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
2,946	US	Confected but pleasant aromas of cotton candy and sour apple drops dominate the nose, while the palate unfolds nicely with layers of lemon and red apple. Soft and lush, it picks up an apricot accent on the medium finish. Try with Thai food. Drink now.	84	16	New York	Riesling
95,859	US	This herbal, tannic Syrah is a serviceable bottle that would be especially good with a simple flank steak. Scents are a mix of grape blossom, cherry and coffee. The wine is solid and one dimensional and finishes with a strong herbal streak.	84	20	Washington	Syrah
90,792	France	A juicy wine, it is full of black currant fruits and vanilla wood flavors. It is generous, rounded with fine acidity and a fresh, open feel. Dry tannins will help the wine age for the medium-term. Drink from 2016.	86	20	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
3,902	Italy	Gold with copper hues, this opens with aromas of wildflower, tangerine zest and a whiff of crushed stone. The vibrant palate offers rennet apple, lime, ginger drop and a hint of mineral alongside mouthwatering acidity.	87	16	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
102,211	Italy	Made with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo and 15% Montepulciano, this simple wine opens with subdued aromas of leafy underbrush, nut and dark-skinned fruit. The lean diluted palate offers dried berry set against evolved tannins. Drink soon.	85	19	Tuscany	Red Blend
119,712	US	Intensely oaky, buttery and creamy, this lush style also shows ample acidity, keeping the richness in check. It's big and borderline blowsy, but packed with flavor.	88	12	Washington	Chardonnay
51,006	France	With wood and white stone fruit in fine balance, this is a ripe, full wine, the acidity lighting up the ripe flavor. The wine has a broad character, ready for drinking in a year.	91	145	Burgundy	Chardonnay
9,887	US	Pretty floral perfume mingles into delicate apple and pear in this fragrant full-bodied Chardonnay. Broad and richly textured, its softness is accentuated by its yielding tangerine acidity. The finish lingers on a touch of butter and lemon pith.	88	20	New York	Chardonnay
5,699	US	Half was whole-cluster fermented, yielding dense scents and flavors with black olive, herb and a touch of mocha. Cranberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavors are smooth and detailed, and the tannins firm and polished.	91	29	Washington	Syrah
38,081	US	Terrific structure on this well made wine. You'll be impressed by the rich tannins and fine acids. Caresses the palate with gentle smoothness. But be forewarned, this wine is lean on fruit. It's herbal and earthy. But it shows that a Napa red doesn't have to be fruit bomb to be elegant and delicious.	89	52	California	Merlot
62,752	Italy	Red berry, rose, blue flower, tilled soil and Alpine herb aromas set the pace on this luminous red. The firm palate is still young and closed but already shows ripe red berry, wild cherry, mocha anise, clove and a hint of toast. Youthfully assertive but refined tannins and fresh acidity lend structure and balance. Drink 2019–2029.	91	53	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
65,353	US	It's not just the fruit, which is immaculately ripe in blackberries and black currants. The wine also stands out for the richness of the oak, so perfectly integrated, and the overall balance. Beautiful acidity and thick, rich, supple tannins come along with a gorgeous, long, dry finish. The vineyard is in Yountville. You'll want to cellar this 100% Cab until at least 2020, and it could be going strong longer.	96	105	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
31,200	US	This is the driest of Iron Horse's new releases, but it still has a honeyed richness even though the residual sugar is a comparatively low half a percent. It feels refined, fancy and elegant, with delicious raspberry, lime and toast flavors. The blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.	93	50	California	Sparkling Blend
73,454	Spain	Earthy plum and raspberry aromas are subtle. This is tight on the palate, with firm tannins and slightly elevated acidity. Earthy, lightly toasted raspberry and plum flavors finish dry. As a whole, this is well made and exceeds expectations.	89	13	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
62,462	US	A darker shade of yellow, this wine shows poached apple, orange peel and slight roasted-nut aromas on the clean nose. The palate is medium bodied, touching on flavors of almond oil, preserved lemons, chamomile tea and coconut.	87	22	California	Chardonnay
33,754	US	Sweet with raspberry jam, cherry liqueur and vanilla cream flavors, this is a good dessert wine. But it could be a lot better if it were more intense. The finish trails off a little.	86	65	California	Grenache
128,425	US	The term Vintner's Select, which is unregulated, can be abused. Here it really means something, as this is the winery's top cuvée—an excellent effort that spent 18 months in oak. There's extra depth in the cherry and cassis fruit, packing a powerful, compact punch all the way through a long, polished finish.	94	65	Oregon	Pinot Noir
124,408	Germany	Whiffs of smoke, spice and nut oil add an alluring maturity to this Riesling. The palate is gorgeously fruity, with loads of concentrated sweet peach, dried apricot and honey flavors, but it's honed and steely, with a long laser-beam finish.	90	25	Mosel	Riesling
93,455	US	This is an excellent Harvest Select bottling, with bright, sappy flavors that seem not all that sweet. The residual sugar, listed at 47 g/L, is an asset, but doesn't dominate. Flavors remain as crisp as a fresh Macintosh apple, juicy, forward and delicious.	90	10	Washington	Riesling
43,676	US	Only the second vintage of this vineyard-designate wine from an estate property, this bottling offers spicy cherry, black tea and dried herb, backed by oaky backbone and structure. Dark chocolate and leather play on the palate in subtle waves, hitting their strides on the finish. Cellar through 2020.	91	38	California	Zinfandel
3,694	Italy	Made from 80-year-old Glera vines that have never been doused with herbicides or pesticides, this boasts an enticing floral fragrance of jasmine and honeysuckle. The elegant, reserved palate has a pristine quality, delivering green apple, lemon zest, nectarine, pastry cream, herb and mineral alongside a fine perlage. It finishes crisp and clean.	91	30	Veneto	Glera
12,733	Italy	Made with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon, this leads with subtle aromas of celery, mature yellow apple, vanilla and toast. The palate offers pink grapefruit, toasted oak, lemon drop, celery, and butterscotch. It's still has fresh acidity but the fruit richness has started drying out so drink soon.	88	43	Northeastern Italy	White Blend
5,077	France	The wine is all juicy fruit, black cherries with just a modicum of tannin to hold it together. It's fresh, ripe and immediately attractive. Ready to drink now, but with those tannins it should also age 2016–2017.	87	16	Loire Valley	Cabernet Franc
5,245	France	From vines with an average age of 25 years, this concentrated wine is fruity and stylishly textured. With lively acidity balanced by tense minerality, it shows intense citrus and concentration. It will benefit from some aging, so drink from 2018.	91	30	Loire Valley	Sauvignon Blanc
68,387	Italy	Lime and green apples on the nose, with a floral note as well. It's medium-bodied, featuring a sharp, citrusy edge to the finish.	84	7	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
44,423	US	This 100% varietal wine offers fairly locked up aromas of dried herb, red and black fruit, and barrel spice. The flavors are ripe and dark fruited, with a lovely sense of texture and presence that carries through the finish.	91	30	Washington	Cabernet Franc
28,229	US	The cassis, black currant, chocolate and sweet oak flavors star in this soft, easy wine. It could use a firmer structure, but it's very savory and easy to drink.	85	25	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
108,931	US	This smells and tastes rich and abundant, yet it is not overtly fruity or full bodied. The nuances are more like fig and toasted almond with a subtle buttery note. A slight brassy effect in the golden color seems to agree with the mature, complex flavor components.	88	13	California	Chardonnay
51,695	France	This wine is firm, solid and strongly tannic in nature. Juiciness is there, along with wood aging, spice and some concentration. The acidity is very present and needs to soften over the next year. Drink from 2015.	86	26	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
111,723	US	This delightful, off-dry white is a blend of Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Müller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, perfectly matched to deliver crisp, fruity aromatics and flavors of apples, oranges and pears. It's a terrific anytime quaffer.	88	10	Oregon	White Blend
81,005	France	This wine is lean, more about structure than tannins. Some juicy fruitiness is overwhelmed by the dry core of the wine that seems over-extracted.	85	30	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
36,719	US	Despite some well-ripened red and black currant, licorice and cola flavors, this dry Zin has a bitterness in the finish that gives it a bit of a rustic feel. Drink now.	84	27	California	Zinfandel
86,172	US	The Donum Estate continues to show its prowess with this variety in addition to its speciality, Pinot Noir, and this bottling is no exception. High-toned lemon flavors meet supportive oak and a light-bodied layering of fresh pear and honeycomb, buoyed by bright acidity from start to finish.	93	85	California	Chardonnay
2,480	US	Blackberries, violet and black-slate aromas mix with a bit of soy sauce on this blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Mourvèdre and 18% Grenache, grown in what today is known as the San Miguel District of Paso Robles. Juicy flavors of black raspberry and licorice combine for an easy-quaffing palate.	88	42	California	Red Blend
51,326	France	Finely perfumed, a wine that has some elegant structure, sweet red-berry fruits and a light acidity. The texture is gentle, soft and rounded, ready to drink now.	90	85	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
107,568	Argentina	Minty, roasted berry aromas open this well-built Cabernet that's packed with plum, raspberry and wood-spice flavors. There's nothing complicated about this lively, oaky wine that runs long on the finish.	88	12	Mendoza Province	Cabernet Sauvignon
78,980	France	Quince and lemon aromas continue on the palate. Crisp and tightly textured, it's spoiled by a metallic flavor that hardens the aftertaste.	85	24	Loire Valley	Sauvignon Blanc
61,481	US	An unusual example of the more reserved style of Gewürtztraminer with subtle scents of ginger and spice up front, followed by understated flavors of rose and potpourri. The crisp finish is quite dry and winds up with a peach accent. Drink up before 2011.	85	15	New York	Gewürztraminer
113,579	US	This dramatically structured Cab needs time in the cellar. It straddles the old-fashioned style of long-aging and the modern style of immediate opulence. The tannins star, sticky and firm, but the wine, which contains minor amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is so rich, so loaded in black currants, cherries, sweet ripe plums, chocolate, anise and smoky oak, that it seduces now. But best after the age of six.	94	150	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
21,539	US	Dry and briskly acidic, this is rich in cherry, mocha and spice flavors that are just starting to turn the corner and develop aged bottle notes. Fascinating now, it should continue to evolve over the next several years, gradually dropping fruit and picking up earthiness.	92	50	California	Pinot Noir
25,208	Italy	There's an exotic, spicy element here that gives this riserva a unique and compelling quality. Coffee, espresso and bitter chocolate also identify it. The mouthfeel is dry and tight, suggesting long aging potential. More than fruit, this wine shows tertiary aromas and crushed mineral in the mouth.	92	75	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
128,335	France	Young and yeasty wine, with the freshest raspberry flavor. It is a light style, floating with the fruit and acidity, the finish on the softer side.	88	85	Champagne	Champagne Blend
22,450	US	A dry, light-bodied, easy-drinking Riesling, this has zesty lemon and grapefruit flavors, plus undertones of flower and spiced tangerine. The palate shows depth, and the finish is intense.	89	19	California	Riesling
80,378	Italy	Here's a simple and clean white wine with straightforward appeal and a frank, upfront nature. Cut grass, lemon and honeydew melon describe the bouquet.	84	9	Veneto	Pinot Grigio
21,004	France	Light and crisp, this wine has citrus and green-plum flavors. It is still developing, with plenty of acidity as well a perfumed character. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.	85	16	Burgundy	Chardonnay
94,803	France	Showing fine acidity, this has a creamy texture and a rich, rounded feel. Full of pear and creamed-apple flavors, it has some weight and a full-bodied character without losing the crisp acidity.	87	15	Alsace	Riesling
75,250	US	The tannins give this wine a lockdown feeling, making it hard and astringent. But the fruit is strong and jammy, suggesting raspberries, cherries and blackberries. Made from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it's forward and one-dimensional now, but delicious, and unlikely to improve with age.	88	40	California	Red Blend
110,514	US	This comes from one of Josh Jensen's vineyards that got barely a half-ton an acre this vintage. It offers aromas of sandalwood, leather, dried strawberry and sagebrush and is light and airy on the palate, with medium red fruits, roots and bark complexity on the midpalate. The wine finishes on nuances of hibiscus and black tea.	93	84	California	Pinot Noir
67,699	US	A crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Shows rich, savory citrus and green grass flavors, with hints of minerals and flowers. Very drinkable and bone-dry.	90	21	California	Sauvignon Blanc
117,141	US	This extraordinary winery continues to produce some of Napa's most distinguished Cabernets. The vineyard is in the cool-climate appellation of Coombsville, which accounts for its superb structure of acids and tannins. Perfectly ripe black-currant flavors meld into toasty new-oak tones. At the age of more than six years, the wine is starting to mellow, but is only hinting at the drama to come. It has enough splendor to glidepath through the decades.	97	150	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
127,126	US	The citrus, herb and mint aromas are expressive but show some reduction. The citrus and tropical flavors are broad and creamy, though the concentration at times seems light.	86	18	Washington	Sauvignon Blanc
79,124	Argentina	Pleasant and fairly clean for the price, with hazelnut, honey and a dusting of talcum powder on the nose. The palate is on the thin side, and that helps the wine stay fresh and manageable. And along the way the flavors of apple, kiwi and gooseberry are relaxed and easy.	84	9	Mendoza Province	Chardonnay
82,588	Italy	A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, scorched earth, violet and a touch of dark spice. The palate offers dried black cherry and ground pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. It also shows the heat of the vintage, so drink soon.	88	39	Tuscany	Red Blend
64,683	US	A big, bold Zin, with a kick of peppery spices. Really front-loaded with wild berry, currant, cherry pie and sweet tobacco flavors. Nothing subtle about this barbecue-friendly powerhouse.	87	36	California	Zinfandel
77,684	US	A totally refreshing blend of citrus, apple, peach and pear flavors, all couched in bright textured acidity. The wine makes a fine aperitif as well as a mealtime beverage. Off dry, but hardly sweet, it's crisp and fresh to the end.	87	12	California	Riesling
109,748	US	As before, the Estate Selection is the bigger of the two Pinots from Amalie, textural and clean. Strawberry and raspberry fruit flavors hint at herb and stem, but all the details are in proportion and complement each other. Not for long aging, but drinking well right now.	89	50	Oregon	Pinot Noir
23,042	US	This oaky, fruity Chardonnay is lush and opulent. It has flavors of buttered toast, sweet cream, pineapples, tangerines, tropical-fruit jam, sautéed bananas and limes, accented with brisk acidity.	88	30	California	Chardonnay
82,302	Italy	This blend of Grecanico and Viognier offers a generous bouquet with exotic fruit, pineapple, white flower and dusty talc powder. The wine also shows creamy thickness in the mouth.	87	25	Sicily & Sardinia	White Blend
81,946	US	Dark and velvety on the nose, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec offers a plump but balanced expression of black cherry, black pepper and dried herbs. The complex palate combines exotic plum and dried strawberry with mocha and crumbled mint flavors.	92	62	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
64,085	US	Another successful release from Stromberg after the fine 2005 vintage, and it makes the case for Dry Creek Cabernet at its best. Hillside grapes have yielded concentrated flavors of blackberries, plums and spices, and the wine is finely balanced with dense tannins and acidity. Fifty percent new French oak barrel aging is easily absorbed by the wine's inherent size. Elegant and complex, it's a gorgeous wine to drink now.	92	30	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
96,187	France	With barnyard aromas, this is a rustic wine. It does have some red fruit flavors and acidity but these are compromised by the earthy texture.	83	40	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
78,917	US	Simple and slightly earthy, Covey's budget Cab is not as appealing as their Merlot, but it's a good effort nonetheless. Black cherry and cassis speak to the variety, and the stiff tannins suggest some staying power. —P.G.	86	9	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
59,455	Australia	A red cherry aroma is interwoven with violets and dried herbs. The supple palate of juicy fruit is balanced by silky tannins and a medium mouthfeel, followed by a herbal finish.	90	36	South Australia	Grenache
118,453	US	Elegant aromas suggest tar, prune, cherry preserves and mint. It's soft on the mouth with unfolding tannins, featuring flavors of Italian herbs and cedar. It's a very austere and extremely dry wine, with very little overt fruit.	89	39	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
44,604	US	This is a memorable wine, with enticing and complex aromas of gorgeous ripe fruit accented by cedar, tea and forest floor. The palate echos the aromas with vibrant and rich flavors, while the mouthfeel is firm and bolstered by fine-grained tannins.	94	68	California	Pinot Noir
18,170	France	This attractive wine is so drinkable, fresh and fruity. Its edge of texture gives it more than just simple fruitiness, while acidity adds just the right boost and liveliness. Red currants, tangerines and lemon peel are there to finish.	90	20	Provence	Rosé
110,897	Italy	This leads with subtle black plum and cooking spice scents. The simple palate shows clove, tobacco and blackberry flavors. Drink soon.	86	16	Piedmont	Barbera
48,077	Portugal	Showcasing the richness of 2009 without sacrificing fine structure, this is stylish and concentrated. Dark black fruit accompanies a tight, minerality and a fine shaft of acidity. This single-vineyard offering is worth aging for 2–3 years.	88	15	Douro	Portuguese Red
35,570	US	Merriam is concentrating on Cabernet Franc from various appellations, with excellent results. This Russian River bottling is terrific for drinking now. It's spicy and rich in red cherry jam, cherry liqueur and smoky sandalwood flavors that finish long and sweet. It would be great with Chinese-style roast pork.	91	40	California	Cabernet Franc
80,078	US	The winery held this Chardonnay back a year later than their far more expensive Journey bottling. Hard to say why, but the consumer is the beneficiary. That extra bit of aging has mellowed the wine, giving it a creamy, buttery richness. It has good acidity, too, that gives a lift to the ripe tropical fruits.	92	26	California	Chardonnay
28,234	US	From 41-year-old vines on just over five estate acres, this is resiny and briny on the nose. A honey-laced creaminess at the core is tensely accentuated by vibrant acidity. Balanced and elegant, with a sunny bite of ripeness, it revels in nuances of fresh and dried apricot while lighter notes of lemon, lime and grapefruit play backup.	93	27	California	Riesling
110,584	US	This has slender flavors of tangerine and peach. It's elegantly dry, clean and brisk in acidity, with a light touch of smoky oak—definitely worth the price.	86	15	California	Chardonnay
32,691	US	Here's a pretty Pinot, direct and appealing for its range of fruit. Shows raspberry, cherry and persimmon flavors, uplifted by bright acidity. Drink it now.	87	25	California	Pinot Noir
3,663	US	Dry and soft, with the taste of cherry, roasted almond, crunchy granola and fig health candy bar. Enjoyable, but simple. Drink now.	84	20	California	Merlot
21,987	US	Light apple and Anjou pear aromas, tangy fruit flavors shaded by butter and almond, and a supple texture add up to a sleek and flavorful wine. This is balanced, medium bodied and reflects the house style of Navarro that ensures a svelte mouthfeel with no rough edges.	91	25	California	Chardonnay
26,601	Italy	This vineyard-designate Barolo offers soapy, floral notes of lavender and church incense with more spice and nutmeg at the back. The wine is broad, chewy and well-structured with solid tannins and a densely concentrated texture.	89	75	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
89,814	US	Dry, acidic and earthy, lacking the richness you want in a fine Chardonnay. Could almost be a Pinot Grigio, with its crisp citrus and mineral flavors.	85	21	California	Chardonnay
86,224	Italy	Corbaia is Sangiovese and Cab Sauvignon from the southern part of Chianti Classico where temperatures are a bit warmer and the soils a bit thicker. As a result, the wine has added structure and power but it also has pretty buoyancy, elegance and lingering aromas of balsam notes, herbs, black pepper and almond.	91	55	Tuscany	Red Blend
41,863	US	Young, intense and briary, with summer herb notes of anise framing ripe, spicy blackberries. Oak adds a rich, deft touch of sweet char. The tannins are considerable and brooding, giving this dry young wine an astringent tightness. Shows all the hallmarks of ageability. 45% Merlot, 43% Petit Verdot 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.	94	55	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
2,812	US	Robust and brawny, this substantial offering features concentrated layers of smoke, leather and sage-inflected tannins. It finishes in a wrapping of bittersweet chocolate.	87	25	California	Zinfandel
107,185	US	Made in the Peachy Canyon style of great power and ripeness, this is one of the more assertive Zinfandels out there. Blended with some Petite Sirah, which gives it even greater heft, it's basically a nuclear blast of wild, briary summer berries and spices.	88	38	California	Zinfandel
108,259	US	A pretty simple little Syrah, fruity and sweet in cherries, with a sugary finish. Will pair nicely with a cheeseburger.	83	19	California	Syrah
61,338	US	The market is loaded with inexpensive Oregon wines at the moment, but few if any can offer this kind of quality at this price point. Crisp and fresh, this brings a mix of lime, quinine, pine needles and green apples into play. Well defined and immaculately clean, it can accompany a range of salads, noodle dishes or cold cuts.	88	15	Oregon	Chardonnay
108,322	US	Super-dark in color, this extracted wine offers a reductive note on the nose, followed by a rustic tinge of hay and brick. Intensely flavored and oaked, it finishes unexpectedly herbal and dry.	87	54	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
58,063	US	This is a spicy, softly lush offering of Cabernet sourced from a tiny part of the Larkmead Vineyard in northern Napa Valley. Black and red currant play off one another well, before revealing subtle layers of dried herb and tobacco leaf, the finish as cushy as the opening and midpalate of the wine.	91	90	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
7,027	US	At the age of four-plus years, this Cab still tastes young and fresh, as though it were bottled yesterday. Brims with ripe blackberries, cherries, cocoa and cedar, with a nice cut of acidity and ultrarefined tannins. Not quite ready for prime time, so give it 3–5 years to mellow.	92	70	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
12,841	Italy	Baking spice, perfumed berry and crushed floral scents mingle together on this bright red. The straightforward palate offers black cherry, white pepper and clove accompanied by zesty acidity and fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2018.	88	25	Tuscany	Red Blend
116,703	US	Dry and crisp, but too feline in strong green aromas and flavors. A little of that goes a long way. Modest lemon and lime fruit comes to the rescue, but too little, too late.	82	18	California	Sauvignon Blanc
68,661	Italy	Alluring wild berry, truffle, Mediterranean herb and tilled soil aromas lead the nose of this delicious red. The fresh, balanced palate delivers crushed raspberry, juicy black cherry, star anise and chopped mint flavors, while a cinnamon note closes the finish. Firm, polished tannins provide the elegant framework. Drink 2018–2027.	93	80	Tuscany	Sangiovese
30,673	US	Here's a clean, brisk Sauvignon Blanc for pairing with Asian fare. It's spicy and overtly sweet, with lemongrass, honey and vanilla flavors.	85	12	California	Sauvignon Blanc
34,674	Argentina	Jammy raspberry and plum aromas come with accents of dusty herbs and black licorice. A saturated, lush, jammy palate features soft, baked flavors of cassis and wild berry, while the finish delivers mint, chocolate and lasting berry ripeness. Drink through 2019.	92	40	Mendoza Province	Malbec
5,919	US	Ripe, clean apple aromas meet with a touch of green honeydew and an interesting note of cut celery on the nose of this wine from the Riboli family. The palate offers decent tension and verve, with flavors of chilled pear juice and fresh lemon rinds.	88	15	California	Sauvignon Blanc
98,742	Spain	Slightly sweet smelling, with butterscotch and salinic notes to the soft, somewhat bland nose. Feels fleshy, with modest acidity and creamy flavors of apple, banana and melon. Mellow late, with a creamy, vanilla-tinged finish. Viura and Malvasia.	88	26	Northern Spain	White Blend
82,752	US	This is really a spectacular wine. It's hard to say why it's so superior to Krutz's 2005 bottling, but it's richer and more elegant in every respect. Combines immense power with great finesse. The refined essence of blackberries, black currants and spices thrills the palate, accented with the most beautiful coating of smoky oak. A great achievement that should develop in the bottle through 2018.	97	70	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
77,697	Australia	This medium-bodied Chard has nice oregano and thyme notes on the nose, with more fresh herbal accents on the palate. Cream and nutmeg flavors are most prevalent in the mouth; finishes with pleasant floury-nutmeg notes.	87	13	South Australia	Chardonnay
39,380	France	With 30% of the harvest aged in new oak, this is a spicy, toasty wine. That shows through in the firm tannins that back up the rich black fruit. Produced from 30-year-old vines, it has concentration and a fine, solid texture. Drink from 2022.	91	45	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
39,655	US	Drinking tough in acids and fresh young tannins now, this is one you want to cellar. But the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard has one of California's greatest track records, and these Pinots soften and sweeten for years. With ripe cherry, blackberry and spice flavors, Sanford's '05 will be at its best 2009–2012. If you open it now, decant.	91	48	California	Pinot Noir
87,512	US	A fine Zin, rich and sweet in raspberries and cherries, with spicy notes of cinnamon, pepper and Chinese Five-spice. It's a lusty, delicious wine for drinking now with beef, pork, chicken or even a veggie lasagna.	87	16	California	Zinfandel
34,340	Spain	Candied strawberry and grassy aromas unfold on the nose. On the palate, this blend of Monastrell and Pinot Noir feels heavy. A mix of candied red-fruit flavors and weedy notes finish short.	84	10	Catalonia	Sparkling Blend
14,702	US	Strong aromas of blueberries and blue flowers show on this rich and penetrating wine from the eastside of Paso Robles. Thick and chalky tannins coat the palate, delivering more blueberry and ripe grape flavors, cut by a strong acidity.	89	41	California	Petite Sirah

2,946

US

Confected but pleasant aromas of cotton candy and sour apple drops dominate the nose, while the palate unfolds nicely with layers of lemon and red apple. Soft and lush, it picks up an apricot accent on the medium finish. Try with Thai food. Drink now.

84

16

New York

Riesling

95,859

US

This herbal, tannic Syrah is a serviceable bottle that would be especially good with a simple flank steak. Scents are a mix of grape blossom, cherry and coffee. The wine is solid and one dimensional and finishes with a strong herbal streak.

84

20

Washington

Syrah

90,792

France

A juicy wine, it is full of black currant fruits and vanilla wood flavors. It is generous, rounded with fine acidity and a fresh, open feel. Dry tannins will help the wine age for the medium-term. Drink from 2016.

86

20

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

3,902

Italy

Gold with copper hues, this opens with aromas of wildflower, tangerine zest and a whiff of crushed stone. The vibrant palate offers rennet apple, lime, ginger drop and a hint of mineral alongside mouthwatering acidity.

87

16

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

102,211

Italy

Made with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo and 15% Montepulciano, this simple wine opens with subdued aromas of leafy underbrush, nut and dark-skinned fruit. The lean diluted palate offers dried berry set against evolved tannins. Drink soon.

85

19

Tuscany

Red Blend

119,712

US

Intensely oaky, buttery and creamy, this lush style also shows ample acidity, keeping the richness in check. It's big and borderline blowsy, but packed with flavor.

88

12

Washington

Chardonnay

51,006

France

With wood and white stone fruit in fine balance, this is a ripe, full wine, the acidity lighting up the ripe flavor. The wine has a broad character, ready for drinking in a year.

91

145

Burgundy

Chardonnay

9,887

US

Pretty floral perfume mingles into delicate apple and pear in this fragrant full-bodied Chardonnay. Broad and richly textured, its softness is accentuated by its yielding tangerine acidity. The finish lingers on a touch of butter and lemon pith.

88

20

New York

Chardonnay

5,699

US

Half was whole-cluster fermented, yielding dense scents and flavors with black olive, herb and a touch of mocha. Cranberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavors are smooth and detailed, and the tannins firm and polished.

91

29

Washington

Syrah

38,081

US

Terrific structure on this well made wine. You'll be impressed by the rich tannins and fine acids. Caresses the palate with gentle smoothness. But be forewarned, this wine is lean on fruit. It's herbal and earthy. But it shows that a Napa red doesn't have to be fruit bomb to be elegant and delicious.

89

52

California

Merlot

62,752

Italy

Red berry, rose, blue flower, tilled soil and Alpine herb aromas set the pace on this luminous red. The firm palate is still young and closed but already shows ripe red berry, wild cherry, mocha anise, clove and a hint of toast. Youthfully assertive but refined tannins and fresh acidity lend structure and balance. Drink 2019–2029.

91

53

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

65,353

US

It's not just the fruit, which is immaculately ripe in blackberries and black currants. The wine also stands out for the richness of the oak, so perfectly integrated, and the overall balance. Beautiful acidity and thick, rich, supple tannins come along with a gorgeous, long, dry finish. The vineyard is in Yountville. You'll want to cellar this 100% Cab until at least 2020, and it could be going strong longer.

96

105

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

31,200

US

This is the driest of Iron Horse's new releases, but it still has a honeyed richness even though the residual sugar is a comparatively low half a percent. It feels refined, fancy and elegant, with delicious raspberry, lime and toast flavors. The blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.

93

50

California

Sparkling Blend

73,454

Spain

Earthy plum and raspberry aromas are subtle. This is tight on the palate, with firm tannins and slightly elevated acidity. Earthy, lightly toasted raspberry and plum flavors finish dry. As a whole, this is well made and exceeds expectations.

89

13

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

62,462

US

A darker shade of yellow, this wine shows poached apple, orange peel and slight roasted-nut aromas on the clean nose. The palate is medium bodied, touching on flavors of almond oil, preserved lemons, chamomile tea and coconut.

87

22

California

Chardonnay

33,754

US

Sweet with raspberry jam, cherry liqueur and vanilla cream flavors, this is a good dessert wine. But it could be a lot better if it were more intense. The finish trails off a little.

86

65

California

Grenache

128,425

US

The term Vintner's Select, which is unregulated, can be abused. Here it really means something, as this is the winery's top cuvée—an excellent effort that spent 18 months in oak. There's extra depth in the cherry and cassis fruit, packing a powerful, compact punch all the way through a long, polished finish.

94

65

Oregon

Pinot Noir

124,408

Germany

Whiffs of smoke, spice and nut oil add an alluring maturity to this Riesling. The palate is gorgeously fruity, with loads of concentrated sweet peach, dried apricot and honey flavors, but it's honed and steely, with a long laser-beam finish.

90

25

Mosel

Riesling

93,455

US

This is an excellent Harvest Select bottling, with bright, sappy flavors that seem not all that sweet. The residual sugar, listed at 47 g/L, is an asset, but doesn't dominate. Flavors remain as crisp as a fresh Macintosh apple, juicy, forward and delicious.

90

10

Washington

Riesling

43,676

US

Only the second vintage of this vineyard-designate wine from an estate property, this bottling offers spicy cherry, black tea and dried herb, backed by oaky backbone and structure. Dark chocolate and leather play on the palate in subtle waves, hitting their strides on the finish. Cellar through 2020.

91

38

California

Zinfandel

3,694

Italy

Made from 80-year-old Glera vines that have never been doused with herbicides or pesticides, this boasts an enticing floral fragrance of jasmine and honeysuckle. The elegant, reserved palate has a pristine quality, delivering green apple, lemon zest, nectarine, pastry cream, herb and mineral alongside a fine perlage. It finishes crisp and clean.

91

30

Veneto

Glera

12,733

Italy

Made with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon, this leads with subtle aromas of celery, mature yellow apple, vanilla and toast. The palate offers pink grapefruit, toasted oak, lemon drop, celery, and butterscotch. It's still has fresh acidity but the fruit richness has started drying out so drink soon.

88

43

Northeastern Italy

White Blend

5,077

France

The wine is all juicy fruit, black cherries with just a modicum of tannin to hold it together. It's fresh, ripe and immediately attractive. Ready to drink now, but with those tannins it should also age 2016–2017.

87

16

Loire Valley

Cabernet Franc

5,245

France

From vines with an average age of 25 years, this concentrated wine is fruity and stylishly textured. With lively acidity balanced by tense minerality, it shows intense citrus and concentration. It will benefit from some aging, so drink from 2018.

91

30

Loire Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

68,387

Italy

Lime and green apples on the nose, with a floral note as well. It's medium-bodied, featuring a sharp, citrusy edge to the finish.

84

7

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

44,423

US

This 100% varietal wine offers fairly locked up aromas of dried herb, red and black fruit, and barrel spice. The flavors are ripe and dark fruited, with a lovely sense of texture and presence that carries through the finish.

91

30

Washington

Cabernet Franc

28,229

US

The cassis, black currant, chocolate and sweet oak flavors star in this soft, easy wine. It could use a firmer structure, but it's very savory and easy to drink.

85

25

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

108,931

US

This smells and tastes rich and abundant, yet it is not overtly fruity or full bodied. The nuances are more like fig and toasted almond with a subtle buttery note. A slight brassy effect in the golden color seems to agree with the mature, complex flavor components.

88

13

California

Chardonnay

51,695

France

This wine is firm, solid and strongly tannic in nature. Juiciness is there, along with wood aging, spice and some concentration. The acidity is very present and needs to soften over the next year. Drink from 2015.

86

26

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

111,723

US

This delightful, off-dry white is a blend of Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Müller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, perfectly matched to deliver crisp, fruity aromatics and flavors of apples, oranges and pears. It's a terrific anytime quaffer.

88

10

Oregon

White Blend

81,005

France

This wine is lean, more about structure than tannins. Some juicy fruitiness is overwhelmed by the dry core of the wine that seems over-extracted.

85

30

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

36,719

US

Despite some well-ripened red and black currant, licorice and cola flavors, this dry Zin has a bitterness in the finish that gives it a bit of a rustic feel. Drink now.

84

27

California

Zinfandel

86,172

US

The Donum Estate continues to show its prowess with this variety in addition to its speciality, Pinot Noir, and this bottling is no exception. High-toned lemon flavors meet supportive oak and a light-bodied layering of fresh pear and honeycomb, buoyed by bright acidity from start to finish.

93

85

California

Chardonnay

2,480

US

Blackberries, violet and black-slate aromas mix with a bit of soy sauce on this blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Mourvèdre and 18% Grenache, grown in what today is known as the San Miguel District of Paso Robles. Juicy flavors of black raspberry and licorice combine for an easy-quaffing palate.

88

42

California

Red Blend

51,326

France

Finely perfumed, a wine that has some elegant structure, sweet red-berry fruits and a light acidity. The texture is gentle, soft and rounded, ready to drink now.

90

85

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

107,568

Argentina

Minty, roasted berry aromas open this well-built Cabernet that's packed with plum, raspberry and wood-spice flavors. There's nothing complicated about this lively, oaky wine that runs long on the finish.

88

12

Mendoza Province

Cabernet Sauvignon

78,980

France

Quince and lemon aromas continue on the palate. Crisp and tightly textured, it's spoiled by a metallic flavor that hardens the aftertaste.

85

24

Loire Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

61,481

US

An unusual example of the more reserved style of Gewürtztraminer with subtle scents of ginger and spice up front, followed by understated flavors of rose and potpourri. The crisp finish is quite dry and winds up with a peach accent. Drink up before 2011.

85

15

New York

Gewürztraminer

113,579

US

This dramatically structured Cab needs time in the cellar. It straddles the old-fashioned style of long-aging and the modern style of immediate opulence. The tannins star, sticky and firm, but the wine, which contains minor amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is so rich, so loaded in black currants, cherries, sweet ripe plums, chocolate, anise and smoky oak, that it seduces now. But best after the age of six.

94

150

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

21,539

US

Dry and briskly acidic, this is rich in cherry, mocha and spice flavors that are just starting to turn the corner and develop aged bottle notes. Fascinating now, it should continue to evolve over the next several years, gradually dropping fruit and picking up earthiness.

92

50

California

Pinot Noir

25,208

Italy

There's an exotic, spicy element here that gives this riserva a unique and compelling quality. Coffee, espresso and bitter chocolate also identify it. The mouthfeel is dry and tight, suggesting long aging potential. More than fruit, this wine shows tertiary aromas and crushed mineral in the mouth.

92

75

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

128,335

France

Young and yeasty wine, with the freshest raspberry flavor. It is a light style, floating with the fruit and acidity, the finish on the softer side.

88

85

Champagne

Champagne Blend

22,450

US

A dry, light-bodied, easy-drinking Riesling, this has zesty lemon and grapefruit flavors, plus undertones of flower and spiced tangerine. The palate shows depth, and the finish is intense.

89

19

California

Riesling

80,378

Italy

Here's a simple and clean white wine with straightforward appeal and a frank, upfront nature. Cut grass, lemon and honeydew melon describe the bouquet.

84

9

Veneto

Pinot Grigio

21,004

France

Light and crisp, this wine has citrus and green-plum flavors. It is still developing, with plenty of acidity as well a perfumed character. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.

85

16

Burgundy

Chardonnay

94,803

France

Showing fine acidity, this has a creamy texture and a rich, rounded feel. Full of pear and creamed-apple flavors, it has some weight and a full-bodied character without losing the crisp acidity.

87

15

Alsace

Riesling

75,250

US

The tannins give this wine a lockdown feeling, making it hard and astringent. But the fruit is strong and jammy, suggesting raspberries, cherries and blackberries. Made from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it's forward and one-dimensional now, but delicious, and unlikely to improve with age.

88

40

California

Red Blend

110,514

US

This comes from one of Josh Jensen's vineyards that got barely a half-ton an acre this vintage. It offers aromas of sandalwood, leather, dried strawberry and sagebrush and is light and airy on the palate, with medium red fruits, roots and bark complexity on the midpalate. The wine finishes on nuances of hibiscus and black tea.

93

84

California

Pinot Noir

67,699

US

A crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Shows rich, savory citrus and green grass flavors, with hints of minerals and flowers. Very drinkable and bone-dry.

90

21

California

Sauvignon Blanc

117,141

US

This extraordinary winery continues to produce some of Napa's most distinguished Cabernets. The vineyard is in the cool-climate appellation of Coombsville, which accounts for its superb structure of acids and tannins. Perfectly ripe black-currant flavors meld into toasty new-oak tones. At the age of more than six years, the wine is starting to mellow, but is only hinting at the drama to come. It has enough splendor to glidepath through the decades.

97

150

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

127,126

US

The citrus, herb and mint aromas are expressive but show some reduction. The citrus and tropical flavors are broad and creamy, though the concentration at times seems light.

86

18

Washington

Sauvignon Blanc

79,124

Argentina

Pleasant and fairly clean for the price, with hazelnut, honey and a dusting of talcum powder on the nose. The palate is on the thin side, and that helps the wine stay fresh and manageable. And along the way the flavors of apple, kiwi and gooseberry are relaxed and easy.

84

9

Mendoza Province

Chardonnay

82,588

Italy

A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, scorched earth, violet and a touch of dark spice. The palate offers dried black cherry and ground pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. It also shows the heat of the vintage, so drink soon.

88

39

Tuscany

Red Blend

64,683

US

A big, bold Zin, with a kick of peppery spices. Really front-loaded with wild berry, currant, cherry pie and sweet tobacco flavors. Nothing subtle about this barbecue-friendly powerhouse.

87

36

California

Zinfandel

77,684

US

A totally refreshing blend of citrus, apple, peach and pear flavors, all couched in bright textured acidity. The wine makes a fine aperitif as well as a mealtime beverage. Off dry, but hardly sweet, it's crisp and fresh to the end.

87

12

California

Riesling

109,748

US

As before, the Estate Selection is the bigger of the two Pinots from Amalie, textural and clean. Strawberry and raspberry fruit flavors hint at herb and stem, but all the details are in proportion and complement each other. Not for long aging, but drinking well right now.

89

50

Oregon

Pinot Noir

23,042

US

This oaky, fruity Chardonnay is lush and opulent. It has flavors of buttered toast, sweet cream, pineapples, tangerines, tropical-fruit jam, sautéed bananas and limes, accented with brisk acidity.

88

30

California

Chardonnay

82,302

Italy

This blend of Grecanico and Viognier offers a generous bouquet with exotic fruit, pineapple, white flower and dusty talc powder. The wine also shows creamy thickness in the mouth.

87

25

Sicily & Sardinia

White Blend

81,946

US

Dark and velvety on the nose, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec offers a plump but balanced expression of black cherry, black pepper and dried herbs. The complex palate combines exotic plum and dried strawberry with mocha and crumbled mint flavors.

92

62

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

64,085

US

Another successful release from Stromberg after the fine 2005 vintage, and it makes the case for Dry Creek Cabernet at its best. Hillside grapes have yielded concentrated flavors of blackberries, plums and spices, and the wine is finely balanced with dense tannins and acidity. Fifty percent new French oak barrel aging is easily absorbed by the wine's inherent size. Elegant and complex, it's a gorgeous wine to drink now.

92

30

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

96,187

France

With barnyard aromas, this is a rustic wine. It does have some red fruit flavors and acidity but these are compromised by the earthy texture.

83

40

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

78,917

US

Simple and slightly earthy, Covey's budget Cab is not as appealing as their Merlot, but it's a good effort nonetheless. Black cherry and cassis speak to the variety, and the stiff tannins suggest some staying power. —P.G.

86

9

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

59,455

Australia

A red cherry aroma is interwoven with violets and dried herbs. The supple palate of juicy fruit is balanced by silky tannins and a medium mouthfeel, followed by a herbal finish.

90

36

South Australia

Grenache

118,453

US

Elegant aromas suggest tar, prune, cherry preserves and mint. It's soft on the mouth with unfolding tannins, featuring flavors of Italian herbs and cedar. It's a very austere and extremely dry wine, with very little overt fruit.

89

39

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

44,604

US

This is a memorable wine, with enticing and complex aromas of gorgeous ripe fruit accented by cedar, tea and forest floor. The palate echos the aromas with vibrant and rich flavors, while the mouthfeel is firm and bolstered by fine-grained tannins.

94

68

California

Pinot Noir

18,170

France

This attractive wine is so drinkable, fresh and fruity. Its edge of texture gives it more than just simple fruitiness, while acidity adds just the right boost and liveliness. Red currants, tangerines and lemon peel are there to finish.

90

20

Provence

Rosé

110,897

Italy

This leads with subtle black plum and cooking spice scents. The simple palate shows clove, tobacco and blackberry flavors. Drink soon.

86

16

Piedmont

Barbera

48,077

Portugal

Showcasing the richness of 2009 without sacrificing fine structure, this is stylish and concentrated. Dark black fruit accompanies a tight, minerality and a fine shaft of acidity. This single-vineyard offering is worth aging for 2–3 years.

88

15

Douro

Portuguese Red

35,570

US

Merriam is concentrating on Cabernet Franc from various appellations, with excellent results. This Russian River bottling is terrific for drinking now. It's spicy and rich in red cherry jam, cherry liqueur and smoky sandalwood flavors that finish long and sweet. It would be great with Chinese-style roast pork.

91

40

California

Cabernet Franc

80,078

US

The winery held this Chardonnay back a year later than their far more expensive Journey bottling. Hard to say why, but the consumer is the beneficiary. That extra bit of aging has mellowed the wine, giving it a creamy, buttery richness. It has good acidity, too, that gives a lift to the ripe tropical fruits.

92

26

California

Chardonnay

28,234

US

From 41-year-old vines on just over five estate acres, this is resiny and briny on the nose. A honey-laced creaminess at the core is tensely accentuated by vibrant acidity. Balanced and elegant, with a sunny bite of ripeness, it revels in nuances of fresh and dried apricot while lighter notes of lemon, lime and grapefruit play backup.

93

27

California

Riesling

110,584

US

This has slender flavors of tangerine and peach. It's elegantly dry, clean and brisk in acidity, with a light touch of smoky oak—definitely worth the price.

86

15

California

Chardonnay

32,691

US

Here's a pretty Pinot, direct and appealing for its range of fruit. Shows raspberry, cherry and persimmon flavors, uplifted by bright acidity. Drink it now.

87

25

California

Pinot Noir

3,663

US

Dry and soft, with the taste of cherry, roasted almond, crunchy granola and fig health candy bar. Enjoyable, but simple. Drink now.

84

20

California

Merlot

21,987

US

Light apple and Anjou pear aromas, tangy fruit flavors shaded by butter and almond, and a supple texture add up to a sleek and flavorful wine. This is balanced, medium bodied and reflects the house style of Navarro that ensures a svelte mouthfeel with no rough edges.

91

25

California

Chardonnay

26,601

Italy

This vineyard-designate Barolo offers soapy, floral notes of lavender and church incense with more spice and nutmeg at the back. The wine is broad, chewy and well-structured with solid tannins and a densely concentrated texture.

89

75

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

89,814

US

Dry, acidic and earthy, lacking the richness you want in a fine Chardonnay. Could almost be a Pinot Grigio, with its crisp citrus and mineral flavors.

85

21

California

Chardonnay

86,224

Italy

Corbaia is Sangiovese and Cab Sauvignon from the southern part of Chianti Classico where temperatures are a bit warmer and the soils a bit thicker. As a result, the wine has added structure and power but it also has pretty buoyancy, elegance and lingering aromas of balsam notes, herbs, black pepper and almond.

91

55

Tuscany

Red Blend

41,863

US

Young, intense and briary, with summer herb notes of anise framing ripe, spicy blackberries. Oak adds a rich, deft touch of sweet char. The tannins are considerable and brooding, giving this dry young wine an astringent tightness. Shows all the hallmarks of ageability. 45% Merlot, 43% Petit Verdot 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

94

55

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

2,812

US

Robust and brawny, this substantial offering features concentrated layers of smoke, leather and sage-inflected tannins. It finishes in a wrapping of bittersweet chocolate.

87

25

California

Zinfandel

107,185

US

Made in the Peachy Canyon style of great power and ripeness, this is one of the more assertive Zinfandels out there. Blended with some Petite Sirah, which gives it even greater heft, it's basically a nuclear blast of wild, briary summer berries and spices.

88

38

California

Zinfandel

108,259

US

A pretty simple little Syrah, fruity and sweet in cherries, with a sugary finish. Will pair nicely with a cheeseburger.

83

19

California

Syrah

61,338

US

The market is loaded with inexpensive Oregon wines at the moment, but few if any can offer this kind of quality at this price point. Crisp and fresh, this brings a mix of lime, quinine, pine needles and green apples into play. Well defined and immaculately clean, it can accompany a range of salads, noodle dishes or cold cuts.

88

15

Oregon

Chardonnay

108,322

US

Super-dark in color, this extracted wine offers a reductive note on the nose, followed by a rustic tinge of hay and brick. Intensely flavored and oaked, it finishes unexpectedly herbal and dry.

87

54

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

58,063

US

This is a spicy, softly lush offering of Cabernet sourced from a tiny part of the Larkmead Vineyard in northern Napa Valley. Black and red currant play off one another well, before revealing subtle layers of dried herb and tobacco leaf, the finish as cushy as the opening and midpalate of the wine.

91

90

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

7,027

US

At the age of four-plus years, this Cab still tastes young and fresh, as though it were bottled yesterday. Brims with ripe blackberries, cherries, cocoa and cedar, with a nice cut of acidity and ultrarefined tannins. Not quite ready for prime time, so give it 3–5 years to mellow.

92

70

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

12,841

Italy

Baking spice, perfumed berry and crushed floral scents mingle together on this bright red. The straightforward palate offers black cherry, white pepper and clove accompanied by zesty acidity and fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2018.

88

25

Tuscany

Red Blend

116,703

US

Dry and crisp, but too feline in strong green aromas and flavors. A little of that goes a long way. Modest lemon and lime fruit comes to the rescue, but too little, too late.

82

18

California

Sauvignon Blanc

68,661

Italy

Alluring wild berry, truffle, Mediterranean herb and tilled soil aromas lead the nose of this delicious red. The fresh, balanced palate delivers crushed raspberry, juicy black cherry, star anise and chopped mint flavors, while a cinnamon note closes the finish. Firm, polished tannins provide the elegant framework. Drink 2018–2027.

93

80

Tuscany

Sangiovese

30,673

US

Here's a clean, brisk Sauvignon Blanc for pairing with Asian fare. It's spicy and overtly sweet, with lemongrass, honey and vanilla flavors.

85

12

California

Sauvignon Blanc

34,674

Argentina

Jammy raspberry and plum aromas come with accents of dusty herbs and black licorice. A saturated, lush, jammy palate features soft, baked flavors of cassis and wild berry, while the finish delivers mint, chocolate and lasting berry ripeness. Drink through 2019.

92

40

Mendoza Province

Malbec

5,919

US

Ripe, clean apple aromas meet with a touch of green honeydew and an interesting note of cut celery on the nose of this wine from the Riboli family. The palate offers decent tension and verve, with flavors of chilled pear juice and fresh lemon rinds.

88

15

California

Sauvignon Blanc

98,742

Spain

Slightly sweet smelling, with butterscotch and salinic notes to the soft, somewhat bland nose. Feels fleshy, with modest acidity and creamy flavors of apple, banana and melon. Mellow late, with a creamy, vanilla-tinged finish. Viura and Malvasia.

88

26

Northern Spain

White Blend

82,752

US

This is really a spectacular wine. It's hard to say why it's so superior to Krutz's 2005 bottling, but it's richer and more elegant in every respect. Combines immense power with great finesse. The refined essence of blackberries, black currants and spices thrills the palate, accented with the most beautiful coating of smoky oak. A great achievement that should develop in the bottle through 2018.

97

70

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

77,697

Australia

This medium-bodied Chard has nice oregano and thyme notes on the nose, with more fresh herbal accents on the palate. Cream and nutmeg flavors are most prevalent in the mouth; finishes with pleasant floury-nutmeg notes.

87

13

South Australia

Chardonnay

39,380

France

With 30% of the harvest aged in new oak, this is a spicy, toasty wine. That shows through in the firm tannins that back up the rich black fruit. Produced from 30-year-old vines, it has concentration and a fine, solid texture. Drink from 2022.

91

45

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

39,655

US

Drinking tough in acids and fresh young tannins now, this is one you want to cellar. But the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard has one of California's greatest track records, and these Pinots soften and sweeten for years. With ripe cherry, blackberry and spice flavors, Sanford's '05 will be at its best 2009–2012. If you open it now, decant.

91

48

California

Pinot Noir

87,512

US

A fine Zin, rich and sweet in raspberries and cherries, with spicy notes of cinnamon, pepper and Chinese Five-spice. It's a lusty, delicious wine for drinking now with beef, pork, chicken or even a veggie lasagna.

87

16

California

Zinfandel

34,340

Spain

Candied strawberry and grassy aromas unfold on the nose. On the palate, this blend of Monastrell and Pinot Noir feels heavy. A mix of candied red-fruit flavors and weedy notes finish short.

84

10

Catalonia

Sparkling Blend

14,702

US

Strong aromas of blueberries and blue flowers show on this rich and penetrating wine from the eastside of Paso Robles. Thick and chalky tannins coat the palate, delivering more blueberry and ripe grape flavors, cut by a strong acidity.

89

41

California

Petite Sirah