An equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this is a crisper than other Champagnes in the Coutelas range. It is also still young with its bright green and citrus fruits and tense texture. Lively and fresh, it should be aged and not drunk before 2017.
This is not a shy wine—it is concentrated and powerful, with ripe tannins and dense black fruits. Coming from vineyards in the Douro Superior, this shows the region's the heat and harsh growing conditions, giving a compact, firm wine with a mineral texture to balance the juicy fruits. It will need several years, so drink from 2017.
Made following the principles of biodynamic agriculture, this bright, savory sparkler offers aromas of white peach, green apple and chopped herbs. The palate doles out ripe Bartlett pear, lime, ginger and sage alongside zesty acidity and a foaming mousse. A note of candied nectarine closes the finish. This would be perfect for toasts or as an aperitivo.
From one of the rising stars in Beaujolais, this ripe wine has both a tense minerality and rich black fruits from vines that average 60 years. It is balanced between the very fresh acidity and a dry edge that will allow it to age. Drink from 2016. The vineyards are certified organic.
Made from selected parcels, this wine is structured and firm while not losing sight of rich red berry and cherry flavors. It's a dense wine, the tannins still developing and filling out to balance the fruits. Drink from 2017.
San Francisco advertising agent-turned-winemaker Ryan Cochrane offers a wine with simultaneously shy and sharp aromas of clove, cardamom, cinnamon, Earl Grey tea and sour berries. The wine is also dainty and delicate on the palate, offering black tea and tight raspberry fruit. It would be a great red wine pairing for fish.
The brazing lemon freshness of this non-dosed pink sparkler almost sweeps across all the delicious strawberry fruit contained within. The refreshment factor is supreme but if you care to look, there are subtle shades of tart berries: redcurrant and wild strawberry. The slender palate is streamlined, a fact made even more compelling by the very fine, persistent but unobtrusive mousse. This is a sophisticated, sparkling rosé, with a spring in its step and a glint in its eye.
Wet river stone, black slate and a hint of dill weed are laid across a blackberry frame on this wine by vintners Jim and Mary Dierberg. It's lush and soft on the palate, with black cherry and other dark fruits hanging on a solid structure that finished on dried herbs and leather.
The palest pink fizz exudes notes of tart blackcurrant and aromatic blackcurrant leaf in this rare Cabernet Sauvignon-based sparkling. The palate is light, dry, softly fizzing and ticks all the boxes of an elegant, refreshing traditional-method sparkling wine. The blackcurrant notions are softer on the palate but they echo with every tiny bubble that bursts. This has enough structure to go from apéritif through to food, in fact, creative cooks may find this will chime with their subtle creations.
Green pear, candied lemon rinds, sharp lime pith and a bit of struck-match smoke arise on the nose of this appellation blend from the veteran winemaker, one of the few working inside the city limits of San Luis Obispo. There's lots of clean, fresh energy on the palate, powered by flavors of green apple skins, Mexican lime juice, a pinch of dill and a flash of butter on the finish.
Almost as clear as water in the glass, this lively wine from an extreme coastal vineyard shows kiwi, crisp red apple and tons of limestone on the nose. There is lots of fresh energy once sipped, with yellow grapefruit, a touch of smoked Marcona almond and the warmth of sandstone. It continues growing more complex through the sip, leaving the mouth singing.
This vintage of Fusion V is already approachable and enjoyable, with ripe aromas and flavors of brambly berry and cherry that are accented by attractive notes of cocoa powder, cigar tobacco, sweet spice and leather. The fine tannins are grippy and structured, complementing the black pepper, toast and licorice elements that linger on the finish. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, drink now–2019.
Roasted meat and spicy black-fruit scents are deep, lusty and patented for Volver, the winery that produces Triga. Chewy and thick on the palate, this blend of 85% Monastrell and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon tastes baked and peppery, with herbal notes blending into core black-fruit flavors. Tobacco, chocolate and herbal flavors ride high on a full, extracted finish. Drink through 2019.
Dark in color, this wine offers a meaty, gamy quality around sizable, still-puckering tannins and oak. Despite its size and grippiness, it traffics in violet and herb, with a dry finish piqued in tobacco. Drink now through 2018.
A dark and sultry wine, earthy and nearly dirty, this offers complexity and crispness in equal measure. Wild strawberry and raspberry interplay on the palate around a wet stone-like minerality and depth of fruit, the finish laced in subtle cinnamon.
Excellent concentration impresses here, with a full-throttle mix of citrus, apple, pear and peach fruit. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this spent five months on the lees and offers length and balance.
Distinct yet unusual aromas of vanilla extract and butterscotch announce and confirm that this was barrel fermented. Low vibrancy and bounce on the palate create a sense of flat heaviness. Salty peach and melon flavors are buried in wood spice, while this tastes dry, pithy and resiny on a mild finish.
A vibrant crimson in color, this offers more restrained aromas and flavors than expected. Cherries and citrus pith marry with notes of wet stone, finishing on a refreshing note despite the wine's ample weight.
A blend of all five red Bordeaux varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon making up the majority, this wine is simple in structure and softly layered with cherry, vanilla and cola waves.
Foxy red-berry aromas suggest animal hide and wet fur. This feels raw, wiry and scratchy due to sharp acidity and rough tannins. Foxy herbal plum and currant flavors finish with an abrasive scour, mild heat and salty notes.
This wine's spring blossom, yellow apple and almond scents carry over to the light, rather diluted palate. Although simple, it's a great utility pour for large, informal gatherings or picnics.
Light-bodied and crisp, this delivers tart cherries and a whack of mocha-tinged oak, which dominates the finish.
Medium-bodied yet chunky in feel, this is a smoky wine, tinged with hints of roasted beetroot and mocha. Savory and earthy, it seems atypical for the variety and region.
This wine is mostly Merlot (59%), with the balance a mix of five other varieties. Aromas of herb, baking spice, cherry and blue fruit are followed by quite sweet fruit flavors. It delivers easy-drinking appeal.
This opens with subdued aromas reminiscent of acacia flower, toasted nut and citrus drop while the lean, zesty palate suggests lemon rind, yellow apple skin and bitter almond. Bracing acidity provides a brisk framework.
Thick with dense black fruit and a smoky char aroma, this 100% varietal wine is burly and oaky. Broad-shouldered, it's one to pair with equally bold grilled meats.
Done in a forward tutti–frutti style, this puts all the flavor right up front. Grape candy is what comes to mind, with a light tannic finish. It's a good gulping wine for decks, campers and picnic outings.
Leafy minty blueberry aromas announce this jammy Monastrell. There's no oak on this, nor much give to a linear flat palate. Blueberry flavors hold onto the nose's grassy herbal essence, while the finish tastes peppery and vaguely green.
Richly fruity and semisweet, this medium-bodied wine smells like cotton candy and tastes like pear syrup. Smooth in texture and mouth-filling in concentration, it finishes on lingering sweetness.
This opens with subdued, mature yellow apple, acacia and almond aromas that carry over to the abrupt, tangerine-inflected palate. It has a lean, bitter finish.
This fresh, enjoyable white has passion fruit, citrus and saline aromas and flavors. It's simple, with a clean, fresh finish.
This medium-bodied wine opens with a squeeze of acidity and follows through with simple and straightforward citrus flavors.
Vibrant aromas of pineapple, flowers, peach and lychee lead to an palate that leans sweeter than off dry. Stone-fruit flavors linger on the finish.
Dark in color, this is a big, juicy, tantalizing wine from a beautifully farmed vineyard on the edge of the Sonoma Coast, a cool region where grapes ripen slowly. The wine, too, takes its time to come around, gradually revealing layers of golden apple tart and honey, with a lurking floral element and gentle ginger spice.
Smoky aromas of burnt hickory accent prune and spice cake scents. This is yet another lush, ripe, deep Ribera del Duero from the excellent 2010 vintage. Flavors of mocha, wood spice, char, blackberry and spicy BBQ notes finish chocolaty, with herb and spice accents that add to the wine's complexity. Drink through 2020.
After an early blast of gaseous sulfur, this heavyweight Tempranillo smells of toasted oak, graphite, latex and alcohol. The palate is lush, meaty, jammy and borderline syrupy, while flavors of blackberry, fig and chocolate finish with depth and extreme richness. Drink through 2025.
Golden yellow in color, this aged, vintage cuvée is light and floral, with tastes of guava and fennel around a full, creamy texture and buoyant acidity. Disgorged in July 2014, it stays fresh and vibrant throughout the lengthy finish.
A blend of almost equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller handfuls of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this estate-grown wine is sanguine in smoky leather and tobacco. Rich, with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, it has a lengthy finish that is balanced and elegant on the palate.
A blend of fruit from Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block, this standout wine opens with alluring aromas of dark chocolate, raspberries, blueberries, sandalwood and assorted spices. The palate is plush and fruit-filled but with well-balanced acidity and impressive length.
Red berry, baking spice, mint, leather and rose petal aromas emerge on this beautiful, balanced Barolo. It shows remarkable freshness for the vintage, offering juicy wild cherry, raspberry, licorice and a balsamic note alongside polished tannins and bright acidity.
With an exotic, tropical edge, this wine takes time to develop, like a flower closed up overnight. Medium in body and length, it teases in honeysuckle, white peach and fresh pineapple, before delivering a tartness of lemon zest and well-defined minerality on the finish.
A blend of fruit from Boushey, Ciel du Cheval and Seven Hills vineyards, this wine opens with aromas of plum, Asian spices, licorice, dark fruit and light barrel spices. The palate is rich, full bodied and velvety, with abundant coffee flavors and a mesmerizing sense of texture.
A blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (25%) and Mourvèdre, this tantalizing wine offers a near endless list of aromatic descriptors, from white pepper to smoked meat, currant, mineral, licorice, coffee and dried herbs, seeming to evolve with each swirl. The palate is layered and rich with plum, pomegranate and lingering dark fruit flavors. It drinks best at a cool 62 degrees.
A line up of McGregor's 2010 and 2011 Pinot Noirs make a bold statement for Finger Lakes Pinot, but the regular label 2011 is drinking particularly well now. Lifted violet and berry notes are intoxicating on this spicy, deftly balanced wine. Rich, ripe black-cherry and raspberry flavors blend into a liquid silk on the palate, but are framed squarely by fine-grained tannins and a spray of cranberry acidity. The finish goes on and on. Likely to drink beautifully from now through at least 2020.
This concentrated Sangiovese opens with aromas of underbrush, toasted oak, vanilla, mature plum and ripe berry. The firm palate offers fleshy blackberry extract, clove, licorice and oak-driven spice alongside a backbone of bracing tannins. Drink 2017–2022.
Creamy notes of Golden Pearmain apple, shortcrust pastry and juicy green apple meld into a golden, elegant unity. The palate is creamy and gives glimpses of baked apple and shortbread, all the while holding itself with complete poise. This is grown-up, serious stuff with quite a lot of beautiful, echoing resonance, even grace.
Aromas of flowers, orange peel, earth and plum lead to a richly flavorful, layered, silky palate with abundant fruit, savory flavors and a long finish. The flavors and texture command attention.
Intriguing, complex aromas of mocha, beef broth and dried flowers lead into a wine that's medium to full in body but nicely elegant, with fruit wrapped around a core of sinewy tannins. Marinated beef notes linger on the silky finish.
Subtlety and reserve drive this full-bodied, round-textured white Rhône-style blend. The velvety mouthfeel is almost more notable than the subdued pear, melon and butter flavors. It's a wine for lingering over, because it reveals its best stuff after time in the glass. It leads with 49% Marsanne, plus Viognier, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc.
The inaugural vintage from the owners of Atlas Vineyard Management in Napa, which also farms vineyards in Oregon and California's Central Coast, this is exquisite in candied popcorn aromas, with a seasoning of fennel. Soft and juicy, it remains fresh on the palate, finishing crisp and clean.
Beautifully shaped and full bodied, this offers opulent ripe fruit aromas and rich, luxurious texture. Substantial concentrated flavors suggest dark cherry, clove and blackberry. There are no sharp edges yet the wine has firm tannins and a sense of good balance despite its weight.
Golden roasted nuts, shredded pineapple and white peach converge on the nose of this wine, which remains tight and even thanks to a wet-slate minerality. The palate is nicely textured with a bit of grip, showing golden apples, orange cream, lemon pith and vanilla dust on the finish.
Made from a blend of grapes from the estate's top vineyards, this vivacious dry Riesling balances crisp mineral tones against ripe, tropical notes of mango, pineapple and melon. It's lusciously mouthcoating yet cut with strikes of tangerine and lime. Delightful now, but structured enough to improve through at least 2023.
Aromas of spiced blueberry, blue flowers, cedar, tobacco and grilled herbs come together on this blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. The palate delivers juicy blackberry, mature plum, white pepper, clove and grilled rosemary. It's young but well balanced, with velvety tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
A candied caramel aroma subtly lifts from the bouquet of this wine, nearly overtaken by fresh-cut rose. Earthy and full of forested characteristics, it's smooth and lush, with a spicy cinnamon finish and restrained oak. It's ready to enjoy, the use of more than 50% whole-cluster in the fermentation adding an exotic, tangy element.
Earthy elements of beet juice, wild raspberry, anise and graphite mark the nose of this single-vineyard wine by Central Coast Pinot pioneer Josh Jensen. It's tense on the palate, but not exactly sour or bitter, showing tart raspberry, woody juniper and lots of chaparral influence. It's smooth but the tannins are noticeable.
This wine backs up the price tag with a fruit-forward nose showing blackberry, black cherry, dried mint and tarragon. The palate is more tart, with dried sour cherries, espresso-bean bitterness, lava rocks and graphite. It's surprisingly both dark and lean, offering solid complexity.
Toasty, resiny blackberry aromas open this full-bodied, tannic, grabby Tinto Fino that piles on the lushness. Loamy blackberry, earth and mocha flavors are backed by a smooth, chocolaty, heady finish that's hot but not vicious. Drink through 2022.
Holding 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot, this wine offers brooding aromas of fresh herbs, cherry, mocha and vanilla. The palate displays pleasing density and weight to the cranberry and cherry flavors that are accented by bright, zippy acidity.
This second wine of Château Durfort-Vivens is ripe, firm and well structured. Beautiful ripe black currant and berry fruits are cut with intense acidity. From the great 2010 vintage, it is solid, dense and full of fruitiness as well as tannins. It still does need to age, so drink from 2017.
At the eastern end of Saint-Emilion, this vineyard is close to Castillon. The wine has structure and density, with powerful tannins that are still filling out. Delicious, juicy black plum and damson flavors are going to be full and generous, while remaining fruity. Drink from 2018.
Round and fruity with fully ripe, even sweet flavors of pear and honeydew melon. It's a little yeasty also, with a somewhat beery finish. But overall it's a fine bottle for simple sipping.
Mildly gassy and barnyardy on the nose, with berry, vanilla and lactic flavors running second. This wine is on the soft, creamy side of the fence. It almost shows some cloying qualities before dialing things back. Still, it could use more definition and structure; as is, it's tasty but a little flat.
A crisp, lemony Chenin with some aging appeal. The nose starts out spicy and citric, and the flavors of lemon, spice and pineapple are light and clean. A simple but fun Chenin that will pair well with seafood and spicy dishes.
This blend of Viognier, Syrah and Mourvedre begins with a spicy but floral nose and is followed by ripe, forward fruit backed by black pepper and spice elements. Interesting and layered, the wine is affordable and ideal for everyday sipping.
Melon and candied aromas are sweet, and soon some toasty oak enters the fray. Flavors of candy corn, ripe apples and mango get a boost from the oak, and overall the feel is properly zesty and not too resiny or milky. Definitely a true-blue Chilean Chardonnay with tropical sweetness, so don't expect a facsimile of Burgundy when you twist off the screwcap.
Named after one of the Three Musketeers, this is a simple, rounded but dense wine, with hints of dry fruit topped by rounded, soft, black flavors. A great value, it has open flavors with spice and a juicy, smoky aftertaste.
This spicy, peppery Shiraz is elegant and straightforward, with layers of savory flavors like balsamic vinegar and smoked meat. Its classic style matches well with grilled lamb, meat dishes.
From a mix of vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains, this is a pleasant but simple wine with a mix of green apple and tart pear fruit flavors. It will benefit from chilling, which will bring out more of the peppery highlights and crisp acids.
Fruity berry takes on jammy fullness on the palate in this supremely ripe wine. Dotted in leather, vanilla and cinnamon, its finish is a touch rough.
Medicinal red-fruit aromas are mildly baked and sweet. This feels a bit heavy, with cheek-scrubbing tannins. Medicinal cherry and berry flavors extend onto the finish of this everyday Garnacha.
Maple and sweet spice aromas are followed by medium-bodied fruit and barrel flavors. Baking-spice flavors linger on the finish. The oak stands out.
Dry woody notes reminiscent of sawdust join apple and citrus fruit on the nose of this medium-bodied wine. There's a bit of a hollow in the midpalate, where tart apple, pineapple and lemon flavors take hold, finishing crisp.
This is a simple blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec mostly, that's lively and slightly spritzy. Strawberry, cranberry and cassis appear, as walls of dry tannins spark on the finish.
This wine brings fruit-forward aromas of cranberry, red Fruit Roll-Ups and spice. It's tart, with the flavors seemingly lacking in concentration, backed by lightly gritty tannins.
Yalumba's efforts with Viognier have trickled all the way down into a $10 version under the Oxford Landing label. Fresh herbs, apple and citrus mark the nose, while the palate delivers mandarin and melon fruit along with Viognier's hallmark oily texture. Drink now.
As is often the case with 100% Touriga Nacional, the wine is one-dimensional. It has perfumed fruit and tannins, but seems to have a hollow core. That's why blending can be a good idea.
This is made from a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Dry and tannic, this imparts red fruit around a greenish tinge of tobacco leaf, the tannins overly robust.
This is a soft ready-to-drink wine. It has light tannins, a mineral edge and stalky black-currant fruits. It is attractively accessible now.
This blend of 60% Riesling and 40% Pinot Gris is less than the sum of those parts. In fact, the two grapes cancel each other out. Slightly volatile, it's got lemon-polish aromas, thin fruit and a sour finish.
This opens with aromas of underbrush, coconut, French oak, menthol and grilled mushroom. Showing the heat of the vintage, the robust, bitter palate evokes raisin, dried raw cherry, powdered sage and scorching alcohol. The fruit richness has dried up while astringent tannins clench the lean finish.
Soft and simple, this full-bodied effort shows a char of toasted oak as strong flavors of root beer and cola meet dark cherry and berry.
Citrus and match-stick aromas are basic. This feels plump and a bit low on energy. Generic flavors of melon with peppery green notes finish with low acidity.
Blackberry and cassis aromas are a touch balsamic but mostly clean. This feels solid and hefty, with slightly overripe black-fruit flavors. A low-acid finish results in flatness.
Reserved aromas of kiwi and banana lead to dry lightly styled grapefruit flavors. The concentration doesn't seem all there.
Just touched by oak, this is a smooth and ripe wine. Tropical fruits, apricots and mango give it a rich character while the acidity holds it all together. Drink now.
Arresting from the get-go, with a spice-driven start that rolls into a soft midpalate with nicely evolved fruit flavors of plum and spicy cherry. This isn't a big wine, but it's balanced and fruity, with moderate depth and excellent balance.
Creamy and oaky on the nose, with a soft touch. This blend of 68% Cabernet and 32% Syrah offers weight, density and smooth edges along with blackberry, coffee and mild medicinal and herbal flavors. Finishes dark, toasty and a touch minty.
Light and elegant, with a scent of smoke winding through the pretty cherry fruit, this pleasant wine will appeal most to those who prefer their Pinots to show delicacy and nuance.
The core fruit flavor is pretty strawberry, with a root beer aspect often found in Oregon Pinots. There is a bit of an empty spot in the center, then a finish with light tannins and a dash of pepper.
Pungent and herbal aromas make for a vivid splash upon entry. The wine quickly evolves into pretty cherry fruit, wrapped in cinnamon, sassafras and cocoa, then runs into gently fading barrel spices.
Smells neither tropical nor citric as it falls somewhere in the middle of those two common denominators. Feels wet, fresh and minerally, with flavors of lime, green melon, sour apple, green herbs and mineral. Clean, well-cut and tight on the finish, with zesty length.
Baked apple, roasted corn, hay stack and buttery aromas define the nose on this full-bodied, fully oaked Chard from western Casablanca. Feels good, with weight as well as vitality. Flavors run toward baked apple, barrel spice and minerality. Finishes oaky, peppery and resiny.
Opaque in color, with herbal aromas that include graphite, tobacco, sweaty leather and mocha along with floral berry fruits. The acidity is high due to coastal origins, so the blackberry flavors run tangy, with herbal leanings. Streaky, sharp acidity is the only sticking point.
This is the entry-level wine from Château Eugénie, and it is delicious. The Malbec is softened with some Merlot, rounding out the wine. It does still preserve the solid structure of Cahors with its dense black fruits and firm tannins.
Paxis is a warm, earthy wine, packed with ripe, soft and forward fruit. It does have a structure that could allow the wine to age, but there is no need as its fruitiness makes it ready to drink now.
Smoky wood makes its presence known. This wine has a soft, rounded texture and a warm, rich feel. There's attractive citrus and apricot fruit to go with the wood spice.
A meaty Shiraz that pulls no punches, proudly displaying its black raspberry and earthy, salumi-infused flavors around a rich, dense texture full of leather and a touch of smoke. The Temecula Valley is continuing to make strides and this is a jumbo-jet-sized example that finishes a teensy bit sweet. The Shiraz is blended with 11% Cinsault.
Named for Twisted Oak's infamous rubber chicken, Ruben, this Marsanne-Grenache Blanc-Roussanne blend is as fun as its namesake, with luscious lemon and a trace of tar in the background culminating in a dry freshness and just a tinge of almonds.
This supple yet mouthfilling wine boasts intense notes of garrigue--that Provençal blend of wild thyme, bay leaf and lavender--layered over hints of pepper and a base of cherry fruit. A hint of cocoa emerges on the short but pleasant finish. Drink it now and over the next couple of years.
The nose on this Malbec-Merlot blend starts off charred and leathery, but with airing you'll get roasted berry fruit scents and mild stalky characteristics. Flavors of roasted berries, rubber and leather finish loud, with muscular tannins and blazing acidity.
This wine's name translates to “cherry,” and cherries are in its aroma along with spice. The palate shows a juicy, forward fruity character, a tang of acidity and soft tannins. It's a fine wine, but not for long-term aging so drink now and over the next few months.
Apple, pear and green-melon aromas are clean and typical for Albariño from Rías Baixas. In the mouth, this feels healthy, with leesy weight matched by firm acids. Flavors of melon, apple, green herbs and grass finish with a note of saline and sea shell.
Several different clones are blended into this Loire-influenced Sauvignon Blanc. The freshness and tart, tangy citrus fruit flavors are impressive, and would certainly match well to a plate of raw oysters.
Rich, syrupy aromas of prune and raisin stop short of being too overripe and jammy. This feels full, lusty and big on the palate, but also balanced given that 2009 was a warm year in Ribera del Duero. Flavors of blackberry, prune and earth come with a light herbal touch, while the finish tastes baked and loamy. Drink now.
Justice is a wine for those who like their reds big, bold and super rich. It's a full-on palate blaster that keeps its balance with moderate acidity and a generous (60%) amount of new French oak. Syrah-dominated, with 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it's a fine steakhouse wine that should be consumed now.
Oak, lactic aromas and herbal hints precede a hard, tannic palate. In the mouth, things run ripe, raisiny and dark, with a focus on blueberry, mint, raisin and coffee flavors. A fiery feeling yet chocolaty tasting finish pours on the power. Drink through 2018.
This is a riper-style gran reserva with baked, slightly mulchy aromas of berry fruits that turn more exotic and spicy as they open. Leafy flavors of spice and earth come with caramel richness, while rooty spice and dry tannins control the finish.
A wine that has firm extraction, giving licorice, smoky wood and bitter chocolate flavors. It does have weight, and there is a powerful sense of fruit. For the moment, it shows extreme minerality and structure that need several years to round out and bring on the fruit potential. Drink from 2017.
A really crisp wine, loaded with apple and citrus, with light flavors of almonds that bring out the intensity of the wine. This is delicious and refreshing, with bright acidity on the close.
This is roughly one-third each of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and their individual contributions work harmoniously to craft a dark, meaty wine with cassis, licorice, smoke and espresso flavors. Suggestions of black tea and black coffee continue the thread, until the fruit trails off and the finish fades, a bit shorter than expected.
The bouquet deals black-fruit aromas, earth notes and molasses. In the mouth, this maintains a fruit-forward outlook via jammy weight and ripe flavors of blueberry, blackberry and cassis. Mocha and coffee flavors along with textural density are what drive the finish.
Roasted black-fruit aromas are leathery and spicy but not baked or overly stewy. This feels rugged, meaty and tannic, with muscular plum, blackberry and smoky, spicy flavors that finish toasty, with tannic clamp. Drink through 2016.
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.
Lucien Lardy takes the risk of not using sulfur during fermentation, giving a wine that retains its great fruitiness. It's bright, full of red cherry fruits and lively acidity. Tannins are a hint in the background, enough to give structure but not to suggest long aging. Drink until 2018.
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.
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) along with Malbec and Petit Verdot, it has the flavor of a Mounds bar with sweet notes of chocolate and coconut along with dark cherry, herbs, and moist soil. It's rich and full bodied with tannins adding a gritty mouthfeel.
Made only in optimal years and from a mysterious blend of varieties (most likely Petite Sirah-based), Opportunity is strong in coffee, leather and baked plum, balanced but exuberant in a luxurious texture with a nutty finish. It is fortified with grape brandy and made in a tawny style.
Hand harvested from Block 15 of StoneTree Vineyard with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 14 (10%), it brings notes of coffee, cocoa and plum. The fruit flavors are elegant in style accented by barrel notes and mouthwatering acids. It doesn't seem to have fully reached its potential yet, with the tannins bringing a slightly gritty feel.
A slightly rubbery note on the nose is really the only quibble with this wine, but a quick decanting should help clear it up. Beyond that, it displays cocoa and coffee notes layered over a core of black cherry fruit. It's medium to full in body, with a slightly creamy texture and a long, softly dusty finish. Drink now–2020.
Plum and cherry aromas are the slightest bit stalky. In the mouth, this coastal Pinot is round and full in feel, with reedy cherry and plum flavors matched by creamy oak. Briny hints, vanilla and integrated oak help this Pinot finish with elegance.
Varietal bottlings of Sangiovese are an extreme rarity in this appellation, yet this wine makes its case for more. It shows aromas of herbs, cigar box, mocha, plum and raspberry jam. Flavors convey purity and concentration, with the tannins providing a lightly chalky feel.
Dark ruby to the eye, this wine offers a nose of raspberry, talc and violet. There is a nice mix of baking spice and fruit flavors, dominated by blackberry, black cherry, clove and anise with touches of black pepper. The finish is reminiscent of cherry pie, with mingling flavors of cherry, spice and vanilla.
A blend of Klipsun and Obelisco vineyards, this Cabernet Sauvignon leads with aromas of blackberry jam, espresso, fresh herbs and toasty barrel spices (60% new French). The black fruit flavors are rich, ripe and sweet, with the oak playing a prominent part in the show.
A blend of top sites Celilo and Conner Lee, this appealing wine displays aromas of candy corn, corn silk and chamomile. The stone-fruit flavors are elegantly styled, showing a sense of restraint and balance that carries through the lingering finish.
More than in the past, this vintage of Christina is showing a ton of oak up front along with vanilla, plastic and hickory aromas. Round, staunch and tannic on the palate, this single-vineyard Tinto Fino tastes toasted, blackened and minty, with blackberry, peppercorn and licorice flavors; hold until 2017.
Aromas of wild red berry, sun-baked earth and dark cooking spices blossom in the glass. The medium-bodied, elegant palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed black raspberry, baking spice and grilled herb while smooth, polished tannins provide support.
An elegantly structured Sangiovese, this opens with aromas that recall fragrant blue flowers, underbrush, tilled soil, dark berry and a whiff of Mediterranean herb. The firm palate delivers black cherry, plum, vanilla, mocha and licorice alongside chewy but fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2019.
The wine still tastes young, with ripe yellow fruits and bright acidity. Chardonnay dominates the blend, allowing hints of minerality to come through the lime and lemon crispness. Still developing its more toasty character, it will be better from 2017.
All varietal, this blend of fruit from seven vineyards across the valley shows nuances of cocoa, earth, coffee, herbs and cherry. There's a lot of generosity and midpalate depth to the flavors along with a sense of balance that carries through the finish.
A seamless commingling of cardamom and allspice around bursts of black cherry, this is a soft, dark and brooding wine, with an earthy soul and a spicy finish. Still young, it should take on further nuance over time, but is good to go right now.
An almost neutral nose opens into a zesty, light-bodied palate that swings with yeasty savoriness and a whole lot of grapefruit zest. Slender, focused and very refreshing. Goes down easily and has that moreish tanginess.
Already six years old, this is in full bloom, offering aromas of jammy red and black fruit sprinkled with cocoa and iron. Flavors show purity and richness, with barrel influences dialed back.
The variety is unmistakable, with aromas of coffee, earth and plummy fruit. Rich flavors display a mix of fruit and barrel (45% new French and American), making it a delicious find at this price.
An attractive array of cedar, cinnamon, red cherry and black currant aromas and flavors fill this medium-bodied wine to the rim. The acidity, tannins and flavors are all well proportioned and balance each other out in a sophisticated way. The result is an elegant but firm wine that will be appetizing at the table now through 2020.
Hints of struck flint and white currant lead the way, followed by herbal, currant-like flavors and notes of fresh fig. This is medium-bodied, but with hints of creaminess to its texture and a long, wet-stone finish.
Joined by 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, this stellar wine from an almost 50-50 Napa-Sonoma divide delivers big flavor and tannin and yet exudes vibrant juicy plum and blueberry, keeping it grounded and alive. Silky through and through, it's complex in dark chocolate and a touch of dried herbs.
This is a very zesty Grüner where yeasty, earthy notes are completely cut through with the wonderful, bracing freshness of grapefruit peel. The more usual fruit of green pears lurks underneath but the overall picture is one of lip-smacking refreshment. Wonderfully clean and zingy finish.
Principally Cabernet Franc with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec (8% each) blended in, this wine is almost irresistible with its pretty, pale salmon color. It does not disappoint with its aromas and flavors of melon, white peach and grapefruit, with a light spritz giving it some lift.
From the family's Roberts Road Vineyard below Gap's Crown, this earthy, foresty, plummy and gamy wine offers a luscious mouthfeel and silky tannins. Structured, it's built for pairing. A tangy red cherry and citrus twist on the palate provides a refreshing sensibility, before ending bright and light.
Velvety smooth, this estate-driven wine is soft, with a backbone of integrated oak, seasoned in pleasing handfuls of clove and black cherry. Juicy on the palate, and well structured, it finishes brisk in acidity and a note of mocha.
Elegant in fine-grained tannins, this well-made, complex wine offers savory cranberry and cassis plus brighter, spicier red fruit, alongside a layering of graphite, dried herb and chocolate. Full bodied, it remains balanced throughout, finishing with length and breadth.
From the Pritchard Hill section of the vineyard, this wine consists of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. A hearty, fruity and big-boned explosion of blueberry and strawberry, it's rimmed in coconut flake and black, leathery pepper. Dense and full bodied, the minerality should allow it to cellar and integrate through 2020.
Principally Cabernet Sauvignon, this also holds with Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. The coolness of the vintage shows through with aromas of dried and fresh savory herbs along with coffee, licorice and dark fruit. The palate is equal parts elegant and flavorful, with supple fruit notes that glide.
A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, this wine offers generous aromas of café au lait, butterscotch, blackberry, herb and barrel spice. Flavors are focused and rich, backed by lightly dry tannins. The finish lingers.
This 100% Sangiovese opens with pretty aromas of iris, violet, dark berry and a blend of cooking spices. On the palate, ground black pepper, anise and espresso accent a core of dried black cherry while tightly knit, assertive tannins provide backup. Drink 2017–2022.
Made with Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of red berry, plum, violet and whiff of cedar. The elegantly structured, savory palate delivers juicy black cherry, clove, ground pepper and grilled herb alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. It's well balanced and already accessible.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up the majority of this wine, which comes from The Benches and Weinbau vineyards. The dark brewed-coffee, herb, milk chocolate and cherry aromas, with rich, full-bodied flavors, provide plenty of allure and value.
Aromas of woodspice, cedar, cranberry and cherry are at the fore on this 100% varietal wine. It shows concentration, finesse and polish, with dry, chewy tannins lending support.
One of a series of great single-vineyard wines from Geyerhof, this is as impressive as the rest. It has weight, complexity and richness. Its perfumed fruits provide a delicate counterpoint to the acidity, taut minerality and herbal edge. For aging over at least five years.
Ripe and perfumed, this has almond, apple and baked-pear flavors that are layered with notes of nutmeg and pepper. It's a concentrated wine, with acidity that has become rounded. Made from a top Kamptal vineyard, this has the potential for aging further. Screwcap.
Of all the Clarendon Hills 2008 Syrahs, the Moritz probably offers the best value. It's plummy, dark and intense, with savory overtones of meat and spice that complement the wine's full body and creamy texture. The long finish echoes with hints of coffee, meat and plummy fruit. Drink now–2020.
For a mature, high-end taste of the Levante, this blend of 70% Cabernet with 15% each of Merlot and Syrah is at the top of the heap. It smells exotic and smooth, like sandalwood, baked berries and brandied plums. On the palate it feels firm and secure, with juicy, deep flavors of cassis and slow-cooked black cherry. This is a bullish red to drink now.
From the single vineyard Engelreich—which translates to the angel's kingdom—this is rich, with a concentration of perfumed fruit and intense layers of minerality. It has spice, kiwi and pink grapefruit flavors. This is a wine that needs to age for several years. Screwcap.
This is intensely rich, with very concentrated ripe fruit. Apple and peach flavors are cut by acidity. A note of pepper details the finish. Age for 3–4 years.
This luminous and unique Chenin Blanc straw wine is a real stunner, showing an upfront and approachable character as well as hidden layers of nuanced herbs and the potential to develop additional complexities with time. Heady notes of toasted brioche, dried apricot, gingered orange peel and baking spice abound throughout, with great richness and a lush texture in the mouth. Intense but balanced; it can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to ten years.
Almost impenetrably dark, this juicy Syrah includes 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Red Mountain fruit brings a blast of boysenberry and black cherry fruit, heightened with citrusy acidity. It's an expression of pure fruit power, with barrel notes of black coffee and tannins that taste of wet rock. This is a wine that should have a good decade of life ahead.
A blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne, this is unusually aromatic for a white Hermitage, with perfumed notes of pineapple and melon underscored by hints of graphite. It's plump on the midpalate and custardy-rich in texture, yet focused and long on the finish. Drink now, or sometime after 2017.
This is one of the stars of the vintage in 2010; the Conner Lee fruit is rich and fully ripe, with a pleasingly candied aspect. Yet it remains lively with bracing acids, citrus and apple, and highlights of toasted nuts and caramel. A big, grin-inducing wine that is virtually irresistible.
The three partners in this new venture have decades of winemaking experience among them, and it shows. With 15% Grenache blended in, the result is a ripe, lightly funky, spicy rendition of Syrah that nicely marries the earthiness to racy wild-berry flavors and a peppery finish. Great length.
This is finely proportioned, with intense fruit flavors laced with spice, acidity and a mineral texture. Made using grapes from a single vineyard, it is concentrated, with a depth of intense flavor. For aging over 3–4 years. Screwcap.
Blackberry and cherry go toe-to-toe with a dark, savory element full of granite, dusty herbs and earth in this elegantly restrained red wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, it offers a more muted expression of black fruit lifted by bright acidity and fine feathery tannins.
Candied berry aromas are clean and pleasant. This is solid on the palate, with a bit of reduction. Jammy plum, cassis and spice flavors finish slightly raw in feel, with an oaky shading.
Aromas of earthy cherry and plum are herbal in that patented Chilean way. Raw, fresh and with a mouthfeel pushed by acidity, this tastes of salty roasted plum and gamy meat. Tangy acidity and hard residual tannins make this more “country” than refined as a whole.
This is so loud on the nose that it's screaming coastal Sauvignon via sharp, pungent, borderline vegetal aromas. Round and fairly full in body, this tastes severely briny, with a mix of tropical fruit flavors and lasting bell pepper. Steady on the finish, with strong pickled notes.
This is 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 concentrated wine that borders on bold. Plummy raisin cake underlies a straightforward ripeness and soft bite of bittersweet tannin, the oak subtle but there.
An aromatic, herbal wine with crisp acidity and delicate raspberry flavors coming from vineyards near Saint-Tropez. The wine is tangy and textured giving a tight mineral aftertaste. Its weight shows it is certainly a food rosé. Drink now.
Régnié, is the newest of the Beaujolais cru village appellations. The grapes come from vines owned by the chateau, giving a wine that is all about ripe fruit and some firm tannins. It is still developing and will be better from 2017.
The wine is intensely rich and fresh at the same time. Still young and from super-ripe almost shriveled grapes, this is a wine to age. It needs time to develop, so wait until 2019.
Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with a touch of perfume from Muscadelle give a wine that, while still young, is ripe and shows a touch of spice from wood aging. It is a rounded wine that has pepper as well as just enough acidity. Drink from 2017.
An elegant balance of earth and fruit, this ripe, full-bodied Malbec offers luscious black-cherry flavor against a savory backdrop of bramble, mushroom and mineral. Dusty cocoa and blackberry-jam flavors are penetrating but comforting. Fine persistent tannins and a subtle singe of heat mark the finish.
Part of a series that aims to express the character of a grape, this is a convincing interpretation of a fickle variety. It has red berry fruits, lit with acidity and with gentle tannins. Touches of spice from wood aging add interest without masking the fruit. Drink the wine now.
Both grapes in this blend have gathered the natural freshness of the region, close to the ocean. This crisp wine is tightly textured with a ripe yellow and white fruit flavor. Drink this wine from 2017.
Producer Jacky Gauthier has made a ripe wine that is full of black-cherry fruit. It has structure and acidity both suggesting the wine should age another few months to bring out its potential richness. Drink from 2017.
This is young, bold and fruity. It has black-cherry fruit that bursts from the glass giving a spicy character to the tannins and juicy acidity. The wine is ripe, full of delicious fruit and likely to be ready to drink from early 2017.
The slightest hint of passion fruit highlights the rose-petal notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and friendly, poised with fruit and blossom and defined by a clean streak of lemon freshness that makes it both appetizing and moreish.
Fresh notes of juicy orange are the chief charm of this dry, fresh wine. The palate has an earthy aspect but comes with lip-smacking freshness. The finish is clean and dry.
This nicely made, medium-bodied wine is fruity in strawberry with a hint of soy, its tannins soft, integrated and slightly expansive on the palate. Fruity, it was barrel-aged 10 months in French oak, 40% of it new and the rest neutral, allowing the grapes to speak.
Bright aromas of vanilla, custard, flowers and peach lead to a creamy palate, filled with vanilla notes. The oak plays a bit too prominent of a fiddle but there are lots of good things going on.
Orange-blossom aromas and lush, broad flavors like banana and pineapple make a good combo in this medium-bodied, soft and richly textured wine. It fermented in oval wood casks and aged eight months on the lees.
Malolactic notes and spice lead to plentiful stone-fruit flavors. Barrel notes provide accents.
This is a ripe, tangy wine. Skin contact before and during fermentation gives an extra richness while also preserving the crisp creaminess of the grape. The extra aging has produced a ripe wine that is ready to drink.
Baked red cherry, caramel, black rocks and the slightest hint of dill and mint greet the nose on this blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec. Black olive leads the palate, followed by blueberry, and the whole package manages to be both juicy and herbaceous.
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 fluorescent pink rosé is fairly full on the nose, with a grape skins character. Lively, balanced and lightly oily in feel, this delivers plum and citrus flavors prior to a finish that's pithy and tastes like ripe pink grapefruit.
This unusual varietal wine has steely, mineral aromas and lively flavors like apricot and white peach, along with a relatively light body and lively acidity.
A pulsing core of dried plum and black-cherry flavors marks this buxom Petit Verdot. While bold and brawny, a balsamic edge and fine tannins lend subtlety. Its rich, mouth-filling silkiness clings pleasantly on the finish.
All Malbec aged in neutral oak, this wine opens with pure, penetrating aromas of plum, cedar, mushroom, spice and high-toned herbs. The palate is elegant in style—almost delicate—with bright, tart fruit flavors. Will show best at the dinner table.
This wine is mostly Roussanne (58%) with the rest equal parts Marsanne and Grenache Blanc. The aromas of herb and peach are light and are followed by elegant lightly styled fruit flavors.
There is a dense floral power on the nose of this wine from a vineyard near Watsonville, with suggestions of concentrated violets, cinnamon, sandalwood, cedar and beet juice. The palate is more sanguine, with raspberry-pomegranate-cranberry juice, black slate, smoked meat and garden herbs, showing tons of length on the finish.
Randall Grahm's blend of 37% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 9% Cinsault offers intriguing asphalt, black pepper, boysenberry and a tiny bit of barnyard funk on the nose. It's dark and brooding, with flavors of black pepper, leather and black fruits on the palate, but rather light and lean in texture, with a solid amount of tannic grip.
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this stunning wine offers aromas of rose, small red berry and pastry. The silky palate offers strawberry, baked apple, nectarine zest, bread crust and nut alongside an elegant, persistent perlage.
Soft hints of cinnamon and clove waft upwards out of the bouquet, before a wave of warm red fruit and vanilla form around age-worthy, rounded tannins. Nicely structured and drinkable now, it should take on additional complexity and nuance through 2020.
While the producer holds back its heartier reds in bottle before release, this complex, rich wine will keep going with more cellaring, giving it a chance to further hone its already-developed layers of leather, earth and backbone of black fruit. Smooth and velvety, it retains sizable tannin weight on the finish. Cellar 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.
Veteran Rick Longoria offers a complex wine, with aromas of black-peppered steak strips, violets, tight purple fruits and a hint of bacon. It's soft on the palate at first, then laser-focused on raspberry juice, Earl Grey tea, blood-orange rind and pencil-lead flavors.
This first showing of the new soil-focused partnership between vintner Bill Price and winemaker Gavin Chanin promises great things. Aromas of cardamom, raspberry, violet, black pepper and herbes de Provence give way to a herbal palate of oregano, thyme, dried basil and sage that give lift to the sour-cherry fruit.
From a vineyard that's bisected by a seasonal creek comes another excellent showing from this vintage, with black slate, lightly smoked blackberries and bloody iron on the nose. The palate is quite lush, with more smoke, brambly berries and roasted fennel, all clinging to a strong graphite core.
Plump black currants, fragrant purple lilacs and a tiny bit of roasted beef show on the nose of this blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 16% Malbec, 16% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The palate is less showy, with firm tannins, energizing acidity and a mineral-driven center line, offering cooked purple fruit on the finish.
Deep, heady aromas of black cherry, gingersnap cookies and black loam show on the nose. Rich and penetrating flavors of blackberry and brown spice are cut with a ripe fruit freshness in this heavy-duty wine with lots of life.
This wine from the historic vineyard is light in color but not shy on the nose at all: lime blossoms, lemon curds, honeysuckle and lemon-lime soda all leap from the glass. The palate combines chopped dill and dewy herbs with green fruits, from pears to kiwi to lime peels, all presented with a lot of briskness.
This wine is all structure at the moment. Dense, dry tannins are masking the fruit that is waiting to develop. Great acidity is pushing forward to give a more juicy character. This impressive wine just needs time, so drink from 2017.
A brilliant blend of 61% Viognier, 21% Roussanne and 18% Marsanne, this impresses with its proportion, tension and balance. Scents and flavors meld citrus oil and rind, fruit flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and Meyer lemon, and a lovely finish with highlights of English breakfast tea. Long and elegant, this is a landmark effort.
From a vintage that pushes the fruit out in front, this is loaded with tart, tangy blackberry, boysenberry and huckleberry flavors. At first stiff and compact, it blooms open to reveal streaks of sandalwood, sassafras, iron filings and clean earth. It's a high-wire wine with aging potential at least until 2030.
Though Leah Jørgensen models all of her wines on Loire Valley icons, this wine is more flower and fruit-powered than anchored in rock and herb. Ripe and complex, it's a cherries jubilee wine with amazing depth and Amaro-like details of bitters, cloves and macerated fruit.
Winemaker Gary Robinson named this brand after the San Andreas Fault, which caused the appellation that birthed this aromatic display of blueberry, lilac and hummingbird sage. Dense purple fruit flavors consume the hedonistic palate, which is bolstered by bacon fat, licorice and a strong and lively acidity.
Balanced and elegant, this provides a peak example of the vintage. It's fruit-forward and approachably soft, yet built to age, with plenty of cheekboned structure and finesse. Coffee and dark chocolate fortress around red cassis and berry. Drink now through 2022.
This wine strikes a resonant balance among mixed tree fruits, sappy acids and leesy, textural highlights that enliven the mouthfeel. The finish brings on golden raisins and a hint of nut butter.
A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, this soft, approachable wine from a storied producer is meant to enjoy young and yet exudes plenty of complexity. Luscious aromas of graham cracker and blueberry jam belie a classically balanced measure of integrated tannins and dark chocolate. Drink now through 2020.
There is a density and unity of dark fruit on the nose of this wine, with black currant, boysenberry and dried mint aromas showing strong. It's a study of structure on the palate, with more bright black fruit as well as dark chocolate, cedar and espresso elements that will continue to soften with age. Drink 2017–2025.
Bold aromas, thick layers of fruit flavor, and a supple but steely texture of fine tannins and acidity add up to a powerful and complex wine that should improve with age. Pure, dark-fruit flavors are accented by smoke and cardamom while the structure is mouthpuckering with astringency but softened by the richness of body and fruit. Best after 2019.
This extremely flavorful but young and tightly wound wine has black pepper, dark chocolate and smoke aromas, concentrated blackberry and cassis flavors, firm tannins and full body. This is a powerful, full-bodied, firmly structured wine that needs time to show its best side. It should drink beautifully after 2018.
Despite its pale, white color this Ausbruch emanates notes of dried Medjool dates and dark raisins. Currant and golden sultana also get their due. Brighter sweetness illuminates the poised palate that is lit up with fresh acidity. All the while the rich, sweet, sumptuous and dark caramel notes provide a sonorous background. Evidence to what giddy heights a Welschriesling (not related to Riesling) can rise. The finish comes with a satisfying fillip of apricots. This is unusual and should spur the curiosity of sweet wine lovers.
Made by Adelaida's winemaker Jeremy Weintraub, this bottling shows asphalt, concentrated violets and lilacs, black peppercorns and dried blueberry on the nose. Similar elements arise on the dynamically dark palate, along with black tobacco, boysenberry, leather and beef-char flavors. The structure is strong but not in the way.
This wine starts off smelling overly ripe, with sweet orange, yellow apple flesh, peach supreme and juicy melon aromas that flood the bouquet. The mouth is full and round, but a nutty accent adds depth to the palate while medium acidity helps to lift the medium-length close.
This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 9% Mourvèdre and 4% Sauvignon Blanc is straightforward yet lush, with assertive oak-infused notes of plum, black raspberry and boysenberry. Spicy accents of vanilla bean and sweet smoke lend a rich impression to the close. Very drinkable now, with modest tannins and a plush texture.
This off-dry, honeyed Tokaj wine has a penetrating minerality that extends from start to finish, with aromas of honeysuckle and fresh tangerine skin. Slightly dusty on the palate, it shows hints of dried herb and crushed stone, and it finishes on a delicate flower tone.
This is predominantly Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah filling out the blend. As with many of the H3 wines, vanilla is the strongest and most noticeable flavor. The fruit is compact, and it tastes like hard cherry candy. There is plenty of power, but not much subtlety.
Cramele Recas's Dreamfish series of international varieties consistently offers bang for your buck, and this vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception. Rich, full bodied and easy drinking, this offers flavors of bright black cherry and berry, framed by notes of vanilla, toast and wet graphite.
Floral, fresh and delicate fruit aromas are followed by rich citrus, white fruit and flower flavors. This is full bodied yet elegant, with a feminine edge. Pair it with Indian or Thai dishes.
A rare Marlborough Merlot, this is a superficially charming wine that shows cassis fruit and lashings of smoky, cedary oak. It does lack a bit of richness, particularly on the finish, but it scores for its upfront display of ripe fruit and toasty oak.
The abundant minerality of this Mendocino Chenin Blanc hits first, followed by clean flavors and a subtle layer of honey on the finish.
The nose and palate are smoky and waxy, with a shimmer of petrol. The palate is brisk and lemony, with hints of citrus peel, nut oil and nut skin that linger on the long finish. This dry, savory Riesling is already showing signs of bottle age. Drink now.
The unique nose on this wine—which is comprised of cherry, chocolate and warm spice aromas—is followed on the palate by a delicate wave of cherry, raspberry and vanilla. It's balanced, but has a sweet touch.
Rich and concentrated, this Syrah is aged in French oak, and it offers flavors of bacon, smoky oak, tar and leather. It's big and expressive, and it could use some time to open. Pair it with smoky meats that are big in flavor.
This is made using a selection of fruit that's sourced from both banks of the Serein River. It's a properly crisp Chardonnay, and it offers a white fruit flavor and a bright, lively finish.
This blend of Cabernet Franc and Gamay concentrates on fruit and soft acidity. It has some smokiness and rounded tannins, fresh and full of red fruits. It is ready to drink.
A truly herbaceous, juicy wine from the cool climate of Touraine. It has bright, crisp, pure lemon flavors, light and fruity. A light minerality gives texture. A wine to drink now.
This light-colored and easy-drinking wine offers bright cherry and tea aromas followed by raspberry/cranberry flavors on a crisp texture with good acidity and moderate tannins. It shows the leaner side of Pinot.
There's grip around this wine's core of clove, plum and smoke but the lushness is muted, perhaps an indication of the tough growing year, while structure remains. Small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are blended in, the whole aged in 51% new French oak.
Roasted, balsamic aromas suggest tomato, coffee grinds and a pinch of herbal green in addition to standard berry and cassis notes. Pulsing acidity creates a lively, dancing mouthfeel. Flavors of herbal plum and light cherry finish scratchy and edgy, with a mild chocolate flavor.
A blend of Sangiovese (66%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Merlot, this wine offers hints of dark raspberries, black currant, vanilla and herbs. It's broad and flavorful with somewhat astringent tannins that hopefully will mellow with some additional time in bottle.
Spicy, lightly green aromas of bell pepper, olive and wild berry set up a strong-boned palate with pulse and overall balance. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot holds onto its aromas on the palate, which tastes of mint, green herbs, raspberry and currant. The finish is lightly herbal.
Not too big, and very tasty, this wine offers a baking-spice aroma leading to almost-sweet red cherry flavors, followed by oaky shadings of vanilla, chocolate and cinnamon that circle back around. It's well balanced by firm tannins and ample acidity that back up the ripe fruit character.
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.
The wine tastes richer and more full-bodied than its light alcohol would suggest. That's good, with plenty of fresh fruits that also have a creamy texture and bright acidity that is fully integrated with the mineral texture and crisp aftertaste. Drink now.
Aromas of dark spice, sage, dark berry and espresso waft from the glass. The straightforward palate delivers black currant, raspberry and clove alongside velvety tannins.
Made with Negroamaro, this offers aromas of coconut, toasted oak, plum cake and brown cooking spice. The one-dimensional palate delivers oak extract, roasted coffee bean, licorice, steeped plum and dried blackberry alongside firm, drying tannins.
Made with Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera, this straightforward, enjoyable wine offers aromas of wild berry, violet and a whiff of tilled soil. The easy-drinking palate doles out juicy Morello cherry, clove and bitter almond alongside chewy tannins.
Aromas recall ripe, black-skinned fruit, clove, thyme and a whiff of barnyard. The palate offers mature black currant, black pepper and savory herb alongside firm tannins.
It's quite rare to find a wine in Washington where Counoise (48%) takes the lead, as on this blend that also includes Syrah and Mourvèdre. It brings notes of sagebrush and other herbs, seeming to show some oxygen exposure that overshadows the silky, generous feel.
Made from native grape Susumaniello, this conveys aromas of charred earth, mature plum and a hint of coffee bean. The soft, dense palate offers juicy black cherry, pomegranate, licorice and a note of black pepper alongside ripe, velvety tannins. Drink through 2016.
The winery is perhaps best known for its Merlots, here done in an overtly oaky style. Chewy, woody and quite astringent, the tannins lead, with dried berry and dark chocolate also in the mix. Fine for everyday drinking with your favorite cut of beef.
This young wine is still pulling itself together. A small percentage was barrel-fermented, but what dominates are crisp fruit flavors of lime and apple. There's a whiff of flint and cinnamon also, with caramel creaminess rounding out the finish. All good components that need more time to knit together.
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.
In the 2012 vintage, Cullen's entry-level red wine is an assemblage of 55% Merlot, 29% Malbec and 16% Petit Verdot. The result blends olive, berry and mocha notes into a medium-bodied red wine, with a touch of creaminess to its midpalate and a mouthwatering finish.
Blackberry, vanilla, a hint of chemical and generic darkness drive the nose on this muscular, black-tinted blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec and 9% Syrah. The palate is grabby and fiercely tannic, while blackberry, herb and molasses flavors finish in heady, tannic, warm fashion.
Crisp and fresh, this is a soft style of Sauvignon Blanc that brings out pineapple and apricot flavors as much as herbaceousness. A streak of lemon and pink grapefruit acidity is well integrated into the riper fruits. The aftertaste adds bright acidity to the mix.
Olive and woodspice outmuscle vivid fruit aromas on the nose. The palate is a bit raw and drawing, but it's fresh. Spicy oak adds depth to racy plum and raspberry flavors, with heat stepping in on the finish. Overall this is a fresh, lively version of Carmenère.
Initially this is minerally on the nose but not overly fruity, with notes of grass and green bean. The palate is fairly crisp despite being round and mouthfilling. Flavors of papaya, grapefruit and green banana finish with controlled pithy bitterness.
Laser-focused acidity adds polish to luscious sweet pear and tangerine flavors in this decadently sweet bottling. Delicately lacy in mouthfeel, it finishes with a savory dusting of pollen and crushed stones.
Spicy plum, olive and dry herbal aromas get this crisp, medium-bodied Carmenère off to a fair start. The palate is firm and a touch clampy, with bold acidity. Flavors of pepper, red plum, herbs and oak finish with lasting spice notes and a hint of fennel.
Black olive, blackberry and smoky charcuterie make this an interesting Merlot. It comes from the cooler confines of Carneros, where it meets the sprawling Sonoma Coast. Austere, the midpalate delves into coffee and chocolate notes.
This wine offers quality that over-delivers on its comparatively modest price. Aromas are perfumed in rose and lavender before opening up a zingy palate of black fruit and bacon.
This wine boasts a great combination of sweetness and richness with elegance and finesse. Aromas are honeyed and floral yet minerally, while the flavors run toward pears and peaches steeped in honey. The finish is undeniably rich, but supercharged by a lively skein of citrusy acids.
This complex wine lists no fewer than eight different clones in the blend, harvested at an average of just 1.8 tons/acre. The winery suggests that it is their most ageworthy Pinot Noir, and the structure of this young wine would support that assertion. It's tight, hard, compact with black fruits, smoke and chewy tannins. It's a wine that needs time to stretch its considerable muscles. The roughly 50/50 mix of new and once-used barrels adds baking chocolate, licorice and charred toast to the finish; well-integrated and buttressed with crisp acids. But the lingering flavor is of raspberry jam; so good you want to spread it directly on your tongue.
Tight, earthy, spiced up with leaf and pepper, this old vine Zin gathers strength in the mid-palate and displays a perfect blend of sweet cherry, berry and some finishing tomato leaf. This 2007 seems a bit less ripe than previous efforts, so the fruit does not have the same sweetness, but the winemaking is exceptional and the flavors are woven beautifully. These 2007s may yet prove to be among the most ageworthy wines that Sineann has ever made.
Not quite as extremely sweet as some of the giant BAs from 2006, this wine actually shows a modicum of minerality and spice to go along with hints of dried apricot and honey. It doesn't finish as long or powerful as some, but instead shows a certain elegance and balance.
Very concentrated aromas of kirsch, dried berries, chocolate and spice cake show on the nose of this bottling that is bolstered by 10% Petite Sirah. That density extends to the palate, where treacly black-cherry-syrup flavors mix with baking spice.
Underripe berry aromas are leathery and briny. This wine is bulky and chewy in feel, with herbal berry and rubbery flavors. A rustic finish with good mouthfeel delivers animal-like flavor notes.
The wine has too much wood. Tannins and spice as well as toast are present, but not enough fruit.
A generous use of wood aging has given this wine a caramel flavor that lies awkwardly alongside the berry fruits. The aftertaste is dry.
The tannins and high toast flavors have taken over this wine. The fruit has been submerged. It is difficult to see this completely balancing out.
Situated in the heart of the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers, this estate has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. With its stalky black currant fruit and acidity, this is fruity with a cool edge and a crisp edge. Drink from 2018.
Mild, dusty cherry aromas set up a pulling, dry palate. Flavors of tea and spiced tomato lack fruit, and this wine is dry and somewhat abrasive on the finish. The blend is 80% Bobal with Cabernet Sauvignon.
This wine is colored like a pale Pinot Noir and also shows some bricking. It brings blunt aromas of cherry and spice that lead to dry,seemingly watered-down fruit flavors. It falls flat.
Firm with tannins, this is a dry wine. Its tough structure dominates the berry fruit, needing time to balance out. Drink from 2018.
Layered tannins and wood flavors have tended to smother the fruit in this wine. That gives a dry, tough character not promising much for the future.
This wine has an abundance of baked-plum flavor wrapped in smoky char. A full-bodied, ripe expression of the grape, it delivers straightforward structure and an unfussy finish.
Cassis and raisin aromas lead to a rubbery, grabby and pinching palate. This wine tastes of herbal, leafy berry and plum, while the savory finish lingers.
The wine is rich and packed with superripe blackberry fruits. While there is acidity to keep the wine crisp, it does have a heavy feel to it from the high alcohol that also brings a pepper edge. Drink from 2018.
This is still a young wine, firm with tannins. The enthusiastic wood aging shows strongly in the smoky toasty flavor. It's hard to find the fruit.
Firmly structured, the wine is dry and with dark tannins. Its fruit is currently masked. Give it until late 2017.
This Tempranillo smells a bit chemical as well as jammy. A tannic palate is slightly astringent but softens with airing. Medicinal plum and berry flavors stick out on a rough finish.
There's a subtle honeyed edge to this otherwise light and easygoing wine, adding heft to the ripe melon and stone fruit notes. The lush fruit flavors pair with the mouthwatering acidity on the finish, balancing everything out in the end. Drink now.
Full-bodied, spicy wine. It has a ripe, toast and apple flavor and a smooth texture, with light acidity. The wine is dry while also soft.
This is truly prickly, with a slight spritz of CO2 acting to perk up the lime, green apple and pineapple aromas and flavors. It's at the same time plump and off dry, deftly balancing sweetness and zest. Drink now. Old Bridge Cellars.
Round but lifted with racy pineapple-infused acidity in the mouth, this Chard offers ripe melon and red apple flavors to balance the serious cut. A hint of peach pit nuttiness stays through the finish.
An austere, savory Zin from Amador, one of the smaller-production Zinfandels from Renwood and it shows. Firm tannins, dusty black fruit and spice—a good option for Sierra Foothills Zin fans.
Light and easy with a great lift to the green plum, hard guava and banana notes. Lively but not overly zippy or mouth-puckering on the finish. Drink now.
Rubbery and leathery smelling at first, with berry and cassis aromas resting below the surface. Feels tannic and closed on the palate, with syrupy, reduced plum, berry and currant flavors. Not too much shows up on the finish other than thickness and a subtle plum nuance.
Quite possibly the first and only Washington Zweigelt, this has the sort of rough, rustic appeal as did Lemberger in the early days of the state's wine industry. Bright cranberry fruit has a spicy edge, and a sharp, high-toned finish.
On first blush it comes across entirely green and herbal. Even with airing it continues to show salad dressing, tomato and herbal aromas in addition to red fruit notes. Full and solid on the palate, with bell pepper, tobacco and roasted berry flavors. Finishes with more herbal/green hints and good structure.
Round, floral and sweet smelling, with citrusy acidity that pushes up passion fruit, orange and lemon flavors. There's weight and body come finishing time, and the overall impression is that of a tropical, dense white wine with some creaminess. Priced high for what you get.
A bit raw and hot on the nose, with wild berry aromas and some fiery horseradish before it rounds into form. The palate has a good, regular feel and crisp plum and red cherry flavors. Fruity and fresh, but limited.
Firm and chewy, this pure Syrah has plenty of punch (at 14.6% alcohol) but not much detail. A clean, crisp core of tangy berry is framed in large, dry, somewhat chalky tannins, and finishes with a hit of chocolate.
A ripe and elegant wine, full of sweet fruits, laced with tannins. It has an attractive tar and plum set of flavors, firmly anchored in its central core of dryness.
Fresh, clean and easy with ripe aromas of red apple flesh and hard nectarine on the nose and a solid lime-driven citrus core that livens up the palate and the finish. Drink now.
Gen Yers and Baby Boomers will remember when Rosemount's ubiquitous Diamond Label wines represented great value. This Cab offers slightly confected cherry fruit, a whisper of mint and hints of vanilla. It's round in the mouth without being heavy, a fresh fruity wine for immediate gratification.
A touch raw and rough on the bouquet, with rubbery berry aromas and earth notes that suggest compost. The palate is thick but shows angular tannins, while the flavors are oaky and creamy, with basic berry and plum intermixed.
Benefiting from the ripe 2009 fruit, this shows the attractive character of many value Bordeaux wines in this year. It has red plum fruits, touched with raisins along with toast, acidity and a balance of tannins.
A 100%-organic Chardonnay, stainless steel fermented and poured into a handy-dandy, also certified-organic AstraPouch (1.5 liter). This easy-to-bring-on-a-picnic wine is clean, balanced and simply drinkable with a note of sweet grapefruit and pineapple.
Green grass and a hint of baby powder are paired with notes of green gooseberry and lime on the nose, while riper but similarly tart flavors of white cranberry and citrus take hold of the mouthwatering palate. Drink now.
Ripe and structured, this has black plum and ripe berry flavors that are lifted by the acidity typical of the vintage. Tannins are solid and dense, packed around the fruit, and show that the wine is still young. Drink this solid while fruity wine from 2020.
The slightest hints of mirabelle plum and peach play on the nose. The body is of exquisite lightness and an almost weightless elegance that swings and vibrates with soft citrus notes. This is slender and fresh, lemon-scented and subtle with a caressing, gossamer but nonetheless citric finish.
Mature black-skinned berry, ripe plum, menthol, leather and tobacco are just some of the aromas that emerge on this full-bodied red. The firm, spicy palate delivers dried black cherry, blackberry, ground pepper, clove, espresso and licorice alongside a backbone of youthfully assertive but refined tannins. Give it time to fully develop. Drink 2020–2035.
Notions of ripe, red apple are deliciously pervaded by spiky lemon freshness, creating a tension between tart crispness and inviting ripeness—much like a perfectly balanced apple itself—just supercharged and concentrated. This seems to have a drive all of its own and a luminous, appetizing, irresistible fruitiness.
This engaging, multilayered, flavorful and nuanced wine has subtle aromas like black pepper and grilled meat. Flavors suggest ripe Bing cherries and blackberries, while the seductive mouthfeel is rich and velvety. Aged 20 months in American oak barrels, the wine has great structure and will improve through at least 2020.
A very creamy nose hovers over a herb-spiced apple palate, the nutty oak flavors are still obvious and will take a little time to become subdued, but the fruity, savory core of this wine is built to last and presents an unusual but dependable, friendly and durable counterpoint to all manner of foods. Don't miss this individualistic treat which was fermented on its skins.
A mere 40 cases of this LD exists, a lucky find in the cellar laid down in 2001 and forgotten about until this year. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, it's fragrant in dried fruit and boasts a thick, unctuous mouthfeel. Briny, dry and tart, with the taste of fresh-squeezed lemon, it's a philosophical exercise in the art of patience.
Ripe and tropical, this full-bodied wine conveys mango, quince and ripe white peach that accompany a rich texture. It's going to develop relatively quickly, so drink from 2018. Winemaker Stephan Carrier returned from Napa to take over winemaking after Irish businessman Lochlann Quinn bought the property in 2001. A new winery and barrel cellar opened in 2011. Hubert de Boüard of Château Angelus consults with Carrier. Fieuzal's newsletter is an accurate report on harvests.
Powerful and dense, this wine has great potential. With full-bodied blackberry fruits and acidity that push through the dark tannins, it shows a rich character that is impressive for the year. Drink from 2020. The property has been owned since 1999 by Sophie Lurton of neighboring Château Bouscaut.
Still tight and closed up, this wine has potential, offering ripe citrus and white fruits and nervy, tangy texture. Concentrated and dense, it's a wine for the long term; drink from 2020. Olivier is a large medieval hunting estate that, since the 19th century, has belonged to the Bethmann family. The 148 acres of vines and forests are managed environmentally.
Coming from a single vineyard block and aged in neutral oak, this wine delivers varietal and site specificity. The dark-fruit flavors are layered and come in waves, showing great intensity along with exceptional balance, with a finish that lingers. It's an impressive inaugural release.
Lemon meringue and custard provide decadence to this vineyard-designated wine, the site planted to decades-old vines. It becomes sublime as it opens, spicy and soft in quince and Asian pear. The finish returns to the opening theme, delivering a punch of caramel.
Intense violet, dark berry, ground pepper and a whiff of leather are some of the aromas you'll discover in this radiant wine. Concentrated and delicious, the palate brings flavors of blackberry, black cherry, clove and tobacco, while fresh acidity and velvety tannins provide balance. Soft but structured, it's already tempting, but wait a few more years for added depth.
The nose does not want to give any more away than a yeasty, savory glint. On the palate, this evolves into a peppery, herbal core with real texture and depth. Fruit, apart from citrus, remains hidden for now, still held in that primary, yeasty center that already sends out sprays of spice. Delicious and intriguing now, probably even more interesting in the coming two to three years.
Aromas of spice, vanilla and wood are stronger than this wine's fruit scents. Pure and lush on the palate, this is showing fine balance. Flavors of baking spices, caramel, vanilla and black fruits finish mildly and subtly, with mocha notes and good length. Drink this ripe Cabernet blend through 2019.
An incredibly peachy, fragrant nose is utterly appetising and inviting with oaky softness. The palate shows the same mild, fruit-forward flavor. While the fruit is plump, the wine itself is sprightly and fresh, on very light feet with a wonderfully soft and fresh texture. Right now, the peachy aroma shines.
With its delicate layers of garrigue, black tea and black pepper, this wine hails from a vineyard on the edge of the ocean west of Occidental. Intriguing, it's light in its approach and texture, but completely beguiling and complex.
An almost minty lift puts a very different spin on the blueberry fruit. The toned but concentrated palate sings with full fruit and juicy freshness, but there is a solid base with a dense, muscular texture. Tannins are ripe but the defining factor is a juicy, appetizing freshness.
Taut and spicy, showing pear and savory tones, this is a slender but archetypal Grüner with a spring in its step. The palate is toned but full of verve with bundled citrus at its core. The liveliness belies the seriousness of the concentrated palate. This is a joy.
From an organically farmed estate vineyard in Chiles Valley operated by the same family for more than 40 years, this 87% Cabernet Sauvignon-13% Merlot has soul and structure, as well a stony minerality that compels. Menthol and tobacco weave between thick layers of dark cherry and plum, complemented on the palate by exotic cardamom and clove. This is one worth cellaring through 2022 or giving an hour or two to open.
The normally so rich Rosengartl comes in a much more slender body for the 2014 vintage, with zesty relish even. Here and there are glimpses of opulence, in the shadows of pleasantly bitter honeycomb that also contributes to a beautifully defined, linear texture on the midpalate. The finish is whistle-clean. Bravo.
Woodspice and vanillin are out in front on the aromas followed by mocha, raspberry and dark fruit. The palate brings lush, concentrated flavors and a lingering finish. It drinks beautifully now sbut should have a long life ahead of it.
Despite cool conditions in 2011, or quite possibly because of them, this is thriving. Aromas of cedar, earth, spice and berry fruits are stylish and comported. The palate on this perennially superb Cabernet is focused, intense and balanced. Flavors of spicy red currant and briary berry are thorough and finish with length on a mocha note. Drink through 2026.
A very subtle nose gives a mere glimpse of lemon zest, the palate delivers a thrillingly pure and exquisitely honest flavor that suggests clear mountain lakes and clean Alpine air. This is bracing and fresh, delicate and lemon-scented from the first sniff to the last echoing aftertaste. This could be dangerously addictive with its concentrated but ultraslender features.
Reserved aromas of cherry, chocolate, thistle, moist earth and dark berry lead to red and black fruit flavors that are sumptuous, rich and layered. It brings immediate appeal but also offers plenty of cellaring potential—a complete delight that appeals on multiple levels.
This is a rich, wood-aged wine, with smoky aromas and a strong spiciness. On the palate, the wine is ripe, full of black fruits and firm tannins. The blend of Touriga Nacional, Aragonez and Syrah has a fine perfumed character, with generous structure and delicious acidity. Drink after 2015.
Blackberry, blueberry, rubber and violet aromas show a pinch of cool-vintage green. The palate on this Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère-Petit Verdot-Syrah blend is tightly wound, with grating tannins. The berry flavors are a touch leafy, while the finish brings red fruit flavors and a touch of carob. Drink through 2018.
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.
A well constructed, solid wine, this has a fine layer of firm tannins that melds well with the rich black plums and acidity. Even this young, the wine is showing a balanced character, warm and ripe. It will age, so drink from 2018.
A pleasant aromatic mix of sweet buttercream with salted caramel join with pineapple and guava on this wine from the hills above Silicon Valley. It is nicely rounded on the palate, with pear, apple and more guava leading to a yeasty, acidic finish.
The wine is rich, full in the mouth and delicious. With its creamy texture, baked apple flavors and sprinkling of spice, it's a dense and ripe wine that could be drunk now, but which will be better in 2016.
Aromas of tilled earth, ripe black fruit, menthol and a touch of leather lead the nose on this savory, medium-bodied red. The juicy palate offers ripe black cherry, raspberry, black pepper and a balsamic note alongside supple tannins.
One of Santa Barbara County's pioneer properties delivers an aromatically luscious wine, with aromas of white flowers, French toast, quince and lime sorbet on the nose. It's a bit like sipping perfume of tuberose and honeysuckle, yet there is bouncy acidity and chalky minerality, ensuring an emerging shelf life through 2018.
This blend is garnet colored with a hint of eucalyptus in the bouquet, opening up to aromas of black fruit, forest floor and freshly picked mushroom. Minerality abounds on the palate, with flavors of red berries and black plums.
From a myriad of wonderful vineyards, this vibrant wine offers an incredible deal at the price, with a lively bouquet of fennel, apple and pear. Chalky in texture with delicious acidity, it has baking spices popping up on balanced finish.
Aromas of black cherry, licorice, leather, violet and a whiff of tobacco open this wine. The palate is still a bit closed but delivers black raspberry, wild cherry, anisette and a note of black pepper alongside big, brooding tannins that need time to come around. Drink 2017–2024.
Subtle flavors, great balance and some mineral complexity add interest. It is tangy, refreshing and just a bit restrained until the finish, where it opens up and stays with you.
Rich and finely balanced, this wine combines spice notes with rich tannins and blackberry tones. While it is dense and complex, it is still young and needs time to age. Drink after 2015.
This elegant expression of Nebbiolo opens with aromas of dried rose, crushed violet, tilled earth, savory herb and a balsamic note. The palate offers juicy black raspberry, dark cherry, truffle, vanilla and a hint of mocha. It's balanced, with fresh acidity and supple tannins.
Pretty aromas suggest violet, sandalwood, incense, plum and chocolate. The ripe palate offers crushed black cherry, mocha, espresso and vanilla alongside firm tannins. A licorice note signals the close.
Rich, spicy and perfumed, this delicious wine is developing well and also has aging potential. It is packed with berry and plum fruits that parade with acidity and tannins that act as a support. It's still dense and the balanced fruit and tannins will allow it to age. Drink from 2018.
The bouquet of this wine shows condensed fruit notes of green apple and lemon pith, with a slight nuance of vanilla on the nose. Full bodied and creamy on the palate, it exhibits balanced acidity on the finish.
Fresh-squeezed blueberry, warm saddle leather and pitch-black chewing tobacco aromas introduce an awesome Cab Franc experience from an unirrigated vineyard planted in 1985. The cedar and even tannin flavors mesh elegantly with the blue and purple fruit.
Ripe and full in the mouth, this is a yellow fruit and citrus flavored wine. Tangy, salty and textured, it also has a rich feel with its peach and kiwi accents. It's a wine for aging, so drink from 2017.
There is a lovely, poised balance between fresh, crisp fruitiness and peppered spice in this wine made from the increasingly rare Chasselas. It is light, flavored with apple and quince, very attractive and ready to drink now.
This 100% Merlot is juicy in black cherry and plum flavors, followed by outbursts of dusty tannin that provide just enough grip. The savory cinnamon and clove aspects are backed by toasty oak, a silky texture and plenty of acidity.
Made from 68-year-old Nerello Mascalese vines and aged in terra-cotta amphorae, this ripe and powerful wine offers aromas of leather, tilled earth, game, truffle and black berry fruit. The juicy palate delivers mouthfuls of black cherry accented with clove and cinnamon alongside round, velvety tannins and the warmth of alcohol.
Hand-sorting and 18 months of aging is the key here. This 80% Merlot blend with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc offers a generously proportioned balance of tannins and black fruits. It has full-bodied character, packed with berry fruits and rich acidity. With all these elements, it will develop well. Drink from 2017.
Refermented in the bottle, this frothy, delicious red delivers rose, blue flower, juicy raspberry, sour cherry and yeasty aromas that carry over to the dry, refreshing palate. It's elegant with wonderful intensity and a juicy, lingering finish.
Ripe, soft and very drinkable, this has a generous structure that cushions the tannins with rounded black fruits. The acidity and the warm, generous character of the 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc blend net a fine representation of the fruity 2012s. This is Bordeaux consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt's home turf. Wooden fermenters and 16 months in barrel (40% new) necessitate time, so drink from 2016.
This is pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stillwater vineyard, ripe and loaded with dark fruits. There's a strong element of char, smoke and roasted espresso running through the finish. Tannins are silky, but the flavors are right on the edge of burnt. Drink this with a juicy, charcoal-grilled steak and it will hit the bulls-eye.
Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas produces this label with her father and winemaker Joey Tensley, whose handiwork unleashes aromas of white pepper, black cherry, a cornucopia of dark berries and earthy minerality. Bright acidity on the palate partners with blackberry soda flavors, quite racy for the variety.
Invigorating and frothy, this opens with aromas of woodland berries and violets. The savory palate offers mouthfuls of wild cherry, strawberry and clove alongside bright acidity and small, persistent bubbles. Chill this down for a crisp and refreshing summer red.
Rose petals and violet perfume this fragrant, voluptuously textured Spätburgunder. It's ripe and approachable but structured by fine, firm tannins and sprightly acidity. Luscious streaks of blackberry and cherry nectar linger on the finish.
Brawny tannins meet mild acidity in this powerful, rich wine that's full-bodied and decadent. Chocolate, mocha and caramel notes are etched into its soft, rounded layers of generous red fruit.
With round clove and dried herb flavors, this wine has a soft texture of integrated tannins and subtle oak, highlighted with pencil shaving and cedar notes. Its blackberry and black currant fruit is complemented by a tantalizingly dark, lush fig note.
Jammy black-fruit aromas push up against raisiny but stay composed. This blend of Syrah, Garnacha, Tintilla and a grape called Rome feels rubbery and pulling, but solid. Blackberry, cassis and chocolate flavors are chewy but focused. Drink through 2019.
Rich as chocolate cake, this bold wine is adorned with fresh berry flavors, its body full and concentrated. Soft like velvet curtains, it's a ripe expression of the vineyard in a ripe, picture-perfect year.
Tobacco, earth, sage and pencil notes contribute inviting character to this full-bodied, structured red. Softly layered and rounded on the palate, it offers moderate complexity and a grippy, leathery finish.
This rich, chocolaty blend combines Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties with 24% Petite Sirah. Deep red cherry and cassis flavors form its juicy core—a full-bodied expression accented by leather and espresso, and offset by a showy backbone of acidity.
Round and fruity, this mixes sweet berry with red plum and Bing cherry. Orange-peel highlights lift the midpalate. The wine shows excellent balance and a detailed, lingering finish.
This is sourced from old vines, and brings typically intense, phenolic aromatics in a dry, extended and lingering style. Citrus-rind scents and dried-apple flavors abound, and it's textural and persistent, though not what you'd call fruity. The length and development are its best attributes.
Clarified butter and lemon rind notes combine on the entry of this estate-grown wine. Spicy, salty acidity and a subdued crisp-apple flavor contribute to its light, tangy finish.
A bittersweet apple element gives this wine an intellectual component, tempering its richer crème brûlée-like flavors. Medium-bodied, with crisp acidity, it shows off the estate vineyard site well, in a well-regarded vintage.
Lovely apple fruit plays on the nose. The palate is very light and dry, but has a slightly bitter edge that suggests that this might be better with food than as an apéritif. The finish is beautifully dry and invitingly tart.
A blend of 45% Malbec, 34% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, there are some upfront notes of game, leather and cured meat that add interest to the black plum and cherry core. The palate is plush and broad, but not flat, with soft, approachable tannins and pleasant dark berry and plum flavors that are lifted by ample acidity. Drink now–2020.
Barrel aromas are at the fore, with notes of vanilla, cocoa and milk chocolate out in front of blackberry and black cherry. The palate also mixes fruit and barrel, showing pleasing depth of flavors and intensity along with a silky texture.
Aromas of butter, vanilla, corn silk and tropical fruit lead to barrel-forward, oak-laden pineapple flavors that intertwine through the finish. For the style, it's well done but the oak is pretty intense.
This wine comes from top sites Canoe Ridge Estate, Champoux, Seven Hills and Wallula. An intriguing blend of 43% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 17% Malbec, it offers high-toned aromas, with notes of toasty spice and herb in front of raspberry and cherry. Supple and well balanced, the fruit flavors show poise and length.
Eucalyptus, Bay laurel and other herbal aromas dominate the nose of this wine, making way for black tea and cola flavors. Full-bodied and robustly ripe with powerful tannin, it's ultimately earthy and complex.
Quite spicy and nicely oaky in aroma and flavor without seeming overdone, this wine offers smooth and elegant red and black cherry flavors and a generous, soothing texture.
Soft and ripe, with fruit flavors that border on raisin and prune, this nicely bottle-aged Merlot is good to go right now. In fact, it could pass for an older wine, or perhaps a nonvintage blend; it's smooth and mature, with good balance and very soft tannins.
Like its stablemate Pinot Grigio from producer Thorne Clark, this Pinot Gris carries a faint copper-pink cast to its hue, and it also has a fairly broad mouthfeel. The pear and melon flavors are pleasant, making it an easy-drinking medium-bodied white with wide appeal.
Fresh apple, green grass, dandelion and a touch of soft smoke emanate from the glass, transitioning to flavors of gingered peach and spicy orange on the palate. Medium weight and well structured with nice complexity and evolution. Drink now.
Opens with soft black fruit aromas, and later orange peel and floral notes enter the picture. This is a ripe style of wine with body and heft. Blackberry, sweet black plum, chocolate and brown sugar control the flavor profile, and while it's sweet and arguably confected, overall it's a solid blend of two hearty grapes.
Smells like a kirsch liqueur on the bouquet. The palate, somewhat surprisingly, is much sharper than the nose, with tangy, zesty flavors of red fruits that some might adore and others will label too thin and sour. Sheer but fresh on the finish, with pulsing acidity. Personally, I find this rather sharp and wanting, given the origin.
This Blanquette (made with 90% Mauzac) offers a bouquet full of bright crisp red apple and melon core. The texture is creamy with fine bubbles and medium acidity, and the palate is loaded with satisfying sweet citrus rind and toasty brioche flavors. Drink now.
Full and soft, this is a ripe and creamy wine, with generous melon and rich apple fruits. It is already delicious, though simple.
This varietal expression of Petit Verdot shows a concentration of coffee liqueur and vanilla flavors that suggest that the barrels overtook the fruit. The alcohol registers 14.4%, and there is plenty of tannin. If you want to taste barrel more than grape, it's a flavorful bottle.
Opens with hard, rubbery, leathery aromas. In the mouth, it's thick and chewy with black fruit but also an herbal edge. There's depth and plenty of oak here, and it finishes sweet and relatively smooth. Starts rough, improves in the middle, and then finishes fairly well.
Honeysuckle and fresh grass mingle with aromas of nectarine and apricot pit on the bouquet, while the mouth offers vibrant flavors of sweet citrus and juicy fresh peach slices. Balanced and easy to drink with a kiss of toast on the close. Drink now.
Laurent Miquel has built a solid reputation making clean wines at a superb value, and this one doesn't disappoint. Fresh and lively notes of sweet pea and honeysuckle mingle with ripe tropical fruit and clementine citrus. Drink now.
Baked and broad on the nose, with toasty aromas, marshmallow sweetness and floral hints. The palate is tight, healthy and tastes of savory, meaty fruit including black cherry and wild raspberry. Leather and herbal notes work the finish, and overall this is nice but more basic than complex.
Open, generous wine, the fruits showing round, white peach flavors dominant, with a crispening of lemon zest.
Shows a lifted, herbal edge to the aromas of ripe pear and melon, making it fairly aromatic for NZ Pinot Gris. It's medium-bodied, soft and lush on the palate, with the right balance between sugar and acids so that it doesn't come across as being too sweet.
Quite good and above the masses when compared to the bulk of rosé wines coming from Argentina. Made from Malbec, it's bright and floral, with a touch of citrus to the nose. Healthy, vibrant, balanced and cleansing, with flavors of berries, nectarine and pink grapefruit. Drink now.
Tart and racy, with a nice mix of apple, pear, orange peel and pink grapefruit. The fruit is juicy and firm, the acids plentiful. This feels more substantial, less floral and delicate than many Rieslings, and quite dry, despite relatively low (under 13%) alcohol.
Full-forced berry and cherry aromas are clean and fruity despite accents of leather and heat. The palate offers a good feel, healthy kick and tasty black fruit flavors touched up by hints of chocolate and pepper. Narrow on the finish, with espresso and spice. A solid, good wine from older vines.
A touch of green plum and cigar spice keep things vibrant on this black cherry, plum and pepper heavy wine. Balanced and approachable with medium acidity and tannins leading through to the spicy finish.
Quite sweet and fruity, with honeyed, candied stone fruit flavors. The residual sugar is listed as 6%, which qualifies this as a late-harvest style, and it would fit nicely alongside a simple dessert of fresh peaches and butter cookies.
Attractive aromas of cigar box, forest floor, plum and berry get this Tempranillo off to a good start. It feels crisp and juicy, with proper acidity cutting into flavors of buttery oak, raspberry and plum. On the finish it remains buttery tasting and turns grabby but also tangy.
Ripe black cherry fruit is underlain by hints of game in this medium-bodied Crozes from one of the world's biggest producers of Syrah. It's a clean, crisp wine with a faintly dusty texture to its finish. Drink now–2018.
Soft and raspberry-flavored, this has an earthy note and jammy texture. It has tannins that are buried firmly in the sweet fruit and acidity. Screwcap.
This wine shows much less oak influence than Pepik's Zdar bottling, but in this case that's a good thing. The fruit is herbal and perhaps a bit tomatoey, but there's enough cherry to hold things together, with smoke and sous-bois notes for complexity. It's a light- to medium-bodied wine that finishes on a crisp note. Drink now.
Tight black fruit and hints of stem and wood suggest that this herbal Cabernet needs more time in bottle. The tannins are slightly green, and the softening influence of buttery barrel aging has not yet been fully integrated.
The mix of fruits here is unusual, with flavors of citrus, stone fruit and berry all in play. A pure Malbec, with lots of acid and a tightly wound middle, it should smooth out a bit with more time in bottle.
Warm and juicy, this has a typical rustic edge. It's packed with plum and dark prune flavors, with a rounded and soft mouthfeel that's layered with attractive acidity. Glass stopper.
Hard and showing an herbal edge, this single-vineyard Merlot will require some further bottle age and/or decanting. It drinks more like a Cabernet than a Merlot, with a green slant to the tannins.
For those who love a big, oaky Chardonnay, this is for you. It's raw, blocky and rough, but there is plenty of fresh oak flavor, and time should integrate the wood into the clean and straightforward green apple flavor.
Citrus acidity and raspberry fruit combine in this ripe, sun-drenched wine. It has a fine balance of crispness, with rich fruits and a delicate lemon note on the finish.
This is a taut wine that's full of zest, acidity and delicate wild strawberry fruit. It has a hint of orange and almond, with a great crisp feeling.
Soft, ripe and chocolaty, with a raisiny quality on the bouquet. There's fading black plum and wild berry flavors; the mouthfeel is big but short on structure. Finishes with medium length and mild bitterness.
Banrock Station's 2006 Shiraz is a throwback to the kind of super value Australian wines used to provide with more regularity. For $5, consumers get a decently textured, supple wine with plenty of forward blueberry and plum fruit and touches of chocolate and pepper. Look for it by the glass or buy it by the case for entertaining on a budget.
The aromas are sweet, while the palate is light and graced by easygoing cherry and raspberry flavors. A little bit pointed and sharp in feel, but good in a citrusy sort of way.
Bitter black cherries are the hallmark of this rather hard-edged wine. It shows dark tannins and fruit that misses full richness. Maybe it is restrained power, maybe it will age, but the balance is not there now.
Huge and extracted, with an opaque purple color and a massive, aggressive nose that hints at stewed fruit, sweaty leather, blackberry compote and shoe polish. Forget elegance and go straight for this wine's unbridled size and density. If that sounds unappealing, pass it by.
An easygoing, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with minimal fanfare and a solid, herbal and grassy character. Overall, good fruit flavors and a clean finish. Pair with seafood or spicy curries for an extra kick.
At $8, this is a great find, and has the exotic Bulgarian label to boot. The nose is all lemon zest and spice, and on the palate there is a lively, minerally punch with soft citrus flavors layered over it. A lovely summer sipping wine, best paired with seafood and salads.
This light, very fresh wine shows crispness, citrus and grapefruit flavors and lively acidity. An easy to drink, low in alcohol, summer afternoon wine. Screwcap.
This medium-bodied Pinot features aromas of vanilla, beet greens and a touch of cola to go with extremely soft tannins. Flavors of cola, cedar and earth end on hints of tart berries and coffee.
Dry spicy aromas of dusty plum and tomato add up to a good whole. This Cab is crisp and alert on the palate, with popping acidity that creates some sharpness. Earthy and spicy currant and red-plum flavors finish direct and juicy.
El Capricho is one of Uruguay's more consistent wineries in terms of putting out wines of character and quality. This Tempranillo is smoky, spicy and woodsy on the nose, with notes of cola accenting berry and currant scents. A pulling drawing palate is a bit tannic, while this tastes of toasty oak, plum and tomato. Drink through 2020.
This exuberant and friendly wine has delicious and very pure straightforward fruit flavors of black cherry and blackberry and a smooth non-tannic texture that make it easy to sip despite being full bodied. It's a very solid value and a great example of a unique Italian varietal grown in California.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates in this 66% to 35% blend, with both varieties grown on the producer's Lookout Mountain estate. Full bodied, it features stewed plum, dark chocolate and mocha, with a base of cedar and clove. Extended tannins make it fleshy and full.
Aromas of culinary spice, prune and a whiff of woodland berry take center stage on this smooth red. The ripe palate shows dried red cherry, fig, clove and a hint of bitter almond alongside polished tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the fruit and freshness.
Strong oaky and smoky tobacco-like aromas and flavors make this wine dramatic, while a firm, appropriately tannic texture supports the spicy oak as well as deeper ripe black-cherry and blackberry notes. It has a very good combination of strong flavors and full body.
Aromas of dark culinary spice, iris, berry and a whiff of oak lead the nose. The linear, tightly wound palate shows raw cranberry, clove and star anise framed in racy acidity. Taut close-grained tannins leave a firm finish. Give this a few more years to unwind then drink.
A very dark color and equally deep late-harvest fruit flavors frame this full-bodied and abundantly tannic Rhône-style blend. It's lightly sweet but heavy on the raisin and prune flavors that are matched well by the dense texture.
Big and flavorful, this wine smells and tastes like ripe blackberries and dried plums, and has the firm, moderately tannic texture to go with that richness. Made from a high concentration of Petite Sirah and Syrah, it's quite intense.
This opens with aromas reminiscent of stewed plum, dark culinary spice, espresso and a balsamic note. The assertive palate is still tightly wound, offering dried black cherry, raisin, licorice and tobacco set against taut, close-grained tannins. Drink 2020–2028.
Aromas of wild rose, chopped mint and an earthy whiff of grilled Porcini mushroom slowly emerge. The taut, austere palate shows cranberry, raw sour cherry, star anise and clove framed in firm acidity and tightly wound, close-grained tannins that clench the finish. This needs time to unfurl and fully develop. Drink after 2023.
Familiar aromas of plum, mulberry, clove and slate show on the nose of this appellation blend by the Paso Robles-based winery. There is decent tension on the sip, where cooked cranberry and strawberry meet with a backbone of allspice and nutmeg as well as bittersweet chocolate.
Grainy, resiny oak aromas share space on the nose with herbal black fruit and green scents. This is racy and fresh for Carmenère, with full-force tannins. Herbal, roasted black-fruit and chocolate flavors are long and oaky on the finish, with a mocha note. Drink through 2020.
The nose of this wine is bursting with raspberry, cranberry jam, violets and geranium. These notes carry to the palate, effortlessly melding together with a faint hint of tar. Soft cedar and nutmeg from 18 months in French oak offer compexity and a full structure. A smooth texture and well-integrated tannins make for a long and complex finish.
An opaque color is appropriate for this fully extracted Tannat. Aromas of blackberry, sandalwood and exotic spices are a strong point, while the palate is primed with grating acidity. Full blackberry, cassis and herbal flavors finish cool and toasty but long due to the wine's full-force acidity.
The wine is soft, smooth and full of rich berry fruits. The blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet gives a warm southern feel: ripe wine, sunshine and soft tannins. Wood aging has smoothed the bold fruits and created a full generous aftertaste. Drink now.
Fully ripe fruit flavors are accented by light toast and spice notes in this full-bodied and extremely smooth-textured wine. Dense ripe blackberry and dark chocolate flavors seem to coat the palate, and moderate tannins provide good grip.
Fresh aromas of dark violets, sweet lavender, elderberry and a light teriyaki glaze show on the nose of this extra barrel-aged bottling. It's medium bodied on the palate, where dark fruits meet with elderflower and more purple flowers. It's still a bit reserved.
Exuberantly fruity, this full-bodied wine smells and tastes like black-cherry juice, and is nicely dry on the palate. Good fruit acidity and moderate tannins balance all the fruit concentration and high alcohol level.
Produced by the winemaking team of Casa Santos Lima in Lisboa, this wine has rich black fruits and a soft texture. Its depth, concentration and richness are finely integrated—full and fruity with a core of firmer tannins. Drink now.
Equal parts Grenache and Syrah are blended with 18% Mourvèdre in this classic red Rhône blend. Broad, with fleshy tannins, it has a meaty character, brightened by flavors of baked strawberry, chocolate and smoky oak.
Jammy aromas of floral berry fruits, lavender and violets are savory and stir interest. Drying tannins are the roughest part of a mostly balanced palate, while blue-fruit flavors are backed by chocolaty oak. A finish with manageable tannins is the close.
Quite yellow in the glass, this twist-top bottling shows a slight hint of reduction, with aromas of beeswax, lemon peel and yellow grapefruit pith. There's a good sizzle of acidity to the palate and a steely texture, but it's a tad ripe with lemon candy and spun-sugar flavors.
No kidding that this was aged in oak (Criado en Roble). It smells charred and toasty, with resiny aromas thrown in. A full, seemingly healthy palate can handle the high level of wood this has, but, in the end, oak is mostly what this tastes like. A dry spicy tannic finish doesn't break the chain.
The nose is rather shy but eventually reveals suggestions of berry, aromatic herb and oak-driven spice. The assertive palate offers licorice, coffee and raw cherry alongside grainy tannins that clench the lean finish. You'll also notice a green note of powdered sage.
Spicy plum, berry and herbal aromas cover the bases. This Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend is drawing and pulling on the palate. Raw, spicy flavors of toasty plum and herbs finish with a dominant note of wood spice.
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.
A ruby color and gamy, roasted aromas of plum and raspberry are the opposite of light and elegant. The palate follows suit, meaning it's full but also acidic. Chunky, slightly burnt berry and currant flavors hollow out on a lightly spiced finish.
Somehow, winemaker Luca Paschina manages to make a Vermentino that will make you feel like you are sitting at a café in Liguria. Lush aromatics of pear drop and canteloupe lead into flavors of lemon, green pear, snap pea, button mushroom and sea spray. Well-balanced, this is smooth and fresh, with hints of nuts on the long finish.
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 is an easygoing but richly flavored wine that starts with light toast and spice aromas preceding somewhat sweet jammy flavors, a soft texture and medium body. Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon formed the blend.
Dark garnet in color, this wine carries aromas of cherry and black raspberry on the nose. The palate brings flavors of tart cherry and ripe plum. Tannins show good grip yet there's a touch of aggressive acidity in the finish.
Here's a concentrated Valpolicella that opens with aromas of new leather, truffle, French oak and a balsamic note. The firm palate shows raisin, fig and oak-driven spice alongside close-grained tannins. Drink soon to capture the remaining fruit and freshness.
Coming from five different vineyards across the Niagara Peninsula, it's an intriguing wine with notes of wintergreen, lime zest, and herbs. It drinks just off dry with a lemon pith finish.
The aroma of this wine shows strong signs of the wood aging, although red fruits do show as well. There is a minty character from the new wood, berry fruit flavors and the juicy acidity of the vintage. The wine is going to age well over the medium term, so drink from 2015.
Light and forward, this pleasant, single vineyard selection opens with pretty raspberry and black cherry fruit and an impression of spritziness. The flavors suggest Campari, with light streaks of herb and anise.
This is significantly lighter than the 2010 edition, both in color and in flavor. Red apple and tart cherry fruit combines into a wine with plenty of acidity. There's a flavor of cracker running through the core, and continuing after the fruit fades away.
Mint, leather and berry aromas result in a strong, warm bouquet with a note of just-run horse and saddle. In the mouth, this feels good and rich, with weight and acidity for balance. Flavors of carob, mint and herbs accent core black-fruit notes, and the finish is dark, with licorice and chocolate flavors.
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.
A youthful and appealing wine with notes of orange peel, citrus and crushed flowers. The palate brings abundant stone fruit flavors that taper off toward the finish.
This fruity wine boasts flavors of mango, pineapple and apricot. It is full and ripe, with bright fruitiness and ample acidity. Some wood aging adds an attractive toasty accent to this warm wine.
This big and ripe wine is abundant in red and yellow fruit notes. It has a warm feel, with piercing acidity throughout. This full-bodied wine is perfect to be paired with food.
There's some muscle and meat to this tight young wine, with black raspberry and cherry fruits. But those flavors feel squeezed by the chalky sour-lemon acidity, which may or may not soften with additional bottle age.
Chopped herb, white spring flower and yellow stone fruit aromas jump out of the glass. The rich, frothy palate offers candied nectarine zest, apricot and lemon drop set against a soft, foaming perlage.
The producer sources fruit among several appellations for this varietal wine, coaxing a wealth of full-bodied flavor and succulence into its mix of cedar, sage, black cherry and oak. The firm tannin profile provides a structured foundation.
This bottling, which is heavily bolstered by a 22% addition of Petite Sirah, shows aromas of chocolate, blueberry and fresh violets, with a leathery backbone. It's lavish and soft on the palate, rich with fudge and espresso notes and ripe with blueberry sauce.
Attractive oak and baking-spice aromas enhance the solid, straightforward and ripe fruit flavors in this full-bodied and nicely tannic dry wine.
Blackberry and cassis aromas are robust and typical for Toro. In the mouth, however, this is super tannic and like gravel. Dark berry flavors are well oaked, while the finish tastes of blackberry and chocolate but feels tannic as nails. Drink or hold; this will always be a rough wine.
Pithy citrus and an oily aromatic note give this white blend some funk on the nose. The palate is in good shape but typical in terms of feel and weight. Flavors of orange, papaya and mango finish with citrusy notes of lime as well as chalky minerality. This wine holds Parellada, Macabeo and Chardonnay.
Made with the Cortese grape, this fresh sparkler opens with scents of pressed wild flower and bread crust. The bright palate offers mature peach, hazelnut and mineral alongside an elegant perlage.
Barely there whiffs of honey, cantaloupe and tangerine intensify on the palate of this bright, fruity wine. It's lip-smackingly plump in yellow plum and cherry flavors, but tows a precise line of acidity that's refreshing. Drink now through 2020.
Very smooth and quietly flavorful, this wine has more almond and vanilla notes than overt fruitiness, making it a subtle treat. It's full-bodied and soft on the palate, with good concentration.
Toasted aromas, oak and a whiff of woodland berry lead the nose. The bright palate offers strawberry, bread crust, toasted hazelnut and a hint of graphite alongside a silky perlage. Enjoy soon.
Dark-fruit flavors like blackberry and Bing cherry mingle on a good structure of fine-grained tannins and supportive acidity in this full-bodied wine.
Soft, sweet, baked aromas of spice cake and raisin announce a very ripe wine that's almost over the top. Heavy and wide on the palate, with a soft, chunky foundation, this blend of Tempranillo and Merlot tastes of raisin, vanilla, tobacco and cherry liqueur. Oaky mocha flavors control a soft, pudgy finish. Drink now.
Light in the glass, this bottling shows crushed thyme and oregano herbs along with hibiscus, pomegranate and red-cherry fruit on the nose. The palate offers a fruit-punch character at first, with flavors of sour mulberries providing further intrigue.
Wood flavors and bright fruits are combining well in this wine. It is a rich wine, bright and fruity at the same time. The structure is settling in to give a wine that has a good future. Producer Jacques-Henri Bravard identified 21 parcels (of different soils). All vines are certified organic. Drink from 2019.
From 60-year-old bush vines, this is rich, spicy and with a soft texture. Black fruits give a ripe character and a smooth texture that is beginning to bring in some secondary, earthy flavors. Drink this mature wine now.
There is a toasty character to this wine with its (not unpleasant) lightly oxidized flavors. There is also perfumed fruit and flavors of ripe rich fruitiness. It is a finely structured wine, ready to drink now.
This wine offers an inviting fragrance of red berries, violet and Mediterranean herbs. The palate delivers ripe red cherry, white pepper, clove and thyme balanced by firm tannins and fresh acidity. Pair this with hearty pasta dishes or grilled red meats.
This Amarone opens with a fragrance of forest floor, plum cake and pipe tobacco. The rich, velvety palate delivers blackberry and wild cherry layered with cinnamon and cocoa. It's enveloping and already enjoyable but hold for another few years for more complexity.
The wine develops slowly in the glass, closed at first and then bringing on ripe fruits and firm tannins. There is a definite dryness here, solid, textured and darkly structured. It is meant for aging, so don't drink before 2016.
New wood aromas are still strongly evident in this young and fruity wine. It has ripe tannins, a juicy character and attractive, forward fruitiness. The aftertaste has delicious acidity and freshness.
Sourced from the Clockspring Vineyard, this Sangiovese has a strong, long-lingering personality, smoky and intense in plum, baked strawberry and tobacco plus, a leathery streak of roasted herbs amid a solid texture of dark chocolate. It's the wine to pair with roast chicken similarly garnished in herbs, and similar fowl.
A delicious though somewhat reserved wine with notes of lychee, honey, sugared pineapple and mint. It's rich in feel with abundant marmalade flavors, while staying well balanced and never going too over the top.
A 50-case release from Six Sigma, this Sauvignon Blanc is fleshy, dark and complex, complete with lime, lemon and guava tones. It'll stand up to creamy shellfish dishes or a platter of fresh oysters—an intense study in barrel-kissed Lake County Sauvignon Blanc.
The aromas are of new wood and toast as much as fruit, and this follows on the palate. It has strong burnt-toast flavors along with a full textured palate. Blackberry fruits are under this weight of wood, and need several years to emerge, although the wine will always have a strong wood component. Drink from 2017
Soft and light, this is a fresh, fragrant wine, full of bright, lemony acidity and fruitiness. It's the perfect apéritif with its lively texture and bouncy, crisp feel.
This very lemony wine is crisp and cool from the mountain vineyards of Savoy. It has a bright, creamy texture and baked-apple and pear flavors accented with a shot of citrusy acidity. It's a wine to drink now.
While certainly ripe and fruity, this wine is also structured—its generosity tempered by intense acidity, crisp apple-skin notes and a mineral texture. The result is a full wine that needs a little time to soften. Drink from 2014.
Almost all syrah with just a smidgeon of viognier (0.4%) added, it has notes of cherry, mint, and blackberry. Buttery oak spices (22% new French) accent sweet fruit flavors though a long, expressive finish.
Dark and fragrant, this interesting Syrah opens quickly with blue and black berries, a streak of balsamic, and suggestions of bloody meat. Off to a great start, it thins out through the finish, while remaining interesting with surprising complexity.
Elizabeth's Reserve is comprised of Adelsheim's “best barrels from our best lots.” In this light vintage it brings scents and flavors of pretty cherry and apple fruit, along with a hint of milk chocolate. The tannins are moderate, and there's a streak of root beer and a little stemmy bitterness carrying through the finish.
Borra's blend of 80% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre has three strong personalities vying for attention with Petite Sirah definitely dominant in juicy, blueberry fruit and a core of dusty tannins, with just a suggestion of meaty game. Structured this is a nice wine to pair with a rich risotto or leg of lamb.
Beautiful touches of oak and lemon butter meet with sea salt and tangerine pith on the nose of this appellation blend by Bibiana González Rave. The balanced acidity of the palate presents fresh lemon-lime flavors, with a touch of Meyer lemon pith, and is wrapped in a chalky texture.
Baked blackberry, vanilla, caramel and tar on the nose make for a very inviting entry into this rich Syrah from Bibiana González Rave, whose father-in-law, Gary Pisoni, co-developed this vineyard. A firm structure to the sip gives backbone to the lush flavors of dark berry, purple flowers, smoky campfire, maple and bacon fat.
The second wine of this Premier Grand Cru Classé estate is very fine. With its rich tannins, generous acidity and black fruits, it is solid and dense while having such attractive fruitiness. The wine will age well, full of ripe fruit and with excellent concentration. Drink from 2021.
From one of the few estates in Saint-Julien that is not a classified growth, this wine represents a bargain. The wine is rich, perfumed and beautifully structured. It has a velvety consistency with its ripe black currants and generous tannins. The estate is named after the mill belonging to Abbot Bridane in the Middle Ages. Drink from 2022.
Minty cedar rides atop an expansive succulence in this estate wine that impresses in its ability to support grippy tannin and generous fruit. Blackberry and coffee highlight the flavor spectrum, reaching dark, brooding length on the finish.
The nose is still shy and closed. Likewise, the body is taut and will take time to unfurl, but all the structure and promise is already here. This wine is firm and bright, slowly showing dense blueberry notes edged with cinnamon and pervaded by freshness. The structure is firm and still crunchy but with a juicy release. On the finish, white pepper shimmers in the blueberry fruit. Drink 2019–2029.
Lush and bright, this comes from one of the coolest sites sourced by the producer, high up and facing the Pacific Ocean. A gravelly texture holds on tightly along the palate, as pear, peach and baked pineapple vie for attention.
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.
Dense elderberry, charcoal and cracked-black-pepper aromas are lifted by lavender on the nose of this Syrah from a very coastal vineyard near Watsonville. Peppery spice and dried purple flowers make for an intense combo on the palate, where the structure is firm yet the body is relatively light and airy.
From the historic vineyard site surrounded by Pinot Noir, this wine makes the case for variety and heritage, coaxing bright acidity and floral aromatics out of the grapes. Full bodied, its flavors combine plum, raisin cake, dried cranberry and dust into a leathery whole, finishing in chocolate cinnamon.
This blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot is quite ripe on the nose, with lavish black-currant fruit as well as dried dill and fennel touches. Impressively soft and thick, the tannic structure coats every corner of the mouth, carrying flavors of black cherry, mint-laced chocolate and black truffle.
This wine is a blend of fruit from Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland, Leonetti Old Block and Serra Pedace. Aromas of mineral, black cherry, incense, barrel spice and scorched earth lead to a full-bodied textured palate full of black-fruit flavors and tightly wound tannins. It drinks quite young now, needing some time to come into its own. Best from 2024–2029.
This wine is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot from Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Serra Pedace vineyards. Aromas of fresh herbs, scorched earth, mineral, and red and black fruit—slightly dried-out-seeming—lead to a silky textured concentrated palate. The tannins are there but are beautifully integrated. It shows plenty of hang time on the finish. It should have a good 15 years in front of it. Best from 2024–2030.
Black cherry, cola, dried sagebrush and caked lilac and lavender flowers show on this blend of 41% Grenache, 37% Syrah, 14% Mourvèdre, 4% Counoise and 4% Cinsaut. The palate focuses on purple flavors of lavender, lilac, black plum and black pepper, with a strong acidity that lingers long on the tongue.
This is warm region, warm vintage Syrah at its decadent best. It opens with generous aromas of raspberry and blackberry jam, along with plum pit, mineral, black olive and smoked meat. The flavors are velvety and palate coating, rich and intense, with black-fruit notes that glide on the extended finish. The sense of texture is dazzling.
Red berry, rose petal, white pepper and chopped herb are just some of the aromas you'll find on this. The bright full-bodied palate delivers crushed raspberry, dark cherry, star anise and tobacco alongside firm refined tannins and vibrant acidity. It's already tempting but will be even better with more bottle age. Drink 2021–2033.
This fragrant, concentrated wine offers vivid mint, cherry and clove aromas followed by rhubarb, red cherry and rosemary flavors that are focused and memorable. The balance is spot-on, with good acidity and velvety tannins that brace the richness of the fruit components. Best after 2022.
One of three designated cuvées from Freeman, this intriguing wine has a rather light color but beautiful, complex fruit aromas and flavors. It ranges from red cherry to rhubarb and raspberry, along with hints of forest floor and mushroom. A surprisingly gentle texture complements tangy acidity.
Butter, hazelnut and marzipan aromas give a lush first impression, and then vibrant lemon and green-apple acidity provides a firm, balancing effect. This bright-gold, full-bodied wine is concentrated, layered and deep, without being too rich or heavy. Subtle nuances of nutmeg and ginger add to its complexity on the finish.
Rose, blue flower, perfumed berry and mint aromas set the tone on this vibrant red. Elegant and linear, the luminous palate delivers cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and clove. Firm refined tannins provide structure and poise. It's youthfully austere but already balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2023–2038.
Beautifuly integrated oak spice and a deep well of fruit flavors combine in this richly complex and layered wine. It's medium to full in body, supple and mouthfilling in texture, and brings a great array of classic aromas to the table. Dark cherry, forest floor, cedar and a hint of wood smoke meld into a feast of flavor.
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.
Fragrant and refined, this shows enticing aromas of wild herb, rose petal, dark spice, red berry and a whiff of camphor. Luminous and elegant, the vibrant palate has juicy Marasca cherry, cranberry, star anise and white pepper while bright acidity and taut polished tannins provide the framework. It's still young but already possesses terrific poise. Drink 2021–2033.
There is immense dark depth to the nose of this blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah and 5% Malbec. It shows tar, cocoa and elderberry on the nose at first, then reveals even deeper waves of black cherry and dark spice. The tannins are dense on the sip, where blackberry and elegant licorice flavors reign. This one will last a long time. Drink 2018–2028.
Aromas of underbrush wild berry, iris grilled herb, vineyard dust and a balsamic note take center stage. The polished palate offers morello cherry, raspberry compote, baking spice and anise alongside refined tannins and fresh acidity. It's already tempting and nicely balanced but hold for more complexity. Drink 2021–2030.
This wine comes from the winery's plantings in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, a relatively unexplored region of the valley. Brooding aromas of ember, black and green olive, flower and earth lead to exceptionally pure-feeling fruit and savory flavors. It brings a compelling mouthfeel and sense of balance.
This is the Hearst family's run at a luxury-level Chardonnay, and it's a promising start, with creamy aromas of honeysuckle, light butter and citrus rinds. There's a touch of vanilla bean on the palate, which also shows apple ice cream, flashes of cinnamon and a firmly wound texture. It's delicate, clean, light and quaffable.
Juicy blackberry and blackcurrant mix with cocoa, cola and peppercorns on the nose of this densely layered wine. Flavors are deep and dark with tar, pencil shavings, dried blueberry, street asphalt and a strong umami character, still tightly wound at five years old. Let it breathe, or wait another couple years for optimal drinking.
Forest floor, truffle, baked plum, eucalyptus and baking spice unfold on this structured red. The linear, elegant palate offers dried black cherry, clove, ground pepper and tobacco framed in polished, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2020.
This is made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Pinot Noir, an interesting and fulfilling combination thats robust on the palate. Pinkish-orange in color, it's both tangy and weighty, finishing dry in orange zest.
Black-olive tapenade is the star of this show, along with fig, black currant and cedar. Bittersweet cocoa accents the powerful tannin and integrated oak, before finishing velvety smooth.
Coffee, toast, nut, forest floor and fleshy plum aromas waft out of the glass. The big, round palate offers dried black cherry, blackberry jam, licorice and chopped herb alongside ripe, loosely knit tannins. It's straightforward for a Brunello but it has a juicy, immediate appeal. Drink now through 2020.
This is a spicy, earthy and medium-bodied selection, lengthy and concentrated in cardamom and forest pine. The fruit tends dark and brooding, with a brambly character balanced against the crispness of acidity. The spiciness persists through the finish.
Smooth and engaging, this offers classic varietal flavors in the context of a northern climate. Red licorice, coffee, tobacco, hemp and dried herbs are all in the mix, with some fruit leather and hints of violets.
A blend of 60% Montepulciano and 40% Sangiovese, this is a grippy, leathery wine, the fruit sourced from two different sites in the appellation. Black leather, baked and dried plum, and cherry combine on the palate with breadth and length, finishing as if dusted in cocoa.
Perfumed in rose and violet, with a sauvage scent of musk, this distinctive wine is soft and silky on the palate. It features a mix of red cherry and sage, with a full body and an expansive and lengthy finish.
Grilled herb, forest floor, scorched earth, cured meat and menthol aromas lead the way. The ripe palate offers juicy wild cherry, fleshy black raspberry, cinnamon, pipe tobacco and a confectionary note alongside firm, enveloping tannins. It's already accessible and will make fine near- to mid-term drinking.
Engaging scents suggesting rose, iris, perfumed berry and Mediterranean herb meld together in the glass. The soft, bright palate offers red cherry, raspberry, a hint of tobacco and a coffee note alongside supple tannins.
Always an eye-opening bottling, this blends 50% Sangiovese with 50% Syrah. This vintage shows cooked blackberries, baked plums, balsamic vinaigrette and black rocks on the nose. The palate is juicy and energetic, blending dark fruit with bright acidity, coffee and caramel flavors, with strong tannins for structure.
Berry, herb and baking spice aromas lead the nose. The palate brings fleshy plum, cherry and coffee flavors that linger on the finish. This wine provides great easy-drinking appeal.
Earthy plum and cherry aromas score points for being clear and direct. The palate on this varietal Mencía is round, smooth and just right. Lightly briny, earthy plum and cherry flavors hold steady on the finish, with a dash of saltiness.
Produced from the rare Romorantin grape, this wine is honeyed as well as crisp and fragrantly fruity. The 50-year-old vines give extra concentration to this lightly wood-aged wine that is ripe while also light and poised. Drink now, although it would be better to keep it until 2017.
A blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this inky garnet-colored wine offers aromas of cassis and elderberry. On the palate, there is a combination of cooked fruit and cool spice flavors yet there is no lack of accompanying acidity. Flavors of cassis, elderberry, anise, orange peel and vanilla are backed by silky tannins that stay smooth into the cooling finish.
This Bulgarian Pinot Noir offers the nose black and red cherries and dried violets. It is well balanced in the mouth with soft, rounded tannins and flavors of dark cherry, cranberry and dried Mediterranean herbs.
The aromas of herbs, pencil lead and blue and red fruit are forward, fresh and appealing. The flavors follow similarly, showing depth and balance uncommon for a wine this price.
The picturesque name of the wine, the vineyard where God sits, comes from a monopole—a walled property in the hills behind Beaune, wholly owned by the Château de Santenay. Ripe and smooth with an attractive, crisp texture, the wine is ready to drink. A touch of toast gives extra interest.
Rich yet plenty retentive of acidity, this coastal white is complex in tropical mango and papaya while also offering finely tuned layers of fig and honeycomb. Light enough to enjoy on its own or with delicate fare, it's an enjoyable wine made well in small quantities.
This offers aromas suggesting forest floor, porcini mushroom, grilled herb, leather and mature berry. The ripe, chewy palate displays black cherry, sage, licorice and toasted nut alongside tightly wound tannins that need to unwind. 2018–2024.
A majority of Grenache plays lead here, with an accompaniment of 35% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre. Concentrated in a grip of leather, there's further integration of earth and black fruit that stays bright and vibrant on the palate, a medium-bodied coming-together of savory with ripe.
This ripe and full-bodied wine has weight as well as fine fruits. It is juicy, still fresh with its acidity and still structured. Aging for 12 months in large barrels has given an extra richness as well as broadening the fruitiness. Drink from 2019.
Made from vines planted in 1890, this is a combination of mostly Zin, field-blended with 13% Alicante Bouschet and 7% Petite Sirah. Ripe in raspberry and blackberry, this also has sleek traces of vanilla and brown sugar. Soft and juicy on the palate, it ends in a dusting of cinnamon.
This is pretty pale for a Tavel, with a coppery tinge to its pink color. Notes of lime zest, wet stone and modest cherry-berry notes finish on a bright citrus note.
Medium bodied and restrained on the palate, this wine offers a mix of caramelized lemon and Gravenstein apple. It ends lengthy with tastes of ginger and lemongrass that leave a refreshing finish.
Mandarin-orange zest, cut Asian pear, lemon blossom and slight beeswax show on the fresh nose of this bottling by young winemaker Mike Callahan. It's extremely dry on the palate, like licking limestone, with hints of nectarine blossom and lemon-skin flavor.
Made with 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, this boasts aromas of black currant, mature plum, black pepper and clove. The ripe palate delivers fleshy black cherry, blackberry, licorice and Mediterranean brush accompanied by firm, fine-grained tannins.
This wine is a big one, going all out to make friends. New-oak aromas like clove, cedar and cinnamon explode out of the glass, then flavors of dark chocolate and cherry spread across the palate for a generous—almost thick—impression. Fine layers of tannins and firm acidity blanket the texture.
Typically fragrant, with floral aromas vying with mildly green notes of lime and lychee. Feels tangy and downright citric, with lemon, orange, lime and green apple flavors. Cleansing and acidic on the finish, with lemony snap.
Smells a bit cheesy and leathery, with mint and slightly chemical berry aromas. Chewy in feel, with buttery flavors of red berry and chocolate. Tastes oaky, minty and forced, but overall it's not a bad wine given the price and subpar vintage.
Hints of rose petals are a curious contrast to earthier scents of soil and beets on this full bodied, slightly chunky Romanian Merlot. Pleasant for everyday dining; flavors of charred wood and preserved plum would pair nicely with an assortment of smoked meats and cheeses.
Not as good as Darcie Kent's Crown Block Merlot, this one is smooth, with big-shouldered tannins. It tastes of raisin toast, dried plums and tobacco, with menthol darting in and out along the edges.
Darkly toasted oak lends a veil of smoke and char to apple and lemon flavors in this dry, full-bodied Chardonnay. There are hints of stems and leaves on the midpalate, but overall, it's a well-composed wine with balanced acidity and alcohol.
Foxy and jumpy on the nose, with candied red-berry and cherry aromas. Feels resiny, but there's enough acid to keep it moving forward. Flavors of plum and berry come with a lot of oak and barrel influence. Finishes resiny, with hints of vanilla and a burnt quality.
Sweet but not overdone, with attractive aromas of lychee, peach and rose water. Medium weight, with a fruity but somewhat thin finish. Drink now.
Neutral on the nose, with peachy sweetness and softness that suggests it's beginning to fade. Feels honest but light, with pithy, neutral melon and red apple flavors. Dry but sort of bland; still upright. Drink right away.
Opens with an odd whiff of masa or cornmeal along with herbal berry aromas. Feels angular and narrowing, with herbal plum and dark berry flavors. Turns greener with time, ultimately finishing with brown sugar sweetness and green pepper notes. Good but herbal.
A field blended red wine of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc and 33% Merlot. There's red cherry and herbal stuff going on, but the wine also lacks texture and depth.
Rubbery on first take, with sweet chocolate and carob aromas. Feels pretty thick, with a creamy lead into an herbal-tasting palate that's crowded with oak and milk chocolate flavors. Turns resiny on the finish.
Full of red-fruit aromas, particularly plum and cherry. Feels raw, with wild berry, ample oak and a lot of acid-based tang to the palate. Lightly toasty, with a mild cherry flavor to the finish.
Fresh apple notes on the nose of this off-dry sparkling are pretty, but hindered by whiffs of dust and green stems. Softly pétillant with a creamy, mouth-filling froth, it finishes with a pleasantly sweet note. An unusual blend of Pinot Franc, Chardonnay, Aligote and Riesling.
Smells clean and mild, with peach and apple aromas. Rather foamy and rough feeling, with tangy flavors of stone fruits, green apple and pineapple. Light, juicy and fruity on the finish, but basic. Made from 100% Chardonnay using the Charmat method.
Exuberantly fragrant of ripe, tropical fruit and florals, this Romanian white blend veers towards confected, but it's pleasantly brisk and apple-y on the palate. A good apéritif for casual, weekday enjoyment.
A field blend from the DeMayo Vineyard, believed to be mostly Zin and Petite Sirah. The resulting wine doesn't show much of its provenance or history, just a smidgen of spice but only fruit and modest of flavor.
A young, plummy Zin that's lightly sweet, with blackberry jam, vanilla and caramel notes.
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 single-vineyard wine is always dense and powerful. This edition opens with prune, blackberry, Graham cracker and earthy aromas. In the mouth, it's pinched, with rubbery tannins. Salty, roasted flavors are true to the Salta region, while the finish is black in flavor and bulky in feel.
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 might be the best value Pinot out there. Light in color and strong in Bing cherry flavor and aroma, smoothly textured and well-balanced, it's made from organic grapes to boot. A fine and rare example of a Mendocino Pinot that's not overly complicated or fussy.
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.
Generous and aromatic,  this flavorful Merlot is a showcase for ripe black cherry fruit, accented with strong streaks of vanilla and tobacco. The plush, dark fruit leads into a tasty, toasty finish, with notes of licorice and smoke.
The 2012 vintage was so hot in Chile that harvests came very early. Thus finding mature, complex SBs in this year won't be easy. This perennially excellent wine is as good as you'll find in 2012. Scallion, lime and other green aromas precede a zesty, hard-driving palate. Sea shell, grapefruit, lime and chervil flavors set up a tight, minerally finish.
Minerally lemon and stone-fruit aromas set up a leesy, layered palate with delicious flavors of lemon cake, tangerine and apple. The finish is clear and fairly long, with some creaminess. This is totally uncomplicated and tastes great. For the price you can't ask for much more.
This bigger style of Pinot takes some time to open up, coming from the warmer end of the Anderson Valley, closer to Boonville, known as “The Corners.” With a thickness to the texture it grandiosely boasts of dark Mediterranean spice and leather, with a dark cherry fruit expression coasting throughout.
A perennially attention-worthy wine, the Jaume family's Grande Garrigue Vacqueyras combines bold black cherry fruit with spicy notes suggestive of licorice root and bay leaf. It's full bodied and round in the mouth, but the fruit remains fresh, ending on a mouthwatering note of acidity. Drink now–2018.
This medium-sized négociant is making an effort at upgrading its wines, and this is a solid example. Thyme and bay leaf notes mark the black cherry fruit, picking up hints of black tea that turn dusty and dry on the finish. A bit stern for the vintage, it should be consumed over the next couple of years before the fruit fades.
This bold, earthy Malbec delivers aromas of cured meat and stewed notes, with some medicinal and floral smells. It's concentrated and chewy but not syrupy, with roasted plum and berry flavors running side by side with savory spice, pepper and brown sugar. A toasty finish has mild heat to it.
Although this opens with woodsy aromas, things settle with airing as berry and black currant notes emerge. This is thick and voluminous, with a cushy body. Flavors of black plum, blackberry and herbs come with high-toned notes of tomato and saline, while the finish feels plump and meaty.
A complex style of Muscadet, this starts with crisp citrus flavors and a tight structure. It has density and a fine, nervy edge that offers a delicate perfumed character as well as the possibility of aging. Drink from 2014. Screwcap.
The wine spent 20 months in 50% new French oak, and tastes like it still has the substantial, ripe, dark rich fruit to more than handle the barrel flavors. Black cherry and cassis meet mocha and espresso head on, swirling together into a lush, tasty finish.
As dense as Muscadet gets, this is a full, concentrated wine in its white fruit flavors. Its broad, rounded character is pierced by lemon and lime acidity. Age for six months.
Briary, woody, scratchy aromas announce plenty of new oak, and there are also balsamic notes, leather and wild berry scents to ponder. The palate is big, grapy and lusty, while the flavors are baked, jammy and finish with a clear note of raisin as well as chocolate.
Soft, smooth and ripe, this wine has a sure-fire crowd-pleasing style. It's bursting with flavors of banana, papaya and pear, with just enough acidity to keep it from turning flabby. Put a little chill on it and drink soon.
Though labeled simply “Oregon,” this is 100% Hyland vineyard fruit from the McMinnville AVA. Done in a refined, lightly smoky style, it pushes subtle berry flavors into a substantial midpalate laden with highlights of milk chocolate, café crème and a touch of caramel. Smooth as silk, this will be tough to ignore in your cellar, though it will reward another three to five years of bottle age.
Crisp and firmly structured, this wine is textured with acidity and minerality. The apple, pear and lime flavors are shot through with this steely character that is still integrating in this concentrated wine. Drink from 2018.
A generous wine, this is packed with red fruits as well as firmly structured. It conveys the fresh acidity of the year, with fine smoky tannins. It will be an impressive wine. Drink from 2020.
From a fine site farmed by Steve Matthiasson, this crisp, delightfully compelling white is tart and tangy in orange and lime. Tight and youthful, it shows complexity and concentration while a steely elegance weighs in, ultimately allowing the wine to show an elegance of site and style.
A perfumed wine with red fruits, this offers dry tannins and a dense texture. With all these elements in place, the wine will develop slowly and well. Drink from 2021.
What stands out most in this wine is its floral flirtation, the ability to draw in the nose effortlessly and seductively. From there, it offers cherry-berry, cola and peppery clove in equal measure, the acidity in check and spicy on the tongue.
Sourced from one of the finest vineyards in Oregon, this brings ripe, fleshy, full-bodied fruit flavors front and center. It's a mix of red and black berries, with plump plum, blackberry and mocha all in the center ring.
This is one of the best Lodi Native wine yet. It has beautiful, soft, fruit and floral aromas, luxurious and soothing berry and black-currant flavors and a layered texture that seems to melt in the mouth. It's full bodied, braced by fine-grained tannins, and seems to unfold nuance after nuance with each sip before lingering nicely on the finish.
This will be a delicious, ripe and full wine. Already the red fruits and acidity are filling out the generous space left by the spicy wood. It has dark, smoky tannins and a rich character. Drink from 2019.
Classically powerful and rich, this is a concentrated wine. With spice from the wood aging prominent, it is still young. That spice is balanced by the ripe yellow and baked-apple fruits. The aftertaste has delicious flavors of honey and lemon. Drink this wine from 2020.
With spice and layers of wood aging over the black-cherry fruit, this is a wine in progress. It has the bright character of the vintage, full of acidity and with the potential of great fruitiness. From the Vergennes sub-section of the Corton Grand Cru, it has a good future. Drink from 2021.
A level portion of this premier cru, called Les Plateaux, is the origin of this wine. As befits a wine from Nuits Saint-Georges, it is dark with tannins as well as fruit. It has a good structure, with dense blackberry and plum flavors that are developing. Give this wine until 2022.
This producer impresses again with this vibrantly layered, fleshy coastal-grown white, which is golden in color and brooding in baked lemon and a length of spiced apple. Its nicely contoured acidity supports a tang of crisp citrus.
Leather, underbrush, earth, iris and woodland berry are some of the scents you'll discover on this structured wine. The concentrated palate delivers tart red cherry, licorice, cinnamon and sage before leading into a juicy finish. Firm tannins offer support. Drink 2018–2026.
Two classic Dão grapes, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz are blended in this powerful wine. It has dark tannins that still give dryness at the heart of the wine. Alongside that are the beautiful black fruits, dense structure and balanced acidity. The wine will be better from 2018 as the tannins soften further.
More delicate in character than the Kiedrich Turmberg, this gossamer-light auslese balances slick honey, peach and yellow-cherry flavors against a backdrop of crystalline minerality. Nerve-racing acidity extends a long luscious finish.
This is a top-dog Malbec from start to finish. Aromas of cassis, black plum and blackberry are well oaked and in harmony with each other. While this is tannic, rubbery and hard in feel, the wine's lusty plum, raisin, chocolate and herbal flavors can handle it. A spicy, toasty, chocolaty finish is fully oaked and strapping. Drink through 2023.
This biodynamically farmed vineyard is often found as a named designate, and for good reason. It's one of the Willamette Valley's most distinctive and evocative sites, with less of an emphasis on pure fruit flavors, and more attention to details such as herbal tea, earth, stone and dried leaf. The fruit is tart and lightly herbal, like a fresh-picked mountain berry.
Aromas of underbrush, leather, mature berry, grilled herb and fragrant blue flower lead the nose. The juicy palate offers layers of fleshy black cherry, raspberry compote, cake spice and licorice alongside chewy tannins. Drink 2018 through 2023.
Electric acidity penetrates through this sumptuously fruity wine full of rich white-peach and grapefruit flavors. Vibrantly fresh and floral, it's sharpened by a razor's edge of minerality that lingers through the finish. It's gorgeous now for its ebullience and youth but should improve well into the 2020's.
This Malbec is exceedingly ripe from start to finish. Aromas of blackberry, raisin, char and loamy earth announce a 16% heavyweight that holds onto its elegance. Flush, plump and elastic on the palate, this tastes of fig, blackberry, cassis and mocha. Chocolate and woodspice flavors drive a lush, dense finish that's a touch hot. Drink through 2020.
There's a stunning amount of action on the nose of this bottling by Josh Jensen, with dried jasmine, lemon curd, squeezed tangerine, key lime pie and a warm touch of nuttiness. Rounded stonefruit and apple blossoms show on the palate, which is bound by a grapefruit pith grip and features a steadily growing salty character that comes on smooth and strong. A botanical twist hits the finish.
From a ranch planted originally in 1926 this is a knockout wine, exotically spiced and nuanced in pepper, cinnamon and a distinction of sandalwood. High-toned fruit provides a lift to the lushness that wants to dominate, but never does, allowing the tangy orange and blackberry to speak quietly and clearly.
Old vines in a field blend give a rich structured wine that has dark tannins and powerful black fruits. It is firm, very concentrated with dense fruit as much as dense tannins. This wine could still age another few months, so drink from 2017.
Ripe black-skinned berry, violet, leather and baking spice aromas emerge in the glass. The polished, juicy palate delivers ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, mint and pipe tobacco alongside lithe tannins. Drink through 2023.
After helping Liquid Farm launch to Chardonnay success, the Dragonette crew took their own stab at making the white grape, and have succeeded wildly. Extremely pithy aromas of lime and yellow grapefruit meet with yogurt, kiwi and chive on the zesty nose, which unleashes a citrus explosion once sipped of lime peels, tangerine flesh and skin, and yellow apples in the midpalate.
Breathtaking scents of white peach and blossom introduce this pristinely peachy wine. It's invigoratingly fresh, laced by a gossamer fringe of sweetness and vivacious lemon-lime acidity that lingers on and on. Delicately textured yet deeply penetrating.
The red-juice grape Alicante Bouschet gives a fine performance here. It has produced a firm, structured wine with fine tannins as well as generous black fruit. It comes from a hot year in the region, producing great ripe, sweet fruit as well as intense acidity. The wine is just now ready to drink and will still mature further, at least until 2022.
This vineyard is at the heart of the fine run of premier crus that lie midway up the slope above the village. This wine is packed with fruit and also with intense acidity and minerality. It is already refreshing and crisp, although as the toastiness develops, it will become even more impressive. Drink from 2017.
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 brawny wine has intense aromas of plum, tobacco and spirit-soaked black cherries, with a hint of oak and leather. The palate delivers ripe blackberry, tobacco leaf and licorice flavors, with a warm midpalate. It shows nice fruit but evident alcohol dominates the palate, cutting the flavors short.
The oak—all French—is out front with notes of toast, crème brûlée and spice along with peach and lemon. It's light in style with a warm finish.
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.
Roasted, burnt, savory aromas of black fruits, char and campfire announce that this Merlot spent time in toasty oak. In the mouth, this is fresh but full bodied, with staunch tannins. Flavors of foresty blackberry, plum, vanilla and fall leaves finish dry and tannic.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Tempranillo comes from four estate vineyards. It's direct and appealing with plump, juicy notes of coffee bean, herbs, dried cherries, and vanilla.
It's hard to find any Tannat in California— let alone good Tannat—and Sobon has done a nice job here, combining leather and boysenberry fruit to good effect. In the back layers is a trace of menthol.
This offers fruity and spicy fragrances of blackberry and clove. On the palate, it has a tight core of black cherry and spice, with firm, chewy tannins that are tightly wound. Give this a few more years to come around.
Coming from the warm 2012 vintage, the notes vary from stone fruit, such as apricot, into tropical with dried pineapple. Aged in a mixture of stainless steel and older French oak barrels, it's fresh and appealing while also displaying some weight and density, drinking quite dry with a tart finish.
Dominated by tannins, this is a firm, solid and chunky wine. Black plum skins, juicy blackberries are layered over a dry, dark core. There is a hint of the 12 months' wood aging, but the wine is more about the rich fruit. Drink from 2014.
The 2010 Jammin' Red is an ambitious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cab Franc and a bit of Tempranillo. Sweet cherry fruit is the focus, leaving a trail of pretty, hard candy flavor as it rolls across the tongue. The tannins are astringent, a bit chalky, and the finish does a quick fade.
With its light color, minerally nectarine aromas and Provence leanings, this is a good facsimile of Old World rosé with peach and raspberry flavors, a smooth finish and integrated acidic cut.
Here's a bright and aromatic selection, with forward aromas of red plum, cherry and raspberry. Mouthwatering and inviting, ripe and juicy fruit flavors flood the palate. This is fresh, lively and extremely approachable now.
Compost aromas blend with thicker, richer raisiny notes. This feels deep and almost heavy on the palate, where the acidity is modest and stewed, with hints of herbal flavor. Black currant and blackberry come across fully ripe. Notes of coffee, herbs and salt dictate the finishing flavors on this huge Malbec.
A rounded wine, benefiting from the fruitiness of the year to give soft tannins, ripe strawberry fruits and an attractive acidity. The wine is ready to drink, although could age a few months.
Matured on its lees for eight months in barriques, this wine offers aromas of crushed tomato vine, evident oak and vanilla. The palate boasts cantaloupe and green melon flavors, along with vanilla and bitter wood sensations.
This 100% Pinot Gris is sourced from The Benches vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. It's fruity, offering notes of apple, mandarin orange and flowers. It drinks dry and is broad in feel, finishing a bit short.
Coming from a single block on the winery's estate vineyard, this Malbec also includes a small percentage of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The sweet cherry flavors and plump tannins are accented by notes of cola and brown licorice with oxidative notes providing distraction.
Intensely peppery as well as fruity, this is a tight, crisp wine. It has creamy acidity as well as a more nervy, mineral character that shows a tangy texture at the end.
Leathery, thick and densely concentrated, this wine has a depth of black currant, plum and wild raspberry balanced against a richer component of chocolate and black pepper.
A nutty undertow finds its way in this wine, which is marked by an earthiness of sage, clove and sous bois. Funky and desirable, it leans medium-bodied in weight and tone, with an undeniable affront of blood orange and crisp red cherry.
Aromas of red berry, blue flower, tilled soil, menthol and a smoky whiff of flint swirl around the glass. On the vibrant linear palate, notes of licorice and white pepper accent sour cherry and pomegranate while a graphite note closes the finish. This is elegant and balanced, with youthfully firm tannins and bright acidity.
A mix of raisin and forest floor are the lead aromas on this concentrated yet rustic Carignan-led blend. In the mouth, firm tannins frame flavors of roasted plum and peppery spice, leading softly into a surprisingly demure finish. Drink through 2018.
Dusty mineral complexities juxtapose luscious melon, peach and Mandarin orange flavors in this dry-style blend of Gewürztraminer and Riesling. Perfumed on the nose and silky on the palate, it's a widely appealing wine with a brisk, composed finish. Drink now through 2020.
This robust wine is made from 62% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. Herbal in personality, it retains a full-bodied ripeness of concentrated fruit, showcased in tobacco, leather and licorice. The tannins are sizable and grippy.
Hints of buttered toast and roasted nuts mark the nose of this medium-bodied wine. It's plump on the palate, blending cinnamon, clove and cashew notes with melon, peach and pineapple fruit, then comes to a close in more oak spice and some leesy richness.
Initial aromas of animal fur and cheesy oak give way to balsamic berry fruit scents. While this is mature on the palate, it's balanced and displaying vital acidic kick. Earthy plum and berry flavors finish with modest oak, spice and cocoa notes. This is ready to drink but not at the end of its road.
Punchy tannin and oak wrap around brushy sage and a taste of the mountain site, herbal and rocky in a wet stone kind of minerality. Juicy cassis and black currant provide a brightness of fruit and roundedness that offsets the more powerful concentration that just begs to be paired with grilled meat.
Bold oak on the nose places aromas of hickory and smoke atop sappy berry scents. A clampy tannic, high-energy palate is emboldened by penetrating acidity, while flavors of plum, berry, tomato and spice are lifted by that same acidity. This is still young, jagged and abrasive on the finish. Drink through 2028.
Despite a hint of green to the nose, this comes around. Tight clampy tannins make for a tough, youthful mouthfeel, while this tastes woody, with black-fruit flavors in support. There's a lot of oak on the finish, but airing and/or time in the bottle will help that subside. Drink through 2023.
This 100% varietal wine brings nuanced aromas of herb, pencil lead, vanilla bean and barrel spice. On the palate, it's reserved with lightly grainy tannins and a tart cranberry-filled finish.
This wine brings crystal clear aromas of candy corn, summer squash, clarified butter, spice and whiffs of tropical fruit. The palate is elegant in style, showing nuance and detail to the straw flavors that lead to a warm finish.
The Nicholas reserve sees one-third new French oak. It's a mixed-clone vineyard-row selection, with pie-cherry fruit and a dusting of cocoa. It drinks well already, with a smooth well-integrated finish.
Robust, pillowy tannins provide a density and grip that lasts through the finish of this 100% varietal wine. Blackberry, black currant and vanilla are the highlights, finding balance and powerful concentration on the palate.
Dark-skinned berry, Mediterranean herb and forest floor aromas slowly emerge along with a balsamic note. The palate offers dried black cherry, mocha, vanilla and a hint of oak alongside fine-grained tannins that leave a firm finish.
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.
Leathery oaky berry aromas are a touch gritty. Grabby tannins and blazing acidity make for a dry scratchy mouthfeel. Flavors of red plum, tomato and spiced berry fruits finish with notes of black pepper, cocoa, tree bark and coffee. Drink now through 2026.
A fascinating interpretation of this variety, this wine brings aromas of freshly peeled orange, sweet herb, flower and maraschino cherry. The flavors are fruit forward and plush, delivering loads of enjoyment with intriguing savory accents. It doesn't seem entirely varietal but who cares?
Blackberry juice mixes with graphite, cedar and dried herbs on this bottling by Fred Brander and Fabian Bravo, which is more focused on earth than ripe fruit. Bright boysenberry fruit is lifted on the palate by more dried herbs and hints of purple flowers.
Blackberry, underbrush and cooking spice aromas take shape in the glass. The savory juicy palate delivers black cherry, raspberry jam, new leather and a touch of white pepper while polished tannins provide support. Enjoy through 2022.
Light in color and delicate in texture, this wine is bright in pomegranate and raspberry, with a spritzy, carbonic edge that brings freshness to a deep, rich finish of strawberry and tea.
Vineyards on the western slopes of the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain range, give this fine expression of the local star white grape. With a creamy texture, apricot and citrus fruits and a tangy lemon zest texture, this is a delicious, balanced wine, ready to drink now.
The Beckett brothers show their blending skills in this crisp mix of 41% Grenache Blanc, 37% Viognier and 22% Picpoul, which shows apple blossoms, peach and wet stone on the nose. The palate is solidly crisp and texturally grippy, with fresh-cut melon and lime pith served atop tongue-tingling acidity.
Good grip is immediately apparent, along with a burst of tangy citrus and cherry fruit. Sour plum comes up as well, and it's clearly the fruit, not the barrels, that are in the center ring. A high-acid finish keeps it fresh and lively.
Chewy and packed with flavors of dark chocolate, espresso and a bit of cracker, this retains focus as it punches through to a tasty finish. The black-cherry fruit is cloaked in the dark accents listed above, and has the muscle to stand up to blackened seafood and smoked meats.
The palest pink grey in color, it is ripe and caramel flavored. Sweet red fruits give a soft texture, full-bodied and rounded. The aftertaste is all fruit.
Some lemon-zest texture characterizes this otherwise rounded wine. It has good bright fruitiness, a hint of wood and full white fruit flavors. It needs to age, so drink from early 2015.
Hints of crushed stones lend a mineral focus to this dry, elegantly structured wine. It's piercingly tart on the palate with loads of fresh lime and lemon flavor, but gains richness on the midpalate with streaks of fresh apple and crisp yellow peach. A hint of saffron adds spice to the moderately long finish.
Made from organically grown grapes, this bright wine offers sensations of peach blossom, green apple and white peach accented with hints of white pepper. Fresh acidity gives it a crisp finish while a saline note signals the close.
Stony citrus aromas blend with green notes and lees-based vanilla. This is lean and citrusy on the tongue, with nectarine, citrus and green-herb flavors. A zesty finish is a bit shallow, but overall this fresh wine is easy to like.
Earthy, oaky aromas of roasted berry, tree bark, root extract and lemongrass are jumbled but not unpleasant. This feels blocky and heavy upfront, then more hollow as it breathes. Flavors of prune and black fruits are stewy, while chocolate, coffee and herbal notes steer a heavy finish.
Soft scents of just-dried hay, yellow apple and white melon unfold with great intensity on the bright palate. Balanced and refreshing, with an attractive mango flavor on the finish. Drink now.
Balancing fruit and ripe spice, it merits a place at the table rather than just serving as an apéritif. It has peach, lychee and a just off-dry character that allows for acidity. Drink now
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.
In the blend are smaller percentages of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The Red Mountain AVA is noted for thick, tannic wines, with superior aging potential. Here the earthy, peppery red fruits are buttressed with vivid acids and somewhat chewy tannins. The wine was aged two years in 40% new French oak.
An aromatically appealing wine with notes of Granny Smith apples, peach and herbs. It drinks medium sweet with jasmine and stone fruit flavors.
An alluring fragrance of orange blossom and mature pear wafts out of the glass while the round palate delivers sweet honeydew melon and juicy green apple. The ripe fruit is balanced by fresh acidity.
Close to the beach of Pampelonne, this is a ancient vineyard. It has produced a 2013 that is full of fruit, dense red flavors and fresh acidity. The wine is rich and lightly textured.
Dark cherry to garnet in color, it offers notes of blackberry, pomegranate and black cherry in its bouquet. A strong acidic backbone and persistent cranberry flavor at the finish make this a wine that calls out for food.
Jammy aromas of red berries, red licorice sticks and green herbs filter toward a pinched mouthfeel with creamy oak for an offset. Flavors of boysenberry are dilute but fresh and friendly. Overall, this is good and easy but simple, with gaps in its fiber.
Whiffs of crushed minerals and smoke lend nuance to this dry yet intensely fruity wine full of Meyer lemon, peach and melon flavors. It's brisk and dancing on the palate with a bracing hit of lime acidity that lingers towards a long, steely finish.
The use of 100% Syrah gives a deep pink color that borders on purple. Aromas are rather strong too, with the flaky, buttered crust of a hot cherry pie running into the more bitter elements of citrus rinds. Those characters play leading roles on the palate as well, cherry candy toying with just-ripe grapefruit, providing tensions that keeps the sipping interesting. Just 72 cases produced.
Exuberant floral notes lend a perfumy touch to fresh apple and pear aromas on this dry, medium-bodied wine. The palate is ripe with concentrated yellow cherry and plum flavors anchored with a puckering line of lime acidity.
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.
Aromas of black cherry and green pepper lead into flavors of cherry, menthol, pickled jalapeño, oregano and lavender. Tannins mildly outweigh acidity. Although all the pieces of the puzzle are evident on the palate, somehow they don't fit together perfectly.
Picturesque with a crystalline salmon color, it begins with the scent of just-bitten nectarine. The following flavors of tart apple and a slightly bitter salinity ensure the uniqueness of this wine. Mourvèdre (57%) is in the lead, followed closely by Grenache (28%) and Counoise (15%), all coming from the original cuttings of the Château de Beaucastel. This age-worthy blend will be fun to track 2017–2019.
Rubber band, almond skin and dry citrus aromas feed into a tight, raw, rubbery feeling palate with a low fruit quotient and more brine and bitterness than expected. This is quite dry, salty and pithy but also fresh and lively on the finish. Drink immediately.
Potent and herbal, this has aromas of tomato, olive, mineral and tobacco. It feels tight, drying and lively, with herb-infused flavors of plum and berry along with spicy oak. Rich in feel, but it's distinctly foresty and herbal tasting on the finish. This is 100% Malbec with an undeniable Salta imprint.
This is wood laden, with sweet fruit that compensates for the toastiness. The oak element should integrate well in the next 2–3 years, making for a wine that's soft and sweetly fruity, with smoky acidity.
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.
With balance and grip, this lightly effervescent wine rolls from a pretty pear flavor into a light tropical fruit note. It's hard to beat at this price.
Lushly textured, with loads of rose-petal, stone fruit, lychee and pink grapefruit notes, this is an exciting bottling from a winery known more for reds. It's off-dry, with just the right hint of exotic spice and bitterness on the finish.
This round, fruity and smooth-drinking Sémillon carries touches of herb and cucumber alongside its main fruit flavors of citrus and melon. There is a hint of heat on the finish.
Intense, rich and creamy, this effortlessly balances the wood influence with the apricot and white peach flavors. It demonstrates the opulence of the year while remaining structured. Developing well, this is almost ready to drink now.
Herbal and grassy, with lots of juicy apple and lemon flavors, this is a dry, yet round and supple Pinot Gris. Effortlessly enjoyable, this finishes quite floral, with just a hint of savory nut skin and smoke.
Dark in color and dense on the nose, this has aromas of pastry, blackberry, jammy plum and even an exotic note. It feels chewy and solid, with a full-bodied texture and deep flavors of black cherry and prune. It comes up a bit short and clipped on the finish.
This ultraripe and fruity effort tastes of raspberry compote. There are drying tannins and a hint of bark or leaf, with just a bit of warmth on the finish. The fruit comes from two of Red Mountain's finest sites—Kiona and Ciel du Cheval –
This crisp, clean, stainless-steel style of Chardonnay brings has mixed flavors of cucumber, celery, lime and light melon. It's fresh and immaculate—a wonderful sipper.
Notes of honeysuckle, white peach and fresh green herb are intensely aromatic. This off-dry effort balances zippy, lemon-lime acidity with layers of ripe, rich fruit. It's lushly textured, yet it finishes delicately with a bristle of white-tea astringency.
Black in color and dense on the nose, this has well-oaked aromas of black fruit, lemon peel and cedar. It feels full and fresh, with good acidity and prickly tannins. It tastes juicy and clean, with berry, black plum, vanilla, tobacco and spice flavors that carry through onto the finish.
With its white fruit, lively acidity and delicious ripeness, this is very ready to drink. It's an opulent, rounded wine, with hints of spice to go with its fruit character.
Hints of honeycomb and beeswax add heft to the notes of fresh green flower and sweet citrus. Ripe yet elegantly composed, this has concentrated fruit flavors that extend onto a long, honeysuckle-kissed finish.
VM's 2010 Cellar Selection SB is slightly weightier than its Private Bin counterpart, but not necessarily better. Tomato leaf notes cruise alongside bold pineapple and citrus, ending in a mouthwatering crescendo of flavor.
Tremendously pretty with honeysuckle and apricot highlights and memorable texture as well as a bright, crisp finish, this Chardonnay makes for a very good food wine, its cool-climate grapes grown organically along the banks of the Russian River.
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.
A tight, tannic wine, showing considerable acidity as well as fresh red fruits. The wine is densely packed with dry tannins, then a fruity character develops, sparked by acidity.
Opens with a light, herbal bouquet that features spice and elegant red fruit aromas. The palate keeps the mode going; it's crisp and fresh, with cherry, raspberry and spice flavors. Finishes firm and dry, with tobacco. A nice blend of Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc.
Crisp sparkling Burgundy, laced with taut acidity and hints of nuts and toast. This is a wine under tension, with a strong mineral element, cool and fresh, best with food.
Showing excellent varietal character, this light, textural, delicately spicy white wine is finished at just 12.8% alcohol, yet remains quite dry. There is a pleasing saltiness to the mouthfeel, almost like an Albariño, and the finish is crisp and nicely detailed.
Pure, ripe strawberry flavors are pierced with acidity. The texture is soft, with a dry side. The raspberry acidity cuts right to the end.
Soft, ripe and rich, this is very easy on the palate. The wine does have good depth of flavor from the rounded black cherry flavors, the fruit almost sweet in its openness. It is already delicious.
Concentrated, with dark tannins to go with the ripe fruit. There is a tough edge to the wine, although it is more accessible than some Nuits-Saint-Georges at this stage.
Black cherry, violet and pepper on the nose lead into a spirited red blend of spicy pepper, leather and red fruit. Ageable and elegant, this wine balances indigenous character with accessible style.
Two thirds Tempranillo, this Spanish-style red blend is filled out with 17% Merlot, 6% Grenache, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is dark and compact, but nicely framed with barrel spices that add some welcome sweetness. Tannins are hard and the finish brings in a broad swath of earth, tar and bark.
Aromas of ripe yellow fruits announce a wine that has rich fruit flavors of apricots touched by pineapple. It does have the attractive, nervy texture of 2008, along with an important layer of toast.
A fresh, juicy wine, with attractive acidity, red berry flavors and a layer of well balanced tannins. Very perfumed, with hints of mineral and final acidity.
Ostensibly a Central Otago producer, Rabbit Ranch sources the fruit for its Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. The result is a lemony, grapefruity wine, with subdued herbal notes lurking in the background. It's medium in body, with a crisp, citrusy finish. Drink now.
This wine has a slightly quiet and tight nose, but opens up into flavors of pineapple and melon buoyed by a steely minerality. Friendly and heightened with a lush character, the wine will pair well with cheeses, poultry and seafood.
Black cherry and blueberry fruit flavors are accompanied by a definite note of mushroom, much as in many lesser Bordeaux. There's a little lift from moderate volatile acidity, and a mix of coffee, blueberry and smoke through the finish.
After several years spent in Chile's land of the lost, Santa Carolina is now refocusing its winemaking efforts with noticeable results. This SB shows mineral, melon and piquant zap. It's got grapefruit, passion fruit and citrus, and the finish is both crisp and generous. A good quaffer that's on the spot. Imported by Carolina Wine Brands USA.
A soft but spicy nose starts this flavorful sip from Thorntree. Open, fresh and friendly on the palate, the wine has a simple but elegant character. Pair with poultry, grilled seafood or enjoy every day on its own.
This wine opens pleasantly with floral scents over tangy citrus fruit, especially lime. It's tart and juicy, but it seems to close down in the back, and there is an impression of light toast, unexpected in a Viognier.
A fresh, lively nose and clean, elegant flavors give this Chardonnay a food-friendly, easy-sipping feel. Pretty and dependable, it will pair well with grilled seafood and light salads.
Seems a bit on the woody side for now, boasting aromas of dark roasted coffee backed by hints of plummy fruit. The cedary, coffee-tinged oak continues on the palate, where it imparts a slightly dry, tannic edge to this otherwise supple, rounded wine. Give it a year or two to see if the oak integrates with time.
Smooth, velvet texture seem to leave the freshness on one side. It's delicious, like drinking a sweet soft drink but with real fruit and natural sugar. The botrytis is present on this unusual red TBA, but sweetness overwhelms everything.
The aromas are of new wood and spice. But the red cherry flavors of Blaufränkisch are enough to absorb this wood, giving a spicy but fruity wine that happily fills the glass with ripe fruit.
Although initially austere, this wine then opens out well, giving a firm and structured character. There are spice, solid dry tannins and a fine layer of berry fruits, finishing off with lively acidity.
The entry is oaky and the fruit light; it seems a bit unbalanced. The fruit suggests pomegranate and very tart raspberry, with plenty of acid; the oak layers in thick flavors of espresso and chocolate. Tannins are stiff but not too rough; and the finish suggests that some American oak mayhave been used.
This Bradgate blend of Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc offers food-friendly aromas and flavors of lemon spice, pepper and slate. It's zippy but fruity, with a spicy character that will pair well with like foods—think Asian spice. The Chenin offers roundness, while the SB gives citric, clean flavors. A nice match.
Höpler's entry-level Grüner is fresh, green, structured with crisp apple skins—a delicious, apéritif-style wine. It offers all the fruitiness of the grape, a lively acidity adding to the pleasure. Screwcap.
Simple but meaty, this 100% Merlot has substantial weight in the midpalate. There are plenty of powerful herbal flavors, yet the grapes seem ripe enough, offering prune and cassis and a little pepper from aging in American oak.
A slightly chunky Pinot Noir, with sturdy black cherry fruit, mushroomy overtones and a cedary touch. It's full-bodied and mouthfilling, just lacks an extra measure of elegance, showing off some rough edges on the finish.
Notes of herb and stone color the subdued fruit of the nose on this wine. The medium-sweet palate reveals a more honeyed nature, hemmed in by a pithy, almost earthy bitterness of citrus peel, giving both balance and texture. The long finish is concentrated.
Maldonado is set in a fairly cool area of the Napa Valley, almost as far south as one can go. This resulting wine reflects that tension of minerality and crisp mouthfeel while providing a decadence of spiced apple and lime. Light and sublimely textured, it's subtle and sophisticated.
While a minuscule amount of this was made, it bears remembering the producer for this is an impressive burst of tangy citrus, lemon and orange. Light and bright, it has a pithy texture of cranberry and raspberry.
Lime and grapefruit aromas are a touch pithy and feline but don't go overboard. Citrusy and minerally on the palate, this tastes of lime, green melon and green banana. A pure, tangy finish holds firm.
Dusty tannins make for a soft texture in this wine that's subtle in dried fruit, Christmas spice, chocolate and clove. It delivers flavor and complexity without attitude, a savory expression of the grape from a relatively cool climate.
Tempting, slightly nutty aromas and a firm texture characterize this light-bodied wine. With time in the glass, attractive doughy nuances and hints of caramel and toasted almonds join the apple flavors.
The grape that is more commonly found in the Douro shows itself in a finely structured wine that has layers of wood as well as black fruits. A dark chocolate flavor stands out. Wait until 2018 to drink this dense and complex wine.
This wine brings enchanting aromas of toast, spice and cardamom that lead to reserved, exquisitely balanced fruit flavors. It shows a lot of restraint and delicacy.
Earthy forest floor and Asian spice ride atop layers of tangy orange and cherry in this wine defined by lively acidity and a juicy core. Medium bodied in weight and breadth, it finishes in chocolate and vanilla, the oak subtle and supportive.
A field blend from vines grown at 1290 feet, Aged in wood, the toast shows without masking the ripe yellow and pineapple fruits. Full-bodied and with rich fruitiness and acidity, the wine is now ready to drink.
Celebrating the Portuguese discovery of the spice route, this blend from different regions is smooth, rich and ripe. It has tannins that enhance the ripe black fruits and bring out the spicy edge to the wine. It is ready to drink.
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Cabernet Franc (24%), Merlot (21%), Malbec (11%) and Petit Verdot. It offers aromas of barrel spice, herbs and flowers. The currant, cherry and cranberry notes bring a sense of vibrancy that lifts the flavors, providing intrigue, with lightly chewy tannins backing it up.
Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) makes up the majority of this wine, with the rest Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Herb, dark fruit, tobacco, carob and spice aromas are followed by ripe, tannic fruit flavors that seem to tussle at times.
This wine is made from a field blend that includes 2% Viognier, the vines planted in 1991. Co-fermented, it offers a soft texture accented in vanilla bean, leather and dusty blackberry. Intense, it's balanced and not overripe, a nice take on the variety that flirts with tastes of orange and white pepper.
Cool, minty aromas of blueberry and blackberry set up a full, tannic palate, which is what you'd expect from a young Ribera del Duero. Grabby, tannic fullness offers flavors of meaty black fruits, herbs and tobacco. A savory finish runs long on a frame of blocky tannins.
A reticent nose on this wine tells only of earth and faint citrus at this point. The uncompromisingly dry palate however, is perfumed with conifer and citrus zest around a fluid, concentrated center. The tart, super-clean lemon finish tingles enticingly.
Almost like liquid cherry pie—but not sweet—this medium-bodied wine smells like the red fruit and baking spices, and tastes fresh and juicy with both red and sour cherries. It has good heft on the palate due to firm but light tannins and supportive acidity for balance.
The middle wine in the trilogy of wines from the Molinié family at Ponzac, this is a ripe wine that has density, some firm tannins and rich black-plum fruit flavors. It is concentrated and firm at first and then fills out with the richness. Drink this wine from 2018.
While blossom and melon aromas on this Gewürztraminer are subdued, the palate is a veritable explosion of jasmine, lychee and grapefruit flavors. Silky, rich and mouth-filling, it's balanced neatly by fresh citrus acidity and a bold, phenolic finish.
The Gelin family has produced a rich style of wine, full of red-berry and cherry fruit. The wine is concentrated and full-bodied, giving a deliciously ripe character. The tannins are there adding support and extra density. Drink now.
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.
An open and inviting scent of ripe pear is freshened by an impression of wet pebbles, cold stone and citrus. The palate is textured and expressive, giving a broader canvas to these fruity, fresh flavors that have a lovely edge of gentle bitterness. The palate finishes just off dry.
Light in color and nuanced in oak, this full-bodied beauty doesn't hold back on richness, allowing plenty of room for an expanse of salted caramel, pineapple and preserved lemon. Layered and robust throughout the midpalate, it lightens up on the intensity through a crisp finish.
This wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 37% Syrah and 18% Mourvèdre, coming from Boushey, Pepper Bridge, Olsen and Minnick vineyards. The aromas pop with notes of clove, orange peel, black pepper, funk and red and blue berries. The palate is lithe, pure and focused, with a pleasing mouthfeel and sense of balance to the citrus and blue-fruit flavors.
Apple blossom intrigues on the nose of this light-bodied, low-oaked white. It's both steely and revealing, showing succulent mango, peach and pear. The acidity is lively and balanced.
This Verdejo smells like citrus fruits and wild field grass, with a hint of feline aroma. Crisp and fresh, it offers flavors of melon, nectarine and nettle. A long, slightly salty finish is braced by bright acidity. Drink right away, if possible.
This wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), with the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Aromas of barrel spice, cedar, green herbs and black fruit are followed by tightly coiled fruit and barrel flavors that need some time to settle in.
A tropical tone of grilled pineapple adds breadth to the nose and mouth of this lush yet well-balanced wine. Scents of yellow flowers, musk melon and sweet smoke unfold on the nose, while the palate shines in rich waves of toasted brioche, baked apple and clementine oil. It's medium weight, with a plush texture that's cut by citrusy acidity. Drink now–2019.
After 23 months in barrel, this Viura-Malvasia blend shows a yellow color and dry resiny oak-based aromas along with apple in the backdrop. Round and slightly oily in texture, this tastes of salted nuts and baked apple on a woody base. Oaky salty flavors persist on the finish.
Lemon-lime soda aromas meet with orange blossom, toast, lanolin and steel on the nose of this voluptuous yet well-defined bottling. It's tightly wound on the palate, with lemon, grapefruit rind and crushed limestone flavors, bound by a chalky texture, showing deft restraint for a Roussanne.
Full aromas of toasty oak, blackberry and vanilla feed into a saturated hard-pointed tartaric palate. Flavors of Christmas spice, oak and baked black fruits display hints of nutmeg and cola on a blocky hard finish. Drink through 2020.
Earthy balsamic aromas of cheesy oak, blackberry and cassis feed into a saturated tannic palate that's a touch scratchy and abrasive. Stewy blackberry and cassis flavors come with a dollop of vanilla and cheese, while this ends with muscular, grabby tannins. Drink this rich, heavy Malbec through 2022.
Round red cherry, deep plum and ripe cranberry fruit mix with ginger spice and wet slate on the nose of this appellation blend from Ed Kurtzman. There's an iron tinge to the palate, giving its wild red cherry and thyme flavors a mineral kick, framed by leathery tannins and zesty acidity.
Saint-Péray is an tiny and underappreciated source of northern Rhône whites, mainly Marsanne, with some Roussanne in the mix. This barrel-fermented version is rich and full-bodied, boasting melon and pineapple fruit flavors that take on hints of creamed corn and citrus on the finish. Drink now.
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.
Chocolate, mocha and coconut notes highlight this wine's lush, soft tannins that grow chalky as they firm. Cedar, pencil shaving and saddle leather notes complement its voluptuous ripeness.
Classic Sangiovese aromas of red berry, culinary spice, crushed herb, tobacco and a whiff of new leather float from the glass. The juicy full-bodied palate delivers fleshy wild cherry, raspberry compote, vanilla and star anise framed in firm, refined tannins. Fresh acidity lends balance. Drink 2019–2027.
Despite its proximity to Bordeaux, the Marmandais has managed to retain Abouriou as its own grape variety. As part of its conservatory of some of the more obscure grape varieties, this producer has made this fine and fruity wine. It is smoky with attractive tannins and swathes of juicy black fruits. It's a fine wine to drink now.
A blend of vineyards including the winery's Mill Station site, this white shines in steely acidity and layers of lemon, lime and grapefruit flavor. Tart and tangy with a light-handed approach to ripeness, it doesn't hold back on complexity, offering subtle vanilla tones on the finish.
Smoothly seductive in texture and body, this medium-sized vineyard designate is bright in lemon peel, vanilla and caramel apple flavors, see-sawing between richness and vibrancy. A mineral freshness emerges as it opens in the glass.
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.
Plum and cherry fruit show on the nose of this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, but an iodine character adds a counterpoint to the fruit. Deep black fruit shows on the palate, meshing with savory spice and lifted by boisterous acidity.
Aged entirely in stainless steel, this combines 67% Viognier, 22% Chardonnay, 6% Roussanne and 5% Marsanne. The sum of the parts is great, opening with a steely bouquet of honeysuckle, followed by a full and lush palate of pineapple and papaya, anchored by gravelly texture.
This wine offers a delightful bouquet of blackberry and rose petal with touches of salinity. It is smooth and silky at first sip, with flavors of black plum, cherry, chocolate, lavender, and freshly roasted coffee. As it makes its way around the mouth, stern tannins make their presence known and then recede into a finish notable for a lingering espresso bean flavor.
Wood fermentation and aging have given this fine wine a strong, toasty character, complementing its natural perfume. It's rich, with layers of acidity, needing time to develop. Drink from 2019.
Dry apple and lemon aromas are clean and one step above neutral. In the mouth, this barrel-fermented Verdejo feels full and flush, with citrusy acidity. Integrated oak notes accent a core orange flavor on the finish of this finely made Spanish white.
A fine value for a northern Rhône of this quality, this bottling from the Tain cooperative is full bodied and ripe, but with enough acidity for balance. Modest pear and melon flavors evolve on the palate into bolder honey and bergamot notes on the long finish. Drink now.
A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Musqué, this wine delights for its supple apricot and nectarine flavors. It's floral on the nose, with grapefruit and fennel scents, unfolding slowly to reveal a rich texture and fresh acidity.
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.
Pencil shaving and graphite notes lend a classic edge to this 100% varietal wine that's sourced from throughout the valley. Juicy huckleberry flavor meets a background of grippy tannin and oak, giving it chewiness and weight, lifted by acidity.
Pleasant scents of toasted apple and peach pit lead the nose of this rich yet well-balanced wine, with additional notes of grilled pineapple and fresh straw. The medium-weight palate is plush and creamy, yet it offers ample acidity to lift the wine's richness and ripe fruit flavors. Spiced orange, lemon custard and fresh honeycomb all grace the long, evolving finish. Drink now–2020.
Hailing from an extreme coastal vineyard, this 100% stainless steel aged bottling expertly captures that racy freshness. The nose offers rounder cider and apple juice notes, accented with brown pear and clove, but the palate is even more intriguing: nervy acidity, chalky, limestone-like grip and lean Asian pear flavors.
Sun-kissed nectarine, tangerine and grapefruit flavors abound in this exceptionally light-footed Riesling. Off-dry in style, it's juicy and forward yet spine-tingling and racy. The finish is pristine, dry and intensely mineral.
Dusty pollen and mineral notes lend spicy, savory complexity to zesty lemon-lime flavors in this Kabinett. Just a shade off-dry in style, it's vivacious and zippy, finishing on a lingering salty mineral tang.
From the Ranch House block of the famous vineyard, this fleshy, lushly layered wine made by Kenneth Juhasz, is robust with cardamom and strawberry flavors. It builds intensity as it opens, revealing a velvety texture.
This is taut and dense, and requires time and air to untangle. Deep, dark fruits are mixed in with layers of black olive, smoke, compost, tar, moist earth and herb—a delicious mélange of flavors that promises good things to come as the wine ages. It's masterful winemaking in a package so young and wrapped up tight that it may pass you by if you don't give it a good look.
The third vintage of Mith is the best yet, composed of fruit from three top-notch Walla Walla vineyards. It's two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one third Syrah. The wine opens seductively with luscious blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit, wrapped in sexy layers of earth and herb. Whiffs of smoke lead into a silky smooth, chocolaty finish.
Spicy, vanilla new wood aromas dominate this wine, leading to richness, smooth caramel and smoke, followed by tropical fruits, mangoes and honey. A sophisticated Pinot Gris, rich and ageworthy.
This dark, meaty Malbec has some Agrelo fruit in it but it's mostly from La Consulta and Vista Flores in the Uco Valley. Aged in new oak for 18 months, it smells rich, smooth and inviting, with asphalt, mineral, violet and coffee aromas. The palate has bold acidity and healthy flavors that settle on blackberry and dark chocolate. Drink now through 2011.
Despite plenty of honeyed sweetness, this wine's slate-driven minerality and zesty acids and slight touch of CO2 keep it nicely balanced. It's light in body, with crisp lime flavors, making it a great candidate for sipping during the dog days of summer.
This ripe, rich, almost decadently thick wine is about as close as a Washington vintner can come to the decadently ripe style of the cultish Bordeaux blends of California. Along with the unctuous New World fruit, sap and flesh, there are thick, ripe tannins and a vivid acid underpinning. It drinks well right out of the bottle, the flavors beautifully wrapped together, mixing black fruits, black olives, herb and earth, smoke and coffee and toast.
There is a select group of under-$20 Malbecs from Argentina that really do the country and the variety proud. Santos is one of them; the 2006 is easy and ripe on the nose, with lovely cola, berry and herb aromas. The palate has a natural feel and bright black-fruit flavors. Not overly complex but a winner for the next year or two.
Herbs, spices and green fruit aromas show the freshness of this wine. On the palate, tropical fruits, apricots and lychees also appear, fleshing out a superb Sauvignon Blanc. With its edges of apple skin tannins, it could age for 2–3 years, but it already has huge concentration and elegance. Glass stopper.
Thick, oily and sweet, this wine is clearly not a typical spätlese. Dried apricots, baked apple and dried spices coat the palate, finishing long and sweet but with just enough lime-like acidity for balance. Drink now–2020. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.
Imagine honeyed orange sections—that's what the aromas of this wine call to mind. In the mouth, there's plenty of sweetness and power and a rich, creamy mouthfeel, matched by strident acids. Orange, apple and spice flavors linger on the finish.
A lively, well-made blend of Tempranillo, Malbec and Syrah; B Crux is a bouncy, fresh youngster but still a serious wine with rock-solid black fruit, deep chocolate and spicy length. It's not super oaky as only half the wine sees new barrels, but you can definitely taste some wood. Will drink best in 2009–2010.
This pure Syrah from Reininger's estate vineyard has the focus and also the tightness that often characterize single-vineyard wines. There are dense flavors of cranberry and pomegranate, plenty of natural acid, along with polished tannins and a soothing layer of toasty oak, that helps smooth the rough edges and buff up the finish. Hints of earth, leaf and tar add detail and interest all the way through a lingering finish.
It's 100% Cabernet Franc, a delightful, bright and forward wine with sweet boysenberry and blueberry fruit. Behind the bright, luscious fruit flavors are chewy, earthy tannins. They are ripe and dry and give the wine weight and authority. It's a complete wine—from the floral violet/rose petal aromas to the ripe berry fruit to the substantial tannins. The oak is subdued and appropriate.
This represents Torres' highest effort in Priorat, and it's a success. Perpetual deals freshly laid asphalt, cola and grilled char on the nose and then follows that up with black cherry, cassis and tobacco flavors. It's pure and ripe more than intellectual. Best 2009–2013; 60 cases produced.
Arguably on the heavy and rich side, but if you like chocolate, spice and pretty good pop across the palate, this is recommended. Rugged but not out of whack, with meaty dark-fruit flavors and bitter espresso/pepper on the finish. Should come together nicely over the next two years.
A powerful, chunky wine, packed with solid tannins that promise good aging. It has a sense of drama in its spice, dark tannins and spacious fruit. This is going to develop well over 5–10 years.
Andeluna's top wines tend to be ripe and plump, and so they come across as easy to drink and less demanding. This blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is devoid of astringency and hard tannins. It's ripe, just a little rugged, and integrated such that the berry flavors are forward and don't need to fight to be appreciated.
Bründlmayer makes a particularly felicitous brut, crisp, yeasty, with very pure green and white fruits. It has an intense minerality, tight, structured and finishing with great waves of toast. The wine spends three years on its lees, which shows in its density of flavor.
You can feel the unctuous, oily richness as soon as this wine reaches the tongue. It is dense and concentrated, with sweet green plums and a creamy texture. The old-vine fruit, enveloping the mouth, just leaves a hint of spice.
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.
A blend from several premier cru vineyards in Pommard, here is a wine that exhibits just the right firm but dusty tannins of the appellation. But because it is 2005, the natural exuberance of the fruit is also there, lively red berries under the dry structure. It needs some aging, but already the richness is there, along with a smoky aftertaste.
Smooth, creamy aromas are followed by a rich, concentrated mouthful, with spice showing through the green berry fruits, apples and cream flavors. This tastes warm, inviting, with yellow fruits adding an exotic element in the aftertaste.
Compared to the regular 2006 Malbec from Chakana, this wine steps up in weight class and wins the crown. It's a serious but inviting red with spongey, ripe berry aromas topped by pure raspberry, cherry and cola flavors. It's both racy and composed, with a pile of bitter chocolate on the long finish. Good through 2009 at least.
A true TBA, its very rich, toffee-flavored, intense sweetness overpowering the botrytis dryness initially. And then you feel the acidity, the apricot and peach flavors and the shot of lime. In its texture, it is a truly intense dessert wine. Age for 10 years.
A Chardonnay with an unusual companion, 8% Sémillon, this is floral and fruity in equal measure. Tight, bright acidity supports flavors of fennel and green apple, with the oak impact playing a subtle supporting role. The finish is nicely crisp.
This is classic in herbaceous aromas and flavors, rich in juicy blackberry and blueberry while also offering savory pencil shavings and dark chocolate. Leathered, firm tannins complete the picture, providing structure and integration to a wall of well-managed oak.
A blend of Nero d'Avola and Syrah, this conveys aromas of scorched earth, crushed flower, dark berry and a whiff of cooking spice. The palate offers ripe cherry, graphite, ground black pepper and a smoky note alongside velvety tannins.
Deep garnet in the glass, this has a nose of blackberry and vanilla. Flavors of blackberry, eucalyptus, tart cherry and white chocolate are well balanced, with a mix of fruity and savory notes. Tannins are mostly smooth with a touch of grip. The finish combines a pleasing blend of eucalyptus and tart cherry flavors.
Hailing from one of the more popular vineyards for this varietal in the whole Central Coast, this wine by Bonny Doon vets Alex Krause and John Locke offers aromas of apple cider, mandarin spritzer and lemon rinds. The palate boasts the flavors but not tartness of ruby red grapefruit along with a subtle apple mousse, and a tension that hovers on a chalky, slightly bitter minerality.
Plump, clingy peach and honey notes are cut with streaks of lime in this delicate yet intensely satisfying wine. Off dry in style, it's refreshingly juicy, with a rich, supple mouthfeel offset by bristling acidity.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, this bold wine features aromas of spiced plum, blackcurrant, leather and a hint of coconut. On the palate, assertive tannins support the mature blackberry, espresso and licorice flavors.
Raspberry and cassis aromas are fresh and upright while showing wiry, grassy accents. Full bodied, this features a jammy, pulpy palate that's fresh but low on definition. Herbal, lightly green infiltrations drift onto a solid, tannic finish. Drink through 2018.
There's no bones about the use of oak in this wine, which spent nine months enjoying the cradling effects of a good barrel, the majority French and 25% American. Ample fragrances of lemon and lime infuse the well-balanced wine that is also marked by crisp minerality, cinnamon toast and pear.
This opens with herbaceous dollops of thyme and fresh-dug earth and evolves slowly in the glass, revealing juicy black plum and berry. Medium in weight and density, it's soft and leathery, with a lengthy, supple finish.
Hugely spicy this rich wine is described as sweet. In fact, the spice gives it a drier edge, adding pepper and cinnamon as well as a mineral character from the granite soil. The wine could age, so drink from 2016.
This Zinfandel from the eastern section of Napa Valley is unexpectedly structured and bright in acidity, offering notes of strawberry and cinnamon. The acidity provides a kick to the finish, awash in memorable sprinkles of white pepper.
Roughly two-thirds Cabernet and one-third Merlot, this medium-bodied wine packs in ample plum fruit, accented by cinnamon and cedar. Finishes long, with a slightly velvety texture.
One of the more characterful Pinot Gris for this price, Ara's 2013 offers wet stone and apple aromas, flavors of apple, cinnamon and pear and a long, mouthwatering finish. There's a bit of creaminess on the midpalate and just a hint of dusty texture on the finish.
Like Dog Point's 2011 Chardonnay, this wine is dominated by citrusy elements. Hints of toasted almond and some riper notes of pear provide a certain amount of breadth on the palate, but citrus and quince dominate, lingering on the crisp finish. Drink now–2017.
The blend is 44% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Malbec. The result is a medium- to full-bodied wine with firm structure that should drink well through 2020. Leather, earth and plum notes pick up hints of black olive and espresso on the finish.
Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that's not trying too hard. Drink through 2016.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot and Cabernet Franc is full bodied and firm, the tannins just beginning to soften. The aromas and flavors are classic: cedar, vanilla, cassis and tobacco. Drink now–2020.
The granite soil of the Brand Grand Cru vineyard has produced a strongly structured wine that also has richness and ripe fruits. Off dry, it has a hint of honey as well as yellow fruits and pears. The aftertaste brings out the acidity and freshness that balance the wine. Drink from 2017.
Fresh and fruity, this is full of red cherry flavors and crisp acidity. It has some age, hinting at a more toasty future. For the moment, it's at its best after eight years aging on the lees in the bottle.
Intense aromas of wild cherry, baking spice, tilled soil and savory herb lead the nose on this soulful, silky red. The round, smooth palate doles out juicy red cherry, strawberry jelly, mineral, white pepper and an intriguing note of zabaglione alongside soft, supple tannins and bright acidity..
Blackberry, cassis, grilled herb and toasted aromas come together in the glass. On the palate, espresso, mint and black pepper add depth to the core of black cherry and blackberry flavors. It finishes on a licorice note.
A bouquet of black cherry, tart cranberry and clove opens into flavors of cherry, anisette, espresso bean and mint, with a hint of tart cranberry. The minty notes can almost seem overly strong for a moment, but tart tones bring the fruit flavors back to the foreground. The pleasantly gripping tannins will mellow with a few more years of aging.
While it's rich, this beautiful dry wine also offers considerable freshness. Acidity cuts easily through the ripe white fruit, pear and red apples, allowing room for spice that provides a contrasting aftertaste.
Notes of honeysuckle and cantaloupe sweeten this deliciously feather-light spätlese. It's intensely juicy, quenching the palate with streams of tart tangerine and grapefruit acidity, yet wraps up with a kiss of honey and peach.
Citation is given as much as a decade of bottle age prior to release, which means it is pre-cellared and drinking at its peak. Baked cherry, cocoa and coconut flavors combine gracefully, with soft, secondary fruit compote highlights.
Well-drained gravel soil gives this wine its crisp and dry character. It is ripe and fruity, although the spice is subdued in favor of a more serious structure. This is a wine to age for a couple of years, so drink from 2017.
A dry style of Pinot Gris, this is crisp with some acidity. It also has weight and a solid, powerful core of spice and baked apple flavors. With its structure still developing, the wine needs to age. Drink from 2015.
Big, rich and off-dry, this is powered by intense spiciness and rounded texture. Lychees dominate the fruit profile, giving an opulent feel to the aftertaste. Drink now.