This full-bodied but nicely balanced and dry Zin has cedar and nutmeg aromas that waft over earthy, wild blackberry and cedar flavors. The texture is smooth and slightly tannic, and the finish lingers.
This full-bodied but stealthy and deep wine looks very dark in color. It has moderate ripe fruit and spice aromas, but doesn't really show its cards until the flavors almost explode with boysenberry and blackberry jam, and nuances of wood smoke and dark chocolate hit the palate. It has great intensity, layers of flavor and a nice, lingering finish.
This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon opens with ripe black currant, cedar and bell pepper scents. On the palate, expect concentrated dried Marasca cherry, tobacco and licorice flavors buttressed by firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2027.
This full-bodied Chardonnay from the Abruzzo region of central Italy offers sun-drenched tones of mature peach and exotic fruit. The wine is dense and naturally creamy and would stand up to butter- and cream-based pasta dishes.
This full-bodied Chardonnay offers an abundance of fresh apple and blossom notes juxtaposed by darker, savory tones of dust and reed. Citrusy acidity lends lift, leading a surprisingly zesty finish.
This full-bodied effort goes down surprisingly easy. Aromas of shoe polish, black plums and a dash of black pepper presage flavors of blackberry, plum and brandied spice cake. Finishes with warm notes of chocolate and spice. —J.C.
This full-bodied Malbec out-performs its price. Ripe blackberry and pencil aromas set up a dense, tight, structured palate with focused, drilling flavors of blackberry and licorice. If you like layered, full-fruit reds with balance and harmony, this is it.
This full-bodied Malbec smells roasted, rubbery and leathery, with meaty berry notes popping in and out. The palate is blocky and thick in feel, while flavors trend toward stalky and roasted, with a green note accenting a chocolaty finish.
This full-bodied Merlot opens with aromas that recall cedar, licorice, mature plum and blackberry that follow through to the robust palate, alongside cracked peppercorn, clove and tobacco. Firm but velvety tannins provide the framework. Drink through 2018.
This full-bodied offering is ripe and richly balanced. A predominance of the two Pinots gives it an intense fruitiness, with raspberry and red apple notes dominating. At the same time, there is a fine, mineral-driven tautness that gives it a final, crisp bite. Disgorged February 2012.
This full-bodied perfumed wine brings out ripe white and green fruits. With summer-flower aromas and plenty of acidity, it is attractive and crisply refreshing.
This full-bodied Pinot Grigio offers aromas of sunbaked soil, hay, mature apple and dried herb. The rounded palate offers yellow apple and orange zest alongside soft acidity while a light mineral note lifts the finish.
This full-bodied Pinot Grigio opens with aromas of tropical fruit, melon and stone fruit. The concentrated palate delvers yellow peach, mature pear and juicy pineapple alongside notes of aromatic herbs.
This full-bodied red features aromas of underbrush, tilled soil, dark berry, new leather and a whiff of game. The concentrated palate offers ripe black cherry, licorice, mocha and a note of pipe tobacco alongside firm, velvety tannins. It's already ripe and accessible but will also age well for the next decade at least. Drink 2016– 2025.
This full-bodied red from Neil Ellis starts with aromas of cherry, coffee and plum, leading into a fruity but balanced explosion of cherry, anise, black pepper and tobacco. Structured but still juicy, the wine will improve with age.
This full-bodied red gives sexy aromas of dark chocolate, cherry, vanilla and cedar, followed by equally deep flavors of cocoa, black fruit, plum and black pepper. Smooth but sturdy, it will pair well with steaks, stews and earthier fare.
This full-bodied red manages to be concentrated and weightless at the same time. It opens with aromas of blue flower, wild berry and a whiff of espresso. The smooth, almost creamy palate delivers a black cherry core while notes of graphite, clove, ground pepper and cake spice add depth. It's impeccably balanced, with velvety tannins and just the right amount of freshness. Drink through 2017.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of anisette, leather, menthol and forest floor. The dense, juicy palate offers black cherry, coffee, licorice and clove while fine-grained tannins offer support.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of mature plum, hay, underbrush and scorched earth. The ripe, juicy palate doles out layers of black cherry, strawberry, tobacco and cinnamon alongside chewy tannins. It's already enjoyable but will also age well for several years. Enjoy through 2019.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, cassis and a whiff of cedar. The robust palate offers mature black plum, ground pepper and clove alongside austere, rather astringent tannins that grip the finish. Drink 2018–2025.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe dark fruit, licorice, grilled porcini mushroom, menthol and a balsamic note. The structured palate offers mature black cherry, red berry, mocha, mint and grilled herbs alongside assertive but refined tannins.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe plum, crushed violet, leather and dried aromatic herb. The firmly structured palate delivers dried black cherry, aniseed, tobacco and clove accompanied by tightly knit, assertive tannins. Wait a couple of years for the tannins to unfold then drink up to capture the remaining fruit richness. Drink 2017–2021.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe plum, vanilla and a hint of charred topsoil. The warm, chewy palate has flavors of ripe black cherry, licorice, baking spice and coffee bean while a note of bitter almond signals the finish. Drink through 2020.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe plum, vanilla, coconut and a whiff of exotic spice. The palate delivers oak extract, anise, dried blackberry and oak-driven spice alongside rather raspy tannins that leave an astringent finish.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of ripe plum, vanilla, toast and mocha. The chewy palate doles out ripe blackberry, juicy black cherry, licorice, baking spice and a confectionary note alongside velvety tannins. It's already accessible so enjoy soon.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of smoke, flint and dark spice. On the structured palate, clove and black pepper add depth to ripe morello cherry while firm close-grained tannins provide the framework. Drink 2018–2028.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of sun-baked soil, iris, baking spice and plum. The warm palate offers black berry, dried black cherry, espresso and tobacco alongside raspy tannins that leave a drying finish.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of underbrush, raspberry compote and dark baking spice. The brooding palate offers mature black cherry, white pepper, cinnamon, grilled herb and licorice alongside a backbone of assertive tannins. Drink 2020–2028.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas suggesting French oak, raspberry jam coconut and exotic spice. The densely concentrated assertive palate offers licorice, dried cherry, tart cranberry and powdered sage while astringent grainy tannins provide an austere framework. You'll also detect the heat of evident alcohol.
This full-bodied red wine is rough in tannins, but is ready to drink now with savory beef dishes. It has succulent blackberry, raisin and herb flavors.
This full-bodied selection hails from the same region as Vinho Verde, offering creamy apricot and ripe white-fruit notes. It has great depth of flavor, with toast and spice tones as well as fragrant acidity.
This full-bodied Shiraz comes out of the chute a bit tarry and reductive, but opens up to show complex aromas of grilled meat, cola and espresso, with flavors of coffee and black olives. Finishes long, with some dusty tannins, but still may not be the longest-lived vintage. Drink now or cellar through 2015.
This full-bodied Shiraz is bulky and a bit loosely knit. The overtly smoky notes persist on the palate, vying with maple syrup and dark fruit flavors. It's a big, flavorful wine that needs time to come together, so consume over the next few years.
This full-bodied Shiraz is muscular yet supple, with soft tannins framing dark, savory notes of sour plum, black olive and brown sugar. The long finish adds mocha and roasted meat nuances to the complex mix. Drink now–2025.
This full-bodied Shiraz isn't that complex, but it's immediately gratifying for its lashings of vanilla and blackberry fruit. Lush and oaky, it fits the mold of many steakhouse reds.
This full-bodied Shiraz starts off plummy, with oak-derived accents of smoke and vanilla. Those elements also show up on the palate, picking up additional notes of blackberry, cedar and baking spice. The texture is velvety, and the finish is long and surprisingly elegant. Drink now–2025.
This full-bodied version—sourced from Napa Valley's famed Stagecoach Vineyard—tastes very much like a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, with honey and green apple flavors. Well-made, the finish shows the wine's time spent in 33% French oak.
This full-bodied Viognier opens with aromas of toasted oak, butterscotch, vanilla and mature apricot. On the richly textured palate, notes of vanilla, nut and toast precede creamy white peach and lemon drop.
This full-bodied white conveys delicate fragrances of chamomile, Spanish broom and stone fruit. The round palate offers creamy white peach, apricot and nectarine alongside fresh acidity. A note of candied ginger signals the close.
This full-bodied white is grand but not showy, dry but not austere. It combines intriguing and subtle aromas and flavors resembling grilled baguette, toasted almonds, vanilla, fig and white peach. It should pair well with mushrooms, poultry and veal.
This full-bodied white leads with delicate aromas of lychee, Spanish broom and golden apples. The juicy, round palate delivers pear, apple and hints of baking spice brightened by fresh acidity that gives a clean, persistent finish.
This full-bodied white leads with typical varietal aromas that recall white roses, lychee and spice. The round, low-acid palate delivers creamy exotic fruit layered with notes of clove and nutmeg. A soft, lingering finish closes on a sweet note punctuated with the warmth of evident alcohol.
This full-bodied white opens with a delicate fragrance of pressed white flower, citrus zest, dried apricot and a balsamic note. The round palate delivers lemon drop, yellow peach, tangerine and a touch of vanilla alongside fresh acidity. It closes with an almond accent.
This full-bodied white opens with aromas of dried apricots, ripe pear and a whiff of alcohol. The round, forward palate offers concentrated yellow peach, citrus, lemon drop, ginger and a hint of bread crust.
This full-bodied white opens with aromas of ripe yellow peach, Spanish broom, chamomile and Mediterranean brush. The round, creamy palate doles out juicy pineapple, baked yellow apple, saline, mineral and candied nectarine zest alongside soft acidity.
This full-bodied white opens with aromas of ripe yellow peach, Spanish broom, chamomile flower and Mediterranean brush. The round, creamy palate doles out juicy pineapple, baked yellow apple, sea spray and candied nectarine zest alongside soft acidity.
This full-bodied white opens with aromas of white rose, honeysuckle, lychee and a whiff of nutmeg. The rich palate has a silky texture, delivering apricot, white peach and a confectionery note.
this full-bodied white wine stresses complexity, weight and viscosity. It smells like blanched almonds and candle wax, and tastes rich, almost heavy.
This full-bodied wine backs up an almost sweet aroma like blackberry jam with a nicely dry mouthfeel. Ripe and luscious fruit flavors seem deep and concentrated. The texture is layered with great viscosity, fine tannins and a long finish.
This full-bodied wine blends rich fruit flavors and abundant fine-grained tannins for a velvety texture that propels the cherry and blackberry flavors to a lingering finish. Made from an estate vineyard planted with four clones, it has excellent balance.
This full-bodied wine brings a basket full of fruit to the table. It smells like grape juice and black cherries, and tastes plummy, almost jammy but not sweet. The tannins and acidity are lighter than usual, making it easy to enjoy.
This full-bodied wine combines deep, ripe fruit flavors, light spicy accents and a very firm mouthfeel that begs for a bite of a grilled rosemary lamb chop. The wine pushes the stereotype of wimpy Merlot out of the way and does it with fruit concentration rather than obvious oak. Drink through 2020.
This full-bodied wine combines spicy aromas with deep fruit flavors like plum and blackberry. The fresh, juicy texture has just enough tannin to make it appetizing. The wine has enough heft to pair well with a lot of savory and meaty dishes.
This full-bodied wine comes charging ahead with spicy berries and Bing cherries. The tannins are granular, with strong flavors of tobacco, coffee grounds and dark chocolate in the foreground. It's a big-flavored wine from start to finish, with the power and polish to age. Drink 2020 through 2028.
This full-bodied wine conveys aromas of spiced plum, chocolate, toast and incense. The robust palate offers dried black cherry, exotic spice, licorice, white pepper and espresso but not much fruit richness. Astringent tannins leave a tongue-drying finish.
This full-bodied wine conveys Douro warmth. A light touch of tannin gives it shape. Pepper and red-berry fruits complete a generous wine that will be best with food. Drink now.
This full-bodied wine demonstrates the jammy side of Volnay. It is rich and dense, and it has a delicious berry flavor. In the process of all this generosity, the tannins are lost, so drink it over the next few years.
This full-bodied wine does a superb job of blending luscious fruit flavors of Anjou pear and fresh fig with a spice rack of nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. Good concentration and depth help it feel full and creamy on the palate and extend the finish nicely.
This full-bodied wine gets more interesting with each sip, as generous cherry flavors gather light and almost sweet oak accents, and as fine-grained tannins build the texture. The flavors become mellow and more complex as they echo on the finish.
This full-bodied wine has a big impact on the palate due to smoky, meaty flavors, very firm tannins and an overall huge personality. It starts with aromas of charcoal and charred oak, goes to ripe, rich but not sweet fruit flavors, and finishes with all that grip as well as lingering smoky nuances.
This full-bodied wine has a dark red color with purple rim, very grapy, cherrylike aromas, rich fruit flavors and an almost thick texture. The lingering, jammy finish goes to dried plums and raisins because it's so ripe. Nuances of cedar, cinnamon and anise develop with more sips, and the wine ends up more complex than it starts.
This full-bodied wine has a deep color and smoke and charcoal aromas. The flavors are ripe, concentrated, grapy and berry-like. The texture has moderate tannins but is polished around the edges. It's a big and rowdy wine that doesn't lose control.
This full-bodied wine has a juicy texture, fully ripe red and black-cherry flavors, and hints of chocolate. It is rather light on tannins, and feels more soft and sweet than dry and firm on the palate.
This full-bodied wine has a rather light color. Aromas seem roasted and savory rather than fruity, leading to attractive spicy, meaty, almost mushroomy flavors. The texture is on the lean side, moderately tannic and quite dry.
This full-bodied wine has a smooth texture that is mouthfilling and rich. It offers mild, savory mineral flavors that complement the creaminess and prolong the finish, while subtle oak flavors contribute to its sense of smoothness and viscosity.
This full-bodied wine has a strong stamp of sweet-seeming oak in the aroma and flavor, dominating its lighter raspberry and red cherry notes. Vanilla and brown sugar nuances emerge and continue into the finish.
This full-bodied wine has a treasure trove of flavor complexity and great balance. The color is a deep red with an auburn rim. Aromas present a fascinating medley of cherry, black tea, rhubarb and pine forest, while the flavors weave together ripe Bing cherry, crisp raspberry and subtle Asian spices. It's delicious, and best to drink after 2017.
This full-bodied wine has a voluptuous entry that's slightly tropical in pineapple and Asian pear, as well as vanilla-layered oak. The expansive beginning segues smoothly into a higher-wire act of minerality, finishing fleshy and fresh.
This full-bodied wine has an earthy, smoky aroma, an abundance of fresh grapy flavors and a soft but supportive texture. The aroma is pretty strong, and then the otherwise-generous fruit characteristics take over.
This full-bodied wine has an elegant bouquet that invites, before pomegranate, plum and orange peel figure in on the palate. Powerful on the finish, it features hints of coconut and vanilla around the leathery texture.
This full-bodied wine has an unusual darkish color with a touch of pink in it. Seductive aromas suggest fig and vanilla, and good, solid fruit flavors fan out through the opulent texture.
This full-bodied wine has big aromas like baking spices, prunes and figs, while flavors recalling maple syrup and chocolate seem to coat the palate. Although technically dry, it feels sweet and lush.
This full-bodied wine has classy, complex aromas that combine sophisticated oak and spice notes with very generous, deep fruit flavors. The way it all comes together seamlessly on a posh but firm texture shows the winemaker's skill as well as some great grapes to start with.
This full-bodied wine has earthy, woodsy aromas, ripe and mature fruit flavors and a broad, almost soft texture. It's very mouth-filling and smooth, and will please people who like a little rusticity in their wines.
This full-bodied wine has rich pear and crisp apple flavors. It's smooth and full in the mouth, with a powerful mousse to give a creamy texture. The aftertaste is ripe although with some acidity.
This full-bodied wine has swathes of ripe yellow fruits and juicy wood and acidity. Under this opulent surface, a more steely character gives the wine structure that will allow it to age. It will be ready to drink by 2016.
This full-bodied wine has unapologetic late-harvest flavors like raisins and prunes dusted with dried herbs, and a firm texture that comes with alcoholic heat.
This full-bodied wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. It has a creamy texture and is a little heavy. The flavors are of apricots, lemons and limes.
This full-bodied wine is complex and detailed from the spicy perfume to the finish, and rich and satisfying in the middle. Aromas like black tea and rhubarb lead to ripe and deep cherry and slightly tangy raspberry flavors that are lifted by moderate tannins and linger on the finish.
This full-bodied wine is in the classic mode, offering very ripe and even overripe aromas. Voluptuous berry flavors verge on sweet, and the rich texture comes without a lot of drying tannin.
This full-bodied wine is loaded with sensations of fragrant white flowers, ripe tropical fruit, juicy yellow peach and tart green apple. The creamy palate is brightened by fresh acidity and energizing mineral notes. It's well balanced, with more depth than most other Pinot Grigios.
This full-bodied wine is made in a fumé style and tastes as if it's been oak aged, making it feel rich and rounded on the palate. It gives generous flavors that are riper than usual, plus a lingering vanilla and almond finish.
This full-bodied wine is packed with citrus and tight, apple-driven acidity, as well as a rich touch of apricot. This fruitiness is balanced by a deliciously refreshing character that creates texture and a steely, minerally feel.
This full-bodied wine is packed with fruit and spice notes and is especially broad and mouth-filling. Made from mostly Grenache and Mourvèdre, with a dash of Syrah, it has generous ripe plum, macerated cherry and black pepper flavors that spread across the palate and linger on the finish.
This full-bodied wine is rich without ever seeming overdone. Subtle smoke notes frame bold fruit—tangerine, pineapple and apricot—and gingery spice, while the finish is long, peppery and refreshing. Drink now–2020.
This full-bodied wine is ripe and concentrated, showing cherry and rosemary aromas and fully developed fruit flavors. An expansive, mouthfilling texture is supported by fine-grained tannins.
This full-bodied wine is rounded and soft. With generous red fruits, balanced acidity and a bright aftertaste, it is ready to drink.
This full-bodied wine is saturated with ripe and concentrated blackberry and black-grape flavors. A layered and nicely viscous texture clings to the sides of the mouth and holds all that gorgeous fruit through the finish. It's almost all fruit, dark chocolate and a touch of clove, with little obvious oak, for a pure and memorable character.
This full-bodied wine just lacks that bit of freshness that would've taken it to the next level. Stewed plums, black olives and espresso notes are rich and complex, ending on a long silky note. Drink now and over the next few years.
This full-bodied wine offers a depth of brambly blackberry, smoky clove and cigar box that make it compelling and inviting on the velvety-smooth palate, well integrated in oak and tannin. The finish is a touch spicy, bringing out more of the clove and a shake of black pepper.
This full-bodied wine offers classic Nebbiolo aromas of underbrush, black cherry, leather and a whiff of baking spices. It's still young, delivering raspberry, clove, cinnamon and grilled herb framed by tightly woven tannins. Give this time to unwind. Drink after 2019.
This full-bodied wine opens with aromas of crushed berry, tobacco, leather, clove and a balsamic note. The robust enveloping palate offers cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, peppercorn and dried herb framed in firm velvety tannins.
This full-bodied wine opens with aromas of toast, vanilla, cocoa, plum, violet and a whiff of grilled pepper. The robust palate offers black cherry, red currant, anise and clove alongside racy acidity and fine-grained tannins that leave a rather drying finish.
This full-bodied wine opens with compelling aromas of black fruit, smoked bacon, leather, cinnamon and crushed clove. There's a sassy, spicy characteristic here that is further underlined by the wine's natural sweetness and roundness.
This full-bodied wine opens with earthy aromas of game, leather, ripe black fruit, clove and a balsamic note. Bracing tannins that still need to unwind support the concentrated blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and licorice flavors. The warmth of alcohol shows on the close. Drink 2017–2023.
This full-bodied wine opens with pretty aromas of crushed blue flower, spice and perfumed berry. The dense, one-dimensional palate doles out juicy black cherry, cinnamon-spice and licorice. There's no complexity but it is delicious. Drink through 2015.
This full-bodied wine owes a lot to oak flavors. Aromas like maple syrup and brown sugar lead to nearly sweet flavors that resemble boysenberry jam. It is tannic, robust and rather stiff in texture.
This full-bodied wine packs a lot of punch in terms of mouthfeel and flavor. The color is extremely dark, and the flavors resemble dark chocolate, black cherries and baking spices. It is dry in style, with lip-smacking, nicely astringent tannins that counterbalance all that richness.
This full-bodied wine pushes the concept of rosé to its limits. Wood-aged and rich, it conveys a sense of structure, mature fruit and delicious toastiness. It has already been aged an extra year, but would benefit from cellaring even longer, so wait until 2015.
This full-bodied wine relies more on its rich texture and nutty, mineral flavors than on the usual citrus and herb notes, so it's rather thick in profile. It has the heft of a Chardonnay and savory, almond-like accents that are worth appreciating.
This full-bodied wine reveals aromas of wild berry and allspice accented with a balsamic note. The palate is still rather closed but delivers black cherry, black pepper, sage and licorice alongside tightly woven tannins that need to unwind. Drink 2016–2023.
This full-bodied wine shows evidence of oak maturation in its notes of light toast and baking spices. Those elements are supported by pleasant citrus flavors, but the result isn't completely convincing.
This full-bodied wine shows smooth and rounded plum fruit. The flavors are mouth-filling, but the rather quick fade suggests it's best consumed in the near term, as it's already five years past harvest.
This full-bodied wine smells jammy and tastes superripe, like blackberry syrup, so it has a broad, soft texture and a mash-up of late-harvested fruit flavors that are very tasty.
This full-bodied wine smells like black currants and blackberries, tastes ripe, and is lightly tannic to give it a little grip. Bring on the beef or pork tenderloin.
This full-bodied wine smells nicely oaky, like cedar and new leather, while the flavors bring on ripe plum and black cherry tones. Especially well-integrated tannins give support on the palate without being drying, resulting in a broad, lush mouthfeel.
This full-bodied wine smells ripe and buttery, like a pear tart, and has similar tasty flavors like ripe apple, vanilla and cream. Though it's not technically sweet, the personality is generous and the texture soft and rich.
This full-bodied wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels and has a lightly smoky aroma, vivid red cherry and raspberry flavors, a sleek texture and good concentration.
This full-bodied wine with its spice and creamed pear fruit flavors, feels rich and smooth. Structured and textured, the balanced acidity shows through well, giving a warm, off-dry aftertaste.
This full-bodied yet silky Shiraz delivers tremendous elegance for its size. It's complex as well, boasting aromas that range from vanilla and brown sugar through to marinated beef and raspberry compote. The richly-textured finish lingers for minutes. Drink now–2025.
This full-bodied Zin feels young, with zingy acids framing jammy cherry, blackberry, mushu plum sauce and peppery spice flavors. It's an exuberant wine that's notable for its tannic richness. Will age well, and best now through 2010 with barbecued pork or short ribs.
This full-bodied Zinfandel adds in 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is an unusual blend but works really well. It shows a great mix of fruit and spice flavors, with a rich, smooth texture. It's lightly tannic, oozing raspberry and blackberry flavors on the palate and through the finish.
This full-bodied, 100% Cabernet is lightly gamy, offering a sensuous potpourri of wild herbs and brambly berries. It's subtle, lovely, distinctive, smoothly rendered and unusually textural and complex. Drink it with enjoyment now, or give it a few more years in the cellar.
This full-bodied, almost liquorous rendering of Mourvèdre is packed with fruit, power and finesse. Aromas of smoke, vanilla and graham crackers frame flavors of jammy blackberries and cassis. These finish with some alcoholic warmth yet remain plush and elegant. Drink now–2025.
This full-bodied, concentrated expression of Morellino opens with aromas of spiced plum, blueberry, mocha and a whiff of cake spice. The palate delivers wild cherry, blackberry, vanilla and savory herb alongside tightly knit, assertive tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
This full-bodied, concentrated wine is dry, quite firm and tannic in texture. It smells rich and a bit earthy, and tastes like blackberries, cranberries and beef. The style will accompany rich, meaty food very well.
This full-bodied, concentrated wine shows plenty of power in its bringing together of the variety with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. With a huge presence on the palate that lingers and stays in one's brain, it shows a reductive quality of toasted oak along with black pepper, bark and leather saddle,. It's a wine to enjoy from a giant leather chaise, if possible. Cellar until 2023.
This full-bodied, creamy-textured Cabernet is ready to drink. Confected notes of cassis and vanilla are slightly exaggerated, but make a big impression on the palate, while the supple tannins linger elegantly on the finish. Drink now–2020.
This full-bodied, creamy-textured Shiraz from the Lyndoch subregion of the Barossa starts off with vanilla, raspberries and a dusting of confectioner's sugar, but turns darker and more savory with air, adding dark berry and hickory notes. The long finish is richly textured, yet simultaneously marked by crisp acids.
This full-bodied, creamy Crozes-Hermitage far outpaces expectations for the appellation, combining cherry-berry fruit with cracked pepper, mocha and licorice. Then it finishes long, anchored by a marriage of fruit and spice. It's ready to drink now, but should evolve positively through at least 2017.
This full-bodied, dry and quite tannic wine follows the classic form of California Cabernet Sauvignon, which forms 65% of the blend. The aroma is full of ripe black fruit shaded by nutmeg, cedar and cinnamon, while black currant and dark chocolate drive the concentrated and deeply rooted flavors. Best after 2020.
This full-bodied, even slightly viscous, effort from Penfolds displays dark notes of blackberry and chocolate on the nose, then adds touches of coffee and black olive into the mix on the palate before finishing tangy and crisp. Drink now–2016.
This full-bodied, fleshy wine fits the typical Châteauneuf-du-Pape mold, delivering ample black-cherry and plum fruit, then layering atop hints of Mexican chocolate and baking spices. Drink now–2025.
This full-bodied, focused and distinctive wine has a deep, dark color, aromas of black cherry and cocoa, and flavors that are ripe and lingering. It offers power and complexity.
This full-bodied, full-flavored, ultraripe and smooth wine smells rich and fruity, tastes ripe and generous, feels velvety and finishes softly. The rich plum and strawberry aromas and flavors meld with the full, viscous mouthfeel.
This full-bodied, generously oaked and caramel-laden wine starts to show overripe flavors and textures on the palate, becoming heavy on the finish.
This full-bodied, layered Cabernet opens with mossy, damp aromas that suggest a forest after a rain. The palate is direct and solid, with good depth. Flavors of cola, baked plum, raisin and chocolate finish strong and with previously announced notes of cocoa, mocha and prune. Drink through 2019.
This full-bodied, lightly spiced wine seduces with fresh fruit flavors of pear, apple, kiwi and melon. Polished and bracing, it finishes with a lick of wet stone.
This full-bodied, lush white is mainly Grenache Blanc (70%), so I'd opt for drinking it over the next few years. Marshmallow and peach notes combine easily, then finish long and honeyed.
This full-bodied, muscular Shiraz is built for the ages. Baking spices and plummy fruit form a concentrated, nearly impenetrable wall on the nose, while the palate is nearly dense enough to stand a fork in. Despite all that, it's not overly heavy or fudge-like, instead offering tremendous poise, purity and length. Drink 2020–2030, and likely then some.
This full-bodied, puckering wine is concentrated in black cherry and blackberry, its oak tart and surrounded by drying tannins. Once the bottle is open, expect the oak presence to increase along with cigar box and leather pouch.
This full-bodied, quite ripe red has a classical edge in its grip of pencil led, black currant and dense blackberry fruit. Despite its heft and youthful tannins, it shows promise of aging in its backbone of structure and subtle grace. Enjoy best 2023 through 2028.
This full-bodied, Rhône-style blend from winemaker Matt Cline gives a blast of dark, jammy fruit flavors that are nicely concentrated and persistent on the palate and through the finish. Firm tannins match the power of the fruit, lending an appetizing grip to the otherwise rich mouthfeel.
This full-bodied, richly tannic wine delivers. It starts off with savory notes of cracked pepper, black olives, violets and cedar, then eases into concentrated flavors of blueberries and roasted meat before ending with a flourish of firm, dusty tannins. Give it a few years to soften. Drink 2020–2030.
This full-bodied, richly textured rosé is wonderfully aromatic and floral, with dried spices, plums and cherries all mingling on the nose. Made from 80% Mourvèdre, it behaves almost like a good red wine, but with extra zest and freshness. You could sip it on its own, with white meats or even burgers or steaks.
This full-bodied, ripe and generous wine is already open for drinking. It has rich green and white fruits, sliced pear and quince with a topping of lime juice. Toast gives a broader character. Drink from 2015.
This full-bodied, ripe wine  offers blackberry and spiced plum aromas on top of a minerally base. In the mouth, it's big but fresh and free-flowing. Flavors of black plum and black cherry are lively despite some creamy oak that rises on the finish. Drink through 2016.
This full-bodied, ripe, lush wine boasts layers of peach and pineapple fruit that verge on being overly tropical, but has an edge of citrusy acidity that pulls it back from the brink. Delicious over the next year or two.
This full-bodied, single-vineyard bottling has a distinct charred or roasted note to it, while the texture is slightly coarse. The flavors are earthy and dark, reminiscent of burnt wood and roasted meat, finally ending on an espresso note.
This full-bodied, strongly flavored and firmly structured wine can tackle the juiciest cuts of meat. It smells like blackberries, black pepper and a little wood smoke, tastes rich with ripe fruit and feels somewhat astringent, in a good way.
This full-bodied, tannic Cabernet features a simple delivery of ripe blackberries, cherries and sweet red currants. Pair it with everyday fare.
This full-bodied, value-conscious wine offers a wealth of red currant, berry and tightly woven tannin. It shows both structure and a cooler-climate imprint of dried herb, cedar and sage.
This full-bodied, velvet-textured wine has an exotic aroma like a pine forest and tastes like a bowl full of blueberries. Ripe, almost jammy flavors coat the tongue, and vibrate with black currant on the finish. Fine-grained tannins give the texture lots of grip, and support the ripe fruit flavors so they stay dry and appetizing sip after sip.
This full-bodied, voluptuous wine is spicy in red fruit and floral aromas that lend it a finessed, elegant air. Soft and round, with structure and acidity, it ends in bittersweet chocolate and clove. Drink now through 2023.
This full-bodied, well-oaked wine offers vanilla, coconut, cinnamon and red cherry aromas that meet tart cranberry, strawberry, nutmeg and cream flavors. It's expansive, well balanced, spicy and delicious and will taste best after 2020.
This full-bodied, well structured Pinot Noir offers some minty, herbal notes and hints of cedar alongside tart plum and cherry flavors. Crisp acids and firm tannins frame the tightly wrapped flavors, which should unfold over the next 8 or 9 years.
This full-bore wine smells like strawberries and cherries, and tastes jammy and chocolaty. The rich, almost thick texture hangs on to all that ripeness on the finish. This should pair well with salty cheeses or a chocolate dessert.
This full-flavored and full-bodied wine is certainly a change of pace. It smells almost like eucalyptus, tastes powerfully fruity and floral, has a slight sweetness balanced by good acidity, and finishes with an intriguing mineral quality.
This full-flavored blend is 65% Grenache and the balance is mostly Syrah, with a little Mourvèdre. It opens with a rustic nose and full earthy, horsey flavors. There’s a very typical Rhône-ish brambly quality to the dark-berry fruit, and the finish is long and flavorful. Quite approachable right now; it should drink well for the next 4 to 8 years, maybe longer.
This full-flavored rosé is principally Sangiovese. Packed with fresh flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, it carries a touch of orange Creamsicle into the smooth finish. It's delicious and detailed and belongs at the top of your list of must-have summer rosés.
This full-throated wine has layers of black fruits, firm tannins and a dense texture. It is rich, the black plum fruits partnered by dark chocolate and licorice. Wood aging still shows and the wine needs to broaden out even more as it ages. Drink from 2018.
This full-throttle blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre comes across as almost Zinfandel-like, with bold, briary fruit and hints of damp earth. Shows a bit of warmth on the finish, but also a flourish of bright berry fruit. Drink now and over the next several years.
This full-throttle Cab tastes like oak-aged cherry and raspberry jam, with cinnamon and nutmeg stirred in. Despite the jamminess, it's pretty dry, with soft, drink-me-now tannins.
This full-throttle, oaky Chardonnay features an intriguingly curious mix of corn nuts, diesel and marijuana on the nose. The corresponding layers of flavor are straightforward and simple.
This full and ripe Cabernet has berry and black cherry aromas. Tannic, narrow and tough on the tongue, it is blasting with flavors of blackberry, mint and black coffee. It's fruit flavor is met with plenty of kick and grab. Can age for a year.
This full and ripe wine is dominated by fresh apples. A lively, mineral texture and good depth of flavor shows through in the weight of the wine. It's a style that can age for a few more months, so drink from the end of 2015.
This full and smoothly soft wine blended with 10% Petite Sirah, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot is aged in American oak, a quarter of it new. It pleases in bright red currant, cassis and wisps of blackberry, both approachable and sophisticated. Velvety black licorice meets smoky campfire on the finish.
This full and structured wine offers good acidity, firm tannins and layers of black-currant flavors. It has good potential with richness, weight and balance. Drink from 2019.
This full bodied white blend offers the floral fruity perfume of Sauvignon Blanc along with the richness and cling of Chardonnay. Plush yellow-peach and grapefruit flavors are balanced by brisk acidity and a bristle of tea leaf on the finish.
This full bodied, fruity wine exhibits Chenin's characteristically chalky edge. The wine is tight, fresh and crisp—a great dry apéritif wine—offering just a touch of bitterness on the finish. Screwcap.
This full, foamy and aggressive sparkler gives off peach and nectarine aromas with an odd hint of scrambled egg. It's dry on the palate, with modest stone fruit flavors that turn bitter on the finish.
This full, fruity wine is packed with acidity as well as ripeness. It has a fresh black-currant character, and the structure underneath is strong. It will develop relatively quickly, but then could hold at its peak for many years.
This full, rich style of rosé gets its color from grape skins, which provides a touch of tannin as well as strawberry flavor and attractive acidity. It's definitely for food.
This full, ripe wine is rich with strawberry and red plum fruit. It's weighty on the palate with flavors of orange zest and a touch of spice. Brisk acidity cuts through the palate adding freshness on the finish.
This full, ripe wine offers rich apple and pear flavors as well as considerable acidity. The wine is concentrated in citrus and green fruits which complement each other and add to the rich character. Drink from the end of 2017.
This full, ripe, balanced Priorat is a touch oaky and creamy up front, with schisty berry scents resting below the surface. Medium but nice on the palate, this offers cherry, currant, plum, coconut and marzipan flavors prior to an oaky, rooty tasting finish with ripe berry flavors. Drink now through 2021.
This full, round wine melds rich pear and tangerine flavors with fine acidity. It's crisp, fragrant and ripe, showing some signs of bottle age in its toasty character.
This fuller-bodied white blend offers pineapple, kiwi and citrus on the nose, and a blend of full fruit and acidity on the palate. A balanced, easygoing white that is perfect for everyday poultry, vegetable and fish meals.
This fully ripe vineyard-designated Malbec deals aromas of blackberry, cassis, raisin and cedar cigar box. Seriously built and almost monolithic in size and stature, this offers a wave of upfront oak that frames blackberry, loamy earth and baking spice flavors. A woody, persistent, elegant finish is a fine way for this to fade out. Drink through 2023.
This fumé has a zesty character, with aromas of tropical fruit and flowers and fresh, fun flavors of peach, citrus and pineapple. The oak offers spice for added character, and clean acidity makes it a great find for fresh, summer meals.
This fumé starts with aromas of peach, vanilla and spice, followed by an elegant balance of citrus fruit, toasted vanilla and lemon zest. Fresh but with added body, this SB will pair well with oilier, bolder flavored fish, cheese, cream dishes.
This fumé wine has warming aromas of vanilla, almond and allspice and aromatic flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied bit soft, with flavors of wood, clove and a touch of sweet flowers. The finish is lingering and distinctive. An intriguing wine with a serious edge.
This fun “ramato” or copper-colored Pinot Grigio (the color is a result of longer contact with the skins of the grape during winemaking) offers aromas of pink grapefruit, stone fruit and mineral.
This fun and expressive sweet sparkling wine opens with fragrant tones of peach blossom and tangerine backed by almond paste and honey. The close is sticky and sweet.
This fun blend of Barbera, Merlot and Albarossa drinks easily and would pair with a long list of foods including pasta, chicken and spicy ground beef. Aromas include cherry, blackberry, cola and chocolate and the wine's finish is smooth and soft.
This fun dessert wine has delicate aromas of citrus, tropical fruit and fragrant white flower. The vivaciously foaming palate offers juicy yellow peach, candied nectarine zest and a hint of thyme. It's sweet, but it also has enough fresh acidity to stop it from being cloying.
This fun sparkler opens with aromas of spring flower and white stone fruit. The frothy palate delivers Granny Smith apple and white peach alongside refreshing acidity.
This fun, copper-colored wine offers aromas of cut grass and Bartlett pear. The simple palate shows white peach and green apple alongside zesty acidity that leaves a tangy finish.
This fun, delicious wine tastes generous in honey, pear, Meyer lemon, orange, nectarine and white flower flavors, which are balanced by zesty acids. The blend is Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier.
This fun, fresh Xinomavro from Greece maintains poise between easygoing red fruit and a more serious, spicy backbone. Red cherry, strawberry, leather and pepper lead. A great everyday red with some exotic character.
This fun, fruity white starts with aromas of pear, melon and flowers and leads into an easy-drinking array of refreshing white fruits and spice. A great go-to white that's not overly fussy and will pair well with spicy ethnic cuisine and poultry.
This fun, pale pink sparkler offers delicate flavors of apple, tart cherry and a touch of citrus. Lively, persistent bubbles and a kick of acidity lift the finish.
This funky rosé is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, and there's color, spice aromas and weight dictated by that grape mix. Heavy plum and cherry flavors are fruity but flat in feel, with no cut to the finish. This is interesting but not refreshing.
This funky white blend, now in its 6th rendition, carries no vintage or regional designation, but we know it's a blend of several white grapes grown mostly in Oregon. The nose is ripe and full of melon, while the spunky palate deals orange and lemon, but not in sour-ball fashion. The finish has some thickness and a slight sticky feel, but ample acidity throughout renders it a good, brisk drink.
This funky white from the island of Mallorca is 50% Premsal and 50% Callet, and if you've never heard of those grapes you're not alone. The nose is a bit harsh and strange, while the palate is on the flat side. Flavors of ham, pithy citrus and nectarine finish jumbled. This is more of a unique oddity than great white wine.
This funky wine opens with rustic aromas of animal fur, game, tilled earth and a whiff of barnyard. These carry over to the palate along with mature blackberry and robust tannins.
This funky, grassy expression of the variety was fermented entirely in stainless steel, is thin on the palate and tastes of exotic passionfruit.
This Furmint from Tokaj has enticing aromas of lemon, grapefruit peel and vanilla bean. There are lively flavors of lemon curd, dried sage and caramelized apricot in the palate with balanced minerality in the finish.
This Furmint, grown in marl soils, has aromas of brioche, apple tart and caramelized pear and flavors of lemon-lime juice, green apple and lime blossom before a crisp clean finish.
This G-S-M blend is solid and flavorful, with mixed berry flavors and an underpinning of graphite. The tannins are drying, on the edge of being chalky.
This Gaillac-like blend of Braucol, Duras and Syrah gives rich fruitiness and soft tannins. The wine is juicy, full of red berry and spice and an attractive light touch. It's ready to drink.
This Gallo brand exploits extensive new Pinot plantings in the appellation to produce a wine that's clean and correct, rather than exciting. The flavors range from cranberries to black cherries, and the tannins are silky. Will improve with a year or so in the cellar.
This garagiste-sized project presents a complex take in this 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah project, with tight boysenberry, slight asphalt, pressed violets and black pepper on the nose. There is a pronounced density of black fruit on the palate, with blueberry dominant, as well as gingerbread warmth, roasted pork, hoisin sauce and a strong tannic grip.
This Garnacha's leathery, slightly underripe aromas are more savory than bold and fruity. On the palate, it's dry, with tomato-like acidity, fresh and zesty roasted plum flavors and a medicinal note that lingers on the finish.
This Garnacha-Carignan blend contains some Syrah as well and smells almost exclusively of clove and spice. On the palate, it's resiny and sticky, with overwrought clove and barrel spice flavors that dominate the finish.
This Garnacha-Syrah blend smells cheesy, raisiny and overoaked, especially at first, when it hits with a strong note of pepper. The palate is lively but cushioned, while herbal cherry and prune flavors turn soft and jammy on the finish.
This Garnacha-Tempranillo blend opens with candied plum and berry aromas. On the palate, this feels sticky, jammy and a touch gummy. Plum and candied-berry flavors are ripe and fun, but rudimentary. A mild finish confirms that this is good but basic stuff.
This Garnacha is heavily oaked.Smoky, woody aromas come with dusty berry notes, while the palate is heavy, with cheek-smacking tannins. Flavors of hickory and roasted blackberry finish with another creamy, woody dose of oak.
This Garnacha is perfectly good in every way, shape and form. The nose is loaded with bright berry aromas and a hint of mint. The palate feels lively and right, while flavors of raspberry, blackberry and leather lead to a deep, long, slightly hot finish.
This Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) opens with earthy, ripe red-berry aromas. The palate is fleshy and plush, with baked, earthy flavors of blackberry and raisin. Baked notes persist on a solid, minty, slightly hot finish.
This garnet-colored Bikavér blend is comprised of Kefrankos, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sagrantino and Kadarka. It has cherry, raspberry and plum aromas and sour cherry, raspberry and smoked meat flavors. Nicely balanced, it has rounded tannins and a prolonged finish.
This garnet-colored Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of black cherry and wet river rock. In the mouth, there are flavors of black plum, black cherry and a touch of graphite before the smooth tannic finish.
This garnet-colored Merlot has aromas of black plum, cherry and saddle leather which pave the way for soft flavors of raspberry, red plum and a smooth tannic finish.
This garnet-colored Pinot Noir is named after Alexander the Great—The Macedon. It has aromas of cherry and vanilla and bright top notes of fresh red raspberry. Medium bodied, it delivers fresh flavors of cranberry and cherry in the finish.
This garnet-colored riserva opens with savory spice, leather notes, with aromas of cured meat and barbecue smoke. The 2005 vintage was a warm one, and the ripeness of the fruit is evident on the bouquet and in the soft texture of the mouthfeel. Drink now.
This garnet-colored wine conveys aromas of cranberry, black cherry and bramble. Flavors of dark cherry, cranberry and black plum have a strong acidic backbone and a long finish.
This garnet-colored wine has a pure aroma of ripe cherry. Made from a grape that is native to Moldova and Romania, its fruity palate is dominated by flavors of red and black cherry with notes of pomegranate and cranberry. Its lively acidity is pleasantly offset by graceful tannins.
This garnet-colored wine has aromas of black fruits, black plums and violets. Flavors of tobacco leaf, cherry vanilla and cinnamon wash over the palate before the long finish.
This garnet-colored wine has aromas of blackberry and boysenberry with secondary whiffs of tobacco leaf and saddle leather. Flavors of cherry cola, black raspberry and black cherry characterize the midpalate, followed by a soft tannic finish.
This garnet-colored wine is an interesting blend of Saperavi, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. It has aromas of smoked meat and red raspberry and flavors of ripe dark fruits. It's not perfectly harmonious in the midpalate but it comes together in the post palate with a bright fruit finish.
This garnet-red-colored wine has aromas of red summer fruits, especially red raspberry, and flavors of cherry and blackberry. The tannins are soft and fine and there's a bit of an astringent finish.
This garnet colored Brunello opens with a tiny hint of bruised apple skin that gives the bouquet sudden lift or immediacy. Cherry fruit, leather and tobacco are backed by licorice and cola. In the mouth, the wine is toned with textured tannins.
This garnet colored Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of dark cherry and mocha with flavors of cherry cola, black raspberry and black cherry with a smooth silky tannic finish.
This garnet colored wine has aromas of red plums and black pepper. There are jammy flavors of ripe cherry and red raspberry on the palate. There's a nice acidic bite and a pleasant touch of astringency on the finish.
This Gavi has delicate floral aromas of peach blossom and Spanish broom accompanied by restrained citrus and pear flavors. Linear with crisp acidity, this would pair well with moderately seasoned fish dishes.
This geeky bottling with 21 days of skin contact shouldn't be confused with the fresh zest expected in a pink wine. Aromas of are similar to an Old Fashioned cocktail, with macerated Maraschino cherries, pulverized orange peels and a touch of smoky bourbon. There's a burst of acidity once sipped, then the wine emerges toward a bitter grip, with more dried cherry and orange peel flavors.
This generous and full-bodied wine is full of juicy red berry fruits, ripe tannins and just enough structure to support its opulent character. Wood aging gives a fine-grained texture that will allow it to age. Drink from 2016.
This generous and full-bodied wine made in partnership with country singer Zac Brown has ripe fruit and sweet-seeming spice aromas that continue into the flavors, softening its gentle, already mild tannic texture. While previous vintages were from the North Coast region, this one carries the broader California appellation.
This generous rosé was whole-cluster pressed, yielding bright, fresh flavors of just-picked strawberries. The flavors are uplifted with a backing of wet stone minerality, and if any wine captures springtime in a bottle, this is it.
This generous smooth wine is packed with ripe tannins and vibrant red fruits. There is the typical mineral texture of many Dão wines along with solid spice and dark chocolate flavors from wood aging. This is an impressive wine that deserves to age further, so drink from 2019.
This generous Syrah is reminiscent of a nice, rich Provençal wine. It's soft and spicy and fruity, with a good grip of tannin. The black raspberry, mulberry and cherry flavors are dusted with cinnamon and clove, and you'll find a coating of sweet, smoky oak. The vineyard is on Atlas Peak.
This generous wine is big and full on the nose, with two-thirds new French oak making itself felt in texture and aroma but entirely well-managed, resulting in a balanced wine. Forest floor and earth tones burst on the palate, followed by brambly dark berry fruit, the texture soft to the finish, which offers some grip.
This generous wine is on the fruity side of the 2014 spectrum. Blueberry and black-currant fruits are supported by the spice and tannins from wood aging. The wine is likely to develop easily over the medium term. Drink from 2020.
This generous wine opens with aromas of ripe dark berry, ground pepper and graphite. The round, juicy palate offers mature black cherry, blackberry jam, menthol and licorice alongside chewy tannins. Drink through 2021.
This generous, almost opulent wine has both concentration and rounded fruits. It's open already, hinting at wood-aging while concentrating much more on the ripe fruits. Packed with fruit and tannins, it's densely textured. It will age, of course; don't start to drink before 2025.
This generous, friendly red opens with aromas that recall ripe dark berry and star anise. The round, juicy palate doles out ripe blackberry, crushed black cherry, licorice and ground pepper alongside soft, supple tannins. Enjoy soon.
This generous, fruity and lightly sweet wine should please a crowd with its butter and vanilla aromas, rich apple, pear and baking-spice flavors and rounded mouth-filling texture.
This generous, herbal wine from the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers region has attractive spice and great fruitiness. In addition to its citrus character, there is mango flavor and richness to broaden it. Drink now.
This generous, ripe wine, with its rich apple flavors, is crisp, perfumed and well balanced between acidity and ripeness. Delicious and full bodied, it's ready to drink now.
This generously fruited but slender Riesling is a study in subtlety: everything is there: ripe Mirabelle plums, zesty lemon peel and a wonderful interplay of the two on the concentrated palate. Yet nothing is big or bold. Listen and you will be rewarded.
This generously proportioned wine offers brambly red raspberry and almond paste, especially on the nose. Buoyant acidity saves it from becoming overblown on the palate, balancing the ripe fruit with a smooth, soft and crisp palate.
This generously structured wine is rich in tannins and fine, ripe black fruit. Its structure and juicy acidity will allow it to age well. Drink from 2020.
This genre-busting blend of 54% Viognier, 22% Vermentino, 15% Verdelho and 9% Sauvignon Blanc invites the nose with ripe red and pink apples, lime blossoms and zest and a shred of bubble gum. The quite-ripe palate sizzles with cider notes as well as more lime and Gala apple elements.
This gentle blend of Aligoté and Chardonnay shows yellow fruit flavors. It has a crisp edge to its round smoothness. Drink now.
This gentle Pinot is just beginning to lose its fresh strawberry, cherry and cranberry fruit. As it dries out, mushrooms emerge, giving a wild earthiness. Carneros acidity remains, however, making the wine tart. It will be a great partner for lamb.
This gentle, complex white offers lovingly crafted waves of tropical lychee and golden-apple minerality, with bites of wet stone, gravel and lemon. Balanced in acidity and a lightness of being, it's meant for the table or kitchen, to sip happily while making a meal.
This gentle, fruity wine is softly textured and already drinkable. Ripe berry fruits show well, with a juicy acidity that adds to the richness of this open, friendly wine.
This gentle, quaffable wine offers light flavors of strawberry and apple. There's generous acidity, and despite the fairly substantial alcohol, it's modest in its proportions.
This gentle, ripe wine is immediately attractive. Ripe pear and peach are cut with acidity. Drink now.
This gently pink rosé is soft, ripe and fruity. It has a full spicy character that gives a dry edge to the bright red fruits. Balanced with plenty of acidity, the wine is ready to drink.
This gently ripe wine has generous apple flavors, tropical fruits and the freshest warm, rounded aftertaste.
This gently wood-aged wine has spice and toast flavors over ripe mango and guava that are cut with a tight band of citrus. The wine is rich and full, finishing with just a lift of acidity.
This gets an extra year in barrel and bottle prior to release. It's two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot. Still tart and tannic, the wine carries a full load of herb and earth characteristics, with less impact from the fruit than the high alcohol would suggest.
This gets going with apple, peach and mineral aromas that are pure and alluring. It feels lifted but a little creamy, with green banana, lime, orange and kiwi flavors. Solid and long on the finish; this is exemplary unoaked Verdejo.
This gets going with clean, light cherry and berry aromas that bring a citrus note to the fore. It feels crisp, dry and pure, with citrus, plum and dust flavors. An elegant rosé made from the Trepat grape, it finishes dry and spicy, with ample leftover fruit.
This gets off to a clumsy start based on a nutty, rubbery, low-fruit bouquet. In the mouth, this crianza is pinched and tannic, with sandpaper rawness. Herbal, woody flavors of red plum end in a drawing, earthy finish.
This gets special attention because winemaker Kevin Riley is one of the few to engage with old vines of the historic Mission grape variety. Light watermelon, orange spritz and wet cement show on the nose, while the slightly watery palate offers red fruit, crushed rock and citrus rinds on the finish.
This gets the award for the most confusing label of the month. It says Vigil “Tradicion” and also names the vineyard, then writes Mokelumne River Old Vines, and finishes with Lodi. Talk about information overload! Bottom line: it's a fruity, oaky, simple and straightforward bottle of Zin. 'Nuff said.
This gets the Cabernet basics done, with ripe, jammy blackberry and cherry flavors, full-bodied tannins and a dry, spicy finish. It's a good everyday Cab, and the bag-in-box packaging means you don't have to rush to finish it.
This Gewürz is on the sweet side, but it's clean and crisp in acids, and offers wildly rich citrus, tropical fruit, exotic spice, vanilla bean and white flower flavors. Great with today's Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai or Burmese fare.
This Ghemma—a blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Vespolina aged for two years in oak—has a dark garnet color and savory aromas of moist earth, cured meat and candied fruit. It finishes with bright acidity and long notes of leather and tobacco.
This giant of a wine has aromas of charred oak, wood smoke and black pepper, with a palate of dense, deep and smoky tones that feel thick, tannic and chewy. It's a tour de force of spicy oak, fruit concentration and mouthcoating texture that's impressive to drink now but will be best after 2024.
This gigantic Cabernet is not showing well now. The tannins are too strong, the fruit too fresh, sweet and direct in blackberries and cherries, the oak too unintegrated with everything else. It's like a bowl of ingredients that need to be cooked into a recipe. But the structure of tannins and acids is just fine, and while the alcohol is on the high side, the heat it gives is balanced into the overall mouthfeel. Give it 6–8 years to begin to come around.
This gigantic Cabernet is one of Pride's biggest ever. Blackberries, cherries and chocolate nibs explode in the mouth, but it's no mere fruit bomb. The tannins and acids lend it integrity, and the finish is miraculously dry. A superb job, and as good as it is now, should develop over the next 12–15 years, depending on how old you like your Cabs.
This Gironde-inspired blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon is solid now, but will be far more interesting in the years to come. Aromas of wet slate and wet wool meet with Pink Lady apples and green, grassy meadows on the nose. The mineral-focused palate shows graphite and steel touches, with angular grass tones that lead into a warmed touch of toast on the finish. Drink 2018–2025.
This global brand has a hit in Mendoza. The '06 Malbec is lively and made right, with hickory and charred steak aromas mixing nicely with the blueberry and blackberry character in the wine. It's a darn good New World red for not much cash, and it should hold up well for at least a couple of years.
This glorious, evocative wine calls up a rich and sensuous catalog of scents and flavors. Black truffle, sea salt, clean earth, fungus, strawberry, liquid rocks, umami, tar...? the words pour out with each sniff and swallow. It's detailed, substantial and refined, gathering itself for a long, generous, captivating finish. Drink now through 2030.
This glossy and fragrant wine opens with heady woodland berry, menthol, botanical herb, iris, new leather and exotic spice aromas. The palate delivers Marasca cherry, clove, pipe tobacco and savory mineral notes held taut by fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity.
This Godello feels composed and solid. Dry white-fruit aromas are reticent and oily. Flavors of peach and golden apple finish with stability and a sense of class. Drink now.
This Godello is almost like water in color, while the nose is neutral and fruitless. A dilute, scattershot palate shows bland, oxidized flavors of bready white fruits.
This Godello is light, fruity and offers nice lime and apple aromas. It's linear, minerally and has a true slate feel, then stony flavors of tangerine and ripe peach take over. A juicy, pure finish tops it off.
This gold-colored Furmint has aromas of lemon grass, pink grapefruit juice and quince. In the mouth there are flavors of peach, violet, vanilla and toasted almond.
This gold-colored stale-smelling Torrontés smells like old apple juice. A chunky flat palate offers bland oxidized bitter flavors. Remnants of apple barely help a bitter finish.
This gold-colored sweet Xarello is lightly oxidized, with aromas of butterscotch, baked squash and honey. The longer it sits, the better it gets, and that's despite blazing acidity. Flavors of pears in syrup, melon and honey finish long due to intense acidity.
This gold-colored wine has been aged for an average of 10 years in wood. It balances between ripe yellow fruits and dried fruits that are backed by a spicy touch from the brandy used to fortify the wine. Drink now.
This gold-colored, mature wine shows deliciously rich spice as well as a dense texture. It's full bodied and definitely ready to drink.
This gold-colorerd wine has fruitless, oaky aromas of squash and pumpkin. It feels flabby, with a resiny oak component to the mouthfeel. Flavors faded if not slightly spoiled white fruits finish with a loud echo of oak.
This golden-colored wine conveys intense aromas of white rose petals and exotic spice. The rich palate offers dried apricot, candied ginger, nectarine zest and sage. An energizing shot of graphite marks the finish.
This golden-colored wine has enticing aromas of butterscotch, vanilla, caramel and pineapple upside-down cake. In the mouth, there are great flavors of dried apricot, mango, honeycomb and marzipan candies. It has elegant heft on the palate and balanced acidity in the finish. Enjoy now or keep in your cellar for another decade or so.
This golden-colored wine opens with great intensity and complexity and boasts aromas of mature peach, honey and marzipan or almond nuances. The sweet floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle are particularly attractive and the wine delivers tonic freshness and long-lasting flavors.
This golden-colored wine starts with delicate aromas that recall mineral, beeswax, golden apples and a whiff of acacia. The silky, elegant palate offers subtle sensations of dried apricot, pineapple and a hint of bitter almond alongside fresh acidity.
This golden-hued sparkler opens with aromas of yellow orchard fruit, citrus and a whiff of bread crust that carry over to the crisp palate along with a nutty note. A firm, persistent perlage offsets the ripe fruit flavors.
This golden Chardonnay is loaded with rich, oaky aromas of corn pudding, butterscotch, baked apple and wood grain. Plump and soft on the palate, this tastes of baked apple, creamed corn and buttery oak, with popcorn to the finish. Drink through 2017.
This golden colored ice wine is made from Riesling and has aromas of honeydew melon, apple, peach and honeysuckle blossoms. In the mouth, there are flavors of apricot, cantaloupe and white peach with a nice level of acidity to balance the sweet finish.
This golden dessert Sauvignon Blanc smells mature, with honeyed apricot and botrytis aromas. The palate is alert, bright and just sticky and honeyed enough, with apricot, quince and honey flavors. Juicy acidity on the finish keeps this from turning cloying.
This golden hay-colored wine opens in a complex floral arrangement of honeysuckle and apple blossom before unleashing a weave of apricot and lychee fruit. The acidity is tart and high-toned.
This golden Recioto di Soave Classico offers gorgeous intensity in the form of sweet honey, apricot, almond paste and even a touch of dried sage or rosemary. The mouthfeel is full and generous with a spicy point of acidity that keeps the palate refreshed.
This golden wine confounds in a mix of wet stone and caramel on the nose, the body creamy in vanilla. Fuller in style and body than some, it remains balanced in acidity and tangy citrus, maintaining a freshness and brightness throughout. The finish is intense with more of that citrus, plus an accent of ginger and lemongrass.
This golden wine offers pretty fruit-based aromas of pineapple, pear, exotic fruit, banana and papaya reinforced by almond, yellow flower and minerals. This well-made Falanghina offers nice harmony and balance overall with fresh acidity on the close.
This good-value wine done in a light and lovely style offers flavors of red berries and cherry cola highlighted by toasted hazelnuts. A touch of café crème leads into a softly focused finish.
This good varietal rosé has a little more body and a little more breadth in the mouthfeel than many others, along with mild strawberry and cherry flavors that give it substance.
This good, basic wine offers herb and cherry aromas, mostly crisp fruit flavors and a firm, tannic texture.
This good, generic red wine smells like mixed fruits and tastes mildly fruity along with light veggie flavors. It feels lean in texture and dry in balance.
This good, sturdy wine has ripe, broad fruit flavors, medium to full body, and a relaxed mouthfeel.
This gorgeous Albariño opens with elegant aromas of white flowers, peach and minerals. There's ample acidity, body and flow to the palate, while flavors of nectarine, tangerine and lemon are top-shelf. A long-lasting, clean-as-polished-glass finish confirms excellent overall quality.
This gorgeous Barolo has a penetrating, dark color and generous aromas of black cherry, tar, leather, tobacco, spice, black truffle and Spanish cedar. The intensity and power is impressive, and the mouthfeel is packed tight with ripe fruit flavors and a bold structure. Hold for 10–20 years to let those tannins evolve.
This gorgeous Barolo offers a fragrance of dried rose petal and cherry along with balsamic notes, leather and freshly turned soil. The palate delivers rich red cherry, white pepper, clove and carob nuances. It's structured, elegant and beautifully balanced by fresh acidity and firm but elegant tannins. It will continue to develop more complexity over the next decade.
This gorgeous Barolo opens with plush, dark concentration and deep aromatic layers of smoked beef, mineral, cola, mesquite wood, blackberry and exotic spice. This dark, masculine expression also makes a lasting impression in the mouth thanks to the richness and persistency of the finish.
This gorgeous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot offers beautiful intensity and impressive complexity. Aromas here include black cherry, exotic spice, leather, fine tobacco and loads of plush, ripe fruit. It's a smooth velvety wine but the tannic backbone gives it lift and staying power.
This gorgeous blend of Friulano and Ribolla Gialla offers an opulent bouquet that is redolent of honey, stone fruit, peach, exotic fruit and lemon curd. The wine feels smooth and rich in the mouth and its silky consistency drives a long, delicious finish.
This gorgeous Brunello is packed tight with personality and intensity. The wine is redolent of candied cherry, blackberry, rum cake, cinnamon bread and dried ginger. It shows steely, firm structure and a tightly knit texture. Compact, sharp and decisive.
This gorgeous Brunello proves that top producers can make outstanding wines even in challenging vintages like 2009. It opens with an elegant bouquet of violet, red berry, spice and a whiff of new leather. The delicious palate delivers fleshy black cherry layered with mint, licorice, balsamic herbs and cinnamon-spice. It's impeccably balanced with firm tannins and fresh acidity that give it an age-worthy structure. Drink 2016–2024.
This gorgeous Brunello seamlessly weaves together sensations of tilled soil, blue flower, ripe black cherry, leather, truffle, clove, white pepper and Mediterranean herbs. It's balanced and smooth, with velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Even though it's already delicious, it will continue to develop complexity for years.
This gorgeous Cape blend, made from 30% Pinotage, 31% Syrah, 30% Cab Sauv and 3% Mourvèdre, is ripe and immediately enticing on the nose with aromas of crushed Thin Mint cookies and iris petals mingling perfectly with the blackberry, blueberry and fig fruit core. Well balanced and firmly structured with a spicy, lingering finish.
This gorgeous Chianti Classico boasts lively cherry, strawberry and violet aromas. The mouthwatering palate shows concentrated wild-cherry flavor layered with mint, white pepper and clove. It has fresh acidity and firm tannins that will develop complexity with more bottle age. A textbook Chianti Classico.
This gorgeous dessert wine shows a coffee-colored tint that's backed by lush, deep aromas of fig, caramel, toffee and prune. The palate shows weight but a refined mouthfeel that's not sticky or heavy. Flavors of coffee, mocha, chocolate, caramel, peanut brittle and prune finish warm and long. Only 43 cases made.
This gorgeous expression boasts an intense bouquet of stone fruit, flint and Mediterranean herbs. The juicy palate delivers concentrated peach, citrus and pink grapefruit flavors, accented by mineral and mint. It has structure, elegance and incredible energy.
This gorgeous expression of Syrah doles out rich, generous and ripe fruit flavors and a deeply textured, plush mouthfeel. Elegant notes of licorice and white pepper appear on the finish.
This gorgeous Greco di Tufo opens with bright aromas of pear, peach and crushed brimstone. In the mouth, it tastes fresh and fruity. Pair it with crab cakes or Thai vegetable rolls.
This gorgeous new release, from a young winery with a Riesling focus, is resplendent with an enticing mix of flowers, fruits and stone. The scents well up from the glass and the flavors fill the mouth with a lively zest, pulling together streaks of lemon, lime, nectarine and apricot, accented with citrus rind and wet rock, honey and lemon tea.
This gorgeous Riserva Chardonnay shows modern oak touches of vanilla and toasted almond backed by apricot, honeysuckle and creamy lemon mousse. It's a thick, structured white wine with a creamy finish that would pair with chicken, shellfish or pork.
This gorgeous Sauvignon stands apart thanks to the creaminess and richness it offers in the mouth. That extra density is backed by bright aromas of peach, white flower, exotic fruit and dried sage.
This gorgeous Soave Classico boasts barrique-inspired aromas of toasted almond and vanilla cream with loads of mature melon, peach, apricot and honey. The wine opens with a bright golden color and offers a silky, smooth feeling on the close.
This gorgeous sparkler offers enticing scents of white stone fruit and spring flower. Vibrant and silky, the smooth elegant, palate delivers crisp apple, creamy white peach and juicy nectarine set against bright acidity and an ultrarefined perlage.
This gorgeous super Tuscan opens with inky dark concentration and bright aromas of dark cherry and prune. It feels soft, lush and creamy in the mouth. Pair it with stewed game meat.
This gorgeous white from southern Italy has enticing aromas of apricots along with lemon zest and almond. The structured but elegant palate delivers intense peach and citrus notes along with crisp acidity that leaves a clean finish. Pair this with seafood or fresh pasta salads.
This gorgeous white opens with scents suggesting white flower, orchard fruit, lemon pastry and a whiff of wet stone. The creamy palate delivers yellow apple, lemon zest, bitter almond and a savory mineral note. It's supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the vintage.
This gorgeous wine's nose offers a potpourri of fragrant blue flowers, exotic spices, crushed herbs and wild berries. The palate delivers tart red cherry, raspberry compote, orange zest and cinnamon flavors framed by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity. A licorice note caps off the lingering finish. Drink 2022–2034.
This gorgeous wine boasts alluring scents of fragrant blue flower, wild berry, sun-baked earth, leather and a balsamic note. The linear, structured palate shows depth and finesse, delivering juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, strawberry, clove, white pepper and tobacco. This is one of the best and freshest showings from the torrid 2011 vintage. Drink 2016–2026.
This gorgeous wine bursts open with loads of ripe fruit, blackberry, tar, asphalt and pipe tobacco. It's a thick, velvety expression with a high caliber of concentration and intensity that would pair with roast lamb or barbecue pork chops. Age 5–7 more years.
This gorgeous wine deftly integrates a lively mix of currant, cherry, breakfast tea and dried leaves into a seamless and seductive whole. Produced from vines dating back to the early 1970s, it finishes with a delicious streak of milk chocolate. Drink now through 2030.
This gorgeous wine from Biond-Santi represents one of the best Brunellos ever made by this storied Montalcino producer. The wine is clean, fresh and shows a slow, steady evolution in the glass. It is also more concentrated, rich and intense than recent vintages.
This gorgeous wine from southern Italy shows the true potential of native grape Aglianico. It opens with an intense fragrance of black cherry, leather, truffle, underbrush and spice. The dense, velvety palate delivers blackberry, raspberry and white pepper with a hint of espresso. It's already delicious but hold for even more complexity. Drink through 2027.
This gorgeous wine is floral and doughy, made entirely from Chardonnay and given time to mellow and mature over many years. The patience is rewarded in intensely complex layers of apple, pear and lemon—a caramelized backdrop providing appropriate richness and accents of gingerbread and doughy brioche.
This gorgeous wine is full of ripe fruits, which are balanced with solid tannins, produing a complex, densely structured wine. It shows promise for the long term.
This gorgeous wine offers classic Nebbiolo aromas of pressed rose, mature berry, crushed mint and baking spice. The structured, savory palate offers juicy wild cherry, raspberry, star anise, tobacco and clove alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2018–2028.
This gorgeous wine opens with aromas of smoke, baking spice, red berry and flint. The mineral note carries over to the vibrant, silky palate, accenting juicy Morello cherry, white pepper, star anise, Mediterranean herb and tobacco. Polished tannins and fresh acidity provide impeccable balance. Hold for more complexity. Drink 2019–2027.
This gorgeous wine opens with deeps hues of amber and gold, followed by intensely fragrant tones of dried apricot, chestnut honey, almond paste and pineapple. There's piquant spice on the close that tickles your tongue and the wine boasts thick, luscious sweetness and opulent density.
This gorgeous wine opens with fragrances of blue flower, moist earth, leather and ripe berry. The delicious palate delivers succulent black cherry, cinnamon, white pepper and balsamic herbs alongside smooth, silky tannins. It's already delicious now, but hold for complexity. Drink now–2026.
This gorgeous wine opens with savory aromas of mature fruit and cured meat or bresaola. The wine shows a firm tannic structure (that will soften in time) with loads of fresh berry intensity. Very nice.
This gorgeous wine opens with scents of ripe, dark-skinned berry, cake spice, star anise and a balsamic note. The delicious palate tastes of layers of juicy raspberry, black cherry, licorice and a hint of tobacco framed in firm refined tannins. It already shows impressive depth but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2018–2030.
This gorgeous wine, a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo and Colorino, opens with aromas that recall underbrush, mint, woodland berries and balsamic herbs. The palate offers layers of sour cherry and white pepper accented with exotic Asian spices and sage that add depth. It's surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage and the solid tannins carry through to the finish. Still youthful, this will benefit with a few more years aging. Drink 2015–2022.
This gorgeous wine, made entirely with Sangiovese, delivers a multifaceted bouquet of blue flowers, ripe plum, black cherry, leather, menthol and clove. The powerful but refined palate doles out layers of juicy black cherry, baking spices, mint, orange zest, anise and tobacco alongside smooth, velvety tannins and surprising freshness for the vintage.
This gorgeous Zinfandel comes from a vineyard on Bradford Mountain at 1,000 feet elevation, with the vines planted in red, volcanic soils. The palate explodes in juicy plum flavor, with a silky, velvety texture and satisfying cinnamon and pepper spice that plays off the fruit. It's a structured and fresh selection.
This gorgeous, bold, almost thick-textured wine also brings finesse and a lingering finish. The aroma is smoky, toasty and earthy, then the desirably decadent flavors and creamy texture hit the mark, immediately filling the mouth with ripe pear, fig, toasted almond and grilled baguette impressions.
This gorgeous, concentrated, mouthfilling wine is delicious to sip now but will certainly improve in the cellar for a decade or more. Tempting black cherry and boysenberry flavors seem to swell in the mouth, while light baking-spice and black-pepper accents weave in and out. Even on the finish it keeps surging with dark fruits and spices.
This gorgeous, fragrant wine opens with classic Sangiovese scents of violet, rose, perfumed red berry, new leather and a whiff of baking spice. The elegant, radiant palate delivers crushed Marasca cherry, ripe strawberry, cinnamon, black tea and a hint of pipe tobacco. Firm, ultrafine tannins and bright acidity offer an age-worthy structure and impeccable balance. It's already stunning but will evolve for decades. Drink 2020–2050.
This gorgeous, full-bodied and compelling wine is made from 84% Chardonnay and 16% Pinot Noir. It has a rich golden color, slightly earthy aromas, plus bread dough and white-peach scents that lead to very opulent, sophisticated and nicely aged flavors that range from toasted walnut to honeyed peach to white pepper. While it's already nine years old, this will easily age through 2022.
This gorgeously crafted, full-bodied Tempranillo is a modern beauty. Marzipan, wood grain, baking spice and black-fruit aromas make for a spectacular bouquet, while a ripped, strapping palate is raring to go. Flavors of blackened toast, fine wood, black plum and blackberry finish with gusto and notes of licorice, baking spices and cracked black peppercorn linger on the finish. Hold until 2017, then drink through 2026.
This gorgeously inviting wine shines with barely ripe pear, lemon and lychee flavors. Its focused, stony minerality lends freshness and pleasing complexity on the palate, as orange blossom aromas and flavors seep in.
This Grüner Veltliner's salty, yeasty savoriness comes with a tinge of sage and soy. Its slender palate, on the other hand, recalls zesty lime and lemon. Light and sprightly with spritz and verve, there is something weightless and animated here, with a lovely, savory, herbal finish.
This grabs attention quickly, with a dark color and potent jam and brown sugar aromas. Next come dazzling strawberry syrup flavors backed by thick tannins and good acidity. The texture is astringent and tight, but the flavors are so full that they meet the tannins half way. Best now through 2019.
This graceful wine, from a cool vintage, nicely expresses the more elegant side of Pinot Noir. There are ample fruit flavors of plum, cherry and blueberry, and a pleasantly musky note overlays the maturing fruit. It's rolling along smoothly into a fully integrated finish. Drink now through 2020.
This graceful, light-bodied wine from a promising new brand smells of strawberries and cream and tastes fresh and well-balanced. Red cherry, strawberry and clove notes blend with the creamy texture, leaving a soft but lightly tannic feel on the tongue that makes the wine even more appetizing and complete.
This Graciano-based rosé smells oily, a bit funky and like chewing gum, with no specific fruit scents. A high-acid palate reflects the high-acid base grape, while this tastes salty, tangy and pickled, with vague fruit flavors that turn briny on the finish.
This grand cru bottling comes from vines owned by Louis Jadot. It's firmly structured, as befits a wine from this village, and shows a predominance of red fruit and acidity. However, with its dry core and concentration, it will need to age. Drink from 2025.
This Grand Cru Classé, with its 25% Cabernet Franc, is rich and opulently textured. It brims with ripe berry fruits, plus dense tannins that are supple and well integrated. Still developing, it's full in the mouth and is becoming a generous wine, more fruit than long-term structure. Drink from 2017.
This Grand Cru is the smallest in the village of Morey Saint-Denis, located north of the village. This wine, produced from a tiny parcel, is immensely concentrated while also having the generous fruits that are typical of the village. It is full of juicy black fruits, fine tannins and a dark, firm aftertaste. Drink from 2023.
This Grand Cru within a Grand Cru is a magnificent, opulent wine. It has all the power of a great white Burgundy, the richness allied to minerality and then given weight by toast, yellow fruits and a pure, straight line of acidity.
This grand estate situated in the southern Médoc has been revitalized in recent years and now makes some impressive wines. This rich wine is concentrated with a dark texture that will allow it to age well. There is a juicy aftertaste showing the ripe fruit. Drink from 2021.
This grand estate was once a hunting ground for an even grander nearby chateau. The cru wine that's now produced here is crisp and fruity, streaked through with acidity and red currants. It has a touch of tannin as well as minerality. Drink from late 2017.
This grand wine is stylish and elegant. It is also powerful and dense with dark tannins and great concentration. It is a very fine wine, packed with black plum and berry fruits and balanced richness. Don't let the great fruit deceive: this is a wine for the serious long term. Drink from 2028.
This grand wine, with its heavy consistency, tannic backbone and aromatic intensity, should pair well with aged cheeses or grilled red meat. The elegant bouquet opens with thick black fruit, crushed stone, asphalt and dried tobacco. The mouthfeel is equally huge and bold.
This Grandeau wine is tight and firm. The tannins are a serious component of a wine that will have more fruitiness as it develops. It just escapes being over-extracted, leaving a crisp aftertaste.
This grape can be styled as super acidic or tropically lush, and this version leans to the latter. The nose is consumed with white peach and light guava, but the tropical elements come alive on the palate, with passionfruit and tangerine skin laying atop a medium-low acidity.
This grape excels in the region's warmer climate, proving relatively light in color and full of baked strawberry, caramel and dust aromas in this bottling. The palate is similarly light but carries an array of fun and easygoing flavors, including more red fruit and leather.
This grape is historically from southwest France but performs intriguingly in this bottling, with aromas of black cherry and sweet sage. The palate presents black olive, cooked cherries and plums, charred meats and decent tannins. There is not a ton of acidity, but it feels balanced nonetheless.
This grape is most commonly associated with Champagne, though David Lett established it as a varietal wine at Eyrie decades ago. From a young vineyard, this is deceptively light in the glass, yet the wine has grip and the flavors have follow-through. Spice, pomegranate, wild berry—all in a surprisingly lengthy wine whose flavors linger generously.
This grape is obscure for California but excels in this bottling, with intriguing aromas of yellow melon, crushed white rocks and an array of citrus, from tangerine peels to kumquats. The palate is a lime shade of green, featuring flavors of lime blossoms, Key lime pie and kaffir lime leaves, but also shows limestone minerality and a hint of passion fruit.
This grape is still finding its way to consistency in California, and this bottling combines interesting black raspberry and reductive tar notes. It's light in body, with red raspberry fruit flavors and pencil shaving accents. Best served with food, since it doesn't offer a lot of compelling character on its own.
This grape variety originated in Spain and is also popular in the southern Rhône Valley of France. In this bottling, smoky, chocolaty aromas lead to blackberry and dark cherry flavors, a broad, generous texture and moderate tannins. It's rather big in structure but not heavy.
This grape, seldom planted on the Central Coast, produces a wine that boasts intense aromas of passion fruit juice and candied grapefruit. It's lively and ripe on the palate, with white rose and apple blossom flavors, yet balanced, with lime peel, cut grass and steel accents.
This grapy, fruity Malbec is quite enjoyable. Aromas of boysenberry and blueberry are solid despite some reduction. Plum, boysenberry and creamy oak flavors finish on a note of clove.
This grassy North Coast offering has plenty of lime, kiwi and jalapeño flavors that are able to stand up to spicy appetizers with its crisp, long finish. Proceeds are donated to the restoration of watersheds for steelhead trout and coho salmon.
This grassy, aromatic wine is rich and fruity. With a year's age it has lost its puppy fruitiness and mellowed into a richer, more complex wine. White currants, gooseberries and a chalky texture give depth to this well-crafted wine that is ready to drink.
This grassy, slightly stalky smelling SB struggles with purity on the nose. In the mouth, however, it's lifted and shows good feel along with flavors of green herbs and citrus. The finish is under control, with adequate cut.
This grassy, very herbaceous wine is all crisp green fruits. Touched by a creamy texture under a layer of freshness, it shows some good weight and structure. There is light wood that rounds it all out.
This Graves estate has vines in nearby Sauternes where it has produced this honey and orange-flavored wine. It is light and fresh while still having a wonderful sweet and dry character. The acidity at the end is delicious. Drink now for its fruit, although the wine will age at least until 2025.
This great-value SB from Lake County hits it out of the park on all sorts of fronts, including price. It's got subtle aromatics of pear and lemon, and is a little generic and simple, but at $10 it's so perfectly drinkable who cares? All in a colorful package. Best Buy.
This great Amarone has earthy aromas of tilled soil, iris, tobacco and exotic spices. The palate shows delicious raspberry and raisin flavors, with accents of nutmeg, licorice and black pepper, delivered in a fresh and restrained style.
This great buy shows a sophisticated blend of spice and fruit aromas. Medium-bodied and classically dry, it has good balance, moderate fruit flavors and light toast and ginger notes that add complexity.
This great north-facing vineyard is opposite the village of Tua in the heart of the Douro. It has produced this densely rich wine from selected parcels in a spectacular cypress-lined vineyard on the south bank of the Douro river. Aged for 18 months in wood, the juicy black fruits and acidity balance intense spice and toast flavors of this powerful wine. Keep until 2019.
This great value wine opens with ripe fruit tones and blackberry followed by leather, spice and bitter almond. It's a correct wine with fun and informal flair making it perfect for pizza or take-out dinners.
This great value wine opens with steady aromas of wild berry and blueberry and offers enough crisp acidity to cut though cheese or cream based pasta dishes.
This Grecanico-based wine offers fullness and richness in the form of pear, stone fruit and sun-ripened lemon aromas. There is a floral note at the back, with fresh flavors of exotic fruit, mango and papaya.
This Grechetto-based wine has a pretty straw appearance and definitely puts an emphasis on nuts, melon and stone fruit. Thanks to a smooth mouthfeel and spicy finish, it does liven up in the mouth.
This Grechetto-based wine opens with a pretty floral fragrance that recalls yellow- and white-spring flowers. The palate offers juicy peach, tropical fruit and citrus flavors, with a hint of thyme. Thanks to crisp acidity, it has a clean, refreshing finish.
This Greek Sauvignon Blanc is both fruity and dry with a crisp, fresh nose and simply good lemon and spice flavors. Clean with a medium body. A good everyday white for lighter dishes.
This Greek variety is used for retsina, or, as in this case, made into a single-variety wine. On the nose, peach, nuts and apple are followed by flavors of white peach and white fruits. Savatiano has less acidity and minerality than other Greek whites, so fans of a subtler style will enjoy this drinkable offering.
This green, intensely herbaceous wine comes from Sauvignon Blanc and Colombard vines growing on sandy soil. It is full of lemon and grapefruit flavors that give the wine a tight, almost steely texture. It should be drunk from the end of 2015.
This greets the taster with a heady aromas of yellow spring flowers, as well as whiffs of tropical fruit. The palate delivers intense peach, apricot and citrus flavors accented by notes of mineral and brine.
This Grenache-based blend derives considerable structure from its Shiraz (38%) and Mourvèdre (7%) components, giving it more firmness, length and ageability than might be expected. Dark chocolate and berry aromas and flavors pick up hints of dried tobacco and other herbs, ending on a crisp note. Give it two or three years, then drink it over the next 10–12.
This Grenache-based cuvée is medium-bodied and crisp in feel. Black cherries and chocolate mingle easily on the palate, but the wine finishes dry and astringent. Serve with rare beef or lamb for best enjoyment.
This Grenache-based rosé, with 4% Syrah, opens with a mélange of fruity aromas that carry through to the palate. Notes of peach, guava, cherry, banana and melon are accented by a hint of garrigue. It's medium weight, with ample acidity to lift the ripe fruit flavors.
This Grenache-based wine includes 10% Tempranillo, 4% Malbec and 2% Syrah in the sophisticated blend. Recently bottled, it's still tight, tannic, and hiding much of its fruit. The aromas give an indication of what's to come—cranberry fruit and lemony acidity, with some firm tannins.
This Grenache-dominant rosé, with 10% Carignan and 10% Cinsault, opens with delicate notes of just-ripe peach, white flowers and garrigue herbs. Lightweight and dainty, the clean, bright palate offers similarly subtle flavors of peach and melon. It's balanced and refreshing, and best enjoyed now.
This Grenache-dominated cuvée starts off with beautiful lifted aromas of clove, allspice and cherries. On the palate, it's rich, full-bodied and savory, with plentiful tannins that balance out the ripe cherry fruit. Ambitious, and pulls it off. Drink 2012–2016.
This Grenache-heavy blend (with 20% Syrah) offers a good amount of bittersweet cocoa powder and rich jammy black berries and all-fruit preserves on the nose and mouth. A hint of gaminess adds interest to the bouquet, while the crushed velvet texture and firm tannins transition into a long finish laced with earthy spice.
This Grenache is a little hot in high alcohol, but it sure is tasty. It floods the mouth with cherry pie filling flavors, sprinkled with white pepper and dark chocolate shavings. The tannins are hard, and are not likely to age out, so drink it now.
This Grenache is deeply colored. Its flavor has the right spice and rounded character. Plenty of acidity keeps it crisp while a hint of pepper adds interest.
This Grenache was made in a firm, tannic and quite oaky style. Dark flavors mix black cherry, black licorice and road tar, with some alcoholic burn running along the finish.
This Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah blend contains a splash of Viognier. It's a good, interesting wine, with complex layers of ripe red cherries and red licorice, as well as notes of bacon, mocha and black pepper. With a rich, fruity finish, it doesn't seem like an ager, but is very good now, especially with spicy lamb or beef dishes.
This Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre rosé is a stunning marriage of flavors and textures. Salmon in color, it invites with apricot, peach and Meyer lemon fruit, zesty acidity underlying its flavor, complexity and length.
This Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend has a tart and tangy appeal. The mixed plum and berry fruit flavors are matched with strongly herbal streaks. Tannins are earthy and astringent.
This Grenache/Syrah/Tempranillo blend is already showing hints of oxidation. The toasty nose brings scents of sweet baking spices and orange liqueur as well, but the fruit is dried out and the finish astringent and attenuated.
This Grigio offers ripe notes of mature melon, pear and Golden Delicious apple. There's a hint of sour citrus at the back and the mouthfeel is lean and thin with a note of spicy acidity on the close.
This Grigio opens with mild lemon and apple aromas that transition into a flabby palate and dull flavors of buttercup, banana and apple.
This Grillo opens with bright notes of citrus, kiwi, cut grass and grapefruit. Pair it with Thai spring rolls.
This gripping, delicious wine seamlessly weaves together sensations of blue flower, exotic incense, ripe black cherry, mature plum, cracked pepper, mocha, clove and graphite. It's already delicious and well balanced, with bracing tannins and racy acidity, but give it time to soften and develop complexity. Drink 2019–2029.
This grippy Cab exhibits the power of the 10% Petit Verdot in the blend, softened by 6% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Cassis and raspberry provide a fruity core around lush, tight tannins and a black pepper-seasoned finish. Full bodied, it remains elegant in the glass.
This gris-de-gris-style wine is a pretty, pale salmon color. Aromas of cherry, watermelon and mineral lead to lightly spritzy, slightly off-dry fruit flavors and a fresh, drawn-out finish.
This grouping of top growers makes some of the best value wines from the Douro. Tres Bagos is their introductory bottling, a ripe, tarry firmly structured wine that is ready to drink, the juicy, black currant fruit delicious now.
This grower in Aÿ on the Montagne de Reims has produced a rich style of rosé. It emphasizes red fruit, soft acidity and creamy texture. Ripe and full, it's ready to drink.
This grower, based in Chamery on the Montagne de Reims, has produced a ripe creamy nonvintage wine. White-fruit aromas and apple-fruit flavors reinforce the richness of the wine. It has a crisp aftertaste that brings in acidity to balance. Drink now.
This GSM blend includes bits of Carignan and Cinsault. It's a full-bodied, supple wine intended for youthful consumption, with a long, mouthwatering finish. Raspberry and cherry fruit is balanced by savory notes of earth and mocha. Drink now–2016.
This GSM blend is oak-forward, with charred black and red berries meeting dark coffee on the nose and palate. Medium bodied with a mild tannic grip, enjoy alongside a coffee-rubbed rib eye.
This GSM blend is soft and fruity, offering chocolate, blueberry and cherry jam, currant, sweet vanilla and smoky oak flavors. It has a nice complexity, but let it breathe for a while to mellow.
This GSM blend is soft and muted. It falls flat, with dull fruit and a wash of chocolate.
This GSM from the southeastern corner of Arizona is medium bodied, with mild, easy tannins. A rubbery berry aroma on the nose turns more candied and fruity on the palate.
This GSM pink wine offers very inviting notes of fresh watermelon, strawberry, pink rose and slight bubblegum on the nose. With ripe strawberry flavors and a slight orange bitterness toward the finish, this is a perfect wine for sunny afternoons and beach days, if the slightest bit sweet.
This Guerneville-area estate is one of the last picked by the producer, and it delivers enviable depth and complexity. Highlights include a dollop of apricot jam beside rich honeycomb and toasty oak. Juicy acidity supports its creamy tendency toward tropical flavor, as streaks of citrus fiercely protect its freshness.
This gutsy blend of two-thirds Zinfandel plus Syrah and Tempranillo has a deep color, fresh spicy oak aromas, vivid fruit flavors and a lip-smacking layer of fine tannin. It should be just the thing with a grilled steak or pulled pork.
This had quite an evolved nose, suggesting bitter almond and vanilla, as much as pear and dried orange rind. The palate is dry and expressive, fluid but precisely drawn showing great depth of flavor and concentration. An intriguing nuttiness makes for a long dry finish.
This hails from a 1,000–1,400-foot elevation site above the valley floor called Oakville Ranch that contributes beautiful power in its firm, integrated tannin and oak. Balanced, the wine exudes lovely notes of boysenberry tart, blackberry and cedar, with a dusting of clove.
This half-and-half blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon is structured and with a firm layer of tannins. It also has plenty of ripe berry fruits that are balancing the more serious texture. Drink now.
This half Cabernet, one quarter each Merlot and Cab Franc offers a lovely mix of herb and earth, moderate density, nicely spiced, with brambly red fruits. It shows delicate old vine character, making up with refined herbal flavors what it lacks in fruit sweetness.
This hallmark Chianti Classico boasts a heady perfume of violet, underbrush, peach blossom and clove. The palate delivers bright red fruit, pepper and cinnamon with crushed cherry in the forefront. It's nicely balanced and should develop complexity over the next few years but is already delicious.
This hand-picked, wild-fermented Chardonnay offers a lot to like. Notes of toasted grain, ripe pear and melon create a balanced blend of citrusy fruit and oaky spice, while the refreshing pineapple and clove notes linger on the finish.
This handsome bottle of white wine opens to creamy aromas of stone fruit and cantaloup melon backed by vanilla mousse and even a distant touch of cinnamon spice. The mouthfeel is smooth and soft.
This handsome, full-bodied wine has aromas of dark cherry and toasted oak, flavors like ripe plums and vanilla and a velvety mouthfeel due to good acidity and fine-grained tannins.
This happy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot delivers delicate blueberry nuances and warm toast. It's a wine that flows over the palate, leaving it clean and refreshed.
This hard-drilling, bullish Malbec is bright purple in color, with grapy, heady aromas. The palate is rubbery and grabby, with a shock of zesty acidity. Oversized, roasted black-fruit flavors finish with size, power and a grating feel.
This hard-edged wine has bitter chocolate as well as black-currant flavors. Quite young at this stage, this is a dark, powerful, concentrated wine that has both great fruit and a dense structure. Give it four years to mature.
This hard, snappy Cab is granular and tough on the nose, an indicator of what's to come. The palate is edgy and tight as nails, with herbal plum flavors that land on a spicy, lightly green finish. 2011 was a very cool vintage in Chile and this reflects that.
This harkens back to the days of white Zinfandel, though it's not from that grape. But it offers similar simple, sweet, generic fruit, best for drinking chilled on a hot summer afternoon.
This Harlequin has a faint scent of lemon liqueur that's offset by a white pepper note. The medium-weight palate offers a lemon blossom hint, and it finishes on the short side.
This harsh wine is hard to like all by itself. It's severely tannic, with flavors of plums, blackberries and coffee. Grill up some spicy ribs and it will be just fine.
This has 10% Monastrell in the mix, and it is a sublime example of what flavors of baked raspberry compote, cranberry and black licorice can do when allowed to mingle together in liquid form. Medium in body, this has a lot of earthiness. It would make a fine alternative to more expensive Pinots.
This has a balance and elegance that recommends it above many New York wines of the same variety. An expressive nose of red berry, coffee, some spice leads into balanced, appetizing flavors of cherry and pepper with a smoky, rich edge. Dry and food-friendly, this has class.
This has a balsamic nose of menthol, eucalyptus, new leather and chopped herb. On the palate, vibrant white pepper and licorice notes accent a core of Morello cherry and crushed raspberry fruit. It has a backbone of firm, polished tannins and bright acidity and will only improve over next decade.
This has a barrel-aged style, with a buttery and possibly oaky note in the aroma and a smooth texture. Mostly mellow pear and ripe apple flavors are spiced with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. Medium bodied, it stays crisp through the finish.
This has a big aromatic presence at first, but it elegantly melts into a soft texture and crisp red fruit. It would be a winner with steak.
This has a big burst of spicy, toasty oak right up front. That's often a sign of a young wine, and this is one with the fruit and depth to handle the extra toast. Cola, black cherry and a touch of clean earth come through, with a suggestion of tanned leather. It's got inviting complexity, coupled with forward, fruity flavor. Drink 2018–2026.
This has a bright bouquet of iris, crushed cherry and mint. A mouthwatering black-cherry flavor leads the palate, with accents of nutmeg and white pepper. Made in a straightforward style, this will pair wonderfully with mildly seasoned cheeses or pasta topped with ragu.
This has a bright pink color and unique aromas of wild berry and forest floor, with delicate menthol overtones. A blend of Pinot Noir, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it's mouthfeel is more structured and firm than standard rosé. Pair this with white meat or salted cod.
This has a bright salmon color, vivid apple and ripe peach aromas and a soft, mouthfilling texture. Rich, slightly sweet flavors blend savory, almost salty accents with fruit on the way to a soft finish.
This has a bright yellow-gold color and subtle aromas of honey, pear and fig. The rather rich texture supports pear, fig and baking spice flavors. It's a pleasantly ripe, somewhat soft but not overtly flavored wine that's easy to drink and enjoy.
This has a bright, light-gold color, substantial aromas and flavors of oak and baking spices. The texture is smooth, with a sense of softness in the balance, and the wine leans toward richness rather than crispness. Impressions like hazelnut, vanilla, sweet pear and nutmeg provide a mouthful of flavor.
This has a brighter yellow color than most of its peers, more body, riper fruit flavors and—unusual for this variety in America—probably some oak influence. Rather full bodied, but well-balanced and very smooth, it combines peach and pear flavors with a hefty mouthfeel.
This has a brownish color at the rim and is marked by an earthy, leathery aroma. The wine has flavors like roasted tomatoes and black olives and feels soft and easy in texture. It's full bodied, but very mellow, mature and easy to drink. The blend is 85% Sangiovese, with Syrah, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon.
This has a candied cherry color, vivid strawberry and cotton candy aromas, and on first sip a freshness that's almost startling. On second sip it's more like a light red wine, delicate, medium-bodied, very fruity but easy on the palate.
This has a charming nose that boasts rose, violet and red berry while the juicy, easy-drinking palate offers ripe wild cherry, chopped mint, white pepper and a hint of star anise. There isn't much complexity but it is savory and balanced, with fresh acidity and supple tannins.
This has a charred, roasted opening along with big black-fruit aromas. Saturated and full-bodied, it offers flavors of baked berry, plum and herbs. It's long, expectedly toasty and fully oaked on the finish, with chunky, rubbery tannins. Drink through 2016.
This has a classic Nebbiolo nose of new leather, rose petal, red berry, tilled earth and a whiff of aniseed. On the palate, toast, white pepper and a hint of oak-driven spice back up a core of sour cherry. It's still tightly wound and needs a few more years to come together. Drink 2018–2025.
This has a classic, lighter red color and equally classic aromas of red cherry, sour cherry, black tea, lightly toasted oak and a touch of forest floor. Generous cherry and plum flavors are perfectly balanced with crisp acidity and fine-grained tannins. It's not a big wine, but a vivid, polished and memorable one.
This has a creamy consistency, and flavors of lemon custard and vanilla-cream. There is a dash of baking spices as well, but the fruit flavors are front and center.
This has a curious caramel aroma from the wood aging. It's tough and extracted, a powerhouse of hard tannins without enough fruit.
This has a dark-smelling nose that's a commingling of char, licorice and bitter chocolate scents. Espresso-like in its bitterness and pungency, the palate feels ultraslender, lacking vital extract.
This has a dark red-black color, with densely packed aromas that seem so tight they are not giving up much. Flavors of concentrated dark plum and white pepper are interlaced with very firm tannins. It's full bodied, young and wound up tight. Drink it now for the wow factor, or be adventurous and save it until 2020 to see how much more flavor complexity develops.
This has a dark ruby appearance, opening with succulent aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and licorice. It boasts loads of intensity and a youthful, astringent quality to its tannins. Let it age 10 years or more.
This has a dark, inky appearance and bright aromas of red fruit, black cherry, wild mushroom and licorice. It tastes succulent and slightly sweet with a rich, chewy quality of tannin.
This has a dark, inky color, with rich aromas of black fruit, spice, leather and soft chocolate. The mouthfeel is smooth and luscious.
This has a deep red color and smells deep too, like boysenberry and blackberry. Nice, firm tannins add some texture. It's full bodied, very flavorful, yet fresh and lively, too.
This has a deep, dark red color that's practically opaque in the glass. The main aroma resembles oak and cedar dust, with ripe blueberries behind it. Flavors then turn very chocolaty and deep, while the texture is quite sleek for something this concentrated. Aged in 100% French oak, it is full-bodied, appropriately tannic, and built to go with some spectacular meaty meal. Best now through 2022.
This has a deeper-than-usual yellow-gold color, and slight aromas and flavors that are more earthy and nutty than fruity. It is difficult to find the varietal character. It's a basic, rather full-bodied and drinkable white wine.
This has a delicate citrus character and a tangy, minerally texture. The ripe fruits are balanced by acidity.
This has a delicious tang of citrus and acidity to go with the crisp red currant fruitiness. It is bright and ready to drink, with refreshing acidity at the end.
This has a dense bouquet, with aromas of beet, clove, mint, tomato and berry fruit. The mouthfeel is rich and saturated, with a rawness that didn't exist in prior years. Flavors of mixed herb, earth and savory berry end with a long finish.
This has a dry finish with modest alcohol, and its emphasis is on phenolic flavors rather than the usual floral-perfumed aromas that characterize most versions of the grape. Here you'll find lemon rind, pineapple and tart, mineral-soaked acids. It's a fine match for white fish, shellfish, scallops or oysters.
This has a fantastically sugary, honeyed richness. But the flavors don't stand up to the sweetness. The blackberry flavor diminishes on the midpalate, and never recovers.
This has a fine bite, offering its richness on the edge of a knife. Wood and fruit tannins are very evident, giving the concentration a dry, fresh core, over which dried fruit flavors pass. It has some age to it, as if there are older wines in the blend.
This has a fine, dense texture, with wood influence that's carefully balanced by the solid tannins. It offers big, bold fruit flavors, with the structure for long-term aging. The finish is smooth and rich.
This has a firm edge of tannins along with dense red fruits. It's structured and balanced, with the texture and acidity that suggest its aging potential. Give this 3–4 years.
This has a firm structure and dry tannins. Behind this wall lie stirrings of black currant fruits and acidity. The extraction and the hard edge need to soften, so drink from mid-2016. This is a Boissonneau family wine.
This has a firm tannic structure that's allied to a smoky character. The dry core is bold and offers a counterpoint to the ripe red- and black-plum fruit. For aging over 4–5 years.
This has a firm texture and ripe to overripe fruit flavors. With full body, flavors of tomato and balsamic, it should be best with hearty and rich dishes.
This has a firmly tannic structure and juicy fruit, suggesting its aging potential. It is rich and ripe, with black cherry and plum flavors that create a generous finish.
This has a fleshy core of red cherry fruit and a prominent acidic backbone, making this a satisfying, food-friendly wine.
This has a fragrance of black fruit, vanilla and oak. On the palate, it shows mature blackberry and plum-cake flavors, along with very evident oak and toasted notes. While this is still alluring, the fruit and freshness are starting to fade, so drink soon.
This has a fragrance of cherry and sandalwood with whiffs of toasted oak and bell pepper. The palate offers black cherry, plum and white pepper notes along with oak and espresso sensations. This is fast approaching its ideal drinking window, so enjoy soon.
This has a fragrance of oak and bell pepper, with a whiff of spice. The palate shows black currant, prune and oak, but above all, very evident alcohol.
This has a friendly feel thanks to its harmonious aromas of peach, passion fruit and honey. There is nice balance here, and more depth thanks to the wine's slightly sweet disposition. Pair it with Thai or Indian curry.
This has a fruit-filled bouquet of black cherry and ripe peach. Flavors of cherry, blueberry, leather and smoke linger on the palate, and soft tannins make way for a smooth smoky finish.
This has a gamy nose, with underlying nuances of tobacco, prune and dark berry. It is a bold, mouth-filling  wine that offers strapping tannins and assertive flavors. There is a sensation of warmth on the cola-flavored finish.
This has a gorgeous nose redolent with dried spices and hints of incense. The moderate (13.8%) alcohol is a joy, and the use of oak (half new) is just right. The Cabernet character comes through, with a slightly herbal/black olive edge, but it is wrapped in toast and sweet baking spices, and balanced through a very smooth and surprisingly long finish.
This has a grand array of exotic flinty, meaty, smoky and spicy aromas. The powerful flavors taste a bit restrained at first sip, then unfold and seem to expand on the palate. Pure and brilliant layers of ripe blackberry, smoked herbs and darkest chocolate ride on an elegant texture of fine tannins and supportive acidity. Drink from 2018–2030.
This has a great nose, with bright cherry and berry fruit. Berry, black cherry, coffee and earth components combine in a pleasing and muscular blend. The midpalate is broad and chewy, with plenty of liquorous highlights. Tannins are a bit drying and the finish shows some sharp alcoholic burn.
This has a hard shell keeping it closed down, despite hours of airing. Cranberry fruit with a hint of mineral seems to quickly hit a wall and stop short. More bottle age may help to open it up a bit.
This has a jumpy and piquant bouquet, with notes of plum and raspberry. It feels pinched and narrow but lively, with mild berry, cherry and leather flavors. Holds onto that leathery characteristic on what amounts to a slightly bitter tasting finish.
This has a light herbaceous character followed by notes of warm yellow fruit, kiwi and bright acidity. It's crisp, fresh and ready to drink.
This has a light yellow color with a touch of green and a subtle smell of crisp green apples. Flavors that are richer than expected, like poached pears, butter and fig. The texture is rich, the body full and the ripe flavors linger on the finish.
This has a lightly funky nose that leads into a rather flat midpalate, with barrel toast and simple red fruit. It all resolves quickly into a one-dimensional finish.
This has a little bit of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Merlot (2%), winemaker Mike Januik say it's there “to beef up the structure.” The Sangiovese brings the acid, and tart fruits with a hint of leaf and tomato. Still young vines, but showing great promise.
This has a lively presence in the mouth, with a generous dollop of cinnamon spice. The cranberry/raspberry fruit flavors are supported with tangy acids, and lead into a lingering finish that carries suggestions of metal and stone. Quite different from the 2005 Wyeast, this new release reflects a different vintage with equally fine character, a mark of true terroir.
This has a lively, whimsical label and some very good juice within. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Zinfandel, it is intoxicatingly perfumed like cotton candy. Otherwise jammy, with dark cherry and blackberry flavors, it has rounded tannins, a strong structure and a soft leather finish.
This has a lot of good things going in its favor, for example depth, power and richness. It's also raisiny and oaky, with stewy core flavors of baked berry, cassis, roasted meat and vanilla. The finish is chewy and thick, with vanilla and pastry flavors along with grating tannins. By no means is this wine perfect, but it offers a lot of what's good about Toro; drink now.
This has a lovely entry that explodes with scents of toasted almond and espresso. The black cherry and sour plum flavors command your attention, with texture and balance throughout. Drink soon.
This has a medium-deep color with a slightly purple rim. Fresh and fruity aromas bring to mind strawberry juice, tart cherries and rose-hip tea. With medium body and enough tannin for a velvety texture, this well-mannered, slightly restrained wine keeps asking for another sip.
This has a medium-garnet color, not overly dark, and the aromas are a bit restrained. However, the flavors ring out and range from higher notes of raspberry and cranberry to a bass note of black cherry for a whole octave of fruit. Classic firm acidity and tannins provide textural backbone and the finish, though lean, lingers.
This has a mild, soft nose, with scents of broad black fruit, boiled asparagus and peppered meat. The palate is full bodied, with ripe tannins. A note of sour black-raspberry candy marks the finish.
This has a mineral character that shines through the crisp, fresh citrus and green plums. It is immediately attractive and is delicious to drink now.
This has a mineral structure that's laced with acidity and red currant flavor. It has a tight texture and a crisp feel, showing a serious, austere side of Beaujolais. It's all balanced by the bright, crisp finish.
This has a minerally, tense structure as well as green fruit and citrus flavors. As the texture is quite dominant, let this age for two years to allow  the opulent fruit to surface.
This has a musky, earthy aroma, that introduces a rather rustic wine that might fit comfortably in one of those old-style straw flasks known in Italy as fiascos. Leafy with sweet tomato and pastry fruit flavors, it's perfect for pasta or pizza.
This has a nose of mint, blue flower and berry while the simple diluted palate offers hints of fresh strawberry and white pepper. It's easy drinking, with bright acidity and frail tannins.
This has a noticeable but well-modulated streak of herb running down the fruit core. Tart cranberry and raspberry flavors seem at first stiff and a bit unyielding, but that's just youth. Give this one until 2017–2018 and it should blossom.
This has a noticeable scent of tackroom leather that carries into the flavors, somewhat muting the black-cherry fruit. For such a young wine it is already on the way to drying out. Some interesting accents of pipe tobacco, smoke and coffee run through the finish. It's now at its best, so drink up.
This has a nutty, almond character that is integrating with the crisp texture. Taut and generous, this has richness, with a wood and citrus character. Age for another year.
This has a pale salmon color and aromas like those of Pinot Noir, including the walk-in-the-forest smell. Crisp cherry flavors lead to an intriguing mushroom note on the finish. Nearly dry, the texture is plush and soothing, while the finish is soft and lingering.
This has a plump, yeasty, leesy feel, with tropical fruit and lychee aromas. Flavors of bread and white fruit unfold on the palate, with notes of banana and papaya on the finish.
This has a powdery nose and melony, tropical fruit aromas. The mouthfeel is pleasant and round, with vital acidity. Flavors of baked apple, buttercup and briny apricot finish smooth, with a pinch of salt.
This has a powerful, briary character, with a spicy, high-alcohol kick. It erupts in the mouth, with flavors of wild berry, tobacco, cola, anise and white pepper that should pair well with equally spicy fare, preferably fatty meats and cheeses.
This has a pretty fragrance of Spanish broom, citrus and pear. The palate shows white peach, pear and apple along with mineral sensations presented in a restrained, elegant style.
This has a pretty light color, with dry raspberry and citrus scents. The palate is pure and elegant, with tangerine, grapefruit and nectarine flavors. This finishes longer than most, with poise and grace.
This has a prevailing fortified-wine scent to its nose, with details of plum liqueur and mint-chocolate. It's muscular and overtly firm on the palate; the fortified wine quality creates a slightly discordant sensation.
This has a pronounced nose, with aromas of black fruits swathed in savory dried herbs, mushrooms, game and smoke. The palate, by contrast, is juicy with tart black-cherry and berry flavors framed with ripe, but grippy, tannins. Pleasant now, but it could improve over the next 3–5 years.
This has a pruney character in keeping with the high 15.4% alcohol. It's dark and liquorous, beyond ripe, and finishes hot, with chalky, earthy tannins.
This has a rather deep red color and a slightly smoky rim. It offers profuse aromas of black cherry and blackberry, medium to full body and a generous texture. It's enjoyable for the fruit flavor, and easy to drink due to the soft texture. The finish is lingering and almost sweet.
This has a rather noticeable candy cane scent, leading into a beery, yeasty, flat-feeling wine.
This has a rather subdued nose that offers aromas of mature dark-skinned fruit, leather, tobacco, cooking spice and a balsamic note. The tightly woven, structured palate offers dried black cherry, ground pepper and intense licorice framed in a backbone of firm, refined tannins.
This has a rather subdued nose, while the palate offers citrus, pear and chopped herb notes. It's elegant and linear but a bit lean, with an energizing mineral finish.
This has a red-brick rim, and mellow aromas and soft texture seem to confirm this is a mature wine that's ready to enjoy. Aromas resemble cranberry and raspberry, while the flavors are more like sweet red cherries and pomegranate seeds. The texture is soft and smooth.
This has a reductive nose, with stewed blackberry giving a fruity side to the barnyard-y aromas. The flavors are earthy and savory, with some cigar box surrounding it all, but not tons of fruit.
This has a reedy red-berry aroma and a citrus note. Confirmation of the bouquet comes on the palate, which is lean and scouring, with red plum, pomegranate and herb flavors. The finish is cleansing, but it doesn't show much substance.
This has a relatively light, traditional color with a brownish rim, complex aromas of cedar and bay leaf, with dry, mature flavors supported by firm acidity and tannins. Medium bodied and rather lean in flavor intensity, it's made in an enjoyable, lean style.
This has a rich note of caramel, plus undertones of baked apple and tropical fruit. The acidity is keen and the finish is long, with vanilla and butter notes. It's aged in 40% new French oak, and it has the roundness to show for it.
This has a ripe and succulent quality that is shaped by the wine's plump aromas of black cherry, cinnamon and Spanish cedar. It shows thickness and power, and it would pair with cheesy pasta or meat.
This has a rubbery, smoky nose, as if it were caught between a campfire and a burning tire. Tangy, snappy and grabby around the edges, this also has a resiny, lactic oak flavor blanketing the robust berry fruit. It finishes grabby, with raspberry and herb notes.
This has a saturated purple color, with aromas that are green, inky and grassy. Supertannic and drawing in feel, it has black fruit and chocolate flavors that come across pushy, sweet and hot. It's as bold as they come, but it lacks elegance and harmony.
This has a scent of baked apple, and in the mouth, it seems just as much a still white wine as a Cava, with a soft bead that indicates that it's starting to lose steam. Flavors of melon, citrus and pineapple finish with vanilla and chunky weight.
This has a shy nose that doesn't give much away. The straightforward palate is also not very expressive, but eventually reveals candied cherry, raspberry and a hint of dark pepper alongside drying, fleeting tannins.
This has a shy nose, offering subtle whiffs of white stone fruit and spring wildflower while the simple palate offers orchard fruit, citrus zest and bitter almond flavors. It's fresh, with zesty acidity.
This has a silky texture, with weight and richness. Soft and ripe, this has a hint of spice that's attractively balanced by tangy acidity.
This has a simple, streamlined mouthfeel backed by subtle tones of stone fruit and citrus. Overall, this feels fresh and easy.
This has a slightly aged appearance and tertiary aromas of candied berry, leather, tobacco and cola. The tannins are firm and tight; it still has an aging future ahead.
This has a slightly copper hue and is delicately scented with aromas of hawthorn and orchard fruit. Its racy palate shows subtle notes of tangerine zest, lime and a hint of apple while a mineral note marks the finish.
This has a slightly green edge to its tannins. It is balanced, detailed and true to its two varieties. No frills here: just confident and clean winemaking.
This has a smooth structure and yellow fruit aromas. This wine also adds a grassy twist of dried herb or rosemary on the finish.
This has a soft core that's framed by citrusy acids, with an oxidative apple flavor that starts out with full steam, but loses some momentum on the midpalate. Try pairing this with crab cakes with a mild celeriac remoulade.
This has a soft entry, its fruit beginning to show secondary flavors of bakery pastries. Mulberry and prune, soft and spicy, make for a pleasing, accessible wine that finishes with a lick of cinnamon. It is already drinking well.
This has a soft texture and an attractive apple flavor, with light acidity. Bright and fruity, it's ready to drink, just hinting at pepper and spice on the finish. Screwcap.
This has a soft texture that just allows room for some crisp apple flavors. Otherwise, it is a smooth rounded wine. Its fruitiness and its acidity are part and parcel of this ripe wine. Drink now.
This has a solidly built, almost chunky style, with generous fruit flavors of melon and pear. A light wash of toast comes from aging in 20% new French oak.
This has a spicy bouquet of black pepper, nutmeg and plum punctuated by sandalwood notes. The palate is subdued, revealing bitter cherry, vanilla and coffee flavors. The finish is short, with drying tannins.
This has a strong animal aroma, although the palate is all fruit and fragrant acidity. It shows nutmeg and cinnamon spice from wood aging, as well as a strongly herbal character. Drink from 2018. The wine is 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon.
This has a strong current of spearmint, cedar and eucalyptus running throughout, but it is nicely balanced against the blackberry and raspberry tones. It's light in tone and should be fine with food.
This has a strong impression of sweetness, to the point of being almost cloying. That candied raspberry flavor is offset with citrusy acids, giving it a sweet/tart candy character. The flavors don't quite sync up.
This has a strong start with aromas of black fruits and licorice. It's rather light in color, with fruit flavors of ripe raspberry and a little funk in the finish.
This has a strong steely, mineral character. It offers plenty of citrus and green plum but, at this young stage, the wine is more about crisp texture. The aftertaste hints at the future, ripe and warm. Drink from 2017.
This has a subdued nose that doesn't give much away. The equally inexpressive, rather fleeting palate offers dried red berry and anise alongside somewhat abrasive tannins.
This has a subdued nose that eventually reveals fig, smoke and graphite. On the straightforward palate, a nutmeg note accents mature blackberry while round tannins offer loose-knit support. Drink soon.
This has a surprising amount of vanilla cream in the flavors, plus soft, seductive raspberry fruit. The fruit comes from the oldest part of the Maresh vineyard—38-year-old self-rooted vines. The wine is a pale rose, yet substantial in the style of a classic Pinot from Eyrie. After some hours breathing it opens up with elegant, seductive aromas and some caramel streaks, delicate and perfectly proportioned.
This has a sweet charm to it, with a rich lemon flavor. This would be fine as a light dessert wine with lemon cake.
This has a toasty edge that complements the ripe red fruit and attractive lemon and yeast character. It seems to be well on its way to maturity, retaining a fruity style while its flavors are beginning to dig deeper.
This has a touch of austerity, with savory spice, cured meat and teriyaki aromas. The palate bursts with bright red fruit and smooth tannins.
This has a touch of ripe fruit, with pretty nuances of cherry, wild berry and cassis. It also delivers austere tones of smoked spice, leather and tar with an attractive fullness to the otherwise structured finish.
This has a touch of toast and a rich character. A creamed pear note mingles with lime-driven acidity and a delicious, warm tropical-fruit aftertaste.
This has a traditional garnet color with a light rim. It smells a bit earthy and herbal and tastes rather lean, like rhubarb and sour-cherry candy. It's light to medium bodied, a bit quirky but enjoyable.
This has a traditional medium-garnet color with brick rim. Effusive aromas that are smoky, beefy and earthy lead to distinctive wild berry, sage and cherry flavors. The texture is smooth but nicely supported by acid and tannins, and all the complexity of this wine lingers on the finish.
This has a tropical- and grapy-scented nose, with notes of pineapple and melon at the fore. On the palate, this Viognier is voluptuous and intense, offering a peachy flavor and perky acidity that invigorate the palate.
This has a unique nose, including notes of clover and pine. The palate has a dark, hard, tannic core, with hints of black cherry and bitter chocolate peeing through. It may need several more years to open up completely.
This has a very deep-red color with a reddish-purple rim, followed by very ripe, jammy aromas like boysenberry jam with spicy, smoky oak accents. Flavors are ripe, effusive and nearly sweet, as the wine goes for broke in terms of well-ripened grape flavors and generous helpings of sweet-spicy oak.
This has a very deep color, even for this notoriously dark varietal. Complex aromas blend rich fruit with smoky, peppery notes, followed by mouthcoating flavors like dark-chocolate-covered blackberries. It doesn't mess around with overtly sweet oak, but stays dry, concentrated and focused. Best after 2020.
This has a very deep, dark color that goes almost to the rim. It smells like blackberries and black pepper, tastes exotic and almost full-bodied but stays quite dry. It gives the sense of being well-stuffed with flavor but keeps a rather lean, lighter texture. Firm tannins give it structure and suggest drinking now through 2019.
This has a vibrant yellow-gold color and aromas like fresh herbs and sliced celery. Almost electric acidity pulses in the crisp grapefruit, lime and melon flavors that lead to a lingering finish. The vivid freshness and tangy texture sets it apart from the crowd, and it will work wonderfully with foods from raw oysters to roast chicken.
This has a vivid, gold color with just a touch of pink, which makes sense considering Pinot Gris is not really a white wine grape, but a gris or gray shade in between blanc and noir. Aromas are like buttered popcorn, toasted almond and a touch of honey. It is undeniably flavorful, lush in texture and full bodied. The blend is 75% Pinot Gris and 25% Pinot Blanc.
This has a vivid, ripe, black cherry flavor, with fresh sweetness and bursting acidity. It makes for a gorgeous, generous character buoyed up by firm tannins, a lively texture and finish, and no noticeable oak. A great find from a small, ambitious Lake County winery that loves Italian varietals.
This has a warm and inviting cherry compote aroma. Broad, ripe and complex flavors resemble black cherry, cinnamon and wood smoke, with a full body and a velvety texture.The wine falls on the rich, plush side of the fence, simply gorgeous in flavor profile, full bodied and long on the finish.
This has a warm, rounded character, with pressing minerality. Notes of apple, pear and a touch of vanilla all add richness and an open character. It has warm, rich fruit on the finish.
This has a well-aged aroma plus tangy raspberry and cranberry flavors. It offers good balance between flavor, crispness and firm tannins. Most of all, it conveys a personality that mirrors this grape variety's Italian roots. It's dry, medium bodied and slightly astringent in texture.
This has a white pepper flavor, plus acids and green tannins that join forces to make the palate feel jagged. With its berry and currant flavors, this needs to be paired with rich meats and cheeses for balance.
This has acidity and tannins that are rich and complex. The raspberry, cola and licorice flavors have a nice coating of smoky oak.
This has aged for 20 months in oak and presents tones of cherry fruit, blackberry, blue flower, spice and toasted almond. There's a slightly pungent note of bruised apple or plum that gives the wine sharp brightness.
This has all creamy crispness, featherlight, a wine that floats onto the palate. There is some tight acidity, but the fresh white fruits are soft, ripe, open, already ready to drink. This is a great summer apéritif wine. Screwcap.
This has all of the easygoing, good raspberry and blueberry flavors that a Cabernet Franc should. The nose is rich in raspberry and pepper, and on the palate, the wine has good structure and length. Pair with lasagna or a spiced meat dish for extra appeal.
This has all of the makings of a cult classic to come. It has pedigree—one of the founding winery partners is linked to the Quintarelli legacy—quality, elegance and a long aging future ahead. Dark, dense and thickly extracted, this is redolent of sweet tobacco, savory spice, cola, teriyaki sauce, black fruit and currant. The finish is long and streamlined, showing a touch of heat and muscle.
This has all the elements—fruit, tannin, acidity and wood, with powerful weight and concentration. Let this age for at least eight years; this is going to be impressive.
This has all the mineral qualities associated with pure Chardonnay. It is crisp, tightly textured and bright. It also has more serious depths of structure, white fruits and richness. This is still ready to age further. Drink now, although it will be better from 2016.
This has all the size and weight you've come to expect from Australia's most famous wine. Huge fruit and huge oak combine in a full-bodied, richly textured package that delivers waves of toasted coconut, vanilla and intense dark berries yet remains embryonic more than five years after the harvest. That said, the texture isn't quite as tight or as fine as some other vintages—expect this to be early maturing by Grange standards, and best from 2020–2040.
This has all the touchstones of good Chardonnay: just enough body and richness, apple, pineapple and melon fruit flavors and a crisp, citrusy finish. Solid Chardonnay for under $10.
This has almost overripe black-fruit aromas accompanied by a whiff of toasted oak. The palate delivers mature but restrained plum and black-cherry flavors, layered with hints of chocolate, vanilla and espresso and supported by firm tannins.
This has already past its sell-by date. The color is tan and maderized, while the nose is soft and mushy, with raisiny aromas. Like the nose, this is flabby and past its prime in the mouth, with a bland, bitter finish.
This has an aroma like charred wood, and meaty, smoky, steak-sauce flavors. It's not a style for everyone, but it does have a full body, bold flavors and the unique packaging and hands-off winemaking style of the Lodi Native wines.
This has an attractive Nebbiolo nose of rose, violet, perfumed red berry, baking spices and a whiff of pressed powder. The structured palate delivers red cherry, raspberry, grilled herbs, white pepper, anise and a balsamic note alongside firm, fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity. A hint of mint backs up the finish.
This has an austere, mineral feel that exascerbates it's rigid structure. Firm, drying tannins dominate the palate. Ripe black fruits at the core of the wine will need time to come through, so don't drink before 2015.
This has an earthy fragrance of moist soil and tobacco, with hints of raisin. The palate delivers plum, nutmeg and black pepper notes, but it's already quite evolved, so drink soon.
This has an earthy nose of truffle and tobacco leaf, with a hint of leather. The palate shows some rustic notes along with overripe plum, black berry and spice. While this has tight, drying tannins, the fruit and freshness are evolved.
This has an edge, a frame of herb and skin flavors that tightens the mouthfeel. Green pineapple, cilantro, cucumber and lemon verbena are in play, with a penetrating attack and a pleasantly soft finish. The wine has a density that somehow recalls extra-virgin olive oil.
This has an elegant, fruity, lightly spicy profile. Red cherry and nutmeg aromas meld with fresh and pure fruit flavors like red cherry and raspberry shaded by cinnamon and clove. It also offers a silky-smooth texture and medium body.
This has an extraordinarily-high level of residual sugar, giving it a very sweet, honeyed taste. The flavors are of pure golden apricots, with accents of tangerines, buttered toast and vanilla cream. While it's not overly complex, it offers plenty of rich pleasure.
This has an impenetrable black core with fuschia highlights. The vibrant, mineral-driven Old World nose has asphalt, charcoal and charred wood notes leading the way. Black currant, rhubarb, lingonberry and linden leaf carry the flavors. The dense, concentrated palate is taut—and slightly awkward—with marked acidity, mild viscosity and firm tannins. The prolonged finish is multidimensional and complex. This is a cuvée to follow as it shows plenty of potential. Drink now and for the next three years.
This has an intense aroma that's almost overpowering, leading to a wine that is firm and dry. Its red cherry flavor is dominated by dense tannins. The perfumed character, joined by acidity, remains on the finish.
This has an oily gritty nose and a palate with lemony acidity. Flavors of lemon and green currant fall off and turn a touch bitter on the finish, something you could probably predict given the gritty start.
This has an opaque purple color, with a supremely concentrated and potent dark-fruited bouquet. Feels amped up, warm and exotic, with black fruit flavors alongside notes of peppery spice and bitter chocolate. Toasty and chocolaty on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
This has an unusual mix of aromas, from Asian spice and menthol to weedy underbrush and celery. The muddled palate is slightly fizzy, suggesting sweet and sour sauce, oak-driven spice and dried fruit. Bracing tannins leave a lean, raspy finish.
This has an unusual profile, with notes of pear, lees, peach and almond spritzed with lime. The concentration isn't all there, flattening out on the back half.
This has an unusually dark color. Aromas of blackberry jam and maple syrup are followed by equally rich, deep and expressive flavors. The remarkable concentration of ripe berry flavors layered densely with fine tannins is at least partly due to blending in Petite Sirah. It adds up to a full bodied and delicious wine.
This has an unusually deep color and a smoky rim. Aromas resemble chocolate and balsamic, while flavors are rich, smoky and savory. The texture is thick with tannins that leave a drying impression on the finish.
This has appealing flavors of tropical fruit, orange, peach and vanilla, with a creamy texture and an overall sense of elegance. The acidity is brisk and clean.
This has apricot and pear flavors, plus a nutmeg hint and intense, refreshing acidity.
This has apricot, orange and Meyer lemon notes, plus a sweet toastiness. It will appeal to consumers who enjoy Charonnays with a buttercream-like smoothness and a buttered popcorn flavor.
This has aromas and flavors of yellow apple, citrus zest, bread crust and a buttery note. Small vigorous bubbles provide the backdrop while a bitter walnut flavor marks the finish.
This has aromas of Abate Fetel pear, lime and white peach. The juicy palate contains nectarine zest, toasted hazelnut and candied lemon while bright acidity lifts the rich flavors.
This has aromas of Bartlett pear and black Mission figs. In the mouth, there are flavors of pear, lemon and fresh picked apricots.
This has aromas of berry, raisin and toasted oak. The linear palate reveals raspberry and cherry flavors accompanied by accents of espresso and oak. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol on the close.
This has aromas of black cherry and spice. The palate shows ripe blackberry and spice flavors, along with evolved tannins. This has instant appeal, so drink soon.
This has aromas of citrus blossom and lemon pith. There are flavors of green apple and pear in the mouth with an acidic finish.
This has aromas of dark-skinned berry, blue flower, cooking spice and oak. The bright palate offers dried cherry, licorice and coffee framed in rounded tannins and firm acidity.
This has aromas of hay, tropical fruit and a whiff of tomato vine. The bright, straightforward palate offers fruity flavors suggesting honeydew melon, white peach and citrus alongside zesty acidity.
This has aromas of mature dark-skinned berry, cake spice and toast while the astringent palate displays dried black cherry, coffee and tobacco. It's a bit shy on freshness, so drink soon.
This has aromas of medicinal herb, red berry and a whiff of adhesive bandage that carry over to the palate along with mature apple and a hint of orange zest. Bitter almond closes the finish.
This has aromas of oak, grilled herb, dried porcini mushroom, a note of stewed fruit and camphor. The straightforward palate shows leather, grilled herb, toast and red cherry alongside firm seasoned tannins.
This has aromas of overripe black-skinned fruit, scorched earth and a funky whiff of barnyard. The rustic sensation carries over to the palate along with a bitter note. It lacks fruit richness while grainy tannins leave an abrupt, astringent finish. Tried twice and had the same notes.
This has aromas of overripe black cherry and spice. The palate reveals mature black fruit, raisin and pepper notes. This is very warm and shows the heat of the vintage, so drink soon.
This has aromas of prunes and burnt rubber, but it tastes better than that. It's a pretty raw effort.
This has aromas of raisin, fig and espresso. The palate shows blackberry, prune and evident oak flavors, with a hint of carob. This shows the heat of the vintage, with evolved tannins and rather low acidity, so drink soon.
This has aromas of ripe plum and new oak, with a hint of raisin. The palate delivers prune and black cherry notes, with a hint of cocoa. It's simply styled, but delicious.
This has aromas of ripe—just shy of overripe—black fruit that recall plum preserves. The palate is rich, with flavors of mature black cherry, prune and chocolate bar. This lacks complexity and restraint, but is big, lush and decadent.
This has aromas of smashed berry and red licorice candy. It feels raspy and resiny, with flavors of toasted oak and jammy blueberry and raspberry. It's wiry and lacking finesse on the finish.
This has aromas of stalky underbrush, porcini mushroom, game and berry. The wine's uber-simple palate shows suggestions of wild cherry and a hint of clove alongside drying, fleeting tannins and brisk acidity.
This has aromas of toast and exotic fruit that carry over to the palate along with notes of citrus zest, vanilla and roasted coffee bean. A hint of grilled herb marks the close.
This has aromas of toasted oak, espresso and spice that carry over to the palate along with dark fruit undertones. It's lean and linear without enough rich fruit to carry the assertive oak.
This has aromas of white flowers, especially honeysuckle, and flavors of lemon custard, guava and lemon rind. The finish is rounded yet crisp.
This has aromas of wood, vanilla and toast. The palate is already evolved and tired, and it lacks the fruit richness to carry off the oak.
This has aromas of yellow peach and butter. Straightforward flavors faintly resemble peach, with more of the buttery richness that seems unusual for this variety. It's a good, basic, full-bodied white wine.
This has aromas recalling chopped herb, red berry, dill, espresso and camphor. The lean vigorous palate offers sour cherry, cranberry, licorice and roasted coffee bean along with a green note of powdered sage. Grainy tannins grip the finish.
This has aromas suggesting forest floor, moist soil, aromatic herb and a whiff of violet. The simple, rather thin palate offers red cherry and a hint of kitchen spice framed in zesty acidity and loose knit tannins.
This has aromas suggesting grilled herb, toasted oak, espresso and a whiff of wet animal fur. The palate offers dried cherry, game, anisette and a green note of bitter sage alongside extremely astringent tannins.
This has aromas suggesting leafy underbrush, menthol and dark spice. The robust one-dimensional palate offers dried fig, raisin, clove and a green note of powdered sage. Raspy tannins and the heat of evident alcohol dominate the astringent finish.
This has aromas that recall leafy underbrush, sawdust and menthol. The dense, oak-driven palate shows licorice, espresso, toast and a hint of bitter chocolate but the fruit has dried up. It abruptly ends on a green note of powdered sage.
This has astonishing depth of flavor, with dense black fruits marbled with notes of smoked meat, clove, balsamic and an earthy flavor. It's a wine to savor and cellar.
This has attractive apple and citrus fruits,with a crisp structure and some sweetness on the finish.
This has attractive peach and floral aromas and flavors, medium to full body, and a soft texture that is bolstered slightly by appley acidity.
This has balsamic aromas of roasted black fruit, autumn leaf, coconut and oak. It feels big, fruity and a bit raw, with black cherry, dark plum and cassis flavors. The finish is dark, spicy and chocolaty. This is totally New World in style, aroma and flavor.
This has been 10% barrel fermented and aged for about two months. There's a hint of barrel toast but it's very light; the varietal character is nicely displayed. Crisp acidity and a strong citrus mix of orange blossom and lemon rind flavors define the midpalate, leading into pineapple and grapefruit as it winds through the finish. Nice bottle!
This has been a consistent bottling from Wolff. The '06 shows classic Edna Valley acidity and very ripe, long hangtime fruit flavors of pineapples, Key limes, papayas and mangoes. It finishes with rich honey, but the wine is thoroughly dry.
This has been a good bottling for Brassfield. It shows classic mountain intensity, with explosive currant, wild berry, mocha, pine cone, anise and pepper flavors, tucked into firm, sweet tannins. Could benefit from 2 or 3 years in the cellar.
This has been a remarkably consistent bottling from Benovia over the last several vintages. The wine is bone dry and zesty in acidity, with rich layers of raspberries, cranberries and persimmons. Tannic notes of dried tea leaf and exotic baking spices bring extra complexities to this ageworthy wine. Drink 2015–2020.
This has been a steady source over the years for reasonably rich, satisfying wines from the Languedoc. The 2004 Réserve has a velvety feel to its tannins, giving it a touch more polish than usual, plus dark flavors of leather, cola and earth--even a hint of bacon on the finish. Drink it over the next few years.
This has been a very successful second label from Goldschmidt, and with this 2009, they again hit gold. The wine is smoothly tannic and dry in black cherry- pie and red currant flavors, with all kinds of interesting herb, carob bean, spice and oak complications. It's elegant and complex to drink now and over the next 5–6 years.
This has been an interesting wine from Niner. Last year's bottling was terrific. So's this 2006. At the ripe old age of five, it's still firm in tannins and even has a cut of acidity that gives the blackberry and blueberry fruit a bite. Tastes fresh and lively, and could improve with 5–6 years in the bottle.
This has been barrel-fermented and aged, yet it retains more than a hint of the grape's natural herbaceousness. Sharp-edged and assertive, it might pass for a Quincy from the Loire Valley.
This has been one of Carr's more successful bottlings, and the '08 is quite a good wine, although not quite up there with the '05. It's very deep in flavor, with lush, impressive notes of cherry pie filling with the smoky-sweet crust and masses of savory Indian spices. The acidity is quite high, maybe a little too much so.
This has been one of Etude's best bottlings, and 2007 was a great year. If you enjoy sheer, decadent deliciousness in your Pinot Noirs, this is one for you. The palate first is struck by the rich waves of cherry pie filling, raspberry essence and sweet, vanilla-tinged, smoky oak. Then it discovers the soft silkiness, and finally the firm, fine tannins kick in, providing structure. Just beguiling, and should develop in the bottle over the next 5–6 years.
This has been the source of some good to excellent Zins for Kunde over the years. They say the vines are 125 years old. The wine is dense and layered, with dried briary fruit, sweet black currant, licorice, leather and Asian spice flavors that are wrapped into punchy, somewhat aggressive tannins. The alcohol is very high, but the wine doesn't taste hot or unbalanced.
This has berry fruit aromas that don't fully register as crisp and spunky. It feels narrow and tastes tart and tangy, with red plum and cherry pie flavors. Punchy and refreshing.
This has big red berry flavors along with intense acidity topped by the dark, dry tannic structure. It will need some aging, so drink from 2017.
This has big, hard tannins and very high alcohol, lending it a chili-pepper-like heat.
This has black-skinned berry, forest floor and toast scents. The easygoing palate delivers tart cherry, vanilla and clove flavors alongside smooth tannins. Drink through 2019.
This has black-skinned berry, mocha and tilled soil aromas. The concentrated palate doles out blackberry, clove and anise flavors alongside fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Enjoy through 2021.
This has black cherry fruit flavor in spades, along with blueberry and sweet blackberry. It's smooth to the point of softness, with fully ripe tannins and a sweet but firm finish with chocolate, cherries and coffee grounds.
This has bold cherry and blackberry jam flavors, with some warmth. It is dense and inky, with some chewiness and sweetness on the finish.
This has both a rich structure and rich fruit. The tannins comes first, dark and concentrated with spice and a dry core. After it, the ripe and juicy black fruit is layered with dense acidity. Together these two elements make for a concentrated wine that will age. Drink from 2020.
This has both a taste of vanilla-sugar on the palate and bristling acidity that demands attention, making for a wine that's slightly off-kilter. The presence of oak is restrained and the finish, in keeping with the theme, quite tart.
This has briary, herbal aromas and a sweet beet note. It is syrupy and sappy, with candied cassis and black cherry flavors.
This has bright aromas of maraschino, tobacco, bitter chocolate, prune and dusty mineral. There's a tightness to the mouthfeel that is reinforced by acidity and long-lasting berry flavors.
This has bright aromas of red currant, cherry and red pepper. The palate isn't very expressive, but it does show some prune and raisin notes, along with a hint of chocolate. It could use a bit more freshness and length, and you'll detect the alcohol. Drink soon.
This has bright raspberry and almost-sweet blackberry flavors, full body, moderate tannins and a long warm finish. It tastes polished, soft and satiny smooth.
This has brisk acidity, finely ground tannins and an intense minerality that gives it a nervy core. The palate is light and silky, yet it has intensely concentrated flavors of sour cherry candy, raspberry jam and sandalwood. It's a fine wine to drink now, and it should develop in the bottle over the next 5–6 years.
This has brisk, tingly acidity and rich, toasty new oak flavors, plus mineral and fruit notes. Try this in 2015 as it could become surprisingly complex.
This has Cabernet Sauvignon-driven flavors of ripe summer blackberries, black currants, cassis liqueur and smoky oak. It's dry with smooth tannins, and it shows lots of class. With 8,000 cases produced, it should be relatively easy to find.
This has candied raspberry and pink bubble gum flavors. Direct and easy.
This has certainly benefited from some bottle age, bringing out the nutty, lightly toasty character of older Chardonnay, while still preserving great white fruit flavors.
This has citrus, apricot and honey flavors brightened with crisp acidity. It turns a little sweet on the finish, but it's a lovely wine that should be versatile with a huge range of food.
This has classic Nebbiolo aromas of truffle, underbrush and tobacco leaf, along with a restrained but vibrant palate showing bright cherry, clove and mint. It's forward and friendly, with silky tannins, and can be enjoyed now through 2019.
This has clean, linear aromas of fruit and spice that are tied together in one elegant package. The mouthfeel is similarly composed, with power and intensity that is elegant and never exaggerated or too heavy.
This has clove, cinnamon, herb and rhubarb notes on the nose. It's creamy and pasty feeling, with a heavy dollop of wood resin. Flavorwise, it's sweet and candied, with caramel, mocha and stewed tomato notes.
This has come to epitomize the Hawke's Bay style of Sauvignon Blanc, typical in it's ripe fruit and oak treatment. Hints of vanilla and cedar frame passion fruit and pink grapefruit notes, then leave a lingering impression of Creamsicle behind on the silky-textured finish.
This has compelling intensity, with the extra dimensions that vines more than four decades old can offer. The concentrated apple and pear fruit is pure, deep and lingering. The wine is finished off dry.
This has concealed aromas of white peaches, tropical fruits and nuts. It's medium bodied, with broad fruit flavors that lack individuality. It could make for a fine casual pairing with mild fishes like sole and tilapia.
This has concentrated apple, mango and lime skin notes that are shaded with tones of smoke, crushed chalk and white pepper. Round and rich on the palate, with a mouthfilling viscosity, it's balanced with a flash of lemony acidity and a tingling tea-leaf astringency.
This has creamy flavors of vanilla, honey, lime and orange.
This has dark, hearty fruit that is framed mostly around a taste of dried cherry. It's a bit one-dimensional, finishing with a burst of leather.
This has delicate aromas of chopped herb and red berry. The no-frills diluted palate offers suggestions of unripe cherry, orange peel and a touch of mint alongside brisk acidity and grainy, fleeting tannins.
This has delicate but alluring orange blossom, Mediterranean herb and wild berry scents. The bright, savory palate doles out crushed red cherry, raspberry and white pepper hints alongside crisp acidity. It has a clean, fresh finish.
This has delicate scents of white stone fruit and white flowers. On the palate, bright acidity and lively bubbles provide a backdrop for yellow apple and white peach. A lemon-drop note closes the finish.
This has delicious red-fruit nuances that are backed by espresso, spice and leather tones. There's a meaty, savory quality that would pair well with breaded veal or lasagna. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
This has dill, minestrone soup, toast and chopped celery aromas. The lean, assertive palate shows oak, raw red fruit and a green note of powdered sage. Grainy tannins leave an astringent finish.
This has double the residual sugar of the off-dry Blue Moon Riesling, and it shows in the mouthfeel, which turns a bit granular. It's a time-capsule wine, with flavors of lemon, sugar-water and white tea that have stood their ground unchanged for decades.
This has dry, edgy tannins that make the palate feel a bit rough. It has rich, forward flavors of blackberries and oak.
This has earthy aromas and sun-dried tomato flavors, full body, but a soft balance and smooth texture.
This has earthy aromas of mushroom and tobacco leaf, along with notes of raisin, ripe blackberry and plum. The palate delivers succulent black cherry, nutmeg and mint flavors accented by chocolate and bitter almond. This is well structured, with fresh acidity.
This has earthy aromas suggesting underbrush, new leather, menthol and truffle, along with a whiff of medicinal herb. The palate is tightly wound and still rather closed, offering hints of espresso, anise and raw berry framed by drying, close-grained tannins.
This has ebullient aromas of cherry blossom, grapefruit and yuzu peel. Structurally complex, this has concentrated flavors of sour plum and pink grapefruit. It's brisk with acidity, and there's a lavish minerality that lingers long on the finish.
This has enormous richness and intensity, with penetrating aromas of leather, tobacco, spice, dark fruit and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's inky, rich and supersmooth. This is one of the best Italian wines ever made from the difficult 2003 vintage.
This has enormously high alcohol, but the fruit is curiously thin, with some unripeness. The amount of new oak doesn't seem to help.
This has enough rich fruit to meld with the abundance of toasty wood. It is opulent and ripe, a powerful wine, typical of the vintage with its sweet red-berry flavor and refreshing acidity on the finish.
This has everything that many people love about Chardonnay: It's creamy, buttery and toasty, with sweet tropical fruit and pear flavors. It's pretty flashy.
This has extra richness that lends the wine concentration and ripeness. An intense structure of minerality is balanced by yellow fruit, bearing a round and full texture, with great depth of flavor. Age for at least five years. Screwcap.
This has fierce acidity, and is sweet in cherry jam flavors, with some unripe, green notes.
This has firm tannins, and it demonstrates the potential of its juicy fruit flavors. With its powerful structure, this is a slowly developing selection that needs at least five years in a cellar.
This has flavors and aromas of hazelnut, dried apricot and coconut in between layers of lush white peach. Overall, this is very pretty and well balanced. Its light-handed finish is floral and tropical, without a sign of oak.
This has flavors of cherry and blackberry jam, cola and spice. It's crisp in acidity and dry, as Pinot should be. This is direct and polished; it's not likely to get better with age, so drink now.
This has flavors of fresh citrus and intense, fragrant flowers. The finish has notes of lime and white peach, with a soft, lush feeling and creamy bubbles.
This has flavors of oranges, Meyer lemons and tropical fruits, and there's a good burst of acidity that lends balance. The finish tastes a bit sweet. Pair this selection with Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Indian or Ethiopian dishes.
This has flavors of pineapple, orange and buttered toast, with lots of brisk acidity. It offers the oaky creaminess that many Americans love.
This has flavors that are reminiscent of the Moscatels from Setúbal. It's a rich wine that shows a hint of the spirit element, but the ripe flavors of toffee and raisin ice cream are more prominent. Drink now.
This has fragrances of dark cherry, moist soil and spice. The palate offers ripe black-fruit flavors, along with white pepper and baking spice accents. Pair this with salami or pot roast.
This has fragrances of ripe black cherry, raisin and a touch of leather. The palate delivers raisin and raspberry flavors, along with spicy black pepper notes. The palate is a bit evolved, showing tertiary notes.
This has fresh acidity, making it very enjoyable. It has prune, raisin, tobacco leaf and graphite aromas, with a whiff of leather. The palate delivers flavors of blackberry, clove, orange peel and spirit-soaked cherries. It's not overly complex, but it's delicious.
This has fresh berry and flower aromas that lead to a healthy-feeling palate, which is full of cherry, boysenberry and blackberry flavors. Mildly toasty and chocolaty on the finish.
This has fresh citrus and dried apricot flavors, with Grüner's typical peppery edge. For drinking now. Screwcap.
This has fresh oak and ripe boysenberry aromas and flavors. A thick but not harsh texure wraps around the tongue and keeps the flavors lingering on the finish. It's appropriately tannic and appetizingly dry, needing rich food or a drinker who loves this kind of delicious density.
This has fruity aromas of red cherry that carry over to the light-bodied no-frills palate along with a peppery note. It's simple, with easygoing, rather fleeting tannins.
This has gone up in price over the years, but it's still a solid, relatively affordable example of Barossa Valley Shiraz. This is youthful and edgy, with meaty, savory notes accenting mixed berries and a hint of mint. The finish is a bit chewy right now, but mouthcoating and long.
This has good balance among its ripe blackberry and red-plum flavors and its firm core. It's solid and chunky while also offering crisp, taut acidity. The aftertaste, with a touch of smokiness, is attractive.
This has good, clean, ripe fruit with some mass and muscle, and the flavors go deep rather than broad. Berry, currant and cherry are in the mix, with polished tannins and finishing threads of coffee and chocolate. Nothing shy here, but delicious.
This has grassy tones and tropical fruit flavors that'll pair with oysters and other shellfish just fine.
This has great concentration of fruit, texture and acidity. It has white and green fruits layered upon the mineral and zesty texture. The wine is ripe and yet so crisp and fresh. It is ready to age for many years.
This has great depth of flavor with its fresh apple and pear fruits and touch of spice. It's off dry while balanced with acidity and a crisp texture. Drink now.
This has great fruits and plenty of structure to go with it. Juicy plum flavors complement the dense tannins, mineral structure and concentrated texture. It's a stylish wine that will develop some more. Drink from 2016.
This has green-leaning aromas of tobacco, tomato and grass that are matched by more standard plum and berry notes. It feels tight, tannic and rubbery, with medicinal flavors of herbal black fruits and mint. Solid as a whole, this holds its pose on the finish, although even there it's a touch green. This is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.
This has green apple and creamed pear flavors, with a lively, buoyant texture. It's worth aging for a few more months. Screwcap.
This has green aromas that lead to simple, sweet-and-sour citrus flavors.
This has heady floral aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied and round, delivering yellow apple, citrus zest and candied ginger notes, framed by bright acidity.
This has herb and wood aromas, leading to a palate that's structured, with a yeasty, toasty flavor and a green, herbal character. It is quite tight, and does need to age for at least two years.
This has huge floral tendencies with fragrant notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. Sweet peach, tea leaf and chopped herbs also make an appearance and the wine boasts a lean, spicy finish.
This has initial aromas of raisin and underbrush, followed by hints of toasted oak and espresso. The palate shows evident alcohol sensations, with black cherry, fig and coffee flavors relegated to the background.
This has intense acids and tannins that make it feel a bit rustic. But despite the structure, it has delicious, upfront flavors of blackberry, plum, currant, beef jerky, sweet oak and pepper. Drink now.
This has intense aromas of chopped sage, mint and Mediterranean scrub. The herbaceous notes carry over to the fresh juicy palate along with Marasca cherry, raspberry and just a whisper of peppercorn.
This has intense aromas of spearmint and eucalyptus. The palate is lean, with licorice and mineral but not enough fruit.
This has intense black-currant fruit, with stalky tannins and a bone dry, firm core. It's a finely structured wine, packed with tight fruit and acidity. Drink now.
This has intense forest-floor aromas, a hint of violet along and toasted oak and vanilla notes. The palate shows bright raspberry and espresso flavors, nervous acidity and firm tannins. It needs time, so drink after 2016.
This has intense fragrances of moist earth, blackberry, raisin and almond. The rich palate offers concentrated black cherry, plum, cinnamon and black pepper flavors. It shows the warmth of the vintage and while it doesn't seem to have enough fresh acidity for long-term aging, it's velvety-smooth and delicious now.
This has intense pink color with attractive acidity, plenty of sweet strawberry flavors and the merest hint of spirit. Light and bright, it's attractive, clean and fruity. Pink and rosé Ports—Ruby blends with limited exposure to the grape skins—are best served chilled and in cocktails.
This has intriguing aromas of marzipan and white cherry, plus touches of apple and mineral. A medium-bodied wine, it offers acidity that becomes mouth-puckering on the finish. Pair this with some goat cheese to help tame the tartness.
This has iris and baking spice aromas and straightforward raspberry jam and clove flavors. Smooth tannins provide easygoing support. Enjoy soon.
This has iris and cherry aromas layered with evident oak and burnt rubber sensations. The palate opens much better thanks ripe berry, spice and licorice flavors along with oak, coffee bean and espresso notes.
This has its aromatic components in place although it does seem closed or restricted in terms of the intensity of its fragrances. It has a clean but thin feel and makes for an easy, no-fuss experience.
This has jammy aromas of strawberry and raspberry that would work well at cocktail hour. The palate is lean.
This has juicy cherry and banana flavors, plus smoky tannins that give this wine a structure that's unusual for Beaujolais Nouveau. The acidity is just right, lending the finish freshness.
This has just the right balance between the fresh fruit of younger Ports and the wood and dried fruit of aged tawnies. It's a dry style of Port, with a lift of acidity. It's delicious and, like all aged tawnies, ready to drink now.
This has lemony and slightly bitter citrus-skin flavors that are made for fresh seafood and shellfish. Notes of tart lemon and green pineapple are matched by the substantial acids.
This has light but sweet fruit flavor, leaning heavily toward strawberry and Bing cherry candy. The fruit is a bit mismatched to the tannins, which are thick and chewy, but with additional bottle age the middle may fill out somewhat. It's got a pretty, fruity entry and a substantial, slightly earthy finish; it's just that midpalate that falls a bit short.
This has light floral aromas of dried chamomile and acacia flower. The palate is lean and not very expressive, offering bitter almond and yellow apple skin alongside brisk acidity.
This has light scents of peach, golden apple, white flower and Bartlett pear. The palate is ripe and juicy, with the pear note dominating the flavor profile.
This has light, pretty cherry and raspberry fruit flavors, forward and slightly sweet. The acids are chewy and puckery—acidification?—and therefore the finish is rather citric and sharp. The addition of 25% Cabernet Sauvignon may have also contributed.
This has lively, very varietal aromas of kiwi, grass and pineapple. The palate is fleshy in feel with rich fruit flavors, tart acids and a Key lime finish.
This has loads of wood that seems to hide the fruit. It has a bitter wood flavor of burnt toast, plus extracted tannins.
This has long been a favorite wine from the region, and this vintage's blend—45% Marsanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 27% Roussanne and 3% Picpoul—is a lesson in deft restraint. Crisp lime skin and Pink Lady apple aromas converge, mixing sharp and ripe elements. On the palate, yellow grapefruit flavors are light and refreshing, framed by brilliant acidity and grippy texture.
This has lots of bright red-cherry flavor, plus plenty of zingy Monterey acidity. The result is a clean, straightforward wine offering juicy drinking pleasure.
This has lots of fresh berry aromas, blending raspberry, strawberry and deeper blackberry. Full bodied, it features ripe flavors, velvety mouthfeel and firm tannins. Dry and well balanced, it will make a great dinner wine because of all the palate-cleansing texture. Drink now through 2022.
This has lots of fresh, lively fruit characteristics in the aroma and the flavor. It's well balanced, showing good firm acidity and fine tannins to blanket the ripe cherry and plum flavors. It's medium bodied, very appetizing and agile.
This has lots of jammy and peppery aromas and flavors, tastes dry, is very full-bodied, and feels rich but tight with tannins. Although bone dry and almost austere, it's honest and refreshing.
This has lots of ripe, jammy raspberry and cherry flavors, with a spicy finish. But it's too soft and glyceriney sweet in high alcohol.
This has lots of ripe, plush blackberry, olive and dark chocolate flavors. It packs a punch that lasts into a long, spicy finish. Delicious, classy, and lovely to drink now, although it will evolve through at least 2018.
This has lots of tropical and apricot flavors, with oak and creamy lees notes. It's simple and a bit sweet, but should appeal to consumers.
This has loud, vivid aromas of hazelnuts and roasted popcorn kernels. It has a luscious medium to full-bodied palate, and it bears bold, protracted honeyed flavors. Halibut en croute should prove a rockin' pairing.
This has lovely and deep black fruits, with smoke and toast from the barrel aging. There's a streak of caramel and a hint of coconut, good balance and length, and less obvious burn and astringency than the more recent vintages.
This has lovely aromas of black pepper and blackberry, but in the mouth, it turns a bit soft and sweet, with melted chocolate and blueberry jam flavors. It's ripe and tasty, but could use greater structure.
This has lovely raspberry and cranberry fruit, with beautifully laid-in highlights of baking spice, white pepper and dried herb. Some early suggestions of cured meat are also starting to show, but the fruit is the real star, sappy and juicy and deep without being heavy or hot.
This has medicinal herb and adhesive bandage aromas that carry over to the lean palate. Racy acidity and a bitter note give it a firm, brisk finish.
This has medicinal, sweet-tasting flavors of chocolate and cherry.
This has memorable aromas of warm hat, green herbs and perfumed fruit candy. It is a delicious wine that has been aged in cask before bottling.
This has mild, one-dimensional scents of apple and Meyer lemon. The medium-bodied palate has fresh acidity, and shows a touch more depth than the nose with the added note of glazed white apricot.
This has mocha, game and black-skinned berry aromas. The dense palate evokes cured meat, espresso and prune, framed by grainy, mouth puckering tannins. Drink through 2021.
This has notes of black cherry and smoky tar. It's tannins can barely be wrapped around one's lips on first sip, but let the wine open (and/or age) and its black cherry, berry, coffee and mint components swirl together in exciting ways.
This has notes of raspberries, cherries and whipped cream. It's addictively drinkable, showing none of the problems Grenache so often encounters. Enjoy it now for its fresh, irrepressible appeal.
This has nowhere near the complexity of Sanford's single-vineyard bottlings. It seems pricy for what you get, which is a basic Pinot that's dry and silky, with pleasant cherry candy and cola flavors.
This has oak, green apple, lime and mineral flavors that finish dry and acidic. A sound wine that lacks richness.
This has oodles of ripe boysenberry and huckleberry in the aroma, and the overt fruitiness continues in the flavors. A nice touch of oak sawdust in the aroma comes off more like a touch of sweetness in the flavors. There is a rich mouthfeel, soft tannins and full body. It's enjoyable and easy to drink.
This has orange, pineapple and green apple flavors that are accented by oaky caramel. Balanced with crisp, citrusy acidity, this should pair well with rich shellfish fare. Drink now.
This has overripe tropical-fruit aromas on the nose. Wheaty, oxidized flavors finish with a note of mushy fruit.
This has overt floral and fruit-salad aromas, sugary flavors of fresh apples, grapes and pineapple, a soft texture and sweet finish. While rich enough for dessert, this might also be a good brunch wine and will work well as a complement to a cheese plate.
This has particularly ripe and concentrated fruit flavors and a feeling of alcoholic strength in the body and on the finish. Aromas and flavors resemble very ripe plums, dried cherries and blackberries. It's styled for fans of power and ripeness.
This has pleasant oak aromas suggesting buttered toast, and fairly rich, ripe fruit flavors that resemble peach, pear and a touch of fig. The texture is smooth, almost creamy, the body is medium and the flavors stay fresh through the finish.
This has plenty of cherry, red licorice, cola and spice flavors that are wrapped into firm tannins. Long on the finish, this is a very good example of a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
This has plenty of cranberry and raspberry fruit flavor, supported with juicy, mouth-cleaning acidity. Beyond that, it's a simple, food-friendly quaffer.
This has polished blackberry and black currant flavors, touched with oak. It shows real elegance and class.
This has pretty fruit flavors of plums and spicy black cherries. At first the wine seems sharp and slightly warm, but it mellows with air.
This has pretty raspberry and cherry fruit. Light and forward, it displays a touch of minerality, adding interest to the finish.
This has pungent aromatics of petrol and grass, and the flavors follow. It's a reasonable style for the Sauvignon Blanc grape, but it likely will not appeal to all palates.
This has quite a bite with acidity and a strong cut of spirit. Flavors of dried raisins and sultana put it on the dry side of aged tawny. At the end, spice and the wood aging dominate this austere wine.
This has raisin, earth, mint and dried herb aromas. It feels narrow, but concentrated, tasting of earthy tomato, baked plum and fresh green herb. It has a solid mouthfeel, with a mildly briney finish.
This has rather light aromas of red cherries and raspberries, mildly rich fruit flavors and a texture that's half silky and half firmly tannic. Those traits add up to deliciousness and good balance.
This has really come on since the futures tastings in 2008. Today, the wine shows pedigree, the dusty tannins ripe, fitting well with the spice, acidity and soft, generous fruit. Concentration comes through from the solid final fruit flavors.
This has really evolved over the past 10 months since I tasted it at the winery, going from crisp and pineapple-y then to more honeyed and tropical now, with opulent layers of peach and mango that coat the mouth on the long finish. Drink now.
This has restrained aromas of char, cassis, spice and asparagus. It's light to medium in body, and it bears fine, polished tannins. A note of cherry marks the warm finish.
This has restrained black-skinned fruit and graphite aromas that carry over to the simple palate, with a touch of bitter almond. Drink soon.
This has rich flavors of black currants, licorice and sandalwood, and it finishes dry and spicy. This should be relatively easy to find thanks to its 50,000-case production.
This has rich tannins, dense fruit and overall deep flavors. This is a dark wine, just this side of brooding, with ripe blueberry and cherry fruit, softly chalky tannins, whiffs of smoke and splashes of pepper. The dark fruit flavors are bold and seamless, melded with smoke and chocolate, dotted with ground espresso, and finished with a nice lift. This probably needs another five years to really show all of its complexity.
This has ripe and polished fruit, with hints of mint and new wood. A ripe blackberry flavor pushes through the firm tannins, and it should become more rich over the next 5–6 years. The vineyard is situated in the northern part of the Médoc appellation.
This has ripe black cherry and fig aromas accompanied by prune and black cherry flavors. It's simple but well made, and has nice freshness. It would pair seamlessly with ravioli stuffed with porcini mushrooms.
This has ripe blackberry and oak flavors. It's dry, full bodied and tannic enough to cut through a rich, ketchup-strewn cheeseburger.
This has ripe plum and black cherry aromas with hints of underbrush, chocolate and spice. On the palate, it offers a wild cherry flavor spiced with chocolate and coffee. It has a simple structure but is well made.
This has ripe red fruits and soft, integrated tannins, with concentration and a voluptuous exterior. This will be ready to drink soon.
This has ripe Sonoma flavors of green apples, pears and tropical fruits, along with balancing acids and a touch of honey-sweet oak. Overall, it achieves harmonious balance. Production was 3,690 cases. Worth a special search.
This has ripe, rewarding blackberry, cherry and oak flavors, wrapped in full-bodied tannins and finished with sweet oak. It's easy to drink with any beef or lamb dish.
This has scouring tannins, but it offers plenty of ripe, savory blackberry, cherry and herb flavors. There's a rusticity about this Cab that calls for lusty beef dishes, like peppered steak.
This has searing acidity and strong, upfront red-berry and oak flavors. It feels rustictic, but it could be a Cinderella in the making, just waiting to evolve into a princess. If you're a gambler, give it a couple of years in the cellar.
This has sharp, cedary oak dominating the fruit right now. The fruit is good, solid black cherry, but it is not quite big enough to tackle all that new oak, though some bottle time will help. Good, ambitious winemaking. —P.G.
This has sharp, tangy aromas, tart cranberry flavors, a lean texture and drying tannins that seem to coat the teeth. Difficult to enjoy on its own, it needs to pair with very rich, fatty food to tame the tannins.
This has simple aromas of plum, berry and sweet vanilla. The palate feels fresh, with a citrusy bounce and flavors of raspberry, red plum and mellow spice. The finish is sweet and comported.
This has slender flavors of tangerine and peach. It's elegantly dry, clean and brisk in acidity, with a light touch of smoky oak—definitely worth the price.
This has slender raspberry and cherry fruit. As a result, the acidity dominates, giving the wine a sour candy tartness. In its favor, it's nicely dry, and it feels silky.
This has smooth tannins and plenty of bright fruit flavor. Made in a savory style, the finish on this wine has a leathery bite to it.
This has smooth, rich fruit, with sweet berries, ripe tannins and strong layers of wood. The wine is powerful; the stalky and bitter chocolate edge contrasts the sweet, ripe fruit. This is meant for long-term aging.
This has so much raw, rough oak flavor when first opened that the fruit is nearly invisible. Tempranillo may well have a real future in the Walla Walla Valley, but first it has to be freed from the woods. Give this plenty of breathing time.
This has so much rich earth and minerality, it's like a journey deep into a mine. It's noted the vines were planted in 1970, and the wine does have that old-vine concentration of fruit in the form of massively intense blackberries. Then there's the smoky new oak, which adds such a lusciously sweet jacket of buttered toast. Tannic and tight in the way of Diamond Mountain Cabernets, this should begin to come into its own after 2016.
This has soft red fruits along with a firm structure of tannins and acids. Shapely and balanced, this is ready to drink now.
This has soft tannins, ripe fruit and fresh acidity, with a dominant berry flavor. For a Nuits-St-Georges, this is quite open.
This has soft, ripe fruit, with notes of lime and orange zest fitting easily with the ripe peach and melon flavors. This is warm, rounded and ready to drink.
This has some light deposits at the bottom of the bottle, with a slightly cloudy appearance. Aromas of stone fruit, melon and citrus create a broad and thick aromatic front.
This has some of the concentration you would expect from old vines, along with a lighter, fresher character that gives the wine a lift. It's as much young and fruity as structured, a well-balanced wine that will be ready to drink from 2016.
This has some simple flavors of sour cherry candy and oak. The structure is overly soft and lacking tension. Drink up.
This has some weight as well as acidity, showing just a touch of prickle on the tongue. Zesty and tangy.
This has somewhat acrid aromas of animal and farmyard, while the palate offers a very ripe plum flavor that's just short of being overripe, as well as vanilla and chocolate sensations. It finishes on a bitter note.
This has somewhat closed aromas, with hints of stewed prune and spirit-soaked cherries. The palate is better, with ripe plum, raisin and black licorice flavors.
This has spice and dried fruit notes, plus firmly structured tannins. The refreshing acidity partners with the fruit, creating a wine that still needs a few years to age.
This has strawberry aromas with a fresh, creamy texture and a light touch of tannin. The wine is warm, rounded and fruity, with a soft, smooth finish.
This has strawberry fruit with acidity and a tang of kiwi. It is warm, rounded and on the sweeter side of brut. Ready to drink.
This has striking aromas of passion fruit, apricot and pear drop, with a note of warm, spiced green apple adding dimension. While sweet in nature, this has electrifying acidity that keeps the palate clean, energetic and far from clingy. The acidity remains racy on the finish, highlighting the pretty honeysuckle character.
This has strong acidity giving a sour candy taste to the raspberry and cherry flavors. The oak overlay is just fine, the texture is silky, and the finish is dry, but that acidity will likely never go away.
This has subdued aromas of baking spice and black-skinned fruit. The smooth, rounded palate delivers clove, black cherry and licorice flavors alongside polished tannins. It's already rather evolved so drink soon.
This has subdued aromas of French oak as well as whiffs of orchard fruit and pressed acacia flower. On the palate, oak-driven spice, toast and bitter almond take center stage while notes of citrus zest and a hint of lemon drop peak through.
This has subdued aromas suggesting aromatic herb, forest floor, truffle and a whiff of leather. It's assertive and rather lean in terms of fruit richness, displaying sour cherry, pomegranate, espresso, clove and a note of powdered sage. Tight, grainy tannins leave a firm finish.
This has subdued aromas suggesting beeswax and toasted almond. The straightforward palate offers apple and white cherry alongside tangy acidity.
This has subdued aromas suggesting black-skinned fruit and baking spice. The straightforward palate evokes raspberry jam, clove and a hint of star anise alongside supple tannins. Enjoy soon.
This has subdued aromas suggesting dark berry, a whiff of exotic spice and a slight balsamic note. It's rather light bodied and quite simple for Barolo, offering red cherry and a hint of star anise alongside bright acidity and palate-drying, somewhat fleeting, tannins. Drink through 2020.
This has subdued aromas suggesting oak, toast, camphor and underbrush. The robust palate doesn't have a lot of fruit richness, but offers licorice, clove and a hint of dried cherry alongside close-grained tannins that grip the finish. You'll also notice the heat of evident alcohol.
This has subdued prune and tilled soil aromas. The simple, informal palate offers Morello cherry and black pepper flavors alongside loose-knit tannins. Drink soon.
This has subdued scents suggesting grapefruit, citrus and a whiff of sun-warmed hay. Round and ripe, the palate offers yellow apple, lemon zest and a hint of green melon alongside a note of dried sage.
This has subdued toast, coconut, incense aromas, while the palate shows grilled herb, licorice and dried cherry flavors. Assertive, close-grained tannins leave an astringent finish.
This has subdued toasted oak, underbrush and dark spice aromas, accented by a whiff of menthol. The lean, medium-bodied palate offers black cherry, espresso and sweet oak flavors, framed by fine-grained but not very persistent tannins.
This has subtle aromas evoking cocoa, black plum and leather while the evolved palate shows prune, vanilla and a hint of orange zest. Smooth tannins provide loose support. Drink soon.
This has subtle aromas of blackberry, pepper and tilled earth. The palate delivers a core of plum, blackcherry and licorice, uplifted with white pepper and orange zest accents. Its refreshing acidity makes it enjoyable now, but will also allow it to age modestly. Drink after 2016.
This has subtle aromas of raisin, toast and underbrush while the straightforward palate shows ripe black cherry, fig and mocha. Rounded tannins give it an easy-drinking structure. Enjoy through 2020.
This has subtle aromas suggesting beeswax, green pear and a whiff of nut. The lean, racy palate offers lemon zest, crisp Granny Smith apple and bitter almond alongside brisk acidity.
This has subtle flavors of strawberries, limes, dough and vanilla smoke. It's a little rough in the mouth, with a scoury texture, but it's a good buy at this price.
This has superrich fruit, spice and a touch of pepper, revealing a wine that is powerful for a Provence rosé. This is impressive and finely made.
This has surprisingly structured fruits and firm tannins for a Nouveau, and it still maintains a juicy cherry flavor and ripe acidity. The finish has a tangy, textured character.
This has sweet-tasting cherry-pie and oak flavors, plus pleasant acids and soft tannins. It tastes like a cross between a warm-climate Pinot Noir and a fruity Merlot.
This has sweet-tasting flavors of blueberry jam, milk chocolate and raspberry-cinnamon granola, wrapped into smooth, soft tannins.
This has tannins, black currant fruit and a solid structure. It should soften in two years, resulting in an attractive, juicy and fruity wine.
This has textbook aromas of smoke, earth and cherry. On the palate, the flavors come through, and if in the final analysis, it lacked a little concentration, the complexity was here, and the finish is decent. Imported by Global E. Selections, LLC.
This has that distinctive diesel-fuel aroma often associated with Riesling; while that aroma is atypical of Grenache Blanc, this remains a successful wine. Bone dry, bright in acidity and mineral-driven, it shows a citrus flavor, in addition to that petrol note.
This has the acidity to complement the 7.2% residual sugar, but it flattens out in the mouth. As a result, it loses the freshness, and feels a little dull, leaving a sugary aftertaste.
This has the brawn and power to pair with spicy dished such as turkey spezzatino with mustard cream sauce. The bouquet has an element of natural spice that recalls black pepper, nutmeg and clove. There's more fruit on the palate, especially dried raspberry and currant notes.
This has the capacity to rev-up any meat-based meal thanks to its aromatic intensity and overall spiciness. Sweet and savory at the same time, it delivers black cherry, clove, smoked bacon, leather, cola and dried fruit aromas.
This has the classic flavors of many Oregon Pinot Noirs, a balanced mix of tangy red fruits, mineral, earth and more than a hint of stem. It's full bodied and detailed, with excellent balance, weaving threads of site and grape into a complex finish.
This has the classic lightness of sweet Jurançon, with balance between the honeyed character and brilliant acidity. This is sweet, but so poised and crisp at the same time. Apricot and dried raisins are blended with lemon juice. The wine is still young; drink from 2017.
This has the concentration and sappy intensity of a late-harvest wine, though it's closer to dry than to off dry. It's borderline unctuous, with lush tropical, stone and citrus fruits all mixed together. Meyer lemon, peach and papaya stand out, with a smooth finish that adds candied pineapple to the party.
This has the crunchy, enticing freshness of the very first, pale, almost translucent apples of the year. Underneath it brings earth, chalk, stone and yeast. The autolysis is distinct but expresses itself as a restrained, chalky background that imbues the entire wine with a soft, gentle and very fine creaminess. This is elegant, serious and lasting.
This has the excellent acidity to support the ripe, super-concentrated fruit. Dense raspberry, cherry compote, baking spices, cola and licorice all come into play, with a streak of dried tobacco adding further interest.
This has the great aromatic complexity you expect from Rugiens. Generous and full textured, this is a full-bodied, rounded wine. Sweet red fruits, touched by spice, are well balanced with a streak of acidity. Wait for four years, at least.
This has the look and feel of a fine white Burgundy, with expressive acidity, pinpointed oak, rich creaminess and a certain stony minerality. Yet the fruit is pure California, tropical and succulent. The wine is from the Pisoni family.
This has the look of a monster. It's dense and dark in color, with brooding aromas of plum and mushroom. Yet that's somewhat deceptive, because it's relatively light and nimble on the palate. It's a fine juxtaposition of darkness and levity that should drink well through 2020.
This has the potential to be a very exciting wine, needing time to truly tell. Grapeseed and candied violet scents show on the nose. The tannins are chunky now but may integrate, while blackberry and black pepper flavors suggest a better future.
This has the pretty color of pink copper, a delicately yeasty aroma; and rich, sweet flavors of strawberry, lime and toast. It's a little scouring on the palate. The blend is nearly equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
This has the pretty slightly candied flavors of a black-raspberry lifesaver, but with the extra dimensions of flavor that well-crafted wines provide. The acids are ample and the tannins light, but somehow this rather delicate wine carries gracefully on through a lingering layered finish. Nicely done, in a lovely package, and a fine value.
This has the sharp, citrus skin phenolics characteristic of many Viogniers, but a rather soft middle tastes like green bananas more than citrus. Those banana flavors roll into the finish, then quickly fade.
This has the sharp, spicy excellence of the best Washington Syrahs; it's got precision, depth and texture. The fruit flavors are compact, buttressed with earthy flavors that include iron and mineral and herb. There is a leafy edge to the tannins suggestive of tobacco. It's a complex and fascinating wine that should age well.
This has the structure expected from a wine in Moulin-à-Vent. It is dense, with a dry, dark core of tannins. The acidity, red plums and black-currant fruit characteristics give the potential for freshness along with a ripe future. Drink from 2017.
This has the typical character of Sauvignon Blanc and its purity of fruit. But it is the minerality, the sense of vineyard that sets it apart. This fruity, rich wine has a creamy texture that's worth aging for several years more.
This has to be one of the last 1996's released, and it shows its age in the bricky-orange color around the rim and the bouquet, which is beginning to be dominated by dried-fruit and cigar-box notes. It's losing fruit in the mouth, too, with the flavors, such as they are, tending toward earth, tea and tomato juice. Yet it's got some interesting complexities, and fans of mature Pinots will find lots to dwell on.
This has toasted oak, espresso and mature dark-skinned berry aromas. The palate dense and packed with prune, blackberry extract and roasted coffee flavors. Raspy tannins leave an abrupt, astringent finish.
This has traditionally been a top bottling for Sojourn, and the 2011 is especially good. The vibrant acidity and pineapple, tropical fruit and honeysuckle flavors are intense and pure. Drink it now and over the next three years.
This has typical ripasso aromas of black fruit, raisin and baking spice. The palate reveals hints of cherry and black pepper, but it doesn't have much intensity. The fruit is already fading, so drink soon.
This has value written all over it, offering fleshy, ripe tropical aromas and flavors. The personality is large and in charge, yet the wine itself remains reasonably balanced and firm in structure.
This has vegetal aromas reminiscent of minestrone soup and chopped celery that carry over to its muddled, fizzy palate.
This has very nice aromatic intensity, boasting layers of peach blossom, jasmine and honey. Sweet peach tones appear on the close and are enhanced by the wine's creamy texture.
This has vigorous tannins and flavors of red cherry pie, red currant and spice. Not a long-term ager, but it offers plenty of upscale pleasure now.
This has violet, black-skinned berry and herb aromas. The bright, savory palate offers juicy raspberry, star anise and clove flavors alongside velvety tannins and refreshing acidity. Enjoy through 2020.
This has weight and ripe plum and damson flavors that are now integrating into the tannins. It's worth aging for a few years, but it is already enjoyable.
This has well-integrated herb and stem components around spicy red fruits. It punches through into a tight, well-built finish, with smooth, clean tannins. Another couple of years in bottle may help to fill it out.
This has what we're looking for in a good, dry red for dinner time, namely fruit aromas, tasty fruit flavors, full body and a firm texture of tannins and acidity. It makes a nice candidate for house red.
This has with some tannins but it is much more about the bright red fruits. It has crisp acidity that cuts through the structure to give some a fresh edge to this structured wine. Let it sit for a few months and drink from 2017.
This has zest, personality and depth, with layers of red fruit, spice, leather, pipe tobacco and dried rosemary emerge that emerge on the bouquet.
This has zesty acidity that lends a mouthwatering briskness to the citrus, peach and spice flavors. Easy to like as a cocktail sipper, or paired with Chinese food and tempura.
This Hawke's Bay-based producer has drawn fruit from Central Otago for this wine, which shows some austere tannins and minty overtones. Cherry and cinnamon notes join wintergreen, while the finish is clean, dry and firm. Worth holding a few years to see what develops.
This Hawkes Bay producer has turned out a plump, medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Marlborough. Notes of orange and lime sherbet enliven the nose, while tropical fruit comes through on the palate. Clean and refreshing on the finish.
This Hawkes Bay wine seems to be trying to out-Marlborough Marlborough. Scents of crushed tomato leaves are aggressively green, while the acids are crisp, to say the least. That said, it comfortably rides the border between pleasure and pain, ending with notes of razor-like lime juice and soothing, dusty chalk.
This hay-colored Moscato Giallo is redolent of melon, pineapple and honey. The mouthfeel is soft, plush and there's a playful touch of zesty spice on the close.
This head-turning wine was made from vines planted in the 1970s and 1990s—a selection that shocks with its complex beauty. Pine forest and Christmas spice notes accent cranberry, rhubarb and tart citrus flavors, all seemingly infused with seductive smoke. At its juicy core is an earthy, mushroomy component.
This hearty Aglianico has a beautiful nose with aromas of ripe berry, black tea, molasses and spice. It's an intriguing wine with dense black fruit, good personality and dimension. It tastes gritty and textured but ends with polished tannins.
This hearty Aglianico is streamlined and compact while also being intensely aromatic and generous. You'll get ripe fruit, blueberry, white mushroom, toasted oak, chocolate and those wonderfully emblematic volcanic nuances.
This hearty and heavily spiced take on the grape offers fascinating black cherry, cardamom, chai spice and sanguine, meaty scents on the nose. The flavors may strike some palates as too intense, brimming with dried red cherry, Indian spice and kalamata olive, bound by energetic acidity and tactile grip.
This hearty Barbera d'Alba exhibits a dark, toasty style with rich layers of generous fruit, blueberry and sweet Christmas spice. The oak element is evident and helps to tame the wine's natural sharpness and acidity.
This hearty Barbera del Monferrato offers surprisingly thick concentration and loads of bright fruit intensity. It's an inky, dark wine with bright nuances of cherry and blackberry and although there's a vinous, raw aspect to the bouquet, the mouthfeel is attractively thick and chewy.
This hearty blend boasts a dark, inky color, with bright aromas of black fruit, cola, dried rosemary, black olive and spice. The finish is thick, concentrated and long lasting.
This hearty blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot and 14% Petit Verdot offers blackberry, smoked beef, vanilla, cola and anise scents on the nose. The palate is tightly wound, its boysenberry fruit and dark soil minerality leading into a finish laced with licorice spice.
This hearty blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 9% Merlot is what put Justin on the map, and it still impresses with its elegantly woven tobacco, leather, cocoa, blueberry, and caramel aromas. It hits the palate softly, showing black cherry, baking spice, milk chocolate and faint mint notes, ending in a finish that reveals a firm tannic structure.
This hearty blend of Aglianico and Montepulciano offers dusty notes of Graham cracker and old spice. You'll also get ripe tones of cherry fruit, ground cloves and ginger.
This hearty blend of Aglianico and Piedirosso offers a compelling bouquet that is as savory and rich as it is elegant and composed. Dusty notes of crushed stone and dried fruit hold the wine together and give it momentum. The mouthfeel is bone dry, with loads of dark prune and tobacco flavors.
This hearty blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah offers meaty aromas of smoked bacon and barbecue sauce backed by black fruit and loads of exotic spice. It's a soft, polished wine with a rubbery note on the close.
This hearty blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot is a great go-to wine for a crowd. Cabernet leads the way with cedar, cranberry and tobacco notes, clipped by sizable tannin. As it opens, layers of dense raspberry and vanilla flavors unfurl.
This hearty blend of Montepulciano, Uva di Troia and Aglianico delivers rock-solid structure and sweet-smelling aromas of Graham cracker, cinnamon, rhubarb and burnt popcorn. It's an intense wine with a strange combination of aromas.
This hearty blend of Nero d'Avola and Syrah from Sicily offers succulent ripeness and full aromas of blackberry, cherry and spice. The wine tastes plump and rich and ends with layers of tobacco and leather.
This hearty Brunello is packed tight with Christmas spice, vanilla bean, freshly ground espresso, black fruit and smoky mesquite. It's a thickly extracted, sophisticated and delicious wine that lasts a very long time on the palate.
This hearty Brunello smells oddly unripe and slightly green with aromas of crushed peppercorn, eucalyptus, cola and coffee. The mouthfeel is bold and slightly bitter with plush berry flavors and raw tannins.
This hearty expression of Brunello opens with darkly sophisticated layers of smoked bacon, smoked bresaola and sweet black fruit or plum. Those plush, sweet flavors continue to the mouth and the wine ends with spicy, textured tannins.
This hearty Nero d'Avola opens with aromas of black fruit, turned soil and spice. The soft, juicy, palate offers a dense blackberry flavor that's accented by chocolate, carob and clove. While it's not complex, it has delicious fruit and a smooth texture.
This hearty Primitivo is ripe and  jammy with tones of black cherry preserves and blackberry pie. There are gritty tannins and a chewy feel that gives this wine power and succulence.
This hearty red conveys aromas of rose, violet, plum and graphite. The juicy palate doles out ripe blackberry, raspberry and cracked black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins.
This hearty red has aromas of scorched earth, dry forest floor, French oak and grilled herb. The robust palate shows the heat of the vintage, offering raisin, toasted oak, licorice and clove alongside dusty drying tannins and modest acidity.
This hearty red is packed tight with superintense aromas of black fruit, leather, tobacco and roasted espresso bean. Bold, big and meaty, this is richly extracted and inky dark. Pair it with aged Pecorino cheese.
This hearty red opens with aromas of leafy underbrush, leather, licorice and a hint of menthol. The firm, chewy palate offers ripe wild cherry, raspberry jam, anisette and tobacco. Brooding tannins support the dark flavors. Drink 2019–2029.
This hearty red opens with aromas of menthol, spirit-soaked cherry, dried rose and a balsamic note. The robust, one-dimensional palate delivers dried red cherry, stewed fruit, powdered sage and anisette alongside bracing tannins. It's savory and muscular but the heat of evident alcohol throws it off balance.
This hearty red opens with aromas of scorched earth, menthol, Asian spice, game and a whiff of stalky underbrush. The solid, earthy palate offers dried cherry marinated in spirits, raisin, ground pepper and cured meat accompanied by bracing tannins. It's a bit rustic but still appealing.
This hearty red opens with aromas of sunbaked earth, leather, menthol and aromatic herb. The solid, one-dimensional palate offers dried black cherry, blackberry confiture, licorice and tobacco alongside bracing, close-grained tannins that leave an astringent finish.
This hearty red opens with aromas of toast, coffee bean, ripe plum, leather and a dash of menthol. The warm, robust palate offers dried black cherry marinated in spirits, raisin, licorice and espresso alongside dusty tannins that dry out the finish. Showing the heat of the vintage, it's already evolved, with evident alcohol that throws it off-balance.
This hearty red opens with aromas of wild cherry, black raspberry and chopped mint. The solid, monolithic palate offers dried cherry, star anise and coffee alongside velvety tannins. Drink through 2019.
This hearty red wine from central Italy would pair well with grilled meat or veal wrapped in sage leaves and sliced prosciutto ham. Loads of red berries are followed by notes of exotic spice, leather, tobacco and firm tannins. Drink in 3–5 more years.
This hearty Ripasso opens with a somewhat offbeat nose of root beer, laurel leaf, dried grass and dried fruit or cassis syrup. The wine follows on the palate with medium density and a crisp, clean feel.
This hearty Rosso opens with earthy tones of leather, tobacco and dried rose petal. The wine's consistency is sharp and defined with uplifting acidity.
This hearty Rosso opens with spicy aromas of candied fruit, clove, dark spice and cured meat. The wine has a warm, earthy note that is characteristic of Tuscany's Sangiovese. The mouthfeel is tart, bright and fresh on the finish.
This hearty Shiraz is no joke. The smoky, meaty nose blends right into bold fruit flavors of blueberries and mulberries. It's full-bodied and creamy-textured, with a plush yet vibrant finish. Drink now–2020.
This hearty, firm-textured wine is very dark in color and saturated with ripe cherry, tart cranberry and boysenberry flavors. Dry and rather tannic, it needs a robust dish to pair with.
This hearty, rich bottling needs time to breathe, yielding fragrant black cherry, black currant, cola and roasted fennel aromas as it opens. It's soft and rounded on the palate, its blackberry, cocoa, crushed herb and pepper flavors blanketed in silky tannins.
This hearty, sturdy and flavorful red tastes dry, with firm tannins and good acidity. The aromas are a bit like wood smoke but not in an over-oaked way, and the flavors are like pomegranate and cranberry juice.
This heavily charred blend of five grapes opens with maple, toast, wood and floral black-fruit aromas. The palate is full and forward but also alert and juicy. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry, licorice, chocolate and vanilla finish oaky, with a final dose of barrel-driven vanilla matching full black fruit. Drink through 2020.
This heavily oaked Garnacha smells largely of campfire and char. A drawing, chunky palate is bold and deep, with flavors of hickory, char and blackberry. With such forceful oak, this finishes woody, meaty and with pushy flavors of clove and mint.
This heavily oaked Garnacha smells like clove and horsehide. A drawing, scratchy, resiny palate offers clove and barrel-spice flavors. The wine feels tannic and rubbing on a finish that tastes exclusively of oak-based clove.
This heavily oaked Ribera del Duero features maple, barrel char, dried cheese, licorice and boysenberry jam aromas. The palate is so concentrated it's syrupy, its blackened oak, crème de cassis and chocolate flavors feeling heavy on the finish. Drink this saturated bruiser through 2022.
This heavily oaked wine starts closed; only clove and asphalt aromas escape. In the mouth, it's sinewy in feel, with overly demanding wood-based tannins. The flavor profile is all burnt oak and clove, while showing barely any fruit.
This heavily wood-aged wine shows layers of concentrated toast, extracted chocolate and black plum flavors. The wine is big and rich with a bitterness coming from the wood. It needs another 2–3 years to round out fully.
This heavily wood-dominated wine features a dry and tannic texture. It seems lean for the vintage, giving the impression of severity. The fruit shows only in the acidity at the end.
This heavy bubbly has aromas of matchstick, burnt grass and apple. It feels jagged and foamy, with mealy apple and hay flavors. The finish is fresh and lively, but it turns bitter as it fades.
This heavy, baked Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend carries all the fingerprints of winemaker Michel Rolland, a partner from the start in this high-end Salta project. Aromas of raisin and leather are rustic and rich. Flavors of mocha, molasses, cassis and chocolate finish with a syrupy feel. Drink sooner rather than later.
This heavy, mostly fruitless Viognier is pithy, chunky and ultimately briny and green on the finish. And there's bitterness to deal with as well.
This heavy, oaky wine shows the pitfalls that Napa Valley Chardonnay can fall into. While it's very rich and sweet in tropical fruit and honey, it's soft and structureless, and tastes like it's already going downhill.
This hedonistic wine has aromas of embers, dark coffee, earth, cranberry and blackberry. It coats the palate with supple, concentrated dark fruit flavors showing some heft and grip to the tannins.
This hedonistically powerful mix of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot traffics in blackberry and black cherry jam over a layer of soft tannins. Coffee, toffee and subtle Asian and cinnamon spice keep the proceedings lively, for this is a seriously ripe and playful wine. Cellar through 2020.
This hefty Amarone could use a few more years of cellar aging, but already it shows a dark, saturated color and inky density with smoked barbecue, prune, cola, leather and black pepper notes. The tannins are firm and show a touch of bitterness.
This hefty but sluggish Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend opens with forceful aromas of earthy, herbal red-berry fruits and sweet oak. Chunky, thick and almost syrupy in feel, this tastes of herbal plum and spiced berry fruits. The longer it rests, the fatter and chunkier it gets. This warm-vintage has weight issues.
This hefty dark Malbec is full on the nose, with aromas of tree bark, cola and muscled-up black fruits. A flush jammy palate tips the scale, while peppery, lightly herbal blackberry flavors simmer with toasty oak in front of a balanced finish that echoes with herbal afternotes. Drink through 2022.
This hefty Merlot smells of iodine and berry fruits. While the palate is blocky and tannic in feel, that's an appropriate canvas for oaky, spicy herbal black-fruit flavors. On the finish, overt oak and char confirm that this is dark and burly as a whole.
This herb-laced wine comes from a 1,100-feet elevation outpost five miles from the ocean and shows both feral notes and robust fruit. Tart cranberry flavor dominates, complemented by orange peel nuances. Its tannins are in full force, calling for more time in the glass if not in the cellar. Best the second day after opening, if one can wait.
This herbaceous Cabernet also contains 17% Petite Sirah but doesn't take that variety's character on as much as it does the more herbal Bordeaux grapes, namely Cab and Cab Franc. Earthy and somewhat austere, the wine is a blend of cassis and green pepper.
This herbaceous Cabernet shows off the strengths of Western Australia: refined tannins, complex flavors and elegance galore. Tobacco and mint lead the way, followed by cassis, cigar box and hints of coffee. It's not a big powerhouse, but a classy Cabernet, with a long finish. Drink now-2015.
This herbaceous wine has a grassy character that is crispened with gooseberry and lemon grass flavors. Bright and very fresh, it's ready to drink now.
This herbaceous wine has aromas like snap peas and flavors like fruit cocktail, white pepper and celery. Light to medium in body, it offers good acidity.
This herbaceous wine is fresh, steely and crisp. Bright acidity cuts strongly through the lively texture, giving apples, lemon and pink grapefruit. Developing fast, it is ready to drink.
This herbaceous, classically fruity wine is given a push by a touch of spice. It's bright, light, and fresh, with a green aftertaste. It's ready to drink.
This herbal wine has grassy plum aromas and a touch of cowhide on the nose. Aggressive tannins and sharp acidity run alongside leafy plum and raspberry flavors. Chocolaty oak with vanilla sweetness helps things along.
This herbal wine is full of crisp green fruit. It has lively grapefruit and lime flavors as well as tangy acidity. Spicy on the finish, it's ready to drink now.
This herbal wine offers green fruits as well as red berries. Plenty of fresh acidity brightens the mineral texture along with a crisp aftertaste. Perhaps less of the freshness would have been an advantage.
This herbal, lightly earthy wine coveys aromas like thyme and parsley, but takes several minutes to open up. Flavors are subtle and citrusy and the texture smooth, with medium body.
This herbal, tannic Syrah is a serviceable bottle that would be especially good with a simple flank steak. Scents are a mix of grape blossom, cherry and coffee. The wine is solid and one dimensional and finishes with a strong herbal streak.
This here is classic amontillado. Aromas of toffee, nuts and dried stone fruits set up a round, racy but regular palate. Salted caramel is key to a fresh traditional flavor profile, while bracing lively acidity creates length on a standard tasting finish.
This hews to a leaner, minerally style remniscent of Chablis. It's bone dry and tart, with a streamlined mouthfeel, but there's nothing shy about the intense core of limes, kiwi fruits and Meyer lemons. A beautiful wine, whose modest alcohol level makes it particularly delicate.
This hides its 37 g/L residual sugar with bracing acidity and overall complexity. A dense run of ripe fruits—Meyer lemon, sweet pineapple, orange, tangerine and papaya—carries an interesting black tea note. The sweetness is detailed and complex, with honey and ginger candy flavors.
This high-acid Chardonnay has a prickly mouthfeel. It tastes considerably more tart than almost anything out there, which at least makes it different. Other than that, it offers fairly standard flavors of peaches, citrus fruits and pears, with oak elaborations.
This high-acid, intense wine is beautifully aromatic, with piercing and tart flavors of cranberry and raspberry, pure and laced with minerality. Terrific penetration, the persistence of wet stone, citrus, raspberry and cranberry flavors is impressive.
This high-alcohol mountain Zin seems to have already lost its zip, dominated by a raisiny overripeness that skirts dangerously into syrup land.
This high-alcohol, full-bodied wine made from a grape variety known for its very dark juice, is definitely deep in color, generous and ripe in flavor, firm and tannic in texture but not at all harsh. It gushes with blackberry, boysenberry and cranberry flavors, coats the mouth with fine tannins and lingers on the finish.
This high-altitude Malbec, purportedly the highest in the world, seems to have touched the sun. This is flat-out stewed, pruny and flat, with floral grapy exotic aromas. It's not balanced and the acidity is very low, but still this offers some interesting notes.
This high-altitude, Chehalem Mountains vineyard puts on a show with this 2012. A sweet chocolate and cherry nose unfolds into a complex, elegant and beautifully proportioned wine, with blackberry, mineral and baking spice components. The lingering finish promises even better things to come if you give it another six to eight years in the cellar. Drink 2015 through 2025.
This high-class blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc is both elegant and powerful. The bouquet deals classic Malbec aromas of cola, licorice and blackberry, while the palate features typical Cabernet Franc spice, along with a ripe, healthy blackberry flavor. Expansive and buttery smooth on the finish, this should be opened now–2016.
This high-end blend of Montepulciano (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon shows the best of winemaking in Abruzzo. This is a poised and confident wine, with defined aromas of ripe blackberry, leather and polished mineral. The tannins are plush and velvety; and the wine definitely delivers a very long and determined finish.
This high-end bottling features fruit from 90+-year-old vines, aged for 12 months in oak. It's medium to full in body, with supple tannins and crisp acids. Notes of barrel char and cherries finish dry, with a rustic edge.
This high-end Cab is named after a deceased winery employee who would be pleased to have such a distinguished wine in his memory. It's very powerful and tannic and needs age, but it's also exceptionally balanced. Showing ripe red and black currant flavors that have been generously oaked, it's a gorgeous young Napa Valley Cab that should develop through 2014.
This high-end Cava opens with an attractive bouquet of bready, yeasty white-fruit aromas. It's about as complex as Cava gets, with impeccable balance and a blend of creamy weight and fresh acidity supporting dry orange, papaya and white pepper flavors. A dry, peppery finish is cut like a marble statue. Drink through 2020.
This high-end fino from Tio Pepe is yeasty and shows a flor-related character. In addition, there are aromas of apple, toasted almond and turpentine. The palate is full for fino, with yeasty weight cut by acidity. Flavors of crisp, dry, salty almond and apple finish juicy, with a note of sautéed mushroom.
This high-end offering is a blend of New Zealand's own Abel clone with Dijon clone 777. Mocha, toast and charred wood notes fame pristine black cherry and plum fruit in this medium- to full-bodied wine. A dusty, lingering finish wraps things up nicely, suggesting up to 10 years of aging potential.
This high-end wine has a tenacious hold of earthiness, that exhibits as tomato leaf and dried herb. Full-bodied and densely concentrated, its tannins are smooth and fine, while the texture leans gravelly. Black pepper and leather characteristics are hard to ignore.
This high-octane Amarone offers aromas of prune, almond and spirit-soaked cherries. The lumbering palate delivers ripe plum, raisin, oak and vanilla flavors, but above all alcohol, which dominates. It's one dimensional, lacking both complexity and finesse.
This high-octane wine offers sensations of toasted oak, sawdust and evident alcohol. It's warm and evolved without much fruit richness.
This high-octane wine smells like Port, honey and black figs. It tastes very ripe, almost hot, feels quite tannic and heavy, and has a touch of sweetness to redeem it. Enjoy this as an after-dinner drink with chocolate or a cigar.
This high-octane wine will please lovers of big, powerful Zinfandel. It's a little hot from high alcohol, but so lush, you hardly notice. Offers waves of currants, anise and pepper that go on and on, and the finish is dry.
This high-priced Cabernet Sauvignon, which is entering its prime, shows reedy berry aromas along with notes of prune, cola and spice. In the mouth, this is a bit on the soft side, while candied cola, cassis and cherry flavors finish with a note of chocolate. Overall, it's ripe, tasty and ready to drink.
This high-production Pinot shows good varietal flavors of red cherry candy, cola and spices. It feels common, with a simple finish.
This high-reaching Terra Alta blend of Garnacha, Carignan and a local grape called Morenillo smells a bit stalky and herbal. A tight, pinching palate with hard tannins is powerful but bumpy. Flavors of raw oak, berry fruits and bitter herbs remain medicinal on the finish. Drink through 2018.
This high-toned bruiser pushes ultraripe scents of figs and raisins and prunes to the front, yet shows a green streak in the tannins. The wine spent 34 months in barrel, which adds more heavy-duty accents but does not mask the underlying stemminess.
This high-toned wine's sharp, gin botanical-like aromas carry over into its flavors. Lime and other citrus notes are accented with a touch of talcum powder and some residual sweetness. Though a bit unusual, it's certainly flavorful.
This high-toned wine, bright in acidity and red fruit, also offers textured notions of baked bread and brown sugar. Rich without becoming overbearing, it finishes in a spicy concoction of cinnamon and black pepper.
This high-toned, lovely wine is a best-of blend from several vineyards—primarily Ritchie and Banfield. Sugar pie apple and fig flavors form a robustly concentrated fruitiness that's ribbed with vibrant minerality. A clarified butter-like creaminess comes through on the finish.
This high-wire wine skirts along tart red fruits with a stiff herbal spine. Sourced from Lange Estate, Freedom Hill and Yamhill vineyards, it was aged in 40% new French oak. A nice streak of espresso, licorice and char completes the finish.
This high altitude vineyard reliably produces enormously ripe fruit with correspondingly giant alcohol and tannin levels. The palate is full of chocolate-covered raisin and blackberry jam flavors, but it's a little over the top.
This high octane offering opens with aromas of mature black fruit, spice and orange peel. The palate expresses lush black cherry, blackberry and clove uplifted by a note of thyme alongside a seriously tannic backbone. It's shy on fresh acidity and you can definitely detect the alcohol, but it's still delicious.
This highly accessible, reasonably priced Chardonnay sees no new oak. It offers aromatics of orange blossom and fresh-squeezed lemon followed by a lean texture of more lemon, honeysuckle and melon. Stock up.
This highly aromatic Sauvignon Blanc dishes out loads of pretty white peach and yellow cherry flavors backed by a bristling streak of acidity. It's a vibrant yet satisfyingly full-bodied wine with a pristine grapefruit finish. Drink now through 2020.
This highly aromatic wine starts off with bright aromas of white flowers, fynbos, pink apples and white peaches. The lightweight palate offers clean flavors of peach and melon, with zippy acidity and a brisk finish. It's super tasty and easy to like, so enjoy now.
This highly aromatic, softly sweet wine brings together lychees, mango and pear-skin flavors, given freshness from acidity. Light, poised, delicate, it leaves a delicious lift.
This highly concentrated, black-as-night RDD is inky, volatile and cheesy smelling, but also loaded with massive black-fruit scents. Saturated to the max, this is tannic as nails. Huge blackberry, chocolate and fig flavors end with prodding, rock-hard tannins and flavors of blackened toast, chocolate and cassis extract. This is intense enough to age for a lifetime. Drink 2020 through to 2035.
This highly concentrated, richly ripe red explores notions of plum, black cherry and tobacco. It finishes with a mildness of dried herb.
This highly perfumed wine comes from a small Gamay appellation that is in fact in the Mâcon region. With some tight tannins and rich black fruits, it is a ripe, juicy wine that has intense acidity as well as a spicy aftertaste. Drink this ripe wine from 2018.
This highly unusual expression of Verdicchio clocks in at a whopping 15% alcohol and it shows. Despite a subtle hint of lemon drop flavor, the palate lacks fruit richness to support the alcohol and it shows signs of oxidation.
This hillside-grown wine is only vineyard-designated in special vintages. The nose is like a delicate pine sap, with elements of spearmint, sweet camphor and anise set against light raspberry juice. It's elegant but energetic, with soy sauce, clove and menthol highlighting the hibiscus and red and purple fruits.
This hillside block bottling off the winery's large estate is a rich wine, dynamic in acids and tannins, with the fruity concentration young Laetitia Pinots show. It's quite oaky, and the alcohol is nice and low. The drawback is a touch of bitterness with raisiny overripeness, which will limit ageability. Drink up.
This historic and groundbreaking brand has been once again revamped and renewed. Among its latest hits is this simple, but persuasively food-friendly ripasso, which offers aromas of black cherry, cola, tobacco and spice, and a bright, firm mouthfeel.
This historic estate certainly excelled with sweet wines in 2009. This auslese is lusciously sweet yet lithe, its ripe stone fruit—apricot and peach—balanced by citrusy notes. Finishes long and clean, not cloying. Delicious now, but should easily be capable of aging for 20–30 years.
This historic estate delivers a fresh and elegant wine with etched oak tones that linger lightly alongside dark berry fruit, plum and licorice. Bright acidity hits the back of the mouth, and the wine ends with menthol nuances.
This historic producer's flagship blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul offers scents of wild honey and lemon custard. The flavors walk proudly between those elements and a citrus peel bitterness, woven amidst the freshness of seltzer and morning dew.
This historic producer sources some of the best local fruit for its elegant Barbaresco. Aromas include cassis, dried blueberry and cola, but there's also a good dose of licorice, spice and dark smoke. The wine shows excellent texture with firm, drying tannins and a bright, polished feel.
This historic wine offers a nostalgic glimpse of what consumers love most about Sangiovese and Chianti Classico. It is steady and clean, and it provides bright pulses of cherry, spice and tobacco.
This hits 15.5% alcohol—amazingly high for a Columbia wine. The tart red fruit is offset with sweet grain and dried herbs, almost like an old vine Zin from northern California. Somehow the herbs overmatch the berry flavors, which seem a bit on the light side, despite the high alcohol. Young vines?
This hits it right in the sweet spot for Chardonnay-loving consumers, with buttered toast, honey and grilled pineapple flavors. It's part of Delicato Family Vineyards' Noble Vines series.
This hits the herbal side of the grape gently, with a solid base of black cherry. There's a nice suggestion of orange peel also, and the overall impression is of a complex, sophisticated, well-balanced but relatively light style, in keeping with the strengths of this northern climate. Drink now through 2025.
This hits the jackpot. You taste it and are struck by its incredible richness, but then the balance kicks in, making it all the more impressive. It shows intense mountain flavors of blackberry, currant and dark chocolate, which are set into firm tannins. New oak brings delicious layers of vanilla and buttered toast. So good now, you can hardly keep your hands off the cork, but it should develop for many years.
This hits the palate rather hard and green, with thin fruit that does not seem quite ripe. The barrel flavors add fat and caramel over the top, but remain unintegrated and seem out of place. The wine reverts to its green side as the tannins take over.
This hits the palate with a strong oak presence, marked by flavors of buttered toast, butterscotch, honey and vanilla. But the wine evolves to show rich tropical fruit flavors that are brightened by crisp acidity. It defines California's modern take on white Burgundy.
This hits the sweet spot between fruit and wood-aging flavors. The red fruit tones have just begun to raisin, touches of wood-aging notes and integrated acidity. Not too sweet, it finishes with a fresh, rich aftertaste.
This hodgepodge of Zinfandel, Syrah, Tempranillo, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, all grown in Lake County, will please many palates. It's a subtle and satisfying red marked by sweet tannins, a soft mouthfeel and rounded notes of cherry, plum and vanilla.
This holds 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Zinfandel and 1% Petit Verdot. It satisfies in dusty dried cranberry and chocolate components, offering all-around balance with a shot of brawn, the latter most likely from the Cab's birthplace on Howell Mountain.
This holds two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot. Oak aromas of butterscotch, woodspice and vanilla are out in front of cherry and herbs. On the palate, the oak flavors lead, followed by coffee and cherry. It seems a bit heavy-handed right now but may come together with time.
This homage to Chablis blends fruit from Bentrock (49%), Rita's Crown (22%), Zotovich (14%), Kessler-Haak (8%), Clos Pepe (3%), Esperanza (3%) and Radian (1%) vineyards, delivering tight aromas of yellow flowers and grilled peach. It dances across the tongue with playful, squeezed lemon acidity, showing crushed white rocks and baking soda minerality, and finishing its high tones on a grapefruit pith bitterness.
This honest effort at a terroir-driven Cabernet starts with currant and blackberry aromas, although they’re a little on the weak side. Nice berry and spice flavors with a dash of wood. High acidity gives it a real bite, and it finishes a little sharp as well.
This honeyed spicy Spätlese seems straightforward in fruit, but its racy, nerve-tingling energy is electrifying. Fresh apple and pears are revitalized by streaks of lemon, lime and grapefruit that linger through a moderately long finish.
This honeyed white wine made from late-harvest grapes is both intensely rich and so fresh and crisp. Its acidity cuts through the ripe apricot and candied orange flavors, creating a balance that will allow it to age. Drink from 2019.
This honeyed wine from a good Sauternes year is rich. Touches of botrytis give it a dry edge and stop it from being cloying. In the background, the acidity finishes with a lift. Drink from 2018.
This honeyed wine is ripe and beautifully rich. With apricot and sweet melon flavors that are touched by the wood aging, it has both great fruit and a fine mineral texture. Vines in the heart of the Dão region produce this very fine wine that is now ready to drink.
This Horse Heaven Hills grown wine shows aromas of tobacco, dried flowers, herbs and red and blue fruit. The palate is full bodied, with tart acidity brightening the flavors.
This hot and heavy wine by Michael Gill is probably passing its peak right now, but it currently offers tobacco, stewed prunes and balsamic-glazed beef aromas. The flavors are a bit oxidized, which gives a nutty milk chocolate and brownie flavor, but the acidity and tannins are falling out. Drink now or the score drops dramatically.
This hot climate Primitivo has a jammy side that is evident in its raw notes of strawberry and blackberry preserves. This is a powerful and intense wine with flavors of spice, tar and dried herbs with a chewy, rich mouthfeel.
This hot vintage Amarone offers sweet cherry nuances with toasted nut, vanilla, red apple, resin and exotic spice. The wine is fruity and somewhat raw in the mouth and offers succulent tannins on the close.
This hot vintage Riserva offers dense aromas of black fruit and pomegranate but there's also a touch of the proverbial barnyard or Band-Aid that distracts from the big picture. The wine has raw, gritty tannins and thick extraction.
This hot vintage Sangiovese plays an even game in terms of elegance and harmony. You need to give it some time before the cherry and vanilla nuances come to full force. The wine also builds on the palate thanks to its natural structure and persistence.
This hovers on the verge of overripeness, with a hint of raisin, but it wisely pulls back at the last second into a luscious fortress of blackberry, cassis, chocolate and sweet smoky oak. So smooth and luxurious on the palate, the texture dazzles, despite some heat. The all-important tannins are nearly perfect. Drink now–2016, especially with steak.
This Howell Mountain Cab contains 3% Syrah. It good and rich in blackberries and dark chocolate, and very tannic. Will the fruit outlive the tannins? Doesn't seem likely. Drink now–2015.
This huge Malbec defines jammy and concentrated. The bouquet is ripe, soft and minty, while the palate echoes the nose with thickness and density. Flavors of prune, raisin, tea and blackberry are borderline syrupy, while the finish is smooth and pure but doesn't offer much spine or foundation. Drink this modern Malbec sooner rather than later.
This huge Petite Sirah shows such powerful blackberry, raspberry and Kahlua flavors. It's deliriously rich, so don't look for subtlety.
This huge, fruity wine is packed with tannins and superripe fruits. It's a big wine in all senses, from its massive structure to its bold red berry flavors. There's a ripe, juicy end to this powerful wine.
This huge, rich wine has weight and density. What make it still recognizably Bordeaux are the black currant fruits, acidity and the stylish tannins. Everything else is larger than life, with power and concentration. Drink from 2018. Owners Mallet Frères use parcel selection for this 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
This huge, rich wine is great Grüner Veltliner. Despite the alcohol, Rupert Summerer has managed to keep the intense freshness, the lifted, crisp pear flavors and the exuberant pepper in control. Impressive.
This huge, rich Zinfandel is ripe—nearly overripe—with dry raisin, blackberry and currant flavors. There's a curious bitterness to the finish that must come from the shriveled grape skins, which add to the wine's complexity. The vineyard is on the cooler, hillier western side of Paso Robles. Not a Zin for everyone, it's nevertheless a classic example of its genre.
This huge, ripe wine is packed with sweet fruit and a sense of structure. It is concentrated and intense and has good aging potential for the next four or five years.
This hugely dense and tannic wine wraps its full-bodied legs around a core of dried, somewhat diluted fruit. It's on the savory scale of the spectrum, more clove, dried herb and black tea than anything else.
This hugely rich yet approachable wine shows power and boldness. All the elements are there, linked by firm tannins and freshness from berry acidity.
This hugely ripe Chardonnay is just a little too big for absolute balance. Any more powerful, and it would be over the line. As it is, it flirts with it, with gobs of jammy apricots, yellow pears, citrine and Meyer lemondrop, as well as barrel influences ranging from creamy lees to buttered toast, roasted hazelnuts and smoky honey. The alcohol is over 15%.
This hugely ripe Merlot has created a monster of a wine, heavily laden with bitter coffee extraction as well as very ripe black plum fruits. Big and concentrated, this is a wine to be enjoyed for its profusion and excess.
This hugely structured wine is solid with tannins. It has a dark, dry texture that is still masking the potential of the fruits. It is developing those blackberry flavors slowly and will need some time. Drink from 2019.
This Hungarian Blauburger is garnet in color, with aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and forest floor. It has flavors of sweet cherry and cranberry and a tart finish.
This Hungarian Chardonnay has aromas of honeycomb, pear, apple and citrus blossom. In the mouth, there are flavors of toasted brioche, green apple and vanilla.
This Hungarian red blend has smoke, charcuterie and black raspberry aromas. Black plum, smoked meat and black raspberry flavors mark the palate, which finishes in a surprising burst of tart cherry.
This Hungarian red blend is garnet in color, with aromas of red cherry and black berry and flavors of red cherry and pomegranate. The tannins are soft with a medium-length finish.
This Hungarian rosé is a blend of 33% Kékfrankos, 22% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 5% Pinot Noir and 3% Syrah. It has aromas of strawberries, freshly sliced apple and fresh cherry juice. It flavors are those of bright cherry and red raspberry with a pleasant tartness on the finish.
This Hungarian white blend is composed of 65% Furmint and 35% Hárslevelu and has aromas of citrus blossom, dried Mediterranean herbs and fresh sage. It has flavors of grapefruit rind and fresh lemon juice. The finish is lively, bright and pleasantly acidic.
This Hungarian white has aromas of peach, apricot, citrus blossom and vanilla bean. In the mouth, there are flavors of caramelized apple and wet river rock.
This hyper-ripe wine hits it hard in terms of power and sheer strength of fruit, making for a big, slightly sweet and one-dimensional experience bordering on Port. It's to be enjoyed carefully.
This Icewine is a blend of Muscat, Ottonel and Traminer. It presents the nose with caramelized pineapple, lemon curd and lemon meringue pie. It is fairly sweet on the palate with a mixture of lemon grass, sweet lime rind and lemon curd.
This iconic bottling, a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Canaiolo, features aromas of ripe black fruit, violet, grilled herb, toast and espresso. The palate delivers juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, vanilla and mocha alongside firm but refined tannins. It closes on a licorice note. Drink 2015–2023.
This iconic Brunello seamlessly combines power and finesse. It opens with earthy aromas of underbrush, tobacco, tilled soil and blackberries. The dense palate delivers juicy black cherry and raspberry alongside black pepper, licorice and a balsam note. It's impeccably balanced but still very young, and still showing racy acidity and assertive tannins. Give it time to soften and develop more complexity. Drink 2016–2031.
This iconic Chilean Cabernet is firm on the nose, with cola, cassis, cherry and leather aromas. It's racy, juicy and powerful, with flavors of cassis, blackberry, plum, nutmeg and coffee that swim in harmony. This is big, but also elegant and clean. Drink through 2019.
This iconic regional vineyard is widely sourced, and this bottling presents it well. Fresh aromas of Meyer lemon and graphite shavings get layered with oak-related scents of toasted coconut flake and ground vanilla. The palate surrounds a core of lemon-lime-laced apple and fleshy ripe pear, with guava skin on the finish. Very easy to drink.
This iconic Syrah is big and gripping in every sense: a dark, boysenberry and raspberry fruit-infused bouquet; a spicy, deeply flavored palate; a thick and chewy texture with superb strength. Luckily, there's enough acidity and supporting elements of earthy tobacco and wild animal to keep it balanced and lifted enough. Decant if drinking now, or hold for another couple of years.
This iconic wine is rich and perfumed. It's powerful and concentrated, with layers of wood contrasted by explosive, ripe fruits. Ripe red-fruit flavors are brightened by ample acidity, resulting in a sumptuous wine that also has enough tannins to age. Drink from 2018.
This immaculate, fresh and beautifully defined wine is Aubichon's entry-level Pinot Noir, and sets the stage for a lovely lineup. Cranberry, cucumber, wet stone and even a faint hint of banana wreathe aromatically into a sinuous midpalate with both density and focus.
This immediately appealing wine offers aromas of plum, confection, blueberry, black olive and cocoa. The fruit flavors are sweet and concentrated, backed by lightly chalky tannins that will benefit from some time in the cellar.
This immediately attractive fruity wine does everything a dry, fresh rosé should. With bright fruits, layered acidity and richness, it is very ready to drink with food.
This immediately presents itself in fine fashion. Ripe berry, generous oak and rooty notes form a complex nose. Spot on across the palate, with depth and freshness, this tastes of cherry, blackberry and mocha. A deep finish with exemplary balance confirms both quality and value. Drink through 2019.
This immense Cabernet contains 3% Malbec, and it's about as ripe and raisiny as a wine can get while still holding onto a semblance of balance. Aromas of raisin and baked blackberry blend with rooty cola and vanilla notes. This feels heavy to the point of syrupy, while flavors of prune, mocha and blueberry finish chunky, with low acidity. Drink through 2019.
This immensely likeable wine, from the Oak Knoll section of the valley, avoids the overly fat, soft fruit of warmer areas, while preserving vital acidity. There's plenty of cassis fruit, and 50% new oak, but it's wonderfully balanced, with a modest 13.5% alcohol. You might easily mistake it for a fine St.-Julien, it's that good.
This imposing and extremely ripe tasting wine has an inky dark color, aromas of ripe black cherries, flavors of cassis, espresso and bitter chocolate and a very firm, tannic texture to support all that opulence. Made from half Petite Sirah and half Syrah, it's a no-holds-barred feast of fruit and power.
This impresses in graceful red berry, dried herb and wild vanilla, each component complementing the next. Well integrated and well made, this is a lengthy, complex and delicious wine that'll please a range of palates in search of moderate ripeness.
This impressive 100% varietal wine comes from Cold Creek, Candy Mountain and Windrow vineyards. With the oak (40% new French) pleasantly restrained, it offers aromas of dried herbs, coffee, cherry and light barrel spices. Lithe black currant flavors are tightly focused and flavorful with taut acidity, showing exceptional length and balance. Best from 2018 to 2023.
This impressive 100% varietal wine shows focused red fruit, a tropical edge of coconut and firm, structured tannin. Sage, cedar, tobacco and black pepper notes provide a sultry, savory counterpoint to the fruit, balanced with moderate acidity. Enjoy 2023–2033.
This impressive and beautifully proportioned wine smells jammy and smoky. It tastes luxurious, exotic and concentrated as very ripe berry flavors meet black pepper, cardamom and dark chocolate. The texture is broad and lush, but also firm with fine tannins.
This impressive and ripe wine comes from a warm vintage. It has mango as well as apricot fruits, giving a rich generous character. The acidity provides just the right tang at the end to bring out the minerality that lies at the back of this fine wine. Drink now.
This impressive Barbaresco shows generous intensity and a very nice equilibrium between wild berry fruit and oak-driven tones of spice and tobacco. There's a fun touch of pepper and white truffle as well and the wine is compact, firm and elegant on the close.
This impressive blend of Sangiovese and Merlot offers rich softness and a smooth texture backed by ripe aromas of red fruit, cinnamon spice, chocolate and mocha. The tannins also show softness and the wine would pair with choice cuts of succulent meat.
This impressive bottling is brightly substantial and tensely textured, lively in acidity and yet brimming with complexity. Stony lemon and peach ride a fruitful wave of flavor and find balance between sweet ripeness and memorable crispness.
This impressive Brunello Riserva opens with an inky, garnet color, gorgeous aromatic intensity and bright tones of red cherry, licorice, rum cake and menthol. The wine feels tight and silky in the mouth with great purity and a long, polished feel. The wine can be cellared or consumed in two to three years from now.
This impressive bubbly has apple, caramel and toffee aromas, melt-in-the-mouth Bosc pear and spice rack flavors, a rich but firm texture, and long finish. It possesses amazing liveliness, body and depth, and seems to reveal more nuances and freshness with each sip. While terrific to drink now, it can be cellared through at least 2020.
This impressive Champagne is rich while tight and mineral-textured. Creamy and ripe, it balances the weight of Pinot Noir with the elegance of Chardonnay. The producer's location in the relatively warm Aube region gives its wines extra fullness. This one is just now ready to drink.
This impressive Chardonnay from a small Livermore Valley producer is on the austere side of Chardonnay, with notes of just-ripe pear, tiny hints of wet stone, a nice, nutty finish and enough body to go with a wealth of foods. Good balance too.
This impressive dry wine is made as part of a club of producers who taste and evaluate each other's wines before release. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, it is full of white fruit with a toasty edge that gives the wine weight. Behind this is a strongly mineral character with bite and zest that will allow it age further. Drink from 2020.
This impressive offering is crystal-clean and direct, with green apple, lime and petrichor notes that typify Riesling. It's medium bodied and fully dry, with a long, lime-riddled finish. Drink it over the next decade or so.
This impressive offering is drawn from the cooperative's own domaine. It's full bodied and firm, with a chewy finish that demands cellaring, but the complex aromas and flavors of cedar, cassis, roasted meat, licorice and cracked peppercorns are compelling even now.
This impressive operation covers much of eastern Waiheke, although only a small portion of the property is planted to vines. The 2010 vintage was especially good on the island, and this wine is crammed with ripe, peachy fruit, framed by smoky oak and roasted nuts. Despite being weighty and round in the mouth, it finishes well, on a lingering citrusy note. Drink it over the next couple of years.
This impressive Port was made with old vine grapes foot-trodden in open lagares. Opulent, dense and rich with sweet fruit balanced by dry tannins and considerable acidity, it's built to age seriously. Named after Antonia Adelaide Ferreira—a legendary Douro figure from the 19th century whose family still owns the estate—it will be ready to drink from 2028 at the earliest.
This impressive Rosso delivers a silky and smooth texture, with aromas of bright fruit backed by toasted nut and spice. The balance and overall harmony of the mouthfeel are what set this wine apart.
This impressive Rosso offers lush aromas of rum cake, coffee, spice, pipe tobacco and dark fruit. It shows warm, earthy or leathery notes in the mouth that are rounded off by fresh Sangiovese acidity.
This impressive value-driven wine, with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah added, offers a pleasant array of lavender, smoke and chocolate tastes atop a thick texture. Tangy cranberry, raspberry and blackberry give it a juicy, fruity edge that's decadent yet integrated.
This impressive value from Bordeaux house Yvon Mau shows that Languedoc-Roussillon is capable of turning out serious Syrah/Shiraz at a reasonable price. Seared meat, black pepper and raspberry scents make for a nice opening while cherry and white pepper flavors permeate the moderately intense palate. Short finish; drink up.
This impressive white from Sardinia opens with aromas of ripe orchard fruit, Mediterranean brush and a whiff of exotic fruit while the juicy palate doles out apricot, pineapple and candied citrus zest. An energizing mineral note brightens the creamy flavors.
This impressive white was fermented in equal parts concrete and stainless steel, retaining a lush texture and vibrant minerality. Night-blooming jasmine exudes from the glass before revealing well-defined layers of spiced lemon, peach and white pepper.
This impressive wine combines power and style. It has a classic Bordeaux-like aroma that's subtly spicy, very clean, complex and precise. Then loads of red and black fruit flavors come out, seeming almost sweet for a moment until those firm tannins and lively acidity kick in to add a textural grip. The finish lingers, with light spicy oak notes that fade slowly. Best now through 2020.
This impressive wine comes from the northernmost of the Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, where the chalk soil contains more clay. This gives a wine with weight and fine fruitiness. The hints of toast are just showing through the citrus fruits indicating that the wine is just ready to drink.
This impressive wine dances in hearty clove and cinnamon sparked by a floral bouquet of rose. High-toned, structured and elegant, it has subtle power and concentration but remains fresh in the glass. Drink now through 2020.
This impressive wine follows a straight line of structure, acidity, firm tannins and dark black fruits. The combination is a wine with depth, ripeness and an edge of austerity that demands aging. Drink from 2018.
This impressive wine from estate-grown fruit, including 10% Cabernet Franc, is tightly woven, fleshy and youthful, with smoky cedar and dark cherry notes. Powerfully structured, it shows a classic approach to ripeness and oak, integrating both well and with restraint.
This impressive wine has a perfumed character, almost smelling and tasting of the wild garrigue and forest that makes up much of the La Bégude estate. It also holds a well-wrought tannic side, dark and solid, packed with black currant and berry fruits. It will age for many years and should not be drunk before 2019.
This impressive wine has great intensity and superb apricot and orange flavors. Acidity mingles with its botrytis core and rich, concentrated fruit, striking a fine balance. It will become delicious as it matures. Drink from 2024.
This impressive wine is exuberant in juicy, varietal integrity. Rocky minerality meets a brightness of pomegranate, cassis and richly brooding blackberry, finding the right hints of clove and tobacco along the way.
This impressive wine is full bodied, round and dusty in texture, filled with deep cherry fruit and dark chocolate notes. It finishes long and softly tannic. Drink now–2025.
This impressive wine is full of potential. Powerful wood flavors are currently masking the fruitiness of the wine. However the weight of fruit and the rich texture promise good long-term aging.
This impressive wine is succulent in delicious berry flavor that's been dipped in smoky leather. Supple firm tannin adds structure and strength, as a length of spice and tobacco plays palatable games on the finish.
This impressive wine is tangy in cherry, cranberry and evocative peels of orange zest that possess concentrated tannin and weight while maintaining a baseline of positive acidity. Lengthy and bold on the finish, it lingers in hits of spice.
This impressive wine, packed with both fruit and tannins, is just setting out on a long road of aging. It is rich, dense with dry fruit and wood tannins, and buttressed with dark black fruits layered with acidity. The wine, with its ripe fruit and firm structure, needs time. Drink from 2018.
This impressive wood-aged wine has weight, rich black and red berry flavors and a smooth, unctuous texture. With its concentration, ripeness, acidity and tannins, it could age through 2016.
This impressive wood-aged wine shows both the rich side of Pouilly Fuissé and its taut, minerally character. It is full and rich, yet always expressing a nervy, zingy edge. Age for at least three years.
This impressive, larger-production wine is forested and savory in compost. It offers a medium-bodied imprint of molasses, citrus and deep, dark tannin.
This impressive, pure Merlot offers plenty of grip and concentration. Black-cherry fruit and dark chocolate, espresso and fine-grained tannins are all in play. The structure, length and polish make this a standout, especially at this price.
This impressive, ripe wine from the Venturi estate has fine, juicy black fruit flavors balanced by acidity and underlying firm tannins. Its concentrated berry flavors are complemented by wood aging, which adds mint flavors as well as toast. Age this wine further and drink from 2019.
This impressively bold, dry wine could have been labeled as a varietal Syrah. It needs to pair with big chunks of meat or cheese. Concentrated blueberry, dark chocolate and blackberry combine with firm tannins and light spices from oak aging.
This impressively concentrated wine focuses on the brilliant red fruits that shine through the generous texture. It is ripe, with a streak of fresh acidity at the end to give the essential refreshing aftertaste.
This impressively concentrated, full-bodied and firmly tannic wine will be a great match for the next juicy steak or lasagna. It has a thick, inky, red color, attractive cedar and spice aromas, and full flavors like blackberries and pomegranate juice. The thick, velvety tannic feel is perfect for adventurous tastes. It's made with Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Freisa grapes.
This impressively powerful wine has dense tannins and concentration. With 74%  Cabernet Sauvignon, it is firm, packed with black-currant fruits with intense, perfumed acidity. Cabernet Franc adds spice to the wine. The wood aging is still showing and the wine will need several years before enjoying. Drink from 2025.
This impressively structured and rich wine is full of yellow fruits, apricot skins and yellow plum skins. It's rounded and full in the mouth with juicy while textured fruits. Drink this ageworthy wine from 2017.
This impressively textured, focused and voluptuous wine offers well-defined flavors and aromas of honey, caramel and crisp Golden Delicious apple. Seamless and well balanced, it impresses from start to finish, with buoyant, supportive acidity at its core.
This inaugural barrel-fermented white blend is gold in color and toasty on the nose, with baked apple, a pinch of sweat and heavy raw-oak aromas. A resiny mouthfeel leads to a savory palate with more wood and corn flavor than fruit. The finish has a smooth feel and lasting oaky flavors.
This inaugural release displays dialed-back aromas of pencil eraser and dried herbs that need a bit more lift. The palate puts a premium on purity of expression along with a tart lick of acid and cinnamon notes on the finish. If the aromas and flavors sync up further, this young wine moves up a notch.
This inaugural release from former NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Damon Huard is a blend of 86% Discovery Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Klipsun Merlot and 5% Champoux Cabernet Franc. It's aromatically brooding at kickoff, with notes of dark coffee, dusty earth and cherry. The soft, smooth cherry and coffee flavors will benefit from additional time in the bottle, as this wine is more about elegance than sheer power. Give it until 2025–2030 to see it at its best; it has the stuffing to get there.
This inaugural release is 100% varietal that's aged in neutral French puncheons. The panoply of notes includes raspberry seed, dark plum, green olive and nori. The mouthfeel is the true star with a rich, pillowy-soft, palate-coating texture showing exceptional purity and an extended finish.
This inaugural release is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. The grapes come from vineyards in St. Helena and Rutherford. It's an inky black, dry, powerful wine, with intense flavors of black cherry, red and black currant and dark chocolate, plus floral and mineral notes. The tannins are strong, but sweet and refined. Showing lots of class, this can be consumed now, and it will also age for 8–10 years.
This inaugural release is pretty good, made in the international or cult style of softness, extreme ripeness and early palate appeal. It's forward in jammy cherry, black currant and plum flavors.
This inaugural release of Brian Carter's “Spanish Style Blend” is 70% Stone Tree vineyard Tempranillo. Carter is a supremely skillful and thoughtful blender, and the result is a luscious, mouthwatering bottle of wine that opens with a perfect mix of berries and light chocolate; scents of spice and mint; and a palate-pleasing streak of bacon fat that lingers happily in the mouth.
This inaugural vintage of Monastery shows a complex intermingling of herb and briny cheese rind along with soft and generous Asian spice and brambly blackberries. The savory characteristics persist into black tea and subtle black pepper, all the while accented by just-bloomed rose.
This inaugural wine is a mix of fruit from Wild Rose and Yellow Bird vineyards, both located in the up-and-coming Upper Mill Creek area of the valley. Aromas of vanilla, clove, baking spice and dark cherry lead a palate that equally mixes fruit and barrel. The tannins need some time to settle in.
This includes 10% Sémillon in the blend, which works nicely. It brings lush fruit flavors of melon, pear and passionfruit, along with a leesy, textural mouthfeel.
This includes 13% Gamay in the blend and spent 13 months in 15% new French oak. It's a modest wine, with cranberry and tart raspberry fruit. It has good focus, a dash of pepper and more substance to the finish than you might expect. Two-hundred cases were exported to the U.S.
This includes grapes from the winery's Jerusalem Hill vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, in addition to the Dundee Hills sites, hence the more general Willamette Valley designation. It was aged in 65% new French oak for 16 months. It's open and generous, offering bright berry, cherry and red currant fruit matched to defining acids, all set in a fine-tuned frame of new oak. Re-tasted 24 hours after being opened, it remained fresh, dense and satisfying.
This includes small amounts of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot from the famous site, the wine lushly round and decadent in a taste of chocolate sauce and plum. Dusty chalky tannin support modest acidity and powerful French oak.
This incredibly tasty wine seems to melt in the mouth. Classic aromas of cinnamon, black cherry and cedar becomes more chocolaty on the palate as layers of cocoa, dark plum and toasted baguette unfold. Its texture is so velvety that the fine-grained tannins seem to dissolve as you sip, while still providing a slight grip that counteracts the richness and full body. Tempting now, it will be best 2022–2032.
This incredibly zesty and fruity bottling shows raspberry, lavender and white pepper on the nose. It's fun to sip, with snappy red fruits and hibiscus most prominent. Complexity comes from touches of rooibos tea and potpourri. It's still extremely youthful.
This indigenous Cretan variety shows its character in the deft hands of Lyrarakis, grown at high altitude. Aromas of fresh pineapple, citrus and flowers lead into pear, green apple and saline notes. Balanced and bright.
This indigenous Cretan white displays lovely aromas of exotic tropical fruits and spice. On the palate, an appealing interplay of ripe citrus fruit and toast gives the wine a layered character. Not overly complicated but a unique glimpse into an ancient variety.
This indigenous Romanian variety is made into a dark ruby colored wine with aromas cigar box and farm stand that are only slightly reinforced by cherry notes. However, the flavor of cherry is prominent in the mouth, alongside a pleasing essence of pipe tobacco that lingers beyond the smooth finish.
This individual and exotic wine boasts aromas of sweet bay leaves, dried apricots and crushed black pepper. The fruit flavors are tart, veering toward red cherries and apple skin, finishing with firm acids and tannins. Drink young with herbed roasts to help bring out the fruit. —J.C.
This individualistic Chardonnay has a lot to offer. The nose is ripe, with floral, honey and even petrol notes and opens to a palate of tangerine and lychee nut-like flavors.  The mouthfeel is round and smooth; the sweet and sour finish, dry and spicy. Reminiscent of some Alsatian whites and worthy of notice for its flavorful uniqueness.
This industrial-quality Chardonnay opens with forced oak aromas and little to no fruit. The palate is plump, with low acidity. Melony flavors come with yeasty notes of salami and ham, while the finish tastes salty.
This inexpensive Aussie Shiraz seems to have deteriorated in recent vintages. The 2007 tastes sweet, filled with candied fruit and turning a bit cloying on the finish.
This inexpensive Chardonnay has a fair amount of oaky depth to it, unexpectedly since only 5% of it was aged in American oak, the rest in stainless steel. Nonetheless it has toasty vanilla flavors and aromas of lime, apple and cantaloupe and tastes refreshing and clean.
This inexpensive Pinot Gris has pear fruit with spicy highlights that somehow conjure up caraway. It's wrapped in yeasty flavors of fresh-baked bread and plenty of lemony acid.
This inexpensive red wine has muscle and depth. It's chocolaty, rich and loaded with ripe, supple fruits and smooth caramel. There is plenty of coffee flavor, a sweet and broad mid-palate, and a simple but satisfying finish.
This inexpensive Rhône white represents a notable bargain. It's medium to full in body, but balanced. Slightly confected notes of Turkish delight, melon and pineapple flavors coat the palate, lingering through the long finish. Drink now.
This inexpensive Shiraz (60%) and Cab (40%) blend represents a solid value, blending cassis and dark coffee flavors with hints of mint and bell pepper. The green notes are adequately balanced by ripe fruit, and the tannins are extremely supple, finshing on a velvety note.
This inexpensive white wine does a good job of being dry and ultracrisp in acidity, which gets the mouth watering. It offers pleasant flavors of Lifesaver candy pineapples and lemons, with a hint of vanilla.
This inexpensive wine is enjoyable to drink for its raisin aromas, ample fruit flavors and comparatively soft, easy texture for the variety.
This inexpensive wine is relatively low in alcohol and reasonably refreshing, although pear, melon and pineapple flavors leave a slightly sweet impression on the palate. Drink now.
This inexpensive, delicious fresh wine has good depth of concentration and long, vanilla flavors.
This informal but pretty Pinot Nero opens with fragrances of red berry and spice. The bright palate offers fresh acidity and flavors of crushed cherry, strawberry and cinnamon spice.
This informal expression of Aglianico opens with zesty, slightly green aromas of curry leaf and dried herb, with subtle hints of wild berry and cassis. The finish is strongly reminiscent of crushed white peppercorn.
This informal red has a shy nose that eventually reveals whiffs of black-skinned fruit and a suggestion of cooking spice. The simple palate delivers black cherry and vanilla alongside laid-back tannins. Drink soon.
This informal red has delicate black-skinned fruit and baking spice aromas. The simple palate suggests black plum and clove, with a touch of tobacco. It's not very intense and already extremely accessible, so drink soon.
This informal red has subdued baking spice and black-skinned fruit aromas. The simple palate delivers prune and confected notes, alongside chewy tannins. Drink soon.
This informal red offers aromas of prune, resin and a hint of sweet baking spice. The simple, straightforward palate shows raspberry jam, cocoa and vanilla alongside tangy acidity and dusty, fleeting tannins. Drink sooner rather than later.
This informal red offers aromas of ripe blackberry and Mediterranean herb. The round, simple palate shows black cherry, ripe blackberry and ground cooking spice alongside soft, fleeting tannins. Drink now.
This informal red opens with aromas of leafy underbrush, wet soil and dark plum. The simple palate offers up tart cherry, black raspberry and an earthy note of game alongside brisk acidity. Angular but fleeting tannins give it an abrupt finish. Drink now.
This informal red opens with aromas of mature orange peel, red berry, sage and a whiff of cellar floor. The no frills palate offers tart red currant, red cherry, green pepper and star anise alongside racy acidity.
This informal red opens with aromas of red berry and a whiff of cellar floor. The simple palate offers black cherry and orange peel alongside zesty acidity and dusty tannins. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.
This informal red opens with aromas of tilled soil, blackberry and a whiff of game. The simple palate offers juicy black cherry and a hint of baking spice alongside angular, fleeting tannins and racy acidity.
This informal red opens with aromas of violet, berry and a whiff of sawdust. The simple, fleeting palate offers dried black cherry and a hint of dark spice alongside grainy tannins that lead into an astringent, abrupt finish.
This informal red opens with aromas that suggest dark-skinned fruit and Mediterranean brush. The dense, simple palate offers juicy black cherry and a hint of dark cooking spice. It closes on a note of bitter almond.
This informal red opens with muted aromas of spiced blueberry and mature blackberry. The simple, easy-drinking palate offers mature black cherry, raspberry and a hint of clove alongside soft, fleeting tannins. Drink now.
This informal red shows subdued iris and baking spice aromas. It's easygoing on the palate, with raspberry fruit, a bitter almond note and smooth tannins. Enjoy soon.
This informal red wine is the kind of bottle you'll want to stash away in the kitchen for easy pairings with weekday family dinners. The bouquet presents red berry, almond and cola nuances.
This informal rosato offers delicate aromas and flavors of wild red berry and blood orange. It's rather lean and diluted, with bracing acidity.
This informal Rosso shows balance and intensity with bright berry aromas and acidity that is not too sharp. In fact, the wine is nicely rounded and supple.
This informal Sangiovese-based red wine (in a screwcap bottle) shows bright berry nuances of cassis, cranberry and forest fruit. The wine finishes in an easy-drinking but crisp style.
This informal Tuscan blend of Chardonnay, Grechetto and Sauvignon Blanc offers a sunny bouquet of mature fruit, apricot, citrus and honeysuckle. The wine is pleasantly fragrant and flavorful with crisp acidity and a generous mouthfeel.
This informal white offers aromas of citrus blossom and peach while the light, simple palate shows pear, a touch of lime and a hint of mineral. Zesty acidity leaves a fresh finish.
This informal white opens with whiffs of orchard fruit and citrus while the simple palate offers suggestions of pear and pineapple. A hint of bitter almond marks the rather lean abrupt finish.
This informal wine offers black cherry, crushed raspberry and floral sensations. It's light bodied and simple and would be perfect to accompany everyday fare, from dense tomato soups like passata al pomodoro to backyard barbecues.
This informal wine opens with a dark, ruby color and pretty notes of red berry, rose and pipe tobacco.
This informal wine opens with dainty aromas of black and red berries together with a whiff of baking spice. The simple palate offers fleeting black cherry and raspberry notes alongside the barest hint of clove. It's made to be drunk young, so enjoy soon.
This informal, off-dry red opens with primary aromas of just-fermented wine, blue flower and black plum. The lively, frothy palate offers sweet black cherry and blackberry with a hint of mocha alongside brisk acidity. Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants, Estelle Imports.
This informal, simple red opens with fruity aromas of black cherry, raspberry and a faint whiff of sweet baking spice that carry over to the juicy, fleeting palate. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon.
This informal, slightly sweet sparkler offers yellow pear, glazed almond and candied-citrus flavors. Vigorous bubbles and brisk acidity make up the bracing backdrop.
This initially opens with funky aromas of barnyard and truffle that soon blow off to reveal ripe plum and kitchen spice aromas. The forward palate offers up fleshy black cherry, anise and grilled sage alongside grippy tannins that leave a bracing finish.
This initially shows funky aromas of stalky underbrush, wet soil and a whiff of damp fur that slowly blow off to reveal toast, leather and dried blackberry jam. The dense full-bodied palate evokes prune, chocolate and a hint of tobacco alongside firm tannins.
This inky-black Barbera boasts granite and slate aromas with black fruit, cassis, wild mushroom, tobacco and wet earth. These are the characteristic aromas of this native grape variety, although the deep extraction and sweet oak flavors on display here denote a very modern interpretation.
This inky-black Bordeaux blend is based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It's bone dry, tremendously hard in tannins and also quite acidic, giving the overall impression of tough rusticity. However, there's a tremendous core of blackberries and cassis. Decant and drink now.
This inky-colored wine is showing some age. It offers flavors of prune, bell pepper, toast and ground black pepper alongside astringent tannins. The fruit is all dried up.
This inky-colored zesty wine offers aromas of sour cherry, leather and a hint of dried herb. The extremely simple, easygoing palate shows red plum and a hint of clove alongside loose knit tannins.
This inky-dark red wine made from the hearty Aglianico grape shows chewy, rich berry flavors and determined alcoholic heat. This is a powerful red wine, with loads of black fruit intensity and a bold, chewy finish.
This inky-violet wine has a nose of raspberry, violet and herbes du Provence. It is soft in the mouth, with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, mountainside herbs and smoke, and a bright splash of cranberry on the finish.
This inky and opaque Chianti Classico is made in an international style, offering intense oak and vanilla aromas. The palate shows overripe plum, espresso and green bell pepper flavors. While it starts off plush, it has short length with a drying, tannic finish.
This inky black blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot delivers a thick, impenetrable appearance with jammy notes of blackberry preserves and maraschino cherry. It presents chewy, succulent fruit but is not overdone or too heavy on the close.
This inky blend of Pallagrello Nero and Casavecchia (two of Italy's oldest grape varieties) opens with opulent aromas of chocolate, exotic spice, dark fruit, cola and cinnamon. It is smooth and rich on the palate but the wine also imparts a high dose of sweetness and succulence that would work well next to rare beef.
This inky garnet-colored wine delivers aromas of dark plums, blackberry and a soft hint of smoke. There is a good interplay of fruit and spice flavors set into a framework of firm tannins. Expect flavors of blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, anise and coffee with a touch of eucalyptus that dwindles as bright cherry and vanilla notes take over the smooth finish.
This inky garnet-colored wine offers a bouquet of blueberry and aniseed. It is well made, with ever-so-slightly chewy tannins and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and violet that culminate in an anise-laden finish.
This inky glassful is a little tight now, with firm acidity and coating, sandy tannins. A bit of aging will gently loosen the copious black plum, pepper, char, grilled meat and violet aromas and flavors for extended enjoyment.
This inky Malbec opens with an oaky blend of vanilla, blackberry, prune, cassis and tobacco aromas. A compact, firm palate is just lush enough, while oak-based flavors of cinnamon and baking spices rest on top of spiced plum and cassis. A peppery finish is intermixed with tobacco notes. Drink through 2021.
This inky purple dessert wine delivers high-toned fruit flavors of blueberry, blackberry jam, cinnamon, mocha and vanilla. Chewy tannins offer support and close on a nutmeg note.
This inky red-violet wine has a nose of blueberry pie, green pepper and violet. It is slightly tart at first sip, with tannins that hide at first and then coat the tongue and gums. A rich flavor profile of blackberry, cranberry, anise, violet and white chocolate makes way for cherry and chocolate notes in the finish.
This inky San Rafael red features power, heat, blackberry and cassis on the nose. In the mouth, it's full and balanced in feel, with black fruit, baked plum and toast flavors. A clean, almost stony feeling finish suggests minerality. Drink through 2018.
This inky wine opens with black concentration and rich aromas of mature cherry, almond paste, spice, blackberry and plum. Integrated wood tones of leather and toasted coffee complete the picture and help render soft but structured tannins. Drink after 2015.
This inky, concentrated bruiser opens with lemony oak, graphite, earth tones and deep black-fruit aromas. Like the nose, the palate is intense and ripe as Tinto Fino gets, with smooth, manageable tannins. Flavors of blackberry, prune, cassis, lemon rind and tobacco end with power, class and depth; drink from 2017–2027.
This inky, concentrated, ultraripe Malbec is one of the best wines Zuccardi has produced. Aromas of blueberry, cassis, graphite and chocolate feed into a generous palate with creamy oak, mocha, baked berry and cassis flavors. The finish is lusty and big, but not biting, so you can drink this beauty anytime from now through 2017.
This inky, dense Brunello delivers rich opulence and velvety cherry-berry nuances. Cassis, ripe raspberries and currants are followed by dark chocolate and exotic spice. The wine shows great balance too, especially between acidity and tannin.
This inky, embryonic wine deserves to be cellared until at least 2025 and should drink well for at least 25 years after that. It takes its time opening up in the glass to reveal notes of grilled meat, vanilla and plum. In the mouth, it's full bodied and firmly built, with a wall of chewy tannins surrounding a deep ripe core.
This inky, herbaceous 100% Cabernet is defined by peppercorn and dusty, chalky pencil shavings. Juicy on the palate as well as soft and supple, it's complex and etched in black licorice, with a lingering finish.
This inky, jammy smelling Toro is overflowing with blackberry and blueberry aromas. In the mouth, grabby tannins rise up with power, creating a rugged mouthfeel. Flavors of blackberry, charred oak, burnt meat and blackened spices finish dark, toasty, peppery and slightly bitter. Talk about a serious Toro with massive flavors and pounding tannins; drink from 2014 through 2019.
This inky, red-violet colored wine offers aromas of black plum and lavender. Flavors of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, espresso and violet sit among silky tannins that offer a pleasing textural experience to the entire palate. The finish is notable for a short burst of orange zest.
This inky, thick and well- extracted wine (made from Casavecchia grapes) offers very pretty aromas of dark chocolate, prune, exotic spice and black jammy fruit. The tannins are soft and polished and the wine performs even better after a few minutes in the glass.
This inky, unfiltered Merlot is a chore to get through. For starters, the saturated bouquet is murky and less than fresh. In the mouth, expect a blocky, extracted mouthfeel and roasted flavors of herbal berry and raisin. Lastly, there's a tannic grab as well as particles and chunks floating about.
This innovative blend of 60% Sémillon and 40% Marsanne doesn't show the hoped-for synergies. Hints of tar and rubber refuse to blow off completely, and the modest green apple and citrus flavors come across as lean and emaciated on the palate.
This innovative Cretan producer hits the mark with this pretty, fragrant white blend including the island's hallmark white, Vidiano. The nose is full of flowers, white peach fruit and rip citrus, while on the palate, an interplay of exotic fruit and minerality keep the wine focused but friendly. A great wine for spicy Indian cuisine or sushi.
This insanely sippable wine is ready for spring oyster gatherings or gulping down on its own. Low in alcohol with just 6 g/L residual sugar, it's crisp, deliciously light and yet mouth-filling in tropical fruit and peach. Another masterful Chenin from Dry Creek Vineyard.
This instantly delicious, fruity wine has crisp lemon and spice flavors along with generous acidity. Ready to drink, it's all bright fruit with a lively aftertaste.
This integrated red from Greece's premium red wine country offers all of the hallmarks of the variety but is still pleasing to the international palate. Aromas of tobacco, anise, cherry and smoke lead, followed by spicy but balanced flavors of coffee, smoke, dark berries and pepper. Can age but good to drink now. Pair with heartier dishes.
This intense and determined Nebbiolo from the Martinenga cru of Barbaresco delivers enticing aromas of black fruit, smoke, tar, licorice and old spice. The wine is elegant and ethereal with a polished nature to its firm tannins capped by pleasantly piquant freshness on the finish.
This intense and rich wine has also managed to keep a great sense of balance. The black fruits emerge from the firm tannins, bringing with them juicy acidity and a dusty texture. The wine is still young, but it's developing well to emerge ripe and delicious by 2016.
This intense and spicy wine comes from a vineyard planted in 1925 on chalk soils. While red fruit is dominant, there are also some firm tannins to back up its juiciness. It's likely to improve over the next few months and will be ready to drink in mid-2018.
This intense blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Mourvèdre is dusty in cassis and leather with nice layers of blackberry, too. Tightly wound and grippy, the wine offers nuanced shades of herb and cedar and a long, satisfying finish.
This intense Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from northeast Italy offers impressive density and complexity with pure aromas of blackberry, spice, leather and tobacco. It's a rich, elegant wine that can be paired with game dishes.
This intense late-harvest Gewürz is full of honey, mashed nectarine, apricot purée and ginger. Full in the mouth with a thick, velvety texture and a long, lingering finish that evolves from sweet to spicy.
This intense Mencía is showing heavy doses of asphalt, raw oak, char, exotic wood and dark berry aromas. It's layered, rich and lively in the mouth, with heady, toasty flavors of smoked black fruits. A mix of toast, baking spices and licorice flavors shadow subtle but integral black-fruit notes. Best from 2015 through 2020.
This intense wine comes from a small parcel of six acres. Produced from organically grown grapes, it is crisp, clean and with a directness that is both refreshing and initially shocking in its intensity. The wine is rich, full in the mouth, tight and still young. Drink from 2017.
This intense wine comes from a vineyard just below the main street of Chassagne-Montrachet village. While the aromas are still toasty, the palate is full of fresh fruit, with a tensely mineral structure. Hints of yellow fruits as well as crisper citrus are there, along with shots of toast from the wood aging. Drink from 2018.
This intense wine has great ripe fruit and sweetness to go with the pear and honey flavors. There is great acidity and beautiful fruit character in a gorgeous wine that still keeps its style and freshness.
This intense wine opens with an alluring fragrance of crushed flower, vineyard dust, bright berry, leather, cooking spices and balsamic notes. The structured palate delivers ripe black cherry, prune, cracked black pepper, toast and licorice alongside vibrant acidity. The fruit richness stands up to the assertive tannins but it ends on a mouth-drying finish. Drink 2020–2040.
This intense wine opens with classic Nebbiolo aromas of black fruit, underbrush and a whiff of balsamic herbs. The vibrant palate doles out succulent black cherry and red berry accented with white pepper, leather, licorice, sage and thyme. It's well balanced but still young, displaying assertive tannins and nervous acidity. Drink after 2020.
This intense, dry, and fruity wine is packed with citrus flavor and laced with a lime zest texture. The wine is crisp, tangy and flavorful.
This intense, extracted wine shows some bitter tannins along with loganberry and cranberry fruits. There are some spice and herbal flavors in addition to the juicy aftertaste.
This intense, full-bodied wine is packed with ripe yellow fruits that are balanced with a powerful, concentrated texture. The wine is very young, with the toast and fruits full of energy and needing to round out. This complex wine will age. Drink from 2019.
This intense, slightly sour Zinfandel combines herbal/menthol aromas with a taste of vanilla-toasted marshmallow, the fruit jammy and minty.
This intensely aromatic Riesling bursts with cheese rind and apple cider. Elegant, fruity and dry. Pair it with Thai food.
This intensely aromatic wine has perfumes of peach, apricot and ripe plum. These fruits dominate the warm, ripe palate, with just a hint of minerality.
This intensely aromatic, off-dry Riesling jumps from the glass with a heady bouquet of flowers and tropical fruit. On the palate, flavors of peach and blossom are highlighted with brisk lemon-lime acidity. Pretty and pleasing, it finishes with a lacy sweetness and just a hint of fresh herbs.
This intensely crisp selection shows its red-currant-driven acidity immediately. It is a fragrant, refreshing wine, very food-oriented with its dry character. It has touch of toast and a taut, minerally finish.
This intensely crisp wine has bright red fruit acidity and a fresh character. It is light in texture, perfumed and textured with wild strawberries. Drink now.
This intensely fragrant wine leads with aromas of red currant and violet. The palate offers strawberry, mandarin orange and almond alongside fresh acidity and delicate tannins. Enjoy soon.
This intensely fragrant wine opens with violet, woodland berry and star anise aromas. The racy palate offers sour cherry, cranberry and ground clove flavors framed by taut tannins and brisk acidity, feeling just underripe.
This intensely fresh red wine is a blend of Duras, Braucol and Syrah in a textured, stalky style that is tight and layered with tannins. It's certainly young, still bursting with fruit and needing to fill out as its tannins soften and its black currant fruit calms down. Then it will be a fascinating, complex wine, elegant and poised. Drink from 2018.
This intensely fresh wine is a blend of Duras, Braucol and Syrah in a textured, stalky style that is tight and layered with tannins. It's certainly young, still bursting with fruit and needing to fill out as its tannins soften and its black currant fruit calms down. Then it will be a fascinating, complex wine, elegant and poised. Drink from 2018.
This intensely fruity selection is packed with red fruit that overlays its soft, tangy texture. Orange zest and citrus flavors give the right amount of freshness to this ready-to-drink wine.
This intensely fruity wine has richness, yellow fruit flavors and a touch of spice and citrus zest. Its soft aftertaste that makes it immediately attractive.
This intensely fruity wine is full of crisp acidity, lemon and lime flavors and a tangy, tight, steely texture. The wine is mineral and structured, while remaining fresh and attractively juicy. It's tempting to drink it now because of the freshness, but better wait until 2016.
This intensely fruity wine revels in its red berry fruits, crisp acidity and general enjoyment of being a summer rosé. It's lively with acidity and a light tang to freshen the aftertaste.
This intensely fruity, delicately structured Riesling showcases layers and layers of sweet stonefruit and qince jelly flavors. The attack is honeyed and rich, but balanced with a shower of citrus acidity and a steely minerality that lingers long on the finish.
This intensely fruity, floral nectar hits the palate with electric force, catapulting vibrant acidity against sweet, tangy flavors of tangerine, peach and honey. A favorite amidst an excellent showing of 2014 Mosel spätlese, it's delicious now, but should continue to evolve well through at least 2020.
This intensely fruity, primary wine opens with lavish aromas of marmalade and honeysuckle. It's intensely ripe, almost ruddy and tropical on the palate, boasting a cornucopia of sweet mango and pineapple flavors. Searing acidity lends balance and persistence to the finish. Drink now through 2020.
This intensely golden-colored wine offers aromas of mature apricot, dried fig and clove that carry over to the palate along with candied nectarine zest. It also shows the warmth of alcohol despite the rather modest 13.5% avb.
This intensely juicy wine is packed with red berry fruits, soft tannins and a light touch of wood. It is already a delicious, forward wine that's ripe and full bodied. It could age well for another 2–3 years.
This intensely juicy, fruity wine is high in acidity. It's dominated by fresh black currants as well as spice from wood aging. It has fruit concentration, but needs time to round out and soften. Drink from 2015.
This intensely mineral wine leads with bold strikes of steel, slate and smoke. But the palate opens gradually, exposing brighter yellow peach and lemon. Taut and dry, it finishes on lingering notes of salt and crushed minerals. It's elegant now but should improve through 2025 and hold further.
This intensely perfumed, delicate style, with some tight tannins from the fruit, is full of red currant and plum skin tannins, lifted by fresh acidity and finished with hedgerow fruit flavors.
This intensely powerful wine is named in honor of the winery's co-proprietor and founder. Chewy and earthy, it's concentrated and robust, strong in black-cherry cola and truffle. From the estate vineyard surrounding the winery, it's for those who love their Pinots bold and velvety.
This intensely ripe wine is made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Malbec and Merlot. Its waxy cherry, currant and blueberry flavers are laced wtih milk chocolate and smoky oak richness, a dash of high-toned acidity sparking on the finish.
This intensely sweet and delicious wine has a bright gold color, aromas of buttered popcorn and ripe pear, and flavors like peach, yellow plum and honey. The texture is luscious and thick, but a good sub-current of acidity keeps it balanced.
This intensely wood-aged wine has a creamy and spicy character. It has very ripe yellow fruits that are balanced by zingy orange zest acidity. The toast is still dominant at this stage and will soften and integrate into the fruit over the next year. It's a wine that could age and will be best from 2017.
This intensely young wine holds considerable potential. Weight and rich fruits are still developing alongside the firm, mineral and steel structure. It's impressively rich, packed with green fruits and laced with citrus. Drink from 2018.
This intentionally spritzy wine is crafted for immediate drinking. The fruit flavors fall under the heading generic white wine. Best enjoyed chilled, perhaps with toasted almonds or a soft cheese.
This interesting and complex rosé—made from 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 7% Vermentino and 3% Viognier—is aged for six months in oak. The resulting wine is a cellar-worthy selection that boasts upfront notes of toasted spice, lemon custard, vanilla bean and ripe red berries. The oak influence currently dominates the plush and generous palate, while the creamy texture and lingering smoky spice are enticingly decadent. While you can enjoy this rich wine now, give it some time for the oak to mellow and further integrate with the fruit; drink now–2017.
This interesting and rather subtle wine smells like white pepper and pistachios and tastes like white peaches. It stays dry on the palate, while the texture spreads flavors smoothly for a sense of richness.
This interesting Barolo is loaded with espresso sensations as well as black fruit and spice flavors. It's not very complex, but is attractive and well balanced, with big, round tannins and fresh acidity.
This interesting blend consists of 31% Cabernet Franc, 30% Syrah, 20% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon. Roasty, toasty aromas explode from the glass, with gorgeous barrel notes of cedar and smoke. Bright raspberry and cherry fruit is set amid generous streaks of caramel, maple syrup and coffee liqueur. High-toned and expressive, it is the most accessible and complete of the 2009 releases from Fielding Hills.
This interesting blend holds 67% Grenache and 33% Tempranillo, although the results are a tad thin and reedy, with dried berries, hay, smoke and allspice aromas. The palate is relatively light, with oregano and cherry flavors.
This interesting blend of 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Viognier and 7% Grenache Blanc shows passionfruit, jasmine, cherimoya and green pluot aromas on the nose. The palate offers riper yellow fruit and a graphite minerality, but not much complexity beyond that.
This interesting blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Verdot works on many levels. Floral lavender and violet open the wine before a light, rounded touch of blackberry and leather hit the palate, followed by earthy cola spice. Well-priced and easy to enjoy, it puts good winemaking on display.
This interesting blend of Nero d'Avola and Pinot Nero (30%) recalls a California Pinot thanks to its rich color and density. You taste the purity of the berries but also get the heft and texture of a hot-climate red. Sweet candy and floral fragrances set the stage and the wine has a crisp, bright finish.
This interesting blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Cabernet Franc is a big wine packed with powerful black currant and licorice flavors, with a liberal dusting of pepper. It impresses for dryness and the rich, sturdy tannins. Drink this rustically chic wine with roasts.
This interesting blend pairs 66% Zinfandel from head-trained old vines with 34% Grenache to offer a wine that, though six years old, manages to maintain a youthful freshness. Aromas of pomegranate, underripe strawberry, raspberry and candied rose petals lead into a juicy palate of hibiscus and rose hips. The marjoram spice and slate minerality keep it serious.
This interesting Cabernet combines brambly berry fruit with a streak of maple syrup. Aged 22 months in a mix of French and American oak (roughly half new), it has picked up a hint of pickle spice along the way. Flavors are nicely integrated and work well together on the lasting finish.
This interesting Cabernet shows blackberry and cassis flavors alongside earthy notes of green olive and mint. The acidity is sharp and keen. It's not going anywhere, so drink up.
This interesting Cabernet was grown in various parts of the valley, but you can detect a cool-climate influence in the acidity and especially the tannins, which are firm and astringent. Yet the wine, which contains small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is remarkably ripe in blackberries, cherries and currants. Shows lots of elegance and complexity. Drink it over the next six years.
This interesting Chenin-based blend, also made with 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon, offers attractive notes of soft toast, orange rind and wood-grilled apples drizzled with honey. It's medium weight and round in the mouth, but balanced with a clean but nutty finish.
This interesting Italian white is gaining a bit of a cult following in the United States. Made with organically grown Verdicchio grapes, the wine shows pristine aromas of passion and stone fruit with a crisp, zesty feel in the mouth. It would pair perfectly with sea food or light lunches.
This interesting rosé actually resembles a thirst-quenching Sauvignon Blanc in its pungent, passion-fruit aromas. It's even slightly sweaty, like some SBs (and it is a pale-hued rosé). But it's also medium to full in body, with spicy notes that recall cracked pepper and crushed ginger. Drink now.
This interesting rosé mixes 78% Pinot Noir with 22% Pinot Gris. It's a pale copper with a hint of rose, and the nose carries suggestions of rose petals as well as strawberries. It's tart and medium-bodied, with some citrus snap to the acids.
This interesting selection offers something different—after being harvested by hand, the grapes were frozen for three days and then heated on an open olive-wood fire before fermenting. The resulting wine is full-bodied yet soft all at once, with dusty tannins that frame the dried berry, plum and black cherry fruit. Accents of crushed cocoa nib and balsamic grace the medium-length finish.
This interesting wine boasts a spice-driven nose with aromas that recall nutmeg, clove and cardamom. But the nose is not limited to spice. In fact, it makes ample room for the fresh red fruit tones you should expect. It has tight tannins with some sour cherry on the close. Only 200 cases made.
This interesting wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a drop of Cabernet Sauvignon that seems to give it a bit of needed power. Still, it's soft and melted. While the currant, red stone fruit and licorice flavors are delicious and complex, it lacks structure. Drink up.
This interesting wine is an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties with nearly half Syrah. It does what Napa does so well, offering a plethora of ripe, delicious cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, sweetly smoked oak and peppery spice flavors that are deep and long on the finish. A lovely, accessible wine to drink over the next few years.
This interesting, complex wine moves from tangy candied citrus to baking spices and long concentrated flavors of dried plum, apricot and more. Think Christmas fruitcake with a touch of leather and you're there.
This international venture based out of the former Nepenthe winery in the Adelaide Hills sources fruit from a number of vineyards in South Australia. This bottling is light on its feet for its 15% stated abv, showcasing fresh cherry fruit, gentle herbal notes and silky tannins. Drink now–2022.
This internationally-styled Barbera shows aromas of oak, ground coffee bean and smoke as well as black fruit. While the palate is dense with ripe black-cherry, chocolate and vanilla flavors, oak dominates, and astringent wood tannins dry out the finish.
This internationally-styled Verdicchio opens with aromas of oak, butterscotch and vanilla. The palate is also dominated by wood sensations, along with notes of apple, butterscotch and lemon peel in the background.
This interpretation of Sangiovese Grosso is clean, polished, ripe and elegant. It opens with dark concentration and berry notes of cassis and candied cherry, and then rum cake, leather and tobacco show up on the finish, backed by firm tannins and bright acidity.
This interpretation of Sangiovese opens with sweet fruit on the bouquet that recalls plump cherry and blueberry. The wine is tart and easy on the close with a pretty blast of fresh acidity.
This interpretation of Vino Nobile is aged for two years in oak barrels, which lends it toasted aromas of spice and tobacco, which sit behind the notes of bright cherry and blue flower.
This intoxicates with berry pie and coffee notes. It's a soft, elegant and restrained Zinfandel, with savory curves from beginning to end.
This intriguing Amarone already shows complexity and depth. It has aromas of raisin, black fruit, graphite and spice, with a hint of leather. The palate delivers ripe but restrained plum and black cherry flavor, with soft white pepper and nutmeg notes, all supported by fresh acidity. Drink after 2015.
This intriguing and delicious wine includes 15% Viognier, the two grapes spending nine months in French oak, only 30% of it new. The oak provides structure and strength in unobtrusive ways, allowing the freshness of pomelo and grapefruit to speak and remain tangy against a tease of vanilla. The finish is dry and lengthy.
This intriguing and multifaceted wine is a great discovery. Beautifully made in a slightly rustic style, it offers abundant forest floor and clove aromas while dealing out black tea, rhubarb and tart cherry on the palate. Drink from 2018 for the most enjoyment.
This intriguing blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Carignan combines crisp red-fruit flavors and lush, creamy tannins. There's a slightly herbal tinge as well. Drink it over the next year or two.
This intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Cabernet Franc (40%) and Merlot offers green herbs, dark plum, savory notes and chocolate. It's full and supple in feel with soft tannins and well-framed acidity.
This intriguing blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc works well, displaying richness as well as an intense herbaceousness. This is a lively wine, with its apple and pear flavors, topped with grapefruit acidity.
This intriguing blend of Falanghina, Biancolella and Pepella (three relatively unknown indigenous grapes) has a candy- or soda-like quality that recalls butterscotch and caramel. However, those notes are balanced by an elegant mineral tone and the wine has good dimension on the close.
This intriguing blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Verdelho is surprisingly effective. It benefits from the ripe, perfumed character of the Verdelho which dominates the palate. There is background freshness given by the Sauvignon. It's a ripe, full-bodied wine that is ready to drink.
This intriguing blend of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Sémillon comes from a trio of excellent Walla Walla vineyards. Fresh grapefruit, pineapple and peach notes swirl together, framed by light almond. Young, forward and delicious, it has the length and stuffing to age for another 3–5 years.
This intriguing bottling shows the cool vintage's influence. The nearly vegetal nose conveys snapped twigs, mulch, red cherry and cracked pepper, and the palate shows similar characteristics, proving light in density. It's lively, but may confuse those seeking a rich red.
This intriguing category—white wine made from red grapes—finds another winner in this new release from Aberrant Cellars. A pale copper hue, it's rich and full bodied, loaded with flavors of poached pear. Highlights of pepper and toast give way to a finish that somehow suggests Butterfinger candy. It's flat-out gorgeous from start to finish.
This intriguing combination of Pinot Grigio (70%) holds smaller traces of Traminer and Moscato Giallo. The nose is powerfully led by the Moscato, so floral and spicy in jasmine and briny seaside that it almost suggests Vermentino. Textured and light, it offers strong flavors of pear and a long, crisp finish.
This intriguing effort starts off a bit odd, hinting at scents of maple syrup, mint and tomato. Thankfully, it quickly rights itself, morphing into a complex herbal mélange laced with mocha and plum. There's a sense of restraint to it on the midpalate, but then a surge of vibrancy on the long, velvety finish. Ready to drink.
This intriguing mix of cedar and cassis, with meatier elements of black licorice, sings in the glass, remaining restrained and elegant despite a full-bodied ripeness and cradling of French oak. Priced below many wines of similar provenance and quality, it's age-worthy, too. Drink now through 2021.
This intriguing new cuvée showcases the mineral-driven terroir of the contributing vineyards, chosen for soils derived from ancient seabeds. Its chewy minerality wraps around tight blackberries, enhanced with a lick of dark chocolate threading through stiffening tannins.
This intriguing red begins with cinnamon, leather and pepper aromas, followed by a nice balance of warming spices and rich red fruit. Good complexity with tannins that allow for some aging. Pair with grilled meats, robust cheeses.
This intriguing stickie is predominantly (94%) Chardonnay—an unusual choice for a botrytized wine. Dried apricot and ripe pear aromas lead the way, with the flavors leaning toward intensely honeyed apricot preserves. It's full-bodied, lush and candy-sweet, with a mouthcoating finish.
This intriguing white blends 65% Ugni Blanc, 25% Rolle (Vermentino) and 15% Sauvignon Blanc into a ripe, honeyed wine—a product of the warm vintage. Yet despite the ripeness and bold orange flavors, it remains dry, even showing some minerality on the finish.
This intriguing wine brings aromas of cumin, mineral, dry chocolate, barrel spice and dark fruit. It delivers a mouthful of seamless fruit flavors that coat the palate from end to end.
This intriguing wine conveys aromas of coffee bean and barrel spices. The palate is restrained with a low-alcohol feel and coffee flavors. The concentration isn't all there but it still piques the interest.
This intriguing wine displays an almost fumé-style smoky minerality on the nose, followed by flavors of pear and toast. It's a focused, medium-bodied blend of 50% Marsanne and 50% Roussanne, with a finish that won't quit.
This intriguing wine features herb, lemon twist, tobacco and spice aromas. The blue fruit flavors are lush in feel, with fine-grained tannins.
This intriguing wine is dominated by the 60% of normally rare Petit Verdot. Made by the same team as Château Paloumey, this wine shows an impressive color, and a rich, black berry juicy character. The tannins are solid, but the exuberant fruit overrides everything else.
This intriguing wine reflects the typical wild and earthy characteristics of the grape variety. It has smoky, earthy raspberry aromas, plum and pomegranate flavors, a touch of tartness, a smooth texture and medium body. It tastes mature and mellow.
This intriguing wine shows the depth and staying power of this historic region. Aromas of grape seed, pressed boysenberry, chaparral scrub and woody fruits show on the nose, while the palate offers a leaner Concord grape flavor and a rocky, peppery grip. It is still quite tannic despite its age, meaning it may last for years to come.
This introduces itself with sweet scents of plum and cherry, the sort found in young vines. It moves into a thick, well-structured midpalate, with big splashes of coffee, earth and roasted nut.
This invigorating sparkler opens with heady aromas of white peach and spring wild flower while the enjoyable palate offers green apple and candied lemon drop. Tangy acidity gives it a crisp finish.
This inviting blend of Barbera and Bonarda from Lombardy offers aromas of black fruit and spice with an earthy note. The palate delivers black cherry and peppery flavors along with soft tannins. Pair this with smoked meats or seasoned cheeses.
This inviting Pinot is broadly ripe and fully lush in earthy, spicy layers, dark cherry and plum that plays across the palate. With a long, substantial finish, iot suits pork roasts and bacon-wrapped scallops.
This inviting Prosecco  brings you in thanks to its fresh aromas of fruit, banana, mango and white flower. The wine is direct and straightforward with tonic effervescence.
This inviting wine smells sweet and jammy. It tastes spicy, lightly oaky and like ripe raspberries. Full bodied and high in alcohol, it's also smooth in texture, mouthfilling and rich. Flavors like chocolate and blackberry mark the finish.
This Inzolia offers clean and fresh aromas of citrus, peach, white flower and garden herb. A subtle touch of sweetness is found on the palate.
This irrepressible wine has aromas and flavors of coffee, mineral, barrel spice, chocolate and dark raspberries. There's a lot of richness to the flavors but also an impeccable sense of balance, along with some grip to the tannins.
This irresistible, lightly frizzante and utterly refreshing wine is a gem. Orange flesh and rind has a slightly candied potency, with outstanding purity, focus and length. In spite of the sweetness, it retains offsetting minerality and acidity, making it a perfect apéritif or brunch wine.
This is 100% Cab Franc, and Chandler Reach has a particular talent with this grape. This is almost jet black, saturated with color, and it goes deep with sweet, ripe black cherry and black olive flavors. The dark stuff is balanced by fresh acid, well-modulated tannins and a finish with pleasing texture and balance. It's muscular, herbal and smooth, with hints of coffee in the finish. Tastes even better after being open for 24 hours.
This is 100% Cabernet from a 25-year-old estate vineyard. There’s plenty of vanilla and cassis in the nose, with some pickled volatile acidity lurking about. Firm and earthy, with a hint of mint and some dark, toasty streaks running through the red fruit. High-toned and slightly hot in the finish.
This is 100% Cabernet from three different vineyards, mixing cherry, berry, plum and cassis, and setting the fruit against crisp acids. The tannins, slightly green around the edges, are focused and appropriate. Could it be fleshed out with a little Merlot? Yes, but the elegance and precision of pure Cabernet is somehow more thrilling.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from DeLille's estate-owned vineyard. Pure, focused and expressive, it is both tightly defined and bursting with bright, spicy red and black fruit. What is given away in terms of breadth (from a lack of blending grapes) is gained in terms of depth; this really shows the varietal character (in Washington) as well as the character (rock, streaks of iron) of the Red Mountain AVA. This lovely bottle from a young vineyard has the muscle and character to develop in bottle over 15–20 years.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cold Creek vineyard. Smooth and fruit forward, it's done in a seamless, accessible, ready-to-drink style that makes it difficult to put down. A fair amount of vanilla flavor comes through, accenting a consumer (and consumption) friendly style.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all estate grown. Winemaker Steve Clifton handles the high (over 15%) alcohol well, and the wine feels full and balanced, but not fat or tiring. The fruit is a pleasant mix of raspberry, cherry and currant; with bright acids and firm tannins to back it up.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, although it doesn't say so on the label. The wine is awesome and impeccable in the modern Oakville style of intensely ripe fruit and sweet, soft tannins. The flavors of raspberries, cherries, cocoa and sweet oak are incredibly delicious. It's soft enough to drink now, but will hold for 6–8 years.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, from designated rows at Pepper Bridge. Juicy and packed with flavors of strawberry and black cherry fruit, it adds interest with aromatic hints of tomato sauce, and flavors of leaf, cedar and graphite. Tannins are firm and dry, and finished with a generous burst of smoky, toasty oak.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in the winery's estate vineyard, on the east side of Napa Valley. It's awesomely rich and ripe, delivering heady blackberry, blueberry, cassis liqueur, cola and new oak flavors that are as long in the finish as they are deep. With thick tannins, it's clearly a wine you need to cellar. Drink 2016–2020 and beyond.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced mostly from Pepper Bridge and Spofford Station. It has steely aromatics, showing rock and tight, tart red currant flavors. In the Waters style this is another elegant wine, that conceals its discreet pleasures in its layered aromas and mixed fruit and rock flavors.
This is 100% Cabernet, with the purity that is a recurring hallmark of Rulo's wines. A deep, and deeply satisfying fruit expression, lifted with juicy acidity, brings a mélange of berries, cassis and black cherries into play. The grace notes pile on—smoke, black olive, tar, tobacco leaf, bitter chocolate. Young, bracing, and built to age.
This is 100% Grenache from a vineyard planted in 1895, so genuinely old vines. That said, 2013 was a challenging vintage, and this wine shows the firmness that marks so many of the wines. It's taut, dusty and herbal, with drying tannins on the finish.
This is 100% Grenache, aged in one-third new oak. It's a modern style wine, but an immensely seductive one. Baking spices and vanilla frame superripe black cherry fruit, while the texture is plush and the finish long. Drink now–2025.
This is 100% Malbec, so inky it is black in color. The flavors echo the color, with amazing density. Black fruits, black olives, smoke and spice are structured around thick tannins. A minute-plus finish adds licorice and mint; even after being opened for a full 48 hours this wine remained fresh and balanced. It's the first varietal Malbec ever from Walla Walla Vintners, but certainly one hopes it is not the last.
This is 100% Merlot, and all Red Mountain fruit. Ripe plums and cherries are accented with hints of dried leaves, tobacco, and sweet herb. Baking spices reflect its 20 months in oak, and the wine has a soft finish that is ideal for immediate enjoyment.
This is 100% new oak (primarily Taransaud, 32 months), and it's a marvelous example of the grape, the vineyard and the strengths of Washington fruit. The Shafer Hillside Select is the inspiration for the extended barrel aging and the focus on round, sweet tannins. This is a tight wine, with a lovely purity of fruit that captures the cassis, the black cherry, the subtle herbal character of the Cabernet grape. This is from the oldest block in the vineyard—now eight -year-old vines.
This is 100% Pinot Gris, given 20 hours of skin contact, resulting in a “Gris de Gris” style of blush wine. It's light and dry, with strong scents and flavors of grapefruit.
This is 100% Pinot Noir, tart and young and juicy, and at this price it's a pretty fair value. It could be criticized as being slightly sour, but it has none of the herbal, leafy, vegetal character that can haunt inexpensive Oregon Pinots.
This is 100% Pinot Noir, which gives richness to the wine. It is generous, with red apple and pear flavors, still very fresh. An attractive final bite says that it will age.
This is 100% Pommard clone, bright and spicy in the nose. The fruit flavors are sharp and penetrating, with brambly berries and a touch of pine sap.
This is 100% Riesling, and the intense, floral aromas suggest a smattering of Gewürztraminer, at least in essence if not in fact. Beeswax, lemon candy, orange blossom and other juicy citrus components swirl around the palate, making this an exceptionally complex and beguiling wine. Though labeled dry, it carries an impression of fruit sweetness, rather than the bracing minerality of some other dry Rieslings. A wine that is almost Germanic in its attack, and a truly lovely bottle.
This is 100% Riesling, but with less than half the residual sugar of the winery's 2011 vintage. Sourced from the Evergreen Vineyard in the up-and-coming Ancient Lakes AVA, it has great acidity and purity of fruit, along with the minerality for which the region is known. Dense flavors of lime, grapefruit and pineapple are at the core of this wonderfully concentrated, expressive Riesling.
This is 100% Roussanne from Red Mountain, whose heat gives the grape plenty of ripening. Here it reaches into high-toned, tropical and candied citrus fruits, accented with pungent aromas of spun sugar, fruit candy and a whiff of diesel. Complex, forward, juicy and just a little hot in the finish.
This is 100% single vineyard Merlot; broad, beautifully integrated, with seamless black fruits, streaks of coffee and smoke, and black pepper spice. A powerful Merlot with muscle and verve, it finishes smooth and lightly tasting of chocolate.
This is 100% Syrah from an excellent vineyard. It's chewy and even a bit salty in the mouth, with a mix of bell pepper and black pepper over streaks of berry and cassis. Most of the flavor is front-loaded, and the wine fades away into an earthy, fairly tannic finish.
This is 100% Syrah from the Boushey vineyard. It's so compact that it's almost impenetrable, but the gorgeous aromas portend a glorious wine given appropriate bottle age and/or breathing time. A dark, dusty mix of black fruits, black olives, black coffee and licorice, this has such density that it's almost impossible to separate out all the fruit layers, let alone the earthier components that make it so distinctive. At 14.8% alcohol, this may be the biggest Betz Boushey Syrah ever.
This is 100% Syrah from the Seven Hills vineyard, a firm and tannic effort with dark, rich flavors. Cassis, black pepper, coffee grounds and gravelly mineral flavors combine in a muscular wine with big bones and a finishing lick of citrus.
This is 100% Syrah from three vineyards: Funk, Les Collines, and Ranch at the End of the Road. Seamless, sexy scents of blue and purple berries, vanilla, licorice, black tea and cut tobacco swirl up from the glass and carry through to the palate. One third of the fermentation include whole clusters, adding savory flavors to the finish. An elegant Syrah for lovers of the grape.
This is 100% Syrah, grown in the highly regarded Stolpman Vineyard. The wine itself is lush with complex raspberry, cherry, mocha and sweet oak flavors. The acidity is strikingly brisk. Drink up.
This is 100% varietal and aged in 60% new French oak, offering primary aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and savory herbs accented by woodspice. The fruit flavors are ripe and focused with firm tannins and a pleasing lick of cranberry-like acidity. Best after 2020.
This is 100% varietal from an excellent vineyard. For those who love PV for its earthy, tannic, somewhat rustic flavors, this wine will be spot on. It's hard and dark, with char and smoke around light red fruits.
This is 100% varietal from the historic Foppiano clone, the wine marked by grapy leather and buoyant acidity in equal parts. Chocolate and gunpowder show up along the way, before a big grip gets aggressive on the finish, blown off by a few more swirls of the glass.
This is 100% varietal with all of the fruit coming from 1989 plantings. Bittersweet chocolate, green herb and barrel aromas are followed by cherry flavors with a chalky feel.
This is 100% varietal with the fruit coming from Ciel du Cheval, Red Willow and Phinny Hill vineyards. Expressive but still wound-up aromas of exotic spice, French oak, chocolate and dark fruit are followed by pitch-black fruit flavors and tightly wound tannins. It's not yet ready to fully reveal its charms but has the stuffing to go the distance.
This is 100% varietal, a 50-50 blend from Waliser and Candy Mountain vineyards. A beautiful color, deep purple, leads into a substantial Merlot with smooth berry flavors. Highlight hints of soy and balsamic are streaked into the midpalate, and the wine sails into a dark, smoky finish, which lasts a minute or longer, sending out a rainbow of flavors suggesting stone fruits and even a bit of papaya.
This is 100% varietal, aged in one-quarter new French oak. It's quite light, perhaps from young vines, with strawberry fruit that might be mistaken (in a black glass) for a rosé. It's tasty and fruity, but without much depth or detail.
This is 100% varietal, aged nearly two years in 80% new French oak. Bold and layered, it offers a soft texture and moderate acidity, giving a richness of black currant and berry to appear. Dusty pencil shavings and subtle clove add to the whole.
This is 100% varietal, and 10% was barrel fermented. That seems to have put a light layer of toast over lemon-drop fruit. There's a touch of grapefruit and some aromatic notes of candied orange peel.
This is 100% varietal, coming from the esteemed Seven Hills Vineyard. The wine offers nuanced aromas of cherry meats and an herbal top note. The cranberry and cherry flavors are elegant, soft and sumptuous, showing a compelling styling and an impeccable sense of balance that carries all the way through the finish. Cabernet has seldom seemed so pretty.
This is 100% varietal, from a heritage clone named for the owner and the winery, the Disney Silverado Heritage Clone. It contributes a dusty earthiness to the wine, a density and purity of fruit deep in dense blueberry and blackberry unctuousness. Cedar and graphite season it well, as firm, thick tannins fill up the finish.
This is 100% varietal, quite pretty in shades of pale pink, and perfectly dry without turning sour. Flavors of watermelon, pink grapefruit, rosewater and Jonathan apples all come into play. Drink it while the wine retains its youthful freshness.
This is 100% varietal, sourced from three excellent Red Mountain vineyards—Klipsun, Kiona and Ciel du Cheval. It seamlessly fuses flavors of fruit, barrel (35% new) and the minerality of the terroir, with a generous midpalate of blackberry and black cherry, soaked in liquorous oak. Highlights of mineral, pepper and a whiff of brioche come into play as well. Lovely as it is already, look for further improvement through 2019–2022.
This is 100% varietal, spicy and tart, with fine balance and focus. The fruit trends toward cherry and prune, with an earthy, tannic finish.
This is 100% varietal, tart to the edge of sour, with no sign of new oak. The fruit dances around rhubarb and sour cherry, with some green tannins.
This is 100% varietal, this winery's most popular varietal offering, and nicely distinguished from its other reds. Recently bottled, it was still slightly shocked when tasted. Dark fruits, most especially cassis, are woven together with smoke (no mirrors!) and bitter chocolate. Chewy, earthy tannins hold the finish and complement the wine's natural peppery spice.
This is 100% varietal, with a mix of vineyard sources including Champoux, Weinbau, Conner Lee and Dineen. It's a carefully crafted blend of different AVAs; a bright and clean example of Washington state Cabernet. Firm, compact, with blue and purple fruits, just a hint of barrel age and polished tannins.
This is 100% varietal. It has muscle and mass, with tart purple and black fruits wrapped into layers of earth and slightly metallic tannins. There is a green streak but it adds complexity and is not off-putting. This would be an excellent wine with a simple hanger steak.
This is 100% Viognier, all stainless steel fermented, with more guts and concentration than the creamier barrel-fermented Viognier from this winery. Lime and pineapple fruit flavors are bracing and clean, moving into light peach and tangerine as they persist in the mouth.
This is 100% Viognier, different from the winery's varietally labeled version in that it is 100% stainless-steel fermented. The result is a less round and toasty wine, but one that, in this vintage at least, offers more focus and precision. Peach and apricot, tangerine and tropical fruits are on display, and the finish winds down gently, with none of the heat or bitterness that can affect some Viogniers.
This is 100% Zinfandel, unlike the regular bottling, from specially selected barrels. 300 cases made. There's concentrated raspberry fruit in the nose, good intensity on the palate, with a good, rich mouthfeel and full, soft tannins in the finish.
This is 23% Sauvignon Blanc, an unusual choice in light of the sweetness (3.1% residual sugar) of the finished wine. It's hard to tell what the winemaker was thinking here, but the result is a bit diffuse, both sugary and lightly lemony without coming together harmoniously.
This is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 52% Syrah, which seems to be the dominant grape in terms of flavor and style. Scents and flavors of char, licorice and espresso come up quickly, with black fruit showing a peppery edge. The finish seems attenuated, even with ample aeration.
This is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. It's dark, dusky, and loaded with dense black fruits. A smoky, earthy character prevails, bringing moist earth, black licorice and intense dark chocolate flavors to the tannins.
This is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Malbec and 8% Syrah. The influence of 18 months in oak is showing strongly, though some very pretty raspberry candy flavors come through also. Give it extra breathing time to help balance it out.
This is 58% Grenache, 39% Syrah, and 3% Tempranillo. It's a real fruit salad of a wine—fresh and loaded with strawberries, cherry candy, cola and cream. Forward and fruit-driven, it's enormously appealing and ready to drink right now.
This is 58% Viognier and 42% Chardonnay, making a crisp, clean, dynamic white with plenty of lime and citrus flavor. Delicious and refreshing, it's a perfect food wine.
This is 66% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre, and 6% each Syrah and Cinsault. The accent is on fruit, blending perfect mechanics (the balance, tension and texture) with taut raspberry, peppery pomegranate and brambly marionberry fruit.
This is 68% Shiraz, 32% Grenache. Compared to the straight Shiraz, this is spicier, showing more leather, clove and pepper. It's still a full-bodied, rich wine, but maybe a bit less plush, with brighter acids.
This is 70% Cabernet, 20% Merlot. Dark, tight and loaded with fruits, this balanced, juicy wine has it all—elegance, length, finesse and mouth appeal. Blackberry and black cherry fruits dominate, with light suggestions of pretty leaf, tobacco, earth and some iron.
This is 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. It's forward, fruity, and almost plump, with a beguiling mix of spices and barrel notes, including red licorice, cola, mocha, smoke and chai. Concentrated and long, the finish is very clean.
This is 75% Grenache with the balance Syrah. It's full bodied and offers jammy red fruit accented by clove and barrel spices, with a creamy texture and abundant vanilla flavors throughout.
This is 75% Merlot, with Cabernet, Malbec and Syrah comprising the other 25%. Despite all of the components, it tastes like there is a bit of a hole. The fruit is soft and plummy, and the overall balance is excellent.
This is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 16% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It shows a nice interplay of fruit and barrel with notes of cocoa, cherry, dry chocolate and toast supported by well-integrated tannins. The mid-palate still needs some time to fully come together but when it does, it will be a beauty.
This is 80% Malbec along with Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe, malty aromas are almost soupy. The palate is drawing and barrel heavy, while oaky flavors of graphite shadow baked blackberry fruit. On the finish, chocolate flavors are derivative of oak.
This is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in neutral oak. It's bright and peppery and lightly herbal, with tart strawberry and cherry tomato flavors.
This is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, with a core of blueberry and cocoa. It's super-smooth and quite easy to sip and enjoy. But apart from that, and the seductive coffee/mocha flavors that run rampant through the finish, it shows little of the depth and complexity that Washington Cabernet can display. Drink 2017–2019.
This is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 3% Syrah. It's toasty to the max, with scents and flavors of coffee and smoke as much as berry and cassis. There is great acid/tannin balance and some additional years of bottle age should help to bring out more of the fruit.
This is 90% Cabernet Franc from the Chelle den Pleasant Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Strong scents and flavors of barnyard, bacon fat and tanned leather. The fruit is muted, and finishes with tarry tannins. Drink up.
This is 90% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; it's dark, toasty, smoky, earthy and dappled with ground coffee flavors. The fruit holds its own—it's tight and tart and firm, with plenty of blackberry flavor. This wine keeps resonating through the palate into a solid, textural finish.
This is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate vineyards. Quite sour with lip-puckering cherry fruit, it thins out and finishes with hard, slightly chalky tannins.
This is 95% Syrah, co-fermented with Viognier in the Northern Rhône style. The result is a very fine wine that is currently drinking quite young and tight. It's shut down in hard tannins and an immature reticence of fruit, although you can detect some ripe, delicious blackberries, plums, currants and dark chocolate. Give it 5–6 years in a good cellar.
This is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an addition of Syrah. Fully ripe, bold and assertive, this high-octane wine holds its alcohol well. Muscular and powerful, it has black cherry and cassis flavors that saturated with baking spice, chocolate, cedar and coffee notes. This is well supported by acids and is matched to perfectly ripe tannins.
This is 96% Merlot, with just a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Firm and focused, it sports a toasty nose, with rich blackberry and cherry fruit. The oak treatment brings in generous flavors of coffee and mocha.
This is 98% Syrah, unlike past vintages where it was modeled after a Côtes du Rhône-style blend. It opens with enticing whiffs of soft leather and toasted nut, before bringing in a smooth mix of black and purple fruits, along with chocolate and anise highlights. It's supple and proportionate, with polished, coffee-flavored tannins.
This is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that's shy on the nose and softly approachable on the palate. Herbal and dry, it is couched in solidly built tannin and weight, with leathery graphite and cedar pronouncing themselves around a full body.
This is a 100% Cabernet, and its tannins are so strong that it's virtually undrinkable now. It displays class in every way, with an intense concentration of cassis liqueur and blackberry that's especially deep in the middle palate, but it also persists into a long, spicy finish. It would be a pity to open it before 2018, and it has the structure to go the long haul.
This is a 100% Cabernet, grown further north than the winery's amazing Rockaway bottling, which is to say in a hotter area. Comparisons are inevitable. Although it's rich and even dramatic, it's not as impressive a wine, showing a raisiny edge to the black currants and chocolate. Doesn't have the balance for aging, so drink now with upscale beef and lamb dishes.
This is a 100% Cabernet. It has deep, ripe flavors of black currants, licorice and raspberries, with hints of dark chocolate and toast. The tannins and acids are a bit fierce, suggesting that a few years in the cellar are warranted.
This is a 100% estate wine from the producer's cool-climate sites near the town of Freestone. Black pepper and a nutty entry invite one in to explore further, this wine having many stories to tell as it develops. Soft and mellow, it's also feral and funky, with a strong essence of mushroomy forest floor.
This is a 100% expression of Cabernet,  with ripe, jammy fruit and lingering tones of spice, leather, rum cake, strawberry rollup and blackberry pie. The wine is round and ripe but it also adopts an elegant, direct style that is enhanced by a nice touch of acidity on the close.
This is a 100% unoaked Chardonnay that opens with bright tones of citrus, banana and pineapple. There's a fresh acidic kick at the end.
This is a 100% varietal red, tannic and soft, with slightly astringent notes behind the notions of dried cherry and blackberry. Leather, herb and tobacco all make themselves known.
This is a 100% varietal selection, with most of the fruit coming from Weinbau Vineyard. It brings an assortment of barrel notes—including mocha, cedar and char from 20% new French oak—and varietal flavors of cherry, flowers and herbs. It starts out lighter in style, fleshing out over time with tart acidity providing a lift.
This is a 100% varietal wine coming from Birch Creek Vineyard. The barrel fermentation shows with aromas of butterscotch melding with fig, lees and beeswax. The stone and tropical fruit flavors are plenty rich and stick around on the finish.
This is a 100% varietal wine from a prime appellation, memorably juicy in raspberry, cassis and red currant with a floral, almost tropical flirtation on the nose. Edgy tannins and a depth of concentration smooth out on the lengthy finish, giving this wine a sense of satisfying completion.
This is a 100% varietal wine grown entirely on the producer's estate. Aged nearly two years in all-new French Nevers oak, it shows a tinge of smoke—campfire nearly—from the barrel, followed by a reduced expression of blueberry and herbes de Provence. Firm, integrated tannins don't distract.
This is a 100% varietal wine made to be widely distributed and enjoyed by a range of palates. With a slight perception of sweetness, which may just be ripeness, it gives way to fleshy flavors of baked apple and pineapple.
This is a 100% varietal wine sourced from the coveted Oakville Ranch Vineyard on the eastern edge of the appellation. Cedar, herb, meat and soy mingle around a full-bodied weight softened by the wine's classic edge, length and breadth of black fruit and vanilla oak. Drink now through 2022.
This is a 100% varietal wine, age-worthy and decadent, a hedonistic display of raspberry and chocolate with just the barest hint of clove and pepper. Soft, velvety tannins give it additional lushness and pleasurability. It's enjoyable now, but should hold well through 2022.
This is a 100% varietal wine, aged for 32 months, with one-quarter of the barrels being new oak. Grippy in red currant and cranberry, it has a thickness of tannin and slightly bittersweet, tobacco-like finish.
This is a 100% varietal wine, aged nearly two years in 75% new French oak and treated like a king. It responds in kind, rewarding the palate with smoothly voluptuous characteristics of red currant, anise and clove, its tannin and oak supportive and integrated and its finish lengthy. This wine should have years to go in the cellar; drink now through 2023.
This is a 100% varietal wine, with a dullness to the nose and a simplicity to the palate that makes it hard to distinguish, the fruit and acidity diluted.
This is a 100% varietal wine, with fruit sourced from Sonoma Mountain as well as Dry Creek and Alexander valleys. Black fruit wraps around generous tannin and oak as a touch of cola spice attempts to liven things up on the palate.
This is a 100% varietal, dry-farmed and old-vine wine, peppered in cedar, raspberry and vanilla. It's soft and subtle on the palate, with pretty aromatics and a rich backbeat of juicy fruit. Balanced and with an underlying elegance, it delivers in every way.
This is a 100% varietal, single vineyard wine coming from Cockburn Ranch Vineyard. Aromas of lees and spice lead to nutty flavors that are broad in feel.
This is a 100% varietal, vineyard-designated wine, impressive in its ability to provide lush richness within a balanced context. Dark and thick, it opens with blackberry, mocha and spicy clove flavors. Although syrupy, it maintains freshness on the palate.
This is a 40-40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, with the balance consisting of Merlot. It's a barrel selection of the winery's best lots, from its various vineyards, and has been aged in 100% new French oak. Yet it's not oaky at all, with the wood bringing only additional sweet, smoky richness to the red currants, cherries, dark chocolate and spices. This is a superb wine, delicious right out of the bottle, but it should develop and, depending on your tastes, improve over the next 20 years.
This is a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Coombsville. It's dense with tannins, but they're very finely woven, and the wine has a gentle grace. The flavors of blackberries are pristine and ripe, and accompanied by a new oak smokiness. Good as it is now, it will develop bottle complexity after 2016.
This is a 50-50 blend of estate-grown Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in neutral oak. Dark, plush, well-ripened fruit is the focus of a wine still a bit stiff and steely. It's classic in the way a Bordeaux is classic, firm and confidently blended.
This is a 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot and a smidgen of Malbec, given almost two years to mellow in 30% new French oak. There's a soft structure at the core of this wine and an overwhelming taste of leathery tannins overshadowing black cherry fruit, the finish slightly bitter.
This is a “dry” vintage Prosecco with a hint of sweetness in the mouth that is surrounded by fragrant flavors of peach, kiwi and green melon. This luminous sparkler tastes firm and tonic and makes for an informal afternoon sipper.
This is a “safe” rosé, with nothing outstanding but nothing out of place. It's medium-bodied and round in texture, with notes of stone fruits and berries balanced by crisper notes of underripe melon and a moderately long finish.
This is a über aromatic wine with a long list of notes that include orange marmalade, peach, citrus, and drizzled honey. Harvested at 42 brix and retaining a whopping 240 g/L residual sugar, it's supremely rich and sweet with a lingering finish.
This is a balanced and complex fifty-fifty blend, with herbal accents of licorice root, coffee bean and foliage that mingle harmoniously with ripe fruit notes of blackberry, wild raspberry and cherry. Medium weight and lushly textured, but not overdone, with a long finish that delivers light hints of mocha and pepper.
This is a balanced and stylish wine, with a solid base of solid tannins and a dry core that gives strength to the blackberry fruit and acidity. There is minerality as well as a firm, austere finish. Age for 4–5 years.
This is a balanced blend of Rabo de Ovelha and Roupeiro grapes. They give the wine both its crisp acidity and its ripe white-fruit flavors. The acidity and the texture suggest the wine should age for a few more months, so drink from late 2017.
This is a balanced blend of seven grapes, headed by Bairrada's own Baga. It is this grape that gives the tannins and tight acidity that dominate this structured wine. Its potential is considerable, with its texture still evolving. The black-currant fruits at the end are crisp and will soften with age. Drink from 2019.
This is a balanced blend of the three major Champagne grapes from a producer in the Marne Valley. With its high proportion of Pinot Meunier, it has a soft and rich character. Attractive and fruity, it's ready to drink.
This is a balanced wine from an estate owned by Herdade do Esporão based in the Alentejo. With ripe tannins and juicy fruit, it has some structure as well as blackberry fruitiness. Drink this wine from 2020.
This is a balanced wine that has attractive citrus flavors, riper peach and pineapple and a light apricot perfume from the Viognier in the blend. It is rich while having plenty of freshness. Drink from late 2016.
This is a balanced wine that is quite ready to drink now. It has black fruits, soft tannins and a deliciously juicy character. It's full bodied, but has a lively, fresh acidity on the finish.
This is a balanced wine with fine young tannins and plenty of blackberry and black-plum fruits. It is ripe while keeping plenty of acidity. The wine is going to develop well and should be ready from 2019.
This is a balanced wine with touches of honey and toast, along with ripe yellow and white fruits that are cut by a salty structure. Great acidity runs through the wine, giving a tight, steely, very pure aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a balanced wine, moving easily between rich fruit and a tight mineral and grapefruit texture. There is a hint of toast to give extra weight. Worth aging for several years.
This is a balanced wine, with red-fruit aromas and a soft raspberry and red-currant-flavored palate. It is ripe, creamy with just the right tang of acidity. Drink now.
This is a balanced wine, with soft ripe flavors and a hint of bottle aging. The red fruits are still there, integrated refreshingly with the acidity while moving gently towards a more toasty future. The wine is very ready to drink.
This is a balanced Zinfandel, and it offers elegant acids and burly red and black fruits. It's a structured effort, and it emits a subtle spice character. This will pair well with foods like pizza and pasta.
This is a balanced, fruity wine with a beautiful line of fragrant acidity. Apples, pears and a touch of chewy tannin all work together well to give a wine that is both firmly textured and fresh with fruit. It could be drunk now, although it will be best from 2016.
This is a balanced, peppy Assyrtiko with sea salt freshness, crisp white and tropical fruit and a clean finish. A great go-to food wine, enjoy with summer fare of grilled octopus, oysters or chicken.
This is a balanced, ripe wine full of apple and orange fruit, and with a fine, textured character. It has weight and caramel richness, and just a hint of wood. It should be aged before drinking, so wait until 2016.
This is a balanced, ripe wine. Soft tannins support the fruit well, offering some good potential. It is ready to drink, fruity and with acidity in the aftertaste.
This is a balanced, steely white, showing minimal oak and simple layers of apple, pear and vanilla.
This is a banana and red-cherry-flavored wine, that has a light tannic structure to contrast with the fruitiness. It is ready to drink.
This is a barely pink rosé, perfect to reflect the Mediterranean sea. Fresh and fruity, it carries just the lightest tang of lemon zest and is ready to drink.
This is a bargain-priced blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. The flavors are ripe and plummy, accented by hints of garrigue, while the tannins are modest and supple.
This is a barrel-fermented rosé of Syrah. The color is slightly orange, the flavors muted and soft, reminiscent of strawberry pastry with a toasty edge. Drink soon.
This is a barrel-selection reserve, with unusual scents of pine needles and baking spices co-mingled. Deep cassis and dark chocolate flavors prevail, and the tannins have not yet softened and smoothed. Give this a few more years of bottle age.
This is a barrel selection combining the best lots from all three estate vineyards. Refined, pungent, spicy and persistent, it opens with bright raspberry and cherry fruit, then lays on layers of anise, coconut, vanilla, caramel and a whiff of cannabis herb. It's long and concentrated, with good aging potential.
This is a barrel selection from the winery's Sleepy Hollow Vineyard and is one of the most concentrated Chardonnays in California. Has the honeyed richness of a botrytized wine, but is absolutely dry. Tastes like an apricot and pineapple tart, with seasonings of nutmeg, cinnamon, and the smoky, nutty pie crust. Very few California Chardonnays need time, but this one does. Stash until late 2008, but this powerhouse should gradually peak over a decade.
This is a barrel selection from the winery's various lots. As rich as it is, it's not really showing all that well now, starring acidity and fresh, jammy raspberry, cherry and cola flavors, liberally oaked. Give it a good decant, but the gamble is ageability. Try after 2015 if you dare.
This is a barrel selection, and as such, may be expected to show extra layers of concentration—more stuffing overall. It's a rich, smoky, lush wine, with a complex mix of red fruits ranging from rhubarb to raspberry to Bing cherries. Spicy highlights and a frame of orange peel also enter the picture. You might wish to give this another couple of years of bottle age before popping the cork. Drink 2018–2025.
This is a barrel selection, from those lots determined by winemaker Brian Carter to offer more aging potential. In other words, it's a L'Etalon reserve, fragrant and offering scents and flavors of strawberry jam, berries galore, and fine-tuned acids and tannins.
This is a barrel selection, presumably limited in cases. It's an extraordinarily rich, concentrated 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, made in the modern cult-style of massively extracted blackberries, black currants, cassis liqueur and chocolate, with oak bringing the usual sweet toast and vanilla complexities. This deserves its high score for sheer opulence and great Napa structure. Delicious now, and could easily age for at least 10 years.
This is a barrel selection, with the majority of the barrels from Shea, Zenith and Illahe vineyard fruit. Toasty, smooth, supple and pleasing, it begins with tart red fruits framed by citrusy acidity. It breathes open and stays fresh for more than a day, with light red fruits, milk chocolate, and firm, balanced tannins.
This is a base Prosecco sparkling wine with bright citrus and melon aromas followed by fresh sage and crushed mineral. There's a dry, flinty sensation to the finish.
This is a basic but nice Chardonnay with lightly oaked aromas of pear, apple and tropical fruits. The palate is fresh and healthy, while apple, mango and peach flavors settle with a hint of bitter matchstick and leftover tropical notes.
This is a basic Chablis, soft and fruity. Apples and pear skin flavors have a burst of acidity, a light mineral texture and a juicy aftertaste. It is ready to drink.
This is a basic Malbec, dark in color, dry and tannic. It has blackberry, currant and leather flavors that lack some intensity.
This is a basic white wine with a few quirks. It smells floral and appley, and tastes quite dry and a bit sharp while carrying a candylike marshmallow note.
This is a basic wine, thick and extracted with a generosity of ripe, bold red fruit and walled-in tannin.
This is a basic, no-fuss Chardonnay with aromas of citrus and exotic fruit and a vibrant mouthfeel that is tangy and zesty throughout. There's a touch of spice on the close that helps keep the palate clean.
This is a beatifully balanced, not-too-full-bodied wine from vines grown at 2,400 feet in the Sierra range. It has classic black cherry, black olive and anise aromas, harmonious fruit flavors accented with light oak spiciness and a firm, fine-grained tannic structure.
This is a beautiful and beguiling wine, so different from many of its counterparts in its sizzling, citrus-driven acidity and persistent freshness. Tangerine and grapefruit are the stars, unexpectedly keeping this light-bodied vineyard-designate alive and inviting on the palate.
This is a beautiful and delicate dessert wine with lightly musty notes that appear in the back of candied fruit, orange zest, almond paste, stone fruit and vanilla cream. It feels light and buoyant on the close but also delivers the heft and personality you need for a pairing with aged goat cheese and apricot jelly.
This is a beautiful and highly recommended white that is deliciously redolent of honey, stone fruit, pear, bee's wax and wild sage. The nose has good complexity and the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with good length on the finish.
This is a beautiful and rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that shows the best of Bolgheri Superiore winemaking. There's opulence and sophistication here with tones of wild berry, chocolate, tobacco and polished stone.
This is a beautiful blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sanguine, ethereal currant and cranberry are twisted in game and black pepper, the midpalate velvety in texture with a gravelly edge.
This is a beautiful blend of Chardonnay and Viognier with a luminous golden color and fragrant aromas of passionfruit, honeysuckle, mango and peach. The consistency is fine and firm and the wine's rich flavors are matched by well-balanced weight and density.
This is a beautiful Bordeaux blend, offering the kind of classic poise and exotic flair that South Africans are so good at delivering. On the nose, soft mint, chocolate, cedar and black currant beckon, and on the palate, spice and minerality mingle with the earthier elements. The structure is good, and there's ample complexity, but the wine is still approachable.
This is a beautiful botrytised wine, made from a field blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Light on its feet and reined-in in terms of sweetness, it's golden hay-colored and has a touch of reduction, allowing the Riesling nose to dominate. Decadent yet restrained, it's also lengthy and complex, with highlights of orange and pear.
This is a beautiful brut, easily worth its price. It shows the fancy elegance of more expensive bubblies, with its refined texture and rich but subtle flavors of strawberries, peaches and brioche. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and easy to find, with 25,000 cases produced.
This is a beautiful Cabernet for drinking now. It's soft and lush and dry, with complex flavors of red and black currants, sweet herbs and cedar. Shows real class and elegance.
This is a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon. It epitomizes the Napa quality of power married to finesse. Winemaker Ted Edwards deserves kudos for producing a high-production Cabernet (34,000 cases) this good, from a difficult vintage. It's dry and balanced, with rich, complex blackberry, sage and sweet oak flavors. Drink now–2017.
This is a beautiful Cabernet that's soft, subtle and delicious. It has balanced blackberry, plum and licorice flavors, touched with oak, and finishes with low-alcohol elegance.
This is a beautiful Cabernet that shows the gentle tannins and herbaceous edge of Rutherford Cabernets, but doesn't stint on richness. It's dry, smooth and appealing in black and red cherry, red currant, licorice, bacon and sandalwood flavors, and is complex enough to age for a decade.
This is a beautiful Cabernet, and at this price, a super deal. It's dry and soft, with the dusty tannins and herbal flavors that mark Alexander Valley Cab. But you'll find rewarding notes of blackberries. A great job from this veteran winery.
This is a beautiful Chardonnay—dry, sleek and refined. Beyond the subtle tropical fruit, citrus and green apple flavors is a steely minerality and lemony acidity that get the mouth watering. Drink now.
This is a beautiful display of Durell's greatness, crafted from two blocks of the vineyard, one planted to Old Wente, the other in one of the site's most rocky and windy areas. Combined, it offers well-integrated notions of golden apple, pear and honey amidst a freshness of acidity and unobtrusive oak, just the slightest suggestion of nutmeg-dusted brioche on the finish.
This is a beautiful estate with an amphitheater of vines that represents one of the biggest single vineyards of Barbera in the Asti area. This particular expression ushers forth aromas of ripe fruit, smoked bacon and blackberry jam. It's clean, compact and fresh on the close.
This is a beautiful lightly wood-aged wine. Made from arguably Portugal's greatest white grape, it is rich, smooth and balanced elegantly between toastiness and yellow fruits. The wine is still on the young side and will be better from spring 2018.
This is a beautiful Moscato d'Asti with peach mousse, tangerine, white almond, honey, ginger and spring flower. Perfect for nut-based desserts, the sparkler is soft and sweet with a distant touch of tangy spice on the finish.
This is a beautiful nut and orange-flavored white wine. It has a mineral texture that is developing well into rich pear flavors that are lightly touched by honey. The wine from this estate in the Layon Valley is likely to age well. It can be drunk now, but it will be better from 2018.
This is a beautiful red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Montalcino subzone of Sant'Antimo (where super Tuscan wines are made) with light mineral dustings that show delicately over a solid core of black fruit and exotic spice. The mouthfeel is bright and polished.
This is a beautiful red wine to drink now for its rich, ripe flavors and overall balance. It's soft in acids and fine in tannins, offering heady waves of black cherries, currants and chocolate. Easy to find, with nearly 75,000 cases produced.
This is a beautiful Riesling. It's not totally dry, like the label says, because there's a vein of honey that enriches the orange, apricot and white flower flavors, and persists into the finish. The acidity is ample, and there's a minerality that suggests steel and stones.
This is a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc that has the aromatic intensity and crispness expected from the best expressions of the variety. Background tones of citrus, herb and spicy ginger add personality and overall momentum.
This is a beautiful sparkler with outstanding purity of aromas: Peach blossom, kiwi, exotic fruit, floral tones and caramel candy form a delicate embroidery. It boasts perky sweetness in the mouth with refreshing crispness on the close.
This is a beautiful spice and mint-flavored wine. The wood aging has left a strongly perfumed character to the rich black fruits and acidity. Structured and firm, this will develop into a ripe intense wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a beautiful Syrah that's dry and full bodied, with dense, concentrated blackberry, cassis, smoked meat and cracked black pepper flavors. It's really gorgeous, but very young, with hard tannins. Give it up to six years in the cellar, before the fruit starts to fade away.
This is a beautiful wine at an very attractive price. It's redolent of blueberry, dried mint, cola, almond and forest berry.
This is a beautiful wine from a great vintage. It has a rich fragrance of underbrush, mushroom and truffle, with ripe black-cherry, mint and rosemary accents. It's still young with exuberant but supple tannins and racy acidity. Drink 2016–2025.
This is a beautiful wine from the nose on out. Complex and aromatic, it has Italian-style tobacco scents, fresh acidity, leafy highlights, and undertones of tar, licorice and clove, all wrapped around tart, pie cherry fruit.
This is a beautiful wine showing remarkable richness and maturity. Hints of toast and bright fruits combine seamlessly to yield a full, ripe wine marked with with intense acidity. With concentration from old vines showing strongly, it's a wine that's ready to drink now.
This is a beautiful wine that exhibits seductively dark concentration and bright aromas of red berries, cola and licorice that are characteristic of the Nebbiolo grape. The tannins show a polished, silky nature and will continue to evolve over long years of cellar aging.
This is a beautiful wine that focuses on complexity and elegance rather than heft and power. In fact, the Riserva Barbaresco presents traditional aromas of small dried berry, cassis, cola and pressed violets that are typical of the Nebbiolo grape. The mouthfeel is tight, tannic and could use 5–10 more years of cellar aging.
This is a beautiful wine to drink now. It's dry, smoothly tannic and softly delicious, with sour cherry candy, licorice, cocoa and sandalwood flavors that swirl into a spicy finish.
This is a beautiful wine to look at for the coppery-gold color and the fierce explosion of fine bubbles. Smells luscious, with subtle raspberry, lime, bread and lees aromas. This is the best rosé Handley has ever produced: amazingly rich, long and full-bodied, with the creamy smoothness of Champagne.
This is a beautiful wine with aromas of pear, peach and yellow rose. The palate is plush and intense, with a sassy, spicy close.
This is a beautiful wine with elegant fruits that reflect a strong sense of minerality. It is crisp, although that is just a surface quality to a wine that has such depth. Toast flavors round out the intense fruits, giving a light spice and butter to this powerful wine. Drink from 2020.
This is a beautiful wine with impressive density and intensity that helps push its cherry-berry flavors smoothly over the palate. Complex and sophisticated flavors distinguish this wine overall. Gorgeous.
This is a beautiful wine with its pink-orange color. The taste lives up to its appearance. A mature wine from a great vintage, it's rich with spice and nuts along with tight acidity. From fruit grown in the southern Champagne region of the Aube, the wine is completely ready to drink.
This is a beautiful wine with opulent aromas of chocolate fudge, cherry, vanilla bean and bright berry fruit. Yet in the mouth, it's is very focused, with enough structure and acidity to promise a long future. The finish is silky and fine.
This is a beautiful wine, fresh with acidity and structured with a mineral texture. Layers of creamy citrus and white fruit flavors go along with touches of wood aging that are well integrated. It's a wine to drink for its freshness soon, although it will also benefit from several years aging. It will be best from 2018.
This is a beautiful wine, from its onion-skin pink color onward. It is, of course, mature, but still exhibits vibrant red and citrus fruits. It is very dry in style, a paean to delicious acidity. This great wine does not need to age longer, but still has some potential to improve for the next few years.
This is a beautiful wine, full of ripe yellow fruits, steely acidity and a juicy character that comes from the apple and apricot fruit flavors. While there is a firm layer of toast from the wood aging, the wine is rich, tight and full of acidity. This structured wine needs many years, so drink from 2020.
This is a beautiful wine, fully expressive of the vineyard and vintage. It's showy in juicy red and black wild berries, with just-right additions of cinnamon and black pepper. Full bodied and concentrated, it remains approachable and an ideal companion to meaty fare.
This is a beautiful wine, so crisp, taut and refreshing. It brings out the fragrance and freshness of the chalk vineyards of the Côte de Blancs, fruity with apples and citrus. Still young although already balanced, the wine will age for several years and will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a beautiful wine—crisp yet balanced by ripe fruit and and an equally important tight texture. With red currant flavors, intense acidity and concentration, it can be drunk now for its fresh fruit character but will be better from 2018.
This is a beautiful wine—rich, smooth and balanced. It has weight, great blackberry and damson fruit and a judicious hint of wood. Spice, ripe fruit and fresh acidity all call for aging. Drink from 2016.
This is a beautiful Zinfandel. It exhibits all the wild, exotic forest berry-cherry flavors you could want, flooded with briary spices and notes of currants and mint that go on forever in the finish. Yet it also has Napa's perfect tannins and the balance of a fine Cabernet Sauvignon. First-class Zin, a chef's dream to play with.
This is a beautiful, bright wine, still very young although already hinting at the warmth of Fourchaume. The steely texture is right up front, along with crisp apple and citrus fruits. Underneath, a vanilla, toasty character shows promise for aging. Drink from 2017.
This is a beautiful, classic 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, but it's also immature in hard tannins, which is a telltale mark of this mountain appellation. The wine is bone dry and complex, with waves of blackberries, black currants, cassis, minerals and cedar. It clearly wants time in the cellar. Best after 2013.
This is a beautiful, complex and complete wine, from the delicate, spiced raspberry aroma through the creamy, nuanced finish. Subtle but well-defined fruit flavors like white cherry and raspberry pulse across the palate, buoyed by an ultrafine effervescence and lively acidity. But the texture is smooth around the edges, lending a sense of extra depth and layering to this extraordinary bottle. Just coming into its own now, it will improve through at least 2020.
This is a beautiful, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, one of the best out there at this price. It shows clean, crisp acidity and a wonderful, mouth-scouring minerality, with rich flavors of Meyer lemon pie, Key lime yogurt and vanilla. Compelling and so food-friendly.
This is a beautiful, fresh, relatively light and nicely balanced wine with a gorgeous array of vibrant fruit in both the aromas and the flavors. It pours on red and black cherry and raspberry while backing them up with good, taut acidity and light tannins.
This is a beautiful, full rosé that is rich and shows a fine balance between acidity and fruitiness. This bottling is also mature with toastiness coming through, giving a softer, rounder character. There is weight, and great acidity on the finish.
This is a beautiful, intricate and appealing Cabernet to drink with upscale fare, like a very fine steak. It's bone dry, but very rich and sweet in blackberry, cherry and currant fruit, and there's a nice cut of acidity for balance. Steven Kent is producing today's greatest Livermore Cabernets, wines that hearken back to the valley's roots as one of California's best wine regions. Drink now–2013.
This is a beautiful, ripe and floral wine. It does have structure although the main focus is on the rich, juicy fruit. Berries and red plums push through the rounded tannins. It will age magnificently, with great richness.
This is a beautiful, ripe wine, flavored with quince, pear and apricots. It is above all the zesty texture that gives this wine its character and attraction. Fruity, structured and likely to age well, the wine should be drunk from 2015.
This is a beautiful, ripe, full-bodied sparkler, balancing rich fruit with bottle age to produce a round, elegant character. It is delicious to drink now, although there is enough fruit to allow it to age for 2–3 years.
This is a beautiful, ripe, soft, perfumed wine. Its intense berry fruit is well to the fore, backed by firm tannins. Packed with fruit and smokiness from wood aging, it has strong aging potential. Drink from 2020.
This is a beautiful, rounded and soft wine with sweet fruits and gentle tannins. Embedded in the intense fruitiness, a solid structure will help the wine age. Drink from 2016.
This is a beautifully aromatic wine with toast and yellow fruits mingling easily together. It is ripe while also light to taste, a crisp burst of acidity giving the wine a fine lift. Yellow fruits, citrus and toast play together in this attractive wine that is ready to drink.
This is a beautifully balanced and elegant offering, with pleasant fruitiness, tight acidity and a fragrant, crisp character. It's full bodied, and falls in the middle of the brut spectrum of dryness. This is ready to drink now.
This is a beautifully balanced and well-rounded wine that has light spicy aromas and generous fruit flavors. Made from nearly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the mouthfilling texture boasts tiny bubbles, good acidity and excellent fruit concentration.
This is a beautifully balanced, elegant and mature sparkler. There is fruit—ripe strawberry—but the main character is its fine balance and richness. It can age, though it is at its best now.
This is a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied wine that's not too deep in color. It smells like ripe blackberries and has a whiff of wood smoke in the bright berry flavors. In the blend, Zinfandel is supplemented with Syrah, Petite Sirah and Carignane.
This is a beautifully concentrated wine that is marked by a pungent aroma of apple skin that puts up an aromatic barrier to any other fragrances. There is intensity and dimension to the mouthfeel, but the pungent nose is hard to get past.
This is a beautifully crafted wine steeped in burly, succulent black cherry and licorice flavors. Soft, firm tannins enwrap its full-bodied lushness with undeniable structure, accented with stony gravel and sanguine undertones.
This is a beautifully executed, amber-colored vin santo with pristine notes of dried fruit, honey, molasses and caramel. It doesn't have any of those resin-driven, smoky notes that you sometimes find and is instead very harmonious and clean in the mouth. It imparts a luscious, velvety feel that ends sweet and tart.
This is a beautifully exotic and delicate wine with steely minerality and subdued power. Full of lemony flavor, it complementarily exudes fresh tangerine and grapefruit peel, enwrapping its nuanced fruit with floral highlights.
This is a beautifully floral, high in acidity white made in small quantities that offers classically lean layers of wet stone and lemon. With a low imprint of oak, it remains structured on the palate and entirely pleasing from start to finish, its honeysuckle aromas singularly inviting.
This is a beautifully fragrant Merlot from cool-climate northern Italy that shows pristine aromas of cherry, wild berry, red rose and Indian spice. The wine is structured and smooth on the finish with soft, plush tannins.
This is a beautifully fragrant Pinot Grigio, with a sharp, tangy, brightly-acidic finish. It's characterized by peach, melon and citrus and the high alcohol does not go totally unnoticed.
This is a beautifully fresh wine, as crisp as possible. It is light in character while still bright with red berry fruits. The acidity and the general fruitiness give a refreshing aftertaste. These are young vines so we will see what the future brings.
This is a beautifully fresh wine, very clean and crisp. It has a lemon zest and crisp apple character that cuts through the tangy texture. Bright and light, it's fruity and very ready to drink.
This is a beautifully fresh wine, very crisp and deliciously fruity. With attractive lemon and grapefruit flavors that are given a richer character by ripe apples, it's fragrant, lightly spicy and ready to drink.
This is a beautifully fruity wine with great acidity and citrus flavors contrasting with ripe apple and melon fruitiness. The wine is cool, crisp, full of juicy acidity, and ready to drink now.
This is a beautifully lush, plush and structured mountain wine, layered in tensely focused raspberry, clove and vanilla. Surprisingly velvety, with soft, integrated tannins, it bursts in black pepper that lasts on the palate, inviting steak au poivre to join in. Drink now through 2020.
This is a beautifully made wine from a great vintage. It is still young and very fresh, although its flavors are now deepening and filling out. Ripe apple, white fruits and a tangy edge of lime zest are balanced by a complex texture along with good acidity. Drink the wine now and until 2020.
This is a beautifully made, elegant wine that combines classic aromas of toasted bread, ripe apples and almonds with mouthfilling flavors of vanilla, lemon and cream while maintaining great balance from fresh acidity. A lingering finish echoes the spices and toast.
This is a beautifully mature Champagne with layers of toast and almond flavors overlaying its rich white fruit. It's concentrated and tense with minerality and acidity within a framework of broad ripeness. Drink now.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine that's fragrant with white spring blossoms and flavored with bright fruit flavors. The palate has remarkable structure with intense acidity that lends zest and zing, and a fine, lively feeling on the finish. Drink until 2020.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine, ripe with black fruits and generous with its tannins and acidity. It comes from a one-acre parcel called Le Vivier which has 70-year-old vines. It is concentrated, dense and with aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine, that, while rich with fruit, maintains a crisp, steely and tight youthfulness. It's juicy character floods the palate. It's clearly a wine to age, so don't drink before 2016.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine, with just the right dense texture of tannins and depth. A balance of fruit, tannins and acidity make this quite attractive. Drink now for immediate pleasure or wait until 2017 for a more mature character.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine, with violets and ripe juicy black fruits. It has a concentrated firm structure that puts the fruitiness on a pedestal and gives it shape and intensity. The wine, named by the Danish and American owners after Denmark's literary legend, Hans Christian Andersen, is ready to drink.
This is a beautifully perfumed, lightly wood-aged wine. With grapes from the Douro Superior, it is rich while remaining impressively fresh. There are apricot and ripe pear flavors that are given a smoky, toasty edge by the wood aging. It is ready to drink.
This is a beautifully pure wine with good acidity and a very crisp texture. It's all about fresh citrus while keeping a place for the tight, cool character of this vineyard. The end shows grapefruit and steeliness in equal combination. Drink from 2016.
This is a beautifully ripe wine, full of melon and apricot fruits as well as fine crisp acidity. There is a little touch of pepper to give the wine piquancy. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a beautifully ripe, smooth wine. The wood aging adds a touch of vanilla to what is rich blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional. Black berry fruits, rich tannins and just the right amount of acidity make a wine that will be ready to drink in the medium-term. Drink from 2016.
This is a beautifully ripe, tangy wine with fine acidity and hints of spice. Lemon and crisp green apple notes shine through the still tight, mineral texture. The concentration of the fruit suggests it will age well. Drink from 2018.
This is a beautifully structured ripe wine that is full of dense red fruits and tightly wrought acidity. Crisply textured raspberry flavors dominate. This is a rich wine that can be kept for a few months. Drink at the end of 2017.
This is a beefy and potent bottling, with beef char, ripe cranberry, graphite and iron showing right away on the nose. The savory cooked-meat quality carries strongly to the palate, where complexity comes thanks to pencil lead, red-cherry fruit and baking spice.
This is a benchmark rendition of Pinot Gris. The flavors are fruit driven, with lime, apple and pear notes combining on the smooth, relatively soft midpalate. This is a consistent wine, even with its production level of 100,000 cases.
This is a berry-scented, moderately full-bodied Provence rosé. It's ripe and round, with a soft, easy-to-drink style and a moderately long finish. Drink now.
This is a best-of-barrels blend from different vineyard sites. It's a very good wine that grabs your attention with sheer Chardonnay dazzle. The tropical fruits are incredibly ripe and intense, with sweet, smoky oak adding supportive richness, brought into focus by crisp acidity. There's a core, like the nucleus of an atom, that holds everything together. Might even age for half a dozen years.
This is a best barrel blend of Goldeneye's several vineyards. It takes its beautifully ripe fruit from Confluence and the tannins of The Narrows to yield a dry, densely constructed and moderately ageable wine of exceptionally high quality and appeal. Blackberries, blueberries, cherries and exotic spices characterize the flavors of this tremendous wine, one of the best of the vintage out of the Anderson Valley. Only 222 cases were produced.
This is a best of barrels blend from Hall's various vineyards, including the famous Sacrashe. The wine itself is lovely. It has a firm structure thanks to dusty tannins and a dry minerality, while bright acidity makes the cherry, blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark chocolate fruit sing. Drink now and through 2014.
This is a big-boned and soft wine with pleasing characteristics of blackberry, vanilla wafer and upfront baking spice. The tannins are well-managed and integrated, with a touch of sweet heat on the finish.
This is a big-boned wine, showy in spearmint and eucalyptus, burly blackberry and tar. With integrated oak and tannin, it presents a respectable showing of approachably lush texture and succulence, the finish persistent in juicy fruit.
This is a big-boned, dusty varietal wine, aged in 50% new French oak. Oak spice scents enwrap its leathery blackberry and black currant flavors, finishing on a bittersweet taste of tobacco.
This is a big-flavored wine, aged sur lie, and about 30% was barreled in new French oak. There are pleasant vanilla, lime andapricot flavors, a creamy mouthfeel and a toasty edge to the finish.
This is a big-hearted, ripe wine from the Verhaeghe family, one of the top producers in Cahors. It is packed with black fruits and firm tannins. They promise richness to come with structure, wood aging flavors and density. It's a wine that is just starting out, still boasting its youthful fruit. Give it until 2020 before drinking.
This is a big and complex wine by Napa-turned-Paso winemaker David Galzignato. Dense aromas suggest ripe plums, black licorice, vanilla and mint. Flavors are juicy with purple fruits and grounded with herbs and mint, all hanging on an excellent tannic structure that's substantial but not pushy.
This is a big and full-bodied wine, with its tannins merging with notes of red plum fruit and spicy wood. With a generous feel, it also has a solid, powerful structure that offers the possibility of aging
This is a big and juicy wine full of blackberry and dark-plum flavors. The second wine of Larrivet Haut-Brion, it is fruity with dominant Merlot and round and perfumed Cabernet. It is developing rapidly into an accessible, ripe wine. Drink from late 2016.
This is a big and ripe wine, with flavors of chocolate and blackberry. Dense tannins dominate, although the rich berry fruits and acidity promise a more fruity future. It's worth waiting; drink from 2018.
This is a big and smoky wine that's very concentrated. It shows both the power and the structure of the vintage, as well as balances fresh, fragrant fruit. Dry tannins and the dusty texture are finely integrated into a wine that layers wood, intense acidity and great long-term potential.
This is a big Barbaresco executed in a bold, modern style that can either be consumed immediately, or can be put aside to age in your cellar. Soft layers of spice, nutmeg and vanilla are enhanced by bursting flavors of cherry and blueberry. The wine is rich, dense and opulent overall.
This is a big blush wine with bold orange and strawberry fruit flavors. There's a honeyed edge to the palate, but it's vital with acidity. Great with Mediterranean fish stew or paella, or on the beach with cold cuts.
This is a big burly wine that just has too many off aromas. Heavy barnyard scents mix with tart berry and espresso elements, and although there's body here, and what seem to be basically good elements, the stable-like odors stop the show.
This is a big but balanced expression of Cabernet that is ready to drink now. Layers of black cherry, caramel, vanilla, smoke and crushed black rocks show on the lavish nose. The palate's chalky texture is immediately apparent, with vibrant acidity that carries forth a rich crème de cassis flavor and finishes on roasted coffee and milk chocolate.
This is a big Chardonnay that's oaky and ripe with fruit. Flavors of cream, lees, toast, Mandarin oranges, apricots and stewed peaches all mingle together in a spicy, complex and dry wine. Four additional years in the cellar will allow it to integrate beautifully.
This is a big Merlot, earthy but a tad flat, with a tobacco-like bitterness on the tail end.
This is a big Pinot Noir that's dark, heavy and rich. It tastes like a confection with raspberry and cherry-pie filling, with hints of currants, roasted almonds, milk chocolate and anise. While it's in-your-face now, it should mellow over the next six years.
This is a big Pinot Noir, dark and full bodied and juicy in pomegranates, cherries, red plums and sautéed wild mushrooms, and the interplay of oak with fruit even yields richer notes of milk chocolate. It's devastatingly good, but also too young and fresh now to show its best. With its fine tannins and exquisite balance, this articulate young wine should be best after 2013.
This is a big Pinot Noir, full-bodied and dry, and a little heavy. But it's rich, offering delicious waves of cherries, raspberries, red currants, licorice, cola and savory spices. Unclear if it will age, but nice now with steaks, chops, grilled salmon.
This is a big Pinot Noir, with an explosive intensity of cherries and raspberries that is ripe and pure. Oak, of course, is there too, in the form of buttered, smoky toast. However, the wine isn't a mere fruit bomb. It has interesting nuances of earthy things, like mushrooms, nettles and Provençal herbs. The silky texture is an exquisite balance of acids and tannins. This new brand from Hall winery is made by their talented winemaker, Steve Leveque, and it immediately enters the California pantheon of excellent Pinot Noirs.
This is a big powerful overtly flavorful wine that demands attention. A vivid toasty savory aroma leads to rich spicy buttery nutty flavors that are mouth filling and a smooth, rather soft texture.
This is a big ripe wine full of juicy sweet plum flavors and dark dense tannins. It is still young with a bitter edge from the toasty wood aging. The wine, with its structure and firm texture, will need more time so drink from 2017.
This is a big tannic rustic wine, loaded with dark, bitter flavors. Cassis, espresso, smoke and charred earth all combine to carry through an astringent, tannic finish.
This is a big wine both in terms of consistency and alcohol (17%). In fact, it's too big in many respects and it's hard to image what foods can stand up to this power. The wine is redolent of brambly sour notes of earth and forest floor and there's a touch of bitter astringency on the close.
This is a big wine from a stellar vineyard in the heart of Oakville, sizable on the palate in billowy tannin, tobacco, black plum and milk chocolate. Full bodied in every way, it has a smooth, velvety nature that should soften further in time, allowing for a finish of compost and tea. Drink now through 2023.
This is a big wine in all senses. Powerful and dense fruits form the basis of solid tannins that are still masking the full-bodied, rich berry fruits. It is still developing and needing aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a big wine in its breadth of flavors and structure. Powerful tannins give hints of the wood aging. The ripe black fruit is given a crisp edge by the acidity that is typical of the vintage. The wine will certainly age well. Drink from 2023.
This is a big wine in structure, but mellow and complex in flavor as if it's been well aged. Blended from Grenache, Tempranillo and Monastrell, it smells lightly sweet and tastes dry and inviting like vanilla, milk chocolate and raspberries.
This is a big wine on the nose, with lemon curd, vanilla cream, hot pie crust and white and yellow flowers mixing into a very lush invitation. The palate shows great restraint, though, with lemon peels and pudding balanced by a tight line of lime pith.
This is a big wine that's not ready now—it's too tannic. That gives it a lockdown, numbing quality that blocks a full appreciation of the fruit. But what fruit! Blackberries pure and simple, reduced to their quintessence. Such is the inherent integrity of this wine that it should effortlessly negotiate 4 to 6 years, gradually softening.
This is a big wine with dark tannins and rich black fruits that are powerful and dense. The strong mineral texture comes from the rocky soils of Catapereiro. Wood aging adds to the complexity. Drink from 2017.
This is a big wine, and not really showing its best now. It's raw-boned. The oak is all smoky and spicy and dominant; the fruit is massive in pears, crunchy apples and pineapples; the acidity on the finish is tart. It needs a year or so to knit together.
This is a big wine, broad and fruity. Keeping the firm tannins and minerality well behind the red berry fruit flavors, it already shows drinkability. This second wine from Poeira is also a wine that could age impressively, full and structured. Drink now and until 2020.
This is a big wine, clearly in need of cellaring. There's a massive core of blackberries, cherries and baking chocolate on the palate, but it's rigidly tannic, dry and acidic still. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese, putting it in the super Tuscan category. Give it until 2017 to begin to mellow, and it could still be going strong in 2025.
This is a big, age-worthy 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted now, it's dryly tannic, with the black currant and crème de cassis flavors buried under a cloak of astringency. New oak, which comprises 80% of the barrels, adds even greater tannins. Give this wine at least six years, and it should continue to blossom in a good cellar for another decade.
This is a big, almost overpowering Cab that has mint and cedar streaks running through its classic cassis flavor.
This is a big, barrel-aged Chardonnay resplendent in caramel and honey, although it turns a bit bi-polar on the mid-palate, where it shows off lean minerality. A yin and yang wine, with a slight burn on the finish.
This is a big, beautiful floral-tasting wine with rose-petal aromas, rich body, ripe peach and rose-hip tea flavors. It's very assertive in flavor and smooth in texture, with a lingering floral finish.
This is a big, beefy and structured wine that at the same time is laden with fruit. A reminder of the tough schist soil of the Douro, the wine's mineral edge is balanced by the bright juicy fruit and acidity. With the tannins, this second wine from Duorum will age well, so drink from 2016.
This is a big, beefy wine that smells smoky and black-cherry-like and tastes full, bold and firmly tannic. It layers smoky, meaty notes over cranberry and tart cherry flavors, with hints of dark chocolate and cardamom. It is well balanced, muscular in mouthfeel and should improve with time through 2020 at least.
This is a big, blockbuster blend of Cab, Alicante and Petit Verdot with thick extraction and raw tones of fruit, tobacco and spice that liven up its chewy, textured mouthfeel.
This is a big, bold and dry wine that will pair well with roast lamb chops or grilled steaks. Spice rack aromas and generous blackberry, boysenberry and black-cherry flavors ride a velvety texture of fine-grained tannins. It has good concentration, layers of flavor and a lip-smacking texture.
This is a big, bold and fruity wine, packed with ripe Merlot fruit. Juicy blackberry flavors have a fine shot of acidity and soft tannins. It's a warm wine that will age well over the medium-term. Drink from 2018.
This is a big, bold and grippy wine, reflective of the vintage in its classic structure and age-worthiness. Cedar, black cherry and chalky tannins give it character and seasoning. The smooth, silky texture should take on additional velvetiness in the glass. It finishes with finesse.
This is a big, bold and leathery red, its full-bodied tannic profile accented by blackberry and coffee notes. Grippy in texture, it shows dense fruit ripeness and classic underpinnings of earthy spice.
This is a big, bold blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah and 15% Zinfandel that persists in thick, dense tannin and leather and tobacco notes. Full of juicy black fruit and subtle cinnamon and pepper, it finishes clean.
This is a big, bold version of a classic Australian blend. Yes, it's a bit of a throwback in its size and plushness, but there's no denying its appealing cherry and raspberry fruit, hint of charred oak and slightly creamy texture. Drink now–2018.
This is a big, bold wine with a wild, slightly earthy and herbal character in the otherwise ripe blackberry and spicy pepper aromas and flavors. The texture is quite thick with tannins, and the body is full. It comes from the windy and cool Jameson Canyon corner of Napa Valley.
This is a big, bold wine with earthy accents and a firm, dry texture that helps it pair well with rich food. Blueberry, cranberry and tobacco notes fan out on the palate, its full body and firm tannins carrying those flavors into the finish.
This is a big, bold wine with scents of ripe pear and a hint of anise. The fruit seems to grow and add dimension in the mouth, featuring pears and peaches that are topped off with a dollop of spicy oak and butter.
This is a big, bold wine with superripe fruit. It is saved from great excess by its tannins and acidity. It does have some bitterness from the high toast wood aging. The wine should soften out to leave a rich fruity wine. Drink from 2021.
This is a big, bold wine, full bodied with leathery tannin heat and a generous expression of blackberry and black-cherry cola. A touch of vanilla adds to the plushness and approachability.
This is a big, bold wine, packed with the typical Baga tannins and also with layers of ripe, dark fruit. Black plum skins give texture while the wood aging of this impressive wine brings out toasty notes balanced by juicy acidity. The wine has potential for aging, so drink from 2017.
This is a big, bold, but welcoming wine with tons of flavor, plenty of tannin but an almost silky texture that invites another sip. The deep red-black color goes almost to the rim. Aromas are like apple skin and red cherries and the flavor suggests blackberries. Its richness without heaviness helps it stand out from the pack.
This is a big, bold, fruity wine, typical of the powerful reds of Alentejano. It has ripe tannins, concentrated dark fruits and juicy final acidity. With a blend that includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, it's made to age, and this full-bodied wine should be kept until 2016.
This is a big, bold, powerful white, a blend of 80% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier and 5% Sauvignon Blanc. Oaky aromas of toast, hazelnut and sweet spice abound throughout, gracing the fruit elements of honeydew, baked apple, peach pit, clove-spiked orange and buttered nuts. The mouthfeel is round and broad, but with ample acidic lift to the palate and through the finish to keep things fresh. A gingered peach-white tea flavor lingers on the close; try after 2017.
This is a big, brawny expression of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Counoise, the Grenache playing the dominant role in the blend. It coats the palate in dense raspberry and blueberry fruit, seasoned with pepper and nutmeg. A leathery touch to the texture and lifted acidity keeps it from feeling heavy or overdone.
This is a big, brawny wine that offers moderate structure, opting for richer, denser notes of leathery tannin and bittersweet tobacco leaf, its accents part cedar, part clove.
This is a big, broad-shouldered Riesling, with plenty of body and a slightly oily mouthfeel. Powerful mineral notes dominate, giving the impression of liquid stone and spice, finishing almost totally dry.
This is a big, broad-shouldered Sauvignon Blanc, slightly oily in texture, with pungent scents of crushed tomato leaf and plenty of gooseberry fruit. The high alcohol, moderate acidity and richly concentrated fruit give the impression of sweetness on the long finish.
This is a big, burly wine, hedonistically ripe in blackberry jam, black currant and espresso. A leathery texture gives it body and weight that never gives up, finishing in a shaker's worth of black pepper.
This is a big, chocolate and dense fruit flavored wine. It shows strong signs of extraction, giving a bitter character along with licorice flavors. That's balanced by the great weight of fruit, solid fruit tannins and rich smoky flavors. Drink this powerful wine from 2018.
This is a big, concentrated and lush-textured wine, bolder and thicker than many of its peers and beautifully laced with dark berry, dark chocolate and cardamom flavors. The mouthfeel is full and gripping, as the many layers of fine tannins coat the palate and help the rich flavors linger on the finsh.
This is a big, concentrated and rather Burgundian Pinot Noir. It shows powerful flavors of cherry pie, cola, rhubarbs, pomegranates and dried herbs, with an earthy, mushroomy complexity. Feels young and tannic and thick in wood sap, yet its future is hard to predict.
This is a big, concentrated wine, impressive for 2007. There are solid tannins, with additional great acidity, and plenty of structure and ripeness. Red plums give a finishing lift.
This is a big, crowd-pleasing take on Pinot Noir, with fresh and ripe red berries enhanced by barrel smoked toasted teriyaki pork and a pinch of violet on the nose. Ripe raspberry juice shows on the juicy palate, but so does wet slate minerality, dried sage and thyme and even nice pine needle and eucalyptus astringency.
This is a big, dark and concentrated wine with exotic spicy, oaky aromas, rich and ripe fruit flavors, an absolutely creamy, mouthfilling texture and lingering finish. Deft touches of graphite and cedar in the aromas meet generous black plum, mint and cherry on the palate.
This is a big, dark wine. It is full of dense tannins and ripe black fruits. The tarry, leathery texture is developing well alongside the black-skinned plum fruits that are cut by intense acidity. Nothing is reticent about this powerful wine. It will be ready to drink from 2019.
This is a big, dark, full-bodied Pinot Noir, huge in fruit and quite mouthfilling in black cherries, cola and spice. It's a bit ungainly now due to the size, but has the balance to age. Give it a year or two to mellow out. If you drink now, decant.
This is a big, dense Pinot Noir, and quite a good one, although it's a bit sharp in acidity. Really packs in the black cherry and oak flavors, with a long, red licorice finish, but it's immature, and needs time to come together. Give it 2–3 years.
This is a big, dry Rhône-style wine with a medium color. It offers aromas of wild berry, earth and oak, along with clove and pomegranate-juice flavors and a firm, tannic texture. It's not what you'd call a cocktail wine, but it should be versatile at mealtime with meats and pastas.
This is a big, extracted wine, but it shows enough sophistication to warrant a place on a fine table. With ripe cherry, raspberry, red licorice and beef jerky flavors, it has good acidity for balance, and the finish is dry and spicy.
This is a big, extracted wine, voluptuous with cherry, plum, Dr. Pepper, pomegranate and oak flavors. It has Pinot's silky texture and the delightfully crisp acidity typical to this central part of Monterey County. You might want to cellar it for 3–4 years to see if it can mellow out.
This is a big, fat Chardonnay—at least in Burgundy terms. It has a ripe yellow-fruit flavor, a rich texture and soft acidity. Subtle wood influence gives further roundness to this almost pebble-smooth wine. It's delicious now, and it's likely to develop quickly.
This is a big, fat, almost sweet-tasting Cabernet Sauvignon, with ripe fruit framed by lavish French oak redolent of cedar, vanilla and toasted coconut. Cassis and tobacco flavors wear the oak well, with berry-cherry flavors coming through on the finish. A good choice for steak, and it won't break the bank.
This is a big, flamboyant example of white Hermitage. The aromas are exotic and floral, tinged by oak to resemble grilled pear and citrus, while the flavors suggest grilled corn, peach and toast. Drink it now for its exuberance, or keep through 2030. Three cases imported.
This is a big, flavorful wine, luscious in aroma, flavor and texture from the first whiffs of spicy oak and funky earth through saturated blackberry and clove flavors. The texture is both velvety and almost stiff at the same time. Drink now through 2020.
This is a big, fleshy wine, with evident tannins and acidity that give it bite and structure. The flavors are ripe and pure, suggesting red and black cherry pie filling, with lots of dusty spice and a hint of sweet oak. It will be very nice now and over the next 4–5 years. And with more than 22,000 cases produced, it should be relatively easy to find.
This is a big, fruity effort, with ripe flavors of cherries, raspberries, dates and spicy toast. Brisk Central Coast acidity brings a tart, cranberry bite to the richness. Drink now.
This is a big, fruity wine that has a dense texture and intense white fruit and peach fruit flavors. It's an impressive, rich wine, worth aging for 2–3 years. Screwcap.
This is a big, fruity wine that has a fine balance between fresh fruit and crisp acidity. Generously textured, ripe and full of berry fruits, this is developing well, still needing plenty of time. It is concentrated, packed with tannins as well as fruit. Drink from 2019.
This is a big, fruity, oaky Chardonnay. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in sheer power. The flavors of apricots, tangerines and limes, with smoky oak influences, are rich and forward.
This is a big, full-bodied and nicely balanced wine, with hefty blackberry and cherry flavors matched to a firm texture of rich acidity and fine-grained tannins.
This is a big, full-bodied Pinot Noir. If you're seeking a delicate style, go elsewhere. It's fleshy and precociously rich in cherry and mulberry fruit that's soft and chewy, like a candy bar. Such are the acids and tannins that you'll want to cellar it for three or four years.
This is a big, full-bodied Pinot, dark in color, fairly tannic and weighty. Completely dry, it's made in a more robust style than many another Russian River Pinot Noir. The cherry, currant, pomegranate and persimmon flavors have an edge of raisins that adds interest. Decant it, let it breathe and watch how it changes in the glass.
This is a big, full Zinfandel that's blended with 19% Petite Sirah and 1% Chardonnay. With the right balance between fruit and spice, the wine is a liquid version of blackberry jam on toast.
This is a big, gutsy Pinot Noir, the kind purists object to as being Rhône-like. But that's what MacRostie's vineyard gives them, and the wine is brilliant in its power and California deliciousness. With thick tannins but a silky texture, it offers waves of raspberries, cherries, currants, pomegranates, baker's chocolate and cola. Should develop well over the next six years.
This is a big, gutsy Syrah. It's strong and astringent in tannins and potent in ripe, fruity blackberries and plums, with a spicy edge of smoked bacon. The overall balance testifies to a pedigreed address and superior grapegrowing. As savory as it is, it's not really ready for drinking. Hold for up to six years.
This is a big, gutsy, but far from overpowering wine that's nearly opaque in color. Packed with dark chocolate and violet aromas, it pours out black cherry and blackberry flavors from a deep well. Well-integrated tannins give good grip on the palate and perfectly support the ripeness and richness of the fruit. It will be best after 2023.
This is a big, gutsy, muscular Merlot marked by hard, dry tannins. That doesn't mean it's not rich. It is, in black cherries, black currants, mocha and oak, but it remains a tough, hard wine despite being nearly six years old. Not going anywhere.
This is a big, hard, tannic wine. It's so buttoned up, the question is whether it will age. Most of the signs say yes. It's gigantically rich in blackberries, cassis and chocolate, with a berried sweetness accented by the caramel of toasted oak. Acidity is just fine. On the other hand, the alcohol is notable, giving it peppery heat. A very fine, flashy, impressive wine, but its future is obscure.
This is a big, intense wine that just lacks a bit of complexity and nuance. Bold blackberry fruit is framed by vanilla- and coffee-laden oak in this bruiser best suited to partnering a slab of prime porterhouse.
This is a big, jammy wine that is rich in fruit while also full of tannin. It has a ripe, jelly character that sits uncomfortably with the acidity and dry structure. It needs to balance out, so drink from 2018.
This is a big, kick-butt wine that shows the powerful fruit and hard tannins that make Pinots from this vineyard ageable. You'll find it tough and gritty now, with rich, deep flavors of cherries, currants, cola and cedar. Best beyond 2011.
This is a big, lush, juicy wine with grip and a fully-formed body, accented with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. A great deal for the quality, it's well made and deeply satisfying in highlights of coffee, cedar, mocha and blackberry, girded by a firm structure.
This is a big, lusty, fruit-forward wine. It shows Barbera's tannins, although they're soft and just need a steak to balance them out. The flavors are of rich, ripe blackberries and cherries. It's pretty much as elegant as Barbera gets, considering it is usually rather rustic in California.
This is a big, meaty wine that wears its youthfulness on its sleeve, showing a touch of reduction and assertive oak. Beneath its wall of ripeness, black licorice, cherry and pomegranate characteristics are buoyed by a depth of thick tannin.
This is a big, modern wine that delivers thick oak renderings stacked tall against smaller offerings of black fruit. Aromas of leather, spice and vanilla are dominant, and the wine is characterized by firm tannins. Drink after 2010.
This is a big, modern, warm Garnacha with a lot of oak and vanilla on the bouquet as well as blackberry and cassis. It's jammy on the tongue, but there's enough acidity to keep the pulse up. Dark black cherry, berry and rubbery flavors are followed by end-notes of raisin, chocolate and vanilla.
This is a big, mouth-filling Merlot, full-bodied and dry. It's stuffed with black cherry, red currant, licorice and spice flavors that change with every sip.
This is a big, mouthfilling Cabernet, rich and voluptuous in fruit. Although it's a bit hot in alcohol, you hardly notice it, with the explosion of blackberries, raisins and chocolate-covered cherries, made even richer by smoky-sweet oak. Delicious now and through 2014.
This is a big, muscular wine with great structure and lots of enticing spicy oak and fruit flavors. It's full bodied, firmly tannic and very appetizing.
This is a big, oaky, brawny and tannic version of the variety, generous in brown sugar and blackberry and plum jam. A piquant seasoning of peppercorn dots the midpalate and finish.
This is a big, perfumed wine. It is still young, with new wood flavors, touches of eucalyptus and dense, dry tannins. To balance all this structure, the ripe and juicy berry flavors give the wine the richness it needs. Drink from 2017.
This is a big, powerful and still young Cabernet blend that's not ready to drink yet. The massive blackberry, black currant, violet and dark chocolate flavors haven't meshed with the smoky oak, while a cut of fruity acidity makes for a tart mouthfeel. But it should easily negotiate the years. Better after 2011, and should blossom afterwards.
This is a big, powerful Bordeaux blend that clearly needs time. Tasted in early 2009, it's very tannic and dry, although you can detect the massive cassis and plum flavors. It would be a pity to open before 2012, if you can keep your hands off it. Could eventually stun. Alpha Omega is a winery to watch.
This is a big, powerful Chardonnay that impresses for sheer volume. Crisp acidity provides a keen balance to the ripe pineapple, white peach custard, sweet green apple purée, buttered toast and vanilla flavors that finish with a smoky swirl of dusty spices.
This is a big, powerful wine, in the Pride style. It's massively constructed, with concentrated blackberry jam and currant flavors. The drawback is a green, vegetal streak that prevents meaningful aging.
This is a big, powerful wine, packed with flavor. It's very good, even succulent, and startles with the intensity of its fruit, but has an edge of overripe raisins that may limit ageability. With firm tannins, the tastes suggest baked, pastry-filling blackberries, mulberries and currants.
This is a big, powerful young Pinot Noir, rich in ripe fruit. It's solidly Californian, but with its silky texture, racy acidity and overall balance, retains elegance. Delicious now for its cherry, raspberry, cola, pomegranate, vanilla and cinnamon flavors, but should develop through 2013.
This is a big, powerful Zinfandel that's typical of Monte Rosso in its mountain intensity of fruit. It tastes like the essence of ripe blackberries and sweet black currants, with lots of heat from the alcohol. Drink this robust, lusty wine with barbecue and rich meat stews.
This is a big, powerful, firm wine, with a top layer of ripe, glamorous fruit flavors. Blackcurrant jelly fruits are shot through with ripe acidity and soft tannins. It should develop relatively fast, but then last well.
This is a big, rich Cabernet whose powerful fruit stars. Blackberries, cherries, plums, cassis, cocoa and oak flavors flood the palate, dazzling despite the firm tannins. This holds its own with more expensive Cabernets from Napa Valley, and should develop well over the next 5–6 years.
This is a big, rich Cabernet, loaded with gobs of lip-smacking blackberry, cherry, currant and oak flavors. Couldn't be riper, and the tannins are soft and smooth. A little obvious in its charms, but a real crowd pleaser.
This is a big, rich Chardonnay, another monster lineup in Testarossa's single-vineyard series. Shows tightly knit apple and peach flavors very generously oaked, with the requisite additions of smoke, vanilla, and woody spices. There's something minerally in the middle that seems likely to preserve the wine, if you wish to age it. Very fine quality, and a super-good food wine.
This is a big, rich rosé, and a very delicious one. With fairly high alcohol, it's full-bodied, with complex flavors of orange peel, peach, watermelon, vanilla and spices. Perfect with paella or anything with ham.
This is a big, rich style of Pinot, with toast, vanilla and bacon marking the nose. While the palate delivers more black cherry fruit, it still remains savory overall. It's slightly chewy on the finish, so drink 2017–2025.
This is a big, rich wine, with swathes of black currant fruit and ripe spice. The tannins are there too, a wall of solid texture and dark structure. With this weight and density, it's obvious that this wine needs some serious aging, so don't drink before 2018.
This is a big, rich, dramatic Cabernet, marked with flavors of ripe blackberry and black currant. It's clearly a pedigreed wine, yet it's young and aggressive in tannins, making it astringent. Cellar it for a good eight years, to see what it can do.
This is a big, rich, extracted, dryly tannic Cabernet. The suggestion is ageability, but the wine seems to lack the dynamic tension to ride out the years. It has plenty of ripe blackberry fruit, but snaps to a quick finish. Quite good, but a disappointing expression of the Stagecoach Vineyard.
This is a big, rich, flashy Cab. It's very ripe, brimming with jammy blackberry, currant, chocolate-covered raisin and spicy olive flavors. Drinks soft and opulent in instant appeal, but doesn't seem like a longterm ager. Best now through 2010.
This is a big, rich, fruity Cabernet. It's quite a delicious mouthful of jammy blackberries, red currants, milk chocolate and cedar, but it wants some 5–6 years in the cellar. The grapes come from vineyards all over the valley.
This is a big, rich, oaky Chardonnay. It's a little heavy with all that caramel and buttered toast, but acidity brightens the pineapple and peach flavors, and the finish is clean and spicy.
This is a big, rich, ripe Zinfandel that tastes hotter and headier than its official alcohol reading of 14.6% abv. It's sweet with black cherry jam and raisins, with a chocolatey finish. Not for everyone, but a good example of the ripe Paso Robles style.
This is a big, rich, showy Chardonnay. Barrel fermented and aged in 80% new French oak, it shows buttered toast and charry vanilla bean aromas and flavors. The fruit below is good, if a little heavy and ripe, suggesting apricots and pears. Best now in its youth.
This is a big, rich, somewhat heavy Pinot Noir, stuffed with flavors of raspberry and cherry pie, red licorice and oak. It's impressive for its sheer volume, with zippy acidity that helps balance the high alcohol. It needs a few hours in the decanter to round off the edges, and it should hold in the bottle for several years.
This is a big, rich, thick young wine, impressive in sheer fruity extraction. Shows massive blackberry, currant, anise, black pepper and sandalwood flavors, with a bit of funk. The tannins are strong and refined. Could age well. Tasted three times, with inconsistent results.
This is a big, rich, vibrant wine, fruity enough to drink now. Mainly Merlot, with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's deliciously forward in cherry, currant, herb and new oak flavors. The vineyard is in the cooler Oak Knoll District, and the wine shows a brisk acidity that makes it elegant and refined.
This is a big, ripe and bold wine full of red fruits and fine tannins. Crisp red currant outlines the ripe wild-strawberry flavors. It shows good balance between young tannins and the generous texture. Drink from 2022.
This is a big, ripe and fruity wine. It is now maturing well into a rich, solid, complex wine. This second wine from the Mouchão estate in Alentejo is gorgeous, opulent and rich. The black fruit character is powerful, with delicious acidity and a darkly tannic character. It is still very young, so drink from 2017.
This is a big, ripe rosé, with lush red cherry, rosehip tea, apricot and vanilla flavors. It has zesty acidity and a silky mouthfeel. Some fruity sweetness lingers in the finish, but the wine is essentially dry.
This is a big, ripe wine, yet it showcases cool-climate-influenced citrus fruits. Lemon-lime, ginger and piecrust open to sweet citrus and vanilla, with just a touch of butter. A hint of grapefruit pith on the finish provides additional structure.
This is a big, ripe, distinctly New World Merlot that shows off its terroir to perfection. A long, sunny growing season has given explosive currant, blackberry jam and mocha flavors, while cool nights have preserved vital acidity and firm tannins. Drink now, with grilled steak topped with a blue cheese and brown butter sauce.
This is a big, ripe, extracted wine, softly tannic in the Paso Robles style. It's a little hot in alcohol, but delicious, with waves of blackberry jam, black licorice and spice flavors.
This is a big, ripe, full-bodied Pinot Noir—as big as the variety gets in California. But it never loses balance, by virtue of the brisk acids, silkiness and dry finish. This wine always impresses for its sheer, Incredible Hulk volume. Drink now–2015.
This is a big, ripe, oaky Pinot Noir. Considering how cold the vintage was, it was quite an achievement to produce such powerful raspberry, cherry and plum fruit flavors. The wine is dry, elegantly tailored and vibrant in acidity, and should peak by 2017.
This is a big, ripe, rich and oaky Chardonnay, the kind that will seduce lots of people with sheer dazzle, although only 135 cases were produced so it's likely to be hard to find. Dry and crisp, it's concentrated in pineapple tart and peach marmalade flavors, accented with plenty of sweet, smoky oak, and brightened with crisp Monterey acidity.
This is a big, ripe, rich Merlot, made in the modern style of fruity extraction. Cherries, red currants, red plums and vanilla-infused oak mingle together, leading to a spicy, dry finish. Now–2012.
This is a big, robust, country-style Zin, that's power packed with fruit. The blackberry, blueberry and chocolate-covered raisin flavors go to your head fast, like Port. Bring your designated driver and enjoy with grilled beef.
This is a big, satisfying wine, smelling like ripe black cherry and cranberry, tasting concentrated like espresso and cranberry, and feeling like it's wrapped in a thick blanket of insistent tannins. It needs time to mellow or pairing with a protein-heavy dish. Best to drink after 2020.
This is a big, slightly rustic Pinot that marches to a decidedly unfruity beat. Coffee and mushroom aromas set the stage, then add cola and earth notes on the palate. Finishes long, but with some rough edges; give it 2–3 years in the cellar.
This is a big, smoky Lodi Zinfandel, explosively jammy and thick with bacon flavor.
This is a big, spicy wine, with very ripe flavors of red berries. It''ss concentrated, with layers of pepper a tight lemon-zest acidity.
This is a big, strong Cabernet, flooding the mouth with intensely ripe blackberry, cassis liqueur, dark chocolate and white pepper flavors. It's tannic and acidic, and the oak hasn't been integrated at all with the fruit. Everything should begin to come together by 2017.
This is a big, strong, exuberant Zindandel that shows Dry Creek's briary, brambly personality at its best. It's a dry, full-bodied, tannic wine, with flavors of blackberries, cherries and currants. Black pepper, star anise and cinnamon provide the exotic spices. It's quite a good, rich Zinfandel at a very good price.
This is a big, strong, gutsy Syrah, a powerhouse of jammy blackberries, currants, bacon, pepper and sandalwood. It's completely dry, with rich, thick tannins and a long, spicy finish. Good now, with proper fare, and should glidepath through the next six years.
This is a big, sweet, extracted wine, for those who like Chardonnay packed with fruit. It tastes like buttered popcorn, orange jam, gingerbread and vanilla caramel.
This is a big, sweetly oaked wine notable for its ripe flavors and sheer opulence. It's distinctly Californian in the massive, rather jammy blackberries, cherries and raspberries, and shows good balance in the richness of tannins and savory acidity. Delicious as it is, it's all primary fruit now. Give it 2–3 years to mellow.
This is a big, tannic and dry Cabernet, but it's very elegant, and shows the pedigree of Alexander Valley at its best. Impeccably balanced in acidity and tannins, the fruit is pure blackberries and black currants, with a wonderful earthiness suggesting dried sage and thyme. Should develop nicely over the next 6–8 years.
This is a big, tannic and dry Syrah that seems built for the cellar, but an unripe note of green peppercorn verging on bell pepper rules that out. So drink now and appreciate the blackberries and oak.
This is a big, tannic, midnight black Cabernet, rude in youth and barely drinkable. The tannins are powerful enough to lock down the palate. The grapes, grown in Calistoga, are very ripe in blackberries, currants and dark chocolate, but those tannins are stubbornly astringent. Almost old-fashioned in toughness despite very high alcohol, it's a curiosity that seems likely to develop in the cellar, but with so little evidence of past vintages, all bets are off.
This is a big, tasty and very oaky wine. Smoky, peppery, bacony aromas, and flavors drenched with blackberries find a good fit with the full body, smooth but firm texture and lingering berrylike finish.
This is a big, tough, tannic Cab that needs time in the cellar. Not showing well now due to the astringency, it has a rich heart of black cherries and minerals, liberally enriched with sweet, smoky new oak. Decanting, and pairing against charred beef, will uplift it.
This is a big, tough, tight and somewhat puzzling Pinot Noir. It's bone dry, moderate in alcohol and tart in acidity, with sour red cherry, cranberry, Dr. Pepper cola and new French oak flavors. It's hard and rude right now, although its inherent elegance shines through. The question is ageability. Give it until 2018 and see what it's doing.
This is a big, voluptuous and unbelievably concentrated wine. The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Viognier, grown in two great vineyards, Thompson and Bien Nacido. It dazzles with intense cherry and raspberry purée flavors that are blanketed in sweet, smoky, vanilla-scented new oak. The alcohol is high, but the wine wears it well. Drink now.
This is a big, voluptuous Pinot, solidly in the Garys' style, but it possesses a delicate silkiness despite the size. In its extreme youth, the wine is all primary fruit and oak, with flavors of cherries, black raspberries, red licorice, cola and smoky vanilla. It feels broad and obvious, in the way of a young wine. However, 1-3 years in the bottle should bring out complexity.
This is a big, weighty tannin- and wood-dominated wine, with a structure that is firm, dry and concentrated. It shows the firm structure of the year, and the juicy black fruits are still waiting to show. Give it 2–3 years.
This is a big, wood-laden smoky wine, with notes of spice and enticing toast to go with the firm tannins. At the same time, the fruit is vying to show its rich red-plum character. Give this 4–5 years to begin to show its best.
This is a bigger, more forceful wine than its Lindemans stablemate, but not quite as charming. The flavors are earthy and dark, featuring hints of cola and root beer. Finishes with drying tannins. —J.C.
This is a biodynamic blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that's focused on two principle components: green Cabernet Franc notes and dusty, mineral ones. Both speak to the wine's typicity yet the finish falls a bit short.
This is a bit austere and linear, but the tradeoff is that it's refreshingly brisk and long on the finish. Tart citrus—think grapefruit—forms the core of the wine, garnished by hints of struck flint.
This is a bit chunkier and less suave than De Bortoli's more expensive estate bottled Shiraz-Viognier, but it's still a very nice wine. Peppery spice marks the nose, while the flavors feature a nice blend of plum with savory notes of coffee and black olives. Drink now–2015.
This is a bit clipped on the nose, with notes of saline, seashell, metal, leather and earthy blackberry. The palate feels wide and a touch wayward, while leathery berry and plum flavors include a note of mushroom. Lemony oak and herbal notes rise up on the finish.
This is a bit fat and forward, with flavors of tropical fruit and banana, and a light dusting of cocoa, cinnamon and butterscotch. It's a tasty wine to drink up as soon as possible.
This is a bit foul on the nose, with a mealy peach aroma. The palate is bland in feel, with leesy, slightly bitter melon flavors that finish dull and pithy.
This is a bit fuller and more textural than many Marlborough Sauvignons, which gives it an extra dimension. The aromas show just enough grassy punch to make them pop, while smooth grapefruit flavors build in intensity on the long finish.
This is a bit hard and aggressive now, with a punch of green tannins. That makes it hard to appreciate the underlying oaky, ripe blackberry and currant fruit. It doesn't seem to have the inherent balance necessary for aging, so give it a decanting and drink it now.
This is a bit herbal and sweaty, even a little boxwood-pungent. The herbal, leafy flavors are light and refreshing, vanishing too quickly on the finish.
This is a bit lighter than the previous vintage, offering tart red-berry fruit, accented with a note of fresh herb. The chocolaty barrel accents smooth out the midpalate and lead into a pleasant finish.
This is a bit more confected and immediately approachable than some of the cave cooperative's other cuvées, but it remains a well made, very drinkable rosé. Scents of bubble gum and crushed multivitamin kick things off, followed by flavors of mixed berries and citrus, finishing on a zesty lime note. Drink now.
This is a bit more punchy and pungent than Zeal's Reserve bottling, but it still offers considerable value. There's ample weight and just enough citrusy fruit to support the sweaty, nettle-y aromatics and herbal flavors. Try it with fresh herb-laden dishes like ceviches or steamed mussels.
This is a bit mulchy and leathery on the nose, with stalky berry aromas. The heavy palate feels wide, with pointed acidity, bearing soupy flavors of vanilla and cream. It finishes with lots of flavor but a syrupy feel.
This is a bit of a disappointing follow-up to the outstanding 2009. It moves past flavors of ripe berry and on to scents and flavors of raisins. Tannins are stiff and drying, and the high alcohol carries heat through the finish. It's a bold style, but drink soon as it's not likely to age.
This is a bit off-dry, with a honeyed edge, but there's lots of zesty acidity for balance. It has easy-to-drink flavors of oranges, peaches and vanilla.
This is a bit old fashioned on the nose, where vanilla, dried fruit and dill aromas hold court. A dry, traditional type of palate delivers spiced plum, red cherry and mild herbal flavors in front of a light-bodied, slightly oaky tasting finish.
This is a bit ripe and raw with notes of blueberry, some strawberry, black ink and background shadings of graphite or charcoal. It has a simple, easy feel in the mouth with sharp cherry tones and a slightly abbreviated finish.
This is a bit rounder and richer than many Australian Rieslings, with pronounced weight and rich texture on the palate. Instead of lime, it delivers orange blossom and orange sherbet notes that linger elegantly on the finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a bit rustic in style, with sweaty leather and clove notes layered over subdued fruit, but the roundness in the mouth and silkiness on the palate amply compensate.
This is a bit rustic, with dry oak scents and cheesy aromas that fade with airing. Choppy in the mouth, this Tempranillo shows bright acidity and leanness. Flavors of red berries and plum finish with a touch of roughness and bitterness.
This is a bit rustic, with superripe blackberry flavors that veer into raisins. As a consequence, there's a fruity sweetness at its core. It's also extremely tannic. While it's flashy and impressive, it won't benefit from age due to its inherent instabilities.
This is a bit Sancerre-ish in its light to medium body, aromas of struck flint and crisp flavors of grapefruit. Riper hints of fig and melon betray its New World origins, but it still finishes tart and racy.
This is a bit stinky right out of the bottle, with some sour, rotten egg aromas. Ultimately they blow off, but there's still a palate impression of sulfur and burnt match. The net effect is to put a damper on the fruit, which pokes through the sulfurous fog tasting rather soapy and limpid.
This is a bit sweaty in the nose, with a mousy undertaste that takes some time to blow off. Sour and unresolved; nothing really connects here. Very tart, with unripe citrus, pale red fruits, and a little toast and chocolate.
This is a bit tarry at first, but gradually opens up to reveal slightly herbal fruit notes of cassis and hints of olive and tomato—very Provençal. It's silky on the finish, so it's easy to drink now and over the next 5–6 years.
This is a bit thin on the palate, with flavors of sour black-cherry candy and spice. It earns a few extra points for its elegance and fine tannins.
This is a bit thin, and mixes in a strong herbal dimension with the tart red fruit. The acids are proportionate, and the tannins carry some bitterness into the finish.
This is a bit vegetal on the nose, where nectarine aromas compete with greener notes of canned beans and asparagus. In the mouth, this is oily in feel, while flavors of green fruits trend toward herbaceous. A minerally finish with citrus flavors and herbal leftovers is what you'd expect.
This is a bit wayward and cheesy on the nose, but on the palate it's good and smooth. It tastes sweet, with a burnt brown-sugar flavor and mild bitterness on the back palate. The finish is sweet and slightly maderized.
This is a Blanc de Noirs, white sparkling wine made from red grapes, in this case Pinot Noir. That gives both richness and a tense acidity to a ripe, fully fruity wine. Spiced pear flavors partner with vanilla and youthful acidity. It could bottle-age to mid-2015 to bring out its best.
This is a blend dominated by 85% Touriga Nacional from a single vineyard near the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The relatively cool climate shows in the crisp red fruits and the strongly mineral texture. The wine has an obvious aptitude to age further with its tannins and acidity still prominent, so drink from late 2018.
This is a blend from Aÿ on the Montagne de Reims and from the Côte des Blancs. It is intensely perfumed, with weight from Pinot Noir and crispness from Chardonnay. If it seems not quite integrated at this stage, it will hopefully come together over the next few years to reveal a ripe and rich wine. Drink from 2017.
This is a blend from different Premier Cru vineyards in Beaune. At this stage, it is dominated by the wood aging. That gives a bitterness to the wine that needs to soften and allow the ripe fruit to come out. It does have potential, although the maturity will take time. Drink from 2019.
This is a blend from most parts of the village, with fruit from 14 different parcels. It is solid and firm while also having great swathes of raspberries and red plums laced together with acidity. The aftertaste is perfumed with a fresh lift. Drink from 2018
This is a blend from seven of Pascal Agrapart's less important vineyards. It tastes as young as many of the vines are crisp with some citrus and fennel, but there is some softness. Not for aging.
This is a blend from several Grand Crus on the Corton hill. It is rich and spicy, with great black fruits and solid tannins. A powerful wine, it's shot through with acidity and black-plum fruits throughout the structure. Drink from 2023.
This is a blend from several vineyard sites, including Banfield, Saitone, Carlisle, Montafi and Papera, each boasting more than 100-year-old vines. A chocolate cordial note dominates the palate, as bold cherry, rhubarb, cinnamon and citrus flavors wander in. It's a steal for the price, too.
This is a blend from ten different parcels of the Grèves vineyard. It's beautifully smooth, hiding its structure behind generous red fruits as well as a fresh, crisp texture. It's complex, warm, very perfumed and elegant. Drink from 2017.
This is a blend mainly of the local Loin de l'Oeil with a touch of Sauvignon. Together they give a rich, while balanced wine, allowing acidity to keep the luscious peach, pear and honey flavors crisp and fragrant. Drink now, but the wine will age well.
This is a blend of 35% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Zinfandel and 14% Merlot. It impresses with rich blueberry pie, spicy clove and black pepper flavors while offering a lively experience on the palate that finishes long, with leathery texture and complexity.
This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 22% Mourvèdre. Strong aromas of eucalyptus leaves dominate a thick tannic concentration of dark cherry and cassis with a light simplicity to the finish.
This is a blend of 46% dry-farmed Merlot, 45% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot from the Lamonica Vineyard south of the Stags Leap District. Cola, leather and coffee ride a smoothly tannic, medium-bodied offering of likable approachability.
This is a blend of 49% Merlot with 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Zinfandel and 4% Syrah offered at an attractive price point. Puckering tannins soften in the glass to unveil hefty blackberry pie and plenty of dark chocolate with mellowed acidity.
This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sangiovese and 20% Zinfandel. Spicy, light and fruity, it sports plenty of acid beneath tart red fruits. The addition of Sangiovese gives it a little bit of leather and toast for added interest.
This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% undisclosed varieties. The alcohol is a refreshingly low 13.5%. The flavors are of black currants, cassis, softened cola and leather, with plenty of peppery spices. Should hold in the bottle for a few years, but fine to drink now, after a few hours of decanting to let it breathe.
This is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, which come together to form a full-bodied package of earthy compost and generously ripe blue and black plum. Soft tannins make it easy to enjoy.
This is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec and 7% Merlot. A masterpiece of blending, it has myriad pinpoint details, from the nose of flowers and berries, to the mouthfilling mélange of red and black fruits and finishing highlights of pepper and Asian spice. A precise, complex, elegant and powerful   Pentad with tremendous length, it represents the pinnacle of vintner Casey McClellan's 25 years of winemaking.
This is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, all grown in the Foothills. It's tannic at first, with a mélange of clove and cinnamon spice, then blossoms into a lightly stated, red-fruit-driven wine with big shoulders. A trace of coffee lingers in the background.
This is a blend of 60% Ugni Blanc and 40% Colombard that gives a deliciously light and refreshing wine. Bright and breezy, it is perfumed, herbal and full of direct citrus flavors. Drink now.
This is a blend of 60% Viognier and 40% Roussanne, with all of the fruit coming from Art Den Hoed Vineyard. Aromas of honeysuckle, ripe peach, lees and citrus lead to a full-bodied, creamy-feeling palate with sweet fruit flavors.
This is a blend of 67% Merlot grown in Carneros with 33% Cabernet Franc from Atlas Peak. Tense in bittersweet clove, tea and big, extracted tannins, it settles down midpalate to reveal an underlying crispness of red fruit.
This is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Willow and Dineen, respectively. Though it falls on the lighter side for Washington Syrah, it's proportionate and pleasing, with strawberry fruit, mocha and toast. Tannins are fine and slender; though drinking well now, this could be cellared for awhile longer.
This is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Lemberger—and yet the Lemberger is the dominant grape. The color is dark, the aromas and flavors are chunky and less nuanced than pure Pinot Noir, and the tannins are ripe but lack the silky character of Pinot. It's a solid, robust red that would make a nice match for burgers and the like.
This is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, with the balance of Garnacha and Graciano. It's from one of the new appellations in Lodi. Seems like there's a soft, dry, complex wine in there, with cherry and herb flavors, but too much oak weighs it down and makes it heavy.
This is a blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Sémillon. It was partially barrel-fermented and then aged on the lees. It is a very great example of its genre, one of the best in memory. Shows intricate layers of Meyer lemons, kefir limes and white peaches, offset by crisp acidity and minerals but softened with buttercream and buttered toast. A vibrant, immaculate wine, one of the Sauvignon Blanc stars of the vintage.
This is a blend of 96% Zinfandel with 3% Petite Sirah and 1% Carignane. Big, ripe and brawny, it features a generous helping of berry-cherry flavor that turns jammy and broad. Black pepper and cedar add context and contours to the rich experience.
This is a blend of all five red Bordeaux varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon taking the lead position at 65% and Merlot following at 22%. It shows classic characteristics of tart red currant, dried herb and cigar box within a full-bodied richness that's seamlessly smooth.
This is a blend of almost 50% Syrah, with Sangiovese, Cabernet and splashes of three other grapes. Jumping from the glass are flavors of juicy raspberry and sweet cherry swathed in a note of chocolate.
This is a blend of Alvarinho and Loureiro from the best parcels of Calçada estate. That gives it gravitas, that also comes through strongly from the wood aging. Vanilla and green fruits complement each other, leaving a wine that is both rich and fresh. Drink now.
This is a blend of Alvarinho and Loureiro, two of the most emblematic grapes of the Vinho Verde region. The wine is crisp, attractively fruity and light and poised. Drink now.
This is a blend of Alvarinho and Trajadura, a lively, fruity wine that has just a hint of a prickle on the tongue. It has apple and grapefruit flavors that are fresh and deliciously crisp. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a blend of blocks from the large estate vineyard, yielding a very complete wine. It's brisk in acidity, dry and silky, with low alcohol and firm tannins framing raspberry and cherry skin, cola and pomegranate flavors.
This is a blend of Bordeaux grapes sourced from the Riparbella Vineyard, which is located at 1,500 feet above sea level in Maremma. The property belongs to the Ferragamo fashion family. The tannins are velvety, firm and do a great job of supporting the bright flavors of black fruit and spice.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (14%) and Cabernet Franc. Complex aromas of toast, green herbs, fig, citrus, flowers and clove lead to rich but reserved flavors, with the tannins seeming bunched up. Give them time to stretch out. Best after 2020.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Zin provides the fuel to power the wine, while Cab lends elegance and structure. The flavors are a composite of both grapes, explosive in blackberries, currants, mocha, pepper and charcuterie.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, sourced from throughout the Napa Valley, including the winery's estate Diamond Mountain vineyard. Bold and lush in cranberry and dark chocolate, it's also robust in black pepper and cedar.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec from both the Sonoma Valley and Alexander Valley appellations, that works in its big, broad and tannic approach to ripeness and bold flavor. Plum, cranberry and currant provide fruit as black olive plays on the back of the palate.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot and Malbec. The grapes are entirely from Sonoma County. It's a tannic, lusty and ultimately satisfying wine, with jammy berry and spice flavors.
This is a blend of Cabernet, Pinot, Sangiovese, Zin and three other varieties, and it will please fruit-forward fans for its wealth of cherries, raspberries, cola and peppermint candy flavors.
This is a blend of Chardonnay and Arinto that was matured in wood. It shows ripe tropical fruit flavors that combine with toasty notes of oak to give a wine that is smooth, rich and creamy. The wine is still young, and will develop a richer character. Drink from late 2016.
This is a blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne, which were grown in Santa Barbara County's Watch Hill and Bien Nacido vineyards. It's extraordarily rich in orange and mango flavors, with new oak notes of vanilla and buttered toast. Crisp acidity and stony minerality provide good balance. The richness suggests drinking with lobster, crab and scallop dishes.
This is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato that's yeasty and oaky on the nose. The mouth is creamy and home to apple, vanilla and oxidized afterflavors. There's enough solid pear and melon involved to make it worthwhile, but you can't miss the mature nature of the wine.
This is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier that's zesty in acidity and slightly sweet in honeyed flavor. Immensely fruity, it bears notes of orange, green apple, lime and vanilla. A versatile wine to drink with today's spectrum of ethnic fare.
This is a blend of Corvina, Oseleta and Cabernet Franc that shows some of the intensity of an Amarone, but with more defined tannic structure on the finish. The bouquet offers blackberry and dark spice.
This is a blend of Encruzado, Malvasia and Bical (more commonly found in the coastal vineyards west of the Dão). Smooth and creamy textured, it offers a perfumed mix of mangos and crisp mandarin zest. Drink this wine from late 2017.
This is a blend of five Colheita vintages, the oldest 1981, the youngest 1992. It has many of the characters of a single vintage Colheita with one exception: it is fresher, retaining a surprising and impressive amount of fruit. The wood aging has left the wine rich and spicy with just a hint of dryness. Drink this wine now.
This is a blend of five different Dundee Hills sites, and as is often the case in Oregon, delivers more accessible and complete flavors than some of the winery's individual vineyard-designated wines. It's herbal and spicy, with strong scents of tomato leaf and root beer. The fruit is tart and clean, and the wine comes out swinging, but then it falls away in the back end, adding just a lick of vanilla as a sweet coda.
This is a blend of fruit from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. The result is a wine that is now showing maturity while not completely losing the apricot and pineapple-flavored fruits. A taut mineral texture lies behind the richness, suggesting that this wine will age further. Ideally drink from 2018.
This is a blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. This wine is deliciously balanced and, at this price, a super restaurant by-the-glass sipper. It's very crisp and fruity-spicy, and finishes a little sweet in honey vanilla. Nice by itself, or with Asian or Indian food.
This is a blend of grapes from a number of Premier Cru parcels. It gives a rich, ripe and fruity wine with a good depth of flavor and strong signs of the wood aging. At this stage, the wood is leaving some bitterness and toast, but this will round out. Drink from 2017.
This is a blend of grapes from Mario's Vineyard and Central Park West Vineyard, both in St. Helena. Full bodied and voluptuous, it offers classically tuned touches of cedar, dried herb, lingering red cherry and cassis. Sizable tannins give it plushness and depth. Drink now through 2022.
This is a blend of Grenache and Cinsault from the organic vineyard of Château Gabriel. It is a lively, crisp wine with fine acidity and refreshing red-currant fruits. It is bone dry, packed with bright acidity as well as fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a blend of Grenache Noir and Syrah. It's enormously rich in blackberry, cherry and cola fruit, with a long, spicy finish. It's a flashy wine, with its glycerine lending an overall softness.
This is a blend of Inzolia and Sauvignon from a producer located high up the steep mountains above Cefalù on Sicily's western flank with cool nighttime temperature and soothing breezes. Straightforward aromas include green herb, white stone and citrus.
This is a blend of local grapes including Jacquère and Altesse. It is a ripe style of wine that is full of pear, melon and sweet orange fruit. It is ready to drink, fruity and deliciously bright.
This is a blend of Malvasia, Ribolla and Welschriesling that balances flavors of fennel, smoked nut and black tea with delicate orange blossom and apple notes. Luscious, with a slightly waxy texture, it finishes on a sweet cream note.
This is a blend of Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (32%) and Cabernet Sauvignon coming from vines with an average age of 30 years. It has light but complex notes of cherries, plum, herbs, flowers and bittersweet chocolate. It's restrained and understated in style with seamless fruit flavors, mouthwatering acids and edgy tannins that need some time in the cellar to calm down.
This is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Aromas of barrel spice, herb and coffee lead to easy-going vanilla and coffee flavors. Barrel notes are dominant but it brings appeal.
This is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah that shows the Merlot's clove and red currant characteristics upfront, with a ripe, soft, seamless palate that isn't otherwise sure what it wants to say.
This is a blend of nearly 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. A floral nose of violet and rose appeals before a sizable intake of grippy leather, sage and cranberry provides a tart, thick and gritty core.
This is a blend of Nero d'Avola and Merlot in almost equal measures. The first varietal offers aromas of red fruit, wild fennel and pistachio. The second grape lends softness and bright cherry flavor. There's a touch of tar and graphite on the close.
This is a blend of Pinot Gris and Riesling that melds the spice of the former with the steeliness of the latter. The result is a wine with lively acidity, touches of pepper and a crisp, light-hearted aftertaste. Screwcap.
This is a blend of Pinot Noir from Burgundy and the south of France, giving a warm and rich character with soft tannins and juicy red plum fruit flavors. Cherry and fresh acidity complete this attractive, easy wine.
This is a blend of premier and grand cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Vintages from the difficult 2010 harvest are rare, so this wine with its soft texture and smooth fruit is an exception. Already mature, it offers hints of almonds as well as ripe fruits. Ready to drink, it's rich in the middle and crisp at the end.
This is a blend of Rutz's single-vineyard Pinots. Displays the fleshy, berry and tomato flavors of Dutton Ranch and Martinelli, and is very similar to both. Makes the case for blending. It doesn't hit the heights, but is a refined wine, and a versatile one. —S.H.
This is a blend of Sémillon and Cabernet Franc. With its creamy texture and bright citrus flavors, it is an attractively fruity wine. Its crisp fruitiness makes it dry, although there is a soft side to the wine that blunts the acidity. Drink now.
This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat, not often found although working well here. The perfumed Muscat nicely softens the herbal Sauvignon to give a wine that is almost honeyed, certainly attractive as an apéritif.
This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and the relatively rare variety, Sauvignon Gris. It's basically a white Bordeaux-style wine, with considerable oak influence. You'll find citrus, tropical fruit and hay flavors, brightened by crisp acidity, making for a stylish, upscale white wine.
This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer and Semillon. It's nicely crisp in acids, with sweet, jammy pineapple, apricot, peach, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors. Good with Asian fare, or with fresh fruit.
This is a blend of seven parcels from the higher slopes of the appellation. They give the wine a cool, fresh character, aromatic and steely. It's a crisp wine, with textured citrus and clean acidity. Drink now.
This is a blend of several marquee vineyards, including Gap's Crown, Martinelli and Widdoes. It comes together nicely in a mix of fig and baked bread, peppered in baking spices and dried herb. Cherry comes through along with subtle hints of violet and rose, before a long, lingering finish ties things in a juicy bow at the end.
This is a blend of several parcels throughout the appellation including some Premier Crus. It has the power of the appellation along with the elegant Leflaive house style. That makes for a fine structured wine with great acidity, apple and pineapple fruit and a strongly mineral aftertaste. Drink starting from 2019.
This is a blend of several vineyards from throughout the sprawling Sonoma Coast region. It shows crisp, upfront acidity that makes the wine tart, and lasts through the dry finish. Flavor-wise, it's all about pears, enriched with toasty oak.
This is a blend of several vineyards, including Pratt Vineyard Vine Hill and Gap's Crown. The wine captures the excellence of both sites in its minerality and fruit-forward nature. Rich, heady caramel and nutmeg mark the nose as the palate comes into balance, part tropical vanilla, part briny sea salt.
This is a blend of several vineyards, instead of the winery's usual single-vineyard Chards. It's been tastefully assembled, and displays good Central Coast acidity framing tropical fruit and oak flavors with a stony, minerally edge.
This is a blend of some of the winery's best vineyards. The '06 is quite a good wine, but showcases some of the limitations of the vintage. Structurally, it's fine, with a good acid-tannin balance, but it could be more concentrated. The cherry and currant flavors are a little unfocused.
This is a blend of Syrah (41%), Grenache (31%) and Mourvèdre. Aromas of vanilla, coffee, game and spice are followed by fruit flavors that seem dried out. Drink now.
This is a blend of Syrah and Cab that has loads of milk chocolate as the protagonist and a loud chorus of berry fruit behind it. The fruit nuances are simple but clean and offer a good match to pasta, roasted vegetables and white meat. The best quality of this wine, however, is the finish that is long and exceedingly fruity.
This is a blend of Syrah and Cinsault. That gives the wine structure as well as bright fruits. It is an elegant fruity wine with a creamy ripe texture along with red-currant and raspberry fruits. Drink the wine now.
This is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. It's a bit soft in structure, but nice and dry, and the blackberry, leather, pepper and cedar flavors are elaborate. Drink now.
This is a blend of Testarossa's far-flung vineyards across California, hence the statewide appellation. It's extraordinarily rich and explosive in apricots, pineapples, guavas, nectarines, buttered toast and smoky, caramelized oak. So muscular that you might want to age it for a year or two, to let it calm down.
This is a blend of the best barrels from the five Mercurey Premier Crus owned by the Devillard family. First produced in the 2010 vintage, the wine is now made in most vintages. It is a rich wine, bringing out the pure red fruitiness of a Mercurey and its beautifully integrated structure. It is concentrated and very dense, packed with vanilla, mint and dark coffee flavors as well as the fruit. Age this wine, at least until 2020.
This is a blend of the best barrels of the vintage, in this year consisting of fruit primarily from Howell and Diamond mountains, with a touch of estate-grown Merlot. It offers astounding levels of richness and concentration alongside a nuanced approach to bold black fruit and spicy earth, its aromas of blackberry and clove peppered in wild violet. It impresses immediately but also pleads for more time in bottle; enjoy best 2020 through 2028.
This is a blend of the five major Bordeaux varieties, based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows a weight and depth that Firestone Cabs don't often achieve, offering soft layers of black currants, cherries, cola, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar and smoky sandalwood. Drink now.
This is a blend of the three of the producer's single-vineyards, 42% from Atoosa, 29% Samantha and 29% Moaveni. The whole is greater than its parts in its complementary marriage of floral violet and lavender with black pepper and meat, the texture soft and plush.
This is a blend of the three single-vineyard Syrahs from AlmaTerra, and is in some respects more complete, but not quite as interesting as the individual wines. It seems to concentrate the minerality and expand the fruit component, but also becomes blockier, and loses some focus in the finish.
This is a blend of the unusual Egiodola (a disease-resistant cross of native vines) and Syrah. This rosé version of two naturally tannic grapes turns out to be fruity and juicy. It is lively with crisp acidity and a lightly turned texture. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a blend of three vineyard sites important in other designated bottlings: Cider Ridge, Burnside and Sexton. Floral, with a pretty nose, it opens in spicy clove with a meaty texture, ultimately showing as dark, brooding and savory, as spicy in white pepper as driven by acidity. It has tannin and weight, yet remains fresh and lively in the glass.
This is a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The mildness of its fruity bouquet and the leanness of its mouthfeel suggest that it should be paired with tuna salads or steamed dumplings.
This is a blend of two-thirds Merlot topped off with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Mocha, raspberry and high-toned herb and spice aromas lead to elegant yet rich and well-balanced fruit flavors. It's a delight.
This is a blend of two vineyards, Pratt Vine Hill Road and Gap's Crown, enviable sources for both red and white grapes. The end result here shines in honey and a sublime hint of lemon candy. Bright, floral acidity lines a foundation of fresh tangerine and lime, finishing with an intensity of salty, spiced oak.
This is a blend of Weissburgunder and Pinot Blanc that is aged in large barrels on the lees. It has a rich, creamy character with a delicate texture and generous acidity. The palate is apricot flavored but lightly peppery. Full in the mouth, it is ready to drink, but will improve over the next two years.
This is a blend of wines from their 2011 and 2012 vintages, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot, as well. Spicy cherry fruit combines with herbal notes and a hint of balsamic. It has an earthy undertone, but overall the fruit shines.
This is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Alicante Bouschet. It's a lusty, full-bodied wine, rich and savory in cherries, licorice, bacon, cola and Indian spices, with a dry finish. A lovely wine for summer barbecue, or a cold weather beef stew.
This is a block selection from the principal estate vineyard. At first flavors of soda cracker, with a saline edge, fill the palate. Then apple, pear and melon fruit come in, with excellent concentration and refreshing acidity.
This is a blockbuster Brunello that delivers pleasure and intensity on multiple levels. The aromas are deep and penetrating with an emphasis on cherry, forest berry, pressed violets, cola and balsam notes. The delivery is direct and generous and the mouthfeel boasts excellent length, density and persistency. The tannins are still tight. Wait a few more years to drink it.
This is a blockbuster of a wine, impressive in its smoky oak and crisp black currant brightness. Soft, integrated tannin supports a full-bodied, lush palate that has plenty of length and breadth, seasoned with black licorice, pepper and clove.
This is a blockbuster of a wine, powerfully built grape by grape, with just a handful of Merlot. Cherry vanilla, leathery cedar and juicy plum combine around a lush, voluptuous mouthfeel of tension and tannin. Incredibly satisfying, it shows a length of spicy clove on the finish that appears to go on for days. This is a beauty too hard to sock away, though it should do well in the cellar another decade or two.
This is a blockbuster, blustery wine, 30% whole-cluster fermented, with a wealth of concentration and oak. Earthy and funky on the nose, it's soft, ripe and dense, with a hearty mix of cola spice and juicy black cherry, offering lots of dry tannin on the finish.
This is a blocky, big Rioja, with coffee, earth and slightly stewed aromas that suggest warmth and ripeness. A deep, saturated palate is round and a touch jagged, while fig, prune and baked berry flavors finish earthy, slightly pruny and round. Drink this ripe wine now through 2017.
This is a blush wine made primarily from the Spanish variety, Tempranillo. It's fairly dark for a rosé and quite full-bodied in cherry jam, pepper and vanilla flavors, while a splash of Albariño adds needed acidity and the bright taste of citrus.
This is a bold-flavored, medium-bodied rose. It starts with a bright pink color, then shows effusive floral and fruity aromas and jammy but dry flavors.
This is a bold and expressive but not overly big wine. It smells wonderfully like clove and coriander, and tastes generously focused on classic black cherry and cedar notes. It's full bodied, but has great acidity and a lively layer of tannins to keep it balanced and refreshing.
This is a bold and muscular wine, with dense, concentrated aromas of black berry, plum and boysenberry that are accented by notes of black peppercorn, charred tobacco and soil. The palate is firmly structured yet plush in fruit tones, with flavors of black-fruit skin, leather and toasted oak that remain on the finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a bold and powerful wine with distinctive green notes that recall dried grass, black pepper and spice. It also has bitter chocolate, cardamom and cumin and its tannins are so strong, they literally leave your palate parched and dry.
This is a bold and powerful yet layered and nuanced wine, with hints of green peppercorn, tobacco leaf, cigar box and leather that add depth and interest to the cassis and brambly blackberry core. The gripping palate offers structured, mouthcoating tannins that are framed by ample acidity and ripe black berry tones. Notes of spicy black licorice and espresso unfold on the long finish. It's delicious now, but this will age beautifully through 2020.
This is a bold and rich wine, a blend totally dominated by 90% Merlot. It is fruity, structured and with fine juicy black fruits and acidity. The 12 months of wood aging have given the wine an edge of spice that is attractive now. Final tannins will allow it to age. Drink from 2021
This is a bold and ripe wine from the gravel soil of Lalande de Pomerol. It is now reaching maturity. It has rich blackberry fruits, layered with acidity. The tannic core is still firm giving the wine the chance to age further. Drink until 2022.
This is a bold and ripely fruity wine. Fine tannins and blackberry fruits are already well combined in a big and juicy whole. The wine does have a structure and layers of wood aging that suggest it will age. Drink from 2018.
This is a bold and thickly structured Sagrantino that has all its cards in place hold for a slightly disjointed note on the bouquet. The aromas are raw and intense and those bright cherry and spice elements seem to compete strongly against each other. Campo alla Cerqua is aged three years in large oak casks.
This is a bold bruiser of a wine with thick concentration and dense extraction of flavors and aromas. You'll recognize tones of spice, black cherry, blueberry, red currants, tealeaf and tobacco. The wine's texture is equally dense although it ends on a fresh, crisp note.
This is a bold but well-balanced wine, with densely fruity aromas, and appealing flavors of pomegranate and blueberry. A layer of fine tannins adds a grippy mouthfeel, making it great with a roast chicken or grilled lamb chop.
This is a bold combination of 89% Dolcetto from the Napa side of Carneros and 11% Barbera from one of its happy spots in the state, El Dorado County. Big bodied and tannic on entry, it softens in the glass to reveal bright red cherry and spearmint, with a touch of bitterness on the finish.
This is a bold dry wine from one of Bonterra's biodynamically farmed vineyards, and it has plenty of tannin in the texture and an abundance of ripe black-cherry, wood smoke and baking spice flavors to fill out that firm frame. For all its power the wine is also polished and velvety enough to sip with pleasure. Best after 2020.
This is a bold fruity wine that just allows its tannins to build a supporting structure. The black fruits are right up front, full of acidity and with a delicious potential. Drink from 2019.
This is a bold rich wine—perhaps too rich. It has dense black fruits that go with the dark chocolate and licorice flavors. It still has young tannins and acidity and these need to soften. Drink this rich wine from late 2017.
This is a bold ripe wine that is dominated by firm while juicy Tannat. Named after the characteristic black berets worn by the menfolk of Gascony, the wine is powerful and dense with black fruits and balanced acidity. Drink this already enjoyable wine now, or better from 2018.
This is a bold wine in all senses. It is packed with fruit, dry tannins and a dense texture from vines planted not long after Alain Dominique Perrin began Lagrézette's restoration in the '80s. The blend of 87% Malbec, 12% Merlot and 1% Tannat presents powerful tannins and generous fruitiness. This estate wine will be slow to develop and to reveal its full ripe potential, so drink after 2020.
This is a bold wine with aromas like Concord grapes, and flavors so ripe they are almost jammy, but it also has lively acidity and moderate tannins to keep the texture fresh. There is little oak flavor to get in the way of the pure expression of the grapes.
This is a bold wine with spice and pepper, but also great, juicy black fruits. The palate is rich—not too heavy—with layered blackberries and acidity over soft tannins. It's worth aging for 3–5 years but can be drunk now for its fruitiness.
This is a bold wine, full of ripe apple and peach fruit flavors. It is delicious, juicy with a tight texture and zesty acidity. There is an opulent, rich aftertaste that is mouth-filling and perfumed. The wine is ready to drink now although it will be better from 2017.
This is a bold, assertive Sauvignon Blanc, boasting bright citrus aromas and flavors, lifted by just a sprinkling of cut grass. A bit of creaminess adds dimension on the palate, which then finishes on a burst of lime and grapefruit.
This is a bold, brawny red from a famous site, velvety in texture and all power and concentration. Forest floor and a touch of smoke complement juicy dark cherry, caramelized oak and licorice, while bright acidity supports the layers of flavor and strong tannins.
This is a bold, densely structured wine with vanilla-cream, orange-soda and pineapple-custard flavors. There's good acidity, but it appeals to the modern style with it's ripe, straightforward feel.
This is a bold, fruity wine with ripe tannins and a touch of toast. This toastiness needs to soften to fill out the palate with the red-berry fruits and acidity. The tannic core is dry, firm and solid, offering aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a bold, fruity, muscular blend that's 100% New World in its darkness, ripeness and heft. It's earthy and full of cola and herbs on the nose, while the palate is rugged and delivers core blackberry, spice, coffee and herbal flavors. A dry, ripped, peppery tasting finish is a proper ending. Drink now–2017.
This is a bold, jazzy, full-bodied wine with little oak influence. It oozes ripe fruit flavor onto a surprisingly solid structure of fine-grained tannins and supportive acidity. Grapy, jammy aromas lead to generous, mouthcoating blackberry flavors, nice grip on the palate and a lingering finish.
This is a bold, meaty wine with thick aromas of smoke, cured meat, mesquite wood, ripe blueberry and sweet cherry. It makes a grand impression on both the nose and the tongue because of its exceptional density, its supple texture and its impressive length.
This is a bold, ripe and fruity wine. It has rich black currant fruits, solid tannins and a dense texture. Very aromatic, it is powered by its dry core that is showing signs of softening and rounding out. Drink from 2017.
This is a bold, ripe and spicy wine. With firm tannins contrasting with the rich perfumed Cabernet Franc fruits, this is a wine with good potential. The dry edge will soften as the wine matures and create a dense concentration. Drink this wine from 2019.
This is a bold, ripe wine from the heart of the Alentejo. Perfumed, full of red berry flavored fruits and with a rich, soft texture, it is ready to drink.
This is a bold, ripe wine, full of both tannins and rich black fruits. Spice from the wood has given the wine an extra dimension while the ripe fruitiness gives it an almost jammy character. As it develops it will broaden into an impressive, concentrated wine. Drink from 2022.
This is a bold, ripe wine, full of fruit and equally full of dense tannins. A blend that includes Cabernet Sauvignon, it is solid, powerful and spicy from wood aging. The structure is still young in this impressive wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a bold, showy wine with assertive oaky, smoky, spicy aromas, a very firm texture and equally oak-driven flavors. Plenty of tannin gives a grippy mouthfeel and full body, so it should pair well with meat and cheese.
This is a bold, structured wood-aged wine. It brings out the best in Portugal's flagship grape, with blackberry fruits, a perfumed character and balanced acidity. Although it is already three years old, this wine could still age to soften its solid tannins, and will be better from 2018.
This is a bold, tannic, very flavorful wine that needs to pair with an epic meat dish. It smells like black cherry and cranberry, tastes almost chocolaty, and feels thick and dense with fine tannins and firm acidity.
This is a bold, very ripe and full-bodied wine that has a good frame of firm tannins and acidity to give it an appetizing texture. While packed with plump, almost sweet flavors like blackberry jam, it is nicely dry and well balanced, leading to a lingering finish that last for 30 seconds.
This is a bold, vital young Syrah. It's from the Santa Ynez Valley, although you'd never know that from the label, and shows that region's affinity for producing superior Syrah, when the farming is good. The wine is full-bodied and fairly high in alcohol, with rich, intricate blackberry, black currant, licorice, bacon, baker's chocolate and black pepper flavors. Delicious now, and will evolve over the next six years.
This is a boldly expressive testament to the vineyard site from which it comes. A concentrated and lushly textured wine, it exudes lime and a hit of tropical papaya buoyed as it goes by bristling acidity and a hint of wild vanilla. Indicative of a ripe, warm vintage, it remains balanced and deliciously exuberant from start to finish.
This is a boldly extracted and concentrated expression of Sangiovese (with 10% of the Bursona Longanesi grape) that delivers steady and bold oak aromas. The wood influences are almost too much but will surely integrate as the wine ages in the bottle. Beyond all that spice and toast is a solid core of black berry fruit and prune.
This is a boldly jammy uninhibitedly ripe wine—a mix of compost, old barn, jammy raspberry and prune. The size and structure work well together, with toasted oak supporting brawny texture and grip.
This is a bone-dry Champagne, with a crispness and mineral texture that promises long aging to a wine that also demands food. Its green apple and citrus flavors are powerfully dominant. Allied to the acidity, this is a young, taut, nervy wine ready for many years' aging.
This is a bone-dry, piercingly fresh wine. It has tense acidity and a mineral texture that would make it delicious as an accompaniment to seafood. The wine is crisp, refreshing and bright.
This is a bone-dry, tannic, acidic and tightly wound Cabernet, with a solid core of blackberry aromas and flavors. Stylistically, it plants its flag squarely in favor of elegance, it just needs a little more time to fully integrate.
This is a bone dry, tannic, rather austere wine. It has suggestions of cherry skins and red licorice, with brisk acidity. Not an ager, it needs rich, fatty meats and cheeses for balance.
This is a bone dry, while rich wine that is now mature. It has weight, secondary almond and spice flavors, as well as tight acidity and a very mineral character. It has crispness rather than freshness, bringing a taut structure into play along with the concentration. Drink now.
This is a bony, tight and herbaceous wine, sharp and crisp with bright apples and lime flavors. Light and full of minerality, it has a steely line that goes to its heart. Drink now, but it will be better in 2015.
This is a Bordeaux-inspired blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon. It's frankly delicious, with tiers of blackberry and cherry pie, milk chocolate and sweet, buttery, toasted oak flavors. Doesn't have the structure for aging, so drink up with a great steak.
This is a Bordeaux-style blend based on the two Cabernets, Sauvignon and Franc. It's made in the modern style, soft, ripe and oaky. Floods the mouth with black cherry and raspberry flavors, sweetened with caramelized oak, and undeniably delicious. However, a combination of high alcohol and excessive softness seems to limit ageability, so enjoy over the next few years.
This is a Bordeaux-style blend from three Red Mountain vineyards: 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc. Stiff tannins underscore tight black cherry and cassis fruit, with a generous helping of new oak barrel flavors. The wine is young and substantial, with excellent aging potential through 2024.
This is a Bordeaux-style blend with 60% Cabernet Franc as its anchor. Brambly berry flavors of strawberry and raspberry meld into a plummy middle, with the concentration of fruit preserves. The acidity is sufficient to keep it from becoming too soft, and the tannins are pleasant but subdued. This is a tasty bottle ready to enjoy immediately.
This is a Bordeaux-style blend, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc and Merlot filling it out. All the fruit comes from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. The initial aromas are dominated with sweet, toasty, pretty new French oak, with the irresistible flavors of mocha following. As good as it is, the fruit seems light and submerged, with little depth. This is a wine to enjoy in its youth.
This is a Bordeaux-style blend, principally Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It's stylish and firm, based upon a solid cassis note. The extended barrel aging—32 months in French oak—brings on seductive flavors of brown sugar, molasses and maple syrup, with touches of espresso and dark chocolate. The structure remains tight and polished, with excellent balance.
This is a Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon, with a drop of Petite Sirah for color and tannins. It's rich and deep in blackberry, currant and dark chocolate flavors, and balanced with big-time tannins and a fine cut of acidity. Doesn't seem like an ager despite the astringency, so drink it soon with rich meats and cheeses.
This is a Bordeaux blend, and while it's a simple wine, the price isn't bad. It shows plenty of ripe raspberry and cherry fruit, and finishes on the sweet side.
This is a Bordeaux blend, based on Merlot, with some Petite Sirah mixed in. It's very dry, quite full-bodied and a little rustic, with some tough, edgy tannins. Doesn't seem like an ager, but it will benefit from a few hours in a decanter.
This is a Bordeaux blend, using all five grapes, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Forward, fruity, round and immediately appealing, this tasty effort shows good balance and supporting structure, but the real story is the bright, vibrant Washington fruit, packed in tightly and substantial enough for aging.
This is a Bordeaux blend; the winery's entry-level Cabernet. What that means, say the winemakers, is that it's made to be a little softer, more fruit forward—a wine for immediate pleasure. Most is estate (Walla Walla) fruit, despite the Columbia Valley designation. It's soft and fruity, with strawberry and juicy fruit/tropical flavors. Not exactly plump, but broad and generous, with a little spicy kick to the finish.
This is a bouncy, fresh, fruit-forward wine. Cherry-berry fruit shines from start to finish, ending with just a hint of cocoa. Drink now–2017.
This is a brambly, blueberry-laden Petite Sirah, with black cherry, plum and chocolate highlights. Firm, ripe tannins bring a streak of lemon verbena. It's gently earthy, absolutely flavorful and drinking beautifully.
This is a brand-new bottling from Merry Edwards. It's her first from Westside Road, which is warmer than her haunting grounds around the southern part of the valley. It's quite a promising debut. The wine is round, soft, charming and complex, with elaborate cherry, blackberry, licorice and cola flavors. It feels important and ageworthy. Drink now, with several hours of decanting, or cellar through 2020.
This is a brand, created in the 19th century that had almost disappeared until rescued in the last decade. This Vintage comes from 40 to 60-year-old vines in the Douro Superior, giving a wine with soft tannins and great fruit concentration. It is floral from the Touriga Nacional with fine acidity to balance the ripe, sweet fruit. Drink from 2025.
This is a brawny, leathery expression of the variety, explosive on the palate in brambly blackberry and black cherry. Leather, coffee and tobacco give it additional edge and savory qualities that work within its full-bodied, ripe and rich context.
This is a brawny, strongly powerful wine, fully displaying the grip of mountain fruit. Blackberry and black currant complement the tobacco and cedar. Drink now through 2023.
This is a breadwinner bottling for the otherwise high-end, single-vineyard specialists from Los Gatos. It's a solid deal, offering a tight, slightly sour nose of cranberry juice, graphite and violets. The palate clings to juicy cherries with a sage-like twist.
This is a breakthrough vintage for Castello d'Albola and its team of winemakers who have crafted a truly beautiful and compelling wine rich with soft tones of chocolate fudge, almond paste, chewy cherry and long-lasting blueberry tones. The wine is plush and chewy in the mouth with big fruit flavors, yet it remains elegant and balanced at the same time.
This is a breath of fresh air, a single-vineyard designate sparkler made from Tempranillo that's refreshing and salty. Dry, it tastes of gelato, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry and strawberry—swirls of light-bodied flavor that replenish the palate with every sip.
This is a bright-fruited wine with lively acidity and apple flavors. It has a creamy texture, a touch of spice and a lemon zest aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a bright and approachable wine, with forward notes of blueberry, plum and wild strawberry accented by hints of garrigue and vanilla. Swaths of mocha and sweet spice add richness to the palate and linger on the medium-length finish.
This is a bright and crisp, while also rich wine. It has fragrant acidity, a lively texture and flavors of ripe white fruits. Balanced and very fruity, it conveys a tight, fragrant aftertaste. It is ready to drink.
This is a bright and easy-drinking selection that opens with scents of green apple, pear and lemon-lime citrus. There's a slight weight to the palate, but it's immediately lifted by lively, cleansing acidity followed by a mouthwatering  finish. Drink now.
This is a bright and fragrant Sauvignon from the deep south of Italy that shows citrus and melon with back notes of almond and dried sage. The wine does not offer the aromatic intensity of the variety but it does offer good structure on the close.
This is a bright and fruity red-currant and berry-fruited wine. It has some richness along with a more stalky edge. Wood aging shows subtly along with the firm tannins of the vintage. Drink from 2014.
This is a bright and fruity wine that is also rich. Yellow fruits are accompanied by fresh, textured citrus and given a crisp aftertaste by the lively acidity. Drink now.
This is a bright and fruity wine with attractive red-cherry flavors and light tannins. It has crisp acidity and a fresh aftertaste. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a bright and fruity wine, fresh and full of strawberry, cherry and red stone fruits. Plenty of acidity is well integrated into the general fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a bright and fruity, red-fruit flavored wine. It has a touch of tannins to give some texture, along with bright acidity and a crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a bright and fully textured, creamy white wine, integrated and smooth in its approach, with highlights of apple, pear and piquant nutmeg. It shows a light yet full style, awaiting pairings at the table.
This is a bright and lively selection, with assertive aromas and flavors of green melon, lime and gooseberry. Lightweight, bright and nervy, it boasts mouthwatering acidity, tart citrus-driven flavors and a lingering fresh-grass accent on the close. Drink now.
This is a bright and lively selection, with inviting aromas and flavors of Anjou pear, green apple and orange that finish fresh and clean. Drink now.
This is a bright and lively wine, aromatic and very fruity. Flavors of apple, lime and pink grapefruit are right up there along with the crispest texture and a tangy, zesty aftertaste. This is for drinking now.
This is a bright and perky red wine with well-defined layers of ripe fruit, spice and smoky oak. Made with the native Raboso grape, the wine shows impressive sophistication and detail. Pair with lamb or roast pork.
This is a bright expression of Nero d'Avola with youthful fruit flavors and pretty aromas of pistachio nut and almond. The wine is polished and clean with bright acidity on the close.
This is a bright focused wine with a taut sense of balance, and flavors that are both rich and tangy. Cranberry aromas meet dark chocolate flavors on a tightrope of good acidity and tannins.
This is a bright friendly open wine. With its light crisp fruitiness, layers of acidity and a twist of lemon, it is bone dry with a lively fresh aftertaste. Drink now and call it your Valentine's Day.
This is a bright fruit-driven wine, with clean and refreshing flavors. All stainless fermented, it's got a sharp, tangy finish, that will cut through rich creamy sauces.
This is a bright lemon-yellow color, with plenty of citrus-rind flavors. The dominant fruit is grapefruit, and the wine is finished bone dry.
This is a bright lemon and grapefruit flavored wine that has lively acidity and the lightest touch of mineral texture. It's crisp, refreshing and will be ready to drink from mid-2016.
This is a bright mix of brambly berry, peppery herb, pine sap and tree bark. It definitely falls into the herbal/forest style of Oregon Pinot, with tart, spicy fruit in the background.
This is a bright pink-colored wine, with caramel as much as fruit flavors. It has a light touch of acidity that gives the wine a lift at the end.
This is a bright selection, showing wild cherry, leather and balsamic notes alongside hints of well-integrated oak, pepper and espresso. It's not complex but it has a silky texture and is enjoyable now. Michael Skurnik Wines, Estate Wines.
This is a bright star in Olivier Leflaive's firmament, a wondrous big, rich wine that is just so finely poised. The structure is dense, rich, fat and full-bodied, a hymn to ripe fruit. Flavors are fruit-driven at this stage, but this is a wine that will develop over many years, if you can resist the urge to indulge its luxuriant tastes now.
This is a bright style of Sauvignon Blanc with pear and red-apple acidity and an attractive hint of lime juice. With a tangy aftertaste, it is light, packed with fruitiness and ready to drink.
This is a bright wine with 90% Merlot. It has black-currant crispness and acidity. The tannins are light and the wine, ready to drink young and fruity, will be best slightly chilled.
This is a bright wine—still a little closed but promising fine fruitiness for the future. With herbal acidity, lemon and grapefruit flavors and a zesty tang at the end, it will develop relatively quickly. Drink from 2020.
This is a bright, balanced Chard with a clean, chalky mouthfeel and nice Golden Delicious apple, passion fruit and peach flavors on the palate. Finishes with dry citrus flavors. It screams summer, so enjoy it outside while the weather's fine.
This is a bright, brisk wine that's chock full of crisp red-plum flavors and a sweet cherry-blossom perfume that lingers from start to finish. Brisk acidity and loads of fresh, green herbal notes meld nicely with soft, but mouthfilling tannins.
This is a bright, cherry-flavored wine. It has an attractive tannic edge to the ready-to-drink fruitiness. The acidity at the end gives the wine a good lift.
This is a bright, crisp, nonvintage blend. While it is fruity and youthful in character, the blend's older vintages also make it taste mature. Pear and apple notes dominate, lacing through the tangy, zesty texture.
This is a bright, edgy Chardonnay. Smoke and roasted nuts complement pineapple and citrus aromas and flavors, while the palate is medium bodied and taut with crisp acids. Drink now–2020.
This is a bright, effusive, estate-grown, unfiltered white, delineated by high-toned acidity and gorgeously floral aromatics. Planted originally in 1975 to heritage Wente clone Chardonnay by owner/winemaker Tom Dehlinger, its generosity of fresh apple and pear ride a voluptuous, balanced texture that's wholly satisfying, before meeting deeper hues of spicy, exotic tropical tones on the finish.
This is a bright, effusive, full-bodied wine, with underlying acidity that keeps it fresh in the glass. Apple and pear flavors combine with firm texture, providing weight and breadth.
This is a bright, engaging and vibrant 100% varietal wine, lovely in currant, cranberry and a sanguine earthiness. The acidity is weaved throughout and entirely supportive, uplifting the fruit to greater heights of freshness and focus.
This is a bright, expressive Albariño with fresh apple and peach aromas. A zesty palate brings some spritz, which is normal for a wine that macerates in whole clusters. Flavors of honeydew, apple and lime finish with minerally tightness.
This is a bright, fresh and juicy version of the variety from a mountainous and indeed rocky appellation. A touch of leather rides over the proceedings, which consist mostly of red cherry, raspberry and cinnamon.
This is a bright, fresh raspberry-flavored wine. It's fruity and layered with attractive, crisp acidity. A touch of spice accents the finish.
This is a bright, frothy, light Vinho Verde that is very crisp and soft. A perfumed wine that demands to be drunk as a fresh, it has ample acidity and just a touch of sweetness. Screwcap.
This is a bright, fruity wine made delicious by red berry flavors that come with a touch of spice and smoke. It has a good future, fresh and juicy while showing some structure. Drink now, but it will be better in 2015.
This is a bright, fruity wine, full of acidity and generous red fruit flavors with a soft texture. This will be ready to drink in a year.
This is a bright, fruity, off-dry wine that is crisp and clean. It has a fine light touch of acidity and white fruits. Aromatic and attractively perfumed, it is ready now.
This is a bright, fruity, rounded wine with a soft texture. It's full and ripe, with melon and green plum notes, plus a touch of bitterness on the finish.
This is a bright, fully realized wine from the distinctive appellation: soft with an integrated approach to its use of oak. Wild strawberry, cranberry and a threading of dried herb combine effortlessly into a pleasurable whole.
This is a bright, integrated and extremely impressive blend of different estate-vineyard sources. Effortlessly enjoyed, it's nonetheless plenty complex underneath the pleasing fruit and acidity. Tart plum, raspberry, pomegranate and touches of cola and mocha combine for a seamless, satisfying experience.
This is a bright, lively blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard. It has tangy acidity and a refreshing lemon-peel texture. With its herbal green-fruit character and refreshing aftertaste it is ready to drink now.
This is a bright, medium-bodied blend of 65% Shiraz, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec. Herbal notes on the nose suggest mint, thyme and bay leaf, layered over hints of cassis and red berries. Not overly tannic, this is a drink-now proposition.
This is a bright, medium-bodied wine with a thickness of creamy vanilla that makes it seem slightly sweet, built atop crisper shocks of lime zest and orange peel. Ultimately it finishes smooth and velvety, a nice match for the table.
This is a bright, ripe and fruity wine. With its red fruits, gentle tannins and juicy acidity, everything is in place for an early drinking and food friendly wine. Ready from late 2017.
This is a bright, ripe wine. It has a sense of lightness, attractive acidity and black currant flavors. This delicious, juicy wine will be ready to drink in another few months.
This is a bright, spicy bowl of red fruits, with penetrating flavors and buoyant acidity. It's clean and sharply etched, with a strong tannic base. Such a young wine should improve over the next couple of years; drink up by 2021.
This is a bright, spicy wine full of citrus flavors, with attractive toast and acidity. It's lively, with a tangy backbone that gives a really crisp aftertaste.
This is a bright, spicy, crisply defined wine, and an overall supervalue. Clean and fresh flavors of apple and pear come lightly spiced, and are set against refreshing natural acidity. The fruit is sourced from a vineyard block planted in 1978.
This is a bright, textbook Pinot Grigio that shows the very best of easy-drinking Italian white wine. Light fragrances of sweet nectarine and honey are followed by a palate with medium structure and crisp acidity.
This is a bright, tight wine, with flavors of citrus and white fruit. It has intense acidity, and the sweetness of the dosage gives it a soft feeling. It's light and fruity.
This is a bright, young Chianti Classico, showing violet aromas along with delicous strawberry and red-cherry flavors. It's a simple and food friendly wine best enjoyed in its youth.
This is a brightly crisp wine, bringing out the acidity in Alvarinho rather than the more exotic fruitiness. It has a direct line of fresh citrus, a mineral tang and juicy freshness. Drink now.
This is a brilliant and well-executed Trebbiano d'Abruzzo with pretty tones of peach, pear and fresh grapefruit. The wine exhibits a smooth, silky texture and ends on a crisp note that adds a touch of spice on the finish.
This is a brilliant wine that showcases Edna Valley's ability to produce some of the purest white-wine flavors in California. If there's any oak, it's not apparent at all. What you get are crisp, clean flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, peaches, vanilla, white pepper and herbs.
This is a brisk, clean wine, marked by tart acidity that scours the palate and prepares it for food. The followup flavors are of spicy tropical citrus fruits and green, savory gooseberries. The grapes are from a coolish vineyard near Santa Rosa.
This is a broad-shouldered, full-bodied wine that shows true varietal character in its mix of earthy, spicy strawberry and cherry notes.
This is a broad, earthy wine showing black fruits and a rich aftertaste. It has spice, juicy acidity and tannins in the background. The fruit is verging on overripe, giving a jammy aftertaste.
This is a broad, full-bodied Carmenère with leathery, foresty aromas as well as berry and cassis. The palate feels wide, grabby and hefty, while the flavors run toward meaty and toasty, with dark berry, herb and mildly bitter notes. On the finish, it overflows with heat, chocolate and peppery flavors.
This is a broad, leafy, late harvest Zinfandel, augmented with a splash of brandy. Mellow cherry tobacco flavors saturate the palate, smooth and lingering, with a lick of vanilla and butterscotch as they weave through the finish.
This is a broad, masculine Brunello with layers of spice, leather, Spanish cedar, cola and cured meat. The mouthfeel is streamlined and elegant, with crisp acidity and a solidly tannic base.
This is a broad, rich blend of Duras and Braucol with a little Syrah thrown in. It is ripe, with black fruits and balanced tannins that give structure but do not dominate. A smoky character from wood aging rounds it out. Drink from 2016.
This is a broad, rich wine that is ready to drink. Red berry notes and soft tannins push forward, bringing attractive acidity to freshen the palate. Drink now.
This is a broad, round Prosecco that doesn't offer detailed aromatic highlights but instead delivers a steady dose of Golden Delicious apple, pear and honeysuckle. It's got character and grit and offers steely effervescence.
This is a broad, sweet, full-bodied dessert wine that lacks the crisp acids necessary for a higher degree of balance. Instead, it delivers intense honey and pineapple flavors that stick stubbornly to the palate. Probably best with sweet desserts.
This is a broadly expansive wine in the mouth, but what it may lack in focus it makes up for in mouthwatering fruit intensity. Gooseberry and grapefruit lead the way, with just the right amount of herbal flourishes. Drink now.
This is a broadly fruity, wide open style with fresh melon, pink grapefruit and orange marmalade flavors criss-crossing the palate. It's ready to enjoy right now, low in alcohol, with a touch of marshmallow sweetness to cut the acid.
This is a brooding selection, with layers of dark fruits (think blackberry, plum and cherry), chewing tobacco and bay leaf alongside a hint of vanilla bean. The palate is rich and dense, with a texture like crushed satin. Tight and flavorful now, this would benefit from a bit more time in the cellar; try after 2015.
This is a brooding, medium-bodied wine made by a Cabernet Sauvignon producer. Strawberry, cassis and a sprinkling of mountain pine play on the palate with enough body and weight to pair well with food.
This is a brut-style bubbly, made from roughly equal parts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It has fine acidity, with some sweetness to the strawberry and lime notes. There's a toasty, yeasty creaminess that makes it delightful.
This is a brut-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend that's easy to like for its upfront citrus, pear, vanilla, buttered toast and yeasty flavors. The bubbles are a little scoury.
This is a bullish blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenère and Cab Franc. Aromas of horse hide, mint, baked berries and vanilla lead to a live-wire palate with scratchy tannins and staunch acidity. Flavors of baked berry, cassis, vanilla and herbs finish peppery and lightly herbal. Drink through 2018.
This is a burly powerfully built wine that's mountain grown and exorbitant in sticky chewy tannin. Leathery tobacco and cedar play around savory clove and black pepper. The fruit is elusively overshadowed by black licorice and garrigue.
This is a burly red wine from a warm vintage, featuring thick, concentrated, baked blackberry and plum notes. Smoky oak lurks beneath the fruit, adding savory undertones and ample intensity.
This is a buttery style of Chardonnay, but done deliciously. Aromas of clotted cream, browned butter, vanilla custard, sea-salt caramel, roasted almonds and cashews meet with fresh lemon and apple-blossom touches on the chalky nose. The palate is very grippy with Meyer lemon and lime pith, but then reveals creamy flavors of clarified butter on toast.
This is a Cab-based Bordeaux blend, and it shows Paso's ability to produce a ripe, gentle red wine that's immediately appealing. There's a nice earthiness to the cassis flavors, and a rich, tannic structure that makes you dream of a perfectly broiled steak or chop, brushed with brown butter sauce with a touch of garlic.
This is a Cab made unabashedly to appeal to a broad range of palates. It's medium in weight and texture with layers of vanilla and cherry that are persistent enough to stand up to all kinds of food. A perfect burger wine, especially for a crowd.
This is a Cab that boasts direct aromas of blackberry, plum, clove, espresso, prune and dark chocolate. It has a solid core of ripe fruit and a firm structure followed by succulent tannins.
This is a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, and it's very good, especially for the price. Smooth and soft, it offers lush blackberry, red currant, cherry, chocolate and herb flavors that are drinking well now.
This is a Cabernet-dominated Bordeaux blend from a variety of well-respected Yakima Valley vineyards. Despite a little sweatiness in the nose, the wine has some sleek, racy berry flavored fruit. It shows only moderate concentration in the midpalate, with juicy acids and firm tannins. The finish turns watery, a bit dilute, with raspberry and pale red currant notes.
This is a Cabernet prototype from an up-and-coming vineyard. The brooding aromas of anise, cassis and barrel spice seem quite locked up at present. The black cherry and fine grained, highly structured tannins show an exquisite sense of balance that persists through the finish.
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend aged for almost two years in about half new French oak. It's a structured, tannic wine, true to its Cabernet Sauvignon roots, and the herbal tendencies of Cab Franc.
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux-style blend with a splash of Syrah. It's made in the modern cult style of softness, extracted fruit and plenty of toasty oak. With blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors, it's obviously delicious, yet has a certain generic quality. Drink now.
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend, with 25% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Generously oaky and ripe, it offers textured layers of graphite, cigar and cedar. An exciting sideshow of spicy Mexican chocolate accents deeper, darker shocks of black cherry.
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot blend that delivers blackberry, coffee, charcoal, campfire spice. It's an extremely concentrated wine, almost impenetrable, with a dark, brooding disposition. It has great texture with gritty tannins and a solid, masculine structure. It's also very heavy on oak.
This is a Cabernet to drink now for its soft, enjoyable flavors of blackberry and cherry pie. It tastes sweet but finishes nicely dry, with a scour of tannins.
This is a Cabernet to serve at parties and satisfy people who are looking for something red, dry and full bodied. It's definitely rustic, but has some nice berry, cherry, currant and spice flavors.
This is a Cabernet with intense berry concentration and soft tannins. It's very dry and savory, with leathery black cherry and cassis bursting almost out of its seams, finishing with a hint of dark chocolate. Nicely crafted, this shouldn't overpower your food.
This is a candied Pinot with flavors of pink bubblegum, raspberries and strawberries. Give it some time in the glass and drink up.
This is a candied, slightly sweet Pinot Noir, pretty rustic all around. Its acidity and sugary finish give it a raspberry and cherry, sweet and sour taste.
This is a candy-jammy Merlot, with flavors of nougat, sour cherry Lifesavers and cola. It's fine for big parties or as an inexpensive house red wine.
This is a candy sweet, soft wine with flavors of pineapples, orange blossoms, apricots, peaches and caramel. Drink now.
This is a Captain America-sized Zin, muscular and strong in walls of huge, dusty dark fruit. Firm in tannins, juicy and swirling in vanilla and cinnamon toast flavors, it spent 22 months swaddled in French oak, an imprint that lets itself be known in the wine. Lay this baby down until 2015 or so, or let it breathe before enjoying with racks of ribs.
This is a caramel-flavored blend of Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Malbec. That's a range, but the result is an attractive fruity and soft wine. It is bright at the end with plenty of acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a caramel-scented wine, with a wild strawberry flavor and light acidity. It is crisp, fruity and fragrant.
This is a carefully made Cabernet, 100% varietal, with light and clean fruit flavors of plum and cherry. The mix of French and American oak (how new unspecified) is lightly applied, and the wine is nicely balanced, but no blockbuster.
This is a carefully made, almost calculated wine that showcases controlled herbaceousness around tight, crisp black fruits. The mix evokes earth, herb, barrel and grape.
This is a cave cooperative's top white Crozes bottling, fermented and aged in oak. Smoky, toasty notes support exotic apricot and pineapple fruit that's initially attractive, then doesn't quite follow through on the finish. Drink now.
This is a celebratory display of the appellation and vintage, a rewarding show of creme brûlée and spicy acidity. Well-integrated and balanced, while undoubtedly ripe, it has mellow oak around tropical mango and juicy apricot and peach.
This is a celebratory taste of blueberry pie that's silky smooth and additionally complex in vanilla, leather and dark chocolate. Luxuriously soft, it finds a way to mellow its tannins without sacrificing power or concentration.
This is a challenging mix of substantially puckering tannins and herbaceous notes, dotted in black peppercorns. The fruit is elusive.
This is a challenging wine, but it takes bravery to make Pinot Grigio like a red wine, using amphorae and terra cotta along the way. It's pink, but not a rose. Zesty aromas of tangerine, wet stone and grapefruit skins also show a bit of yeast. There is strong kumquat tang to the sip, which is fairly sour without the ripeness one might expect from the color.
This is a changed wine from previous vintages, now emphasizing the berry flavors of the fruit and not shying away from some chewy tannins. It seems more honest and direct, without the wash of vanilla and jam, and more food-friendly as well, with the stuffing to take on a flank or hanger steak.
This is a char-broiled Mencía that's a lot more about oak and barrel influence than anything else. Aromas run from blackened meat to barbecue, with a saucy berry note. It feels round, full and resiny from the copious oak aging, with dominating flavors of wood, char and toast, along with related notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
This is a Chardonnay-based wine with aromas of white mineral, stone fruit and passion fruit. It is an easy, no-fuss wine that would pair well with light salad lunches or sandwich snacks.
This is a Chardonnay for red wine lovers. It's full bodied and oaky, and it grows better as it warms in the glass. Airing brings out sweet honey, orange jam, apricot and tropical fruit favors, yet the acidity and minerality also develop, providing balance. The oak develops too, with buttered toast and butterscotch notes bringing additional richness.
This is a Chardonnay that showcases the best of what South Africa can offer: fresh fruit, elegant minerality, good value. The nose of citrus and flowers is both flirty and sophisticated, and the palate is friendly but complex, with mingling fruit and spice. Everything about the wine makes an impression  from start to finish.
This is a charming wine–gentle and silky and soft. The pink "eye of the partridge" color is especially pretty. The flavors are a fruity and ripe, suggesting strawberries. A great summer wine that will pair well with lots of slightly sweet foods.
This is a chateau that is getting better and better. This 2009 is packed with sweet fruit, impressive tannins and a complex dark structure. It is fruity, yet powerful, for good aging.
This is a cheerful and easygoing rosé sparkling wine that offers measured aromas of wild berry and chalky white mineral. The wine is creamy and smooth in the mouth and ends with a playful sweet-against sour-note. Made with Corvina and other grapes found near Verona.
This is a cheerful white from Lazio with abundant aromas of white flower and honey. It's easy going, slender and slightly tart on the finish.
This is a cheerful, concentrated white, stainless-steel fermented, that's floral and nutty on the nose. Thick and rich on the palate, it dances in lemon essence and tropical pineapple. An additional 8% Sémillon is blended in.
This is a chewy, generous and expansive vineyard-designated wine, dense and fulsome in savory cranberry, cardamom and streaks of black tea. Full bodied, its layers of texture are soft and velvety, and the finish lengthy in spice.
This is a chewy, thick and -savory wine, with layers of smoked meat, cola, soy sauce, tobacco and black spice. The fruit here recalls jammy blackberries and dried cassis.
This is a chunkier, somewhat rustic cousin to Pinot Noir, often used to bulk up a sparkling wine. Here, on its own, it's generously loaded with pomegranate, earth and green tea flavors. The aromatics capture some of the rose petal bouquet of its more delicate relation.
This is a chunky, blocky, rather stolid take on what is usually a floral, perfumed grape. Here it is limited to thick fruit components —orange and guava—tart acids and some residual sweetness.
This is a Claret-like Zinfandel, mellow and simply rendered, with layers of dark cherry, blackberry and lilting spiciness. This would be spectacular with lighter fare like barbecued chicken or grilled turkey burgers.
This is a class act. Fresh white breadcrumb and crisp, ripe red apple combine to create an appetizing nose. The lively fizz on the palate makes the tart but ripe red-apple notions stand out, painted against a mellow, yeasty backdrop and resonant, bready depth. This wine is crisp and rich in equal measure, bold and full flavored, yet elegant and smooth. Outstanding freshness, brightness and purity become apparent on the long finish.
This is a classic Barbaresco, offering a quintessential Nebbiolo fragrance of rose, tobacco and Alpine herbs. The palate delivers wild cherry and raspberry flavors, with notes of white pepper, mint and mineral. It boasts structure, elegance and depth.
This is a classic Bordeaux-style white wine with its cool herbal character and light perfume from the Muscadelle in the blend. The wine has no oak aging, just ripe fruit that has citrus, pineapple and green fruit flavors. Drink now.
This is a classic Burgundian version of a Champagne blend—made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool areas around Chablis. It's bright and fruity, tangy with lemon zest and a fine streak of minerality, and finishes with an attractive, creamy edge. Drink now.
This is a classic coastal California Petite Sirah. It's nearly black in color, and full-bodied and glyceriney, with high alcohol framing massive flavors of blackberries, black currants, dark unsweetened chocolate, coffee and spices. Bone dry, it will live for many years.
This is a classic crisp apple-driven and fruity wine. With delicious acidity and a lively aftertaste, the wine is tangy and zesty and a great summer drink.
This is a classic dry Vinho Verde. It has delicious fruit and crisp acidity giving lemon flavors, a lively texture and a refreshing aftertaste. Drink this wine now.
This is a classic interpretation of Chianti Classico with bright aromas of small berry fruit, raspberry and blue flower. But there's also a modern touch as well that comes off aromatically as spice and new leather.
This is a classic mineral-driven wine with its intense acidity and bright lemon fruit. Textured and crisp with acidity, it's packed with great fruitiness. From a fine vintage for whites, it has a cool, stylish aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a classic Napa Valley floor Cabernet, enhanced with handfuls of Petit Verdot and Merlot. Dusty in red currant and herb, it offers mellowed tannins and a peppery underbelly.
This is a classic red blend, with its lovely nose of pepper, spice and dark berry, and its clean, integrated spice and fruit character. Restrained but flavorful, it's a great go-to red for any meal.
This is a classic Reserve Ruby, full of berry fruits, juicy acidity and light tannins. Hints of dried fruits combine with red berries to give a wine that is stylish and dry in the Warre's style.
This is a classic style of Bairrada sparkling wine—a blend of Bical, Maria Gomes and Arinto. Plenty of crisp acidity and soft white fruit flavors balance its yeasty character. Drink now.
This is a classic style of Cabernet that should improve with age. It smells like pencil shavings, tobacco and cedar, and tastes like dark chocolate and black cherry, while feeling very firm on the palate. It has fine-grained tannins, and a lingering dark chocolate and cherry finish. It will be best after 2018.
This is a classic style of California Cabernet that puts fascinating mint, black-cherry and black-olive flavors on a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and a medium body. It has excellent concentration and good balance. Best through 2024.
This is a classic Zinfandel, scented with wild sage and forest berries, and full of raspberry, strawberry and black-cherry flavors. It's full bodied and well balanced, but generous and soft in texture, while mild tannins help carry the flavors through a lingering finish.
This is a classic, bold, fruity Nouveau, with firm tannins that add weight to the palate. Pair this with food.
This is a classic, concentrated but elegant wine, from the wonderful black cherry and forest underbrush aromas to the ripe fruit flavors, full body and polished texture. Aging in 30% new Hungarian barrels gave a subtle spicy accent.
This is a classic, dry wine. It's medium bodied, fresh in aromas and moderately tannic, resulting in a balanced yet grippy texture. It's backed by reserved but tasty cherry and raspberry flavors.
This is a classic, high-acid vintage. The strength is fruit, and it's a mix of citrus and light pineapple; all stainless fermented and finished at moderate alcohol. Quite different in style from the '06, but well-made.
This is a classic, well made Lake County Sauvignon Blanc. It's creamy with fig, vanilla, cantaloupe and pineapple flavors, but with a crisp finish.
This is a classic. Not an enormous wine, but with all the finesse and elegance of great Burgundy. The fruit is vibrant, juicily red, bursting through the gentle tannins. The freshness is mouthwatering and vivid. It is probably not a long aging wine, but in 5 years its freshness and ripeness will be equally enjoyable.
This is a classically crafted wine made by one of Montepulciano's most historic estates. It has an alluring bouquet of violet, rose petal, cassis and nutmeg. The palate delivers an intense wild-cherry flavor layered with white pepper and cinnamon, all impeccably balanced by firm tannins and vibrant acidity. Caffo Beverages Inc, Kiwi Distributing.
This is a classically light rosé, fragrant in strawberry and raspberry. Traces of pomegranate on the back palate offers darker, riper fruit in the glass, getting prettier as it goes along. Deliciously dry and dancing in acidity, it has plenty of citrus on the finish. The wine is substantial enough for springtime and summertime meals, but will drink equally well on its own.
This is a classically proportioned Bordeaux blend, featuring 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Mint and cassis aromas pick up shadings of dried herbs and tobacco on the palate, ending with good persistence and a certain degree of elegance. Because of that, serve this wine alongside a roast rather than a big, beefy steak.
This is a classically ripe Paso Robles Syrah, delicious and hedonistic from front to back. Vivacious blackberry and black currant meet with dark chocolate, violets and caramel on the approachable nose. The palate's neatly integrated flavors include blackberry pie in a flaky vanilla crust, tart black plum and a dusting of pepper. The finish is very long.
This is a classically styled Clare Riesling, from its hints of talcum powder, green apple and lime to its precise line and crisp finish. It's dry and undeniably tart and citrusy—perfect for aging 4–8 years.
This is a classically styled Coonawarra Cab, with ample cassis, cedar and mint wrapped up into a balanced, well-proportioned whole. The Katnook style favors silky tannins over power, making this elegant Cabernet one to drink over the next several years.
This is a classy Albariño with lemon, melon and minerally aromas that come across pure. The mouth is round and elegant, with layers of texture. Pure lemon and apple flavors have sweetness as well as cut, and the finish is powerful and offers a touch of green-herb flavor. Drink this complete wine right away.
This is a classy bottle of bubbly from the light copper color to the lightly fruity, yeasty aromas to the crisp mouthfeel and satisfying spice and raspberry flavors. A sense of layered richness is balanced by good acidity for balance.
This is a classy Chardonnay. Grown 1,200 feet above Calistoga and fairly well-oaked in new barrels, it's rich and complex, with flavors of grilled tropical fruits and toasted meringue. The structure is greatly improved by a crisp, minerally edge of acidity.
This is a classy effort from a great year. Substantial notes of cherry and berry tones are wrapped in buttery chocolate. It's simply delicious, yet built well enough to drink through 2020.
This is a classy wine made from familiar Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The nose of rooty, brandied fruit and floral scents is the definition of light and mild, while the palate holds form via vital acidity. In the mouth, pointed flavors of raspberry end in a juicy, crisp finish. Drink this pleasant Old World wine now.
This is a classy wine, showing a deep core of ripe blackberries, black currants and spices, with a smoked meat richness, like crispy bacon. Beyond the flavors is a fine mouthfeel, composed of smooth tannins and a nice bite of acidity.
This is a classy, elegant expression of the variety, despite its brawn and ripe density. Fruit-forward, with blackberry and cherry flavors, it shows traces of vanilla, spicy pepper and smoky oak. The texture is soft, with subtle tannins.
This is a clean and bright selection, with pure notes of green melon, apple and fresh herbs. The lively palate offers lime peel and grassy tones that finish clean on the finish. It's an approachable and easy-drinking wine best enjoyed now.
This is a clean and compact Sauvignon (in a screwcap bottle) with floral-like aromas of white flower, honeysuckle and jasmine backed by sweet exotic fruit. The wine is thin and compact in the mouth with a tart citrusy finish.
This is a clean and fruity Shiraz—and one that fits the Australian success formula almost predictably. Jammy blackberry and cassis fruit is framed by touches of oak-derived vanilla and spice, tannins are soft and the mouthfeel supple. It's well done, even if it lacks a certain degree of individuality.
This is a clean and polished Aglianico that shows dark berry and plum aromas followed by notes of tar, licorice and toasted nut. It has power and structure, all for a very low price.
This is a clean and vibrant rosé, with upfront notes of lavender, menthol and bay that frame red cherry and berry tones. The palate is fleshy and fruit-forward, with bold flavors of peach and strawberry that transition seamlessly into the citrus-zest finish.
This is a clean, basic wine with white-fruit aromas of peach and apple. The palate is well balanced, and there's a good level of citrus flavor along with green herb accents. On the finish, it's more tropical, with a hint of banana.
This is a clean, elegant and complex wine, brisk in acidity and dry in citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
This is a clean, fresh style of Garnacha with floral black cherry aromas offset by a minty note. The palate has a zingy feel and crisp, fresh plum, raspberry and dry herb flavors. As a whole it's focused and uncomplicated; this is very good Garnacha from one of the Valencia region's better producers.
This is a clean, fruit-driven Chardonnay with light tropical banana flavors, along with some apple and pear. All stainless-steel fermented, it offers clean, crisp fruit and fair value.
This is a clean, fruit-driven effort, with light fruit flavors of pear and apple. It's fresh and zippy, with hints of orange peel and citrus.
This is a clean, lightweight wine with gripping yet silky tannins. The nose of hickory smoke is wrapped in loam, which repeats on the palate with smoky cherry and fresh green herbs. On the finish, the semisweet herbal quality is a treat.
This is a clean, non-oily Torrontés with tropical-fruit aromas. A balanced palate propels lychee, citrus and melon flavors toward a slightly chunky palate. This aromatic wine is in the heart of its quality window; drink immediately.
This is a clean, refreshing rosé from the generally higher altitudes of Luberon. In the modern, cold-fermented style, it's a bit confectionary in fruity esters—somewhat reminiscent of bubble gum or cotton candy—yet dry on the finish.
This is a clear, bright and tonic white wine from the deep south of Italy, showing aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple and pear. The fruit used for this easygoing white is farmed organically.
This is a clear, light wine, aged lightly in oak, only 30% of it new. Wild brush and burnt orange dominate in taste and aroma, with additional characteristics of rhubarb, red cherry and lovely rose.
This is a clever blend with the natural ripeness of Pinot Noir in Portugal smoothing out the firmer tannins of Touriga Nacional. The result is a rich, soft wine, just lifted by acidity and anchored by a background of cherry fruits and black currant. Drink now.
This is a closed, smoke-filled wine, and its tannins and toasty wood character currently dominate, which gives it a bitter edge. It has richness, with hints of juicy fruit that sit under the structure. Give it at least six years.
This is a co-ferment (with native yeast) of 45% Viognier, 30% Marsanne and 25% Roussanne. Exceptional details and mouth-pleasing textures lend extra pleasure throughout this Rhône white blend. Green melon, cucumber and tart tropical fruits carry the succulent and refreshing palate on through a deep dive into an immaculate finish.
This is a cohesive and well-integrated blend of 34% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec. It offers blackberry, black currant, cedar, toasty oak, violets, roast beef, black pepper and pencil lead on the nose. The well-hewn palate combines pepper and blackberry at the tip of the sip, followed by oaky vanilla and a touch of pine. it's very well focused.
This is a combination of 2003 Petite Sirah, as well as Syrah from both 2001 and 2004. Vineyards from Spring Mountain comprise a majority of the blend. The multi-vintage approach works well, for the wine has the softness and bouquet of an older wine, with the fresh, ripe fruit and acidity of a young one. Raspberries, cherries, blueberries, plums and sweet leather and Asian spices are the main flavors.
This is a combination of tropical fruits and tight acidity, making for an unbalanced wine that seems not to know its way.
This is a common wine, thin and sweet in blackberry and cherry jam flavors, with tannins that make your tongue stick to the gums.
This is a compelling example of how very low-alcohol wines needn't be thin or overly green. This shows fennel and dill notes on the nose, along with cola, red cherry, cranberry, star anise and nutmeg. The palate's sizzling acidity carries zesty pomegranate and cranberry fruit, with touches of black pepper, pork fat, lavender, rosemary and lamb roast.
This is a compelling example of Oregon Pinot Gris. Apple, pear and lemon curd carry the bulk of the flavors, with a lightly peppery lift to the midpalate. The spicy character extends through a pleasing, long finish.
This is a compelling expression of Ribolla Gialla that shows soft tones of exotic fruit and peach backed by a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Pair this Italian white with fish baked in salt crust.
This is a compelling red for those who like a bit of mystery: is it red or black cherry? Or possibly, dark, aromatic elderberry? Oak spicily supports this interchange of fruit, and firm tannins lend structure while the fresh acidity keeps it lively. It's almost like a whole cast of characters were lined up in this wine for your entertainment. The lingering finish is especially convincing. This will get even better with cellaring; drink from 2016.
This is a compelling wine with aromas of coffee, dried herbs, cherry and barrel spices. It wins over on finesse rather than power but shows more than ample amounts of both. There's enough structure that it will benefit from some time in the cellar. It will be best from 2019–2027.
This is a completely unique wine for the state, one that calls out more to the Loire Valley than to Rattlesnake Hills. Coming in at a cool 12.5% alcohol—in a vintage known for average temperatures—it brings detailed notes of flowers, cigar box, raspberry and moist earth. With nine months of neutral French-oak aging, there's barely a trace of oak influence. It's lighter in style but still brings good depth with a long, flavorful finish. As far from a cocktail wine as you can get; serve this one at the dinner table.
This is a complex and introverted vineyard-designate. Sour cherry, pomegranate and rhubarb surround a wildness of anise and medium-weighted tannin. Earthy and varietal, it should pair well with pork-driven fare.
This is a complex and layered Mourvèdre. Fragrances of rose petals, cinnamon, mace, blackberry and black cherry prove almost overpowering, yet delicious. The palate puts black plum and black cherry together with star anise, clove and an array of baking spice. There's a lot going on, but it's harmonious and balanced.
This is a complex and lively dessert wine, with concentrated quince and honeysuckle on the nose, as well as tangerine skin and the slightest touch of white rock minerality. It's soft on the palate, with a bitter grapefruit-pith twist, showing flavors of golden honey, lemon balm, chamomile and chive.
This is a complex and rich wine dominated by superripe fruit. It is a wine of extremes, of fruit, of dark tannins allied to some bitterness from the black chocolate extract. Ripe plums and sweet black fruits are given a lift at the end with bright acidity.
This is a complex bruiser that will appeal to those willing to give it at least three years in the cellar; it's that tight and young now. Oak is a big player on the nose and in the mouth, and the acids are very alive, so as a result some might find it aggressive (all the more reason to lay it down until 2006). There is plenty of earth and minerals throughout, and it's tight as nails on the finish.
This is a complex but approachable example of a fine Chilean red blend. Led by Cabernet Sauvignon, this six-grape combo smells lightly roasted, spicy and chocolaty, with olive and blackberry scents. A juicy, fresh, layered palate has both spine and cushion; forward berry and medicinal cherry flavors finish smooth and balanced, with dashes of oak, baking spices and herbs. Drink through 2022.
This is a complex Chardonnay, with flavors of honey, tangerine, apricot and toffee that are balanced by the crisp, citrusy acidity.
This is a complex cru wine that has ripe fruits, firm tannins and a good ageworthy structure. It has a dense texture, rich black-cherry fruits and a finish that brings out crisp acidity. Produced by this Beaujolais-based negociant, the wine will be ready to drink from the end of 2017.
This is a complex Lodi old-vine Zinfandel with boysenberry and blackberry notes poking through layers of complexity and a touch of dusty plum. It has a strata of black licorice throughout the midpalate, with a peppery, wild herb flavor keeping it interesting. Notes of espresso and leather mark the finish, and a controlled amount of acidity keeps in balance.
This is a complex Pinot Noir, dry and silky, showing the delicate structure of the coast in a cool vintage. The alcohol is relatively modest and the acidity is crisp, giving good balance to the flavors that range from cranberries, cola and pomegranates to sweet sautéed mushrooms, mocha and exotic baking spices. Drink this lovely wine now–2019.
This is a complex wine that offers firm tannins and rich fruit. It has weight, density and a strong sense of ripeness. With balance and depth, it's a wine with good aging potential. Drink from 2015.
This is a complex wine that shows sweet berry fruits, ripe tannins and new wood flavors. It is dense and chewy while also being full of rich fruits. This is a wine for aging, although its smooth character suggests it will age relatively quickly.
This is a complex wine, jammy and funky in pomegranate and orange notes that are acid-driven but not lacking in fruit or spice components. Soft and silky on the palate, it conveys a twinge of sandalwood to round things out on the long finish.
This is a complex wine—packed with tannins and dark fruit. The clean core is layered with blackberry flavors, powerful ripeness and a dense structure.
This is a complex young wine, made in the white Bordeaux style. It has been barrel fermented and aged on the lees. Marked by crisp, mouthwatering acidity, it shows a grassy, hay quality that dries out the citrus fruit and apple fruit, giving the wine a bone-dry feel. Very fine and near the top of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs.
This is a complex, layered and elegantly conceived wine. It's enjoyable now in its juicy waves of red currant and cassis, with a background hint of brown sugar and toasted oak.
This is a complex, muscular wine, with good aging potential. The nose carries a whiff of animal (in a good way) and the black fruits are buoyed with generous acidity. Drink 2020–2028.
This is a complex, pale salmon-pink wine, delicious and worth aging. It has the hallmark light touch of Belle Epoque, all fresh and light as well as fruity. A more serious texture brings out tight minerality, some toastiness and delicate acidity. Drink now, but better from 2016.
This is a complex, rounded wine. It's texture is soft, rich and creamy, layering acidity with ripe flavors of apple and pear. It could age for 1–2 years.
This is a composed and lovely wine, light in body yet quite complex. The palate is integrated with flavors of ripe apple, lemon, melon and beeswax. Structured with a mere suggestion of oak, it'll stand up to bigger foods than most California Chenin, textured and good-naturedly creamy.
This is a concentrated and deliciously lush white wine, highlighted in thick notions of honey, pear and swirls of caramel. Expressive and ripe, it does justice to the warm-vintage and focused winemaking.
This is a concentrated and ripe wine with a solid structure that will allow it to age. With bold berry fruits and firm tannins, it is still developing. Give this serious wine until 2019.
This is a concentrated and robust rosé, offering toasty accents of sweet spice and oak framed by fruity notes of mealy plum, muddled raspberry and cherry. The medium-weight palate is married to a plush texture that lends a softness to the finish. Drink now.
This is a concentrated blend of local grapes. The Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon give it a rich texture. It is a complex balance of tannins, spice and ripe blackberry fruits. The acidity and tight aftertaste suggest it is still young. Drink from 2017.
This is a concentrated bruiser from a ripe warm vintage. Aromas of cheesy oak, vanilla, maple and blackberry require as much air as possible. Saturated, heavy and jammy on the palate, this pounds the palate with rugged tannins. Flavors of blackberry, prune and chocolate finish thick, chewy and grabby. This is not about elegance—it's all about power and concentration. Drink through 2025.
This is a concentrated structured cru wine from a single vineyard. It has dark tannins and a dense spice character from the wood aging. The fruit is still developing to give the wine its potential richness. Drink this firmly structured wine from 2018. This walled vineyard is wholly owned by producer Edouard Labruyère, making it a monopole.
This is a concentrated wine for a Muscadet. Its apple and intense lime flavors are supported by the acidity and the mineral edge. The fruitiness will come out on top, just wait until 2018.
This is a concentrated wine that's full of black fruits and textured tannins. It has spice, rosemary and a taut character.
This is a concentrated wine that borders on bold. Plummy raisin cake underlies a straightforward ripeness and soft bite of bittersweet tannin, the oak subtle but there.
This is a concentrated wine that is packed with black fruits. The tannins are a support to the rich juicy flavor and the fine acidity. Coming from vineyards on the plateau to the north of the Douro river, the wine has a cool edge of freshness at the end.
This is a concentrated wine that is structured and packed with red fruits and solid tannins. It feels weighty and rich; the juicy character is balanced by a firm, dry texture. For aging over several years.
This is a concentrated wine with fine tannins and juicy black-plum fruits. It is densely textured, packed with great fruit and developing well. Drink from 2018.
This is a concentrated wine, full of blackberry fruits with acidity and spice. The wood-aging character is balancing out well, giving structure without dominating the fruit. Drink from 2020. Grapes are vinified by variety and plot from the 60-acre vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%) and Petit Verdot (5%). The property was purchased by Jean-Christophe Mau in 2004.
This is a concentrated wine, full with dry tannins and perfumed red fruits. Hints of the wood aging give the wine toast and smokiness. The fresh fruits form a contrast offering a future of fragrance and stylishness. It needs to age, so wait until 2019.
This is a concentrated wine, packed with tannins and black plum fruits. It has some of the fruity crispness of the vintage although with its dark structure and concentration it is obviously a wine that needs to soften over time. Rich and juicy at the end, it will be ready to drink from 2024.
This is a concentrated wine, ripe and rich in black cherry, cranberry and oak. It resolves itself into a lighter texture and body on the finish.
This is a concentrated wine, with intense flavors of cherry and red currant. There's a tug of the earth by way of minerals and dried herbs. It's splendid acidity and firm tannins give it wonderful structure. It's an ager, so it should hold out at least through 2017.
This is a concentrated wine—firm and structured with tannins. It has delicious red fruits, spice and a fine bite of acidity at the end. Produced on the Corcelles estate, it is a wine to age a few more months, so drink from 2017.
This is a concentrated yet delightfully light-footed elixir of fruit and flowers. Intensely perfumed, it wafts of sweet cantaloupe, honey and pollen. The palate balances lush white peach and hibiscus nectars against a scintillating backdrop of acidity. It's persistent and steely on the finish.
This is a concentrated, balanced, sweetly juicy wine, benefiting from wood and ripe black fig and plum flavors. It has fine ripe tannins that support the freshly juicy fruits. Ready to drink, but will age over 2–3 years.
This is a concentrated, dark and brooding wine from the producer's well-known property, sparkling in acidity despite its intensity of weight and length. Blackberry and nutmeg sit atop a soft integration of tannin and oak. Drink now through 2020.
This is a concentrated, dark and brooding wine. Its complexity comes from the interplay of tannins and rich red fruits, laced with tight acidity. Serious and dense, it is a wine for long aging. Drink this impressive wine from 2019.
This is a concentrated, dark and very closed wine. It has a tight, nervy character that allows you to feel the fruit and the texture that comes from the limestone soil. This impressive, ageworthy wine needs aging over six years and more.
This is a concentrated, extracted wine that's firm and hard-edged. It has some bitterness while the fruit is missing.
This is a concentrated, extracted wine, packed with black fruits and firm tannins. As a reserva, it is constructed for aging, both sweetly fruity and darkly structured. It has all the richness of Alentejano fruit, while still keeping some acidity and freshness to finish.
This is a concentrated, fairly full and lush Chenin, rich in toasty oak and vanilla cream as well as notes of baked apple pie and sweet orange. The medium-weight palate is mouthfilling and satisfying, with ample acidity to lift the decadent flavors. Notes of clove, anise and toasted nuts mingle on the lingering finish. Drink now–2019.
This is a concentrated, firm and tannic wine. It has a structured feel from Chiroubles, which are the highest vineyards in Beaujolais. With its black fruits, dark tannins and concentrated texture, it could certainly age for 2–3 years, although it is ready to drink now.
This is a concentrated, firmly built example of Grenache, with herbal overtones to its black cherry fruit. Despite the dark plum and cherry fruit, the impression is one of tautness and freshness. Drink it with red meat now, or give it until 2017 to settle down.
This is a concentrated, fruity wine that is also striated with minerality, giving a firm, almost chewy texture. White fruits are combined with more exotic fruits, and cut with lemon acidity. It's a wine for aging over at least four years. Screwcap.
This is a concentrated, full-bodied wine, full of sweeps of red fruits that are beautifully balanced by the citrus acidity. It is an appealing Champagne to drink now, although with its youthful acidity it will age into a ripe, mellow wine.
This is a concentrated, lovely wine that offers a depth of red berry, forest floor and herbes de Provence. All of the wine's elements come together seamlessly on the palate. Approachable now, but should also age well.
This is a concentrated, rich wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet, it is ripe, juicy and full of black-plum fruits. Dark and still firm, it is likely to age well. The 16 months in barrel have added spice and filled out the fruit. Drink this powerful wine from 2019.
This is a concentrated, substantive wine with great structure and layers of flavor that taste wonderful now and should improve with time. It coats the palate with rich black cherry, light oak spices and a hint of chocolate, while the full body makes it mouth-filling and luscious. It will drink best from 2019.
This is a concentrated, voluptuous white, made from mature vines on the producer's estate. It opens in a richness of apricot fuzz, gooseberry and banana, kept fresh by moderate acidity and a flourish of wildflowers and white pepper.
This is a concentrated, well-oaked Cabernet with blackberry, cassis, leather and woody aromas. The palate is fairly tight and tannic, with good structure, while flavors of toasty, spicy plum and berry finish woody and with elasticity.
This is a confounding wine in many ways, one that could have easily scored higher, or scored lower. It starts with an almost alarming taste of vanilla and cherry coke and a slight bite of alcohol, but over time, got much more interesting. Finally, it turned earthy with pleasant hits of olive and caramel competing for dominance.
This is a consistently delicious wine, fermented in a combination of new and once-used French oak. Fully realized, it has a sublime texture and light body that's balanced by long, lingering acidity. The fresh-fruit flavors show elements of orange, lime, lemon and peach.
This is a consistently good offering and special bottling from the producer. The wine is earthy, stemmy and herbal, with a big tannic backbone built for aging. Pomegranate and cranberry provide a crispness of shy red fruit that opens and softens in the glass. Drink now through 2021.
This is a contemplative blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, the latter being an atypical grape for the region. Using the winery's trademarked Nellaserra greenhouse system, this wine has found warmer-climate ripeness in the cool climes of northern Michigan. Blending characteristics of both grapes, black raspberry, cherry and plum meet savory herb and game tones on the nose and palate. Round in feel and nicely balanced, think of this as a softer, Americanized Super Tuscan.
This is a cool-climate Chardonnay that's dark gold in color and tastes of ripe apple. From both the Ferrington and Savoy Vineyards, two of Anderson Valley's finest, it shows the greatness of the vintage in coastal Mendocino. Fragrant and rich in honey and toasty notes, it finishes crisp. Crab cakes with it would be ideal.
This is a cool-climate expression of Syrah from a biodynamically farmed vineyard west of the Sta. Rita Hills. The nose shows extreme tar, beef char, cracked black pepper and bay leaf, with gamy undertones. The tightly wound palate combines dusty elderberry with charcoal, more pepper and a lavender-rosemary flash on the finish.
This is a cool-climate Zweigelt, with a spicy, juicy fruit character and light tannins. The red fruit and green herb flavors are layered with acidity.
This is a cool cru, which shows even in this great year with its structure, austerity and steely character. It makes it old-style Chablis, with its green fruits and lively, poised freshness.
This is a cool Pinot Noir with flavors both of red fruits and the wood aging. It is smooth with red-cherry fruit and gentle tannins and acidity. The wine, from vineyards on the slopes of Puy de Dôme mountains, is ripe and ready to drink.
This is a cool vineyard site farmed by Steve Matthiasson. In this small-production offering, anise, lemon and lime rise to the fore of a lengthy, complex texture of tangy acidity and light body. It'll linger in the mind, too.
This is a cool wine, with acidity and citrus fruits well in evidence. It comes from one of the higher premier-cru vineyards, giving a crisp and textured wine even in this warm vintage. It needs time. Drink from 2020.
This is a cool, light wine. It has stalky black fruits and tannins that come from the fruit skins. It is a wine to drink almost as an apéritif: light and fruity at the end.
This is a cool, restrained style of Cabernet, which nonetheless manages to pull in ripe flavors of cassis and chocolate. The tannins are svelte and modestly textured, while the flavors turn slightly tart on the cedary finish. Already approachable, but it should drink well through at least 2020.
This is a coppery-tinged, pale-flamingo pink blend of Grenache, Syrah and Merlot that's dry and taut. Crisp flavors of underripe stone fruit and melon provide ample summer refreshment. Drink now.
This is a country-style Cab, rugged and easy. Provides a pretty good mouthful of blackberry and currant flavor, and is nice and dry. Tough tannins suggest big, rich foods.
This is a creamy-textured Shiraz with mouthfilling flavors of brown sugar, blackberries, vanilla and a hint of peppery spice. It falls off a bit on the finish and doesn't seem to offer much in terms of ageability, but it tastes pretty darn good right now.
This is a creamy and floral Prosecco Cartizze with a very delicate patchwork of aromas that include white flower, jasmine, fresh fruit, kiwi, lime and white peach. The texture is smooth and lean and the wine's delicate perlage creates a soft, cushiony impression in the mouth.
This is a creamy and layered wine (made with the Grecanico variety) that offers pretty aromas of banana nut, exotic fruit, chestnut honey and mature notes of melon and stone fruit. The wine is naturally rich with generous flavors and good length.
This is a creamy and lush expression, with soft sweetness in the form of peach nectar and almond. The effervescence is soft and foamy.
This is a creamy and opulent oak-aged white blend from Tuscany (with equal parts Traminer, Riesling and Chardonnay) that opens with a luminous golden color and delicious aromas of exotic fruit, pineapple, yellow rose and melted butter. The wine is rich and dense with enormous intensity on the finish. Pair it with lobster, white meat or saffron risotto.
This is a creamy and sophisticated interpretation of Greco di Tufo with lush notes of banana cream, honey, mature peach and vanilla. The wine has excellent density and loads of peach flavors with a touch of sour almond on the finish.
This is a creamy ripe wine, spicy and toasty in character with rich Chardonnay and local grapes to give a balanced texture. Acidity is there along with pineapple and white peach flavors. The rich rounded texture is generous and opulent. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2017.
This is a creamy style of Sauvignon Blanc, bone-dry while softly textured. Balanced, fresh and with attractive green apple flavors, it is ready to drink.
This is a creamy wine that has attractive fresh apple as well as citrus flavors. It has a tang of lemon zest to give a crisper edge. The aftertaste is fruity, ripe and refreshing.
This is a creamy wine with a soft bubbly mousse. The wine is crisp with a strong mineral character that gives the wine a distinct zesty apple-skin flavor. It is dry, fruity and ready to drink.
This is a creamy wine with soft fruitiness. The roundness is happily cut with acidity and with a citrus edge that lifts the melon and pear flavors. The aftertaste is tangy and zesty. Drink now.
This is a creamy, compelling Bordelais style of Sauvignon Blanc. Candied lemon peel, dried apple, light honey and and petrol aromas show on the nose. The rich palate offers poached pear, sea salt and preserved lemon flavors, presented on waves of soft, plush texture.
This is a creamy, intensely fruit wine, with lime and tropical fruit flavors, merely hinting at a minerally structure. It's delicious and ready to drink now.
This is a creamy, lushly textured white that's medium bodied and ample on the palate, with accents of well-integrated pear, vanilla and fennel flavors.
This is a creamy, sweet Prosecco with fragrant aromas of peach, apricot and citrus that you can expect from this kind of informal sparkler. It has a tonic, soda-like like feel in the mouth and clean freshness on the close.
This is a creamy, tasty, delicious wine, showing a rich mix of vanilla, lemon curd, peach and melon flavors. It coats the tongue generously and has an appealing purity.
This is a creamy, thick and food friendly white with highlights of honey and green apple and a lingering decadence of ginger, just hinting at anise. Medium-bodied, it represents the vintage and the appellation well, at a price that's nice.
This is a creamy, voluptuously full-bodied white, highlighted in floral aromas of honeysuckle and nicely defined flavors of kumquat and melon. Forceful on the palate, it's lingering and complex, with a spicy nutmeg character and crispness of Key lime.
This is a creative if not entirely successful wine; its intense, lavish aromas are followed by a surprisingly rustic wave of fruit that has a spin of austerity to it. One-dimensional and rough around the edges.
This is a crisp and deliciously tangy wine from a single parcel. Full of lemon and fresh apple flavors, it is bright with acidity. Produced from vines over 35 years old, it has a good concentration of fruit and ripeness. Drink from 2016.
This is a crisp and dry Champagne. Its attractive red fruits are linked to the acidity and tight texture to give a linear wine that is refreshing and has a bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a crisp and fruity style of Champagne, lightweight and attractively fresh. It comes from the original of the three Champagne producers with Heidsieck in their name, and this nonvintage seems to be finding its form after several fallow years. Drink this apple-fruited wine now.
This is a crisp and fruity wine that's perfumed and full of citrus and green fruits. It has a lively character that is filled out with the ripe fruitiness of the vintage. The aftertaste, bright and fresh, suggests it will benefit from another few months. Drink from summer 2016.
This is a crisp and fruity wine that has fine acidity and a tangy orange-zest texture. The wine is full of green plums and with a salty, bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a crisp and herbal wine that is both fruity and finely textured. With layers of acidity and green fruit flavors, it is bright, fresh and ready to drink.
This is a crisp and inviting sparkling wine, with bright notes of citrus and apple that are accented by hints of toast. An approachable and wallet-friendly quaff, perfect for holiday entertaining.
This is a crisp blend, fresh with citrus and ripe with apples. Hints of the warmth of the region show with the concentration that lies in the background. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a crisp cherry-flavored wine. Cool-climate Pinot Noir has a light texture that gives the wine a hint of tannins although it is much more about fruit and bright acidity. Drink now.
This is a crisp expression of Nebbiolo that is finessed and elegant. It opens with dusty aromas of dried currant, crushed stone and black pepper. The tannins are solid and polished; it needs at least 10 more years of cellar aging.
This is a crisp fruity wine with delicious red currants. It has fine acidity as well, with a burst of freshness in the midst of the spicy, ripe wine. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a crisp fruity wine, full of red-berry fruits and acidity. It has the vintage's rich character, juicy and with a core of tannins that will soften quickly. Drink from 2020.
This is a crisp herbal wine, bright with acidity and marked with lemon and grapefruit tastes. It is light and bright with a mineral edge that gives it a fine texture. Drink now.
This is a crisp juicy wine showing the bright red fruits of the vintage. It still has its tannins intact along with plenty of black-currant acidity and a dry aftertaste that will soften over the next few months. Drink from late 2017.
This is a crisp style of Chablis, bringing out a steely side while keeping fruitiness to the fore. Apple and freshly sliced melon are given texture by the citrus zest and bright acidity. Drink now.
This is a crisp wine, almost tart. It needs to soften to allow the red-currant fruitiness to shine. It will be attractive after late summer 2017.
This is a crisp wine, dominated by rounded Sémillon and perfumed with Muscadelle. It has the bright freshness of the 2013 vintage with citrus and red apple flavors. There is a light mineral aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a crisp wine, full of acidity. It holds the potential of crisp green and citrus fruits that are developing. A nutty edge contrasts with the tense acidity. Drink from late 2017.
This is a crisp wine, tight with minerality. It has apple fruits as well as citrus, although the wine tends to a tight texture. There is potential and the wine will soften from 2016, but it will always have this tension.
This is a crisp, 90% Pinot Noir-based wine with a light tannic edge from the red wine used to give color. It also has ripe red-berry fruits as well as acidity giving it dryness. It is fruity, steely and ready to drink.
This is a crisp, aromatic Syrah, with notes of earth, iodine, anise, pepper, clove and cassis threaded throughout. The balance of all the elements, including acid and tannin, is spot on, and the length through the finish suggests it can age for five or six more years.
This is a crisp, bone-dry wine from vines on the plateau above Vouvray. It has a strongly tangy texture, with lemon zest and tight acidity adding to minerality. It needs to calm down from its in-your-face freshness, so drink from 2017.
This is a crisp, but also rich style of Federspiel. It is full of ripe pear and apple flavor as well as a fine pinch of pepper. Acidity creeps in the background to balance this ready-to-drink wine. Screwcap.
This is a crisp, clean and lightly creamy sparkling wine. With its pure apple and light touch of citrus, it offers freshness as an apéritif. Drink now, it needs no bottle age.
This is a crisp, clean and nicely-structured Chardonnay, fermented in a mix of new and neutral oak, along with some stainless steel. A bit beer-like and yeasty at first, it opens into pleasing flavors of grapefruit and pineapple, with just the right amount of acidity.
This is a crisp, clean and refreshing wine. There is just the lightest sense of tannin giving the wine a zingy edge. Other than that, it is red-berry fruits all the way. Drink now.
This is a crisp, clean and zesty wine, built on a simple but tasty base of white grapefruit. It's light to medium in body, with a refreshing finish.
This is a crisp, creamy white wine, with lingering acidity that offers a tartness of preserved lemon and stone.
This is a crisp, dry wine that exibits delicious acidity, along with fresh citrus and green-apple flavors. It's bright and fruity, but has a textured undertow that promises good bottle aging. Ready to drink now, but could also benefit by cellaring for a year.
This is a crisp, dry, and very tangy wine blended from Tocai Friulano, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio. It sizzles with lemon, lime and green-apple flavors. While barrel fermented, it's not obviously oaky and seems to get its energy from high acidity instead. It will be brilliant with simply prepared shellfish, fried chicken or as a palate charger before a meal.
This is a crisp, firmly structured blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache (within the Rhône, Signargues is best known for its Syrah). The asphalt, black olive and black cherry notes are all positive, but the structure dominates, making the wine seem a bit tough and ungenerous. Perhaps another year or two of aging will help?
This is a crisp, floral wine with apple and pear aromas that are unabashedly forward. It has lively acidity and a texture that's crisp, fresh and intensely minerally. Just a touch of creamy vanilla helps to fill the wine out. Drink now and until 2020.
This is a crisp, fresh and fruity rosé, made from Touriga Nacional in the same region where Vinho Verde is produced. It's vivid acidity is bright, with raspberry flavors and low alcohol.
This is a crisp, fresh and fruity wine. With its sliced apple, pink grapefruit and lemon-zest texture, it has both fruitiness and a hint of minerality from the schist of the Douro. Drink now.
This is a crisp, fresh and red-currant flavored. It is lively, tight and fruity. A touch of perfume adds to the pleasure of this ready-to-drink wine.
This is a crisp, fresh wine with red-currant fruits and light tannins from the Alliance Bourg co-op. It is juicy and fruity, likely to develop quickly to give a light, bright wine.
This is a crisp, fresh wine. It has attractive red fruits that are cut by juicy lemons. The touch of caramel in this blend of Syrah and Touriga Nacional is lit by the acidity and spiced by a final touch of pepper.
This is a crisp, fruity and delicate wine. With its pale gray-pink color and lively acidity, it has both concentration and lightness; it's so poised.
This is a crisp, fruity and perfumed rosé from Sciaccarellu. It has red-currant freshness, bright acidity and a delicious refreshing character. Drink now.
This is a crisp, fruity and well-balanced wine. Along with its red-currant fruit and bright acidity, it has a touch of caramel that adds richness. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a crisp, green-fruited wine with all its flavors concentrated in a full, fruity character. It has citrus and lively mineral notes, with a juicy texture. Ripe and rich yet not heavy, it's almost drinkable now. Screwcap.
This is a crisp, herbaceous and classic Sauvignon Blanc. It has a light character with fresh citrus and grapefruit flavors. Drink now. Screwcap.
This is a crisp, high-wire-walking wine, just so poised. Its youthful red fruits, laced with citrus, taste so fresh, with a strawberry bite. At this stage, it is intensely enjoyable as young Champagne, but it does need to age for several years.
This is a crisp, intensely fruity wine. Full of red berries and fresh acidity, it is dry with a tangy orange-peel character, light minerality and a touch of caramel. It is ready to drink.
This is a crisp, lightly perfumed wine with attractive apple acidity and touches of grapefruit. The texture is soft, with a bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a crisp, lightly wooded wine. Tangy texture and mineral acidity are part of the lively character of this still young, zesty bottling. Drink from 2018.
This is a crisp, lively and fruity wine, bright with acidity and lightly textured. A vanilla edge adds extra interest. Drink now.
This is a crisp, medium-bodied example of Saint-Joseph. Aromas of creosote, black olives and roasting meat receive an infusion of brighter, fruitier flavors on the palate, adding cherries to the savory mix. Drink this mouthwatering wine over the next few years.
This is a crisp, medium-bodied wine, with pleasant aromas of apricot, lemon and pineapple. A smidgen of almond nuttiness marks the finish.
This is a crisp, mineral-textured and white-fruit-flavored wine. With its good acidity and light character, it is a delicious wine that needs no aging.
This is a crisp, minerally wine you could drink as an interesting alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. It's rich in citrus, apricot and floral flavors that finish with a honey, fruity flourish. Try with Asian fare.
This is a crisp, really fruity wine with a light touch of wood from the six months of barrel aging. It is ripe, lightly herbal balancing citrus flavors with riper yellow fruits. Drink now.
This is a crisp, refreshing wine. With a mousse that is lively but with a creamy edge, it offers attractive apple fruitiness. A hint of toast suggests some good bottle age. The wine finishes with a mineral, tangy aftertaste.
This is a crisp, serviceable Pinot Gris, with sharp green-apple and cut pear fruit dominating. It's got plenty of acid underscoring the fruit, and should work well as an all-purpose wine.
This is a crisp, spicy wine with a touch of pepper as well as fruit. It is lively, bright, touched by both acidity and red currants. Drink now.
This is a crisp, Syrah-based rosé, with some passion fruit on the nose, but then ripe berry flavors on the palate. It's plump and medium-bodied, yet finishes with a zing of refreshing acidity. Drink now.
This is a crisp, tart and somewhat ungenerous example of Australian Pinot Noir. It's lean and wiry, with a solid sinew of pie-cherry fruit, so maybe it just needs time, as it seems otherwise well made.
This is a crisp, tightly focused offering, but one that doesn't lack fruit. Scents of guava and gooseberry mark the nose, while the flavors are more like grapefruit and underripe pineapple. It shows admirable length for such an inexpensive wine.
This is a crisp, tonic and steely expression of Fiano that offers an incredibly focused and sharp bouquet of white rose, crushed mineral and stone fruit. The wine's precise personality is what makes it so appropriate to pair with summer pasta or seafood.
This is a crisply fruity wine, with tight acidity and a nervy texture. The citrus character dominates, leaving room for only hints of riper red fruits. The aftertaste continues the theme of crisp acidity.
This is a crisply structured wine, with attractive yellow fruits, a touch of honey and pineapple acidity. It's delicious, perfumed and fresh, and ready to drink now.
This is a crowd-pleaser made in larger quantities that succeeds in its herbal lemongrass and suggestion of fresh-cut grass, which lovers of that style will find appealing. The finish is reminiscent of lemon curd and tastes ripe.
This is a crowd-pleasing style of Cabernet that's perfect for the winery's on-site outdoor amphitheater and has approachable black cherry, vanilla and crushed rock aromas. More cherry and dark strawberry juice flavors show on the palate, which is jammy with a touch of baking spice and dill to round it out.
This is a cuddly, jammy, ripe Malbec with maple, blackberry and oak aromas. It feels weighty and lush, with large-scale boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry flavors. It turns a little soft and basic on the finish, but there's no griping about this wine's purity and fruit content.
This is a curious Amarone with a distinct nose of root beer, toasted almond and medicine cabinet. It delivers a well-toned, mellow close with soft tannins and more cherry cola flavors on the finish.
This is a curious but successful blend of basically equal parts Zinfandel, Malbec and Tannat. Rich aromas of blackberry and blueberry meet with pine, cigar box and wet rocks on the nose. The berry fruit that shows first on the sip is elevated by a woody backbone and lifted with crushed clove.
This is a curiously juicy wine that is not fully integrated with the dry tannins. It has a hard-edged texture, a dry character that sits uneasily with the crisp black currant fruitiness.
This is a current release from Joe Davis, who holds his wines back until their prime. Hailing from Ballard Canyon, it shows black plum, pressed purple flowers, tanned leather and balsamic notes on the nose. There's a pleasantly yet softly structured texture to the palate, where dried blackberry, roast beef, lilac and Concord grape flavors arise.
This is a dark- colored, smoothly ripe wine. With wood spice and with plenty of blackberry fruitiness, it's both structured and generous. The acidity it gets from the Touriga Nacional in the blend gives it a crisp aftertaste and the possibility of further aging. Drink now or from 2018.
This is a dark-colored wine, powerful and dense. With a fine perfumed character, it is rich with black fruits and concentrated from the low yields. It is impressive, ripe and darkly structured and with a firm long-lasting aftertaste. Still young and packed with fruit, it will be better from 2018.
This is a dark-colored, dense wine, reeking of aromas fresh from the fermenting tank: juicy blackberry and plum and a strong herbal, earthy streak like mulch and mushrooms. It's well made and clean as a whistle, but currently the profile is austere, although some fruity depth on the finish bodes well for the long haul. Cellar for three years before trying.
This is a dark-hued wine that brings out the structure and strong minerality of Touriga Nacional in its home region of Dão. It is a powerful and dense selection, still dominated by tannins but offers plenty of perfumed fruit to balance. Drink from 2017.
This is a dark-hued wine, full of tannins as well as rich black-currant fruits. It is densely textured with a strong herbal mineral character. Acidity and spiciness come with a firm edge that suggests this young wine will age further. Drink from 2019.
This is a dark and brooding blend of Barbera and Bonarda that veers towards tobacco, leather and tar to such a far extreme, the fruit is almost overwhelmed in the bouquet. Prune and cassis do make an appearance on the palate, and there's a ripe-fruit note on the close.
This is a dark and dense wine that has solid perfumed fruits. The tannins, still dry, are partnered with blackberry fruits, spice and just a touch of wood. The wine needs to age, so wait until 2016.
This is a dark and dense wine, serious with its firm tannins and solid black fruits. It has spice, blackberry and currant flavors, along with a pure line of acidity. With its firm structure, this dry, concentrated wine needs to age. Drink from 2015.
This is a dark and muscular expression of Syrah executed in a quasi-Australian style, with loads of concentration and spice, backed by smoked bacon, Teriyaki, candied berry and Indian spice.
This is a dark and probably too-tannic wine. A very dry, extracted character gives bitterness more than fruit. It's still young and has the Saint-Estèphe tannins in abundance, although its future with this dryness is uncertain.
This is a dark and sophisticated red, with an interesting aromatic profile that includes dried rosemary, sage, cola, blackberry, leather and spice. It's thick and powerful on the close and should pair well with red meat.
This is a dark and spicy expression of Sagrantino from Umbria that showcases deep aromas of clove, Christmas spice and nutmeg. The fruit tones here are on the ripe, jammy side and the wine hits the palate with determined, firm tannins.
This is a dark and tannic wine, very firm and dense. It has weight while also allowing room for acidity. The ripe blackberry fruits are still buried beneath this tannic character, needing more time to show through. It is likely to remain a dry wine with a tough aftertaste.
This is a dark and tarry wine, perhaps a tad early for release, showing condensed purple flowers, beef jerky, charcoal and plum peels on the nose. The palate is tart and chewy, with asphalt, sour black fruit and tobacco notes. Wait a year and this may sing much more strongly.
This is a dark bomber with black cherry, kirsch, lemony oak and shoe polish aromas. The palate is creamy and big, with acid-derived lift boosting blackberry and licorice flavors. With tons of black-fruit character, this qualifies as a fruit-forward wine with sweet overtones.
This is a dark chocolate and licorice flavored wine with great tannins and minerality as well as black plum fruits. It is concentrated and powerful and still so young. Dense and brooding, it will need many more years to mature, so drink from 2019.
This is a dark purple colored wine, packed with tannins that come both from the rich fruit and new wood used in aging. It's still a young wine with black fruits showing strongly through the structure. Powerful and concentrated, it will age well over many years.
This is a dark wine, perhaps more elegant than powerful. The currant fruit flavors drive through with prominent acidity, trailing tight tannins and smoky wood. More weight would have been welcome.
This is a dark wine, with an intense, dry structure and seemingly sweet fruit. It has a dense herb flavor, with notes of black plum, spice and bitter chocolate. Keep for a year.
This is a dark, almost thick, velvet-textured wine with plenty of tannin and flavors of blackberry and black pepper. While mouthcoating in texture, its not overly full in body, and will pair well with cheesy pastas and rich meat braises.
This is a dark, big, deeply flavored Cabernet whose tannic structure strongly suggests mid- to long-term aging. Bone dry, it has flashy flavors of black currants, dark chocolate and cedar. Very fine. Best 2010–2015, if not longer in a proper cellar.
This is a dark, big, dense Pinot Noir, and while some wines of this style are heavy and dull, this one isn't. It's alive with zesty acidity, and has the deepest cherry-berry flavors you can imagine. Lovely spices, too, all tingly and mouthwatering. An important addition to the Santa Rita pantheon, and it should change interestingly over the next six years.
This is a dark, black and brooding wine, full bodied and firmly impacted in tannin. Mountain sage, currant and mocha highlight dense ripe fruit and dustiness that linger with a spiciness of clove on the finish.
This is a dark, brooding and earthy Zin, that's high in alcohol, intensely oaky, and with a huge black pepper character that dives head first towards the finish into slightly pruny land.
This is a dark, concentrated blend with minty oak, lactic aromas, boysenberry and blackberry on the bouquet. The palate is muscular and clampy, with resiny, oak-based grab to go with full tannins. Flavors of boyseberry, chocolate, toast and oak end in a warm, oaky finish. Drink now through 2016.
This is a dark, concentrated effort that shows its wood strongly. The tannins are firm and almost heavy, producing a wine that is intensely dry and will need many years to age.
This is a dark, deep, big wine that's tannic and dry, with huge stuffing. Packed on the midpalate with blackberry jam, currant, chocolate and cedar flavors, it finishes in a delicious swirl of spices. Defines the modern style of Napa Cabernet: powerful, elegant and impressive. Drink now–2020.
This is a dark, dense and brooding Bordeaux-style blend, comprised of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc. Notes of cocoa, cigar tobacco and leather jazz up the black-fruit core of cassis, black plum and berry. The palate is full and gripping, with firm tannins that hang on tightly through the long and slightly smoky finish. Drink after decanting now, or enjoy through 2018.
This is a dark, dense blend of 52% Syrah, 30% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and plum lead on the bouquet, with background accents of tree bark and forest floor. The firm structure and gripping tannins are softened by ripe black-fruit flavors that carry through to the lingering finish. Balanced but young, this should develop greater complexity and nuance with time; drink 2016–2020.
This is a dark, dense wine. It has concentrated tannins that are still dominant. The ripe fruit that is underneath will shortly reveal red berry and red currant freshness. This blend of Syrah and Touriga Nacional is perfumed with a fresh, bright aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a dark, drily tannic young Syrah whose blackberry, currant and pepper flavors are compromised by less ripe, minty tastes. It's so close to being a really nice wine, until that greenness kicks in. Drink now.
This is a dark, earthy wine. Clove and leather notes accent modest black-cherry fruit, but the texture is plush and silky, making it approachable now.
This is a dark, fully formed and impressive wine, one that's 70% Tempranillo and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of mineral, spice, orange zest, bacon and black plum are integrated and lead to a lively palate with flavors of raspberry, plum and herbal essence. Long and spunky on the finish. Drink now–2017.
This is a dark, glyceriney, full-bodied Syrah that should have been held back a little longer before release, but you can make up for that with cellaring. It's tannic and raw now, but packed with blackberry, currant, licorice and pepper flavors that are totally dry, and firmed up with crisp acids. Best for a few years after 2009.
This is a dark, huge Pinot Noir, so rich and opulently fruity that it might almost be a Grenache. It has a thick, soft mouthfeel, and is explosive in cherry jam, red licorice and mocha flavors that are utterly delicious. However, there's a certain direct appeal that lacks complexity and nuance. Drink now and over the next few years.
This is a dark, inky Petite Sirah, dense in tannins and full-bodied. It basically takes command of the palate and puts up a wall of astringency. That's young Petite Sirah for you. Behind that wall are rich flavors of blackberries and currants, with a generous sweetness from toasty oak, and finished with a hit of acidity. You should cellar this wine for at least six years.
This is a dark, intensely astringent wine with so much grape and oak tannin that it's challenging to enjoy now. Since PV is known as a grape that provides color and tannin in Bordeaux wines, it's no wonder that it's so stiff today. It will drink best after 2020.
This is a dark, plump expression of Sangiovese Grosso that delivers finely-tuned aromas of succulent fruit and blackberry. Notes of espresso and dark chocolate give the wine added dimension and staying power in the mouth.
This is a dark, plush Saint-Joseph, not an edgy, wiry, herb-scented version. Superripe plum and licorice notes are framed by soft tannins and hints of baking spices, but the wine' essential Syrah nature comes through on the dusty pepper-and-anise finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a dark, rich, modern Cabernet. The nose oozes sweet aromas of coconut and vanilla along with creamy oak and blackberry. The palate is full and chunky in feel, with dark-fruit flavors accented by molasses and pepper. A chewy finish shows grip and lasting acidity.
This is a dark, sappy, saturated wine, and the power and grip of the fruit belies its claim of 12.9% alcohol. The Malbec is plenty ripe without being over-ripe, and the fruit retains a certain muscularity, along with a mélange of cherries, plums, rum-soaked raisins and coffee liqueur. Thoroughly delicious and captivating.
This is a dark, sauvage, Cote-Rotie style of Syrah. It's full bodied, with tannins that have been tamed from the mountain fruit. Slightly warmer than some of Terre Rouge's others, the finish is lusty and packed with peppery spice. It would pair well with an equally gamy stew.
This is a dark, smooth and rich Riserva Brunello with a spot of sweet succulence and ripe cherry at the midpalate. The wine offers long, smooth texture and a clean, persistent mouthfeel.
This is a dark, tannic Pinot Noir from a big vintage, hefty in dark berry fruit and a taste of leather. Affordable and widely distributed, it's a good choice for midweek meals.
This is a dark, tarry wine, with a black cherry and cassis core that's accented by licorice and asphalt highlights. It's big but well built, a powerful red blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petit Verdot. It seems to be trending into a somewhat pruny finish, and not likely to improve with further bottle age, so drink up.
This is a dark, young-colored wine, its purple shade reflecting the dense wood and tannin-laden flavors. It has spice and some bitter extract but these are balanced by ripe blackberry fruits and a rich texture. Drink from 2017.
This is a darkly colored, rich wine that's uniquely savory. It floods the mouth with raspberry and cherry jam, mocha and sweet oak flavors. Best for drinking soon.
This is a darkly fruity and spicy wine from a site overlooking the Marin Coastal range, often shrouded in fog. Planted to five clones, the site provides plenty of cardamom, clove, forest floor and black tea while allowing for a wildness of plum tart and crusty bread. The oak imprint is light.
This is a decadent and plush wine, with ripe-fruit notes of brambly raspberry and blueberry accented by hints of pepper, vanilla and sweet spice. A streak of juicy acidity lifts the palate, and soft tannins allow for easy drinking now.
This is a decadently juicy, succulent and satisfyingly delicious vineyard-designate. It shows defined layers of blueberry and sassafras, the body rich yet balanced.
This is a decadently rich Chardonnay, although it depends for its appeal mainly on oak and ripe fruit, rather than nuance. Explodes with pineapple jam, golden mango, crème brûlée, buttered toast, honey and cinnamon spice flavors. Ready now.
This is a decent wine to serve with barbecued fare like hamburger, chicken and sausage. It's dry, tart and tannic, with notes of sweet-and-sour cherry-flavored Lifesaver and blackberry candy.
This is a decent Zin for drinking now. It's dry and tannic, with briary flavors of wild forest fruits and spices. Some unripe green notes compromise the score.
This is a decent, midpriced Pinot, soft and round, with light strawberry flavors and a streak of licorice. The 18 months in 60% new French oak adds a note of vanilla as well.
This is a decidedly beautiful wine, a carefully crafted offering of Tahitian vanilla bean, caramelized apple and juicy peach that is integrated and buoyant in acidity. It continues to open and shine in the glass, getting better as it travels along the palate, with a lush finish of preserved lemon that just sings.
This is a deep-colored, ripe wine, with touches of wood well embedded in the spicy, rich blackberry fruits. The wine is juicy, with dry, dusty tannins promising some aging. Drink from 2016.
This is a deep and concentrated white wine, ripely adorned in honey and apricot with a streak of honeysuckle dancing on the nose throughout. Creamy and round, it is buoyed by a fresh sprinkling of orange blossom and rind.
This is a deep violet-red wine, with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, butterscotch and anisette. Flavors of blueberry, toffee and licorice play off of strong woody notes that dominate the finish.
This is a deep, hard wine with sandpaper tannins and chewy weight. Earth, mushroom, blackberry and raw oak are all present on the bouquet. Flavors of blackberry and plum are ripe and rich, with an herbal hint. The finish is long, heady, heavy and tannic. Drink through 2018.
This is a deep, intense and focused wine sourced from 40-year-old vines. Its 28 g/l of residual sugar is all but buried in bright acids, creating tension and depth. Grapefruit, lime and pineapple flavors burst through, making this highly cellar-worthy wine irresistible already.
This is a deep, layered, tannic Tempranillo from an intense vintage. Its blackberry, black plum and cedar aromas are broad and lush. Chocolaty oak flavors enwrap its ripe blackberry fruit, remaining rich and long on the finish. Drink 2018–2026.
This is a deeply colored, nicely oaky wine at a good price. It tastes like it's been aged to a peak already. The aromas are spicy, cedary and perfumed, while the flavors offer ripe berry and cherry notes and the texture is smooth but moderately tannic.
This is a deeply flavored, earthy wine. You'll find rich raspberry and cherry fruit, but also a mushroomy taste, as well as intense baking spices. Impressively complex, it's fairly tannic, and seems immature. Give it 4–5 years in a good cellar.
This is a deeply golden and saturated Greco that offers the structure and consistency to pair with white meat, pasta or shellfish. It offers subtle flavors of butterscotch and dried apricot as well.
This is a deeply rich and concentrated expression of steely Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is ripe, full in the mouth with yellow fruits vying with citrus and capped by the more tense texture. It could still age, so wait until 2015.
This is a deeply rich, very impressive wine from a great white-wine vintage. It's concentrated with the essence of pure Chardonnay. It has tension along with a full texture. Age it for at least 10 years.
This is a deeply ripe, authoritatively structured Syrah of great power and finesse. It's drinkable now for the velvety texture and massive flavors of grilled blackberries, blueberries, currants, dark unsweetened chocolate, leather, black pepper and lots of sweet, smoky new oak. But it's also fairly tannic. Very fine now, with a brief decant, and through 2013.
This is a definitive Mount Veeder Zin, jam packed and complex in notes of blackberries, sweet raspberries and red currants, with spice, cola and smoky oak tones. It's a little on the soft side, with luscious tannins. Ready to drink now.
This is a delicate and feminine copper-colored Pinot Grigio made by Francesco and Fulvio Zorzettig that boasts finely tuned aromas of white rose, peach and exotic fruit. It offers zesty acidity and a crisp, cleansing close.
This is a delicate and harmonious wine with a large offering of fragrant aromas that are doled out in measured, careful doses. You'll get chocolate and coffee shavings next to earthy tones, Porcini mushroom, forest floor and a delicate embroidery of small berry fruit. It's a distinctive wine with tight tannins, solid structure and a fresh, clean finish.
This is a delicate and refined Bordeaux-style blend, with aromas of white cherry, wild berry, rosemary crushed stone and licorice. The finish is crisp and bright.
This is a delicate and traditional Chianti Rufina Riserva with enticing notes of mature black fruit, exotic spice, molasses and resin. The wine has aged nicely and shows elegance, sophistication and smooth tannins as a result (it also boasts an excellent value price). Pair it with red meat and game dishes.
This is a delicate but flavorful wine. It starts off with smoky, beet-like aromas, while the flavors are of pie cherries, with herb overtones. It's medium bodied, with a tart finish. Drink now–2018.
This is a delicate Pinot Gris, medium-sweet in style, taking its cue from the baked apple flavor and fragrant acidity. A touch of spice gives a counterpoint to the refreshing aftertaste.
This is a delicate signature white, with lovely honeysuckle and flint aromas. High-toned acidity buoys layers of grapefruit and preserved lemon flavor, finishing with well-defined minerality.
This is a delicate sweet Riesling, honeyed and with intense acidity as a foil. The wine is delicate, holding back on its richness with a light touch, and very poised. The wine is destined for aging over at least six years and more. Screwcap.
This is a delicate wine that blossoms with white fruit flavors and taut acidity. It's very tense, with fine depth of flavor and a mouthwatering texture that will take several years to mature. Screwcap.
This is a delicate wine with a very Margaux feel. The delicious red berry fruits and light layers of tannin are in balance, suggesting a wine that will age relatively quickly, and is already drinkable now.
This is a delicate wine, sweet strawberry and elegant structure combining over a soft texture. There is a hint of smokiness as an addition to the finely rounded aftertaste.
This is a delicate wine, true to variety with musky scents and flavors of beetroot, cherry and cola. The only off-note is a hint of plastic in the aftertaste.
This is a delicate yet flavorful take on this grape, from a biodynamic, cool-climate vineyard. Light red plum and hibiscus aromas meet with sweet herbs and cinnamon spice on the nose. The lithe palate offers candied strawberry with thyme, anise and touches of garden herbs, with that red fruit flavor carrying deep into the finish. Would pair great with spicy food.
This is a delicate, aromatic wine that's light as a feather. It has crisp citrus flavors along with notes of apricot and berries, along with a pure line in acidity. The aftertaste is pure refreshment.
This is a delicate, beautifully-poised wine, so crisp and lively. The ocean-influenced vineyard site helps to keep the wine light. This is what summer rosé is about.
This is a delicate, deliciously fragrant Riesling with just the freshest of fruits. Lemon and bright zest notes leave the palate totally refreshed.
This is a delicately fragrant Moscato d'Asti with feminine aromas of jasmine, honey and white peach. There's a citrusy, lemongrass-like note that adds a fresh, almost spicy note to this creamy, sweet and delicious wine.
This is a delicately perfumed wine that packs a punch of refreshing fruitiness. It has intense, crisp acidity and ripe apricot and lemon flavors. It's textured and ready to drink.
This is a delicious Amarone boasting black-cherry and plum-cake flavors layered with cinnamon, nutmeg and notes of vanilla and well-integrated oak. With its chewy tannins and freshness, this will develop complexity over the next few years. Drink after 2016.
This is a delicious and complex white wine, beginning with its aromas of matchstick, hay and hazelnuts. Zesty citrus stars on the midpalate, giving way to more generous, rounded layers of vanilla cream. Age-worthy, it peaks in bursts of orange blossom and tangerine, and would be a lovely partner for some fresh oysters on the half shell.
This is a delicious and fruity wine from the smallest Beaujolais cru. There are tannins although they are lost in the generous cushion of ripe blackberry and black-cherry fruits. It is a smooth, rounded wine that is packed with fruit at the moment. Give it time and it will mature well. Drink from 2018.
This is a delicious and fruity wine with attractive acidity and bright, ebullient character—it's just waiting for summer. The up-front red fruits and acidity are well in balance. This is ready to drink.
This is a delicious and juicy, yet structured wine. It has black plum and berry flavors that are fully ripe and burst from the glass. A firm texture, solid tannins and acidity balance out the fruit and extend the wine's ability to age. Drink from 2015.
This is a delicious and ripe-fruited wine. Dominated by Fernão Pires, it has an apple-puree texture: smooth and creamy. The wine has an edge of light acidity at the end to give it a lift. Drink now.
This is a delicious and textured wine. It has great swathes of crisp citrus and gooseberry fruits that are bright and still young. Drink this steely flinty wine from 2018.
This is a delicious Chardonay. It dances in pear, peach and lemon notes. Balanced and addictive, it's easy to love and not overly complicated at all. Encased in just enough oak to provide texture and weight, this is a great wine for parties or casual dinners, pairable with just about anything.
This is a delicious example of what Agiorgitiko should be—complex but delicate, fresh but full of flavor. The nose starts with vibrant cassis, cherry and plum aromas, followed by flavors of blackcurrant, pepper, cherry and cinnamon that are rounded and layered. The wine ends with a lively mineral spin.
This is a delicious expression of the genre, medium bodied and forcefully crisp, with delicate lacings of cherry, apricot and peach. The underlying hint of vanilla gives it a welcome succulence and touch of sweetness though the wine otherwise presents dry.
This is a delicious fruity wine with a fine line of acidity that cuts right through the orange and red-currant fruits. It is bright with acidity and just a light mineral edge to give a textured and fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a delicious fruity wine, pink in color and with a swathe of crisp red-currant fruitiness. It is bright with acidity and forward fruit. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a delicious Merlot for drinking now. It's Martin Ray's best in years, a dry, smooth, soft wine, with elaborate cherry pie, blackberry jam and oak flavors that are complex and spicy.
This is a delicious Merlot that seems to showcase the warm Calistoga climate in its soft tannins and power-packed black cherry, blueberry and licorice flavors. The edge of oak is sweet and smoky. Drink this intricately layered wine now.
This is a delicious rendition of the annual Claret blend. It includes all five Bordeaux grapes, and displays a generous burst of berries and cherries, followed with a swish of chocolate. The wine delivers the goods, mixing in darker fruits, coffee and licorice streaks, winding into a lightly herbal, tannic finish.
This is a delicious ripe wine, full of black fruits and with generous tannins. Mint flavors come from the new wood aging and enhance the ripe berry flavors and acidity. Drink this structured wine from 2018.
This is a delicious soft wine with immediate fruity attraction. With its bright red-currant fruits and refreshing acidity, it is forward and ready to drink now. The wine is made from organic grapes.
This is a delicious wine already, not powerful, but charming and elegant. The acidity and fruit are easy and bright, the tannins light but properly in balance. That suggests this is not for aging. It's already a pleasure to drink now.
This is a delicious wine full of ripe fruit tones. It is richly textured while keeping plenty of freshness from the Antão Vaz that dominates the blend. It has a firm mineral background that gives structure. The finish brings a zippy orange zest note.
This is a delicious wine on all levels. Lazzarito opens in a bold, masculine style with overtones of ripe cherry fruit, leather and cured beef jerky. The wine then segues to soft, textured tannins with power and extra length on the close. It's impossible not to fall in love with a wine of this caliber.
This is a delicious wine that's ready to drink while keeping a good sense of its austere structure. It has weight, richness and a juicy black-fruit character. The finish is bright with acidity. Not for aging.
This is a delicious wine with fresh fruits that are crisply embedded in balanced acidity, melon and orange zest flavors. The wine has structure, minerality and a tight texture that contrasts with all this fruitiness. The finish is intense with acidity. Although the wine could be drunk now, it will be better from 2018.
This is a delicious wine with its ripe fruits and soft tannins. It has a touch of spice, as well as bright acidity along with a touch of smokiness from the wood aging. Rich and generous, it will mature quickly. Drink from 2019.
This is a delicious wine with rich layers of chocolate and sweet spice that give heft and momentum to the bright berry fruit. Finely textured and firm, the wine should be paired with grilled or stewed meat dishes.
This is a delicious wine, fruity and with good depth of flavor to show both crisp acidity and riper white and yellow fruits. The aftertaste of this fine wine is soft and creamy. Drink now.
This is a delicious wine, where the richness of Chardonnay dominates the fresher character of Arinto, resulting in a creamy, full-textured wine with touches of vanilla and ripe yellow fruits. It's well balanced, with the ripe acidity showing well at the end.
This is a delicious wine— a soft generous style of Sauvignon Blanc. With ripe apples that are balanced by crisp acidity, the wine is deliciously fruity. There is a light dusting of pepper at the end. Drink from late 2017.
This is a delicious, crisp wine full of minerality, acidity and a zesty texture. Tight and lively, it offers citrus and green-plum fruitiness with a hint of spice. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a delicious, fruity wine with just a core of tannins to hold it together. It is packed with red berry fruits along with intense, still-youthful acidity. As it develops, it will become fruitier and softer.
This is a delicious, fruity wine, a blend of Arinto and Viognier. The Viognier does bring its trademark apricot flavor and creamy texture while the Arinto adds the bright acidity, citrus and crisp apples. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a delicious, fruity wine, full of black fruits and soft tannins. The wine is forward, and ripe, and demands to be drunk now. Have it with a barbecue.
This is a delicious, memorable wine that does the vineyard justice, offering layers of baked strawberry fruit tempered by moderate acidity. As it slowly opens, it reveals rose petal, cherry and pomegranate flavors, its texture broad yet defined.
This is a delicious, perfumed and fruity wine. It is crisp and clean, bright with acidity and ripe in raspberry flavors. This wine is a perfect summer quaffing rosé.
This is a delicious, ripe and fruity wine that comes from the south of Beaujolais. It has ripe red-berry fruits and soft tannins allied to a juicy acidity that keeps it all fresh. Drink now.
This is a delicious, ripe and fruity wine. It has all the right characters of freshness, a creamy mousse and tight, zingy acidity. It's a wine to drink now and enjoy its lightly perfumed aftertaste.
This is a delicious, ripe wine inspired by its Sémillon and Viognier. The lemon and grapefruit acidity is contrasted with the rich white stone fruits and warmth of this region. Drink from 2018.
This is a delicious, ripe wine that is packed with apricot, apple and pear fruits. It is tangy and freshly fruity. The bright, rich fruit continues right through this wine that is ready to drink now.
This is a delicious, soft, tropical fruit-flavored wine. The texture is ripe, full, the mango fruits melting in the mouth, just touched by spice. If it misses the more mineral character of Chablis, the pleasure is sufficient compensation. Screwcap.
This is a delicious, tongue-tickling wine, crisp and solidly built with fresh fruit flavors of apple, lime and tangerine in abundance. Beyond that there is body and depth, with the fresh acidity that supports a great variety of lighter seafood, shellfish and poultry.
This is a deliciously aromatic wine, bursting with bright fruits, acidity, all held together with a soft texture. The wine is easy to drink and ready now.
This is a deliciously balanced wine. Spice from the wood aging makes a happy contrast with the black-currant fruit and acidity. It is elegant and with great fruitiness. The wine, with its tannic base, will age well. The estate is to the west of Saint-Emilion, close to Château Figeac. Drink from 2023.
This is a deliciously balanced, elegant wine. Its ample spice character is matched by the crisp white-fruit note and acidity. It is floral, perfumed and stylish.
This is a deliciously creamy wine with light white fruits and refreshing acidity. With its cool texture and minerality, it is crisp and zesty and ready to drink.
This is a deliciously easygoing Viognier bright with fresh apricot flavor, high in acidity and a finish of lemon-lime. Enjoy on its own or with spicy Thai or Vietnamese food.
This is a deliciously fresh, yet also rounded and rich wine. Creamed apples and soft pears go with a lime juice crispness, resulting in a wine that is ripe, fruity and delicately acidic. Drink now.
This is a deliciously fruity wine with tropical fruit tones, a light mineral texture and fine, crisp acidity. From vines planted at 1500 feet above the river, it is fresh, cool and ready to drink.
This is a deliciously fruity wine, packed with red berry fruits, strawberries and fresh raspberries. While fresh and crisp, there is decent roundness to the palate. Drink now.
This is a deliciously fruity wine. It has fine red-currant and citrus fruits that give it a fresh crisp texture and flavor. The attractive wine is so bright with fruit right up front. Drink now.
This is a deliciously fruity, fragrant wine. It has a fine balance between its fresh acidity and ripe apple and pear fruitiness. It's a wine to be drunk young to enjoy its forward, bright character. Screwcap.
This is a deliciously fruity, yet structured wine. It has weight and richness, but mainains elegance with lemony acidity, ripe grapefruit flavor, and layered wood notes. It's a wine for long-term aging so drink from 2015.
This is a deliciously perfumed wine that is fresh and fruity with a fine, tight texture to add interest and give it shape. It takes advantage of the natural aromatic flavors of the grape to produce a wine that is both crisp and fragrant. Drink now.
This is a deliciously refreshing wine. It's acidity and red-currant fruits are bright, crisp and right up front. The rounder, caramel and spice backdrop to all this fruitiness makes it just right for the table.
This is a deliciously rich Riesling that's so ripe and full in the mouth, but dry in style. It has swathes of fruitiness, a sense of power and intense acidity. For such a complex wine it is surprisingly ready to drink. But waiting would be better, so hold out until 2016.
This is a deliciously ripe and fruity wine. Citrus and apricot and peach flavors are given a lift by a nutty, toasty character. It is rich and full, with minerality and acidity shooting through the attractive aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a deliciously ripe wine, aged in wood to give roundness to the blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. It is full bodied and rich in the mouth with orange and pineapple flavors giving a great lift to the mineral texture.
This is a deliciously ripe, full-bodied wine with all the red berry fruits, orange zest and acidity that you could want. It's finely made with a creamy mousse and a fresh and fruity aftertaste.
This is a deliciously spicy exploration of wild strawberry and succulent waves of medium-bodied earth and structure. Lengthy and complex, it makes a case for the beauty that can come from blending from various vineyards.
This is a deliciously sultry, luxurious and yet lean, focused white, dark gold in color with tightly woven acidity. Textured and layered in pops of fennel, apple and pear, it was aged in both stainless and neutral French oak, allowing briny minerality and fruit-laden characteristics to shine.
This is a delight—a supple, polished, ripe and full-throttle Pinot Noir offered at a mid-1990s price. Winemaker Aron Hess keeps the alcohol at 13.5%, the oak a moderate 20% new, and the earthy underpinnings gracefully in check. Lush purple and blue fruits are lightly licked with chocolate; the result is a very satisfying mouthful of wine.
This is a delightful and fresh Chianti, with a fragrance of violet, cherry and a whiff of underbrush. The palate offers bright wild cherry and raspberry along with notes of white pepper. Pair this with hearty Tuscan soups or grilled steaks.
This is a delightful white wine that opens with compelling aromas of peach, honeydew melon and Golden delicious apple. The mouthfeel is smooth, silky and rich, with a pretty blast of creamy honey on the close.
This is a delightful wine, crowd pleasing and complex. It benefits from its lack of oak by focusing on its lifted fruit—a twist of fresh-squeezed lemon and grapefruit—its acidity nicely measured and not one-dimensional. The crisp freshness is complemented by a hint of white rock and subtle lushness on the back palate.
This is a delightful, fruity white, highlighted by orange blossom and jasmine on the nose and crisp waxy green apple on the palate, with a touch of dried herb and grass. Complex and medium in weight and oak, it holds up structurally, with a juicy finish.
This is a delightfully crisp, drily balanced Sauvignon Blanc that's perfect as a cocktail sipper with little appetizers. Made without any oak influence, it shows the variety's grapefruit, Meyer lemon, lime and grassy side, along with zesty acidity.
This is a delightfully crisp, elegant and lip-smacking wine, that's subtle and easy to love. Lemon peel, apple skin and pear play together well, never becoming distracting, but instead integrating well with one another and the light hint of oak. Food friendly, it's also a great deal.
This is a delightfully curious, multifaceted wine that's penetrating with flavors of dried fig, black tea, honey and smoke. A savory wet clay note is interspersed with a note of sweet spice, plus tea-leaf tannins that linger long on the finish.
This is a delightfully dense, yet herbal and well-structured wine, 100% varietal, with still-chewy tannins that integrate in the glass. Cassis and tea highlight the experience. The wine is sourced from a prime spot in the heart of the Napa Valley known for both its exuberance of fruit and classic elegance.
This is a delightfully floral and lemony-crisp wine, with a touch of crème brûlée balanced between layers of citrus. Despite the rich accent, it's light-bodied and easy to like, offering subtle complexity and a sultry, spicy finish.
This is a delightfully fresh and informal Sangiovese with pretty tones of cherry and blueberry backed by a tight mouthfeel and fresh acidity. Lingering tones of ginger and cola appear on the streamlined finish.
This is a delightfully fresh Prosecco from the Fontana Vecia cru with sharp mineral tones backed by orange blossom, white pepper and stone fruit. It offers creamy foam in the mouth and a full palate of peachy flavors. Serve it at outdoor lunches or at cocktail hour.
This is a delightfully fresh yet creamy wine that delivers a spectrum of styles and flavors. Anise and tart apple notes accent the floral-driven experience, unfettered by oak, which plays but a supporting role.
This is a delightfully fruity wine from one of the old estates in Muscadet. With crisp apple flavors and lively acidity, it is cool, clean, full of zesty fruitiness. Drink now.
This is a delightfully light-pink blend of Grenache, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah from different pockets of the county. Subtle strawberry, Mandarin orange and nutty flavors play off the moderate acidity and pretty white flower notions.
This is a delightfully perfumed wine, the second wine of Château L'Evangile. Smooth with ripe Merlot flavors, it's full and dense, conveying the sense that it will mature quickly. Drink from 2016.
This is a delightfully straightforward wine, supple and smooth in floral honeysuckle and orange blossom behind ripe apple flavors and crispness.
This is a delightfully sweet Moscato di Trani with aromas of pear and Golden Delicious apple backed by honey and stone fruit. It offers a gritty, sweet texture and a fine point of acidity on the close that breaks through the dense sweetness.
This is a dense and complex pour. Rich, dark fruit aromas and flavors of cherry, plum and boysenberry are handsomely graced by spicy tones of licorice, black pepper and wood spice. The mouthfeel is plush and powerful, with structured tannins that frame the ripe black-fruit flavors. Hints of leather, baking spice and just a touch of iron flesh out the finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a dense and heady blend, made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 17% Petite Sirah. Black-currant leaf, black plum and boysenberry notes lead the nose and mouth, with a light dusting of cocoa, baking spice and sweet oak adding depth to the palate. Medium weight, with a texture like crushed velvet and a bold, flavorful finish. Drink now–2018.
This is a dense and heavily extracted Merlot that is too powerful for its own good. Concentrated and super-rich, the palate is laden with tannins and toasty wood. The wine will remain over the top.
This is a dense and heavy take on the grape, but done with style, showing vanilla cookie, clove and deep anise spice atop the black cherry core. Gingerbread, red cinnamon and Christmas spice liven up the baked red-plum fruit of the palate, laced with rich oak flavorings. It's not a dainty wine, but it's certainly delicious.
This is a dense and rich wine full of black plum fruits, rich tannins and a dark structure. It has great potential. Drink from 2016.
This is a dense and rich wine that shows both smoothness as well as an edgy mineral texture. It's weighty on the palate with ripe white and yellow fruits and a rounded, juicy character. Fruit and wood aging are still coming together, so give it some time. Drink this stylish wine from 2016.
This is a dense and rich wine, showing the power of a Morgon and the ripeness of the vintage. It is full bodied, dense and firmly tannic, with red plum and sweet cherry flavors. Keep this fine wine for another 2–3 years.
This is a dense and rounded wine that has St. Laurent's characteristically juicy profile. It also has ripe tannins and a herbal character that brings out spice and acidity. This structured wine could age well for another four years.
This is a dense and tannic wine. It has plenty of the structure that is common to the Listrac appellation with a firm character when young; however, it also has swathes of ripe black fruits and acidity that will allow it to fill out very satisfactorily. Drink from 2020.
This is a dense and very powerful wine that manages to retain a sense of style. It is certainly rich, although the juicy black fruits and acidity give it a great lift of acidity that balances the density and ripeness. The wine is just approaching its maturity although it will be better from 2017.
This is a dense bottling of the Italian grape, with salt-and-pepper touches spicing up the baked raspberry, cranberry and ginger cake aromas on the nose. The palate shows deep flavors reminiscent of dried strawberry, rust, leather and shaved chocolate. Firm tannins provide structure.
This is a dense wine from the Perescuma estate in the southeast Alentejo. It is going to take a while to mature. At the moment, tannins dominate the potential of the black fruits. Oak aging has given this wine extra depth. It's going to be a fine wine, but needs time. Drink from 2018.
This is a dense wine that has plenty of fresh fruit to support its weight. It's quite tannic though, so enjoy with food. It could also do with time, so wait two years.
This is a dense wine with firm tannins and a solid structure. The black currant fruits are stalky and still developing, along with the acidity. It's a lean wine and needs to age for a few more months to fill out, so drink from 2017.
This is a dense wine, full of blackberries and ripe tannins. Juiciness gives the wine the fruitiness that's typical of the best of the vintage. Acidity at the end emphasizes the freshness. Drink from 2017.
This is a dense wine, packed with both tannins and acidity. It brings out the ageworthiness of this appellation with its rich potential and dark mineral texture. Drink this concentrated cru wine from 2018.
This is a dense wine, packed with tannins as well as rich dark-plum flavor. It tastes warm and ripe, with a juicy fruitiness that also has a firm, solid structure. Spice and acidity complete this wine that should be aged, so drink from 2017.
This is a dense wine, rather rough round the edges with some firm, tough tannins and bitter extraction. It does have good fruit weight underneath, suggesting that its black currant flavors will emerge. Drink from 2017.
This is a dense wine, with mint aromas and dark, brooding tannins. Black plum and berry fruits are both rich and tight, with a strong mineral texture. It brings out the hard soil of the Douro and also the heat in the valley. It does need to age, so drink from 2018.
This is a dense yet dry wine, with a ripe blackberry jam aroma and flavor. Firm tannins give it pleasant grip; splashing it into a decanter will open it up.
This is a dense, complete wine with good Garnacha character and generous berry, spice, char and minty aromas and flavors. Rubbery tannins are fair and just, while flavors of grilled meat and baked plum finish oaky, with a slightly raw feel.
This is a dense, concentrated and expressive wine, although it's still young and promises more beauty and elegance with age. Aromas of African violets and cocoa nibs marry harmoniously with the fleshy black-fruit core. Jammy, ripe plum and cherry flavors lead the lush and slightly creamy palate, transitioning into notes of roasted coffee and chocolate, and finally ending on a sweet toasted-oak and baking-spice accent. It's richly delicious now, but patience will also be rewarded; try after 2016.
This is a dense, concentrated and oak-aged wine with delicious, juicy black fruits as well as elegant tannins and acidity. That makes for a wine that's balanced, developing well in its richness. Drink now and until 2020.
This is a dense, dark and sweet Amarone with chewy fruit flavors and very evident aromas of red cherry, resin, cola and dried apple skin. Sweet cherry flavors make up a big component of the mouth too, and are backed up nicely by the wine's density and structure.
This is a dense, dry wine, full of concentrated tannins and somewhat hard-edged. While it does have acidity, it misses out on the fruitiness and ends up being tough and tannic.
This is a dense, flavorful and powerfully structured wine, brimming with notes of black cherry, plum, currant, baking spice, black pepper, crushed violet and bittersweet chocolate. It's full and chewy on the palate, with a firm structure and gripping tannins. Hints of licorice root, mocha and toasted sweet spice unfold on the finish. It's delicious now, but it should hold well through 2020.
This is a dense, rich and soft wine, mostly Cab Franc, with 13% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec. The PV shows through in the wine's thickness and color, followed by flavors of caramel, graham cracker and billowing campfire. The power is intense.
This is a dense, rich wine that balances intense citrus fruit with a tight mineral texture. It is refreshing, crisp while also concentrated from the old vines. The wine is young and fruity and will be better from 2015.
This is a dense, ripe and fruity wine, with forward aromas and flavors of black plum, cherry and muddled berries that are kissed by sweet spice. Medium acidity and supple tannins result in a plush yet accessible and well-balanced palate. Drink now.
This is a dense, smooth wine with fine tannins and rich fruit. It has concentration, with suggestions of bitter extraction that need to soften. The structure and the fruit are still young, so wait to drink this powerful wine until 2018.
This is a dense, thickly extracted Vino Nobile with aromas that recall new fruit—fresh, red cherry and ripe blueberry—and new wood, such as vanilla and carpentry shavings. It tastes very new, almost too new for a 2005, and lacks the deep penetrating complexity you should otherwise expect from this beautiful part of Tuscany. It's easy and very fruity in the mouth.
This is a densely concentrated wine with lush and traditional notes of apple-cherry, cherry liquor, black chocolate and spice cake. What you notice most in the mouth is the wine's almost excessive sweetness that is well framed within a context of firm tannins and good length. Imported by Wine Wave.
This is a densely structured young Cab. Although the tannins are  ripe and sweet, they still possess enough astringency to suggest cellaring. This wine is terrifically rich in black currants and exotic, smoky oak—a big, rich Cab whose impeccable structure defines Oakville. Unfined and unfiltered, it will be best after 2008 and through 2017.
This is a densely tannic wine that's very firm and young. It has weight, a dark structure and concentration along with blackberry fruits, bitter chocolate and a mineral streak that brings out the acidity. There is a strong case for aging this wine for five years and more.
This is a densely tannic wine, very ripe and concentrated. It is perfumed, rich, and blackberry fruited, showing the character of Touriga Nacional, but in an exaggerated form. Age the wine for at least two more years.
This is a densely textured wine, full of flavors of lemon zest and green apples. The intense fruitiness lights the palate with a crisp feel as well as final, tight acidity.
This is a densely textured wine. It has a strong sense of minerality, while also having a fruitier side. Ripe acidity and a crisp citrus flavor are allied to the warmer apple and green-plum fruits. Drink this wine from late 2017.
This is a dessert wine because it's frankly sweet in honey, sugared pineapple tart and lemon pie filling flavors. With crisp acidity, it's a nice sipper, clean and delicious. It's the best sweet Moscato at this price in California.
This is a dessert wine, and a fine one. It's delicious in orange, butterscotch and vanilla flavors, balanced with savory acidity. Nice by itself, or with a fruit tart.
This is a dessert wine, and a very pleasurable one. It's sweet but not too sweet, and very high acidity provides crisp balance to the pineapple, peach, honeysuckle, vanilla and spice flavors. The official sugar reading is 7.5%, and the alcohol is a refreshingly low 9%. Great with a fruit tart, sorbet or Key lime pie.
This is a devastatingly good Bordeaux blend from Howell Mountain. Based on Cabernet, it has all the flavor you could ask for in blackberries, cherries, cassis, chocolate, herbs, spices and sweetly smoked oak. But the structure is awesome. Near perfect tannins, soft and intricately firm, and grand acidity make for a total Cabernet experience. Tremendous now, and should age for years.
This is a dialed-down, vibrantly bright and citrusy wine, tart in green apple. Integrated oak provides texture and waves of body in a lighter-styled package. Fermentation and maturation of the wine took place in new as well as seasoned French oak and stainless steel tank.
This is a different beast from most other Zins, shy and intriguing in tight, dusty, high-toned raspberry and cassis, the spicy components leaning toward exotic cardamom and nutmeg. From a vineyard originally planted in 1925, holding on for dear life in the Russian River Valley's sea of Pinot Noir, it's a rare and worthy find for the table.
This is a difficult wine to analyze: Even after some hours of breathing time, it seems resolutely shuttered, tart and actually a bit on the thin side. Given the track record of both the producer and the vineyard, it was unexpected. Another taste on the second day showed promise. With time, the score could improve.
This is a diluted, straightforward wine dotted in pleasing layers of pear and papaya. It finishes clean and quick.
This is a direct and pungent Brunello with an intense, vertical lift and a steady delivery of fruit, spice and smoke aromas. It opens with dried raspberry, cassis, clove and pipe tobacco followed by fine tannins and persistency.
This is a direct but tasty and well-balanced Pinot, with vibrant aromas and flavors of juicy cherry, blueberry and wild strawberry, all graced by hints of purple flowers and sweet spice. The mouthfeel is soft yet structured, with delicate tannins and a slight lushness that lingers on the finish.
This is a direct, almost raw type of Cabernet. The nose deals spice, herb and dry-fruit aromas. The palate feels lively and alert, with firm acidity driving flavors of berry fruits, oak, herbs and spice. The finish is long, committed and spicy in nature, with a fair amount of oak.
This is a disappointment. The wine is tart, stalky and, at the same time, light. It has an edge of green that suggests underripe fruit. Developing fast.
This is a distinctive and unusual expression of Chardonnay with grassy notes and aromas that recall freshly picked spring flowers. There's white mineral and exotic fruit and a touch of piquant spice on the close.
This is a distinctive Chardonnay, with pea vine and peach, anise and apple mixing it up. It has a lovely, lifted elegance that keeps the flavors intertwined but allows you to experience them separately as well, and it carves a flavor trail through the finish that lingers sensuously. Could be the best CV Chardonnay ever from L'Ecole.
This is a distinctive dessert wine that opens with an inky, dark ruby color and savory aromas of root beer, button mushroom, sun-dried fruit, prune and figs. The wine's sweet finish is dense and sticky.
This is a distinctive offering of Cabernet with aromas of vanilla, sugared plum, herb and baking spice. The sweet fruit flavors have a plush feel along with light, plump tannins.
This is a distinctive Prosecco (from the 2007 vintage) with aromas of chopped white pepper, minerals, mature lemon, stone fruit and honey. The wine showcases a sweet-versus-sour theme and ends with lively acidity. The blend sees 15% Verdiso, Perera and Bianchetta for more density and thickness.
This is a distinctive Prosecco Extra Dry with a fruity, soda-like quality and abundant notes of sweet fruit and fragrant flowers. It has a broad, full feel in the mouth and a slight note of sour almond on the close.
This is a distinctive red wine from Puglia marked by apple skin and floral notes of dried rosebud, black tea and green olive. It has depth and personality—and a touch of volatility—that leaves a fresh impression.
This is a distinctive white with a combination of spice, tropical fruit and a chalky backbone. The wine is elegant and ageable and will appeal to fans of classic French whites like Chablis. Pair with grilled octopus or oysters for added appeal.
This is a distinctive wine from Puglia with deep layers of blackberry jam, ash, slate roof, allspice and ground ginger. It has firm tannins and thick density that could stand up to succulent cuts of beef.
This is a distinctly simple Chardonnay. It's marked by pineapple, pear and peach flavors. Will satisfy America's basic Chardonnay craving.
This is a domaine wine, coming from one of the vineyards owned by Olivier Leflaive and worked biodynamically. It is a very fine wine from probably the most well-known premier cru in the village. With its rich acidity and white fruits, it is generous as well as crisply textured. The toast from the wood aging adds its juicy character to this impressive wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a dominated by new wood, but it still retains fragrant, fresh fruit. A touch of lemon pairs with the toast note, bearing refreshing acidity on the finish.
This is a doughy, dusty wine, the tannins provocative in length and grip. Blackberry, chocolate and graphite swirl around a ripe center, the texture smooth and firm. On the finish is a steady back beat of oak.
This is a dreamy creamy white founded in stony mineral and juicy acidity that shows a mix of baked apple, pineapple and melon. A tease of green olive provides a briny, salty edge to its tense balance. A lingering hint of vanilla oak figures prominently on the lengthy floral finish.
This is a drily astringent Zinfandel with bracing acidity, and it's a little tough right now. But it has enough briary mountain berry fruit, clove and savory pepper flavors to work against barbecued meats and poultry.
This is a dry-style Riesling, though it still lends a ripe, fruity impression. Lemon, lime and grapefruit are shuffled into a winning hand, with ample details of cilantro, fennel and wet stone. It's a vibrant, refreshing wine that is immensely food friendly.
This is a dry and elegant style of Muscat, maintaining the grape's natural fragrance along with its acidity and refreshing green fruit flavor. That puts it in the food-friendly category, a wine to pair with difficult vegetables, such as asparagus or artichoke.
This is a dry and firm wine, with hints of sweet-tasting fruits that peep through its dense structure. It shows great power and concentration, with an obvious long-term future.
This is a dry Gewurz that's delightful to drink now. The lychee, Asian pear and citrus flavors feel elegant and refined. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese fare are all natural companions.
This is a dry Pinot Gris, very mineral in character, with crisp acidity balanced by fragrant pear and quince topped with spice. It's a crisp wine, lighter than usual for this cuvée and fresher at the end.
This is a dry Prosecco, meaning it is slightly sweeter than a brut or extra dry. Traditionally, Prosecco has this level of sugar, making it a very true rendition of what the wine is intended to taste like: Fresh peach, basil, pineapple, yellow apple and even an understated touch of banana come into play.
This is a dry red wine exuding bell pepper and oak that was made in large quantities in partnership with musician Dave Matthews.
This is a dry rosé with crisp acidity and smooth strawberry fruits. It is light and soft with a gentle texture that is lightly perfumed and with some citrus zest. Drink now.
This is a dry sparkling wine with tannins, spice and berry fruit, giving it a deep color. Not an apéritif wine, it's perfect for cutting through rich, oily foods. Drink now.
This is a dry style of rosé. Packed with red currant and berry fruits, this blend of Cabernet Franc and Grolleau has a touch of spice to add extra interest. It is perfumed, crisp and ready to drink young.
This is a dry style of white Port, with an aromatic character that goes through to the palate. The spirit and wine don't taste properly integrated, giving a fiery feel without much fruit. The aftertaste is bitter.
This is a dry style of wine, with great acidity and a tightly wrought texture. As with many Gosset Champagnes, this wine has had no malolactic fermentation, enhancing the freshness and crispness as well as the structure. Full of lemon zest, crisp grapefruit and delicious acidity, it will still age for many years. Drink from 2017.
This is a dry version of a grape that is more frequently utilized in sweet Tokaj wines. Enticing aromas of tropical fruits and pineapple upside down cake give way to flavors of green apple and guava that persist into the creamy finish.
This is a dry wine although the fruit does show potential. It is concentrated and firm, tannins foremost. Drink from 2019.
This is a dry wine from the Saint-Emilion co-op, dominated by tight tannins. It is concentrated and tough for now although there are also plenty of ripe berry fruits to come through. Wait for this wine to soften somewhat and drink from 2019.
This is a dry wine meant for the dinner table. It has blackberry and raspberry aromas, concentrated fruit flavors, firm tannins and a taut finish. It will be best to drink after 2018.
This is a dry wine still full of ripe fruit. It has a rich texture, tasting floral and fragrant. The result is a generous, black-fruited wine for short-term aging.
This is a dry wine that's a bit acidic and watery with thin sour-cherry candy flavors and a hit of oak.
This is a dry wine that wants to become sweet. It has that edge of honey and apricots typical of dry Jurançon along with the freshest, tangy acidity. With its bright fruit, fine texture and hint of toastiness, it will age and will be better from 2017.
This is a dry wine, although still retaining those enticing honey flavors that are typical of Loire Chenin Blanc. Apple and ripe pear flavors are laced with intense acidity. Its delicate white-flower perfumes are ethereal. Drink now.
This is a dry wine, firm with tannins and perhaps missing the fruit element. It has a dry core along with acidity. The future will leave it still on the dry side.
This is a dry wine, firm with tense tannins and structured. It needs time to bring out the ripe fruits that are there. Big and concentrated, this wine inaugurated a new gravity-fed winery. Wait until 2019 to drink.
This is a dry wine, its fruit lost in the tannic structure. It has some fine acidity and could well open up as the young fruit matures. Try again from 2017.
This is a dry wine, more about structure than fruit. The tannins and the firm extraction shows strongly. It is not enjoyable.
This is a dry wine, packed with tannins at this stage. With concentrated fruits and spice in the background, it will become a rich structured wine. This Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon wine was vinified for 12 months in French oak and six months in underground cement vats—aiming for drinkability for at least 10 years. But go ahead and drink the wine starting from 2019.
This is a dry wine, ruled by tannins. It is firm, the juicy fruit underneath needs time. It will have a juicy future, so wait until late 2018.
This is a dry wine, very spicy, with a tight, taut texture and strongly mineral character layered with citrus as well as pepper. It's a food wine with its almost crisp aftertaste.
This is a dry wine, with hints of yeast as well as spice and nutmeg flavors. The fruit is well integrated into this mix of flavors, giving a ripe wine that is ready to drink.
This is a dry wine, yet the flavors of raspberries and cherries are sweet tasting. It has a delicate, silky mouthfeel, and the tart acids add plenty of cut. Pair this with grilled, broiled or pan-fried steak, served with mushrooms.
This is a dry, crisp Cabernet with blackberry, currant, mocha and oak flavors. There's some real complexity here, but it's not an ager. It's soft in body and evolves pleasantly as it breathes in the glass.
This is a dry, crisp, forward, well-aged wine that blends five aromatic white grapes, principally Gruner Veltliner and Pinot Gris. Already showing signs of oxidation, it's a pleasant, though nondescript white wine that should be consumed by 2018.
This is a dry, dark and dense wine. It has concentrated tannins and intense fruit that gives power. Spice tones, a hint of blackberry fruits and a strong need for aging all promise a wine that will develop slowly. Drink from 2019.
This is a dry, earthy Chardonnay, with an herbal taste behind the orange, kiwi and cream flavors. Crisp acidity makes it clean and zesty.
This is a dry, elegant young Pinot Noir. It's rich in acidity, and the cherry and cola flavors are sprinkled with zesty white pepper. Seems to be giving its best now.
This is a dry, fairly full-bodied Riesling that's approachable now, but should hold well through at least 2024. It's fairly dark in hue for a young white wine, with smoky notes of grilled toast, honey and citrus that linger on the lip-smacking finish.
This is a dry, finely acidic Syrah, whose sour cherry and tart persimmon flavors have just a touch of smoky new oak. It's not offering everything it has, but hangs back a little, teasing with nuance and subtlety. A very good Syrah that's drinking well now and should age well over the next 5–7 years.
This is a dry, firm wine with concentrated tannins along with dark chocolate and bitter coffee flavors. It is going to need some time, so wait to drink until 2018.
This is a dry, firmly crisp Chardonnay, with pineapple, apricot, mineral and vanilla flavors. It's somewhat simple and direct, but very clean and zesty. Nice for drinking now.
This is a dry, full-bodied deal of a wine, offering melon, papaya and zesty acidity around plenty of breadth and depth. Textured and luxurious, it finishes in ginger and Asian pear.
This is a dry, light and easy going wine, made entirely from Pinot Noir. The palate is refreshing in its firm grasp of cherry and raspberry flavors.
This is a dry, mineral wine with a tight texture of lemon zest, white stone fruits and crispness. It is dry while keeping fresh fruitiness. The texture and the structure are just coming together as the wine moves towards a more mature future. A light toastiness adds complexity.
This is a dry, minerally and acidic Chardonnay, with just enough of a squeeze of lemon and lime to satisfy. Drink this austere wine with roast chicken, broiled halibut and vegetable tempura.
This is a dry, relatively austere wine. It showcases aromas of wet stone and lemon thyme, followed by flavors of pineapple and lemon and a long, citrusy finish. Drink now.
This is a dry, richly flavored and well-structured wine. A complex, spicy, earthy, cherrylike bouquet accompanies saturated flavors of currant, black cherry and pomegranate spiced with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. It's not too full bodied and has good balance that comes from firm acidity and tannins.
This is a dry, robust Syrah, packed with blackberry, blueberry, anise, bacon and pepper flavors, and wrapped into sturdy tannins. Give it a decant, and drink with game or Mexican beef dishes.
This is a dry, severe Chardonnay that doesn't offer a lot of upfront pleasure. The product of a chilly vintage, it is nonetheless elegant and complex. Tart acidity gives a bright boost to the mango and pineapple flavors. Don't drink it too cold.
This is a dry, slightly understated version of McGregor's standard label Gewürztraminer. It's elegant and fruity, with flavors of fresh lychee and peach that are peppered with a dash of exotic spice. Full bodied, but refreshingly quaffable.
This is a dry, soft and firmly tannic wine, elusive in fruit but quite forward in dusty leather, chocolate and black pepper. Full bodied, it holds on to a density of concentration throughout.
This is a dry, structured wine, with dry tannins and stalky fruit characteristics. However, it will develop into a fruity wine without great depth but with attractive berry flavors and acidity. Drink from 2016.
This is a dry, tannic and extracted young red wine. Made mainly from Merlot, with 15% Malbec, it has blackberry, black currant and dark chocolate flavors. Feels fancy in the mouth, and might pick up some bottle complexity over the next 3–4 years.
This is a dry, tannic and somewhat earthy Merlot. The structure is impeccably elegant, and there's a wealth of herb-infused blackberry and currant fruit flavor that makes it rewarding.
This is a dry, tannic estate wine that's rich and ripe with a leathery aspect of gun smoke and blackberry. It shows more in the way of black fruit and spicy pepper than fruit that's delicate or crisp.
This is a dull, hugely tannic wine. It's hard to penetrate, with its robust use of dry oak and heat. The finish delivers a shot of gunpowder and graphite.
This is a dull, tannic and robustly full bodied wine, brooding in tobacco and tea without much in the way of fruit or acidity.
This is a dusty, earthy Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles-based producer Brochelle. With a firm, tannic backbone, the wine has flavors of tobacco and chocolate and a ripe finish.
This is a dusty, earthy wine that has structure rather than fruit. It is tough in tannins that give a dry character to the wine. There is the potential for juiciness as the wine opens up, so wait before drinking. It will be best after 2017.
This is a dynamic wine, showing Key lime, yellow apples, oak smoke, butter, tangerine pith, macadamia nut and sea salt on the nose. The palate is streamlined with lime pith, lemon rind and seared pineapple flavors.
This is a European-style Syrah, cofermented with 2% Viognier. It's soft and round, medium in body, and has a savory midpalate with flavors of cranberry, plum and pepper. On the finish is a hint of smoky oak. Profits from sales of the wine go to the American River Conservancy Wakamatsu Colony Preservation and Restoration project.
This is a fabulous example of a light, balanced wine from the Santa Lucia Highlands, which is perhaps better known for richness. It shows savory aromas of smoked cherries, nose-tickling sage, juniper-laced sausage and cayenne pepper. The palate is energetic, with a pleasant viscosity that carries its cranberry, cherry, thyme, oregano and sandalwood flavors into the finish.
This is a fabulous late harvest tour de force blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and aromatic Traminer that sees some new oak for extra depth and dimension. The trick here is that fruit comes from a high altitude vineyard so you get bright, crisp acidity beyond those syrupy sweet tones of peach, apricot, marzipan, dried mint and natural rubber. The wine leaves the palate very clean, yet its sweet flavors last a long, long time.
This is a fabulous take on Verdicchio from 30-year-old vines that boasts a golden color and generous tones of sweet honey, passion fruit, perfumed white flower and mature peach. Feminine and silky in texture, it also has a viscous, creamy side that aids in establishing a broader, richer mouthfeel.
This is a fabulous wine from the greatest Champagne vintage so far this century. Still young, it blends almost equal amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fleshed out with Pinot Meunier. The minerality and the rich apple and green fruits are balanced, and acidity cuts into the wine with a pure, perfumed line of freshness. The wine could be drunk now, but it will age well into the the 2020s.
This is a fabulous wine, a notch above the three other vineyard-designated Pinots from Black Kite. Black tea, black cherry and herbal aromas blend with focused cherry, rhubarb and cranberry flavors in this full-bodied, complex wine. It's balanced by moderate tannins, giving it both structure and texture, and will drink best after 2020.
This is a fabulous, copper-hued Pinot Grigio with a creamy, thick consistency and gorgeous aromas of honeysuckle, almond and stone fruit. It's slightly sweet and chewy in the mouth with mouthwatering acidity on the close.
This is a fairly big, creamy-textured Chardonnay to consume over the next couple of years. Grilled sweet corn features, but it's backed by ample citrus and peach fruit, and the finish remains crisp and refreshing.
This is a fairly big, muscular Pinot Noir, with beefy black-cherry fruit and oaky overtones of brown sugar. Give it a year or more to smooth out, because the long, intense finish filled with berry fruit shows tremendous promise. Drink 2013–2020.
This is a fairly big, weighty Chardonnay, but one whose alcohol levels are balanced by crisp acids. Aromas of smoke and toasted grains lead the way, followed by hints of whole wheat toast and lemon curd. The long, mouth-watering finish brings the citrus elements back to the fore. Drink now–2018.
This is a fairly dense and rich wine given the price. The nose deals raisin, plum and cherry aromas in front of a loaded, chewy palate with earthy, slightly flat berry and rubbery flavors that are accompanied by low-level acidity. Don't wait long to drink this generous value wine.
This is a fairly full-bodied Mosel auslese, with plenty of both alcohol (9.5%) and remaining sweetness. A hint of dried apricot marks the nose, while apple, honey and clover blossom also come into play. Finishes long, with mouthcoating intensity of spice and citrus. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
This is a fairly lean and acidic wine, with dry cranberry and herb aromas. The palate is drying and wiry, with a peppery, herbal red-fruit flavor, plus a bit of rubber on the finish.
This is a fairly light, bright Pinot Noir with the marks of a ripe year and time spent in oak. It is crafted under the guidelines of a certified sustainable grape growing program. Medium-bodied and juicy, it's fairly priced and ready to enjoy now.
This is a fairly muscular rendering of Central Otago Pinot Noir. Plum, herb, espresso and charred oak notes mark the nose and palate, while the finish shows some gritty tannins. Drink 2018–2025.
This is a fairly muscular, chunky Pinot Noir. Black cherries and plums power it, accented by slightly piny, herbal notes. It's neither silky nor particularly long on the finish, but is a satisfying, sturdy red to drink over the next few years.
This is a fairly neutral yet clean Albariño. The nose offers mild peach and citrus aromas, while the palate is very citrusy, but not overbearing. Flavors of orange and nectarine finish zesty, with a hint of minerality.
This is a fairly ordinary Merlot. It's dry and pleasantly oaked, with some modest cherry and spice flavors. Yet it's a bit off in texture, with jagged tannins.
This is a fairly sweet interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc, offering flavors of pineapple and pear juice, apricot jam and vanilla. With no oak, it's balanced with crisp acidity, the result of the malolactic fermentation wisely being prevented.
This is a familiar and tasty take on the grape, with aromas of caramel, buttercream, vanilla smoke, brown spices and squeezed lemons. There's sea salt and lemon-lime on the palate, which is straightforward but quite clean and crisp.
This is a family-owned estate whose wines is made by Georges Duboeuf. It is structured and firmly concentrated, more tannin than fruit. That gives the wine a lean character that seems to miss out on fleshy and fruit. Give it a little time and drink from late 2017.
This is a fancy Chardonnay. It impresses for the ripe tropical fruit and citrus flavors that are generously oaked, and for the crisp coastal acidity that provides balance. The overall impression is of pineapple-infused crème brûlée. Drink now.
This is a fancy Pinot Noir for drinking now with upscale fare such as lamb or steak. Vibrant in acidity, its light to medium body frames delicate, complex flavors of cherries, heirloom red tomatoes, persimmons and savory spices.
This is a fancy restaurant-style Pinot Noir. That means it's dry, silky and rich, and has that elusive, undefinable quality of elegance that can accompany the finest Pinot-friendly foods, such as steak, lamb, grilled tuna or a wild mushroom risotto. It's tantalizingly crisp, with complex cherry, cola and spice flavors. Drink now and through 2016.
This is a fancy Syrah, the result of a small crop in this cool vintage. The flavors are concentrated in blackberries, black currants and purple plums, with cured meat and black pepper complexities. Oak adds a lush layer of smoke, vanilla and wood tannins. Complex and delicious now and through 2013.
This is a fantastic and confident Sauvignon with penetrating notes of chopped herbs, white peppercorn and mint backed by luscious exotic fruit. The wine is unreserved and direct and imparts a creamy, smooth feel in the mouth with a zesty, spicy finish.
This is a fantastic Barbera d'Asti Superiore with a plush, soft, velvety feel and loads of intensity that peels back into layers of fresh blackberry, cherry, spice, chocolate, leather and exotic spice. This wine carries the banner high for all the Barbera producers now experimenting with a more modern style.
This is a fantastic Ripasso with deep layers of Nutella, chocolate fudge, roasted espresso bean and sweet blackberry pie. It delivers a lush, rich texture and a soft, velvety mouthfeel and impressive intensity on the long finish.
This is a fantastic Sauvignon Blanc that invites glass after glass. On the one side you have the vibrant fragrances of this aromatic variety, and on the other, you have the wine's delicious creamy texture. It's gorgeous on all levels and would pair with seafood risotto con cream di scampi (shrimp cream sauce).
This is a fascinating expression of Pinot Grigio from Rive Alte that opens new windows onto the popular wine. The bouquet is sophisticated and bright with peach, crushed white pepper, exotic fruit and white rose. In the mouth, the wine feels creamy and rich.
This is a fascinating wine in that it delivers all of the components of a cool-climate Syrah from what is considered a warm-weather region. Black pepper, tar, charred game, cola and lavender show on the nose, while the  palate offers roasted lamb, more pepper and crushed asphalt. It's relatively light in body as well.
This is a fascinating wine that represents the first bottling of a newly discovered grape called Sirica (only 690 bottles have been produced). Genetic research shows that the grape shares characteristic with Syrah but that its lineage extends deep into ancient times. The wine is simply delicious with soft layers of chocolate, cherry and spice and balanced firmness on the close. A great item for collectors.
This is a fascinating wine, just by reading the list of grapes in the blend: Duras, Braucol, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The first two, local grapes, lend a rough edge of tannins, which demands aging, but also give flavors of herbs, wild thyme and solid meaty character. The roundness comes from the ripe Syrah, which adds perfume.
This is a fashionably pale rosé, as light and bright in color as it is on the palate. Fruity, attractive and ready to drink, it has zesty orange peel and crisp wild strawberry flavors.
This is a fat style of rosé, bringing out ripe strawberries and diminishing the acidity. That makes it attractive as an apéritif style. It is fruity and soft with a smooth aftertaste.
This is a fat wine with light, juicy acidity. Honey and spice notes add interest to its broad melon and apple flavors.
This is a fat wine with ripe fruits and a strawberry flavors. The palate is dry, with a soft texture. Drink now.
This is a fat, rich wine, with fruits that are sweet and ripe. With its weight and caramel flavor, it's a full-bodied effort suitable for food.
This is a fat, soft and smooth wine. It has juicy red fruit and acidity, with light tannins that lend support. It's ready to drink.
This is a faultless Albariño that checks out up front, on the palate and late in the game. Tropical aromas are melony, fresh and minerally. The mouth is peachy and smooth in texture, with kicking acidity. Pithy citrus and nectarine flavors are textbook, and the citrusy finish is long and true.
This is a featherlight red, full of berries and bright acidity, but with a texture that just coats the palate. This is one of those rare reds that works as an apéritif, fresh, clean and fruity. Screwcap.
This is a feel-good Barbaresco that invites good meals and good company. There is a festive element to the vibrant quality of the fruit and the wine's tonic, but firm mouthfeel. You'll get aromas of licorice, black currant, maple syrup and rose hip.
This is a feminine wine, soft, generous and fruity. The raspberry and cherry flavors are jammy. There's some heat on the finish from high alcohol. Drink now.
This is a festive wine, with soft, ripe fruit and acidity, plus a red berry flavor.
This is a field blend from a great vineyard site in the heart of Sonoma Valley, aged in neutral oak and 40% whole cluster, unfined and unfiltered. Zinfandel, Mourvèdre, Mondeuse, Alicante Bouschet and other grapes make up the mix, providing an extracted, whole-cluster richness of flavor and body without reaching too far. Crisp black cherry, subtle white pepper and smoky tannin star.
This is a field blend from old white vines. It has a tight, tangy texture to go with its rich fruits. The concentration and intense minerality are part and parcel of the old vines and the schist soil. It has a cool feeling, crisp and tight at the end. Drink from 2018.
This is a field blend from the steep Quinta da Foz vineyard at the mouth of the Pinhão River. Aged from two years in new wood, this impressive, structured wine is just setting out on its aging process. Big tannins and big fruit are all there, packed into dense tannins and a mineral texture. It will age well, don't drink before 2019.
This is a field blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 6% Malbec. Some overt stemmy notes are present, lending a bitterness to the finish that may not be for all palates. But the wine carries a thread of sweet berry as well, suggesting that not all of the grapes were equally ripe. An interesting wine, and it should improve with further bottle age.
This is a field blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec, all co-fermented and estate-grown. It's nicely evolved, ripe and fruity—a flavor cavalcade of pastry fruits and spices, fig, twig, cacao and coffee. Yes you may cellar this wine, but why wait? It's drinking beautifully.
This is a fine blend of Malvasia and Bical giving fresh acidity that's rounded and filled out with spice, perfume and a creamy texture. It's already an attractive wine—bright and fruity. Drink now.
This is a fine bottle of Merlot, released under Woodward Canyon's second label, Nelms Road. Firm blackberry and cassis fruit flavors anchor a substantial wine that has accents of smoke, licorice, tar and toast. Delicious!
This is a fine Brunello Riserva with a thick and pulpy feel that is accented by aromas of cherry, wild berries, currants, exotic spice and pipe tobacco. The wine is smooth and rich with enduring fruit notes and silky tannins. There is a pleasantly sweet note of cherry and vanilla on the long finish. Drink after 2012.
This is a fine budget bottle, with an aromatic mix of tart berry and pine needle. A streak of chocolate surrounds a supple, smooth wine that carries its tangy fruit through a satisfying finish, with just a suggestion of tanned leather.
This is a fine Cabernet to drink with burgers, Mexican food, beef stew or skirt steak. Soft and sweet, it has flavors of blackberries and cherries, plus a just-right jacket of smoky oak and a smooth, spicy finish.
This is a fine Cabernet, with ripe berry, cherry and cola flavors, tinged with smoky oak. The tannins are firm but pliant, making it drinkable now, though it could develop bottle complexity over the years.
This is a fine Chardonnay marked by rich, ripe pear, peach and tropical fruit flavors, but also a bright acidity that highlights all the fruit. Notes of buttered toast add richness. It's delicious on its own, but would also be an ideal accompaniment for tapas.
This is a fine Chardonnay that's brisk with acidity and dry, yet rich with flavors of tropical fruits, green apples, hazelnuts and toasty oak. There's also a minerality that extends the finish beautifully. You might want to give it a year or two in the cellar. The grapes are from Marimar Torres's esteemed Don Miguel Vineyard.
This is a fine combination of ripe berry fruits and powerful tannins. It is dark and structured, with powerful concentration and fine acidity. The wine is just about ready to drink, still firm with a rich fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a fine creamy wine, rich in white fruits with just a hint of citrus. The aging has given it concentration and depth, spice and a strong mineral character. Drink now.
This is a fine effort from first-year fruit that was cropped way down for extra concentration. It's a vibrant wine with a bright raspberry flavor that has a pretty, lightly candied quality.
This is a fine entry-level rosé from this Provence classed-growth estate. It has fresh red fruits and a light texture that is rounded out with some concentration and almond flavors. Drink now.
This is a fine example of a sun-drenched Chardonnay from central Italy that boasts a saturated, golden color and savory exotic fruit, vanilla, butter and natural rubber. It's viscous with streaks of glycerin that slowly make their way down the side of the glass and offers a creamy, sweet, sensation in the mouth.
This is a fine example of what Barossa Shiraz is capable of at a realistic price. It's full bodied and richly textured, plush without being too soft. French oak brings a smoky, bacony element to the ripe blueberry fruit, plus a dusting of baking spices that lingers on the finish. Drink now–2025.
This is a fine expression of old-vine fruit, with raspberry and cherry along with juicy highlights of pineapple and grapefruit. Tannins are a bit stiff right out of the bottle, so an hour or two of aeration is in order, or tuck it away until 2020–2022.
This is a fine fruity wine with young tannins that will soon integrate. Ripe with berry flavors and with attractive acidity, it will develop quickly and should be ready by 2018.
This is a fine gran reserva from a great vintage. Aromas of vanilla, cedar, earth and spiced black fruits lead to a fresh pure palate with tomato-like snap. Cherry, cassis, tobacco and chocolate flavors finish smooth and clean, with just enough tannic grip. Drink through 2022.
This is a fine Merlot, that's dry, supple and highly drinkable. It has some complex flavors of cherries, currants and smoky oak, and the alcohol is refreshingly moderate. Ready to drink now.
This is a fine Petite Sirah at this price, good for everyday fare like pizza or barbecue. It's dark in color, dry, tannic and stuffed with juicy blackberry and currant fruit.
This is a fine Pinot for drinking now. It's dry and brisk with coastal acidity, firm tannins and elaborate raspberry, cherry and persimmon flavors, touched by sweet, smoky oak.
This is a fine Pinot Noir, but it does show that not everything bearing a Bien Nacido origin is great. The wine is good for drinking now, with a proper acid-tannin structure and rich but simple cherry, raspberry, cola and sandalwood flavors.
This is a fine Pinot Noir. It's dry and silky, with robust cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb and mushroom flavors wrapped into firm tannins. It shows all the hallmarks of a fine coastal Pinot. Drink over the next few years.
This is a fine representation of the high-quality, fruit-laden 2012 vintage. Forward and ripe, it's packed with cherry fruit that shows a bit of candy at its center, then rolls into a lingering finish with hints of spice and caramel.
This is a fine rich balanced wine. It has ripe fruits that suggest black currants, blackberries and a tight, stalky, mineral element. At the same time, it's generous, full of juicy acidity to contrast with the dusty tannin layer that keeps it all together. Drink now.
This is a fine ripe wine. Ripe tannins and attractive red-berry fruits are right up front. A firm dry core suggests it will age although this wine is up for drinking now with its fine balance between acidity, structure and fruit.
This is a fine Syrah from a producer with a long history of success with the Rhône variety. It's inky and dark in color with a palate that's tannic and dry, with long, deep, spicy flavors of blackberries, grilled meat, black pepper and toasty oak. It will provide good drinking with grilled meats and stews over the next two years.
This is a fine value and actually a pretty nice Merlot. Dry and soft, it has very attractive flavors of cherries, cocoa, pepper and mint, and finishes with a nice, sweet touch of smoky vanilla.
This is a fine value in weeknight Cabernet, showing supple tannins, regionally distinct aromas and flavors of currants, sage and bay leaf, and subtle oak. Drink this fruit-driven, silky wine through 2020.
This is a fine wine from a great vintage. Still young, it is already showing great swathes of apple and tight citrus fruit cut with lemon zest. It has a crisp character, packed with acidity that will soften while always there. Drink this wine from 2018.
This is a fine wine that performs at the level of a premier cru. It has brambly fruitiness and intense perfume. The structure is already finely integrated, allowing the strawberry fruit and acidity to shine through. Drink from 2019.
This is a fine wine with its balanced red-cherry and berry flavors and finely textured tannins. The wine is light, poised and very stylish with its fruit and acidity just right. The wine will age another few months, so drink from 2018.
This is a fine wine with its old-gold character marked by the wood aging and just hints of fresh fruit. Caramel, spice and dried fruits dominate along with milk chocolate. The wine is smooth, balanced and ready to drink.
This is a fine wine, dominated by Alicante Bouschet and packed with black fruits and juicy acidity. It is rich, full while still keeping a great sense of balance and style. The wine can be drunk now, although it will be better from 2017.
This is a fine wine, reflective of the vintage's generosity and approachable nature, giving off flavors of vanilla, cherry and currant alongside a sanguine, gamey character and smoky full-bodied ripeness.
This is a fine wine, with great structure and ripe fruit. Dark tannins, a tense mineral texture and blackberry tones are all there, giving a wine that's rich and full bodied. Drink from 2017.
This is a fine wine, with wood and fruit both rich and concentrated. It has spice, juicy black fruits and ripe tannins. It is developing slowly and surely and will be ready to drink from 2019.
This is a fine wood-aged blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is darkly colored, dense and with great ripe tannins. One of several Bordeaux properties owned by the Thiénot family, this estate occupies a fine, gravel outcrop in the Pessac-Léognan region, just south of Bordeaux. Drink from 2024.
This is a fine yet ripe wine. It has an intense botrytis character that balances dryness with considerable sweetness. The wine, rich in honey and marmalade flavors, is opulent, decadent and ready to drink.
This is a fine, ageable Pinot Noir that's dry and crisp with acidity. It exhibits a mushroomy earthiness that frames strawberry, cranberry and cola flavors. The window of drinkability begins in 2015.
This is a fine, all-purpose red blend, mostly Cabernet, with time in one-third new French and American oak. Heavily charred, smoky and earthy, it's got a fair amount of dark cassis fruit to carry all the barrel toast and finishes with some notes of bark and stem.
This is a fine, beautifully controlled wine. Its dark black currant fruits and firm dense texture are restrained, stylish and delicious. At the same time, the fruits offer a smooth, juicy aftertaste. Keep for 6–7 years.
This is a fine, dry, crisp sipper with rewarding flavors of citrus fruits, figs, wildflowers, honey, thyme and pepper. With its crisp acidity and oak-tinged creamy texture, its spectrum falls between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
This is a fine, easy-to-drink Chardonnay. Subtle toast and cinnamon shadings accent melon and citrus fruit, and the wine is full bodied yet remains crisp through the slightly oaky finish.
This is a fine, elegant and linear Brunello di Montalcino with pristine and somewhat sharp aromas of spice, cedar, balsam and cherry cola. The wine is immediate and direct and imparts both polished tannins and enough natural crispness to keep the palate refreshed even when paired with red meat.
This is a fine, impressive Cabernet that shows the soft tannins and slight herbaceousness of Alexander Valley, yet is rich in cherry jam, cassis liqueur, chocolate and sweet oak flavors. Feels plush and fancy in the mouth. Drink soon.
This is a fine, juicy and fruity wine. It has some firm, smoky tannins that are in the background. With its fruitiness, it is likely to be a wine that is ready to drink soon, certainly by 2017.
This is a fine, ripe wine with a good balance between crisp, mineral acidity and tangy lemon fruit. It has a peppery edge that gives a bite to the young fruit. It is ready to drink although it will be better from 2017.
This is a fine, simple wine for this summer. With acidity, fresh apple and pear flavors, it's attractive and aromatic.
This is a fine, supple Pinot Noir for drinking now. It shows authentic Russian River fanciness in the smooth tannins, good acidity and complex cherry, cola, pomegranate and persimmon flavors, touched with sweet smoky oak.
This is a finely balanced wine, combining an herbaceous flavor with apricot and sweet pear. The whole is a delicious wine that brings together notes of toast and fresh fruit, with a firm, dry structure. For long-term aging.
This is a finely balanced wine, showing its crisp acidity and its fruitiness along with a richer character that lends weight. This is both immediately attractive and worth aging for a few months.
This is a finely balanced wine. It is dry with its red fruit right to the fore. The acidity and the tangy texture both promise some further aging. This is a great food-style rosé that will be good to drink from late 2017.
This is a finely balanced, if still very structured wine. It has powerful tannins, but also rich, black, juicy fruits that are coming into integration. Solid and concentrated, the wine has great potential and needs to age for at least four years.
This is a finely balanced, rich wine. Bringing together Antão Vaz, Arinto and Roupeiro, the wine is packed with white fruits and a citrus twist. It has a crisp edge and bright acidity although with an underlying richness that makes the wine ideal for spicy foods. Drink now.
This is a finely balanced, ripe and fruity wine. The texture is smooth, with ripe green and white fruits that are laced with intense acidity. The wine is bone dry but peppery spice gives it a richer feel. It's worth aging this wine at least 1–2 years. Screwcap.
This is a finely balanced, ripe wine. It is medium sweet and ripe with fruit, but counterpointed with taut structure and acidity. It's ready to drink, but will be better with some aging. Drink until 2020.
This is a finely etched wine with just the right balance between its ripe fruits and tannins. Structured while also juicy, it has a mint and black-currant freshness as well as a dry core that will allow the wine to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a finely integrated, rich wine that shows impeccable balance between dusty tannins and juicy dark berry tones. The wood aging shows through in a smooth texture that gives a sense of richness to the ripe fruit. This is an elegant wine that can be drunk now although it will benefit from some aging. Drink from 2017.
This is a finely made mix of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, light golden in color and dripping in marzipan, hazelnuts and baked bread. Complex and layered, it's got a depth of soul around zesty acidity, staying fleshy and full on the tongue.
This is a finely made wine, bringing out really concentrated herbaceous flavors, almost New Zealand in their intensity. It is fresh, green, grassy, ready to drink now.
This is a finely made wine, fresh and crisp. It is dry but with a soft texture that turns it into a wine that's both good with food and as an apéritif. The aftertaste is crisp and still fruity.
This is a finely made, easy to drink wine. It is soft, round, with spice and light tannins, a wine that would travel to parties, barbecues and pasta bakes. The acidity from the blackberry flavor keeps it fresh and fruity.
This is a finely perfumed wine that has plenty of juicy black currant flavors. Fresh initially, it then develops ripe tannins and a character that emphasizes fruit and a dense aftertaste. It is ready to drink, although because it is unfiltered it will also age well and can be drunk until 2020.
This is a finely perfumed wine with its dark tannins and juicy black-currant fruit. It has structure and a dense texture although this is filled with the bright acidity that gives the wine a lift. This will age well, so drink from 2021.
This is a finely perfumed wine, full of ripe Castelão grapes. It has a smooth, polished feeling from the wood aging, yet still allows plenty of room for a dense black-fruit character. It will need to age and will be best after 2016.
This is a finely perfumed wine, rich in both structure and ripe fruits. It is smoothly textured, a full-bodied wine that has dark cherry flavors as well as a balanced layer of acidity. The wine is still young, juicy and will develop further, so drink from 2017.
This is a finely perfumed wine, well balanced while rich. It has a great mineral texture to go with its delicate white fruit and orchard blossom aromas. With its fruitiness and its subtle structure, the wine could age over at least five years. Screwcap.
This is a finely perfumed wine. It has a strong sense of structure with its tight tannins. It also has lively crisp red fruits that give both acidity and richness to a wine that will develop well. Drink from 2025.
This is a finely perfumed, elegant wine. It has a dark structure with a touch of wood, remarkable fruit concentration and dusty tannins that hang suspended within blackberry flavor. It's a wine with great potential—drink from 2016.
This is a finely structured wine that will age well. With black-plum fruits, layers of dark young tannins and balanced acidity, it is both juicy and full of great ripe swathes of fruit. From the cru estate that is owned by Louis Jadot in Beaune, it is impressive and worth aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a finely structured wine with dark tannins and intense black fruits. The estate, with its biodynamically grown fruit, has given an impressively pure wine, packed with tight serious tannins and a fine structure of black-plum skins and intense acidity. It is direct, firm and with a huge potential over many years. Drink from 2027.
This is a finely structured wine with the right amount of fruit. With black-currant flavors and plenty of the acidity that is typical of the year, the wine is perfumed, refreshing and likely to develop quickly. Drink starting from 2017.
This is a finely structured wine, rich with a blend that includes Touriga Nacional and Aragonez. Layers of tannins sustain the ripe black fruits and generous texture. The aftertaste shows the wine's fine acidity as well as its touches of wood aging. Drink now.
This is a finely structured, ripe blend of Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. With tannins melded into red berry flavors, it strikes an elegant balance between fruit and firmness. Although drinkable, it's still young and will be better from 2018.
This is a finely textured wine, shining with the granite soil of the vineyard. Its acidity and crisp apple flavors are still young, still tight. Give this delicious wine until late 2017 to drink.
This is a finely tuned wine. On the one hand, it is crisp and fruity. On the other, it has fine concentration, with a zingy mineral texture. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a finesse wine, with light flavors of pomegranate and cranberry. There's a suggestion of burnt toast—just a hint—around the tannins, which remain a bit stiff and chewy. Give this another year or two and it should open up further.
This is a firm and serious wine, with dark tannins behind the rich black fruit tones. The solid structure is likely to smooth out with time to give a ripe and juicy wine. Drink from 2015.
This is a firm and stony wine, with dry tannins that give structure to the intense acidity and the red cherry flavor. It's dense and concentrated, with a solid feel that demands several years of aging.
This is a firm and structured wine that is not yet ready to drink. With surprising tannins and a tight texture, it needs time for the fruit to come through. Drink starting from 2017.
This is a firm and tough wine initially, but it slowly opens and develops a rich character through its wood-aged and licorice flavors and fragrant acidity. It's dense and rich, as one expects of the vintage, and it certainly will age over many years.
This is a firm blend that brings out more the black currant flavor and tannic structure of the Cabernet, more so than the spice of Blaufränkisch. The wine has an austere edge, with a mineral character and a taut aftertaste. Screwcap.
This is a firm style of wine, showing the mineral character of Pernand-Verglesses reds. The wine has a nervy, almost herbal profile, showing red currants and considerable acidity.
This is a firm wine although with superb fruit. It is structured and dense, dark with tarry tannins as well as juicy fruitiness. It is a powerful wine that certainly has the freshness of the year while also having dark, dense tannins. Drink from 2025.
This is a firm wine that is structured with dense tannins. At the same time, its ripe black fruits and acidity promise a generous rich future. From a walled vineyard, once belonging to the local bishop, the wine is set for some long-term aging. Drink from 2023.
This is a firm wine that will take time to show its best. When it does, it should reveals a solid texture, juicy fruitiness and attractive acidity. Wait until 2015.
This is a firm wine with great fruit density, with a round, generous and velvety texture. It has a touch of wood that needs to integrate with the flavor of red plum skin. The dark tannins create a wine that will age for several years.
This is a firm wine with ripe Merlot fruits that are still sheathed in tannins. Densely textured, it is rich with berries and a stalky character that needs to soften. Wait for this solid, concentrated and ageworthy wine until 2017.
This is a firm wine with solid tannins as well as layers of juicy black currant and cherry fruits. Acidity and a good sense of structure are still developing, meaning the wine needs to age longer. Drink from 2018.
This is a firm wine, balancing some solid tannins with ripe red fruits. Still young, it is packed with fruitiness and with acidity that are centered around a firm core. Drink this stylish wine from 2018.
This is a firm wine, but it has ripe red fruit. It shows an attractive touch of smoke, and there is fine balance between the firm tannins and fragrant fruit. Drink now.
This is a firm wine, dominated by tannins and dark layers of wood. The black-currant fruit is there to burst out as the wine matures over the next few years. The estate is close to the river, on a dense gravel rise, near Château Margaux.
This is a firm wine, dry and with tight tannins. The fruit weight is still developing and the wine needs time to fully realize its potential. Given time, the fruit will become rich and full. Denis Noël and his kids run the estate, which has been in the family since 1800. Drink from 2019.
This is a firm wine, full of tannins as well as plenty of ripe berries. It is concentrated, juicy and perfumed, an attractive wine already. The dry core gives structure to this panoply of fruitiness. The name comes from French king Louis XI who acquired the vineyard in the 15th century.
This is a firm wine, tightly-wound, with whiffs of mineral and cement. Plum and cherry flavors mingle with notes of dried herb, earth and brown spice. The wine rolls along into a lengthy finish, with excellent body and balance.
This is a firm wine, with up-front flavors of plum and berry, enhanced with finishing licks of vanilla and white chocolate. A bit of Cabernet Sauvignon (8%) adds punch.
This is a firm wine—one with generous tannins and fruit. It has spice and touches of pepper as well as fine acidity and bold red fruits. The combination has produced a wine that will be ripe and ready to drink from 2019. The property has a history dating back to the 14th century.
This is a firm yet ripe wine that boasts ripe black-plum flavors layered with dense and dusty tannins. The wine is concentrated, with wood aging filling out the structure. It is big and bold, finishing with great ripe fruit.
This is a firm, almost fleshy style, with solid peach fruit and highlights of grapefruit pith and rind. It emphasizes fruit over flower, and finishes quite dry.
This is a firm, still very young wine from a Beaujolais cru that needs to age. So its tannins are still to the fore, although black fruits are in the background ready to push forward over the next year. The juicy acidity at the end is already attractive. Drink from 2018.
This is a firm, tart and tangy white wine with gooseberry, white peach and some green papaya all reflecting a rather cool, high-acid vintage. Refreshing and crisply structured, it's quite suitable for mellow cheeses and seafoods.
This is a firmly structured and full-bodied wine with great grip in the texture and lots of oak flavor and tannin. The rich fruit flavors are dominated by the grip now, but that should change with time. It's best to drink after 2018.
This is a firmly structured blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch that frames a core of attractive ripe fruits and red berry flavors. There is a fine smoky element here making this a wine that can be enjoyed now, but also age well. Drink until 2019.
This is a firmly structured wine that's powerful and rich. A dark, brooding quality powers the complex balance between fruit and tannins. It has the potential to be a beautiful, ripe, impressive wine with a strong sense of minerality. Drink from 2018.
This is a firmly structured wine that balances tautness and minerality with ripe berry and plum flavors. There is remarkable power and potential in this solid wine.
This is a firmly structured wine with a distinct tannic character to go with austere, mineral fruits. The wine is on the sour side, making it hard to love, although some juiciness does show through at the end.
This is a firmly structured wine, but its black cherry flavor is marred by banana sweetness. Otherwise the wine is solid and tannic, with light acidity on the finish. Age for a year.
This is a firmly structured wine, solid with fine tannins. Behind the tight facade, there is plenty of fruit as well as the acidity typical of the vintage. It will develop into a deliciously juicy wine. Drink from 2024.
This is a firmly structured wine, solidly tannic and still developing. Big black-fruit flavors have set their mark on the texture while the dry core brings out the schist soil of the Douro vineyards, giving a tough sensation that needs to soften. Drink from 2016.
This is a firmly structured, dark wine. It has black cherry and berry fruit, a solid core of tannins and tight acidity. With its dense character, there is every chance of this impressive wine aging well, yielding a more rounded wine. Drink from 2016.
This is a firmly tannic wine although with ripe potential. It has a dense character that is good, allowing the fruit to develop. For now, it is dry so give that fruit plenty of time. Drink from 2019.
This is a firmly tannic, full-bodied wine whose dark berry and stone fruit flavors are sprinkled with lots of black pepper. A blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Petite Sirah, it's completely dry, with complex blackberry, black currant and leather flavors, and a hint of superripe raisins. Drink now.
This is a firmly textured wine, with tannins pushing through the black currant fruit. It is beginning to show a balanced structure and a smooth, smoky character that's leavened by acidity and juicy fruit.
This is a first-rate Oregon Pinot Gris made with fruit sourced from the Methven Vineyard. Crisp and steely, it's a mix of cucumber and honeydew melon fruit, with bracing acidity and excellent length.
This is a first bottling of a new block in Laetitia's fine, large estate vineyard. It's a good wine, but not necessarily deserving of its own designation. Marked by crunchy acidity and tannins, it shows underlying flavors of cherries, cola and oak. Might age well, might not.
This is a first class, slightly oaked Pinot Bianco that achieves wonderful balance between fruity and buttery notes. It's opulent, compelling, creamy and rich with persistent nutty flavors on its long finish.
This is a first for Forgeron, pure Sangiovese, sourced entirely from the Boushey vineyard. A soft, plummy entry spreads lushly across the palate, with flavors of ripe raspberries and strawberries. The acids have a sharp edge and a slight perception of chalk, while the finish turns further in that direction, with a hint of milk chocolate.
This is a first for Tulpen, a single vineyard, pure varietal Tempranillo. There is a forceful aroma of Jamaican herb, along with brambly berry fruit. The wine shows good weight, proportion and balance. Young fruit from young vines.
This is a first rate wine with a deep, luminous ruby color and fine aromas of cherry, licorice, granite slate and pencil lead. The 85-15 Sangiovese-Syrah blend exhibits fabulous intensity, good complexity and loads of firm structure and persistent in the mouth: This is as good as Morellino gets.
This is a first release from the winery's estate vineyard, high atop the Mayacamas Mountains overlooking Alexander Valley. It's intense and concentrated in pineapple crème brûlée, peach purée, green apple, honeysuckle and smoky sandalwood flavors, undergirded with a firm minerality. Delicious and compelling, and should develop over the next six years.
This is a five-grape blend, with leafy flavors of garden-fresh herbs as well as ripe strawberries and vanilla cream. It's a smooth and immediately pleasing wine, with a velvety finish.
This is a five-grape Bordeaux-style blend that's firm, substantial and tannic. It spent 30 months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling, and is only ever released five years after it's bottled. Focused and expressive, this deftly blends blueberry, black cherry and cassis fruit with barrel flavors of coffee, toffee and caramel. Hints of woodsy, dried herb notes add further intrigue.
This is a flagship wine for DFJ owner and winemaker José Neiva Correia. It is generous while preserving great style and elegance. The black berry fruits and layers of tannins are well balanced with the acidity and the light wood aging. A wine to savor, it will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a flamboyant wine made in the oaky style. It's opulent in pineapple, golden mango and pear flavors, with a coating of sweet oak. The richness is brightened by tart acidity. Drink this flashy wine now, with the richest fare you can.
This is a flashy Chardonnay that's meant to impress. Big, oaky and ripe, this bears opulent waves of mangoes, papayas and apricots, with notes of buttered toast and sweet caramel. Not particularly subtle, but a crowd pleaser.
This is a flavorful full-bodied wine from a cool growing region that keeps a tangy balance to support the generous apple, white peach and mineral flavors. It offers more depth and concentration than most versions and will be enjoyable to drink before or during a meal.
This is a flavorful, easy-drinking wine with plenty of fruit aromas, a soft texture, ripeness on the palate, and medium body. It has the pastry shop suite of flavors, like vanilla, cream and even coconut, and seems a bit sweet on the finish.
This is a flavorful, slightly heavy-feeling Chardonnay that offers ripe flavors of apricots, tropical fruits and pineapple cream. Although it's dry, it has a honeyed accent, especially on the spicy finish.
This is a flavorful, smooth-textured wine drenched with grapy, jammy flavors. Ripe and concentrated, it has a lively mouthfeel due to welcome tannins and acidity. It offers a lot to like.
This is a fleshy Cabernet, with meaty, olive notes to the blackberries and black currants. It's nicely dry and tannic, the kind of Cab that needs a rich steak to tame the astringency. Should develop over the next 5–6 years, at least.
This is a fleshy, voluptuous white, offering smooth, creamy texture around well-defined characteristics of melon, honeysuckle and peach.
This is a floral blend of 48% Roussanne, 35% Marsanne and 17% Viognier. The Roussanne speaks loudest, while the whole offers a mix of dried and fresh apricot and creamy vanilla wafer that's light bodied and fresh with acidity.
This is a floral effort perfumed with apple blossom. The palate is rich and creamy, with intense acidity balanced by peach and pear flavors. It has a smooth finish. Screwcap.
This is a floral Prosecco Brut (made with 10% Chardonnay) with drying mineral tones and accents of dried herbs and basil. The sparkler has a foamy, frothy appearance and a generous personality. Pair it with appetizers or finger foods.
This is a floral wine that combines structure, firm acidity and intensely ripe fruit. Flavors of green fruit, citrus, toast and some smoke give complexity to this concentrated, full-bodied effort.
This is a floral wine with a tight nervy texture and intense acidity. Citrus fruit and crispness drive this forward. While it has plenty of fruit, it is this mineral texture that dominates this dry wine. Drink now.
This is a floral, aromatic and dry rosé, full of red currant fruit and refreshing acidity. It's a great apéritif wine.
This is a floral, mineral wine, both tight and exuberant in its perfumed character. Green apple and spices combine with the textured character of this balanced wine—lively, fruity and with fine acidity. It comes in a bottle that was common in the Victorian era, slightly narrower at the base.
This is a floral, mineral, textured wine, crisp while also full and rounded. Citrus and crisp apple notes are dominant, the wine fragrantly fruity and ripe. A great food wine, with brilliant acidity at the end. Screwcap.
This is a floral, perfumed and smooth wine. Its blend—a classic for Gascony—gives a ripe character as well as herbal and citrus flavors. It's ready to drink.
This is a floral, zesty and vibrant white wine, given six months in French oak, half of it new. With a complex hit of briny salt and citrus, it flirts between layers of savory and sweet, finding just the right balance of structure and acidity.
This is a fluid, fruit-laden, well-balanced blend. Spicy and herbal purple fruits are highlighted with cayenne pepper, chocolate and a pleasing hint of violets.
This is a focused, cool-climate wine, with cherry, raspberry and spice aromas. It's edgy and fresh on the palate, with racy strawberry and cherry flavors that are accented by chocolate and spice notes. The finish is both tangy and zesty as well as spicy and chocolaty. Only 280 cases made.
This is a focused, riveting expression of Red Mountain Syrah from a great vineyard. It's packed with juicy flavors of fresh raspberries, tinged with tangerine-flavored acids. Elegant and fascinating, it's a pure, fruit-driven expression of the grape, bolstered by the natural minerality of Ciel du Cheval fruit.
This is a food-friendly Cab. It's made in an elegant style, with fine acidity and firm tannins that frame black and red currant, plum, mocha and cedar flavors. Lovely now, but so balanced, it should develop for ten years.
This is a food-friendly rosé that's full-bodied and rich. It has orange and apricot flavors, along with a note of red plum. The acidity keeps the wine fresh and crisp while the aftertaste has a fine tang of zest. Screwcap.
This is a forceful and powerful wine from a vineyard site in the producer's portfolio since 2005. Broad-shouldered, it offers juicy strawberry and pomegranate expressive of a ripe, picture-perfect vintage. It also manages to retain a pretty, floral characteristic and a depth of dried herb, clove and peppery spice, particularly on the finish.
This is a forceful, simple wine, with a slight herbaceous quality that keeps it varietal and cooler-climate in style and weight. Bright red fruit shines in a light-bodied frame.
This is a forward, even plush Reserve, loaded with generous black fruits and streaked with anise and cola notes. At first, the wine seemed to fade a bit too quickly, robbing the finish of expected complexity. But retasted on the second day, the wine had fleshed out beautifully.
This is a forward, fruity and spicy wine. It is sweet and soft, with the lightest hint of acidity to give some freshness at the finish. Lychees and mangos combine easily with the attractive pinch of pepper at the end.
This is a forward, fruity take on the grape, mixing plum and berry and vivid citrus components. Oak aging brings in dark chocolate highlights, which complement the highlights of candied orange peel in the finish.
This is a forward, rather light, chocolaty wine. The berry fruit flavors are swathed in chocolate, and a suggestion of citrus keeps a frame around it.
This is a forward, ripe and fruity wine that's full of fresh red fruits and attractive acidity. Made from a blend of Castelão, Trincadeira and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's light, bright and ready to drink.
This is a four-barrel selection—a blend of wines made from four different clones aged in 50% new oak. Cola and cherry-candy flavors carry hints of orange peel and pink grapefruit. It's an elegant wine, a step or two more concentrated than the winery's regular Pinot Noir, with a suggestion of earthy beet root in the finish.
This is a fragrant and creamy white wine with pretty floral tones backed by fresh fruit and citrus. Pair it with sushi or swordfish carpaccio.
This is a fragrant and deeply floral white from Puglia made mostly from indigenous grapes Pampanuto and Bombino that are backed by a small percentage of Chardonnay for structure and consistency. It's the perfect lunchtime or tossed salad wine.
This is a fragrant and floral Vernaccia with a cool and soothing personality. It offers delicate nuances of acacia flower, stone fruit, honey and citrus and has a creamy, soothing texture.
This is a fragrant and full-bodied Tempranillo, with flavors of sweet cherry and plum and a leathery, long-lasting finish.
This is a fragrant and generous Chardonnay from Piedmont that shows bright tones of melon, exotic fruit and pineapple. The wine is rich and smooth in the mouth and grips the palate in a very satisfactory manner.
This is a fragrant Pinot Grigio with aromas of stone fruit, citrus and melon that delivers a thin and somewhat watery mouthfeel followed by a crisp, fresh close. It's an easy, informal wine that could be paired with afternoon finger foods.
This is a fragrant, brightly perfumed wine that has a wonderfully crisp fruitiness. It is just crying out to be enjoyed as a fresh, lively apéritif with its tangy texture and pleasantly acidic finish. Screwcap.
This is a fragrant, floral wine that also has a mature, toasty character. Bottle age has contributed biscuit and oatmeal notes, adding depth to its tight mineral acidity. It's a beautiful, delicate wine that is totally ready to drink.
This is a fragrant, floral wine, with a smooth touch of vanilla. It has a fruity, ripe feel, and it shows fresh, crisp, apple-like acidity. This is a ready-to-drink, balanced Chardonnay.
This is a fragrant, generous and ripe wine with apricot flavors and a warm character. It tastes of the sun, coming from a vineyard that faces almost due south. The background is never far from the more mineral character of great Chablis and this wine will keep this contrast as it ages. Drink from 2017.
This is a fragrant, lemon flavored wine, with a fine balance between acidity and rich apple and pear flavors. It's young, although certainly drinkable now, while it will be better from 2016.
This is a fragrant, perfumed wine that's full and ripe in feel. The structure is soft and gentle without any bite. It's a fruity wine for drinking young. Screwcap.
This is a fragrant, ripe wine that while delicious to drink now really does need a few months aging. Fruity with apples, lime and green-plum flavors it also has a fine texture that gives structure and will allow the potential richness to develop. Drink from late 2016.
This is a fragrant, sinewy wine. Mixed herbs twine around cranberry and raspberry fruit, while the palate builds in weight and flesh in the glass. Give it until 2018.
This is a fragrant, softly aromatic wine that has ripe fruit, spicy texture and gentle acidity. It's a wine for drinking now to enjoy its juicy white fruits, almonds and chalky final texture. Screwcap. Artisanal Cellars, Select Wines.
This is a fragrant, spicy wine that is shot through with red fruits and fine acidity. The 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon blend is still firm with its tannins although the acidity and bright fruit are well in balance. Drink from 2018.
This is a frankly delicious young Cabernet, hailing from a small vineyard to showcase its qualities. It's deeply flavored in blackberries and currants, with the most delicious dark chocolate sweetness. Yet it also has the tannic backbone to last. It's one of those wines you can drink now, or age for at least six years to see what it can do.
This is a frankly sweet sparkling wine, with sugary orange, lime, strawberry and vanilla flavors. If you like your bubblies with jammy sweetness, it's for you.
This is a fresh-tasting wine with great balance that doesn't have oaky flavors or a thick texture. It has refreshing acidity, subtle apple and spice notes and a palate-cleansing texture. Fine enough and subtle enough to drink frequently.
This is a fresh-tasting, dry bubbly whose aromas and flavors are very appley, herbal and effusive, accented by hints of clove. While crisp on the first sip, it feels reasonably soft and smooth on the tongue, and the fine bubbles are easy to sip and swallow.
This is a fresh although ripe wine. It has an attractive floral aroma that shows also on the palate with the ripe yellow and white stone fruits. The acidity is well balanced to give a fresh, fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a fresh and bright white wine, with scents of lemon-lime, green plum and green apple that jump from the glass. The palate is easy and refreshing, as lively acidity lifts the fruity flavors of firm pear and citrus. Drink now.
This is a fresh and bright wine. It has tangy acidity, a citrus character and a zesty aftertaste. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a fresh and cool wine from the highest of the Beaujolais cru villages. Produced by Céline and Nicolas Hirsch, originally from Alsace, the wine is bright with red cherries and currants. It has some tannins that firm up the structure, giving it shape and the possibility of aging. Drink now and until 2020.
This is a fresh and crisp wine with touches of sweetness. Red fruits are combined with ripe apple and acidity to give a lively fruity wine. Drink now.
This is a fresh and easy Moscato d'Asti that opens with floral aromas and honey, backed by peach, dried sage and honeydew melon. Like the name of the grape suggests, there is a musky quality to this Moscato with more honey and dried herb on the close.
This is a fresh and easy Moscato that shows sweet tones of honey and peach nectar with background tones of white almond and melon. The wine is softly fizzy and creamy on the close.
This is a fresh and easy selection, with low-intensity aromas and flavors of tart gooseberry, lemon-lime citrus and soft grass. The mouthfeel is light and breezy, and the finish is clean and brisk. Drink now.
This is a fresh and easy to drink white that's perfect for pairing with salads or citrus-based grilled fish. Medium weight with prominent tart flavors of lemony citrus and green berries, and the finish offers a hint of fresh hay.
This is a fresh and elegant take, a good choice for those who find some Shiraz to be heavy-handed. Spice and cedar scents lead to a medium-bodied palate with raspberry and plum fruit couched in velvety tannins. The medium finish is shot through with plum notes. Drink up or keep for a year.
This is a fresh and forward effort that's based on all six Bordeaux grapes. It bears pretty plum and cherry flavors, with a chocolaty wash over the quick finish.
This is a fresh and fragrant rosé from the Vinho Verde region. It has light acidity and a red fruit flavor. The lightest prickle gives just that extra lift.
This is a fresh and friendly white with a floral nose and crisp flavors of pear and lemon. Overall, the wine has body and a dry, elegant character. Pair with seafood or Asian cuisine.
This is a fresh and fruity wine that has ripe berry fruits that are shot through with acidity. This wine is developing fast and will be ready to drink from the end of 2016.
This is a fresh and fruity wine with lively acidity and spice from wood aging. Dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, it is herbal and still young, needing time to develop. Drink this crisp wine from late 2017.
This is a fresh and fruity wine, flavored with creamed apple and pears. There is the merest hint of pepper here to give spice and to bring out the bright acidity at the end. The wine could hold a year, but is ready to drink now.
This is a fresh and fruity wine, full of red fruits that are laced with raisins and prunes. The acidity cuts through the richness balancing the natural sweetness. It has an attractive crisp aftertaste.
This is a fresh and full-bodied wine, with ripe yellow fruit and citrus tones—at once warm and with crisply edged. Still young, it shows a strong mineral side that will soften with time. Drink from 2018.
This is a fresh and fun rosé sparkling wine that offers subtle tones of cranberry and wild berry backed by touches of mint and sweet almond. Its personality is good natured and simple.
This is a fresh and juicy organic wine with attractive acidity and just the right balance of tannins. Drink this wine soon, certainly from 2018.
This is a fresh and light Prosecco that puts great emphasis on citrus and grapefruit aromas. Beyond those layers are touches of white flower and peach. Try this wine with a bowl of warm popcorn.
This is a fresh and lively white, with some green bean and herbaceous notes to support the core of gooseberry and lime rind aromas and flavors. It's light and straightforward, but clean and so easy to enjoy. Drink now.
This is a fresh and very crisp wine, bright with acidity and red currant flavors. Made from Malbec and Merlot, it is fruity with a touch of caramel to give it a richer aftertaste.
This is a fresh but also full and rich wine with ripe pear and raspberry fruits. The wine is balanced and ready to drink.
This is a fresh but immediately informal sparkling wine with drying mineral notes backed by peach, citrus and chopped herbs. It's low-impact and compact in the mouth but does offer a pristine, polished finish.
This is a fresh Pinot Noir with plenty of crisp red fruits and soft tannins. It's all about fruitiness, with a character that demands to be drunk now.
This is a fresh type of Pinot, with a pointy bouquet containing herbal raspberry and nettle qualities. It feels juicy, fresh and lifted due to the acidity, while the flavors of raspberry and herb come with dry, oaky, toasty accents. It's peppery, dry and light on the finish.
This is a fresh while also rich wine. Yellow fruits are laced with appealing acidity and a crisp lemon zest texture. Lively, fruity and mineral, it is ready to drink.
This is a fresh wine that also has a strong sense of structure. It's textured with white fruits coming through a nervy acidity and minerality. Hints of wood are tantalizing and round the wine out at the end.
This is a fresh wine that has been aged in tanks, retaining its bright red fruits and lively acidity. It is still young although it will develop quickly to give a soft fruit-driven wine.
This is a fresh wine that has just the right balance between spicy wood and red-currant fruits. With its acidity and crisp character, it is going to be a bright, fruity wine from 2017.
This is a fresh wine that is balanced between solid tannins and the ripe red berry fruits. Made to be drunk young, it has juicy acidity along with a firm mineral texture. Pure fruitiness shines at the end. Drink from late 2016.
This is a fresh wine that is full of bright cherry flavors and crisp acidity. The midpalate builds in weight, ripe tannins and a fragrant, smoky aftertaste. Drink now. Screwcap.
This is a fresh wine with attractive ripe fruits. Apples, bitter orange and a streak of citrus are coupled with pineapple acidity. It's a well-made, immediately drinkable wine.
This is a fresh wine with caramel as well as ripe red-berry flavors. With its textured acidity and crisp, clean aftertaste, it's a wine to drink as an apéritif.
This is a fresh wine, full of crisp red fruits and acidity. It needs a few months to calm down its exuberant fruitiness and it should be ready to drink from 2017.
This is a fresh wine, full of red-berry fruits that are underpinned by acidity and tannins. It has a bright feel while the spice and dry core are a contrast that will smooth out. The vienyard has been in the Médeville family for generations, the 2014 was their 188th harvest. Drink from 2019.
This is a fresh, almond and apple-flavored sparkling wine. With crisp acidity and some attractive bottle aging, it's ripe but cut by a steely aftertaste, and is ready to drink.
This is a fresh, approachable style of Viogner, offering a combination of apple, honey and toast on the nose and balanced flavors of curvy fruit and flowers on the palate. The viscous mouthfeel and lingering finish give the wine an opulent appeal. Not terribly complex, but good overall.
This is a fresh, aromatic wine with off-dry white fruit flavors. Made to be drunk with ice, it is less fruity and more softly textured with a light tang and considerable acidity. Drink now.
This is a fresh, bright Syrah that's also rich in flavor and texture, lush in plum and raspberry with a proper hit of pepper on the finish. With 6% Viognier in the mix, it shows some floral bouquet among the depth of earthy caramel and coconut.
This is a fresh, fruit-driven blend of four Rhône varieties: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier and Roussanne. Pear, pineapple and lime fruit offer ample weight in the mouth and a long, zesty finish. Drink it over the remainder of 2016.
This is a fresh, fruit-driven rendering of Pinot Noir, marked by cherry-berry flavors and appealing hints of roses and salad greens. It's medium-bodied, with a silky texture that lingers on the finish.
This is a fresh, fruit-driven white loaded with pineapple and pear aromas and flavors. It's medium bodied, making it suitable for pairing with a wide array of dishes, and finishes crisp and clean.
This is a fresh, fruity and apple-crisp wine that is light, buoyant with acidity and shot with citrus. It is lightly mineral, textured and with attractive crispness at the end. The Devillard family bottles this wine on behalf the estate's owners. Drink now.
This is a fresh, fruity and juicy wine. Shot through with citrus flavors, it is light and crisp. The wine has a nervy texture that gives a great lift on the finish. Drink from 2016.
This is a fresh, fruity rendering of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe, peachy notes on the nose give way to hints of nectarine and citrus on the palate. It's plump and round in feel, with a moderately long finish.
This is a fresh, fruity young wine, marked by ripe, jammy blackberry, cherry, cola and cedar flavors. It's spicy and tannic and easy to drink now.
This is a fresh, herbaceous wine, with green fruits, citrus and tangy, zesty acidity. A young, juicy character contrasts with a more textured aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a fresh, juicy wine with acidity and bright red fruits. Yes, there are tannins but they support the lively, crisp strawberries and the spice that comes from the wood aging. The wine is developing fast and will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a fresh, lemon-scented wine. It is light both in texture and in the fruity department with just a bright citrus character finished with acidity. The wine is ready now.
This is a fresh, lively Pinot Noir for drinking now. It's elegantly silky and dry, with crisp acids and pure flavors of cherries, cola, spices and oak. A touch of oak adds smoky richness.
This is a fresh, medium-bodied white with a touch of honeysuckle on the nose and straightforward flavors that hints of orange and peach. A touch of spice adds interest to the modest finish. Drink now.
This is a fresh, open and very accessible wine. Crisp acidity cuts through the green apple flavors and tangy, mineral texture. With juicy fruitiness, it is a light wine that is ready to drink.
This is a fresh, strawberry-flavored wine with a crisp, dry aftertaste. An attractive tangy character gives life and brilliance. Ready to drink, it is a real apéritif wine.
This is a fresh, tonic and light Grillo that would pair with endive salad and sliced oranges or red beets in vinaigrette. The wine offers citrus, green herb and fresh kiwi aromas.
This is a fresh, vibrant blend of 85% Roussanne and 15% Grenache Blanc. It's medium bodied, with straightforward pineapple flavors and a touch of almond skin. Simple but solidly made; crisp and lingering on the finish. Drink now.
This is a fresh, vibrant stainless steel-fermented Chard that boasts charming notes of fresh apple slices, nectarine, lemon rind citrus and a hint of yellow florals. It's ripe and big without being too spicy or overdone, with a solid, lengthy finish. Drink now.
This is a fresh, young Pinot Noir, with a silky texture and ripe flavors of raspberries and cola. It's dry and deliciously complex, a fine example of a coastal Pinot, and should hold and develop over the next six years.
This is a friendly and very approachable screwcap Pinot Grigio with good consistency, a dim golden hue and aromas of honey, stone fruit and citrus flower. The mouthfeel is lean and simple and the wine offers a fresh, palate-cleansing finish.
This is a friendly fruity wine that has a soft texture and bright acidity. If it does miss a sense of place, it makes up for it with citrus and white fruit flavors that are so fresh. Drink now.
This is a friendly red with aromas of cinnamon, red berry and pepper, followed by a lightly sweet combination of vanilla, cherry and strawberry. Easy drinking and soft overall, this will pair well with many dishes—turkey, pork and lamb alike.
This is a friendly, New World- style Chardonnay, with flavors of toast, oak and spice and decent complexity. Assertive and upfront, it's a good everyday white for fans of whites with pronounced flavors.
This is a frothy, creamy Prosecco that forms a thick layer of foam and is redolent of peach and lemon meringue. Drying minerals and compact linearity characterize the mouthfeel, and the sparkler leaves the palate sparkling clean.
This is a fruit-driven wine showing lots of apple and melon aromas, broad peach and apple flavors and a generous texture. It's very tasty and refreshing and has touch of sweetness.
This is a fruit-driven, medium-bodied rosé of Grenache (60%) and Mourvèdre (40%). While not the most complex rosé, the yellow-fleshed, red-skinned plum flavors are potent, lingering on the mouthwatering finish.
This is a fruit-driven, sharp and Port-like red wine, blended from Petit Verdot, Malbec, Grenache and Nebbiolo.
This is a fruit-forward wine (aged only in stainless steel to maintain the freshness of the berry aromas) that would pair with cheesy pasta dishes. It's an easy, no-fuss Barbera with a refreshing note of acidity on the close.
This is a fruit-forward wine, with aromas of red and black currant and herbs with a spice top note. The flavors are sweet and tangy, going down easy.
This is a fruit-forward, almost-Beaujolais-like wine, with bouncy cherry and raspberry fruit, medium weight in the mouth and a simple but satisfying finish. Drink it over the next several months.
This is a fruit-powered wine, loaded with fresh pear, melon and tropical flavors. It shows no sign of having suffered from the wet, cool weather that hit Oregon during the 2007 harvest. It seems riper than the perfectly balanced '06 bottling, with lower acids and a streak of vanilla and coconut wrapping up the finish.
This is a fruit bomb supreme. Bright, effusive strawberry, raspberry and boysenberry aromas and flavors seem to spread out in all directions, first in the aroma, then repeating in the flavors and finish. With a sip or two some deeper black cherry notes emerge, and full body and gripping tannins become more apparent.
This is a fruit forward, silky Pinot Noir for drinking now. It has rich, appealing flavors of raspberries, red cherries and cola, while oak barrel aging brings notes of vanilla and wood spice.
This is a fruity and fresh wine with a warm, herbal feel characteristic of Provence. The palate boasts apricot and delicate citrus flavors with a hint of minerality. It has a fresh, perfumed aftertaste.
This is a fruity but also structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional. It's full of red fruit, dusty tannins with a dry core and balancing acidity. Drink until 2020.
This is a fruity but dry wine, with a telltale hint of honey to bring out the Chenin Blanc character. It has an attractive line in almonds, along with crisp acidity and a tangy texture. Drink now.
This is a fruity crisp blend of classic Gascony grapes. It has a clean bright texture with just a touch of honey as well as plenty of lemon and tangy orange. Intensely fruity, it is ready to drink.
This is a fruity crisp wine that is finely balanced. It has a dry edge to it of bright white and citrus fruits along with a floral character that is enticing and open. The wine is lively and ready to drink.
This is a fruity effort, with a blackberry note that is laced with attractive tannins and acids. With its smooth, ripe texture and full mouthfeel, this is already approachable.
This is a fruity Merlot with a strong lemony streak. There are hints of pepper as well. Drink soon.
This is a fruity mix of sweet berries, with a streak of ripe orange. In both nose and mouth an almost delicate earthiness can be noticed, with suggestions of dried leaves.
This is a fruity style of Vinho Verde that also brings out the crispest citrus and pink grapefruit flavors. The wine, with its light spritz, is fresh, full of acidity and just off dry. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine housing soft tannins and red berry fruit notes. It's rounded and smooth, with streaks of vanilla highlighting the finish. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine made to be drunk young. It is soft, with a blackberry stalkiness in the background as well as fresh, spicy acidity. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine showing a touch of wood aging alongside juicy red fruit flavors. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, this wine has a bright youthful color and fresh acidity at the end. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine that's made to drink young. Bright red fruits, a light spice character and just the right amount of acidity make for a wine that is perfect for barbecues.
This is a fruity wine that combines a smooth initial texture with more intense herbaceousness on the finish. The creamy mouthfeel is contrasted with a textured character that lends good intensity. Drink in a year.
This is a fruity wine that has fresh, lemony crispness to balance the sweet-fruit palate. Bright and clean, it is ready to drink now.
This is a fruity wine that has red fruit tones and a firm tannic character. It has juicy acidity, along with spice from wood aging. The Syrah in the blend gives an earthy character, while the acidity shows brightly at the end. Drink from 2016.
This is a fruity wine with a black currant flavor. As a contrast, the tannins offer a denser side, creating a food-friendly wine with fine dryness and a smoky flavor.
This is a fruity wine with a off-dry character that is balanced by lime and lemon fruitiness. The acidity and the tangy herbal character give the wine an attractive bite. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine with cherry fruits and a soft, juicy texture. It's lively and fresh, with good acidity at the end.
This is a fruity wine with contrasting wood-aging spice and high toastiness. It is still young with the acidity still prominent, so the two elements should blend well over the next few years to give a ripe, fruity wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a fruity wine with crisp red fruits and acidity that are balanced by gentle tannins. With its warm feel, it is an easy wine that is ready to drink.
This is a fruity wine with its typical touch of sweetness. It has lively strawberry fruits, a hint of pineapple, fresh acidity and a soft, light vanilla aftertaste.
This is a fruity wine with juicy acids and fresh black-currant and berry flavors. The tannins are present, but they are well integrated into the fruit and acidity. It's bright and ready to drink.
This is a fruity wine with lively acidity and a brisk, zingy character. Freshness shoots through the wine, making it lively with hints of yellow fruits. The aftertaste is crisp and ripe.
This is a fruity wine with pear and bitter-almond flavors. It is clean, fresh, and light in style, with acidity that complements the riper fruit character on the finish.
This is a fruity wine with plenty of dried-fruit flavors and sweetness. There is a nice bite of spirit, a touch of wood and acidity to balance the sweetness.
This is a fruity wine with red berry flavors and fresh acidity. It is crisp, light and ready to drink, with an attractive smoky aftertaste.
This is a fruity wine, and its black currant flavor emerging right away. Next comes the bright acidity, while the tannins form a solid, dark and dry contrast. The wine needs at least two years to soften into something rich.
This is a fruity wine, crisp with citrus acidity and bright with light minerality and zest. It is a refreshing wine with an attractive sliced apple and melon aftertaste. Drink this lively wine now.
This is a fruity wine, full of acidity, ripe tannins and just touches of new wood. With the structural weight, it has some potential, leaving a fruity, fresher aftertaste.
This is a fruity wine, full of black cherries and plums. From the most northerly of the Beaujolais crus, it has style as well as weight and structure, although the fruitiness that dominates. It is ready to drink now.
This is a fruity wine, full of both red-berry and cherry flavors and some dry tannins that will certainly soften and integrate. It has the potential to be balanced, full and deliciously fruity. Wait until 2019.
This is a fruity wine, full of herbal and apple flavors. The vines are planted on slopes across the Loire from Sancerre, giving minerality as well as juicy acidity. Young and fresh, the wine will benefit from waiting a few months more. Drink from early 2017.
This is a fruity wine, full of red-berry flavors and with some smoky tannins in the background. It is balanced between the wood aging and the berry and red-cherry fruitiness. Drink from 2017.
This is a fruity wine, full of red-cherry flavors. They are framed by the firmer texture and tannins that give the wine its character. The wine is delicious and crisp with a lively aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine, gentle with its white fruits and citrus flavors. It has just a touch of minerality from the granite soil that brings out acidity and a tangy aftertaste. Drink this refreshing wine now.
This is a fruity wine, light and bright in character. It has acidity and black-currant crispness. The light tannins are just enough to give the wine shape. Drink now.
This is a fruity wine, packed with acidity, red fruits and a soft texture. With its crisp open character it is not a wine for long aging, so drink from 2018.
This is a fruity wine, packed with juicy red cherries. Considerable acidity gives a very fresh feel and allows the soft tannins to develop easily. With its light character and lack of depth, it is not for aging. Drink from 2016.
This is a fruity wine, packed with red-berry flavors. It is lightly textured and with plenty of acidity to keep it crisp. This wine, from the cru property's fifth generation, is going to mature over the next few months, so drink from mid-2017.
This is a fruity wine, with upfront peach and apricot flavors. It has bright acidity and just a hint of wood. Produced for the first time by Ferret, this selection is rich, open and generous, although the acidity is never left behind.
This is a fruity, attractive wine from a venture started in 2000 by Abilio Tavares da Silva. With well-integrated tannins, bold black fruit and a spicy character that comes through strongly, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a fruity, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine, with tannins that support and balance the black currant flavor. Wood aging lightly brushes the structure.
This is a fruity, crisp wine with an attractive balance between acidity and sweetness. Ripe strawberries give the fruit flavor while the acidity at the light prickle on the palate add a crisper aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a fruity, crisp wine. Red currant and candied red-berry fruits fit into a balanced, just off-dry character. The wine is bright with a light sparkle at the end.
This is a fruity, dry rosé comprised of a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A light salmon pink color, it's forward and plush with generous fruit flavors of Meyer lemon, peaches and strawberries. Full-bodied for a rosé, it has the stuffing to accompany a main course such as roast fowl.
This is a fruity, fragrant wine with light fruitiness and deliciously crisp acidity. Red berry flavors are lined with red apple acidity and a texture that shows a touch of minerality from the Grand Cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims. Unusually for a rosé Champagne, this is made principally from Pinot Noir, with color coming from the skins rather than from adding red wine to the blend.
This is a fruity, fresh wine full of black currant and berry flavor. Delicately structured, there's a vein of fresh green herbs and bell-pepper flavors that lend crispness to the finish.
This is a fruity, fresh, forward wine that has delicious red berry fruitiness and soft tannins. It's bright and smooth, the structure just lightly supporting the fruit. It's ready to drink.
This is a fruity, friendly yet dark and saturated wine. It offers good ripe berry and cherry notes and the backing of moderate tannins.
This is a fruity, full wine that is dominated by Arinto, giving fresh, lemon and apricot flavors. It is crisp, lightly textured and offers a bright tang of zest and acidity on the finish. Drink now.
This is a fruity, immediately drinkable wine. It has red berry flavors and bright acidity that gives the wine freshness and a light, juicy touch. Light tannins add structure to the bright aftertaste.
This is a fruity, juicy and soft wine. It has plenty of red-currants that give the wine a crisper side. It comes from a vineyard just north of the Burgundian capital of Dijon, which produces the wine's cool fruity character. Drink from 2017.
This is a fruity, juicy wine that has a dry tanninc core. That gives a mineral texture to the otherwise ripe and fruity wine. Full of black currant fruit flavors, shot through with acidity, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a fruity, juicy wine that Heifara Swartvagher made to be drunk young. With black currant freshness over firm, dry tannins, it's ripe, packed with attractive fruitiness and ready to drink.
This is a fruity, juicy wine that shows great tropical and citrus fruits. It is rich, but balanced with herbaceousness and fine, fresh acidity. It has a tangy texture that gives a good bite to the finish.
This is a fruity, juicy wine with swathes of black currant and berry flavors. The tannins give a smoky, spicy character and add to the sense of richness. Drink from 2020.
This is a fruity, juicy wine with wood and bright red fruits in equal balance. The entry-level wine made by a grouping of 19 growers, it has concentration along with minerality and acidity. It needs to age further, so drink from 2018.
This is a fruity, light wine. It has apple flavors, enlivened by acidity and zesty citrus character. On the finish, the wine is fresh while also creamy.
This is a fruity, lightly mineral and fresh wine. With pure and crisp apple and lemon flavors, it's already a pleasure to drink now.
This is a fruity, lightly structured wine. With perfumed red berries and tight acidity, it is all about fruitiness and freshness. It needs to fill out and to become as rich as its potential suggests. Drink from 2018.
This is a fruity, perfumed wine with just enough structure to keep it all together. Fresh and with red fruit flavors, it is already drinkable.
This is a fruity, perfumed wine with mint and new wood aromas that round out the black-fruit tannins. It's concentrated and rich with a great, juicy aftertaste, a powerful wine that will certainly age over 2–3 years.
This is a fruity, pineapple and citrus-flavored wine that is tight and with a tangy texture. It is fresh, juicy and attractively crisp. It has weight and richness from the intense fruit that contrasts with the acidity. It is delicious now although it will be much better from late 2016.
This is a fruity, ready-to-drink wine, with acidity cutting through the juicy black currant fruits. This is attractive and bright, yet structured.
This is a fruity, ripe blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Castelão. Soft, with a touch of spice from wood, it also has a crisp edge of acidity. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a fruity, simply textured wine. It has fresh acidity along with a light touch of green fruits, fresh gooseberry and herbal flavors. It is already well integrated and ready to drink.
This is a fruity, soft wine with a light texture and plenty of citrus fruits. It is crisp, clean with a hint of perfumes and a herbal edge that comes from the Sauvignon Blanc in the blend. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a fruity, spicy style of Riesling. It rests solidly in the midpalate, with apple, pear and white peach fruit, plenty of natural acidity masking the residual sugar, and alcohol just over 12%.
This is a fruity, tropical rendition of grape, showing guava, papaya, coconut and apple aromas on the nose. The palate packs loads of floral character, with more tropical fruit and bubblegum-like flavors that feel ripe but not sweet.
This is a fruity, up-front wine that's full of red-berry fruits and soft tannins. The palate is warm and round with ripe, rich flavors. Ready to drink.
This is a fruity, wood-aged wine, showing spice and coffee flavors that complement ripe blackberry fruit. It's smooth in texture and has just the right touch of acidity. The wine is ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is a fulfilling unoaked, organic wine from Chile's cool Casablanca Valley. This quaffable Chard focuses on pure citrus, grapefruit and peach flavors. There's a touch of natural sweetness but with no oak there's no butter, fat or flab. Breaks the mold and opens the door to a whole other style of Chardonnay.
This is a full-bodied and extroverted wine. It smells like melted butter and baking spices and tastes like nougat and caramel with just a touch of sweetness. Oaky in a moderate way, it offers great citrus and pineapple on the midpalate and a lingering finish.
This is a full-bodied and fruity wine. It has ripe red berry fruits as well as layers of warm citrus and fresh acidity. It's the richness that shows most strongly here, from the fruit to the texture, very much a house style of Ruinart. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied and full-flavored wine with rich and deep aromas, ripe fruit flavors and a texture that feels substantial but polished. It starts with black cherry and woodsy aromas, then goes to lively but broad cherry, plum and nutmeg notes. The finish stays flavorful and dry.
This is a full-bodied and intensely fruity wine with jammy aromas and ripe cherry and raspberry flavors. It is smooth textured and has soft tannins, so the effect is easygoing in spite of high alcohol.
This is a full-bodied and rich wine with touches of vanilla and toast from wood aging that are integrated into flavors of ripe apricot, lime and herbs. Drink now, and until 2019.
This is a full-bodied and ripe wine, showing some toastiness as well as concentrated apple and peach flavors. There is a crisp edge to this opulent and rich wine. It has a great future: it is drinkable now, but will continue well into the 2020s.
This is a full-bodied and soft wine. Full of juicy red fruit flavors and rounded tannins, it's fruity and ready to drink, with delicious acidity at the end.
This is a full-bodied and very ripe wine. It is dry, but has layers of sweet fruits, gentle tannins and suggestions of the wood aging. With spice, some herbal character and great fruitiness, it's ready to drink.
This is a full-bodied big-shouldered wine blended with Malbec and Syrah, that's inky and dark. Grippy tenacious oak surrounds a mouthful of black olive, black plum and tobacco.
This is a full-bodied blend of Syrah and Carignan, aged a year in oak. It's dense and velvety, with an almost chocolate-fudge texture and notes of plum, leather and spice. Drink now–2018.
This is a full-bodied but also subtle and complex-flavored wine. The aromas bring in mild wood smoke and black-pepper notes, then the flavors add ample fruitiness without going to jamminess. The overall effect is one of sophistication.
This is a full-bodied but easy-drinking wine with ample ripe fruit flavors and attractive accents from oak aging, like vanilla, nutmeg and a touch of brown sugar. It coats the mouth with rich fruitiness and lingers on the finish in a compelling manner.
This is a full-bodied Pinot Noir, showing lavish new-oak aromas and rich, ripe fruit flavors. Medium-deep ruby in tone, it has aromas suggesting vanilla, toasted oak and nutmeg, with a hint of rhubarb. Flavors recall cherry and blackberry. Gradually the oak flavors recede and the lively fruit character comes out, lingering on the finish.
This is a full-bodied Pinot, packed with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors and framed in spicy nuance. A shade hot on the finish, ending with an unusually bright licorice and herbal edge.
This is a full-bodied rosé with soft red berry and tart cherry flavors intertwined with notes of white chocolate. The finish could last a bit longer. Drink up.
This is a full-bodied rosé, with rich fruit and spice notes. Its ripe apricot and strawberry flavors are lifted by balanced acidity. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied rosé. It is ripe, with rich red fruits and spice. It has enough acidity to cope with this full fruitiness, making it a wine that is really for food rather than as an apéritif.
This is a full-bodied version of the variety and yet it rides a line of soft texture and floral aromatics that ground it in nice ways. Meaty and fruity in cherry, it finishes thick and rich.
This is a full-bodied wine that belies the notion that Oregon always makes a sleeker style of Chardonnay. Here are ripe, round flavors of peach and mango, wrapped in naturally vivid acidity, with a warming sensation in the finish. Best enjoyed soon, while fresh and young.
This is a full-bodied wine that exudes yellow fruits and a smooth structure. It is ripe, packed with citrus acidity to keep it fresh while the mineral texture is so well-cushioned by the rich fruitiness. It is delicious now with the exuberance of young fruit although it will certainly age and will be even better from 2017.
This is a full-bodied wine that has plenty of weight and richness. It has spice as well as ripe red fruits; its balanced with delicious acidity and a dart of orange peel.
This is a full-bodied wine with a citrus streak of acidity to go with peach and apricot flavors. It is rich, just hinting at minerality, generous in mouthfeel.
This is a full-bodied wine with a good sense of heft, mild flavors and a smooth texture. It has subdued plum notes and a hint of vanilla.
This is a full-bodied wine with a rich texture. It has a creamy character, along with flavors of almond, toast and ripe green plum. Worth aging a year.
This is a full-bodied wine with generous black-fruit flavors. It has enough acidity to sustain the rich black-currant and blackberry fruits. With its soft tannins and fruity aftertaste, it is ready to drink.
This is a full-bodied wine with very strong fruit, including some dark berry notes more akin to a big red like, say, Merlot—of which it contains a dash. At the same time, the tannins are light, which makes it kind of schizoid. It's also superacidic and tart. Made by respected Napa vintner Bob Pepi, it's a work in progress. —S.H.
This is a full-bodied wine, from one of the leading estates in Margaux. It is ripe with juicy blackberry and black-currant fruits. This fruit contrasts with the dark tannins and powerful structure. It is going to develop slowly and impressively to be ready to drink from 2025.
This is a full-bodied wine, perfumed by its 25% Cabernet Franc and given a juicy fruitcake character by the smooth Merlot. It does still retain a crisper juicy acidity that will develop well as it ages over the next few months. Drink from late 2017.
This is a full-bodied wine, soft and smooth with integrated tannins, yet robust in black cherry and graham cracker. The savory fruit is seasoned in baking spices and a touch of herbes de Provence, finishing with aplomb.
This is a full-bodied wine, with the Pinot fruit showing strongly in the blend, producing richness and a sweet-tasting character. This most recent cuvée from Roland Champion is powerful—a fine combination of minerality and bottle age. Keep it for 3–4 years, but it can be consumed now.
This is a full-bodied yet crisp and firmly tannic Cabernet that appears in need of further cellaring. A prominent eucalyptus character accents notes of cassis and espresso, while the finish is a bit tough and gritty at this stage. Try 2018–2025.
This is a full-bodied yet succulent, supple wine, loaded with dark fruit. Black cherries and plums hint at sur-maturité, framed in a soft wrap of baking spices and mocha. Drink now–2020.
This is a full-bodied, amply tannic red with an incredibly long, silky finish. It's also rather animale in style, boasting intense leather and beef jerky aromas and flavors that are smoky and meaty, while hints of liniment and horse tack grow stronger toward the finish. One to try—if possible—before committing to a purchase.
This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured Shiraz that manages to retain a sense of poise at the same time. Cedar, vanilla and baking spices frame a lush mix of red and black berry fruit, yet this is no mere fruit bomb, adding hints of roast meat and mocha. Drink this plush, supple wine now–2025.
This is a full-bodied, creamy-textured wine, bursting with irrepressible fruit. Blueberries take the lead, backed by plums and a lesser amount of raspberry, all accented by hints of cracked pepper, baking spices and vanilla. While delicious already, the wine shows enough richness and length on the finish to warrant keeping through 2025.
This is a full-bodied, creamy and voluptuous Chardonnay, bearing notes of wet stone and ripe yellow apple, with a tinge of vanilla on the finish.
This is a full-bodied, decidedly rich white, generous in barrel toast and graham cracker scents. Baked apple pie flavors keep it feeling luxurious on the palate, its concentration persisting through the finish.
This is a full-bodied, dense wine. A hint of austerity in the mineral texture gives the wine a steely core. Around this center, ripe fruit fills out the wine and gives apricots and generous fruitiness as well as a crisp, perfumed aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
This is a full-bodied, densely packed and muscular wine, concentrated in tar, chocolate, leather and tobacco leaf. Black pepper-laced tannins fill the palate alongside a generosity of bold, brambly black cherry and blackberry, begging for more time in the bottle. Enjoy best from 2023 through 2025.
This is a full-bodied, extracted wine, loaded with cedar and vanilla notes that frame concentrated dark fruit. It's rich and velvety in texture yet manages to retain a sense of mouthwatering tension on the finish. Give it a few years to absorb some of the oak; drink 2020–2028.
This is a full-bodied, firmly structured Shiraz with plummy, intense aromas tinged with licorice and framboise. Bits of chocolate, mint and spice accent the plum and raspberry flavors, and the wine finishes crisp, dry and deeply textured. It should drink well from now through 2015.
This is a full-bodied, fruity selection that's packed with a red berry flavor, soft tannins and a delicious, forward and bright character. It is already ready to drink.
This is a full-bodied, fully hedonistic and feral wine, integrated in oak and tannin, that show a robust density on the palate of blackberry, wild sage and earth. With its robust ripeness and concentration, it features a brightness of acidity that helps complement its power.
This is a full-bodied, intensely ripe wine, slightly sweet-tasting like soda, that benefits from a balance of tangy acidity and a finish of leather.
This is a full-bodied, lushly textured Chardonnay that manages to avoid the sensation of excess weight. Pear, melon and white peach notes are framed by understated toasted nuttiness, while a long line of acid prolongs the harmonious finish. Drink now–2018.
This is a full-bodied, muscular example of Côte Rôtie, with pronounced savory, meaty character tinged with smoke and ash. Yet despite that, it manages to be approachable at the same time, finishing long and velvety. Drink it over the next 5–8 years.
This is a full-bodied, plushly textured wine that doesn't quite go over the top. Vanilla and dill notes accent blackberry and plum fruit before finishing firm, crisp and long. This has all the ingredients, it just needs time to come together. Drink 2020–2030.
This is a full-bodied, rich and fruity wine. It has a smooth texture that's embellished with flavors of apricots and green plums. The finish has a tangy, minerally edge.
This is a full-bodied, rich and round Cabernet Sauvignon. Juicy, mouthwatering cassis fruit is framed by cedar, vanilla and baking spices, while the finish showcases fine tannins. Given the quality of this wine, it's a shame that Wynns' high-end john Riddoch Cab doesn't get exported to the U.S.
This is a full-bodied, rich rosé from the walled Clos des Muraires, ripe with red berry fruits and the warm sunshine. Fruity and with a mineral texture, it can age until mid-2015, although it is delicious now.
This is a full-bodied, richly textured blend of 80% Roussanne, 10% Grenache Blanc and 10% Clairette. Toasted marshmallow, pineapple and peach flavors finish long and mouthwatering.
This is a full-bodied, ripe and perfumed wine. Rich melon and white peach are balanced with bright lemon and lime to give a warm, generous wine. The acidity keeps everything deliciously in place.
This is a full-bodied, ripe and rich example of Tavel. Flourishes of dried flowers and spices dress up ripe melons and berries, finishing long and warming. It's a rosé tailor made for cool end-of-summer evenings.
This is a full-bodied, ripe wine from one of the top Provence estates. It is rich with red-berry fruits and has been given a crisp touch from the tangy peppered acidity. The spirit (Esprit) of Gassier is obviously in good health.
This is a full-bodied, ripe wine, moderate in acidity, that reveals a wealth of baked plum and cinnamon in the glass. Along the way it meets a pine forest of savory companionship, finishing in youthful tannin.
This is a full-bodied, ripe, well-made and fruity wine, subdued and velvety on the palate in bright red fruit, leather, mint and cinnamon.
This is a full-bodied, simple wine, made from 70% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 10% “other” red grapes. It's soft in texture, with candied berry, cola and spice flavors and a short finish.
This is a full-bodied, soft and round style of Pinot Gris that's almost completely dry. Understated pear and melon aromas combine with hints of fern fronds to create an enchanting bouquet, while the flavors are more straightforward and fruity. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied, solid wine, dominated at this early stage in its development by tannins as well as black currant fruits. The wine is potentially warm, perfumed with truffles and spice. Age for a couple of years.
This is a full-bodied, structured wine full of ripe berry fruits, delicate acidity and soft tannins. There is a juicy element that offers freshness to balance the firm texture. Wait a year to drink this wine.
This is a full-bodied, sturdy wine, bursting with blueberries and baking spices. Licorice adds interest, as do some savory notes of meat, olive and espresso. Drink 2016–2023.
This is a full-bodied, sumptuous Pinot Noir that's filled with candied, pie-filling flavors of black cherries, licorice, mocha and spices. While it's a bit common in texture, it does provide plenty of pleasure. Drink now.
This is a full-bodied, unctuous white with a wealth of wood influence. It tempers in the glass into a mix of melon, stone fruit and vanilla.
This is a full-bodied, voluptuous and intense wine, with plenty of flair and complexity. A richness of berry pie is complemented by tangy acidity and layers of texture, finishing light and bright.
This is a full-bodied, well structured Cabernet, with plenty of intense cassis fruit tinged with minty, herbal overtones that give it a slightly medicinal cast. Give it 2-3 years to develop additional complexity, then drink it over the next 7-8 years.
This is a full-bore, concentrated and tannic wine that lives up to the reputation of a not exactly “petite” varietal. It starts with smoky black pepper aromas, then offers concentrated blackberry, dark chocolate and charred meat flavors, along with a rich wrapping of fine-grained tannins. Best after 2020.
This is a full-flavored Pinot Noir, brimming with cherry, cola, red licorice and earthier notes of sautéed wild mushrooms and spices. It's quite low in alcohol, which preserves the airy, silky texture you want in a nice Pinot. It's also a young wine. Give it six years in the cellar.
This is a full-force wine with a scratchy bouquet and aromas of herbal fruit, vanilla and burnt stems. It's jumpy in the mouth, and not that smooth, with aggressive tannins and baked flavors of raisin, herbs and burnt fruit. On the finish, there's oaky caramel and chocolate along with heat and stewy notes.
This is a full-throttle style of Merlot, jammy to the point of pruneyness, the flavors broad and loaded with ripe cherries, prunes, smoke, spice, licorice and cedar. Big as the fruit flavors are, the wine is proportionate, the oak applied lightly, the alcohol in balance, and the acids crisp.
This is a full-throttle, Cabernet Sauvignon-based, Bordeaux-style blend, all from estate-grown grapes. It is huge in velvety texture, though moderate acidity props up the boldness of the blackberry jam and meaty characteristics, all dotted with black-pepper accents.
This is a full-throttle, rich and moderately dense Shiraz with bold aromas of raspberry and plum. Chocolate notes develop on the palate, adding more complexity. Velvety on the finish, where there's also a touch of alcoholic warmth. Imported by International Vines, Inc.
This is a full and chunky type of New World Chardonnay, with an oily, mildly stalky nose that offers corn and apple aromas. It feels big across the palate and tastes toasted and peachy, with a fresh apple streak for balance. The finish is defined by viscosity and toasty apple flavors. Drink now.
This is a full and chunky wine, with thick blackberry and varietally correct herb aromas. The palate has a firm feel and good texture, while the flavors of herb, chocolate, pepper and black fruit settle on a secure, fresh and lively finish.
This is a full and creamy wine, with an abundance of fruit flavors. Notes of white pear and apricot are portrayed in this ripe and warm feeling wine. The acidity and mandarine zest notes provide crispness and structure. Drink from 2014.
This is a full and creamy wine. The richness is happily cut with citrus and apple acidity to give a crisp edge and tang to the ripe yellow fruit. It finishes with a lively, bright aftertaste.
This is a full and generous Friulano (a native grape of northeast Italy) that shows ripe aromas of peach, melon and pear. It is smooth and rich on the palate and would pair with creamy seafood risotto.
This is a full and generous wine (90% Sangiovese with 10% Merlot) that lavishes on rich layers of red cherry, soft chocolate, tobacco and spice. You taste the pureness of the black fruit in the mouth and are treated to a rich, velvety finish.
This is a full and luminous white wine (made with Chardonnay) that boasts a lively and vibrant character. A pleasure to drink, the wine is redolent of stone fruit, citrus, white stone and almond nut.
This is a full and rounded Blanc de Blancs with Chardonnay fruitiness tempered by both bottle aging and the steely structure that lies in the background. An intense mineral character on the palate is balanced by apricot and brisk, fresh acidity. The bottle is ready to drink now but could improve with age as well.
This is a full and spicy wine that is rich with black plum and berry flavors. The wood comes through strongly with its cedar and pepper character. The contrast with fresher acidity gives this wine its balance. Drink now.
This is a full in the mouth, forward and fruity rosé, that is all fresh acidity and lively, crisp flavors. It has a light, zesty texture and the merest hint of toastiness. Drink now or give it a year's bottle aging.
This is a full wine, with rich flavors and a light, fruity structure. The wine has tastes of apricot, citrus and creamed pear, backed up by toast and acidity. Already balanced, it's a wine to drink until 2018.
This is a full, fragrant and brilliantly fresh wine. It is crisp, with a rounded character that gives richness to the bright apples and pear-skin flavors. Lively while ripe, it has an attractive, mineral aftertaste.
This is a full, fruity wine. It's ripe and packed with currant, green plum and pink grapefruit flavors. There are hints of almond and delicate flower aromas. The soft finish has more ripe, delicious fruit.
This is a full, fruity, rich and concentrated wine. It has bright red berries, some firm tannins and a good dense texture. It's also light and crisp, with acidity that cuts through the ripe fruitiness. Drink now through 2019.
This is a full, luscious and fruity wine, where the tannins linger behind the fruit profile. It has good weight, concentration, and delicate of wood aging. It should be aged longer before drinking, so wait until 2016.
This is a full, perfumed wine that's medium sweet in flavor. It is rich in spice, packed with honey and lychees, and well balanced with light acidity. The wine has an opulence and a warming aftertaste. Drink until 2022.
This is a full, rich wine that has pears and yellow fruits to contrast a fresh minerality and brisk acidity. As the wine opens, it's increasingly bright and crisp in character. A well balanced wine that's full of fruitiness.
This is a full, ripe and rounded wine, with spice and red berry fruits. Its flavor has little connection with Pinot Noir, but it is certainly a rich wine with plenty of structure and an earthy aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a full, ripe wine that's rounded and rich on the palate. With ripe yellow fruit and tangerine flavors, it's tropical in style, although there is a tangy lemon edge to it to keep it crisp and herbaceous.
This is a full, ripe wine, with elegant impressions of toast. Robust notes of melon and peach show strongly, giving a rich, warm feel that is brightened with acidity. Drink now through 2017.
This is a full, ripe wine, with tannins that are already well integrated into the red fruits. It's rich and full, packed with delicious ripeness. A wine for pleasure in the next few months, but it will also age well for 3–4 years.
This is a full, ripe wine. It has red fruits, black currants and a rich seam of tannins. There is also a smoky character that adds attraction. With a ripe aftertaste, the wine is developing well and should be ready from 2018.
This is a full, ripe wine. The rich red berry fruits contrast well with the crisp acidity and bright aftertaste. The wine is packed with fruit and ready to drink.
This is a full, ripe, rich and structured wine. It brings out great fruitiness as well as a textured, dry and solid character. Balanced and concentrated,  this imposing wine needs a couple of years to develop. Drink from 2015.
This is a full, round, woody bottling, with graphite, leather and mild herbal aromas. The palate feel is concentrated but also tannic and grating. Flavors of bold black fruits, herbs and barrel resin finish tight, with residual raw oak in abundance. Drink through 2018.
This is a full, spicy and rich wine from the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains, ripe with apricot and plum fruits. There is freshness as well, along with a toasty character that adds complexity. This full-bodied wine can be aged for several years, so drink from 2019.
This is a fuller-bodied style of the variety, rich and moderate in acidity, with a fleshiness on the palate. It sings in tropical kumquat and pineapple alongside a succulence of melon.
This is a fuller and creamier rendition of Pinot Grigio with pretty aromas of honey, peach blossom and melon that give the wine a fragrant aromatic lift. It leaves a lean but smooth impression in the mouth and ends with bright citrus flavors. Imported by MW Imports.
This is a fully formed mouthful of a wine, meaty and smoky and brisk in savory fruit. From one of Terre Rouge's higher-elevation sites, it signals mountain fruit for sure, in terms of tannins and structure, but offers finesse in the glass, too.
This is a fully mature wine showcasing toast, ripe fruit and citrus acidity at their best. It is not a dry wine, with signs of a relatively high dosage, but that gives the wine softness as well as richness. Ready to drink now, but it will also keep until 2020.
This is a fully mature wine with an attractive mix of fresh acidity and intense perfumes. Bright and crisp on the palate, this textured wine finishes with white currant flavor. This is ready to drink now.
This is a fully mature wine, soft and fruity with bitter cherry flavors. While it feels light, it also has tannins that support the smooth texture. It's not a wine for aging, so drink now and until 2017.
This is a fully oaken, reserve-level wine with decadent yellow wax that's concentrated and ripe on the palate in toffee, vanilla and baked apple pie. Robust, it drinks decadently.
This is a fully structured, Alicante Bouschet-dominated wine from the Redondo region in the heart of Alentejo. Its juicy black fruit is firmly anchored by tannins and acidity. Concentrated and still likely to age, it will be best from 2018.
This is a fun and lively blend of 38% Grenache, 24% Cinsault, 21% Syrah and 17% Petite Sirah, with aromas of fresh wild berries and white pepper. The flavors are berry punch-like, with intriguing clove, licorice and anise.
This is a fun and quaffable kitchen sink blend of 32% Syrah, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, 9% Zinfandel and 4% Malbec. Sea salt caramel and cherry candy aromas lead into a palate full of red currant and strawberry jam flavors. Serve with cheeseburgers.
This is a fun discovery, a tantalizing mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown from estate vineyards in cool, acid-driven sites within the appellation ideal for sparkling. Light pink and gold in color, it celebrates the tangy flavors of pomegranate, strawberry and grapefruit against a mineral-laden backdrop and remarkable depth.
This is a fun, candy-pink colored wine that is off dry, with a light effervescent prickle on the tongue. It has a tangy character that brings out intense acidity, with crisp red-currant and raspberry flavors. Drink now.
This is a fun, complex wine, a blend of 79% Sauvignon Blanc, 18% Muscat Canelli and 3% Viognier, all mountain-grown. Orange blossom and jasmine permeate the inviting entry before waves of creamy tangerine and peach play on the palate, lifted by lively acidity.
This is a fun, creamy and rich wine made from a white grape native to Piedmont, Italy. This has intriguing tastes of sweet, tart fresh-squeezed lemonade, with a nutty, apple-driven acidity that lingers through the finish. Barrel-fermented, it would pair nicely with scallops.
This is a fun, easy drinker, showing zippy acidity and lots of mouthwatering clove and vanilla notes that frame flavors of Asian pear, orange and honeysuckle. It tastes just a bit off-dry, but it's refreshing and will pair well with Vietnamese and Ethiopian poultry-based dishes.
This is a fun, flavorful blend of 63% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Soft, juicy red fruit meets sizable tannin and leathery oak laced in vanilla.
This is a fun, novelty wine that delivers minimally on flavor. The bright aqua color is definitely unique, the aroma is like a blue popsicle or cotton candy, and sflavors are semisweet and candylike.
This is a funky briny wine that still seems a bit closed up on first pour. The palate is silky and focused, not having fully come together as of yet but still offering generous fruit, smoked meat and other savory flavors. It's all about elegance.
This is a funky, pushy type of wine, with prickly aromas of green herb and berry. For a 2007, it is big and a bit rough, with an herbal, green-leaning berry flavor distinctive of this producer and its Los Lingues Vineyard. It finishes with additional herbal kick and heat.
This is a gamy wine that shows ripe fruit with a barnyard accent. It's quite full and forward with red berry flavors, bright acidity and a sense of structure.
This is a garnet-ruby-colored Brunello with remarkable freshness and pristine berry aromas. Le Chiuse di Sotto would pair beautifully with roasted rabbit or white meat thanks to the polished, elegant feel it imparts on the close.
This is a generous and fruity wine that has soft tannins. It is dominated by bright acidity, black-currant fruits and a light structure. With its fresh character, it will be ready soon, so drink from 2018.
This is a generous and ripe version of the variety, reflective of warmer Napa Valley sites, and a wine that's completely delicious in its abundance of apple and caramel.
This is a generous black-fruit-driven wine. It has great fruit with some spice from wood. The tannins are firm while giving plenty of richness. With its black plum and berry flavors now developing well, it should be ready from 2018.
This is a generous blend of Antão Vaz, Roupeiro and Perrum (aka Pedro Ximenez). It is finely perfumed, full of juicy white fruits that are shot through with lemon juice. This is a wine to drink young and now.
This is a generous fruity wine with ripe tannins and plenty of black currants. There is a good amount of Cabernet Franc (32%) in this perfumed wine, giving both the structure and the dusty tannins. This is ready to drink.
This is a generous mouthful of Cabernet, with just small amounts of Merlot and Carmenère in the blend. Chewy, dusty, grainy, tannic and thoroughly delicious, it has the deeply flavored berry and cassis fruit to more than match the French oak. The fruit is wreathed in layers of smoke, charcoal and ash—all in proportion.
This is a generous ripe wine. It is full of rich black fruits that are cut with acidity as well as fleshed out with firm tannins. Dense and still dry, this young wine needs to age further. Drink from 2021.
This is a generous white from the famous vineyard site, robust in toasted oak and big flavors of butterscotch and vanilla. Youthful, it opens in the glass to find more of its ripe fruit, from Gravenstein apple to baked pear.
This is a generous wine that embraces your senses on all fronts. Penetrating aromas include cherry preserves, cola, black mineral and cedar. You'll taste sweet fruit, which is carried over the wine's soft and long-lasting mouthfeel.
This is a generous wine with fine potential. Its rich red fruits and acidity are contrasted with dense tannins and spice from the wood aging. It will be slow but sure to develop into a delicious wine. Drink from 2021.
This is a generous wine with richness. It has a smooth texture, and a palate full of ripe green fruit and pear flavors. There is also a tang of lemon as well as a more steely edge at the end. Screwcap.
This is a generous wine, although one that will need some serious aging. It is rich in tannins and powered by a firm structure. The fruit offers the weight to counter the tannins. It just needs time. Drink from 2024.
This is a generous wine, finely balanced and with great fruit. It has a touch of spice to balance the lively acidity and green crisp fruits. A waft of Mediterranean herbs passes over this ripe, generous wine. Drink from late 2017.
This is a generous wine, full of red-berry fruitiness and acidity with firm tannins. It is almost ready to drink. Wait until 2017.
This is a generous, full-bodied wine that shows the ripe fruit of the vintage. The fruit appears upfront, offering a warm mouthfeel, and the tannic structure is likely to allow it to age.
This is a generous, leathery and tannic wine, full-bodied and made in a juicy, foreboding style. Black pepper, leather and cigar smoke provide a sultry, robust edge to the wine, which should cellar well, through 2020.
This is a generous, likable Syrah for drinking soon. It's dark in color, full-bodied and dry, with ripe flavors of blackberries, plums, cola, anise, sandalwood and peppery spices. The soft tannins help the wine finish rich and silky.
This is a generous, mouth-filling and deftly complex wine that's also deep and concentrated. It seems to blend the meaty character of Mourvèdre, also known as Monastrell, with more fruity and spicy nuances.
This is a generous, richly fruity and well-oaked wine that blends almost-jammy cherry and blackberry flavors with sweet-seeming accents like vanilla and cinnamon. It's relatively soft in texture and easy to sip.
This is a generous, ripe wine, full of red fruits and soft acidity. It's already enjoyable, but will benefit from aging until 2015 to bring out the refreshing fruitiness even more.
This is a generous, rounded and very perfumed wine. Candy and bubble gum flavors give sweetness that contrasts with the acidity.
This is a generous, tightly wound vineyard-designate that tastes more full-figured than it lists in terms of alcohol, jammy in dark plum and cardamom. It finishes with a ripe robustness of dark cherry fruit flavor and hint of earth.
This is a generously concentrated and yet balanced wine, big in oak presence and structure that mellows in the glass. Lemon verbena and ginger appoint themselves in charge, their minions a mix of salted seaweed and Asian pear.
This is a generously fruity wine with light oak aromas, lots of straightforward black-cherry flavor, a smooth texture and full body.
This is a generously full-bodied wine, explosive in dark, brooding black fruit, coffee and bittersweet chocolate that offers firm, integrated tannin and lively acidity in equal measure. It shows varietal character, with an additional 1% Malbec swimming within.
This is a generously juicy, powerfully intense wine, rich and rewarding in blue and black fruit, cedar and dried herb. Lengthy and medium bodied, it weaves a complex tangle of tannin and oak as it goes, finishing with a strong taste of tobacco. It's attractive now, but will reward further if held until 2020.
This is a gentle and attractively fruity wine. Ripe and full, it also has a sense of tangy structure and citrus juice. The wine is developing well and will be ready to drink from summer 2017.
This is a gentle and easy-going Chardonnay. It is soft, lightly buttery and conveys apricot and ripe pear flavors. The aftertaste just touches on acidity.
This is a gentle giant of a wine, so packed with flavor and drenched with ripe tannins that it literally coats the palate. Clove, cedar and blackberry fill the aroma, while dark chocolate, spiced cherries and blackberries flood the flavors. While full bodied and richly tannic, it maintains fabulous balance, and is destined for a long life in the cellar. Best from 2024–2035.
This is a gentle giant of a wine, subtle and sublime in earthy rose petals, allspice and black tea that maintain a spiky, lively acidity throughout. Blueberry and black cherry compete for attention, balancing the grapes' more savory intentions, before a smoothly intense finish rides things out.
This is a gentle pleasure, 100% Sangiovese, ripened to flavors of raspberry puff pastry, lined with tart, citric acids, and finished with some pleasantly yeasty flavors of fresh-baked bread. Though light and quite tart, it's balanced and enjoyable.
This is a gentle style of Sauvignon Blanc that has just a touch of herbaceousness to go with the fresh, young grapefruit and crisp apple flavors. It's a wine to drink this summer.
This is a gentle wine that's textured with acidity, offering yellow and white fruits and some toast and spice flavors. It is round and soft, finishing with a tight edge of acidity.
This is a gentle wine that has some weight and richness. Its fruit is soft, ripe and warm.
This is a gentle, fruity and open wine that's full of rounded spiced-fruit flavors. It is attractive, with a fine balance of acidity. Ready to drink.
This is a gentle, perfumed wine that is ripe and deliciously fruity. It does have a more herbal, green side as well as a tangy texture but the main impression is of a wine that is soft and ready to drink.
This is a gentle, ripe wine that has pineapple and peach flavors and fresh fruitiness. It is smooth with balanced acidity and a zesty aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a gentle, soft Pinot Noir, dry and silky, offering classic flavors of cherries, raspberries, spices and smoky oak, housed in a good structure of tannins. It's a lovely wine to drink now with steak or lamb.
This is a gently spicy wine with notes of ginger and cinnamon as well as ripe tropical fruits. It is not a complex wine, but very approachable even at this stage and touched with some acidity on the finish.
This is a genuine and straightforward red wine from Piedmont that would pair with oven-roasted pasta or meat loaf. The wine (made from Nebbiolo and 20% Vespolina) is lean and fresh in the mouth, but ends with a very focused blast of almond and marzipan like flavors.
This is a genuine Ripasso that boasts distinctive aromas of Indian spice, ground ginger, white almond and root beer. There's a cool note of freshness on the close that is backed by plush flavors of mature fruit.
This is a genuine wine with very nice integrity of fruit and a clean, compact quality through and through. Aromas include cherry, blueberry, almond paste, molasses, forest berry and coffee bean. It has a fresh personality and imparts lasting tones of crisp fruit on the palate. Made by enologist Gioia Cresti.
This is a giant of a wine, packed to bursting with dark chocolate, black cherry, black pepper and clove flavors, all wrapped in a soft layer of tannins. Made of 63% Petite Sirah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and dashes of three other grapes, it has good depth, concentration and full body, and will make maximum impact at your next party.
This is a gigantic Cabernet, deeply concentrated and enormously tannic and dry. Waves of black currants, blueberries, violets and sweet toasted oak are wrapped into a firm astringency. This needs plenty of time; hold until 2017, at least.
This is a gigantic expression of the variety, from high-elevation sites, an explosion of coffee, black licorice and red fruit. With a powerful backbone of bittersweet tannins and weight, the finish is reminiscent of cigar smoke.
This is a glamorous, fashionable wine that gives the pleasure you want in a bubbly. It's dryish and crisp, with doughy yeast, raspberry and lime flavors. A good price for a California sparkling wine of this quality.
This is a gloriously juicy wine, full of melon, apricot and the brightest citrus flavors. This fruit salad is given structure by the wood and the tangy, zesty edge. It drinks well now, still young and fresh, but will be better aged. Drink from 2016.
This is a golden, mature and sweet wine that comes from the white wine appellation of the Madiran region. It balances ripe apricot and honey with intense acidity to create a beautiful wine. The zesty marmalade and final crispness are delicious. Drink now.
This is a good-time wine that's superrich and fruity. It's easy to drink and enjoy, uncomplicated and jammy in flavor and soft in texture.
This is a good bargain for a varietal that's very difficult to make inexpensively. Whiffs of wood smoke meet ripe concentrated black-cherry flavors in this full-bodied smooth-textured wine. It has moderate fine-grained tannins for grip and a lingering spice and smoke finish.
This is a good bottle, single vineyard-sourced, toasty and still tightly-wound with tart red fruits. It's pretty and forward, perhaps best enjoyed in the next year or two.
This is a good but decidedly herbal-leaning Cab. The nose gives off tomato, spice and light berry aromas. It's fresh and medium in heft, with more herb and spice flavors than black fruit. Things turn woody, spicy, dry and slightly hot on the finish.
This is a good but generic Chilean Cabernet, meaning it's a bit herbal and fiery, with eucalyptus on the nose. In the mouth, this is medium in intensity and modest in character. Flavors of herbal red berry, carob and dried leaves end with a touch of heat.
This is a good but pretty ordinary Chardonnay despite its famous Rochioli brand name. It's creamy and forward in apricot and orange jam, pineapple custard and sweet oak flavors, with good acidity.
This is a good Cab for drinking with everyday fare, like burgers or tacos. It's softly tannic and sweet with blackberries, cherries and toasty oak.
This is a good Cabernet, dry and tannic, with classic black currant and tea flavors. Enjoy now with a good decant.
This is a good deal for wine of this quality. Shy on the nose at first, it soon opens into a bevy of thick, meaty, smooth and rugged expression, dotted in a landscape of chocolate and bacon. Grippy tannin give way to more chocolate and welcome dots of white pepper.
This is a good effort, with berry and cherry flavors and smooth tannins.
This is a good everyday Sauvignon Blanc for drinking with chicken, ham sandwiches or fish tacos. Slightly sweet in orange and vanilla, it's accompanied by crisp acidity.
This is a good everyday wine if you're looking for something dry, full-bodied and fruity. It's not particularly identifiable as Merlot, but it's easy to drink, with berry and currant flavors and a nice tug from the tannins.
This is a good example of a red Portuguese wine, showcasing soft, generous tannins and juicy red and blackberry fruits. It is ripe, full of fruit and rounded with a firm, dry aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a good example of Syrah's potential in Tuscany, giving off generous notes of bright cherry and boysenberry followed by toasted nuts, tobacco and smoked ham. This version has a particularly attractive finale, which is bursting with balsam and menthol freshness.
This is a good example of the high-alcohol style of warmth and deliciousness. While it's not common for Stags Leap wines to have these characteristics, it is incredibly deep in black cherries, milk chocolate and oak, with a spicy finish that goes on for a long time, indicating the power of this Cabernet. Drink over the next six years.
This is a good example of what Finger Lakes Chards can offer: assertive, full-flavored Chardonnay flavors and layers of spice edged by a clean minerality. Balanced and offering a supple mouthfeel, the wine is both food friendly and elegant.
This is a good followup to Merryvale's 2009. While it was barrel fermented in nearly half new French oak, it never feels overly manipulated or fussy. Marked by crisp acidity and Carneros minerality, it's an elegant, clean wine, with subtle Meyer lemon, lime and Asian pear flavors.
This is a good no-nonsense wine that emphasizes fresh lemon and apple flavors and adds in light oaky elements. It's medium bodied and the texture balances crispness with a touch of buttery richness.
This is a good Pinot Noir for drinking now. It has uncomplicated flavors of cherries, red plums and spices, and is dry and silky in the mouth. Acidity is high, giving it a tart bite throughout.
This is a good Pinot Noir that's full-bodied, dry and silky in the mouth, with crisp acidity. It shows raspberry, cola and green tea flavors. Hard to predict if it has a future, so drink now–2014.
This is a good Pinot Noir, although it's a bit off here and there. Dry, crisp and silky, it offers pleasant cherry and cola flavors. But there's just a touch of unripeness that compromises it.
This is a good Pinot Noir, but it lacks a certain vitality and complexity. The cherry flavors have an herbal, mushroomy edge. Would score higher if it had greater structural depth.
This is a good Pinot Noir. While it's not an ager because it's made for immediate consumption, it does show an elegant structure. Crisp acidity provides balance to the cola, cherry, pomegranate, spice and smoky vanilla flavors.
This is a good portrait of Nebbiolo save for a pungent touch of powder or solvent that distracts from the overall harmony of fruit. Those strong elements are not outside the great boundaries of this important native Italian grape and are more than forgiven in this case.
This is a good price for a Cabernet this rich and satisfying. It's dry, tannic and opulent in blackberries, black currants and mocha, with a complex note of green olives. It's fully ready to drink now.
This is a good price for a coastal Pinot Noir that's so rich and balanced. It's silky in the mouth, with luscious strawberry, cranberry and cola flavors, and deepened with notes of toasty oak.
This is a good price for a Pinot of this quality. On the plus side, it's dry, tannic and silky, with pomegranate, cola and cherry skin flavors, as well as complexing notes of portobello mushrooms and sandalwood. It's a little rustic and won't age, and shows best if decanted before drinking.
This is a good reminder that Touriga Nacional comes from originally from the Dão. The wine has power and dense tannins while also having a strongly textured character that shows up the granite soil of the region. The wine is just maturing and will be at its best from 2017.
This is a good Syrah for drinking now, with rich berry, cherry, mocha, brown sugar and roasted meat flavors. The tannins are brisk, and there's a nice cut of acidity. This is far from the winery's best Darien Syrah, but it's delicious.
This is a good value for a Sonoma Coast Pinot of this quality. The wine is dry, crisp and clean, with complex flavors of raspberry jam, pomegranates and heirloom tomatoes, which lend a satisfying earthiness to the fruit. New French oak is applied judiciously, and crisp acidity gives it delicious bite.
This is a good value for a sophisticated Merlot from Napa Valley. It's not an ager, but it's delightful now for its dryness, smooth tannins and complex cherry and red currant flavors with hints of herbs and sweet peas.
This is a good value in a soft, easy-drinking wine. It has very ripe fruit flavors, hints of brown sugar, a relaxed texture and a seemingly sweet finish.
This is a good value in the plush superripe style of Cabernet that seems to be popular these days. The velvety mouthfeel easily carries bold vanilla and plum flavors over the palate, partly balanced by a savory-spicy element. Drink now.
This is a good value Zinfandel. Its label was modeled after the Fillmore's better days of poster art, meant to appeal to Baby Boomer rock lovers everywhere. Spicy and not overbearing, it'll work for casual jam sessions and/or barbecues.
This is a good value, offering plenty of the plump, ripe fruit flavors and leafy, herbal notes that have come to define Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
This is a good vineyard and it's a decent wine but not a great one. It's overripe, as shown by the raisiny flavors and a certain peppery heat. But it will be fine with a big barbecued chunk of beef.
This is a good vintage for Handley's Mendocino blend, a mishmash from various vineyards throughout the county. The wine has structure and bright acidity, with its intensity tucked between its layers. This can likely age.
This is a good vintage for inexpensive Oregon Pinot, as this fresh and flavorful effort proves. Hints of toasted marshmallows and coconut adorn light strawberry fruit. Drink it chilled for optimum enjoyment.
This is a good wine for enjoying now with Mexican food or a barbecue. It's dry and briary, with black pepper-accented cola, blackberry and, currant flavors.
This is a good wine that's weakened by a lack of harmony. The fruit veers toward mangoes and breadfruit. The acids are fine. A gentle overlay of oak and pronounced lees add textural complexity. Yet the parts don't come together smoothly; it feels jagged in the mouth. —S.H.
This is a good wine to drink if you want a modestly elegant Chardonnay to serve alongside food, instead of a big, oaky sweetie. It's dry and crisp and clean, with pleasantly rich flavors of citrus fruits, peaches, green apples, minerals and vanilla. Easy to find, with 17,000 cases produced.
This is a good wine to explore if you're interested in California Marsanne. Crisp and soft, it has interesting flavors of tropical fruits, wildflowers, Asian spices, butterscotch and honey. Finishes on the off-dry side.
This is a good wine, but it's not on a par with previous vintages, which probably was the result of the unusually cool summer. The wine tastes simple, with delicious but one-dimensional licorice, sweet, softened cola and blackberry jam flavors.
This is a good wine, but it relies too much on oak, overwhelming it with buttered toast and caramel. The result is a rich but unbalanced wine, with underlying orange, pineapple and peach flavors.
This is a good wine, dry and balanced, with a rich tannic structure. It's also very strongly flavored. The fruit detonates in the mouth, offering a flood of blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries and currants, with complex notes of unsweetened baker's chocolate and peppery Provençal herbs and lavender. May calm down with a few years in the bottle.
This is a good wine, fancy and dry, with plenty of acidity. The citrus, peach and gooseberry flavors have an edge of new French oak. Hall bought this vineyard from Iron Horse, who used to blend some Viognier into the wine, with excellent results.
This is a good wine, fruity and oaky, with fresh, jammy flavors of raspberries, cherries, currants and cocoa. It's a direct wine with a good structure. Drink now.
This is a good yet basic Merlot with baked berry aromas. The mouthfeel is more lively and raw in feel, with modest berry and spice flavors that hit quick and hollow at just as quickly. A standard finish is fine but doesn't evolve.
This is a good Zin, with raspberry, red currant and licorice flavors. Minty green notes alongside bright fruit lend a slightly unripe or uneven feel. Drink up.
This is a good Zinfandel with some special qualities. It's full-bodied and very ripe, with berry-cherry flavors that have a baked, pie-filling warmth, and additional layers of olive tapenade and salted, dried beef. The finish includes Zin's savory wealth of peppery spices.
This is a good, brisk Sauvignon Blanc whose citrus and tropical fruit, peach and vanilla flavors are delicious. Bright acidity makes it feel clean and zesty.
This is a good, classic-style blend of Bordeaux grape varieties with just enough tannin to support the ripe blackberry and black-pepper flavors. It's dry, has medium body and a mouth-filling texture.
This is a good, dark, iron-rich wine, with earth and mineral dominating through a tart finish. Interesting change of pace.
This is a good, drily tannic red wine. It's muscular in the full-bodied weight and full-throttle blackberry and cherry fruit, and the oak stands out. Yet it has a balanced elegance. Drink now.
This is a good, dry Chardonnay, marked by brisk acidity and a steely minerality. The fruit veers toward pineapples and apricots, while oak adds notes of buttered toast and caramel. Feels like it wants to be richer than it is, but it's elegant.
This is a good, dry Pinot Grigio, offering consumers the crisp tartness and tangy citrus and spice flavors that have made the variety so popular. Great price, at the equivalent of $6.25 per bottle.
This is a good, dry wine with moderate fruit flavors, a straightforward texture and medium body. It has mild lemon and apple notes in the aroma and on the palate.
This is a good, dry, somewhat rugged Cabernet, rich in varietal blackberry and black currant flavors with a coating of smoky oak. It's fully ready to drink now. Shows real elegance in the refined mouthfeel, and the spicy finish is a delight.
This is a good, dry, spicy Cabernet. It shows the briary character of Dry Creek Valley, with flavors of wild berries and tobacco, and sandpapery tannins. Good price for a wine that gets better as it breathes in the glass.
This is a good, elegantly structured Cabernet. It's bone dry, and marked by zesty acidity, as well as blackberry, black currant, cherry, mocha and bacon flavors. Especially likeable for its low, 13.9% alcohol. Drink now.
This is a good, every day effort, much like the baseline Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blancs. Lightly grassy, lemony and tart, it is an all-purpose quaffer.
This is a good, everyday Pinot that's rich and sweet in berries and cherries, with plenty of oak to give it that buttered toast and vanilla deliciousness. Enjoy it now.
This is a good, everyday Zin with some extra features of fanciness. It's dry and tannic and full-bodied, the way you want Zin to be, with modest flavors of cherries, currants, mint, pepper and tobacco.
This is a good, full-bodied, dry Cabernet that delivers with plenty of varietal personality. Shows very ripe, concentrated blackberry, cherry and currant flavors, with plenty of sweet oak, and is tannic enough to develop over the next 4–6 years. Easy to find, with 12,000 cases produced.
This is a good, if somewhat soft and simple wine, with blackberry, cola and oak flavors. Structurally lean, the palate longs for something to grip onto and doesn't find it.
This is a good, medium-bodied wine with light aromas, fairly neutral flavors and a very clean, straightforward personality. It will suit a crowd.
This is a good, middle-of-the-road, unoaked wine. It has moderate fruit concentration, medium body, a nice balance and a crisp sense of freshness.
This is a good, rather standard Pinot Noir. It's varietally correct in the dry, silky mouthfeel and flavors of cherries, cola and herbs, tinged with oak. Nothing to get excited about. Drink now.
This is a good, rich bubbly, full-bodied and dry, with subtle flavors of red cherries, limes, vanilla and yeasty bread dough. It's a little scoury, but a good value for the money.
This is a good, rich Chardonnay showing lots of tropical fruit and vanilla, smoky oak flavors, and a creamy texture. It's made in the modern style. Not especially complex, but rich and opulent. Drink now.
This is a good, rich, complex Cab, but it's also toughly tannic, and needs time in the cellar to come around. Beneath the astringency are ripe flavors of blackberries, cherries and sweet fresh herbs. Give it until 2011, if you can.
This is a good, rich, leesy and immediately appealing wine, with great texture and a fine mix of melon, apricot and peach flavors. For the price, it's hard to find a better Pinot Gris.
This is a good, round, fruity style of Riesling. It's off-dry (2.6% residual sugar), with flavors of pineapple, sweet tangerine and Meyer lemon. The fruit is simply delicious; drink now.
This is a good, solid Pinot Noir, a little rustic and direct, but offering lots of drinking pleasure. It's dry and silky, with rich black cherry, raspberry, cola and sandalwood flavors. Drink over the next year or two.
This is a good, solid wine labeled to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Parducci estate. It has robust flavors, full body and a rich layer of tannins to add texture. The flavors are like ripe plums and pomegranate juice. It also has good balance and develops an elegant mouth-feel.
This is a good, solidly made wine with medium body and a pleasant mix of spicy oak and juicy fruit flavors. The texture goes easy on the palate.
This is a good, sound Cabernet. The blackberry and cherry fruit is candy-jammy, with an oaky overlay.
This is a good, sound, everyday Chardonnay. It's very dry and crisp in Central Coast acidity, with mineral-laded flavors of lemons, limes, apples and pineapples, touched with vanilla and buttered toast.
This is a good, sound, somewhat rustic wine that's fine for drinking now with, yes, spaghetti, with meatballs and a rich marinara sauce. The wine is dry and fruity, with sturdy tannins. Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel.
This is a good, standard-issue Zinfandel. It's spicy and dry, with red cherry, licorice, cola and tobacco flavors, wrapped into firm tannins. Bring on the cheeseburgers, and don't forget the ketchup.
This is a good, straightforward Chardonnay with buttercream, vanilla, tropical fruit and citrus flavors.
This is a good, straightforward table wine with mild fruit flavors, medium body and a touch of vanilla on the finish.
This is a good, sturdy wine with ample fruit flavors, a firm texture and full body. It is mouthfilling, ripe and easy to like.
This is a good, traditional-style wine with aromas like sage and plums. Flavors are fruity but accented by herbs, with a texture that is mild in tannins and relatively soft.
This is a good, well-made Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy now. It's nice and dry and sturdy in tannins, with oak-influenced blackberry and currant flavors. Shows some real sophistication.
This is a good, well-made wine that hits the spot, with lively apple and citrus aromas, fresh and crisp fruit flavors, a lively mouthfeel and tangy finish. It will be easy to pair with appetizers, seafood and light entrees.
This is a gorgeous and linear wine that boasts beautiful layers of black currant, tar, asphalt, drying mineral, green spice, curry powder and licorice. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this wine has aged well over the years and promises additional longevity thanks to its bright acidity and the integrity of its fruit.
This is a gorgeous and superbly balanced Syrah that's a real joy to drink. Aromas of cherry, whole vanilla bean, berry preserves and black tea leaves fill the bouquet, while solid notes of raspberry and red plum fill the mouth. The crushed velvet texture with dusty but firm tannins transitions seamlessly to the long coffee and black-pepper infused finish.
This is a gorgeous Brunello that proudly defies the difficulties associated with this hot vintage. The wine exhibits freshness and buoyancy in the form of crisp cherry and blueberry. It also offers deep layers of cola, coffee and mineral and although the mouthfeel is chewy, there's enough silky softness to even it out.
This is a gorgeous Brunello with thick and succulent aromas of black fruit, spice, cedar wood, leather and pipe tobacco. It offers a lot of in terms of complexity and intensity but is never overdone or exaggerated. In the mouth, it fills the palate with beautifully bright cherry flavors.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Sicily with intense aromas of black pepper, exotic spice, green curry leaves and chocolate fudge. It has depth and personality and would pair with succulent cuts of beef.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet, but it's pretty young, and while it's delicious now due to the ripe fruit, it really needs time. Wrapped in fresh, tight tannins, it displays powerful red and black currant, blackberry, cherry, chocolate and vanilla oak flavors, and shows the elegant, important mouthfeel of a top Napa Cab. Give it until after 2008, if you can keep your hands off, and will come into its own after 2010.
This is a gorgeous cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc with incredible aromatic intensity. Sophisticated and well crafted, this the shows tones of white flower, exotic fruit, citrus and jasmine. The mouthfeel is bold, smooth and silky.
This is a gorgeous dessert wine with apricot, peach, honey and almond paste backed by a spicy touch of spearmint. The mouthfeel is rich, creamy and very satisfying. Pair this golden wine with aged cheese and fruit marmalade.
This is a gorgeous expression from Montalcino that opens with opulent and beautiful aromas of dark chocolate, ripe cherry, leather and barbecue smoke. The wine is immensely rich and succulent at its core and creamy, velvety density marks the luscious fade.
This is a gorgeous expression of Sauvignon that boasts enormous focus and precision in terms of its aromatic delivery. It has notes of citrus, almond, tomato leaf, dried basil and exotic fruit. The mouthfeel is solid in structure and refreshingly crisp on the finish.
This is a gorgeous expression of the variety, co-fermented with 6% Viognier, fruity, ripe and plush yet also completely varietal in its punches of floral white pepper, anise and gamy meat. Although the wine is ready to enjoy now, those who can restrain themselves should cellar it through 2022 to see how it further develops.
This is a gorgeous interpretation of Aglianico in which the tannic grape is softened and rounded out thanks to quality winemaking. Aromas of chocolate fudge, exotic spice, rum cake and loads of black fruit appear on the bouquet. You will, however, feel that characteristic tightness on the long, drying finish.
This is a gorgeous Italian Sauvignon with pungent notes of tomato leaf, sage, kiwi and passion fruit. The wine is tonic and fresh with a crisp mouthfeel. In fact, this aromatic wine brings its best qualities directly to the nose.
This is a gorgeous Italian white (made with Pinot Bianco grapes) that shows promising food pairing potential thanks to its silky, creamy mouthfeel and non-intrusive aromas. The wine offers a steady flow of stone fruit, melon and honey-like flavors.
This is a gorgeous Italian white from northern Italy that boasts fragrant tones of spring flower and chopped herb backed by peach, honey and white almond. It's crisp, intense and would be perfect with basil Thai curry.
This is a gorgeous rendering of grape and place. Steely at first, it shows off the coolness of the site, yet it's thick and inviting in apple skin, lemon bar and fresh-picked papaya. Minerality-driven, it never taxes the palate, instead releasing quiet waves of flavor and acidity.
This is a gorgeous Sauvignon from northern Italy that demonstrates true varietal characteristics of exotic fruit, citrus and tomato leaf. The mouthfeel is sharply etched and crisp with a very tonic and steely feel.
This is a gorgeous Vin Santo with richly caramelized flavors and extraordinary smoothness, opulence and persistency. Its modern and round—there are no sharp points here—and absent are those resin or tar-like flavors you sometimes find. Instead this is an absolutely pure expression of caramel delight.
This is a gorgeous white wine (100% Falanghina) that is generous in terms of its bouquet but compact and streamlined at the same time. The mouthfeel is smooth and crisp and is accented by creamy peach flavors.
This is a gorgeous wine although it definitely expresses itself better on the nose than it does in the mouth. The aromas include black fruit, sweet spice, cinnamon and cedar. The mouthfeel is cleansing, bright with medium length. It would pair with a delicate and aromatic dish such as pork tenderloin with olives and herbs.
This is a gorgeous wine on many fronts. Firstly, its aromas of wild berry, smoke and cedar are focused and pristine. Secondly, the texture it imparts in the mouth is dense, firm but ultimately yielding and plush. Lastly, the wine's fresh flavors endure for many minutes.
This is a gorgeous wine that's driven by notes of spice and new wood. The wood is supported by ripe flavors of plum, damson and blackberry juice, with tight acidity. The Alentejo's dry climate is certainly suited to Syrah, producing fine structure. Age for 3–4 years.
This is a gorgeous wine that's fat and smooth in nectarines, tangerine, custard and tropical fruits, with a kiss of sweet, smoky oak. The two varieties were co-fermented in this very happy marriage of a wine.
This is a gorgeous wine with impressive intensity and balance. Aromas include black cherry, dried currants, candied fruit, leather, tar and a touch of powdered licorice. There are earthy and mineral tones as well and the wine shows the high levels of richness and complexity that can be achieved with Sangiovese Grosso.
This is a gorgeous wine with loads of intensity and fruit. You can expect the wine to age many years in the cellar thanks to the integrity of the cherry, blackberry and plum flavors. In the mouth, the wine is soft, round and smooth although the tannins could use a few more years to soften.
This is a gorgeous wine with loads of intensity and personality derived from the native Corvina grape of Valpolicella, Italy. It's amazingly rich and smooth with long-lasting flavors of maraschino cherry, Indian spice and cola.
This is a gorgeous wine, blended with 8% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, and aged entirely in new French oak. Juicy waves of cassis and red currant are accented by dark chocolate, ultimately showcasing a lush, plush yet structured palate. It's decadent now, but should age well through 2022.
This is a gorgeous, compelling wine of power and finesse. It has a captivating fragrance of earth, leather, black fruit and incense accented with whiffs of exotic spice. The palate is rich but refined, delivering ripe black cherry, blue berry, tobacco and baking spices along with enveloping, velvety tannins. Drink 2016–2036.
This is a gorgeous, creamy wine. A blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon, Lis offers everything you look for in a quality Italian white. It's crisp and fruit-driven and delivers good staying power and freshness.
This is a gorgeous, crisp white wine with a slightly herbal dimension and drying mineral tones that frame a solid core of stone fruit, pear and melon. This is the first vintage of a fascinating wine that represents a piece of enological archeology: Once-abandoned Grillo vineyards on the tiny, but ruined-filled, island of Mozia (off the coast of Marsala, Sicily) have recently been revived. Only accessible by boat, this is a dreamy destination for wine tourists.
This is a gorgeous, tonic and firm expression from Mt. Etna that delivers both elegance and power. Complex and deeply layered aromas of violets, rose, cedar, smoke, ash, honey and forest berry build aromatic momentum and the wine is bright and very long lasting in the mouth. Intense and beautiful overall.
This is a gorgeously extracted and dense wine with thick concentration and intense notes of ripe fruit, blackberry jam, dried currant, tar, asphalt and resin. The aromas are immediate and opulent but the wine also delivers a streamlined and polished mouthfeel that suits it very nicely.
This is a gorgeously floral and herbal wine nuanced in curvy minerality that both defines it and allows it to support lovely accents of apricot and peach.
This is a gorgeously light coastal offering, a subdued expression of the variety that unravels its layers slowly and methodically. Red cherry, lavender and blueberry are revealed on the palate as perfumed shocks of rose and salty air permeate the nose. Vibrantly crisp, it has a slight grip to the velvety texture.
This is a gorgeously luxurious wine, vibrant and alive in blackberry and raspberry, a savory lining of red currant providing its edge. The big tannin presence speaks to cellaring, through 2022, but a decant should help, too, allowing the herbal and fruit components to come into balance with its powerful density.
This is a gorgeously perfumed Riesling, chock-full of white flowers and ripe, juicy stonefruit, but not at all cloying. Dry on the palate, it exhibits elegant peach and apricot flavors that lead to a long, lingering finish marked by lime peel and a hint of chalk.
This is a gorgeously rich wine, smooth and concentrated. The tropical fruits, added to apricots and green plums, and the spicy edge, fill the mouth with a creamy texture. There is light acidity, just enough to give a final shape to the wine. Screwcap.
This is a grand wine with serious concentration and savory complexity to complement its base of ripe apple, melon and mango flavors. Subtle butter, nutmeg and mineral aromas lead to a rich palate, where its smooth and expansive mouthfeel finishes with creamy, spicy accents.
This is a grand, complex wine, full of ripe apple, dried apricots and pear skins. It is just beginning to hint at more mature, complex flavors. With great acidity that cuts right through the palate, this serious, dense wine will age well. Drink until 2022.
This is a grapefruit- and apple-flavored wine with a lively prickle on the palate. Bright and dry, this is sharpened by a citrus flavor and acidity. Ready to drink.
This is a grassy and lemony expression of Pinot Grigio with easy lines and a touch of bright acidity on the close. Pair the wine with Thai mango salad.
This is a grassy, herbal blend of Inzolia and Sauvignon Blanc with dandelion, dried hay and sage leaf backed by pulpy peach. It's an organic wine with a crisp, cheerful personality and an easy approach.
This is a grassy, herbal wine with attractive acidity and the crispest hint of apricots and some distinctive spice. It is fruity, ready to drink now.
This is a grassy, herbal wine with green and crisp citrus fruits. It is of course very young and its exuberant fruitiness will be better when it all calms down. The acidity and hint of apricots give the promise of a richer fuller future. Drink from 2017.
This is a grassy, lean bottling with a bit too much asparagus and vegetal notes on both the nose and palate. The flavor profile features some grapefruit and green apple, but the fruit is rather dilute and distant. Beyond that, the finish is dry, almost like drinking club soda.
This is a gravel- and mineral-textured wine that has a very structured feel, with red berry flavors and firm tannins. Still young, it is a wine that should soften, so wait until 2016.
This is a great 2005 Pinot Noir, the best ever from Talley. The wine somehow combines huge ripe fruit with delicacy. It floods the mouth with profound currant, cherry pie, licorice, cola, raspberry, cocoa and vanilla smoke flavors, yet feels light and silky, and is thoroughly dry. That's the magic of Pinot Noir. You can enjoy this small production wine now, and it should develop additional complexities for 10 years.
This is a great Barbera that's loaded with varietal aromas of ripe berry and black pepper. The delicious palate delivers black cherry, white pepper and cinnamon flavors. The round, soft tannins are balanced with fresh acidity, making this perfect to pair with hearty pastas to grilled steaks.
This is a great buy. It's soft, rich and dry, with the velvety texture you want in a nice Syrah. Shows complex flavors of berries, cherries, cocoa, licorice and crushed pepper, and feels really stylish. Gets better as it warms in the glass.
This is a great Cabernet, blended with a drop of Petit Verdot. It shows the intensity of mountain fruit, with incredibly concentrated black currant and cassis flavors, with superb tannins. Few Cabernets have shown this degree of ageability. Drink now–2024
This is a great Chianti Classico Riserva that offers everything you look for in a wine from Tuscany. There's freshness and pristine cherry aromas along with spice, black mineral and fresh acidity on the close. The wine is approachable, soft and ultimately very food-friendly.
This is a great effort by winemaker Etienne Terlinden, offering dense and deep but bright and lively blackberry, black cherry, cola, graphite and a touch of wild herbs on the nose. Long-lasting flavors of sarsaparilla, shaved licorice, vanilla bean, bay leaf, fennel seed and dark earth meet with more black cherry fruit on the palate, carried by an expert acidity level.
This is a great everyday wine, with well-integrated aromas of pressed boysenberry, dried black cherry, black pepper and a touch of asphalt. Blueberry, beef crust, soy and pepper converge on the palate. The wine is smooth enough to work with a variety of dishes but packed with enough action to serve alone as well.
This is a great example from the warmer Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago. Dense aromas of tangy cranberries, dates, mocha and vanillan oak precede powerful but balanced tannins, lashings of acidity and a long, savory, olive-driven finish. Drink now with Moroccan cuisine or stash away through 2027.
This is a great example of a dry well-balanced Zin to drink with dinner rather than as a sweet dessert. It's also a taste of history, coming from a vineyard originally planted in 1869. It's medium bodied, nicely structured with firm tannins and has aromatic complexity from cedar, tobacco and cardamom notes, plus delicious just-ripe cherry flavors.
This is a great example of a lower alcohol, somewhat underripe Pinot Noir that shows solid depth and lovable freshness. Lively aromas of black-raspberry sorbet and dark strawberry show on the nose, while the palate picks up a tart cranberry character. White pepper, thyme and juniper enliven the fruity flavors.
This is a great example of a variety Americans are still learning to embrace. Plum and cherry aromas and flavors are approachable and soft, but the wine has good tannic structure which shows potential to age. This would be great with lasagna, steak or vegetarian cuisine.
This is a great example of how an affordable wine can still offer quality and character. A compelling nose of tobacco, berry and spice is followed by a play of plum and clean minerality. Balanced and slightly restrained, the wine will pair well with heartier foods like steak or stew.
This is a great example of how Pinot Noir doesn't need deep color and overripe flavors to be fascinating and delicious. Light in appearance and tawny rather than bright red at the rim, it exudes nutmeg, cherry and pomegranate aromas. The flavors are fruity and nervy, all tart cherry, and raspberry with black tea accents, excellent acidity and firm, light tannins.
This is a great example of Pinot Noir made in the slightly underripe style, showing underbrush, kalamata olive, black olive, black pepper and a touch of just-ripe mulberry on the nose. Those elements carry through the fresh sip, where intriguing notes of thyme, marjoram and bay leaf decorate the tart red-fruit and olive character.
This is a great example of the power that can come a Grand Cru vineyard. It's opulent and dense, but more than that it has intense energy and drive. Although the wine is marked as medium sweet, the spice and pepper give it a dry, tight, nervy edge. The wine is still young and will be best from 2017.
This is a great example of what most would consider a straight-ahead and delicious California Chardonnay. The nose offers aromas of seared pineapple cake, vanilla soda and Meyer lemon, and the palate blends all of the typical elements: lemon juice acidity down the middle, minerality driven by slate and white rocks, apple and a bit of brown spice on the edges.
This is a great find in this category. Gentle, floral notes of honey and apple mark nose and palate. The light body gives a charming, almost delicate character to this well-balanced and refreshing sweet wine.
This is a great house pour for fans of Chilean Merlot with its consistent fruit, soft acidity and low tannins. On the nose and palate, a core of sweet, Red Delicious apple is accented by dry leather, toasty vanilla and dried herbs. Simple, but well crafted.
This is a great Merlot that's intensely concentrated and dazzlingly rich—everything you want a Merlot to be. It's power packed with black cherries, cherry liqueur, cocoa and sweet oak, with firm, hard tannins. That is, of course, the Nickel & Nickel style. It shows classic Oakville structure and a hard-to-define elegance, making it one of the best Merlots of the vintage.
This is a great Napa Valley Merlot, from a winery with a generally good track record with the variety. The grapes were grown in the Coombsville region, although they were allowed to get very ripe, resulting in fairly high alcohol and rich cherry, berry, dark chocolate and anise flavors. It's notable for grippy tannins that give it a firm, dry mouthfeel.
This is a great option for a widely available and affordable rosé. A very pretty pink in color, it shows baked strawberry, rose petals and vanilla ice cream on the nose. The sip tightens around cherry and strawberry-brioche flavors.
This is a great price for a single-vineyard Syrah from the Napa Valley region of Yountville. The wine is bone dry, acidic and tannic, with deep, impressive blackberry, black currant, green tea, charred meat and black pepper flavors. It improves a lot with decanting, and overall is impressive.
This is a great project dedicated to and featuring the winery's workers, who are named on the bottles, although the wine itself is a tad sweet. Baked black cherry, licorice and caramel aromas lead to a palate ripe with purple berry and cocoa dust flavors. An easy to quaff and light-bodied red.
This is a great showing of how Chardonnay can work in Temecula. Fresh Meyer-lemon blossoms meet with lemon curd, clarified butter and vanilla paste on a tangy yet rich nose. Marcona almonds, apple custard, white peach and lightly toasted marshmallows show on the palate, balanced by just enough acid.
This is a great success for the year, a wine that is dense, characterized by balance between sweet fruit and solid tannins. Spice from the finely judged wood aging adds extra complexity, as do the plum and berry fruits. For aging.
This is a great success in a challenging vintage. Dry and silky in the mouth, it's marked by brisk acidity, firm tannins and intricate black-cherry, cola and licorice flavors. It feels really interesting and changes with every sniff and sip. Very nice now, and it will develop over the next six years.
This is a great success, showing brisk acidity and savory lemon, lime, grapefruit and mango flavors. There's a delicious richness to the palate, even though the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel.
This is a great success. Youthful tannins exude power and vitality, combining with great fruit concentration, the elements coming together with sweet chocolate and cocoa as added richness. A tasty wine that is developing well.
This is a great sunny day wine, starting with aromas of honeydew melon, ripe nectarine and lemongrass. There is a slightly peachy, bubblegum character once sipped, with lemon-lime soda in the midpalate and a flinty, gunmetal finish.
This is a great value for a wine from the celebrated Amador region. Aromas like strawberry jam and brown sugar lead to very ripe and fruity flavors in this full-bodied but lively wine. It's fun to sip and doesn't try for a serious profile or heavy texture.
This is a great value in a Petite Sirah that shows how well the variety performs in a great vintage in a warmer climate. With 20% Syrah, which seems to add richness and nobility, the wine is bone dry and elegant in mouthfeel, with complex blackberry, black currant, grilled beef, black pepper and cedar flavors. Drink now.
This is a great vineyard that has sourced great Cabs for Terra Valentine. A barrel sample of the '04, tasted more than 2 years ago, showed ageability. Now that it has been released, the wine is still very young and filled with potential. Thick in black currants, cherries and oak, it needs much more time. Best after 2010.
This is a great vintage for this wine, pure Roussanne from Ciel du Cheval vineyard grapes. It opens with high-toned jasmine, lemon and chamomile aromas, lightly touched with honey. Limes, pears and orange marmalade fill the midpalate, opening into a long, lingering finish dotted with white pepper.
This is a great vintage of Le Cèdre. With dark tannins and impressive structure, it is big and fruity while never overwhelming. Dense black fruits, bitter cherries and dark chocolate combine with mineral, juicy acidity. It's a wine to age for many years, don't drink before 2018.
This is a great way to experience big Paso power and lushness in a relatively affordable way. The wine's nose kicks off with rich and delicious blackberry pie and hot vanilla-crust aromas, enhanced by black-cherry pastry, baking spice and dill. Cassis and kirsch notes show on the palate, as does milk chocolate and caramelized fruit.
This is a great wine at a price that's a bit more accessible than many similar bottlings from the region. Pepper, berries, rose buds, mace and clove combine for a suave, savory but smooth nose. It's immediately likable on the palate, where thyme, bay leaf and sage give nuance to cooked strawberries and tangy plums.
This is a great wine for a great price, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Never overly complicated, it delivers juicy waves of blackberry, tobacco and cedar, varietally classic in chalky tannins and a dry finish. Stock up.
This is a great wine for fans of the flashy, almost sweet, dark colored and fully oaked style of Zin. It has a tasty sense of maple syrup on waffles, boysenberries and vanilla. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's firm in texture and slightly sweet on the finish.
This is a great wine with its swathes of ripe fruit allied to a very structured character. It is concentrated with complex flavors that bring in wood, tropical fruits, apricots and a dense texture. Combined, these elements give the wine great style and aging potential.
This is a great wine, from a vintage that wasn't great. The nose is smooth and rich, with raspberry, plum, fine oak and all the spice that comes with it. The palate feels fresh and healthy, with racy blackberry fruit tempered by creamy chocolate, vanilla and spice. Like most high-end wines from the Eguren family, this is right on the money. Drink now through 2018.
This is a great wine, rounded and rich despite its power and weight. Its many elements—the ripe black fruits, the balanced acidity—are smoothed with wood aging. It also shows an elegance, giving the wine good aging potential. Drink from 2018.
This is a great wine. It has all the elements in place to produce a wine that will last for years: powerful fruit, rich tannins and a structure that is built to last. This is elegant, impressive and concentrated. Almost entirely Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape gives the wine its fruit and its tannins. Drink from 2028.
This is a green Cabernet, no two ways of cutting it. The nose is all herbs and bell pepper, while in the mouth this feels ultradry and drawing. A buttery oak flavor is unintegrated and fails to help out underripe berry and pepper notes.
This is a green, grassy style of wine, with lively acidity, refreshing fruitiness and a mineral edge. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a green, lean and somewhat sour wine, with an herbal personality that lies atop a world of smooth tannins.
This is a GSM blend from a single vineyard, Lonesome Springs. Tobacco and vanilla scents merge into a midpalate with light red fruits. The acidity and smooth tannins keep it clean and tasty through the finish.
This is a GSM blend—about two-thirds Syrah—loaded with juicy acidity. The sappy, deep raspberry fruit sinks into the palate, racy and penetrating. It suggests that this is a wine to cellar for awhile. At the moment it suddenly hits a hard stop—a wall of slate and graphite.
This is a GSM rosé, loaded with watermelon and strawberry fruit, and sporting a slightly dusty mouthfeel. The persistent finish and texture keep it interesting all the way through.
This is a gutsy wine, with firm tannins, making the texture slightly astringent while tightly holding in the fruit and oak flavors. It needs rich food alongside, or hold it until 2017 to mellow.
This is a half-and-half blend of Touriga Nacional from northern Portugal and Castelão from the south. It's a wine that has plenty of fruit although the two grapes lie uneasily together. The juicy flavors and red berries are contrasted with a metallic acidity that isn't pleasant. Hopefully, the wine will fill out.
This is a half-bottle of Sauvignon Blanc grown in the Arroyo Seco, one of the best sources in California for crisp white wines. With residual sugar of 18.4%, it's very sweet, but it's not a sugar bomb. You'll find complex flavors of pineapples, apicots, vanilla custard, honey and crème brûlée, backed up with firm acidity that makes the wine finish clean.
This is a handsome wine all the way, from the lightly spicy aromas through the layered fruit, chocolate and cinnamon flavors, to the moderately tannic and lingering finish. With its great balance and mouthwatering flavors, it will be a tasty addition to almost any meal.
This is a hard-edged wine with a chemical character. It's tough both in tannins and extracted fruits.
This is a hard-edged wine, a typical trait of young Pommard. It has a firm, dry and tannic character, and the ripe, generous fruit sits underneath. Wait for at least five years for this wine to be ready.
This is a hard edged wine, solid and firm, with dry tannins and only a hint of fruity acidity. It does have weight, so it could soften with age.
This is a hard Prosecco to score. You expect the soft freshness and peachy tones that normally define this category of Italian sparkler, yet here, you get a more sophisticated and slightly oxidized expression. The vintage bubbly is made with organically farmed grapes (no sulfites) and offers aromas of pear and apple cider. Not for everyone.
This is a hard, edgy and tannic wine that has a bitter edge overlaying the fruit. It seems tough, although there are hints of ripe berry fruits that are hiding away. Some softening over the next year will offer integration. Drink from 2016.
This is a hard, rather chewy young wine, tannic and tight, with some earthy flavors. The fruit is thin and plummy, with a vein of chocolate adding some extra interest.
This is a harmonious and attractive Brunello Riserva with elegant tones of spice, cola, black stone and forest fruit. The wine has excellent texture and consistency and fills your mouth with bright berry tones. Piccini is an important name in Chianti Classico and has recently added hearty Brunello to its portfolio.
This is a harmonious mix of firm, extracted tannins and dense fruit. It has a dark, hard edge at this youthful stage, suggesting this is always going to be a wine that is tough. At the same time, it has weight and richness to support the structure.
This is a head-turning Pinot Noir due to its darkness and depth. An intense crushed slate and loamy soil minerality dominates the nose, like serving pepper-dusted blackberry pie in a dark cave. A low-simmering acidity powers the almost Syrah-like sip, where boysenberry and elderberry meet with a roasted meat quality.
This is a heady and attention-stealing wine, starting from the powerful nose that shows ripe strawberries, cherries, cinnamon and Christmas spice galore. Rounded red fruits like strawberryand cranberry come with a spice rack of clove, allspice, thyme, marjoram, sagebrush and other crushed herbs.
This is a heady wine from Mike Sinor, with blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas that are enhanced by clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, candied lilacs and loamy soil scents. Tannic depth and sizzling acidity frame the palate, where grilled black plum and mission fig meet with pencil lead, anise, bay leaf, juniper, cocoa and beef flavors, finishing with a menthol kick.
This is a heady, seriously generous Pinot Noir from a coolish site in the Sonoma Coast AVA that clearly had a banner ripening year in 2012. The fruit is smoky and concentrated in dark berry and cherry, an intriguing bit of spearmint playing around in the background. Rodgers Creek is an estate vineyard for the brand, planted to Pommard clones. A steal at this price.
This is a heartbeat or two from being DOA. Tan in color with an oily heavy mouthfeel, this tastes oxidized and shows almost no pulse.
This is a hearty and hedonistic blend of Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Petit Verdot from one of Monterey's warmer regions. Pure blackberries and black cherries show on the brooding nose, with touches of mint and licorice. The palate is soft on entry, then come boisterous flavors of black currant and blueberry. Nettle, fennel and coffee elements add depth.
This is a hearty and masculine Brunello that is redolent of espresso syrup, cherry liqueur, rum cake and moist pipe tobacco. The tannins show some grittiness in texture and the finish is capped by long-lasting freshness.
This is a hearty and quite delicious wine, although nuances of the Grenache grape are overshadowed by richness. Roasted duck, bacon fat, smoked pork loin and freshly sliced filet mignon show on the nose, with violet and blueberry-syrup touches. The palate offers licorice, pepper, blueberry sauce and a very soft texture.
This is a hearty blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot and Marzemino that delivers thick, dark intensity and penetrating aromas of blackberry, red currant, clove, allspice and ginger. The wine has thick extraction and dense succulence to match.
This is a hearty blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Syrah and Malbec. It's soft and direct in cassis, cherry jam and pepper flavors, and feels a little rustic in the mouth. Good with everyday fare, such as sausages.
This is a hearty coming-together of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. It dances in baked plum and raisin as a tartness of cherry and savory dried herb counterbalances the rich ripeness and sizable tannin.
This is a hearty Meritage employing all five red Bordeaux varieties. The color is black and the fruit equally dark and rich, offering muscular tannins around rich notes of blackberry, cedar and herb.
This is a hearty version of a grape frequently made in a simpler, fresh style, showing roasted red berry, charcoal and mocha aromas on the nose. A deep cassis flavor permeates the palate, with beef char and black pepper accents that make for a compelling, rather lavish sip.
This is a hearty version of the variety for this producer, known for its oft-lighter approach. It reveals skill as well, the grapes from another prime site overseen by brand partner Bill Price. A feral shock of mushroom dominates on the nose before punchy tannins and a medium-body distract slightly in contoured texture, only barely letting in crisp flavors of orange peel and dark cherry.
This is a hearty wine from a famous place, farmed by esteemed, long-time growers. Apple and pear skin show up first, with a baked quality to the fruit that never gets jammy. The wine stays light and bright despite its full-bodied nature. Toasty lemon and fig compote finishes things off.
This is a hearty wine on the nose, with sarsaparilla, red plum, rustic leather, dried strawberry and clove, showing a touch of age. A wide array of allspice, star anise and chicory spice pops on the palate, surrounded by dried red cherry, leather, iced coffee and turned-earth flavors. The acidity remains vibrant, but drink now.
This is a hearty, full-bodied red, blended with just a tease of 1% Viognier. Baked bread, plum jam and soft tannins highlight a juicy, burly celebration of high-toned acidity and leathery texture, remaining near-velvety on the palate through the lengthy, peppery finish.
This is a hearty, fulsome combo of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Viognier. It comes off as overtly light at first before gradually revealing full-bodied punches of pear and peach. The Viognier speaks in waves of honey and orange blossom, adding voluptuous texture to the proceedings.
This is a hearty, lavishly styled blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Syrah by Carl Bowker, who pushes the purple-fruit aromas to the max, with deep blueberry, crème de cassis and violet flowers on the nose. The palate touches a wide range of dark fruits such as boysenberry, olallieberry and elderberry, picking up cola and root beer along the way. It finishes on coffee and a touch of elderflower, with an extremely soft texture.
This is a hearty, meaty wine that opens with aromas of smoked bacon, mesquite and A1 Steak Sauce. It feels smooth, rich and ends with a touch of bitter cherry.
This is a hearty, rich Pinot Noir from the famed Hirsch Vineyard, seductive and silky on the palate with dark, lingering black cherry fruit and layers of exotic spice. A core of earthiness defines the wine, its finish mid-length.
This is a hearty, tannic, big and burly wine made from a well-known vineyard in the heart of the appellation. Dense fruit flavors are framed by prominent notes of tar and leather, while a smoky char provides support and additional savory flavor.
This is a heavily charred Syrah, so much so that its berry aromas are obscured by burnt scents. Compact and reduced in feel, this tastes of baked plum and blackened toast, with a rustic and roasted finish.
This is a heavily Merlot dominated wine, hence the high alcohol. The effect, though, is of a wine that is fruity and with a crisp edge of black currant juice. It is young, spicy from wood aging and finishes with a stalky aftertaste.
This is a heavily oaked brew of 50% Viognier, 40% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling. The nose is woody to the max, with herbal notes of parsley and white flowers. A full, heavy, resiny palate is home to barrel-driven flavors of spice and clouded white fruits. On the finish, this tastes mostly of wood and resin.
This is a heavily oaked Carmenère, so aromas of caramel, vanilla and licorice share space on the bouquet with stewed, foresty notes. Plump and saturated in feel, this is more mellow and soft than tough or tannic. Roasted blackberry, toast and spicy oak flavors end big and heavily, with leftover oak and herbal notes. Drink through 2018.
This is a heavily wood-aged wine with a bitter character redeemed by the ripe blackberry fruits from a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is structured, with firm tannins over the fresh and juicy fruitiness. Give the wine another year and the two will come into balance. Drink from 2016.
This is a heavily wooded wine, with tannins giving a firm and dry character at this stage. It has weight and a powerful structure, but needs time to develop riper fruit and plum flavors. It's always likely to show wood flavors, but certainly wait until 2017.
This is a heavy-duty Cabernet, big in every way, with rich black cherry and cassis fruit, and dense, dark tannins. The long, slightly grainy finish reinforces the impression of raw power, yet the wine retains perfect proportion and is nicely differentiated from the other 2010s crafted by winemaker Chris Figgins.
This is a heavy-duty wine, layered with power and richness. The nose shows black cherries, prunes and gingerbread, inviting like a hot dessert. The palate is soft, deep and mouth-massaging with the blackest of cherries and bluest of berries, though lifted with licorice, espresso and fudge elements. Serve with hearty roasts.
This is a heavy wine with an earthy, almost stewed-smelling nose that is defined by raisin and prune aromas. It feels grabby on the palate, with chunky, blocky berry and prune flavors. This musclebound Malbec finishes rubbery and ripe.
This is a heavy wine, aromatic with fruit that is dense and concentrated. The freshness is missing and in its place there are super-ripe berry fruits and a peppery aftertaste.
This is a heavy, bitterly tannic young wine that shows ripe blackberry and coffee flavors and spices. The raw astringency makes it tough now, fit only for greasy foods like barbecued ribs. It should age well for a long time, but will never quite overcome its rustic profile.
This is a heavy, dense and not very rewarding Pinot Noir at this time. It's soft and full-bodied and very ripe in cherries, blackberries and cola flavors. Could age to mellow sweetness, but it's a gamble.
This is a heavy, dull Petite Sirah. It tastes like the raspberry filling from a candy bar you buy at 7-Eleven.
This is a heavy, full-bodied wine, with the weight of a Rhône variety, perhaps Grenache. Purists will criticize it for lacking the elegance you want in an expensive Pinot Noir. It's dry and tannic, with deep flavors of red currants, cherries, licorice, Canadian bacon and peppery spices. Could develop in the bottle, but it's risky.
This is a heavy, rather clumsy wine, that seems to be too soft. The weight shows through the almonds and green plum fruits, while the acidity seems somewhat forced. To finish, the softness returns. Bottle age may help this wine to liven up.
This is a heavy, rich, dry Syrah. It shows forward flavors of blackberries, cherries, currants, mocha and spices, with a touch of raisins. Not likely to age, so drink up.
This is a heavy, soft, jammy wine that's sweet in raspberry- and strawberry-jam flavors.
This is a heavy, syrupy Pinot, with caramelized, candied raspberry, cherry and spice flavors.
This is a heck of a value for a wine that would shine no matter its price. Juicy in exuberant red fruit along the lines of cherry, plum and pomegranate, it shares deeper undertones of concentration and richness on the midpalate, with subtle accents of rose, cardamom and dried herb.
This is a hefty wine that's also well-polished and well balanced. Wonderful aromas and flavors blend cedar, cinnamon, tobacco, red cherry and black plum, while a blanket of fine-grained tannins wraps everything up in an appetizing grip.
This is a hefty, chewy wine, whose alcohol flirts with 15%, but whose ample fruit is buttressed with chalk, earth, steel and tannin. Dark and loaded with smoky graphite, it should be decanted for some hours before serving. How will it cellar? Could go for decades, but it's too soon to call.
This is a herb-driven, savory and relatively light Syrah, with crushed thyme, marjoram and black peppercorns spicing up the elderberry jam aromas. The chaparral spices take center stage on the sip, where wild sage and oak forest undergrowth play against the dark fruit. Very quaffable.
This is a herbaceous expression of Shiraz from the under appreciated Heathcote region of Victoria, and made by Emily Laughton, daughter of the well-regarded Jasper Hill family. Mint and green herbs mingle with potpourri, juicy fruit, and charred oak characters. Tannins are tightly wound at the moment, but the wine is well balanced and here for the long haul. Drink 2020–2032.
This is a herbaceous wine with dominant green fruit, followed by acidity and fine flavors of sweet currant, kiwi and thyme. It is fresh and ready to drink.
This is a herbal wine with fruit that is firm and austere. It has spice, a touch of wood, berry fruits and dry tannins. It seems on the lean side.
This is a herbal wine, crisp and with a lively gooseberry and spice character. It is full of acidity that lifts the fruitiness and gives it a mineral texture. Drink the wine now.
This is a herbal, earthy wine with as many tannins as fruit at this stage. That gives it a dense, dusty texture that seeps into the ripe, sweet plum flavors. With the wood giving an extra push of richness as well as spice, it needs to age. Drink from 2017.
This is a high-acid, minerality-driven wine from the wilds of Rockpile. Soft and integrated in terms of oak and tannin, it also possesses a savage touch of grip, a nod to its mountainous heritage and the perils and pleasures of a warm year. Black cherry and a vibrant squeeze of citrus stand out on the palate, providing juiciness and balance.
This is a high-acid, young Pinot. Bone dry and tart, it has green mint-infused, bitter cherry flavors, and the texture is nice and silky, even elegant. Yet it lacks the sensual opulence you want in a fine Pinot, and doesn't seem likely to age.
This is a high-alcohol Zin; it almost tastes like Port, with rich raisin, chocolate, blackberry and nettle flavors. It's admirable for sheer power, but will go to your head after a glass or two.
This is a high-powered, full-bodied wine. The aromas are like toasted baguette slices, vanilla and nutmeg, the flavors do a good impression of dark chocolate and blackberry, and the texture is saturated with fine tannins that give all those flavors plenty of support and lip-smacking appeal.
This is a high-quality Malbec with fleshy berry aromas that veer towards raisiny reduction but don't quite get there. It's plump and buttery on the palate, with baked berry, plum and herb flavors that lead to a smooth finish with a licorice accent. Drink now through 2017.
This is a high-strung sparkler made from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It has a stony texture that leans into rich flavors of brioche and honey.
This is a high-toned white driven by citrus and pear flavors, with a punch of oaky power and full-bodied richness on the finish.
This is a high-toned, structured wine with vibrant acidity that is layered in earth, spice, raspberry and black tea. After a medium-sized weight to the midpalate, it finishes soft and round.
This is a high acid style of Chardonnay, reflective of a vintage that was one of the coolest in a decade or more. Crisp and detailed, this offers a classy mix of citrus and apple, wet stone and light baking spices. Hints of nutmeg and cinnamon adorn the fruit, which lingers gently through a citrusy finish.
This is a high acid, dry and minerally Chardonnay that you can call Chablisian. It has flavors of grilled lemons, limes and pineapples, with richer notes of sweet oak and lees and the buttered toast of oak. Defined by elegance, it should develop bottle complexities over the next three or four years.
This is a highly drinkable Pinot that's vibrant with acidity. The palate is sunshiney and ripe with raspberry, cherry, persimmon and Dr. Pepper flavors enhanced by smoky oak.
This is a highly fragrant Torrontés with exotic tropical aromas of lychee and bath oil. Light and fresh in body, this tastes of pithy citrus and lychee before hollowing out. A lingering finish with good acidity is the close.
This is a highly herbal Cab with strong aromas of juniper and pyrazines. The palate feels full but tannic, while leafy, dry, roasted berry flavors finish with baked notes and a lasting herbal flavor.
This is a highly particular, funky blend of 85% Malbec and 15% Cabernet. It opens with savory stewy earthy aromas of berry fruits and prune. Due to the 15.5% abv, this feels heavy and clampy, with rooty flavors of baked berry fruits, cola, minty herbs and carob. An oaky spicy toasty finish with heat is the closing act on this fully stuffed Salta blend.
This is a highly perfumed and floral wine from the famous site, which is tangy and slightly tart within a medium-bodied frame. Lemon and baked apple play off each other with ease, as a metallic edge of stony minerality persists and expands.
This is a highly perfumed wine from the village of Favaios above the Douro valley and well known for its Moscatel. It is rich with its candy-shop aromas and lychee flavor. The acidity of this dry wine is enough to keep it crisp and fresh. Drink now.
This is a highly perfumed, fruity wine with ripe melon and spiced apple flavors. It is crisp, tangy and attractively textured with fine acidity. Drink now.
This is a highly recommendable Pinot Grigio for those looking for a fun and personable companion to seafood and light vegetable dishes. Aromas here include citrus, pear and aromatic green apple. The wine is clean, crisp and zippy on the close.
This is a highly satisfying estate-driven white, impressively crafted in spicy acidity and complex layers of grapefruit. Pithy in its citrus components, it goes on and on, never ceasing to unleash subtle hits of wet stone and a tiny taste of the sea.
This is a highly structured wine with an abundance of fine-grained tannins and firm acidity to support pure raspberry and blackberry flavors. It tastes as if it was made for aging, so wait and drink after 2019.
This is a highly unusual blend of Marsellan and Touriga Nacional, and it smells reduced, lemony and like cola and coffee. The mouthfeel is grating, with sandpaper tannins. Odd, herbal, citrusy notes infiltrate core blueberry flavors, while the finish is hard as nails and tannic to an extreme. Only 200 cases made.
This is a highly unusual wine made from a traditional Champagne grape variety, with 12% of the South African Pinotage variety blended in. It Aromas like dried herbs and cedar, intriguing flavors like black tea and pomegranate juice and a beautiful balance between acidity, ripeness and a lightly tannic texture make a compelling combination.
This is a highly unusual, quirky blend of the Georgian Rkatsiteli and Moldovan Sereksiya grapes. Tonic and crisp, it offers robust peach and apple flavors on the attack, but fades a bit quickly on the midpalate. Straightforward but refreshing.
This is a honey and almond-flavored wine. With its light acidity and creamed-apple fruitiness, it is soft with a crisp edge. Drink this attractive sparkling wine now.
This is a honeyed wine that retains fruitiness while having a rich character. The spirit used in fortifying it gives the wine a burnt vanilla flavor that is balanced with ripe apricots and fresh final acidity. It is bottled to be drunk immediately.
This is a honeyed wine, full of tropical fruits. It is rich, somewhat heavy and clumsy, but acidity surfaces through the midpalate. It's a wine that can be aged, although ready to drink now.
This is a honeyed wine, with a strong showing of ginger marmalade and bright acidity. It's full in the mouth and layered with acidity and lush, unctuous flavors. It shows great aging potential; drink from 2015.
This is a honeyed, sweet wine (a fact not indicated on the label). Spice is surrounded by ripe fruits, apricot and lychee, with added pepper. Some citrus acidity comes through at the end. Drink now.
This is a hopelessly gorgeous wine with so much energy, intensity, density and good cheer. The superb ensemble—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot—delivers chocolate fudge, ripe cherry, rhubarb, cola, tobacco and cedar wood. It's tight and supple, with seamless harmony and excellent succulence on the finish. But it's that incredible intensity that truly sets this wine apart.
This is a hot, earthy Malbec with cover-up oak on the nose. A high-acid palate is drying and hard, with narrow, salty berry flavors and a peppery tasting, scratchy finish.
This is a hot, ripe, extracted style that will be quite appealing to many consumers. However, the volatile high-toned scents and the hot edge from the excess alcohol make it a tough match for food.
This is a hot, sweet Zinfandel, with an alcohol level of 15.4%. It's very ripe and forward in jammy cherry-berry fruit, with a spicy edge of cola and mocha. It contains some Petite Sirah and Alicante, like an old-fashioned field blend.
This is a huge and impressive step up from the 2003 Astrales, which was fine but not at this level. Here we're talking about color, bouquet, palate feel, intense flavors, finish, you name it. It's pure, ultratasty, chocolaty, smooth and pleasurable. Astrales is the complete package and a wine to watch.
This is a huge bear-hug of a wine, from the effusive dark-fruit aromas through the rich, layered texture and ripe fruit flavors that linger on the finish. It is full bodied, well oaked, spicy and complex, with a mouthcoating texture and long finish.
This is a huge Pinot Noir—big-boned all around—tasting of warm climate fruit, with bulky tannins and a heavy oak presence. Let it open a bit to let out the dark plum and earthy spice flavors.
This is a huge wine that's dense in flavors, rich in tannins, and with the soft lusciousness associated with this vineyard. Made from old vines, it's bold in cherry pie, red currants and mocha, yet dry and resilient on the finish. Delicious as it is now, it's a wine with a successful history for aging. Resist the temptation to drink it now and cellar. Best from 2017 and beyond.
This is a huge wine, that's insanely rich and concentrated. It tastes like the ripest summer blackberries, still warm from the sun, mashed and drizzed with crème de cassis and chocolate syrup. The estate vineyard is on Paso Robles' west side, and quite high in elevation in the southern spur of the Santa Lucia Mountains. The wine is ungainly now, and needs time to develop. Better after 2017.
This is a huge wine—almost too much so—with superripe tannins and fruit. It tastes concentrated, its black fruit sweet and rounded. A pepper note comes from the alcohol and gives it a bitter edge.
This is a huge, complex wine, filled with currant, cocoa and dried herb flavors wrapped into dusty tannins. It's dry, elegant and even ageworthy. The richness is balanced by crisp acidity, like a squirt of lime juice that makes the dark fruit dance. Drink now–2017.
This is a huge, extracted Cabernet Sauvignon. It's just what people expect Napa Cabernet to be: ripe, heady, oaky and bold. With deep, classy cassis, plum and chocolate flavors, it should develop additional nuances after 2017.
This is a huge, extracted Cabernet, potent in blackberry and cherry jam flavors, with plenty of oak influence. It shows the intensity of a Pride red wine as well as the tough mountain tannins. Impressive now for sheer power, and should develop over the next 8–10 years.
This is a huge, velvety, dramatic Syrah. With stunning tannins and depth of fruit, it represents the best of Howell Mountain red from a great vintage. Bone dry, it floods the mouth with intense blackberry, black currant, black cherry, smoked meat, licorice, mocha and peppery spice flavors that are deep and long. Really great now, and should develop in the bottle over the next six years.
This is a hugely dense wine, still firm with its dusty tannins and solid with concentrated black fruits. Despite all this power, the wine has style and a sense of elegance that will stand it in good stead as it matures. It is certainly not yet ready and should be aged until 2019.
This is a hugely flavored, extracted Pinot Noir, distinctly Californian in its ripeness and size. It's massive in cherries and raspberries, with hints of cocoa, anise, Indian spices and black pepper. With 60% new French oak, it's also pretty toasty. A bit ungainly now, but should gain in the cellar. Better after 2013.
This is a hugely powerful and dense wine. It is packed with dense tannins at this stage although with the promise of rich, opulent fruit behind the tannins it will blossom in a serious, complex wine with both great fruit and structure. Drink this serious wine from 2018.
This is a hugely rich wine with great black-plum fruit flavors. It's powerfully concentrated, densely tannic, solid and chunky.
This is a hugely rich wine, very concentrated, yet with a light touch of acidity that gives it some crispness. It is on the dry side, though with some sweetness that comes through on the soft, rounded finish.
This is a hugely structured and concentrated wine, the double plusses marked on barrel selections meant to call out the best of the best. Herbal, it offers complex characteristics of dried herb, cedar and leather, with a big grip of tannin tenacious on the palate and peppery finish.
This is a jammy and fruit-forward selection, with direct aromas and flavors of red cherry, berry and plum that are lifted by a hint of menthol. The smooth, easygoing palate offers light tannins and fleshy fruit flavors, followed by a clean but fleeting finish.
This is a jammy and fruit-forward selection, with lively notes of raspberry, strawberry and red plum, accented by nuances of potpourri and gamy meat. Medium tannins and skin-driven fruit flavors provide the palate nice structure and grip.
This is a jammy Syrah with earthy, saucy black-fruit scents and a sense of reduction. Round and smooth for the most part, this registers as soft in feel. Flavors of blackened spice, blackberry and chocolate finish with coffee and mocha notes, while moderate acidity means the finish is short.
This is a jammy wine with raspberry and currant flavors, accented with pepper, anise and cocoa, with a coating of sweet oak. It's fundamentally dry, and a little simple in structure. Good now with grilled steak and chimichurri sauce.
This is a jammy wine, soft and rich. It has juicy red berry fruits and a fully ripe character that's enhanced by spice. The tannins are already well integrated into the texture of the wine that is ready to drink.
This is a jammy, chewy wine with sweet fruit flavors of mature cherry, strawberry and raspberry marmalade. A 80-20 blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, the wine is representative of the very fruit-forward and sun-drenched style of Puglia.
This is a jammy, dense and pure Cabernet, with meat and berry aromas that mix in touches of graphite and chocolate. It feels a little hard and acidic despite its size, while the flavor profile is of mossy berry fruit and chocolate. Tight and nervy, this offers lots of acidic push on the finish.
This is a jammy, fruit-forward rendition of sparkling Shiraz, with plenty of blueberry and blackberry flavors and a touch of sugar on the finish. Imported by Pernod Ricard, USA.
This is a jammy, fruity Valpolicella Classico with strawberry and blackberry aromas followed by coffee and mocha. It shows a soft, mature mouthfeel with some heat on the close.
This is a jammy, lusty wine with aromatic notes of graphite on top of core blackberry scents. The palate is chunky and full, while the flavor profile is pure jammy blackberry. A quick, staunch finish is a fine conclusion.
This is a jammy, mature Amarone that imparts aromas of berry preserves, blackberry tart and sun-ripened strawberries. The wine is sweet and chewy in texture and offers bright berry flavors and sticky tannins.
This is a joy to drink. It's dry and silky, with savory raspberry, cherry and cola flavors that are accented by earthy notes of sautéed wild mushrooms, balsamic and soy sauce. It should improve even more with a few years in the bottle.
This is a juicy and formidably tannic version of the variety, from a famed vineyard known also for Zinfandel. Dry oak and intrusively harsh texture need mellowing before the more gentle notions of dried herb and black cherry can shine.
This is a juicy black-currant flavored wine that's ripe in tannin and in fruitiness. It has a hint of bitter extraction and an edge of dark wood aging, which need to soften and become round, so age it for at least five years.
This is a juicy blend of blueberry-swaddled Carignane, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah that's also got cherry and raspberry fruit lurking around the edges. Firm, spicy and delicious, it's an out-of-the-ordinary blend that'll surprise and please, especially alongside Asian-inspired short ribs or anything caramelized.
This is a juicy fruity wine with tannins that are already subdued by the acidity and fruit. There is a dry core just set to support the black-currant fruit. With a bright crisp aftertaste, the wine will mature quickly. Drink from 2017.
This is a juicy red-fruit-flavored wine. It has attractive tannins and plenty of acidity. With a fresh crisp aftertaste, it is light and will develop quickly.
This is a juicy soft blend of Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet. Ripe red fruits dominate with balanced tannins and generous fruit. The acidity and the final burst of fruit show this easy wine is ready to drink.
This is a juicy wine with fresh acidity and red berry flavors. It is bright with fruits although also with a dry core. The juiciness should develop, so drink from 2017. Vincent and Ludivine l'Amouller, the estate's fourth generation, began converting the vineyard to certified organic in 2010.
This is a juicy wine with its red fruits and attractive acidity. The wood aging still shows, perhaps too strongly, but that fruit is already a major factor in the success of the wine. Drink from 2019.
This is a juicy wine, packed with red fruits. It has acidity along with an edge of tannins. The attractive fruitiness suggests the wine will develop quickly. Drink from 2019.
This is a juicy wine, stuffed with soft berry fruits and jammy black currant flavors. It has some tannins, lightly integrated into the general fruitiness of this wine. With Dural and Braucol in dominance, it holds a touch of dryness at the center that will allow it age. Drink from 2016.
This is a juicy, buttery, nicely defined bottle with caramel and butterscotch flavors that run through its heart. Thoroughly delicious fruit notes of key lime and apple pie complete the picture.
This is a juicy, dense wine from João Silva e Sousa and Francisco Baptista that is packed with dark, steely tannins. A field blend of 10 Douro red varieties, with 12 months of wood aging, it's ripe in sweet, rich red fruits that are balanced by intense acidity. Still young, the wine will be better from 2017.
This is a juicy, earthy and expansive wine, with highlights of rose petal and wild strawberry. Pretty and ethereal, it offers body without an abundance of weight, the oak and tannin both integrated well.
This is a juicy, earthy wine from a tremendous site, that's firm and thick in tannic structure. Cedar, tobacco and dill complement the bolder swathes of black fruit that's powerfully concentrated and grippy in coconut oak.
This is a juicy, fruit-forward selection, boasting vibrant notes of red cherry, raspberry and strawberry on the nose and mouth. A hint of vanilla adds a sweetness to the finish, which otherwise ends clean and mouthwatering. Drink now.
This is a juicy, fruity white blend, with more than a hint of honeyed sweetness. Ripe fruit captures flavors of peach flesh and skin, along with tropical suggestions of guava and papaya. In short, this is not your typical, grassy, herbaceous style of Sauv Blanc/Sémillon. I'd serve it as an aperitif, well-chilled.
This is a juicy, fruity wine that's just hinting at the spice typical to Blaufränkisch. Intense blackberry flavors are balanced by a leathery texture, bold acidity, and soft tannins. Probably ready to drink in a year. Glass stopper.
This is a juicy, fruity wine that balances concentrated red-fruit flavors with elegant herbal notes and a delicately acidic structure. The finish is fresh and crisp. Drink from 2014.
This is a juicy, fruity wine with intense acidity. It has spice, berry fruit and some smoky tannins. The aftertaste is tangy, hinting at orange as well as red-currant fruits.
This is a juicy, full-bodied and robust red wine, 100% varietal, that presents likable characteristics of blackberry, plum and charred meat. The tannins play well with the fruit and oak, asking for a bit of time to relax in the glass. It shows the heat of the vintage and appellation with underlying grace.
This is a juicy, medium- to full-bodied blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Berry-like fruit picks up some herbal, tea-like notes on the finish, creating mouthwatering tension. Drink now.
This is a juicy, mid-weight and lengthy version of the variety, elegantly crafted with highlights of cherry and cranberry as well as integrated layers of earthy forest floor. Lengthy, it drinks well on its own but will star with the right food, especially pork.
This is a juicy, perfect melding of citrus and light tropical fruit flavors. With impeccable balance and poise, this thrilling, entirely stainless-steel-fermented Viognier persists well onto the graceful finish.
This is a juicy, red-currant-flavored wine. With its round feel and soft, smoky tannins, it has an initial smoothness that is given some bite by the red-berry acidity on the finish.
This is a juicy, ripe style of Vinho Verde that's soft, clean and refreshing. It's a summer-evening wine, light and bright. Screwcap.
This is a juicy, succulent and high-toned wine aged in both stainless steel and French oak. From a site rich in volcanic soils, it exudes a flinty, stony element that's incredibly compelling, accented with passionfruit and grapefruit flavors and driven by lengthy acidity.
This is a just-acceptable wine with latex, roasted berry and plastic-like aromas. It's heavy in the mouth, with jumbled, roasted flavors of rubbery fruit and forced oak.
This is a keeper. Smoky, charred aromas, rich dark-fruit flavors like blackberry and boysenberry and meaty, peppery accents fill up this full-bodied and very firmly textured wine. It will get even more interesting with age; try it after 2020.
This is a kitchen sink-style blend of 11 different varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot making up nearly 75% of the mix. It offers direct, appealing notes of cocoa, sugared plum, blueberry, black olive and high-toned herbs. The black and blue fruit flavors are sugary-sweet and palate-coating, with cocoa accents on the finish.
This is a knife-sharp Viognier, offering precise, chiseled flavors of citrus rind, Meyer lemon and grapefruit. The piercing acidity belies a wine whose flavors are fully ripe, and deliver an extended, mineral-drenched finish.
This is a landmark Amarone that has often acted as the category's biggest ambassador abroad. It bursts open with aromas of dark berry, spice, leather and tobacco, and it is both generous and long-lasting on the palate.
This is a large-production Sauvignon Blanc that tastes delicious. If you like grapefruit and pomelo flavors, you will love this enticingly priced white that's got razor sharp acidity, a touch of New Zealand-like grass and a long finish.
This is a large-scaled rosso, and oak is used here lavishly but gracefully.  Aromas of game, leather, and dill open to dark plum and licorice flavors and a dense feel on the palate.  Moderate tannins show up on the long finish, accompnaied by lots of toasty oak and licorice notes.
This is a largely extracted, puckering wine, rich and full-flavored in blackberry and vanilla. The tannins make it difficult to discern beyond its density and grip. A majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, it also employs Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
This is a late-disgorged sparkler made from 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay. Low in sugar, it shows glorious Granny Smith apple flavor around salty oak. Dry as a bone on the palate, it offers a wealth of lifted acidity and lemon peel that provides complexity and deliciousness.
This is a late-harvest dessert wine blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. It's very rich and very sweet and very easy to like. Backed up with firm acidity, it shows extraordinarily ripe flavors of pineapples, apricots, oranges, honey, crème brûlée, vanilla bean, buttered toast and cinnamon spices.
This is a late-harvest wine that has been produced from partially botrytised fruit. It is sweet and lightly honeyed, with lemon aromas and apricot flavors and carried by lively acidity. It is probably too young and needs time to integrate. Drink from 2018.
This is a late release wine, but a bit of a boon for wine drinkers, who may open and consume it at will. Light cranberry, licorice, root beer and coffee flavors meld, with plenty of supporting acidity. It's a modest wine, with a quick finish, but drinks nicely at the moment.
This is a late release, but it's in good shape. The nose is earthy and dense, with just a nip of wet fur and forest floor. The palate is all about sweet berries and ripeness, while the finish is warm and lengthy. It's solid and without any obvious flaws even if it doesn't thump its chest and overwhelm you.
This is a lavish, layered and lovely wine from an extreme coastal vineyard above Cambria. It shows fresh-cut fennel, wild mint, dried lavender, Earl Grey tea and cran-raspberry aromas on the great nose. The palate's strong herbal character of crushed sagebrush, wild thyme and black pepper spices up the dark plum and strawberry flavors.
This is a layered and complex estate-driven wine. Its firm, sizable tannin foundation promises longevity and enviable structure, while allowing for a plush, lush exuberance of cherry clafoutis, cardamom and salted caramel. Enjoy best 2022 through 2029.
This is a layered, earthy selection, with upfront aromas of leather and cigar box complemented by fruity tones of blackberry and cassis. The medium-weight palate is lush and velvety, and the tannins are fine yet firmly structured. Boysenberry preserves and black pepper linger on the finish.
This is a lean and fresh white from northern Italy with drying mineral tones that are followed by fragrant notes of peach, honey and distant herbal aromas. The wine has a lean and crisp close that would pair well with exotic foods.
This is a lean and thin wine with a luminous, transparent appearance and measured aromas of cut grass, citrus, mineral and peppermint. The wine is tonic and lightweight with a sharp point of fresh crispness at the close.
This is a lean Dominus, showing the difficulties of the vintage. It's dry and tannic, with black currant, cherry and cassis flavors that are wrapped in strong, hard tannins. It's a good wine, but lacks the r ich complexity you expect from this property.
This is a lean white wine with pretty aromas of stone fruit and some banana and mango. There's a bit more flesh and pulp here, which makes the wine suitable for freshwater fish or pasta salad.
This is a lean wine that feels to have only structure and very little fruit. There are dry, dense tannins and a firm texture that will only soften marginally.
This is a lean wine that seems to be missing the fruit. It has an austere quality with a strongly tannic element and mineral acidity.
This is a lean wine with considerable structure and acidity but perhaps not enough fruit. There is a green edge to the fruit although the tannins are ripe enough. It is ready to drink now.
This is a lean wine, all tannins and missing fruit. It is dry and showing considerable hard extraction. It will soften, but not much.
This is a lean, acid-driven wine, without much in the way of generous fruit. It has a green strawberry note, with a light sense of structure and a minerally finish.
This is a lean, austere—even a bit severe—Riesling that looks to need a good five years or more to mellow. Crushed stone and citrus pith finish long and painfully tart.
This is a lean, compact expression of Falanghina, opening with bright citrus, pear and kiwi aromas. It delivers fresh acidity and a bright, easygoing personality.
This is a lean, fresh Riesling with white stone fruit at its core. Grass and mineral—even waxy—flavors freshen up the palate, and floral and saffron notes waft from the nose. Lemon rind and viscous sour apple flavors linger on the finish. For this range of flavors to work in harmony, you surely must count elegance and subtlety among its virtues.
This is a lean, simple sparkling wine with stone fruit and grapefruit followed by almond and melon. Foamy and crisp, pair this wine with seafood appetizers.
This is a lean, tart, high-acid vintage for Washington State white wines. Hogue's reliable Pinot Grigio is herbaceous and clean, fresh and tangy.
This is a leathery, stalky type of Malbec with fierce acidity and a pinched mouthfeel. Try as you might to find richness and heft, this is going to come across acidic and narrow, with herbal flavors and a finish that tastes like tomato and sour plum. For Argentine Malbec at this price point, this needs help.
This is a lemon-scented wine that shows a hint of wood influence. It's crisp and mineral in character, and it has a bitter almond flavor and a touch of pineapple-like acidity.
This is a less formal Vin Santo. The wine is creamy and thick, with sweet syrupy notes of chestnut, honey, maple, candied fruit and dried apricot.
This is a less outwardly aromatic interpretation of Sauvignon with measured notes of exotic fruit, kiwi and lime. The wine is lean and compact in the mouth but does a very good job of keeping the palate clean.
This is a less ripe, extracted version of Mataro than some others coming out of the Barossa, but because of that it's actually more drinkable. Dark cherry and plum notes form the core of the wine, dressed up by complex hints of mocha, sage blossoms and hickory smoke. It's smooth and streamlined in the mouth, with a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2025.
This is a lifted and fresh Chardonnay with vibrant notes of red apple flesh, hard Anjou pear and fresh orange essence. A touch of toast and nectarine pit unfold in the mouth, with a soft suggestion of sweet spice that lingers on the back of the palate through the long finish.
This is a light- to medium-bodied example of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, one that offers somewhat pungent, sweaty aromas that veer toward scallion at times, followed by mouth-puckering grapefruit flavors.
This is a light- to medium-bodied rosé made exclusively from Syrah grown in the northern reaches of the Rhône Valley. The cooler climate gives it a lighter bearing and redder fruit flavors than many other Rhône rosés: this one resembles red plum and pineapple. Drink now.
This is a light- to medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc that's clean and fresh, but not particularly intense or characterful—the kind you can comfortably serve to a non-wine crowd and expect accolades for your choice. Drink now.
This is a light- to medium-bodied Shiraz with a bright profile of juicy red berries and just a hint of chocolate, turning rather crisp on the finish. Drink now.
This is a light- to medium-bodied wine with a soft, silky texture. Cherries, mushrooms and just the smallest of herbal nuances end on a faintly dusty note. Drink now.
This is a light-bodied and full-flavored wine with a good, gripping texture and plenty of ripe plum and black pepper aromas. A fruity and beefy flavor carries through the finish.
This is a light-bodied wine, with mild fruity aromas and lean, herbaceous flavors. It's straightforward, low in alcohol and refreshing.
This is a light-bodied, lightly textured wine from one of the producer's coolest sites, minty and herbal in a taste of forest floor and strawberry. Citrus and pomegranate provide additional crispness and freshness on the palate.
This is a light-bodied, quaffable Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe aromas and flavors of peach and nectarine marry with passion fruit and some slightly discordant herbal notes, then finish quickly.
This is a light-bodied, simple and straightforward wine with a generous helping of toasted oak, tropical fruit and sweet vanilla notes.
This is a light-bodied, simple wine, marked by brisk acidity and sour cherry candy flavors. Drink up.
This is a light-bodied, very fruity and soft-textured wine that smells like cherries, berries and melons and tastes fresh and a touch sweet. The acidity is low and the bubbles are lively, so it's easy to sip.
This is a light-colored wine with spice, wood flavors and balanced acidity. It is soft with caramel and vanilla flavors along with touches of red berries and dried fruits. The aftertaste is fruity.
This is a light-colored wine with warm raspberry flavors and attractive acidity. Well balanced, it has a tangy orange-zest texture along with an herbal aftertaste. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a light-colored wine, with structure and acidity to balance the perfumed cherry-flavored fruit. Still young, still developing its fruitiness, the wine is going to be crisp with attractive strawberry flavors and soft tannins. Drink from 2019.
This is a light-hearted wine, delicious with acidity and with a light perfume. It has good concentration, with tight lemon and lime flavors. The wine is made by consultant Benjamin Mei. It is ready to drink.
This is a light-tasting, dry wine with white pepper and fennel aromas, crisp green apple and lemon flavors, and a savory, earthy nuance that adds complexity. Medium bodied and mouth-filling, this interesting wine steps outside the flavor box.
This is a light 100% Merlot wine, with tangy red berry fruits. Tight and mineral with high levels of acidity, it is not for aging, so drink now.
This is a light and breezy blend of Sangiovese and Merlot that doesn't have huge intensity but that does have a nice focus on fruit. It's a no-fuss, easy wine with bursting cherry, almond blossom and ripe strawberry in the background.
This is a light and charming Pinot Noir with aromas like cherry candy, bright fruit flavors and a touch of candied sweetness on the finish. It is light to medium bodied and benefits from crisp acidity and soft tannins to liven up the texture.
This is a light and cheery wine, with cherry and raspberry fruit. It suggests hard candy with a hint of the barnyard; forward, round and fruity.
This is a light and crisp Petit Chablis that is soft and totally ready to drink. Apricot and citrus flavors combine in a wine that is lightly mineral and very fruity. Drink now.
This is a light and easy-sipping wine. Floral, apple and lightly herbaceous aromas lead to generous fruit flavors like Pippin apples and white peaches while a good balance of crispness and richness shapes the mouthfeel.
This is a light and easy Prosecco Extra Dry with notes that recall cut grass and hay. There's not much in the way of flower or fruit aromas, although there is a hint of ripe banana and cardboard. It's tonic and lean with crisp freshness on the close.
This is a light and elegant expression of Nero d'Avola, with pretty nuances of spice and smoke between bay leaf and powdered curry. Black fruit fills the mouth thanks to the wine's soft and chewy texture.
This is a light and fresh wine with soft tannins and appealing red berry fruits. It offers attractive acidity at the end, a balanced wine that is ready to drink.
This is a light and friendly white wine that would pair well with salads and vegetarian dishes. The wine has easygoing aromas of yellow fruit and some dusty mineral tones for extra dimension. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers.
This is a light and fruity LBV. The black fruits are laced with acidity as well as the brandy spirit. It is smooth, round and with just a light sprinkling of tannin. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a light and fruity style of Grüner, with a crisp green-fruit flavor. It is immediately accessible, with a spice note and bright acidity on the finish. Screwcap.
This is a light and fruity wine from J. Portugal Ramos. It's crisp, with lemon and citrus flavor, and bright with grapefruit acidity. Drink now and over the next year.
This is a light and fruity wine that's forward on the palate, with red berries and hints of orange peel. It leaves a tart, citrusy aftertaste.
This is a light and fruity wine that has an attractive smoky aroma and black currant acidity. The result is a fresh, juicy wine with a crisp texture and a perfumed aftertaste. Drink now. Screwcap.
This is a light and fruity wine that has some attractive red berry flavors and lively acidity. There is a tannic background that gives the a sense of structure, although the dry core lacks some fruit tones.
This is a light and fruity wine that is ready to drink. It has spice and a layer of dry tannins that are acting as a support to the red fruits and acidity.
This is a light and fruity wine with red-currant fruit and a crisp texture. Coteaux Bourguignons is one of the Burgundy regional appellations that offers, as here, bright fruity wines that are ready to drink young.
This is a light and fruity wine, with crisp citrus- and peppered-apple-driven acidity. It is bright, lined with straight, pure acidity.
This is a light and informal Ripasso with plenty of sweet spice followed by bright blueberry and raspberry. There's a touch of sweetness in the mouth and vanilla bean flavors appear on the close.
This is a light and juicy wine, with bright black-currant fruits and a layer of balanced, integrated tannins. It has a dry core that should soften quickly, so drink from early 2018.
This is a light and leafy effort, whose soft and forward fruit mixes flavors of leaf, beet, tomato and red fruits. It is balanced but insubstantial.
This is a light and lively take on the grape, with dried apple, hay, sour lime and petrol touches to the nose. The palate packs gravelly minerality and a touch of green herb alongside tangy lime peel flavors.
This is a light and open wine, showing more fruitiness characteristic spice of Pinot Gris. It does have almond and green herb flavors, along with a touch of pepper and bitterness. Drink now.
This is a light and simply fruity wine, showing lively acidity and black currant fruit tones. It is soft on the palate and only lightly disturbed by a dry tannic background. Drink now.
This is a light and soft selection, with an upfront gamy note that's framed by soft strawberry, rhubarb, red cherry and currant fruit tones on the nose and mouth. Overall, it's short and direct; drink up.
This is a light and streamlined Ripasso that offers the elegance of Valpolicella with the power and intensity of this traditional school of winemaking. The wine delivers interesting aromas of black fruit, cola and resin but there's also a touch of green olive or caper at the back.
This is a light and tonic Prosecco Superiore that offers aromas of hay and dried grass backed by peach and citrus. Pair this wine with lightly fried vegetable tempura.
This is a light and very crisp wine. Acidity, gooseberry and pink grapefruit give a fruitiness without any complexity. The bright texture and simple aftertaste make it a wine to drink immediately.
This is a light and very fruity wine from vineyards in the hills above Nuits Saint-Georges. It has just fruit, light tannins and considerable acidity. The wine is crisp, bright and will be ready to drink from 2017.
This is a light blend of the two Cabernets with fresh red fruits and a touch of stalky tannin. It is made from organically grown grapes, fresh, full of red-cherry and red-currant flavors that are given an even crisper character by the acidity. The wine will be ready to drink from the end of 2016.
This is a light bright wine, full of forward fruitiness. The tangy edge of minerality gives the wine a pleasing texture. Citrus fruits support this texture with their zest and acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a light but classy take on Oregon Pinot, with leaf and herb in front of spicy cranberry and sour cherry fruit. The balance is fine-tuned and the wine carries the elegance of the grape through a persistent finish.
This is a light easy-drinking style that fills the quaffable white wine bill quite nicely. It's lemony and tart, with a slice of orange peel for extra interest.
This is a light fruity wine with surprisingly few tannins for a Malbec. It does have red fruits and some juicy acidity along with a bright aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a light Pinot, both in color and body, with modest flavors of cola, cherryskin and orange tea. It's very dry and nicely silky in the mouth. Seems at its best now.
This is a light simple red, without particular varietal character. It's much like an inexpensive California Merlot—fine for every day drinking, generic and unassuming.
This is a light wine from the stable of offerings from the Courselle sisters. It has a pale character, just hinting at citrus flavors and lively acidity. It is an apéritif style, light, bright and ready to drink.
This is a light wine that has crisp, perfumed red fruits and layers of acidity. It is juicy and spicy and finishes with good acidity and a mineral texture. Drink now.
This is a light wine with bright acidity and red fruit flavors. It has a mere touch of tannin to give structure to the crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a light wine with plenty of acidity and soft tannins that come together in a juicy, crisp, red fruit-flavored medley. Ready to drink.
This is a light wine with red fruits, a stalky texture and cool, refreshing acidity. It's the style of wine that could well be better as a summer red, lightly chilled. The final texture shows crisp fruitiness.
This is a light wine with tropical fruit flavors. The acidity and notes of almond and white fruit add to its rounded, ready-to-drink feel.
This is a light wine, and the fruit is dominated by acidity. It has a tart red-currant flavor, with a hint of banana.
This is a light wine, attractively fruity with peach and apricot flavors. Intense acidity gives a fine kick to the texture, while also showing a dry, citrus-dominated side. Ready to drink.
This is a light wine, with a white fruit flavor and a taut, mineral character. It is all fruit with layer upon layer of pear and crisp acidity. Drink over the year as it's not meant for aging. Screwcap.
This is a light wine, with fresh berry fruits and acidity that delineate the structure. It's already an easy wine to drink, hinting at minerality and finishing softly.
This is a light wine—fruity and with a soft texture. It has citrus and creamed pear flavors that are balanced with acidity. It's a wine to be drunk now while its fruitiness is still at its peak.
This is a light wine—light   in fruit, acid and tannins, and light in body. That doesn't mean it doesn't offer a lot of pleasure. It does. It has complex herbal, berry and spice flavors, and it's nicely dry, with a certain richness. It's a great wine for early drinking.
This is a light, bright Chardonnay that would be a great wine to serve at casual dining situations or at larger gatherings. The finish bears an acidic kick
This is a light, bright rosé that is made to drink as young as possible. It is crisp with raspberry fruit and gentle acidity. Drink now.
This is a light, bright white-flower-perfumed wine, and it offers fresh, apple-like acidity, a crisp texture and an edge of lemon zest. For drinking soon.
This is a light, bright wine with flavors of green fruits and citrus. There is a hint of yeastiness. Overall, a cool feeling wine that is ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is a light, bright wine, certainly with sweetness but that is poised over delicate honeyed and citrus flavors. Attractive and lively, ready to drink.
This is a light, bright, nearly clear bringing together of 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay, just barely pink in color. It accentuates the beauty of both varieties, from Pinot's mix of cherry and watermelon to the Chardonnay's ability to bring out notions of crisp green apple.
This is a light, citrus-fruit dominated wine. It has attractive fruitiness, tang and zest, and its acidity is crisp and refreshing. Apples and green fruits add a little richness at the end. Screwcap.
This is a light, clear and beguiling wine, not for everyone, somewhat reduced and yet lurking in brooding fruit and interwoven spice. It drinks almost like a white wine in its shocking minerality, before delving into a dark and noble forest floor's worth of pine, wild mushroom and rose. Let this wine open awhile and enjoy how it changes in the glass.
This is a light, clear and candied wine, somewhat thin, that's also tangy in acidity. Also holding 5% Zinfandel and 5% Sangiovese, it's definitely fruity in cherry and vanilla without getting overripe, a good value made by longtime winemaker Dr. Richard Peterson.
This is a light, clear and moderately oaked vineyard-designate from a tremendous Westside Road site. Pomegranate, rhubarb and cherry-orange play on the palate in lithe, ethereal and elegant ways, remaining light bodied and refined throughout.
This is a light, clear and straightforward wine, reduced somewhat on the nose, and exhibiting a tight, tannic structure and backbone of oak. Black cherry and blackberry dominate in flavor, with a full-bodied feel.
This is a light, compact Roero Riserva (made with Nebbiolo grapes) that shows drying tannins and sharp aromas of wild berry, citrus zest and white almond.
This is a light, crisp and fresh wine, with tight acidity and a mineral texture. It has black and red currant flavors, and needs a few months more to age; drink from the end of 2016.
This is a light, crisp and fruity wine. Full of ripe green plums and crisp acidity, it is a wine that is all fruit. A light touch of minerality gives texture and complements the refreshing, floral aftertaste. Drink this wine now.
This is a light, crisp Sauvignon with pretty mineral tones that are framed by exotic fruit and lime. The wine is lean in consistency but has just the right level of acidity to keep the palate fresh.
This is a light, crisp wine for current drinking. Herbal notes make the cherry fruit resemble cherry tomatoes, while the acids carry through the tart finish.
This is a light, dancing wine, crisp and full of fruit. It has a fragrant, refreshing red currant and raspberry flavor with tight, lively acidity. Drink this crisp, fruity wine now.
This is a light, delicately crafted and affordable offering of the variety, a good value for the quality, that delivers nuanced layers of raspberry, strawberry and rose petal.
This is a light, earthy wine from the limestone soil of Saumur-Champigny. It is soft, lightly smoky and with some attractive tannins and berry fruits in the background. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a light, elegant Merlot for drinking now. It's very dry, and has pleasant berry, red currant, herb and cedar flavors. A good restaurant wine that won't overwhelm the food.
This is a light, floral wine by Ribera standards. Rosy aromas include baking spices and loamy red-fruit notes. The palate is kind of thin, but with enough tannic bite to make it lasting. Vanilla, raspberry, red plum and tobacco flavors finish with vanilla and coconut accents along with juicy acidity. Drink through 2016.
This is a light, focused and cleanly refreshing white, stainless-steel fermented and aged to retain zesty acidity and lingering traces of lemon and lime. It finishes with tartness on the palate.
This is a light, fresh and crisply fruity wine. It is dominated by lime and ripe lemon flavors that come from the bright blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto. Not a wine for aging, so drink now.
This is a light, fresh expression, with foxy notes of fresh grapes, violets, wild strawberries and blueberries. Its bright berry freshness makes this a good appetizer or lunch red wine.
This is a light, fresh Riesling with just a touch of residual sugar (at 7.5 g/l most people won't really notice it). From a sandy site, it doesn't show great power or complexity, just a pleasing mouthful of easy-to-drink lemon-lime flavors.
This is a light, fresh wine that shows attractive acidity while also offering some firm tannins. It has a crisp edge, but not a great amount of depth, and will probably be ready to drink soon.
This is a light, fruity and off-dry wine. It has splashes of lemon and sweet citrus, with a crisp finish.
This is a light, fruity wine that's ripe with perfumed quince and tropical fruit flavors. The palate is satisfyingly balanced with tight, bright acidity. This is wine that is not for aging, and ready to drink now.
This is a light, fruity wine that is likely to be drinkable very soon. It does have a rustic edge although that is likely to blow away in the coming months. For the rest, the red fruits, spice and acidity give the wine a soft, rounded aftertaste. Drink from the end of 2016.
This is a light, fruity wine with fresh red berry flavors and soft tannins. It has a cool feel from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, giving a bright, character and a wine that's ready to drink.
This is a light, fruity wine with lemon and apricot flavors and a citrus tang that gives a lift. It's attractive, fresh and with a ripe, warm aftertaste.
This is a light, fruity, apple-flavored wine. It has a really crisp character with a classic tangy texture from the 85% Chenin Blanc in the blend. The wine is fresh, fruity and ready to drink.
This is a light, fruity, fresh and clean wine. With lemon and crisp apple flavors, it is bright, simple, attractive and ready to drink.
This is a light, graceful red that's stemmy and fresh in a mix of well-integrated cranberry, rhubarb and cardamom flavors. An undercurrent of earthy truffle plays on the palate, weaving its way to a long finish.
This is a light, informal sparkler (made from the little-known Passerina grape) with sweet, candy caramel aromas of butterscotch and soda. It has tart, citrusy notes with bitter almond nut on the close. The sparkler shares similarities with Prosecco from northern Italy.
This is a light, juicy and snappy Chardonnay, with peach and pineapple notes held in line against crisp green-apple acidity.
This is a light, leafy wine, with tannins that taste of green tea and leave a sensation of astringency long after the wine is swallowed. Sounds like Burgundy! In a world where so many Oregon wineries are making Pinot Noir that is superripe, extracted and alcoholic, this shows why the Burgundy comparison is still valid.
This is a light, medium sweet wine with touches of acidity to go with the fragrant pear fruits. Drink now.
This is a light, nondescript white wine, with a trace of sweetness on the finish.
This is a light, pleasant, balanced Syrah that shows a mix of earth, herb, saline, soy, cherry and chocolate flavors, but all subdued. Take a high-end Washington Syrah and lighten it up—those are the flavors here. If you value elegance and complexity, this will be just right for you.
This is a light, simple Pinot Noir. It's not quite ripe, with a mushroomy edge to the cherries, cola and rhubarb. At the same time, it's silky, and fine for drinking now.
This is a light, simple wine, mixing tart cranberry fruit with streaks of leaf and stem. The rather low alcohol and overall lightness makes it a good summer quaffing red.
This is a light, slightly herbal blend of one-third each Rolle, Sémillon and Ugni Blanc. Very fresh and minerally, it would make a refreshing summer apéritif.
This is a light, soft and creamy wine, with an apricot aroma and flavor, fresh acidity and an attractive fruity aftertaste. It is crisp in green apple and grapefruit notes on the finish.
This is a light, soupy smelling, gritty feeling wine with a modest body and hard acidity. Thus it cries out for simple, food-friendly pairings like pizza. Along the way you'll encounter herbal red-fruit flavors, spice and juicy acids that cause roughness.
This is a light, steely white with more honeysuckle and floral characteristics than fruit. It's light in alcohol and texture, and especially good for the wine drinker looking for something subtle.
This is a light, streamlined Syrah, boasting brown sugar, baking spice and bramble berry notes over a stream of red currant and white pepper.
This is a light, tropical Sauvignon Blanc that's widely distributed. The palate is marked by pleasant layers of pineapple, guava and melon. On the finish a streak of lemon lingers awhile. A great wine for parties, picnics and other casual gatherings.
This is a light, well-balanced Yakima Valley take on Merlot, with fresh strawberry and raspberry fruit flavors lightly dusted with chocolate. A pleasant quaffing wine for sure, but nothing substantial about it.
This is a lighter-style wine, as Pinots from this vineyard, which is in a warm part of the valley, tend to be. But it's also a tasty Pinot, soft and supple, with cola, cherry jam, brown sugar, pie spice and sandalwood flavors. Drink now.
This is a lighter Schindler than in the past, reflecting the difficult, rain-soaked 2007 vintage. But it shows the character of the vineyard, with subtle hints of blood, rock and herb providing the foundation below the tangy, spicy and tart red fruits. Great winemakers make good wines in even the most difficult vintages; this is the proof.
This is a lighter style of Pinot Noir than some produced in Sancerre today. It brings out perfumes and red-cherry flavors lifted by acidity. The wine is fruity, with hints of wood aging and a juicy aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a lighter style of the variety from a stellar vineyard, a crisp take on red cherry, dried cranberry and pomegranate that's deliciously balanced and sublime. A subtle suggestion of oak and spice peeks out on the lengthy finish, making for a complete, extremely quaffable wine.
This is a lighter, thinner vintage for this wine, but it offers a lot of pleasure to those with the patience to let it breathe. Delicate fruit flavors of raspberry, cherry and rose water carry a musky note. The finish is underscored with a mineral base.
This is a lighthearted, well-crafted take on the variety made for the producer's mother, Lee. It's bright and rich simultaneously, with highlights of tropical pineapple and mango supported by crisp minerality and a refreshing finish of tangerine and lime zest.
This is a lightly aromatic wine with notes of peach, pear and apricot along with a floral top note. It's pleasant and easy-drinking, with sweet fruit flavors softening its descent.
This is a lightly aromatic wine, with faint aromas of melon, lemon-lime and yellow flowers. The palate is soft and thin, with similarly delicate flavors as the nose. Drink now.
This is a lightly aromatic wine, with notes of lees, apple, mineral and spice. It's medium bodied, with a thick, textured feel showing good weight and intensity to the fruit flavors alongside well-balanced acidity. A uniquely styled wine without an easy comparison in the region.
This is a lightly colored rosé, fresh as a red currant while having a tight texture of crisp acidity. It does need some bottle age to bring out the fuller fruit and ripe red berries. Drink this bottling from 2015, while Arnaud Margaine continues to improve the vineyards worked by the family for four generations.
This is a lightly creamy, fruity wine. With touches of citrus, bitter orange and a good burst of acidity, it is balanced, ripe and ready to drink.
This is a lightly fruity wine with attractive acidity and citrus and apricot flavors. It is light and lively, fresh and crisp. There is a just a touch of spice and pepper at the end. Drink now.
This is a lightly fruity wine with attractive red currant and raspberry flavors. It's bright, crisp, touched by vanilla and finished with citrus acidity. Screwcap.
This is a lightly herbal wine with crisp citrus and a tight texture. The wine with its mineral edge and chewy green-fruit flavor is dry, packed with acidity and ready to drink.
This is a lightly honeyed wine with attractive almond and apple fruits. It comes from vines owned by the Saget family since 2002. With final crisp acidity and a tangy texture, it is ready to drink.
This is a lightly off-dry rosé, with a soft texture and strawberry flavors. The wine is easy to drink now, bright with acidity and smoothly finished.
This is a lightly perfumed wine with crisp acidity and bright lemon flavors. There is a fine zesty tang to this attractive ready-to-drink wine.
This is a lightly smoky wine from vineyards in the hills behind the Côte de Beaune. It is spicy with a touch of wood as well as red-cherry fruitiness. The wine needs to age a few months, so drink from late 2018.
This is a lightly sparking red from beautiful Sorrento in Southern Italy with sweet flavors of mature black fruit and spice. It's easygoing with low alcohol, which means you can throw back a few glasses with pizza without a second thought.
This is a lightly structured wine with a soft juicy black-fruit character. It is smooth, rounded and with a crisp aftertaste from the acidity. It is ready to drink.
This is a lightly style wine but extremely vivacious and sexy, with cut red apple, mandarin orange skin, ripe nectarine and lightly honeyed Gravenstein apple on the nose. It's clean, crisp and focused on the palate, where lime zest, limestone and a touch of buttered pear in the midpalate makes for a complete and balanced sip.
This is a lightly sweet wine that has perfumed apricot and orange fruits. Balanced with acidity, this would be just right as an apéritif.
This is a lightly sweet wine with candy flavors and an attractive touch of acidity and an orange zest backdrop. It's ready to drink now either as an apéritif or with spicy food.
This is a lightly textured wine that has red berry flavors, spice and lively acidity. It is sweet, rich and generous in character, with red fruit, black currant and fine, well-integreated acidity.
This is a lightly textured wine with acidity and some firm tannins. It has a fruity character, red berry flavors and attractive acidity. The wine, balanced and generous, is ready to drink.
This is a lightly textured wine with crisp acidity and a chalky, mineral feel. Concentration from the old vines will allow it to age for a few more months. Drink this fruity, tightly woven wine from 2016.
This is a lightly tropical, peach-fuzzy wine, grassy with a touch of dried herb that gives it a meaty undertone. Lemon and grapefruit round out the experience, before a substantially dry, intense finish.
This is a lightly wood-aged wine, full of fruit with just a touch of spice. Smoothly textured, the wine is all the better for an extra year of aging before release. That broadens the fruit while leaving plenty of crispness and fine acidity. Drink now.
This is a lightly wood-aged wine, with crisp acidity and just a hint of toast. The fruit is upfront, showing a crisp, tight lemon character that's tangy and refreshing. Drink now.
This is a lightweight Chambolle that's dominated by red fruit and acidity. There is a bitter edge that comes from the wood and the firm structure of the vintage. However, with its attractive, juicy finish, it is already soft enough to drink.
This is a lightweight Pinot Noir with seductive aromas of pie cherries and dusty roses, and a delicate, almost lacy, texture. It's the kind of pretty, silky Pinot that would be at home with chicken and fish dishes. Drink now.
This is a lightweight, fruity and softly tannic wine. The red berry flavor is bright and breezy, and the acidity is a dominant feature. Screwcap.
This is a lightweight, refreshing rosé, with charming aromas and flavors of crushed stone, tart cherries and fresh limes and a crisp, citrusy finish. Drink it up before winter.
This is a lightweight, tonic wine with yeasty aromas surrounded by ripe peach, dried hay and warm, nutty tones. Dig deep to uncover accents of green apple, white stone, flowers and exotic fruit. It ends with fresh lemon flavors and bright acidity.
This is a likably round, approachable and affordable varietal wine, blended with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sage, blackberry and mocha dot the landscape of a rugged, succulent bounty, finishing with power and concentration.
This is a likeable Syrah for drinking now. It has soft acids and tannins that frame notes of jammy cherry and blackberry. The flavors are sweet on the midpalate, but finish dry and spicy.
This is a lime- and lemon- flavored wine that is fruity and refreshing. It is delicate, bright and light, and attractive to drink now as an apéritif.
This is a limited-production line from this venerable winery. It's a very dense, focused Cab, a little too tightly wound to pop the cork quite yet. There's a sharp pine or balsam zinginess that's a combination of smoky oak and deeply ripe cassis, fresh and zesty and dry. The wine needs time for all this to mellow. Best after 2008, and for a decade beyond.
This is a limited-production offering from a tiny appellation, blended with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Crème de cassis and Bing cherry give it an unexpected expansiveness of juicy texture, with jolts of tobacco and dried herb playing on the palate before a balanced finish wraps it up in a dry, resolved bow.
This is a limited-production wine made principally from 45-year-old vines. Dry, textural and complex, it mixes Key lime, tangerine, orange peel and citrus oil with a burnishing hint of Cointreau.
This is a limited-production, food-friendly wine, spicy and slightly oxidative. That gives the wine character as well as a toasty edge that contributes to its complexity. Drink this wine now.
This is a limited (two barrels) bottling from a Dundee Hills vineyard. Tight red currant fruit is streaked with licorice and baking chocolate. There's plenty of acid, not entirely integrated into the fruit, and a hint of caramel in the finish. Good components, though not yet a complete and seamless wine.
This is a limited production 100% Cab from the winery's estate vineyard. It's much more tannic than Cohn's extraordinarily fine '04 Estate, which was released a year ago. Even at the age of five-plus, it stings with sandpapery astringency. Should easily negotiate the years, with its massive core of blackberries, black currants, olives and 100% new oak. Hold until after 2010, and should develop for many years beyond.
This is a limited production wine from small parcels of limestone soil. Aged in acacia barrels, it has subtle spice and toast flavors. They wood aging has had the effect of broadening the wine and giving it extra richness. It's an impressive wine, ready to drink from 2018.
This is a limited production wine—a rich and firmly tannic. It has weight and density, backed plum skin and blackberry notes. It's all wrapped in a concentrated, structured package. Age for at least 4 years.
This is a limited production wine—a selection of the winemakers. It is still very young, structured and rich. The tannins are firm and solid at this stage giving the basis for a ripe and fruity wine to develop. It's an impressive wine that can be drunk soon, although which will also age well. Drink from late 2016 and until 2024.
This is a limited quantity release from the Kopke's stock of aged Ports. At 40 years, the wine has become concentrated, intense and almost unbearable in its acidity and spirit. It's a great bottling although much less drinkable than other aged White Ports in their range.
This is a linear and polished Montepulciano, with bright fruit nuances of blackberry and cassis, followed touches of black stone, spice and mature plum. It feels smooth and fine in the mouth, with a rich berry-driven finish.
This is a linebacker wine, at 15.7% abv, bursting with roasted coffee, licorice and dry tannins all around. Soft, supple and round, and fully concentrated, the finish could use a bit more harrumph. The back label's suggestion to pair this wine with short ribs is a good call.
This is a liquorous wine, still with its youthful yellow-fruit and honey flavors that are cut with the dry botrytis core. The wine is rich and with a fine balance between the opulence and acidity. This is a wine to savor now, although it will also age further, certainly until 2023.
This is a lithe, sinewy wine, powerful yet lean, with coiled intensity to its crisp citrus and mineral flavors. It finishes long and tart, with the bracing acids suggestive of a long evolution. Hold 3–5 years and see if it blossoms.
This is a lithe, unoaked Chardonnay, citrus-driven in nature, with a slightly savory, almost broth-like finish. Drink now.
This is a little aggressive in texture, with simple, sweet flavors of blackberry and cherry jam touched with oak. It doesn't show much Stags Leap character, but it is a tasty Cab for drinking now.
This is a little gem, perfectly capturing the mix of flower, body powder, citrus and stone that only Gewürztraminer can evoke. Graceful and elegant, it spreads evenly across the palate and slides down the back of the throat. The residual sugar—1.8%—puts it squarely in the Alsatian camp.
This is a little heavy and oily on the nose, with blowsy white-fruit aromas. It feels peachy and smooth, with key flavor components of melon, apple and pear. This shows some extra heft, ending with a subtle and smooth finish.
This is a little jammy with fruit, while also a little hot, but pretty good for the price. Marked by flavors of raspberry jam and red currants, it's a nice, medium-bodied and balanced wine.
This is a little less fragrant than usual but still offers aromas of tropical fruit, cut grass and white spring flower. The palate is more exuberant than the nose, doling out juicy pineapple, white grapefruit and sage alongside fresh acidity.
This is a little on the watery side, with thinned-down flavors of oranges, limes, gooseberries and honey. It's also rich with honey, but there's good balancing acidity.
This is a little raw and acidic in texture, with a trace of underripeness. But it passes the basic Pinot test, boasting a silky texture and good raspberry and cherry flavors.
This is a little rough and scouring on the mouth, but otherwise a fine sparkling wine. It's rich and slightly sweet, with orange, lime, vanilla and yeasty dough flavors.
This is a little rugged, a little more raw and less concentrated than the other releases from this new Walla Walla winery. The wood sticks out a bit, though it's a very tasty wine with supple red fruit, an soft earthiness, and light suggestions of sandalwood and spice.
This is a little rustic in tannins, but it has plenty of charm. It offers pleasure with its cherry, berry, tobacco and spice flavors, plus a jacket of smoky oak. Nice as an everyday sipper.
This is a little slow out of the gate, starting off with some rather cabbage-like aromas. Over time, the odors evolve toward smoke and ash, and, finally, into a complex, cedary aroma. The flavors of this medium-bodied blend (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot) feature blackberry and cassis, but also fold in hints of smoked meat and vanilla before finishing crisp and long. This really evolves and improves in the glass, suggesting 10-plus years of potential longevity.
This is a little tight upon opening, showing just touches of flower, herb and earth. Tangy cranberry and black cherry flavors come with an underlying minerality. This is a wine to decant or cellar for a few more years.
This is a little too heavy and full bodied, but it's bone dry and rich in blackberry and currant flavors, with an earthiness that suggests mushrooms. Drink over the next year or two.
This is a little wayward and funky on the nose, with a lightly pickled aroma. It's a forward Cava with a yeasty, creamy feel. Its acidity and proper bubbles set up flavors of pastry, powdered sugar and sweet apple. The finish is quick, ending with a white-pepper flavor.
This is a lively and fascinating Sauvignon Blanc for those who love the herbal side of the grape. Dill, basil and bell pepper aromas garnish its baseline of graphite minerality. The palate also rides the pyrazine edge, showing cut grass, lime peel, jalapeño and wet stone flavors.
This is a lively and fruity wine. It is crisp while also revealing a more creamy, stewed-apple character. Light acidity and a tang of citrus keep a fresh aftertaste.
This is a lively and structured blend that integrates Tannat with Merlot and Petit Verdot. With 11 months in French oak, toasted coffee and tobacco notes ride over ripe cherry, plum and currant aromas. The tannins are sandy on the palate, giving ample structure to a dark fruit-driven wine. Freshly crushed black pepper lingers on the finish.
This is a lively crisp wine with a creamy texture and a perfumed character. It is ripe and full with just enough acidity to give freshness.
This is a lively tangy wine that is made to drink young. With its crisp texture, hint of minerality and lively acidity, it is a refreshing wine that could serve both as an apéritif and as an accompaniment to seafood.
This is a lively wine on both nose and palate, showing velvety aromas of fresh-squeezed boysenberry laced with violet and black pepper, reminiscent of a lavender-roasted lamb. Dense, very spicy elderberries emerge once sipped, with wild sage, oregano and a definite woody character.
This is a lively wine, with faint touches of wood to give a smoother character. The wine is bright while having the necessary depth of flavor to promise good aging.
This is a lively, balanced wine. To its delicious, crisp red-currant fruit and good acidity, it adds a light touch of pepper for extra interest. This is a wine for food, with its structured aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a lively, bright young white wine that brims with acid-inspired tangerine, lime, quince and clove flavors. It has a little touch of oak, but is really fruit-driven. Represents a nice value in a dry, fairly complex sipper.
This is a lively, fresh and crisp wine. It has a touch of minerality and pepper that is lifted by the citrus and kiwi-fruit flavor. There is a fine tang at the end. Drink now.
This is a lively, fruity wine that is great as an apéritif. With yellow fruits that are cut with acidity, it is a fresh, bright wine that is ready to drink now.
This is a lively, fruity wine that is ready to drink now. It has juicy fruitiness from black currant and strawberry notes, along with soft tannins.
This is a lively, fruity wine with good acidity and a delicious fresh and tangy streak. It is textured with acidity and a steely, youthful character. Drink soon for its full, fresh character. The property has been in the Ballande family since the early 19th century. Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc production from 10 acres is overseen by consultant Denis Dubourdieu.
This is a lively, fruity wine, crisp as can be, and finely textured. Drink now for its bright, fresh character.
This is a lively, impressive and fresh white wine with salty, stony minerality and a well-developed texture. Fig, citrus zest and white peach flavors figure into its winning profile.
This is a lively, juicy wine. It shows the fruitiness of the vintage balanced with a sense of structure. There is a freshness to this wine that gives it great lift and makes it likely to be drinkable soon. Drink from 2016.
This is a lively, off-dry wine with intense acidity to accompany its crisp apple and citrus flavors. Very fruity, it's ready to drink now. Screwcap.
This is a lively, ripe wine. Peach and apricot fruits are laced with spice and acidity. Rich and fruity, it has a tropical, warm feel, a product of the ripe vintage. Drink now.
This is a lively, ripe, fruity wine that has both richness and freshness in equal measure. The wine is warm, but with delicate fruitiness from crisp red fruit. Drink this wine soon.
This is a loaded wine, ripe with aromas of cherry cola, chopped herbs, white chocolate, blackberry and cassis. The aromatic presentation is never overpowering and the wine is in fact delicate and elegant with finely tuned finesse. Pair this Barolo with truffle-stuffed veal roast.
This is a lot of heady wine for a relatively affordable price. Aromas of black-cherry syrup, baked black plum, nutmeg, clove and gingerbread make for an attention-grabbing nose. The hearty palate shows similar elements, along with black peppercorn, Christmas spice, dense blackberry paste, chaparral scrub and pine-forest notes.
This is a lovely and impressive sparkler with luminous intensity and more than a decade of careful aging. Aromas recall cedar wood, pineapple, apricot and hazelnut. It's an evolved and opulent wine with loads of personality and density.
This is a lovely and well-balanced display of unoaked Chardonnay, with all of the flowery frills yet none of the treacly, overly tropical touches. Light in the glass, it shows guava, jasmine water and a lime-skin tartness. The palate is amazingly fresh, with guava, papaya, peach and ripe pear flavors that persist deep into the finish.
This is a lovely blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and a tiny part Sangiovese that shows dark fruit and spice with blackberry and rum cake at the back. The wine feel soft and plush on the palate.
This is a lovely bottle from this Idaho producer with notes of hay, butter, spice and melon. It has a broad, creamy feel that lingers on the finish.
This is a lovely Brunello with black cherry, plum, smoke, bacon, leather and a drying touch of crushed mineral on the nose. It is rich and concentrated, with a slightly sweet-smelling bouquet. The mouthfeel is compact, tight and polished—but there is excellent length too.
This is a lovely Cabernet Franc, polished and clean. It's wound tight, with black fruits and firm, pencil lead tannins. There's a dash of clean earth, good length, and some softening of the mid-palate from the addition of 18% Merlot.
This is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon that's drinking well now, although it's certainly tannic. It should hold well through the next 6 years. Dry and balanced, it shows classic flavors of blackberries and black currants, with earthier notes of olive tapenade and carob.
This is a lovely Chardonnay from Tuscany with a full bouquet of honey and stone fruit aromas. The wine is thick and rich in texture with impressive intensity and persistency on the finish.
This is a lovely Chardonnay, a super restaurant wine list bottle. Dry and creamy, it offers pleasantly rich pineapple, lime pie, green apple, exotic spice and buttered toast flavors, accented with crisp, clean acidity.
This is a lovely Chardonnay, filled with varietal character. The pear, tropical fruit and kiwi flavors are enhanced with sweet, toasty oak, buttered-toast and vanilla notes.
This is a lovely Chianti Classico that shows balanced aromas of cherry and raspberry that match up very nicely with the natural acidity you feel in the mouth. This is a great wine to pair with chicken in creamy mushroom sauce or buttered baked potato.
this is a lovely effort and a great value from Sidewood in the Adelaide Hills. Grilled peaches provide the flesh, while a bright, citrusy note adds focus and length to this ripe, rich Chardonnay. Drink now–2020.
This is a lovely effort from a challenging vintage, offering up tarry notes that turn plummy and round with air. It's full-bodied without going over the top, with a long, concentrated finish framed by silky tannins. Drink now–2018.
This is a lovely example of Grüner's potential in New Zealand. Varietally distinctive celery leaf and stalk aromas and flavors are rounded out by hints of melon. There's a bit of creaminess on the midpalate, and while the finish is spicy, it's not quite white pepper. Still, a solid effort.
This is a lovely example of the vineyard's strengths: It has ripe, mouth-filling flavors of cherry and cassis, which are set in an iron-like framework and accented by chalk and clay notes. It's balanced, and it will benefit from cellaring for up to a decade.
This is a lovely example of Ventoux Grenache (80%), with 15% Syrah and 5% a blend of Mourvèdre, Cinsaut and Carignan. It's slightly warm in style and supple in structure, but with hints of dried flowers and licorice to give verve and dimension to the black cherry fruit. Drink now and over the next few years.
This is a lovely expression of this vineyard site, sometimes classified as Sonoma Coast. It captures the cool-climate province of the vines in crisp, classic ways, allowing elegant layers of pear, guava and lime to express and coalesce, finishing with a tease of voluptuousness.
This is a lovely Morellino that delivers lively and easy aromas of cherry, blackberry and plum. As the wine is aged only in stainless steel to preserve its freshness, the integrity of the fruit is remarkable, and the mouthfeel is bright and focused.
This is a lovely Nebbiolo that serves as a perfect introductory wine for those interested in eventually expanding their knowledge of Barbaresco and Barolo. Made with the same grape, this wine offers small berry aromas backed by ethereal tones of violet and licorice.
This is a lovely New York rosé, with its lemon, strawberry and spice nose and its rounded but fresh fruit flavors. Clean but with complexity, it's a sip that can handle richer dishes—think oysters, poultry.
This is a lovely pale copper in hue, and aromatically complex, offering scents of melon, berry and apple. The depth and length are impressive, as is the concentration. There is a pleasing dustiness to the long, dry, extended finish.
This is a lovely Pinot Grigio “ramato” (with a copperish color) that shows strong aromas of white cherry, cranberry and pink rose. It's smooth and creamy in the mouth and although the alcohol is high, it is well integrated.
This is a lovely Pinot to drink over the next several years with steak, lamb or a wild mushroom risotto. It's dry, silky and racy in acidity, with a cleansing mouthfeel. Sends tiers of sour cherry and raspberry candy, cola and white pepper across the palate, finishing long and spicy.
This is a lovely rendering of Syrah from this outstanding Walla Walla vineyard. In terms of depth of flavor and range of detail, it's a fascinating wine sure to provide an evening's pleasure. Sassafras, spiced and cured meat, licorice, espresso, black cherry and cassis whirl through the palate, with excellent concentration and length.
This is a lovely Riserva with thick and penetrating tones of cherry, spice and cola—the holy trinity of traditional Chianti Classico. The wine is dense, concentrated and intense without being too powerful or overwhelming. It would make an excellent companion to veal in a wine reduction sauce because of the natural succulence and structure.
This is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc that shows enough elegance and finesse to serve with fine food. It's dry and crisp, with citrus, lemongrass, gooseberry and mineral flavors. Nice with tempura appetizers.
This is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc that shows how well the Santa Ynez Valley can ripen the variety, while maintaining its vital acidity. Fermented in stainless steel, the wine shows tart flavors of lemons, limes and tropical fruits.
This is a lovely Sauvignon that opens with huge aromatic intensity and flavors of stone fruit, chopped basil and citrus. Expressive and bright, it's true to the semi-aromatic variety. Screwcap.
This is a lovely Sauvignon with thick consistency in the mouth and vibrant flavors of melon, Golden Delicious apple, yellow rose, spicy ginger and fragrant honeysuckle that pull together as one. The natural creaminess of the wine drives a long finish.
This is a lovely sparkling blend with bright citrus notes that add lively accents to the wine's broad base of mature fruit and melon. Acidity on the finish also helps offset its delicious creaminess and richness.
This is a lovely Syrah. It has a medium-bodied lightness that feels velvety in the mouth, and is packed with sweet blackberry, plum, mocha and bacon flavors, accented with smoky sandalwood. Nice to drink now, and will gain traction over the next 6–8 years.
This is a lovely vineyard-designate, brawny and bold and completely floral. Brambly blackberry is met by plum and raisin as a leathery texture provides grit and brawn. Spicy black pepper and cinnamon season the finish.
This is a lovely vineyard-designate, floral and crisp in tangy grapefruit and tangerine. With plenty of complexity to its breadth and depth, it maintains effortless acidity throughout, finishing with just the right twist of lemon peel.
This is a lovely vineyard designate Barbaresco that combines fresh flavors of cassis and wild berries with ethereal notes of root beer, licorice and tar. It finishes with smooth, sturdy tannins and will only improve over the next 5–10 years.
This is a lovely white made by Chris Dearden. Whole-cluster pressed and fermented in once-used French oak, the grapes are sourced from a 12-acre parcel planted to Old Wente clone Chardonnay. Dark golden in hue, it has graceful acidity and a burst of lemon blossom on the nose that evolves into a sublime lightness and crispness on the palate.
This is a lovely wine made from the Montepulciano grape that opens with inky dark concentration and bold notes of black fruit, prune and exotic spice. In the mouth, it shows a rich, soft texture with chocolate fudge on the finish.
This is a lovely wine that is packed tight with spicy oak renderings, chocolate Nutella, almond paste, red fruit and roasted espresso bean. The wine shows elegant, drying tannins with creamy mocha flavors that last long in the mouth. Drink after 2015.
This is a lovely wine that very much lives up to the power and thickness associated with Barolo from the Serralunga d'Alba subzone. It opens with big, sweet tones of mature fruit, vanilla spice, dark cola and toasted hazelnut. It feels wonderful in the mouth as well, thanks to the softness and richness of its texture.
This is a lovely wine to drink now. It's so dry and elegantly constructed, with wonderfully ripe tannins and great integration of oak with the fruit. There's a nice balance of acidity to balance the blackberry, cherry and cola flavors. Drink now, with a brief decant.
This is a lovely wine to drink over the next 3–4 years, from one of Napa's masterful winemakers. It has the hallmarks of Napa Cabernet, being dry and tannic, with subtle oak influences on the blackberry and currant flavors. Give it an hour or two in the decanter before serving.
This is a lovely wine with savory notes of spice and leather backed by clean berry freshness and bright menthol. The wine is dark and sophisticated with a generous mouthfeel and soft, velvety tannins. It shows a brawny, masculine personality that would pair well with game hen with black truffle.
This is a lovely wine, based on Cabernet Sauvignon, but comprised of all five classic Bordeaux varieties. It's smooth in tannins and soft in acidity, with luxurious black cherry, blueberry, cassis, plum and new oak flavors. Drink now–2018.
This is a lovely wine, classically rendered in cedar, herb and red cherry. The dried herb and forest floor elements persist on the palate, with bursts of acidity giving it life and lingering persistence, the tannins well-integrated.
This is a lovely wine, dark golden in color yet fresh on the palate, with piercing flavors of green apple, apricot and flowers, its long finish laced with honey. A wine of noticeable depth and balance that gets better in the glass and would make for an unexpected apéritif.
This is a lovely wine, softly integrated and lean in muscle strength, with enviable complexity and length. Cedar, cranberry and currant are all represented, along a dusting of dried herbs and blackberry pie. This ripe, full-bodied wine never slips through the cracks, maintaining itself with grace under pressure.
This is a lovely wine, with flavors both rich and racy—cool minerality meets ripe lemon/lime, with a dollop of creamy custard. It's mouthfilling and smooth, with lingering, delicious flavors that resonate beautifully.
This is a lovely, 100% varietal wine, balanced between savory, almost sanguine meaty notes, and complex layers of cassis, plum and blueberry. Medium bodied with an elegance at its core, it has streaks of subtle cinnamon that give spiciness, and a finish dusted in Mexican chocolate.
This is a lovely, age-worthy wine that sings in earthy tobacco, black pepper and leather before revealing balanced acidity and a light background of its 20 months in French oak, 40% of it new. Made by Gary Brookman, it finishes awash in cherry and chocolate. Drink now through 2022.
This is a lovely, balanced wine, combining grip, texture and elegant details. It starts with clean fruit flavors of berry and cherry, bringing in delicate notes of root beer, vanilla and clove. There's a suggestion of brine also, the whole delivering marvelous complexity.
This is a lovely, complex and ultimately beautiful wine, a blend of 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay given extra time to develop in the bottle. It presents as daringly dry but doesn't miss a beat on flavor, showing moderate acidity built around a richness of hazelnut cream complemented by brighter high tones of grapefruit and lime.
This is a lovely, elegant wine from the cool appellation within the larger Russian River Valley. Clear and light, it's stemmy and earthy, unraveling spools of cinnamon-clove, rose petals and forested oak around a soft, silky texture and highlights of strawberry-rhubarb.
This is a lovely, fragrant Burgundy, with a smoky/cherry scented nose leading into a rather tight, hard young wine. Hints of rosewater, graham cracker and tobacco are there, along with some green tannins. Medium body and texture; needs more time to show its best stuff.
This is a lovely, full-bodied expression of apple blossom aromas, just-ripe pear and orange Creamsicle, a balanced mix of rich and sublime that remains smooth and silky on the palate with a lingering finish.
This is a lovely, full-bodied wine from a historic vineyard site on Westside Road. Bready and brambly, it offers a juicy, exuberant palate that's rich and layered in blackberry, coffee and a persistent backdrop of white pepper. It's structured and balanced, with a deft twist of dusty dried herb.
This is a lovely, funky and earthy blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Sangiovese. Light bodied in style, it imparts touches of mushroom, bouillon and leather around its core of black fruit, remaining savory in personality throughout.
This is a lovely, gentle Syrah for drinking now with upscale fare. It's soft in both tannins and acids, making it velvety in the mouth, and the blackberry, cassis and mocha flavors are, in a word, delicious.
This is a lovely, light-hearted yet complex 100% varietal wine that shows the beauty of a lighter touch and cooler climate. Cedar, herb and compost provide a wildness next to aromas of feral mushroom. Intriguing all the way around, this wine finishes in a burst of white pepper.
This is a lovely, lighthearted vineyard-designated wine. Soft, layered and decadent on the palate, it offers a mix of green apple, Meyer lemon, ginger and marshmallow. Intense on the finish in savory, briny fennel, it sees only 20% new oak and is structured enough to hang out in bottle a few years more.
This is a lovely, lilting and light version of the variety, so rarely found in this appellation. Highly aromatic in white flowers and even a whiff of roses, it dances on the palate, the acidity tight and able to lift the texture to new heights of flavor and freshness. It shows best with food, preferably spicy.
This is a lovely, orange blossom special. Sweet and tart, penetrating and long, with lovely peaches, apricots and oranges lighting it up.
This is a lovely, rich wine with mature red berry tones followed by sharp mineral definition and bright aromas of fresh Indian spice. The wine is dense and decadent and could stand up to beef tenderloin with balsamic reduction.
This is a lovely, ripe wine, its plum character very evident. It has a cool character as well, the acidity pushing through. Aged in wood (not new), the wine has a polished feel on the finish.
This is a lovely, sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc, with rich aromas of candied fruit, apricot, honeysuckle and amazing aromatic intensity. Thick, creamy and enduring on the palate, this beautiful wine shows the structure for long cellar aging.
This is a lovely, unadorned Chardonnay: no oak, no malo, just great fruit. The beauty and power of the Dijon clones is on full display, with penetrating citrus and apple fruit buoyed by punchy acidity that carries through a long finish.
This is a lovely, well-crafted wine from a fine site in the heart of the appellation, originally planted by Jim Barbour. It opens with richly inviting vanilla cream and clarified butter notes before soft tannin and subtle oak come into play. The fruit is lively, with strawberry and cherry flavors.
This is a lovely, while bombastically full-bodied, 100% varietal wine, brooding in blackberry jam, peppery cinnamon and an inviting floral nose of cherry blossom. The body drinks lean despite its power and underlying ripeness, remaining lengthy and complex through the finish. Drink now through 2021.
This is a low-production wine sourced from a single block in the winery's estate vineyard. It has a modest oak influence and brisk acidity. The wine is easy to like with tart papaya, lime, peach and vanilla flavors.
This is a lower range, more affordable Friulano from the Volpe Pasini team: The wine delivers aromas of fresh fruit, peach and white flower and has a tight, firm feel in the mouth, ending on a bright, fresh note.
This is a luminous and clean white wine from northern Italy that offers fresh notes of citrus, green melon, kiwi and honey. The wine is sharp and focused in the mouth with an extremely pristine finish.
This is a luminous and powerful Fiano di Avellino with a very elegant and linear quality that sets it apart. You'll get herbs, cantaloupe and fresh lime. It performs well in the mouth thanks to its thick, creamy texture and boosting alcohol. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers.
This is a luminous, creamy expression of Coda di Volpe that delivers aromas of stone fruit, pineapple, apricot and yellow rose. The mouthfeel is short and compact, but it does show nice density while it lasts.
This is a luminous, mature red wine with thick concentration and huge—almost too much—emphasis on toasted oak. Aromas recall vanilla, spice and coffee, although you will find blueberry and cherry on the finish: It is a blend of Nero d'Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
This is a luscious boldly extracted Cabernet Sauvignon full of fleshy ripe blackberry and plum flavors. It's also a nuanced wine, shaded by wisps of smoke and bramble, and calibrated with zesty mouthwatering acidity. The finish is marked by lingering spice and ripe rigid tannins.
This is a luscious wine with a smooth and hearty mouthfeel, ample ripe fruit reminiscent of pears and white peaches, and vanilla and honey accents on both the nose and palate. Fermented in neutral barrels, it doesn't have oaky flavors but feels soft in acidity and seems to melt in the mouth.
This is a luscious wine, ripe with honeyed fruit and edged with botrytis. Apricot and peach dominate the fruit profile, laced with bitter marmalade and touches of acidity. The wine has a toffee aftertaste that emphasizes its richness. Drink from 2018.
This is a luscious, butterscotchy, fresh, lime- and lemon-flavored Chardonnay; a true delight. Melon and peach fruit flavors thread into the core, and the wine has a wonderful richness without losing its finesse or acid base.
This is a luscious, young Cabernet that's filled with blackberry and cherry jam flavors, with a touch of overripe prune. It doesn't seem like an ager, but it's dry, and shows classically rich, smooth Napa tannins.
This is a lush and fragrant wine, instantly appealing with aromas of orange blossom and sweet pear. Quite dry and concentrated, it brings further flavors of citrus, grapefruit and lemon rind as it plays out in a lingering, refreshing finish.
This is a lush and likable white, a touch sweet in perception, with fully voluptuous body and texture. Peach and Good & Plenty black licorice play off the palate as a gravelly wet-stone note teases in the background.
This is a lush and okay expression, with forward notes of wood-grilled apple, buttered toast, caramel corn and honeydew on the nose and mouth. The mouthfeel is round and creamy, with ample acidity to cut the wine's weight and dense, rich flavors. Flavors of honeycomb and sweet spice hang on to the close. Drink now–2019.
This is a lush and satisfying Rivesaltes Ambré, made from 100% White Grenache and aged in oak for seven years. There's a gorgeous rancio quality to the wine with notes of almond and orange rind throughout, framed by aromas and flavors of quince paste, wood-grilled peach, fruit cake and carmelized date. The long finish shows good evolution, transitioning from notes of stone fruit to peach pit and finally ending on a sweet spice accent.
This is a lush Chenin, with upfront toasty scents of wood-grilled peach, yellow melon, roasted nuts and orange oil. The medium-weight mouth is round and full in feel, with just enough acidic lift to keep the palate refreshed. The finish is all toasted spice and peach pit. Drink now.
This is a lush wine that oozes with the superripe flavor of sweet blackberry. The firm tannins and dense structure act as a counterbalance and push the wine into a more structured sphere. The fruit quality and overall balance promise 4–5 years of aging.
This is a lush, amply oaked wine, brimming with the things that make Margaret River Chardonnay so lovable. Grilled bread and fruit abound, pushing forth peach, pineapple and melon flavors through a soft, espresso-tinged finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a lush, creamy Chenin, brimming with rich notes of honeycomb, honeydew, ripe peach and orange cream. The palate is full and toasty, though ample acidity helps to keep the mouthfeel bright. Notes of baking spice and toasted nuts unfold on the back and linger long on the close. It's delicious now, but should hold and evolve well through 2021.
This is a lush, elegant example of Condrieu. It's broad, but with bright, balanced acids that point up notes of honeyed peaches, apricots and pineapple. Drink now–2018.
This is a lush, heady wine that's full bodied and dry, with massive black cherry, red currant, bacon and cedar flavors. The tannins are thick but smooth, making the wine drinkable now, although it will certainly develop through 2020. There's a pleasant tartness throughout that makes it especially friendly with well-marbled beef.
This is a lush, opulent and oaky Pinotage, with assertive aromas of mocha, raspberry cream and chocolate-covered cherry. The texture is satiny and smooth, with medium yet fine tannins and a richness to the palate thanks to flavors of raspberry coulis, mocha sauce, sweet spice and just a hint of pepper.
This is a lush, rich and toasty Chardonnay, with upfront scents of grilled apple, brioche, orange custard and sweet spice. The medium-weight palate is balanced by ample acidity, lending a freshness to the finish that closes on notes of honeydew melon and toasted hazelnut. Drink now–2018.
This is a lush, rich Chardonnay with especially ripe pineapple, peach and lime flavors, as well as a coating of oaky, buttered toast.
This is a lush, ripe Chardonnay from a cool subregion of the Adelaide Hills. Grilled peaches and toasted coconut elements lend an exotic edge to this full-bodied wine. Drink it over the next few years.
This is a lush, ripe wine with honey, vanilla extract, orange and lime flavors that have the caramelized sweetness of oak. Crisp acidity fortunately provides balance, on this good, straightforward Chardonnay.
This is a lush, seductive Carignan, offering initial notes of pepper, licorice and baking spice that harmonize into the dense black-fruit core. The palate is round and mouthfilling, with ample acidity and medium tannins that lend a pleasant structure. Rich blackberry and black-cherry flavors are infused with wood and sweet spice tones, finishing long.
This is a lush, soft and frankly delicious Pinot Noir that delivers far more quality than most Pinots under $20. It's dry and silky, with flavors of raspberries, cherries, cola, vanilla and spices, and a sweet vanilla veneer of oak.
This is a lush, soft, ripe Cabernet. Its main feature is fruit, and plenty of it. It is full of blackberries, cherries, currants and plums, edged with sweet oak. Drink now.
This is a lushly concentrated, likable wine, soft in tannin and subtle in oak, with strong layers of black plum, berry and espresso.
This is a lusty white buoyed by acidity, swirling in wisps of vanilla cream, cinnamon and a twist of lemon meringue. Ripe in flavor and rich in oak, it's compelling and inviting on the palate, with a suggestion of fennel.
This is a luxurious wine that's opulently rich. Ripe black fruits dominate, lending fullness to the firm structure in the backdrop. It's a wine with great potential, density and weight. Touches of chocolate and licorice combine with flavors of dark plum, toast and spice. Drink from 2018.
This is a luxuriously layered and complex white. It's an expertly rendered combination of ripe, rich fruit—most notably spicy apple and pear—that's completely uplifted by bright acidity and a refreshing mouthfeel. Still youthful, it's both vibrant and nuanced.
This is a Mâcon region-wide blend, simple and fruity with an attractively crisp texture. It has a citrus character, slightly salty as well as tangy with orange zest. Drink now.
This is a magnificently solid wine, initially even a bit severe. At this young stage, the tannins dominate, but it's also full of black fruit notes. Very dense and concentrated, this is a wine that's even better than the legendary 2005. The structure tells of its extraordinary aging potential: don't even attempt to drink this for 10 years.
This is a major Douro wine from the Poças family-owned Port and wine producer. Dusty tannins already give it class as well as richness. Packed with black-plum fruits and with good concentration, the wine is still maturing. It needs to age further, so drink from 2019.
This is a major wine from a great white wine vintage that's naturally impressive and intense. Ripe white and yellow fruit dominates the palate, sustained by wood aging flavors and tight, nervy texture. Bâtard-Montrachet is largest of the five white Grand Crus in Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet. Drink from 2024.
This is a major wine. It has enormous tension, structure and a core of dark tannins. Amid all this, the wine is also packed with fruit and concentrated blackberry and black-plum flavors. It will age slowly and steadily with its enormous structure and concentration. Drink this wine from 2027.
This is a majority Cabernet Sauvignon, with equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot and a smaller addition of Cabernet Franc. It speaks to the coolness of the vintage in its dried-herb characteristics and light-bodied smoothness of integrated tannin.
This is a mammoth wine with an inky, impenetrable appearance and intense aromas of dark spice, crushed black pepper, clove and every sort of mature black fruit you can imagine. The tannins are firm and solid and the wine packs a powerful punch of concentration and alcoholic power.
This is a marked departure from previous vintages. Tight and earthy, with the accent on peppery, herbal flavors rather than sweet fruit, it's the most Bordeaux-like wine in the 2008 portfolio from Tulpen.
This is a Marlborough-style Sauvignon Blanc. It's bone dry and crisply acidic, with a firm, minerally finish. The flavors are of limes, lemons and gooseberries, with a potent suggestion of feline intensity.
This is a marvelous wine, made for Force Majeure by Syncline's James Mantone. A delectable blend of 56% Mourvèdre, 38% Syrah, and 6% Grenache, it's a spice rack of aromatics, with flavors of boysenberry and raspberry over crushed rocks. Tight, tart and tangy, it has remarkable depth and density, and should age beautifully for at least a decade.
This is a masculine and powerful expression of Brunello with tight tannins, dark concentration and savory aromas of dark fruit, prune, leather, pipe tobacco and bitter chocolate. That characteristic acidity kicks in at the end and gives the wine a burst of levity.
This is a masculine blend of Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon, for structure, color and tannins, and Sangiovese, for delicate aromas. Coffee, leather, tobacco and sweet cherry are woven within the wine's succulent, meaty consistency.
This is a massive, powerful Chardonnay, a New World style that's superripe and heavily oaked. You either like it or you don't. Aficionados of this approach will love the opulence of the honey, pineapple jam, apricot, crème brûlée, vanilla and buttercream flavors. Calls for very rich dishes, like lobster.
This is a massively rich style of Chardonnay bordering on fat, but delicious throughout. The nose offers aromas of golden apple slices, jasmine, honeysuckle, marzipan, melon and prominent pineapple. Once sipped, vanilla-laced butter and sea-salt caramel flavors ensure.
This is a mature and toasty vintage, showing notes of yeast, croissant and toast flavors. The fruit is still there, with notes of quince, pear and green plum partnered with acidity. It is balanced, ripe and ready to drink now.
This is a mature Cabernet that's still generous in brambly black cherry and plum, with layers of spice intermingled among the fine tannins and charred oak. Black tea and tobacco complete the intrigue of this wine, with a black licorice finish.
This is a mature Grüner that's rich, ripe and deliciously smooth. It has a great depth of flavor, with notes of wild herb and passion fruit that are balanced with mature acidity.
This is a mature, jammy wine with thick layers of plum, prune and raisin. The wine's appearance is dark and concentrated and that same sensation of heaviness carries over the palate in the form of black currant and spice. The tannins are firm and tart.
This is a mature, rich wine from an excellent vintage in Champagne. The wine has toast as well as lemon and grapefruit flavors, giving weight and complexity. Although this is ready to drink, it could probably age a few more years.
This is a mature, single-vineyard wine. Beautifully perfumed, it includes, unusually, a small percentage of white grapes (historically a field blend) that soften the tannins of the 90% Baga. The wine is spicy, concentrated, dense with black fruits and tannins. It is ready to drink.
This is a mature, wood-aged wine. It is rich in yellow fruits and toast flavors. It does retain a crisper, citrus side that keeps it fruity. The wines are vegan (no animal products in production). It is ready to drink.
This is a McLaren Vale classic, produced from vines planted in 1892. It's a full-bodied, chewy style that marries cedar and mint to deep, plummy fruit. Like many of the big-name Australian Shirazes, this doesn't require cellaring, but will reward it, at least through 2020.
This is a measured Brunello that shows just enough aromatic intensity and texture to safely bet on its aging potential. At this young stage, the bouquet is still a bit shy with soft but balanced fruit tones set against savory spice and tobacco. In the mouth, the wine is bone dry and very fresh.
This is a meaty and masculine wine that is ready to drink now or within the next two to three years. It shows tight yet savory aromas of cured meat and spice followed by dried berry and cassis. The tannins are silky and polished, and there's a flash of extra power and flavor intensity on the finish.
This is a meaty and mature Negroamaro with ripe notes of black olive, earth and leather. It has raw, gritty tannins and chewy succulence with some bitter cherry on the close.
This is a meaty and soft wine with a lot of power behind it. Plummy, slightly jammy yet structured, it features appropriate accents of peppercorn, cedar and toasted oak. Full bodied, it's enjoyable now and a deal to boot.
This is a meaty, brawny Cab, unexpected for a cool vintage from a cool pocket of the Napa Valley. In aromas and flavors, it is dominated by smoke and meaty bacon, with a side of coffee.
This is a meaty, dark-fruited Shiraz. Seductive notes of caramelized beef and brown sugar dominate, while the wine's texture is a bit coarse, turning astringent on the finish. Try in 2017.
This is a medium- to full-bodied wine, a bit chunky and edgy at first, but these characters should mellow with another few months in the bottle. It's boldly flavored, with black cherry and beet notes upfront, while subtle mocha and vanilla shadings emerge on the finish.
This is a medium-bodied gently balanced wine with very ripe fruit flavors and a smooth soft texture. Scotto ferments it in stainless steel and ages it for 18 months in pre-used French oak barrels.
This is a medium-bodied Merlot, with dark fruit flavors that are cloaked in chewy, chalky, earthy and herbal tannins.
This is a medium-bodied Pinot with a lacy, delicate texture, ideal for drinking over the next eight years or so. Briary, herbal notes accent bright cherry flavors that finish long and tangy, framed by supple tannins and a bit of vanilla.
This is a medium-bodied Riesling that seems destined for rather early consumption, as it lacks the fine edge of acidity that distinguishes age-worthy examples. Apple and lime flavors are tinged with gingery spice on the finish.
This is a medium-bodied vineyard-specific wine, offering warm aromas of baked bread, cola and clove. The warmer elements are complemented by fresh raspberry, rhubarb and wild vanilla, making for a varietally satisfying experience on the nose and palate.
This is a medium-bodied wine with notes of dried rose, spiced pastry dough and sour cherry. It finishes short and dry, with faint flavors overlaying the firm, tannic framework.
This is a medium-bodied wine with pinched aromas of clove and citronella wax. A casual dish of fish tacos would make for a fine pairing.
This is a medium-bodied wine, with standard apple and pear fruit flavors. There's a touch of minerality, and the wine remains clean and fresh as it gently fades away.
This is a medium-bodied Zinfandel, with elegant weight and mouthfeel. The flavors are classic—wild raspberries and cherries, cola, cocoa and exotic spices. This is surely one of the best Zinfandels of the vintage.
This is a medium-bodied, crisp and tangy wine with fresh parsley aromas and lemon and Granny Smith apple flavors. It's well balanced, restrained and will be very versatile with food.
This is a medium-bodied, fleshy and floral wine, happy in violet aromas and a light spiciness of nutmeg behind the soft layers of black plum and cherry. With a yeasty backbone reminiscent of baked bread, it is fulsome and balanced.
This is a medium-bodied, fresh and fruit-driven example of rosé. The berry, peach and lime flavors make for uncomplicated fun and refreshment. Drink this blend of Grenache and Cinsault over the next few months.
This is a medium-bodied, fruit-driven Syrah that seems built for immediate consumption. Black cherry fruit is in the lead, with hints of chocolate and lavender to spice things up. Eminently quaffable, with bright fruit and a lingering finish.
This is a medium-bodied, fruit-forward wine that's jammy, rich, bright and friendly. It smells fresh and grapy, with supporting raspberry and boysenberry notes. It tastes equally ripe and generous, and feels polished and soft in texture.
This is a medium-bodied, oak-inflected wine. Initial aromas of sun-warmed lumber and vanilla give way with air to scents of cola, earth and mocha. The overall impression is savory, especially on the long finish, which picks up some asphalt notes. Probably best with herb-crusted beef or lamb.
This is a medium-bodied, plummy-tasting wine with mild raspberry, smoke and black-pepper flavors. Lighter than some, it's easy to enjoy.
This is a medium-bodied, richly textured Chardonnay that deserves a place on any table. Grilled pineapple and peach notes convey ripeness without excessive oak or weight, finishing long and plush. Drink now–2020.
This is a medium-bodied, silky rendering of Pinot Noir. Restrained aromas of cherries, dried herbs and vanilla lead into similar flavors, then pick up a touch of mocha on the long finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a medium-bodied, slightly plump Sauvignon Blanc that hits the right herbal notes of snow pea and tomato leaf, then blends those with grapefruit and hints of stone fruit.
This is a medium-bodied, somewhat chunky Pinot Noir, but does manage to combine plummy aromas with distinctively Pinot-like sous-bois character. The flavors turn tart and savory, ending on a pomegranate note.
This is a medium-bodied, spicy rendering of Syrah. Cherries, herbs and spice all mingle easily, while the silky texture is its calling card. Drink now–2023.
This is a medium-dry Riesling with plenty of weight and richness, but also wonderfully perfumed aromatics of citrus blossom. Lime and green apple fruit carries the palate, and finishes long, with an almost tactile sense of minerality.
This is a medium-dry wine that has more spice than sweetness. It is warm and full in the mouth, and accented with a touch of pepper, brisk acidity and lychee flavors. The wine is rich and ready to drink. Screwcap.
This is a medium-strength white, richly constructed to show concentrated flavors of vanilla bean, apple and toasted oak.
This is a medium-sweet Riesling boasting Spätlese-level alcohol, that mixes soft fruit flavors of apple, peach and pear with hints of honey and tea. Give it a light chill before sipping.
This is a medium-sweet wine that's warm and rich due to the ripening abilities of the Spiegel vineyard. It is spiced, concentrated and full of a smoky character that contrasts with its fruitiness. It's ready to drink now, although it will certainly age well. Drink until 2019.
This is a medium-sweet wine, although that is not indicated on the label. Balanced with good acidity and candied fruit, it has a tangy orange-zest aftertaste. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a medium-sweet wine, very fresh while also with some richness. A creamed-apple texture is given a more exotic touch with white peach flavors and freshened with bright acidity. It would be good with Asian food. Drink now.
This is a medium-weight, supple Cabernet with bright acids that's seemingly designed for early drinking. Perfumed notes of mint, vanilla, brown sugar and cassis lead the way, followed by similar flavors and ample oak.
This is a medium sweet rosé, fresh while having a riper core character. It's a fruity, lightly spicy and caramel flavored, with acidity and sweetness coming through strongly to finish.
This is a mellifluous blend of the three Champagne grapes with a dominance of ripe Pinot Noir. A crisp, dry edge brings out the acidity and a mineral texture. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a mellow, richly fruity wine that feels smooth, is lightly tannic, and has full body and ripe raisin and black plum flavors. It flts the bill when you want a concentrated but easy-going wine.
This is a memorable blend of Sauvignon and Traminer that opens with the bright, floral aromas associated with these fragrant varieties. It's light, crisp and lively, with a zesty, clean finish.
This is a memorable wine, with enticing and complex aromas of gorgeous ripe fruit accented by cedar, tea and forest floor. The palate echos the aromas with vibrant and rich flavors, while the mouthfeel is firm and bolstered by fine-grained tannins.
This is a memorably refreshing and reasonably complex effort, a crisp, delicious mix of tangerine, grapefruit and fresh strawberry made by the saignée method. Meaty, with texture, it's round, balanced and dry. Stock up.
This is a Merlot-based blend, tightly wound, with tart berry fruit flavors. It gathers and concentrates into a dense, fruit-laden finish, streaked with espresso and dark chocolate. Though labeled simply Yakima Valley, it's all Red Mountain fruit, mostly from Klipsun.
This is a Merlot-based Bordeaux-style blend, containing the five classic varieties. It's a little hot in alcohol and overripe, with raisin, prune and blackberry flavors. Will age for a long time, without gaining complexity.
This is a Merlot-based, Bordeaux-style blend, with a leafy, herbal aspect that reflects the cooler vintage. It plays out broadly across the palate, with scents of violets and vanilla, and flavors of wild berry and light herb.
This is a Merlot-Cabernet blend from St. Helena and Oakville. It's pretty good, dry and rich in black currants, cherries and oak. The tannins are stronger than on your average gooey cult Cab, with a peppery astringency suggesting modest aging. Try after 2008.
This is a Merlot-Cabernet blend of great intensity and vertical delivery that doles out attractive notes of tobacco, toast, molasses, graphite and pretty herbal shadings. It has big, plump cherry and earthy tones at its core and is ready to drink now.
This is a Merlot-dominant blend (65%) with the rest Cabernet Franc (33%) and smidgens of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Aromas convey black licorice, medicine cabinet and dried cherries. Flavors are sweet, rich and tangy. Good things are going on but they haven't come together yet.
This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc blended in. It offers cooler-climate elements of dried herb, cedar and currant, with the tannins sleek and polished. The finish flirts with a taste of coconut. Drink now through 2021.
This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. At first tight, spicy and herbal, it then blossoms with dark, deep juicy black fruits. The finish is long and trim, bringing in more complexity, with coffee, cassis and espresso. Drink now through 2025.
This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot in supporting roles. The voluptuous nose introduces a riot of blue and purple fruit flavors—a comingling of berries and plums. Streaks of fresh herb, mocha and cacao enter gracefully, leading onto the rich, deep and lusciously long finish.
This is a Merlot-dominated blend, partnered with 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Black cherry, cedar and spice notes emerge from the glass, followed by some leafy cassis flavors and a reprise of black cherry. It's medium to full in body, and shows a bit of youthful chunkiness, which should resolve sometime after 2015.
This is a Merlot-dominated Bordeaux blend. Along with pleasant, strawberry fruit you'll find scents of candied roses and hints of fresh herb. The length and detail bespeak a wine with medium-term aging potential. Baking spices dominate the finish, with a burst of heat from the near-15% alcohol.
This is a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend from Calistoga. The wine is made in the Coup de Foudre style, which is soft, sensual and immediately attractive. Shows blueberry, black cherry and dark chocolate flavors, with a deft touch of oak, but also notable tannins. Seems too soft to age, so drink over the next four years.
This is a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend grown in the little appellation of Sonoma Mountain. It shows firm tannins and deeply concentrated flavors of currants and cherries, accented with smoky new oak. Despite the tannins, it has a softness that makes it drinkable now.
This is a Merlot you might want to lay down for a while. On release, it's dry and tannic, with primary fruit cherry and red currant flavors that are only just starting to shake hands with the oak. By 2016, it will be as good as it ever will get.
This is a meticulously crafted blend of 50% Sangiovese, 24% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot from four vineyards spread throughout the appellation. Soft and plush, the nose shows dried strawberries, pork fat and a touch of black truffle. The hedonistic palate offers dried cherries, warm fudge and chewy tannins.
This is a micro-sized nine-acre estate, with vines that are 50 years old. Complex and rich, it is a generous burst of ripe full Merlot that is developing well. Black fruits, spice and juicy acidity all contribute to a wine that will ready to drink from 2017.
This is a middle-of-the-road, appropriately priced wine, which employs other Bordeaux varieties in the blend. Eucalyptus and bay leaf rise immediately on the nose, before a soft, slightly undeveloped body reveals mocha, red currant and soy.
This is a mild-mannered, softly one-dimensional version of the variety, robust in chocolate mocha and blueberry jam that finishes easily.
This is a mild, neutral Torrontés with yeasty notes and hints of tropical fruits. The palate is smooth but simple, while flavors of melon and green papaya finish with lingering lychee notes. Overall this is plump, fresh and good.
This is a milky, dark and deeply concentrated Barbera with soapy, floral notes and loads of blueberry and blackberry at the back. The quality of the fruit is sweet and chewy and although there is bright acidity here, the closing note delivers a blast of black cherry. A great value too.
This is a mineral-driven Amarone Riserva with floral notes of dried lavender and herbs backed by mature fruit, cola and black tobacco. The wine achieves nice balance without being too ripe or sweet. In the mouth, it offers chewy tannins a dryer finish than most.
This is a mineral-driven take on the grape by Westside Paso vintner Michael Gill, with sharp wet stone and grapefruit peel aromas. The palate is tightly wound and very fresh, with flavors of lime juice and lemon zest.
This is a mineral-driven wine from a well-farmed vineyard, drawn from specific blocks to highlight freshness and acidity. Smooth, integrated oak cradles the notes of fig and pear that veer into decadence before finding a supple balance and lengthy finish.
This is a mineral-driven wine from the blackened slopes of Mount Etna with delicate shadings of pear, peach, jasmine and honeysuckle. The overall impression is one of elegance—thanks to the jasmine notes in particular. It's a very special wine. A Marc de Grazia selection, various American importers.
This is a mineral-driven wine, austere at first then showing great black fruits that are sustained by acidity. It's a wood-aged and complex wine that is likely to develop into something powerful and impressive. Drink from 2019.
This is a mineral-textured wine, full of fruit and with a background of firm tannins. Its juicy fruits and acidity, the red berry flavors and the balance create a wine that is not too dense, but with a firm core. It will be accessible soon, ready to drink from 2018.
This is a mineral, textured wine that has fine tannins and balanced ripe black fruits. It's dry, although with an undertow of richness, acidity and weight. It could age, so wait until 2017.
This is a mint- and licorice-flavored wine, with its wood aging prominent at this stage. Full bodied, rich and concentrated, it shows strong signs of extraction that give it a bitter finish. Age this tannic wine for 2–3 years or more.
This is a minty, aromatic Syrah, with tannins that are laced with violet and blackberry flavors. It's finely structured, and shows a spice charcter from the fruit that combines easily with the wood toast. Age for 4 years.
This is a mix of 56% Sagemoor and 41% Champoux Cabernet, with a 3% splash of estate Petit Verdot. It's detailed in the manner of a Pauillac, thick cassis fruit with deep veins of iron, cedar, licorice and a just a hint of silage. The fruit is dark and dense, but with breathing you'll find it begins to open into a splendid blend of black cherry, cassis and mountain berry flavor. Woodward Canyon's red wines age beautifully, but if drunk young give them a lot of breathing time.
This is a mix of four different clones of Syrah, aged in 30% new Burgunday barrels. Rich aromatics suggest coffee liqueur, vanilla and raspberry compote. Flavors are comparable, deep and sappy, with exceptional length. Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan Winery) is the hand at the helm.
This is a mix of fruit from both warm and cool vineyards, crafting a clean, fresh, lightly herbal wine with a pleasing dusty character. Hints of cocoa and toast annotate the tart berry fruit, with a thread of smoke and chalk running through the tannins.
This is a mix of grapes from Willamette and Umpqua Valley vineyards. Light and earthy, it has a classic style that echoes a village Burgundy, only with the distinctive hint of tomato leaf that typifies less expensive Oregon Pinots. There's tart raspberry fruit as well, whiffs of plum and cherry, and overall it packs a lot of interest into its moderately-priced frame.
This is a moderately aromatic Viognier, with notes of white peach, yellow apple, and flowers. It's medium bodied and clean, with a textured feel but doesn't quite have the fruit concentration to match.
This is a moderately aromatic wine with notes of pear, flowers and applesauce. It drinks a hair off dry (4 g/L residual sugar), finishing on a bitter note.
This is a moderately aromatic wine with notes of tangerine, lime and herbs. It's off dry with tart fruit flavors, finishing a touch bitter.
This is a moderately aromatic wine with notes of toast, spice and caraway seed. It's medium bodied and on the sweeter side of off-dry with tart citrus flavors.
This is a moderately aromatic, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, Bordeaux-style blend, with notes of cedar, char and cherry. It's lighter in style, with tart cranberry and cherry flavors.
This is a moderately rich Chardonnay, loaded with hints of pineapples, white peaches and roasted cashews. It's round in the mouth, delivering ample weight and complexity, yet finishes long, with fresh, citrusy acids. Drink now–2016.
This is a modern-styled, young Priorat with driving, focused aromas of ripe cherry, plum and cassis. The palate feel is total purity and silk, while smooth flavors of black cherry, nutmeg and cocoa blend with pepper, chocolate and mineral notes on what can best be described as a delicious finish. Drink now through 2016.
This is a modern Cabernet, with a velvety mouthfeel that is very satisfying and succulent to the end. You'll want to pair it with a sophisticated recipe involving shaved truffles or prime cuts of meat. Dimension and character are added by soft oak nuances and fragrant aromas of red fruit, spice and cola.
This is a modern Tempranillo with big berry fruit aromas offset by baking spice scents and earthiness. The palate feels bold and punchy, with round but present tannins and ripe flavors of baked blackberry, chocolate and mild spice. Drink this friendly, fruity, elevated wine through 2016.
This is a modern, approachable Riserva with fresh tones of black cherry, currant and lingering notes of sweet spice and tobacco. The mouthfeel is simple, clean and soft; this would pair nicely with pasta, pork or veal.
This is a modern, New World wine that boasts plush softness and a thick, velvety texture. Pair this wine with succulent beef, lamb or any meat that can stand up to its firm texture and solid tannins. Aromas include chocolate fudge, leather, allspice and clove.
This is a modern, plump rendition of Amarone, with soft lines and chewy aromas of black cherry, chocolate fudge, cinnamon and blackberry preserves that are immediate and upfront. The rich, velvety texture make this a great candidate for pairing with wintery cheese fondue.
This is a modern, powerful wine with dense penetration and generous aromas of clove, spice, vanilla, black cherry and inky blackberry. Those pretty, sweet-tasting, wood-driven flavors last a long time on the palate.
This is a modest red wine, with very light berry-flavored fruit, and just a hint of cherry candy. The simple flavors are ready to drink.
This is a modestly priced Napa Cabernet that's feral and brambly, the flavors well-composed and soft in black plum and black cherry. It's well balanced and structured, with ample tannins and length on the finish.
This is a monster of a wine. 100% very ripe Merlot, it shows a power and density that is still firm and structured. With age, that concentration will turn into beautiful richness. But don't doubt its power. Drink from 2021.
This is a monster Zin even by Sbragia standards. The wine feels hotter and more glyceriney than its official alcohol. It's also superripe in raisins and prunes, although the finish is totally dry. It defines a lusty, rustic style of California Zinfandel.
This is a monster Zin, and a very good one. It has an inky black color tinged with red, strong dried-fruit flavors like fig, prune and dried cherry. Along with a smoky, roasted quality on the palate, it has sandy tannins with lots of grip. Powerful and almost sweet.
This is a more serious style of rosé. It is structured with an edge of tannins that lead to richness as well as piles of delicious red-berry fruits and considerable balanced acidity. Owned by the Fabre family, this vineyard dates back to 1910. The estate produces the wine, although it is bottled by the Saint-Tropez cooperative. Drink now.
This is a mountain-grown Rhône-inspired blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise and Viognier that Napa-based Elyse produces every year. The 2009 is indeed very good—savory with dark cherry and raspberry tones, and appropriately layered in leather, tar and earth. It's a versatile wine that will pair with a range of poultry and pasta, too.
This is a mouthfilling wine that doesn't go over the top in terms of ripeness or tannins, so it's smooth to drink and offers mild plum and cherry flavors.
This is a mouthfilling, plush-textured, copper colored bubbly with hints of cherry and raspberry in the ripe flavors, firm acidity to balance them and tiny bubbles to keep it all lively. Made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, it finishes with a slightly sweet sensation.
This is a much more oaky version of the winery's Game Ranch regular bottling, which was released two years ago. The original release was very ripe in fruit but very tannic. This one's the same, but plastered with new oak.
This is a muddled, roughly textured effort, rich and ripe in cinnamon apple that hides its oak use well.
This is a Muscat for the masses, except that the masses better hurry because there were only 220 cases made. With 60 g/L of residual sugar, it has a gorgeous nose of jasmine and drinks clean and bright, sweetly balanced and satisfying. Pair it with the spiciest curry or Thai noodles. It'll pop in magnificent ways.
This is a muscular but not overdone Pinot Noir, with dark cherry and plum fruit amply framed by toasty, caramelized oak and baking spices. Mocha and cocoa notes chime in on the  long finish. Drink now–2017.
This is a muscular Merlot, exotic in cinnamon/cardamom spice that's otherwise soft, structured and complex. The tannins are most pronounced on the finish and need time to further integrate, but make the wine long-lasting in leathery cassis and tobacco flavor.
This is a muscular wine. Intensely colored and redolent of superripe fruit, it nevertheless remains firm and structured from start to long, dusty finish. It's almost grapy in its intensity, but also hints at coffee and cocoa along the way. Drink it now if you like your Pinots big and bold, or hold it through 2020.
This is a muscular, full-bodied wine showing a nice mix of savory and fruity flavors. A fantastic lively texture of firm acidity and fine tannins come with a lip-smacking freshness that's hard to ignore. The balance and complexity are very attractive and promise versatility with a wide variety of foods.
This is a muted, age-worthy and densely concentrated wine, with small amounts of Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot blended in, given almost two years in French oak, 75% of it new. The vineyard is on Howell Mountain and the imprint of mountain blackberry, black plum and dark chocolate is strong, with a touch of vanilla on the finish. Cellar through 2021.
This is a naturally rich and creamy expression of Pinot Bianco that shows power, determination and persistence (at 14% alcohol). Aromas include mature melon and stone fruit and the wine would pair with spicy exotic foods such as Thai beef with cilantro and green chili.
This is a Negroamaro-based wine (with 10% Malvasia Nera) that boasts pretty layers of cinnamon spice and clove over a solid base of chewy, mature fruit. It has an easy, no-fuss personality and would pair well with pizza or pasta.
This is a neutral smelling bubbly with a distant hint of nectarine. It's foamy on the palate, with mild citrus flavors along with a touch of green. The finish feels o.k. but doesn't offer much additional flavor.
This is a neutral wine with little in terms of aromatic intensity although it does not lack in definition. The goal here is to keep the palate refreshed as a before-dinner drink, and this well-priced sparkler definitely gets the job done.
This is a neutral, mineral-driven Prosecco Extra Dry with a thin groundwork of peachy fruit at the forefront of sparking effervescence and pristine luminosity. It does offer lingering sweet peach flavors on the palate.
This is a neutral, papery white wine, with a flat, rather than lively mouthfeel. The apple flavored fruit is there, along with a touch of licorice, but the freshness seems to have been lost along the way.
This is a new blend for B Crux, as Touriga Nacional is now part of the mix along with Malbec and Tempranillo. This smells savory and saucy, with a touch of blueberry and green related to the Touriga component. A lifted, lively mouthfeel supports reedy, lightly herbal berry and mint flavors, while cocoa, earth notes and baked flavors drive the finish.
This is a new blend from Baer. Merlot dominant, it's forward, fruity and fresh, offering pleasant strawberry and mocha flavors. Though at first sip it seems to fade quickly, it becomes more fleshy in the glass and thickens up nicely.
This is a new bottling for Morgan, and appeals for it's reasonable price. It's blended creatively with Tempranillo and Grenache making it complex with flavors of cherry, currant, sweet tea, cola and exotic spices. It's dry in style with big, tough tannins and high acidity, but it's not likely to develop in the cellar, so drink it now.
This is a new bottling from Justin, and it's one of its best wines in years. Blended mostly from Syrah, with a splash of Mourvèdre and Grenache, it's rich, ripe and velvety smooth. The wine shows a warm-climate touch of overripeness in the chocolate-covered raisin flavor, which gives it a Port-like warmth. Otherwise, the flavors veer toward blackberry and cassis liqueur.
This is a new brand and a very good introductory Pinot Noir. In its light, silky mouthfeel and deep, complex flavors, it showcases its Russian River origins in a classic way. Offers up brilliantly ripe flavors of red currants, licorice, cola, gingerbread, mocha and spices, wrapped into a dry, balanced structure. Best now for its youthful charm.
This is a new brand from a recently-created appellation for parts of Beaujolais. The wine has recognizable red cherry fruits, soft tannins and a juicy, slightly dusty texture. Ready to drink.
This is a new brand from Gallo, named after a vineyard the Louis M. Martini winery used to designate. It's a rich, sturdy Merlot, with a thick tannin structure, and shows forward flavors of cherries, black and red currants, licorice, blackberry tea, cola and spice. Not an ager, but impressive for its complexity.
This is a new brand from the Scotto family. A celebration of the family's 50-year history of winemaking in California, it's blended with a splash of Petit Verdot, with an accessible and friendly feel. It's still pretty tannic, offering anise and herbal overtones beneath cracked pink peppercorn and currant notes, but airing in the glass will soften the cassis and oak flavors.
This is a new brand from veteran Don Sebastiani & Sons, and it's a a bottle of easy-drinking deliciousness. Mellow and smooth, it shows cherry pie, sandalwood and white pepper flavors.
This is a new cuvée for Trisaetum, from a vineyard in the Red Hills of Dundee. It shows some old vine character in its brambly, Burgundian elegance. Light flavors of raspberry and cherry float above a bed of clay, yet there is enough muscle for the wine to extend gracefully through a lingering finish, with a lick of chocolate. Enjoy it over the next decade or more.
This is a new dessert wine from Bonny Doon, from the Arroyo Seco region which is such a great source of whites. With 11% residual sugar, it's quite sweet. The apricot, peach, pear and lime flavors have a honeyed, botrytised richness.
This is a new kitchen-sink offering from Banfi, featuring Cabernet, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah. It goes full bore on the red fruit and oak, with spicy berry aromas and cherry flavors. The tannins are pretty hard, and with ample acids, this young wine currently starches the cheeks. But in three years it should become a good to very good table wine.
This is a new label for King Vintners, a new division of King Estate. The wine takes an herbal path rather than putting the emphasis on juicy fruit. A phenolic edge frames the finish. Balanced and detailed, it would make a fine accompaniment to herb-grilled chicken.
This is a new line of label-driven wine meant to be adventurous and whimsical. Catchy label aside, the wine inside entirely delivers in well-integrated fruit and floral characteristics, showing the crispness of its stainless-steel fermentation. Tangy, it's both tart and tropical, finishing focused and lean.
This is a new offering for Columbia Crest's Grand Estates lineup. Fresh fruit flavors emphasize lemon, lime and pineapple, backed with moderate acidity. A nice spicy lift informs the finish. Light and lively.
This is a new project for Chris Figgins (Leonetti Cellar, FIGGINS, Doubleback), using grapes sourced from the Ribbon Ridge and Schindler vineyards. Dense with an exotic weave of aromatics, it has the irresistible appeal of the 2012 vintage. Mulberry, plum, cinnamon and a dash of truffle salt all combine in a plush, generous, well-integrated wine, with a rich, textural mouthfeel.
This is a new project from Christophe Baron. The aromas pop, with notes of earth, plum, nori, iron, sea salt, herb, olive tapenade, black pepper and smoked meat. The palate is concentrated and structured, with rich yet restrained bacon fat and smoke flavors that bring a sense of vibrancy and richness along with a near endless finish. It brings a fair amount of tannic heft that will benefit from some additional time in the bottle. Best from 2024-2028.
This is a new project from the Bundschu family of Gundlach Bundschu, a chance to highlight some high-quality fruit from the new Moon Mountain AVA. Toasty in oak and a hint of bacon, it's big, chewy, sanguine and rich in coffee and chocolate, with mountain-proud tannins that add structure and complexity amid the power.
This is a new single-vineyard bottling for Goldeneye, grown in the cooler Deep End western part of the valley. It's a feral kind of Pinot. Not for it the tame fruit of warmer climates. This one brims with wild berries: cherries, raspberries, something animal and leathery, and mossy tastes of balsam and tar. For all that explosion, the wine's tannins and acids keep it controlled and balanced, and it never loses its silky lightness. Best now and for six years or so.
This is a new style for Redoma, smoother and fruitier when young than in the past. Old vines give concentration and extra richness, making it velvet-textured and packed with black fruits, This will be an impressive wine as it ages. Drink from 2019.
This is a new variety for the popular Acrobat brand. The fruit leans toward the sour side of apple, and the mouthfeel has not quite come together. Odds are that this wine will benefit from further bottle age; meanwhile, a good decanting is recommended.
This is a new wine brand from Muxagat. It shows a strong, perfumed character along with tight minerality. Bitter chocolate suggests some extraction, giving a wine with firm structure. At the same time, the juicy black currant fruits are deliciously ripe and rich. Drink this wine from 2016.
This is a new wine designed to be a “grown-up rosé” from the Cronk family who moved from London to Provence in 2009. It is a ripe fruity and rich blend of Grenache and Syrah. Weight as well as contrasting acidity give a structured character that balances well with the intense fruitiness. Drink the wine from late 2017.
This is a new wine from Agustin Huneeus, of Quintessa. It's made largely from grapes off the Rutherford estate, and contains one-quarter Sémillon. Oak does not play a significant role, although the lees do. The wine itself is absolutely dry, crisp and minerally. It has palate-stimulating citrus flavors and is extraordinarily refined. Its only peer in Napa Valley is Mondavi's Tokalon Fumé Blanc.
This is a new wine from one of Chile's most consistent producers, and it's quite the saturated bruiser. The color is deep purple, while the nose is raw and heavy, with deep fruit and plenty of bacon-like character. The mouth is like blackberry pie, while the feel is full and tannic, although not at all offensive or tough. The finish is dark, brooding and just a little bitter. An interesting new entry to Chile's roster, and one that's very well oaked.
This is a new wine from the hands of master winemaker Luis Duarte. With its rich black fruits and dense tannins, it's also a wine that is firmly structured. Wood aging has added a layer of complexity and broadened out the fruits and dark tannins. Drink from 2017.
This is a new wine from the Lurton brothers, and it's got good weight, color and integrity. It also shows a lot of hickory and pickle from the oak and some wayward vanilla on the juicy, jumpy palate. Not a refined wine but pretty good for size and zip.
This is a new wine from these enterprising négociants. Fruity, crisp and light, it has a tangy orange zest texture that gives extra brightness. Very fresh and ready to drink.
This is a new wine from this negociant house that specializes in limited production wines. It is a smooth and rounded wine, ripe with apples and yellow fruits as well as being cut with acidity. The wine is refreshing and crisp at the end with a touch of minerality.
This is a new wine from this winery—its first foray onto Red Mountain. The aromas are bright, with fruit-filled notes of cherry, berry and spice in addition to a meat and mineral undertone. The flavors are dense, rich and opulent while still staying in balance. A lick of firm tannins backs it all up.
This is a new wine from Vinha Paz. It is right up to the standards of the vineyard's reds: a beautifully perfumed, ripe wine that has Encruzado in the blend. Rich, full of yellow and spicy fruits, it is both structured, toasty and intense. Drinkable now.
This is a new wine in this ever-expanding series. It reflects the structure and solid tannins of the appellation. It also brings out the juicy black-currant fruit of the vintage that will allow it to mature relatively quickly. Drink this attractive wine from 2019.
This is a new wine playing at Chile's high-priced, icon level. Fresh yet oaky on the nose, with aromas of herbs and char, this is layered, pure and smooth on the palate. Spice, oak and chocolate mix with berry and plum flavors, while the dry, long, oaky finish is on the money. Drink this well-crafted Cabernet blend through 2022.
This is a New World, cult-style Cab whose high alcohol creates an impression of sweetness, but not of heat. It's succulent and delicious, a mouthful of black currants, cherry jam and milk chocolate that's balanced with lush tannins and acidity. Drink this decadent wine now.
This is a new, low-production designation, a selected barrel reserve, from Laurel Glen's new owners. The wine shows an exuberance resulting from the influence of consulting winemaker David Ramey. Massive blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors, wrapped into Sonoma Mountain's strong tannins, make the wine an ideal cellar candidate. Drink 2018 and beyond.
This is a newish producer making Pinot in Marin, the county between San Francisco and Sonoma. The wine is dry, crisp, elegant and medium-bodied, showing cola, cherry liqueur and spicy vanilla flavors. It's a promising Pinot whose next step is to build in additional layers of complexity.
This is a newly created estate of 27 acres based in the twin villages of Viré and Clessé. It is attractive—full of apple and pear fruits and with a balanced touch of acidity. The fruitiness and crisp acidity make the wine drinkable young. With its tangy tangerine aftertaste, the wine is ready.
This is a newly released wine, sultry and peppery, with lip-smacking waves of blackberry and raspberry, bold and brooding and ultimately delicious. Full-bodied, it finds balance between its velvety texture and spikes of black pepper and leather.
This is a nice amalgam of loose threads—leather, tobacco, earth and coffee, with purple plum and pie-cherry fruit. The fruit flavors lean toward fruit leather rather than fresh-picked, and the tannins are a bit astringent.
This is a nice Bordeaux-style blend with pretty cherry and currant fruit and some cedar shadings, but lack the complexity of others in its style. It's straight forward, polite and restrained.
This is a nice Chard to drink now. It's creamy and smooth with tangerine, peach, apricot, vanilla and oak flavors.
This is a nice Chardonnay to drink with shellfish, particularly grilled shrimp. It's dry and crisp in acidity, with rich pineapple, green apple and pear flavors, accented with sweet, toasty oak.
This is a nice estate offering from the producer, a celebration of baked cherry pie that's soft and velvety while being full-bodied in style. Fruity and oaky in equal measure, it was aged for almost two years in 35% new French oak, and has a distinct touch of toasted oak on the finish.
This is a nice expression of Sauvignon although it lacks intensity and staying power. If you're looking for a fresh and easy appetizer wine with aromas of peach, citrus and basil, this is a perfect choice. The wine is zesty, clean and crisp on the close.
This is a nice Sauvignon Blanc for drinking now with ethnic fare, from Mexican to Vietnamese and Ethiopian. Its acidic citrus flavors will brighten and heighten richly sauced chicken dishes, .
This is a nice value-priced Albariño, with a minerally nose also offers aromas of melon, apple and peach. The palate is citrusy in feel, with lemony acids. Citrus and stone-fruit flavors finish stony and crisp, with a final blast of lemon.
This is a nice value for Pinot Noir. It has some real richness of fruit and smoothness of texture. Flavors of ripe raspberries and dates are offset by fine acidity.
This is a nice wine, sanguine with specks of cinnamon, chocolate and cherry, held up with polished tannin and a touch of grip that gives it substance, before finishing softly and quietly humbled.
This is a nice, crisp and properly varietal Gewürztraminer. It's dryish to semi-sweet, with pleasant citrus fruit, lychee, green apple and honeysuckle flavors, liberally spiced. There's no oak at all.
This is a nice, drinkable red from Red Mountain, though it does not have any varietal focus. There's light red fruit, some sense of minerality, and balancing acidity.
This is a nice, dry sparkling wine, rich in citrus, apple, yeasty brioche and spice flavors. The bubbles are a little ragged, giving it a scoury mouthfeel. But for the price, it's a fine bubbly.
This is a nice, easy-drinking Merlot, but it also has enough complexity to pair with a good cut of meat. It's dry and shows stylishly fine tannins that frame rich flavors of blackberries, cherries, licorice and cola.
This is a nice, low-key wine that won't make any enemies. It has crisp apple aromas, herbal touches and enough acidity to keep it lively on the palate.
This is a nice, lower-priced option of the variety, spicy in raspberry and strawberry, with a medium-built weight. Bulky in tannins that soften in the glass, its simplicity doesn't dete. There's a lasting note of toasted oak on the wine as it winds down.
This is a nice, plush Cabernet, soft and sweet in blackberry, currant and chocolate fruit flavors, but it's not a classic example of Mount Veeder Cabs, which are usually drier and more tannic. Drink in the short term.
This is a nice, smooth Merlot, perfect for everyday drinking. It's dry and rich in tannins, with blackberry, currant, smoked meat and oak flavors.
This is a nicely balanced wine from estate-grown vines, a mix of licorice and raspberry that offers luxurious mouthfeel and texture atop surprising acidity. A small amount of Viognier was used in fermentation to provide some additional lift and floral aromas, while a dustiness prevails on the finish.
This is a nicely balanced wine with bright cherry and berry flavors that are offset by sweet spice, almond and toasted oak. The wood elements already show integration and will continue to diminish with time. Give this wine five or so more years of cellar aging.
This is a nicely balanced, tightly constructed effort, a Merlot that will surprise anyone who has not tasted Washington Merlot in this price range. It is miles apart from the herbal, stemmy Merlots of other New World regions, or the vapid, watery $15 junk that comes from our neighbor to the south. This is ripe, full, meaty, structured, laden with plum and cherry, spice and just a hint of herb.
This is a nicely blended mix of 37% Zinfandel with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The kitchen-sink effort rewards in juicy red fruit, herbal, cedar accents and medium-bodied weight and tannin strength. The finish is lengthy in vanilla and smoke.
This is a nicely constructed Shiraz with some cool-climate leanings. It's medium in weight, with smoky scents, plum and cherry fruit and a firm, mouthwatering finish.
This is a nicely fragrant Rosso that shows bright nuances of raspberry, wild strawberry and pressed rose petal. The wine is smooth and silky to the end.
This is a nicely integrated wine with good balance and structure. Though the finish could be a bit longer, the forward red currant and plum flavors mingling with hints of tomato, tobacco and spice create just enough complexity.
This is a nicely made blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon with almost equal additions of Malbec and Petit Verdot. Dark in color and leathery on the palate, it offers black pepper, cinnamon and a taste of vanilla-caramel, finishing in spice and well-grooved tannin.
This is a nicely made blend of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Barbera, defined by its generosity of power and tannin as well as a concentration of blackberry, Italian deli meat and leather.
This is a nicely made Marlborough Sauvignon at an attractive price, with herbal, grassy notes and a touch of bell pepper backed by underlying tropical fruit. It's round without being soft, retaining sufficient crispness to serve alone or with seafood.
This is a nicely made, full-bodied wine, richly layered in vanilla, cassis and cedar, a mix of savory and fruity. Dried herb, tobacco and oak provide a succulent backbone while the acidity stays firm and fresh in the glass.
This is a nicely put together Chardonnay, offering enough creamy richness to balance the wine's crisp acids. Pineapple and tangerine flavors dominate, lingering elegantly on the finish without revealing obvious oak flavors.
This is a nicely shaped Chianti Classico with pretty renderings of cherry fruit, spice, tobacco and dried herbs. The mouthfeel is short but lively and the wine offers medium structure and persistence on the finish. It's a great, informal food wine.
This is a nicely sour, flinty and balanced full-bodied wine from a cool-climate site. Despite its roundness and warmth, this finds a way to be light and lean in between the luxuriousness and generous nature of the vintage and style.
This is a no-fussy, watery wine from the Forlì area of Italy (located on the Adriatic flank of the peninsula) that does a good job of washing down informal foods and keeping your palate refreshed. Its measured aromas include dried hay, soft yellow fruit with some nutty tones in the background for additional dimension. The mouthfeel is quick and lean.
This is a no-holds-barred wine. It's like Zinfandel on steroids, with explosive flavors of sweet raspberry, cherry and chocolate-covered raisin. The alcohol gives the wine a Port-like heat.
This is a nonvintage blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, with additions of Viognier and Muscat. Its Chenin-like nose is floral and rich, and its lychee, lime and kiwi flavors swirl about before coming to a refined, perfectly crisp finish.
This is a nonvintage blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. Well on its way to maturity, it's an easy-drinking quaffer, with a hint of bitterness on the finish.
This is a nonvintage wine based around the 2010 vintage (R stands for Récolte or harvest). Now showing signs of maturity, with hints of toast, it is a rich, full-in-the-mouth wine layered with swathes of citrus and apple fruit flavors balanced with a tight, mineral texture. This dry wine is ready to drink.
This is a nonvintage with bottle age, giving richness along with toast. The primary fruits are melting into a full, almond and yeast wine that fills the mouth with its concentration and citrus hints. This is a style for those who like rich but dry Champagne.
This is a northern Italian Cabernet with a light, informal style and low intensity. The wine delivers measured aromas of cherry, pine, cedar and ends with a crisp note of acidity.
This is a northern Rhône-style blend, with a touch of Viognier in the Syrah that softens the considerable dark, tannic power of the wine. Along with this solid structure, the wine also has ripe black-plum-skin and blackberry flavors. A concentrated wine, it still needs to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a nutty wine with flavors of hazelnuts and a mature character. The fruit has developed a honey flavor, keeping the acidity and an attractive spicy aftertaste. This ripe wine is ready to drink.
This is a nutty, almondy rendition of Roussanne, almost to the extent of veiling the remaining pineapple-tinged fruit. It's broad in the mouth and soft in texture, with a trace of warmth on the finish.
This is a nutty, toasty rendering of Chardonnay. Roasted cashew and cashew-butter notes frame subtle fruit elements reminiscent of white peach or pear. Despite a modest alcohol level, it's reasonably rich in feel and flavor, finishing with flavors of fresh pineapple.
This is a one-dimensional wine, and it offers confected raspberry and club soda notes that rule the nose and palate. It's light bodied and sweet tasting.
This is a one-of-a-kind wine in the state, with 50% of the wine fermented on skins for nine months and the rest aged in concrete and older oak. Pure red- and blue-fruit aromas are followed by bold fruit flavors and well-integrated tannins, without a trace of oak in sight. It's a completely unique interpretation of the variety, but most importantly, it's delicious.
This is a one-trick pony, but it's got quite a nice trick. Candied cherry aromas are the opener and follow through on the crisp palate. Little tannin is in evidence on the finish, where cherry flavors are joined by some boysenberry notes. A good choice for pasta in a tomato sauce.
This is a pétillant off-dry wine. It has a soapy character that is lifted by citrus fruits, a crisp texture and lively acidity. Drink immediately.
This is a palate-pleasing, low alcohol Pinot Gris, just lightly grassy and showing balanced flavors of fresh cut pear and melon. The crisp acidity leaves an impression of wet stone, refreshing the palate and setting you up for another glass.
This is a pale-colored wine with a finely wrought texture and great fruit. It is tight and mineral on the one hand, but balanced with the crispest red-currant flavors that offer a bright line in acidity. Delicious hints of age round out the final fresh aftertaste.
This is a pale-colored wine with a soft texture and gentle strawberry fruits. The texture comes through slowly to give a firmer edge to what is a wine for medium-term aging. This is stylish and smooth. It should be drunk from 2018.
This is a pale-colored wine, very fruity and crisp with an impressively refreshing quality. A touch of pepper gives interest to this dry, easy-drinking wine.
This is a pale-colored wine—lightly fruity and with a crisp clean texture. It is balanced with acidity and orange-zest flavor, giving the wine a refreshing lift at the end. This is an apéritif style, ready to drink now.
This is a pale colored rosé that combines mature aromas and tangy red fruits. It's on the dry side, and crisp with just the right touch of acidity and brightness. With a touch of toast, it is ready to drink now.
This is a pale colored rosé, light and fruity. It has a touch of caramel to go with the ripe strawberry fruitiness. The finish is fresh and crisp. Drink now.
This is a pale colored wine, a blend of local grapes and deliciously fresh. It is rounded and smooth, touched by citrus and fresh tangerines. Ripe and fruity, it is ready to drink now.
This is a pale colored, attractively perfumed wine. With red berry fruit flavors, bright acidity and a lively orange zest texture, it is fruity and ready to drink.
This is a pale wine, light in fruit and texture. It is poised and crisp with some attractive red fruits. Lively and fruity, it makes a great apéritif style of rosé. Drink now.
This is a pale, light-bodied rosé with aromas and flavors reminiscent of underripe peach and melon. It's clean, dry and even a bit austere on the finish, making it a fine apéritif.
This is a pale, peach-scented rosé, with hints of cherries as well. The blend of 40% Cinsault, 30% Grenache and 30% Syrah lacks the lively acids of some Provençal rosés, but features a pleasant roundness on the palate instead, finishing soft and easy. Imported by Routas USA.
This is a particular style of Albariño. Aromas of white flowers distant mineral and green melon set up a plump, layered palate, with core acidity but also flatness that will only increase the longer it goes. Flavors of nectarine, orange and melon register as citric but also creamy. This is a unique Galician white that's stylish but won't last forever; drink immediately.
This is a particularly earthy Pinot Noir. Beetroot and mushroom notes are dark and earthy, balanced by bright acids and supple tannins on the palate. The crisp, lean finish shows tremendous focus and length but less generosity. Drink 2018–2024.
This is a particularly expressive wine with lots of personality. It opens with aromas of cherry, tea and wood smoke, and tastes very dry and structured with vivid fruit acidity and tannins. Sour cherry and raspberry provide the fruit flavors.
This is a particularly fine vintage for the popular Dr. Wolfe's, maintaining the customary blend of Primitivo, Lemberger and Petite Sirah. Dark and smoky, with dense flavors of berry, cassis, licorice and dark chocolate, it is far more substantial than most red blends in this price range.
This is a particularly fruity rosé that's not quite dry but very fresh and full of strawberry flavors. It is fresh, ripe and ready to drink even in the winter.
This is a particularly lovely vintage of the popular Three Legged Red from Dunham. The fruit is a luscious bowl of cherries, with a streak of fresh peach as well. Smooth and supple, it adds gentle barrel notes of light toast, continuing on its elegant path through an extended finish.
This is a particularly savory style of Tavel, not terribly fruit, yet still sowing ample weight and breadth on the palate. The aromas and flavors are reminiscent of honey, wet stone and white chocolate, finishing with a dry, extra stony finish.
This is a particularly successful white Monte Velho. It is rich and creamy, full of ripe apple and refreshing acidity in equal measure. Fruity and fragrant, it is ready to drink and will be delicious this summer.
This is a party wine. It's dry, straightforward and rustic, with good enough Cabernet character to pair well with beef.
This is a peachy, plump Riesling that's mouthfilling yet not overly soft. The fruity flavors of peach and melon carry a touch of citrus and mineral on the finish. For drinking now and over the next several years.
This is a pepper- and apple-flavored wine with refreshing acidity that cuts through its richness. Using grapes sourced from the Kogl Vineyard, this shows perfumed ripeness and intense crispness. Screwcap.
This is a peppery, almost dry wine, with pear and green plum flavors. It is soft and light, and its lively, zesty acidity makes this a refreshing apéritif style.
This is a peppery, deep wine that's fun to explore. It has black pepper and roasted meat aromas, dry flavors like cranberry and pomegranate, and a good, firm texture that begs for beef bourguignon or pot roast.
This is a perennial winner among well-priced Spanish whites. The nose is clean, light and suggests apple blossom and buttercup. The palate has a good, tight, regular feel and honest flavors of green fruits and melon. Pleasant at every checkpoint.
This is a perfect everyday wine, with immediately attractive notes of Thin Mint, mocha, black raspberry, brambly boysenberry and cassis that abound on the nose and mouth. Touches of purple flowers and cocoa powder add decadence, while soft tannins lend an approachable structure to the palate. Drink now.
This is a perfect example of why Moscato is so popular. What's not to like, with the crisp, clean mouthfeel and seemingly sweet flavors of honey, orange and vanilla? So zesty, it's impossible not to drink a few glasses, and the alcohol is refreshingly low.
This is a perfect go-to, everyday Chardonnay, solid and light, if a bit unexciting. The fruit flavors of apple and melon are gentle and soft, and the oak treatment delicately handled. You get a little bit of buttered popcorn, but it's not a night out at the movies.
This is a perfect wine for fans of stem inclusion, but perhaps not for others. The aromas show green peppercorns, pasilla chile and a very tight boysenberry. The flavors are also green with jalapeño and other peppers, against a barely ripe, dark berry backdrop.
This is a perfect wine for outdoor receptions or apéritif time. This pale pink sparkler is refreshing and clean, with pretty berry and floral nuances, backed by a creamy mouthfeel and bright acidity. All these qualities make it perfect for pairing with a wide array of finger foods.
This is a perfect wine, both in accessible flavors and somewhat affordable price, for pizza night or meatballs. Cooked red plum, strawberry and a bit of cracked pepper kick off the nose in the Cabernet Franc-led blend, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. More plum hits the palate along with peppery spices, tobacco and marjoram. It's easy but not overly simple.
This is a perfectly drinkable wine, with good fruit from a great vineyard. It's a bit minty and chalky; let's say rustic. The mixed flavors border on the lightly vegetal side of cool-climate fruit; not sweet but firm.
This is a perfectly fine example of Clare Valley Cabernet, one that emphasizes refinement and elegance over sheer power and intensity. Cassis, tobacco and a hint of vanilla account for the bulk of the aromatic and flavor interest, and it turns mouthwatering on the finish. Should hold well through 2015.
This is a perfectly formed rosé, from its pale-pink color to its crisp acidity and light tannins. It is balanced and delicious to drink now.
This is a perfectly good and honest wine, with aromas of fresh lettuce yet not a whole lot of vivid fruit. So in that sense, it is like many SBs from cool-climate Limarí. But if the nose is shy, the palate offers nice, cheerful apple and melon flavors. Smooth enough and almost round, withno edgy acidity or overt zap.
This is a perfectly good, honest Chilean SB with snappy, pungent aromas of gooseberry, grapefruit and lime. The mouth is racy as it should be, with textbook lime, grapefruit, nettle and pithy flavors. If there's any drawback, it's on the finish, which ends with bitterness.
This is a perfectly solid, fresh Torrontés, with lime, pineapple and banana aromas and similar flavors. Add in some acid-based agility and lift, and this ranks as an everyday quaffer of the first order. Drink immediately.
This is a perfumed and generous wine with great tannins and a strong minerality. This is the first year that wines from the former Château Magdelaine were also included in Bélair as the two estates were amalgamated. It's dense, complex, balanced in character yet still with fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2024.
This is a perfumed crisp wine, attractively fruity and with delicious acidity. Its fruit is effusive and needs to calm down and fill out, so just wait until 2018 for it richness to be fully apparent.
This is a perfumed fruity wine. With its bright acidity and citrus and lychee flavors, it is both crisp and ripe. Ready to drink now.
This is a perfumed juicy wine with attractive acidity and plenty of ripe berry fruits. It has light tannins, just enough to give the wine its shape and tannic edge. Drink from 2018.
This is a perfumed ripe wine, packed with generous tannins that still give a style and elegance that is a remove from the older overripe style of Pavie. It is balanced, complex and with great potential. The wood and the tannins are in harmony with the black fruits. With its structure, it will certainly age well. Drink from 2027.
This is a perfumed wine full of attractive black currant and spice flavors. The wood aging has given a great fillip of richness to the stalky fruit as well as rounding it out. It could age further, so drink from 2017.
This is a perfumed wine that has attractive strawberry and blackberry fruit flavors along with a stalky background. Fragrant and fruity, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a perfumed wine that has immediately attractive herbal aromas. It is warm, ripe and full bodied with a dense texture full of red fruits, lavender and herbes de Provence. This wine should not be drunk before 2015.
This is a perfumed wine that has just pure berry fruits, red plums and spice from tannins. There's no wood aging here, but the wine succeeds because of its delicious ripe fruits and balancing sweet acidity.
This is a perfumed wine that has the crispest fruit, lively acidity and a light, ethereal character that reflects the Riesling well. It could age a year, but is ready to drink now.
This is a perfumed wine that is soft, full of red cherry fruit and gentle tannins. It does have a dry core that gives the wine shape and there is plenty of juicy fruitiness at the end. The wine is made for the Hospices, a charity in Lyon.
This is a perfumed wine with aromas of fresh flowers, orange peel and citrus. It drinks dry with a broad, fleshy feel, falling a bit flat on the finish.
This is a perfumed wine with eucalyptus aromas and new wood flavors. The wood element is held in balance by flavors of ripe berry fruits and delicate acidity. Keep this wine until 2015.
This is a perfumed wine with fine acidity. The tannins are soft, accompanied by black cherry and ripe berry notes, making this a sweet, rich style. The Quinta Senhora de Ribeira is on the north bank of the Douro, facing Quinta do Vesúvio on the south bank.
This is a perfumed wine with mint flavors from the wood aging. It has black-currant fruitiness that brings out acidity as well as tannins. The aftertaste is still young and fruity and the wine needs to age until 2017.
This is a perfumed wine with soft acidity and flavors of ripe apricot, nutmeg and spiced apple. It's full of character and the aftertaste retains the freshness of the vintage.
This is a perfumed wine with Syrah's delicious acidity as well as firm tannins. It is concentrated with ripe black fruits, but ready to drink now and until 2018.
This is a perfumed wine with violet aromas and a fragrant character. It has soft plum and cherry flavors, its acidity shaped by ripe fruits. There is a touch of structure that provides a fine finish.
This is a perfumed wine with yellow fruit and baked apple flavors. Attractive and with delicious acidity, it's ready to drink now.
This is a perfumed wine, and its new wood and violet aromas create equally pleasant flavors. The surface-level brilliance is followed by rich, dark tannins and a blackberry note.
This is a perfumed wine, attractive with floral aromas and generous black fruits. It has plenty of tannins as well as concentration, and looks set for a rich, structured future. Drink from 2018.
This is a perfumed wine, dominated by Cabernet Franc. Black fruits are layered with wood, dry tannins and a beautiful aromatic quality. The wine is deep and complex, built for the long term with its power, density and considerable elegance.
This is a perfumed wine, fresh with floral character. An attractive crisp edge makes it ready to drink now.
This is a perfumed wine, full of rich fruit and spice. The acidity is present to give the wine a lift. It will develop well, becoming smooth and rich over the next two years. Drink from 2018.
This is a perfumed wine, its freshness leaping from the glass. It has crisp green and white fruits, lively acidity and a light, tangy character. The finish shows more richness and a dry, textured feel.
This is a perfumed wine, moving easily between crisp, dry acidity and a more rounded almond and pear flavor. There are flavors of spice and freshly baked bread, with warm acidity on the finish.
This is a perfumed wine, opulent and with a fine smoky structure. With great ripe berry and red-currant fruit, the wine has a juicy character, bright and crisp with acidity while also solidly textured. Drink this wine from 2023.
This is a perfumed wine, soft while also ripe, with great pear flavor protected with night harvesting. It is still young and with its richness, it will be much better from 2017.
This is a perfumed wine, spicy and textured. It is off-dry which gives it a warm character, apples and white fruits over a rounded texture. It could age another few months and will be more balanced from 2016.
This is a perfumed wine, with aromatic notes of raspberries, kirsch, flowers, smoked meat, orange peel and blue fruit, with the Viognier blended in (4%) showing itself. The raspberry and cranberry flavors are lush and focused, showing a dazzling sense of purity that carries through the finish. It only lengthens its stride on the second day open.
This is a perfumed wine, with intense flavors of spring blossom, grapefruit and white peach. It has a tight line of acidity that cuts through to the finish. Screwcap.
This is a perfumed wine, with mint flavors as well as blackberry fruits. There is still a dominant structure of tannins and the wood aging that will allow the wine to age well. The fruits give the wine weight while the aftertaste has great swathes of acidity. Drink from 2019.
This is a perfumed wine, with white fruit flavors and and citrus zest acidity. It is still young, tense and tangy, needing several months to balance out.
This is a perfumed wine. Although the tannins are still firm from 14 months in new oak, it does have fine, fragrant red-fruit and acidity. The texture is dense, still young, and will be fine from 2019.
This is a perfumed, citrus and apricot-flavored wine. It is crisp, with a ripe character that fills the mouth with rich fruitiness. It has a light, mineral structure and a long, fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a perfumed, complex wine that veers between showcasing the freshest fruit flavors and hints of maturity. It's fresh with berry notes and intense with acidity, but rich in texture as well. This is a wine to age much longer, so don't drink before 2017.
This is a perfumed, elegant wine. Button mushrooms and cranberries combine to provide earthy underpinnings and bright fruit. It's medium in weight, with a silky texture, yet seems a bit warm on the finish.
This is a perfumed, fragrant wine. Its acidity is offset by the red berry and currant fruits that add freshness to the dry, crisp character. It's a full wine, with good fruit depth and ripe flavors, and will be better with food. Drink now.
This is a perfumed, fruity wine. Along with its fresh acidity, crisp apple texture and touches of lemon, it offers a tang of orange zest as well as touches of minerality from the gravelly soil of the vineyard. Drink now.
This is a perfumed, juicy wine. It has attractive red-berry fruits and touches of black currant. Still young, the wine is still shot through with tannins and a firm structure. This will soften over the next year to give a fruity, smooth wine. Drink from 2018.
This is a perfumed, lightly herbal wine. It has fine acidity with the crisp fruits and a touch of minerality. Floral aromas and citrus fruit give a lively, fruity wine that is ready to drink.
This is a perfumed, new wood-flavored wine. It has soft tannins and attractive acidity along with a drier core. Showing a rich potential, it will round out over the next four to five years. Drink from 2018.
This is a perfumed, refreshing wine. It has abundant apple and citrus fruits, crisp acidity and a light, bright character. The wine has some weight from the lees aging. It is ready to drink.
This is a perfumed, rich and balanced wine, with yellow fruits cut by fresh lemons. A light tangy texture gives an attractive lift. Drink now, although the wine will be better from late 2016.
This is a perfumed, stalky wine. It suggests fragrant red fruits and crushed raspberry flavors that contrast with the smoky flavor and strong acidity. At the end, red currants dominate.
This is a perfumed, strawberry-flavored wine, ripe with jammy fruits and gently cut with tannins and acidity. It is developing well, with juicy freshness at the end. Drink from late 2016. The Richard family's 37-acre vineyard—70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon—is certified organic.
This is a perfumed, structured wine that is showing both tannins and fruit well. While ripe and full of black fruits, it's also bright with acidity. It is just beginning to develop, with a dark, tarry texture that lingers on the finish.
This is a pert, pretty Cabernet Franc fragrant of Maraschino liqueur, sage and tarragon. It's forward in oak with wide swathes of toast and char, but elegantly balanced with crisp blackberry and black cherry flavors. Finishes with a murmur of soft tannins.
This is a Petite Sirah that's easy to love, ripe in sweet blackberry and smoky leather, juicy and balanced with enough meat to pair with a lamb roast or rack of ribs.
This is a Petite Sirah to sit on while the tannins mellow out a bit. It starts with fresh-pressed blue- and blackberries, a touch of lilac, hints of roasted meat and a touch of black coffee on the nose. The dense structure holds espresso, dark chocolate and a ripe blackberry sensation. Drink 2018 through 2023.
This is a Petite Sirah you want to decant to let the air soften it. After a while in the glass,  sweet blackberry, plum, grilled meat, tobacco, pepper and cedar wood flavors emerge. There's a funky edge that adds a wild, feral, mushroomy quality. An interesting wine to drink over the next three years for freshness.
This is a Petite Verdot-based blend, with smaller amounts of Zinfandel (22%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), with opening scents of cherry and teak. It's clean albeit a tad heavy-handed, with soft tannins.
This is a piercingly fresh wine from vines close to the Atlantic Ocean. The citrusy acidity is balanced by riper yellow fruit and pineapple. Age for a few months, but it can also be consumed now.
This is a pink-colored rosé sparkler made from Brachetto grapes that offers fresh aromas of raspberry, white cherry and cranberry. The bubbly produces a foamy cap and soda like effervescence with very sweet raspberry candy flavors on the close. Serve chilled with chocolate chip cookies.
This is a pinnacle of the modern style of winemaking in Napa Valley. The tannins are strong but not aggressive. The acidity is just enough to provide balance for the tremendously rich blackberry, black currant, Kahlua and olive flavors. The oak is powerful, but the wine wears it easily. The finish is thoroughly dry, long and spicy. And although the alcohol is high, it's not impossible. You can drink it now, although the tannins could benefit from 6–8 years in the cellar.
This is a Pinot-based refresher with substantial body, dry and tart with streaks of cranberry and raspberry. The stand-out character comes from its savory element of spice and sea spray, in addition to the weightiness that makes it welcome with food.
This is a Pinot Grigio-based wine (with 15% Friulano added to the blend for extra structure and complexity) that offers a very attractive blend of stone fruit and white mineral aromas. It's smooth, creamy and fresh on the finish.
This is a Pinot Noir-based blend, and it's quite a good dry, red wine of some sophistication and elegance. Soft and approachable, its cherry fruit flavors are complexed with herbs, such as sage and thyme, and a rich earthiness.
This is a Pinot Noir-dominated wine, with intense acidity as well as attractive, rich white fruits. There is a touch of maturity, of ripeness that gives the wine a full-bodied character. Add in some toastiness and this is a well-integrated wine that's ready to drink.
This is a Pinot Noir for lovers of lush expressions. Fat black cherry meets with nutmeg, vanilla, clove, raw meat and leather on the nose. Juicy blackberries and black currant explode on the sip, alongside sandalwood and myrrh. It's super rich and a tad sweet but also lively with persistent acidity.
This is a Pinot Noir meant to be aged. No question about it, from the citrusy acids to the sandy tannins to the somewhat awkward primary fruit flavors that desperately want to resolve with the oak. Packed with raspberries and cherries, the wine is completely dry and firm in minerals, and seems easily able to age for at least six years. Only 120 cases were produced.
This is a Pinot Noir of considerable force. Your first impression is of irrepressible power, with masses of fruit punching through an overlay of tannin and oak. Then the flavors fantail out, suggesting cherries, cola, currants and spices that are rich and complex through the long finish. For all its richness, the wine retains an agreeable delicacy of texture. Comprised of lots selected by winemaker Bob Cabral for this anniversary bottling, it's right up there with Williams Selyem's best 2010 Pinots, and just as ageable. Drink now–2022. The wine is only available as part of a two-pack from the winery for $250; the other bottle is the 2010 Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir, from Anderson Valley.
This is a Pinot Noir rosé that is very light and dry. The acidity is strikingly high leaving an impression of sharpness.
This is a pleasant bottle, with delicate fruit flavors that suggest watermelon and strawberry—nothing riper. There's a distinct impression of white balsamic vinegar, adding a high-toned lift that's just on the edge of too much, at least for some tasters.
This is a pleasant bottle, with pretty varietal scents of berry, flower and light spice. The tannins are light and rather soft, and winemaker Laurent Montalieu has kept the wine in perfect balance for its modest scale.
This is a pleasant fruity wine in a bottle that is too heavy for its attractively light and soft contents. There are red berry fruits followed by rounded tannins and layers of ripe fruits. Drink now.
This is a pleasant Pinot for drinking now. It's light and silky in the mouth, with raspberry, cherry and oak flavors. Doesn't seem to have the stuffing for aging, but it will be fine with steak, mushroom risotto, or even a great beef taco.
This is a pleasant red wine from Piedmont in northern Italy made with Nebbiolo and Vespolina grapes for a clean delivery of berry, spice and cola aromas. The wine is tonic and fresh in the mouth with clean acidity and playful bite of exotic spice on the close.
This is a pleasant white wine, albeit rather generic, as Pinot Blanc is prone to be. Crisp apple flavors and a touch of grapefruit are the focus. Drink chilled and enjoy it while it's still young and fresh.
This is a pleasant wine, with grapefruit and nectarine fruit, fresh but just a little flat through the midpalate. A good sipping wine, it's best served chilled and enjoyed while young.
This is a pleasant, highly quaffable Grigio with a lean, watery appearance and measured aromas of peach, citrus, dried hay and honey. It has a lively, citrus-driven mouthfeel with a touch of playful spice on the close.
This is a pleasant, medium-bodied Pinot Noir from one of the most famous Pinot blocks in Marlborough. The palate is filled with bright, tart cherry fruit leading to a decently long finish.
This is a pleasant, medium-bodied wine with ripe fruit and spice flavors and a touch of tannin providing firmness. What it lacks in varietal personality it makes up in value.
This is a pleasant, no-fuss sparkler with textbook aromas of peach, flowers and citrus fruit. Overall, it lacks intensity but its crisp, lean mouthfeel helps it end on a high, zesty note.
This is a pleasant, rather light-tasting wine with attractive, fresh raspberry aromas, red cherry flavors and good acidity to balance out the ripe fruitiness.
This is a pleasantly fruity wine, with tangy cherry fruit limned with some herbal, earthy tannins. Hints of tobacco and vanilla are there, but the wine quickly shows rather harsh, chalky acids that descend into a bitter, herbal finish.
This is a pleasantly intense wine with resiny aromas of tar, tobacco and smoked cedar wood. It has a dense, impenetrable personality and there are slightly bitter tannins on the close.
This is a pleasantly juicy, soft and approachable wine, made with value in mind, that delivers in easygoing flavors of black currant and cassis. Light bodied, it's a good choice for the table.
This is a pleasantly quaffable Viognier, with restrained apricot and melon aromas and flavors. It's medium bodied, without much texture, but a clean, refreshing finish.
This is a pleasantly sweet bubbly. There's a honeyed, sugary edge to the citrus, tropical fruit, spice, vanilla and toast flavors, and the bubbles are smooth and fine. The majority grape is Flora, a cross between Sémillon and Gewürztraminer.
This is a pleasingly tongue-coating wine, with flavors of cherry preserves, eucalyptus and butterscotch. A nice touch of pleasant salinity makes way for an enduring finish.
This is a plump Pinot Gris that does show a bit of its 13.5% alcohol. Pleasant smoke and citrus aromas give way to grapefruit and spice flavors that fade a bit quickly on the finish.
This is a plump Vino Nobile that delivers red currant and cola on the nose followed by meaty tones of smoked bacon and leather. In the mouth, the wine feels crisp and lean with moderate intensity.
This is a plump, broad southern Rhône white, offering subtle notes of melon, pear and wet stones. Drink it before the end of 2017 while it still retains some freshness.
This is a plump, medium-bodied Chardonnay ideal for casual sipping. Pear and citrus flavors combine easily, finishing on a soft note of chalk-dust.
This is a plump, medium-bodied rosé at a reasonable price. Pomelo or grapefruit notes combine with stone fruit, then finish stony-dry and tart.
This is a plump, medium-bodied rosé, one that ably marries strawberry fruit with hints of cracked pepper and cinnamon. Drink now.
This is a plump, medium-bodied rosé, vibrant with confected berry fruit and undertones of mossy stones and peppery spice. Should be versatile at the table, as it's fresh enough to handle fish yet intense enough to partner grilled meats.
This is a plump, perky little red, full of ripe, bouncy cherry fruit on the nose and palate. It's an easy quaff that falls away quickly on the finish.
This is a plump, succulent and sophisticated Rosso di Montalcino that boasts many of the beautiful characteristics of its big brother, Brunello. The tannins are tight and firm and there's a pleasant level of acidity that helps pair the wine to cheese-based pasta dishes.
This is a plump, succulent Chardonnay for drinking by the end of 2016. The apple, citrus and pear notes are pretty simple, but clean, with a long, refreshing finish.
This is a plush and dense interpretation of Barbera with loads of fruit intensity followed by blackberry plum and sweet tobacco. The wine is dense, clean and offers round texture with a crisp acidity finale that is typical of this Italian grape variety.
This is a plush and fully fruited wine that's super easy to like, with attractive aromas and flavors of blackberry compote, raspberry sauce and ripe boysenberry that are all hit with seductive notes of sweet spice and vanilla bean. There's ample tannic structure at the core, framing the dense, decadent mouthfeel and lending some lingering grip to the close.
This is a plush and opulent blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera that opens with bold aromas of blackberry preserves, chocolate, tobacco and spice. The wine is lush, balanced and dense on the close.
This is a plush and pleasantly concerntrated wine, with rich notes of black plum, cherry, and boysenberry that are spiced by notes of licorice and minty pepper. The medium-weight mouthfeel boasts velvety tannins and a well-build, solid structure. A hint of char unfolds on the lingering finish.
This is a plush and upfront wine that offers succulent aromas of cherry, black fruit and plum. It glides clean down the palate thanks to its thick density and soft, smooth texture. The wine has the pulp and density to pair with most winter foods.
This is a plush, earthy Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva that opens with aromas of ripe fruit, leather, tobacco and exotic spice. The wine shows impressive elegance in the mouth, thanks to its polished tannins and drying, mineral finish.
This is a plush, ripe and rich Chardonnay from northeast Italy with pretty aromas of exotic and passion fruits, yellow flower and papaya. It shows creamy density in the mouth and can stand up to shellfish or grilled tuna.
This is a plush, rounded wine, lacking much edge or cut, yet concentrated and flavorful. Roasted hazelnuts and cashews frame creamy pineapple fruit, ending in soft ripples of citrus. Drink now.
This is a pocket-size blend of 57% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Sirah and 1% Cabernet Franc. It's soft and drinkable, marrying red currant and cherry with softened tannins and an easy approachability.
This is a polished and attractive medium-bodied wine. It offers classic apple and pear aromas, and light vanilla and nutmeg flavors. Balanced a little toward softness rather than crispness, it's very easy in texture.
This is a polished and intense wine with super thick concentration, a black inky appearance, and almost too much black fruit, mineral and spice. It is the Great Wall of Southern Italian wines with impenetrable density, sweet flavors and a chewy, solid-state texture.
This is a polished and savory Sauvignon Blanc whose very sightly sweet lemongrass and spearmint flavors are finely balanced with crisp acidity. It brings to mind a salad of butter lettuce with shrimp, pink grapefruit and tart radishes.
This is a polished Chardonnay, fruity in Meyer lemon and lime yet mellow and honeyed on the palate, buoyed by tight acidity and just enough spice. There's a balance of depth and breadth to this wine, and a lengthy finish. Some fruit comes from 40-year-old vines planted to Heritage Selections of the Robert Young clone.
This is a polished, really likeable Chard. It offers everything the variety should: a rich, creamy texture, brisk acidity, and ripe, delicious flavors of pineapples, apricots, peaches and kiwis coated with vanilla.
This is a polished, smooth, ripe-smelling Toro with an inky color and earthy undertones to the bouquet. Full, tannic and voluminous, this tastes mostly of blackberry and prune, while the finish is similar in taste and lush in texture. This is more forward and ripe than complex and nuanced; drink through 2021.
This is a popular and reliable wine to pair with desserts or to drink alone. It offers foamy mousse with peach and honey on the finish.
This is a Portuguese classic. Made in a structured style, it is dry with plenty of tannins under the fruit. It is a real food wine, with its black-currant flavors firmly under control. The wine will be ready to drink from late 2017.
This is a potent brew with complexities galore, but there's also a simplicity about it that's appealing. Its raw size is bracing, but the structure and fabric of this Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon scream balance. Aromas of lead pencil, sawdust, coconut and brandied cherries introduce briary dark-berry flavors. A long, minty, power-packed finish says lay this down for a few years; drink from 2014–2020.
This is a potent, rich Shiraz. It's full bodied and thickly textured, with aromas and flavors of mocha, asphalt and plum. The overall impression is somewhat chunky and inelegant but undeniably concentrated. Give it five years or so to smooth out some of the rough edges.
This is a potentially fine wine, spoilt by high alcohol. The structure is dense and with enough acidity and solid tannins. The alcohol is the problem, derived from fruit that tastes overripe.
This is a potentially juicy wine with acidity and red fruits coming through the structure. It has the weight for the tannins and a rich background feel. Drink starting from 2018.
This is a powdery, pillowy and richly lush wine that flirts with voluptuous tendencies of soft, juicy red fruit, yet offers pretty floral elements and complex seasonings of cinnamon and nutmeg on the nose. At the same time, the underlying grip provides structure and depth. Decant or hold through 2022.
This is a powerful and concentrated wine. It is full of dusty, dark tannins that are still masking the rich blackberry and black currant fruits. There is a dry core here that will fill out as the wine matures. It's a serious, long-lasting wine that needs aging. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerful bottling, as is expected by this producer, showing fresh boysenberry, purple flower potpourri, tart black plums and a touch of rosemary on the nose. It's undeniably delicious at first sip, with caramelized blackberry and hints of thyme and rosemary. The texture is squeaky and sticky, and it's a bit sweet and boozy, but a definite Paso crowd-pleaser.
This is a powerful bully of a wine but a good value in the pricey Barolo category. Sweaty, masculine aromas lead to a concentrated palate framed by strapping tannins and flavors of black earth and violets. Medium finish. Give it a few years to grow up.
This is a powerful but not exaggerated style of Amarone that delivers ripe cherry and blackberry aromas followed by new leather, cigar box, spice and rum cake. It imparts a very smooth, rich and supple feel.
This is a powerful Cabernet comprised of all the key players. The nose is oaky, with coconut and vanilla aromas alongside fast and furious spiced berry scents. A meter-pushing palate tastes of spiced cherry, blackberry, herbs and chocolate, while the finish simmers with coffee and mocha notes. Drink through 2020.
This is a powerful Chardonnay. It's explosive in tropical fruit, in malic acids and in new charred oak. All the parts kind of stick out on their own, going in different directions. It's a good New World style, but it should have more synergy.
This is a powerful Pinot Noir that jumps toward the nose with black raspberry and other dark fruits as well as strong cedar and caramel aromas. Thick raspberry and rounded cherry flavors show on the sip, which enjoys strong and compelling spice notes of clove, star anise and even some licorice. Pair with steak.
This is a powerful ripe wine, packed with black fruits and firm tannins. It is an impressive blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, rich with black-plum flavors, a dark texture and great structure. This is a wine to age. Drink from 2020.
This is a powerful Shiraz, with heady notes of sweet spice, Dr. Pepper and chocolate on the nose. Ripe dark berries, violet and stoney notes are plentiful on the palate, supported by fine, integrated tannins. Drink 2019–2032.
This is a powerful statement of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. It has rich concentrated fruit, with ripe but dry tannins and considerable wood flavors. It is stylish, with layers of acidity and wood complementing the fruit.
This is a powerful wine that's very richly textured and with a structure that promises aging. It has weight and superripe peach and apricot flavors. There is a fine cut of acidity to give both freshness and aging potential. Drink from 2016.
This is a powerful wine with a strong presence of Cabernet Sauvignon to give structure as well as fruit. The wine has great acidity and a rich texture along with ripe plum and black-currant fruit. It comes from an 18th-century estate in the southern Médoc. Drink from 2022.
This is a powerful wine with complex structure, dense fruits and a solid texture. It's dry, firm, dark and still very young. The core of the wine is still tannin, the black cherry fruit giving so much richness before the fresh acidity cuts in. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerful wine with concentration and dark tannins. It is rich, packed with black fruits and acidity. The wine has spice, a bold structure and a great future. The wine, from one of the vineyards within the Corton Grand Cru, is likely to be ready to drink from 2025.
This is a powerful wine with rich black fruits and strong new-wood flavors. Mint and ripe, juicy berry fruits are balanced by an edge of tannin. While not for long aging, this is still an impressive wine.
This is a powerful wine, almost too powerful for its own good, with forward citrus, tropical fruit and vanilla-oak flavors.
This is a powerful wine, although it wears its density easily. There is a streak of acidity that gives the wine its juicy, attractive character. Black fruits and firm tannins are equally to the fore along with a powerful, concentrated texture. The wine is still aging and will be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a powerful wine, both in terms of alcohol and aromatic intensity. You'll recognize tones of cherry liqueur, blackberry preserves and Indian spice. It's soft and sweeter than most other Rosso di Montalcino.
This is a powerful wine, complex and structured. From one of the Douro's top quintas, now fully on form, this is full of red fruits, blackberries and acidity that's still so young. Concentrated and demanding aging, this should be kept at least until 2018.
This is a powerful wine, full of dark fruits and dense dry tannins. Even at four years old, it is still young. It is impressive in its concentration with fine acidity  and black-plum flavors mingling with the tannins. Drink this serious wine from 2018.
This is a powerful wine, made to age for a long time, from this estate which is performing in top gear. Complex tannins and dark fruits both make their presence felt. It has weight, ripeness and a dense structure. A great success, it is unlikely to be ready to drink before 2027.
This is a powerful wine, perfumed and ripe. Its aromas come from the Touriga Nacional in the blend that also includes Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. It's a dark and dense wine, very rich with enough juicy black fruit to balance. The concentration and tannins suggest long aging, so don't drink before 2019.
This is a powerful wine, with intense scents of pineapple leading a lively interplay of citrus, stone, Asian pear and spices. Thrilling texture, balance and length make this a standout, even in this outstanding vintage for all Pinot Gris.
This is a powerful wood-aged wine that is currently exhibiting dark chocolate and coffee flavors from new, smoky oak. It's the weight of the juicy fruit underneath that reveals the promise of aging. There is a mineral texture that shows the schist soil of the vineyard, all part of the dense mix. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerful wood-aged wine. Spice and toast aromas give it a firm character that will need to soften. Its black plum and berry fruit is upfront, with a juicy element that will fill out. Drink from 2020.
This is a powerful, almost concentrated, very dry selection. Its richness comes from the weight of its fruit flavors and the tight tang of its intense acidity. From a fine vintage, it could still age for several more years. Disgorged July 2011.
This is a powerful, big-hearted Malbec, full of rich fruits and perfume. Flavors of black-plum skin and licorice are encased in firm tannins and juicy acidity that lingers on the finish. A wine with concentration meant for hearty meat dishes.
This is a powerful, concentrated wine, just verging (but not quite passing) on overweight. That makes it rich and dense, full of black plum fruits and damson skins both giving a textured juiciness. The tannins, though, are still young and the wine needs plenty of time. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerful, dense and impressive wine showing ample weight supported by fruitiness. The acidity from the ripe black-plum fruit gives the wine intensity as well as aging potential. Enjoy this fine wine after 2016.
This is a powerful, dense and richly fruity wine, a blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah. With spice, sumptuous blackberry fruits and generous tannins, it's just reaching maturity. Offering great structure and immediate appeal, it is juicy, ripe and ready to drink.
This is a powerful, dry wine, with firm tannins that are balanced by a ripe plum note and freshened by the fruity acidity. It feels dark and dense, and it is likely to age well over 8–10 years.
This is a powerful, full-bodied and tannic wine with a lot of grip in the texture, very firm tannins and decent concentration. It smells and tastes smoky, backed by some tart blackberry flavors.
This is a powerful, gutsy Cabernet, currently lacking finesse. It's young, dry and brash, with sticky tannins and unmelded flavors and textures. The blackberry, cherry and oak flavors are sweet and delicious. Seems best now and soon, although it could be a sleeper.
This is a powerful, rich, toasty Garnacha, with grit, earth and spice galore on the bouquet. It feels tough, masculine and tannic, with a mix of beefy black-fruit flavors elevated by molasses and spice. Firm and showing some burn on the finish, along with notes of black licorice and peppery spice. Only 200 cases made. Drink now–2016.
This is a powerful, ripe and generously fruity wine. With red berry and rich spice from wood aging, it is dense, complex and aromatic. Minerality and dark, dry tannins show the wine needs to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerful, ripe and intense wine. It has layers of juicy black fruits that are sustained by acidity and even more by the dense dusty tannins. It is structured and firm with the wood aging giving spice. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
This is a powerful, ripe wine, touched by its wood aging while having rich yellow fruits and a dense structure. Nervous tension comes from the acidity and the strongly mineral texture. It's a magnificent wine that needs aging, so drink from 2019.
This is a powerful, sappy, sensuous and fragrantly fruit-driven mix of Syrah from the Seven Hills, Clifton, Bacchus, Candy Mountain, Willard, Pheasant and Stone Tree vineyards—a true Columbia Valley potpourri. It's blended with 7% Grenache from Stone Tree as well, adding floral/violet highlights. It's a well-made Syrah that reflects the particular Washington profile of floral aromas, tart berry fruit and juicy acids. Excellent focus and definition in a style built for acid lovers.
This is a powerful, wood-aged wine. It's still showing its toast at the moment, but expect the wine to round out, yielding solid tannins and a concentrated black-plum flavor. With a rich yet firm finish, this should age well over several years.
This is a powerfully earthy and rustic Pinot soft in tannin structure and exuberant in ripe dark cherry and berry, a touch of savory leather and tobacco peaking on the finish.
This is a powerfully ripe wine. It has layers of great black fruits and firm tannins. Both indicate a wine for aging. It has a concentrated juicy character along with acidity and a dry structured core. Drink this wine from 2019.
This is a powerfully structured wine from a 18-acre property on the plateau of Pomerol. Rich Merlot dominates and gives the wine both its alcohol and its intense tannins and juicy red fruits. The wine is dense with the potential for aging over a considerable time. Drink from 2025.
This is a powerfully structured wine from one of the pioneers of Merlot in Bairrada. It is dark with tannins while also brimming with great black-fruit flavors. Rounded, balancing fruit and acidity, the wine is smooth, rich and now ready to drink.
This is a powerfully structured wine, not heavy but firm, with tannins and tensile acidity. The dry core of the wine supports blueberry and violet flavors concentrated on the palate. Drink from 2017.
This is a powerfully tannic wine from a blend of equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a serious touch of Petit Verdot. It is dark in color, dense in texture although with no hint of toughness. Instead, it is a rich wine that will age well. Drink from 2023.
This is a powerfully woody wine that shows more wood than fruit at this stage. Structured, austere and powerful, it needs time to flesh out. Drink from 2018.
This is a powerhouse of a wine, from a tremendous coastal site, situated within a blanket of forest at 1,200-feet elevation. Reductive notes of diesel oak give way to juicy, stemmy and grippy characteristics, marked most pronounced by flavors of black cherry, raspberry and black tea.
This is a powerhouse of a wine. It is driven forward by immense tannins as well as by superrich fruit that still keeps itself in check by a velvet texture. There is spice, acidity, some toast and vanilla, and finally a sunburst of warmth.
This is a powerhouse of a wine—structured and dense yet still developing and closed at this young stage. There's already a sense of both fruit richness and mineral texture, underpinned by oak spice, yet it will grow more powerful with time. Drink from 2023.
This is a powerhouse of ripe fruits, strong tannins and dark acidity. It burst out of the glass with its bold, firm flavors and solid structure. It is already balanced, the fruit complementing the dense texture. But it will certainly develop more and age very well. Drink in 2016 and until 2022.
This is a premier cru with a single owner, described as a Monopole in French. It has ripe tannins backed with hints of smokiness. The fruit lies behind the structure, with its powerful, dense character. Hints of the juicy, black-fruit future of this wine come through the texture. Drink from 2022.
This is a pretty and floral rosé, with attractive notes of strawberry, red cherry, sweet pea and white clover. The light-weight palate offers vibrant notes of red currant and lime peel that carry through to the bright and refreshing finish. Drink now.
This is a pretty basic Zin, fresh and tart in blackberry jam flavor. In its favor, it displays robust full-bodiedness and plenty of Zinny spices. At this price, it's fine with burgers, tacos, ribs.
This is a pretty eastern U.S. Merlot, with its subtle, nuanced flavors of red berry, plum and currant and its approachable, soft tannins. Virginia is showing its talent for growing reds and this is a good example of what can be done with good vineyard management and winemaking.
This is a pretty famous vineyard in Paso and other wineries have made good Zin from it, but this one from Martin & Weyrich tastes as sweet as a dessert pastry, with chocolate fudge, cassis, rum, cola, caramel and peppery spice flavors. But there's something to be said for the intensity and the acidity from these 60-year-old vines.
This is a pretty good buy for a Merlot that shows lots of polish and sophistication. It has savory black cherry, currant, cola and spice flavors. The tannins are a little rugged and green, so it loses some points.
This is a pretty good Cab, as far as it goes. It tastes a bit sharp, with very ripe blackberry and currant flavors that have a baked fruit quality. Doesn't seem like an ager, so drink now.
This is a pretty good Cabernet, although it's a little direct in its appeal. Flatters the palate with strong flavors of blackberries, currants, dark chocolate and oak, with rich tannins and a long, fruity finish. Flamboyant, if not particularly complex. Drink now.
This is a pretty good Cabernet, showing some real fanciness, with soft tannins framing blackberry, currant, anise and herb flavors and a touch of sweet, smoky oak. Not an ager, so drink up.
This is a pretty good price for an everyday, introductory Pinot Noir. It shows proper qualities of dryness, silkiness and cherry cola flavors, enhanced with oaky notes.
This is a pretty good value for a Pinot Noir from one of California's better districts. The wine is dry and balanced, with fine acidity framing raspberry jam flavor.
This is a pretty good wine, dry, spicy and full-bodied, but it's not particularly Cabernet-ish or Napa-ish. It could be Zinfandel or Syrah or anything, with its peppery black currant and mocha flavors. It's also quite soft. Drink now.
This is a pretty great deal for a wine of this quality, made by consulting winemaker Shane Finley. Mellowed in flavor and oak, it takes time to open in the glass, but does, imparting forest floor, cardamom and a bite of bittersweet cranberry-raspberry within a medium-bodied, smooth texture.
This is a pretty impressive wine being offered for an almost unheard-of price, the fruit sourced largely from Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast. Cardamom and cinnamon figure in, with a lightness of body and high-toned strawberry and cherry belying an underlying richness that'll satisfy.
This is a pretty late release for such an inexpensive wine, but its hard, reductive shell may be the reason it's been held back for so long. Herbs and spices drift up from the glass, along with peppery raspberry fruit. But overall it's a tough nut to crack, and should be decanted well in advance.
This is a pretty lean, tightly focused wine. Grilled pineapple and citrus notes broaden slightly on the midpalate, then come together again on the crisp, lemony finish. Drink now through the end of 2015.
This is a pretty lean, ungenerous version of Pinot Gris. Wet stone and citrus aromas are promising, while the medium-bodied palate delivers lime and underripe stone fruit.
This is a pretty Malvasia with drying tones of pear, hay and honeysuckle layered over the wine's smooth, clean texture. It is a very food-friendly wine that would pair with first courses or appetizers.
This is a pretty nice Merlot, soft, smooth and rich in oak-accented cherry pie flavor. It finishes a little sweet; try pairing it with teriyaki chicken or pork.
This is a pretty nice wine for drinking with every­day fare, and at this price, it's a real value. It packs a punch, with solid blackberry and licorice flavors that finish dry and spicy.
This is a pretty nice wine. It's made in a lighter style than from warmer regions, and is silky, absolutely dry and crisp in acids. The cherry, berry and currant flavors are perfectly integrated with the oak. Drink this elegantly constructed, food-friendly wine now.
This is a pretty ordinary Pinot Noir that's dry and brisk in acidity, with thinned-down cherry skin, pomegranate and cola flavors. Loses a point for some bitterness in the finish.
This is a pretty Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige (the extreme north of Italy) with fragrant aromas of green melon, white flowers and peach. The wine doles out delicate flavors in the mouth and boasts good persistency and staying power.
This is a pretty Pinot that's light and silky on the palate, and comforting in its moderate alcohol and spicy, exotic flavors. It offers waves of wild forest berry pie, baking spice, sweet-and-sour persimmon and sandalwood flavors that are intriguingly complex. Absolutely delightful now.
This is a pretty rose hue, and follows in a light, tart style. Despite its apparent simplicity, it shows surprising depth of flavor, highlighted with fresh strawberries and Bing cherries. There's a touch of Juicy Fruit gum also, and the wine should be consumed now through 2020.
This is a pretty simple Petite Sirah, with rich, soft flavors of raspberry and cherry sour candy. But it has lovely tannins. Cook up a great cheeseburger and enjoy.
This is a pretty solid value for the price, as long as you don't mind plenty of oak influence. A cedary note dominates the nose and casts a long shadow across the cherry-stained palate, imparting a vanilla flavor and some drying tannins along the way. Despite that, there's ample length and a mouthwatering quality to the finish. Drink now.
This is a pretty taut wine that combines a rich style with good, vibrant acidity. Yet it is described as 100% fermented in stainless steel rather than oak barrels. The aromas resemble toasted baguette, butter and toasted walnut, while the flavors are like ripe apple and almonds.
This is a pretty traditional blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault that's backed up by the aromas of clove and ripe cherries. It's firm yet silky in texture, adding notes of dried herbs and baking spices on the palate. Drink 2017–2025.
This is a pretty traditional example of Barossa Shiraz, with oak-derived elements of vanilla, chocolate and a touch of dill backed by bold blackberry and deep cherry fruit. It's round and full on the palate, with a finish that fades easily into dusty notes of espresso and cocoa. Drink now–2020.
This is a pretty white wine, light and easy to love, with medium-bodied weight and mouthfeel. Highlights include apricot, vanilla and a touch of grass, with no one element overpowering the other. It's a highly quaffable experience.
This is a pretty wine in terms of floral aromatics, resplendent shocks of orange blossom and orange peel inviting in their exotic freshness. Lime and orange follow on the palate, which is bristling in acidity, the finish light and bright.
This is a pretty wine with its elegant pale color and delicious fruit. Made from organically grown Grenache (85%) and Cinsault (15%), it is crisp, full of fresh red currant fruit and has a nervy, very fresh aftertaste.
This is a pretty wine, and the initial flavors are soft and mature, suggesting a wine that's ready to drink now. In the mouth it falls away quickly with a slightly oxidized character that suggests an early fade is on the way. It's gentle and drinks well enough right now, with some barrel notes of caramel and coffee beefing up the finish.
This is a pretty wine, forward and fruit-driven, with orange-juice highlights around cherry fruit. It's as fresh and flavorful as a Cru Beaujolais, ready for immediate enjoyment and best consumed sometime this decade.
This is a pretty wine, resplendent in jasmine and honeysuckle, with a light-bodied, integrated approach to highlighting fresh layers of apricot and peach. The viscosity is just right, focused and restrained, while the finish puts an exclamation point to the freshness of fruit.
This is a pretty wine, vibrant in white pepper and braised meat. The nose is pure violet and blueberry, while the approach to the fruit is light-handed, with integrated tannins and a low oak imprint. Entirely varietal, it delves into earthy territory with elements of forest floor and dark chocolate.
This is a pretty, delicately perfumed Pinot Noir, with elegantly intertwined cherry and herb notes. It's light to medium in body, with a finish that shows just a touch of sinewy intensity. Drink it over the next year or so.
This is a pretty, easy-going Chardonnay with fine coastal acidity providing a clean counterpoint to the heavy oak. The flavors are of buttered toast, buttered popcorn and orange jam.
This is a pretty, elegant Côte Rôtie, only medium in body, but with a lovely silky texture and a tart, lingering finish. Herbal aromas suggest green olives, and there's a hint of bacon smoke to go with flavors of tart raspberries and cherries. Drink now–2020.
This is a pretty, elegant rendering of Pinot Noir. Delicate strands of resinous herbs surround a medium-bodied core of cherry fruit, which lingers softly on the finish. Drink now–2017.
This is a pretty, floral and balanced wine, elegantly austere in preserved lemon, yuzu and grapefruit, with richer overtones that build on the medium-body toward the lengthy finish. A wine made for the table, it'll pair well and widely, though it can also stand deliciously on its own.
This is a pretty, light-copper hue, from a small percentage of the grapes being kept on the skins. Fruity flavors of pear and apple dominate, while the acids conjure up suggestions of orange juice.
This is a pretty, light and balanced wine. It has attractive acidity plus a crisp edge of grapefruit and a typical touch of spice to give it a lift and an edge. The aftertaste continues the attractive, fresh theme.
This is a pretty, lightweight wine marked by peppery accents. Those give it an almost Syrah-like quality, although the weight and texture is all Pinot. Red cherry and spice flavors finish lacy and dusty. Ready to drink now.
This is a pretty, luminous straw-colored sparkler with subtle shadings of honey, stone fruit, white flower and mineral. The wine is crisp and drying in the mouth but it also imparts a slight sensation of sweetness in the form of peach flavors.
This is a pretty, nicely balanced Rhône for immediate consumption. Attractive aromas of cherries, with hints of cocoa and cinnamon, give way to similar flavors couched in supple tannins. It's not a rustic powerhouse, but a surprisingly silky blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre.
This is a pretty, pale purple/rose; bright, peppery and rather delicate. It shows excellent floral aspects, like a good Beaujolais - it's somewhere between Pinot Noir and Gamay, with big fat grapes and heavy clusters that somehow produce a real finesse wine. The acids keep it lively, the peppery notes add a lot of spice and the floral qualities turn the tart cranberry fruit into something special.
This is a pretty, perfumed wine. It is all jammy, with only light tannins. Bright and fragrant, it is sure to develop quickly. so drink from 2018.
This is a pretty, polished wine to drink now with a nice steak. It's soft and rich in jammy cherry, berry and spice flavors. Earns extra credit for sheer lusciousness and drinkability.
This is a pretty, well-made Barbera with an invitingly floral and fruity bouquet. The palate shows ripe black-fruit flavors accompanied by touches of spice, coffee and chocolate. This would be perfect with grilled meats.
This is a preview of Swan's vineyard-designated '09s yet to come, and it sure is exciting. It's a beautiful, sensual wine, rich in acidity and delicious in raspberries and cherries. Near perfect for drinking now.
This is a prickly wine, with a strong blast of nettle and green herb aromas. It has weight and texture on the palate, while the flavors of citrus fruits and salad greens are pithy and mildly bitter. Green and white pepper notes dominate the finish.
This is a prickly, slightly raspy wine with a lean, grabby feel and briny, pickled flavors of herbal red-berry fruits. It's resiny tasting on the finish, with a snappy feel and lasting herbal flavors.
This is a prime example of clean Verdejo; the nose is minerally and neutral except for notes of nectarine and peach. A lifted, firm, well-cut palate is home to pithy flavors of nectarine, tangerine and melon, while the finish is long and tastes mildly bitter, which is common for the variety.
This is a prime example of how blending Cabernet and Shiraz can benefit both. The Shiraz provides texture and amplitude, the Cabernet soaring cassis aromas and length on the finish. Smoky mocha-tinged oak frames that impressive velvety fruit, only slowly fading away. Drink 2018–2030.
This is a prime example of what big-production Marlborough Pinot Noir can do well. The aromas are clean, redolent of fresh black cherries and blossoms. The feel on the palate is ample, even lush, but not heavy. Cola and spice elements emerge on the long, silky finish. What's not to like?
This is a pristine albeit easy wine with clean and compact aromas of stone fruit, yellow flower and zesty citrus. Genuine and aromatic, this is textbook Pinot Grigio with pleasing creaminess on the palate. Pair with pasta salad, grilled white meats and finger foods.
This is a pristine and elegant Bolgheri Superiore with a particularly focused aromatic profile. The blend is 60-20-20 Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot. A green, herbal note comes through. You'll also recognize elements of caper, green olive, mineral, tobacco and exotic fruit. It shows thick fruit and dense concentration as well.
This is a pristinely fruity yet vivacious sparkling rosé. It's deft in body and scintillatingly crisp, offering layers of tart red-apple and raspberry flavors. Fine delicate froth and persistent bubbles set it apart, as does its long sugar-cookie finish.
This is a producer always to consider for Rhône-styled wines. A mix of strawberry pie and Nilla wafer, this 100% varietal wine is robust and full bodied. Structured with plenty of tangy acidity, it'll stand up to cellaring or a decant. Drink now through 2021.
This is a promising wine from a Los Angeles County vineyard. Bolstered by 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, it shows dried cherries, coffee syrup, crushed bricks, deep tobacco, leather and sliced-steak notes on the nose. The mouthfeel is full and boisterous with acidity, conveying red cherry and tangy cranberry. An earthy and floral aspect emerges on the finish.
This is a pronounced wine, boasting upfront aromas of blackberry, plum and boysenberry that are graced with additional scents of licorice, chicory, black pepper and crushed violet. The palate is bold, with a gripping texture that supports the lush black-fruit flavors. Toasted oak and sweet smoke accents grace the medium-length finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a proper Cabernet, showing some rich flavors of black currants and dark chocolate, wrapped into sturdy tannins. Ready to drink now.
This is a proper El Dorado Zin. It's still tight and tannic, but air and time reveal a lovely bouquet of lavender and crushed herbs that's layered, soft and spicy on the finish. Miraflores is making some lovely wines and this is one worth seeking out.
This is a prototypical Saar Riesling, with classic green apple and citrus flavors underscored by slate-driven minerality that lingers for a long time on the finish. Despite the sensation of plumpness, the wine is light on its feet. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
This is a prototypical Washington Cabernet, with aromas of cherry meats, black currant, coffee and whiffs of herb. Though far from over the top, the flavors show intensity and texture with a pleasing acidic lift. It offers a lot of subtlety and elegance for a wine at this price.
This is a Provençal-style blush made of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. It's a little sugary sweet, with raspberry, orange and vanilla flavors.
This is a punchy wine that's fresh on the nose. The palate sports a viscous feel that's related to Viognier and Chardonnay, while the Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris in the blend bring a citrus-like quality and an asparagus flavor.  The finish quickly loses steam.
This is a pure expression of Merlot from Northeast Italy with pretty mineral tones that act as a frame to plump cherry, blackberry jam and almond. The wine has a chewy, dense mouthfeel and could pair with meatloaf or steaks.
This is a pure expression of Nero d'Avola, with bright cherry and generous milk chocolate notes that are backed by toasted oak tannins and a fresh, spicy finish. The quality of the fruit is lively, rich and chewy.
This is a pure expression of Pinot Noir from one of Italy's first organic and biodynamic wine producers located in the far, mountainous north of the country. Aged in oak barrique, the wine is elegant, fine and silky, with beautiful aromas of wild berry, almond, cola and herb.
This is a pure expression of Syrah that shows rich aromas of ripe fruit, leather, tobacco, crushed black pepper and blackberry. The finish is long and smooth. Pair this with steak in a creamy green-pepper sauce.
This is a pure Grenache, tart and spicy, with powerful herb components. It is not fruity or sappy-sweet by any measure, but it delivers moderately concentrated flavors highlighted by herb and earth notes, with good length and balance.
This is a pure Pinot Noir cuvée from an Aube-based producer. It has a curious candied character reminiscent of fruit drops due, perhaps, to its youth. Give it a few more months to gain depth and drink from 2018.
This is a pure, clean, vibrant wine, modest in alcohol, with brisk acidity. Fermented in stainless steel, it features classic varietal flavors of oranges, apples, honey and vanilla that finish dry and spicy.
This is a purely varietal, estate-grown wine from Mount George, cave-aged for nearly two years in all-new French oak. Generously expansive on the palate, it offers full-bodied richness around a thoughtful layering of clove, juicy black cherry and savory red currant, lingering on the finish.
This is a quaffable (about 10% alcohol), off, dry white wine, with intense, clean, lovely floral flavors. Citrus and citrus blossom mingle, making it almost like a still version of Prosecco. There is a surprisingly long finish with spicy floral flavors, intense and flavorful.
This is a quiet blend of 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 18% Merlot and 18% Petit Verdot. It's delicate and light in toasted oak, with clove, tobacco, blueberry and cassis flavors. It finishes on a lingering licorice note.
This is a quiet, subtle and deliciously crafted white, moderate in acidity, that presents as crisp and dry. Meyer lemon shines brightest, providing a refreshing complexity as stony minerality adds texture.
This is a quietly intense wine with a good, deep color, nice aromatics like black plums, and tasty prune flavors. Not too full bodied and supported by taut tannins, it has an almost chewy texture and lingering finish.
This is a quintessential café red, with a lively, brambly potpourri of fruits and plenty of acid to juice it up. It's fresh and forward and ready to go right now. Nothing too fancy, but plenty of ripe flavor for the price.
This is a quintessential expression of young Nebbiolo, with pretty floral and strawberry notes that carry onto the palate, along with raspberry and mineral nuances and a whiff of spice. A bright, elegant wine made to be drunk young. Imported by Masciarelli Wine Co, Moonlight Wine Co.
This is a quintessential Franciacorta, featuring lovely aromas of pressed white flowers and citrus. The round, creamy palate boasts flavors of ripe pear and apple with hints of walnut. The nervous acidity will keep this youthful and fresh for several more years.
This is a quite massive, almost overpowering take on Grenache from a biodynamic vineyard just south of the Santa Lucia Highlands, showing concentrated boysenberry and blackberry on the dark nose alongside loamy soil minerality. It's lavish and rich on the sip, with blackberry paste and tar flavors hanging from sticky tannins. This bottling still needs some time.
This is a radically different Pinot Grigio that opens with a golden color and offers aromas of caramel, butterscotch and candied fruit. The mouthfeel is creamy and luscious. It's released after many years of cellar aging, and the process to make it is very sophisticated and labor-intensive.
This is a raisiny Cabernet, tannic and slightly coarse. Drink it now with barbecue or beef stews.
This is a rare 100% varietal, single vineyard example of this grape. Light in color, it brings aromas of gun smoke, herb and cherry, showing some reduction. The flavors are light and elegant, displaying a lot of delicacy.
This is a rare beast from Washington—single vineyard Tempranillo aged in neutral oak coming in at less than 13% alcohol. It's soft and light with notes of red fruit and refreshing acidity that drops off on the back half.
This is a rare chance to experience quality, aged Riesling at an exceptionally low price. Glimmers of apple, peach and pear still peek through, but it's more a showcase of tertiary complexities of mineral and earth. A fine, filigreed structure of acidity and sweetness remains firmly entact. Drink now through 2019.
This is a rare dessert wine from the Vinho Verde region. It's packed with flavors of currant, lemon honey and orange peel. With its great sense of acidity, it is both sweet and deliciously refreshing.
This is a rare example of a successful wood-aged Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit comes from the Lafoa vineyard in Cornaiano. Half the wine has new oak barrel fermentation, the other was kept in stainless steel, cutting the wood flavors to an elegant balance with the floral and mineral flavors.
This is a rare example of Italian-made Kerner that opens with mineral, smoky granite and loads of soft peach. It delivers a tangy, etched quality overall, with a playful layer of sweetness.
This is a rare premier cru vineyard with its north-east exposure. In good years, like 2005, it can produce a wonderful expression of the mineral structure of fine Chablis. Apple and grapefruit flavors are at the forefront here; this certainly needs to age for 5–6 years.
This is a rare premier release from the winery's new vineyard. It's a blend of different clones, and only 47 cases were produced. The wine is very exotic. It shows tiers of raspberries and cherries, but also more feral notes, of dried meats or leather, mushrooms, tart balsam, tangy minerals and scads of dusty, sweet Indian spices. Tannic and dry, it should unfold slowly over the next 10 years.
This is a rare red wine in this Loir Valley appellation, wood aged and rich. A blend of Pineau d'Aunis with Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, it is densely textured and full of spice as well as blackberry fruit. Full in the mouth, replete with fruit, it is ready to drink.
This is a rare single vineyard bottling of this up-and-coming variety in the state. It brings aromas of coffee, soil and vanilla that lead to tightly coiled purple-fruit flavors. It packs a mouthful of fruit, acid and tannins, bringing a whole lot of intrigue and appeal.
This is a rare single vineyard, 100% varietal bottling of Cinsault from the state. Aged 18 months in neutral oak, the focus is on freshness and purity and it brings plenty of both. Vibrant aromas of violets, potpourri, red fruit, orange peel and plum are followed by mesmerizingly pure fruit and savory flavors that linger on a long finish. A light oxidative note provides a touch of distraction.
This is a rare venture by Olivier Leflaive outside his home territory around Puligny, Chassagne and Meursault. The wine is classic Corton-Charlemagne, big and bold, a broad-shouldered wine that brings together toastiness, ripe pineapple and mango and balancing, lively acidity. It is already giving great pleasure, but should last well over the next decade.
This is a rare, 100% varietal Cinsault from Olsen Vineyard that saw only neutral French oak, and it's hard to imagine a more pure representation of the variety. Aromas of tart red fruit and flowers with high-toned stem accents are followed by piercingly pure, elegantly styled fruit and savory flavors that undulate across the palate. The balance is exquisite. It stands up beautifully on its own but will truly sing at the dinner table. Pair it with lamb.
This is a rare, 100% varietal, single-vineyard Malbec. It downright dazzles with notes of dark plum and spice that are followed by seamless, pure, elegant fruit flavors.
This is a rare, expressive Riesling that hints at violets and red berries. Intensely fruity, it's brisk, with tangy grapefruit-like acidity and a delicious, bitter green-almond finish.
This is a rare, single-vineyard, 100% varietal wine from Red Mountain where Bordeaux varieties reign. It brings appealing accents of tart cherries and assorted barrel spices, including clove and vanilla. Flavors are medium bodied with a pleasing blast of tart acidity. Vanilla flavors speckle the finish.
This is a rarely made super-reserve from the 30-year-old Ridgecrest vineyard. It echoes the other 2011 reserve bottling from Chehalem, with extra concentration and grip. The fruit flavors run to raspberry and cherry, and the wine is balanced and crisply defined.
This is a rarity —wood-aged Vinho Verde. It works beautifully, the floral flavors of the Loureiro grape balanced with a smooth texture. The green fruit flavors dominate, just broadened by the wood.
This is a rather austere, tough Chardonnay. Bone dry, it's marked by brisk acidity, minerality and citrus flavors, with a touch of apricot that's reminiscent of botrytis.
This is a rather big and burly wine for a Mosel spätlese, weighing in at 11.5% alcohol. And while it shows plenty of power, it also shows nuance in its aromas and flavors, which range from baked fruit, honey and spiced marmalade to oily, mineral essences. Has the concentration to age, but the balance of sugar and alcohol may not hold in the long run—drink it over the next few years to avoid disappointment.
This is a rather big and rich wine that has a deep orange-pink color, along with quite a bit of body and red-fruit flavors. The mouthfeel is smooth, as plum and melon flavors meet soft acidity. It's more like a red wine than most of today's rosés, but is a pleasure to drink.
This is a rather big, bulky Vacqueyras, but one that doesn't seem to have the flesh to completely carry its size. The modest cherry flavors blend with dark, earthy notes into a tangle of leather and dried fruit. If it fleshes out in another year or two, this rating may prove conservative. Drink now–2018.
This is a rather bulky, chunky Merlot, with decent levels of grapy black cherry and cassis fruit. It lacks elegance, but makes up for it with plenty of intensity and flavor. Drink now.
This is a rather light-bodied wine for its genre, but one that boasts remarkable freshness and purity of fruit. Passion fruit and cut-grass aromas lead into flavors that include white grapefruit, gentle herbal notes and stone fruit. Versatile as an apéritif or alongside any fish or shellfish.
This is a rather light blend of 48% Grenache, 37% Mourvèdre and 13% Syrah, with aromas of fresh-pressed pomegranate, underripe raspberry and strawberry, and an herbal coating of dill and fennel. It's quite quaffable on the sip, with raspberry-juice flavors decorated by dill and fennel herbs.
This is a rather light wine in both density, flavor and impact. Some dilute citrus fruit flavors are framed with the lightest hint of cracker. Drink it chilled or use it as a mixer.
This is a rather light, surprisingly delicate take on Petite Sirah, with pretty aromas of violets and spice. When first poured it seems shut down; it opens slowly but has a bit of a hole in the middle, before moving into a tannic finish with dark chocolate and licorice.
This is a rather sweet auslese, but the sugars are balanced by crisp acids, which impart backbone to the wine. They form a solid spine from which the opulent flavors of superripe pineapple and honeyed citrus are suspended. Finishes with verve and a flourish of crushed-stone minerality.
This is a rather tense, tightly wound wine, offering tart cranberry and raspberry fruit. Tangy, juicy acidity keeps flavors fresh and forward, with a mineral underpinning.
This is a rather weighty Pinot Noir, still filled with the exuberant fruit of youth—all plums and black cherries, framed with hints of vanilla and spice. Despite the heft, the tannins are soft, making this wine immediately accessible. Drink now–2015.
This is a real apéritif wine, full of approachable fruit and ripe lychee and spice flavors. It's a generous wine that's cut with some acidity from the vintage. The aftertaste brings out a stylish, balanced character.
This is a real beauty, with huge intensity and loads of deep chocolate fudge, black cherry, cola, barbecue and black licorice flavors. It manages contrasting tones of sweet versus savory that pleasure the tastebuds. The palate is rich, smooth and superconcentrated.
This is a real blaster of a Malbec, showing power, concentration and subtleties. The bouquet is full of graham cracker, cola, monster berry and moss notes, while the pure, driving palate deals flavors of toasty blackberry, spice, mocha and more. The lengthy but mellow finish hums like a fine-tuned machine. Drink now–2018.
This is a real cherry bomb, showing terrific concentration and purity of fruit. Those vibrant flavors come in a swath of cola, then dive into a compact finish that leaves a residual hint of chocolate seltzer. This wine seems to be slightly bottle shocked (though it was rested for some weeks after being shipped) and may well deserve a higher score with more bottle age.
This is a real food wine, with its tangy texture, touch of spice and attractive acidity. Light fruitiness and a dry core give a structured character. Drink now.
This is a real New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. It's dry and tart, with rich gooseberry, lime, green apple, Asian pear, vanilla and white pepper flavors. A touch of oak brings a pleasant, buttery toastiness. The grapes come from the cool Arroyo Seco AVA and the warm San Lucas AVA, a brilliant blending decision that makes this wine especially balanced.
This is a real palate-pleaser. Forward, fresh flavors of cherry and plum are accented by light herb notes and finished with a frame of chocolate. It gains precision as it lengthens through the finish, showing medium weight and enough structure to continue to drink well through 2022.
This is a really drinkable Pinot Noir. It's dry and silky and crisp, and the flavors are enormously rich, suggesting ripe cherries, raspberries and blackberries baked into a pie. Drink now.
This is a really fantastic white wine from southern Italy that expresses much of the complexity and beauty of the land that shaped it. It also promises a perfect pairing match to any Mediterranean fish dish—from mussels with coarse black pepper or steamed calamari in lemon juice and olive oil.
This is a really fantastic wine and one of the best expression of Falanghina available today. (Perhaps the best.) What sets it apart is the purity of its fruit aromas. Citrus, white mineral and tonic fruit aromas hint at the crisp and smooth palate.  Would wash down well with fish, salad or spaghetti con vongole.
This is a really fragrant wine, with white hedgerow flowers that introduce its rich, full body. It has just a touch of sweetness from the ripe pear and quince flavors, although the texture also has a fine edge of minerality. Age for another 1–2 years.
This is a really fresh wine with tight acidity and attractive red-berry fruit. It is light, with a hint of pepper from the Grenache in the blend and with forward acidity. Drink now.
This is a really fruity rosé that is full of red-berry fruits and bright acidity. Crisp on the palate with tart red-currant flavors, there's a tightness in acidity that could benefit with more integration. Let the bottle settle a few months before opening.
This is a really fruity rosé with refreshing red currant and raspberry fruit flavors. They are blended with a crisp, dusty texture that offers both an herbaceous and a fuller character. The extra richness makes this a food rosé.
This is a really fruity, attractive wine from a fine estate. It is crisp with delicious acidity and a lively texture that gives the wine a refreshing tang. The wine is up front, full of fruitiness and ready to drink.
This is a really fruity, fresh strawberry-flavored wine. Remarkably pale in color, it expertly balances a dry profile with brisk natural acidity and bright, fresh fruitiness. It's ready to drink now. Screwcap.
This is a really fruity, really refreshing sparkling wine. It boasts apple, citrus and a touch of apricot flavors, as well as tight acidity. It is fragrant, pure and clean, and very fresh on the finish.
This is a really fun dry wine with a distinctive black-pepper streak running from the aroma to the finish. It's medium bodied, on the lean side in texture, like pomegranate in terms of fruit flavors, firmly tannic and well-balanced. It should make a great pairing with steak au poivre.
This is a really good example of a blended wine from Aragón. It's 50% Garnacha with 25% each Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, and thus it is more complex and interesting than your run-of-the-mill varietal Grenache. Mellow aromas of ripe fruit and spice open things up, followed by balanced flavors of berry fruits, vanilla and cream. Easygoing and highly recommended for the price.
This is a really good showing for the Garnacha Blanca grape. The bouquet is fresh and not the least bit blowsy, with an emphasis on apple and pear aromas. The wine is plump, fruity and showing modest acidity, while flavors of apple and baking spices precede a finish that's easygoing. Drink now.
This is a really good Zinfandel for this price. It's dry and spicy, with tons of wild black, red and blue berries and an edge of rich, unsweetened dark chocolate. Versatile and classy. Drink now.
This is a really impressive launch for this new brand. Although the bottle doesn't bear a vineyard designation, it's 100% Cabernet from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford, which has produced superb Cabernets in the past from the likes of Meander, Galleron, V. Sattui and Sequoia Grove. Dry and full bodied, it has flavors of sour cherry candy and cassis that often define Rutherford, which are all wrapped into smooth, supple tannins. Beautiful as it is now, it's a wine you want to lay down. Best after 2017.
This is a really light wine with bright fruit and a crisp texture. It has a breezy feel—all crisp fruit and lively acidity. Drink now.
This is a really nice and easy to enjoy Priorat with pure strawberry and plum aromas, mild toast accents, bacon and vanilla on the nose. The mouthfeel is tight and right, with good structure and ripe flavors of plum, cassis, herbs, spice and vanilla. It's flavor-packed and just complex enough. Drink now–2017. Only 250 cases made.
This is a really nice Cab. It has a rich, dark color, and pretty aromas of black currants, tobacco, blackberry, anise and mint. The flavors are similar, but what strikes you is the richness and balance. Such pretty fruit, ripe and polished, just delicious. The tannins are moderate, so you can drink it up right away.
This is a really nice dinner wine, posh and elegant, yet with richly ripe flavors. Fully dry, with a complex balance of herbs and fruits, and wonderfully rich tannins. Obviously built for the table, a wine that won't distract from your favorite dishes.
This is a really refreshing style of rosé. Its fruity raspberry and red-currant flavors are shot through with fine acidity and a lively crisp aftertaste. Drink this attractive wine now.
This is a really refreshing, crisp and fruity wine. It achieves a good balance between acidity and lively red berries and lime juice. The wine dances brightly in the glass and would make a good apéritif.
This is a really rich manifestation of Arinto. Its ripe pear and apricot flavors are laced with wood fermentation and aging toastiness. Its dense texture comes from the grape selection, while its richness comes from the sandy soil of the vineyard. It is a fine wine, likely ready to drink from 2018.
This is a really soft wine with the minimum of tannins and the lightest fruit. It has just a hint of crisp, clean red berry fruits. Drink now.
This is a really terrific white wine, from a variety that's fast gaining traction, although few are producing it. More should. It's classically dry and crisp, with mineral-infused flavors of apricots, green apples and spices. So good and complex, and exceptionally versatile at the table.
This is a really well-made, traditional and tasty wine with flavor complexity, nice balance and the kind of firm texture that pairs well with grilled and roasted meats. The fruit characteristics of the grape—cherry and cranberry—meld easily with a modest touch of spicy oak from aging in barrels.
This is a reasonably rich, concentrated example of Pinot Gris, but one that seems a bit repressed aromatically. It hints rather than suggests at fig, pear and melon, before ending on a weighty note.
This is a recent acquisition by the owners of neighboring Château Bouscaut, a separate estate and not a second wine. It has a very forward, herbaceous character, all grapefruit and sweet lemons. There is a pear and apple skin texture which gives a delicious bite to the acidity. Definitely a food wine.
This is a recent addition to the winery's expansive repertoire of single-vineyard selections, and it offers a pretty mix of strawberry fruit in a toasty, pastry-flavored mode. It's perfect for near-term drinking, fresh and delicious, though lightly framed.
This is a recommended wine for those who love classic expressions of Amarone. The wine's intensity is fueled by aromas of cherry, apple, spice and chocolate and it really comes alive in the mouth thanks to a long, fresh trail of cola and dried herbs.
This is a red-fruit flavored wine, soft and warm. The wood aging shows as smooth vanilla that balances the soft, open, generous structure. It's a juicy wine that can be enjoyed now.
This is a red-smelling wine, with a note of strawberry-rhubarb preserves as the primary aroma. Light to medium bodied, it has a glossy feel due to the lithe tannins and well-managed acids. Easygoing and enjoyable, it finishes with a ripe strawberry-shortcake note and a slight tea-like bitterness.
This is a red pét-nat wine made using the old sparkling method in which the wine is given its first and only fermentation in bottle. It's a simple method that produces large bubbles. It is stalky with acidity and a smoky character that contrasts with red fruits. The aftertaste is crisp and fresh.
This is a red sparkling wine, pure Touriga Nacional but also shockingly acidic and dry. Plus it has tannins. It's well made for what it is and will certainly appeal to drinkers who like red sparkling wine.
This is a red that shows some richness— ripe cherry flavor, as well as good layer of tannins. There is a juicy character to the wine that is balanced by the smoky flavors from wood aging. Drink now and until 2018.
This is a red wine for white wine drinkers. It's silky and vibrantly crisp in acidity, like a Sauvignon Blanc, except the flavors are pure Pinot, suggesting sour cherry candy, persimmons and tart cranberries. Drink now–2017.
This is a refined and restrained Pinot from a reputable grape grower who has successfully made the transition to winemaker. Raspberry, cherry-vanilla and rhubarb interplay seamlessly, teasing with a taste of decadence and silky tannins. The finish offers highlights of orange zest and clove.
This is a refined wine, with a layered fragrance of black cherry, raspberry, black pepper and bell pepper. The palate reveals ripe blackberry, plum and baking-spice flavors that are supported by refreshing acidity. Enjoy now or hold for a couple more years.
This is a refined, mature Champagne with an elegant texture that just hints at minerality. A toasty character shows through its ripe white fruit, yielding a balanced wine. The aftertaste is lingering and satisfying. Drink now.
This is a refreshing and somewhat complex wine, with layers of underripe peach, green fig and melon rind mixing with garrigue accents. There's a grassy accent to the palate, with a hint of lime pith on the solid finish.
This is a refreshing but watery Sauvignon that plays the aromatic card well yet is ultimately less impressive in the mouth. You will encounter characteristic aromas of cut grass and exotic fruit and there's a tight mineral note at the back.
This is a refreshing crisp wine. Made from Pinot Gris, it has a light color, red-currant fruits and lively acidity. With a delicate perfume, it is a bright wine to drink now.
This is a refreshing picnic wine with light acidity, touches of pears and some sweetness. Its low alcohol makes it great for summer sunshine.
This is a refreshing, lemon-flavored wine. Attractive crispness comes out of the mineral texture and perfumed acidity. Light and still young, this will age to be ready to drink from late 2016.
This is a refreshingly crisp and fruity wine. It has the lightest of tannins to shape the fresh red-fruit flavors. The wine comes from a 74-acre estate, owned by the same family for 10 generations.
This is a refreshingly fruity wine with a fine balance between acidity and ripe red-currant and raspberry fruits. The wine is crisp, clean and full of fruitiness with a bright fresh aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a relatively affordable yet tip-top representation of white wine from this region. White peach, honeycomb, seared tangerine and melted butter show on the nose. The palate continues the ripeness, offering yellow melon, lemon curd, smoke, baked oranges, poached pear and a touch of walnut oil on the finish.
This is a relatively gentle, light Cabernet Franc. It reveals a pretty, juicy blueberry flavor as well as a muted herb note. A whiff of violet and a dash of vanilla run through the finish.
This is a relatively light-bodied and elegant version of the variety, softly approachable and enjoyable even in its youth. Leathery pepper sits atop nuanced layers of chocolate and blueberry, with a tang of sour cherry and a leanness to the finish.
This is a relatively lightweight Costières de Nîmes, despite being 100% Syrah. Modest cherry and black pepper notes are pretty enough, just lack intensity and fade a bit quickly on the finish.
This is a relatively new Champagne for Gosset, which has traditionally focused on Pinot Noir. Drawing mainly from Côte des Blancs vineyards, it's crisply elegant with a fine mineral texture and taut character. It's poised for further development in bottle. Drink from 2018.
This is a relatively new winery worth watching. This spicy Alicante-Syrah blend has wonderful intensity and weight, chewy tannins and solid black fruit in the mouth.
This is a relatively simple, fruity quaff, filled to the brim with pears, apples and melons. It's medium-bodied, with a bit of apple- or pear-skin texture that gives it additional interest. Drink now.
This is a relatively thick and dense wine, grippy in tannin and oak at first, youthful and desiring of time and air. Beyond its strength, its shows the beginnings of delicacy and grace, commingling raspberry with clove and tea.
This is a reliable bottling for lovers of Barossa Shiraz who don't want to drop more than a Jackson. It's full bodied and plush, with layers of blackberry fruit and vanilla oak, yet remains vibrant on the mocha-tinged finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a reliable Cabernet, and the price makes it especially attractive. Gets the job done with full-bodied flavors of blackberries and sweet, toasty oak.
This is a remarkable effort at the price, the wine sourced from Beckstoffer-owned sites in Carneros. Apple, peach and lemon highlight an integrated, vibrantly fresh experience on the palate, which lingers and impresses long after the finish.
This is a remarkable value, over-delivering in terms of its varietal characteristics of cola, cinnamon, grippy tannin, black pepper, cedar and leather. Medium bodied and approachable, it's right for the table or cocktail party, able to please a range of palates.
This is a remarkable, lovely wine, made from a site in the extremes of Annapolis. It is delightfully complex and layered, with a richly concentrated palate of dark cherry, blueberry and Asian five spice, with spikes of sea breeze and tea.
This is a remarkably affordable find, so good in its red-fruited, tangy acidity and spiciness on the palate. Dried herb and pencil lie beneath bigger, bolder swathes of blackberry and cherry. This wine has a large presence but shows structure and balance.
This is a remarkably detailed Cabernet that shows off everything Napa has to give in the way of flash and richness. It's dry, yet lush with ripe blackberry, blueberry and cassis flavors and plenty of toasty new oak. The tannins are as soft and complex as any in the world, making this wine beautiful to drink now.
This is a remarkably spicy wine that is also finely balanced. It's sophisticated as well as rich, with spice and lychee flavors lifted by a crisp edge of acidity. It's complex in texture and should age well. Drink from 2015.
This is a remarkably well-composed wine full of ripe blackberry and cassis flavor accented by tart cranberry acidity and a rustic, brambly note. Complex, concentrated and elegant, it finishes with layers of granite and wet-stone minerality.
This is a remarkably well-priced yet classic Mosel-style beerenauslese. It's deeply concentrated with unctuous honey and peach flavors, dusted with a veil of pollen and crushed minerals. It's effortlessly spry yet electric on the palate, with a high-toned lemon-lime finish.
This is a reserve-level blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, given extra bottle-age prior to release. If you favor more than a hint of stem and herb in your Bordeaux-style blends, you'll find this quite interesting. Complex layers of iron, smoke, coffee grounds and cassis are in play, with a slight bitterness to the tannins. Pair it up with lamb chops right off the grill.
This is a reserve-level bottling, from Yates Conwill fruit, made in half bottles only. Dark, dense and concentrated, it shows hints of raisining in the nose, yet is a balanced and potent wine anchored in superb black cherry fruit. Enjoy it now and through 2021.
This is a reserve-style bottling based on barrel selections of the winery's extensive portfolio. It's extravagant in tangerine, mango, peach and oak flavors, with leesy notes of yeast, new oak and buttered toast. With brisk acidity, it's a rich wine that should be enjoyed now.
This is a reserve level Tempranillo—the third ever bottling produced by the winery. Packed with cassis and black cherry fruit, it also delivers intense smoke, charred wood and espresso scents and flavors. It's a powerful wine, with further notes of spice and graphite, finishing tongue-scrapingly dry and ready for a juicy steak.
This is a reserve style wine that is made in non-reserve years. A step up from their “Umpqua” bottling, with more texture, firm fruit and it moves past light cherry flavors into some tart berry.
This is a reserved and elegant example, fashioned along European lines. There's mixed vegetable and tomato notes upfront and a juicy palate of red fruit rounded out by a vanilla top note. The medium finish shows soft tannins. Serve with firm cheese. Drink now to 2011.
This is a respectable effort; seems to be oxidizing quickly, but it is elegant and clear, with a tartness that is reminiscent of Counoise. Nicely aromatic, with the rose petal and light tobacco leaf scents of the Italian grape.
This is a restrained and structured wine, light in tart cranberry, rhubarb and an overwhelming attraction of baked plum. Lush and plush on the palate without ever pushing too far, it lingers in cardamom.
This is a restrained Cabernet, with spicy aromas of cherry and plum. It feels fresh, clean and juicy, with a balanced mix of herb, cherry and red berry flavors. The finish is tight, focused and fresh, with herbal shadings.
This is a restrained example of Viognier, compared to the grape's exotic, expressive paradigm. It shows a slight bitterness on the nose and palate that's akin to crushed papaya seeds, with additional notes of lemon pulp and flower. Full and hefty, the acids lend lift, but the concentration of flavors could use a boost.
This is a restrained, even delicate, Pinot Noir, with nuanced aromas of underbrush and barely ripe cherries. It's elegantly proportioned in the mouth, with a silky texture and pretty cherry fruit. At 10,000 cases produced, this should be relatively easy to find even Stateside.
This is a rewarding wine, with flavors of orange and pineapple. It finishes with a honeyed minerality.
This is a Rhône-style blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah, with smaller amounts of Viognier and Cinsault. The wine opens with appealing spices, but turns tart and stemmy in the mouth. The spiced plum fruit flavors compete somewhat unsuccessfully with bitter tannins. More bottle age should help.
This is a Rhône-style blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne. It's fruity in pineapple, peach, apple, mango and Meyer lemon flavors, with a honeysuckle richness, and finishes dry and crisp. A nice wine for drinking now with smoked meats, especially ham.
This is a Rhône blend based on Syrah and Grenache. It's super-fruity, with a blast of blackberries, cherries, currants and milk chocolate that taste like they were baked into a tart, and the texture is soft and velvety. Drink now.
This is a rich-textured, full-bodied wine with lots of dark fruit flavors and thick tannins softened by a touch of sweetness. It has a very dark color, strawberry and blackberry aromas and darker, more concentrated flavors including dark chocolate and blueberry.
This is a rich and attractive Chenin, with initial scents of honeycomb, yellow flowers, honey-drizzled apple and soft pear. Round and lush, the flavors are ripe and mouthfilling, with flavors of grilled apple, honeydew, orange oil, sweet spice and toast that  linger through the finish.
This is a rich and beautifully extracted Barolo that opens with concentrated aromas of toasted hazelnut, chocolate fudge, cherry, licorice and exotic spice. In the mouth, it offers firm, finely textured tannins and a powerful but delicious finish.
This is a rich and complex wine that shows spiced pear and a tense structure. It is very aromatic and fresh while also rich and concentrated. A powerful statement of the fruit and minerality of the Wachau and definitely for long-term aging. Don't drink before 2016.
This is a rich and concentrated Grenache, a bit beyond what's varietally familiar, but it's an undeniably luxurious wine. It offers smoky vanilla, fresh leather, black-cherry jam, black licorice and a touch of fudge on the nose. Caramelized plum and olallieberries meet with balsamic fig and milk chocolate on the palate.
This is a rich and concentrated wine with welcoming aromas of black fruits, bacon, African violets and soft black pepper. The mouth is as intense as one would anticipate with more concentrated dark plum and currant flavors and accents of coconut on the long finish. The tannins are gripping and the structure firm; try with hearty red meat dishes for a superb pairing.
This is a rich and concentrated wine, packed with tannins and dense, perfumed berry fruits. There is a fresh element to the wine also, that gives a lift to the aftertaste. For a lighter, softer style of LBV, this is just right.
This is a rich and creamy white with balanced acidity, a wine made in a voluptuous style without being heavy. Grassy notes meld seamlessly with juicier aspects of pineapple and pear, with a crisp undercurrent of refreshment.
This is a rich and dense wine, full of dusty tannins and ripe, generous black plum and berry fruits. It's spicy and juicy, with an herbal overtone and a warm, full-bodied character. The wine could do with some aging, so drink from 2016.
This is a rich and engaging blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from one of West Paso's great vineyards. Baked black plums mix with condensed purple flowers, dried mint, turned earth and a savory, almost rugged meat quality on the nose. The palate is salty to start and thoroughly spiced with rosemary and lots of acidic zest, set against a black-plum fruit backbone.
This is a rich and fruity wine with an easygoing, soft texture and lower alcohol than many. Flavors recall boysenberry syrup and strawberry jam, and the wine just seems to melt in the mouth.
This is a rich and full-bodied wine, that's spiced with yellow fruits, a touch of vanilla and a rounded texture. Its ripe, dense and full of concentrated fruits. Needs at least a year to age. Screwcap.
This is a rich and full-bodied wine. While it is certainly packed with crunchy cherry flavors, it also has a more tannic and structured side giving it a firm texture to back up the fruitiness. The aftertaste is juicy and ripe.
This is a rich and full-flavored wine that still has plenty of aging ahead of it. It has a very floral character that is followed by green fruit and spice, and sustained by a tight, steely texture. Drink from 2016.
This is a rich and heady Cabernet from head to toe. Solid, ripe blackberry and cassis aromas are coated with oaky coconut scents. In the mouth, this is saturated and heavy to the point of being syrupy. Flavors of chocolate, oaky char and herbal berry flavors finish smoky and spicy. Drink through 2020.
This is a rich and juicy wine, balancing the firm tannins of the Baga with richer fruitiness of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. It is still young, still showing layers of firm tannins although with plenty of development potential. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich and luscious wine dominated by Petit Manseng, a small berry/small-yield grape from Gascony, the home of unusual grapes. It's aromatic, ripe and honeyed with ripe peach cut by the pineapple freshness. It's a gorgeous wine now but it really should be aged so drink from 2020.
This is a rich and perfumed wine that is solid with dusty tannins and ripe fruit. Bold acidity adds balance and promises good aging. It is quite dry with fruit hiding behind all the structure, but it will soften, so drink from 2016.
This is a rich and perfumed wine. Packed with tarry tannins, dark black fruits and hints of truffles, it is firm and full. The structure is still important in this wine, pushing forward around the fruit. Wait a while to drink from 2018.
This is a rich and powerful blend of 50% Zinfandel, 25% Syrah and 25% Petite Sirah. Quite dark and dense, it offers boisterous aromas of boysenberry and blackberry along with espresso, caramel and a bit of graphite. The palate is extremely juicy with vanilla, caramel and blackberry pie, a bit overwhelming but very hedonistic.
This is a rich and ripe wine, densely textured with firm tannins that provide a solid structure. Made from selected fruit grown in the north of the Tejo region, the blend of 60% Aragonez, 25% Syrah, 15% Merlot is a textured wood-aged wine that has red and black berry fruits followed by balanced acidity. It is ready to drink, but will improve after 2015.
This is a rich and round wine, full in the mouth with a youthful palate. There is a ripe, creamy texture full of apple and orange flavors that are balanced with an edgy, steely character. This promises good aging so drink until 2022.
This is a rich and rounded wine, and its tannins have already integrated into the soft, ripe black fruits. It has concentration and an attractive juiciness for drinking after 1–2 years.
This is a rich and rounded wine, full of yellow fruits that shine through the tense texture. It is ripe, showing minerality as well as tropical fruits and red apples. The wine is going to age relatively quickly, so drink from 2019.
This is a rich and seductive yet well-balanced Chenin, offering ripe notes of stone fruit and melon that are framed by threads of lanolin, beeswax, graphite and fynbos. The medium-weight palate is bright and clean, as fresh citrus and green fruit tones are partnered with lively acidity and a pithy citrus and melon-rind flavor on the ensuring finish. Drink now–2020.
This is a rich and smooth white wine with aromas of mature peach, candied fruit, lime, crushed mineral and Asian spice. The wine shows impressive density and consistency that pairs with shellfish or spicy Thai curry.
This is a rich and smooth wine that has the lightest hint of minerality. Ripe yellow fruits and elegant green plum and citrus flavors give this wine both a fruity character and a fine texture. Drink now.
This is a rich and smooth wine, full of impressively ripe fruit tones without going over the top. Bright acidity brings balance and elegance, with juicy berry flavors rounding out the palate. Drink now through 2019.
This is a rich and smooth yet mineral-textured wine. It has weight, but it's balanced with intense acidity, a tight texture, and pink grapefruit and mandarin fruit. This needs to age for several years. Screwcap.
This is a rich and structured wine from Heifara Swatvagher. With wood aging giving the wine its toasty, spicy character, it is ripe and perfumed with black plum flavors and fresh with black currant acidity. The wine is only just beginning to be ready to drink and will certainly be better from 2018.
This is a rich and succulent wine made from Cab Franc and 15% Merlot. This wine is packed tight, with tones of espresso bean, blackberry coulis, milk chocolate, dried lavender and a playful touch of scented candle or incense. Ripe tannins and a long finish. Drink after 2012.
This is a rich and toasty Chard with notes of wood-grilled peaches, soft Cortland apple flesh and vanilla cream. The finish is long and the mouth round without being flabby or overdone.
This is a rich and well-balanced wine in which tempting vanilla and other baking spices are backed by crisp and ripe apple and pear flavors, and followed by a lingering, marzipan finish.
This is a rich and well-concentrated Pinot Grigio that feels great in the mouth. On the nose an otherwise pristine bouquet is accented by apricot, honey, Golden Delicious apple and pear.
This is a rich blend of Aragonez and Touriga Nacional that fills out broad black fruit and acidity with soft tannins and a ripe texture. Rich and juicy, it's ready to drink.
This is a rich blend of Duras and Braucol. It is densely textured with ripe black-plum and berry fruits and some still young tannins. The wine will age well to show ripe fruits and a generous texture. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich blend of spicy, perfumed Shiraz and Touriga Nacional. Together they make a firm and dense wine. With rich black-plum fruit and a solidly structured character, it's ready to drink now.
This is a rich Cabernet, powerful in cherry- and blackberry-pie-filling flavors, which are compounded by the sweet taste of caramelized oak. The tannins are soft and easy to drink now.
This is a rich Chardonnay and Arinto blend with a ripe texture and fruit. Aging on the lees has given the wine that extra concentration and depth of flavor. That goes with the apricot and peach fruits and the tight acidity at the end. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich complex wine from a great vintage Port year. It has much of the same intense fruit as the vintage wines but with the advantage of longer aging in barrel to allow the rich dark plum and spice to be more ready to drink. It is bottled to be drunk now although another six months into 2017 will make it even better.
This is a rich concentrated and high-toned wine, layered in cinnamon, chocolate and blackberry jam, with an underlying acidity that keeps it fresh despite its thick wrapping of oak. A handful of Petite Sirah is within the blend.
This is a rich cru wine with red-plum flavors as well as tannins that are still young and forceful. Densely textured, the wine has plenty of potential. It will become a ripe and fruity wine while also remaining firm and structured. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich demi-sec without being too sweet. It has a good balance of ripe creamed-pear and baked-apple flavors along with a bright layer of acidity. It's an harmonious whole, and ready to drink now.
This is a rich dense wine, full of blackberry fruits. With its firm tannins behind ripe fruitiness, it has fresh acidity and layers of wood to give extra density. The wine is still maturing and should be ready from 2018.
This is a rich finely structured wine from Sogrape's Alentejo estate which is located close to the best place in Europe to stargaze. Powered with tannins as well as black fruits, this blend of Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional is dense and very ageworthy. Drink starting from 2018.
This is a rich impressively structured wine. It showcases the Alvarinho and brings out its fruit and flavors. The subtle wood aging has just enhanced the fruit. The wine is delicious and is now just ready to drink, although it will be better from early 2018.
This is a rich jammy wine. Great black fruits and dark tannins are mixed with touches of chocolate and bitter coffee. It is dense, although with the acidity of the year it has a crispness that contrasts with the richness. Drink this ripe wine from 2026.
This is a rich juicy wine. It has red berry fruits and jammy acidity that integrates well with the soft tannic structure. It's a wine to drink soon, so just wait until early 2017.
This is a rich mouthful of a wine, with ripe notes of red apple and green plum. Behind the fruit, there is a soft vanilla edge that adds depth of flavor. It's concentrated and ready to age for 2–3 years.
This is a rich oak-aged wine. Its black-fruit flavors are surrounded by firm still-young tannins. It has weight, richness from ripe black plum and berry fruits. It could do with some further aging and will be better from 2019.
This is a rich opulent wine. Its red-berry fruits are just the starting point for a series of layers of fruit, tannins and intense perfumed ripeness. The wine is firm at this young stage with great potential to develop into a generous wine as it matures. It comes from vines at the northern end of the Beaune premier crus. Drink from 2024.
This is a rich Pinot Gris. Tastes like it had the full-bore Chardonnay treatment, with oak and lees, giving it a creamy, sweet mouthfeel. The tangerine, pineapple and vanilla bean flavors are brightened with brisk acidity.
This is a rich red-berry-fruited wine. It is balanced and full, with nutmeg and pepper as well as crisp fruit flavors. With its ripeness, it's certainly suitable for food.
This is a rich Riesling, with soft apple and creamed-pear flavor as well as perfumed notes of white flower and white currant. The wine has a dense texture, giving both concentration and a mineral core. Screwcap.
This is a rich ripe wine showing the warmth of the vintage. With great fruitiness, flavors of yellow fruits as well as crisper citrus, the wine is smooth and ready to drink.
This is a rich rounded wine that comes from the home estate of Michel Redde. The wood aging shows through in the toasty character while there is also a smooth vanilla character. Ripe yellow fruits give this wine its intensity. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a rich smooth wine, full of delicious citrus and apple-fruit flavors. It is ripe, still with signs of wood aging that add a juicy character to the wine. It is developing well and should be ready to drink from 2018.
This is a rich soft wine full of tannins that have merged with the generous red-berry fruits. Colored by the unusual blend of Alicante Bouschet with Petit Verdot, it is smoothly textured and ready to drink.
This is a rich style of Burgundy, broad and full of yellow fruits. These are cut by acidity, a lime-zest character that pushes the fruitiness right forward. Drink now.
This is a rich style of Chablis that has the crispness of 2014 while showing a more creamy, yellow fruit character. Part wood-aged and part matured in tank, it's balanced and ready to drink.
This is a rich style of Muscadet, ripe with red apples and lemon acidity. It's full bodied, structured with some minerality and a tight, nervy texture. It's a delicious wine that could be aged, so drink from 2016.
This is a rich style of rosé with caramel as well as red-fruit flavors. It has enough acidity to carry its ripe character, giving the wine a fresh, crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
This is a rich style of rosé, full-bodied and packed with ripe strawberry fruit. As a happy contrast to this richness, it also has a spice and orange zest element that adds both piquancy and final crispness.
This is a rich style of rosé, rounded and fruity with good texture, wild strawberry flavors and very crisp acidity at the end. It's an attractive wine and one that's worth keeping until 2015.
This is a rich style of Sauvignon Blanc, the natural acidity rounded out by warmer fruits, currants, spice and a sense of structure. It is young, like many Pouilly Fumés at this stage, and will be best in 2015.
This is a rich style of Vinho Verde, smooth and ripe. Apricots and marmalade oranges dominate the flavor profile, while the citrus character pushes through strongly at the end. It's very fresh and could probably age until mid-2015.
This is a rich stylish wine from the Chanfreau family. It has fine tannins and signs of wood aging, both of which will meld into the juicy black-currant fruits. It has a predominance of Cabernet Sauvignon that gives the wine its structure and aging potential. The aftertaste is ripe and still crisp, still young. Drink from 2020.
This is a rich success. It has concentration, spice and juicy fruits as well as layered tannins, acidity and a dark, brooding structure. For aging over several years. Screwcap.
This is a rich textured wine from the center of this Premier Cru. It has structure and concentration as well as generous white stone fruits. Densely packed with acidity, toast and a fine, creamy texture, the wine is likely to age well. It is produced from biodynamically grown grapes (as are all the Olivier Leflaive family Grand and Premier Crus). Drink from 2020.
This is a rich wine dominated by ripe Alicante Bouschet that gives some firm tannins as well as juicy red berry fruits. It is ripe, well balanced and likely to age well over the next few years. Drink from 2017.
This is a rich wine from a great Douro Port vintage. It has the structure and density that came with the year, showcasing rich black fruits and dark tannins. The 12 months of wood-aging has tamed its wild fruitiness and resulted in a stylish wine that wears its high alcohol well. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich wine from several parcels of vines in the Clos de Vougeot. It has great intensity, powered both by tannins and by the dark black fruits. Serious and concentrated, the wine will age magnificently. Drink from 2024.
This is a rich wine in a dry style for Port, bringing out the red fruits as well as dried fruits and acidity. It's structured and firm while also fruity. Because it has been bottled unfiltered, it will age further and will be at its best from 2019.
This is a rich wine made from a selection of Pinot Noirs, including some from grand cru vineyards. It is textured with hints of tannin as well as yeast and minerality, concentrated while also stylish. Ripe pear and apricot flavors are lively and ripe. A young bottling, it's worth aging until 2017.
This is a rich wine made to be drunk young. It has spice, a smoky-bacon flavor and warm-hearted red plum and damson fruitiness. The wood aging shows through in hints of toast. The wine is ready now.
This is a rich wine showing jammy blackberry flavors against pronounced alcohol. The acidity at the end does provide a lighter, fresher lift.
This is a rich wine still dominated by solid, firm and dry tannins. Its black and red fruits are ripe and juicy, and its freshness comes from acidity that appears on the finish. Age this balanced effort for 4–5 years, at least.
This is a rich wine that's full of apricot, melon and pear flavors. It has weight, ripe fruit and a good touch of minerality, with a clean and crisp finish. Age this for a year or two.
This is a rich wine that's full of crisp fruit notes, with a touch of minerality. Ripe yellow fruits and melon come to the fore, balanced by the attractive acidity and tangy aftertaste. It is ready to drink.
This is a rich wine that balances attractive white and yellow fruits with intense citrusy acidity. The result is a structured, round, tangy Chardonnay that is likely to smooth out further as it develops over the next 2–3 years.
This is a rich wine that feels full-bodied and with concentration. It has ripe pineapple and tropical fruit flavors as well as fresher citrus acidity. It has also a fine texture that gives the wine great depth and ripeness. Drink from late 2016.
This is a rich wine that has aromas of ripe white fruits and touches of apricot. Intensely fruity and refreshing with wonderful acidity, it is also finely balanced wine with a density of texture. Drink now for its fresh fruitiness, but age until 2022 to let it show its true potential
This is a rich wine that has flavors of spice, apricot and almond, along with a touch of honey. Rich and full on the palate, it's a meal in itself, but finely balanced with intense fruitiness and light acidity. Drink now.
This is a rich wine that has some bitter extract as well as flavors of chocolate and red berry fruits. The toasty wood is very evident and considering its age, this is unlikely to go away. Drink now.
This is a rich wine that is full of generous fruit. It has a smooth texture with its broad red-fruit character that is gently lifted by acidity. Ripe and with a soft texture, the wine is ready to drink.
This is a rich wine that is full of spicy aromatic fruit. It is classy and elegant while having some weight. Red fruits and orange zest are given a perfumed herbal edge from the Mourvèdre in the blend. This is real food wine, ready to drink.