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
36,293	US	If you're looking for a flashy, complex Cabernet to drink now and for the next few years, try this one. It's rich and ripe in black currants, plums and toasty oak, with refined tannins and a full body that finishes dry and satisfying.	90	28	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
113,528	US	Restrained on the nose at first, this appellation blend shows lemon, butter on brioche and gardenia aromas with some swirling. It's floral on the unctuous palate, with hints of honeysuckle and daffodil, but quite rounded, with soft acidity and textural grip. A flash of coconut hits the finish.	90	25	California	Chardonnay
84,086	Italy	The aromas of this simple Grigio recall fruit candy or lemon soda but don't feel synthetic in any way. The wine is very organic in a sweet, floral manner. Pair it with Thai curry with fresh basil.	85	15	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
78,726	Italy	Made of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah and 10% Teroldego, this boasts alluring ripe black currant and white pepper aromas, with a whiff of graphite. The firm palate offers juicy blackberry, black plum and tobacco notes, held together by polished tannins. Enjoy now–2025.	92	118	Tuscany	Red Blend
27,488	Spain	Piercing woody aromas are about all you get on the nose of this barrel-fermented blend of Viura and Tempranillo Blanco. The palate is crisp, tight and resiny, while overtly woody flavors outweigh background white-fruit notes. A resiny flavor is front and center on a barrel-driven finish.	86	21	Northern Spain	White Blend
58,497	US	Lovely aromatics conjure up rose petals, a dash of body powder and ripe citrus. The fruit is very ripe, with almost a candy character, and there's a sensation of powdered sugar. But despite the almost 14g/L residual sugar, it's more sweet/tart than syrupy, keeping it sappy and refreshing.	92	24	Oregon	Riesling
62,711	Argentina	This is reduced and cedary up front, with hard black-fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is big but loose, with strong tannins supporting oaky flavors of prune, cocoa, coconut and licorice. It finishes minty and dark, with graphite overtures.	87	13	Mendoza Province	Malbec
55,206	US	Refined and subtle, this shows the power of Pinot at its most elegant. The fruits are mellow, melded and lightly marked with baking spices. Smooth and showing surprising density, it has the frame and finesse to age beautifully. Drink now through 2025.	92	50	Oregon	Pinot Noir
89,059	US	Inviting aromas of buttercream, vanilla bean and lemon custard-laced pastries draw the nose into this wine, made by three families. Two members of the group, Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts, are former pro baseball players. It's very balanced on the palate, with white peach, honey and citrus, and a judicious amount of butter on the edges.	92	50	California	Chardonnay
44,160	France	As a contrast to Jonathan Maltus's Le Carré, this single-vineyard wine, from vines situated only 100 yards away, has a taut, mineral flavor, with an initial austere character which then opens out to give dark bitter chocolate and plum skin flavors. It is potentially a richer, more impressive wine, but it needs aging for 4–5 years.	92	135	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
82,245	Spain	This 10-year-old wine from a hot vintage is soft and plump but has gaps in its fiber. The mouth is tannic around the edges but lacks stuffing, while flavors of plum and berry run jammy and heavy. A hollow finish with prune flavors and dry tannins is the final act.	86	103	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
44,237	US	Flashy and delicious, this just blows your mind. It's like the essence of the ripest, purest blackberries, with a note of crème de cassis and the sweet appeal of melted dark chocolate. It's a soft wine, but grippy in tannins, which gives it good structure. Your best bet may be to drink it over the next six years.	93	135	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
8,066	US	Crisp citrus aromas and fresh lemon and grapefruit flavors define this medium-bodied, appetizing and unapologetic wine. With lots of personality, a tingly texture and tangy finish, it's just the thing for appetizers and first courses.	91	14	California	Sauvignon Blanc
28,222	US	Comes down on the honeyed, easy side of Chardonnay, with ginger ale, pineapple jam, green apple butter and vanilla flavors designed to please. Drink now.	85	25	California	Chardonnay
55,374	France	This ripe, yellow-fruit-flavored wine has a smooth, rich texture. Full and flavorsome, it conveys a ripe, nutty character. The wine with its warm fruitiness is ready to drink.	88	15	Burgundy	Chardonnay
16,212	France	The heavy bottle indicates the importance attached to this wine by its producer. Structured and full bodied, it bursts with crisp fruits, mineral acidity and a touch of herbaceousness. Keep it until late 2014 to broaden out.	90	30	Provence	Rosé
25,642	US	A flamboyant Chard, packed with tropical fruit flavors and with a lavish overlay of smoky oak. Drinks crisp and clean in the mouth, with a creamy texture and a long, spicy finish. Could use a bit more finesse and subtlety, but glamorous and enticing.	90	44	California	Chardonnay
63,723	Spain	Oaky aromas of milk chocolate and animal sit atop plum and cherry scents. This is a direct wine without a lot of nuance or layering: flavors of red plum and cherry are crisp and benefit from chocolaty oak, while the finish is solid in feel and tastes of oak and briny plum.	88	30	Catalonia	Red Blend
54,590	Argentina	Pungent with true Sauvignon character. Tangerine, green fruits and grapefruit share the flavor profile, and the finish is mild but clean. Zesty, straightforward and tasty if served chilled.	85	11	Mendoza Province	Sauvignon Blanc
10,869	US	The wine tastes and feels tight and remote now, despite luscious raspberry, strawberry and oak flavors. But the promise is there, with firm tannins, crisp acidity and bracing minerality providing the structure for aging. This should hit its stride between 2015–2017.	91	56	California	Pinot Noir
72,055	US	Given only 25% new oak, this is a very light, thin and foresty version of the variety, combining funky earth and savory cardamom-type spice with bright, tart red fruit that veers more pomegranate than cherry.	87	25	California	Pinot Noir
124,960	US	Adelaida is assembling a good track record with this wine. It's from the cooler western portion of the appellation, so that crisp acidity provides a fine framework for the slightly sweet tropical fruit, wildflower and spice flavors. With its exotic personality, it's best paired with strongly flavored, complex dishes that combine poultry, game or shellfish with fruits, nuts and honey.	89	30	California	Viognier
16,276	US	An intensely powerful combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, this was given more than two years mulling things over in French oak. A menthol streak runs through the otherwise blackberry and leathery, tannic layers of this wine, the finish a tad short.	86	22	California	Red Blend
15,867	Spain	Jammy berry aromas include a seemingly misplaced note of cinnamon. This feels full, blocky and tannic, with old-fashioned clamp. Flavors of oak, plum and cherry form a familiar whole, while this tastes earthy and dry on the finish, with modest heat. Drink through 2021.	89	23	Northern Spain	Tempranillo Blend
103,209	US	Savory, smoky tones lend a shadowy feel to fresh apple and pear flavors in this dry medium-bodied Pinot Gris. It's not deeply concentrated in fruit but refreshing and easy going. Drink now through 2018.	86	16	New York	Pinot Gris
26,927	US	There's a green, vegetal unripeness to this wine that suggests asparagus. The cool vintage simply didn't provide enough warmth to ripen the grapes, though the alcohol still manages to be quite high, which gives the wine a hot feeling.	82	25	California	Pinot Noir
117,207	US	A dazzlingly good Pinot Noir. Hard to exaggerate the precision of flavor and structure. Shows the massively ripe character of the vintage, with a starburst of raspberries, cherries, cola, minerals and spices, while the acidity and tannins are just about perfect. This crowd pleaser is just extraordinary now, and should develop in the bottle over the next six years.	95	75	California	Pinot Noir
38,100	US	A very pretty expression of Cabernet Franc with notes of cherry, chocolate and floral notes. It's elegant in style with a textured, satiny mouthfeel and a tart, lingering finish.	89	35	Washington	Cabernet Franc
87,147	US	Bright raspberry and strawberry flavors kick off this well-balanced effort. It's buoyed by ample natural acidity and adorned with highlights of pastry and baking spices. It expands gracefully as it breathes, adding volume and density. Give this extra cellar time. It should drink best from 2018–2030.	95	60	Oregon	Pinot Noir
4,381	US	Crafted by Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan winery), this pure Syrah was cellared in about one third new oak. Tasted shortly after its release, it still showed a bit of a liquorous new oak scent, but without turning up the heat in the finish. The fruit is young and bright, a mix of raspberry, cassis and red licorice.	91	45	Washington	Syrah
46,690	US	This well-crafted reserve boasts a solid core of blueberry and black cherry fruit, thickly accented with dark chocolate notes. Produced from heritage (Calera, Swan and Mt. Eden) clones, it's textural and dense, with dark char, espresso and black licorice flavors.	93	80	Oregon	Pinot Noir
40,731	US	Soft in blackberry, cherry and chocolate flavor, this is a simple Cabernet, but it's not without charm. Furry tannins give it a much needed bite.	85	20	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
13,925	France	A delicious Volnay, all warm fruits and sweet tannins. The wine is soft as well as juicy, enjoying ripe cherry and red plum juice flavors. The tannins and acidity give a gentle boost. Drink now, or age for 3–4 years.	89	45	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
78,810	US	A blend of the Tablas Creek and Alban clones, this Grenache is from the Stolpman Vineyard. Made using whole clusters in the fermentation, it's densely textured and brooding in tannins. But there's an enormous core of cherry fruit and spice. Should blossom in 2009 and hold for several more years.	93	42	California	Grenache
126,201	Italy	Elegant but austere, this bright Rosso delivers lively aromas of cherry cola, dried blueberries, spice and moist pipe tobacco. Floral and mineral tones appear in the mouth and the wine ends with a sweet but polished feel.	88	25	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
40,205	US	Lots to like in this Lake County wine. It's very crisp in acidity and clean, with a minerally scour to the lemon, lime and kiwi flavors. On the minus side, it's rather sweet, which gives it a fruit juice quality.	84	15	California	Sauvignon Blanc
64,619	US	Always a nice, rich Chard with oaky nuances but not too much. This year the wine is especially full-bodied, packed with fruity flavors and a spicy, cinnamon and pepper aftertaste. Cuvaison has held its prices down and this wine is actually a value in its class.	91	22	California	Chardonnay
70,910	US	A beautiful Pinot Noir for drinking now. It's delicate and elegant and refined in the mouth, but rich in flavors, offering raspberry tart, red cherry pie with the crust, and dusty Indian spices that finish dry and long, with a touch of funkiness.	90	39	California	Pinot Noir
78,685	France	This is a spicy wine, soft and open. Its tannins and red berry fruits have a diffuse character that takes away the focus of the wine. It will age quickly.	83	21	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
8,179	US	Perfumed oak and funky earthiness permeate the nose and palate of this wine, with punchy cedar and bay notes. It lingers long on forest floor, pine and other woodsy components through its medium-bodied ripeness and structure.	87	44	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
17,480	US	This wine shows a unique aroma profile of sweet herb, apricot and red plum, along with a kiss of vanilla bean. The flavors are light and elegant, showing subtlety and restraint along with a pleasing sense of purity.	89	25	Washington	Grenache
89,248	US	This vineyard designate is consistently richer and rounder than many of the other whites made by the producer, a mix of thick and concentrated barrel influence and savory-sweet fruit and spice. Full bodied, it offers a curiously compelling briny edge, decadent yet bright.	93	55	California	Chardonnay
70,280	US	This wine was sourced from three vineyards, including Gap's Crown atop what may one day be officially known as the Petaluma Gap, and the estate property known as Last Stop Ranch. It offers a mix of smoky charcuterie alongside tart cherry and cranberry, a balance of savory and sweet. Lightly textured and bodied, it finishes in piquant cinnamon spice and ginger.	90	50	California	Pinot Noir
70,080	Italy	This offers aromas of ripe plum, black berry, fig, spice and underbrush. The palate delivers crushed black cherry layered with sweet baking spices and grilled herbs alongside firm tannins. This will be even better in 2015, but then drink it soon.	89	30	Tuscany	Sangiovese
80,976	Spain	Overreaching aromas of sweet oak sit heavily atop herbal plum and berry scents. This feels sticky and oaky, while a forced, only partially integrated oak flavor dominates the palate. Even on the finish this tastes predominantly of sweet oak on top of herbal berry fruit.	85	18	Northern Spain	Red Blend
65,099	US	Salty pretzel gives way to a thicket of texture and ripe apple and Bosc pear. A rocky minerality adds complexity before a refined finish adds length. Allow this wine to open in the glass.	91	40	California	Chardonnay
88,661	US	Marrying cranberry fruit to a stiff, herbal spine, this offers sensory highlights of hemp, thyme and oregano. Though reticent aromatically, this wine earns your interest with its nicely-threaded herbal elements and substantial, albeit stiff, finish.	91	70	Oregon	Pinot Noir
52,230	US	This new cuvée is 60% Malbec, 35% Syrah and the rest Merlot. It seems to have been given extra barrel time, and the overpowering and heavy toast scents and flavors dominate. The raspberry fruit flavors are somewhat buried as a result, and the wine seems over-matched. But more bottle age may help to open it up.	87	50	Washington	Red Blend
42,943	US	A lovely Merlot and, at this price, a compelling buy. Hard to find a better inexpensive all-around full-bodied red than this one. Fully dry, it has polished flavors of cherries, currants, anise and pepper, wrapped in a gentle, silky texture.	87	13	California	Merlot
110,143	US	This has pungent aromatics of petrol and grass, and the flavors follow. It's a reasonable style for the Sauvignon Blanc grape, but it likely will not appeal to all palates.	86	20	Oregon	Sauvignon Blanc
84,396	US	This unoaked Chard has a somewhat Chablilsienne quality to it, with a beautiful mineral-driven freshness supported by delicate aromas of white peach, green apple and lively orange citrus. Light and immensely refreshing, it's a perfect apértitif sipper to be enjoyed with cheese and crudité.	86	15	New York	Chardonnay
39,583	US	Earns its very good score for sheer power and voluptuousness of fruit. It's a soft, delicious wine with gentle tannins that frame ripe blackberry, chocolate, black pepper and oak flavors.	88	32	California	Syrah
25,724	Spain	Mild salinic aromas bring lime and lychee. Feels standard and smooth enough, with sweet white fruit flavors that suggest peach. As a semi-dry, it always feels and tastes sugary.	84	9	Catalonia	Sparkling Blend
62,421	Portugal	A field blend dominated by old-vine Touriga Nacional, this is a richly endowed wood-aged wine. It is dark and concentrated, packed with juicy black fruits and acidity. The tannins support the ripe fruitiness. Drink this generous wine from 2018.	92	24	Douro	Portuguese Red
66,904	US	The texture on this Pinot lacks silky sumptuousness. It's a bit brawny, but it's bone dry, with good acidity. The flavors are interesting, veering between raspberries to tarter cranberries, with earthiness. Try aging it until 2019 to see if it comes around.	88	33	California	Pinot Noir
71,613	US	This is a full-flavored Pinot Noir, brimming with cherry, cola, red licorice and earthier notes of sautéed wild mushrooms and spices. It's quite low in alcohol, which preserves the airy, silky texture you want in a nice Pinot. It's also a young wine. Give it six years in the cellar.	90	65	California	Pinot Noir
94,617	US	This Lodi wine has a whirl of smoky, oaky flavors, plus a not entirely pleasant green tinge to its finish.	80	12	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
19,620	US	Rich and tangy, a Chardonnay that appeals for its pure varietal flavors and noble structure. It's powerful in pineapple and orange fruit, with a sweet overlay of caramelized oak. This richness is balanced by brisk acidity and minerality.	90	30	California	Chardonnay
32,812	US	Classic lychee and rose petal aromas perfume this ripe yet elegantly composed Gewürztraminer. Juicy and forward yet balanced and spry, it calibrates zesty tangerine acidity against a crystalline glaze of honey that lingers on the finish.	90	25	New York	Gewürztraminer
113,764	Italy	Be careful when you look for thense wines, the labels at Aschieri are a little confusing; a small white strip label at thumb level distinguishes the Sorano ordinaire from the special Costa Bricco. The wine, itself, is thick and quite poerful, with very ripe dark fruit, roses and earth flavors. It is beginning to show its age, and did not seem quite as fresh as the Sorano, but it proved to be more intense and extracted.	89	60	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
6,288	US	This simple wine gets the basic Zin concept across, offering briary cherry, red currant, spice and oak flavors. It offers good value in a dry, medium-bodied wine that will drink well with a vast array of food.	84	20	California	Zinfandel
15,121	Argentina	Raspberry and cherry aromas are light and pleasing, while the palate exhibits those same friendly and inviting raspberry flavors along with some citrus. A fresh and clean wine, nothing more or less. But it manages to rise above the masses via its focus, length and purity.	87	13	Mendoza Province	Malbec
60,394	Italy	A full-bodied, rounded wine with some good crisp acidity to balance. It has flavors of pears and some spice, leaving an attractive fresh feel in the mouth.	86	13	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
71,436	US	Another fine vintage for this value-priced, Bordeaux-style blend. It's loaded with raspberry and black cherry flavors, then brings in lighter notes of dried herb, ground coffee and dark chocolate. For its price, it delivers rather complex and well-integrated flavors.	89	20	Washington	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
37,423	US	Fresh, clean and varietal, this pushes fleshy pear flavors with a light hint of grapefruit. The presence in the mouth is full and satisfying, with a touch of honeysuckle, and the juicy finish lingers deliciously.	90	15	Oregon	Pinot Gris
114,190	US	Whiffs of barnyard and bramble lend rusticity to this wine, contrasted by fresher, prettier notes of rose petal and blackberry jam. It's a charming Merlot marked by crisp black-fruit flavor, sprightly acidity and dusty, lingering tannins.	87	19	New York	Merlot
96,755	US	Ripe, rich black cherries and berries are accented by layers crushed stone on this elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh fruit concentrates the palate, but it's brightened by a jolt of acidity and fine, lingering tannins.	88	19	New York	Cabernet Sauvignon
32,273	Italy	Intense aromas of dried rose, leather, truffle and crushed berry lead the nose. The ripe, forward palate offers crushed black cherry, wild raspberry, cinnamon white pepper and sage alongside chewy tannins. Drink 2015–2022.	93	80	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
26,581	France	The wine from Vignobles Chatelier is ripe, smooth and well balanced. With its green fruits balanced by apricot, it is a wine that has both tangy acidity and a soft, rounded texture. It is ready to drink.	86	13	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
37,962	US	The nose of this light-colored wine offers showy apple blossom and pineapple aromas, leaning into the ripe and tropical side of the grape spectrum. it delivers crisp energy once sipped, with very fruit-forward apple flavors and even a touch of guava.	85	20	California	Chardonnay
90,526	US	From the producer's oldest estate vineyard, planted in 1970, this is lovely in rose petals and baked fruit, offering a powerful density of full-bodied concentration and succulence on the palate. A velvety texture is complemented by a bite of oak and tannin that flirts with grip.	92	75	California	Pinot Noir
38,870	US	A light, elegant nose of almonds, apple and honeysuckle, followed by fresh flavors of nuts, apple and flowers on the palate. Pretty, balanced and lingering in the finish. A great food wine.	87	23	New York	Pinot Gris
93,707	US	In the Chatter Creek style, this is solid, well-made and varietal. Tart fruit flavors of boysenberry and pomegranate are set against firm tannins. Green tea, herb and peppery bark flavors take over the finish. The wine persists nicely in the finish.	87	38	Washington	Syrah
18,694	US	There's an intensity of apricot and melon in this full-bodied, textured wine that veers on becoming overbearingly ripe, with a ghost-like finish.	85	40	California	Sauvignon Blanc
80,933	France	This is one of the largest volume production Chablis, and it sings. Minerality and acidity go well with the ripe fruits and fresh acidity, bright and packed with grapefruit edginess.	88	25	Burgundy	Chardonnay
46,319	US	Give this Pinot Noir a couple of years to knit together. Right now it's a little acidic, and it offers flavors of Life Savers candy, raspberry and cherry. The mouthfeel is velvety smooth.	89	52	California	Pinot Noir
70,387	US	A non-vintage blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Sangiovese, this is built upon strong, herbal tannins. The addition of the Sangiovese brings in fat, buttery oak flavors that linger through the finish.	87	18	Washington	Red Blend
43,584	US	This is a definitive Mount Veeder Zin, jam packed and complex in notes of blackberries, sweet raspberries and red currants, with spice, cola and smoky oak tones. It's a little on the soft side, with luscious tannins. Ready to drink now.	89	40	California	Zinfandel
124,686	US	The first vintage of this wine from this site, it offers a lot to like, from crisp, pretty aromas and tingly acidity to nuanced whispers of honeycomb, Gravenstein apple and fennel. Light bodied, it has nice firmness and tension to the mouthfeel, and an overall balance of fruit and complexity.	92	30	California	Chardonnay
42,893	France	A wine that has freshness, some wood and a soft series of tannins, almost velvet. There is a stalky juiciness here, to complete a wine that offers the freshest acidity, with only hints of darker fruits.	89	50	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
18,993	France	Dry, firm and tough, this wine lacks the fruit fruit to come through the structure. It's a wine for those who like plenty of wood.	84	16	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
106,899	Italy	This juicy, savory Rosso opens with a pretty fragrance of crushed violets, perfumed berries and sweet cake spices. The ripe, delicious palate doles out concentrated wild cherry, black raspberry and cinnamon-spice alongside supple tannins and fresh acidity. Bright orange fruit sensations signal the close.	92	27	Tuscany	Sangiovese
47,623	France	Taut, tannic and nervy, this has red currant fruit that gives a crisp sensation to this tight, precise wine. Give it a year to soften.	87	26	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
124,178	France	Tense and structured, this is a firm, concentrated wine from the top vineyard in the appellation. It has tight acidity as well as red-currant flavors. The structure is still firm and condensed, and the wine will need time. It has potential; drink from 2019.	90	65	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
82,813	Italy	Planeta's Chardonnay is one of the nicest expressions of this international grape variety made on Italian soil. From sunny Sicily, the wine recalls some of the characteristics of Chardonnay from California, with its creamy, rich mouthfeel and beautifully intense aromas of stone fruit, citrus, vanilla, yellow rose and exotic spice.	91	43	Sicily & Sardinia	Chardonnay
19,509	US	Ruddy slightly overripe black cherry and berry flavors are juxtaposed with tart green notes in this fruity but rustic Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft, sunny acidity lends a plush, juicy mouthfeel and a brisk finish.	84	20	New York	Cabernet Sauvignon
113,484	Italy	Mionetto is a steady producer of clean, easy-drinking sparkling wine that is consistent and fun to drink year in and year out. This expression is ripe with sweet peach and lime.	86	18	Veneto	Glera
27,170	Italy	This has subtle aromas of blackberry, pepper and tilled earth. The palate delivers a core of plum, blackcherry and licorice, uplifted with white pepper and orange zest accents. Its refreshing acidity makes it enjoyable now, but will also allow it to age modestly. Drink after 2016.	89	16	Veneto	Red Blend
129,959	France	The granite soil of the Brand Grand Cru vineyard has produced a strongly structured wine that also has richness and ripe fruits. Off dry, it has a hint of honey as well as yellow fruits and pears. The aftertaste brings out the acidity and freshness that balance the wine. Drink from 2017.	90	57	Alsace	Pinot Gris
108,702	France	This impressive Champagne is rich while tight and mineral-textured. Creamy and ripe, it balances the weight of Pinot Noir with the elegance of Chardonnay. The producer's location in the relatively warm Aube region gives its wines extra fullness. This one is just now ready to drink.	92	40	Champagne	Champagne Blend
47,418	US	Caramelized oak and tangerine jam flavors give this Chardonnay a honeyed sweetness that would appeal consumers who enjoy modern-style wines. The high alcohol gives it a peppery burn.	82	20	California	Chardonnay
47,366	US	Alpha is a new offering from Market Vineyards, and boosts the flavor meter past the winery's excellent, value-priced Benchmark Merlot. Tightly-structured and showing a barrel-heavy mix of dark, toasted flavors, this complex effort brings lead pencil, clove, charred meat and black fruits into play. Enjoy it with your thick grilled steak, or tuck it away until 2020–2022.	93	52	Washington	Merlot
36,343	Italy	This concentrated, oak-driven Chardonnay opens with a rich golden color and offers opulent tones of vanilla, butter, pineapple, apricot and peach. It is a creamy, dense wine that could stand up to lobster or white asparagus. Imported by MW Imports.	88	19	Northeastern Italy	Chardonnay
27,587	Australia	Smoky and confected, with candied apple and sugared peach notes that come across as cloying.	81	15	South Australia	Chardonnay
8,137	Italy	Aromas of pring flower, gold apple and Anjou pear lead into the crisp refreshing palate along with a hint of nectarine. Tart acidity gives it a bright, juicy finish.	87	18	Veneto	Glera
6,971	US	Gentle in texture and generous in flavor, this wine is medium bodied, rather soft in mouthfeel and has ripe strawberry and red-cherry notes that are direct and delicious, leaving a fruity, almost sweet finish.	86	8	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
73,563	US	Michael David is clearly having fun here, calling it Rapture and scrawling on the back of each bottle, “Don't be left behind!” The wine is fun for big oak, big tannin and big fruit as it's true to its MD style, all toasted oak and molasses, dry epic tannins and jam.	85	59	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
125,254	US	Formerly the deLancellotti vineyard, Silice brings fresh, supple flavors of bright raspberry and cherry fruit. A distinctive ashy stone note forms the bassline, holding the finish firm. It should benefit from another year of bottle age. Or give it a long decant to enjoy now.	92	70	Oregon	Pinot Noir
54,872	US	The mystery of how to make a Chardonnay, is solved with this wine; fruity, rich and creamy, yet one that finishes so dry and crisp in acidity. Who else holds back a Chardonnay five years except Jim Clendenen? Low in alcohol and balanced despite being aged in 100% new French oak, it's just now beginning a long journey of excellence. It has a soft, lilting mouthfeel and incredible complexity that will only improve with time.	93	50	California	Chardonnay
57,537	France	This wine has both fruitiness and delicious, bright acidity. A subtle use of wood creates a firm structure under the black currant fruit flavors, giving a solid base on which to develop. Drink from 2017.	88	26	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend

36,293

US

If you're looking for a flashy, complex Cabernet to drink now and for the next few years, try this one. It's rich and ripe in black currants, plums and toasty oak, with refined tannins and a full body that finishes dry and satisfying.

90

28

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

113,528

US

Restrained on the nose at first, this appellation blend shows lemon, butter on brioche and gardenia aromas with some swirling. It's floral on the unctuous palate, with hints of honeysuckle and daffodil, but quite rounded, with soft acidity and textural grip. A flash of coconut hits the finish.

90

25

California

Chardonnay

84,086

Italy

The aromas of this simple Grigio recall fruit candy or lemon soda but don't feel synthetic in any way. The wine is very organic in a sweet, floral manner. Pair it with Thai curry with fresh basil.

85

15

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

78,726

Italy

Made of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah and 10% Teroldego, this boasts alluring ripe black currant and white pepper aromas, with a whiff of graphite. The firm palate offers juicy blackberry, black plum and tobacco notes, held together by polished tannins. Enjoy now–2025.

92

118

Tuscany

Red Blend

27,488

Spain

Piercing woody aromas are about all you get on the nose of this barrel-fermented blend of Viura and Tempranillo Blanco. The palate is crisp, tight and resiny, while overtly woody flavors outweigh background white-fruit notes. A resiny flavor is front and center on a barrel-driven finish.

86

21

Northern Spain

White Blend

58,497

US

Lovely aromatics conjure up rose petals, a dash of body powder and ripe citrus. The fruit is very ripe, with almost a candy character, and there's a sensation of powdered sugar. But despite the almost 14g/L residual sugar, it's more sweet/tart than syrupy, keeping it sappy and refreshing.

92

24

Oregon

Riesling

62,711

Argentina

This is reduced and cedary up front, with hard black-fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is big but loose, with strong tannins supporting oaky flavors of prune, cocoa, coconut and licorice. It finishes minty and dark, with graphite overtures.

87

13

Mendoza Province

Malbec

55,206

US

Refined and subtle, this shows the power of Pinot at its most elegant. The fruits are mellow, melded and lightly marked with baking spices. Smooth and showing surprising density, it has the frame and finesse to age beautifully. Drink now through 2025.

92

50

Oregon

Pinot Noir

89,059

US

Inviting aromas of buttercream, vanilla bean and lemon custard-laced pastries draw the nose into this wine, made by three families. Two members of the group, Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts, are former pro baseball players. It's very balanced on the palate, with white peach, honey and citrus, and a judicious amount of butter on the edges.

92

50

California

Chardonnay

44,160

France

As a contrast to Jonathan Maltus's Le Carré, this single-vineyard wine, from vines situated only 100 yards away, has a taut, mineral flavor, with an initial austere character which then opens out to give dark bitter chocolate and plum skin flavors. It is potentially a richer, more impressive wine, but it needs aging for 4–5 years.

92

135

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

82,245

Spain

This 10-year-old wine from a hot vintage is soft and plump but has gaps in its fiber. The mouth is tannic around the edges but lacks stuffing, while flavors of plum and berry run jammy and heavy. A hollow finish with prune flavors and dry tannins is the final act.

86

103

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

44,237

US

Flashy and delicious, this just blows your mind. It's like the essence of the ripest, purest blackberries, with a note of crème de cassis and the sweet appeal of melted dark chocolate. It's a soft wine, but grippy in tannins, which gives it good structure. Your best bet may be to drink it over the next six years.

93

135

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

8,066

US

Crisp citrus aromas and fresh lemon and grapefruit flavors define this medium-bodied, appetizing and unapologetic wine. With lots of personality, a tingly texture and tangy finish, it's just the thing for appetizers and first courses.

91

14

California

Sauvignon Blanc

28,222

US

Comes down on the honeyed, easy side of Chardonnay, with ginger ale, pineapple jam, green apple butter and vanilla flavors designed to please. Drink now.

85

25

California

Chardonnay

55,374

France

This ripe, yellow-fruit-flavored wine has a smooth, rich texture. Full and flavorsome, it conveys a ripe, nutty character. The wine with its warm fruitiness is ready to drink.

88

15

Burgundy

Chardonnay

16,212

France

The heavy bottle indicates the importance attached to this wine by its producer. Structured and full bodied, it bursts with crisp fruits, mineral acidity and a touch of herbaceousness. Keep it until late 2014 to broaden out.

90

30

Provence

Rosé

25,642

US

A flamboyant Chard, packed with tropical fruit flavors and with a lavish overlay of smoky oak. Drinks crisp and clean in the mouth, with a creamy texture and a long, spicy finish. Could use a bit more finesse and subtlety, but glamorous and enticing.

90

44

California

Chardonnay

63,723

Spain

Oaky aromas of milk chocolate and animal sit atop plum and cherry scents. This is a direct wine without a lot of nuance or layering: flavors of red plum and cherry are crisp and benefit from chocolaty oak, while the finish is solid in feel and tastes of oak and briny plum.

88

30

Catalonia

Red Blend

54,590

Argentina

Pungent with true Sauvignon character. Tangerine, green fruits and grapefruit share the flavor profile, and the finish is mild but clean. Zesty, straightforward and tasty if served chilled.

85

11

Mendoza Province

Sauvignon Blanc

10,869

US

The wine tastes and feels tight and remote now, despite luscious raspberry, strawberry and oak flavors. But the promise is there, with firm tannins, crisp acidity and bracing minerality providing the structure for aging. This should hit its stride between 2015–2017.

91

56

California

Pinot Noir

72,055

US

Given only 25% new oak, this is a very light, thin and foresty version of the variety, combining funky earth and savory cardamom-type spice with bright, tart red fruit that veers more pomegranate than cherry.

87

25

California

Pinot Noir

124,960

US

Adelaida is assembling a good track record with this wine. It's from the cooler western portion of the appellation, so that crisp acidity provides a fine framework for the slightly sweet tropical fruit, wildflower and spice flavors. With its exotic personality, it's best paired with strongly flavored, complex dishes that combine poultry, game or shellfish with fruits, nuts and honey.

89

30

California

Viognier

16,276

US

An intensely powerful combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, this was given more than two years mulling things over in French oak. A menthol streak runs through the otherwise blackberry and leathery, tannic layers of this wine, the finish a tad short.

86

22

California

Red Blend

15,867

Spain

Jammy berry aromas include a seemingly misplaced note of cinnamon. This feels full, blocky and tannic, with old-fashioned clamp. Flavors of oak, plum and cherry form a familiar whole, while this tastes earthy and dry on the finish, with modest heat. Drink through 2021.

89

23

Northern Spain

Tempranillo Blend

103,209

US

Savory, smoky tones lend a shadowy feel to fresh apple and pear flavors in this dry medium-bodied Pinot Gris. It's not deeply concentrated in fruit but refreshing and easy going. Drink now through 2018.

86

16

New York

Pinot Gris

26,927

US

There's a green, vegetal unripeness to this wine that suggests asparagus. The cool vintage simply didn't provide enough warmth to ripen the grapes, though the alcohol still manages to be quite high, which gives the wine a hot feeling.

82

25

California

Pinot Noir

117,207

US

A dazzlingly good Pinot Noir. Hard to exaggerate the precision of flavor and structure. Shows the massively ripe character of the vintage, with a starburst of raspberries, cherries, cola, minerals and spices, while the acidity and tannins are just about perfect. This crowd pleaser is just extraordinary now, and should develop in the bottle over the next six years.

95

75

California

Pinot Noir

38,100

US

A very pretty expression of Cabernet Franc with notes of cherry, chocolate and floral notes. It's elegant in style with a textured, satiny mouthfeel and a tart, lingering finish.

89

35

Washington

Cabernet Franc

87,147

US

Bright raspberry and strawberry flavors kick off this well-balanced effort. It's buoyed by ample natural acidity and adorned with highlights of pastry and baking spices. It expands gracefully as it breathes, adding volume and density. Give this extra cellar time. It should drink best from 2018–2030.

95

60

Oregon

Pinot Noir

4,381

US

Crafted by Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan winery), this pure Syrah was cellared in about one third new oak. Tasted shortly after its release, it still showed a bit of a liquorous new oak scent, but without turning up the heat in the finish. The fruit is young and bright, a mix of raspberry, cassis and red licorice.

91

45

Washington

Syrah

46,690

US

This well-crafted reserve boasts a solid core of blueberry and black cherry fruit, thickly accented with dark chocolate notes. Produced from heritage (Calera, Swan and Mt. Eden) clones, it's textural and dense, with dark char, espresso and black licorice flavors.

93

80

Oregon

Pinot Noir

40,731

US

Soft in blackberry, cherry and chocolate flavor, this is a simple Cabernet, but it's not without charm. Furry tannins give it a much needed bite.

85

20

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

13,925

France

A delicious Volnay, all warm fruits and sweet tannins. The wine is soft as well as juicy, enjoying ripe cherry and red plum juice flavors. The tannins and acidity give a gentle boost. Drink now, or age for 3–4 years.

89

45

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

78,810

US

A blend of the Tablas Creek and Alban clones, this Grenache is from the Stolpman Vineyard. Made using whole clusters in the fermentation, it's densely textured and brooding in tannins. But there's an enormous core of cherry fruit and spice. Should blossom in 2009 and hold for several more years.

93

42

California

Grenache

126,201

Italy

Elegant but austere, this bright Rosso delivers lively aromas of cherry cola, dried blueberries, spice and moist pipe tobacco. Floral and mineral tones appear in the mouth and the wine ends with a sweet but polished feel.

88

25

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

40,205

US

Lots to like in this Lake County wine. It's very crisp in acidity and clean, with a minerally scour to the lemon, lime and kiwi flavors. On the minus side, it's rather sweet, which gives it a fruit juice quality.

84

15

California

Sauvignon Blanc

64,619

US

Always a nice, rich Chard with oaky nuances but not too much. This year the wine is especially full-bodied, packed with fruity flavors and a spicy, cinnamon and pepper aftertaste. Cuvaison has held its prices down and this wine is actually a value in its class.

91

22

California

Chardonnay

70,910

US

A beautiful Pinot Noir for drinking now. It's delicate and elegant and refined in the mouth, but rich in flavors, offering raspberry tart, red cherry pie with the crust, and dusty Indian spices that finish dry and long, with a touch of funkiness.

90

39

California

Pinot Noir

78,685

France

This is a spicy wine, soft and open. Its tannins and red berry fruits have a diffuse character that takes away the focus of the wine. It will age quickly.

83

21

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

8,179

US

Perfumed oak and funky earthiness permeate the nose and palate of this wine, with punchy cedar and bay notes. It lingers long on forest floor, pine and other woodsy components through its medium-bodied ripeness and structure.

87

44

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

17,480

US

This wine shows a unique aroma profile of sweet herb, apricot and red plum, along with a kiss of vanilla bean. The flavors are light and elegant, showing subtlety and restraint along with a pleasing sense of purity.

89

25

Washington

Grenache

89,248

US

This vineyard designate is consistently richer and rounder than many of the other whites made by the producer, a mix of thick and concentrated barrel influence and savory-sweet fruit and spice. Full bodied, it offers a curiously compelling briny edge, decadent yet bright.

93

55

California

Chardonnay

70,280

US

This wine was sourced from three vineyards, including Gap's Crown atop what may one day be officially known as the Petaluma Gap, and the estate property known as Last Stop Ranch. It offers a mix of smoky charcuterie alongside tart cherry and cranberry, a balance of savory and sweet. Lightly textured and bodied, it finishes in piquant cinnamon spice and ginger.

90

50

California

Pinot Noir

70,080

Italy

This offers aromas of ripe plum, black berry, fig, spice and underbrush. The palate delivers crushed black cherry layered with sweet baking spices and grilled herbs alongside firm tannins. This will be even better in 2015, but then drink it soon.

89

30

Tuscany

Sangiovese

80,976

Spain

Overreaching aromas of sweet oak sit heavily atop herbal plum and berry scents. This feels sticky and oaky, while a forced, only partially integrated oak flavor dominates the palate. Even on the finish this tastes predominantly of sweet oak on top of herbal berry fruit.

85

18

Northern Spain

Red Blend

65,099

US

Salty pretzel gives way to a thicket of texture and ripe apple and Bosc pear. A rocky minerality adds complexity before a refined finish adds length. Allow this wine to open in the glass.

91

40

California

Chardonnay

88,661

US

Marrying cranberry fruit to a stiff, herbal spine, this offers sensory highlights of hemp, thyme and oregano. Though reticent aromatically, this wine earns your interest with its nicely-threaded herbal elements and substantial, albeit stiff, finish.

91

70

Oregon

Pinot Noir

52,230

US

This new cuvée is 60% Malbec, 35% Syrah and the rest Merlot. It seems to have been given extra barrel time, and the overpowering and heavy toast scents and flavors dominate. The raspberry fruit flavors are somewhat buried as a result, and the wine seems over-matched. But more bottle age may help to open it up.

87

50

Washington

Red Blend

42,943

US

A lovely Merlot and, at this price, a compelling buy. Hard to find a better inexpensive all-around full-bodied red than this one. Fully dry, it has polished flavors of cherries, currants, anise and pepper, wrapped in a gentle, silky texture.

87

13

California

Merlot

110,143

US

This has pungent aromatics of petrol and grass, and the flavors follow. It's a reasonable style for the Sauvignon Blanc grape, but it likely will not appeal to all palates.

86

20

Oregon

Sauvignon Blanc

84,396

US

This unoaked Chard has a somewhat Chablilsienne quality to it, with a beautiful mineral-driven freshness supported by delicate aromas of white peach, green apple and lively orange citrus. Light and immensely refreshing, it's a perfect apértitif sipper to be enjoyed with cheese and crudité.

86

15

New York

Chardonnay

39,583

US

Earns its very good score for sheer power and voluptuousness of fruit. It's a soft, delicious wine with gentle tannins that frame ripe blackberry, chocolate, black pepper and oak flavors.

88

32

California

Syrah

25,724

Spain

Mild salinic aromas bring lime and lychee. Feels standard and smooth enough, with sweet white fruit flavors that suggest peach. As a semi-dry, it always feels and tastes sugary.

84

9

Catalonia

Sparkling Blend

62,421

Portugal

A field blend dominated by old-vine Touriga Nacional, this is a richly endowed wood-aged wine. It is dark and concentrated, packed with juicy black fruits and acidity. The tannins support the ripe fruitiness. Drink this generous wine from 2018.

92

24

Douro

Portuguese Red

66,904

US

The texture on this Pinot lacks silky sumptuousness. It's a bit brawny, but it's bone dry, with good acidity. The flavors are interesting, veering between raspberries to tarter cranberries, with earthiness. Try aging it until 2019 to see if it comes around.

88

33

California

Pinot Noir

71,613

US

This is a full-flavored Pinot Noir, brimming with cherry, cola, red licorice and earthier notes of sautéed wild mushrooms and spices. It's quite low in alcohol, which preserves the airy, silky texture you want in a nice Pinot. It's also a young wine. Give it six years in the cellar.

90

65

California

Pinot Noir

94,617

US

This Lodi wine has a whirl of smoky, oaky flavors, plus a not entirely pleasant green tinge to its finish.

80

12

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

19,620

US

Rich and tangy, a Chardonnay that appeals for its pure varietal flavors and noble structure. It's powerful in pineapple and orange fruit, with a sweet overlay of caramelized oak. This richness is balanced by brisk acidity and minerality.

90

30

California

Chardonnay

32,812

US

Classic lychee and rose petal aromas perfume this ripe yet elegantly composed Gewürztraminer. Juicy and forward yet balanced and spry, it calibrates zesty tangerine acidity against a crystalline glaze of honey that lingers on the finish.

90

25

New York

Gewürztraminer

113,764

Italy

Be careful when you look for thense wines, the labels at Aschieri are a little confusing; a small white strip label at thumb level distinguishes the Sorano ordinaire from the special Costa Bricco. The wine, itself, is thick and quite poerful, with very ripe dark fruit, roses and earth flavors. It is beginning to show its age, and did not seem quite as fresh as the Sorano, but it proved to be more intense and extracted.

89

60

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

6,288

US

This simple wine gets the basic Zin concept across, offering briary cherry, red currant, spice and oak flavors. It offers good value in a dry, medium-bodied wine that will drink well with a vast array of food.

84

20

California

Zinfandel

15,121

Argentina

Raspberry and cherry aromas are light and pleasing, while the palate exhibits those same friendly and inviting raspberry flavors along with some citrus. A fresh and clean wine, nothing more or less. But it manages to rise above the masses via its focus, length and purity.

87

13

Mendoza Province

Malbec

60,394

Italy

A full-bodied, rounded wine with some good crisp acidity to balance. It has flavors of pears and some spice, leaving an attractive fresh feel in the mouth.

86

13

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

71,436

US

Another fine vintage for this value-priced, Bordeaux-style blend. It's loaded with raspberry and black cherry flavors, then brings in lighter notes of dried herb, ground coffee and dark chocolate. For its price, it delivers rather complex and well-integrated flavors.

89

20

Washington

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

37,423

US

Fresh, clean and varietal, this pushes fleshy pear flavors with a light hint of grapefruit. The presence in the mouth is full and satisfying, with a touch of honeysuckle, and the juicy finish lingers deliciously.

90

15

Oregon

Pinot Gris

114,190

US

Whiffs of barnyard and bramble lend rusticity to this wine, contrasted by fresher, prettier notes of rose petal and blackberry jam. It's a charming Merlot marked by crisp black-fruit flavor, sprightly acidity and dusty, lingering tannins.

87

19

New York

Merlot

96,755

US

Ripe, rich black cherries and berries are accented by layers crushed stone on this elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh fruit concentrates the palate, but it's brightened by a jolt of acidity and fine, lingering tannins.

88

19

New York

Cabernet Sauvignon

32,273

Italy

Intense aromas of dried rose, leather, truffle and crushed berry lead the nose. The ripe, forward palate offers crushed black cherry, wild raspberry, cinnamon white pepper and sage alongside chewy tannins. Drink 2015–2022.

93

80

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

26,581

France

The wine from Vignobles Chatelier is ripe, smooth and well balanced. With its green fruits balanced by apricot, it is a wine that has both tangy acidity and a soft, rounded texture. It is ready to drink.

86

13

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

37,962

US

The nose of this light-colored wine offers showy apple blossom and pineapple aromas, leaning into the ripe and tropical side of the grape spectrum. it delivers crisp energy once sipped, with very fruit-forward apple flavors and even a touch of guava.

85

20

California

Chardonnay

90,526

US

From the producer's oldest estate vineyard, planted in 1970, this is lovely in rose petals and baked fruit, offering a powerful density of full-bodied concentration and succulence on the palate. A velvety texture is complemented by a bite of oak and tannin that flirts with grip.

92

75

California

Pinot Noir

38,870

US

A light, elegant nose of almonds, apple and honeysuckle, followed by fresh flavors of nuts, apple and flowers on the palate. Pretty, balanced and lingering in the finish. A great food wine.

87

23

New York

Pinot Gris

93,707

US

In the Chatter Creek style, this is solid, well-made and varietal. Tart fruit flavors of boysenberry and pomegranate are set against firm tannins. Green tea, herb and peppery bark flavors take over the finish. The wine persists nicely in the finish.

87

38

Washington

Syrah

18,694

US

There's an intensity of apricot and melon in this full-bodied, textured wine that veers on becoming overbearingly ripe, with a ghost-like finish.

85

40

California

Sauvignon Blanc

80,933

France

This is one of the largest volume production Chablis, and it sings. Minerality and acidity go well with the ripe fruits and fresh acidity, bright and packed with grapefruit edginess.

88

25

Burgundy

Chardonnay

46,319

US

Give this Pinot Noir a couple of years to knit together. Right now it's a little acidic, and it offers flavors of Life Savers candy, raspberry and cherry. The mouthfeel is velvety smooth.

89

52

California

Pinot Noir

70,387

US

A non-vintage blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Sangiovese, this is built upon strong, herbal tannins. The addition of the Sangiovese brings in fat, buttery oak flavors that linger through the finish.

87

18

Washington

Red Blend

43,584

US

This is a definitive Mount Veeder Zin, jam packed and complex in notes of blackberries, sweet raspberries and red currants, with spice, cola and smoky oak tones. It's a little on the soft side, with luscious tannins. Ready to drink now.

89

40

California

Zinfandel

124,686

US

The first vintage of this wine from this site, it offers a lot to like, from crisp, pretty aromas and tingly acidity to nuanced whispers of honeycomb, Gravenstein apple and fennel. Light bodied, it has nice firmness and tension to the mouthfeel, and an overall balance of fruit and complexity.

92

30

California

Chardonnay

42,893

France

A wine that has freshness, some wood and a soft series of tannins, almost velvet. There is a stalky juiciness here, to complete a wine that offers the freshest acidity, with only hints of darker fruits.

89

50

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

18,993

France

Dry, firm and tough, this wine lacks the fruit fruit to come through the structure. It's a wine for those who like plenty of wood.

84

16

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

106,899

Italy

This juicy, savory Rosso opens with a pretty fragrance of crushed violets, perfumed berries and sweet cake spices. The ripe, delicious palate doles out concentrated wild cherry, black raspberry and cinnamon-spice alongside supple tannins and fresh acidity. Bright orange fruit sensations signal the close.

92

27

Tuscany

Sangiovese

47,623

France

Taut, tannic and nervy, this has red currant fruit that gives a crisp sensation to this tight, precise wine. Give it a year to soften.

87

26

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

124,178

France

Tense and structured, this is a firm, concentrated wine from the top vineyard in the appellation. It has tight acidity as well as red-currant flavors. The structure is still firm and condensed, and the wine will need time. It has potential; drink from 2019.

90

65

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

82,813

Italy

Planeta's Chardonnay is one of the nicest expressions of this international grape variety made on Italian soil. From sunny Sicily, the wine recalls some of the characteristics of Chardonnay from California, with its creamy, rich mouthfeel and beautifully intense aromas of stone fruit, citrus, vanilla, yellow rose and exotic spice.

91

43

Sicily & Sardinia

Chardonnay

19,509

US

Ruddy slightly overripe black cherry and berry flavors are juxtaposed with tart green notes in this fruity but rustic Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft, sunny acidity lends a plush, juicy mouthfeel and a brisk finish.

84

20

New York

Cabernet Sauvignon

113,484

Italy

Mionetto is a steady producer of clean, easy-drinking sparkling wine that is consistent and fun to drink year in and year out. This expression is ripe with sweet peach and lime.

86

18

Veneto

Glera

27,170

Italy

This has subtle aromas of blackberry, pepper and tilled earth. The palate delivers a core of plum, blackcherry and licorice, uplifted with white pepper and orange zest accents. Its refreshing acidity makes it enjoyable now, but will also allow it to age modestly. Drink after 2016.

89

16

Veneto

Red Blend

129,959

France

The granite soil of the Brand Grand Cru vineyard has produced a strongly structured wine that also has richness and ripe fruits. Off dry, it has a hint of honey as well as yellow fruits and pears. The aftertaste brings out the acidity and freshness that balance the wine. Drink from 2017.

90

57

Alsace

Pinot Gris

108,702

France

This impressive Champagne is rich while tight and mineral-textured. Creamy and ripe, it balances the weight of Pinot Noir with the elegance of Chardonnay. The producer's location in the relatively warm Aube region gives its wines extra fullness. This one is just now ready to drink.

92

40

Champagne

Champagne Blend

47,418

US

Caramelized oak and tangerine jam flavors give this Chardonnay a honeyed sweetness that would appeal consumers who enjoy modern-style wines. The high alcohol gives it a peppery burn.

82

20

California

Chardonnay

47,366

US

Alpha is a new offering from Market Vineyards, and boosts the flavor meter past the winery's excellent, value-priced Benchmark Merlot. Tightly-structured and showing a barrel-heavy mix of dark, toasted flavors, this complex effort brings lead pencil, clove, charred meat and black fruits into play. Enjoy it with your thick grilled steak, or tuck it away until 2020–2022.

93

52

Washington

Merlot

36,343

Italy

This concentrated, oak-driven Chardonnay opens with a rich golden color and offers opulent tones of vanilla, butter, pineapple, apricot and peach. It is a creamy, dense wine that could stand up to lobster or white asparagus. Imported by MW Imports.

88

19

Northeastern Italy

Chardonnay

27,587

Australia

Smoky and confected, with candied apple and sugared peach notes that come across as cloying.

81

15

South Australia

Chardonnay

8,137

Italy

Aromas of pring flower, gold apple and Anjou pear lead into the crisp refreshing palate along with a hint of nectarine. Tart acidity gives it a bright, juicy finish.

87

18

Veneto

Glera

6,971

US

Gentle in texture and generous in flavor, this wine is medium bodied, rather soft in mouthfeel and has ripe strawberry and red-cherry notes that are direct and delicious, leaving a fruity, almost sweet finish.

86

8

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

73,563

US

Michael David is clearly having fun here, calling it Rapture and scrawling on the back of each bottle, “Don't be left behind!” The wine is fun for big oak, big tannin and big fruit as it's true to its MD style, all toasted oak and molasses, dry epic tannins and jam.

85

59

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

125,254

US

Formerly the deLancellotti vineyard, Silice brings fresh, supple flavors of bright raspberry and cherry fruit. A distinctive ashy stone note forms the bassline, holding the finish firm. It should benefit from another year of bottle age. Or give it a long decant to enjoy now.

92

70

Oregon

Pinot Noir

54,872

US

The mystery of how to make a Chardonnay, is solved with this wine; fruity, rich and creamy, yet one that finishes so dry and crisp in acidity. Who else holds back a Chardonnay five years except Jim Clendenen? Low in alcohol and balanced despite being aged in 100% new French oak, it's just now beginning a long journey of excellence. It has a soft, lilting mouthfeel and incredible complexity that will only improve with time.

93

50

California

Chardonnay

57,537

France

This wine has both fruitiness and delicious, bright acidity. A subtle use of wood creates a firm structure under the black currant fruit flavors, giving a solid base on which to develop. Drink from 2017.

88

26

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend