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
80,834	US	Light in color with an herbal profile, this lightly textured wine offers tart cherry and dry tannins with a bite of oak on the finish. Having undergone partial whole-cluster fermentation (30%), it also has a forested, savory character, streaked in cedar and baking spice. Most of the grapes hail from Sonoma Mountain, rounded out by Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Mendocino fruit.	89	55	California	Pinot Noir
41,733	US	Smooth, ripe and almost sweet, this is medium to full bodied, packed full of fruit flavors and other complexity that makes it interesting. It balances toward softness as the berry and cherry character seems to swell on the palate and linger on the finish.	88	27	California	Zinfandel
117,188	France	This small vineyard is right on the edge of the village of Givry. From vines aged on average 30 years, the wine is ripe, full in the mouth and with fine balancing acidity. It has light tannins and spicy flavors that give the wine extra structure. Drink from 2018.	88	40	Burgundy	Pinot Noir
115,636	Italy	This opens with aromas of dark berry, forest floor, dried rose, new leather and a balsamic note. On the palate, notes of white pepper, coffee and clove accent a core of crunchy red berry. Racy acidity and assertive tannins provide the framework. Drink 2018–2023.	91	110	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
70,046	US	This smoothly round and full-bodied wine offers a taste of the tropics, combining pineapple, payapa and coconut in tone and flavor. The oak (only 20% of it new) is pronounced, though on the way to integration, .	86	40	California	Chardonnay
11,808	France	From an estate to the east of the town of Saint-Émilion, this rich wine shows its alcohol in the pepper edge that cuts through the fruit. It tastes firm still and has extracted bitter flavors. The acidity does give the wine a lift and lets the black currant fruit come through. Drink from 2018.	86	30	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
102,490	Italy	Radiant and structured, this is initially closed but slowly opens to reveal engaging aromas of woodland berry, violet, star anise, dark cooking spice and a balsamic note. The vibrant, full-bodied palate boasts great energy while offering layers of wild cherry, raspberry, white pepper and licorice. Bright acidity and firm, polished tannins provide balance. Give it time to fully develop. Drink between 2020 and 2035.	96	110	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
86,430	US	At first sharp and focused, with sharp aromas of pine and citrus rind, this broadens out and thins quickly once in the mouth. Fresh green apple fruit fades into a smooth, plain, slightly watery finish.	85	12	Washington	Pinot Gris
28,384	US	Grenache's main duty is to deliver cherry flavors, and this one over-performs in that category. It just brims with black and red cherries in their essence. The wine is dry and silky, even more light-bodied than some Pinot Noirs, and quite delicious in its own way. Drink now with a grilled steak and rosemary potatoes.	88	25	California	Grenache
66,691	US	Fruit sourced from three vineyards—Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill—has been artfully blended into an aromatic wine, showing a pleasing mix of black cherry, cola and cocoa flavors. Open and broadly accessible, this is a balanced and quite delicious drink which will be best enjoyed over the next few years.	89	40	Oregon	Pinot Noir
44,257	US	From 86% Syrah and 14% Zinfandel grapes, this is a dark wine, burgundy-orange in color and equally dense at first on the palate. It picks up freshness as it opens, disrobing flavors of wild strawberry and grapefruit, along with an intensity of blackberry. Bright, it finishes dry.	88	23	California	Syrah
119,473	US	This is a pretty simple Petite Sirah, with rich, soft flavors of raspberry and cherry sour candy. But it has lovely tannins. Cook up a great cheeseburger and enjoy.	83	16	California	Petite Sirah
128,315	Italy	Bonacchi makes several expressions of Brunello. Molino del Piano is a ripe and plush wine with some savory aromas of cured meat and leather backed by Indian spice and black currant. Despite the ripeness, firm structure gives the wine austerity.	90	38	Tuscany	Sangiovese Grosso
68,856	US	A reductive note of rubber tire threads through the mélange of cherry cola, iron ore and red licorice flavors in this wine. The components have not yet integrated, leading to a finish marked by bitter skin and tannins. Give it another couple of years of bottle age before pulling the cork.	86	30	Oregon	Pinot Noir
26,187	Italy	The 15-acre Castellero vineyard farmed by Fratelli Barale lies directly northeast of the town of Barolo. This is a pleasantly sweet-smelling wine with generous aromas of Christmas spice, ginger and cinnamon behind wild berries and forest floor. It's a youthful and fun interpretation with firm tannins and a long, drying finish.	89	57	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
71,863	France	89–91. Barrel sample. This chateau has been newly acquired by the Barton family of Léoville Barton. It's an attractive, fruity wine with warm tannins. The palate is fine and juicy, and finishes softly at the end.	90	50	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
55,289	US	There is a nice cherry core and exotic spice aromas on the nose of this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec, mostly from the Chalk Knoll Vineyard in San Lucas. The palate is dense and spicy, with rich vanilla-laden cherries and savory tobacco smoke.	86	14	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
59,851	US	Lavender and lilac are just part of the floral bouquet that emerges from this wine, which also shows a blackberry vinaigrette element on the nose. Once sipped, it's like sucking on a purple-flower candy, with more lavender as well as plum and a pencil-lead edge that cuts through the palate.	87	30	California	Zinfandel
19,953	Italy	Tribolo is a Sangiovese-based wine from coastal Tuscany that opens with smooth richness and bright tones of wild blueberry and cherry. There's a milky, mocha element as well that adds to its overall sensation of creaminess.	88	28	Tuscany	Sangiovese
49,891	US	A bone-dry, low-alcohol wine that's not only easy to drink, but tremendously versatile at the table. It offers crisp acidity and pleasant flavors of lemongrass, tangerines, kumquats and spice.	90	18	California	Gewürztraminer
105,705	Argentina	Tarry aromas of blackberry and freshly applied asphalt set up a full-bodied palate with sandpaper tannins. Blackberry and toast flavors taste a little burnt, while an oak-based blackened element is present on a stout finish. Drink this blocky and lusty Malbec through 2023.	92	25	Mendoza Province	Malbec
17,426	France	A fresh, strawberry-flavored wine, with good red berry and red apple-skin textures. The acidity is initially prominent, but then there is also a burst of candy, leaving softness.	87	60	Champagne	Champagne Blend
11,511	US	A deliciously likeable Pinot Noir, sweet as a raspberry crumble pie, yet with qualities of mushrooms, minerals and something formidable from the earth that give it great complexity. The winemaker, Drake Whitcraft, has kept the alcohol to a relatively low 13.4% by volume, so the wine feels light and airy. Yet it possesses great seriousness. The vineyard is within a touchdown pass of the Santa Rita Hills boundary. Drink now–2020.	92	50	California	Pinot Noir
61,274	Italy	This plush and easy expression of Syrah opens with distinct aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit, white pepper and mature cherry. The wine is smooth and rich with a fine, soft nature of tannins.	87	16	Tuscany	Syrah
68,456	US	From a selection of vineyards, most predominantly Stiling, this wine offers tart acidity and a low oak profile upfront, allowing the fruit to build richness and density as it opens. Baked apple and mango flavors are spiced with nutmeg and caramel, finishing with steely minerality.	90	42	California	Chardonnay
109,168	US	Sourced from six different vineyards, this is a broadly pleasing wine, fruity in blackberry and raspberry that veers even into cranberry and cassis territory without getting bogged down. Substantial and lush, it's tightly woven in tannin and savory herb, ready to open itself over time. Patience will reward with more exotic interweavings of vanilla-cola and tea.	90	45	California	Pinot Noir
46,366	US	The nose on this bottling leans a bit sweet yet remains zesty, with ripe apples, pears, lime sorbet and lemon-lime soda. But the sip is racy and sizzling with buoyant acidity, delivering tightly wound Bosc pear and Gravenstein apple flavors doused with citrus spray.	91	26	California	Chardonnay
7,952	Italy	This is a vibrant and lively wine with a sweet portfolio of aromas including red fruit, spice, rose bud, milk chocolate and almond nut. The wine is modern and upfront in terms of its delivery and has a chewy, succulent bite. Its fruity flavors are slightly sweet and the wine ends on a bright, cheerful note.	88	28	Tuscany	Red Blend
94,304	US	While the nose is intensely oaky, wafting of dark toast, smoked nuts and spice, the palate of this Chardonnay is surprisingly fresh with crisp apple and pear flavors. It's a rounded, voluptuous wine that neatly balances the richness and complexity of oak against fruit. Drink now through 2021.	88	16	New York	Chardonnay
117,284	US	This is a big, brawny wine that offers moderate structure, opting for richer, denser notes of leathery tannin and bittersweet tobacco leaf, its accents part cedar, part clove.	87	55	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
17,356	US	From a vineyard in Nipomo at the southern end of the county, this fresh bottling show strawberries, ripe lavender, exotic rose petals, cinnamon and lots of red-spice notes. The palate is peppy, with tangy cranberry and pomegranate fruit as well as deeper notes of sandalwood, flint and gravel.	90	50	California	Pinot Noir
101,784	US	The aromas of ripe peach, jasmine, honeysuckle and mineral pop. It drinks just off dry, with a spritz of stone-fruit and citrus flavors that extend on the finish.	91	20	Washington	Riesling
86,021	US	The blend is mainly Cabernet, with other Bordeaux varieties as well as 11% Syrah. It shows good concentration of black currant flavor wrapped into hard mountain tannins. It's a good, oaky wine, but give it until 2015–2016 in the cellar.	88	38	California	Red Blend
5,581	US	It's pure Rosenblum, as sweet as a confection, as delicious as a filling made from blackberries, cherries, chocolate, licorice, cinnamon, vanilla and white sugar. It's impossible not to be impressed and troubled by a wine such as this.	87	25	California	Syrah
94,024	US	Floral and butter-candy aromas and flavors make this not exactly sweet but rather light, soft and airy. A dreamy confection, it feels light to medium bodied and smooth in texture.	85	7	California	Chardonnay
31,767	France	Some barrel aging has given this wine, with its already ripe fruits, extra richness. It is spicy, lifted by juicy acidity from the black cherries and plums. This is a full, warm and ripe wine that is just now ready to drink.	89	23	Loire Valley	Pinot Noir
40,394	Italy	Blue flower, red berry, forest floor and a whiff of Mediterranean herb lead the nose. The racy, linear palate delivers black cherry, pomegranate and clove framed in sleek tannins and bracing acidity. A note of powdered sage closes the finish.	87	25	Tuscany	Sangiovese
75,740	US	For a few dollars more than the regular CSM Cabernet, the Indian Wells delivers extra density and complexity. It holds firm, dark fruits and is slightly grainy, but well-ripened tannins carry the wine, and it's less dependent upon oak treatments and flavors of vanilla and cream. Persistent and substantial, it's offers good value, and often sells for less than the listed price.	89	18	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
121,668	US	This bottling from Napa veteran St. Clement has been variable in recent years. The '05 is similar to the '02. It's a likeable, elegant Cab that drinks well now. The cherry, blackberry, plum and mocha flavors are wrapped into rich, soft tannins.	87	55	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
69,240	US	The Rockpile appellation's extreme growing conditions make this wine hugely concentrated and powerfully rich. Offers explosive blackberry jam, currant and dark chocolate flavors, wrapped into big tannins. High alcohol gives it a warm mouthfeel.	88	40	California	Petite Sirah
105,588	Argentina	Smoky aromas of bacon and rubber blend with cherry and plum scents to form a good bouquet. This has a fair, fresh mouthfeel with tannic grip. Leafy flavors of plum and red currant are accented by spicy, dry, woody notes, while the finish is lightly green and oaky, with lasting spice.	88	18	Mendoza Province	Cabernet Sauvignon
25,251	France	There is a bitter edge to this wine. Spice and tight acidity give a nervy, taut character. At the same time, fresh apple and citrus flavors come through. Give this wine until 2016 to soften.	87	28	Burgundy	Chardonnay
7,454	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
77,497	US	A rich, dramatic and impressive wine. With vital acidity and dryness, it has complex layers of ripe cherries, red licorice, cranberries, pomegranates, mocha and cinnamon. Falls somewhere in texture between Pinot Noir and Merlot, either of which it can substitute for. Drink now.	90	66	California	Rhône-style Red Blend
72,691	France	A blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from a small region just north of Sancerre, this bright-pink wine is fresh, fruity and light. A touch of tannin gives structure and brings out the dry core of this otherwise crisp wine.	86	15	Loire Valley	Rosé
101,642	US	Despite its youth, this is a soft, round, totally accessible wine with pretty flavors of sassafras, pie cherries and cooked plums. It skirts close to an impression of jam, and almost begs for near-term consumption. Don't hold back.	89	24	Oregon	Pinot Noir
74,910	US	Sour cherry aromas mix with freshly turned black dirt and button mushrooms on this bottling from a winery that's been in the Santa Cruz Mountains for 80 years. The mouthfeel is soft, with flavors of blackberry emerging first followed by pomegranate, roast pork and black pepper. Serve with beef in mushroom sauce.	90	40	California	Merlot
88,194	Italy	Mint, menthol, leather and wild berry aromas unfold in the glass, accompanied by a whiff of forest floor. The elegantly structured palate offers sour cherry, crushed raspberry, anise, white pepper and graphite alongside assertive but refined tannins and nervous acidity. Give this time to unwind and come together. Drink 2017–2030.	93	32	Piedmont	Nebbiolo
31,697	Portugal	This is stylish Douro, a wine that reveals minerality, red berry fruits with tannins and acidity that cut through the structure. This wine is ready to drink.	88	13	Douro	Portuguese Red
103,628	France	Rich and fruity, this wine shows warm white fruit and a touch of spice. The wine is soft, its currant and pink grapefruit flavors lifted by acidity but with a rounded finish.	87	14	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style White Blend
19,929	US	Just under five years in age, this wine's Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant profile shows through its full-bodied mouthfeel, dense tannins and cassis flavor. It's a big, new-oaky wine that's forward with concentrated fruit through the finish. A bit of a show-off now, it should benefit from 5–6 years in the cellar.	89	50	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
90,045	Germany	Heady notes of saffron and pollen lend a savory spicy tone to honey-kissed chamomile and white grapefruit flavors in this dazzling auslese. Shocks of lemon-lime awaken the midpalate, leading to a long crystalline finish.	93	40	Mosel	Riesling
43,347	US	Inspired by co-winemaker Eli Parker's trips to Australia, this is simply a fun and tasty sparkling red, with rose, clove, black plum, and graphite notes on the nose. Ripe berry flavors round out the palate, but tangy plum skins and a slate-driven mineral tension keep it serious.	91	37	California	Grenache
125,322	US	This pink blend of 64% Grenache, 31% Syrah and 6% Marsanne offers the expected array of bubblegum, pink roses, peach, watermelon and cool steel aromas on the nose. It's wound nice and tight on the palate, with warm notes of strawberry and bubblegum emerging on the midpalate, leveled by lemon-skin tartness and a chalky tension.	90	28	California	Rosé
87,592	France	There is a great balance between the natural floral and perfumed character of this Gewürztraminer and its lively acidity. These elements combine to form a wine that is complex and immediately attractive. It's ready to drink, but it can also age for a year.	90	29	Alsace	Gewürztraminer
50,655	France	Like so many bone-dry Champagnes, this wine needs some bottle aging to soften the brutal acidity. It offers a tight mineral texture and crisp lemon and grapefruit acidity. Drink from 2017.	90	58	Champagne	Champagne Blend
6,135	US	This impressive wine dances in hearty clove and cinnamon sparked by a floral bouquet of rose. High-toned, structured and elegant, it has subtle power and concentration but remains fresh in the glass. Drink now through 2020.	92	45	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
21,549	US	A Washington Pinot Gris that has some of the flesh and texture of a fine Oregon version, yet brings the spice and verve of bright Washington fruit into play. Pear, apple, acacia, orange candy, even a bit of pineapple combine into a fruity and delicious wine. All stainless, no malolactic.	88	11	Washington	Pinot Gris
3,748	US	This wine has a good, deep color, lots of fruity aromas and flavors, and a smooth mouthfeel. It tastes grapy and jammy but dry, with light spicy accents to add interest.	86	7	California	Merlot
28,875	Italy	Made with 60% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with delicate aromas of black-skinned fruit and a whiff of baking spice. The no-frills palate shows mature red plum, toast and a hint of bell pepper alongside rather astringent tannins.	87	33	Tuscany	Red Blend
90,422	Italy	Spiced blueberry, ripe plum and tilled earth aromas lead the nose on this hearty wine. Made with no added sulfites, the big, chewy palate delivers juicy black cherry, ripe blackberry and licorice alongside the warmth of evident alcohol.	88	20	Piedmont	Barbera
21,820	US	Watery and sweet, like fruit juice, with orange, pineapple and buttered toast flavors.	82	13	California	Chardonnay
26,327	France	Smoky wood aromas are repeated on the palate. Although prominent, they do not suppress the juicy blackberry flavors and crisp acidity. Already balanced, the wine is likely to mature quickly. Drink from 2017.	86	18	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
113,832	Italy	Aromas of tropical fruit, pear and honeysuckle jump out of the glass. The straightforward palate delivers tart green apple, white peach and a touch of citrus alongside bright acidity.	87	17	Northeastern Italy	Pinot Grigio
70,517	US	Of all the 2012 releases from Mannina, this is the most dense, dark and substantial. Cassis and black cherry fruit is set against a stiff streak of char and coffee, backed with firm, ripe tannins. The length and balance are just right for ripe fruit from young vines.	90	30	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
61,446	US	Aptly named as this Syrah is grown at 3,000-feet elevation, the wine is full of very ripe plum, dark cherry and gamy meat flavors, with thick tannins evocative of leather and cigar box. A big-time Syrah that will deliver nuance and complexity as it opens up, particularly when paired with appropriately rich foods.	90	35	California	Syrah
126,318	Spain	Earthy notes of plum and berry include a touch of leafy herbs. This is crisp, elegant and slightly tomatoey in feel, with dry herbal plum and berry flavors that end fresh and savory. There's nothing over the top about this classic Rioja. Drink through 2024.	92	48	Northern Spain	Tempranillo
2,714	US	Almost addictive with its fresh, clean flavors of sweet lemon, fig, tart green apple and cinnamon, encased in lively acidity. This zesty white wine has extra layers of complexity and depth. It's also one of the most versatile food wines around.	87	18	California	Pinot Gris
96,139	US	Pristine lime zest and lemon notes add lift to rounded apple and nectarine flavors on the palate of this full-bodied richly textured Riesling. There's a weightiness on the midpalate but the finish is refreshing and crisp.	87	24	New York	Riesling
47,054	US	Aromas of Golden Delicious apples, nectarine flesh, lemon-lime soda and poached pears drizzled lightly with agave syrup show on the nose of this wine made by Mike Roth. The palate offers apple and pear cider along with white peach and a steely, nearly gunmetal minerality.	88	20	California	Pinot Grigio
110,820	France	This full and structured wine offers good acidity, firm tannins and layers of black-currant flavors. It has good potential with richness, weight and balance. Drink from 2019.	90	24	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
60,463	US	Ripe black cherry, black plum and chipped slate aromas greet the nose on this blend of 86% Grenache from La Vista Vineyard and 14% Petite Sirah from Mainini Vineyard. It's soft and ripe with blackberry fruit at first sip, then comes an electrifying acidity and flavors of roasted fennel and pencil lead.	88	31	California	Rhône-style Red Blend
114,546	US	The producer's annual, highly anticipated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this comes from the wilds of the appellation's rocky hillsides. This is a burly, distinctive and sizable wine, ripe yet refined, having been given three years in barrel and another in bottle before release. Chocolaty tobacco combines with pencil shavings and dense blackberry before finishing in an explosion of black pepper. Gorgeous, it will get even more interesting over time, through 2025.	95	250	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
75,501	France	Big-hearted fruit dominates this smooth wine. The estate, owned by the Tesseron family and close to their other property of Pontet-Canet, is performing well and it shows in this juicy ripe wine, full of generous tannins. The aftertaste shows both acidity and concentration. Drink from 2022.	93	36	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
39,447	US	A rich, dense, vital Merlot, one of the best of the vintage. Offers loads of cherry, green olive, roasted meat and pepper flavors, wrapped into firm tannins leading to a distinguished finish. Dry and elegant, it's a beautiful wine to decant and drink soon with steak, chops, lamb.	93	30	California	Merlot
106,260	France	This is a fresh wine that has been aged in tanks, retaining its bright red fruits and lively acidity. It is still young although it will develop quickly to give a soft fruit-driven wine.	86	11	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
28,160	Argentina	Ripe borderline raisiny aromas include earth, cedar and graphite scents. This is concentrated, grabby and fully extracted. Flavors of jammy black fruits blend with spicy saucy notes prior to a finish with flavors of tomato, herbs, salt and gamy meat. Firm acidity guarantees this will last at least another five years before falling off.	90	24	Mendoza Province	Malbec
129,915	US	The third vintage of Mith is the best yet, composed of fruit from three top-notch Walla Walla vineyards. It's two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one third Syrah. The wine opens seductively with luscious blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit, wrapped in sexy layers of earth and herb. Whiffs of smoke lead into a silky smooth, chocolaty finish.	91	40	Washington	Red Blend
19,160	France	This ripe wine shows a good balance between its rich black fruits and the densely tannic structure. It is still young and for now the wine is firm and dry. The ripe fruit will blossom over the next few years to give warmth and richness. Drink from 2018.	90	20	Bordeaux	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
95,416	Italy	A whole new generation of Italian rosé is finally gaining the attention it deserves. This is an exceptionally fresh and clean wine that would pair with smoked salmon, fish carpaccio or insalata di mare.	87	12	Tuscany	Rosé
62,083	US	This very rich, unctuous Syrah is immature and not especially subtle at this time. It's acidic and gooey in jammy blackberries and cherries and milk chocolate, with obvious oak influences. The idea seems to be ageworthiness, but that's a gamble. Could surprise.	87	65	California	Syrah
63,489	US	This bracing, precisely crafted wine emphasizes crispness and attractively lean fruit flavors over richness, and it will be great with appetizers and seafood, even raw oysters. It's fresh, clean and inviting.	90	32	California	Viognier
105,416	France	The weight of the bottle seems to foretell this wine's weight, structure and judiciously layered oak influence. With ripe cherry and berry flavors, it's a wine that can age. Drink from 2015.	90	30	Alsace	Pinot Noir
128,161	US	This vineyard-designated Merlot includes 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage, Syrah is eliminated and alcohol is lowered—a welcome shift. Rich and loaded with black fruits, it carries interesting accents of caramel popcorn, yielding a delicious, tongue-coating wine with a silky-smooth mouthfeel. It has good length, and the possibility of aging for another five or six years.	90	26	Washington	Merlot
15,395	US	Layers of wood and bramble juxtapose flavors of pressed apple, pear and lemon here. While its light-bodied style and brisk acidity are refreshing, it finishes on slightly bitter tones of sap and resin. Drink now through 2019.	85	22	New York	Chardonnay
75,480	US	Hints of nut oil and smoke lend a savory tone to bright stone-fruit and floral notes on this delicate semidry Riesling. Brisk with lemon-lime acidity, it finishes long with a murmur of lanolin and honey comb.	87	14	New York	Riesling
38,666	US	Barrel spice, dried herb, toast and cherry aromas lead to tart fruit flavors that narrow toward the finish, with tart acids livening it all up. Perhaps some more time will pull it all together.	89	34	Washington	Cabernet Sauvignon
44,633	US	This is the inaugural release from Elizabeth Bourcier, assistant vigneronne at Cayuse Vineyards. A unique blend of Grenache (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, it clearly comes from The Rocks, with the aromas of black olive, peat, fire pit, raspberry and herbs popping. The smoked meat and savory flavors show elegance, depth, detail and restraint, with a finish that sails. It's a subtle, sublime wine that makes a statement.	94	70	Washington	Red Blend
118,790	US	This is a voluptuous Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It's soft, lush and extremely ripe, flooding the mouth with blackberry and cherry jam, cassis, cocoa, sweet fresh green herb and spice flavors. Best now and for a few years, before it sheds its fruit.	89	46	California	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
52,416	France	The wine is ripe and creamy with a toasty vanilla character. With spice and juicy fruitiness, it is smooth and ready to drink. The aftertaste, with its zesty texture, gives the wine final complexity.	87	20	Burgundy	Chardonnay
126,312	US	With a touch of barrel reduction on the nose, this wine unfolds into layers of crisp, stony minerality and bold flavors of lemon and pear. Balanced in both ripeness and texture, its acidity carries it to a long, spicy finish.	92	42	California	Chardonnay
34,058	US	Very tight and shy aromas of lime zest, gray slate and white rocks show on the nose of this wine from the pioneering Niven Family and their winemaker Christian Roguenant. The palate shows some grassiness, Mexican lime and an interesting warmth on the back end, proving quite lean and sharp.	88	28	California	Chardonnay
54,956	US	A beautiful trio of fruit flavors—red cherry, rhubarb and raspberry—provides harmony in this vivid and pure-tasting wine. The freshness and clarity of the fruit elements is well backed by lively acidity and moderate tannins to keep it clean and appetizing from first sip to last.	93	48	California	Pinot Noir
27,016	US	This new wine from Efeste is a Right bank, Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tight and unyielding, even after many hours of breathing time, it's difficult to assess at this stage. Moderately ripe fruit remains closed down, showing gentle hints of sweet tomato, pomegranate and dried herbs.	87	44	Washington	Bordeaux-style Red Blend
4,249	US	The smoky, spicy aromas and richly oaked flavors of this medium-bodied wine are tempting and delicious. While the wine's personality comes mostly from new oak nuances, good fruit flavors lie underneath.	88	26	California	Red Blend
10,458	US	Heavy and dull, with a soft texture framing cherry, berry and spice flavors. Pinot's famously silky texture is there, but the wine isn't offering much else.	85	35	California	Pinot Noir
11,468	France	Light and fruity, this has flavors of creamed apple and ripe Williams pear. The wine is crisp and tangy, and it's shot through with lemon zest and acidity. Ready to drink in one year.	87	40	Burgundy	Chardonnay
10	US	Soft, supple plum envelopes an oaky structure in this Cabernet, supported by 15% Merlot. Coffee and chocolate complete the picture, finishing strong at the end, resulting in a value-priced wine of attractive flavor and immediate accessibility.	87	19	California	Cabernet Sauvignon
31,978	US	Dark golden-yellow in color, this offers tart apple and honey flavors and is light on the palate, not overdone in oak. It will pair well with seafood or bacon and eggs.	89	24	California	Chardonnay
19,019	US	Deep and hearty aromas of blackberry, candied violet and dried lavender are enhanced by a touch of roasted pork on the nose of this red by Adam Lee. The full-bodied palate is framed by soft yet structural tannins and a slow-rising acidity, showing dark berries, charred beef and a hint of licorice.	93	55	California	Pinot Noir

80,834

US

Light in color with an herbal profile, this lightly textured wine offers tart cherry and dry tannins with a bite of oak on the finish. Having undergone partial whole-cluster fermentation (30%), it also has a forested, savory character, streaked in cedar and baking spice. Most of the grapes hail from Sonoma Mountain, rounded out by Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Mendocino fruit.

89

55

California

Pinot Noir

41,733

US

Smooth, ripe and almost sweet, this is medium to full bodied, packed full of fruit flavors and other complexity that makes it interesting. It balances toward softness as the berry and cherry character seems to swell on the palate and linger on the finish.

88

27

California

Zinfandel

117,188

France

This small vineyard is right on the edge of the village of Givry. From vines aged on average 30 years, the wine is ripe, full in the mouth and with fine balancing acidity. It has light tannins and spicy flavors that give the wine extra structure. Drink from 2018.

88

40

Burgundy

Pinot Noir

115,636

Italy

This opens with aromas of dark berry, forest floor, dried rose, new leather and a balsamic note. On the palate, notes of white pepper, coffee and clove accent a core of crunchy red berry. Racy acidity and assertive tannins provide the framework. Drink 2018–2023.

91

110

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

70,046

US

This smoothly round and full-bodied wine offers a taste of the tropics, combining pineapple, payapa and coconut in tone and flavor. The oak (only 20% of it new) is pronounced, though on the way to integration, .

86

40

California

Chardonnay

11,808

France

From an estate to the east of the town of Saint-Émilion, this rich wine shows its alcohol in the pepper edge that cuts through the fruit. It tastes firm still and has extracted bitter flavors. The acidity does give the wine a lift and lets the black currant fruit come through. Drink from 2018.

86

30

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

102,490

Italy

Radiant and structured, this is initially closed but slowly opens to reveal engaging aromas of woodland berry, violet, star anise, dark cooking spice and a balsamic note. The vibrant, full-bodied palate boasts great energy while offering layers of wild cherry, raspberry, white pepper and licorice. Bright acidity and firm, polished tannins provide balance. Give it time to fully develop. Drink between 2020 and 2035.

96

110

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

86,430

US

At first sharp and focused, with sharp aromas of pine and citrus rind, this broadens out and thins quickly once in the mouth. Fresh green apple fruit fades into a smooth, plain, slightly watery finish.

85

12

Washington

Pinot Gris

28,384

US

Grenache's main duty is to deliver cherry flavors, and this one over-performs in that category. It just brims with black and red cherries in their essence. The wine is dry and silky, even more light-bodied than some Pinot Noirs, and quite delicious in its own way. Drink now with a grilled steak and rosemary potatoes.

88

25

California

Grenache

66,691

US

Fruit sourced from three vineyards—Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill—has been artfully blended into an aromatic wine, showing a pleasing mix of black cherry, cola and cocoa flavors. Open and broadly accessible, this is a balanced and quite delicious drink which will be best enjoyed over the next few years.

89

40

Oregon

Pinot Noir

44,257

US

From 86% Syrah and 14% Zinfandel grapes, this is a dark wine, burgundy-orange in color and equally dense at first on the palate. It picks up freshness as it opens, disrobing flavors of wild strawberry and grapefruit, along with an intensity of blackberry. Bright, it finishes dry.

88

23

California

Syrah

119,473

US

This is a pretty simple Petite Sirah, with rich, soft flavors of raspberry and cherry sour candy. But it has lovely tannins. Cook up a great cheeseburger and enjoy.

83

16

California

Petite Sirah

128,315

Italy

Bonacchi makes several expressions of Brunello. Molino del Piano is a ripe and plush wine with some savory aromas of cured meat and leather backed by Indian spice and black currant. Despite the ripeness, firm structure gives the wine austerity.

90

38

Tuscany

Sangiovese Grosso

68,856

US

A reductive note of rubber tire threads through the mélange of cherry cola, iron ore and red licorice flavors in this wine. The components have not yet integrated, leading to a finish marked by bitter skin and tannins. Give it another couple of years of bottle age before pulling the cork.

86

30

Oregon

Pinot Noir

26,187

Italy

The 15-acre Castellero vineyard farmed by Fratelli Barale lies directly northeast of the town of Barolo. This is a pleasantly sweet-smelling wine with generous aromas of Christmas spice, ginger and cinnamon behind wild berries and forest floor. It's a youthful and fun interpretation with firm tannins and a long, drying finish.

89

57

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

71,863

France

89–91. Barrel sample. This chateau has been newly acquired by the Barton family of Léoville Barton. It's an attractive, fruity wine with warm tannins. The palate is fine and juicy, and finishes softly at the end.

90

50

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

55,289

US

There is a nice cherry core and exotic spice aromas on the nose of this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec, mostly from the Chalk Knoll Vineyard in San Lucas. The palate is dense and spicy, with rich vanilla-laden cherries and savory tobacco smoke.

86

14

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

59,851

US

Lavender and lilac are just part of the floral bouquet that emerges from this wine, which also shows a blackberry vinaigrette element on the nose. Once sipped, it's like sucking on a purple-flower candy, with more lavender as well as plum and a pencil-lead edge that cuts through the palate.

87

30

California

Zinfandel

19,953

Italy

Tribolo is a Sangiovese-based wine from coastal Tuscany that opens with smooth richness and bright tones of wild blueberry and cherry. There's a milky, mocha element as well that adds to its overall sensation of creaminess.

88

28

Tuscany

Sangiovese

49,891

US

A bone-dry, low-alcohol wine that's not only easy to drink, but tremendously versatile at the table. It offers crisp acidity and pleasant flavors of lemongrass, tangerines, kumquats and spice.

90

18

California

Gewürztraminer

105,705

Argentina

Tarry aromas of blackberry and freshly applied asphalt set up a full-bodied palate with sandpaper tannins. Blackberry and toast flavors taste a little burnt, while an oak-based blackened element is present on a stout finish. Drink this blocky and lusty Malbec through 2023.

92

25

Mendoza Province

Malbec

17,426

France

A fresh, strawberry-flavored wine, with good red berry and red apple-skin textures. The acidity is initially prominent, but then there is also a burst of candy, leaving softness.

87

60

Champagne

Champagne Blend

11,511

US

A deliciously likeable Pinot Noir, sweet as a raspberry crumble pie, yet with qualities of mushrooms, minerals and something formidable from the earth that give it great complexity. The winemaker, Drake Whitcraft, has kept the alcohol to a relatively low 13.4% by volume, so the wine feels light and airy. Yet it possesses great seriousness. The vineyard is within a touchdown pass of the Santa Rita Hills boundary. Drink now–2020.

92

50

California

Pinot Noir

61,274

Italy

This plush and easy expression of Syrah opens with distinct aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit, white pepper and mature cherry. The wine is smooth and rich with a fine, soft nature of tannins.

87

16

Tuscany

Syrah

68,456

US

From a selection of vineyards, most predominantly Stiling, this wine offers tart acidity and a low oak profile upfront, allowing the fruit to build richness and density as it opens. Baked apple and mango flavors are spiced with nutmeg and caramel, finishing with steely minerality.

90

42

California

Chardonnay

109,168

US

Sourced from six different vineyards, this is a broadly pleasing wine, fruity in blackberry and raspberry that veers even into cranberry and cassis territory without getting bogged down. Substantial and lush, it's tightly woven in tannin and savory herb, ready to open itself over time. Patience will reward with more exotic interweavings of vanilla-cola and tea.

90

45

California

Pinot Noir

46,366

US

The nose on this bottling leans a bit sweet yet remains zesty, with ripe apples, pears, lime sorbet and lemon-lime soda. But the sip is racy and sizzling with buoyant acidity, delivering tightly wound Bosc pear and Gravenstein apple flavors doused with citrus spray.

91

26

California

Chardonnay

7,952

Italy

This is a vibrant and lively wine with a sweet portfolio of aromas including red fruit, spice, rose bud, milk chocolate and almond nut. The wine is modern and upfront in terms of its delivery and has a chewy, succulent bite. Its fruity flavors are slightly sweet and the wine ends on a bright, cheerful note.

88

28

Tuscany

Red Blend

94,304

US

While the nose is intensely oaky, wafting of dark toast, smoked nuts and spice, the palate of this Chardonnay is surprisingly fresh with crisp apple and pear flavors. It's a rounded, voluptuous wine that neatly balances the richness and complexity of oak against fruit. Drink now through 2021.

88

16

New York

Chardonnay

117,284

US

This is a big, brawny wine that offers moderate structure, opting for richer, denser notes of leathery tannin and bittersweet tobacco leaf, its accents part cedar, part clove.

87

55

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

17,356

US

From a vineyard in Nipomo at the southern end of the county, this fresh bottling show strawberries, ripe lavender, exotic rose petals, cinnamon and lots of red-spice notes. The palate is peppy, with tangy cranberry and pomegranate fruit as well as deeper notes of sandalwood, flint and gravel.

90

50

California

Pinot Noir

101,784

US

The aromas of ripe peach, jasmine, honeysuckle and mineral pop. It drinks just off dry, with a spritz of stone-fruit and citrus flavors that extend on the finish.

91

20

Washington

Riesling

86,021

US

The blend is mainly Cabernet, with other Bordeaux varieties as well as 11% Syrah. It shows good concentration of black currant flavor wrapped into hard mountain tannins. It's a good, oaky wine, but give it until 2015–2016 in the cellar.

88

38

California

Red Blend

5,581

US

It's pure Rosenblum, as sweet as a confection, as delicious as a filling made from blackberries, cherries, chocolate, licorice, cinnamon, vanilla and white sugar. It's impossible not to be impressed and troubled by a wine such as this.

87

25

California

Syrah

94,024

US

Floral and butter-candy aromas and flavors make this not exactly sweet but rather light, soft and airy. A dreamy confection, it feels light to medium bodied and smooth in texture.

85

7

California

Chardonnay

31,767

France

Some barrel aging has given this wine, with its already ripe fruits, extra richness. It is spicy, lifted by juicy acidity from the black cherries and plums. This is a full, warm and ripe wine that is just now ready to drink.

89

23

Loire Valley

Pinot Noir

40,394

Italy

Blue flower, red berry, forest floor and a whiff of Mediterranean herb lead the nose. The racy, linear palate delivers black cherry, pomegranate and clove framed in sleek tannins and bracing acidity. A note of powdered sage closes the finish.

87

25

Tuscany

Sangiovese

75,740

US

For a few dollars more than the regular CSM Cabernet, the Indian Wells delivers extra density and complexity. It holds firm, dark fruits and is slightly grainy, but well-ripened tannins carry the wine, and it's less dependent upon oak treatments and flavors of vanilla and cream. Persistent and substantial, it's offers good value, and often sells for less than the listed price.

89

18

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

121,668

US

This bottling from Napa veteran St. Clement has been variable in recent years. The '05 is similar to the '02. It's a likeable, elegant Cab that drinks well now. The cherry, blackberry, plum and mocha flavors are wrapped into rich, soft tannins.

87

55

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

69,240

US

The Rockpile appellation's extreme growing conditions make this wine hugely concentrated and powerfully rich. Offers explosive blackberry jam, currant and dark chocolate flavors, wrapped into big tannins. High alcohol gives it a warm mouthfeel.

88

40

California

Petite Sirah

105,588

Argentina

Smoky aromas of bacon and rubber blend with cherry and plum scents to form a good bouquet. This has a fair, fresh mouthfeel with tannic grip. Leafy flavors of plum and red currant are accented by spicy, dry, woody notes, while the finish is lightly green and oaky, with lasting spice.

88

18

Mendoza Province

Cabernet Sauvignon

25,251

France

There is a bitter edge to this wine. Spice and tight acidity give a nervy, taut character. At the same time, fresh apple and citrus flavors come through. Give this wine until 2016 to soften.

87

28

Burgundy

Chardonnay

7,454

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

77,497

US

A rich, dramatic and impressive wine. With vital acidity and dryness, it has complex layers of ripe cherries, red licorice, cranberries, pomegranates, mocha and cinnamon. Falls somewhere in texture between Pinot Noir and Merlot, either of which it can substitute for. Drink now.

90

66

California

Rhône-style Red Blend

72,691

France

A blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from a small region just north of Sancerre, this bright-pink wine is fresh, fruity and light. A touch of tannin gives structure and brings out the dry core of this otherwise crisp wine.

86

15

Loire Valley

Rosé

101,642

US

Despite its youth, this is a soft, round, totally accessible wine with pretty flavors of sassafras, pie cherries and cooked plums. It skirts close to an impression of jam, and almost begs for near-term consumption. Don't hold back.

89

24

Oregon

Pinot Noir

74,910

US

Sour cherry aromas mix with freshly turned black dirt and button mushrooms on this bottling from a winery that's been in the Santa Cruz Mountains for 80 years. The mouthfeel is soft, with flavors of blackberry emerging first followed by pomegranate, roast pork and black pepper. Serve with beef in mushroom sauce.

90

40

California

Merlot

88,194

Italy

Mint, menthol, leather and wild berry aromas unfold in the glass, accompanied by a whiff of forest floor. The elegantly structured palate offers sour cherry, crushed raspberry, anise, white pepper and graphite alongside assertive but refined tannins and nervous acidity. Give this time to unwind and come together. Drink 2017–2030.

93

32

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

31,697

Portugal

This is stylish Douro, a wine that reveals minerality, red berry fruits with tannins and acidity that cut through the structure. This wine is ready to drink.

88

13

Douro

Portuguese Red

103,628

France

Rich and fruity, this wine shows warm white fruit and a touch of spice. The wine is soft, its currant and pink grapefruit flavors lifted by acidity but with a rounded finish.

87

14

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style White Blend

19,929

US

Just under five years in age, this wine's Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant profile shows through its full-bodied mouthfeel, dense tannins and cassis flavor. It's a big, new-oaky wine that's forward with concentrated fruit through the finish. A bit of a show-off now, it should benefit from 5–6 years in the cellar.

89

50

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

90,045

Germany

Heady notes of saffron and pollen lend a savory spicy tone to honey-kissed chamomile and white grapefruit flavors in this dazzling auslese. Shocks of lemon-lime awaken the midpalate, leading to a long crystalline finish.

93

40

Mosel

Riesling

43,347

US

Inspired by co-winemaker Eli Parker's trips to Australia, this is simply a fun and tasty sparkling red, with rose, clove, black plum, and graphite notes on the nose. Ripe berry flavors round out the palate, but tangy plum skins and a slate-driven mineral tension keep it serious.

91

37

California

Grenache

125,322

US

This pink blend of 64% Grenache, 31% Syrah and 6% Marsanne offers the expected array of bubblegum, pink roses, peach, watermelon and cool steel aromas on the nose. It's wound nice and tight on the palate, with warm notes of strawberry and bubblegum emerging on the midpalate, leveled by lemon-skin tartness and a chalky tension.

90

28

California

Rosé

87,592

France

There is a great balance between the natural floral and perfumed character of this Gewürztraminer and its lively acidity. These elements combine to form a wine that is complex and immediately attractive. It's ready to drink, but it can also age for a year.

90

29

Alsace

Gewürztraminer

50,655

France

Like so many bone-dry Champagnes, this wine needs some bottle aging to soften the brutal acidity. It offers a tight mineral texture and crisp lemon and grapefruit acidity. Drink from 2017.

90

58

Champagne

Champagne Blend

6,135

US

This impressive wine dances in hearty clove and cinnamon sparked by a floral bouquet of rose. High-toned, structured and elegant, it has subtle power and concentration but remains fresh in the glass. Drink now through 2020.

92

45

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

21,549

US

A Washington Pinot Gris that has some of the flesh and texture of a fine Oregon version, yet brings the spice and verve of bright Washington fruit into play. Pear, apple, acacia, orange candy, even a bit of pineapple combine into a fruity and delicious wine. All stainless, no malolactic.

88

11

Washington

Pinot Gris

3,748

US

This wine has a good, deep color, lots of fruity aromas and flavors, and a smooth mouthfeel. It tastes grapy and jammy but dry, with light spicy accents to add interest.

86

7

California

Merlot

28,875

Italy

Made with 60% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with delicate aromas of black-skinned fruit and a whiff of baking spice. The no-frills palate shows mature red plum, toast and a hint of bell pepper alongside rather astringent tannins.

87

33

Tuscany

Red Blend

90,422

Italy

Spiced blueberry, ripe plum and tilled earth aromas lead the nose on this hearty wine. Made with no added sulfites, the big, chewy palate delivers juicy black cherry, ripe blackberry and licorice alongside the warmth of evident alcohol.

88

20

Piedmont

Barbera

21,820

US

Watery and sweet, like fruit juice, with orange, pineapple and buttered toast flavors.

82

13

California

Chardonnay

26,327

France

Smoky wood aromas are repeated on the palate. Although prominent, they do not suppress the juicy blackberry flavors and crisp acidity. Already balanced, the wine is likely to mature quickly. Drink from 2017.

86

18

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

113,832

Italy

Aromas of tropical fruit, pear and honeysuckle jump out of the glass. The straightforward palate delivers tart green apple, white peach and a touch of citrus alongside bright acidity.

87

17

Northeastern Italy

Pinot Grigio

70,517

US

Of all the 2012 releases from Mannina, this is the most dense, dark and substantial. Cassis and black cherry fruit is set against a stiff streak of char and coffee, backed with firm, ripe tannins. The length and balance are just right for ripe fruit from young vines.

90

30

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

61,446

US

Aptly named as this Syrah is grown at 3,000-feet elevation, the wine is full of very ripe plum, dark cherry and gamy meat flavors, with thick tannins evocative of leather and cigar box. A big-time Syrah that will deliver nuance and complexity as it opens up, particularly when paired with appropriately rich foods.

90

35

California

Syrah

126,318

Spain

Earthy notes of plum and berry include a touch of leafy herbs. This is crisp, elegant and slightly tomatoey in feel, with dry herbal plum and berry flavors that end fresh and savory. There's nothing over the top about this classic Rioja. Drink through 2024.

92

48

Northern Spain

Tempranillo

2,714

US

Almost addictive with its fresh, clean flavors of sweet lemon, fig, tart green apple and cinnamon, encased in lively acidity. This zesty white wine has extra layers of complexity and depth. It's also one of the most versatile food wines around.

87

18

California

Pinot Gris

96,139

US

Pristine lime zest and lemon notes add lift to rounded apple and nectarine flavors on the palate of this full-bodied richly textured Riesling. There's a weightiness on the midpalate but the finish is refreshing and crisp.

87

24

New York

Riesling

47,054

US

Aromas of Golden Delicious apples, nectarine flesh, lemon-lime soda and poached pears drizzled lightly with agave syrup show on the nose of this wine made by Mike Roth. The palate offers apple and pear cider along with white peach and a steely, nearly gunmetal minerality.

88

20

California

Pinot Grigio

110,820

France

This full and structured wine offers good acidity, firm tannins and layers of black-currant flavors. It has good potential with richness, weight and balance. Drink from 2019.

90

24

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

60,463

US

Ripe black cherry, black plum and chipped slate aromas greet the nose on this blend of 86% Grenache from La Vista Vineyard and 14% Petite Sirah from Mainini Vineyard. It's soft and ripe with blackberry fruit at first sip, then comes an electrifying acidity and flavors of roasted fennel and pencil lead.

88

31

California

Rhône-style Red Blend

114,546

US

The producer's annual, highly anticipated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this comes from the wilds of the appellation's rocky hillsides. This is a burly, distinctive and sizable wine, ripe yet refined, having been given three years in barrel and another in bottle before release. Chocolaty tobacco combines with pencil shavings and dense blackberry before finishing in an explosion of black pepper. Gorgeous, it will get even more interesting over time, through 2025.

95

250

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

75,501

France

Big-hearted fruit dominates this smooth wine. The estate, owned by the Tesseron family and close to their other property of Pontet-Canet, is performing well and it shows in this juicy ripe wine, full of generous tannins. The aftertaste shows both acidity and concentration. Drink from 2022.

93

36

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

39,447

US

A rich, dense, vital Merlot, one of the best of the vintage. Offers loads of cherry, green olive, roasted meat and pepper flavors, wrapped into firm tannins leading to a distinguished finish. Dry and elegant, it's a beautiful wine to decant and drink soon with steak, chops, lamb.

93

30

California

Merlot

106,260

France

This is a fresh wine that has been aged in tanks, retaining its bright red fruits and lively acidity. It is still young although it will develop quickly to give a soft fruit-driven wine.

86

11

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

28,160

Argentina

Ripe borderline raisiny aromas include earth, cedar and graphite scents. This is concentrated, grabby and fully extracted. Flavors of jammy black fruits blend with spicy saucy notes prior to a finish with flavors of tomato, herbs, salt and gamy meat. Firm acidity guarantees this will last at least another five years before falling off.

90

24

Mendoza Province

Malbec

129,915

US

The third vintage of Mith is the best yet, composed of fruit from three top-notch Walla Walla vineyards. It's two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one third Syrah. The wine opens seductively with luscious blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit, wrapped in sexy layers of earth and herb. Whiffs of smoke lead into a silky smooth, chocolaty finish.

91

40

Washington

Red Blend

19,160

France

This ripe wine shows a good balance between its rich black fruits and the densely tannic structure. It is still young and for now the wine is firm and dry. The ripe fruit will blossom over the next few years to give warmth and richness. Drink from 2018.

90

20

Bordeaux

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

95,416

Italy

A whole new generation of Italian rosé is finally gaining the attention it deserves. This is an exceptionally fresh and clean wine that would pair with smoked salmon, fish carpaccio or insalata di mare.

87

12

Tuscany

Rosé

62,083

US

This very rich, unctuous Syrah is immature and not especially subtle at this time. It's acidic and gooey in jammy blackberries and cherries and milk chocolate, with obvious oak influences. The idea seems to be ageworthiness, but that's a gamble. Could surprise.

87

65

California

Syrah

63,489

US

This bracing, precisely crafted wine emphasizes crispness and attractively lean fruit flavors over richness, and it will be great with appetizers and seafood, even raw oysters. It's fresh, clean and inviting.

90

32

California

Viognier

105,416

France

The weight of the bottle seems to foretell this wine's weight, structure and judiciously layered oak influence. With ripe cherry and berry flavors, it's a wine that can age. Drink from 2015.

90

30

Alsace

Pinot Noir

128,161

US

This vineyard-designated Merlot includes 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage, Syrah is eliminated and alcohol is lowered—a welcome shift. Rich and loaded with black fruits, it carries interesting accents of caramel popcorn, yielding a delicious, tongue-coating wine with a silky-smooth mouthfeel. It has good length, and the possibility of aging for another five or six years.

90

26

Washington

Merlot

15,395

US

Layers of wood and bramble juxtapose flavors of pressed apple, pear and lemon here. While its light-bodied style and brisk acidity are refreshing, it finishes on slightly bitter tones of sap and resin. Drink now through 2019.

85

22

New York

Chardonnay

75,480

US

Hints of nut oil and smoke lend a savory tone to bright stone-fruit and floral notes on this delicate semidry Riesling. Brisk with lemon-lime acidity, it finishes long with a murmur of lanolin and honey comb.

87

14

New York

Riesling

38,666

US

Barrel spice, dried herb, toast and cherry aromas lead to tart fruit flavors that narrow toward the finish, with tart acids livening it all up. Perhaps some more time will pull it all together.

89

34

Washington

Cabernet Sauvignon

44,633

US

This is the inaugural release from Elizabeth Bourcier, assistant vigneronne at Cayuse Vineyards. A unique blend of Grenache (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, it clearly comes from The Rocks, with the aromas of black olive, peat, fire pit, raspberry and herbs popping. The smoked meat and savory flavors show elegance, depth, detail and restraint, with a finish that sails. It's a subtle, sublime wine that makes a statement.

94

70

Washington

Red Blend

118,790

US

This is a voluptuous Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It's soft, lush and extremely ripe, flooding the mouth with blackberry and cherry jam, cassis, cocoa, sweet fresh green herb and spice flavors. Best now and for a few years, before it sheds its fruit.

89

46

California

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

52,416

France

The wine is ripe and creamy with a toasty vanilla character. With spice and juicy fruitiness, it is smooth and ready to drink. The aftertaste, with its zesty texture, gives the wine final complexity.

87

20

Burgundy

Chardonnay

126,312

US

With a touch of barrel reduction on the nose, this wine unfolds into layers of crisp, stony minerality and bold flavors of lemon and pear. Balanced in both ripeness and texture, its acidity carries it to a long, spicy finish.

92

42

California

Chardonnay

34,058

US

Very tight and shy aromas of lime zest, gray slate and white rocks show on the nose of this wine from the pioneering Niven Family and their winemaker Christian Roguenant. The palate shows some grassiness, Mexican lime and an interesting warmth on the back end, proving quite lean and sharp.

88

28

California

Chardonnay

54,956

US

A beautiful trio of fruit flavors—red cherry, rhubarb and raspberry—provides harmony in this vivid and pure-tasting wine. The freshness and clarity of the fruit elements is well backed by lively acidity and moderate tannins to keep it clean and appetizing from first sip to last.

93

48

California

Pinot Noir

27,016

US

This new wine from Efeste is a Right bank, Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tight and unyielding, even after many hours of breathing time, it's difficult to assess at this stage. Moderately ripe fruit remains closed down, showing gentle hints of sweet tomato, pomegranate and dried herbs.

87

44

Washington

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

4,249

US

The smoky, spicy aromas and richly oaked flavors of this medium-bodied wine are tempting and delicious. While the wine's personality comes mostly from new oak nuances, good fruit flavors lie underneath.

88

26

California

Red Blend

10,458

US

Heavy and dull, with a soft texture framing cherry, berry and spice flavors. Pinot's famously silky texture is there, but the wine isn't offering much else.

85

35

California

Pinot Noir

11,468

France

Light and fruity, this has flavors of creamed apple and ripe Williams pear. The wine is crisp and tangy, and it's shot through with lemon zest and acidity. Ready to drink in one year.

87

40

Burgundy

Chardonnay

10

US

Soft, supple plum envelopes an oaky structure in this Cabernet, supported by 15% Merlot. Coffee and chocolate complete the picture, finishing strong at the end, resulting in a value-priced wine of attractive flavor and immediate accessibility.

87

19

California

Cabernet Sauvignon

31,978

US

Dark golden-yellow in color, this offers tart apple and honey flavors and is light on the palate, not overdone in oak. It will pair well with seafood or bacon and eggs.

89

24

California

Chardonnay

19,019

US

Deep and hearty aromas of blackberry, candied violet and dried lavender are enhanced by a touch of roasted pork on the nose of this red by Adam Lee. The full-bodied palate is framed by soft yet structural tannins and a slow-rising acidity, showing dark berries, charred beef and a hint of licorice.

93

55

California

Pinot Noir