This is a rich wine that still retains intense freshness. Botrytised grapes were harvested in early December, giving rich honey and spice flavors. White peach and spiced pears give freshness as well as rich texture to this young wine. Drink as its opulence comes into its own, from 2019.
This is a rich wine with a fine weight of ripe red apple and pink grapefruit flavors to go with the crisp finish. The wine is ripe and full in the mouth, with just the right final acidity.
This is a rich wine with a warm character. It comes from vines in the heart of Chablis, facing the Grand Cru vineyards on the opposite side of the river. It's full bodied and ripe, with plenty of acidity to partner its yellow fruit. Drink from 2019.
This is a rich wine with good citrus and crisp apple flavors. It is textured, spicy and has a tight character. The wine is still very young, with a light hint of wood that adds toastiness to the saltiness of the wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich wine with great potential. Its juicy spice and acidity are balanced with the red fruits, the generous texture and the fine structure. It is a wine that sums up the ripeness of the vintage. Drink from 2024.
This is a rich wine with spice from the wood aging as well as black-plum fruits. It has tannins and some concentration, giving a wine that is rich and ready to drink.
This is a rich wine with the wood aging giving extra complexity and structure. It has cherry, plum and spice flavors, a dark sense that comes from the texture and the minerality. Drink this solid wine from 2014.
This is a rich wine, a reminder of the warmth of the Alentejo. That's reinforced by the cork label made from the other major product of the region. It is perfumed, smooth and with hints of apricots as well as brighter pear flavors. Drink now.
This is a rich wine, blending the two Manseng grapes in an opulent ripe way. It is full of spice and yellow fruits, along with hints of honey and pepper. This is a delicious full wine that will age for at least a year. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich wine, full bodied and packed with fruit. Ripe red-berry flavors are just touched by pepper and spice. It comes from selected parcels in the Faulkner family's estate, giving a concentrated, dense wine that will work best with food.
This is a rich wine, full of dark fruits and generous tannins. It has swathes of spice as well as the firm black-plum-skin and blackberry flavors. The dense texture and the acidity suggest a few more months aging, so drink from early 2018.
This is a rich wine, full of juicy fruit and attractive acidity. A blend of 95% Malbec and 5% Merlot, it has touches of wood aging along with the tannins. It will develop quickly, so drink from 2018.
This is a rich wine, full of rounded black fruits and soft tannins. It is a young style of wine with no wood aging, just the ripe fruits. Drink this wine now.
This is a rich wine, full of structure, tannins and bold red fruits. It is dense, solid and dark, filling the mouth with swathes of ripe fruits. It delivers a juicy, fresh aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a rich wine, intensely full of yellow fruits and soft, generous acidity. The wine has honey, apricots and ripe fruitiness. Delicious and approachable, it's ready to drink.
This is a rich wine, just beginning to mature. With berry fruits, some firm tannins and acidity, the wine is ripe, still showing some stalkiness and with a dry firm aftertaste. Drink starting from 2018.
This is a rich wine, labeled sweet but with a firm core of dryness that gives considerable texture. It reveals pure, ripe fruits coming from the biodynamically grown grapes, adding to a depth of flavor. It's ready for some good aging, so wait to drink until 2017.
This is a rich wine, packed with red-berry fruits. Despite its density and ripe fruits, it has a fine streak of acidity that keeps it lively and crisp. It comes from vines close to the Mediterranean, resulting in a slightly salty character as well as the warm feel to this food-friendly wine. Drink from late 2017.
This is a rich wine, smoky with vanilla and apple flavors. It has some good intensity, as well as a textured character that gives it some aging potential. Bright, fresh acidity cuts through the riper fruits. Drink now and until 2019.
This is a rich wine, soft and juicy. Superripe—perhaps overripe—fruit gives a jammy character to the wine. The core woody flavor from aging in French and American oak is prominent and needs to round out. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich wine, with a texture that's comfortably cushioned by ripe cherry and plum flavors. It's a wine to savor now, full and fruity.
This is a rich wine, with notes of buttermilk, toasted macadamia nut, bright Meyer lemon and orange blossom, all delivered in a measured manner. The palate shows walnut oil, orange bitters, coconut, pineapple and Gala apples, proving quite ripe but balanced by ample acidity.
This is a rich yet soft and perfumed reserve-tier wine. It offers an explosion of dense black fruit, oak and tannin atop a singular foundation of clove and cinnamon-cola spiciness. Full bodied, it's youthful and not quite approachable, finishing in a muddle of cranberry crispness on the finish.
This is a rich, aromatic and deliciously herbal wine full of structured black fruits and dense tannins that promise aging. Blackberry and plum flavors dominate, giving freshness and ripeness to this full wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich, barrel fermented style that delivers creamy, layered, textured flavors accented with flower, white pepper and mineral notes. A smack of butterscotch finishes it beautifully.
This is a rich, beautifully textured dry wine. It is terroir-driven, with the volcanic soil of Savennières underlying the tight texture. By contrast, it offers hints of honey and flavors of yellow fruits balanced with fruity lemon flavors. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich, bottle-aged wine is bright with lemon and green-apple fruitiness, but it's starting to develop secondary flavors—notes of toast, almonds and cookies—as well. It's at just the right stage of development and ready to drink now.
This is a rich, broad-shouldered Pinot Noir, woodsy and oaky with a firm and fierce grip on the palate. It leans more toward earth and smoke than exuberant fruit. Textured in soft undertones of silk, it also offers plenty of fresh herb, a component to take advantage of in pairing.
This is a rich, complex Chardonnay that's made to appeal to fans of the variety. Acidity brightens the green apple, peach and pear flavors, while oak brings notes of buttered toast and caramel. The alcohol is a little high and warm, making the wine ready to drink now.
This is a rich, complex wine that has great tannins as well as very fine, ripe black fruits. It comes from the showpiece estate for Casa Ferreirinha in the Alto Douro. The dense fruits and balanced tannins and acidity are just beginning to develop, hinting at the very fine wine it will become. With final acidity still very present, it needs time. Drink from 2019.
This is a rich, concentrated while also fruity wine. With its solid tannins that are finely integrated into the rich, black plum fruit flavors, it is already a very fine wine and presently drinkable; however, another year would not hurt, so best to savor this dense blend of Alicante Bouschet, Petit Verdot and Syrah after 2017.
This is a rich, concentrated wine, powered by both tannins and very ripe fruit. It is produced from vines planted in 1900 (MCM in Roman numerals), giving the dark color, density and power of old vines, layered with stylish black fruits and acidity. It's a fine expression of the complexity of pure Tannat with its layers of tannins and fruit. Drink from 2020.
This is a rich, creamy Greco di Tufo that would pair with green olive tapenade or tomato bruschetta. Aromas of crushed white stone, melon and pear drive the fresh finish.
This is a rich, delicious and balanced Pinot. It defines the modern California style, being dry, silky and ripe, showing a wealth of raspberry, cherry, cola, persimmon and spice flavors. Oak adds rich notes that are perfectly in keeping with the fruit. Drink this savory wine over the next few years.
This is a rich, delicious Pinot Noir. It spreads a fantail of raspberry and cherry jam sweetness across the palate, and then the acidity kicks in, providing fortunate balance. With a silky texture, it's a lovely wine to drink now.
This is a rich, dense Pinot, with blackberries, sweet cloves, allspice, gingerbread and nutmeg aromas. The palate carries the tune, with dark raspberry, dried strawberry, cranberry sauce and black cherry notes all heavily seasoned by cardamom, pine sap, eucalyptus and sea salt.
This is a rich, densely tannic wine with dark-hued blackberry fruits and ripe acidity. It is concentrated, still very firm while just beginning to show its full-bodied character. Wait until 2018.
This is a rich, dry wine that has ripe flavors of yellow fruits and baked apples. It has a mineral texture, tangy acidity and a smooth yet fresh finish. Drink from 2016.
This is a rich, elaborate Cabernet Sauvignon. It's opulent and flashy, with upfront blackberry jam, black currant, chocolate, spice and new oak flavors, and the tannins are ultrasmooth. Made in the soft, appealing modern style.
This is a rich, fairly dry and flavorful wine that has baking spice and chocolate aromas, cocoa-dusted plum flavors and a broad softly tannic texture that adds a good bite.
This is a rich, finely structured wine. It is highly perfumed, packed with black fruits and has a dark, firm texture. At the same time, the acidity is intense and the structure tight, suggesting a wine to age. Beautifully endowed with great fruit, it will take time to develop. Drink from 2026.
This is a rich, flamboyant Chardonnay, built on a foundation of superripe pineapple, lime and golden mango fruit and elaborated with sweet, caramelized oak. Bright, zesty Edna Valley acidity balances the opulence.
This is a rich, flamboyant Pinot for drinking now. The raspberry and cherry flavors express California heat and sunshine, but you'll find brisk coastal acidity for balance, as well as a luxurious layer of oak.
This is a rich, flamboyant Syrah. The Central Coast appellation is because the grapes are a blend of Santa Barbara's cool vineyards and a warm one from Paso Robles. It's a good recipe, with ripe, forward flavors wrapped into a firm structure. Only 150 cases were produced.
This is a rich, flamboyant Viognier, showing lots of ripe, fruity flavors and a nice burst of acidity. It's high in alcohol, which gives some prickly heat, but the pineapple custard, tangerine and crème brûlée flavors are frankly delicious.
This is a rich, fragrant and luscious-tasting dessert wine. Wonderful honey, orange blossom and peach nectar aromas waft from the glass, and concentrated, luxurious, sweet fruit and floral flavors wash over the palate. The mouthfeel is rich and viscous, leaving a long finish that echoes the sweet honey aromas.
This is a rich, fruity Chardonnay that's sweet in pineapple, orange and buttered toast flavors. A nice cut of acidity provides needed balance.
This is a rich, fruity wine that has a definite minerally character. The chalky texture is laced with lemon and apricot flavors, leading to a crisp, tight finish.
This is a rich, fruity wine that has a delicious apple flavor cut by lemony acidity to give a line of freshness. The wine is dry, fruity and ready to drink.
This is a rich, full-bodied and complex wine. It shows dense tannins and equally dense fruits that are powered by the ripe black currant fruit flavors. There is a fresher component at the end, attractive and bright. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich, full-bodied and finely structured wine. Named after the patriarch of the estate, it is firmly packed with dark plum and ripe blackberry fruits that are flanked by a dense texture and balanced acidity. It needs some time, so drink from 2018.
This is a rich, full-bodied and generous wine. It has great red berry flavors that are supported by a light oak character and freshened with acidity. Although young, it is ready to drink.
This is a rich, full-bodied Champagne showing hints of bottle age but mostly crisp, fresh apple and apricot flavors. It's a ripe, fruity wine, from the southern vineyards in the Aube, but with a apple-skin astringency and brisk texture. Drink now–2019.
This is a rich, full-bodied Champagne, with hints of toast and wood flavors, balanced with a citrus acidity. There's a warm feel to this complex wine that will certainly age well.
This is a rich, full-bodied Chenin Blanc, dry and with delicious hints of baked apple and honey. There's a definite mineral texture, taut and brimming with orange zest. It is dense, full in the mouth and ready to drink now, but better in 2015.
This is a rich, full-bodied dry Riesling. Honey, baked fruit and dried spices mix on the nose, while the flavors are a complex mélange of baked fruit, spice and mineral. This finishes with great intensity and length, courtesy of salty, brinelike minerality.
This is a rich, full-bodied wine in a generally light and crisp field. It has the heft and texture of more substantial varietals—and indeed has Sémillon, Flora and Chardonnay blended in. It also offers a touch of sweetness and straightforward apple and Anjou pear flavors.
This is a rich, full-bodied wine that is ready to drink now. It still has a dry core of tannins, although they are overwhelmed by the rich, juicy black fruits and generous texture. It's a concentrated wine, high in alcohol, although that is really balanced by the fresh aftertaste.
This is a rich, full-bodied wine with powerful blackberry flavors complemented by notes of freshly ground coffee, cherry and barrel spices.
This is a rich, full-bodied, medium-sweet wine full of generous fruits and ripe spice. There's no need to wait to drink this lively wine with its light touch of acidity at the end.
This is a rich, full and structured wine with a great balance between black fruit and tannins. It shows the stony minerality of the Douro, with generous fruit and acidity. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, full in the mouth wine. It has some crisp citrus acidity although the main flavors are of ripe lychees and pineapple that are both tinged with spice. It's ready to drink.
This is a rich, full wine that has red fruits and soft tannins. With balanced acidity, only a hint of tannins, it is ready to drink.
This is a rich, full wine that is spiced but retains remarkable freshness. Crisp citrus and acidity gives it a fine sweet-and-sour character that mingles with flavors of warm apricot and lychee fruits. Drink now.
This is a rich, generous and rounded wine. The opulent feel is balanced by a strongly mineral texture. Old vines give concentration while also allowing for great freshness. It needs to age further. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich, green-plum and yellow-fruit flavored wine. Toast gives an extra roundness to a palate that is full, fragrant and ripe with fruit. It's delicious now, but could age for 2–3 years more.
This is a rich, heavy wine, a Chardonnay on steroids. It's packed with ripe and lush tree fruits, and those flavors are matched with generous barrel toast. Though it feels a bit thick on the palate, it has enough acidity to avoid being flabby and is terrifically delicious. Drink now through 2021.
This is a rich, impressive, age-worthy wine. With firm tannins and sumptuous juicy black fruits, it shows no sign of its high alcohol. It blends structure and fruit easily. The wine is named to celebrate the second Lança generation in charge at the estate. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, intense wine, its spice and pepper characters mingling with ripe tangerine and peach notes. It is full, round and concentrated. The pure fruit character is delicious, though it could age a year.
This is a rich, inviting wine with characteristics of dried cranberry and red currant, replete with dusty, spicy tannins and spicy, spiked vanilla. Lush, the tannins are soft and supple, a tad smoky, and the secondary elements darker in smoke, black licorice and espresso. Burly, it's balanced and refined.
This is a rich, jammy wine, with ripe raspberry, cherry and spice flavors. Blended with a little Merlot and Petit Verdot, it's made in the popular style, featuring sweet fruit with a touch of oak. The tannins are pretty thick, and the wine might improve with a few years in the cellar.
This is a rich, juicy and full-bodied wine. Despite its high alcohol, it has a freshness from the berry fruits that are balanced by acidity. It has softened and broadened out enough to give a sense of its excellent potential. Drink from late 2016.
This is a rich, juicy, solid wine. The tannins of the Tannat have been mitigated by the more juicy Cabernets in the blend to give a structured while fruity wine. The black fruits and the intense acidity promise aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, lush, full-bodied expression of the variety, exhibiting oak in its classic rendering of caramel apple. Textured and thick, it has a tartness that balances some of the ripeness on the finish.
This is a rich, maturing wine that is full of toasty, yeasty flavors that are finely integrated with the orange zest and apple flavors. It is just right to drink now, at a midway point between youth and maturity but it will age for several more years. Drink until 2020.
This is a rich, oaky Chardonnay, sweet and refined. With ripe orange, tropical fruit, apricot and buttered toast flavors, it rises above mere sweetness with a firm minerality and a fine squirt of lime acidity.
This is a rich, opulent wine with ripe lychee flavors. Forward and spicy, it is showing its flashy youth at the moment. While it will always be ripe in style, as it develops, it will become more sophisticated and complex. Drink until 2022.
This is a rich, peppery and generously tannic and full-bodied expression of the grape, both powerful and brimming in grace. Soft and mellow on the midpalate, it builds up ripeness and texture toward the finish, ending with a satisfying bite of graham cracker and chocolate.
This is a rich, perfumed wine, with spice from new wood, a rich texture and dense red berry fruit. Its structure and concentration suggest it will age further, so wait until late 2018 to drink.
This is a rich, plump young Pinot Noir. It's medium-bodied and velvety, with plum, black cherry, bacon and Indian spice flavors, and with a lovely coat of sweet, smoky sandalwood. The tannin-acid balance suggests 5–7 years in the cellar, although it's fine now with a decant.
This is a rich, plush Cabernet, with a sense of elegance. It smells like prune, blackberry, coffee and toast. The concentrated palate boasts prune, olive, coffee and dark berry flavors. Drink or hold for a few years.
This is a rich, plush wine that's soft and simple at its core, heady in licorice aromas. On the palate, expect an exuberance of leather, coconut and dark chocolate flavors.
This is a rich, powerful and wood-aged wine that shows fine balance between its ripe red fruits and solid, chunky tannins. The wood rounds out the rich texture and gives character to the full, juicy finish.
This is a rich, powerful wine. It is dense, with dusty tannins and great swathes of ripe black fruits. The acidity, crisp and generous at the same time, is well integrated with the fruit. Its solid, firm texture promises aging. Drink this serious, concentrated wine from 2019.
This is a rich, ripe and full-bodied blend that includes Alicante Bouschet to give the dark color. It has structure and juicy blackberry fruits. The tannins, integrated with the fruitiness, are supple and generous. This is a wine to drink soon, from late 2016.
This is a rich, ripe and tropical white, with a mix of sweetness and salinity that plays well off each other. It becomes simple on the finish.
This is a rich, ripe Condrieu that manages to avoid seeming excessively weighty or oily. The suggestion of grilled apricot and pineapple slices is balanced by mouthwatering acidity and a slightly peppery, textural grip on the long finish. Drink by 2016.
This is a rich, ripe expression of appellation fruit, densely concentrated in thick swathes of chocolate and black currant. Deliciously approachable, it shows structure and grace alongside its powerful foundation, with room to age. Enjoy best 2020 through 2023.
This is a rich, ripe style of rosé, full of rich red-berry fruits and crispened by acidity. It is full bodied and just lightly textured. Drink now while it is still young and fruity.
This is a rich, ripe Syrah with chunky aromas of baked black fruits, forest floor, chocolate and berry syrup. It's soft, lush and syrupy feeling, with jammy, ultraripe flavors of baked blackberry, tobacco, coffee and herbs. This finishes chewy, dense and without much spine or kick. Drink now through 2015.
This is a rich, ripe Syrah, with deep, long-lasting chocolate, blackberry jam and oak flavors. Impresses for its sheer razzle dazzle. Probably best over the next few years.
This is a rich, robust bubbly. The palate is marked with honey-infused limes and Meyer lemons, with the bread dough sourness of lees. The mouthfeel is a little rough, though.
This is a rich, robust Pinot Noir, defining the big, tannic style. It explodes in cherry, cola and pomegranate fruit flavors, with the added note of caramelized oak. You can drink this wine now, but it should hold in the bottle for 6–8 years, gradually mellowing. The vineyard is in the cooler southern part of the valley, near Carneros.
This is a rich, round and full-bodied wine with smooth, creamy apple and pear flavors. It is cut through with zingy lemon acidity and a touch of honey. The structure comes from a cool line of lemon zest, minerality and a tight, taut aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich, rounded and concentrated wine. Good structure comes both from the wood aging and from the acidity of the apple and apricot fruits. Developing slowly, it will become an impressive, ripe wine. Drink from 2018. The grapes come from the highest vineyard in Chassagne, just under the woods.
This is a rich, rounded wine with pure red berry aromas. The initially soft tannins has a dryness that creeps up as the fruit increases in its richness. Layers of wood spice support the fruit rather than dominating.
This is a rich, rounded wine, yet it also expresses a tight texture and nervy acidity. The toast influence is still dominating, although the fruitiness of this ripe selection is also showing. With its weight and structure, this is a prime candidate to age for several years.
This is a rich, smoke and tannin-filled wine. Still young, the black-plum fruits are in the background, suggesting ripe juiciness for the future. Produced from vines on the east end of the plateau of Saint-Émilion, it is full bodied and will develop well. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, smoky and structured wine. Black fruit and dark tannins form a dense texture with touches of licorice, spice and dark concentration. The acidity hints at the vintage giving a touch of freshness and lift. Drink this powerful wine from 2024
This is a rich, smoky red-fruit-flavored wine. One of three wines produced by the estate that was created by the late Anne-Claude Leflaive of Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, it is made from biodynamically grown grapes. Wood aged, it shows spice as well as the cool fruitiness that gives the wine both its crispness and aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, smooth and ripe wine. It has plenty of lemon acidity that contrasts with the mineral texture and the melon and pear fruit flavors. The wine is full, refreshing and also likely to age for a few more months. Best to drink this wine from 2017.
This is a rich, smooth wine that has ripe fruit and plenty of smooth plum flavors. It has some spice, balanced acidity and a fine dense texture. The wine, with its fresh aftertaste is ready to drink.
This is a rich, smooth wine with balanced black fruit flavors and a solid layer of tannins. It is ripe with juicy fruit and cool acidity. The wine is delicious, ready to drink now.
This is a rich, smooth wine, full of both dark black fruits and acidity. The fruit character dominates, sustained by the toasty wood. It is still young with its baby fruit crispness. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich, smooth, vanilla-flavored wine that is impressively ripe while keeping all its freshness. It has a sense of concentration, with ripe strawberry and red cherry fruits and enough structure to allow it to age. Drink from 2015.
This is a rich, smoothly textured wine that has great fruitiness, as well as a fine amount of spice and acidity. The combination makes for a well-balanced wine that's fresh while ripe and concentrated. Drink from 2014. Screwcap.
This is a rich, smoothly textured wine. Pear and apricot fruits are blended with shots of lemon to give a perfumed wine that has a lightly spicy character. Drink this ripe wine from 2017.
This is a rich, soft wine with jammy black fruits and ripe tannins. The acidity will hold the wine together and allow it to age. A mineral edge comes from the caillou (stones) in the soil—hence the wine's name. It will age, although quickly, so drink from 2018.
This is a rich, soft, decadent red, with flavors of dark chocolate, juicy red fruit and a hint of leather. Made from Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah and a few other red varieties, this is a wine that will delight many. Stock up.
This is a rich, spicy and lush-fruited rosé. Its palate-pleasing tangle of citrus, peach and light tropical fruit is fresh, forward and inviting. It spent five months in neutral oak and is ready for immediate enjoyment.
This is a rich, succulent wine, more akin to an auslese than a true spätlese. Dried apricot and orange marmalade aromas and flavors surround a core of dried spices and crushed stone, finishing on a spicy, mineral note. Drink now–2025.
This is a rich, thick and confectionery-feeling white wine, that's full bodied and brawny in style. Pineapple, marshmallow and green olive ride the midpalate before finishing simply.
This is a rich, toasty and concentrated Chenin, with assertive aromas of toasted oak, sweet spice, Corn Pops cereal and sweet orange. The mouthfeel is round and generous, boasting full flavors of wood-grilled apple and spiced orange that linger long on the spice-fueled finish.
This is a rich, toasty white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Notes of honey, melon and pineapple mark the nose and palate, while the finish is warm and long, with lingering hints of popcorn and roasted nuts.
This is a rich, unctuous, yet refreshing example of Condrieu. Apricot and melon notes pick up hints of honey, then end with a pop of wood spice and a balanced tannic feel. Drink now.
This is a rich, very rich wine that is packed with tropical fruits, generous apricot and peach flavors and spice. It is full in the mouth, showing some pepper from the alcohol that spoils the otherwise fruity character. The aftertaste does introduce some freshness.
This is a rich, very sweet dessert wine that tastes like some botrytis hit the grapes. It has intense flavors of apricot jam, pineapple-infused crème brûlée and butter-vanilla cookie flavors that are decadently delicious.
This is a rich, weighty red with a velvety texture and plenty of alcoholic warmth. The fruit is ripe to the point of turning chocolaty and even a bit fudge-like, lingering on the richly textured finish. Drink now.
This is a rich, well-balanced and layered white, with lots of aging potential. Notes of red apple, peach, melon and orange blossom mingle with spicy accents of toasted brioche, clove and vanilla bean. It's medium weight and crisp in acidity, with a long, evolving finish that ends decadent yet elegant. Drink now–2020.
This is a rich, well-structured Cabernet, but such are the tannins that it needs time in the cellar. The cool vintage was kind to the Calistoga fruit, keeping the alcohol modest and the tannins hefty, while allowing the grapes to develop intense flavors of blackberry and black currant. Give it 6–8 years in a good cellar.
This is a rich, wood-aged single-vineyard selection that has a balanced toast element, crisp fruit and a taut texture. Acidity currently drives this wine, so give it another year to come into full focus.
This is a rich, wood-aged wine with spice, apricot and ripe plum fruits and a mineral texture. It is rounded as well as fresh, crisp with acidity while full in fruits. Drink this delicious wine now.
This is a rich, wood-aged wine, with smoky aromas and a strong spiciness. On the palate, the wine is ripe, full of black fruits and firm tannins. The blend of Touriga Nacional, Aragonez and Syrah has a fine perfumed character, with generous structure and delicious acidity. Drink after 2015.
This is a richer style of Blanc de Blancs that has the weight of a high dosage behind it. There's a baked-apple character that's rich and rounded, but laced with minerality as well. It's soft on the palate, but with a reverberating freshness.
This is a richer style of Sauvignon Blanc, as would be expected from the Daou brothers, but is a fresher style than the last vintage. Aromas of toast, oak and yellow fruit prove quite seductive, and the palate proves grippy with dried lemon peels and cut-grass touches. There's just a hint of smoke on the sip.
This is a richer take on the grape, with aromas of baked cherries, pie crust, allspice, nutmeg and a touch of bacon fat. The palate is quite juicy, accessible and action-packed, with roasted pork, cherry jelly, blackberry jam, star anise and baking spice flavors deep into the finish.
This is a richer, rounder version of rosé, with tropical mango and pineapple notes as well as lush peach aspects. Moderate acidity keeps it grounded and refreshing.
This is a richly honeyed wine that has flavors of spice cake and sweet fruits that are balanced with a taut, firm texture. The wine is ripe, but has a delicate touch that makes it very attractive. Drink now.
This is a richly oaked young Chardonnay. It brims with ripe papaya, mango, pineapple and apple flavors, while the oak barrels add layers of buttered toast, honey and vanilla meringue.
This is a richly ripe 2009 Pouilly Fumé. It steers right to the tropical fruit end of the spectrum while not losing sight of a more textured mineral character. It is rich and could age for 1–2 years and more.
This is a richly ripe wine, Port-like in its sweet tannins and density. Layers of acidity accompany dry tannins and a firm while fruity character. Berry fruits are in the background of this concentrated wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a richly satisfying wine with beautiful Granny Smith apple and honeyed caramel flavors. Fennel and wildflower accents add to its complexity, broadened by nutmeg spice. It's full bodied and balanced, delivering both ripeness and structure.
This is a richly structured and deliciously juicy wine. The tannins are fully integrated into the fruit. The downside of the wine is a touch of greenness, particularly in the acidity.
This is a richly structured wine with great tannins and ripe black fruits. It's also a dense wine, from an estate managed by Georges Vigouroux. The firm tannins and the smoky character show this wine's great potential. Drink from 2020.
This is a richly structured wine. With its juicy red fruits and generous structure, it is delicious now. Berry flavors and acidity go with the mineral edge of the texture to create a wine that is packed with acidity, tannins and fruit. Drink now.
This is a richly sweet Chardonnay, made in the popular style, for drinking now. The orange, pineapple and apricot flavors are savory, and the oak gives caramel notes.
This is a richly sweet wine that's honeyed and ripe. Featuring notes of apricot, spice and an opulent texture, this is full and round in the mouth. It's a wine to pair with spicy foods or blue cheese.
This is a richly textured but straightforward Chardonnay. It's soft on the palate with buttered toast, cream, pineapple, vanilla and lime flavors.
This is a richly textured, balanced wine that's medium bodied and fruity in style. It's crisp and silky with cherry, licorice, cola and oak flavors.
This is a ridiculously good price for this juicy wine, which offers blackberry and cassis beneath a velvety texture. Enjoy slightly chilled with anything involving tomato sauce. Stock up and make this beauty a house wine.
This is a Right Bank-style blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. It shows impressive structure and clear varietal components from both grapes. Tannins are fine-grained and lead into a lingering streak of smooth, coffee-coated flavors.
This is a ripe and chewy wine with notes of mature fruit, blueberry and wild strawberry. Mature fruit tones are also obvious in the mouth and they give the wine a thick syrupy feel. Pair it with aged cheese.
This is a ripe and chewy wine with syrupy aromas of mature cherry, blackberry, cured meat and pipe tobacco (there's a 10% component of Cabernet Sauvignon that adds density and thickness to the Sangiovese). The wine is smooth and velvety with a very vibrant and bright feel on the close.
This is a ripe and creamy wine from the great 2008 vintage. Tight acidity and lively citrus are balanced by a more serious richness and texture. The wine, bringing all three of the main Champagne grapes together, is still maturing. Wait until 2018.
This is a ripe and creamy wine, with a smooth texture that is finely cut by peach and lemon curd flavors. Coming from the classic Alvarinho region in the north of Vinho Verde, next to Spain, this is a ripe, full wine that can be enjoyed now.
This is a ripe and delicious wine, packed with tannins as well as perfumed fruit. It has density as well as rich blackberries and acidity to balance. The wine will be ready to drink from 2025.
This is a ripe and dense yet well-balanced wine, offering forward aromas of boysenberry and deep, juicy red plum that are accented by notes of cocoa nib, roasted espresso and char. The palate boasts a plush texture, like crushed velvet, with gripping but not overly firm tannins and concentrated fruit flavors. Notes of licorice and earthy tobacco grace the long finish. Approachable now, but should evolve well through 2021.
This is a ripe and fat wine. That combination gives it a rich character and a full-bodied texture. The spice and the yellow fruits enhance the concentration and the generosity of this rounded wine. Drink now.
This is a ripe and fruity rosé, with forward notes of lychee, rose water, peach gummies and tropical fruit salad. The palate is round and plump in similarly rich fruit flavors, with just enough acidity to keep it from feeling completely flat. Drink up.
This is a ripe and fruity selection, boasting forward notes of tropical fruit, peach, yellow melon and juicy orange. Pineapple and peach flavors dominate the medium-weight mouth, ending bright and clean thanks to ample final acidity. Drink up.
This is a ripe and fruity wine that's deliciously fresh and fragrant. It has a lively, creamy texture with apple juice flavors and a touch of nuttiness.
This is a ripe and fruity wine that is also structured. It has tannins that lift the red-berry fruits and spice flavors. With concentration as well as acidity, it should be aged another few months. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe and fruity wine, with soft tannins and rich raspberry fruits. Already accessible, it's very full in the mouth, wonderfully juicy and jammy, yet with some freshness at the end.
This is a ripe and fruity wine. Soft, generous tannins are embedded in the developing red-fruit flavors. With spice, hints of the wood aging and a rich texture, the wine will develop relatively quickly. Drink from 2020.
This is a ripe and full-bodied; it benefitted from the warm vintage, offering rich yellow-fruit flavors to go with its touches of toast and sweet herb. On the finish, acidity and minerality come forward to suggest its aging potential.
This is a ripe and jammy expression of Barbera d'Asti that offers sweet aromas of blackberry, strawberry and blueberry preserves. All that mature fruit is nicely balanced by bright acidity in the mouth.
This is a ripe and jammy expression of Nero d'Avola with plush cherry fruit and thick aromas of blackberry, prune and cassis syrup. It's a simple, no-fuss wine with bold fruit flavors.
This is a ripe and juicy blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tinta Roriz. The tannins are present although well integrated into the fine juicy red-fruit flavors. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe and juicy wine that has fine red fruits and some firm tannins. It is spicy, concentrated and fully fruited, with well-balanced tannins. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.
This is a ripe and juicy wine that is full of fresh white fruit tones on the nose. It has ripe yellow fruits along with crisp lemon and a touch of minerality. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe and juicy wine with fine tannins and a swathe of black currant and cherry fruits. It bursts from the glass, fruity and with bright acidity. It is classic, ready-to-drink Beaujolais.
This is a ripe and juicy wine. It has ripe wild strawberry flavors that go with the full-bodied feeling and the warm tannins. It's rich and developing well. Drink from 2016.
This is a ripe and lightly honeyed wine. It has an aromatic character that translates onto the palate in ripe mango, peach and apple flavors. There is a good texture, tangy and rich. Drink now.
This is a ripe and lush white, with bold aromas and flavors of mango, papaya and pineapple. The palate is round and a bit flat, followed by a short finish. Drink up.
This is a ripe and meaty wine (a second Riserva, next to the estate's Riserva Campocerchi) with enduring notes of wet earth, smoke meat, red cherry and dried apple skins. It tastes plump, succulent and bright and would pair well with stewed beef.
This is a ripe and opulent wine. It has rich tannins and generous black fruits but it still offers a spicy wood-aging flavor. As it develops, the intense fruits and smoky flavors will come to dominate, while always preserving the structure of the wine. It is a wine to age a bit, so drink from 2017.
This is a ripe and perfumed wine from Vignobles Marcel Petit. It has good aging potential—full of tannins and also of bold black fruits. Structure and fruitiness are a good sign. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe and plump Brunello Riserva with distant notes of band aid or wet fur that don't distract too much from the overall picture. You'll also get aromas of wet earth, wild mushroom and pressed flowers and the wine's intensity and general consistency is very nice.
This is a ripe and plump Brunello that could use two or three years of cellar aging to allow the oak notes to fully integrate. The quality of the fruit is excellent—cherry, blackberry and currants abound. Immediately behind those aromas, however, is loads of spice, smoke and tar. Drink after 2012.
This is a ripe and rich Chardonnay, with exuberant fruit notes of pineapple and peach laced with sweet orange acidity and soft toast flavors. The lush palate is full but balanced, with a richness that carries through to the softly nutty finish.
This is a ripe and seductive Chardonnay, with great opulence to the palate and lush fruit characteristics of red-apple flesh, clove-spiked orange and creamy pear. Hints of toasted challah and sweet spice add depth and interest, while ample acidity keeps the generous mouthfeel in line and the finish clean.
This is a ripe and slightly jammy expression of Cabernet Sauvignon with tones of strawberry and raspberry back by a lush, soft mouthfeel. There is a chewy quality to the finish.
This is a ripe and smoothly textured wine. It is already finely balanced, rich with toast, apricot fruits and a tight, mineral character. It is enjoyable now but will age well until 2022.
This is a ripe and soft blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Well balanced, it has rich, spicy fruit lifted by lemon and apple flavors and by the final acidity. It's ready to drink now.
This is a ripe and soft wine with pure apple and citrus fruit. It is crisp, juicy and bright with acidity and tangy orange zest flavors. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe and soft wine, full of strawberry flavors and gentle acidity. That makes for balanced wine with a light texture and a delicious fruitiness. A bite of spice at the end gives a delicate aftertaste.
This is a ripe and spicy wine that is full of almond and tropical fruit flavors. It has a sense of richness and texture, along with a kick of pepper. The acidity is a touch light here, but there's just enough to keep it fresh.
This is a ripe and spicy wine that is full of dense black fruits. Tannins and spice from wood aging merge with the rich fruit, giving a dry core to the plump, generous wine. It can be drunk now, although the wine will be better from 2017.
This is a ripe and spicy wine, with great touches of lemon and acidity that partner with the rich quince and mango flavors. The wine is ripe and full bodied, a fine expression of a more complex side of Pinot Blanc.
This is a ripe and structured wine of red fruits and fine acidity. With its tannins and tangy edge, it has a dry core that gives it a great chance with food.
This is a ripe and structured wine with great fruit and still some firm tannins. It has layers of black-currant acidity along with the dry core that signal the potential to age further. The blend of 50-50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine firmness while allowing plenty of expression for the exuberant fruit. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe and sunny wine full of tropical fruit and ripe apple flavors. Smooth and open, it has just enough crisp acidity at the end. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe and tangy wine from the Bellanger family. Its green, citrus and apricot fruits are all singing together in an attractive, balanced way. It has richness that gives a full-bodied wine without detracting from the fresher, white currant and spice side. Drink now.
This is a ripe and tropical wine, complex with wood aging. It is warm, intensely rich and piled with mango and pineapple flavors. The acidity and crispness are well behind this smooth, creamy wine. Drink from 2022.
This is a ripe and warm wine, with generous fruits and a structure that is cushioned by the rich black and red fruit flavors. It has light hints of wood aging, shown in the notes of spice and vanilla that have smoothed the tannins and tamed the acidity. Drink this attractive wine from 2016.
This is a ripe Chardonnay with aromas of pineapple, Golden Delicious apple and honey. It's slightly thick and sticky on the close.
This is a ripe Clare Valley Riesling, but it balances its peachy overtones with powerful citrus zest and hints of crushed stone. There's a touch of roundness to the midpalate, then plenty of length on the finish.
This is a ripe complete wine. With its tannins and rich structure balanced by the generous black fruits, it has weight. Cut by the acidity of the vintage, this is serious, complex and worthy of aging. Drink from 2022.
This is a ripe complex wine made from a blend of Douro grapes. With French and American wood aging, there is a smooth texture that is lifted by spice. The acidity, the black-currant fruits and rich feel of the wine all promise some good aging. Drink from late 2018.
This is a ripe concentrated wine with attractive smoky tannins as well as fresh acidity. It is perfumed with black-currant fruits that are laced with the dry structure as well as acidity. With a year or two more in bottle, this will be a finely balanced wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe concentrated wine, full of black-currant fruit and dense tannins. The two balance each other giving a wine that has weight and a medium-term future. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe creamy wine. It is all fruit: ripe apples and sweet pears. There is a fine touch of spice as well as attractive acidity. It may be young but it is certainly ready to enjoy for its rich fruit. The producer's vineyards lie under the dramatic cliff of Solutré.
This is a ripe fruity wine that shows the potential quality of this often-abused style. It is sweet but it has a fine texture and crisp acidity to balance that simple sweetness. The fine fruitiness and crisp aftertaste make it ready to drink now.
This is a ripe fruity wine. It has weight and richness as well as intense acidity that cuts the ripe berry flavors. This is a food friendly rosé, full of fruit, produced from organically grown grapes.
This is a ripe generous wine that has solid tannins as well as red-plum flavors. It is concentrated and full of flavor. As the tannins soften, it is likely to be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a ripe generous wine with soft tannins and already delicious red fruits. It lives up to the ideal of Volnay, rich and sumptuous, although with an attractive cut of acidity to balance. Drink this wine from 2022.
This is a ripe gentle wine. It has piles of red fruit that are touched with spice and vanilla. Acidity and a stalky character keep it crisp. Young and fruity, it is still ready to drink.
This is a ripe impressive style of Pouilly. It has all the right minerality along with a rich texture plus melon and yellow fruits. With concentration and acidity in equal measure, the wine needs to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe juicy wine with fine red fruits and acidity. The smoky tannins are a fine support to the berry flavors. It is developing well and should be ready to drink from 2017.
This is a ripe Malbec with aromas of pipe tobacco, raisin and blackberry. The palate is rich and saturated, but a bit raisiny. Borderline overripe flavors of blackberry and cassis come with savory notes, while this is jammy, heavy and tastes of mint, spice and chocolate on the finish. Drink through 2021.
This is a ripe mango and pineapple flavored wine. It is rich, generous and with a fine balance between acidity and the bold fruitiness. It is young and fruity, ready to drink although it will be even better from 2018.
This is a ripe mature wine. With acidity and pear and apple fruitiness, it is a rich blend that is dominated by Chardonnay. That gives an extra minerality to the tangy texture. This is a fine Champagne, ready to drink now.
This is a ripe Mencía with mild prune, raisin, fig and baked berry aromas. The palate is intense and shows major-league grip. Flavors of earthy, baked black fruits, wild herbs, dried black plum and chocolate finish long, toasty, spicy and serious. Drink through 2018.
This is a ripe oaky specimen with smoky aromas of hickory along with licorice, pencil lead and jammy blackberry. In the mouth, it's huge and spreads out like a blanket. Flavors of baked black fruits are fully ripe, while oak-driven toasty, blackened, chocolaty flavors push the finish. Drink through 2018.
This is a ripe perfumed wine based on Verdelho and Arinto. The blend, which also includes some Antão Vaz, creates a rich character full of juicy apricot and melon fruit shot through with lime zest. It is a refreshing wine to drink now.
This is a ripe Pinot Noir, with a firm and solid structure and a very dense character. It has concentration and a great depth of flavor; the blacks fruits and tannins cut into the heart of the wine. Age for at least seven years.
This is a ripe powerful wine. It has layers of wood aging adding spice to the rich black-plum fruit. Smoky, rich and concentrated, it is an impressive wine that is going to need some long-term aging. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe red-fruit wine with wood layers. A portion of this balanced Bordeaux is made from 35-year-old wines that were aged in wood. Tannins and acidity show the wine is still young. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe rosé that is full-bodied and rich. Its red plum and strawberry notes are right to the fore, with light tannins adding shape and texture. This dry and hefty wine is made to be paired with food.
This is a ripe rounded wine, backed by the firm tannins that mark Pommard. It is bold, ripe with plenty of concentrated red fruits and finishing acidity. The wine has a crisp edge that lifts the tannins. Drink from 2023.
This is a ripe rounded wine. It has generous apricot and red-berry fruits that are lifted by spice. The schist soil gives a mineral edge to the wine while the acidity in the background is just right to give this wine its crisp aftertaste. Drink this balanced wine now.
This is a ripe Sauvignon Blanc, with herb, yellow fruit and grapefruit aromas. Let this attractive, fruity wine age for another year. Screwcap.
This is a ripe soft wine full of warm fruits and gentle tannins. The second wine of the always-impressive Château Smith Haut Lafitte, it is a rich wine its own right. With black currant and dark plum flavors, it has some solid tannins from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe structured wine produced by the Pelvillain family at their 30-acre vineyard in Prayssac, to the west of Cahors. It is a fresh wine with tannins that will soften quickly and easily. Fresh berry fruits and a touch of minerality are combined with acidity to form a fine, ripe and balanced wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe structured wine. With red fruits, some firm well integrated tannins, it is rich with a strong mineral edge and final acidity. The wine, full of fruit, is ready to drink.
This is a ripe style of Champagne, rounded and rich, from a 60-40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend. The structure of the Pinot gives it ripe apple and Rocha pear flavors, well cut by acidity and with a soft, full, creamy aftertaste. The wine is still young and will be better drunk from 2017.
This is a ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc wine. It has hints of Mediterranean tropical fruits as well as the more familiar cool climate herbal flavors. It is young, probably too young to drink now, so wait until early 2017.
This is a ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc with a warm soft character. The lightest hints of a herbal flavor are filled out with apple and white peach. Clean and with great fruitiness, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe Syrah, with warm, earthy, raisiny aromas of blackberry, vanilla and prune. The palate is so dense and extracted that it feels spongy, while a full-force flavor profile includes inky blackberry, graphite and minty oak. On the finish, this is fat, jammy and baked in flavor while soft in feel. Drink through 2018.
This is a ripe take on the crisp Alvarinho. The wine does have acidity but it also has hints of rich tropical fruits. The texture is tangy while revealing a full-bodied, perfumed and vibrant wine. Drink now.
This is a ripe toasty wine. With its red-berry fruits and acidity along with some dry, smoky tannins it is a wine in progress. Drink this concentrated wine from 2018.
This is a ripe while intensely herbaceous wine. It's steely and crisp, but spoiled by the intrusion of sulfur that hasn't gone away. If the sulfur blows off, this is a potentially attractive and fruity wine finished off with lemon zest.
This is a ripe wine and full of fruit. It has structure as well with its firm tannins and smoky backdrop. It will broaden out well and give a rich wine from 2018.
This is a ripe wine that's also fresh and fruity. It has some structured tannins, along with a dense texture. At the same time, the red cherry and blueberry fruits have a crisp edge that finishes the wine with fine acidity. While the charity Hospices of Belleville owns land as part of its foundation, the wines are made by Beaune négociant Joseph Drouhin. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe wine that's full and creamy in texture. It shows quite a different aspect of Grüner compared to the crisper, more mineral wines further north in Austria. This is rich and smooth with pear flavors and clean lines to shape the aftertaste. Screwcap.
This is a ripe wine that also has a light touch. That gives black-currant fruit and tannins along with a poised structure and attractive crisp acidity. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit dominates while also giving the wine a dry core. Drink this stylish wine from 2019.
This is a ripe wine that has a high proportion of Sémillon in the blend. That makes it rich: revealing yellow fruits as well as greener herbal characters. It is fruity, tangy and refreshing. Drink from spring 2017.
This is a ripe wine that includes Chardonnay and Viognier in its blend. It has yellow fruits that are cut with plenty of acidity. A cool, crisp element reminds that the vineyards are close to the ocean. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe wine that is all fruit. Red berries and crisp acidity come together in a texture that is gently tannic and very ready to drink now.
This is a ripe wine with a good balance between the acidity and the rich yellow and pear fruit flavors. White peaches, quince and spiced apples all give a refreshing, fruity character to this full-bodied wine. Drink from 2016.
This is a ripe wine with black-cherry fruit and some firm tannins. It is just now mature, packed with vivid fruit and acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe wine with generous black fruits and crisp acidity. It is balanced—fruity with a core of tannins. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe wine with its juicy black fruits and generous tannins. It has a mature character that's emphasized by the wood aging and rich fruitiness. There's a touch of pepper at the end from the alcohol which is a shame. Drink now.
This is a ripe wine with prune, raisin, coconut and cedar-sawdust aromas. Dense in the mouth, with giant tannins, this dry-farmed bear features sun-baked, slightly stewed flavors of berry fruits along with minty oak. A hard-driving finish is woody and tannic. Drink through 2018.
This is a ripe wine with raspberry flavor and a tight,steely character. The wine is light, crisp and certainly dry, with the acidity cutting like a knife on the finish.
This is a ripe wine with soft tannins and juicy black fruits. It has a good balance between the fruit and the structure, making it a wine for early, easy, beside-the-barbecue drinking.
This is a ripe wine with spice, juicy red fruits and a feeling of opulence. Full, fruity and rich, it's a wine for medium-term aging. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe wine with sugared strawberry flavor. There is ample acidity to balance this fresh wine, and a soft mousse on the finish.
This is a ripe wine with tropical fruit flavors that are cut with fine green acidity. There is a good texture with some nerviness as well as lively acidity on the finish. It's a style of wine that needs food.
This is a ripe wine, already approaching maturity. It has rich tannins and a generous structure. The wine is full with plenty of black fruits and balanced acidity. Black currants and spices mingle easily. The wine will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a ripe wine, concentrated with spice, wood aging as well as the rich fruit of the vintage. Its bold fruits are generous and opulent, demanding aging. The wine comes from one of the best known of the Chassagne premier crus. Drink from 2020.
This is a ripe wine, full of apple and apricot fruit with a strong citrus line. A touch of minerality adds tangy texture and gives this rich wine plenty of life and freshness. Drink from 2015.
This is a ripe wine, full of cherry fruit and bright acidity. It has a dry edge that gives the wine a structure to balance the crisp, perfumed fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a ripe wine, full of generous fruit. The tannic structure gives a dry firm core to the fruitiness. The wine is going to develop well over the next two years and give richness to the black fruit flavors. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe wine, full of red fruits cut with grapefruit acidity. Gravel vineyards on the slope of Mont Sainte-Victoire give a mineral character to this tight and nervy wine with its structure that supports the fruitiness that is developing well. Drink from later in 2016 for the wine to be at its best.
This is a ripe wine, full of rich tropical fruits as well as the more typical Chablis acidity and steel. It feels broad, layering the crispness and citrus with a tangy texture. Keep this wine for at least a year.
This is a ripe wine, its herbaceous character tempered by green plum and pineapple flavors. It's full in the mouth, with a hint of steeliness to give texture. Great to drink this summer.
This is a ripe wine, mainly from Merlot, showing fruit that is jammy and almost sweet. With attractive acidity to balance, it is soft, smooth and ready to drink.
This is a ripe wine, maybe no longer a fresh Muscadet, but certainly a rich one. It has kept some fruitiness while gaining a smooth and creamy character along with intense acidity. It is ready to drink now.
This is a ripe wine, packing tannins as well as black fruits into a rich package. Black cherries and black plums are paired with a core of dry tannins. The acidity comes right through to give the wine its potential. The wine comes from a very stony vineyard and this shows in its tight mineral aftertaste. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe wine, shot through with acidity but also with softer pear and ripe apple flavors. It is tangy, made to be drunk young and fruity with a bright, celebratory aftertaste.
This is a ripe wine, soft on the normal tannins of this appellation and big on the black-cherry and berry fruits. It does have a firm core, cushioned by the generous fruitiness. Drink this wine from 2020.
This is a ripe wine, structured with toast, ripe peach, spicy apricot and an attractive citrus juice character. The wine opens warmly in the mouth, but then finishes more crisply, lifted by its acidity.
This is a ripe wine, with attractive red-berry flavors and acidity. It has a good sense of structure, solid with balanced tannins and ample acidity. The wine is developing well and should be ready to drink from 2020.
This is a ripe wine, with flavors of apple, pear, caramel and a touch of mineral that is subordinate to the fruit. It is lightly toasty, and the acidity is crisp.
This is a ripe wine, with wood aging that has smoothed the fruit intensity while keeping the rich apple and pear flavors. An unmistakable tang of minerality comes from the youthful texture. With its dense character, it's a wine to age. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe wine. Red plum and berry fruits are given weight and richness by the solid tannins, smoky flavors and the dryness at the heart of the wine. Give this structured wine time to develop and drink from 2021.
This is a ripe wood-aged wine drawn from a selection of barrels. Eucalyptus flavors go with the black fruits and solid tannins. The wine is dense, and still obviously very young. It is going to be an impressive ripe wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a ripe wood-aged wine that has a smooth rich texture. It is rounded with dominant toastiness as well as perfumed fruit. The wine has a cool edge that comes from the influence of the Atlantic while bringing out a ripe apple and apricot character. Drink this wine now.
This is a ripe wood-aged wine. It has tannins and layers of spice and toast from the wood aging. Happily, the fruit is also there, giving well-balanced black currants and acidity. The wine will be ready to drink from 2020.
This is a ripe year, but this vineyard designation isn't quite as tropical as their Côte Sud. It's more of a precise style, but there are also some hints of grass, onion and herb. Interesting, but very slightly off.
This is a ripe yellow fruit and mango-flavored wine. It is all fruit, rich and deliciously refreshing. The 10% of Moscatel in the blend has had an enormous effect on the perfumed character of the wine. At the end, the acidity keeps it fruity and crisp.
This is a ripe, apple and green stone-fruit flavored wine, with a light texture that nicely supports the fruitiness. The wine is fresh, juicy and with delicious freshness at the end. Drink now.
This is a ripe, apple and spiced-pear flavored wine. It has a crisp background that gives a brighter aftertaste. The wine finishes on a note of pepper and acidity. Drink now.
This is a ripe, attractively fruity wine with black plum flavor and a generous texture. It's firm and rich, cut with acidity and tannin and needs further time to develop. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, attractively fruity wine. With its red cherries, touch of spice and earthy, juicy character, it is all ready to drink, smooth and with a light touch of tannin.
This is a ripe, beautifully balanced wine. It has the extra richness and density that comes from a wine produced from vines close to Mont Sainte-Victoire. Full of raspberry and orange fruits, it has a pleasantly tangy, herbal edge on the finish. Drink now.
This is a ripe, beautifully structured wine. It has acidity and rich yellow and lime fruitiness that are touched by wood and channeled into a wine that is smooth and generous. The acidity keeps this balanced, structured wine on a straight line of pure fruitiness.
This is a ripe, bold wine from the nature reserve vineyards of Companhia das Lezirias. Packed with berry fruits, the wine is produced from organically grown grapes, rich in both tannins and acidity. Spice, soft tannins and a fresh aftertaste all make this a delicious wine that's ready to drink now.
This is a ripe, chewy wine, with jammy aromas of blackberry pie and cherry preserve. It shows a dark, inky structure, with loads of moist pipe tobacco and crème de cassis on the thick, syrupy finish.
This is a ripe, citrus- and honey-flavored wine, very dry while softly textured. The fruit is rich, with a delicious zesty aftertaste. The oiseau d'or (golden bird) is the symbol of Oiselinière castle.
This is a ripe, creamy blend of Arinto, Viognier and Verdelho. A lightly perfumed character as well as a crisp texture. Yellow fruit and bright acidity are in fine balance. Drink now.
This is a ripe, creamy wine made with grapes from a single vineyard. It's smooth yet laced with minerality and a tang of lemon zest, green apple and kiwi. This should age nicely for 3–4 years.
This is a ripe, creamy wine with fresh currant and ripe peach fruits. It is lightly tangy, although its main strength is the refreshing fruitiness. Bright and crisp at the end, it is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, creamy wine—a fine example of the richness Alvarinho can attain. It has fine fruitiness, citrus, ripe apple and pear flavors balanced by a mineral texture and acidity. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
This is a ripe, dark but balanced Toro with pastry, prune, blackberry and vanilla aromas. The palate is fiercely tannic on the surface but not overly hard at the foundation. Flavors of burnt toast, blackberry, spice, licorice and chocolate finish warm, toasty and dark, with echoes of ripeness and hard tannins. Drink now through 2018.
This is a ripe, delicately tropical and fruity wine with rich texture. It is smooth, rounded on the palate, but accompanied by a shot of acidity. The lemon aftertaste hints at a more steely character.
This is a ripe, dry style of rosé. It has a dense texture that is rich with strawberry fruits as well as good acidity and a balanced tangy texture of peeled oranges. The wine is fresh, full of fruit and ready to drink.
This is a ripe, earthy, modern-leaning Rioja with aromas of blackberry, raisin and rubber. Soft and fleshy on the palate, what this easygoing number lacks in structure is made up for in charm. Ultraripe flavors of plum and berry come with a chocolaty accent, while the finish is smooth and tastes earthy and spicy. Drink through 2019.
This is a ripe, enjoyable wine with bright flavors of blackberries and currants. Brisk acidity and thick tannins make this a great pairing with a marbled steak.
This is a ripe, fragrant, floral wine. A smooth texture is lifted by apple and peach flavors. Rich and full in the mouth, this creamy wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, fresh and fruity wine that's filled out with a tangy, mineral texture. Grapefruit and lime juice flavors give a zesty feel as well as intense acidity. It is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, fruit-forward wine. It has black currant and some attractive acidity. It seems to miss out on the structure and firm texture that would be expected from a Douro wine, so it is possible to drink now.
This is a ripe, fruity wine from a village that also has vines in the Pouilly Fuissé appellation. Soft and rounded, it conveys apricot and melon flavors that are shot through with acidity. Drink the wine from 2018.
This is a ripe, fruity wine full of wild strawberry fruit. It is soft although with fine acidity and a crisp aftertaste. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, fruity wine that comes from river plain vineyards of Saint-Emilion. It has rich tannins and juicy blackberry and black-plum fruits. The structure is comfortably cushioned in the generous texture. Drink this wine from 2017.
This is a ripe, fruity wine that has both tannins and generous of black fruits. The combination has produced a rounded, fruity wine that is sustained by its structure although it is very ready to drink now.
This is a ripe, fruity wine with a herbal character alongside richer yellow and apple fruits. It is fresh and crisp, ready to drink and with a rounded, full aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a ripe, fruity wine with attractive acidity as well a tangy character. It is fresh, crisp and ready to go with its apple and lemon flavors. Drink now.
This is a ripe, fruity wine with its black-currant fruit and balanced sweet tannins. It has a fine elegant texture and juicy acidity. All these elements promise a wine that will be delicious to drink from 2019. The daughters of owners Bernadette Faure and Alain Aubert oversee vineyards, winemaking and marketing.
This is a ripe, fruity wine with rich strawberry flavor. Light tannins and just the right amount of acidity make it fresh, juicy and already attractive.
This is a ripe, fruity wine, its herbaceous citrus character well blended with full melon and green apple flavors. Already attractive wine, it's full of crisp acidity and lively fruitiness.
This is a ripe, fruity wine, well textured and full of rich fruit. It has delicious acidity as well as a lively, fragrant aftertaste. This is rosé both for the table and as a refreshing apéritif.
This is a ripe, fruity wine, with a black currant flavor, layered tannins and refreshing acidity. It's a wine of power yet also of pleasure for drinking now.
This is a ripe, fruity wine. The herbal side of the blend is filled out with more tropical, apricot and mango flavors that give the wine a perfumed character. It is ripe and crisp, while rounded. Drink from late 2017.
This is a ripe, fruity, creamy Chardonnay-based sparkler. It has a tropical fruit flavor, with some sweetness from both the fruit and the high dosage. It's in a full-bodied, attractive apéritif style.
This is a ripe, full-bodied red, made mostly from Syrah, with about one-fifth Petite Sirah for tannic weight and depth. It's a big wine, front-loaded with blackberry and black pepper flavors, with a spicy, smoky finish that tastes of grilled Canadian bacon. Drink this savory wine now.
This is a ripe, full-bodied wine with already rounded texture and fresh pear flavors. It is perfumed, richly textured, the acidity a balanced part of the fruitiness of the wine. It needs to age, so drink from 2017.
This is a ripe, full-bodied wine with apricot-purée brightened with crisp apple and citrus. The wine, from the southern Aube vineyards of Champagne, has a warm, sunny feeling, and finishes with a hint of caramel and soft acidity.
This is a ripe, full-bodied wine, packed with black berries, sweet tannins and a generous acidity. The wine has weight along with an open character that is already appealing. Drink from 2015.
This is a ripe, full-bodied wine, produced by a grouping of 19 growers. A single-vineyard wine, it offers spice and vanilla from wood aging as well as black-currant fruits. Its acidity and bold fruitiness augure well for its future. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, full-throttle wine. It has layers of blackberry and firm, dusty tannins. They are balanced by the juicy texture that gives the wine both freshness and the promise of some further aging. The wine is complex, rich and with good potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, full and fruity wine that is typical Savigny with its warm red fruits and gentle tannins. It's a rounded, already attractive wine that's full of strawberry and bilberry flavors. It can be drunk now– 2019.
This is a ripe, full and fruity wine. It is packed with attractive red-berry fruits and a crisp dry backbone. The acidity and the bright aftertaste make it a fine food rosé. It comes from a small appellation surrounded by the large Côtes de Provence area.
This is a ripe, full wine that has both citrus fruit and richer pineapple and melon flavors. It is a spicy wine, touching on pepper and finishing with tight acidity. With its attractive fruit, it is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, full wine that has firm tannins and a smooth texture from the Aragon (Tempranillo) in the blend. It is full of ripe berry fruits, along with attractive acidity. Spice and toast finish this attractive wine. Drink now.
This is a ripe, full wine that has firm tannins and a smooth texture from the Aragon (Tempranillo) in the blend. It is full of ripe berry fruits, along with attractive acidity. Spice and toast finish this attractive wine. Drink starting now.
This is a ripe, full wine with both the fruit and the fresh acidity of the year. Rich yellow fruits are cut with the citrus acidity, hints of toast and spice, with a refreshing backbone. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, full wine with flavors of pineapple and apricots. Still developing, it still has a strongly mineral texture, so wait until 2018. This third-generation family estate hosts monthly musical and tasting events with estate fruit, vegetables and honey for sale.
This is a ripe, full wine, retaining Vinho Verde's classic taut acidity, but rounded out with sweet apple and lime flavors. It's food friendly and would make for a fine apéritif.
This is a ripe, generous wine that speaks of the sun and warmth of the Alentejo. It has rich black fruits, dark plums and berries, with spice and vanilla flavors. The acidity, with its final lift, gives the wine a fresh aftertaste.
This is a ripe, generous wine. The structure typical of Touriga Nacional is submerged in the perfumed blackberry and ripe plum flavors. It's a big wine, with tannins softly cushioned in the rich fruitiness. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, impressively rich wine. With dense tannins, spice and layers of black fruits it is concentrated, wearing its high alcohol easily. It comes from one of the home estates of Casa Santos Lima in the heart of the Lisboa region. Drink this wine from 2018.
This is a ripe, jammy expression of Taurasi that shows aromas of dried prune, raisin, dark tar, resin, blackberry preserves and moist tobacco. The tannins are firm and solid, but they also show a chewy, ripe side.
This is a ripe, jammy wine with red plum and sweet strawberry fruits that are cut by both the acidity and the toasty tannins. Although ripe, the wine offers attractive juicy freshness. The aftertaste brings out more of the tannins.
This is a ripe, juicy and accessible wine. Full of blackberries, soft tannins and with balanced acidity, the wine is more about fruit than structure. It is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, lemon and orange zest-driven wine. It has a lightly mineral texture that gives structure as well as a cool feel. It's a delicious wine already but will be better by late 2014.
This is a ripe, lightly pink-colored wine, full of red fruits as well as crisp acidity. It is soft, with a gentle creamy mousse that rounds out in the mouth. It's ready to drink, leaving a warm while fresh aftertaste.
This is a ripe, lusty Zinfandel, with many special qualities to recommend it. It's dry and rich in smooth tannins, and offers a flood of wild forest berry, sweet new leather, red currant, mocha and exotic Asian spice flavors. Delicious, and will hold for up to six years.
This is a ripe, oaky wine from Waipara, just north of Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. Pineapple, mango and honey characters dominate on the nose. The palate is rich and on the flabby side, the oak overpowering much of the fruit, but those who like their powerfully oaked whites will dig this version.
This is a ripe, open and fruity wine, that's still very fresh and crisp. It has fragrant apple flavor, soft texture and a bright and juicy core that radiates a rounded character with finishing acidity. Screwcap.
This is a ripe, orange and apricot-flavored wine. With a crisper citrus edge it is full, creamy and juicy. A mineral edge adds interest, bringing out the perfumed fruit. Drink this wine from 2017.
This is a ripe, perfumed blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. It is smooth and creamy in texture, with rich apricot and pear flavors. Spice comes from five months wood aging. It is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, perfumed wine with smooth, generous texture and broad black fruits. An earthy, leathery edge gives extra character, and the suggestion of maturity comes from the wood aging and the ripe berry fruits. Drink now.
This is a ripe, perfumed wine, with flavors from 20 months in new oak of mint and spice. It is full of balanced black-currant and red-plum fruits that are laced by delicious acidity. This serious blend of Syrah and Touriga Franca will age well, so drink from 2018. The de Mello family began satellite tracking vines, soils and weather by vineyard block in this harvest year.
This is a ripe, plump rosé that's highly “smashable,” as young Aussies would say. Mixed red berry fruit is underscored by a dash of lime on the finish. Drink now.
This is a ripe, plump style of Sauvignon Blanc, delivering ripe fig and melon aromas and flavors. It's not the crispest version you'll ever find, but makes up for that in its generosity of flavor. Drink now.
This is a ripe, red-fruit dominated wine with rich strawberry and cream flavors that are immediately attractive, With its balanced acidity, the wine is ready to drink now.
This is a ripe, red fruit and caramel flavored wine. With its strawberry flavor, balanced acidity and touch of spice, it is soft and rounded yet finishes with a fresh touch.
This is a ripe, rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah that opens with blackberry, blueberry and earthy leather aromas. It's full bodied, lifted by nice acids and layered, with toast, meaty blackberry, licorice and roasted flavors. A chewy, smooth, deep finish functions as the final chapter. Drink through 2018.
This is a ripe, rich red-fruit-flavored wine. It has great concentration and a dense texture that spotlights bright fruit, plus a touch of tannin from the red wine used to give color. This bottling needs to age further, so drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, rich wine, with an open yellow-fruit flavor. It has weight that lends a full-bodied character. While missing a more nervy character, it gives warm pleasure.
This is a ripe, rich, sumptuous wine that has both great berry fruits and a more serious character. With acidity that plays right through the wine, it is crisp and bright, but full bodied, with considerable depth of flavor.
This is a ripe, richly fruity wine. It has the full-bodied character associated with Pouilly Fumé, bringing out ripe green fruits, apricots and a tangy, zesty background that gives a lift. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2017.
This is a ripe, round and full-bodied wine. It has a touch of nutmeg as well as bright acidity and sliced-apple flavors. It is immediately attractive, richly packed with fruit and finishing with spice and toast.
This is a ripe, rounded and aromatic wine, with just the right stretch of minerality and juicy citrus flavor. Crisp, tangy and refreshing in its fruitiness, the wine is rich and full, finishing with a final burst acidity.
This is a ripe, rounded and firmly tannic wine. It has weight and a dense texture, with a black plum flavor. With its fruits, sweet tannins and solid structure, it's likely to age well over several years.
This is a ripe, rounded wine with good fruit flavors, rich berries and black cherries as well as plenty of acidity. That makes for a wine that will keep a few months and, with its structure, will be better to drink in mid-2015.
This is a ripe, slightly jammy blend of Nero d'Avola and Merlot with tones of cooked spice and blackberry pie. There are also some green leafy notes in the back backed by dense black tea that come as a surprise. You'll feel some grit on the palate and more fruit flavors on the close.
This is a ripe, smoky and generous wine. It has spice and wood flavors that are balanced with the red berry and cherry fruits and the crisp acidity of the vintage. With its rich character, it will age gently over the next few years and be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, smoky wine with fine tannins and rich black fruit. Dense with black chocolate and damson flavors, it gives concentration and richness and will age well. Drink from 2020.
This is a ripe, smoky wine, with rich berry fruits and acidity. Tangy spice partners with a fresh fruity character that shoots through the wine, giving a refreshing character with only the lightest tannins. Drink now.
This is a ripe, smooth blend of Alvarinho and Chardonnay. The two complement each other well with yellow fruits touched by a more citrus edge and a rich character. It is fruity, full-bodied and ready to drink.
This is a ripe, smooth wine that has fine acidity and some intense peppery flavors. From the Wachtberg vineyard, it shows great mineral character as well as a dense texture that brings out rich fruits. Age this for another year.
This is a ripe, smooth wine. With spice from wood aging and balanced acidity, it is fruity as well as lightly structured. Drink now.
This is a ripe, smooth, gently tannic wine. It is dominated by rich red berry fruits, black plum skins that are balanced by a light layer of wood aging that adds some spice. It is sophisticated, structured and ready to age for a few years. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe, soft and juicy wine that is ready to drink. Warm blackberry tones are contrasted by a rich wood character and fresh, lively acidity.
This is a ripe, soft and rich cru wine. With its attractive cherries and gentle tannic structure, it is fruity and easy. The acidity that comes through at the end gives the wine a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a ripe, soft and warmly fruity wine. It has red cherry and strawberry flavors that lend a feeling of richness and roundness in texture. The acidity provides structure to this wine, but it is developing fast and will be ready to drink in 2015.
This is a ripe, soft Cabernet, forward in blackberry, cherry and oak flavors. It's a little sweet, but the tannins give it proper support. Drink now.
This is a ripe, softly fruity wine that has acidity within a smooth texture. It is dry without being too tight or nervy. Citrus fruits dominate, giving a crisp aftertaste. Drink with food.
This is a ripe, somewhat creamy style of Côte Rôtie, with potent mocha notes complementing hints of clove, olive and plum. The tannins are silky-supple on the finish, so don't hesitate to pop a cork soon. Drink now–2021.
This is a ripe, spicy and full-bodied wine from the Robin group of producers created by Grand Moulin's Jean-Francois Renaud in Blaye. The wine has both structure and rich blackberry fruit. The tannins are dusty, spicy and with fine acidity to balance. Drink this fine wine from 2019.
This is a ripe, spicy and pepper-flavored wine. It has pear and green plum notes that give a crisp edge to the rich texture. There is a mineral touch that brings out the acidity to balance the opulence. Age for 2–3 years. Screwcap.
This is a ripe, spicy wine that has dense tannins and dark fruits. Now mature, it is full bodied, packed with black fruit flavors and a concentrated structure. The Alicante Bouschet in the blend gives the wine its dark color and also its intense fruits. Drink now.
This is a ripe, spicy wine with attractive acidity and pear and crisp apple flavors. It is all fruit, fresh while also having a riper side to it. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, spicy wine with concentrated white and citrus fruits. It is richly textured and tangy, with an intense, crisp aftertaste. The wine will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, spicy wine, with nutmeg and ginger flavors that blend with the crisp apple to give both freshness and a fragrant, aromatic character. It is delicious already, so drink now.
This is a ripe, structured wine. It has complex black fruits and layers of spice from wood aging. Dominated by Alicante Bouschet, it is dark in color, packed with dense tannins and needing to age. Drink from 2017.
This is a ripe, succulent white, dark golden in color, that's lush and expansive on the palate in fleshy tropical and stone fruit. Toasted oak comes forward on the finish, accentuating the wine's nearly full-bodied nature, never getting in the way of the minerality.
This is a ripe, supple wine, to the point that the dark fruit aromas feature a bit of a lifted quality. There's chocolate and a bit of plum, and a gently dusty finish that hints at mocha. Drink now–2020.
This is a ripe, sweet and immediately attractive dessert wine, with forward aromas and flavors of dried apricot, golden raisin, papaya, honeycomb and gingered orange. Hints of sweet spice and toasted nuts unfold on the long close. It's viscous and lush, but with ample acidity to lift the finish. Drink now–2018.
This is a ripe, sweet wine that has all the exotic flavors of rich Gewurztraminer. It's rounded, smooth and spicy with flavors of tropical fruits and apricots and only a hint of acidity. Drink now.
This is a ripe, sweet wine, full of toffee and smooth vanilla. There is just enough tangy bitter orange to give it a tawny character. The aftertaste, though, is soft and rounded.
This is a ripe, tangy wine. Skin contact before and during fermentation gives an extra richness while also preserving the crisp creaminess of the grape. The extra aging has produced a ripe wine that is ready to drink.
This is a ripe, tropical and quite flabby wine, huge in body, oak and fruit.
This is a ripe, tropical take on Alvarinho. The effects of partial malolactic fermentation in wood are there in the round, creamy character of the wine and the lights touch of oak. It is all ready to drink although it will be even better from late 2016.
This is a ripe, vigorous young Petite Sirah. It's strong in tannins, with just enough acidity to make the black currant, roasted meat, plum and cedar flavors bright. This needs time; give it 5–6 years, and it should glide through 2020.
This is a ripe, warm Gamay with black-cherry fruits that give acidity to go with the soft texture. It is juicy, fruity and will make a fine summer drink, lightly chilled. Drink now.
This is a ripe, wood-aged wine that is rich with dark plum and ripe berry tones. Its big, bold character is primary and a far cry from subtle. Drink now.
This is a ripe, wood-aged wine that shows the richer side of Meursault. It's generous with ripe yellow fruits, but balanced and complemented by crisp acidity and hints of toastiness. A fine wine with impeccable structure, it will age well, so drink from 2015.
This is a ripe, wood aged wine that has great structure as well as ample fruit flavor. It has a touch of toastiness—50% is aged in oak—although it is sophisticated and subtle. Apple, fresh apricot and green plum flavors show through the still young texture. All native grapes—35% Viosinho, 35% Rabigato and other locals from the estate—are the same used for Port blends. To bring out the richer, more rounded side of this wine, wait until 2017 to enjoy.
This is a ripe, wood laden wine. It has red plum and damson flavors overladen by notes of burnt toast and smoke. Acidity shows through on the finish.
This is a ripely tannic wine, made from fruit that was sourced from a parcel of more than 40-year-old vines. While it is certainly fruity, rounded and warm, it has tannins as well. It's a velvety wine that retains its structure. Age for the medium term.
This is a riper-style gran reserva with baked, slightly mulchy aromas of berry fruits that turn more exotic and spicy as they open. Leafy flavors of spice and earth come with caramel richness, while rooty spice and dry tannins control the finish.
This is a riper, heavier than usual Don Melchor, as evidenced by aromas of raisin along with black plum, coffee and creamy oak. A full, round, plush palate offers more than adequate depth, while black cherry, plum and vanilla flavors come with hints of licorice and chocolate. Hailing from a hot vintage, this avoids almost all herbal characteristics but feels a bit soft and simple. Drink through 2023.
This is a robust and firmly structured Syrah with medium-coarse tannins and medium-full weight. Meaty and dark with notes of licorice, black currant, sweet spice and a touch of cocoa on the finish. Though it's intense, it still feels like it's holding back a little bit; try after 2012 for a more forward presentation.
This is a robust mouth-filling wine with good fruit flavors, nice accents of black pepper and grilled beef, and a nip of sweetness to take the edge off moderate tannins. It's made from two of the classic Foothills grape varieties: Zinfandel and Barbera.
This is a robust Pinot Noir, marked by excessive alcohol that gives it a peppery burn throughout. Beyond that, it's dry and silky, with flavors of very ripe cherry, red currant and Dr. Pepper.
This is a robust Sauvignon Blanc that announces itself with aromas of grass, spice and straw, leading into a combination of fresh fruit and earthy spice flavors. A great balance of acid, fruit and spice means it's assertive, but still poised. A fun wine with lots of character.
This is a robust wine. It has big, thick tannins, and the dryness accentuates a slightly rustic character. The flavors are well developed and complex, with blackberries veering into currants and a touch of raisin.
This is a robust, brawny wine, exuberant in wild strawberry and earthy black pepper and black tea. Leathery layers of mushroom and toasted oak combine for a full-bodied experience that speaks well of the appellation. A concentrated version of one clone of the grape from a single vineyard in a stellar vintage.
This is a robust, dense and tannic wine, with 8% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. It needs time to unravel what are now just mere suggestions of coffee and black-cherry jam, with seasonings of cedar, peppercorn and dried sage. Full bodied, ripe and highly structured, this should be enjoyed in years to come, through 2023.
This is a robust, dense wine, showing the hot character of the vintage in its aromas and flavors of fruitcake and spice and slightly rough texture. It's a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet, matured in one-third new oak.
This is a robust, full-bodied and sultry wine, one within the producer's single-vineyard series, from a well-known and respected site. Oak and candied black cherry sit atop an abundance of cola spice and earthy truffle, promising more to come as it opens in the glass.
This is a robust, full-bodied wine, balanced and complex, with a lush, plush mouthfeel that's seductive and velvety. Black pepper, clove and characteristics of earthy forest floor define it most, while dark cherry nips at its sides.
This is a robust, full-bodied Zinfandel. It's so ripe that the blackberries have a raisiny, Porty note. High in alcohol and spicy, this is a wine that defines a particular style of warm-climate Sonoma Zin.
This is a robust, ripe and fruity Zinfandel that impresses for the sheer exuberance of its flavors. They range from black cherries and red currants to cola, chocolate, black pepper and the sweet, glyceriney taste of high alcohol.
This is a robustly built, densely packed and velvety wine with smooth layers of integrated oak. Tannins provide the power and foundation behind its crisp blue fruit and dried herb flavors, seasoned with cola and black pepper spice.
This is a robustly reduced, tightly wound and still quite youthful wine, showing both the vintage and the appellation in warmer years, with an intensity of black tea, tar and black cherry. Full bodied, it's powerfully weighted and structured.
This is a rock solid Pinot Gris, chunky and fleshy and loaded with ripe fruit flavors. Melon and pear provide the guts, with a lighter streak of jicama and a clean, green finish. There's good concentration in this ready-to-go, all-purpose white for winter.
This is a rocking price for the quality of the wine, a small-production crafting of well-grown grapes in a great year. Light on the oak imprint, it shines instead in sweet and sour stone fruit, most vibrantly apricot, with a soft and layered silkiness to the texture.
This is a romantic conjunction of names. The cru wine is silky and smooth, with integrated tannins and red-cherry fruit. It is bright and crisply textured, ready to drink from mid-2017.
This is a rough and ready Zinfandel. With its briary, brambly flavors of wild berries and pepper, and the strong, edgy tannins, it needs rich meats and cheeses to play against.
This is a rough, leathery and stalky Cabernet. Horseradish and leather aromas set up a lightly green, herbal and peppery flavor profile. While the wine feels pretty good, there's no escaping its green-leaning, stalky character.
This is a rough, rustic, country red, with little varietal character and none of the elegance of Pinot Noir. Tart, light strawberry fruit is smothered in chewy, earthy tannins.
This is a rough, simple and nutty white that shows a bite of fresh pear and some barrel reduction.
This is a round and full blend, with forward scents of apple skin, ripe nectarine, orange Creamsicle and toasted almond. The richness carries through to the creamy palate, with flavors of caramel-drizzled peach pie and toast on the finish. Drink now.
This is a round and rich wine, with notes of wood-grilled apple, guava and toasted challah. Smooth and lush in feel, ripe peach and tropical tones drive the palate, while hints of honeysuckle and baking spice unfold on the finish. Ample acidity keeps the wine's weight in check. Drink now.
This is a round and soft Merlot with an easy personality and plush notes of cherry and allspice. It tastes supple and smooth and would make a natural companion to meatloaf or thick ragú pasta sauces. Drink now.
This is a round full style of rosé. As a result, it is also soft and rich. The balance between the ripe strawberry fruits and the crisper acidity is just right. Drink this wine now.
This is a round style of Sauvignon Blanc, bringing out tropical fruit, ripe gooseberries and fresh grapefruit. It is a lively, bright wine from stony, chalky soil, delivering a tight mineral aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a round style of wine, with its ripe apple fruits and soft texture set against a fresh, tangy backdrop. Although it is young, the wine is very drinkable now, but the fresh acidity will allow it to mature further. Best drink it from 2017.
This is a round, creamy, soft Chardonnay with resiny aromas. A strange, forced oak flavor dominates the flavor profile, which includes spice more than fruit. On the finish, oak and resin are about all you get.
This is a round, full-bodied wine, ripe with yellow fruits and structured with intense minerality. Great fruits and a touch of toast shine at the end. It's potentially a rich, densely textured wine that needs time. Drink from 2016.
This is a round, rich and soft style of Chardonnay. It feels generous, and its yellow fruit flavor pushes through the acidity. It slowly opens to reveal complex tropical-fruit notes, and it will develop further, so give it another four years.
This is a round, rich wine full of fig, vanilla and salty oak flavors. Bright, lemony freshness and a stony, mineral-like quality accentuate its texture and complexity, lasting long into the finish.
This is a round, ripe and deliciously smooth wine. With a warm, vanilla character as well as full and rich fruit, it is generous and ready to drink. The acidity at the end leaves a refreshing aftertaste.
This is a round, silky Châteauneuf-du-Pape that's an appealing, early-drinking rendering. Cherry and leather notes aren't particularly complex beyond a certain horsiness, but the wine fills the mouth and the flavors do linger.
This is a rounded and rich wine, packed with citrus fruits and delicious acidity. Lemon and orange-zest flavors balance well with the mineral texture. Drink from 2018.
This is a rounded and ripe wine, with generous black fruits and a full, fruity texture. It shows balanced acidity, hints of wood and a fine integration of fruit and tannins. It can be enjoyed now, but will be better from 2016.
This is a rounded full-bodied wine that has red-fruit fleshiness as well as fine tannins for the future. It comes from 70-year-old vines on the southeast facing slopes that make up Volnay's Premier Cru vineyards. Rich in black fruits and dark smoky tannins, the wine also has intense young acidity. Drink this impressive wine from 2020.
This is a rounded mouth-filling wine that takes mild watermelon aromas and adds subtle white peach and pear flavors. It's quite rich in texture, low in acidity and alcohol, and has a lingering finish.
This is a rounded smooth wine. It does have a crisp edge of red currants and acidity but the main flavor comes from the ripe red-berry fruits and touch of caramel. Drink the wine now.
This is a rounded wine that brings forward soft tannins and flavors of ripe fruit and spice. The red currant fruit dominates while the sultana flavor adds some richness.
This is a rounded wine, full of perfumed fruit and wood flavors. It has a dense texture with ripe, dusty tannins and fine acidity. From the Alliance Bourg co-op, this full-bodied and rich Bordeaux blend will be a fine wine from 2019.
This is a rounded wine, soft and fruity. It has lost some freshness in the rich vanilla flavor that gives a ripe, full-bodied character. Red berry fruits at the end do leave a fresher aftertaste.
This is a rounded wine, soft and spicy. It has a velvet texture, spice and lychees all attractively balanced. With a touch of dryness as well as a more medium-dry character, this is now ready to drink.
This is a rounded wine, with soft tannins and a crisp aftertaste. Red fruits mingle with a yeasty character to give a wine that is warm, smooth and soft at the end. Drink now.
This is a rounded, full-bodied rosé that also has a herbal element. It has a wild strawberry flavor, with light acidity and sweetness. Screwcap.
This is a rounded, rich and soft wine with a creamy texture and ripe pear and lime flavors contrasting with lively acidity. It has a smooth character, but with a bite of spice, lemon zest and minerality. Drink now. Screwcap.
This is a rounded, ripe and fruity wine named after a red star in the Cetus constellation. It is immediately drinkable with attractive red-currant fruit flavors along with perfumed acidity and just a touch of orange zest. The wine is refreshing and very ready to drink.
This is a rounded, ripe and full-bodied wine, with spice and light toastiness that give richness. Apple and green-plum flavors are enhanced by the creamy texture and touches of apricots. It is young and drinkable now, although will likely be much better from the end of 2016.
This is a rounded, ripe wine that exudes black fruits, soft tannins and juicy acidity. It is fresh, tight with a mineral texture. The six months of wood aging has served to tame the firmest tannins. That means this approachable wine is ready to drink just for its freshness and fruitiness, although it will be even better from early 2017.
This is a rugged, dark and meaty version of Pinot Noir, so don't look for elegance or finesse. It's showing musky flavors of fig and plum, with a background of underbrush and ample tannins. Tasty enough, though lacking in varietal specificity.
This is a rugged, firmly tannic rendering of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that requires time in the cellar to reach its full potential. That said, it may also pose a risk, because there are hints of Band-Aid on the nose and a slightly metallic edge to the finish that may worsen over time. The other flavors are potent and concentrated: plum, chocolate and licorice all leave lasting impressions on the palate. Try after 2016.
This is a ruggedly built Côtes du Rhône, showing a rich texture and a coarse but long finish. Along the way, it delivers a mix of plums, pie cherries and dusty sun-baked earth aromas and flavors. Drink now–2020.
This is a ruggedly simple blush wine, with lots of acidity and some green tea and dried herb flavors. It's saved by a just-in-time flavor of black cherry candy.
This is a rustic but likeable wine. It's dry, tannic and full-bodied, with good varietal flavors of black currants, dark chocolate and sweet, smoky oak. Drink soon.
This is a rustic Pinot Noir, harsh in the mouth, with some green, mint-like flavors. It offers enough raspberry and cherry notes to satisfy at a party.
This is a rustic Pinot Noir, soft and candied. It has raspberry, red plum and oak flavors. Finishes with a bit of heat from alcohol.
This is a rustic red that smells dusty and sun-baked, tastes earthy, well-aged and dry, and has moderate tannins and acidity.
This is a rustic style of Shiraz, with hints of beef bouillon and cola layered over earth and plum notes. Chewy tannins bring it home, suggesting a pairing with rare roasts.
This is a rustic Syrah, with a simple, grapy flavor. The tannins are a bit rough-and-tumble, but the wine is perfectly quaffable with burgers or pizzas.
This is a rustic wine with very ripe fruit that gives a red jelly flavor. It is simple, with a dry edge and acidity, ready to drink now.
This is a rustic Zinfandel. It's hot in alcohol, with overripe notes of raisins and prunes. Robust and satisfying, in a porty way.
This is a rustic, barnyard-scented wine, with tannins and acidity but lacking fruit. Think of it as one to quaff without too much thought.
This is a rustic, soft Cabernet. It tastes hotter than the official alcohol level, which is 14.5%, giving heat to the blackberry and prune flavors.
This is a rustic, soft wine. It has red fruits and acidity along with light tannins and a barnyard character that is not unpleasant. Drink now.
This is a sanguine, meaty and smoothly textured wine, relatively medium bodied and moderate in oak. Twists of dried cranberry and blueberry provide the fruity components, which are nuanced compared with the big hits of black and white pepper.
This is a satin-smooth Merlot, nicely blended with 11% Syrah and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Forward flavors, seamless, supple and flat out tasty, it weaves in threads of vanilla, cola and licorice around taut red fruits.
This is a satisfying Syrah with profound notes of white pepper that ease smoothly from the nose to the palate. Beyond savory, earthy characteristics, there is also bright raspberry too. Priced fairly, there's no reason not to give it a try.
This is a satisfying, ripe and rich wine. It has big layers of red fruits, attractive spice from partial wood aging and fresh acidity. Still young, it will be even better from early 2016.
This is a satisfying, small-production wine from four rows of the family's Kairos Vineyard, a study in sanguine intensity. Currant, cassis and tar integrate with the body of subtle oak and tannin, finishing in a sprinkling of dried herb and graphite.
This is a satisfyingly yummy Zinfandel that's chock block with raspberry and boysenberry flavor, and a tannic structure that's still in full force. There's softness in the mouthfeel and an easygoing finish that's touched with cinnamon spice and chocolate. A good wine to pair with a range of food from barbecue ribs to pizza.
This is a Sauvignon Blanc in a ripe, tropical fruit style. It is soft with only the faintest herbal, citrus tang. The fruit is smooth, rounded allowing just the right space for the acidity to finish the wine with a lift. Drink now.
This is a Sauvignon Blanc with more meat and punch than the average white. The nose, crisp, clean and fresh but rounded, leads into a balanced, substantial wine with good acidity and an assertive mouthfeel. Elegant but has character. Could pair with richer dishes.
This is a savory and tasty wine, with smoke, red cherries and bacon fat on the nose. The mouthfeel is dense, with rich flavors of black cherries, licorice and dark chocolate offering layers of complexity, rounded out by the right amount of tannins and acidity.
This is a savory style of Shiraz that remains very drinkable. Despite being full-bodied, it's bright and refreshing on the palate, delivering notions of cracked pepper, sour plum and roasted meat. The long finish is simultaneously dusty and mouth-watering. Drink now–2025.
This is a savory wine whose price makes it a decent value. It's crisp in acidity, with off-dry lemon, lime, tangerine and honey flavors. Easy to drink with almost anything that calls for a slightly sweet white wine.
This is a savory wine, alive in spicy black fruit. The acidity prickles the palate before waves of vibrant strawberry, raspberry and black cherry flavors follow, supported by medium-bodied layers of soft tannin and a finish of herb.
This is a savory, almost briny, cool-climate white that's unusual for the appellation in some ways—it's crisp and bright in Meyer lemon and jasmine. Still, for all its elegance, it offers just as much in the way of creamy texture amid a midpalate of fresh-cut apple, peaking in a lightly buttered note on the finale.
This is a savory, elegant, concentrated effort that doesn't show too much sweetness. Dark fruit, spice, black olive and tobacco notes appear on the silky close.
This is a savory, meaty rendering of Cabernet Sauvignon, boasting aromas of cedar, smoke and soy-marinated grilled beef. Those peppered beef notes carry onto the palate, joined by hints of brown sugar. Full bodied and creamy, it finishes long, framed by supple tannins. Drink now–2020.
This is a screaming deal for such an admirably good wine, blended with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah and Syrah. Compressed black fruit meets fresh leather on the perfumed nose. The palate follows with thick tannins and mouthcoating flavors of licorice and cinnamon.
This is a sculpted, mature wine that has good complexity to its aromas, a core of vivid blackberry flavors and a seamless but moderately tannic texture. It's a very good example of a well-balanced dinner wine that's not a blockbuster.
This is a second wine from Amici Cellars. It's rich and forward with cherry, blackberry, licorice and mocha flavors that taste fruity-sweet, but finish dry. Elegantly constructed, it's a polished wine to drink now.
This is a second wine from Palmaz. It's a big Cabernet, dry and full-bodied, with extravagant cassis, cherry and oak flavors that contain riper notes of red currants and licorice. Gets better as it sits in the glass and breathes, and could benefit from up to five years in the cellar.
This is a second wine of Château Tournelles. Soft and generously ripe, it has attractive tannins that just give the bright fruit a support. The wine, a blend of Bordeaux grapes typical of this appellation, is ready to drink.
This is a seductive and deeply satisfying Pinot Noir, light in rose petal and red cherry notes and yet intense and voluptuous in texture. Part of the winery's 30th anniversary celebration, with the fruit coming from original co-founder Burt Williams' Morning Dew Ranch in Anderson Valley, this is a remarkably polished and balanced wine, with a racy jolt of spiciness on the finish.
This is a seductive style of Pomerol. It may not have great weight, but what it does have is rich, juicy berry fruit flavors, an open structure and tannins just holding all this ripeness together.
This is a seductive wine, concentrated and full bodied and entirely big. Black cherry, chocolate and blackberry jam ride the palate with authority, as soft tannins wrap around the bold flavor.
This is a seldom-seen variety in the state. The aromas are brooding, with high-toned notes of dried herb, barrel spice and potpourri along with red fruit. The fruit flavors are tart and plump, soft and sumptuous, showing a pleasing sense of purity. One wants a bit more aromatically but there's still much to enjoy.
This is a selection a cut above the winery's Reserve. Potent and rich, it's packed with layer upon layer of citrus and stone fruits. There's a seam of licorice, and concentrated flavors of almond and buttercream. This utterly decadent effort just goes and goes.
This is a selection from parcels on the Rimauresq estate. Well balanced, it has enough weight and texture to be food-friendly. Intense red fruits dominate, put easily against fresh acidity that finishes the wine with a lift.
This is a selection of the best parcels of the estate on the east Gironde bank across from Margaux. The wood aging (50% new wood) is apparent and gives a dusty texture to the wine without dominating it. It is a structured and ripe wine, showing the fruit of the vintage while also keeping solid tannins. Drink from 2019.
This is a semi-sweet wine marked by spearmint and rhubarb aromas and clean fruity flavors. The acidity is okay, and it’s well made. Doesn’t have much in common with Champagne but some will like it. From Barefoot Cellars.
This is a sensational vintage for this cuvée, which is part of the winery's extensive Chardonnay lineup. It offers intense fruit concentration and retains the opulence for which the winery is known. Rich in a buttered, toasted nut flavor, the mouthfeel is creamy and sensual. The finish lingers for several minutes, and the wine drinks as well or better on the second day it's been open.
This is a serious and satisfying dry wine with bold flavors, great structure and a mouth-filling texture. It is very well balanced in terms of fruit character and displays moderate tannins, good acidity and no excesses. It's easy to imagine on the table with a grilled rib eye.
This is a serious and substantial Cabernet, using grapes sourced primarily from the Phinney Hill Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Muscular and loaded with purple fruits and cassis, it is thickly woven into a bed of earth and herb. The wine is graceful and balanced, with exceptional depth and detail; however, it leans heavily on the herbal side of the grape.
This is a serious blend of Alfrocheiro, Syrah and Touriga Nacional from the Lagoalva estate. Spice and wood go with dark tannins and firm red fruits. It is still a young wine with fine potential. Drink from 2019.
This is a serious Cava for the money. It's mildly briny and dusty up front, with peach and apple notes filling out the nose. The palate is elegant and smooth enough, while apple and melon flavors are naturally spicy and ripe given the warm conditions of the '09 vintage. The long, nectarine-flavored finish will win you over.
This is a serious Champagne with a rich complexity, texture and delicious fruitiness. Zesty in character, it's structured and mineral-intense wine with hints of toast and apple that will intensfiy with some bottle age. Keep for at least a year.
This is a serious effort, with concentrated flavors of blackberry and cherry syrup. Syrah sometimes shows a substantial coffee streak, as it does here, along with a vanilla-soaked finish, amplified by aging 18 months in two thirds new French oak.
This is a serious Kosher Cab. Medium garnet in color with intense aromas of blackberry, dark plum and cherry accented by notes of cigar box and licorice. The mouth offers a similar mélange of flavors, with a full and lush texture and gripping tannins. Long, lingering finish. Enjoy now through 2012.
This is a serious Merlot, a welcome relief from the sea of mediocrity that masquerades under the variety. Grown in the winery's estate vineyard in the southerly Coombville area, the wine shows similarities to Carneros Merlots. Dry, fairly tannic, with crisp acidity and an earthy grounding, it has supple, refined flavors of black cherries, currants, cocoa, violets and cedar.
This is a serious red wine, from its opaque, inky color to the dark cherry, freshly turned dirt and crushed herb aromas. The extra-long finish is preceded by a smooth mouthfeel with expertly integrated tannins. However, the black fruits are not quite as dazzling on the palate as the scents are on the nose.
This is a serious red wine, powerful and authoritative in Petite Sirah character, but be forewarned, it's pretty tannic, and nowhere near ready. That probably won't stop most folks from popping the cork now, and they'll like the blackberry, currant and dark chocolate flavors just fine withgrilled steaks and chops. But the wine will develop fascinating bottle complexities for many years.
This is a serious rosé. It has plenty of fruitiness of course, but it also has texture and the potential to age a few months. The wine is rich, full of red-berry fruits and with a touch of minerality. It is fruity now, but will be best from early 2018.
This is a serious sparkling wine, with richness as well as properly tense structure. It has weight, some bottle age with yeast and toast as important as citric fruit flavors. The initials stand for the names of the two winemakers.
This is a serious Toro wine with smooth, dark, leathery aromas along with hints of wintergreen, licorice and berry pastry. It feels rich and layered, with complex flavors of licorice gum drop, nutmeg, chocolate and blackberry. Almost decadent but not over the top or too tannic. Drink now–2016.
This is a serious wine from Aveleda's estate in Bairrada. With its bold, tarry tannins and solid structure, it's a wine that combines longevity and impressive fruit. Mineral, structured and concentrated with big black-fruit flavors and a dry, solid core, it's destined for long aging. Drink from 2019.
This is a serious wine with a lighter brighter side. Its wood aging adds spice to the ripe red fruits and brings out the concentration and intensity. It is, in its way, an unexpected side of Provence rosé, emphasizing richness and complexity. But it all comes together: a fine wine that, after a year of aging, is ready to drink.
This is a serious wine, dark with tannins and ripe with black fruits. It is structured, toasty, rich with its concentrated structure and juicy acidity. Dominated by Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon, the texture and density are still very present. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2018.
This is a serious wine, despite the ripe fruitiness on its surface. It is full of peach and mango flavors, but structured by a cool, mineral feel. Tangy acidity and tight texture adds tension. It still needs to age 2–4 years. Screwcap.
This is a serious wine, tight and closed up at this stage. Around the dry core, the fruit is structured, not offering richness, but with a good, solid base of black currants. It needs time to soften.
This is a serious wine, with its mineral texture and tangy structure. It has plenty of apple and zingy orange flavors. But the main thrust at this stage is of a wine poised for considerable aging. Fresh and still tight, it needs several years. Drink from 2018.
This is a serious wine, with its tight mousse, signs of toastiness and intense fruit and acidity. It is full of flavor, ripe from a good vintage, packed with apple and citrus fruits along with a nervy steely character from the Chardonnay in the blend. It is ready to drink although it will certainly age for many years.
This is a serious, complex cru wine from Jacky Janodet. It is full of structured tannins and rich black fruits. It is a wine that will age with its dry core and layers of acidity. There is a brighter element to this impressive wine that keeps the aftertaste juicy and crisp. Drink from 2018.
This is a serious, concentrated wine that is full of generous fruit and structure. Alongside this weight, there is a lighter, juicier side from vibrant acidity. The main thrust though is concentrated tannins that are still developing. The aftertaste is dense and shows the wine needs to age. Drink from 2019.
This is a serious, concentrated wine. Still young, with dark tannins to go with the dark fruit, it was fermented in open tanks, a process that gives the wine extra richness. It has hints of the wood aging behind the ripe fruit and final acidity. Drink from 2017.
This is a serious, dark and brooding wine. Powerful tannins and dense structure along with layers of concentrated black fruits all point to a wine for long-term aging. The mineral texture and pronounced acidity add to the longevity of this impressive wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a serious, dry and well-structured wine with lots of dark-fruit flavors and firm tannins. It has tempting black cherry aromas and black-currant flavors, a full body and a mouth-filling lightly astringent texture that will pair well with rich food. Best after 2019.
This is a serious, firmly structured wine, impressively rich as well as tannic. Black fruits push through the considerable structure, offering balance as the wine ages. It is young now, with hints of mint from wood aging. Powerfully textured, give this 4–5 years.
This is a serious, impressive wine. Fermented in open stone tanks and wood aged, it has a rich texture that encompasses the ripe black fruits and the spicy tannins. The wine has real depth and concentration with a firm, dense structure that will allow it to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a serious, organically grown wine, that's big, ripe and spicy with a great creamy texture. Very full in the mouth, it boasts rich yellow fruits laced with a chalky, mineral character. Acidity plays a pivotal role in keeping all this freshness in balance. Drink after 2–3 years. Screwcap.
This is a serious, rich, concentrated wine. It has weight, density and a powerful structure that offers black cherry and plum fruits. Dominated at this stage by a dry, tannic core, it needs to age. Drink from 2017.
This is a serious, structured wine with a great future. It has weight, tarry black tannins and dense berry fruits. Spice, toast and ripe fruitiness are all melding well together, although they need time. This complex, concentrated wine will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a serious, sturdy wine that blends 6% Syrah and ages for 17 months in French oak, a quarter of it new. Perfumed and earthy, it's beautifully layered with intense macerated cherry, black pepper and licorice flavors.
This is a serious, tannic wine that has a mineral edge to go with the tight fruit. It is, in fact, ageworthy—for a year or two, with the dry character needs to soften. At the end, the sweet Gamay fruits triumph.
This is a serious, tannic wine that will need many years to fully develop. For now, it has firm tannins, creating a dense texture and a solid structure.
This is a serious, wood-aged wine whose ripe fruits are dominated at the moment by heavy toast flavors. The fruit does offer weight and good potential, making it a structured, dark wine that is beginning to suggest a juicy future. Drink from 2017.
This is a seriously beautiful Chianti Classico characterized by impressive elegance and a smooth, long feel that lasts many long minutes on the palate. The nose is equally pristine with bright but integrated aromas of dark fruit, spice and polished river stone.
This is a seriously dense wine—very structured and also with swathes of generous black plum and berry fruits. It is mineral in character, dark with firm tannins and still showing intense acidity that will need to soften. Drink this concentrated wine from 2018.
This is a seriously dry wine, somewhere between stony and chalky in terms of texture. Aromatically, it strikes a balance between herb and citrus, finishing long and crisp.
This is a seriously dry wine. Arnaud Margaine works each harvest to create freshness and a totally crisp texture, generally dismissing malolactic fermentation. It is balanced, allowing the fruitiness to shine through the tight, mineral texture from the predominant Chardonnay in the blend that comes from a mere 16-acre Montaigne de Reims vineyard surrounded by Pinot Noir. It could age through 2015 in bottle to be even better.
This is a seriously good Cabernet, and the price makes it a relative bargain. Dry and tannic, it has complex flavors of blackberries, black currants, blueberries and plenty of new smoky oak. A tangy minerality lifts it above the ordinary. It will hold in the bottle until at least 2020.
This is a seriously good Cabernet. You can stand it against anything in California and it will acquit itself with pride. It shows the soft tannins and herbaceousness of Alexander Valley, but is rich in blackberries, cherries and mocha, with a long, spicy finish. The result is a deliciously complex wine, dry, full-bodied and rich. Drink now–2016.
This is a seriously good wine, produced from a field blend of 100-year-old vines. It is concentrated and full of black plum fruit flavors. It brings out the heat of the Pinhão valley and also its wonderful structure. The one small downside is that the alcohol does show at this stage in a raw edge. Hopefully this will pass as it matures, because the wine will certainly not be ready to drink before 2020.
This is a seriously good Zinfandel, both for what it is and what it isn't. It's dry, grippy in dusty tannins and complex, with earthy flavors of coffee, cherries, tobacco, blackberries and Asian spices. What it is not is overly alcoholic and sweet, as so many Zins are. The alcohol is a modest 13.9%. The wine has true balance and finesse, and is a great buy in Sonoma Zin.
This is a seriously gorgeous Sauvignon that bursts opens with enormous fragrance and finishes with piquant spice that tingles in the mouth. In between are luscious layers of citrus blossom, exotic or passion fruit and tomato leaf.
This is a seriously huge wine, tightly wound in dry tannins, brooding dark fruit and savory pepper. Decant or give this robust black juice some time to resolve itself in the cellar, 2019–2024 or more.
This is a seriously impressive, ripe and powerful wine. Boasting rich fruits, black plum and berry flavors and concentrated acidity, it also has a dark, solid structure. Still young, this shows boisterous acidity and needs to soften and fill out further. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
This is a seriously structured, impressive wine that comes from a parcel in the center of the Clos de Vougeot. It is firm and solid—a powerhouse of richness and density—with dark tannins, ripe black fruits and tight acidity. With this kind of structure, the wine certainly needs to age, so don't drink before 2017.
This is a seriously sweet, gorgeously opulent wine made from late-harvest fruit. Spice notes fringe flavors of honey and fresh fruit. It's a wine to drink now, although it will age well until 2020.
This is a seriously wood-aged wine with a juicy character that comes as much from the French oak flavors as the fruit. It has weight and richness, with hints of the yellow fruits to come. The wine is ripe, full-bodied and needs to age. Drink from 2016.
This is a seriously wood-aged wine, sumptuous in its smooth and creamy texture. It has citrus, lime and really fresh acidity to balance the toast and rich fruitiness. Elegant and worth aging further. Drink from 2016.
This is a seriously wood-aged wine. Its burnt toast character doesn't chime with the light fruitiness of the vintage and so gives a wine that is bitter and extracted. Less overworking would have produced a better wine.
This is a serviceable, if nondescript Chardonnay. In a highly competitive category it doesn't stand out in any way. It's just a light expression of apple flavors, with a quick finish that leaves a slight impression of glue.
This is a serviceable, soft and widely distributed wine, yeasty with aromas of baked bread circling concentrated red fruit and black tea. Light bodied and youthful, it holds on to oak and tannin on the finish.
This is a severe Pinot Noir, dry and acidic and unflattering to the palate. There are some good, complex cherry, currant, tea and spice flavors, but they're hard to appreciate because the wine is so tannic. It does not seem like a cellar candidate.
This is a severely oaked wine that sizzles and smokes with aromas of campfire, creosote, road tar and coconut. On the palate, it's concentrated but also brutish. Roasted oaky black-fruit flavors echo the nose, while mint and chocolate dominate the finish. Time can only help this come around.
This is a sexy wine from one of New Zealand's biodynamic stars. The aroma is a heady blend of cinnamon and earth notes, alongside game, chocolate, ripe red fruits, warm stones, and forrest floor. The palate manages to walk a line between plush and tart, savory and silky, and powerful and elegant. Drink now–2024.
This is a shade off-dry, with ample crispness, a bright, prickly lightness and delicate texture. It's a great apéritif style, with its soft edge and easygoing freshness, that's ready to drink now.
This is a sharp-edged wine with green-tinged fruits—apples and pears not quite ripe. It pushes accents of herb and stem forward, and will probably drink best with food rather than on its own.
This is a sharp, almost liquorous wine. It features plump fruit flavors of yellow apple, pear and white peach. Barrel fermented in French oak, it still needs a bit more bottle age to round itself out. Drink 2018 and beyond.
This is a sharp, dry, peppery style, with strong suggestions of caraway and grain. Tightly wound fruit pokes at citrus and melon, and there is a touch of bitterness in the finish.
This is a sharp, grassy Pinot Gris, which does more than a gentle bow in the direction of Sauvignon Blanc. Herbaceous, peppery and penetrating, it's green and acidic, yet flavorful and a resonant food wine also.
This is a sharp, high-toned Cabernet, which begins with nail polishy aromas and some cherry candy flavors, then quickly tails off. It lacks both depth and detail, making it difficult to understand what merits the reserve designation.
This is a sharp, tart Pinot, scented with pine needles and showing wild strawberry fruit flavors and plenty of sharp acidity. In the mouth the fruit also reveals a cherry candy core, pretty but brief, and quickly winds down through a citrusy finish.
This is a sharply focused expression of the Bussia cru with a steady delivery of wild berry, underbrush, sour cherry, white mineral, anise and ginger. The aromatic intensity is understated but refined and the wine performs with the same elegance in the mouth. Age this wine for another five to eight years.
This is a Shiraz-led blend of five grapes that's concentrated, smoky and spicy on the nose. The palate is ripe and bolstered by racy tartaric acidity, while flavors of spiced berry and coconutty oak finish bold but shallow.
This is a shockingly good wine. The aromas draw you into the glass, with vibrant notes of capers and Kalamata olives, brine, smoke meat, mineral, black pepper and earth. The fruit and savory flavors—speckled by black and green olive notes throughout—show a compelling sense of texture and richness. It's a savory delight.
This is a shockingly low price for anything from Rutherford, let alone Cabernet Sauvignon, but sometimes why ask why? Dusty and powerful, it's well balanced in acidity and black fruit, finishing in leather and dark chocolate bound by leather.
This is a show-stopping blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot and 9% Malbec by veteran winemaker Kevin Willenborg. A deep shade of mauve, the wine coats the glass and unleashes intense, lavish aromas of cassis, fig paste, mint and tarragon. It's as soft as it looks on the palate, where baked black cherry, roast beef, turned earth and lilac flavors ride luxurious yet firmly structured tannins.
This is a showcase wine for the region of Abruzzo that delivers mature notes of peach, rounded toasted notes of honey and pear. As a whole, it is harmonious and flowing and is surprisingly fresh and tonic despite the hot vintage.
This is a shy little wine, with woodsy overtones on a base of plum and raspberry fruit. It's a bit thin in the mouth but has reasonable concentration, fine tannins and winds up with an appealing orange rind note. Drink now.
This is a signature wine for winemaker Cristiano van Zeller. It has all the dense structure of a powerful Douro wine, layers of fruit and acidity and a richly juicy aftertaste. It is still developing its power, so wait to drink until 2017.
This is a silky-smooth and integrated wine, with firm, structured tannins that provide support without distracting. A wealth of brawny baked berry, tar and chocolate flavors reveal themselves over time, while subtle, deep clove and dried herb scents lie beneath.
This is a silky and soft Nebbiolo with bright berry aromas and simple spice nuances. There's an elegant, feminine quality to this red wine, but it also shows power and determination.
This is a silky, concentrated wine with sizable structure and darker spice undertones. Sourced from a range of vineyards, including Gap's Crown, Rodgers Creek and Riddle, mostly within the Petaluma Gap's cool corridor, it is a mix of black cherry and cinnamon, and boldly expansive on the palate.
This is a silky, medium-bodied Pinot Noir that's ready to drink. Pleasant cherry fruit is joined by hints of twig and earth, and a touch of mocha emerges on the finish.
This is a silky, ready-to-drink red. Cherry and plum fruit mingle easily with earth, leather and mocha, finishing on a softly dusty note. Drink now–2023.
This is a silly name, and it's not a very good wine. Acids and tannins dominate, making it astringent and bitter, and the cherry fruit is thin and rather overripe.
This is a simple and cheerful Nero d'Avola that would pair well with white meats such as roast chicken or pork. Aromas here include blueberry, forest berry and there's a touch of bitter almond on the close.
This is a simple and clean Prosecco with medium intensity, little depth and bright fruit layers of peach and tangerine. It's a good choice for very informal drinking occasions.
This is a simple and fresh Italian sparkler that offers white flower and peach backed by citrus and almond. A touch of soft sweetness adds a chewy spot that is followed by creamy mousse.
This is a simple and pleasant wine from southern Italy with sweet, floral tones of cherry blossom, rose hip, lavender and scented candle. The wine has a vibrant, pointed personality and some sour crispness on the close.
This is a simple and soft wine. It has semi-sweet flavors of cola and cherry.
This is a simple and straightforward expression of Prosecco with tight perlage and medium aromas of white flower and citrus. That subtle but soft sweetness you taste would pair nicely next to vegetable tempura.
This is a simple blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec mostly, that's lively and slightly spritzy. Strawberry, cranberry and cassis appear, as walls of dry tannins spark on the finish.
This is a simple but appealing rosé, defined by strawberry fruit, hints of chalk dust and a mouthwatering finish.
This is a simple but attractive Pinot Noir that's dry and silky, with rich raspberry, cherry, cola and sandalwood flavors. It's ready to drink now.
This is a simple but delicious Barbera loaded with ripe plum and black cherry flavors punctuated by licorice and pepper notes. Soft and round, this is ready to enjoy now. Pair it with pasta topped with cream sauces or grilled chicken dishes.
This is a simple but delicious Pinot Noir. It has candied cherry flavors that are sweet and sour, with lots of toasty, vanilla-scented oak. Drink up.
This is a simple but well made Bardolino that offers dark cherry and raspberry flavors with notes of black pepper. Fresh and enjoyable, it's perfect to accompany everyday fare, from light pastas to burgers.
This is a simple Cabernet, but that doesn't mean it's not a good one. It is, and easy to drink for its upfront cherry, blackberry and toasty oak flavors.
This is a simple Chardonnay, ripe and jammy in pineapples, with strong oak notes of buttered toast and caramel.
This is a simple fruity wine that is just right for the summer. Light citrus and orange-zest flavors give the wine its lift and brightness. Drink now.
This is a simple fruity wine. It has attractive red-berry fruits, giving it a light and bright character. The wine is rounded and smooth, with an attractive lift of acidity at the end.
This is a simple Merlot, but it's dry in style with tart sour-cherry flavors.
This is a simple North Coast Cabernet with herbal and green olive and pepper tones.
This is a simple Pinot Grigio, with aromas of white spring flowers and green apple. The palate is slightly round, with a ripe pear flavor lifted by tart Granny Smith apple accents.
This is a simple Pinot Noir that has raspberry and cherry jam flavors. While it has a delicate mouthfeel, it tastes candied and sweet.
This is a simple Pinot Noir, with berry and cherry flavors. It's on the heavy, soft side. The grapes come from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties.
This is a simple red wine that's rustic, bearing flavors of raspberry and cherry Lifesaver candy and Dr. Pepper cola.
This is a simple representation of the variety: medium in acidity and weight and a roundness of appropriate apple and pear that finishes flat.
This is a simple rosé that could withstand some concentration. It was crafted from barrel-fermented Pinot Noir, and it shows very light flavors of watermelon and strawberry.
This is a simple Sauvignon Blanc, with sugary-tasting apricot, orange and vanilla flavors, plus some vegetal notes.
This is a simple soft red-fruited wine, designed for drinking with barbecues. With spicy fruit, attractive acidity and a soft, juicy texture, the wine is ready now.
This is a simple version of Sauvignon Blanc. It has modest lemon and melon flavors, and is dry. Finishes a bit soft.
This is a simple wine with a touch of menthol and astringency, a mix of dried herb and grapes picked at an early stage of ripeness.
This is a simple wine with candied raspberry, mint and toasted oak notes.
This is a simple wine with friendly pear and apple aromas. The palate has modest complexity, with fresh acids and a touch of oak. Core flavors of peach and apple finish with modest accents of toast and popcorn.
This is a simple wine with upfront pineapple, lime, peach and honeysuckle flavors and smooth acidity.
This is a simple wine, sharp in acidity and dry, with spicy Zin flavors of berries. Okay with pizza, burgers, barbecue.
This is a simple wine, soft and lush in cherry and oak flavors, with a cut of asparagus.
This is a simple wine, with orange, lime and vanilla flavors. Despite brisk acidity, it quickly turns cloying.
This is a simple wine, your basic country red. If it were from Italy, you'd drink it from a carafe, overlooking some beautiful scenery. Dry and tannic, it has earthy-berry flavors and a spicy finish.
This is a simple yet well made Chianti Classico with fresh and juicy black fruit, cinnamon spice and dense plum aromas and flavors. It's accessible and versatile for pairing with food; try it with barbecued chicken, spicy soy burgers or pork chops.
This is a simple, acid-driven white that's light and bright with a restrained sense of ripeness. Tight-grained oak is wrapped around a buttery middle.
This is a simple, cherry-dominated fruity quaff at a realistic price. It's only light to medium in body, with crisp acids and a bit of tannic astringency on the finish.
This is a simple, clean wine, with light fruit and approachable acidity. The finish is soft and easy.
This is a simple, clean, well-balanced, all-purpose Chardonnay. Light streaks of honey, lemon and vanilla run through crisp, apple-flavored fruit. Nothing fancy, but solid and reliable.
This is a simple, correct PG with aromas of citrus and grapefruit backed by a hint of almond. It also offers good a balance between sweet fruit flavors and spicy acidity.
This is a simple, correct Valpolicella with clean aromas of cherry, blueberry, white almond and raspberry cola. It has a smooth, soft mouthfeel with one-dimensional fruit flavors.
This is a simple, country-style Pinot Noir, dry and modest in berry fruit. It's not bad, just not particularly interesting. But for the price, it will get you through.
This is a simple, creamy and toasty wine. It has fresh pear and quince flavors that are ripe and soft. With just the right amount of acidity, this attractively balanced wine is ready to drink.
This is a simple, easy- drinking Zinfandel, soft and gentle and slightly sweet. The raspberry, licorice, raisin and cocoa flavors are rich and spicy.
This is a simple, easy-drinking Pinot for drinking now. It tastes like a juicy blend of cherries, pomegranates and cola, with just enough acidity for balance.
This is a simple, easygoing white wine, with ripe flavors of apricots and oranges. It has just enough acidity to get by.
This is a simple, freshly red-fruited wine that needs to be drunk now. The structure is light, fruity, with a hint of smokiness and an appetizing finish.
This is a simple, friendly wine with a pretty dusty, mineral quality that frames fresher aromas of pear, peach and golden apple. It's a bit toned down in terms of flavors intensity but does end on a playful spicy note.
This is a simple, fruit-driven white wine, ideal as an apéritif or for patio-sipping. Pear, melon and pineapple notes mingle easily on the nose and palate, finishing moderately long.
This is a simple, fruit-forward Nebbiolo with ripe notes of strawberry and raspberry jam backed by light shadings of tobacco and spice. The wine shows bright acidity and clean, polished tannins.
This is a simple, fruity Beaujolais. It has cherry flavors that are spoilt by the hints of banana. Acidity and light tannins complete a wine that is drinkable immediately.
This is a simple, fruity Champagne, made to be drunk young. With its crisp citrus tang and bright acidity, it is well balanced with the soft dosage. The wine is dominated by Pinot Noir that grows so well in the Côte des Bar.
This is a simple, fruity wine that has light citrus flavors. There is a salty character along with the white stone fruit and final acidity. Drink now.
This is a simple, fruity wine that has ripe black fruits and soft tannins. Made for early drinking, it is aromatic, juicy with a spicy aftertaste.
This is a simple, fruity wine without great tannic structure. It has attractive berry fruits and a dry core. With its fresh acidity, it will be ready to drink soon.
This is a simple, fruity wine, balanced and with red-berry fruits. It has soft tannins and a line of attractive acidity, and is ready to drink.
This is a simple, fruity wine, with blackberry, cherry and oak flavors that finish dry and crisp in Monterey acidity. It's compromised by a green, vegetal note of unripeness.
This is a simple, fruity wine. It has a pear flavor, light minerality and a zingy aftertaste. Smooth and rounded, it looks as though it will be ready to drink from early 2017.
This is a simple, fruity wine. Its red cherry fruit is cut with a stalky, crisp texture and layered with acidity. It's made to drink young.
This is a simple, fruity wine—great for quaffing as a summer apéritif. It is attractively crisp, fresh, and it's laced with grapefruit, apple and pepper flavors. Screwcap.
This is a simple, genuine Prosecco Brut with pretty tones of peach and apricot and drying mineral tones. It has a smooth creamy quality with stone fruit flavors on the close.
This is a simple, honeyed wine with buttered toast, vanilla, apricot, orange and pineapple flavors. Nothing fancy, but will satisfy your Chardonnay cravings.
This is a simple, jammy wine, with fresh black cherry and cola flavors, highlighted with acidity. Made from Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, it's an approachable everyday sipper at an accessible price.
This is a simple, light take on Syrah, with a little bit of black pepper, a hint of underbrush, but none of the texture and detail of pricier Washington bottles. It's a light, pleasant red, fine for pizza night.
This is a simple, nondescript wine with a broad feel, zesty acids and wooly flavors.
This is a simple, one-dimensional Chardonnay. It's dry in style with thin citrus and apricot flavors and just a hint of oak.
This is a simple, one-dimensional Chianti Classico that does a good job of doling out its easy aromas of cherry and blueberry. Pair it with pizza or pasta and meat sauce.
This is a simple, one-dimensional Pinot Grigio that drinks easily and would pair with salads or grilled tuna. The wine is redolent of citrus, green apple and a touch of white almond.
This is a simple, overripe Zin. It has flavors of raisins and chocolate, with excessively high alcohol, officially 16% but tastes even higher. More like Port than a table wine.
This is a simple, rather generic white wine. The fruit is clean with an impression of light spice around flavors of apple and pear. It's a useful, all-purpose, fruity quaffer.
This is a simple, red-fruit-flavored wine. It has soft tannins, a bright texture and fresh aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a simple, rounded and juicy white, succulently ripe and full bodied in lemon, grapefruit and mango, with supportive oak.
This is a simple, rustic wine, with flavors of raspberry and cherry.
This is a simple, slightly sweet wine. It tastes like a pineapple, lime and vanilla pastry melted down into wine, with alcohol giving heat, and acidity to make it crisp.
This is a simple, smoky wine, earthy and brimming in a mix of compost and mint. Medium bodied and moderate in acidity, it's ripe and round.
This is a simple, soft and quite floral wine, showing a wealth of dusty tannin and full-bodied power. Cedar and pomegranate are the highlights that ride a textured wave of chalky oak.
This is a simple, soft wine which has some sweetness as well as easy fruit. There is some perfume and a spicy edge as well as rounded orange flavor. Drink now.
This is a simple, soft wine, open and fruity. Muted citrus flavors are highlighted by orange zest and light acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a simple, soft, easy to drink Cabernet, with candied berry and spice flavors. The easiness suggests backyard barbecue, with sweetly grilled ribs and burgers on a summer evening.
This is a simple, somewhat muted wine, with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Sanguine, it shows a touch of red currant, cassis and cedar in addition to a burly full-bodied concentration of ripeness.
This is a simple, straightforward combination of apple and caramel, light-bodied with layers of texture and complexity. A great midweek wine that works for larger gatherings as well, it's a great example of cool-climate fruit that isn't overdone in oak or ripeness.
This is a simple, straightforward quaffer, with off-dry (5.2 g/L residual sugar) notes of melon, tropical fruit and musk. It's 85% Chardonnay, with 10% Riesling, 3% Gewüurztraminer and 2% Viognier blended in.
This is a simple, structured and grippy version of the variety, homegrown and delightfully floral. Relatively restrained, it shows hints of chocolate, blueberry, fig and dark cherry, unfettered by oak.
This is a simple, sweet blush wine, with jammy raspberry and cherry flavors. It finishes with a swirl of spices.
This is a simple, sweet blush wine, with jammy raspberry, vanilla and white sugar flavors. With nice acidity, it will wash down salty, umami-flavored foods, like ham, sausages, roasted nuts, olives.
This is a simple, sweetly fruity wine, more Shiraz than Syrah, with jammy blackberry and blueberry flavors. Napa brings ripeness, while Monterey brings acidity. Drink up.
This is a simple, tart red, crisp in cranberry and red currant fruit and perfumed with spicy oak. Despite the high acidity on the front palate, it hangs heavy in full-bodied ripeness.
This is a simply delicious and assertive wine that smells like roses and lemon zest, tastes like fresh apricots and biscotti and has a tangy, appetizing balance. It will be super as an apéritif for a summer time outdoor dinner.
This is a simply rendered, nicely light-bodied version of the variety, round and fleshy in mouthfeel with a taste of sugar-rimmed lime.
This is a simply, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc that finishes clean and refreshing. It's medium in weight, with bold, food-friendly flavors of white grapefruit.
This is a simultaneously fruity and savory wine of complexity and power from one of Victoria's underrated regions, Heathcote. From a mix of granite and the region's famed Cambrian red soils, this wine offers ripe blue and red fruit, florals and a peppery, olivey punch. The juicy fruit continues on the palate but here the savory elements play more of a starring role: Dried herbs and graphite are woven into fine-grained tannins and a long, almost tangy finish. Drink now–2027.
This is a single-parcel wine from old vines (which date back to the 1970s). Aged in wood, this very fine wine shows sophisticated tannins, complex spice, black-plum fruits and a judicious shot of acidity. It is a fine wine, still young and showing a good potential for aging. Drink from 2019.
This is a single-vineyard Chard grown on Westside Road, in the heart of the northern valley's Pinot country. It's a very elaborated wine, high in acidity, showing tiers of tart green apple, Kaffir lime, pear, smoky oak, and Champagne-like lees and brioche flavors. Just great, and should hold for six years or more.
This is a single-vineyard expression of Dolcetto that offers a dark, inky appearance and rich aromas of dark chocolate, spice, black cherry, blackberry pie and a touch of dark licorice. The finish is extra smooth and opulent.
This is a single-vineyard Riesling that is both perfumed and rich. It has a ripe feel, but also fine layers of acidity, fruity currant notes, and a strongly textured, mineral character. This is a wine with a good future, so drink from 2016.
This is a single-vineyard wine from Pfaffenheim. Giving a touch of spice as well as delicate acidity, it's light, bright and fruity. Crisp right through and attractively perfumed, it is ready to drink now.
This is a single-vineyard wine which is beautifully rich and already soft and smooth enough to drink. To be sure, it will age further and mellow with time, but for now it is the ripe red-berry fruits and generous tannins that are so attractive. Drink now and until 2026.
This is a single vineyard Semillon from Canyon Vineyard Ranch in the Yakima Valley. It's über aromatic and flavorful with notes of orange peel, honey and citrus. The 170 g/L residual sugar provides richness and the neutral French oak aging only adds to the wine's viscous feel.
This is a single vineyard wine, a blend of the local red Baga grape with a small percentage of white grapes. The white grapes are there to smooth the natural tannins in the Baga and they succeed, so the wine is structured but rounded and with delicious red fruits and acidity as well as dry core. It is ready to drink.
This is a single vineyard wine, richly textured and ripe. It shows the lively acidity of the vintage along with a warm feel that brings out peaches and green plums. Age for a couple of years or drink now.
This is a single vineyard, 100% varietal wine, aged in 70% new French oak. It draws you into the glass, with notes of char, fig, blackberry, spice and coffee. The dark-roasted coffee and dark-fruit flavors show precision and detail, lingering on the finish. The wood is primary at present but should integrate with time.
This is a skin-contact wine, fermented on skins for a week, that displays the technique in its dark golden color. From there, it's ripe in a sweetness of baked pear, honey and dried apricot, while lean on the palate despite the fleshy nature of the fruit.
This is a sleek and easy-to-appreciate Pinot Noir, on the lighter side, with fresh cherry and raspberry flavors, a touch of acidity for balance and a gentle texture. It seems polished and complete and not overdone.
This is a sleek Malbec, adorned with generous baking spices around a firm core of wild blueberry fruit. It's brambly and attention-grabbing, with good length and a bit of dark chocolate in the finish.
This is a sleek, crisp and streamlined first offering from the young appellation's newest vineyard, which overlooks nearby Lake Cachuma. Fresh and bright lime sorbet aromas lead to peppery verve on the palate, with flavors of white pepper, cut grass, sour lime skins and apple peels.
This is a sleek, medium-bodied Cabernet from inland Victoria. Oak use is restrained, leaving cassis, cassis and more cassis to stand largely on its own. The result is a bit simple, but well built, finishing with firm, dusty tannins.
This is a sleek, streamlined and very dry red wine. It's not big and rich, but it is elegantly crafted, with no flaws to mar the acidity and finely ground tannins. The flavors, of cherries, anise and dried herbs, are complex.
This is a slightly grassy, green white wine that fans of this style may enjoy; others not so much. Light in alcohol, it has medium body and crispness.
This is a slightly herbal, well-structured Cabernet with upfront tannins and flavors of ripe cherry and vanilla. It finishes with a taste of marshmallow.
This is a slightly leathery, medium-bodied Malbec, with tart red berry flavors and strong herbal elements. The mix of fruit, stem, saddle and leaf moves into a lightly smoky finish with sculpted tannins.
This is a slightly more intense version of the regular Castoro bottling, with an extra punch to the berries and a little more zip in the finish. A clean, bright, focused wine, precise and polished, with a natural elegance. Good balance throughout.
This is a slightly riper approach from the longtime producer, with browned butter, vanilla, honeyed pineapple and a hint of seared marshmallow on the nose. The palate shows ripe brown pears and caramelized apples that carry deep into the finish. It's a balanced take on this style, never over the top.
This is a slightly spicy wine that's rounded and quite rich in style. It leans towards a tropical character although textured and still quite youthful. Give this attractive, ripe wine another six months or so to develop. Screwcap.
This is a slightly sweet Sauvignon Blanc that's shy on the nose, without much depth or breadth.
This is a slightly syrupy Merlot that has flavors of overripe plum, black pepper and vanilla, especially on the finish. The blend is mostly Merlot with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Malbec, Cabernet and Zinfandel, all from Clarksburg, a cool subregion near Lodi.
This is a small estate of 12 acres dominated by its 95% Merlot. It is ripe and juicy with spice, dried fruits and crisp black currants. The tannins are already well integrated with the fruitiness. Drink from late 2017.
This is a small Premier Cru of two acres higher up the slope from the main line of Premier Cru vineyards. That gives it a cool mineral character as well as crisp red fruits. The tannins are solid, concentrated and are still driving the fruits. The wine needs to fill out, so don't drink before 2022.
This is a small production wine blended by French sommeliers. The result is a soft, rich wine, deliciously ripe and perfumed. There are touches of honey as well as yellow fruits and mango juice. The acidity gives the wine a lift and makes a contrast to the richness of the wine. Drink now.
This is a small property under the same ownership as Château du Cartillon in the Haut-Médoc. The wine is ripe, juicy and with delicious blackberry fruits. It has a dark core of tannins ready to push the wine forward as it ages. It will certainly need time, so wait until 2021.
This is a small property under the same ownership as Château Paloumey. It is unusual in the 20% Petit Verdot that goes into the blend. That gives the wine its deep color and rich generous black-plum fruit. Solid and dense, the wine will age well. Drink from 2020.
This is a small, 10-acre property, owned by the Moueix family, at the heart of the Pomerol plateau. With its 30% Cabernet Franc it is perfumed and ripe, giving delicious black fruits as well as a firmer structure. The wine is set for a long aging with great potential. Drink from 2024.
This is a small, family-run estate situated in the heart of the appellation, with a bent for making elegantly styled wines. Here, in its fourth vintage, small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc are blended in to provide a concentration of high-toned raspberry, cherry and cassis atop soft layers of integrated tannin and oak. The wine remains rich and velvety through a long finish.
This is a smashing American debut for this wine, which comes from a small vineyard atop Roy's Hill, overlooking the Gimblett Gravels. Welcoming peach and pineapple fruit is framed by toasted-grain elements in this whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented wine. It's mouthfilling, but maintains a sense of balance while finishing long, with hints of honey and citrus. Drink now–2018.
This is a smoky and ripe wine from Beaune's top premier cru. Structured, dusty tannins support the red fruits and acidity. The combination is already rich, but holds good potential as well. It will be best from 2020.
This is a smoky wine, full of rich strawberry flavors. Its tannins come from the wood aging that cuts through the fruit. With acidity as well, the wine is developing well and should be ready from 2017.
This is a smoky wine, with ripe berry fruits and balanced wood flavors. The solid tannins lend structure and backbone to the palate, while the finish is rich. Drink from 2018.
This is a smoky, dusty 100% varietal wine from a tremendous vineyard site in the wilds of Howell Mountain. Sage and forest floor combine around a wall of structured, polished tannin. Dried herbs, leather and black currant accent the full body and wealth of concentration. Cellar through 2023.
This is a smoky, earthy wine that's fully ripe and flush in juicy fruit. Cherry, blackberry and grilled mushrooms find cinnamon and cola flavors as a tart finish builds on the palate.
This is a smoky, fragrant wine that offers dense fruit and firm tannins. It has the structure of a fine Gevrey and the concentration of the vintage. This is classic and worth aging for 4–5 years.
This is a smoky, moderately tannic and unfussy wine. Layered in black fruit, tobacco, and mocha, it has a sprinkling of cinnamon spice.
This is a smoky, obviously wood-aged wine. The fruit is dominated by the high toast flavors needing time to integrate into the blueberry fruit flavor. That will happen, allowing this crisp, balanced wine to shine. Drink from 2020.
This is a smoky, rich wine that shows evident wood aging. This feature adds weight, though the sweetness is currently muted. It is a wine with potential intensity; the fruit and acidity will emerge in several years.
This is a smoky, wood-aged wine, with a bitter toast flavor that smothers the fruit. It does have the fruit weight, so that toast flavor will certainly soften. But to judge by the intense wood character, this bottling will likely always have a severe edge.
This is a smooth-texture wine with a great future. It has acidity, ripe tannins, generous fruit and balance. As the wine develops, the rich red-berry fruit will show strongly. The wine is concentrated, with a solid base. Drink from 2025.
This is a smooth-textured and well-balanced wine. It smells a little smoky, but tastes moderately crisp and tannic, with ripe fruit favors to balance out the tartness.
This is a smooth-textured, medium- to full-bodied wine loaded with scents of cedar and spice. Red berry fruit emerges on the palate and lingers alongside the cedar notes on the long finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a smooth-textured, medium-bodied wine that opens with brown sugar and maple aromas, leads to ripe cherry and blackberry flavors and finishes with a hint of sweetness.
This is a smooth-textured, mouthfilling wine with quietly rich aromas, ripe, welcoming fruit flavors and a soft suede texture. It's not a showy, oaky wine but a composed and calm one.
This is a smooth and apple-fruited wine, with acidity that's tempered by a soft texture and a touch of toast. It's balanced, lightly crisp and ready to drink.
This is a smooth and creamy Vernaccia with loads of honey backed by delicate nuances of stone fruit and passion fruit. It leaves a light, crisp impression in the mouth and can be paired with appetizers or pasta dishes.
This is a smooth and creamy wine with soft apple flavors mingling with almonds and brisk acidity. It has a tight edge of minerality that adds a fine texture, offering a glimpse of the extra richness that can be expected in 2–3 years.
This is a smooth and elegant wine with a robust backbone of dark berry and currant, espresso and tea that presents full-bodied ripeness and exuberance on the palate. Minty vanilla closes things out.
This is a smooth and generous dry Prosecco Superiore with subtle tones of honey, dried flower, peach, green apple and tangerine. Those pretty aromas are backed by creamy foam and soft bubbles.
This is a smooth and generous wine. It is rich, full-bodied and packed with dark plum flavor, but it's the ripe, velvet character that is so appealing. It's almost ready to drink, although the firm tannins and minerality at the end suggest it will be better from 2016.
This is a smooth and gently fruity wine. Aromas are subtle, fresh and slightly floral, while the more-forward flavors resemble peaches and honeydew melons. The texture is smooth rather than tart, and the wine may have a touch of residual sugar to keep it tasting fruity and feeling rounded.
This is a smooth and polished wine, with herb and new wood aromas. It has juicy red-berry flavors, and the tannins push forward. Structured, with intense acidity, this is ready to age for at least 5–6 years.
This is a smooth and rich Amarone with equal parts jammy fruit set against a smokey oak component. The wine slides nicely over the palate with a lavish, velvety texture and imparts more oak spice and mesquite on the close.
This is a smooth and rich wine, soft and fruity and typical of the warm, gentle side of Pinot Blanc. It does have some concentration with apple and crisp pear flavors. It is ready to drink although it could age well, easily for another year. Screwcap.
This is a smooth and rich wine, with generous fruit alongside spice and ripe, black plum fruit accents. Ready to drink, it shows surprising balance between a perfumed character and an unctuous palate.
This is a smooth and rounded wine that has a fine kick of acidity to keep it crisp. With toast and lemon juice blending well together, the wine is rich while also showing a mineral texture. This is a refreshing delicious wine that will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a smooth and rounded wine with ripe yellow fruits as well as a crisp, sliced apple character. It is fruity and warm with its ripe, full flavors. Drink this generous wine now.
This is a smooth and rounded wine. With fine tannins and dark-berry flavors, it is structured and concentrated. The spice from the wood aging comes through at the end, along with attractive acidity. Drink from the end of 2017.
This is a smooth and soft wine that shows its attractive fruitiness slowly. As it opens, apple, pear and lime flavors become prominent, yielding a wine that is rounded, fruity and fresh.
This is a smooth and soft wine that will develop quickly. It has a light tannin structure behind the easy blackberry fruit. The chateau is owned by Castel, the largest drinks producer in France. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.
This is a smooth and soft wine with attractive white-fruit aromas and bold acidity. It's finely textured with juicy, fresh apple and pear flavors. It is ready to drink now, but will age over the medium term.
This is a smooth blend of Antão Vaz and Arinto, with a shot of Alvarinho. It is bright and fruity yet also somewhat creamy. There is a lemon tang to this still young wine. Fresh and fruity at the end, drink from 2016.
This is a smooth but heavily wood-influenced wine with light blackberry fruits, a layer of firm tannins, and very fresh acidity. Not for aging, but enjoyable for its fruity, lightweight character.
This is a smooth creamy blend of Viosinho, Alvarinho and Chardonnay. It is delicately poised, just hinting at vanilla while really emphasizing the crisp, clean and refreshing fruits. Acidity and a final orange zest flavor give it a refreshing aftertaste.
This is a smooth customer, with a rich, silky mouthfeel, and has the soft seductive velvety character that allows it to feel complete as a standalone clone. It stops a bit short in the finish, hitting some herbal tannins, but resonates with pretty barrel notes of caramel and a hint of honey.
This is a smooth wine whose tannins have been already integrated into the blackberry fruits. It is ripe, still young of course, and with a stalky texture in the background. With acidity and fruitiness, the wine needs to age. Drink from late 2017.
This is a smooth wine with gentle tannins and red berry fruit. It has juicy acidity and a slight toastiness from oak. With spice and acidity, it will be an attractive wine to drink from 2018.
This is a smooth wine with rounded fruit and light acidity. It has refreshing red-berry fruits that give softness while also finishing with a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a smooth wine with soft tannins cushioned by generous fruits. Its red-cherry acidity gives the lightest stalky edge and will allow the wine to age further. The partial barrel aging has added spice. Drink this fine wine from 2019.
This is a smooth wine, soft with just a hint of tannins and with plenty of juicy acidity. Black-currant fruitiness dominates this crisp, clean and ready to drink wine.
This is a smooth wine, with strawberry fruits and a creamy texture. The wine feels just off dry, making it accessible, warm and ripe. Screwcap.
This is a smooth, approachable and straightforward wine, unfussy in its offerings of buttery toast and oak, the fruitiness derived entirely from the tropics.
This is a smooth, attractively ripe and aromatic wine. It has soft black fruits, and full tannins. Developing quickly, it already shows attractive fruitiness Drink from 2016.
This is a smooth, balanced wine that shows notes of ripe blackberry and new wood. There is a crisp edge from the currant flavor, and the acidity gives it freshness. Attractive and fruity, this is for aging over the next 3–4 years.
This is a smooth, clean, attractive wine that is bright and crisp. Lemon and pink grapefruit give the fine fruitiness while the acidity and lightly mineral texture add the structure. Drink now.
This is a smooth, creamy wine, with apple and pear aromas and flavors, as well as a crisp texture. It's full-bodied, very fruity and ready to drink, with bursting freshness and lingering acidity.
This is a smooth, dark and rich wine, made from the heart of the appellation in an agreeable year. Balanced, it offers blackberry, cassis and a touch of silky texture, finishing with elegance.
This is a smooth, dry and well-integrated white, highlighted in apricot, peach and lemongrass, with an herbal undertone. It's ready for the table, with food-friendly acidity and medium body weight.
This is a smooth, easy-drinking white, ready for the patio or picnic blanket, or to serve as an apéritif, that sings in bright acidity, a balanced body and an exuberance of lime and melon.
This is a smooth, easy-drinking, chocolaty Cabernet. The ripe red fruit is laced with streaks of black olive, mushroom and loam. Barrel aging in both American and French oak (half new) brings in coffee and chocolate.
This is a smooth, easygoing wine, straightforward in red and black cherry, full bodied in style and veering on concentrated. It lacks the nuance of many others in its category, but delivers full flavor.
This is a smooth, impressively rich wine powered by silky tannins and ripe black fruits. The palate is intensely concentrated with a big, bold structure and a solid feel. It does need some aging, so drink from 2016.
This is a smooth, intense wine that's very complex in its balance between acidity, green fruits and minerality. It's full of delicious fruit flavors, but shows a fine tension as well. Pepper just hints at the end. Screwcap.
This is a smooth, light and fruity wine that is ready to drink. It has red berry fruit tones, with a sweet, lightly tannic character and a juicy, mature aftertaste. It's soft and fruity, with bright acidity at the end.
This is a smooth, orange- and peach-flavored wine, with a rich almost oily texture. It's rounded with light acidity on the finish. With its weight, this is a wine for food.
This is a smooth, rich and rounded wine. It is full of blackberry fruits, sweet tannins and spices. Bold flavors are right up front, solid and chunky. Drink now and until 2018. Screwcap.
This is a smooth, rich and very drinkable Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows ripely classic flavors of blackberries, black currants, minerals and cedar. The tannins are brisk and furry, but the wine doesn't seem like a longterm ager. Good now and through 2014.
This is a smooth, rich Cabernet whose fruity flavors are upfront, yet it has the complex, upscale structure of a great wine. With classic blackberry and crème de cassis flavors, it's almost as good as its more expensive vineyard-designated brethren from Janzen, at half the price.
This is a smooth, rich wine with a dosage that adds enough sweetness to balance creamy apple flavors marked with sharp acidity. Ripe yet elegantly balanced, it's maturing well. It can be drunk now, but a year or two of waiting will serve it well. Drink now–2016.
This is a smooth, rich wine with just the right amount of tannic structure and wood flavors to add complexity. It has density along with red berry and black-cherry fruits that are lifted by acidity. It's a wine for aging, so don't drink before 2018.
This is a smooth, rich wine, full of tropical mango and pineapple flavors, with the lightest touch of acidity. Drink this superrich wine now.
This is a smooth, rich wine. It has just the right amount of tannin to give structure and add to the ripe black fruits. A blend of classic Douro grapes gives a wine that is dense, firm and also generously ripe. Drink this fine wine now.
This is a smooth, rich, wood-aged wine. It has wood aromas, but on the palate the wood has softened the black currant fruit, creating a wine that's elegant and full-bodied, with herbal acidity on the finish. Age for 1–2 years.
This is a smooth, richly fruity wine. Spice from wood aging and soft tannins give balance and concentration. Produced from organically grown grapes, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a smooth, ripe and fruity wine. It has a touch of tannin, although the red fruits and rich texture make it easily drinkable even when young. The Merlot smoothes the Tannat, giving a round texture at the end.
This is a smooth, ripe and generous wine befitting southern Merlot. It has just the right amount of acidity, black currant fruitiness and a smoky aftertaste.
This is a smooth, ripe and rich wine. It has tannins that give structure and are also well integrated into the generous blackberry and dark plum fruits. The concentration and depth give a solid, dense character. Wood aging, just enough, has smoothed everything out, while the aftertaste brings perfumed acidity at the end. Drink this complex, serious wine from 2018.
This is a smooth, ripe and rounded wine with solid tannins and rich plum and berry fruits. From a good vintage, it is full of tannins, smoky wood and balanced acidity. It's a full, ripe and ready to drink.
This is a smooth, ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc. It hints at mango and pineapple as well as more crisply citrus fruit and shows an herbal, green fruit character on the finish. Drink now.
This is a smooth, ripe take on the often-wild Baga grape. It has some tannins and layers of acidity over the red-berry fruits. Bright and textured with minerality, this impressive wine is balanced and ready to drink.
This is a smooth, ripe wine that's just beginning to mellow. The flavors of toast and cashew are opulent, with just a touch of spice. It has weight and a finish that shows both acidity and richness.
This is a smooth, ripe wine with an underlay of dusty tannins. It is rich in character, with juicy blackberry flavors and crisp acidity. The aftertaste brings out the fresh character while keeping the rich texture. Drink now.
This is a smooth, ripe wine with just enough tannin to give it structure. The main character is rich, full of black plums and blackberries—ripe and generous. It has a wonderful juicy aftertaste.
This is a smooth, ripe wine, just hinting at wood. Honey and lemon flavors are cut by tight, mineral acidity. It's perfumed from the Muscadelle in the blend, giving a rich wine that is developing fast. Drink from 2015.
This is a smooth, ripe, and rounded wine that's intense on the palate with bright red-fruit flavors. Integrated acidity and hints of maturity add balance to rich fruitiness. Reserve wines blended into the Champagne lend a fullness to the palate that makes the wine ready to drink now.
This is a smooth, rounded rosé made mainly from Négrette. Along with its youthful crispness, it also has a more creamy side and a crushed strawberry flavor, all lightened by balancing acidity.
This is a smooth, soft wine that is full of black fruits and ripe tannins. The Merlot rounds out the rougher edges of the Malbec to give a rich juicy wine that will develop quickly. It is all fruit, generous and ready to drink from 2017.
This is a smooth, soft wine with tasty, mellow fruit flavors, full body and light acidity. It's well-aged and ready to drink.
This is a smooth, soft, gently fruity wine, immediately drinkable. An attractive buttery, honeyed character comes from this warm-climate Chardonnay. Yellow fruits are cut with lime acidity at the end. Drink now.
This is a smooth, straightforward Cabernet Sauvignon, that's well-priced, but textbook in its berry, spice and herbal flavors and aromas. A fantastic everyday wine.
This is a smooth, subdued style of Rioja that's perfect for tapas or casual consumption. The nose offers the right kind of entry: cherry and raspberry with dusty spice. And the flavors are friendly and suggest black fruits and smoke. A little more oaky and charred than some, but a nice crianza nonetheless.
This is a smooth, supple, easy-to-drink rendering of Marlborough Pinot Noir. Gentle mushroom and damp moss shadings bring complexity to the cherry fruit, while the mouthwatering finish reveals hints of dark chocolate. Drink now–2018.
This is a smooth, thick and tannic wine that's full-bodied, robust and priced to sell. Cassis and blackberry both figure into the mix, along with a finish of tobacco and vanilla.
This is a smooth, toffee and caramel-flavored wine. It has a comfortable maturity, with acidity coming from hints of fruitiness, and sweet sultanas acting as a foil. Like any aged tawny, this magnificent wine is ready to drink.
This is a smooth, well-mannered and distinctly varietal wine, richly rewarding in cola spice and earthy black tea, with a juicy finish.
This is a smooth, wood-aged wine that's full of berry fruits and rich tannins. The wine is dark and concentrated, with a medicinal hint and a juicy element to go with the powerful structure. This should age for 4–5 years and more. Screwcap.
This is a smooth, wood-aged wine. Ripe black fruits are soft, with a contrast of toast and spice. It's juicy, with just the right amount of tannin. Although it's almost ready to drink, the wine will also age because of its structure. Drink from 2016.
This is a smooth, wood aged wine that comes from the Mouchão estate. It has rich red fruits, finely integrated tannins and a solid structure. It has an open, generous feel to it, given shape and aging potential by the dry core and fruity acidity. Drink from 2015.
This is a smooth, yellow fruit-flavored wine that comes from a small area of the appellation. It has ripe apricot fruit and a toasty, creamy texture, giving it rich, full flavor. A light touch of textured minerality lifts the wine on the finish.
This is a smoothly crafted, delicate blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Its ethereal nature does not preclude plenty of quiet power, which provides a sturdy foundation for the bright cassis and raspberry flavor. Subtle spice box, cedar and cigar add to its complexity and length.
This is a smoothly textured wine, full of berry fruits that are rich enough to cope with the acidity. The tannins come through slowly, balanced by plenty of acidity as well as lively fruit tones at the end. This is full of life and ready to drink.
This is a sneak peak at Hanzell's estate Chardonnay of the vintage, yet to be released. With a bit of oak, it's dry, rich and creamy, displaying forward pineapple, Meyer lemon and lime fruit flavors for drinking now.
This is a soft and creamy-textured wine. Its crisp apple aromas bring out the bright character as well as the ripe lemon and green-plum fruitiness. It is floral, stylish and ready to drink.
This is a soft and creamy wine, ripe with baked apple and crisp pear flavors. Balanced and full in the mouth, it attractive and ready to drink.
This is a soft and crisp wine that shows attractive, tangy orange flavor and has plenty of acidity to keep it as fresh as possible. Drink now.
This is a soft and delicate sparkler with aromas of white flower, jasmine, talc powder and soft peach or nectarine. Creamy bubbles make for a round, delicate mouthfeel.
This is a soft and easy wine from a ripe vintage. With black currant fruit, plenty of acidity and a light touch of tannin, it's made to be drunk young.
This is a soft and easy wine. It has light apple and lemon flavors along with a orange zest tang. It is a light, crisp wine that is totally ready to drink.
This is a soft and fruity wine that is full of red berries and balanced acidity. It has some tannins, while wood aging has given extra richness. The finish is fresh, bright and juicy. Drink from 2016.
This is a soft and fruity wine, bright with acidity and apple fruit flavors. It's light and crisp, an attractive wine that's ready to drink.
This is a soft and fruity wine, ripe with apple flavors and cut with a lightly mineral texture. The wine is bright, crisp and fruity, and ready to drink now.
This is a soft and fruity wine, ripe with red-berry fruits and perfumed acidity. A light touch of caramel and tannin give the right structure, and the aftertaste is bright and fruity.
This is a soft and fruity wine, showing bright currant fruits in a perfumed context. Tangy, nervy, showing plenty of minerality to boost the acidity and fruitiness.
This is a soft and fruity wine. It has gentle acidity and a ripe blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine, with its strawberry flavor, is immediately attractive. Drink now.
This is a soft and jammy wine with attractive ripe strawberry fruit and only the lightest structure. It is gentle, rounded and ready to drink.
This is a soft and juicy wine with black currant fruitiness. Its wood aging is nicely judged, allowing its ripe character, acidity and black fruit to show through. The wine will be ready to drink from 2019.
This is a soft and juicy wine, with ripe red fruit notes and a gentle, tannic structure. It is open and generous, showing plenty of acidity to sustain its freshness.
This is a soft and perfumed wine that is crisp yet ripely fruited. With its bright red fruits, orange-peel accent and gentle texture, it is a full-bodied style that will be great for food. Drink now.
This is a soft and perfumed wine, the red fruits hanging out easily with the acidity and gentle structure. It has a juicy character, hints of banana in the background and a fruity aftertaste.
This is a soft and rather rustic wine. It has herbal and citrus flavors that are fresh edged by a barnyard character. Drink now.
This is a soft and ripe wine with acidity plus yellow and pineapple fruit flavors. A gentle texture gives freshness and a tang of lemon zest. Drink now.
This is a soft and ripe wine, full of rounded red berry fruits. The fruit is boosted by its acidity to give a fresh feel. The texture is soft, with a shot of pepper to add complexity at the end.
This is a soft and ripe wine. Red fruits and caramel flavors add weight to the wine and a rich character, without forgetting the crisp, fresh acidity in the aftertaste.
This is a soft and rounded wine. Just off dry, it has apple and pear fruits with balancing acidity. Everything is in moderation, giving a wine that is drinkable now with a bright aftertaste.
This is a soft and simple party wine with jammy blackberry, cherry and oak flavors.
This is a soft and sophisticated sparkling blend of Pinot Nero and Chardonnay (in a rosé version) that opens with a delicate pink color and pristine aromas of toasted almond, stone fruit, cassis and white pepper. The mouthfeel is capped by a zesty, spicy feel.
This is a soft and succulent Barbera d'Alba with soft oak notes followed by bright fruit, black cherry and red currants. There's crisp, acidic fruit here followed by the softness and finesse supplied by the supple oak element.
This is a soft and sweet effort. It's a good wine, with raspberry and cherry jam flavors. This bottling from Armanino has been inconsistent over the years.
This is a soft blend of five local varieties, offering a generous, concentrated wine. Black fruit tones are balanced by a strong mineral character that brings out a tight texture. From the end of 2016, it will be a fine, ripe and accessible wine.
This is a soft Champagne—more like a wine with bubbles than a crisp apéritif. With its relatively high dosage and ripe red fruit, it's rich up front, cleaning up with acidity on the finish. Keep for a few more months and drink from 2018.
This is a soft fruity wine with ripe strawberry flavor. It has a touch of pepper as well as crisp acidity in the background. Drink now.
This is a soft fruity wine with stalky blackberry fruits. Like many wines from the Tejo region it has a light structure that is built around easygoing fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a soft fruity wine. It has attractive red-fruit flavors, very ripe fruit and light acidity at the end. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a soft pretty wine with a light fruity character. It is gently fruity, finishing with a peppery edge and crisp acidity. Drink now.
This is a soft ready-to-drink wine. It has light tannins, a mineral edge and stalky black-currant fruits. It is attractively accessible now.
This is a soft ripe wine that has yellow fruits alongside crisper red apples and touches of grapefruit. That makes for a balanced light wine that has a fine texture and a fresh aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft ripe wine. It has already delicious red fruits and gentle tannins. With a generous rich palate, it is full bodied and packed with jammy Merlot flavors. The wine will be ready to drink soon, certainly by late 2017.
This is a soft ripe wine. It has generous helpings of Merlot that give red fruit and rich acidity. The wine is soft for the vintage and is all ready to drink.
This is a soft ripe wine. Its apple and crisp pear fruitiness is right up front, revealing a simple open light wine that has a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft rosé with ripe strawberry fruits and light acidity. A Bordeaux-style blend of the two Cabernets and a dominance of Merlot has produced a caramel and fruit-flavored wine that is ready to drink.
This is a soft rounded wine. With a generous texture and warm white stone-fruit flavors, it is smooth with only a mild tang of clementine peel. The wine is delicious, ripe and ready to drink.
This is a soft simple wine, full of ripe red fruit. It has a lightly structured edge from the Syrah in the blend while keeping plenty of bright acidity. Drink now.
This is a soft slightly sweet wine (dry in Champagne means sweeter than Brut) with red-berry fruits and balanced acidity. It has a ripe full rich aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft style of Aligoté with creamed apple and pear flavors and a gentle texture. The wine has crisp acidity and a lively bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft style of Champagne, just hinting at the minerality often found in Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs. It is ripe, with red apple and pear flavors, shot through with lime acidity. The aftertaste adds a more textured character.
This is a soft style of Dão, focusing on fruit rather than structure. That gives ripe black-cherry flavors, acidity and a warm open texture. Made from a blend of all the local red grapes, it is rich and ready to drink.
This is a soft vineyard-designate, approachable and flirting with overripe flavors that rein in accents of soy, brown sugar and Dr Pepper.
This is a soft white wine with sugary flavors of lemon, orange, date, nougat and vanilla candy bar.
This is a soft wine although one with a tangy backdrop that makes it both smooth and crisp. Its citrus fruitiness has a touch of pepper as well as minerality. The elements have come together into a bright tangy wine to drink now.
This is a soft wine from a major Rhône valley producer. Attractive acidity gives it a crisp, bright feel. Tangy citrus and clean, light fruitiness are all there, balanced and ready to drink. Drink now.
This is a soft wine from the warm white vintage of 2015. It is a touch herbal and much more tropical and white fruits. The balance is just right, so drink now.
This is a soft wine just lightly fruity and with a spicy texture. It is ready to drink.
This is a soft wine on the surface, but under that generosity lies a firm core that gives the promise of aging. This powerful wine comes from stony soil which explains the tannic structure while the richness comes from ripe berry fruits. Drink from 2017.
This is a soft wine that has a cotton-candy sweetness. It's fruity with strong strawberry flavor and only a light touch of acidity.
This is a soft wine that has plenty of red-berry fruits, bright acidity and a light fruity texture. It is dry although the softness gives it an apparent sweetness. Drink now.
This is a soft wine that has some attractive acidity and fresh apple flavors. It is a style of wine that is open, ripe and ready to drink.
This is a soft wine that is round and with a fat texture. It is rich with soft crushed strawberry flavors. The acidity does come through at the end to ensure a fresh aftertaste.
This is a soft wine that seems removed from the tight, mineral Alvarinhos found further north in Portugal. It has a smooth texture, the acidity lying easily over the ripe apple flavor. Drink from 2016.
This is a soft wine whose herbal character is held in check by a smooth texture. It is bright and crisp, with plenty of citrus and gooseberry flavors as well as intense acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a soft wine with a great depth of red fruits and fresh acidity. The tannins are light, just a hint of dry behind the fragrant, bright fruitiness. The wine, made from old vines, is ready to drink.
This is a soft wine with attractive ripe strawberry fruits and a soft texture. There is balancing acidity giving an edge of freshness to the otherwise gentle fruity texture.
This is a soft wine with its creamy fruits assimilated into the tangy texture. There is plenty of acidity to give this wine its cool character as well as its citrus and green-apple flavors. Drink now.
This is a soft wine with its ripe fruits and lightly tropical flavors right at the fore. It has some richness along with spice, a citrus tang and a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft wine with juicy acidity, a creamy texture and a touch of crisp citrus at the end.
This is a soft wine with open fruits and gentle tannins. A blend of local varieties along with Syrah, the wine is smoothly textured, generous and ready to drink.
This is a soft wine with red-berry fruits and only light acidity. Its tannins and perfumed fruitiness are now mature. The aftertaste is elegant and easy. Drink now.
This is a soft wine with young apple and creamy pear flavors. Its acidity and tangy texture are behind the smooth surface, although taste further back. There is plenty of acidity. Drink this fruity wine now.
This is a soft wine, a blend of Aragonez and Merlot. It has a ripe rounded character that is lightly cut with acidity. It is an easy wine, perfumed and ready to drink.
This is a soft wine, attractively fruity with gentle tannins. It is fresh with red berry fruits and open acidity. There is a burnt edge at the end which needs to blow off. Drink from 2015.
This is a soft wine, dense and ripe. Any tannins are covered by sweet blackberry fruit flavors. This has attractive spice, final juiciness and bright acidity. A wine for early drinking.
This is a soft wine, fruity without great definition. A ripe, red fruit character contrasts with a bitter acidity. It is ready to drink. The blend is 50/50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is a soft wine, full of ripe apple and white currant fruit flavors. It's fresh , but also has a steely edge that gives a strong texture. Produced from chalk and clay soils, it is tight, rich and needs a few months more in bottle. Drink from 2017.
This is a soft wine, its acidity melded into the ripe berry fruit flavors. The texture is soft with just a bite of tannin at the end. With its open fruitiness, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a soft wine, light and fresh. It has a citrus character, lemon squeezed over apples that give crispness. Some minerality to the texture adds interest and puts the wine in the food-friendly category. Drink now.
This is a soft wine, lightly creamy and with simple red fruit, citrus fruits and acidity to match. It is an easygoing fruity wine that is ready to drink.
This is a soft wine, lightly spicy and toasty. With its stalky red fruits and gentle tannins, it is an easy wine to drink with its young fruit and crunchy aftertaste.
This is a soft wine, ripe with apricot and melon flavors. It shows the warmth of the vintage, round and gently fruity. Almonds and a tangy aftertaste give a crisp finish.
This is a soft wine, ripe with lime and grapefruit flavors that are sweetened with juicy red apple. It's tangy as well, laced with orange zest and filled with steely acidity. It should age a few months, so drink from late 2015.
This is a soft wine, smoothly textured and rich, with concentrated and ripe black fruit tones. While there is a dry core, it is the generosity of the surrounding fruit that makes this an eminently drinkable wine.
This is a soft wine, the smoothness cut by acidity and citrus fruits. It is ripe, full in the mouth, white fruits and spice complementing each other. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a soft wine, with attractive red-currant fruit and open, smoky tannins. It's well balanced between the fruit, tannins and acidity, which lends a crisp aftertaste.
This is a soft wine, with light green-plum and apple flavors, and an asparagus edge that comes through on the finish. Ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is a soft wine, with rounded tannins that emerge from the ripe black plum fruitiness. The structure is well integrated into the fruit, giving a wine that is for short-term aging. Drink now.
This is a soft wine, with simple, ripe fruit flavors. It has weight, pear and melon flavors and an attractive, juicy zesty aftertaste. Drink the wine now.
This is a soft wine. It has just the lightest hints of aromatic white flowers that show on the palate as white fruits with a more steely backbone. It's already a wine to drink, although it will be better, with a chance to bring out more fruitiness, from 2016.
This is a soft wine. It is lightly fruity while tasting dilute and unfocussed. Drink now.
This is a soft wine. Its rounded fruits and texture are gentle and smooth with a touch of caramel. The blend, dominated by Cinsault, gives a light spicy character as well as an attractive crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft, almost off-dry Champagne with bright raspberry flavor and a gentle structure. It is balanced with fruitiness laced with good levels of acidity. To be drunk now while it is still young and crisp.
This is a soft, ample wine, with an attractive tang of black cherry and ripe acidity. The wine has just the right juicy fruitiness.
This is a soft, appealing Chardonnay layered with toasted marshmallow and superripe peach. It's round in the mouth and lushly textured, then turns citrusy—almost metallic—on the finish.
This is a soft, approachable juicy and unfussy wine, wrapped in sturdy stalks of oak and showy tannin. It offers a value-minded taste of blackberry jam and leather.
This is a soft, approachable wine, rightfully representative of its roots in the heart of the appellation. Allspice, plum and rhubarb provide a heartfelt offering of baked flavor and spice, as mild-mannered acidity keeps the fruit components fresh and persistent.
This is a soft, balanced blend of Aragon and Touriga Nacional. It has a a bright, fruity character that is both fresh and warm. It's a delicious wine to drink with food.
This is a soft, bland wine, with light fruit flavors, a creamy texture and a final tang of lemon zest. Drink now.
This is a soft, bold and rounded wine. Rich black currant and berry fruits dominate the blend of mainly Portuguese grapes, with a touch of Syrah. The wine is balanced, ripe and full in the mouth. Drink now.
This is a soft, broadly fruity Chardonnay, with near-tropical ripeness. Banana and papaya flavors dominate, accented by pretty baking spices and a touch of mineral.
This is a soft, caramel-flavored rosé that has a wild-strawberry freshness, and a limpid texture.
This is a soft, complex and floral wine, sourced from an estate vineyard on Westside Road. Black cherry, tangerine and oak reduction make for a bright, brooding combination of medium-bodied lushness and subtle power.
This is a soft, creamed-apple style of wine, with a great shaft of acidity cutting through the crisp fruit. Kiwi and gooseberry fruits are lifted on the bright, lively finish.
This is a soft, creamed apple wine, with touches of toast. It has a great lemon zest character that brings freshness as well as brilliant acidity. The finish is textured, very fresh.
This is a soft, creamy Chardonnay that's reminiscent of baked apples loaded with cinnamon and perked up with a few curls of orange zest. Finishes long, with creamy vanilla supported by orange echoes. —J.C.
This is a soft, creamy wine with a texture that is dry while also rounded. White fruits, lemony acidity and a mineral edge are all consistent. The finish is full of acidity and a touch of bitterness.
This is a soft, creamy wine with fruitiness and a yeasty edge. Made from Bical, Arinto and Maria Gomes, it's ready to drink.
This is a soft, creamy, strawberry- and caramel-flavored wine with lively acidity and a very crisp, citrusy aftertaste. It's an ideal apéritif-style wine, perfect for the summer.
This is a soft, crisp, lightly herbaceous wine. It has fruity peach and pear flavors that are touched with citrus. The fruit dances easily on the palate. Screwcap.
This is a soft, ductile blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Touriga Nacional. It bears dusty tannins that add subtle texture, and a turmeric flavor adds an exotic edge to the palate.
This is a soft, earthy wine, with dried herb and currant flavors. It comes down on the subtle side, with a bit of oak influence adding richness to the wine's otherwise dry texture. Drink soon.
This is a soft, easy Cabernet, with a gentle mouthfeel and forward blackberry, currant and chocolate flavors. It's not terribly complicated, but it is sweet and clean. Drink now.
This is a soft, easy wine with the lightest texture and crisp apple and pear flavors. It is gentle and ready to drink.
This is a soft, easy wine, with sweet black raspberry, cherry and spice flavors. Drink now with a nice homemade cheeseburger.
This is a soft, easygoing style from the Millets, now in their third generation in Sancerre. With attractive white stone fruits and a citrus streak, the wine has delicious refreshing acidity and a light bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft, fairly simple Petite Sirah, but it's very tasty with flavors of raspberries, cherries and sandalwood, along with a peppery, smoky meatiness. With rich tannins, it will be a nice accompaniment to short ribs or beef stew.
This is a soft, flavorful wine full of creamy yellow fruit. Hints of wood aging and a delicate mineral texture add depth to the palate, but this wine will age quickly, so drink now–2020.
This is a soft, fragrant wine, with attractive acidity, creamy apples and fresh acidity. The Chardonnay gives a rounded character while also keeping the tight, mineral texture at the end.
This is a soft, fresh and fruity wine. It has red berry flavors that are gently lifted by fine tannins. Acidity and a juicy aftertaste complete an attractive, ready-to-drink wine.
This is a soft, fresh while rounded wine. A gentle texture hints at a more tangy character while pushing the apple and spice flavors forward. Attractive now, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a soft, fresh wine, with attractive red-berry fruits. It has little character, simply fresh fruit and acidity. Drink now.
This is a soft, fruity 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon wine. With gentle tannins and red fruit flavors, it is developing well, becoming a juicy and fruity wine.
This is a soft, fruity and easy wine. With simple tannins and black currant fruit laced with spice, it's made to be drunk now.
This is a soft, fruity and lightly crisp wine. It has citrus and warm yellow-fruit flavors and tangy orange peel acidity. Drink this fresh and light wine now.
This is a soft, fruity blend of Roupeiro, Rabo de Ovelha and Fernão Pires. It is ripe, full of apple and crisp green fruits, shot through with acidity. Drink now.
This is a soft, fruity style of rosé, perfectly suited as an apéritif. It has attractive red currant and raspberry fruit, a light touch of tannin and balanced acidity, finishing elegant and crisp.
This is a soft, fruity wine cut with bright green fruits, fresh apple acidity and lemon zest. It's an immediately attractive, clean and fragrant wine, with a pure line of acidity right at the heart of its refreshing nature.
This is a soft, fruity wine that has attractive citrus and ripe apricot fruits. It has just a touch of spice to balance the acidity and the tangy texture. Drink now.
This is a soft, fruity wine that is already mature. It still has berry and red plum fruitiness although this is now integrated with the gentle tannic structure. The freshness comes from juicy acidity that creeps in at the end to leave a fresh aftertaste.
This is a soft, fruity wine that shows sweet berry aromas and gentle tannins to taste. The Trincadeira gives delicious juiciness and ripe, generous flavors. The wine is ready to drink now.
This is a soft, fruity wine with a lively creamy mousse. Red fruits are cut with acidity that is still young. The wine really needs more time in bottle before it is drunk to allow the super-fresh character and final bitterness to soften. Palmer is the brand name for a grouping of seven growers.
This is a soft, fruity wine with a rounded texture. Creamed apples are given freshness by a citrus shot. Although it is described as Brut, its aftertaste is soft, smooth and with apple juice sweetness.
This is a soft, fruity wine with comfortable tannins and bold black fruits. It is smoothly textured with just a hint of dryness. Now maturing well, this attractive wine should be ready from 2017.
This is a soft, gentle and ripe Chardonnay by Laurent Perrachon, current winemaker from a Beaujolais family making wine since 1877. Lemon acidity is submerged by the warm apricot and white peach flavors. It is ready to drink.
This is a soft, gentle Cabernet for drinking now. It's pleasantly rich, offering blackberry, cherry, chocolate and cedar flavors, wrapped into easy tannins.
This is a soft, gentle Pinot with a plum jelly flavor derived from a touch of sweetness in its fruit. Drink now.
This is a soft, gentle rendering of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. The tropical fruit is ripe and sweet, but there's a slightly creamy edge to the flavors and a hint of bitterness on the finish.
This is a soft, gentle wine, made for immediate consumption. It features bright cherry and pear-drop aromas and pleasant, if somewhat simple, fruit flavors. Two-thirds Grenache, with the rest being a blend of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.
This is a soft, gentle wine, with hints of peaches and apricots and a tangy aftertaste.
This is a soft, gently fruity wine that has pure peach and apple flavors cut with crisp, fresh acidity. Intended to be consumed while young, it is bright and fresh with a caramel and spice element that lingers on the finish.
This is a soft, gently fruity wine. It comes from a single vineyard creating a wine that has rounded yellow and pear fruits and balanced acidity. It is a smooth wine, made to be drink young.
This is a soft, heavy Viognier. Despite some rich flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, it has a vegetal edge, and finishes jammy sweet.
This is a soft, hot Merlot. It has ripe flavors of cherries, red currants, red licorice, cocoa and pepper, and finishes dry.
This is a soft, light-bodied white that refreshes in honeyed apple and apricot that's dry, pretty and quite floral, with a flat, linear finish.
This is a soft, light wine with a smoothly creamy texture and wild-strawberry flavors. The aftertaste with bright acidity is refreshing and crisp. Drink now.
This is a soft, lightly aromatic wine with fresh apple and quince flavors. It has light spice, balanced acidity and a mineral streak that gives the wine shape and texture. It is ready to drink, although it will be even better from 2016.
This is a soft, lightly earthy style of wine produced from grapes from across the Loire Valley. It has a strong herbal character and a touch of grapefruit. Drink now.
This is a soft, lightly fruity wine with citrus and grapefruit flavors. It has some minerality and an attractive texture that gives shape to the wine. Drunk fresh in the summer, it will make a fine apéritif.
This is a soft, lusciously fruity wine for drinking now. With its silky texture, it's full of jammy cherry and raisin flavors that finish hot in alcohol.
This is a soft, lush Chardonnay, with ripe, jammy apricot, orange, mango and honey flavors, accented with buttered toast and vanilla. It's a satisfying Chardonnay at one of the better prices out there.
This is a soft, medium-dry wine, layered with fresh fruits, touches of tropical flavors and good acidity, a reflection of the vintage. It's a bright wine, lightly textured and ready to drink from the end of 2015.
This is a soft, muddled and somewhat green wine, with sizable tannins and an earthy element of wet tobacco that will require strongly flavored food to enjoy.
This is a soft, nondescript wine at first, with mild notes of black cherry, plum and black olive, that's likable and rounded on the palate.
This is a soft, off-dry Champagne that has preserved plenty of apple and pear fruitiness with some softness on top. There is a yeasty character to the wine that is less attractive, although the aftertaste is all about crisp fruitiness.
This is a soft, off-dry wine with attractive red fruit and a smooth, rounded texture. Acidity balances to give a crisp, fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a soft, open-knit wine that's ready to drink. Faintly herbal notes of damp moss and fresh mushrooms accent dark cherry and mocha shadings that glide to a plush finish.
This is a soft, open wine showing a few tannins and some of the perfumed character of the grape. The palate is rounded and shows attractive red fruits.
This is a soft, open wine, full of ripe berry fruits and red cherries. There is only the lightest tannin, along with bright acidity, a wine that is so ready to drink.
This is a soft, open wine, lightly flavored with red fruits and with attractive acidity. A bright, lively mousse gives a lift to the palate, finishing with an orange-zest tang.
This is a soft, pepper and red-fruit-flavored wine. Crisp acidity is well integrated into the tangy, mineral texture. The wine has a rich, concentrated feel, perhaps from the low-yield organically farmed vines. It offers a floral, aromatic aftertaste.
This is a soft, rather one-dimensional Merlot. It's certainly flavorful in cherries, red currants, cola and cedar, but There's not a whole lot going on.
This is a soft, rather unfocused wine that is pleasantly fruity with flavors of apples and currants. It's lightly perfumed and ready to drink now.
This is a soft, rather unfocused, open-textured wine that shows apple and citrus flavors. It's ready to drink now.
This is a soft, rich and ripe wine that is full of red fruits. It has well-integrated tannins and a warm, southern feel of generous fruitiness. The wine is deliciously ready to drink now.
This is a soft, richly attractive red wine to drink now. It shows elaborate blackberry, cherry, currant, teriyaki beef, black pepper, anise and sandalwood flavors. An elegant mouthfeel, grows better as it breathes in the glass.
This is a soft, richly fruity Zinfandel. It's jammy in raspberries and cherries, with superripe raisin and prune flavors. The alcohol is very high.
This is a soft, ripe and fruity wine, full of red berry fruits, soft spiciness and attractive acidity. Big, rich and bold, it is a full-bodied and immediately attractive wine that will easily charge through spicy foods.
This is a soft, ripe and fruity wine. It has gentle tannins and attractive red-berry fruits. There is just a touch of dryness that gives this easygoing wine its structure. Drink from early 2017.
This is a soft, ripe and fruity wine. Smooth and lightly textured, its unusual blend of Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Castelão is generous and spicy with good final acidity. Drink now.
This is a soft, ripe as well as fruity wine. A creamy, buttery character is freshened by the crisp apple flavor. With a touch of spice as well as the final acidity, the wine is warm and ready to drink.
This is a soft, ripe wine that has a certain charm in the forwardness of the flavors of cherries, black raspberries, milk chocolate, spicy anise and smoky oak. Fully dry and modest in alcohol, it will be fine with hard cheese or a broiled steak.
This is a soft, ripe wine, full of fresh fruit. It is a warm blend of Aragonez and Cabernet Sauvignon, balancing tannins and black currant flavors. It is ready to drink.
This is a soft, ripe wine, smoothly textured. It has a good balance between the crisp apple and pear flavors and a more mineral texture that gives a bite. It's young, and great to drink now, although it will be even better from late 2016.
This is a soft, ripe wine, with juicy acidity to keep it fresh. Flavors of lemon, tangy spice and baked apples are balanced by the taut texture of this still-young wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a soft, ripely fruited Sauvignon Blanc, embued with hints of passion fruit and lime. It's plump and medium bodied, round on the palate, then tart and lingering on the finish. Drink now.
This is a soft, ripely sweet Zinfandel that will be nice to sip with barbecue or baked ham. It's rich in blackberry and cherry jam, mocha, anise and pepper flavors.
This is a soft, round and fruity wine that is ready to drink. Spice, red berries and a tight layer of acidity bring balance to the soft, open structure. The aftertaste is fresh and full of fruit.
This is a soft, round wine, made mostly of Merlot, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry, grippy tannins provide a bulkhead of structure that supports black pepper, currant, cedar and clove.
This is a soft, rounded and fruity wine that is already ready to drink. It has dark berry notes, spicy accents and a strong layer of acidity to keep it fresh. Tannins show through gently, softly, just enough to give the wine structure. Drink now and until 2018.
This is a soft, rounded and immediately accessible wine. Ripe apple and crisp green-plum flavors are balanced with a softness from the dosage. Ready to drink, the wine is freshly fruity with a lively mousse and creamy aftertaste.
This is a soft, rounded and ripe wine. Attractive raspberry fruits are filled out with a light tannic character. The freshness and acidity do cut the full texture although perhaps not enough. Drink now.
This is a soft, rounded wine that has ripe tropical fruit, lychee and mango notes, accompanied by just enough acidity. While it is fruity, a more mature character is beginning to show.
This is a soft, rounded wine with floral aromas and a line of citrusy acidity. Its light tang gives it a crisp aftertaste.
This is a soft, rounded wine, with ripe fruit that seems unfocused. The fruit and the acidity are reticent, not giving the wine much shape. A simple, ripe wine, it can be drunk now.
This is a soft, seemingly sweet, simple wine. Although it's luscious in raspberry, cherry, orange zest and cinnamon spice notes, it's pretty one-dimensional.
This is a soft, semi-sweet wine with rich flavors of cherry and raspberry jam, bacon, black pepper and sandalwood. It's a little syrupy. Give it a chill in the fridge before drinking.
This is a soft, silky-textured version of Crozes-Hermitage. Hints of cedar accent black cherry and licorice aromas, while the flavors are super ripe, verging on jammy. It's already approachable, and should drink well through 2020.
This is a soft, silky and ultimately impressive wine, darkly brooding in mushroomy, forested earth and an undeniable luxuriousness of cherry cola. Medium bodied and easy to enjoy, it's a complete wine that's firm in minerality and tension.
This is a soft, simple and fruity wine. Round and gently boosted by the final acidity, it tastes of pear.
This is a soft, simple Chardonnay, sugary sweet in vanilla, caramel, peach and pineapple jam and spice flavors. A good coat of acidity provides needed balance.
This is a soft, simple white marked by green olive and vanilla bean flavors that feel concentrated and full on the finish.
This is a soft, simple wine with apple and citrus fruits and a ripe character. It is young and ready to drink.
This is a soft, simple wine, that's ripe with orange, green apple, pear and lime flavors. Honeyed on the finish, it tastes like it has some residual sugar.
This is a soft, simple wine. Although it has an attractive silkiness and savory raspberry, cola and cinnamon flavors, it's a little one-dimensional, so drink up.
This is a soft, simple wine. It shows good Gewürztraminer character in its spiciness, but it's mild in flavor, with a sweet finish.
This is a soft, simple Zinfandel. It's sweet in sugared raspberry tea and red currant flavors, sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon.
This is a soft, simple, light and fruity wine. Its lively acidity is refreshing and crisp. It has a fragrant perfume and is ready to drink.
This is a soft, simple, red fruit-driven blend of four Bordeaux varieties, the fruit complemented by a twist of cedar and mint.
This is a soft, slightly sweet rendering of Pinot Gris, loaded with succulent pear, pineapple and melon fruit. Chill it well and sip it by the pool this summer.
This is a soft, smooth and earthy wine, still unraveling from its youth, that's crisp and fresh in acidity. Chewy still in texture, it offers a glorious celebration of red cherry, rhubarb, tea and clove.
This is a soft, smooth and ethereally light red wine, bright and fresh in cassis and a wild element of sage. As it develops in the glass, the rounded approachability adds seasonings of leather and cinnamon.
This is a soft, somewhat one-dimensional Cab. It has jammy flavors of blackberries and cherries, with the vanilla and toast of oak barrel aging. Drink now.
This is a soft, soothing and light-bodied wine with fresh fruit and herb aromas. Mild but bright flavors recall apple and lemon, and a touch of sweetness rounds off any edges.
This is a soft, still-young wine. It has nut and yeast flavors that are dominating the ripe white-stone fruits. There is a hint of Chenin honey although, of course, the wine is bone dry. The wine will need to age more and should not be drunk before 2018.
This is a soft, still grippy Cabernet with an earthy, tobacco-infused character that somewhat overwhelms the taste of blackberry and black currant.
This is a soft, sweet, almost Porty wine, with raisin, chocolate and blackberry flavors. It has a long, spicy finish, and is best now with lusty stews and barbecue.
This is a soft, tart, light red wine with excessive volatility. The finish borders on vinegary flavors, which overtake the fruit.
This is a soft, tropical-fruit-driven Sauvignon Blanc made in a warm-climate style. It has a clean, fresh character, with an apricot note and a soft touch of orange zest. It's fragrant, fruity and ready to drink.
This is a soft, tropical-fruit flavored wine. It has a tangy, mineral texture that cuts through the riper fruitiness to give a wine that is easy and very drinkable now.
This is a soft, unfocused wine that only hints at fruitiness. It is rounded and full bodied, with a touch of pepper as well as lemon zest acidity at the end.
This is a soft, unfocussed wine with some acidity and a hint of strawberry fruits and a sweet candy flavor. Drink now.
This is a soft, warm wine with ripe red fruit and attractive cherry flavors, its tannins subtly in the background. Open and generous, it's ready to drink.
This is a soft, well-crafted wine from the eastern side of St. Helena that's both classic in its dried herb, tobacco and tea aromas and fruity with red currant and cranberry notes.
This is a soft, well-integrated wine with a full-throttle backbone of cedar and cranberry that drinks easily and is ready for the table. Priced attractively, it offers value for the quality and broad appeal.
This is a soft, white-fruit-driven wine. It has an attractive touch of spice to match the ripe fruit, allowing the acidity to shine. The wine is warm, full and ready to drink.
This is a softer Sauvignon Blanc for those not sworn to the grassy side of the grape, as the Buellton-based winery does a lot of barrel-fermenting. Aromas include pressed kiwi and a sour pucker of lime, and the broiled pear flavors prove easy drinking, if not exceedingly complex.
This is a softer style Agiorgitiko with elegant citrus aromas and flavors and a touch of flowers in the palate. Easydrinking and refreshing with a food-oriented crispness.
This is a softly appealing yet ultimately simple wine. It's flamboyant in flavor, suggested buttered white toast, spread with raspberry jam and sprinkled with cinnamon. Ready now.
This is a softly appealing, fruity wine. It's made like Chardonnay, with partial barrel aging, lees influences, and partial malolactic fermentation. Not especially complex, but delicious in tangerine, nectarine and buttered toast flavors.
This is a softly delicious red wine. It's strong and jammy in raspberries, cherries and milk chocolate, and is a little sweet, with a spicy finish. Nice barbecue wine. Mainly Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and a few others.
This is a softly delicious, immediately likeable Pinot. It's all about pie-filling raspberries and cherries and cola, with sweet toasted oak and fabulously exotic spices, leading to a dry finish. Defines in its own way coastal Pinot in its ripest, silkiest, drink-me-now incarnation.
This is a softly floral wine, with citrus and fresh pear notes that accompany green apple. It is ripe and fruity, with a light tang of orange on the finish. Screwcap.
This is a softly fruity wine that has attractive, easy apple and melon flavors. It is floral and ready to drink.
This is a softly gentle wine, with a drop of Sémillon contributing an oily, cashew earthiness to Sauvignon's citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
This is a softly layered wine with just the right amount of tension to give credence to a lifted minerality, accented by well-crafted clove and baked strawberry. The finish is spicy in more clove and nutmeg.
This is a softly perfumed wine that has spice as well as ripe apple and pear flavors. Gently textured, it hints at tropical fruits balanced out with fine acidity. This is an attractive wine for drinking now.
This is a softly ripe, blackberry-flavored wine, with its tannins lending a firm core. Along with the stalky fruit, the wine is dry with acidity. Drink now.
This is a softly sophisticated Cabernet that will please fans of the variety who want a wine that's a little earthier than your riper Napa Valley versions. It has herb and tobacco flavors, but there's also a delicious sunburst of sweetly ripe cherries right in the middle that lasts through the finish. Should develop over the next 7–8 years.
This is a softly spicy wine that is understated and light. With its brisk acidity and flavors of citrus and lychee, it is an easy, gentle wine that is ready to drink now.
This is a solid and balanced wine, with lively aromas and flavors of red cherry, strawberry and banana. Light weight and easy drinking, the softly tannic structure transitions seamlessly into the clean, fruity finish.
This is a solid and dark wine, full of black fruits and dense tannins. It has weight and richness, as well as a leather and smoke character that comes from the wood aging. A powerful wine for aging, drink from 2017.
This is a solid and structured wine that is lightened by its juicy acidity. Black currant fruits dominate, giving a fresh character to the wine. The tannins that show through do promise medium-term aging. Drink from 2014.
This is a solid and structured wine that is rich and full on the palate. With ripe tannins and black plum flavors, it is dense, packed with big, bold flavors and a velvety texture that is looking towards a long future. Drink from 2017.
This is a solid and well-made Chardonnay, with notes of yellow apple, melon and fresh hay on the nose and mouth. There's a subtle astringency to the fruit flavors on the medium-weight palate, with bright acidity that carries through to the clean and refreshing finish. Drink now–2019.
This is a solid bottling that should be widely available, with lush aromas of plum, watermelon and clove on the nose. There is a tactile grip to the sip, delivering orange, red-apple and tart raspberry flavors.
This is a solid Cabernet that shows the promise of the appellation in the central part of Monterey's Salinas Valley. It's dry and medium-bodied, with savory red-cherry candy, cranberry and currant flavors.
This is a solid Chardonnay for a great price. It has full body and an oaky, buttery personality that will make few enemies. It's richly textured, with an almost-sweet quality to its fruit.
This is a solid drive, a middle-of-the-fairway rosé. It's medium-pink in hue and medium bodied in style. Peach, berry and melon aroma and flavors end with a refreshing dose of citrus on the finish. Drink now.
This is a solid effort, especially at this price point. The cherry-cola core of flavor grabs your interest quickly, and hangs on with a hint of tobacco in the smooth finish. Some nice acidity adds a touch of minerality.
This is a solid effort, with good varietal character and definition. Half was fermented in stainless, half in neutral barrel, and the wine was given extended (130 days) lees contact. The herbal, peppery tang of the grape is clearly there, with intriguing hints of slate laced through the finish. This would be dynamite with sushi.
This is a solid example of a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: Bright and fruit forward with attractive stone fruit and lemon verbena notes on the nose, while lemon-lime popsicle carries on the palate. The body shows some weight and a slippery texture to keep all that acid in check.
This is a solid example of entry-level Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A cherry note is accented by hints of garrigue and chocolate, and the wine is richly textured, ripe and full bodied. Drink this blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 30% Mourvèdre over the next several years.
This is a solid mineral and tannin dominated wine. It has black currant fruits which are still buried by the tense tannins and stalky texture. It therefore needs some time to develop and broaden out. Drink from 2018.
This is a solid Pinot Noir for just $30, with clove- and vanilla-laced cherry pie notes on the nose, evoking warm pastry crust. Deep pomegranate and blackberry flavors show on the palate, as does more baking spice, crushed slate and wet clay minerality.
This is a solid Pinot, ripe in raspberries and cherries, with fine coastal acidity and firm tannins. It has a silky mouthfeel the way Pinot Noir should.
This is a solid showing, with aromas of toasted, buttered almond, honeyed pineapple, white peach flesh, apple and white flowers. It's light on the palate, with apple juice flavors, a touch of guava and nice chalkiness, making for a pleasant, drinkable wine.
This is a solid value in the world of Cabernet. Textbook notes of cassis and mint lead the way, framed by supple tannins and dressed up with hints of graham crackers and black tea. This is medium to full in weight, with a mouthwatering, velvety finish that belies its price point. Drink now–2020+.
This is a solid Verdejo with stony aromas of citrus fruits, grapefruit in particular. A palate with citric acidity creates a fresh platform for orange and grapefruit flavors. A round plump finish with briny citrus flavors is a good ending.
This is a solid Verdejo, with citrusy acidity and pulp to the palate. It shows modest melon and apple aromas and citrus and green herb flavors that finish with no major changes.
This is a solid wine from a new appellation, offering much promise for vintages to come. Baked red cherry, smashed pomegranate, cinnamon and bay leaf play on the nose, while anise, light clove, strawberry, red plum and red apple vie for attention on the palate.
This is a solid wine with its dark tannins and structure from a vineyard close to some of the greatest Grands Crus. It is concentrated, showing the density of the appellation. There is a basic richness to this wine with its ripe black fruits. It is developing slowly and has a fine future. Drink from 2022.
This is a solid wine, full-bodied and dry, and while it's a little rustic on its own, barbecue will elevate it. Blended from the two Cabernets, Sauvignon and Franc, as well as 10% Syrah, its blackberry and cherry fruit is complexed with smoked meat and tamari, set off with crisp acidity. Drink now–2015.
This is a solid wine, with complex tannins that sit over the ripe plum and berry-fruit tones. It is balanced, yet still young showing the wood aging as well as considerable juicy acidity. This wine, with its structure, needs to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a solid, all-purpose Chardonnay, a bit less oaky and oily than some previous efforts from Gordon, but showing firm, clean, ripe apple and pear fruit. The wine is balanced and smooth, delivering plenty of no-frills fruit flavor for the price.
This is a solid, chunky wine, rich in dark blackberry and and red plum flavors. Maybe the tannins are too hard at this stage, but its weight and rich fruit suggest aging potential. Drink from 2016..
This is a solid, complex, complete and evocative five-grape Bordeaux blend. It has distinctive characteristics reflective of the region's terroir. Threads of soy and balsamic run across deep cassis fruit. The stiff acidity has a citrus flavor, and details of clean fresh herb add further interest. It's a wine with a fine sense of detail, balance and length.
This is a solid, concentrated wine from a reliable chateau. It has weight and power, with rich black fruits balanced with fresh acidity. Touches of bitter extraction and wood aging are likely to integrate as the wine ages. It should develop into an impressive and powerful wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a solid, darkly tannic wine balanced with black fruits and brisk acidity. It is a powerful and concentrated wine, solidly structured and full of fruit, but it needs to age. Don't drink before 2016.
This is a solid, firm and ripe wine. With its dry structure and still youthful tannins, it has weight and the potential to age. The smoky aromas and fragrant berry fruits are bursting out of the glass, giving a ripe wine that should be drunk after 2016.
This is a solid, fruity Merlot, appealing with cherry jam and red currant flavors, housed in firm mountain tannins. There's a good cut of acidity for tackling rich beef dishes. Drink now.
This is a solid, fruity, well-priced wine that brings pear and peach flesh and skin flavors. It was briefly barrel aged and is ready for near-term drinking.
This is a solid, huge wine, with rich but very dry tannins. With its dense, almost black color, and its sense of brooding power, it promises long aging. It will never be in the opulent Bordeaux camp, despite its prominent new wood flavors, but will probably outlive all but a handful top wines.
This is a solid, jammy red that offers forward notes of black plum, cherry and berry. The medium-weight mouthfeel is direct and attractive, as the juicy black-fruit flavors are complemented by moderate tannins and balanced alcohol. A well-done and immediately accessible selection to enjoy now.
This is a solid, ready-to-drink effort, with forward flavors of raspberry and cherry. The well-managed tannins remain in the background, but put a definite edge around the finish, which wraps up quickly.
This is a solid, serviceable Pinot, though not a match for the very impressive 2010. Tart fruit carries a suggestion of over-ripeness as well, especially in the finish, which has an autumnal scent of fallen apples.
This is a solid, sharply defined, taut wine with a refined core of cherry fruit. The through-line is straight and true, finishing with a lick of citrus. Give this one a little more time to smooth itself out, and drink with pleasure after 2018.
This is a solid, slightly earthy wine of medium concentration. The black cherry core is framed with dried herb, dark chocolate, and a dusting of coffee grounds. In the context of the vintage, it seems to have a bit more heft and power than most of the other Adelsheim single vineyard Pinots.
This is a solid, structured wine that is still young. Firm tannins go with the berry fruits and acidity. Today, it's still tight and closed up, so it needs time to open out. Wait until 2016.
This is a solid, structured wine, with tannins and vanilla flavors from the new-wood aging. Black-berry flavors come through slowly but they will develop as the wine ages. Drink from 2018.
This is a solid, structured, mineral-driven wine from a famous vineyard. It is firm and dense, its big plum and berry flavors are supported by dry tannins and an herbal spice character. With its firm style, it needs to age for at least two years.
This is a solid, well-crafted and flavorful Malbec. Black fruit and cocoa aromas set up a concentrated palate, bearing chewy, dense flavors of black plum, wild berry and chocolate, plus toast and pepper notes. Production is 100,000-plus cases.
This is a solid, well-made white from the Southern Rhône, offering aromas and flavors of wet stone and melon. Despite boasting ample weight on the palate, it finishes on a crisp note of underripe pineapple.
This is a solid, well-priced and widely available wine. Deep in color, it offers sultry blackberry jam, cocoa and coffee aromas. Soft tannins coat the palate, bringing tart cherry and woody spice flavors. The acidity and grip are just right.
This is a solid, well made Pinot Noir, just one that shows more oak than fruit at this stage of its evolution. Vanilla and coffee flavors overshadow pleasant cherry and herb notes in this medium-bodied, slightly chewy wine.
This is a solidly built wine with ripe black-fruit flavors and lots of texture. It looks deeper than usual, smells like blackberries and black pepper, and tastes dry, full and firmly tannic.
This is a solidly made wine that hits all the right notes. Hot toast, lemon curd and cut red apple show on the lush, perfectly ripe but not at all buttered nose. Key lime flesh and skins show on the balanced palate, where a touch of butter is cut by laser sharp acidity and chalky minerality.
This is a solidly tannic wine. A dry edge comes from the Baga grape in the blend. At the same time, the wine has plenty of ripe black fruits that give a rounder character. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from late 2017.
This is a somewhat bitter and thin wine on entry. Lemon flavors are closer to skin and pith than ripe flesh, and there is little to suggest varietal specificity here.
This is a somewhat dull red, leathery in texture and simple in approach, offering a mix of black cherry and licorice.
This is a somewhat soft and friendly wine, filled with ripe peaches and pears, and with a backbone of lime-like citrus. It even boasts a subtle dose of minerality. Yet it lacks the power and precision of some of the other Rebholz wines, instead settling for being soft and cuddly rather than profound.
This is a sophisticated and opulent red blend with great structure, concentrated dark fruit and dark chocolate flavors, good depth and a lingering finish. The fruit is ripe enough to balance its firm but rounded tannins, so it's tempting to drink now but will be best after 2019.
This is a sophisticated and rich white wine with pretty hues of stone fruit, almond and honeysuckle. The wine boasts thick density and long-lasting fruit flavors. Pair it with poached Norwegian salmon.
This is a sophisticated and smooth Chardonnay with an extraordinarily soft and silky texture in the mouth. The wine's aromas recall peach blossom, caramel and butter squash and are delivered with intensity and confidence. Pair it with honey-roasted ham or stuffed pork roll.
This is a sophisticated and toasted expression of Pinot Grigio that offers thick tones of exotic fruit, apricot, butter, almond and butterscotch. The mouthfeel is creamy, soft and beautifully intense.
This is a sophisticated and ultrasmooth wine. A spicy, almost sweet aroma of classy oak leads to rich strawberry and plum flavors that glide lightly on the supple texture, which has just enough tannin and acidity to keep the wine well balanced.
This is a sophisticated blend of Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and it's always delightful. This vintage shows intense, soft notes of dried sage and rosemary.
This is a sophisticated blend of Pinot Noir grape flavors complemented by oak spice and a smooth, luxurious texture. Though full-bodied, the wine seems to glide effortlessly from cinnamon and cherry aromas through clove, cardamom and cassis flavors to an extended, hauntingly delicious finish. Best after 2018.
This is a sophisticated blend of tart yellow fruits with hints of cucumber, salad greens and lemon oil. Though 80% stainless steel fermented, the rest spent time in new oak. The mineral rich acids provide extra grip.
This is a sophisticated Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, Bordeaux-style blend, with 9% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. It carries a note of leather and drying tannins, suggesting that you should drink it fairly soon. It should be delicious with a grilled steak.
This is a sophisticated effort that opens with lively aromas of butterscotch, candied fruit, papaya, pineapple, vanilla and ripe apricot. It's a beautiful wine, with a bold and opulent mouthfeel and a finish that lasts minutes.
This is a sophisticated, stylish and ultimately tasty wine, given time in mostly stainless steel, with 10% in neutral oak. Fleshy, floral and full bodied without ever becoming obtrusive, it offers a nice mix of Meyer lemon and vanilla. The elements are integrated and the punchy texture offers both depth and breadth.
This is a sort of junior bottling to their world-famous and superexpensive Hillside Select. The 2005 is a very good Cab (with 2% Petite Verdot), but a bit on the soft, sweet, obvious side. Showing pie-filling, almost candied cherry, blackberry, raspberry and chocolate flavors, it resembles many other California Cabernets that don't cost nearly as much.
This is a sort of junior version of Swan's awesome Trenton Estate Pinot. It shows the same dryness and acidity, with appealing flavors of cherries, raspberries and mushrooms. It's not quite as dense and complex, but it's a gorgeously silky Pinot Noir.
This is a sort of second tier wine from Talbott. It's a strongly flavored Chardonnay and extremely ripe, with pineapple jam, apricot-infused crème brûlée and sweet vanilla-butterscotch flavors. But for all the richness, it's crisp and bone dry. Easy to find, with 20,000 cases.
This is a sound but heavy wine. Superripe raspberry and cherry jam flavors feels syrupy and unbalanced on the palate, partly due to it's high alcohol level.
This is a sound Cabernet Sauvignon. It's very dry and quite tannic, with pure blackberry, black currant and blueberry flavors, and it finishes with a soft gentleness. At its best now, and the price is good for the quality.
This is a sound example of the warm-climate style of Zinfandel. It's high alcohol gives it a hot, chili-pepper-like sting, and the blackberry fruit has a Port-like, raisiny edge.
This is a sound Merlot. It has some good fruit flavors, along the lines of cherries and blackberries, with earthier notes of olive tapenade and sweet, spicy tobacco. Despite firm tannins, it's fully ready to drink now.
This is a sound Pinot for everyday drinking. It brings some structural finesse to fairly simple sour cherry candy and cola flavors. There's a touch of green veggies that limits enjoyment, though.
This is a sound Pinot Noir that's common but varietally correct. Silky in texture, it's dry and crisp with acidity, accented with pink bubblegum, raspberry-pie filling and spice flavors.
This is a sound Pinot Noir, rich in raspberry jam, toast and vanilla flavors, with lots of zingy coastal acidity.
This is a sound Pinot Noir, well-made and clean, with some complexity. It's your basic Russian River Valley, dry and crisp in acidity, with pleasant cola, red currant, cranberry and pomegranate flavors. Doesn't seem like an ager, so drink up.
This is a sound red wine, dry and full-bodied. It's a bit sharp around the edges, with pleasant blackberry, herb and spice flavors. Drink now.
This is a sound Sauvignon Blanc, with plenty of varietal character. It's tastes of honey, grass and citrus flavors that are highlighted by brisk acidity.
This is a sound, everyday Merlot with some special qualities that give it an extra point or two. It's dry and smooth in tannins, with layers of cherries, blackberries, currants and licorice. Not likely to age well, so give it a little time to breathe and drink now.
This is a sound, pleasant Pinot Noir, a little rugged and gritty in the mouth, but dry enough, with a silky texture. It has interesting cherry, cola, rhubarb and sandalwood flavors. Drink now–2013.
This is a sound, pleasurable Zin to drink now. It's dry and spicy, with flavors of fresh, briary blackberries and cherries, and a long aftertaste.
This is a sound, rustic red wine. It's comprised of undisclosed varieties, but tastes basically like a Rhône blend, with simple cherry, cola, herb and oak flavors.
This is a southern and warmer take on Alvarinho than is found in northern Portugal. It brings out the ripe perfumed character of the grape. Apricot and golden plums show both the fruit and the generous texture. Drink this wine starting from late 2017.
This is a southern Rhône-style blend, with a fruit mix falling on the not-quite-ripe end of the spectrum. Tomato leaf and rhubarb flavors run into chewy tannins and a quick, short finish.
This is a spaghetti with tomato sauce wine, high in acidity, with very ripe, sweet cherry and cured tobacco flavors and firm tannins. It's kind of like an old fashioned Chianti.
This is a special “Celebration 2000” bottling from this small family-run estate. The nose shows citrus and stone, with a bitter anise streak. Unfortunately, the bitterness carries through on the palate, with a rubbery quality in the finish.
This is a special bottling with a fancy new label that commemorates Korbel's 130th anniversary. It's slightly sweet and easy to drink, with rich, creamy flavors of honey, orange and vanilla. The blend is Chenin Blanc, French Colombard and Chardonnay.
This is a special cuvée, produced from the estate of the Prissette family. It is certainly rich and dense but it also has a crisp edge coming from the black-currant fruits. The tannins are still firm and young, underlining the weight of the wine. With a final dry edge, the wine has considerable potential. Drink from 2020.
This is a special expression of Sangiovese (and a small amount of Cannaiolo) with a pure, luminous quality aided by subtle aromas of forest berry, white licorice, cola and pressed lavender. It's an elegant wine from start to finish.
This is a special selection from parcels of vines in Château Castéra. Stewed plum aromas lead to a wine that is lean, leaving little room for the fruit.
This is a special wine that represents an antique and almost nonexistent winemaking practice in Tuscany today. A portion of the Sangiovese grapes are air dried, and the wine is refermented on the dried grapes. As result, it shows great intensity and dried aromas of cassis, prune and tobacco. Bright acidity pulls it together.
This is a spectacular effort. Cascading flavors of black cherry, plum and cassis are drenched in caramel, mocha and buttery barrel flavors. Although the wine lists at a hefty 14.9% alcohol, it does not sacrifice elegance, nor does it substitute power for polish. The rush of blueberry, blackberry, black cherry and currant fruit, the layers of smoke and graphite, and the immense barrel flavors just keep on rolling through the palate. It will probably age quite well, but why wait?
This is a spectacular expression of Barbera with soft layers of black cherry, chocolate, spice and crushed clove. It's long, soft, opulent and generous on the close.
This is a spicy and fragrant red wine, the 63% Grenache dominating the fruit, and the 37% Syrah filling in the back with peppery tannins. At first the flavors are tight and compressed, a mix of blackberry, cherry, plum and more, along with streaks of espresso. As the acids wind their way down the throat, they take on strong citrus flavors of lemon, pineapple and orange peel.
This is a spicy and ripe wine, rather fat in character, lacking acidity. It has a full mouthfeel, with notes of lychee, toasted bread and various fruits. Drink now.
This is a spicy blend of Cabernet fruit from five different vineyards scattered across the state; it's varietal and focused, with precise flavors of plum and red currant. If there is new oak it's hidden, and the acids jut out with a raw angularity, but it's a palate-refreshing style that will nicely accompany simple grilled meats.
This is a spicy earthy wine with its high percentage of Alicante Bouschet giving rich tannins and a dark dense texture. The wine is packed with dense fruit and power, perhaps erring on the side of too much, with a pepper edge to the concentrated black fruit. Drink now.
This is a spicy number with a minty green aroma along with cherry, molasses and smoke notes. The mouthfeel is edgy and lively, while the flavors of vanilla, cocoa and herbal plum and berry are solid and composed. It's solid but a bit herbal on the finish.
This is a spicy peppery wine, its acidity tempered by the tangy texture and bitter almond flavors. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a spicy ripe wine. Its berry flavors are shot through with acidity and generous tannins. It is still dry and still young although its future is assured. This estate is Bordeaux producer and négociant Nicolas Thienpont's family home. Drink this fine wine from 2019.
This is a spicy wine that is full of juicy red-berry fruit notes. It is soft and gentle, with a core of dry tannins that gives the wine structure. Young and fruity, it is ready to drink, but will also age. Drink until 2018.
This is a spicy wine that shows rich fruit along with nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. Baked apple and ripe pear underly the spice, while acidity on the finish accentuates a fresh aftertaste.
This is a spicy wine with mint aromas and rich juicy fruits. It is dense, powerful and concentrated while preserving a sense of proportion and style. Dark wood-aging flavors are still showing and need time to integrate. Drink from 2018.
This is a spicy wine, but it is more about ripe fruits, apricot and peach as well as a twist of lemon. The aftertaste is fresh and fruity. The Queyren family's 100 years in the wine business makes good use of its Entre-Deux-Mers' vineyard of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon.
This is a spicy wine, finely fruity with black-currant fruits and with some firm structured tannins. It is a concentrated wine that is likely to mature slowly. There is a sense of power behind this fine cru wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a spicy wine, its fruit merged with toastiness and almond flavors. Fermentation in wood has created a wine that has layers of flavors as well as crisp honeyed fruit and acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a spicy wine, soft and open. Its tannins and red berry fruits have a diffuse character that takes away the focus of the wine. It will age quickly.
This is a spicy wine, with balanced wood, yellow-fruit flavors and acidity that cuts through the spice and ripeness. A zing of citrus finishes this attractive wine in style.
This is a spicy wine, with toasty wood flavors. Happily the fruit is also there, spreading its juicy acidity over the tannins. Let this wine fill out over the next few months and it will be ready to drink from 2017.
This is a spicy wood-laden wine. Considering it is three-years-old, it seems likely that the burnt-wood flavor will remain. That spoils what is otherwise a ripe and juicy wine with fine black fruits.
This is a spicy, complex, oak-aged and full-bodied wine instead of a simply herbal one, and it shows hints of ginger and nutmeg in the aroma leading to vibrant but subtle lemon and grapefruit flavors. The layers of spice and crisp fruit make a wonderful combination to sip and explore.
This is a spicy, earthy and medium-bodied selection, lengthy and concentrated in cardamom and forest pine. The fruit tends dark and brooding, with a brambly character balanced against the crispness of acidity. The spiciness persists through the finish.
This is a spicy, exotic wine with flavors of rich berry fruits and a warm, perfumed structure. There are dense tannins supporting the ripe fruitiness and dark, brooding edge of this still-young wine. It can be drunk now for its fruit, but will also age remarkably well. Drink until 2019.
This is a spicy, flavorful and fairly straightforward vineyard-designate. It's not overly complex, but offers a mix of classic Gravenstein-apple fruitiness with medium-bodied texture and weight.
This is a spicy, fresh wine with cinnamon alongside fragrant acidity. It's crisply fruity, full of balanced acidity and deliciously aromatic. With its ripe apricot flavors, this wine is ready to drink.
This is a spicy, fully plush and complete wine, integrated in oak and tannin with a strength of black-cherry compote that gives an extra edge. The length and texture are impressive, showcasing the power of the vineyard in a ripe, even vintage, and some deft winemaking as well.
This is a spicy, generously ripened wine, emboldened by fistfuls of cinnamon, leather and blackberry pie.
This is a spicy, heavily toasty wine. Strong wood flavors mask the ripe berry fruits. It is a wine to be drunk young, but the wood is too much.
This is a spicy, herbal wine. Its crisp lemon flavor is lifted by perfumed Muscadelle in the blend to give a wine that has a warm edge to balance the acidity. It is ready to drink.
This is a spicy, lively wine with interesting flavors of black cherry cola. It's not a big wine, but it offers a mouthful of pleasure.
This is a spicy, lushly textured wine with concentrated aromas and flavors of black berries, bramble, chocolate, chicory and coffee. Ripe, dark fruit and berry flavors linger into the medium-length finish, with a soft note of  earthy spice on the back.
This is a spicy, nutmeg-flavored wine. Its wood aging plays well with the aromatic fruitiness that brings out yellow fruits as well as light acidity. It needs no aging.
This is a spicy, peppery wine initially, opening with a fragrant, fresh and citrus character. It's bright and crisp, showing some intensity from low-yield vines. Full, ripe and fresh on the finish. Screwcap.
This is a spicy, perfumed wine that has a fine balance between acidity and red fruits. It comes from 40-year-old vines in this estate owned by French actor Gérard Depardieu. The wine is ripe and crisp with acidity at the end. Drink now.
This is a spicy, perfumed wine that has a rich feel to it. Tropical fruits are balanced by a crisp texture and a fresh, green-apple acidity. It's a wine for drinking now and very approachable.
This is a spicy, resin-driven wine with mature notes of black fruit, plum, dried figs and black pepper. The texture is compact and lean but the wine delivers a blast of intense fruit and spice on the close: Pair with game dishes.
This is a spicy, rich, smooth wine, immediately attractive and ready to drink. It has ripe tannins, black fruits in abundance and delicious acidity to give a lift. It's a classic barbecue wine and great for summer parties.
This is a spicy, ripe wine that has fine acidity as well as layers of tannins and a dense texture. It is developing fast, bringing out delicious freshness and red fruits. The vineyards are being converted to organic—a multi-year process. Drink from 2018.
This is a spicy, ripe wine with some firm tannins. Black currant flavors and good acidity give a rich feel, and a jammy element comes from the ripe fruits. The wine is developing fast, so drink from 2016.
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.
This is a spicy, vibrantly realized wine from a coastal ridge five miles from the Pacific Ocean dusted in sandy, loam soils. It's planted entirely to the Swan clone, which can contribute an undeniable wildness to the variety. Baked cherry meets spearmint and clove, the acidity light and bright with plenty of texture atop the medium-sized body.
This is a spicy, wood laden wine. It has notes of toast and burnt wood as well as a dense texture. Still young, the rich black fruits are there behind the wood flavors. It is powerful while still balanced. Drink this solid wine from 2018.
This is a spicy, wooded, thick and dense varietal wine. The palate is medium bodied, with bold boysenberry and black berry fruits that mingle with a seam of lifting citrusy acidity. It's an approachable and tasty crowd-pleaser that'll impress.
This is a spirited, funky white made from old vines, the wine aged in neutral oak. High in acidity, it has flavors of white peach and coconut.
This is a spirited, juicy and satisfying coastal wine, bright with layers of raspberry and cherry that wear their full-bodied ripeness well. The fruit is sprinkled beautifully with a light spiciness of vanilla and cinnamon oak.
This is a splendid rendition of Chateau Ste. Michelle's mainstay Cabernet, rich and round, with a sophisticated mix of grapes, including Malbec, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Dark fruit flavors of black cherry and cassis create a lush center, and the wine is more evolved and smoother, with less obvious oak and barrel flavor, than the pricier Cabs from Ste. Michelle.
This is a spunky, jumpy Tempranillo with horsey aromas of cherry and plum. A light, fresh palate delivers lightly herbal flavors of plum and pie cherry, with an earthy twist. Mild and hollow on the finish.
This is a stainless-steel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. It's clean and crisp in acidity, but too sweet. Tastes like sugared orange, mango and pineapple fruit juice.
This is a stainless-steel fermented combo of 90% Syrah with 10% Zinfandel. It's light and easy on the nose but dark in color and brooding in weight, made in a full-bodied style.
This is a stalky light wine. With black-currant fruit and layers of intense acidity, it is fruity with a cool crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a stalky wine whose black-currant fruits are light and almost too fresh. Acidity and a nervy texture indicate a wine that will not have much depth although its fruits will be attractive soon. Drink from 2017.
This is a stalky wine with blackberry fruit and a dry tannic edge. It may soften although the acidity suggests it will always be a lean wine.
This is a stalky wine with dry tannins under the wild blackberry fruits. It has a green edge to it that spoils its fruitiness.
This is a stalky wine, full of black-currant fruits and with just enough weight to balance tannins and the dry structure. It has the potential to become an attractive, fruity wine, so drink from 2018.
This is a stalky wine, with black currant fruits and a soft texture. It is full of acidity and light fruitiness that will make it attractive if drunk lightly chilled. Drink now.
This is a stalky wine. Even though it is full in the mouth, it still has a tight, green character typical of unripe Tannat. The blend is 80% Tannat, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tannins and bell pepper flavors go with the firm structure and the acidity at the end. Drink from 2017.
This is a stalky, black currant and spice flavored wine. It has relatively soft tannins while showing a meaty, juicy character. The wine is for medium-term aging, so drink from 2016.
This is a stalky, tight and dry wine. Maybe that's because it's young, but the fruit is way behind the dry, tannic and tough exterior. It's hard to see this softening enough.
This is a stand out rosé amidst an excellent lineup of New York pinks this vintage. Made from Cabernet Franc, it juxtaposes plump, silken mouthfeel against bright, crisp red cherry and bramble berry notes. It's a sprightly, yet concentrated and deeply satisfying sip.
This is a standard Cabernet Sauvignon that sees oak aging for added layers of spice and toast. At the core is a solid base of red fruit and blackberry with easy endnotes of licorice and dried spice.
This is a standard SB that was made for near-term quaffing. The nose delivers citrus and oceanic crispness, while in the mouth it's modest, with white pepper, green bean, bell pepper and citrus flavors. On the finish, it's citrusy at first but then slips toward bitter tasting.
This is a standout amongst an increasing number of German Pinot Noir now available stateside. While youthful still with aromas of fresh black cherries and berries, it's layered with shades of bramble, herb and granite, suggesting a long evolution that's still ahead. Elegantly structured with cranberry acidity and fine, penetrating tannins, it's a balanced wine that's sexy and seductive.
This is a standout in this price range. The well-defined cherry/cranberry fruit is wrapped in fresh rosemary and tarragon spices; the tannins are polished and there is an intriguing scent of pine forest that permeates the finishing flavors also. Such complexity is not always found in wines twice as expensive.
This is a standout of the vintage from the producer, earthy and stemmy in complex cherry, strawberry, forest and plum. Within the context of fruit and pine, it supports lively acidity and a lushness that shows its full-bodied fervor.
This is a standout wine from the vintage, made from a selection of the Trione Cloverdale Ranch. Blended with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, it sings in robust red and black cherry and currant, as well as more luxurious waves of chocolate and vanilla. There's a forwardness to the texture, making for a wine that's both big and happy.
This is a standout, showing Napa Valley's true potential for the variety. Steely and light bodied in approach, it offers a lively complement of apricot and juicy green-apple flavors, finishing on a fresh fig note and feeling balanced and complete.
This is a starkly mineral wine, with straightforward apple aromas followed by a crisp, bright palate infused with notes of beer nuts. Finishes light and dry, with a final accent of lemon peel.
This is a stately Cabernet housing classic Chilean aromas of spicy, berry fruits mixed with earth notes. It's supremely fresh on the palate, with layers of briar fruit and integrated oak. Baked berry, hard spice and exotic chocolate flavors end toasty and warm, but lively and complex. Drink through 2024.
This is a steely wine wrapped with white and green fruit flavors. It is clean, bright and full of pear and crisp apple notes. The tangy after taste is floral. Ready to drink in six months.
This is a steely wine, crisp and very textured. Lemon zest and acidity are given structure by the mineral character and by the touches of wood. It's a wine with a future, so drink from 2016.
This is a steely wine, tight with acidity and lemon fruits. It has a mineral, tangy texture that is still calming down, which suggests a young wine that needs time. Certainly the fruit is all there, if with a nervy character. Drink the wine from 2018.
This is a steely, herbal, high-acid Merlot, with pale red fruit flavors of cranberry and currant. Accents of clove and iron are wrapped into stiff, but ripe tannins. Nice structure, ready for steak.
This is a stellar deal, so buy and drink up now. Lime blossom, ripe nectarine, lemongrass and wet gravel aromas show on the nose. The palate is focused and grassy, fleshed out with ripe stone fruit and layers of lime peel and rain-drenched cement. Elegant yet approachable.
This is a stellar representation of the region, combining ripeness with dark earth and wild herb notes. Aromas of black cherry, crushed slate, turned loam, dried hibiscus and violets make for a lavish nose. The rounded palate weaves black raspberry together with gravel, thyme and sagebrush. Iron fist, silk glove, utterly delicious.
This is a stellar wine. Dusty citrus spiked with clove comes to mind first aromatically and continues through to the palate. Tart acidity supports sublime texture and a lightness that never means lean. Red currant, grapefruit and orange provide additional lift and focus.
This is a stemmy, mouth-filling Pinot Noir crafted from Anderson Valley fruit, showing cherry and pomegranate with a touch of toast.
This is a stewed, raisiny wine on the nose, while in the mouth it's more acidic and flush, but not quite elegant or sophisticated. The palate deals a short burst of heavy plum and berry flavor, and the finish is jammy and ripe but lacks complexity.
This is a stiff and herbal wine without much charm, even after considerable breathing time. Rubbery scents, bitter tannins and a chicken stock note obscure its tart berry and black cherry fruit.
This is a stiff, tannic wine with wood smoke and tart cherry flavors and a firm, mouth-puckering texture that persists on the finish. It leads with a lush blackberry jam aroma but then closes in and tightens up.
This is a stony, savory style of rosé, with its ample weight backed by firm acids and only modest melon fruit. It's a style better suited to food than casual sipping on its own.
This is a straight-ahead, crisply  defined, well-ripened Chardonnay. Bright flavors of jicama and green apple are within a toasty frame. It's light and accessible, with good balance and flavor.
This is a straightforward Amarone, with red fruit and spice aromas. The palate delivers cherry and raspberry flavors and a hint of white pepper. It's not as rich as some Amarones, but the lithe tannins and fresh acidity make it very drinkable.
This is a straightforward and genuine Barolo with deep layers of bright fruit, spice and mineral packaged seamlessly together as a whole. In the mouth, the wine is clean and elegant with dry, finely textured tannins.
This is a straightforward and pleasant Barbera exhibiting ripe dark-fruit flavors, spice and fresh acidity. Cries out for food, and will pair beautifully with soups, pastas and white meats. Grape Expectations and Massanois Imports.
This is a straightforward blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, offering briary, jammy black-fruit and leather flavors, finishing with a splash of vanilla.
This is a straightforward but easy-to-enjoy selection, boasting upfront aromas and flavors of peach, watermelon rind and white currant. Light weight and bright in mouthwatering acidity, a hint of fresh-cut grass graces the clean finish.
This is a straightforward but enjoyable selection, with black cherry aromas and whiffs of bitter almond that carry over to palate alongside a hint of black pepper. Enjoy this with savory pastas.
This is a straightforward but simple wine. It's dry and crisp but a bit watery with lemon, lime and vanilla flavors.
This is a straightforward but tasty red with a nose of vanilla, herbs and blackberry. Flavors of tomato, herbs and blackberry are integrated and finish fresh. A good everyday pour with an exotic flair.
This is a straightforward Cabernet that's dry, tannic and soft in acidity, making it fine to drink now. It has easy flavors of blackberries, black currants and cola.
This is a straightforward easy-drinker with aromas of cantaloupe and kiwi leading to off-dry, lightly styled fruit flavors.
This is a straightforward Merlot with herbal aromatics, oaky tannins and a layering of quiet raspberry and spice. Well priced for the quality and food-friendly nature of this wine.
This is a straightforward quaffer. Aromas of herbs, jasmine and stone fruit lead to sugary-sweet fruit flavors.
This is a straightforward wine showing ripe tropical fruits and a melon rind character, while mint and lemon peel ride out in the background. The fruit disappears quickly on the finish but a lovely herbaceousness takes its place.
This is a straightforward, clean, fruity wine, with a green apple flavor.
This is a straightforward, lush and alluringly tart white that offers an oaky backbone of vanilla wrapped in fresh layers of fig, apple and green olive flavor.
This is a straightforward, plummy, raisiny wine with medium body and an earthy, tomato-like touch in the flavors. It will be good for very casual occasions.
This is a straightforward, plump, fruity Chardonnay. Round peach and lemon flavors get a burst of energy from hints of pineapple and citrus, finishing clean and fresh. Drink now.
This is a straightforward, regular Cab with berry/cherry aromas and flavors. Nothing is out of the ordinary; the palate is bright and focused on simple berry flavors, while the finish has proper feel, lift and power. Shows a good mixture of fruit, acid and tannin.
This is a straightforward, slighlty tart Chardonnay that's shy with fruit. Sourced from Lodi and Napa.
This is a straightforward, varietally correct wine, with aromas of apple and spice. The palate is on the lighter side of medium bodied, bringing a sense of texture.
This is a straightfoward, plummy, grapy red wine. It's medium in body but rather simple, ending on a slightly astringent, chalky note. Ecocert.
This is a strange rosato made with the Sagrantino grape that shows the natural astringency of this native grape from Umbria and follows with heavy aromas of ripe citrus fruit, pineapple and even a savory touch of old spice. It also shows a touch of sweetness on the close.
This is a strange version of the Sauvignon Blanc. It is vegetal and herbal with a salty edge from the ocean breezes close by. The fruitiness of the grape is missing in this lightly toasty wine. Drink now.
This is a strange wine (made with Piedirosso from near the ancient city of Pompeii) with a brownish, dull color and awkward aromas of candy cane and cherry pie.
This is a strange wine from Puglia, in Southern Italy, with drying aromas of crushed hazelnut and Graham cracker. You'll get peanut butter and almond cookies as well and the fruit aromas resemble prunes and raisins. The blend is 40% Uva di Troia, 40% Montepulciano and 20% Aglianico.
This is a strangely chemical wine that has overripe fruit. It misses out on initial acidity and fruitiness.
This is a strawberry-pink-colored wine with candied flavors balanced by acidity. It is fruity, crisp and light in character.
This is a strikingly pure expression of single-vineyard, Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Focused and tight, it is extremely dense and textural, with a mix of cassis and coffee. Some of the minerality of the neighboring Ciel du Cheval vineyard is just beginning to show in the fruit from these young vines as well.
This is a strong-tasting Cabernet that lacks subtlety. But if you're looking for a kick of black currants and lots of tingly acidity, you might enjoy it.
This is a strong showing for Nalys, surprisingly full-bodied and creamy-textured for the estate. Hints of wood char and roasted meat mark the nose, while the flavors of mocha and brown sugar carry through the plush, velvety finish. Drink now–2023.
This is a strong showing for this growing region south of San Jose, which was historically home to prominent vineyards. Crushed black peppercorns, thyme and rosemary show on the nose against tart blackberry juice, with cola and a touch of blackened beef. Black currant and elderberry arise on the sip along with white-pepper spice, held together by balanced acidity and tannins. It's ripe, but far from overdone.
This is a strong wine for the price, unfolding with caramelized berries, kirsch, black cassis, wet river stone and tight plum skins on the dense nose. Cooked blackberries and black-cherry jam show on the palate, where elegant graphite tannins make for a very silky, earthy wine.
This is a strong wine from this region just south of Temecula and north of San Diego. The nose offers smoked cigar, blackberry preserves, raw cut wood and pine-needle aromas, while the palate packs juniper and floral tea elements into a black-plum backbone. Hints of soy and burned caramel add action to the medium-weight mouthfeel.
This is a strong wine, dark and oaky, with rich flavors of licorice, toffee and espresso. The fruit is washed in Bourbon barrel flavor. It's impressively rich, but a bit overpowering.
This is a strong, concentrated, full-bodied wine with ripe yet not extravagant fruit, good structure and a polished texture. Made from old-vine Zinfandel, Mataro and Carignan grapes, it has an extraordinary sense of solidity and depth.
This is a strong, direct Chardonnay that offers no subtlety, but impresses for sheer power. It dazzles with tangerine, pineapple and peach flavors, with plenty of new oak. Ready now.
This is a strong, dry and tannic Cabernet Sauvignon, with intense blackberry, black currant and new oak flavors. Right now, it's immature, offering little beyond sheer power. Will it age? Six years is no problem. After that, the overripeness, in the form of raisins, may easily kick in.
This is a strong, firm wine with an initially earthy aroma that fills out with the scent of dark black fruits. The structure of the wine is taut, dark and brooding, offering serious potential for aging. Its bold acidity and young tannins further suggest aging, so drink between 2016–2024. Langdon Shiverick, Comète Wines.
This is a strong, full-bodied rosé with ripe, jammy strawberry and raspberry flavors that finish off dry with fruity essence.
This is a strong, oaky Chardonnay. It's crisp in acidity and forward in pineapple jam, lemon custard and vanilla meringue flavors. If you like the ripe, California style, it's for you.
This is a strong, oaky, ripe Chardonnay, grown on a mountain better known for Cabernet. It's powerful and intense in pineapple tart, pear marmalade, Meyer lemon and lime flavors that have been liberally oaked, and it shows the creamy influence of lees. Not particularly subtle, it's a wine you don't want to drink too cold.
This is a strongly flavored blush, packing a punch of raspberry, fig, sweet tea and rose flavors. It's dry and very crisp in acidity. Give it a chill and enjoy with salted, smoked meats, or a nice fish stew.
This is a strongly flavored Cabernet. It has upfront blackberry and red cherry jam flavors, with some sweet spicy notes from French oak barrels. It's not a wine you want to age, but is smooth and flattering now.
This is a strongly flavored Chardonnay. It packs a punch in ripe tropical citrus fruit, pear and vanilla oak flavors that are honey sweet on the finish. The acidity provides balance, but seems awkwardly applied.
This is a strongly flavored wine, offering a blast of vanilla, buttered toast, caramel, honey, and orange and apricot jam flavors.
This is a strongly flavored, brawny, tannic and heady wine. In other words, it's classic Petite Sirah. The variety does particularly well in St. Helena, whose heat brings extra ripeness, but whose cool nights preserve acidity. Varozza's '08 has delicious flavors of black currant, plum, bacon and black pepper; it should last at least a decade.
This is a strongly herbal wine. Its acidity and crisp texture give it great lift, bringing out lively fruitiness and a green fruit aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a strongly mineral wine, textured and rich at the same time, with fine acidity. Blackberry fruit dominates the palate, with rich tannins and cool freshness. It tastes of terroir, a true Dão from the granite soils. Drink from 2016.
This is a strongly perfumed wine with a curious barnyard flavor that hides the fruitiness. This spoils the tangy texture and acidity that are there in the back.
This is a strongly tannic, obviously wood-aged wine. The black fruits are paralleled by the new-wood toastiness, which gives a vanilla flavor. With top Portuguese consultant Anselmo Mendes involved, the wine has style as well as weight and dense fruit. Give it several years to mature. Drink from 2017.
This is a structured and balanced wine. It has spice along with tannins that are built on ripe red-fruits. This is a full-bodied wine that is made for food. Drink now.
This is a structured and beautifully wood-aged wine. It comes from vineyards high up in the hills above the Douro, giving a balanced character to the wine. Red berries and black plum skins give the fruit, balanced by the dense, dry core of serious tannins. It's a wine for long aging, so don't drink before 2018.
This is a structured and dense wine. It has a fine contrast between the ripe red fruits, the mineral tannins and acidity. From the company's vineyards, the wine is balanced and worth aging. Drink from 2017.
This is a structured but elegant wine, with attractive aromas of baked plum, black cherry and cinnamon. The palate is both concentrated and smooth, with lush blackberry, white pepper and cinnamon flavors, as well as fresh acidity. This is delicious and ready to enjoy now.
This is a structured dry wine that has spice, toast and solid tannins. Initially showing too much extraction, it does then open out to the ripe fruits and black-currant flavors. Wait until 2018.
This is a structured rich wine. It has great ripe fruit, generous with red berry and acidity in fine balance. It has a solid backbone of tannins although these are already well integrated into the opulent wine. Drink from 2021.
This is a structured style of rosé with a tannic edge as well as red-currant flavors. It is fruity, dry and with fine refreshing acidity to finish this fragrant wine. Drink now.
This is a structured wine from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon that has plenty of fruit. With some firm tannins as well as concentrated blackberry fruit, it is going to be a fine wine. It was created under the direction of consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt's team. Start drinking from 2019.
This is a structured wine that also has great layers of rich black fruits. They give the wine weight and intensity that is lifted by acidity. It is a powerful complex wine, concentrated and ripe. Drink from 2025.
This is a structured wine that has both firm tannins and ripe black plum fruits. It is concentrated and serious, the wood aging and the fruit tannins giving a lift and richness to the spicy fruit. The estate, dating to the 17th century, has 96 acres. Drink from 2021.
This is a structured wine that shows both solid tannins and juicy red-fruit acidity. It's a rich but balanced wine with a ripe aftertaste. Drink from 2015.
This is a structured wine that shows class and finesse. It has rich juicy blackberry flavors that are supported by some firm tannins and a dense texture. The wine is ready to drink for its fruitiness, although it will be better from 2019.
This is a structured wine that still has serious layers of ripe fruit and rich tannins. The black currant from the Cabernet Sauvignon is balanced by the jammy richness of the delicious Merlot. It's an impressive wine that continues the progress of this estate, owned by Lafite-Rothschild. Drink from 2024.
This is a structured wine that will shortly balance its blackberry fruit and tannins. It has fine acidity, and a core of dryness that will soften. Drink from 2019.
This is a structured wine whose fruit is still coming through the tannins. It has a dry core, layers of acidity and juicy bitter cherry acidity. Drink from the end of 2016.
This is a structured wine with its tight acidity and concentrated white and citrus fruits. Produced from a small parcel on the Chevalier estate, it is complex with its mineral texture, its touch of pepper and its fine herbal acidity. It is a wine for long-term aging. Drink from 2023.
This is a structured wine with layers of tannins as well as ripe red plum skin fruit flavors. It is a wine for aging, which would bring out a rich texture as well as intense acidity. It should not be drunk before 2017.
This is a structured wine with rich, concentrated fruits. It has a strong mineral content along with a tense texture. Tropical fruit flavors come through on the rich, opulent finish.
This is a structured wine, almost tannic in character. It has a rich, textured character that will allow the wine well. Apple and pear flavors are dominant along with the spice from wood aging. Drink from 2020.
This is a structured wine, dark and firm as tannins meld with the ripe berry fruits. It has the weight to have great potential. The wine, with its concentration and dense tannins, will be ready to drink from 2025.
This is a structured wine, displaying black currant and spice notes. Still young, with grippy tannins and a dusty texture, this will develop quickly into a round and fruity wine. Drink from late 2016.
This is a structured wine, firm with tannins and still showing some of the wood-aging. Red-berry fruits are cut with crisper blueberries and considerable acidity. This is going to be a firm wine that is lightened by the fruit, and a very good representative of the vintage. Drink from 2020.
This is a structured wine, firm with tannins as well as bursting with ripe red fruits. Its acidity is well integrated into the rich fruitiness. It could well age for another few months, so drink from 2016. Jean-Yves Perraud, the fifth-generation winemaker, uses old vines on sandy granite soil for this wine.
This is a structured wine, firm with tannins. Behind the structure, the attractive black-plum fruits are still developing. The wine is dense and solid and will be ready from 2018.
This is a structured wine, firmly tannic and with considerable wood flavors at this stage. Plenty of rich fruit lies in the background, giving promise for the future. With those red berry flavors and fine acidity in place, this will be a solid, dense wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a structured wine, juicy with black-currant fruit and acidity. It will develop quickly, softening its tannins and filling out with ripe fruit. Drink from 2018.
This is a structured wine, packed with black-currant fruits and fresh acidity. It is already becoming balanced with the finely drawn structure in balance with the perfumed fruits. Drink from 2018.
This is a structured wine, probably because of the Touriga Nacional in the blend. That also gives a perfumed edge to this ripe, full wine with its juicy red fruit acidity. It is fruity and will be ready to drink from late 2016.
This is a structured wine, showing the firm tannins of a 2010 Beaujolais. Under the dry surface, the rich, juicy fruit is there, balanced with acidity, red fruit and a dense texture. Age for at least another year.
This is a structured wine, solid with tannins as well as ripe red berry and dark cherry fruits. The combination gives a wine that has concentration from old vines on sandy soil as well as the potential to age. Drink from 2016. The handsome château was an important fortified structure when the Lords of Beaujeu were defending themselves in the 12th century.
This is a structured wine, still with its tannins intact. It has a firm, dry character, the dark cherry fruit still developing. It is a dense wine with a future. Drink from 2018.
This is a structured wine, with a dry character, ripe fruit and firm acidity. It has a dry core that needs more aging to bring out its potential richness.
This is a structured wine, with dry tannins and notes of berry and red cherry. The fruit comes through the smoky character, bringing sweet-tasting acidity. Give this wine 3–4 years to age.
This is a structured wine, with solid tannins and ample woody flavors. But it has the fruit weight to sustain the structure, offering a wine that promises good aging as well as short-term attractive fruitiness.
This is a structured wine, with solid tannins as well as bright red fruits that are developing well. The structure and dry core will allow this single-vineyard wine to age well. Drink from 2019.
This is a structured wine, with too many tannins from wood and fruit. The red berry fruits are likely always to remain second to the structure.
This is a structured, balanced white with aromas of gooseberry, flint and spice on the nose, and flavors of fresh citrus and fruit on the palate. Clean and crisp but offering complexity, this wine marries rich fruit and cracking acid very successfully. Pair with spicy Indian cuisine, grilled seafood.
This is a structured, dense wine that has fine acidity as well as rich red berry fruits. It is balanced now and ripe with layered fruit and tannin. The aftertaste is juicy and perfumed.
This is a structured, fairly austere Cabernet fermented in stainless steel and then aged in French oak. Dark and concentrated, the profile ripe in blackberry, cedar, sage and bittersweet chocolate.
This is a structured, firm wine that's intensely tannic, but full of potential. Still brash and youthful, it's full of concentrated black-cherry and berry flavors that are unabashedly forward. The texture is dry and dense, but with age the wine should integrate. Drink from 2016.
This is a structured, firm wine that has tense tannins and acidity. It is smoky with a dry core. The fruit is just not there.
This is a structured, fruity wine that has ripe strawberry and red plum flavors. Its tannins are condensed at the core, and the finish is marked by refreshing acidity. The vineyard is wholly owned by Faiveley.
This is a structured, fruity wine, with red cherry flavors that go well with the drier edge of tannin. It has a layer of acidity that cuts through the ripe fruit showing a more ageworthy character. Keep this wine for 2–3 years, although with its fruitiness it can be drunk now.
This is a structured, full-bodied wine that has solid tannins and concentrated fruitiness. It is packed with red-berry flavors, ripe tannins and spice from the wood aging. The wine will take time to develop. Drink from 2022.
This is a structured, full-bodied, generously layered wine, named for the soil in which its grapevines are grown. This is primarily on hillsides, where the fruit takes on a brooding quality of spiciness and texture. Baked cherry, cranberry and rose petals stand out most, as additional nuances of earthiness come into play in the glass.
This is a structured, still young and extracted wine, with dark tannins and spice from the wood aging. In the background, the red-berry fruits are developing and filling out to give a balance to the wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a structured, substantial wine, grippy on the palate, with firm-grained tannin and smoky oak. Mouth-filling with a juicy sophisticated core of cherry, blackberry and black currant, there's a defiant meatiness to the fruit, spiked in clove, black pepper and tobacco. Cellar through 2033.
This is a stunner because it shows such minerally depth, which many strive for but few achieve on a pink wine. The classic shade of pink gives way to bubblegum, lime juice, orange rind and smashed raspberry aromas. The zesty, vibrant lime juice acidity cuts right through plum fruit, but it's the graphite and chalky tension that wins the palate.
This is a stunning and vibrant Barolo that defies the heat of the vintage thanks to 47-year-old vines, amazing terroir and noninvasive winemaking. It shows floral aromas of violet layered with spice and truffle, while the palate delivers rich wild cherry, mint and cinnamon. This already shows excellent complexity, but it's still young. Drink after 2022.
This is a stunning Bordeaux-style blend of 57% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2.5% each of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Tight, dark and dense, it showcases the detailed styling that epitomizes the Lauren Ashton portfolio. Perfectly ripe and perfectly proportioned, it has the power and tannin to age for decades.
This is a stunning Bordeaux-style white wine, dominated by Sauvignon Blanc with 18% Sémillon. Ripe, attractive aromas of honeydew, clove-spiked orange, wood-grilled apple and fresh honeycomb lead the charge on the nose, while the palate offers brighter notes of green plum, lime and melon rind. Vibrant acidity lifts the medium-weight palate, while a saline accent graces the close. Drink now–2021.
This is a stunning example of modern-day Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It's soft, complex, smooth and sweet, with a veneer of smoky, caramelized oak coating the flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and crème de cassis. It's really delicious, and made all the more appealing by a fine structure of tannins and acids.
This is a stunning Pinot Noir, especially from a Syrah-focused winery. Beautiful aromas of lavender, thyme, wild mint and dewy spring sage meet with crushed graphite and fresh raspberries on the nose. The palate coalesces those elements expertly, with red cherry and strawberry syrup dusted by herbs and finished by licorice, all presented on a soft yet engaging texture.
This is a stunning selection, with layers of aromas and flavors that unfold with each passing moment. Concentrated primary notes of blackberry, plum and boysenberry lead, with accents of sweet spice, licorice, soft char, tobacco leaf and menthol following shortly after. The palate is intense and lush, with a full weight and a gripping, thick texture. Hints of oaky spice and cocoa powder linger through the endless finish. Delicious now, but should continue to develop well through 2018.
This is a stunning wine at this price, sourced mainly from Sonoma County-based vineyards, with another 19% of the grapes from Lake County and 16% from Napa. It includes other Bordeaux red varieties in the mix, as well as tiny amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah. Medium bodied and dusty in tannin, with dried herb tones, it's structured, velvety and finishes on a dark chocolate note.
This is a stunning wine with intense floral scents of iris, violet and rose layered with hints of mint and coffee. The palate is rich and vibrant, with a core of black cherry wrapped in cinnamon and spice. This is superbly balanced, elegant and structured. Enjoyable now, this will also age well.
This is a stunning, vibrantly robust and intense wine, big, bold and reductive and blended with 3% Petite Sirah. Floral aromas take on meaty, gamy overtones amidst black licorice, tar and juicy strawberry, the tannins silky and supportive and the finish leathery and spicy.
This is a stunning, well-balanced late-harvest selection that's sure to be a welcome addition to any dessert course. Notes of ginger and sweet baking spice lift the baked-apple, peach and apricot-preserve fruit core. A kiss of honeyed sweetness and a soft, candied orange-peel flavor lingers on the close. Ample acidity keeps the palate fresh and lifted.
This is a sturdy, dry wine that has a brownish color on the rim, roasted fruit aromas, subdued earthy meaty flavors and very full body.
This is a sturdy, dry wine with hefty texture and straightforward, almost neutral flavors. It has an unusual salmon-amber color, light peach aromas and slightly earthy notes on the palate.
This is a sturdy, stemmy, sharp and chewy bottle. It has some bitter, tarry flavors, but might be up to the challenge of spicy foods or stewed meats.
This is a sturdy, tannic wine, but one that should come around in a few years. Vanilla, cedar and dark fruit notes have the spotlight for now, with hints of mocha coming on strong on the long finish. Drink 2018–2025.
This is a style of Late Bottled Vintage that should be aged. It has great red and black fruits at this stage but will develop a more structured, dense and firm character as it matures. Give this well-made, juicy wine with its sweet black fruits at least until 2017.
This is a style of Pinot Noir that needs to be drunk chilled. It brings out the smoky, stalky character of the wine that dominates the bitter cherry fruits. It's still young and needs another year to come together.
This is a style of wine that offers a blockbuster view of Bordeaux. It is full of dark extracted fruits, brooding tannins, dark plum juice and a burnt feeling that comes from alcohol. In its style, it goes for excess.
This is a stylish attractive wine. It has an herbal touch although it is more about delicious bright fruit. Citrus and crisp apples dominate, laced with acidity. This refreshing wine is ready to drink now.
This is a stylish Blanc de Blancs in all but name: a crisp Chardonnay from the north of Burgundy. It has deliciously refreshing acidity and sliced apple fruitiness that is light, bright and mineral at the end.
This is a stylish Pinotage and may turn skeptics into believers on this eccentric variety. Waves of ripe red fruit, cedar, vanilla and spice are followed by dense layers of red berry fruit, warming spices and a touch of smoke. The acid and fruit is balanced and the overall character complex but friendly. An assertive but food-oriented wine.
This is a stylish wine with a touch of minerality as well as acidity. It is light in character with a tangy texture and fine pure fruits. The wine is ripe while never excessive. The bitter coffee flavor will surely pass as the wine matures. Drink from 2024.
This is a stylish wine, fruity with red currants and herbs. It has a delicious crisp character as well as a salty tang, maybe from the nearby sea. The aftertaste is bright, packed with fruit. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a stylish wine. It has fine acidity and light poised fruity character. With plenty of orange zest and a herbal touch, this blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah is a generous wine, ready to drink now.
This is a stylish, ripe wine. Pineapple and apricot flavors lend a rich yet fresh feel to the wine. Lemon and lime give a crisp finish. It's tangy and structured, better to drink from 2016.
This is a suave and supple wine, with a luxuriously smooth texture. From one of Anderson Valley's fabled vineyard sites, this offers softness and easy drinkability, balanced by a firm backing of fruit tones, acidity and fine tannins.
This is a subdued and elegant Prosecco with pretty aromas of cut grass, dried herbs, peach, citrus and green melon. There's a touch of piquant acidity backed by menthol flavors that taste great against all that creamy foam and bubbling.
This is a subdued and somewhat neutral expression of Nebbiolo with measured aromas of black fruit, plum, black currant and moist earth. The wine is definitely more lively in the mouth where it picks up points thanks to its firm disposition and lingering flavors of blackberry and smoke.
This is a sublime, succulent and entirely rewarding white from the great vineyard site that is Durell. The vines used by this producer date back to 1994, 1995 and 2003. Richly defined, the wine is lengthy and complex in honeycomb, ginger and a powerful mix of acidity and texture, finishing in a bite of orange.
This is a substantial wine whose raspberry, pomegranate and wild cherry flavors are enhanced with striking minerality. The aromas suggest more to come as the wine develops, offering teasing hints of mint, vanilla and lead pencil. Give this plenty of cellaring and see what happens.
This is a substantial wine, concentrated in dark red berry color and flavor, from cherry to wild strawberry to more savory rhubarb compote. Muted on the nose, it has an underlying woody, herbal character that balances the vibrancy of the fruit.
This is a substantial wine, from the dark, dark color to the ripe but dry fruit flavors and firm, tannic texture. Made from 75% Malbec plus Petit Verdot and Cabernet, it is full bodied and hefty in mouthfeel, blending oaky spice accents with blueberry and blackberry flavors.
This is a substantial wine, from the deep-gold color to the vivid apricot and toasted-almond aromas, to the full body, rounded texture and lingering finish. Savory flavors like consomme, walnuts and minerals add complexity to the fruity components, so it keeps unfolding with each sip.
This is a substantial wine, with alcohol over 14%, and spicy fruit flavors of strawberry, cranberry and apple, buoyed by fresh acidity. Aromatic highlights of cherry and rose petals add further interest, and the concentration is impressive.
This is a substantial, complete and well-balanced wine with a deep red color and brickish rim. Intensely fruity and spicy aromas incorporate elegant oak nuances, black cherries, nutmeg and cinnamon, leading to generous, ripe flavors and a smooth, velvety texture. It's quite complex and delicious.
This is a substantial, dense Syrah, which runs quickly from berries and cherries right into barrel flavors of chocolate and butterscotch. It's balanced and delicious, but does not have the complexity and more interesting earth/herb notes that the grape is capable of.
This is a subtle and intriguing bottle, crafted from a range of sources, offered in significant quantities (16,300 cases) and showing varietal fruit, spice and a deft touch with the barrels. Not a big wine, but balanced and quite flavorful, with more depth than you expect at this price point. Lots of chocolate and spicy burnt coffee in the finish.
This is a subtle red wine whose tannins gingerly coat the midpalate and linger. Full of red fruit flavors and balanced by an herb note, this is softly textured and round.
This is a subtle, rich wine that exudes creamy apple and quince flavors. It has a touch of peppery spice as well as pristine fruit acidity, along with a touch of crispness on the finish. It's a wine to drink now and over the next 4–5 years.
This is a subtle, svelte and elegant wine, floral in rose petals and violet, the crisp, bright red fruit leaning more toward cranberry and pomegranate than juicy strawberry. With the oak and acidity well-integrated, it provides a seamless, delicious experience, touched by a taste of black tea on the finish.
This is a successful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Black fruit, baking spice and chocolate flavors commingle in a full-bodied package that's rich, round and rewarding, with plenty of length.
This is a successful blend of Chardonnay and Arinto that blends a creamy texture with crisp fruit flavors. Wood aged, the wine has a toasty edge that fills out the fruit and gives spice to the citrus and apple flavors. The wine is still young; give it until late 2018.
This is a successful expression of Pinot Grigio thanks to the wine's easy but studied sophistication and its creamy mouthfeel. Food-friendly and upfront, it would make a good match to seafood or white meat.
This is a successful off-dry Champagne emphasizing fruitiness balanced comfortably with acidity. It showscases rich creamed apple and pear alongside a deep citrus element. A great accompaniment for salads, soft cheeses and seafood.
This is a successful Pinot Noir in terms of its lighter style, silkiness and generosity, showing real finesse and delicacy. It's a tartly acidic wine with delicious flavors of cola and sour cherry candy. Try pairing it with mushroom risotto speckled with crumbled bacon.
This is a successful straight-ahead Chardonnay, with aromas of buttercream, vanilla and orange cake developing complexity thanks to alkaline, pithy notes. For such a rich nose, it proves quite clean and crisp on the palate, with lemon-lime soda, wet slate and just a touch of buttered apples.
This is a succulent and juicy red wine with pretty cherry nuances, mature prune and spice. The wine tastes slightly sweet and offers clean flavors of blueberry and bright red fruit on the close.
This is a succulent and structured wine that's priced fairly and a crowd-pleaser to boot, a blend of grenadine, raspberry and currant that's soft and smooth on the palate with a restrained use of oak.
This is a succulent wine with its light tannins and juicy red-berry fruits. It is fresh with a mineral edge as well as spice and balanced acidity. The aftertaste is smooth and soft. It is ready to drink for the pleasure of its fruit.
This is a succulent wine, with juicy red fruits and a fine structure that gives the wine its texture. Balanced and ready to drink, the wine (which is made in tiny quantities) is a fine mature Bordeaux.
This is a succulent, full-bodied Riserva with loads of aromatic intensity in the form of black cherry, ripe blueberry, leather, resin, tobacco and black spice. It's a pretty, vibrant wine both in terms of color and flavor and has solid, ripe tones of black fruit and mature berry.
This is a succulently juicy, light wine that is refreshing from start to finish. A wealth of jasmine, crisp apple and white peach combine effortlessly on the palate. With a kick of creaminess and power on the finish, it's the ideal wine for tapas and appetizers of all flavors.
This is a sugary-sweet Sauvignon Blanc, with the flavor of a pineapple, pear and orange fruit drink. It's a little on the soft side, which accentuates the sweetness.
This is a sugary sweet, simple wine, with jammy flavors of pineapples, peaches and limes. Good acidity, but lacks dry complexity for the price.
This is a sugary, candied Zinfandel, simply constructed and soft, with raspberry, brown sugar, cinnamon and sweet new oak flavors.
This is a sultry, leathery and sinewy wine, dark in tannin and oak and a full-bodied ripeness of dense fruit that delves into savory Asian spice. Powerful, it combines a wealth of clones to good effect, aging for 17 months in new French oak, 83% of it new.
This is a sultry, sexy wine—elegant in red fruit and black licorice, with a restrained approach to both tannin and oak. From a mountain vineyard, this has a complex mix of aromas, from pine and forest floor to brambly wild berry. Full bodied and voluptuous on the palate, it remains balanced and pretty. It's a wine that can be enjoyed now, but will age well through 2022.
This is a sumptuous wine from Viosinho, a grape winemakers almost gave up on due to low yields. With its lees stirred for 18 months, the wine has intensity and a lightly oxidative character. Now maturing well, its citrus fruit is becoming almost toasty, certainly nutty. Great acidity keeps this rich wine full of crispness. Drink now.
This is a sumptuous, delicious Syrah, marked by very ripe fruit, but also by a wonderfully complex balance. Fully dry, it's packed with blackberry pie filling, cola, licorice, mushu plum sauce, mocha and pepper flavors, with a distinct note of grilled meat. Drink through 2010 for its youthful beauty.
This is a sumptuous, well-crafted wine, nearly 100% varietal and dark purple in color. It offers leathery chocolate and red cherry flavors around still-dense tannins that seem to soften in the glass. Given more than a year in oak, only a small percentage of it new, it's lively and refined.
This is a super-extracted and modern interpretation of Barbera that almost goes overboard. The wood elements are distinct and not integrated yet, so you should give this wine a year or two more in the bottle. It's also jammy, thick and raw with dense, chewy extraction.
This is a super-fresh, fruity wine meant to dazzle in sheer deliciousness now, not something to age. It's almost candied, with raspberry, cherry, blackberry and mocha flavors that are exuberant and easy to understand.
This is a super-ripe, still very young wine. It's showing all its concentrated fruits, wood aging flavors and dense texture as well as the firm tannins that will allow it to age. With its combination of black plum skin, blackberry and dark concentration, leave the wine until 2018.
This is a super cuvée from Bourseau with dense dark extracted tannins and concentrated fruits. It is rich, almost too rich, full of powerful fruits, black plum skins and a young firm structure. It will remain dry and tannic for several more years, so don't drink before 2020.
This is a super Tuscan blend, based on Sangiovese. It's a rustic wine, drily tannic, with sweetish flavors of blackberries, cherries, cola and oak.
This is a superb Blanc de Blancs that boasts great minerality, texture and intense fruit flavor. It's a finely structured wine, now approaching maturity with its apple, citrus and green pear notes. Lingering in the mouth, it is a beautifully long-lasting, pure wine. Drink until 2018 and probably beyond.
This is a superb blend of aged tawny Ports, blended to celebrate the company's 325th anniversary. Filled with rich fruit, it has great depth and spicy richness although it is also impressively fresh. Dried fruits and red plums are lifted with a hint of smoky wood and good acidity. Like any tawny Port, it is ready to drink.
This is a superb Cab at this price and case production level, tasting like one much smaller in production. With hearty tannins, it offers nuanced cranberry fruit and notable acidity, full body and a finish combining black olive and tobacco. Ready to enjoy now, it'll be just as good 2017–2019.
This is a superb value white that's versatile and perfect for company. Fresh white florals, Asian pear and a touch of pineapple acidity dominate, with softly prickling acidity dancing on your tongue through the close. Light weight but mouthwatering and easy to drink.
This is a superb value. The nose on this Syrah-Monastrell blend revolves around dusty berry and plum, while the palate is juicy, ripe, smooth and shows herb, spice and pulsing blackberry flavors. Doses of mint and hard spices carry a long finish to a warm resting point.
This is a superbly rich wine that is packed with generous black fruits and balanced acidity. It has structure and concentrated plum and damson fruits. The wood aging still shows in what is young wine, although this will go. Drink this impressive wine from 2019.
This is a superior vintage Champagne that is just beginning to mature. Crisp white and citrus fruits are beginning to fade into mature toast and cookie flavors, but the wine maintains its zesty texture. Drink this wine now, but beware the cork is secured precariously with string that must be cut to open.
This is a superlative vineyard, and this wine shows its true character, a big, hearty wine, but one with a structured core of mineral, rich fruits and dark tannins. With its concentration, expect it to age well over 10 years and more.
This is a superrich and ripe wine that many will find over the top, but it will certainly wow those looking for extreme concentration. Prune, black currant, blueberry and caramel aromas lead into a thick and raisiny palate of chocolate, baked fruit, gingerbread and coffee syrup flavors.
This is a superrich, dense wine. It has firm tannins and a steely, mineral edge that permeates the texture. A ripe black-plum flavor is generous while still young and full of fresh acidity. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2017.
This is a superrich, smooth wine. The acidity is what keeps the ripe yellow-fruit flavors in order, and it has a lemon-like edge to the tropical mouthfeel. Age this for 3–4 years.
This is a superripe Malbec with jammy aromas of raisin and prune that can best be described as “fleshy.” A chunky palate follows the nose in lockstep, and then baked blackberry and chocolate flavors take over. A chubby, jammy finish says drink this soon.
This is a superripe wine full of rich black fruits and solid tannins. It blends Touriga Nacional with a whole raft of other grapes including Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together this blend gives a powerful wine, dense and full-bodied, that will need aging. Drink from 2017.
This is a superripe wine, full of generous white and yellow stone fruits. It is soft while also dense with smooth fruits, touched by pepper and nutmeg and given richness from lees aging. Drink the wine now.
This is a superripe wine. With its apricot and mango fruit flavors it is exotic and far removed from traditional white Bordeaux. A blend of Sauvignons Blanc and Gris, it has light signs of wood aging that add some spice to the very rich character of the wine. Drink from the end of 2016.
This is a supersmooth, easy-going wine with mild dark-fruit flavors, very little tannin and a soft texture. Two years aging in previously used oak barrels helped round off any corners in the mouthfeel.
This is a supple, creamy-textured Shiraz to enjoy through 2020. Red-fruit notes of strawberry and raspberry marry easily with dark hints of plum and mocha, then linger gently on the finish.
This is a supple, forward and pleasantly drinkable wine. If it is to be criticized it's that it lacks precision and focus. The fruit flavors are a diffuse mélange of cherry, berry and plum, leading to a chalky finish that tastes of tartaric acid with a splash of chocolate.
This is a supple, medium- to full-bodied red for drinking over the next few years. The plummy flavors are a bit earthy, dark and indistinct, but pleasant enough, and the wine's silky finish features a bright burst of red fruit.
This is a supple, medium-bodied Pinot Noir that exemplifies much of what is coming out of Marlborough. Hints of mushroom and soy sauce accent bright cherry fruit, finishing on a silky note. Drink now.
This is a supple, silky Pinot, the kind that wins friends for the variety. Bold plum and cherry fruit is both sappy and spicy, with ample weight on the palate and a long, mouthwatering finish.
This is a supple, spicy wine, with a core of black cherry fruit. It's complemented with lighter flavors of cola, earth and coffee. At first it seems to fade a little too quickly, but with some breathing time the finish expands and brings in notes of cracker and toast.
This is a supreme small-lot Argentine wine from lauded winemaker Jorge Riccitelli. The blend is 70% Malbec with 20% Cabernet and 10% Merlot. Aromas of loam, wild berry and vanilla are elegant and exciting. This is silky smooth, with creamy oak and ripe black-fruit flavors playing together through a mellow, plush finish. Drink this impressive, complete Malbec blend through 2016.
This is a supremely earthy and highly tannic wine, leathery and smoky in oak and texture. Grown in the foothills of Diamond Mountain, as well as pockets of Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder, the variety is unusual for the Napa Valley. This one is worthwhile, showing subtle cassis, cranberry and vanilla.
This is a supremely rich, extracted Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapy black-plum aromas are more dense, inky and concentrated than elegant. That theme carries onto the palate, which is full and tannic. Blackened flavors of cassis, toast, chocolate and herbal black fruits finish with chewy tannins and a note of coconut. Drink through 2020.
This is a surprisingly bright and enticing wine, with forward scents of red apple and orange that are laced with notes of wood and baking spice. The palate is rich and creamy, but not overly so, with good acidic cut to the lingering flavors of wood-grilled apple and peach. Drink now–2019.
This is a surprisingly dry wine that's all spice and lychee flavors without any hint of sweetness (not indicated on the label unfortunately). It has a light texture with notes of pepper and rosewater, along with some acidity on the finish.
This is a surprisingly early release for the grape, which the winery ages on American and French oak. Tar and pepper are already ready on the nose, but the elements could use some time to coalesce. Right now, there are slightly sour blackberries and a woody bitterness, proving to be more about texture and tannins than flavors. Give it until 2016
This is a surprisingly fine reminiscence of Burgundian Pinot Noir, from the perfumed red fruits to the generous tannins. The wine has acidity and, despite its alcohol, has a fresh feel. The wine is at its most fruity stage and will age another year, so drink from 2017.
This is a surprisingly powerful wine, with (for a Beaujolais) a high alcohol. Densely textured, the wine is concentrated and dark with plenty of acidity as well as strawberry fruits. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2017.
This is a svelte but muscular wine with a deep red color, abundant black cherry and plum flavors and a rich, velvety texture. Lively acidity keeps all that ripeness in balance. It's full bodied, substantial in fruit flavor and will be great to pair with big proteins.
This is a svelte, easy-drinking style of Crozes. Cassis-scented fruit dominates, with perhaps just a hint of vanilla, but doesn't show much complexity. Ample weight and and an open-knit texture makes it already approachable. Drink now–2022.
This is a sweet-smelling Fiano from sunny Puglia that offers mature notes of yellow fruit, peach and melon. The wine is very thick and fat with lingering sweet notes and creamy, filling density.
This is a sweet and fruity wine, full-bodied and ripe. It has red cherries and bananas along with some acidity. While there are some tannins, it's meant for immediate drinking and not for aging,
This is a sweet and perfumed wine, rich in red fruits and with a floral character. It shows some of the structure of the year while offering a ripe, smooth, caramel flavored character. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a sweet and round and forward Merlot, at least upon entry. Then it takes a right angle turn, adding more astringent flavors of rock and earth and green tea. It's not quite Jekyll & Hyde, but it's not entirely pulled together. It needs a substantial piece of grilled meat to help soften those finishing tannins.
This is a sweet and soft rosé. It has perfumed red-berry fruits that are given a lift by the acidity. The finish is fresh while sweet.
This is a sweet and thin dessert wine with aromas of peach, pear and honey that are muddled at times. The price is pretty good, however, for those who want to try a late harvest Fiano Minutolo.
This is a sweet Gewurztraminer, almost a dessert style. The name comes from a title whose origins date back to the Dark Ages in Europe. The wine is rich, now fully matured, a wonderful medley of ripe fruits, honey and spice. Layers of flavors are interspersed with acidity that lifts the wine. It's opulent, delicious and ready to drink.
This is a sweet Pinot Gris that is honeyed and very rich. Light spice notes are buoyed by explosive apricot and pineapple flavors, yielding a wine that's great for capping off a meal.
This is a sweet ripe wine, a blend of Gros and Petit Manseng. It has lychee and peach flavors and a layer of acidity, all given richness by the botrytis and honey flavors. The wine is ready to drink, soft and with a touch of ginger spice at the end.
This is a sweet sparkling wine made with very fragrant Moscato grapes that can be paired with fruit desserts or easy appetizers. The wine imparts aromas of peach, honey and jasmine.
This is a sweet sparkling wine that's based around the red grapes of Vinho Verde. It is light and fruity, surrounded by a ripe strawberry flavor and attractive acidity. Drink now.
This is a sweet style of Prosecco with a luminous appearance and grassy-herbal notes followed by white peach, honey and jasmine. More herbal flavors appear on the close and the wine is fresh and simple in the mouth.
This is a sweet white wine with some of the nice qualities of a dry table wine, including distinct apricot aromas and flavors, good acidity and a smooth texture.
This is a sweet wine with flavors of white sugar, orange, honey and vanilla, all brightened by crisp acidity.
This is a sweet wine, floral in aroma, rich in texture and sugary in flavor that tastes like watermelon and pink lemonade. It's light in alcohol, fruity and straightforward.
This is a sweet wine, very ripe with a smooth, opulent texture. It's full of lychee and peach flavors, allowing just a corner for acidity and freshness. This is just beginning to develop into its impressive and full potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a sweet, botrytized wine, treading the line between richness and intense acidity. A dry edge and flavors of ripe yellow fruits and a touch of maple syrup give the wine both complexity and aging potential.
This is a sweet, confected wine. It has sugary red fruits and just enough acidity. Made from the Vinhão grape, it is soft and ready to drink.
This is a sweet, floral bubbly with mature notes of pear and peach and chewy sweetness. It has a soft, creamy texture and would pair well with salty and sweet foods alike.
This is a sweet, fruity, soft Syrah. With raspberry, cherry, mocha and cinnamon spice flavors, it tastes like a liquid granola health bar.
This is a sweet, honeyed wine that's powerful and concentrated. It's full of spice, ripe tropical fruits and pleasurable sweetness. Just behind all this richness lies a great acidity that's so attractive. The wine could be drunk now, but it will be even better from 2017.
This is a sweet, honeyed wine, rich with apricot fruit flavors and fresh with balancing acidity. It's fruity, mineral and generous, a great wine for fruit desserts.
This is a sweet, lightly sparkling wine. It has crisp apple as well as citrus flavors to contrast with the sweetness. Drink now.
This is a sweet, lightly sparkling wine—think Moscato d'Asti, or honey and lemon. It's a great aperitif with spice and citrus adding to the pleasure of this delicate, fruity wine. Screwcap.
This is a sweet, oaky Chardonnay, made to appeal to the modern palate. It has sugary pineapple, green apple, pear, buttered toast and vanilla custard flavors, fortunately brightened with zesty acidity.
This is a sweet, oaky, simple Chardonnay. It's forward in ripe pineapple, orange and melon fruit flavors, with a honeyed finish.
This is a sweet, raw blend of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Not going anywhere.
This is a sweet, rich Port. Its aromas are of soft berry jelly, with a ripe herbal character. To taste, it is concentrated, but the sweetness of the fruit masks its density. Berry and dried fruits make an attractive blend, leaving a firmer structure in the aftertaste.
This is a sweet, rosé -colored sparkling wine (made from the Brachetto grape) with bright aromas of wild berry and peach. This particular wine also boasts soft foaming and a playful touch of ripe cherry on the close.
This is a sweet, soapy wine that has some red fruit and acidity. It is soft, without much definition. Seriously chilled, it could be enjoyable.
This is a sweet, soft Port, with plenty of fruit. Sultana and orange jelly flavors are cut with some spirit. The wine leans much more towards fruit than wood, unusual for a 20-year old. The wine, like all aged tawnies, is ready to drink.
This is a sweet, softly simple wine whose apricot, citrus and peach flavors will satisfy those looking for a decent everyday white wine.
This is a sweet, very perfumed wine with pleasant candy flavors. Rich rosewater and spice notes add complexity, and chalk soils lend a crisp edge that cuts into the opulent character of the wine. It could age, not for long, so drink until 2018.
This is a sweeter and fruity take on the grape, beginning with a nose of fresh and vibrant boysenberry fruit and wet-asphalt minerality. The palate is tasty in a hedonistic way, but very primary, with flavors of fruit punch.
This is a sweetly gentle, attractive wine for drinking now with steak, lamb chops or any meat with a smoky, charred edge. It shows delicious cherry pie, moo shu plum sauce and spice flavors, with a silky texture. Made from 100% Grenache, it's balanced by fine acidity. The oak influence is rich but subtle.
This is a syrupy, ripe take on Grenache, which renders it varietally unrecognizable. There's a deep core of cassis and black cherry fruit, but any remaining details have been blown out by the alcohol.
This is a tangy fruity wine. It has crisp acidity along with spice as well as red-currant fruitiness. It is light and refreshing and ready to drink now.
This is a tangy wine, packed with fruit, orange and lemon zest and a background hint of herbaceousness. A tight, steely texture gives both acidity and the promise of aging. Drink from early 2016.
This is a tangy, berry-powered blend. Hard not to like the fresh, zippy, highly acidic flavors of tart raspberries; flavors that are sharp and almost crunchy, but deliciously vibrant. This is what Dry Creek Zinfandel used to taste like before it turned into rocket fuel.
This is a tangy, fruity wine, with orange and spice flavors. It is rich and full of citrusy acidity, with a tight structure. The wine needs a few more months, so drink from late 2017.
This is a tangy, not entirely varietal wine that's dense in black tea and black fruit, with layers of tobacco and dried herb. Give it time in the glass to open.
This is a tangy, spicy wine, a character that makes it seem dry and textured. It has weight as well as great fruit and acidity. With its citrus flavors, the aftertaste is fresh while still tangy.
This is a tank-fermented wine from the King's Ridge Vineyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A big, intense expression of the variety, it's burly in black fruit and proffers a taste of coconut macaroon.
This is a tannic blend of all five Bordeaux grapes, with an earthy mix of cherry, herb and berry flavors. It's elevated with pretty floral aromatics as well, and a hint of anise in the finish.
This is a tannic while richly fruity wine, showing ripe warm-climate Cabernet Sauvignon flavors. Blackberries and dusty tannins are to the fore, giving a firm structure, fine juiciness and a dense texture. The wine could age, so drink from 2016.
This is a tannic, acidic, hard-to-appreciate wine due to the cold conditions of the 2011 vintage. But the wine, which is 100% Cabernet and was aged in 50% new French oak, still is a great success, testimony to skillful viticultural and winemaking practices. With a solid core of black currants, it wants until 2020 in the cellar.
This is a tannic, hard-edged Cabernet, sourced from the Artz vineyard on Red Mountain. The heavy-set tannins surround slightly green flavors of herb, stem and black olive, along with dark and earthy black fruits.
This is a tannin-dominated wine that's dark and firm in style. It has the weight of juicy black fruit layered with acidity and a dry, wood-aged core with a strong, mineral profile. Drink from 2017.
This is a tart and streamlined Barbera d'Asti that delivers a clean and swift blast of acidity on the close. Take care when pairing this wine with food: the strong acidic component must be countered by a butter- or cheese-based dish.
This is a tart, fresh and full-bodied wine that shows off the Rutherford appellation in its lush dustiness and firm, integrated tannin. Coconut shavings and crisp red fruit complement classic characteristics of cedar and dried herb.
This is a tart, lean, somewhat ungenerous Pinot Noir, but one that still manages to deliver an attractive, creative tension between its earthy, composty aromas and bright cranberry fruit.
This is a tasty and accessibly priced Chardonnay. It packs in lots of fruit flavor, vibrant acidity, rich texture and layers of oaky spice while showing a rare sense of seamlessness. Very Californian and compelling.
This is a tasty and fruity wine. It's front loaded with a juicy mix of apple and fresh sliced pear. Fermented entirely in stainless steel, it fills the mouth with flavor and a pleasing, textural grip.
This is a tasty and generous Moscato d'Asti that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.
This is a tasty and interesting medium-bodied wine made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of the white grape Viognier. It doesn't overpower with ripeness or tannins, but has a smoky, spicy aroma, meaty flavors and a lively, slightly gripping texture.
This is a tasty Chardonnay, showing lots of pear, orange, mango, vanilla-cream and butterscotch flavors. It tastes on the sweeter side.
This is a tasty Pinot Noir, but it's not particularly characteristic of Doctor's Vineyard or Santa Lucia Highlands. It's soft, ripe and sweet, and while the raspberry, cherry and red currant flavors are balanced with acidity, the wine tastes like it could have been grown anywhere. Drink now.
This is a tasty, juicy, easy-drinking wine with good fruit flavors. Well balanced and medium bodied, it offers some of the density and texture expected, but without going over the top in tannins.
This is a taut and trim wine, but with plenty of toasted oak aromas and rich maple and cherry flavors to fill out its firm frame. Flavors combine cinnamon, cardamom, plum and Bing cherry. The texture is moderately tannic and firmly crisp for an attractive, lip-smacking quality.
This is a taut wine that's full of zest, acidity and delicate wild strawberry fruit. It has a hint of orange and almond, with a great crisp feeling.
This is a taut wine, touched by yeast and warmed by ripe yellow fruit. Flavors of melon and spice from the new wood give it an open feel. It's ripe, already rounded and full bodied.
This is a taut, dense and minerally wine that's packed with as much tannin as black currant fruit. The structure and layers of acidity demand long-term aging.
This is a taut, terroir-driven Riesling. It is textured with both minerality and tense, racy fruitiness. With its perfumed background, this is a wine for aging. Screwcap.
This is a taut, tight, dry Champagne, needing a few more years of bottle age. It has fine acidity, with a crisp lemon flavor and a lively mousse. With further maturity, it will develop into an intense, toasty Champagne of great quality.
This is a tempting and sylish wine. A seductive aroma influenced by new oak resembles toasted baguette slices, cedar and cardamom, then generous flavors like ripe black cherry and blueberry come on. It's medium to full bodied, broad and smooth in texture with enough fine-grained tannin to give it some heft.
This is a tense, textured wine that is still young. Bright, tangy acidity is balanced by apricot and pear flavors, bringing out a delicious yet refreshing character. The wine needs a few more months, so drink from 2016.
This is a terrific American debut for this winery, which blends Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels and Te Awanga subregions. It's full-bodied and richly textured, with bold blueberry and raspberry fruit combining seamlessly with savory notes of black olive and marinated beef. Drink now–2025.
This is a terrific and youthful white wine for those looking for an easy pairing companion to Chinese take-out or fresh garden salads. It offers a fragrant bouquet of pear, citrus and white flower.
This is a terrific Chardonnay at a great price, offering subtle notes of toasted grain upfront, followed by bright lemon-lime fruit and crisp acidity. It's medium-bodied, so it won't overpower whatever food you serve it with and the laser beam of citrusy acidity on the finish is wrapped in a gauzy sheath of pleasant nuttiness. Drink now–2020, possibly longer.
This is a terrific discovery from a tiny winery and remote hilltop vineyard near the Pacific Coast. It's deep in color, with aromas evocative of forest floor, rhubarb and rosemary. The palate is woven in structure and enticing fruit and spice flavors. Balance, complexity and moderate tannins combine in an attractive profile and unique personality.
This is a terrific introduction to the Rutherglen style, sweet, fortified, but with decent balancing acids. It offers bold aromas of bergamot, honey and fig, flavors of caramelized pineapple and flamed orange zest and a moderately long finish.
This is a terrific Merlot, offering structure and balance (hallmarks of all Seven Hills wines) along with rich fruits, accented with earth and herb. There is lovely density and texture at work here, plenty of black cherry fruit, and a gentle hint of composted earth.
This is a terrific representation of all that is spectacularly specific about Keefer Ranch, a relatively cool site for grapes in Green Valley. Earthy and spicy in clove and nutmeg, the wine is layered in cranberry and crisp cherry. It's supple and silky on the palate, with an earthy oomph to the finish.
This is a terrific super Tuscan blend (of 50% Sangiovese with equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) that drinks beautifully. Bright red fruit and cherry give the wine a lively, cheerful personality and the wine's structure is perfectly balanced and smooth. It's a one-size-fits-all wine for our favorite Italian foods.
This is a terrific value in balanced, ready-to-drink Australian Cabernet. It brings several Bordeaux-ish qualities to the table—medium body, silky tannins and aromas reminiscent of cigar box and Ribena—then adds varietally true flavors and a long finish. Drink now–2025.
This is a terrific value wine (a rosé made from the indigenous grapes of Sicily) that opens with a bright pink color and fragrant tones of raspberry, white almond and rose petal.
This is a terrific vintage for this blend, helped by the decision to bump up the alcohol and reduce the residual sugar, now down to 16g/L. Though off dry, this retains a spine of steely acid, highlighting the bright and spicy lemon curd, orange peel and pink grapefruit flavors. It will be delicious with pork roasts or simply sipped with mild cheeses.
This is a terrific wine to pair with pizza or a heaping plate of spaghetti and meat sauce. Informal, bright and fruity, this Montepulciano d'Abruzzo delivers clean blackberry aromas and an easy but sufficiently extracted finish.
This is a terrific wine, extremely powerful in fruity flavors. It impresses for its sheer volume. Waves of apricots, nectarines, pears, green apples, butterscotch, buttered toast and smoky, vanilla-tinged oak surf the palate, carried along on a wave of crisp acidity.
This is a terrific Zinfandel, offering berry, cherry, mocha, spice and cedar flavors that come wrapped in briary tannins. It's technically dry, but with a satisfying honeyed note.
This is a terrifically full-bodied, lush Shiraz that nevertheless retains a sense of balance and freshness. Vaguely minty, herbal notes make a brief appearance, then give way to raspberry and blueberry fruit. Savory  hints creep in on the palate, further increasing its appeal. This blend of fruit from the Barossa and Eden valleys should drink well through at least 2020.
This is a textbook Chianti Classico, with dark berry and plum aromas accented by hints vanilla and clove. The palate boasts a core of wild cherry flavors layered with balsamic herbs. Still tightly tannic, it needs a few more years to unwind.
This is a textbook Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, with red fruit and rubber aromas in front of flavors of herb, peppery spice and berry fruit. It finishes quickly.
This is a textbook Deep Purple special: huge berry, menthol and violet aromas create a hefty, lusty bouquet. In the mouth, it is more narrow than you might hope for, with staunch tartaric acidity. Jammy berry flavors are big but standard, as is the finish. Drink through 2018.
This is a textbook example of Grillo with nice richness and generous aromatic layers of yellow rose, stone fruit, peach blossom and grapefruit. The wine is clean and zippy in the mouth with a refreshing dose of acidity on the close.
This is a textbook example of Moscato. The bouquet offers bright aromas of white flower, honey and fresh peach.
This is a textbook traditional Rioja, with dry spice, earth, light herbal notes and leather on the nose alongside cherry and plum scents. The palate is crisp, elegant and pure, with raspberry, vanilla, plum and leathery flavors. Modest complexity and elegance rise up on the finish. Drink through 2018.
This is a textural, bracing study in how to layer a Chardonnay. Green berries, apples, Asian pears, jicama, cucumber, wet stone and creamy lees flavors all combine seamlessly, placing the small percentage of wine aged in new oak in an appropriately light supporting role. Excellent length and perfect balance.
This is a textured wine from a six-acre vineyard. It has fine tannins as well as red-plum skin and red-berry fruits. It is balanced and fruity although the texture does give it a tangy edge that should soften out from 2017.
This is a textured wine that's rich and round. Its citrus and red berry fruits are balanced with a spice and caramel character.
This is a textured wine with ripe and perfumed fruitiness. Honeyed in style and medium-sweet on the palate, it's a complex, rich wine that's ready to drink now, but could also improve with age.
This is a textured wine with strong minerality as well as ripe white stone fruits. It is still young, full of life as well as intense fruitiness. The herbal hint at the end will integrate as this fine wine ages further. Drink from 2018.
This is a textured wine, firm and tight initially. Plenty of flavor is waiting to develop and to reveal white fruits and attractive citrus. It can be drunk now, but the wine will be much better from 2016.
This is a textured wine, showing minerality and a tight character. Firm and closed, it needs to age, with its crisp stone fruit flavors and tangy, zesty fruitiness. Drink from 2016.
This is a textured, dense and concentrated selection that has notes of white fruits and white flowers. It's a wine for medium-term aging.
This is a textured, steely wine with considerable acidity as much as fruit. Tight and with green apple and green plum characters, this structured wine has a salty, chalky texture. Tasting of the soil, it needs to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a thick and brawny Brunello that shows a lot more heft and personality than some of the weaker expression from the 2005 vintage. Fattoria Scopone presents a rich and textured wine with ripe notes of cherry liqueur and blackberry followed by firm, gritty tannins.
This is a thick and burly version of the variety from a rocky, high-elevation appellation well known for Zinfandel. Leathery tar overlaps with herbal, vegetal elements before a bittersweet finish.
This is a thick and savory wine, compressed and somewhat flabby on the palate. A curious nose takes time to develop into full-bodied black cherry and blackberry.
This is a thick and somewhat heavy white wine, wrapped in oak and ripe concentrated fruit. The profile is baked apple and pear with a side note of Good & Plenty candy anise.
This is a thick and sticky white wine from Northern Italy that shows a fragrant bouquet of exotic fruit and white flower backed by a waxy, thick texture in the mouth. That cool climate, mountain acidity helps to keep the palate refreshed.
This is a thick and vinous Dolcetto with bright grape and blueberry aromas followed by a touch of rubber and spice. It offers a slightly sweet aftertaste with dense, plump concentration.
This is a thick extracted wine that's simple in execution. It's a full-bodied showcase of blackberry, black cherry, leather and cedar.
This is a thick full-bodied commingling of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Merlot. Soy, plum sauce and brambly blackberry rise on the palate. The grapes are a mix of mountain-grown and valley floor.
This is a thick, almost syrupy Riesling, packed with fruit flavors of peaches and apricots. It's tilting toward off dry, with residual sugar at 15 g/L, drinking well though somewhat one-dimensional.
This is a thick, chocolatey wine with a side of leather and black pepper that appeals on multiple levels. Full-bodied concentration gives way to a smooth, rounded palate robust in blackberry and vanilla.
This is a thick, concentrated version of the variety, tropically succulent in mango, papaya and a refreshing twist of lemon.
This is a thick, concentrated wine, full bodied in its toasty oak and bursts of cherry-vanilla. Oaky and soft, it possesses a funk of earthiness.
This is a thick, creamy, sun-soaked expression of Sauvignon Blanc that opens with aromas of mature melon, apricot and white almond. It shows dense consistency and would pair with spicy Tandoori Indian dishes.
This is a thick, dense and juicy Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, rich in currant, black cherry and blackberry. An approachable tannin structure allows for drinkability in its youth.
This is a thick, firmly structured version of a rare variety in California, smoky in black cherry and vanilla. Perfumed in sweet aromas of violet and raspberry pie, it offers a deceptively balanced fullness of body and power, with persistence to the finish.
This is a thick, masculine Amarone with dense extraction and soda- like qualities of root beer, smoked bacon, A1 Steak Sauce and beef jerky. It delivers enormous power and concentration followed by a thick, meaty feel.
This is a thick, rich and chocolate-laden wine, soft and generously ladened with tannin. Cigar, cedar and dried sage remind one of its varietal intent, while its medium-bodied size allows for plushness on the palate.
This is a thick, rich and layered white from Oak Knoll District-grown estate fruit. It's inviting, with lemon chiffon, baked pineapple and anise. Medium bodied and not afraid to be robust, wet-stone minerality brings it together.
This is a thick, rich and very ripe wine, with a charred back note making its way against higher-toned tastes of red raspberry and blackberry. The oak is integrated and the wine softly varietal, but it packs a punch on the palate.
This is a thick, ripe Aussie red in which you can stand up a fork. The bold blackberry, vanilla, black pepper and dark earth flavors are not about finesse or elegance; this is stick-to-your-ribs stuff. Best Buy. —J.C.
This is a thick, syrupy-rich wine that traffics in candied cherry and oak flavors.It has appeal but lacks varietal character.
This is a thickly concentrated and powerfully full-bodied wine, spicy in clove and cinnamon as well as a lingering note of cola. The fruit leans into blackberry and black cherry, with a pronounced weedy, herbal undertone.
This is a thickly extracted Amarone with a black, inky appearance and powerful aromas of black fruit, exotic spice, bresaola, mesquite wood and cola. It's almost too much of a good thing and the palate becomes overwhelmed by the wine's muscle, power and overall sweetness.
This is a thickly extracted Amarone with fruit-driven aromas of strawberry, cherry and blackberry preserves. It is inky and dark in color with impenetrable density and a smooth quality to its tannins. Allegrini is one of the most historic and well-respected producers in Valpolicella.
This is a thickly extracted red with thumping notes of ripe fruit and black ink that make it feel heavy and weighty in the mouth. It's almost too much of a good thing with chewy cherry flavor, tight polished tannins and good persistency on the finish.
This is a thin and easy blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Dindarella with sweet aromas of blueberry, forest floor, bramble and grassy notes that make a good companion to informal meals at home. The wine is tart and slightly bitter with straightforward berry favors.
This is a thin and easygoing Aglianico with informal aromas of warm berries and Indian spice. Unlike other robust red wines from Puglia, this expression lacks the overt ripeness you sometimes find. Instead, you get sharp aromas of sour berry and underbrush.
This is a thin and fresh Prosecco that remains simple and easy to drink to the last drop. Citrus, peach, tangerine and talc powder best describe the aromas.
This is a thin and informal Prosecco with a no-fuss personality and a simple mandate to refresh the palate on a hot summer day. Citrus and honey are followed by dried sage and hay.
This is a thin wine with way too much acidity for the fruit. The rest of the wine is dry tannin that could soften into a more juicy character. It's always going to be a light wine.
This is a thin, acidic wine, and it's not quite ripe, to judge from the green, grassy, ammonia notes. It's wonderfully dry and crisp in acidity, but that lack of richness makes it difficult to like.
This is a thin, fruity, simple wine with some red cherry flavors. Acidity and a touch of tannin completes the picture.
This is a thin, hard and tight version of the estate wine. It shows a bit more depth, but it's compact and slow to unravel. The oak is delivering butterscotch and vanilla, laid on as a buttery finish. This is too young to drink right now.
This is a thin, light-bodied wine, showy in deep, dark berry and cherry. Around its fruity edges, robust oak and tree bark are softened in black tea.
This is a thin, sharp Chianti Superiore with thorny acidity and zesty aromas of white cherry and cassis. You'll want to match this wine with a creamy food such as risotto with grated Parmigiano cheese.
This is a thin, tart wine, with simple apricot, citrus, honey and peach flavors that finish sour and dry.
This is a thin, unfussy wine that imparts bell pepper and asparagus in a sea of green flavor.
This is a thin, water wine with delicate grapefruit flavor. The finish is brightened by a burst of citrusy acidity.
This is a thin, watery wine with flavors of stem rather than fruit.
This is a thorough exploration of Chardonnay, leading with vanilla, apple, buttercream and baking spice aromas. The palate rides lemony acidity into seared apple and nectarine flavors, finishing on marzipan and a citrus tang.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable wine, from the first whiff of cranberry and pine needle through the smooth finish that offers the faintest hint of butterscotch. A network of barely-there tannins supports agreeable flavors of cranberry, slightly tart cherry, butterscotch and sage.
This is a thoroughly modern Cabernet. It could come from the Napa Valley floor, and is not particularly representative of Knights Valley. But it is flashy, with massively ripe blackberry, red currant, oak flavors, with oak providing a rich jacket of toast. So high in alcohol and soft, it seems unlikely to age, so drink up.
This is a thouroughbred, elegant sparkler. With its delicate acidity, apple and grapefruit flavors, and tense, steely texture, it is an extremely well-blanced wine. Although it is ready to drink now, it could certainly age in bottle for many years.
This is a three-barrel reserve, principally Pommard clone, and vinified with minimal handling. Cherry/berry fruit comes with ample acidity. The alcohol, though just at the high end of moderate, seems to mute some of the details. Notes indicate that no additions were made, but the finish remains a bit chalky.
This is a three-grape Bordeaux-style blend that is three-fifths Cabernet Sauvignon and one-fifth each Merlot and Petit Verdot. It has tremendous flavor appeal, featuring a lush mix of red and black fruit—both berry and plum—with generous barrel flavors of mocha and espresso. It gains mass and breadth as it breathes.
This is a thrilling example of just how good Oregon Pinot Blanc can be. Lush and captivating flavors conjure up fresh-baked apple pie, along with citrus, melon and a streak of creamy vanilla. The depth and persistence are exceptional.
This is a throwback Chilean blend with aromas of tomato leaf, oregano, leather and tobacco along with dried raspberry and cherry. The palate has good flow but is light in weight. Flavors of olive, spice and herbs dominate the wine's light fruit content, while oak and spice flavors control the finish. This is a mix of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
This is a throwback to those brash, flavor-exuding Aussie wines of the past. Flashy, sweet-scented oak (think maple syrup and toasted coconut) marks the nose, while concentrated cassis and vanilla flavors coat the palate. This is big, but gorgeously so, with velvety-rich tannins and a long, plush finish. No, there's nothing subtle about this blend of 60% Cabernet and 40% Shiraz, but sometimes subtlety is overrated. Drink now–2030.
This is a throwback wine with complex aromas, intriguing flavors and a light-to-medium body. The blend is Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and the end product offers cinnamon, orange peel and tea aromas in front of an acid-rich palate, with spiced cranberry, dried fruit and citrus flavors. Elegant and feminine in style; drink now–2018. Fewer than 2,400 bottles produced.
This is a ticket to a simple, sweet wine. It has a creamy texture, with flavors of honey, apricots, tangerines and vanilla, even sautéed bananas.
This is a tight and bright take on the grape with steely kiwi and scratched pomelo aromas. The palate is framed by appealing pome fruit with a touch of juicy lemons and the slightest shred of sweetness.
This is a tight and compact expression of Barolo with some meaty, earthy aromas at the back of berry fruit, cola and dried herbs. There is a lighter, more feminine side to the bouquet that is successfully contrasted against the bolder, thicker feel this wine imparts in the mouth.
This is a tight and firm style of Prosecco with lively perlage and aromatic characteristics that veer towards talc powder and white flower more than they do peachy fruit or honey. It's an Extra Dry Prosecco but the sweetness is not immediately obvious.
This is a tight and firm wine that will take some time to develop. The fruit, an almost equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is all present and will fill out over the next few years. It is a serious dense wine with great aging potential. Drink from 2021.
This is a tight and racy take on a rarely planted grape for the region. with scratched lemon peel and lime pith aromas, plus a brie cheese-rind character. It's lively on the palate, with grapefruit peels, white flowers, lime juice and a touch of ripe apple flesh. Expect longevity.
This is a tight and restrained wine from an extreme coastal vineyard behind Cambria. On the nose, it shows touches of raspberry and pomegranate along with non-fruit notes of lavender, dried rose and cinnamon stick. The palate is mineral-driven, with gravel, loam and pencil lead accented by sagebrush, toast and cedar flavors.
This is a tight and structured wine, showing a fine balance between tannin and acidity, with dark, brooding fruit that still need time to develop. Give this wine until 2018.
This is a tight stalky wine with black currant and layers of acidity. The wine is still young—all fruit and acidity supported by some firm tannins. It should soften over the next several years. Drink from 2020.
This is a tight wine with acidity and a good future of crispness. Give this attractive wine a few months and its citrus fruit will show well. Drink from late 2017.
This is a tight wine with red-currant fruits and plenty of acidity. It is crisp and very fresh, demanding a few more months to calm down. Drink from 2017.
This is a tight wine, firm with tannins and with a bitter edge. Jammy cherry fruits lie behind this structure, along with acidity. The wine will soften and be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a tight wine, full of a strongly mineral texture and great acidity. Citrus fruitiness is balanced by spice and vanilla to give a wine that will be both textured and refreshing. Drink from 2020.
This is a tight wine, packed with acidity and strong citrus flavors. A touch of toastiness gives the wine its core of spice. The wine is refreshing, crisp with a good depth of fruit. Drink now.
This is a tight wine, with as much acidity as fruit. The red berry flavor cuts through the crisp texture, which hints at tannins.
This is a tight woody wine that is hard and over-extracted. Some fruit may come through but it is hard to imagine.
This is a tight, black-fruited wine, with generous flavors that include espresso and licorice. At first it's quite firm and a bit unyielding, it slowly peels open layer after layer, tossing out hints of dried herb, tobacco and mocha.
This is a tight, crisp rendering of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Struck flint aromas add nuance, while the bright lemon-lime flavors whirl together into a citrus sorbet of refreshment.
This is a tight, currently closed wine, but it has the potential to exude intense fruit and balancing acidity. It has weight and a taut, minerally texture, and the finish is fresh and lively. It will age over the medium term.
This is a tight, dry, tannic wine, showing all the hallmarks of ageabiity. Winemaker Philippe Melka has done a good job of blending fruit from Yountville, Atlas Peak and St. Helena to produce a seamlessly integrated Cabernet. The mouthfeel is soft, yet with fierce tannins that frame superb blackberry, cocoa, herb, mineral and cedar flavors. This continues a string of successful Cabernets that have been modestly priced, by Napa standards. Hold until 2018, at the very least.
This is a tight, extracted and focused wine generous in dark red fruit and forested earth. A thickness and density make it mouthfilling, juicy and most definitely full bodied. The finish is a mix of tobacco and black tea.
This is a tight, meaty Aglianico that offers a broad range of aromas that spans from black pepper to green olive to mature black cherry. The wine's solid structure makes it a good match to lamb or stewed game meat.
This is a tight, mineral-driven wine that's very textured. Its fruitiness comes from quince and pear skins with a definite structure. It is young, most likely requiring aging over at least 18 months.
This is a tight, mineral-driven wine with fresh acidity and a crisp character. Sémillon dominated, it conveys green fruits, bright acidity and a lively, tangy aftertaste. The wine is refreshing, fruity and ready to drink. Nicolas Thienpont and his brothers bought this 16-acre property in 1988.
This is a tight, mineral-textured wine that shows the potential of its rich black fruit, while keeping a close rein on its exuberance. The result is a wood-aged wine that offers considerable aging potential, so it keep for at least three years.
This is a tight, mineral-textured wine with fresh citrus and lemon-zest flavors and a steely character. It is crisp, almost cool in style and could do with some aging in bottle.
This is a tight, mineral-textured wine. Crisp fruit keeps it bright, but the texture adds a more serious, structured note. Wait until late 2017 for it to come completely together.
This is a tight, mineral driven wine that's very textured and almost stark in its character. It offers steeliness, brisk acidity, and a palate packed with citrus fruits. Give this ageworthy wine at least five years. Screwcap.
This is a tight, mineral single-vineyard wine coming from layered granite soil. Produced from organic grapes, it is crisp, tangy with lemon zest and light spice flavors and a strongly aromatic aftertaste. Drink this concentrated wine from 2017.
This is a tight, mineral wine that is very crisp in character. It has green apple, lime and grapefruit flavors that are pure and brightened with acidity. Drink this delicious wine now.
This is a tight, monstrous Syrah, with a pocket of black fruit flavor and a dollop of earthiness. It veers into raisiny territory on the finish.
This is a tight, sharp, pungent Viognier, with penetrating scents of lemon oil and pine. In the mouth it is grapefruity and slightly bitter, with a perception of almond skin as it fades away.
This is a tight, structured and stalky wine. Smoky black-currant flavors are freshened by acidity in the 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon blend from 15 acres. A firm character keeps the wine tough. Drink from 2016. A member of Alliance Bourg.
This is a tight, structured wine that shows more tannin than fruit. It has a lean austere character that needs to soften. Acidity at the end does show evidence of red currant and berry fruits. It will certainly be better if drunk after 2017.
This is a tight, substantial effort, with scents of bark, earth and herb running through the tart raspberry fruit. It's less accessible than many of Oregon's 2009 Pinots, but with decanting or further cellaring, it's a wine that should open nicely.
This is a tight, tangy wine that has been rounded out by some wood aging (35%). Crisp apples and grapefruit flavors are lifted by tight acidity and a zesty aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a tight, tangy wine, and its fruit is still developing. In the future, it will have a steely, nervy character, with its fruit showing more citrus.
This is a tight, tangy wine, laced with attractive wood flavors. Plenty of crisp citrus and spicy flavors balance each other. It is already delicious, so drink now.
This is a tight, textured and fruity wine. With a great mineral texture and steely structure, it is a wine for some aging. Lemon and pink grapefruit flavors sheer through the texture, still waiting to balance. From 2017 it will be a fine wine.
This is a tight, textured wine, with plenty of acidity to balance the ripe fruit. It has the generous texture typical of the vintage and ripe yellow fruits, with an attractive crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a tightly-wound, toasty Cabernet Sauvignon, with black cherry and cassis, augmented with dark notes of charcoal, tar and espresso. It has medium length and palate weight, and will drink well through 2019–2020.
This is a tightly coiled wine, still firm and packed with tannins as well as fruit. It has a strong dry core that is lifted by the bright acidity. This is going to be a very complete wine, all the elements well in place. Drink from 2026.
This is a tightly structured wine, taut with intense minerality and acidity. It has green fruit and citrus flavors filled out with toast and a creamy texture. The aftertaste, with its tangy minerality, shows the wine will age. Drink from 2020.
This is a tightly textured wine that has plenty of green stone fruit as well as a bitter almond edge. It is taut, and the fruit has not completely surfaced yet. Age for three years.
This is a tightly wound wine that's dry and tannic. Although it has a solid core of cherry jam, red currant and sweet oak flavors, the texture is a little rough. Drink now.
This is a tightly wound wine with acidity that brings out a fine structure and a strongly mineral, textured, almost chewy character. It is still fruity although, more importantly, with great tension and aging potential. Drink from 2019.
This is a tightly wrought wine, the white fruit flavors given a nervy edge of minerality. Its fruit and acidity are coming into balance, needing further age to fully integrate. Drink from 2018.
This is a tiny-production blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc, the latter sourced from Detert East Vineyard along the Oakville bench, the former from Hendry Ranch in western Napa. Made by Genevieve Janssens, it has an old-world soul with plenty of California complexity, balanced in woody notes of coconut flake and black cherry, the tannins are fine-grained and integrated. A simply gorgeous wine.
This is a tiny production wine, nutty on the nose in almond paste and an intensity of forest floor and earth. Still gritty in its youth, it shows a soft and delicate nature at its core, accented in rose petal and a persistent streak of minerality complemented by a richness of deep dark red cherry.
This is a tip-top appellation blend from a winery based in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, showing fresh-pressed raspberries, fennel pollen, dried rose petals and hibiscus on the nose. It's tightly wound on the spicy palate, with light cranberry, thyme, marjoram and Earl Grey tea flavors.
This is a toasty oaky version of Pinot Noir, loaded with cedar, vanilla and wood-derived tannins. Yet there's enough cherry fruit to provide ample support, and delicate herbal shadings peer through on the bright, concentrated finish. Drink now through 2020.
This is a toasty, black-currant-fruited wine. Its structural tannins give a dry character. A touch of green herb and a hard edge of toast indicate that the wine needs another year to soften.
This is a toasty, tasty, forward and easy-drinking Pinot Noir. Flavors of black cherry soda, cola and light toast are front and center, and the finish comes on clean and refreshing.
This is a tonic and fresh Prosecco Brut with pretty aromas of peach and pear backed by fragrant lemon, orange blossom and a tiny touch of chopped basil. The nose is extremely polished and pure with a very attractive mineral dimension.
This is a tonic, almost crunchy, Prosecco with spicy effervescence and lingering notes of candied lemon drops, lavender and honey. Its overall intensity is high without being pungent and there are loads of peach-like flavors over the crisp finish.
This is a top-dog Malbec from start to finish. Aromas of cassis, black plum and blackberry are well oaked and in harmony with each other. While this is tannic, rubbery and hard in feel, the wine's lusty plum, raisin, chocolate and herbal flavors can handle it. A spicy, toasty, chocolaty finish is fully oaked and strapping. Drink through 2023.
This is a top-notch Amarone, executed in a modern style, with incredible softness and intensity of flavors. The wine offers bursting cherry and currant berry fruit with playfully tart sweetness on the close. It's a lovely creation.
This is a top-notch effort—a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. It starts off with intriguing floral and herbal notes, then delivers deep black-cherry flavors on the palate, tinged with savory nuances of roasted meat and black olive. It's full bodied and round, richly but finely textured and very drinkable now yet with the substance to age up to 10 years or more.
This is a top-of-the-range crémant that is crisp and textured while also fruity. It has richness, laced with acidity and citrus. Fresh and full of apple flavor, it's an impressive wine that could age a year or two in bottle.
This is a top bottling from one of the appellation's first superstar wineries. Aromas of baked red cherry and red plum are dusted with nutmeg, clove and a crushed-slate minerality. The palate is lively with dried fennel, white sage and an earthy mintiness, which all give spice to the underlying base of ripe raspberry fruit. It's extremely delicious and deeply layered.
This is a top example of the classic Australian blend. Cabernet (57%) provides cigar box aromas and elongates the finish, while Shiraz (43%) fills out the midpalate. The combination is full-bodied yet muscular, generous yet firmly structured. Essence of cassis is framed by hints of vanilla and cedar, while the long finish shows off chewy tannins and mouthwatering acids. Drink 2023–2035, and posssibly beyond.
This is a top value, offering unusually rich palate weight and texture in a wine this inexpensive. Ripe stone-fruit flavors finish long, picking up hints of fresh herbs and leesy richness. Drink through the end of 2017.
This is a top wine from the Borba cooperative. It has all the right richness and fruitiness followed by great concentration, solid texture and dark tannins. The finish shows acidity, with touches of tar and perfume.
This is a totally herbaceous wine with no messing around. It has fresh acidity, crisp green fruitiness and lively acidity. Just a touch of wood gives a more sophisticated edge. Drink from 2016.
This is a touch foxy and feral on the nose, but overall it's an attractive, aggressive wine, with sweaty leather and animal leanings but also a lot of solid fruit and power. It feels round, with a herbal flavor and a cookie note, and a long, juicy and toasty finish.
This is a touch mealy on the nose, with ripe stone-fruit and melon aromas. A juicy, direct palate follows, with citrus and green-fruit flavors that finish quick and clean.
This is a touch overripe and plummy, akin to a puree on the nose. Smoky oak lurks behind the fruit, along with a taste of almond and tea. In the end, the wine ends robustly and full-figured, with plenty of power and concentration to the finish.
This is a touch stalky and leathery up front, with animal and wild berry scents. Choppy acidity makes for a perky mouthfeel, while rustic, leathery flavors of baked plum finish earthy, oaky and a touch salty.
This is a touch stalky and rough on the nose, while in the mouth it's raw, choppy and boxed in. Cherry and plum flavors pick up speed on the palate and taste slightly gamy and burnt on the finish.
This is a touch wheaty and creamy on the nose, with moderate oxidation for a manzanilla. Lemony acidity keeps things tangy and crisp, while the flavors are fresh and nutty, with controlled acidic sharpness. Dry nut notes and an apricot-related tang carry the finish.
This is a tough wine in two ways. It's rather hard and brittle in acids and tannins now, and it's also tough to predict its future. It's rich in currant, blackberry jam, coffee and cedar flavors, but there is an undertow of raisins that could compromise its longterm viability.
This is a tough wine to evaluate. On the one hand, there's plenty of concentration and ripeness, reflected in the wine's high-toned raspberry fruit, ample weight and rich, creamy texture. On the other hand, the alcohol is a bit elevated (16%) and there's almost 1.5% residual sugar, so it's sweet on the finish.
This is a tough wine to love, although the price makes it an everyday sipper. With blackberry, licorice and herb flavors, it's dry and tannic.
This is a tough wine, filled with tannins and missing out on the fruit. Its structure is powerful, dark and dry, packing a punch of the hard texture. There is some juicy fruit, although it is not likely to ever soften the wine completely.
This is a tough wine, marked by hard acids and tannins, and an absence of the fruit to stand up to it. It's bone dry and severe, with thin cherry-skin and cola flavors.
This is a tough wine, packed more with tannins than fruit. A bitter chocolate character comes from over-extraction of the tannins. The fruit is slow in coming, although there are hints of juiciness. Give it until 2017.
This is a tough, chewy Merlot, a bit of a stylistic departure for Walla Walla Vintners. Perhaps it's the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, or perhaps just the result of the challenging 2010 vintage in the Walla Walla Valley. But the greenish tannins bring a lot of herbal flavors to the forefront, and tend to bury the fruit.
This is a tough, dry wine that needs rich fare to balance it out. It's very tannic and sharp in acidity, with flavors of coffee, blackberries, dark unsweetened chocolate and spices. Should develop well for many years, gradually mellowing and sweetening.
This is a traditional style—emphasizing earthy tannins and spicy fruit and is rough around the edges—but is a wine that would relish being partnered with sausages, salamis and hard cheeses. There is plenty of weight, the acidity coming from minerality and wood.
This is a traditional take on Vernaccia with aromas of stone fruit and almond delivered directly from the essence of the grape. There's a tiny touch of smoke or toast in the background and the mouthfeel is spicy, clean and fresh.
This is a traditional wine from Campania (named after the “tears of Christ”) that exhibits good dimension and personality despite a lightweight feel and texture. You'll get crisp tones of berry fruit, spice and natural rubber.
This is a traditional, dry Clare Riesling, with a linear, lean profile and crisp acids. Crushed stone accents lemon-lime flavors. Oyster me, please!
This is a tremendous blend of various vineyard sites, coaxed together into a stunning combination of beautiful floral aromas, ginger and baked lemon. Given time in half new oak, it takes on flavors of apple and vanilla, never venturing out of range and remaining balanced and textured.
This is a tremendous deal of a wine, bold and medium in weight with light, well-strung, tangy acidity. Sour lemon, apple, flint and ginger combine for an elegant, widely appealing experience that works as an apéritif or with a meal.
This is a tremendous example of Côte-Rôtie from an irregular vintage. After 20 months in new oak, the wine is a seamless amalgam of roasted meat and charred fruit. The tannins are supple, the extraction and ripeness judged expertly to provide richness without excessive weight. The finish does firm up a bit, so drink it from 2018–2028, and possibly beyond.
This is a tremendous value for such a good wine, made by Casey Flat Ranch winemaker Laura Barrett, a medium-textured swirl of grapefruit, melon and ripe orange. Grapes from Lake County also add a  tropical element, just right in the mix.
This is a tremendous wine that's packed with flavor and dramatically structured. It's made in the modern cult style of exceptionally rich and ripe with sweet, toasty oak, and delicious blackberries, black currants, dark chocolate and anise. The tannins are strong, but refined. Begin popping the cork in eight years, and this beauty could still be going strong in 2028, maybe beyond.
This is a tremendous, powerful Chardonnay that swamps the mouth with ripe fruit and oak. It detonates with pineapple crème brûlée, peach tart, buttered toast and vanilla flavors, and while it's dry, it has a honey-sweet finish and a crisp, citrus acid tartness. Drink now.
This is a tremendously inviting price for a wine of this caliber, super structured and tight at first with chewy tannins and savory plum and chocolate on the palate. Concentrated, this Zin could stand a little time in the cellar, 3–5 years, or let it breathe awhile if you just have to drink it now.
This is a tremendously light Pinot with a bouquet of yellow cherry and cranberry. It's slightly more savory than fruity, expressing the region's cool vintage. The texture of the wine is soft and pleasant with a subtle hint of fuzzy tannins.
This is a tremendously, remarkably and memorably bright and tangy wine, floral on the nose and delicious on the palate. Blood orange, lithe minerality and sparks of lemon and lime highlight the experience, the grapes grown on Atlas Peak.
This is a tried-and-true Washington blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah. It is still pulling itself together, and it marries moderately ripe fruit to herb and green tea elements. The tannins are astringent, and there is a hint of leather on the finish.
This is a tropical-fruit-flavored wine with only a hint of more herbal flavors. It is ripe and juicy with sweeping fruitiness as well as acidity. The texture, mineral in character, comes from the chalk of the vineyard—one of the top sites in Sancerre. Drink this beautiful wine from 2018.
This is a tropical-fruited wine, with mango and sweet peach notes showing the wine's richness. As a complement, there is the taut green-fruit acidity that's bright and fresh. The two together lend a rich, yet structured wine.
This is a tropical-scented offering from New Zealand's first carbon-neutral winery. Pineapple and grapefruit flavors dominate the palate, with hints of jicama and jalapeño on the finish.
This is a true Claret, in that the blend includes 41% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Malbec. It is lushly scented with licorice, tobacco, clove, some plastic and dark fruits, especially black cherry. The fruit and indeed the wine itself has been softened to the point of losing its focus; perhaps an effort to subdue the vineyard's notorious tannins. This is forward and pleasant but a bit diffuse.
This is a true Luján Malbec, with earthy berry aromas and a loamy topping to the nose. A ripe, chewy mouthfeel is braced by modest acidity, while vanilla, maple, mocha and blackberry flavors are oaky and modern in style. On the finish, the feel is creamy yet fresh, and the flavors echo the palate.
This is a true pan-Washington Cabernet, with fruit coming from 12 different vineyards scattered across the Columbia Valley. It's 100% varietal as aromas of char, toast, black cherry meats, herb, cranberry and spice are followed by elegantly styled dark-fruit flavors. The tannins bring a bit of heft and grip.
This is a true pan-Washington Syrah, with fruit coming from Discovery, Olsen, Stone Tree, Pepper Bridge, Dineen, Stoney Vine, Yellow Jacket and Boushey vineyards—all top sites rarely seen in a bottle at this price. Scents of smoke, blue and black fruit, crushed flowers, sagebrush and herb leap out of the glass, demonstrating a lot of aromatic complexity. The palate shows intensity, purity and layering.
This is a true reserve, richer and more complex than Bargetto's regular Merlot. Shows dense flavors of black raspberries, currants, cherries, chocolate and vanilla, wrapped into firm but accessible tannins, and finishes thoroughly dry and spicy. Best now and for a year or two.
This is a truly amazing Sauvignon from northeast Italy that rests on the lees for three years to shape a rich, complex and elegant white wine. The variety's characteristic aromas of exotic fruit and spring flowers are all there and the wine is impressively generous and creamy on the finish.
This is a truly beautiful wine, a blend of two estate vineyards, Quail Hill and Susanna's. Richly layered and concentrated in its still-vibrant youth, it's also texturally complex and compelling in its teases of ginger and honey, taking on more succulent notions of apple and a flinty element as it opens.
This is a truly delicious wine, worthy of accolades no matter its gulpability, made in a pretty off-pink color from 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot and aged six months in stainless steel. Tangy and crisp, it sings on the palate, an undeniable reward of watermelon and mandarin orange that's got meat on its tender bones.
This is a truly herbal Sauvignon that is sold under the label of one of the major wine retail chains in France. It's full of green fruit, intense acidity and crisp texture and is ready to drink.
This is a Tuscan blend with character. The nose is full of cinnamon, mint, cloves and spice, while on the palate, an enticing blend of cherry, raspberry, mocha, mint and spice makes it a great solo sip. A solid wine with an overall likeable personality.
This is a typical blend in Gaillac, combining the broad character of the Loin de l'Oeil with the crisper Sauvignon. It's a fine, ripe wine that is perfumed with white stone fruit and touches of apricot. The wine's full in the mouth although lightly textured. Drink now.
This is a typical Sonoma Coast Chard in the bright acidity that firms up the ripe, long hangtime flavors. Pineapples, pears, peaches, nectarines and subtle papaya notes are joined with buttercream and cinnamon spices. Drink now.
This is a typical sweet rosé from Anjou. A light and fruity blend of Groslot and Gamay, it is sugary but has attractive acidity to balance the sweet wild-strawberry flavors. Drink now.
This is a typical, fresh, off-dry Vinho Verde. It has citrus and apple flavors, a light, crisp prickle on the tongue and a candied aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a typical, standard style of Syrah, that tastes strongly of vanilla rather than of the actual grape. The fruit is muted, but the vanilla and tobacco flavors stand out.
This is a typically fragrant and fresh Grüner but with great class. It's very ripe and fruity, with acidity that offers a refreshing line of citrus. The Hundsleiten Vineyard's minerality comes through strongly here with a steely texture that finishes the wine with dryness. It's an impressive wine for aging over the next 2–4 years. Screwcap.
This is a typically light and fruity wine from Gascony. It has light, fresh apple flavors, a green crisp streak and just a touch of spice. Drink now.
This is a typically light, fruity and off dry Vinho Verde. It has an attractive, refreshing prickle on the tongue followed by crisp apples and citrus flavors. Clean, fresh and ready to drink.
This is a typically perfumed Gewürztraminer with the twist of a cool ocean climate. That coolness allows plenty of acidity to come into this dry, fruity wine and adds a floral character. With its crispness, it is bright as well as aromatic. Drink now.
This is a typically snappy New Zealand Sauvignon featuring mildly vegetal aromas along with the required touch of cat pee and grapefruit. Bold lemon and tangerine flavors comprise the citrus palate, which leads into a tangy acid-driven finish full of lemon and grapefruit. Tart, juicy and pleasant.
This is a ull, rich wood-aged Muscadet from old vines in a single vineyard. It is ripe, yellow fruit flavored and concentrated, the natural acidity of the Melon grape rounded and softened. It can be aged so drink now through 2017.
This is a unicorn wine that only gets made in exceptional years—the last time was a decade ago. Hailing from Morrison Lane, the oldest Syrah plantings in the valley, it brings mesmerizing aromas of blackberry, black fruit, moist earth and wet stone. The black-fruit flavors consume the palate, showing density, depth and exceptional length. It's a complete heart-stopper.
This is a unique and exciting take on California's historic grape from one of the region's pioneering wineries. Aromas recall sour cranberry, orange peel, strawberry and sagebrush. It's savory and herbal on the palate, with baking and Indian spices of cardamom and chai as well as mocha.
This is a unique and quirky blend, but so seductive. Half Sangiovese and half Cabernet Franc, it strikes an Italian pose, with scents and flavors of tobacco and sour cherry backed with lip-smacking acidity. The Cabernet Franc lends prune, plum and coffee notes.
This is a unique blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne and Orange Muscat. Aromas of pear, almond, white flowers and orange peel lead to off-dry fruit flavors that have a full, lightly oily feel.
This is a unique Pinot Noir, different from almost everything else out there. Sourced from a vineyard in the Petaluma Gap region (perhaps a future AVA), it's bone dry, moderate in alcohol, and tannic. It has lighter, leaner flavors than most Pinots, with the fruit accompanied by herbs, minerals, flowers and mushrooms. Fans of super-fruity Pinots will find it unrich, but Burgundy lovers may think of Pommard. It will be fascinating to track this wine's progress.
This is a unique wine for enthusiasts of the natural wine movement. It shows a dark garnet color, with spicy aromas of dried fruit, currant and Indian spice. A bright tone of dried mint and rosemary lingers on the finish.
This is a unique wine from an area of Italy that rarely does blended varieties. The grapes used here are Aglianico, Piedirosso and Sangiovese and the aromas include soy sauce, cola, root beer and barbecue sauce. A little strange and probably not for everyone.
This is a unique wine from Mallorca with light cherry and raspberry aromas. Clampy, dry and tannic on the palate, it's full of savory, roasted barbecue flavors along with tomato and red fruit notes. Very Mallorcan in that it's salty and savory from start to finish.
This is a unique wine indeed. The style here is heavy, thick and shows the limits Pinot Grigio can achieve in terms of extraction and richness. The wine's appearance shows a copperish hue and the texture is thickly laced with carmel, candied fruit and apricot.
This is a unique wine that not everyone will like. It definitely has personality and complexity and is completely unlike the commercial passitos flooding the market. Aromas include cola, root beer, caramel, dried mint, chestnut and apricot. There's also a musky side of earth and white mushroom. It is thickly concentrated and syrupy in the mouth. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers.
This is a unique wine that opens with aromas of caramel and butterscotch but it also offers mature apricot, melon and candied fruit. The mouthfeel is short and compact but the acidity and bitter almond flavors do keep it lively.
This is a unique, oak-aged Finger Lakes ice wine made by Long Island winemaker, Anthony Nappa. Fermented spontaneously and intentionally oxidized, it juxtaposes silken caramel with sea salt and bitters. It's a fascinatingly funky wine worthy of some contemplative sipping.
This is a uniquely layered Pinot with concentrated dark-cherry liqueur flavor wrapped in notes of mushroom and dirt. The finish is bright and long-lasting. This one calls for chanterelles sautéed with plenty of olive oil and bacon bits.
This is a useful red wine for everyday drinking. Full-bodied and spicy, it offers plenty of berry, plum sauce and toasted wood flavors.
This is a value white, with fresh tones of citrus, pear and stone fruit. Zesty crispness marks the finish, making it perfect for smoked salmon with cream cheese.
This is a varietal Roussanne that's pungent with herbs, honey and vanilla, along with strong flavors of black tea and oak that somewhat overpower the fruit. Waxy on the finish. Serve chilled and drink young.
This is a varietally correct Cabernet with minty oak, mild herb aromas and toasty, solid berry fruit scents on the bouquet. Although it's a bit scouring and tough on the palate, flavors of raspberry, plum and herbs are spicy and right. On the finish, oaky vanilla and lemony notes settle in.
This is a variety Gerovassiliou does very well, with its aromas of pear, peach and lemon and its creamy but crisp flavors of pear, citrus and peach. The wine has weight without losing its delicate touch, and balanced acidity gives it a food-friendly edge. A great summer white wine.
This is a vegetal and slightly thorny expression of Pinot Nero that shows the small berry nuances that are characteristic of the varietal followed by tar and licorice. The wine is aged only in stainless steel to maintain its overall freshness.
This is a vegetal Sauvignon Blanc, with forward aromas of green pepper, asparagus, green plum and a touch of talcum powder on the nose. Tart, lean, green fruit flavors fill the mouth, ending on a brisk yet clean finish.
This is a vegetal SB, no two ways about it. Aromas of canned beans and peas are greener than Ireland. Flavors of asparagus, canned peas and citrus finish soft, with low acidity.
This is a vegetal, underripe wine, albeit one with a fresh palate. The nose, flavor profile and finish are decidedly green and pyrazinic. Made from 94% Sauvignon Blanc with Chardonnay and Viognier.
This is a velvety smooth, superbly made white with delightful sparks of fresh-squeezed lemon, stone and salt. Ginger and lemongrass touches add an exotic quality, enhancing its bright freshness and core of acid-led tension.
This is a veritable bargain for the incredible quality it delivers. It's lavishly composed, with a flurry of floral, fruity attributes—cherry blossoms, sweet peaches, and yellow plums—all kissed with honey, and a shower of lemon-lime acidity. Enjoy now for its youthful exuberance, but put a few away to see its honeyed tones darken and mature over the next decade.
This is a very accessible white wine for those seeking a reliable alternative that's both bright and flavorful. Aromas of coconut, poached pear, chamomile and white flowers show on the broadly painted nose, while the palate is clean and crisp with apple, zippy acidity and a chalky minerality.
This is a very apple-driven bottling, with apple juice, apple cider and mulling spices on the nose. The palate is also very cider-like, with cooked-apple flavors and the slightest hints of acidity.
This is a very approachable and tasty wine, especially for a grape that can be so tannic when young. Aromas of cola, chopped mint and cherries translate to a fruity and minty palate, with just enough tannins, a nice acidic spice and a bit of woodiness on the finish. It's very well measured.
This is a very approachable wine, with lush aromas of red fruit and tobacco, followed by soft, silky tannins. It shows enough intensity and staying power to pair with spicy barbecue ribs.
This is a very aromatic wine that's rich, spicy and with just a touch of ripeness. It has spiced pear, lychee and honey notes all balanced by a wonderful fresh acidity. Drink now and until 2020. Screwcap.
This is a very aromatic wine, full of rose-petal aromas. A palate of ripe strawberries, soft acidity and a rich texture finishes on a high note of tangy lemon and raspberries.
This is a very attractive and well-constructed blend of Corvina, Oseleta and Cabernet Franc with generous aromas of spice, cherry and blackberry. There's also a hint of forest floor and leather at the back and the wine imparts a bright, polished feel in the mouth.
This is a very attractive oak-aged Barbera with aromas of sweet spice, bitter chocolate and loads of bright berry fruit. The wine is compact, clean and thanks to the bright acidity, it leaves your palate polished and fresh.
This is a very attractive rosato from coastal Tuscany that opens with a pale pink color and delicate aromas of rose petal and wild berry. There's a touch of sour cherry on the close.
This is a very attractive wine with bursting cherry notes and vibrant layers of sweet spice and clove. You'll also get root beer, chopped herbs, tobacco and leather: the wine is thick and firm with oak-driven flavors.
This is a very attractive, fruity and smooth wine in a plush style. Aromas of pear and pineapple turn to full flavors lightly spiced with vanilla. The texture is easy-going, mouthfilling and helps the flavors linger on the finish.
This is a very beautiful and intense sparkler with delicate floral tones that come on the heels of white peach and Golden Delicious apple (10% Chardonnay is blended in). Traces of distinct minerality add elegance and dimension.
This is a very beautiful and satisfying Brut expression of Prosecco Superiore that delivers dry sensations of talc powder and crushed stone backed by white flower and citrus. The close is steely crisp and bright.
This is a very big and jammy wine, but it's made with expert structure and elegance as well as affordability. Concentrated blackberry, black-currant, smoked beef and lavender aromas arise from the dark juice in the glass. The crème de cassis richness at the tip of the sip dries up into tight tannins and touches of fennel and thyme.
This is a very big Zinfandel, exuberant and lush in fruit. It floods the palate with blackberries, cherries, mulberries, plums and currants, complexed with smoky oak and spices. Fine now with steak fajitas or a juicy cheeseburger.
This is a very big, extractedly fruity Bordeaux blend. Right now, it's tannic and sharp and dry, but it has explosive blackberry, black currant and dark chocolate flavors. Rather too angular and awkward for complete enjoyment, but cellar for 4–6 years and try again.
This is a very big, rich, dense Pinot Noir, and some will fault it for having the high alcohol and full body that are characteristic of Cabernet. Nonetheless, this is immensely complex and dramatic, offering wave after wave of concentrated black cherry and red currant, with notes of bacon and sweet oak. Gets better and more attractive as it warms in the glass. Drink now–2016.
This is a very big, rich, extracted Pinot. While it's undeniably delicious, it's so stuffed with cherry-pie filling, black raspberry, mocha and cola flavors, it lacks subtlety, especially at this price. Give it a good, long decant and drink now.
This is a very clean, well-balanced wine, with nice hints of honey but not too much, and a lightly spicy finish.
This is a very closed, terroir-driven wine with a mineral character. With its tight structure and flavors of green fruit and spice, it is a wine for aging. Screwcap.
This is a very compelling Barbera d'Asti Superiore that is characterized by ripe fruit notes and smoky tones of ham or bacon fat. You'll get brambly notes of underbrush as well that give the wine a sharper, more defined personality and this impression is reinforced by the natural acidity.
This is a very complete wine, with all the fruit and tannin elements in place. There's a fine and rich character here as well as a more austere, mineral side. The combination results in supporting tannins, dark fruits and good aging potential.
This is a very complete, well-balanced and satisfying wine that has a firm tannic structure to carry the tempting berry and black-cherry flavors. It starts with light cinnamon, clove and vanilla aromas that join loads of fruit on the palate, layering nicely for an interesting, complex and substantive character. Drink through 2025.
This is a very concentrated, firm and tannic wine but also so ripe and almost sweet in flavor that it achieves good balance. Lush ripe berries and black cherries coat the palate, while a velvety texture adds great structure for an appetizing and gripping mouthfeel. Barbera, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes form the blend.
This is a very correct and straightforward Aglianico that delivers all the basic promises of the variety. There's firmness and deep structure here, but the wine is also flush with chewy fruit, tobacco, leather and dusty mineral tones on the close.
This is a very crisp wine dominated by herbaceous notes and intense acidity. It is bright and lively, hinting at spice and toast and tantalizingly fresh on the finish.
This is a very dark wine from the Kama Sutra-inspired winery, with aromas of creosote and blueberry. The flavors are quite thick with blackberry juice, balanced with pangs of acidity yet finishing on the soft side.
This is a very delicious and accessible wine for all palates, both lavish in style and complex. Candied blackberry, fragrant rose and fennel pollen aromas introduce a palate of baked red fruit, maple syrup and brown sugar flavors. That fruit-forward richness is balanced by extreme floral character and lively acidity.
This is a very delicious Pinot, made in a drink-me-now style. It's dry and crisp and silky, and enormously rich in raspberry, cherry and strawberry jam flavors. The texture is pure silk and satin. Drink now for sheer lusciousness.
This is a very dense, layered wine, with many intricate corners to explore. The winemaker has put on lots of lees and quite a bit of new oak, which of course adds creamy, smoky complexities. Fortunately, the underlying wine can handle it. Pure Santa Lucia Chardonnay, it's intricate in tangerines, limes, pineapples, honeysuckle and Asian spices, with a flinty minerality. Acidity is quite high.
This is a very distinct and unique Syrah, starting with subdued black fruit, minty chocolate, crushed pepper and grapeseed aromas. The palate is light and savory in style, with pepper, tar, roasted meat and burnt sugar flavors that finish with a cocoa and coffee touch.
This is a very distinctive, even eccentric, Cab that must reflect its single-vineyard terroir.  The usual black-currant and blackberry notes are there, but the aroma is sharply dominated by an herbal streak, somewhat stalky or green, as if some of the grapes didn't ripen.  Tastes a little sharp.  Purists might want to age it for 3-5 years to see if it softens up.
This is a very Douro blend for this wine from Lisboa region. It brings structure and minerality to fill out the dark-black fruits. With ripe tannins and bright acidity balancing the fruit, it is ready to drink.
This is a very drinkable Gigondas despite being very much in the savory-spicy style. Leather, garrigue, cinnamon and clove are the dominant notes, softened by silky tannins and modest cherry fruit. Drink now–2015.
This is a very drinkable Negroamaro-based rosé from Puglia that boasts a richly saturated pink color and fresh aromas of white cherry and pomegranate. What makes it stand out, however, is its rich, pleasurable density and persistency.
This is a very drinkable, plump wine probably best served as an apéritif. Hints of pear and honey mark the nose, while the palate blends in hints of allspice, cinnamon and clove. It tastes slightly off dry, but finishes with zesty acids that offer plenty of refreshment.
This is a very dry and crisp Champagne. With fresh acidity and sliced apple, lemon and green plum-skin fruitiness, it's still in its young and steely stage. There is plenty of fruit and texture to allow it to age.
This is a very dry and dusty wine. That experience starts on the nose, where dried oregano, pencil shavings and bittersweet-chocolate aromas meet with restrained blackberry juice. The herbal wave carries into the sip, with marjoram, bay leaf and dill playing into slightly sour black-plum fruit.
This is a very dry and rather bitter wine, with a raisinskin toughness. It's not very generous in fruit, but is nuanced in its own way. Needs rich barbecue to tease out the blackberries and chocolate.
This is a very dry Cab whose blackberry flavors have nuances of green olives and smoky oak. Notable for its balance, it's a nice, inexpensive red wine to have with fancy meals.
This is a very dry Champagne that offers crisp apple and grapefruit flavors along with a toasty, yeasty character. The acidity makes for a taut texture and a tense, lively finish.
This is a very dry Pinot Noir, lowish in alcohol by current standards. It's not showing particularly well now, with a sour cherry and cranberry tartness that makes the mouth water. You can chew on this wine and it reveals plenty of mushroomy, meaty complexities, but it remains aloof and tough. Give it at least five years in a good cellar.
This is a very dry Sauvignon Blanc and also an acidic one, with sour flavors of Lifesaver pineapple candy. Shows good structure, but could use greater richness and complexity at this price.
This is a very dry, acidic wine. It's rather austere, not showing much richness now. With a minerally tang, It's more like a French Chablis than an opulent California Chardonnay. Give it credit for elegance and finesse.
This is a very dry, crisp and minerally Viognier. It shows a structure of elegance and sophistication. Yet the underlying flavors of apricots, peaches, honeysuckle flowers, vanilla and sweet oak spice are savory. Drink now.
This is a very dry, elegant Pinot Noir that's sleeker and earthier than many other comparably priced Pinots out there. It has what you might call a Burgundian profile, with the cherry, raspberry, cola and spice fruit balanced by truffles, leather and a suggestion of dried pine needles.
This is a very dry, firm wine that's solidly tannic but never harsh. The wine combines weight and ripe black fruit in a powerful expression of dense vintage Port from this estate in the Upper Douro. Acidity shines through the density on the finish. Age for many decades.
This is a very dry, richly textured Cabernet, vast in blackberry, black currant and cedar flavors, with the smooth, complex tannins Oakville is known for. However, there's a noticeable sharpness to the mouthfeel that may never go away.
This is a very dry, silky Pinot Noir made in a more restrained manner than some of the big, huge ones out there. It doesn't whack your head, but appeals for its elegance. Shows sophisticated cherry, sassafras and sandalwood flavors, and the price is extremely good for the quality.
This is a very dry, soft Merlot. At the age of four years, it's fully resolved and ready to drink now. Shows polished cherry, currant, spice and cedar flavors, finished with a bite of acidity.
This is a very dry, tannic Cabernet. It has blackberry and blueberry fruit that's obscured by some scoury astringency. Drink now, or give it a couple more years to come around.
This is a very dry, tannic wine whose mouthfeel is too tough and astringent to enjoy now. It has lovely flavors of blueberries, blackberries, sweetly old leather, cola and peppery spices. Feels like there's enough depth to last for 4–5 years and let the wine soften.
This is a very easy light-bodied red for chilling. The body is dry, slender and fresh. The flavor expression is of red fruit, earth and apple skin. It has a rustic, picnic-style quality. Drink soon.
This is a very easygoing and drinkable rosé, with faint aromas and flavors of strawberry hull, ripe white cranberry and a touch of hard peach flesh. Overall, it's balanced and approachable, but also very light; pair with lighter fare.
This is a very enjoyable Barolo with sweet, modern tones of oak, toast and spice balanced with sophisticated tones of cola, red berries and smoky tar. You'll feel the natural softness and velvety nature of the 2007 vintage on the tannins of this richly concentrated wine.
This is a very expressive interpretation of Morellino with ripe fruit flavors and good intensity. You'll recognize aromas of bright cherry, spice, vanilla and cinnamon. The wine is extremely chewy and succulent in the mouth.
This is a very fairly priced Cabernet given its quality. It's made from 100% Cab and all estate grown in the high elevations of Fair Play in El Dorado County. Oaky and smoky, it whispers of mountain fruit, with herb, cassis and blackberry highlights amid a background of savory earth. Age 3–5 years.
This is a very feline wine with tight citrus and gooseberry fruits that are almost too intense for its own good.
This is a very feminine sparkler with a beautiful bouquet of fresh white rose and jasmine. It has a delicate, pulpy consistency and would pair well with zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella cheese.
This is a very fine expression of this always richly structured appellation. It is still young, dominated by firm tannins as well as dark black fruits and the spice of wood aging. The acidity, the black cherry flavors and the density of the wine all suggest its great potential. Drink from 2020.
This is a very fine expression of Viognier, showing an intensity of flavors, but maintaining balance, elegance, and a dry profile. Waves of honeysuckle, oranges, limes, pears and oak are offset by minerality and acidity. Richly extracted, it will pair well with scallop, lobster and crab entrées.
This is a very fine from the great Port estate. With dark tannins, a mineral texture and rich fruits it is a real Douro wine. But there is also a great sense of elegance that may come from the property's Bordeaux management team. Put the two together and you have a great wine that will age well. Drink from 2019.
This is a very fine ripe wine. It has a steely character that comes from the limestone, clay and stony soil. Along with a pure line of acidity and green herb flavors, the white fruits have found their tangy place. Drink this delicious wine from 2018.
This is a very fine wine showing a new level of quality at Montrose. With its almost velvet tannins inside the intense black fruits, the wine is rich, smooth and generous. Blackberry and black-plum fruits are to the fore along with the fine acidity and great structure. A wine to age for decades, it will be ready to drink from 2027.
This is a very fine wine with considerable bottle age. From its orange-pink color to its mature toast and almond flavors, this complex wine is much more than the fruit that has merged with the secondary flavors. Light tannins and a crisp texture are balanced by the softness that comes from the relatively high dosage. The wine, beautifully mature, is ready to drink.
This is a very fine wine with sweetness tempered with a great sense of structure and concentration. Lychees dominate the fruit profile but are supplemented with pineapple and pomelo flavors that are sprinkled with pepper. It is rich and full in the mouth. It needs some more time to age, so drink from 2016.
This is a very fine wine, bringing together sophisticated tannins and rich black fruits. It has structure, acidity and a juicy core that are well balanced, ripe and with great intensity. This is a serious wine from billionaire Clément Fayat and family and it is well worth aging. Drink from 2022.
This is a very fine, full and ripe wine. It's full of pure, dark red cherries touched with chocolate, but also quite structured. The palate is laced with acidity and a refreshing minerality. This is an impressive wine that needs aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a very fine, high level Cabernet that shows the impeccable nature of Mondavi Reserve. Yet it's also very tannic and far from being drinkable. Shows a vast repository of black currant, blackberry, black cherry and new oak flavors wrapped into a smooth, velvety mouthfeel whose finish goes on forever. Masculine and authoritative, it should continue to improve for many years. Drink now, with decanting, and through 2017, at least.
This is a very fine, medium dry wine. It is superbly balanced between honeyed ripeness and tight, bright acidity. Crisp apples dominate the fruit profile of this young wine. That makes it delicious now but the wine is set to age well into a mature wine with great complexity. If you can wait, it will be more mature from 2019.
This is a very firm, dry and tannic wine. Flashes of red berry flavors go alongside the tannins, but it feels as if the wine will always be dry. Drink from 2015.
This is a very firm, tight and focused effort, with a clean cherry flavor. It is not at all like most Washington Merlots, which are often heavily influenced by new oak aging. Here is a concise, pure expression that may come across as a little monochromatic, perhaps because it seems to be somewhat shut down at the moment. Made using grapes from 10-year-old vines, it shows great promise.
This is a very flamboyant Chardonnay. The grapes are superripe in pie-filling pineapples, nectarines and oranges, enhanced with smoky oak and sweet buttered popcorn, but the finish is completely dry. Drink now with rich fare, like lobster and shellfish.
This is a very fragrant and floral rosé, reminiscent of peach gummy candies, orange blossom and orange-ginger tea. The palate is surprisingly lush, with round ripe-fruit flavors that are just barely lifted on the finish. Drink now.
This is a very fragrant and pungent Pinot Bianco with aromas of exotic fruit, pineapple, apricot and melon. It represents a lighter, fresher take on the robust grape and delivers a medium, compact structure in the mouth.
This is a very fresh and fragrant style of Tavel, which can often be a bit weightier in style. Bubble gum and passion fruit aromas give way to citrus and berry flavors on the palate, finishing soft and easy. It should easily last at least well into the spring.
This is a very fresh medium-bodied wine that overflows with ripe raspberry and blackberry flavors. It's the opposite of a serious age-worthy wine, but wonderful to drink now for its effusive fruit flavors that come along with just enough tannin for support on the palate.
This is a very fresh, very herbaceous wine. It's crisp with its pink grapefruit and lively acidity. Good with fish, but just as good as an apéritif.
This is a very friendly wine that is medium bodied, has a brownish tint to the color, slightly earthy aromas, warm fruit flavors like cooked cherries and a touch of brown sugar, plus a mellow lightly tannic texture.
This is a very fruit-forward and flashy version of New Zealand Riesling. Aromas of tangerines, nectarines and pears are followed by ripe stone-fruit flavors that even bring a hint of red berries. Limes provide focus and delineation to the finish.
This is a very fruity Cabernet in which blackberries, black cherries, currants, licorice and cola star, along with oak influences. It's bone dry, and the tannins are thick and firm, but finely ground. Jammy and immature, the wine wants time in the cellar. Hold until after 2013 and see what happens.
This is a very fruity wine, one dominated by apple and peach and citrus flavors. Good acids make it bright, and it's impeccably clean and focused. Could use some more depth and layers. —S.H.
This is a very fruity, very ripe wine, its tannins smothered by richness. There is powerful structure and perfumed fruit, making for great tension, minerality and total pleasure. Opulent and ripe.
This is a very full and deep wine, with aromas of black plum, mulberry, Dr Pepper, mint-chocolate chip and purple flowers. It's hearty on the palate as well, with black tea and rose petals showing alongside thick, rich mulberry, clove and baking spice galore. It's not dainty at all.
This is a very full, meaty, saturated blend, with a lightly stewed nose that carries aromas of tomato, bacon, mint and brambly berry. It feels grabby and punchy due to strong tannins, then tastes of medicinal black fruit, herb and coconut-tinged oak. Spicy and hard on the finish.
This is a very good blend from Paso Robles, showing the region's ability to ripen red grapes. It's a little on the soft side, but robust tannins provide good structure to the cherry, berry, beef jerky and pepper flavors. Drink now for freshness.
This is a very good Cab to drink now for its firm, dry mouthfeel and ripe flavors of cherries, currants and cedar. It feels elegant and distinguished. But it's also thick in dusty tannins, and should slowly evolve in the bottle for 6–7 years.
This is a very good Cabernet, dry, full-bodied and rich in black currants. But it's not the Landslide of the early and mid-2000s. The vineyard, in the southern Alexander Valley, remains the same, but the wine just doesn't show the incredible aromatics and complexities of, say, the 2001, 2003 and 2005. Let's hope it's a temporary lapse.
This is a very good dry Gewürztraminer that's laden in jasmine and honey, extremely perfumed on the nose, and light and crisp on the palate. With a suggestion of vanilla on the finish, it's a balanced white, ready to be enjoyed with a salad dressed with figs and goat cheese.
This is a very good example of an unoaked Chardonnay. It has lots of zingy fresh-fruit aromas, lively citrus and green-apple flavors and good supportive acidity to keep the mouthfeel tangy. Winemaker Karl Wente made this one to please his no-frills dad, Eric Wente.
This is a very good example of this Yakima Valley vineyard's style of Cabernet. It's solid—almost chunky—peppery and tannic, with a cassis note and a hint of chalk.
This is a very good Napa Cabernet, stylishly dry and smooth in tannins. It's rich in blackberries, cherries and sweet new oak, with earthier hints of dried sage and tobacco. Drink now–2016.
This is a very good Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It's dry, full-bodied and has an impeccable tannin-acid structure, with complex flavors of blackberries, currants, herbs and sweet oak. Ready to drink now.
This is a very good Pinot Noir that shows how well the appellation can balance the variety. It has lush cherry, blackberry, tea, cola and cocoa flavors, and a rich, silky texture. Could develop bottle complexity over the next six years.
This is a very good price for a Zinfandel this fine. It's fairly delicate in mouthfeel for a Zin, with a light silkiness, and the tannin-acid architecture is elegant. As for the actual flavors, they're intense in red fruits, currants, sweet licorice and pepper. Hard to imagine a better wine for drinking over the next few years with barbecue.
This is a very good wine, albeit with some coarseness to the tannins at this time. It's also a little earthy and mushroomy. But there's a solid core of black cherry, red currant, mocha and tangerine zest flavors. The vineyard is near Sanford & Benedict, whose Pinots require time to come around. This young wine should do interesting things.
This is a very good wine, but judging from the acidity and tannins, it will benefit with some time in the cellar. Dry and silky, it shows rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, currants, chocolate-covered mints, anise and cedar that are lush and decadent. Decant now, and should come into its own in mid-2010.
This is a very good wine. Made from Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Syrah, from around the state, it's absolutely dry, rich in tannic structure, and complex, with cherry, berry, tobacco, cedar and spice flavors. An excellent and versatile food wine, at a great price.
This is a very good, crowd-pleasing Chardonnay with lots of ripe, fresh fruit flavors and tasty accents of vanilla and butter. It is medium-bodied, soft and smooth in texture, leans toward sweetness and has a lingering, fruity finish.
This is a very good, everyday bubbly. It's dryish and crisp, with honey, orange, strawberry and leesy flavors. The mouthfeel is a little rough. Made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier.
This is a very good, medium-bodied wine. It has lightly oaky aromas, lots of fruit flavor, a smooth texture and an almost-sweet finish.
This is a very good, reserved and light-bodied wine with mostly tangy citrus and a bit of riper apple flavor, but it's not at all oaky. It will make an excellent wine before or during a meal, and should be versatile in pairings.
This is a very herbal wine with a grassy, perfumed character from the Riesling and Moscatel in the blend. It doesn't come off.
This is a very herbal wine, with a green medicinal edge that contrasts the rich yellow-fruit flavor. There is concentration, dense fruits and a soft, ripe finish. Screwcap.
This is a very high alcohol wine, porty and fruity-sweet on the finish, with raisin, milk chocolate, caramel and mulberry flavors. It's made in a certain old-fashioned Paso style that calls for barbecue and a designated driver.
This is a very impressive expression of Nebbiolo from the celebrated 2007 vintage that shows sweet vanilla and spice tones at the back of blueberry, cassis and cherry cola. The wine shows a softer, more immediate quality than compared to past vintages.
This is a very informal and easygoing red table wine that would taste great with pizza. It opens with a bright ruby color and shows aromas of cherry, raspberry and toasted almond.
This is a very intense and compelling Ripasso with bright tones of currant berry and blackberry that rise above a spicy base of cinnamon, chocolate and dried tobacco. The wine is smooth and soft although it finishes with power and determination.
This is a very interesting Pinot Grigio with a unique aromatic profile that includes a green note of chopped herbs or crushed white pepper. There are pretty fruit notes too and the wine is silky and crisp on the close.
This is a very interesting wine that shows a unique bouquet of wild berry, dried rosemary and black olive aromas. There is elegance and balance here, with a tight, velvety finish.
This is a very interesting wine. It has many different flavor threads that have not quite interwoven. To begin there is a surplus of acid, leaving a chalky sensation that has not yet smoothed out. The fruit flavors are also sharp and tart—red fruits from wild berries to pomegranate to sour cherry. The aromas suggest some light chocolate from the barrel aging, and it shows up in the finish, along with herb and vanilla. So, there's lots going on, but it has not yet come together in a harmonious whole.
This is a very intriguing, tasty and cerebral bottling from this producer, which has an urban tasting room in the heart of Santa Cruz. Aromas of Brie-cheese rind, Meyer-lemon pith, light jasmine and sea-salt-crusted cashew lead into a very grippy palate laden with pomelo pith and incredibly vibrant citrus and saline flavors.
This is a very lean and dry expression of Prosecco Superiore that does a great job of refreshing a thirsty mouth on a hot summer day, but adds little else. Lemon and white flower aromas are backed by sharp bubbles.
This is a very light expression of the grape from a San Francisco-based producer, with thyme, chaparral, cranberry, tart pomegranate juice and wet clay on the nose. The palate shows light, tangy cherry juice, fennel, crushed olive and peppery spice. It will work well for fans of this style, but there's not enough there to entertain the mainstream Pinot Noir fan.
This is a very light Pinot Noir. The tannins are soft, as you’d expect, and the flavors tend toward sun-dried tomatoes, herbs and hard spices, with a suggestion of plums, but otherwise there’s not much fruit. It’s a country-style wine, rugged and rough around the edges.
This is a very light, thin, spicy wine, pleasant but undistinguished.
This is a very likable and easy-to-drink blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon that moves over the palate with bright fruit intensity and silky tannins. The wine is fresh and would pair well with a heaping plate of sausage and white Tuscan beans.
This is a very likeable and approachable Prosecco with bright aromas of white flower, citrus and peach. The wine is tonic, crisp and balanced and because this is a Brut expression, the wine is dry and fresh.
This is a very limited bottling of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Roughly half spent time in new French oak, which brings a lovely toasty note into the foreground. There's a slight, not unpleasant funkiness, along with dusty baking spices, black cherry and currant, and a chunk of dark chocolate. It's big, bold and delicious, and drinking quite well at the moment.
This is a very lively wine with a creamy mousse. The wine is towards dry, bringing out great white and citrus fruit flavors with a burst of tangy acidity. It comes from the village of Chouilly in the Côte des Blancs, which gives the wine a tight mineral texture at the end.
This is a very lovely choice for an evening in with its sweet plum, pepper and blackberry flavors couched in smooth, powdery tannins. A thin vein of eucalyptus and a bit of acidity complements the peppercorn finish. This is sure to please each time it is uncorked.
This is a very low-production, best-of-barrels selection by the winemaker. It's an extremely tight young wine, austere and almost searing in acidity, with a yeasty taste from sur lies aging. If you're looking for opulent, immediately accessible Chardonnay, this isn't for you. But the wine has tantalizing hints of grilled pineapples and nectarines, and the powerful structure suggests cellaring. Stash this away for a couple of years.
This is a very lush Cab, made in the modern style. All the elements of cult Cab are there: the soft voluptuousness, the finely ground, sweet tannins, the immensely ripe currant, blackberry and cocoa flavors, the coating of fine, smoky oak. I don't think it's an ager because of the softness and ripeness.
This is a very mineral-driven pink wine, with aromas of wet rocks, chalk and even steel giving way to the slightest hints of orange and strawberry. The flavors are very delicate and refreshing on the palate, with melon and red pear, rounded out by a key lime acidity.
This is a very mineral and structured wine. Strong citrus and white peach flavors are accompanied by a hint of toast, along with brisk acidity and a steely texture. It's a complex combination that promises aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a very mineral driven wine—the ripe fruit is cut with acidity, green fruits and herbs. Textured and ripe, its freshness is a counterpoint to the full fruit flavors.
This is a very modern style of wine, with generous new wood and super-ripe fruit flavors, balancing with polished solid tannins. Very international in style, it is good, but could come from anywhere.
This is a very new-wood dominated wine, that will appeal to lovers of California Cabernet. Blackcurrant jelly fruits are there as well, very modern, very polished. It is a fine wine, but maybe not Bordeaux.
This is a very nice aged Rioja with baked, earthy aromas of spice along with dried raspberry and plum. The mouthfeel is clean and solid in a normal, easy way, while flavors of plum and berry fruits carry notes of coconut and vanilla. A mild, warm, lightly baked finish cements this wine's status. Drink now.
This is a very nice Cabernet that's gentle and soft in the mouth, with luscious blackberry and mocha flavors. It seems a little too light for aging, but should make for excellent drinking now and over the next year or two.
This is a very nice Cabernet that feels rich in the mouth, a wine that will have everybody remarking on its smooth, velvety texture. Taste-wise, it shows an olive tinge to the red and black cherry fruit, with a beautiful overlay of smoky oak. You can drink it now, with a good decant, and it should develop in the bottle over the next 6–9 years, if not longer.
This is a very nice Gewürz at a fair price. It's crisp in citrusy acidity, giving a cutting edge to the slightly sweet flavors of papaya, litchi, white peach, green apple, vanilla and Asian spice.
This is a very nice Pinot Noir for drinking soon. It's dry, silky and somewhat earthy and herbal, but turns rich in cherries toward the finish. Feels elegant and complex all the way through.
This is a very nice Pinot, with some special qualities to recommend it. It's crisp yetsilky, with pleasantly complex cherry, rhubarb and pomegranate fruit, touched with oak. Doesn't have the stuffing for aging, so drink up. Great with char-broiled steak.
This is a very nice Riesling for drinking with today's ethnic fare. Although it's softer than you'd expect from this normally tart varietal, it's clean and spicy, with citrus, flower and honey flavors. The sweetness level is off-dry.
This is a very nice value wine with balsam wood, almond candy, cola and black-fruit aromas. The palate feels pure and fresh, with a ton of plum, berry, cocoa and tobacco flavors. It's smooth, long and solid on the finish.
This is a very nice, dry and versatile red wine to drink with everything from steak and pork to tacos and skewered chicken or beef with peanut sauce. It's rich in cherries, blackberries, mocha and peppery spices, and fully dry, with smooth tannins. Drink now.
This is a very nicely rendered Wahluke Slope AVA Syrah, with spicy currant and raspberry fruit underscored with the characteristic lightly citrusy acids. There's a hint of pineapple which resonates just beneath the surface. The wine gathers some strength in the back, adding weight and flavors of plum, cherry and chocolate.
This is a very oaky, powerful wine, with minty aromas of shoe polish, blackened toast and herbs. It's full and creamy on one hand, but bold and tannic on the other. Dark, medicinal black-fruit flavors are followed by oak-driven mocha and buttery notes, while the finish tastes downright buttery at one moment, then dark, ripe and fruity the next. Drink through 2021.
This is a very opulent bottling by Steve Martell, who blends 83% Syrah, 16% Grenache and 1% Mourvèdre to deliver aromas of black-plum sauce, hot licorice, hoisin and buttery pie crust. Rounded milk chocolate flavors show on the sip, melted atop the rich and ripe core of black cherry and cassis. It's a tad hot on the tongue.
This is a very oxidized expression of Grillo from Sicily (the varietal is naturally prone to oxidation) that shows a deep golden color, opening with aromas of butterscotch and caramel. The producer follows the organic winemaking philosophy of “vino naturale.”
This is a very pale Chardonnay from Laetitia Winery, which sits just three miles from the ocean amidst vineyards planted on rocky clay loam, and yet possesses an appealing, complex mix of creaminess and crispiness on the nose. There is a slight bitterness on the palate as well as brioche and citrus zest on the finish. This tightly focused wine would perfectly cut the richness of shrimp scampi or other buttery dish.
This is a very pale Pinot Noir—you can almost read through it. It's also light and simple in texture, with some polished flavors of raspberries, Dr. Pepper and spices. It finishes dry and crisp in acidity.
This is a very pale rosé from a relatively high elevation site, so it shows ample crispness and elegance. Delicate aromas of herbs and citrus lead into flavors of peach and lime, with a bit of wet stone on the long, refreshing finish. This is well balanced and long, not a simple fruity rosé.
This is a very peachy and fruit-forward take on the grape from Southern California. It's happily bright and tight on the palate, with chalkiness in the midpalate, and a tropical sense throughout, with banana and pineapple building towards a lemony and layered finish.
This is a very perfumed wine, fragrant with violets and with dry tannins. It has a juicy character along with acidity. The wine has a dry style, very firm and dense. It will age well, ready to drink from 2026.
This is a very perfumed wine, full of red fruits and hedgerow berry flavors cut with some firm tannins. It has an aromatic character that is typical of Chambolle-Musigny, a soft, warm texture that is developing behind the tannins. It needs to age, so drink from 2018.
This is a very perfumed wine, with the addition of Moscatel in the blend, adding the lychee flavor. It's textured with a crisp edge that allows the wine to retain its fresh character. This is a wine to be drunk young.
This is a very pleasant and elegant blend of Nero d'Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that does a great job of presenting a united aromatic front. There are no loose edges here and the wine is compact and smooth in the mouth. Very nice.
This is a very pleasant Barbera from the Monferrato zone with good concentration and bright aromas of blueberry, wild fruit, wet earth and hazelnut. There's good dimension here as well as a smooth texture that is accented by the wine's natural acidity.
This is a very pleasant Dolcetto with measured aromas of blueberry, raspberry, cherry cola, plum and fresh prune. It tastes soft and slightly sweet in the mouth with fresh acidity that would work well with cheese or cream based dishes.
This is a very pleasing Cab Franc that's rich and and spicy like cola with a dark and brooding feel. Full bodied and concentrated, the finish is long and slightly herbal.
This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.
This is a very powerful Chardonnay, brimming in guava, golden mango, white peach, pear and Key lime pie flavors, to which smoky oak adds even richer layers of butterscotch and caramel. A crisp edge of peppery acidity provides a clean, zesty balance to this enormous wine.
This is a very precise wine, steely and mineral. It has a smoky, flinty character that fits the image of an age-worthy Chablis. Under this texture lies the potential of delicious fruitiness, fresh and packed with sliced apple and quince flavors. Drink this wine from 2018.
This is a very pretty blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet with well-defined notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, chocolate, bramble and maple syrup. Recognizable oak renderings establish a refined and sophisticated feel and offer background notes of toasted nut and spice. The wine delivers fresh berry flavors, tight tannins and cool freshness on the finish. Drink after 2010.
This is a very pretty example of Negroamaro that has been shaped by warm oak tones of vanilla and spice. It's elegant and soft and delivers loads of succulent spice notes throughout.
This is a very pretty expression of Vermentino from northwest Italy with fresh notes of citrus, honey, grapefruit and stone fruit. The wine is light and easy, with lean crispness and a fresh note of spice on the close.
This is a very pretty expression of Vermentino that opens with crisp citrus notes followed by stone fruit and honeysuckle. The wine is compact, but not thin or watery. In fact, the natural density here is enough to pair with grilled swordfish or spicy Thai food.
This is a very pretty wine with lush richness and bursting notes of black cherry and plum. The wine boasts thick, dark concentration and background aromas of cola and white peppercorn. The tannins are tight and solid and the wine would work with braised or grilled meat.
This is a very pretty wine, though not nearly as substantial as the 2009. Fruit flavors of strawberry and light cherry are set over tart acids. The palate softens up a bit and runs through a quick, clean fade.
This is a very pungent Sauvignon Blanc, aggressive in those green aromas and flavors generally lumped under the descriptive term of gooseberry. It's dry and clean and acidic, with a finish like the juice of Meyer lemons.
This is a very pure expression of Viognier—single vineyard (Del Rio) and single clone (Clone 1), aged five months in stainless steel. It's vibrantly aromatic with notes of lime leaf, ripe peach and flowers with an unctuous feel and a tart finish.
This is a very pure Pinot Noir. It shows its origins in the silky mouthfeel and crisp acidity, as well as a certain minerality that grounds the raspberry, cherry and cola flavors. It's quite good, but not an ager, so drink soon.
This is a very pure wine, all fruit and tight acidity. It is classic Chablis with its tangy, steely edge that gives a lift and structure to the crisp apple fruit flavors. The acidity cuts right through the wine, leaving a refreshing, lively aftertaste.
This is a very rich and extracted Pinot, with explosive raspberry and cherry pie, licorice, spice and sandalwood flavors. The richness is reined in by brisk acidity and a jacket of scoury tannins. Drink by 2015 for freshness.
This is a very rich Chardonnay, almost too elaborated and overworked. It's tremendous in oak-infused fruit, with dominating buttered toast, crème brûlée and pineapple pie flavors. Very crisp coastal acidity provides a pleasant balance of tartness. Drink now.
This is a very rich Chardonnay, bursting with Key lime pie, ripe golden kiwi, pineapple, buttered toast and crème brûlée flavors. That fine, crisp coastal acidity makes it brisk and clean. Drink now.
This is a very rich Chardonnay. It has complex, lush flavors of pineapples, lemons, limes, oranges and the smoky vanilla notes from 100% new oak. High acidity fortunately provides crisp balance. Almost too much of a good thing, it calls for equally rich fare, such as lobster or Ahi tuna tartare.
This is a very rich Pinot whose primary virtue is fruit. It just explodes with delicious cherry jam, red currant, licorice and mocha flavors. Dry and crisply acidic, it's a beautiful wine for early drinking.
This is a very rich Syrah, dramatically layered in blackberry, bitter cherry skin, dark chocolate, grilled prosciutto and pepper flavors. Despite the richness, it's bone dry, with refined tannins and fine acidity. It's somewhat light in body, like a Pinot Noir, which makes it especially drinkable.
This is a very rich wine that's made in the modern style of soft ripeness and upfront deliciousness. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it shows flashy blackberry, cherry, cassis and chocolate flavors. This is best enjoyed over the next few years for it's sheer luxurious taste.
This is a very rich wine that's smooth and concentrated. The slopes of Leithaberg on the west shore of Lake Neusiedl have great sun exposure, making this wine full in style. It has minerality as well, giving a steely edge to this impressively ripe wine with its pear and apricot fruits and spice notes.
This is a very rich wine with black fruit and bitter coffee flavors and dense tannins. Its weight is almost too much for the firm structure that is underneath.
This is a very rich, and perhaps ageable, Cabernet Sauvignon, made with one-fifth Cabernet Franc. Grown from Calistoga grapes, it's soft enough to drink now, with chocolaty flavors of blackberries, cherries, currants and mint. Lots of new oak adds caramel and smoky vanilla, but the wine is powerful enough to handle them. Give it through 2010 to integrate.
This is a very rich, elaborate Chardonnay, brimming with ripe tropical fruit, vanilla, buttered toast and butterscotch flavors. Vibrant acidity adds brightness and zest to all the richness.
This is a very rich, fruity Sauvignon Blanc, offering waves of pineapple, guava, lime, green apple and honeysuckle flavors. Crisp acidity gives it a fine tartness. Nice for drinking now with spicy tapas appetizers.
This is a very rich, oaky Chardonnay, ripe and forward in the California style. Although it's dry, it's so fruity and honeyed, it's almost like a dessert wine. Swamps the palate with pineapple jam, buttered toast and vanilla cream flavors, which are nicely balanced with crisp acidity.
This is a very rich, ripe, flamboyant Pinot, made in the lush California style. It's flashy in complex tiers of raspberries, cherries, red currants, licorice, cocoa and cinnamon spice, yet is silky and dry. The fruit comes from Sonoma Coast, Green Valley and the Middle Reach. An impressive followup to the inaugural '07, and a bottling to watch.
This is a very ripe-tasting broadly textured wine that's full bodied and fruity. Plum and prune aromas precede jammy, grapey flavors with light spicy accents. Blended from Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's soft in mouthfeel and low in acidity and tannins.
This is a very ripe and raisiny specimen from a rocky vintage. It's chunky and somewhat grating in the mouth, with balance issues. Prune, raisin and chocolate flavors finish without much structure or spine. Drink now.
This is a very ripe and rather oaky Chardonnay that shows off how well the vintage perfected the grapes. Brims with smoky flavors of pineapple custard, Meyer lemon pie filling, butterscotch and cinnamon spices. Calls for rich fare, such as scallops.
This is a very ripe Chardonnay, with pineapple, orange and apricot jam flavors. It's rich but not particularly subtle, with lots of new French oak.
This is a very ripe wine stuffed with blackberries, cherries and cocoa, but it's also pretty tannic, although sweet oak softens the blow. Feels lush and good, but rustic around the edges. Drink now with beef dishes.
This is a very ripe wine with dirty notes of strawberry jam and moist earth. The mouthfeel, on the other hand, is definitely more balanced and polished with chiseled tannins and a good spice-driven finish.
This is a very ripe wine with lots of tropical fruits, from banana to cherimoya, as well as tuberose and bubblegum scents on the nose. Made from an atypical blend of 36% Marsanne, 33% Roussanne, 25% Chardonnay and 6% Viognier, it has a palate that is a tad cloying in its tropicality, with baked bananas and baked apples showing most prominently.
This is a very ripe, forward wine, saturated in cherries, blackberries, currants and oak. It has Malbec's characteristically sturdy tannins and could use some protein and fat, a grilled steak, perhaps, to play against it.
This is a very ripe, fruity Syrah, rich in raspberry, blueberry and cherry jam flavors, with hints of bacon and pepper. The acid-tannin balance is lovely, making the wine easy to like now.
This is a very satisfying Sangiovese di Romagna that shows great balance between its spicy oak tones and its bright fruit nuances. Those two sides of the wine meet perfectly at the middle to offer enough acidity, spice and fruit to pair with pasta or roast chicken.
This is a very simple Prosecco brut with straight lines of citrus and peach backed by foamy perlage. The wine opens with a bright, luminous color and fresh acidity.
This is a very simple, friendly, fresh and lively white—easy to drink and enjoy with its lemony freshness. It's ideal for a party.
This is a very slender, taut, fresh and citrus-focused Crémant with aromatic overtones of aloe vera, green apple and citrus foliage. Showing wonderful precision and balance, the slendern and fresh characters combine to make for a very invigorating, delicious drink.
This is a very solid wine for its price, with floral scents of apple blossom, key lime and honeysuckle on the nose. Asian pear, apple and nectarine show on the palate, where touches of jasmine round out a decently tense sip.
This is a very solid, well-structured and deeply flavorful wine from the first whiff of blackberries and black pepper to the mouth-coating but dry flavors to the lingering spicy finish. Best to drink after 2018.
This is a very special wine from Italian sparkling wine producer Ferrari because of the level of elegance and smoothness it achieves. All its elements work in harmony to give equal billing to aromas of apricot, yeast, honey and almond nut.
This is a very special, one-of-a-kind sparkling wine. Made in the metodo classico with indigenous Greco grapes (from the southern Italian region of Campania) the wine rests on the lees for 24 months to achieve extra richness and opulence on the nose and mouth. Ripe aromas of peach, melon and almond rise to the forefront.
This is a very spicy wine with weight, great depth of flavor and concentration. Fine acidity cuts through the core, balancing sweetness and adding freshness to flavors of wild thyme-honey and orange marmalade. Drink the wine from 2017.
This is a very spicy, candy-flavored wine. A simple Gewürztraminer, it has lychee, almond and rosewater notes.
This is a very spicy, peppery wine, and while it's pretty good, it's rougher and more rustic than most of its peers in Anderson Valley. The cherry, cola and carob flavors are savory, but there's a quality to the tannins that's robust, to say the least. Could be a sleeper.
This is a very strong showing for a brand new brand, thanks, no doubt, to veteran winemaker Jeff Fink's involvement. Tight on the nose with Meyer lemon pith, savory salts and a waft of oak smoke, the palate explodes with chalky tension and rich yet bright complexity. Flavors of white lily, peach and sea salt ride atop melted butter, leading into a caramelized finish.
This is a very stylish and elegant Sémillon, estate-grown and offering tongue-coating, smooth flavors of lemon, lime and dusty, dry honeycomb. Lightly dappled with cinnamon spice, it's an outstanding example of this often-overlooked grape.
This is a very successful (from packaging to content) expression of Pinot Grigio from cool-climate northern Italy that offers pretty aromas of honey, peach and citrus. It tastes full and creamy on the close but also delivers refreshing crispness at the end.
This is a very successful Rosso di Montalcino with great intensity and loads of cherry and bright berry personality. There are austere notes of earth, cola and spice at the back and the wine feels smooth and silky on the palate.
This is a very successful wine, made in the Paso style of soft voluptuousness and plenty of ripe, fruity flavors. Blended from the classic Bordeaux varieties, it's rich in blackberry and blueberry jam, buttered toast and spice flavors, wrapped into smooth tannins. Should develop over the next six years.
This is a very summery bottling, with bright, fruity aromas recalling guava, peach, gardenia, pineapple and lemon-lime soda. That fruit salad aspect persists on the palate, but it's cut by a powerful burst of acidity, making it great for lakeside sipping.
This is a very supple wine from a vineyard just north of Highway 246, with baked strawberry, iron, cinnamon and allspice aromas, recalling French toast on the nose. The palate is tarter, with cranberry, rose petal, fennel frond and vanilla flavors that carry deep into the finish.
This is a very sweet wine, with aromas like cotton candy and marshmallows, flavors like extra-sweet lemonade, and a syrupy texture.
This is a very sweet, perfumed wine, showing spice and lychee notes, touched by honey. Not for aging.
This is a very sweet, unctuous dessert wine, with the flavor and texture of honey. Made from Viognier, it has decadent apricot, peach, tangerine and crème brûlée notes that combine in a dense, delicious mélange.
This is a very tastefully done take on a more traditional, rather ripe California style of the grape, with peach-driven tropicality, buttered vanilla and a salted-lemon element on the nose. The palate shows ripe nectarine, lemon curds, lime sorbet, a pinch of dill and a tiny bit of vanilla on the finish, proving lively throughout.
This is a very taut wine from the poorest soil in the Clos des Mouches Vineyard. This tastes of citrus fruit, with a powerful, spicy, complex finish that promises good aging.
This is a very textured wine with a green, herbal character. It has tannins from underripe fruit, proving to be dry and very firm on the finish.
This is a very unusual Italian sparkler made from the Garganega grape that is usually used to make the fresh and crisp wines of Soave. In this case, the wine's lively perlage makes for a soft and creamy mouthfeel backed by peach and lemon mousse. The fruit is organic.
This is a very watery, almost scentless wine, with hints of golden apples on the nose. The palate is also lacking, showing slight pears and nectarines. The DIY label is a cute gimmick though.
This is a very wood-driven bottling, starting with strong cigar box on the nose alongside broad lilac, baked blackberry, spearmint and slate aromas. Cedar spice dominates the palate, allowing just hints of blueberry and wild herbs to emerge. It presents balanced tannin and acidity.
This is a very young wine with a long life ahead of it. It's the ultimate Alsace combination of botrytis and Riesling. Brisk acidity and steely structure combine with flavors of ripe honey and dried apricots to yield an impressive wine. Drink from 2016.
This is a very young wine, still dominated by its wood aging. It is spicy, with layers of red-berry fruits under the strong wood flavors. Let this wine develop over the medium term and drink from 2020.
This is a very zesty Grüner where yeasty, earthy notes are completely cut through with the wonderful, bracing freshness of grapefruit peel. The more usual fruit of green pears lurks underneath but the overall picture is one of lip-smacking refreshment. Wonderfully clean and zingy finish.
This is a very Zinny Zin. It's dry, full-bodied and, most of all, the wild cherry, licorice and cured tobacco flavors have a spicy, black pepper finish.
This is a very, very dry, acidic, tannic wine. It's the opposite of lush. There's something old-fashionedly rustic about it, the kind of wine they drank 50 years ago. But it is firm and clean, with insistent flavors of cherries and coffee, and will pair well with tomato sauce dishes.
This is a vibrant and fresh Brunello that offers a thick layer of plush fruit backed by shadings of spice, leather and cola. The mouthfeel is succulent and chewy and the tannins give the wine dimension and backbone. Drink now through 2015.
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.
This is a vibrant take on the grape, with fresh-pressed boysenberry and wisteria aromas merging with rosemary, fennel and sarsaparilla on the nose. Food friendly, it shows more boysenberry, thyme, white pepper, and floral freshness on the palate.
This is a vibrant, energetic Chardonnay that starts with fresh aromas of lemon zest, vanilla and spice and follows with appealing flavors of lemon, spice and citrus. Food- friendly and versatile.
This is a vibrant, lush and layered Cabernet- Sauvignon-dominated blend, with smaller percentages of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Powerful yet focused, this age-worthy effort is resplendent in notes of leather, chocolate and dark plum, plus a slight trace of licorice. Lay it down for a special occasion many years from now.
This is a vibrantly energetic wine, explosive in raspberry and cherry, with a weedy, herbal undertone that gives it intrigue. Concentrated on the midpalate, with well-ingrained tannins, it finishes in a highlight of toasted oak.
This is a vibrantly rich wine that is brimming with delicious red fruit notes and bright acidity. Full and concentrated, it has weight without being heavy. It is a finely made wine, with a crisp finish.
This is a vigorous young Cabernet, fresh and jammy in blackberry, cassis and new oak notes. The tannins are thick, smooth and flashy, and should protect the wine as it glides on its aging journey. Best after 2015.
This is a vigorous Zinfandel, fruity and soft, with berry, cola and spice flavors. Drink now with barbecue, burgers or beef burritos.
This is a vineyard blend of many varieties, dominated by 24% Syrah, 20% Sangiovese and 12% Zinfandel, the balance a mishmash of Cinsaut, Dolcetto and other rare grapes. Floral in orange peel and violets, it's also meaty and buoyant in acidity, the remaining flavors sexy in red fruit like pomegranate and raspberry. This is a delightfully complex and unique wine.
This is a vineyard change for this wine, which now comes from one of the state's top Syrah sites. Coming in at an absurdly low alcohol level, especially considering the warmth of the vintage, it offers aromas of garrigue, lemon twist and generous amounts of black pepper. The pepper and savory flavors are elegant and polished, with a mouthfeel that demands another sip. It's all about elegance of expression and feel.
This is a vineyard selection from the winery's estate, and it's a nicely drinkable Sauvignon Blanc, showing how well the variety does in Lake County. Fresh and juicy, the pineapple and fig flavors finish with a honeyed richness.
This is a vinous-smelling wine that recalls the sweet berry aromas you would naturally find in the wine cellar. It's a young wine that still needs to find its legs and that, at this point, delivers overt tones of toasted oak.
This is a viscous, pruney dessert wine made from 45% Zinfandel and 55% Mixed Blacks. Labeled as 8% residual sugar, it exhibits that sweetness in an intensity of ripe, tannic blackberry and leather.
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.
This is a voluptuous sparkling blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay that is made methode Champenoise. Spritzy on the palate with a freshness of acidity, it offers a balanced blend of green apple and strawberry.
This is a voluptuous style, fleshy and fulfilling in ripe pineapple and papaya, evocative of tropical shores. Bristling acidity complements the fruit, as a wave of creamy vanilla picks up steam on the lengthy finish.
This is a voluptuously layered, slightly green wine, more fruity than subtle, with highlights of melon, stone fruit and vanilla wafer. Easy to enjoy and nicely priced, it's a perfect picnic choice.
This is a walk backward after the impressive 2012. Almost impenetrably black, the flavors converge around espresso and bitter chocolate, yet the tannins have a green edge. The wine simply feels flat in the mouth with no life to it.
This is a warm and rich wine from the southern Mâcon region. It is ripe with yellow fruits, crisp apples and a touch of minerality that gives the tangy texture. Packed with fruit as well as structured, this wine can be drunk now, although better from 2017.
This is a warm and ripe Merlot-dominated wine. The chateau's position on the hill of Fronsac gives the wine structure and a mineral texture that does promise aging. With blackberry fruitiness developing well, drink from 2016.
This is a warm and ripe style of Sauvignon Blanc. It has a crisp edge that is contrasted with the full white stone fruit and warm acidity. The fruitiness is intense, juicy and full of great final crispness.
This is a warm and ripe wine with a smooth caramel texture. That lies over the ripe red-berry fruits and balanced acidity. The result is a rounded wine that is ready to drink.
This is a warm and round wine from Irancy, southwest of Chablis. Red fruits are sustained by some wood aging that smoothes out the stalky texture and spice. It's a wine that could age another couple of years to soften it further.
This is a warm rich enveloping wine that opens with details such as candied orange peel and maraschino cherries. It's smooth and resonant across a palate of plummy purple fruits, and there's just a hint of brown rum in the aftertaste. Drink now through 2024.
This is a warm rounded wine, very approachable with raspberry and damson flavors and crisp acidity. Well balanced, with a lively fruity aftertaste, it is ready to drink now.
This is a warm wine with a rounded feel, making it soft and full of red fruits. It features strawberry sweetness as well as a tighter, more tannic character. It could well age, so wait until 2016.
This is a warm wine, ripe and with hints of yellow fruits as well as crisper acidity. Poised between herbal and riper flavors, it's ready to drink now.
This is a warm, creamy wine with layers of toast and yellow fruits. It has a ripe feel and a generous texture, with a mineral backbone keeps the wine in shape. Drink now.
This is a warm, earthy interpretation of Barolo with seductive aromas of black fruit, cured meats, white mushroom, ash and blue flowers. The wine shows character and power with firm, full tannins and fleshy fruit flavors. Pair it with succulent meat or aged cheese.
This is a warm, fruity wine with a flavor profile that fluctuates between citrus and pear qualities. It has vanilla, almond and attractive spice accents, finishing balanced and ready to drink.
This is a warm, honey- and apple-flavored wine. It's fresh and full in the mouth with tight mineral acidity. It could well age a year or two, but is ready to drink now.
This is a warm, rich wine with spicy black-fruit flavors. Touches of coffee have come through with the wood aging. Bright acidity gives a touch of freshness to the firm tannins at the end. Drink this generous, while still serious wine from 2020.
This is a warm, rich wine. Its fruit is muted at this stage although there's potential in the good acidity and smooth, juicy texture. Let it open out more and drink from 2018.
This is a warm, ripe and spicy wine. It is full of red fruits, black currant and soft tannins, with great acidity at the end. Drink now.
This is a warm, soft and rich wine. Coming from vines close to Margaux, it has something of the light touch of that appellation. Fruity, with fresh berry fruits and already well-integrated tannins, it's likely to mature over the medium term. Drink from 2016.
This is a warm, soft wine, with an edge of citrus alongside ripe apricot and juicy pear flavors. It is round, smooth and ready to drink now.
This is a warm, weighty Tempranillo with earthy, leathery, baked berry aromas. The palate is plump but solid and structured, with ripe, mildly salty tasting berry flavors that finish mossy and mature, with an abundance of oak-based vanilla and earth notes.
This is a waxy, rather soft rendition of Sauvignon Blanc, and the pretty fruit flavors mix grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. There is very little suggestion of Sauvignon Blanc's herbal or grassy side; the grapes seem to have been ripened past that point, though not all the way to California-style, tropical fruit flavors. All in all this is a well-crafted, smooth and flavorful wine, with a portion barrel-aged for extra complexity.
This is a welcome return for this value Merlot after the 2004 vintage was skipped. The smooth and chocolaty flavors that consumers love are there, but they have been pulled back, letting more of the cherry fruit and subtle accents of forest floor, fungus and earth show through. It's textural, complex and thoroughly enjoyable.
This is a well-balanced and rich wine, with its tannins and acids giving it a sense of structure. With its black cherry and plum skin flavors, this is firm and smooth.
This is a well-balanced blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira and Syrah. With its straight line in black fruits, dark tannins and lively acidity, it shows a fine structure and a good future. Touches of leather, chocolate and the wood aging all add interest. Drink from 2017.
This is a well-balanced Petite Sirah, with chewy but proportionate tannins, a broadly fruity, black cherry core and nuanced highlights of apricot. The finish does a quick fade.
This is a well-balanced wine that is both crisp and breezy and full of delicious red-berry fruits. It has a tight texture, with some minerality and a tangy aftertaste. This should make for an excellent apéritif.
This is a well-balanced wine that offers aromas of peach, white flower and ground pepper. Flavors of pineapple, passion fruit, lemon curd, toast, apricot jam and jasmine are sheathed in tannins that seem overpowering for a brief moment but are fortunately outweighed by brightness in the end.
This is a well-balanced wine with honeyed ripeness contrasted with attractive, crisp acidity. Pineapple and baked-apple flavors are given a texture by the zing of the honey. It is ready to drink.
This is a well-balanced wine, full of red fruits and with an attractive, deep salmon-pink color. It is ripe, showing plenty of fruit while also having a crisp texture and plenty of final acidity. The aftertaste is bright and lively.
This is a well-balanced wine. Peppery and earthy aromas lead to cherry and raspberry flavors, a smooth texture and medium body. Owner Sam Sebastiani uses 65% Zinfandel, 30% Primitivo (legally the same as Zinfandel) and 5% Barbera.
This is a well-balanced, flavorful and fresh-tasting wine that's medium bodied and fun to drink. It has boysenberry and blackberry flavors and a firm, moderately tannic texture that gives it good heft.
This is a well-balanced, handsomely composed wine that is big in flavor and full in body. The aromas are spicy like black pepper and cardamom, the flavors are meaty, peppery, smoky and berry-like, for a great taste experience that goes way beyond the usual. It's made mostly from Mourvèdre grapes, with Syrah and Grenache in supporting roles.
This is a well-balanced, ripe wine in the producer's rich house style. A brighter, more mineral crispness and acidity also come through strongly in this bottling. The aftertaste brings together a mineral texture and full yellow and apple fruits. Drink now.
This is a well-balanced, well-structured white wine that's sure to evolve through 2020, at least. It's certainly attractive now, with subtle toasty notes of sweet spice and wood-grilled apple alongside hints of kiwi, sweet grass, green plum and lime. The medium-weight palate offers ample acidity and a streak of minerality that keeps things fresh and lifted through the softly spiced finish.
This is a well-behaved, medium-bodied, dry wine. Good doses of ripe fruit and oaky spices in the aroma and flavor are carried on a firm structure of supportive tannins and fruit acidity. Everything balances out well and the price is right.
This is a well-built and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon (with 5% Sangiovese) with thick layers of cherry, forest bramble, caramel, molasses and smoky tobacco-like tones that are deep and penetrating. It scores high in terms of intensity, complexity and ends with fresh, menthol nuances on the finish.
This is a well-built, elegant Zinfandel, with restrained blackberry, sagebrush and wet clay aromas on the nose. A chalky structure shows on the palate, where wild mint and thyme notes add nuance to the elderberry and black plum skin flavors. Patience and cellar time will allow further aromatic layers to emerge.
This is a well-composed and memorable wine. It offers a wealth of complexity in dusty graphite and black cherry, teased by wisps of soy and tobacco. The finish shows spicy clove that lasts for days.
This is a well-crafted wine that's dense and delicious in juicy red fruit, black currant, licorice and nutmeg. With much of the fruit sourced from the Alexander Valley, this wine shows a managed level of ripeness and oak aging. Structured and lengthy on the finish, this is a nicely put-together package.
This is a well-crafted, elegant wine with pretty mineral tones that frame a core of black cherry and spice. The wine offers the precise qualities—structure, good freshness and clean fruit aromas—that promise a successful pairing with most Mediterranean foods.
This is a well-crafted, likable wine made at a fair value. The tightly wound mix of red fruit and licorice softens on the palate to offer approachability and a bite of tannin and oak.
This is a well-done effort from winemaker Riaan Rossouw, which shows how engaging, inviting and refined Merlot can be. Spiced red plum and red currant aromas seductively waft over dried fern and Mediterranean herb tones. Silky, soft tannins provide just enough structure to uphold the curvacious body of ripe red plum, sweet baking spice and additional dried herbs. Amazingly, this plush wine maintains excellent acidic verve, which carries along the entire medley of flavors to a persistent fruit-laden finish. Drink now for utter enjoyment.
This is a well-integrated and beautifully layered wine from a wild, high-elevation vineyard site that provides vibrant acidity and jolts of forested earth. Baked plum and Asian spice form a happy alliance of flavor and intensity along a carpet of velvety texture.
This is a well-integrated super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, although the 2005 vintage doesn't have quite the same intensity as 2004. The wine is well defined and sharp in the mouth with a tonic and bright quality of fruit.
This is a well-integrated wine with a good balance between acidity and fruit. Aromas include sandalwood, black berry, polished mineral and lingering menthol nuances. It is firm and solid in the mouth.
This is a well-made and inviting wine, made from a majority of Merlot, with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. Muted aromas give way to a dense palate laced with leather and dried cherry notes. Mild in tannin and oak, it's enjoyable now.
This is a well-made blend of 53% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It is among the producer's “curious blends,” created from estate properties in different styles. Here, firm, structured and present tannins dominate an otherwise concentrated and spicy mix of black licorice, clove and tobacco.
This is a well-made blend of Syrah and Grenache. On the palate, rich cherry flavor is accented with hints of mocha, prosciutto and rose petal. It finishes dry despite the ripe fruitiness with a streak of tart acidity.
This is a well-made Rioja with generic plum and berry aromas that come forth in fruity, bouncy fashion. The palate is medium bodied, with standard berry fruit flavors and very little spice or complexity. A finish with buttery oak and vanilla qualifies as oaky for the level of fruit this wine is bringing.
This is a well-made wine at a more-than-fair price. Labeled varietally, it also holds smaller additions of other Bordeaux red grapes, most notably 6% Cabernet Franc. Black pepper, leather and cassis surround smoky oak and firm, integrated tannin, making for a complex, full-bodied and balanced experience.
This is a well-made wine from a specific site, seamless in full-bodied texture and sumptuous flavors of golden honey, baked apple and pear. Dottings of nutmeg provide additional punch and intrigue, while a lifted braid of acidity shines on the finish.
This is a well-made wine, correct in all respects but decidely light for a Cabernet Sauvignon, perhaps a reflection of the difficult 1998 (La Niña) vintage. However, its attractive flavor package and appraochable structure make for easy drinking with tonight's pasta or pizza.
This is a well-made wine, supple and soft with velvety, integrated tannins and a relatively light body and sense of power. Chocolate and brown sugar play off of black cherry and cassis for a richness that never becomes cloying.
This is a well-made, delicately floral style of Pinot Grigio, with notes of apple blossoms, crisp tree fruits and bracing minerals that add length and texture.
This is a well-made, larger-production offering of the variety that's appealingly round, soft and juicy, with a luxuriousness to the texture on the palate, generously surrounded in a big-bodied style of black cherry and vanilla.
This is a well-made, ripe while structured wine. With its juicy black-currant fruits, edge of firm tannins and balanced character, it brings out the best of the year with fruit and not too much structure. Drink from 2019.
This is a well-made, round Crémant from 100% Chardonnay. It has a good balance of minerality and fruit, offering lively acidity as well as ripe apple and white currant flavors. It has a refreshing, lifted finish.
This is a well-made, typical Rioja Crianza. Aromas of saucy cherry and cassis come with a mild horsey element. A solid mouthfeel with firm tannins supports earthy, savory plum, berry and spice flavors. A drying finish runs long and grabby.
This is a well-made, well-balanced and sophisticated wine from the new-oak, salt and pepper aromas to the tasty blackberry and baking spice flavors to the generous and mouthcoating texture. Firmly tannic, the wine's concentrated fruit and spice flavors come through nicely on the palate and linger on the finish.
This is a well-priced example of Barossa Cabernet, laden with characteristic notes of chocolate, mint and berry fruit, wrapped in a layer of toasty oak. It's full bodied, yet easy to drink because of the soft tannins and mouthwatering finish. Probably best between now and 2020.
This is a well-priced Pinot Bianco that opens with a clean, bright bouquet of melon, pear, stone fruit and white flower. It offers impressive smoothness of texture and a bright, food-friendly disposition.
This is a well-priced white that shows Trebbiano's easy and fresh side, with notes of cut grass, citrus and honey. Great for pairing with grilled tuna or salad.
This is a well-proportioned, pleasantly balanced wine made from white Rhône grape varieties. It has plenty of fruit and a smooth, almost soft texture. Fresh apple and pear aromas meet nutmeg and vanilla flavors on the palate.
This is a well-put-together, affordable wine that's moderate in ripeness and tannin and easygoing on the palate, offering a plethora of red and black cherry fruit.
This is a well-rounded rosé that is bound to disappear quickly from the table, with aromas of strawberry, bubble gum and peach riding a rainy-day springtime freshness on the nose. The palate explodes with acidity and textural grip, carrying both ripeness to satisfy New World fans and the deft tactile experience of Old World selections.
This is a well-structured and elegant wine, despite its size. Bright red cassis and cherry play under tannins that hit on the back of the palate, taking a moment to soften. Herb and cedar mark the finish.
This is a well-structured Zinfandel-based blend with a wild streak and significant amounts of Carignane and Charbono. It has spicy, earthy, new-leather aromas, modest fruit flavors and a firmly tannic texture. Dry and grippy on the palate, it will complement rich proteins nicely.
This is a well-structured, dense and serious effort, with ripe immaculate black-cherry fruit. It is both forward and fruit-driven, yet polished and showing substantial depth. Hints of cola swirl through the extended finish. Delicious already, it will certainly drink well over the next eight to 10 years.
This is a well balanced, ready to drink tawny, showing ripe, mature, wood-aged fruit notes along with raisins and some firm tannins. It's rich while still showing some freshness.
This is a well shaped and elegant expression of Nero d'Avola with earthy tones of leather and spice backed by bright red fruit and cherry. The wine does a very nice job of showcasing this native grape of Sicily.
This is a well structured, rich wine. It has solid, ripe red-berry and black-currant fruits that dominate the firmer tannins, giving a juicy, generous feel. Well worth aging for 3–5 years.
This is a Westside Road site known for its rocky soils, and the wine presents sassafras, cherry-berry and roses on the entry before laying down a tightly woven mix of sour, salty cranberry and blood orange. It is softly voluptuous and velvety, though young, with a biting chewiness that should mellow in the cellar. Drink now through 2028.
This is a white Rhône blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, and it shows exuberant fruit and a nice, spicy richness. The flavors of apricots, pears and pineapples have a caramelized, honeyed finish.
This is a white Rhône blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier. It's dry and crisply acidic and minerally, with pleasant citrus and peach fruitiness. Think of a cross between a zesty Sauvignon Blanc and a rich Chardonnay.
This is a white wine made from red Grenache and it's simultaneously intriguing and delicious, with sliced nectarine, kaffir lime, melon and bubblegum on the nose. Creamy flavors of poached pear made for a very rounded if texturally simple palate, which finishes with a hint of caramel.
This is a whole different critter than the winery's quaffable '99. It is tart and resiny, with a strong scent of licorice. The rustic flavors are earthy and rough, with a bitter, alcoholic finish.
This is a whopper of a wine, thanks to the high alcohol and long aging, with aromas of caramelized blueberries, black-cherry syrup and concentrated lilacs. The palate is thick with fudge and blackberry-jam flavors, with a decent energy cutting through the brooding tar and pipesmoke character.
This is a wide-bodied, fully mature Albariño with an oily nose that lacks sizzle and is coming up on mealy. Flavors of grape skins and melon are dry, earthy and a touch bitter. A peachy, flat-feeling finish indicates that its drinking life is nearly over.
This is a wide-ranging blend of local grapes which is lemon scented, fresh and light. It has pineapple and apricots as well as the cut of citrus. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a wild-yeast, barrel-fermented wine that makes one wonder why other producers' versions are so pricey. Silky textured and moderately weighty on the palate, it offers up complex aromas of smoky struck flint, subtle herbaceousnes and ripe melon and fig. Drink it now–2017.
This is a wildly exotic wine, vibrantly abuzz in cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb, a side note of barnyard-like earth and pretty rose petal. Tight-grained acidity remains firm in the glass and supportive of a grittiness of texture, notes of clove and black tea spiked throughout.
This is a wine built for the table, light bodied and meant to impress in dried herb, cedar and earthy compost. Dusty tannin and mellowed oak form a foundation upon which subtle cherry and plum are allowed to shine.
This is a wine for aging. The tannins are dense, very dry with a feel of extraction. It takes a while for the black currant fruit to show through, with acidity and freshness dominant. The wine is still settling, and time will bring the fruit into line with the tannins.
This is a wine for anyone who longs for an old fashioned Barbara. An interesting, funky  and very complex nose of menthol, wet fur, coffee, and strawberries. On the palate, it seemed surprisingly soft (one would have expected more acidity) and the flavors less funky than the nose, with a core of sweet strawberry fruit at the finish.
This is a wine for long-term aging, rich, wood-aged and seriously dense. Firm tannins, dark berry fruits and layers of wood extract come from 12 months in barrel. It has spice, acidity and a sense of brooding power. Drink from 2017.
This is a wine for long-term aging. With a dense, intense structure that is still dominated by powerful tannins, it is dry, dark and concentrated. Black plum-skin flavors are just coming through all this density, hinting at the balance to come. It is a serious, complex wine that will not be ready before 2019.
This is a wine for short-term aging. It is rich and juicy, deliciously fruity right now. Give it 2–3 years to enjoy its black fruits and fresh acidity.
This is a wine for those who crave density and ripeness. Black currant, mint, fudge and burnt caramel aromas show powerfully on the nose, while the strong tannic frame leaps onto the palate to deliver caramel, milk chocolate and black cherry-syrup flavors. Roasted coffee and butterscotch touches lead into a long Cognac-like finish.
This is a wine in development. It has lost its primary fruit and not yet found its way to maturity. While there are citrus and green herb flavors, they are overshadowed by a closed, steely edge. Wait a few years, and drink from 2016.
This is a wine of grace and purity that doesn't try to overwhelm you with richness. The flavor is reminiscent of ripe cherries with the tartness of their skins, and a touch of lavendar and smoky oak.
This is a wine of great intensity. Its tight texture and citrus fruits work hard to produce a strongly floral wine that has a steely character. It certainly needs some age, so drink from 2019.
This is a wine of marked elegance rather than power, dealing glossy tannins and succulent acids. A pretty expression of Sangiovese from North Carolina, this has delicate layers of red currant, strawberry, spiced flower and pomegranate.
This is a wine of power and heft, a classic example of its vineyard and of modern Cabernet. It's almost a food group in itself, offering tiers of black currants, dark chocolate, roasted meat, violets, minerals, cedar and spices. The tannins are profoundly youthful, giving the wine a hard jacket of astringency. Anticipated maturity is around 2018.
This is a wine on the cusp of being mature. The red-berry flavors are dissipating into a secondary aromatic character. The tannins, though, are still there—very firm and showing no sign of budging. Wait and see, or decant before drinking. This is part of a single-parcel (lieu-dit)single-varietal range.
This is a wine that's been tremendously variable over the years, but with the '07, Craig has produced his best bottling since the late 1990s. Succeeds not only with dramatically ripe blackberry, currant, chocolate and sweet, smoky cedar flavors, but also with a structure of finely ground tannins and a long, dry, spicy finish. Drink now and for the next few years.
This is a wine that's full of blackberry flavor, with elegant fruitiness and sweet tannins. It may miss the firm structure of the vintage, but it makes up for that with its forward, ripe fruitiness.
This is a wine that's made to be enjoyed young. It is fresh and fruity with a high proportion of Aragon (a.k.a. Tempranillo) giving a sophisticated touch of dusty tannins and red berry fruit. The wine is ripe and ready to drink.
This is a wine that's not just lively and fruity. It has weight and structure as well, keeping its instant drinkability along with a good sense of balance.
This is a wine that's on the lean side. That gives it structure without enough fruit to balance. It is dry, tight and shows black currant acidity at the end.
This is a wine that's ready to consume, with its ripe red fruits and spicy tannins. It is smooth with just a bite of structure along with considerable acidity. The wine is balanced and attractive in a summer barbecue style.
This is a wine that's soft in structure, and while it's dry, it's hard in tannins and the fruit has a baked taste like shrivelled raisins. Not an ager.
This is a wine that balances maturity with a light, fresh style. It's elegant and immediately attractive with a straight line of acidity cutting through the apple and lemon flavors. It is ready to drink now, but likely to improve for several more years. Drink through 2020.
This is a wine that brings out a soft, tropical character allied to a citrus and a herbaceous element. It's open, attractive and soft, and it's ready to drink.
This is a wine that brings out all the bright fruit of the vintage. It has classic black-currant flavors and crisp acidity. The tannins are a firm supporting act to this wine that will develop well over the medium term.
This is a wine that brings out the fine minerality of Dão whites. It is crisp while at the same time full and ripe. There is a smooth texture that comes from the Encruzado in the blend, with lively acidity coming from Gouveio. This wine will benefit from a few months in bottle, so drink from summer 2016.
This is a wine that combines rich berry fruits and a layer of fine tannins. Juicy blackberry flavors are spiced with the wood aging and given a dark, solid texture from the structure. The wine is ready to drink, packed with fruit and spicy acidity.
This is a wine that comes from a parcel of 15 acres, grown on pink granite rock. Vines that are 67 years old have given this firm wine its concentration and density. Generous, full of black fruits, the wine is developing although it needs more time. Drink from late 2017.
This is a wine that doesn't mess with niceties, but is right in your face. Intensely perfumed, almost a caricature of Gewürz, this is rich, moving into sweetness, concentrated and very spicy.
This is a wine that feels heavy, with rich apricot flavors that lack freshness and balance. It's not a wine for aging, but will go well with cakes or pastries.
This is a wine that gives acidity and ripeness at the same time. The color is light, but there is good concentration, great aromatic character and lively red berry fruits.
This is a wine that has a curious metallic character. It masks the fruit and gives it a hard edge. It's fresh, but not immediately attractive.
This is a wine that has been spoiled by the over-use of wood aging. The fruit is still struggling to come through. It will be a tough call as to which wins.
This is a wine that has great potential—you can tell from the firm tannins, tight acidity and closed texture. Initially, black currant flavors are touched with dark, dusty notes, but they finish with more juicy character on the afterntaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a wine that has tannins as well as crisp red-currant fruit. It is lightly textured with a bright shot of acidity. The aftertaste is fresh and lively.
This is a wine that has wonderful spice and richness against a dry background. Flavors of honey and noble rot fill the mouth with a swathe of richness and opulence. The wine is still young and needs to age, so drink from 2017.
This is a wine that is almost mature. With generous black fruits and tannins that are integrated into the texture, the wine is ripe and fruity. The acidity is still there, giving a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a wine that is beginning to show some fine maturity. There are ripe fruits still very present, but they are matched by the secondary flavors, spice and warm tannins along with the classic herbal character of Mourvèdre. The wine is produced from organically grown grapes, giving purity as well as some serious structure in the background. Drink from 2018.
This is a wine that is full of red fruits and fresh acidity. The tannic structure is well in balance giving a firm edge to the bright, ready-to-drink fruits. The wine is the entry level to the always impressive range from Crasto. Drink this wine now.
This is a wine that is fully ripe, perhaps too ripe. Rich with strawberry flavor, it shows more fruitiness than structure. It's quite juicy in style, and could show some balance in a year.
This is a wine that is lightly touched with a mineral texture while also having rich layers of acidity and green herbs. It is fragrant, perfumed and, on the finish, deliciously light and fruity.
This is a wine that is obviously made for the long term. At this stage is dry and firm, serious and solid. The aftertaste reveals its enormous potential with the generous black fruits and acidity. The estate, in the heart of the Margaux vineyards, is impressive. Drink from 2025.
This is a wine that is so young. It is aromatic, fruity and still settling together in its potential concentration and structure. Look forward to a wine that has pear fruits, a tight, mineral character, and structure. Look forward to an impressive and serious future. Drink from 2016.
This is a wine that is totally dominated by wood. So much so that there is little sign of fruit. Maybe it will integrate, but there is a question mark.
This is a wine that needs warm vintages, and unfortunately 2010 was anything but. There's a green aroma of bell pepper, and while the toast, lees and citrus flavors are pleasant, an ammonia note persists throughout. This is also the first vintage Quintessa has turned to Sonoma County to partially source grapes.
This is a wine that offers lots of class at a very good price. It's marked by flavors of streamlined citrus fruit, Asian pear, honey and a hint of buttered toast. It finishes thoroughly dry. With nearly 37,000 cases produced, this should be relatively easy to find.
This is a wine that packs a lot of substance, although it has deliciously upfront flavors of cherries and berries. There's a meatiness to the palate that adds depth and interest, while crisp acidity defines the flavors on the palate. Textbook Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, fruity, complex and silky.
This is a wine that preserves its freshness well. A touch of wood appears on the nose, fragrant and perfumed in character. It has a delicious, mature feel that makes it ready to drink. Jamminess on the finish lends weight and density.
This is a wine that relishes its dark color, its deep pigment. It's just as dense on the palate with concentrated black fruits and an earthy edge. There's no wood here, just ripe blackberry fruitiness that will age for a year before being ready to drink. Drink from 2017.
This is a wine that reveals the younger side of Moscatel in Setúbal. It shows honey, spice and perfumed fruitiness that contrast with the richness of the texture and its fresh peach and apricot flavors. Drink now for immediate enjoyment.
This is a wine that seems to veer between sweetness and dryness. It has spice and a dry, peppery edge, as well as an underlying character that's marked by rich, sweet, honeyed fruit. At this stage, it should be showing more balance.
This is a wine that showcases the Mourvèdre grape (80% of the blend). That gives a wonderful perfumed wine, bringing out fine tannins and a rich structure. Aged in wood for 20 months, the wine has a spicy edge to balance the ripe black-plum flavors. It is only just ready to drink and will be much better from 2018.
This is a wine that shows a more serious side to Vinho Verde. Bone dry, with a crisp and creamy texture, it has citrus, pineapple and red apple flavors. It could even age a few months, but is so drinkable now.
This is a wine that shows strong minerality but not much fruitiness. It has acidity, and is textured with a chalky mouthfeel, but the fruit character is subdued, making this a wine that is very crisp and tight.
This is a wine that speaks of its terroir, the chalk soil coming out in a very mineral, austere character. It has elegance, class, great style of poise, showing acidity, fresh green fruits and a need to age for at least 5 years.
This is a wine that tastes of the wild herbs and pines that surround the vineyard. It is spicy, perfumed with the contrast of the crisp green fruit. Low-yielding vines have produced a wine with concentration and plenty of tangy citrus and lime zest. Drink now.
This is a wine that teeters on the edge between superripeness and overripeness. At one moment its fruit comes across as slightly herbal and raspberry-like, while the next it can seem slightly raisined, with a hint of nail polish. It's round and creamy in texture, with a long finish framed in elegant, soft tannins. Drink now–2018.
This is a wine that varies year by year according to the quality of the harvest. With 2015 a very good vintage in the Southwest, the 100% Duras wine shows well. It's ripe and earthy with sustaining tannins and flavors of ripe plums and rhubarb. It's a wine to age for a few years to soften the tannins and bring it all together. Drink from 2018.
This is a wine that wants a little time in the cellar. It has very rich, ripe, concentrated blackberry and cherry flavors, accented with bacon, smoky oak and black pepper. But it's tannic and the fruit is jammy. The parts simply haven't knit together. Give it 2–3 years.
This is a wine that, unlike many Muscadets, can age well. Although only three years old, it will likely go for several more. That comes from the depth of the fruit, the ripe spice and acidity and the rounded white fruits. So drink now and until 2022.
This is a wine the winery has lavished some extra care on:  barrel fermentation, 50% new oak, extra time in barrel. But the results are disappointing. A thin, sour wine, it has a bitter edge to it and a finish that suggests that something went wrong in the barrel.
This is a wine to age, with such concentration in its texture and mineral structure. It offers rich white fruits and touches of spice. The aftertaste with its apples, green fruits and hints of apricot, is fresh and still developing. Drink from 2018.
This is a wine to cellar. It's just too hard in tannins now to perform well, even though it has very deep and impressive flavors, such as crushed blackberries and cherries, cassis, violets, anise, dark chocolate and cedar. Shows a great return to form after a few under-performing years. Best after 2010.
This is a wine to drink from a carafe in an inexpensive bistro with just about anything that makes you happy. The cherry-berry flavors will wash down everything from steak to fries.
This is a wine to watch as it develops slowly. It is all structure, concentrated and solid. Dense tannins vie with the black-currant fruits from the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Drink this wine from 2024.
This is a wine with fine tannins and plenty of ripe fruit. It has good potential with fruit and structure working well together. Spice and a rich aftertaste suggest a wine that will be fine from 2018.
This is a wine with good depth of flavor. The toast and wood characters are already balancing well with the soft, juicy fruit and acidity. It will age for 2–3 years and round out.
This is a wine with good wood aging, a delicious perfumed character and firm tannins. It has weight and richness, with spicy Syrah lending an exotic feel to the wine. Drink from 2016.
This is a wine with good, dense and red fruit, a touch of wood and a firm structure. There is a sense of elegance backed up by some weight. The aftertaste brings in spice and balancing acidity.
This is a wine with great balance and elegance as well as richness. With layers of fine dusty tannins it has a warm character that is repeated in the perfumed fruit and juicy acidity. The wine is impressive, likely to age well. Drink from 2024.
This is a wine with great fruit. Apples, pears and a touch of apricot blend easily with the zesty lemon and the mineral texture that cuts through the fruit. Drink now, although the wine will be better from 2017.
This is a wine with great potential, benefiting from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Structured and powerful, it has solid tannins that mask the blackberry and currant flavors. It's for long-term aging, one of the few wines in Pauillac that is not a classified growth.
This is a wine with harshness, sharp walnut and bitter orange flavors. It gives off a hard feeling that probably won't soften much.
This is a wine with light spice and perfumed red fruits. It is juicy, fresh, lightly tannic and likely to develop quickly. Drink from 2017.
This is a wine with potential. For now, it is textured and tight. For the future, plenty of citrus, crisp acidity and ripe apple flavors promise a fruity, fragrant wine. The grapes, vinified in wood, are from the Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers. Drink from 2016.
This is a wine with potential. It has weight and ripe berry fruits balanced with solid tannins and a dense texture. Behind the structure, the fruit and acidity promise good things. Drink from 2016.
This is a wine with presence, from its meaty, spicy nose to its big, full-flavored fruit and spice character. Many layers of spice, smoke and berry unfold on the palate and the overall impression is delicious and serious. It lacks a touch of refinement, but is still a very good, ageable selection.
This is a wine with simple fruit-juice flavors. It's ripe, but has attractive acidity. Overall, it's very fruity and ready to drink.
This is a wine with some tannic structure adding richness and shape to its red fruit character. Ripe cherries and red currants dominate, laced with acidity. It's ready to drink, but could improve over another year.
This is a wine with strong earthy aromas. Its structure is dense and hard at this young stage, but there is enough weight of barnyard and black plum flavors to balance the dry tannins. While it feels rustic, it will certainly develop and soften out. Drink from 2016.
This is a wine with such a wonderful balance of fresh, lemon acidity and sweetness. Its honeyed texture is cut with a mineral bite that gives opulence and structure at the same time. The wine needs long aging so drink from 2017.
This is a wine with that's crisp and delicately fruity with flavors of red apples and pear skins. It's a fresh, bright wine with a soft aftertaste for enjoying now. Screwcap.
This is a wine without veils or secrets. It has great purity and freshness and is generous in terms of its aromas of white flower, stone fruit and pear. It would make a great companion to salmon or swordfish carpaccio.
This is a wiry, scratchy wine with generic red-fruit and mild green aromas. A grabby, hard palate contains soft berry and plum flavors. A finish of carob, herbal notes and oaky spice is an adquate ending.
This is a wonderful counterpoint to Vasse Felix's Heytesbury. Where that wine is lush, this is more austere, with restrained, Bordeaux-reminiscent sensibilities. Smoky, grilled elements frame cassis and mint, finishing with classic firm tannins and admirable length. Drink 2023–2035, although the back label suggests “up to a further 30 years.”
This is a wonderful edition to Pearl, Sparkman's 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It's vibrant and energetic, the kind of high-wire flavors more commonly found in Sancerre. Three days after it was first tasted, the wine was still drinking beautifully, with candied mixed fruits and terrific concentration.
This is a wonderful Pinot Noir to drink now for its dry crispness, silky elegance, and pleasant cherry, currant, Dr. Pepper  and teriyaki beef flavors. Polished and supple, and easy to find, with nearly 38,000 cases produced.
This is a wonderful wine on all levels, with great intensity and a pretty ensemble of ripe fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. It delivers loads of pleasure and satisfaction thanks to the softness and generosity of its texture and silky tannins.
This is a wonderful wine that's dryish and vital in acidity, with savory Meyer lemon, grapefruit, lemongrass, apricot and vanilla flavors. A touch of oak brings a buttered toast richness. Only 260 cases were produced.
This is a wonderful wine that has the dry complexity and tannic structure of a great Napa red, with rich layers of cherries, red currants, mocha and sweet smoky oak. Yet it's supple, with a deft drinkability. A brilliant interpretation of the variety, it's hard to keep from popping the cork now, but should age well for 8–10 years.
This is a wonderful wine, very ripe, the blackberry and sweet fruits all here, While the tannins are solid and concentrated, they are in the center of a lush, beautifully rich series of flavors that range from fruit to licorice to spice. The wine shows great aging potential.
This is a wonderful, dense wine, very concentrated, very intensely flavored. At this stage of its development, it is the opulence which is most evident, but there are already hints that it will show pure fruit alongside sweet tannins, and will develop complexity.
This is a wonderful, easy-drinking Orvieto that would pair with seafood, vegetables or spicy Asian foods. It shows pristine aromas of citrus, stone fruit and freshly picked garden herb.
This is a wonderfully balanced wine, bursting with ripe spice as well as acidity. It's a rich wine, now showing maturity without losing its fruit. The depth of flavor, drilling right down to the mineral structure, is impressive. Drink now, although also wait until 2016.
This is a wonderfully dry, crisp and super-drinkable white wine, perfect for a first cocktail of the afternoon. It's clean and brisk in acidity, with a flourish of lemon, lime and vanilla flavors. Spicy, too. Great with little puff pastry appetizers.
This is a wonderfully enjoyable Prosecco Extra Dry that grabs your attention at first sniff thanks to its generous tones of stone fruit, lemon meringue and lavender honey. In the mouth, it delivers spicy effervescence and palate-cleaning freshness.
This is a wondrously complex wine from Deborah Hall, showing roasted pork and other animal flesh on the nose along with graphite, clove extract and red rose petals—each piece there, but hard to pull apart because it is so well integrated. The flavors meld grilled game with cooked cherries and black loam.
This is a wood-aged blend of Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Touriga Nacional, producing a wine that is both structured and ripe with black fruits. It has considerable acidity, spice along with some aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a wood-aged Chardonnay that's smooth, creamy and rich. The wine has weight, with lemon and peach flavors as well as vanilla accents from the oak. Its current fruitiness will mature and broaden well, so keep this wine for at least four years.
This is a wood-aged style of Chablis, but the toast has been applied discreetly. Rich, full bodied and structured, this wine is full of ripe yellow-fruit, spice and red apple flavors. Its acidity makes this a juicy expression.
This is a wood-aged Touriga Nacional that is smooth and rich. It shows some extraction offering dark chocolate flavors that cover the fruit, yet happen to provide a ripe, rounded feel. Drink from 2017.
This is a wood-aged wine from a vineyard that is well situated on the ridge that runs east of Saint-Émilion. It is structured with firm tannins as well as perfumes from the Cabernet Franc in the blend. The needs time to develop more, so drink from 2020.
This is a wood-aged wine that's smooth with rounded and great fruit flavors. The wood is subtle, a hint of spice and no more, allowing the ripe apricot and citrus flavors to show strongly. It is a very fine wine, ready to drink now.
This is a wood-aged wine that brings out the wonderful ripe flavors of the Encruzado. Apricot and ripe Bartlett pears are dominant, backed by some toastiness and with great acidity. This is a finely textured rich wine that is ready to drink.
This is a wood-aged wine that has some weight. There's a strong toast character from the wood, contrasting with the ripe plum flavor.
This is a wood-aged wine that shows structure, dense tannins as well as juicy red fruits. The wood is finely integrated, lending a round texture to go with the dry character of the wine. For aging 4–6 years.
This is a wood-aged wine that suggests the argument that Grüner and wood do not always go together. The wine tastes oxidized, lacks fruit, and is weirdly off key.
This is a wood-aged wine with spice and vanilla flavors, fine berry fruits and a rich texture. It is firm, while also rich and generous. The weight, the ripeness and the structure all promise aging. Drink from 2015.
This is a wood-aged wine, named after the founder of the Mellot dynasty in the 16th century. It is richly endowed, packed with fine white fruit that contrasts with the stony steely texture. There is a great tang of acidity and orange zest at the end. The wine is still young and will repay cellaring until 2018.
This is a wood-aged wine, with a spicy character, that's rich with both generous tannins and black fruits. It has a ripe fruity character with plenty of balancing acidity and a warm full-bodied aftertaste. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a wood-fermented wine, spicy and lightly perfumed. The wood aging does dominate the yellow fruits and acidity that still need time. Drink this wine from late 2017.
This is a wood-laden wine with a cool blackcurrant interior. The tannins and juicy fruit complement each other, giving fine acidity and a ripe character to this structured wine. Give it another year for the wood to integrate further and drink after 2015.
This is a wood aged wine, full of vanilla flavors as well as fragrant fruitiness. It has great flavor intensity, with bright notes of juicy green plum and grapefruit that are framed by acidity and a tight, mineral texture. It needs some years aging, so drink from 2018.
This is a woody blend of 60% Carmenère and 40% Carignan, which is not a common mixing in Chile. Oak, graphite, cocoa and berry aromas set up a narrow, astringent palate with citrusy acidity and sharp flavors of plum, raspberry and spice. Fresh acidity and herbal flavors dominate the finish.
This is a woody, generously oaked white that's full and relatively fleshy, with a perception of ripe sweet fruit and vanilla.
This is a woody, oak-dominated Malbec, but it's also ripe and well made. Aromas of sawdust, vanilla and toast support raw berry essence. In the mouth, tartaric notes stick out amid the richness, while flavors of oak, toast, vanilla and berry fruits finish woody but with wayward acidity.
This is a woody, toasty wine, which seems to be the style here for the last several years. It has weight, but does need time for the wood to subside and bring out the elegant fruits.
This is a workmanlike Cabernet that gets the job done. Standard berry aromas show a spot of oak. Solid but highly regular cherry, cassis and chocolaty flavors finish with a smear of superficial oak.
This is a worthy followup to Storm's fine 2008 bottling. Although it's not quite as rich, it does provide a pleasing Pinot Noir experience. The wine is very dry, tart in acidity and clean, with rich cherry, pomegranate and mushroom notes.
This is a worthy followup to the 2004. It's softly silky and dryly elegant, a creamy, complex wine with luscious red currant, cola, licorice and mocha flavors. Made largely from Dijon clones, it's best now for its juicy youthfulness.
This is a wow wine, supported by small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Blood orange, cranberry, cassis and raspberry provide a crisp counterpoint to the firm tannin structure, ending with grace and plenty of body, smoothly textured and refined.
This is a Yates Conwill vineyard reserve selection, which the winery labels “the best Pinot we made in 2013.” It's right up there, to be sure, with power and elegance to spare. The perfect mix of berry and cherry primary fruit, balanced with natural acidity, was finished with a brief time in new oak, yielding accents of chocolate, nougat and caramel. Released in half-bottles only, so drink it by 2020.
This is a yeasty offering that's full on the palate, with a rich mousse. Yellow and white fruits contribute to its richness, a touch of bitterness balanced with the fruity acidity. Drink now, or age for a year.
This is a yeasty wine that has mature toast and almond flavors. This 100% Chenin Blanc is soft and creamy, flavored with pears and acidity that are now beginning to fade.
This is a yeasty wine that shows a bitter almond character. It has an unattractive hard edge.
This is a yeasty wine, with the fruit less evident. It has acidity and a touch of apple, although a bitter edge cuts into the rounded texture.
This is a yellow fruit and spice flavored wine. It is rich, just cut with acidity and with rounded fruit flavors and a generous texture. It is an impressive development from a young, crisp Muscadet and shows how well some wines from the region can age. Drink now.
This is a yes/no sort of grape, as far as individual preferences go. If you are a yes, this is a good one. It captures and contains the varietal streak of herb and stem, with ample tart berry fruit to balance.
This is a young- looking wine that tastes equally fresh. Red fruits and soft tannins are balanced with acidity It tastes too young to be a true tawny with no hint of any nutty maturity.
This is a young-colored wine that has been wood aged to smooth out the natural fruitiness of the Merlot. That gives the wine a smoky character with juicy acidity balanced by wood and toast flavors. The black plum flavors are rich, full in the mouth with a dry underlay of tannins. Drink from 2017.
This is a young and fruity Champagne, bursting with red fruits and the lightest of tannins. With its salmon-pink color, it is tangy and crisp, moving towards dry in its style. The aftertaste is fruity with a zing of acidity.
This is a young and fruity wine that has the rare Vital grape in the blend. It is crisp although with an attractive creaminess that gives the wine a smooth texture. The acidity and red apples are balanced and make the wine ready to drink.
This is a young and structured wine. Juicy black-currant flavors are still firmly backed up by tannins. Produced from old vines, it is dense although also with a fresh acidity that is already attractive. Drink from 2017.
This is a young but excellent gran reserva, so it's gritty-smelling in its youth, with aromas of blackberry and cassis. Racy acidity pushes the focus on the palate towards the upper tier, while flavors of lactic oak, lemon peel, tobacco and mocha share the stage with plum and berry fruit. Finishing flavors of vanilla and raw oak are supported by good acidity and just enough pulp. Drink through 2030.
This is a young fruit salad of a wine although one that is ready to drink for its crisp acidity and sliced apple flavor. The wine has citrus and a mineral texture as well as a bright line in zesty orange. Drink now.
This is a young fruity wine. It has attractive red-berry fruits and gentle tannins that are surrounded by the comfortable full-bodied texture. It's a wine to drink now.
This is a young tawny (in this case, on average five-years-old) that has kept all its fruit and just added perfumed dried fruits and touches of spice and attractive oxidation from the wood aging. The wine is soft, ripe and easy to drink.
This is a young wine and tastes like a Beaujolais. Spicy, grapey and showing an almost spritzy lightness; it has good, clean fruit with a lively, tangy, spicy mouthfeel. Best Buy. —P.G.
This is a young wine in Madeira terms. That means it is full of fruit, with bitter orange and ginger to balance the acidity. The wine is sweet, always cut with that acidity and with a burnt character in the background. It is ready to drink, although some bottle age will still make it even better. Drink now and for decades.
This is a young wine that needs cellaring to come around. Right now, it's tough in tannins, and the fruit is direct and primary. It really needs the alchemy of time for the wood, acids, tannins and flavors to come around. Give it three or four years for the black currants to marry with the cedar and become smoky-sweet.
This is a young wine with a lean texture and stalky fruit from a Chablis-based producer. It feels cool with its acidity and red-currant fruits. Drink now.
This is a young wine with some bitter almond flavors and a taut, nervy character. The wine is tight with green apple acidity showing through. Give it four years and it will be a rich, fruit-and-spice flavored wine.
This is a young wine with still firm tannins and stalky fruit. It has black-currant flavors that are balanced by fresh acidity and a dry core. The wine has all the freshness of the vintage, drink from 2017.
This is a young wine, full of fruit and still packed with dry tannins. Its future is good, with layers of juicy ripe black cherry flavors under the tannins that promise a ripe and full-bodied wine. Drink from 2016.
This is a young wood-aged wine with rich toast. While the toast does smother the fruit at the moment, there are enough crisp acidity and citrus flavors in the background to come through as the wine matures for another year or two. Drink from 2018.
This is a young yeasty and nutty-flavored wine from the Bairrada region, home to many sparkling wines. It is crisp, with some apple fruitiness, and ready to drink. The acidity keeps it in shape.
This is a young yet lush and amazingly rich Pinot Noir. The raspberry and cherry fruit hardly could be riper. Yet the balance of sweet tannins and just-in-time acidity gives the wine good structure. Fine to drink now, and should age well for a couple of years.
This is a young, beautifully fruity wine. Lemon and lime chase ripe yellow fruits and pears that are all lifted by spice and acidity. It is perfumed, rich and concentrated from the old vines. The aftertaste is mineral and tight. Drink from 2020.
This is a young, firm and seriously tannic wine that will need several years to age. It has structure, a sense of the tough terrain of the upper Douro. Concentrated and dense, it's a wine that will develop; best after 2017.
This is a young, firmly tannic wine with its solid, dry structure still dominating the ripe fruit. It's concentrated and dense with a dusty texture giving both weight and the ability to age. With Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this is a wine that will go several years.
This is a young, fresh and very attractive Chardonnay, brimming with aromas and flavors of wood-grilled apple, honeydew, Honeycomb cereal, buttered popcorn and toasted oak. The palate is round and full, yet with ample acidity, citrus flavor and a mineral streak that all provides lift and character to the close. Drink 2016–2020.
This is a young, fresh wine that's laced both with black currants and some dry tannins. It's so young and fruity that is all up front freshness. In fact it could do with a few months in bottle to give it more weight and round it out.
This is a young, fruity wine made for early drinking. With bright acidity, soft tannins and forward red fruit, it's easy-drinking and ready now.
This is a young, fruity wine with black currant aromas and delicious, perfumed juicy blackberry fruit. It has all the ripeness of the vintage and the potential to age well. Drink from 2020.
This is a young, fruity wine with bright acidity and red berry fruit that comes across as lean. Its structure and tannic core suggests it needs to age. Drink from 2019.
This is a young, fruity wine with crisp apple acidity and a slight edge of tannin. Dominated by Pinot Noir, it needs to soften and fill out to bring out. Drink from 2018.
This is a young, fruity wine with fine acidity and plenty of red-fruit flavors. Light spice, generous tannins and a hint of wood all contribute to a balanced wine that is ready to drink.
This is a young, gold-colored wine that is more rich than really sweet. It has acidity, ripe apricot and sweet apple flavors that give the wine fresh acidity. The wine is still developing, pushing the ripe fruits through the texture, so don't drink until 2019.
This is a young, grapy wine, with primary scents of grapes accented with cola and tomato leaf. You taste grapes, berries, ginger and herb, with an interesting creamy streak of milk chocolate. It's a well-made wine with surprising complexity and length.
This is a young, hearty wine, dark and brooding, whose power is still considerably closed in. The aroma hints at blackberry preserves, anise and milk chocolate. It’s soft and accessible, with tons of concentrated, ripe berry fruit, but needs a few years to show its best stuff. Finishes long and spicy.
This is a young, meaty Pinot, a bottle of substantial red cherry, earthy mushroom and soil that's bright and layered with a heartiness to the texture and finish. The back label mentions that the grapes were sourced from Bacigalupi Vineyards, a longstanding star in the Russian River Valley.
This is a young, perfumed wine with attractive red fruits. While the wood is showing at the moment, that will fade as the wine develops, giving a fresh, raspberry-dominated wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a young, perfumed wine with honey, pear and melon flavors. Along with its crisp lemon edge, there is a more mineral, tangy, aftertaste, a feeling of steel on the tongue.
This is a young, soft and fruity wine, with ripe black fruits that are lightly textured by the dry, spicy core. With some wood aging, the wine has a toasty accent and a smooth character that makes it ready to drink now.
This is a young, structured wine that needs some time to develop. It has stalky tannins over black-currant fruits that give the wine both structure and freshness. With its dusty texture and spice flavors from the wood aging, it will be best drunk from 2018.
This is a young, wild and dense wine, intense in oak and strong-willed red cherry and strawberry fruit. Full-bodied and still smoothing out its rough edges, the big tannin structure should allow a length of aging through 2020.
This is a young, yeasty wine with a scent of fresh citrus. Lemon and grapefruit are the main flavors, with a textural, refreshing mouthfeel and a hint of minerality.
This is a youthful, fruity wine with crisp yellow-fruit and citrus flavors, with a toastiness from wood aging. Sourced from Saint-Aubin, it has a cool, fresh feel that complements its pristine fruitiness. It's for drinking soon, but will also improve with age through 2021.
This is a Zin for lovers of big, ripe to overripe, tannic, high-alcohol interpretations of the variety. Made from very old vines, the flavors are mainly of raisins, with complexities of oak, balsam and peppery spices.
This is a Zin that needs a warmer vintage to really succeed, and 2005 was cool. It trades the richness of the ‘04 in favor of dried blackberry, tobacco, white pepper and herb flavors. The acid-tannin balance also is more notable. Quite good, but not great. Drink now.
This is a Zweigelt with an identity crisis that thinks it may be Pinot Noir. It's elegant and silky, with a gentle tannic touch, refreshing acidity and restrained but evocative redcurrant and cranberry fruit. Overtones of peony and iris make this more intriguing, while there is substance despite its light body. This is delicious now, but will reward cellaring for one to two years to let earthy, tertiary flavors develop. Drink from 2014.
This is about as racy as Sauvignon Blanc from Chile gets. It's green and melon-like on the nose, with punchy asparagus and lime aromas. It is wide awake on the palate, where citrusy acids push lemon, lime, green herb and lemongrass flavors. It cuts like a razor; drink with shellfish.
This is about as strange and individual as Albariño gets. The nose oozes odd cinnamon and resin aromas, which are abnormal for the variety and the Rías Baixas region. A flavor of spiced apple finishes with the same spice character. Funky is probably the best word to describe this wine.
This is absolutely delicious, offering heady waves of orange marmalade, butterscotch candy, crème brûlée and honey that are wildly opulent. This is a go-to bottling for very sweet, unctuous California dessert wines.
This is absolutely delicious, with raspberry, cherry and mocha flavors that go on and on. Great Central Coast acidity provides needed tartness to balance the richness. It's a beautiful, ripe, flashy and sophisticated Pinot Noir, showing the early drinkability and freshness of the Edna Valley.
This is acidic and sweet, with a medicinal taste.
This is actually a 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the producer's estate, and a selection of the winemaker's three favorite barrels of the vintage that fit best together. It is also the first release of the wine, made to honor the winery's 10th anniversary. Savory and high-toned in acidity, it masters a tartness of currant, cranberry and clove while integrating a soft, lean lushness of black cherry, the whole succulent and complex.
This is actually a 2010 wine, but for consistency it is not labeled with the vintage. Fragrant and floral, with the addition of 5% Riesling contributing a pleasing orange blossom/orange peel accent. Overall, it's refreshing and succulent, a juicy mix of citrus fruits and balanced acids.
This is actually Wahluke Slope fruit, though labeled simply Columbia Valley. Tart pomegranate fruit, a seam of clay and well-integrated highlights of herb and earth mark this extremely limited-production wine as special. Dolcetto does not have much of a track record in Washington, but what's here is quite promising.
This is adequately pungent on the nose, with a touch of the veggies. The palate is modest in acidity but not flat or flabbby. Flavors of green fruits mix with a hint of asparagus, while controlled capsicum and bitterness work the finish.
This is aged for two years in French oak to shape a complex and layered bouquet that bears notes of red currant, smoked meat and exotic spice. The palate is firm, finely textured and long lasting.
This is aged four years prior to release, which proves a benefit here, as it helps tame the spicy wild-berry flavors. The aromatics offer an olfactory tapestry of orange peel, violets, sandalwood, cherry cola and more. It's balanced and sophisticated, offering many subtle pleasures.
This is aged in 100% new American oak, putting tight berry and cassis flavors behind plenty of dried herb notes and astringent tannins. Fine for drinking with a thick steak, but not so much for sipping on its own.
This is aged in barrel, but the power of the source's granitic soils is such that the oak is barely noticeable. Nasturtium blossom and apricot mark the nose, while the palate adds pineapple, cinnamon and clove. The wine is a bit oily in texture, but with a long, tropical-fruit-laced finish that brings admirable freshness, focus and energy.
This is aged in oak, but the vessels are large casks, or foudres, so the impact isn't that noticeable. The wine is meaty and savory on the nose, but the palate shows more herb-garrigue flavors and superripe cherry fruit. Drink now–2017.
This is aggressive in green tannins, hot in alcohol, and is unevenly ripened, with blackberry and mint flavors.
This is aggressive in texture, with lots of tart acidity and sandpapery tannins. There are some less-than-ripe wintergreen flavors alongside the cherry fruit. Drink now.
This is Alain Gayraud's estate wine. With 90% Malbec and 10% Merlot, it certainly shows some of the tannins typical of the grape. At the same time, it has attractive berry fruits and balanced acidity. It has a light touch that will make it ready to drink soon. Drink from 2018.
This is Alamos's top Malbec, and it is fat and savory on the nose, with rubber, leather, asphalt and cured-meat aromas in addition to showing jammy fruit scents. In the mouth, this is lush and meaty, with blueberry, jerky and campfire flavors. A toasty, stout finish is big and weighty, but overall this fruit bomb is balanced.
This is Albariño in fine form. The nose is succulent and marble-smooth, with pure citrus and melon aromas. The palate is lively but refined, with exuberant citrus flavors that come on strong but with proper restraint. Long and ripe on the finish, which only adds to the experience. Drink now.
This is all about buttered toast, buttered popcorn and orange- and pineapple-soda flavors. Fans of the popular style will love it.
This is all about classic spicy Gewurztraminer. It's full and rounded, with candied flavors, great spice and a medium-sweet character. It's not subtle, but it is all there.
This is all about juicy, ripe fruit, tempered by freshness and a velvety tannin structure. Fleshy, ripe red and black cherry is expansive and open on nose and palate. A joy to drink and ready now.
This is all about rich, tarry red fruit flavors, layered with some dense fruit tannins. It's a warm wine from a hot place, concentrated and full. With flavors of superripe black fruits, this could be aged, but is definitely ready to drink now.
This is all about rounded, crunchy, primary cherry fruit. This light- to medium-bodied red celebrates fresh fruit, offering verve and energy on its soft, pliable palate. Drink soon while the fruit is as bright as possible.
This is all about the essence of red cherry, made complex with layers of violet, sweet tobacco and red licorice. There's plenty of toasty new oak, too. It's one of the prettier California Grenaches out there.
This is all Cabernet coming from one of the state's top vineyards. The aromas offer notes of fresh tobacco, red fruit, dried herbs and an assortment of barrel spices. It's packed with plentiful dark cherry and cranberry flavors that show intensity, finesse and impressive length.
This is all Cabernet, aged in American oak, and it delivers dark and tannic flavors suggesting purple plum and black cherry. Tannins are rugged and the oak seems to have a fairly high level of toast, which translates into flavors of coffee grounds and ash.
This is all citrus and herbal flavors from an estate noted for its pure white wines. It makes for a tight zesty wine with a chalky mineral texture. The fruits are developing to give a crisp wine that's full of fruit along with intense acidity. Drink from 2022.
This is all estate-grown from the original (2004) planting. Tannins are smooth and the wine has a pleasing chocolate streak upon entry. Peppery and herbal highlights come into play through the finish, which firms up nicely.
This is all fruit and no structure. The fruit shows a superripe character, which suggests this is a wine for short-term aging.
This is all Lewis Vineyard Cabernet, though not as strong as the vineyard-designated bottling from the same vintage. There is noticeable volatility in the opening aromas, which slowly blows off and turns into concentrated raspberry, boysenberry, plum and cherry compote fruit. Dense and buoyed with firm acids, this wine needs a full 24 hours to smooth out. There is plenty of well-managed oak, adding smoky coffee and espresso to the finish.
This is all light fruit and crisp acidity. Bright and light, brimming with citrus and apples, the wine is ready to drink. It comes from the western end of the Muscadet vineyards near the Lac de Grand-Lieu.
This is all Merlot, tight and toasty, with generous black fruits compacted into a dense core. This one needs more bottle age, and/or substantial decanting time, but it shows excellent depth and polish already.
This is all Pommard clone Pinot from a vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. It's loaded with ripe, fleshy cherry fruit and suggestions of steely minerality, typical of the terroir. Big, full, delicious and nicely balanced, it wraps up with a yummy chocolaty finish.
This is all Pommard clone, with a tart racy mix of cranberry and raspberry fruit. It's juicy and young, with sharp, precise edges. Tannins remain slightly bitter, but a couple more years in bottle should fix that.
This is almost all varietal, with just smidgeons of Merlot and Malbec (2% each) blended in. It displays an appealing mix of fruit and barrel, with aromas and flavors of coffee, spice, pencil lead, herbs and cherry, showing a sense of vibrancy and richness.
This is almost as impressive as Gerin's La Champine Syrah, which is a tremendous achievement as Viognier seems much harder to do well. Hints of crushed stone and struck flint add nuance to the ripe apricot aromas, while the exotic, tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple are reined in by a touch of citrus-pith bitterness. Drink now–2018.
This is almost brutally austere. The nose expresses nothing but grass and zest, and the palate is sharp in feel, with chiseled, raw power and pithy, stony flavors of lemon, grapefruit and sour orange. This is overpowering and clipped; it has merits but needs to be more friendly.
This is almost confectionery in its fruit sweetness, layering raspberries over black currants in wave after wave. There's a hint of mint as well, ample weight and power on the palate and a long, dusty, tannic finish. Drink now–2030.
This is almost entirely Syrah, done in a high-acid, citrusy style. Flavors are sharply etched and tight—pomegranate, raspberry, baking chocolate and espresso. Straightforward and well-balanced despite its 15% alcohol.
This is almost exactly like the winery's excellent 2004 Gran Reserva, proof that Olabarri knows how to make this style of Tempranillo. This is smooth and concentrated, with a deep color and ripe plum, blackberry and tobacco aromas. Flavors of mossy berry, fresh prune, chocolate and vanilla come with light herbal accents. This is elegant, with aging potential. Drink now–2020.
This is almost offputting in terms of its feral aromas of wet dog and animal fur. The palate has a narrow, acidic feel and herbal, roasted berry flavors that end in a swirl of green herbs and gamy notes.
This is almost pure Cab, with the addition of just 2% Malbec. Solidly in the firm, muscular, polished style of winemaker Holly Turner, this is a substantial effort that will need to be decanted if you are going to drink it any time soon. Black cherry, cassis and blue plum are swathed in milk chocolate, but this is Cabernet with its sinews intact, showing streaks of herb, smoke and light pepper. I can't imagine a better companion to it than a good, rare steak.
This is almost red in color, with spicy bell pepper aromas resulting from early harvested Cabernet Sauvignon. Its full, chunky palate shows yeasty, lightly green and peppery flavors that linger on the finish.
This is almost the anti-Napa Bordeaux blend. It's drier and edgier than your typical North Coast Cab, and much less tannic, with a sweet herb edge to the flavors of cherries, red and black currant, plums, tangerine zest, licorice and cloves. Try this polished wine with anything calling for a medium-bodied red.
This is almost two thirds Sauvignon Blanc, one third Chardonnay, and one percent Marsanne providing the ‘M' that completes the name. Fresh and fruity, pure and quaffable, this fragrant white wine is exactly what this state needs more of. Nothing wimpy about it, just great, lightly ripe flavors of citrus and stone fruits, without the crutch of oak.
This is already a beautiful wine. An intense flavor of dried apricot fruit is balanced by a serious core of botrytis. With its underlying acidity, this is concentrated, ripe and sure to age well. Drink from 2021.
This is already a delicious wine in the balanced Saint-Julien style. Smooth and ripe, it is fruity with a structure that promises medium-term aging. The rich aftertaste shows both the promise and the pleasure of the wine. Drink from 2020.
This is already developing fast, its balance right in place. While that does not suggest much aging potential, the dry tannins, sweet fruit and smoky wood give it richness and concentration. To drink in five years.
This is already drying out, its fruit fading and its mouthfeel turning a bit woody. There's a trace of of tart berry fruit, with plenty of drying tannins. Drink now.
This is already mature. It has weight and demonstrates a delicious balance between a ripe white-fruit flavor and fresh acidity, with a fine note of tangy citrus. Ready to drink.
This is already rounding off nicely into mature flavors with notes of truffle, dried cherries, ginger and brown spices. Smooth and medium-bodied, it's drinking in prime condition, with finishing touches of fig and strawberry preserves.
This is already showing some evolution in its color, displaying some lightening at its rim. The aromas are floral and tea-like, with subtle cinnamon and spice shadings, and the flavors follow along, resembling Wild Berry Zinger tea. It's medium in weight, with silky tannins and a softly dusty finish.
This is already showing some signs of early maturity in both the darkening color and the soft, lightly oaky mouthfeel. Autumnal fruit flavors suggest overripe apples, augmented with a dash of baking spice. Drink up.
This is already showing the changes in aroma and color that usually accompany a much older wine. It's drinking quite well, with mature flavors of strawberry fruit pastry, lightly dusted with baking spices. The score reflects its limited aging potential, as the window for enjoyment seems already to be closing.
This is Alvarinho from the southern part of the Minho region, close to Oporto. It has lemon fruit and a smooth texture, giving a rich wine. It could age a little longer, so wait until 2018.
This is always a drily tannic wine in its youth, but it's also one of the most ambitious Cabs produced from Dry Creek Valley, and is worth attention. With a drop of Petit Verdot, it's young and jammy, explosive in black currant and chocolate flavors, with plenty of smoky oak. Although the tannins are big, they're completely ripe and sweet. Four-plus years of age have softened them. Drink this Cabernet Sauvignon now with very upscale foods, and it should hold and soften for a decade.
This is always a gigantic wine, and its success depends on technically balancing its various parts. The 2010 delivers the usual richness, with vast, deep fruit, mineral, oak and leesy flavors. It's as full bodied as a red wine, but a little heavy for a Chardonnay. Not an ager, it's best enjoyed now with the richest Chardonnay-friendly dishes.
This is always a great bottling, and Zaca Mesa's 2006 Black Bear Block goes to the head of the line in newly released California Syrahs. It's an enormously rich wine, filled to the brim with pure blackberries, currants, cocoa and peppery-spiced oak, and the finish turns to milk chocolate. But it's dry. The 2006 vintage was a very good one for Zaca Mesa's various Syrahs, and this is their best.
This is always a major wine, and this vintage is no exception. It is spectacularly ripe, spicy, concentrated and fruity. The yellow fruits, tangy citrus and mineral structure all contribute to an intense complexity. Age this wine for many years and don't drink before 2017.
This is always a really good buy among rosé sparklers and a personal favorite in the Best Buy category. It opens with red fruit, vanilla and yeasty aromas, but it's racy, crisp and refined in the mouth, with nectarine, peach and controlled citrus flavors. It's dry, spicy and fairly smooth on the finish.
This is always a topflight bottling, and winemaker Ron Bunnell gets the same rows and uses the same barrel regimen and winemaking methods. So what is different? Vintage variation. In 2006 the wines are tighter and slower to open, perhaps longer lived, and show less of the immediately seductive fruit flavors of 2005. Boushey-McPherson is naturally sharp and edgy when young anyway, and those characteristics are much in evidence here, so this is a wine to decant if you plan to drink it anytime soon.
This is always one of Janzen's best bottlings, courtesy of one of the jewels in the Beckstoffer crown of vineyards. The 2010 is softly tannic and enormously rich, showing wave after wave of blackberry essence, cassis liqueur, dark chocolate and anise notes, with a firm minerality. It's beautiful now, but try to keep your hands off it until at least 2018.
This is among Campania's best reds. The aromatic intensity and persistency is stratospheric and the wine doles out generous notes of red cherry, charred volcanic tones and licorice. It's also a wine that evolves, limitlessly, in the glass, gaining intensity and purity the longer you wait. The tannins are solid and chewy and the duration of the length is excellent.
This is an über-aromatic wine, with appealing notes of white peach, jasmine, honeysuckle and lime. It's lean in style, drinking off dry but balanced by racy acidity that stretches out the finish.
This is an absolutely beautiful white wine (made from a bland of Ansonica and Chardonnay) that delivers rich and opulent tones of stone fruit, mon blossom. The wine excels in the mouth thanks to its richness and smooth creaminess.
This is an absolutely beautiful wine to drink now, but the richness comes at the price of considerable alcohol. The color is dark and impenetrable, the aromas huge in Cabernet-inspired blackberries and black currants, with a touch of something herbal and also a stony minerality. There's also a fascinating peatiness, like an Islay Scotch. It really opens up in the glass, becoming ever more complex. It's great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, but that high alcohol may limit its ageability.
This is an absolutely charming, lighter-style dry wine that has a translucent ruby color, fresh raspberry and red cherry aromas and mild but vivid flavors buoyed by good acidity and very moderate tannins. Light body doesn't mean wimpy, though, as this gem has good depth and a lingering finish.
This is an absolutely lovely Pinot Noir that's softly refined and balanced, yet so complex. It's silky and dry, with waves of raspberries and cherries, red currants, mocha, red licorice and sautéed wild mushrooms. Drink now–2015 for fresh appeal.
This is an absolutely stunning wine, thick and dense with an array of candied fruits, caramel, marmalade, butterscotch and more. With 189g/L of residual sugar, a little sip or two will go a long way.
This is an abundantly ripe wine, big in oak and tannin, with a streak of earthy compost. A tinge of spearmint brightens the palate, while persistent acidity graces the close.
This is an accessible red, with aromas of black fruit, exotic spices and oak. The palate shows plum, chocolate and bitter cherry flavors and a warmth that reflects the heat of the vintage. Drink soon.
This is an admirable aged Malbec, but it's definitely tannic and tough. The nose is hard and rubbery, with tire, mushroom, graphite and black cherry aromas. Feels tight as nails, with burnt caramel, tomato, green herb and cassis flavors. This finishes with some warmth.
This is an admirable wine that's bone dry and tart in acidity. Flavors of cherries, mushrooms and tobacco lead to a spicy finish. Drink up.
This is an affordable and refreshingly light-bodied Zin, bright and fresh in red berry and well-put together in terms of tannin and oak. Stock up for parties.
This is an affordable, well-made wine that offers classical aromas and flavors of cassis, bing cherry, spearmint and pencil lead, all within a context of full-bodied ripeness and soft, juicy texture.
This is an ageworthy wine from 60-year-old vines. There is a fine structure that offers rich tannins and equally rich black plum fruits. It is worth keeping this finely structured cru wine to allow its tannins to integrate and soften. Drink from 2018.
This is an ageworthy wine, a classic blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is rich while also having great acidity, fragrant citrus and tight, steely texture. These elements mean this complex wine, while ready to drink, could age in bottle through at least 2016.
This is an Agiorgitiko that starts with aromas of clove, vanilla, cinnamon and mint. On the palate, appealing, deep flavors of tobacco, savory spice, smoked meat and cherry are balanced by an elegant acidity. This is a wine that can age but today, it's drinking well. Pair with lamb, pork.
This is an almost gulpable Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Soft, cocoa-powder-like tannins frame cherry fruit, while hints of garrigue and earth add interest to the moderately long finish. Drink now–2020.
This is an almost picture-perfect example of an excellent Washington Merlot, loaded with rich fruit flavors of plum and black cherry. The mouthfeel is satiny, the tannins round and ripe, with a smooth and supple finish.
This is an almost smoky, more sophisticated Prosecco with a nutty, almond feel, bigger structure and noticeable succulence. Aromas include Golden Delicious apple and roses. It's a stately rendition that would pair well with a pasta or white meat dish.
This is an amazing price for such quality, the wine resplendent in accessible red cherry and blackberry fruit and leathery tannins. Elegant and fairly restrained, it's soft, structured and young, with room to develop further. Juicy and creamy, it delivers minty spice on the finish.
This is an amazing wine at this price point, fun and easily enjoyable in its mix of soft, velvety red fruit and firm grip of tannin, backed by plenty of acidity. Stock up for larger gatherings and for midweek meals.
This is an amazing wine from all points of view. It excels in power, intensity, concentration, purity and elegance. The many aromas it offers include black cherry, plum, polished mineral, tobacco, earth and exotic spice. It livens the mouth thanks to its rich berry flavors and leaves a soft, plush impression that lasts a long time.
This is an amazingly complex wine and a fine expression of the cool vintage. Perhaps the most notable feature is acidity; it's strong, almost tingly, and will certainly help the wine age. The flavors are explosive yet refined, with notes of cherries, cola, pomegranates and plums. Good as it is to drink now, you'll want to cellar it until 2018, and it will provide beauty for many additional years.
This is an amazingly fresh and fruity tank-fermented wine, imparting a subtle hint of grass before unleashing sublime layers of melon and apricot alongside measured, zesty acidity. New winemaker Chris Kajani is taking things in a refreshing, aim-for-the-top direction with this bottling.
This is an amazingly rich Cabernet, packed with classic Napa blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate flavors. It's opulent even by California standards, and is a little sweet. With firm, pronounced tannins, it's gritty in texture. Defines Napa ripeness, but at this point it's rude and jammy. Give it a good six years. Could be one for the long haul.
This is an amazingly tasty and focused wine that has the most distinctive black pepper character. It's medium-bodied, dark and smoky looking and quite flavorful, backing up the pepper with lively raspberry notes and staying lively from the first sip to the last.
This is an ambitious new bottling from the Delicato folks, and it largely succeeds in its ambitions. It's a smooth, lush Cabernet, soft and velvety, with flavors of black currants, cedar and dark chocolate. Shows real class and distinction in its price point.
This is an ambitious, Super Tuscan-esque blend of 60% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% and Petit Verdot. It shows woody cedar, violet flowers and dense purple fruit on the nose. Tongue-tingling acidity enlivens the palate, which offers good tension between blackberry juice and tarry grip.
This is an ambitiously lean style for a widely available brand, showing reserved tension. Aromas of yogurt and freshly-cut apple and nectarine give way to a steely palate of lime pith, flavors much more common on pricier bottlings.
This is an amply endowed, round wine, with no hard edges. The ripe cherry fruit is dusted with hints of dusty earth and ground cinnamon that linger on the finish. It's a lush, harmonious mouthful of Pinot pleasure. Drink now–2020.
This is an ancient 13th-century fortified castle with an impressive keep. The wine is more in a modern style, full of crisp fruits and with attractive balanced tannins. There is a smoky edge from the wood aging and intense black-currant acidity. Drink from 2020.
This is an appealing Cabernet with spicy cola and plum notes and a consistent flavor through the midpalate. It finishes with a hint of toasty oak.
This is an appealing Chardonnay. It's a little sweet in apricot jam, peach, green apple, honey and buttered toast flavors, but the sweetness is balanced with crisp, citrusy acidity and a nice cut of minerality.
This is an appealing, dry, and well-balanced wine, with everything in good proportions. It has lots of fresh cherry aromas, good and deep fruit flavors and a light but tasty layer of toasted, smoky oak.
This is an apple-fresh sparkling wine with a lively mousse. It crisp, refreshing and clean, with attractive fruitiness.
This is an approachable blend of Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Mourvédre, Petite Sirah and Tempranillo, melding ripe dark cherry, vanilla and cedar on the nose and palate. A plush and soft texture makes this wine perfect for everyday consumption, especially when barbecue is involved.
This is an approachable, affordable wine that impresses on every level. It combines raspberry, vanilla and plum flavors with juicy, moderate acidity and rounded texture, the fruit accented with clove, cedar and bay leaf notes.
This is an approachable, lightweight Sauvignon Blanc with upfront tropical fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is clean and mild, while flavors of white grapefruit and lime finish sweet and easy, alongside notes of dried pineapple and mango.
This is an approachable, soft and relatively light-bodied version of the variety, tamed for present-day consumption and enjoyment. Chocolate-covered blueberries and maple syrup provide decadence, brightened by the presence of kirsch.
This is an approachable, varietal wine, representative of the appellation in its dusty black cherry and vanilla. Succulently juicy on the palate, it offers more satisfyingly savory accents of leather and black pepper in a full-bodied, concentrated package.
This is an appropriately dark and leathery wine, saddle-like in aroma, with firm traces of black pepper. Blueberry tart and violet provide further complexity and invitation.
This is an appropriately simple Pinot, not particularly varietal, with a good amount of red fruit and oak.
This is an architectural wine, very classical in its structure like so many of the top wines of 2010. It's powered by ripe tannins and beautiful black currant fruits. While the wine is gorgeously ripe, it also has a powerful dark and structured character. For long-term aging.
This is an aromatic blend of Colombard, Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, crisp and fruity, it is the ideal apéritif wine with its mineral texture and bright acidity. It is a lively wine, with just a hint of yellow fruit to go with the intense citrus. Drink now.
This is an aromatic brooder with aromas of scorched earth, plum, dried flowers and green herbs. It's full in feel with dense, dark-fruit flavors, tightly coiled tannins and tart acids—a pleasing example of the variety.
This is an aromatic floral Torrontés with hints of air freshener and bath oil on the nose. A palate with zesty acidity frames crisp flavors of citrus pulp and peel. A racy finish tastes of lime before showing patented varietal bitterness.
This is an aromatic offering of Pinot Grigio with generous notes of freshly cut red and green apple along with pear. Medium bodied, it drinks just a touch off dry with mouthwatering acidity and a real sense of freshness.
This is an aromatic offering with notes of pineapple, kiwi and pear. It drinks toward medium sweet—9 g/L residual sugar—with abundant tropical flavors that help it go down easy.
This is an aromatic wine containing 8% Viognier, with perfumed notes of flowers and orange peel along with wet gravel, plum and smoked meat. The blue fruit flavors are intense and pure, backed by a squeeze of chalky tannins. Best after 2016.
This is an aromatic wine with generous fruit and soft tannins. Its wood aging has given the wine extra richness as well as spice. The wine is ready to drink.
This is an aromatic wine with mint and eucalyptus aromas that linger on the palate. It's firm, strongly wood aged, and has striking acidity. It needs time to integrate and age, so drink from 2016.
This is an aromatic wine with notes of rose water, pear and white flowers. It drinks medium sweet with abundant spice flavors throughout. Pair with spicy Thai dishes.
This is an aromatic wine, one of a series of four wines featuring the major red grapes of the Dão. It is ripe, fruity with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Red berry fruit and a balanced structure give a fragrant wine that is ready to drink.
This is an aromatic wine, with generous notes of potpourri, clove, dried herb and purple fruit. The palate is lush and fruit forward, supported by tart, vibrant acidity. It's lovely on its own but should really sing at the dinner table.
This is an aromatic wine, with notes of blackberry, braised meat, Kalamata olive, iron and French-oak spices. The palate holds nothing back, with bold, rich fruit flavors that coat the palate, showing warmth on the finish. Although the oak seems prominent it still provides enjoyment.
This is an aromatic wine, with notes of peach, pear, soda water and apricot. It drinks off dry, with abundant stone-fruit flavors throughout.
This is an aromatic wine, with scents of green melon candy, lime zest, white flowers and white peach. It drinks off dry, with stone-fruit flavors brightened by zippy acidity leading to a mouthwatering finish.
This is an aromatic wine, with smooth tannins that make this ready to drink. With age it will gain complex spicy flavors, with richness and juicy acidity on the finish.
This is an aromatic wine, with vibrant yet still subtle notes of flowers, peach, citrus, lemon curd and wet stone. The fruit and savory flavors dance lightly on the palate, showing a lovely sense of finesse and grace. The balance is impeccable.
This is an aromatic, balanced and smooth wine. With its poise between acidity, fragrant white fruits and touch of toast, it has concentration and richness. On the dry side of brut, it's crisp and delicate on the one hand and intense on the other. Drink now.
This is an aromatic, flowery wine, fresh on the palate and delicious with strawberry and apricot flavors. Some spice goes with the fruitiness and fresh, tight aftertaste.
This is an aromatic, honeysuckle-tinged cool-climate white, with layers of honey and spice. Light in body and texture, this complex, Alsace-style effort is the perfect accompaniment to Thai, Indian, Korean barbecue or spicy Chinese food.
This is an aromatic, lightly sweet wine. It has ripe strawberry fruits that have just enough acidity to keep the wine crisp. Drink now.
This is an aromatic, smoky, herbal and ultimately captivating Syrah. Dense, smoky, tarry and herbal, it is a serious effort from a winery that specializes in the grape. The fruit is a juicy mix of wild berries, cassis and black cherry, with substantial tannins that add herbal, green tea flavors. Give it time to smooth out in the glass and notice how the finish runs on and on into a lovely dénouement of Provençal herb, black olive and spice.
This is an aromatic, sweet smelling Riesling with notes of ripe peach and honeysuckle. Though labeled as dry, at 1.86% residual sugar it drinks almost medium-sweet. Misdirection aside, it provides good value.
This is an aromatically appealing estate Syrah with the Viognier (4% co-ferment) at the fore with notes of flowers and orange peel backed by Syrah's smoked meat, pepper, and earthy funk. The palate is light in body and flavor, not quite matching all of the intensity the aromas have to offer.
This is an aromatically appealing wine with notes of cocoa, coffee, cherry and woodspice. It's full bodied with a lot of richness to the tart cherry flavors that need some time to settle in.
This is an aromatically brooding wine with notes of herbs, pepper and brown spices. It drinks quite sweet with a lightly chalky feel.
This is an aromatically pleasing, fruit-forward wine, with notes of raspberry, spice and plum. The palate is supple in feel, with the fruit and oak flavors shining through.
This is an aromatically reticent wine with notes of cherry, herbs, and bell pepper. The palate has sweet fruit flavors, soft, chalky tannins and a smoke-filled finish.
This is an aromatically subdued wine with notes of peach, pineapple and spice. It's medium bodied, elegant in style with a lightly creamy feel, seeming a bit dilute.
This is an assertive Pinotage with a lusty edge of smoke and leather. The nose exhibits spicy red fruit and pepper and the flavors have a masculine, rustic character of spice and tobacco. Unique, intriguing, and a winner with equally robust dishes.
This is an assertive wine with an herbal personality. Aromas resemble citrus and fresh herbs, the flavors are citrusy and savory, and the mouthfeel is rather generous.
This is an assertive, flavorful and robust wine, with a medium to full body, a mouthfilling texture and fine-beaded bubbles. A creamy viscosity and wonderful layers of butter, apple, vanilla and ginger make for a delicious palate.
This is an astonishing wine for its age. It shines with fruit and with rich toffee flavors that are balanced by acidity. It's a warm, ripe wine, intense and concentrated. The dryness of such a long wood aging (the wine was only bottled in 2015) is really only a background to the richness.
This is an astonishingly good Pinot Noir that immediately shows the Sonoma Coast virtues of dryness, acidity, firm minerality, complexity and age worthiness. Flavors abound, with dominating notes of sour cherry, persimmon, cinnamon spice and sweet oak. It's rich and refined, pure, and a great expression of the cool 2010 vintage. Drink now–2020.
This is an astounding wine for the price, a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. Sinewy, it's taut in currant, clove and tobacco alongside generous structured tannin. The blackberry takes on a rich depth of chocolate mocha on the lengthy memorable finish.
This is an attention-grabbing example of how compelling cool climate Grenache can be. Rosewater, fennel, black plum and loamy soil aromas grow more rosy as the wine opens. The palate is superdry, with chalky tannins and zesty acidity, revealing more floral flavors. An extremely elegant wine.
This is an attractive 50-50 blend of Cab and Syrah with thick, lush notes of sweet vanilla, black pepper and ripe cherry. It takes a modern, New World approach and stands on its own in terms of complexity and persistence; it's clean and fresh in the mouth with polished tannins.
This is an attractive and fragrant wine, bursting with fresh pear and apple flavors. It's laced with the hallmark Grüner touch of pepper and finished with refreshing acidity. For drinking this year. Screwcap.
This is an attractive and fruity, creamy wine. Flavors of ripe apples and pear juice are boosted by the nutty suggestion of bottle age and by a tight, crisp acidity at the end.
This is an attractive blend of Braucol and Syrah which gives a ripe spicy wine. Red-berry flavors dominate with a rich texture and light acidity. The wine is perfumed and ready to drink.
This is an attractive blend of grapes from different regions of Portugal. It is light, with crisp acidity and refreshing lemon fruit. The wine is soft and ready to drink.
This is an attractive blend that includes a good proportion of ripe Sémillon and perfumed Muscadelle. They soften and deliciously fill out the herbal edge of the wine. That gives it a rich feel, full and fruity with a fragrant aftertaste. Drink now.
This is an attractive but focused wine with loads of juicy red plum guts, mashed raspberry and blackberry preserve flavors framing licorice and sweet spice backnotes. Robust and spicy with a strong cocoa flavored finish.
This is an attractive fruity wine with citrus fruits and a tangy, zesty texture. The lightest hint of wood gives the wine extra richness. It is already drinkable.
This is an attractive fruity wine with flavors of apples wrapped in lemon zest that yield a delicious, refreshing acidity as well as a zingy texture. It has a creamy mousse that balanes the crispness with touch of richness from the fine, full aftertaste.
This is an attractive fruity wine, with a good touch of steely acidity as well as ripe yellow and white fruits. Sliced apples and fresh grapefruit give freshness. Crisp and clean, it is refreshingly ready to drink.
This is an attractive fruity wine. With its soft texture, perfumed white fruits and balanced acidity, it is the sort of wine that is ready for a warm day. Drink now.
This is an attractive herbaceous wine that's light and tangy. Its gooseberry character dominates, lending acidity and a lively, crisp finish. The wine's blue bottle is memorable.
This is an attractive light and fruity wine. It has fresh fruit flavors, with notes of crisp citrus and green apple. A touch of vanilla and a smooth texture surface as it opens up.
This is an attractive mint- and pear-flavored wine with citrus acidity. There is a delicious refreshing orange character to this soft, light and very fresh wine.
This is an attractive pale-pink wine, faintly coppery in hue. It's also a bit confected, with candied strawberry and watermelon flavors reminiscent of bubble gum, but backed by white chocolate and briny notes. It's plump on the palate, then falls off rapidly on the finish.
This is an attractive pink-colored wine that is beautifully fresh while also having some rich strawberry fruit cut with acidity. There is a touch of pepper that gives a dry and lightly tannic core. Drink from the end of 2015.
This is an attractive pink-colored wine, with soft crushed strawberry fruit flavors. The acidity is light, giving preference to the fruit and ripe flavor. The aftertaste veers on the sweet side, but it's well balanced.
This is an attractive red-fruit flavored wine with fine acidity as well as juicy berries and cherry. Its soft tannins are just right to sustain the delicious fruitiness. Dink this wine from 2017.
This is an attractive value-driven wine, with fleshy aromas of stone fruit and melon backed by aromatic notes of honey and wild flower. The wine delivers a smooth, rich mouthfeel.
This is an attractive wine on many fronts: the mature fruit aromas, the generous spice and the well-integrated oak tones all create harmony. But the wine also has a hint of rubber or Band Aid in the background that may well intensify with time. Drink it now.
This is an attractive wine that is crisp while also having a soft background texture. It is fruity, perfumed and balanced. Drink now.
This is an attractive wine that is given a perfumed lift by the inclusion of Malvasia Fina in the blend. It is fresh and young, emphasizing the crisp character and chalky texture typical of the Douro whites. The wine is cool, fruity and will be better enjoyed from summer of 2016.
This is an attractive wine that maintains the steely texture of Riesling while also bringing out fragrant white flowers and refreshing fruitiness. It has a light touch of acidity, making it exceptionally adept with food.
This is an attractive wine with fresh tones of stone fruit, almond and a slight touch of vanilla. The Friulano grape exhibits very good structure and texture, which makes it a natural pairing partner to a wide range of foods.
This is an attractive wine with its ripe red fruits contrasted with the tangy orange zest and acidity. It's definitely a food rosé, very dry and with bright acidity shining through at the end.
This is an attractive wine, dominated by the typical Baga grape from Bairrada. Its tannins are tamed and rounded out producing rich black fruits and fine balanced acidity. The wine is ready to drink, although it will be even better from 2017.
This is an attractive wine, with fruit and firm, supporting tannins. It has a mint flavor and a smooth texture, balanced with damson fruit. This is ripe and ready to drink over the next year.
This is an attractive, aromatic blend of Arinto and Antão Vaz. It has a softly citrus character with riper, fuller peach and pineapple fruit. It's full, fruity and ready to drink.
This is an attractive, aromatic wine, full of fruitiness and soft tannins. There is a strongly juicy element with black currant fruits adding freshness. There is a touch of spice from wood aging. Drink this enjoyable wine now.
This is an attractive, crisp and fruity wine. It has layers of wood that are already integrating well with the black-currant fruitiness. Tannins and a firm core are signs that the wine will age well. Drink this attractive wine from 2018.
This is an attractive, crisp and fruity wine. Plenty of acidity gives a zingy feel to the palate, while allowing ripe apple and pear flavors to come through on the tight and textured finish.
This is an attractive, fast-maturing wine with soft tannins, ripe fruits and a juicy, perfumed acidity. It has considerable weight and concentration, along with firm red-plum and berry flavors. It's an elegant wine that should be drunk from 2017.
This is an attractive, floral and fragrant wine. Good acidity is well integrated into the fresh citrus and apple flavors. With poise and balance, the wine is fresh, ready as an apéritif.
This is an attractive, fruit-driven Syrah at an approachable price. Violets and pepper mark the blueberry-scented nose, while the flavors bit up darker notes of blackberry and licorice on the finish. Drink this medium-bodied wine over the next few years.
This is an attractive, fruity wine that's dominated by black currant and damson flavors. It is layered with acidity and light tannins. Drink this year.
This is an attractive, fruity wine that has soft tannins and ripe fruit. Berry flavors and a full-bodied fruitiness are right up front, while the aftertaste has crisp acidity. Drink Now.
This is an attractive, fruity wine, expressing the spice and ripe fruit character of Pinot Gris. It is rich and full bodied, its white fruit mingles with notes of mango and ginger.
This is an attractive, fruity wine, produced in Meursault. It is fresh with lemon and tangy orange-zest flavors. A light tannic texture adds an edge to the fresh fruit.
This is an attractive, fruity wine, with a touch of well-integrated vanilla. The aftertaste is soft, with a hint of pepper.
This is an attractive, fruity wine, with citrus and creamed apple flavors. It is light and fragrant, with apricots and white fruits that pair with the crisp finish.
This is an attractive, fruity wine. It has a soft character from the ripe red-fruit flavors that are well balanced with herbal acidity and a crisp aftertaste. The wine is ready to drink.
This is an attractive, fruity, concentrated wine. It has a salty, mineral character that adds a tang to the ripe apple and lime fruits. With its lift of acidity, it is crisp and refreshing at the end.
This is an attractive, fruity, creamy wine that's full of rich yellow and white fruits. It's ripe and rich in feel, but the smoothness is layered with textured acidity and touches of vanilla that add complexity.
This is an attractive, fruity, fresh rosé. It is dry but balances acidity and fruitiness with its sweet strawberry fruit and light touch of vanilla pod. Drink now.
This is an attractive, herbal wine. It has light spice and touches of cilantro as well as crisp red fruits. The wine is bright and ready to drink.
This is an attractive, juicy fruity wine With its red-cherry flavors, it is smooth and perfumed. There is just the right amount of acidity to keep the freshness right up front. Drink now.
This is an attractive, juicy wine. It has blackberry fruit flavors along with already balanced tannins. Coming from vines in the Douro Superior, it is rich while also fresh and fruity. The wine could age further, although its pure flavors and integration say that it can be drunk now.
This is an attractive, lemon and lime-flavored wine. Riper yellow fruits also show through the crisp acidity and the lightly mineral texture. The wine is ready to drink.
This is an attractive, perfumed wine that has fresh acidity and a crisply herbal flavor. It's bright with tangy citrus and refreshing, delicate apple and grapefruit flavors. The aftertaste is all fruit.
This is an attractive, perfumed wine that has good wood aging, firm tannins and a solid structure. Dark berry fruits show through the texture, lending a ripe and juicy aftertaste. Drink from 2015.
This is an attractive, perfumed wine that is a blend of Síria, Arinto and Viognier. It's the Viognier that gives the perfumed character that makes it so distinctive. It's fruity, lightly textured and ready to drink.
This is an attractive, plump white blend for early consumption. Pineapple and toasted almond notes mark the nose, while the fruit flavors on the palate are subtly reminiscent of pineapple and melon.
This is an attractive, ready-to-drink wine, a blend of Arinto and Fernão Pires. Bright and fruity with plenty of citrus freshness, it is lightly crisp and fresh at the end.
This is an attractive, relatively light Sauternes. It has a fine botrytis character that's already well integrated with the orange peel and honey flavors. Not for aging; ready to drink.
This is an attractive, ripe and fruity wine made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. With soft tannins, it is juicy and crisp. There is a tight edge that will soften to produce a generous wine. Yorick and Sophie Lavaud's 13 acres are Agrocert-certified organic. Drink from 2019.
This is an attractive, ripe red-fruited wine that is showing its best already. Soft tannins, juicy red berries and a light shot of acidity all come together easily and freshly. Drink now. Screwcap.
This is an attractive, ripe style of Pinot Gris. Off dry, it is aromatic, lightly spicy over crisper pear and yellow fruit flavors. It's ready to drink.
This is an attractive, ripe wine from the André Lurton group. It is smoothly rich, with balanced perfumed fruits and acidity. Full bodied and creamy, it is ready to drink.
This is an attractive, round wine. The ripe red-fruit character is balanced by a tangy, zesty lemon texture that gives freshness plus a touch of tannic structure. Very dry and spicy in the mouth, it will be good with food.
This is an attractive, simple and, yes, an easy wine to drink. It has a pretty orange-pink color, crisp citrus fruit and the freshest final acidity.
This is an attractive, soft and fruity wine. Described as Extra Bruto—extra dry—it does in fact have a soft and gentle aftertaste that comes from creamed apple and ripe pear flavors. It is ready to drink.
This is an attractive, soft and fruity wine. With gentle tannins and a touch of spice to balance the red fruits, it is developing into a juicy wine. Lightly smoky at the end, it will be ready to drink from 2017.
This is an attractive, soft and ripe wine. It has just enough acidity to give this blend that has 40% Chardonnay a crisp aftertaste. The wine with its melon and pear flavors is ready to drink.
This is an attractive, soft blend of Arinto, Viosinho and Antão Vaz. With white fruit flavors and a warm, ripe texture, it's crisp, fruity and ready to drink.
This is an attractive, soft Pinot Noir rosé. With its ripe red-strawberry flavors, it is rich but has plenty of crisp acidity. The balance and juicy, crisp aftertaste are deliciously refreshing.
This is an attractive, soft wine, with fruit right up front. It has light acidity, with pink grapefruit and lime flavors that are bright and lively. Drink now.
This is an attractive, soft, fresh wine, with concentration and structure, as well as a light, rounded aftertaste.
This is an attractive, warm, rounded wine. Yellow fruit flavors are cut with white fruit and acidity. It has a smooth, creamy texture that gives it extra richness. Drink now.
This is an attractively balanced blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. It is still at its youthful, green-herb stage although signs indicate that the wine will round out and fill. The aftertaste hints at crisp apples and Rocha pears.
This is an attractively crisp, citrus-flavored wine. With lime and ripe apple fruits, the tangy texture bursts with freshness. The wine is ready to drink.
This is an attractively fruity wine that has just the right tannic structure, solid berry fruits and good acidity. It's a wine that is developing well and is ready to drink now.
This is an attractively fruity wine with its ripe apple and crisp pear flavors. Lined with acidity and refreshing, it is a clean, lightly herbaceous wine. Drink now.
This is an attractively fruity wine, crisp, full of red currant flavors and with a tight, tannic edge. Still young, it is dominated by acidity that needs to calm down. Give the wine until mid- or late 2015.
This is an attractively fruity, soft wine. Balanced between acidity and a lightly crisp texture, it has a touch of yeast although it's the fresh citrus fruit that dominates.
This is an attractively herbal rendering of Côtes du Rhône Villages, offering hints of flowering thyme, sage and rosemary that are rounded out by flavors of just-ripe cherries. It's a medium-bodied wine, with a long on the finish.
This is an attractively perfumed dry Muscat. Very floral, deliciously decadent in its richness, it has a crisp bite of spice and pepper. Drink the wine from 2017.
This is an attractively perfumed wine that's refreshing with lemon and apricot flavors. It has a zesty character with the crisp texture of apple skins. It's ready to drink now, but could also improve with age for three years. Screwcap.
This is an attractively perfumed wine with Malvasia Fina and Verdelho in the blend. It is tangy, crisp and with a lightly mineral texture. Drink this wine now.
This is an attractively perfumed wine, full of citrus and white fruit flavors. Lemons and fresh grapefruit play with sliced apples and crisp Rocha pears to create a bright, lively wine that is ready to drink.
This is an attractively perfumed wine, which is polished by the wood influence, offering flavors of mint and eucalyptus. It is rich and spicy, with the weight of black fruits. This is already drinkable, so consume it now, or keep it for 3–4 years.
This is an attractively perfumed wine. It has fine acidity, ripe wood flavors and spice. The weight of the fruit is enough to balance with the wood. It will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is an attractively ripe blend of Niellucciu, Syrah and Grenache. Softly textured with a warm backdrop of blackberry fruit, the wine is spicy and has a distinctly southern-France feel. Its softness means it is ready to drink now.
This is an attractively ripe wine that shows the richness of the vintage well. It has yellow fruits along with touches of sultana and sliced apple. The wine is fruity, soft and ready to drink.
This is an attractively structured wine, with ripe strawberry and smoky wood flavors. The fruit continues through to the soft finish, which is laced with acidity and a firm tannic core.
This is an austere and masculine wine with tight tannins and bold aromatic intensity. There's a touch of ripe fruit, even a jam note, that gives the wine a soft, succulent mouthfeel. The concentration and the quality of tannins is impressive, so give this ample time to age.
This is an austere and tightly assembled wine that doles out fine points of cherry, spice and forest floor that give the wine a bright and polished personality. The mouthfeel is lean and compact, but this is by no means a simple wine. In fact, its nuanced complexity really shows on the finish.
This is an austere Chardonnay whose minerality and acidity star. That's not to say it's not fruity. It has pineapple and green apple flavors, with oak and lees adding richer complexities. Still, it's a firm, Chablis-style wine, and a very good one that defines the elegant sleekness of the Sonoma Coast.
This is an austere wine for the ripe vintage. Tight with concentration, it will need time to fill out. Lemon fruit and a strong mineral texture come with fine acidity. The aftertaste promises a crisp, fruity future. Drink from 2019.
This is an austere wine that's tough on the palate and with high acidity. The black currant fruitiness is still developing, so the wine shouldn't be drunk before 2016.
This is an austere wine that blossoms slowly. Using grapes sourced from a vineyard at an elevation of 2,000 feet, this has a wild herb character along with dark black fruits and tannins that need several years to age. Give this very ageworthy effort at least four years.
This is an austere wine, packed with tannins and tight acidity. The red fruits are right at the back behind the firm structure. A mineral character supports the dusty texture and suggests long-term aging. Drink from 2018.
This is an austere, brooding wine with tones of smoke, cured ham, toasted oak and mature black fruit. The delivery is broad and immediate and the wine ends with a drying, almost gritty texture.
This is an austere, elegant study in power and grace, blending 53% Merlot with 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Substantial and tannin-defined as many of its brethren of this vintage, it shows cedar, pencil shavings and a touch of tobacco, more savory than fruit-driven. Drink now through 2023.
This is an austere, leathery Cabernet with smooth tannins that will take time to move beyond its more earthy, herbal components and share its blackberry fruit. Pair with a steak in the meantime, preferably in a blackberry reduction sauce, which might coax out more of the wine's flavor.
This is an austere, very structured, leathery Zin, with notes of briary black pepper and dark, ripe fruit from start to finish.
This is an authoritative Red Mountain Cabernet, from a rising star with an excellent young vineyard. Great structure and a spine of steel support a tightly-wound core of pure cassis. The tannins are hard but fully ripe, with black olive, coffee grounds and bourbon barrel highlights.
This is an awesome Cabernet, that's so packed with blackberries and cassis, it blows your mind. The richness is superbly balanced by fine acidity and sweet, complex tannins that rein everything into a focused structure. Feels velvety, refined and ageable. Hold until 2018 and drink it for an additional decade or beyond.
This is an awesome Cabernet. It's 100% varietal, with lots of French oak. It shows blackberry jam, black currant, chocolate and sweet oak flavors that are absolutely delicious. The wine is said to come from the esteemed Morisoli Vineyard, in Rutherford.
This is an awesome wine that's rich and dramatically layered, with smooth Oakville tannins and a fine jacket of acidity. It's upfront and concentrated, calling attention to its layers of blackberry, cassis, mocha, anise and sweet oak. Beautiful now, but it will continue to develop additional complexities over the next 10 years. Spoto has dramatically upped its game with this release.
This is an early drinking style of wine. It is warm and ripe with attractive soft tannins and plenty of red fruits and balancing acidity. The wine will just need to calm its bubbly fruitiness and will be ready to drink during late 2017.
This is an earthy and somewhat savory wine, buoyed by level acidity. It offers stewed lemon and fennel around a feral nose.
This is an earthy blend of Touriga Nacional, Jaen and Trincadeira. Unencumbered by wood aromas, it's full of structured red berry fruit and balanced acidity and is ready to drink.
This is an earthy effort that shows the tough soil of Cahors in its minerally, tight character. Dark in color, this is laced with intense acids and firm tannins.
This is an earthy herbal wine that's also soft and supple on the palate. Dill, cedar and sage play against a tart core of cranberry and cassis, finding their way to a lingering layer of spicy clove. The power and weight of the fruit wears well against the ultimate grace of the wine.
This is an earthy Mencía with cheesy aromas, tobacco hints and a pinch of compost that suggests ripeness and maturity. The palate is deep and intense, with a modest but pointed beam of acidity. Fern, juniper, mint leaf, licorice and blackberry flavors finish warm. Drink through 2016.
This is an earthy Pinot Noir with prominent mushroom notes. It's crisp and dry, with some unripe flavors that compromise the otherwise ripe, red fruit. Drink now.
This is an earthy Pinot, showing layers of leaf, stem and clay. A tart cranberry flavor balances out the core, with drying tannins through the finish.
This is an earthy spice-driven wine, full bodied and richly layered in texture and flavor. Dark cherry cola is met by cinnamon and cardamon, with underlying hints of orange zest and dried herb.
This is an earthy wine that packs ripe fruit with structure and acidity. There is a juicy character from the red berry flavor that is given shape by the underlying tannins.
This is an earthy wine that shows a rustic character. Still youthful, its fruit is obscured behind a dry, tannic, burnt-toast character. There is a future for this wine, as it should integrate with age, so don't try to drink until 2016.
This is an earthy wine with a persistent thread of acidity that keeps it fresh and vibrant in the glass. Bursting with red cherry and pomegranate fruit, it has rich complements of compost and black licorice.
This is an earthy wine with barnyard flavors. It does have some blackberry fruitiness under its more rustic character. The aftertaste has acidity and a bitter edge.
This is an earthy wine, showing strong tannins, minerality and a distinctly dry texture. The wine does have weight with its layered black currant fruits giving a strong sense of structure. From the granite soils of the Dão, this is a wine to age for three more years.
This is an earthy, chalky wine, medium bodied and silky in wild strawberry, garden herb and fresh mint notes. From estate-grown Pinot, it is a balanced, accessible selection to drink now.
This is an earthy, ethereal, lighter-bodied wine. It's satisfyingly varietal and shines in blue fruit, sarsaparilla, strawberry hulls and touches of a forest floor's trove of mushrooms. Well-hewn acidity gives it a freshness and structure with a background of firm tannin.
This is an earthy, minty, tart and taut wine, worthy of its appellation. It offers light-bodied notions of black tea, cranberry and rhubarb.
This is an earthy, rustic wine tasting of black cherry, cola and a mention of sage, medium bodied on the palate and softly textured. It will please a range of palates, showing varietal character with vigor.
This is an earthy, rustic wine that has high acidity and stalky fruit. It will round out as it develops although that rustic character is likely to remain.
This is an earthy, rustic wine with tannins that set its black fruit firmly in place. Juicy acidity and black currant flavor give it a lift on the finish. Drink from 2018.
This is an earthy, savory style of Shiraz, with modest berry and plum fruit wrapped into a blanket of firm but silky tannins. Ample length and structure separates this from the rest of the pack.
This is an earthy, somewhat flat wine with herbal berry aromas that fall away in quiet form. A full, grabby palate brings berry, raisin and tobacco flavors, all supported by a modest beam of acidity. A finish of earth, tobacco and mulchy flavors announce that 2009 was indeed a hot vintage in Chile.
This is an earthy, stemmy wine, hugely concentrated and ripe in strawberry and rhubarb. Subtle in texture and bite, it shows a streak of cardamom on the finish.
This is an easy-drinking blend of many red varieties from a Livermore-based producer who loves both Rhône and Portuguese reds. This is soft and lightly spiced, with cola and cherry notes on the finish. A very good wine for a barbecue or a tailgate.
This is an easy-drinking Cab for enjoying now. It's soft and fruit-forward, bursting with ripe, oak-tinged cherry and raspberry jam flavors.
This is an easy-drinking Faugères with lively accents of thyme and crushed purple florals to the ripe red fruit core. The mouth is vibrant and mouthwatering with strong acidity and a clean but somewhat tart finish. Drink now.
This is an easy-drinking Petite Sirah from an always solid producer of the variety. The wine is a little less in your face than many of its competitors with noticeable acidity and flavors of dark plum, mocha and spicy blackberry, though its finish could have been a little bit longer.
This is an easy-drinking Pinot Gris, with light melon and pear fruit. It's well-balanced and lively, with modest concentration.
This is an easy-drinking Port-style wine for drinking now. It's light in color and body and quite sweet, with sugared blackberry, chocolate and orange flavors. Really lovely in its own way with chocolate desserts.
This is an easy-drinking quaffer, the kind most people think of when they hear Riesling. It's off dry but well balanced, with slightly broad melon and peach notes. A nice patio sipper for summer 2011.
This is an easy-drinking Sicilian white to pair with salmon, grilled tuna or Thai spring rolls. It's crisp and clean, with notes of citrus, peach and candied fruit.
This is an easy-drinking style, attractive in aromas of peach, pineapple, pressed yellow flowers, and butter that flow right into a light- to medium-weighted palate. A slightly chalky texture with more tropical fruit flavors carry to a spicy, vegetal finish. Drink now.
This is an easy-drinking wine that opens with tight aromas of wild berry, dried rosemary and green herb. The finish has both sweet and sour elements.
This is an easy-drinking wine, with ripe, forward citrus, peach and tropical fruit flavors. There's just enough acidity to balance the sweetness. The blend is Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier.
This is an easy-drinking, attractively fruity and seemingly sweet wine with medium body and a soft texture.
This is an easy-drinking, crowd-pleaser of a wine. Light to medium bodied, it has fresh strawberry and cherry flavors and a soft, smooth texture.
This is an easy-drinking, harmonious blend of 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc and 20% Clairette. Pineapplle, anise and marshmallow aromas lead into well-rounded flavors of pineapple and melon. Drink now.
This is an easy-drinking, roundly accessible vineyard designate, with a depth and breadth of black fruit, cedar, currant and cocoa powder. A juicy midpalate gives way to an integrated finish, unburdened by tannin and oak, despite the mountain provenance and full-bodied power of the wine.
This is an easy-drinking, smooth and generous wine. With its light tannins and red berry fruit, it is ready to drink young. The aftertaste adds some acidity to give a lift.
This is an easy-going and fruit-forward wine with distant mineral shadings that add dimension and personality to otherwise standard aromas of black fruit and spice. The wine has a thin, compact style and ends with a blast of bright cherry fruit.
This is an easy-going Merlot, at a very affordable price with a brilliant ruby appearance and simple aromas of berry fruit, cedar, spice and leather. The wine has a short, no-fuss finish and ends with crisp freshness.
This is an easy-going Prosecco with lively tones of stone fruit and citrus. The wine is informal and tonic which makes it perfect as an appetizer wine or with friends on a lazy summer afternoon.
This is an easy-going, clean Chardonnay that delivers pretty aromas of creamy peach, mature apricot and honey. It is compact and balanced and would pair well with Chinese take-out or summer salads.
This is an easy-gulping, light wine with fruity aromas, nice cherry and raspberry flavors, medium body and a soft mouthfeel.
This is an easy-pleasing Chardonnay, made to appeal to the popular style. It's rich in tropical fruit and citrus flavors, accented with plenty of sweet oak. Feels creamy and smooth, with a clean bite of acidity.
This is an easy-to-drink Grenache, with the light, silky body of Pinot Noir, and deep flavors of red cherry pie, violet and crispy pancetta. Drink now.
This is an easy and clean selection, with fruity notes of cherry, strawberry and a touch of carnation. Light weight and brisk in acidity, this ends bright and mouthwatering. Drink now.
This is an easy and thin wine with low aromatic intensity and simple elements of fresh fruit and cherry. The one-diminutional mouthfeel is soft and short.
This is an easy blush wine, dryish and tart in acidity, with a light, silky texture. Made from 100% Grenache, it shows pleasant orange, pink grapefruit and honey flavors.
This is an easy drinking Cabernet tasting of red cherry and cranberry with a slight layer of herb that would suffice for a midweek meal.
This is an easy expression of Nero d'Avola, and it would pair with roasted ham or cheese ravioli in meat sauce. Bright cherry and blueberry notes come with a touch of bitter almond.
This is an easy Pinot Grigio that can be employed during informal drinking occasions. Bright citrus and melon ride an easy and somewhat short finish. Try it with Chinese take-out.
This is an easy Prosecco with some sweet fruit flavors and lasting aromas of peach and grapefruit. The wine is tonic and compact and would pair well with smoked ham or raw chunks of Parmigiano cheese.
This is an easy to drink Chardonnay made for drinking now. It's forward in buttered toast, honey, pineapple jam and butterscotch flavors.
This is an easy white wine with balanced acidity. There's a spicy note of crushed clove or exotic spice at the start that is smoothed out by softer aromas of peach cobbler and lemon mousse.
This is an easy wine to drink now. There's some real elegance, with brisk acidity and fine tannins framing sour cherry and cranberry fruit. The silky texture is pure Pinot Noir.
This is an easy wine to drink with a soft, generous personality and interesting aromas of red berry fruit backed by dusty minerals and spice. It would pair well with pasta, pork and veal thanks to its no-fuss approach and natural succulence.
This is an easy wine to like. It does have some firm tannins from oak aging that the Portuguese like, but it also has ripe fruit, plenty of black-plum skins and bright ripe acidity. Together, this combination is full bodied and will benefit from a few more months of aging. Drink from late 2018.
This is an easy, clean and direct Sauvy, with fresh notes of lime, tart gooseberry and green plum on the nose and mouth. The palate is lively and bright, finishing mouthwatering and refreshing. Drink now.
This is an easy, extremely thin Valpolicella that offers bright cherry and berry aromas and a lean, citrusy finish. Those informal qualities gear this wine to a pairing with cheesy pizza and sausage.
This is an easy, fruit-driven Chianti Classico that shows cherry, white almond and pressed violets. There's a darker side in the mouth that translates into raw notes of cola and smoked bresaola.
This is an easy, fruit-forward wine that would pair well with family dinners and simple pasta dishes. Cherry, bramble, wet earth, pressed violets and light coffee tones characterize the nose and are exactly what you should look for in a no-fuss Chianti. Vibrant berry flavors are carried forward thanks to the wine's smooth structure.
This is an easy, fruity wine made from Grenache. It has a clean, bright character, reflecting its red currant fruitiness and crispness.
This is an easy, fruity wine with sharp acidity that balances ripe flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, peaches, honeysuckle and vanilla bean. It finishes a little off-dry.
This is an easy, fruity wine. Soft and light in character, it has attractive red fruits and acidity. Drink this wine now.
This is an easy, gentle wine that's a little soft, with superripe cherry, persimmon and red licorice flavors. Delicious in the California way, it's showing its best now.
This is an easy, gentle wine to drink now. It's softly tannic and dry, with cherry, red currant and cocoa flavors. Shows enough complexity to warrant pairing with an upscale steak.
This is an easy, informal Chardonnay that offers measured intensity and aromas of peach, melon and citrus followed by a waxy, almost sweet sensation in the mouth. Drink it on a hot summer afternoon.
This is an easy, low-impact Grigio with aromas of peach, citrus and yellow flowers. It's lean, almost watery, in the mouth with bright acidity suggesting a successful pairing at informal outdoor meals.
This is an easy, no-fuss expression of Falanghina that opens with direct aromas of citrus and stone fruit and follows through to the palate with a tonic, refreshing feel. It would work with fried vegetable appetizers or light lunches.
This is an easy, open wine that is lightly herbal. There is a barnyard edge that masks the fruit, although there is bright crisp acidity to give it a lift. Drink now.
This is an easy, simple white wine with candy-like aromas of butterscotch and caramel. In the mouth, it offers fresh peach flavors and a short, crisp finish.
This is an easy, simple wine that's lush and ripe with apricots, oranges and pineapples, but crisp with acidity and clean on the finish.
This is an easy, tasty bubbly, with raspberry, orange and vanilla flavors. Blended from French Columbard, Chardonnay, Sangiovese and Gamay, it's crisp in acidity, with a sweet finish.
This is an easygoing and tonic Sauvignon with textbook aromas of exotic fruit, wild flowers and basil leaf. This expression also boasts a creamy note that recalls lemon meringue or almond milk and there's a touch of bitter sourness on the close that reinforces that almond-like quality.
This is an easygoing but exceedingly fresh expression of Dolcetto with a full array of fruit aromas that span from delicate wild berry to ripe black cherry. There's fullness, softness and firmness in the mouth.
This is an easygoing but richly flavored wine that starts with light toast and spice aromas preceding somewhat sweet jammy flavors, a soft texture and medium body. Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon formed the blend.
This is an easygoing but tasty Sauvignon Blanc. It has ripe, forward flavors of orange, mango, vanilla, honey and buttered toast, along with just enough acidity for balance.
This is an easygoing Chardonnay-based sparkling wine (made in the classic method in which secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle) with pristine aromas of mature fruit and a touch of freshly baked bread. The quality of the effervescence is steady, creamy and tonic.
This is an easygoing fruity wine. It has soft tannins and bright juicy red fruits. The structure is just right to give the wine its shape along with the acidity and generous aftertaste. Drink now.
This is an easygoing wine that's neither too oaky nor too crisp, with a decent blend of ripe pear and baking spice flavors paired with soft, smooth texture.
This is an easygoing wine with pleasing aromas of black fruit, plums, tobacco, moist earth and red beets. The wine is chewy but soft and slightly sweet in the mouth. That combination of flavors and sweetness make this—as the label suggests—a “wine for pasta.” The bottle doesn't tell you the vintage.
This is an easygoing wine with vanilla and cinnamon flavors, a soft texture and a touch of sweetness coating the fruit flavors contributed by Syrah, Merlot and other blenders.
This is an easygoing, mouthfillng and fruity wine that's plump with blackberry and cherry flavors. It has a soft texture despite high octane and very little tannin.
This is an easygoing, ripe and spicy wine. Red-berry fruits and ripe tannins combine to give a rounded wine that is ready to drink.
This is an ebullient wine, full of herb, grapefruit and wet-earth aromas as well as very tangy yet sweet-seeming citrus flavors. It has good concentration and stays fresh through the finish.
This is an eccentric Pinot Noir that's dry, strong and tart in acidity, with moderate alcohol and shows an interesting petrol, resinous note. The silky frames sour cherry candy, spice and sandalwood flavors. Drink now.
This is an eccentric white with thick density and fatty glycerine. It's a bold, big white with aromas of apricot, pear, melon and yellow rose. It drinks like a red wine.
This is an eccentric wine, showing oaky flavors along with marzipan and oranges. It's quite dry and acidic, with a steely tang. But it seems tired and a little oxidized. Drink up.
This is an eclectic collection of white Rhône varieties, beginning with equal parts Roussanne and Viognier, supported by Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc and Marsanne. A combination of honey and dried apricot are the standouts, aligned with a lilt of fresh peach and salty caramel.
This is an edgy wine with a mix of berry and cassis aromas along with harsh leather. It's mouthfilling and potent on the palate, where flavors of spiced berry and herbal-infused plum finish scratchy and with all the muscle one could ask for. Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah is the blend.
This is an effusively fruity white that's full bodied but not over the top. Citrus notes accent melon and pineapple, a reflection of the wines composition: 40% Rolle (better known as Vermentino), 40% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. Drink it up by early 2015, or look for the next vintage.
This is an effusively fruity wine blended from three coastal counties, deep in color and jammy in aroma. Ripe and generous in flavor, it features black cherry and boysenberry, moderate tannins and a medium to full body.
This is an elaborate wine that's dense, complex and immensely enjoyable. It has a fleshy, meaty quality, like a buttery veal piccata, alongside ripe white and yellow fruits. There's a firm, minerally quality, highlighted by crisp acidity, and the finish is bone dry. Gets more interesting as it warms up in the glass. One of the best examples of Roussanne out there.
This is an elaborate, oaky Chardonnay made in the popular style that has made California Chard such a success. It's rich in pineapple jam, apricot, buttered toast, vanilla and leesy flavors, and grows better as it warms in the glass.
This is an elaborately constructed wine, rich in fruit and tannins, and far better than the rather ordinary 2006. But it's nowhere near ready to drink now. Erupts with ripe, juicy blackberries, black cherries, minerals and sweet cassis. The grapes are from the Pope Valley region. Very big, bold and dramatic, but immature. Hold for a good six years.
This is an elaborately soft, richly decadent wine. It tastes like milk chocolate, with a squirt of blackberry and cherry liqueur. Delicious and slightly off-dry, if a little direct. Drink now.
This is an elegant and feminine Chianti Classico, with red cherry, and white almond, and delicate shadings of granite and ash. It's smooth and silky in the mouth; shows a very clean and attractive side of Sangiovese.
This is an elegant and light wine. It is full of clean raspberries and red currants, lightly textured and with a bright finish that has refreshing acidity.
This is an elegant and refined Barolo with focused aromas of black fruit, drying mineral and root beer. There's also a playful side that emerges thanks to the wine's ripe and plush mouthfeel. Sure, it's a structured, tannic wine but its fine texture helps make it approachable within the next five years or so.
This is an elegant and streamlined Cabernet Sauvignon, with dark chocolate, rosemary, black fruit and spice. It has a thick structure, with lovely intensity and length.
This is an elegant and stylish wine that's full of lively acidity, red berry fruitiness and soft tannins. The wine is well integrated, with just a touch of gaminess and bright acidity on the finish. It is ready to drink.
This is an elegant Champagne, with a burgeoning sense of maturity as well as fresh acidity. Flavors of ripe pear are cut with a light touch of lemon while the overall texture is soft and on the sweet side of Brut. It could age a few more years, so drink now and until 2019.
This is an elegant edition of the Henry Estate Pinot Noir. It has shed its rusticity in favor of a delicate expression of varietal character. Crushed rose petals, wild raspberries and a dash of pepper are backed with stiff tannins. Give it another year to fully come together.
This is an elegant Grillo with fresh notes of citrus, orange blossom and exotic fruit. It has a light, crisp feel and ends with piquant note of spice.
This is an elegant Nebbiolo-based wine and arguably the most feminine of Gaja's newest releases. There's extreme balance and sophistication evident in the focused aromas of wild berry, white licorice, pressed violets and polished stone. The mouthfeel is tight, firm and those tannins need at least 10 more years to soften in your cellar. Beautiful.
This is an elegant Pinot Noir, aromatic in cherry and raspberry with juicy acidity and a memorable finish, understated in alcohol and too-ripe flavors. Earthy, enjoy it with lamb or pork smothered in mushrooms and herbs.
This is an elegant Riesling, with pleasing, gin-like botanical scents and flavors. Along with the fresh herbs come citrus notes of Meyer lemon and Key lime, finished with a gentle hint of honey.
This is an elegant Sangiovese from central Italy that follows simple lines with bright tones of cherry, dried blueberry and a touch of dried ginger that gives the bouquet an aromatic life. In the mouth, the wine is fresh and compact with polished texture.
This is an elegant Syrah, blended with 18% Mourvèdre and topped with a splash of Grenache. Good phenolic ripeness along with substantial sugars lead into flavors that have melded nicely. Berry, truffle, chocolate, leather, pepper and coffee are all in the mix, and the mid-palate is delicious. Only a fairly quick fade keeps the score from climbing even higher.
This is an elegant wine that's finely balanced with acidity and a chalky, steely texture. The wine is delicate, fresh and very perfumed. The acidity on the finish lends a highly-strung, tense aftertaste.
This is an elegant wine that has a smooth, perfumed character, with a racy, peppery edge. It has a crisp element, white fruit and pineapple. This should age for several years. Screwcap.
This is an elegant wine that shows that Argentinean reds can improve with time. Tobacco, clay dust and dry spice comprise the bouquet. It's tight and well structured in the mouth, with chocolate, herb and baked berry flavors. A chocolaty aftertaste completes the picture. Drink this blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc now through 2015.
This is an elegant wine with measured but well-dosed aromas of cherry fruit, leather, tobacco and spice. It has all its elements in place in terms of aromas but where it really excels is in the mouth: It delivers bursting flavors of crisp fruit and plush cherry berry with polished tannins and great length.
This is an elegant wine, blended with 13% Merlot and just a splash of Carmenère adding some peppery spice. Surprising citrus highlights suggest tangerine juice and rind, and the tart pomegranate and wild cherry fruit slides gracefully into sleek tannins.
This is an elegant wine, with balanced fruit and tannins that make for a soft texture. It is rich and laced with fresh, raspberry-like acidity. It can age for another year, but it is also ready to drink.
This is an elegant, cinnamon-spicy Cabernet from Corey Beck, the head winemaker for Francis Ford Coppola. Balanced and soft, it has a texturally pleasing mouthfeel of velvety herb and cassis and a fully realized, lingering finish.
This is an elegant, even delicate vintage for this cuvée, with immediate impressions of wet stone, and fresh flavors of green melon, apple, celery and cucumber. The flavors are perfectly ripe and show good concentration, with lightly herbal highlights. Give this plenty of aeration as decanting would be helpful.
This is an elegant, focused wine that shows balanced aromas of fruit and spice, with touches of espresso and tobacco in the background. Its personality is austere and masculine, with natural heft and richness.
This is an elegant, heady Chardonnay beaming in floral jasmine aromas, honey and oak. Bright on the palate, it offers lively acidity and an abundance of pineapple and mango, tropical in all the right ways.
This is an elegant, intricate wine that's fresh and lively while layered with attractive green apple, white pepper and thyme flavors. Light bodied, it makes a great apéritif or pairing with fish and fowl.
This is an elegant, lean wine, with earthy and smoky notes that just barely veer into melon. It’s dry and well structured, and has a nice balance of acids, sugar and alcohol. The finish is rich and toasty.
This is an elegant, light-bodied and varietally compelling wine for a value-minded price. Lively acidity keeps it fresh on the palate, with delicious sparks of raspberry, cedar, pencil lead and clove. It finishes lengthy and complex.
This is an elegant, pretty, lightly oaked white that's stony and savory with lemongrass, nutmeg and a strong crunch of green apple. Its depth of body and ripeness complement its more exotic elements.
This is an elegant, refined and lighthearted red that shines with a wooded tannin structure and accents of pencil and clove. Rounded and smooth on the palate, it's bright and succulent in blackberry and black currant flavors, with well-integrated oak.
This is an elegant, restrained blend of Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, giving ripe fruit to go with the firm, dry tannins and a touch of wood. It could age another 2–3 years.
This is an elegant, silky-textured wine that doesn't taste as black or bold as the label would suggest. It has medium body, bright fruit flavors and hints of white pepper and white chocolate that accent a core of red cherry and raspberry.
This is an elegant, slightly restrained Pinotage that maintains the local character but offers a more palatable choice for everyday drinking. Pepper, rich berry and spice are balanced by a quiet acidity and long, rich finish. Pair with Moroccan or Indian cuisine.
This is an elegant, smooth wine that draws out the freshness of the vintage as much as the fruitiness. It has ripe, soft tannins, juicy red-fruit flavors and an intriguing smokiness. With acidity holding the wine in check, it should age well. Drink from 2017.
This is an elegant, smooth wine with fresh clean fruit aromas. It has crispness, concentration and just a hint of spice.
This is an elegant, subtle and spicy varietal wine that reflects its origins, impacted by coastal coolness and ferocity. Dried thyme, stemmy earth, black tea and a viscous grip of oak show its youth and quiet, brooding power.
This is an elegant, textured, subtle wine that will reward cellaring. Very fragrant and stylish, it shows smoky, dusty black cherry and cassis scents, ripe but not raisiny fruit, tightly wound and revealing hints of earth and mineral. Some sweet cocoa adds interest to the finish. Cellar-candidate 6-10 years.
This is an elegantly subdued white, at an attractive price, from a part of the valley that does well growing this variety. A sweetness of pear and vanilla interweave across crisp acidity, without intrusion or confusion from oak.
This is an elevated Prieto Picudo showing aromas of leather, exotic spice and blue fruit. A woody, mildly astringent palate brings roasted berry, spice and carob tones, with a fiery menthol finish. Drink now through 2019.
This is an elusive, spicy wine made in larger amounts than many of the producer's other single-site wines and it shows a deftness of balance and blending. Tangy orange and cranberry wrap around a high acidity that plays out like wet stones and black tea with plenty of herbal backbone on display.
This is an engaging, nervy wine, with a light, savory aroma and tangy red-cherry flavors riding on a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and good acidity. It does not try to overwhelm with superripe fruit or oak, but just lets the purity of the grapes shine through.
This is an enjoyable wine with notes of cherry lozenge, dried cranberry, coffee and herbs. It's lower in alcohol but with a weighty feel to the chocolaty fruit flavors.
This is an enormous Cabernet, as packed with intensity and power as anything in Napa Valley. The vineyard is Von Strasser's highest on the mountain, which maximally exposes it to the sun, and you can taste the solar ripeness in the intense essence of black currants and dark chocolate. The tannins exhibit classic Diamond Mountain potency. This is a dense Cabernet that needs serious time in the cellar. Hold until 2019, and it will continue to develop for many years afterward.
This is an enormous wine, maybe too much. With its layers of rich black fruits and dark tannins, it is a powerful, juicy, jammy and super-ripe wine. It all seems excessive and out of balance. It's fun for a moment, but not for drinking with food.
This is an enormously fruity Zinfandel that offers a flood of flavor, making it instantly likeable. Dry, full-bodied and tannic, it's powerful in briary blackberries, cherries, currants, cola, anise, pepper and cinnamon, with an edge of sweet, smoky oak and cocoa. Should develop over the next 6–8 years.
This is an enormously rich Cabernet. It explodes in milk chocolate, black cherry, spicy plum and sweet, toasty oak flavors, wrapped into smooth tannins. Delicious, if a bit one-dimensional. Drink now.
This is an enormously rich, extracted wine, that's vast in cherries, blackberries, currants, chocolate and oak flavors. Yet it has balancing acidity and tannins. Best now and over the next few years, especially a great barbecued steak or leg of lamb.
This is an enormously ripe, extracted red wine. It shows California's heat in the jammy raspberries, cherries and chocolate, as sweet and thick as the filling in a pie. Shows the strength of Paso Robles, which is ripeness, and its weaknesses, excessive alcohol, sweetness and a flabby structure.
This is an enormously ripe, sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon. It has all the hallmarks of the modern cult style, from focused blackberry, cassis and spicy chocolate flavors and profoundly ripe, sweet tannins to the balancing acidity and oak elaboration that adds that extra touch of richness. This elegant wine is at its best now and for five years.
This is an enticingly fragrant wine with notes of pear and melon. It drinks off dry with sweet fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
This is an equal split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Medium bodied, it's peppery in cassis, cedar, cinnamon and vanilla. Big, pillowy tannins fill the palate, staying firm and sizable through the finish.
This is an especially delicious Barolo that relies on dark concentration and impressive aromatic intensity to make its point. Balsam notes of cola and root beer are set against bright fruit and spice. The wine's solid structure is enhanced by a soft, velvety finish.
This is an especially fine version of this single-vineyard Cabernet Franc; sadly, it may be awhile before we see it again as the vineyard suffered severe damage in 2011. Loaded with pure, rich cherry fruit, it adds layers of graphite, cedar and coffee over a mineral base.
This is an especially rich wine. It has almost a surplus of structure and ripe black fruits. The powerful nature of the wine is balanced by the shot of acidity that keeps it crisp. The aftertaste is full bodied and likely to age for a while. Drink this cru from late 2017.
This is an estate-grown blend of 61% Malbec, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah. It sizzles in a mix of huckleberry and blueberry, full-bodied and dusty in tannin. Its juicy and lifted by moderate acidity, with oaky accents of vanilla, nutmeg and clove.
This is an estate-grown blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Viognier from the great vineyard site, savory in spicy white pepper, blueberry and a persistence of cinnamon and clove. Floral aromas and a delicate texture provide a memorable experience on the palate, finishing in a tease of tobacco.
This is an estate-grown Chardonnay, with flavors of vanilla, tropical pineapple and guava that are surrounded by an oaky character and a lemony finish.
This is an estate-grown white, unfettered by oak, that opts instead to focus on floral apple-blossom aromas and bright, fresh flavors of tangerine and grapefruit zest. A bite of green apple shines on the finish.
This is an estate-grown wine from a vineyard planted to three clones. It has an air of forested truffle, pine and cinnamon within a stemmy and somewhat unresolved body of medium weight.
This is an estate-grown, co-fermented field blend of Zin with Cabernet Franc, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir de Calmette, Peloursin, Lenoir, Merlot and Mourvèdre made in a small amount. Powerful tannin and leather are the stars, along with flavors of cigar, black pepper, cherry and orange.
This is an estate-grown, stainless-steel fermented, perfectly varietal expression of Sauvignon Blanc. It's not trying to be Chardonnay, happily; rather it shows the pleasantly grassy side of the grape, with light melon and green apple fruit flavors.
This is an everyday Chardonnay that's rich and ripe with honey, brown sugar, orange, lime and apricot flavors. It's creamy but balanced with tart acidity. An easygoing, straightforward wine.
This is an everyday Pinot, with some classy features. It's silky and elegant in the mouth, with good acidity. The raspberry and cherry flavors are one-dimensional and sweet.
This is an evolved and sophisticated Vino Nobile with rich concentration, dense texture and very pretty, wood-driven notes of vanilla and spice that are splashed evenly over black currants, plums and prunes. The wine exhibits harmony and balance, and although it is on the thick or gritty side, it does have the natural tannins to pair with succulent meat.
This is an example of a lighter, drier style of Cabernet that maintains great elegance and charm. It's very dry, showing blackberry, black currant, herb and cedar flavors wrapped into firm tannins, and brightened with crispness. Best now–2011.
This is an exceedingly light for a Cab with a reserve designation. It's also astringent, with flavors of vanilla and cut tobacco overtaking the thin fruit, and a finish that resolves in bitter coffee grounds.
This is an excellent appellation blend, starting with a slightly sweet nose of concentrated grenadine, carnations and wild herbs. The sip dries up considerably, with lots of eucalyptus showing at first and then a strong candied raspberry flavor riding the herbs and a strong acidity. Strawberry arises into the finish.
This is an excellent Cabernet that's dry, firmly tannic, and has fine acidity. It's a bit less flashy than the '09 and '10, but has better structure, and may well gain traction with six years or longer in the cellar. It's 100% Cabernet blended from three Coombsville vineyards.
This is an excellent Central Coast Chardonnay, from a cool, coastally influenced growing region. Browned butter, sea salt, nectarine and vanilla meet with sharp lemony freshness on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is familiar and easy to quaff.
This is an excellent effort from this scalding vintage. It has a ripe berry fragrance layered with incense and orange peel, while the palate shows wild cherry, white pepper and a hint of espresso. It's concentrated, yet balanced, and already drinking well.
This is an excellent Fiano from an up-and-coming producer in Lazio. Organic fruit is utilized in this bright, fragrant and rich wine. In the mouth, it tastes thick and smooth, and you can taste a bit of that warm sunshine from Central Italy.
This is an excellent follow-up to the fine 2010, showing similar qualities. Elegantly dry and zesty in acidity, it has savory flavors of lemons, limes and peaches, with a stimulating grassiness.
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.
This is an excellent Petite Sirah that's robust and high in alcohol, and rich, with flamboyant cherry jam, red currant, white chocolate, persimmon and spice flavors. Almost like Port on the palate, it's a great wine to sip and savor.
This is an excellent Riserva metodo classico sparkling wine from northern Italy with a full, creamy consistency. Made with 100% Chardonnay, the wine boasts deep layers of stone fruit, yeast, honey and almond nut.
This is an excellent rosé with some red-wine character showing through the pale-salmon color and fresh fruitiness. It has slightly meaty, spicy and cherry-like flavors, a good balance between medium body and firm acidity, and a nice tangy finish.
This is an excellent value Pinotage, offering superb expression of the grape in a modern style at an attractive price. Rich and forward with opulent aromas of cocoa butter, raspberry sauce, freshly ground coffee and berry preserves. Dusty tannins provide a solid frame to the mouth while medium acidity keeps things lifted through the elegant finish.
This is an excellent vintage for this cuvée, showing great concentration of fruit. It's a generous mix of strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavors, with the depth of preserves, but not the jammy character. Perfectly buoyed with zippy acidity, and finished with a lightly toasty edge, this is a lovely bottle.
This is an excellent vintage, with delicate licorice shadings laced over blackberry, coffee, chocolate and root beer. It's intense and concentrated with some animal- or meat-like aromas that are within acceptable limits.
This is an excellent wine comprised of Sangiovese and Syrah from the Boushey and Candy Mountain Vineyards, and Cabernet from Stonetree Vineyard—all top-tier vineyards. Bright and generous, with plenty of toasty barrel flavors, it's highlighted with cut tobacco, citrus, herb and floral hints. There is an underlying minerality as well, making this one of Washington's most complex “Super Tuscans.”
This is an excellent wine for the price. Aromas of lightly salted nectarines and pan-seared Asian pear are very inviting and pretty. There's a nice sizzle of acidity on the palate and a nervy tension, with lime juice and sea-salt sharpness leading into rounded almond and apple notes in the midpalate.
This is an excellent young Cabernet Sauvignon that will take some bottle age. Coming on the heels of the high-scoring 2004, it's full-bodied and extraordinarily rich, with intense blackberry, black currant, chocolate, coffee and cedar flavors, wrapped into near-perfect tannins. Shows great grapes and a deft winemaking hand.
This is an excellent, Bordeaux-style blend, almost three quarters Cabernet Sauvignon. It's concentrated and shows pinpoint focus, with pure, dark fruit flavors of black cherry and cassis. The lingering finish sparkles with cinnamon highlights.
This is an excellent, deeply colored and moderately tannic wine with style. It follows its tamarind aromas with rich plum, prune and chocolate flavors, accented with mild vanilla and nutmeg notes.
This is an excellent, dry, well-balanced and nicely tannic wine that would love to come to your next dinner featuring a roast bird or grilled chop. It's a bit reserved, not as showy as a lot of other wines, but has the gripping texture and firm acidity that is great at the table.
This is an exceptional example of this variety, with aromas of fresh herb, violets, orange peel and black fruit. The dark-fruit flavors are rich and layered, showing an exquisite sense of balance along with great length.
This is an exceptional Syrah with a spirited Tuscan soul that delivers great intensity throughout and spicy tones of ripe fruit, smoked bacon, blueberry syrup and freshly milled black pepper. It's a beautiful expression of the variety with an impeccable mouthfeel and pristine flavors that ride strong until the very end.
This is an exceptional vintage for La Croix. It has voluptuous fruits that emerge from the ripe dense tannins. They are balanced by intense acidity and a crisp edge. The wine, with its still stylish character, is one to age for a long time. Drink this very fine wine from 2025
This is an exceptional wine that will leave a mark, and a memory, with those who drink it. It's irresistible because of its brilliant, but simple, philosophy. Traditional Nebbiolo tones of cola, licorice and pressed violets are set beautifully against modern tones of spice, chocolate and vanilla. It's the integration of these two extremes that make this Barolo so important.
This is an exceptional Zinfandel from a renowned site, as famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as it has now become for Zin. Heady aromas of raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry tease before coming to life on the palate, accented by a delightful complement of allspice and juicy acidity. Medium bodied, it's incredibly easy to enjoy and rich in all the right ways.
This is an exceptionally concentrated, smooth and delicious wine. It has ripe blueberry, blackberry and raspberry flavors, and its texture strikes the right balance between supple and tannic. A Coro Mendocino blend, it's made from a base of Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah, Syrah and a dash of Grenache. Delicious now, it also has the stuffing to age. Best from 2018.
This is an exceptionally priced wine that allows a glimpse into the power and density of Domdechant Werner's 2015 Rieslings. Yellow peach and nectarine flavors are vivaciously fresh, but there's a lot more than fruitiness here. It's forward and yielding, yet weighty, its richness nuanced by hints of smoke, graphite and caramel. Luscious, mouth clinging texture lingers on the finish.
This is an exceptionally rich wine, its fruit exploding from the glass. The richness gives a spicy, peppery edge to the ripe white fruit, and its acidity is almost an afterthought in this mélange of full-bodied fruit and texture.
This is an exceptionally well-crafted version of the variety from a tremendous site for the grape. Whole-cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel, it retains fresh acidity that gives it lively tension on the palate, a foundation for briny lemon zest and classic floral notes.
This is an exceptionally young wine, still tight, textured and mineral. The potential shows in the white fruits, lemon crispness and rich background. It's full of both fruit and a firm, steely structure. Drink from 2017.
This is an exciting and promising blend for the winery and region. Cabernet Sauvignon and the Brunello clone of Sangiovese present aromas of pine wood, wet slate, mud, dark red cherries and tobacco smudge. Elderberry, juniper and cedar show on the woody palate that combines great acidity with firm structure.
This is an exciting wine with a lively cornucopia of flavors including tiny berry fruit, vanilla, allspice, powdered licorice and root beer. The wine is nicely aged and balanced with a vertical approach that underscores the wine's natural intensity and complexity. It's unusual and interesting in the mouth, with gritty tannins and intense spice flavors.
This is an exciting wine, simultaneously serious and fun, with a steely minerality and clean nectarine on the nose. The palate is energetic, showing both tight limestone and more deliciously hedonistic notes of Fuji apples and Japanese pear. The acidity kicks expertly throughout.
This is an exclamation point of a wine. The fruit pops with pure notes of black and red plum along with herbs and milk chocolate. It's fresh and fruit-filled, with an elegant, palate-coating texture that simply dazzles the senses.
This is an exemplary, dependable Pinot Gris, with its fresh lemon and citrus aromas and spicy citrus and fruit flavors. Dry and zesty, it will pair well with grilled seafood and Asian cuisine.
This is an exotic wine with aromas of graham cracker, blueberry, violet petal and pastry. It feels lush, grabby, chewy and tannic, with heavy flavors of clove, black licorice, savory berry and baked plum. The finish is dominated by oak, with clove and resiny barrel notes that compete with the wine's fresher dark-fruit component.
This is an exotic, flashy wine, marked by layers of ripe, sweet tropical fruit. Honey, peaches and mangoes are plump and mouthfilling, but end with elegance and finesse, making for a finely balanced wine worthy of the two-star accolade.
This is an expansive, chewy and full-bodied wine, well made and enjoyable in its complementary components of blackberry and currant. Those ripe, fruity aspects play well off of recurring clove and cigar-box spice, the wine textured and robustly lingering.
This is an experiment in a bottle, a 100% whole-cluster, carbonic maceration Pinot that intrigues and delights. Light and clear, it opens with wildly crazy aromas of earthy herb and dirty strawberry, remaining pillowy on the palate. The finish is edgy in pine and spice.
This is an expertly balanced wine from Temecula, showcasing region's potential for Grenache. Rosewater, cherry juice and cherry blossom aromas are lifted by herbal touches of marjoram and crushed peppercorn. Fennel, thyme and oregano flavors kick off the palate, where strong acidity carries raspberry and red berry flavors into a complex and elegant finish.
This is an expertly crafted Merlot that offers much in terms of intensity, charm and personality. You could drink it with a fork and knife because its concentration is dark, plush and extracted with care. Pristine aromas of flower petal, red fruit, molasses and spice are rounded off by an outstanding mouthfeel consisting of extraordinary length and polished tannins.
This is an expertly extracted and penetrating Sangiovese-based wine (with a small percentage of other grapes mixed in) that boasts an absolutely irresistible nose. It is generous and full, sweet and succulent and will definitely please now or in 10 years. Black cherries and chocolate are the main themes, with coffee and chewy tannins in the mouth: An exciting discovery from a relatively unknown estate.
This is an expression of Dolcetto that shows many qualities, including a distinct sense of informal elegance. There are mineral aromas balanced by ripe fruit tones and the wine shows a higher than expected level of complexity.
This is an expressive and lively blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese that boasts dark, meaty concentration, an inky black appearance and big toasted notes of roasted nut, cedar, leather and spice. It is distinguished by polished tannins and outstanding intensity on the palate.
This is an expressive Barossa Shiraz, combining ripe raspberry fruit and a lush, creamy texture with herbal, savory notes and crisp acidity. Turns a bit zingy on the finish, with cranberry overtones. Drink now–2015.
This is an expressive example of this variety, especially considering the stainless steel aging. The aromas are bright, with notes of apple, pear and melon. The cantaloupe flavors are broad and fleshy, lingering on the finish. It brings a lot of appeal.
This is an expressive rendition of Malvasia Bianca with long, mineral flavors and cheerful notes of peach, banana and apricot. You could pair this wine with Thai or Chinese dishes.
This is an expressive Sauvignon Blanc with almost vegetal aromas announcing coastal origins. The palate is chiseled and lemony, then minerally flavors of grapefruit, tangerine and lemon give way to passion fruit and stony finishing notes. Laser-beam acidity and minerality are what drive this.
This is an expressive wine and quite powerful for a rosé. There are lovely peach and apple notes upfront while the earthy palate is enlivened by refreshing notes of orange zest. Woodsy notes on the finish suggest this wine is best drunk up before 2011.
This is an extracted and dark style of Cab, showing tar, black pepper, espresso, deep purple fruit and loam on the nose. Baked black plum, elderberry and blackberry fruits show strongly on the palate, which is made deliciously complex by mocha, coffee syrup and cracked pepper accents. Mouthcoating tannins ensure a long cellar life; it should cellar well through 2034.
This is an extracted Pinot Noir with dark, ripe berry flavor with a sourness to the finish and a taste of heat.
This is an extracted wine that has very ripe aromas of prune and raisin, along with a hint of burned rubber. The palate shows blackberry, fig, spice and licorice flavors, along with a hint of orange peel and a warm midpalate. A bit one-dimensional, but enjoyable.
This is an extracted wine, with licorice and dark chocolate flavors as much as fruit. It is tough at the moment, with dry tannins dominating the black plum flavor and the acidity. Leave until 2016 in the hope it will soften.
This is an extraordiary deal for a solidly built, high-level wine. It offers succulent cherry, raspberry and vanilla flavors, wrapped in approachable, mellowed tannin and oak.
This is an extraordinarily rich Amarone that exudes blackness and dense aromas of cola, raisins, dried prunes, leather, tobacco, spice and cherry wood. It's a big wine for big meals of succulent grilled meats or heavy winter stews. Vanilla and soft oak flavors come though and the mouthfeel is round and velvety.
This is an extraordinarily ripe, flashy Cabernet Sauvignon, one of Duckhorn's new red wines that is among the most impressive in years. The wine is densely packed in sweet red and black currant fruit, chocolate and licorice flavors, wrapped into firm tannins, with a bone-dry finish. Just fantastic to experience now, and it should easily develop over at least a decade.
This is an extraordinary Barolo with deep and intriguing layers of wild berry, orange zest, almond skin, light graphite shadings and lingering smoke or dried tobacco. The wine feel smooth and supple in the mouth and closes with firm tannins that give it backbone and staying power.
This is an extraordinary example of the potential of the 2005 vintage. The wine boasts a meaty, bold style with thick aromas of cured meat, bresaola, white mushroom, moist earth, natural rubber and spice. Very intense flavors of chocolate and ground espresso explode in the mouth. Drink after 2018.
This is an extraordinary wine with deep and delicate layers of yeast, wild berries, rose bud and smoky ash. There is a distinctive wood element that comes off as roasted almond and creamy butter, yet the wine is balanced and seductive to the end. You get personality and the highest quality of Italian sparkling wine.
This is an extraordinary, golden dessert wine with intense and penetrating notes of honey, marron glacé, dried apricot, marzipan, candied lemon, dried mint and jasmine. It's smooth, rich and long lasting in the mouth. The wine has personality and power and boasts magnetic appeal across the board.
This is an extreme example of an extreme varietal. The color is black except for a thin purple rim. The aromas are like dark chocolate and subdued blueberry. Flavors convey a deep profusion of blackberry and boysenberry with hints of sweet oak. Very full-bodied, full-flavored and mouthfilling, it delivers power with polish.
This is an extremely aromatic and floral Sauvignon that delivers an intense bouquet of sage, exotic fruit and tomato leaf. It earns high marks for personality and good cheer and offers zesty lemon flavors on the finish.
This is an extremely bright and fresh white wine that delivers easy aromas of orange blossom, passion fruit and honey. It's a very fragrant and floral interpretation of your standard Soave.
This is an extremely distinctive and site-specific expression of Barbaresco from the celebrated Roncaglie cru. The wine is characterized by feminine, delicate tones of subtle Indian spice, pressed rose petal, violets and light vanilla or white chocolate. It boasts well-integrated freshness and finely polished tannins.
This is an extremely dry, tartly acidic wine whose lime and grapefruit flavors are inflected with gooseberries and stony minerals. Made with no oak, it's a clean, brisk palate cleanser that's versatile at the table, and affordable.
This is an extremely elegant and beautiful wine that is tight and compact while being intense and generous at the same time. It offers luscious notes of ripe cherry, blueberry fruit and piquant highlights that recall Asian spices (10% Cabernet is added to the blend). It has a gorgeous mouthfeel, bright fruit flavors and silky tannins.
This is an extremely faint and subtle rosé, with delicate aromas and flavors of pineapple, tart cherry and orange rind. It's light-weight and thin on the palate, with a clean but fleeting finish.
This is an extremely floral Negroamaro that boasts intense aromas of Chinese jasmine, incense, dried violets and lavender. The wine has good freshness and lingering floral, almost soapy, flavors. Acute floral notes like these won't appeal to everyone, but the wine's low price will.
This is an extremely fragrant and aromatic Pinot Grigio that offers enticing tones of mango, lime, kiwi and passion fruit. The wine is tonic and fresh and very enjoyable to drink thanks to its sweet, citrusy flavors.
This is an extremely fresh and thirst-quenching Rosé Pinot Grigio with delicate hues of pink and peach. The wine offers aromas of citrus and pink rose, a lean structure and lively acidity.
This is an extremely mineral-driven Riserva from an 11-acre estate in Castelnuovo Berardenga (the warmer, southern part of Chianti Classico) with aromas of white stone, roof slate and lead pencil. There's fruit in there too but it comes off as distant white cherry and wild berry. The jury's out on how long this wine will age.
This is an extremely rare beast—a single-vineyard, single-varietal (Pinot Noir), single-vintage sparkling wine. Aged sur lie for 42 months, it draws you into the glass with notes of smoke, raspberry, mineral and nutty spices. The flavors are light and lively with tart, racy acidity and a long, lingering finish.
This is an extremely restrained Syrah, offering black olive, tapenade, asphalt, damp grass and garden herbs on the nose. The palate shows tar, green coffee bean and Kalamata and green olives, proving intriguing if obscure.
This is an extremely ripe and viscous wine, almost too much to handle. The nose shows juicy blackberry syrup, crème de cassis, coconut and a hint of herbs, and then the palate delivers coffee, fudge, elderberry, black currant and pepper.
This is an extremely ripe super Tuscan blend with jammy notes of blackberry and strawberry backed by clove and white peppercorn. The wine has a thorny, raw side and ends with sweet, chewy tannins and a smoky aftertaste.
This is an extremely savory wine, with aromas of black pepper, dried herbs, turned earth and a touch of elderberry jam. It's somewhat thin on the sip, with cedar, boysenberry and charred beef flavors.
This is an extremely simple rosé sparkler with medium aromas of wild berry and red rose backed by crisp freshness and bright perlage. It is a simple and thin bubbly overall.
This is an extremely smooth Syrah, another reminder of how well the Rhône grape does when planted in California's cooler Pinot Noir climates. Licorice and boysenberry characterize the nose, with the combination of rich fruit and peppery spice framing the palate. The lingering vanilla finish kicks it up even one more notch.
This is an extremely textural pink wine, with delicate touches of raspberry, strawberry, watermelon and the slightest twist of lime on the nose. The blend of 68% Grenache, 13% Counoise, 11% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah shows grip and acidity on the sip, where lime-soaked nectarine and red apple flavors reign.
This is an extremely well balanced Riserva (with 15% Merlot in the blend) that plays with various elements—fruit, toast and mineral—extremely well. In appearance, it is a muscular, brooding wine and in the mouth it exhibits dense extraction and loads of rich, velvety fruit.
This is an extroverted version of a varietal that can be quite subtle. Aromas suggest grapefruit and pears, while flavors are assertive and citruslike, with an earthy accent. The feel in the mouth is reasonably crisp.
This is an exuberant, happy wine, filled with sunny summer flavors of cherries, blueberries and blackberries. The blend is based on Zinfandel and Grenache. It's rich and soft in tannins and easy to drink. The alcohol is a little high, but nothing that barbecue can't handle.
This is an exuberantly fruity, spicy and robust wine, speckled with 2% Petite Sirah. Dark and full of red berry flavor, the palate is dusted in brown sugar and black pepper. Ripe and concentrated, it drinks smooth and elegant despite its serious power.
This is an eye-opening wine that shows how good Cabernet from the Sierra Foothills can be. Beautiful deep black cherry and cassis aromas lead to broad generous flavors that instantly expand across the palate and accompany a moderately tannic, elegant texture. Hints of black fig, cedar and mint surround the concentrated fruit core, adding to the wine's complexity.
This is an herbal Merlot that tastes of toasty oak and finishes slightly sweet.
This is an herbal, almost throwback style of Carmenère. The nose delivers a blast of tomato leaf along with a rooty, herbal aroma of red fruit suggestive of pizza. The palate is tight and smacks hard with tannins, while the core flavors are roasted and burnt, with a baked berry note and an earthy nuttiness.
This is an herbal, cool wine. Concentrated citrus flavors percolate through the wine to give freshness and bright acidity. It's light, very crisp and ready to drink.
This is an herbal, earthy, delicately layered and silky wine with red cherry and pomegranate characteristics. Medium-bodied, it stays true to its varietal nature by being light on its feet.
This is an herbal, floral white wine with aromas that span from dried hay to pungent lemon blossom. It seems to give the best of itself on the bouquet, because in the mouth, this wine is fresh, compact and very easygoing.
This is an herbal, low-alcohol style. Tart wild berry, lemony citrus, fresh herbs and a streak of iron combine gracefully. This is a new trend in Oregon, emphasizing non-intervention, subtle detail, low alcohol and neutral oak, and here it's been done well.
This is an honest wine, with an herbal aroma and notes of tomato and red plum. It feels zingy due to tomato-like acidity, with red fruit flavors followed by a lean finish.
This is an ice wine produced from grapes frozen in a frost on December 10, 2011. It is superrich, opulent and with great concentration of both honey and ripe apricots. The acidity takes a while to show through the richness of the wine, but it is there, giving a beautiful fresh aftertaste. Start drinking in 2017.
This is an ideal summer white. It's light but crisp on the bouquet, with whispy pear, apple and citrus aromas. Freshness reigns on the palate despite there being pulpy citrus flavors. Another wave of citrus carries the clear finish to a precise ending. Delicious white wine.
This is an immediately accessible Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with moderately concentrated red fruit, leather and clove notes, crisp acids and just a hint of supple tannin on the finish. Drink it over the next several years.
This is an immediately attractive albeit slightly less intense rendition of Fiano with measured but well-defined aromas of stone fruit, minerals, citrus blossoms and Golden Delicious apple. It's an elegant ensemble that makes a perfect match to light dishes or appetizers.
This is an immediately attractive and approachable wine, with direct and intense aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum and boysenberry accented by notes of sweet smoke, mocha and pepper. Firm yet approachable, this is well-balanced with structured tannins and ample acidity. Drink from 2015-2018.
This is an immediately attractive and fruity wine. Bright acidity is rounded out by warm peach and pear flavors, with a mineral texture that will allow the wine to age. Drink now for the fruit, but it will be at its best from 2016.
This is an immediately attractive, fruity wine. Crisp acidity cuts through the red currant and berry fruits to give a light and refreshing wine that has a tight, mineral aftertaste.
This is an immense wine, seriously ageworthy and still very young. It is powered by the dark tannins and concentrated fruits that come from the old vines at this iconic quinta. Dark, brooding, still with its wood aging up front, this needs to age for many years. Drink from 2019.
This is an immensely dense wine that is going to be a classic. The dark tannins are still lined with wood aging but that will go because the fruit underneath is also just as dense and intense. Blackberry, black plum and damson plum give power and sweetness. This is a great wine with huge potential. Drink from 2028.
This is an immensely fun albeit simple, Beaujolais-like wine, best served chilled and on the beach or by a pool. Fairly dark in color, it shows deep blackberry, smoke, crushed graphite and a touch of tarragon on the nose, while the flavors offer Concord grape, plum, fruit punch and a touch of caramel.
This is an imposing, enormous style of wine that smells minty, tastes dense and ripe, and feels massive due to full body and layers of fine tannins. It will be fun to drink with grilled lamb chops or something equally rich, where all the tannin and flavor will meet their match.
This is an impressive Barolo by a wine company (with superstar consulting enologist Carlo Ferrini at the head of winemaking) that is relatively new to the scene. Due Corti proves this winery knows what it's doing. Aromas of red rose, violet and exotic spice come forward immediately. Indeed, this is an extremely floral and perfumed wine with silky, smooth tannins.
This is an impressive blend of 45% Merlot with 25% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah from Stagecoach Vineyard and 10% Biale Zinfandel. It comes together seamlessly in a twist of structured blackberry, leathery tannin and tomato leaf, priced to be enjoyed by many.
This is an impressive bottling from the Parrish family. Thick in the glass, it shows aromas of candied black currant, caramel, purple flowers and a hint of smoke. The palate is full and hearty with black cherry, clove and baking spice flavors. Its richness is balanced by tangy acidity and tannins that are generous but soft and well-polished.
This is an impressive bottling of well-distributed wine, blended with smaller percentages of all the major red Bordeaux varieties (plus 1% Tannat). Spicy clove, leather, cedar and herb hints highlight its subdued red fruit. The tannins are grippy and oak quite present, but both provide welcome structure and strength.
This is an impressive Cab Franc from Red Newt, with bright cherry, violet and pepper spice on the nose and a fresh, lively blend of red fruit in the mouth. The harmonious acid and structure add to the upfront, appealing nature of this wine.
This is an impressive concentrated wine. Now with a couple of years of aging, it has lost its baby acidity and developed a leaner more structured character. That goes with the apple and citrus fruitiness to give the wine a balanced mature character. It is ready to drink.
This is an impressive Dolcetto with a deeply aromatic character. The generous notes of pressed flowers, roses and perfumed violets distinguish this expression from the rest. Those huge floral and fruit tones transfer to the mouth as well, where they last long on the finish.
This is an impressive effort, especially at the price, which is kind of unheard of in these parts. Softened by 9% Merlot, it's rich and full-bodied without ever overdoing it, opaque in color with a nose of baked bread and flavors of raspberry and black currant. It's food-ready.
This is an impressive effort, especially considering it is the winery's mass-production cuvée. All in proportion, it's built upon an acid/mineral base, with tangy, just-ripe berry fruit. It feels quite delicate, yet has the persistence and structure of a more substantial wine. Aged for 10 months in one-quarter new French oak, it's worth tucking a few bottles away for a long-term look.
This is an impressive performance from an estate that has been improving over the past 10 years. The wine is dense with fine tannins, fresh acidity and layers of black-currant fruitiness. It will develop over the medium term, so drink from 2020.
This is an impressive still young wine. With its dense texture and powerful tannins it is concentrated, packed with ripe berry flavors and juicy acidity. It is bold, certainly not reticent, made for some long-term aging. Drink from 2018.
This is an impressive take on the unoaked style, with pithy aromas of grapefruit and quinine leading into a tropical sense of guava skins, melon rinds and white-peach flesh. The acidity is mellow but persistent on the sip, where Key lime, pink grapefruit and sharp citrus flavors shine.
This is an impressive Touriga Nacional from its home region. Aged for 12 months in wood, it has mint and eucalyptus flavors to add to the dark tannic fruit. Blackberries and juicy acidity are combined with the core of tannins to deliver a powerful statement that needs some more time to mature. Drink from 2019.
This is an impressive undertaking, made from estate vineyards across the region, all certified sustainable. Medium in build and intensity, it allows acidity to balance out the strong, interwoven tannin and power to remain buoyant in high-toned cherry and currant. It finishes with a flourish of cinnamon spice.
This is an impressive wine at any price, but it would be hard to find much in the way of a better deal for Napa Cab. Smooth, rounded edges surround a full-bodied expression of dense black fruit, cedar and clove. The wine finished with plenty of length to age. Drink now through 2021.
This is an impressive wine at the price and production level, a great go-to for multiple occasions. It delivers earthy, candied strawberry around a light, bright core, remaining soft and smooth in texture and intensity, finishing with a tease of milk chocolate.
This is an impressive wine from a new producer. It's aromatically expressive in notes of ripe apple, star fruit and pear, with lemon-pith accents. The melon and citrus flavors are rounded, fresh and clean, offering a great balance of acidity.
This is an impressive wine that's full of fruit, structure and acidity. It's well balanced, rich and crisply fresh, with lively acidity on the finish—a real food-friendly rosé.
This is an impressive wine that is rich and generous while also being firm and structured. It has a sense of concentration and power that doesn't take away from its elegance. A fresh black currant tone is balanced by tannins and a lingering flavor of oak. Already showing good integration, this wine will be ready to drink soon. Drink from 2017.
This is an impressive wine that transcends the problems of the vintage. It has rich fruit that is sustained by the tannic structure that rests on a bed of fresh blackberry fruits cut with fresh acidity. The wine will certainly age well. Don't think about drinking it before 2024.
This is an impressive wine, full of rich fruits and a dense and firm structure. The wine, with its black berry and plum flavors, is dry and concentrated, with a powerful and complex texture that suggests a fine minerality. It definitely needs aging, so drink from 2016.
This is an impressive wine, packed with toast, yellow fruits, spice and richness. There is structure as well, the fruit layered with wood. Great balance and great potential.
This is an impressive wine, with its aromas of pear, apple, spice and honey, and its rich spiced flavors buoyed by crisp acidity. Complex but refreshing, with a smooth, lingering finish. Overall, food friendly and stylish.
This is an impressive wine. From the floral aromas to the crisp mineral-driven texture, the wine is tense, structured and very stylish. The apple, green plum and nervy texture are of a piece with the Chardonnay fruit from some of the finest villages in the Côte des Blancs. Drink this wine now.
This is an impressive wine. It's so balanced between opulent ripe fruit and a tight texture. Wood aging complements the rich apricot and crisp apple flavors, adding spice and a touch of pepper. The more juicy nature of the wine comes through as it opens up; however, it does need to age more. so wait until 2017.
This is an impressive wine. Like its name suggests, Terra Rossa (red earth) is bold and opulent with unrelenting aromas of dark berry, leather, spice and chocolate fudge. Toasted-oak notes fill in the background and remind you that this is a modern expression of Brunello that will appeal to those who love a soft and layered style. All that rich red fruit softens the natural acidity of the vintage.
This is an impressive wine—powerful, ripe and packed with black berry fruits and dark tannins. A steely, acid character gives the wine tension as well as structure. The end brings freshness to this solid 100% Négrette wine. Drink from 2016.
This is an impressive young Cabernet: It's bone dry, tannic and intense, with flavors of mountain blackberries and black currants. It may even age for a few years.
This is an impressive, concentrated wine that gives pride of place to the ripe berry flavors and the balancing acidity. Underneath, the tannins are built up, showing that the wine will age. With its weight and depth, this needs to be aged the tannins to fully soften.
This is an impressive, powerful wine. It speaks of the hard landscape of the Douro Superior, with its structure and dark tannins. At the same time, ripe dark fruits push through the still-young tannins giving the potential for a rich, black fruit dominated wine. Predominantly Touriga Nacional (60 percent), this wine is a new venture created by João Nicolau d'Almeida (who has run Ramos-Pinto for many years) and his family. Drink from 2018.
This is an impressive, rich wood-aged wine. It is generous and full in the mouth and packed with ripe peach and apricot flavors. There is a depth to the wine coming from barrel fermentation that has given it richness. Nutmeg flavors are matched with toastiness to the give this ripe wine extra complexity. Drink from 2017.
This is an impressive, rich, smooth wine. Generous and opulent in style, it has weight and firm tannins along with concentrated black fruits. Brisk acidity and a dry finishing touch lend elegance. Drink from 2016.
This is an impressive, solidly tannic wine that needs aging. The black plum flavors are still dominated by spice and wood, lending a dry and dark character to the wine. Solid with good depths of flavor, the wine should be kept for 4–5 years before opening.
This is an impressive, well-endowed wine, bursting with superripe cherries, cinnamon and vanilla notes. It's full-bodied, velvety textured and warm, picking up dark chocolate notes on the long, dry finish. It's drinkable now, but worth holding through 2018 for a more savory experience.
This is an impressive, while unusual, take on the Gamay as grown in Beaujolais. It is spicy and minty, with the long wood aging giving a rich, smooth texture to the red-cherry flavors. It needs another few months, so drink from late 2017.
This is an impressively bold and rich wine for its low alcohol content. The character comes from the ripe, perfumed Touriga Nacional in the blend giving blackberry and plum flavors. The wine is concentrated and ready to drink.
This is an impressively complete wine, the fruit right in context with the dark, dry tannins. All the elements are in place, from the initial juicy fruit to the soft, fresh close.This is an impressively complete wine, the fruit right in context with the dark, dry tannins. All the elements are in place, from the initial juicy fruit to the soft, fresh close.
This is an impressively complex Vinho Verde, obviously made for food. With its tangy acidity and tense mineral texture, this blend of a range of the regional grapes is structured and with a delicious, refreshing aftertaste. Drink now.
This is an impressively dark, rich wine made from biodynamically grown grapes to give pure perfumed fruitiness over dense, dusty tannins. The wine has a mineral texture to balance the black currant fruits and generous ripeness. It does need to age: give it until 2018.
This is an impressively endowed wine, but one that will have to rely on age for its complexity. Right now, its fruit (blackberries and cassis) is a bit simple upfront, then adds crisp acidity and firm tannins on the finish. Try in 2010.
This is an impressively powerful, concentrated wine. It shows its wood aging now, but those notes should integrate soon into all the ripe apricot and greengage flavors. Richly textured, this is a wine that needs aging, so don't drink before 2016.
This is an impressively priced and made new wine, offering a compelling mix of tart cherry and sublime earth around streaks of exotic cardamom. Pretty and inviting, it's tight in crisp cranberry and raspberry, finishing swiftly and with purpose.
This is an impressively rich and ripe within the light, poised character of classic Muscadet. It balances floral apple and pear fruit with a tight, mineral texture that gives the wine a young character. The extended lees aging has added notes of almonds and spice to this ripe wine. Drink from 2017.
This is an impressively rich nonvintage selection, with tropical fruit as well as a mineral-driven character. It's impressive and would certainly take more bottle aging.
This is an impressively rich wine for a simple Beaujolais. It has plenty of fruit, while it also has a good depth with ripe red-berry fruits and some well-integrated tannins.
This is an impressively rich wine, packed with dark black fruits and solid tannins. While it certainly has power it also has a sense of style with the acidity and the concentration well contained. Drink from 2017.
This is an impressively rich, ripe wine that maintains great swathes of fresh pear and apple flavors. It is dense on the palate, with a powerful mineral and steel expression to pair with the opulent texture and rounded aftertaste. Should develop well over at least five years.
This is an impressively rich, still very young wine. Dominated by Bandol's own Mourvèdre grape, it is dense and concentrated. Spice and dark red fruits are shot through with a wonderful herbal character that conjures the southern warmth. The wine is still just setting out and will not be ready to drink before 2019.
This is an impressively ripe and solidly fruity wine. Blending mainly Tannat with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is certainly structured. But it is the brilliant black fruit that gives this wine its real character and density. It is impressive, and obviously made for the long haul. Drink from 2021.
This is an impressively well-crafted, and beautiful wine, blended with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec, the main variety mountain-grown on Pritchard Hill. It shines in big, bold and powerfully built black fruit and leather. Dusty, firm tannins and a taste of graphite, coffee and tar are also highly evident. The finish is tart and seasoned in white pepper. Best enjoyed 2023 through 2033.
This is an inaugural release for the winery, established in 2013 where a former part of Buena Vista Winery stood. The grapes come from rocky Durell nearby, and take on its signature concentration and celebration of fruit. Golden in color, this is a ripe mingling of pear, baked apple and caramel that is entirely full bodied.
This is an inaugural release from this site, an ocean-viewing, high-elevation perch overlooking the Pacific Ocean that loves the variety. A sanguine element rides a canopy of dense, thick forest floor and dark cherry compote, the tannins and oak sizable and present. A length of cardamom provides a memorable spiciness to the finish.
This is an inaugural release of this variety from the Mount George Vineyard in cool Coombsville, granted AVA status in 2011. Juicy and soft in blackberry and stone fruit, the wine is cradled by generous tannins and herbal tones. Full bodied, its sinewy structure suggests it would benefit from more time in bottle; cellar through 2022.
This is an incredibly beautiful and yes, joyful, sparkler, made from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This particular offering was disgorged in July 2016. It positively impresses in minerality, complemented by a more fulsome sense of lemon, apple and hazelnut on the creamy palate, leaving a rich trail of silk on the finish.
This is an incredibly modern style of Pinotage, boasting forward notes of mocha, raspberry sauce, muddled black cherry and vanilla cream on the nose and mouth. The palate is rich and creamy, with plush fruit flavors and a soft, jammy texture. Drink now.
This is an incredibly young wine with its spice and red-berry fruits right up there and still almost just fruit juice. That means that it has the potential to be an attractive, easy, spicy wine and will need to age. It will be best from 2017.
This is an informal and easygoing Barbera d'Asti that presents an interesting medley of fruit and berry aromas. The style is fresh and clean (you'll taste that characteristic acidity of this grape variety) and would pair well with butter- or cheese-based foods.
This is an informal and fresh Cabernet that would pair perfectly with easy pasta dishes or lasagna. Aromas include black cherry and plum and the wine offers a polished and compact feel overall.
This is an informal wine that offers hints of raw red cherry, strawberry and a dash of cinnamon. Brisk acidity and fragile, fleeting tannins give it an abrupt finish.
This is an initially austere wine. A fine blend of fresh acidity and concentrated black plum fruits give the wine elegance. The finish is balanced by a brisk final acidity.
This is an initially smooth wood-aged wine that is intense, concentrated and packed with power and tannins. It is rich and full of brooding dark plum and dense with structure. Dominated by Touriga Nacional, it has that variety's perfumed character which is balanced by the smoother Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. It is obviously a wine to age, so drink from 2018.
This is an inky-black wine, with soft, jammy flavors of blackberries, cherries, dark chocolate and oak. The tannins are mountain thick but as refined as modern winemaking can make them. And the finish? Sweet and dry at the same time, which only a good wine can accomplish. Needs 5–7 years in the cellar.
This is an inky dark, broodingly tannic, bone-dry wine. Also an expensive one. Is it worth it? If you're a Petite Sirah fan, it's one of the most exciting of the genre you can buy. The flavors are a complex melange of blackberries, cherries, plums, mocha and dusty spices. This is in serious need of cellaring. Best after 2008, and for a decade afterward.
This is an inky, black Amarone that is redolent of black fruit, plum, BBQ sauce, root beer and mesquite smoke. Pair this wine with thick beef ragout over oven-roasted pasta or game dishes. The wine is sticky and ripe in the mouth with firm tannins.
This is an innocuous, flowery and lemony white wine priced to sell that offers a creamy texture amid a light body and soul. For picnics and larger gatherings, it'll represent well.
This is an instantly beautiful, floral, generously fruity and red cherry-inflected wine. Ripe and juicy, it has bright acidity, while its tannins are buried in succulent texture.From one of the smallest premier crus in Chambolle-Musigny, it will be ready to drink from 2021.
This is an instantly loveable Grenache, bursting with ripe, sweet raspberries and cherries. Young and fresh, it's like sucking on a really good candy; then it finishes with a flourish of toast and mocha.
This is an intense and austere sparkling wine with persistent perlage and deep aromas of toast, roasted nut, honey, stone fruit and butterscotch. You'll also get a playful hint of chopped herbs that add buoyancy to the wine's thick, solid mouthfeel.
This is an intense and very aromatic Sauvignon that boasts exotic fruit and herbal tones, but it also has a distinct note of peanut or butterscotch in the background that takes away from the natural fruit. The wine is lean and fresh in the mouth.
This is an intense crisp and red-fruited wine. Clean and clear, this is delicious to drink now with its lively freshness on the finish. Screwcap.
This is an intense expression of cola and cinnamon stick, provocatively spicy on the tongue. Boldly ripe and full bodied, it unpacks layers upon layers of baked cherry, blueberry pie and orange flavor, wrapped within a velvety lush texture that's lifted by underlying acidity.
This is an intense expression of steely Riesling, with a complex structure and excellent aging potential. It is full of citrus, pear and crisp pineapple flavors that are laced with concentrated acidity. Age for at least five years. Screwcap.
This is an intense rosé, pushing forward the pink fruit flavors, the rich texture and red berry fruits. Dry, still youthful, it has considerable acidity and a complex and concentrated mélange of flavors. Age for 3–5 years.
This is an intense wine that is full of fresh fruits, rich green plum and apricot flavors, as well as a creamed apple character. It is weighty and generous, while at the end, the wine offers a more tangy, tight aftertaste.
This is an intense wine, from the concentrated fig and plum aromas to almost-sweet flavors like honey and strawberry jam. It has a very full body and lingering, warm finish.
This is an intense wine, robustly ripe and showy in oak. It tastes of baked apple and vanilla wood.
This is an intense, almost too strong, interpretation of Ripasso that offers high alcohol and lasting aromas of tar, asphalt and maraschino cherry. Sweet barbecue spice and chewy cherry nuances appear on the close.
This is an intense, dense Sauvignon Blanc, full of concentrated lemon zest and green herbs. It has a young, mineral texture, while possessing a nervy acidity.
This is an intense, extreme wine made from Nerello Mascalese vines planted in the 1940s. It's handcrafted, with no selected yeasts or added sulfites, and aged in terra cotta vessels. It's loaded with smoky mineral, concentrated black cherry, black pepper, cinnamon and notes of balsamic herbs framed by solid, velvety tannins. The only criticism is a slight fizzy sensation, but total perfection isn't what this wine is about.
This is an intense, oaky and savory mix of ripeness and power. Although the fruit is muted and understated, the wine is full bodied in style and weight.
This is an intense, rich wine with solid tannins and firm black fruit. Its plum and blackberry flavors are sustained by a structure that promises some medium-term aging. Drink from late 2018.
This is an intense, somewhat unformed vineyard-designate, ripe with sweet tannins that takes on considerable barrel flavors of vanilla and caramel.
This is an intensely aromatic dry wine. It has ripe fruit, a very floral character and only light acidity. This is a classically perfumed Muscat, delicious as an apéritif or with asparagus.
This is an intensely aromatic wine that follows through to a complex palate of white fruit, almond, thyme and fresh acidity. It is dry, with a steely edge, likely to age for several years.
This is an intensely earthy wine, showing a rich bouquet of rose garden, geranium and wild pine. Soft on the palate and supple in tannin, it retains a savory edge throughout, spicy in Asian five spice, nutmeg and orange peel.
This is an intensely floral style of Gewürztraminer, with expressive and pronounced aromas of flower and soap. It lingers gracefully in the mouth, continuing along those lines with flavors to match, then finishes with a graham cracker surprise.
This is an intensely fruity wine that is lemon scented, crisp and very fresh. It has a strong citrus flavor, with touches of orange zest and red apples. Not for aging, this light, bright wine is ready to drink now.
This is an intensely fruity wine, flavored with red currants and perfumed with a strongly herbal character. It is crisp while also ripe. Drink now.
This is an intensely grassy, herby Sauvignon Blanc (100%) that is vividly fresh, with upfront fruit that has a New World character. Grapefruit, green berries, lime juice and white currants all come together. Delicious now.
This is an intensely herbaceous wine that's very crisp, green and mineral driven. It's a textured wine that's tangy, nervy and full of fruit. Delicious to drink now for its freshness, but it will age for 2–3 years. Glass stopper.
This is an intensely herbaceous wine; all grapefruit and hedgerow fruits with a grassy core. It is light, very fruity, clean and crisp; a typical cool climate Sauvignon Blanc.
This is an intensely herbal wine. Its high alcohol doesn't take away from its green fruit, gooseberry and cool taste. Perhaps it does increase the intensity of all these elements, producing a wine that is both rich and also taut and mineral. It does seem to need more aging, so drink from 2018.
This is an intensely minerally, dry Riesling that showcases an array of crushed stone and earth elements against a backdrop of heather floral and yellow stonefruit flavors. It's richly textured and finishes long with a feathery touch on the palate.
This is an intensely perfumed wine, with typical Syrah earthiness and acidity. It is soft, fruity, full of black plum flavors. The wine is ready to drink.
This is an intensely rich wine, opulent although with a sense of texture and a drier core. It's a full bodied, generous wine, fruity and structured. As a contrast, a surprising streak of fresh acidity brings an apple character to the more tropical fruit flavors. The wine should age, so drink from 2017.
This is an intensely spicy wine, full of lychee and peppered pineapple flavors. It's rich, also showing a strong mineral texture. Medium sweet in style, it is packed with ripe fruit with a touch of honey. The aftertaste shows a fresher side. Drink from 2016.
This is an interesting and different wine. It's much lower in alcohol than most Cabs, but completely dry, with a tobacco and sage pull to the black currant flavors. The firm tannins suggest cellar possibilities.
This is an interesting and potentially very beautiful wine that probably needs many more years of cellar aging before it is fully formed. At this young stage it shows raw notes of rhubarb, cola and spice backed by dark licorice overtones. It's drying and tight with jackhammer tannins.
This is an interesting and useful wine, and the price helps make it a bargain. It's pretty close, in texture and flavor, to Pinot Noir, with silky tannins, brisk acids and cherry, cola and cranberry flavors.
This is an interesting and very unique bottling of 50% Tocai Friuliano and 50% Arneis, showing Asian pear, gardenia, honeysuckle and a bit of citrus pith on the nose. The palate is rather oily, but that texture is cut by flavors of Meyer lemon peel.
This is an interesting blend—the proportions are 46% Riesling, 34% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Marsanne. Passion fruit and white currants notes dominate, with hints of tomato stalk. It does taste slightly off dry, fading quickly on the finish.
This is an interesting bottle from sourced fruit (rather than estate-grown). Ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit is matched to ripe tannins; the wine is dark, almost sultry, and the flavors flow seamlessly across the palate. There is a spicy lift and a hint of pickle barrel (American oak?) that concludes the presentation.
This is an interesting bottling that opened up considerably while tasting. The nose displays biscuit, grape and lime notes, and there’s plenty of green apple and sweet-tart citrus in the mouth. It has a nice texture on the palate and closes with a grapefruit tang and chalky notes.
This is an interesting but not perfectly balanced rosé from the celebrated Irpinia area of Campania in southern Italy. The nose of this pretty, pale pink wine opens with sweet aromas of berries and roses. But the mouthfeel shows sharp sourness.
This is an interesting Cabernet because of its balance of rich, plush fruit and exotic, plucky spice. The nose offers cloves, pepper and mocha, and on the palate, flavors of smoke, cracked pepper and plum are inviting. A stylish sip with aging potential.
This is an interesting interpretation of PG. On the plus side is its very low (12.5%) alcohol, making it light-bodied and easy to drink. There's a little sweetness, not too much, that gives a honeyed taste to the lime, grapefruit, fig, green apple and spice flavors. You'll also find a crisp, minerally finish to this refreshing, food-friendly wine.
This is an interesting medium-bodied wine from one of the oldest and largest wineries in the foothills. It is not heavy or rich, but has an appetizing dry flavor and firm texture. It will pair well with food since it has good balance.
This is an interesting red blend made from 61% Shiraz, 27% Petit Verdot and 12% Sangiovese. It's dense yet tight, with notes of small dark berries and tart cherries that are hit by accents of leather, sweet spice and pressed violets. The balance is superb, thanks to medium, well-integrated tannins, ample acidity and a pleasantly fruited finish.
This is an interesting rosé, with a light burnt-orange hue and an orange theme throughout. It's evident from wild, sweet orange on the nose to clementine, orange blossom and orange candy flavors on the palate. There are other aromas such as cherry cough drops and raspberries, while the palate is fruit forward, with flabby acidity.
This is an interesting six-grape blend that's not like most other Chilean specimens. It starts with a leathery note as well as eucalyptus, licorice and lightly minty fruit aromas. It feels cheeky and tannic but mature, with baked berry, raisin and chocolate flavors. Dark, spicy and chocolaty until the last remnants of the finish conclude; this needs lots of air to show its best.
This is an interesting variety choice for Michigan, yet it seems to show some typicity. Muddled stone fruit meets yellow plum and milky, white flowers on the nose. The palate is focused on citrus and pineapple rind while showing good overall balance of acidity.
This is an interesting wine for its earthy mushroom and tea flavors accenting a backdrop of strawberry jam. In its youth, the wine is dry, tannic and acidic, but it may well be an ager; give it six years to come around.
This is an interesting wine that offers a nice perfume but limited flavors and complexity. So what makes it so interesting, you ask? Well, the fact that it's varietal Petit Verdot from the Duero River Valley, which is not common; that and the fact that it's a mind-boggling $200. The wine itself shows a deep color, vanilla and cocoa flavors, and a range of dark-berry flavors. Elegant and provacative, it's not.
This is an interesting wine that offers plenty of Chardonnay pleasure at a fair price. It's dry and creamy, with pineapple, peach and lime fruit flavors, brightened by tart acidity and accented with sweet oak.
This is an interesting wine that pushes the boundaries beyond the usual offerings in California. Blended from Viognier, Vermentino, Verdelho and Sauvignon Blanc, it's dry, tart and complex, with a broad range of citrus, white peach, dried apricot and white pepper flavors. Don't serve it too cold.
This is an interesting wine that shows the creamy pineapple and vanilla flavors of Chardonnay, yet with rich, more exotic notes of cashew nuts, yellow apricots and marzipan. It's full-bodied and almost sweet, yet complex enough for a fine dinner.
This is an interesting wine, with dense and deep layers of chocolate, licorice and other barrel flavors, buttressed with ripe, clean berry-flavored fruit. The alcohol is in balance, and the aromas carry a mix of wild herb, grass and grain. It's impossible to know where this wine will travel as it ages, but it certainly will light up any dinner party conversation in the near term. Best guess? Drink up soon.
This is an interesting, dry white wine from an unusual grape variety. It's more savory than fruity, as the aromas resemble white and black pepper, while flavors are subtle and figgy. The texture is quite rich and the finish lingers nicely. It's very full-bodied for a white, and definitely worth a try.
This is an interesting, outright strange wine that opens with a full golden color and an aromatic veil of smoke, dust or chalky mineral over exotic fruit and peach. One item out of place is the alcohol, which emerges strong in the mouth.
This is an internationally-styled Barolo, with oak-driven aromas of toasted wood and roasted coffee beans. The palate shows black fruit flavors layered with oak, vanilla and espresso, accompanied by astringent wood tannins.
This is an intriguing and unique wine with individual elements that are hard to pin down, but worthy of attention. The Portuguese varietal-led blend shows deep black plum, pencil lead, black cherry and cola on the slightly grapy nose. Cola, root beer and black cherry arise on the thick and chewy palate, which finishes slightly sour.
This is an intriguing combination of 59% Chenin Blanc, 25% Roussanne and 16% Viognier from a range of California regions, including Clarksburg, Santa Barbara and Sonoma County. Barrel-fermented and given some time in used French oak, it offers a tasty mélange of fig, guava and vanilla custard, a viscous mouthfeel and a crisp, complex finish.
This is an intriguing Merlot-dominant blend, with additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. Engaging aromas of red plum and currant take on savory herbal notes of thyme and rooibos. The plush, silky palate houses soft, mellow tannins and vibrant acidity, with flavors matching the nose. Contemplative yet approachable, enjoy this alongside a plate of charcuterie and hard cheese.
This is an intriguing offering, with aromas of crushed flower, herb, orange peel, blue fruit and wet stone. The palate is loaded with fruit and savory flavors that show a delicate styling. The balance is downright impressive.
This is an intriguing red, with its nose of dried fennel, eucalyptus, and rosemary, and on the palate, pretty flavors of cassis and anise. Though gentle, the wine has balance and character. Imported by Wine Emporium.
This is an intriguing wine, with its perfumed aromas of wild flower and cinnamon. The acidity cuts through the delicious apple flavor, and the finish has a great crisp feel. Screwcap.
This is an intriguing wine, with notes of dried sage, fresh herbs, mineral and black tea. The palate offers sweet, dense, layered vanilla, clove and cherry flavors backed by dry tannins. Still young, this wine needs extended time in the cellar to be properly appreciated. Best after 2022.
This is an intriguing wine, with the extraction and the alcohol seemingly dialed back. Somewhat light in color, it brings aromas of fresh herb, sweet spice, cedar and cherry. The flavors are elegant and cranberry tart. It doesn't come off as entirely varietal but there's plenty of enjoyment to be had, especially if paired with food.
This is an intriguing, complex rendering of Sauvignon Blanc. It's reasonably weighty and plush, yet marked by hints of tomato leaf, wet mossy stone and grapefruit that linger on the finish.
This is an intriguingly-spiced wine that shows a cinnamon flavor along with notes of concentrated, rich yellow fruit and lime. It's an exotic wine that will need two years to come together. Screwcap.
This is an intriguingly light, lean and savory wine, true to its extreme Sonoma Coast provenance. The color and texture tip one off to its ethereal nature, a blend of shy cranberry, rhubarb and exotic spice. The long finish highlights the flavors and freshness.
This is an inviting and easy-drinking selection, with friendly aromas and flavors of green gooseberry, orange peel and grass. There's a hint of pineapple-like acidity, though a bit more cut would help to better balance the palate and freshen up the finish.
This is an invitingly floral, textural and rich white wine that's full bodied and lush on the palate. Tropical pineapple, guava and mango are highlighted in deeper, darker tones of honey and caramel, with a foundation of present, integrated oak.
This is an irresistibly tasty wine, bursting with lovely berry and cherry fruits, soaked in deliciously decadent chocolaty barrel flavors. But it's not that simple. Propped up with sufficient acidity, ripe tannins and a slight tilt toward earthy underpinnings, it offers compelling length and complexity also. Drink now through 2022.
This is an oak-aged blend of Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer that opens with a deep, soft bouquet of vanilla, exotic fruit, stone fruit and honey. Pair this gorgeous wine with shellfish or white meat.
This is an oak-aged style of Sauvignon Blanc that brings out more earthy, savory characteristics than fruity ones. It shows a touch of leek and wet stone in the aroma, with crisp fruit and mild oak flavors on the palate, and a nicely broad texture.
This is an oak-aged wine full of ripe red-plum and highly toasted wood flavors. The two do not yet completely harmonize, with the burnt wood still dominating the fruit. Another year should do the trick.
This is an oak-driven Brunello that imparts woodshop aromas of spice, toast, mesquite and vanilla. The wine offers loads of intensity in the mouth and gains momentum thanks to its thick, warming texture. Drink it after 2012 to allow time for those oak aromas to mellow.
This is an oak-driven Brunello with fresh notes of red fruit backed by spicy aromas of vanilla and clove. The wine exhibits dense extraction and concentration but also offers vibrant cherry flavors in the mouth.
This is an oak-driven expression of Aglianico with heavy and deeply penetrating aromas of black spice, mature blackberry and polished granite or mineral. The wine is soft and chewy in the mouth with thick concentration and a long trail of smoke and ash that speaks of the volcanic territory that shaped it.
This is an oak-heavy red wine from Southern Italy that is embellished by aromas of vanilla, toast and spice that sit heavy over a rich core of ripe fruit. The wine is firm and streamlined in the mouth and offers a hint of sour cherry on the close. This vintage represents a huge jump forward in quality compared to 2004.
This is an oak-influenced Ripasso that opens with sweet aromas of vanilla, dark chocolate and espresso bean. Beyond those tones are more traditional elements of cherry, mesquite, Spanish cedar and cinnamon. Sweet fruit nuances run smoothly over the palate and the wine is clean and lively on the close.
This is an oak aged wine that is trying too hard. It's only toast and juicy acidity from wood. It could possibly fill out with fruit although that is unlikely.
This is an oaky but airy Chardonnay with peach, melon and vanilla aromas. The palate mixes fresh acidity and creaminess with oak-based flavors of vanilla as well as more standard melon and banana. The finish features mostly woodspice and vanilla flavors.
This is an oaky Chardonnay with buttered toast and butterscotch flavors that overlay rich apricot, tangerine and tropical fruits. The opulence is balanced with crisp acidity. It's all a bit forward and obvious, but in a good way.
This is an oaky Chardonnay, but the oak has been nicely integrated. The buttered toast notes complement the tropical fruit, peach and lemon-lime contributions of the grapes. Excellent acidity completes the balance.
This is an oaky Merlot that's thick with black olive and blackberry flavors, encased in a wall of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Somewhere in the midst of it all is also a taste of bread.
This is an oaky, seemingly sweet, blackberry- and strawberry-tinged blend of 65% Zinfandel, 30% Sangiovese and 5% Syrah. With an earthy note of sage running through, this is a food friendly wine that'll require a hearty meal to tame it down.
This is an oaky, smoky wine, with cinnamon and hickory notes on the nose and palate. There's also ample pear and melon character along with tropical fruit and spice notes. It's resiny and chunky, but good acidity keeps it lively and balanced.
This is an oaky, woody and somewhat harsh white wine, made with the addition of 8% Sémillon.
This is an obviously wood-aged wine with plenty of toast flavors. This wood aging has flattened the fruit giving a wine that is soft with few tannins. It is ready to drink.
This is an odd and difficult wine. Strong chocolate aromas recall a just-snapped Hershey bar, and are bolstered with a touch of blackberry coulis. Cola and black cherry show on the palate, but play second fiddle to the overwhelming chocolate flavor.
This is an odd duck for Gewürz; lacking any of the floral character generally associated with that grape. It's lemony and slightly sweet, with good acid. It makes a pleasant, if generic white wine to accompany spicy noodles or light seafood.
This is an oddly perfumed and puckering wine, with not much to say in the way of fruit, the oak treatment suggestive of oak chips.
This is an off-dry and lightly structured wine that has a crisp, mineral texture. It is bright, with citrus and apple notes that are cut by tangy lemon peel. The finish is tight and direct; drink now.
This is an off-dry blend of Zierfandler, Rotgipfler and Neuburger—grapes local to the Thermenregion. This wine is now mature but certainly not old. It has mushroom and spice flavors that are lifted by currant acidity that still cuts through the wine.
This is an off-dry Riesling with concentrated acidity softened by a light touch of honey and a delicate floral character. The wine is perfumed, fruity and ready to drink.
This is an off-dry wine with sweet raspberry fruit flavors that have a rustic edge to them. Drunk with ice, its fruitiness goes in favor of fresh acidity. Drink now.
This is an off-dry wine, full of fruit and crisp acidity. It has a soft texture and touches of tropical fruit. The wine comes from vineyards in the south of Vinho Verde, close to the Douro.
This is an off-dry wine, soft with a touch of tannin. It has some attractive acidity to keep it crisp as well as ripe red fruits. Drink now.
This is an off-dry wine, soft with strawberry flavors that are balanced by crisp acidity. It is light and fruity—a fine wine to drink as an apéritif.
This is an off-dry wine, which is not indicated on the label. Honey and lemon flavors partner with ripe pears and lively acidity. The balance is just right, giving a wine that is ready to drink.
This is an off-dry, crisp and fruity wine with lively acidity and an attractive prickle on the tongue. It's a bright wine, as light and bright as possible with citrus flavors bursting from the glass. Drink now.
This is an off-dry, fruity style, bringing luscious pear, orange, golden apple and citrus flavors to the front. There's a hint of orange marmalade, and it has good weight and concentration, along with lovely purity of flavor, right through the finish. You'll be reaching for that next glass before you know it.
This is an off-dry, lightly pétillant wine, with strawberry fruits and light acidity. Drink immediately.
This is an offbeat Moscato-based wine with aromas of peppermint and peach syrup that somehow work in unity. The wine offers soft, creamy fizz and a touch of delicate sweetness.
This is an old-fashioned blend of Zin, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouchet and Grenache. It's high in alcohol, with heady flavors of wild berries, raisins, chocolate, licorice and spice. There is nothing shy about it, and it's best paired with barbecue.
This is an old-style, rustic Zin. It's tannic and high in alcohol, with wild berry jam, currant, spice and heady liqueur flavors. A little pricy, but a sound, robust wine with plenty of forthright character.
This is an old-world-style Pinot Noir that many a Francophile will love. Adorned in spice, earth and herbs, it is light in color and texture, with a deft approach to oak. Dark cherry fruit abounds around a silky, sublime mouthfeel.
This is an onion-skin-colored wine, ripe and showing some maturity as well as rich red and citrus fruits. It is beautifully balanced, the pure, crisp fruit elegantly integrated into the lightly mineral texture. This stylish bottling is ready to drink.
This is an open and fruity wine, made to be drunk young. With its wood-derived spice notes, black currant fruitiness and acidity, it's balanced, elegant and ready to drink now.
This is an open and ready-to-drink wine that has soft tannins and juicy blackberry fruit. With 50% Aragonez in the blend, it is has a smooth character that brings out plenty fruit and not too much structure. Drink now.
This is an open delicious wine, full of red-cherry and red-currant fruit with a touch of minerality to add texture. Some wood aging has smoothed out the crisp fruit and added vanilla to the mix. Drink this ripe wine from 2018.
This is an open fruity wine with attractive red berries and concentrated tannins. It is developing well into a ripe perfumed wine that will be ready to drink from 2017.
This is an open juicy and fruity wine. It has soft tannins and perfumed acidity that is already integrated into the structure of the wine. With blackberry and red plum flavors, it is easy and generous, ready to drink now.
This is an open, fruity wine. It has soft tannins and juicy red fruit flavors. Made to be drunk young, it is just that, bright and rounded and with fine acidity at the end. Drink now.
This is an open, juicy wine with attractive fruit framed by firm but tamed tannins. The wine has a feeling of lightness, with black currant flavors that are lifted and fresh. This is a wine for medium-term aging. Drink from 2015.
This is an open, ripe and accessible wine. With soft tannins and ripe Aragonez and Syrah fruit, it is drinkable now. Berries and acidity complete this fruity wine.
This is an open, soft and ready-to-drink wine. With red fruits, soft tannins and bright acidity that demands food, its warm, easy and approachable.
This is an open, soft, ripe and fruity wine. With a finely integrated tannic structure and plenty of red fruits and acidity, it is a generous full wine that is ready to drink.
This is an open, soft, warm wine. It has some spice, although never excessive, along with gentle acidity and touches of hazelnuts. There are apricot and dried banana flavors and a fine, lifted aftertaste.
This is an opulent ripe wine, named after the four churches in the local village. Full of blackberry flavors that cushion the firm tannins, the wine is generous and finishes with youthful acidity. Structured and dense, the wine will still age well. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
This is an opulent wine from one of the fabled series of white Grand Crus. Along with generous yellow fruits and ripe citrus, it has weight and gravitas. Spice from the wood fills things out even more, giving the wine its balance, its intensity and its future. Drink from 2022.
This is an opulent, rich wine that is full of black plums, powerful tannins and spice. Mourvèdre dominates the palate with its power and exotic aroma, but bright acidity guides a long finish. Still young, it needs several years to develop, so drink from 2016.
This is an opulent, ripe wine that is full of black fruits and firm tannins. It is dense and concentrated with layers of juicy fruit piled over a drier core. It's a full-bodied wine that's still going to develop. Drink now or wait until 2017.
This is an opulent, showy style of a sparkling wine. Notes of honey, brioche, dates and ginger lead to a rich, round texture and vigorous mousse. The finish is a little mealy and sweet but there are plenty who will dig this rich style, particularly once they see the affordable price tag.
This is an opulently lush and bold, full-bodied wine, ripe and soft on the palate with a distinct hit of oak on the entry. It evolves in the glass to reveal crisper notions of green apple, nutmeg and lemon-lime.
This is an orange citrus-tinged wine, fully layered and weighty in apple and pear. Popcorn, corn nuts and toasted oak provide the warmth and breadth of aroma and flavor. This wine is ready for crab cakes.
This is an orange wine, fermented in open tanks. Flavors of oranges and dried fruits are shot through with acidity. The wine has a tight texture as well as spice and hints of its wood aging. Drink from 2017.
This is an orange wine, intentionally oxidized and left in barrel for two years. It's very much like a fino Sherry, with comparable aromatics. What truly distinguishes this effort is the finish that lingers and develops more and more nuances for several minutes. Don't expect anything that resembles Chardonnay, but pair this with salted nuts, meats or fried foods and you will be delighted.
This is an organically farmed blend of Sangiovese (80%) and Syrah (20%) with elegant mineral tones at the back of red berry, smoke and campfire. Elegance and harmony stand out here and the flavors are smoky and ashy.
This is an outlier in the Brian Carter lineup of Euro-style blends, a single vineyard, pure varietal Cabernet. As such, it drills down deeply into the character of Washington terroir as captured in a Cab-friendly site, the Stone Tree Vineyard in the heart of the Wahluke Slope AVA. Dark, deep, concentrated, smoky, with tendrils of earth and rock reaching all the way through the tart and tannic finish.
This is an outrageously appealing wine with aromas of smoke, dried herbs and abundant peppery spices. It's sensuous and layered in feel, with generous dark fruit and black pepper flavors. It shows a profound sense of elegance, purity and detail with a finish that seems unending—a complete knee buckler.
This is an outright steal for a wine of this quality, a remarkable entry into the producer's wider world of knockout designates. Lush and layered, it combines decadent cherry, vanilla and spicy cinnamon-cola over an elegant, medium-bodied structure.
This is an outstanding choice for people who appreciate a really crisp and electric white wine. Lean in flavor and light in body, this wine is bright and refreshing to sip, alive with good acidity and light citrus flavors that light up all corners of the mouth.
This is an outstanding Protagonist, 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Ciel du Cheval Syrah. As with other J. Bookwalter reds, it is loaded with an appealing toast scent, and is amply endowed with black cherry and cassis fruit. This is a luscious wine with terrific concentration and length, finishing with perfectly ripe tannins.
This is an outstanding value in a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir—soft, subtle and spicy, with sweet strawberry and cherry fruit. All neutral oak fermented, the mouthfeel is smooth and supple, and the flavors have a sexy, delicious quality that says “drink me now!”
This is an outstanding value, offering rich and complex varietal character. Raspberry and cherry fruit comes with a vein of licorice, and the texture and depth emulate Willamette Valley Pinots selling for twice the cost.
This is an outstanding wine with blockbuster appeal and penetrating aromas of vanilla, sweet spice and blackberry. The wine exhibits beautiful intensity and soft layers of creamy fudge, sip after delicious sip. The finish is bright and ripe with bursting red fruit. Drink in three to five years. A Marc de Grazia selection; various American importers.
This is an over-soft wine, without real bite or crispness. It is pleasantly creamy, with almond flavors and a full mousse, but the soft character continues right through to the finish.
This is an over-the-top vintage for this wine; it's simply crammed full with floral and fresh fruit flavors. Grapefruit, peach and melon notes are in abundance, all juicy, ripe and resonant. It would be hard to imagine a better or more versatile non-Chardonnay white at this price.
This is an oversized Pinot Bianco, fat and fleshy, oozing with peaches, pears and dried spices. Yet there's a tingle of acidity holding it together, preventing the wine from busting out of its seams.
This is an overtly oaky Cabernet with resiny, balsamic aromas that share space with baked black-fruit scents. The palate feels flabby and fat, with modest tannic grip. Jammy blueberry and cassis flavors end oaky, resiny and jammy.
This is an ripe and fruity LBV that is bottled ready to drink. With black currant fruits that are sustained by acidity as well as structured tannins, the wine is fruity as well as rich and concentrated. It has a reminiscence of the perfumed character that is typical of Taylor Fladgate Vintage Ports while being more immediately approachable. Drink now.
This is an ultra-delicious Cabernet to drink now. It's rich and seductive in blackberry, raspberry, cherry, cola and cocoa flavors, wrapped into softly gentle tannins. Give it a brief decant before serving.
This is an unassuming and easy red from the shores of Italy's beautiful Lake Garda that offers cherry fruit and loads of exotic spice. Its color is ruby red with bright highlights and it offers sour cherry flavors with some bitterness on the close.
This is an unassuming white, crisp and easy to enjoy, from a Sierra Foothills producer better known for Zinfandel. Opening with pretty, floral aromatics of hibiscus and honeysuckle, the palate is high in acidity with a taste of green apple and grapefruit.
This is an unbelievable price for a Napa Merlot of this quality. The wine is softly tannic, dry and rich, with crisp acidity balancing complex flavors of cherries, currants, herbs, violets and cedar. Taste this against Merlots costing five times as much, and it will acquit itself well.
This is an uncommon grape for Virginia, yet nonetheless an interesting showing. Dark, ripe and brooding, this carries blackberry, black-cherry, dried savory herbs and violet aromas and flavors. The palate is dense and concentrated in fruit tones yet a hint of levity appears midway in the form of perfumed violet. Structured, grippy tannins give ample support and depth while streaks of fresh acidity keep everything alive.
This is an unctuously ripe Chardonnay dense with melon, tangerine and even mango flavors. Balanced solidly in acidity and alcohol, it's an impressive, powerfully concentrated wine. Swirls of vanilla, coconut and smoke could still use a few years aging to integrate but it should show beautifully by 2020.
This is an underripe stench bomb with pyrazines coming at you from every direction. The nose is like a bowl of cactus and nettle, while the palate is harsh. Flavors of bitter pithy grapefruit show all that can go wrong with this variety.
This is an unexpected wine, unoaked Baga in the Alentejo rather than its home territory of Bairrada. The result is a wine that certainly hasn't lost its fierce tannins while gaining a rich, full black fruit character. The typical acidity is there, again mitigated by the warmer climate away from the ocean. It's a surprisingly impressive wine to drink now.
This is an unfettered but very enjoyable Amarone, with upfront aromas of black fruit. The palate shows ripe but not exuberant plum and prune flavors, with a hint of chocolate. Pair with seasoned cheeses or braised meat dishes.
This is an unfocused wine that has jammy fruit and soft tannins. It tastes overripe. Not for aging.
This is an unfocused wine with fruit flavors that miss the mark. Only the juicy aftertaste is attractive.
This is an uninteresting wine, dry and acidic, with watered-down raspberry flavors.
This is an unoaked Chardonnay, but it's so rich and forward in fruit, you may not even miss that smoky wood edge. Explodes with pineapple, peach, pear, apple, vanilla, honey and dusty spice flavors.
This is an unoaked Chardonnay, with a fresh and lively bouquet of white flower, stone fruit and lemon zest. The cool-climate Alto Adige growing conditions help develop the purity and intensity of the grape's aromas.
This is an unoaked Sauvignon Blanc but you won't miss the wood at all because it's so delicious. Shows waves of vanilla-scented lemongrass, pineapples and even richer golden mango. All this is accented with lively acidity, and the finish is honeyed. A lovely cocktail sipper or with savory little appetizers.
This is an unsually firm and tannic wine for the varietal, and it will be great to pair with a juicy steak or fresh-baked lasagna. It smells like cedar and cinnamon, tastes fresh but not overly fruity, and has an appetizing texture.
This is an untamed traditional-style wine that is tannic to its core and may require 20 years to reach its peak of enjoyment. It has aromas of blackberry and black pepper, flavors of espresso and bitter chocolate and a titanic structure built with layer after layer of muscular tannins that leave quite an astringent effect on the finish. Best after 2025.
This is an unusual 100% Pinot Meunier Champagne. Its stark dryness is balanced by the natural softness of the grapes to give a rounded wine full of spicy apple balanced by fine textured acidity. Ready to drink now.
This is an unusual blend of 41% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec and 6% Mourvèdre from Phinny Hill and Rock Garden Estate vineyards. Aromas of green pepper, orange peel, earth, dried herbs and cherry lead to plump, mouthwatering savory flavors.
This is an unusual blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Chardonnay and 6% Viognier from a selection of fine vineyard sites, including Maldonado. Baked pineapple, mango, anise and lemongrass ride along tightly grained texture and a tension of acidity, finding a manageable weight of viscosity on the finish.
This is an unusual blend of 72% Syrah with the rest equal parts Mourvèdre and Cabernet Sauvignon. It largely works, with aromas of black pepper, cocoa, coffee, herbs and brown spices. The cranberry and meat flavors offer a sense of balance and restraint along with a pleasing mouthfeel and flavors that linger.
This is an unusual blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Tempranillo. A delectable dose of white pepper makes this wine incredibly inviting on the nose, followed by classically cool-climate aspects of anise, blueberry, game meat and more of that pepper. This wine will sing with tapas of all kinds.
This is an unusual blend of Columbard, Sémillon, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, and it's a nicely crisp white with plenty of fruity flavors that finishes dry. Easy to drink with Asian fare.
This is an unusual blend of Grenache and Pinot Noir, which are not often combined, neither in California nor in France. The winemaker is Jess Pisoni, and he has crafted a highly likeable blush. Pale in color and delicate in the mouth, it has ever-so-slightly lush flavors of orange tea, peaches and vanilla. The acidity is wonderful.
This is an unusual blend of principally Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo and Souzao, along with bits of Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of cocoa, vanilla and green herb lead to tart cherry flavors that seem underripe. The finish comes up short.
This is an unusual blend of Syrah (35%), Malbec (25%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Baking-spice, vanilla, clove and plum aromas are followed by cranberry and cherry flavors that taper toward the finish.
This is an unusual blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne and Orange Muscat—quite different from previous vintages. Crisp and penetrating, it's a mix of lime, melon and kiwi flavors that are etched with skin phenolics, putting some delicious bite into the finish.
This is an unusual combination of Calera and Pommard clones, from a young vineyard amassing an excellent client list, Harper Voit among them. It's made in a soft, full-bodied, supple style that offers a cagey mix of purple fruits, caramel and chocolate. Tannins are smooth and polished, finishing with a light hint of cannabis.
This is an unusual commingling of mostly Rhone varieties, a mix of 75% Viognier, 12% Roussanne and 12% Marsanne, with the addition of 3% Sémillon. Honeycomb and Nilla wafer rise from the nose before a medium-bodied swirl of sour lemon, grapefruit and yuzu give it tartness on the finish.
This is an unusual example of this variety, with aromas of exotic spice, flowers and herb. The palate has tart cranberry flavors that seem lacking in concentration.
This is an unusual limited-production wine from Perdigão's highest hottest vineyard. It is not often to find a 100% Alfrocheiro despite being native to the Dão region. The strongly tannic wine, which spent 12 months in wood, is intensely perfumed with hedgerow flowers and mint while full of dark plum-skin flavors. It has power and concentration and is likely to remain very firm into the future. Drink now or take a risk and cellar.
This is an unusual mix of both Rhône and Bordeaux grapes—46% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah, 13% Cabernet, 11% Grenache, 7% Merlot and 4% Malbec. It comes together in a somewhat diffuse red with good balance, good fruit and highlights of barrel and spice. Very tasty, just not particularly focused.
This is an unusual mix of disparate flavors—some spice, some mint, eucalyptus, lemon, pineapple—all with a rather bitter edge. It falls apart on the finish, with a chemical, paint thinner aftertaste.
This is an unusual New Zealand Pinot Noir in that it spent 36 months in oak prior to bottling. The result is a mature, ready-to-drink wine, with delicate, silky tannins and modest fruit flavors. The oak isn't dominant, but there is a smoky flavor element, along with hints of dried herb, briar patch and mushroom.
This is an unusual rosé for Champagne. It is made 100% from Pinot Noir rather than a blend. And it is made by getting color directly from the fermenting grapes rather than the normal Champagne process of adding red wine. The result is a dark-colored rosé that has a tannic structure as well as red fruits. It is rich and concentrated with ripeness rather than great freshness. It is definitely a food wine.
This is an unusual view of the red Castelão grape, here vinified as a white wine with no skin color at all. Some wood aging adds spice and roundness to what is a smooth, while toasty, wine. Its white fruit and acidity are joined by some tannins. So this wine needs a few more months. Drink from early 2018.
This is an unusual white blend from Mallorca that uses the native Premsal grape along with 15% Muscat. It smells a little funky and sweaty, and while the feel is angular the palate isn't bad. Tastes sort of fruitless, with a bit of green melon. O.K. for a weird wine, but it's hollow and short on flavor.
This is an unusual white made from red Touriga Nacional and white Tamarez. Bright lemon flavors are balanced by notes of apricot and richer fruit tones. Drink now.
This is an unusual wine with aromas of damp herbs, bay leaf, chocolate and citrus. The flavors are sweet and chocolaty with a grainy feel.
This is an unusual, exotic take on Malbec. The bouquet delivers cardamom, sandalwood and spiced black currant aromas. In the mouth, it's grabby with pinching tannins. Blueberry and cardamom flavors end ripe, with decent follow through. Drink now.
This is an unusually complex and intricate wine that has more than simple crispness. It starts with grapefruit and bitter apple aromas and builds toward vibrant but rich grapefruit, mineral and savory consommé flavors. The texture is broad and mouthfilling but well supported and balanced by acidity. A great debut for Berryhill.
This is an unusually complex Shiraz for the price, ably marrying meaty-savory notes with tart berries and plenty of weight on the palate. Crisp structure, finishes long, with lingering acids. Drink now–2018.
This is an unusually elegant wine for Provence, from a tiny, isolated vineyard in the maritime Alps. It's a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, that's gently extracted, crimson in color and filled with intricate, delicate fragrances and flavors, ranging from violets and a hint of iodine to red cherries and maybe even a touch of apricot. Drink now and over the next few years.
This is an unusually firm, structured Pinot Noir for $20. Floral notes and hints of ripe cherries mark the nose, while the flavors feature cherry and vanilla. Probably best paired with slightly fatty or rich dishes, like roast pork.
This is an unusually perfumed commingling of varieties not always seen together, including 45% Tannat, 44% Syrah and 11% Counoise. But it works. Black cherry, black tea and orange peel come together seamlessly on the nose and palate, with a high-toned acidity balancing the 60% new French oak and healthy proportion of whole-cluster fermentation.
This is an unusually toasty Pinot Blanc. Wood flavors add another dimension but cover the natural spice and fruit of the grape.
This is an up-and-coming variety for the state. High-toned aromas of lime leaf and citrus are followed by a lean, almost faint but still but well-balanced palate with a thread of acidity running through it. Pair it with food to see it at its best.
This is an up-and-coming variety for Washington and this wine displays why. Hailing from Olsen Vineyard, it's all about acid and texture, with the sleek starfruit and citrus-peel flavors playing second fiddle. Pair it with shellfish.
This is an up-front fruity wine with tangy acidity and a crisp texture. It is still young, still almost raw in its character and needs a few months to calm down. But it will be an attractive zesty wine full of fruit. Drink from 2018.
This is an upfront and vibrant rosé, showing ample stone fruit and watermelon aromas on the nose. Predominately Merlot, it offers a round and fleshy palate, balanced by a lively vein of lemon. These lead to a juicy peach and jasmine tea finish.
This is an upright, firm wine that's solidly based around dense tannins as well as ripe red fruits. It has a very dry core giving a concentrated texture that means the wine needs to age. Give it 4–5 years.
This is an upscale Cabernet, rich in black currants, mocha and oak, and framed in sturdy tannins. Shows lots of class despite the statewide California appellation.
This is and properly dry, with smooth tannins and high acidity that lends some sting to the palate. The berry and earth flavors lack some intensity. Drink now.
This is another excellent Malbec in Trapiche's single-vineyard series. Aromas of anise and licorice are exotic and a bit unusual, while blueberry, blackberry and herbal hints fill out the bouquet. The palate is full and jammy, maybe a touch soft, with layered flavors of black fruits, pepper and toast. A stocky finish with a licorice reprise shows a spot of heat. Drink through 2017.
This is another fantastic vintage of this Zinfandel, blended smaller amounts of Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah. It offers a wealth of soft, juicy milk chocolate and cherry pie character and is high in acidity and dusty tannin. A beautiful, memorable testament to what this variety can be.
This is another fine Chardonnay from Talley, a great Central Coast producer. This is the second label, and for the price, you'll get a terrific Chardonnay that's creamy and rich in oranges, kiwi fruits and golden mangoes, but bright in acidity.
This is another fine Pinot from Cambria, showing the winery's great price-quality ratio. Words like opulent and elegant come to mind to describe intense flavors of black cherries, licorice, cola, herb tea and Indian spices. It's bone dry, and also quite tannic, but you can enjoy it now with big, rich lamb and beef dishes, or a wild mushroom risotto. Otherwise, it will continue to improve for at least eight years.
This is another impressive effort from Cogno, offering aromas of ripe dark-skinned fruit, fragrant flowers, underbrush and menthol. The firm, precise palate offers dried black cherry, cinnamon, anise, clove, cocoa and mineral set against a tannic backbone and brisk acidity. Give this time to develop even more complexity. Drink 2019–2031.
This is another intensely crafted Sauvignon Blanc from Casey Flat. This wine opens with muted aromatics of orange rind and melon, a swirl of sweet jasmine too. It has a rich, creamy palate that captures the warm climate of the vintage and its provenance.
This is another of Hidalgo's superb 30-year-old Sherries, and this example shows hazelnut, butterscotch and citrus aromas on a lifted, luxe nose. The mouthfeel is just right, with oily weight cut by sharp acidity. Flavors of apricot, orange peel, toffee and almond skins finish long and unwavering.
This is another of the producer's intellectual exercises in experimental winemaking, made in tiny case-production numbers. It offers so much to think about, from its lemony-crisp and tangy palate to its chalky tannins. Full bodied, it merits attention, veering from herbal to chocolaty in one sip.
This is another outstanding vintage for Seven Hills Malbec, clearly one of the best in the Northwest. Dark, concentrated and impeccably focused, this mixes raspberry and cherry fruits with threads of smoke, espresso and dark, roasted wood. The tannins are gorgeous—smooth, powerful and stylish to the point of silkiness. Licorice and dark chocolate put the bow on the finish.
This is another stunner from Pellet Estate, from a high-elevation vineyard within the proposed Petaluma Gap appellation, which is highly influenced by fog and wind. Wet stone notes and a crisp, lemony acidity suggest freshness, neither detracting from body or texture.
This is another take-it-or-leave-it version of Lot 5. As per usual, it's an intense example of Leyda Valley Chardonnay, which means it's super briny and barely ripe. Blazing acidity creates a sense of sharpness, while saline-rich flavors of citrus and oak finish racy in that patented Chilean coastal way.
This is another top-flight example of how good the 2012 vintage was for South Australian Shiraz. The oak here is so subtle as to not factor into the wine's scents of raspberry and cracked pepper. Hints of spice and vanilla mark the palate, gently accenting red berry fruit before ending in a flood of silky tannins. Drink now–2030.
This is anything but a simple Chablis. Made from organically grown grapes, it's smooth, ripe and generous. Old vines in the blend lend concentration—loaded with apple and pear flavors and just the right amount of acidity. It's s ready to drink.
This is appealing for its flavors of fresh-sliced Bosch pear, plus a pear-like graininess on the palate. It has some residual sugar, just enough to round out the acids, and overall it's a nicely balanced wine drinking very well right now.
This is appealing for its richness, but it's heavily oaked with buttered toast and butterscotch flavors that overwhelm the underlying fruit. Too bad, because it's a nice Chardonnay with bright pineapple and orange flavors supported by fine acidity.
This is appealing from the beginning, with fresh raspberry, strawberry and mineral aromas. It feels nice and bright, with flavors of citrus, pink grapefruit and green herb. Finishes with forward acidity and mild flavors of sage and tarragon.
This is appropriately austere for a young Eden Valley Riesling, offering crisp green apple and lime sensations backed by subtle grace notes of wet stone. The finish is long, mouthwatering and almost painfully tart, suggesting it will fare well in the cellar for up to 10 years.
This is appropriately intensely aromatic and flavorful, but the aromas and flavors come across as a bit simple and unnuanced. Modest grassy hints settle easily over white grapefruit flavors, which finish on a slightly chalky note.
This is appropriately light to medium in body, with a tart, crisp finish, but also shows some slightly Sherried aromas and tired fruit.
This is arguably Firestone's best Chardonnay in many years—maybe ever. It's rich, creamy and powerful in Chardonnay flavor, flooding the mouth with flavors of ripe tropical fruit, apricot, buttered toast, vanilla cream and spice.
This is arguably one of the best Paso Robles Syrahs ever. Yes, the alcohol is high, giving the wine some warmth, but it's delicious and complex. It's entirely dry, with blackberry, black pepper, bacon, cola and sandalwood flavors. Ready to drink now, this will pair well with a great steak.
This is arguably the best MC Cáceres has bottled. Dense, smoky aromas of bacon, toast and blackberry are showing well. A concentrated yet balanced palate is home to flavors of ripe black fruits accented by proper doses of spice and leather. A toasty finish is black as night, with coffee and hard spice notes. Drink through 2020.
This is arguably the best of the current Agate Ridge reds. It's a nicely focused Syrah, mixing flavors of raspberry, chocolate and coffee syrup into a ripe bundle. The tannins are supportive and proportionate.
This is arguably the winery's best Merlot ever. While it is not an ager, it is a lovely food wine that's dry, with crisp acidity. It expresses subtle flavors of cherry, red currant, tobacco and sandalwood flavors.
This is aromatic and enchanting, loaded with very pretty scents of citrus blossom and lime. The fruit blends sweet apple, lemon/lime and juicy white peach. It's a luscious Chardonnay that relies on the perfectly ripened fruit to deliver the flavors, and succeeds beautifully. All Dijon clones, with a splash of Viognier lifting up the nose.
This is aromatic and, yes, exuberant in its bright fruitiness and total freshness. It's crisp with a cool character that is expressed in the layers of citrus that dominate the wine. At the end, a tangy texture offers a tight aftertaste.
This is aromatic, with ripeness that balances the bright green and white fruits. Wood and spice notes are followed by a touch of lemon jelly and minerally acidity. It's a wine that is still developing, waiting for the ripe fruit of the vintage to surface.
This is aromatically shy, with soft notes of tropical fruit and yellow stone fruit. The acidity adds interest to this crescendo-building wine: It's easy on entrance but gradually picks up energy as it moves across the palate.
This is as basic as Albariño gets, with aromas of sweet apple and pear. It feels round and a bit soft, with fleshy peach and dry melon flavors. The finish is pithy, with a white pepper note and an indication that the wine is starting to fade. Drink immediately.
This is as close as Malbec gets to a Port-style wine. It is rich, lightly nutty and well balanced between sweet black fruits and acidity, with firmer tannins that promise aging. Drink at the end of a meal, like a vintage Port.
This is as crisp and dry as a whispy reed, with a mild grassy note on the nose. It feels fresh and focused, with lime, peach and apple flavors. Fruity, fresh and easy to like from start to finish, this is what a Best Buy should be.
This is as fine a rosé sparkling wine as has ever been produced in California. Almost 50-50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it has rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, toast and creamy lees, in the style of Champagne, and is completely dry and very crisp in acidity. Fabulously drinkable now, it should develop well over the next 6–8 years.
This is as good a Pinot Gris as this producer has ever made. Apples and stone fruits contribute a fleshy, flavorful mid-palate. Peppery spice and a hint of brioche add complexity and interest. The wine is perfectly balanced and ready to drink immediately.
This is as good as Sauvignon Blanc gets in Washington—a dense, pungent, intensely aromatic and gloriously flavorful wine sourced entirely from the Klipsun Vineyard. Inaugural scents suggest wet hay, new-mown grass, fig and citrus. Following are flavors of pineapple, more citrus, beeswax and a suggestion of bee pollen. This is one of those bottles that empties much faster than you'd like.
This is as good as the best from California—textural, creamy, a delicious mix of lemon custard, meringue, caramel, papaya and toasted coconut. At one quarter the price of comparable bottles, this young wine just seduces from the instant it hits the tongue.
This is as light as Vinho Verde can be. Off dry, fresh, clean and crisp with sweet apple juice, the wine is ready to drink.
This is as perfumed an example of Syrah as you'll find from the Southern Rhône. Hints of herbs, spice and violets accent blueberry fruit in this charming wine. It's medium in body—not that rich but or layered but supple, silky and easily accessible. Drink this through the end of 2015.
This is as serious as Grüner gets. It's a very rich wine, fully structured, packed with ripe apricot flavors with a touch of lime. The texture is dense, mineral still very young. With concentration and young acidity, it needs to age. Drink from 2017.
This is as serious as Provence rosé can get. It is a limited production wine, selected from the best Grenache (75%) and Syrah (25%) parcels. Structured and impressively dense, its red fruits are concentrated, bone-dry and with a textured character. It is ready to drink although it will become richer from early 2016. The Sumeire family arrived in the Sainte Victoire mountain range in the 13th century.
This is as soft as a cushion. Yes, 1999 is a soft, full-bodied vintage, but this expression of the year is too much. What is here is very ripe fruit, with flavors of peaches and apricots, the acidity a suggestion behind the fruit. Drink now.
This is as soft as possible, a gentle view of Sauvignon Blanc. It's an easy, fruity wine that has just a hint of minerality and more of aromatic citrus fruits. Drink now.
This is as tightly closed as a new rosebud, but suspicions of iron oxide and red cherry escape. On the palate this has a northerly, cool aspect and its very own, reticent charm. More iron oxide comes to the fore, along with earthiness and a mix of elderberry and red cherry. If you have the patience to wait until 2017–2018, this will come to you as a grown-up beauty. Its name Samt & Seide—velvet & silk—does it justice indeed.
This is as well-balanced an interpretation of Roussanne as they come in California—proudly plump but not flabby. Light gold in color, it offers caramelized banana, custard, beeswax and apple blossom aromas. A backbone of lemony acidity runs through the palate, buttressed with ripe melon, mango and more tropical fruit flavors.
This is assembled from ten different vineyards, and is the winery's flagship wine. It's a blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 9% Malbec. This wine has a good focus to the mid-palate, a decent amount of sweet cassis fruit, and a soft and lingering, though tannic, finish.
This is at the sweetest edge of off dry (alcohol at 9%, residual sugar 5.1%) and it is loaded with citrus fruit—especially ripe orange—that keeps it lively and refreshing. A well-made, full-bodied Riesling that lingers gracefully through the finish, with a streak of lemon tea.
This is attractive and mature, with a light touch and flavors of currants mingling with almonds. Soft yet tangy, this is very ready to drink.
This is attractive in a bright, fruit-driven style. Bright berry fruit is tinged with apricot and cocoa on the midpalate, then finishes firm and dusty.
This is attractive, fruity and lightly balanced wine. It has great wild-strawberry flavors that are laced with just the right amount of acidity. The finish is tight and crisp.
This is attractive, smooth and well balanced between spice and ripe berry fruit. With its acidity and toasty concentration, it's going to be delicious from 2020.
This is attractively fruity in aroma, accented by smoke and spices. It smells plummy and tastes a bit like wood smoke and black pepper. Medium to full bodied, it is well balanced and just tannic enough to keep the texture firm and appetizing.
This is attractively fruity, crisp and perfumed. With red currant fruits and refreshing acidity, it's fresh and light in character. Drink now.
This is atypically medium bodied for the warm 2009 vintage, with an admirable degree of lightness and drinkability. Tart berry fruit is accented by rose hips and orange zest, then finishes crisp and lingering. Drink it over the next several years.
This is austere on the nose, with a strong animal note riding along. The palate is both jammy and tannic, while flavors of plum and boysenberry turn raisiny as it breathes. A thick, loamy finish tastes baked and jammy, with brawny tannins. This may benefit from more time in bottle.
This is Bacchus vineyard fruit, as per normal – these vines are something like 35 years old. It's all stainless-steel fermented, aged on the lees and finished at 13% alcohol. Fruit flavors of peach and pineapple fill the mouth with round, lightly spicy flavors. It's ripe but not sweet, tart but not too citrusy. Good balance and texture through the finish.
This is Baileyana's top Chardonnay, and the '06 defines what makes Edna Valley such a special place to grow it. Acidity and ripeness are the stars, with bright, explosive flavors of pineapples, pears, Meyer lemons, limes and kiwi fruits. The smoky, spicy oak is perfectly integrated into this delightful wine.
This is balanced and elegant in subtle pear, ginger and lemon. A fine food wine, it's ideal for roast chicken in herbes de Provence or ratatouille. Located in the Petaluma Gap and the source of grapes for several wines, Sun Chase was bought in 2013 by Guarachi Family Wines.
This is balanced and ripe with some firm tannins and spice. The blackberry fruit has a stalky character with plenty of acidity as well as a dry core of tannin. The wine will develop well over the next few years to create a ripe and gently structured wine. Drink from 2019.
This is Baldacci's regular Cab, although most wineries would be content for it to be their reserve. It's a powerful, rich young wine, massive in blackberry, currant and oak flavors, with a succulent edge of milk chocolate. The tannins are pure Stags Leap, giving a complex contrapuntal balance of grip and structure to the opulent fruit. Just fabulous in every aspect, a wine to dazzle. Drink now through 2010, at least.
This is barely sparkling, which gives it a rather weighty feel. Slightly oily aromas and indistinct white fruit flavors finish on the dry side. It's an interesting blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Verdelho.
This is Barlow's Bordeaux blend. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a beautiful wine, dry and balanced and fully ready to drink now, although it will take some years of cellaring. With fine acidity and tannins, it displays elegant flavors of currants and cassis, with rich edges of mocha and cedar.
This is Baron-Fuenté's top wine, made as an expression of pure Chardonnay. It is tight, textured and ready for some bottle aging. The minerality is palpable with its zingy edge and lemon-zest flavors. While the wine can be drunk now, it will be much more complex in a few months. Drink from 2017.
This is barrel-fermented in one-third new French oak. The fruit is perfectly ripe, clean and expansive, running from apple into light tropical flavors. There are light hints of honey and caramel, but, as usual, the fruit is front and center, and the barrels play a supporting role. Previous vintages of this wine have proven to be ageworthy, with a prime drinking window from 2020–2022.
This is barrel fermented, and it's for the consumer who loves the oakier style of Chardonnay. This excellent vineyard has the fruit concentration and acidity to stand up to the barrel flavors.
This is barrel fermented, with noticeable flavors of heavily buttered toast, butterscotch and caramel flavors. Bright with crisp acidity, it also features notes of ripe pineapple, pear, peach and mango.
This is Barton & Guestier's home vineyard and, in 2006, it has produced a finely crafted wine. The balance is all there, with ripe red berry fruits and cranberry juice adding to the firm, dark core of tannins. It is worth aging  for two to three years but is certainly drinkable now.
This is basic and mild as a whole. The nose blends citrus, apple and fresh bell pepper aromas in front of a zesty, medium-intensity palate with standard citrus flavors including lime and orange. For a refreshing quaff this summer, this more than suffices.
This is basic, full-bodied red juice, richly dense on the palate and buzzing in a current of dried herb and meaty game.
This is basically Sauvignon Blanc (with 3% Viognier and Chardonnay). And it's a narrow version, with pungent, sweaty aromas and bitter-leaning flavors that suggest early harvesting in a hot year. A green, peppery finish lacks roundness and full ripeness.
This is basically the same as Gloria's brut, only they added some Muscat and made it a little sweeter. With sugared raspberry, lime, orange and brioche flavors, made brisk with acidity, it will satisfy those who like some plumpness in their sparkling wines.
This is Baumard's entry-level sparkling wine, with ripe, soft fruit, a creamy texture with some attractive weight and flavors of apples and pears.
This is beautiful and rich in blackberries, black currants and dark chocolate, with a warming note suggestive of crème de cassis. It shows terrific concentration and a classy structure that's pedigreed and elegant. The tannins are big, so give it a good decant; drink now and for the next five years.
This is beautiful with bright aromas of wild berry, dried raspberry, citrus zest, ginger and cherry cola. A smoky touch of tobacco or toasted nut is nicely integrated within the smooth and silky texture. Hold for 10–20 years.
This is beautiful with fragrant tones of rose petal, wild berry, lemon zest, ginger and sage. Its complexity is impressive and so is the mouthfeel's polished and fine nature. Age this wine 10 years or more.
This is beautiful, herbaceous Sauvigon Blanc, the signature grape of Styria, in a fine, ripe version, all rich fruits, green apple juice, fresh berries and lively acidity. Glass stopper.
This is beautiful, with smooth, polished tannins and a spice note from the wood aging. It is layered with black plum, chocolate and licorice flavors, along with structure. The fruit is rich and likely to come forward in the next 3–4 years.
This is beautifully airy and buoyant, with thick, lush aromas of red fruit, toasted nut, almond paste, molasses and cola. These aromas emerge as one in a smooth, seamless manner and segue into menthol freshness on the finish.
This is beautifully aromatic and assertively tannic, with monster fruit that overtakes the 100% new oak and shows no hint of heat from the 15.5% alcohol. It's big, yet graceful, with veins of smoke and rock wrapped around the dense cassis and berry fruit. Young as it is, this has immense concentration and depth.
This is beautifully bottled and priced for loftiness, but this reviewer finds the wine to be fiery, ultra acidic and just not that pleasurable. Cheesy aromas set up a palate with blazing acidity. That leads to sourness that adorns flavors of salt and peanuts. Despite the fancy packaging, this doesn't come across as anything better than good.
This is beautifully crisp, with its acidity cutting the tense, mineral texture. It has a light touch, and is perfumed with green apple and pineapple notes that dance on the palate. Age 2–3 years. Screwcap.
This is beautifully lilting in preciously defined aromas of rose petal and wild strawberry. From there, it's all subtlety and ethereal elegance. The wine is restrained, nurtured in a basket of nutmeg and graham cracker, as well as freshly packed mushroomy earth. This wine is a stunner right out of the glass, but is sure to continue its fine course through 2022–2025.
This is beautifully rich and powerful, with tropical fruit flavors and a hint of wood. It has enormous concentration of sweet, ripe white and yellow fruits, balanced by the sharp cut of acidity.
This is beautifully ripe and perfumed, packed with richness in the form of sweet berries and touches of spice. It's already a gorgeous wine, its ripeness lifted by the acidity and given shape by the tannic structure. This powerful wine shows great aging potential.
This is beautifully structured, packed with black fruits, ripe tannins and balanced acidity. It's still young, showing the black fruit side of Malbec, but the tannins are already integrating well into the structure. Age for 4–5 years.
This is beautully concentrated and full of great richness yet seems closed at the moment. Its apricot jelly and dried fruit flavors, acidity and botrytis are in perfect balance, developing intensity as it opens. A full, generous wine with a great future. Drink from 2023.
This is becoming a golden age for quality, value-oriented Oregon Pinot Noir. But within that broad category, there are very few single-vineyard, Willamette Valley entries. Add this to the list. All Pommard clone, 30% new French oak, and a pale, lovely shade of rose, this brings substantial berry, root beer, earth and iron flavors into play. Complex and refined, it has subtle power.
This is becoming a wildly popular offering from the Miller family of Bien Nacido and French Camp fame, and for good reason. Black slate, blackberry and pungent purple fruit power the nose. The palate shows lots of juiciness, but with a plum-peel tang and hints of tobacco. It's not extremely complex, but quite quaffable.
This is big and bacony on the nose, with herbal berry aromas and notes of spice and more. It feels lifted and nervy, with vital, almost volatile acidity and resiny, oak-led flavors of vanilla and black fruit. This is minty, spicy and aggressive on the finish.
This is big and dark on the nose, but also kind of generic. It feels round, flush and tannic, with blackberry, chocolate and a mild bitterness to the palate. The wine finishes big and chewy, but there's a persistent, controlled bitterness to the flavor profile.
This is big and juicy, with extra weight imparted by the wood aging. Its flavors of spice and red fruit are laced with acidity. Full bodied and forward, this is quite drinkable.
This is big and powerful, soft and rounded, with the tannins buried in the foward black-fruit flavor. It's almost too dense for its own good, a blockbuster that has ripe fruit, but misses out on structure.
This is big and strongly flavored. It has a ton of ripe, zingy apricot, mango and orange flavors wrapped into a buttery, creamy texture.
This is big and yellowish in color, which is usually an indicator of strong barrel character. And indeed, it's very oaky and resiny on the nose, palate and finish. But in between the waves of wood spice, vanilla and resin are complexities, fine acidity, good textural balance and sweet, tropical fruit flavors. Drink now.
This is big boisterous wine from Elias Fernandez and Doug Shafer that has been given some nice time in bottle after four years in new French oak. It's a viscous, black-as-night kind of experience. Coconut macaroon and juicy blackberry and blueberry substantiate structured, integrated tannin, finishing with an unexpected elegance.
This is big Fleurie, dominated by floral aromas and dry tannins at this stage, and therefore likely to develop for a year or two. The fruits are dark plum, full in the mouth. The acidity offers freshness but also adds to the weight of the texture.
This is big in fruit, big in tannins and big in the overall impression it leaves. It's enormously rich and ripe in cherry, red currant and cola, sprinkled with dusty exotic spice and a hint of forest herb. The vineyard is the former Maritime Vineyard of the W.H. Smith Winery, whose Pinot Noirs were magnificent and scored highly. This one seems a little heavier than Smith used to produce.
This is big, concentrated wine produced from old vines. It has a dense blackberry fruit backed by layers of firm tannins. Rich and full bodied, it will be better from 2018.
This is big, muscular and very opulent, with its density lying over its minerality. Flavors of black stone fruits and red berries have the intensity of a powerful, age-worthy wine.
This is big, rich, thick wine, dripping with gooey cherry and chocolate flavors. Blended from equal parts Grenache and Syrah, it features some notable tannins, although it's voluptuous enough to drink now. Pair it with barbecue.
This is big, ripe and fruity, with noticeable black- and red-cherry notes. It has balanced tannins and, though relatively dry in character, is likely to develop quickly.
This is big, ripe, chocolate and dark-fruit flavored wine that shows concentrated tannins and dense wood. Blackberry tones are starting to push through to give this impressive wine balance and a serious future. Drink from 2017.
This is billed as the only Chardonnay planted in the coastal Landes region (not a difficult claim). It is soft, ripe and easygoing in character with a hint of citrus and acidity. Drink now.
This is bitter, with hints of sulfur, yeast and almond. It's soft in texture and lacking fruit.
This is black as night, concentrated and shows aromas of asphalt, lemon peel and blackberry. The palate is round and soft, with mellow tannins. The flavor profile is very ripe and focuses on prune and blackberry, while the finish is loamy in feel, with a licorice hint.
This is black in color, and on the nose it's jammy and intense, with slightly reduced blueberry and exotic cumin scents. The palate offers a smooth texture, depth and balance alongside toasty, blackened flavors of berry, cassis and pepper. A chocolaty, lightly toasted finish is a fine ending to this lively, tasty Malbec.
This is Blue Plate's first red wine after a couple successful vintages of Clarksburg Chenin Blanc. It's an impressive wine and one hell of a deal. Light in color with a pretty nose of flowery raspberry and strawberry, it's softly textured and delicious with a long finish, a wine to savor but not take too seriously, simply drink and enjoy.
This is bold and assertive, yet mellow. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, it shows the house style of soft approachability and complexity, offering tiers of blackberry, currant, sage, dried herb and smoky oak. Drink now–2015.
This is bold and bullish, but also acidic and raw in feel. The opening berry aroma conveys a wild side, and the mouth is racy and grating, with the feel of fruit skin and flavors of plum and cherry. This captures the rugged, hard-core side of Maule Carignan.
This is bold for a boxed wine, showing ripe, lightly spicy flavors supported by a firm and moderately tannic texture. It's nearly dry, too.
This is bold in flavor, full in body and quite firm in texture. Aromas are densely fruity, like blackberry and cranberry, while flavors are ripe and deep. A strong mixture of tannin and grape acidity holds everything in rather tightly, especially on the finish. Approachable now, it will mature nicely through at least 2020.
This is bone dry, complex and warm in alcohol. The flavors include blackberries, currants, black pepper and sandalwood, with a meaty, leathery note of beef jerky. Drink up.
This is bone dry, with a tongue-tickling minerality underscoring floral highlights. The honeyed fruit flavors focus around peaches, with good length and a clean, fresh finish with gin-like, botanical complexity.
This is bone dry, with lots of zesty acidity and flavors of sour cherry candy, pomegranate and persimmon, with a mushroomy earthiness. It should change over the next four years, although not necessarily improving. Try pairing it with steak, lamb or a rich cut of ahi tuna.
This is bone dry, with plenty of acidity and tough tannins. It's not offering much relief, despite an evident core of blackberries, currants and cherries. Those tannins really lock the palate down, like a sandpaper straitjacket on the tongue. But you have to consider its origin in Yountville, a cool area noted for ageable wines. It hould begin to resolve its difficulties by 2016.
This is Bordeaux-style blend is quite leathery, both on the nose and palate, with red fruit flavors that quickly vanish into a horsey, bitter finish. Your individual sensitivity to such flavors will determine how much you enjoy this wine.
This is both fruity and deliciously crisp. It has the light touch of the vintage—red fruits attractively balancing with the acidity and the tangy lemon edge. The aftertaste is both fruity and herbal. Drink now.
This is both fruity and mineral driven, a combination that gives intense structure surrounded by ripe black fruit. Chocolate and spice notes come from the wood aging. All of the elements come together in a powerful, full-bodied effort that should age for three years.
This is both intense and rarified. The intensity shows in the deep garnet color, the concentrated berry fruit, and the depth of flavor. The acidity elevates it further, lending sharp details and further brightness.
This is both powerful and elegant, giving great ripe fruit, black berries and dark tannins. It is a solid wine, its fruit packed into a firm structure. It has a delicious juicy character that balances the acidity and tannins. Age for several years.
This is bottled in one of those tall, thin Alsace-type bottles, and while it's technically a dry table wine, it could almost be a dessert wine. There's a sugary edge to the peach, pineapple, honey and wildflower flavors. With crisp acidity, the wine is basically off-dry.
This is box wine taken seriously, even featuring a picture of winemaker Denise Wordenon. Fresh-squeezed blueberry fruit mixes with black rocks, milk chocolate and cedar on the nose, followed by an easy-to-quaff juiciness on the lightly bodied palate. It's not very complex, but perfect for summer barbecues or car camping.
This is brawny, briary and a little high in alcohol, like some of Hendry's Zinfandels. While it lacks the elegance of a great Napa Valley Cabernet, it's certainly rich and creamy, with brambly spice, nettle and blackberry jam flavors. Drink now–2015.
This is Brian Carter's Southern Rhône-influenced blend, which is comprised of 50% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 6% Counoise and 3% Cinsault. Expressive aromas put the emphasis on bright berries that are annotated with baking spice, toast and a hint of forest leaf. This is complex and forward, with excellent balance and structure. The finish fades gently with a hint of anise.
This is Brian Carter's Southern Rhône-influenced blend. The 2009 is 53% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, 4% Cinsault and 2% Counoise, sourced from seven different vineyards. It all comes into focus somehow, yielding a seductive wine with a gentle intensity. Tart red currant, pomegranate and raspberry flavors are lightly spicy and dusted with pretty herbs. Châteauneuf-du-Woodinville?
This is Brian Carter's SuperTuscan blend––Sangiovese-dominated with 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Syrah. Stiff and unyielding when first opened, it rewards decanting with a broader expression of black, tarry fruits, black olives, coffee beans and dark chocolate.
This is bright and citrusy on the nose and palate with a distinctly chalky minerality and delicate, almost lacy, mouthfeel. It's lean and focused with fresh lemon acidity and zest notes  that extend on the finish.
This is bright and crisp, with aromas of hay, passion fruit and citrus. The tangy palate shows classic varietal flavors, including grapefruit, kiwi, honeydew melon and mineral alongside lively acidity.
This is bright and fruity wine that has a smoky character as well as brilliant black fruits and acidity. Aromatic and concentrated, the wine is still developing, still with considerable acidity. That will broaden out as the wine matures to give a rich, always lively wine. Drink from 2018.
This is bright and fruity, with light, fragrant and poised red fruit. It has attractive acidity to balance.
This is bright and smooth, with forward berry fruit and just the right amount of chocolaty oak. Supple and tangy, with a lip-smacking finish.
This is bright in color and loud on the nose, where it's distinctly medicinal and minty, with a strong green component. The palate doesn't differ; it's gritty and heavy in feel, with forced, jammy flavors of mint, grass and bitter black fruits.
This is bright in notes of apple blossom, lemon and lime, with additional hints of mineral and oak. Developing in the glass, it offers flavors of grapefruit and lemongrass from middle to end, while the finish is lightly marked by a honey accent.
This is bright, hot, spicy and (initially at least) showing some high tones that lift the flavors but also attenuate the midpalate. It's aromatic, with sweet cherry fruit, hot and spicy tannins and enough new oak (60%) to add butter and butterscotch to the finish.
This is brilliantly fruity, very crisp and fragrant, with delicious spice, perfumed red fruits and lively acidity. It's very dry, with a fresh aftertaste.
This is brilliantly purple in color, with jumpy, untamed black-fruit aromas. In the mouth, it is tannic and clawing, with a cheek-drilling mouthfeel. Syrupy blackberry flavors offer baking spice and clove accents, while the finish is showing unabsorbed oak and monster tannins.
This is brimming with the tropical fruit, vanilla and honeysuckle flavors typical of Viognier. Dry and elegant, it is ripe, but shows the acidity from the cool 2010 vintage.
This is briny, earthy and pickled on the nose, while the foamy palate offers peach and orange flavors that finish pithy.
This is brisk in acidity and entirely dry, with the low-alcohol austerity of the cool 2011 vintage. The flavors are good but elusive, suggesting cherry skin, smoked ham, tobacco, fresh herb and white pepper.
This is Buena Vista's basic Carneros Pinot, but it's certainly a wine worth investigating. Dry and tart in acidity, it has flavors of cranberries, sour-cherry candy, oak, and earthier notes of rhubarb and heirloom tomatoes that give it savoriness. Drink now until 2015–2016.
This is built for both immediate appeal and graceful aging. It's toasty and chocolatey, smooth as silk, but with the depth and balance for further development. Not a big wine, but quite pretty, textural and detailed.
This is built to impress through its sheer power. With a little Petit Verdot blended in, which adds a floral character, it's marked by an intense flavor of ripe wild blackberries, with a dried berry quality that's suggestive of currants and a liqueur fullness, courtesy of the high alcohol. The French oak is a full 100% new, and is in keeping with the wine's volume. So rich and tannic now, it's barely drinkable. Give it at least 6–8 years in a good cellar and see what happens.
This is bulky on the nose, with meaty, rubbery aromas. It feels more snappy and acidic on the tongue, with zesty acids pushing tomato, red plum and herb flavors. Long and steady on the finish, with additional tomato-based tang.
This is Burgundian opulence, with generous, rounded black-fruit and -berry flavors. Supporting this richness are the tannins that will allow the wine to age. From Louis Latour Domaine vineyards, it has a solid, dense structure that needs plenty of time. Drink from 2027.
This is bursting with brown baking spice highlights, in aroma and flavor. Moderately plump fig and cherry fruit flavors thin out in the finish, but don't quit. An hour of decanting is a big help.
This is but the second vintage in the states of this rich, internationally styled Sangiovese from this catch-all DOC near Montalcino. It's chewy, thick and packed full of black plum and blackberry. Full yet nonaggressive tannins solidify the balance, while potent hints of bitter chocolate and coffee rise up on the finish.
This is buttery to a fault, with the overpowering aroma of microwave popcorn. Once in the mouth, the simple fruit flavors are buried, and the finish leaves a lightly bitter impression.
This is by far the most expensive of Duckhorn's new releases, but it's not the best to drink now. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, it's easy to imagine the winemaker singling out the most tannic and concentrated lots, but what you get is, simply, a very tannic wine. There's a gigantic core of blackberry and black currant fruit, but it's hard to appreciate because of the astringency. The suggestion is longterm aging, but there can be no guarantees.
This is Cáceres' bread-and-butter red Rioja, and the '04 is fruity, light and very approachable. The nose shows some cotton candy and other bouncy red-fruit aromas, while the palate is easygoing, fleshy and balanced by a beam of juicy acidity. Along the way, you'll pull out flavors of cherry, raspberry and a finishing note of bitter coffee.
This is Côtes-du-Rhône, California style. A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise, it's a dry, rich, full-bodied red wine, flooded with easy-to-drink cherry, blackberry, blueberry and oak flavors, and a wealth of Provençal rosemary, lavender and thyme. Drink now for its soft, youthful purity.
This is Cabernet Franc at a perfect moment. It has a solid tannin and fruit base that gives a feeling of weight. Ripe red fruits are bolstered by acidity, toast and a smoky nature that leads to a juicy finish. Drink now and until 2018.
This is called a “white from Malbec” because it spends little time on its skins during maceration. The color is translucent pink, and the nose is pure wood smoke and minerals due to six months of barrel fermentation and aging. As a result of this unusual methodology, wood resin, sawdust, vanilla and creaminess cover the nose, mouth and finish, while fruit characteristics are hard to locate.
This is called Old Ghost because the fruit used to make the wine is sourced from old vines. It's big, thick and dense, with layers of ripe blackberry, tar and smoky oak. A cigar smoker's kind of wine, this is a grand old Lodi Zin.
This is called Roble, meaning oak, for a reason; the nose is extremely smoky, toasty and gritty, with stalky cherry and cassis scents and a blast of animal hide. A racy, firm palate delivers saucy, stalky, herbal flavors of tomato, red plum and cherry, while the finish feels good and juicy but tastes woody, stalky, herbal and low on ripeness.
This is called sweet and that's what it is. The candied sweetness is balanced by some acidity to keep the wine crisp and fruity. It will be fine as an apéritif. Drink now.
This is Cape Mentelle's biggest selling wine in the U.S., and one taste makes it clear why. It's got some of the herbal and passion fruit notes of Sauvignon Blanc, balanced by the strong citrus of Semillon. It's clean, crisp and long on the finish, with a lightly silky texture that lingers. Drink now.
This is Capture's unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, although it was aged on the lees, lending the wine a rich creaminess to the very ripe lemon, lime and tropical fruit flavors, which taste a bit sweet on the finish.
This is Casal Branco's branded wine, designed to be drunk young. And that's exactly how it tastes, with bright, lively fruit, soft tannins, a very light vegetal hint, and a soft, almost jammy aftertaste. Highly enjoyable.
This is cedary and dry smelling, with more spice than fruit aromas. It feels crisp, tight and acidic, with flavors of raspberry, red plum and forced spice coming from the heavy oak. Dry, oaky and spicy on the finish.
This is certainly a rich wine, the yellow peach flavors ripe and concentrated. But there is also a hard core where the botrytis dominates and makes for a tight character. It is missing charm.
This is certainly dramatic in structure, akin to a young Pauillac from Bordeaux, with concentrated currant, cherry, pencil lead and cedar flavors wrapped into youthfully hard tannins. It needs time, and should soften with increased complexity by 2009. Could reward with even longer cellaring, but '04 was not a great vintage.
This is certainly dry, as stated, but it doesn't have the texture and stuffing that the best dry Rieslings bring to the show. Simple and straightforward lemon and grapefruit flavors tell the whole story, and those high acids leave a sour impression.
This is certainly one of Testarossa's best 2011 Pinot Noirs. The winery purchases most of its fruit, but in this case, the vineyard is co-owned by Testarossa, and winemaker Bill Brosseau had complete control in the vineyard. The wine is gorgeous, complex and ageable. Beyond the exquisite raspberry and blueberry fruit is a mineral-derived savoriness that makes it firm in the mouth. Gorgeous now, this single-vineyard wine should age well for at least 12 years.
This is certainly powerful, maybe too much so. It has all the richness and density of ripe and perfumed Malbec, solid with structure, with dark plums and enormous concentration. It is 100% Malbec, aged in new French oak barrels, fulfilling the brand's theme of “one family, one terroir, one grape.” No question, this is a wine to age. Drink from 2020.
This is certainly rich, packed with youthful green- and white-fruit flavors, but it still has that seductive elegance that is the hallmark of Deutz. Here is a wine that definitely needs aging. It has richness but there is still a raw edge.
This is certified organic, from one of Oregon's leading vineyards. Somewhat muted in this cool, wet vintage, it's nonetheless a sturdy effort with a potent herbal component. The stiff red fruits conjure up a tart cranberry and cherry mix.
This is Chardonnay from the same region as Muscadet giving it a crisp salty character that has been filled out with some oak aging. The wine is ripe, spicy with a mineral character that comes from the granite soil. Drink now.
This is Chardonnay with small amounts of Pinot Grigio and Viognier. The nose is nutty, oily and low on fruit. In the mouth, it's racy and citrusy in character. Flavors of orange, papaya and passion fruit are basic, while the finish is fresh and juicy, with tart flavors.
This is charred and burnt smelling, with a rubbery, hickory aroma that covers up the wine's cherry and berry scents. The palate bears flavors of raspberry, pie cherry and green herb, finishing quick as a flash, with tannic residue.
This is charred smelling, with herbal, jammy, heavy aromas of mocha, coffee and berry fruit. It feels syrupy and cloying, with heavy extraction, borderline overripeness and sweet flavors of brown sugar, mocha, baked blackberry and oak. Warmth and a note of carob dominate the finish.
This is chewy and tannic, with sharp edges around cranberry fruit. It's blocky and one-dimensional, but solid and substantial. If Pinot Noir can ever be a steak wine, this is it. A touch of anise and coffee winds it down through the finish.
This is Chimney Rock's best Stags Leap Cabernet since the 2005, and continues a string of successful vintages. Dry and smooth and silky in the mouth, it's pretty tannic, but very rich, offering waves of cherry, blackberry, blueberry, cocoa and sweet cedar flavors. Absolutely delicious, wonderfully elegant, and should age well for a decade.
This is Chris Gorman's first white wine; it has been babied and it shows. The wild yeast fermentation in 100% new French oak really piles on the rich, butterscotch flavors, along with toast, spice, nutmeg and caramel. But there's fruit to match, powerful and thick, with impressive length and weight.
This is chunky and mossy on the nose, then thick and chewy in the mouth. It tastes of blueberry and herb, with a rubbery note on the finish. A meaty quality runs throughout.
This is citrusy and also a bit tropical on the bouquet, and together the aromatic mix is appealing. A fresh mouthfeel is a bonus, and standard Torrontés flavors of melon, lychee and banana finish with balance and bright acidity. This hails from La Rioja, and it captures most of what's good about the variety.
This is classic Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—in an old-fashioned way. That's not a back-handed compliment, it's a testimony to the wine's dryness and herbaceousness, and the soft quality of its tannins. The blackberry, olive and cedar flavors are delicious, and the wine will develop bottle complexity over the next 10 years or so.
This is classic and fun, bold and fruity, with weight coming from the firm tannins. Pair this with food.
This is classic Beringer Private Reserve Chard, ripe, oaky, lush, balanced and utterly delicious. There's a lot of everything, from massive tropical and citrus fruits to creamy lees. The malolactic fermentation helps make it buttery and 80% new French oak brings buttered toast and vanilla-bean richness. Balance comes by way of acidity and minerality.
This is classic Cabernet, from the reticent aromas of pencil shavings to the restrained flavors of cassis and cigar box. It's on the full-bodied side of the spectrum, with enough dusty tannins to suggest longevity through at least 2020, despite an already velvety finish.
This is classic Chilean Cabernet. It's intense in color, with herb, graphite, licorice and blackberry aromas. The palate is solid, maybe a touch tannic, with oaky, beefy flavors of black fruits, anise and herbs. A solid-feeling, wholesome finish with modest complexity is the final act. Drink now through 2020.
This is classic Dry Creek Zin—robust, heady, rich in tannins, spicy and insanely flavorful. Explodes with briary, brambly wild berries, mocha, tobacco, anise, dried pine needles and exotic sandalwood notes. Really delicious now, and should age well over the next 10 years, gradually mellowing and shedding fruit and tannins.
This is classic Edna Valley Pinot Noir: dry, light bodied, with crisp acidity, modest alcohol and forward flavors of raspberry, cherry and cola. Production was just shy of 2,500 cases.
This is classic in herbaceous aromas and flavors, rich in juicy blackberry and blueberry while also offering savory pencil shavings and dark chocolate. Leathered, firm tannins complete the picture, providing structure and integration to a wall of well-managed oak.
This is classic juice, hard and packed with power, showing dark fruits laced with mocha and spice. The chalky tannins are the only quibble, but this wine will improve for at least a decade in your cellar. —P.G.
This is classic Merlot at a great price, with notes of black plum, cherry, blackberry and licorice on the nose and mouth. Balanced and softly textured with medium tannins and a solid, clean finish. Drink now.
This is classic Oregon Pinot Noir at its most svelte and stylish. Fresh and clean upon entry, it showcases its raspberry and cherry fruit in a delicate wrap of leaf and bark. The tannins are in perfect proportion; the finish is complex and intriguing.
This is classic Petit Verdot in Portugal: dark red, structured and firmly tannic with great fruits. The grape, normally found in Bordeaux, seems to be very much at home in this schist soil and hot climate of the Douro. Its tannins are there, but the blackberry fruit and acidity are just as important. Drink this from 2018.
This is classic Pinot Blanc, with pretty white flowers on the nose, a slight spritz enhancing lemony flavors in the mouth and a crisp, refreshing finish. Perfect for poolside sipping, particularly if there is some fish on the grill.
This is classic Priorat from the opening gun. The nose is schisty on top, with molasses, spice, herb and stewed berry aromas below the surface. It's a spunky, racy wine with flavors of tomato, red plum, hard spice, pepper and tobacco, and the finish feels good and shows no detectable faults. Drink now; 80% Garnacha and 20% Carignan.
This is classic Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, with its dark color, full body, ripe berry and currant flavors and, especially, the array of exotic crushed brown spices. New French oak brings lots of smoky, buttery, toasty richness. Great to drink now with tuna, salmon, lamb and beef dishes.
This is classic Three Palms Merlot—as excellent as anything Duckhorn has ever produced. It shows the hard tannins that always mark the winery's Bordeaux-style red wines, but it's luscious and deep in berry fruit, licorice, grilled meat and cola. It should have no difficulty negotiating the years. Give it until around 2015, but if you can't wait, at least decant it for a few hours.
This is classic Vinho Verde from the Quinta das Arcas estate. It balances crispness with light sweetness and sparkle. Acidity and an apple-skin texture give it a dancing quality. Screwcap.
This is classic Washingon Merlot; plush with dark and smoky fruit, a supple and muscular mouthfeel, and broad flavors of plum and cherry. The generous (80%) use of new French oak adds plenty of chocolate and spice. Klipsun fruit can sometimes be rough and tannic, but here it is supple and almost soft, like real Corinthian leather.
This is classic Washington Chardonnay, from the winery that first put it on the national map. It's beautifully built upon ripe apple, pineapple and kiwi fruit, with proportionate acid and lovely, lightly toasty oak. The alcohol is 14.3%, and the wine strikes a perfect note of weight and density, without being fat or fatiguing.
This is classic Washington Merlot, with flesh and a full-bodied middle. It offers a generous palate of cherries and berries, trailing into light tannins with a streak of green tea and coffee. The wine is balanced and bright, with lightly lifted aromas and a solid midpalate.
This is classic wine drunk in the bars of Nantes with oysters. It is so crisp, light with an almost shocking amount of acidity. It is very fresh, with strong citrus fruit and just a light prickle on the tongue. Drink now.
This is classic, off-dry Vinho Verde. With its light prickle, crisp fruit that has a tangy lime and lemon character that comes through the candy flavor, it is a refreshing, light wine.
This is classic, ripe and creamy Alvarinho. It has a mineral edge to keep the boisterous yellow fruits and ripe perfumed flavors in order. The wine is ready to drink, full of fruit and freshness.
This is classically proportioned in the warm-climate style. It provides a textbook example of the variety's inky black and purple color, rich, thick tannins and elaborate flavors. These flavors include profoundly ripe summer blackberry and mulberry, smoky, umami-rich bacon and sweet sandalwood. Full-bodied and dry, this is a wine to warm the blood on cold winter nights.
This is classy in every way, from the label to the aromatics to the mouthfeel to the elegant finish. It's a New World take on a Sancerre rouge: delicate and bone dry, yet substantial and utterly delicious. Citrus rind, persimmon, strawberry and a hint of chocolate combine, with a lingering graceful finish.
This is clean and brisk in lemony acidity, and it offers concentrated, complex flavors of honeyed pineapples, limes, oranges and mangoes. It's dry and finessed.
This is clean and fresh, with bright scents and flavors of pomegranate and raspberry. It feels good in the mouth, showing youthful punch and presence; the score could rise with another year or two in the bottle.
This is clean and lively, with soft aromas of fresh grass, gooseberry and green melon rind that carry through to the palate alongside hints of underripe mango and kiwi. The acidity is bright and refreshing, resulting in a mouthwatering finish.
This is clean on the nose, with blackberry and plum aromas. It feels full and solid, bearing flavors of black cherry and dark plum, with a meaty undertone. Mint, spice and black fruit notes carry the finish.
This is clean, fruity and appealing, with no aromas or flavors of heavy oak or weedy, roasted fruit. It offers cherry and berry flavors, with a healthy, quick finish that ends on a vanilla and mild spice note.
This is clean, refreshing white blend at a realistic price. Grapefruit and fig aromas lead the way, followed by a plump mouthfeel and flavors of ripe fruit. Drink now.
This is clearly aimed at consumers who seek maximum power, aggressive tannins and the dark end of the flavor spectrum. Though down a bit from the 15.5% alcohol in 2012, it's still substantial. Dry roasted dark fruits are covered in brawnier flavors of coffee grounds, chocolate and graphite. Tannins are granular and carry some heat through the finish.
This is clearly an elegant Chardonnay, well grown and made to impress. It's rich, dry and creamy, with a good hit of acidity accompanying oak-influenced flavors of tropical fruit, pear and peach.
This is clearly labeled as "Certified Sustainable," although, to be fair, a lot of other New Zealand wines are also sustainably produced. Once past the labeling, 's a light- to medium-bodied wine, with slightly vegetal notes of nettles and garden peas that add nuance to refreshing citrus flavors.
This is Clos Pegase's basic, least expensive Cabernet, but it shows the effort proprietor Jan Shrem has put into the winery and vineyards over the years. It's quite a good wine, rich with gorgeous tannins framing ripe currant, cassis, chocolate and licorice flavors. At its best now and for a few years, this 100% Cab is, in a word, luscious.
This is Clos Pegase's estate vineyard on the Napa side of Carneros, and it has a consistent track record of producing delicious Pinot Noirs most of the time. The 2006 is classic, a silky, elegant wine. Although it's a little light-bodied, it brims with savory cherry, currant, cranberry, licorice, smoky oak and cinnamon spice flavors.
This is close to dry in style, with its baked apple and spice flavors supported by stony, mineral notes and ample (12.5%) alcohol. It's fairly full-bodied for a German Riesling, finishing with hints of mineral oil that cling to the palate. Drink now.
This is cloudy to the eye, with a mix of vinegar, briny plum and milk chocolate on the nose. The mouthfeel is blowsy, while the flavors are briny and pickled.
This is co-fermented Old Stones Vineyard and Cailloux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Syrah (40%), showing the funk of the terroir and less of the varietal character of the fruit. It's flavorful and textural, with earth, anise and smoke notes, plus a mineral-driven wet-stone base and exceptional length.
This is Cohn's reserve-style Chardonnay and it's easily their best since the 1990s. Made from two vineyards in the cool Carneros district of Sonoma, it's ripe in pineapple and green apple flavors enhanced with the toast of oak, the creaminess of lees and the buttery softness of malolactic fermentation. Easy to drink with opulent fare such as crab.
This is completely dominated by oak. It doesn't have the fruity richness to support the toasted notes and invasive wood sensations. It finishes on an astringent note.
This is complex and compelling. A spicy, minty, thyme-like character comes out in the aroma and continues in the flavor, most likely from some new barrels used in aging the wine. It's an attractive characteristic, and complements the bright cherry flavors, medium body and quite firm tannins.
This is complex and powerful, with its energy directed equally at the concentrated tannins and at the ripe damson and plum fruits. It's going to be a delicious wine—the wood element smoothing the firm edge. Age for at least five years.
This is complex and rich in blackberry and cherry jam, dark chocolate, anise and sandalwood flavors. The acid-tannin structure is especially noteworthy, giving it a firm, elegant mouthfeel. Ready to drink now.
This is complex and ripe but also mineraly and very structured. It offers many facets of the village: its richness and its strong sense of terroir. Bright, clean and fragrant on the finish.
This is complex wine, still young, with intense fruitiness and a tight, tense structure. Flavors of oak aging are subtle, just giving extra richness to the wine. It needs to age, allowing its fruit and textured elements to come together. Drink from 2017.
This is complex, delicious, bold and tannic, bringing the big structure that is expected without being heavy handed. It offers concentrated blackberry and fig aromas, richly jammy flavors that stay dry and a tannic but not tough texture.
This is complex, ripe and full of sweet raspberry fruit. Impressive and dense, it's balanced with acidity and a tense tannic structure.
This is comprised of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Syrah, 5% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, with much of the fruit sourced from Mendocino and Lake counties. While its aromatically strong in Syrah, the wine's flavors lean more toward Cabernet, with cola, spice and black fruit notes atop layers of softened tannins. The finish is Rhône-like: meaty, with a strong dash of pepper.
This is Concannon's second vintage of Crimson & Clover—a Petite Sirah-based blend. It offers good value and sweet, smooth flavors, with a hint of licorice and dark chocolate running through.
This is concentrated and complex, with hints of flower, citrus flesh and rind, gooseberry and chamomile. It's labeled Columbia Valley but the Evergreen Vineyard, from where the grapes are sourced, sits in the heart of Washington's next likely American Viticultural Area—Ancient Lakes.
This is concentrated and dark in color, with chocolaty berry and plum aromas. A full-bodied, plump and oaky palate houses milk chocolate and herbal blackberry flavors, while a healthy, driving finish with residual oak winds things down.
This is concentrated and rich, almost oily. Dense aromas lead into a mouthfilling wine with flavors of ripe banana, Meyer lemon and candied pineapple. It's on the edge of sugary, with a slightly grainy mouthfeel, and finishes a bit off-dry.
This is concentrated and ripe, with its fruit sublimated into a tense, mineral texture, layered with equally intense acidity. It has power, with the fruit lending a rich, full-bodied finish.
This is concentrated and stout on the nose, with roasted black-fruit aromas bolstered by coconut, tobacco and cool-earth accents. The palate is thick, rich and layered with black fruit extract and tannin, bearing flavors of dark plum, baked blackberry, savory spice and BBQ sauce. It's smooth, deep and long on the finish, with notes of coffee, vanilla and mocha. A monster wine with class. Drink now through 2018.
This is concentrated fruity and very spicy. It has an intensity of fruit flavor, its nutmeg character balanced by crisp green apples, pear skins and a great depth of acidity. Screwcap.
This is concentrated, but it's all structure at this stage. It has rich black fruits that lie under the dense tannins, with a potentially rich powerhouse of flavor. It needs at least six years of aging.
This is concentrated, rich, full of blackberry fruits and layered with just the right balance of tannins. Chocolate and sweet fruits are given point by toast and an edge of spice.
This is concentrated, with black plum and damson flavors that are balanced by firm, dense tannins. It has a dry, solid core, with a more perfumed character that merges with the acidity.
This is concentration in a glass. The wine, from a fine vintage, is hugely rich, very dense and tannic. All this power, though, is not at the expense of elegance. The wine has great style and a sense of place, with a strong mineral character. It almost tastes of the granite and old rocks of the vineyard. Keep this wine and don't drink before 2019.
This is consistent with the other 2007 reds from Camaraderie. Fresh, forward red fruit comes up quickly, but stops abruptly, with a wash of astringent acidity. Many hours of breathing failed to open up the flavors further.
This is consistently one of Zaca Mesa's best Syrahs of several bottlings they produce every vintage. The mildly cool year was kind to the fruit, giving controlled blackberry and black currant flavors that are wrapped in refined tannins. The wine finishes with a swirl of smoke and peppery spice, plus a touch of warmth from the alcohol. Drink now–2015.
This is cool-climate fruit, from a vintage the winery describes as “the coolest year we have ever seen.” Nonetheless they have made a good wine, with balanced scents and flavors. It's definitely herbal, but also brings some cured meat and tart, wild cherry flavors into play.
This is cool-coast Chilean SB from front to back. Vegetal-leaning aromas of asparagus, cactus and lime are what the Paredones microzone has become known for. This tastes slightly pickled and intense, with coastal green-fruit notes leading the finish. High acidity ensure that this is super racy.
This is cool and restrained, with peppery flourishes layered over raspberry fruit. Rather than being massive or intense, it's medium bodied, perfumed and elegant, with hints of dusty tannins that build slowly on the finish. It's approachable now, but should age well through at least 2023.
This is cool climate Cabernet, ripe but relatively delicate, with just a herbaceous touch. The texture is dry, firm, with structured tannins. It leaves an aftertaste of aciditity.
This is cool, earthy and tight on the nose. Then it opens and blooms, with classy roasted notes that set the stage for a smooth-rolling palate with bold blackberry, herb and chocolate flavors. By the time it finishes, complex bitter-chocolate and toast notes have taken over. This is primed and ready to drink.
This is Coppola's best 2011 Pinot Noir, out of several produced under different brand names. It has a stylish mouthfeel of silk and satin that's pure Pinot. Meanwhile, the flavors are lush, suggesting oak-influenced raspberries.
This is Corley's first Pinot Noir since 1999 and it's delicious. Grown in the cooler Oak Knoll District, it shows Pinot's opulent side, with a silky, velvety texture framing ripe cherry pie, red currant, licorice and smoky oak flavors. Best now through 2010.
This is crafted from the oldest vines, planted a quarter-century ago. Toast and caramel flavors wrap around lightly roasted raspberry/strawberry fruit. Highlights of rose petals and cola come into play, as this reserve-level effort shows both grip and persistence.
This is creamier than the norm thanks to its tight, persistent bubbles that feel frothy and soft in the mouth. Lemongrass, fresh field flowers, citrus and white stone characterize its typical Prosecco aromas.
This is creamy, elegant Ribolla Gialla that offers soft tones of peach, melon, yellow rose, vanilla, honey and bee's wax. The wine tastes fruity and fresh and has enough consistency to drive its flavors over a long, satisfying finish.
This is crisp and attractively citrusy, with a touch of caramel. It's bright and fruity, with apple and lemon flavors that are well integrated with the piercingly refreshing acidity. Screwcap.
This is crisp and fresh medium-sweet wine. It is bright with red-currant acidity and ripe with a strawberry and cream flavor. The wine is clean, lively and, of course, ready to drink.
This is crisp and lemony, with intense acidity. It has a spicy note that gives the wine an exotic character, enhanced by lychee fruit. The wine is full in the mouth, really fruity and crisp at the end.
This is crisp and pure with Edna Valley intensity, offering complex waves of raspberry and cherry pie, savory spice and exotic sandalwood flavors that are girded with tangy minerality. Drink now with steak, lamb or tuna.
This is crisp and refreshing, although it shows little of the complex aromatics that some Rieslings obtain. Scents and flavors of green apples and white peaches carry through onto the modest finish.
This is crisp and refreshing, with pretty endnotes of lime, wild flower and honeydew melon. It's an easy-drinking Vermentino that should pair well with sushi rolls or tuna tartare.
This is crisp and tangy, with a slightly beer-accented nose. Cucumber and apple flavors are found, with a touch of canned asparagus.
This is crisp in acidity, tasting slightly sweet in citrus and apricot jam, with notes of green pepper and gooseberry that provide balancing complexity. It has the versatility to pair with a wide range of foods, including Asian-style fare and roasted chicken.
This is crisp with a steely edge. From a single vineyard, it is a blend that is dominated by Chardonnay, the wine is tight with a texture that suggests it needs to age in the bottle. There is plenty of fruit but it just needs to soften.
This is crisp, bright, and apple-flavored, it's a lively and fragrant blend of Muscat, Riesling and Pinot Gris. There is great acidity, plus a spicy, aromatic element and a crisp, floral finish. Screwcap.
This is crisp, clean and light. It is fruity with green apple flavor, and it has a tight texture. The finish is floral and aromatic. Screwcap.
This is crisp, fruity with apple and citrus flavors. It is a lively, fresh wine, layered with intense acidity and a lightly mineral texture that allow it to pair well with food.
This is crisp, tight, still young. Hedgerow flower aromas are sustained in the fresh character of the wine. Zesty lemon shines while the steely, tight texture is still closed and waiting to blossom. Drink from 2015.
This is crisp, with a floral aroma and minerality on the nose. It's lively and solid in structure, with dark fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate flavors. Things become more herbal upon closer inspection, with some warmth on the finish.
This is crisp, with citrus and red apple fruits that are heightened by the taut structure. Nervy acidity adds to the tense feel while judicious layers of wood warm the finish. For long-term aging.
This is crisply defined, dotted with cinnamon, and features tart pomegranate,  cranberry and strawberry fruit. The sleek tannins frame a long, sturdy finish.
This is crystal clear, fleshy and ripe, yet still graceful and refined. Mixed stone fruits are cut with yellow apple, the acids are natural and perfectly integrated. The wine was barrel fermented in a 50/50 mix of new and neutral, and there is just a hint of caramel in the extended finish.
This is crystalline Vernaccia with bright aromas of pear, citrus and a touch of white peppercorn or natural rubber. It goes down in a fresh and clean manner and ends with a citrus crispness.
This is currently very dry and austere due to its tannins, but it's impressive for its noble structure and deep, complex flavors of blackberries, cranberries, brown sugar and spices.- With such depth and a long finish, it's clearly a cellar candidate. Don't even think about opening it until 2017, at least.
This is dainty and pretty, with solid floral aromas of peony and orange blossom that lift the pear and hard peach fruit backbone. Vibrant acidity keeps the palate fresh and the finish clean and mouthwatering. Drink now.
This is dark and brooding, showing earthy aromas of tilled earth, leather and farmyard. The palate is big and ripe, with black fruit, nutmeg and white pepper flavors.
This is dark and brooding, with fragrances of blackberry, raisin and exotic spice. The palate delivers a ripe black-cherry flavor, with well-integrated notes of toast and espresso. Pair this with savory risotto dishes.
This is dark and firm with a tough, austere character. It has weight, but the bitterness of too-much extraction gives a hard edge. The juiciness at the end doesn't compensate.
This is dark and firm, with sufficient fruit to promise a rich future. The wine has ample weight, a solid, dense core and a juicy outer layer. Good for 3–5 years.
This is dark and pointed on the nose, with graphite, mint, peppercorn and creamy oak aromas supporting herbal berry fruit scents. The palate feels lush and almost airy, with soft tannins and baked black-fruit flavors accented by chocolate and coffee. An earthy finish with licorice and mild tannins says drink this Carmenère now through 2015.
This is dark and tarry at first, with aromas of freshly laid asphalt, pepper, fine herbs, burnt toast and roasted berry. This feels racy, healthy and balanced, with a creamy quality to the palate. It tastes natural and correct, with plum, berry, vanilla and spice flavors. On the finish, it's smooth with a strong oak-based vanilla flavor. Drink now through 2012.
This is dark and wood laden, with sweet, rich fruit and a firm, dense structure. It has a full feel, and its opulence is likely to develop over the next 2–3 years.
This is dark as night, with boysenberry, blackberry, animal fur and smooth oak aromas. For $10, it's bringing all sorts of power and quality, like oak-influenced flavors of vanilla, chocolate, blackberry and cassis. On the finish, this is full and smacks down with tannic grab.
This is dark but somewhat green on the nose, with currant, raspberry, beet and green herb aromas. The palate feels tight to the point of abrasive, with herbal plum flavors. A minty, forceful finish registers as hard and tannic.
This is dark in color and compact on the nose, with can't-miss aromas of herbal berry, mint, rootiness and chocolate. The palate feels good and fresh, with oak-based flavors of berry fruits that smack down with firm tannins in front of an oaky, medium-long finish.
This is dark in color and leafy smelling, with aromas of forest floor and herbal black fruits. The mouthfeel delivers a hard belt of acidity and not much else, while flavors of oaky spice and tart berry fruits are adequate but unspecial.
This is dark in color and plush, with rustic tannins. It's beautifully crafted, giving off perfumed notes of violet, dried cherry and leather. Fullbodied, it has a lingering spice note.
This is dark in color, with apple cider aromas. The flavors are bland and nutty more than fruity, and the finish is the same.
This is dark in color, with full plum, berry, leather and mild chocolate aromas. Tobiano delivers a medium-to-full body, with ample stuffing and flavors of dark plum, oak and spice. This shows a smooth finish, controlled oak and good body weight. Drink now–2015.
This is dark in color, with pushy aromas of wild field, prune and vinegar. Wide, chunky and heavy, it has flavors of black fruit, mint and green herb. It's full but soft on the finish, with pruny accents.
This is dark, almost black in color at the center, with greening evident at the rim. Syrupy, intense aromas of coffee and dark chocolate make an immediate impact on the nose, followed by syrupy, intense flavors of coffee and molasses. There's mind-boggling concentration here, but just enough acidity to provide a sense of balance. Still, it's hard to imagine drinking more than a couple of ounces of this at a time.
This is dark, amorphous and shows almost nothing in the way of Pinot Noir character. It feels globular, tasting of beets and leather. Pruny and bitter on the finish.
This is dark, oaky and minty on the nose, with inky aromas and scents of fresh-cut wood. A saturated, tight-feeling palate has oak as the pack leader, while mint and berry aromas float about. A jammy, woody, creamy finish is bullish but slightly hot.
This is dark, soft and sweet, with milk chocolate, blackberry jam and raisin flavors. It shows Petite Sirah's firm tannins, but also its gentler, high alcohol side, finishing with a glyceriney sweetness.
This is dark, with a dominant wood flavor that covers the potentially ripe fruit. It is full of firm tannins, with a flavor of bitter chocolate. It may be that this wine will always have too much dry wood.
This is David Hill winemaker Jason Bull's own label, and it offers excellent Pinot Noir character at a moderate price. Round and fruity, with toasty highlights, this is a mix of strawberries, light coffee and cream flavors, with excellent persistence.
This is declassified ice wine, picked frozen. It does not have the depth of the other dessert wines from Viento, but it is a remarkable effort, textural and delicate, with threads of straw, honey, cracker, candied tropical fruits and more, but all in a light and delicate style. This could easily become a wine that will amaze people in a blind tasting given the price.
This is deep and attractive, with complex aromas of balsam wood, ripe black fruit and bacon. It feels really good and dense, with pastry, roasted berry, chocolate and molasses flavors. The finish is long, flavorful and rewarding. A modern wine to drink now–2016.
This is deep and dense smelling, with bold black-fruit aromas combined with cookie dough and sweet oak scents. The mouthfeel is driven by hard, drying tannins, while flavors of herbal berry, roasted plum, animal and savory spices end in a peppery, sauvage type of finish. For a big, aggressive, scratchy wine, this is more than solid.
This is deep and fruity up front, with blackberry and cola aromas that come with creamy oak and offsetting minerality. Full and jammy on the palate, with flavors of blackberry, fine herbs and lightly applied molasses. Round and concentrated on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
This is deep and ruby in hue, while the aromas are spicy, brightly oaky and reminiscent of red cherries. Ripe yet fresh and tangy flavors recall cherries and raspberries, while a vein of darker plum comes in and lingers on the long finish. It's serious and delightful at the same time, and will age well; delicious now, but best after 2016.
This is deep gold in color, with aromas of butter, biscuits and pineapple. Initial flavors of buttery popcorn, vanilla, clove and nutmeg carry the palate, with apricot and citrus in the background. This is an oily, robust wine that lingers long and spicy on the finish.
This is deep, lush and earthy on the nose, with tobacco, broad spice aromas and fair but generous oak. It feels tight and balanced, with toasty, peppery flavors of cassis and black cherry. It's long, toasty and chocolaty on the finish, with layered spice accents. Drink now through 2016.
This is deeply colored and rich, showing both the juicy fruit character of Alicante Bouschet and a more serious, concentrated element. It's solid and densely tannic, with wood flavors layered on its black plum fruit. This is worth aging for another two years.
This is definitely a cool-climate SB from Chile. The nose is crisp yet not pushy, with aromas of gooseberry, nettle and snap pea along with grapefruit and lemon. A punchy, lively palate feel is just right for the wine's passion fruit, nettle, tangerine and grassy flavors, while the finish is long and cutting.
This is definitely a light vintage for this vineyard-designate. It deftly mixes cranberry and raspberry fruit with hints of wet stone. Proportionate, drying tannins line the finish.
This is definitely a wine in the new ripe Bordeaux style, with rich black fruits and spicy tannins. Impressively dense, dusty fruit tannins are alongside smooth, polished new wood flavors. The acidity and black currants are the reminder that this is still Bordeaux, not New World.
This is definitely a wine meant to drink in the winter. It shows thick extraction, mellow tannins and loads of spice and ripe fruit flavors.
This is definitely a young vintage. It needs to age. The Lamiable steel and mineral style is very evident, all nervous tension. The lime and pear flavors offer the fruit element, but 2–3 years would really benefit this Champagne.
This is definitely high in alcohol, with a notable chili pepper burn, but that's the winery's style. Without that ripeness, you wouldn't have these intense, briary blackberry and mulberry flavors. Notes of chocolate, raisin, anise liqueur and exotic spice provide additional complexity. This is a Zin that needs rich, oily meats and cheeses to balance it out.
This is definitely one of Washington's best Sangioveses, capturing the astringency and natural acidity of the grape, but filling in the mid-palate with chewy fruit flavors of berry and spicy cranberry. The light herbal characteristics of the vineyard come through, adding details of leaf and herb. Since this is a 2004, it is already showing some development in the bottle and is drinking very well right now.
This is definitely sweet, with 30 g/L residual sugar, but that is counterbalanced with enough natural acidity to keep it lively and just outside the dessert wine category. The aromatics show plenty of Muscat's lush orange blossom and fruit character, with a concentrated palate and penetrating finish.
This is delicate and crisply fruity. Its acidity and citrus presence offer a fragrant character that contrasts nicely with the more creamy texture.
This is delicate and fine, with a beautiful and feminine personality. Aromas include soapy lavender, rose, dried ginger and medicinal herb. The tannins are dry and silky.
This is delicate and subdued, without any of the rawness this variety sometimes provides. Flavors of cola, blackberry and spice mark the palate; the finish is soft and rich.
This is delicately herbal, with green notes similar to snow peas gracing nectarine and grapefruit flavors. A bit of pineapple creeps in on the abbreviated finish.
This is delicately scented with aromas suggesting white spring wild flower and a hint of white stone fruit. The soft, fresh palate offers Bartlett pear, juicy citrus and yellow peach while a note of bitter hazelnut closes the finish.
This is delicately scented with whispers of yellow flower, spring blossom and woodland berry. The lively palate delivers crushed strawberry, nectarine, juicy cherry and fennel while a mineral vein energizes the finish.
This is delicious and forward, with aromas of ripe plum, spice and raisin. The rich palate delivers opulent black fruit flavors along with black licorice and white pepper notes. This is big, soft and open, and should be enjoyed soon.
This is delicious now for its raspberry and cherry sweetness, accented with smoky oak and brightened by crisp acidity. It shows the elegance that Calera Pinots are known for. It's complex enough to offer lots of pleasure, but you may want to age it for 6–8 years to let it mellow.
This is delicious, concentrated and showing a range of nuances; along with ripe apple and pear flavors come spicy hints of cinnamon and baking spices. Firm acids, good balance, and more texture and length than most domestic Chardonnays in this price range.
This is delicious, creamy and yeasty and loaded with citrus.  The midpalate expands into tropical fruit, vanilla bean and spice, and it's just flat-out delightful. Chill this one and try it out on any kind of food you can imagine; it just might work.
This is delicious, right up there with a great Cabernet. First of all, there's the smoothly tannic and velvety mouthfeel. Then there's the flavors that are wildly attractive in blackberries, black licorice, crispy bacon and something purple and flowery, like violets. The grapes comes from a vineyard in the Mayacamas range that only qualifies for the county appellation. It's expensive, yes, but it tastes expensive.
This is deliciously crisp and steely, with an apple flavor and the weight of citrus and grapefruit. It has a minerally, chalky feel, and then the wine rounds out, with crisp fruit on the finish.
This is deliciously deep, with ripe raspberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit in abundance. It retains a tart, tangy bite of acidity as well, and a touch of sweet barrel toast from aging in 30% new French oak.
This is deliciously fragrant, with harmonious fruit and acidity. It has a full, rich character that offers currant and citrus flavors.
This is deliciously fresh and full. Red fruits are laced with intense acidity and a crisp, clean texture. It gives instant fruity pleasure and a light and bright aftertaste.
This is deliciously hedonistic in the best traditions of Volnay, opulent and powered with flavors of blackberry jelly, dry tannins and perfumed violets. This is a big, ripe, solid wine whose perfumes give an enticing exotic aftertaste.
This is dense and saturated, with crushed blackberry and plum aromas that turn more jammy and granular as the wine breathes. It's extracted and heavy on the palate, with candied black plum and berry flavors that lose steam on the finish. This could be too heavy for fans of leaner-bodied wines.
This is dense, almost impenetrable, a rich wine that is still dominated by dark tannins and black fruits. A juicy element suggests it is still fresh, still young enough for fruitiness. Dark black flavors are still working their way through and developing. Drink from 2017.
This is dense, lusty and attractive from the beginning, with rich black-fruit, coconut, tobacco and pine aromas. It feels pure and deep, with ribald acids that keep the pulse up and push blackberry, plum and savory cured-meat flavors. The finish remains savory and saucy. Drink this Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend now–2017.
This is dense, with its tannins still working hard to restrain the vivid fruit that, while evident now, is waiting to really burst. Its blackberry flavor dominates and contributes to a fresh aftertaste. Age for 2–3 years.
This is described as a country-style wine because of its rugged tannins and angular, rough mouthfeel. The deeply plummy flavors are ripe, but very dry. The biggest problem may be the acids, which are very low. You long for more crispness and life, something to offset the fruitiness.
This is described as a natural wine with zero sulphite. It has a perfumed character with an earthy edge that comes from the carbonic maceration (whole bunch fermentation). With cherry fruits and bright acidity, the wine is ready to drink.
This is described as Brut dry, but the perfumed character of the Gelber Muskateller grape gives this fruity wine a feeling of sweetness. It's soft, aromatic and lightly flavored with lychee.
This is developing into a delicious, fresh and fruity wine, tangy with acidity that cuts into the strawberry fruits and gives a crisp edge. The wine has some weight, is bone dry and will be better with food than as an apéritif.
This is Diemersfontein's “Original Chocolate/Coffee Pinotage,” made in a very modern style to show the maximum mocha expression possible. Insanely assertive notes reminiscent of a mocha latte are supported by secondary accents of caramel, baked black berries and raspberry sauce. Round and lush, this is one for the hedonists.
This is different in style from the kabinett bottling, being less fragrant and charming yet broader and more powerful. It's minerally right up front, like smoky quartz, then plump and slightly creamy on the midpalate before ending in a dusting of crushed stones.
This is dilute to the point of being thin, showing pale flavors of apple and underripe peach. A plastic note runs through it also. Tasted twice with consistent results.
This is direct and a bit hot in alcohol, with jammy berry, cherry, currant and oak flavors. It offers good Cabernet pleasure in an everyday sort of way.
This is distinctive in its Dutch gin bottle. It's full of fruit and crisp acidity, while an unusual herbal layer gives extra freshness. Tangy and aromatic, it is ready to drink.
This is distinguished for its deeply-rich mouthfeel and creamy aromas of stone fruit, honeydew and crushed almond. There's a point of crisp acidity that's refreshing.
This is divided relatively evenly among the components—40% Grenache, 31% Syrah and 29% Mourvèdre. A pretty plum shade, it's still showing youthful tart acidic flavors. Cranberry, strawberry, raspberry and a touch of apple are all here, with more of that tart astringency as it concludes. This should continue to improve through 2021.
This is dominated by oak and oak-driven aromas that include roasted coffee bean, espresso, coconut and vanilla that carry over to the palate, together with plum and chocolate. Astringent, drying tannins give it a rather abrupt finish.
This is dominated by oak, toasted coffee beans and a hint of meat juices. The palate is short and finishes on a green note, with bitter wood tannins.
This is dominated by reduced aromas that seem earthy and vegetal, and similar earthy, smoky flavors. The wine has an overall impression of being lean, medium bodied, moderately tannic and crisp.
This is done in a crisp, fresh and leesy style, with lime-drenched minerality. Flavors of white peach and guava gain volume and density as the wine warms on the palate. It was kept from malolactic fermentation, enlivening a lingering, resonant finish.
This is done in a lightly spicy, lightly toasty style. It's clean and supple, with a mix of apple, peach and melon fruit. Ample acidity keeps it fresh and lively through the finish. It spent six months in a mix of one-third stainless and two-thirds neutral oak.
This is done in a soft, loose-knit, wide-open style—not the usual crisp and racy Riesling found in the Northwest. Apple and orange fruits are accented with notes of cracker and grain. It feels a bit flat in the finish. Drink up.
This is done in a style that walks the line between Kabinett and Spatlese; it's just 11% alcohol but the fruit sweetness is largely hidden behind the tangy natural acids. It's got the mixed fruit flavors of peach, apricot, citrus and even a hint of tropical, along with the edgy definition of citrus peel that gives it a crisp finish.
This is done in a wide-open, instantly drinkable style that makes it an excellent, everyday quaffer. Young Oregon Pinots often need more time, but not this one. Strawberry, coffee and cola flavors combine into a broad and flavorful midpalate, fresh and inviting.
This is done in an open, palate-friendly style, with rich, generous black fruits accented with cocoa, coffee and caramel. There's a streak of vanilla custard also, and the fruit has enough depth and mass to hold up through a satisfying finish.
This is Doubleback's first vintage to include estate-grown grapes in the blend. Truffle, mocha and ripe purple-fruit scents explode from the glass. Ample acidity underscores the chewy tannins. A dense and ageworthy wine, this needs more bottle-age to show its best; try after 2018.
This is downright herbaceous from front to back. Hard aromas suggest eucalyptus, black olive and sweaty leather. In the mouth, grit and high acidity provide little cushion, while herbal flavors of cherry and blackberry taste salty and baked.
This is drier than some 10-year-old Tawnys, showing a taste of wood, with acidity and the fig and raisin flavors behind the mature flavors. This is all suggests that much of the wine in the blend is older than 10 years, giving extra richness and depth of flavor.
This is drinkable but not overly interesting, with a good berry flavor. It's marked with an off-putting aroma of cigarette ash, and it feels raw.
This is drinking very well; there's a little Merlot and Petit Verdot too in the blend. It's plummy and open, a little loose-knit in the core but soft and approachable. Wrapped into the tart fruit are streaks of licorice and tar, with light loamy tannins.
This is Drouhan's second vintage of handling the vines, wines and marketing in partnership with the Hospices de Belleville charity. This open generous wine is packed with ripe red fruit and given shape by light tannins. There is a fresh crisp aftertaste that gives the wine a great lift.
This is dry and brisk in acidity, with firm tannins and great structural integrity. At the same time, it's vast in blackberry and cherry-jam flavors, while the oak overlay is strong but perfectly matched with the wine's volume. Very fine, complex and elegant, this is a Cabernet to cellar for eight years; it could be one for the long haul.
This is dry and cedary upfront, with decent raspberry fruit emerging on the palate. It's medium bodied and lacks the richness and expansiveness of many 2009 Rhônes, but still offers a solid if somewhat oaky drinking experience.
This is dry and crisp in acidity, but the vegetable and citrus flavors are clumsy.
This is dry and crisp in acidity, with suggestions of oranges and buttered toast that wash out in the finish.
This is dry and crisp, with a trace of Viognier's tropical fruit and spice flavors.
This is dry and firm—its tannins immediately noticeable. There are hints of juicy acidity in the background, but this solid, dense and serious wine is unlikely to soften much more. Pair with winter stews and rich meat dishes.
This is dry and full bodied, with a light smoky aroma and modest, unusual flavors like fennel and green peach.
This is dry and medium bodied, with flavors of hay, spice and sour cherry candy. Drink this rustic wine with simple fare, like burgers or pizza.
This is dry and rich in blackberry jam flavors. Right now it's fierce in tannins and acidity, making it tough and resistant in feeling. Give it several hours in a decanter before serving, or else hold it for 4-5 years.
This is dry and slightly herbal, with sage and dill notes to the cherry and blackberry flavors. But it's those Alexander Valley tannins, so soft and mellow, that mark it. Good now, and should ride out the next eight years.
This is dry and spicy, with a full character. Perfumed and rich, it's concentrated and packed with wild strawberry fruit. It finishes with intense acidity.
This is dry and velvety in texture, with rich, complex flavors of cherries, licorice, bacon, Dr. Pepper and savory, peppery spices. A touch of oak adds a sweet smokiness. Almost as light as a Pinot Noir, it's a very pretty, polished Syrah to drink now.
This is dry and vital in acidity, but it seems slightly underripe. Raw citrus and asparagus flavors mark the sharp finish.
This is dry, acidic and a little underripe, with a New Zealand-like touch of gooseberry. A respectable wine, this has a bright core of lemon, lime and tropical fruit.
This is dry, almost sour, despite its low alcohol, and feels disjointed. Along with the sour citrus flavor is a conflicting streak of too-ripe fruit. Interesting components, but they may or may not knit together with more bottle age.
This is dry, but lushly fruity, with sour-candy pineapple, lemon, lime and white-sugar flavors leading to a clean finish. This bottling for Silverado has been variable over the years, but worth checking out.
This is dry, crisp and clean. But if you're looking for richness, you won't find it. With its savory lemon, mineral and white pepper flavors, this is an elegant sipper.
This is dry, crisp and minerally; it's made in a lighter style that makes it especially food friendly. The flavors suggest oranges, apricots and tart Meyer lemons.
This is dry, crisp and nicely detailed, with a persistent, clean and fresh mouthfeel. Notes of cucumber, salad greens and citrus, notably lime and grapefruit, are underscored with appealing minerality. This remains one of the highlights of Chehalem's expansive portfolio.
This is dry, crisp in acidity and clean, with citrus and tropical fruit flavors. With no oak, the fruit stars. There's a touch of apricot that gives it an eccentric taste.
This is dry, crisp in acidity and pleasantly exotic in tropical fruit, orange, vanilla and spice flavors. It shows a respectable quality-price ratio and is worth seeking out, although the case production is fairly low.
This is dry, earthy and complex on the nose, with smooth tannins, elegance and acidic lift to the palate. Flavors of fine oak, copious spice and complex berry are more than satisfying, while the finish is long, dry and composed, featuring a note of cinnamon.
This is dry, full bodied and pretty tannic, with a sense of elegance, plus flavors of sour cherry candy, red licorice, tobacco and sweet, smoky cedar.
This is dry, full bodied and spicy. It's all about upfront flavors of citrus, green grass, hay, vanilla and honey, brightened with brisk acidity. Easy to drink with a wide range of foods.
This is dry, herbal and leathery on the nose. On the palate, this feels snappy and crisp, with flavors of peppery red fruits that are leafy, herbal and almost green. Turns hotter and sharper the longer it breathes.
This is dry, medium bodied and extraordinarily rich, bearing flavors of baked black-cherry pie, mocha and grilled prosciutto, with a long, spicy finish. So what if it's too soft, or if there's a trace of overripeness? It's all part of the wine's personality.
This is dry, rich, heady, spicy and utterly delicious. As usual, it contains a splash of Petite Sirah. Already throwing some sediment, it's pretty tannic, with complex flavors of wild blackberry and blueberry, black currant, licorice, cola, bacon and plum sauce, with a hint of exotic pepper and spice. This great Zinfandel is a joy to drink.
This is dry, scratchy and peppery smelling, with a soft, plump mouthfeel, plus leafy, herbal flavors of baked berry and plum. Plump and solid in terms of feel, with modest fruit and carob flavors that control the short finish.
This is dry, silky and easy, with pleasant berry, tobacco and spice flavors. It's not complicated—just a fine, affordable sipper.
This is dry, silky and enormously complex, with flavors of raspberry, cherry, cola, new oak and spice that satisfy through the long finish. The mountain vineyard concentrated the fruit, yielding savory power. It's a beautiful Pinot Noir to drink now with steaks or lamb chops.
This is dry, smooth and creamy in the mouth, with rich flavors of black currants, Kahlua liqueur and toasty oak, as well as a stony minerality. It will continue to drink well through 2018.
This is dry, spicy and subdued on the bouquet, with a red berry aroma leading the charge. Focused and fresh on the palate, it has spicy, mildly oaky flavors of toasty berry fruit. Pinches of pepper and chocolate add weight and darkness to the finish.
This is dry, tannic and sharp in acidity. It has a significant core of black cherry fruit, but it seems overripe, as it develops a prune flavor. Drink now.
This is dry, tart and a little one-dimensional, yet elegant, offering red cherry and cola flavors and a wintertime taste of Christmas persimmons. Drink now.
This is dry, tart in acidity and stimulating in lemongrass and pear flavors. It has a touch of New Zealand-style gooseberry, demonstrating a green-peppercorn-like grassiness. Try pairing it with a goat cheese and thyme omelet for weekend brunch.
This is dry, with scouring tannins and some twiggy, stalky bitterness. It has just enough blackberry flavor to get by. For the price, it's fine for big parties.
This is dryish, impeccably clean and brisk in mouthwatering acidity, with layers of citrus and tropical fruits, apples, vanilla, honey and white pepper. It's a delight to drink by itself, or with everything from Vietnamese to Mexican cuisine. Production was 15,000 cases.
This is Duckhorn's second label for their Napa Bordeaux reds, and with this '06 vintage, it's on the thin, herbal side, with only modest cherry-berry flavors. Dry and very tannic, it's not an ager.
This is Dutton Estate's unoaked Sauvignon Blanc. It did not go through the malolactic fermentation, but it started as very ripe grapes, so what you get is pure citrus, Asian pear, white peach and green apple flavor, zesty and clean in acidity, with slight a sweetness in the finish. Nice with Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese fare.
This is earthy, cool and foresty on the bouquet, with a coconut note that accents the wine's deep berry aromas. It feels smooth and nicely balanced, with modest tannins and toasty, oaky flavors of spiced blackberry and licorice. Smooth and subtle on the finish, this is ripe, stylish and ready to drink now.
This is easily Cuvaison's best Pinot Noir ever. It's not only delicious right out of the bottle, it's an ager. Really flatters the palate with appealing cherry, black raspberry, cola and tangerine fruit, wrapped in a silky texture. Yet it shows a dense, tightly tannic quality that suggest up to 8 years in the cellar.
This is easily one of the most delicious Cabernets of the year. The first sip dazzles, offering a treasure chest of flavors, including blackberry, spice, mocha and toasted oak. For all the richness, the wine is properly dry, and the tannins are as smooth as old silk. It's so approachable, it's hard to believe it's from Diamond Mountain, whose tannins are notoriously hard in youth. The one drawback is that the wine is too soft for aging, but who cares? Drink now–2015.
This is easily the greatest of Foxen's new Chardonnays. It show the dryness and crisp acidity of the other bottlings, but is enormously rich and complex in oak-inspired pineapple, peach, crème brûlée, buttered toast, honey and mineral flavors. Decant for a while to let it mellow, and it should develop bottle complexity through 2014.
This is easily the richest, densest, most complex of Marimar's 2007 Chardonnays. Made with extended lees contact, it has a fleshy, yeasty freshness that gives the wine extra layers. The grape flavors show typical Green Valley long hangtime notes of exotic tropical fruits, apricots, pears, honey, buttered toast, crème brûlée and sweet baking spices, brightened with acidity. A luxurious, splendid Chardonnay to drink now.
This is easy to drink, with crisp, mouthwatering acidity that brightens the lemon, lime and tropical fruit flavors. It's slightly sweet, but not overtly so—just enough to pair with Asian-inspired fare.
This is easy to like for its clean, brisk mouthfeel, creaminess and slightly sweet flavors of lime and strawberry. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it shows real finesse.
This is easy to like for its dry, silky mouthfeel and rich flavors of crushed red cherries, cola and spices. It's an elegant wine with good acidity.
This is easy to recognize thanks to its distinctive intensity and opulence. This 2007 may be the best bottling yet. It oozes with sweet flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, crushed clove, nutmeg and all kinds of ripe berry fruit. There's a firm tannic bite on the finish, which is followed by long-lasting succulent sweetness.
This is edgy and lean, with mulch and latex on a stripped back nose. In the mouth, it clangs around due to racy acidity. Flavors of leafy red fruits and citrus are not fully convincing.
This is elaborate, but too soft for a great Napa Cabernet. That absence of structure accentuates its ripeness, giving it tastes of candied cherry and licorice. On the plus side, it's dry and smooth, with lots of smoky new French oak. Drink now.
This is elegant and layered, with notes of savory smoked meat, spice, dark fruit, blackberry and leather. It shows a very dark, brooding and masculine personality with polished tannins and impressive length.
This is elegantly perfumed with notes of waxy white blossom, tangerine, honey and lemon zest set against a thin veil of lanolin. Paumanok's late-harvest Riesling is intensely concentrated and complex on both the nose and palate. Striking lemon-lime acidity balances the rich, honeyed sweetness and extends onto the long, floral finish.
This is enormously rich in berry, cherry and cola flavor. It's flashy, but not particularly subtle as a Pinot Noir should be, and it veers on being a little heavy.
This is entirely neutral on the nose, then dull-edged on the palate. Flavors of papaya, green banana and bell pepper don't offer much beyond the basics, while this finishes soft and mildly bitter.
This is entirely stainless fermented, fresh out of the tank, with plenty of lift and spice. It's not a complicated wine, but the flavors of lime and white peach, jicama and cucumber are most refreshing, and there's a hint of white pepper adding zest to the finish.
This is Erath's big production white wine. It's well-balanced, with moderately ripe apple and pear flavors, some noticeable tannins, and firm acids. A solid, middle-of-the-road effort.
This is essentially a southern Oregon blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, with the unusual addition of 15% Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. It is difficult not to think that the winery just had an extra few barrels of Pinot around and decided to blend it in; the wine is a diffuse mix of generic red fruits and sharp acids, that thins out quickly in the finish.
This is essentially DDO's reserve Pinot Noir; it requires some patience at first, because it is quite tight, almost inscrutable. With many hours of breathing it fleshes out and opens up, revealing a wine with interesting nuances of cured meat, mushroom and light earth. The fruit is a notch more concentrated and full than the regular DDO, but retains a sense of tart berry and light cherry rather than being sweet or jammy. This absolutely must be decanted well in advance.
This is estate grown, from a Lake Chelan winery in an emerging region. Riesling is clearly a strength, as this has a delicate elegance often missing from the fruit bombs that can be grown in warmer sites. Bone dry, dusty and lightly floral in the nose. The balance of blossom, yellow fruits, juicy acidity and wet rock is impeccable; the wine extends itself gracefully into a lingering finish.
This is Esterlina's off-dry Riesling, and it's as good in its semi-sweet way as a dry bottling. Shows the same brilliant acidity and delicious citrus, peach, wildflower and vanilla flavors, with a complex, honeyed richness.
This is every bit as good as the winery's Clave de Tábula, which costs twice as much. An aromatic opening of fig, prune and blackberry comes with graphite, cola and attractive oak notes. This is intense and shows powerful acidity in support of blackberry, toast and dark, spicy flavors. A medium-long finish with toast and licorice is proper and not overdone. Drink from 2014–2022.
This is every bit the equal of, if not even a bit better than, the outstanding 2005 Novelty Hill Sauvignon Blanc. Here is the same mix of racy, bracing tropical and stone fruit flavors, nicely matched to toasty flavors of almonds and biscuits. Elegant, detailed and ripe, yet clearly varietal, this is a beautiful, seductive example of barrel-fermented Washington Sauvignon Blanc.
This is everything a Valpolicella should be: fresh, savory and incredibly easy to drink. Made with organically grown Corvina and Rondinella, it offers aromas and flavors of cherry, crushed raspberry and a sprinkling of baking spice alongside pliant tannins. Drink soon.
This is exceedingly ripe tasting, with a syrupy texture. Along the way, you'll encounter tar and rubber aromas in front of flavors such as carob, vanilla and stewed berry fruits. A minty, oaky finish is the final weighty act.
This is exceptionally dark, with a sappy, vinous nose showing black cherry, smoke, sweet chocolate, some stem and a hint of dill. There is more than a hint of pickle barrel, and lots of acid, chalky tannins
This is exotic in grapefruit, apricot and honey flavors, with a green veggie streak that's courtesy of the chilly vintage. It's best described as tasting like a sweet-and-sour Chinese sauce.
This is extreme Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, from an Annapolis-area vineyard. It's juicy and velvety on the palate, the layered dollops of black tea and savory cardamom accenting crisp orange peel, cranberry and pomegranate. Floral upon entry, the wine proffers subtle yet ample acidity and relatively low alcohol.
This is extremely fruity, with an exotic bouquet of blueberry, cardamom, nutmeg and earth aromas. It feels smooth, collected and fairly rich, with savory, lightly baked flavors of black fruit. The finish remains savory, where graham cracker sweetness and roasted qualities dominate.
This is extremely lean and acrid, with flavors of yellow apple skin and bitter walnut but no fruit richness.
This is fairly hard and fiery on the nose. The palate is tough and the wine smacks around rather than flows easily. With only modest acidity, it's not that lively.
This is fairly mulchy on the nose, with an earthy prune aroma. It feels grabby and lean, with cranberry fruit flavor, bitterness and an herb accents. The finish stays murky, tart and mildly green.
This is fairly rich in mouthfeel and nicely complex in flavor. It's medium bodied and subtly flavored with nuances of pear, pippin apple, toasted almond and nutmeg. Enough crisp acidity shows through to balance the body and keeps the flavors singing on the finish.
This is fairly subtle for a Sauvignon, offering struck flint, fig and melon aromas. In the mouth, it's medium in weight, with hints of pink grapefruit and red currant. The finish is long and silky. Drink now.
This is fairly sweet but not as sweet as you'd expect given its 7% residual sugar. Credit the vivid acidity built in to Washington Riesling grapes (though labeled American, the grapes are all Washington). It's got plenty of mixed fruits and as the back label suggests, it's a good choice to pair with spicy Asian foods.
This is fairly sweet, with flavors of honey, apricots, oranges, nectarines, white flowers, vanilla and minerals. Brisk acidity provides the perfect balance to the sweetness. Lovely now with Asian fusion fare.
This is fairly typical, light, fruity lemon-driven Vinho Verde. It has a light spritz, and is exuberantly fresh with just a touch of ripeness and crisp, cool acidity. Perfect to drink this summer.
This is fantastically rich in flavors of cherry pie, milk chocolate, buttered toast and spice. The texture is fairly light, falling somewhere between Merlot and Pinot Noir. Drink now.
This is far and away the best Mirto of all time. It's ripe and brawny, with bacon and black-fruit aromas that put it squarely into the Nuevo Classic mold. In the mouth, licorice and nutmeg flavors give character to smooth blackberry and dark plum flavors, while the finish is cushioned, herbal and long. Immediately appealing but with five to ten years of aging potential.
This is fashioned from a single clone and sourced from a single block of the estate vineyard. Peppery berry fruit is focused and concentrated. The length and overall precision and power suggest that further development in the bottle will continue to add complexity.
This is favorably marked by hints of stuck flint and bold, herbal flourishes on the nose, then settles down to deliver stone fruit and citrus on the palate. For the price, it's surprisingly long on the finish.
This is Ferrari-Carano's most upscale wine, a blend comprised of all five of the famous Bordeaux varieties. It's as lush and intricate as almost anything out of Napa, with sumptuous blackberry, black currant and cedar flavors. The giveaway that it's Sonoma comes in the herbaceousness and slightly greener tannins. Now–2013.
This is Ferreira's top vineyard that also produces the legendary Barca Velha in the best years. This rich, spicy, solid wine has excellent structure, ripe tannins and juicy black fruits. Even more, it has a sense of restrained power, the dark texture veiled in a smoother exterior. It's for aging, drink from 2018.
This is finely balanced wine. It has poise and bright red fruits. Underneath that are both tannins and crisp acidity. The wine is never heavy—it's well structured, finishing with swathes of fruits. Drink from late 2017.
This is finely proportioned, with intense fruit flavors laced with spice, acidity and a mineral texture. Made using grapes from a single vineyard, it is concentrated, with a depth of intense flavor. For aging over 3–4 years. Screwcap.
This is finely structured, a tense wine with great fruits and an intense texture. It's tight while bursting with fruit. The structure is complex, dense and very mineral in character. It is a wine that will need many years, so drink from 2022. The production is tiny, and what is not fit for this wine goes into the Dillon Clarté wine.
This is finely structured, with its ripe tannins forming a solid base for the dense red fruit and spicy wood flavors. It's soli and chunky, showing its youth through the rich texture. Age for 3–4 years.
This is finished dry, at 13.3% alcohol, and puts the emphasis on citrus and grass, cracker and grain. There is a smidgeon of varietal perfume—a whiff of rose petal—but overall it's trending more toward Sauvignon Blanc than most Gewürztraminer. Nonetheless there is an impression of sweetness on the palate, from the nicely-ripened fruit.
This is finished in a dense, dark, super-saturated style, and aged in two thirds new French oak barrels. Grainy, smoky, ripe tannins wrap around deep cassis, black cherry and black olive, with occasional whiffs of truffle. For those who love a blockbuster style, this wine rocks. Just a little heat in the finish.
This is Firestone's best Cabernet Sauvignon in many years. It's satisfying for the lush, creamy texture, and the wealth of blackberry, currant, herb and toast flavors. It feels excellent on the palate: supple and refined, with a bone dry finish. Drink soon, as it doesn't seem to be an ager.
This is firm and solid wine is a blend dominated by tannic Touriga Nacional. Ripe berry fruits on the palate offer juicy acidity for balance, and a perfumed hue gives character and nuance. This impressive wine needs to age, so wait until 2016.
This is firm and tannic, reflecting the challenges of the vintage, yet it does show classic garrigue aromas and flavors of black olives and dark cherries. Drink it now with grilled meats, or hold it a year or two in the hopes of it softening a little.
This is firm in acidity, bracing in minerals and bone dry. That makes it sound austere, but you'll find delicious apricot, lime and citron flavors, enhanced by sweet oak. Drink now.
This is firm with dry tannins and a concentrated dense texture. It is more about structure than fruit and it is likely to remain dry. The acidity at the end does give a final lift.
This is firm, concentrated and, as its name suggests, it's ready to pair with hearty fare. It has structure, followed by red cherry and blueberry fruits, and it's finished with acidity and a dry edge. Age for 3–4 years.
This is firm, dusty and seemingly built for the cellar. Toasty, cedary and chocolaty oak frames dark fruit, yet it remains fresh in character, not dried or overripe. The finish is long, tannic and reminiscent of fine Bordeaux. Try after 2020.
This is firm, in the Pommard style. But because this is a 2015 vintage, the wine is also generously rich and with great red berry fruits. The acidity is in the back of this wine with its bold flavors and concentrated texture. Drink from 2023.
This is firm, rich and closed, with the fruit showing potential richness under the tight exterior. Packed with notes of wood, spice and a taut texture, this is a wine to enjoy several years down the road. Age for at least five years.
This is firm, showing a ripe plum-skin flavor and a severe line of tannin. There's some bitterness along with a good depth of fruit flavor, structure and acidity, all of which suggest aging potential.
This is firm, with an almost-burnt toast flavor. It is packed with fruit and dominating woody tannins, so give it at least two years to soften.
This is firm, with dense fruits and ripe tannins. It has concentration as well as plenty of red fruits. Drink this potentially rich wine from Alliance Bourg from 2018.
This is firmly built for a wine that includes 69% Merlot. Mint and cedar notes emerge on the nose, while the flavors are black cherry and earth. This medium-bodied wine features an attractive licorice note on the finish, and should easily hold through 2020.
This is firmly structured while still keeping plenty of fruit. Juicy black currants are balanced by some dusty tannins. It's an attractive, rich and concentrated wine that will develop well and over the medium-term. Drink from 2017.
This is firmly structured, and it shows the earthy fruit character of Savigny. The red plum flavor is cut with acidity. It's worth aging for 2–3 years.
This is firmly tannic, with dark berry and black cherry fruits. Minerally and textured, it shows the full effect of Beaujolais's granite soil. It also has a rich feel that will evolve over the next several months.
This is firmly, tannic, the product of oak cask fermentation as well as aging. The tannins promise long aging, while the ripe black jelly fruit character brings out the richness of the vintage.
This is flashy and impressive for the sheer power and concentration of its fruit. Intense blackberry and cassis flavors sink deep and last long, accompanied by strong, new French oak and considerable tannins. It's a wine that needs serious cellar time; eight years from now, it could still be a baby.
This is flat and lemony on the nose, with a hint of asparagus. It feels zesty and tastes of tart lemon-lime and green bean. Tangy but not edgy or razor-like on the finish. This is a classic cool-climate white with citrus and green elements running the show.
This is flat, oily and waxy on the nose, which indicates that this 2010 offering is past its prime. Melony flavors are soft and bready, and the feel is flabby and on its way to expiring.
This is flavorful, well-built and robust with an exotic twist to its flavors. There's a hint of mint or menthol in the aroma, lots of black cherry and dark plum flavors and a firm, tannic texture. It's deeply colored and full bodied.
This is fleshy and dilute up front, then heavy and globular in feel. Pickled melon and vegetal stone-fruit flavors finish weak.
This is floral and aromatic, bearing soft, ripe yellow fruit, attractive acidity and a soft, rounded texture. A shaft of citric acidity cuts through the palate, making the wine feel lively and refreshing.
This is floral and candied upfront, with a red licorice note. It feels full and fleshy, with hints of red berry and cassis, with not too much oak on the palate. Ripe, basic, clean and sweet as a whole.
This is floral on the nose, but also candied smelling. So don't be surprised that the palate, while friendly and fruity, is also sticky in feel with a syrupy core flavor that's suggestive of residual sugar. That said, this jellybean is an easy drinker.
This is floral on the nose, offering up hints of talcum powder and restrained fruit. Yet the apple, cinnamon and lime flavors bust out on the palate before ending in a long, potent, citrusy finish. Drink now or hold up to 10 years.
This is focused but soft in the mouth, making it approachable right now. It's balanced, forward, easy-drinking and mature-tasting, its red fruit highlighted with candied orange peel and toast.
This is focused upon a lovely mix of ripe fruits, running from citrus to apple, smooth and lightly buttery. The grapes were sourced from Boushey and Elephant Mountain vineyards, and aged on the lees for a full year.
This is for acid lovers only. Tart almost to the point of sourness, it is saved by its sharply etched green apple crispness. Definitely a Sauvignon Blanc in the style of a piercing Quincy, with that sort of acidity, but not the minerality.
This is for drinking now with chicken or beef tacos. It defines the approachable style of drink-me-now Pinot Noir, with rich, complex flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, vanilla, buttered toast and cinnamon. The silky texture and vibrant acidity are nearly perfect.
This is for people who want the basic Pinot experience at an everyday price. It's silky in texture but brightened with tart acidity and jammy raspberry, cola and sandalwood flavors.
This is for real Pinotage lovers, so bashful drinkers, beware. The nose bursts with ripe red fruit and spice—Pinotage hallmarks—and on the palate, lively, spicy and smoky flavors of berry and savory spice abound. It's a wine full of personality and is best enjoyed with a dish of grilled spicy ribs or ethnic food that can tame its wildness.
This is for those who like their Gewurztraminer super-spicy, decadent even. It's total spice without much in the way of fruit, and so makes a statement. Drink now.
This is for you, if you like your Zins in a sweet, soft style. It tastes like the filling from a black­berry and cherry pie, dusted with exotic spices, like cinnamon and black pepper.
This is forward and fresh, with notes of green apple, gooseberry and lemon-lime on the nose and palate. Zippy and mouthwatering, it has faint suggestions of lime zest and fresh-cut grass on the back.
This is forward and oaky, almost bulky in the nose, but not overdone. The palate offers some nice orange flavors, along with a dose of ripe tropical fruit. The mouthfeel isright on, with proper acids providing necessary balance. The finish is clean and smooth, although a little sweet.
This is forward and sweet in raspberry and cherry jams. However, it's not a simple fruit bomb. With a mushroomy, gamy earthiness and refined tannins, it shows true complexity and structure. Not an ager, but it will be beautiful over the next few years.
This is fragrant and forward, with a subtle smoky element. Fresh raspberry fruit comes wrapped in flavors of toast, malt and milk chocolate. It's smooth and appealing, best consumed now through 2020.
This is fragrant and lighthearted, with citrusy acidity that laces through the easy, bright green-apple texture. It's crisp, with a floral finish.
This is fragrant and varietally-correct on the nose. Quince, lemon-lime and lychee flavors show their best right away before turning decidedly sweet on the finish.
This is fragrant, fresh and full of the original fruitiness of the wine. The wood aging, mainly in small barrels, has smoothed the wine out while leaving a hint of toastiness. At the end, the acidity is both delicious and refreshing.
This is Fraternidad's best wine by a mile. Cherry, blackberry, cola and leafy aromas set up a juicy, mildly scratchy palate with tomato, herb, roast berry, chocolate and coffee flavors. There's some scour to the finish, but that's nothing carne asada can't tame.
This is Fred Loimer's star wine, the summit of his ambition at extracting the purest quality possible from his fruit. The wine has apricot, lime, touches of honey for a  very shapely but full-bodied profile. There is a hint of toastiness, fitting beautifully into the white fruits and final acidity. Age for 4–5 years at least.
This is fresh and citrusy, with lemon and grapefruit aromas that lead to lightly herbal flavors. It tastes almost dry, is medium bodied, and has a good balance of crispness and straightforward fruit character.
This is fresh and fruity, with hints of spice and pear, plus an attractive layer of crisp acidity. Ready to drink.
This is fresh and juicy while also having structure; a mineral edge to the texture gives power. Acidity and juiciness both contribute to the ripe, full-bodied mix. The wood-aging is too dominant at this stage, so give the wine several years. Drink from 2017.
This is fresh and juicy, relishing its cherry and light spice flavors as well as its aromatic acidity. It's balanced, with some depth of flavor that gives weight to the fruitiness. Drink now.
This is fresh and jumpy on the nose, with foxy berry and plum aromas. An edgy, slightly scratchy mouthfeel comes with flavors of blueberry, boysenberry and herbal notes. This standard Tempranillo finishes minty, with licorice hints.
This is fresh and lively, with aromas of apple juice, pine nuts, lime peel and chalk. Cut grass, lemon juice and white rock minerality show on the palate.
This is fresh and lively, with crisp coastal acidity, elegance and sophistication. It offers oak-inspired citrus, tropical fruit and mineral flavors.
This is fresh and open on the nose, which is what you'd want from a $9 quaffer like this. It tastes good and fruity, with lychee, green apple and spice flavors working together. Vanilla and papaya notes come up on the mild finish.
This is fresh and vibrant, with aromas and flavors of apple, melon and orange citrus. Medium weight, with a mouthwatering zip to the finish, pair this with grilled fish, chicken or summer salads. Drink now.
This is fresh on the nose, with peach, green banana and mineral aromas. The palate feels citrusy and racy, with lemon, green apple and gooseberry flavors, while the finish is cleansing and quick. This is lean, sassy and ready to drink.
This is fresh, bright and majoring on slightly stony, flinty lemon notes on a slender body. Drink soon, it will provide ample refreshment.
This is fresh, fruity and medium bodied. Aromas recall mild peach and pineapple, and flavors convey ripe apple with a dash of vanilla, plus a smooth texture. The wine is appealing and shows no rough edges.
This is fresh, fruity and with an attractive creamy texture. The crisp apple comes from the high-acid Rabigato grape that's softened by Viosinho and Gouveio. That makes for a balanced, light wine that is ready to drink.
This is fresh, light and very crisp. Citrus fruits dominate the grassy, herbaceous texture. There is perfumed white-currant acidity on the finish.
This is fresh, not quite dry and a fine apéritif wine. With its soft texture, apple fruits and light mousse, it's both fruity and crisp, with a rounded, fragrant aftertaste.
This is fresh, showing plenty of pop on the fruit-filled bouquet. It feels wide and jammy, yet grabby and dry because of its firm tannins. Typical of Bonarda, it's full of ripe black-fruit flavors and licorice, while the structured finish makes for a good ending.
This is fresh, with good pungency and a mix of passion fruit and bell pepper aromas. A scouring mouthfeel pulls no punches, while grassy, slightly bitter flavors of arugula and lemon-lime finish citrusy and tangy.
This is fresh, with lush layers of peach, melon, lemon zest and white flower. It's an easy effort, boasting good structure and staying power.
This is friendly on the nose with a melon scent. It feels fresh and not too challenging on palate, with nectarine, peach and mango flavors. The finish isn't too firm, but it doesn't fall apart. A simple, sweet casual quaffer.
This is from a block of younger vines made from Dijon clones within the larger Arrendell Vineyard. The wine is quite full-bodied and robust, almost rustic, which is mainly due to the powerful, young tannins. With explosive berry, currant and mocha flavors, this powerful wine should hit its stride in mid-2010.
This is from a cool-climate 9-acre site divided into two blocks, cooled by afternoon breezes off San Pablo Bay. It shows off the site in its embrace of high-toned fruit flavors of plum, blueberry, cranberry and dried cherry, the background meaty in chewy tannin and concentrated oak.
This is from a cool, southeastern corner of the large Sonoma Coast AVA. In this cool vintage, you can taste the fog in the crisp acids and dense tannins. Not a fruit bomb like so many others. Instead, a very dry, serious Syrah that requires patience. Such is the action-packed core of blackberries and currants that this wine should evolve over the next decade.
This is from a family-farmed vineyard, blended with 2% Viognier. Burly at first, rich in bouillon and saddle leather, it unwinds to show deft acidity around a robust character of tar, cigar and cardamom-seasoned meat. It maintains elegance despite its big personality.
This is from a fantastic vineyard site in the Laguna Hills neighborhood of the appellation, and the second vintage of this particular selection from this producer. Generous lemony oak meets toast within a robust body of complex layers and salty caramel.
This is from a great vineyard near the Wohler Bridge in Forestville, and the fruit is well-represented in this bottle. Boldly layered, and richly designed, it's fragrantly floral with cherry blossoms. Those scents are paired with contiguous flavors of raspberry and cherry. Within a framework of upfront but integrated tannin and oak, it finds balance on the earthy finish.
This is from a hillside estate vineyard and is entirely barrel fermented, its oak subtle and supportive. Medium bodied and not overripe, it offers honeysuckle aromas and lime and lemon rind flavors.
This is from a recently planted block at the Freedom Hill vineyard. Bright fresh fruit flavors of berry and plum set up a substantial midpalate. There's a touch of caramel from aging in one-quarter new French oak. This will benefit from further bottle age. Drink 2018 through 2022.
This is from a sub-division of the Corton vineyard, at the northern end of the Grand Cru. It shows both depth of flavor and freshness, a ripe wine that brings in delicious, appetizing acidity and spicy toast. It will obviously age, the nuts and secondary flavors still waiting to show, but as a fruitier style it will be ready in a year.
This is from a tremendous vineyard site near the top of the appellation, situated from 1,250 to 1,800 feet. It incorporates small additions of Zinfandel and Carignane into the whole, a picture of soft beguiling violet aromas that are followed by a velvety texture and underlying grip of tannin. Rich red fruit and a taste of licorice linger on the intense finish.
This is from Alsace's only Grand Cru vineyard for the Sylvaner grape. The 2014 vintage is not as expressive as usual but still shows the inherent graceful and very fine-boned structure of this underrated variety. Pay attention to the lovely texture and beautiful slenderness.
This is from one of the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in the area, owned and farmed by Bob Pellegrini, and a place that has provided grapes Edwards since the 1980s. Spicy pine and cardamom greet the nose and palate, as silky smooth layers of rose and wild strawberry meet cardamon and vanilla. Medium-bodied, it remains complex and balanced as it develops additional nuance in the glass.
This is from Rubissow, and it's a nice wine for the price. Essentially a Bordeaux blend with a splash of Syrah, it's rich and satisfying in blackberry, cassis, mocha, bacon and pepper flavors, with a coating of sweet oak. Lovely now with anything from a nice steak to a beef burrito.
This is from the vineyard that surrounds the winery, and the bottling receives both Estate and Dundee Hills designations—best of the best. It's a pungent, pleasant wine upon entry, with rather pale strawberry fruit. It quickly moves through the midpalate and turns lean, with tomato leaf and green tea astringency. There is a slight impression of alcoholic heat. Though accessible and interesting, it somehow falls short of what it could/should be, given its provenance and price.
This is fruit-powered Riesling, finished dry but with a touch of residual sugar to soften the acids. Apple and Meyer lemon fruit flavors intermingle, sporting abundant, juicy natural acidity.
This is fruity and clean, with plenty of pretty cherry-fruit flavor. A whiff of wood smoke and pipe tobacco carves its way through the fruit and into the finish.
This is fruity and juicy with good acidity and fresh berry fruits. The 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon blend has the right amount of tannic character, showing structure that brings out ripe red fruits and indicates good potential. Drink from 2017.
This is fruity and ripe, forward and round, with appealing tropical fruit flavors. There's moderate, but adequate, acidity, and the flavors are rounded off with a toasty note from aging 10 months in 30% new French oak. Drink this now through 2018.
This is fruity and soft, with pretty berry and plum fruit and plenty of sweet toast right behind. It's ready for consumption and may already be nearing its peak, so drink soon.
This is fruity as a pastry, with flavors of nougat, blackberry and cherry jam, toasted almond and honey. Modern in style, the texture is soft, with melted tannins.
This is fruity, balanced and full of blackberry flavor, with juicy acidity and an attractive perfumed character. Drinkable now, it should also mature well over 2–3 years.
This is fruity, fragrant and fresh. It has creamed pear and tangy orange flavors that are laced with bright acidity. The crisp lime note gives a final refreshing burst.
This is fruity, light and crisp, with all elements in balance. An orange zest note cuts through the raspberry fruit, with attractive acidity in the background. A fine apéritif style of rosé.
This is fruity, with a hint of the vintage's crisp minerality. It has citrus and apple flavors, with a touch of toast. Ready to drink in a year.
This is fruity, with a strong showing from the spirit. The wine is ripe with touches of wood aging and red fruit flavors. However, it does lack acidity.
This is fruity, with an apple flavor that's lifted by a lemon zest edge. It's warm with a rich, minerally tautness; a caramel note comes through on the finish.
This is fruity, with some structure and pure acidity. It's fragrant and delicious now, bearing raspberry fruit and a light texture.
This is full-bodied expression of the variety, big in oak and tannin presence, grippy still, with a leathery feel on the palate. Baked plum is seasoned by a hint of clove and cola, finishing expansively.
This is full-bodied, offering subtle cashew and melon shadings alongside bold pineapple fruit. The oak stands a little apart on the palate, imparting a touch of dryness to the bright fruit. Drink now.
This is full-bodied, velvety-textured and expansive in the mouth, delivering plenty of bold cassis, chocolate and sage flavors. Some brighter, red-fruit notes mingle with mocha shadings on the surprisingly long finish.
This is full and fruity with great swathes of smoky tannins. Structured and concentrated, it promises a good future. Strawberry and red-plum flavors are there, along with the darker tannic element. Drink from 2019.
This is full and fruity, with a wood-influenced caramel edge and soft tannins. It has a spicy black-fruit flavor, and its bitter edge provides piquancy to its fruitiness. Not for aging. Screwcap.
This is full and rich but not overly heavy or sweet, coming across as similar to a well-balanced peach compote or cobbler. Hints of mushroon, cinnamon and clove add depth and complexity.
This is full and richly textured without being overdone. Crushed stone and cracked pepper aromatics give it a nose that resembles some Northern Rhône examples, while the fruit is earthier and tinged with blackberries, then finishes with dusty tannins. Drink now–2020.
This is full and rounded initially, then the more textured notes of green fruit skin and wood spice come through. It has an attractively ripe feel while remaining structured. At the same time, the wine is developing fast and will be ready to drink in 3–4 years.
This is full bodied and aromatic, with ripe red fruits layered with spice and pepper. With its weight, this is a food-friendly wine— great for barbecued fish.
This is full bodied and creamy textured, but still retains a sense of vibrancy and freshness. Black pepper notes help in that regard, spicing up the flavors of plum, mocha and roasted meat. It's plush, rich and long on the finish. Drink now–2025.
This is full bodied and forward, bringing a generous mouthful of apple, pear and pineapple fruit along with a streak of vanilla wafer. The flavors hit quickly and right up front, then suspend themselves through a lingering finish.
This is full bodied and ripe in flavor, while keeping a firmly tannic but supple texture. The concentrated black cherry and black currant notes are delicious, and hints of black pepper and smoke add complexity. It is very tasty to drink now and through 2017.
This is full bodied and supple, with attractive red-berry fruit, but also displays a slightly acrid, smoky note. Decant vigorously for best results.
This is full bodied while retaining varietal specificity. Tart strawberry, cherry and plum fruit anchors a strong midpalate, with proportionate tannins bringing a touch of black olive to wrap it up.
This is full bodied yet firmly structured, built to enjoy now or age through at least 2025. Ample cedary oak notes frame blueberry fruit and peppery spice. This is tight but still enjoyable, ending in a lengthy crescendo of dusty tannins.
This is full bodied, firm and fruity, with solid tannins and concentrated flavors of black fruit, tar, licorice and wood.
This is full bodied, ripe and creamy. It has flavors of tropical fruit, spiced pineapple and a touch of pepper. The underlying grapefruit acidity holds everything together. Screwcap.
This is full bodied, tannic and concentrated, in the way of Mount Veeder red wines. It's also sweet and high in alcohol, with jammy blackberry flavors.
This is full of bitter marmalade and maple syrup flavors while also showing considerable wood-aging flavors. It is structured, still showing some hints of fruit while also bringing out a strongly mature character.
This is full of botrytis influence, yet is it lighter and fresher than some other Burgenland sweet wines. It leaves a feeling of lemon acidity to go with the honey- and flower-scented finish. Screwcap.
This is full of citrus flavors, with toast and pineapple touches. It's attractive, crisp and ready to drink.
This is full of crisp, herbaceous flavors of apple, grapefruit and lime. It has weight and concentration, with some richness to its freshness. Acidity cuts through on the finish. Age this for 2–3 years.
This is full of fruit and weighty tannins. Coming from one of the finest vineyards in Burgundy, it is going to have great power and an opulent nature. This wine also has elegance, its black fruits controlled and with a mineral edge. That doesn't take away the power, it enhances the stylishness of this grand wine. Drink from 2020.
This is full of fruit, dried prune and raisin flavors. It's fresh with an attractive lilt of acidity and a light texture that keeps it ready to drink.
This is full of personality, with a vivid herbaceous aroma, and savory, herbal accents surrounding the raspberry and cranberry flavors. The balance is great, with firm tannins and fresh acidity. Flavors are tasty, unconventional and memorable.
This is full of ripe plum and black cherry flavors that are richly textured and spiced. It has an elegant side, which makes for a round, full-bodied finish, and it has the potential to age well.
This is full of ripe raspberry flavor that is cut with lively acidity. It is a delicious, fruity, apéritif-style rosé with just a touch of zesty texture to tighten it up.
This is full of steely acidity as well as complex fruit. It is rich, full of toast and spice that show up the generous swathes of yellow fruits that are just beginning to show their glory. It will develop over many years. Drink from 2017.
This is full of superripe red fruits, full-bodied and concentrated. It offers spice as well as fruitiness, both well integrated and given a lift by the attractive lemon acidity. It's a rosé for winter and could match turkey with its weight and density.
This is full, rich, rounded Riesling, showing the beginnings of a more mature character. It is deliciously perfumed, concentrated with pepper as well as fragrant white fruits and a floral, crisp aftertaste. Age for another 2–3 years.
This is full, ripe and strongly mineral. Its young apricot and citrus fruits are very fresh, bright and have a sense of structure with minerality and zesty, tangy lemon peel. With its good depth of flavor, it is ready to drink.
This is full, soft and a little heavy. It's condensed with sweetness from the rich fruit and misses some crispness.
This is fully mature with its leather and toast flavors enhanced by a smooth, rich texture. It is a delicious wine to drink now, with some red fruits and final acidity.
This is funky up front, with aromas of Russian dressing and briny citrus. The mouthfeel is chunky and foamy, while the flavor profile runs heavy and sweet, with candied citrus and molasses notes. A weighty finish tastes of brown sugar.
This is Furthermore's fruitiest, most accessible '09 Pinot Noir. If you love fruit, you'll savor the endless flavors of raspberries, cherries and persimmons that are brightened with a squeeze of zesty, lime-like acidity and enriched with the smoky creaminess of oak.
This is Gainey's basic '05 Pinot, and it shows the quality of the vintage. The wine is dry, crisp in acidity and under 14% in alcohol, with dramatic cherry and boysenberry fruit complexed with leather, cola, Chinese five spice and balsamic notes. Fairly tannic, it's best now and for a few years.
This is Gascony's classic grape blend in a wine that's both herbal and juicily fruity. Soft and light, with citrus and white currant flavors, it's ready to drink.
This is generous and juicy, with lush and very ripe flavors of apples and stone fruits, really loaded with fruit flavors and plenty of tangy acid. The midpalate hangs sensuously, loaded with sweet orange and Meyer lemon; this is the sort of rich, ripe, fruit-powered yet still racy Riesling that Washington makes better than anywhere in the world.
This is generous and ripe, with spicy black-fruit aromas. It feels full but shows elegance with its depth and layering. Flavors of blackberry, plum, tobacco and oak stick out on the palate. It's long, sturdy, leathery and somewhat complex on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
This is generous, full of red berry and plum fruits and lined with acidity. It has a firm structure that gives shape to its exuberant fruitiness. Ready to drink now, but it can be aged for another 2–3 years.
This is gentle and rounded, with creamed pear and citrus flavors. With hints of caramel and vanilla, it is soft, clean and very ready to drink.
This is gentle and soft with red berry fruits and some (possibly not enough) acidity. It's rounded and smooth, touched by caramel from short wood aging. Drink now.
This is going to be a fine fruity wine once its firm tannins have calmed down. It has enough black-fruit flavors and acidity to ensure that it will be perfumed, ripe and fresh at the same time. Drink starting from 2017.
This is golden-tan in color. The nose is gaseous and smells of ham and yeast. The palate is distinctly foamy, while flavors of briny apple finish mild yet heavy.
This is Goldeneye's basic appellation Pinot. It's fairly rich in cherries, raspberries, cola, red currant, licorice and sandalwood, with an elegantly crisp mouthfeel. But it lacks excitement, especially at this price. Drink now.
This is good and grapy from the fresh berry aroma to the juicy, slightly sweet cherry flavor, to the soft texture with just a hint of crispness. An accent of smoky spiciness in the aromas and the aftertaste adds extra interest.
This is good example of the potential of Calabria's Greco Bianco grape. The wine is crisp and fresh and bursting with enticing notes of fruit, honey and mineral. You'll get citrus tones followed by cleansing flavors of lime and grapefruit.
This is good week-day Chardonnay with buttered toast, orange jam and vanilla flavors. The acidity gives it a clean, vibrant finish.
This is gorgeous on the bouquet, with earth, flower blossom, licorice and sandalwood aromas. It feels lush and layered, with ripe, happy flavors of sultry black fruit and cassis. Fruity, long and delicious on the finish, this is a very easy Malbec to dig into now and until 2015.
This is gorgeous with a delicate but intense bouquet of pressed rose, wet earth, licorice cola and dried berry fruit. The mouthfeel is incredibly long and silky.
This is gorgeous, offering intense and complex aromas of wild berry, violet, candied fruit, almond paste and garden herb. The mouthfeel is silky, long and penetrating.
This is gorgeous, showing the sophistication and complexity. It's delicate and bright, but it shows power and determination at the same time. The aromatic intensity is very impressive, and the bouquet recalls notes of cassis, leather, licorice, cola and dried ginger. Hold for 10 years or more.
This is gorgeous, structured and complex Cab: savory and Old World in style in some ways, revelatory in Napa richness and roundness in others. It conjures up visions of cherry crisp topped in vanilla gelato, with traces of smoke, dark chocolate and black pepper, the tannin integrated and persistent on the finish. This is a good choice for cellaring as well, through 2023.
This is Gorman's reserve wine, a lovely mix of tart, sappy cassis, smoke and bright, brambly berry flavors. Young and tight, this is the quintessential Washington ‘garagiste' Syrah/Cab blend—a red wine that is sharp, spicy and detailed, with tangy red berry fruits, hints of pineapple and citrus, and a balanced mix of fruit, spice and smoke.
This is grandiose, with ripe apricot and peach flavors—even a note of mango—that are allied to the wood notes. As a contrast, there is fine acidity and elegance, with a lemon zest edge that gives structure to this full, superripe, powerful effort.
This is grassy and pungent up front, with citrus, nectarine and apple aromas. It feels crisp and tangy, with chalky grip and flavors of citrus and green apple. Snappy and long on the finish, this is a Sauvignon Blanc-styled Viura.
This is great bargain for a white wine this stylish and tasty. A blend of five varieties, it's rich and ripe with flavors of tangerine, stonefruit, lime, vanilla, cream and honey, accented with crisp acidity. They all come together into a seamless, easy-drinking and slightly sweet sipper.
This is great Champagne, in the bottle-aged Henriot style. It's a classic Chardonnay, ripe, creamy, packed with yellow fruits, and finely balanced with a great waft of toast. A high percentage of older vintages in the blend gives this wine richness, maturity, without ever losing its crisp edge.
This is great Chenin Blanc, wood fermented but still leaving all the varietal character. Rich, creamy, almond flavors and silky smooth, which keeps all the essential acidity of the grape, with added spice and vanilla.
This is great fruit, sappy and loaded with bright, concise flavors of raspberry and pomegranate. Intense and juicy, this spicy and crisply defined wine shows great balance and detail, with just a hint of chocolate adorning the finish.
This is great Petite Sirah, and classically Dry Creek Valley in style. It has the weight and texture of a fine Cabernet, with gorgeously smooth tannins, but it's the flavors that really make you reach for another glass. Offers blackberries, black currants, bacon, charred meat bone, pepper and anise flavors that go on and on into a long finish. Will age for a long time, but you can drink it at any point in its journey.
This is great Sancerre from the Monts Damnés vineyard. It shows all the right varietal character, stylized by initial austerity, flint and a dense texture. Gradually it opens up to show a balance of acidity and richness.
This is great white wine, especially at this price. With no oak, it shows pure, clean orange, pineapple, fig and vanilla flavors that are brightened by crisp acidity. Flashy and showy, yet complex, it's a beautiful wine to drink now.
This is green and grassy upfront, but in an attractive way, with pungent notes of sweet grass, verbena and lime leaf at the fore. The lightweight palate offers additional notes of lemon-lime and green plum that carry through to the mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2018.
This is green from front to back. Starting with the nose, this smells like bell pepper and green beans. A raw, scratchy palate confirms where this is headed, and that's toward an underripe palate with a finish that tastes like fresh-picked green beans.
This is Gremillet's prestige cuvée, made as a Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs. It's rich, creamy and mineral-textured with a steely, chalky edge. Great acidity is layered with the fruitiness of this now-mature wine. Ready to drink, it's lively and crisp.
This is gritty, burnt and stalky smelling. On the palate it's sour and underdeveloped as a whole.
This is half Cab Franc, the rest an equal mix of Malbec, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Blackberry and black cherry fruits fill the mouth, with just a hint of barrel toast and coffee grounds. Citrusy acidity buoys up the fruit and keeps the overall balance on point.
This is half Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Merlot (38%) and Syrah. Aromas of vanilla, leafy herbs, barrel spices and dried cherries lead to full bodied fruit flavors with the oak showing prominently.
This is half Merlot, one third Syrah, with a bit of Cabernet and Petit Verdot as well. It's a very light, fruity wine, with no particular focus. Fine for near-term quaffing.
This is half Merlot, with Pinot Noir, Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon divvying up the other half—a completely different Ranch Red than in 2013. It's sweaty and short, with some off flavors in the finish.
This is half Syrah (from Chandler Reach) and half Cabernet Sauvignon (from Stillwater Creek), aged in 100% new French oak. The plush fruits are ripe and well-matched, and there are nuanced highlights of herb, leaf, bark and beet root. The tannins are tight and stiff, so some extra breathing time is a good idea.
This is half Tempranillo, one quarter Garnacha, one quarter Monastrell. Pop the cork and right away come aromas with a mix of exotic, seductive spices, vanilla, sweet grain, plum and some bakery sweetness. The fruit is plump and dotted with dried herb, dusted with powdered sugar, open and expansive.
This is hands-down the best value Pinot Noir made in Oregon, year in and year out. It's firm and full-bodied, perfectly ripe, with lovely spices that range from pepper to cinnamon and allspice. The fruit lingers in the midpalate, round and tangy, with flavors of cherry and plum. It's a thoroughly rich and satisfying wine that is big enough to work with dark poultry, salmon and even veal.
This is hard-hitting, rumble-ready Rioja with raw, minty aromas coming in front of a packed, drying palate. Powerful berry flavors finish with a peppery flavor, rubbery notes and sharpness. This may improve some over the next two years.
This is hard and tough, all tannins and extraction.
This is hard coated with a creamy plastic note and a milk chocolate scent. Overall it smells heavily oaked and artificial. It feels resiny, with sticky tannins and thickness, tasting of hickory and carob.
This is hard in tannins and firm in acidity, which gives it fine structure. It's not shy in flavor, and it offers waves of blackberries, black currants and cassis liqueur, plus a note of toasty new oak. While it could develop well with age, the forward fruit suggests drinking it over the next five years.
This is hard to appreciate now because the fruit is so primary and upfront—like a heaping spoon of black raspberry jam—and also because the tannins are thick and tough. There's something almost rustic about it. On the other hand, six years or more in the cellar could reward. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with a splash of Petit Verdot.
This is hard to resist, a crisp, easy sipper that's gentle on the wallet and bright with sweet jasmine aromatics. On the palate expect refreshing Mandarin orange and lemon zest flavors. It's a clean, crisp wine made from organic grapes, 52% of which hail from Lake, the rest from Mendocino County.
This is harder than the 2008, which was released at the same time, but it shows real Napa elegance. The tannic toughness tells you to decant it for a few hours, which makes the blackberry and cassis flavors become more expressive.
This is hardly a fashionable color for rosé, deep and almost like a light red wine. It tastes heavy, although the red fruits are cut by ample acidity. The finish is rich and ripe.
This is harsh and scoury in the mouth, with thin blackberry and caramel flavors and some vegetal notes.
This is has flavors of apple and red currant, with a dry, light touch. The acidity cuts through the palate, giving it an attractive freshness, with a touch of spice and a crisp finish.
This is heady and delicious, with powerful flavors of blackberry and cherry jam, cola, spice and smoky oak. A blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splash of Petit Verdot, this wine's strongest feature is its ripeness. It's bit soft on the finish; drink this over the next few years.
This is heady and savory smelling, with a mild burnt-leaf component to the bouquet. The palate is stacked to the max, and dense in feel, with toast, espresso, hickory and baked berry flavors. On the finish, a hazelnut note blends with chocolate, licorice and toasted flavors.
This is heady for Chilean Chardonnay, with baked apple and no shortage of toast on the bouquet. It feels fresh but full, with polish and elegance to the mouthfeel. Flavors of apple and spiced squash end in a whirl of cinnamon and mild oak-related resin, while a final touch of acidity keeps things lively.
This is heavily oaked, with barrel-driven aromas of raw wood grain, spice and clove. Plump and resiny, with moderate acidity, heavy oak and resin characters dominate the flavor profile.
This is heavily wood dominated. Toast and juice come from wood as much as fruit at this stage. Behind this, generous yellow fruits and a ripe, full-bodied character will lead to a ripe and complex wine. It needs aging, so don't drink before 2016.
This is heavy and overripe, with prune jelly flavors.
This is heavy and raisiny, with ripe earth and mineral aromas that are suggestive of Port. It feels loaded and scratchy, with licorice, prune and pepper flavors that finish short and with some heat. A bullish style to drink now.
This is heavy, soft and overripe, with raisin and Port-like flavors.
This is herbaceous, but it also has a ripe yellow-fruit character. It is fresh and crisp, with a great depth of flavor. Its bright acidity and tight-textured finish make this a food wine.
This is herbal and clipped smelling, with a scattering of berry and plum notes. It feels saturated and chewy, with roasted berry, pepper and spice flavors that lead to a lightly herbal finish, with a rubbery accent and a baked fruit note.
This is herbal and ripely fruited all at once, smelling like sweet pea, carnation and baby powder combined with tones of plum and cherry. The fruity notes continue through to the medium-weight palate, though they're short-lived.
This is herbal, burnt and stalky smelling, then raw and herbal tasting, with weedy notes and a scratchy finish.
This is herbal, with some flavors of green bell pepper and wild spice. The wine is light bodied and fruity, with attractive, juicy black-currant flavors and a perfumed aftertaste.
This is high-octane and boldly ripe wine from the wilds of Calistoga, offering bacon char, cranberry, plum and a richness of milk chocolate.
This is high-toned and sharp, with bright fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry lollipops. There's not much else to it, except a hint of alcoholic burn in the finish.
This is high in alcohol, but it will easily pair with barbecue. It's made from fruit grown in the warm Larner Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley as well as from the cool Lafond Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills. Rich, dry and complex, it offers brisk, citrusy acidity to offset the ripe blackberry, currant and sandalwood flavors.
This is high in alcohol, but the result is a rich Pinot Blanc, with citrus, tropical fruit, mineral, white flower and honey flavors. The bright, citrusy acidity keeps the mouthfeel keen and zingy.
This is high in alcohol, which gives it a jalapeño-like burn. It's an easy, simple wine to drink now, offering white sugar, orange, lime, green melon and vanilla flavors.
This is honest, fresh, balanced and easy to drink, with Rioja authenticity. Aromas of earth, tomatoes, herbs and red fruits are light and nice. Flavors of salty plum, red currant and vanilla should be familiar to Rioja fans, while the finish is persistent.
This is hot in alcohol, and it has a vegetal note, with modest berry fruit. The finish seems sweet—like cola.
This is huge in fruit, like Godzilla trampling skyscrapers underfoot. Yet it's so exquisitely balanced in all its parts, it possesses a Zen-like stillness at the center of all these massive, swirling elements. This is easily Williams Selyem's best Papera Zin yet. So rich in black raspberry jam, red currant, mocha, pepper and sweet sandalwood flavors, yet so focused, it just blows your mind.
This is huge, brawny Zin, given some parameters through its 15 months in oak, the vast majority of which was French and new. Behind the power lies a slight elegance, with a taste of tar and bittersweet chocolate that lingers on.
This is identified as the smallest estate vineyard, here delivering a light and pretty wine, perfectly proportioned in a small frame. Strawberry and raspberry fruit shows clean, crisp acidity. There is room for further bottle development; at the moment the wine does a quick, gentle fade.
This is immediately attractive in blackberry, cherry and red currant flavors, with a subtle coating of smoky oak. With plenty of elegance, it's wonderful for drinking now. It should be relatively easy to find, with nearly 20,000 cases in circulation.
This is immediately recognizable as a bottling from a cool-climate vineyard, with tons of cracked black pepper, asphalt and black fruit on the tense and intriguing nose. That pepper character follows through on the palate, mixing with crushed bay leaf, underripe elderberries and a touch of black currant, but fruit plays second to the spice and structure. Drink 2017–2022.
This is immediately ripe and wooly, with touches of lanolin and apricot on the nose. Plump but also citrusy in feel, this sports a citrusy flavor profile built on orange and offset by a tropical hint of banana. Racy, solid and healthy on the finish.
This is immensely promising, offering scents of slate, slightly leesy notes, white peach and pineapple. But on the palate, the flavors aren't quite as fresh, changing over to dried pineapple and golden raisin, and while the mouthfeel is rich and sweet upfront, the wine seems to dry up a bit on the finish, where it shows a touch of bitterness. Probably best to drink it young.
This is impressive and firmly tannic, showing mint and herb flavors, new wood toast and bitter black-cherry fruit. It's complex, dense and age worthy.
This is impressively dark, with dense but grapy fruit flavors right out front. The mouthfeel is sharp and spicy, and it thins out surprisingly in the middle, given the color and rather high alcohol. Sappy acids and raspy tannins carry it through the finish.
This is in Pommery's relatively delicate style, a finely balanced, elegant Champagne. It has some lively acidity; the balance between this and the white fruits and touch of maturity works. Great non-vintage.
This is in the big red category without being overwhelming. Rich, firm and concentrated, it smells like blackberries and vanilla, tastes layered and textural, and has enough tannin and acidity for great balance despite a hint of sweetness.
This is in transtion. When young, it was impressive for its rich fruit and texture, but now it's showing hints of green bean on the nose and a lener, more compact profile. Give it another few years to see if it turns around.
This is indeed a very enjoyable Chianti Classico that shows bright fruit nuances of cherry and blackberry followed by spice, leather and dried tobacco. In the mouth, the wine is smooth, medium in intensity but also bright and fresh.
This is indicated as a reserve-level selection, but at the moment remains unfocused, and even a bit dilute. Tart fruits and tight tannins never quite fit together. The drying finish carries a hint of wet cement. Give this at least another year or two of bottle age.
This is infused with engaging scents of red berry, crushed violet, rose and a balsamic whiff of eucalyptus. The linear palate is tightly wound, offering dried wild cherry and a note of light baking spice accompanied by rather austere tannins. Drink after 2018.
This is initially a serious and structured wine, which subsequently rounds out but always keeps the firm structure of its vintage. It hints at wood aging, plus black currant freshness and tight acidity on the finish.
This is initially a somewhat austere wine, but that derives from the tannins of Saint-Estèphe. Underneath those tannins are solid, chunky fruits and a great generosity and richness.
This is initially dark and earthy, with brandied cherry, leather and tobacco aromas. It feels complete and offers core acids to keep it feeling fresh. Flavors of black fruit and spice lead to a lasting finish with cola and cherry notes.
This is initially quite closed but it eventually opens up in the glass to reveal wild berry, cooking spice and a whiff of cellar floor. The palate offers unripe sour cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and grilled herb alongside youthfully assertive tannins. Drink 2017–2022.
This is initially rather closed but eventually reveals underbrush, ripe black cherry, plum, prune, mushroom, dried rose petals, licorice and black pepper sensations. It's warm and already accessible but give the ripe tannins time to integrate fully. Drink 2016–2024.
This is initially round and ripe, with a hint of vanilla, before showing a more structured, steely side. It shows fine balance between its intense texture and fruitiness, promising 2–3 years of aging.
This is initially tight and closed, needing to be decanted to reveal its generous black cherry and persimmon flavors, plus lots of peppery spice. The texture is silky, yet there are some hefty tannins, suggesting the wine might improve over the next 5–6 years, even though it's drinkable now.
This is initially very closed and a little funky, but it soon opens up in the glass to reveal ripe black-skinned fruit, raisin and a whiff of kitchen spice. On the solid, no-frills palate, notes of fig and grilled sage back up a core of dried black cherry while close-grained grip the finish.
This is intended as an Amarone-style wine, made from half Sangiovese and half Barbera. The alcohol hits almost 17%, yet it is quite dry. Though not especially Amarone-like to this taster, it is an interesting, well-made wine that approaches Port-like intensity without either sugar or spirits.
This is intense and muscular without being overdone. Herbal and peppery notes bring nuance to the concentrated flavors of dark plum, mocha and baking spice. The finish is richly tannic but not hard, making it approachable now but capable of aging through 2030.
This is intense in both color and aromatics. Potent scents of black fruit, animal hide, graphite and bold oak are at the fore. It feels pure, lush and well built, with dark flavors of blackberry, chocolate, toast and spice. Coffee and pepper are the prime finishing flavors; drink now through 2015.
This is intensely aromatic, with loads of tropical fruit, apple blossom and white peach notes on the nose and palate. It's fresh, tasty and big in body, yet deftly balanced. Soft, lemony acidity on the midpalate gets a boost of citrus rind and saline on the finish.
This is intensely juicy, with acidity that cuts through the black-currant flavors, creating a wine that's brimming with fruitiness. There is a slight distracting hint of oxidized tomato, but it's otherwise enjoyable.
This is intensely minerally and very tight. It has a real steely character, with its acidity packed tight into the concentrated texture, making this dense wine likely to age over three years.
This is intensely perfumed, with soft tannins that are followed by a dry, concentrated character. From the iconic Vesúvio Vineyard, where wines for vintage production are still foot trodden, this has a ripe feel, with tannins that are suitable for medium-term aging.
This is intensely rich, with very concentrated ripe fruit. Apple and peach flavors are cut by acidity. A note of pepper details the finish. Age for 3–4 years.
This is intensely ripe and almost tropical, with yellow fruit and flower notes that are balanced with layers of smoke, wet stone and brisk, steely acidity. This is a dry yet lavishly textured wine, with flavors that meander long on the finish.
This is interesting from the opening. Floral aromas include violet, bath soap and lavender along with blueberry. This is tight on the palate, with exotic flavors of blackberry and licorice that turn darker and grittier with airing. Cassis and exotic spice notes push the finish.
This is interesting—a California take on Oregon Pinot Noir. It's sleek and spicy, with a racy spine and a very tart, dry mouthfeel. The fruit is peppery and hard; like hard candy with an herbal streak. The wine hides its almost 15% alcohol quite well, but it will reward ample breathing time.
This is intoxicating on the nose with scents of white flowers, fresh herbs and honey, layered with hints of smoke and pine needles. Just a shade off-dry, the palate boasts ample peach and pear flavors that are tinged with a bitter lime-skin note and bristling minerality.
This is intriguing on the nose, with loads of fresh apple and floral perfume merged with darker tones of petrol and pine needles. Off-dry in style, it's lush and fruity, with ample melon and stone-fruit flavors. It finishes dry, with a splash of citrusy acidity.
This is introduced by scents of rose and cherry blossoms, with a hint of butterscotch. Once tasted it's a lush, forward, sweetly appealing wine with the impressive fruit concentration of the 2012 vintage, underscored with a layer of mineral. It's delicious already, but destined to improve. Drink some now, and put away some to taste between 2018 and 2025.
This is J's best Pinot Gris in years. It's rich and focused, with bright acidity, a clean mouthfeel and complex orange, mango, honey and vanilla flavors.
This is Jaffurs' reserve-style Syrah, the best barrels from various vineyards. It's softly tannic and incredibly complex, with waves of blackberry jam, cassis, chocolate, gingersnap cookie and pepper flavors that are rich and intense. Beautiful and compelling, the wine finishes dry.
This is jammy and bulky from the get-go, with heavy fruit aromas leading to a saturated, dense palate that feels thick. Baked, blackened flavors of sweet blackberry, chocolate and mocha mark the palate.
This is jammy and reduced throughout, especially on the nose, which offers a dense blueberry aroma. Saturated and solid on the palate, it features ripe flavors of black plum, blackberry and caramel. A potent, fruity, modern type of Tempranillo that's long on fruit and short on complexity.
This is juicy, almost jammy, with forward flavors of strawberry candy that fill the mouth and hang tight. There's a light hint of pepper around a lingering, clean finish. It's full, forward and fruit-powered.
This is juicy, full of red-berry flavors that are balanced with attractive tannins and acidity. It has some concentration from the old vines, planted in 1951, that gives the wine considerable depth and richness. This is one of those Beaujolais that could age through 2022, although it's very drinkable now.
This is jumpy and aggressive on the nose, with lemon-lime aromas akin to Sprite. Grabby almost to the point of being cloying, it is driven by classic Moscato flavors of lime and sweet lychee. It's chalky without a good follow through.
This is jumpy on the nose, with raw oak, green notes and zest. Aromas of earth, blueberry and wood don't fully come together, while the palate is acidic and cidery in feel. Slightly underripe flavors of cranberry and blueberry run counter to the vintage, which was warm and generous by RDD standards.
This is just 14.2% alcohol, so despite the richness and ripeness, this is not fat or flabby. The fruit has concentrated black cherry and cassis flavors, and the smoky, pain grillé flavors of barrel aging are nicely integrated. Aromatically this wine is just beginning to evolve, with complex plum, prune, cherry liqueur, coffee and smoke.
This is just a bit on the sweet side, but there is plenty of acidity to be found. It's fruity, peachy, succulent and fresh.
This is just a gorgeous wine, so easy to enjoy, juicy in watermelon, grapefruit and dark, baked strawberry tart, a taste of summer evoked from every sip. Textured and complex, it gives a squeeze of blood orange that lingers and remains fresh through the finish. It's from the owner's estate vineyard, sought after by many other producers and made by Siduri's Adam Lee.
This is just about perfect Sémillon— the gorgeous fruit has more flesh and breadth with flavors suggesting ripe fig, melon and citrus. The use of oak is judicious and thoughtful; it adds grace notes without dominating. You can't help but wonder why this grape remains such a novelty (except, ironically, at Novelty Hill!). It's seductive, delicious and unique.
This is just barely drinkable, with modest blackberry fruit. It's hot and Port-like, right through the raisiny finish.
This is just delicious, showing all the fine attributes you'd want from a California Cabernet, except ageability. But who cares, when it's this rich in blackberry and cherry jam, cassis and chocolate, and so balanced? Winemaker John Falcone has brought his years of thoughtful winemaking to this Cab, and of course the favorable 2009 vintage helped.
This is just over half Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The aromas of herb, barrel spice, black cherry and coffee need time to reveal themselves fully. The dark cherry and blackberry flavors show richness and polish. Give it an extended decant if opening in the near term but it will be worth it. It will be best from 2020 to 2027.
This is just recognizably Pinot Noir, full of tannins with a tight edge. Bitter cherry flavors and very fresh acidity give a mineral flavor that is only just showing juiciness. Drink from 2016.
This is just right, balanced with plenty of crisp citrus fruit and a warmer, ripe background of green plums and even apricots. The combination gives the wine weight and even a touch of richness.
This is just the kind of white wine California needs more of. It's crisp in acidity, with a brilliant, unoaky focus of fruit. Best of all, the alcohol is a low 12.5%. There may be some residual sugar, but the tangerine flavors are so crisp, the wine feels dry. What a great sommelier wine.
This is just the second time that this winery has released a Dolcetto, both sourced from the Dwelley vineyard. It's a very pretty wine, the color of Pinot Noir, and captures some of the feminine elegance of that grape as well. Scents of fresh crushed raspberries rise from the glass, lightly dusted with cocoa. Complex details of fresh herb add further interest.
This is just the second varietal bottling of Marsanne—single vineyard at that—from McCrea. Firm and fleshy, with clear melon flavors, it shows a dash of cinnamon along the way. The finish brings on graham cracker accents, though only neutral oak was used.
This is just the second vintage for this winery, whose inviting labels look like handwritten notes. The rosé captures the bright color, fresh fruit and silky texture of its Pinot Noir grape; it's a perfect salmon or turkey wine, and one you could happily sip as an apéritif.
This is just the second vintage made from this site in the Red Hills of Dundee. It's an intriguing wine, with richly scented accents of soil and compost. Those delicate hints of funk mingle with a cherry-soaked midpalate of excellent concentration, and lead into a finish streaked with fresh-ground coffee.
This is just the third Sauvignon Blanc from Stevens (none was made in 2008), sourced from Klipsun vineyard and stainless steel fermented. Richly textural, with a creamy minerality, this has a pleasing intensity, a sort of nervosity (as the French might put it), limned with a sweet grain character. The fruits are tart and racy, a mix of citrus rind and pulp, tangerine and pineapple, finished with natural acidity.
This is just the third Sauvignon Blanc from Stevens (none was made in 2008), sourced from Klipsun vineyard and stainless steel fermented. Richly textural, with a creamy minerality, this has a pleasing intensity, a sort of nervosity (as the French might put it), lined with a sweet grain character. The fruits are tart and racy, a mix of citrus rind and pulp, tangerine and pineapple, finished with natural acidity.
This is just this side of unctuous, a decadently ripe and rich late harvest Riesling. The residual sugar is at 23%, the alcohol a moderate 8%, and the balance impeccable, with a buoyant underpinning to the intense sweetness. It avoids sugary granularity as well, offering seamless, concentrated fruit that piles on flavors of peach, apricot, banana, mango, papaya and melon in wild profusion, trailing into sweet tea and honey. Apart from the winery's Single Berry Select Trockenbeerenauslese project with Ernie Loosen, this is the best dessert wine made in Washington.
This is just too young to drink now. The interplay of the acids and tannins locks down the flavors and make a sting on the palate. But there is the terrific core of flavor, of ripe blackberries and cherries, of red and black currants, of cola and root beer and licorice, that will emerge in time, making for delicious drinking. Best 2009–2013, possibly longer.
This is just what a Barbera should be: delicious, easy to drink and ready now. The palate delivers mouthfuls of black cherry, spice and licorice, balanced by fresh acidity and a silky-smooth texture. Pair this with virtually anything. Imported by Masciarelli Wine Co, Moonlight Wine Co.
This is just what you want from a Cabernet Franc. It's softly tannic and gentle in the mouth, with rich cherry, cola and oak flavors. The addition of a few drops of Merlot and Petit Verdot seems to add structural complexity. Drink now.
This is Knoll's flagship wine, from the Dürnstein Schütt vineyard. It is powerful, intense stuff, a roll-call of ripe flavors, even in the difficult 2007 vintage. The wine brings out spice, yellow fruits, fresh apple skins and peppered grapefruit. The extra element is the complexity that goes deep into flavors that need to develop over several years.
This is Korbel's Chardonnay-based sparkling wine, and it showcases the house style of clean acidity, slight sweetness and scouring bubbles. The Chardonnay shines through in its typical notes of lime and kiwi fruit.
This is Korbel's first-ever brut made with organic grapes. It's a solid sparkler, but not particularly better than any of their others. It shows rich flavors of citrus, vanilla and yeast, and is very tart in acidity.
This is labeled as Cabernet but is a Bordeaux-style blend that includes small percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. At the moment the wine is not especially expressive. There are hints of peppery herb in the nose, lightly ripe red fruits, and a pleasing, buttery finish.
This is labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, but be realistic about your expectations: This is 94% Cabernet, with only 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Cedar, cassis, sage and bay leaf notes are classic Margaret River expressions, as is the wine's medium body and streamlined feel. It's a harmonious if not particularly flamboyant wine that will be at home with a variety of dishes. Drink now–2025.
This is labeled as dry, which sums up this crisp and fruity wine. Delicious, refreshing acidity is gently spiced and layered with green apples and quince flavors. It's ready to drink.
This is labeled as table wine, but given its frizzante with a blend of 48% Müller-Thurgau, 35% Muscat and 17% Riesling, it bears a close resemblance to Asti Spumante. It's off dry, but not too sweet, and has appealing flavors of lemon meringue, vanilla cream and a touch of spice.
This is labeled Methode Champenoise, though its time on the lees was minimal. It's a bit of a sourball, a mix of green apple and lemon, but would be a knockout with raw oysters.
This is labeled reserve, but has the same early release and light fruit flavors as the less-expensive regular bottling. Cranberry and celery-stalk flavors are the main elements, and the finish turns quite chalky.
This is labeled reserve, but it's a tart austere wine with little charm. The diluted raspberry fruit carries a metallic note through the finish. Note that the front label correctly says it's a 2014, while the side (back) label mistakenly reads 2013.
This is laden with wood, spiced with a toast note that dominates this otherwise crisp, nervy wine. The acidity is refreshing; the citrus note creates a lively streak of freshness. This needs a few months for the wood infuence to soften.
This is Langetwins's first vintage of Malbec from estate vineyards and it leaves a bit to be desired. Flat and a tad watery, it's a one-dimensional quaff.
This is largely neutral on the nose except for lazy flowery, tropical aromas. Fairly bold in size and mouthfeel, it has honeyed flavors of nectarine and peach. On the finish, it's more bitter than fresh as the fruit character breaks down.
This is largely Viognier from the Southern Rhône, and that's reflected in its aromas of honey and pineapple. The flavors are fresh and slightly herbal, but based in melon and pineapple. It's medium in body, then finishes on a mouthwatering citrus note.
This is layered and complex, with tones of black cherry, dried apple skin, clove, white pepper and grated ginger. Like most wines from Valpolicella, it offers heat and power but mellow tannins.
This is leafy and red smelling at first, then becoming raw and candied tasting, with a herbal note.
This is lean and green, so if you like your wines redolent of green tomato, celery leaf and lime this is one to try. It's flavor profile and tart finish would make it pair well with ceviche.
This is leaner and drier than you'd normally expect from the Sonoma Coast, with lots of tangy acidity. Although the alcohol is high, the wine is shy on fruit, but it remains elegant. Drink now.
This is leaner and more citrusy than the majority of plump New Zealand Pinot Gris, but still offers plenty of interest. The apple and pear flavors are clean and precise, outlined by citrus and with a hint of stoniness on the finish.
This is leathery and earthy up front, with cherry and berry aromas that come with a flower accent. It feels snappy, alert and slightly citrusy, with raspberry, red plum and vanilla flavors. It's relatively short and choppy on the finish, but it's fresh, with the proper amount of oak.
This is leathery and stemmy on the nose, with horsey plum and raspberry aromas. It feels narrow, with rubbery, herbal and roasted berry flavors. This is a rustic, roasted wine no matter how you slice it.
This is Les Vins de Vienne's upscale Crozes, and it's very successful in 2009, featuring bold, concentrated blackberry fruit supported by hints of vanilla and toast. It's full bodied and richly textured, with a long, layered finish. Drink now–2020.
This is less flamboyant than some Condrieus, but it still shows characteristic honeyed, floral notes. It's also one of the less expensive wines from the appellation and the most widely available. Apricot joins the party on the balanced palate and lingers through the finish. Drink now–2020.
This is less luxuriantly ripe than some of the other 2013 Hawke's Bay Syrahs, showing some firm, dusty tannins on the finish, but it's still a terrific offering. Cracked black pepper, fresh blueberries and cedar notes come together beautifully on the palate, promising much for the future. Drink 2018–2025.
This is less opulent and full bodied than most Australian Viogniers, but it still delivers an attractive blend of white peaches, citrus and baking spices. It's crisp and bright enough on the finish to handle a wide range of seafood dishes. Drink now.
This is light and bright, with crisp acidity and the fruitiness of an attractive, early-drinking wine.
This is light and crisp, with its acidity dominant. It's packed with lime and grapefruit flavors that lend a taut, nervy texture. Not for aging, this is refreshing now.
This is light and fresh, with melony aromas. It's plump and waning on the palate, with a splash of citric acidity. Mealy nectarine flavors lead to a stalky finish that loses steam.
This is light and fruity, but it could use some more concentration. It has an attractive apple flavor and a touch of citrus. For a grand cru, it is surprisingly ready to drink.
This is light and fruity, with its red fruit upfront. The tannins are balanced, in keeping with the wine's perfumed nature. The youthful acidity on the finish is likely to soften out in a year.
This is light and rusty in color—evidence of a mature wine that's ready to drink now. The nose is spicy, dry and earthy, with tomato, nutmeg and tobacco aromas. The mouthfeel is snappy and drying, with reserved flavors of cocoa, cherry and plum. Spice, tomato and herbal tobacco flavors carry the finish.
This is light and seems a little sparkly, as if there is a hint of secondary fermentation going on. For Cab Franc it's light and generic, without the spice or substance of the grape.
This is light bodied and crisp, its bright cherry fruit accented by leafy, slightly green notes. Clean and vibrant, it's the sort of Pinot that should work well with salmon.
This is light gold in color, with peach and pear aromas and a smooth and creamy texture. Soft in balance, it is light and ethereal to taste despite the pleasant viscosity.
This is light in body and color—and already showing some bricking at the rim. Pleasant forest floor notes and subtle cherry tones are pleasant, but the tannins remain slightly astringent. Drink now.
This is light in color and strikes the right strawberry tones. It's big and tannic, with weight and warmth on the finish.
This is light in color, with minerally aromas and a hint of tropical fruit on the nose. A shearing palate overwhelms with acidity, while flavors of zesty citrus and pink grapefruit create leftover sizzle on a tangy, scouring finish.
This is light in hue, even for Pinot Noir, but it offers attractive, bright cherry fruit backed by crisp acids. The tannins are supple, leaving the acids to define the structure. Drink it before the end of 2017.
This is light on the nose, where minerally lime scents are barely detectable. The mouthfeel is fresh but dilute, while flavors of lemon, green apple and tarragon end in simple fashion.
This is light on the nose, with almost airy aromas of raspberry and cherry. Fuller and more grabby in the mouth, it has firm tannins and sweet flavors of berry and cherry darkened by a toasty accent. A little fiery on the finish, it has mild heat that food will tame.
This is light to the point of feeling thin. It emphasizes clean, tangy raspberry flavors, with a touch of tangerine-like acidity and a cleansing mineral note that carries through the finish. It lacks concentration and shows no evidence of its aging in 50% new French oak.
This is light, bright and easy, with clean notes of Granny Smith apple, pear, and a hint of fresh grass. The tart palate is sharp but refreshing, with a medium-length, mouthwatering finish.
This is light, easygoing and very fruity, with plenty of fresh red-cherry character and zingy, lively acidity. Waves of Amarena and Morello cherries unfold on the palate. This would be ideal for picnics and light lunches.
This is light, fruity and fresh for a Gewurztraminer. A crisp character brings out bitter orange and ripe pear flavors. Drink now.
This is light, fruity and gently crisp. It's a floral wine with southern warmth, bringing out tropical fruits and gentle acidity. The aftertaste is fresher with plenty of fruit. Screwcap.
This is light, fruity and just off dry. It has bright red fruits and crisp acidity, softened by a gentle aftertaste. The wine, pure Gamay, is ready to drink.
This is light, fruity and spicy, with a crisp edge of acidity as well as a soft texture. Ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is light, mildly yeasty, slightly pickled and briny smelling. It feels fresh and edgy, with good acidic cut, while the flavors lean toward orange and white peach. It holds onto its briny character on the finish, which is dry, bracing and tastes of mineral and lime.
This is light, with a nose of fresh stone fruit—mostly peach—as well as melon. It's a delightful blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon that will appeal to Sémillon fans. iIts acidity is balanced and bracing; the finish is full of lemon flavor.
This is light, with fresh berry flavors. It's pretty, forward, fruity and bright; perfect for light grilled foods. —P.G.
This is light—the Ten in the name refers to its alcohol level—dry, crisp and fragrantly fresh. It is citrus dominant and deliciously refreshing—a wine that livens up the palate.
This is lighter Barbera showing a pleasant very ripe, plummy character. The wine has evolved early, and gives a seamless backdrop to the pretty flavors of spice and Christmas pudding. Easygoing and complex. Imported by MW Imports.
This is lighter in style, but nicely dry, balanced, appetizing and complete. It smells like red cherries and cranberries and tastes fresh, nicely tart and lively. At the same time it feels firmly tannic and palate-cleansing. This will be a super-versatile wine with food.
This is lightly baked and sweet on the nose, with a hint of plastic and raisin as the bouquet opens. It feels fresh and a bit sharp, with tangy red-plum and currant flavors followed by bland oak. The finish is tart and acidic.
This is lightly fragrant, with pear and apple notes. There's a touch of tart sweetness on the finish as well a foamy texture and bright acidity. It should pair with Brie- or Gouda-based appetizers.
This is lightly grassy and quite fresh. Whatever the residual sugar may be, it simply helps round out the searing acidity.
This is lightly herbal and beautifully complex. The fruit is a sweetly ripe mix of boysenberry and blueberry, notched with highlights of pepper and leaf. Everything is supported with perfectly proportioned acids and fine-tuned tannins.
This is lightly oaked, with pleasant Chardonnay flavors of oranges, limes and mangoes. However, it's too sweet, with a sugary finish that makes it cloying.
This is lightly perfumed with green melon, lychee and papaya aromas. The palate is middle of the road in terms of acidity and snap. Flavors of lychee, peach and nectarine are typical of the variety, while the finish is plump and smooth.
This is lightly structured, showing balanced red berry fruits and round tannins. For a 2010, it is softening fast; this should be drinkable in the next six months.
This is like a photocopy of a photocopy of a good Pinor Noir. All the parts are identifiable, from the raspberries and persimmons to the toasty oak and vanilla. It's just all a little thinned down and blurry. Drink now with salmon cakes, burgers, brown rice and tofu.
This is like a sparking Shiraz from Australia. It's pretty much as dark in color as a red wine, with a full body and a raspberry pie flavor. The palate is a little bit scouring and sweet, along with the classic yeastiness of a sparkling wine.
This is likeable for its acidity and savory citrus flavors, which work together to get the tastebuds watering. There's a strong note of sour gooseberry, with a touch of honey in the finish.
This is likely the last vintage from this vineyard, which the family winery seemingly mastered in this bottling. There's an underlying umami-driven smoked meat backbone to the nose that also shows bold cherry blossom, olallieberry, pepper, dried herbs and blackberry-soy sauce. The palate is complex yet doesn't overpower, with bits of purple flowers, blueberry, black pepper and menthol.
This is likely the most ageworthy Shiraz winemaker John Duval has crafted since leaving Penfolds. The oak is subtle, the fruit still tight. It's full bodied but bursting with potential, shown in hints of black cherries and plums, mocha and mint. The finish is long, mouthwatering and softly dusty in texture, making it luscious yet firm. Drink 2018–2030.
This is lively and bright, with opening aromas of gooseberry, green plum, fresh grass and lime rind. The light-weight palate offers flavors of crisp stone fruit and lime oil, with a brisk acidity that carries through to the clean finish. Drink now.
This is lively and tart, suggesting citrus rind, grapefruit and juniper berries. There's a snap to the acidity and some bitterness in the finishing flavors.
This is lively, lean, and agile in style, from the fresh raspberry and cranberry aromas to the tangy raspberry flavors to the insistent tannins and firm acidity that frame it. Light to medium in body, this should soften and broaden in texture with time. Best after 2016.
This is living proof that Jumilla's Monastrells can age well. Earthy aromas of plum, blackberry and vanilla are oaky but mature and true to the region and variety. This feels vital and balanced, supported by mature, chewy tannins. Flavors of cherry, plum and chocolate finish long, with energy to spare. Drink now through 2018.
This is loaded with new oak, toasted wood, vanilla and espresso aromas, but light on fruit aromas and flavors. It needs a bit more fruity richness to maintain balance.
This is loaded with succulent black cherry, almond, tobacco and black pepper flavors. The dense fruit and round structure are balanced by vibrant acidity, making this perfect to pair with everything from cured meats to risotto.
This is locked up tight upon opening; plan on giving it a good couple of hours in the decanter. Peppery and firm, the compact berry, cherry and plum fruit shows a touch of leather in the nose. The addition of Cabernet seems to mute the brightness of the Syrah.
This is locked up tight when opened, and remains massive but inscrutable for several hours. But that is not to say it isn't a killer wine. The dense weave of wild berries, Mediterranean herbs, earth and clay signals a powerful wine with serious aging potential. Drink 2018 through 2028.
This is Londer Vineyard fruit though the vineyard is no longer a designation of its own. Still, like vintages past, Fulcrum has worked its magic with the long-coveted spot, crafting an herbal, savory Pinot that's mouth-filling in blueberry fruit. Voluptuously soft, this is a great wine for the table, perhaps paired with a pork roast dripping in mushrooms.
This is Long Shadows's 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, offering a sharp-edged wine with a brilliant mix of berry, cherry and black fruits, sparked by juicy acids. There's spice and chocolate highlights as well, with a purity and focus that suggests cellaring to add more complexity over the course of a decade or longer.
This is Longboard's most successful of three 2010 Syrahs. It comes from the winery's estate Westside Road vineyard, whose vines now are acquiring some age. It's a complex wine, dry, full-bodied and tannic, with blackberry, currant, tobacco, grilled prosciutto, mineral and pepper flavors that finish long and satisfying. Drink now–2016.
This is lovely and light style of Pinot, especially for a reserve bottling. Aromas of wild strawberry and cranberry mesh with tart cherry, crushed sagebrush and dewy thyme on a zesty nose. Underripe cherries also show on the palate, with anise, marjoram and a powerful incense spice. It's both refreshing and intellectually stimulating.
This is lovely in color, scent and flavor. Elegant and complex, it's perfect for near-term drinking. The strawberry fruit carries some darker highlights, and flavors from aging in 100% French oak bring a lightly charred, toasty frame around the lingering finish.
This is Luna Beberide's “kitchen sink” blend consisting of Mencia, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has blackberry and violet aromas, and as a whole it's inviting and smooth. Flavors of berry fruit are solid but modest, while herbal accents and baking spice notes jazz things up. With more follow-through and some artistic touches, this could be even better. As is, it's a perfectly good red blend.
This is lush and toasty upfront, with supporting aromas of honeydew, peach marmalade and yellow apple. The palate offers ample acidity to lift the rich fruit flavors, while hints of sweet spice, apple skin and toasted brioche unfold on the finish. Attractive and well balanced; enjoy now.
This is lush smelling but dry at the same time, with touches of caramel and cola gracing the bouquet. It feels tight and pinched, but precise, with dried citrus, toffee and hazelnut flavors. The finish is briney, complex and very long. Only 300 cases were made.
This is lushly fruity, a big bowl full of strawberries, with a milk chocolate coating. There's nothing wimpy here, but the low alcohol keeps it zippy and perfect for warm-weather quaffing.
This is made by Eric Hamacher (Carlton Winemakers Studio) and mixes dried herb, tea, honeysuckle and green apple in a convivial style. Round and fruity, it's dry without being stiff or steely. Very drinkable.
This is made entirely from Pinot Gris, which is then fortified with eau-de-vie to stop fermentation at a residual sugar level of 14%. Golden in hue, it tastes of sweet marshmallow and cotton candy topped in baked apple and pineapple. Viscous and thick, it's rich and balanced and entirely enjoyable.
This is made from 100% Cabernet grown in the St. Helena estate vineyard. The wine is exceptionally pure and delicious, rich in black currant, chocolate, black cherry and lots of toasty new French oak. The all-important tannins are exquisitely ripe and as fine as velvet. Nowhere near ready, this wine wants a good eight years in the cellar, and will gradually evolve through the mid-2020s, at the very least.
This is made from 100% Pinot Noir and spent three years on the yeast, made in a traditional style. It satisfies in aromas of hazelnut liqueur, mushroom and almond, offering a light, bright and elegant experience. Bright acidity keeps it fresh in the glass, while a tartness of green apple and cherry play against its intense minerality.
This is made from 100% Syrah from mountainous Stagecoach Vineyard and then fortified with Germain-Robin brandy. The resulting commingle is delicious in plummy chocolate, baked cherry, cola and pepper with a viscosity on the palate that intensifies on the finish.
This is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, all aged 22 months in half new French oak. It's brooding, with notes of dark chocolate, cherry and herbs. It shows more direct tannic heft than often seen at this site and will benefit from some time in the cellar.
This is made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Gris. It offers an impressive commingling of preserved lemon, burnt orange peel and apricot, meeting crisp acidity and floral undertones along the way. Light and bright, it's a food-friendly option, as well as good go-to solo.
This is made from 80% Cinsault, 10% Grenache and 10% Carignan. It has a deep pink hue and smells more like a red wine than many rosés, with hints of smoked meat, bold notes of garrigue and just a bit of berry-like fruit. It's full bodied, complex and savory—a fine rosé to serve with grilled meats.
This is made from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, the grapes sourced from two estate vineyards on Howell Mountain. Thick, peppery meat and leather notes are framed by densely layered tannins and an impressive backbone of acidity. It finishes in a flourish of pretty mountain flowers and wild vanilla.
This is made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Pinot Noir, an interesting and fulfilling combination thats robust on the palate. Pinkish-orange in color, it's both tangy and weighty, finishing dry in orange zest.
This is made from a cool vineyard site, low in elevation and often covered in fog. The wine is sultry and velvety, with a smoky edge wrapped in candied cherry and cinnamon. It's overdelivers in terms of price as well.
This is made from a curious 70-20-10 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Teroldego (an indigenous grape of northern Italy). The results include black currant, lead pencil, green spice, natural rubber, smoked bacon and lingering blueberry. With its thick, chewy succulence, jackhammer tannins and amazing length, it will hold 20 years.
This is made from a field blend of Cinsault, Carignane, Grenache, Zinfandel and Viognier. Medium bodied and medium in acidity, it offers a dry, fulfilling tartness of orange, grapefruit and raspberry, remaining light and bright on the palate.
This is made from a majority Cabernet Sauvignon, with 11% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. This makes for a softly layered tease of cinnamon, cedar and brush, with the tannins dry and grippy. Black licorice and violet dot the nose and palate. Drink now–2020.
This is made from a majority of Cabernet Franc, with sizable additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Mint and bay leaf curry favor on the nose, while a severity of oak hits the palate.
This is made from a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Dry and tannic, this imparts red fruit around a greenish tinge of tobacco leaf, the tannins overly robust.
This is made from a majority of Petit Verdot with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Dusty sage and raspberry notes form waves of big flavor and tannin, the fruit modest.
This is made from a majority of Sangiovese, with smaller amounts of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Juicy, it's soft in cinnamon, plum and dark cherry, with an oaky finish.
This is made from an Italian variety not seen too much in Northern California. The obscurity doesn't mask its approachability and satisfying nature, a light-bodied delight of orange, cherry and strawberry that's tangy and balanced, ready to complement spicy food.
This is made from declassified barrels originally intended for Stevens 424. It's sharp-edged and spicy, not yet wellintegrated, but substantial, with wild berry flavors and slightly green tannins. A good quaffer, or pair it with a flank steak.
This is made from equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with small additions of Malbec. Juicy, it reveals a raisiny quality of ripeness around integrated oak and generous tannin.
This is made from equal proportions of ripe, fleshy Merlot and herbaceous, violet-inflected Cabernet Franc. The resulting blend is brisk in acidity and framed with hints of cedar, baking spice and vanilla. It's robust with tannins but should round out with braised meat or other hearty fare.
This is made from estate-grown fruit in Jamieson Canyon, on the extreme southern end of the valley. Delicate in style with a soft and silky texture, it imparts rhubarb and cranberry accents around a core of rose flavor.
This is made from fruit sourced from the Milbrandt, Olsen and Kiona vineyards, which are located in three different AVAs. The wine is packed with black fruit, with light accents of smoke, toast, espresso and dark chocolate that add interest to the finish. Merlot and Petit Verdot are also in the mix.
This is made from fruit sourced from the oldest block of Syrah in Washington, which was planted in 1986. The nose expresses complex varietal character, with a mix of blue and purple berry, a dusting of earth and accents of cinnamon and incense. Subtle and expressive, this is the best vintage to date for the Patriarche.
This is made from fruit that's sourced mostly from Mercer's Spice Cabinet Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, with some Tablas clone Syrah from the Rattlesnake Hills. It's a tasty wine but it seems incomplete. It has a ripe purple-fruit flavor, and it comes with plenty of power, but there's a hole in the middle. The finish kicks in with a splash of molasses.
This is made from fruit that was sourced from the same vineyard and picked at the same brix level as Foundry's Stainless Chardonnay bottling. But here the toast of new oak adds a lovely flavor to the smooth butterscotch and apple notes. It opens gracefully and quickly, but the Stainless bottling has more grip and complexity.
This is made from old vines and fermented dry in stainless-steel tank and barrel, retaining freshness and body in its moderate approach. Apricot, pear and biscuit highlight the experience, as a taste of lemon candy closes things out.
This is made from partially dried fruit (the grapes undergo the appassimento process for 30 days) for extra intensity and extraction. In fact, the bouquet is dark and brooding, with black cherry, licorice, spice and clove-like aromas.
This is made from Pinot Noir grapes grown in two unlikely places in the Napa Valley: the Foss Valley near Atlas Peak and Spring Mountain. There is incredible deliciousness going on in this ever-so-lightly hued wine that is vibrantly crisp in grapefruit rind and earthy cranberry and raspberry. With the slightest salinity on the back palate, it remains thirst-quenching and memorable from start to finish.
This is made from the most widely planted red grape in Vinho Verde, Vinhão. It is soft and juicy with a ripe character and almond and caramel flavors. Drink now.
This is made from the winery's estate vineyard, but from lots not included in the main blend, which costs twice as much. You'll find plenty of tannins in this darkly colored, impressively concentrated 100% Cabernet. It's fresh, soft and juicy in blackberry and cherry jam flavors, with a rich earthiness. Just delightful for drinking over the next four years, and a great value.
This is made in a dark, rich style, with the lush vanilla and tobacco flavors that can be found throughout this winery's red wine lineup. Here, the plummy fruit has the density to match the oak treatment.
This is made in a deeper, richer style than this producer's nonvintage. It has weight and concentration, and its acidity is balanced by the ripe orange and red apple flavors that are cut by a steely edge. On the finish, acidity and fruit come deliciously together.
This is made in a delicate, acidic and bone dry style. Some will say it lacks richness—and it does, by Napa standards. But it's quite an elegant wine, silky and light, with a hint of blackberry and tobacco flavor.
This is made in a fruity style, with attractive red-fruit flavors. It is dry and laced with acidity. It has richness, a full body and refreshing final acidity.
This is made in a full-blown style, with ripe peaches married to grilled nuts and plenty of toasty oak. Yet despite all of the fruit and oak intensity, there's crispness and structure as well, giving a sense of balance and elegance to the lingering citrus and cashew finish.
This is made in a lighter style for drinking now. It has a translucent ruby color, and the palate feels dry and silky, with citrusy acids brightening the sour red-cherry candy, persimmon and spice flavors.
This is made in a lighter, breezier style, but there's nothing light about the flavors, which suggest raspberries, grilled Canadian bacon, softened cola and smoky sandalwood. Gentle and easy, with a silky feel, this shows lots of class and elegance. Ready to drink.
This is made in a lower alcohol, more elegant style, drier and leaner than some other Pinots, but perhaps more food-friendly and ageable as a result. It shows cherry, cola and herb flavors, richly oaked and balanced with acidity. Try cellaring it for 5–6 years.
This is made in a plump, cheerful style, combining simple, jammy cherry fruit with ample vanilla. It's a well-made wine, but one that comes across as somewhat lacking in dimension. For an entry-level Pinot Noir, perhaps that's all one can expect.
This is made in a rich style, so the aroma is handsomely oaky, like buttered toast, the flavors are as rich as pear syrup and vanilla bean, the texture and body are full and the finish lingers. Fans of unoaked Chardonnay need not apply.
This is made in a ripe, high-alcohol style, which gives it a little burning sensation, like Cognac. The flavors certainly are delicious, exploding with blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate and roasted oak. The tannin-acid structure is intricate and smooth.
This is made in a softer, sweeter style than most Pommery Champagnes. Strawberry flavors are ripe and integrated with the acidity, with a light tannic edge from the red wine in the blend. It is attractive and ready to drink.
This is made in a steely, high-acid style, harvested at low (18.5) brix and put through 25% malolactic just to keep it all in proportion. Give this some time in the glass and it shines, with a focused mix of lemon, apple and mineral flavors. This can easily age for another decade at least. Drink 2020–2030.
This is made in a style that will work well with foods looking for sharp acids, especially shellfish. Lemon rind, light citrus and peppery highlights are wrapped in searing acidity.
This is made in a very rich style, with lots of forward fruit, flavors of pears, citrus and citrus rind. Somehow the floral elegance of the variety is lost in all the ripe fruit.
This is made in an earthy-savory style, offering hints of roasted meat, black olives and espresso. It's also firmly constructed, with firm tannins that suggest a couple of years of cellar time would do it some good. Drink 2018 through 2025.
This is made in an unusually light and refreshing style, using grapes from 37-year-old vines. It has aromas and flavors like white pepper, snap peas and lemon, light body and crisp acidity. The overall impression is one of freshness and brightness.
This is made in the emerging low alcohol style, measuring just over 13% abv. But there's nothing light about the flavors, which are immensely rich in cherry pie, raspberry Newton, vanilla and spice flavors. The fruit is somewhat forward now. Give it up to eight years in the cellar to mellow.
This is made in the smooth, oaky and rich style of the modern cult Cabernet. It offers lots of ripe, jammy blackberries, plus notes of sweet, intense black and red currants, dark chocolate tart, black licorice and smoky oak. The tannins are tough but structured, so give it six years in the cellar and see what happens.
This is made in the somewhat austere style of a Loire valley Chinon, done well here, adding nothing harsh, bitter or unpleasant to the wine. You will also find soft plum and cherry fruit, modest but perfectly ripe and proportionate, rounding out the midpalate.
This is made in the style of an Aussie Shiraz, a big, powerful wine that stuffs the mouth with fresh, jammy fruit and spice flavors. It's very dry and crisply balanced with acidity, and brings to mind smoky, barbecued meats and poultry.
This is made in tiny amounts, which is heartbreakingly sad given its deliciousness and provenance, the grapes hailing from the Rochioli Sweetwater site on Westside Road. Spice box and sweet black-cherry flavors are lightly oaked and layered with velvety texture, the wine full-bodied and totally balanced.
This is made largely from Cabernet Sauvignon, incorporating Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah. Thick, rich and lush, it shows dense layers of black currant, blackberry, meat, licorice and cedar. It finishes rounded and dripping in chocolate.
This is made to be a reserve-level wine, crafted from a combination of blocks within the famous vineyard. Succulent boysenberry and blackberry impress from first sip, before a juiciness of cherry and strawberry pile in. Expansive and powerful, with tremendous body and texture, it ends with a persistence of black pepper. Drink now through 2023.
This is made using a selection of fruit that's sourced from both banks of the Serein River. It's a properly crisp Chardonnay, and it offers a white fruit flavor and a bright, lively finish.
This is made with native grape Garganega, the main grape behind Soave. A fruity fragrance of green apple and white peach carries to the palate along with notes of candied lemon peel. Fresh acidity adds brightness.
This is made with Sangiovese, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon (from 80-year-old vines). The results are a wine with renderings of dried herbs and grass backed by prune, exotic spice and nicely etched oak tones. The mouthfeel is lean without being hollow and offers bright spice on the finish.
This is mainly Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with 25% Chardonnay and 9% Pinot Gris to round out the midpalate. Apple and citrus flavors dominate, and there is a certain plumpness to the wine but it retains its essentially citrusy character throughout.
This is Malbec in a South American style: soft, with ripe and gentle berry fruit. It has a light structure and plenty of acidity on the finish.
This is Marc Mondavi's project, a nod to his side job as a water witch much in demand. A light-hearted take on the variety, it holds small percentages of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Sirah. Basic tenets of cherry and cola-vanilla star in this approachable sipper with soft tannins.
This is Marimar's unoaked Chardonnay from the estate vineyard. In keeping with past vintages, it's so rich and savory, you won't even notice the absence of barrel influence. The wine is rich and complex in tangerine, apricot, lime, lemon and vanilla flavors, brightened by exquisite acidity.
This is marked by bold, dense and rich fruit. It has a sweet, soft character and is deliciously fruity. Packed with blackberry-juice acidity and ripe red plum, this is ready to drink now.
This is marked by hard tannins and acidity, bearing blackberry, dark chocolate and mineral flavors, with a smoky oak note that is unintegrated with the other components. Will it age? There's a purity to the core that strongly suggests it will. Hold it until 2017, and it could develop bottle nuance well beyond that.
This is marked by intense flavors of blackberry, cherry and currant, with sweet smoky oak, firm, furry tannins and brisk acidity. All of these elements jostle for position, making the wine currently aggressive and unresolved. However, the suggestion of ageability is warranted. Put it to sleep in your cellar for six years and see how it's doing. It could be fine in 2020.
This is massive, hugely concentrated, topped with wood and intense tannins. Flavors of bitter chocolate are dominant, heavy fruits, blackberries and texture that fills the mouth with dark, dense flavors. Big in all senses.
This is McCrea's top cuvée, and the 2008 is as good as it has ever been. Co-fermented with 8% Viognier, it starts out tight and compact, with crisp marionberry fruit and a generous wash of coffee liqueur. The acids are citrusy and fresh, and the wine has depth and an emotional range that reaches almost symphonic power.
This is meant to provide a counterpoint to the Tyrrell family's Hunter Valley offerings, but it retains similar sensibilities. It's a medium-weight, crisp Shiraz that features a slight herbal tinge to notes of cracked pepper and red raspberries. It finishes bright and lively; drink now–2025.
This is meaty, spicy and bold. It feels fresh, clean and slightly astringent, with flavors of wild berry and currant that are a bit salinic. The finish is round, mossy and full. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenère.
This is medium-bodied, perhaps a bit broad on the palate, but combines green tomato, pineapple and grapefruit notes with an attractive, silky texture. Drink now.
This is medium to full in body and rounded in the mouth, with loads of yellow plum and ripe pineapple flavors. It's not the most complex wine, but offers a satisfying mouthful of fruit and solid length. Drink now.
This is mellow on the nose, with a mix of minerality and standard apple aromas. The palate feels fresh due to cutting acidity, while apple, peach and melon flavors lead to a mild, healthy finish. Frankly, there's not much difference between this and Trivento's basic 2012 Reserva Chardonnay, which costs $10 less.
This is mellow up front, with mild aromas of melon and baby powder. It feels fresh and easygoing, with apple, citrus and vanilla flavors. Drink well chilled, and soon.
This is mentholated and spicy, with a brandied cherry note as the dominant aroma. Tight but not too severe, it would pair well with meat. Its flavors of raspberry and dry plum are tasty, and the finish hits hard with tightness featuring dry raspberry and cherry skin. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
This is mild and lightly citric smelling, with an ocean spray note on the bouquet. On the palate, it is fresh and deep, with a note of nectarine. The finish is solid, but loses some fruit and gains some bitterness.
This is mild and lightly oaked on the front end, with peach and apple notes. It feels narrow and focused, with honeyed apple, pear and melon flavors that aren't too sweet or candied. Light and simple feeling on the finish, with elegance.
This is mild on the nose, with a lemon-lime aroma. The palate is soft, but it has a pulse. The wine's citrus, melon and tropical flavors finish flat. For the most part, it's clean and quaffable.
This is mildly herbal and dilute on the nose, but not unappealing. It feels medium in body, with a timid structure and simple red-berry flavors that taste slightly sweet. Fresh and mild as a whole.
This is minimal intervention winemaking, using native yeast, then put through 100% malolactic and given weekly batinage (lees stirring) in 50% new barrels. The grapes are from Stillwater Creek, delivering ripe, tangy flavors of lime, pineapple, apple, pear and nectarine; all with a firm acid underpinning.
This is minty and light, with a soft texture and red cherry tones. The finish turns overtly earthy, even barnyard-like.
This is minty green up front, with a dilute cherry aroma. It feels hollow with green flavors that override mild red-fruit notes. Herbal on the finish.
This is minty, crusty and frankly a bit harsh on the bouquet, where aromas turn charred and burnt. It feels roasted and chunky, with hickory-smoked flavors of clove and berry. The finish vacillates between being oaky and herbal.
This is MLG's entry-level Shiraz, but it's no slouch. Plum and blackberry fruit, hints of black olive and espresso, decent weight and dusty tannins provide plenty of bang for the buck. Drink now–2020.
This is modeled after a Rioja crianza, showing young, mixed fruits from a blend of 62% Tempranillo, 12% Graciano, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Grenache. Showing generous acidity, hints of apple, peach, cranberry and herb, it's a fresh and fruit-driven young wine, perfect for warm weather enjoyment.
This is modeled on southern Rhône blends—a fairly straightforward mix of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache. Grainy and smoky, with a slight charred aspect, this focused effort displays deep pomegranate fruit, soaked in soy, balsamic and other umami notes.
This is modern and lush without being too obvious or cloying. In fact, it is nicely balanced, harmonious and very enjoyable. It has gorgeous intensity and balance between fruit and wood with good length on the finish.
This is modern and plush, ripe and chewy with all kinds of playful renderings of chocolate fudge, coffee and sweet spice in between. Deep fruit renderings peel off layer after layer giving way to solid structure and a polished, dusty finish. Drink after 2012.
This is modern Rioja in all its glory. The nose is plump, a bit gaseous at first, and full of blackberry, raisin and prune aromas. This feels flush, choppy and oaky, with fine tannic structure. Flavors of blackberry, cassis, vanilla and cream finish subtly and woody, with a lactic aftertaste. Drink through 2025.
This is Montaudon's prestige cuvée, a wine with bottle age and elegance. A strongly toasty, yeasty character gives secondary flavors to the ripe fruits. It is textured and complex, a serious wine that has been given just the right amount of aging. Drink now.
This is Mordorée's top cuvée of Tavel, and it earns that distinction by virtue of its length and stoniness on the finish. There's a hint of garrigue to the cherry aromas and a plump, complex midpalate as well. Drink it over the next year or two.
This is more about elegance than power, a fresh wine with sweet fruit, and so elegant. The tannins do promise some good aging, but this is not a long-term wine. Hold for 8–10 years, but it is already a pleasure to drink.
This is more Cabernet Franc than anything else, but includes some Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. One of the region's signature reds, the 2009 offers cherry and cranberry fruit alongside hints of cigar box. It's soft enough to be approachable now, yet remains stuffed with tannin. Try after 2015.
This is more of a chunky, rich tawny; the mouthfeel comes across more syrupy than svelte. But with a ton of hazelnut/walnut character and plenty of bitter coffee nuances on the finish, it comes home nicely.
This is more on the fresh side, with a bright citric component adding a crisp character to the botrytis richness. The texture is tight, apple and pear skin cutting through the sweetness.
This is more ripe and round than most value Carmenères from 2011. The nose is creamy and oaky, with graphite, leather and balsamic notes to go with inky black-fruit scents. The palate is chunky and thick, with blackberry, pepper and herbal flavors. A rubbery feeling finish turns slightly bitter toward the end.
This is Morgan's basic Sauvignon Blanc, but its qualities extend far beyond the appellation and price. It's vibrant in acidity, with rich, complex apricot, orange, pineapple, mango and vanilla flavors. There's a bit of oak, just enough to give a hint of buttered toast. What a clean, dry, gracious wine this is.
This is Morrison Lane's first Dolcetto—previously these grapes were blended into the winery's Nebbiolo. The color is dark and saturated, the plummy fruit flavors laced with spice and leaf. There is a high acid sharpness on the tongue, with a little green character in the tannins, but it is a very promising first effort.
This is most interesting, layered with strawberry fruit, sweet straw and light tannins. It's deceptively light, yet elegant and able to sustain itself on through a compelling, structured finish.
This is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc making up the last 9%. Smooth, supple and satiny on the palate, this wine is bursting with scents and flavors of deep purple fruit, cassis, smoke and graphite. The polished, lightly textured tannins add a sense of muscle to the finish. This is a wine that may be gulped down immediately, or cellared for up to a decade.
This is mostly Syrah, with 10% each Grenache and Mourvèdre. Fat and beefy, it starts with a scent of fresh carpaccio around dense black cherry fruit. Lush and generous, with notes of both fruit and barrel, it adds streaks of coffee and cacao that wind through a long and beautifully defined finish.
This is mostly Syrah, with 17% Mourvèdre and 5% co-fermented Viognier as well. Dark, sappy and substantial, it's a pleasing mix of black fruits, juicy in the mouth, and with a finishing streak of coffee liqueur.
This is mostly Syrah, with a dash of Viognier blended in. It's dry, crisp and smooth, with some nice cherry fruit, but there's a green vegetal touch.
This is mostly Syrah, with Grenache and Mourvèdre filling in the rest of the blend. Light and fruity, it's a mix of red apple, cherry and raspberry flavors, fresh and well-balanced with natural acidity. Some hints of green fruit and stem come into the finish.
This is mouthfilling but not overly weighty, with a wonderful blend of herbs and spices rounded out by cherries and plums. Intense garrigue notes pick up hints of anise on the long, softly dusty finish. Drink now–2020.
This is much creamier, with much more leesy flavor than the regular bottling, but not as much ripe fruit (perhaps because it is from a different vintage). Various flavors of nuts, honey, spice and light tropical fruit mingle in a well balanced finish.
This is much different than Casa Silva's 2009 Petit Verdot, which was tasted in the same flight. The '08 is more hard, spicy and tarry, with a leafy, herbal aroma, plus some grittiness. The palate feels snappy, with a can't-miss saltiness. The finish is long in length but short on fruit, with a raw feel.
This is mucky and sweet. Its best foot is not put forward via the compost-like nose, and from then on there's little more than prune, leather and a sticky mouthfeel.
This is mulchy on the nose, with a compost aroma muddling up the red-fruit component. It feels lean and scouring, with cranberry, tart raspberry and vanilla flavors. The finish is fragmented and stalky.
This is Murray's junior version of Syrah, less expensive than his Watch Hill bottling, but also not as charming. It's dry, tannic and a little sharp, with red currant, brown sugar and pepper flavors.
This is muscular and sturdy for a Pinot Noir, with savory notes of mushrooms, beets and earth that add to that impression. While it lacks precision and elegance, it does offer a chunky mouthful of Pinot with ample length and intensity to the finish.
This is mustardy smelling, with salad-like aromas. It feels round, plump and a little heavy, with spiced apple and mild citrus flavors. Chunky in feel and briny in taste on the finish. Not as good as past vintages.
This is named for Arnaud Puyanché, who moved to Francs to make wine but put the project on hold due to the Great War of 1914. Five generations later, the family has revived his dream of producing estate wines. Ripe and full of red fruits, this 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is concentrated and rich. The tannins are fine and already integrated into the fruits. With the acidity at the end, this is a well-balanced wine with a good future. Drink from 2020.
This is nearly equal parts Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache, full bodied and creamy in texture. Black cherries and peppery spice show up on the nose, while the palate adds brighter red raspberries, bass notes of ripe plums, sweet hints of brown sugar and savory, meaty complexity. Drink now–2020.
This is nearly indistinguishable from Arauco's standard 82-point 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, smelling stalky, with zero pungency or varietal character. It shows lemony acids, but that's about all.
This is nearly perfect, a massive, monumental wine whose sheer power is matched only by its grace and refinement. The flavors of blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, buttered toast and cedar flood the mouth, tightly controlled by firm tannins and good acidity. Decant for several hours if you open it now, but better to give it 6–10 years in the bottle.
This is neutral on the nose except for a hint of white flower and peach. It's snappy but basic feeling, with a stalky apple flavor. It finishes dry and lemony, with a corny flavor.
This is neutral on the nose except for green banana and white grapefruit hints. It feels melony, with flavors that match the mouthfeel in the form of melon and nectarine. This is flabby on the finish, needing more cut and zest.
This is neutral Pinot Grigio with the fruity and citrusy aromas you normally associate with the variety present in limited intensity. Yet the clean, refreshing mouthfeel makes it highly drinkable and a good match to finger foods.
This is nice and dry, with a silky texture, firm acidity and classic cherry, cola and pomegranate flavors. But it finishes on the slender side.
This is nice and hints at greater things, but ultimately it's more modest and fluffy than substantive. Aromas of oak resin, baked apple and vanilla introduce a palate with mild acidity and not much structure. Vanilla, caramel, banana and honey- dew flavors finish soft.
This is nice and soft, with ripe red-cherry and spice flavors. There's an herbal, earthy dustiness that's appealing. The fruit has a delicious sweetness that makes it ideal for pairing with charred meats.
This is nicely balanced and easy in terms of its tannins and overall intensity, with enough structure to pair with game meat or succulent red meat. The bouquet is redolent of spice, black fruit and crushed granite.
This is nicely dry and rich in fine tannins, with classic Cabernet blackberry, black currant, cola and cedar flavors. But the wine is so soft, it lacks structural integrity.
This is nicely floral on the nose, with black cherry fruit accented by hints of thyme and bay leaf, while the flavors are a harmonious mélange of herb, spice and ripe fruit. It's full bodied and slightly chewy at first, turning more velvety on the finish. Drink now–2017.
This is no basic white Burgundy. With balanced wood aging and ripe fruit, it is rich and full in the mouth. It has tense acidity as well as an almost honeyed character. The wood fits well into this wine along with final acidity. It is ready to drink.
This is no longer in its prime. It tastes weird, mealy and slightly exotic, while the palate feels rubbery. Nectarine and plum notes are detectable on a strained finish.
This is no ordinary Vinho Verde. With its rich Alvarinho flavors, it is a wine that can be aged. The mouthfeel is full in green plum and ripe apricot flavors, and textured by a great swathe of fresh, tangy citrus. It can be drunk now, although it will be better from 2016.
This is no simple red; deep black fruit and leather aromas suggest an intense, young untamed wine. It's rugged and muscular, with an opaque color, tight tannins that starch the cheeks, and a powerful, multilayered finish. Baby Brunello? Hardly. This is a full-grown wine all its own, and it still needs several more years to open up.
This is nominally a step up from De Bortoli's dB Selection Petite Sirah, but this fresh, directly fruity wine doesn't seem to offer much beyond jammy fruit. It's medium-bodied, with a crisp finish and just a hint of tannic structure. Drink now–2012.
This is not a consistent wine year to year. Some vintages are true and vital, but this is clunky, with flavors of honeyed white fruits and bitter almond skins.
This is not a cookie-cutter Cava. It opens with apple juice aromas along with yeast and white-bread scents. In the mouth, this feels a bit bready and soft. Yeasty flavors of papaya, green banana and melon see a white-bread note return on the finish. This is 100% Xarello (Pansa Blanca).
This is not a crisp, lean, clear fino. It has a yellowing color and rather uncommon minty, nutty aromas. Some light fruit flavors run the show, while blanched almond, green olive and saline offer support. The finish is long, but maybe a bit sour and hot for some palates. Still, it's quite interesting and well made, and probably a good match with the right food.
This is not a dainty Grenache, with boysenberry syrup, purple flowers, vanilla, clove cream and Christmas spices redolent on the nose. It's rich on the palate, with blackberry syrup, baked blueberry and vanilla, but also reflective of the variety, with violet, clove, pepper and a touch of asphalt.
This is not a declared vintage but one that has produced a fine and structured wine that is dark and dense and seriously firm. It is just turning from Millennial to Gen X and has begun to develop secondary flavors that give it weight and a rounder character. The wine is of course ready, although it will remain like this for many years.
This is not a particularly successful vintage for this estate vineyard bottling. Rough and tannic, it seems more like a Lemberger than a Pinot Noir, and the bitter, herbal finish may or may not smooth out with further bottle age.
This is not a showy wine, but the sense of reserve, good acidity, fresh flavors and good balance form an enjoyable picture that will be versatile with food.
This is not a shy wine—it is concentrated and powerful, with ripe tannins and dense black fruits. Coming from vineyards in the Douro Superior, this shows the region's the heat and harsh growing conditions, giving a compact, firm wine with a mineral texture to balance the juicy fruits. It will need several years, so drink from 2017.
This is not a successful Sleepy Hollow Vineyard bottling. The cold vintage took its toll, resulting in a wine whose cherry and tart cranberry flavors are cut through with a streak of green veggies. Drink up.
This is not a true fortified wine but one made from late-harvest Tannat with some added alcohol before fermentation. It produces a delicious wine with superripe blackberry flavors and some tannins. Sweet and rich, it is ready to drink now.
This is not a wine for tonight, or next year, or for at least the next six years. It's shut down in tannins, with an astringency that can't be overcome even with decanting, although that won't stop people from opening it before its time. Buried beneath the tannins are well-developed black currant, roasted meat and cedar flavors that define upscale Napa Cab. Really fine and distinguished, a wine to cellar and enjoy for many years.
This is not an attention-getter, but a mild-mannered, reasonably balanced wine that will happily pair with dishes ranging from seafood to roast chicken. It has faint apple and vanilla aromas, mild apple and lemon flavors, and a lingering, lightly spicy finish.
This is not an obvious wine, but one that creeps up slowly, takes time and impresses quietly. It delivers depth rather than power. Glints of pepper and allspice shine amid the restrained red, tart cherry fruit. The slightest of tannic grips stems from concentration rather than extraction. It's elegant Alsace Pinot, quiet but firm.
This is not complex or elaborate, nor is it meant to be. In fact, simplicity sums it up. It's fresh and clean, and it will drink nicely with meatloaf or pork chops.
This is not entirely ripe, showing green flavors and hard tannins. While there is some decent cherry and berry flavors, this blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane can charitably be described as rustic.
This is not fresh or fruity; in fact, the nose is nutty and muddied, with a rough, angular mouthfeel and flavors of peanut, vanilla and leathery raspberry.
This is not from a generally declared Port Vintage year. However, the year did produce some exceptional wines, such as this one. It has a firm tannic structure under opulent black fruits. Beautifully perfumed, ripe and likely to develop relatively quickly, this is already a balanced, approachable wine. Drink from 2019.
This is not labeled as such, but it's Petite Sirah. The fruit is young, plummy, with purple-berry flavors in abundance. It drops off in the midpalate, but returns in a ripe but not too potent finish. Tannins are proportionate. All in all, this is your optimal pizza wine.
This is not nearly as rich and plush as La Nerthe's luxury-level Cuvée des Cadettes, but remains a very good wine. Red plum and red currant fruit is medium-bodied, supported by bright acids, while some slightly ashy notes and a hint of cocoa emerge on the crisp finish.
This is not necessarily a classic Grenache, but there is no denying its bold but sophisticated personality. Pomegranate and blackberry aromas are tinged with earthiness, and the flavors are rich in fruit as well. The texture is lush and the body is very full. Think of it as very ripe and delicious, while sleek and smooth in spite of high alcohol.
This is not only one of the best Syrahs of the vintage, it's easily the greatest Syrah ever produced from Sonoma Valley. Stuns with its soft,  complex, black and blue berry, teriaki beef, black pepper and sandalwood flavors. The depth is unbelievable, the length impressive. Clearly a first growth Syrah, and should develop bottle complexity for the next six years, if not longer.
This is not your average power-packed Malbec. Opening scents of meaty, wild berry fruits are feral and interesting, and also quite bold. A layered, deep palate shows purity, black-fruit flavors and oaky additions of chocolate, spice and pepper. A dark, minty, spicy finish is fiery, so drink cautiously through 2023.
This is not your parents' crisp and lean Barbera. Ripe, juicy and concentrated, it's so rich and opulent that it seems sweet. From the aromas through the lingeirng finish, it generously doles out raspberry syrup and blackberry jam notes, as well as a chocolaty accent from oak.
This is not your standard Cerasuolo di Vittoria by any stretch. The wine exhibits dark concentration and plush aromas of blackberry and sweet almond thanks to 18 months of oak aging. This is a fuller and denser expression of what is usually a light and compact wine.
This is not your standard Moscato d'Asti. This sophisticated expression benefits from high density planting in the vineyard and the fruit is fermented in special French barrique for extra creaminess. On the nose, this sparkling dessert wine is redolent of apricot, pineapple and honey.
This is notable for its complexity and stylish blend of grape, berry and bramble flavors. The fruit is matched with polished tannins, streaks of iron and earth, and a citrusy highlight.
This is nothing more than a few barrels of wine bottled by Hughes, a so-called “global vintner.” And like its Lot 128 brother, it is really good juice. Inky and floral, with blueberry and wild raspberry flavors. It's smooth, fresh, bold and finishes with mint and chocolate. Shows the positives of Campo de Borja's Garnacha.
This is oakier and more expensive than prior Trapiche Chardonnays, but it's not necessarily better. It smells like a rubber band and a barrel, bearing resiny flavors of mango and melon, with lots of sweet oak and vanilla tones.
This is oaky and resiny on the nose, but not overly so, with pear and apple aromas as well as a streak of saline. On the palate, this offers a good mix of oak resin, fruit pulp and acidity. Flavors of oak spice, white pepper, peach and apple finish fresh but with an oaky aftertaste.
This is obviously a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows the pedigree and class you expect from a winery of Staglin's level, enormously rich in black currant, mocha and cedar flavors, with ripe, soft and complex tannins. But the price is challenging. If you choose to buy and cellar, the wine should develop at least for several years.
This is obviously a young Colheita aged in wood for just eight years. That puts it close to a Late Bottled Vintage and takes it away from a tawny style. It is a fine wine with dried fruits and acidity in balance, just not quite a mature Colheita. Drink now.
This is off-dry to sweet, with honey, orange and vanilla flavors with a touch of petrol.
This is off-dry, roughly 2% residual sugar, and it nicely balances the sugar and the acids, using the floral and spicy character of the grape to fill out the middle. It's a pretty wine, fruity with peach, melon and grapefruit.
This is off-dry, similar to a kabinett in style. Scents of flowershop greens, green apple and lime give a zesty first impression, confirmed by crisp acids, light-medium body and a lingering, mouthwatering finish. The end result is balanced, delicate and intense at the same time.
This is off dry with a soft, rounded character. A warm touch of spice and toast rounds out the tangy fruit. Peppered orange and green plums are laced with acidity. It needs to all come together, so drink from 2016. The chateau's consulting winemaker is Stéphane Derenoncourt.
This is off dry, low alcohol (11.5%), spiced up with tart acidity and loaded with rich, ripe fruit flavors mixing pears and peaches. Sweet without being sugary, it should appeal to a wide spectrum of wine drinkers, and snap together the flavors of a Thai food. Columbia Crest makes 18,000 cases of this wine.
This is oily and ripe, with plenty of butter, butterscotch and toasty new oak. What elevates it, as with all Pacific Northwest Chardonnays, is the extra acidity, that provides a foundation of support under the lush fruit and generous new oak. It might smooth out a bit over the next couple of years, but it's a wine built to be savored sooner rather than later.
This is oily and strained on the nose and fleshy in the mouth. It tastes herbal and quasi weedy, with a matchstick note on the finish.
This is old-school Oregon Pinot, with plenty of pepper, wild thyme and hemp scents and flavors. Very tart cranberry fruit anchors the midpalate. Decanting will help to smooth it out.
This is old reliable as far as Washington Pinot Gris is concerned. Mouth-filling flavors of tart apple, citrus and pineapple are set in juicy acids. The addition of small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer heighten the aromatics.
This is old vine (1978), Wente clone Chardonnay, with bright, spicy fruit flavors of banana, pear and melon. A touch of toast and cracker comes from barrel-fermentation in neutral French oak. Forward and rich, this is one to drink up while it's young and fresh.
This is old vine Lemberger, one of the first red grapes to be widely planted in eastern Washington. It comes from a 1979 planting at the Red Willow vineyard. Raspberry and cherry fruit flavors dominate, pretty and pure, but lacking in depth. Some Lemberger can approach the style of Dry Creek Zinfandel; this is more of a simple red quaffer.
This is on its last legs. It smells maderized, flat and candied, then feels heavy and drying. It tastes and smells old, finishing bitter.
This is on the big side for a Mosel Riesling, at 12% alcohol, and the warmth shows through just a little bit. Still, the scents of wet moss and stone and chunky flavors suggesting melon, peach and citrus are undeniably attractive. Drink now.
This is on the dry side of medium dry, very soft, with flavors of nuts, lemon and pear juice. The finish is bright with acidity.
This is on the full-bodied side, quite ripe and tropical in style compared to its Marlborough siblings. Mango, pineapple and stone-fruit notes are all present, balanced on the finish by citrus and ginger.
This is on the fullish side, lacking crispness and refreshment factor. Fortunately, the ripe apple and pear flavors are charming enough to pull it through.
This is on the green side, but not overdone, offering grassy, herbal aromas and a touch of citrus fruit. Attractive cut grass and lime notes mark the medium-bodied palate and extend through the finish. Drink now.
This is on the lean side, with tomato-leafy—almost ashy—notes that impart a dry, austere quality to the white grapefruit flavors.
This is on the light side, with simple flavors and a juicy, soft texture that shows very little tannin. Aromas and flavors recall cherries and strawberries.
This is on the more herbal side of the Sauvignon Blanc spectrum, showing obvious notes of tomato leaf and boxwood, but there's ample white grapefruit to back up those green elements. This medium-bodied wine finishes long and crisp.
This is on the pungent side, boasting aromas of boxwood and white grapefruit. Try it with a ceviche or herb-steamed mussels to lessen the impact, or embrace the potent, leaf-inflected flavors on their own. Either way, savor the silky texture and crisp, vibrant finish.
This is on the ripe side of the Sauvignon spectrum, with scents of honey and marmalade on the nose and flavors of ripe citrus, touches of stone fruit and hints of currant on the palate. It's simply fruit-driven, but satisfying nonetheless. Drink now.
This is on the soft side for rosés, a warm wine with a sense of Mediterranean herbs and sun. It has light red fruits, spice and great final acidity.  Screwcap.
This is on the weighty side of Chablis, giving a wine that is more Burgundy proper in its richness. That said, there is a good citric element, but the ripeness is more important, underlined by toast.
This is one-third Cab Franc, one-third Merlot and one-third split between Syrah and Malbec—a who's who (or what's hot) of Southern Oregon viticulture. In the glass it's aromatically interesting, with citrus, leather and berry scents. In the mouth it's quite dry and leathery tasting, though with ample breathing time the fruit comes up.
This is one a group of chateaus just to the north of Saint-Estèphe owned by the Fabre family. Ripe and rich, it is already a smooth and fruity wine. Black plums and black currants shine here supported by a dry core of tannins that is sure to soften. Drink from 2019.
This is one aggressive varietal wine. The nose is packed with sweaty leather and olive notes, while the palate is rough and tart at the edges. There are notes of cola and burnt coffee on the finish, but by then you may just grow tired of wrestling with it.
This is one big wine; and in our opinion it's largely overdone. When butter and burnt toast dominate fruit, it's not going to be perceived as being varietally correct, and most tasters will probably struggle to peg it as SB. From a flavor perspective, it's chock full of banana, baked apples and wood. The finish is resinous and thick. Call it a ripe case of more being less.
This is one compact package of citrus flavors: the nose is shy but the palate is a slender, taut but expressive parcel of zesty lemon and lime notes. This is dry, utterly refreshing and clean. It's a light-bodied wine designed to enliven and invigorate. The finish is dry and zesty.
This is one dark, intense Ribera del Duero with loads of lush black-fruit aromas matched against minerality and fine French-oak scents. It is tight as a drum on the palate, with wiry acidity and rocky tannins. Flavors of oak-driven coconut and cream sit on top of blackberry and cola, while the finish ends abruptly, with hardness. Drink through 2024; 150 cases made.
This is one dense, saturated blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. The nose is all black fruits and prune, while the palate runs deep and dense, but without a lot of finesse. Jammy black-fruit and blueberry flavors are peppery, while the finish is hulking. It shows the heat of its alcohol.
This is one exotic number. The nose shows blueberry, boysenberry, charcoal, plenty of oak and hints of cardamom and star anise. A lush, layered palate is intense but doesn't hit too hard, while concentrated blackberry, licorice and spice flavors set up a peppery, minty finish that's stout and structured.
This is one full-bodied, hefty wine. The nose is toasty, minty and a touch herbal. In the mouth, solid tannins support what would otherwise be a syrupy, soft Cabernet. Flavors of baked blackberry and cassis finish with brown-sugar sweetness and length. This is a wine for folks who like their Cabs rich and plush.
This is one heavily oaked wine: It smells like smoke, tar and baked berry. The palate is short on substance and high on acid, so the flavors are racy and angular, and with all the oak influence this wine smells and tastes charred, toasted and blackened.
This is one in a series of wines that blends Syrah with a major Douro grape, The wine has a severe, austere character, as much structure as fruit. Wood aging has helped to soften the wine and give density. It needs more time, so drink from 2019.
This is one minerally wine for Rioja. Stony scents blend with latex and Band-Aid, while lemon peel and hard-driving berry aromas define the nose. Monster tannins are absorbed by the wine's broad foundation, while flavors of smoke, oak, plum and wild berry finish savory and long, with a final shot of oak-based clove. Best from 2018–2025.
This is one of a collection of Champagnes tasted and approved by a group of growers under the Special Club label. With a predominance of Chardonnay, it's still crisp and fruity, showing rich apple and pear flavors. Its citrusy acidity gives it lift, slowing any signs of maturity. It will continue to age gracefully but is delicious now.
This is one of a pair of premium off-dry Champagnes that are distinctive and bold. There is a tannic edge to this wine as well as plenty of red fruitiness and acidity. Because it is only just off dry, it will make a great pairing with savory spicy dishes.
This is one of a range of branded wines produced by the Alliance Bourg. It is ripe with red berry fruit and spicy tannins that are beginning to soften. Drink from 2018.
This is one of a range of three wines from different soils. Silex soil is flinty, giving, as here, ageworthy, structured wines. It is dense, powerful and with a range of steely textures that dominate the very crisp, taut and nervy fruits. Drink this from 2017.
This is one of a series of limited-production single-variety wines from this large Alentejo estate. Ripe spice and bold juicy flavors, both the hallmark of Alicante Bouschet, give this wine its richness and concentration. It is generous, opulent and just ready to drink.
This is one of a trio of single-vineyards bottlings from this producer. It comes from the village of Fuissé and is situated in a small valley. Elegant and perfumed, the touch of wood aging enhances the white-fruit flavor. The aftertaste is juicy while also ripe. Drink from 2017.
This is one of Chandon's sweeter bubblies. It has flavors of honey, limes, pineapples and oranges, with yeasty notes of vanilla and toast. The mousse is delicate, making it extra drinkable.
This is one of Columbia's strengths, turning out perfectly crafted white wines at budget prices. The Gewürz is off-dry, rich and roundly fruity, loaded with mouthfilling, lipsmacking flavors. Chill it to cut the sweetness and you have the perfect wine for spicy noodle dishes.
This is one of Failla's riper, fruitier 2012 Pinots. Classic Sonoma Coast Pinot, with brisk acidity and complex flavors, it shows wild raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruits, persimmons, cola, and earthier notes of sautéed wild mushrooms and truffles. It's dry, tannic and tart, but as good as it is now, it will improve by resting until 2020.
This is one of Freeman's basic 2011 Pinots, along with their Russian River Valley bottling, and a very good wine it is. Made from a variety of vineyards in the big Sonoma Coast appellation, the wine is silky and tart in acidity, with cranberry, cola, raspberry jam and toasty oak flavors. The alcohol is low, making it a lovely food-friendly wine. Drink now–2019.
This is one of Iron Horse's drier wines, with a low dosage, but it's still fairly sweet. There's a coating of sugar on the raspberries, oranges and limes. The bubbles are a bit scoury now, but this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend could develop nuances in the cellar after, say, 2013.
This is one of Iron Horse's sweeter sparkling wines. There's a sugary edge to the raspberry, strawberry, lime and orange flavors. But it's not too sweet, and there's plenty of balancing acidity. The blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.
This is one of Italy's best Sauvignon Blancs. Crystalline and tonic in appearance, the wine offers generous tones of exotic fruit, pear and green apple backed by dried sage and chopped herbs. The mouthfeel is compact and clean but it's also persistent and dense enough to pair with sophisticated dishes.
This is one of Laetitia's strongest Pinots of 2012. Aromas of spiced plum jam and graphite lead into an elegantly soft mouthfeel, with raspberry fruit flavors enhanced by the savory bitterness of eucalyptus.
This is one of Lynmar's most expensive Chardonnays, of their six 2011s. It's also one of the most forward and oakiest. Your first impression is of sweet buttered toast, sprinkled with brown sugar and drizzled with melted butterscotch. Then the tropical fruits kick in, brightened with citrusy acids. It's an impressive feat, but the wine feels overworked, and lacks the sustaining interest of Lynmar's other bottlings.
This is one of Olivier Leflaive's benchmark wines, showing how his winemaker Franck Grux keeps lightness, freshness and complexity all in play. To start, it is firm and austere, then it bursts out with green fruits, toast, white currants and lemon, integrated and balanced. Drink now, or age for 2–3 years.
This is one of ONX's drier, leaner wines. Blended from Grenache, Tempranillo and Mourvèdre, the raspberry and red currant flavors are grounded with notes of roasted meat, leather and tobacco. It's a fascinating, elegant wine to drink over the next few years.
This is one of Oregon's most unique wines, and one that rises confidently to the level of excellent cru Beaujolais in a ripe year. Bright and spicy with generous flavors of strawberry and blueberry, this sports lip-smacking acidity and a dash of minerality. The sweet young fruit is full, forward and delicious.
This is one of our favorite red wines from Southern Italy. The reason is personality: you just don't find this intensity and these lead pencil mineral notes and crushed black pepper anywhere else. The wine is elegant and focused with young tannins that promise a long aging future ahead.
This is one of several estates in this cru appellation where Georges Duboeuf makes and markets the wine. It is lightly wood aged to smooth out the ebullient fruits. Rich and with some firm tannins that will develop, it has concentration and a dense texture. Drink from 2018.
This is one of several wines from this producer that are created to give lie to the tannic Malbec. This is soft, ripe and full of the young fruitiness that demands to be drunk now.
This is one of the best balanced and most elegant Zins around. Very fresh in aroma, it's slightly yeasty like freshly fermented wine, and with subtly gorgeous cherry and blackberry flavors layered with light cedar and cocoa spiciness. Not only is the finish lingering, but the wine still tasted great two days after pulling the cork.
This is one of the best Bordeaux blends now available from Paso Robles. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, it's enormously ripe in blackberry jam, currant, chocolate and cedar flavors that finish lush and spicy. The tannins are strong, but negotiable with barbecue.
This is one of the best buys on the market now for a Cabernet of this quality at this price. It's a wonderful wine, well structured and dry, with lush flavors of blackberries, currants, herbs and cedar that are wrapped into firm, ripe tannins. Should develop additional complexity through 2014.
This is one of the best California Chardonnays in its price range. It's not a rich wine; instead, it's dry, crisply acidic and minerally, with citrus zest, vanilla cream and subtle oak flavors. With 65,000 cases produced, this should be easy to find.
This is one of the best dessert wines available from California. It's dazzlingly rich and sweet in orange jam, apricot, honey, buttered cinnamon toast and créme brûlée flavors. The intense sweetness is perfectly balanced with crisp acidity, and the wine despite its sweetness accomplishes the miracle of finishing dry and clean. The grapes are 100% Sémillon.
This is one of the best Lodi Native wine yet. It has beautiful, soft, fruit and floral aromas, luxurious and soothing berry and black-currant flavors and a layered texture that seems to melt in the mouth. It's full bodied, braced by fine-grained tannins, and seems to unfold nuance after nuance with each sip before lingering nicely on the finish.
This is one of the best Paso Cabernets of the vintage. It's dry and smooth in tannins, with an elegant mouthfeel. It's a little on the soft side, and the black currant fruit flavors have an earthy edge of herbs and spicy tobacco. There's some heat from alcohol, but not too much. Should develop over the next 5–6 years.
This is one of the best Pinots in a screw top you'll find. It shows elegant qualities, housing fresh, young cherry, raspberry and oak flavors in a nice, silky texture. Production was 2,328 cases.
This is one of the best Pinots Riverbench has produced. It's a delight to drink, with a silky, gentle texture and crisp acidity to get your mouth watering. For all the lightness of mouthfeel, the flavors are serious, suggesting raspberries and cherries with earthy notes of mushrooms, cola and herb tea. It would not be surprising if this wine was still gaining traction in 2020, but you can decant it and drink it now.
This is one of the best red wines at this price in California. A Bordeaux blend with a splash of Syrah, it's so rich and opulent, it just dazzles from start to finish. Floods the mouth with sweet cherries, raspberries, milk chocolate and red licorice, yet gets structure from firm tannins and bracing acidity. Lives up to its name, a Cabernet-based wine to feast on with your favorite foods.
This is one of the best rosés on the market. With a pretty orange and copper color, the wine is dry, crisp and deeply flavored in fruits, yet feels delicate and subtle. The blend is Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache.
This is one of the best Taurasis of all times. Antonio Caggiano has crafted an elegant wine that is rich in charm and personality. Cherry, freshly milled espresso, natural rubber, white truffle, pecorino cheese and black mineral all play a part in this complex ensemble. It has thick, tight tannins with beautifully etched mineral nuances and should age well for many years in the cellar. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers.
This is one of the best Tempranillo-based wines in California history. The other varieties blended in are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Bone dry and tannic, though a little warm in alcohol, it shows its mountain origins—from the southeast corner of the Vacas—with its immaculate core of blackberry and cassis. Compellingly delicious now and over the next 5–6 years.
This is one of the best value-oriented Sauvignon Blancs in California. It's dry and tart with acidity, along with rewarding flavors of lemons, limes, golden mangoes and gooseberries.
This is one of the best values in Sauvignon Blanc, or any white wine, of this year. It's completely satisfying, giving Loire-like minerality and acidity with ripe Napa flavors of spearmint, lemons and limes, figs and spices that finish thoroughly dry. Restaurateurs, buy this by the case and serve it by the glass.
This is one of the best wines Terranoble has ever bottled. Wide-grained oak aromas are creamy and dominant, with lead pencil, plum and berry fruit scents resting below the surface. Oaky, lightly baked plum and boysenberry flavors finish in layers, with barrel-driven spice notes adding complexity. Drink through 2022.
This is one of the better California Tempranillos out there. It's delicate and silky on the palate, and earthy despite rich raspberry and cherry fruit. Balanced with crisp acidity and a scour of dusty tannins, it's complex enough to enjoy with a great steak, especially with mushrooms. A consistent followup to the winery's 2010.
This is one of the better Temecula Valley wines in recent memory, with dried blackberry, leather, tar and condensed purple flowers on the nose. There's a kiss of herbs upfront on the palate, followed by layers of tangy boysenberry, caramel and salt and pepper flavors. The structure is apparent but not in the way, and the acidity is lively.
This is one of the better Tempranillos from Washington, with concentrated boysenberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit anchoring the flavors. It carries a nice whiff of bacon fat and is buoyed by a natural minerality.
This is one of the better wines emerging from Southern California, specifically San Diego County, where vintners should bet on Italian varieties. Pretty and fresh aromas of rose petals, crushed pomegranate, allspice, hibiscus, sandalwood and light licorice lead into a palate full of cedar-laced raspberry flavors, rounded by hints of molasses and chai.
This is one of the bigger Syrahs out there, generously proportioned and calling out for equally rich fare. Try beef short ribs or coq au vin, using the same wine for the dish. It's tannic and enormous, with flavors of ripe black cherry and teriyaki sauce.
This is one of the bigger, more powerful Chardonnays out there in the market. It's triumphant in ripe pineapple jam, apricot-infused crème brûlée, Meyer lemon custard, buttered toast and cinnamon spice flavors, wrapped into a creamy rich texture that finishes dry and crisp. May lack subtlety, but what immense pleasure it offers.
This is one of the biggest, richest Chardonnays that Rodney Strong has ever produced, and no wonder, as longtime winemaker Rick Sayre was assisted by David Ramey as a consultant. The wine has Ramey-esque proportions, gigantic in fleshy tropical fruit, caramel, vanilla cream, butterscotch and meringue flavors. It's so softly decadent, it's almost better as a cocktail wine than with food.
This is one of the classics among Provence rosés. Produced from organically grown grapes and coming from an impressive red-wine producing estate east of Aix-en-Provence, the wine is structured and ageworthy with its blend that includes Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich and full of red fruits, the wine should be drunk from late 2017.
This is one of the coolest premier crus, meaning that the wine can often age well. In the warm 2015 vintage, the wine shows both beautifully ripe fruit and a tight mineral streak that will keep it on the straight and narrow. It does need to age and the wine will be best from 2018.
This is one of the darker, fuller-bodied, richer rosés on the market. It almost has the weight of a red wine. Dry and zesty in acidity, it features powerful flavors of cherries, strawberries, cola and spices. A great wine for beef, pork and tuna. Don't drink it too cold.
This is one of the darkest of Williams Selyem's new Pinots and also one of the ripest. It's jammy in the intensity of raspberry and cherry fruit, with a savory, Dr. Pepper cola richness. The spiciness, which is one of winemaker Bob Cabral's specialties in capturing, is exotic. It's a big, fat, rich wine that needs decanting now, and should age for 4–6 years.
This is one of the drier Sauvignon Blancs on the market, showing palate-cleansing acidity and citrus flavors that make it extremely drinkable. Modest oak aging adds a touch of creamy smoke to the pink grapefruit, lemongrass, lime and fig flavors. Made from the Musque clone, it's a truly elegant, sophisticated white wine.
This is one of the drier, more structured Merlots from any Napa appellation in recent memory. Far from being a soft, gooey fruit bomb, its marked by big-time tannins, with herb, leather, olive tapenade, cherry and dark unsweetened chocolate flavors. It might strike fruit fans as austere, but true aficionados will recognize a great mountain wine of enormous complexity.
This is one of the driest wines Marimar Estate ever has produced—in a good sense. The cool vintage has made the Chardonnay minerally and sleek, while Albariño brings its usual lemony crispness. The result is a versatile, stylishly elegant wine.
This is one of the entry-level ranges from this top producer. The wine is sophisticated. It has a strong mineral texture and fine ripe citrus and pear fruits shot through with acidity. With its finishing fruitiness, this is already an attractive wine, although it will be better from 2018.
This is one of the entry-level wines from this producer. It shows the ripe, soft side of Malbec without compromising on the firm structure and mineral edge that is natural to the grape and the appellation. The wine is developing easily and quickly, with bold black fruits and acidity. Drink now.
This is one of the everyday drinking range from Schloss Gobelsburg. It has freshness, light green and white fruits and an exuberant burst of acidity. It is cool, green and a great apéritif style. Screwcap.
This is one of the few Cab Francs in California that works on its own. It's really a gorgeous wine, showing the full-bodied firmness of Cabernet Sauvignon, but without the tannic weight and density. The flavors veer toward scrumptious red cherries, red currants, milk chocolate and anise, with a dry, complex finish. Lovely with a fine grilled steak and rosemary new potatoes.
This is one of the few commercial bottlings coming out of Mallorca, and it's a unique wine made mostly from Callet, a native variety. Aromas of rose petals, strawberry and potpourri are exotic and unfamiliar. This crackles with acidity and delivers savory flavors of BBQ meat, earthy red fruits and molasses. Racy on the finish, this cries out for food; drink through 2016.
This is one of the few Zinfandels with a Rutherford appellation. It's quite a good wine, deliciously easy to drink with its creamy texture and dry, soft flavors of blackberries, currants, chocolate and licorice, made all the more zesty with peppery spices. Great job by veteran winemaker Scott McLeod. From Francis Ford Coppola and Rubicon.
This is one of the Fillippini family winery's best barrel blends, comprised of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The nose shows Concord grape, wisteria and black licorice aromas, while the palate doubles down on the licorice spice, with blueberry fruit, char and pepper in the background.
This is one of the first wines to bear this new appellation in Sonoma County. More importantly, it's one of the best California Malbecs out there. It's rich and juicy with ripe cherries and mocha, along with a sweet coating of toasty oak. It's soft enough to drink now, especially with a great grilled steak.
This is one of the grand wines of the Douro, from the last estate to be founded by the legendary Dona Antonia Ferreira in the 19th century. This is a long-lasting wine showing a fresh character, with dense, dark tannins and intense floral fruit. This will age for many years, so don't drink before 2020.
This is one of the great Rieslings from the Wachau, a wonderful panoply of ripe, tropical fruit, pierced with flint, spice and minerality. It is rich and opulent, while never losing sight of the core tautness of a fine Riesling.
This is one of the greatest Carneros sparkling wines in memory. It feels softly crisp and creamy in the mouth, with brilliant, complex flavors of limes, raspberries and vanilla, and yeasty, oak influenced notes of brioche. There's a richness throughout that's hard to put into words, but the palate understands.
This is one of the harder grapes to tame in California, yet those wanting to walk the razor blade balance between ripeness and freshness should copy this Josh Jensen version. Candied nectarine, white peach, cherimoya and jasmine show on the ripe, honeyed nose, but then the palate restrains that exuberance with chamomile, sour pear peels and sea salt flavors.
This is one of the higher elevation premier crus in Puligny. In this warm vintage it has managed to give a wine that is crisp and mineral. To contrast with this, the wine also has a creamy, toasty character from the wood aging. Drink from 2021.
This is one of the largest volume production Chablis, and it sings. Minerality and acidity go well with the ripe fruits and fresh acidity, bright and packed with grapefruit edginess.
This is one of the more complex wines from the 2003 vintage. The nose has aromas of blackberry liquer, smoked meat, truffle and road tar. On the palate the fruit seems a little heavier and more roasted, but still melds well with its earthy, mushroomy flavors. Medium finish.
This is one of the more drinkable Sangioveses in California, and while it's no blockbuster, it does have a certain charm. Dry and balanced, it has easy to like cherry, tobacco, bacon and spice flavors.
This is one of the more exotic Barberas. The dark fruit is mixed with scents of licorice, curry and violets. On the palate, there is plenty of dark fruit, but it still retains its likeable spicy character. Although the finish is short to medium, this is a pleasant wine, and a natural match with a good juicy steak.
This is one of the more interesting rosés of the vintage, in part because it is almost as hay-colored as a white wine and doesn't adhere to the standard pink profile. Aromas of crushed Marcona almonds, sea salt and oak smoke show on the nose, and the acid-driven palate continues that nutty and smokey drive. It's intriguing and unique, though not particularly pink.
This is one of the more New Zealand-like Sauvignon Blancs out there, and that's a compliment. The wine is thoroughly dry and very crisp in acidity, with a grassy, lemony, minerally profile that makes it savory. Approximately one-fifth was barrel fermented, adding just the right touch of cream and smoke.
This is one of the most beautiful Sauvignons made in Italy. The cool mountainous climate of the Dolomites has shaped a fragrant and elegant wine with tons of exotic fruit, white pepper, dried sage and tangerine. There's a touch of roundness in the mouth that gives it extra staying power.
This is one of the most beloved Chardonnays from Santa Barbara County, and for good reason: Bryan Babcock manages to imbue his wine with buttery richness yet also balance it with acidity and smoke. Honeysuckle, almond and Gravenstein apple aromas lead into energetic yet creamy marshmallow and poached pear flavors, all cut with citrusy acidity.
This is one of the most Chablis-style Chardonnays on the market. It's bone dry, and has a steely, minerally elegance made complex with layers of pineapples and limes, and even a honeysuckle richness. The oak, interestingly, comes from Hungary. A terrific wine, far from the overoaked, buttered popcorn style so popular now. Production was only 227 cases.
This is one of the most delicious rosé Champagnes around, a gorgeous vibrant red currant- and pink grapefruit-dominated wine. It's ripe, but so well balanced, its acidity merging into a fine creaminess. It is a wine that is lively, vivid, but remaining dry.
This is one of the most dramatic Chardonnays of the vintage, which was a difficult one owing to the coldest summer in many years. Somehow, Hartford Court's viticulturalists pulled it off. There's no trace of the greenness or unripeness that mark some other '11 Chards. Instead, you'll find waves of awesomely ripe apricots, tangerines and pears, enriched with smoky oak and brightened with brisk acidity. Terrific now and over the next 4–5 years.
This is one of the most exciting wines of the vintage for this label, a blend of 68% Bien Nacido and 32% from its sister vineyard, Solomon Hills. It shows Meyer lemon pith, chalk, pencil lead, grapefruit pith and a slight touch of yogurt on the nose. The chalk-driven, tingling-with-acidity palate opens onto brine-laced flavors of yellow grapefruit pith and expertly restrained pineapple and peach.
This is one of the most expensive Cabernet Sauvignons ever from Paso Robles, but the truth is that it expresses a new, emerging style from that region of balance and complexity. Made from 100% Cab, it's dry, full bodied and balanced, although a little conspicuous in alcohol. The black currant flavors are powerful and delicious. Drink soon.
This is one of the most expensive white wines on the Central Coast, and it's mighty good, with aromas of cheese rind, lime pith, slate and tiny bits of Marcona almond and oak smoke. It's laser-focused on the chalky, mineral-laden palate, with poached apples in the midpalate and lemon peels and tangerine rinds throughout.
This is one of the most forward and accessible of Calera's new releases. It's superrich now in black cherry liqueur, mocha, licorice, bacon and spice flavors, a seductively silky wine that's a total hedonistic pleasure. If you can keep from drinking it now, it should develop well over the next 6–8 years.
This is one of the most inky, concentrated, fiercely tannic vintages of Alion to date. Aromas of granite, boysenberry and grilled meat feed into a biting, full-bodied palate that can only benefit from more time. Blackberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors finish with mocha notes and stocky, rugged tannins. This is fierce and unrefined now; drink from 2018 through 2027.
This is one of the most interesting Merlots of the vintage because it combines fruity ripeness with herbal and vegetal notes to create a complex wine. Blackberry and cassis, a bit of stewed tomato and mushroom, grilled meat, green olives and roasted coffee beans only begin to describe it. Dry and harmonious.
This is one of the most Italian-tasting wines made in California, because of its complex blend of spicy earthy characters and moderate fruit flavors, grippy tannins and good acidity. It's nicely dry, well balanced, has interesting oaky accents on top of mildly fruity and also savory notes. Unusual because it's not vintage dated, but don't let that dissuade.
This is one of the most popular Chablis premier crus, and this soft wine shows why. It hints at minerality, but the main flavors are a great burst of apple and citrus. It has just the right vivid green character, the vanilla from the wood a very subtle afterthought.
This is one of the most successful Pinots the winery has produced, and I have no doubt it's because the vintage was so cool. The wine is absolutely dry and has bracing acidity, with extraordinarily long, deep flavors of grapes that achieved maximum ripeness but remain balanced. Cherries, raspberries and blackberries flood the palate, enriched with earthier notes of balsam, cola, soy, licorice and spice. Drink now through 2011.
This is one of the most successful Syrah-Cabernet Franc blends in California. The Syrah brings blueberry and bacon flavors, and the Cabernet provides the black currant note and the tannic backbone. It's already delicious to drink, but allow it to breathe in a decanter for one or two hours.
This is one of the nicest Pinot Grigios available on the market today. From producer Livio Felluga, the wine is rich and creamy with well-balanced acidity that helps keep the palate refreshed. You'll love the aromas of passionfruit, pear and Golden Delicious apple.
This is one of the only Rieslings to come out of the valley. The aromas are reserved for the variety, with notes of lime leaf, citrus, Bosc pear and nut oil. The palate drinks dry, and is flavorful, with abundant stone-fruit and citrus notes that linger. It seems a bit heavy handed but still brings enjoyment.
This is one of the palest Pinots of the vintage, so translucent, you can hardly believe its power. A blend of various Dutton Ranch vineyards the result is serious and fabulous, a complex wine with cherry, cola and spice flavors and a luxuriously silky texture. This is textbook, world class RRV Pinot from a very great vintage.
This is one of the producer's deepest value propositions, a well-made, robustly approachable and accessible wine made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Soft and firmly integrated, it's perfumed and floral, with layers of dark cherry and tobacco that evolve with grace in the glass.
This is one of the producer's more full-bodied wines, a blend from several sites along Eastside Road, including Calegari, Foss and a new source—Lewis MacGregor Estate. Rich, round and plush, it's as strong as black coffee in its marriage of earthy allspice, baked cherry, blueberry and smoke. Moderate acidity allows for an underlying minerality.
This is one of the producer's top wines and its quality is immediately confirmed thanks to well-integrated notes of melon, honey, peach, citrus and exotic fruit. It has vibrant crispness on the close.
This is one of the rare dry Australian Rieslings that's not so taut that it demands cellaring, and might just be at its best now. Aromas of beeswax and petrichor give way to flavors of honey, apple and citrus on the palate, while the finish boasts a rich, gravelly texture.
This is one of the richer examples of Pinot Gris out there. It's a flamboyant wine that's creamy, smoky and ripe, with an array of tropical fruit, citrus, peach, green apple and white flower flavors, as well as a fine, stony minerality.
This is one of the Russian River Valley's bigger, riper Pinots. The rich raspberry and cherry flavors are reminscent of a dessert pastry, yet it's dry, silky and bright in acidity. Gains in the glass as it breathes, so give it a brief decant and drink now–2015.
This is one of the stars of the vintage in 2010; the Conner Lee fruit is rich and fully ripe, with a pleasingly candied aspect. Yet it remains lively with bracing acids, citrus and apple, and highlights of toasted nuts and caramel. A big, grin-inducing wine that is virtually irresistible.
This is one of the sweetest white California dessert wines out there. It's addictively decadent, like an upscale Sauternes. Barrel fermentation in new French oak gives an opulent, palate-flattering honeyed vanilla richness to the apricot, peach, pineapple and crème brûlée flavors that are so rich and refined. Crisp acidity provide clean, vibrant balance. Just gorgeous, and worth the price.
This is one of the top Malbecs from Neuquén and it's under $20. The bouquet is focused, dark and loaded with inky berry aromas and graphite. The palate is deep and layered, and full bodied, with blackberry, chocolate and coffee flavors. A long, spicy, toasty finish is warming but not hot. Drink through 2017.
This is one of the vintage's knockout rosés, thanks in part to the Grenache and Gamay grapes that make up the blend. It's pale pink in color, with supple lime pith, strawberry, chalk and melon aromas. The palate is tense with structure, its bubblegum and lemon peel flavors riding a wave of acidity that persists long into the finish.
This is one of the winery's last takes on this vineyard, as they move their focus to Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The nose is blackberry liqueur lifted with chopped black sage, fennel stalk and tobacco leaf. Flavors run from dark red fruit to black spices to tartness on the finish, like a balsamic reduction sauce.
This is one of the winery's more elegant, sensual wines. What it does not possess in sheer power it more than makes up for in hedonistic delight. Racy and silky, it excites the palate with intricate layers of black raspberry and cherry tart, cola, Asian spices and smoky oak. The finish goes on and on and on.
This is one of those Chardonnays that takes ripe fruit and then drenches it in oak. It's all too much. The orange, apricot and mango flavors have a buttered toast, caramelized richness that turns cloying despite brisk acidity.
This is one of those complex blends that are a specialty of Tejo. The result is bright and fruity with just enough tannins from the Touriga Nacional to give structure to the bold Alicante Bouschet. Drink now.
This is one of those delicious amber-colored desserts wines that will put a smile on your face. The nose is richly redolent of dried apricot, honey, bee's wax, yellow rose and toasted almond. The mouthfeel is satin-like with cheerful sweetness and bright acidity.
This is one of those deliciously dry and mineral-driven Sauvignons that doles out just enough fruit and herbal intensity to keep it interesting and exciting. Stone fruit and cantaloupe melon round off the close.
This is one of those fresh, young Cabs that reminds you of Beaujolais. It's fruity and silky and jammy, with a pink bubblegum gassiness. Give it a chill, cut it with some sparkling water, put in a slice of strawberry and enjoy.
This is one of those fun, easygoing Italian Pinot Grigios that tastes great on a hot summer afternoon. The wine is crisp, light and lean with simple endnotes of citrus and melon.
This is one of those immediate and generous Brunellos that will impress everyone who drinks it. Yet, it is by no means overdone: it delivers harmony and territory-driven aromas of cherry, violets, vanilla and wet earth. The mouthfeel is bright, tonic and vibrant with loads of cherry on the close.
This is one of those kitchen sink blends that is better than it has a right to be. Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris are all in the mix, and the wine is both aromatic and packed with fresh flavors of bubble gum and tropical fruit candy. It's finished dry, yielding a multipurpose, unique white wine that you may try with just about any food you'd put in front of any of the component grapes.
This is one of those likeable Barbaras made to be drunk at release. It works: it is friendly, big, lush, easygoing and fruity.  It may not be taxing, but it is an amiable food friendly faultless wine that cries out for the backyard barbecue.
This is one of those luminous Pinot Grigios that sits well in the mouth and satisfies on all fronts. The wine is redolent of exotic fruit and citrus but has the creamy density to match shellfish or prawns.
This is one of those old-fashioned field blends of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and who knows what else. It's super-fruity, with waves of blackberries, cherries and all kinds of other berries accented with milk chocolate, anise and cedar. Finishes a bit sweet and tannic. Drink now, with barbecue.
This is one of those old-style field blend types of wines, with some other varieties besides Zin. A big, tannic, juicy, fruity wine, potent in jammy blackberry, blueberry, currant, dark unsweetened chocolate, coffee and pepper flavors that cry out for gilled beef, poultry or pork.
This is one of those Pinot Noirs that demands time in the cellar. Reviewed at slightly more than two years of age, it tastes of fresh young primary fruits, such as cherries, raspberries, blackberries and cola, and the sweet, smoky oak stands out apart. Yet the tannins and acids are outstanding. Give it until mid-2010.
This is one of those Pinot Noirs that play hide and seek with you: is that violet or rose? Is it Bing cherry or Amarena? There is red currant and cherry fruit at the center, with overtones of oak, bright acidity and gentle tannins. This will perform best if served with food.
This is one of those quintessentially fresh and easy Italian white wines that offers a mixed bag of fresh fruit and mineral-driven aromas. The wine hits the palate in an extremely smooth and clean manner.
This is one of those special Lambruscos that you know will pair with regional foods such as tortellini with melted butter and cheese. The wine's bright fruit tones, crisp acidity and delicate effervescence will keep the palate clean. There's a touch of sweetness on the thin finish.
This is one of those Viogniers that's flashy and extravagant. If you're a Chardophile, it brings the same creamy, oaky sweetness and lifts it into the stratosphere, with scads of tropical fruits, sweet ripe pears, honeysuckle flowers, vanilla, brown sugared and cinnamon. Viognier hardly gets richer. Drink now.
This is one of those wines that's a little soft and heavy by itself, but when paired with the right food, it will explode. Made from Syrah, Malbec and Petite Sirah, it's bone dry, with blackberry, red currant, bacon and white pepper flavors that are wrapped into firm tannins and finished with a touch of smoky oak. It begs for a simple, sweet, charcoal-grilled steak.
This is one of those wines that could be anything from Chardonnay to Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn't really matter, because it's pleasant and easy to drink, with sweet flavors of tangerines and vanilla.
This is one of those wines that doesn't try to be anything except an easy drinker. Made from Zinfandel and Syrah, it's filled with ripe, sunny California flavors of raspberries and cherries, and will pair well with everyday foods like pizza and hamburgers.
This is one of those wines that grows more attractive the more it airs in the glass. At first, it just impresses with ripe blackberry and cassis fruit and lots of oak. As it breathes, subtler notes emerge, lending it charm and complexity. Still, it remains quite tannic. High alcohol may limit ageability, so drink it over the next few years.
This is one of those wines that seems to get better by the sip. At first glance, the fruit seems a bit cooked or pruny, but within a few minutes it brightens and turns livelier, coming across as cherry. There's a mushroomy or meaty note as well—something akin to venison—and a rich texture on the palate.
This is one of those wines that tastes dramatic and important. It's marked by rich, thick tannins, but they're ripe and smooth, and frame complex flavors of blackberries, black cherries, grilled teriaki beef and black pepper, enriched with smoky cedar. Texturally, it's medium-bodied and velvety, like a Merlot.
This is one of those Zinfandels that needs food. On its own, it's a rustic wine, sweet in red jam and raisins, tannic, acidic and fairly oaky. It has considerable complexity, coming from a century-old vineyard that contains at least a dozen grape varieties barely grown anymore in California. Will be excellent with any form of beef stew, short ribs, Mexican beef-centered food, or a lusty lasagna.
This is one of three wines produced by the estate created by the late Anne-Claude Leflaive of Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy. This wine uses the very local Grolleau, grown biodynamically. Unusually this is a red wine (Grolleau is normally found in rosé). The wine is lightly stalky with red-currant fruit and intense acidity. It is light in texture but rich in complexity, and has some aging potential. Drink now, but better from 2018.
This is one tight young Pinot Noir. You take the first sip, and the acidity hits you, then the tannins, and finally the fruit, which is ripe and vast in raspberries and strawberries. Oak adds smoky caramel to this parfait. Give it until 2018 or 2019, when it should hit its peak.
This is one tightly wound Shiraz. There's cedar and spice on the nose, but the plum fruit is balled up inside, needing time to emerge. Still, the spice notes are impressive, ranging from sage to peppercorn, and the structure is impeccable. Probably worth trying again in 2016.
This is one unabashedly bold, brawny wine that's full of rich red fruit and milk chocolate. Bright herbal and floral tones add an unusual freshness to this Croatian Plavac Mali. Intense, penetrating tannins frame the long, mocha-flavored finish.
This is one unusual wine. It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Tempranillo and Garnacha, but it smells like a root-based perfume mixed with herbs and tobacco. It's over the hill in feel and green and herbal in flavor, with a raisiny aftertaste.
This is only 7% Malbec, so think of it as a Merlot when considering what to drink it with. Modest cherry fruit is framed by hints of toasted almond and dried herbs, and the wine finishes tart and crisp. It would probably be a great match with herb- or olive-seasoned lamb.
This is only Brut in name, because it is actually a medium-sweet wine that maintains pear freshness. It's ripe, full in the mouth and ready to drink.
This is only just rosé, its onion skin color as pale as possible. The wine has some red fruit flavors, but it is more about toast, yeast and a lively, smooth finish. Worth considering with salamis or ham, as well as salmon.
This is opaque in color, with oaky, balsamic aromas of black fruits, mint and vanilla. In the mouth, this is muscular, with full and somewhat rough tannins. Toasty roasted blackberry flavors are peppery, minty and fully spiced, while on the finish this is packing all sorts of power and oak. Drink through 2021.
This is opaque, offering a lush collection of black fruit aromas on what amounts to a deep, dense bouquet. Layered and displaying excellent size and texture, it has saturated, meaty black-fruit flavors along with toasty, integrated oak. A powerhouse Malbec and maybe the best Ultra to date.
This is open and generous, a soft wine that will be ready to drink soon. It still has some firm structure although that serves as a support to the blackberry fruit flavors. The aftertaste is juicy and fresh.
This is opulent and rich, with a thick, velvety texture and pretty aromas of blackberry, chocolate, leather and freshly milled white pepper. Cortona is the wine area of Italy that's most closely associated with this grape.
This is opulent, but with restraint. The fruit is rich, black and delicious. Touches of spice and wood are present, lending complexity to the ripe fruits and balanced tannins. Impressive.
This is opulent, with a perfumed character. It has ripe tannins, which add to the wine's generous nature. The dry edge that comes from the core provides a solid, structured side to this age-worthy effort.
This is Oregon Pinot from the Columbia Gorge AVA. This new region is still defining itself, but on first blush it's warmer, with more ripe, sweet strawberry fruit and very little of the herbal, resiny, tomato leaf character of most Oregon Pinots in this price range. This is sweet, jammy, spicy and thick, with fruit compote flavors dominating.
This is our first peek at MacPhail's 2012 Pinots, and to judge by it, they'll be pretty good. The wine is dark in color and full-bodied for a rosé, with the weight and texture of Chardonnay. It's enormously flavorful in raspberries, vanilla, honey and spices.
This is overoaked, with buttered toast, caramel and sweet vanilla flavors dominating everything else. Buried beneath the oak are crisp flavors of pineapples and oranges.
This is overpowering, almost too much. The fruit is so rich it feels overextracted, superjuicy and then hit with tannins and new wood. For those who like superconcentrated wines, this will be a big hit, but not with food.
This is overripe and raisiny, no two ways about it. Hailing from a very hot year, this feels flat and flabby, while raisin and prune are the dominant flavors. Blatant overripeness and a ton of weight render this out of balance.
This is overripe in raisin and prune flavors, which gives it a disagreeable bitterness and sweetness.
This is overripe, with a pruny flavor along with notes of blackberry, mocha and spice. The alcohol is high, giving the wine some heat, but the finish is thoroughly dry.
This is overripe, with raisiny, pruny flavors and a hot finish.
This is overtaken with unripe flavors of tomato and underbrush. There's little suggestion of fresh fruit. Aged 14 months in one-use French oak, it finishes quickly with earthy tannins.
This is overtly charred and blackened on the nose, as if it were exposed to maximum-toast oak during the aging process; additional aromas of charred beef and herbs add complexity. This feels choppy and tartaric, with blackberry, cassis, bacon and roasted flavors. A toasty, heavily oaked finish suggests that a few more years of aging will be beneficial. Drink through 2023.
This is overtly rustic, roasted, leathery and strange on the nose. A wide but wayward palate seems sluggish, while rubbery black-fruit and burnt-wood flavors finish with murky berry tones.
This is overtly sweet, with a sugary edge to its vanilla and tangerine flavors. It has the clean quality you'd expect from a Barefoot sparkling wine, and will appeal broadly to the Moscato-loving crowd.
This is packaged in a hock bottle, as if to emphasize the bone dry minerality of this all-stainless cuvée. Aromatic and crisply dry, it was aged on the lees for five months, and deftly mixes nuanced flavors of citrus, wet stone, fresh herbs and light greens.
This is packed tightly with candied fruit, cassis, tar, licorice and dark caramel notes. It shows its age and probably should be consumed within the next year or two. The palate offers a clean, polished feel.
This is packed with botrytis, expressing richness rather than pure sweetness. With its citrus and apricot flavors, this is a complex wine, with the structure lending the palate weight.
This is packed with delicious raspberry, cherry and vanilla flavors. But it seems a little soft and flat, like soda left out overnight. Drink now.
This is pale blush colored, with aromas of rose petal, jasmine blossom and fresh picked strawberry that continue seamlessly onto the palate. It's got a great strawberry zing on the finish, with bright, balanced acidity.
This is pale in color, with a light body and a silky texture. Cranberry and mushroom flavors are varietally correct, and a hint of mocha appears on the finish. Drink now.
This is pale in color, with light aromas and strawberry, spice and herb notes. The fruit flavors are also restrained, seeming faint but still bringing appeal.
This is part of a collection of wines from old vine parcels put together by Nicolas Potel. The wine comes from vines up to 62-years-old, that are rich in opulent fruitiness which is shot through with acidity. Wood aging has added a toasty character without losing any sight of the fruit. It is a fine wine that should age further. Drink from 2018.
This is part of a series of wines named after the subsoil in which the vines are planted. The soil in this case is formed from igneous rocks. It gives a fine, pure wine that has great richness as well as fresh apple and pear flavors. The wine with just that extra few months aging is ready to drink.
This is part of the limited edition Vineyard Designate series. Plum and sour cherry fruit flavors claim center stage here, with sweet baking spice accents and a light touch of caramel from a year of aging in 30% new French oak.
This is part of the range of three wines from different soils. Marne, or clay and chalk soil, is relatively heavy and produces a rich style of Sauvignon Blanc. This brings out the more tropical fruits and ripe pineapple that dominate the youthful acidity that cuts through the texture. Drink from 2016.
This is peachy and a bit oily on the nose, but not harsh or pointed. It feels full and fleshy, with sweet, ripe flavors of melon, citrus and lychee. Long and melony on the finish; drink now.
This is Peachy Canyon's 100% Zinfandel, unblended, and it's a true expression of the variety, Paso Robles style. That means it's softly voluptuous and almost to the point of overripeness, with blackberry, raisin and spice flavors. Drink now.
This is Pehu-Simonet's contrast with its Blanc de Noirs from the Montagne de Reims. It has the same dryness as that wine, but it features a more open character. There is, of course, minerality imparted from the chalk soil, which is balanced deliciously with an intense citrus flavor. Age for another year in bottle.
This is Peju's best Sauvignon Blanc in many years. It's bone dry and elegantly crisp in acidity, a clean, vibrant, food-friendly wine. With just a hint of oak, it shows rich flavors of Meyer lemons and limes, with exotic notes of papaya and white flowers. What a great comeback.
This is Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills fruit, delicately managed, so as not to overwhelm the fruit. The strawberry/raspberry sweetness is there, and a wash of molasses carries it into a smooth, luscious finish. The wine is not complex—just very tasty.
This is Pepper Bridge Merlot, and it beautifully expresses the vineyard trademarks: fresh fruit flavors of strawberry and raspberry, spread out broadly across the palate, and backed with tart acids and light tannins. There is a strong streak of Asian spicebox as well, but overall the wineis very approachable, which makes it is a Merlot to enjoy with rich fish, such as salmon. It's bright and lightly spicy and not too heavy.
This is perfect for lovers of light, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc. All the grassy and citrus flavors are here, attractively crisp while not aggressive. Drink this year. Screwcap.
This is perfectly balanced dry Chenin. It has just the right amount of richness, aided by a touch of vanilla. The green and white fruits are blended with deceptively soft acidity to give a wine that feels full and ripe in the mouth. Good to drink now, but also worth aging for 3–4 years and more. Screwcap.
This is perfectly welcoming and complex upfront, with dried raspberry, leather and light herb aromas. It feels stylish and layered, with flavors of berry, earth and integrated oak. Classy and smooth on the finish, drink this now–2020.
This is perfumed and lemony, almost to the point of resembling furniture polish. It's pleasantly silky in texture, but the recurring notes of white pepper and citrus become somewhat one-dimensional and slightly bitter on the finish.
This is perfumed with classic scents of wild cherry, leather, crushed violet, baking spice and a balsamic note. The bold palate delivers juicy black cherry, black raspberry, anise, white pepper and cinnamon alongside firm tannins. Despite the hefty body, it also shows an almost weightless elegance while the fruit richness seamlessly supports the warmth of alcohol on the close.
This is perfumed with crisp apple and light spice aromas. It's a delicate yet concentrated wine, with acidity that's tempered with pepper and a fresh finish. Screwcap.
This is perfumed with enticing scents of fragrant blue flower, pressed powder, wild berry, chopped herb and an earthy whiff of leather. On the ripe, juicy palate, velvety, enveloping tannins support fleshy black cherry, crushed strawberry cinnamon and clove. Thanks to the fruit richness, you won't detect the hefty alcohol.
This is perfumed with lovely violets and tight layers of mixed berries, currants and hints of truffle. It's young and muscular, with a pleasing chewy texture to the tannins. There is the sense that time will unfold the flavors and add nuances of herb and earth, capturing the varietal notes that can be   obliterated by over-ripe fruit and too much new oak.
This is perfumed, soft, warm and ripe, with smooth peach and mulberry flavors that are offset by a citrusy tang. It's a fine apéritif.
This is Pinot Gris without any particular varietal character; it could be almost anything. It's got tart, lemon-flavored fruit and a thin, watery finish.
This is Pinot Noir at its lightest, reminiscent of a German Blauburgunder. Delicate, just-ripe flavors suggest rhubarb and wild raspberry.
This is Pinot on the edge of ripeness, with layers of herb and tomato leaf threaded in with tart wild berry fruit. The tannins are a little rough, but overall the balance is right and the wine does not overreach.
This is pleasant and complex on the nose, with hints of violet, ripe black cherry and a savory meat note that lingers. The palate could use a tad more concentration, but it's elegant in style with lean cherry flavor and a flurry of fresh green and floral accents.
This is pleasant and light, with a strawberry flavor that's lightly threaded with streaks of spice and sandalwood. It's a delicate and pretty wine, reflective of the cooler vintage.
This is pleasant but on the light side, with hints of tomato and herb accenting cherry fruit. Slightly smoky notes add nuance to the aromas, but accentuate some coarseness on the finish.
This is pleasantly savory for such an inexpensive wine. Earthy notes of asphalt and black olive combine with plummy fruit on the palate, while the finish is firm enough to serve alongside fatty dishes like burgers or pizza.
This is plenty ripe, with alcohol just under 15%. Fruit flavors are a little over the top, getting into pruney, or at least a cooked, compote character. But you'll find berries galore, the acidity to balance and a streak of bark in the tannins.
This is plummy, spicy and complex, with hints of cracked pepper, clove and cinnamon mingling with fresh mushroom, thyme and mint. The wine is a bit chunky in feel, but finishes with supple tannins and reasonably soft acids, making it approachable now.
This is plump and custardy in feel, but still refreshing thanks to bright apple and lime aromas and flavors. It's more citrus than apple on the crisp finish.
This is plump wine is redolent of ripe red fruit, blackberry, spice, cola and teriyaki. It will pair well with stewed beef, roasted pork with garlic and rosemary or lamb chops.
This is plump, custardy, leesy wine, with ample texture to support the flavors of toasted marshmallow, melon and citrus. It's plush and round on the lingering finish. Drink now–2018.
This is plump, medium-weight Sauvignon Blanc that's fully ripe and easy to drink. Pineapple and pink grapefruit aromas and flavors are mellow and harmonious at this stage. Drink up.
This is plump, with an intense bouquet offering loads of yellow rose, apricot and fresh grapefruit. The mouthfeel is silky, soft and round.
This is plush and oaky, with cedar, vanilla and baking spices layered atop cherry-berry fruit. The midpalate is rich and round, while the finish is a bit astringent. Try in 2019.
This is plush and tasty, with lots of fresh, ripe fruit flavors verging on sweet, but it also has great acidity and appetizing tannins to rein in all that flavor and achieve balance. The flavors resemble raspberry, ripe red cherry and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. It's medium to full bodied, dry and finishes with a nice tartness.
This is plush and velvety in feel, with superripe notes of chocolate and black cherries on the palate. Finishes a bit warm; drink now–2016.
This is possibly the most savory rendition of Syrah made on the Central Coast, each vintage as feral as the last. This bottling shows bloody lamb, crushed peppercorn, soy and barnyard elements on the nose. The palate is tense with tarry structure, revealing unusual kelp, stewed peppercorn, black miso and teriyaki flavors.
This is possibly the richest, ripest unoaked Chardonnay ever made in California. It's so powerful with tropical fruit, lemon drop, lime, peach and honey flavors, it might just blow your mind. High acidity adds balance and gives the wine mouthwatering tartness.
This is potent in lime, sweet lemon, Asian pear and tropical fruit flavors, brightened with zesty acidity and enriched with notes of mineral and vanilla. Beautiful to drink, it will pair with everything from Thai food to risotto.
This is powerful and concentrated, with the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend standing out firmly. It is dark, rich, packed with ripe black fruits and sweet tannins. Drink from 2018.
This is powerful and determined, with high alcohol that covers some of the more delicate aromas of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla. Sweet candied fruit flavors and natural richness help bring balance back in the mouth.
This is powerful and rich, allowing just a note of freshness to creep into the firm structure. Dark tannins, black fruits and smoky wood flavors combine harmoniously, lending a sense of great power and long-term aging potential. Drink from 2019.
This is powerful in tropical fruit, apricot and oak flavors, but balanced with acidity and a tangy, minerally taste of stones. Rich and evocative, it appeals to the senses while retaining a complex intellectual charm. Drink now with lobster or crab dishes, especially a rich, buttery risotto.
This is powerful stuff, packed tightly with tannins, juicy black fruits and a solid, concentrated structure. The wine is ripe and spicy, with a touch of pepper from the alcohol. It is also dense, still firm and needs further time to develop. Drink from 2016.
This is powerful stuff. Its high alcohol does show in the pepper edge. Happily, the bold black fruits and acidity also give the wine a fresher side. The structure and the fruits are generous and dense. This rich wine is ready to drink.
This is powerful wine made at a high level, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc. Muscular and dense, it offers a rich, ripe succulence of baked plum clafoutis, coconut, blackberry and clove within a dusty, gravelly brawn of dried herb and plush chocolate.
This is powerful, a fine expression of the richness of 2005. Dense and dusty tannins fit in the structure of ripe, black plums and currants. It has just the right amount of acidity to keep fresh among all this richness.
This is powerful, rich Grüner, one that brings out the pepper character as well as apricot and honey. There is a dense texture in this concentrated and well-balanced wine. It needs to age for 3–4 years.
This is powerful, ripe and creamily smooth, bearing yellow fruits that dominate the wood aging. It's a rich medley of apricot and yellow peach flavors, laced with citrusy acidity. Full, complex and generous, this is worth aging for over four years.
This is powerful, typical of Les Preuses. White and yellow fruits are important to the palate, but so are rich, honeyed toast, minerality and an opulent, intense concentration. This is impressive, elegance with power, and worth aging for several years.
This is powerfully impressive, with its firm structure giving great depth to the rich black-cherry and plum fruits. Dense and tannic, it needs to age for at least four years.
This is predominantly Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah filling out the blend. As with many of the H3 wines, vanilla is the strongest and most noticeable flavor. The fruit is compact, and it tastes like hard cherry candy. There is plenty of power, but not much subtlety.
This is pretty characterful stuff, starting off with slightly wooly, feral aromas accenting more mainstream grapefruit and pear notes. It's not heavy, but comes across as broad on the palate, which also reveals hints of melon and peppery spice.
This is pretty good Cab at a fair price. It's rich with sun-ripened cherry pie, blueberry jam and mocha flavors, along with firm yet supple tannins. Drink this wine with beef stew.
This is pretty good Zin, fully ripened and showing classic wild berry and spice notes, although there’s an earthy, cardboardy aroma that’s a little off-putting. The tannins are very soft, and the acidity is a bit low, making it simple and one-dimensional. Still, not a bad deal at this price.
This is pretty much the same blend as Zachary's Ladder, but with higher alcohol and all new French oak. Perhaps the wine is not yet fully resolved, as the gamy Syrah and grippy, tannic Cabernet seem to be butting heads. The broadly displayed red fruits leave a chalky finish.
This is pretty pale for a Tavel, with a coppery tinge to its pink color. Notes of lime zest, wet stone and modest cherry-berry notes finish on a bright citrus note.
This is pretty slender, but it gets the Chardonnay job done with its flavors of buttered toast, cream and peach.
This is pretty sweet for a spätlese but finishes clean and refreshing, thanks to some zippy acids. Aromas of paraffin, wet stones and citrus lead the way, followed up by flavors vaguely reminiscent of lime sherbet.
This is pretty tasty in cherries, cola and licorice, with a nice, silky texture. It's a polished wine that finishes dry and spicy, with a sweet oak note on the finish. A little one dimensional, but it could develop bottle complexity over the next 6–7 years.
This is pricey for what you get. It's a blend of 50% Riesling with 40% Albariño and 10% Sauvignon, and frankly it smells a bit oily and stalky, while the palate is soft and the flavors suggest underripe green melon and apple. On the finish, it's a bit green.
This is prickly and grassy smelling, with cherry candy and plum aromas. The palate is tangy and abrasive, with plum, herb, spice and green tobacco flavors. It's tart and a bit green on the finish.
This is Primitivo-Barbera blend with dabs of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto in the mix. It's light and youthful, with cranberry fruit and the sort of juicy acidity that freshens the palate. Not especially concentrated, but crisp and clean, with a bracing minerality.
This is probably the most crowd-pleasing of Thornton’s current lineup. It has all the elegance and class of the Brut Reserve Natural but a touch of sugar adds roundness and richness to the fruit. It’s more savory, more piquant, fatter, without being blowsy or obvious. This is very fine brut, able to hold its own with the best.
This is produced from 25-year-old vines in the Chambertin Grand Cru vineyard. It is a smoky, structured wine with layers of dark fruits and ripe tannins, with the fresh acidity of the year. Lots of attractive fruit is surrounded by the firm tannins and dry aftertaste. It should not be drunk before 2020.
This is produced from 40-year-old vines that are planted in a walled vineyard. It is a beautifully concentrated combination of pure ripe yellow fruits and intense acidity. Together they create an opulent wine that still has structure and a crisp aftertaste. Keep this wine for a few more months and drink from the end of 2017.
This is produced from a field selection of at least 20 different varieties. Dark in color, it is big and bold in flavor. The black fruits and the ripe tannins are combining well to give a wine that has both weight and elegance. With the acidity that comes through strongly, the wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2020.
This is produced from Cabernet Franc grown on the plateau south of Saumur. Red fruits are cut with a crisper texture, with a hint of tannins as well as attractive acidity. Drink now.
This is produced only in the best vintages; here from just two barrels the winery noted as standouts. Concentrated flavors of cherry and cassis are amplified with a streak of red licorice. Acids keep the wine poised and fresh, and the finish brings in a dollop of chocolate and a hint of cut tobacco.
This is proof that excellent Chardonnay can come from this warm region in Southern California. Key lime pie, peach blossom and shaved apple aromas show on the nose. The palate sizzles with acidity and a savory hit of sea salt, with a core of Asian pear and stone fruit flavors.
This is proof that vintage variation is alive and well in Argentina. Reflecting a hot year, this is stewy and heavy. It smells of licorice, mint and black fruit, while the palate is syrupy. Prune, raisin and stewed blackberry flavors are front and center.
This is properly fresh and fruity, with delicious herb and ripe apricot notes. Light, refreshing and crisp, this is ready to drink.
This is prototypical Gisborne Chardonnay, featuring a whack of spicy oak and buttered popcorn allied to tropical-fruit and peach flavors, brought into focus by mild citrus (tangerine) on the finish. A very fruity and somewhat simple style, yet executed perfectly.
This is Provence pink in color—light and just slightly shaded with copper. It smells floral and fruity, like watermelon, canteloupe and cucumber. The balance is on the sweet side, lending a softness in texture.
This is proving to be a great vintage for this emerging producer in an increasingly exciting region of mid-Monterey County. Graphite, crushed rocks, rose petals and cranberry show on the nose, followed by a palate of black peppercorns, eucalyptus, snappy black raspberry and lots of black clove.
This is punchy and angular up front, with herbal red-fruit aromas. The palate feels fresh, a bit acidic, with peppery, mildly oaky flavors of plum and berry. This is a standard wine with ample body and some oak.
This is punchy and full of potent black-fruit aromas that turn jammy upon airing. It feels lush, thick and chewy, with ripe, dense berry flavors that come with plenty of young oak. Creamy in feel, it features vanilla and resin flavors on the finish. Modern and chunky in style.
This is pungent stuff—redolent of sweaty socks and nettles—but it's also concentrated and intense, balancing out those strident aromas with round, ample flavors of melon and green tomato. It's leafy, fresh and assertive on the finish. Drink now.
This is pungent, showing some sweaty, boxwood notes alongside lemony citrus fruit. It's light on its feet, with moderately intense lemon flavors that fade on the finish. Drink now.
This is pure and intense with layers of limes, kiwis, apricots, oranges, pineapples and golden mangoes. Only neutral oak was used, providing background hints of buttered toast. The winemaker did not put the wine through malolactic fermentation, resulting in wonderfully bright acidity.
This is pure Cabernet from older vines, and has a meaty, herbal power to it. Streaks of tar and some lively cinnamon spice add life to the fruit, which is solid and earthy. I pick up black licorice, vanilla cream, and still more interesting flavors wrapped into the tannins, which seem dusty and smoky and a bit grainy. This has some real substance to it, and shows some of the herbal side of the grape. The best so far from SYZYGY.
This is pure Cabernet from one of Washington's oldest vineyards. Cold Creek is a hot site, and its grapes are scattered throughout many of the Ste. Michelle brands, often providing the core fruit. Here is the essence, a wine that opens a bit grudgingly, but has structure and concentration if you take the time to let it blossom. Dense cherry and cassis fruit is tightly wound with balancing acids. The use of new oak is restrained, but sufficient, and this is a wine that should age nicely for many years.
This is pure Cabernet from Red Mountain's Klipsun vineyard; there is nothing subtle or gentle about this wine. It's a powerhouse, sharp and astringent, with edgy flavors of berry and granite. The rock/mineral component dominates the finish, which lingers and gently fades. Overall, this is a wine to cellar and to watch; it tastes like a high-altitude Malbec from a 7,000-foot Argentine vineyard.
This is pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stillwater vineyard, ripe and loaded with dark fruits. There's a strong element of char, smoke and roasted espresso running through the finish. Tannins are silky, but the flavors are right on the edge of burnt. Drink this with a juicy, charcoal-grilled steak and it will hit the bulls-eye.
This is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, with pretty, ripe berry and plum fruit flavors in abundance. The toasty frame, medium tannins and hints of dried leaf add to the overall composition of this nicely-balanced, limited-production wine.
This is pure Cabernet that was sourced from four vineyards, with vines averaging 31 years. True noninterventionist winemaking is in play to make this chewy, tight and dark effort.This is grainy and dense, with notes of cassis, coffee and cacao. A thread of smoke and a touch of gravel contribute further to the concentrated finish.
This is pure Cabernet—tight, tannic and terroir-driven. It has a dense mix of fruit, rock, earth and herb flavors that are nicely integrated, with a full palate and fine complexity and density. A little more barrel toast would put the icing on the cake.
This is pure Chardonnay, from cool-climate sites, showing a lean, sculpted spine that both defines and expands the flavors. Exceptionally complex for Washington Chardonnay, with good natural acidity, a mix of peach, apple and pineapple fruit, and a finish that shows tight layering. There is a dense core that should unravel with bottle age; this is that rare Washington Chardonnay that will prosper with cellaring.
This is pure Chenin Blanc from Kiona's 1976 planting, fermented in concrete eggs and left on the lees for five months. A pretty golden hue, this bone dry wine did not undergo malolactic and has retained its sturdy acid base. Rich with glycerine, it's scented with and has flavors of lemon oil, orange peel and candied pineapple.
This is pure fruitiness, a wine packed with spice, berry fruits and soft, open tannins. It is a great barbecue-style wine, ripe, with good acidity and a bright, crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is pure fruitiness, softly textured and ready to drink. It has an attractive line of grapefruit and orange fruit along with a warm ripe aftertaste. The wine is delicious now.
This is pure Malbec from the Gamache vineyard. The lush, concentrated fruit is a generous bowl-full of berries, lightly dusted with peppery herbs. The midpalate is concentrated and shows pretty floral and pipe tobacco highlights, while the tannins have a chewy, rustic edge.
This is pure Merlot from 10-year-old vines. Lush and chocolaty, it offers a broad, ripe and appealing set of seamless black fruit flavors. Powerful and high-toned, this adds licorice and mocha to the expansive finish.
This is pure Merlot from the StoneTree vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA. It's been aged almost two years in new French oak barrels, and has the delicious mix of fruit and barrel flavors to prove it. Supple, succulent, smooth and spicy, it's a showcase for cherry and cassis fruit, accented with pungent, almost piney herb. Excellent texture and mass shows good winemaking.
This is pure mineral, chalk and lean austerity initially, but opens up with apples,  lime and green plums. It is intense, concentrated and structured; needs time. Wait 4–5 years.
This is pure Mourvèdre from Heart of the Hill and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. The Red Mountain terroir is on display in the form of a spicy cherry-pie flavor that is set off by minerality and dense, earthy tannins. A kiss of chocolate seals the deal.
This is pure Mourvèdre from three excellent Red Mountain sites: Heart of the Hill, Ciel du Cheval and Grand Rêve vineyards. Tart, stony raspberry fruit carries a hint of cured meat and straw. The wine displays excellent length and a delicious purity.
This is pure Riesling, very mineral, steely and direct. With intense acidity as well as the crispest green and citrus fruits, it's still very young. The fresh current gives an initial lift while keeping the concentrated texture in mind. Drink from 2017.
This is pure Sauvignon Blanc, fresh, crisp and lightly herbaceous. It has attractive lemon flavors, a touch of saltiness and a bright, fruity texture. It is ready to drink.
This is pure single-vineyard Syrah, dark and tasting of cassis and blackberry, with a slightly briny, oyster-shell undercurrent. As it breathes, it displays a cured meat flavor, with a lively, citrusy finish accented by espresso.
This is pure Syrah from a winemaker who makes a number of single-vineyard and blended Syrahs. This dark, sappy, seductive wine has you from the first sniff. Though the fruit is big and briary, winemaker Holly Turner manages to capture the polish and elegance of Washington Syrah in the way the flavors are sculpted together. Veins of tar, chocolate, smoke, black licorice, pepper and tobacco accent the young, tight fruit flavors. This wine definitely needs breathing time to show its stuff.
This is pure Syrah from Ciel du Cheval, and is head and shoulders above the winery's Columbia Valley bottling. The sleek, detailed, steely spine that is a vineyard characteristic gives this wine both power and suppleness. The fruit is perfectly ripened and nicely set in firm, ripe, polished tannins.
This is pure Syrah, ripened to a heady 15.3% abv, yet still balanced and offering classic aromas of black fruits, espresso and roasted meats. It's a barbeque in a glass, with a smoky, lightly charred base and ample, rich, ripe fruit flavors. Drink over the next 3–5 years.
This is pure Touriga Nacional from one of the top Douro vineyards. It is a powerful wine, while retaining elegance. So the dense fruit is shot through with acidity and with a firm layer of tannins to balance the perfumed character of the wine. It's a wine for aging, wait to drink until 2019.
This is pure varietal, about one fifth new oak. From young vines, it's sharp-toned, dark and juicy. Cassis, dark chocolate and coffee showcase a wine with a strong grip, tight and tannic. This needs time, but the fruit is crisply defined and immaculate; the varietal character peeks through in a hint of tanned leather.
This is pure Viognier, finishing in a moderately sweet, dessert-friendly style. There is a candied sensation to the mouthfeel, and the fruit seems rather thin. Light flavors of orange pekoe carry into a gentle finish.
This is pure Washington Merlot, sourced from Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval and the original 1976 planting at Kiona. Initially stiff and herbal, it opens grudgingly, streaked with black olive, black cherry, earth and dark chocolate. The muscularity is a fine demonstration of why and how Washington Merlot is ageworthy; a showcase of tight black raspberry and cassis, with a core of iron.
This is pure, focused Russian River Valley at its most exuberant, full bodied and dark in color. Textured layers of pear, honey and melon dance around good, tight acidity, allowing for a balance of decadent pleasure.
This is pure, superripe Sangiovese, and it bears fruit flavors of strawberry preserves and cherry pie, plus a dash of dark chocolate and accents of mint and vanilla. It's big and a bit blocky, but it's loaded with fruit.
This is purest Grüner Veltliner from one of the best vineyards in the northern Weinviertel. It is ripe, concentrated, an explosion of spice, pepper and fresh pears to go with the lively acidity of crisp apples.
This is purple in color, with a saturated, rubbery aroma that folds in notes of leather, chocolate and blackberry. It's full and lush, with flavors of lemon, grainy oak, coffee and charred black fruit. Dark, oaky and charred on the finish, it needs a lot of air. Predominantly Malbec, with small additions of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is quickly maturing, with strong flavors of vanilla rather than fruit. Tannins are stiff and strong. Drink now.
This is quintessential Argentine Malbec. Aromas of roasted black fruits and smoke transition to a toasty, oaky palate with a spectrum of flavors ranging from herbal to jammy berry. In between are notes of tobacco, spice and molasses. Drink now through 2018.
This is quintessential Napa Petite Sirah. It's the color of a moonless midnight, showing only some purple at the glass's rim. The tannins are huge and mouth-numbing, while the flavors are extravagantly rich with black cherries and dark chocolate. This is a wine you surely want to cellar. Drink from 2016 and beyond.
This is quintessential Pauillac, a great wine with its Cabernet proudly at the fore. It ranks with the 2009 and, with its tannins, is sure to age longer than that vintage. Solidly structured, powerful and dense, with fruit promised for the future, it succeeds with its weight and great concentration.
This is quite a change from the winery's previous vintage, with the alcohol reaching a hefty 15% and the new oak aging now at 50% new for 21 months. The result is astringent and earthy, a little sweaty and leathery, with drying tannins.
This is quite a dynamic and layered wine, especially for the bargain price, with deep and hearty blackberry, caramel, rust, lavender and potpourri on the nose. The berry-led palate is rustic and unrefined, with feral flavors, peppery spice and decent acidity.
This is quite a good Cabernet, and kudos to the winery, which grew the grapes, for holding it back this long. Good as it is, one wishes the wine were a bit more restrained. It's explosive in blackberries and cherries whose main appeal is sweet fruitiness, not to mention sweet, toasty oak. It's fancy to drink now.
This is quite a good Syrah that impresses all the way through. The first sniff is of a burst of white pepper, while the first sip assaults the palate, in a good way, with ripe blackberry, plum, mulberry and roasted meat flavors, and a sprinkling of cloves and anise. It's an upscale wine, but softness will limit ageability, so drink now through 2008.
This is quite a luscious Syrah, soft, smooth, complex and layered, showing qualities of both warm and cool climates. From the cool end of the spectrum comes a lively acidity and not a trace of overripeness. The riper notes of blackberries, cassis, gingersnap cookie and licorice are delicious, enriched by smoky oak. Drink now and for a few years.
This is quite a nice find: an excellent wine from a rare Spanish grape variety. The aromas are fascinating, like ripe black cherry and red roses. The flavors are fresh, concentrated, grapy and jammy, but the wine stays dry and well balanced. Already six years old, it's not at all tired-tasting.
This is quite a nobly structured Pinot Noir. It's tempting to describe it as thin, because it trades opulence for dryness and a certain spicy minerality. But that would seriously underestimate its considerable appeal, not to mention the subtle hints of wild cherries and raspberries. The more you sip, the more you like it. At this price, a terrific value.
This is quite a strong, toasty and fruit-forward bubbly that could stand to be a little more elegant. It has overt aromas and flavors of strawberry and lime, with a pretty edge of coconut and vanilla. Finishes clean and zesty, but loses a few points because of a rough edge to the mouthfeel.
This is quite a sweet wine, rich and heady in chocolate, blackberry and blueberry jam and caramel flavors. It could be more concentrated, as it's a little thin. The variety is Petite Sirah.
This is quite a value for the quality, a stellar, medium-bodied, restrained wine that's high-toned and elusive at first aromatically. But it opens in the glass, delighting in blackberry, cherry and a burst of clove, showing skill in winemaking from a blend of vineyards, some valley floor and others mountain.
This is quite an impressive Cab for the price. It's a little rough in texture with edgy tannins, but the blackberry, tobacco and oak flavors are fine.
This is quite an impressive Cabernet. The wine rivals an intense Napa Cabernet, with it's tannic structure and its bold flavors of blackberry, black currant and licorice that have been exquisitely oaked. It's elegantly drinkable now despite the power, but should comfortably glide through at least the next eight years.
This is quite an interesting Pinot Noir. With a scent of mushrooms, cola and cherry pie and good acidity, it's Burgundian, with a pale color and a light, silky body. The alcohol is relatively high, but the wine wears it well. Although it's drinking well now, the wine should get a little better over the next 4–6 years.
This is quite crisp and clean, with fairly typical flavors for Washington Pinot Gris. Which is to say, not nearly as fleshy as the wines from Oregon, with less of the juicy pear character. There's plenty of acid, more like green apple than ripe pear. It's a soundly made wine, clean and fresh, but less varietally distinctive than one would hope for.
This is quite dark, heavy and warm for a rosé, with orange zest, raspberry and vanilla flavors. The fruit is prominent, sacrificing some of the wine's potential elegance.
This is quite delicious, bright and tasting of fresh-squeezed oranges and tangerines. Fruity, forward and lush, it's really quite charming. The aromas convey light hints of rose petals, jasmine and honey; the fruit an intriguing mix of ripe pear, papaya and apricot.
This is quite dry, as the label indicates, and nicely scented with light floral notes. Citrus fruit flavors run through an elegant, textured wine that definitely wants food to go with. Best Buy. —P.G.
This is quite easily the best Justin Cabernet ever. The wine achieves a new height of richness of fruit, dazzling with waves of blackberries, blueberries, cassis and chocolate, liberally enhanced with sweet vanilla oak. Yet it's bone dry, and the tannins are immaculate, with enough acids for balance. Gorgeous now with haute cuisine.
This is quite grassy and herbaceous, with an almost perfumy quality to the bouquet. Fruity flavors of pineapple, mango and tangerine help to flesh out the medium-weight palate, ending clean and lifted. Drink now.
This is quite light and lemony, closer to an Italian Pinot Grigio than to an Oregon Pinot Gris. What it lacks in flesh it compensates for in freshness and vitality; the subtle fruit flavors suggest Asian pear, jicama and cucumber. It would be a lovely match for a light fish such as rainbow trout or Dover sole.
This is quite light, almost ephemeral, with tart raspberry and red licorice flavors and a strong metallic/mineral streak. It is delicately made, and interesting, but comparable to a simple Bourgogne rather than a wine priced at this level.
This is quite light, with a leafy character and barely ripe fruit flavors that hint at tomato paste. Some pineapple and vanilla flavors come in, making this a rather odd, though still interesting, budget bottle.
This is quite light, with berry fruit running into tongue-scraping tannins. Flavors of earth and stem add still more grip and herbaceous character, outstripping the mild fruit.
This is quite meaty, oaky and powerful, with a buttery texture supporting soft citrus, melon and green apple flavors. A smoky, toasty finish screams of the oak treatment it went through, and while it's soft and luscious throughout, it's a tad flat as well.
This is quite oaky upfront, with bold scents of baked apple, toasted hazelnut and vanilla bean. The palate offers more of the same, in addition to a bright yet decadent lemon-custard flavor. Honey-drizzled apple pie comes to the fore on the finish, with just enough acidity to keep the opulence in check.
This is quite pretty, with a soft initial entry into strawberry fruit. There's a touch of resin, a whisper of chocolate, and overall a delicate sensibility, that gains strength and length with ample aeration. It exits smoothly with a finishing lick of caramel.
This is quite rich and complex, and while it's not without flaws, it shows tremendous promise for future vintages. The wine is dry and full-bodied, with ripe blackberry, smoky leather, dark chocolate and white pepper flavors. But the best thing is the tannic structure, so fine and dusty, almost Napa-esque in quality.
This is quite sharp and tannic; there are somewhat pickled spice flavors, clove and other suggestions of barrel aging, but where's the fruit?
This is quite solid, with creamy oak, herb, spice and leather aromas. It's grabby and round on the palate, which is generous in its herbal-yet-floral plum and berry flavors. A fair amount of chocolaty oak and spice cover the long, chewy finish. Drink now–2016.
This is quite toasty and woody upfront, with rich sweet spice, grilled peach and lemon custard aromas that lead the bouquet. The oaky tones continue through on the medium-weight palate, but with ample acidic lift to keep it from feeling overdone. Notes of peach pit and clove-spiked orange fuel the finish.
This is quite unusual, loaded with notes of green herb, leaf, fiddlehead fern, pepper and lemon verbena. It's herbal and not at all disagreeable, though fruit-lovers may want to look elsewhere. Just 50 cases of this wine were made.
This is raisiny and jammy on the nose. That's followed by a scratchy palate with rough tannins. Roasted grapy flavors are just pleasant enough, while a gravelly finish is ruled by residual hard tannins.
This is raisiny and soupy on the nose. A jammy, soft palate follows suit, while the flavors are pure prune and raisin. Stewy on the finish, this is overripe but still good. Drink soon.
This is raspy and rough on the nose, with heavy mint, green herb, latex and bell pepper aromas. It feels fairly full, with herb and peppery berry flavors, leading to a green, minty, scratchy finish.
This is rather closed but eventually reveals aromas of oak, coffee bean and espresso. The palate delivers ripe blackberry, licorice and baking spices alongside astringent tannins. It's also a bit shy on fresh acidity.
This is rather closed, with subtle aromas of red berry, cooking spices, scorched soil and underbrush. The firm palate offers tart sour cherry, chopped mint, dried sage and dark cooking spices set in a framework of solid tannins.
This is rather dark in color and full-bodied for a Pinot Noir. In fact, you might mistake it for Grenache, with its full-throttle cherry, red currant and mocha flavors, not to mention the tannins. You can criticize it for being non-varietal, but it's delicious.
This is rather fresh in style for a 2009 from the Southern Rhône, with bold cherry and chocolate notes, reasonably crisp acids and softly dusty tannins. That said, it's a mouth-filling wine, but one that's harmonious and easy to drink.
This is rather inexpressive, revealing muted and unusual sensations that recall medicinal herb. It's lean, with bracing acidity.
This is rather shy on the nose while the racy palate offers juicy lemon, unripe stone fruit and bitter almond. The bracing acidity calls out for vegetarian appetizers or light first courses.
This is rather soft on entry, a buttery, meaty, forward and appealing Pinot, with a layered palate of black raspberry, black cherry, sassafras, cinnamon and vanilla bean. The tannins are substantial and a bit green, but the edges are nicely honed, and the green tea bitterness is largely held in abeyance. The wine carries its 14.5% alcohol with graceful charm.
This is rather subdued but after ample time in the glass it reveals aromas of oak, toast, espresso and chocolate that continue on to the palate along with vanilla notes. It lacks the vintage's hallmark intensity. Drying tannins give an astringent finish.
This is rather sweet—loaded with honeyed peaches and tropical fruit—but all of those ripe, rich flavors are brought into focus by the citrus- and mineral-edged finish. It's luscious now, but in 5–10 years it should be a complex, filigreed table wine.
This is raw, sour, tangy and loaded with juniper and pine notes.
This is readily approachable, offering simple aromas of red fruit. Lean and unpretentious on all fronts. With 10% Merlot.
This is ready to drink with its ripe black fruits and soft structure. A tannic edge keeps the berry fruits in order, allowing the juicy acidity also to shine. At the end, the wood aging shows along with the black currant fruit.
This is ready to drink, quite pleasant, though it leans a bit generic in flavor. Light berry fruit comes with hints of cola and a green streak. The finish turns tannic and lets those stemmy flavors abide.
This is really a lovely Zin, showcasing how perfectly Dry Creek's terroir works for the variety. Although the alcohol level is high, the wine is elegant and balanced, with polished flavors of wild berries, cocoa, smoky wood and spices.
This is really a lovely Zin. It has the weight, tannic structure and complexity of a fine Napa Cabernet, but the flavors are all Zinfandel. They include black pepper, red and black cherries and raspberries, currants, sweet tobacco, gingerbread and smoky oak influences.
This is really a nice Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft and polished, it shows herb and cassis flavors, wrapped in rich smoky oak, with a long, dry finish. The tannins are quite strong now, giving the wine a chewy toughness and suggesting moderate aging. Hold until after 2008.
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.
This is really lean and tightly focused, seemingly built for aging—or for drinking young with raw oysters. Complex aromas of damp moss and petrichor give way to simpler flavors of mixed citrus that finish long and tart. Drink now–2025.
This is really mature Muscadet, yet it's certainly not too old. It is toasty, with almond, spice and vanilla flavors plus the concentration that comes from old vines. It is a fascinating wine, ripe and with considerable depths. The wine is, of course, ready to drink.
This is really one of the best values in Cabernet- on the market. It's so deliciously rich in blackberry, currant and chocolate, you'll want to drink the whole bottle right now. Kudos to winemaker Nick Goldschmidt for producing a wine this good at such a good price.
This is reasonably firm and muscular for a Marlborough Pinot Noir, yet still retains a welcome sense of elegance. Savory mushroom and meat notes feature prominently, filled out by black cherry shadings and the long, dusty finish. Drink 2018–2025.
This is redolent of red cherry, spice, leather and dried apple skin, with a sharp touch of medicinal herb on the finish.
This is reduced and cedary up front, with hard black-fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is big but loose, with strong tannins supporting oaky flavors of prune, cocoa, coconut and licorice. It finishes minty and dark, with graphite overtures.
This is refreshing and quite dry, with fragrant fruit cocktail aromas and subtle, spare flavors that suggest it would be a great oyster wine. Made from 51% Sémillon along with other grapes it's interesting enough to serve during dinner as well as an apéritif.
This is refreshingly bright for a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pineapple and bergamot notes mark the palate, while the finish is tight, citrusy and even a bit chalky in texture. Drink now–2020.
This is relatively light for Red Mountain Syrah—silky and tart with accents of orange peel and lemony acidity. The tight, tangy berry fruit shows a streak of chocolate, from time in 30% new French oak, and despite the cool vintage it finishes with some heat.
This is relatively light, with straightforward fruit aromas, flavors of pomegranate and strawberry, and a smooth, soft texture.
This is remarkable, with modest alcohol and a concentrated, ageworthy structure. Lime and pineapple flavors are enhanced with lively, gin-like botanicals. There is vivid acidity and a lick of butterscotch on the finish.
This is remarkably lush and full-bodied, yet remains lively and mouthwatering. Toasted nuts frame ample flavors of grilled pineapple and melon. Drink now–2017. The success of this wine should be a good indicator that, when released, the 2012 Art Series will be something spectacular.
This is reminiscent of a cool-climate, Old World wine—balanced and complex, with cedar, sage and dusty graphite notes. With just enough thickness and concentration, it offers additional flavors of plum, cassis and red currant that provide a tangy tartness and a sense of freshness.
This is reminiscent of a very well-done fruit cocktail. Grape. melon and pear mingle amongst citrus freshness with some tropical hints of lychee mixed in. Wonderfully fruity, rounded and fresh with a zesty seam of acidity.
This is reminiscent of the best Glen Fiona Syrahs from the Rusty Figgins era. It's 100% varietal from the Lonesome Springs Vineyard, quite dark and spicy with sweet berry fruit. Consistent stylistically with the other releases from Michael Florentino Cellars, this adds interesting details of white pepper and baking spices. Forward, fleshy, appealing, delicious and well-made.
This is Renacer's first Cabernet Franc, and it's excellent. Light herb notes, fine wood and deep black-fruit aromas make for a superb entry. The palate is loaded with power, but a touch of bold tartaric acidity does stick out. Black cherry, kirsch, mocha and chocolate flavors finish amid a lush mix of chocolaty oak, related spices and deliciousness. Drink through 2021.
This is rich and appealing in orange and lemon marmalade and buttered toast flavors. It's delicious, balanced by crisp acidity and minerality. A flashy wine worth drinking now for its freshness and vicacity.
This is rich and appealing now for its ripe flavors of raspberry and cherry that taste as if they were baked in a sweet, smoky pie crust. The acidity provides a pleasant tartness. It should age well over the next 3–5 years.
This is rich and appealing, vast in flavor and luxurious in texture. It shows Oakville character in its smooth, velvety tannins and overall balance, with ripe blackberry, currant and dark chocolate flavors. If you can keep from drinking it now, it should hold in the cellar for 10–15 years.
This is rich and concentrated, spice as well as pear and melon flavors. It is complex, with almond and nutmeg notes, balanced by the taut acidity that completes a full, ripe wine.
This is rich and concentrated. It has weight, with the ripe white-peach fruit giving a smooth edge to the otherwise taut, mineral acidity. Age over 3–4 years. Glass stopper.
This is rich and creamy, retaining enough acid and wet stone character to bolster the lush, soft fruit. Papaya and peach are the dominant fruit flavors, but there is much more to this leesy, textural bottling. It smothers the palate in stone fruits but is neither fat nor heavy; quite a winemaking feat.
This is rich and dense in blackberry and cherry jam, currant, mocha, anise and smoky cedar flavors. The mountain tannins are strong but refined, and the finish is long and spicy. It's a Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon, but be forewarned: It's high in alcohol.
This is rich and dramatic in blackberries and black currants, with an olive note and a lovely coating of cedar. Dry and tannic, it has plenty of class and elegance. Hard to see if this is a longterm ager, but it's fine now and over the next four years.
This is rich and dry in blackberries, licorice, bacon, sweet oak and peppery spices. It shows lots of acidity and tannins, giving it a firm structure. Give it a brief decant and drink now.
This is rich and dry yet also fruity. Perfumed in character, it is full, soft and smooth, allowing the acidity a place on the finish.
This is rich and extracted to the point of tasting candied, with black cherry, fig, roasted almond, brown sugar and cinnamon spice flavors—like a granola bar from a health food store. An easy-drinking blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.
This is rich and fruity and direct. It appeals for its acid-laced lime, kiwi, passionfruit and pineapple flavors and rich, smoky coat of oak.
This is rich and full of superripe fruit that gives the otherwise structured wine a jammy feel. It has a solid, dense texture that brings out blackberry jelly flavors as well as a more tannic core. It's not a wine for long-term aging, so drink from 2015.
This is rich and generously spiced, smelling and tasting like chocolate, vanilla, smoke and blackberries. Aging for 19 months in American and French oak certainly boosted the spices. It tastes full-bodied, very deep and almost sweet in flavor, with moderate tannins to lend some support.
This is rich and oaky in honey and graham cracker yet completely well integrated in terms of tannin and power. Silky smooth, it invites with compelling layers of apple, pear and fresh-squeezed blood orange, finishing roundly satisfying.
This is rich and oaky, with ripe orange, pineapple and pear flavors and the buttered toast of oak barrel aging. Almost too much of a good thing, it trades nuance for sheer power, but it's certainly a good example of the California style.
This is rich and opulent while still preserving its acidity and concentrated structure. It's floral and minerally, fragrant, round and crisp. Age for 3–4 years.
This is rich and ripe, with just a touch of wood influence. It has a tropical fruit and lime flavor, with lemon zest acidity. It is full, very structured and mineral, adding the complexity of ripe fruit. Age for 3–4 years.
This is rich and rounded, touched by a note of vanilla that softens the natural texture and acidity. It's ripe yet still with refreshing, with juicy acidity on the finish. Age this for a year for even better drinkability.
This is rich and rounded, with ripe apple and peach flavors. It has a good depth of flavor that comes from the complex play between toast and sweet fruit notes. It has weight, and it can age over the next two years.
This is rich and soft, with sweet red fruits and some acidity. It's full-bodied and should fair well with food.
This is rich and spicy, with the briary, brambly tastes of ripe blackberry and blueberry. It's high in alcohol, which gives it a slight burn. Enjoy it with robust Italian pasta and pizza dishes.
This is rich and surprisingly warm for the normally cool appellation of Pernand Vergelesses. It makes for an attractive, ripe and creamy wine that's been given a wood aging. But it doesn't have a sense of place.
This is rich both on the nose and on the palate. Full and rounded, it has spice and currant flavors. There is a burnt-almond bitterness that marks the finish.
This is rich Champagne, full with a lively mousse and a dominance of Pinot. The acidity and grapefruit flavors are intense, with just a hint of yeastiness. This bottling seems youthful and could age a few months.
This is rich in black cherry flavors, with layered accents of white pepper, almond and walnut. It's the perfect marriage between the elegance of Valpolicella and the structure of Amarone. Imported by Panebianco, Vinity Wine Company.
This is rich in black currants and dark chocolate, with a hefty jacket of smoky oak. It's a little one-dimensional, but a pretty good Napa Valley Cabernet.
This is rich in spice, herbal characteristics and tangy acidity. It has a strongly mineral edge along with green fruits and tight lemon zest. Drink from 2017. André Lurton bought de Rochemorin in 1973; the estate has grown vines since the 16th century.
This is rich in style and packed with jammy blackberry fruit and slightly green, sweet oak. It's a little hot and one dimensional, but those who enjoy a riper style of red will be satisfied.
This is rich with black fruits and layers of wood. It is structured and dense while also having the attractive fruitiness of the vintage. The wine will be ready to drink by summer 2016.
This is rich with flavors of yellow fruit and ripe pear. It has a good texture, with crisp, citrusy acidity that adds a lively edge to this ripe wine. While it's already drinkable, give this another six months of aging.
This is rich with fruit as well as a mineral, tangy texture. A ripe character comes from the delicious raspberry fruit and acidity (60% Grenache, 40% Cinsault). The aftertaste is fresh, while remaining textured and ready for food.
This is rich with sweet jasmine, dried apricot and honey. Plenty layered on the palate but tempered by a core of acidity, it's more sweet than dry. The blend is 39% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Muscat (which explains the hay yellow color) and 1% Pinot Meunier.
This is rich with tannins and a little heavy on the palate with massive, concentrated flavors of blackberry jam, licorice and mocha. Delicious in that classic Napa way, if lacking a bit of finesse. Seems best now and over the next six years.
This is rich, almost unctuous, in terms of mouthfeel. That roundness, coupled with the bright golden hue, suggest that this wine may have been barrel aged. Some aromatic traces of talcum powder remain, drifting above chunky fruit flavors of pineapple and peach. The finish is full bodied and lightly toasty.
This is rich, but never too rich, allowing some acidity to shine. It is ready to drink now, though it will age for several more years.
This is rich, but the balance of the wine is excellent, the wood very much underneath the smooth, opulent apricot and pear fruits. There is spice, which adds a fine piquancy to the texture. The finish is vivid, still young, needing at least five years to age.
This is rich, complex and full of ripe fruit. A firm structure underlies the richness, lending concentration and density. The fruit is still reticent and will show more generously in another year. Age for five years.
This is rich, exuding delicious sweetness, with a core of dense botrytis. An opulent, ripe apricot flavor accompanies the bittersweet orange and mirabelle fruit notes. The acidity, sweetness and concentration promise a great future for this wine.
This is rich, full-bodied Chardonnay, rounded out with peaches and spiced apricots. The wood is evident here, giving an extra softness as well as bringing out rich honey. A wine that opens beautifully in the mouth, ready to drink but also ageworthy.
This is rich, full of jammy Merlot and with layers of tannins interspersed with crisp acidity. It feels full, ripe, structured and likely to age well. With its youthful exuberance, it will be ready to drink from 2019.
This is rich, full of spicy fruit, apricot juice and white peaches. The fruits are topped by an unctuous honey character that pushes the wine towards sweetness while keeping a fresh flavor in the background. Drink from 2017.
This is rich, honeyed and ripe on the nose and full-bodied and round in the mouth, with just enough acidity to provide backbone and length. The peach, melon and citrus notes linger on the mouthwatering finish.
This is rich, ripe and succulent, with blackberry and black currant flavors. As decadently fruity as it tastes, the finish is firm and dry. There's lots of balanced elegance in this drink-me-now Cabernet.
This is rich, ripe, fat and seemingly oaky. It may be too much of a good thing. Massive in caramelized, butterscotch, pineapple, peach, apricot, lime and cotton candy flavors, it might overpower any food you have it with. Almost better as a cocktail sipper.
This is rich, round, toasty and chocolaty, and it is instantly accessible and mouth filling. The forward fruit and barrel flavors coat the tongue with notes of cherries and chocolate. Drink soon, while the flavors remain fresh and balanced.
This is rich, showing the full-bodied character of a Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru. It has a sense of gravity and structure, with a flavor of red-plum jelly. Solid and chunky, this already expresses its fruit, although it does need at least six years to mature.
This is rich, smooth and weighty as befits a Pouilly-Fumé. Peach and green-plum flavors befit this impressively warm, full-bodied wine. The grassy Sauvignon character is there, but restrained by the ripeness of the wine.
This is rich, soft and vibrant in blackberry, blueberry jam and mocha flavors, which are wrapped into complex tannins, finishing dry and spicy. This shows superior pedigree.
This is rich, spicy and full of red cherry flavor. It also has a dark, firm structure from the granite-based soil. The acidity that cuts through the fruit lends balance. Age this for 2–3 years.
This is rich, structured and full-bodied. It bursts with superripe Merlot, darkly tannic and dense. Rich berry and black plum fruits add their weight to this concentrated wine. Drink from 2016.
This is rich, while also such a stylish wine. It is ripe and full of tannins while masking that firm structure with immensely generous fruit. The two give the wine power, density and elegance. Drink this impressive wine from 2025.
This is rich, with an old wood feel and a sweet, still-fruity character. With its acid balance, this is fresh, round and perfumed.
This is richer than most Pinot Grigios. It opens with aromas of toast, yellow flower, vanilla and a balsamic note while the round, full-bodied palate offers baked yellow apple, candied lemon drop, nectarine zest and almond. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy fruit while a vanilla note closes the finish. You can barely detect the warmth of alcohol on the close.
This is richly concentrated and dense, showing an inky dark color with blackberry, leather and cured meat notes. A soft chocolate tone appears on the close.
This is richly oaked, which may turn off some northern Rhône purists, but the underlying fruit is superb, with the toast, cedar and vanilla notes amply supported by black cherry fruit. The texture is velvety, leaving the flavors to linger softly on the finish.
This is richly powerful, packed with dark plum fruits and solid, concentrated tannins. At this stage, it is closed, a potential powerhouse of firm fruits and structure. It has weight, the fruit and the firm texture all promising long-term aging. Drink from 2020.
This is Riesling done in a forward and fruity style, showing a mix of peach, apple and pear flavors. Broad and accessible, it finishes with a sweet dusting of powdered sugar.
This is right up there with previous vintages of Krutz's Malbec, which have been among the best in California. It's certainly not a shy wine, showing Malbec's power to dazzle with its sheer volume. Offering endless waves of blackberry and black pepper, with thick tannins and vibrant acidity, this is the perfect wine to drink now with charbroiled beef.
This is ripe and a bit raisiny with prune and fig notes to the bold bouquet. This feels chunky on the palate, but not fat or out of shape. Baked black fruit and raisin flavors finish solid and ready, with a note of licorice and an overriding sense of richness. Drink through 2020.
This is ripe and complex, with thick tannins that frame flavors of blackberry, cherry jam and a hint of violet. Give it an hour or two in the decanter, or cellar it for a few years.
This is ripe and dense, with great tannins; opulent, rich black fruit; and a fresh, juicy aftertaste. The structure and the solid texture both point to long-term aging.
This is ripe and finely balanced, with its wood-aging character showing well with the yellow fruit flavor. It has weight and a fine sheen of brightness, while the finish shows a crisper side.
This is ripe and floral, with intense acidity under the sweet, honeyed surface. Its dry core of botrytis is controlled by acidity and citrus flavors. Still developing and still young, it needs to age for many years. Drink from 2024.
This is ripe and fruity wine. A hit of acidity lends some structure to the raspberry, cherry and cola flavors.
This is ripe and fruity with attractive red-fruit flavors and a touch of tannins to keep it all in place. The wine is soft with just a layer of tannin and plenty of red cherries at the end.
This is ripe and fruity, a wine that is smooth while still structured. Firm tannins are filled out with juicy red berry fruits and freshened with acidity. It's  already drinkable, although it will certainly be better from 2016.
This is ripe and full in the mouth, with fine acidity and rich white stone fruit. It's delicious and floral, balancing its crisp texture with generous fruitiness. Great as an apéritif or with food, it's a refreshing wine to drink now.
This is ripe and jammy, with soft fruit and attractive acidity. It is warm, with a hint of wood aging. Ready to drink.
This is ripe and muscular without being overly oaky. Cherry fruit is supported by a balanced dose of cedary oak, but the tannins come largely from the fruit, suggesting decent aging potential. The finish is dry, firm and long, further bolstering that impression. Drink 2017–2025.
This is ripe and pungent, a rich and fruit-driven mix of fig, peach and melon. There are interesting herbal highlights, and more acidity than in the past. The thyme and rosemary streak continues into and through the finish, while the fruit maintains its power and polish, with just the lightest barrel influence perceptible in a kiss of toast.
This is ripe and pure on the nose, with aromas of raisin, cherry and earth. The palate is full but not heavy, while flavors of cherry and blackberry run deep in front of a second wave of pepper and spice. Only on the finish does overt oak show up, so give this a few years and drink from 2016 through 2022.
This is ripe and ready, with rather funky aromas that recall meat juice, leather, truffle, scorched earth and fleshy berry. The earthy palate doles out mature sour cherry, licorice, game, raspberry jam and toasted almond. It closes on a note of orange zest.
This is ripe and smooth, with a generous creamy texture. Spice and apple combine to give a tangy edge that will soften and integrate as the wine ages. It's full of potential. Drink from 2017.
This is ripe and soft, though there are tannins at the back of the palate. The wine shows pepper, black currant and bitter cherry notes. Not for long-term aging.
This is ripe and soft, with its red fruits well integrated into the rounded texture. There is a crisp edge to the wine, with spice, lemon and apple skin flavors.
This is ripe and spicy, with plenty of blackberry and blueberry flavors. Although it's a little lighter on the palate than expected, it's fine for barbecue.
This is ripe Chardonnay, maybe missing the more typical minerality but making up for it with the ripe apple and apricot fruits. The wine is now showing some good age while still retaining a fresh character. With its hints of almonds and vanilla, it balances fruit and maturity. Drink now.
This is ripe concentrated Muscadet. Plenty of acidity keeps it tight and nervy while the citrus and young green-apple fruits are right up front. It has the weight and depth to age and this wine will be better from late 2018.
This is ripe in cherry and red currant flavors, with a smoky, bacony touch from the charred oak. The mouthfeel is marked by edgy tannins. Drink now.
This is ripe, almost too ripe, with its broad red fruits and soft tannins. The texture is smooth, with a burst of acidity. It's ready to drink now.
This is ripe, fat and with melon and green-plum flavors. It has a spicy edge along with ripe acidity. The wine, with its full fruitiness, is ready to drink.
This is ripe, fruit-driven Shiraz with ample weight and ripeness. Hints of smoke and sage add nuance to the blueberry and black cherry fruit, while coarse-grained tannins provide adequate structure and grip. Drink now–2022.
This is ripe, full bodied and delicious, with a red fruit flavor. It has all the juicy fruitiness that is associated with Beaujolais. Drink now, even slightly chilled.
This is ripe, full in the mouth and rich. It has intense strawberry fruits, a touch of sweetness and fragrant, fresh acidity. It's a wine to drink now.
This is ripe, rich and even a touch tannic—almost more of a light red than a true rosé. This makes it ideally suited to serve alongside summer's various grilled meats. Raspberry and cola flavors finish spicy and round.
This is ripe, round and lush. Cherry-scented goodness leads the way, accented by hints of cracked pepper, cinnamon and allspice that linger elegantly on the finish.
This is ripe, structured and fragrant, with a touch of wood. It shows fine concentration and crisp, fresh citrus on the finish.
This is ripe, with a creamy and peppery character that's balanced with intense red-apple and pineapple flavors. It's textured and infused with grapefruit acidity. Ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is ripe, young and fruity, with plenty of acidity to accompany the tangy raspberry flavor. For early drinking. Screwcap.
This is ripely tropical, with mango and spice notes that are edged with a more yeasty character, giving an unbalanced quality to this otherwise opulent wine.
This is roasted and meaty smelling. What the nose holds back is revealed on the palate, which is rugged, aggressive and tight as nails, with boisterous plum, berry, menthol and chocolate flavors. Coconut and chocolate-mint flavors come up on the power-packed finish.
This is roasted to the max, with a very earthy nose, including burnt leaf, smoked meat and heavy fruit. The palate feels a bit high in acidity, with cherry and berry flavors that take on a baked character as it eases into a simple finish.
This is roasted, savory and spicy up front, with solid berry aromas. It feels crisp and fresh, with a blend of cherry, strawberry and herb flavors. It's spicy, lively, fresh and clean on the finish.
This is Robert Mondavi winemaker Genevieve Janssens own micro-project with husband Luc, and she doesn't miss the chance to craft a classic, gorgeous wine. Blending 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from Hendry Ranch and 15% Cabernet Franc from Detert East Vineyard, this wine offers luxurious aromatics and a juicy core of blackberry, black cherry and soft, integrated tannin, a beautiful marriage of sites and vintner.
This is robust, jammy and tart, with blackberry jam and root beer flavors, finished with swirls of melted dark chocolate and pepper. It tastes like classic Zinfandel, with a lush finish. It's a natural choice for barbecue and meat stews.
This is Rochioli's basic Pinot Noir. It's a beautiful wine, marked by great structure and accessible fruit. Near-perfect acids and tannins lend it elegance, while the cherry and cola flavors have a rich touch of smoky oak. Drink now.
This is Rochioli's estate Pinot—without a vineyard designation. It's a fabulous wine, showing the winery's signature power, complexity and balance. The flavors are rich, with notes of red berries, persimmons, red currants, bacon and cola. Absolutely delicious now, and it should gain traction and change interestingly over 6–8 years.
This is rooty and leafy on the nose, with dry raspberry and root beer aromas. There's a compost-like undercurrent to this wine that's highlighted via leafy, herbal flavors and a baked, earthy finish.
This is rosé by virtue of blending a white grape (Pinot Gris) with a red grape (Zinfandel); hence the color. You'll find simple, slightly sweet strawberry and peach flavors.
This is rough and gritty smelling, with burnt, stalky berry aromas. It feels straightforward, with rubbery-tasting berry flavors that lead to a sweet, warm finish.
This is roughly a 50-50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, showing a heavy concentration of vanilla flavor, often the mark of oak alternatives during the fermentation process. Some licorice notes come through, although the fruit is rather thin and herbal—not unexpected at this price.
This is roughly one-third each of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and their individual contributions work harmoniously to craft a dark, meaty wine with cassis, licorice, smoke and espresso flavors. Suggestions of black tea and black coffee continue the thread, until the fruit trails off and the finish fades, a bit shorter than expected.
This is round and mouthfilling without being fat or blowsy, finishing fairly crisp and dry. Along the way, hints of apple and citrus alternate with almond skin and cinnamon, providing a delicate balance of fruity and savory.
This is round, ripe and full of rich fruitiness. It has a tannic structure that gives the wine concentration and a tight texture. The fruit is less obvious making this much more a rosé for food. Drink now.
This is round, soft and velvety, with notes of cherry, blackberry, spice, leather and tobacco. With no sharp edges, its acidity is well balanced within the many layers of fruit.
This is round, while also having a mineral edge. Apple and wood flavors power through the crispness, along with a charming touch of honey. For short-term aging.
This is rounded and soft, with wood and spice flavors. There's an intriguing touch of ginger, along with a salty, mineral character.
This is rounded, rich, missing some acidity but with the compensation of ripe yellow fruits layered with pineapple and spice from wood. With all its sweetness, it is not for aging.
This is rounded, soft and textured with spice and pepper. Acidity gives freshness while leaving the wine full in the mouth and generous in character. It's for drinking now.
This is rounded, with a creamy texture and fruity aromas. It's warm, with pear and baked-apple flavors set over wood spice. Worth aging for a few months. Screwcap.
This is rounded, with its ripe fruit dominating the new wood influence. It is dense and smoothly rich, with blackberry and bitter coffee flavors. Age for three to four years.
This is rubbery and spicy smelling, with solid berry and plum aromas in addition to a hint of cinnamon. It feels a little snappy as spicy, dry red-plum and raspberry flavors take over. A touches of wood and related spice work the finish.
This is rubbery smelling, with distinct whiffs of leather and grilled meat. Sheer, tangy and acidic, this has a burnt, gritty flavor that blends with cherry and tart plum. It's minty and somewhat dilute on the finish.
This is rustic, with notes of roasted berry, smoked meat, leather and dried cheese on the bouquet. It feels tannic and pushy, with herbal, wild flavors of dark berry, herb and roasted meat. Slightly warm and herbal, the finish lasts.
This is rusty in color, with burnt leaf and dried earth aromas. Drying and hard on the palate, it has an earthy, leafy set of strained red-fruit flavors. Bitter and rough on the finish.
This is saturated, flat and flabby on the nose, with pudgy blackberry aromas. It has a static, jammy mouthfeel, tasting overspiced and heavily oaked.
This is Sauvignon Blanc with a cool, herbal twist to it. It is crisp, full of green stone fruits, along with a lively lemon juicy acidity. Perfumed and packed with fruitiness, it is ready to drink.
This is scoury in the mouth, with edgy corners framing straightforward orange and lime flavors. The midpalate is marked delicately with leesy sourdough notes.
This is searingly tart, with more lemon juice than pear fruit, and suggestions of unripe pineapple. On the plus side, it's bright, vivid and strongly acidic.
This is seaside Provence rosé right down to the traditional shape of the bottle. It is fresh and bright, with berry fruits and lively acidity. Drink as an apéritif.
This is serious and concentrated, probably built to age a few more years before its peak. It smells soaked with black cherry and black currant aromas, tastes deep, ripe and compelling, and feels full bodied and firmly tannic. The flavors are powerful enough to match the big texture, so it should improve through 2020.
This is serious Blaufränkisch, a ripe, firmly structured wine that shows a dry edge of solid tannins before you get to the ripe, red fruits. There's power here, but it is finely integrated, and its fruity finish is well structured. Screwcap.
This is serious, structured Blaufränkisch. It has ripe berry fruits, a solid structure and bright, juicy acidity that give the wine potential to age well. Cellaring should bring out the bloom of rich cherries and ripeness, so drink from 2016.
This is seriously spicy on the bouquet, where a mix of earth, pepper, herbal notes and cassis set up a stocky body with a condensed feel and ample oak. Heavy black-fruit flavors are hard at first but settle well, leaving mint and licorice notes along with a dark, toasty, herbal finish.
This is seriously structured and firm with great aging potential. A blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, both grapes very much at home in the Dão, the wine is full of solid tannins, concentrated black fruits and a dark texture. Fermenting in open tanks has helped the wine gain its broad rich texture. Drink from 2020.
This is serviceable but rather bland, with a dusting of cinnamon spice and simple, tart fruit.
This is sharp as a knife, with peppery herbs in the foreground, a hint of anise, and plenty of crisp, green apple fruit. It's got a refreshing gin-like citrus rind character, with hints of pineapple and a lick of butter on the finish.
This is sharp smelling, with aromas of field greens, rhubarb and scratchy spices. It's light in weight, with short, herbal and spicy flavors that center on a strawberry note.
This is sharper and more rustic than most other expensive Rutherford Cabernets, with a cut of citrusy acidity that dominates the cherry and herb flavors. While it's tough and hard to appreciate now, you never know if these aggressive young wines will develop with time. This one doesn't seem like it will benefit, so drink up.
This is sharply herbal, with peppery bitter greens framing tart berry fruit. It's 100% Pommard from 20-year-old vines, but in this chancy vintage the fruit flavors did not get quite fully ripe.
This is showing a bit of muscle, and some still-integrating barrel flavors, but it's already a wine that delivers plenty of pleasure. Forgive the flaky faux-wax topping (not thick enough to be called a real capsule) and enjoy the well-ripened blackberry fruit, the nicely-layered creamy chocolate, the touch of underbrush and the appealing length. Drink now through 2022.
This is showing a mature, browning color. The palate echoes that it is just beginning to dry out, although for the next year or two it will still be a delicious, mature wine. The tannins are dark, with some sweetness as well as final acidity.
This is showing an extraordinary amount of toasty oak in the nose, and once in the mouth it seems as if the oak and toast flavors overwhelm everything else. The fruit is very much on the light side, and can't begin to stand up to all the toast and butterscotch that is being tossed around. It's not bad, but it has not yet found its balance, and finishes with some lightly stemmy tannins.
This is showing light black cherry fruit, forward and moderately chewy. Other hints of black fruits and coffee grounds add some interest, with smoke and pepper filling out the finish.
This is showing some maturity with its ripe apple fruits and taut texture. Very dry, it is still rich and ripe enough to sustain the intense grapefruit and citrus finish.
This is significantly lighter than the 2010 edition, both in color and in flavor. Red apple and tart cherry fruit combines into a wine with plenty of acidity. There's a flavor of cracker running through the core, and continuing after the fruit fades away.
This is significantly young, tight and firm. Coming from one of the best sites in Fleurie, it has structure and tannins that dominate the rich red cherry fruits. Drink from 2016.
This is simple yet rich style, with dark berries, chocolate and toasty oak notes. For those who like their powerful, dense reds, this comes at an affordable price.
This is simple, light and fruity wine. Blending two naturally herbal grapes, it is tangy, zesty and has light final acidity. Drink this lively wine now.
This is simple, pleasant, with whispers of melon, apple and even celery, set against light acids and herbs.
This is simple, showing dry tones of crushed stone and white peach. There is some softness in the mouth thanks to the creamy quality of the wine's foamy bubbles.
This is simple, with raisin and plum sauce flavors that finish dry.
This is singer/songwriter John Legend's inaugural wine project in conjunction with Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Combining 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Petit Verdot, it tells a powerful story in thick layers of blackberry cobbler, chocolate and coffee, the tannin and oak integrated and silky smooth. This is a wine of great presence.
This is single vineyard Riesling with notes of apple cider, spice and lees. It offsets 2.8% Residual Sugar with tart, electric acidity but doesn't quite have the depth of flavors to match.
This is slightly bigger and bolder than the 2009 Art Series Cabernet, but remains a relatively streamlined and silky rendering of the variety. Potent cedar and vanilla notes frame dark fruit aromas and flavors, while the finish lingers, echoing with wood overtones. Drink now–2025.
This is slightly bigger and earthier than Ara's other 2009 Pinot Noir, with notes more of beet than cherry, and hints of dried herbs and mushrooms. It's a sturdy wine that could stand up to braised meats.
This is slightly exotic in terms of herb and spice aromas and a note of coconutty oak. It feels blocky and tannic, but forward, with flavors of baked berry, cinnamon and chocolate. The finish is creamy feeling, oaky and spicy. Drink now–2014.
This is slightly plusher and more powerful than the similarly excellent 2010 Heytesbury, yet still retains an undeniable sense of finesse. Dried herbs and flowers mark the nose, while the flavors include black cherry, cassis and vanilla. On the finish, lingering fruit persists beyond the soft, mildly drying tannins. Drink now–2025.
This is slightly smoky on the nose, offering scents of toasted almonds that neatly accent pear and kumquat aromas. It's richly textured on the palate, where the pear and almond notes pick up zesty citrus overtones that allow them to finish clean and fresh. Drink now.
This is slightly sweet, moderately fruity and smooth in texture. Light aromas of peaches and flowers lead to flavors like sugared honeydew melon. It would match with cheese or spicy Asian food.
This is slightly Syrah-like in its aromas and flavors—which call to mind red cherries, cracked peppercorns and roasted meat—yet it's all Pinot Noir in terms of its weight and texture, finishing light and silky. Drink now.
This is slow to open up but with patience it reveals gently floral overtones of dark peony and a whispering, peppery spiciness. The fruit is of ripe, red cherry. The texture is firm, crunchy but will yield into velvety smoothness by waiting until 2017–2018 in bottle. This is complete, promising and seductive. Bravo.
This is slowly developing into a beautiful wine. It dazzles with its combination of fresh acidity and generously ripe yellow-fruit flavors. The texture and structure give a steely edge to this impressive wine. Drink from 2020.
This is small-production, old-vines Cariñena with the full allotment of French oak aging. It is a little syrupy on the nose, but its schisty blackberry and licorice aromas and flavors give it a Priorat quality. What's holding it back is jumpy acidity that brings the mouthfeel down a notch or two. Best with food.
This is smelling a bit oxidized and wayward. Spritzy in feel, this blend of 70% Albariño, 15% Loureira and 15% Treixadura tastes pithy and like citrus skins. Pithy, borderline bitter flavors of white grapefruit drive the finish.
This is smoky and a touch fiery and woody on the nose. Fresh on the palate, with plenty of body and pulp, it bears full flavors of berries and a fair amount of wood-driven spices. The finish tastes oaky and slightly lactic.
This is smoky and minerally upfront, influenced by barrel notes, but there's also some intense strawberry and raspberry fruit on the palate and a minerally reprise on the concentrated finish.
This is smooth and accessible, putting a light chocolate frame around rhubarb and strawberry fruit. There's a hint of pepper, and the wine is fresh and youthful, good sipping wine for late summer/early fall.
This is smooth and easy to drink, with a soft texture, almost sweet strawberry jam flavors, and a touch of spicy, nutty oak that firms it up on the finish.
This is smooth and harmonious from the dark color, to the baritone aromas of black cherry and cassis, to the rather full body, rich texture and firm tannins. Not too big and not too oaky, but well balanced for its impressive breadth of flavor.
This is smooth and lush, with its tannins softened by ripe berry fruit and a strong presence of spicy wood. It has weight, density and, on the finish, fruitiness.
This is smooth and open, a mix of fresh cranberry and raspberry fruit, underscored by minerality and acidity. Still young and primary, it offers light highlights of milk chocolate from aging 15 months in 62% new French oak. It's a wine of impeccable balance, with a seamless finish and silky smooth tannins. Drink now and through 2022.
This is smooth and smells like true Rioja with its vanilla, dill and raspberry aromas. It feels fresh and healthy, but a little choppy and gritty, and it tastes of cherry, vanilla, tobacco and leafy herb.
This is smooth and sweet-tasting, with dark chocolate, blackberry, blueberry and smoky oak flavors, balanced with fine acidity. The tannins are strong, just what you'd expect from Malbec, making this a great partner for steak.
This is smooth as silk—supple and soft, with pretty cherry fruit and highlights of cocoa powder and coffee grounds. It's a professionally built wine all the way, made for easy enjoyment, with satiny tannins and a touch of anise.
This is smooth, rich and elegant, with black fruits and acids that are contained within a firm, understated structure. It has power, but it's contained  in a velvet glove.
This is smooth, ripe with toffee and spice flavors that give a dense texture and a soft character to this approachable wine. It has a fine touch of acidity to keep it fresh.
This is smooth, round and Zinfandel-like in its fulsome toasty character and abundant chocolate and black fruit flavors. As it's aged in 100% new French oak for 17 months, the oak looms large and lasts a long time.
This is smooth, with creamed apple and pink grapefruit notes. Textured and concentrated, this has delicious pure fruit flavor that's contrasted with a touch of pepper and intense acidity. Screwcap.
This is snappy all the way, if a touch raw and citric on the palate. Freshness is a virtue on this affordable Rioja, while red plum, raspberry and milk chocolate notes carry the flavor profile. Drink now.
This is so bold and rich, it could stop a tsunami of barbacue sauce and a herd of galloping babyback ribs. They say the age of the vines is between 90–110 years. This wine is sheer lusciousness, with flavors of wild blackberries, cola and plums, along with a blueberry jam and black pepper finish.
This is so chocolaty and rich, it's impossible to resist a second or third glass. Although it's heady in alcohol, there's an excellent burst of acidity, and the texture is pure velvet. The blackberry tart, orange zest, spice and sandalwood flavors change continuously as the wine warms in the glass.
This is so closed up at the moment, all mineral and steel, that it is hard to feel the ripeness of the tropical fruit. As this develops, it will flesh out the yellow fruits, balancing the acidity. The aftertaste is already thirst quenching.
This is so crisp and fruity. It is refreshing, lively and with fine acidity that lifts the wine so attractively. The red currants and lemons present an extra tang at the end. Drink now.
This is so dry, minerally and richly complex, you'd swear you were drinking great French Chablis. Brisk acidity and a steely stoniness give the apricot and citrus fruits a backbone of iron and iodine. Oak is there, but subtly lurking in the background, lending a hint of buttered toast. A beautiful wine, classy and upscale for drinking now.
This is so fresh and crisp with an attractive mineral character that points up the crisp apple flavors. There is a fine touch of citrus acidity as well to enhance the freshness of the wine. It is delicious, bright and refreshingly light.
This is so fruity with its blend of Grolleau and Cabernet Franc. It is off dry, full of strawberry flavors and laced with acidity. It is a fine summer rosé.
This is so heavy it's nearly a solid and not a liquid. Maximum ripeness is on display at all check points, especially the palate, which is syrupy, raisiny and viscous on the finish. This is as rich and ripe as it gets, like spineless Port. Tasted twice with inconsistencies; this review more greatly reflects the better bottle.
This is so intense and fruit forward, the aromas are almost like those of Fruit Roll-Ups. Notes of strawberry, raspberry and peach abound on the nose and palate, with good acidic lift that just balances all of that fruity sweetness.
This is so light in color it almost looks like water. Oily aromas suggest tropical fruits, while this feels lean and somewhat dilute. Pithy citrus is the key flavor, while an acidic finish shows a note of papaya.
This is so loud on the nose that it's screaming coastal Sauvignon via sharp, pungent, borderline vegetal aromas. Round and fairly full in body, this tastes severely briny, with a mix of tropical fruit flavors and lasting bell pepper. Steady on the finish, with strong pickled notes.
This is so oaky you can hardly taste anything but the butterscotch, caramel and brown sugar flavors. Way down deep is a note of pineapple jam.
This is so overripe that it tastes like Port, with raisin and milk chocolate flavors, and a hot, spicy finish.
This is so pale in color, it's almost a white wine in looks and in flavor. It has crisp white fruits with the merest touch of raspberry, backed by minerality and finishing with delicious juicy acidity.
This is so ripe it smells like raisin extract and prune juice. A murky, stewy palate and overt raisiny flavors finish with a rubbery, tannic feel. Acceptable but with glaring weaknesses.
This is so rustic that it has lost its fruit. What you do find are tannins, some acidity and a soft texture.
This is so seductive in rich, polished raspberry and cherry flavors, you can hardly keep from drinking it now. But the acid and tannin balance on this Pinot Noir is just about perfect, giving it the potential for at least six years in a good cellar. There's an earthy, mushroomy complexity that could make it really interesting down the road.
This is so smooth, rich and mellow, you hardly notice how intense the tannins are. But they are hard, and lock down the flavors of black currant and black licorice, plus the complex notes of minerals, roasted game and dark spices. Drink this Malbec-based blend now after decanting and over the next six years.
This is so softly sweet and delicious in mocha, wild berry, buttery nougat and spice flavors, it's like a candy bar with alcohol. Easy to drink, with a gentle mouthfeel.
This is so succulent you'll want to finish the entire bottle with a great steak or chop. It explodes in the mouth with a sunburst of cherries and raspberries, spiced with cinnamon, smoky oak and orange zest. This is one of Handley's best in years.
This is so toasty and heavily oaked that it smells burnt and acrid. In the mouth this is pinched, tannic and tough. Flavors of plum, raspberry and vanilla finish scratchy and abrasive with drum-like tightness. Drink now.
This is so young, the yeast of the ferment still swings on the nose. Underneath that, tightly curled freshness suggests both candied lemon slices and lemon sorbet—but this needs time to unfurl its glory. Despite its slenderness, this wine has muscle and tone, structure and poise. The long finish is lip-smacking and moreish. Drink 2018–2025.
This is soft and accessible now, with plush notes of baked apple, creamed pear and oaky spice on the attack. The medium-weight palate is broad in feel, begging for a bit more lift to the rich fruit and buttered toast flavors. Drink now.
This is soft and easy in texture, light in flavors and slightly sweet. Light to medium bodied, it has very little tannin or astringency, is low in acidity and quiet on the finish.
This is soft and fruity, with a gentle mix of berries and spice. There isn't much depth evident, except for a somewhat astringent, bitter edge to the tannins.
This is soft and fruity, with attractive acidity that cuts into the smooth texture. It does have a nutty, bitter character that shows through, giving a hard edge to the otherwise fruity wine.
This is soft and full bodied, with a ripe yellow-fruit flavor and a hint of spice that merge with the rounded texture. The acidity just surfaces on the finish.
This is soft and full bodied, with round tannins that hint at dryness. With its ripe red-plum and strawberry flavors, this is a pleasure to drink now, but it is likely to age for several months.
This is soft and generously fruity wine. It has spice, ripe red-berry fruits and just enough tannin to give structure. Touches of chocolate and bitter coffee are rounding out well to allow the fruit and ripe texture to speak. Drink from 2017.
This is soft and gentle, with easy berry, herb, cola and sandalwood flavors. Drink now, as this is about as good as it will ever be.
This is soft and jammy, with raspberry, cherry and oak flavors. A pretty wine, with a good tannin-acid balance, for drinking now.
This is soft and juicy with just a hint of a more tannic structure in the background. It is designed as an immediate easy-drinking wine, full of fruit and blackberry fruits.
This is soft and lightly flavored. Fruit and some fresh acidity are there along with spice, but the wine seems muted.
This is soft and lightly scented with citrus. Aromas of lemon peel precede light flavors of citrus and green apple. It's a simple, quaffable white wine, with a bit of Riesling and Viognier in the blend.
This is soft and rich, with a light and smooth textured. It has red fruit, light acidity and a rounded aftertaste.
This is soft and ripe, with red cherry and strawberry notes. It has a light tannic texture, with acidity and a broad, rich finish.
This is soft and round with pleasing flavors of black cherry and plum. Hints of coffee and chocolate do not tamper with the basic core of clean, ripe fruit. It's quite nicely made, drinking well, and comes into focus in the extended finish.
This is soft and round, with flavors of sugared orange and caramel. It's an attractive, easy apéritif rosé.
This is soft and rounded, with attractive red plum and berry fruits that bring in acidity and a light tannic character. The wine is ripe, with a dry core surrounded by cherry flavors and fresh acidity. It is not a wine for long aging, drink from 2017.
This is soft and simple, but there's some charm to the black cherry, blueberry and oak flavors. The bite of tannins on this everyday Merlot suggests pairing with rich beef or lamb dishes.
This is soft and simple, with flavors of cherry, cola and earth.
This is soft and simple, with mild cherry, spice and cedar flavors. It's not very rich, but it's nice and dry.
This is soft and smooth, with acidity and a creamy character. The flavors are reminiscent of ripe pear and spice. Very ready to drink.
This is soft with a delicate mousse, yet shows a crisp edge—a hallmark of the firm's style. Ripe apple and green plum flavors combine with a rich and soft dosage to give a full wine that has almond as well as fruit flavors. It is ready to drink.
This is soft, attractive and deliciously fruity. It has soft tannins and lively acidity. With black currants and red-cherry fruits, it is going to be a bright wine that will age relatively quickly. Drink from 2020.
This is soft, creamy and accessible. With its attractive citrus acidity balanced by a generous dosage, it emphasizes white fruits, crisp acidity and a light, lively aftertaste. Drink now.
This is soft, delicate and finessed. It's not a blockbuster, but a silky charmer that offers layers of red currants, Dr. Pepper, vanilla and sandalwood. Ready to drink now.
This is soft, forward and fruity, with a somewhat flat mouthfeel. Soft, buttery oak rounds out into a smooth, silky finsh. Very seductive and caramel flavored, long, satiny finish. A drink-now bottle, not for aging.
This is soft, fruity and already delicious with ripe red fruits. There's no wood aging, and the wine displays berry flavors, balanced acidity and a soft, jammy aftertaste. Drink 2014.
This is soft, fruity and very approachable, with flavors of strawberry jam. Highlights of sassafras and a pleasing spiciness add texture and interest.
This is soft, full-bodied and richly tannic, with blackberry jam, beef jerky and spice flavors. A little sweet and direct, but a nice wine to drink with steak, chops, grilled chicken, even Mexican food.
This is soft, full of ripe white fruit flavors. The wine is broad, showing some freshness along with the forward richness. It is likely to age relatively quickly.
This is soft, gentle, ripely fruity and immediately drinkable. Fresh raspberry flavors are cut with acidity and lemon zest. It is fresh, balanced and full of flavor.
This is soft, ripe and delicious, in the cult style, with heady blackberry jam, chocolate and sweet, caramelized oak flavors. It's thoroughly dry and really easy to like, with a certain dramatic impact. Drink soon.
This is soft, round and beautifully ripe with just a touch of perfume. A rich wine that is only lightly structured, juicy and forward.
This is soft, rounded and light. Baked apples and a creamy texture come with a refreshing burst of acidity tempered by a lightly toasty character. The wine is ready to drink.
This is soft, smooth and refined, with rich, complex blackberry, cassis, bacon, pepper and smoky cedar flavors. Good as it is, it will develop bottle complexities over the next eight years. Almost as good as Zaca Mesa's more expensive Syrahs.
This is soft, sweet and syrupy, with a cherry pie flavor.
This is soft, syrupy and seemingly sweet, with blackberry and dark chocolate notes. Its high alcohol gives it a headiness, but it represents the Paso Robles style.
This is soft, unfocused and gently fruity. Hints of herbal and citrus flavors give a green-fruit character to the wine, which has a tight, nervy aftertaste.
This is soft, with candy and raspbery flavors. Its acidity offers some freshness along with light sweetness on the finish. Drink now.
This is soft, young and fruity, with a dominating red-plum flavor. It makes for a fine apéritif, with its open, warm and ready-to-drink character.
This is Sojourn's most successful 2010 Pinot Noir, because it's the ripest and most satisfying. It shows rich, tantalizing raspberry, cherry and cola flavors that are brightened by brisk acidity. It earns extra points for its complexity.
This is solid example of the variety, with its apple and pear flavors. The wine feels a bit flat in the mouth, lacking snap and freshness.
This is solid, rich and with great fruit flavors to complement its structure. Red cherry fruitiness is lifted by intense acidity and broadened by the dark tannins and concentration. This is a wine to age for a few years, so drink after 2015.
This is solid, well-made Savvy. White grapefruit and red-currant aromas and flavors are textbook for the variety, while the medium body and long, stony finish also tick the boxes. Drink now.
This is solidly anchored in its ripe cherry fruit, a rich mouthful that represents the best of the winery's 2012 lineup of reserve bottlings. Highlights of citrus fruits elevate the acids, and there is a pleasing hint of toast across the full midpalate.
This is solidly made, with forward and ripe fruit flavors of peach, pear and apple. A gentle touch with spices—cinnamon and baking spices—adds extra interest to the wine as it plays across the palate.
This is something you're not likely to see every day—a 10-year-old sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Gris. Lacks the finesse and minerality of those Alsatian sparkling wines, but the flavors have been smoothed out over the years, and a pleasing toasty streak has crept into the tart pear skin fruit.
This is somewhat generic and oaky, with its modest cherry fruit overwhelmed by baking spices, yet supple and superficially attractive. Drink now.
This is somewhat lean, but its elegantly tailored in its brisk acidity and dryness. While the cherry and berry flavors are modest, the wine's austerity makes it versatile with an enormous range of foods.
This is sophisticated stuff that lives up to Oakville's reputation. It tastes rich and alluring from the first whiff of black currant and espresso to the ultrasmooth mouthfeel and elegant finish. Think extra-fine tannins, opulent currant, dark chocolate and black cherry flavors. Enjoy it now or save through 2023 to encourage even more bouquet.
This is sort of a junior version of Talbott's more expensive Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay. It resembles it in many ways, offering concentrated tropical and citrus fruit flavors, highlighted by brisk acidity and wrapped into a creamy texture.
This is sort of a second wine from Chalone, but it's a very good one. The grapes were grown in the Gavilan Mountains, where Chalone is located. It shows plenty of acidity, and the apricot, orange, mango and honey flavors are enhanced with a stony minerality that create elegance.
This is sort of a second wine from Reverie. It's rustic and sharp, with tart, jellied blackberry and cherry flavors. Not going anywhere.
This is sort of a second wine of the respected veteran winemaker, Nick Goldschmidt, who bottles his more expensive brand under his last name. But there's nothing second-rate about the wine. It's classic Alexander Valley, soft and a little herbal, and rich in cherry, red currant, licorice, sweet vanilla oak and peppery spice flavors. Lovely now, and with the integrity to evolve for a decade.
This is sour, bitter and just all-around dull tasting. A charmless wine.
This is sourced from 1970s-era vines. It's an almost ethereal weave of berry, saffron, mint, cola and tea, all wreathed in light smoke. It shows lovely complexity for such a young wine, and it's got the balance and structure to age nicely. Drink now through 2025.
This is sourced from 30-year-old Wädenswil vines from a vineyard in the Elkton AVA. It's complex and compelling, showing layers of stone, strawberry, citrus, chocolate and sassafras. It's an elegant wine, well proportioned and modest in scope, but delicious.
This is sourced from a longstanding, well-respected vineyard, and it does the windswept, foggy site justice. Tightly woven and youthful, it shows broad, juicy black cherry, wild strawberry, baking spice, compost and brawny oak flavors.
This is sourced from a steep site on the southern end of the appellation, a sunny location that provides concentration and weight to the wine. Smoky, herbal and earthy, it offers a wealth of rounded tannin and approachable texture that's complemented by dark cherry, blackberry, clove and vanilla.
This is sourced from old vines, and brings typically intense, phenolic aromatics in a dry, extended and lingering style. Citrus-rind scents and dried-apple flavors abound, and it's textural and persistent, though not what you'd call fruity. The length and development are its best attributes.
This is sourced from several Milbrandt vineyards, and a blend of both barrel (one third) and tank (two thirds) fermented grapes. It's soft and creamy, with melon, green banana and other light tropical fruits. A pleasant, easy-drinking quaffer, it finishes with a lick of vanilla custard.
This is sourced from the excellent Seven Hills vineyard, yet it lacks the heft and muscle of the winery's Columbia Valley Merlot, sourced from a mix of sites. Here the flavors suggest cherry candy, with a big streak of licorice. The tannins are chewy and astringent.
This is sourced from the Maresh vineyard, which dates back to 1970. These older vines deliver that extra dollop of texture and mouthfeel that elevates the drinking experience. Powerful and yet elegant, it brings a panoply of berries, baking spices, Asian spices, nougat, caramel and milk chocolate. It delivers all of this and more, without feeling heavy or overblown. It drank even better after being open a full 24 hours.
This is sourced from the winery's steepest and most wind-exposed blocks in their estate vineyard. The wine is dry and fairly tannic, with a rich concentration of raspberries, currants and mushrooms. It's young now, with the acidity and oak needing 6–7 years to meld together.
This is sourced from vines more than four decades old. It's the sweetest of the non-dessert Rieslings from Brooks, with rich flavors of candied citrus, honey and orange marmalade. That said, it's crystal clear, dense, fresh and juicy, and can fill a variety of slots, from an accompaniment to blue cheese, to a wine to pair with fresh fruits and ice cream.
This is spicy and complex; wonderfully aromatic with a mix of Meyer lemon, pineapple and peach. Along with the fruits there are minty streaks and what might be called minerality. It turns a little bit chalky and soapy in the finish.
This is spicy and dry on the nose, with a cheesy accent. It feels medium in body, with sharp acidity that creates a semisour flavor profile of red plum and cherry. Not overly flavorful, it concludes with a crisp, cleansing finish.
This is spicy and dusty on the nose, with a hint of agave and roasted berry aromas. Feels full, good and zesty, with driving black-cherry, plum and raspberry flavors. It shows herbal shadings and fresh tomato on the finish. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah and Carignan.
This is spicy and sharp, with excellent focus and snap. Green apple flavors dominate, aided by suggestions of pineapple and grapefruit. It's crisp and refreshing, with a good, clean finish.
This is spicy and sharp, with high-toned fruit flavors of berry and currant. Acids are strong and provide good focus, with a spicy/peppery note resonating through the finish.
This is spicy and soupy smelling, but in a good, savory way. The mouthfeel is creamy and chewy, with plenty of extract and soft tannins. It tastes herbal and a touch foxy, with spice and berry flavors that lead to a sizable, chocolaty finish that's weighty and round.
This is spicy and varietally specific, with sharp, tight, bright red berry flavors and a peppery finish. Made in a forward, fruit-powered style, it should be enjoyed while the youthful exuberance is there in full bloom. In   the very back of the finish are hints of smoked meat.
This is spicy with a strong floral character. Its red-berry fruits are shot through with acidity. The crispness and attractiveness of the wine are spoiled just by the hint of candy and caramel. Drink now.
This is spicy, dry and woody on the nose, with blackberry aromas. The body is medium in size, with adequate balance and herbal flavors mixed with saline and berry fruits. A warm, oaky, saucy tasting finish shows a hint of green.
This is spicy, with a dry, dusty character that's laid over the blackberry fruit. It is full on the palate, almost sweet in character, showing a soft, warm finish.
This is spicy, woody and sharp, with good red fruits. However, there is a strong streak of bitter green vegetal flavors running through the tannins. The bitterness may subside with more cellar time, but at the moment it does kill a lot of the fruit sweetness.
This is stainless fermented and aged on the lees in steel barrels, a nice idea that brings leesy creaminess to pretty fruit flavors of melon and citrus. It's an elegant Viognier, with the sort of fresh herbal highlights that freshen up a good cocktail, adding persistence to the mouthfeel.
This is stalky smelling, with modest fruit and a burnt field aroma. It looks and tastes weak and transparent, with sourness rising up on the palate along with notes of citrus, cranberry and cherry pie.
This is stalky smelling, with rustic aromas of roasted berry, leather, tobacco and eucalyptus. It's full in the mouth, with smacking tannins and firm acids that create a flavor profile of roasted, herbal berry and plum. Bitter chocolate and espresso flavors control the peppery, dry finish. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah.
This is stalky, grassy and peppery smelling, with red-berry aromas. Rawness and sharp acidity keep the pulse up as basic flavors of plum and raisin take over. A modest finish keeps the course without evolving.
This is Steve MacRostie's vineyard, located in the far northwest of the appellation, practically in Sonoma Coast. Their '04 strikes me as a little heavy and obvious now, but that may be a function of its relative youth. The wine is dry and crisp, with jammy raspberry, cherry, cola and spice flavors. Could do interesting things in the next 3–5 years.
This is Steven Kent's fourth vintage of Lineage, his blockbuster Bordeaux red from carefully tended Livermore fruit. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), it includes 16% Cab Franc, 15% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Layered in coffee and herbal cassis, and finely structured, it is an elegant, herbal-kissed, slightly coy wine, enjoyable now with a big meal or ready to sleep in bottle until 2024–2029.