captures terroir in a meaningful expression. Still young, sharply defined and tannic, it is showing a lot of barrel flavors, especially clove. The Cabernet fruit is right in line with Gordon Brothers style, capturing the herbal aspects of the grape, in perfect balance, with a beautiful mix of cassis, earth and fresh, sweet herb. Very limited.

91

50

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

102,259

US

Freshly cut Anjou pear, crisp apple, hints of honeydew and lime skin show on the nose of this vibrant bottling by Greg Brewer. There is bouncy acidity and a fine-grained, chalky grip to the sip, delivering chilled green-melon and lime-sorbet flavors. It's tangy yet laced with stony minerality and intriguing texture.

93

36

California

Chardonnay

25,273

France

Vranken's releases seem to be bucking the trend towards drier Champagnes. This wine is soft and obviously the dosage is high. It is balanced and the fresh creamed apple flavors and light texture all work well together. It is in a light style, ready to drink.

87

53

Champagne

Champagne Blend

79,682

US

Earthy aromas of Chardonnay fruit and toast lead on this wine with a somewhat prickly character. Lean and simple, it wants more spice and a softer mouthfeel to make it work.

82

19

New York

Chardonnay

127,661

US

This is a very nice Cabernet that's gentle and soft in the mouth, with luscious blackberry and mocha flavors. It seems a little too light for aging, but should make for excellent drinking now and over the next year or two.

90

28

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

30,607

France

Structured and balanced, this wine has great fruits that go with the tannins and rich texture. There is an unusually low amount of Merlot (60%) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc for the area, yet there is a strongly juicy feel to the wine that gives a generous side. It is developing well; drink from 2016.

88

18

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

58,038

US

This blend of 42% Syrah, 31% Petite Sirah, 20% Zinfandel and 7% Grenache from the Templeton Gap area shows aromas of grape soda, pencil lead, sweet violets and effervescent cola, all fun yet elegantly restrained. Blueberry, black pepper and fresh purple fruit combine for a very lively wine, with strong acidity on the palate.

91

42

California

Red Blend

10,420

US

This wine takes time to unravel and reveal itself, rewarding the patient with a wealth of high-toned citrus and elegantly wound, medium-bodied honeyed pear and caramel. Lengthy and complex, it's one to consider aging and allowing to further mellow over time. Drink now through 2021.

91

93

California

Chardonnay

39,874

Italy

The Pio Cesare basic Barbera is a lean wine, with aromas of tart cherries and road tar. On the palate, the fruit and aromatics have melded together quite nicely, but despite a decent finish, the acidity is a little high.

84

21

Piedmont

Barbera

84,431

US

Veteran winemaker Lane Tanner teamed with Will Henry of the Henry Wine Group on this newer brand. This bottling shows scents of rose petals and earthy hibiscus as well as more brooding rooibos tea and plum aromas. The action-packed palate is subtly presented with flavors of iron, black plum, cranberry and clove.

90

49

California

Pinot Noir

118,713

France

Dense, concentrated, solid, this wine shows the stern side of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The tannins are dry, very firm and rough at the edges. The fruit is just as edgy, with black, juicy plums surrounded by smoky wood and tobacco. The wine needs to age, although it will always have a solid, structured character.

92

125

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

61,130

US

An earthy if slightly reserved nose offers mushroom and iron aromas on this bottling by the single-vineyard experts in Los Gatos. The wine comes alive on the sip, with bergamot, black tea, bay leaves, Greek spice and thyme decorating the woody elderberry fruits.

91

64

California

Pinot Noir

82,251

US

There's a nice dollop of warm butter on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard planted in 1975, but it's well restrained and enhanced by vanilla yogurt and graphite aromas. A crushed sea-shell minerality shines on the palate, where apple flesh, graphite and lemon rinds combine for a full sipping experience.

92

25

California

Chardonnay

2,508

Spain

Artadi's top wine is dynamite in a bottle. Ripe, saturated, oaky aromas of blackberry, leather, blueberry pie and aged cheese are incredibly potent and alluring. This is huge in the mouth, with lemony oak and broad tannins that don't grind. Intense blackberry, coffee, toast and smoky flavors finish a mile deep, with all sorts of textural grab and character. Best from 2016 through 2026.

95

300

Northern Spain

Tempranillo Blend

56,763

France

A rich, smoky style of wine that revels in its high toast character as well as ripe yellow fruit flavors. It is certainly full in the mouth, a burst of ripeness followed by balancing acidity and a texture of red apple skins. It would be worth aging for another year.

90

20

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

25,691

Italy

Milk chocolate and sweet cherry aromas appear alongside cured meat and plump black fruit. This is a straightforward Brunello with a creamy, soft close.

88

65

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

15,435

France

This comes from vines in Chichée on the warm right bank of the Serein River. It is a ripe wine, full of rich apricot and lime fruits and a straight line of acidity that gives the Chablis a crisp texture. The aftertaste is lively and the wine is ready to drink.

90

24

Burgundy

Chardonnay

37,542

US

Still settling into the bottle, this wine is aromatically quiet, with notes of white flowers and pear. It drinks off dry, with generous amounts of stone-fruit flavors. If the aromas blossom, it could move up a notch as the flavors are quite well proportioned.

88

16

Washington

Riesling

66,827

Spain

Dusty earthy cherry and plum aromas are a bit spicy, while this feels blocky, with rubbery tannins. Spicy herbal plum and raspberry flavors show a mild green note on the finish.

87

15

Northern Spain

Red Blend

67,090

France

Impressively dense, dark flavored wine, very rich and quite extracted. But it still keeps the elegance and some of the freshness of 2004, and there is plenty of blackberry flavor to push the wine along. Heavier than many 2004s, it still shows that great acidity.

94

70

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

39,909

US

“Rich” doesn't even begin to describe this Pinot. The fruit is front and center, blasting off with raspberries and cherries imposingly rich and sweet. Flavor is the star, at the cost of complexity. Drink now.

87

39

California

Pinot Noir

78,160

Italy

Oak, sweet vanilla, chocolate and plum cake aromas take center stage. The aromas carry on to the palate but there's not enough fruit to stand up to the oak or the astringent wood-driven tannins that leave the mouth feeling dried out.

87

66

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

111,213

US

This comes from estate-grown fruit in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Spicy and sharp-toned, it brings tart acidity and highlights of orange peel to flavors of wild mountain berries. The tannins are still a bit rough, but should smooth out with more bottle age.

88

48

Oregon

Pinot Noir

30,121

France

Produced from biodynamically grown grapes (as are all the Olivier Leflaive family grand and premier crus), this is a gorgeous, opulent wine. It has richness and great intensity as well as fine acidity and crisp apple fruits. Toast and vanilla come from the wood aging. The wine is so generous and packed with fruit as well as a strong mineral texture. Drink from 2022.

95

569

Burgundy

Chardonnay

69,111

US

Coming from an assortment of warm and cool climate vineyards and blended with 6% Roussanne, this pleasing wine offers notes of grilled corn on the cob, white peach, pepper and hay. Abundant stone fruit flavors are supported by a creamy feel, finishing just a touch bitter.

87

18

Washington

Chardonnay

5,955

France

Soft, lightly creamy Chardonnay, pleasantly fruity, offering some apple and pear flavors along with gentle acidity.

84

10

Burgundy

Chardonnay

68,402

US

From Sebastiani, proof that Pinot Noir has been overplanted in California. This has some pleasant Pinot character in the cherry, spice and earth flavors and light, silky tannins, but it's a simple, one-dimensional wine.

84

9

California

Pinot Noir

18,256

US

Plump aromas of white peach, lemon syrup, butterscotch and prominent oak show on the nose of this bottling, one of the richer ones in the current Talley lineup. The oak smoke flavors mix with vanilla and a finish of caramel on the palate, but the winery's reliably bright acidity hold the larger elements in check.

92

44

California

Chardonnay

22,045

Italy

Weedy underbrush and scorched soil aromas lead the way along with a smoked note. The bitter palate offers a green note of powdered sage and hazelnut but it lacks fruit. Clenching tannins grip the finish.

85

100

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

90,674

US

Fresh aromas, vivid citrus flavors, elegance and poise make this an attractive wine. It has a balance that is easy to enjoy and keeps calling for more sips, with pleasant notes of citrus and green fruit throughout.

90

14

California

Sauvignon Blanc

77,727

US

There's no oak on this Chardonnay, but you won't miss it at all. It's so decadent in long hangtime pineapple, tangerine, mango and spice flavors, superripe and just delicious. The alcohol is fairly high, but that's the price of all this richness.

92

32

California

Chardonnay

44,298

US

This bottling, which is bolstered by 9% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, shows zesty blackberry, boysenberry, thyme and cedar on the fruit-driven nose. The flavors are approachable and easy, with baked berries, black pepper and charred beef, laid across a very friendly and soft structure.

88

49

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

18,861

US

This 100% varietal wine conveys notes of mortared green herbs, plum, cherry, medicine cabinet and vanilla. It's medium bodied with a supple, enticing feel. Baking spice, cherry and coffee flavors linger on the (very, very) long, coffee-filled finish. The aromas don't all come together but this wine is worth exploring for the remarkable finish, which is about as good as it gets.

89

100

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

54,229

US

Scents and flavors suggest cherry pipe tobacco, along with streaks of dried leaf and lemon oil. It's a rough and tumble, every day red, with some chewy tannins.

86

27

Oregon

Cabernet Sauvignon

51,243

France

A pale wine with almost sugary flavors. It has a strawberry fruit character and soft acidity.

83

25

Loire Valley

Rosé

66,024

US

The aromas on this wine by Bryan Babcock find an intriguing balance between ripe nectarine flesh and tart stonefruit skins. It's a bit more lush in style than other Pinot Gris of the vintage, quite broad on the palate, with apple-pear flavors, lingering lemon skin bitterness and an acidity that soaks into the tongue.

90

25

California

Pinot Gris

125,790

US

Extraordinarily rich, complex and delicious, this wine defines a ripe approach to cool-climate Pinot Noir. In its youthful state, it's plastered over with smoky oak, but below that are abundant ripe red and black cherry flavors. Near-perfect acids and tannins create wonderful balance and harmony in this ageworthy wine. Cellar Selection.

92

60

California

Pinot Noir

116,618

US

This cuvée offers the pleasures of sweet, sappy red fruits, soft tannins and broad swaths of caramel, toasted hazelnuts and mocha. It coats the tongue with flavor and has a sort of insistence that the next sip will be even better.

92

45

Oregon

Pinot Noir

86,251

France

Soft, ripe and jammy, this is too ripe and misses structure. Its acidity does redeem it, but it is not going to develop much.

83

33

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

121,710

US

This tastes like an orange, peach and guava breakfast fruit drink—sweet and tart in acidity. It has some warmth from the alcohol.

84

16

California

Chardonnay

114,042

US

This is 100% varietal, from a heritage clone named for the owner and the winery, the Disney Silverado Heritage Clone. It contributes a dusty earthiness to the wine, a density and purity of fruit deep in dense blueberry and blackberry unctuousness. Cedar and graphite season it well, as firm, thick tannins fill up the finish.

90

125

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

32,239

France

A hint of flinty reduction still plays on the nose, barely letting any of the pure fruit notes escape but both ripe and crisp pear appear. The palate still shows some yeasty funk but convinces with purity, sheer power and concentration. This feels urgent and direct, strong and stony, boisterous with sheer force and drive. This needs time to settle but will be a very convincing, even forceful and energetic Pinot Gris with some bottle age. Drink 2020—2035.

94

80

Alsace

Pinot Gris

67,364

US

Opens with immense, luscious aromas of apricot liqueur, vanilla custard, fennel, orange blossom and honeysuckle. Explodes on the palate with enormous fruit and spice flavors; it’s intense and concentrated. Very sweet, but the acidity is high and cleansing. It has a velvety texture, and finishes long and sweet. Enjoy it with vanilla ice cream or crème brûlée

90

20

California

Riesling

56,428

Italy

Enticing aromas of citrus, spring blossom and white stone fruit set the tone on this elegant sparkler. Bright and polished, the silky palate offers Bartlett pear and green apple alongside vibrant acidity and a silky perlage.

91

23

Veneto

Glera