This wine has the dark fruit typical of this quinta, but this year shows more elegance than usual, with dusty tannins and concentrated, sweet fruit.
Spicy black fruit, with bell pepper, black pepper and toast adding complexity. Partial whole-berry fermentation brings an element of spicy, forward fruitiness to the wine. Lively mouthfeel, with some heat and lift to the finish. If there were more depth and punch to the fruit, this would warrant an even higher rating.
Bacon and lavender are prominent on the meaty, slightly muddled nose, which unfolds gracefully if given lots and lots of time. Blackberry and some tannins up front, a fairly nice and buttery middle, and finally cola accents on the grapy, heavy, long finish. For years this was C&T;'s top effort, before Almaviva.
Ripe, muscular wine, with a full throttle nose rich with jammy black fruits. Firm structure, smooth tannins, and a chocolaty finish make this an appealing, consumer-friendly style.
Leafy cassis and cocoa aromas and flavors carry hints of almond paste, saddle leather and ground cinnamon. The mouthfeel is full and plush, with ripe tannins that coat the mouth and let you know that this wine is about more than up-front fruit. Drink now or anytime over the next five years.
A 75-25 blend that showcases the exotic lychee and pear aromas of Gewürz, while the Riesling asserts itself on the finish in a rush of bracing lime-like acidity. A unique blend that offers plenty of food-pairing versatility.
Partial barrel-fermentation shows in this wine's hints of vanilla and cream, which marry smoothly with grapefruit and melon fruit. The grapefruit shades toward pink, particularly on the pleasantly crisp finish.
The second vintage of this Rainstorm rosé sports fruit flavors of watermelon and strawberry, with hints of fresh cracker in both the aroma and the finish. But it's the fresh fruit that's driving the flavor bus here, with some added length and detail as it winds down, perhaps due in part to the native yeast fermentation.
A nose of peach, apricot and bee pollen paves the way for flavors of pink grapefruit, clementine and guava. This wine has good mouthfeel and is bright on the palate from entry to finish.
Exotic spice, raspberry jam, menthol and leather aromas lead the way. On the solid palate, a licorice note adds interest to black cherry extract. Robust tannins provide the framework while a hint of raisin marks the close.
Bright aromas of wild cherry, iris, rose and a hint of balsamic herb come together on this. The full-bodied palate delivers tart red cherry, orange peel and a green note of sage accompanied by astringent tannins that grip the finish.
Aromas of French oak, toast and oak-driven spice dominate the nose. The taut palate offers red cherry, licorice, clove, toasted hazelnut and coffee alongside firm tannins that leave a grippy finish.
This is a rich, smooth wine with balanced black fruit flavors and a solid layer of tannins. It is ripe with juicy fruit and cool acidity. The wine is delicious, ready to drink now.
Consistent year after year, this frizzante style Muscat is off dry, fresh and aromatic, with Muscat's sweet orange flavor up front. Serve it chilled or try it as a mixer in place of Prosecco.
A promising mix of 43% Touriga Nacional and 57% Tempranillo, this bottling shows tar, dark blueberry, black cherry, crushed graphite and slate and oregano on the earthy nose. The palate meshes dark fruit with lighter herbs, proving surprisingly underweight in mouthfeel yet offering a leather and dust character.
Angular plum aromas are grapy and display a lavender note. This is fairly full in body, with a slight syrupy quality to the palate. Black-fruit flavors are powerful but finish with rough, bumpy tannins.
This bruiser of a blend is Petit Verdot dominant, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the background. Initially tight on the nose, after time dark plum, black currant and warm spice notes emerge. The broad palate is silken in feel, supported by a solid grip of ripe tannins. Juicy red-fruit flavors work hard to lighten things up on the palate, leading to a black pepper finish.
Reedy aromas of olive, leather and oak are less than fruity and lush. This has a hard, edgy, abrasive mouthfeel along with pinched, salty flavors of plum and berry fruits. Earthy berry flavors and drying tannins are in charge on the finish.
Tar, crushed peppercorn, blackberry, blueberry and purple flowers show the standard Syrah aromas, though they are a bit more complex thanks to a tobacco-ash dusting. Tarry structure frames the fairly rich palate, where flavors of dried blueberry, beef char, lavender and sweeter purple flowers reside.
Woodland berry, toast, sawdust, grilled herb and camphor are some of the aromas that emerge on this. On the rather slim palate, licorice, orange peel and rose add interest to fresh strawberry while assertive tannins provide the framework. It finishes on a slightly bitter note of dried sage.
A glaze of crushed minerals accents this fresh, apple-scented Riesling. Delicate and spry, it's a refreshing quaffer brightened by a spray of lemon-lime acidity. A touch of tea tannins murmurs through the finish.
Incredibly syrupy aromas of concentrated blueberry, blackberry, dried black cherry and kirsch show on the nose of this dense and dark bottling. It is a hearty sipper, with lots of espresso bean and cappuccino flavors, more dried cherry and blueberry, and some soy. The cooked flavors are a little overpowering but also luscious.
Plump blackberries, grapeseed, pencil lead and a touch of smoke converge on this blend of Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The flavors are woody, with cedar, tart elderberry and pencil lead, while the structure is chalky and tannic. It's a heavy-duty sip, with beef char lingering into the cooked-fruit finish.
Smooth and ripe, this offers good acidity as well as apple and citrus flavors. With a crisp texture and touches of minerality, it is ready to drink,
This has a strong steely, mineral character. It offers plenty of citrus and green plum but, at this young stage, the wine is more about crisp texture. The aftertaste hints at the future, ripe and warm. Drink from 2017.
Toasted hazelnut, menthol, culinary spice and mature berry aromas lift out of the glass. The straightforward palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, clove and firm tannins.
Both sweet and savory, this delicately scented Riesling juxtaposes notes of pressed apple and dried citrus peels against savory tones of honey comb and smoke. It's tangy and fresh on the palate, brightened by zesty acidity and a clean, mineral finish.
From vines in the Tua Valley, a tributary of the Douro, this is a rich wine, structured with dark and firm tannins. Although it is mature, the fruit is still fresh with black-plum flavors and a touch of dark chocolate. Drink the wine now and until 2020.
Named after the Tyto Alba, the barn owl that lives in the forests around the vineyard, the wine shows a tropical fruit side of Sauvignon Blanc. Mango and pineapple dominate the ripe character of the wine. It is aromatic, just hinting at something more herbal. Drink from 2017.
There's a nice concentration of black-bramble fruit on the nose, with appealing notes of green peppercorn and anise. The moderately-full palate is tight, tannic and needs time in the glass to release the brooding black berry and plum flavors. A lift of menthol on the finish adds some levity.
Floral currant and plum aromas fall squarely into the red-fruit spectrum. While not overly deep or dense, this has some weight to go with flavors of cassis, berry and chocolaty oak. It finishes mildly, with soft oak and a light herbal note.
This special edition release is perfect for those drinkers who enjoy the herbal and savory side of aged Cab Franc. Dried tobacco, jalapeño and red currant reduction start on the nose and carry to the medium-bodied palate. Streaks of graphite offer a bit of life to a wine that should be enjoyed soon. With its sandy tannins and still lively acid, enjoy alongside a lamb shank.
Offering aromas of blackberry, strawberry and green bell pepper, this wine has flavors of raspberry, strawberry, black cherry and leather. The fruit flavors are jammy on the palate and strong tannins and equally strong acidity make for a pleasing wine.
A blend of 65% Furmint, 25% Hárslevelu and 10% Kabar, this Hungarian white has aromas of white peach and fresh apricot juice. There are flavors of yellow peach, green apple and crisp clean minerality in the mouth.
The producer's first release from this vineyard site, and 100% varietal, this is a sultry wine, generously aromatic in cinnamon and clove. Spicy, soft and elegant, it also offers cassis and currant, finishing in earthy waves that end lean.
Aromas of dried rose, mature berry and dark kitchen spice lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. The palate offers more spice than fruit richness, with dried wild cherry, licorice and black pepper, while firm refined tannins provide the framework. It's a great effort for this hot vintage. Drink 2017–2024.
Opulent fruit flavors and an almost thick texture make this delicious and dramatic. The aromas pop with blackberry and cherry, flavors resemble blueberry juice and the mouthfeel is rich and nicely tannic.
Reduced and highly concentrated, this powerful wine is brooding in black peppercorn, leather and a wealth of black color and black fruit. Chewy on the entry, it softens and integrates over time, getting better in the glass as it goes, a rich, rewarding mix of blackberry, clove and cigar.
Moorooduc's estate Pinot Noir is a solid value among the boutique offerings from the Mornington Peninsula. There's a supple cushioning of flesh wrapped around a firm backbone of acid, while the flavors run from black cherry and mint through earthier notes of brown sugar and roasted parsnip. Drink now through 2020.
Aromas of black cherry, ground cooking spice and a whiff of grilled herb drive the nose on this structured red. The enveloping palate doles out ripe black cherry, licorice, almond and black pepper accompanied by firm, velvety tannins.
Candied ginger and licorice mark this dense, ripe Claret that offers subtle oak on the palate. Full bodied and robust, with layers of graphite, leather and dark chocolate, the 66% Merlot come from the producer's Lower Mountain Top vineyard block and the 29% Cabernet Sauvignon from its Rock Arch block. The remaining 5% is Petit Verdot.
This bottling is a two-block selection from the highest spots in the vineyard. Don't be fooled by the lightness of the flavors, but do pay attention to the refined, elegant structure. Raspberry and cherry flavors, abundant acidity and a mineral underpinning all contribute, along with almost a year in 50% new French oak.
These relatively young vines deliver a juicy wine with bright berry fruit. Tart and tangy, it carries a light savory note as well. This has the acidity to improve and age through 2026.
An elegant blend from different estate vineyards, this widely available cuvée brings sturdy tannins and red currant fruit, highlighted with pretty baking spices. It would be an ideal match for roast duck with an orange sauce.
Underbrush, smoke, mocha and dark fruit aromas lead the nose and carry over to the ripe palate along with dried black cherry, licorice and clove. Firm, velvety tannins provide the framework. Drink 2018–2028.
From the only estate in Sonoma County growing the variety, this full-bodied white was aged in a combination of neutral French oak and stainless steel. Sly on the nose, it opens slowly with a whiff of sour apple and a squeeze of lemon, an intensity of savory dill and white pepper at its core.
Aromas of dark berry, baking spice, fragrant blue flower and a balsamic note emerge on this firm wine. The structured palate offers dried sour cherry, clove, licorice and chopped sage alongside assertive tannins.
This is an inaugural release for the winery, established in 2013 where a former part of Buena Vista Winery stood. The grapes come from rocky Durell nearby, and take on its signature concentration and celebration of fruit. Golden in color, this is a ripe mingling of pear, baked apple and caramel that is entirely full bodied.
This is a rich wine that feels full-bodied and with concentration. It has ripe pineapple and tropical fruit flavors as well as fresher citrus acidity. It has also a fine texture that gives the wine great depth and ripeness. Drink from late 2016.
Produced from old vines on the Bourgeois estate, this wood-aged wine certainly shows its toastiness although it also has plenty of red-berry flavors as a balance. It is richly concentrated, a good example of the richer, more serious style of Pinot Noir that is coming from Sancerre. It is structured and can age, so drink from 2017.
The top wine in the Rocim range is produced from selected Alicante Bouschet grapes. It is huge and powerful, perhaps too much in its concentration, richness and density. Dark and brooding, it is super everything and certainly needs to calm down. Drink from 2019.
This is a super-ripe, still very young wine. It's showing all its concentrated fruits, wood aging flavors and dense texture as well as the firm tannins that will allow it to age. With its combination of black plum skin, blackberry and dark concentration, leave the wine until 2018.
At the south end of Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgeots Premier Cru is close to abbey ruins. This young, toasty wine is ripe, smooth and creamy. Rich apple and green plum flavors are balanced by acidity and touched by honey. The wood aging is still prominent and needs to tone down, so drink from 2018.
Waxy pear and white plum provide the fruit-forward flavors of this wine, which exhibits plenty of minerality on the midpalate before offering a wave of richness and vanilla cream. The finish finds a focus and balance between these two ends, ending light and bright.
A pretty salmon-pink in color, and a lovable quaffer, this wine is dry, crisp and brightly refreshing in succulent waves of grapefruit and tangerine, remarkably light in alcohol but not shy in flavor. Enjoy it on its own or with a range of foods—its lightness begets versatility.
Full of black fruits, the wine is solid, still very dense and young. Dark chocolate and coffee flavors give a bitter edge to the dense tannins, which need to be allowed to soften. Its black fruits and acidity are exuberant, and the wine will mature well. Drink from 2019.
The first Pinot Noir release from this producer, this is a velvety-smooth, exotic and charming wine, light on the palate despite a concentration of ripe, rich fruit. Kirsch, cherry, raspberry and cinnamon combine to make the wine invitingly lush and plush.
A red Meritage driven by 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, this structured, full-bodied wine also blends in 19% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Blackberry and chocolate accent chalky tannins, with bold hits of black licorice, cassis, pencil and black tea. Drink now through 2020.
Dense, rich red fruit belies an elegant wine that finds balance despite the concentration of vanilla and berry. Soft, approachable and integrated tannin and oak let the whole exist as one, instead of separate parts. This shows off the appellation's mountain fruit and rocky minerality.
Engaging aromas of red rose, iris, wild berry, cinnamon and a balsamic note waft out of the glass while juicy cherry, white pepper, anise and chopped mint drive the spicy, polished palate. Firm but refined tannins provide structure. Drink 2017–2021.
Some years ago, Willamette Valley Vineyards purchased the Tualatin Estate vineyards and winery founded by Bill Fuller in 1973. To mark the return of Mr. Fuller to winemaking, the new cuvée celebrates his 40th vintage. A tawny gold, it's scented with honeycomb and pineapple. Potent and focused, it carries those flavors into a finish rich with bee pollen and preserved lemon intensity.
The Legacy estate reserve is a limited selection from the original mid-1970s vines. It remains stubbornly closed, even after hours of breathing time. Grudgingly, pomegranate and cranberry fruit flavors peek through a high-acid base with mineral undertones. The balance is there for further aging.
Already showing some maturity, this almond- and yeast-flavored wine still has plenty of soft white fruits and balancing acidity. The wine finishes with a warm, rounded feel.
The Sylvaner's essential spice and pepper quality is well brought out in this stylish wine. The pear and quince flavors come through strongly, finishing with acidity.
Collin Cranor is a young, eager winemaker looking to make his mark in the Livermore Valley and this wine shows off his skill and ability to work with great fruit to make an interesting wine. Savory, this Petite Sirah has classic notes of chocolate, cherry and berry, though it benefits from a bit of air and time to open. Try it with meaty dishes; if they include bacon, all the better.
Rooty smelling, with cola, ripe berry, herb and mild field-like scents. The palate is more tight and tannic than many varietal Carmenères, with dark, roasted flavors of berry fruit, coffee and pepper. Clacky and alive on the finish, with lasting smokiness.
Fresh and zesty for a Rheingau trocken, with petrol and slate aromas and lime and green apple flavors that could come straight out of the Mosel. It's a refreshing, lightweight quaffer.
Reustle's Reserve Pinot Noir is sweetly scented with cherry fruit. It opens into a lightly herbal wine with streaks of clean earth, graphite and smoke to complement the cherries.
Opens with funk and foxiness. In the mouth, it's sticky and a bit syrupy in feel, with sweet berry and cassis flavors. Settles down by the time it finishes, but overall it's less clean and pure than in past vintages. Contains six grapes: Syrah, Carmenère, Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot.
Full, dense and minty on the nose, with leather and a controlled sharpness. The palate is round and wide, with mouthfilling flavors of cherry, plum, resiny spice and leather. Finishes grabby and slightly herbal, with plenty of oak and chewable tannins.
Lean, tart and slightly ungenerous on the palate, but the flavors are authentically Pinot Noir, ranging from earth and root vegetables to pie cherries and herbs. Clean and crisp on the finish.
Scents of fresh dill, toasted coconut and buttery pastry pair well with flavors of fresh apple, lemon and sea brine on this full-bodied Chardonnay. This is savory in style, with a slightly muted palate.
Sweet and heavily oaked, with candied fruit, loads of vanilla and milk chocolate-covered raisin aromas. Feels choppy on one hand and lactic on the other, with mostly oak-based, sweet flavors of maple, vanilla and mocha. Feels O.K. but creamy on the finish, and it tastes candied and artificial throughout.
This is full, soft and a little heavy. It's condensed with sweetness from the rich fruit and misses some crispness.
Roasted and rubbery on the nose, this has herb and leaf accents. It feels thick, chunky and a bit syrupy, with flavors of herb, mint and roasted blackberry. This turns grittier on the finish, with bacon, hickory and rubbery flavors. A blend of 50% Monastrell and 50% Syrah.
This is a gentle wine that has some weight and richness. Its fruit is soft, ripe and warm.
This Syrah starts off earthy, musky, big and brawny and can't escape the wood-oaked herbal greenness on the finish. It's simply too high in alcohol.
A simple red, with sharp acids that give an edgy cut to the mouthfeel. This would be a fine pizza wine, or good with grilled sausages.
This is a typical, standard style of Syrah, that tastes strongly of vanilla rather than of the actual grape. The fruit is muted, but the vanilla and tobacco flavors stand out.
From one of the rare south-facing vineyards in Beaune, this warm, rich and ripe wine is generous with its spice, smokiness and rounded red fruits. Acidity cuts through, bringing raspberry in its wake. The sense of structure really gives this wine its power and density. Drink from 2020.
Plump dark raspberries and ripe cherries combine with herbes de provence, slight lavender and a slightly gamy quality on this wine's elegant nose. Floral-driven flavors of hibiscus, rose hips and elderflower spice up the woody elderberry fruit, settling into Mediterranean herbs and a soft zing that goes deep into the finish.
Cinnamon spice and pomegranate fruit give a soft touch to minerally driven aromas of black slate and wet cement on the nose of this block-designated (and trademarked!) wine. The wine's tannic grip and tartness are apparent on the texturally distinct palate before raspberry, hibiscus and rose petal flavors settle into a long, rich finish.
This wine is made by UC-Santa Cruz astrophysics professor Joe Miller, who's taught wine appreciation for years. Regal and wondrous, the nose conveys concentrated lavender, violets, cedar, oregano, rose petals and patchouli spicing up a grapy frame. The palate offers red fruits laced with clove spice and earth. Ginger, rose water and raspberry emerge in the midpalate, with just enough acidity to carry it through.
A vineyard along the Silverado Trail in Napa, not far from the winery, Grande was planted in 1920 and is still farmed by the original farmer's family, Dorothy and Tony Rossi. Here, it offers structure and elegance despite a brooding weight and power, the flavors leaning toward blackberry and licorice.
This is likely the last vintage from this vineyard, which the family winery seemingly mastered in this bottling. There's an underlying umami-driven smoked meat backbone to the nose that also shows bold cherry blossom, olallieberry, pepper, dried herbs and blackberry-soy sauce. The palate is complex yet doesn't overpower, with bits of purple flowers, blueberry, black pepper and menthol.
Lush and lavish in all the right ways, this blend of 70% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petite Sirah shows vanilla cream, clove chiffon and blueberry pudding on the nose. The palate packs more blueberry fruit as well as black pepper, graphite, espresso bean and toasted sage, all framed by a solid structure of tooth-coating tannins.
Zesty raspberry meets warm cherry notes on the nose of this elegantly presented wine, which also shows aromas of beet juice, sandalwood, clove, mace and bergamot. The palate is a texturally driven, evolving experience, with flavors of earth, iron and pencil lead melding with sage scrub, wild berries and elderberry.
Elegant, exotic spice decorates the nose on this wine by Michael Mooney, with leathery clove, elderflowers, hard cinnamon spice and a blackberry fruit core. There is tremendous tension once sipped between graphite, tight elderberries and even some woody blueberries. Bay leaf, pencil lead and purple flower elements pepper the edges.
From another vintage of Billy Wathen home runs comes this bottling from friend Rick Longoria's vineyard. It shows bramble berries, elderberries, sagebrush juniper and roasting herbs on the nose. Layers of thyme and dried oregano decorate the raspberry juice and pencil-lead palate.
This reserve-level wine is sublime in stone fruit and lime as well as pear. The oak used for aging this wine was all neutral, and the taste and impact of it is unobtrusive. While vibrant in fruit, it also offers richer hints of caramel and graham cracker in complex and balanced ways, ending with persistence.
Baked plum, fragrant blue flower, sweet baking spice, eucalyptus and a balsamic note are just some of the aromas you'll find on this bold, delicious wine. The round, smooth palate delivers layers of ripe wild cherry, raspberry compote, mocha, vanilla, star anise and a hint of raisin alongside velvety, enveloping tannins that give it a silky texture. Despite the big structure, it has an almost weightless feel.
This wine arrests the senses with dazzlingly pure aromas of dark raspberries, cherries, clove, mineral and spice. Flavors are intense, layered, and rich without sacrificing one iota of balance. The plush mouthfeel and long finish only add to the enjoyment and sensory experience.
An intricately layered nose of sagebrush, blood, pencil lead, soy, beef jerky, lilac, violet, lavender and tight cranberries shows on this stunning wine from the historic vineyard. The palate offers rounded red fruits and cherry tomatoes that tighten around a sagebrush core, bolstered by lots of oregano, black pepper, dried basil and eucalyptus.
Wonderful spice and ripe red fruits shoot through this rich while structured wine. Dark cherries, strawberries and a ripe texture have given a wine that will be beautiful, smooth and generous. The acidity and the core of tannins will allow it to age well. Drink from 2019.
A generous wine, this features intense dark fruits, ripe strawberry and an almost -weet character. It's packed with spice, richness and beautiful concentration. Great acidity gives a wine that is developing freshness and weight. Drink from 2020.
Rich, fragrant and structured, this generous wine opens with alluring scents of crushed violet, plum cake and exotic spice. The luscious, enveloping palate doles out ripe blackberry, black cherry compote, raisin, licorice and tobacco supported by round, velvety tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
This wine's incredibly distinct nose of pure fruit shows plump raspberries alongside delicate grapeseed, a pinch of baking spice and a whiff of yeast. Though the wine is light in color and frame, the palate shows lots of earth, tobacco smoke, cherry pits, bouquet garni and rosemary, with refreshing wild berry fruit.
Black and white pepper pop from the glass in this cool-climate, cool-vintage wine that retains just enough power around lacy acidity. A bouquet of violets rises on the nose before the palate offers spicy, lean bursts of meat, leather and black licorice. Made in small amounts, this wine is well worth seeking.
A magical blend of 73% Sauvignon Blanc with 27% Sauvignon Musque, from a landmark producer of the variety, this is a complex and elegant expression of lushly layered peach and mandarin orange, balanced and structured for years to come. From vineyards both within Napa Valley and throughout Sonoma, including Knights Valley and Sonoma Mountain, it's eminently sippable and a fine wine for the table.
Unfortunately only available in Bermuda, this wonderful bottling shows salted brambleberries, crushed violets, asphalt, rosemary and pinpointed florality on the fresh yet concentrated nose. The palate is zesty and darkly focused, with elderberries, stewed plums, thyme and Earl Grey tea. It's quite a complex effort.
From one of the winery's two estate vineyards, Harper's is dense and oaky, with bittersweet chocolate, dark cherry and black tea twisted around a layer of thick, dense tannins. Dried herbs and a subtle squeeze of tangerine provide savory and exotic character, while the finish is velvety and sublime.
While the Finger Lakes region is better known for Riesling, this gorgeously composed single-vineyard Cabernet Franc sets a benchmark for American red wine. The nose is delicately perfumed of violet, lavender and autumn leaves. On the palate, swirls of luscious black fruit juxtapose layers of granite and stone. Briskly balanced, yet endlessly persistent on the finish, it's a standout bottling that's well worth seeking out.
Chewy tannins surround an elegant, structured wine, classic in red cassis, licorice and woody herbs. Powerful, it retains balance from start to finish, exuding the warmth of the vintage with the relative coolness of the appellation, marrying the two sides expertly together.
This conveys the purest, most evocative scent of ripe Sicilian blood orange, embedded in a sea of rose petals. Floral notes and aromatic citrus freshness lead a dance on the slender palate that has the slightest edge of smoke and stone. The finish is dry, imbued with a haunting, elemental quality that makes this light but profound wine irresistible.
Tender notes of citrus appear at first through a veil of yeast. Their zestiness then fills out with subtle, earthy spice. On the light, dry palate, the true subtlety hits: wafts of lemon, aromatic wild thyme, Seville orange zest, fresh apple peel and wet stone. The delicacy of the concentrated body is astonishing, with a central vein of lemony freshness that provides a focal point. So subtle, so layered and alive: with every new sip new nuances occur.
Subtle but luscious notes of Mirabelle plum, ripe greengage and peach lend a seductive touch to this taut, structured and beautifully textured wine whose palate is reminiscent of bot fresh apple peel and grapefruit zest. Covers of fruit are tautly spread across spokes of acidity, creating a wonderful tension that keeps you wanting more. Authentic in its appeal, it's delicious now but will drink well until at least 2025.
Lemon-scented Mirabelle notes hover on the nose and turn into fully fledged, ripe plum on the palate where the seam of fresh, enlivening and brightening acidity sets a lively theme. The body is light, the finish is dry and the overall impression is one of light-footed playfulness and ease. You might almost forget to notice the more textured, structured core which underlies all this and will allow it to age beautifully. Drink now through 2025.
A big, sturdy auslese, nearly dry in style yet showing some botrytis and plenty of concentration. Hints of dried apricots and mushrooms lead the way, and there is some citrusy character, but this brooding wine is best served with cheeses or savory dishes.
Also known as Mourvèdre. This Spanish-inspired Monastrell from Bokisch, grown on a hillside, is brawny with plenty of earth and bacon bite to it, yet also floral, rich yet also bright, tasting of black cherry and pomegranate with a menthol tobacco chaser.
Bright and earthy, dense and dark, this New World Tempranillo has an Old World soul, with dark cherry and strawberry going on as well as a touch of cocoa and tobacco. Its acidity adds a spark on the finish; this Ribera del Douro native grape seems plenty happy in the middle of California, at least in Bokisch's hands.
Soft and relatively open in style, with captivating aromas of wet mossy stones and ripe melon and hints of pear and lychee on the palate. Very approachable now for a young Prüm.
With the richness of the vintage in mind, this wine makes a powerfully extravagant statement. There is nothing subdued about the concentrated tannins or the intensely rich black fruits. Even with 3–4 years aging, this will still be a bold wine.
A medium-bodied auslese that's very sweet but balanced by lime-like acids that extend through the lively finish, with dominant notes of dried apricots and candied pineapple.
A vibrant, fresh, violet petal and orange oil streak cuts through the overall heavy character of this wine. Brimming with black cherry, plum skin and blueberry fruit aromas and flavors, the palate is big and gripping with an earthy black tea leaf- and spicy-bark flavored finish that lingers nicely. Drink now–2015.
Rudera, derived from the Latin word rudus meaning broken fragments of stone, is a heady and deep Cab matured in French oak for 22 months. Dark and rich, there's ample cigar box spice, bramble and cocoa accents to the black fruit core. The mouth is lush, like crushed satin, with good grip and balanced acidity.
Mixing delicate highlights of dried leaves with generous flavors of ripe berries, this appealing, open, delicious Resonance Reserve is finished at just 13.8% alcohol. It is a pretty wine, balanced and lightly annotated with caramel and milk chocolate.
This is the most affordable Pinot from Archery Summit, a blend of multiple clones and vineyards, and it's a gem. Full and fruity from the moment you pull the cork, it hits you with flavors of ripe strawberry, blackberry and black cherry, a big mouthful of lush fruit flavor. The finish brings on hints of truffle, licorice and dark chocolate.
This gorgeous Cape blend, made from 30% Pinotage, 31% Syrah, 30% Cab Sauv and 3% Mourvèdre, is ripe and immediately enticing on the nose with aromas of crushed Thin Mint cookies and iris petals mingling perfectly with the blackberry, blueberry and fig fruit core. Well balanced and firmly structured with a spicy, lingering finish.
A seductive and easy-pleasing wine, this ripe and lush beauty, named after the winemaker's daughter, will draw you in with its sultry notes of ripe brambly berries, forest floor, cured meat, sweet smoke and spice. The mouthfeel is like velvet and the finish long, with a gorgeous mocha- and licorice root-flavored finish.
This iconic Syrah is big and gripping in every sense: a dark, boysenberry and raspberry fruit-infused bouquet; a spicy, deeply flavored palate; a thick and chewy texture with superb strength. Luckily, there's enough acidity and supporting elements of earthy tobacco and wild animal to keep it balanced and lifted enough. Decant if drinking now, or hold for another couple of years.
Dense and complex wine, packed with the ripest fruit. It has powerful tannins, although they are easily balanced by the rich plum and damson flavors. The wine is solid, chunky, based on a dry and firm core, ready for aging over 4 years.
This is a lifted and fresh Chardonnay with vibrant notes of red apple flesh, hard Anjou pear and fresh orange essence. A touch of toast and nectarine pit unfold in the mouth, with a soft suggestion of sweet spice that lingers on the back of the palate through the long finish.
Loosen's best Dr. L to date, this is a terrific value, delivering typical Mosel Riesling notes at a great price. Citrus blossom, lime and crushed stone aromas are followed by apple and citrus flavors in this just-slightly-sweet wine. Drink it now and over the next year or so.
A super-interesting blend of 37% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 18% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache and 8% Tannat, the bouquet is loaded with assertive aromas of black currant, licorice, black olive, whole tobacco leaf, cigar box spice and leather. Creamy but firmly textured, like crushed velvet, with a rich boysenberry and plum juiciness to the palate.
Dry, firmly tannic wine, dominated by mint and coffee flavors along with wood. The fruit underneath has a suggestion of ripe blackberry flavors but will need at least 3 years to come out. It is a powerful, complex wine for aging.
Certainly tannic but at the same time richly black fruited. This is solid, chunky, with plum and sweet fig fruits, lining a bitter chocolate and dark tannin outer shell. For aging over several years.
Vibrant aromas of peach, botrytis, apricot and pear lead to ripe stone-fruit flavors that linger. Pair it with a yellow curry.
This wine is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Mourvèdre. It opens with aromas of white pepper, potpourri, herbs and raspberries. The flavors are soft, displaying a very pretty mouthfeel and a pleasing sense of restraint.
This wine plays to the variety's savory side, with aromas of smoke, raw meat and generous amounts of black pepper. It's full bodied, with mesquite and spice flavors that linger.
Lightly off dry, this rich, smooth wine has acidity to balance the honey and ripe pineapple flavors. With some aging, it will show a delicious, ripe balance of fruit and creamy texture, with some zest to add liveliness. Drink from 2017.
Kept in tank for 10 years, this rich, full wine proves that Muscadet can age. It has preserved all its freshness and added ripe yellow fruits and a surprisingly opulent character. The wine still has a tang and lemon crispness, full of flavor. It is a wine for food with its final mineral aftertaste.
This blend of four varieties boasts notes of almond skin, orange zest and honeydew melon in a full-bodied, slightly warm wine. The long finish shows ample concentration and a hint of bitterness.
With just a handful of Merlot, this wine is dense and juicy, exhibiting warm layers of black currant and blackberry around old-school tobacco and tar. Medium bodied, the dusty tannins are well integrated and finely calibrated, giving the wine an age-worthy profile. Cellar through 2019.
The bouquet offers intriguing aromas of berry, black olive, vanilla and other barrel spices. The chocolate and cherry flavors are elegant, soft and creamy in feel, showing a pleasing sense of balance. A delicious and attractive red that's drinkable now.
Cinnamon and other brown spices meet with iron, turned earth and dried cranberry for a slightly funky and sour nose. The palate offers a plush red-cherry flavor at first, followed by an earthy pencil-lead-driven note. Tart raspberry and graphite minerality emerge in the midpalate, followed by loam and coffee grinds toward the finish.
Aromas of coffee, herbs, dark fruit and barrel spices lead on this 100% varietal wine. The palate shows an interplay of fruit and barrel (all new French) with the tannins needing some time to stretch their legs.
In association with winemaker Mitch Cosentino, John McClelland—former president and general manager of Almaden, Geyser Peak and Alderbrook—has crafted a velvety and robust 100% Charbono. Rare in Napa, it offers flavors of plum and cinnamon within a soft, smooth palate, finishing with notes of oak and black licorice.
Oatmeal, chalk and bread crust form the first impression. On the palate they play upon a tart and lively freshness and round out crisp, green apple fruit. Together they fill the palate while gentle fizz illuminates more of the bready, stony flavors. Restraint is the central theme here.
Succulent yellow peach and honeydew flavors stand at the forefront of this slick, juicy Riesling. It's a delightfully sunny, fruit-forward wine, yet elegantly balanced, struck by line of lime acidity. The finish is moderately long, accompanied by a delicious ripple of lime-zest astringency.
Aromas of ripe blackcurrant, grilled bell pepper and allspice mingle in the glass. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 10% Teroldego, the palate offers prune, dried blackberry, graphite, ground black pepper and cocoa alongside polished tannins. This has already reached its peak drinking window so enjoy soon.
This 100% varietal wine opens with a strong bouquet of black licorice, maybe even fennel, before big, boisterous tannins stomp the stage. Full bodied and exuberant in blackberry and black cherry, the oak is measured. A backbone of structure could stand up to aging.
Clean and crisp apricot, nectarine and green-melon aromas are typical for the variety. The solid, fresh palate is crystal clear, while flavors of peach and nectarine finish as smooth as glass.
Slate, cola, black cherry, rose petal and violet show strongly on the nose of this wine, a well-priced blend of grapes from Lucas & Lewellen, Bentrock, Radian and Pence vineyards. The palate is earthy and deeply, darkly spiced, showing juniper, black cherry and beet juice.
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon along with 10% each Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine displays aromas of dried and fresh herbs, flowers, black tea, dark chocolate and cherry. The fruit and savory flavors are sweet and supple, backed by tightly coiled tannins that need time to unwind.
Very ripe aromas and flavors resemble sweet raisins and prunes, but the flavors are dry and more savory than outright fruity. Black pepper, dark chocolate and charred beef notes seem perfect to pair with a grilled steak or giant portobello mushroom. It's a big-boned but well-balanced wine.
Powerfully dark in color and strong in aromas of blackberry and chocolate, this smooth, sizable wine has big tannins that soften as they go. Black pepper, tobacco and cinnamon round out on the palate, before a lengthy finish of coconut and vanilla.
This sophisticated and beautifully balanced wine shows that Lodi can make crisp and poised whites. It has aromas like white pepper and dried thyme, crisp lemon flavors and racy acidity. It is nicely dry, clean and tautly refreshing. While medium bodied, it has a big, vibrant presence.
Showing that Ballard Canyon can do much more than Rhônes, this conveys dried black and tart cherries on the nose as well as dark chocolate and vanilla. Concentrated blackberries rise on the deep, dark palate, boosted by beef char, caramelized red fruits and mint, with a leveling touch of bitterness.
Spicy, toasty, blackened aromas of cassis and blackberry feed into a fresh, agile, free-moving palate. This Bordeaux-modeled blend tastes of herbal cherry, plum and pepper, while the finish is zesty and blackened in flavor, with crisp acidity creating length. Drink through 2022.
Fresh acidity and satisfying, full fruit flavors make this a winner all around. A lighter pink color and bright grapefruit and peach aromas are followed by tangy raspberry and cherry flavors. The balance is outstanding and will make it very versatile with food.
All varietal, this wine brings aromas of fresh and dried herbs, flowers, tobacco, cocoa and pencil shavings. Ample red fruit flavors are backed by velvety tannins that lead to a spice filled finish.
This wine is 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of herbs, coffee, barrel spice and cherry are followed by tightly wound tannins and fruit flavors. Give it time to open up.
All varietal, this wine offers aromas of cocoa, fresh herbs, cassis, cranberry and licorice. The flavors are sweet and high octane, with an open finish.
Tropical, thick and decidedly rich, this wine is both balanced and luxuriously fleshy, with highlights of peach, pineapple, Gravenstein apple and vanilla-kissed caramel. Full bodied, it'll still sing at the table.
Scratchy aromas of red-berry jam are floral and lightly perfumed. This is spongy and dense in feel, with good focus. Deep berry and chocolate flavors take on a molasses note in front of a chocolate and fig finish. Drink through 2018.
The spicy, generous and almost floral aromas of new oak envelope this wine's ripe, red cherry fruit. The palate is smooth, rich and laced with cinnamon yet balanced by inherent freshness. Elegant now, it will taste better with a little bottle age, when the tannins are smooth. Drink 2019–2022.
This wine's restrained nose just hints at blueberry and cinnamon. The palate comes in with freshness, verve and balance. Crunchy red cherry fruit is at the core, balanced by freshness and a taut structure. An elegant, ripe, medium-bodied red.
Cabernet Sauvignon (37%) and Cabernet Franc (34%) make up the majority of this wine, with the balance Merlot (16%), Malbec (8%) and Petit Verdot. The aromas are quite locked up, with light notes of barrel spice, herb and assorted dark fruit. The palate has light tightly coiled fruit flavors. It needs time to reveal its charms. Best after 2021.
Ripe blackberry and cassis aromas are toasty at first, then charred as this breathes. A big grabby palate is muscled up but welcoming. Toasty blackberry and cassis flavors remain charred on a loaded lengthy finish. This is Malbec and Petit Verdot fermented and aged together. Drink through 2022.
Approachable and jubilant rose petal, root beer, charred meat and ripe cherry aromas show on the dynamic nose of this bottling. The flavors are tighter and more focused, recalling red cherry, rust, tobacco and lava rock minerality. Tannins coat the palate with a delicate grip.
This cool-climate bottling from the young producer shows tons of florality and spice, from violet and lilac to white pepper and dried herb, underscored by blueberry and tar aromas. It's light and lithe in body, with elderberry, potpourri and pepper flavors, but the tannic tension is most compelling, clinging to the palate from start to finish.
Foresty plum and berry aromas are spunky and more high toned than dense. This Malbec is fresh with smacking tannins. Lightly herbal berry flavors convey an Old World sense, while this finishes with developed spice and oaky maple notes. Drink through 2024.
Tart but full cranberry aromas meld with sagebrush and cardamom on the nose of this bottling from an increasingly popular vineyard in this appellation. Baking spice and dried ginger mark the palate, which is acid-driven and lively, accenting its core of raspberry and pencil lead flavors.
A touch of smoke is all that appears on the nose of this tight and taut wine. Acidity and slight tannic grip provide a structure and frame its lovely, tart but dark fruit that recalls fresh blueberries tinged with peppery spice. Crunchy, classy and moreish.
Ripe grapy aromas are more chunky than mammoth. Saturated and muscular on the palate, this tastes of roasted salty blackberry, while the finish is full and meaty in both flavor and texture. Drink this stout full-bodied Malbec through 2022.
This richly dense and full-bodied wine from a famous site offers grippy tannin and toasted oak, complementing spicy fruit highlights of dark cherry accented with vanilla.
Ripe plum, cranberry, pressed violet, tobacco and damp soil aromas lead the nose, along with a whiff of clove. The round, polished palate offers dried black cherry, prune, raspberry jam and licorice notes, alongside smooth tannins. It's already extremely approachable, so drink soon.
Named for the producer's farmhouse and its surrounding vineyard, this offers rich cherry cordial and weedy sage notes—a seamless mix of fruit and earth. Sage, cardamom and spicy white pepper flavors give it intrigue and complexity, wrapped in a thick, velvety texture.
Blackberry, brandied cherry and spice aromas lead to a wide palate with tannins that pierce like nails. This tastes a touch foxy and wild, while the finish feels centered and firm. Despite intense, abrasive tannins, this displays depth and complexity. Drink through 2022.
This unique blend of 37% Sauvignon Blanc, 38% Pinot Gris and 25% Riesling plays each grape to a distinct advantage. Its fresh aromas recall yellow blossoms, jasmine and stone, while the palate bursts with rounded stone fruit and tangy citrus peel flavors, all driven by bright acidity.
The Shea cuvée has more stuffing than the other Broadley Pinots, with clean strawberry-cherry flavors. There's a streak of caramel running through the middle, and overall it's a well-balanced, forward and flavorful wine that will drink nicely now through the early 2020s.
This remarkably bone-dry wine from a cool-climate vineyard shows black plum, smoked beef, cracked peppercorn and slate scents on the nose. The palate recalls cedar and sandalwood, along with charcoal, pepper and soy-like flavors, framed by chalky and firm tannins.
This elegant wine combines subtle nutmeg and cardamom aromas with crisp apple, bosc pear and mild vanilla-bean flavors. Its firm texture and lingering finish bring everything into balance, with no single element overpowering the others, making it a pleasure to sip.
Baked berry and cherry aromas are ripe and come with accents of mocha, leather and caramel. This feels full but not heavy, with balance and cushion to the palate. Spiced black-fruit flavors show a tea-like note, while this is dry, spicy and a touch chocolaty on the finish. Drink through 2026.
This wine is half Merlot, with the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Brooding aromas of black licorice, barrel spice and dark fruit lead to plentiful fruit and barrel flavors that show a lovely sense of balance. The tannins bring some grip.
This is an attractive pink-colored wine that is beautifully fresh while also having some rich strawberry fruit cut with acidity. There is a touch of pepper that gives a dry and lightly tannic core. Drink from the end of 2015.
This is a young, wild and dense wine, intense in oak and strong-willed red cherry and strawberry fruit. Full-bodied and still smoothing out its rough edges, the big tannin structure should allow a length of aging through 2020.
Aromas of blackberry, spicy plum, grilled herb, Mediterranean scrub and a whiff of pencil shavings lead the nose on this polished wine. The savory palate offers juicy plum, black cherry, clove and white pepper alongside supple, buffed tannins that generate a smooth mouth texture. Drink through 2017.
Made with a blend of 50% Trebbiano and 50% Malvasia, this delivers aromas of Tuscan almond cookies, citrus and dried apricot. The concentrated palate offers layers of candied nectarine zest, fig and toasted almond. Pair it with seasoned cheeses or cantucci.
With a deep red color, enticing spiced-fig aromas and rich, ripe flavors, this is a full-bodied but well-tamed wine. Aromas of black cherry, blackberries and cinnamon lead to ripe but not sweet flavors that seem juicy and fresh. The texture is firm enough, with tannins to balance the ripeness and make another sip tempting.
High-toned, heady elements precede red currant notes on the nose. The slender palate reveals classic flavors of earthy Pinot fruit matured in the traditional large, used barrel. Wet earth, hay and cherry fruit take turns, although very pure notes of ripe red cherry appear over time. This is an exercise in subtlety and would be a perfect match for game.
Savory yeastiness joins lemon zestiness and draws a peppery line from start to finish on this refreshing but lightweight wine. Flavors make you want to keep sipping to get to the bottom of these spicy nuances.
At first the lick of oak-derived vanilla overlays the fruit but then aromatic notes of ripe red currant and red cherry appear. The palate is silky and offers exciting snatches of white pepper and welcome earthiness. The body is light but full of subtlety. It is white pepper rather than oaky spice that lingers.
From one of the appellation's marquee vineyards, this white shines in a petrol-y barrel essence, which should integrate well and add complexity over time. Yellow apple skin, anise and honey paint the rest of the picture, around a medium-strength body and texture, finishing off in sizzling minerality. Cellar through 2018.
Subtle aromas of blue flower, perfumed berry and grilled herb waft out of the glass. On the palate, notes of mocha, clove and licorice add depth to ripe black cherry flavors. It's well balanced, with velvety tannins that give it a smooth texture. Drink through 2019.
This full-bodied red opens with aromas of mature plum, hay, underbrush and scorched earth. The ripe, juicy palate doles out layers of black cherry, strawberry, tobacco and cinnamon alongside chewy tannins. It's already enjoyable but will also age well for several years. Enjoy through 2019.
Aromas of dark berry, menthol, leather and savory herb take shape in the glass. The refined palate offers ripe morello cherry, cinnamon, white pepper, eucalyptus, sage and a hint of orange zest. It's smooth and well balanced with supple tannins.
Aged for six months in casks, this focused white opens with a pretty fragrance of white blossom, Anjou pear and dried herb. The polished, structured palate boasts an impressive depth of flavors, including green apple, nectarine, peach and a touch of crystalized ginger alongside a vein of mineral. Bright acidity gives it a crisp finish while an almond note signals the close.
Underbrush, mint, graphite, leather, mocha and tobacco are just some of the aromas of this full-bodied red. The palate offers dried black cherry, tobacco and a hint of coffee alongside mature, buffed tannins. This is at its ideal drinking window so enjoy over the next few years.
Moist, mossy freshness frames the green pear fruit on this slender, zesty and very juicy wine. The light body makes for ultimate refreshment.
Aromas of hot yet damp sandstone, very light Asian pear and scratched lemon emerge from this intriguing wine. Rounded nectarine and white flowers show on the bright and tight palate, boosted by lemon rinds and a fascinating minerality. It's perfect for lighter fare, from shellfish to chicken in cream sauce.
Zesty, full-bodied and expansive on the palate, this is a wine that comes around in time, in the glass and in the bottle or decanter. Briny and dancing a fine line between brawn and beauty, it paints a picture of classic green and yellow apple and subtle vanilla spice, with a tropical flirtation happening in the background. Structured, it should cellar well, through 2020.
Light in color, this wine comes from a seven-acre spot in Freestone. It opens with a stemmy earthiness, then wild strawberry and mint commingle in a velvety, smooth and sublime package of light red cherry and pomegranate that bristles with acidity through the spicy finish.
Earthy, spicy aromas suggest tilled earth, Mediterranean brush, ground black pepper, cedar and clove. The vibrant palate offers blackberry, black currant, tobacco, dark spice and anise alongside firm tannins.
Sleek green pear-scented ripeness is married to tender creaminess. Underneath the fruit, subtle yeast notes appear. Slender but flavorsome and easy, the wine offers lovely Grüner typicity and perfect balance.
A family estate just outside Aix-en-Provence has produced a textured and dense wine. It has great fruitiness along with a spice and pepper character that brings out a more complex side. It's definitely for food.
With concentration and a sense of structure, this is a solid wine with great potential. It has firm tannins under the attractive raspberry fruits. The wine is dense and certainly needs aging. Drink from 2018.
Steve Shaw devoted his entire harvest of Gewürztraminer in 2013 to the production of this wonderfully strange yet beautiful orange-style wine. Dusty florals on the nose mutate into flavors of dried apricot and fig in this deeply textural, rippling wine. The finish is fringed with tea tannins and bristling lemon acidity. Unfiltered and unfined, it maintains a murky streak of sediment that may be visually unappealing, but for those with open minds, this is quite a fun wine.
Zippy, fresh conference pear fruit with just a little edge of white pepper and zingy lemon zest plays on this linear, light-bodied but ultrafresh wine. An almost-weightless lightness means that the wine will do well as an enlivening apéritif.
Slightly ethereal notes of camphor play ever so slightly above the lemony nose. The palate is light-bodied, completely citrus-driven and very refreshing. Yellow plums beckon between the lemony zestiness and make for a slightly richer finish on this super-slender wine.
Delicately fragrant and floral, this luminous wine opens with aromas that recall yellow flowers and citrus blossoms. Made with organically farmed grapes, it boasts nectarine, baked apple and pineapple flavors accented with a flinty note. It's balanced and linear, with mouthwatering acidity that creates a clean, lingering finish.
Aromas of plum, savory herb, leather and hint of baking spice lead the nose. On the palate, notes of vanilla, espresso and toast add depth to the juicy, black cherry core. Round tannins make this already accessible; enjoy through 2018.
This full-bodied wine opens with earthy aromas of game, leather, ripe black fruit, clove and a balsamic note. Bracing tannins that still need to unwind support the concentrated blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and licorice flavors. The warmth of alcohol shows on the close. Drink 2017–2023.
White summer blossom and fresh green pear create a superlight, superfresh opening. The palate continues in the same vein: ultralight as befits the 2014 vintage, but with an aromatic, spicy, peppery edge. It makes for a perfect, light summer apéritif.
Blended from Muns Vineyard near the mountaintop and Wiedemen Ranch near the base of the appellation, this bottling offers cola, black plum, Concord grape and dried rose petal scents on the complex and elegant nose. The flavors are layered and woven on the palate, evoking elderberry, charcoal and purple flower touches.
A classic expression of Hawke's Bay Sauvignon Blanc, this is a ripe, open-knit wine tinged with barrel influence. Vanilla and tangerine mingle with hints of smoke, lingering elegantly on the long finish.
Mulberry, wet rock and sagebrush show on the nose of this single vineyard bottling from a site owned by the Hahn family. The palate is tangy at first, revealing dark red fruit with a smoky kick as it opens, backed by hints of juniper and dust.
This cofermented field blend is 60% Tannat and 40% Malbec. It's big, black, bold and captivating, with rich blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The tannins are grainy and flecked with graphite, and there's a suggestion of mocha throughout. This might fool some tasters if it were to be tossed into a blind tasting of high-octane Sonoma Zinfandels.
This wine leads with a touch of smoke and cinnamon. The underlying blueberry fruit is brooding and crunchy, bringing freshness to the medium-bodied palate. Aromatic waves of spice and pure, vibrant fruit carry long into the finish.
This dense, richly thick wine is full of black pepper and leather flavors that complement its bright layers of black currant, plum and dark cherry fruit. Full bodied and balanced, it offers further complexity as it unwinds in the glass.
Baked raisiny aromas of spice cake are almost overdone. Like many 2009 RDDs, this is huge, tannic and massive as a whole. A woody flavor profile includes earthy jammy berry fruit, while this is heavy with campfire notes on the finish. This is 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink through 2023.
This bottling from a winery whose owners are originally from Brittany shows peppery spice, tart red fruit, rose petal and lava rock scents on the nose. The flavors range widely from white pepper and dill to fresh-pressed strawberry and red plum, with a slight hint of caramel. Varietally pure and very fresh.
Although the challenging vintage resulted in just a half-ton per acre of Chardonnay in this dry appellation (a third of its normal yield), this wine is fantastic. Flinty and smoky aromas lead to Gala apple, white peach and lemon peel on the nose, while the palate combines salt, grapefruit pith and seared apple flavors. A sharp line of acidity brings it all into balance.
A dried herb kick is the hallmark of wines made by this producer, and this bottling may wear that note best, its fresh-pressed blackberry aromas accented with thyme and oregano. The palate blends those savory tones with light purple fruit and caramel and coffee touches, finishing on peppery spice.
This young wine has great potential. With powerful tannins and a dense texture, it is rich in black fruits and acidity. Concentrated and with a firm structure, the wine will age well. Produced from a blend that puts Bordeaux grapes with a small proportion of the local Abouriou, it will be ready in 2020.
A solid, compelling bottling for an entry-level wine, this was aged in a combination of French oak, acacia wood and concrete, and shows clean Gala apple and brioche aromas. Grippy tension and sizzling acidity fire up the palate, bringing the wine's apple and peach flavors to the fore, sprinkled with savory sea salt and spice.
There's a smoky oak tinge to this bottling from actress Challen Cates and winemaker Kevin Law, with black raspberry and sandalwood notes as well. The palate intrigues with salty dark cranberry and penetrating Mediterranean herb flavors.
The wine comes from a single, high-elevation vineyard owned by Château Lagrézette. Wood aged, it smooths out the naturally creamy Viognier to give a broad generous wine. Spice and apricot fruits are balanced by green-fruit acidity. The opulent wine is just about ready to drink although it will be better from 2018.
Though light in color and body, this wine carries tremendous aromas and flavors, thanks in part to its 5% cofermented Viognier. The nose shows charred beef, crushed elderberry and potpourri scents, while the palate shows tart red currant and cranberry fruit, with smoked beef, white, pepper, rosemary and fennel accents.
Boysenberry, black plum, condensed rose petal and cola touches show on the nose of this clonal selection, which offers very purple-seeming aromas. Ripe black cherry fruit leads the palate, followed by rounded vanilla notes, over a backdrop of thyme, bay leaf and graphite.
A screaming deal from Dan Lee and company, this dynamic Syrah shows plush blackberry, vanilla and caramel aromas. There's buoyant red and purple fruit on the palate, from boysenberry to black raspberry, kept fresh with lively acidity and accented with lavender and thyme.
A wonderfully herbal lift of mint precedes ripe cherry fruit on the nose of this wine. The palate brims with lusciously ripe plum, while supple tannins provide a velvety but firm background against which the mellow fruit can play. It's fresh, juicy and full-bodied.
This blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon is succulently smooth yet big boned and slightly smoky. Red cherry and berry fruit provides plushness on the palate, upheld by tight, firm tannins and supportive oak.
This wine is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The aromas are almost completely shut down at present, with just hints of barrel spice, herb and dark fruit. The fruit flavors are similarly locked up, backed by lightly grainy tannins. There are good things going on but it needs time to reveal itself. Best after 2022.
Classic varietal aromas of hay, tomato vine and tropical fruit take center stage in this expressive white, accented with a whiff of wet stone. The savory palate doles out juicy grapefruit, green melon, yellow peach and mineral flavors, with tangy acidity.
Bold strokes of blackberry, cassis and bramble persist throughout this surprisingly youthful late-release Cabernet Sauvignon. It's rich on the palate yet balanced neatly, boasting brisk acidity and ripe but grippy tannins. Two years of maturation in French oak contribute to a long finish marked with sweet tobacco and baking spices.
Generous on the palate, this wine from the famous site is ripe with wild strawberry and pomegranate fruit and accented with the distinct spiciness of cardamom. It displays its youth through assertive tannins and oak-derived scents, layering the thick finish with cinnamon bark.
Floral and almond aromas lead to rich, ripe fruit flavors and spicy, floral accents on the palate. This unique wine is dry and full bodied despite its low alcohol due to an attractively viscous texture that rounds it out and carries the finish.
This Bulgarian Chardonnay is fermented in egg-shaped concrete vessels and has aromas of anise fronds and citrus blossom. There are lively flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit pith and lemon curd in the mouth. It has nice balance and a pleasant touch of ripe yellow peach in the finish.
Deep ruby in the glass, this wine has a nose of blackberry, anise, and smoked meat. Smooth tannins wrap around flavors of black cherry, fennel bulb, green pepper and eucalyptus. A touch of smoke makes its presence known on the bright finish.
A fruit-filled nose of blackberry and pomegranate primes the palate for flavors of blackberry, eucalyptus, green pepper and cocoa. Strong tannins and acidity are equally matched, and there is a startling note of oregano on the smooth finish.
Made entirely from Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of toasted oak, yellow apple, and roasted hazelnut. The round medium-bodied palate delivers mature Abate Fetel pear, toasted walnut and a hint of ginger. Fresh acidity lifts the lingering finish.
Spiced plum, stalky underbrush, coconut and French oak aromas lead the way. The ripe palate doles out dried cherry, licorice, espresso and tobacco framed in firm close-grained tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the rather astringent finish.
This blend of 56% Sauvignon Blanc and 44% Sémillon opens with flinty, toasty notes that complement the rich wood-grilled apple, clementine peel, straw and nutty aromas. The round mouthfeel shows a bit of heaviness on the midpalate, full of vanilla custard, orange cream and buttered toast flavors that continue through the medium-length finish. Drink now.
Hints of green melon rinds, tart apple and pears persist from nose to finish in this delicate dry Riesling. Bristling lime acidity awakens the midpalate, leading to a long finish dusted with pollen.
Pretty whiffs of rose petal and stone fruit mark this fragrant sunny semidry Riesling. Suggesting delicate extractions of apricot and white peach, it's softer and rounder on the palate than Keuka Lake Vineyard's dry Rieslings. The finish is brisk and citrus.
This robust red opens with aromas of black-skinned berries, forest floor, herbs, cloves and balsamic notes. The brawny palate offers cherries marinated in spirits, licorice and espresso framed in firm polished tannins. You'll also the notice the heat of evident alcohol that throws the finish off balance.
There's a fresh element to the nose of this bottling, with pomegranate and black raspberry fruit as well as nutmeg spice. A leathery structure arises on the palate, offering blackberry fruit, earthy loam and a eucalyptus touch.
From midway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, the small area of Buzet produces wines in the likeness of Bordeaux. This blend has the tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon prominent in the mix, giving the wine structure and density. Drink the wine from 2018.
This white blend of 50% Chardonnay, 30% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon has aromas of citrus blossom, vanilla bean and lemongrass. In the mouth it has flavors of lemon curd, lemon-lime zest and mango. The finish is clean with a savory note of dried herbs in the post palate.
Potent cedar and black pepper aromas, deep smoky, spicy flavors and a stiff, tannic texture make this dry, full-bodied wine powerful but a little challenging to drink now. It has the concentration to age well and should be best after 2020.
Coming mainly from the villages of Ladoix and Chorey-lès-Beaune, this wine is a delicious example of the juicy, ripe fruit that comes from the Côte de Beaune. It's soft and open, with a generous character that makes it ready to drink soon, from 2018.
Dark woody mossy aromas are heavy, ripe and suggest raisin and prune. This Syrah is stacked and dense on the palate, with hard tannins that pinch. Blackened burnt flavors of blackberry, toast, baking spices, campfire and bacon finish with overt, dominating oak.
Dense woody aromas come with notes of damp earth, coffee grounds and eucalyptus nut. On the palate, this blend of Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot is high in acidity but also resiny from oak treatment. Salty plum and tomato flavors give way to a tidal wave of oak flavor on the finish. Drink through 2025.
This opens with aromas of chamomile flower and ripe Bartlett pear. The lively easy-drinking palate offers green apple, white peach and a juicy citrus note alongside tangy acidity.
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Syrah this garnet-colored wine has aromas of bright cherry, blackberry and dried oregano. In the mouth, there are flavors of cherry and dried Mediterranean herbs. The tannins are pleasantly astringent and the finish is persistent.
This straw-colored wine is made from 100% Tamianka, which translates from ancient Bulgarian to “frankincense.” It is highly perfumed with aromas of jasmine blossoms, honeysuckle and citrus flowers. In the mouth there are flavors of grapefruit pith and lemon zest. The finish is clean, zesty and slightly floral.
Bright watermelon and raspberry candy flavors are sunny and fresh on the nose and palate in this easygoing rosé. Crisp acidity makes it especially thirst-quenching. Enjoy now.
Soft aromas of yellow apple and pear flesh dance on the nose of this delicate wine, with subtle nuances of white tea and almond lending interest. The flavors mimic the bouquet, though with a bit more intensity, while medium acidity provides good cut and refreshment through the close. Enjoy through 2018.
Made entirely from native grape Canaiolo, this opens with delicate aromas of black-skinned berry, hay and a whiff of cooking spice. The dense palate delivers blackberry jam, cedar and licorice alongside crunchy tannins. Enjoy through 2020.
Fresh and inviting on the nose, this bottling from the Estrella and San Miguel subdistricts shows black cherry pie, clove, vanilla and buttered rum aromas. It's incredibly rich on the palate, with caramelized black fruit, vanilla and cola flavors, bolstered by a minerally backbone and iodine touches.
This variety is a relative rarity in Washington. This one offers quiet aromas of spice and cherry along with barrel accents. The tart cherry flavors are medium bodied and fruit filled.
Aromas of grilled porcini mushroom, scorched earth, dark spice and a whiff of crushed herb lead the nose. The brawny palate offers dried cherry, vanilla, prune and a hint of licorice alongside a backbone of bracing tannins. The heat of evident alcohol throws off the finish.
Aromas of plum, clove, coffee and wood spice lead to plush plump fruit flavors. The tannins give a light squeeze.
This wine is a vineyard selection, aged in wood for 12 months. A structured blend of Fer Servadou and Cabernet Sauvignon, it has black fruits, firm tannins and acidity, all in balance. The wood aging is only a hint of smoothness with the rich fruit. Drink from 2018.
This 100% Pinot Nero opens with aromas of red berries, rose petals and a whiff of vanilla. The juicy linear palate offers red currants, vanilla and a hint of beets framed in polished tannins. Enjoy soon.
Subdued aromas suggesting forest floor, leather, stewed plum and exotic spice lead the nose. The dense concentrated palate shows black cherry extract, prune and licorice alongside compact tannins. You'll also notice the heat of evident alcohol.
The Awatere Valley is a cooler subsection of Marlborough, where the wines can sometimes be a bit more leafy or herbal. This wine holds true to that pattern, but balances the celery leaf and tomato stalk character with melon and fig notes. It's verging on full-bodied, even a touch oily in texture, with a long, vibrant finish.
The aromas of purple flowers, moist soil, spice and vanilla offer intrigue. It's palate-coating with plum and dark-fruit flavors that bring a weighty, full feel. It will drink best at the dinner table.
This unabashed ripe, oaky style of wine will please a lot of people. Caramel and melted butter aromas lead to ripe and buttery flavors with a candied edge. There is a definite emphasis on oak and other complex flavors, while the fruit component lies low.
Fruit and more mature flavors are coming together, giving a structured wine with black-currant flavors balanced with mint, spice and a rounded texture. This stylish wine is almost ready to drink; just wait until summer 2016.
This is the dry white wine made from the Sauternes estate of Rayne Vigneau. Grapefruit and other citrus flavors are prominent, cutting through the taut texture, along with with a light touch of honey that gives richness. The wine needs to age a little longer, so drink from late 2016.
The skill of Michel Rolland's wine-consulting team shows in this sophisticated, rich wine. The 90% Merlot dominates, but the ripeness is tempered by solid tannins, stylish black-currant flavors and a firm, ageworthy aftertaste. Drink from 2018.
From a small parcel of chalky soil in the Fourcas Dupré estate, this ripe, wood-aged wine offers toast and herbal flavors along with ripe apricot and quince fruitiness. The acidity and the mineral edge of the wine promise aging, so drink from 2018.
Such breezy freshness, such citric concentration on a slender, very streamlined body. Bright, lemony flavors fizz everywhere and create a feeling of lightness, but with a firm backbone. A clean, taut finish.
Penetrating layers of white grapefruit and tangerine are laced with deliciously astringent murmurs of lime zest in this dry, citrusy Riesling. It's deeply fruity and forward, yet nuanced by savory hints of nuts and spice that linger long on the finish.
Raspberry, licorice and dark-fruit aromas lead to plump, fleshy fruit flavors. It's an unabashedly warm-vintage wine that brings a lot of drinking pleasure.
Cairnbrae's 2014 is a pleasant surprise, boasting fine aromatics of celery leaf and struck flint, bold passion-fruit flavors and a long, mouthwatering finish. Subtle herb shadings and a rich texture add extra interest, but drink up by the end of 2016.
Tightly woven tannins mark this blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese and 9% Merlot. From there, it's a story of soft leather, black tar and rich, velvety blackberry, given 20 months in large French oak barrels. More time in bottle should help make friends of the disparate elements; drink through 2020.
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, sourced from throughout the Napa Valley, including the winery's estate Diamond Mountain vineyard. Bold and lush in cranberry and dark chocolate, it's also robust in black pepper and cedar.
This full and structured wine offers good acidity, firm tannins and layers of black-currant flavors. It has good potential with richness, weight and balance. Drink from 2019.
Hints of ceder, bramble and smoked nuts add savory complexity to this ripe, full-bodied Syrah full of succulent black cherry and berry flavors. It's approachable yet elegant, framed by soft, feathery tannins and a zesty spray of cranberry acidity add. Drink now through 2018.
With 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a structured wine, firm with tannins that contrast with the black-currant fruits. Still full of young tannins, it will develop well over the next few years. Wait to drink until 2019.
For a Lalande de Pomerol this wine has a high proportion (30%) of Cabernet Franc, giving a structure that shapes the ripe Merlot. It's juicy with black plums and has a core of dry tannins. Drink from 2018.
The first Merlot offering from this producer, this is 100% varietal and totally full-throttle in its fleshy components of vanilla and chocolate, seasoned in cinnamon. Fresh and somewhat floral, it's bright despite its size and lively on the palate. The wine is made in tiny amounts.
Lemon-lime acidity cuts a laser-sharp edge through honey in this lush, concentrated Riesling full of pink grapefruit, mango and peach flavors. It's a lip smacking, juicy wine, yet stands up to even the most elegant occasions. Drink now.
For now, the full, smoky hit of new oak fills nose and palate, while fresh citrus manages to get through here and there. The palate reveals a creamy saltiness but is currently dominated by the wood flavors and still needs to integrate and combine, wait for at least a year.
Creamy notes show subtle smoke and hazelnut notions. The flavor profile is equally subtle but has an underlying, pervasive lemony freshness that brightens the entire palate. This is a restrained, friendly, approachable but classy Chardonnay—and a very good choice for dishes that also have a spike of lemon flavor.
Toast, espresso, black plum and leather aromas open up in the nose. The round, juicy palate delivers ripe black cherry, blackberry, dark cooking spice and a gamy note alongside fine-grained tannins that give it a firm finish.
Light-bodied and modestly priced, this is a wine for a wide circle of friends, great for midweek meals and larger weekend gatherings. Hazelnut and caramel-honey confront the senses, while the palate offers balance and zesty acidity. The finish is soft and subtle.
A rather closed nose leads to a citric, ever so slightly peppery palate. The body approaches on light feet, with an almost weightless freshness. If you like it feather-light, this is your wine, just a silky touch of bracing acidity and an ultraclean finish.
Aromas of baked plum, toasted oak, coffee and a whiff of chocolate come together in the glass. On the palate, cocoa, cinnamon and vanilla add depth to the juicy black cherry core while firm, polished tannins provide the framework. Drink through 2020.
The second vintage of this declassified barrel wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah. It provides aromas of blackberry, pencil eraser, coffee, strawberry and herbs. The palate boasts plump, flavorful fruit and savory notes before a lingering finish.
Peach, melon and mineral waft from the nose, followed by melon and grapefruit flavors. The finish is surprisingly tropical, a mix of bananas and coconut. Starts off better than it finishes, leading one to believe that if served quickly and chilled it will do well with seafood and appetizers.
Round and sweet, with some grapy, creamy aromas and a hint of oak sticking out. The palate is sweet, a bit candied, and firm, all courtesy of sharp but healthy tannins. A sweet, chewy finish is the lasting impression.
Dark in color, with powerful aromas that lean toward green peppers and green beans. Those vegetal notes are fairly well covered by some sweet oak, however, you can't escape the vegetal taste and smell. That said, the texture is perfect and the mouthfeel just right.
Lime and green apples on the nose, with a floral note as well. It's medium-bodied, featuring a sharp, citrusy edge to the finish.
Plump and round on the nose, with some heavy oak and awkward plum/beet aromas. The palate is robust and forward, but a little confusing; the fruit is muddled. And the finish is grapey and thin, leaving a mildly sour lasting impression.
Boasts some interesting flavors of graphite or slate, and mineral oil, which complement its pear and kumquat aromas. Could use more focus and length, but certainly pleasant; chilling it well will make it seem firmer.
An odd style that may not appeal to everyone, with apple and pineapple flavors marked by butter and vanilla. It's medium bodied, and picks up a hint of lemon on the finish.
Montes tosses quite a few qualifiers at the name of this wine; i.e. “special cuvée” and “reserve,” but at the end of the day it's a basic Merlot with earthy notes and some obvious oak. The fruit flavors veer toward plum and blackberry, while below that there's a shot of woodiness.
This blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco is dark-gold in color, with citrus and green apple aromas that get riper as the wine gradually warms in the glass, eventually developing peach overtones. Flavors are of buttered stone fruits. Drink up.
Varietally typical aromas of grapefruit and green onion start it off, but the palate is more citrusy, as it emphasizes flavors of orange, grapefruit, passion fruit and some pickle. The finish is fresh and clean, and the mouthfeel is juicy. However, dilution of flavors and a failure to improve once opened hold it back.
Vanilla and pear aromas begin this soft-bodied wine that is mouthfilling and easy, but not up to shocking anyone. The flavors of orange and pineapple are close to the real thing, and the finish is smooth and easy. A mellow white wine at its best.
Tropically fruity and plump, with some banana and custard aromas and flavors--also some tapioca and vanilla. Finishes with a refreshing citrus edge.
A simple, citrusy quaff that leans heavily toward pineapple and grapefruit. Some melon flavors round out the package.
Smooth red fruit notions of black and red cherry, tinged with some smokiness, characterize this easy red. Drink now.
This is smooth and easy to drink, with a soft texture, almost sweet strawberry jam flavors, and a touch of spicy, nutty oak that firms it up on the finish.
This earthy wine opens with aromas of ripe plum, tilled earth, game and a whiff of barnyard. The rustic but juicy palate doles out black cherry, spicy blueberry and ground pepper framed by hearty tannins.
Thick and concentrated, this robust wine doles out stewed prune, cherry marinated in spirits, chocolate and a confectionary note alongside the burn of evident alcohol. There's a lot heft here but not much vibrancy or balance.
Merlot is one of the benchmark wines at this winery, wholly-owned by the Osoyoos Indians. Roasted aromas of plum and cherry don't entirely disguise a bit of funk. A year in mixed oak adds flavors of mocha and dark chocolate to rather thin fruit.
Appealing notes include pear, jasmine and orange blossom. It drinks a hair off dry with stone fruit flavors that seem a bit dilute.
Boasting cherry-vanilla cola and ripe fruit notes, this is a young, fresh wine that shows hints of savory tones on the palate. Drink now.
This oak-draped wine offers aromas of plastic, vanilla and resin mixed with spicy plum and berry. The palate is firm and dry but fresh, with plum and black cherry flavors that are moderately spicy. A spunky finish shows ample acids.
Spicy, green aromas suggest juniper bush more than clean berry fruits. This is firm and condensed on the palate, with herbal, minty flavors of leathery, savory blackberry and eucalyptus. The finish is saucy and herbal, with staunch acidity and hard tannins.
This wine delivers fruit, fruit and more fruit, at a deliciously affordable price. Bold black-cherry aromas and flavors feature just a tinge of spice, then fade away quickly on the faintly dusty finish. Drink now.
This blend of Merlot, Syrah, Petit Sirah and Primitivo is aromatic and fruit-filled, with notes of confection, blueberry pie, plum, licorice and red fruit. The flavors are sweet, primary and direct with a smooth feel.
The wine is soft, gently herbaceous and fresh. Grapefruit and gooseberry flavors are bright, steely and fruity in this clean wine that's ready to drink.
Aromas of woodshop, spearmint, baking spice, pressed flower and a whiff of bacon lead the nose on this dense wine. The palate delivers oak, blueberry extract, vanilla, coffee and a confectionary note, but there's not enough fruit richness to stand up to the oak spices.
Though not labeled as such, this is a single-vineyard offering from Pontin del Roza Vineyard. It brings notes of apple and apricot, drinking dry with a quite elegant yet flavorful styling.
This soft and approachable Merlot brims in smoke and oak, with subtle plum fruit. A slight layering of spice on the back of the palate is pleasing.
Aromas of roasted coffee bean, coconut and plum cake lead the nose on this dense wine. The extracted palate offers prune, oak, espresso, dried black fruit and licorice alongside astringent tannins that leave a bitter finish. There's not enough fruit richness to stand up to the oak.
Aromas of ripe plum, espresso, sawdust, cocoa and allspice lead the nose. The palate offers mature blackberry, black pepper, oak extract and roasted coffee bean alongside raspy, astringent tannins.
This ripe wine offers aromas of mature plum, blackberry, raisin and mocha. The soft palate doles out fleshy black cherry, blackberry and a hint of cinnamon alongside smooth but fleeting tannins.
This opens with aromas of coconut, roasted coffee bean and steeped plum. The dense, extracted palate offers oak extract, blueberry syrup, espresso and a confectionary note.
This wine doesn't seem to have fully ripened, with green herbs along with plum and reductive notes. It's full bodied in feel with scratchy tannins.
Fresh, slender and easy—these are the virtues of this light wine that would be a great solution for a party.
The aromas of char, sawdust and vanilla seem to clash with the notes of herbs, leather and cedar. The fruit flavors are lighter in style with the oak (50% new French along with third-fill American) taking over the show.
Fresh and inviting aromas of fynbos, gooseberry and lime leaf leap from the glass of this value-priced Savvy. The palate is light and crisp, with a lemon-lime note that finishes brisk and refreshing. Easy to drink and immensely accessible; drink now.
Earthy, leafy red-fruit aromas are a bit rustic and burnt-smelling. This solid, chunky Pinot has spicy oak leading slightly cooked but good berry flavors. A woody, somewhat hot finish is somewhat generic.
Aromas of fresh-cut grass, citrus peel and yeasty dust are typical of the Casablanca region. A round mouthfeel offers proper acidic cut, while flavors of grapefruit, lime and bell pepper finish green but fresh.
Green apple and lime aromas are well presented and clean. This has a citrusy feel to go with lime, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors. A mildly pithy and citric finish delivers plenty of youthful kick.
Gritty aromas of asphalt, green peppercorn, saucy berry and hard spices precede a tight palate with grating tannins. This is oak-heavy, with sweet-and-saucy red-berry flavors. An oaky, tomatoey finish is rubbery in feel.
While its nose suggests zesty green herbs and lime peel, the palate of this delightfully brisk Weissburgunder, or Pinot Blanc, is sunny with fruit. Crisp nectarine and tangerine flavors are concentrated and fresh, marked by crush ed mineral notes on the finish. Drink now through 2021.
Leafy woody berry and graphite aromas are on the spot for Cabernet. This feels bold and saturated, with no holes in the palate. Lightly herbal flavors of plum and blackberry are darkened by a wave of chocolate, while this tastes of mocha and chocolate on a plush but energetic finish.
Inky red-violet in the glass, this wine has aromas of black cherry and chocolate. It is pleasing on the palate, with fruit-dominated flavors of cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, vanilla and espresso. Smooth soft tannins linger a moment past a finish marked by a splash of cranberry with a touch of freshly ground coffee.
One of a pair of wines that are named after the soils on which the vines grow, this comes from clay and chalk earth on the terraces of the Lot river. It is structured and still dense, needing several years to mature. Packed tannins still lie over the generous ripe fruits. Drink from 2019.
This is a soft, well-crafted wine from the eastern side of St. Helena that's both classic in its dried herb, tobacco and tea aromas and fruity with red currant and cranberry notes.
This is a beatifully balanced, not-too-full-bodied wine from vines grown at 2,400 feet in the Sierra range. It has classic black cherry, black olive and anise aromas, harmonious fruit flavors accented with light oak spiciness and a firm, fine-grained tannic structure.
Made with 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, this boasts appealing aromas of acacia flower, nectarine and Alpine herb. The elegant palate delivers juicy Gala apple, yellow peach and a touch of ginger alongside fresh acidity.
With 18 months in French and American oak, this wine is structured with concentrated tannins under its bright, juicy blackberry fruit. Still young and brightly acidic, it's drinkable now but will be better from 2019.
This limited edition wine from Passarella's original vineyard is wood-fermented, bringing out a creamy texture and the natural richness of the fruit. It's deliciously rich, laced with spiced apple and white stone fruit flavors, and will be ready to drink from 2018.
Aromas of toasted oak, espresso, underbrush and a balsamic note take shape in the glass. The fresh firm palate shows dried sour cherry, cranberry, roasted coffee bean and a hint of star anise set against close-grained tannins that grip the finish.
The aromas bring notes of milk chocolate, spice and red fruit, along with high-toned vanilla accents. The fruit and barrel flavors are plush and full, while still showing a lovely sense of balance.
You'll find aromas suggesting underbrush, scorched earth, truffle, grilled herb and a balsamic note on this robust red. The brawny palate evokes dried black cherry, prune, licorice and tobacco alongside chewy tannins and the heat of evident alcohol. Let the muscular tannins unwind for a few more years then drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
This vineyard designate offers mountain-grown characteristics like sage, dried herb and graphite. Full-bodied and built to age, it also shows earthy mushroom underpinnings that recall its forest-like aromas.
A fine blend with 60% Tannat that has been softened and filled out by Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon. It still does have a firm tannic core although this is surrounded by ripe black fruits and acidity. It has all its bright fruit and so could age further, although it is now ready to drink.
Aromas of black cherry and white chocolate lead the way for flavors of raspberry, vanilla, espresso and sage. This well-constructed wine offers silky tannins and a soft pleasing finish.
While this wine does not age in wood, it does age on its lees, giving it a rich, creamy texture. It's smooth, full and soft, its apricot and peach flavors showing ripeness and openness. Drink from 2018.
Made predominantly with Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of lemon zest, acacia honey and a toasted note. The lively elegant palate offers yellow apple, apricot, vanilla and a touch of baking spice. It's well balanced, with bright acidity.
Aromas of apple and hay are slightly oily but nice. Bright acidity renders this fresh and not too chunky, while flavors of dry oak, melon and salted apple finish steady, with a hint of lemon. If you are interested in barrel-fermented Verdejo, this is a good place to start.
An earthy heavily oaked nose includes jammy notes of spiced black plum. A thick beefy chewy palate delivers savory herbal black-fruit flavors. A blocky finish is tannic, and overall the sum is about equal to its parts. Drink through 2021.
From a selection of vineyards, most predominantly Stiling, this wine offers tart acidity and a low oak profile upfront, allowing the fruit to build richness and density as it opens. Baked apple and mango flavors are spiced with nutmeg and caramel, finishing with steely minerality.
Aromas of underbrush, ripe plum, chopped herb, dark spice and espresso meld together with a balsamic note. The firmly structured palate offers dried cherry, prune, coffee and clove alongside tightly knit close-grained tannins that leave a grippy finish. You'll also notice the warmth of evident alcohol on the close.
With a nose of cherry and smoked meats, this wine offers flavors of black plum, blackberry, cranberry and a touch of summer farm stand. Healthy tannins compensate for a sense of tartness by adding weight and volume to the palate.
There is a pleasant and mellow peach quality to the balanced nose of this bottling, with touches of melted marshmallow and white chocolate, cut by squeezed lime and melon. Vibrant acidity slices through the palate, where round yellow apple and Asian pear flavors are bound by grippy tension.
This is a big, beefy wine that smells smoky and black-cherry-like and tastes full, bold and firmly tannic. It layers smoky, meaty notes over cranberry and tart cherry flavors, with hints of dark chocolate and cardamom. It is well balanced, muscular in mouthfeel and should improve with time through 2020 at least.
Juicy and medium-bodied, this wine is vibrantly crafted and balanced in oak. Showcasing pear and lemon chiffon flavors, it offers great value for the quality.
This wine starts off quiet and reserved, but with time, reveals itself as a lush and ripe selection. Aromas of red apple, toasted challah, honeycomb and banana cream pie slowly unfold in the bouquet and carry through to the medium-weight palate, where it is balanced by medium acidity and supporting tones of sweet citrus oil and baking spice. Drink now–2019.
This great buy shows a sophisticated blend of spice and fruit aromas. Medium-bodied and classically dry, it has good balance, moderate fruit flavors and light toast and ginger notes that add complexity.
Piercing quince and tangerine flavors brighten this deeply rocky, smoky wine that's full of earthy, savory complexity. Delicate and off-dry, it balances juicy citrus flavors withpert acidity. The finish is refreshingly brisk and dry.
This bottling belongs to a series of wines from the legendary Jerry Lohr emphasizing Rhône varieties. It shows candied blackberry, violets and potpourri on the fruity, flowery and inviting nose. The palate leads with savory black pepper, which accents its core of black plum, blackberry and purple flower flavors.
Purple and black fruits spread across the midpalate, with herbal, tannic flavors from the Franc and floral highlights from the PV. There is a bit of a hole in the middle, and the tannins seem to hit a bit hard following that drop-off. It could be a phase, or it could be a failing.
Best of the three, this ripe and round Merlot is fully loaded with juicy, appealing red and blue fruits. Forward and clean, with excellent palate penetration, its smooth tannins are supported with firm acid.
A 50-50 blend of Cinsault and Grenache, this is a medium-bodied, plump, succulent rosé, hinting at grapefruit and underripe peaches. It's nicely balanced, with a long, slightly minerally finish. Drink now.
A burly, rough-hewn wine that has been slightly tamed by the use of French oak aging. But it remains a dense wine, packed with dry tannins, spice and herbs, and some juicy black plum flavors. The finish is dry, very firm, and the wine needs at least five years.
Seems as though Estampa did well with its value-priced red wines in 2006. This Carmenère-Merlot blend is dark, sweet and nicely balanced. It gets the important things like tannins and acidity right, and then really pours on the ripeness of fruit. Delivers a lot for an under-$10 wine.
This is the winery's first varietal Malbec. Estate grown at the Bella Terra vineyard, it's an exciting debut, with floral scents over vivid purple fruit, and residual flavors of cured meat, smoke and pepper. About 14% Petit Verdot has been added to the blend.
This elegant red blend—the new flagship wine from Bedell—starts with a soft, juicy nose with hints of cedar and cinnamon. On the palate, a burst of cherry, plum and blackberry flavors mingle with spice and smooth tannins. The finish has an appealing spin of exotic spices. Though ready to drink now, the wine will benefit from a few years in the cellar, allowing its elements to even further integrate.
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, this shows off Cabernet's cedary, leafy qualities to advantage, using them to accent its cassis fruit. It's a nicely balanced, medium-bodied Cab, with a smooth texture and chocolate and cedar accents on the finish. Ready to drink now, but it should hold for at least another few years.
Smooth, fruity and fairly deep for a basic Merlot. The palate is medium-to-full in terms of weight and bite, with ripe berry fruit and light oak notes leading to a long, chocolaty finish. Textbook everyday Chilean Merlot, which means it's pleasant and easy to drink.
This is a fruity wine that has red fruit tones and a firm tannic character. It has juicy acidity, along with spice from wood aging. The Syrah in the blend gives an earthy character, while the acidity shows brightly at the end. Drink from 2016.
Packed with all the ripe fruit of the Alentejo, this warm, full-bodied wine is generous and round. Black-fruit tones dominate, balanced by perfumed acidity and a smooth texture from the high proportion of Aragon (Tempranillo). It is ready to drink, although it will improve at least until 2017.
This structured wine has a great weight of fruit behind its firm tannins. Juicy acidity gives a delicious, fragrant and ripe character. Drink this wine from 2016.
This is a light and fresh wine with soft tannins and appealing red berry fruits. It offers attractive acidity at the end, a balanced wine that is ready to drink.
This is a delightfully straightforward wine, supple and smooth in floral honeysuckle and orange blossom behind ripe apple flavors and crispness.
A 100% varietal wine from the Napa producer, this is sourced from the expansive appellation known as Sonoma Coast. The wine exhibits cooler-climate herbal tendencies against a smooth palate, subtle oak and red fruit. It finishes in sizable tannins.
Very appetizing in a lean style, this light- to medium-bodied wine from a little-known part of Northern California shows dried herb and cranberry aromas, good crisp fruit flavors, medium body and a grippy texture that encourages another sip.
Berry fruit flavors give this wine a light, fruity character. It is stalky and fresh with acidity, showing a light aftertaste. Drink now.
Lighter in color and density, this wine shows smoked berries, rust and iodine on the nose. The palate is decorated with black olives, smoked cherries and more sanguine elements.
Tropical aromas of lychee, green melon and peach come with hints of sweat and pine that can be attributed to the 20% Sauvignon Blanc in the blend. This is racy, lean and citric in feel, with tangerine, lime and passion fruit flavors. A lean, pithy, citrusy finish is crisp and clean.
This broad, ripe wine has plenty of ripe red fruits but the minimum of structure. It is soft, generous and ready to drink. Much of the hand-picked production is from old vines on a 45-degree slope.
Yeasty, floral aromas fold in notes of citrus and apple. This is more lifted and fresh than the newer 2014, which was a warmer vintage. Flavors of citrus and tropical fruits turn more yeasty and bready on the finish.
A deep purple shade of pink, this fruity wine shoes aromas of strawberry juice and buttered red cherries. There are tart berry flavors on the palate, though it's more similar to a red wine than a pink one.
A subtle touch of tannin in this otherwise fruity wine gives a dry edge that contrasts with the bright red-berry fruits and refreshing acidity. Drink now, although this wine will be even better in 2016.
Named for brand co-founder Janie Master, this wine shows peach ripeness and dried herb sharpness on the nose, along with a slightly sweet reductive funk. The flavors offer lime on nectarine, with a nice tension between perceived sweetness and the sour/bitter side of the grape.
Named after the fourth art of Kama Sutra, this wine shows Juicy Fruit gum aromas as well as banana candies and a squeeze of lemon. There is a lime-pith tension to the powerful bubblegum ripeness alongside papaya, banana and yellow melon.
This is a light and charming Pinot Noir with aromas like cherry candy, bright fruit flavors and a touch of candied sweetness on the finish. It is light to medium bodied and benefits from crisp acidity and soft tannins to liven up the texture.
This is a ripe and juicy wine that is full of fresh white fruit tones on the nose. It has ripe yellow fruits along with crisp lemon and a touch of minerality. The wine is ready to drink.
This wine is easy and accessible, with bright red fruits and a light structure. There is fresh character that brings out its fruitiness, lightened by acidity.
A whole lot of varieties figure into this blend, from 32% Petite Sirah and 26% Syrah to 20% Petit Verdot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, the remaining 5% comprised of Grenache. They combine for a medium-bodied, somewhat unformed expression of ripe plum and leatheriness, finishing just the slightest bit sweet.
Blueberry and cassis aromas come in front of a narrow, rubbery palate. Rubbery, earthy plum and dark-berry flavors end with grabby tannins and herbal, salty, briny notes.
Closed at first, this wine opens to reveal soft, chewy undertones of ripe red cherry and raspberry, a lilting underground of vanilla developing over time. Medium in build and length, it's well made and approachable, a good choice for versatile palates.
With a very pretty nose of perfumed pear, green apple and lime, this unoaked Chardonnay is nicely soft and easy to drink. Made from organic Chardonnay and a touch of Viognier, this smells and tastes of summer. Even without a hint of oak this retains plenty of richness and a fresh vibrancy on the finish.
Using grapes sourced from old vines, this is dark and concentrated. It's dominated at the start by firm, dry tannins, with its power coming from its dark, brooding fruit and dense structure. Age for at least four years.
Dense and almost black in color, this is concentrated, with intense tannins and black plum fruit. It bursts with the rich fruit and acidity, finishing on a smoky, juicy note.
This wine starts off with vanilla, cinnamon and dark cherry notes on the nose, with the oak-derived elements marrying nicely with the Grenache fruit. It's full bodied, liquorous and lush, with a long, velvety finish. Probably best over the next 4–5 years.
This blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre delivers juicy, almost gulpable fruit, supported by a loose spine of soft tannins. Purple raspberry and black cherry flavors linger on the supple finish. Drink now–2018.
Ripe and rich, but not dull or out of whack, this smells sweet, a little soupy and densely fruity, with a cumin accent. It feels concentrated and full bodied, with black fruit flavors of roasted plum and blackberry. It's mellow, dealing brown sugar on the finish. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo; drink now–2013.
The bouquet is stylish and rooty, with black-fruit and chocolate scents leading the charge. It shows good structure, meaning it's full but not too thick or jammy. Flavors of ripe blackberry and plum are generous and a touch rubbery, while the finish is full and mildly tannic.
Stainless-steel fermented and the color of wheat, this still white wine is stylish and compelling. If you've wondered why anyone would bother to make a white Pinot Noir, this is the answer. It's fragrant with sweet grass and melon, then the flavors follow along with grapefruit and kiwi.
One of Spain's most character-packed wines, this vintage of Mas La Plana deals bacon, berry and earthy aromas in front of a weighty, fairly tannic palate. Becoming richer and riper as it unfolds, this is full of prune, plum and earthy stewed-berry flavors. It gets better and shows more complexity with air. Drink now–2018.
A high-end Malbec experience at a reasonable price, this boasts rich aromas of cola, graphite and boysenberry that leap from the glass. The palate is bright and just thick enough, with wild berry, cherry, plum and oak-based flavors. Another whack of oak, along with vanilla, chocolate and tobacco flavors, graces the finish. Drink now–2015.
Big and lush, this has graphite, coconut, minty oak and huge berry fruit aromas. It's plush in the mouth but not wayward or overly big, with roasted plum, ­molasses, leather and raspberry flavors and a forward barrel note. Savory and long on the finish, this is a blend of 40% Monastrell, 30% Tempranillo and 15% each Syrah and Cabernet.
Densely tannic, this is also full of sweet berry fruits. Powerful and superripe, its fruit is beginning to integrate into the big, smoky, chocolaty structure. The finish shows both toast and juicy fruit notes. Keep for 3–4 years.
This is an austere wine that blossoms slowly. Using grapes sourced from a vineyard at an elevation of 2,000 feet, this has a wild herb character along with dark black fruits and tannins that need several years to age. Give this very ageworthy effort at least four years.
Wood-aged, this is a ripe-textured wine that has rich flavors of yellow and white fruits and toast. It has concentrated, intense fruit that bursts in the mouth. Delicious and impressive, this could be aged for another two years.
Dark, compact and black, with graphite and growling blackberry aromas. Feels tight and drawing but serious and structured, with black fruit, chocolate, toast and spice flavors. Blackened as well on the finish, with mint and toast. Hold until 2015.
More than half of the blend is Viognier, which no doubt accounts for its dramatic aromas and flavors of exotic tropical fruit, only just reined in by more citrusy notes. It's full bodied and round in the mouth without being at all flabby, with a crisp, clean, lingering finish. Drink it over the next year.
The blend is 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 10% Carignan, and in 2009 the grapes were as ripe as they could be. Mocha and chocolate notes pick up a touch of prune. With its superripe fruit, ample weight, lush texture and warm finish, there are valid concerns about its ageability, but this offers hedonistic drinking for an affordable price.
This is beautifully structured, packed with black fruits, ripe tannins and balanced acidity. It's still young, showing the black fruit side of Malbec, but the tannins are already integrating well into the structure. Age for 4–5 years.
This red blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre immediately announces itself as serious and classy. The bouquet is layered with berry fruit and baking spice aromas that aren't hard or pushy. It feels stout and secure, with its structure supporting flavors of concentrated berry, pepper and baking spice. The long finish keeps its form. Drink now–2015.
Light lemon-lime aromas open things up, alongside a light mineral note. The palate is clean and racy, with enough body to hold up to core flavors of lime, kiwi and green apple. A floral freshness carries the finish.
A light, bright and easygoing wine with clean notes of citrus, fresh-cut grass and lime zest. Lively acidity keeps the palate vibrant and refreshing, ending with a mouthwatering, tart green-plum flavor. Drink up.
For an inexpensive wine, this offers plenty of wood spice, vanilla, char and toast on the nose. The palate smacks hard with drawing tannins, while flavors of medicinal plum and raspberry carry a charred aftertaste. Good as a whole, with oak dominating the finish.
Candied blueberry aromas are fresh and suggest some power to come. Indeed, this wine is chunky on the palate, with grapy dark-fruit flavors that are generic but friendly. Made with carbonic maceration, this Toro is suggestive of Beaujolais.
Full bodied, structured and tannic while also fruity, this is fine example of the 2010 vintage. It's all structure at this stage, but it's going to be a full and ripe wine, although the alcohol does show through at the end in a pepper-driven moment.
The palate on this Tempranillo has smacking acids that create crisp flavors of raspberry and red plum, and there's a pinch of oaky vanilla for counterbalance. Overall this is juicy, fresh and simple.
The nose on this wine smells candied for the most part, with a pinch of minerality to go with sweet red berry and red licorice scents. The mouthfeel is crisp and fresh, while cherry, red plum and cassis flavors lead onto an active finish.
Sweet smelling notes of cherry pie and spice introduce this rich, concentrated Pinot Noir full of slightly ruddy redcherry and plum fruit. Vibrant acidity and soft tannins add backbone and composure.
A liquid tribute to old Mendocino, this wine is a blend of mostly Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, with smaller proportions of Sangiovese, Carignane, Negromaro, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Syrah. Medium bodied with spicy black pepper, leather and stewed plum flavors, it would go perfectly well with burgers or pizza.
This Syrah leads with standard berry and chocolate aromas. The mouthfeel is largely fresh, and while there's creamy oak as part of the flavor package, there's also good berry character and mint.
Dusty tannins push to the front, resulting in a firm, wood-aged wine that shows smokiness, ripe blackberry flavors and a firm core. This should be at its best in 2–3 years.
True to type, this Cab Franc from cool-climate Clarksburg is very herbal and dry, with a back beat of black cherry. Rich on the finish, herb flavors turns to chocolate and clove. A good wintertime wine.
A pleasant Bordeaux-style blend, this has a light dusting of milk chocolate, along with ripe fruit flavors of berry.
An easygoing, approachable wine to be enjoyed now, this offers upfront notes of blackberry, underripe plum, cured meat and soft tar. A kiss of vanilla lingers through to the medium-length finish. Drink now.
Montoliva's Sierra Bella is a blend of Sangiovese, Teroldego, Dolcetto and Barbera. It's not quiet in tannins, but boasts layers of bright acidity and dark, mouth filling fruit flavors. Limited in production but a good value.
This is a delicious wine already, not powerful, but charming and elegant. The acidity and fruit are easy and bright, the tannins light but properly in balance. That suggests this is not for aging. It's already a pleasure to drink now.
The wood that dominated during the futures tastings in 2008 has calmed down, merging more easily into the rich fruits. There is an attractive smoky character, focused berry flavors and delicious spice. It should age well over 3–5 years.
A great success, with its concentration, solid tannins and black, bitter cherry fruit flavors. The wine has spice, licorice and some layers of wood. Certainly, this would be worth aging for 4–5 years.
Meffre's wines can be a bit variable, but this Condrieu is top shelf, starting from its seductive aromas of honey, apricot and truffle to its lingering, elegant finish. In between, it's lush and mouthcoating without being overblown. Drink now-2012.
Fruit is sourced from a 23–year-old, organically farmed vineyard. With wonderful texture and mouthfeel, it offers a luscious mix of pear, pear skin, and grapefruit—tangy and refreshing. Such a juicy, spicy, lip-licking wine, you can't wait for the next sip.
With a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a structured wine, the freshness coming from intense blackberries. Spice and bitter coffee flavors mingle with the tannins, promising some good aging for the vintage.
Definite tannins here, a wine that shows ripe fruits, richness and a solid core. It is not huge, but does have structure, bitter chocolate, sweetness. It's worth aging this wine 3–4 years.
In 2007 the winery's Estate bottling seems to capture a bit more nuance and detail than the reserve, though admittedly it does not have quite the same concentration. For those who prize finesse, this is the wine of the vintage. Herbal and resiny, it's like sniffing a fine wine in a pine forest. It balances raspberry and sour cherry fruit with the tart and herbal “wild” side of Oregon Pinot. Penetrating and complex.
Any doubts that Portugal's Alentejo region can rival many big New World wines would be dispelled by this extravagant wine. With its intense fruit, sweet tannins, figs, coffee and spice flavors, it packs a serious punch of flavor. For drinking now.
A deliciously rich and spicy wine, very much in the style of the new Douro wines, softly perfumed, with black plums, sweet and dusty tannins, only a hint of dryness. The wine is balanced, with great fruit and acidity to go with the structure.
Formerly the Goldschmidt vineyard, Winderlea is under new ownership, and has been replanted. This is a light vintage, but beautifully rendered here, with sweet cherry fruit, bracing acidity and a lively mouthfeel that invites further sipping. The underlying minerality carries a hint of toasted cracker.
A dense wine, very much in the line of powerful wines from Haut-Bailly. Flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet berry fruits and richness are dominant, the acidity a fine balancing act to give a burst of freshness.
An elegant expression of Tannat, with plum skin spice and a delicious juiciness showing well. The acidity, the wood and a smoky flavor add complexity. Age this balanced wine for another 2–3 years.
Perfumed, minty wine, very solidly structured, while also showing delicious red berry fruits. The tannins have a distinct mineral character, chewy although well integrated with the fruit.
Labeled dry and tasting very much so, this clean, floral-scented Gewürztraminer has a pleasingly dusty aspect; rose petals with a thin veneer of incense. Long and complex.
Cedar plank-grilled meat and herbal accents jazz up the heady black fruit core of this wine. Rich and dark, flavors of black berry, plum flesh, cigar box, licorice and pepper dance in the mouth and stay through the solid finish. Fine but firm tannins provide structure and texture, and the wine, though delicious now, should age nicely through 2014.
A solid Cab at an attractive price. There's a lot going on in this structured and well-balanced wine. Aromas of black currant and licorice dominate the nose alongside secondary glimmers of black pepper and crushed violets, all framed with a sweet oak streak. Flavors of juicy black raspberry linger well into the finish, which gradually fades into gorgeous white pepper spice.
The name of this wine doesn't lie; if you like mint, then this one's definitely for you! Gorgeous notes of fresh eucalyptus take center stage to the blackberry and boysenberry fruit backbone. The menthol continues on in the mouth, with a gripping and structured finish that tastes like Thin Mint crumbles.
Young winemaker Collin Cranor's best Cabernet to date, intense and rounded by savory black cherry, still wound tight but already showing off its oak, sage and tobacco goodness. The wine is well-structured and rich in vanilla and blackberry, a testament to the winemaker's close workings with grower Julio Covarrubias.
Schiefer means “slate,” but this wine's stoniness is softer, less severe than that, cushioned under layers of superripe pear and spices that resemble cinnamon or clove and ginger. There's ample weight and richness on the palate despite a sense of dryness, and the wine finishes long, with hints of ripe peach.
There remains a hard, tight, tannic shell around this young Pinot; it seems to have slid into a bit of a dumb phase. But peeking through is clean, ripe, black cherry fruit, with excellent concentration. A smoky finish adds complexity.
An elegant, restrained, yet lovely Pinot Noir from a much-maligned vintage. Soft, round cherry fruit is wrapped in sandalwood and mocha flavors. Fully ripe with fine tannins and lovely integration of the barrel notes.
As much rich as sweet, this is a honey- and dry botrytis-flavored wine, with tropical mango flavors complementing lemon acidity. It's a complex, intense wine, textured and ageworthy. Screwcap.
A spicy, wood-aged Chardonnay, its ripe tropical fruit deliciously melded into the texture. It is rounded and full-bodied with a fine citrus acidity among all the richness. Age for another and it will be delicious.
Big and forceful and loaded with coconut, mint, blackberry and boysenberry aromas that settle on inky. Quite juicy and tight in the mouth, with sharp acidity and oak-based flavors of vanilla, spice and licorice accenting blackberry fruit. Finishes steady, bright and fresh, but sharp on the acidity. Drink now through 2016.
Burnt toast aromas show the youth of this wine. Their tannins dominate, giving a bitter chocolate and coffee character. The fruit is still lost here and needs 3–4 years to come out. An impressive wine for the future.
A clean and attractive Chard with no malo, this is a perfect choice for folks looking for that magical balance between ripe fruit and toast. Red apple flesh, peach pit, orange oil and toasted egg bread all abound on the nose and mouth, with a long and mouthwatering finish that evolves from ripe fruit flavors to soft oaky spice.
A strong spicy meat and smoky aroma adds interest to the mulled boysenberry and blackberry fruit core. Dark fruit flavors continue in the mouth, where licorice, plum sauce, cigar box spice and a touch of black olive also unfold to add depth to the palate. Firm but fine tannins and a long finish seal the deal nicely.
An impressively structured wine, this great blend of Négrette, Syrah and Malbec shows intense tannins underlying powerful juicy black fruit flavors. Aromatic, spicy and driven by its dry texture, it should age for several years.
There is a danger that the otherwise fine wines of Daniel Fournié are becoming excessively alcoholic. That's the feeling here. So although the black fruit is ripe, opulent and packed with tannins, there is a nagging burn and pepper character. A degree less alcohol and this would be a fabulous wine.
Stalky, damp aromas are low on freshness and fruit. This feels full and chunky but lacking in structure. Stalky, rubbery plum and berry flavors lead to a short, low-volume finish that tastes a bit salty.
Cool, crisp cherry and plum aromas come with a mint-and-grass note. This blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon is crisp, mildly tannic and tight, with medicinal currant and plum flavors that end dry and lightly spicy.
Earthy, leathery aromas of plum and berry are a touch rustic. This feels rubbery and raw, but fresh. Dry, earthy plum flavors are limited, while the finish is short, with a tight, chalky feel.
A Chardonnay for those who love pungent florality, this stainless-steel study offers showy apple and pear blossoms aromas along with extreme jasmine and tuberose. Those flavors are reflected on the sip, which also offers fruity pear cider yet retains crispness.
A soft Chardonnay from limestone soil vineyards, this has attractive apple and citrus fruits. It is round, smooth and with a creamy aftertaste that allows room for refreshing acidity. Jean-Paul Brun has been making wine since 1979. He uses natural yeasts.
Saucy raspberry aromas are herbal and briny. This feels chunky and round. Jammy raspberry flavors turn medicinal and herbal, ending with notes of latex and Band-Aid.
This is a barrel-fermented rosé of Syrah. The color is slightly orange, the flavors muted and soft, reminiscent of strawberry pastry with a toasty edge. Drink soon.
This full-bodied wine owes a lot to oak flavors. Aromas like maple syrup and brown sugar lead to nearly sweet flavors that resemble boysenberry jam. It is tannic, robust and rather stiff in texture.
A superripe 50-50 split between Primitivo and Zinfandel, this mix has a sweet thickness filled with dark plum, black cherry and vanilla-laced molasses. Full bodied to say the least, it'll pair well with sweet sauces and glazes.
For fruity, red-cherry-flavored Beaujolais, look no further. This Gamay wine has it all: soft tannins, intensely juicy red fruits and crisp, tangy acidity at the end. Drink now.
Dried herbs, blueberry and then a bit of forest-floor funk show on the nose of this affordable, widely available bottling by a reliable producer. The palate tastes like grape juice, proving even more pleasant when licorice elements emerge. It's perfect for a backyard barbecue.
This wine has red-currant fruits, along with acidity and light tannins. The wine is crisp and fruity, maybe not expressing the full power of a Morgon but can be enjoyed now for its fruitiness.
This simple, lighter take on the variety belies its ripe fruit, the weight of the wine taking on girth as it goes. Black cherry, spicy cinnamon and toasted oak intermingle on the palate, before a medium-length finish.
Rubbery, sulfuric aromas of scrambled eggs are gaseous and difficult to penetrate. This blend of 60% Giró and 40% Monastrell feels choppy, grabby and high in acidity. Flavors of rubbery plum and berry are tart and eggy, while the tannins are fierce on the finish.
The impression is that some of the fruit may have teetered on the edge of overripe, as the wine has a grainy, sugary mouthfeel. It's not overtly sweet, just granular, and the pear fruit flavors are lightly honeyed. It's best to drink this by late 2016.
This almost colorless sweet wine is made from Macabeo, not your most expressive grape variety. Aromas are funky and cheesy, with a low-acid palate that's on the flabby side, while creamy vanilla and caramel flavors don't allow for much fruit to shine through.
Dark in color, ripe and pruney in aroma, the palate is medium bodied and thick with dried fruit flavors.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot is quite sizable on the palate. It explores where these varieties can go in terms of smokiness and deeper, more savory tastes of tobacco and clove.
This Monastrell is a bit rough, burning and horsey on the nose, but its minty cherry and plum aromas are solid. A lively palate is choppy and scratchy in feel, while medicinal plum and berry flavors carry over to a strong-boned finish.
Root beer and slate show on the very restrained nose of this wine that combines fruit from Monterey County (66%) and Santa Barbara Counry (34%). The palate is light and slightly metallic, with iron as well as eucalyptus and shreds of cranberry and raspberry fruit.
Faintly floral in lemon and grapefruit, this is a tightly woven, smooth 100% varietal white, shy in flavor and body. Enjoy it cold as an apéritif.
Aromas of tropical fruits, ham, candle wax and melon are odd and unusual. An oily, chunky palate features waxy, honeyed flavors of salami, fennel and quince. A waxy feeling finish with controlled bitterness and honeyed stone-fruit flavors wraps this up.
This tiny hands-on artisanal producer has a particular gift for expressing the fruit of the Maresh vineyard, which was originally planted 45 years ago. This new release is elegant and aromatic, with precise details throughout. Fresh raspberries, light chocolate, a hint of nougat and persistent length are all part of the equation. Drink now through 2024.
Owned by the Wrights, this vineyard delivers smooth, forward, full-bodied flavors of cranberry, raspberry and blue plum. There's a tart snap to the fruit, and a clear sense that it has the structure and depth to develop nicely over the next decade or longer.
Owned by Ken and Karen Wright, Savoya is planted on ancient marine sedimentary soil. Bold cherry fruit carries a streak of salinity, that tastes like a shake of salt and pepper around tart pomegranate fruit. It's tangy and lightly herbal, with classic structure and a clear path to aging over a decade or longer.
A darker take on the grape for the estate, this bottling shows black tea, violet, dark cherry, bay and a touch of tar on the nose. Deep boysenberry fruit pops on the palate, lifted by brighter notes of dill, eucalyptus and menthol.
There's compelling balance between the baked red cherry fruit, graphite-like minerality and brown spice on the nose of this bottling, further enhanced by leather and earth aromas. Bright raspberry meets with cooked strawberry and licorice flavors on the palate, where a somewhat frothy texture is powered by acidity atop soft yet somewhat structuring tannins.
Steve Clifton's music-inspired project heads to the Syrah-focused appellation of Ballard Canyon to produce this well-hewn bottling that kicks off with boysenberry, hibiscus, rose bud and white pepper aromas. Tart elderberry jam flavors meld with wild thyme and savory pepper spice on the complex palate, which culminates in a mouthwatering finish.
Rounded and rich, this single-vineyard wine is concentrated without losing a touch of its beautiful fruit. It has a fine balance between fruit and acidity as well as a tense line of minerality and tight texture. Drink this impressive wine from 2024.
Peach, rose and lychee unite into a very rich, seamless perfume on the nose. Those exact flavors expand on the fluid, almost oily palate, supported by residual fruit sweetness: at six years of age this is now toned down and has come into its own. If you're after a treat with washed-rind cheeses, choose this medium-sweet gem.
Beautifully pure notes of crisp Cox's Orange Pippin apples shine on the nose. The palate is equally tart and wonderfully refreshing. This is a high-wire act of freshness and stony depth. You think you can almost taste the stone underneath all of these beautifully expressed apple notes that are pervaded by zesty freshness. What an invigorating, lip-smacking finish. This is lovely now but will develop. Drink now through 2030.
Though not designated as such, this is a reserve-level effort, as noted by the special label (with Owen Roe in large, old-fashioned cursive lettering) and its overall concentration. Dense black fruits are strongly accented with flavors of espresso and baking spices. It's a powerful wine that is already drinking well, and should continue to do so into the late 2020s.
The nose is closed and gives a little lemon and chamomile lift. The palate is more expressive: concentrated lemon and mandarin zest play aromatically on a zesty, pure and very streamlined and dry palate. There is something incisive and intense about this. There also are glimpses of floral peachy edges that will only increase with age. This is ready now but has the stuffing to go the mileage: drink now through 2030.
Bold and flavorful without feeling overtly ripe or sweet, this wine has a lot to say. It's complex and spicy, smelling of cardamom, nutmeg and rosemary—a possible result of its 25% whole-cluster fermentation. Red cherry, rhubarb and pomegranate flavors are bracing and fresh, while the texture is firm and moderately tannic. It's cellarable and will be best after 2018.
Alluring wild berry, truffle, Mediterranean herb and tilled soil aromas lead the nose of this delicious red. The fresh, balanced palate delivers crushed raspberry, juicy black cherry, star anise and chopped mint flavors, while a cinnamon note closes the finish. Firm, polished tannins provide the elegant framework. Drink 2018–2027.
Mature black-skinned fruit, menthol and dark spice aromas carry over to the savory, full-bodied palate, joining juicy black cherry, raspberry compote and dried herb flavors. Firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity offer support and a seamless feel. Drink 2019–2027.
Sichuan pepper and sultry mulberry aromas meet with seaweed and iodine aromas on the nose of this bottling. Deep strawberry fruit melds with black sage, licorice, mint, and slate-like minerality on the palate.
This is a richly satisfying wine with beautiful Granny Smith apple and honeyed caramel flavors. Fennel and wildflower accents add to its complexity, broadened by nutmeg spice. It's full bodied and balanced, delivering both ripeness and structure.
A touch of flinty reduction clings to the nose but soon relaxes into soft notes of ripe black cherry. The palate is textured and dry, harmonious with fruit and the gentle ripple and crunch of slightly rustic but utterly pleasant tannins. This seems to be its perfect drinking window now: generous with fruit, utterly harmonious and starting to mellow. The finish is fresh, clean and totally moreish. If you can resist at all, this may well continue to develop. Drink now through 2025.
Lifted hints of chamomile and apple peel rise straight from the glass. The palate has the same streamlined citrus focus and just homes in on that sleek dry apple freshness that seem to be a dynamic force at the center of this wine. The flavors are concentrated and totally dominated by utter lemon freshness, tart and vivid to the last. Lovely now but with further potential. Drink now through 2030.
Produced from biodynamically grown grapes, this is a fine, smooth and rich wine. Great tannins are cushioned within the ripe blackberry fruits and generous texture. It is already a delicious wine, although certain to age as well. The estate is close to Château Figeac. Drink from 2022.
The tannins and density of this wine are impressive. With its strong structure and concentrated fruit, the wine is ripe and likely to age well. Blackberry and red-cherry flavors dominate a wine that is going to be ready to drink from 2022.
With swathes of delicious herbal and green Sauvignon Blanc fruit just delicately underpinned by the wood aging, this is a wine that is rich while remaining so crisp. It is the tangy grapefruit and crisp texture that will allow this wine to age. Drink from 2020.
The nose needs air but as it wakes up, subtle notes of fragrant baked peach rise. On the palate a streak of lemon freshness provides both frame and direction, alongside a lovely apple-skin texture. Made from a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer this unites the virtues of each variety. This is full of life and impresses with its great precision and freshness. The finish is bone dry. Lovely now but will age. Drink now through 2025.
Rich aromas of juicy peach and Damask rose have the lovely and tempering edge of grapefruit zest. The palate gives us the same welcomed counterpoint of zesty aromatic freshness and perfumed opulence. This has lovely fluid freshness, couched in sumptuous flavors. This is exquisitely balanced and finishes just about still dry.
Heady notes of dried pear mingle with pleasant notes of earth. The palate is totally fluid and concentrated, streamlined with freshness but characterized by a rich luscious vein of sweetness. This is a late harvest to be reckoned with. Concentration and length are impressive and are just now getting into their stride.
Winemaker Kenneth Juhasz sources fruit from the Ranch House Block within the larger Durell Vineyard for this wine. From Wente clones, it offers intensity and bracing acidity—a crisp, bright and stony celebration that's both lovely and sublime. Its gravelly texture recalls rock candy and apple sprinkled with spice.
Violet, perfumed berry, new leather, cinnamon and mint aromas follow through to the elegant palate, lifting its juicy core of plum and ripe Morello cherry flavors. A licorice note signals the close while firm, fine-grained and polished tannins provide support. Drink 2018–2027.
A lavish deep blend of 66% Mourvèdre and 34% Tannat, this is not for the faint of heart or weak in spirit. Pitch black in the glass, it shows espresso, vanilla, caramel and leather touches on the nose. Black cherry and crème de cassis flavors pop on the palate, with strong coffee-like tannins and a creamy vanilla finish. It's still quite young.
Austere, tannic and chewy, this Cabernet could use a few years in the cellar. Classic mint and cassis notes are framed by cedar and vanilla, but the fruit comes through on the firm, dusty finish, a sign of positive things to come. Drink 2020–2030.
Aromas of cola nut, bacon, blackberry, licorice and wood smoke announce a raw rugged palate that's not nearly as plump and lush as it normally is: a clear reflection of the cool 2013 vintage in Rioja. Dry peppery black-fruit flavors finish with toasty oak and licorice notes. Although rough and rugged now, this should improve little by little through about 2030.
This Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier blend is perfectly ready to drink with fine mature fruit, layers of toast and tangy spice. From a very good Champagne vintage, it's rich while having plenty of acidity to allow it to age further.
Merlot (71%) takes the lead on this blend followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (19%) and Petit Verdot. It opens with aromas of herb, plum, pencil lead, smoke and barrel spice. The palate packs a mouthful of red and black-fruit flavors, showing an impeccable sense of balance and styling, followed by an extended finish.
The aromas on this bottling are rich yet not overly ripe, with cola, sarsaparilla, candied black cherry and strong scents of baked blueberries. The palate shows impressive florality, with violet and lilac touches, as well as subtle creme de cassis flavors. It is simultaneously rich in body but light in flavors, well built for the cellar.
This bottling blends Syrah and Viognier from Chalone's Brosseau Vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Clara's Betchart Vineyard to deliver a dense, lavish core of blueberry and black currant fruit on the nose with hints of milk chocolate and mint. Thick tannins coat the palate, releasing more of that inky fruit along with peppery spice and lilac florality.
From the Alban “Powerblock” clone, this estate bottling shows elegant if still somewhat restrained aromas of black currant and violet on the nose. The palate is extremely well integrated and seamless, with dense black fruits lifted by kicks of purple flowers. Quite beautiful but nothing too flashy in any one direction.
A darker shade of yellow in the glass, this bottling from an Alban clone turns out to be a lighter, more delicate take on Roussanne. Touches of saffron, wax and toasted nuts show on the nose, and that light nutty character does extend to the sip. But the palate also offers apricot and lemon rinds against well measured acidity and a compelling minerality that combines white rocks and hot sand flavors.
This is a full-bodied, densely packed and muscular wine, concentrated in tar, chocolate, leather and tobacco leaf. Black pepper-laced tannins fill the palate alongside a generosity of bold, brambly black cherry and blackberry, begging for more time in the bottle. Enjoy best from 2023 through 2025.
This is a young wine in Madeira terms. That means it is full of fruit, with bitter orange and ginger to balance the acidity. The wine is sweet, always cut with that acidity and with a burnt character in the background. It is ready to drink, although some bottle age will still make it even better. Drink now and for decades.
Rustic compost, wild strawberry and cola spice highlight this medium-bodied, velvety textured wine, buoyed by a linear streak of lively acidity. Leather and smoke accentuate the finish.
Dense aromas of black plum syrup, star anise and purple flowers show on the nose of this top-end bottling by a pioneering Edna Valley producer. Tart boysenberry shows on the sip, but the prominent flavors are more forest floor-driven, with woody bay leaf and juniper spices.
This is a refined, mature Champagne with an elegant texture that just hints at minerality. A toasty character shows through its ripe white fruit, yielding a balanced wine. The aftertaste is lingering and satisfying. Drink now.
This is a beautifully perfumed wine, with violets and ripe juicy black fruits. It has a concentrated firm structure that puts the fruitiness on a pedestal and gives it shape and intensity. The wine, named by the Danish and American owners after Denmark's literary legend, Hans Christian Andersen, is ready to drink.
Estate vineyards from near the town of Napa and Mount Veeder contribute to this wine, which includes 6% Malbec and 4% Merlot. Big, generous, pillowy tannins meet dust, rock and chalk to confront a wall of spicy, savory flavor and complexity, a mix of cinnamon and black pepper.
From the outer reaches of Annapolis, where the ocean likes to assert itself, this wine is cloudy and stemmy, with a lively, carbonic-like freshness. Roses and citrus play off each other in complex, complicated ways, allowing the firm, present tannins to relax. Black tea and anise complete the picture.
Mourvèdre (40%) makes up the majority of this blend, followed by Grenache (37%), Syrah (19%) and Cinsault. It's locked up at present with brooding aromas of iron, cherry and dark berries that are followed by power-packed fruit flavors that show a pleasing sense of balance. It's bold but shows no shortage of detail.
Prune, exotic spice, leather and cured meat aromas take center stage while the bright rounded palate offers dried black cherry, blackberry, licorice and tobacco. A flinty mineral note closes the finish. It's already accessible, with silky tannins. Drink through 2020.
Black licorice tops a thick, rich and floral exploration of this variety, made at a reserve level of detail and time in bottle. Cranberry, cherry and currant provide a depth of fruit and brightness, while a beautiful floral note of violet impedes.
From vines in the heart of the Dão, this is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. It is rich with both tannins and black fruits. The flavors of the wood aging are still there and need to soften out. Otherwise, this is a very fine that will repay aging. Drink from 2020.
The warm Fourchaume vineyard has produced a ripe, full wine that could almost come from further south in Burgundy. Just a touch of minerality keeps anchors it in Chablis. A refreshing white fruit flavor follows through into the finish. Drink from 2018.
From the producer's dry-farmed mountain vineyard, this wine is crafted from vines planted some 40 years ago. Peach, fig and pear wrap around this medium-weight wine's integrated oak and gravelly texture. The acidity is bright, uplifting and lush enough to find complete balance.
This light-bodied, surprisingly affordable wine surprises in its lightness of color and texture, its character driven by high-strung elements of pomegranate and tangerine. On the more savory side, expect nuances of earthy mint, bay leaf and white pepper.
This comes from a dry-farmed site, all the better to coax out its stony minerality and delicate aromas of rose garden an d geranium. Fully expressive, it's voluptuous and lushly balanced, offering wild strawberry and tons of forest floor.
The nose on this bottling from the pioneering regional winery, now run by its namesake's son, is lush and dynamic, with black cherry, cola and vanilla-laced pie crust on the nose. Finely polished tannins carry very smooth flavors of blackberry, soy-driven umami, crushed graphite, light cedar and a pinch of herbs.
This wine comes from one of the coolest Premier Cru vineyards, giving it an initial austerity that then fills out as the wine breathes. It's crisp and bright with white fruit and intense, lemony acidity. Age it for a few more months and drink from 2018.
Grapes from this lesser known Premier Cru are often blended with those from Vaillons, yet La Chablisienne has bottled it as a separate wine. The coolness of the site translates beautifully into a crisp fruit expression that's tight with acidity and minerality, ready to age. Drink from 2019.
Sometimes blended with grapes from the Fourchaume Premier Cru, this Vaulorent bottled on its own is a bit crisp—bright with citrus and toasty from wood aging. It will develop slowly over several years, so drink from 2019.
A very deep color and smoky, meaty aromas get this full-bodied wine off to a great start, then saturated blackberry, blueberry and espresso flavors kick in. All that fruit comes in a firm package of fine-grained tannins to add welcome texture, and the concentration of flavor lingers on the finish, too.
Thanks to long maceration and fermentation on the skins, this has heady aromas of Spanish broom, acacia, yellow stone fruit, grilled herb and a whiff of baked bread. Round, savory and fresh, the intriguing palate has an impressive depth of flavors including ripe yellow peach, mature yellow apple, lemon drop, toasted almond, flinty mineral and an earthy note of tilled soil. Tangy acidity brightens the finish.
Blended with 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane, from vines averaging 50-plus-years of age, this is a bold and brambly wine, laced in elegance. Coffee, leather and a taste of caramel are seasoned in allspice and black pepper, as persistent, sinewy tannins provide weight and heft.
Flavors of blackberry, black cherry and a streak of cola ignite the palate, with a layer of pure mineral underneath. At first a bit delicate, this never pauses, introducing umami and cinnamon highlights on the lingering finish. It's fresh and elegant, with a more gentle fade than some of the more potent Syrahs from Cayuse.
The Aurora has just a bit more texture and density than its superb companion wine, the Avellana Pinot Noir. Black cherry, cola and baking spice notes are accented with touches of iron filings and slivers of dark chocolate. Thoughtful winemaking is on display here, creating a dense wine that is nonetheless immediately accessible and delicious.
A ripe, new-wood-dominated wine, this is smooth and polished in feel, while the powerful tannins of rich Malbec are preserved. It's dense, dark and concentrated, and the plum and blackberry fruits are layered with the dry, firm tannins and are lightened by the juicy acidity. This needs at least 6–7 years to show its best.
Concentrated and luscious, this has notes of dried apricot and fig, with a dense texture reminiscent of honey and orange marmalade. It has a strong mineral structure that melds with the ripe generosity. Savor this intense wine alone at the end of a meal or with blue cheese.
Made using fruit sourced from 40-year-old vines, this elegant and detailed Pinot does not shy away from flavors of leaf and herb. But they are anchored in pure and expressive fruit, with old-vine flavors of bramble and pepper. What is most exceptional is the delicacy and length of this wine, two characteristics shared by all the Kelley Fox wines.
This is smooth, rich and elegant, with black fruits and acids that are contained within a firm, understated structure. It has power, but it's contained  in a velvet glove.
Rich and loaded with exceptional fruit power, this is dominated by the Champoux Vineyard's classic black-cherry character. Accents of clean earth, violet, tar and caramel show extraordinary depth, framed by firm and muscular tannins.
This Colchagua Valley blend smells of lead pencil, coconut, black cherry, spice and vanilla. The mouthfeel is firm, solid and complete, with dark berry, fine herbs and spice flavors. On one hand it's fresh and alert; on the other hand its dense and brooding, with coffee and dark spice accents. Drink now–2017; only 355 cases produced.
While this is big, powerful and rich, it keeps a sense of proportion and elegance. A dark chocolate flavor and firm tannins show the wood influence, while the rich blueberry-compote note brings in both texture and fruitiness. This needs at least 6–7 years.
Using fruit sourced from old, low-yielding vines, this is black in color and in taste, with ripe black-plum and licorice flavors that show toasty wood influence. Although the wine's name translates to “pure pleasure,” the true pleasure will be revealed in five years when it will become opulent and powerful.
Made using fruit sourced from the high-elevation Haute-Serre estate, this wine is surprisingly elegant despite the high alcohol. It has a fresh blackberry flavor, with acidity that's balanced by the stewed-fruit richness. The tarry texture and firm tannins all promise long-term aging.
This was not an easy vintage in which to make wine with as much fruit and concentration as this bottling, but winemaker Luisa Ponzi has done it. Deep cherry fruit comes laced with cola and chocolate notes, filling the textural, detailed and full-bodied palate. It demonstrates terrific length and an elegant, balanced finish.
Aromas of plum, black berry, orange peel and a hint of eucalyptus waft over a thick layer of juicy, dark cherry accented with sweet baking spices. It's straightforward, round, ripe and ready. Enjoy this soon.
Bready, yeasty, oxidized aromas open this up. In the mouth, this is elegant to an extent, with residual acidity keeping things alive. Flavors of white grapefruit finish round and smooth.
Aromas recall blue flower, tilled earth and a whiff of game. The bright palate offers up crushed black cherry accented with sweet baking spices alongside fresh acidity and supple tannins.
Oodles of blackberry and ripe grape flavors characterize this smoothly textured, well-balanced red blend. Firm elements of tannin and acidity support the ripeness, and the wine tastes fresh and mouth-watering. This will be great with meat, pasta and cheese.
Opening aromas include crushed blue flowers, graphite and woodland berries. The bright palate delivers tart red cherry, mint and menthol alongside brisk acidity and silky tannins. Enjoy soon to capture the fresh, juicy fruit flavors.
Very fruity, fresh and easy to enjoy, this has the smoothness of barrel age but little overt oak flavor. It features bright red cherry and raspberry aromas, juicy berry flavors and a texture with just enough bite to be appetizing.
Unusual aromas of blue fruits are matched against cardamom and cumin scents. The palate is blocky yet dominated by acidity, while flavors of plum, black currant and woodspice are exotic. A hard finish shows hickory and barrel flavors along with wiry acidity.
Ripe blackberry aromas carry notes of prune and raisin. For a ripe, dark wine, this is juicy and well balanced. Oaky, toasty flavors lean toward dark fruits and blackberry, and the finish keeps the dark-fruit theme going while folding in bitter coffee notes.
Light golden in color, this is exotic in ginger and lemongrass, with a midpalate of fresh-cut pear and wet stone. Gearing up to the finish, expect deeper tones of caramel and tropical oak.
Some firm tannins give solid structure and smoky character to this wine, an exotic blend of Merlot, Abouriou and Malbec. The juicy berry fruits are round and full in the mouth. It's a ripe wine, with a solid structure that gives balance to the fruitiness.
Vivid fruit flavors light up this extroverted Viognier, starting in the aroma and lasting through the long finish. It tastes like apricot, orange, pineapple, vanilla and cream. Good acidity keeps it lively and fresh, balancing the full body.
This is a generous, ripe wine, full of red fruits and soft acidity. It's already enjoyable, but will benefit from aging until 2015 to bring out the refreshing fruitiness even more.
Heavily wooded, the wine is essentially toast with a touch of fruit. Of course, it is young, and the rich black fruits behind all this smokiness will come through. Drink after 2019.
Les Cimels is a solid, entry-level Costières de Nîmes blend of Syrah, Carignan and Grenache. Blackberry fruit dominates this full-bodied red, picking up intriguing tarry notes and glancing those with crisp, citrusy acids. Long and mouthwatering on the finish.
In just a few years 14 Hands Riesling production has jumped from around 15,000 to more than 700,000 cases. Clearly the brand is doing something that consumers love. This is a fairly dry style, with forward, fruity flavors of ripe orange, apple and apricot. The length and concentration are spot on.
Scents of violets and savory herbs add complexity to tart, juicy red cherries and plums on this crisp, elegantly framed Cabernet Franc. A touch of menthol highlights a cool, acidic edge on the palate. Finishes moderately long with a murmur of fine-grained tannins.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of blue flower, mature black fruit and subtle oak. The ripe, one-dimensional palate offers fleshy black cherry, coffee, espresso and oak. It closes on an astringent, tannic note.
This delicately effervescent sparkling blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is fresh and fragrant like a just-bitten apple. Quite dry on the palate, it balances elegant berry and rosehip flavors with nuanced minerality and a shower of zippy acidity.
An aromatic wine with notes of banana, dripping ripe peach and cantaloupe. Stainless-steel fermented and aged, it's fresh and flavorful with a creamy feel. It drinks drier than the residual sugar (3g/L) might indicate.
This structured Rosso has pretty aromas that include nectarine peel, black plum, red berry and violet. The palate delivers black cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice alonside firm tannins. It has a warm midpalate and is extremely accessible so enjoy now.
Aromas of violet, woodland berry and forest floor open this straightforward wine. The juicy palate doles out crushed black cherry lightly accented with notes of baking spices. It's dense and delicious but not an ager, so enjoy soon.
Aromas recall crushed raspberry, blue flower, tilled soil and clove. The round palate doles out dense, dark cherry, cinnamon and balsamic notes. Soft and accessible, it will drink best through 2015.
From a vineyard near Laurel Glen's, which is fairly low in elevation on Sonoma Mountain, this Cab blends in 3% Cabernet Franc to nice effect. It offers the puckering tannic structure expected from mountain fruit alongside dense black currant and herb.
There's a ruffle of herbaceous, green leaves that lingers from nose to finish, adding freshness to this otherwise rich, sumptuous Merlot. The mouthfeel is robust and velvety, with layers of fine, penetrating tannins that linger long on the finish. Enjoy now after a robust decant, but better yet from 2016-2019.
Zesty lime-skin notes lend elegance to this lavishly floral, fruity saprkling Chardonnay. It's brisk and clean on the palate, with startling citrus acidity that cuts through a thick, heavy mousse.
Blossoms and tangerines perfume this elegantly composed blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. It's rich and creamy on the palate, with concentrated flavors of apple and quince, but finishes with a gorgeous sheen of salty oyster shells.
Ripe, rich aromas of black cherry preserves are offset by earthy, brambly tones on this Cab-Syrah blend. It's lush and full bodied on the palate with juicy black plum and cherry flavors, but finishes elegantly with a whisper of finely grained tannins.
Prune, leather, oak, vanilla, underbrush and mint aromas lead the nose. The austere palate isn't very expressive, showing subtle oak, toast and espresso in the forefront with notes of dried cherry alongside tightly drying tannins.
With a dominance of juicy Negrette in the blend, this is a soft, fruity wine. Red fruits with layers of acidity are softened by some wood aging. Tannins come from Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers a more robust aftertaste. Drink now.
Love the label--a graphic representation of the owner's solo 1990 flight from Oz to England in a Tiger Moth--but the wine shows some unappetizing aromas of pickle juice and the fruit on the palate comes across as a bit sour and green.
A highly perfumed, lime-dominated wine that gets some freshness from apple skins and high acidity. Its flavors do feel awkward, fresh from the candy shop rather than the vineyard.
Licorice and warm blacktop make for a dark nose, yet there isn't much base to the acidic palate. There's grabby, tangy generic fruit but mostly tartness and sizzle. An edgy wine with a spot of mocha on a sharp finish.
Smells like a field of wild flowers and weeds on a hot summer's day. There's sweaty leather and rhubarb along with murky, mildly soupy berry flavors. Lacks proper balance and freshness, and instead shows a weedy, sticky side.
Consistent with the mediocre 2006. This amounts to generic red wine in a catchy, youthful package. It offers basic raspberry and strawberry aromas and flavors along with scouring acidity. It's bouncy and free-flowing, but hardly what we'd call an elevated premium wine.
Hard and fiery, with spearmint dominating the nose. Raw and jumpy in the mouth, with hard berry and coffee flavors. Not much else to say about this tough wine; it's a fighter not a lover. Imported by USA Wine Imports.
Raw, rubbery and just not that good of a wine. Bramble, leather and compost muscle out any fruit aromas, and on the palate it's perky to the point of being acidic. Lacks balance while burning up everything in its path.
Two vintages ago this wine rated the same, so we can say that improvement and evolution are not evident. This wine is tan in color and heavy, with strange butterscotch aromas that seem foreign and artificial. Forced oak flavors and a resiny mouthfeel are also drawbacks.
Minty and sheer on the nose, and that's a prime indicator of what's to come, namely high-toned, lean fruit flavors and an abundance of scouring, protruding acidity. Some oak lingers to soften things, but overall this is a sharp, underdeveloped style of Cabernet.
Brambly aromas precede sour flavors of pie cherry and green strawberry. A sheering wine that's miserly even by Funky Llama's standards. The best that can be said about this tart Malbec is that it isn't overripe or sappy.
Forced together and not happily married is the only way to describe this dysfunctional coupling of sweet, tropical Torrontes and heavy, cloying Chardonnay. Too sweet for most palates, with a heavy dosage of melon, lychee and table sugar.
Big and purple, with sweet aromas. But the palate is very uneven, with acute acidity that scours and turns the plum and grape flavors sour. Grabby mouthfeel as well, with clamp.
Eric Dunham's Lewis vineyard Syrah belongs near the top of anyone's list of the best in the country. The brilliant nose opens with bright, inviting raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry scents and flavors. The wine is forward, intense and nuanced. Immediately, brilliantly appealing, it has the power and balance to age for up to a decade.
This top Cabernet bottling from Taylors has been a consistent favorite over the last few vintages, and the 2004 continues the string. It's complex, bringing scents of mint, coffee, cassis and tobacco all to the dance, and matching that complexity with weight and richness. The tannins are a bit astringent right now, so try it from 2010-2020.
Typical of the wines from Estremadura, low in alcohol, offering great juicy fruit, very fresh, bursting with red currants and berries. It is balanced, a vivid painting of bright flavors.
This highly concentrated, richly ripe red explores notions of plum, black cherry and tobacco. It finishes with a mildness of dried herb.
Lots of white flowers, from jasmine to lilies, show on the nose of this well-priced bottling, alongside poached pears and lime sorbet. The palate packs tangy pungency, with Anjou pear and Granny Smith apple flavors.
A blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, this informal red has subdued aromas suggesting of dark-berry, violet and a hint of kitchen spice. The light-bodied simple palate shows black cherry, dried plum and a hint of toast alongside soft, rather fleeting tannins.
Black cherry, blueberry, pepper spice and a touch of toasted pine shows on the nose of this bottling. There is juniper spice and baked cherry on the palate, which is relatively simply yet flavorful.
In its traditional Beaujolais bottle, like the one-pint pot that was served in local restaurants, this is a soft and fruity wine. It has classic red-cherry fruits and light tannins. The aftertaste is juicy with just a hint of banana.
Planted around a 12th-century fortress, the vines of this estate have given a crisp wine with red-berry fruit. Along with its fruit, the wine has fine bright acidity and a core of dryer tannins. Like most cru wines from Beaujolais's biggest appellation, it is ready to drink now.
This nine-acre property has produced a fruity wine that has only the lightest tannins. It is much more to do with red cherries, red currants and crisp acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
Accented by tones of forest floor and spice, there's a distinctly Old World tone to this bold red wine. A traditional Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it's concentrated with sweet-tart black cherry and plum, but also swathed in slightly vegetal layers of herbs and leaves. Drink now through 2020.
Oak, toast and scorched soil aromas lead the nose along with a whiff of dry underbrush. The assertive, robust palate shows dried cherry, licorice and the heat of evident alcohol alongside bracing tannins that leave an astringent finish. While the tannins need time, this lacks the fruit richness to stand up to lengthy aging.
Made with 60% Sangiovese and 40% Montepulciano, this opens with subdued aromas of woodland berry and pomegranate. The fresh easygoing palate offers raspberry, sour cherry and a hint of cedar alongside pliant tannins. Drink soon.
Hugely floral with jasmine and honeysuckle in aroma, this light, approachable white is also oaky and ripe in pineapple and papaya, with a lingering freshness of acidity.
The nose is a bit shy but eventually offers a whiff of black currant while the round, soft palate offers dried black cherry, blackberry and a hint of Mediterranean herb. It's simple but well made. Drink soon.
This wine is marked by a woody, herbal undertone that evolves into cardamom and clove. Fruitier, full-bodied waves of cherry, wild strawberry and vanilla play out on the boisterous, boldly built palate.
Dusty white-fruit and citrus aromas are more than adequate but nonspecific. This feels round, with salty citrus flavors. A modest finish is doing its best to stay fresh and vital.
Earthy spicy black-fruit aromas come with toasty, almost caramelized oak scents. This is drawing on the palate, so much so that it feels collapsed. Wood-dominant flavors of herbal black plum, coffee and carob finish candied and dry, with grabby tannins.
Leafy underbrush, sunbaked earth and a toasted note lead the way. The lean one-dimensional palate is a bit shy on freshness, offering dried sour cherry, raisin and a hint of dark spice alongside dusty, not very persistent tannins. Drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
Grapy but generic black-fruit aromas open this wide bulky Malbec that's high in acidity. Salty grapy flavors are plump but simple, while this finishes with a toasted element and blocky weight.
Basic but clean plum and cherry aromas show a note of orange peel. This is quite tannic for an everyday red, while cassis, plum and prune flavors end tannic, spicy and slightly herbal.
Violet, iris, red cherry and a whiff of baking spice aromas carry over to the light-bodied, straightforward palate. It's easygoing, with supple tannins and bright acidity.
Aromas of honeyed peach and lime leaf are followed by off-dry flavors. It needs more acid to stand it up.
Cinnamon, leather, roasted beef and red cherry show on the nose of this bottling from a winery that essentially enjoys its own appellation above the Cuesta Grade in the very southern corner of the Paso Robles region. Candied red apple and candied cherry show on the easy-drinking, somewhat sweet sip, with more cinnamon and a touch of bay leaf.
Olallieberry, cedar and lacquered-wood aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a winery based in the Russian River Valley. There is a decently structured tannic chalkiness to the palate, with flavors of black cherry, vanilla and pepper.
Plum, tomato and animal aromas feed into a tight, pulling, tannic palate. Salty and savory plum and berry flavors end with dry tannins and an overall scratchy feel that's rugged but stout.
Dry herbal red-berry aromas are generic all the way. This feels a bit grabby and hard, while medicinal plum and raspberry flavors rank as herbal. Minty spicy flavors control the finish on this standard-issue Cabernet.
This wine is made from grapes grown at the Hop Kiln Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, a project of BR Cohn winemaker Tom Montgomery and winemaker Melissa Smith. It's Chardonnay-like in its grasp of green apple and generosity of toasted oak, medium bodied with a burst of ripe peach.
Medium bodied and lean in profile, this wine starts with floral aromas, then brings in fairly tart cherry and pomegranate flavors and firmly tannic texture.
Dried lime rinds, wet cement, pear blossoms, honeydew melon and tangerine show on the nose of this bottling that is ever-so-slightly pink in the glass. Honeysuckle flavors meet with ripe pear and apple on the palate that is a tad sweet.
With a tropical nose of guava and fleshy texture on the palate, this wine is unfussy and straightforward in approach and style.
This has aromas of mature dark-skinned berry, cake spice and toast while the astringent palate displays dried black cherry, coffee and tobacco. It's a bit shy on freshness, so drink soon.
Lovely fragrances of pressed powder, black berries, rose and tilled soil waft from the glass. The firm palate offers wild cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and savory herb alongside tightly knit but refined tannins. Fresh acidity balances this out but it's still young and not fully developed. Drink 2020–2030.
The nose is still a bit closed but eventually reveals leather, game, berry and forest floor. The palate is more expressive, delivering concentrated wild cherry, black raspberry, cooking spice, savory herb and anise. A backbone of firm but polished tannins and fresh acidity provides the framework. Drink 2020–2030.
This wine is an aromatic tour de force with notes of apricot, pear, honey and slate. The off-dry fruit flavors are ripe, lightly spritzy and layered, with a drawn-out feel that leads to an explosion of fruit on the finish.
Subtlety paints an emergent nose of lemon zest and honeysuckle, given richness with dollops of cream. It's light and airy on the palate, but flavorful with lychee, roasted nuts, sea salt and buttered popcorn, ending in an oak-kissed finish. This will be fun to track over the years, so drink 2018–2022.
Light in color, this 100% varietal wine was macerated with 50% stems and 50% whole berries before being aged in 500L neutral French-oak puncheons. It's perfumed with dark raspberries, cherry Jolly Ranchers, herbs, lavender, potpourri and mineral. The outrageously supple yet rich, supremely elegant mouthfeel dazzles.
Menthol, mint, sage, dark berry and rose aromas come with a balsamic note. Firm, fine-grained tannins support concentrated black cherry, crushed plum, mocha, vanilla and licorice flavors. Drink through 2022.
Earthy, tart cherry and strawberry paint a pretty picture in this aromatic, inviting wine, a bold, fruity offering accented by luscious streaks of herb. Well-integrated and composed, dustings of cocoa and cola spice build steam on the finish, the overall package just lightly oaked.
Aged 17 months in 50% new French oak, this wine offers coffee, blue and black fruit and bittersweet chocolate. It's lush and hedonistic in style, drinking like a candy bar, showing good concentration to the fruit flavors with a lingering finish.
Dating back at least to the 17th century, Duplessis was one a hunting lodge. Today, owned by the Lurton family, it has produced a dark and dense wine that has a dry structure at the moment, with a strong extraction character. However, the potential black fruits promise future richness. Drink from 2018.
Earthy aromas suggest tilled soil, savory herb, leather, dried rose and a whiff of game. The bright palate offers crushed cherry, black raspberry, savory herb and white pepper alongside polished tannins. It's well balanced and fresh. A licorice note signals the close.
This is a robust, brawny wine, exuberant in wild strawberry and earthy black pepper and black tea. Leathery layers of mushroom and toasted oak combine for a full-bodied experience that speaks well of the appellation. A concentrated version of one clone of the grape from a single vineyard in a stellar vintage.
Caper berry, turned earth, blistered cherry tomato and puttanesca sauce aromas lead the nose on this top-end Pinot from Bill Foley's eponymous winery. It's wildly flavorful on the palate, offering perfectly ripe red fruit alongside woody herbs of oregano, thyme and rosemary, then leading into darkly elegant elements of black licorice, cardamom and chai spices.
Few are experimenting with this black grape variety, but Brian and Stephanie Terrizzi's bottlings—including this one from the Paso Highlands—suggest more should. Deep, rich and intriguing aromas of stewed plums, vanilla-bean cake and Chinese hoisin sauce give way to heady flavors of blue and purple fruit, all seasoned expertly and showing great verve.
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this structured red opens with aromas of exotic spice, pressed flower, dark berry and graphite. The concentrated palate offers black cherry, crushed plum, espresso and licorice. Round, smooth tannins balance the rich flavors.
Blended with 15% Viognier and 10% Sémillon, and aged in 50% new French oak, this brightly aromatic wine conveys brown sugar, dried pineapple and papaya. At a whopping 245 g/L residual sugar, it's intensely sweet and rich, with a honeyed, viscous feel.
Fermented unintentionally by ambient, rather than inoculated yeasts, this serendipitous wild-ferment ice wine is a fascinating treat. While the nose is touched with hints of saffron and pressed apples, the fresh melon and pineapple flavors are pure and pristine. Remarkably complex, it balances rich honey tones against elegant streaks of acidity, spice and minerals.
Whereas many Syrahs from this vintage from the Rocks District show more fruit than usual, this wine is clearly rooted in the stones. It's aromatically expressive with black olive, crushed flowers, mineral, black pepper and an earthy funk. Flavors are silky soft in feel, with a well-balanced mixture of fruit and savory notes that leads to a lingering finish.
This full-bodied red manages to be concentrated and weightless at the same time. It opens with aromas of blue flower, wild berry and a whiff of espresso. The smooth, almost creamy palate delivers a black cherry core while notes of graphite, clove, ground pepper and cake spice add depth. It's impeccably balanced, with velvety tannins and just the right amount of freshness. Drink through 2017.
Coming from an extreme coastal vineyard three miles north of Cambria, this cool-climate study offers aromas of blistered cherry tomatoes, Eastern European goulash spices and crushed peppercorns of all colors. It's fresh and lively on the palate, with hints of rose and tart raspberry. At the same time, it's quite vegetal, with green notes that will evolve into more balanced umami flavors from 2017 to 2022.
From a vineyard 1,700 feet above the small town of Corralitos comes this tasty wine that begins with aromas of smoked apple, lemon zest, honeysuckle and sea salt, as well as a struck-match element. The palate shows flavors of fresh apple, chamomile and a dusting of crushed vanilla, all set against a chalky grip.
This blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Counoise, Grenache and Cinsault immediately appeals with its aromas of plum, candied raspberry and garrigue, with no oak influence anywhere in sight. It's fruit laden, focused and supple, with a feel that dazzles the senses and pure fruit flavors that just won't quit.
This wood-aged wine is spicy and toasty. It comes from a small property 1,000 feet above the Douro. Although it offers blackberry flavors and acidity, these are dominated by the wood. Let the wine soften a few months more and drink from 2018.
Stewed prune aromas carry over to the palate, along with raw sour cherry, camphor and espresso notes. It's a tight and astringent wine with bracing tannins.
This wine boasts an attractive nose of rose petals and red cherries, followed by cherry and pomegranate flavors on the lightweight palate. The tannins are supple and the finish fades quickly, making this a drink-now proposition.
This wine is youthfully pugnacious, gamy and nutty with sharp acidity that has yet to come into its own. From good fruit grown by good people, it has potential to soar in richly layered green apple and pear once it settles into itself.
This wine brings notes of cassis, crushed violet, blueberry and lavender to the nose. These notes are prevalent on the palate as well and work nicely with it's tingly acidity.
This is, by the producer's own admission, the only varietal wine of its type in the Napa Valley, and it's 100% varietal to boot. Dried fruit and deli meat give it an Old-World edge that veers into prune-like overripeness to the uninitiated. It begs for food.
A reductive note of rubber tire threads through the mélange of cherry cola, iron ore and red licorice flavors in this wine. The components have not yet integrated, leading to a finish marked by bitter skin and tannins. Give it another couple of years of bottle age before pulling the cork.
This is a ripe wine with soft tannins and juicy black fruits. It has a good balance between the fruit and the structure, making it a wine for early, easy, beside-the-barbecue drinking.
This wine is bright with cherry and incense aromas. Cherry and bramble flavors are juicy and fresh, with support from supersoft tannins and zippy acidity. This makes for an easy drinking summer red.
This is a rounded wine, with soft tannins and a crisp aftertaste. Red fruits mingle with a yeasty character to give a wine that is warm, smooth and soft at the end. Drink now.
Fully mature, this light-bodied Pinot should be consumed before the end of 2017. Scents of cola and earth add interest to cherry fruit, ending with lingering acids.
Jammy aromas and flavors that are as rich as maple syrup give a sweet accent to this full-bodied and mouth-filling wine. It has a touch of tannin for grip and finishes on the sweet side.
Ripe fruit and dark-chocolate flavors mark out this concentrated wine. Intense flavors bring out the black plum and damson fruit and heavy tannins that lie behind. Drink the wine from 2018.
Made from 67% Syrah and 33% Grenache, this is a thick wine with a straightforward approach to its burly flavors of dark chocolate and compressed wild berry. Touches of garrigue and white pepper slither through the midpalate.
This is a thick full-bodied commingling of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Merlot. Soy, plum sauce and brambly blackberry rise on the palate. The grapes are a mix of mountain-grown and valley floor.
). Savory on the nose with scents of pressed apple and honey comb, this fairly dry Riesling is surprisingly round and rich on the palate with a lush, floral profile balanced by hints of wax and lanolin and a tart lime juice acidity.
In a gigantically heavy bottle, this Mendocino Merlot, grown in the Potter Valley, struggles to eke out currant and cranberry aromas and is perfectly fine but lacking in depth and vibrancy.
Il Nonno is a very small-production blend of Sangiovese (59%), Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petite Sirah (5%). It is remarkably black in color and a touch dull on the nose, made to be super Tuscan in style with blackberry and mushroom that perhaps went into hiding. The wine's bitter finish isn't great.
A little funky and sweaty on the nose, suggesting sautéed onions and baked apple. Oak comes into play on the palate, which is soft but just solid enough. Tastes sweet and woody, with vanilla, resin and pear flavors. Plump on the finish.
Floral aromas are bright and plummy. The palate is fairly creamy and sweet, with milk chocolate, vanilla and other oak-influenced flavors. Dries out and firms up on the finish. A wine for casual imbibing.
Generous and sweet on the nose, this dry, light-bodied Bordeaux-style blend presents wafts of cherry pie fillings garnished with sprigs of fresh mint. By contrast, the palate is sheer with sprays of tart sour cherry fruit. It's a pleasant food wine but finishes with a touch of grape tannin bitterness.
No doubt on the sweet side for a trocken (or maybe just with relatively low acidity), this is medium bodied, with aromas and flavors reminiscent of crushed stone, orange blossom and peach. Drink it over the next several years.
High-toned apple scents combine with a tangy, underripe tangerine note on this fairly dry, yet surprisingly honeyed Riesling. The midpalate feels a tad hollow, but the clean finish is refreshing.
This ripe, fruity wine has both freshness and a warmer, rounded character. Apricot and fresh white peach fruits are filled out with almond flavors as well as acidity. It's a wine to enjoy now, although it will be better from 2016
While this wine does have firm tannins, it also offers a ripe, fruity backdrop that will develop. At the moment, the wine is dry and dense. Give it a few months for the red fruits to broaden out. Drink from mid-2016.
This fruity wine has fresh pineapple, peach and white fruit flavors. It is crisp and dry, with an attractive touch of honey. This would be a great partner with Asian foods.
Herbal, earthy plum and berry aromas open this drawing, tannic Cabernet. Toasty, blackened flavors of hickory smoke and berry fruits make for a woody palate, while a lasting forced-oak flavor on the finish rides over the wine's fruity notes.
Aromas of vanilla extract, cinnamon, fennel and fruit leather predominate on this Syrah and Merlot-dominant blend. The palate shows a surprising amount of richness considering the coolness of the vintage, with baking-spice flavors carrying through the finish.
A 100% varietal wine from a warm region in a warm year, this discloses a thick, rich and syrupy aspect to the layers of soft tannin and dense blackberry fruit. It calls for pairing with meaty dishes.
Soft aromas of melon and papaya are simple and mellow. This is modest across the palate, with adequate acidity. Flavors of melon, apple and banana finish creamy, with tropical-fruit residuals and a sweet note of caramel.
Pear and apple aromas lead the way on this fresh, spritely wine that tingles the palate with a lightly spritzy feel. It doesn't quite stand up on its own but would work perfectly with baked fish.
Spicy plum and olive aromas set the stage for a firm palate. Typical Carmenère flavors of herb, olive, spice and dark plum finish with oaky influences of carob and vanilla.
This wine has potential, with ripe berry fruits and soft tannins that are already well integrated. It is dense, showing a structure that will broaden out as the wine ages. Drink this juicy, fruity wine from Vignobles Dulon from 2016.
Still young, this rich wine has a stalky character that contrasts with the ripe black currant flavors and good acidity. With a few months aging, this will fill out and be an attractive and fruity. Drink from 2016.
This Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot blend has a tannic character, smoky flavors and a solid structure. It is also perfumed with ripe berry fruits and a juicy taste that is developing behind the firm tannins. It's made by the same team as the Médoc Cru Bourgeois Haut Breton Larigaudière. Drink from 2016.
Appealing aromas of grass, herbs and tropical fruit lead to tart, sleekly styled fruit flavors that show a touch of bitterness on the finish.
This is a very good, crowd-pleasing Chardonnay with lots of ripe, fresh fruit flavors and tasty accents of vanilla and butter. It is medium-bodied, soft and smooth in texture, leans toward sweetness and has a lingering, fruity finish.
This fresh, light and cherry-flavored wine has acidity, soft tannins and bright fruit. It's all about the crisp fruitiness, ready to drink now.
Soft and already round, this is a fruity wine with gentle spice, melon and fresh lime juice. It still has its youthful lemon-zest tang although it is filling out, losing its minerality and gaining a layer of ripe yellow fruits. Drink now.
Lightly herbal in character, this is a very fresh, very fruity wine. Green vegetable flavors are balanced by intense acidity and a tight, crisp minerality. Drink from 2016.
Hints of smoke and ash cast savory mineral tones onto sunny black cherry and blackberry that dominate this rich, subtly spiced red. While the palate is luscious and silky, there's a lingering astringency that marks the finish.
Root beer, red cherries, cola and graphite aromas show on this wine from Olson Ranch made by Gina Gallo. There is a tremendous, atypical amount of grip on the palate, which offers solid flavors of citrusy, tart cranberry and long ringing acidity. The texture is a tad distracting but may mellow with age.
The aromas of citrus peel, stone fruit and soda water are elusive on this wine, while the palate brings dry flavors with a fleshy feel. Some interesting things are going on but they don't come together.
The nose isn't very expressive, but subdued aromas of black currant, espresso and a whiff of Mediterranean herbs eventually unfold in the glass. The palate offers dried black fruit, espresso and a pepper note alongside astringent tannins that leave a mouth-drying finish. It's shy on freshness, so drink sooner rather than later.
Deep, luscious tones of cassis liqueur and black plums persist throughout this bold, fleshy Lemberger. The palate is thick and voluptuous but bright cranberry acidity and a hint of licorice on the finish lend freshness and edge.
Aromas of spiced applesauce and minerals mark the nose. A solid palate with mild acidity yields pithy citrus and nectarine flavors, while the finish is short and hollow, with a fleshy weight.
Wiry and high-toned on the nose, this Tempranillo-led blend is fresh and smells of plum and raspberry. Edgy and lively in the mouth, with flavors of plum and cherry, this finishes long, juicy and with a hint of milk chocolate.
Smoky, heavily charred aromas of burnt wood and shoe polish outweigh black-fruit scents. This feels crisp and tannic to the point of being grating, while woody, toasty black-plum flavors finish spicy, peppery and hot.
A hint of deli meat marks the bouquet of this wine, before smoke, leather and blackberry characterize the palate, the texture soft yet tannic. The finish takes a heartier tone, as the tannins slightly pucker and stick around.
Smoky and fruity upfront, reminiscent of wood-grilled white peaches, but tinged with hints of toasted hazelnut and pineapple as well. This is full-bodied yet reined in by the intense, citrus-zest finish. Drink it over the next 5–7 years.
A whiff of violet florals accents ripe black cherry and plum in this luscious silken-touched red. It's fleshy and juicy on the palate but maintains a spry zesty backbone of acidity. Robust yet integrated tannins frame a lingering finish. Enjoy now through 2025.
Soft hints of yellow mirabelle plum give way to richer notions of yeast. The palate is fresh and precise and delivers some spicy hints along citrus freshness. The finish is peppery and moreish.
Half barrel fermented, and all oak-aged (roughly two-thirds new), this cloaks the lush fruit flavors of pineapple, peach and nectarine in a wash of caramel. The wine remains well proportioned, with acids and barrel toast playing a supporting role.
Made entirely with Malvasia Nera, this has subtle aromas of red berry and baking spice. The fresh palate delivers juicy red plum and white pepper along with a hint of cocoa framed in round tannins.
With its high elevation, it is logical that Chiroubles produces some of the coolest Beaujolais cru wines. This is fruity with a tang of acidity and a mineral texture that is enhanced by a crisp character. The wine has light tannins and a final juicy finish.
Soft stewy raisiny aromas are not problematic but they do suggest a wine that's a bit overripe, which isn't surprising for 2012—a notoriously hot year. A heavy palate is a touch mushy but also tannic. Candied flavors of cherry and cassis are raisiny, while this is plodding and chocolaty on the finish.
Generously ripe yellow plums are ample on the nose and turn into fleshy, broad fruit on the rounded palate where welcome grapefruit spice adds direction and some drive. The finish is gentle and full fruited.
The nose on this bottling is a tad weak compared to other wines from the same estate, with a dense but shy black currant nose. The palate is wrapped in an extreme tannic structure, so it will need some more time to allow the pleasant black cherry, blueberry and charred-meat flavors to shine.
This interesting and rather subtle wine smells like white pepper and pistachios and tastes like white peaches. It stays dry on the palate, while the texture spreads flavors smoothly for a sense of richness.
Fresh and fragrant, this luscious Chardonnay bursts with flavors of pink grapefruit, lemon and apple. It's ripe and yielding in texture but pertly balanced in acidity, finishing on a lingering bite of astringency. Drink now through 2020.
Layered fruit and spice flavors plus a firm, dry texture will make this medium-bodied wine a good pairing for all kinds of big proteins. It has black cherry and plum aromas, firm, fine-grained tannins and a lip-smacking finish.
Made with 80% Sangiovese, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, this opens with aromas suggesting blueberry jam and a whiff of coconut. The round palate doles out mature black cherry, vanilla and cedar alongside smooth tannins.
Very tasty, this full-bodied but not heavy wine has an earthy, irony vein running through ripe fruit and black-pepper flavors, giving it unusual complexity. The balance is good, lending a smooth but lively feeling on the palate.
More restrained—and therefore more versatile with food—than many other Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, this wine combines hints of cut grass with citrus on the nose. Grapefruit and nectarine take over on the palate, while a hint of bitter greens emerges on the finish. Drink now.
Powerful fruit flavors and a firm, high-octane feeling on the palate make this a big, imposing wine. It offers tasty, ripe boysenberry-jam flavors, moderate tannins and a lip-smacking finish.
Aromas of black currant, French oak, coconut and espresso lead the nose on this polished easygoing Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah blend. The soft accessible palate doles out black cherry, mocha and black pepper alongside supple tannins. Enjoy soon.
On the one hand, this wine seems almost honeyed, broad and rather lush. On the other, it shows hints of green vegetables reminiscent of tinned peas. Together, the blend of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Sémillon works reasonably well, ending with the sensation of sun-warmed ripe stone fruit.
This smooth, layered wine is medium bodied, well balanced and rich, with soft tannins to give it heft. Flavors run to black cherry, clove and cinnamon. The great sense of polish and composure make it a pleasure to drink.
Aromas of black-skinned berry marinated in spirits, dark spice, chopped herb and a balsamic note emerge in the glass. The robust assertive palate offers dried sour cherry, powdered sage and star anise alongside a backbone of bracing, mouth-drying tannins that grip the finish. Give this a few more years to soften, then drink up to capture the remaining fruit.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc meet up with smaller amounts of Syrah, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot in this soft, silky blend. Mild tannin and a robustness of ripe black currant and cedar are seasoned in a strong whiplash of eucalyptus, as the finish touches a theme of black tea.
A subdued nose slowly reveals underbrush, clove, new leather and balsamic aromas. The firm hearty, palate shows dried Marasca cherry, raw cranberry, coffee, grilled sage and a hint of star anise alongside assertive, fine grained tannins that grip the finish. Drink 2018–2023.
The ripe cherry and strawberry flavors in this medium-bodied wine get great support from mild acidity and appetizing tannins. These create good balance and keep a little grip in the texture, helping the wine pair nicely with big proteins.
This clonal study could have used a touch of help from other clones, but it's still a very tasty and vibrant wine. Quite light in the glass, it shows rust, earth, forest floor and tart berries on the dainty nose. The equally demure palate offers light cranberry plus touches of thyme and white pepper.
A blend of wine that has been aged in tank and in wood, this is structured although with a great layer of juicy red fruits. The combination preserves the natural fruitiness of the wine while giving it the tannins to age. Drink from late 2017.
Fresh raspberry and peach perfume collide into a zesty crush of minerality on the nose and palate of this invigorating dry rosé. It's feather light on the palate but zippy and bright in acidity. The finish is marked by a lingering but delicate bite of astringency. A rosé worth seeking out far beyond the summer months.
Aromas on this wine are quite shy at first, but then reveal dried black cherry, dust, turned earth, with a touch of tar and cedar. The palate is very dark and dry, with bitter chocolate, elderberry and more cedar, showing impressive structure.
This opens with aromas of red berry, light spice and a whiff of rosemary. The straightforward fruity palate shows ripe strawberry, raspberry and a hint of cedar alongside smooth tannins.
Great fruit flavors, firm texture and vivid acidity make this an especially lively and dynamic wine. It bursts with red cherry, raspberry and black-grape flavors that wake up the palate and vibrate through the finish. It contains 30% Syrah and 30% Tempranillo, plus Grenache and Malbec.
Apropos of the winery name, this wine has a beautiful oak blanket wrapped around its cherry and raspberry flavors. Clove, cinnamnon and cedar aromas lead to mulled-wine characteristics on the palate. It's a very perfumed and attractive wine for oak lovers.
Vintner Matt Villard blends Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache, Tannat and Petit Verdot into this whopper of a wine, which is very fairly priced. Aromas of vanilla-laden black cherries, hot fudge and licorice lace into an elegant, well-integrated nose. Once sipped, flavors of smoked blackberries, black rocks, purple flowers and more licorice linger long on the palate.
This is a high-powered, full-bodied wine. The aromas are like toasted baguette slices, vanilla and nutmeg, the flavors do a good impression of dark chocolate and blackberry, and the texture is saturated with fine tannins that give all those flavors plenty of support and lip-smacking appeal.
Earthy in a way that's almost savage, this wine's bouquet discloses layers of cooked mushroom and forest floor, the texture velvety smooth. The grapes hail from the Green Valley appellation within the larger Russian River Valley, with minerality that's crisp and buoyant. The finish shows some of the oak.
Certainly one of the best wines made in the Hudson River region, this richly composed Cabernet Franc juxtaposes zesty cranberry and pomegranate against a velvety, supple palate full of summery black plums and cherries. Touches of savory olive and green pepper lend complexity and nuance. The finish is long, framed by persistent yet fine-grained tannins. Drinks well now but should hold well till 2020.
Soft and tenderly fragrant fruit hovers above a palate dominated by Golden Delicious apple flavors and an almost soy-like, savory edge that makes you want to drink more. A seam of lemony freshness brightens up everything and lasts well after the last sip. This is a truly lovely, understated Riesling.
Good ripeness and a sophisticated, complex character make this full-bodied wine interesting to drink. It has classic characteristics like bell pepper and black olive aromas, along with classy blackcurrant and light spicy, oaky notes. Drink now through 2020. (Available exclusively at restaurants.)
From the historic Uvas Creek area between Gilroy and Morgan Hill comes this solid bottling that shows black cherry, leather, dust and a slightly green element of oregano and green peppercorns on the nose. The palate is restrained and herbaceous, with elderberry fruit and woody sagebrush flavors.
A blend of half old-vine Sémillon from Monte Rosso Vineyard and a remainder of Sauvignon Blanc, a percentage of it from the Musque clone, this is a delightful and complex white wine, lean in apple and lime with a light build and creamy texture. The floral aromatics and evolving flavors in the glass provide complexity, while a lift of acidity rises on the finish.
This comes from vineyards close to the Bandol appellation, and therefore close to the sea. It is a rich, full wine that has a concentrated character and ripe tannins. Bold plum and blackberry flavors give the wine ripeness while keeping everything in structure. Drink from 2017.
The 20th anniversary of this bottling, this wine is principally Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Merlot (26%) with the fruit coming largely from Canoe Ridge and Cold Creek vineyards. Alluring café au lait, toast, dark chocolate and cherry aromas are followed by black and blue fruit flavors that linger on the finish.
The fruit pops on this wine, with notes of blackberry and blueberry pie. It pulls no punches with a full-throttled style. It's a bit one-note but hits that note hard.
This is a spicy wine with mint aromas and rich juicy fruits. It is dense, powerful and concentrated while preserving a sense of proportion and style. Dark wood-aging flavors are still showing and need time to integrate. Drink from 2018.
Lengthy in soft tannins, clove and cinnamon, this wine has a handful of Petit Verdot. An herbal underbrush hints at an elegant backbone, despite the huge force of power and weight. It finishes in a flourish of lavender and black licorice.
Those who buy this wine because it has a cool label will not be disappointed by the fresh 'n' clean aromas of lemon rind, chalk, nectarine, pink peach and lemonade. The tight and bright palate is also a plus, with a limestone character cutting the ripe apple fruit, proving even-keeled and easy to drink.
From the Laguna Ridge neighborhood of the larger appellation, this is a subtle, fuller-bodied wine that's silky and refined in dark cherry, anise and rich earth. Pomegranate and cassis play in the background, the flavors nuanced and complex, with a tangy, citrus-tinged finish.
A bright, focused fruitiness is the strength of this full-bodied, very ripe and enticing wine. It smells and tastes like fresh strawberries, raspberries and cherries, and feels ultrasmooth and polished in texture. With each sip a better sense of depth and concentration builds.
A sleek blend of wet-cement minerality, slight dairy notes, citrus pith and a grapefruit spritz freshness makes for a very inviting nose on this wine from a new vineyard that overlooks the Santa Ynez River. A rocky, grassy element powers the palate, with lime zest and chopped Granny Smith apple-peel flavors.
The cocoa, cherry, raspberry and toast aromas bring plenty of appeal. The flavors deliver richness but without excessive weight.
This wine is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with pinches of Syrah and Cabernet Franc blended in. Baking spice, cocoa and berry aromas lead to a layered cherry flavors that show intensity and persistence.
Made by Heidi Peterson Barrett from the Lamborn family's own grapes, this wine reflects its mountain home, densely concentrated in rich, blackberry jam and dried herb. Full bodied, it packs a punch before showing finesse and shocks of dried herb on the finish.
Structured and savory, this opens with aromas of prune, baked plum and cake spice. The full-bodied palate doles out ripe black cherry, raisin, white pepper and mocha accompanied by round, chewy tannins. It closes on a licorice note.
Wet cement, cinnamon, wild mint, rust, oregano, cocoa and wild berries show on the nose of this wine from a very reliable producer. The palate offers cranberry and pencil-lead flavors, pumped by Earl Grey tea, bergamot and dried-herb complexity.
The nose on this wine is delicate at first but then opens up quickly into ripe blackberry, marionberry jam, asphalt and grapeseed oil aromas. It's juicy on the palate, with ripe black cherries and wild berries, but clings to a graphite character in the core as well as a bit of espresso-bean bitterness.
Steeped prune, vanilla, resin, exotic spice and crushed blue flower aromas lead the way on this concentrated wine. The rich, dense palate delivers blackberry jam, raisin, licorice and mocha while firm, glossy tannins provide structure.
This wine is soft and round, with attractive acidity as well as a light sense of structure from tannins. It features considerable acidity along with wild strawberry flavors that keep it lifted and aromatic. Drink from 2017.
This delicious Zin has almost everything one could ask for. It offers aromas of spicy oak and enticing ripe fruit. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry layer over subtle baking spices and smoke, while a great texture combines fine-grained tannins and firm acidity. A velvety viscosity helps flavors linger on the finish.
Lilacs and violets meet with black raspberries, blackberry pie and savory sage on the nose of this 42% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre blend. The palate leans very savory, with tar, salt, anise and burned ends of roast beef combining for a hearty sipper.
Both elegant and refreshing, this citrus and floral-infused wine follows the Navarro house style for whites, which includes great balance, rounded mouthfeel and honey and floral accents. It's medium bodied, vibrant with acidity and wonderfully complex.
An earthy, spicy and lean wine, veering on austere, this is elegant and softly layered. Wild strawberry, mushroom and forest combine with a subtle suggestion of black tea and cinnamon to form a delicious experience that's long-lasting on the palate.
A real success, this 100% Merlot, sourced from the Stillwater Creek and Conner Lee vineyards, is exotically scented with a rich mix of baking spices, coffee, dust, pencil lead and cedar. Lots of oak influence, but it plays well against the tart and mellow berry flavors. There is a suggestion of dried leaf, perhaps an indication of older vines.
Far and away the best of the newly released single vineyard red wines from Mercer Estates, this tightly wound Petit Verdot sports firm plum and cassis fruit, wreathed in smoky earth, black tea, licorice and dark chocolate. Delicious now, or cellar it for a few extra years.
A blend of 81% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. An unusually tight Pedestal, this absolutely must be decanted. It opens well, with black fruits, toasted grain, and firm tannins, then hits a wall and stops short. However, with a lot of breathing time and/or aerating, it broadens out a bit and shows more length and finesse.
Perfumed wine, with plum fruits, toast and a sweet, rich texture. It is dense, deep flavored, the fruit and tannins going right into the firm structure. Give this concentrated, bold wine at least 4–5 years.
Angel Vine sources excellent fruit, and makes what is arguably the most hedonistic, California-style Zinfandel in the Northwest. Here blended with 13% Primitivo, the sweet and liquorous berry fruit flavors are deep and luxurious. Buttressed with juicy natural acidity, this wine does not show its 14.8% alcohol.
The best value among all of Bergevin Lane's 2008 Syrahs, this rich and smoky effort spent 20 months in oak. Sourced from Stone Tree and Francisca's vineyards, it has tight, ripe berry flavors and beautifully manicured tannins.
A gorgeous Corbières with beautiful expression of the terroir thanks to prominent notes of wild berries and animal laced with accents of garrigue herbs and spice. A hint of cocoa dusts the firmly structured mouth, the palate brimming with flavors of boysenberry and mulberry. Tobacco leaf and licorice root remain on the close.
A 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine proves that not all Pays d'Oc are created equal. So deep and complex, you can discover a new aroma or flavor with each smell or sip. The fruit-forward core of dark black fruit is graced with accents of rosemary, violets and thyme, while the finish offers a rich, toasted oak character and spice that lingers masterfully.
This wine pushes the envelope on concentration and ripeness. It's full of prune, raisin and licorice on the nose, but also a lot of weight. It's quite jammy and soft by Priorat standards, as intense blackberry and molten fudge flavors take over. Chewy, warm and ready to drink.
Rich and structured wine, this is full of opulent black fruits, sweet tannins and an immediately attractive smooth and juicy character. The wine has obvious weight and concentration. Ready to drink in the next 3–4 years.
Dark-colored wine, a blend of Baga and Touriga Nacional, both of which lend their tannins to this still-young wine. It is dense with a firm, dry presence. The fruit is textured, structured, focused on weight and aging potential.
A wood-aged Chardonnay from mountain vineyards above the Douro. The wine has spice, yellow fruits and a strong toast character. Acidity is there to add some freshness to the concentrated, rounded taste.
Only slightly less rich than its Beast counterpart, the 2007 Beauty is a full-bodied wine nonetheless. Notes of blackberries, dark chocolate and espresso are framed by supple tannins and end with mouthwatering acidity. Drink now–2017.
With 15 months in French oak, this blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache starts off rich and lavish, as creamy mocha notes infuse the deep plum, blueberry and black cherry fruit core. Iris florals add lightness to the otherwise dark and concentrated mouth, as the crushed velvet texture transitions into a long finish loaded with roasted espresso and toasted fennel seed flavors. Drink now–2015.
A densely tannic wine that is showing fine aging potential. It is well endowed with weight, acidity and ripe black currant fruits. With the rich fruit that opens slowly in the mouth, it has a fine combination of sweetness and structure. Age for 5–6 years.
Soft and juicy wine, all blackberry fruit and attractive acidity. There is a smoky wood edge just to add extra interest, while tannins are light and sweet.
Scents of honey, pear and cinnamon waft from the glass; the flavors are of baked pears and apples, but never turn too soft or blowsy. Warming on the finish, with lots of dried spices and toast.
Passion fruit, tangerine and fresh asparagus aromas are typical of this wine, which has been setting the pace for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc since its inception several years ago. The palate is snappy and busting loose with just-ripe banana and melon, while the finish is textured and long.
A very tight and meaty wine, with lots of vitality and plenty of rich liqueur-like characteristics. The juicy palate burst with cassis and black cherry, while the finish is equally full force. Clearly Pablo Morandé has found something by mixing Syrah and Cabernet.
Pieropan's La Rocca distinguishes itself from the Calvarino bottling by firmer structure and greater ageability. Tasted in spring 2003, this effort still has plenty of life left. Mimics Sauvignon a little in its gooseberry and red-currant flavors and grapefruity acidity.
A blend of Pinot Grigio with a small percentage of Pinot Bianco that was aged in wood. The result is a full wine with aromas of white flowers, opulent and spicy on the palate, and leaving crisp acidity in the mouth.
From the Prail region of Alto Adige, this stunning, intense Sauvignon is full of grassy, herbaceous flavors. It is still young, needing time to lose its grapefruit character and ripen into a fine, aromatic wine.
This blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% of the Soave grape Garganega is aged in French oak for 10 months. The result is rich, spicy and toasty, with soft vanilla flavors and concentrated green plum and almond flavors from the fruit.
Creamy and lush, with pure peach and pear aromas along with nice vanilla accents. The palate is fairly rich and layered, but it's also properly acidic and, therefore, well balanced. The flavors of pear and butter seem on the money, and the finish is solid and of moderate length. All in all, this is a very good Chardonnay with no overt faults.
A hugely spicy wine, with ripe, full-bodied fruit and a touch of toast. Peaches and lychees give this wine power and richness.
A hugely ripe, wood-dominated Chardonnay, which had 11 months of wood aging. Vanilla and tropical fruit aromas lead to a palate with almonds, apples and cream flavors, layers of spice and a rich, soft aftertaste.
An excellent example of this local grape variety, this is an aromatic, full-bodied wine, with ripe fruit. Aromas of lavender are followed on the palate by flavors of almonds and fresh, green fruits.
This blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling starts off with barrel-fermented notes of butter and baked apples, then folds in tropical fruit flavors. But for all its buttery ripeness, it avoids going over the top, and finishes long, with lemony acids holding its components together.
Intensely aromatic, with gooseberries, cat pee and a strong dose of flint smoke all rounded out by pink grapefruit flavors that persist on the finish.
Calina's first attempt at a super Chilean is successful. The wine, a multiappellation blend, really pops in the mouth. The fruit is ripe and the power is there. However, for someone looking for a reserved red made in the Bordeaux style, something that Chile can deliver, this could come across as aggressive, as the acidity is a bit sharp.
A wood-aged Chardonnay from the hills above Soave, this is rich, honeyed from the malolactic fermentation and full of tropical fruit flavors. It is rich and delicious, but also well structured.
A spicy, creamy wine that manages to give freshness and intense varietal character at the same time. The overall effect is of lightness and elegance as well as spiciness and richness.
A blend of Tocai Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon and Malvasia, this crisp, fresh wine has elegant, refreshing acidity, flavors of white currants and lychees and a soft, ripe aftertaste.
This could very well be Chile's most expressive, interesting white Sauvignon. It's got all those prickly pineapple, passion fruit, scallion and pepper notes that are typical, and also a lot of pure citrus flavors backing it all up. The mouthfeel is zesty and spirited, but there's natural roundness, too. Some licorice adds complexity to the finish. Best Buy.
This huge, ripe wine is packed with sweet fruit and a sense of structure. It is concentrated and intense and has good aging potential for the next four or five years.
A wood-aged 100% Chardonnay, named after the wind that blows regularly in the region. It is citric, crisp, with wood flavors showing through. Spice and vanilla balance with flavors of tropical fruits and a touch of honey.
Offers soft, ripe fruit, powered with acidity and flavors of hazelnuts and ripe apples. A touch of caramel completes the wine's complexity.
Cloudy in color and intense in acidity, this estate wine shows a richness of apple, pear and anise, cradled in oak, that finishes tartly.
Bright fruity plum and raspberry aromas are typical of this wine. The palate is a bit rough and abrasive, while flavors of salty plum and chocolate are punchy prior to a solid but basic finish.
Aromas of vanilla, butter and barrel spice are followed by lightly styled fruit and barrel flavors. The concentration seems faint.
Caramelized chocolate and dust line the drive of this robustly ripe and concentrated red, that's ultimately unfussy in its approach. Soft in texture, it finishes in a strong grip of tannin.
This opens with delicate aromas of acacia flower, ripe stone fruit and toasted nut that carry over to the straightforward palate along with yellow apple. It has the wine's signature bitter almond on the finish.
On the western side of the Lisboa region, this vineyard occupies a beautiful protected valley. The wine is made in an immediately accessible style with bright red fruits and light tannins. It is fruity, ready to drink now.
This simple wine blends the typical Dão grapes of Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional into a spicy fruity whole. Young and fruity with black currant and spice, it's finished with toast. This is ready to drink.
Subdued aromas of mature orchard fruit, honey and toasted nut follow the straightforward, rather evolved palate along with yellow-apple skin. A note of bitter almond closes the rather lean short finish.
While there is no wood aging in this wine there is some good concentration and richness making it full-bodied, with ripe citrus and minerality. Drink from 2018.
The dark fruits are all but buried by flavors of roasted coffee, charred wood and black licorice. Two bottles tasted, the second showed a bit more cherry, but again, the longer the wine remained open, the more the fruit disappeared. This is not the usual expression of Oregon Pinot Noir—here it's built for power above all else.
Streaks of stem, bark and stone dominate this wine, with barely ripe fruit well in the background. Tannins are stiff and dominant, and the overall finish feels a bit green. It's a serviceable rather than sexy style.
A 100% varietal wine, this is dusty and dense, concentrated in a pillowy tannin structure that grips the palate with force. Toasted oak plays strongman to quieter aspects of currant and berry.
Made from organically grown grapes, this wine is ripe and fruity. It's developing well, lending a nutty character to its otherwise crisp fruit. It's packed with the bright acidity of the vintage. Drink now.
Raisin-plum cake comes first to mind in this richly ripe, densely bold wine, rounded and approachable on the palate in thickness and a taste of brown sugar.
Dusty oily aromas of citrus peel, almond and yeasty white fruits come with a hint of oak. This Chardonnay feels solid and balanced, but regular. A mix of oak spice, vanilla and briny peach flavors do a slow soft fade on the finish.
This is a smoky, earthy wine that's fully ripe and flush in juicy fruit. Cherry, blackberry and grilled mushrooms find cinnamon and cola flavors as a tart finish builds on the palate.
This watermelon-colored wine brings aromas of strawberry and herb. It drinks dry with a fleshy feel to the fruit flavors, needing a bit more acidity to stand it up.
Chalky and thick, this varietal wine offers a wealth of herbal, vegetative qualities while remaining medium-bodied in the glass, supplemented in violet and cassis.
The aromas start out barrel forward, with notes of vanilla and wood spice followed by dried cherry and herb. The flavors are extremely sweet, seeming slightly dried out.
Juicy aromas of blackberry and blueberry fruit pick up some baking spice notes on the nose of this bottling from atop the mountains above the Malibu Coast. The flavors are also very fruit-forward, with candied blueberry and clove spice.
Melon and tropical fruit aromas are restrained. This Elqui Viognier feels plump but also a bit dilute in the middle, with a mildly tannic sense of grape skins. Melon and citrus flavors are good, while this feels a bit yeasty and plump on the finish.
From vineyards across Burgundy, this soft wine is an attractive entry point to the region. It has red fruit and a soft character, with just some youthful tannins that melt as it opens. Drink now.
Light in color and more neutral and clean smelling than anything. The palate is airy and offers simple, pleasant melon and pear flavors. About as easygoing as they come; a no-frills white wine that's tasty, lightweight and a bit sweet.
The concentrated apple juice aromas on this off-dry Riesling have a dark, caramelized sugar note that carries through on the palate as well. Bracing acidity and a tart, green apple finish would make this wine an excellent accompaniment to skillet browned pork chops or chicken braised with apples.
This wine comes off a bit green and vegetal with aromas of tomato leaf, plum skins, pepper and black olive. The mouth is firm and assertive with gripping young, green tannins that linger, leaving a strong sense of astringency on the finish.
Nothing is exciting or disappointing about this center-lane Viura (with 10% Malvasia). It's neutral on the nose and then creamy, soft and easy in the mouth, with papaya and cantaloupe flavors. Finishes mellow, with a spot of bitterness.
Young and yeasty, this is a style best consumed early. It refreshes like a light beer, quick and clean, with bracing acidity, but not much in the way of fruit.
Sweet and pretty with a bouquet of florals and confectionary sugar on the nose, this light-bodied wine a shower of lychee, fresh rose petals and sugared black tea. Off-dry and a bit lush on the palate, it's a juicy, refreshing, easy-sipping wine.
Full and sweet smelling, but also a little cidery. The palate is drawn, narrow and citrusy, with grapefruit, passion fruit and orange for core flavors. Finishes citrusy and a touch vapid; overall it shows flashes of elegance but not enough to rise above average.
There's a dark, caramelized flair to the honeyed, off-dry palate on this amber gold Gewürz. Rich and full bodied in style, its slightly tinned lychee flavors, black tea astringency and spicy finish make for an unusual, contemplative wine.
Rubbery and firm on the nose, with generic berry and cassis aromas. The palate is mostly clean, with a candied, almost creamy feel supporting jammy blackberry, cassis and baking-spice flavors. Finishes sweet yet herbal. Pretty much as you'd expect for a 65,000-case product.
Lively and forward with dried red berry and bramble notes supported by a sweet spicy cherry pie filling core. Medium weight with a short but clean finish. Drink now.
Sweet scents of powdered sugar and guava juice waft ebulliently from this full-bodied Pinot Gris. The palate is soft with luscious, ripe pommelo and white peach flavors but balanced by a dry finish with a refreshingly astringent note.
Grassy and herbaceous, this smoky wine is shot through with tannins. It is stalky, its red fruits layered with spice, a tight texture and acidity. It's best served lightly chilled.
This wine is in keeping with the producer's goals of making restrained, balanced wines. It is both those things, characterized by firm, tight tannins and muted sage, the texture narrowly defined.
This medium-bodied wine opens with a fruity aroma of spiced plum and mature dark berry. The easygoing palate delivers ripe blackberry, nutmeg and licorice alongside supple tannins.
While ebulliently perfumed with untamed blossoms and tropical fruit, the palate of this dry, brisk Riesling surprises in its restraint and subtlety. It's refreshingly mineral with a pleasant bite of grapefruit zest on the finish.
Aromas of savory spice and black fruits are mild. This is wide on the palate, with a touch of acidic scour. Blackberry, sweet black currant and chocolate are the key flavors, followed by modest spice and toast on the finish. The wine is good, but low on complexity and character.
Somewhat closed and tight at first, this eventually opens up to reveal scents of firm stone fruit, fynbos, Asian pear, orange blossom and white melon rind. There's a roundness to the palate, supported by dense flavors of melon flesh and roasted nuts. Enjoy now.
Aromatically intriguing, it offers notes of apricot, dried pear and soda water. It's full of sweet stone fruit flavors but doesn't quite have the concentration to keep it all together.
The wine is quiet at first, but with patience, some red apple and pear skin shine through. The flavors surround yellow fruits, between citrus and melon, presented with a bright, nearly biting acidity.
Coming from an assortment of warm and cool climate vineyards and blended with 6% Roussanne, this pleasing wine offers notes of grilled corn on the cob, white peach, pepper and hay. Abundant stone fruit flavors are supported by a creamy feel, finishing just a touch bitter.
Not your usual SB, this full-bodied version combines herbal, savory aromas and mineral flavors with a fairly rich texture and lingering finish. It's complex and satisfying, and will pair well with rich seafood.
Aromas of mature berry, allspice, underbrush and sage lead the nose. The easy-drinking palate delivers black cherry, raspberry and freshly ground black pepper alongside firm, fine-grained tannins.
Barrel-fermented and blended with a splash of Sémillon, this is a creamy, rounded and concentrated white, intense in vanilla and apricot flavor.
Aromas suggest succulent red berry and whiffs of baking spice. The juicy palate doles out wild strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, white pepper and clove highlighted by zesty acidity.
Aromas of leafy underbrush, spicy blueberry, plum cake and mocha lead the nose. The palate doles out black currant, blackberry, allspice and a hint of licorice alongside robust tannins.
Grapes from the vines around the 13th-century castle of La Bastide are sent to the Marmandais co-op for a separate bottling. This smooth and ripe wine shows plenty of rich mango and apricot flavors cut by lime acidity that gives a lift of freshness. Drink now, although the wine will age until 2018.
The 76% Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage here, supported by 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, most of it grown on the eastern side of Napa below Mount George. Together they offer earthy clove and a brisk, brooding back palate, followed by tight tannins and anise-flecked chocolate.
There's a slightly aged and distinctive nose of sour cranberry and anise on this wine from the family who's owned San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles since 1917. The cooker fruit sense continues to the palate, where lingering root vegetable flavors and mocha mix with Eastern European spices.
Grape candy and black cherry aromas are edged by cedar. Chewy tannins dominate the palate, with dark chocolate and purple fruit flavors present as well.
Yeasty vanilla and mild vegetal aromas lead the way on this otherwise neutral-smelling SB. The palate is lively but more generic than specific; flavors of bell pepper and asparagus dot the picture, with lime and grapefruit also apparent. A salty, briny finish may stem from the ground water used to irrigate this desert-origin new SB.
This structured wine is young, with a firm character that is still masking the juicy red fruits. However, it does have weight and the potential for a soft, rounded wine in a couple of years. Drink this wine, from a small region just north of Pouilly Fumé, from 2016.
So light in color, this Pinot Noir is almost a rosé. The texture and structure, though, are definitely of a red wine. Firm tannins give a backbone to the red cherry fruitiness and fresh acidity. It's still young so keep this wine until 2016.
Certified-organic Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 100% of the wine. A study in red currant and clove, it's very much on the savory spectrum, with severe swathes of wood tannin and a bite to the finish.
Quite pale in color, this is a faintly aromatic wine with hints of cedar, tart cherries and dried tobacco. The fruit flavors are light in style with tart acids and firm but not unyielding tannins, with lingering cranberry flavors on the finish. It doesn't quite come off but certainly piques the interest.
Aromas of yellow melon, faint wood and just a touch of nuttiness greet the nose on this bottling from Daniel LeFrancois' globetrotting brand. Barrel smoke hits the front of the palate, then evolves into golden pear and marzipan with a slightly oxidized but pleasant finish.
Dusty pink in color, this dry, refreshing rosé bursts from the glass with electric raspberry and cherry flavor. Thirst-quenching and juicy, it's easy and effortless, marked by a zing of cranberry acidity on the finish.
Plum, wild berry, a note of grass and oak aromas carry the nose on this fresh Carmenère that delivers mild tannins and basic plum and berry flavors backed by woody notes. Modest spice and pepper flavors are simple, making this is a friendly type of red.
This vibrant rosato offers aromas of wild berry and spice. The fresh palate doles out ripe raspberry, juicy cherry and white clove alongside bright acidity.
Given more than two years in all-new French oak, this hearty, generous Cab comes from the winery's estate vineyard. With a taste and smell of bay leaf marking the entry, the juicy red ripe berry fruit is followed by chalky, grippy tannins.
Try this as an alternative to Merlot or Pinot Noir. Well balanced and medium bodied, it has light and appetizing cherry and strawberry flavors and a smooth mouthfeel.
This is a medium-bodied, fruit-forward wine that's jammy, rich, bright and friendly. It smells fresh and grapy, with supporting raspberry and boysenberry notes. It tastes equally ripe and generous, and feels polished and soft in texture.
A perfect Pinot for a house wine, it does what it's supposed to do without a lot of frills. It shows ripe enough cherry and raspberry aromas, an appetizingly dry balance, firm acidity and moderate tannins to keep it lip-smacking and fresh.
Coming from two of the state's finest vineyards—Cold Creek and Klipsun—this cool-vintage, 100% varietal wine shows an unusual Washington Cabernet profile of blueberry and plum along with herbs and a kiss of vanilla. It's soft and supple in feel with elegant coffee and blue fruit flavors.
Raspberry and cherry aromas come with touch of floral perfume and smoke. This feels tight, juicy and slightly tannic. Flavors of black plum and wild berries are matched by chocolaty oak, while the finish is sweet in flavor, with ripe, mellow tannins.
A good grip of acidity and tannins shape the fruity, earthy aromas and crisp raspberry and cranberry flavors. It's a very lively, refreshing style that is not overripe, and will be great with all kinds of food.
Light lemon-lime aromas and fresh fruit flavors make this refreshing, crisp and lively. Not at all heavy, it's well-balanced, has good acidity and tastes dry.
The aromas bring plenty of appeal, with notes of coffee, herbs, vanilla and woodspice. However the concentration of the cherry flavors doesn't seem entirely there, tapering toward the finish where the oak takes over.
Made with Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, this concentrated wine conveys aromas of perfumed berry and cake spice. The ripe, round palate offers crushed raspberry, wild cherry, clove and licorice alongside firm, velvety tannins.
Marmandais is on the way to Cahors from Bordeaux, and the Malbec grape seems to have stopped off to produce this firmly tannic wine with its dark fruits and dense structure. A juicy, spicy character leaves a firm, solid aftertaste.
Just mature, this smooth, velvet-textured wine has juicy black fruits with a smoky character that adds interest to the structure and acidity that give the wine shape. Rich while fresh at the end, it is ready to drink.
A second-label for Black Hills Estate Winery, this little gem overdelivers in every regard. Exceptionally fragrant, it's a mélange of floral, spice, mint and citrus aromas, cascading into a fruit-driven palate. Lemon, lime, apricot and papaya combine to provide a lush and vibrant set of flavors. Drink up while the freshness is in full force.
This is a ripe, citrus- and honey-flavored wine, very dry while softly textured. The fruit is rich, with a delicious zesty aftertaste. The oiseau d'or (golden bird) is the symbol of Oiselinière castle.
This straight-on wine powers through with clean apple and peach fruit, wrapped in a blanket of barrel toast. Full-flavored and crisp, it does not show much complexity, but plenty of toasty goodness.
This directly appealing wine has notes of fresh blueberry pie, char and barrel spices. It's richly flavored with blue fruit, showing excellent depth and intensity. Seemingly out-of-place tart acids and astringency need some time to (hopefully?) settle.
Light and crisp, this wine offers the freshness of orange rind and lemon, both aromatically and on the palate. It's refreshing and not overdone.
The merest hint of fresh lemon zest with fresh notes of green Conference pear combine to make a light-bodied and ultimately very refreshing wine with just a touch of spice on the finish.
Floral jasmine opens this wine aromatically, followed by a bite of sweet, softly layered vanilla custard and honey. Restrained in sweetness, the layers go increasingly soft, ending smooth and creamy,
Straightforward and accessible, this offers aromas of rose, ripe berry and a balsamic note. The savory palate features crushed sour cherry, white pepper, clove and sage alongside buffed, rather evolved tannins.
Heady potpourri and rose-petal perfume announce this ice-style Gewürztraminer, leading to an unctuous palate brimming with caramel and honey-dipped apples. Soft, lemony acidity lends a cheerful, sunny feel to the finish.
This aromatic wine offers notes of apricot, flowers and jasmine. It drinks off dry with abundant stone fruit flavors.
Fuzzy apricot skin and peach form the backbone of this white that's stainless-steel and neutral-oak fermented, giving just a suggestion of barrel age. Tingly in acidity it's a balanced wine with oomph.
Dusty, oaky aromas of papaya, corn and green banana precede a full, buttery palate with matching flavors of buttery oak, papaya, creamy vanilla and green banana. Brine and popcorn notes protrude from an otherwise mild finish.
This savory red delivers aromas and flavors of mature black plum, juicy blackberry, licorice and a hint of tobacco. A note of bitter prune accents the firm, succulent finish.
Aromas of underbrush, grilled mushroom, blue flower and menthol lead the nose. The linear palate offers dried plum, mature blackberry, espresso and licorice, while firm tannins provide support. It finishes on a note of graphite.
This vibrant, easy-drinking red offers aromas of woodland berry, white pepper and a whiff of graphite. The lively, spicy palate doles out tart red cherry, wild strawberry, clove and peppercorn alongside brisk acidity and lithe tannins.
A blend of seven different varieties, this wine is aromatic and fruit forward, recalling blueberry pie and cocoa with a citrus top note. It's plush but still deft in feel with soft tannins and abundant blue-fruit flavors.
The intensely floral nose suggests wild rose and violet. The bright palate delivers wild cherry, raspberry and licorice alongside a note of medicinal herb. Firm but fine-grained tannins frame the savory flavors.
Luxury goods executive-turned-winemaker Rocco Califano presents a slightly reductive bottling, with barnyard-leaning scents of soy, rubber and pepper. The flavors are also more savory than sweet, with mushrooms, roasted game, leather and pencil lead.
A directly appealing wine with little obvious new oak influence to get in the way of the clean pear and pineapple flavors that are stitched together by just a touch of sweetness.
Pungent and sweaty, this makes an immediate impact on the nose. That vibrancy carries over onto the plushly textured palate and electric, mouthwatering finish. A fun, flashy wine for near-term consumption.
This blend of native white grapes Fiano, Greco and Falanghina is aged for six to eight months in barriques. Aromas of tropical fruit, coconut, oak and apple carry over to the palate.
Aromas suggest pineapple, papaya and creamy lemon pastry. The palate offers creamy white peach, pear, almond and a hint of mineral but it finishes on a sweet, sugary note.
Barrel notes of toast, butterscotch and spice are at the fore along with melted butter and peach on this 100% Canyon Vineyard Ranch wine. It's full bodied with a rich, creamy feel, wanting a bit more concentration and acidity to keep it together.
Purplish garnet in color, it has aromas of black fruits and just a whiff of menthol. It is refreshing and fruit forward on the palate with a hint of eucalyptus in the finish.
Nearly purple in color, it is equally intense in flavor, almost like sipping a straight red wine, save for the low alcohol. This bottling, made by Turkish-born, former oil rig construction worker Ertugrul “Art” Sevtap, begins with candied pecans and other nutty aromas, then brings red apple, light herbals, and hazelnut to the palate. Pair with everything from cedar plank salmon to turkey burgers.
A blend of Falanghina and Coda di Volpe, this offers aromas that recall pineapple, banana and jasmine. The juicy, simple palate offers pear, white peach and a hint of flint alongside fresh acidity.
Aged partly in barriques, it offers aromas of yellow apples, toast and butterscotch that carry over to the palate along with lemon drop, oak, toast and coffee bean. You'll also notice the alcohol.
Pale apricot in color, this wine offers aromas of grapefruit, lavender and anise. Flavors of peach, apple and fennel bulb lead to a surprisingly smooth finish with rich notes of fennel and a splash of lemon zest.
Rubbery dark-fruit aromas of black cherry and berry come with a whiff of latex and Band-Aid. This is high-toned and edgy in feel, with gritty blackberry and dark cherry flavors. Plum, berry and acidic freshness drive the finish on this basic but well-made Toro.
Fragrant with notes of honeysuckle and lemon accenting aromas of pressed apple and pear, this off-dry wine benefits from juicy ripe apple flavors that lend roundness and richness to the palate. It's almost creamy in mouthfeel, but ends briskly with puckering lime and lemon acidity.
Cherry and raspberry aromas are lively and inviting. This wine offers plenty of body and good balance for the price. Flavors of candied plum and berry are not complex but have support from density and weight on the finish.
Lychee and mango aromas waft from this delicate wine. Off-dry in style, it's unusually brisk on the palate with crisp stone-fruit flavors and bright tangerine acidity. It closes with a lacy sweetness.
This deeply colored wine offers a spicy nose of white pepper, ginger and cinnamon with a whiff of citrus peel. The smoky palate delivers candied citrus, nectarine and mineral. While it still has fresh acidity, the fruit richness is already drying up.
The winery's first 'Sweet Riesling' is somewhat aromatically reticent for the variety with notes of lychee, jasmine and apricot. The palate lives up to the label though with sweet (70g/L residual sugar) apricot and fresh mango flavors that linger on the finish.
A perfumed wine with notes of lychee, orange peel and honeysuckle. It's sweet (100g/L residual sugar) with mandarin orange flavors that linger on the finish.
With a pink color so deep that it borders on mauve, the exotic notes play a leading role, with passionfruit, papaya, and guava hitting the nose first. On the palate, it's full and flavorful, reminiscent of a Mexican agua fresca made from strawberries and watermelon. This is beach wine at its finest.
Dusty red-fruit aromas set up an easy, likable palate with a mix of citrus and briny apple flavors. There's good tang and acidity along with length to the finish. That briny character from the flavor profile comes back on the finish.
Pinker in color than many Provence rosés, this full-bodied wine has ripe strawberry fruits, rich acidity and a touch of caramel. With the weight and smooth texture, it will be better with food.
Full of raspberry fruits but also with some structure, this is a ready-to-drink apéritif wine. Lively acidity give it a crisp aftertaste.
Nicely ripe for an entry-level wine, with stone-fruit shadings to the gooseberry and grapefruit notes. A subtle leafiness helps balance a slightly honeyed feel on the palate. Easy to drink.
Chryseia is a benchmark wine in modern Douro table wine making. With its layered tannins, black currant fruit, minerality and stylish yet powerful structure, this is a wine of great stature, needing aging for 2–3 years.
It is easy to be seduced by the opulence of this wine. But underneath the ripe surface, there is a complex wine, full of tight, structured yellow fruits, spice from wood and acidity bursting to get out. It needs at least another four years for its real grandeur to be apparent.
Slowly the potential of this impressive wine is coming out. It is rich, the new wood flavors blending with the ripe blackberry sweetness and tight tannins. Chocolate flavor power through this concentrated wine.
A serious wine, filled with firm tannins, spiced with wood, and layered with bitter coffee as well as fruit. It certainly has power, the structure ready for long aging, firmly anchored in the dense character of this wine. It is a medium aging wine, 5–10 years.
This is a wine for aging. The tannins are dense, very dry with a feel of extraction. It takes a while for the black currant fruit to show through, with acidity and freshness dominant. The wine is still settling, and time will bring the fruit into line with the tannins.
This TBA shows an incredible likeness to Earl Grey tea, sweetened with honey and made subtly even more complex through the inclusion of dried stone fruits. It's rich and concentrated, not just sugary, but could use just a tiny bit more acidity to completely balance the finish. A decade or two of cellaring should see a more balanced wine in the end.
With plenty of new wood, the wine has a velvet character, smooth and round. Only gradually does a plum skin, bitter chocolate element come in, giving structure and weight. This is a wine that should age well.
A powerful, extracted wine, very concentrated. The tannins are dense, giving a sense of tight texture, while underneath the ripe fruits are pulsing with fresh acidity as well as sweet berry flavors.
Silky wine, fresh and light, balanced with high acidity cutting through black berry fruits. The structure has some substance, but this is a light, aromatic wine, developing fast, already delicious, and only for medium-term aging.
Cornas is Colombo's home turf, and the 2005 Terres Brulees shows his mastery, offering up beefy, cedary notes but also cracked pepper and cassis alongside iron-like mineral notes. This is full-bodied and intense, with plenty of structure; drink 2015-2025.
Lean and racy, typical of the Saar even at these high ripeness levels, with hints of slate and mint or tea gracing pineapple fruit. The long, vibrant finish is crisp and mouthwatering, with the residual sugar dropping into the background. Drink now-2030+.
A ripe wine, with a delicious citrus and pear character, sweet fruits and an edge of spice. Pineapple acidity gives both richness and freshness. The wine has both balance and final acidity.
A dark charactered wine, with solid tannins and firm, extracted fruit flavors. The berry fruits are juicy and sweet, with the dusty tannins coming from the Cabernet in the blend. The finish is softer, more black jelly in texture.
Swirl this wine vigorously to get it to evolve quickly in the glass and be rewarded by pretty blueberry aromas and flavors, an interesting example of a Santa Barbara winery playing with Anderson Valley fruit (Burt Williams' no less).
Half Grenache, 40% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre, all sourced from vineyards in the Royal Slope region. Exceptionally fragrant, with appealing plummy, juicy blueberry and cherry fruit. A hint of leather does not detract, though it seems to toughen up the tannins with a touch of bitterness in the finish.
This is a full, ripe wine that's rounded and rich on the palate. With ripe yellow fruit and tangerine flavors, it's tropical in style, although there is a tangy lemon edge to it to keep it crisp and herbaceous.
This dark, ripe and modern Syrah features wild berry, leather and cheesy smelling oak on the bouquet. It's plump and grabby, with plenty of oak and raw tannin to support black-fruit, vanilla and spice flavors. Oak dominates the finish, which has good density, weight and length.
Ripe, full-bodied and smoky, this is packed with blackberry juiciness. Its structured tannins form a powerful backing to this full and rich character, giving flavors of wood aging, richness and a firm, dry finish. For aging over 3–4 years, while drinkable sooner.
This is a crisp, aromatic Syrah, with notes of earth, iodine, anise, pepper, clove and cassis threaded throughout. The balance of all the elements, including acid and tannin, is spot on, and the length through the finish suggests it can age for five or six more years.
Remniscent of almond-and-lemon pastry, this wine is layered with sliced apples and just a touch of bitter toffee. This is a wine that has a fine balance, perfumed with honey and finished with citrus acidity.
This well constructed pure varietal bottling has sappy purple fruit flavors at the core. Light streaks of carpaccio, olive and fennel add texture and flavor complexity, gliding into a medium-long finish.
Half Malbec and half Petit Verdot, the barrel notes of vanilla and pencil lead play off cherry and purple flowers with citrusy acidity and firm, dry tannins providing the frame.
Wood aging gives this wine a rich, smooth texture, its tannins finely integrated with the solid, foursquare berry fruits. There is an herbal touch and perfumed character, making this an elegant wine that is just coming to maturity.
This is a young wine with some bitter almond flavors and a taut, nervy character. The wine is tight with green apple acidity showing through. Give it four years and it will be a rich, fruit-and-spice flavored wine.
Asian pear meets a salty taste of the sea in this well-build, moderately ripe white. Gravelly on the midpalate in texture, it has a succulently tropical flourish on the finish and zingy acidity throughout.
While there are few varietal Tempranillos made in Chile, this one is mostly positive. On the nose, this is dark, with a chocolaty crust along with patented Los Lingues aromas of olive and herbs. A choppy palate is high in acidity, while flavors of heavy oak, vanilla and herbal plum finish peppery, spicy and scratchy in feel.
From head-trained vines interspersed with Alicante Bouschet and Petite Sirah, this is a bright, likable wine, teased in bacon, cola and brown sugar that finds a fresh streak of red currant and juicy strawberry as it opens, the acidity in full view. A bite of chocolate dots the finish.
Earthy aromas of bay leaf and garrigue lift the dried boysenberry fruit on the nose of this bottling. Tangy elderberry fruit and underripe boysenberry show on the sip alongside oregano and savory spices.
Condensed blackberry aromas meet with fresh elderberry and frozen strawberry on the diversely fruit-forward nose of this bottling of the notoriously dark grape. The flavors are also black fruit-driven, but with touches of coffee and leather to deliver depth.
This is a likably round, approachable and affordable varietal wine, blended with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sage, blackberry and mocha dot the landscape of a rugged, succulent bounty, finishing with power and concentration.
This has a dry finish with modest alcohol, and its emphasis is on phenolic flavors rather than the usual floral-perfumed aromas that characterize most versions of the grape. Here you'll find lemon rind, pineapple and tart, mineral-soaked acids. It's a fine match for white fish, shellfish, scallops or oysters.
From certified organic grapes, this light-styled wine is bittersweet in tobacco leaf, leather and black pepper, subdued in its approach to fruit. Toasted oak plays a subtle counterpart, integrated and very much in the background.
Jammy, baked black cherry gives this wine a richness of flavor and texture, while cola and clove stand idly by in support. Lively acidity preserves a freshness on the palate.
Aromas suggesting scorched soil, cedar and black-skinned berry are front and center. The concentrated palate delivers black plum, clove and licorice alongside chewy tannins. Enjoy this one through 2020.
This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot offers aromas of cranberry, cherry, mesquite, vanilla and herb. The fruit flavors are sleek and elegant, lingering on the finish.
From grapes grown in Coombsville, this blends in tiny additions of Petit Verdot and Merlot. Earthy in leather and fresh compost, it remains light-bodied and dry, despite a large tannin presence, the finish marked by pencil shavings and herbs.
Aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, pressed violet, new leather and scorched earth lead the nose on this savory red. The medium-bodied palate offers prune, dried cherry and a hint of star anise alongside lithe tannins. Drink soon.
Red plum, kirsch, eucalyptus and baking spice show on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard on the inland eastern side of the appellation. The palate offers juniper, pine, loam and tea flavors against the bright red cherry fruit, with an encompassing acidity that is strong but not searing.
Made with organically farmed grapes, this appealing white offers aromas of fragrant white flower and ripe orchard fruit. The savory succulent palate delivers white peach, citrus, honeydew melon and a mineral note. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy flavors while a hint of bitter almond adds depth. It's an incredible value.
This wine is made from 50% Cabernet Franc, 47% Zinfandel and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's decidedly herbal and savory, with a pronounced note of black olive. Juicy currant, cedar and cherry signal its Bordeaux varieties speaking loudly, as fruity cinnamon represents the Zin.
Layers of plush yellow peach and apricot flavors highlight this easy, crowd-pleasing kabinett. Sunny lemon acidity lends refreshment to the midpalate, cutting through all the ripeness and leading to a brisk finish. Drink now through 2019.
Made with the Verdicchio grape, this vibrant sparkler doles out creamy yellow apple, pear and citrus zest flavors while a hint of walnut closes the finish. A soft mousse and fresh acidity lift the finish.
Aromas of gasoline and white grapefruit skins lead to tangy palate with good grip and weight. This tastes waxy, bitter and citrusy, with a hint of tropical fruit. Zesty acidity livens up the finish, which runs fairly long.
This is a thickly concentrated and powerfully full-bodied wine, spicy in clove and cinnamon as well as a lingering note of cola. The fruit leans into blackberry and black cherry, with a pronounced weedy, herbal undertone.
Fermented in a mix of stainless and neutral oak, this modestly ripened wine offers clean apple fruit with a touch of white peaches. A bit more bottle age might help pull it together further.
Beefy, smoky aromas and a soft, sweet blend of blackberry jam and peppery spices make this medium-bodied wine very flavorful. It feels broad and velvety in texture and has enough fruit concentration for a lingering finish.
This is 100% varietal, aged nearly two years in 80% new French oak. Bold and layered, it offers a soft texture and moderate acidity, giving a richness of black currant and berry to appear. Dusty pencil shavings and subtle clove add to the whole.
Blackberry syrup, loamy soils and light mint show on the nose of this bottling by self-made vintners Don and Jennifer Arndt. There is a tense and tarry tannic structure to the sip, with deep and brooding flavors of blackened purple fruit most prominent.
A blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, Adam & Eve has red cherry and cranberry flavors going on in spades, with a soft note of vanilla. The alcohol heats up quickly, especially on the finish.
Austere tasting at first, this has a fruity, dusty flavor, with a swath of caramel.This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel tastes warm on the finish.
Simple and fruity, this has crisp apple and grapefruit flavors. It is light and refreshing and is ready to drink over the next few months.
Along with soft red fruits, this is a wine that shows crisp acidity, strawberry flavors and light tannins. It's already drinkable, but it can age for a year.
Stewy at first, this gets better after opening and catching some air, developing into a straightforward Rhône blend, with soft tannins and strips of cinnamon and vanilla.
The Hawke's Bay region isn't known for its Pinot Gris, but this is a solid example at a very reasonable price. It's citrusy and very nearly dry, giving an overall impression that's a bit lean. Probably best with seafood dishes. Drink now.
Attractive and fruity, this has red fruits at the fore. It is soft, round and balanced, with just the right amount of red currant acidity. Drink now.
Initially herbal, it then rounds out in the mouth, with white- and green-fruit flavors combined with a soft texture. Ready to drink now.
Sturdy on the nose, this has cherry and red berry aromas. The palate is juicy, lively and fun, with crisp, focused red-plum and cassis flavors. Easy to quaff.
Like all Alsace rosé, this wine is made from Pinot Noir. It's dry, with delicious, crisp acidity and a flavor of wild raspberry. A great summer apéritif.
With a mix of melon and cucumber flavors, this is not-quite-ripe tasting. Clean and quaffable, it has a hint of alcoholic warmth on the palate.
Purple in color, this wine has grapy aromas. It feels potent yet pointy, with heavy extraction and high acidity for such a dark, berry-packed wine. The black fruit and pepper flavors are solid, and the finish is tight, with warmth and mild bitterness.
This is an attractive, fruity wine that's dominated by black currant and damson flavors. It is layered with acidity and light tannins. Drink this year.
Grassy and scattered on the nose, with alfalfa, mint, berry and a note of agave or Tequila. It feels sticky at first but solid, with an herbal, minty flavor that is copied on the finish.
This is wiry and exotic smelling, with strained berry aromas. It feels grabby and buttery, with dry oaky and berry flavors.
A very soft wine, with its yellow fruits giving a rounded character. It is warm, forward and ready to drink.
Thirty bucks may seem like a lot for an entry-level Riesling, but this is an exemplary example. Aromas of wet stones, moss and spring flowers are mouthwatering, and then are followed by a complex array of nonfruity flavors, like stones and greens carried along by a mouthfeel that's light as a feather. Tart pineapple emerges on the long finish. Drink anytime over the next 10 years.
An extremely fragrant, concentrated and rich Cabernet from Lake County's most promising red dirt. The wine opens with a heady air of blackberry jam and violets and tastes like cassis liqueur. It's well integrated, still a little dusty, finishing with flavors of mint chocolate. Ready to drink now, this Cab should be even better in 3–5 years.
A firmly tannic wine, bursting with the herbs of Provence, layers of new wood and pure sweet plum and blackberry fruits. The balance of this maturing wine is just right, giving an intense flavor.
A fine example of this sometimes tricky grape, this wine is structured with solid tannins and rich fruit. Wood aging has softened some of the structure, allowing a more rounded, rich aftertaste.
Full, forward and loaded with ripe strawberry and cherry flavors, this immediately likeable wine offers plenty of fruit and spice. It's almost chunky it's so big, with a lick of chocolate highlighting the finish.
This wine's calling card is its electric acidity, which provides a poignant counterbalance to the wine's plump feel on the palate. Ripe citrus notes of pineapple and orange offer plenty of flavor to go along with the superb length. It's ready to drink, yet should prove capable of aging at least 5–6 years.
Round, full, fruity and complex, this polished effort's flavors runs the gamut from citrus to stone fruit to light tropical. Generous and elegant at once, it finishes with light notes of cracker and grain.
A sophisticated sparkling wine, showing minerality and structure. With some bottle age, it has developed an attractive nutty character, baring acidity and a tense texture.
A somewhat pale wine, at first reluctant to show much aroma, it ultimately reveals itself to be elegant and surprisingly deep. Varietally expressive, with light cranberry and strawberry fruit, dusty tannins, toast, caramel and a whiff of incense. Complex and lovely.
Dusty and toasty, with plenty of spice and just a hint of composty barnyard, this biodynamically farmed fruit brings in subtle notes of dried leaf and herb. Cranberry fruit flavors roll into fine-grained tannins and a medium-long finish.
The entire 2008 lineup from Panther Creek shows consistent flavors that deftly mix tart but ripe berry fruit with layers of dusty spice, hints of barnyard and lightly grainy tannins. Excellent mouthfeel and persistence.
A wine that has all the freshness of the Gascony region while bursting with some extra weight of fruit. There is a fine citrus and apricot concentration, just a hint of toast and enticing fresh acidity.
A serious, structured wine that packs a punch of black-cherry and spice flavors, with edges of wood and fine acidity. This is full of ripe fruit, and the tannins take on a supporting role of tension and power.
Spicy and dusty smelling, with full-force plum and berry aromas matched by equally potent smoky barrel scents. Thorough in feel, with vivid, oak-accented flavors of wild berry and plum. Round and full on the finish, with lasting resiny flavors that remain after all else has faded away.
Graphite, deep black fruit, earth and cola aromas make for a full-force, inviting entry. The palate feels lifted and healthy, with a thorough blend of tobacco, herb, barrel spice and ripe berry flavors. Toasty, spicy and long on the finish. High quality for $20 Cabernet.
Supple and muscular, with appealing bacon fat aromas, this round and spicy effort. A tightness in the midpalate suggests that further bottle age is in order.
This lovingly made wine is packed with boysenberry, black cherry and swirls of vanilla cream around its soft, round texture and structure. Its long finish is laced with plum, whispers of smoke, licorice and a touch of cedar. Another 3–5 years in bottle will tame its tannins further and enhance every last nuance.
A voluptuous wine packed with almonds, a handful of herbs and citrus aromas and flavors, this big-boned, dry, barrel-fermented Roussanne finishes with a swirl of lemon. Available in 2013.
A complete wine that starts with lemony oak-based aromas that come with notes of herb, spice and dark-berry fruit. Feels layered, ripe and fresh, with full, sweet flavors of brown sugar, herb and baked berry and plum. Chocolaty and smooth on the finish. Drink now through 2014.
Pungent and grapey, with notes of violets and dusty chocolate. The astringent fruit shows varietal cassis flavor, somewhat overtaken by the extremely charred, coffee ground flavors of the finish.
Starts with baked, candied, mildly raisiny aromas that hint at expiration, but the wine has good grab and acidity on the palate along with dry fruit flavors, licorice and spice. Persistent but not special, with a light, supple finish. It's 72% Malbec with Bonarda and Syrah.
A common nose of apple, mild toast and baked corn is about what you'd expect from this brand and Chile. Like its cousin called Cefiro (from Viña Casablanca), it's geared toward apple, spice and vanilla. Not overoaked or forced; good but basic.
With 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan and no oak aging, this is a fresh and juicy wine with characteristics of black cherry, black berry, thyme, Asian spice and cola. Solid acidity and a medium finish make this an easy pleaser.
Crisp, dry, light wine, its freshness coming from redcurrant fruits. A gentle caramel overlay gives extra weight.
A simple, jammy-smelling wine with cherry aromas and a whiff of citrus too. Young, vibrant, acidic and juicy on the palate, with energetic but rubbery berry and plum flavors. Good yet basic wine overall, with heat on the finish.
Gritty, medicinal, almost reduced aromas of blueberry are devoid of softness, while the palate is also kind of tight and tough. Seems more clipped and underdone than the 2005, with narrow tannins and a medicinal burn. Has its merits and its intentions seem true, but something's not quite clicking here.
Blended with 18% Merlot, this shows a mix of black cherry, fig and sweet prune fruit flavors. Some smoke from barrel aging comes in, and it's good right up to the finish, which has a gluey undertone.
This winery is part of the Santa Carolina group, and the Cefiro Chardonnay is toasted and mildly buttery and baked, with spiced apple and mild citrus flavors. The palate is basic but controlled, with a toasty, vanilla-tinged finish. Standard and familiar, but well executed.
Sweet, strawberry jelly aromas lead to a wine that shows ripe, spiced and red plum flavors lifted by definite wood characters. The acidity is a constant right through this attractive wine.
Opens with a mix of minerality, citrus and powdery white fruit scents. The palate packs tang and zest, while the flavors of green apple and lemon are lean, crisp and citric through the finish. Fresh but a little sharp and monotone.
A bit sweet and candied on the nose, palate and finish, but good if you like creamy, sweet, vanilla notes in your Cabernet. The feel is sort of soft and soupy, while flavors of candied, gummy red berry and prune maintain enough vitality to bring things home. A lot like a cherry-cola ice cream float.
A balanced and straightforward wine boasting strong dark fruit flavors of black cherry and berry along with accents of milk chocolate and licorice. Medium weight with a soft structure, approachable tannins and a clean finish. Drink now.
A fuller, richer, more broadly fruity version of the winery's Two Vines offering, this crowd-pleasing Chardonnay slathers the palate with buttery brioche, apple and Asian pear. A little more acidity would help; give it a chill to compensate.
Seemingly light and elegant, this conveys the cherrylike, cinnamonlike flavors and vibrant balance that Pinot should. It is actually medium to full-bodied, quite smooth but with a touch of acidity to keep it appetizing. This could well improve with age, considering its great balance. Best now–2019.
This yeast bomber from one of the first serious sparkling projects in Santa Barbara jumps at the nose with warm bread and poached pears. On the slightly sour palate, the roundness of yellow melon precedes the tang of fermenting orange juice.
Charred aromas are draped over spicy, leafy berry aromas. This oak-blackened Mencía is wiry and bright in feel, with lightly green, mildly herbal and minty flavors of burnt berry and smoked meat. An herbal-tasting finish is good in feel.
Beautifully rich and round, this ripe, apricot and pear flavored wine has a broad, creamy texture. With its fruit, it is ready to drink, but will improve 2017–2018.
Made with native grape Turbiana and with no added dosage, this pretty sparkler opens with a delicate fragrance of white flower and citrus. The palate offers lemon-lime and white almond alongside brisk acidity and small, fine bubbles.
As bright as a button, this is a crisp, cool wine, lightly herbaceous and deliciously fresh. Just touched by six months wood aging, the wine has an extra layer of richness that contrasts with the young green and citrus fruits. Drink now, or, better, keep until 2016.
Aromas of roasted almond, wild flower and a whiff of candied cherry lead the way on this blend of 62% Chardonnay and 38% Pinot Nero. The palate delivers mature yellow apple and stone fruit alongside a note of roasted walnut.
This rich and rounded wine is full of attractive lemon and pineapple fruit. Light steeliness gives a fresh character to the ripeness. It is totally ready to drink.
Light and charming, this slips into gear gently and then surprises with some tannic grip. Flavors combine root beer and strawberry highlights. For Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, it offers exceptional value.
An aromatic offering with notes of pear, melon and ripe banana. The oak (85% French, 15% stainless steel) adds vanilla accents. It drinks close to dry with abundant melon flavors and a textured feel.
Smoked nuts and crushed mineral notes accent lemon and lime on this straightforward yet tasty off-dry Riesling. On the palate, pink-grapefruit and lychee flavors are mouth quenching and juicy, lingering long with a fringe of astringent lemon zest.
Opening with aromas of plum, leather, chocolate and oak, this bold wine is dense and extracted. The palate delivers prune, dried cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, grilled sage and black pepper. There's not enough fruit richness to support the wood tannins that leave an astringent finish.
Faint whiffs of green apple sit atop chalk, baking soda and yeast on this crisp sparkler from a winery founded for making bubbly in 1982. The Granny Smith green apples carry the palate, which also offers yeastiness on the finish and a decent amount of tannic grip.
There's a fresh, juicy sense of dark cherry and cranberry in this medium-bodied wine. A lurking forested, mushroomy earthiness hovers around it as well, the finish awash in rich, dark toasty oak accented by notes of chocolate.
Refermented in the bottle on its lees, this fresh and lively wine has a slightly cloudy appearance thanks to fine sediment on the bottom. Delicate aromas of white flower, citrus and stone fruit lead to a palate that delivers tart green apple, white peach and lime.
A full, fruity wine, this is softly textured and creamily ready to drink. Lime juice and crisp apples are underlined by the faint flavor of oak from wood aging. The acidity gives wonderfully drinkable freshness.
Tingling in acidity, this substantially juicy, full-bodied rosé is made from ripe fruit that leans toward flavors of strawberries and Russian River Valley Pinot's classic tell-tale of cherries. The aromas are floral; think Lady Day gardenia.
This expressive wine has notes of vanilla, whiskey barrel and dried red fruit. It's ripe and full but without all of the alcoholic weight that this variety sometimes brings. Some grit to the tannins provides a bit of distraction.
Slightly pale pink in color, this 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay sparkling wine offers rosé-like aromas, dominated by watermelon water. The vibrant bubbles release bubblegum ester, lime and melon on the palate, making for an excellent brunch wine.
This is a delicious, fruity wine with just a core of tannins to hold it together. It is packed with red berry fruits along with intense, still-youthful acidity. As it develops, it will become fruitier and softer.
Aromas of Spanish broom, honeysuckle and a yeasty note lead the nose of this Sicilian sparkler from Mount Etna. The palate offers ripe apple, candied citrus and bitter walnuts alongside persistent bubbles and zesty acidity.
Dried cherries, black slate, brown spice and leather greet the nose on this affordable red from the esteemed regional producer that makes many Zinfandels each vintage. The palate shows black cherries and a plum skin acidity, with some rocky elements providing further intrigue.
Made with 85% Merlot blended with varying amounts of Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of truffle, underbrush, baked plum and dark cooking spice. The palate delivers licorice, roasted coffee bean and blueberry extract alongside astringent tannins that dry out the palate. While the tannins are still aggressive, the fruit richness is starting to dry out.
Polkura's first value-priced Syrah opens with earthy black-fruit aromas that are thick yet not precise in character. The palate feels wide, chunky and not particularly elegant. Flavors of baking spice and herbal blackberry finish peppery and chunky, with a touch of resiny oak.
Deliciously aromatic, this is an assertive, fruit-forward wine, with textured minerality. It has yellow fruits that are cut with citrus as well as bright acidity. Drink now.
Cedar, black currants, prune and tobacco aromas unfold in the glass. The warm, forward palate delivers dried black cherry, licorice, black pepper and tobacco alongside astringent tannins. While the tannins need to unwind, it's shy on fresh acidity and the fruit is starting to dry up—a result of the hot vintage—so drink sooner rather than later.
Lime and passion fruit aromas are subtle and appealing. This delivers a fresh, alert palate and crisp, lightly brined flavors of lettuce, apple and cucumber. On the finish, it runs peppery but not overly aggressive.
A strong earthiness greets the nose on this appellation blend. Turned loam and black dirt show first, followed by cocoa, cran-raspberry and vanilla bean. The earth shows on the palate too, with juniper, pepper, rhubarb and rose petals balanced by a orange-rind bitterness.
Tart cran-apple fruit—some of it from 35-year-old vines—is at the heart of this vineyard-designated cuvée. It has a woody/earthy undertone, tart acids and some stiffening tannins.
This 100% Syrah offers aromas of mature black currant, charred earth and a whiff of cedar. The palate delivers dried black cherries, clove, ground pepper and powdered sage alongside raspy tannins that leave a drying, astringent finish.
A 50-50 blend of Merlot and Syrah, this easygoing wine opens with aromas of red currant, graphite and cracked peppercorn. The lively palate offers blackberries, blueberries and clove alongside tangy acidity and dusty tannins.
Initial aromas of wet cement, black cherry and cassis grow more rubbery, reduced and animal-driven the longer this Syrah sits around. Bright, fresh and fiercely tannic, this deals dark-berry flavors, peppery spice and raw oak on top of dry, herbal notes. Oaky but not overly charred or pushy on the finish.
One of many excellent values to be found among the 2012 Southern Rhône wines, this is supple in style, with ripe cherry and chocolate accented by vanilla and sandalwood. Drink now–2016.
Like most Leyda Sauv Blancs, this pops with cool-climate aromas of bell pepper and grapefruit. It's narrow on the palate, with razor-sharp acidity and green tannins. Bell pepper and briny citrus flavors finish sharp, with a touch of sourness.
Strongly briny and raw on the nose, with an insistent aroma of tomato sauce, this cool-region Pinot is austere at first, then dry, raw and snappy by the midpalate. Racy red plum, currant and spice flavors finish dry, with blazing acidity.
Very perfumed with wood and strong berry flavors, this stalky, structured wine has tannins that are already well integrated into the spicy, juicy red fruits. Bold flavors and tasty fruitiness are well balanced with the texture and dry core. Drink now.
Zesty cherry aromas are offset by powdery softness and floral hints. This feels solid and correct, with bright acidity. Flavors of red-apple skins and citrus fruits finish direct and clean.
This quite tart, young and spicy red pulls sharp and puckery cranberry fruit into focus. It's best enjoyed chilled, and would be a fine option for the base of a wine punch.
Squeezed lemon rinds and a faint whiff of petrol show on an otherwise reluctant nose from this off-dry wine. The palate reveals a racy, finely focused acidity that zings across the palate, hiding the residual sugar at first before allowing the ripe nectarine and apple soufflé elements to carry the flavors.
Supple in juicy blackberry and plum, this light- to medium-bodied Merlot contains 10% Cabernet Franc and offers a mouthful of dry, dusty tannins before finishing in a punch of black peppery spice.
Fleshy, oxidized aromas hint at complexity but fall more toward wheat, wax and waywardness. Round in body, with vital acidity, this tastes of creamy oak, peach, dried apricot and lemon. This French-owned Chilean operation has been striving for years to make Chablis-style Chardonnay in the Andes; so far the results haven't been convincing.
Ripeness and richness reign over this full-bodied, almost-sweet wine. Oaky, maple-syrup aromas and lots of black cherry and boysenberry flavors partner with a smooth, posh texture. Think of it almost like a Port, but drier and not quite so high in alcohol.
Featuring another awesomely illustrated label, this wine starts off a bit funky on the nose with dewy bay leaf, oregano-crusted plum fruits and a bit of tobacco. It treads the lighter side of the grape, showing rustic elderberry and more damp herb flavors.
You'll taste the 40% new French oak right away, followed by crisp, botanical flavors of lime rind and green apple. It's not a fleshy Chardonnay, instead it's the mineral and botanical flavors that stand out.
Interesting aromas of mint, Christmas spice, licorice and blackberry feed into a dense, blocky palate with firm acidity. Ripe, loamy flavors of blackberry and prune finish with oak-driven graphite, mint and resiny flavors along with a note of residual cassis. This is half Garnacha and half Carignan.
The Notios blend offers aromas and flavors of pert lemon, sea salt and spice, with an attractive acid balance. Focused and fresh but with some complexity, it's a god expression of Greek terroir and style.
Light colored and fruity, this has the typical Négrette polish, aromas and dry tannins accompanied by red berry fruits, with a richer, full aftertaste. The wine is made to drink young, so drink from 2016.
Supple and fruity, this is bright with red fruits given a lift with spice. The wine is all about fruit with acidity to add a fresher character. Tannins are already integrating meaning the wine will be ready soon. Drink from 2016.
This is the most substantial of the winery's 2012 Pinots, with black cherry and cola flavors dominant. There's a hint of gun metal and a lick of chocolate wrapping into a short, rather thin finish.
With its light color, this is a soft and fruity wine that is now beginning to mature. Its red berries are acquiring a more barnyard character, while acidity is merging into the ripe texture. It's ready to drink.
This starts out leafy and earthy, but improves with airing. A lively palate delivers herbal plum and berry flavors along with ample spice. The finish is bold and bright initially, transitioning to tight and peppery.
This is a wine that shows a more serious side to Vinho Verde. Bone dry, with a crisp and creamy texture, it has citrus, pineapple and red apple flavors. It could even age a few months, but is so drinkable now.
Honey, toasted almonds and lemon slushie aromas are present on the nose of this Viognier from the El Pomar district. A very smoky element on the palate is a bit overbearing alongside the caramel, vanilla and other oak-driven flavors.
This opens with aromas of underbrush, leather, oak and crushed black cherry. The palate shows predominantly oak sensations including coffee, vanilla and espresso alongside notes of prune, but it lacks fruit richness. Astringent tannins leave the mouth feeling dried out.
This is an edgy wine with a mix of berry and cassis aromas along with harsh leather. It's mouthfilling and potent on the palate, where flavors of spiced berry and herbal-infused plum finish scratchy and with all the muscle one could ask for. Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah is the blend.
Subtle aromas of minerals, rose petal and red berry are not overdone. In the mouth, it has astringency, hard tannins and an overall narrow feel. Flavors of raspberry and red plum seem sharp and jagged, while oaky mint and heat rise up on the finish. Give this more bottle time and it may improve.
This stubbornly tight, short, tart wine shows lightly spiced cherry fruit. But after being opened for some hours, the flavors seem to thin out quickly, leaving an impression of a wine that lacks concentration.
This is searingly tart, with more lemon juice than pear fruit, and suggestions of unripe pineapple. On the plus side, it's bright, vivid and strongly acidic.
Easy-drinking and dry, it starts with pleasant strawberry and raspberry aromas that lead to moderately rich fruit flavors accented with white pepper. It doesn't feel as full-bodied as one might expect from Amador, and has an almost soft, silky finish.
A bold white wine, it smells and tastes like grapefruit, canteloupe and very crisp apples. It has a fresh, acidic texture that cleans the palate and makes the mouth water, but wraps in enough richness for good balance.
Aromas suggest porcini mushroom, espresso and oak. The oak-driven palate offers up roasted coffee bean, vanilla, oak extract, coconut and vanilla alongside astringent wood tannins that leave the mouth feeling dried out. The lack of fruit richness gives it a raw quality.
Meyer lemon pervades this wine, from the first aroma to the lingering finish. Rich and mouthfilling, there's toffee and butterscotch too. It shows the sweeter, more dessert-assortment side of Chardonnay, along with plenty of zesty apple and pear fruit.
Savory aromas of hickory and slow-cooked meat are highly suggestive of southern barbecue. This feels blocky and tannic, with resiny notes to the palate. Clove, woodsmoke, BBQ sauce and other savory flavors are barrel driven, while the finish registers as dense, roasted and a bit hot.
A medium-to full-bodied Pinot, it emphasizes full ripeness and rich texture. It looks slightly tawny in color on the rim of the glass, shows aromas of candied cherry, cola and fully developed fruit flavors. A dash of tartness keeps it alive on the finish.
Funky aromas of barnyard eventually burn off to reveal game, animal, rubber, earth and leather. The palate displays porcini mushroom with raw cherry, prune, nutmeg and dried sage. There's not much complexity and it's not an ager so enjoy over the next few years.
Raspberry and plum aromas are mild and entirely fresh. This is your typical cosecha wine with plenty of fruit and giddy-up. Punchy plum and cherry flavors finish with controlled bitterness and a spot of burnt toast.
On the slopes above the river Garonne, this vineyard has produced a fresh and fruity wine. Firm tannins are balanced by the intensely young and juicy berry fruit. Wood aging rounds the corners of this wine that will be drinkable from 2015.
The smell of roses is vivid and pure, and the flavor of nectarines is strong in this attention-grabbing, full-bodied and lavishly textured wine. Just as remarkable as the floral character, the rich texture clings to the mouth after each sip.
The variety quickly announces itself with aromas of dark cherry and dried herbs followed by generous barrel accents. The black-fruit flavors are rich but maintain balance, with a persistence that impresses.
The nose evokes the idea of freshly cut red and yellow apple peel, drizzled with lemon juice. On the palate, there is a hint of a slightly bitter edge, like that of honeycomb. But it all remains lightbodied and sprightly and very energetic, even stony. The pure, long finish is a joy on this typically Viennese field blend.
Fleshy plum notes rich with cinnamon set the tone on nose and lead to a big, bold and dense palate full of plum and black cherry fruit. Ripe tannins provide quite some grip but a vein of acidity keeps this fresh and counters the richness. Cinnamon and pepper linger.
A touch of flint meets yeasty, herbal notes of chervil and white pepper. The palate plays these two off each other and adds a generous dollop of pure, linear lemon zest to brighten and heighten everything. Lasting zestiness makes for an ultraclean, very refreshing finish on a very concentrated, taut body.
Lush aromas of dried rose petals, black currant jam, turned loam and fudge greet the nose on this blend of 63% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. A wide array of flavors hits the palate, from pencil lead, thyme, tomato leaf and black pepper to boysenberry, shaved dark chocolate, vanilla bean and cooked black cherries.
This wine is medium to full bodied, with integrated, toasty oak and a healthy dose of baked apple and pear. Made in a luxurious style, it delivers in flavor and subtle elegance, with the structure to age further. Drink through 2020.
Aromatic red cherries lifted with appetizing notes of pine forest glisten on the nose and frame the palate. The fine-boned tannins almost crunch on the palate and create a ripple of excitement that reveals further aromatic fruit, held tight by utterly refreshing acidity that underlines and illuminates all those aromatic, fruity, spicy and floral aspects.
Luscious but not overbearing blueberry and boysenberry fruits power the nose on this wine from a coastal region. It suggests blackberry pastries, chalk and pleasingly aromatic incense. The palate combines oak smoke, black fruits and a spicy, black pepper-driven acidity, providing lots of tactile action on the tongue.
The aromas of dark fruit, mineral, smoked meat, coffee and spice are brooding, not yet fully revealing their charms. Elegant yet penetrating, the fruit and savory flavors coat the palate from end to end with supple-feeling fruit flavors and a lengthy finish.
Tight, minerally aromas of charred oak, vanilla, toast, black cherry and cassis carry an herbal note. A fresh, juicy, layered palate shows controlled rawness, with classic Chilean flavors of spice, green herbs, mint and mixed black fruits. A peppery, blackened finish with toasty, herbal blackberry flavors suggests this is built to last. Drink through 2023.
From a tiny, organically farmed vineyard outside of Occidental, this wine is dense in earth, with a brambly nose of wild cherry and cranberry. Salty and herbal, it retains plenty of acidity on the light-bodied palate, offering a mix of cinnamon and tangerine on the finish.
Thick, meaty and pure aromas of blackcurrant, crushed lavender and minty dark chocolate greet the nose on this special bottling from Iris Rideau. Black cherries wash onto the palate alongside an amazing array of spices, from Indian to Middle Eastern, showing allspice, mace and many dried herb components.
There is a citrus purity on the nose that suggests fresh lemon juice, but it is tempered by some spice, like that of still-green Seville orange rind. The palate is streamlined and equally pure, it has an almost cleansing quality. This is luminous and delicious and slips down far too easily.
A dark, brooding aspect of tar and cocoa is wrapped around the ripe but crunchy black cherry that is the hallmark of this wine on nose and palate. The purity of fruit on the palate is astonishing and beautiful and every now and then a flash of black tar and high-grade dark chocolate breaks through. The palate is rich but toned and thrown into shapely poise by fresh acidity.
Immediately arresting with its aromas that suggest mineral, sappy raspberries and blackberries, this wine surprises with its tart, supple fruit flavors. Its purity and acidity making it best suited for the dinner table.
Te Mata's Bullnose doesn't receive nearly the media attention of its flagship Coleraine, but it's a benchmark for Hawke's Bay Syrah—the violets and pepper on the nose couldn't be mistaken for any other variety. This is a bit creamy in texture on the midpalate but not weighty at all, more agile or spry, with a fine, silky feel on the finish. Drink now–2023.
Honeysuckle and orange blossoms perfume this bright, ebullient wine full of ripe grapefruit and pineapple flavors. While dry in style, it juxtaposes a lusciously rich, penetrating palate against a pulsating backbone of lemon-line acidity. It's pristine yet powerful through a long, undulating finish.
While Petit Verdot is often relegated to being a minor blending component, it makes up a full 51% of this wine with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. High-toned, locked-up aromas of herbs, flowers, tobacco and cocoa are followed by fruit flavors backed by lively acids and firm but well-integrated tannins.
Sonorous nutty notes meld with herbal spice. Tangy grapefruit zest swings into there somewhere, as does a much clearer note of green Conference pear. This is closed but smooth and will open up like a flower bud. On the palate, there is a wonderfully pliant, lemon-accented texture of real freshness.
An incredibly rich wine not for the faint of heart, this shows blackberry jam, espresso, condensed lilacs and expresso syrup on the nose. It gets more intense on the palate, with chocolate syrup, thick fudge, dense blueberry fruits, black tobacco and espresso extract that push concentration levels to the delightfully extreme.
Dense and structured, this ripe and fruity wine features attractive dense tannins that are balanced by rich black-currant fruit flavors. The acidity and the dry core of the wine both promise good aging, so drink from 2020. The property has been in the Ballande family since early 19th century. Red-wine production from the 50 acres is overseen by consultant Denis Dubourdieu.
Vines surround a garden full of contemporary sculpture in the grounds of the château. This wine, produced at the western end of the Margaux appellation, is well structured with firm tannins that are balanced by juicy berry fruits and acidity. It is well integrated, on the way to aging well. Drink from 2018.
Intensely perfumed, this offers enticing scents of wild red berry, rose, violet and exotic spice. The polished, linear palate delivers ripe black cherry, spiced blackberry, cinnamon and star anise alongside silky tannins and refreshing acidity.
This is a bright wine with 90% Merlot. It has black-currant crispness and acidity. The tannins are light and the wine, ready to drink young and fruity, will be best slightly chilled.
There's a subtle earthy funkiness to this 100% Carignan-based rosé, with supporting notes of white cherry, currant and strawberry hull. The light-weight palate offers decent acidic lift and finished short but clean.
Gritty and earthy up front, with generic plum scents, this feels hard, tannic and in need of more body. Roasted, oaky flavors of hickory and saucy plum finish dry, woody and hollow.
This has aromas of stalky underbrush, porcini mushroom, game and berry. The wine's uber-simple palate shows suggestions of wild cherry and a hint of clove alongside drying, fleeting tannins and brisk acidity.
Delicate herbal accents add depth to the fruity tones of apple flesh, pear and white nectarine. The palate is surprisingly round and toasty, with rich baked apple and peach pit flavors that fall somewhat flat on the midpalate. Drink now.
This light and fruity wine has fresh acidity as well as lemon and ripe pear fruits. It is soft, smooth, and with a creamy texture, is very ready to drink.
Still rare to find in Beaujolais, this Chardonnay is a light wine, full of fruit and attractive ripe melon flavors. It has enough acidity for balance while being more ripe than fruity. The wine is ready to drink.
Raw, earthy plum aromas are spicy and lightly herbal. This feels saucy yet monotone. Tomato, red-plum and herbal flavors end with a hint of brown sugar and a continuation of the wine's herbal plum character.
Firm tannins make this wine solid and dry. It has banana and bright cherry fruits well integrated with the acidity. The aftertaste suggests the wine could benefit from a few more months before drinking, so wait until 2017.
This is a soft vineyard-designate, approachable and flirting with overripe flavors that rein in accents of soy, brown sugar and Dr Pepper.
Smooth and soft, this easygoing wine has mild fruit and oak-spice flavors, low acidity and a touch of sweetness to round off any edges.
This is a full-bodied, intensely ripe wine, slightly sweet-tasting like soda, that benefits from a balance of tangy acidity and a finish of leather.
Simple and earthy, this has aromas suggesting red berry, truffle and forest floor. The lean, diluted palate offers suggestions of cherry and orange zest alongside brisk acidity and frail, loose-knit tannins.
Extremely ripe pear and Gravenstein apples grow toward white peach and generic stonefruit flesh on the nose of this bottling. Strong apple flavors meet with yellow pear on the slightly sweet-seeming palate.
There is enough crispness to make this ripe wine tight and fruity. Its dry strawberry fruitiness comes with a light touch of pepper. Drink now.
Briary plum and minty oak aromas lead to a sharp palate with high acidity. Tart flavors of red plum and currant blend with spice and tomato notes in front of a saucy, high-toned, high-acid finish.
Notes of red currant, rhubarb, tart strawberry and Cherry Dr. Pepper grace the nose and mouth of this straightforward and easy-drinking red. It's lightweight and softly structured, with a short but clean and pleasant finish.
This is a tank-fermented wine from the King's Ridge Vineyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A big, intense expression of the variety, it's burly in black fruit and proffers a taste of coconut macaroon.
This fruity wine has bright acidity and a perfumed character. With its crisp texture, it is full of lemon and green apple fruit. Drink now.
Dark colored for a modern rosé, this is a ripe blend of two Cabernets, Syrah and Tannat. Red fruits and a rich texture make for a wine that is almost sweet in character, certainly floral and perfumed. Drink now.
Made from 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre, this offers medium-intense aromas of medicinal cherry and raspberry, with a white chocolate accent. Fleshy and round, there's a heaviness to the midpalate, while cherry skin and sweet spice tones grace the finish.
Smoky and earthy in aroma, tart and tannic in the mouth, this is an assertive, mouth-puckering wine.
Produced from vines around the hilltop village of Oingt (claimed to be the most beautiful in France), this has a soft texture, a banana flavor and light acidity. It is the sort of wine that will be better slightly chilled.
The wine has pure ripe cherry fruit and a soft texture laced with intense acidity. This is an immediately attractive wine, full of fruit grown on clay soil, and with a light tannic edge to give it shape.
Compost, rubber and stalky berry aromas come through the nose to the mouth. The palate is tight and tannic. The finish is narrow, hinting at stalky berry aromoas.
With an extra-deep color and smoky-sweet oak aromas, this wine doesn't taste like its peer group, but seems to be going for commercial appeal as a spiced-up generic red. It's full bodied, almost thick in texture and firmly tannic.
This is a 100% varietal wine, with fruit sourced from Sonoma Mountain as well as Dry Creek and Alexander valleys. Black fruit wraps around generous tannin and oak as a touch of cola spice attempts to liven things up on the palate.
Straight down the line, this wine shows fruit and acidity. The tannins are relatively soft while the fruit is forward. Blackberries, coffee and licorice notes all come together.
Very fruity aromas hint that this is a bright wine, its tannins shaded by the red and black berry flavors. The structure is integrated, showing ripe as well as fresh fruit with final flavors of chocolate.
An incredibly concentrated, silky blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Nothing shy about this wine, inspired as it is by the great Chateauneuf-du-Papes and yet undoubtedly Californian. Make that mountain Californian. With baked cherry fruit and baking spices throughout and serious grip and weight, this is one heady and delicious wine.
Old vines in this case means an average age of 70 years, from a vineyard that is a mix of different varieties. The result is impressive, very floral with sweet black fruit, licorice and the ripest of tannins. Age this wine for 5–6 years.
Named for the year the vineyard was planted, this is a full-bore Barossa fruit bomb—in a positive way. Waves of lush berry fruit are framed by hints of vanilla and mint in this full-bodied, creamy-textured wine that somehow manages to retain a sense of elegance and proportion.
A tropical- fruited wine, full of toast and apricot and melon fruits. It is deliciously ripe and soft with the acidity lost in the richness. It is opulent and already a pleasure to drink.
This is the first vintage of a wine that used to be called Laville Haut-Brion. It is ripe and opulent with exotic fruits and generosity, very open, very rich. Pineapple, yellow fruits and toast are all present.
Textbook Rioja gran reserva in every way. It's light and smoky smelling, with brown sugar, fine cologne and cedary aromas. Generous but well-cut in the mouth, with fig, mushroom, raspberry and spiced plum flavors. Fresh on the finish, with light herb flavors and good weight. Drink now through 2018.
Considered to be the best block of Syrah in the vineyard, here it shows a generous mix of tart berry, plum and raisin fruit flavors, with a lush middle suggesting blueberry pie and Christmas cake. But there is more—chocolate, cinnamon and on it goes into a riot of holiday pastries. Flat-out yummy.
The second vintage of Steven Kent's lovely, lofty Lineage, impressive in its Kingly bottle, is as ambitious as last year's, a sumptious blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon (three different clones), 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot. Its red fruit is prominent, the wine high-toned, succulent with cherry and pomegranate. Integrated and appropriately weighty, it lifts even higher on the coffee-laced finish. Give it a few years more in bottle and wow.
Even by Dunham's high standards, this is a spectacular Riesling. A little spritz to give it a turbo start, a textural and focused entry, a broad splash of spicy apple, pear, apricot and light tropical fruit, and then a surprising streak of honeyed almonds. This wine just rocks.
Warm and rounded, this spicy wine has wood flavors just showing through the ripe fruit. It is already delicious, with rich blackberry flavors right up front, although its aging potential is evident with the concentrated, deep structure.
This dry Moscato Giallo from Lodi is delicious, with an intensely perfumed nose that follows through in the taste, alongside Meyer lemon, jasmine and cantaloupe. Very unusual, incredibly well priced and modest in alcohol, this lush, ginger-tinged Moscato is this taster's desert-island white.
Randy Dunn's Feather has an intriguing floral component, and the aromas are complex and intense, though the wine is wound up tight. Let it breathe and it delivers elegant, focused flavors, precisely defined berry and cassis fruit, with a long and harmonious finish.
An impressive wine from old vines. The 2009 has an extra depth of richness and full character. The black fruits go deep into the wine, hugely rich while still keeping a dark structure. Powerful and needing aging.
If you like heavyweight Tempranillo, this is a textbook rendition. It's deep and dark, with earth, leather and oak in addition to monster black fruit on the nose. Feels lush, powerful and layered, with bursting blackberry, spice, mocha and vanilla flavors. Quite black and spicy on the finish. Drink from 2012 through 2016.
A ripe wine, very open and smooth. The tannins are dark, but it is the fruit—blackberry and red plums—that comes right through. Look beneath this charm, and there is also a wine with more structure, perfumed and ageworthy.
Ripe wine, with soft tannins allied to great density. Weight and lovely, juicy, final fruit flavors meld together easily. This is solid, dense, impressive and for long-term aging.
Lightly sparkling, this is a crisp, almost dry wine that offers fresh sliced apples and citrus flavors. Made from the Louriero grape which is widely planted in the Lima valley, this is a fruity sip for the summer.
This is fresh, fruity and medium bodied. Aromas recall mild peach and pineapple, and flavors convey ripe apple with a dash of vanilla, plus a smooth texture. The wine is appealing and shows no rough edges.
Ripe plums and plump Bing cherries gain complexity from chaparral scrub and roasted meats in the background. The palate is rounded with Mission figs and violets, enhanced by a sharp acidity and noticeable tannic grip.
Briny citrus aromas are pungent, and in general this runs strong on pyrazines and bell pepper scents. A tight, juicy, firm palate is home to citric flavors of pink grapefruit and orange.
This veers strongly into the herbal side of Cabernet. It's scented with stem and leaf, and the flavors follow. It's tight, tart and chewy, verging on sour as it comes up short in the finish.
This Rasteau-based estate has turned out a plummy, savory blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan aged solely in concrete. The plum fruit is pronounced, balanced by hints of asphalt and some dusty tannins on the finish.
Short, sharp and attenuated, this has a volatile edge to its aromas, and that sharpness carries over into the palate.
Hot pink in color, the palate is open and mild, but unstructured. Simple raspberry and plum flavors finish alert but with a basic finish of red and citrus fruits.
This is fresh and citrusy, with lemon and grapefruit aromas that lead to lightly herbal flavors. It tastes almost dry, is medium bodied, and has a good balance of crispness and straightforward fruit character.
Roasted berry and plum aromas are earthy and leathery. This wine feels raw on the palate, with snappy acidity. Flavors of herb-infused tomato and briny plum finish oaky and spicy, with a forced note of clove. This blend of Merlot, Shiraz, Tempranillo and Viognier is not your typical Chilean red blend.
The nose on this isn't very expressive, but eventually reveals aromas of cooked fruit and a whiff of barnyard. The palate delivers black pepper and cured meat but the fruit has completely dried up. Fleeting but drying tannins give it an astringent finish.
A muscular, oaky nose shows cool, grapy, berry aromas that carry an animal streak. This is drawing, tannic and rubbery on the palate, with meaty, hard-spice flavors of blackberry that turn mildly bitter and hot on the finish.
This is slightly sweet, moderately fruity and smooth in texture. Light aromas of peaches and flowers lead to flavors like sugared honeydew melon. It would match with cheese or spicy Asian food.
Cherry and plum aromas are generic but largely clean. This tastes sweet and buttery, with creamy, lactic notes which accent cherry and berry flavors. A candied tone of residual sugar creates a sticky sensation on the finish.
Dominated by Fronton's own native Négrette grape, this is a spicy, earthy wine. A green bell pepper undertow gives freshness while also an unripe character. The wine should be drunk now.
A neutral nose shows generic white-flower notes and yeast. This feels ultra ripe and candied on the palate, while tropical flavors of mango and peach are very ripe and finish plump, with only modest acidity.
Shy scents of iron and wild berries barely reach the nose on this wine from San Benito County. The palate shows mostly dried violets and some tannic grip
Dry, rubbery aromas are low on fruit. This is pulpy and citric in feel, with flavors of apple cider, brown sugar and caramel. Sweetness carries onto the finish, which tastes mostly of molasses offset by citrus.
Tasted multiple times over a 24 hour period, this remained tart and thin. The strawberry fruit had a powdery quality, and the accents of pepper and dried herb dominated. The wine seems to be quickly drying out.
Loamy, ripe aromas of raisin and prune are neither exact nor direct. This has a heavy, tannic mouthfeel with balance issues. Rubbery plum and prune flavors finish with a soft, spread-out feel.
An extremely pale color and light fruit salad aromas are followed by fresh, gentle texture and banana and cherry flavors. Light in alcohol, delicate in mouthfeel and short on the finish, it's a mere wisp of a wine.
This soft, lightly ripe wine has red fruits and an easy texture. It is fruity and fragrant with just the lightest hint of Malbec tannin. Drink now.
Black cherry, vanilla and plum aromas and flavors on this affordable Agiorgitiko are plucky and fresh, but the tannins are overall quite supple. The wine is not terribly complex but a good cohort to burgers and grilled meats.
This is a fruity wine made to be drunk young. It is soft, with a blackberry stalkiness in the background as well as fresh, spicy acidity. Drink now.
There's a lot of smoke on the nose of this savory-scented wine, with shiitake mushrooms, dried strawberry and earthy rhubarb as well. The palate is tart with plum skins and peppered with dark spices, then it flattens into a line of sharp acidity.
This smells like plums and blueberries, tastes smooth and rather rich, showing light spicy, oak accents over the plummy flavors. It's medium bodied, rather light on tannins and acidity, so it has a soft texture overall.
Colombard gives the same herbaceous character as Sauvignon Blanc. Here it is packed with acidity, green fruits and strong lines of citrus. Still young, it will benefit for a few more months, so drink from late 2015.
Fresh and fruity, this is perfumed, herbaceous and crisp. A strong citrus character is balanced by hints of peach and pineapple. The wine is ready to drink.
A light and easy Soave, it offers delicate sensations of stone fruit and citrus alongside bright acidity. It would work well with spaghetti topped with mussels or vegetables.
A soft, fruity wine, it comes straight from tank without any wood aging. It's a fine barbecue wine with its black currant fruitiness and light, dry tannins. Drink 2014.
This new Zin from Livermore Valley-based Dante Robere is from two vineyards, one in Livermore and the other in Brentwood. The fruit is mostly plum, with a trace of wintergreen on the mid-palate but even for Zin the fruit flavors are masked somewhat by the high alcohol; it's for those who like a heavy-hitting wine.
A ripe, very fruity wine with enough softness to suggest sweetness. Smooth with red fruits and a touch of acidity, it's ready to drink now.
A soft, unoaked and juicy Malbec, it has black berry fruits, light tannins and good acidity. A touch of smokiness adds complexity. Drink now.
This big-flavored Zin is wrapped in layers of brick and tar, smoke and oak, amidst its wild blackberry aromas. It's simple and priced accordingly.
Narrow, feline aromas and gritty citrus scents define the nose on this lean wine. Orange, lime and lettuce flavors finish mild, with angularity and a lasting twang.
This is a dark, tannic Pinot Noir from a big vintage, hefty in dark berry fruit and a taste of leather. Affordable and widely distributed, it's a good choice for midweek meals.
Planky and a bit tart, this Zin hails from 45-year-old vines and is soft and suggestively herbal.
Get through the dirty nose and there is plenty of red fruit and acidity. The wine is dry and fruity but spoiled by that rustic edge at the beginning.
A faintly metallic flavor spoils this red fruited wine. It brings out tight acidity and red currant fruits while the structure is lost.
Hailing from top sites Klipsun, Kiona and Ciel du Cheval, this wine is near equally split between between Merlot (49%) and Cabernet Franc (44%), with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Notes of dark raspberries and flowers with abundant oak accents lead to surprisingly silky tannins for this appellation and producer.
Initially this is closed, but slowly some leesy notes appear. While some may look to Sauvignon Blanc for its usually overt aromatics, in this wine the creamy but streamlined midpalate texture is the real interest. For those who like their Sauvignons restrained and very food-friendly.
This is a solid, complex, complete and evocative five-grape Bordeaux blend. It has distinctive characteristics reflective of the region's terroir. Threads of soy and balsamic run across deep cassis fruit. The stiff acidity has a citrus flavor, and details of clean fresh herb add further interest. It's a wine with a fine sense of detail, balance and length.
Freshly peeled green pear with top notes of fig leaf and aloe vera dominate nose and palate. This is slender but buffered, creamy but not fat. A balanced wine with friendly glints of fruit and freshness.
Fruity and aromatic, inviting and fresh—there is real zip and a spring in the step of this citrus-focused, slender Riesling. Zesty lemon and grapefruit peel take center stage on the streamlined palate and make for a super-refreshing finish.
This iconic regional vineyard is widely sourced, and this bottling presents it well. Fresh aromas of Meyer lemon and graphite shavings get layered with oak-related scents of toasted coconut flake and ground vanilla. The palate surrounds a core of lemon-lime-laced apple and fleshy ripe pear, with guava skin on the finish. Very easy to drink.
This blend of fruit from Ciel du Cheval (85%) and Force Majeure vineyards was fermented in concrete before aging in three- to seven-year-old oak barrels. It's dazzling in feel, with rich, supple, focused cranberry and cherry flavors that lead to a tart, drawn-out finish.
The Central Coast's Rhône pioneers deliver a savory style as usual, with scents of tobacco and creosote at the core, with red and blue fruit on the edges. It is dense and tannic on the palate with blueberry and blackberry fruits that are refreshed with acidity and lifted with mocha and mint spices.
This Riesling specialist strikes a unique chord, with precise yet individualistic wines. Crisp, tart, tongue-tickling flavors of green apple, grapefruit and orange peel are among the penetrating highlights. Concentrated and high in acid, this rocks on through a long finish.
Two-thirds Grenache with the balance Syrah and Mourvèdre, this shows moderate aromas of coffee and pepper along with high-toned herbs and barrel spices. It's supple in texture, with the mouthfeel bringing much of the appeal.
Coming in at a low (for Washington) alcohol level for this variety, this 100% Grenache shows light aromas of mint and other herbs with elusive raspberry and plum accents. It's medium bodied with an elegant, supple feel, showing little obvious new-oak influence to the red fruit flavors. A very intriguing wine where the texture plays a starring role in the show.
The nose is initially subdued but eventually reveals inviting aromas of spiced plum, leather, vanilla and a whiff of blue flower. The structured but elegant palate conveys blackberry, dried cherry, mint, savory herb and clove alongside bracing but fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. The lingering finish ends on a licorice note. Drink 2016–2023.
Ripe, soft and creamy, this is a gold-colored, fresh Champagne, with yellow and white fruit flavors. The wine is open, softly rich with a light, bright mousse and finishing acidity. The aftertaste adds an attractive yeasty character.
Given sufficient time to open up, this cool-vintage wine brings notes of dried herbs, chocolate, anise, pencil lead and wood spice. The luscious chocolate and cherry flavors are soft, supple and concentrated, with enough tannins to benefit from additional time in the cellar. Drink after 2016 or give it a two-hour decant.
Savory, smoky glints reach the nose even before the black cherry fruit does. On the palate these flavors are more united and show more depth. The tannins still have the crunchy grip of starched velvet and the freshness at the core is highlighting and welcome. Beautiful balance, grip and tone. Crunchy now but even better as of 2016.
This is a concentrated, firmly built example of Grenache, with herbal overtones to its black cherry fruit. Despite the dark plum and cherry fruit, the impression is one of tautness and freshness. Drink it with red meat now, or give it until 2017 to settle down.
Treading between sharp citrus and the grape's more oily tendencies, this offers aromas of Lemonhead candy, honeysuckle and browned butter. The smoky flavors lean toward marshmallow and cooked peach, but the amazingly punchy acidity gives a long, vanilla-laced finish.
Nuanced oak and creamy, balanced layers of lemon, pear and fig characterize this wine, which retains ample acidity and texture, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Concentrated and refined, it's distinctive for the table and the cellar.
The aromas of this wine from a vineyard in the Corralitos area somehow reflect its orange color (perhaps due to three weeks of skin contact), with orange rose petals and iced rooibos tea, yet with a steely minerality more common in pale white wines. The palate shows pickled plums and stewed stone fruits against a gunmetal backdrop and citrus peel bite. It's unique and very tasty.
This smooth blockbuster is powered by saturated ripe blackberry and cherry flavors, with a rich, opulent body. The layered fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg notes are fascinating, and the texture is lush and inviting.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (54%), Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot hails from six up-and-coming vineyards on Red Mountain. It suggests coffee and cream, vanilla and dark cherry, with a high-toned herbal grace note. The feel is soft and supple with coffee flavors that linger, winning on its elegant, ultracharming appeal.
A taste of black plum, tar and tobacco is most prominent in this wine. It's dense on the palate, medium in length and yet proffers a lift of acidity toward the finish, a sprinkling of varietal white pepper lingering provocatively. From near Spring Mountain, the grapes reflect a relative coolness, wrapped in concentration.
This is lush and toasty upfront, with supporting aromas of honeydew, peach marmalade and yellow apple. The palate offers ample acidity to lift the rich fruit flavors, while hints of sweet spice, apple skin and toasted brioche unfold on the finish. Attractive and well balanced; enjoy now.
Full bodied and supple, this is one of the more opulent and open of d'Arenberg's array of single-vineyard wines. Notes of vanilla, maple syrup and bramble berries mark the nose, while the flavors add cassis and tobacco elements. It's a pretty, fleshy wine for drinking now–2020, although it may age well even past that.
One of the most muscular of these multiple 2010 d'Arenberg Shiraz bottlings, Tyche's Mustard is full-bodied and burly, packed with dark, earthy notes of loam, black olive, and espresso. Despite its power, the finish is long and elegantly textured. Drink 2016–2030.
Vibrant and elegant, this opens with aromas of bright red berry, rose petal and savory herb. The sleek palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and intense licorice alongside firm but fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. It's impeccably balanced. Drink 2018–2028.
This full-bodied, full-flavored, ultraripe and smooth wine smells rich and fruity, tastes ripe and generous, feels velvety and finishes softly. The rich plum and strawberry aromas and flavors meld with the full, viscous mouthfeel.
The dazzling cherry-rhubarb character starts in the aroma, expands on the palate and cruises through the finish, making this a memorable wine. In a no-nonsense way it serves up vivid, bracing flavors with virtually no oaky notes while displaying lively tannins and great acidity. Tempting to drink now but will improve through at least 2018.
There are light peach and honeysuckle aromas on this blend of 52% Grenache Blanc, 21% Viognier, 15% Picpoul Blanc and 12% Roussanne. The palate features a remarkably intriguing tension between ripe nectarine and lemon zest that holds through the entire sipping experience and beyond, with a refreshing mint character adding complexity. This vibrant wine will improve age into 2018 and beyond.
From vines on the cool plateau above the Douro, this is a fresh and fruity wine. Light wood-aging is just noticeable, giving a little spice to the textured, steely fruit. Crisp apples and pink grapefruit offer freshness. The wine could age more, so drink from end of 2015.
An unusual late release to the American market, this wine shows its maturity, but elegantly. It still boasts bright black cherry flavor, but also prominent tones of mushroom, earth and leather. Puckery acidity adds freshness to the finish.
Crisp, fresh, mild-mannered red-berry aromas are light and subtle. This feels a little narrow and astringent, while oaky, lactic flavors of plum and wood grain finish mildly raw and drawing, with ample spice character. Drink through 2018.
A tight, brambly field-like blend of Carignane, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Alicante Bouschet, this black, dense and mouth-coating wine offers savory leather and spice. Black cherry and plum form the core of its fruit, with vanilla and oak intensifying on the finish, the overall wine getting juicier as it opens.
Intense aromas of red cherry and wildflower open this bright, elegant red. The easy-drinking palate offers crushed cherry, strawberry, orange zest and a hint of white almond alongside refreshing acidity and ultrafine tannins.
Made with overripe Garganega grapes, this opens with aromas of baked yellow fruit, lightly toasted oak and roasted almond. The round palate offers candied citrus zest, mature apple, dried apricot, a confectionary note and a hint of liqueur. Soft acidity accompanies the rich flavors.
Though quite light in color, this is a very ripe-smelling wine, with aromas of honeysuckle, peach, pineapple and guava. It proves light on the sleek palate, with subtle tropicality emerging via tuberose flower flavors that are cut with a green apple skin bitterness.
This wood-aged Guru is a rich (while lemon- and lime-flavored) spicy wine. It has a strong mineral element with a crisp, tangy, steely character. Its fruitiness is tempered by the complex texture that promises aging for a few years. Drink from 2017.
This is a big wine with dark tannins and rich black fruits that are powerful and dense. The strong mineral texture comes from the rocky soils of Catapereiro. Wood aging adds to the complexity. Drink from 2017.
Aromas of ripe pear, citrus and nuts mingle in the glass. The bright, linear palate delivers juicy yellow peach, mature apple, nectarine, sage and toasted almond alongside crisp acidity. It closes on a smoky mineral note.
Labeled both as Orange and Rosé, this is Pinot Gris fermented on the skins, then aged in neutral oak for several months. A pretty sunset color, slightly oxidized, and aromatic with dried apricot and pear fruit, it's a wine for those with more-than-average curiosity. Highlights of dark chocolate and coffee creep in to a lingering finish.
A handful of Willamette Valley wineries grow Syrah, pushing the grape to an earthy, herbal style, amplified here by the cool 2011 vintage. Tart berry, leaf and herb combine in a tight, tannic midpalate. There are interesting highlights of orange peel as well, and a lingering, subtle finish.
This copper-colored wine, the result of extended contact between the just-pressed juice and the grape skins, opens with pretty aromas of wildflower, stone fruit and an herbal note. The savory palate delivers juicy apple, peach, pink grapefruit and a mineral accent alongside zesty acidity.
Aromas of beeswax, white spring flowers and stone fruit lead the nose. The savory palate doles out nectarine zest, passion fruit, yellow peach and a ginger note alongside bright acidity.
This bottling by Jim Clendenen is all about subtlety, with red currants, tiny bits of strawberry and iron showing on the nose. A rusty cherry character shows once sipped, with chaparral and pencil lead emerging as well. This wine requires attention, but rewards those with focus and patience.
Delicate aromas of toast and woodland berry mingle in the glass. On the palate, notes of vanilla and spicy cedar complement a core of red cherry. Soft acidity and refined tannins provide the framework. Enjoy through 2016.
Subtle aromas of toasted oak, pressed flower and dried orchard fruit lead the nose. The firm palate offers nectarine, lemon drop, dried apricot and ginger alongside bright acidity. Drink soon to enjoy the remaining fruit flavors.
Honeysuckle, chamomile, pear and passion fruit aromas meld together in the glass. The palate offers pear, apricot, nectarine peel and a touch of tropical fruit alongside brisk acidity. It closes on an almond note.
From old vines, this now-mature wine shows almonds, touches of toast and gentle acidity. It has a creamy texture that only hints at the original minerality and crispness. Now, it is a smooth wine with only a light connection to the Melon grape, offering concentration and a rich aftertaste. Drink now.
From the mica soil of Goulaine, this single-parcel wine is rich and full in the mouth. Aged for three years in tank, the wine is now mature, ripe and rounded with yellow fruits as well as a strong citrus element. Drink now.
Lime pith and tangerine notes lend an intensely zesty, racy feel to this dry, medium-bodied Riesling. The palate is lean but vivaciously fresh, with a pristine, mineral finish.
This has oodles of ripe boysenberry and huckleberry in the aroma, and the overt fruitiness continues in the flavors. A nice touch of oak sawdust in the aroma comes off more like a touch of sweetness in the flavors. There is a rich mouthfeel, soft tannins and full body. It's enjoyable and easy to drink.
Fresh and fruit forward, this is a fine value in a most enjoyable style. Bananas, pears, apples and more are in play, with a mouthfilling, generous midpalate.
Wild strawberry and alpine herb aromas mingle in the glass. The bright palate delivers crushed red cherry, cinnamon and green tea alongside firm but polished tannins and fresh acidity.
This is a beautifully fresh wine, very crisp and deliciously fruity. With attractive lemon and grapefruit flavors that are given a richer character by ripe apples, it's fragrant, lightly spicy and ready to drink.
Aromas of baking spices and pears lead the way, followed by flavors of pear and pineapple. This medium-bodied wine has a pleasantly toasty-grainy note as well, then finishes crisp and citrusy.
This wine shows quite a bit of tropicality on the nose, with lychee and kiwi fruits, yet manages to remain restrained at the same time. It's soft on the palate, with white peach flesh, and shows a very intriguing herbal side, with tarragon and mint flavors, but not in a green pepper way at all.
Boldly tannic, this structured, wood-aged wine is just starting out. It's as much dry wood and tannins as fruit at this stage, although the fruit and mineral texture do promise aging. There is significant acidity at the end. Drink from 2016.
This is a simple, rounded and juicy white, succulently ripe and full bodied in lemon, grapefruit and mango, with supportive oak.
Made with 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot and Canaiolo, this shows aromas of dark berry and a whiff of orange peel. The simple, rather thin palate offers dried black cherry, prune and a cedar note alongside fleeting tannins.
This easy-to-drink wine combines a lightly oaky aroma with good but light fruit flavors and savory accents. It's dry and well balanced, with a smooth mouthfeel.
A medium dry wine with hints of honey over dried apricot and lemon crispness. Intense acidity gives the wine great lift and crispness. It is still young and will be better from 2017.
Hints of orange and lemon on the rather muddied nose of this wine lead to a palate characterized by ripened fruit. While the palate is slightly dilute it shows freshness and a dry finish.
A solid wine for the price, this shows lush aromas of baked red cherries, vanilla, caramel and clove. The palate is more restrained with tart, somewhat rigid tannins that will allow more fruit and spice flavors to emerge with patience.
This merchant house, with labels that carry a classic Frenchman's mustache, has made a soft rounded wine with attractive red-berry fruits. It is juicy and full of acidity that finishes the wine with a crisp aftertaste.
Made with 85% Sangiovese and 15% Colorino and Canaiolo—all organically grown—this straightforward red opens with aromas of violet and black cherry. The vibrant, simple palate offers raspberry and a note of white pepper alongside chewy tannins and nervous acidity.
A darkly fruity aroma leads to sweet flavors like brown sugar, milk chocolate and blueberry jam in this medium-bodied, soft-textured wine.
There's a pretty floral character to the bouquet of this wine—think rose and honeysuckle—framing the ripe peach, apricot and orange fruit tones. Those notes continue through to the medium-weight palate, with ample acidity to cut through the rich fruit flavors and slight viscosity of the finish.
Cidery, yeasty, grassy aromas are the opening on this round Cava that could use a bit more cut. Cidery, briny stone-fruit and apple flavors come with a celery note, finishing dry and with a white pepper accent.
This variety is still a rarity in the state. Barrel aromas are out front, with notes of vanilla and coffee followed by herbs. The flavors are elegant, with a tart lick of acidity, but bring a stewed element that distracts.
This is an open, ripe and accessible wine. With soft tannins and ripe Aragonez and Syrah fruit, it is drinkable now. Berries and acidity complete this fruity wine.
This blend of Aragonez and Touriga Nacional is particularly crisp and fruity. It has some richness, but it is the bright red berry and red currant fruit that makes it so refreshing. Drink now.
Restrained lemon and apple aromas are accented by bramble on this crisp, light-bodied Riesling. It's delicate in concentration but its bracing lemon-lime acidity refreshes. Drink now through 2018.
The aromas seem a bit stewed, with notes of tomato leaf and pickling spices. The blue-fruit flavors are high octane, showing some heat on the finish.
Aromas of tire rubber, plum and red currant are followed by sweet plump fruit flavors. Chalky tannins provide the frame.
From organically grown grapes, this unfiltered wine is ripe with red-cherry flavors and freshened by acidity. It has a tang of tannin that adds a dry core to this attractive wine.
A light wine with some smoky flavors but mainly soft red-berry fruits and accompanying acidity. The wine has a round texture and a spicy aftertaste.
Produced in the same area as many of the Armagnac vineyards, the wine is gently sweet and with a herbal edge. It has fruit flavors of dried apricot, citrus and apple jelly. The wine is shot through with attractive acidity and is ready to drink.
Forward aromas of menthol, bay, lavender and pink flowers dominate the nose of this pretty rosé, with soft notes of orange, melon and underripe peach underneath. The medium-weight palate shows some roundness, though it's lifted by ample acidity and a pithy astringency that graces the finish.
A baked lemon, honeyed aspect of this wine makes it seem overripe in many ways, a lush, full-bodied characteristic that seems slightly overdone. From one of the farming family's Green Valley ranches, it's intense and creamy.
Delicate aromas recalling forest floor, aromatic herb and a floral note lead the way. The simple, rather diluted palate offers suggestions of red berry and a sprinkling of clove alongside bright acidity and fleeting tannins.
A pale, almost water-like color in the glass, this is a light and nuanced rosé. Scents of white cherry, melon rind, orange peel and sweet grass unfold in the bouquet and carry through to the light-bodied palate. A tart red-currant flavor and citric vibrancy linger on the close. Drink now.
This blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Syrah from estate-farmed vineyards, the result a mix of cured meat, charred oak and rich, dark cherry. Full bodied and concentrated, it offers structure amid the ripeness.
Neutral smelling except for some pear and mild apple, while the palate is tangy and linear, with citrus, lemon and green apple flavors. Clangy and ringy on the finish, but solid all around. Drink soon or wait for the upcoming vintage.
A fresh, warmly herbaceous wine, with a hint of apricot juice and sweet pink grapefruit. Bright acidity finishes a great apéritif wine.
A tart, hard-edged rendition of Clare Valley Shiraz, from the cool subsection known as Polish Hill better known for its Rieslings. Tart plum and berry flavors are touched with spice, vanilla and traces of hickory smoke and bacon fat. The appealing aromatics are the wine's best facet. Try aging it through 2015 and see if it improves.
Light red fruits, perhaps just a little stewed and herbal, with a soft mouthfeel and mocha-streaked finish.
A soft, easy, floral blend of Viognier, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Banana, tangerine, pineapple and pithy dry flavors meet on the palate and finish, creating a fruity, likable, quaffable whole. Drink chilled. Imported by Ecovalley Quality Wine Group and National Refrescos Import Company, LLC.
An intensely herbaceous wine, its very fresh acidity a part of the juicy currants, gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. It is light, fresh, a fine apéritif wine.
A fresh, juicy, ripe wine, bursting with new red and black berry fruits. The wine is plush, forward and fruity, a wine to drink young and still vibrant.
Slightly herbal, but not so much so that the bouquet is off or unappealing. Racy and a little rubbery on the palate, with generic but solid berry and herbal aromas. Long, herbal and only mildly scratchy on the finish. Standard Merlot from Chile.
A light wine from a wet year. The wine is soft, seemingly dilute. It has some red berry flavors, but not much texture or structure, with wood aging taste.
This is a bit sweaty in the nose, with a mousy undertaste that takes some time to blow off. Sour and unresolved; nothing really connects here. Very tart, with unripe citrus, pale red fruits, and a little toast and chocolate.
Very fresh, crisp and green, packed with the crispest apples and lime zest. The Colombard adds a perfume of warm apricot skins, while the acidity and weight come from the Ugni Blanc.
Aromas of burnt leaves, grilled meat and rubber/tar are sort of hard and dominant, but the palate is brighter and fruity, with lively raspberry and plum along with carob and olive flavors. Good but seems slightly stalky/herbal on the finish.
Very light-bodied, slight but textbook Grüner with green pear fruit on nose and palate and an almost fizzy, refreshing and utterly appetizing hint of white pepper. Gives a superclean, pear-drop finish.
Peppery notions of green pear, along with zesty lemon notes, add focus to this fresh, joyful and pliantly soft wine. Very easy to drink with its light body and subtle charm.
Crisp lemon, lime and mineral tones are restrained on the nose of this dry Riesling, but accumulate in power on the palate. It's a surprisingly peachy, fruit-forward wine, but it maintains deftness of body along with a long, steely finish.
The freshness of ripe lemon and crunchy, green apple pervades everything: the nose and palate sing with light-footed, unfettered freshness. This is crisp, light and spritzy and just the thing for a sunny, summery mood where refreshment is supposed to come on tiptoe but have a lasting effect. Full points for joy and ease. Drink soon.
Aromas of banana, apricot, honeysuckle and tropical fruit lead the nose. The round, medium-bodied palate offers creamy white peach, green apple, tangerine and a hint of honeydew melon. Fresh acidity brightens the rich flavors.
This well-balanced wine is poised easily between ripe red fruits and some light tannins. It has great spice, attractive perfumed acidity and great style. Touches of pineapple give a more tropical character to the aftertaste.
Brisk lemon and apple notes are delicate and unassuming on the nose, making the blossomy, peachy palate on this Chardonnay a pleasant surprise. Despite its bold alcohol, zesty acidity lends freshness and the finish is invigoratingly mineral.
This is the first vintage of this wine to be labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon as opposed to a red wine. It brings aromas of fresh jalapeño, herb and cherry. The cherry and plum flavors are rich and layered, backed by tightly coiled tannins.
A buoyant wine, this has delicious acidity and a soft, immediately accessible texture. Red berries give a lively, perfumed fruitiness to this open wine that smells and tastes of sunshine.
A blend of Grenache and Cinsault, this is as light as its color, with refreshing red-berry fruits and a touch of pepper. The wine dances elegantly and leaves a crisp, bright aftertaste.
Dominated by Grenache (60%), this wine is soft and easily fruity. Along with attractive flavors of red fruits, pear and citrus, it has a light tang of lime zest and a ripe, full-bodied aftertaste.
Luscious blackberry and cherry flavors take center stage here, showing just a glaze of nuttiness and roundness from judicious oak aging. Tart cranberry acidity and fine but slightly puckering tannins frame the palate squarely.
Fresh, honest fruitiness that's tasty but not sweet, a tangy texture and medium body add up to very refreshing, mouth-cleansing sort of wine. The flavors resemble canteloupe and honeydew melons, but there's a good crisp feeling like Granny Smith apples, too.
Aromas of green apple, tuberose and a whiff of bread crust meld together on this vibrant white. The palate offers honeydew melon, white peach, bread crust and tangerine while tangy acidity gives it a crisp finish.
Violet, rose, wild berry, chopped herb and dark spice aromas float out of the glass. The friendly, robust palate doles out black cherry, ground pepper and rhubarb alongside fresh acidity and round tannins. Enjoy soon.
This wine does a great imitation of a Port at a lighter alcohol level. The color is deep and inky, the aromas are concentrated and uberripe, and the texture is thick, nicely tannic yet smooth. Bring on the chocolate or cigars.
A real mix of dark and red fruit is presented here: tart red cherry, along with some rhubarb, blueberries and cranberries. The slender palate swings in the shimmering shades of these vivid aromas. There also is freshness and verve and smooth silkiness. This is a Pinot Noir for drinking now through 2018 while all the fruit is present.
Aromas of ripe black fruit, tilled earth and grilled herb unfold in the glass. The straightforward, already accessible palate delivers sour cherry, licorice and white pepper accompanied by rather firm tannins. Drink through 2018.
This opens with aromas suggesting dark-skinned berry, ground pepper and a whiff of flint. The solid, chewy palate shows mature plum, espresso and vanilla alongside ripe, robust tannins. Drink through 2018.
Subdued aromas of scorched earth, dark cooking spice, black currant and a whiff of game emerge in the glass. The ripe palate offers mature dark-skinned berry, vanilla, tobacco and toast alongside mellow tannins. Drink through 2018.
Subtle aromas of wild berry, scorched earth and clove slowly emerge in the glass. On the palate, notes of allspice and cassis add depth to the black cherry core while chewy tannins provide the framework. Best through 2017.
The herbal flavors of the wild garrigue go through this pale, almost white wine. It does have a touch of tannin giving a structure, as well as a cool character from the high elevation of the vineyards. The aftertaste is refreshing.
Suave blueberry-chocolate notes meet with light and delicate violet florality on the nose of this single vineyard bottling from the Bay Area-based producer. The palate is lively and tart with underripe blackberries, sesame oil and a sizzling acidity.
Jasmine, orange blossom and aromatic herb aromas lead the nose on this round, friendly white. The soft, bright palate offers yellow peach, apricot and pear while a note of white almond backs up the finish.
The grandmother of Serge Davico, the winemaker at the estate, is memorialized in this wine. A perfumed wine, it's tight with acidity and with floral overtones. The ripe red fruit is right up there along with a smooth texture and aftertaste.
Very subtle but the alluring flesh of melon and peeled pear is hinted at here: this spells juiciness and easy, thirst-quenching joy. The palate gives a little backbone to all this pliable, soft fruit. An ideal, almost languid but very fresh summer wine.
Firm strikes of lime, lemon and crushed mineral contrast buoyant peach and even guava notes in this bright, fruity Riesling. Dry in style, it finishes refreshingly crisp with just a hint of lingering bramble.
This is the first release of this new vineyard site for the producer, from a cool property planted by the producer with the help of local grower Jim Pratt, who also supplies Pinot Noir under the Pratt Vineyard name. Still working things out, the wine is earthy and intense, a tightly wound expression of tart cherry and pomegranate, with layers of intriguing clove and dried herbs.
Smoky pepper marks the aroma of this soft, smooth and balanced Cabernet Sauvignon that conveys plenty of refined power. Clove and dried herb provide a savory edge to the experience, which remains integrated and polished in the glass, finishing with a sense of finesse.
Initially this Syrah-led blend is reduced and rubbery on the nose, with gritty notes, herbal berry and mineral vitamin-like scents. A full, chunky, generous palate is woody, lightly green and shows creamy oak and plum flavors in front of a smooth, lactic finish. This also contains Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Briny citrus and green-fruit aromas reflect cold-climate origins. This is zesty yet round, with acidic grit and bite. Green pepper, jalapeño and green melon flavors finish spicy and tangy, like bitter lettuce mixed with passion fruit and tangerine.
From a longstanding source of primo grapes, this Olivet Lane Pinot sings in floral rose and violet while offering damp earth, subtle hints of black raspberry and striking acidity. With well-integrated oak and softly layered tannins, it's on the lighter side of the producer's line-up of wines, building up steam as it goes.
Still young with delicious tangy acidity, bright fruit and intense acidity, this is a crisp wine. It has some weight and some concentration while focusing on total freshness. The zesty, mineral texture works well and will develop. Drink from 2016.
The value bottling from this producer, this wine bursts with pretty scents and raspberry fruit flavors. It carries a nice hint of citrus tang, and still lighter notes of mocha and caramel. Modest in proportion, but generous in flavor, it's ready for immediate enjoyment.
Stiff at first, the Stoller puts on more interesting layers after an hour or two of breathing time. Pomegranate, peach skin, mineral and smoke components weave together, with slightly bitter phenolics wrapping up the finish.
Earthy aromas set off a wine that is still very firm and dry. It's powerful, dense with tannins and big, ripe fruits. Everything is exaggerated, giving a wine that's missing elegance, although one that packs an impressive punch. Drink from 2016.
This winery produces a vast array of wines, yet Syrah seems to thrive best in this vineyard deep up the Santa Maria Valley. The nose is white pepper, sweet plums and rich blackberries, while the relatively light palate is all pepper and verve, with darker hints of leather, tobacco and espresso. It's a great food wine.
This is a beautifully floral, high in acidity white made in small quantities that offers classically lean layers of wet stone and lemon. With a low imprint of oak, it remains structured on the palate and entirely pleasing from start to finish, its honeysuckle aromas singularly inviting.
Made in a big style, this keeps its balance from the aroma through the finish. It has a dark color for what can often be a lighter-colored wine. Aromas recall dark cherries and black pepper, while flavors resemble blackberries. The tannins are firm but the texture is satisfyingly broad and generous.
Aromas of wild cherry, raspberry, alpine herb and a balsamic note take center stage. The sleek, elegant palate doles out ripe strawberry, rosemary, graphite and a hint of baking spice alongside supple tannins.
Delicate and refined fragrances convey passion fruit, white flower and an herbal note. The palate offers creamy white peach, green melon, nectarine and a light mineral vein alongside bright acidity. This wine is well balanced and loaded with finesse.
Supple and powerful, this new Nysa brings potent purple fruits to the core, wrapped in notes of orange peel and citrus. Tannins are smooth and ripe, and there is a light touch with the new oak, adding a pleasant streak of caramel to the finish. Drink now through 2020.
Fresh plum and berry aromas are the greeting, with loamy earth and dried cheese accents making an appearance on the nose. This is a bright, healthy, fruity red with plum, wild berry and a touch of oaky vanilla on the flavor profile. A chunky, chewy, plump finish with a toasty note closes it out. Drink through 2018.
At first this lively, fairly full-bodied Rioja smells rubbery and earthy, with baked plum and raspberry aromas, but it eventually opens and smells more elegant and classy. Wild berry, plum and oak spice are the key flavors, followed by pepper and resiny wood notes on a fresh, racy finish. Drink through 2022.
Leathery, spicy, herbal berry aromas are a bit feral but remain typical of this variety. Jammy, fleshy and fruity on the palate, this exudes herbal plum and raspberry flavors with toasty, green notes. A minty, chunky, solid finish brings herbal notes that are indicative of the grape.
Intensely colored, this wine is from a replanted estate block just coming into its own. The texture is soft and silky, yet austere. It dances in earthy blueberry and spicy cedar notes, finishing in a powerful pronouncement of oak.
Muddled blackberry and plum give this 70% Cabernet Sauvignon a warmth and complexity, accented by clove and herb. Smaller percentages of Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec add softness and structure, as well as a layering of blueberry fruit, with a bite of pepper highlighted on the finish.
An expressive version of the variety, this includes tiny percentages of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Leathery plum and blueberry are the standouts in terms of aromas and flavors, with a soft, spicy streak that lifts the experience, finishing in a dusting of cocoa powder.
Jason Bull makes this wine for the owners, fermenting it in neutral oak that nonetheless yields a rich wine with buttery, toasty, spicy highlights. The light tropical (banana and papaya) fruit is nicely cloaked in butterscotch, with plenty of acidity to buoy it. It's both refreshing and compact, with a drinking window of now through 2020.
Dried plum, grilled bell pepper, exotic spice, chocolate and savory herb aromas waft out of the glass. The structured palate delivers prune, graphite, licorice and tobacco alongside big but polished tannins. It has a succulent finish, closing on a mineral note.
Barrel-fermented in neutral oak, this is a ripe, creamy wine with mix of pineapple and buttered nuts. The secondary fermentation was stopped at 50%, leaving generous acidity and balancing out the intensity of the fruit. This wine punches above its price weight, and will drink well now through 2020.
Wild strawberry, cardamom and clove vie for attention around boysenberry and blueberry ripeness. Intense oak dominates at first, before bowing down to the layers of soft violet and rose. Let this wine open or cellar it away until 2019.
Vibrant floral aromas of violets, hibiscus and rose hips meet with strawberry extract, licorice paste and a fruit-punch nose. It's easy and light on the palate, with rose petals, lavender and white pepper spicing a rhubarb pie character. Tannins emerge to give density to the finish. It's great for beach or barbecue.
A pretty bouquet of wild strawberry invites one into this wine that's faint pink in color and pleasantly awash in citrus flavor and aroma. Mellow and long-lasting on the finish, it's refreshingly crisp in acidity and light in alcohol.
A mouthfilling blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, this is soft and substantial, yet balanced. Leathery meat and blackberry compote intermix in a vibrantly fresh take on Rhône-style reds, peaking on the bright, herbes-de-Provence-flecked finish.
In this gorgeous wine marked by dancing acidity, dry tannins persist around dense layers of black pepper, black cherry and cedar, all of which integrate well with the oak. A nice representation of a cooler vintage, the wine possesses plenty of richness and power balanced exquisitely with a sense of brightness on the palate. Enjoy through 2021.
From a cool vintage, this blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight, offering an elegance of rose, dried cranberry and herb around sizable but not puckering tannins. Flavors of cherry and strawberry shyly reveal themselves in the glass, but the wine should develop further in the cellar, through 2021.
This wine has a richness that borders on candied, a celebration of ripe raspberry and cherry with medium weight and body around strong streaks of tannin.
Not as varietally expressive as the 2013, this is nonetheless a solid, well-made white wine. A hint of gingery spice frames yellow plum fruit, which then comes to a dry, dusty close on the finish.
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, this wine shows a mild concentration of ripe raspberry and bramble berry on the nose. The medium-weight palate is soft in feel, with juicy raspberry and red cherry showing a slight undercurrent of green peppercorns. A toasted praline note marks the close.
Quite quinine and focused on the nose, underripe peach tones linger underneath. The well-balanced palate plays between juicy peach and shocks of lime, leading to a talc-dusted finish.
Delicate apple, mineral and a hint of toasted almond aromas carry over to the simple, straightforward palate along with a note of beeswax and citrus. Racy acidity provides balance and freshness.
Punchy hibiscus and pomegranate notes mix with crushed black rocks and rose petals on the nose of this very reliable every-day drinker. The palate is earthy and herbal in character, with flavors of bay leaf, camphor, dried mint, pine sap and tangy cranberry juice making it very food-friendly.
This single-vineyard offering from northern Michigan sees 20 months in oak, of which 39% is new. At this stage, the medium toast of the oak stands out on the nose, giving aromas of charred red and black berries. The palate is more fresh in nature, with streaks of granite and black pepper lighting the way over a dark-berry core.
A mild concentration of peach, pineapple and an underpinning of floral tones mark the nose. The medium-sweet palate shows good tension and balance, with ripe yellow apple flavors meeting brisk pineapple.
This soft, ripe and fruity blend of local grapes is young and spicy. It has flavors of ripe red fruits that are cut with juicy acidity. It's a fresh wine that is ready to drink.
From 2,800 feet in one of the newer American appellations, this high-desert bottling offers plush and ripe lemon cream, pineapple and guava notes on the nose, with a slight chamomile complexity in the background. The flavors are intriguing, with Rainbow Stripe bubblegum, cotton candy and apple-strudel elements.
This medium-dry wine is fresh, crisp and fruity with ripe, creamy apples, honey and fine acidity. It is well balanced, the sweetness just giving the fruit a lift while keeping all its freshness.
This opens with scents of orchard fruit, citrus and a touch of stone. The aromas float over to the light-bodied, straightforward palate along with a hint of citrus. Bracing acidity gives it a racy finish.
Scents of yellow flower and orchard fruit lift out of the glass. The tangy, straightforward palate offers citrus and peach framed in zesty acidity.
This opens with hushed aromas that recall pressed white flower and orchard fruit. The rather lean palate shows raw yellow peach and a touch of acacia honey alongside bracing acidity. A note of bitter almond and a hint of mineral mark the finish.
This is a perfect everyday wine, with immediately attractive notes of Thin Mint, mocha, black raspberry, brambly boysenberry and cassis that abound on the nose and mouth. Touches of purple flowers and cocoa powder add decadence, while soft tannins lend an approachable structure to the palate. Drink now.
Docile aromas of apricot and peach linger under an oaky blanket of toasted coconut praline. Full and silky on the palate, the fruit tones remain quiet, taking on a lightly brûléed character. Texture wins over flavor intensity in this Viognier that has seen 18 months in French oak.
Big, sweetened tannins reminiscent of tobacco and leather pouch sit atop cedar, herb and vanilla. The fruit is both red and black, true to the vineyard and this area of the Russian River.
Touches of cinnamon, turned earth, iron, dark cranberry and fresh raspberry hit the nose on this bottling from a celebrated vineyard. The palate shows lots of potential with more bottle age, offering notes of graphite, underripe berries, black pepper and bay leaf.
Subtle hints of cereal and grain permeate throughout this medium-sweet Riesling, lending a savory tone to honeyed grapefruit and apple flavors. While lacking great refinement, it offers fruit-forward refreshment for casual settings. Drink now.
Deep black cherry in the glass, this wine has a fruit-forward nose of raspberry and watermelon. Flavors of tart cherry and cranberry are quickly overcome by tannins that are a little too stiff for their own good.
This tasty wine has vivid cherry, strawberry, candylike aromas and flavors. Medium bodied, it offers a mouthfeel that's almost syrupy, a balance that's slightly sweet and an easy-drinking texture.
Primarily sourced from vineyards on Howell Mountain and within Napa Valley's Glass Mountain area, this wine aims to take its cues from Bordeaux, according to the producer. It's soft and revelatory in cinnamon and black-pepper spiciness, with black currant on the palate. It finishes in chewing tobacco and tar.
Subtle red fruit aromas show a flash of lemon peel. This medium-bodied Malbec is regular in every way—the flavors are a touch earthy, with spice and plum notes. The finish hums along while offering nothing new.
Grapefruit and other citrus aromas are zesty but standard. That's also how the palate comes across: citric and juicy, but average. Flavors of orange and tangerine finish fresh but continue the one-note theme.
This rather deeply hued, yellow-gold wine offers aromas suggesting orchard fruit, toasted almond and crushed rock. The palate shows tart apple and green pear accompanied by vibrant acidity.
Initial notes of yeasty citrus are lifted by pear and white blossom on the nose. The citrus-driven palate brings additional blossomy tones alongside Gala apple, with a slight undercurrent of bitter grapefruit pith. Light, fresh and clean, this sparkling Grüner is an attractive option as an apéritif.
Peach and a hint of fresh lettuce are the key aromas to a basic bouquet. This feels solid but pithy, while orange and other generic citrus flavors turn slightly bitter on the finish.
The delicate opening scents are broom, beeswax and pear. The thin palate is made up of yellow apple skin, dried herb and a hint of almond alongside nervous acidity.
Jammy plum and raspberry aromas are meaty and hint at being plush. A flush, fairly full mouthfeel packs power, while flavors of plum and prune fade toward herbal, with residual weight to the finish.
This is a stalky wine with blackberry fruit and a dry tannic edge. It may soften although the acidity suggests it will always be a lean wine.
Wood smoke and grilled meat aromas are prominent in this full-bodied, oaky wine. It doesn't have much varietal character but is savory, smoky and moderately tannic to sip.
Creamy, almost buttery melon aromas are soft and not snappy. A plump but citrusy mouthfeel is bolstered by fading acidity, while this tastes of dry citrus fruits and salt brine. Bitter grapefruit notes take over on the finish.
This wine is tart with dill and cedar notes, sharp acidity showing through its concentrated power and generous oak.
Spring flower aromas mingle with a hint of orchard fruit. On the lean, extremely simple palate, yellow apple fruit mixes with a lemon zest note.
This opens with toasted oak, pressed wild flower and hay aromas. The lean, diluted palate offers butterscotch and tart lemon zest flavors. Although the acidity is brisk, it lacks fruit richness.
The aromas are light, with notes of herb, banana and underripe pineapple. The palate falls flat, drinking more like a generic white wine, with the concentration lacking.
Burnt, smoky char displays prominently on the nose of this wine, which is mouth-puckering with blackberry, current and pencil shaving flavors and finishes on bay leaf and sage.
Aromas of tire rubber, beet root, earthy plum and compost are not the stuff of legend. This feels soupy, then hollow. Flavors of tomato sauce are less than stirring, while this is edgy in feel and tastes tomatoey across the finish.
Fresh and simple, this lean white has subdued flavors suggesting yellow apple and citrus while bright acidity gives it a crisp if short finish. Pour at informal gatherings or drink as a breezy aperitivo.
This high-altitude Malbec, purportedly the highest in the world, seems to have touched the sun. This is flat-out stewed, pruny and flat, with floral grapy exotic aromas. It's not balanced and the acidity is very low, but still this offers some interesting notes.
Malbec makes up just under half of this wine, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Despite its young age, it seems quite evolved with aromas and flavors of raisins and dried cherry.
Meaty, sanguine and flat, this wine shows a reduced whiff of burnt rubber and tar. Red, brambly fruit attempts to make itself heard amidst a din of powerful ripeness.
This is a sturdy, dry wine with hefty texture and straightforward, almost neutral flavors. It has an unusual salmon-amber color, light peach aromas and slightly earthy notes on the palate.
Cheesy aromas and a whiff of wet cement are more pronounced than basic plum scents. This tastes of candied fruits and chocolate prior to a simple sweet, sugary finish.
Heavily oaked aromas are dominated by forceful notes of clove and spice. This has a dry raw mouthfeel and flavors that are far more woody and like a campfire than fruity. It's ultradry and pulling on the finish.
Flat doughy aromas smell cooked and stewy. In the mouth, this shows pointy acidity and overripe fruit flavors. Raisiny flavors are stewy on the finish.
The plummy, cherry-like fruit of St. Laurent and its soft, pliable, smooth nature are well captured here. This is a very juicy, easy-drinking rendition that would also work chilled. Drink soon.
Fragrant hints of white summer blossom also hold a riper, fruitier, almost tropical promise. The light palate is poised with lemony freshness and more of those enticing aromatic overtones. A perfect, light and utterly appetizing summer wine.
With its floral rose motif, the bottle is attractive in itself. The rosé inside comes to life with crisp red fruits and lively acidity. This wine has a real freshness with a tangy texture, spice and a perfumed aftertaste.
This is a delicious, perfumed and fruity wine. It is crisp and clean, bright with acidity and ripe in raspberry flavors. This wine is a perfect summer quaffing rosé.
This attractive, citrus-driven blend of Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc comes from an estate created by the Knights Templar in the 13th century. It owes a lot to the Sauvignon in its tight herbal character. Lemon and grapefruit fruits are filled out with more exotic pineapple and mango flavors. The wine is a little young to drink now so try waiting until late 2016.
This rich, full-bodied wine has ripe green and white fruits along with a touch of minerality. It is a sophisticated wine that adds acidity to its complex array of flavors. The wine is ready to drink.
This vibrant white opens with delicate scents of white flower and tree fruit. The zesty palate offers lime, Bartlett pear and a hint of white grapefruit alongside racy acidity. A note of bitter almond backs up the finish.
A robust, full-bodied expression of earth and forest mark this well-made wine, a touch of spearmint surrounding red and black cherry.
Owned by the Quiot family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is one of a pair of wines produced from the region of Sainte-Victoire. It is a full and fruity wine, rich with raspberries and freshened by final grapefruit acidity.
Bunan's 18th-century castle is called Belle Raisin—Bélouvé in the old Provençal dialect (beautiful grapes in English). With a range of varieties in the blend, it is an attractively integrated wine that has red cherry, raspberry and crisp apple flavors. It is lively and full of ripe fruits, with just a touch of pepper at the end.
The aromas bring generous notes of botrytis, chamomile, flowers, peach, ale and green apple. It drinks off dry, with well-balanced stone fruit and floral flavors that linger.
The inviting scent and flavour of green but ripe Conference pears sloshes joyously around the palate on this fruit-foward, easy and fluid wine. With its light but fruit-driven body it just seems to have been made for a summer party and spells easy joy and fun.
There is something delicate and almost floral about this slender, fresh Grüner. Tinged with pear drop, the light, easy-drinking palate is as soft as it is fresh but also reveals some peppery verve. Drink soon.
Delicately scented with a fragrance of spring wild flower and orchard fruit, this medium-bodied white delivers mature pear, yellow peach, citrus and a mineral note. Tangy acidity brightens the creamy flavors while a touch of hazelnut closes the finish.
This is a fresh, fruit-driven rendering of Pinot Noir, marked by cherry-berry flavors and appealing hints of roses and salad greens. It's medium-bodied, with a silky texture that lingers on the finish.
Seriously tasty and full-bodied, this inky-colored wine is packed with ripe fruit, fine tannins and firm texture, and needs a juicy steak or tender roast as a table mate. A core of black cherry and black plum is shaded by spicy oak.
This is a soft, well-integrated wine with a full-throttle backbone of cedar and cranberry that drinks easily and is ready for the table. Priced attractively, it offers value for the quality and broad appeal.
This is the producer's first barrel-aged Chardonnay, made from a blend of two vineyards and two clones, including one from their own estate on Westside Road. Sour and sweet alternatively, it finds a steely path to balance and soft layers of apple, Asian pear and a touch of ginger-topped butterscotch.
A severity of tannin and heat opens this wine before mellowing into soft, juicy red raspberry and plum. Remaining relatively light bodied and restrained for the variety, it becomes softer on the chocolaty midpalate before a grippy finish grabs back the power.
Aromas of pressed Spanish broom, oak, marzipan and citrus blend in the glass. The rich, medium-bodied palate offers candied nectarine zest, vanilla and toasted almond alongside bright acidity. Drink now or hold for a few more years.
A warm blend mainly of Grenache with Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is typically pale in color, with just a touch of tannin from the Cabernet. A spicy undertone balances with the deliciously crisp and fresh red-fruit character.
This blend of Rolle and Ugni Blanc, typical of Provence whites, is smooth, ripe and only lightly textured. The Rolle (Vermentino) that dominates gives an attractive perfumed character as well as a mineral texture and acidity. Drink now.
This rusty colored Pinot opens with aromas of cherry candy and chocolate. There's power to the palate, but also abruptness. Dry, spicy flavors of chocolate, raspberry and orange rind carry over to a direct finish.
Dark berry, cocoa and leather aromas come into play on this hearty red. The chewy palate delivers mature black cherry, black currant, espresso and a hint of almond alongside solid tannins. Drink though 2018.
Fresh and fragrant, this straightforward wine has aromas and flavors of wild cherry, strawberry and a hint of cake spice. It's bright and easygoing, with vibrant acidity that gives it clean, quenching finish.
Aromas of Christmas spice, black cherry and latex feed into a fresh, juicy palate with sharp acidity. Pie cherry and red plum flavors finish raw in feel and peppery in flavor. This is all about chop, chop, chop.
Suave aromas of bramble and red berries meet with chipped slate, a touch of anise and pressed lilacs on this nose of this blend of 37% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 6% Cinsault and 5% Carignane. Bright cranberry and red cherry fruit pop on the palate, which is bolstered by fennel, black peppercorns and dried rose petals.
Scents of white spring flower and orchard fruit lead the nose on this lively white. The fresh, easy-drinking palate offers ripe green apple, peach and a juicy citrus note alongside tangy acidity.
This blend of 55% Roussanne and 45% Grenache Blanc offers broad aromas of cooked apples, honeydew melon and peach custard. The palate is tighter, with seared green apples, lemon rind and yellow grapefruit zest, then slowly opens more tropically, with banana elements. This is a full-bodied white wine.
Aged both in French oak and stainless steel, this entry-level white is creamy in texture with a taste of lemon cream pie and vanilla swirls, the tannins tight and the oak present, though cradling. Fresh and fruity, this is a food-friendly, approachable wine.
A smooth and fruity wine that has soft tannins and a rich, juicy character. It is full of damson and black plum fruits, ripe and jammy at the end. Drink now.
Already entering its maturity, this offers flavors of dried cherries, cherry tobacco and rather tough, chewy tannins. It seems to have a hole in the midpalate, and may be moving quickly past its prime. Drink up.
Think of a pink version of Beaujolais Nouveau. The grapy flavors light up this light-bodied, extroverted rosé even more than the almost fluorescent pink color. Very fresh, light and frothy and all those qualities seem right for it.
The wine is ripe, generous and lightly structured. Black currant and black plum fruits surround a dry core that gives texture. It's not for long-term aging.
This rough and tumble Cabernet is oaky and smoky in both scent and flavor. It's a rustic, country wine, big and bold and raw around the edges, but packed with flavor.
With a strong undercurrent of bell pepper, this soft Petite Sirah has tense shadings of peppery spice and leather. Ready to drink now.
This hard-drilling, bullish Malbec is bright purple in color, with grapy, heady aromas. The palate is rubbery and grabby, with a shock of zesty acidity. Oversized, roasted black-fruit flavors finish with size, power and a grating feel.
Smooth and appealing, with ample fresh citrus flavors and a supple mouthfeel, this isn't so assertive that it gets in the way of the conversation or the food. Sourcing good quality grapes from non-premier regions keeps the price down.
In a reference to the storks who build nests in the chimneys of the Eiffel-designed DFJ winery, Storks Landing shows bright acidity, layers of citrus plus a touch of more exotic pineapple. A blend of Fernão Pires and Chardonnay, it's fresh and light in the mouth, mineral and crisp at the end.
Apple and peach aromas are dusty and lightly tropical. With no oak, fruit is all you get in this Chardonnay; flavors of apple, nectarine and melon run clean, sweet and ripe, while the finish is mellow and lands smack in the middle of the fairway.
Light and bright, this is a direct and easygoing rosé, with attractive aromas and flavors of red currant, ruby-red grapefruit rind, white melon and peach. The medium-weight palate is lifted by refreshing, citrus-flavored acidity, ending with an orange and strawberry-hull fueled finish.
The wood aging of this wine has given a lightly oxidized character. It is rich and creamy with toasty acidity as well as yellow fruits. Drink now.
Pungent jasmine and orange blossom take hold of the nose right away, ensuring that this won't be one of those flavorless Pinot Grigios to forget. On the palate, roasted pear and slight toffee tones mingle with lemon-lime acidity, making this wine a nice fit for backyard gatherings featuring shrimp on the barbie.
Simple but well made Sauvignon, it offers delicate aromas of tropical fruit. The round palate is more expressive, with subtle white peach and cantaloupe alongside fresh acidity. Enjoy soon.
Quiet, generic berry aromas come with a hint of sweet plastic on the nose. It feels snappy, crisp and fresh, with currant and raspberry flavors leading to a balanced, lightly oaked finish with mild herbal notes.
A remarkable wine for under $20, well made and varietally defined in cinnamon, white pepper and gamy red fruit.
Stainless steel-fermented and kept on the lees for two months, this new vintage still feels a bit dilute—a function of the low brix and difficult vintage. Pungent with scents and flavors of rosemary and citrus, it is best drunk chilled and young.
Made to benefit the Wente Foundation for Arts Education, this wine is made in small quantities. It is juicy and leathery, soft, structured and medium-bodied with a long finish of tar and tannin.
This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Fernão Pires is aromatic and ripe. Its fruitiness is tropical, with pineapple as well as apricot flavors. It's softly textured  and ready to drink.
Comprised of 41% Zinfandel, 32% Primitivo, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache and 7% Carignane. Grenache and Carignane contribute juicy red fruit to the blend. Amidst it all are integrated tannins, a touch of toffee-chocolate and a big, ripe finish.
Fermented and aged in barriques, this Sauvignon is overwhelmed by wood. It's loaded with sensations of toasted oak, butterscotch and vanilla with a hint of lemon drop. It lacks the fruit richness to support the dominate wood.
Generic white-fruit aromas of peach and apple are slightly pithy. This feels good but innocuous, while flavors of apple and stone fruits lose some of their snap and directness on a tropical-tasting finish.
Bright smells of freshly shredded lemongrass and orange blossom lift off of this Riesling that gets an aromatic boost from 11% Gewürztraminer. On the palate, it is smooth but slightly sweet, with orange soda flavors and a nice herbal twist of chamomile tea.
Aged partly in new American Oak hogsheads and partly in used French Oak barriques, the barrel regime shows in this wine's obvious vanilla and caramel accents to its boysenberry fruit. Supple and creamy in texture before turning crisp on the finish. Drink now.
Chunky and a bit hard-edged, this Shiraz combines plum and vanilla notes with hints of cocoa and black olive. There's some richenss here, it just needs a few years to emerge. Try 2012-2017.
Aromas of Christmas spice, pepper and dried fruit fall more into the traditional category than modern, while the palate is snappy, a little lean and delivers strawberry and raspberry fruit with a light buttery oak note. Tight and dry on the finish, but lean. Ready to drink.
A solid effort, the 2007 Chockstone is a balanced, accessible red. There's ample cherry fruit, touches of cedar, vanilla and woodspice and modest tannins. Everything is in proportion, and it should drink well for the next 5-8 years.
Much more fresh and perky than previous years, with grapefruit, nectarine and other citrusy aromas. Pink grapefruit is without doubt the lead player in terms of flavor, and otherwise it's simply a tight, citric wine with scour and poise. Drink now.
One of Spain's top value-oriented rosés. It's inviting, colorful, easy to understand and tasty. Aromas of fresh fruits and melon get it going, while the palate is clean, fresh, only mildly candied and full of cherry and red plum flavors. Scores high by keeping it simple. Drink ASAP.
A clean, almost oceanic opening is fresh and citrusy as it should be, while the palate shows pulse, balance and a little scour to go with orange, grapefruit and other citrusy flavors. Pithy and biting late, with ample fruit throughout.
The aromas of this Shiraz are surprisingly dark; they tend toward the blackberry and cola end of the spectrum, while the flavors are more reminiscent of stewed berries with a touch of cinnamon. Medium to full in body, the wine is pleasantly round in the mouth, then turns tart on the finish. Drink now-2015.
Crisp and classic, with a nose and flavors of lemon, raspberry and spice. Clean and delicate, the wine will show well next to grilled seafood, salads and lighter fare.
Despite some very ripe fruit flavors and ample (14.5%) alcohol, this full-bodied Shiraz isn't particularly lush. The tannins are rich and velvety, but the acids are elevated and tartness dominates the finish. Drink it over the next several years.
This wine has fruit but it is overwhelmed by the darkly tannic structure. It is concentrated and dense, with signs of extraction giving a hard edge. The Aubert family has been on the Bordeaux Right Bank for two centuries and currently owns six estates. Consulting oenologist is Michel Rolland.
A wine that is finely balanced, poised between an herbaceous character and riper fruits and lively acidity. This is a wine to drink young and fresh.
Heavy wood aromas from new French oak barrels show equally strongly as dark chocolate flavors on the palate from this 50/50 Merlot/Malbec blend. The wine, tiny production from 2.5 acres, is all wood, very firm and tough. Only the acidity suggests a potential fruitiness. This estate has been in the Noël family since 1800.
Fruity and slightly herbal aromas and flavors give a tasty character to this light-bodied and slightly sweet wine. It has an agreeable, uncomplicated fruitiness and a soft texture.
Jammy blueberry notes greet you on the nose. The palate feels heavy and blocky, while raisin, prune and other overripe flavors, yet settles on an herbal and baked-fruit finish. The 2012 vintage was one of Chile's hottest in years, and this shows it.
Mixed berry aromas are perfumed and come with exotic notes of cinnamon stick. This feels a bit rough and bumpy, with choppy acidity. Oaky, candied flavors of raspberry are briny and medicinal, while the finish is resiny from the oak treatment.
This ripe, semisweet wine has oodles of fruit flavors, full body and a richness that's well suited for chocolate desserts or a cheese course.
While this wine has fruit and a juicy apple flavor, it also displays a less attractive earthy character. This may decrease after a few more months in bottle.
This light to medium-bodied wine offers lively fruit flavors like red cherries and raspberries. It has a crisp mouthfeel and and even balance between flavor, acidity and moderate tannins. It goes down easily.
This is a ripe, smoky wine, with rich berry fruits and acidity. Tangy spice partners with a fresh fruity character that shoots through the wine, giving a refreshing character with only the lightest tannins. Drink now.
Made from Cabernet Franc, this light sunset-pink-colored wine has a rounded character. A touch of caramel fills out the palate and cuts down on the acidity. Red fruits and an orange tang leave a fresh taste. Drink now.
This wine starts out quite reductive but opens to reveal aromas of fig and citrus. It drinks off dry, with the flavors seeming dilute.
Pungent, sweaty aromas include match stick and green citrus. Flavors of citrus, melon and green apple mark the palate and finish pithy and bitter, with strong pyrazines.
This wine is way too light, too fresh and without much in the way of structure. Green fruit and acidity are dominant with just hints of red fruits.
This wine has fresh acidity and attractive black currant fruit flavors. They are given a hard ride by the dark and bitter tannins and dry texture. This is a Carreau family wine.
There's a lifeless, generic quality to this wine that steals the variety's more common sense of joy and earthy red fruit, but it suffices as general red wine.
With soft tannins and fresh fruits, this light, crisp wine has a red fruit-flavored character that is intense in its acidity. Drink now.
Aromas of herbs, jasmine and peach are followed by off-dry pear and peach flavors. There's not much complexity here but it provides easy drinking enjoyment.
This is a light 100% Merlot wine, with tangy red berry fruits. Tight and mineral with high levels of acidity, it is not for aging, so drink now.
Peppery plums, wet tea bags and sour anise aromas combine on a slightly odd nose. The palate is tannic and grippy, with black fruits, dried herbs, fresh asphalt and turned earth flavors.
This sustainably grown Arroyo Seco wine has a very reluctant nose that eventually gives off some red-purple fruits. The palate offers a bit more, with cranberry and some slate.
Light in color, this tight, stalky wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Pineau d'Aunis. It comes from a region that is probably too cool for red wines, showing an herbal character that suggests underripe grapes. The wine might show better in a warmer vintage.
This 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc blend is very fruity and fresh, balancing dry tannins and attractive red fruit flavors. It is light, still tight with its structure. Drink from 2016.
Stalky aromas are green and low on pleasantries. This has a sticky, dense feel, with flavors of char, sweet plastic, peppery berry and weeds. An oaky, herbal finish tastes candied and feels hot.
Red fruit, cassis and sweet rubbery notes define the ripe bouquet. Feels medium to full in size, with leafy flavors mixed with plum, vanilla and oak. Red fruits including strawberry and raspberry work the mildly oaky finish.
This rosé, a blend of Cinsault and Syrah, is a rather low-intensity offering with minor notes of red cherry and berry fruit accented by a white chocolate creaminess in the mouth. A versatile food wine with medium weight and an overall easiness.
True to its name, this is the kind of wine that'll shake you up good, with burnt caramel and vanilla weaved between gobs of black cherry jam, bacon bits, coffee and dark chocolate. Big and chewy, this might be just the wine for the cigar lover in your life.
Delightful rose and violet perfume mingles with ripe plums and cherries on this lavish Hudson Valley Baco Noir. On the palate, penetrating fruit is balanced with brisk acidity and a lean, elegant profile. Finishes with just a hint of green leaves.
There's a decadent spray of rose perfume that lingers from start to finish on this soft, pretty Cab Franc. Light in body with sheer black cherry flavors, it's fresh and quaffable with a dusting of fine, furry tannins on the finish.
Chunky aromas of apple and citrus are regular and mellow. Has a more fleshy feel than many Chilean SBs, with apple and grapefruit flavors in front of a round, pithy, mildly bitter finish. Just juicy enough; contains 15% Carmenère for added body.
Inky and narrow on the nose, with jammy red fruit aromas. Has a downward momentum in the mouth, so the body collapses as it delivers stationary, sweet berry flavors. Packs power and weight but doesn't exceed the basics.
Supple and round with lusciously forward honeydew and apple flavors, Casa Larga's French Oak Chardonnay balances layers of fruit and white florals with a dusty, dried herb and fresh-cut wood character. Dry in style but generously composed.
After an opening that's varietally intense, meaning there's a lot of green herbs, olive and carob on the nose, things turn more fruity and fresh. The feel is racy, a bit high in acidity and superficial, with herbal blackberry, olive and chocolate flavors. Young and lively.
This pleasant, medium-bodied blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon features ample flavors of passion fruit and pink grapefruit. It's not complex, but over the next year or so it will wash down seafood just fine.
The entry-level wine of Quinta do Crasto, this is soft, fruity, full of blackberries and sweetness. There is a smooth feel to it, with some wood but more just enjoyable juicy fruit.
Fresh and easy to like. Smells clean and open, with peach and other white fruit aromas. You name the white or citrus fruit, and it's here: pineapple, grapefruit, mango and lime. Hits both the sweet and citrusy bases.
Dark and a touch baked, with blackberry and spice aromas along with carob and creamy oak. Feels solid, saturated and healthy, with weight and herbal dark-berry flavors. Warm and scratchy on the finish, with length and depth.
Dominated by grapefruit and pineapple flavors, this is very fresh and herbaceous. The wine is crisp and clean, with acidity at the end. Drink over the next year.
Sweet aromas of wet clay and latex give way to spicecake and standard berry and cassis. Feels layered and round, with good density and balance to go with berry, cassis and mild herbal flavors. Holds steady on the finish. A regular but solid Cab for everyday purposes.
A Bordeaux blend with a Right Bank inclination, this offers forward fruit aromas and flavors of bright, candied cherry. A puckery, peppery finish comes up quickly. Some 2007 Washington reds seem to be entering a dumb phase; this may need some extra bottle age to open up again.
If you want a crisp and clear Chardonnay, then you can do much worse than this cutting, fresh wine. Starts out with neutral pear and apple aromas, which are backed by pithy green melon and nectarine flavors. Fresh on the finish, with juicy acidity. Very straightforward.
Quite saturated with ripe red raspberry and cherry flavors, this is a soft, lush Cab Franc with hints of burnt sugar and caramel. A layer of feathery tannins adds a bit of grip and character on the finish.
There is just a touch of sweetness here, with apricot and nut flavors offering ripeness and a soft, full-in-the-mouth character. The wine has a light touch, and should be a delicious apéritif wine, or try it paired with Chinese food.
Tightly herbaceous and very crisp, grassy and citrusy, this is the epitome of cool, fresh Sauvignon Blanc. It's a light, bright, easy-drinking wine that's ready to go now.
This bargain-priced offering boasts cool, restrained Cabernet aromas of cassis and mint, with just a touch of tomato creeping in. It's fairly weighty, with bold flavors of Ribena on the palate and soft tannins on the finish. Drink now.
This was a difficult vintage, and the wine reflects it. It feels off-balance, with astringent, chalky tannins, and lean, simple fruit.
A fluorescent pink color introduces this soft, full and fruity wine with fine, balanced acidity. There is a touch of caramel, along with crisp acidity from red-cherry flavors. Ready to drink. Screwcap.
This internationally-styled Barbera shows aromas of oak, ground coffee bean and smoke as well as black fruit. While the palate is dense with ripe black-cherry, chocolate and vanilla flavors, oak dominates, and astringent wood tannins dry out the finish.
Fleshy, tropical aromas with a touch of varietal snap set up a green palate with sweet lime and scallion flavors. The finish shows ripeness and tropical notes before turning heavy. Drink this well chilled.
Mild citrus aromas come with green notes. This is a medium-level Sauvignon Blanc without a lot of acidic snap. Melon and grapefruit flavors are friendly, simple and chunky, while overall this shows characterisitcs of a warm, bland vintage.
An attractively fruity wine—fragrant, fresh and with a touch of tannin. Raspberry flavors give the wine a good lift. Drink it this year.
Sourced from Les Collines vineyard, one of Walla Walla's best, this 100% Syrah opens with characteristic scents of smoke and bacon and black cherry. But in the mouth it has a syrupy flavor, somewhat medicinal, and dense tannins.
This could be in a mute phase, but this straight Barbaresco is inexpressive right now. While the nose shows hints of violet and herb, the palate reveals only modest hints of cherry and spice.
Bright raspberry and leather aromas set up a tight palate ringing with acidity. That creates a narrow flavor profile with drawn cherry and currant flavors. A minty, lightly herbal finish carries notes of leather and oak-based bacon, which frankly seems a bit forced given the simplicity of the wine.
This lightly aromatic Malbec has notes of plum and wood spice. The tannins are rustic and the flavors light.
This youthful rosé spent 16 hours on the skins, then was fermented and aged in stainless steel. It's light and tart, best enjoyed well-chilled on a hot summer day.
This is a ripe wine, its herbaceous character tempered by green plum and pineapple flavors. It's full in the mouth, with a hint of steeliness to give texture. Great to drink this summer.
Ripe fruit suggests a wine that is soft, juicy and unlikely to age for long. It has red berry flavors, attractive tannins and fine finishing acidity.
Aromas of passion fruit, tangerine, bell pepper and grass lead to a plump palate with soft acids. Flavors of pithy, slightly bitter green fruits, bell pepper and passion fruit end in a modest finish that rapidly loses steam.
The Southern Exposure wines come from the original Grandpere Vineyard planted well over a hundred years ago. In this expression the wine shows olive, tar brick and leather qualities and is juicy if not a touch disheveled, with a long spicy finish.
This is a lightly fruity wine with attractive red currant and raspberry flavors. It's bright, crisp, touched by vanilla and finished with citrus acidity. Screwcap.
This shows ripe prune and oak aromas and hints of burnt rubber and smoke. The palate shows very ripe black fruit, espresso and a warm midpalate. This wine shows some green notes and finishes with bitter, astringent tannins.
Fruity, light and strawberry flavored, this wine is just a touch off dry. Bright acidity gives it freshness and a citrus aftertaste. It's a wine for drinking this summer. Screwcap.
A unique blend of Syrah, Barbera, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Mourvèdre all aged in neutral oak, it's a straightforward, easy drinker with sweet notes of plum, cracked pepper and tire rubber.
This fresh, fragrant wine is buoyed by citrus acidity and green apples. It's all fruit—light and bright—finishing with a tangy lemon-zest character. Screwcap.
This rich wine is one of the rare white wines of Savigny-lès-Beaune. It has warm, yellow- and tropical-fruit flavors, light acidity and a smooth, creamy texture. A fresh citrus character lingers on the finish. Drink now–2019.
The aromas and palate of this wine are dominated by oak. This sparkling wine also shows flavors of toast and vanilla, with subtle hints of butterscotch and lemon drop. It finishes on a bitter-walnut note.
Opening with perfumy aromatics amid a core of cassis liqueur, this is a nicely balanced, easy-to-drink Cab that has concentration and finesse. With smatterings of Merlot, Syrah and Mourvèdre, it drinks well and will pair well, a serviceable choice for gatherings big and small.
From a tiny patch in the tiny Guenoc Valley, where the Langtry winery lies, this Sauvignon Blanc is partially barrel fermented, and it shows in the texture. In taste, expect Mandarin orange and melon, along with acidity that's high and mighty.
This sparkler, made from from 100% Chardonnay, shows aromas of oak, stone fruit and citrus. The palate offers toast, peach and citrus flavors along with oak sensations. It's vigorously sparkling and ends on a note of walnut.
Lots of Russian River character in this supple Pinot. It's drily elegant and silky, with refreshing acidity providing a boost to the cola, cherry, pomegranate and persimmon fruit flavors. Drink it over the next few months.
This straightforward Barbera offers a ripe berry and spice fragrance punctuated with undertones of toasted oak. The palate delivers succulent black cherry, white pepper, hints of well-integrated oak and a touch of vanilla. Pair this with pasta topped with ragù or seasoned cheeses. Imported by Saranty Imports, Pleasure Elite.
Initially gentle and sunny, this wine develops a briary blackberry character as it opens up. It has a dry and tannic core that lends firm structure and suggests potential for aging. Drink from 2014.
Soft, fruity strawberry flavors give this wine a warm, sunny feel. The acidity and texture kick in on the palate, adding balance. Fruity but food-friendly, it finishes dry.
This sparkling wine, made entirely from Chardonnay, offers aromas of yellow flowers, oak and lemon peel. The palate shows evident oak, buttery sensations, apricot and citrus. The finish releases notes of bitter almond.
This is a perfectly good, honest Chilean SB with snappy, pungent aromas of gooseberry, grapefruit and lime. The mouth is racy as it should be, with textbook lime, grapefruit, nettle and pithy flavors. If there's any drawback, it's on the finish, which ends with bitterness.
This blend of Merlot and Sangiovese from Tuscany shows plum and black pepper flavors with toasted oak and espresso notes from aging in barriques. It opens with ripe fruit but ends on an astringent note of wood tannins.
The nose of this Lemberger is austere, with just a whisper of black plum and sweet spice. The palate is more buoyant, with a rich, deep, black cherry-and-plum profile marked by reverberating acidity and layers of fine, velvety tannins.
A solid and fully tannic wine that also has a bright, fruity side. The combination, with its ripe fruit, is already a pleasure to drink fresh, textured and juicy. The wine also has a future with a smoky character that will allow it to age. So drink until 2021.
Dark in color, this wine from the Entre-deux-Mers shows structure, firm black fruits and rich tannins. Berry fruits, black currants, smokiness and fresh acidity are well integrated and balanced with the firmer texture. It will certainly age, so drink from 2015.
Packed with dark tannins, this complex wine shows a powerful structure allied with very fresh acidity and red berry fruits. It is still feeling its way, heavy on the texture and still waiting for the fruit. Drink from 2014.
Clean and crisp, the main aromas and flavors are green apples and spice. A forward, consumer-friendly, simple Chardonnay.
This single-vineyard Cab is dark, dense and chewy, with bitter tannins and a roasted coffee finish.
Light and grapefruity, without much Pinot Gris character. An innocuous, fairly generic white wine.
This oddball grape is a German hybrid cross between Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc, and has nothing to do with Muscat (hence the "k"). Intense, concentrated aromas of tangerine, kiwi and orange, with a noticeable foxiness. Ripe fruit, big flavors, and a lot of weight on the palate.
Citrus fruits and figs are backed with a healthy dose of acidity in this somewhat tart offering.
Made at a somewhat approachable price point, this blend of coastal vineyard sites holds back on fruit and texture. It provides a tightly closed and still youthful touch of savory herb and tea, finishing lean.
This lightly reductive wine has aromas of white peach, honeysuckle and the underside of a pineapple. It drinks medium sweet with tangerine flavors on the finish.
Dense and one-dimensional, this opens with faint aromas of raisin, leather and a whiff of spice. The evolved palate offers stewed plum, a green note of unripe cherry, powdered sage and a hint of licorice. Raspy tannins create an abrupt, astringent finish.
Syrupy red cherry, hibiscus and fruit-punch aromas show on the nose of this good-deal wine, along with touches of graphite and crushed potpourri. It's broad and a touch ripe on the palate, with pomegranate and marjoram notes.
A floral red-fruit nose opens this juicy yet basic Tempranillo. Raw edginess on the palate comes with candied plum and raspberry flavors, while this finishes fresh, with a modest salty note.
Chocolate-covered cherry and plum surround a shock of stark acidity on this wine that has a round and soft palate. On the finish, a touch of astringency flirts with cedar.
Light, almost neutral aromas are like stream water touched up with lime. This is basic on the palate, but easy to process. Flavors of papaya and melon are a bit leesy, while this Treixadura-Torrontés blend is short on the finish.
This slightly sweet Moscato has aromas of fresh cut pineapple, magnolia, peaches, honeysuckle and dried anise seed. The palate gets lychee and apricot.
Lighter in color, this wine packs fruit punch, cola and ripe cranberry into the nose. Flavors mix juicy strawberries with Earl Grey tea, marjoram and orange rind elements.
An extreme ripeness in aroma and flavor pumps this wine up to nearly the point of bursting. It is bold, super fruity, full bodied and concentrated.
Cherry and blueberry aromas are floral at first, then a touch grassy after airing. This feels full and bouncy, while salty plum and berry flavors are limited but fine. This holds form on the finish.
This smoothly round and full-bodied wine offers a taste of the tropics, combining pineapple, payapa and coconut in tone and flavor. The oak (only 20% of it new) is pronounced, though on the way to integration, .
The aroma is very ripe, almost like a Port wine. Flavors are deep and ripe, with a twinge of dried fruit, and the texture is appropriately firm and tannic. It's a bold, hearty and full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend.
This rounded wine is still tight and closed. The texture shows strongly at the moment, but will soften to bring out the crisp fruits and perfumed acidity. A rustic edge needs to blow away as the wine matures. Drink from 2017.
Somewhat muted, this estate-grown wine is most exuberant in pine and dusty cherry. Full bodied and robust on the palate, it retains a grip of tannin from start to finish.
A combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, this wine is thick, dense and extracted. Fully robust in tannin, it features a powerful grip of gunpowder, blackberry and currant, making it a good choice for barbecue.
Saucy blueberry aromas are a touch muddled and difficult to decipher, while this Garnacha feels medium in body and healthy. Raspberry and plum flavors come with a resiny, pasty oak note, while medicinality rises up on the finish.
Warm, fruity and ripe, this offers a good balance between a ripe, creamy, yellow-fruit character and juicy acidity that refreshes and gives a crisp aftertaste. The wine is totally ready to drink.
Light, clear and unfiltered, this vineyard-designate has elements of Christmas tree pine, spearmint and forest floor. Crisp on the palate and somewhat austere, it finishes clean and quick.
This ripe wine has spice as well as red-berry fruits. Good acidity combines with light tannins to deliver a balanced wine with a mineral edge that should age for a few more months. Drink from 2017.
Intensely herbal, this is a ripe, fresh and fruity wine. It has a grassy character that partners with tropical-fruit flavors. Drink now.
If you want a truly herbal, grassy wine, look no further. This wine is tight, crisp and green with juicy green-plum acidity. It is forward, all fruit with just a tang of texture at the end. Drink now.
Light aromas of yellow apple, pear and spice lead to off-dry flavors that trail toward the finish.
Whiffs of butter and vanilla in the aroma lead to a soft and supple wine that tastes like baking spices and cherries. It's very polished and almost soft in texture.
Briny tropical fruit and minerally aromas are most prominent on this white wine made from Jaen, a.k.a. Mencía. The palate has a leesy quality to it, but overall this feels standard, with mild melon and vanilla flavors.
This wine is full of red-berry flavors with a dry, stalky background texture. It is light and is the style of wine that could be served slightly chilled. The aftertaste brings out crisp acidity. Drink from 2016.
This offers unusual aromas that suggest worn out leather, scorched soil and a whiff of cellar floor that carry over to the palate along with prune, dried berry and a bitter note of powdered sage. Astringent tannins leave a tongue-drying finish.
A candied, buttery aroma, ripe fruit flavors and full body characterize this wine. It seems to have a strong spicy influence that comes with firm tannins and an almost-sweet character.
Produced from vines in the Mâcon region, this citrus and yellow-fruit-flavored wine is rich, rounded and mature. It still has plenty of freshness, supplemented by almond and butter flavors. Drink now.
Aromas of melon and toasted marshmallow precede a palate that is full bodied yet remarkably crisp. Flavors of melon and orange rind dominate through the slightly warm finish.
Fragrant of violets, berries and plums, this perfumed, pretty blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier braces on the palate with it's piercing acidity and lean, elegant profile. It's mousse is aggressively foamy and mouth filling, but finishes cleanly.
Sensations of crushed flower, sweet cake spices and red berry fruit are conveyed by this structured but easy-to-drink Nebbiolo. The round, juicy palate is balanced with supple tannins and fresh acidity. A coffee bean note signals the finish.
This is a broadly expansive wine in the mouth, but what it may lack in focus it makes up for in mouthwatering fruit intensity. Gooseberry and grapefruit lead the way, with just the right amount of herbal flourishes. Drink now.
This savory wine opens with aromas of crushed red berries and violets. The soft, straightforward palate offers juicy black cherry layered with clove and mocha alongside velvety tannins. It's already extremely accessible so enjoy now.
Violet, ripe black berry, vanilla and tilled soil aromas take center stage. The palate offers dense and juicy black cherry layered with chocolate and mocha alongside polished tannins. It's straightforward, savory and accessible. Enjoy now.
Chris Gorman's “Devil” project includes this juicy, fruity red blend, based mostly upon Bordeaux grapes. The forward cherry-berry flavors push through with some power into a chocolate-malted explosion with peppery highlights.
The blend here is two-thirds Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc. Tight and toasty, it carries a hint of green tannins that show up in an astringent, lightly chalky finish. The fruit is sharp and herbal, with a suggestion of heat.
This richly structured wine has dark tannins as well as crisp red fruits and acidity. From old vines, it shows firmness and density. Another year will add elegance to the ripe texture. Drink from 2016.
Opening aromas of crushed black cherry, blue flower, sweet baking spices and mocha carry over to the palate along with a hint of vanilla. It's friendly, round and ready; enjoy now to capture the juicy fruit flavors.
Red currants, black cherry, bell pepper, mocha, black pepper and blue flower all meld together in this juicy blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. The palate is shy on fresh acidity but still inviting thanks to juicy fruit and velvety tannins.
Elegant and fresh, this linear wine brings together sensations of black raspberry, blue flower, licorice, white pepper and clove that are balanced with vibrant acidity and graceful tannins. Bright and delicious, it's made to be enjoyed young, so drink now.
Smooth and savory, this features aromas of leafy underbrush, porcini mushroom, dark berries and baking spices. The juicy palate delivers crushed dark cherry, black raspberry, cinnamon and mocha alongside supple tannins.
This is a fruity wine, full of black cherries and plums. From the most northerly of the Beaujolais crus, it has style as well as weight and structure, although the fruitiness that dominates. It is ready to drink now.
The blend includes roughly equal amounts of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, nicely integrated. The structure and palate weight seem more mainstream Yakima Valley than Red Mountain, lending extra balance and herbal detail to the wine.
The Alatus blend is two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Malbec and Syrah also in the mix. Dark and spicy, it remains compact and toasty, with a solid core of cassis, coffee grounds, cedar and smoke. The barrel influences (40% new) are well displayed, but the rest of the wine needs more time to catch up.
This offers aromas of ripe plum, black berry, fig, spice and underbrush. The palate delivers crushed black cherry layered with sweet baking spices and grilled herbs alongside firm tannins. This will be even better in 2015, but then drink it soon.
Balsamic aromas come with notes of stewed plum, raisin, herbs and graphite. This is wiry in feel, with high acidity and just enough jammy weight to maintain proper balance. Herbal plum and berry flavors carry a tomato accent, while the finish stays the course. Drink through 2016.
The nose is somewhat reserved on this wine from the stylish brand Left Bend, named after the San Andreas Fault, though cherry liqueur, plum jam and red clay do emerge. The scents translate to vivid flavors, though, with cinnamon spice, ollallieberry and black pepper on the palate.
This tastes like a cool-climate Zin because of the deep plum and black cherry flavors and light earthy, herbal accents, with touches of cedar and toast in the bouquet. It has moderate tannins and medium-to-full body.
This is two-thirds Merlot, with a half-dozen other grapes filling in the balance. It's a soft, thick and rich wine that feels and tastes as if it's farther along the aging curve than the vintage would suggest. It's loaded with smooth red and purple fruits, flavors of fig newton cookies, even a bit of tar—all in all a generous wine drinking at or near its flavor peak.
This is 75% Grenache with the balance Syrah. It's full bodied and offers jammy red fruit accented by clove and barrel spices, with a creamy texture and abundant vanilla flavors throughout.
Moderately aromatic and appealing, this offers notes of soil, cherry, coffee, vanilla and flowers. The palate shows abundant vanilla flavors and surprisingly well-integrated tannins for the variety. Still, the oak seems a little heavy handed.
Petit Barone changes the blend signficantly from vintage to vintage. Here it's a Bordeaux-style mix of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 17% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged two years in half new French and American barrels. The oak comes through with strong flavors of licorice, espresso and char, along with some fairly stiff, chalky tannins. But there is generous fruit—black cherry and cassis—and the wine delivers a lot of big, powerful flavor for the modest tariff.
A rosé with a difference: this is rich in texture and body as if it were barrel aged. It has a light peach color, plus delicate strawberry and peach aromas. A creamy mouthfeel carries the fruit flavors and adds hints of vanilla and baking spices.
This medium-pink rosé is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault. A silken texture easily carries restrained fruit shadings of strawberry and kiwi, along with plummier undertones, through a long finish. Ready to drink now, although it might still be a pleasant surprise come 2015.
The wine is driven by its full and rich red fruits. The tannins are smooth, given a polish by the wood aging. It's structured, firm and ready to drink, with a solid future until 2020.
There's much to like in this wine's notes of cocoa and cherry, with the barrel spices bringing a sense of confection. The flavors are appealing but the tannins bring a slight feel of gruffness that holds it back.
Spicy, rubbery, subtle berry aromas come with a hard, smoky element. This is firm, tannic and grabby in feel, with heady flavors of baked berry, herbal notes and overt oak. The finish is smoky, sweet, woody and lightly green.
This red is mostly Syrah (59%), and this variety speaks up with its appealing notes of blueberry, boysenberry and spice. The palate is lighter in style, with silky smooth, fleshy fruit flavors that keep you coming back for more.
The merest hint of oak spice wafts from the nose. The palate has that softly oaked, spiced roundedness that adds cinnamon and a touch of vanilla to gentle but not overtly expressed berry notes. There is some tannic grip, too.
Made from organic grapes, this well-proportioned wine has light oak aromas, classic cherry and black plum flavors, and touches of black olive and herbs. There is something mouthwatering about the firm tannins and acidity, and these will help it pair well with food.
This wine is made from a duet of vineyards otherwise single-bottle designated: Cloud's Nest on Mount Veeder and Haystack from Atlas Peak. Smooth, rounded and rich in blackberry and raspberry, with a touch of currant, it has a woody, lasting taste of tannin.
Here the fruit seems to stay in the watermelon/strawberry range, not under-ripe, but more in a high-acid, Euro style. The oak aging (18 months) cloaks it in a lush coat of milk chocolate.
One of the rarer grapes in California, this bottling shows composting roses, raw and roasted beef, violets and tar on the nose. It's quite rich on the sip, with blueberries, blackberries and olallieberry-pie flavors, cut by tangy cherry skins and a touch of milk chocolate.
Aromas of vanilla and coconut share space on the nose with ripe notes of blackberry and prune. This feels just fresh enough, with ample body. Ripe berry, raisin and chocolate flavors end a touch flat.
Year after year, IB bottles sunshine and fun in the form of this lightly sparkling, sweet pink wine. It's unabashedly exuberant, flashing floral aromas, then adding hints of Mexican chocolate, red berries and orange zest. There's just enough acid and fizz to keep it from being cloying on the palate.
Subtle and elegant, this opens with a smoky aroma that underscores delicate scents of orchard fruit, citrus and botanical herb. The aromas follow through to the linear palate along with a racy mineral vein. A note of cured meat closes the racy finish.
Delicately scented, this offers aromas of honeysuckle, citrus blossom and pear while the round, juicy palate doles out white peach, mature apple and Mediterranean herb. A hint of almond closes the clean, lingering finish.
Heavy prune and raisin aromas are perfumed and rich, but arguably a bit overripe. Matching the nose, this feels thick, saturated and grapy. Flavors of black plum and blueberry finish chunky, with muscularity but also a rubbery flavor note.
Much care goes into this blend, which was fermented both in neutral wood and in stainless steel. Just 10% went through malolactic. It's a light, clean, well-defined effort, offering accents of salad greens, celery and lemon verbena around crisp apple fruit flavors.
Black cherry and cassis aromas are bold but basic. This feels fiercely tannic and astringent. Meaty flavors of cherry and black plum end with dried berry notes, prune and rock-hard tannic bite. Give this more time if possible, but like many 2013s it might never soften and improve.
This handsome, full-bodied wine has aromas of dark cherry and toasted oak, flavors like ripe plums and vanilla and a velvety mouthfeel due to good acidity and fine-grained tannins.
Very light and summery on the nose, this bottling shows aromas of yellow melon, green pear, lime blossoms, lime juice and a touch of chalk. Wet rocks, cut garden herbs and green apple skins emerge on the refreshing palate, which is perfect for sunny days and shellfish.
A subdued nose leads to a fresh but also subdued palate, but if you look for the ripe pear notes you will find them. This wine takes time to wake up and breathe but underneath it's an archetypal fresh but rounded Alsace Pinot Blanc.
Scented impressions of ripe pear and aloe vera pervade this wine. The palate shows texture and more fruit than you might expect from slender Sylvaner. The finish is brisk, clean and taut.
Tight and fresh aromas of Asian pear, honeysuckle and key lime pie converge on this sparkler from a new estate in Temecula. The palate shows sliced apples, yellow pears, ripe nectarine, rounder white peach and even creamy cherimoya flavors. Though the region is known more for almond-flavored sparklers, they seem to do regular bubbles well.
Subtle yellow flower and orchard fruit aromas blend while the linear palate offers pear, citrus zest, a hint of oak and mineral. Fresh acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish.
Fruity and bold, this opens with direct aromas of cherry, strawberry and pomegranate that are accented by hints of sweet pea, violet and lavender. The medium-weight palate offers ample lifting acidity and a finish of tart red berries and watermelon rind.
This Moldovan Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of cherry vanilla, plum and cassis. In the mouth it has soft flavors of black currants, prunes and fresh black plums before the persistent finish.
Very familiar Rioja aromas of cherry, plum and prune scream Tempranillo. This is wiry in feel, with tight, hammering acidity. Berry and black-cherry flavors finish on a subtle note of chocolate along with a final shot of juicy, sharp acidity.
Intensely perfumed, this wine has soft tannins and a smooth, red-fruit-dominated texture. From a 3.5-acre premier-cru vineyard, it is ripe while light in character, suggesting it will age smoothly and quickly. The wine is almost ready now, although it will be best from 2018.
Peppery, grapey flavors, full body and a rich fine-grained texture make this wine distinctive to taste and soothing to drink. It's a very good example of a GSM, capturing the fullness and generosity of this type of blend made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes.
Warm, furry aromas of olive, prune and animal hide are challenging. In the mouth, this cool-year Carmenère feels tartaric and narrow, with grating tannins. Fiery flavors of black fruits, raisin and oak are mildly salty and herbal, while the finish feels hot and tastes of minty oak and black fruits.
Aromas of hazelnut nut, smoke and dried chamomile flower slowly come together. On the racy palate, a mineral vein underscores yellow apple, lime and dried sage while a bitter almond note wraps up the finish.
Vanilla and caramel show right away on the nose of this bottling, followed by stewed blackberry and black plum sauce, proving quite jammy but layered with burnt sugar aromas. Blackberry pie in a vanilla crust is the flavor that pops on the palate, along with black plum and all manner of purple fruit and flower.
This wine, which comes from thin, granitic soils, is lean, taut and dry. Hints of lime blossom and green apple on the nose and palate give it a springtime feel, while the finish is crisp and refreshing.
One of the winery's most celebrated releases each year, this blend of all five major Bordeaux red varieties is an excellent showcase of Carmel Valley's class. Freshly squeezed blackberry and blackcurrant fruit meet with beef char, charcoal and dried lilacs on the nose. The palate tastes of lava rocks, dark chocolate, fresh boysenberries, dried mint and beef jerky, all woven together with a touch of smoke.
An outstanding value in a top-level Oregon Chardonnay, this beautifully rendered, barrel-fermented wine is a showcase of sharply defined flavors. The tree fruits are highlighted with details of spice and new wood, clearly delineated and well-matched.
Pure and delicious, this generous, lightly spicy and velvet-textured wine does a great job of combining ripe, tasty fruit flavors with an enticing oaky layer that seems to bring subtle sweetness. While full bodied it is not heavy, and has firm, fine-grained tannins to add texture.
This ripe, soft wine comes from a company based in Régua in the western end of the Douro vineyards. With light tannins that are dominated by the bold berry fruits, the wine is generous and full bodied. Acidity at the end will make this an impressive, balanced wine from 2019.
This seven-acre Petit family estate is dominated by Merlot that gives the wine its rich generous character. In this vintage it was balanced by crisp acidity and a lively aftertaste. The tannins promise further aging. Drink from 2020.
This wine has fine tannins, rich black fruits and a dry core. It is produced by the Roquette family, who owns this spectacular estate high above the Douro. A solid, structured wine, it's packed with tannins and fruit, finishing with acidity. Drink from 2018.
Following the current fashion in Portugal for single-varietal wines, this is a rich, structured take on what has become the country's national grape. Powerful and with a dense structure, it retains some of the perfumed elegance that is one of Touriga Nacional's hallmarks. The tannins will age further and the fruit will come out more strongly. Drink from 2018.
Made from the oldest vineyard in the appellation, first planted in 1905, this wine shows a cooler-climate vibe of dried fruit and leather, accented definitively in white pepper. Smoky oak provides a sultry backdrop against which riches of berry pie, cola and brown sugar play.
This classic vineyard delivers the goodies—ripe, round and quite pretty flavors of raspberry and cherry fruit, with orange peel highlights. The tangy acidity keeps it lively and the length suggests that it will drink well through the mid-2020s.
This delivers a no-holds-barred Paso-style of richness, with black plum, vanilla, caramel, cola and cherry-filled ganache aromas leaping from the glass. It's soft and luxurious on the sip, with caramel-laced fudge, espresso cream, black-cherry sorbet and loads of milk-chocolate flavorings.
Coming off The Rocks District, this wine displays somewhat reserved notes of ember, smoked meat, green olive, wet stone and smoke, leaning hard into the savory. The charcuterie, smoke and licorice flavors coat the palate, stretching out on the finish.
This wine, which is 100% varietal, is a blend from the Upland, Stoney Vine and French Creek vineyards. Fermented using 75% whole cluster and seeing just 15% new oak, the emphasis is on freshness and purity. It displays aromas of stems, white pepper, earth, funk and black olive, with the Stoney Vine influence winning out. The earthy and savory palate-coating flavors heighten the interest, with fruit and savory notes sailing on the finish. There are lots of good things going on but it needs time to come together. Best after 2019.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot are all represented in this estate blend that is both brawny and intensely savory. Black pepper and pencil shavings support a tightness of grippy tannin and integrated oak, allowing for only the slightest inkling of fruit in the form of baked plum. This will best be enjoyed 2020–2023.
Tight lightly charred blackberry and cassis aromas open this blend of Malbec and Cab Franc. In the mouth, this is flush, stacked, tannic and dense. Black-fruit flavors of cassis and black plum include baking-spice notes, while this ends with toasty, spicy, blackened flavors. Drink through 2020.
A project by Joey Tensley and Alex Guarachi, this is a whopper of a wine for the price tag. Black cherry, oregano, eucalyptus and dried sage show on the nose. The palate packs a mix of herbal seasonings, including anise and spearmint, alongside black cherry and baked blueberry fruit.
Complex and well balanced, this is a great example of a wine made for meal time. Aromas of wood smoke, raspberry, cherry and plum lead to light savory, beefy, spicy notes in the flavors. The body is full, the texture broad and soothing, and the finish lingers warmly.
The Adelaide Hills aren't known as a hotspot for Cabernet Sauvignon, but this offering, from a warm site, excels. Cinnamon, clove, cracked pepper and vanilla notes accent dark, meaty fruit. It's full and rich enough to be mistaken as coming from a warmer region, with a long, earthy finish. Drink now–2025.
This comes from one of the small Margaux vineyards that are dotted amongst the big-name estates. René Renon's wine is ripe and juicy—still young and exuberant. It balances Merlot and Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc in almost equal proportions, giving a wine that has structure and plenty of berry fruits. Drink this wine from 2020.
Perfectly differentiated from the winery's equally excellent Pinot Blanc, this is a bit fleshier, with fresh flavors of apple and pear. The texture, mouthfeel and mineral-drenched acids all flow into a mouthwatering finish.
Baked plum, underripe raspberry and cola aromas meet with roasted meats, strong fennel, composting flowers and pencil shavings on the complex nose of this appellation blend. The palate is just as hearty, with thyme, anise, marjoram and Indian spice giving depth to the rounded cranberry base. Bitter orange rind and tangy green-olive touches push it even deeper.
This is an irresistibly tasty wine, bursting with lovely berry and cherry fruits, soaked in deliciously decadent chocolaty barrel flavors. But it's not that simple. Propped up with sufficient acidity, ripe tannins and a slight tilt toward earthy underpinnings, it offers compelling length and complexity also. Drink now through 2022.
This ranks among the producer's biggest, boldest and most luxurious wines, a celebration of all that the appellation can offer in a stellar vintage. Integrated tannins provide structure without distraction, while layers of red berry, currant and leather combine for a dry, ripe and rewarding mouthfeel. This should be best between 2023 and 2025.
You can tell this is going to be a top-of-the-range wine by the heavy bottle. Named after the apple orchard that was the original vineyard of the producer, it is powerful and concentrated, with blackberry fruits and a solid, firm texture that will soften. Drink from 2018.
A great value in ready-to-drink, savory, complex Shiraz, the 2009 Cliff Edge boasts plenty of smoky, bacony notes, which add a Rhône-like edge to the blueberry and plum fruit. Black olives chime in, adding even more savory complexity, while the tannins are silky. Drink now–2020.
Forest floor, flint, Alpine herb, sandalwood, leather and pressed rose are some of the scents you'll discover on this mountain Nebbiolo. The precise, radiant palate delivers dried red cherry, raspberry, white pepper, anise and tobacco. It's well balanced with firm refined tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2018–2026.
Caramelized blackberries, black plum, lilacs and milk chocolate make for a nicely rounded nose. Baked blackberry and blueberry meet with vanilla and oak flavors on the palate, which is held up by solid tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up three-quarters of this blend with the balance Merlot (22%) and Malbec. Coming from a who's who of vineyards that includes Klipsun, Canoe Ridge, Seven Hills, and Alder Ridge, it displays aromas of toasty spices, graphite, fresh herb and black currant. The dark-fruit flavors are polished to a fine sheen, showing hang time on the finish. It impresses.
This rich and powerful wine offers dark tannins, great concentration and bold black fruits. Wood aging has added both spice and a smooth texture. The wine comes from a good vintage and although it is ready to drink will repay aging; drink now and until 2023.
Fresh lemon and lime on the nose amass luscious tones of peach and apricot on the palate of this gossamer-light Riesling. It's penetrating and juicy yet anchored firmly by darts of laser acidity and dusty mineral complexities. Sweet honey tones linger long through the finish.
Rich blueberry aromas come with hints of cardamom, anise and lettuce leaf. The palate feels compact and dense, with reduction and modest acidity. Flavors of blueberry and baking spices finish firm, long and exotic, much like the nose.
There are nice cherry, lingonberry, bay leaf and eucalyptus flavors here, wrapped in velour-like tannins that make for a rounded mouthfeel. The finish exhibits an engaging balance of tannin and acidity.
The plush texture and silky midpalate almost define Langhorne Creek, and the cedar, cassis and tobacco notes are classic Cabernet. So what's the rub? The finish falls off just a bit too quickly. It's still nice stuff for the price.
Red rose and blue floral aromas accompanied by wafts of black fruit and spice lead the nose on this bright Chianti Classico. The lively, juicy palate offers bright sour cherry and raspberry accented by notes of sage and thyme. The palate is restrained by fresh acidity, while solid but ripe tannins stay to the finish. This wine cries out for a hearty dish of pasta or mildly seasoned cheeses.
A soft, well-integrated mountain Zin gifted in sweet raspberry and leather, balanced completely between juicy and savory. The finish lingers for a long time, and the wine's acidity accommodates a range of foods, from the expected barbecue and other grilled meats to risotto or gourmet pizza.
A beautiful, fragrant wine that is fresh with apples and pears and lightly mineral in character. It has great fruitiness and lively acidity that continues strong to the end. Drink now.
This is a pleasingly tongue-coating wine, with flavors of cherry preserves, eucalyptus and butterscotch. A nice touch of pleasant salinity makes way for an enduring finish.
Aromas of citrus and rose petal lead to flavors of lemon-lime sorbet, pear and Turkish delight. Very soft tannins brush across the side palate, followed by a bright and refreshing close. Mevushal.
Made with organic grapes, this fruity blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo/Colorino begins with aromas of ripe red berries, spice and espresso. The dense palate delivers fleshy black cherry, black pepper and balsamic herbs supported by youthfully aggressive, chewy tannins. Drink 2015–2020.
A rare, 100% California Cabernet Franc, this wine pays tribute to its varietal in every way. Green-olive herbaceousness integrates with savory, bright red fruit and a soft texture. Given this structure, the wine should do well alongside a peppercorn steak.
Dried tobacco leaf, fresh red cherry and a touch of saddle leather adds interest to the fruity flavors of Babic. Medium bodied, with an exciting astringent finish.
This is a direct, almost raw type of Cabernet. The nose deals spice, herb and dry-fruit aromas. The palate feels lively and alert, with firm acidity driving flavors of berry fruits, oak, herbs and spice. The finish is long, committed and spicy in nature, with a fair amount of oak.
Concentrated, woody as well as smoky, this is relatively easy Vin Jaune to understand. The toast dominates and gives an attractive smokiness. At the end, the wine has acidity that keeps the freshness.
Atrea is 47% Zinfandel, 25% Petite Sirah, 22% Malbec and 6% Syrah. Dark and grippy, the wine offers a juicy palate of raspberry, red currant and even savory cranberry amid a spicy backbone. Structured and restrained, it'll pair expertly with saucy Italian fare.
A smooth and round wine, with citrus flavors that have been tamed by yellow fruit and melon flavors. That gives the wine richness as well as a fresh and crisp aftertaste. Drink until 2018.
This red blend of 34% Babic, 33% Plavina and 33% Lasin has delightful aromas of tart cherry pie fresh out of the oven. There's lots of bright fruit and fresh acidity in the finish.
A sophisticated, mature wine, it combines fresh, ripe apple fruits with a toasty edge. It's a full-throated wine, full of flavor and ready to drink now.
A wood- aged wine with strong toasty flavors. They don't mask the fruit too much and will integrate soon to give a rich, warm wine that has spiciness and ripe yellow fruit flavors. Drink from 2014.
Overall this smells entirely like Rioja should. Earthy cherry and plum aromas come with vanilla scents. In the mouth, modest tannins and firm acids create balance, while flavors of oak-driven chocolate and vanilla lead baked plum and berry notes toward a warm, brandied finish. Drink now.
This pure, full-bodied Merlot coats the palate with purple fruits and a creamy mix of mint, spice and vanilla. The herbal highlights are subtle and proportionate, and it's a very flavorful wine for the price.
An old-vines white wine from the Douro is rare, and this rich wine rewards the winemaker who found the grapes. Aged in wood, ripe and with lemon, peach and grapefruit flavors, it balances richness with a crisp, taut texture. Age this wine a year.
This wine starts off with aromas that recall charred wood and meat juices; soon these waft away to reveal black fruit and spice. The dense palate reveals a black cherry punctuated with black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon along with a note of tobacco. It's well-balanced with brooding tannins and will develop more depth over the next few years.
Very tight and Chablis-like in style, this bottling from Richard and Thekla Sanford shows crisp Asian pear, lemon pith, Pink Lady apple rinds, wet concrete and a touch of petrol on the nose. The palate is light and fresh, with yellow pear, nectarine and a lemon skin-led acidity, possessing all the bones to age with style.
For a winemaking family from the Loire, it must be a delight to work in Marlborough's almost unfailing sunshine. This is a medium-bodied, silky Pinot with scents of compost. Add that gentle earthiness to black cherry fruit, hints of herb and cola and the result is a winning combination. Drink 2018–2025.
A plush style of the grape, this shows blackberry and black plum fruit, lush purple flowers, baking spice and a dusting of graphite on the nose. The palate is soft and cola-driven, with blackberry puree, woody elderberry and violet flavors. The tannic structure enhance its robust character.
Shimmering with the palest salmon pink, this is a softly scented, restrained but very refreshing rosé. Absolutely dry, it majors on fresh lemon notes with tart inflections of red currant. The slightest fizz helps the freshness even more. Lovely.
Supple and full-bodied, this wine offers ample aromas and flavors of ripe cherries, supported by hints of cedar and vanilla. It's not super complex, but is a bold, flavorful wine with a softly dusty, lingering finish.
Wild bilberries abound on nose and palate and scent the entire drinking experience. The palate is fresh and vivid, as befits the slender red vintage of 2014. This has been handled with great care and turned out into a wine of elegance with poised, pure fruit and gentle structure.
This wine combines a slight majority of Syrah blended with 28% Grenache and 14% Viognier, the fruit coming from three vineyard sites, including Big River Ranch. Slightly reductive, it carries a huge barrel imprint at first, settling into softer, brighter, luscious tenets of blueberry pie and leather.
Very ripe, almost tropical notes of fruit join the characteristic green pear and citrus notes on the nose. The palate has that wonderfully elastic but vivid phenolic edge while more and more juicy pear fruit comes to the fore. Such freshness, such generosity and ease.
A big, bold wine that also tastes precise and structured, it has deep, dense fruit flavors like black currant and black cherry, layers of fine tannins, hints of dark chocolate and espresso. This is a great wine to stash in the cellar, as it will taste best after 2020.
Softly scented notes of ripe, yellow pears play on the nose. On the palate they become lusciously mouth-filling with their unobtrusive, friendly softness. There is a backbone of freshness and wonderful depth of lemon, with pear-scented concentration.
This blend of Syrah from Thompson and White Hawk vineyards, as well as a touch of Mourvèdre from Alta Mesa, shows lively anise and dill herbs on the nose, along with black strawberries, dense blackberries, damp sage, violet and tar. The oregano-thyme-bay leaf herbal side of the sip is strong, giving nuance to the elderberry and blueberry fruit.
The nose on this bottling shows just enough of everything to please all sorts of Chardonnay fans: yellow apple flesh, sea salt, a touch of butter and jasmine-laced honeydew aromas. The palate starts soft and then slowly sizzles with acidity, presenting flavors of butter, lemon rinds and key lime. It's a down-the-middle wine.
The product of a partnership between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with the Perrin family of Château Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this bottling achieves instant fame. Happily, it is also a very fine wine, perfectly balanced between crisp fruit and acidity. In the background a touch of tannin accompanies pepper and minerality. It is ready to drink.
Simultaneously light, vivacious and flavor-packed, this bottling is a lightly faded shade of pink in the glass, and shows delicate bubble gum, sliced watermelon, pink rose buds and a squeeze of lime on the nose. The blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah offers zesty acidity and a pithy texture on the palate, with bright tangerine, lemon pith and a touch of strawberry fruit.
With a dominance of Clairette in the blend, this wine has a rich, lightly salty character as well as juicy green-plum flavors. It comes from organically grown grapes in one of the small parcels that make up the vineyard. Ripe and fruity with just a tang in the air, it is ready to drink.
This is a rich wine, full bodied and packed with fruit. Ripe red-berry flavors are just touched by pepper and spice. It comes from selected parcels in the Faulkner family's estate, giving a concentrated, dense wine that will work best with food.
Organic grapes grown on the estate's schist soil go into this delicious, ripe and clean wine. Shot through with a good balance of red berries, red currants and tight acidity, it has good depth of flavor along with a surface glitter of bright freshness.
Grassy green hints play with faint tropical notes of passion fruit. The palate is taut and fresh and provides that wonderfully phenolic backdrop that makes Grüner such a success at the table. There is concentration and ample stores of fruit underneath that cool exterior, waiting to be plunged into.
White spring blossom, orchard fruit and a whiff of Alpine herb come together on this delicious, structured white. The juicy, full-bodied palate offers white peach, mature pear and tangerine alongside bright acidity that lifts the creamy flavors. A precise mineral note closes the lingering finish and lends finesse.
Warm touches of lemon-laced chamomile tea, soft butter and a dollop of orange sherbert show on the nose of this intriguing and unique wine from the Sierra Madre Vineyard. There's a strong sense of baking soda-like alkalinity to the palate, laced through juicy lemon and tangerine flavors, pithy grip, slate minerality and a mouth-watering combo of acidity and salt.
Aged in stainless steel and small barrels of French oak, this wine remains smooth and silky with interweaved acidity, a classic, fresh expression of the variety with very subtle oak. Vanilla and pear find their way onto the finish, providing additional layers of flavor and finesse.
This wine has an herbal aroma and a crisp palate that delivers tropical fruits cut by grapefruit. The wine comes from the privileged Mont Saint-Victoire vineyards, named after the path that runs along the south side of the mountain. It has a distinctly mineral texture and perfumed acidity. At the end, the wine is bright, tight and crisp.
Tight green apple, lime zest, nectarine shavings and a green fruit-leaning kiwi element aligns nicely with the fresh yeast aromas on this sparkler's nose. Tart lemon, green apple skins and underripe orange show on the palate, which is framed by mouthwatering acidity and finishes on a white flower element.
Savory and fresh up front, this blend of 80% Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot smells of leather, olive, cola and raspberry. It's a bit raspy and rough on the palate, where hard tannins hold court. Flavors of stalky, savory berry fruits and pepper end toasty, roasted and firm, with abrasiveness that needs to get resolved.
Pretty violet notes reverberate through this richly concentrated, nuanced Pinot Noir. Dried cherry and blackberry touches are succulent and lip smacking yet anchored by delicate veins of mineral and spice. Fine-grained tannins persist through a long finish. Drink now through 2023.
This is 100% varietal from the historic Foppiano clone, the wine marked by grapy leather and buoyant acidity in equal parts. Chocolate and gunpowder show up along the way, before a big grip gets aggressive on the finish, blown off by a few more swirls of the glass.
A fine vein of graphite extends through this bold yet refined Bordeaux-style red. It's robustly fruity, bursting with cranberry, red cherry and raspberry flavors, but enticingly savory as well, nuanced by hints of leather and balsamic vinegar. Dense tannins should smooth out between 2018 and 2020.
Friendly, crisp, fresh Conference pear flavors pervade nose and palate for a hit of crisp, green, refreshing fruitiness. The palate is smooth and balanced, light but fluid, mellow but fresh. The pear fruit lingers beautifully, rather languid for such a fresh wine.
This is an impressive effort, especially at the price, which is kind of unheard of in these parts. Softened by 9% Merlot, it's rich and full-bodied without ever overdoing it, opaque in color with a nose of baked bread and flavors of raspberry and black currant. It's food-ready.
This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Petite Sirah and 5% Cabernet Franc shows aromas of sweet plum, cherry jam, grape candy and chocolate spices. The palate presents a medium level of density, with flavors of Bing cherry, ollallieberry and dried oregano, thyme and marjoram.
Floral, this medium-bodied white is creamy and touched by richer notions of pear, pineapple and vanilla, reflective of its warmer appellation in a warm year. French oak (40% of it new) aged the wine for under a year. With a touch of honeysuckle and nutmeg, the minerality is subtle.
This bright, fresh wine offers aromas of woodland berry, alpine herb, graphite, and a touch of cake spice. On the palate, green tomato and peppermint accent the bright strawberry core.
A mix of strawberry-rhubarb compote, mocha-chocolate and chalky tannins are featured in this 80% Cabernet with smaller amounts of other Bordeaux varieties blended in. Dense and meaty, a powerful jolt of cassis rears its head on the finish.
This opens with smoke, mint, coconut, red berry and graphite aromas. The palate offers dried red cherry and mineral alongside drying tannins. Enjoy it soon to capture the fruit flavors.
Pretty aromas of red berry, crushed flower and a hint of rosemary lead the nose on this bright red. The fresh palate offers crushed raspberry, green tomato and cinnamon. It's fresh, sleek and balanced.
Aromas suggest red berry and plum with a hint of cake spice. The palate is elegant and reserved, offering sour cherry, toast and vanilla alongside fine-grained tannins. It closes on a light mineral note.
This is a successful straight-ahead Chardonnay, with aromas of buttercream, vanilla and orange cake developing complexity thanks to alkaline, pithy notes. For such a rich nose, it proves quite clean and crisp on the palate, with lemon-lime soda, wet slate and just a touch of buttered apples.
Lightly herbaceous, this is a ripe, lively wine. Grapefruit and lemon zest flavors are complemented by fuller apple and quince flavors. A tight minerality in the background will allow the wine to age. Drink from 2016.
This is a ripe, fresh and fruity wine that's filled out with a tangy, mineral texture. Grapefruit and lime juice flavors give a zesty feel as well as intense acidity. It is ready to drink.
Taut and cool with swathes of fresh tarragon and crisp melon rind, this elegant dry Riesling has a nervous vitality throughout. The palate is zesty and bright, highlighting tart flavors of tangerine and apricot before fading into a dusty mineral finish.
Spine-tingling acidity runs throughout this off-dry Riesling. Swathes of honey and fresh apple, saffron and dried berries lend sweetness and warmth, but this striking kabinett does not surrender its sharp edges easily.
Aromas recall red berry, wildflower and a dash of alpine herb. The palate displays crushed wild cherry, juicy pomegranate and a hint of almond alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink soon.
Fragrant and refined, this opens with intense floral aromas and wafts of perfumed berry. The elegant, structured palate delivers layers of red cherry, juicy raspberry, cinnamon and a mineral note alongside firm, fine-grained tannins.
Plum, raspberry and animal fur aromas settle with airing. Rubbery, grabby tannins create a hard-as-rocks mouthfeel, while blackberry and cassis flavors turn toasty on the finish. This is hard on the palate straight up; holding through 2016 can only help.
Raisiny, inky aromas are ripe but not overly sophisticated. On the palate, grabby tannins are drawing and heavy. Flavors of raisin and prune carry over from the nose, while the finish is chewy, jammy, raisiny and offers a licorice/anise note.
Deeply golden in color, this opens with aromas of dried chamomile flower, hay, lightly toasted oak and a butterscotch note. The palate delivers dried apricot, mature apple, candied ginger, mineral and almond alongside racy acidity.
This wine is fairly austere in taste, restrained in oak on the front palate before offering thick tannin structure on the back palate and finish. In between, expect cranberry, raspberry and clove to compete for affection, integrating well with one another.
This brand continues to impress in terms of quality-to-price ratio. This blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot comes from a great appellation and is ready to enjoy now. Raspberry, black cherry and cranberry serve as the finesse side of the equation, before a brawny, chewy sense of power wanders in.
A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of cut grass, bell pepper and red currant. The easygoing, savory palate offers crushed black cherry, spiced plum and black pepper alongside lithe tannins.
All five of the major Bordeaux red varieties are represented here, with Merlot the largest percentage at 44%. The wine offers black pepper, clove, cassis and blackberry around a huge structure of dry, mouth-coating tannins that make this a good pairing with red meat, the juicier the better.
Taut, tart and tangy, this well-built wine was fermented in neutral oak. It's got a pleasant creaminess in the mouth, sharply defined citrus fruits, notably grapefruit and Meyer lemon, and supporting acidity.
Aromas suggest pressed white flower, citrus and beeswax. The palate offers citrus zest, dried apricot and lemon drop. It has nice depth but drink soon to capture the remaining fruit.
Aromas suggest spring blossom, banana and tropical fruit. The vertical palate offers citrus zest, passion fruit and mineral together with note of white almond.
Vibrant, this opens with aromas of almond cream, toasted nut, Mediterranean herb and orchard fruit. The firm palate delivers juicy green apple, lemon zest and sage alongside a persistent perlage. It's balanced with bright acidity.
Grenadine and flavors of red cherry provide a brightness to this wine that is otherwise characterized by juicy texture and mild-mannered use of oak. Enjoyable and soft, it's priced well and is worth stocking up on for everyday meals.
Based in Carmel, this producer ventures north to Napa and Sonoma for grapes. It crafts this earthy, ethereal wine from Russian River fruit and donates part of its sales proceeds to a handful of charities. Mushroom, licorice, tea and cherry are all well-represented, wrapped in a conservative idling of oak.
One of the winery's upper-end bottlings, this shows strawberries, dried fennel stalks and an earthy minerality on the nose. The flavors prove a bit cooked, with stewed berries, char, dark tobacco, dark chocolate and black pepper.
A terrific example of Corbières terroir at an unbeatable price. The wine, a traditional Rhône-style blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, is so loaded with aromas and flavors of the surrounding garrigue you might think that they threw in a bouquet garni during maturation. Sage, rosemary,menthol, thyme and bay leaves all abound while rich, dark fruit and oak aging (Élevé en Fûts de Chêne means aged in oak barrels) provides support and structure. Silky texture, approachable tannins and a long finish bring it all together.
Fruit compote—plum and strawberry—is melded to light toast and coffee. The wine has juicy acids and a thickly satisfying midpalate whose fruit flavors linger on, adding a little peppery spice as the wine evolves in the mouth. Just a whisp of chocolate leaves you ready for the next sip.
For being a goldkap, this is not especially lush or botrytized. Instead, it features a fine balance of acidity, which enlivens the green apple and citrus flavors and gives them extra poignancy. This is crisply balanced and mouthwatering on the finish.
The oak in this wine is nicely integrated into the fruit, making it barely detectable amid the bold peach and melon flavors. Full and round in the mouth, then long and citrusy on the finish. Drink now.
This is bright, hot, spicy and (initially at least) showing some high tones that lift the flavors but also attenuate the midpalate. It's aromatic, with sweet cherry fruit, hot and spicy tannins and enough new oak (60%) to add butter and butterscotch to the finish.
A picture-perfect mix of fruit, acid, stone and tannin. The fruit is sweet and ripe, the acid provides a natural underpinning, the tannins are polished and there are hints of minerality, along with tobacco, licorice and chocolate. Nicely done; this is a new winery to watch.
Spicy and a little hot right after opening, this wine breathes into shape, firming up with classic Red Mountain fruit flavors of plum and cherry, laced with graphite and accented with new oak. This is as muscular and authoritative as Merlot can get, and priced at a third of what comparablebottles from California cost.
A savory nose with hints of balsamic and smoke, balanced by cassis and cedar, start this wine out right. In the mouth, it's complex and assertive, with flavors of anise, spice and plum. Pronounced tannins need some time to age, but overall the wine is excellent now.
Smoky, slaty and oily, this is a mineral-driven, “terroir” wine, without obvious fruit notes, yet not lacking for fruit, if that makes any sense. It's medium-bodied, with just a touch of apparent sugar, and finishes long, with just a touch of citrus.
For an ice wine, this is relatively rich. But it certainly doesn't take away from the pure acidity that lifts the sweet fruit, giving the ripe peach and dried apricot flavors a great frame. It is ready to drink now, but another year and it will be even better focused.
A powerful, brooding nose of tobacco, smoke and red cherry starts this elegant Cabernet from Kanonkop. On the palate, more warming spices and tobacco, with smooth, ripe tannins that are fine and velvety. Some oak offers spice, but the wine is extremely balanced and food friendly. The lingering finish delivers a spin of red berry and smoke. Excellent now but could age a few years to further develop.
This is what you want from Chile. The bouquet of green apple, lime, mineral, sea air and controlled sweetness is impressive while not being forceful. Flavors of citrus, pineapple and green herbs are live-wire, while the feel is stimulating and spritzy. With a juicy finish and tons of zest,this is a lovely, true wine that reflects its coastal San Antonio origins.
Over the years, Villa Maria has been working hard on upping the quality (and the price) of its entry-level Sauvignon Blanc. No longer a Best Buy candidate, the 2008 Private Bin is still a top value, offering slightly pungent, sweaty aromas but flavors of stone fruit accented by grassy-herbal notes. There's ample weight without heaviness and a zesty, fresh finish.
Textured, spicy and exotically scented with red and black fruits, pepper, ground coffee, cinnamon, saffron and chocolate powder. It's a delightful and complex wine, just under 15% alcohol, balanced and showing lots of plummy fruit that is backed with polished tannins and natural acids.
A dense, rich wine, showing layers of black plum and berry fruits, topped with dry tannins and ripe acidity. This is a firm wine that shows good richness and balance, the wood element present but already well integrated.
A 50/50 blend of wood-aged Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from selected wines. It is wood-dominated at present, but the fruit feels rich enough to come through shortly, and then it will be an impressively ripe, structured wine. However, it's always going to be a dry, dark and firmly tannic.
Grapefruit zest and Conference pear peels are embedded in some creamy autolysis that comes across with a notion of baby powder. The palate is straight-laced, fresh and wonderfully light-bodied and dry without denying the pleasure of deeper notions of fruit. The fizz is persistent and soft.
Named after Alain Thiénot's daughter Garance, this is rich and full of delicious fruit. Well aged, it is just developing some secondary flavors that complement the ripe apple and crisp grapefruit flavors. The mineral tang on the finish adds a bit of levity. Drink now.
Ripe and floral in character, this rich wine is full and fruity, with a good structure of tannins that brings out spiciness. With acidity and a generous texture, the wine could age for another six months, so drink from spring 2016.
This is a classy effort from a great year. Substantial notes of cherry and berry tones are wrapped in buttery chocolate. It's simply delicious, yet built well enough to drink through 2020.
This wine was sourced from three vineyards, including Gap's Crown atop what may one day be officially known as the Petaluma Gap, and the estate property known as Last Stop Ranch. It offers a mix of smoky charcuterie alongside tart cherry and cranberry, a balance of savory and sweet. Lightly textured and bodied, it finishes in piquant cinnamon spice and ginger.
From an older block of estate vineyard, planted to budwood originally sourced from Martha's Vineyard, this 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec is not for the faint of heart or palate. Burly and expansive, its aromatics star, inviting in cedar, mocha and vanilla before black pepper and cherry take over. The tannins are velvety.
Soft and inviting on the nose, this wine shows buttercream, lemon curds, browned butter and caramel sauce aromas. It's richly layered on the palate with buttery elements, though the lemon blossoms, seared pineapple and vanilla flavors provide intriguing depth.
Elegant and fragrant, this opens with inviting scents of wisteria, jasmine and white peach. The foaming palate doles out green apple, yellow pear and citrus zest alongside tiny, persistent bubbles that give it a bright, creamy texture.
Lightly scented, this offers aromas of acacia flower, nut and white orchard fruit. The focused palate offers white peach, yellow apple, ripe pear and a mineral note alongside bright acidity and a persistent, firm perlage.
Produced from the best parcels of the estate, this wine is structured, firm and concentrated. It is rich, hinting at dark chocolate flavors at this young stage along with dense tannins. As it matures, this will transform into a ripe and concentrated wine that is dark with black plum and juicy acidity. Drink from 2017.
From a Pinot Noir specialist in the heart of the Russian River Valley, this white is equal parts floral and fruity, shy and dry, with a succulent layering of lime, grapefruit and fig. A medium level of acidity wraps itself around a viscous core, keeping the wine fresh on the palate. It's the right kind of weighty, finishing with ginger and honey.
This is a very slender, taut, fresh and citrus-focused Crémant with aromatic overtones of aloe vera, green apple and citrus foliage. Showing wonderful precision and balance, the slendern and fresh characters combine to make for a very invigorating, delicious drink.
Refermented in the bottle, this fragrant, salmon-colored Lambrusco offers delicate scents of wild rose, dried berry and baking spice. The elegant palate offers raspberry, strawberry, nectarine zest and ginger alongside an ultrafine mousse.
Aged for 12 months in large wooden barrels, this is ripe and solid. It has a concentrated character, layered with some toastiness as well as rich berry and plum flavors. The fruit is well cut with spice and acidity. Drink from late 2016.
This wine is rich and full in the mouth, with swathes of ripe plum and cherry fruits. To balance that, a firm layer of tannins points up the ripe, juicy and rounded fruits of 100% Gamay. Drink this impressive wine now. It's produced by father and son, Michel and Sébastien Gutty, in Morgon.
Softly balanced, this is an elegant wine, with less than a handful of Petit Verdot that exhibits savory dried cranberry and plum around larger elements of juicy plum and dark chocolate. It never veers bitter or green, staying juicy and supple on the palate.
Reserved on the nose, with tight citrus blossom and a wet stone minerality, this blend of Roussanne and Viognier by the Paso-residing French couple Guillaume and Solène Fabre will drink fresh for years to come. The palate is framed by pithy tension, with flavors of apple skin, pear flesh and a tingle of acidity deep into the finish. Drink 2017–2030.
This Jean Bererd wine comes from the village of Le Perreon in northern Beaujolais. It is a rich and fully structured wine with rich cherry fruits that are balanced with acidity. Hand-picked from an organic vineyard, the wine is ripe and full in the mouth. It should be drunk from 2016.
From vines planted in the Tour Bourdon plot in 1940, this concentrated wine is ripe and rich while still shot through with red-currant acidity. Its tannins come from the low-yielding vines, giving a firm edge. The aftertaste is all about fresher red fruits. Jean-Michel Dupré is a member of Terroirs Originels—17 producers on the hills of Beaujolais and Burgundy's Mâcon.
The sixth release of this outstanding reserve holds firm to the well-established style. Bright, tart, ripe and compact red-berry fruit is set against firm, polished tannins. Still young and hard, it needs plenty of breathing time, or better yet, cellar it for a few years. Tim Stevens's reds have proven ageworthy, and this earthy, smoky, textural and well-crafted effort should improve for a decade or more.
Whether or not you consider yourself a fan of varietal Cabernet Franc, this is a wine to explore and to savor. Pure fruit is set amidst generous streaks of herb and earth, framed by firm tannins. The wine opens slowly, and pretty cherry flavors emerge, along with black olive, pencil lead and complex barrel notes.
The best of the new Syrah releases from Betz, this massive wine, sourced from the outstanding Boushey Vineyard, packs tart black fruit into a tight frame of licorice-soaked tannins. There are traces of clean earth, light mineral and smoked meat, while the tannins are kept in close check. There's terrific structure and poise in a wine of substantial power.
This Valmur brings out great richness from the vineyard and the vintage while keeping an intense texture, orange zest and grapefruit flavors and a firm butter and toast aftertaste. Age for four years.
This Bordeaux-style blend, from a choice section of the Seven Hills Vineyard, is fragrant with a beguiling mix of fruits, flowers and fresh herbs. Cassis and pepper, Asian spices and a lingering, textural mouthfeel, make this a wine that disappears all too quickly from the bottle.
At this high alcohol, the wine should be bursting the envelope. Yet it still has great elegance, its richness rolling around the mouth. Red- and blackberry-jelly flavors are laced with fine tannins and a young, juicy aftertaste. Only at the end does the alcohol show.
A rich and smooth wine, its tannins already deliciously integrated into the juicy black fruits. The wine has a tarry character along with its blackberry acidity, sweetness and an extra roundness from the wood. Worth aging for 3–4 years.
The vintage as well as the vineyard gave this hugely rich wine. It has weight, concentrated fruit and toast flavors, the acidity on line right through the center. Peach, pineapple and grapefruit combine to give an impressive, textured fruitiness. Age for 2–3 years.
This Bordeaux-style red is blended from the Seven Hills, Klipsun, Canoe Ridge and Wallula vineyards. It shows a lovely structure, which takes its ripe blueberry, black cherry and cassis fruit and complements it with lush barrel flavors of coffee and dark chocolate. Fine-grained, dusty tannins smooth it along through an elegant, mouth-coating finish.
Mild tones of cantaloupe, pear and apple mark this watery, light-bodied wine. It's simple and enjoyable, perfect for less serious situations.
This Salta blend of Malbec and Tannat smells a lot like fresh road tar. The palate is adequately cushioned, while hard, stalky, roasted berry flavors are oaky. This has a lot of disparate parts but the whole has issues and is sketchy.
Stewy, jammy plum and currant aromas are less than inviting. This feels choppy, with hard tannins. Soupy, weedy berry flavors end with minty, herbal, grassy notes.
This is a sweet, lightly sparkling wine. It has crisp apple as well as citrus flavors to contrast with the sweetness. Drink now.
Soft and candied, this is a ripe wine that has sweet strawberry-fruit flavors. It is ready to drink.
Gritty, green aromas are not really ripe or friendly. This is high in pyrazines and tastes peppery and largely fruitless. A sour finish with sweaty notes are as expected given the nose and flavors.
Harsh berry and plum aromas are damp and rubbery. This feels rubbery as well, with rough tannins. Stewy, nondescript berry flavors finish tannic and dry.
The wine is perfumed and so soft. It could make a good apéritif with its light texture and equally light acidity. Drink now.
A strong barnyard, even horse-stable character plays heavy on the nose of this bottling, with wild herbs, alfalfa and pomegranate fruit also detectable. Light cherries and cola arise on the sip, but the funkiness dominates there too.
Overtly green in style, with asparagus notes that are too much for this reviewer. It does have some attractive crushed-stone aromas and an appealing mouthfeel, so it's not without charm.
The color of bull's blood, this earthy, funky wine smells strongly of composted earth. It's rough, sharp and high-toned, with a volatile finish.
The wine is so soft, with a fruit-candy flavor as well as lemon sherbet and some attractive touches of acidity. The wine is ready to drink.
Gritty, oily matchstick aromas are followed by a blocky palate with apricot, peach pit and citrus flavors. On the finish, a lasting flavor of citrus rind is tough and pithy. Overall this is hard to plow through.
Earthy at best, weedy at worst, this smells like savory red plum. Chunky and syrupy on the palate, with a shot of high-toned acidity, this tastes like briny, pickled raspberry and it rings with acidity on the finish.
There is a rustic edge to this flat wine. It is soft and lightly fruity although unfocused. Drink now.
Charred caramel drizzled over pineapple rind show mildly on the nose. The palate is medium in weight, with a muddling of lemon and tart peach. This Viognier is crisp and to the point.
One of the Uco Valley's highest vineyards has produced an awkward, funky, clunky Chardonnay with butterscotch, mustard and heavy oak aromas. Flavors of mustard and barrel resin follow the nose, while this finishes with pickled notes, a pinched mouthfeel and a sense of skins. Salentein needs to reassess this wine, which is new to its lineup.
While easy to grow in Virginia's vintage-variant climate, there still needs to be some work in the cellar for this Southwestern France transplant. The bottling is a variety of flavors and textures that don't quite seem to meld: honeycomb wax, citron and a slight char seem disjointed on the flabby palate.
Fermented in a neutral barrel, this Roussanne brings praline and grilled peach into the mix. Weighty and flabby in feel, an overripe fruit character resounds on the palate.
This Rkatsiteli was cold soaked for 11 days on the skins (hence the name) and then aged in barrels for 15 months. The result is something a bit odd and disjointed, with oak tones of toasted coconut and sunscreen clashing with soft quince and green apple streaks.
Herbal, funky, rustic and green on the nose, this isn't terribly appealing up front. A clunky palate without much flow doesn't offer much help, while this blend tastes weedy and grassy.
Juicy Fruit gum and citrus blossom meet a chemical plastic note on the nose. The palate is light in weight, with sharp acids carrying along the peach juice and lemon flavors.
Heady floral aromas of rose and lychee overtake the nose and palate. It's rich in weight, with very little acid to maintain balance.
This wine has a soft texture. It seems unfocused, not balanced between fruit and structure.
This is an inviting and easy-drinking selection, with friendly aromas and flavors of green gooseberry, orange peel and grass. There's a hint of pineapple-like acidity, though a bit more cut would help to better balance the palate and freshen up the finish.
Sweet and generically fruity, this straightforward wine has sugary aromas and flavors and a very soft texture.
Vegetal-leaning, stewy aromas of plum and jammy berry are saucy. This feels sticky and low in acidity. Grassy, herbal plum and berry flavors are a bit green on the finish.
This wine is living evidence of how Torrontés doesn't take well to oak and aging. The nose is clumsy and heavy, with a resiny note of lemon cleanser. Flavors of pickled citrus and sauerkraut hang around on the finish, which heads south.
Smoky, charred-oak aromas and flavors streak through this otherwise smooth, ripe and moderately fruity wine. It is full bodied and firmly tannic but not coarse.
Aromas of black cherry, cassis and desert brush hint at complexity. A flush, structured palate deals blackberry, cassis, spice, herb and chocolate flavors. Despite mild heat and rubbery tannins on the finish, this is largely a complete Monastrell.
This blends fruit from DeVoto in the Sebastopol Hills with grapes from Terra de Promissio, Umino and Alder Springs vineyards. It's soft and thick, with rich, ripe flavors of cranberry, pomegranate and cherry, a sizzling sense of cola spice underlying it all.
Presenting at first as somewhat reduced, this wine is tart and feral, with a muskiness reminiscent of mushroom and forest floor. Its intensely voluptuous body is concentrated in black cherry, cola and cardamom, with a richness and roundness on the palate and finish.
This vineyard selection blends Pommard and 667 clones, and spent 16 months in one-sixth new French oak. There's a light touch at work here, crafting clean, fresh flavors of raspberries, with a hint of bitter greens. It's a straightforward enjoyable wine, modest in length and concentration, and finishing with a noticeable vein of butterscotch.
Six barrels—one each from six vineyards—comprise this cuvée. It's soft and silky, with pretty cherry fruit and a touch of herb. The finish continues smooth and supple, with a suggestion of caramel.
Aromas of leather, blue flower, berry, aromatic herb and a whiff of game come together in the glass. The racy palate doles out crushed raspberry, sour cherry, anise and mineral. Firm, refined tannins and vibrant acidity provide support.
Ripe and spicy tannins and red-berry flavors, this is a generous organic wine that will develop quickly. It has new wood as well as red-berry fruit flavors, under the direction of consultant Michel Rolland. Let the wine come together and drink from 2019. Suau is part of an international group of family wineries.
Green-apple and white-peach flavors mingle with a lively, thirst-quenching texture in this charming, medium-bodied wine.
Richness and ripeness are welcome traits in this full-bodied, generously flavored and smoothly textured wine. Prune and blackberry aromas continue into the palate and linger a bit on the finish.
You'll find scents of spring flower, white stone fruit, citrus and bread crust on this bright sparkler. The firm palate offers mature yellow apple, yellow pear, citrus zest and a hint of roasted nut alongside a vibrant, persistent perlage.
Aromas of road tar and gritty black fruits come around but remain earthy. A chunky, slightly heavy palate is home to spicy, peppery plum and tomato flavors. The finish is lasting, snappy and drawing due to firm tannins and red-fruit acidity. Drink through 2022.
Decadent cherry, vanilla and baked plum meet a mouthful of cinnamon in this generously full-bodied and weighty wine. Earthy undertones of forest floor and shaved truffle add complexity and savory components that complement well.
Pear, citrus, chopped herb and yeasty aromas lift out of the glass. On the vibrant palate, bread crust and toasted nut accent a citrusy core of lemon and lime. Zesty acidity gives it a firm finish.
Richly tannic but ripe, with red-fruit notes of rhubarb and raspberry up front. Then the palate turns dark and savory, adding hints of espresso, olive and asphalt. Try it in 2017, by which time it should've settled down and become more integrated.
Fresh and lively with apple, almond and orange flavors, this light-bodied wine is well balanced, crisp in mouthfeel yet rich enough to be satisfying.
Aromas of iron and black plum met with cola, wet gravel and dried chaparral on the nose of this bottling from deep in the Carmel Valley. The palate is powered by herbs like thyme and oregano, also showing lots of raw-blood flavors and tons of acid. It's juicy but well spiced.
Aromas of blackberry, cassis, raisin and woodspice suggest that this varietal Garnacha is ripe. That's confirmed on the palate, which feels chunky and full, with modest acidic edge. Ripe, roasted, fully oaked flavors of black fruits finish minty and spicy, with notes of clove and coffee. Drink this full-bodied, fairly soft wine through 2018.
Vincent and Ludivine l'Amouller, the estate's fourth generation, named this wine after the sailboat of the ancestor who moored in Blaye and bought the vineyard. The 2014 vintage, certified organic, is firm while also rich with fruit. The wine is going to generous, ripe and full of concentration. Drink this attractive wine with its good potential from 2019.
This certified organic wine from Damien Lorteau is juicy with attractive blackberry fruit. Spice and warm tannins (aged 12 months in barrel) give it a rich structure. It will have a fine future—a ripe wine with plenty of fruitiness. Drink from 2019.
Plummy yet herbal at the same time, this Pinot from the folks at Craggy Range hints at rhubarb and beet greens, but relies on a sturdy core of sour plum to carry it. It's a bit chunky, with a dusting of tannins on the finish. Imported by Kobrand Corporation.
This is a waxy, rather soft rendition of Sauvignon Blanc, and the pretty fruit flavors mix grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. There is very little suggestion of Sauvignon Blanc's herbal or grassy side; the grapes seem to have been ripened past that point, though not all the way to California-style, tropical fruit flavors. All in all this is a well-crafted, smooth and flavorful wine, with a portion barrel-aged for extra complexity.
The emphasis here is squarely on the fruit, which is fresh and varietal, carrying flavors of apricot, peach and apple. Pleasing aromas support the impression of ripe stone fruit, with moderate alcohol and none of the bitterness that Viognier can show in the finish.
Mixed into the blend are smallish proportions of Muscat, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Gewürztraminer, and this is not really trying to be Chardonnay. It's a dry, tart, all-purpose, everyday white wine, which you can serve with confidence and almost any style of white-wine food you can cook up.
Nice spice and strawberry fruit. The blend is a mish-mash—half Merlot, the rest Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cab Franc, Viognier and Malbec. Not that it makes a huge difference in a rosé, but it does seem a bit diffuse as a result. Nonetheless, a good sipping wine.
Starts with a blast of toasted nut aromas, but also hints of butter and citrus, then adds some lactic notes, Muscat-like spice and vanilla flavors jump into the mix before finishing with flavors of tangerines and roasted coffee. It's a bit oaky, but attractive nonetheless. Imported by Meadowbank Estates.
A very bright, tropical Sémillon from Amador-based Andis. Winemaker Mark McKenna uses 35-year-old vines to make this layered, slightly sweet but completely in balance wine. Enjoyable lychee, just-ripe pineapple and fig permeate; the wine gets even better as it opens.
Concentrated black fruit aromas are subtle and don't push real hard. It's jammy, deep and soft in the mouth, with sweet tannins and even sweeter core berry flavors and oak. Finishes smooth, with barrel influence and warmth. Very nice as always, but not as elevated and exact as prior vintages.
Soft wine, now ripe and open, its fruit just masking almonds, toast and sweet cream. The acidity gives backbone to this mature wine which is concentrated yet with a touch of acidity and spice.
A blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 20% Carignan and 10% Mourvèdre aged in French oak for 12 months, this wine exhibits great depth of flavors against a tight structure. Notes of garrigue herbs and peppery spice infuse the blackberry and rich plum fruit core. Sweet oak flavors linger on the long finish along with firm but fine tannins. Drink now–2016.
A finely textured wine, with its acidity and apple fruits laced with wood and spice. It is rich, full in the mouth, a wine that has great pure flavors, very clear right to the end. Screwcap.
The hot 2009 vintage has yielded young vintage Ports with intense color. Here the color shows the ripeness of the perfumed, concentrated black fruit. Rich, full, more open than tannic, likely to age over the medium term.
Thick and sultry smelling, with aromas of menthol, mint, tobacco, leather and ripe black fruits. Feels good but oaky, with resiny tannins and baked berry and vanilla flavors. Dark, toasty and mellow on the finish. Shows ripeness, balance and lots of oak. Drink now through 2014.
A taut, mineral wine with a domiNAce of Chardonnay to give the crispest citrus and a very textured feel. Definitely dry, the wine, not from a classic vintage year, seems still young and all fruit, so it would be worth aging for 3–4 years.
This Carignan-based blend with 25% Grenache is dense and concentrated, highlighting just how well the old Carignan vines from the region can express themselves. Ripe blueberry and boysenberry flavors are matched with medium-intense notes of bay, menthol, sweet bark and bittersweet chocolate. The silky mouth offers a round but balanced feel, with a nice mineral lift to the close.
Only their second vintage of Finger Lakes Riesling, Long Island's Macari Vineyards makes quite a splash with this beautifully honeyed yet dry and fruitful wine. Richly textured with notes of yellow freesia and preserved peach, it finishes elegantly on a subtly astringent black tea note.
Wisps of smoke and crushed rock imbue this dry, broadly textured wine. Lemon and lime acidity strike the midpalate like a laser before melting into the mineral-rich sheen that extends the finish. It's remarkably bold for a Mosel Riesling, yet never loses it's elegant appeal.
Expect exciting things from this Bordeaux-focused label by Thomas Fogarty Winery. This offers scents of blueberry, boysenberry and purple flowers such as lilac and lavender. It's dainty yet dynamic on the palate, with blue fruit and espresso, restrained and elegant throughout.
Though already four years old, this blend of 77% Zinfandel and 23% Petite Sirah shows lots of promise for a long-lasting wine. Complicated aromas of tobacco and ripe boysenberries become sagebrush herbs on the palate, bolstered by blueberry and elderberry fruits. The tannic grip is still strong, so drink 2018–2028.
Made by Grant Taylor (Valli), this is a silky-textured wine that should remain delicious through at least 2020. It's not the ripest vintage, but there's ample plum and black cherry fruit, subtle rosemary and thyme notes and a touch of mocha.
Whiffs of forest floor and violets lend complexity to this fresh, perfumed wine. Cranberry and tart red-cherry flavors are bracing and tight but yield slowly into a supple, velvet finish. It's subtle and elegant, but also deliciously juicy in character.
A streak of grapefruit acidity lends a racy edge to sweet white-peach and Meyer-lemon flavors in this lip-smacking spätlese. It's delicately filigreed in texture, yet powerfully concentrated in fruit. Touches of mineral and herb add complexity to the lingering finish.
This perfumed wine is a superb expression of Oregon Pinot Gris, and the best Tikka's ever from Lemelson. Apples, oranges and ripe melons fill the fruit bowl, bright and luscious and accented with perfectly proportioned barrel notes of toasted coconut and almond.
A rich, evocative, sensual aroma greets the first sniff. The mix of purple fruits, hints of baking spices, and tannins dusted with chocolate is irresistible. Sweet toast comes up next, with pretty fruit flavors in proportion, and a taste of brioche to finish. Aging until 2016–2017 should open it up further.
Earthy whiffs of dust and pollen belie radiant flavors of mango and peach on the palate. It's a ripe, rather voluptuous beerenauslese, yet elegantly honed along a line of tart tangerine acidity. Complex and layered, it keeps the palate on its toes through a long, exciting ride.
A study in dusty tannins and crisp, classic cassis and cranberry, this wine offers plenty of the beloved herbaceousness of old-school Cabernet, along with a soft-hearted structure and compelling notes of violet and soy. Medium-bodied, it's enjoyable now but has the legs to age through 2026.
This blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah from Bob and Lynn Tillman's Adelaida Road estate offers an intriguing, aromatic mix of sanguine blood elements alongside ripe black cherries and white pepper. Solid acidity and good tannins frame the palate, which delivers espresso, elderberry, licorice and forest-floor flavors.
The intense floral fragrance suggests dog rose, broom, violet and perfumed berry. The vibrant, linear palate offers red cherry-berry, cinnamon, white pepper, Mediterranean herb, licorice and orange zest alongside assertive but polished tannins and vibrant acidity. It's beautifully balanced, with a mineral-driven finish. Drink 2017–2025.
This rich Gewurztraminer reflects the chalk soil of this prized grand cru. It gives a structured, firm wine, close to dry with spice and pepper flavors as well as a strongly mineral character. It needs proper aging, so drink from 2018.
The chalk soil of Champagne makes a reappearance in the Pfersigberg vineyard. In this wine it shows as elegance and crispness. That's not to take away from the rich, rounded texture and exotic fruits; it adds complexity and great style. Drink from 2017.
Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr love to pick early, and it shows with aromas of stewed tomatoes, green olives, green cardamom and Eastern European spices. It's very savory and wakes up the palate with vinegar-laden flavors reminiscent of North African tagines, and would make an excellent extra-spice accompaniment to a wide variety of foods. Expect this wine to grow in complexity and approachability 2018–2024.
Deep ruby to the eye, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot has a bouquet of coffee and black currant preserves. It offers a frankly gorgeous interplay between fruit and cool herbal flavors, with black cherry joined on the palate by licorice, eucalyptus, butterscotch and flint. The drawn-out finish offers a surprisingly bright burst that inspires taking the next sip.
Very aromatic, this ripe, full-bodied wine is still young—full of spice, exotic fruits and only a touch of acidity. With a density that can only come from a Grand Cru vineyard, this powerful wine needs to age. Drink from 2017.
The Goldert Grand Cru with its stone and chalk soil gives powerful wines. That's the case here with this dense, tense bottling. The spice is intense, rich and concentrated. A touch of acidity keeps everything in check. Drink from 2017.
Clos Windsbuhl in Hunawihr is the northernmost of Zind-Humbrecht's collection of vineyards. In 2012, it has produced an impressive wine that has all the right spice of Pinot Gris along with acidity and a fresh edge. That gives this rich wine a great lift, with a waft of pear to go with the yellow-fruit flavors. Drink from 2016.
There is a deeply sanguine sense to the nose of this appellation blend by the Buellton-based winery, with bloody meats and graphite giving way to ripe raspberry fruit, brown spices and chopped herbs. It's very spicy once sipped, with black pepper, mocha and red fruits upholding more iron and pencil-shaving flavors on the palate.
One of the winery's tasty bottlings that are odes to Bill Foley's Texas ranch roots, this offers aromas of crushed chalk, fresh apple blossoms and a ruby-red grapefruit peel tartness. The flavors surround a very clean line of lemon juice and lime pith, with more chalk, ripe apples and brisk nectarine. It's still tight and will age well.
Lavishly perfumed with hints of honeysuckle, musk melon and pear, this animated Riesling exhilarates the senses. Juicy and fresh with pristine stone-fruit flavor, it glides effortlessly yet endlessly on the palate. Enjoy now for its gorgeous perfume, but save a few bottles through 2020 to let the stately elegance shine through.
Juicy red berry, brimstone, leather, licorice, mint and thyme are just some of the aromas and flavors of this powerfully structured wine. Despite the muscular build, it's also loaded with finesse, boasting firm but noble tannins that accompany the layers of savory flavors. Drink 2016–2022.
Co-fermented with about 2% Viognier, this aromatic Syrah offers a bouquet of floral, citrus and berry scents. It's clean, focused and pure, not fleshy but concentrated. The finish hits a full spectrum of dark flavors—coffee grounds, cacao, smoke, tar and black olive.
This tastes dry, though the 12.5 g/L residual sugar does round off the mouthfeel. Powerful, juicy fruit flavors of lemon pith, orange peel, pink grapefruit and white peach abound, with a touch of honey in the finish. Two-thirds was sourced from the excellent Hyland Vineyard.
Plum and pomegranate play off each other in this monument to Howell Mountain, the wine dense and Rubenesque, suggesting further time in cellar, through 2022. With 1% Cabernet Franc blended in, the tannins and oak are well-integrated, spiking in tobacco and licorice.
Elegant and structured, this opens with delicate aromas of Spanish broom, pear and Mediterranean herb. The linear, vibrant palate delivers juicy green apple, creamy pear and citrus alongside an energizing mineral and crisp acidity. This will continue to develop.  Drink through 2020.
Foot trodden in traditional open granite lagars, this is an elegant wine. Ripe black plum jelly flavors are balanced by firm tannins and a fresher edge. It's a wine that will develop over a long time, although with its fruit it's almost ready to drink now. Ideally, though, keep it until 2025.
This stylish, tightly wound, concentrated effort features yellow fruits adorned with layers of toast, butter and caramel. It will continue to open gracefully over a 48-hour window, suggesting that it may be cellared successfully. But if you have the patience to decant/aerate properly, it is immensely enjoyable right now, and a very fine value.
Smoke, dried reed and herb tones persist throughout this earthy, semidry Riesling. Pressed apple and pear flavors are savory as well, but brightened by a shower of tart tangerine acidity on the finish.
Demure on the nose with hints of dust, smoke and dried herbs, this is a dry, decidedly savory style of Sauvignon Blanc. It's crisp and spry on the palate with pleasant lemon-lime flavors, but finishes briskly.
This wine's nose is all about earth and minerality, showing iron, rust, mushrooms and eucalyptus, but in a rather pungent way. The flavors are sanguine, nearly metallic, with Indian spices and cranberry fruit combining for a sip that is lean in body but grippy with tannins.
Aromas arise slowly, though toasted oak, struck match and slightly sour fruits do emerge eventually. Flavors are straightforward, with scorched lemon and apple sauce.
This is a tough wine, packed more with tannins than fruit. A bitter chocolate character comes from over-extraction of the tannins. The fruit is slow in coming, although there are hints of juiciness. Give it until 2017.
This wine is lean and austere, with extracted tannins that have left no sense of fruit. It will remain hard, although it will be less dry from 2018.
This lean wine lacks fruit to support the dry tannins. That probably comes from the extraction that has also caused some bitterness. It's a hard wine that needs time to soften.
From one of two properties in Listrac owned by the Thomas family (the other is Reverdi), this is seriously dark and tannic, with flavors of bitter chocolate extract and wood. It doesn't feel as if it will really soften enough.
This has a traditional garnet color with a light rim. It smells a bit earthy and herbal and tastes rather lean, like rhubarb and sour-cherry candy. It's light to medium bodied, a bit quirky but enjoyable.
This light and refreshing SB offers mild apple and citrus aromas, a snappy, citric palate and basic flavors of green apple and lime. As a whole, it's a cleansing but fairly standard wine.
Fresh tangerine and orange blossom notes mingle with slightly yeasty, leesy aromas on this otherwise refreshing wine. It's dry in style with bright lime acidity and a lively finish.
Some good things are going on with this wine, including abundant red fruit and a soft feel. However the wood overpowers them with strong aromas and flavors of vanilla, dill and coconut along with a bitter note that distracts.
This is attractively fruity, crisp and perfumed. With red currant fruits and refreshing acidity, it's fresh and light in character. Drink now.
There are dank aromas of tree roots and earth on the nose of this wine, which also leans toward sour fruits. Flavors are clean and easy with spicy berry juice and plum skin tannins, showing good grip.
This moderately aromatic wine offers notes of herbs, peach and soda water. It's medium sweet with lightly spritzy fruit flavors that have an herbal tinge.
Candied cherry and red-plum aromas precede an edgy palate and herbal flavors of plum and berry that are slightly hot and spicy. Raspberry and red-currant flavors on the finish are dilute.
There's a definitely alkalinity emerging from the Rhône whites on this vineyard west of Gilroy, this one showing chalk along with dried honey. Waxy apple-skin flavors dominate the palate.
There's a salinity to this wine, which is grown to the west of Gilroy on the lower foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Aromas are brackish and suggest sweet lemons, while the palate offers apples, squeezed citrus and a waxy character.
Despite coming from the even-keeled 2012 vintage, this nearly 100% varietal wine doesn't seem to have fully ripened, with notes of green pepper, herbs and bittersweet chocolate. It's medium bodied with sweet cherry and clove flavors.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, this conveys tire rubber, smoke, green herbs and chocolate. The palate is off dry with blackberry and cherry flavors.
The tartness in this wine veers slightly sour, with the acidity dialed perhaps a notch too high. Herb and salt intermix to give a more savory character, with a freshness to the finish.
Mild, almost dilute aromas of strawberry and raspberry aren't fully convincing for Cabernet. In the mouth, however, this weighs in heavy and seeking balance. Flavors of berry and plum are baked, while candied sweetness and blueberry notes drive a jammy finish.
Aromas recall overripe pear, tin, pineapple, grass and mineral. The lightly tropical flavors seem dilute backed by green apple-like acidity.
Oxidized aromas of vanilla and butterscotch are not terribly enticing or fresh. This chunky Verdejo is round and peachy, with oxidized, leesy flavors of melon and peach. It's flabby on the finish, with no structure.
This wine offers intriguing notes of peach, mango and spice. It's lighter in style with just off-dry fruit flavors that linger.
Merlot (48%) takes the lead with no other variety making up more than 18% (Syrah) of the blend. It provides notes of bell pepper, dry chocolate, tire rubber and cherry. The feel is plush but with a sharp note running down the middle that distracts.
Dense and full-bodied, this delivers sensations of asphalt, menthol, grilled herb, mature black cherry and game. Reflecting the heat of the vintage, it's ripe and forward but firmly knit tannins give it a solid backbone that will allow it to age for several more years.
Grapefruit rind jumps out of the glass in this vivid, balanced and refreshing white that also carries a complex mix of lime, more grapefruit and the tiniest suggestion of fresh-cut grass. A creaminess to the texture rounds things out and soothes the edges.
From the winery's most pebbly five-acre section of vineyard atop Diamond Mountain, this is dark black-purple in color. The tannins are soft but powerful, eager to age through 2025–2027, while the fruit lies on the currant and plum side of things, with a bit of cedar lurking through.
Bartlett pear and freshly squeezed lime juice carry the nose, while flavors of green apple, pear and lime rind drive the crisp, elegant palate. The finish shows nuance, with a slightly astringent mouthfeel.
Perfumed and off dry, this rich wine has spice, structure and a floral character. It is so young with its white fruits, hint of lychee and lime-juice acidity. The wine needs to age to reveal its potential. Drink from 2018.
Sourced from the excellent Lawrence Vineyard, this checks out as dry on the official Riesling scale, posted on the back label. It's yeasty and rich in the mouth, with lightly honeyed fruit flavors of lemon curd, candied orange peel, key lime and guava.
This is a tasty and accessibly priced Chardonnay. It packs in lots of fruit flavor, vibrant acidity, rich texture and layers of oaky spice while showing a rare sense of seamlessness. Very Californian and compelling.
From an estate vineyard high atop Mount Veeder, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and inky, concentrated in color and flavor, a brambly intensity at the center of it all. Peppercorns and clove accent its larger smoky, espresso side, the body full and velvety.
A delightful bottle with notes of stone fruit, buttered popcorn and toasty spice. It's light in style, displaying both nuance and delicacy, with enough acidity to keep it all in vivid focus.
Leather, truffle, black cherry, grilled herb and a whiff of mocha lead the nose on this structured but straightforward wine. The palate is still rather closed but delivers crushed red cherry, white pepper and grilled herb alongside fresh acidity and young, raspy tannins that need time to soften. Drink 2018–2028.
Restrained in new oak, this refined wine has a floral honeysuckle character that's followed by hearty, rich layers of apple and melon. Just a touch of licorice and orange zest appears on the finish.
Fruit is sourced from Bismark Vineyard in the Moon Mountain District. Compared with the winery's Winemaker's Cuvée, this combines Cabernet Sauvignon (83%) with a larger percentage of Malbec (17%). It spends the same amount of time—two years—in French oak, but slightly less of it is new. The flavors are more approachable, still dark, massive and spicy, the taste of oak slightly sweet.
This structured wine features an enticing fragrance of red rose petal, blue flower and a whiff of crushed red berry. The robust palate delivers juicy black cherry layered with notes of spice, vanilla, tobacco and anisette alongside firm tannins that need time to unfold.
This orange-style wine is dark straw in color and has jasmine and vanilla tones on the nose, while flavors of canned apricots and fresh peaches drive the palate. There's a soft and sensuous finish, due to the 18 month barrels aging.
A mix of bright red cherry, blueberry, thyme, and rosemary bring nuance to the nose. It's full bodied on the palate, with flavors of black cherry and black plum. A touch of salty minerality brings flair to the finish.
Bright and fragrant, this luminous wine opens with aromas of rose, violet and crushed raspberry. The juicy palate delivers mouthfuls of sour cherry and cinnamon alongside fresh acidity and supple tannins that give a silky texture.
Red apple aromas form the core with pear and yellow melon on the fringes of this stainless steel Chardonnay from Lompoc's Kenneth “Joey” Gummere. The tart green apple and pear skin acidity is expected, but it retains a full body—a prime example of a stainless Chard that's sleek but not overly austere.
From the well-known Zinfandel producer, this floral Chardonnay is high in balanced minerality and marked by darker, riper pear and apple fruit. The finish is swathed in vanilla bean and toast.
Black olive dominates on the nose in this blend of 75% Syrah, 12.5% Grenache and 12.5% Mourvèdre, all from Kick Ranch. Lively red fruit is amplified by soft, medium-bodied tannins and a well-composed finish, with just enough earth and spice to go around.
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.
Naturally low yields in a parcel within the Holder vineyard give concentration and great depth of flavor. The wine is still dominated by acidity, tense texture and a strongly steely character. Dry, nervy, needing to age, the wine has potential. Drink from 2017.
Sour fruits, tobacco pipe resin and toasted coconut combine for a funky but pleasing nose on this blend from Core Wine Co. The flavors are leathery with plum jam, and vibrant acidity runs from front to back.
Whiffs of orange blossom and lemon rind lend vibrancy to this rich, luxuriously textured Pinot Gris. Just off dry in style, it bursts with flavors of white peach showered in grapefruit acidity. Luscious and irresistibly clingy, it lingers long on the palate.
Of all the 2012 releases from Mannina, this is the most dense, dark and substantial. Cassis and black cherry fruit is set against a stiff streak of char and coffee, backed with firm, ripe tannins. The length and balance are just right for ripe fruit from young vines.
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.
Inman has not offered much Chardonnay before, but this one is highly distinctive, light as a feather, floral, crisp and citrusy, basking in Chablis-like, wet stone minerality. Those looking for butter and oak should travel elsewhere; at a preposterously unheard of 11.6% alcohol, this wine offers silky, subtle intrigue.
A delicious and compelling Riesling that intrigues from the get-go with soft aromas of rose petals, tea and honey. It's a sweet wine, but impeccably balanced with juicy natural acidity, so the tension is perfect and balanced. This is Oregon Riesling at its Germanic finest.
Showing some signs of maturity, with a yeast and toast character, this is a full Champagne, with red apple and kiwi fruit flavors. There is also a distinct mineral, steely edge that gives the wine a firm final structure.
The top cuvée from this fine cooperative is rich, dominated by Pinot Noir to give a full-bodied feel. Fruit flavors of ripe apple and pink grapefruit give sophistication, along with toast and yeast. Worth aging for 4–5 years, but delicious now.
A blend from all the top vineyards owned by the Gimonnet family, with a high proportion of Grand Cru. It has power and concentration as well as great ripeness. Very full-bodied, with a low dosage, this is dry, the richness coming from the fruit.
Dijon clones planted in 2001 in this well-placed Dundee Hills vineyard provide the excellent fruit for this cellar-worthy Pinot Noir. Great depth and focus, mixing cherry tobacco, iron and herb flavors. In the mouth it's supple, smooth, rich and lingering.
Rheingraf's 2010s look to be terrific, and this bottling, from old vines, starts fast. Mouthwatering notes of honey, truffle and petrichor emerge, followed by a wine that's plush and mouthfilling yet structured; ripe yet crisp. Drink now–2020.
Again in 2009 this barrel selection from Adelsheim's best estate vineyards is a standout. Though still quite young and tight, the mix of ripe fruits, brown spices, cedar and smoke make for a beguiling nose that promises a long life ahead. Silky and elegant, but let it breathe or better yet cellar it for another half decade.
It's impressive how much honey flavor laced with lemon acidity there is in this wine. The pairing gives the sweetness a wonderful focus, coming to a point of freshness, leaving a delicious, lifted aftertaste. Age for 4–6 years.
Dark and sappy, this superripe and deeply fruited wine is bursting with concentrated raspberry and cherry flavor. Streaks of citrus and vanilla are threaded through, and young as it is, the wine is already drinking beautifully.
A beautifully aged Blanc de Blancs, all toast and almonds in a mineral texture with crisp apple fruit. It is concentrated, deliciously ripe and now soft, ready to drink and likely to continue to age further over several years.
This extremely limited selection is from the oldest section of the original estate vineyard, planted in 1972. Those old vine flavors are subtle and spicy, opening with pretty berries and breathing into subtle layers with just the right barrel touches of chocolate and espresso to smooth out the finish.
Berries, citrus, even suggestions of tropical fruits (papaya, guava) anchor this supple wine. It's a wine that invites leisurely exploration, nuanced and refined, with balance and body enough to age for up to a decade.
The Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris style brings out the richness of the variety. This wine is all spice, and intense flavors of pepper and lychee. The acidity creeps in making an impact on the initial mouthfeel. Very rich, concentrated.
Supermodern in style, with mint, coconut, chocolate and huge black fruit aromas. Powerfully structured and thick-boned, with boysenberry, spice and chocolate in spades. Oaky, broad and layered on the finish, with tobacco, coffee and chocolate finishing notes.
Firm and structured, this is a densely rich wine for aging. Firm tannins dominate its ripe black fruit, lending notes of spice, licorice and toast from the wood. It needs several years of aging to round out—give it four years at least.
A dark-colored, wood-aged wine, this is serious and power­ful. It has tannic weight along with a black­berry flavor, and a smooth tar and herb layer that's all balanced by the acidity. The wood still needs another year to fully integrate; age for another 2–3 years.
Huge and rich, this offers ripe black fruits and a concentrated structure. It's packed with a seemingly sweet blackberry flavor that serves as a counterpoint to the firm texture. With both density and a dark edge, this will age over several years.
This is cool, earthy and tight on the nose. Then it opens and blooms, with classy roasted notes that set the stage for a smooth-rolling palate with bold blackberry, herb and chocolate flavors. By the time it finishes, complex bitter-chocolate and toast notes have taken over. This is primed and ready to drink.
This is deep and fruity up front, with blackberry and cola aromas that come with creamy oak and offsetting minerality. Full and jammy on the palate, with flavors of blackberry, fine herbs and lightly applied molasses. Round and concentrated on the finish. Drink now through 2016.
Much in the style of the outstanding 2008, this elegant, Burgundian-like Pinot Noir is a finessed wine, with lovely details of rose petal and penetrating raspberry fruit. There's a pleasing transparency, keeping it light without losing focus or depth, and the finely rendered tannins put the perfect period at the end of the sentence.
As in many 2009s from the Northern Rhône, the Syrah fruit is superripe. Add in aging in 100% new oak barrels and the result is a big, richly tannic wine redolent of vanilla, cedar and blackberries. Drink now–2025.
Very structured and firm, this has dense tannins overlaying the black currant fruit. Its dry, solid texture ­dominates, yielding an impressive wine that has fine juicy fruit now and will age well over four years.
Full bodied and rich, this has a juicy core followed by firm, minerally tannins and intense acidity. Wood aging adds complexity to this impressive, ageworthy effort.
This is both fruity and mineral driven, a combination that gives intense structure surrounded by ripe black fruit. Chocolate and spice notes come from the wood aging. All of the elements come together in a powerful, full-bodied effort that should age for three years.
Richly structured and ripe, this has black tannins laced with dark plum fruit. Its tannins promise aging while its fruit already offers a rounded taste. Keep for 3–4 years.
This is a cuddly, jammy, ripe Malbec with maple, blackberry and oak aromas. It feels weighty and lush, with large-scale boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry flavors. It turns a little soft and basic on the finish, but there's no griping about this wine's purity and fruit content.
Opulent and wood-aged, this feels intense and rounded with a ripe Burgundian feel. The full weight of the peach and apricot fruits are given a powerful push by the toast, spice and vanilla flavors. Age this for 2–3 years.
Beautifully structured, this very limited bottling offers complex, tightly wound, finely spun red fruit. The depth and detail suggest that further cellaring will be well rewarded.
The top red from Adega Mayor, this is serious and impressive. Its firm, dry and dusty tannins are balanced by an intense blackberry flavor and contrasted with licorice and coffee notes. As it ages, it will become more intense and elegant.
Concentrated and powerful, this is a rich and intense black-fruited wine. Notes of spice, herb and dark chocolate mingle with the flavor of black plum juice and firm, dry tannins. The result is a wine that needs several more years to age.
Chapoutier has fashioned a full-bodied, creamy-textured 2009 Le Bernardine, with dark, plummy fruit and a hint of chocolate liqueur that ably reflect the warm vintage. Yet despite all of the lushness, the wine doesn't come across as heavy or overdone, making it attractive for early drinking. Try now–2018.
Made with 75% Merlot with the rest Cabernet Franc, this wine commands attention with aromas of dried and fresh herbs, black fruit, toast and flowers. The dark fruit flavors are rich, layered and tightly coiled, captivating attention with spot-on balance.
Cola, sasparilla, cherry blossoms, hard cherry candy and a hint of black currant hit the nose on this rich wine from Josh Jensen. The palate shows brown spice, with clove and peppercorns wrapping around a rhubarb-licorice-thyme character and tart cherries, making for an incredibly distinctive wine.
This exuberant wine has aromas of raspberry jam, thyme, orange peel, earth, iron and olive. It's rich and intensely flavorful, with waves of mouthwatering fruit and savory notes that lead to an extended finish.
Closed-up at present, this aromatic brooder has notes of red and black fruit, scorched earth and herbs, along with a floral top note. It has a mountain-fruit profile of firm, chewy tannins, tart acids and dense flavors. Time in the cellar is required to fully appreciate it. Let it be until at least 2020 but it should have a good 15 years beyond that.
Taut and crisp compared to the softer, riper Magdalena or Josef Vineyard bottlings, this polished, steely wine is a showcase of brash mineral style. It's dry on the palate, but flavors of white grapefruit and lime seem kissed with a spray of honey. Drinks beautifully now but should continue to improve through at least 2025.
Floral and soft, with a substantial foundation of leather and black licorice, this is a tremendously seductive wine, layered and complex, with years to go in terms of structure. Already it offers velvety tannins and dreams of blackberry patches gone by, finishing with succulence and a taste of pure dark chocolate. Cellar through 2022.
This wine speaks to cool-climate with a crispness of rhubarb and strawberry deftly held together by beguiling cinnamon, clove and a bouquet of rose petals. Spicy in acidity, it evolves in the glass to become velvety and seductive in texture, ending in a lingering warmth and depth.
Great balance, snappy acidity and concentrated fruit flavors make this grand wine especially appealing. The aromas of blackberry and red cherry are vibrant, the juicy, mouthwatering cherry flavors are dazzling and the finish lingers. It is balanced for good aging, so drink it from 2017–2020.
Both the fruit and the aromatic foliage of wild raspberries rise first from the glass. They are followed by richer, delicious strawberry and cream notes, with hints of almond patisserie and strawberry shortcake. The palate is resonant with yeasty, rounded autolytic notes that frame the wonderfully wilful English hedgerow character. The mousse is lively but soft and the finish long and echoing.
This is a big, flavorful wine, luscious in aroma, flavor and texture from the first whiffs of spicy oak and funky earth through saturated blackberry and clove flavors. The texture is both velvety and almost stiff at the same time. Drink now through 2020.
Focus and precision describe this wine. Subtle aromas of grilled herbs and wood smoke precede dark flavors of just-ripe black cherries and blueberries. A sleek texture of firm tannins and refreshing acidity gives a lot of personality. It is medium to full bodied, and will only get better with time. Best after 2020.
Charred, smoky aromas of blackberry are ripe as can be, with a note of graphite. The palate is huge, polished, pure and ideal if you like ripe, modern Rioja. Flavors of toast, blackberry, spice and mocha finish toasty, with strong notes of pepper and coffee. Drink this smooth, silky single-vineyard Rioja through 2021.
Pressed rose, dark berry, baked earth, forest floor, licorice, walnut and a balsamic note are some of the intriguing aromas you'll find on this fantastic, balanced Barolo. The structured, elegant palate delivers mature black cherry, dark raspberry, anise, white pepper, tobacco, orange peel and clove alongside assertive but refined tannins.
From winemakers Dave Lattin and David Ramey, this tremendous wine is sourced from both Coombsville and Yountville, with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot in the blend, the latter from Soda Canyon. Smoky cigar, tar and meat direct the nose, atop concentrated, dark, brooding fruit and leathery tannins. Cellar through 2020.
Steve Clifton's top-shelf study of this notoriously tough-to-tame grape is redolent with prunes, dried cherries, rose-petal extract and bloody steak on the amazing nose, which is leveled by a chipped slate minerality. Its sanguine character is approachable now, with red currants and cherries, but will drink well through 2025.
A deep color and an aroma of extreme freshness are the first things to notice, then intense flavors of tart cherry and rhubarb kick in on the palate. This wine is light to medium bodied, and the texture is lively, with lip-smacking acidity and tannin. Best after 2017.
Made only in exceptional vintages, and in minuscule amounts at that, this estate-grown concoction is gorgeous, big, bold and sizable in terms of fruit and oak, with a bite of leathery tannin midway through the full body that softens on the finish. Complicated and concentrated, it also offers a seizure of minerality and lushness that's divine. Drink now through 2022.
Gorgeous, deep dark-fruit aromas waft from the glass in this vivid, racy and pure wine. A concentrated but not heavy black-cherry note starts in the aroma, drives through the flavors and on to the lingering finish. Bracing acidity and fine but firm tannins add an elegant, appetizing mouthfeel. It will improve through 2022.
Ripe plum, mature black cherry, violet, clove, mocha, anise and grilled sage are just some of the sensations you'll find on this gorgeous wine alongside velvety tannins. It already has great depth but hold for more complexity. Drink 2017–2027.
García Figuero had a great year in 2010, as did many high-end Ribera del Duero wineries. This reserva is heady up front, with malty aromas of vanilla, barrel resin, tobacco, blackberry and cassis. This is huge but holds onto its balance, while flavors of baked black fruits come with vanilla, coffee, mocha and chocolate accents. This modern marvel finishes with vanilla, pepper and chocolate flavors on top of lasting black currant and blackberry. Drink through 2025.
From a vineyard within the Santa Rosa Plains, this wine opens in pretty, floral aromas of violet and gentle rose. Seductive, it follows with bursts of blood orange and wild strawberry that remain faint and delicate on the palate, light and clear in color, and elegant in intensity. Still, there's enough backbone to the wine to keep it fresh and alive through the long finish.
Enticing aromas of rose, violet, mature berry and a whiff of leather lead the way on this structured red. The full-bodied palate offers layers of dried black cherry, leather, tobacco and grilled herbs, supported by a backbone of firm, ripe tannins. Hold for even more complexity. Drink 2018–2028.
A vivid bouquet of white flowers is cut by a pungent, pithy funkiness of crushed ants and iodine on this classic bottling by the Miller family and winemaker Trey Fletcher. The intriguing palate is tensely layered, with grapefruit pith, lime-sprayed limestone and a bit of almond oil on the finish, proving uniquely spicy and incredibly long-lasting.
Pioneering winemaker Josh Jensen delivers pure and focused aromas of deep red pomegranate and dark purple fruits, a shred of violet, a noticeable chalkiness and a hint of sweet sage. It's rich and zesty on the palate, offering dark fruit flavors with a pine sap backbone, finishing strong on chocolate-dipped cherries.
This wine by winemaker Fintan du Fresne shows sea salt, apple blossom, cherimoya and tangerine rinds on the nose. Flavors are clean and pure, with dried apple, more sea salt, a bit of nectarine and orange spritz, offering a profile that could comfortably rest on the tongue all day long.
Gentle white blossom, white currant and Golden Delicious apple unite on an intriguing, subtly aromatic nose. Earthy, stony elements lend depth and resonance. This is so integrated that the delicious, ripe apple fruit is completely embraced by earth and subtle yet distinct autolysis. This is rich in style—aided by dosage—rounded and very elegant, with a sufficient structure for food pairing.
From the Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard in the heart of the appellation, this 100% varietal wine is immense in lushness, plush and alive in cinnamon, red and black berry and smoke. Soft tannins provide a lift and an enjoyable evolution to the finish, with a bite of heft on the last sip. This should cellar well through 2020–2022.
Tobacco, dill and vanilla aromas transition to cherry and raspberry scents. The high-acid, cutting palate contains tart raspberry, plum and vanilla flavors that maintain through the finish. From a rough vintage, this wine is not excelling.
Ripe berry aromas approach raisiny, but settle on jammy plum and leather. This is tannic and wide, with ruggedness to the mouthfeel. Flavors of earthy berry, baked fruits and cocoa end with grab, heat and burn. This is good but rough, like a gravel road.
A sweet-smelling wine, with notes of cranberry, white pepper, and Band Aid. It has tart fruit flavors and firm tannins.
Bready, slightly oxidized aromas of yeasty white fruits, vanilla and brine are challenging. In the mouth, this is juicy and intense, with green herbs, brine and pithy citrus flavors. A slightly pickled tasting finish hints at sauerkraut and bitter lime. Prior wines from this producer were better.
Blended from Williamson, Hells Canyon and Bitner vineyards, this is a light, airy Syrah, with notes of cranberries and orange rind. There's intrigue, but the wine comes off as a bit muddled.
This yellow-tinted Viognier shows ripe aromas of peach and melon. In the mouth, it's more sharp and zesty, albeit a touch oily. Flavors of briny citrus and green fruits end in a citrusy, tangy, racy finish that's acidic and lemony.
With cassis and plum aromas, this mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon from the Foothills has a taste of licorice and vanilla, particularly on the finish, testament to its 33 months in new American oak.
There's lots to like about this wine, from its soft tannins and floral opening aromas to its spicy layers and integrated tannins. But at 16.5% alcohol, it's a crazy big wine, which makes it a difficult wine to pair with food or enjoy over a night without regrets in the morning.
The majority of Calina's wines are solid and worth their price, as is this lively Cab. It gets going with forward aromas of leather, cassis and earth. The palate isn't super structured or advanced but it does deliver sweet and smooth raspberry and plum fruit in front of a good finish. From Kendall-Jackson's Chilean winery.
Like many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, this one carries a touch of red bell pepper, adding a slightly vegetal aspect to its pineapple and gooseberry fruit. Finishes admirably dry, with some chalky overtones.
At first the raspberry and plum aromas are stunted and the palate seems round but basic. More airing reveals raspberry, cassis and strawberry flavors. In the end it winds up as a friendly, medium-intensity Cabernet that's good for immediate consumption.
This rounded, ripe SB makes the most of its peach and tropical fruit flavors. Green plums lend structure to this soft wine, but there's a full, crisp aftertaste. Screwcap.
Clean, minerally, but with a spin of spice, the nose on this Chenin suggests fun. On the palate, a good balance of acid and body showcases the wine's citrus and honey flavors. Over all, a great everyday white.
A ripe, rounded wine, with intense flavors of apple skins, pear and white peach, with just a hint of nut. Described as dry, this has some richness to balance the definite acidity, which gives a lift but certainly no hardness.
An attractive nose of gooseberry and grapefruit is followed by bright, fresh flavors of lemon, tropical fruit and minerals in this affordable SB. Slightly lean but still elegant, the wine has a refreshing citric finish.
This starts off a little reductive, with tarry, burnt-rubber aromas that are frankly offputting. But a aeration works wonders, and this wine opens up to reveal hints of toasted almonds, melon and citrus, all supported by a crisp finish. Imported by American Wine Distributors.
Frankly sweet, with 36 g/l of residual sugar, this Marlborough Riesling shows plenty of guava and citrus fruit alongside hints of tar and petrol. The sugar, combined with tart acids, gives the finish a crisp, lipsmacking quality.
Soft, attractively fresh, but simple, this shows lively apple and cream flavors, rounded by light tannins. It's pleasant, but it does need to fill out.
There's quite an explosion of crisp fruit in this wine, as it shows crisp, green flavors, green apples, tense acidity and fruit tannins. Definitely cool climate, it still could age for 5 months.
Soft and lightly sweet, this wine is clean and fresh. The white fruit flavors edge towards almond, and there is a refreshing green touch. The aftertaste has currants and sweetness.
Tropical fruit flavors form the base of this wine, but over the ripe mango flavor rides a heavy layer of toasty oak, and it's questionable whether it will integrate before the fruit starts to fade. Drink now for its lusty obviousness.
This Pinot Grigio from a new producer in the cool Adelaide Hills starts off a little herbal—almost minty—then delivers a full-bodied, weighty palate experience. The flavors are fairly neutral, making it more about flesh and weight than well delineated flavors, but that should help make it more versatile with food. Drink now. Imported by Tom Eddy Wines.
A solid, somewhat generic Cab with sweet cassis and raspberry aromas as a greeting. The palate is a little candied but it rolls out tasty, dense red-fruit flavors. It doesn't sport much Cabernet typicity but it delivers ripe flavors and a smooth ride.
Seems slightly confected and perhaps a little off-dry, but it exhibits tasty cinnamon and baked-apple flavors and a dash of peppery spice on the finish. Drink now. Imported by McWilliam's Hanwood Estate.
This is an assertive Pinotage with a lusty edge of smoke and leather. The nose exhibits spicy red fruit and pepper and the flavors have a masculine, rustic character of spice and tobacco. Unique, intriguing, and a winner with equally robust dishes.
Ripe honeydew and peach notes lend a welcome touch of richness to this dry, slightly stark Riesling. The midpalate bristles with acidity, finishing tart and citrusy.
Smoky, brambly notes persist from nose to finish on this dry, intensely savory Pinot Gris. Fresh lemon and apple flavors on the palate are concentrated, but finish on a green, vegetal tone.
Gamey notes with red berry aromas set up a big, burly, tannic palate. This Monastrell-Syrah blend deals medicinal plum and berry flavors that come with a mildly salty aftertaste. This is drying and lightly herbal on the finish.
Sunny tropical fruit and honey on the nose contrast with the brisk mineral tones on the palate of this refreshing dry wine. Crisp and quaffable, it's an elegant introduction to this mysterious, slightly savory grape.
Dried herb notes mingle with tart pineapple and tangerine flavors in this sprightly, easy-drinking wine. Dry and medium-bodied in style, it's marked by a touch of seawater minerality on the finish.
Ripe and fruity, this rounded, open wine reveals its fruit quickly. Red berries and soft tannins complete the character to give a bright wine that will be ready to drink mid-2015.
Still young and fruity, this is a bright, crisp wine packed with red berry fruit flavors. A smoky character underlies the fruit, allowing some toast and spice to come through. Drink from 2016.
Soft and rounded, this wine is finely tuned with acidity and blackberry fruits. It has some firm tannins, although these are well-integrated with the fruit and acidity. This is a wine for medium-term aging, so drink from 2016.
A seriously rich and spicy wine, heavily structured and dense. It has gone from generous to over the top, giving a powerhouse of fruit and tannins that stretches the boundaries of its structure. It's for those who like super-rich Bordeaux.
From a trio of vineyards the winery otherwise vineyard-designates, including Spring Hill, Saltonstall and Nobles, this Pinot is rustic in truffled earth and dried herb, the earthiness of the Pommard clone grapes out in full force.
Sweet cherry aromas turn medicinal on the nose. A bright and lively palate has a fast pulse, while forward berry flavors fade with spice and mild chocolate notes.
Smoke and earth tones add funk to the nose of this delicate off-dry wine. The palate is pristine with crisp white peach and apricot flavors, but biting acidity and a bitter lemon-pith note leave the finish taut.
Berry and plum aromas are lightly earthy, oaky and fiery. A tannic, hard-grabbing palate piles on the astringent tannins, while flavors of herbal berry and minty plum show blatant oak and mint-chocolate on the finish.
Roasted, leathery and earthy aromas of red berry fruits settle on a stewed note. The palate is grabby and raw, with tomato-like acidity. Flavors of savory, barbecued fruit suggest grilled red plum and tomato, while the finish is woody and salty.
Lactic oak-based aromas start out muted but settle with earthy red berry scents. The palate is pinched and narrow in feel, with modest berry notes leading to a slightly bitter finish.
A touch of 7% Sémillon rounds out this Sauvignon Blanc, the fruit from both Rutherford and Yountville in the heart of the Napa Valley. Subtle on the nose, it offers elegant layers of tart squeezed lemon and a bite of melon.
Thinly textured and light red in color, this Pinot is lean and very much in display of rustic, earthy aromas and flavors.
Oak, toast, leafy underbrush and steeped plum aromas segue to the palate that shows coffee, vanilla, stewed blackberry and a confectionary note. The fruit is drying up quickly, making the astringent tannins and evident alcohol even more noticeable.
Fragrant in floral jasmine and tropical aromas, this light, lean Sauvignon Blanc stays fresh in the glass.
Ripe, loamy blackberry and plum aromas precede a grabby but mostly fresh palate that's loaded with sweet, basic flavors of spiced black plum and fig paste. A jammy, warm finish is beefy in size.
A clear, ripe pear note rings through this medium-bodied Chardonnay from the aroma to the palate to the finish. Even the texture is a bit thick like pear juice, though there is some subtlety in the light vanilla and pastry cream accents.
Winemaker Steve Law, a specialist in cool-climate Syrah, offers a barrel-fermented and barrel-aged Sauv Blanc named for his mom. It's completely herbal, dry, savory and complex, yet deliciously sippable.
Aromas of dried spices, earth, cola and obligatory black fruits open this Syrah-Garnacha blend. The palate features grabby tannins and flavors of blackberry, herbs and leather. On the finish, a licorice flavor pops up and blends into earthy notes supported by muscular tannins. Drink through 2017.
Named after a parcel of vines, this youthful, fruity wine is on its way to being delicious. It has a proper steely character, shot through with acidity and minerality while the citrus character is strong and firm. Drink from 2015.
The word “reserve“ is hidden on the back label. Another surprise—under the thick wax capsule is a glass seal, certain to ambush more than a few unsuspecting cork-pullers! The wine inside is very much of a piece with the regular bottling—aromatic, bright and sappy, with a strong citrus/pineapple streak.
This racy, textural white wine presents a mix of wet stone and sweet yellow apple flavors. Bright and persistent, it is surprisingly rich, almost unctuous, and almost demands a second glass, or a second bottle if you must share it.
Deep aromas of cherry liqueur and cedar make a very appealing nose. Cigar box and cherry juice flavors continue to the palate alongside cola nut, and there are very chewy tannins. So either serve now with a hearty cut of beef, or wait until 2015 for the grip to mellow out.
It opens with scents of plum, red berries, sage and balsam. The understated palate offers up crushed wild cherry accented with notes of vanilla, espresso, sage and menthol alongside brisk acidity and bracing tannins. Give it time to develop fully. Drink after 2020.
From the Wits' End estate vineyard's best lots, this offers a complex fruit mix running from orange and pineapple into raspberry and cherry. A suggestion of Dr Pepper soda is in play also, and the wine shines with excellent texture and freshness.
Brambly, leathery aromas of berry fruits, plum and spice set up a high-acid, broad palate with a strong sense of brightness and electricity. Flavors of roasted berries come with raciness and notes of spice and chocolate. Things remain zesty and bright on the finish, where residual acidity creates energy to spare. Drink through 2019.
This full-bodied but nicely balanced and dry Zin has cedar and nutmeg aromas that waft over earthy, wild blackberry and cedar flavors. The texture is smooth and slightly tannic, and the finish lingers.
Stout, smoky aromas revolve around thick berry scents and minerally notes. This is rock solid in the mouth but not too heavy. Jammy blackberry, spice and herbal flavors are generous, while the finish is lightly oaked, with modest toast, vanilla and chocolate notes along with mint.
This Rhône varietal-based, pink lemonade-colored rosé starts with warm watermelon and sharp lime zest on the fresh, bright nose. The 71% Grenache, 18% Cinsault, 6% Counoise, 5% Mourvèdre blend offers light cherry flavors, some honey and a bit of bubblegum, with nice grip and racy acidity taking it to the finish line.
This wine remains a benchmark for the Vinho Verde region, even though the producers have now recast it as a Minho wine. It is steely, tight and crisp, with a touch of creaminess that gives it a more rounded aftertaste. Drink now through 2015.
Loaded with finesse, this structured wine boasts an alluring fragrance of ripe red berry, violet, rose, and cinnamon. The bright palate delivers concentrated black cherry, raspberry, baking spices and balsamic notes supported by youthful but refined tannins. It's already accessible but will be better after 2020.
Inviting aromas of black berry, spice, leather, truffle and a whiff of toasted oak lead the nose. The palate opens with flavors that include black cherry, baking spices, herbs, black pepper and espresso. Drying wood tannins give an astringent and abrupt finish.
This accessible Barbaresco opens with ripe red berry, rose, leather and earthy aromas. The fresh palate offers dark cherry, ripe raspberry and black pepper alongside firm tannins and bright acidity. Drink now–2019.
There's not much Riesling left in the Napa Valley so this is a rare find, a dry, crisp white bursting in aromas of citrus and flowers, balanced and completely refreshing. A touch of honey and lychee linger on the finish. Serve cold with spicy carnitas.
Sultry pear and baked apple are the stars. Lemony and creamy on the palate, this offers slight hints of honey and tropical fruit. It boasts a long finish and robust yet restrained oak that should relax in time.
As intense and strapping as a Hall of Fame cornerback, this Cabernet is ripe in dark cherry, vanilla and milk chocolate, the tannins mouthfillingly sweet. Built to last, it should stand up to even the fiercest of meats, from rib eye to ribs.
Leather, berry, toast, crushed rose and herbs are some of the scents that emerge. The palate displays crushed cherry, black pepper, licorice and balsamic notes alongside youthfully aggressive, tightly packed tannins that need another few years to unwind.
Boasting a beautiful ruby red color, this cool-climate Grenache offers aromas of red and pink roses, with blackberry juice down the middle and a lithe, near-citrus freshness on the edges. It's very spicy once sipped, with the blackberry juice and sharper citrus present again. Would be great with blue cheese burgers.
After 26 months in French oak and additional time in bottle, this is a sumptuously silky Grenache. The complex aromas hint at roasted meat, vanilla and stewed plum, while the flavors follow suit, picking up mocha notes on the long, mouthwatering finish. Ready to drink.
Tangy green-apple aromas and flavors make this medium-bodied wine refreshing, crisp and palate-cleansing. The texture is vibrant and the finish lively.
Dried rose, violet, crushed black cherry, cake spices, leather, herbs and balsamic notes come together alongside bracing tannins. It's already tempting but give it time to unwind. Drink after 2016.
Some wood aging has given this wine its smooth texture and light eucalyptus character. It has also give the fruit extra richness and depth. The black-currant flavors are rich, lifted by balanced acidity. This is going to be a delicious wine from early 2017.
The vineyards of this estate take their name from their hillside (Puy) position. The wine is still very young with its generous black fruits and acidity still bubbling with energy. With tannins in the background, it will be a wine that develops relatively quickly, certainly ready to drink by 2019.
This is a bold and ripe wine from the gravel soil of Lalande de Pomerol. It is now reaching maturity. It has rich blackberry fruits, layered with acidity. The tannic core is still firm giving the wine the chance to age further. Drink until 2022.
This ripe blackberry-flavored wine is deliciously ready to drink. It has soft tannins and a smooth texture that is now just right. The acidity and the jammy aftertaste make the wine attractive.
This is a late release wine, but a bit of a boon for wine drinkers, who may open and consume it at will. Light cranberry, licorice, root beer and coffee flavors meld, with plenty of supporting acidity. It's a modest wine, with a quick finish, but drinks nicely at the moment.
Barrel aromas are out front, with notes of char, toast and vanilla along with dark raspberry and spice. The palate presents a mixture of fruit and barrel, with the latter showing a bit too prominently.
Red-berry fruits dominate this still-young wine that has dark tannins and concentration. Spice and wood-aging flavors still show strongly. Drink from 2019.
A classic Douro blend that includes Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca has produced a ripe, soft and full wine. It has licorice and dark-chocolate flavors as well as bold tannins and rich black-currant fruits. Drink this solid wine from 2018.
This is a ripe, smooth wine. With spice from wood aging and balanced acidity, it is fruity as well as lightly structured. Drink now.
Initially austere, this is a strongly tannic wine with a firm structure and lean fruits. It is still young and the tannins should soften. Drink from 2020.
This is a balanced, ripe wine. Soft tannins support the fruit well, offering some good potential. It is ready to drink, fruity and with acidity in the aftertaste.
This wine has tannins, a dense structure and concentration. Still firm, it offers wood-aging flavors as well as big black fruits. Drink this wine from 2018.
Smooth and lightly buttery, this enjoyable single vineyard wine offers appealing flavors of apple and caramel. The finish is creamy and generous, with just a touch of heat.
Aromas of tire rubber mix with herb, graphite and candied raspberries. The flavors are light and they paint around the edges, with lightly chalky tannins supporting them.
A bright and juicy wine from this often easygoing appellation. The red-cherry fruitiness and attractive acidity make for a wine that is rounded and ripe. It is ready to drink, crisp and fruity at the end.
Well made in a light, easy style, this wine has classic aromas like dried cherry and cinnamon, and dry, appetizing flavors like sour cherry and rhubarb. It will make a great house wine at this reasonable price.
Dill-laced blackberries show on the nose of this bottling at first, followed by dust, loam and a touch of tobacco. The palate offers dark cranberry fruit, black peppercorn, dried oregano and lots of earth and dusty elements.
This wine is rich, full of dark fruits and dusty tannins. It has a solid structure with ripe black fruits and concentration. Wood aging and a dry edge have given the wine a core that will allow it to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich wine that is full of generous fruit. It has a smooth texture with its broad red-fruit character that is gently lifted by acidity. Ripe and with a soft texture, the wine is ready to drink.
Juicy black cherry and berry notes are layered in heady tones of char, tobacco leaf and cedar in this easy drinking entry-level Pinot. Ruddy ripeness is balanced out neatly by brisk acidity. It's a tad lean in concentration with a brisk finish.
Ripe raisiny aromas of spiced fruit cake are heavy and sweet. Matching the nose, this Bonarda feels thick and chunky with grating tannins. Flavors of chocolaty black fruits are oaky, spicy and minty, while this is equally woody on the finish.
Gritty plum and berry flavors are a touch rough. This is tight on the palate, but fair. Dry flavors of minty oak and clove are more out front than salty berry notes, while this is firm and tastes like roasted fruit, oak and salted tomato on the finish.
This is well made, in a light, pale, tart style. The ample acidity boosts sour cherry fruit, keeping the wine sporty and fresh. It would make a fine match to salmon or turkey.
Aromas of green wood, vanilla and cola are followed by plump fruit flavors. The palate brings appeal but the aromas don't seem to match up.
This is 100% varietal, aged in one-quarter new French oak. It's quite light, perhaps from young vines, with strawberry fruit that might be mistaken (in a black glass) for a rosé. It's tasty and fruity, but without much depth or detail.
Rounded aromas of baked strawberry, red plum and a touch of graphite show on the nose of this always-solid offering for everyday sipping. Black raspberry and dried sagebrush make for a compelling palate that finishes on a touch of caramel.
Cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, herb, wood spice and cherry aromas lead to lightly styled cherry and cola flavors. The tannins bring a tacky feel.
This wine is full and richly fruity. It has a cool feel to it from the proximity of the vines to the ocean, which gives a mineral, crisp character that adds tang to the texture. Acidity lifts the ripe fruit, allowing it to age a few more months. Drink from late 2017.
While this wine is dry and firm, it is also full of ripe black-plum-skin flavors and juicy acidity. The two together have produced a wine that should be ready to drink from 2018.
The aromas of herbs and cherry are light, showing volatility. Flavors are light and elegant.
Herb and spice aromas mix with volatile notes. The flavors are light and elegant, but seem a bit faint.
Roasted, murky and earthy up front, with almost no fruit aromas to latch onto, this breaks up on the palate due to sketchy structure. Saucy, herbal, salty berry flavors finish briny and roasted.
Very ripe and full bodied, this wine has seemingly sweet flavors like cherry and strawberry jam. Low acidity and light tannins give it a soft, almost syrupy texture.
Aromas of clamshell, tree bark and berry fruits are scattereshot. This has a noticeably sticky, syrupy feel along with candied, sweet flavors of black plum and baking spices. A chunky, sticky, sweet-tasting finish lacks cut and finesse.
This is a dull, tannic and robustly full bodied wine, brooding in tobacco and tea without much in the way of fruit or acidity.
Aromas of butter and vanilla overwhelm any sense of the variety. The oak remains out-front on the palate, which seems broad but lacks the acidity to hold it together.
Stewy, herbal, oaky aromas cover stalky berry scents. This is soupy on the palate, with a strange blend of stalky, burnt, bitter flavors. A charred, green, lactic finish is difficult to wade through.
This is lean and green, so if you like your wines redolent of green tomato, celery leaf and lime this is one to try. It's flavor profile and tart finish would make it pair well with ceviche.
One sniff is all that's necessary to identify underripe, grassy aromas of green bean. Hard and tangy in feel, this tastes a lot like canned beans, as if pyrazines were sucked from early harvested grapes.
Murky, muddled aromas of ground peanuts, worn leather and stewed plum are a good measure of what's to come. This Malbec feels wide, with zero structure. Heavy, loamy flavors suggest cooked blackberry and prune, while the finish is thick and chunky, with a continuation of strange flavors.
A blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is somewhat unformed, with notions of black olive and garrigue suggested but never quite committed to. The finish is lean and diluted.
Muscat gummy and herb aromas are followed by dry tropical fruit and ale flavors that are lightly styled. Drink now.
Aromas of sandalwood and Middle Eastern spices feed into a creamy palate with little to no acidic cut. Flavors of caramel and milk chocolate rest on one side of a flavor void, while herbal, green notes reside on the other side, while the finish is resiny and lactic.
Green olive and a weedy back note make for a green, herbal expression of the variety here. None of this is helped by the oppressive tannin structure all around the palate, a power that dissolves quickly on the finish.
Jammy aromas are accented by hints of mint, animal hide and cinnamon. This feels wide, grabby and low in acidity. Rubbery flavors of baked plum, chocolate and baking spices finish flat.
This puckering, tannic and brawny wine has a lot of body and a shyness of fruit, lingering in clove and tobacco.
Perfumed in rose, this wine devolves into a tightly tannic expression of black tea and bittersweet dried cranberry, resisting the urge to come together in a more seamless way.
Preponderant green, herbal aroma and flavor marks this wine. The mix of pencil lead and a smoky char never really make friends.
Raw and green from the opening shot, this smells like bell pepper and wood. The jumbled palate is abrasive, while severely green flavors of olives, herbs, weeds and dried red fruits finish scratchy.
Made with Nero d'Avola, this opens with funky aromas of leather, game, overripe plum and barnyard. The aromas follow through to the rustic palate, along with fleshy black cherry, a confectionary note and bitter walnut skin. I tried two bottles, same notes.
This wine has candied fruit aromas and flavors, plus heat in the aroma and in the mouth.
This is a vegetal SB, no two ways about it. Aromas of canned beans and peas are greener than Ireland. Flavors of asparagus, canned peas and citrus finish soft, with low acidity.
This wine has an overtly oaky nose. Following suit, the palate is resiny and sticky in feel, with little fruit flavor but a whole lot of cheap-tasting wood character.
Oily, uric aromas of nettle and cactus are at the forefront. This shows reasonable mouthfeel and citric kick, while briny, salty, pyrazinic flavors of citrus fruits finish chalky, salty and sharp.
Disappointing, but perhaps this is just past its best? Scallion and green veggies nearly swamp nectarine fruit in this medium-bodied wine.
From a vineyard once planted to Golden Delicious apples, this 100% varietal wine is herbal and a touch green, thin with chalky tannins and a taste of dried cranberries.
Intense color, intense hot aromas and intense blackberry-jam flavors make this an extreme, full-bodied wine. It has plenty of tannins and an overtone of heat in the aroma and the finish.
From vines in the far east of the Entre-deux-Mers region, this is a wine that is just red fruits, lightly tannic and with plenty of fresh acidity. The wine is surprisingly ready to drink.
The wine has mango aromas that set the scene for a tropical, richly fruity wine. Spice gives an extra frisson to this ripe wine. It has an exotic character that is unusual in this style of wine although it doesn't seem out of place or context. Drink now.
The wine is tight and mineral in character. It is textured, steely with the citrus fruits giving the wine a bite as well as intense acidity. Think of this wine with seafood.
Produced from 52 acres of vines close to Cadillac, the wine is ripe, just hinting at a herbal character. Fresh lemon and apple fruit is crisp and light. It is a fruity wine that is ready to drink.
Red-plum and strawberry fruits are combined with a firm structure in this ripe wine. It has attractive acidity to give enough freshness. Drink from late 2016.
This is a ripe, apple and spiced-pear flavored wine. It has a crisp background that gives a brighter aftertaste. The wine finishes on a note of pepper and acidity. Drink now.
Aromas of black-cherry Kool-Aid and raspberry are simple but fresh. This is light and snappy, with plum and raspberry flavors that carry a note of chocolate on the back side. A modest, juicy finish with easy tannins is the close.
A confectionary note of marshmallow gives way to lighter intimations of citrus and sour-apple skin, making for a confusing combination of ripeness and tartness.
Notes of crushed stone and restrained melon fruit combine in this medium-bodied rosé. It's a pleasant quaff, with a clean but abbreviated finish.
A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, this opaque wine is light bodied and lean, expressive in clove and toasty oak.
The nose on this feather-light wine is enticingly perfumed, wafting of pristine white blossoms and peach. The palate, while a touch sweet, shows more earth and mineral than fruit, finishing on a slightly dark, brambly tone.
Barrel aromas of vanilla and baking spice are at the fore, with cranberry lurking in the background. The dried fruit flavors drink off dry, with cranberry flavors on the finish.
Aromas of flowers, mandarin orange, lime and lees lead to a medium-sweet palate. There's intrigue but it doesn't have the concentration to hold it all together.
With its soft texture and rounded character, this is a generous wine. Acidity and crispness are some way behind the ripe green and white-stone fruits. The wine, though, is certainly balanced and ready to drink.
Christophe and Fabien Vincent are focused on picking the right soils for their grapes. It takes a while. In this vintage, initially this wine is not showing much. It then opens with a tight, herbal character. It is refreshing, tangy and textured with its green plum and green-herb flavors. The wine is ready to drink.
This is a light, fruity wine that is likely to be drinkable very soon. It does have a rustic edge although that is likely to blow away in the coming months. For the rest, the red fruits, spice and acidity give the wine a soft, rounded aftertaste. Drink from the end of 2016.
The wine has red fruits and spice from wood aging. It suffers from the lean character of the vintage, giving a wine that shows tannins while not having enough fruitiness. Drink from 2017.
With its 10% Muscadelle, the wine has an attractive perfumed edge that lifts the citrus fruit. The wine is floral, fruity and crisply ready to drink.
Pale salmon-colored, this is all Cabernet Franc. Aromas of herbs, flowers and green pepper are followed by bone-dry flavors that linger.
Tan in color and only slightly tropical on the nose, this is narrow on the palate and not defined beyond the basics. Oily, tart peach flavors finish with a note of dried apricot and high acidity.
Candied, jammy red-fruit aromas come with a whiff of animal fur. This feels standard at best, loose and flabby at worst. Raspberry, plum and grapy flavors finish plump and fruity but with no real complexity.
This is a wine built for the table, light bodied and meant to impress in dried herb, cedar and earthy compost. Dusty tannin and mellowed oak form a foundation upon which subtle cherry and plum are allowed to shine.
A hint of dill lends curious contrast to bright sour-cherry and raspberry flavors in this full-bodied wine. Supple on the palate and framed by the softest of tannins, it finishes briskly with a kick of cranberry acidity.
The aromas offer notes of red fruit, spice and green wood, seeming hot. The cranberry and raspberry flavors are elegant and bring a better sense of balance, though the wood pokes out.
Meaty, funky aromas raise questions about fruit quality. A tight, hard palate isn't much for complexity or structure, while this tastes of plum and rubber. A dry finish leaves a sense of heat.
This opens with aromas of nail-polish remover and oak-driven spice that carry over to the palate while raspy tannins leave an astringent, mouth drying finish. Tried both bottles and had the same notes.
Produced by the Barton family of Château Léoville-Barton, this is a soft and smooth. It has blackberry fruits and gentle tannins, both now at their best. The aftertaste has a lift from acidity. Drink now.
This is Marc Mondavi's project, a nod to his side job as a water witch much in demand. A light-hearted take on the variety, it holds small percentages of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Sirah. Basic tenets of cherry and cola-vanilla star in this approachable sipper with soft tannins.
A peachy nose includes the botrytis aromas you get in late-harvest Alsace whites and Sauternes. Linear and still lively on the palate, this tastes a bit woody but also of muddled stone fruits. A chunky finish is peachy tasting.
Graphite, maple and other oaky aromas dominate this lush, pitch-black Tinto Fino. A chewy, dense mouthfeel is rich as an oil baron, while oak-driven flavors of vanilla and baking spices accent blackberry and cassis. On the finish, this is monster-sized and full of blue-fruit deliciousness. Drink through 2020.
New Jersey home-winemaker-turned-California-Pinot-pro David Rossi delivers a delicious wine from the eastside of the Salinas Valley, with umami-meets-floral aromas of wild strawberry-clove mousse, violet-infused soy sauce and eucalyptus shavings. Ripe flavors of raspberry and blackberry get lifted by nutmeg, allspice and pine, with a tart, bitter cranberry-skin note on the finish.
This gorgeous Zinfandel comes from a vineyard on Bradford Mountain at 1,000 feet elevation, with the vines planted in red, volcanic soils. The palate explodes in juicy plum flavor, with a silky, velvety texture and satisfying cinnamon and pepper spice that plays off the fruit. It's a structured and fresh selection.
Brambly red cherry and strawberry are featured among shy layers of oak, providing the wine with an interesting duality of power and silkiness on the palate. A complex streak of minerality makes this intriguingly seductive and exotic, with layers of flavor unfolding with each sip.
There's a zesty, invigorating feel to this lime-kissed spätlese, calibrated by layers of sweet, juicy peach and pear that fill out the palate. It's effortlessly breezy yet nuanced, with hints of saffron, fennel and spice.
Dark and dense, this is sourced from the winery's own Sacrashe property in the hillsides of Rutherford, as well as Bergfeld Vineyard. The wine has a concentrated and jammy quality that doesn't step over the edge. It offers anise, blackberry, black currant and dried herb around a soft, rounded mouthfeel and long finish. Enjoy 2021–2026.
From a low-yielding vineyard full of galets, or stones, comes an excellent and dark wine, with aromas of cherry pie in a mint-speckled crust along with graphite and blueberry. The palate is a swirl of cola, rooibos tea and blackberry juice, with sharper eucalyptus notes coming through on the finish.
The fruit came from the Glenrose Vineyard and underwent a 30-day maceration before spending three years in puncheon. The wonderful nose shows chocolate-covered dried cherries, stewed plum, sweetened leather and an almost teriyaki umami. The palate is framed by silky, fine-grained tannins with acidity that's still fresh, along with roasted game, cooked cherry and more tanned leather flavors.
Sourced from a dry-farmed, 40-year-old vineyard, this Zin offers aromas of red brick, cherry syrup, licorice, black sage, shaved nutmeg and nose-tickling baking spices. The grippy palate is driven by sagebrush and chemise, with ample amounts of pepper and spice giving nuance to the ripe blackberry fruit.
Made from 80-year old Nerello Mascalese vines, this powerfully structured wine features aromas of ripe berry, allspice, anise and Mediterranean herb. The concentrated, warm palate offers ripe black cherry, raspberry, licorice, mineral and white pepper alongside the warmth of alcohol and firm, velvety tannins.
Though not officially certified biodynamic, this vineyard is farmed according to those principles. Subtle textures and threads of umami run alongside the ripe blackberry and cherry fruit. The wine gains heft and depth as it breathes, and fills in the back end with barrel accents of coffee and nutmeg. Drink now through 2025.
Initial whiffs of nuts and bruised apple blow away, revealing radiant aromas of marmalade and honey on this unctuous yet delicate wine. A shock of lemony acidity jolts the palate, but recovery comes quickly with plush peach and tangerine sweetness. The finish is silky smooth and endless.
In line with the cool vintage, lemon-lime acidity cuts a sharp edge through this polished, pristine spätlese. Sunny white peach and honey shine on the midpalate, lending subtle sweetness and warmth to the dancing finish.
Named after the famed vineyard's south-facing slopes, this vintage is expertly crafted, with aromas of ripe red cherry, sandalwood, black pepper, graphite, purple flowers and damp pine needles. It's complex, with dark red fruit and tickling cardamom spice set against fine-grained tannins. Quite precise and tight now, the violet and rose petal elements will expand beautifully with time, so drink 2019–2025.
Complex and compelling in dark plum and dusty dark chocolate, this Cabernet has under 3% Petit Verdot and under 3% Cabernet Franc blended in, providing the wine with elegance and concentration. Soft on the palate, it suggests vanilla oak with subtlety, bringing all the components together on the lingering finish.
This fragrant wine starts with aromas of rose, violet, cake spice and woodland berry. The vibrant palate doles out juicy black cherry, licorice, cinnamon, pipe tobacco and mineral. It's impeccably balanced with velvety tannins and bright acidity.
Concentrated and full, this has serious structure, dense, dry spiciness as well as rich lychee and mango fruit flavors. The minerality brings out the chalk soil of the Zinnkoepflé vineyard, the highest in Alsace. It's a wine for aging, so don't drink before 2018.
At almost two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a dark, intense, cassis-laden wine. It's full-bodied and richly textured, with obvious cellaring potential of at least 7 or 8 years. Dark chocolate and gentle coffee notes creep in on the midpalate, while the long, mouthwatering finish features layers of soft tannins.
Pretty red fruit leads the nose on this blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, along with brown spices, anise and chopped herbs. The forest flavors are strong, with pine sap and eucalyptus, as riper boysenberry fruit emerges with chopped oregano and thyme.
Intensely aromatic, this is Oregon Pinot at its most lush. Seductive scents lead into lengthy, balanced flavors of cherry and red plum, highlighted with green tea and tobacco notes. Tannins are smooth and proportionate, and the overall structure suggests aging this wine through 2025–2030.
This is rich, full of spicy fruit, apricot juice and white peaches. The fruits are topped by an unctuous honey character that pushes the wine towards sweetness while keeping a fresh flavor in the background. Drink from 2017.
Dark violet-red in color, this is a blend of 40% Petite Sirah, 35% Petit Verdot and 25% Shiraz. A bouquet of cherry, violet and mesquite lay the groundwork for a winning mélange of savory fruit flavors—think cherry, strawberry, smoke, flint, jasmine and orange peel. Smooth tannins lead the way to an orange-rind finish, with a hint of smoke and a slight umami feeling on the palate.
Aromas of blue flower, wild berry, a hint of leather and brimstone lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. The palate delivers black cherry, crushed raspberry, grilled herb, oak, mineral and a hint of vanilla alongside firm, polished tannins that need to unwind. Drink 2017–2022.
This vineyard, first planted in 1982, was recently acquired by Jason Lett. A steely, earthy core provides the spine, wrapped in tart red currant fruit. Firm and focused, it's a multi-dimensional effort that still shows well after being open for three full days. Berries, smoke, dark chocolate, a whiff of curry and a saline finish are all in play.
Dusty cherry, wild berry and minerally aromas comprise a compact, deep nose that's entirely inviting. Juicy, bold and bright on the palate, with sturdy tannins, this offers exotic notes of cumin and baking spices along with wild berry flavors. It's elegant, complete and thorough on the finish; drink through 2020.
Spanish broom, dried lychee, aromatic Mediterranean herb and balsamic notes are just some of the aromas of this multifaceted wine. The linear palate shows compelling depth, delivering layers of mature yellow apple, Bartlett pear, thyme, salvia and energizing mineral alongside still-bright acidity. This wine could go on for another several years at least. Drink through 2021.
This is an intensely rich wine, opulent although with a sense of texture and a drier core. It's a full bodied, generous wine, fruity and structured. As a contrast, a surprising streak of fresh acidity brings an apple character to the more tropical fruit flavors. The wine should age, so drink from 2017.
The Wiebelsberg Grand Cru is in Andlau in the north of Alsace. Its terroir, influenced by rocks from the Vosges mountains, gives a strong minerality to this wine. It has structure, a dry heart surrounded by ripe, generous fruits. As any Grand Cru, it needs to age, so drink from 2017.
While showing sweetness, this wine also manages to retain great freshness. It's delicious, with bright green plum fruitiness as well as weight and richness. It will be a great food wine, but wait until 2018.
Round, earthy blackberry aromas are dressed up in dry spice and oak. A fleshy, pure palate has bounce to its step, while oaky, toasty flavors of baked black fruits, cocoa and spice finish with just the right amount of cutting acidity and flavors of baking spices. Drink this Cabernet Franc-led blend through 2020.
Demure tones of apple, lemon and bee pollen are invigorated on the palate by flavors of sunny lime, pineapple and white peach. Delicately sweet in style, it finishes briskly, with a cutting bite of lime pith.
Scents of chamomile flower, bread crust, toast and orchard fruit lift out of the glass. A blend of 70% Pinot Nero and 30% Chardonnay, the palate offers Golden Delicious apple, nectarine, herb and toasted hazelnut. Fresh acidity and vivacious bubbles brighten the creamy flavors.
Crisp and refreshing, this opens with scents recalling citrus, cranberry and aromatic herb. The vibrant palate delivers fresh strawberry, sour cherry, nectarine and a note of white pepper alongside racy acidity a vivacious but refined perlage.
Brambly berry fruit is dotted with highlights of black pepper and tart tangy herbs. The acids are way out in front of the fruit, delivering a citrusy, lightly toasty kick to the finish.
This reserve-level wine shows extra concentration, though it comes with a slightly chalky mouthfeel. Raspberry and cherry fruit flavors are set against stiff, drying acids, and seem a bit blocky. Think of it as a chunky style of Pinot Noir, and pair it with a fat-inflected filet of wild caught salmon.
Subtle notes of crushed mineral and lime on the nose contrast the lush tangerine and orange flavors in this off-dry, concentrated wine. It's harmoniously sweet, balanced neatly by strikes of steel and acid that tighten the finish. Drink now through 2019.
Assembled from the best barrels of the vintage, this low-alcohol wine is chewy and forward, with strawberry fruit, cola and a whiff of the chicken yard. It all comes together seamlessly and is immediately drinkable. Best enjoyed now through 2019.
Bread crust, ripe orchard fruit and citrus zest aromas lift out of the glass. On the lively, tense palate, racy acidity underscores lime, pear and a hint of hazelnut. It's a bit nervous so give it another year two to come together.
A lightly wood-aged wine, this is floral and spicy. With its pear and citrus flavors, soft texture and fine mature fruit, it is nicely balanced and ready to drink.
For a Pommard clone wine, this feels rather light on the palate. It's got pretty cherry fruit, adorned with cola and a touch of earthy tomato leaf. Just two barrels were produced, one new and one neutral.
Faint notes of strawberry rise from the glass; on the palate they become more subdued and meld into fresh, citrusy notes of grapefruit. The combination of fine fizz, grown-up dryness and spiky citrus is absolutely convincing, even mouth-watering.
Pretty aromas of cola, rosebuds, dried strawberry, fennel and Dr Pepper show brightly on the nose of this blend of 55% Grenache, 29% Syrah and 16% Mourvèdre.There is a slightly charred flavor to the palate, where grilled black cherries and berries are intriguingly savory and lifted by crushed black pepper.
Concentrated and fruity, this enjoyable wine has savory aromas like sage and earth combining with bright and ripe blackberry and cherry flavors on a smooth but firmly tannic texture.
Aromas of bread crust, oak and summer orchard lift out of the glass. The mature, concentrated palate offers citrus zest, mature apple, toasted hazelnut and a yeasty note alongside a firm but refined perlage. A bitter almond note closes the finish.
The 30-year-old vines of this estate surround a 16th-century castle. The wine is ripe although with intense acidity at the end. Wood aging has added spice and has smoothed out the bright acidity and red-berry fruits. Drink from 2019.
Mint aromas and spice give this wine a good start. It is full in the mouth with spice, toast as well as black-currant fruits. The acidity and the crisper aftertaste give the wine a fine lift. Drink this wine from 2018.
Crisp fruit dominates this second wine from Durfort Vivens. It has tannins, tight acidity as well as the potential for further aging. Spice and wood flavors finish the wine on a firm note. Drink from 2018.
Packaged in a plain, stylish bottle with the RR logo prominently displayed, this reserve-level cuvée brings concentrated flavors of citrus, apple, peach and pear, along with highlights of wet paper, fresh herb and lemongrass. Despite 12 g/L of residual sugar, the finish tilts a bit sour.
Oak driven spice, coconut, dark-skinned berry and vanilla aromas lead the nose. The ripe, accessible palate offers mature raspberry, vanilla, juicy black cherry and oaky spices alongside velvety tannins. Drink through 2021.
Orchard fruit, chopped herb and toasted bread crust aromas lead the nose. On the frothy palate, vibrant acidity frames strawberry and tangerine zest alongside a persistent perlage.
The wine is ripe with juicy black-currant fruits and balanced acidity. It has some spice from the wood aging, just enough to smooth out the bright fruitiness. Drink this attractive wine from 2017.
Aromas of bread crust and summer orchard fruit meld together in the glass. On the palate, notes of dried herb and bitter almond accent mature yellow apple and citrus. Lively, refined bubbles lend finesse.
An unusual and inviting lemongrass aroma and flavor go well with a buttery and vibrant texture in this medium-bodied and almost sweet wine. Blended from Sémillon, Chardonnay and four other grapes, it makes a nice change of pace.
Ripe, raisiny, lightly baked aromas set up a full palate with tomatoey acidity. Flavors of baked plum and cherry are backed by notes of mocha, tobacco, vanilla and herbs. A long, balanced, cedary finish helps this along. Drink now.
Palliser's top-of-the-line Pinot is named after a different loved companion-dog every year. This is a nearly full-bodied wine, a bit chunky and muscular in style, with cherry and plum fruit and savory overtones beetroot and greens. the finish is long and richly textured, suggesting a reasonable lifespan. Drink 2020–2025+.
This block selection hews closer to more conventional Oregon Pinots than the rest of the winery's portfolio, with powerful focused black-cherry fruit at its heart. It was fermented with native yeast and spent 17 months in barrel, 12% new. Those flavors come through in deft touches of graham cracker and cocoa powder, underscored with a wet-cement minerality.
The star of the winery's lineup, this subtle svelte wine offers the classic velvet-glove mouthfeel. It's silky and yet rich, with strawberry and cherry-pastry-filling goodness. Textural and lingering, it's a fine testament to the potential of Pinot Noir in this cool climate AVA.
This is a dense bottling of the Italian grape, with salt-and-pepper touches spicing up the baked raspberry, cranberry and ginger cake aromas on the nose. The palate shows deep flavors reminiscent of dried strawberry, rust, leather and shaved chocolate. Firm tannins provide structure.
From a small parcel of 19th-century vines planted on the hill of Saint-Mont, this is a finely structured rich wine. It has dark tannins and dense black fruits that are balanced by acidity. Rich, spicy and full, it still has tannins that will begin to soften shortly. Drink from 2018 until 2024.
Another outstanding Renwood vineyard designate, this has great structure and abundant fruit flavors without overt oakiness. Full-bodied, smooth and seamless, exudes a wild berry and mineral character in the aroma and flavor, and keeps everything in balance due to moderate tannins and acidity.
The historic Santa Cruz Island Zinfandel clone excels more at the Rusacks' Ballard Canyon estate than their Catalina Island vineyard. Deep strawberry and red plum aromas mesh with cinnamon, mace and a touch of earth on the nose. There's enough tannic grip to show elegance, with bright red fruit and hearty sagebrush spice flavors.
Juicy blackberry and clove scents ride a full-bodied wave of flavor and leathery texture in this impressive wine. It shows both the brightness and the density of the appellation in a strong, warm vintage.
This refreshingly balanced, light-on-its-feet wine doesn't hold back in terms of black fruit and subtle richness. The dark currant and cherry highlights are accented with dark chocolate, clove and white pepper notes, the oak quiet and supportive of the overall structure.
One of four monopole Central Coast bottlings from the Los Gatos winery, this bottling offers rich red cherry, vanilla, rose petal and watermelon scents on the nose. The palate is dry and structured, showing tart Montmorency cherry and hints of licorice and eucalyptus.
The estate blend is a terrific value in this vintage, coming close to equaling the quality of the single-vineyard wines. Grilled pineapple and melon notes feature a strong acid line that drives through into a long finish.
From a small 19-acre estate, this is a fruity and juicy blend of Braucol and the still rare Prunelard. It has a tannic stalky edge that suggests the wine can still develop. This serious concentrated wine was made in egg-shaped cement tanks and is from organic grapes. Drink from 2019.
Beautiful blueberry aromas and plump black cherry and blueberry flavors lend a unique character to this ripe, fruity and full-bodied wine from interior Mendocino. Any oak accents take a back seat to the concentrated, layered and luxurious berry character that fills out the wine's broad but soft mouthfeel.
The most recent of Palliser's Great Dog releases, the 2014 Ted is a full-bodied, muscular wine. Cola, cinnamon and thyme notes mark the nose, while the flavors feature dark cherries and plums, drawing to a lingering close with echoes of mocha and Mexican chocolate. Drink 2020–2028.
Smoky and oaky with a punch of dark chocolate, this full-bodied, brambly red bursts with clove, cinnamon and blackberry flavors. It develops further layers as it opens and is built for either cellaring or immediate enjoyment.
This 25% whole cluster bottling from the Full Draw Vineyard shows black cherry, leather, cola and sarsaparilla scents on the nose. Cherry cola and vanilla flavors mark the palate, where medium acidity and persistent tannins ensure solid cellaring potential. Drink 2018–2025.
Dark and sappy, with earth-driven complexity, this includes as many as 15 different clones planted on the far western edge of the AVA. Savory flavors bring black cherry, cola, smoke, and an underpinning of earth and black tea.
The top wine from this estate is impressive. It has rich black fruits and firm tannins, showing its youthfulness. Its weight and concentration combine with the ripe fruits to give a wine that is destined for long-term aging. Négrette, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon go into this fine blend. Drink it from 2020.
Dense tannins and powerful black fruits reinforce the almost-black color of the wine. It is a strong wine, powered by dark plums, rich tannins and very fine acidity. Produced from organic grapes, it is an impressive wine for long-term aging. Drink from 2020.
The finest Walter Clore since the 2001, this Bordeaux-style blend shows considerable muscle and depth. Built upon firm, cherry-berry fruit, it adds nuances of baking spice, pepper, vanilla wafer and a pleasing earthiness to the tannins. It represents the ultimate expression of Columbia Crest, and the 2005 marks a welcome return to excellence.
The 2006 d'Arry's Original offers a welcome combination of dark, earthy complexity with notes of cola, plum and black cherry. It's full in the mouth and expansive on the palate, leading into a long finish redolent of peppery spice. Drink now–2012.
A complex name for this finely crafted wine. It shows green fruits and oak, some intensity of flavor and a great layer of acidity, cutting through the rich fruits. The finish brings all this acidity forward, giving a classic Chablis minerality.
Big, ripe and surprisingly fat for 2006 Chablis, this wine goes for the yellow fruits as well as minerality. It offers full flavors, an up-front fruitiness tempered by a creamy backdrop. Age for 1–2 years.
Textured wine, the crisp white fruits are tight against acidity and spice. It fills the mouth, broadening into a wine that becomes creamy, with wood and green plum skins giving structure. This is another example of how a lesser appellation can shine at the hands of a master vigneron.
Dominated by wood, spice and almonds, this is a structured wine that moves in a straight line from its white fruits to ageworthy acidity and toast. It is still young, a wine that needs time to mellow, to move away from its tense fruit.
A blend of international grapes—Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot (hence its name, Wide World)—this is a big, rich wine. The fruit ripeness balances with the prominent toasty wood flavors, giving a style that is smooth and polished. Black fruits dominate, the fruit tannins melding well with the wood. It's worth aging, though, over 3–4 years. Screwcap.
Smells a little jumbled out of the chute, but in no time it rounds into form. The nose turns out to be rich, jammy and convincing, while the palate is robust and features ripe plum and berry flavors. For bold fruit, vigor and drive, this answers the call. It could probably stand to be more elegant and nuanced, but as is it's a fine mix of Carmenère, Cabernet and Syrah.
This pure varietal blend of Merlot opens fragrantly with scents of black raspberry, black cherry, plum and smoke. Very young, tight and firmly packed, it's a wine that is already showing finesse and a pleasing tension between the tart fruit and the toasty, mocha-flavored oak. Given time in the bottle, it may well prove to be one of the best-aging Beresan Merlots ever made.
This is a delicious, soft, tropical fruit-flavored wine. The texture is ripe, full, the mango fruits melting in the mouth, just touched by spice. If it misses the more mineral character of Chablis, the pleasure is sufficient compensation. Screwcap.
This unusual wine, from Dunham's estate vineyard, is dark and shows Rhône-like flavors of blood and cured meats. The fruit is tart—wild berry and cranberry flavors just on the edge of herbal, but laden with grace notes of herb, mineral and coffee. It's a pleasure to taste a Washington Syrah with this complexity at a very French (13%) level of alcohol.
All estate-grown fruit, with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon included in the blend. Nicely defined, with sharp-edged tannins set against tangy berry and cassis. The coffee and bitter chocolate flavors are in good proportion and serve to further define the scope and scale of the wine; it's beautifully crafted and dense with nuanced fruit, earth, bark and tannin.
Clean and well-ripened fruit holds down center court here; tart and tight flavors of currant and berry. It's wrapped in a shell of tannin that is still hard and seeming to hold the wine back. The best guess is to give it some bottle age and let it breathe, and you will be rewarded with a polished and expressive wine.
Very honeyed, liquorous wine, with a full texture, orange marmalade flavor and acidity contrasting with a sweet toffee character. It has weight and richness, with possible long-term aging. Screwcap.
A bright, vivacious, juicy and fruit-driven style, loaded with boysenberries. Tart and racy, this has just a hint of a gamy undertone. The finish has smooth, silky tannins, and plenty of staying power.
A super Tuscan blend, half Sangiovese, the other half split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It's quite a success; bright and spicy, the fruit flavors crisply defined, mixing raspberry, blackberry and cherry. Clean and deep, with polished tannins, and just a hint of heat in the finish.
The 2008 Phoenix Cabernet displays amply concentrated notes of cherry, cassis and tobacco. There's plenty of stuffing here, with a long finish that fades slowly away to notes of dried tea leaves.
A robust blend of sweet and savory, d'Arenberg's 2008 Love Grass Shiraz is full-bodied and round in the mouth, featuring smoky, meaty and blackberry notes and a mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2015.
Creamy and powdery on the nose, with sweetness and leesy notes. The palate is round, smooth and not terribly cutting, while the flavors lean toward honey, melon and another shot of lees. Finishes long and classy, with elegance. Drink immediately before it loses its vitality.
A pretty bottle of Sangiovese in every way—great label, great aromas and bright, cranberry and cherry fruit. From one of Amador County's steady Sangiovese specialists, the Noceto Normale also has pleasing acidity and texture and would be very welcome next to a plate of pasta or pizza or even meats off the grill.
Renwood's classic, Grandmère, has an inviting blackberry and sassafras nose with great fruit intensity though it's still smooth—maybe the influence of American oak?—and well-structured, monstrously full-bodied and a little moody at the finish.
A fine Chardonnay for the price. Soft and buttery upon entry, it shows good balance in the midpalate, with the butter blended with fresh apple and lime, and set against enough juicy acidity to give it definition.
Here is tasty, forward, juicy fruit—a fresh berry mix of strawberry, blueberry and raspberry. There is firm acidity to balance the tannins, which bring just a hint of herb. Well done; it lacks only some depth in the finish to bring the score up.
A lovely mix of floral scents, dark black fruits, baking spices and fine-grained tannins. This 100% varietal effort has a mouth-pleasing texture, without any roughness, and excellent balance.
Intense tropical fruit aromas take the lead. The ripe, juicy palate offers banana, pineapple, grapefruit and white peach alongside lemon zest and mineral. Adding balance, refreshing acidity gives way to a clean, lingering finish.
The Zinfandel is sourced from Alder Ridge; the 22% Primitivo component from Stonetree. Fresh and lightly spicy, it features bright berry fruit with good focus and medium depth. Despite the relatively high alcohol, it seems sleek and moderate.
Brambly raspberry aromas are accented with a dusting of minerals on this dry, refreshing rosé. The palate is delicate with subtle red-cherry flavor but finishes elegantly with a lingering cherry blossom perfume.
Evergreen and herb notes accompany fresh apple and lemon flavors in this dry, medium-bodied wine. The palate is brisk with focused acidity and an invigorating lime-zest astringency on the finish.
It conveys a lightly floral, herbaceous fragrance. The palate is more restrained than exuberant, offering juicy pineapple, citrus, pink grapefruit and mineral accented with sage and rosemary.
Beautiful fragrances of white spring flowers and yellow fruits lead off. The juicy palate offers lemon and pink grapefruit accented with mineral and aromatic herbs.
Smoke, candlewax and lemon zest lend savory tones to fresh lemon and apple flavors in this brisk off-dry wine. It's piercingly tart with a hit of lime acidity on the midpalate, but a waxy richness adds body and mouthfeel. The moderately long finish carries a hint of honeysuckle perfume.
Aromas of wet cement, pencil eraser, plastic, vanilla and jammy blueberry come in front of a racy palate with pronounced acidity and flavors of spiced cherry, plum and herbs. A long finish with power beats its chest before flattening out and turning heavy.
Gorgeous rose petal, spice and stone-fruit aromas waft from this intensely aromatic wine. It's juicy on the palate with sweet lychee flavor but balanced with elegant tea tones. Round and rich in feel with powerful body and alcohol, it finishes with a bristle of astringency.
Rose petal notes perfume this intensely aromatic rosé, accenting concentrated sour cherry and raspberry flavors. A robust blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it's dry in style but rich and ripe with fruit flavors. A hint of chalk and salinity mark the elegant finish.
Heavy oak greets you on the nose in the form of shoe polish and blackened aromas. This feels ripe, solid and woody, with good structure. Flavors of plum, mint and oak resin turn spicy and minty if given time, while the finish is driven by crisp acidity and plum and raspberry flavors.
Dry aromas of leafy, spicy red-berry fruits register as complex and mature. Medium in body, it has integrated tannins and acids. Flavors of lightly baked cherry and sweet red currant are earthy and finish with notes of cocoa powder, raspberry and plum. Drink now.
A well-crafted effort, this is on the fuller side of the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc spectrum, balancing ripe stone fruit and guava notes with hints of struck flint, potent acids and a long,  mouthwatering finish.
Not a flashy, highly aromatic rendering of Sauvignon Blanc, this is instead somewhat restrained and grapefruity, with modest hints of struck flint and passion fruit to add interest. It's crisp and citrusy, with a long finish. A solid performance by any measure.
Tempranlillo is not the most common base for California rosé, but this might change some minds. It veers into the orange spectrum of pink color, and smells like a grapefruit spritzer. On the palate, there's lemon bar, almond paste, and bubblegum, but any perceived sweetness is wiped away by brisk acidity and a slightly bitter quality too. The layers of flavor are impressive.
Berry and plum aromas are clean and composed. The wine feels juicy, pure and medium to full in body. Flavors of cherry and plum are spiced up with a white pepper note, while oaky spice and dusty pepper flavors create a lasting, long finish.
The bouquet of this wine starts off quiet and nuanced, with subtle whiffs of melon rind, white peach and white flowers. Bright and lively on the palate, it offers more pronounced fruit flavors of ripe peach, lychee and sweet clementine. Balanced and refreshing; an ideal partner to enjoy now with ethnic take-out.
Initially this is scratchy and spicy, with hints of sandalwood and crisp red fruits appearing later on. The palate is fresh and balanced, with rubbery tannins, zesty acids and subtle flavors of plum, berry and coffee. A dry, peppery finish is a proper wrap. Drink through 2017.
Made from 60% Prokupac and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this Serbian red blend has warm aromas of brown spices, worn saddle leather, black pepper and red fruits. It's bold on the palate, with flavors of cranberry, spice and pomegranate.
As pale in color as it comes, this is a delicate, delicious wine. Vanilla flavors vie with the freshest acidity and then ripe red plum fruits to give a wine that is both rounded and crisp.
This medium-weight wine starts off with wonderfully pure, expressive aromas of ripe passion fruit. On the palate, it's a bit prickly and leafy at first, like tomato stalks or nettle leaves. It then settles back down into tropical fruit on the long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now.
Grown in the mineral rich red soils of Istria, it has enticing aromas of fresh black raspberry, black cherry and black plum. Rich and full-bodied in the mouth, flavors recall fresh plums and ripe cranberries.
A bit more than half Merlot, this Bordeaux-style blend is balanced and complex. Layers of flower, fruit and earth unfold gracefully. There are suggestions of clean mushroom as well, with a smooth, seamless mouthfeel and modest length.
From a single parcel in Meursault, this is a tight and structured wine. It has strong minerality as well as spice and vanilla from wood aging. The zesty white and citrus fruits are still developing, giving a wine that will age well. Drink from 2019.
The village of Clisson is the home of the Perraud family and also its own mini-appellation. This rich wine is full of fruit, developing a nut and pepper character that adds complexity. It is a well-balanced wine, still with its acidity and a crisp lemon aftertaste. Drink now.
This is produced from 40-year-old vines that are planted in a walled vineyard. It is a beautifully concentrated combination of pure ripe yellow fruits and intense acidity. Together they create an opulent wine that still has structure and a crisp aftertaste. Keep this wine for a few more months and drink from the end of 2017.
Located on the right bank of the Serein, this vineyard produces rich warm wines. This is a ripe full wine with great white fruits that are balanced by spice and fine acidity. The texture is dense and full—a generous wine that needs to age. Drink from 2018.
A wine from one of the group of premier crus that are in the east of Chablis, this is stylish, crisp and comes with a fine line of minerals running through it. It has yellow fruits, vanilla and a hint of honey. That contrasts with the mineral acidity that gives the wine its elegant aftertaste. Drink from 2017.
With a fine balance between some rigorous tannins and a more generous black-fruit character, this is a wine both to appreciate now and to age. The wine is perfumed, with spice from the wood aging and mint and thyme aromas. This serious wine is just ready to drink, but that would be a shame, so wait until 2018.
This is the top wine from Pitault-Landry at Domaine les Pins. It is concentrated, ripe and firmly structured. Wood aging has smoothed the texture and brought out the red fruits. It still could age further with its generous fruitiness. Drink from late 2017.
Of Larry McKenna's 2014 Pinots, this full-bodied offering is the most approachable right now. A rich, velvety texture underscores elegant notes of brown sugar, tea, cherries and cinnamon. Drink now–2030.
Bright raspberry and fresh-pressed bramble make for a nicely snappy nose that also conveys a touch of rust, graphite and earthiness. Tart cranberry and plum skin mesh into mineral tones of slate and pencil lead, all lifted by bay leaf and dried sage. It needs time to reach full potential.
Fresh and inviting on the nose, this bottling shows sweet white flowers, Asian pear, yellow-grapefruit rind and lemon blossoms on the nose. Acidity explodes onto the palate, where a grassy, grapefruit-pith-driven tension rides into a rounded midpalate full of pear, nectarine and honeydew flavors.
Black-plum fruit is woven through smoke, slight juniper and eucalyptus on the nose of this bottling by Steve McIntyre, one of Monterey County's most respected growers. Black raspberry and tangy cherry flavors are warmed by vanilla and clove on the palate, complete with a tannic tension.
This elegant Syrah opens with earthy aromas of fynbos, white pepper and raspberry tea alongside core notes of red cherry, licorice and clove. A structured and gripping selection, the plush mouthfeel is lushly fruited and full of brambly berry and plum flavors. Accents of cola spice and tree bark grace the lingering finish.
Jolivet has crossed the Loire from his home in Sancerre to produce this full-bodied wine that comes from clay and chalk soil. It is textured with acidity and minerality, while the white fruit of this young wine is forward and juicy. The wine, like so many from Pouilly, needs to age. Drink from 2018.
A blend of Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyard fruit cofermented with Viognier, this wine opens with aromas of mountain blueberries, wild flowers, orange peel and pomegranate. The flavors are perfumed and polished, with floral and blue-fruit notes lingering on the finish. It brings a lovely sense of texture.
This is part of a collection of wines from old vine parcels put together by Nicolas Potel. The wine comes from vines up to 62-years-old, that are rich in opulent fruitiness which is shot through with acidity. Wood aging has added a toasty character without losing any sight of the fruit. It is a fine wine that should age further. Drink from 2018.
Black-plum extract and rust make for a intriguing nose from a rugged region, with wet-cement minerality and a deep allspice element emerging in the background. Dark cranberry and pomegranate fruit is lifted by dried sagebrush and woody cedar flavors on the palate.
Aromas of plum jam, blackberry extract and dark baking spice lead the nose. The smooth dense palate tastes of dried black cherry, ground pepper, licorice and tobacco framed in velvety tannins. Fresh acidity lifts the rich flavors while notes of raisin and exotic spice close the firm finish.
Enticing scents of exotic spice, baked plum and crushed blue flower float out of the glass. The round full-bodied palate delivers dried morello cherry, raspberry jam, star anise and a hint of pipe tobacco. Velvety tannins provide support and lend finesse.
Brownish orange in color, this shows apricot and mango aromas in front of a lush but balanced palate. Orange, mango and a touch of brown sugar fill out the flavor profile, while a smooth finish avoids stickiness by offering up bracing acidity.
This 90th anniversary edition boasts enticing aromas of baked plum, crushed violet, new leather, French oak and a whiff of pipe tobacco. The firm concentrated palate presents layers of dried blackberry, black cherry extract, licorice and cake spice framed in assertive fine-grained tannins. Give it a few more years to fully develop. Drink through 2018–2026.
A youthful expression of the grape, this bottling is clean and fresh on the nose with pressed olallieberries, candied blueberries, violet extract and a nicely smoky char component as well. There is exuberant energy on the sip, where that candied blueberry flavor is cut by savory miso-like flavors. Relatively light and lithe, this would pair with a wide variety of foods.
This full-bodied wine is complex and detailed from the spicy perfume to the finish, and rich and satisfying in the middle. Aromas like black tea and rhubarb lead to ripe and deep cherry and slightly tangy raspberry flavors that are lifted by moderate tannins and linger on the finish.
From fruit grown in Carneros, 74% of it Chardonnay and 26% Pinot Noir, this includes grapes from both Hudson and Hyde vineyards. Gorgeously full bodied and elegant, it's dry on the palate with vibrant acidity to balance the tangy flavors of cherry, pomegranate and cranberry.
This wine is a blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Franc (34%), Petit Verdot (8%), Malbec (8%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Brooding aromas of green herbs, flowers and cherry lead to a ripe full-flavored palate that shows a fine sense of balance.
Welcoming on the nose, this top-end bottling offers aromas of baked red cherry, clove and black plum before diving into crushed graphite, wet slate and loamy mud aromas. Soft on the palate but immediately vibrant with acidity, flavors of dark cranberry and tart cherry are lifted by anise-like spice.
Jammy raspberry and plum aromas come with accents of dusty herbs and black licorice. A saturated, lush, jammy palate features soft, baked flavors of cassis and wild berry, while the finish delivers mint, chocolate and lasting berry ripeness. Drink through 2019.
Cabernet Sauvignon (88%) takes the lead on this wine, with the balance Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. Aromas of blackberry, blue fruit, flowers and barrel spice are followed by pitch-black-fruit flavors. Lightly chewy tannins provide some heft but have room to broaden.
This is a lush, creamy Chenin, brimming with rich notes of honeycomb, honeydew, ripe peach and orange cream. The palate is full and toasty, though ample acidity helps to keep the mouthfeel bright. Notes of baking spice and toasted nuts unfold on the back and linger long on the close. It's delicious now, but should hold and evolve well through 2021.
Opaque to the eye, this is rich, heady and full of inky blackberry aromas and notes of graphite, balsam wood, tobacco and coconut. A lush, mile-deep palate offers chocolaty flavors of blackberry, roasted meat and salt. Ripe black-fruit flavors dominate a lush finish. Drink through 2020.
Grassy and almost feline on the nose, with lime and grapefruit flavors, this is a bit simple in some respects, but the power and intensity of this wine make a strong statement that lingers forever on the palate. Distinctive and well worth a try.
This half Cabernet, one quarter each Merlot and Cab Franc offers a lovely mix of herb and earth, moderate density, nicely spiced, with brambly red fruits. It shows delicate old vine character, making up with refined herbal flavors what it lacks in fruit sweetness.
Olive, herb and earth aromas vie with foresty fruit aromas, while the palate is rough and ready, with rugged tannins and full flavors of baked fruit, caramel, herbs and chocolate. A catchy blended wine with a sweet finish and tons of flavor. Cabernet is the main player here; drink now through 2012.
Originally intended as a blending grape for the Tempranillo, this is now being separately bottled. The Alder Ridge Grenache is blended with 20% Syrah. It's a ripe, almost liquorous wine, with some alcoholic heat. Nonetheless, the Gramercy style, with an emphasis on acidity and minerality, along with tart red fruit flavors, comes through.
The top of the line in the Lannac Saint-Jean range from young vignerons Fabien Jouves and Emmanuel Rybinski. With wood aging, it shows a mineral, austere note over the stone fruit flavors. It has weight and structure, though the fruit needs time to come through the toast of the wood.
Crisp red apples and tight fruit skins give this wine a taut, lively character. Just a touch of caramel to broaden the acidity.
Clean and fresh strawberry fruit flavors rush from the glass; while in the mouth the wine also reveals an earthier side of the Syrah grape. The fruit and loam are further enhanced with streaks of raw meat and seaweed; complex and long-lasting.
Since 1993 Arbor Crest has done this single-vineyard Cabernet Franc. As with all these wines the aromas set up the palate—scents of berry, tobacco and fresh ground coffee. In the mouth it carries on with very clean and fresh fruit, ripe and chewy/herbal tannins, excellent acid balance and a light bitter coffee finish.
Aged in neutral oak and 100% varietal, this is a fine value. There is great fruit flavor—raspberry and Bing cherry—supported with natural acidity and just a hint of chocolate. This could be a Dry Creek Zinfandel, in terms of its bright berry fruit and lively acidity.
Pungent and sweaty but nevertheless inviting, this is a walk on the wild side of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. It's full-on boxwood and passionfruit; a potent, weighty wine with a intensely feral quality. Drink now.
Sourced entirely from Les Collines, this perfectly expresses the house style—scents of strawberry jam, hints of pepper, and flavors that seem to focus on rocky minerality. An austere yet thrilling wine, almost like a Chinon, though this is Syrah, and not Cabernet Franc.
Surprisingly dry, this has richness rather than sweetness, and intense, powerful botrytis. The honey is intensely perfumed, along with baked apples and spice. Certainly a long-aging wine.
Classic Sauternes, treading the fine line between sweetness and elegance. Initially, it seems to be dominated by the botrytis, but then sweet fruits also show, with ripe yellow fruits, honey and almonds, touched with citrus. As it develops, the wine will become richer and more intense.
Plump, fleshy and colorful, which is really the most you should expect from an under-$10, cutely packaged wine like this. The variety is Tempranillo, and while it's sort of bulky and roasted, it offers a ton of soft blackberry aromas and flavors along with cassis and kirsch. Broad with some faux-butter flavors to the finish.
Toast, lemon peel, apple and butter are the opening aromas, and they are followed by solid but pedestrian peach, apricot, melon and pear flavors. Big in the mouth, with modest acidity. Thus, while it's holding firm now, our advice is to get at it soon.
A well-made Petite Sirah with jammy fruit and some tannic structure, this wine could develop nicely over the next 5–6 years. Right now, the fruit is somewhat simple, but the acids and tannins seem to have the balance to age, and the fruit is concentrated enough to go at least that far.
Smooth, ripe wine, laced with acidity and green melon flavors, this is a purely fruity Chardonnay, without wood. It is young and fresh but has enough weight to give a dense, full finish, with some yellow fruit flavors. Screwcap.
Menetou-Salon is a near neighbor of Sancerre. Its wines are, like this, lighter and leaner than the better-known appellation. This wine displays a soft but herbaceous, grassy character with a steely edge. Drink now.
Not bad, but given that it's a reserve-level bottling from a great vintage, you'd expect more. The nose displays interference in the form of barnyard, rubber and mild volatile acidity. It's only medium in terms of intensity and density, while the flavors rest on basic red fruit touched up by lactic vanilla and tomato. Not enough substance, clarity and oomph for a $36 wine.
Bright, fresh, green fruits and creamy acidity set this wine happily on its course as a delicious apéritif drink. The crisp fruit is great, while the finish is certainly green. Screwcap.
For a fresh and fruity wine that tastes real and of the place, we recommend this Tempranillo-Cabernet blend. It is floral and just the slightest bit touched by oak. The palate is sweet, ripe and creamy, with strawberry and raspberry flavors holding on until the last drop. Good value from Campo de Borja, Spain.
There's nothing wrong with this value-priced blend of Grenache, Tempranillo, Syrah and Cabernet. Yes, it's probably on the generic side of the fence; but given that the berry and cherry flavors are forward, clean and bright, one shouldn't complain. Snappy, with just a hint of coconut and mocha on the finish.
Perfectly good and pedestrian, which means it's solid but common and regular, with rubbery, sturdy berry aromas followed by medium-intensity plum flavors. With good texture and proper weight, this passes every inspection criteria but stirs little curiosity. Good wine; nothing more.
This is a lightweight, refreshing rosé, with charming aromas and flavors of crushed stone, tart cherries and fresh limes and a crisp, citrusy finish. Drink it up before winter.
Named after a traditional costume of the Wachau, the Kalmuck range of wines offers bright, crisp fruit and green berry flavors. There is an attractive touch of pepper, but this is more about primary, refreshing fruit flavors.
A full-bodied, mouthfilling rosé from the Côtes-du-Rhône, the 2007 Réserve Grand Veneur features slightly confected cherry aromas and a tangy finish. It's a solid effort, best served alongside burgers or the like.
A traditional young wine with true Rioja flavors and aromas. It begins with dry, leafy and vanilla aromas along with cherry and raspberry. The palate is fairly acidic, but food will tame any wayward sharpness. For a leaner-bodied but still well-made Rioja, this is good for the money.
One of the top estates in the Côtes du Ventoux, Fondrèche's rosé is pale salmon in color, with aromas of peaches and cherries. It's fruity and fleshy on the palate, with just a hint of bubblegum on the finish.
Spicy red fruit and pepper lead on this Bordeaux blend from the Finger Lakes, and lively fruit flavors follow. Tannins, acid and oak are balanced and attractive, and the finish has length and structure. Overall, a wine with poise.
A seemingly reduced nose smells of alfalfa and grass, even more so than fruit. Shrill acidity is loud for Uruguayan Tannat. Herbal grapey plum flavors are salty, while this is full of tension and acidity on the finish.
This wine is superfruity, gushing black-cherry syrup aromas and ripe concentrated cherry flavors backed by good acidity and very mild tannins. It emphasize the crisp zingy character that's inherent in the grape variety while being very full bodied.
Dried black cherry, shaved chocolate and dried herb aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a producer based in Marietta, Georgia. Fat flavors of cocoa and black cherry mousse make for a compelling sip.
With 15 months of wood aging enhancing the natural richness of old vines, this impressive wine is both spicy and packed with fruit. It is young, still with its bright baby fruit and with acidity that needs to soften. The wine, with its pepper toast flavors as well as its rich apple and citrus fruits, will be best from 2018.
Quite dark in the glass, this bottling from a vineyard often known for subtlety packs in a ton of power and darkness, starting with hefty blackberry, tree bark and sarsaparilla on the nose. Tart black-plum-skin flavors kick off the big palate, which grabs attention but is a little clumsy at this stage of life. Patience may bring cohesion.
Exotic spice, plum, French oak and underbrush aromas lead the nose while the juicy palate offers espresso, raspberry jam and a hint of star anise. It's chewy, with close-grained tannins.
Strong but pleasant oak-based aromas of sandalwood complement lightly herbal plum and berry notes. This feels wiry and intense, with rugged tannins. Herbal, oaky berry flavors finish with scratchy tannins and a distant note of green.
Aromas of black-skinned berry and exotic spice set the tone on this blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. The dense palate delivers ripe black cherry, clove and a touch of white pepper alongside smooth tannins. Enjoy through 2021.
The aromas bring notes of herb, dark fruit and spice, seemingly a bit muddled. The palate packs a big mouthful of fruit and savory flavors that show a sense of purity, while bringing a lightly tacky feel. A lack of aromatic clarity holds it back.
This full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend is hardly simple and fruity. It has earthy spicy leathery aromas along with raspberry flavors tinged by earth and tobacco, plus moderate tannins for a pleasantly grippy texture.
Clean and crisp aromas of Asian pear, lemongrass, honeysuckle, passion fruit and green plum show on the nose of this blend of 64% Sémillon and 36% Sauvignon Blanc. The palate would go down very easy on a hot day, with just a touch of acid-carrying flavors of gardenia, guava, mango and kaffir lime leaf.
Ripe, rich and creamy, this is a dense wine from the lees aging. Spice and a touch of toast come from the wood aging that smooths the wine and gives it extra complexity. This is a rich wine, with a tangy aftertaste, that is ready to drink.
Minty, leathery berry fruit aromas are herbal and foresty. This is flush and solid in feel, with controlled tannins. Roasted, herbal black plum and berry flavors are what you'd expect from Colchagua Valley Carmenère, while this feels meaty and tastes blackened on the finish.
Ripe and fruity, with delicious red berry flavors, this wine is attractive now. It also has some firm tannins built for aging, giving structure to the juicy fruit. Drink from 2019.
Minty aromas reflect the new wood that was used to age this wine. Its red berry fruitiness recalls the vintage while its firm tannins will allow it to age for several years. It comes from the western end of the Entre-deux-Mers region. Drink from 2019.
Although this seems initially austere, it has some fruit weight. Its tannins are dry and firm but will soften with time, showing potential for long, slow aging. Drink from 2020.
Structured and firm, with dense, dry tannins, this wine also has plenty of fruit. Black cherry flavors envelop its dry core, feeling rich and ready to drink from 2021.
The wine is ripe and smooth, with rich if still dry tannins. Its juicy black fruit and acidity are balanced with a structure that will allow it to age further. Drink from 2019.
This wine is firm with powerful surface tannins. Underneath, its blackberry-like fruit is developing, bringing out spice, acidity and plenty of weight. Drink from 2020.
This wine is aromatic, spicy and likely to develop quickly. That shows in the fragrant black currant fruit and generous tannins. Its acidity should be fully integrated with the fruit and the wine ready to drink from 2019.
Richly structured, this is a wine with style and balance. It has plenty of firm tannins to contrasted with its juicy blackberry fruit. It needs some time to fill out. Drink from 2019.
This wine is packed with crisp red currant fruit and plenty of acidity. Firm with tannins now, it will bring out more fruitiness as it develops. Ready to drink from 2019.
The only thing holding this value-priced Cab back is that it seems slightly overripe, which results in a bouquet that's mildly cooked and grainy and a palate that's rooty and sweet. But if you like softer tannins and flavors of root beer, chocolate and spice, this has plenty of that.
Simple aromas may lack vibrancy but aren't offputting. And frankly speaking, it's nice to smell soft berry fruit and not much else (namely burnt or buttery oak). The palate, meanwhile, is plump, bright and full of clean but basic boysenberry fruit. Finishes thin but sturdy.
Here is an interesting take on Viognier, relatively low in alcohol (13%) but quite sweet, at almost 2% residual sugar. The sweetness takes away a fair amount of the interesting citrus character of the grape, and seems to dumb it down a bit, but it might fit in well with spicy Asian dishes.
Airfield's owners have been grape growers for almost 40 years—a remarkable track record in Washington state. These vines date back to the late 1970s. Crisp and light with the alcohol just over 12%, it's the sort of low-impact white wine that we rarely see made in the U.S. A perfect little café wine, that should be drunk chilled, from tumblers.
This wine shows molasses and Boston baked beans on the nose along with peppery spice. The bouquet is a touch stewy, but the palate delivers core black cherry and cola along with tight, ripe tannins. The wine takes a little while to warm up and it remains saucy, but that's not uncommon for Mendoza.
Produced by the transfer method, with gas levels adjusted and a dosage the results in approximately 14g/L of sugar, this is a slightly mint and eucalypt-scented sparkler dominated by black cherries and coffee. Ends on a slightly dusty note. Multipe U.S. Importers.
A difficult wine to assess. For starters, it's heavily oaked and very dark in aromas; think tar, char and espresso. The palate is narrowly focused and tannic, with dark fruit peeking thru here and there. Finishes sheer, with coffee and bitter chocolate. Could get better with time, or it might never really open up. Needs at least another year in bottle to show its true colors.
A mature, toasty wine, perhaps too toasty. There are still hints of ripe strawberries as well as the more mature flavors. The wine shows a full-bodied character and an attractive onion skin color.
This light rosé is scented with rosewater, melon and strawberry. Finished dry and nicely structured.
Waterbrook offers up a clean, palate-refreshing style of Sauvignon Blanc, with fruit flavors of melon and mixed fruits.
This leesy wine has a lot of vanilla on the nose and a tan color. It shows only modest intensity on the palate along with distant flavors of apple and melon. A soft finish says drink this immediately because it may not last long into 2014.
Savory apple and lemon notes are bright and brisk on this pleasant Croatian white wine. Hints of sweet corn and vanilla custard add richness to a delicately structured palate, along with a crisp lime acidity that adds zip to the finish.
This Verdicchio has subdued but pretty aromas of yellow flowers and mineral. The palate is lean, revealing peach and pear but the fruit already seems evolved and lacks richness although it has a crisp finish.
An aromatically pleasing wine with notes of pear, apple and petroleum jelly. It's almost frizzante in feel and drinks dry with just a touch of residual sugar (3.6 g/L) sweetening the finish.
A straightforward Chardonnay rich in vanilla and lemon meringue that finds its footing, teeter-tottering between crisp and oaky.
There's a core of preserved black fruit in this Merlot-dominant Bordeaux-style blend, but also notes of leafy dill and stem that add a vegetal quality. Elegant and a bit lean on the palate, it finishes with persistent, yet finely textured tannins.
A crisp, fruity, unoaked Chardonnay. It has bright apple and fresh squeezed lime. This is very light and finishes with great acidity. Screwcap
Perfumed to reflect its contents (60% Tempranillo and 40% Grenache), this rustic red is high in acidity, smooth in texture and rich in its long finish, a play on flashy leather and tobacco over fruit.
Dark red in color this brute of a Syrah starts out with aromas that veer tropical before evolving into smoky plum and barbecue. Big in texture and tannins, it's a wine that calls for smoky, roasted meats slathered in pepper.
Soft and fruity, this is an attractive, light and perfumed rosé. It has delicious vanilla flavors, red and white fruits all laced with a good citrus element and a bright aftertaste. Screwcap.
This wine's richness is masked by acidity and given a mineral texture. Apples mingle with green plums and a herbal character. The powerful acidity is very dominant and needs to integrate.
The nose is herbaceous, with grassy berry aromas and a touch of pencil eraser. A tannic, grabby feeling palate shows berry flavors in front of a finish defined by mint, thyme and oregano.
This Moscato from northern Italy has aromas and flavors of apricot and peach that are typical of the grape, along with a hint of lime. This would make a nice pairing with cream-filled cakes and fruit tarts.
Whiffs of barnyard and leather are prominent on this earthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Full bodied in style with soft, chalky tannins, there's a core of tart blackberry and currant flavors that are crisp on the finish.
Pungent citrus aromas settle on grapefruit. This feels regular and tastes like grapefruit and citrus pith. A standard feeling finish is fresh, citrusy in flavor and mildly bitter.
Made from organically farmed grapes, this is a simple Merlot for everyday fare. It offers a pretty fragrance of red berry and white pepper accompanied by raspberry, cherry and red currant flavors with a hint of pepper.
This is 90% Cabernet Franc from the Chelle den Pleasant Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Strong scents and flavors of barnyard, bacon fat and tanned leather. The fruit is muted, and finishes with tarry tannins. Drink up.
Super light in color, this Garnacha has a pretty nose of cassis liqueur and is bunny-soft with barely any tannic imprint at all. Pair with equally light fare like not-too-pungent cheeses, breadsticks and such, or drink while cooking the main meal.
Despite showing baked, stalky aromas, this is a good, basic Patagonian Pinot with a medium-to-full body and some heat on the palate. Flavors of soft berry fruits, vanilla, molasses and stewed cherry and plum finish oaky and chocolaty, with a lasting note of herbal green.
Very fruity and soft, this wine blends tropical pineapple aromas with a crisper, lemon zest palate. It's a gentle wine, its acidity tamed by the ripe fruits. Screwcap,
Pure Arinto from the Lisbon region, this wood-aged wine is delicious and Chardonnay-like in its richness, with great swathes of apples and cream flavors, layered with toast. This is a great advertisement for a neglected region in Portugal's viticulture.
Meat, bacon and plum skin aromas are followed by dense, ripe tannins, piled on by black, solid fruits. This is a powered, intense wine, with superrich fruit, but encased in dry tannins.
A young, powerful wine, dominated by bitter chocolate, cocoa and dense ripe black fruits. The wood element lifts this mix of flavors and gives a great sense of structure. Dark figs and herbs add complexity, while the tannins are powerful.
Featuring a voluptuous nose of stone fruit and citrus framed by roasted nuts and toasty oak, this is a rich, amply endowed Chardonnay with a big personality and bold flavors. Ripe peach notes join with citrus, hazelnuts and toast on the long finish. Drink now.
Méntrida is an island wine region in the middle of central Spain, and this blend of Garnacha and Syrah is lively, juicy and delicious. The nose is deep and luscious, with mounds of cassis and blackberry. The spunky palate shows big tannins but plenty of offsetting fruit and pulp. Finishing notes of chocolate and pepper leave a positive lasting impression. Should age for several more years; 400 cases produced.
This marvelous vineyard has not been featured by Elk Cove previously. The characteristic blackberry fruit shines through, but winemaker Adam Campbell has wrapped it in the sort of elegant, lightly herbal, spicy flavors that define the Elk Cove style. Perfectly ripened at 14.5% alcohol, this wine manages to be both fruity and complex, open and layered.
This blend of Umpqua and Applegate Valley fruit, cofermented with 2% Viognier, is crisp and varietal, with mixed berries, peppercorns and cured meats all vying for your attention. Seamless and balanced, it keeps the alcohol down around 14.3%, which keeps the integrated structure intact. Silky tannins carry a whiff of roasted coffee through the finish.
This is Albariño in fine form. The nose is succulent and marble-smooth, with pure citrus and melon aromas. The palate is lively but refined, with exuberant citrus flavors that come on strong but with proper restraint. Long and ripe on the finish, which only adds to the experience. Drink now.
Charcoal, cola and licorice are all components of this wine's dark and meaty nose. And the palate hardly disappoints; there's depth and harmony to the berry, coffee and mocha flavors. It feels good and has just enough kick to keep you thinking. A really nice crianza that will settle and only grow more complex over the next few years.
A bit of choppy wood announces a fully oaked wine, and yes, it's a touch hard-coated. But underneath the veneer of barrel there's lively red fruit and a natural brambly character. The palate is just acidic enough to be lively, and the finish is healthy and settles upon chocolate due to the wine's generous oaking. Very good mouthfeel and depth make this more than solid. Drink now–2011.
A powerful, punchy wine that brings richness along with acidity to a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Tinta Roriz. The smoothness of the surface hides firm, dusty tannins, with wild fig and dark plum flavors.
These are the kinds of Best Buys we love. In the case of Muruve's '04 crianza, the wine overdelivers by a sum and a half. The nose brims with cola, tar, menthol and other dark aromas, while the big but balanced palate delivers a belt of blackberry and plum flavors along with chewy, ripe tannins. Good now with grilled meat, but will age for another five years should you want to invest in more than one bottle.
Named to reflect the unoaked style, with no malolactic fermentation, this hits the mark with good concentration and bright, snappy green apple, kiwi and cucumber flavors. There's a pleasing push through the palate from the juicy acidity, and the finish remains focused and on point.
Opening with an alluring fragrance of acacia flower, Spanish broom and beeswax, this boasts fleshy peach and juicy pineapple flavors, along with mineral notes and a drop of honey. It has lovely depth and should evolve more complexity over the next 2–3 years.
Included in the Cuvée are all six Bordeaux grapes, along with a splash of Syrah. Given the many fruit sources, there's still good focus. The sappy blue fruits are framed with lush barrel flavors of vanilla cream and toast, with just a hint of a green edge to the tannins.
A blend of Zweigelt, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, hints of white pepper and bay leaf frame the just-ripe, crunchy damson-plum aroma. Tight, finely-knit tight tannins make for a lasting structure that can mature, while the acidity keeps this classy and fresh. The dark, brooding plum flavor plays in the background and culminates in a spicy, peppery finish.
Impératrice is the book-end companion to the Cab-dominated Courageux from William Grassie. Here, the Merlot dominates the blend, produced in a Right Bank style showing brambly, incense-laden aromatics. Smooth and silky in the mouth, the dark fruit core is surrounded with herb, pepper, coffee and brown spices.
Former longtime Edmeades winemaker Van Williamson is offering the world his take on cool-climate Mendocino Pinot Noir with this and his Cerise Vineyard bottlings. This one is light in color but weighty on the palate with rich, spicy notes of raspberry-vanilla wafers and earth.
A ripe and sultry selection, this offers upfront oak-derived notes of vanilla, toasted nut, sweet cedar and chocolate sauce. Fruity tones of brandied cherry, mashed raspberry and blackberry preserve provide a solid backbone for the woody, spicy character. The lush, full palate offers waves of tobacco and leather that carry through to the medium-length finish.
A large proportion of Cabernet Franc lends a ripe, briary tone to crisp blackberry and cassis flavors in this Bordeaux-style blend. It has vibrant tart, cranberry acidity, yet still forward and juicy in style, with hints of vanilla and spice on the finish. Thick, velvety tannins should meld elegantly over the next 5–7 years.
This is a delicious example of what Agiorgitiko should be—complex but delicate, fresh but full of flavor. The nose starts with vibrant cassis, cherry and plum aromas, followed by flavors of blackcurrant, pepper, cherry and cinnamon that are rounded and layered. The wine ends with a lively mineral spin.
This opens with a dense and intensely aromatic nose, boasting forward oak-derived fragrances of vanilla, caramel and sweet spice that are grounded by the black cherry and berry core. Firm tannins and a full structure lend power and grip to the palate, with skin-driven fruit flavors of plum, black cherry and currant. Hints of roasted cocoa nib and charred oak show good staying power on the finish, while ample final acidity offers a slight lift to the close. Drink now–2018.
Previously this Syrah was sourced completely from Lawrence vineyard grapes, but here they are mixed with fruit from Stonetree. It's a dark, smoky wine, with highlights of licorice around deep cassis fruit flavors. The chewy tannins finish with a pleasant streak of lovely cherry fruit.
This is bone dry, with a tongue-tickling minerality underscoring floral highlights. The honeyed fruit flavors focus around peaches, with good length and a clean, fresh finish with gin-like, botanical complexity.
Another winner amidst Boundary Break's exciting new lineup of wines, the No. 198 Reserve is exuberantly spicy and floral, with a beautifully concentrated palate full of ripe peach and tangerine flavors. Brisk and bright with citrus acidity, it finishes elegantly, with hints of jasmine tea and honey.
This is a rich and perfumed wine that is solid with dusty tannins and ripe fruit. Bold acidity adds balance and promises good aging. It is quite dry with fruit hiding behind all the structure, but it will soften, so drink from 2016.
Seductive aromas of blueberry, oregano and juniper are different than the norm. This is concentrated and inky, with intense black-fruit flavors as well as notes of juniper berry and lemony oak. A lush, fruity finish is pure and jammy but not overly complex. Drink through 2016.
A serious wine that needs aging, this is full and ripe while also having a steely edge to it. Very perfumed, floral and strongly textured, this is an impressive wine that does need extended aging. Drink from 2016.
This is a sweet, very perfumed wine with pleasant candy flavors. Rich rosewater and spice notes add complexity, and chalk soils lend a crisp edge that cuts into the opulent character of the wine. It could age, not for long, so drink until 2018.
From vines around the village of Epfig (“E”), this is a wonderfully pure wine that's fragrant and crisp. It has apple and citrus flavors lightly blessed by honey. Acidity cuts right through the fruitiness, giving the wine a tight and steely aftertaste.
Excellent concentration and depth elevate this young, tight Chardonnay. Flavors of lemon custard and caramel-coated apples abound, making it downright irresistible. 30% was aged in French oak, the rest in stainless.
Wallywood is a Rhône-style red, half Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre and the wild card 10% Petite Sirah. Still young, stiff and tight, its brambly berry flavors are accented with streaks of earth, herb and mineral. This could use another few years in the bottle to open up. Otherwise, give it plenty of breathing time.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Syrah, this offers high-toned aromas, with notes of green herb, cocoa and green pepper. The palate is chalky in feel, with the tannins seeming bunched up and dry. Cocoa notes linger on the finish. The greenness on the aromas is hard to get around.
The cocoa, vanilla and black fruit are followed by a chocolaty, wood-forward palate that shows a bit of volatility. There are some good things going on but the oak (30% new French and American) seems to get in the way, making the varietal a bit hard to find.
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up two-thirds of this wine, with the balance Malbec and Syrah. Vibrant aromas of plum, spice and herb are followed by plush, lightly sweet, palate-coating fruit flavors backed by grainy tannins. It finishes sweet, delivering plenty of easy-drinking appeal.
This everyday drinker leads with concentrated but mellow aromas of black plum, turned earth, anise and sweet mint. It's quite full on the palate, with baked red fruit and baking spice flavors. Very fruit-forward.
A bitter herbal edge frames this young wine that remains tight and unexpressive, even after many hours. Aged in 28% new French oak for 16 months, it may be showing significant bottle shock at this time. The finish is short, hard and slightly bitter.
This Bordeaux-style blend comprises 68% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and a splash each of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The massive tannins dominate, to the detriment of balance and fruit. Perhaps those tannins will mellow with ample age, but that's a ways off. Right now it offers hints of plum and cherry, a dash of mocha, and a lot of stem and earthy tannins.
Raisiny aromas are accompanied by a chocolate note on the nose. This Garnacha is rough and punchy on the palate, with tart currant and plum flavors that run counter to the nose. Prior to an abrasive but energetic finish, this tastes herbal and oaky.
This is a solid and balanced wine, with lively aromas and flavors of red cherry, strawberry and banana. Light weight and easy drinking, the softly tannic structure transitions seamlessly into the clean, fruity finish.
This soft wine has ripe melon and pear flavors only lightly cut with citrus acidity. It is easy to drink and ready now.
Light scents of lime, white melon rind, green gooseberry and fresh-cut grass dance on the nose of this dainty white, followed by flavors of underripe pear and tart currant on the light-weight palate. It's fresh and lively, finishing short but clean. Drink up.
This popular brand's pink version is off dry, lightly fizzy and fruity. It has a strawberry-sherbet character that is attractive and great for summer drinking.
Waxy crayon, petrol and steely lemon aromas mark the closed bouquet. The palate shows some decent weight, yet disparate acids give a sharp feeling. Citrus races from start to finish, with a slight char marking the close.
Sharp aromas of cut grass and pencil eraser show on the nose of this tart, sour wine. Dried lime peels and a slight rubber quality make for a somewhat bitter sip, though certainly reminiscent of the grape.
This lightly pressed white version of an indigenous red grape is pale-straw in color, with a nose of lemon. It is slightly stiff on the palate, with flavors of lemon and peach and a refreshing, almost effervescent finish.
The first impression is that this is slightly off dry. It's a 50-50 blend of saignéed Syrah and lightly pressed Pinot Noir. It's tannic and disjointed, with sour watermelon and lemon flavors, despite that first hint of sweetness.
Deep purple in color, with jammy boysenberry aromas, this smells like it has a burnt topping. Formless on the palate, this is mostly a big, extracted, scattered Malbec that's grapy and dark but devoid of complexities.
Canned lychee and lemongrass feels a bit thick and heavy on the nose. The palate follows suit and is medium in weight, yet lags a little in acidic verve.
Overripe berries take on an almost compote character, giving a saucy depth to the nose. The palate follows suit, remaining heavy in feel and slightly charred on the finish.
Soft and round, this has gentle fruitiness and a touch of spice. It is an easy, open wine that is ready to drink.
This light-bodied wine smells like honeydew melon and canteloupe and tastes almost sweet. The texture falls between bright and rich.
There was probably too much wood aging of this wine. It shows in the woody character which threatens to smother the black-currant fruit. The acidity at the end helps to give the wine some attraction.
There is an attractive light sparkle to this off-dry rosé. It has strawberry fruit and a touch of acidity that balances the candied softness. Drink now.
This blend of 33% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 27% Petit Verdot and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon is mildly concentrated on the nose and palate, with rubbery blackberry, cranberry juice and geranium leading the way. Light bodied, with a soft grip of tannins, these flavors lead to a short finish of green peppercorn.
Underripe red plum and currant aromas are flecked with prickly fern notes on the nose. The light-bodied palate is marked by tart red berries and bitter green stems.
This is a very sweet wine, with aromas like cotton candy and marshmallows, flavors like extra-sweet lemonade, and a syrupy texture.
French oak, coconut and roasted coffee bean aromas dominate the nose. The bracing palate offers oak extract, raw cherry, sour cranberry, a green note of powdered sage and oak-driven spice. It lacks the fruit richness needed to stand up to the oak while raspy tannins leave an extremely astringent finish and dry out the tongue.
Crisp aromas of lemon, melon rind and underripe pear are not overly intense but at the center of the bouquet. The palate is light weight and accessible, with similarly easy flavors that carry through to the clean and mouthwatering finish.
This wine has a nose of soft citrus and tropical fruits. It is very soft on the palate, with flavors of citrus, jasmine, acacia flower, lemon rind, and apple cider.
This 50-50 blend of Marselan and Merlot opens with aromas of raspberry-cran-apple juice and underripe cherry. The light palate offers lithe tannins and a tart, fruit-skin astringency that lingers through the close.
Jammy, brambly aromas of grassy blueberry and balsamic vinegar make for a rough entry. This feels chunky, grabby and hard, while flavors of lactic oak and herbal blueberry are strained. A spicy, green-leaning finish comes with a final dose of hard tannins.
This wine offers attractive citrus and yellow-fruit flavors. It is fresh, with a richer backdrop of perfumed fruit. The texture brings out the ripeness.
This wine has soft fruit, a creamy texture and light acidity. It is balanced, fruity with apple and spice flavors. The aftertaste introduces a drier, woody character that is less attractive.
Medium-yellow in color, this wine has a bouquet of citrus fruits with a whiff of petrol. It is a little stiff on the palate, with flavors of lemon, custard apple and thyme.
A light, sweet wine that has a faint prickle and candied-strawberry flavors. It is ready to drink.
A selection of estate, Tualatin and Elton vineyard fruit, this carries the style of those wines to a more refined, high-toned level. The fruit is a bit more complex, and highlighted with baking spice, incense and toasted nuts. Just under 14% alcohol, it retains the essential character of the elegant Pinot Noir grape, but pushes it to a point where some heat comes into the finish.
A ripe wine, with white fruits and a touch of spice. The crisp minerality of Vinho Verde is all there, with a satisfyingly textured aftertaste.
The winery names Ribbon Springs its “most important source” of Pinot Noir grapes. The Ribbon Ridge AVA, a small subset of the northern Willamette Valley, is distinguishing itself for refined, focused Pinots such as this. Raspberries and rocks collide in midpalate, with a lick of milk chocolate as it fades into a gentle finish. The alcohol is listed at 13.2%.
A curious blend of local grapes with Syrah and Merlot has produced a bold, ripe wine. The tannins are soft, surrounded by juicy plum and damson flavors and a broad, ripe texture.
A big textured, smooth wine, sweet fruits with firm tannins finished with dark perfumes. It is a blockbuster, thankfully without high alcohol, balanced in its richness. A barbecue wine, ready to drink now.
A rich wine with some tropical fruit character fixed firmly in a very mineral context. Very firm and rich, there is a grapefruit character to the texture. A fresh finish rounds it off.
Fragrant, clean and tropical, with slate-driven minerality. The palate is just fleshy enough but mostly it's tight and crisp, with flavors of green apple, fresh green herbs and a drip of honey. Holds it together from front to back; just right for salads and seafood-based tapas.
A blend of three vineyard sites, this fragrant wine offers subtle scents of truffle and earth along with pomegranate and raspberry. The fruit flavors have a dusty character, and there is a strong mineral streak that washes through the midpalate. Give this plenty of breathing time.
A barrel selection from the 30-acre estate vineyard, this has a bit more muscle than its companion Amalie's Cuvée, with a more firm and full mid-palate. The fruit reaches into orange and plum and even hints at bourbon-soaked raisins, but within a context of a very cool vintage. Good balance and restraint, with the structure to age gracefully for up to a decade.
Interesting and very much showing Navarran qualities, including aromas of black olive, herbs and mossy fruit. The palate has good structure, balance and feel, and thus there's a nice platform for dry black cherry, cassis and mocha flavors. As an '05 it's evolved, still fresh enough, and ready to go.
Somewhat precariously balanced at 15.7% alcohol, this may not turn out to be the most long-lived Shiraz, but it is delicious for current consumption. The tannins are soft and creamy in texture, while the blueberry and black berry fruit is intensely concentrated, tinged with nuances of vanilla, menthol and chocolate.
The 2007 Gosling manages to combine savory, spicy complexity with bold fruit, delivering peppery, herbal notes alongside cherry and blueberry flavors. It's mouthfilling, with a creamy texture, yet retains a sense of freshness on the lingering finish. Drink now-2020.
A really nice, dark, modern style of Rioja from a good vintage. The nose is mildly foresty early on and robustly fruity, with stand-out black cherry and blackberry aromas. The palate is full, clean and balanced, with alert flavors of berry, spice, citrus peel and chocolate. Smooth as a glass table on the finish. Drink now through 2014.
Just right on the nose, with a smoky, attractive set of deep berry aromas. The palate is pure and composed, with a pure, tasty mix of berry fruit, cocoa and mild oak. Smooth, long and creamy on the finish, and delicious overall. Best wine to date from Emina. Drink now into 2012.
Full, heavy, chunky wine with a powerful bouquet of black fruit and chocolate. The palate is about as full and concentrated as they come, but there's good balance and aging potential along with cassis, blackberry and mild herbal shadings. Savory and strong as it is long on the finish. Drinkable now but better from 2011–2014.
This is a fresh, open and very accessible wine. Crisp acidity cuts through the green apple flavors and tangy, mineral texture. With juicy fruitiness, it is a light wine that is ready to drink.
Despite showing a yellow color and gritty oiliness on the nose, this feels round and complete, with tropical flavors of mango, papaya and green melon. Everything about this is mild, inoffensive and tropical. Drink now before it starts to fade.
Don't let the gold color fool you, this is quite vital with floral, leesy, almost grassy aromas. Bracing acidity is at the core with clover, grass, quince and sour-apricot flavors. Blasting acidity is a force on the finish.
Blossomy and perfumed, this white wine made from red Pinot Noir grapes exudes much of the variety's smoky floral flair against the backdrop of a crisp, refreshing white wine. The palate is concentrated in pressed apple and pear notes that finish briskly. Drink now.
This big, firm wine offers serious tannins as well as rich blackberry fruits. It's a structured, dark wine, spicy from wood aging and ripely concentrated. Drink from 2017.
Faded black cherry in the glass, this wine offers an aroma of pomegranate and brambles. Flavors of tart cranberry, green pepper and eucalyptus are pleasant enough, but this wine is a bit past its prime.
Reduced rubbery aromas of blackberry and black currant come with a touch of mushroom. This is extracted, heavy and blocky on the palate, while baked blackberry flavors are massive but short on elegance. Bitter coffee flavors, rugged tannins and stickiness make for a heavy finish.
Stalky, soupy berry aromas come up shy on elegance. This feels clampy and hard with rocky tannins. Standard berry fruit flavors are overshadowed by gritty stalky blackened accents, while the finish is grating and uncushioned but long.
Herbaceous, lemony and a touch green, this brisk light-bodied wine is made from Elbling, one of the Mosel's little-known other grapes. Dry on the palate, it's moderately concentrated with flavors of freshly-pressed apples and pear.
Bracing and tightly wound, this opens with subdued aromas of pressed rose, resin and a whiff of exotic spice. The evolved palate isn't in sync with the nose, offering raisin and a touch of anise as well as aggressive, astringent tannins that give it an abrupt, raspy finish. It's already drying out so drink now.
Woody and dense at first, this smells bright and fruity as it opens. A solid palate houses lightly toasted flavors of blackberry that turn more peppery and toasty on a fairly oaky finish.
Luscious honeyed tangerine and yellow peach notes are offset by a streak of minerality in this easy, off-dry Riesling. It's delicate in body yet juicy and refreshing. Drink now.
This slowly reveals aromas of pressed rose, star anise, ripe berry and a menthol note. On the firm, straightforward palate, hints of licorice and clove add interest to dried black cherry. Give the bracing tannins a few more years to unclench and then drink up to capture the remaining fruit.
Pie cherry and rhubarb notes make a bright impression on the nose, followed by tart flavors bundled in a mocha-tinged wrapper. The texture is almost syrupy on the midpalate, but turns dry and dusty on the finish. This is a bit disjointed at this stage, so perhaps it will improve with cellaring. Try after 2018.
This is a well-balanced wine with honeyed ripeness contrasted with attractive, crisp acidity. Pineapple and baked-apple flavors are given a texture by the zing of the honey. It is ready to drink.
A blossomy, perfumed edge lends lift and vibe to earthier notes of pressed apple and pear in this light-footed medium-sweet Riesling. It's racy and sharp in mouthfeel with a finish that's brisk and bright.
Pressed apple and pears are dusted in pollen and saffron in this earth-toned Spätlese. Delicately sweet honey tones brighten the midpalate, accompanied by bracing lemonade acidity. The finish is moderately long, marked by a lingering touch of dried herbs.
Aromas of oak, toast, coconut and dark berry lead the nose and carry over to the bracing palate along with white pepper and oak-driven spice. Firm, extremely astringent tannins give this a bracing finish. Drink after 2018.
Jammy muscled-up aromas of blackberry show hints of spice, especially red chili flake. This feels full, round and comfortable, with moderate tannic clamp. Herbal black-fruit flavors finish bold, with a touch of dry bitter oak.
Why, at the northern limits of Burgundy, there should be a small village producing Sauvignon Blanc is a curiosity, as the name of the wine suggests. This ripe, tropical fruit and crisp green plum-flavored wine is tightly textured and ready to drink.
This is a soft and creamy wine, ripe with baked apple and crisp pear flavors. Balanced and full in the mouth, it attractive and ready to drink.
This simple, fruity and rounded wine has light acidity, apricot and pear flavors and a tang of orange zest. It is full, fruity and ready to drink.
Given four years in 100% new French oak and another year in bottle, this is a blockbuster of a wine. It's huge in every way, from its intensity of coconut, vanilla and milk chocolate to its dense, chalky tannins. It may need time to come around, its sheer weight impressively wrapped in blackberry and blueberry jam.
Earthy plum and stalky berry aromas are bolstered by bold oak aromas. This feels good and healthy, with spicy oaky flavors that are dry lactic and push the wine's fruit to the background. A woody spicy, minty finish ends this. Drink through 2017.
Brushy aromas of field herbs blend with scents of oaky vanilla, plastic and stalky berry fruits. This feels saturated and rubbery. A salty flavor profile holds onto the bouquet's stalky character, while the finishing flavors are peppery and herbal, with a hint of sweet plastic derived from oak.
Cedar and vanilla notes mark the nose of this wine, which boasts ample weight, modest fruit and a soft, open-knit texture. It's appealing for its oaky charm.
Medium bodied and firm textured, this has smoke and white pepper aromas, rich tomato and plum flavors, and light herbal accents. It offers moderate tannins and a smooth mouthfeel, with a bit of tannic bite.
This smells rubbery, with oaky spice, but airing allows it to expand across a lively palate. Herbal, spicy red-berry flavors are strongest in the midpalate, while peppery flavors, rubbery tannins and scratchiness define the finish.
Bright and perfumed while also rich, this is a full-bodied wine. It has spice and pepper that come from its alcohol although everything is kept fresh by the red-currant fruitiness. Drink now.
The Mourvèdre in this ripe wine lends a wonderful spice and herbal character. While the wine is full and rich, it also has a fine refreshing line of raspberry fruit. The wine is ready to drink.
The wine is ripe and bone dry. It has a tight structure, mineral texture and intense acidity. There is a bitter edge in this young wine that will blow away as the ripe white fruit asserts itself. At the end, there is a touch of honey.
Produced from old vines on the Chatelard estate, this wine is smooth, ripe and full of vibrant red fruits. There is a good balance between acidity and rich fruit with just a light core of tannins in the background. Drink now.
In Cahors Tradition means a wine that doesn't go into barrels for aging. That keeps the fruit vibrant and crisp, as it is here. The wine is ripe, full in the mouth with fruit tannins and black-currant acidity. It is a year away from maturity, so drink from 2017.
This wine, with its black fruits and still-firm tannins, is crisp with intense acidity as well as black-currant fruitiness. Its ripe structure suggests the ability to age a little longer, and the wine will be best from 2018.
A blend of Loin de l'Oeil and Sauvignon Blanc has produced a ripe and soft but balanced wine from a vineyard owned by the Wine Museum of Paris. It has refreshing melon and white-plum fruits, and an aromatic character that is rich and full bodied. Drink now.
Assorted aromas of blue, red and black fruit and dried herbs lead to ripe, full-bodied fruit flavors with a lingering finish. Chewy tannins back it, with the volatiles amped up.
Based in Fleurie, this producer has made a wine rich in fruit and tannins. It has a smoky spicy character as well as intense red fruits. It is warm, concentrated and ready to drink.
Floral overtones join ripe pear notes on the nose. The palate comes in with even more generous, juicy pear fruit, the rounded flavors boosted by a little residual sweetness that makes the wine finish off dry.
Gentle notes of creaminess and ripe pears signal a soft, creamy wine with lots of texture and body. The rounded body carries some weight and is edged with a bitter marzipan note. All this is countered by fresh acidity, more creamy, nutty notes and a vanilla finish.
Earth and apple notes unite to make this juicy, fresh and sprightly Riesling. The style is dry, helped by a slight phenolic grip and that characteristic, lime-lemon acidity that brightens everything.
This wine is a blend of fruit from Boushey, Artz and Red Willow vineyards. Aromas of tire rubber, herb and red and black fruit lead to a soft palate backed by fine grained tannins.
This pale peach, lightly bricked wine brings aromas of strawberry and melon rind. It drinks dry with a broad feel and fruit flavors that linger.
Delicately fragrant, this opens with aromas of underbrush, blue flower, game, red berry and menthol. The aromas carry over to the ethereal palate along with a note of savory grilled herb and white pepper. Supple tannins and vibrant acidity provide support while a saline note closes the finish.
There's an attractive richness to the ripe stone and tropical fruit core of this wine, laced with hints of citrus peel and saline that shine on the finish. The medium-weight body is balanced by ample acidity, helping to preserve the wine's fresh and lively feel. Drink now.
Subdued herb, red fruit and spice aromas are followed by quite reserved cherry and berry flavors. It displays a lot of restraint.
A pretty pale peach color, this wine has aromas of cherry, herbs and mineral. It drinks dry with generous, mouthwateringly tart cherry and watermelon flavors.
Aromas of nettle and cactus pad are briny and typical of Leyda SB. This is full in body for Sauvignon Blanc, but balanced by needle-like acidity. Flavors follow the nose, meaning nettle, briny citrus and bell pepper. A long finish is sharp but balanced.
This unoaked Chardonnay showcases delicious pristine mango, peach and apricot flavors. Approachable and uncomplicated, it's a fruit-forward yet refreshingly structured wine for everyday pleasure. Drink now through 2019.
Vibrant aromas of honeysuckle, orange peel, peach, jasmine and citrus lead to off-dry stone-fruit flavors. It provides a lot of appeal.
This 100% varietal wine is lengthy and medium bodied, offering highlights of peppery steak, barnyardy earth and blackberry pie. A lingering streak of black licorice plays in the background.
Good fruitiness and considerable structure make this medium-bodied wine a logical pairing with rich proteins. It rests straightforward cherry-berry flavors on vivid acidity and firm tannins.
The creamy, ripe character of Alvarinho is pronounced in this rich wine. Ripe citrus and juicy apricot fruit give a smooth, rounded character that is lightly crispened by its final tangy acidity. Drink from 2017.
Sun-drenched and concentrated, this silken-textured dessert wine showcases a bounty of apricot, yellow-peach and orange-peel flavors. A Chardonnay-based blend augmented with Pinot Gris, Vignoles and Gewürztraminer, it's deliciously honeyed yet vibrantly balanced. A tinge of sweet corn on the finish lends to its summery, harvest feel.
French oak, dark berry, underbrush and espresso aromas open with a whiff of coconut. The firm palate offers roasted coffee bean, sour cherry, cranberry and a hint of vanilla alongside vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins that leave an assertive finish.
The aromas of baked apple, vanilla and baking spices are direct, with the oak in the lead. The flavors are broad in feel and continue to linger on the finish.
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.
Obviously wood-aged, with a smoky toast flavor, this is a wine that shows the power of Saint-Estèphe tannins in full force. At the same time, there is a blackberry character that adds richness and juiciness, which cuts through the dry core. Age for at least 7–8 years.
This varietal Syrah from the land of Garnacha is downright superb, and for $30 it qualifies as an outstanding value. Black cherry and ripe berry aromas are big and inviting, while the palate is thick, layered and still racy due to fine acidity. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate, vanilla and baking spice run for miles on the generous finish. Drink now–2016.
Still the best wine in the lineup, this Bordeaux-style blend, made by Cadence's Ben Smith, is two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, which is sourced from some of the oldest vines on Red Mountain, planted in 1975 and 1982. Concentrated, tannic and dense, it matches the superb fruit with captivating notes of seed bread and cayenne pepper.
LTU is superconcentrated, black as night, minerally, rich and wonderfully balanced. The palate is wide but well structured, while flavors of toasty oak, peppercorn and stirring black fruit are delicious. Toasty, chocolaty and macho to the last drop. Drink now–2016.
Prices for this estate's wines have skyrocketed, but there is no doubting the quality in the bottle. The 2009 Cuvée Réservée is a huge wine, overflowing with intense black cherry and plum flavors to the point of seeming a bit sweet. Yet it's all framed by strong yet softly dusty tannins that should see it age well for at least 15 years.
With advice from consultant and Bordeaux University professor Denis Dubourdieu, Batailley has improved immensely in the past few years. This 2010 reinforces that trend, revealing a wine that is structured with Cabernet Sauvignon and is attractive with black currant fruitiness. Age for the medium-term.
This rich and juicy wine from the Pinhão Valley has enormous potential, as shown by its strong, tannic character and firm structure. The foot-trodden grapes lend great flavor intensity, fine concentration and a note of blackberry juice. It will age well.
Supple and sturdy, this beautifully structured blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah, which uses fruit sourced from the estate vineyard, utilizes the best assets of both grapes. The Cabernet gives it both firmness and depth, while the Syrah pipes in vivid, juicy, berry flavors. Still young and primary,  the best is clearly yet to come.
This wine is the epitome of traditional Rioja Reserva. It opens with aromas of citrus peel, tobacco, earth, cherry, smoke and rubber. Fresh and medium in body, it has oak-based flavors of vanilla and spice on top of reedy red fruit. Oak persists on the finish.
Dark, oaky and smoky for a value wine, this has leather and blackberry aromas. It feels full, chewy and substantive, with dark berry, molasses and mocha notes. Smooth and dense on the finish, with leftover blackberry, coffee and chocolate touches.
Over the years, Altimus—a blend of Malbec, Cabernet and Tannat—has been all over the map. This vintage is quite good, with burly aromas of bacon, balsam wood, campfire and black fruit. It's a load in the mouth, where minty, lemony oak flavors vie with blackberry and foresty herb notes. Leather and tobacco flavors appear on the feisty finish.
Raisin and kirsch aromas are soft and rich, settling on strawberry and spice notes. The palate is lifted by firm acidity and solid tannins, while the wine's core flavors of raspberry, plum and herb serve it well. It finishes warm and sweet tasting, with licorice and molasses flavors that are tempered by a baking spice note.
This is a solid, well-crafted and flavorful Malbec. Black fruit and cocoa aromas set up a concentrated palate, bearing chewy, dense flavors of black plum, wild berry and chocolate, plus toast and pepper notes. Production is 100,000-plus cases.
Hints of caramel and vanilla, along with soft, silky tannins add oaky, woodsy warmth to the brambly flavors of red raspberry and cherry. It's delicately structured, with bracing acidity that adds levity and zip, highlighting the tart berry notes on the finish.
A terrific value, Borlais's white is subtle and floral on the nose, then full bodied, broad and weighty on the palate, with flavors of melon, pineapple and a dry, stony note that lingers on the finish. Drink now.
The 20% Malbec in the blend helps to produce the spicy tannins and dark color of this wine. The other grapes in the blend add richness and firm structure, plus a blackberry-driven juiciness. With its bright acidity added to the mix, this is a serious wine with good aging potential.
Dense in color, this firm wine has a rich black-fruit character. There is a strong element of acidity, which brings out the natural fruitiness of the wine. At the same time, there is enough dense texture to promise aging.
A solid and dense wine, this is full of firm tannins, plus black currant and berry flavors. It is well structured and concentrated, a benefit from using fruit sourced from low-yield old vines. With its dark, dense texture, it will age for several years.
This wine is rich and smooth, and the power of its tannins are already integrated into the complex plum and blackberry flavors. It has a solid structure, with weight and an open feel.
New-wood flavors abound in this firmly structured, dry wine. With its tannins at the fore, plus its heavy toast and sweet-tasting black-fruit flavors, it has weight and density. This is likely to age well over 3–4 years.
By Médoc standards, this 7-acre vineyard is small, with a production of 1,150 cases. The powerful blackberry flavor is sweetened by dark plum and licorice notes, structured with new wood influence and firm tannins. There is a juicy finish, and the tannins promise long-term aging.
Full bodied and silky, like so many of the 2007s from the Southern Rhône, this has already reached maturity. Notes of dried cherry, cinnamon, clove and chocolate all come together in a very drinkable package.
Hope Estate is headquartered near Australia's eastern coast, but this wine comes from a vineyard it owns way out west. It's a well-made, medium- to full-bodied Shiraz, boasting a raspberry flavor that's nicely accented by a dark coffee note and an approachable, open-knit texture. Drink it over the next year or two.
Good but not excessively expressive on the bouquet, this reveals a milk chocolate element that emerges after the wine airs. The flavor profile starts with a lemony oak note, with notes of blackberry, herb and peppery spice underneath. The nice finish is modest, like the bouquet. Only 300 cases made.
This is big and yellowish in color, which is usually an indicator of strong barrel character. And indeed, it's very oaky and resiny on the nose, palate and finish. But in between the waves of wood spice, vanilla and resin are complexities, fine acidity, good textural balance and sweet, tropical fruit flavors. Drink now.
Another fine vintage for this value-priced, Bordeaux-style blend. It's loaded with raspberry and black cherry flavors, then brings in lighter notes of dried herb, ground coffee and dark chocolate. For its price, it delivers rather complex and well-integrated flavors.
Deeply smoky, as if enrobed in a layer of campfire ash, this curiously aromatic Riesling pairs a dark, minerally element with notes of sweet, ripe melon and stone fruit. Dry and full bodied, with an herbaceous, fresh midpalate.
A microscopic amount of this wine was made, and it has spent time in bottle, currently revealing a floral, violet bouquet that ventures into almond and orgeat aromas. Vibrant and fresh on the palate, with a bite on the finish, it offers a strong grenadine-like taste.
This leads with delicate aromas of violet and woodland berry. On the lively palate, a touch of almond adds interest the red-berry core. It's easy drinking, with fresh acidity and a light, tannic frame. Enjoy soon.
Aromas of banana, wisteria and green pear lead the nose on this refreshing white. The bright, juicy palate offers tart Granny Smith apple and citrus zest alongside tangy acidity.
This is a crisp, bone-dry wine from vines on the plateau above Vouvray. It has a strongly tangy texture, with lemon zest and tight acidity adding to minerality. It needs to calm down from its in-your-face freshness, so drink from 2017.
Subdued aromas convey strawberry with a whiff of green tomato. The palate offers crushed cherry, raspberry, oregano and black olive, while lithe tannins provide the framework. It closes on a tart note of rhubarb.
With light vanilla aromas, this is a ripe style of wine despite its low alcohol. An attractive creamy texture gives it a round character, fresh with yellow fruits and orange peel. Drink now.
Almonds and green plum flavors give this a bright, perfumed character. Produced with organically grown grapes, it is fruity, touched by minerality and layered with intense, juicy acidity. Drink now.
Fresh and with a herbaceous background, this is a tight, taut and mineral wine. It presents a definite tang of lemon zest, steeliness and a crisp aftertaste. It can be drunk now, although it will be better from 2016.
Cidery apple and stone-fruit aromas are fresh and basic. This blend includes Chardonnay, Macabeo and Parellada, and it's a lively number with spritz and citric acidity. Orange and tangerine flavors remain zesty and snappy on the finish.
Picking up just a tad of spice from the 2% Syrah addition, this offers aromas of freshly tanned leather, blackberry jam and mint-laced coffee. The palate is all about gripping tannins, cigar ash and tart cherry skins, proving quite extracted but certain to improve with a bit of patience and mellowing.
Pretty floral aromas of peach blossom, broom and a hint of beeswax waft from the glass. The round, straightforward palate offers tropical fruit, peach and apple alongside tangy acidity.
There's an oaky, campfire-like personality to this white, a touch of matchstick on the nose that burns off over time. From there, it's a fuller style wine offering creaminess on the palate and a persistence of baked fruit, from apple to pear.
Rusty in color, this maturing Tannat-led blend smells warm, earthy, raisiny and like molasses. It's a bit wiry, rough and acidic on the palate, while raisin, baking spice and woody flavors end short and pile on with raisiny ripeness. Drink now.
This charming white discloses delicate aromas of yellow flower and stone fruit. The bright palate displays tart apple and Bartlett pear alongside bitter almond. It's balanced and fresh, with lively acidity.
In the Tejo region, Alvarinho loses its specific mineral and ripe creamy texture. What is has instead is intense fruitiness. Green and white fruits fill the glass with a fresh and youthful character. It's bright, crisp and ready to drink now.
A mash-up of eight grapes, including such obscure varieties as Landot Noir, Maréchal Foch and Chancellor, this is the sort of wine you might happily enjoy while driving the back roads of rural Europe. Light, tart flavors of pie cherries are touched with leathery earth. Hints of plum and tobacco add further interest.
Girardet's Bush Vine series explores recent plantings of Spanish and Italian varieties. Tempranillo has already proven itself elsewhere in the Umpqua Valley, and this deeply aromatic wine is a promising newcomer. Black raspberries, black cherry, sweet grain and dark chocolate scents and flavors are well-balanced. The fruit is full-bodied and chunky, with a hint of cola.
Ripe cherry-vanilla and robust oak combine for a full-bodied, generous style of Pinot, from a prime spot in Carneros close to the town of Napa. Despite the wine's burly size, its texture is silky, and the finish an echo of the oak and vanilla.
Alicante Bouschet gives intense color to any wine. Here. almost black in color, the wine is richly flavored with dark plum and berry flavors and considerable acidity. It's already balanced with a fresher element pairing with the rich fruitiness. Drink now.
Bright and friendly, this supple young red offers fresh red-berry flavors that are lightly accented by hints of tobacco and spice. Mouthwatering acidity gives it a vibrant character and a clean, dry finish. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy now.
Bright and savory, this opens with pretty aromas of white spring flower and orchard fruit. The vibrant palate offers crisp green apple and white peach set in a framework of zesty acidity. Sip as a refreshing apéritif or pair it with light first courses.
Aromas of green bell pepper, chopped herb and crushed tomato vine lead the nose on this bright, fragrant wine. The fruity palate offers juicy white grapefruit and passion fruit alongside mouthwatering acidity. It has a clean, dry finish.
The price-quality ratio is inviting for this wine, a light, lifted expression of cranberry and herb. The grapes were sourced from both the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations, about half of each, before aging less than a year in managed oak, 30% of it new. The wine finishes in swirls of vanilla-cola.
Subdued aromas of wild strawberry and red flower take shape in the glass. The light-bodied palate offers crushed red cherry and bitter almond alongside fresh acidity. Enjoy soon.
Rich without being heavy, this wine offers bright cherry and strawberry, followed by pretty floral components and just a tiny dose of cinnamon. Balanced and not overdone in oak, it's enjoyable and ready for the table.
Aromas of white flower, green pear and flinty mineral mingle in the glass. The bright palate offers creamy Granny Smith apple, nectarine, sage and a light mineral note. Bright acidity gives it a clean finish.
The Dão's Encruzado grape gives this wine its rich, yellow fruits and apple flavors. It is still young, textured and fruity. Balanced and very fresh with a tangy, tight texture, this wine will age well. Drink from 2016.
Firmly tannic and dry, this is a textured wine with a strong mineral character. Its dark plum-skin fruitiness is tight, nervy and spicy. A strong tannic element, very dry and firm, pushes forward. It's a wine to drink from 2017.
Pretty aromas suggest elder blossom and white stone fruit. The vibrant palate offers white peach, green apple and citrus zest. Brisk acidity gives it a clean, refreshing finish.
Fresh, green herbal notes and stony minerality add freshness to sweet stonefruit and yellow flowers on this crisp, dainty Kabinett. Bristling with acidity, the finish extends long on  a lusciously ripe citrus note.
This wine is fresh as can be, with loads of friendly black-fruit aromas upfront. The palate is juicy and bright, not the least bit hard or tannic, with huge flavors of berry fruits, baking spices, chocolate and even some bacon. This delivers a lot for the price.
Light, fruity, very crisp in character, this is an apple and citrus driven wine as much as red fruits. There is an attractive, exotic touch of pomegranate fruits that add an extra dimension to this lively, fresh wine.
Aromas of leather, dried cherry, vanilla and leafy earthiness get this gran reserva moving. In the mouth, it's a touch choppy and wiry, with leafy, roasted flavors of savory plum and spice. This is shy on the finish, with a hint of spice and chocolate. Drink now.
Fresh lemon-peel and lanolin notes add complexity to this bright, intensely fruity Riesling. Crisp with acidity, it's refreshingly easy on the palate, with a delicate, lacy sugar note that lingers long on the finish.
This is seriously spicy on the bouquet, where a mix of earth, pepper, herbal notes and cassis set up a stocky body with a condensed feel and ample oak. Heavy black-fruit flavors are hard at first but settle well, leaving mint and licorice notes along with a dark, toasty, herbal finish.
Minerally opening aromas yield to a tight collection of green herb and citrus scents that steer clear of anything feline or grassy. This offers shear, zesty flavors of gooseberry, lime and tarragon in front of a stony feeeling finish that's crisp but not grating.
This is a satisfyingly yummy Zinfandel that's chock block with raspberry and boysenberry flavor, and a tannic structure that's still in full force. There's softness in the mouthfeel and an easygoing finish that's touched with cinnamon spice and chocolate. A good wine to pair with a range of food from barbecue ribs to pizza.
Pinots from this AVA have a bit of an herbal edge which, in good hands, can help to define and frame the cool climate fruit flavors. Here is a mix of plum and wild berry, the purple fruit set against balancing tannins that carry that hint of earth and heather.
This is the least expensive McCrea Syrah, compiled from the same excellent sources as the higher end wines. It's a solid effort, with black fruits threaded with cedar, smoke, licorice and coffee liqueur. It was aged 32 months in 2–6 year old French oak.
Stewed red berries and an herbal streak define the nose, which also offers carob and spice notes. The palate feels mostly deep and padded, with layering and flavors of herbs, pepper, spice and plum. A meaty, herbal finish with a tomato paste quality is the final act.
The nose on this blend of Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec is concentrated, with herbal hints of juniper along with brandied berry and cherry. This is firm and tannic, with deep, earthy flavors of licorice, mint and spiced black fruits. It's grabby and big throughout, with all the nutmeg, anise and wood spice the wine can take.
Once again Zach's ladder is entirely sourced from Red Mountain fruit, including Klipsun and Ciel du Cheval. It's half Syrah and half Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splash of Petit Verdot. Fruity and forward in this cooler vintage, it shows lush red berry flavors with a kiss of cocoa. Tangy and satisfying.
With a hint of rubber and asphalt, the bouquet on this value wine is generous and topped with blackberry and dark plum aromas. The palate is grabby, with clampy tannins and black-fruit flavors mixed with chocolate and spice. The earthy, lightly herbal finish with rubbery nuances is nice.
A great price for this well-made Primitivo, Uvaggio opens with juicy, bright red raspberry and dark cherry flavor, stays light through the mid palate and finishes with a long lingering streak of vanilla. Dry and fresh, it'll pair perfectly with thin-crust pizza topped with basil out of the garden.
A better bottle than the Champoux Cab, this Red Mountain offering brings flavors of raspberry and strawberry preserves. The extra year or two in bottle has softened it up somewhat; though it still shows some signs of both reduction and volatile acidity. This needs to be drunk up; it is not likely to improve.
While it may not be as spicy as some Alsace Gewürztraminer, this definitely shows soft, lychee qualities to go with its soft texture and light acidity. Its delicacy gives it the chance to be an apéritif wine as well as one for food.
A solid, structured Bordeaux. It shows black berry fruit flavors, lifted by acidity and rounded with dark plum, dry spice and firm tannins. There's a fine, juicy richness to the finish, which leaves fruit and dry tannins firmly in place.
Montana (sold as Brancott here in the U.S.) has been trying to make good Pinot at a good price for years, and they seem to be getting closer to their goal. The 2007 South Island Pinot blends fruit from Waipara and Marlborough into a soft, round, cuddly whole, redolent of root beer and beet root and ending with a flourish of tart cherries. Drink now.
Aromas of smoky new wood and blackberries set the scene for a wine that brings out a soft, supple texture, followed by fresh black fruits and light structure. The second wine of Château Corbin Michotte is attractively fresh, smoky and ready to drink.
Dry, certainly not softened by the rich 2003 vintage, but showing fresh fruit, black currants and dry tannins. It's restrained, finely balanced, drinkable now, leaving a soft final impression.
Smooth, rich and soft, this is an attractively balanced blend. It shows black berry fruits, sweet acidity and a very soft, dense and velvety texture.
True aromas of green fruit and grapefruit send it off in the right direction. For Maule SB, this is pretty lively and refreshing. The palate features zesty green-apple flavors backed by a jumpy, agile finish. Nothing special but good while it's young and fresh.
A rich, vividly red and juicy wine, with a fine balance between the acidity and the bright berry fruits. The whole is then underlined by a sweet, raspberry jam character, ripe and easy.
Loaded with passion fruit and pineapple, this is a crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc made for early consumption. It should fit the bill with shellfish or as a bracing apéritif this summer.
Like most Washington Sangiovese, a bit nondescript. You won't mistake it for Chianti, but it doesn't have the ripe strawberry and tobacco punch of the best versions from this state. It's light, herbal, and has gentle tannins with suggestions of cracker and grain.
Pretty scents and flavors suggest raspberry jam and blueberry compote; then some rather scrapey acids and stiff tannins kick in. The excellent fruit is there to begin, but it quickly turns one dimensional and finishes tannic and stemmy.
Fresh and composed, with aromas of asparagus, mineral and citrus. The palate is mild and balanced, with green-infused flavors that hint at bell pepper, green apple and garden-fresh herbs. Slightly pithy and peppery on the tail end, but honest as Casablanca SBs go. Good for quaffing.
Shows a prickly side that's true to the variety. Smells and tastes slightly salinic, but also shows good verve and mouthfeel. This is a lively style of SB with citrus and green-apple flavors. It finishes with edgy gooseberry and seems committed to the crisp, lean style (even from warmer Maule Valley).
A solid, well-made Sauvignon Blanc from RockBare that combines aromas of melon rind and underripe nectarine with flavors of stone fruit and citrus, this is a nice wine, albeit not one that solves the mystery of what Austin Powers was missing in The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Slightly grassy in character, this wine shows green pepper and tight tannins as well as black berry fruits. To balance this, the fruit is very much to the front, the wood and tannins behind. Drink now.
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.
Dry, hot, scratchy berry -fruit aromas are earthy as well. A solid but abrasive palate shows hard, rubbery tannins. Flavors of plum, berry fruits and prune finish a bit stewed.
Aromas of game, medicine cabinet, Band-Aid and herb are followed by creamy-feeling fruit and barrel flavors. Game notes linger on the finish.
A smoky aroma, lots of jammy fruit flavors and a healthy lacing of tannin make this medium-bodied wine taste both generous and dry. It was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels.
Floral and flirty aromas of rose and melon lead this rounded and rich white with a peppery finish. Great with fresh fish, poultry, and a good everyday patio pour.
Aromas of oak, woodshop, raisin and exotic spice carry over to the robust concentrated palate along with fig, prune and a hint of vanilla. The heat of evident alcohol throws it off balance while close-grained tannins give it an astringent finish.
This fruity wine is full of cherry and blackberry flavors. It has a soft texture, lightly spiced and with an attractive balance of acidity and firmer tannins. Drink from 2018.
This ripe fruity wine has soft tannins and generous berry fruit flavors. It is perfumed with mint and spice aromas that fill the glass. It's an attractive wine, juicy at the end and ready to drink.
The wine is crisp with black currants and plenty of acidity. There is a smoky character to this wine that is still young and stalky. Drink from 2018.
Ripe fruit, firm tannins and acidity are showing the potential of this wine. With its blackberry flavors and attractive light tannins, this one should be ready to drink soon, certainly by early 2018.
A ripe, balanced and structured wine, this is dense and full of blackberry and damson fruits. It has spice from the wood aging, along with a dry core of tannins. With its potential, it will be ready to drink from 2018.
A strong wood component at the moment doesn't mask the juicy ripe fruits. They give the wine its ripe character and potential. As it matures, it will be an attractive, ripe wine. Drink from 2019.
This Dulon wine is full of wood flavors that are currently dominating the fruit. That will change as the blackberry fruitiness emerges from the background. So give this wine until 2019 to bring out its inherent juiciness.
Produced from biodynamically grown grapes, the wine is structured with firm tannins and an austere character. The sixth generation of the Hubert family at the estate has made a wine that will need time for the acidity and the structure to soften. From 2019, it will have richness and a more full-bodied character.
This is a fruity wine, full of both red-berry and cherry flavors and some dry tannins that will certainly soften and integrate. It has the potential to be balanced, full and deliciously fruity. Wait until 2019.
The wine is spicy with strong wood flavors. That contrasts with the blackberry fruitiness and fine acidity. It should be well integrated and ready to drink from early 2018.
This wine is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. The aromas are light, with notes of blue fruit, ripe red apple, herb and barrel spice. The palate is medium bodied, with a tart uplift on the finish.
The aromas are incredibly light—barely a whisper. The cherry and plum flavors, meanwhile, are more giving but it still doesn't seem to show enough expression, especially surprising considering the appellation and producer.
The aromas bring notes of apple, hay, medicine cabinet, pepper and game. The flavors are plush in feel, seeming ever so slightly dried out. Still, it brings some appeal.
Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, there's a delicate earthy character to the nose of this wine, lending interest to the ripe red-cherry and -plum fruit. The palate is soft and accessible, with juicy fruit flavors that finish clean but a touch short.
Roasted, leathery and rubbery berry aromas are gritty and short on brightness. This feels rugged but good. Jammy cassis and cherry flavors show notes of cocoa and herbs.
Solidly structured, this is a dense wine. Its black fruits add to the density, giving a concentrated, fruity wine. Drink this starting from mid-2018.
Just off dry, this is a smooth, attractively fruity wine that has a light touch of perfume. The acidity keeps the freshness level up, producing a wine that's easy to drink now. Screwcap.
This unusual expression opens with aromas of butterscotch, vanilla, apple and white flower. The palate offers restrained peach and lemon-peel flavors, with a slightly bitter and buttery finish.
A big burst of vanilla highlights the scents and flavors of this Rhône-inspired blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Unfortunately, all that vanilla obscures the fruit and blankets any subtleties. Residual flavors of stem and slightly green tannins fill in the finish.
Here's a bright, simple and thoroughly enjoyable wine. It's loaded with blackberry and white pepper notes. While it's one dimensional, it's also robust and delicious. Pair this with hearty pastas topped with meat sauces.
Leafy, earthy, underbrush sensations dominate the nose of this 60-40 blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese. The palate feels lean with tobacco leaf, prune, bitter almond and alcohol, alongside bracing, astringent tannins.
Creamy oak matches prickly red plum and cherry aromas. This is tight and rugged in feel, with black plum, herb, spice and dry oak flavors. A toasty finish loses its fruit quickly.
Smoke and musk notes dissipate with aeration to reveal aromas of ripe stone fruit and floral tones. The palate is dry and intensely tart with a piercing lemon-lime acidity. It's a focused, rather linear wine with a steely, mineral finish.
While off-dry in style, there's a savory apple tone throughout, accented by hints of lime zest and herb. The palate boasts juicy pink grapefruit flavor, along with a hint of lanolin that lingers on the finish.
Oak and woodsy underbrush aromas take center stage in this blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese. The palate shows blackberry flavors, rubber, vanilla and espresso notes, alongside abrasive tannins.
Light and very fresh for a Gewurztraminer, this is a wine with as much crisp apple as spice. It's off dry, laced with acidity and very ready to drink.
A big step up from the prior year; the bouquet is spicy, dry, minerally and offers attractive dried flower aromas. The mouthfeel is pure, easygoing and slightly creamy, while the flavors suggest dried raspberry, plum and vanilla for sweetness. Toasty and dry on the finish; elegant for Argentinean PN.
Opens with mildly baked aromas but there's enough fresh fruit, fine herbs and lavender to make it inviting. The palate is narrow and tight but clean and lively, with herbal berry flavors and plenty of power. Finishes long but lean, with cleansing acids. Will go well with an array of foods.
Succulent, dense and syrupy, this dessert Riesling brings a lush midpalate of honey, blossom, tea, candied citrus, butterscotch and more. It's loaded with flavor, just a little high-toned, and falls on the soft side for Washington dessert wines. But delicious? You bet!
Crisp and clean, with lemon-lime and lychee aromas that are typical and well presented. There's body to the wine but also streamlining acidity, resulting in a slick, smooth mouthfeel. Flavors of green melon, citrus and lychee are fresh and positive.
A soft and deliciously jammy wine. It has immediately attractive ripe plum and berry fruits, layered with balancing acidity. The tannins sit well in the plump cushion of the wine. Not for aging.
No doubt informed by winemaker Daryl Groom's California experience, this is a fine example of Australian Zinfandel, marrying briary berry fruit with subtle herbal notes and hints of vanilla, cinnamon and clove. The tannins are soft, yet the wine remains fresh on the finish. Drink now–2013.
White Rully is one of the unsung values of Burgundy. This soft, attractive ripe wine is a pleasure to drink. It has a buttery, toast character along with crisp acidity, delicious apricot fruit and a mouthwatering aftertaste.
Cherry and raspberry aromas are a little scratchy, with accents of toast, leather and roasted meat. The palate, on the other hand, is more lean, driving and citric than in riper years; it's crisp and fresh, with red plum, pie cherry and toasty oak flavors. Clean, lean and ready to drink.
A nicely balanced rendition of Tempranillo, with dark, berry-scented fruit and a veneer of vanilla and toasty oak. Easy, with supple tannins that don't get in the way of present enjoyment.
Another solid effort from this young winery, the Cabernet is augmented with a 12% mix of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. Compact and clean, it puts on a display of well-structured cranberry, cherry and cassis fruit, lightly tasting of savory earth, pencil lead and bark.
This Amarone has ripe blackberry aromas, with hints of raisin and spice. The palate shows black cherry, black pepper and prune notes. It has tight tannins and fresh acidity, but needs time to unwind and develop; drink after 2016.
Pure Syrah from the Boushey vineyard, this is wound tightly around a core of pomegranate and cassis. Threads of licorice, coffee grounds and liquid smoke provide darker highlights, while the lingering finish offers details of dried leaves and herbs.
Here's a straightforward Amarone, with dense black fruit and spice aromas. The palate delivers blackberry, plum and raisin flavors, with white pepper and chocolate accents. It doesn't have a lot of complexity, but is delicious and ready to drink.
A rich, ripe wine, striated with yellow fruits, acidity and spice from wood. It is warm and generous, while not losing sight of its origins in the streak of minerality. A fine, attractive wine that could do with another year's aging.
Rich wine, full of yellow fruits, apricots and peaches that give ripeness. It has weight, a solidity that is balanced by the totally refreshing acidity. Hints of the wood aging give spice as well as adding to the rich effect. Age for 2–3 years.
Here's a Pinot Grigio with structure and personality, proving why Friuli is Italy's white wine capital. It's loaded with creamy green apple and pear sensations uplifted by energizing mineral notes. The finish is crisp and clean.
This vintage no-dosage Cava is naturally smoky smelling and crisp as a whistle, with apple aromas. It feels entirely fresh and full of energy, with lemon, underripe pineapple and apple flavors. The finish is pure, and as you'd expect from a top-notch brut nature, minerally and elegant.
The vineyard-designated wines from Novelty Hill consistently reflect the site in terms of a deep-seated earthy, herbal character. It's quite like a modern Bordeaux, taking the cassis fruit as a base and cloaking it with toasted flavors from earth and barrel.
This is one of the better Tempranillos from Washington, with concentrated boysenberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit anchoring the flavors. It carries a nice whiff of bacon fat and is buoyed by a natural minerality.
Made from 30% dried grapes in the Amarone method, this delicious wine is loaded with mouthwatering black cherry, carob and fig flavors, with touches of mocha and nutmeg. It's silky smooth, with polished tannins, fresh acidity and depth that offers effortless drinkability and pleasure.
Loaded with pretty black-cherry flavor, this is a Cabernet-based, Bordeaux-style blend. Sourced from Klipsun, Red Willow, Olsen and Stillwater Creek, it shows a fair amount of stiff, slightly green tannins. The earthy subtext is all in proportion, and this plays like a young Bordeaux. Give it some extra breathing time.
Earthy aromas of clay accent core blackberry and cassis scents. Hailing from a warm year, it's not surprising that this feels lush and padded. Flavors of chunky blackberry, stewed plum and chocolate finish creamy, earthy and a touch flat. Drink this meaty, round, soft-bodied Toro now through 2016.
If you know Elqui, than this funky wine's murky, stewy, muddy aromas won't come as a shock. In the mouth, this is soft and mushy, with little to no noticeable acidity. Flavors of burnt leaves and stalky berry fruits offer minimal punch, while the finish tastes stewy and rooty, which is nothing unusual for northerly Elqui.
Barely noticeable aromas of wet rocks and sour red-fruit skins try to show on the nose of this wine. The palate is characterized by iron, wet rocks and dust flavors, without much fruit.
Rustic, gaseous aromas of soupy berry fruits and tire rubber create a struggling nose. Rubbery tannins and a lack of a focal point make for a jumbled palate, while this tastes stewy, weedy and low on fresh fruit.
Sweet red cherry, strawberry and smoky charred oak figure most prominently in this robust, full-bodied wine, which opens in a yeasty, baked bread note, and which comes across as somewhat undeveloped.
Lightly sweet and simply fruity, this wine tastes a bit like peaches and has a gentle texture.
If forced to drink too much of this clumsy, grassy, horsey smelling blend, you might be a dissident, too. This is sticky and cloying on the palate, with sweet, candied, herbal black-fruit flavors that finish under a covering of residual sugar.
Herb aromas and veggie flavors dominate this light-bodied wine. Not much fruit flavor peeks through the herb garden, but the lean white pepper notes and crisp texture are appealing.
Made to be affordable and easygoing, this is indeed a simple wine, showing light, bright flavors and aromas of apple, cucumber and lime.
Cool, herbal aromas of blueberry are unusual. This is blocky in feel, with a low level of finesse. Candied, herbal cherry and medicinal berry flavors finish with mint and spice notes along with a green character.
A puzzling wine, which bears no resemblance to other examples of this variety. Scents and flavors of vanilla dominate, around flavors of bruised melon, bubble gum and a bit of plastic. Two bottles tasted with similar notes.
Two thirds Syrah and one-third Mourvèdre, this highly aromatic rosé features hints of passion fruit alongside confected, bubblegum flavors balanced by a squirt of lime on the finish. Drink now.
Prickly, sweaty aromas of cactus and nettle are not overly attractive. This is weakly built, with hardly any spine. Bland, salty white-fruit flavors finish quick and a touch sour.
This Riesling-led blend smells pithy and bitter. It's generic and blocky on the palate, with flavors of white mushroom and bitter citrus fruits. Grapefruit pith and orange rind flavors drive the finish. Tasted twice with similar findings.
Deep in color, this rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon lacks zip and zest on a lazy nose. A chunky, grabby mouthfeel gives off the sensation of grape skins, while this tastes a bit foxy and herbal, with little to no fruit character.
Monotone aromas of apple and citrus are stalky and suggest that this is in decline. Mild citrus flavors are stalky like the nose, while this finishes with pithy, bitter notes of lemon.
This wine has an attractive salmon-pink color followed by ripe caramel and spice flavors. The fruit and acidity don't feature as strongly, so the end result is a wine that is fat.
This is extremely lean and acrid, with flavors of yellow apple skin and bitter walnut but no fruit richness.
Rubbery, resiny aromas are borderline unpleasant. This feels heavy and cidery, while stalky, pickled, woody flavors dominate. An oaky, briny tasting finish leaves little room for platitudes.
A heavily pickled-smelling nose includes aromas of sea brine and vinegar. Narrow on the palate, this SB tastes of sour tangerine and green beans. Salty, briny and tart on the finish, with a note of yellow mustard.
Cherry and plum aromas lack purity and turn more earthy, horsey and unclean upon airing. Sharp, cutting acidity creates and jagged palate, while flavors of sour black plum and cherry finish with saucy notes on a choppy, short finish.
By now it's known that 2013 was a cold, tough, miserly vintage in most of Spain, RDD included. But this horsey, funky number goes beyond vintage conditions. It's unfocused, citric, leafy and green, with a hammering finish. Bottom line: this is not what you want from Ribera del Duero.
Yeasty, pyrazinic aromas are strained and less than clean. This feels chunky, with moderate acidic cut. Generic citrus flavors quickly turn bitter, while the finish is weak in constitution, an indication that this has nowhere to go but down.
Aromas of burnt wood, saline solution and mealy fruit do not impress. This feels both resiny and acidic, while flavors of oak and salty white fruits finish with a final coating of unappealing oak.
A sappy combo of spiced tomato, cinnamon and candied aromas makes for a sketchy nose. This blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Carmenère feels raw, while forced flavors of buttery oak clash with herbal berry fruit. Green and herbaceous on the finish.
There's a lack of structure and soul in this wine, which presents as somewhat mushy in tropical fruit and preserved lemon.
This wine has a herbal character that doesn't mesh with the lightly tannic and tangy structure. The effect is of a wine that comes from grapes that were too green.
A strong caramel aroma and flavor spoils the suggestions of fruit. They give a ripe, almost sweet character that doesn't match with the red-currant fruit flavors.
The attractive half bottle means this vintage wine can age more quickly than the same wine in a full bottle. It's already hinting at maturity with touches of cookie and toast flavors. There is still a fresh apple and citrus streak that gives a steel, mineral thrust at the end.
While Argentine Malbecs aren't textbook cellaring wines, this one has enough spirit, tannin and structure to benefit from a few years on its side. Now, it's lush on the nose, with ripe berry, pencil eraser, vanilla and marzipan aromas. The palate is chewy but well built, with dense blackberry, cassis, coconut and chocolate flavors. On the finish, things only intensify. Will be at its best around 2015–2016.
Both grapey and leathery, this is already a bit dried out and should be consumed near term. It's vineyard designated and pure varietal, aged for 22 months in a single French oak barrel.
This Torrontés is a bit oily on the nose, with citrusy scents of orange and pineapple lurking in the background. In the mouth, it's a zinger, with sharp acids and a mix of tropical flavors and green apple. This finishes fresh and lean.
The aromas boast a classic Pacific Northwest Malbec profile of sweet, ripe plums and peppery spice. The tart, lean flavors can't back them up, though bringing a pleasing sense of freshness.
This is a standard SB that was made for near-term quaffing. The nose delivers citrus and oceanic crispness, while in the mouth it's modest, with white pepper, green bean, bell pepper and citrus flavors. On the finish, it's citrusy at first but then slips toward bitter tasting.
This is a tannic, hard-edged Cabernet, sourced from the Artz vineyard on Red Mountain. The heavy-set tannins surround slightly green flavors of herb, stem and black olive, along with dark and earthy black fruits.
One needs to lean into the glass to find the notes of vanilla, peach, and tropical fruit here. It's oily and broad in feel with the alcohol adding a bitter note to the finish.
A somewhat unusual expression of Viognier with notes of lime, lime leaf, and white peach that seem more reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc. It's full bodied and viscous, ending with a bitter note.
A lightly aromatic offering of Cabernet Franc with notes of cherry cola, medicine cabinet, and herbs. The palate leans heavily on the grainy tannic structure with the light fruit flavors accented by tart, fresh acidity
The entry wine of Château Lagrezette lives up to its name in the color. With its soft tannins, touch of smokiness and blackberry-juice fruit flavors, it's a fine showpiece for the more open side of Malbec.
Light, fruity wine, hinting at strawberries, along with a vanilla touch from the Merlot in the blend. It's crisp and ready to drink.
Talk about a sharp wine; this almost socks you in the nose upon taking a whiff. It's full of citrus and jalapeño aromas, which are backed by sizzling bell pepper, serrano chili and lime flavors. Expect a raw feeling and super crisp finish.
An estate-grown 81% Merlot (the rest Cabernet Sauvignon), this wine takes time to come around in the glass, the alcohol overpowering the fruit at first. But in time, the red fruit and soft tannins mellow and make themselves known and this mostly-Merlot becomes a savory, food-friendly quaff.
Fragrant in leather, lavender and licorice, this full-bodied Amador blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre and is fine, tannic and clearly born of mountain air. The finish tastes of very ripe fruit.
This wine's cranberry and raspberry fruit is framed by scents of smoky, toasty oak. It's light in body, with a tart, tangy finish. Try it with seafood dishes that can handle a light red, like grilled or broiled salmon.
This affordable bottling from sustainably minded vineyards is a good everyday dinner wine. It offers violet and blackberry on the nose and a lush feel in the mouth, with black cherry and soft tannins.
This wine needs to be decanted. At first the scents and flavors of green produce abound, and the fruit is masked. After some hours, it begins to show more fruit and less of the vegetal flavors, but remains a bit sharp and short.
The wine is full of acidity as well as bright raspberry and red currant fruits. It has a light, fresh feel that's given added weight by firmer fruit tannins and a concentrated dry aftertaste. Drink from 2016.
The color goes from medium garnet in the middle to a light brownish on the rim. It smells like dried cherry, sage and toast, and tastes substantially fruity. The wine feels just structured enough by acidity and tannin for balance.
This traditional Southern Rhône blend features some attractive floral and herbal aromas some might call garrigue, but also an intrusive cruciferous note. It's a crisp, medium-bodied wine with bright, red-plum fruit flavors and a hint of cabbage. Drink it now–2016.
Made from Sangiovese, with 5% Merlot and 5% Canaiolo and Mammolo, this features aromas that recall forest floor, wet leaves and baking spices. The forward palate offers vanilla, plum cake and baking spices but the fruit richness is starting to dry up. Enjoy soon.
This robust, one-dimensional wine delivers mature fruit sensations of stewed prune, fig and resin, along with oak extract, vanilla and espresso. The palate is sugary sweet but lacks fruit richness. Drying wood tannins leave an astringent finish.
This full-bodied and apparently sweet Zinfandel drinks more like a Port than a dry wine. It smells like boysenberry syrup on waffles, has a juicy, soft texture, and raisin and prune flavors.
This blend is 44% Cab Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot. It's stubbornly closed, with aromas of tar, earth and rubber ball rather than fruit. Some brambly berry flavors can be found, but the finish seems hard and slightly bitter.
Here's a simple, easygoing wine that offers fleshy black cherry, clove, cinnamon and accents of white pepper. It's extremely accessible, with soft acidity and fleeting tannins. Enjoy through 2015.
At first this Merlot-led blend is heavily charred and toasty on nose, but with time baked berry aromas rise up. A full palate features a lactic note offset by jagged acidity, while toasty, herbal flavors include berry, mint and wood resin. This is Merlot, Shiraz, Tempranillo and Viognier.
The nose on this Long Island Syrah is rich and ruddy, with aromas of stewed plum and chocolate, but the palate is surprisingly fresh and primary in black cherry flavor. Green, herbal notes linger from start to finish for added refreshment.
Bone-dry, this blend of Negrette, Malbec and Gamay is rich, packed with strawberry fruits and spice. A touch of vanilla makes the acidity ripe and soft. Drink this attractive rosé now.
This is fresh and juicy, relishing its cherry and light spice flavors as well as its aromatic acidity. It's balanced, with some depth of flavor that gives weight to the fruitiness. Drink now.
Woody, toasty oak notes shade aromas of apple and lemon on this sparkling Chardonnay. Bristling lemon-lime acidity helps to balance out a foam of rich, thick, expansive bubbles.
Soft and creamy, this is a bright, apple and pear fruity wine. It's light and very fresh, layering acidity and a citrus burst at the end. Drink now.
This is a highly herbal Cab with strong aromas of juniper and pyrazines. The palate feels full but tannic, while leafy, dry, roasted berry flavors finish with baked notes and a lasting herbal flavor.
Invitingly floral and fresh, with hints of summer blossom and a citrus edge, this is very easygoing, frothy, light-hearted fizz, ideal for parties and picnics, with generous but still dry-finishing dosage.
Having spent considerable time in bottle, this 2009 Zin is midweight and full of sweet plum, raspberry and strawberry tones, accented by a smoky finish.
This robust but one-dimensional wine opens with funky aromas that include game and leafy underbrush. Oak, espresso, coffee bean and vanilla dominate the palate. It lacks fruit richness and fresh acidity.
This simple wine offers up subdued sensations of raw berries and a hint of mocha but it lacks fruit richness. It's already very evolved and should be drunk soon.
Roasted coffee bean, underbrush, toast and allspice lead the nose. The simple palate offers dense cherry extract, licorice and the warmth of alcohol. It's already evolved so drink now.
Made with Sangiovese and Canaiolo, this friendly wine opens with aromas of mature black plum and crushed blue flower. The one-dimensional and forward palate offers black raspberry accented with notes of clove and a hint of white pepper. Pair it with medium-seasoned cheeses or dense Tuscan bean soup.
Jammy berry aromas are slightly exotic. The palate has a wide yet acidic feel that lacks depth and structure. Blocky flavors of plum and berry are tangy and simple, while the finish fails to evolve past chunky and static.
Blackberry, vanilla and minerally aromas give this solidity on the nose. A high-acid palate is a bit shrill, which amplifies tangy red raspberry and plum flavors. On the finish, this rides high and fast on a lasting beam of acidity.
Dry, earthy and leathery on the nose, with finely etched aromas of raspberries, plums and other red berries. This feels fresh and pure, with balance, weight, tannic grip and perfect acidity. It's bright, forward and juicy, with elevated flavors of plums, berries and peppery spices. A blend of 85% Cab Franc and 15% Cab Sauvignon.
A rush of blueberry introduces this exceptional Malbec. Pure and deep, it is streaked with bark, iron, clove and dark chocolate. Impressively long and focused, this has the structure and balance to develop further in the bottle. But as a young wine, it is already delicious and utterly seductive.
This is a ripe, creamy wine made with grapes from a single vineyard. It's smooth yet laced with minerality and a tang of lemon zest, green apple and kiwi. This should age nicely for 3–4 years.
This pure, supple, fruit-laden Syrah is loaded with wild blackberry fruit, and detailed veins of licorice, coffee, and iron filings. The wine's excellent length and polished tannins showcase exceptional handling of superb fruit.
This Bordeaux-style blend is Baer's top wine. A bright bouquet of violet, berry, pepper and stone greets you at first sniff, and it gets better and better from there. Dark fruits weave through a supple and striated flavor palette, long and detailed.
This delicious wine offers subtle barrel nuances, with ripe plum and strawberry fruits. Along with this is a stylish crispness, just touched by spice and toast. This is a serious wine, intended for food.
This southern Rhône-style blend includes 10% each Marsanne and Roussanne. It's flat out lovely and silky smooth, with scents and flavors of honey-laced flowers. Lemon, lime and grapefruit dominate the palate, with superb balance and persistence. Certainly one of the best Washington State Viogniers I have ever tasted.
Right on the heels of the excellent 2008, this estate-grown Bordeaux-style blend is equally compelling. Bright and tasty fruit flavors of blueberry and black cherry introduce a lively, polished wine with a firm, complex and layered structure. Seventeen months in French oak, roughly half new, has wrapped the fruit in a nicely-layered, textural finish with highlights of mineral, licorice, black olive and spice.
The vineyards of the Benedictine monastery of Göttweig are now run by the Stadt Krems winemaking team. The quality is now impeccable, as this gorgeous, opulent Riesling shows. With weight and a fine balance between fruit and structure, this will age over many years.
An excellent effort given that 2008 was by no means an excellent vintage. This Tempranillo is loaded with alluring aromas of sous-bois, marzipan, cola, moss and black-fruit aromas. The feel is thorough and pure, with blackberry, black licorice, graphite and chocolate flavors. It's textured and deep, but not overly tannic or hard on the finish. Drink now through 2015.
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.
A very herbal, red-fruit-infused Cabernet, from, as the name says, just one clone: Clone 30. This blockbuster California Cab has leather, tobacco and dusty dark-chocolate-layered tannins, that still somehow taste softened and are accompanied by a note of black licorice. Cellar it for 10–12 years and the fruit should get along even better with the tannins.
A brooding bottle of tobacco and dark chocolate with ever-present tannins that go down easy and stay awhile. This single-vineyard designate from Livermore will impress Napa Valley Cab fans and encourage them to get to know this producer. Smith Ranch has body for miles, bolstered by flavors and aromas of blackberry, black plum and fig. This wine will develop further over the next 5–7 years.
Grenache makes up half of this wine, with the rest equal parts Counoise and Cabernet Sauvignon. Herb, cherry, clove and pencil-eraser aromas lead to plump yet delicate red-fruit flavors that linger on the finish. It's a very pretty wine.
The name references a type of soil. The flavors combine red berries and a whiff of mushroom, along with spice, orange peel and citrus. The wine seems to tighten up through the midpalate, which leaves the finish feeling a bit restrained. Try giving it a good long decanting, or cellar till 2020.
This wine is a blend of Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon and Benches Merlot (25%). Aromas of cedar, savory herb, barrel spice and cherry are followed by plush yet tart cranberry flavors. The finish lingers.
This offers great value for the quality, a mix of salty brine, stone and caramel apple that delves into more voluptuous dabs of pineapple. Light-bodied and food-friendly, it shows focused acidity and restrained oak.
There is a gentle side to this medium-bodied wine, as it offers aromatic complexity with slightly restrained fruit flavors. Light aromas like cedar shavings and black pepper give way to a smooth texture supported by moderate tannins, and pretty plum and pomegranate flavors.
This blend of wines from Dão, Bairrada and Lisboa is ripe, full of black fruits and with subtle signs of the wood aging. Named to celebrate the Portuguese mariners who sailed to the spice islands of the East Indies, it is warm with its own spiciness as well as a juicy aftertaste. Drink now.
Heady aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine and white peach set the tone on this refreshing savory white. The bright creamy palate doles out green apple, yellow pear and white almond alongside tangy acidity. It finishes clean and fresh.
Made with organically grown Sangiovese grapes and without added sulfites, this offers aromas of blackberry, black tea and thyme. The juicy savory palate tastes of blackberry jam, raspberry and clove framed in smooth, supple tannins and fresh acidity. Drink soon to enjoy the succulent fruit flavors.
This astringent mineral-soaked wine gathers itself around tart raspberry fruit. Youthful and compact, it shows little trace of the 18% new oak in which it was aged. This seems likely to show further improvement with additional bottle age and softening.
Gritty aromas of tire rubber, burnt meat and herbal black fruits introduce a grabby palate with lightly herbal but heavily oaked flavors of plum and berry. A firm snappy finish tastes a touch salty as well as minty. Drink through 2024.
Juicy and smoky, this robust wine is thickly textured and earthy in dusty dried herb. Blackberry, tar and leather provide ample additional intrigue, with a pleasing taste of strawberry jam and supportive, toasty oak.
A half of this wine is made from Petit Verdot, the remainder consisting of 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Together they offer a full-bodied, richly ripe grip of big body, tannin and blueberry jam.
This wine is dark-colored, full-flavored and firmly structured, and will pair nicely with a big protein like a grilled steak or osso buco. It does a great job of combining concntrated dark-fruit flavors with some dark chocolate, on a bracing texture of good acidity and fine-grained tannins.
Blended with smaller amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot, this mighty wine offers a depth and concentration of berry pie, chocolate and vanilla within a moderately structured amount of acidity. Bright cassis and currant add some freshness.
Light and delicate, this wine also offers a lushness to the texture, finding a balance between the two spectrums. Cranberry and strawberry dot a landscape of earthy tobacco and cola-laced oak, finishing with a bold taste of dark chocolate.
This purple Carignan smells jammy, with an infusion of raw oak. In the mouth, high acidity creates ample energy to balance the full body and structured tannins. Flavors of ripe blackberry and plum linger on the robust finish. Drink through 2022.
A relatively new brand from Tahbilk, the Old School Red blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 45% Shiraz. The result is a medium- to full-bodied red with a silky texture and flavors reminiscent of cassis, vanilla and baking spices. Drink it over the next several years.
As in 2014, this budget label from Paul O'Brien winery is a stunning value in an Oregon Pinot Noir. A total of 20% of the fruit was sourced from the Willamette Valley, and all was barrel aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak. Concentrated raspberry and cherry fruit is complemented with streaks of earth and bark. The texture is compelling, and the stiff tannins will continue to soften up over the next decade or so.
This blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon with 31% Zinfandel and 18% Sangiovese. Together they offer juicy red fruit, licorice and leather in a thickly concentrated package, ripe and full-bodied with a bright core of acidity. Mountain sage is sprinkled throughout.
Stony mineral notes juxtapose rich honey and grapefruit flavors in this foursquare dry Riesling. It's broad and creamy on the palate yet briskly balanced with acidity. The finish is vibrant and long, accented with hints of lime and salt. Drink now through 2020.
Earthy aromas of truffle, damp soil, new leather and black-skinned fruit lead the way while the polished palate shows dried black cherry, prune, clove and ground pepper. Tightly wound, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide the backbone while notes of tobacco and orange zest linger on the finish.
Alluring scents of bright red berry, blue flower, dark spice and a whiff of espresso float out of the glass. The bright, savory palate delivers juicy wild cherry, cassis, clove and star anise set against firm refined tannins. It's balanced, with bright acidity. A cedar note closes the finish.
Concentrated aromas of honey, golden raisin, date, jasmine and fig are lifted by a nutty walnut component that adds intrigue on the late harvest bottling. The viscous sip grabs hold of attention immediately, with buoyant and bright acidity holding up the honey and raisin flavors.
Bottled to celebrate the brand's 15th anniversary, this “Essence of Oregon” blend includes grapes from 35 different vineyards. It's a lively lovely wine, with spicy raspberry and cranberry fruit, framed in dark chocolate. Balancing acids keep it fresh and focused, and it has some of the lush jamminess of the better 2015 Beaujolais.
Moderately bodied and spiced, this is a straightforward expression of the variety, a mix of pomegranate, red cherry and cassis, that has a deceptive richness on the finish, wrapped in oak.
Aged in 100% once-filled barrels, this is a selection from barrels set aside for the reserve programs. Without the influence of new oak, a streak of citrus comes into play, giving this apple and berry-flavored wine a crisp tart edge.
Gritty aromas of road tar share space on the nose with black cherry and dark plum scents. This feels hard and abrasive, even by Ribera del Duero standards. Plum, berry and integrated oak flavors finish savory and with a lasting note of dry oak. Drink through 2023.
One of a trio of very limited, single-vineyard Quady North Syrahs, this is lightly funky and compact, with lovely details throughout. Blueberry, plum and cherry fruit combine, underscored with an earthy funkiness. The ying–yang of citrus and leather bounces along through the finish. Never boring, and a bit challenging, this is also a good value.
Rich and concentrated, this big, brawny bruiser tastes as advertised: layered with baked strawberry and cherry pie flavor and ripeness. Earthy soy, anise and cinnamon keep those elements in check, as does the wine's velvety texture.
Rich texture combines with subtle flavors in this full-bodied, complex wine. It opens with mineral and white pepper aromas, broadens into Anjou pear, vanilla and toasted almonds flavors, and finishes with creamy concentration.
Feral strawberry grabs all the attention in this wildly fierce, high-acid wine that packs a punch in texture, tannin power and body. Small amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah figure into the blend, which is made in minuscule amounts.
Subtle aromas vie for a place amidst bold swathes of toasted oak and leather in this concentrated, full-bodied wine. Plum and forest floor fill out the midpalate, striking a balance between ripe fruit and savory seasonings.
Dense and woody, this blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Richly layered, it's tannic and robust in oak, allowing a delicate rendering of cassis and red currant to show quietly.
Caramelized black currant and dark tobacco leaf aromas make for a rich nose in this bottling from the longtime family producer. The palate packs elderberry and dried violet flavors, with pencil shaving, charred wood and smoky touches. The tannins are full and firm.
This wine's shy nose barely hints at black cherry and plum. The palate is taut and framed by smooth, finely woven tannins that still hold its juicy red fruit tight. A pleasant, fresh, aromatic grip lingers.
Elderflower, grapefruit, dried herb and tomato vine scents lead the way in this linear, medium-bodied white. The bright, savory palate offers honeydew melon, kiwi and juicy citrus flavors, with fresh acidity that leaves a mouthwatering finish.
Apart from a ripe blueberry scent, the nose of this Zwiegelt and Cabernet Sauvignon blend is shy. The palate presents juicy, cinnamon-tinged blackberry and black cherry fruit, with a lovely whisper of white pepper around the edges. A very successful wine for a very ripe vintage, it has the firm tannins of Cabernet to lend appetizing balance to all the juicy fruit.
Fennel and yellow plum notes mark the nose, followed by flavors of peach, mirabelle plum and something akin to vegetable oil. This is richly textured for a dry Riesling, with a lingering, velvety feel on the long finish.
This opens with mostly toast and barrel char, but airing allows chocolate and spice aromas into play. This Malbec feels tight, stout and chewy, with fresh acidity and firm tannins. Black-fruit flavors are toasty all the way to a peppery spicy finish. Drink through 2021.
Grippy with tannin and firm structure, this warm-vintage wine shows rich red cherry, currant and spicy clove flavors. Tinged with a touch of reduction, it gains depth and mouthfeel from its prominent oak.
This is a pristinely fruity yet vivacious sparkling rosé. It's deft in body and scintillatingly crisp, offering layers of tart red-apple and raspberry flavors. Fine delicate froth and persistent bubbles set it apart, as does its long sugar-cookie finish.
Berry and black-plum aromas are dense. This wine from silt (limo) soils feels a bit tannic and rugged. Flavors of plum and berry fruits are spicy, while the finish is savory tasting and long, with moderate complexity. Drink through 2021.
While there was some bottle variation between two samples, this elegant Sauvignon Blanc highlights the variety's more mineral, smoky expressions. Despite six years of cellar aging, there's still plenty of crisp cutting lemon and green-apple flavors augmented by spine-tingling acidity and a long chalky finish.
Edgy cherry and currant aromas are more crisp than rich, while this old-vines Rioja also shows an aromatic note of dusty earth. High acidity tethered to a medium body creates some midpalate emptiness, while plum, currant and berry flavors are fresh on a pointy finish. Drink through 2024.
Intense yellow stone fruit, grapefruit, smoky flint and nutmeg aromas jump out of the glass. The bright, generous palate doles out juicy apricot, mature peach and orange zest notes, framed by tangy acidity. A mineral note lifts the lingering finish.
Domaine Houchart is one of the top estates in Sainte-Victoire. This ripe while deliciously fruity and fresh wine is full of raspberries, ripe red currants and a refreshing line of acidity.
This remarkably balanced semi-dry wine is intensely aromatic, with scents of preserved yellow peaches, saffron and spice. Juicy and ripe in stone fruit flavor, it's unabashedly forward, yet piercing acidity and delicate mineral tones lend elegance and style. Finishes with a lingering kiss of honey.
The historic Dr. Konstantin Frank winery has long been a source for consistent, well-priced wines in the Finger Lakes. Pretty on the nose, with delicate floral and stone-fruit aromas, it builds in intensity and power on the palate, with a crush of sweet-tart grapefruit and nectarine flavors. Hints of fresh herb, honeycomb and zippy lemon-lime acidity add nuance and balance to a long finish.
Deep garnet in color, this blend has aromas of cherry cola, black cherry and butterscotch. This smooth, well-balanced wine offers flavors of blueberry, black cherry, caramel, toffee and Chinese five-spice powder. Almost imperceptible tannins yield to an invigorating finish with a touch of caramel.
Rich and seductive, this brims with dense aromas and flavors of baked apple, dried stone fruit, tangerine peel and a touch of lanolin. There's great balance between the round, lush texture and clean, refreshing acidity, keeping the palate fresh and lively. Soft nuances of honey-roasted nut and toast unfold on the finish. Drink now–2016.
There's an intense minerality throughout this dry, elegantly structured wine. It's boldly concentrated with yellow peach and quince flavors, yet chiseled with streaks of lime acidity, lanolin and steel. Finishes long with a fragrant spray of honeysuckle.
Ravan is the local Slovenian name for the Friulano grape. This tasty wine is medium gold to dark straw in color with aromas of honeysuckle, passion fruit and freshly baked apple pie. The finish is pleasantly astringent with lingering flavors of hazelnut. It's perfect to pair with game birds such as duck or quail.
Deep ruby in the glass, it offers aromas of black cherry and butterscotch. Smooth, seamless tannins encase flavors of black cherry, cherry cola, herbes du Provence and orange zest. The well-integrated flavors hold on through the smooth finish, which is punctuated by a closing burst of mint.
Aromas include black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, bramble and a light touch of eucalyptus. It's fruit forward and juicy on the lips yet pleasantly restrained in the midpalate. It would be an enjoyable wine at a barbecue.
Whiffs of smoke and herbs add complexity to this beautifully floral, fruity wine. Off-dry in style, it's richly concentrated with peach and apricot flavors that reverberate on the palate with bracing lime-toned acidity. The long finish has a bristle of lemon-zest astringency.
With its blend that includes perfumed Mourvèdre, this is a solidly tannic while also aromatic wine. It tastes of the garrigue and wild plants that surround the vineyards, giving both tannin and rich dark plum fruit flavors. It needs to age, so drink from 2016.
A crisp, very textured wine that has red fruits and a salty edge from the closeness of the vines to the sea. It has a mineral texture, grapefruit and raspberry flavors, intense and bone dry. The wine needs food to be at its best.
This medium-bodied wine is tightly structured and bracingly acidic, yet doesn't lack for ripeness or fruit. Guava, gooseberry and grapefruit are all present from aromatic start to lengthy, focused finish. It's a crisp, refreshing counterpoint to some of Marlborough's softer styles of Sauvignon Blanc.
Dry, yeasty aromas of citrus and fresh-baked bread are, as expected for a brut nature, clean and focused. Flavors of white fruits, green herbs and citrus finish fresh, with more than adequate fruit and balance.
From 100-plus-year-old Carignane vines, with splashes of Grenache, too, this is a refreshing wine for spring and summer. Stony in grapefruit and peach, it's balanced, light and dry with a fruity kick.
Minerally and firm on the nose, it bursts with blackberry and plum aromas. In the mouth, this is lively and medium bodied, while nice acidity allows it to roll over the palate while showing earthy flavors of black fruits and rubber. A saucy, leathery, meaty-tasting finish is friendly in feel.
Los Tanos hails from La Consulta in the Uco Valley, as does its brothers, Los Turcos and Los Gallegos. As stated in the Turcos and Gallegos reviews, these wines are triplets in terms of their oaky, creamy, sweet characteristics and overt richness. Tasted side by side by side, they are almost one in the same, with an emphasis on creamy oak, resiny mouthfeels and ripe berry fruits.
This oaky, creamy Malbec is one of Karim Mussi Saffie's trilogy of 2011 La Consulta single-vineyard varietals, and they are so similar in aromas, body weight, flavors and high oak levels that they are virtually interchangeable. Like its bretheren, this pours on the wood, vanilla, graphite, pencil eraser and resin along with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Maybe with time in the bottle it'll gain more individuality.
A brilliant gold color in the glass, this opens with rich aromas of grilled apple, buttered toast, ripe melon and a touch of honey. The round, lush texture is balanced by lifting acidity, which also keeps the ripe stone fruit and sweet spice flavors clean and lifted on the lingering finish. Drink now–2016.
This lovely rosé is made from certified sustainable grapes of indeterminate variety. Slightly effervescent in tart cherry and mint, there's a textured, complex layering of strawberry and raspberry in the mix that makes the wine bright and refreshing.
This is pure Malbec from the Gamache vineyard. The lush, concentrated fruit is a generous bowl-full of berries, lightly dusted with peppery herbs. The midpalate is concentrated and shows pretty floral and pipe tobacco highlights, while the tannins have a chewy, rustic edge.
Vibrant and structured, it has aromas of flint, brimstone, lemon zest and grapefruit, all of which carry over to the palate alongside racy acidity. The bright, juicy palate is accented with energizing mineral that add depth.
This bold wine doles out vivid aromas of black fruit, earth, tobacco and spice. The palate offers layers of blackberry, cherry, currants and black pepper along with balsamic and mineral notes. It should develop more complexity over the next few years. Drink through 2018.
Hints of bramble accent bright raspberry and peach scents on this refreshingly dry rosé. Juicy and fresh on the palate, it balances intense cherry and wild strawberry flavors with a brisk, brash acidity that drives a long finish.
A rich wine, it adds a finely textured dimension to the red fruitiness and fresh acidity. With complex fruits, structure as well as the attractive crispness, it's a dry wine, best drunk with food.
A struck-flint note on the nose gives this wine a touch of fumé character, and the familiar tropical fruit and overt green notes seem reined-in for this vintage. Those attributes actually make the 2013 an easier match with food, as does the racy line of acids that impart a crisp, citrusy feel from start to finish.
Sensations of pressed flowers, exotic fruit, white peach, nectarine, almond and mineral sensations all meld together smoothly and effortlessly. It has structure and depth but is also very easy to drink.
The nose on this dry, medium-bodied wine is fairly neutral, with subdued aromas of lemon, lime and apple. On the palate, however, it's exuberantly floral with notes of orange blossom and white peaches accented with lime zest and acidity. Finishes long with reverberating mineral tones.
structured wine, it's loaded with sensations of juicy nectarine, grapefruit, ripe peach and mineral. Racy acidity adds balance and the lingering finish ends on an almond note.
89–91. Barrel sample. This chateau has been newly acquired by the Barton family of Léoville Barton. It's an attractive, fruity wine with warm tannins. The palate is fine and juicy, and finishes softly at the end.
Cherry and plum aromas are basic and candied, while the palate on this Prieto Picudo-based wine is perky and acidic. The flavors run dilute and herbal, with cherry pie and tart raspberry notes. Lingering acidity makes the finish both fresh and sharp.
Soft and somewhat dilute, this wine is attractively crisp but does not show great character. It's a fine apéritif wine, light and gently fruity.
This lightweight wine is dominated by juicy red fruit. Fresh in character, it has bright acids and soft tannins. Not a wine for aging.
This wine veers between firm tannins from old wood and red fruit acidity, without finding balance. It's very dry, with a hard edge.
This opens with a heavy black-cherry aroma that's topped with a hint of leaf and a whiff of plastic. It feels medicinal and tastes like a mix of cherry cough syrup, oak and mint.
This smells of raw oak, cinnamon and clove, with its fruit essence entirely in the background. It's creamy, chewy and tannic on the palate, with herbal, oaky, resiny flavors of baking spice and modest raspberry.
This is all fruit and no structure. The fruit shows a superripe character, which suggests this is a wine for short-term aging.
Thin to the verge of being empty of fruit and flavor, this shows no varietal character whatsoever. Green, leafy, herbal and earthy flavors abound.
Bell pepper and tomato aromas, combined with hot and burnt notes, don't make for a very inviting nose. The palate is acidic, leaving tart plum and cranberry flavors in front of an oaky, citrusy finish. Rough and basic.
Teetering aromas of apple, oak and mineral don't hold much sway, while the palate is both chunky and oversized, sizzling with acid. A muddled flavor of white fruit leads to a finish where nothing sticks out.
This boasts a Christmas spice note on top of an earthy, baked berry aroma. It feels grabby, flat and gummy, with syrupy berry flavors along with a load of odd spices. As a whole, this is strangely oaked and doesn't show Garnacha in its best light.
Solid, fragrant and as you'd expect, but also high-acid and nervy. Otherwise, this is a perfectly good quaffing Rioja; it's sort of sharp but food-friendly, with tangy cherry and raspberry flavors. Not sour but angular on the palate.
Warm, sweet aromas of pear, apple and buttered toast crawl all over the nose. Like most Argentinean Chardonnays, this shows creamy white-fruit flavors and noted sweetness. It's fairly rich but not complex or layered. Drink soon for maximum freshness.
A little spice and cured meat (salami) get this young and easy red going. The blend is common for Navarra, and this is a jammy, mildly candied wine with light strawberry and plum flavors touched up by a dollop of sweetness. Slightly creamy on the palate and finish, but healthy as a whole.
Sheldrake's Riesling begins with nosings of pear, apple and spice, and on the palate, offers apple and citrus with a minerally edge. Friendly and crisp, it's a good summer sip or cohort to Thai cuisine or grilled seafood.
Aromas of rose hips and raspberry jam are sweet and simple, but friendly in nature. There isn't much texture or layering to this Garnacha, but the fruit is juicy and tastes like raspberry and plum skins. Tight but right, with mild astringency that can be offset by food.
Long Point's Riesling starts with a fresh, vibrant fruit nose edged with citrus, and the crispness continues on the palate. The floral fruit flavors are balanced with a citric, zingy zap. Overall, a fun wine that will pair well with spicy cuisine and seafood dishes.
The year is a fine one for white Bordeaux, and this vintage of white Mouton-Cadet takes good advantage of the fresh, herbaceous character, with an added citrus tang, and spiced up with some aromatic Muscadelle.
The creamy, spicy nose of this elegant Chardonnay is followed by a balanced combination of fresh fruit and mellow spice. Flavorful but not overly complex, the wine will pair well with seafood and richer poultry dishes.
With its green edge, this is not a ripe vintage wine. Certainly, the fruit is dense and sweet, but there is always the feeling of astringency, black currant juiciness that does not suggest aging.
Roasted fruit, road tar and barrel notes play a big role on the nose, which is otherwise regular and not particularly individual. The palate offers red-fruit jam, butter and pepper flavors, while the finish has some bite and definitive snap. Plenty good enough to drink but lacking completeness and texture.
A powerful wine that is very ripe and soft. What makes it work so well is the toast, the acidity from a high proportion of Pinot Noir, and the dense, full structure. This is, without question, a food wine. It should also age over 4–5 years at least.
The beautiful orange pink sunrise color sets the scene for a dry style of wine, very much in the Laurent-Perrier tradition. Flavors of crisp red apples, red berry fruits and white currants come together with an edge of toast. A great wine, and a real food Champagne.
A Champagne that is very much wine. The structure and the richness are just right for a food wine, showing ripe acidity, flavors of plums and apricots, and balancing these primary fruits with a dense, complex structure that takes in yeast, maturity and a tight apple skin finish.
A pure, fresh line runs through this delicate rosé. It shows more white fruits than red, just hinting at red currants, but more of fresh white berries. There is just some hint of sweetness, more from the fruit of 2003 than from any extra dosage.
Powerful yet restrained, this wine beautifully expresses the delicate and nuanced aspects of Cabernet Sauvignon with the herbal side of the grape in full force. Everything is tied together in a neat and tidy bundle, with sweet blackberry fruit surrounded by leaf and earth, leading into ripe but stiff tannins and just the right elements of mocha toast. Will it age? Undoubtedly; but hard not to drink it right now.
This is every bit the equal of, if not even a bit better than, the outstanding 2005 Novelty Hill Sauvignon Blanc. Here is the same mix of racy, bracing tropical and stone fruit flavors, nicely matched to toasty flavors of almonds and biscuits. Elegant, detailed and ripe, yet clearly varietal, this is a beautiful, seductive example of barrel-fermented Washington Sauvignon Blanc.
Making a vintage only from Chardonnay, the Gimmonet family is able to bring out the best of the year. This wine retains its crispness, minerality, almost chalky texture and fresh pear flavors. Its freshness promises aging potential.
The wine is finished at 1.2% residual sugar, but tastes bone dry. It's succulent and juicy, with floral aromas, stone fruits and hints of honeysuckle. Concentrated and dense, it is both bracing and long. The bottle was re-tasted on the second and third days after being opened and retained its crispness and vitality beautifully.
This is a bold and rich wine, a blend totally dominated by 90% Merlot. It is fruity, structured and with fine juicy black fruits and acidity. The 12 months of wood aging have given the wine an edge of spice that is attractive now. Final tannins will allow it to age. Drink from 2021
This is medium to full in body and rounded in the mouth, with loads of yellow plum and ripe pineapple flavors. It's not the most complex wine, but offers a satisfying mouthful of fruit and solid length. Drink now.
Packed with ripe Merlot fruit, this is a dense wine. It has impressive structure and great acidity to cut through the dark fruit. Rich and full in the mouth, this will be a solid fine wine from 2020.
This is a thorough exploration of Chardonnay, leading with vanilla, apple, buttercream and baking spice aromas. The palate rides lemony acidity into seared apple and nectarine flavors, finishing on marzipan and a citrus tang.
This mixes darker shades of berry and cherry fruit, with a streak of tobacco and well-managed tannins. It's polished and carries moderate weight through the finish.
Linear and loaded with finesse, this delicate, polished red opens with fragrant blue flower, berry and crushed herb scents. The bright, ethereal palate offers sour cherry, strawberry and a hint of baking spice, framed by silky tannins and vibrant acidity. Drink soon.
The oak peeks through, set against proportionate strawberry and cherry fruit which has been lightly ripened. It's not a big wine, but it is balanced, and was barrel-aged for 18 months in a percentage of French oak. It should drink well now through 2022.
This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot offers blackberry, leather and baking spice aromas. The savory palate offers mature plum, ripe black cherry and black pepper notes, held together with polished tannins.
This is a crowd-pleasing style of Cabernet that's perfect for the winery's on-site outdoor amphitheater and has approachable black cherry, vanilla and crushed rock aromas. More cherry and dark strawberry juice flavors show on the palate, which is jammy with a touch of baking spice and dill to round it out.
Concentrated and ripe yet crisp and vibrant, this wine blends Clare Valley and Coonawarra Cabernets to good effect. Bay leaf, black cherry and dark chocolate notes abound, while the texture turns slightly grainy on the finish. Drink now–2025.
This wine is brawny with a haunting rustic barnyard character. Generously tannic and full-bodied, it offers blackberry, clove and black-pepper flavors.
Pretty black cherry fruit is overwhelmed by the wine's other elements: mint, cedar, vanilla and maple syrup. In case you haven't guessed by now, it's oaky, with some drying, woody tannins on the finish.
Fresh scents of cranberry and raspberry mingle with charred oak on the nose. Flavors of jammy plum, cassis, pipe tobacco and cedar are luscious, but are framed by smooth tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, dry and toasty, with a burst of spice at the end.
This is a new wine in this ever-expanding series. It reflects the structure and solid tannins of the appellation. It also brings out the juicy black-currant fruit of the vintage that will allow it to mature relatively quickly. Drink this attractive wine from 2019.
Soft appetizing pear peel entices the nose. The palate almost has a kind of apple freshness and a wonderfully fruity, attractive if very light-bodied nature. The finish is clean and moreish.
This opens with earthy forest floor, leather and oak-derived vanilla notes. The brawny, monolithic palate doles out ripe Morello cherry, raspberry jam and licorice flavors, with a warming layer of alcohol. Solid tannins keep it feeling firm. Drink 2019–2025.
This opens with ripe woodland berry, pressed iris and chopped herb aromas. The young, taut palate offers Morello cherry fruit accented by orange zest and clove against a backdrop of fine-grained tannins. A strawberry note wraps up the tight, fresh finish. Drink through 2018.
Made entirely from Sangiovese, this opens with black cherry, white pepper and an earthy underbrush scents. The savory, straightforward palate shows plum, clove and tobacco notes, set against chewy tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
This opens with ripe dark-skinned berry, underbrush and baking spice aromas, while the dense, robust palate offers black cherry jam, clove and licorice flavors. It's already accessible, with fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2021.
Made of 48% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 10% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has black-skinned fruit and baking spice aromas. The firm palate delivers black cherry, black currant and tobacco notes in a frame of fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2020.
Made of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this offers black currant and vanilla aromas. The dense, approachable palate delivers ripe black plum and toasty tobacco flavors, pulled taut by firm tannins. Drink through 2019.
The nose just hints at earth and autumnal oak leaf. The palate comes with slight grip, very fine tannins and more earthy leafy aromas. Red-cherry fruit is just hinted at. This is slender and bone dry and will come into its own when served with subtle mushroom or game dishes.
Approachable in its youthful vigor and wealth of fruit, this medium-bodied coastal wine offers a complement of spicy black licorice, cranberry and strawberry, finishing lean and focused.
This blend of organically grown Sangiovese (90%) and Colorino (10%) offers delicate violet and raspberry scents. The juicy palate delivers black cherry and chopped herb flavors with a hint of tobacco and chewy tannins. Drink through 2021.
This Chardonnay is one of the family-owned winery's workhorse bottlings, and it pulls its weight with finesse, showing light aromas of Pink Lady apple, grapefruit peel and almond on the nose. Lemon-lime acidity frames each sip, while grapefruit flavors meld with lemongrass and kaffir lime, finishing on riper stone fruit notes.
Ripe plum, cake spice and iris aromas lift out of the glass, with a whiff of chopped herb. The youthful palate delivers black cherry and white pepper flavors through a frame of taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2019.
Black-skinned berry, cedar and espresso scents lead the nose of this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The firm palate delivers blackberry, and licorice flavors and a toasted note, set against assertive tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
The nose seems closed. There is just a hint of earthiness. The slender palate has edges of mocha and smoke that frame its fresh crisp tart red-cherry fruit. The body is light but held within a very fine-boned structure that leads to a dry clean finish.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah offers appealing, fruit-forward aromas of plum and blackberry. The flavors are direct and fruit filled, providing a lot of enjoyment.
Lemon, orange and tangerine aromas are followed by pert waves of lemon, spice and mineral in this elegant Chardonnay. The wine has seen oak but is still quite fresh in style; pair with ceviche or oysters.
Notes of sea salt, perky citrus and a wave of ripe tropical fruit?combine to form an elegant white with a food-pairing advantage. On the palate, there is good body and a round fruit character that is nicely cut with a fresh finish. Pair with chicken, salmon and fruit.
The nose is subdued, with aromas of crisp red plum, herb and bramble; but the palate is lush, with loads of ripe strawberry, peach and cherry flavors. This is dry in style but soft and juicy on the palate.
A firm and focused Cabernet Franc, with just 5% Merlot in the blend, this spent 18 months in 50% new American oak. It's a straight-ahead style, with a red berry flavor and polished, proportionate tannins.
Thick and rich, this is a very concentrated Cabernet that can use more time in the cellar. For now, it has tannins that overwhelm the blueberry fruit and traces of cedar and cocoa.
This is purple in color, with a saturated, rubbery aroma that folds in notes of leather, chocolate and blackberry. It's full and lush, with flavors of lemon, grainy oak, coffee and charred black fruit. Dark, oaky and charred on the finish, it needs a lot of air. Predominantly Malbec, with small additions of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fresh, full bodied and juicy, this has flavors of dusty, dark plum and chocolate. It was aged in both French and American oak, which has added a background note of tobacco and vanilla on the palate, particularly on the finish.
Red cherry, leather and spice aromas start this lively, spicy red from Skouras. On the palate, more rustic leather and sour cherry flavors mingle with mocha and a mineral-accented finish. This is a pert, plucky wine with soul.
Ripe sour-cherry and red-berry notes on the nose and palate mingle elegantly with savory touches of burnt sugar and biscotti. It's dry in style, yet fruity and juicy, with brisk acidity and a tongue-tickling pétillance.
The reserve Cab from Jones spent 18 months in new French and American oak, and the resulting wine is big, liquorous, and astringent. Layers of smoke, espresso, vanilla bean and tobacco wrap around a core of cassis. This is dark, pure and potent.
Lots of licorice and vanilla, coffee and dark chocolate notes are found, reflecting its 22 months spent in French oak. The fruit is definitely consigned to the back row, but there's plenty of luscious, chocolatey flavor.
This wine hews to the Milbrandt style, emphasizing notes of vanilla and tobacco ahead of the simple black-fruit flavor. It has a hint of smoky earthiness and a citrusy edge to the acids.
Snappy red-berry aromas are true to the variety, but there's also a leathery, roasted stalkiness to the nose. It feels round, chunky and creamy, with baked berry and toasted flavors. It finishes round, full and creamy in feel, with a peppery note.
Juicy and ripe, this has soft tannins and a red berry flavor. Alongside all of the fruit is a more stalky, spicy character to give complexity. The wine is ready to drink, but it could age for 2–3 years.
Ripe, round, soft and juicy, this is already attractive and drinkable. It has firm tannins, yet these are cushioned by the sweet black fruits and the lift from the acids. Drink now, or hold this for another year.
While the aromas speak of wood aging, the fruit comes through on the palate. It is firm, full and dry, and the fruity acidity and fresh black currant flavor backs up the structure.
Smooth and soft, this has light, fresh red-berry fruits laced with acidity and perfumed by red cherries. The structure is gentle and with the bright fruits, this succulent wine is ready to drink.
This wine has aromas of freshly mowed grass, peaches and white flowers. It is slightly sweet with flavors of canned peach, white peach juice and apricot nectar.
Bold tannins and firm acidity make this wine a bit stiff to enjoy now, but it should benefit from aging through 2020. Aromas are lightly earthy, while flavors reflect cranberry and tart cherry. The texture carries a tooth-coating layer of tannins.
Aromas of dark-skinned berry, blue flower and a whiff of chewing tobacco combine on this straightforward red. The bright, easygoing palate shows wild cherry, raspberry and a note of star anise alongside supple tannins. Drink soon.
This Bordeaux-style blend is 28% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Sweet scents of cracker open into a wine with pretty red plum and details of coffee and chocolate. It does not in any way reflect the rather high-listed alcohol, but seems more elegant and lightly refined.
A bouquet of peach, melon and freesia sets the scene for flavors of white peach, apricot, watermelon and rose petal with a touch of spearmint. It is bright on entry and soft in the mouth, and the spearmint note holds strong into the bright finish.
Aromas of toast, roasted coffee bean, baked plum and a whiff of coconut lead the nose. The palate offers dried black cherry, espresso and a green note of sage alongside tightly packed, astringent tannins that leave a raspy finish. Give the tannins a few more years to soften then drink to capture the remaining fruit richness.
The green apple, apple skin and flower aromas pop. The off-dry peach flavors keep you coming back for more.
There's a damp earth character on the nose of this bottling, with mushroom, black raspberry, boysenberry and dill aromas. The palate coincides, with thyme, elderberry, pine and thick tart flavors.
Leafy underbrush, espresso, baked plum, menthol and toast aromas slowly emerge. The straightforward palate offers ripe Morello cherry, star anise and chopped herb while assertive tannins clench the abrupt finish. Give the tannins some time to unfurl then drink up.
Coming in a bottle adorned with an informational treasure map of the region, this wine conveys bubble gum, honeysuckle and Pink Lady apples on the nose. A similar apple character shows on the palate, along with riper grapefruit notes, Anjou pear slices and graphite. The apples get more sour as the sip lingers.
This is a perfumed, fragrant wine. Its acidity is offset by the red berry and currant fruits that add freshness to the dry, crisp character. It's a full wine, with good fruit depth and ripe flavors, and will be better with food. Drink now.
This wine has an initial strong tannic element that submerges the red fruits. As it opens, the wine reveals more juiciness, berry flavors and fresh acidity. It's still young and needs to be aged. Drink from 2018.
The soft, open character of Menetou-Salon is very apparent in this gentle, fruity wine. With fresh acidity and bright citrus and apricot flavors, it's a wine to savor young. Light perfumes add interest to this wine that is ready to drink.
Light straw in the glass, this wine is a nice example of the indigenous Turkish grape Narince. The bouquet yields soft notes of guava and white melon, while it is much bolder on the palate, offering flavors of grapefruit, carambola, and eucalyptus. The pleasing of interplay of tropical fruit and cool notes continues into a zesty finish with touches of mint.
Pristine grapefruit, lemon and tangerine flavors reverberate throughout this cutting, crisp wine. Its fresh, breezy style belies its alcoholic breadth and weight, making it an ideal interloper between Pinot Grigio and Gris styles.
Something of the structure of Morey is here in this wine. However it is surprisingly ready to drink, with the tannins in the background leaving the foreground to juicy red-berry fruits and fresh acidity. It is attractive and balanced; drink now.
Named after the matriarch of the Riboli wine family, who founded what may be the first tasting room in California, this shows light yellow fruits on the nose. The palate combines lemon and apple with a slight hue of brown spice, offering plump fruit with a tang.
Roasted coffee bean, baked plum, charred earth, toast, vanilla and menthol aromas come together on this. The palate is firm but rather evolved, offering dried, dark-skinned berry, mocha, anise and a confectionary note wrapped in assertive close-grained tannins that dry out the finish.
Intriguing in tobacco and a sense of the forest, especially pine, this soft, chewy, fuller wine finishes quickly in black pepper.
This wine has a rounded texture, with fresh, clean fruit flavors that recall crisp apple and lemon. It delivers an energized mouthfeel and finish due to good acidity and a rather light body.
Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, this shows subtle aromas of blackcurrant, bell pepper and a whiff of black olive. The round, straightforward palate shows black cherry, toast and a hint of vanilla. Drink through 2018.
Aged for more than two years in French, American and Hungarian oak, this vineyard-designate is bombastically broad-shouldered in cocoa powder and leather, Soft and velvety on the palate, it finishes with a spark of heat.
Mild aromas of dried stone fruit and maple syrup come together on this full-bodied dessert wine. The sweet, one-dimensional palate delivers dried apricot, acacia honey and a hint of toasted walnut.
Blue-flower and red-berry aromas lead the way along with a whiff of eucalyptus. The firm palate offers hints of star anise, espresso and a green note of powdered sage that back up unripe red cherry. It closes on a coffee note.
Violet, plum, leather and baking spice aromas merge on this easygoing red. The no-fuss palate offers black cherry, star anise and a hint of clove alongside polished but rather fleeting tannins. Drink soon.
Minty, earthy aromas suggest Christmas spice and fruit cake. This is saturated but a bit soupy and drying. Flavors of prune, plum, raisin and spices are a touch stewed, while this finishes ripe but short on freshness.
Friendly and flavorful, this offers bright butter and fruit aromas, opulent pear and baking spice flavors and a lingering, vanilla-like finish. The texture is plush and the balance leans toward ripe and rich.
Smoky leather, concentrated red-cherry fruit and crushed-brick aromas show on the nose of this bottling. More cherries and cranberries appear on the palate, where rocky flavors and dark spices keep the sip lively against a fairly rigid structure, five years in.
All estate fruit goes into this reserve, which was tasted a few months ahead of its official release. It's tight and herbal, with stiff tannins streaked with tobacco and vanilla. Give it another year or two of bottle age, and drink 2018 to 2022.
Fermented in stainless steel, this is a lip-smacking wine with succulent citrus flavors of lemon and grapefruit. For those who love high-acid white wines, with some snap to their flavors, this is a good choice.
The slightest notion of honeysuckle reaches the nose. The light and dry palate diffuses the aromatic notions of Muscat only slightly. There is lovely lightness and lots of lemon freshness.
Underbrush, oak and crushed mint aromas lead the nose. The palate is firm, evoking macerated cherry, star anise and vanilla flavors enveloped in dusty tannins that leave a grainy finish.
This 100% Sangiovese wine offers black cherry and baking spice scents that carry over to the palate. It's fresh, accented by an earthy hint of new leather, and framed by supple tannins. Drink through 2020.
Earthy game, truffle, underbrush, used leather and dark-skinned fruit aromas lead the nose. They carry over to the taut, tightly wound palate, where austere, dusty tannins leave a drying finish.
Named for a barrel that once rolled off a cliff, this forward fruity wine blends numerous sources to craft an easy-drinking, no-frills style. Think a strawberry lollipop in a glass, and you're on the right track. That's not to say it lacks concentration, but its strength is the pretty fruit.
This is ripe, fruit-driven Shiraz with ample weight and ripeness. Hints of smoke and sage add nuance to the blueberry and black cherry fruit, while coarse-grained tannins provide adequate structure and grip. Drink now–2022.
Concentrated blackberry, currant and vanilla flavors ride a boldly ripe, full-bodied palate that reflects the warmth and intensity of the vintage. Dusty tannin and softened oak allow the fruit to speak, accented by black licorice.
This opens with subtle dark-skinned berry, baking spice and leafy underbrush aromas. The round palate offers fleshy blackberry, star anise and white pepper notes, punctuated by ripe tannins. Drink through 2020.
This 100% Sangiovese wine opens with fragrant blue flower and underbrush scents. Juicy red cherry fills out the palate, with clove and a ground pepper note. Enjoy soon.
Made of 85% Sangiovese, 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, this offers black cherry and baking spice scents. Ripe black plum, cedar and leather notes form the palate, with a framework of supple tannins. Enjoy through 2019.
Smooth and lightly toasty, this offers plump, palate-pleasing tree fruits and a touch of vanilla custard. Just a tad lighter than the reserve from the same vintage and vineyard.
This displays ripe black-skinned fruit, Mediterranean herb and baking spice aromas. The dense palate delivers blackberry, clove and tobacco flavors, with close-grained tannins that leave a grippy finish.
Dark-skinned berry, forest floor and coconut touches lead the nose. The dense, full-bodied palate evokes fleshy black cherry, vanilla, tobacco and licorice flavors, all set against chewy tannins. Drink through 2022.
Under the same family ownership as Château Lamothe-Cissac, this estate has produced a broa rich wine, dominated by its 60% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is rounded already with juicy blackberry fruits and dark tannins. Drink this already fruity wine from 2019.
A ripe, soft and rich wine that will be ready to drink soon. It has black plum and berry fruits, ripe soft tannins and light acidity. The wine has a crisper cooler aftertaste. Drink from 2019.
One of the properties owned by Jean-Michel Lapalu, the wine comes from the far north of the Haut-Médoc appellation. It is tight with firm tannins and a dry core that will need time to soften. The fruit is going to become more generous as the wine fills out. Drink from 2020.
Produced from vines an average of 24-years-old, the wine comes from an 86-acre vineyard to the south of Bordeaux. It is firm with tannins and with ripe, textured Merlot. There is a juicy character from the black-currant fruitiness. The wine with wood flavors needs to age. Drink from 2021.
The vineyards of this estate are on a ridge overlooking the Garonne river. The wine is packed with black fruits and rich tannins. Still with its dry tannins, it has a ripe future of fruit and tense acidity. Produced by a group of 12 investors, six from Bordeaux and six from Burgundy, it is a serious wine, ready to drink from 2019.
Bright, spicy oak flavors liven up this wine, from the first cedar-laced whiff to the well-structured texture and lingering finish. While not too full-bodied, it does have firm, grippy tannins—a rare thing for a wine this reasonably priced.
The nose unfolds shyly, revealing black-skinned fruit and baking spice aromas. The palate evokes mature flavors like dried blackberry, tobacco and toast, held together by close-grained tannins. It's rather evolved so drink soon.
Bold flavors and a muscular structure make this wine stand out, delivering plenty of substance for its modest price. Smoky, peppery aromas lead to dark fruit flavors with smoky, spicy accents, while the body is medium and texture firmly tannic.
Gentle but lovely hints of yellow mirabelle plum are just perceptible on the nose. The palate is light and lithe and meets the scented fruit of the nose with an earthier roundness.
Hints of earth are the only aromas on the nose, which seems devoid of fruit. The palate has a similar leafy earthiness and slight berry aromas. There are bitter edges on the very slender, soft and easy body. This has a picnic-style rusticity about it and a very clean and dry finish.
Gentle friendly notes of yellow mirabelle plum play on the nose. The palate is equally fruity and appetizing, chock-full of fruit and freshness. Drink soon.
Cooked blackberries, baked black plum, grape candy and lilac touches show on the nose of this bottling, which is easy to like and uncomplicated. Violet floral flavors kick off the palate, followed by coffee spice, cedar and dark berry fruit, all framed by moderate tannic tension.
Underbrush, dried tobacco leaf, roasted coffee and balsamic notes lead the nose. The tightly wound palate is lean, offering sour cherry, pomegranate, licorice and espresso notes, clenched by close-grained tannins on the finish.
Totally fresh, this offers attractive, young citrus flavors that are given a broader brush by the creamed apple texture that rounds out the wine. Crisp, it could be drunk now and will be better from 2016.
This is a big, beefy and structured wine that at the same time is laden with fruit. A reminder of the tough schist soil of the Douro, the wine's mineral edge is balanced by the bright juicy fruit and acidity. With the tannins, this second wine from Duorum will age well, so drink from 2016.
This 100% Schiava opens with aromas of woodland berry, rose petal and a whiff of underbrush. The palate delivers dried cherry and a hint of forest floor alongside bright acidity and soft tannins.
This is a crisp, bone-dry wine from vines on the plateau above Vouvray. It has a strongly tangy texture, with lemon zest and tight acidity adding to minerality. It needs to calm down from its in-your-face freshness, so drink from 2017.
Subdued aromas convey strawberry with a whiff of green tomato. The palate offers crushed cherry, raspberry, oregano and black olive, while lithe tannins provide the framework. It closes on a tart note of rhubarb.
With light vanilla aromas, this is a ripe style of wine despite its low alcohol. An attractive creamy texture gives it a round character, fresh with yellow fruits and orange peel. Drink now.
Almonds and green plum flavors give this a bright, perfumed character. Produced with organically grown grapes, it is fruity, touched by minerality and layered with intense, juicy acidity. Drink now.
Fresh and with a herbaceous background, this is a tight, taut and mineral wine. It presents a definite tang of lemon zest, steeliness and a crisp aftertaste. It can be drunk now, although it will be better from 2016.
Rusty in color, this maturing Tannat-led blend smells warm, earthy, raisiny and like molasses. It's a bit wiry, rough and acidic on the palate, while raisin, baking spice and woody flavors end short and pile on with raisiny ripeness. Drink now.
This charming white discloses delicate aromas of yellow flower and stone fruit. The bright palate displays tart apple and Bartlett pear alongside bitter almond. It's balanced and fresh, with lively acidity.
In the Tejo region, Alvarinho loses its specific mineral and ripe creamy texture. What is has instead is intense fruitiness. Green and white fruits fill the glass with a fresh and youthful character. It's bright, crisp and ready to drink now.
A mash-up of eight grapes, including such obscure varieties as Landot Noir, Maréchal Foch and Chancellor, this is the sort of wine you might happily enjoy while driving the back roads of rural Europe. Light, tart flavors of pie cherries are touched with leathery earth. Hints of plum and tobacco add further interest.
Girardet's Bush Vine series explores recent plantings of Spanish and Italian varieties. Tempranillo has already proven itself elsewhere in the Umpqua Valley, and this deeply aromatic wine is a promising newcomer. Black raspberries, black cherry, sweet grain and dark chocolate scents and flavors are well-balanced. The fruit is full-bodied and chunky, with a hint of cola.
Waxy, cheesy, resiny aromas rest heavily atop baked apple and vanilla scents. This is round and easy, maybe even soft, with flavors of toasty oak, vanilla extract, mixed nuts and wood grain. As a whole, the wine is very much oak-driven.
Given only 25% new oak, this is a very light, thin and foresty version of the variety, combining funky earth and savory cardamom-type spice with bright, tart red fruit that veers more pomegranate than cherry.
A heavy and dark version of the variety, this bottling delivers tension and bite from its intense oak. Ripe black cherry and darker blackberry and plum mark the fruit components, laced in a leathery taste of tobacco and tomato leaf.
A microscopic amount of this wine was made, and it has spent time in bottle, currently revealing a floral, violet bouquet that ventures into almond and orgeat aromas. Vibrant and fresh on the palate, with a bite on the finish, it offers a strong grenadine-like taste.
This leads with delicate aromas of violet and woodland berry. On the lively palate, a touch of almond adds interest the red-berry core. It's easy drinking, with fresh acidity and a light, tannic frame. Enjoy soon.
Aromas of banana, wisteria and green pear lead the nose on this refreshing white. The bright, juicy palate offers tart Granny Smith apple and citrus zest alongside tangy acidity.
Reduced, jammy and inky on the nose, this feels big, muscular and tannic on the palate. Blackberry, cassis and plum flavors are good and ripe, while the finish feels rubbery and tough, with toasty lead flavors and a licorice note.
The aromas and flavors of crushed stone, lime sherbet and green apple are spot on, but this crisp, medium-bodied dry Riesling lacks just a bit of texture and length. Try it as a mouthwatering apéritif.
Chocapalha's everyday red is soft, fruity and already delicious to drink. It has some richness and weight from the red fruits, but the acidity and the smooth texture make it so approachable.
Arinto is a grape that lends itself to the cool climate of Lisboa. It brings out the crisp, lemon character of the grape with its bright acidity. This wine is fresh, aromatic and ready to drink now.
While the aromas of this rich wine suggest a barnyard character, on the palate it is ripe and still young. Yellow fruits dominate with light acidity and a generous structure. At the end, the wine is full, opulent and needing to age. Drink from 2017.
The scents and flavors suggest pink grapefruit, apple and pear, dusted with cinnamon. It's round and spicy, with moderate acidity and a touch of residual sugar.
Smooth and viscous, this Italian-inspired white is crisp in waxy apple and biting acidity, a touch of melon and almond rounding out the flavor and aroma profile. Meant to be enjoyed young, it's fresh and ready for springtime fare.
Tart apple and lemon provide a zesty brightness and elegance in this straightforward wine, a celebration of minerality on the palate. Midway through, a taste of more developed stone fruit adds complexity and creaminess, with the wine finishing lean.
This is fresh and lively, with aromas of apple juice, pine nuts, lime peel and chalk. Cut grass, lemon juice and white rock minerality show on the palate.
Cidery apple and stone-fruit aromas are fresh and basic. This blend includes Chardonnay, Macabeo and Parellada, and it's a lively number with spritz and citric acidity. Orange and tangerine flavors remain zesty and snappy on the finish.
A fragrant, sherbety cloud of spring meadow and lemon hovers above the glass. Grassy freshness frames the bright, pure lemon notions that dominate nose and palate. This wine is utterly fresh, citric and brisk. The mouthfeel is taut and slender, with only the slightest edge of autolytic notes and a structure of freshness and purity. It almost has a cleansing quality on its superbright, clean finish.
This is a successful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Black fruit, baking spice and chocolate flavors commingle in a full-bodied package that's rich, round and rewarding, with plenty of length.
A chef's array of mint, sage and dill accent this small-production wine's savory and smoothly integrated palate. It maintains the integrity of the intensely concentrated vintage. Forest floor, black cherry and black tea flavors contribute additional character.
Redcurrant and cranberry freshness plays on the nose and palate, where they are overtaken by a bright, clean citrus streak. The fine bubbles fizz away, dispersing this lively, invigorating freshness across the palate where an edge of sourdough appears. It's a taut, brisk and refreshing wine.
Soft and robustly concentrated, this showcases its mountain fruit in a powerful way, with interwoven layers of cola spice, tobacco and dark black fruit. The oak adds a reductive character to the dense, full-bodied whole.
This is a liquorous wine, still with its youthful yellow-fruit and honey flavors that are cut with the dry botrytis core. The wine is rich and with a fine balance between the opulence and acidity. This is a wine to savor now, although it will also age further, certainly until 2023.
Honeyed ripe pear fruit fills the nose. The palate amplifies this rich notion even more with a generous touch of residual sweetness that bathes the pear fruit in caramel richness. There is a glint of pleasant phenolic bitterness here and there but the pear fruit conquers all. This is rich but fresh with a medium-sweet finish ideal for blue cheese.
There's a classic touch of petrol on the nose of this bottling, as well as richer notes of candied lemon, marmalade, preserved lime and dried citrus. On the palate, it's oily and viscous, but honey, lemon syrup and tangerine zest flavors lighten it considerably. A great all-around experience.
This bottling from a vineyard northwest of the Sta. Rita Hills opens with buttercream, lemon peel, lime spritz and toasted almond scents. The buttery quality extends to the full but energetic palate, where it's cut by lemon marmalade, savory smoke and toast notes. The finish is nutty.
For this wine, grapes are sourced from cooler sites within the valley, as well as from a high-elevation site on Mount Veeder. Together, they provide a juicy, fleshy core of apple and pear girded by mineral-laden texture and tension. The finish is marked by oak-derived toast and brioche notes.
The aromas are restrained and mellow in this bottling from winemaker Tyler Thomas, showing mostly yellow apple and citrus peel notes. The palate is racy, high-toned and steely in structure, framed by a razor-sharp edge of zippy acidity, with only faint background notes of ripe stonefruit.
Beautifully fruity notes of fresh and baked apples create an inviting nose. The palate fizzes away with creamy mousse and a lovely yeasty autolytic edge reminiscent of fresh rye bread. The apple fruit brightens the entire palate and creates a rounded, harmonious and very balanced dry finish.
A notion of apple peel clings to the aromas of peach and mirabelle that swirl on nose and palate. The medium-sweet body has a lightness and ease about it, but also a very earthy grounding edge. The richness is countered by some lemon freshness and a phenolic element. The finish is warm and intense.
Tart and tangy in flavor and soft in texture, this is from a vineyard site high up in the Mayacamas Mountains. Aged in both neutral and new oak, it offers good grip on the palate and nuanced dried-cherry and -cranberry flavors.
Candied blackberry aromas meld with tar, rosemary and fennel in this balanced and expertly ripe wine from one of the pioneering families in Temecula. It's dense on the palate, with charred black fruit, dried herb and wild desert-shrub flavors, its alcohol content deftly tucked away.
Brioche and buttered bread aromas lead the way on the nose. Malic acidity creates textural freshness, while yeasty flavors of green apple finish on an underripe nectarine note. Drink through 2020.
One of the top estates in the Côtes du Ventoux, Fondrèche's rosé is pale salmon in color, with aromas of peaches and cherries. It's fruity and fleshy on the palate, with just a hint of bubblegum on the finish.
As the blend of 75% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier and 10% Sauvignon Blanc would suggest, this wine combines toasty complexity, fragrant curviness and clean acidity all in one. Overall, it's a more robust white that could handle richer dishes and as a solo sip, is substantial but not heavy. A good white for winter or summer enjoyment.
Call this chunkster Midnight Madness and you won't be off course. The wine is black in color and just as black on the nose and in the mouth. Cassis, asphalt and molasses aromas are a good prelude to chewy blackberry flavors. The palate and finish are both soft and meaty, with velvety tannins. Drink soon.
This rings true as a young Ribera. It has a mild foxy/herbal hint to the black-fruit nose, while the palate is wall-to-wall plump, with flavors that don't just settle on boring. With some pepper and heft on the finish, this is good everyday stuff. Nice texture; a bit herbal.
“Roble” means oak and there's no shortage of oak on this youngster. The nose smells almost like melted cheese and bread at first, but then it settles and lets out subtle leather and fruit aromas. The palate is juicy and fresh, with forward black cherry and plum flavors. Definitely lively, and with no tricks up its sleeve.
This wine has the kind of beefy, muscular character that one expects in a Cab, with its earthy berry and leathery spice nose, and a layering of tobacco smoke, black pepper and rich berry on the palate. Decent tannins and minerality add to the weight. A good wine with ageable appeal.
Sharply scented with lime and grapefruit, this aggressive wine brings some bitter phenolics front and center. Right behind you will find bright fruit flavors mixing pineapple, orange and lime, with plenty of acid. This is not one of the gentler Viogniers, but would be fine served chilled and accompanied by spicy foods.
This 57-43 blend piquantly shows off the varietal characters of both grape varieties in its combination of citrus and pepper notes. It's like a collision of lime and jalapeño, but the wine's modest intensity makes it more of a fender-bender than an ambulance call, and the finish fades a little too quickly.
Black pepper, mineral and berry aromas are integrated and impressive in this Cab. Integrated flavors offer dimension and poise, and substantial structure means it can age. Pair with roast beef or a creamy, aged cheese. An effort to be applauded.
Estate-grown from the southern Oregon AVA of Rogue Valley, this Pinot Gris is significantly warmer and more volatile than those from farther north. Soft and tasting of tropical/bubble gum fruits, it's a wine that should be served cold and drunk soon.
A pure nose based on raspberry, blackberry, spice, leather and meaty aromas is attractive. This Tinto Fino features a tight, tannic mouthfeel and roasted plum, grilled beef and savory spice flavors. Long, spicy and lightly toasty on the finish; drink through 2020.
Comprised of 62% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah, this wine brings aromas of coffee, herbs and dark fruit. The fruit and barrel flavors are candy-bar sweet but still retain a sense of deftness.
Yeast, scrambled egg, apple and lime aromas are elevated and improve with airing. On the palate, this is minerally and pure. Apple, briny citrus, persimmon and salt flavors finish tight, linear and briny in flavor, with an echo of sea salt.
Deep, earthy aromas of cassis and black cherry set up a full, balanced palate with subtle but present acidity. Black plum, blackberry, vanilla and dill flavors finish strong, with savory, saucy tomato notes. This is a classic Ribera wine; drink through 2020.
Made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% Colorino, Ciliegiolo and other native grapes, this vibrant red offers ripe black cherry, licorice, clove, black pepper, espresso, Mediterranean herb and a balsamic note. It's still young but well balanced with youthfully assertive tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2016–2022.
Dark berry, pressed violet, toast and a whiff of espresso lead the nose of this savory, easy-drinking red. The ripe, round palate delivers juicy wild cherry, black raspberry, clove and mocha. It's already extremely accessible, with supple tannins.
This very vibrant, fresh wine bursts with strawberry and red cherry aromas, and then delivers bright, tangy raspberry and cherry flavors on a stream of crisp acidity and fine-grained tannins. Medium bodied, it relies on an almost electric mouthfeel for its appeal, and should age well through 2020.
This 100% varietal wine displays aromas of coffee, pipe tobacco and spice. The dark fruit and espresso flavors show a mixture of elegance and richness, with a textured mouthfeel providing appeal. It's a high-quality example from this cool vintage.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with earthy aromas of underbrush, baked earth, black-skinned berry and a whiff of menthol. The palate delivers black cherry, clove, white pepper, grilled herb and tobacco alongside chewy tannins.
Aromas of wild cherry, raspberry, rose, grilled herb and a balsamic note follow through to the firm palate along with fresh mint and orange zest. Fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity support the juicy flavors.
Pale copper colored, this wine is more focused on mineral than fruit expression, with aromas of wet stone out in front of citrus rind. The medium-bodied flavors dance lightly on the palate but still show concentration, texture and balance.
An intoxicating whiff of musky floral perfume persists throughout this bright, full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc. Gooseberry and white grapefruit flavors are tart and crisp, gaining plushness through the addition of Chardonnay in the blend. Elegant and substantial in mouth feel, it finishes long.
This dry Merlot rosé is the benchmark from which to compare each of Channing Daughter's seven rosato wines this vintage. It's elegantly framed, perfumed with waxy-white florals and crisp strawberry and cherry notes. Dry and crisp, yet luscious in body with a lingering touch of bramble on the finish.
Full-bodied and expressively juicy, this is an enjoyable wine right now, rich, earthy and balanced between its notions of red cherry and blackberry fruit and exotic cardamom spice. Harmonious and layered, it finishes with aplomb.
All coming from Upland Vineyard, this 100% varietal wine has a lighter color. Supple flavors of coffee, spice, plum, dried herbs and pepper contribute to a finish that lingers.
Aromas of iris, plum and woodland berry unfold in the glass. The savory palate is elegantly structured and displays juicy red cherry, red currant, anise seed and black pepper alongside supple tannins. Drink through 2018.
Black cherry and blueberry mix on nose and palate of this fruit-forward red. They are joined by a lively, invigorating pepperiness and balanced by freshness. This makes for joyful, uncomplicated but still sophisticated drinking. The cherry fruit lingers beautifully.
A blend of Sangiovese and 15% Merlot, this opens with aromas that recall red currant, cedar and rose petal. The savory palate doles out wild cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and aniseed alongside polished tannins.
Musk and herbal tones dissipate with air, revealing layers upon layers of plush white melon and peach flavors. It's dry and refreshing, cut with a spray of lime, but there's a plumpness in mouthfeel that lingers long on the finish.
Mature, ripe aromas of rooty berry fruits mix with tobacco scents on a soft, raisiny nose. This is easygoing in feel, with jammy roundness. Raisin, cocoa and ripe berry flavors finish heady, soft and chocolaty. Drink now.
Penetrating tannins hold a tight grip over rich layers of blackberry and cherry liqueur in this bold, structured Cabernet Franc. Zesty cranberry acidity lifts the mid palate, exposing complex shades of chocolate, herb and granite. It's a solid wine now, but should meld beautifully from 2017–2020.
Aged sur lie for 10 months in 100% new French oak, this golden-colored wine leads with aromas of toast, pineapple and peach. The tropical fruit flavors are full bodied and rich with a creamy, almost unctuous feel. It's full-bore but an excellent representation of the style.
This mouthwatering rosé is a traditional blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It's medium-bodied, boasting notes of fresh herbs, cherries and white chocolate, balanced by a hints of sea spray. Drink it over the next year.
The oak shows prominently on this blend of Merlot (68%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Malbec (7%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc. It leads with notes of barrel spices, green herbs and blackberry. The palate is full and rich, with dry tannins that need time to stretch their legs.
With a collection of apple blossom, acacia, peach and flint aromas, this fairly full-bodied Albariño offers a mix of plumpness and alluring flavors, namely nectarine, apple and white peach. Complex notes of sea brine, minerality and saline propel a sophisticated finish. Drink through summer 2016.
Truly a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from Seven Hills (51%), Pepper Bridge (32%) and Octave vineyards, this wine offers aromas of wood, dark raspberry and licorice. The supple, reserved fruit flavors bring plenty of appeal. Give it time for the oak to fully integrate.
Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, flint, smoke and violet prep the palate for flavors of raspberry, black cherry, smoked meat, chocolate and black pepper. There is an interesting interplay of fruit flavors and savory notes of herb-rubbed meat. A web of soft tannins plays across the palate through a finish that has flavors of smoke and yellow cherry.
This wine holds an allowable amount of Anderson Valley fruit, in addition to grapes from Sonoma Coast, including many of the winery's vineyard designates. Rose petals and a helping of clove mark the entry, followed by savory elements of black tea, tart cherry, blueberry and black pepper on the palate. These continue with subtle force through the finish.
A pure expression of Sangiovese, this delivers aromas and flavors of black cherry, dried plum, licorice, ground black pepper and hints of leather and tobacco. Solid tannins give it a firm structure. Drink 2017–2022.
This vibrant, savory red weaves together sensations of black and red cherry, crushed raspberry, violets, orange peel and a hint of mocha. Easygoing and soft, it's made to be enjoyed now.
Alluring aromas suggest crushed blue flower and perfumed berries. The easygoing palate delivers dense black cherry, cedar and a hint of espresso. It's round, ripe and ready to enjoy now.
A charred, heavily smoked nose shades dark-fruit aromas. This is plump, juicy and solid on the palate, with roasted, toasty, oaky flavors of earthy plum and berry fruits. In addition, this carries a briny, saline quality. A medium-long finish is bold before dissipating.
It was inevitable that a producer would play on the name of the appellation Saint-Amour when naming his wine. Luckily, the wine itself is delicious and charming. With just the right tannic structure to sustain the berry fruits, it's rounded, ripe and fruity. That structure will allow it to age, but it is ready to drink now.
This is light gold in color, with peach and pear aromas and a smooth and creamy texture. Soft in balance, it is light and ethereal to taste despite the pleasant viscosity.
This spicy blend includes 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Syrah and Sangiovese. Intense aromas of grilled bell peppers, black pepper and mature black fruit continue on to the soft, round palate. It's not an ager so enjoy soon.
The softest apple notes are brought to the surface by the frothy foam. There is a lightness and a welcoming, fruity core of apple and lemon, with a gentle dollop of roundness. The finish is dry but fruit rules in this versatile, light-hearted apéritif.
Aromas of blackberry, plum, chocolate and spice are light, but the palate is fruit-filled and flavorful with a tart finish.
Fragrant and fresh, this opens with aromas of violets, perfumed berries and black spices. The juicy palate delivers dark cherry, crushed raspberry and cinnamon alongside supple tannins. Its easygoing nature makes it perfect for everyday enjoyment.
Three widely-separated vineyards from the Yakima, Horse Heaven Hills and Ancient Lakes AVAs are in the mix here. It's ready to drink, starting to dry out a bit but still with tart, fairly light berry flavors and plenty of leafy, woodsy grace notes.
Here's a structured Rosso that offers aromas of underbrush, black plum, berry and orange zest. Bright red cherry takes center stage on the palate, while notes of mint, Mediterranean herbs and sweet spices add interest. It's tannic but shy on fresh acidity so enjoy now.
Ripe and round, this soft, juicy wine shows just a hint of a more serious tannic structure. It has plenty of acidity to go with its warm, red cherry flavors. Drink now, or better from 2015.
A Chardonnay that did not go through malolactic fermentation and was aged in 20% new French oak, this is bristling in acidity and crispness, with a suggestion of lemon and vanilla wafer on the palate. The finish remains crisp though abbreviated.
This is fruity and soft, with pretty berry and plum fruit and plenty of sweet toast right behind. It's ready for consumption and may already be nearing its peak, so drink soon.
Here the dominant grape is Merlot, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot. It falls to the herbal side in terms of flavor, ripeness and tannin, with some bitterness in the finish. On the plus side, it shows pleasing toasty scents and accents from some barrel aging.
This wine is roughly half estate-grown and half Shaw vineyard, all on Red Mountain. Along with tart berry fruit comes a generous dash of fresh herbs, clean earth and a bit of stem. Medium long in the finish, it carries a pleasant streak of toasty oak.
Sporting a new label (the charming dog has made way for a Celtic rose), this estate-grown Syrah, co-fermented with 5% Viognier, is consistent with its predecessor, though it offers a slightly more concentrated core of red fruits. It's already showing well.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of blue flower, crushed strawberry and moist soil. The bright palate delivers ripe black cherry lightly accented with notes of black pepper and clove. Not an ager so enjoy soon.
Midweight in texture and on the palate, this evokes tropical pineapple and stone fruit amid a suggestion of anise. Delightful on its own, it would also be a good companion to light summer salads and seafood, especially dressed in citrus.
100% Sangiovese, this pale pink wine has notes of bubblegum, wild strawberry and spice. It drinks dry with medium-bodied flavors that linger on the finish.
Fermented in stainless steel, then aged in a mix of neutral oak and stainless steel barrels, this offers a crisp, varietally true style with an emphasis on fruit rather than grassy herbs. Honeydew melon, tangerine and peach roll across the tongue, propelled with fresh, juicy, natural acidity. The wine did not go through (nor did it need) malolactic fermentation. Lively and light-hearted.
The Lake Chelan appellation shows promise for white wines and this is just another example. It brings notes of rose water, spice and mandarin orange, drinking off dry, with a zip of acidity. Pair it with a spicy Thai dish.
Sourced from Cold Creek and StoneTree vineyards, this spent 20 months in new French oak. The barrel aging puts a big frame of toast and spice around the blueberry/blackberry fruit, and continues into a finish with some unresolved tannins that turn bitter. Give this more time to pull the fruit and barrel flavors together.
Dark, chewy fruit flavors of black cherry come with a generous amount of espresso and dark, smoky toast. Highlights of anise and coffee grounds continue into a finish with slightly grainy tannins.
A leaner style of Cabernet, this tastes of chocolate and coffee, chewy and dusty with a streak of black pepper. It's one of the winery's upper-tier offerings, hailing from Howell Mountain fruit rather than Napa's valley floor.
Tannins form a dark barrier to start this wine. It is still young, dense with chocolate as well as fruit flavors, showing the bitter, tough flavors that come from too much extraction. The fruit will hopefully come through and soften the tannins and bring out the richness. Drink from 2018.
A rare grape in Oregon, this is a bright garnet shade and scented with cranberry and raspberry fruit. Acidity brings significant snap to the flavors, so much so that for many tasters it will show best with some greasy/smoky grilled meats. A hint of Band-Aid comes up in the finish, but does not distract.
Hints of oak smooth out the inherent herbal character of the grape, yielding ripe tones of apricot and pineapple. This wine is ripe and fruity and ready to drink.
Lightly herbal, mildly spicy aromas are fresh yet scratchy. This Monastrell is full and balanced, with a sensation of resiny oak to the palate feel. Pointed plum and raspberry flavors are oaky, spicy and drying on the finish.
Peach and citrus aromas are offset by green, herbal notes of bell pepper and lettuce leaf. This feels spritzy and lively, with passion fruit and pink grapefruit flavors. Dry and pithy on the finish.
With dry tannins, this 100% Gamay also has plenty of fruit that will give acidity and red-cherry flavors. For the next few months, it needs to soften and round out. Drink from 2016.
Coonawarra is traditionally Cabernet country, so to find this Pinot Noir in a lineup was a bit of a surprise. It's ripe and jammy, with aromas and flavors of black cherry preserves. Drink now for the big fruit.
A strong aroma of burnt match just refused to blow off (two bottles tasted), hence the modest score. Assuming that eventually it would, this offers apple and pear fruit, moderate acidity and low alcohol in a dry white wine.
Blending Fernão Pires and Sauvignon Blanc from the Casal Branco estate, this is a crisp wine that is full of white fruit flavors, hints of pineapple and an herbal edge. It is bright, light and ready to drink.
Part of the Foley Family portfolio, this wine reflects some of the challenges of the vintage. Somewhat bitter tannins overtake the fruit, putting the herbal characteristics front and center. Brambly berry and cranberry fruit carries some tartness through the finish.
This is an intense, oaky and savory mix of ripeness and power. Although the fruit is muted and understated, the wine is full bodied in style and weight.
Soft aromas of grass, lemon leaf and chalk dance on the nose of this mellow wine, with similarly light flavors of melon rind and orange peel that unfold on the palate. Light weight and easy drinking, this is best enjoyed now.
This proprietary combination of 43% Roussanne, 43% Pinot Gris and 14% Viognier is creamy and robust, although it did not spend time in oak. Apple, apricot and an intensity of tart lemon make up the flavor characteristics, the body round and full.
Engagingly perfumed with scents of rosewater, this turns a bit stiff and tight in the mouth. There's crisp raspberry fruit and a lick of chocolate, and the flavors stop abruptly in a hard finish. Extended aeration is recommended.
Ripe and jammy, this is a soft, rounded wine with rich berry fruits. The generous texture comes over more vividly than the acidity. The wine is fruity, ready to drink.
Based in Fleurie in northern Beaujolais, this domaine also has a few acres of old vines in Saint-Jean d'Ardières in the Beaujolais appellation. This wine with its cherry flavor has a tangy, mineral character while relying on fresh fruit and crisp acidity for its lively, bright effect. Drink now.
The faux French name and labeling notwithstanding, this is a no-frills Oregon Chardonnay, fruity and clean. Simple flavors of melon and apple carry the palate, with no suggestion of oak.
Earth dominates the citrus fruit notes on the nose. On the equally lemony palate there is a touch of bitterness and some earthy notes, but the finish is clean, fresh and invigorating.
Fleshy in cantaloupe and pear, this subtle, low-impact white has a touch of acidity that keeps it fresh and refreshing. While the backbone is light bodied, it finishes clean and lean.
This wine has tight fruit, crisp cherry flavors and acidity. The structure comes from the fruit skins rather than tannins. It is ready to drink.
Big and dark, with cola, forest floor and other dark, secure aromas. The palate is young and burly, with ripe blackberry, cola and coffee flavors. As you'd expect, it's a bit more narrow than Matallana's top wine, but it's still round, long and not difficult to like. Classic modern RDD; dark and sultry. Drink now through 2011.
Although there is only 5% Cab Franc in the blend, it appears to have quite an impact on this wine's aromas, which are intriguingly perfumed and contain some minty, leafy notes. Flavors also hint at mint with some subtle cedary notes, although the primary fruit is blueberry. Like the 2005 Georgia's Paddock, it's full-bodied and creamy-textured, although this wine adds a slightly more tannic edge to the finish. Drink 2010–2020.
A reserve that is also a finesse wine. De Ponte's regular 2006 Pinot Noir packs plenty of juicy power; what's added here is not more jam, but more detail. The wine is layered, the tight berry and currant fruit flavors threaded with mineral and chocolate, spice and coffee. Delicious already, it should cellar well for another 8–10 years.
Elegance is the keyword for all the wines of DDO, with the added bonus of structure that almost begs for cellaring. This lovely Pinot Noir effortlessly captures the essence of the grape without any heavy-handed oak, alcohol or over-ripeness. Truly Burgundian, a moderate 14% alcohol, it offers seamless integration of berry and plum fruit, natural acids and lightly applied oak accents of sandalwood and toasted cracker.
A tiny production wine with class and style. It's toasty and dark, with bold black cherry and cassis aromas offset by ample minerality. From the town of Torroja, this 233-case wine is full of molasses, black cherry and other rich, brandied flavors. And it finishes warm, with caramel, coffee and other major-league attributes. Hold until 2010, if possible.
Always a joy to drink, the latest vintage of DDO's Arthur combines richness and elegance in a seamless and fascinating whole. Cucumber and melon, apple and pear fruit is the base, which expands into wet stone and mineral, then butter cookie. It's a one-wine seminar in how to make great Chardonnay, expressing the acid-driven elegance of Burgundy with some of the lushness of New World grapes. Tasted even better on the second day.
Made to commemorate the winery's 20th vintage, this smooth and polished effort combines choice lots from the Shea, Freedom Hill, Temperance Hill and Vista Hills vineyards. Sweet cherry fruit carries interesting suggestions of ash, smoke, anise and toasted almond, buffed and buttressed by crisp acids.
Since Torres launched Celeste a few years ago, the wine has gotten better and better with each passing vintage. The 2006 is friendly and complete, with no outlying or iffy aromas or flavors. This is textbook Ribera; it has smoothness and size along with intriguing black cherry, plum, herbs, tea and tobacco. A bottling for pretty much any wine lover.
It's the French wood aging that gives this wine its Plus moniker. It brings out elegant perfumes, the black fruits rich and smooth, although there is always a core of Douro dry tannins. In its richness, it is possible to see a link with Port. On the finish, though, the acidity and dry tannins remind us of table wine.
Figuero's top wine is more than fine. The nose begins with meaty, leathery notes and backs them up with spice and ripe fruit. The palate is not flabby or fat; instead it's racy and features good acidity that pushes raspberry, tea, tobacco and nutmeg flavors. A more agile wine than many from this famed region. Should age well for five to ten years.
Light, airy and leesy on the nose, this is more complex than most everyday Albariños. Additional aromas of vanilla wafer, acacia, honeydew and minerals lead to a clean-flowing palate. Minerally peach and nectarine flavors show a touch of almond-skin bitterness on the finish.
Ripe, fleshy black-fruit aromas suggest prune and raisin, while the palate is jammy and full, albeit one notch below precise and exact. Baked, oaky, charred flavors of meaty plum and blackberry finish with toasty overtones and modest heat. Drink through 2019.
A hulking, concentrated and full-bodied wine, given plenty of time in new French oak, it has a power and intensity that's hard to decipher at first sip. That suggests it needs time in the cellar to coax out its tightly wound layers of blackberry, black plum and leathery tannins. Cellar through 2020.
This is a muscular, full-bodied wine showing a nice mix of savory and fruity flavors. A fantastic lively texture of firm acidity and fine tannins come with a lip-smacking freshness that's hard to ignore. The balance and complexity are very attractive and promise versatility with a wide variety of foods.
Ripe and full-bodied, this is a bright and velvety wine, driven aromatically by lush cherry, cola and vanilla. Textured and fleshy, it's a strong statement for the vintage and vineyard. Deliciously drinkable now, it should also do well in the cellar, through 2020.
Made from a majority of Roussanne, the remainder 15% Viognier, this is a savory and herbal white, aromatic in lemon and honey. Dry, with medium-bodied weight, it veers into almond and chamomile flavors, blending seamlessly on the palate before finishing smooth and fresh.
Beet root and black raspberry scents and flavors get this wine rolling, with a sliver of licorice peeking through. Subtle hints of vanilla, cola and café latté add further interest. Picked at less than two tons per acre, it has impressive ripeness despite the low alcohol.
About one-third was fermented in neutral oak, the rest in stainless steel, yielding a rich and smooth wine loaded with fresh flavors of pear and nectarine fruits. There's a tasty pie crust toastiness also, and the lingering finish has you reaching for the next sip.
Plump tree fruits carry the weight, with a dash of toast—though the winery notes say the fermentation was 100% stainless steel. It's delicious and ready to drink, now through 2018.
The texture of this wine is dense and concentrated while keeping the fresh fruit and acidity well in balance. It has ripe blackberry flavors that offer great fruitiness. The firm background of tannin structure is balanced by a juicy, fruity aftertaste. Drink now.
Heady scents of jasmine, wisteria, white peach and mountain herbs come together on this rich but racy wine. The aromas carry over to the palate of green apple, lime and a note of candied ginger offset by racy acidity and a refined mousse. The finish is clean and refreshing, and drier than one would expect from the Extra Dry category.
Horsey berry aromas join forces with molasses, vanilla and graphite. Ripped with power, this Malbec's tartaric acidity is amplified and scratchy. Baked plum, blackberry and vanilla flavors end with abrasive residual acidity that creates length but also edginess. Drink through 2021.
Lots of dynamics play on the nose of this wine, from chamomile flowers and daffodils to chalk, pink lemonade, cotton candy and tropical fruits. The palate is framed by a tense minerality, seasoned with flavors of lemonade, browned butter and guava.
With the dominance of Pinot Noir in the Aube region, it is no surprise to find a vintage Champagne that is 100% from that grape. With a round character from the Pinot, as well as a hot vintage, this is a full-bodied wine with vibrant fruit and lively acidity. Drink now.
At first the scents and flavors of cola, root beer and Dr Pepper seem to dominate, though not unpleasantly. The impact continues with brown sugar, molasses and black cherry fruit—a soda-lover's wine. But there is more here as it breathes, adding texture and weight, with streaks of licorice, smoke and tar.
This is a chewy, generous and expansive vineyard-designated wine, dense and fulsome in savory cranberry, cardamom and streaks of black tea. Full bodied, its layers of texture are soft and velvety, and the finish lengthy in spice.
Enticing scents of wild flowers and white peach lead the nose, with a whiff of dried herbs. The creamy palate offers juicy apple, yellow pear and crushed minerals alongside zesty acidity and a frothy, elegant mousse. It's elegant and linear, with vibrant acidity that lifts up the fruit richness.
Chumash tribe descendent and Fresno State-trained winemaker Tara Gomez uses her extensive experience to make a solid lineup of wines. This one holds dense aromas of boysenberry extract, Dr Pepper, toast, condensed cedar and beef char. Elderberry is the dominant fruit flavor, showing both woodiness and dark purple fruit.
Bill Price's ongoing partnership with winemaker Gavin Chanin continues full steam with this deceptively light, mineral-laden wine that nonetheless exudes the power of Durell. Aromas of buttery oak and toasted marshmallow play tricks on the nose before a salty, tropical, medium-bodied, waxy and exotic palate confounds. Subtle acidity belies firm structure. Drink now through 2021.
Given that this is Merseguera, a variety that normally doesn't rank that high, this is impressive. Aromas of honey, peach, apple and melon are more composed than loud, while the palate is layered and braced by fresh acidity. Flavors of apple and green plum are lightly oaked, while the finish is lemony and long.
This is a dense, smooth wine with fine tannins and rich fruit. It has concentration, with suggestions of bitter extraction that need to soften. The structure and the fruit are still young, so wait to drink this powerful wine until 2018.
From the cooler reaches of the Napa Valley, this Coombsville wine is herbal and leathery, with a taste of bittersweet chocolate at its core. Integrated oak plays a background role behind baked plum and intense, ripe fruit, finishing in tobacco. Drink now through 2020.
An unusual Chardonnay produced from Cahors vineyards, this is an obviously wood-aged wine. Spice and toast are dominant at this stage and show that this rich wine needs time to allow the ripe tropical fruits to come through. Drink from 2016.
This savory Rosso weaves together sensations of Morello cherry, wild strawberry and crushed raspberry lightly accented with notes of cinnamon and clove. It's round and ready to enjoy now with hearty Tuscan soups or mildly seasoned pecorino cheese.
Though labeled Sauvignon Blanc, this includes 20% Muscat, which makes it more of a proprietary white wine than a pure varietal expression. The flavors combine grassy, salad greens with citrus and grapefruit rind. The Muscat shows up in the orange blossom highlights. As the low alcohol would suggest, this dry wine has plenty of natural acidity.
Packaged in a distinctive dark blue bottle, this off-dry Muscat gives the scents and flavors you'd expect—heavy on orange and tangerine, with a sweet candy character. That said, it's very well balanced, with good supporting acidity and excellent length.
Sourced entirely from the Milbrandt vineyards, this is a riot of honey, tea and mint highlights, with excellent acidity and ripe tree fruits. The length and density are outstanding for this price point.
A pretty, tan-blush color, this refreshing wine was fermented in stainless steel. Flavors of peach and melon are in play, and the wine has excellent definition and length, with ample acidity and modest alcohol.
Made from a blend of Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, this vibrant Rosso has sensations of black plum, ripe sour cherry, baking spices and Mediterranean herbs. The palate delivers brisk acidity and lithe tannins. Enjoy it soon with substantial first courses like pasta topped with meat sauce or four-cheese gnocchi.
Waxy lemon and apple skin aromas meld with spring blossoms on this bright, citrusy Pinot Blanc sparkling. While it's aggressively foamy, sunny tangerine acidity shines on the palate. Finishes crisply on a zesty lemon note.
A blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, this is indeed a sturdy red table wine. The tannins are dense and chewy, the fruit submerged beneath barrel flavors of toast, caramel and nougat. It spent 20 months in 50% new French oak.
Forward and lightly spicy, this is a good, all-purpose white wine, with bright flavors of apple and pear. It's not a big wine in any way, but perfectly quaffable and right for a wide variety of noodle dishes.
This comes from a mountain-high vineyard atop a relatively new Sonoma County AVA that straddles into Mendocino County, too. Savory and herbal, the 100% Cab offers dark sour cherry and blackberry and plenty of tannin.
This is fresh, with good pungency and a mix of passion fruit and bell pepper aromas. A scouring mouthfeel pulls no punches, while grassy, slightly bitter flavors of arugula and lemon-lime finish citrusy and tangy.
Very juicy aromas of blueberry pie with a buttered crust and vanilla ice cream bring great promise to this Malbec. It carries through with a very round and broad mouthfeel and rich plum flavors with cracked black pepper. The tannins are a tad astringent.
Rose, violet, black raspberry, wild cherry and espresso aromas lead the nose. The juicy fruit palate is accented with notes of sweet cake spices and supported by lithe tannins. Enjoy soon.
Plump tannins and ripe black cherry mark this wine, the structure and savory components also standing out. The finish carries a suggestion of cinnamon spice.
Rose, violet and vanilla aromas lead the nose on this straightforward Nebbiolo. The friendly palate doles out crushed black cherry accented with milk chocolate. It's round and ready so enjoy now.
Plum and raspberry aromas are fresh, clean and simple. This is a solid, full-bodied Cabernet with currant and plum flavors accented by notes of herbs and spices. A minty, lightly herbal finish feels fresh and healthy.
Whiffs of berry and pressed apple scent this slightly honeyed sparkling blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It's opulent and floral on the palate with a rich, mouth-clinging mousse that finishes sweetly with a hint of vanilla and biscuit.
Black currants and green bell pepper aromas lead the nose on this easygoing Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany. The soft, straightforward palate offers plum and black cherry with a hint of licorice alongside round tannins. Not an ager so enjoy soon for the best of the juicy fruit flavors.
Earthy aromas of tobacco, olive, tree bark and lemon peel are herbal and a bit green. This is a blend of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Lagrima Christi; it's fairly minty on the flavor profile, with olive and overt oak leading the way. A resiny, green-tasting finish is drawing but fair.
All coming from Rosebud Vineyard, it starts out somewhat reductive, showing appealing notes of herbs and fresh fig as it opens up. It's fleshy in feel but the midpalate concentration doesn't seem to be there. It might need some additional time to fill out.
This wine is structured and firm, with tannins that need to soften. It has power and weight now, and although the red fruit flavors are there, they are still waiting to shine. Hold until 2015.
Fresh, jammy raspberry and currant aromas are simple but attractive. This offers a chunky, full mouthfeel along with lightly herbal berry, loam and modest spice flavors. The finish is good but standard in feel, length and complexity.
This forward, full-bodied Rosso opens with aromas that recall resin, mature black plums, incense and spearmint. The one-dimensional palate delivers black cherry and vanilla alongside velvety tannins. It closes on a sugary-sweet note.
This medium-bodied blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre shows off delicate floral and herbal notes laced over a core of raspberry compote. It's slightly creamy in texture, showing supple tannins on the finish, where it picks up a hint of bay leaf. Ready to drink now.
A plump, charming white intended for early consumption, this blend of 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne exhibits straightforward orchard and citrus fruit flavors. Cheery aromas of pineapple, white peach and almond lead the way in this bold, flavorful quaffer.
Ripe and full of fruit, the wine also has a firmer tannic structure that gives concentration. The rich cherry and red plum fruits show strongly through the drier core, adding their rounded feel and contrasting with the acidity that comes through at the end.
This Szamorodni, or late-harvest wine, is amber in color with aromas of caramel and dried raisins. In the mouth, there are rich flavors of dried fruits, stewed plums and wine-soaked raisins that combine on your tongue before a juicy yet persistent finish.
Ripe berry, tilled soil, new leather, iris and balsamic aromas merge with chopped herb on this vibrant full-bodied red. The palate is still young and tight, showing wild raspberry, dried cherry, star anise and tobacco while a hint of orange zest closes the finish. It's youthfully austere and will age well for years. Drink 2020–2032.
Underbrush, steeped prune, blue flower, exotic spice and vanilla aromas come together on this impressive, robust red. The round chewy palate delivers raisin, blackberry extract, tobacco, clove and licorice. Firm velvety tannins provide support. Drink through 2023.
The impression of richness and density extends even to the nose of this wine, which suggests fruitcake and spice cake. It's full-bodied and velvety, offering an array of flavors ranging from cedar and vanilla through to cherries and chocolate. Sure it's oaky, but darn tasty, too. Drink 2020–2030.
The Farm Winery takes a lighter, fresher approach to Paso Robles fruit, which works well in this bottling of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Bramble, dried strawberry, star anise and cola aromas lead to a round and easygoing palate, with cooked cranberry, rose, slate and licorice flavors.
Wild red berry, dark baking spice, tilled earth and balsamic aromas slowly emerge in the glass. The round, juicy palate delivers ripe black cherry, spiced plum, nutmeg and star anise framed in velvety, enveloping tannins. A tobacco note closes the finish. Drink 2018–2025.
A Garrafeira is a special selection of wines, and this rich blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez and the Alicante Bouschet is powerful and concentrated. With its dark plum flavor, rich tannins and generous texture, it's smooth, dense and ready to drink.
There are creamy lemon custard, seared marshmallow and toast notes on the nose of this bottling, but also fresher elements of citrus sorbet and chive. A lime zest flavor kicks off the palate, joined by fuller notes of poached apple and apple butter, while acidity slices into the long, rounded finish.
Beaumont's Hope Marguerite is always a stunner. The 2015 bottling opens with forward fynbos and baking-spice aromas that are supported by notes of red apple, orange blossom and fennel. The medium-weight mouthfeel boasts rich flavors of spiced citrus and apple pie, with waves of toasted spice and honeyed almond dancing through the long, evolving finish. It's a complex wine that should drink well through 2022.
Made in limited quantities by consulting winemaker Paul Hobbs, this is 100% varietal from a single vineyard, aged entirely in new French oak. Soft and malleable tannins manage its tangy, succulent blue fruit, supporting all that full-bodied ripeness and girth.
Honeyed pear and caramel scents inform the nose of this wine from the cool climate subdistrict of the Russian River Valley. Creamy in texture, it's full-bodied but not overbearing, with a focus that never veers, the finish awash in salty tones.
Classic Sangiovese aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, tilled soil and a whiff of new leather lead the nose on this delicious red. The round juicy palate doles out mouthfuls of wild raspberry, fleshy cherry, baking spice and an earthy hint of truffle alongside smooth, velvety tannins.
Vanilla and baking spices frame blueberry and plum fruit in this rich, velvety offering. It's slightly fuller and bolder than Colombo's 2014 La Louvée, but also less precise and perfumed. Drink now–2030.
This hefty dark Malbec is full on the nose, with aromas of tree bark, cola and muscled-up black fruits. A flush jammy palate tips the scale, while peppery, lightly herbal blackberry flavors simmer with toasty oak in front of a balanced finish that echoes with herbal afternotes. Drink through 2022.
From a vineyard in the Atlas Peak foothills, this wine offers plummy black cherry fruit accented with clove, pepper and leather. Soft and well integrated on the palate, it shows a boldness of flavor that's powerful and earthy.
Intense aromas of Mediterranean scrub, chopped herb, underbrush and eucalyptus pave the way. Smooth and juicy, the palate doles out succulent raspberry, ripe black cherry, cinnamon, vanilla and crushed mint while velvety tannins provide the elegant framework. It's already approachable but will offer wonderful imbibing for several years more. Drink through 2023.
This wine comes from a small Chardonnay enclave in the predominantly red premier cru of Beaune Grèves. With its intense exotic fruit and apricot flavors, it's both ripe and crisp with acidity. That makes for a delicious reflection of the vintage, needing time to mature. Drink from 2020.
Top consultant Luis Duarte has produced this wine from vines in the southeast Alentejo district of Reguengos. It's bold and ripe, with a heady mix of Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional giving powerful, dense, black fruit flavors. The aftertaste, with its acidity and tannins, suggests aging potential. Drink from 2019.
Black plum, candied blueberry, garden herb and anise aromas show on the nose of this luscious bottling from Matt Villard and Rick Hudson. It doesn't rely on sheer power, instead offering nuanced sage, thyme and oregano flavors against a backfrop of baked red and black cherry fruit. Fennel, smoked meat and vanilla notes play a supporting role.
This wine shows superb balance between ripe fruit tones, attractive oak influence and natural freshness. It leads with scents of lightly toasted nuts, orange cream, freshly dried grass and yellow flowers. The medium-weight palate offers decadent flavors of toasted apple skin and brioche, with orange-flavored acidity that lift's the wine's richness. An evolving finish seals the deal. Drink now–2020.
This is a serious, sturdy wine that blends 6% Syrah and ages for 17 months in French oak, a quarter of it new. Perfumed and earthy, it's beautifully layered with intense macerated cherry, black pepper and licorice flavors.
For a variety that's typically plush and jammy, this is a very savory spin. Charred fruit aromas interweave with oregano, leather and maduro cigar on the nose. Sandalwood, coffee and roast beef flavors arise on the palate, where a core of blueberry fruit is wrapped in polished tannins.
This wine from a densely planted southeast-facing vineyard is still firmly structured with a dry core of tannins. Its black cherry and plum fruit flavors are still developing yet show considerable potential. With its richness, it will age well. Drink from 2020.
Spicy clove, pepper and a crunch of tannin characterize this full-bodied, 100% varietal wine that feels both leathery and herbal. Cassis and red currant notes add crispness and a wisp of fruit that grows darker and more chocolaty as it finishes.
Even in a year that was not generally “declared” in Port parlance, this estate has produced a fine, full and richly endowed vintage Port. With its blackberry fruit still juicy and upfront, it is still young but delicious now, in a not-too-sweet style that should, ideally, be cellared until 2025.
Aromas of Mediterranean scrub, underbrush, berry, licorice and a balsamic note take shape on this. The aromas carry through to the rounded palate along with juicy cherry, grilled herb, cured meat, clove and a toasted note. Polished tannins provide the framework. It's already accessible and will offer loads of near and midterm pleasure. Drink through 2021.
Fresh and vibrantly floral on the nose and palate, this lovely white from the musqué clone imparts full-bodied, voluptuous layers of pineapple and grapefruit rind, lingering long on the finish.
Aged in wood for 14 months, this dense wine is still in its early stages. Firm tannins dominate this blend, which has 10% Tannat along with Malbec. Ripe black fruits are developing to give a wine that will have great concentration and intense juicy black plum fruits. Drink from 2019.
From the northern end of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation, this wine is ripe, floral and supple in texture. It has crisp red fruit and vibrant acidity, underpinned by ripe tannins. Developing quickly, it will be ready to drink from 2019.
Leafy, spicy red-berry aromas suggest asphalt. This is pleasant on the palate, with rubbery tannins. Flavors of rose water, raspberry and plum are light and floral, while the finish is easygoing.
Aged for one year in barriques, this is dominated by raw oak and butterscotch aromas that carry over to the palate alongside lemon and pineapple flavors. While it's an understandable effort to differentiate it from other wines made from Pecorino, it doesn't possess enough fruit richness to support the wood sensations.
This Merlot smells rooty, with licorice and mint to boot. A wide, sort of flabby palate is, at its base, oaky as can be; there's also stewed plum and herbal blackberry flavors in front of a blocky, chunky finish.
Every vintage this wine pulls the same score, so there's something to be said about consistency. This bottling is neutral on the nose, with hints of dust and melon. The palate is clean and citrusy in feel, with melon and green herb notes. An easy finish seems right given the precedings.
Violet, crushed herb and mint aromas start this Agiorgitiko. On the palate, coca, vanilla, red berry and a savory spin give it depth. Fresh and friendly but substantive, this wine can age.
This opens with a pretty fragrance of acacia flower and beeswax. The linear palate offers peach and citrus flavors as well as a bitter almond and saline accent. The vibrant acidity leaves the mouth refreshed.
Lemon preserve and melon aromas are followed by peach and tropical fruit flavors, all balanced with telltale Greek acidity. Balanced and well made, and a good pairing with fruit, salads and seafood.
Forceful aromas of pie crust and heavy berry fruits are clumsy but generous. There's elastic tightness to the palate along with herbal berry flavors. The finish loses fruit while cranking up the toasty afterburners.
This is adequately pungent on the nose, with a touch of the veggies. The palate is modest in acidity but not flat or flabbby. Flavors of green fruits mix with a hint of asparagus, while controlled capsicum and bitterness work the finish.
This blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese opens with notes of prune, raisin and dried flower petals. The staunchly tannic palate offers red cherry flavors but feels a bit lean, despite a layer of chocolate. Alcohol sensations are also detected, even though the alcohol percentage is modest.
This internationally-styled Verdicchio opens with aromas of oak, butterscotch and vanilla. The palate is also dominated by wood sensations, along with notes of apple, butterscotch and lemon peel in the background.
Edgy aromas of plum, cherry and cassis are fresh but scratchy. In the mouth, this Carmenère-led blend shows blazing, cutting acidity and racy flavors of cranberry and pie cherry. Oak and vanilla show up on the finish, which is acidic and fresh, much like the rest of the wine.
Blackberries, black cherries and elderberry form a brooding dark-fruit trio on the nose and mouth. The medium-weight palate is fresh, supple and concentrated, without heaviness. A happy, fruity marriage of St. Laurent and Pinot Noir.
This wine has a savory overall character, with clove, cinnamon and plum on the nose and espresso, red fruit and leather on the palate. A balanced spin of minerals gives it lift. Pair with roast lamb or poultry. A great deal and a good wine.
Candied lemon and lush tropical fruits start this Assyrtiko, Athiri blend from an established producer in northern Greece. Fresh, fun and slightly sweet on the palate, the wine has a softer, more feminine touch than many Greek whites. Great with lighter fare like salads and grilled seafood.
A nose of fresh-cut flowers, tropical fruit and melon leads this barrel-fermented white blend . On the palate, the wine has a lovely floral character but lacks some of the minerality that gives Greek whites their lively touch. Pair with fish or cheeses.
An uber aromatic wine with notes of flowers, orange peel, jasmine and canned peaches. At 27.2 g/L residual sugar, it drinks medium sweet but overall, the acid keeps it in check.
This blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese opens with initial aromas of wet earth and blue flower, along with hints of berry and vanilla. The palate delivers ripe blackberry layered with chocolate, alongside dusty tannins. Not very complex but enjoyable and ready to drink now.
There's a suggestion of sweetness underlying this pleasant, crisp and fruity wine. Though labeled 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it does little to showcase varietal character. However, as a fruit-forward, quaffable white, it works quite nicely.
Ripe and generous, this is a rich, full-bodied wine. While there are still young tannins, the wine is more about rich black fruits, dark plum skins and final acidity. It needs some more time, so drink from 2016.
An intriguing blend of grapes, bringing ripe, smooth Chardonnay up against crisp, green Alvarinho. It will work, once the wine has settled down and integrated. It's fresh, with crisp citrus and ripe apricot flavors, all shot through by acidity. Drink from 2016.
Ripe and impressively rich for a wine from so far north in Burgundy, this has yellow fruits, crisp acidity and a textured edge of acidity. There is a mineral element to this otherwise creamy, fruity wine. Drink now.
This wine offers ripe yellow fruits and soft acidity. A honeyed character adds to the richness and generous character of this warm wine that is lightly cut by acidity at the end.
Light aromas of tropical fruits and acacia blossom show a note of ginger. This has a citrusy, fairly full body and flavors of lime, pineapple and mango that turn more towards citrus on the finish.
Judged as medium-sweet on the international scale, this shows petrol and lime Jell-o on the nose. The palate is not overly sweet but certainly not dry, offering honeyed lemon curds and sugared lime-peel flavors.
A touch of vanilla, butter and seared lemons characterize the nose of this wine that also shows pears and apples, making it a solid Chardonnay alternative. The palate offers a hint of marzipan along with juicy lemon pulp and zest as well as richer stone-fruit elements in the midpalate.
This is a stylish, ripe wine. Pineapple and apricot flavors lend a rich yet fresh feel to the wine. Lemon and lime give a crisp finish. It's tangy and structured, better to drink from 2016.
This is made in an unusually light and refreshing style, using grapes from 37-year-old vines. It has aromas and flavors like white pepper, snap peas and lemon, light body and crisp acidity. The overall impression is one of freshness and brightness.
A very pale color, aromas of white pepper and fresh fennel bulb, tropical fruit flavors, good firm acidity and just a touch of sweetness to balance that tartness all add up to a flavorful, lively and light-bodied wine.
Core berry aromas are fresh and solid, while nuances of wild herbs, leather and smoky rubber give this Malbec some character out of the chute. A jammy, fairly lush palate gives flavors of plum, raspberry and cassis. On the finish, this is solid and doesn't change much. Drink at any point over the next few years.
Soft and silky in rich red fruit, this is an intense wine, boldly flavored and densely textured, indicative of both the variety and the vintage. Let this complex baby air before pairing with grilled meats or risotto.
Aromas of bright berry, tobacco and a balsamic note come together in the glass. The palate offers raw red berry, black cherry, white pepper and anise alongside sleek tannins and bright acidity. Give this time to unwind and fully develop. Drink after 2018.
Composed, well-oaked, earthy aromas of blackberry get this Bonarda going in the right direction. This is snappy and high in acid, but that ensures freshness and liveliness. Pointy cherry and raspberry flavors finish crisp and tangy.
Tart cherry and high-toned acidity give this wine a tanginess around structured, well-heeled tannins. On the palate dense red and blue fruits combine to juicy effect, offering flavor without an overabundance of power.
Soft, layered and approachable, this dances in dried herb and black and red currant that provide a vibrancy on the palate that's refreshing for a wine so young. A touch of violet comes to the fore on the finish.
From the historic vineyard site planted to old Wente, this wine offers a silky-smooth character on the palate, which is generous in its aromatics of apple blossom and peach, with just the right sizzle of tangy lemon-driven acidity. The full-bodied finish features waxy apple, vanilla and toasted oak.
This hugely dense and tannic wine wraps its full-bodied legs around a core of dried, somewhat diluted fruit. It's on the savory scale of the spectrum, more clove, dried herb and black tea than anything else.
Dedicated to the vineyard crews, this wine features a dynamic nose that blends dried black cherries, slightly sour plum fruit and a bit of tar. The palate also picks up the dried cherries and plums, along with blackberry and dark-chocolate flavors.
Situated in the south-east end of the Setúbal peninsula, this estate has produced a ripe, smooth and densely rich wine. It has a plum jelly flavor that is sustained by finely integrated tannins. It has a medium-term future, with full, generous fruitiness developing fast; drink from 2016.
Full bodied and richly textured, this is a generous wine, resplendent in tangy caramel apple and wild vanilla. Soft on the palate, it leans tropical, with a taste of pineapple, guava and even coconut, plus a slight suggestion of nutmeg-like spice at the end.
Soft straw to the eye with pleasing aromas of vanilla and caramel with soft citrus undertones, this wine offers flavors of white peach and green fig. It is somewhat full in the mouth, with a hint of tart nectarine on the finish.
Striking a balance between full-bodied fleshiness and refreshing acidity, this white is generous in pear skin, peach and lime, with noticeable oak supporting the fruit. It finishes light and bright, all the while exuding a bouquet of honeysuckle.
The oak is quite primary on this wine with its aromas of vanilla and coffee in front of mineral and cranberry. The palate has sweet, rich fruit flavors with a tart finish.
As with the winery's Blue Chip bottling, this seems to be approaching an early maturity. Slightly grainy flavors of brown sugar and maple syrup wrap around light cherry candy. The finish is threaded with coffee and butterscotch. This is a wine to enjoy sooner rather than later.
A distinct headiness to the gardenia blossoms that perfume this Riesling contrasts with the bright, tropical pineapple, candied fruit and tangerine flavors that dominate in the mouth. A touch of minerality and racy acidity round out the finish.
A lightly tawny straw color, this is scented with grass and hay and smoked meat—unusual for a Chardonnay. Light apple-flavored fruit carries that same, strong smoked meat (and slightly plastic) streak of flavor—unmissable and quite persistent.
Almost red in color, with dusty aromas that mix in a blast of latex and dried cherry notes. The wine is made from organically grown Bobal grapes, and it offers tang and bite along with crisp flavors of plum skins, raspberry and citrus. Almost sour, but not. A solid quaffer for the price.
Mulled apple cider, ginger and candied orange peel aromas perfume this easy-drinking Riesling. Tart acidity and a kick of apple pie spice meld playfully with the semisweet palate. A nice wine for casual autumn entertaining.
A Pinot Noir Port is a rare creature, and somewhat contradictory. How to match the delicacy of the Pinot Noir grape with the power and punch of Port-style, fortified wines? Here it's the alcohol and spirits that take over; the Pinot bringing some cherry fruit flavors but lacking the weight and substance to feel authoritative.
Full and deep, with a very ripe, raisined, pruney character. The alcohol is listed at just 13.5%, but the wine tastes much, much riper. Yet in the finish it thins out, without the weight or burn that one would normally expect in such ripe fruit. Hard to know what the winemaker did to produce this wine, but the end result does not hang together as well as it should.
A three-grape rosé, this blends Pinot Gris, Merlot and Syrah to make a mahogany/copper-colored wine with a soft, spicy character. It was barrel-aged in neutral oak. There is a good mix of stone fruit flavors, though some of the grapes may have been a little too ripe, and the wine's finish reflects that, with just a hint of rot.
Quite tannic and oaky, this rough and chewy Merlot is constructed around a thin layer of cassis fruit. But the big flavors are the dark, earthy ones—raw wood and thick tannin.
Nicely perfumed with a musky/grapey scent, this low alcohol (10.4%) sweet Riesling is pleasant and clean, but a bit attenuated. It has plenty of sugary honey and some simple canned peach fruit, but stops there.
Despite the reserve and late harvest designations, this fits in more comfortably with a standard, off-dry Washington Riesling. The 4% residual sugar is muted by good acidity and firm pear and peach fruit. There's some phenolic bite in the finish, and a hint of plastic.
An intensely herbal wine, smelling of the garrigue where it is grown. It is lean, firmly tannic with high red fruit acids, and a dry structure. It's rustic, reminiscent of old-style winemaking.
Sweet and fiery on the nose, with piercing aromas that burn right up your nasal passages. The palate is pinched and super tannic, with biting flavors of black licorice, blackberry and cola. Could be better with a softer, smoother mouthfeel but seeing that this is an '04 with six years behind it, it isn't going to soften up much.
Fairly light and leathery, with strained aromas of animal hide and burnt berry fruit. The palate feel is light to medium, with scratchiness, and the flavors are of roasted fruit, leather and dryness. Spice and a slight bitterness define the finish. Has a few issues but still a good wine for $10.
This organic Chardonnay offers notes of soft pear, grass and citrus on the nose, while sweet citrus oil dominates the medium- weight mouth. A touch of melon rind unfolds on the short finish. Easy to drink, and drink now.
Boldly fruity, this “wine product”—labeled as such because it is only 4.5% alcohol—features loads of strawberry and tangerine character. It's perfumy, soapy and sweet, balanced by frothiness.
Possibly understating it, this Australian Malbec is boldly colored, with intensely fresh and grapy aromas and robust blueberry flavors. It's a bit simple and possibly a little on the sweet side, but fills the mouth with plenty of flavor.
A touch tough and stemmy on the nose, but given the price it rates as positive. The body is medium and friendly, while the flavors of raspberry and strawberry feature a peppery accent. Finishes crisp and fresh.
Orange blossom and other common white fruit aromas make for a standard, generic type of bouquet. The palate is regular in feel and weight, with shy flavors of melon and apple. Entirely middle of the road in aromas, body, feel and flavors.
Fresh, bright wine that feels light in texture and weight. That makes it suited for shellfish rather than more intense dishes. Attractive, ready to drink.
A “layered” blend of five different varieties, this starts off a bit floral and lemony, then develops some earthier notes to go along with the modest citrus flavors. Finishes short. Sémillon (37%), Muscat (20.5%), Gewürztraminer (19.5%), Pinot Gris (19%) and Chardonnay (4%).
Boldly fruity, redolent with cherries and pink grapefruit, this medium-bodied rosé does have a slightly candied quality to it, but remains a decent summertime quaff. Serve well chilled to help mute the apparent sweetness.
Smells both nutty and warm as well as citric and sharp. The palate keeps that pace; it's citrusy and cidery in feel, with orange, banana and spice flavors. Finishes quick and a little heavy. 70% Chardonnay and 30% Sauvignon Blanc.
Medium in weight, with modest pear and melon aromas and flavors. It's clean and fresh, finishing with a delicate touch of citrus. Drink now.
Waxy peach aromas seem slightly oxidized. It's round and citrusy on the palate, but in a monotone way that fades to pithy white fruits and mealy citrus. Shows some flashes of uniqueness and class; mostly it's wayward and slightly bitter.
Notes of bright, candied red cherries, cedar and spice fill the nose and palate of this full bodied blend of Saperavi and Merlot from Georgia. The bright acidity makes for a fresh sip, but harsh tannins lead to a choppy, jagged finish.
Here's a delicate white that's a nice poolside sipper, with soft suggestions of white florals, tropical fruit and sweet citrus. The palate is clean and balanced with pineapple-flavored acidity keeping things vibrant in the mouth.
With some weight, this has raspberry flavor to go with its sweetness. Berry fruits dominate in a wine that is full in the mouth.
A delicate nose of red plum, cherry, smoke and spice lead into a similar palate that is met with black olive and fig. The oak spice is prevalent, so the fruit is pushed to the background. Pair with barbeque.
Apples and pears in the aroma lead to easygoing fruit flavors and a soft broad texture in this medium-bodied fruit-forward wine. Hints of butter and vanilla sneak in on the finish.
The high-toned aromas of raspberry, barrel spice and herb bring a touch of heat along with them. The palate offers tart tangy acidity, with the tannins seeming a bit bunched up.
Wood-spice aromas are at the fore followed by red fruit, with the wine also showing a fair amount of heat. The cranberry, raspberry and oak flavors are full bodied, seeming a bit boozy.
Aromas of ripe blackberry, vanilla and a whiff of toasted oak lead the nose. The straightforward palate evokes mature black cherry, mocha and spice alongside firm tannins. Drink through 2020.
This wine from a prolific Sierra winery is dark in color, ripe and full in flavor, showing blackberry jam, chocolate and raspberry flavors while coating the palate with soft tannins and good concentration.
Woody lightly spicy aromas of red fruits are tame and suggestive of fresh mushroom. This is linear and wiry in structure, not deep. Snappy tomato, herb and spiced-plum flavors finish lively, with a salty afertaste.
Wood aging (hence the extra year before release) gives this wine richness and a smooth texture. It does take away some freshness but the ripe red fruits give a rounded character that puts the wine firmly in the food-friendly category.
Black olive, slate, black peppercorns, thick-skinned elderberry, charcoal and mocha hide a deep-seated pyrazine aroma on the nose of this bottling. That green-peppercorn flavor also shows on the sip, along with charred plum.
Reserved on the nose, this bottling eventually shows dried plums, berries, lilac and tar aromas. Dried purple flowers show on the sip alongside blueberries, plums, leather and dried-meat flavors.
Very opulent in texture and somewhat sweet in flavor, this wine has black pepper and blackberry aromas, ripe and jammy fruit on the palate and enough grippy tannin to nicely counterbalance the sweetness.
This wine is a joint venture between négociant Schröder & Schÿler and the Barton family of Château Léoville-Barton. It's fruity in style, with light tannins and attractive spice from wood aging. Its black currant fruitiness, typical of the vintage, has softened and filled out so the wine is ready to drink.
Simple but pleasant aromas of violet, plum, grape and mulberry show on the nose of this widely available and well-priced twist-top bottling. The palate pops with acidity, showing flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and tart plum skins, framed by thin though sticky tannins.
Dusty, earthy plum and berry aromas are a touch leafy and suggestive of sea shells. A fresh palate features enough body to handle racy acidity, while this tastes of plum, brown sugar and spicy oak. A steady finish turns over no new stones.
This combines 85% Pinot Blanc with 15% Viognier. Together, they offer a full, fleshy and fruit-forward expression of peach and pineapple that's fresh in uplifting acidity.
Aromas of apricot and rose petal prepare the palate for flavors of peach and grapefruit, with a hint of sage. Refreshing acidity on the palate and a splash of pineapple on the finish make this lively and bright.
Medium straw in color, this wine has aromas of melon and white flowers on the nose. The palate is smooth, with moderate acidity and flavors of pineapple and rose petal that culminate in a lingering guava finish.
High-toned aromas of potpourri, herb and white pepper lead to plump pleasing fruit flavors. It brings a slightly tacky feel, with the finish coming up a bit short.
This is an attractive, fruity wine that's dominated by black currant and damson flavors. It is layered with acidity and light tannins. Drink this year.
The rubbery plum aromas are sweet and medicinal, and the palate feels creamy, thick and chewy. This tastes sweet and lightly herbal, with baking spice and jammy black-fruit flavors and a mild green element. The finish is a touch chunky.
The dark and penetrating aromas of violets, shoe polish, blackberry and road tar are solid. This feels a bit tough on the palate, with narrow tannins and flavors of rubber and black plum.
A medium-bodied Chardonnay with a focus on fruit. Honeydew and citrus flavors take the lead, then finish crisp and clean.
A tight wine—this has acidity and a firm, steely character. It's taut and lined with a green flavor that powers the crisp apple and grapefruit finish.
Light and fruity, this has a fresh red-berry flavor. It has intense youthful acidity, lending a very crisp texture. With its soft tannins, it is ready to drink in a few months when the acidity has calmed down.
With its flavors of raspberry and cherry soda, this a simple Pinot Noir. A slight grassy note comes through on the finish.
Blocky and tart, this shows little of the flower or delicate citrus notes that many Oregon Rieslings convey. The clean apple flavor makes it good for summer picnics.
A spritzy, frizzante style, this is sweet and simple, with a clean flavor of orange.
This tart, medium-bodied Pinot Noir features sour cherry and cranberry fruit blended with hints of minty herbs and fresh compost. Drink now.
This lightweight Pinot Noir features high-toned red-fruit aromas and flavors. Strawberry and red cherry notes dominate, but there are hints of coffee and nail polish as well. Drink now.
This is an estate-grown Chardonnay, with flavors of vanilla, tropical pineapple and guava that are surrounded by an oaky character and a lemony finish.
Yeasty, with beery aromatics, this has slightly sweet, tangy flavors of grapefruit and soda pop. Give it more time in the bottle to meld together.
Soft and fruity, this has gentle flavors of pear, citrus and white fruit that are balanced with light acidity. Drink now.
Berry and currant aromas are jumpy and fruity in nature, while in the mouth, creamy oak creates a sticky feel. Candied, barrel-driven flavors of vanilla and clove outlast the wine's fruit content on the finish.
Simple but friendly aromas of green fruits and spring vegetables set up a lemony feeling palate, with flavors of lime, green apple and herbs. This shows pyrazines on a juicy finish, but not so much that the wine comes across green, vegetal or bitter.
Ripe and creamy in texture, this is a pear and peach flavored wine. A touch of butteriness gives a rounded texture and a hint of vanilla. Drink this fruity wine from 2015.
Rubber, Band-Aid and iodine aromas mix with berry fruit and plum on the nose of this blend. The mouthfeel is choppy and light, while blackened flavors of blackberry and plum finish somewhat bitter.
Made from old vines and aged in small barrels, this wine is dominated by oak. Opening aromas include wood, toast and a hint of butter and apples. Oak extract takes center stage on the palate which also reveals citrus peel and a hint of apricot and mineral, as well as firm acidity. It lacks fruit richness.
This wine boasts blackberry, raspberry, white pepper and earthy sensations. It's simple but well-made and cries out for food such as hearty minestrone soup.
Recalling the zesty style from New Zealand, it offers aromas of cantaloupe and crushed tomato vine along with exotic fruit that all carry over to the palate. It has a crisp, refreshing finish.
Dusty mineral and herbaceous green notes juxtapose curiously with slightly overripe apple and peach flavors on the palate of this dry Riesling. Soft tangerine acidity lends a sunny, refreshing tone on the finish.
This pretty wine showcases aromas of yellow flowers and exotic fruit. The bright palate offers honeydew melon, apple and a hint of almond alongside crisp acidity that leaves a quenching finish.
This wine opens with aromas of toasted oak, butterscotch and vanilla. The palate delivers toast, oak extract and mineral, but it lacks fruit richness to fully balance the dominant wood. It ends on a bitter coffee bean note.
Smoke and earth tones accent aromas of pressed apple on this brisk, intensely citrusy Riesling. Lemon-lime flavors are zippy and bright on the palate, but the finish falls a bit short.
An attractively aromatic wine, full of open fruitiness. It has layers of black currant fruit that go with the fresh acidity, plus a touch of herbs that are followed by firm tannins. Juicy and ready to drink from 2015.
A ripe, full wine that has almost too much weight, it offers a very rich texture and firm tannins. The blackberry jelly fruits are dense and powered by a fruity feel. Drink from 2016.
Obviously young and still showing the brief wood aging, this is an attractive and juicy wine with ripe red berry fruits, spice from the wood and a soft texture. It should be ready to drink by 2015.
This wine is light, with touches of honey and dried fruit. Oranges, marmalade and dried sultanas are balanced by the acidity of this already attractive Sauternes. Drink now, but better from 2016.
From the cool 2011 vintage, this wine brings notes of black tea, dark raspberries and herbs. It's tangy with lip-smacking plum and cranberry flavors backed by firm tannins.
Peppery and bright in acidity, this blend of half Grenache and lesser percentages of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Counoise is a bit mixed. On the one hand it offers red raspberry and pomegranate and perfumed aromatics; on the other hand, the earthiness detracts.
Lemon and creamed pear flavors give this open, soft wine attractive fruitiness. The fruit is everything here, with acidity adding a crisp edge to the rounder textures. It is ready to drink.
Roasted and smelling a touch bricky, this also has full aromas of berry and black plum. Feels grabby but honest, with baked black-fruit flavors, chocolate, mocha and coffee. Jammy and deep on the finish, with earthy, chocolaty notes. A blend of 60% Garnacha with 20% each of Syrah and Merlot.
Dark black like the grapes it's made from. Once you get past its high alcohol, this has powerful flavors of dark chocolate, tar and baked plums.
The production of Malbec at Three Rivers has risen dramatically, and the new vintage seems considerably lighter and less complex than it previously did. Fruity and forward, it shows black cherry and cola flavors, with a light streak of licorice.
Who knew Ohio made such tasty Chardonnay? Bright and fresh, with scents of green apple, pear, fresh herbs and just a hint of nut oil. This dry, medium-bodied wine offsets juicy flavors of nectarines and apples against a backdrop of sweet cream and white flowers that lingers on the finish. Drink now.
A supple, easygoing Pinot Noir, with modest weight in the mouth but assertive notes of cola, earth and cherries. The aromas are slightly perfumed and confected, but the flavors are sturdier and more savory in nature. Drink now.
This smells gritty and herbal on first take, with roasted, leafy aromas. The herb and red fruit flavors are a bit spotty, remaining herbal and mildly green on the finish, with snappy acidity.
Smoky and roasted on the nose, it also has standard red-berry aromas lurking in the background. This feels fairly full and healthy, with sweet-oak flavors accenting lightly-pickled-tasting red berry. It finishes a bit herbal, with lasting minty, oaky flavors.
This is stewy smelling, with tomato leaf and raisiny notes. It feels dense and mature, with mild acidity creating jammy raspberry and plum flavors along with a lot of barrel spice. The oak flavor is dominant on the finish.
With 10% Viognier added to this Chenin, there is a forward, earthy character to this wine, like a mix of honeysuckle and citrus-scented fynbos. The medium-weight palate shows melon and tropical fruit flavors while a lemon-lime accent freshens up the close.
Pear, white melon rind and faint guava notes grace the bouquet of this fresh and inviting wine. The ripe, round mouthfeel is balanced and approachable, with a refreshing lime-zest infused finish. Drink now.
This is dry and cedary upfront, with decent raspberry fruit emerging on the palate. It's medium bodied and lacks the richness and expansiveness of many 2009 Rhônes, but still offers a solid if somewhat oaky drinking experience.
Scents of fresh lemons, herbs and white flowers grace this delicately structured, unoaked Chardonnay. Brisk and tonic on the palate, it's a breezy white that's perfect for summer sipping.
Medium-bodied and easy drinking, this Cabernet opens with yeasty red-fruit aromas and a touch of smoky oak, before finishing clean. A very good Cabernet Sauvignon that should be fairly easy to find.
This is light, bright and easy, with clean notes of Granny Smith apple, pear, and a hint of fresh grass. The tart palate is sharp but refreshing, with a medium-length, mouthwatering finish.
The reserve seems to have spent more time in barrel, bearing a chocolatey finish, but otherwise it is quite similar to the Marryhill's regular Sangiovese. Slightly higher alcohol makes for a bit more concentration of the strawberry fruit, but the herbal, peppery bite is still there in the finish.
This garnet colored Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of dark cherry and mocha with flavors of cherry cola, black raspberry and black cherry with a smooth silky tannic finish.
This opens with aromas suggesting toast, dark-skinned berry, smoke and a balsamic note. The firm palate delivers dried black cherry, licorice, sage and a hint of clove alongside assertive tannins. Drink after 2020.
Medium-gold to the eye, this wine has aromas of white peach and bitter almond. There is an almost beer-like flavor profile, including peach, apple, hops and floral notes. Ever-present but not overpowering tannins and a bright, lingering finish make for an appealing and interesting wine.
Just slightly dilute, but well-made in every other way, this gentle wine is true to variety with flavors of melon and strawberry, hints of citrus and a dusting of cinnamon spice. It has the gentle elegance of village Burgundy, at a comparable cost.
This pitch-dark Malbec from Cafayate is concentrated and heavy on the nose, with grapy blackberry aromas that are doing their best to stay fresh and clean. A full-force, grapy palate deals chocolaty black-fruit flavors in front of a warm finish where toasty oak and graphite notes come onto the scene.
This chewy, tangy white wine is an engaging blend of 42% Viognier, 33% Marsanne, 23% Roussanne and a splash of Grenache Blanc. Fresh flavors of citrus, apples and pineapple abound. If you're looking for an unoaked alternative to Chardonnay, this is a good option.
Young vines grown at heights of 1,200-feet give a cool character to this Touriga Nacional dominated blend. It is a structured wine, stylish with perfumed fruit flavors that have been smoothed by the oak aging. The wine is ready to drink.
An admirable effort, combining lemony citrus notes with hints of pear and quince. It's medium in body, with a long, crisp finish.
Full bodied and supple, this is a dark wine with ample fruit. Cassis and black cherry notes pick up hints of cola on the finish. Drink now–2020.
This opens with aromas of grilled porcini, menthol and a hint of Asian spice while the straightforward palate offers ripe raspberry, dark cherry and cake spice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support.
This dry wine delivers aromatic complexity, firm tannins and solid fruit flavors for an appetizing balance. It smells like raspberries and cedar, tastes like cranberries and raspberries, and finishes with a nice touch of astringency.
Gritty, earthy aromas of hot tarmac and leathery plum give off a burnt character. Easy, smooth and flush across the palate, this blend of 70% Petit Verdot and 30% Malbec tastes peppery, spicy and of roasted black fruits. Toastiness carries over to the finish, which deals burnt, peppery spice notes and mild heat.
You could think of this wine as an exclamation. It is certainly rich and generous with its bold black fruits and dark tannins. There is a juicy component to the wine as well, spicy and full of berry flavors. It is ready to drink.
While there is little white wine in Santenay, the vines for this wine come from a small parcel near the château. It is soft and rounded, smooth and creamy. With white stone-fruit flavors lifted by light acidity, it is ready to drink now.
Layers of wood aging give this wine its initial spicy character. The flavors broaden out to bring in the ripe citrus and yellow fruits that are already well developed. With its edge of minerality, the wine still has room to age. Drink from 2017.
For such a small price, this off-dry Riesling offers surprising refreshment and enjoyment. It's straightforward and fruity, bursting with white-peach and pear flavors, yet remarkably pristine in style. Zesty lemon-lime acidity showers the midpalate and leads a long rejuvenating finish.
From vines in the plain between Corton and Beaune, this wine is full of ripe red fruits. Its soft, rounded character is spiced with acidity and the wood aging. Soft tannins fill the texture. Drink from 2018.
This is a ripe, full wine with both the fruit and the fresh acidity of the year. Rich yellow fruits are cut with the citrus acidity, hints of toast and spice, with a refreshing backbone. The wine is ready to drink.
This Malbec is strangely exotic, with unusual floral aromas that blend in Middle Eastern spices including cardamom. Massive and borderline over-extracted, this tastes earthy and baked, with herbal blackberry flavors. A blackened, peppery flavor dominates a finish that comes across as stewed.
Dark in color and ripe from the get go, this Malbec blend smells of blackberry, graphite and licorice. Full and layered, with surprisingly good depth, this tastes of black fruits blended with tomato and plum. Spicy, dry and herbal tasting on the finish, with a hint of saltiness.
A revitalizing crush of lemon and limes, this spry kabinett seems sweetened by a sprinkling of sugar-cookie crumbs. Racy acidity lends spine-tingling refreshment that finishes with a lingering herbal tone. Drink now through 2019.
Pear, pineapple and white chocolate notes come together into an attractive whole in this medium- to full-bodied blend. It's round in the mouth, then focuses on the finish into a bright beam of citrus.
This dry Furmint from Hungary's Balaton region has aromas of lemon blossom and green apple. In the mouth, there are flavors of crisp apple cider and fresh pear.
This new blend features 38% Merlot, 32% Petite Sirah, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Malbec, combining brawn with beauty. Red fruit and a light grip of oak wrap around a softly textured body, making for an approachable, easygoing experience.
Delicate and dancing on the palate, this light-footed Riesling highlights crystalline mineralilty against a backdrop of zesty grapefruit, lime and lemon flavors. Off dry in style, it finishes moderately long with lingering hints of bramble and crushed stones.
More like an off white in color than actually pink, this 100% barrel-fermented, free-drained wine shows lemon blossoms, Pink Lady apple and lime zest on a very restrained nose. The palate is lively with tantalizing acidity, and fresh with light Meyer lemon zest and juice flavors.
This bottling packs in all that the grape can be: honeydew melon ripeness, crushed chalk and slate minerality and a grassy edge. The palate shows a citrus rind pithiness, some sea salt and a lime zest freshness. Classic and uncomplicated.
This is very fresh and nicely detailed, with just 13% alcohol allowing some of the more subtle Sauvignon Blanc flavors to show. Some of the oldest vines in the state—more than 35 years old—are a prime component. Melon, green apple, lime and grapefruit flavors all mingle; acids are just right and the balance could not be better for lighter seafood and poultry.
Shows greater fruit character and purity than the roasted 2003, with blackberry flavors nicely framed by vanilla oak and meaty, savory notes. Firm on the finish, suggesting an optimum drinking window of 2009–2016.
This earthy Syrah starts with mint and tobacco aromas and on the palate, spice, pepper and cigarbox flavors are restrained and elegant. Good tannic structure and balanced acids give the wine class. A touch of smoke on the finish adds to the serious nature of the wine.
It's appropriate that this wine is served at the Crazy Horse saloon in Paris. Made from a selection of old vines, La Horse is in the modern, polished idiom, a super-ripe wine, very concentrated, packed with blackberry jelly and bitter chocolate flavors. Give it 3–4 years, but its considerable power and intensity is already there.
This is a nicely balanced, tightly constructed effort, a Merlot that will surprise anyone who has not tasted Washington Merlot in this price range. It is miles apart from the herbal, stemmy Merlots of other New World regions, or the vapid, watery $15 junk that comes from our neighbor to the south. This is ripe, full, meaty, structured, laden with plum and cherry, spice and just a hint of herb.
There aren't many Rieslaner bottlings out there, so this may be one of the few chances people have of trying this interesting variety. It starts off smoky and herbal, developing strange leafy flavors that take some getting used to, although there's an undercurrent of lime-like fruit as well. Sweet without being too sweet; try with the cheese course.
This Pinot Blanc is broader and fuller-bodied than M-C's Rieslings, but not as minerally or complex. It's easy to drink, featuring exotic notes of mango and banana balanced by citrus blossom and chalk.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Navarra is always going to be vintage-dependent, so in a perfect year like 2005 a wine like this shows its best. The nose offers coconut, dill and cedar, which sets the stage for a lengthy, honest palate of roasted berry, cola, herb and tobacco flavors. Not a sweet or “fruity” style per se, but a cut above and a good terroir wine that reflects its year.
A wine that is showing signs of maturity, emphasizing the sweetness of the rich vintage. It offers juicy spice, firm but sweet tannins and flavors of licorice and dark chocolate. It is ready to drink.
Very young, juicy, loaded with boysenberry and black cherry fruit. There is a strong streak of licorice, hints of tobacco and vanilla, but plenty of muscle and stiff tannins. A substantial effort, this ranks at the top of the list of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon priced under $10.
This complex, assertive dessert wine starts with aromas of orange marmalade, honey and tobacco spice, and on the palate, its smooth, integrated flavors of honey, citrus, cigarbox and spice are both elegant and unique. Its spicy, dry finish is an extra boost.
With its 10% alcohol, bright fruit and lush, round mouthfeel, this is more mainstream (and main meal) than the late harvest label would suggest. The sweetness is perfectly balanced against firm acids, and the fruit flavors combine citrus and peach with light streaks of honey.
A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine, which reveals great structure to go with its black berry fruits. American Daren Miller, married to a Bordeaux native, has been involved in the restoration of this property in the Médoc, producing a classic wine, that pays great respect to its origins.
Fine tannins, dusty and sweet, play a major part in the success of this wine. It's fruit, initially subdued by the tannins, then bursts through with cherry jelly, dark plums and an edge of licorice. It's certainly rich, but it all hangs together well.
Block 8 is pure Wädenswil clone, displaying peppery brambly berry flavors and plenty of underbrush. The acids are sharp and bring suggestions of oranges and other citrus. The “Single Block Series” wines may be enjoyed as single components, or mixed as pieces of a home-made blend.
The aromas are bright, with notes of stems, raspberry, cherry, baking spice and sarsaparilla. The palate shows delicacy and restraint and the variety is unmistakable.
A subdued nose leads onto a fresh, crisp, easy-drinking body that features fruit very loosely: There are hints of strawberry and red apple. The body is light and easy with big bubbles that create lively, refreshing sparkle finishing on a strawberry note.
One of the Talley family's more affordable bottlings, this is a great choice for weeknight sipping or bringing to neighborhood parties. Aromas of dried cherries meet with forest floor, wet thyme and chipped slate on the nose, while the palate offers light cran-raspberry, dried herbs and a menthol finish on a decently acidic structure.
This generous rosé was whole-cluster pressed, yielding bright, fresh flavors of just-picked strawberries. The flavors are uplifted with a backing of wet stone minerality, and if any wine captures springtime in a bottle, this is it.
Rich texture, full body and ripe, mellow flavors of pear, almond and fig make this wine a mouthful. It also has freshness and smooth acidity that last through the finish.
Tasty and true to type, this wine smells like ripe plums and cherries accented by dried thyme, and tastes slightly meaty on top of all that fruitiness. It's a smooth-textured wine in which moderate tannins add a good bite to the mouthfeel.
Deep color, vivid oak, smoky aromas, and rich clove and blackberry flavors. It's full bodied, smoothly tannic in texture and has a lingering finish.
Structured and firm, this is a wine that is full of tannins. Luckily the fruitiness is there as well to show the wine's potential. With a couple of years of aging, it should do well. Drink starting from 2018.
Although it seems lean at the moment, there is enough fruit in this wine produced by Eric Gonfrier to promise a good future. The texture is dense, packed with tannins as well as the fruit. Wait until 2019.
Fresh and juicy, this is a wine where the fruit is already well in balance with the tannic core. It is structured and firm while allowing plenty of room for the red fruits and acidity. Drink from 2018.
Ripe and juicy, this is a fresh-faced wine with acidity and balanced tannins adding to the smoky aromas. It has the acidity typical of the vintage alongside the bright red-berry fruits. Drink from 2018.
Ripe and fruity, this is a wine that will develop quickly. With black currant and red-berry fruits it is perfumed, crisp as well as allowing plenty of room for juicy acidity. The tannins are firm and well balanced. Drink from 2017.
As its color indicates, the wine is approaching maturity. It has a rich texture with red fruits, some firm tannins and a generous character. With its spice, ripeness and concentration, it is fine to drink now, although the wine does fade quickly after opening.
A fruity wine with fresh acidity and light tannins, this is going to be ripe with a juicy character and bright tannins. After four years of conversion by Vincent and Ludivine l'Amouller, the estate's fourth generation, the 2014 vintage is now certified organic.
This wine is firmly tannic and dry. It has ripe fruits and these should develop well. With its structure and fruitiness, it will become a generous, full wine from 2018.
Bridgitte and her husband Eric took over her family property in 2009, in 2014 producing a spicy and fruity wine. It has fine tannins and sweet red-berry fruit. The acidity and the balance are just right. Drink this attractive wine from 2018. They donate one percent of their turnover to an environmental charity and are (they say) one of only two wineries in the world who are members of “1% for the planet.”
A ripe wine that has red-berry fruits, slices of black plum and a full deck of tannins. It is concentrated and ripe, full of fruit and equally full of structure. Let the two soften and drink from 2018.
A crisp, red-fruit flavored wine that has sufficient structure to give it shape and density. It is fruity with spice from the wood aging. Acidity at the end keeps it fresh and bright. Drink from 2017.
Just a touch of residual sugar (11 g/L) softens up the edges of this wine, which brings flavors of tart lemon, grapefruit pith and wet paper into play. Try it with prawns, shellfish or non-spicy noodle dishes.
Done entirely in stainless tanks, this fruity wine offers spring fresh flavors of citrus, pineapple and green melon. With barely perceptible residual sugar, the acids keep it lip-smacking and lively. There is just a hint of buttery caramel at the core.
A powerful sense of green powers this wine, starting on the nose with sharp grassy tones of rosemary, chives and pine needles. The palate is also extremely grassy, though balanced by a tart pluot character.
Here's a solid, straightforward Barolo that delivers aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, star anise, leather and menthol. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol on the finish, while chewy tannins provide support. Drink 2017–2022.
Toasted nut and bread crust aromas carry over to the bright palate along with mature apple, strawberry, citrus and a note of dried herb. Soft small bubbles lend elegance while fresh acidity lifts the finish.
Red fruit dominates in this tightly woven, firmly tannic wine, blended with 9% Petite Sirah. Hints of charred campfire oak support black pepper, cinnamon and berry, the texture smooth and soft.
This wine is equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon fermented and aged in stainless steel. The aromas and off-dry flavors of grass and fig seem a bit muddled but still bring enjoyment.
Made with 75% Sangiovese, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera, this wine has aromas of barrel spices, coffee, dark raspberries and herbs. It's medium bodied with plump fruit flavors, tart acids and a lightly chalky feel.
This is a bouncy, fresh, fruit-forward wine. Cherry-berry fruit shines from start to finish, ending with just a hint of cocoa. Drink now–2017.
This wine has a strongly tannic, dry character from the Malbec-inspired blend of 52% Merlot, 31% Malbec and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. However the ripe blackberry fruits are match enough, giving ripe flavors with a squeeze of acidity and richness at the end. Drink from 2016.
This 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon blend is a green, herbal wine full of acidity and citrus flavors. A lemon-zest tang gives it a crisp texture and bright acidity. Drink this fruity wine from 2016.
In this broad wine, the grapes have been harvested ripe and juicy. It has a fresh acidity typical of the vintage. The red berry and black currant fruit flavors are forward and well balanced, with a crisp aftertaste. Drink from 2016.
From an estate to the east of the town of Saint-Émilion, this rich wine shows its alcohol in the pepper edge that cuts through the fruit. It tastes firm still and has extracted bitter flavors. The acidity does give the wine a lift and lets the black currant fruit come through. Drink from 2018.
This light-bodied wine brings enjoyment at a very low price. Attractive grapefruit and dried herb aromas followed by citrus and savory flavors make it appetizing and enjoyable. It tastes dry, fairly crisp and well balanced.
Asphalt and spice aromas are herbal and gritty. This shows a moderately full body and solid structure along with plum and herbal flavors. A dry, peppery finish is slightly rubbery in feel but fresh.
Stalky and tannic, this wine's structure is balanced by red berry-fruit flavors. It is smoky, typical of Cabernet Franc, giving a young character that should broaden out. Drink this fruity while structured wine now, or better from 2016.
This off-dry wine offers fresh acidity and delicious hints of honey and yellow fruits. It is fruity, rich while still full of the typical freshness of young Chenin Blanc. Let the wine round out and drink from 2017.
The palest color leads to a perfumed, very ready-to-drink wine. It is crisp with fruit that is now softened by a year's aging, offering a touch of caramel along with crushed strawberry flavors. Drink now.
Punchy raspberry and plum aromas indicate that this Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) is no weakling. An edgy, slightly grating palate offers plum and medicinal flavors along with bright acidity. Mild resin and oak-spice flavors are detectable on the finish.
Big, leathery and spicy, this wine is burly and robust on the palate, with layers of flavor. Bursts of blueberry cobbler find their way around subtle streaks of dried herb.
Reductive on first pour, this wine opens to display aromas of freshly sliced red apple and melon. It drinks a hair off dry, with a fleshy, full feel.
Aromas of melon, starfruit and yellow apple lead to off-dry fruit flavors. It seems a bit sweet compared to the acid that's in the glass.
Toasted oak, roasted coffee bean, dill and espresso aromas lead the nose on this Tuscan red. On the palate, notes of exotic spice accent the core of dried black cherry alongside drying but fleeting tannins. It lacks fruit richness and is shy on freshness so drink sooner rather than later.
Made with Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, this informal wine opens with aromas of violet and red berry. The easy-drinking palate offers black cherry and a hint of white pepper alongside soft, fleeting tannins. It's already extremely accessible so enjoy soon.
This wine smells like flowers, peaches, lemons and limes and tastes soft and soothing. It's light bodied, easy to sip and styled in a richer and more luxurious vein than many others in its category.
This informal red opens with aromas of mature orange peel, red berry, sage and a whiff of cellar floor. The no frills palate offers tart red currant, red cherry, green pepper and star anise alongside racy acidity.
Half Chardonnay and half Sémillon, this offers aromas of pear, apple and fig that are followed by lightly sweet fruit flavors that linger.
This is a crisply structured wine, with attractive yellow fruits, a touch of honey and pineapple acidity. It's delicious, perfumed and fresh, and ready to drink now.
This is a perfumed, strawberry-flavored wine, ripe with jammy fruits and gently cut with tannins and acidity. It is developing well, with juicy freshness at the end. Drink from late 2016. The Richard family's 37-acre vineyard—70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon—is certified organic.
This wine is soft and fruity, with just a minimum of tannin. It offers strawberry and red currant, combining softness with acidity. The aftertaste, with its acidity, is dry while fresh. Drink from 2016.
Tannins and a firm structure give this wine a firm character, but some smoky fruit offers a juicy alternative vision. With a ripe aftertaste, this wine will develop over the next few months. Drink from 2016.
Fruity and perfumed, this is an attractive, juicy wine. Red berry and red currant fruits from the 27-acre estate give the wine freshness, gently underlined by the tannins. Drink from 2017.
A little aging has given this ripe wine a smooth character and warm berry flavors. Smoky character from the wood aging adds complexity, while the acidity keeps the wine fresh and fruity at the end. Drink now.
A blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from a small region just north of Sancerre, this bright-pink wine is fresh, fruity and light. A touch of tannin gives structure and brings out the dry core of this otherwise crisp wine.
Bright and zesty on the nose, this wine boasts an aromatic emphasis of passion fruit and citrus. The palate shows tension, with ringing acidity, while lime, green mango, grapefruit and passion fruit flavors finish fresh and racy.
Pale straw in color, this wine has aromas of lemon peel, dried herb and lemon blossom. It's zesty on the palate, with flavors of lemon peel and green apple.
Though only seeing about a quarter new oak—mostly American—it's this aspect that stands out with notes of vanilla and woodspice which overpower notes of cherry, plum and pepper. Still, it's pleasant enough with quite tart fruit flavors and abundant wood accents.
Aromas of blackberry, blue flower, coffee and toast take center stage on this young, forward wine. The palate offers dried black cherry, espresso and black pepper alongside evolved tannins.
Fragrances recall underbrush, espresso, tilled soil, red berry and dried sage. The monolithic palate delivers coffee bean, vanilla, licorice and toast alongside astringent wood tannins.
Meaty, dry and balanced yet big, this is a substantial mouthful of Rosé. Made from Dry Creek Zinfandel with 12% Syrah, it's brooding in dark berry and peach fruit and can be paired much as a full-bodied red wine would be.
Summer flower aromas with touches of honey give an immediately attractive, fresh character. To taste, it's a crisp and steely wine, full of white fruits and a delicious juicy character. Drink now.
This rounded wine offers ripe pineapple and citrus flavors. It's rich with attractive fruitiness and a broad, generous texture. It's fruity with a more textured side that promises aging for a few years.
Cherry, plum, berry and cassis aromas are standard and well presented. A full, approachable and balanced palate is home to ripe flavors of blackberry and cassis. For the price, this wine is generous, balanced and lasting.
This wine is medium straw in color with aromas of freshly cut grass and lemongrass. It's slightly sweet on the palate, with pronounced fruit flavors of lychee and kumquat.
Totally refreshing as well as structured, this offers great acidity, lime and grapefruit flavors, crisp and bright texture and a lively aftertaste. Clean and fruity, this will be good to drink from 2015.
While the wine is bone-dry, its soft character keeps it from being too steely and tight. Aromatic and fresh, it has delicious, juicy apple and green plum flavors. Drink from 2015.
The combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional brings a firm, dry character in this wine. Earth-driven in flavor, hints of black fruit remain subtle, suggesting a wine that is not going to improve.
Aromas highlight bright berry, plum and baking spices. On the palate, raw Morello cherry takes center stage backed by notes of espresso and roasted coffee bean alongside abrasive wood tannins.
This mélange of grapes from Sonoma (56%), Napa (30%) and San Joaquin County (14%) intermingles Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Petit Verdot. An intense, weighty concoction of strawberry and leather, it's well-priced and distributed widely.
Hints of orange blossom accent sugar cookie and brioche in this sparkling blend of Chardonany, Pinot Noir, Cayuga and Pinot Gris. It's zesty in lemon-lime acidity, finishing rich and dense.
Waxy honeycomb accents fresh lemon, pear and white peach in this dry, lushly textured Chardonnay. It's creamy and voluminous in mouthfeel, yet balanced by bright acidity and a lingering oyster shell minerality lends elegance and style.
A site planted to the Rued clone of Chardonnay in classic Russian River Valley Goldridge soils, Searby is expressive in honeysuckle and orange blossom floral tones. This balanced wine is soft and round, its time in oak reaching an apex on the finish.
The sunny personality shows ripe pear, vanilla and melted butter flavors, medium body, a nicely smooth texture and some fresh acidity. The typical California fruitiness seems well complemented by oak.
This opens with aromas of black berries, toasted oak and spice. On the palate, notes of espresso, roasted coffee bean and vanilla back up ripe black cherry but drying wood tannins give it an abrupt finish.
The deep, saturated color and vivid, smoky flavors indicate a monster wine, but the reality is more complex and interesting. It smells like boysenberry, grilled beef and black pepper, tastes grapey and berrylike but also roasted and savory. It is surprisingly light-bodied considering how flavorful it is.
Although the wine is dry, it has a delicate softness that gives a broad spice and fruit character. The acidity is already well integrated into the ripe texture. It's not a wine for aging, but for drinking now as an apéritif.
Bright red berry and violet aromas lead off this soft, medium-bodied red. The palate offers dark cherry and a whiff of white pepper alongside round tannins. It's already accessible so enjoy soon. Drink through 2017.
Dry and full-bodied, this structured version of Viognier has subtle fruit aromas of melon and peach, flavors accented by oak and vanilla, a firm texture and clean finish. A substantial white wine, it should pair well with seafood, light meat dishes and creamy sauces.
New oak takes the lead on the nose of this wine, with notes of vanilla and toffee followed by cranberry and cherry. It's high octane, with a concentrated cherry flavor and alcoholic warmth.
Aged in a majority of neutral French oak, the wine has opening aromas that impart generous toasty characteristics before mellowing into nutty, vanilla swirls and a lingering taste of green apple.
Seven Hills and Les Collines provide the grapes for this 80-20 Cab-Merlot blend. The cool 2011 vintage was especially noticeable in Walla Walla—here expressed as light strawberry and cranberry fruit, caught in a shell of acid. The wine ultimately turns tannic, with light barrel flavors of caramel and mocha. More bottle age may help to further meld the components.
Soft oak and sweet-spice aromas add interest to the rich berry core of this red blend. Notes of raspberry and strawberry fill the medium-weight mouth, framed by soft yet present tannins and spicy hints of licorice and black pepper that linger through the finish. Harmonious and attractive, this is ready to drink now.
This approachable Cab is from both estate and sourced fruit, all Cabernet Sauvignon. It opens with a waft of tropical coconut before delving classically into smooth black cherry, cranberry and licorice, the tannins still monstrous and the oak packing a punch.
Young and vibrant, this is the winery's smaller production from a special selection of barrels. A soft, burly expression of strawberry, raspberry and ripe boysenberry, it is accentuated by generous portions of toasty oak and baking spices, a faint hint of dried herb on the finish.
Peppery, berry-ish, full-fruited smokiness leaves no doubt that Blaufränkisch is in the glass. This has verve, energy and dark blackberry fruit while freshness lends focus. Very enjoyable indeed.
For an inaugural effort, this coastal Pinot Noir is on the money. Dark and slightly charred-smelling on the nose, the wine is not shy. Full, oaky and moderately tannic, it shows roasted plum, char and toasty flavors in front of a brawny, oaky finish. Best from late 2015 through 2017.
This warm-vintage wine strikes a perfect mix of restraint and intensity, with its abundant notes of peach and pear. It's lightly creamy in feel, with deft fruit flavors that show an exquisite sense of balance throughout.
Delicate notions of white blossom join hints of Galia melon on nose and palate, where the yeast-buffered weight makes itself felt. This is creamy, rounded but elegant and already delicious with its immense floral charm.
Sourced from all over the Napa Valley, this wine blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 1% Syrah and other unnamed red varieties. The effort works, resulting in a glass of concentrated red cherry, herb and spice, the tannins tight yet approachable enough for the wine to remain juicy.
This is a savory wine, alive in spicy black fruit. The acidity prickles the palate before waves of vibrant strawberry, raspberry and black cherry flavors follow, supported by medium-bodied layers of soft tannin and a finish of herb.
A blend of Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina, this opens with a medley of aromas that include ripe berry, underbrush, truffle, menthol, leather and spice. The firm palate delivers crushed black cherry, game, grilled herb, ground pepper and a balsamic note. It still has youthfully assertive tannins that need to unwind and soften. Drink 2016–2026.
Tobacco, cassis and vanilla notes bring the aromas and flavors, while the wine's firm structure gives a medium-weight feel and dusty texture. Drink now–2025.
This is a pretty lean, tightly focused wine. Grilled pineapple and citrus notes broaden slightly on the midpalate, then come together again on the crisp, lemony finish. Drink now through the end of 2015.
There's an herbal streak to the red currant and strawberry hull aromas on the nose of this wine, alongside additional hints of sweet smoke, cured meat and fennel fronds. The palate offers riper notes of red cherry and plum, with touches of cinnamon and thin mint in the background. It's plush and velvety, with fine yet present tannins and ample acidity. Drink now–2016.
Made in an elegant, filigreed style, this wine delivers understated hints of smoke, pear and melon. Given time in the glass, some peach notes emerge. Pleasantly plump on the midpalate, the flavors and textures tighten on the crisp finish.
A blend of Merlot (58%), Syrah (35%), Petite Sirah (5%) and Primitivo, this hedonistic wine offers appealing suggestions of coffee, vanilla and cherry. Ripe, silky soft milk chocolate flavors finish warm.
A coferment of Syrah and Sangiovese from Ballard Canyon, this vintage offers deep, velvety aromas of violet and purple fruits, with hard black licorice candy. The palate trends quite dark, with pipe tobacco and rich blue fruits, but also delivers slightly bitter and sour elements.
Still closed, this emanates earthy notes at first while the palate shows pink grapefruit zest hugged by very ripe, lemon-toned peach with tropical overtones of fresh and canned pineapple. A textural, structure-giving phenolic element on the midpalate leads to an earth- and lemon-tinged pineapple finish.
In this intriguing wine blended with 10% Grenache, the aromas, flavors and feel aren't entirely connected. It's aromatically very reserved, with notes of mineral, coffee and red fruit. It has a incredibly supple, dazzling texture with the throttle pulled back on the alcohol and extraction.
A lush fruit bowl of a wine, this brings delicious flavors of melon, peach, apple and pear, along with a buttery finish. There are some pleasing spicy highlights, and a residual smack of butterscotch invites the next sip.
Marked by oak and thick, dark blue fruit, this wine also conveys a buoyant softness and prettiness. The study in yin and yang characteristics starts with a bang and develops complexity in the glass.
This aromatic offering has notes of pear, peach and flowers. The apricot and other stone fruit flavors are medium bodied, simultaneously light and rich, giving the perception of sweetness leading to a lingering finish—an elegantly styled wine that walks the balance beam quite well.
A Journal is an old Burgundian measurement for just under one acre. From a portion of this Grand Cru vineyard, this wine is perfumed, powerful and has great concentration. Already it is showing dark fruits, ripe plum and good texture. Acidity cuts through the wine, giving a great lift at the end. Drink from 2022.
This vintage, VF's flagship red is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot. Although it's full-bodied and lush, it's by no means the world's biggest or ripest Cabernet blend. Instead, it's impeccably balanced and gentle, serving up cassis, vanilla and a touch of baking spices in generous swirls that reach a crescendo on the long finish. Drink now–2030.
Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this opens with scents of blue flower, rose, perfumed berry and a hint of dark spice. The bright palate delivers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and cinnamon alongside tightly wound but remarkably refined tannins. Drink 2017–2022.
Happily, production of Les Dijonnais has climbed to 800 cases, while the quality remains as good as ever. This smooth and supple wine is velvety in the mouth, with flavors of raspberry, blue plum and black cherry. Its palate-pleasing thickness carries a vein of licorice and dark chocolate. Drink now through 2025.
This is quite a value for the quality, a stellar, medium-bodied, restrained wine that's high-toned and elusive at first aromatically. But it opens in the glass, delighting in blackberry, cherry and a burst of clove, showing skill in winemaking from a blend of vineyards, some valley floor and others mountain.
For its small size, Morey Saint-Denis is blessed with four Grand Cru vineyards, of which this is arguably the finest. The wine's spice and wood flavors are still evident, although these will get well integrated into the rich red-fruit flavor. It is certainly still young and should not be drunk before 2022.
This young winery continues to impress. This deep, dark, concentrated wine builds upon black cherry, vivid acids, a touch of Meyer lemon, and a powerful midpalate that unveils some gently savory notes along the way. The extended, seamless finish brings a pleasing touch of baking spices.
This is a wow wine, supported by small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Blood orange, cranberry, cassis and raspberry provide a crisp counterpoint to the firm tannin structure, ending with grace and plenty of body, smoothly textured and refined.
This elegant, full-bodied wine opens with delicate scents of rose, iris and wild berry. The palate is juicy and delicious, offering ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, grilled herb and tobacco alongside a backbone of firm, velvety tannins. Drink 2020–2028.
Rich and juicy, this wine holds excellent potential. With its ripe red-berry fruit, balanced tannins and acidity, and spice from the wood aging, it will become a concentrated wine. Drink from 2020.
Similar in style to the previous vintage, this ably marries savory notes of roasted meat and spice with ripe, plummy fruit. All those mouthwatering flavors are wrapped in supple tannins, ending on a plush, velvety note.
This is a well-structured, dense and serious effort, with ripe immaculate black-cherry fruit. It is both forward and fruit-driven, yet polished and showing substantial depth. Hints of cola swirl through the extended finish. Delicious already, it will certainly drink well over the next eight to 10 years.
There's a revitalizing freshness to this delicate auslese reminiscent of crisp green plums and yellow cherries. Silken honey and peach flavors penetrate deeply through the palate, highlighted by zesty streaks of lime and lemon. It's feather light in texture yet meanders endlessly through the finish.
A “best-barrel blend” that's a 50-50 Pommard and Dijon clone mix. The black-cherry fruit is framed with a bit more barrel toast than the other Brick House Pinots, having been aged for 18 months in 40% new wood. As with all BH wines, it's impeccably clean, minimally handled and elegantly balanced. Biodynamic farming brings added textural details, lengthens the finish and surprises with its complexity.
Aromas suggesting forest floor, ripe berry, leather, scorched earth and a hint of cured meat slowly emerge on this full-bodied red. The firm concentrated palate offers dried black cherry, grilled herb, star anise and clove while youthfully austere tannins provide an age-worthy structure. Drink 2022–2035.
Situated in the northern part of the Côte de Beaune, the vines produce soft, ripe wines. This wine is typical of this style with just enough tannins to bolster the rich berry fruits. It features a juicy backdrop along with touches of wood and spice. It needs time; drink from 2020.
Scents of ripe dark-skinned berry, rose, iris and a balsamic note take shape in the glass. The juicy palate offers ripe black cherry, star anise, orange peel and grilled herb framed in tightly knit but refined tannins. A clove note backs up the finish.
This is a wonderful counterpoint to Vasse Felix's Heytesbury. Where that wine is lush, this is more austere, with restrained, Bordeaux-reminiscent sensibilities. Smoky, grilled elements frame cassis and mint, finishing with classic firm tannins and admirable length. Drink 2023–2035, although the back label suggests “up to a further 30 years.”
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.
This is an estate-grown blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Viognier from the great vineyard site, savory in spicy white pepper, blueberry and a persistence of cinnamon and clove. Floral aromas and a delicate texture provide a memorable experience on the palate, finishing in a tease of tobacco.
This ode to the owls that surround the region's vineyard is a compelling mix of Pinot Noir and Grenache that offers juicy cherries and strawberries on the nose alongside smoked meat, allspice, nutmeg and a touch of caramel. The flavors are broad, inviting and rich, with black cherry, blueberry and smoked beef. It's as delicious as it is avant garde.
Managing to be both brisk and rounded on the nose, this bottling by veteran Rick Longoria shows ripe nectarine, sea salt, white peach and lime rind aromas. The palate is quite flinty at first, then opens to light Meyer lemon juice, Gravenstin apple flesh, sea salt, white sesame, chive and jasmine flavors. Excellent now, but will drink excellently all the way through 2024.
This wine has all the tight minerality of the appellation, surrounded by delicious, ripe yellow and white fruits. The wood aging is still there although balanced with the richness and the intensity of the wine. It is going to develop well. Drink from 2020.
Lightly hued and luminous, this opens with aromas of wild cherry, blue flower, chopped herb and a balsamic note. The structured, refined palate offers dried cherry, ripe strawberry, white pepper, cinnamon and a hint of clove set against a backbone of firm, polished tannins. Drink 2018–2026.
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.
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.
Smooth and rich, this wine is made from fruit that's sourced from 65-year-old vines. It has fresh acidity that gives a bright quality to the ripe fruit. For an entry-level Bourgogne, this has complexity and weight.
Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this single-vineyard Bordeaux-style blend displays ripe, round, flavorful fruit, along with a leafy component. The barrel aging has added butterscotch and chocolate notes to the mix. The wine stops just a bit short, but further bottle age may help to lengthen the finish.
Made from estate-vineyard fruit, this Merlot is medium bodied, and it has a mix of red fruit flavors, plus grace notes of leaf and mushroom. The finish leaves an impression of dried toast.
This Chardonnay's acidity and minerally structure are finely balanced, and its palate already shows richness. Full, fruity and textured, the wine's touch of toast creeps into notice. This is worth aging for 2–3 years.
Aromatic of honeysuckle, fresh orange peel and rye, this dry Tokaj has all the waxy, honeyed characteristics of its sweet counterparts. This is brisk, with intense, lemony acidity and rippling minerality.
A dense, firm selection, this has layers of red fruits and acids that help to give the wine's skeleton some flesh. This is likely to develop into a rich, but always firm, wine.
This “white label” blend is broad and lush, and it offers typical Bordeaux-blend aromas and flavors of plum, cassis and cigar box. A mocha note comes through on the softly tannic finish. Drink now and over the next few years.
The new Mercer Canyons label gets off to a good start with this Chardonnay that's low in alcohol and clean. Bracing and leesy, this is definitely European in style, and it offers celery and melon flavors along with palate-refreshing minerality.
Consistent in every way with the previous vintage, this barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc includes 9% Sémillon, both of which were sourced from 15-year-old vines. It's aromatic with scents of sweet herb and citrus, and it tastes of Meyer lemon and grapefruit, plus a hint of brioche.
Endowed with ample tannin, this may be one New Zealand Pinot Noir that requires additional bottle age. That said, positive future evolution is by no means guaranteed. Its dark, savory style is one that combines black cherry fruit with notes of roasted meat and dark coffee.  Drink from 2016–2020.
The Riesling and Gewürztraminer grapes used to make this Alsace-like blend were harvested late to allow for concentrated sweetness. It has a perfumed character and a steely edge of acidity. The finish hints at honey, and it has a crisp texture.
Earthy, soft and ripe, this wine shows the richness of the vintage. It is full of red plum and red jelly flavors, and the tannins are dusty in the background. The acidity holds it all together, and the finish is juicy and fruity.
Hints of red berry, blossom and grapefruit are beguiling in this bright, fresh Chardonnay. Dry and surprisingly full bodied, the palate is juicy, with fresh pear and quince flavors that are brightened by a splash of lime-tinged acidity.
Rose petal perfume accents sweet peach and apricots in this luscious, varietally classic Gewürztraminer. It's rich and round on the palate, plump with stone fruit and lychee flavors and finishes elegantly on an astringent black-tea note. Off dry in style, it's balanced and composed in alcohol and acidity.
Apples, sea salt, green pear and buttered popcorn aromas convey both restraint and ripeness on the nose of this wine by pioneer Pierre Lafond and longtime winemaker Bruce McGuire. There's tarragon tension once sipped, with flavors hovering between soft ruby-red grapefruit pith and ripe red apples, keeping the mouth watering throughout.
The honey and orange aromas, rich texture, full body and late-harvest flavors add up to a bold and fruity wine. With each sip, more complexity and depth comes out, making a lasting impression.
Coming from a warmer slice of the upper Santa Ynez Valley, this wine by the Fess Parker family shows black plums, hot gravel, dark chocolate and black peppercorns on the nose. The palate offers very dark blueberry fruits, along with turned earth, espresso beans and a bit of beef char.
An aromatic swirl of dried honey, roasted nuts and marzipan is leveled by a sense of iodine on this zesty, tense white blend. The palate shows lime juice on apple, with a touch of yellow pear.
Densely concentrated, this plush wine opens with aromas of black currant, espresso and cedar. The robust, one-dimensional palate delivers raisin, chocolate and licorice alongside velvety tannins that hold the flavors together.
Plum, blueberry and a tinge of sour dried-fruit aromas get lifted with dill, spearmint and anise on the nose of this wine. It's juicy on the palate with purple and blue fruits, but cut with a strong and nice mint character, also showing some dark chocolate nibs.
Tart cranberry and Morello cherries are layered with delicate tones of smoke and bramble wood in this bright, brisk Pinot Noir. It's delicately framed, yet penetrating and ripe. A crush of wet mineral tones carries through a moderately long finish.
The oak is primary at present, with aromas of vanilla and cocoa out in front of herbs, plum and cherry. Palate-coating dark fruit flavors are full bodied and sweet, supported by dry tannins.
Stalky aromas of wheat and briny apple introduce a minerally, deep palate. Flavors of slate, pithy citrus and peach pit finish with a stony feel and mild bitterness. A Coroa is one of Valdeorras's top producers, but a wet, cold year like 2013 took its toll on this small-production Godello.
Fruity aromas of red and black berry lead the nose along with whiffs of violet and dark cooking spices. The vibrant, supple palate doles out wild cherry, black raspberry, orange zest and ground pepper framed in racy, refreshing acidity.
Golden in color and showing some signs of browning, this wine is aromatic with notes of brown sugar, honey and dried pear. It's intensely sweet (194g/L residual sugar), with a layered feel.
Baked earth, pressed rose, coffee, cocoa and plum aromas emerge on this full-bodied red. The round, hearty palate doles out mature black cherry, juicy blackberry, licorice and baking spice alongside velvety tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the close. Drink sooner rather than later to capture freshness and fruit richness.
This dense, tannic and concentrated wine needs more time in the bottle. It features aromas of flint and dried herb, with similar flavors on the palate. With pronounced oak, it's expansive and rich. Cellar through 2020.
This wine has a deep pink color with a touch of amber, and very bright and zingy aromas. Mouthwatering, crisp fruit flavors are full of citrus and cherry. The lively texture is due to great grape acidity that lights up this wine.
The barrel influence is heavy on this wine, with aromas and flavors of vanilla, cocoa and coconut out front of the variety's red fruit. Still, the silky feel and spice flavors bring plenty of appeal; it's just a bit hard to get at the fruit.
This unique blend is two-thirds Malbec and one-third Petit Verdot. Aromas of vanilla, baking spices, pepper, green herbs and dark fruit lead to full-feeling plum and raspberry flavors with a firm backing of tannins.
A blend of fruit from Boushey, Rosebud Ranch and Lonesome Springs Ranch, this wine was aged in concrete and seasoned French oak. Aromas of fig, apricot, orange peel and lees are followed by creamy flavors that have a light, elegant style.
Aromas of oak, black plum, coconut and roasted coffee beans lead the nose on this full-bodied red. The big, chewy palate offers black cherry, blackberry jam, vanilla and coffee framed in round tannins. A licorice note backs up the finish.
A haze of summer flowers hovers across a fizzy feast of crunchy, green apple. Autolytic notes of bread stay clearly in the background while this easy, joyful wine majors on primary, crisp apple fruit and a whistle-clean finish.
Aromas of toasted oak, espresso, coconut and dried black fruit slowly take shape in the glass. Made entirely with Merlot, the dense palate offers blackberry extract, black cherry, coffee and grilled sage alongside rather astringent tannins that dry out the finish.
This is an up-and-coming variety for Washington and this wine displays why. Hailing from Olsen Vineyard, it's all about acid and texture, with the sleek starfruit and citrus-peel flavors playing second fiddle. Pair it with shellfish.
Mauve in color, this cold-fermented pink wine shows crystallized watermelon, effervescent pink lemonade and berry-lime sangria elements on the nose. It's very flavorful once sipped, with pomegranate and rose petal notes, proving ripe and tasty yet not overdone.
Seductive aromas of raspberries, sandalwood, graphite and a pinch of allspice entertain the nose on this wine. The spiced wood character carries to the palate, where dried strawberries and pomegranate add riper fruit elements.
Rich, oaky aromas of coconut and vanilla are matched by earthy, almost nutty berry and cassis scents. This is tannic, grabby and slightly abrasive, while chocolate, cherry and cassis flavors end long, strong and ripe. Drink through 2018.
Purple flowers, ripe berry and tobacco aromas lead the nose on this Sangiovese-based wine. On the smooth, concentrated palate, notes of black pepper, anise and clove accent the core of fleshy black cherry. Velvety tannins provide support. Drink 2016–2020.
Aromas of plum, espresso and coffee carry over to the one-dimensional palate alongside mature black cherry and drying tannins. It's a bit forward so drink this over the next few years.
Minerally red-berry aromas suggest vitamins and latex. Like most RDD jovens, this is raw and rubbery in feel, with high-intensity plum and berry flavors. A loud, acidic finish is fresh as can be but entirely simple in terms of complexity.
Orange peel and lychee aromas are typical of the variety. This feels straightforward, juicy, clean and fresh, with tangy acidity. Flavors of lime, lychee and tangerine finish bright and snappy.
A well-behaved 100% Chardonnay fermented in stainless steel, it had no malolactic conversion to add a buttery quality. Smooth-textured and medium-bodied, it's filled out by moderate pear and apple flavors accented with hints of white pepper, fig and vanilla.
Despite showing ripe, raisiny aromas, this is solid in the mouth, with adequate acidity. Earthy flavors of blackberry and plum are straightforward and basic, while the finish hums along with a mild raisiny flavor.
Two bottles were tasted; the first sour and disjointed, the second, considerably better, with tart lemon and green apple fruit and some pretty orange-peel highlights. It's finished with a screwcap so a bad cork is not an issue, but watch out for bottle variation.
This forward wine opens with funky aromas of game and leather, with a whiff of barnyard. The palate is evolved and much of the fruit has already dried up, leaving bitter prune alongside green, astringent tannins.
Gritty, heavily roasted aromas of stewed berry, coffee grinds and compost are less than appealing, although with airing things improve. This is wide and blocky in the mouth, with ripe, raisiny, roasted black-fruit flavors matched by bitter espresso. Molasses and heat drive the finish on this pricey wine that's not in great shape.
White currant aromas give an exotic character that is confirmed by the spice and ripe apricot flavors. Acidity is bright and fresh while the aftertaste moves the wine more to a warmer character.
The young tannins are keeping the wine dry at the moment. But the flavors of black currant fruitiness and fresh acidity promise a bright and fruity future. Drink from 2016.
The Rutherford grapes that go into this wine travel down to Santa Barbara post-harvest, a journey that doesn't diminish the wine's sense of place. It represents its dusty provenance well amid a taste of sanguine tannins, soy sauce and ripe plum.
This is a hard, rather chewy young wine, tannic and tight, with some earthy flavors. The fruit is thin and plummy, with a vein of chocolate adding some extra interest.
Young and spicy, this easy-drinking Pinot Gris still shows some bite and some bitterness, perhaps from skin contact. Give it a little more bottle age, and drink it chilled, to bring out the tart fruit and cut the phenolics.
Ruby garnet in color, this has aromas of red plums, purple flowers and black fruit conserves. There are nice bright fruit flavors on the palate, with touches of tobacco leaf and tart cherry on the finish.
Puckering in mouthfuls of leathery, burly tannins, the color and power indicate Petit Verdot all right, so dark black is the wine and bursting in black licorice.
Plum and red-berry aromas are clean and fresh. This skips along on the palate, while flavors of wild berry and plum are a touch raw in character and feel. A rubbery finish is fresh and turns mildly bitter once the fruit fades.
Neutral aromas and a mouthfeel with modest lemony acidity set up pithy citrus flavors and notes of green melon and lychee. The finish on this tropical-tasting wine is creamy and a bit heavy, with lime and green banana flavors. Drink right away.
Solidly structured, this wine is medium- to full-bodied, moderately tannic and heading toward maturity in flavors. The medium garnet color goes to tawny at the rim. Aromas of cola, cherries and a touch of smoke are followed by rather lean fruit and clove flavors. Unfined, unfiltered and fermented with wild yeast.
As fresh as can be, this is a bright, lively and lightly perfumed wine. It has grapefruit, apricot fruit and a touch of minerality. Drink through 2015.
Soft and ripe, it has attractive peach and pear fruits and a lively shot of lemon acidity. It's rounded, rich and ready to drink.
Raspberry fruits and juicy acidity are allied to a softly tannic structure to give a ripe while fresh wine. It's fruity but with a firm, dry core that gives the potential to age 2016–2017.
Fresh, punchy aromas of cherry and berry are like a fruit punch or Kool-Aid. This feels zesty, acidic, tannic and rubbery, while flavors of boysenberry and plum are juicy and aggressive, with a clean but jumpy finish.
Informal and simple, it offers bright red cherry-berry fruit, sweet cake spices and hints of alpine herbs. The silky smooth tannins and fresh acidity make this already extremely accessible so enjoy now–2020.
This muted, tannic Cabernet spent 20 months in new French oak. The dark black cherry and berry fruit are overwhelmed somewhat by the toast and oak.
Herbal black-fruit aromas come with a lot of oak. This is full, chunky and meaty in feel, with green hints and blackberry flavors appearing before a blast of hickory smoke takes over. A high-toast, slightly bitter finish confirms the strong oaky character.
Aromas of cherry cough drops and huckleberry syrup are heady and perplexing. The palate is like cough medicine, while syrupy cherry and berry flavors transition to medicinal and chocolaty. A rich, flabby finish is just more fuel for a unique but challenged fire.
Aromas of dust and stewed plums give a pleasing entry, but once sipped the wine tastes like it needs more time to mature. The flavors approach strawberry and other red fruits, but remain quite tart and tannic.
This aged Riesling is medium gold colored, with pleasant aromas of lemon peel and petrol. It is round and generous on the palate, with flavors of lemon custard and green olive tapenade. The finish is long, with lingering flavors of lemon pith.
From a granitic section of the appellation, this wine features bacony notes layered over black cherries and cedar. Hints of black olive, brown sugar and baking spices add nuance. The wine is medium to full in body, with supple tannins that finish on a dry, dusty note. Drink now–2025.
This wine is named for the producer's son and his real-life 8th-grade project making one small barrel of wine. It continues on the theme, blending in 5% Merlot and aging again in new French oak, all small barrels. Meant to be enjoyed young, it shows a youthful exuberance of smoked wood, pillowy tannin, peppercorn and dried herb.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are equally represented in this soft, robust blend that also includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Juicy blackberry and plum combine with dusty, integrated tannin, as a length of dark cherry and sage weave in and out.
Savory, smoky, sagey and floral, this wild and remarkable rendition of a Rhône-style blend is made from 50% Mourvèdre plus Syrah, Grenache and Counoise. Aromas recall grilled herbs and stewed berries, while flavors bring out sour cherry, chocolate and beef broth. It's full in body, with a firm and tannic texture.
This is made from a cool vineyard site, low in elevation and often covered in fog. The wine is sultry and velvety, with a smoky edge wrapped in candied cherry and cinnamon. It's overdelivers in terms of price as well.
The aromas bring notes of dark cherries and exotic spice. The palate is big and bold, with a mixture of fruit and barrel flavors backed by firm slightly dry tannins. It needs some time to settle in, with the wood currently a bit primary.
Somewhat pale in color, this wine offers subdued aromas of herb, cherry, cigar box and peppery spices. The palate shows exquisite freshness and purity along with a lovely sense of texture and richness. It's an elegant expression of the variety.
Ripe notions of fruit—typical for 2015—are apparent from the word go. There is juicy yellow plum and even a hint of tropicality—pineapple perhaps. This is rich and rounded, balanced with generous lemon freshness and textured with lees contact. There is weight on the midpalate, which leaves a lasting, if juicy impression.
A healthy dose of potpourri and lavender kick off the nose of this bottling, with sweet pine, plum and raspberry waves inviting one in for repeat sniffs. Cedar, sandalwood and incense touches show on the palate, where tangy plum fruit and roasting herbs start to delve toward the olive and Mediterranean spice rack as well.
The first vintage of this variety for this producer, this lovely white comes from a rare and renowned site in Green Valley. An austere nose of lemony green apple and honey follows through on the crisp, light-bodied palate. Floral in apple blossom, it reveals a touch of wet stone on the finish.
A bright, lovely layering of cherry and strawberry strikes first, before a jolt of rose perfume finds its complement in an earthy lilt of salt and forest. Sandalwood enhances the intrigue and complexity of this medium-bodied wine.
Very aromatic clouds of pear and mirabelle dominate the appetizing nose. The palate has the same freshness and fruity flow, especially of more yellow plum and a spicy hint of grapefruit zest. There is something fluid that suggests ease and joy. The spicy fruit flavors linger long on this gentle but refreshing, rounded white.
Deeply concentrated mulberry, fig and violet aromas arise alongside black pepper, roast beef and lavender on this classically styled bottling from a small part of the Beckmen family's mountaintop vineyard. Flavors are elegantly layered, with dark olallieberry fruit, roasted fennel and gingerbread spice.
Clean and classic aromas of dark-red fruit, from cherry to bramble, meet with candied rose petal and clove aromas on the nose of this appellation blend. The palate is led by allspice and dried mint, all packaged in a medium-bodied format.
Peppery herbs lead the nose on this bottling, with sagebrush, bay leaf and rust giving depth to the light cranberry and raspberry fruit. The palate is earthy with juniper and turned-loam flavors, plus more bay leaf, iron cranberry and some rhubarb.
This bold, densely flavored and impressively tannic wine is dry, very well structured and will be interesting to age until 2018–2019. It smells darkly fruity, smoky and spicy, and tastes like cranberry and black cherry, finishing with a firm tang of tannin. It will be best after 2018.
Smooth and fruity, yet complex and complete, this excellent wine offers ample acid and polished tannins around pretty red fruits. Notes of citrus and spice, tobacco and toast linger through a satisfying finish.
A juicy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this opens with aromas of blackberry, plum, blue flower and a whiff of exotic spice. The velvety approachable palate offers fleshy black cherry, licorice, ground pepper and a hint of nutmeg alongside fine-grained tannins. Enjoy over the next several years.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, this offers aromas of dark-skinned fruit, exotic spice, French oak and a whiff of underbrush. Smooth and firmly structured, the elegant palate delivers cassis, black cherry and star anise alongside polished, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2018–2028.
This extroverted dry wine has big rose-petal and honeysuckle aromas. Powerful floral and grapefruit flavors flood the palate and linger long on the finish. It's full bodied and very concentrated, with a mouthfilling viscosity that leaves a lasting impression.
Juicy blackberry and boysenberry flavors fill out this deeply colored, bold-tasting, full-bodied but not oaky wine. More fruit nuances and concentration develop with each sip, and the richly tannic texture coats the sides of the mouth, propelling the ripe fruit through the finish. It's a great way to enjoy this Bordeaux grape variety bottled on its own instead of in a blend, as usual.
This is an ageworthy wine from 60-year-old vines. There is a fine structure that offers rich tannins and equally rich black plum fruits. It is worth keeping this finely structured cru wine to allow its tannins to integrate and soften. Drink from 2018.
One of a series of single parcel wines from the Chermette family estate, this is dark and rich. It has generous tannins alongside the dark cherry and plum fruit. The cru wine's structure and richness will allow it to age. Drink from 2018.
The nose is almost closed but the palate paints a subtle picture of toned-down intensity. A savory core is made mellow with lees and a slight oak influence that becomes more apparent on the finish. Fruit—pear and yellow plum—plays second fiddle to the yeasty midpalate.
The aromas are bright, with notes of huckleberry, blueberry, dried violets, orange peel, olive and moist earth. The palate is brings an elegant styling, full of fruit and savory flavors with light meaty streaks running throughout.
The fragrant lift of conifer and citrus, of cypress and mandarin leaves, will make Riesling lovers swoon. The palate follows with plump yet precise stone fruit including apricot and peach. Sunshine seems to dominate the palate. This is full-frontal charm in a glass: decadently fruited but utterly balanced and sharp. Simply lovely and utterly moreish. Drink soon for top aromatics.
This is a thick, rich and layered white from Oak Knoll District-grown estate fruit. It's inviting, with lemon chiffon, baked pineapple and anise. Medium bodied and not afraid to be robust, wet-stone minerality brings it together.
Very dark, iron-oxide-tinged fruit lures you in. There also is a lot of pepper on the nose. The palate is full of dark crushed fruit: juicy blackberry, aromatic blueberry and red cherry. The tannins are supple and there is lovely freshness to the palate. This is vibrant, juicy, smooth and aromatic. Drink now–2022.
This bottling offers gingerbread cake, baked blueberry and smoked pork on the nose. It's soft on the palate, with finely polished tannins imparting a plush texture. Black plum, strawberry and a touch of mint mark the palate. The structure shows itself just enough on the finish.
Wisps of thyme and sage lend herbaceousness to this otherwise plump, densely fruity wine. It's chock full of luscious black-cherry and plum flavors, held taut by firm tannins and crisp cranberry acidity. Velvety and smooth, it's a pleasurable wine to savor through a long spiced Graham-cracker finish. Enjoy now through 2025.
A big, rich wine, this is bold with black fruits and some firm tannins. The concentration comes from vines planted in 1935, giving a great, dense texture. As it develops, the wine will become ripe, jammy, delicious and impressive. Drink from 2018.
Peach and floral aromas are ethereal and reach out. This is round and full on the palate, but minerally and cut by citric acidity. Flavors or orange, mango and caramel end with ripe peach and melon flavors. Drink through 2016.
This cooperative, situated in Aÿ in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, has produced a rich, structured wine from this fine vintage. It has tension, with a taut mineral character along with excellent white fruit flavor. Even at 11 years, the wine is young and will benefit from some bottle age. Drink from 2017.
Sourced from vines planted in 1972, this saw 50% new French oak. Despite the high alcohol and generous oak, the wine is neither overblown, nor tasting heavily of barrel. Strawberries, white pepper, a dash of minerality and a streak of vanilla all wrap together in a complex wine with a generous finish.
This full-bodied white is grand but not showy, dry but not austere. It combines intriguing and subtle aromas and flavors resembling grilled baguette, toasted almonds, vanilla, fig and white peach. It should pair well with mushrooms, poultry and veal.
Sour cherry, toasted baguette and baking spices fill the aroma. Black cherry and pomegranate nuances animate the flavors, while full body and a plush but slightly tannic texture give this excellent wine nice heft. It will be best after 2016.
This wine melds smoky wood-aging flavors with richly packed black fruits. There is a juicy component that gives both freshness and a jammy, ripe character, with a touch of dark chocolate and coffee flavors that give a bitter edge. Drink this concentrated wine from 2017.
This is a compelling example of Oregon Pinot Gris. Apple, pear and lemon curd carry the bulk of the flavors, with a lightly peppery lift to the midpalate. The spicy character extends through a pleasing, long finish.
A full-bodied, heady and velvety wine, this discloses a strong grip on the palate, surrounded by notes of allspice and earth. A slight tartness of spice and smoke complement rich tones of cherry and wild strawberry, finishing robustly. Drink now through 2020.
Red currant and plump red berries are lifted by hibiscus and violet notes on the nose of this wine by Matt Brain and Josh Baker. It's quite ripe with plum, pomegranate and cherry fruit on the palate, but also relatively light in texture. Elegantly complex, it also discloses pipe smoke and eucalyptus elements.
Black and white pepper mix with black cherry, roasted fig, plum and grape aromas on this wine by master sommelier Paolo Barbieri, who built some of Las Vegas' top wine lists. The palate is juicy with blackberries but also shows a gravelly minerality and harder black spice.
Chipped slate, hot bricks, smoked red cherries and a flinty gunmetal character show on the nose of this clonal study from this longtime regional producer. The palate boasts tons of sagebrush and thyme that give pleasant spice to the black olive, turned earth and raspberry juice flavors.
A blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, this offers aromas of dried apricot, bread crust, toasted nut and a hint of butterscotch. The rich, round palate offers candied nectarine zest, toasted walnut, ripe yellow apple skin and pastry cream alongside a refined, persistent perlage.
Perfumed, red-cheeked apple and freshly baked bread unite into an enticing nose where fruit and autolysis are perfectly fused. The palate follows suit, with the fruit speaking more loudly, leading to an inviting and zesty autolytic finish.
A light, refreshing and yet complex combination of fresh-cut grapefruit and watermelon, a suggestion of apricot and cranberry in the wings, this wine is stellar in every way. Fermented in both stainless steel and neutral oak it provides a textured acidity that gives it balance and just enough weight, finishing with a taste of wet stone.
Rich and full in the mouth, this still-young wine also has a good structure. It is dark and dense, smoky over the red-berry fruits. Concentrated fruit and tannins give a solid base for the wine's ripe, aromatic character. Drink from 2017.
This has the structure expected from a wine in Moulin-à-Vent. It is dense, with a dry, dark core of tannins. The acidity, red plums and black-currant fruit characteristics give the potential for freshness along with a ripe future. Drink from 2017.
This north-facing slope planted to seven clones of Pinot Noir seems to produce better wines every year. The 2013 is medium-bodied yet creamy-textured and lush, with black cherry fruit framed by cedar and vanilla. It's silky and vibrant on the finish, making it a treat to drink already.
Charred beef, blackberries, elderberries and sweet tar aromas show on this small-batch wine made by a couple from Texas. There's decent density on the palate, with lots of blackberry fruit and black pepper as well as extremely bright acidity that will keep this wine alive for years.
The ripe cherry fruit carries highlights of orange peel, herbes de Provence and Orange Pekoe tea. At first tannic and drying, the wine opens into a more giving, tongue-coating style. Slight bitterness may be a function of its youth, as the overall balance and complexity suggests it will improve with some additional bottle age. Drink 2018–2025.
Raspberry, dark slate, gravel and a bit of shiitake mushroom entertain the nose on this bottling by the higher-end sister brand of Santa Barbara Winery. Both richly juicy and brightly acidic on the palate, it offers flavors of boysenberry and sagebrush, making for a very lively wine.
This rich, rounded and full wine offers great red fruits that are embedded in the dry, dense tannins. Still young, it has a mineral texture that needs to soften and fill out. It's a wine to age; drink from 2017.
Juicy and pungent aromas of grape candy, black-cherry blossoms and smoking pipe tobacco jump out of the glass on this easy drinker. It's showy on the palate with blackberry, black currant and tart red cherries, gaining depth from licorice and dill. It's both boisterous and complex.
Made by Aaron Pott from a 600-foot elevation site, this is a crisp and quite floral wine. It's rich and concentrated on the palate, with a lemony overlay of zesty acidity. Nutmeg and vanilla pierce the finish, providing a warmth to the wine.
This traditionally crafted, unfiltered sparkler opens with heady aromas of white spring flowers, wisteria, hawthorn and white tree fruit. The bright palate offers green apple, pear and lemon-lime while a mineral note backs up the finish. Bracing acidity provides support while a refined mousse adds softness.
This is a nice estate offering from the producer, a celebration of baked cherry pie that's soft and velvety while being full-bodied in style. Fruity and oaky in equal measure, it was aged for almost two years in 35% new French oak, and has a distinct touch of toasted oak on the finish.
At first there is the juiciness of freshly cut green pear, then there is an explosion of white pepper bedded in yeasty softness. Framed by citrus and more green pear fruit, the pepper just continues to delight on the concentrated core. Lovely, full-flavored finish.
Vanilla, cedar and caramel abound on the nose of this opulent reserve Cabernet Franc. Its unabashed oakiness integrates well into the palate though, adding a sexy, spicy tone to ripe black berry and plum flavors. It's bold, concentrated and a bit brawny, but irresistibly so, finishing with remarkable depth and persistence. Hold till 2020 to allow its brawn to settle.
There's a ton of inviting baking spices on the nose of this bottling, from crushed clove to nutmeg, as well as lushly stewed strawberries, bacon fat and purple flowers. It's rich and thick once sipped, certainly not a dainty wine, with baked black cherry and mace spice flavors proving hearty and delicious.
Pure blueberry fruit is given extra lift by sprays of white pepper. There is a wonderful balance between the crunchy freshness of just-ripe fruit with all its grip and bite and the generosity and purity of well-farmed fruit. There might be some rusticity around the edges but there also is innate elegance.
This wine is both refined and robust, from a three-acre block replanted in 2007. It is aged in older French barrels, with the fruit sultry in cherry and black tea, the tension of the acidity hard to shake which contributes to its overall softness and complex intensity.
All Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine offers reserved aromas of dried herbs, toffee and high-toned dark fruit. The black fruit flavors are full and generous but still elegant with a pronounced finish.
Coming from one of the state's premier Syrah vineyards, this wine starts out aromatically reserved before blossoming to reveal notes of dark raspberry, dried cranberry, woodspice, vanilla and anise. It shows the warmth of the vintage with concentrated, black-fruit flavors backed by a light squeeze of tannins followed by a lengthy finish. The oak plays prominently but it works.
Dark chocolate, dried mint, roasted meat and black and red cherry arise on the lush yet lighter nose of this bottling. The palate is full and rich with complexity but not overly creamy, offering flavors of baked plum, pencil lead, pork roast and smoked herbs.
Ripe, zesty lemon peel and white pepper come in an unusual but very convincing union that bewitches nose and palate. There is real concentration at the core and tons of spice and freshness on a very focused, driven palate. This is utterly refreshing and packs a real punch.
An approachable screwcap wine that is made in larger numbers than many of the producer's vineyard-designates, this is just as impressive in flavor and presence, employing less oak to provide a honeyed, tropical and fresh sensibility of drying tannin and a tangy finish.
This is a fresh-tasting wine with great balance that doesn't have oaky flavors or a thick texture. It has refreshing acidity, subtle apple and spice notes and a palate-cleansing texture. Fine enough and subtle enough to drink frequently.
Restraint, elegance, freshness. This delicate rosé has the softest scent of tart summer berries and overtones of rose petals. There is a spicier aspect and fruitier notes of freshly cut apple on the midpalate. But this delivers full flavor with immense delicacy. Bravo.
Beautifully crafted to reflect a bouquet of cassis and cedar aroma, this wine blends in 6% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Girded by good bones a sturdy structure, it's bright, fresh and finessed. Drink now through 2020.
Full-bodied and elegant, this opens with aromas of mature orchard fruit, crushed stone and nut. The linear, structured palate boasts more complexity than most Pinot Grigios, offering ripe pear, toasted almond, mineral and dollop of acacia honey. Drink through 2020.
Extremely light in color save for a slight shade of pale pink, this awesome rose invites the nose with unique aromas of baked lemon and strawberry cream sauce, proving both delicate but richly layered. It's clean, crisp and quaffable on the palate, where lime rind and nectarine flesh make for a flavor profile that goes down like water.
Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are the building blocks of a grippy, chalky and bold red wine, strong in blueberry, blackberry and leather. Around those more concentrated layers are contrasting accents of cedar, dried herb and red currant.
This wine is soft and velvety, awash in classic notes of black currant and berry, textured in full-bodied, oaky waves of toast and cigar box. Approachable on the palate, it winds its way powerfully though softly from start to lengthy finish.
Aromas that recall jasmine, green apple and honeydew melon lead the nose. The juicy, medium-bodied palate has good weight and concentration, offering tangerine, ripe pear, bitter almond and a hint of banana. Bright acidity offsets the rich flavors while a ginger note closes the finish.
Aged in new French, American and seasoned oak, this vineyard-designate is soft and spicy with thick, abundant layers of grilled meat, sizzling cinnamon and dark brown sugar. Full-bodied and robustly concentrated, it maintains a thread of acidity that allows it to stay fresh despite its power and ripeness.
Enticing aromas of acacia flower, nut, honey and a hint of paraffin float out of the glass. The honeyed note carries over to the enveloping, full-bodied palate, along with candied citrus zest, mature yellow apple and an energizing mineral blast. Drink through 2020.
Enticing aromas of tropical fruit, elderflower, tomato leaf and a whiff of hay lead the nose on this full-bodied white. The savory palate offers juicy honeydew melon, creamy white peach, passion fruit, chopped herb and mineral. Fresh acidity brightens the rich flavors.
Crisp and light with a sticky mouthfeel that fills up the palate with grace, this wine is abundantly floral and inviting in apricot and pear. Made in a medium-bodied style and 100% varietal, it has a slight undertone of herbal goodness buoying the ripeness of the fruit.
This Malbec-driven blend is concentrated up front, with staunch aromas of espresso, balsamic vinegar, leather, raw oak and mixed black fruits. This is big and lush, but vaguely focused on the midpalate. Flavors of berry fruits, toast and balsamic brine end with cushion and moderate structure. Drink through 2022.
This ripe, lively wine is bursting with red fruits. Crisp and clean, it features a light mineral character that gives it tight texture balanced by refreshing raspberry and orange flavors. The aftertaste shines with crisp acidity.
Ripe raspberries, plump alpine strawberries and cranberry-cola notes meet with shaved cinnamon, pencil lead and dried sage on the nose of this single vineyard expression. The flavors are focused on woody red fruits, with chaparral scrub highlights as well as bay leaf and juniper. It's relatively light but well layered.
Shy cherry and vanilla unwraps itself from this youthful bottling first, belying the powerfully concentrated waves of power and ripeness to come. Sturdy, polished tannin keep watch over the fruit, asking for time to open in the glass.
Rose petals, iron, turned earth, slate, hot dirt and black plums show on the nose of this bottling by Kathy Joseph. Thick flavors of black cherry paste, rose hips, rose water and a floral potpourri blend into turned soil, black tea and juniper notes. Firm tannins indicate this will age well, but still needs a little time to reach full potential.
Ripe, warm aromas of leather, licorice and baked black plum are the greeting on this Malbec-led blend. In the mouth, it's extracted, jammy and moderately tannic. Flavors of blackberry, vanilla, marshmallow and chocolate are derived from healthy fruit and plenty of oak. A long, spicy, woody finish offers a lot to chew on. Drink through 2021.
The aromas combine fresh lemon and apple notes with just a hint of butter. The flavors are similarly fresh and crisp, with a tangy feel and great balance. It will be easy to match now with salads, seafood and appetizers, and worth cellaring a few bottles to see how it matures.
Sourced from a 2001 planting of Dijon clone 777 vines, this is a dry, slightly leathery wine with tight flavors of dried figs dusted with cocoa and coffee grounds. It shows moderate depth and length, and seems ready for near-term drinking.
This expression of Sangiovese is dominated by wood-driven sensations. It opens with aromas of toasted oak, espresso and underbrush that carry through to the palate alongside a dense black-fruit flavor that stays just behind the oak. It finishes on an astringent, tannic note.
Berry and cherry aromas are friendly, clean and offer spice accents. This is full, ripe and tannic, with blackberry, dark spice and chocolaty flavors. Toasty menthol and hard spice notes on the finish confirm intensity and overall quality.
With a bright cherry color and juicy flavors, this is a well-integrated blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. The wood aging is obvious but not dominant, and adds pleasant spice to the fruit. A firm structure promises aging, so drink from 2015. Screwcap.
Here's a brooding, earthy wine that opens with scents of blue flower, leather, berry and spice. The warm, tight palate delivers ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors accented by licorice, mint and black pepper notes.
This opens with earthy underbrush, violet and red berry aromas. The palate is bright, with tart red cherry and ripe raspberry accented by notes of pepper and baking spice. It's vibrant and calls out for hearty pastas or pecorino cheese.
The fresh juiciness of St. Laurent is very apparent in this ripe, full-bodied wine. There is an attractive touch of spice that lifts the black fruit flavors. The tannins are soft and the acidity adds texture. Drink now.
Whiffs of smoke and spice add complexity to this remarkably inexpensive, tasty Riesling. Off dry in style, with delicate white peach and apricot flavors, it's brightened by lime acidity and hints of savory herbs. Drink now.
Earthy, herbal notes on the nose and palate lend an elegant, savory tone to the sweet peach and apricot flavors. It's brisk and bright with acidity, with a delicate, almost fragile mouthfeel.
This cuvée is not as ripe as it was in the 2010 vintage. It has a pleasant tomato-soup character—a mix of ripe tomato and light, fresh flavors of basil and cilantro. It also has plenty of tart cherry flavors filling in the midpalate, and is well proportioned for drinking over the next few years.
Clove, mint, raw oak and black-fruit aromas are forward and scratchy. In the mouth, this is on the syrupy, rich side, while the flavor profile runs sweet, with hints of savory BBQ sauce and resin. A candied tasting finish is short and chunky in feel.
A delicious blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, this opens with earthy aromas of freshly turned soil, black fruit and underbrush. The palate delivers flavors of juicy plum and black cherry, all laced with tobacco, clove and nutmeg and presented in a brooding but read-to-enjoy style.
This opens with oaky aromas that suggest plastic and milk chocolate, but with airing, shift to berry fruits and mint. The palate is hard and tannic, while savory berry, BBQ'd notes and meaty berry fruit flavors finish with resiny oak and pinched tannins. This wide load is tannic and oaky; give it until late 2014 before revisiting.
Tropical fruit, vanilla cookie and lemony citrus aromas set up a fresh, lithe palate with minerally lime and lychee flavors. This is as pure as they come, with a crisp-as-a-whistle finish. Drink prior to fall 2014.
Made from 100% Sagrantino, vinified and aged in steel and concrete tanks, this surprisingly easy-drinking selection offers aromas of black cherry, vanilla, toast, anisette and fennel. The palate delivers flavors of black cherry, blue berry and mineral, with polished tannins and bright acidity.
This opens with aromas of yellow flowers, tropical fruits and just a whiff of vanilla. The palate is round and juicy, with Golden Delicious apple and tropical fruit flavors. It has nice depth and length.
Aromas of black cherry and smoke lead to a palate that begins with cherry and cassis and evolves to more sophisticated smoked meat and Mediterranean herb flavors. Velvety tannins coat the palate, transitioning to a bright finish marked by lingering savory notes.
Dusty berry aromas come with a hint of spice. This Tannat from a strong vintage displays proper grip on a solidly built, compact palate. Herbal plum and berry flavors end with dry peppery woody notes. Drink through 2019.
Aged for four years in old wood before bottling, this ripe, soft and sweet wine is typical of the Borges style of Port. It is fruity with ripe damsons, prunes and fine concentration. With acidity and touches of tannin to give the wine shape, it is balanced and ready to drink.
Blackberry, strong leather, black pepper and hints of purple flowers make this fruity wine quite approachable on the nose. There's a mix of fresh blackberries and blackberry jam on the palate with hints of thyme, juniper spice and black pepper adding intrigue to the otherwise fruit-forward sip.
The name of this wine comes from the landscape of the vineyard with its ancient rocks and fossilized remains. It is soft, smooth and spicy, with bold, ripe flavors and a touch of vanilla from the wood aging. This is generous, full of fruit and ready to drink.
Stony polished white-fruit aromas are lean and clean. This brut nature shows modest heft as it expands on the palate, but mostly this is racy and fit. Yeasty flavors of white pepper and lime finish with a leesy note and stoniness.
This wine is soft, open and full of fruit. It has a tang of acidity as well as rich berry flavors and a supporting layer of tannin. Fine, smoky and structured, it will be easy to drink from 2019.
This blend of the two Manseng white grapes is full of late-harvest richness and intense acidity. It has a touch of honey, lemon curd sweetness and a light texture. It will be ready to drink from 2019.
Ripe and fruity, with delicious red berry flavors, this is an attractive wine now. It also has some firm tannins that will allow it to age. Drink from 2019.
This still-young blackberry-rich wine is bursting with fruit. Its structure is restrained, with a background of tannins that support the juicy fruitiness. Produced from organic grapes, it will need to age further, so drink from 2019.
This generous, herbal wine from the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers region has attractive spice and great fruitiness. In addition to its citrus character, there is mango flavor and richness to broaden it. Drink now.
This big bold wine takes flavor to the limits. Spicy, peppery, beefy aromas and bold smoke, blueberry and clove flavors rely a lot on oak, but have a good concentrated fruit foundation underneath. It is full bodied, mouth-filling and nicely tannic.
This smooth ripe wine is ready to drink. Its black fruits and soft tannins go well with the juicy flavors and fine acidity. Generous and with a warm, rich character.
Big, bold tannins and ripe black fruits mark a wine that is solid and concentrated. Juicy acidity keeps the rich fruits crisp as the wine matures gently. Generous and with hints of wood aging, the wine will be best drunk from 2018.
This classically styled wine has a spicy bouquet and wonderful cedar, cherry and tobacco flavors. The posh texture is supported by moderate tannins and good acidity. It's full bodied, well balanced and will make a great pairing with all kinds of meat and fowl.
This wine shows a lovely bouquet of red cherries, purple flowers, rooibos tea and smoky mushrooms. These carry over to the palate and meld with an herbacious bounty of dried thyme and rosemary. Bright acidity and smooth tannins result in a gorgeously long and complex finish.
This wine shows a classic Yakima Valley profile, with aromas and flavors of orange peel, fresh green herbs and cherry, along with barrel spice accents. It's made in a restrained style, with tart flavors carrying on the finish.
This rich wine still shows its wood-aging character. It has firm tannins, dark fruit and concentration. From vineyards in the Douro Superior, this wine should be drunk from 2018.
Loads of fresh peach, gooseberry and lavender scent this beautifully aromatic wine. Off dry on the palate, it's juicy and fruit-forward yet refreshingly elegant as well. Zesty tangerine acidity accents a brisk, clean finish. Drink now through 2020.
Subtle notes of toasted grain frame citrus and peach fruit in this well-priced offering. It's not the biggest, most robust Chardonnay, but it delivers intensity allied to length, turning lemony on the powerful finish. Drink now–2020.
A solid value, this off-dry Riesling features classic scents of lime sherbet, followed by hints of lime, Granny Smith apple and fresh greens. It's light in body, finishing on a refreshing tart yet sweet note.
Winter spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg waft from this full-bodied and complex wine, joining gentle black-cherry flavors on the palate. The texture is smooth and caressing, and its richness lingers on the finish.
Criterion is a so-called global brand, offering Italian Pinot Grigio, Rioja and Chianti Classico among other benchmarks. This Coonawarra Cabernet is surprisingly good given that background. It offers cherry, cassis and tobacco notes, medium body and silky tannins. Drink it over the next 5–8 years.
Full bodied and richly layered, this wine opens aromatically with delicate rose petal, cranberry and rhubarb, which all continue on the palate. Tart and herbal, this holds additional earthiness at its core, defined by notes of forest floor and black tea.
Wonderful rose-petal aromas and Anjou-pear flavors give this dry wine lots of personality, while the mouthfeel is smooth and luxurious. It also has an underlying crispness for good balance and a lingering finish.
Spicy aromas of clove, nutmeg and anise combine in the glass along with scents of baked plum, violet and aromatic herb. The tense palate offers dried black cherry, cranberry, cedar and sage along with a hint of fig. Tensed close-grained tannins and a backbone of firm acidity provide the framework. Drink 2018–2025.
This is made from 100% Syrah from mountainous Stagecoach Vineyard and then fortified with Germain-Robin brandy. The resulting commingle is delicious in plummy chocolate, baked cherry, cola and pepper with a viscosity on the palate that intensifies on the finish.
Earthen notes of clay and pollen mingle with flavors of fresh grapefruit, lemon and lime in this sweet and savory spätlese. Its invigorating acidity and filigreed texture are classically Mosel. The finish lingers on a lacy tangerine sweetness.
Creamy oak, carob and foxy, gamy berry aromas open this racy Malbec that's fresh and exercising firm tannic grip. Black-fruit flavors are lightly herbal, while this is stout on the finish, with bright acidity and enduring freshness. Drink through 2019.
Hints of sugar cookie and tangerine entice on the nose of this bold, bang-for-your-buck Gewürztraminer. Off dry and voluminous in style, it's full of rich, penetrating grapefruit flavor edged with bitter lime pith. The finish is long and sleek.
This is a pretty great deal for a wine of this quality, made by consulting winemaker Shane Finley. Mellowed in flavor and oak, it takes time to open in the glass, but does, imparting forest floor, cardamom and a bite of bittersweet cranberry-raspberry within a medium-bodied, smooth texture.
Trapiche is doing all sorts of experiments with terroirs and soils, and this Malbec is from vineyards planted on top of clay. On the nose, it's oaky, with notes of clove, mint and barrel spice accenting black-fruit scents. A full chewy palate deals spicy oaky minty blackberry flavors in front of a chocolaty finish with wood spice and minty berry notes. Drink through 2019.
This entry level cuvée is finished with a screw cap, and pulled from a mix of barrels and clones from across the estate. It's forward, fruity and big, like an especially bold Beaujolais. Along with primary berry fruit there are light touches of pine needle and chocolate. It's full bodied and ready to go with your winter meal's roasted fowl.
This wine comes from a small parcel of 70-year-old vines within the Deschamps vineyard. It has great concentration and a dense structure. That contrasts with the complex black fruit and ripe berry flavors. Wood aging has smoothed the fruity edges. Drink this wine from late 2017.
Aromas of rubber, coffee, lemon peel and cherry are good but lack some cohesion. This Cabernet Franc-Syrah-Garnacha blend feels lively and fresh, but also choppy and tannic. Dark blackened flavors of cassis and black cherry finish toasty and peppery with a gamy accent.
Delicate notes of white grapefruit, lemon pith and tea leaf on the nose turn sunnier on the palate of this quaffably delicious spätlese. Succulent yellow cherry and plum flavors seem to burst with ripeness, but balance out neatly, off set by a revitalizing streak of lime.
Aromatically complex with hints of dusty compost, peat moss and coffee grounds, this moves gracefully into a lively palate. Orange and lemon peel, black tea and juicy acids highlight a red berry core. This is a totally gulpable and thoroughly delicious young Pinot.
New wood and vanilla show strongly over the red-berry fruits. This wine has attractive tannins and acidity, balanced to give a fruity while structured character. Produced by the cooperative of Vila Real, the wine will be ready from late 2017.
This needs another year or two in bottle to further integrate the disparate components, especially the aggressive barrel flavors. What's here is all good—vivid, punchy apple fruit, sharp acids and toasty wood notes. There's a hint of vanilla custard and even a suggestion of banana cream pie. It just needs to meld a bit longer and the score could go higher.
Aromas of flint, pressed rose petal, dark spice and a light balsamic note delicately lead the nose. The slim palate is vibrant and smooth, offering sour cherry, crushed herb and a smoky mineral note framed in bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. Drink 2017–2023.
Oaky aromas of chocolate, wet clay, plastic and graphite control the nose of this tannic, edgy Malbec that gets a boost from bright acidity. Oak-dominated flavors share the stage with earthy berry notes, while the finish tastes minty and woody. Drink through 2021.
Dark strawberry mixes with allspice, incense and a touch of smoke on this wine's nose. Purple-flower flavors of lavender and violet mix with black raspberry, dried sage, ginger and black tea, all wrapped up in tart plum-peel tension.
This restrained, medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid value. On the nose, cedar, vanilla and cassis elements blend together easily, while brown sugar and vanilla flavors are supported by just enough cassis and black cherry fruit. Drink now–2028.
This ripe, concentrated and structured wine is produced from old vines. Blackberry fruits and rich tannins give it a dry core. The acidity and the final balance suggest that this wine should age further. Drink from late 2017.
Aromas of forest floor, chopped herb, stewed plum and oak-driven spice lead the nose. The warm, robust palate offers raspberry compote, licorice, tobacco and espresso alongside a backbone of solid, close-grained tannins.
The biggest of the Latour Meursaults, with extra layers of ripe fruit and nuances of toast and nuts extending into a textured, lengthy finish. Focused and elegant.
This extracted wine opens with aromas of toasted wood, coffee, mushroom, chocolate and vanilla. The dense, one-dimensional palate offers thick, jammy black fruit and oak extract.
Dark in color, this soft, leathery Zin offers tangents of blackberry, chocolate and espresso within a heavy-handed package of serious fruit and weight.
Here's a simple, straightforward Nero d'Avola that offers concentrated blueberry and blackberry jam sensations along with a note of evident alcohol. Pair this with everyday fare like pasta topped with a hearty ragù sauce.
It's rich enough to satisfy our craving for fruit flavor and firm enough in texture to pair well with roasts and filling pasta. It seems to have benefited from more time aging in a cellar than most red wines at this price do.
This oak-driven Aglianico opens with aromas of coffee, toasted wood, espresso and black fruit. The dense, extracted palate offers oaky vanilla and sugar-plum alongside drying and astringent wood tannins.
This gentle, ripe wine is immediately attractive. Ripe pear and peach are cut with acidity. Drink now.
Fresh and fruity, this simple Chardonnay shows crispness as well as white fruits, orange zest and a lively lemon aftertaste. Drink now.
Rounded, soft and gentle, it has attractive tropical fruit flavors along with a touch of lime to give crispness. Ready to drink.
Aromas of citrus and stone fruits feed into a clunky, high-acid palate that's pithy and citric in feel. Flavors of orange juice, tangerine and pineapple create citrus overload, while the finish is even more citrusy.
Here's a monolithic Aglianico that has concentrated flavors of black cherry, blackberry extract and toast layered with dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee. The ripe, one dimensional palate closes on a sugary note.
Minerally raspberry and cherry aromas come with a touch of latex and rubber. This is lively and scratchy on the palate, with spicy, oaky, peppery flavors of red-berry fruits that lead to a dry, juicy finish.
Sourced from Kiona's End of the Road vineyard, this pure Carmenère is packed with plenty of that grape's pyrazine and stem scents and flavors. A splash of Cabernet Franc was added to the final blend. Somehow flavors of mint and chocolate have been introduced, along with the quite tart, pale red fruits.
It tastes lush, slightly sweet and full-on fruity, but has a lavish oak overlay. The aromas are sweet cherries and maple syrup, the fruit flavors come out as just-crushed grapes and cherries sprinkled with the brown sugar of new oak. Not heavy in texture and not as full-bodied as the flavors would make you think.
This Aglianico opens with aromas of roasted coffee bean, toast and black fruit. The oak-driven palate offers espresso, black pepper and black cherry flavors, but it lacks fruit richness and ends on a note of drying wood tannins.
Lightly flavored with red fruits, it's pleasant but rather generic. It carries some alcohol heat through a thin finish.
This wine from longtime Santa Cruz Mountains producer Cinnabar offers a very subtle nose with slight, brisk minerality. Once sipped, the flavors remain subtle, though are nicely rounded with a bit of guava-based tropicalitythat emerges toward the finish.
Wispy hints of cherry and clove kick off this good deal wine. Tastes range from juicy red fruit up front with some crushed purple flowers to a very tight vanilla-laced finish.
This is a ripe and juicy wine. It has ripe wild strawberry flavors that go with the full-bodied feeling and the warm tannins. It's rich and developing well. Drink from 2016.
This full-bodied wine shows evidence of oak maturation in its notes of light toast and baking spices. Those elements are supported by pleasant citrus flavors, but the result isn't completely convincing.
Barrel flavors of toast and chocolate cover light strawberry fruit. It's pleasant enough, but the flavors have not yet jelled. Give it until 2016 to age.
With rubbery, smoky aromas and mild berry scents, this light-framed Tempranillo is bright on the palate and easy to quaff. Berry, plum and a touch of bitter chocolate are the flavors.
This informal wine opens with dainty aromas of black and red berries together with a whiff of baking spice. The simple palate offers fleeting black cherry and raspberry notes alongside the barest hint of clove. It's made to be drunk young, so enjoy soon.
Intense in lemon and silky, it shows a touch of effervescence from the bright acidity and is textured from the time spent in barrel. The finish and lingering aftertaste steer sweet, into the land of butterscotch and caramel.
A fresh and fruity nose of lemon, white flowers and peach give this Assytriko a more feminine edge. On the palate, it's smooth but spicy, with lemon blossom and brine dancing on the palate. Good and easy to drink.
A light mix of apple, jicama and pear fruit, bolstered with plenty of acidity, carries this medium-weight, unoaked Chardonnay. It's perfectly pleasant, but teeters on the edge of generic flavor neutrality.
Cherry, spicebox, pepper and some vegetal aromas are followed by flavors of blueberry, toast and cherry. This is an approachable Greek red with bright fruit and good acidity. A spicy finish adds to the appeal. Pair with game and pork.
Hints of spring ramps and earth blow off with aeration to reveal pretty floral and lemon aromas on this off-dry, single-vineyard Pinot Blanc. The palate is a bit demure in fruit concentration, but brisk lemon-lime acidity shines through the richly textured palate.
Made with the native grape Gaglioppo, this soft, friendly rosato from Calabria has delicate raspberry, cherry and strawberry sensations accented by a hint of cooking spices. Pair it with appetizers, grilled vegetables or cold cuts.
From a very high altitude vineyard, this solidly built Syrah is soft and saturated with dark fruits. It has an earthy base and a broad midpalate, that lasts well but could use just a bit more focus. This is the first Syrah from this young vineyard, and it's definitely headed in the right direction.
This vintage seems more medicinal and overtly ripe than the more balanced 2003. It has high alcohol (15.2%) and medium acidity, thus it's a touch gummy and syrupy. But if you like power at the core of your Cabernet-Merlot blends and you don't mind a little fire in the hole after drinking, then we recommend this chewy, ripe, very modern offering.
Very Muscat, very aromatic, this is a light, crowd-pleasing apéritif wine that dances on the palate. It's dry, but the lychee-like perfumed flavor and the spice make it softer and easier. Glass stopper.
In 2004 new winemaker William Ammons began at Glen Fiona, and this is the first of his wines to be released. This is spicy with pepper and herb, both in the nose and in the mouth. The fruit is quite tart and tastes of rhubarb and cranberry.
Typical Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, pairing ripe, honeyed stone-fruit flavors with slightly grassy, herbal notes. It's softer and lusher than many of its competitors, with less biting acidity and a soft, mouthwatering finish.
Barrel-fermented Pinot Gris is a bit of a rarity, but this one is good if you like the style. Buttered apples and nuts lead the way, backed by tangerine fruit and outlined by oaky spice. Tough to know whether aging it will result in slightly better integration, or if you're better off drinking this one young.
Very pure notes of conference pear charm on the nose and palate, which is taut and slender. A citric verve makes for liveliness. With some air, subtler notes of pepper appear alongside gossamer-like phenolics. Typical for the 2014 vintage this is light but also clean with subtle, earthy spice. No fewer than 17 co-planted varieties from an old vineyard go into this. Savor that pepper.
Ripe bramble and blackberry vie for attention on the nose. The palate is light and has lots of energy, verve and more fresh-faced fruit. This is just about medium-bodied and offers us an uncomplicated but delicious and refreshing interpretation of Blaufränkisch.
A rather subdued nose leads to a rounded palate flavored by savory yeast, subtle pepper and thyme. A wine with this sort of textured mouth-feel simply cries out for food. Its zingy freshness will cut through any richness while its subtle aromatics of red apple and herb will complement but not overpower flavors. This indigenous Austrian original will do justice to just about any kind of European cuisine.
With the next two vintages both damaged by hail, 2012 is the most recent normal crop from Pommard. This structured and solid wine seems to have an excess of wood at this stage, although the ripe red berry fruits do give a more generous character. The tannins, typical of Pommard, kick in—although not enough to spoil the fruitiness. Drink from 2016.
Fresh and fragrant, this offers aromas of rose and violet with a whiff of woodland berry. The elegant palate delivers bright red cherry, crushed strawberry, clove and peppercorn alongside polished tannins and fresh acidity. Drink through 2020.
Plum, toast, violet and savory herb aromas lead the nose on this firmly structured wine. The tightly compacted palate delivers toasted oak, concentrated black cherry, dried sage, tobacco and licorice alongside a backbone of assertive tannins.
An earthiness of forest floor wraps around a medley of bright berry and cherry in this wine that is also nicely balanced in acidity. Smooth on the palate, it takes on stronger currents of tannin and leathery oak on the finish.
The American owners of this winery are making every effort to improve the wines, and the 2013 is certainly a step in the right direction. Toast and vanilla notes frame ripe cherries, which show a strong, sinewy core without being hard or tough. By the end of 2015, the oak should be less noticeable.
Deep in color and light to medium in body, this bold red tastes juicy, fresh and inviting. Substantial tannins give it a good astringency to help it pair well with rich foods. An appetizing blend of red and black fruit flavors make it compelling to drink. It shows good balance between richness, firm texture and good acidity.
Winemaker Kim Crawford has turned out a solid effort, ably combining the brash fruit of Central Otago with some measure of finesse. Smoky, campfire-like notes, roasted beets and greens accent black cherry and plum flavors. It's still a bit crisp and edgy on the finish, but look for the texture to smooth out by the end of 2016.
A selection of barrels from the same estate vineyard, this unctuous, brawny wine remains grippy on the palate, needing time in cellar, through 2020. Time should tame the tannins and lure in the black cherry and licorice, wrapped in luxurious swathes of blackberry and dried herb.
The style at Martinborough Vineyards has always been geared toward aging, and this 2011 is still remarkably fresh. Floral and cherry notes lead the way, backed by tart acids and firm tannins. Worth stashing away until 2018.
A generously ripe wine with 8% Petite Sirah, this has a softly layered entry that reveals strong aromas of black olive and plum, before delving headfirst into spicy blackberry cobbler. Complex and smooth, it offers heightened acidity and a richly chocolate finish.
An unabashedly rich and luscious wine, this combines ripe and fresh fruit flavors with luxurious spicy, buttery accents and an almost thick texture. With a subtext as savory as Udon broth it's practically a meal in a bottle. Call it full-bodied, full-flavored, ultrasmooth and impressive.
Underbrush, blackberry, blue flower and mocha lead the nose on this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The dense palate offers cassis, black cherry, black pepper, espresso and licorice alongside youthfully assertive tannins. Drink 2016–2021.
Fermented entirely in concrete egg, this is a light, clear red exuberant in earthy cherry and cassis. Ethereal, it offers spice and plenty of length around a shy body, a bite of fruit on the finish. Made in small quantities at a fair price, it's one to try for its sheer rarity alone, a good example of another light-bodied red that can do well in the appellation.
This opens with aromas of underbrush, tilled soil and ripe, black plum. On the palate, notes of ground pepper and baking spice accent the black cherry core. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide the framework. Drink through 2018.
A bouquet of spicy cinnamon and clove opens up this tightly woven wine, with perceptible tannins and rustic leather-bound elements to the nose and palate. With noticeable acidity and a crispness of cranberry, it develops an intensity on the finish, along with a taste of dried cherry.
Made with organically farmed grapes, this crisp, savory white opens with aromas of wildflower, stone fruit and an earthy whiff of flint. The linear, vibrant palate offers fresh peach, crunchy Granny Smith apple and a citrus note. It's balanced by tangy acidity and closes on an almond note.
Aromas of iris, violet and dark berry slowly take shape in the glass. The firm palate offers fleshy black cherry, plum, espresso, tobacco and a hint of vanilla alongside firm tannins. Drink through 2019.
This wine shows a classic Washington Malbec profile of green, stemmy herbs, citrus, black pepper and plum along with light barrel accents. It's soft in feel, palate-staining with plum flavors, tart acids and lightly gritty tannins, disclosing blood-orange flavors on the finish.
High-toned strawberry and cherry open this medium-bodied wine that takes on heavier, darker overtones of dried herb, nutmeg and black tea as it goes. From a meticulously farmed vineyard also known for Chardonnay, it conveys a stamp of tobacco on the oak that invites thoughts of leather chairs and cigars.
Lightly colored and tightly wound, this wine offers a bouquet of rose petals around a core of cherry and cranberry with buoyant acidity. A low oak profile helps boost the fruit-forwardness and approachability of the wine, with just a tiny bite of tannin on the finish.
Pears, white rocks, gray slate and lime juice show on the nose of this appellation blend from the iconic Santa Rosa Road winery. Similar flavors also show on the palate, primarily a grippy chalk, more lime and a Meyer lemon pith element, with the faintest hint of struck match in the background.
Deep purple fruits, black sage, big cherry and woody spices arise from this wine by Adam Lee, who recently sold to Jackson Family Wines but will remain in charge. The palate shows crushed clove and allspice, licorice, graphite and more dark fruit flavors.
Aged in neutral French oak with partial malolactic fermentation, this vineyard-designated wine offers aromas of almond, mineral, green apple and spice. It's lighter in style, texture-driven with a good sense of balance throughout.
Despite the lightness of body, this lemon- and pear-scented wine offers both texture and zest. Sleek, slender refreshment, it delivers a lot of citrus zip and cleansing length.
Redolent of dried cherries and violets, granite and slate, this late-release Merlot is already dropping elegant hints of its maturity. Concentrated with crisp black cherry flavor, it balances lavish texture alongside brisk acidity and minerality. The finish is long and meandering. It's delicious now, but sure to improve further from 2020 on.
Stillwater Creek, Conner Lee and Bacchus vineyards provided the fruit for this young, sappy and rich Syrah. It captures the varietal character of the grape, especially as expressed in Washington State. Inviting aromas of berries and chocolate, bright and fresh, lead into brambly red fruits, umami-soaked mushrooms and moist earth.
Dark and smoky, earthy and compact, this textbook Cabernet Sauvignon shows muscle and steel at its core. Though tannic and still encased in a bit of a hard shell, it already displays beautifully defined varietal character, and it doesn't shy away from the herbal side of the grape.
As befits a Bandol, this rosé has a good depth of flavor, rich and smoothly textured with acidity integrated into a serious and complex wine. The structure and acidity suggest a wine that could age for 2–3 years.
Fully mature, this mouthfilling, supple Shiraz shows off Clare's savory side, beginning with beefy notes of bouillon and soy, then adding leather coffee and black olive to the mix. The long finish gracefully blends sweet and savory, then adds a dusting of fine tannins to keep everything in place. Drink now–2015.
With 16 months spent in 100% new French oak, this is a powerhouse of a wine. At first a bit overripe on the nose with notes of berry jam, kirsch, cigar box spice and a hint of smoke, the mouth shows similar concentrated dark fruit flavors but is lifted by supporting acidity, aggressive tannins and a tight structure. Dark chocolate-covered roasted espresso beans flood the long finish, and while the wine is good now, with five-plus years in the cellar it will be stellar.
A rich, amply endowed Clare Riesling, with potent lime aromas accented by touches of petrol, plenty of flavor intensity and a long finish composed of citrus and spice. Hints of baked apple and petrol suggest it may not be the longest-lived Riesling, but it's delicious now and should be good for another five years or so.
A terrific example of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the 2009 Swamp Block features ripe melon and nectarine fruit, balanced by hints of garden greens, such as tomato leaf and bell pepper. It's plump and succulent on the palate, with a long, slightly honeyed finish.
This vintage has the Tsutakawa artist label. Nicely crafted and in good proportion, it's a supple wine with plenty of powerful cassis fruit, backed with licorice. Compact and concentrated, with generous barrel toast, butterfat and smoke.
There is a solid amount of wood here, but the fruit has weight enough for it. The tannins are dark, brooding in character, but they also support ripe and juicy fruits. With its dusty texture, this wine could certainly be aged for several years.
There is an undoubtedly fragrant but somehow veiled nose of dried orange peel. The palate opens up fully into the comforting aromas of baked Bramley apples, highlighted by lots of lemon freshness. The concentrated midpalate has depth but no heaviness and is at its delicious, intense peak now, still full of glowing fruit.
Very pure notes of freshly cut, tart but ripe apples fill the nose, but there is also a slight perfume of fir forest and lemon zest. The palate is ripe and shows a dry but nonetheless lusciously ripe core, all straightened and brightened by fresh, lemony acidity. This has both balance and drama and is a joy to drink.
A rather earthy pull envelopes the fruit: both of dried apple and fresh, ripe pear. The palate adds a honeyed tone to this and a fluid richness that glides like silk across the palate. All is fringed with pleasantly bitter hints of crushed apple seeds, creating appetizing tension between sweet and bitter poles. This really holds your attention.
A block selection, barrel-fermented and aged in French oak, this brings rich scents of spice, toast and white pepper, and tight, compact tree fruits. As it airs, flavors of buttered nuts come up, leading to a long and delicious finish. Drink 2018–2028.
This is a rich, concentrated while also fruity wine. With its solid tannins that are finely integrated into the rich, black plum fruit flavors, it is already a very fine wine and presently drinkable; however, another year would not hurt, so best to savor this dense blend of Alicante Bouschet, Petit Verdot and Syrah after 2017.
Floral scents spring from the glass, followed by a graceful mix of flavors: rose petals, pomegranate and red berries. This elegant wine seduces as it winds through a long finish, with a creamy lick of caramel to finish up.
Packed with fruit and tannins in almost equal measure, this robust but not heavy wine has a layered texture, bright flavors and a sense of depth and structure that indicate it will improve with time. It offers plenty of red cherry and raspberry flavors, and flashes of smoky oak that are well interlaced. Best after 2019.
The pride of Peique, this warm-vintage Bierzo is power-charged on the nose, with smoky, woody aromas of baked berry fruits. Layered, intense, chewy and integrated on the palate, this Mencía tastes like licorice and baking spices blended with black cherry and plum. The finish is dark and full, but lively. Drink through 2021.
A delicious nose combines smoky oregano, thyme, marjoram, mushroom and cherry aromas on this wine from a former race-car driver. The palate jumps on the palate with glee, showing botanical flavors of juniper, eucalyptus and peppercorn, laid across a brambleberry backbone.
This is an impressive wine. It's so balanced between opulent ripe fruit and a tight texture. Wood aging complements the rich apricot and crisp apple flavors, adding spice and a touch of pepper. The more juicy nature of the wine comes through as it opens up; however, it does need to age more. so wait until 2017.
Another very successful Virgilius, the 2013 comes across as slightly more restrained on the nose, but explodes on the palate with bold flavors of apricot, floral notes and layers of gingery spice. It's a big, rich wine, with a slightly warm but elegant finish. Drink now.
This expertly structured wine will last for ages. It begins with dense blackberry jam, caramel, vanilla, fresh licorice and chocolate-ganache aromas. There is a density of flavors on the sip, but not an overwhelming weight, with black cherry, chocolate syrup and asphalt tones hung on chalky tannins that are a little firm right now. Drink 2018–2033.
This is a pretty, floral and balanced wine, elegantly austere in preserved lemon, yuzu and grapefruit, with richer overtones that build on the medium-body toward the lengthy finish. A wine made for the table, it'll pair well and widely, though it can also stand deliciously on its own.
Produced from four parcels of 100-year-old vines, this field blend wine is stylish and fruity while also being densely structured. It is complex with red fruits and dry wood flavors layered with perfumed tannins and richness that comes from fermentation in stone lagars. It really needs to age, wait to drink until 2020.
A structured, dense and concentrated wine, this has richness both in tannins and in fruit. It is a fine, rich, opulent wine that has weight as well as elegance. Delicate acidity cuts through the dark texture, sustained by berry fruits. Produced from old vines, the wine will age well. Drink from 2018.
Only produced in the best years, this is a finely made wine. It has ripe, concentrated fruits that are juicy when youthful and that will develop well. Black currants and berries push through the still firm tannins bringing with them intense acidity. All these elements will allow the wine to age well. Drink from 2019.
Lip tingling lime acidity sends a jolt through this lusciously fruity wine. Off dry in style, it juxtaposes sweet-tart lemon and honey tangerine flavors against steely, piercing minerality.
Savory touches of saffron and bee pollen lend complexity to this lithe, dancing spätlese. It's intensely sunny in character, bursting of honey and sweet tangerine flavors, yet held firm and tight by a backbone of reverberating lemon acidity. Drink now through 2021.
This is sourced from the Maresh vineyard, which dates back to 1970. These older vines deliver that extra dollop of texture and mouthfeel that elevates the drinking experience. Powerful and yet elegant, it brings a panoply of berries, baking spices, Asian spices, nougat, caramel and milk chocolate. It delivers all of this and more, without feeling heavy or overblown. It drank even better after being open a full 24 hours.
Block 23 is all Pommard clone. At first the drying, tea-flavored tannins push the fruit down, but over many hours the wine expands with generous flavors of cherry fruit leather, candied orange peel, and polished tannins.
Quite dark in the glass, this bottling has a nose that suggests boysenberry, blackberry and black cherry. The dense aromas are livened up by iron, black loam, Indian spice and black-tea notes. The same range of dark fruits power the palate, especially black plums, and the rich and tangy flavors are nuanced with black sage, bergamot and eucalyptus notes.
Ripe plum and berry aromas with a note of vanilla are highly encouraging. Hailing from a warm vintage, this 10-year-old Bierzo beauty offers a blend of pulpy ripeness with bracing acidity. Loamy plum, oak and vanilla flavors end with length and elegance. Drink through 2020.
Made for the first time in this vintage, this young wine is tight and brambly, with tart, peppery berry fruit. Chewy tannins denote its youth, and the finish delivers outstanding depth. If it follows the path of other Ayoub Pinots, this will benefit greatly from further bottle age.
A dry, complex wine emboldened by the 63% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 37% Syrah, this is a compelling combination of black-olive tapenade and smoky tannin founded atop ripe California blueberry, cassis and black currant. Saddle and tobacco appear on the finish, giving it a spicy end. Drink now through 2022.
This complex wine shows a whiff of stem, from 37% whole-cluster fermentation, and quickly moves into a soft center, loaded with strawberry preserves. It coats the mouth, smooth and textural, with graphite highlights. The tannins are substantial and suggest it's worth tucking into the cellar for a few more years. Drink through 2020.
The name of the wine comes from the huge horseshoe bend of the Douro River that surrounds the Meão vineyards on three sides. This is the second wine of the estate, ripe with tannins and packed with black fruits. It is developing quickly and is ready to drink now.
This is a hugely powerful and dense wine. It is packed with dense tannins at this stage although with the promise of rich, opulent fruit behind the tannins it will blossom in a serious, complex wine with both great fruit and structure. Drink this serious wine from 2018.
Made entirely with Friulano, this stunning wine delivers dried apricot, candied nectarine zest, baked apple, almond and dried herb sensations. A mineral vein weaves through the elegantly structured palate, adding both depth and complexity. Drink through 2023.
Smooth, ripe and rounded, it's ready to drink with its light perfume and spice. Rich pear and quince fruits add freshness to the fullness. Drink now.
Dusty, chalky tones accent fresh apple and pear flavors throughout this minerally off-dry wine. Honed and steely on the palate, it finishes briskly on a tart, lemony note. Refreshing and quaffable in style.
Properly light in color, this is crisp, fruity and deliciously fresh. Some weight comes from ripe strawberry fruits as well as touches of vanilla. The acidity at the end brings refreshment.
Stalky aromas suggest animal hide and roasted fruit. The wine is rubbery, firm and leathery in feel, with plum, berry, raisin and other dark-fruit flavors. On the finish, it feels earthy and tastes like stewed black fruits and prune. Drink sooner rather than later.
While grassy, herbal aromas dominate the aromas, plenty of white grapefruit comes through on the palate to provide for a crisp, refreshing mouthful. It's medium in weight, with some leafy and citrusy notes on the moderate-length finish.
Fresh and linear, this opens with delicate aromas of lemon and stone fruit that all carry on to the palate along with nectarine and pear. It's simple and crisp with a nutty finish.
An innocuous, easy drinking wine with notes of apple and pear pairing with a medium bodied, textured feel. Some sugar sweetens the finish.
Salmon-peach in color this rosé is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec and 10% Pinot Noir, the end result of which is a thirst-quenching array of pineapple and papaya aromas and flavors in a crisp, straightforward package.
This wine opens with aromas of citrus, grapefruit and stone fruit. The palate offers yellow peach and mineral alongside sharp acidity. It has a bitter, nutty finish.
Hints of earth and mushrooms lend a savory tone to aromas of pressed apples and pears in this off-dry wine. The palate is bright and cheery with sweet apple and lemon flavors but finishes with a lingering spray of savory dried herbs and stems.
This blend of Biancolella and Forastera opens with subtle aromas of white spring flower and tree fruit. The rather lean palate offers crisp yellow apple, mineral and Bartlett pear alongside prominent acidity.
Raisiny aromas are rich and gritty. Pounding tannins and a beam of acidity drive the palate, which brings flavors of oaky baked fruits and black licorice. A jammy finish with baked berry and raisiny flavors confirms that this is extremely ripe and ready to drink now.
Created for the American market, the wine has some softness while retaining intense fruitiness. It's bright, light and very fresh, with just a touch of caramel at the end.
Heady floral and stone fruit scents are enticing, but a bit perfumy on this aromatic wine. The palate is bright and fresh with brisk lemon and tangerine flavors that are straightforward yet enjoyable.
Crisp, snappy red-berry aromas are the opening on this fresh and easy Tempranillo. A zesty, quick mouthfeel and tangy, bright plum and berry flavors are pleasant and juicy.
Whiffs of blackberry and plum preserve hint towards the dense, richly concentrated nature of this boldly fruity wine. It's rustic in style with hints of earth and mulch, and big, grippy tannins that lend bite to the finish.
Hints of autumn leaf and bramble add rustic warmth to this delicate wine. Medium bodied, the palate is brisk with tart red cherry and berry flavors accented with soft tannins on the finish.
Burgundy producer Aegerter has come up with a bright and breezy Provence rosé whose style sums up the lighter side of these wines. It is fruity, fresh, very clean and crisp.
The aromas of herbs, pink grapefruit and guava don't seem entirely knitted together on this young wine. It's dry and fleshy in feel but doesn't have the concentration to bring it all together.
Kennedy Point is located on Waiheke Island, but gets the fruit for this wine from Marlborough. It's a light- to medium-bodied version of Sauvignon Blanc, boasting bright passion-fruit aromas and a juicy, mouthwatering mix of citrus flavors that fade a bit quickly on the finish.
An easy-drinking wine, it has pronounced aromas and flavors of cherry vanilla soda, blackberry preserves and just a touch of menthol.
Thick blackberry syrup and loads of black pepper meet with dashes of asphalt and dried violets on the nose of this wine from a vineyard near Los Alamos. The palate combines plum-skin tartness and rustic elderberry with cedar and juniper berries, a pleasant blend of wood and fruit.
This is a lovely vineyard-designate, floral and crisp in tangy grapefruit and tangerine. With plenty of complexity to its breadth and depth, it maintains effortless acidity throughout, finishing with just the right twist of lemon peel.
This is a rich, beautifully textured dry wine. It is terroir-driven, with the volcanic soil of Savennières underlying the tight texture. By contrast, it offers hints of honey and flavors of yellow fruits balanced with fruity lemon flavors. Drink from 2017.
Close to the slope of Grand Crus, Fourchaume is one of the best known of the premiers in Chablis. This ripe wine with its touches of vanilla as well as yellow fruits and acidity has a lightly honeyed character typical of the vintage. It is ready to drink, although it will be better from 2017.
This is the personal project of Archery Summit winemaker Chris Mazepink. It's named for the bees that buzz around the vines. Rich gold in hue, it marries the flavors of ripe apples to bee pollen and lemon curd. The flavors fold into a well-developed finish, bringing up highlights of citrus peel.
A juicy and smoky nose of black cherries, vanilla, smoked pork and teriyaki is lifted aromatically by pretty violet elements on the nose of this bottling. The palate centers on a blackberry-jam character, with roasted fennel and black-licorice candy adding quality spice.
The less expensive of the winery's two Pinot Gris, this is in some respects the better wine. Excellent focus pulls crisp flavors of pear, lemon curd and flinty mineral into sharp resolution, and appealing minerality gives the acidity a resonant texture. It all resolves in a lovely, creamy finish.
Mature dark-skinned berry, leather, forest floor, eucalyptus and dark cooking spice aromas come together in the glass. The delicious palate doles out juicy black cherry, blackberry, white pepper, clove and licorice alongside round, chewy tannins.
Owner-winemaker Tod Dexter and his wife Debbie planted their first vines in 1987, making them reasonably mature for the region. The result is a medium-bodied restrained yet silky and seductive Pinot Noir. Black cherry, cola, cedar and spice elements combine easily on the nose and palate, then linger elegantly on the finish. Drink now–2020.
The producer's first release from this vineyard site, and 100% varietal, this is a sultry wine, generously aromatic in cinnamon and clove. Spicy, soft and elegant, it also offers cassis and currant, finishing in earthy waves that end lean.
Aromas of dried rose, mature berry and dark kitchen spice lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. The palate offers more spice than fruit richness, with dried wild cherry, licorice and black pepper, while firm refined tannins provide the framework. It's a great effort for this hot vintage. Drink 2017–2024.
Just one barrel was made, all 777 clone and aged in 100% new French oak. Extra concentration and darker fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherry are the payoff. It's a wine resonant with complex streaks of mineral and steel.
A reserve-level, barrel-fermented cuvée, this has a fresh and creamy mouthfeel. It blends crisp tree fruits with bracing minerality, and finishes lightly with a pat of butter.
Inspired by “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,” this blend of 49% Syrah, 46% Mourvèdre and 5% Petite Sirah shows smoky blackberry, condensed violet and bacon fat on the nose. A sip unleashes mouthcoating flavors, from rich blackberry to tart plum skins, with lots of smoked plum and a touch of asphalt as well.
As it ages, this wine's color becomes deeper and more golden. The palate has lost its early acidity and gained richer tropical fruit, honey and layers of botrytis. It will always have a light touch with a crisp texture that underlies the riper fruits and sweetness. Drink from 2017.
Enticing aromas of rose, strawberry and baking spice meld together in the glass while the creamy, delicious palate doles out juicy wild cherry, black raspberry and cinnamon. It's bright and polished, with round, smooth tannins that make this already accessible.
Perfumed berry, iris, rose, sweet baking spice aromas and a whiff of balsam lead the nose. The ripe, full-bodied palate offers wild cherry, fleshy raspberry, tobacco, toast, mocha and cinnamon alongside a tannic backbone and nervous acidity. The heat of evident alcohol closes the finish but doesn't dominate. Drink 2018–2026.
The wine is a rich blend of Baga and Touriga Nacional that is ripe and juicy with solid tannins and generous black fruits. There are firm tannins that will probably always be a part of the wine along with acidity and black plum richness. The wood aging has helped to smooth the wine on the way, while still promising further development. Drink from 2017.
Aromas of dark berry, baked earth, game and forest floor come together in the glass. The palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed strawberry, mint, clove and white pepper alongside compacted tannins and fresh acidity. Give this another five or six years to unwind.
Enticing aromas of pressed rose, iris, fragrant berry and wild herb come together on this lovely wine. On the firm, savory palate, clove and anise accent a core of ripe black cherry and raspberry. It's young but well balanced, with elegant tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2017–2027.
The heart of the Gimonnet vineyards is in the Côte des Blancs. This bone-dry, very crisp Chardonnay is intense in its acidity and tight texture. Like many wines that are so dry, it needs to age to allow its almost shocking freshness to soften. It will always be a wine for food. Drink from 2018.
Although 2013 may have been a difficult vintage, for some winemakers it resulted in immaculate wines with impeccable precision and focus. In this wine, the medium-bodied fruit runs from apple to pineapple. Twenty months in 10% new French oak has left an indelible impression of buttered nuts and a pleasantly oily mouthfeel.
This is a powerful, ripe and intense wine. It has layers of juicy black fruits that are sustained by acidity and even more by the dense dusty tannins. It is structured and firm with the wood aging giving spice. Drink this fine wine from 2018.
A powerful dense wine that is rich and firmly structured, so it has big bold black fruit flavors that are still firmly embedded in dark tannins. It is a fine complex wine, the fruit of two of Ramos-Pinto's quintas in the Douro Superior. Keep this wine until 2018 at least. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2015, this brand was the among the first Douro still wines.
A shock of white pepper remains memorable throughout this wine, which hails from a high-elevation vineyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Pinot Noir-like in its leanness and silky mouthfeel, it's prickly with feral jolts of cinnamon and tobacco.
Strawberry jam dances around high-strung cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb, combining for a tantalizing experience of earthy dried herb and cardamom. Light bodied but never thin, it finishes with a flourish of succulent orange peel.
Ripe, jammy aromas of smashed blueberry are elevated by hints of herbs and cola. A layered and lively mouthfeel is a big plus on this plot-selection Malbec, while blackberry, herb and smoked-meat flavors finish firm fresh and with depth. Drink through 2022.
Aromas of licorice, crushed violets and menthol add depth to the otherwise straightforward black cherry and berry fruit notes. Medium weight with a solid structure and a finish kissed with sweet spice flavors. Drink now.
Mildly green and herbal on the nose, with bell pepper, oregano, black plum and berry aromas. Concentrated and tight in the mouth, with firmness, some burn and round, dark flavors of baked berry and toasty oak. Heavy and chocolaty on the finish.
Very ripe wine that tastes of the heat and sunshine of the vintage. It is warm, the peach and pineapple flavors partnering the toast and spicy vanilla. The wine has some power, maybe missing out on acidity.
There are brambly, wild cherry aromas and flavors in this wine, as well as a little cocoa, but this Sierra Foothills Zin is still fairly tight and hard to tell which direction it will go from here. A majority (80%) Zin, there's also 20% Syrah that was cofermented with Viognier in the blend.
Prickly and briney on the nose, with cool-climate crispness to the aromatics. The palate is smooth and fairly thick, with a sticky, grabby mouthfeel and sweet, lightly green and herbal flavors of cherry and plum. Full but flattens on the finish.
Snappy and edgy as you give it a sniff, with piercing rhubarb, red cherry and peppery aromas. Shows a bit of cushion and softness in the mouth along with spicy, slightly herbal flavors of red plum and raspberry. Spicy on the finish, with citrusy acidity and dry oak notes.
Minty, floral aromas veer toward darker notes of cola, forest floor and leather. The palate is medium-full, with grabby tannins and roasted flavors of blackberry mixed with herbs and spice. A regular, oaky style of Cabernet with a raw, grabby mouthfeel.
Rubbery, bold and earthy on the nose, then full and sticky in the mouth, with sweet black fruit flavors. Tastes more like a Bordeaux red wine than textbook Pinot Noir courtesy of heavy extraction, darkness and oak. Tastes good but could use a lesson in elegance and restraint.
Savory notes of soy sauce and yeast extract add richness and umami to the sweet, cooked plum and cherry flavors on this Finger Lakes Pinot. A bit rustic with hints of smoked meat and leather, it's an ideal accompaniment to winter stews and braises.
Sweet vanilla mingles with ripe cherries and plums on the nose and palate of this supple, soft Long Island Merlot. Bright acidity and a hint of green, leafy herbs add freshness on the palate. Finishes on a slightly grippy, tannic note.
While soft on entry with slightly pulpy, sweet plum flavors, this Cab Franc gains intensity on the midpalate as spicy bramble notes and soft tannins accumulate. Approachable in style, it's a pleasant everyday red with just a hint of leafy green on the finish.
A little mealy on the nose, with apple and melon aromas poking through. The palate is both pithy and sharp, with citric acids providing the basis for grapefruit and orange flavors. Pithy on the finish, with passionfruit notes.
Herbal, brambly aromas mix with dark berry, mocha and vanilla aromas, while the palate is creamy and soft, with herbal, almost vegetal flavors and not much defined fruit or clarity. Finishes as herbal as it starts, with coffee and green tobacco flavors.
Citric on the nose, with cherry and bland earthy notes. The palate has an inoffensive feel and sweet flavors of black cherry and vanilla. That sweetness carries onto the finish, which is also candied. Generally decent but highly regular.
Oaky stuff, with sawdust, roasted fruit and dark, floral berry aromas. The palate is surprisingly high in acidity and choppy, but lumbering oak adds some heft to the berry fruit and cola flavors that lead the charge. A bit smacking and medicinal, and herbal to boot.
There's a lot of individuality to this wine, just not all good. The nose has cigar box and over-the-top sweet and baked aromas, yet the palate has a grating, acidic feel but also spice and raisiny flavors. All of it makes you more confused than confident; it has its good traits but seems out of whack.
This rosé is done by the saignée method, bleeding off excess juice from the fermenting tanks. It's 48% Syrah and 52% Cabernet Franc, yielding a hard-edged yet buttery wine with lightly peppery, watermelon flavors. Not for everyone, but distinctive.
Leathery and horsey on the nose, with cherry fruit and warmth. The palate has some edge and bite to it, with lean tannins in support of generic raspberry and standard herbal flavors. Quick and cleansing on the finish, with another wave of herbal flavor.
The lack of new oak on this wine unleashes a torrent of ripe tropical fruit, including guava, as well as ripe pear. It's briny on the palate yet with quite perfumed and pungent flavors, more typical of a Rhône white than a California chardonnay.
Thick and concentrated, this opens with aromas of blueberry jam, toasted oak, wet underbrush, baking spice and a touch of vanilla. The tight palate offers dried black cherry, prune, tobacco, grilled sage and evident alcohol alongside astringent tannins that dry out the finish.
Aromatically interesting, this shows the spicy side of Pinot, touching on clove, star anise, pepper and cinnamon. Raspberry fruit and some sharp acidity fill out the palate, which softens in the finish while maintaining an earthy, herbal edge.
Aromas of cream caramel, baked plum, vanilla and coffee carry over to the palate along with prune and toast. It ends quickly on a note of raspy, astringent tannins that leave the mouth feeling dry. Superior Wines, Wine Warehouse.
Dark purple in color, this Syrah-led blend with 15% Monastrell is jammy, toasty, herbal and minty green on the nose. A muscular, rubbery and tannic palate features blackberry flavors backed by a blackened finish of bitter coffee and herbal notes.
A blend of 70% Teroldego and 30% Lagrein, this opens with aromas of forest floor, crushed blackberry, toasted oak and vanilla. The simple, straightforward palate offers dried black cherry, espresso and a mocha note alongside dusty tannins.
Ripe and oaky up front, this fruit-forward blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo is loaded with creamy oak aromas that suggest plastic and vanilla. Airing reveals a fresh but plump palate that finishs with plum, berry and sweet oak flavors—the Holy Trinity of internationally friendly value wines.
Brisk and elegant, this wine has an alpine feel that accentuates its lean, cutting profile. The palate is a tad austere, highlighting minerality and acidity over fruit, but a touch of white grapefruit peeks through nicely on the finish.
Intense mineral tones dominate this dry, sprightly wine. It's delicate and dainty on the palate, but concentrated with tart orange and citrus rind flavors. Finishes brisk and bright.
At 80% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc, this isn't a typical assemblage for Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Fermented and aged in concrete, it's reticent at this stage of its evolution, showing hints of paraffin and honey but remaining largely neutral. Unlike most white Châteauneufs, it would probably benefit from a few years of cellaring.
Aromas of crushed violet, earth, toasted oak, espresso and wood chips lead the nose. The evolved palate offers prune, dried cherry, roasted coffee bean and ground pepper notes alongside assertive tannins.
Aromas of scorched earth, leather, mature black fruit and a touch of graphite lead the nose on this full-bodied, straightforward wine. The solid palate offers up plum and dried black cherry alongside astringent tannins that give it a clipped finish.
Dominated by 80% Merlot, this ripe and firm wine is full of red berry fruits with a solid, dry core that comes from the fruit tannins. The tannins are still young, still solid, so the wine even with its fruitiness needs to age. Drink from 2016.
Spicy wood adds to the fresh berry fruits that show strongly. With acidity balanced by the smoky flavors, it's a light, bright wine that will be ready to drink soon. Think about late 2015.
As with all the 2013 white wines from Chehalem, the alcohol is way down and the acids up in this blend of the three estate vineyards. All-stainless fermented, it's quite tart with green apple and grapefruit flavors dominating.
This ethereal, crisp white is pretty in guava and melon, approachable, easy to enjoy and not fussy. The majority of the experience is in the beginning and midpalate.
Tasty, generous and easy to enjoy, this full-bodied Zin smells like blackberries and tastes like strawberry jam. It gains a little sweet spiciness from oak and glides through the finish.
Wisps of smoke and crushed stones lend complexity to fresh apple and pear notes on this delicate, lace-textured wine. Electric lemon-line acid strikes a mean chord on the palate, but hints of sweet peach and apricot even out the finish.
Made with the Lambrusco di Sorbara grape, this conveys aromas of crushed violet, dried red berry and toasted hazelnut. The lively palate offers raspberry, nut and pink grapefruit alongside persistent bubbles and brisk acidity. Panebianco, Golden State Wine.
A massive wine, firmly structured with dense and powerful tannins. This is a wine for long-term aging, with its dark black fruits and chunky feel. It is still just starting out; cellar for 10 years.
Jon Martinez, who arrived in Washington barely six years ago, is knocking the ball out of the park. Improving with each new release, he has locked in a stellar collection of vineyards, and made Rhône-style wines his focus. This is a revelation. Pure berries, cassis, rock, earth, licorice, and a hint of baking spices. Gorgeous.
100% varietal, this is a strict barrel selection from key vineyards – Les Collines, Seven Hills, Lewis and Portteus. It is tight, dense, deeply detailed, and built for long term aging. Right now it's showing a fair amount of herb and forest floor, but the structure is so perfect that it doesn't matter.
Dense, weighty and concentrated now, this wine will become opulent once the surface tannins finally integrate. The wine is superrich, with chocolate and licorice partnering with the intense fruit.
Very ripe, rich, structured wine, exuding power and concentration. It is packed with red fruits and damsons, creating a juicy character and tense mineral acidity. A magnificent wine, for aging.
This Priorat-like blend of 50% Grenache, 28% Syrah, and 22% Mourvèdre is pungent and spicy, with a bit of menthol in the nose. Supple and luxurious fruit, a mix of raspberry and black fruits, baking spices, sweet barrel flavors. Powerful and rich, this is a big wine with tobacco and clove highlights and a little heat in the finish.
Beautiful craftsmanship is on display in this mélange of mouth-coating butterscotch, Meyer lemon and sweet citrus flavors. It's rich without being at all tiring, and the lengthy and succulent fruit flavors keep adding details, such as hints of cucumber and herb.
Caressed in forested earthiness, this wine is both crisp in acidity and creamy in baked apple and crème brûlée, a layering of lemon meringue on top. It is integrated and balanced up until the finish, where a firm grip of oak takes hold.
This wine offers notes of smoke, tire rubber and red currant that show a hint of confection. Flavors are sweet and elegant, with a dry squeeze of tannins.
The bright red fruit on the nose of this wine is joined with graphite minerality and sweetly toasted oak. The palate is quite fruity, boasting Bing cherry and strawberry reduction sauce, picking up complexity from cracked black pepper.
This blend of Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc offers aromas of honey and beeswax. It's light and airy on the palate, refreshing if a tad watery with lemon juice, and a buttered-roll finish.
Layers of smoke, dark toast and nuts lend a distinctly savory feel. This wine is refreshingly brisk on the palate, marked by delicate touches of pressed apple and pear that linger through the finish.
This appealing, easy drinker offers notes of vanilla and pear. It's ripe and sweet, fleshy in feel with flavors that lean toward the tropical.
Clocking in at a lower alcohol level than most white wines in the state let alone reds, this offers gentle aromas of raspberry, cherry and woodspice. It's light bodied, soft and airy in feel, not fully standing out on its own but perfectly suited for the dinner table.
Fruity and herbal in flavor and generous in texture, this is medium to full bodied and quite smooth in mouth feel. It smells like currants, black olives and dried herbs, and tastes a bit savory and complex along with the plummy fruit flavors.
A red blend from the eastern end of the Entre deux Mers region, this is a smooth and already accessible wine. Attractive black fruits and soft tannins accompany touches of vanilla. It's ready to drink.
Ripe blackberry meets with rustic leather and a bit of rubbery funk on this nose of this wine made by the Riboli family of Los Angeles' San Antonio Winery. It's rich and jammy with tannins adding balance, but not much acidity.
Aged in white oak barrels from Minnesota, the winemaker's home state, this wine offers exotic honeysuckle and baked pineapple at its core, beautiful aromas that gain weight on the texture. Toasted caramel and coconut define the finish.
This wine is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Syrah, 19% Malbec and 14% Carmenère. It shows an unusual mix of cayenne, carob, pencil lead and dried herb aromas. The palate has sweet fruit flavors backed by dry, blocky tannins, falling a bit flat on the finish.
This value-minded selection blends plenty of bright citrus and apple flavors with good acidity and a hint of sweetness for a complete and pleasing package. It is medium bodied, light on its feet and refreshing. Enjoy now.
Elegantly styled, this offers notes of herbs, red cherries, barnyard, mint and cedar. Sweet fruit flavors are backed by chalky tannins.
Tropical, floral aromas are modest but enchanting. Plump and balanced on the palate, this blend tastes a bit yeasty and creamy, with green banana and herbal infusions. A floral finish shows a touch of bitterness.
Fresh tangerine, apple and pear notes extend from nose to finish on this unoaked Chardonnay. Medium bodied and crisp with acidity, it's refreshing and balanced, but there's a touch of ramp and earth that lingers mysteriously.
A whiff of hay and bramble lends an earthy tone to this otherwise bright, easy-drinking wine. On the palate, fresh tangerine, white peach and lemon flavors are refreshing and pristine. Medium bodied and a bit racy, the finish is quite brisk.
This direct and appealing wine offers notes of maple, sugared plum and woodspice. Flavors are light but plush in feel, straight down the fairway.
This wine has great fruit with soft tannins and accessible soft black currant fruitiness. A slight earthiness at the end needs to become better integrated. Drink from 2017.
Light wood aging sets the scene for this crisp and herbaceous wine. Citrus fruits give a juicy character and contrast with the mineral texture coming from the stony vineyard. It's a fresh wine to drink now.
This powerful blend of Moroccan Syrah and Grenache is intense and fruity, and it bears ripe black-cherry, plum and blackberry flavors, tinged with chocolate, cherry cordial and granite notes. Soft tannins on the midpalate add texture to this dense, richly structured wine.
Redolent of ripe red berries and cherry blossoms, this semisweet Moscato has a delicate, sugar-laced quality, balanced by bright citrus and apple flavors. Crisp in acidity, it's easy drinking and refreshing on the finish.
This is a fragrant, floral wine, with a smooth touch of vanilla. It has a fruity, ripe feel, and it shows fresh, crisp, apple-like acidity. This is a ready-to-drink, balanced Chardonnay.
A tight wine, this is dominated by acids, red fruits and firm tannins, and it's missing some of the richness of the vintage. It has a closed feeling, and it needs some months to develop, but this will always be dry.
On the nose and palate, notes of smoke and roasted nuts add earthy tones to the touches of crisp apple and lemon. It's dry and full bodied, with a round, soft fruitiness on the finish.
A blend of five grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc, this is a crisp, kiwi- and grapefruit-flavored wine. It is bright, fruity and tangy, and it has a soft, cantaloupe-tasting finish. Ready to drink.
Violet, cigar box and smoke mark the nose of this distinctive Xinomavro. On the plate, spice, sweet cedar and clove give it a rustic but refined feel. Pair with aged cheeses or meat dishes for extra appeal.
A herbal, dense and tannic wine, this has black currant fruit that has a minerally texture. It has a dry quality, but it should soften.
The Two Vines Chardonnay is simple, clean and reliable. Suggestions of green apple and white peach appear on the palate.
This wine has lemon peel and apple skin flavors that come through the firm, tangy structure. It has richness and the potential to age for the medium term. The finish is full of refreshing acidity.
The nose is loaded with garrigue aromas, mostly rosemary and dried bay leaf, lifted by vibrant black cherry and black berry jam. Licorice and spice unfold in the chewy mouth, with a decadent milk chocolate infused finish.
With 16 months in French and American oak, it should not be a surprise that this wine is as rich and wonderfully wood-spiced as it is. Earthy spice by way of clove, cinnamon sticks, anise root and cigar box bring the typical dark fruit flavors to another level. Balanced and drinkable now with a finish reminiscent of a tanned hide.
The '08 Oro is Cab dominant while the '07 favored Shiraz, a difference that seems to be an improvement. Rich and concentrated with lovely dark plum, cassis and black raspberry components coupled with accents of tree bark, sweet spice and soft cigar tobacco. Fresh and lush all at once; easy to drink now or can hold for a year or two.
This fumé starts with aromas of peach, vanilla and spice, followed by an elegant balance of citrus fruit, toasted vanilla and lemon zest. Fresh but with added body, this SB will pair well with oilier, bolder flavored fish, cheese, cream dishes.
Alluring aromas of orange peel. Dried apricot, spices and cigarbox lead this historic dessert wine from Cyprus. On the palate, waves of bitter orange, cedar and sweet tobacco unfold. The finish is spicy with a honeyed sweet undertone. Fantastic with nuts.
Notes of honey and cinnamon combine with a slightly musky spice note to give this sweet auslese added interest. It's round in the mouth without being soft or flabby in the slightest, with lingering notes of baked apple on the finish.
This is an attractive but focused wine with loads of juicy red plum guts, mashed raspberry and blackberry preserve flavors framing licorice and sweet spice backnotes. Robust and spicy with a strong cocoa flavored finish.
On the drier side for an auslese, with the alcohol reaching 10%, this wine features hints of apricot and pineapple marmalade, but there are also less pristine earthy, fungal notes that some may read as complex while others may find them slightly dirty. Crisp and linear on the finish. Drink now–2015.
This exotic white starts with aromas of white flowers, lemon and mint, followed by fuller-bodied flavors of peach, apricot and flowers. Balanced with a viscous mouthfeel. The wine is well-suited for robust dishes—think lobster—but also adds depth to simple grilled fish.
A rich and creamy sort of Malbec that pours on the weight, extract and oaky, coconutty character. The palate is syrupy, with huge flavors of roasted berry, molasses and sweet spices. Arguably on the baked and heavy side, but definitely a rich, huge wine with just enough core acidity to keep it balanced.
Much like the winery's Pinot Gris, this estate-grown Pinot Blanc is built around mineral-infused fruit that is immaculately clean and vividly refreshing. Tart and juicy, with Asian pear, green apple, and lemon/lime acidity.
Dried herbs, spicebox and cherry on the nose show this red means business. Masculine flavors of cigarbox, black fruit and vanilla give it a serious edge. The wine's character is rich, but a dry acidity keeps it focused. Pair with red meat, hearty fish.
Woody and smelling of sawdust early, this four-grape blend eases toward roasted berry, cassis, herbal plum and molten chocolate. It's massive and structured, with a big-boned skeleton and heat on the leathery, roasted finish due to 15.5% alcohol. Big, fiery, saucy and lusty, but short on refinement and elegance.
A dark and toasty specimen with a deep-purple tint and aromas of oak, butter and powerful blackberry fruit. The palate is textured and rich, with thick, smoky flavors of black fruits and peppery spice. Pours on the oak but in an integrated way; very good for varietal Cab from 2008.
Clean, modest lemon-lime aromas open this citrusy Sauv Blanc. Citrus, nettle, white pepper and jalapeño flavors are direct, while the finish hums with peppery spice and preserving acidity.
A mild bouquet of generic stone-fruit aromas is a touch empty but friendly. This is mild on the palate, with modest acidity and not much minerally kick. Briny, leesy nectarine flavors finish round in feel. Drink immediately.
A mix of blueberry, blackberry and cherry fruit can't completely mask the earthy, stemmy streak that runs through this wine. Reductive and tight, it will require substantial airing to open up.
Subtle aromas of blue flowers and red berry lead the nose of this easy-drinking blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese. The round, fruity palate doles out red cherries and red currants alongside bright acidity and soft tannins. It's made to be drunk young, so enjoy now.
Fresh and floral, this informal wine delivers red berry flavors lightly accented with notes of white pepper. Zesty acidity and supple tannins make it very accessible. Pair it with your favorite pizza or pasta topped with tomato sauce.
A light wine, this reflects the structure of the vintage. It has attractive red fruits, bright acidity and an already-integrated tannic character. All fruit, it will develop fast, so drink from 2016.
A wine that smells so fruity, and with a soft, open texture, needs to be drunk young. This wine is all red berries coupled with acidity and some smoky tannins. It's a great idea to chill it slightly.
This smooth, creamy textured wine combines bright acidity with ripe apricot and pear flavors. It is already attractive in its freshness while also having a rounder character. Drink now.
A foundation of truffled earth and forest floor give this a rustic edge, complemented by savory herb and black tea. Weighty, it shows its backbone of oak aging well, finishing abruptly in cranberry and dark cherry.
Aromas of tomato, spiced cherry, leather and fresh herbs are clean and appealing. A standard, balanced mouthfeel is medium in body, with dry, woody flavors of peppery plum and berry fruits. Minty and darker on the finish.
This is a simple but appealing rosé, defined by strawberry fruit, hints of chalk dust and a mouthwatering finish.
Despite this wine's very pale color, it shows ample weight and a silky texture on the palate. Peach and melon flavors pick up hints of berry and citrus on the finish.
This spicy wine with its aromatic character is fruity while also having some structure. The 90% Malbec/10% Merlot blend has a dry core, juicy red currant fruits and considerable acidity. With only a minimum of wood aging, it is ready to drink.
A Négrette-based wine, this is full of red berry flavors and that leathery, polished character that is typical of the grape. It has plenty of acidity as well as a tight, tannic character. The wine will always be tannic, so it is ready to drink now.
Black and green olive tapenade and ripe plum come together around a soft, juicy yet ultimately tannic expression of the variety, given 14% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon as worthy complements.
Powdery, wayward aromas pick up more raciness and green character with time in the glass. A linear palate flat-lines at lime and green apple in terms of flavors, while the finish brings a slightly vegetal tone.
Aromas of saline, citrus fruit, passion fruit and mustard are pithy and show pyrazines. Following the nose, this is citric in feel, with orange peel and grapefruit flavors. A grassy, slightly bitter finish is snappy and suggests fresh scallion.
From one of the largest private vineyards in France (2,300 acres), this wine epitomizes the light and fresh style that comes from Gascony in the hidden southwest of France. It is fruity, citrus-crisp with a touch of honey from the Gros Manseng in the blend. Drink now.
This deliciously fruity wine is all about citrus, pear and crisp apple. Lively and ready to drink, it will improve through 2016 as the intense acidity softens.
This lively fresh wine brings out the fruitiness of the blend rather than the tannins of the Syrah and Merlot. Citrus and red berry flavors are well integrated with the crisp acidity. Drink now.
Aromas of struck match, seared lemon, roasted apples and a touch of butterscotch prove clean and not overpowering. This is a very straight-ahead Chardonnay, with lemon fruit, chalk and noticeable oak influence.
Once past an element of burnt rubber that mingles with the ripe blackberry aromas, this becomes a hearty and concentrated wine yet one with very moderate alcohol. It has plenty of tannins to add texture, and enough concentration to keep the vivid berry and wood smoke flavors lingering on the finish. It's made without adding sulfites.
Aromatic and forward, this is scented and flavored with macerated red plums and cherries. It remains tough and chewy, showing buttery lactic flavors that have not entirely integrated, with a bitter edge to the finish. More bottle age may help smooth it out.
Syrah can be expressive even when slightly green, as it is here. Strawberry and raspberry fruit flavors are set amidst sharp, slightly chalky, citrusy acids. Best to drink this with grilled meats.
Dry, earthy aromas of cherry and tree bark set up a juicy, pointed, drawing palate. Plum, cherry and currant flavors are zesty and pushed by raw acidity, while the finish is aggressive and racy. 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red plum, raspberry and dusty aromas are solid and clean. This has citric acidity that props up the palate. Generic flavors of citrus and nectarine finish with a distant note of red plum and red currant.
Smoke and dried herbs persist from nose to finish on this uniquely sweet-savory auslese. The palate is brisk and lemony, but shaded in tones of dust and stone that linger on the finish.
A bit shy on the nose, this appellation-blend bottling shows light cola, red cherry and wet slate aromas. The palate is tightly wound and very earthy, with turned loam, strong wet clay, oregano, sage, pomegranate and hibiscus elements all playing together nicely.
Scents of Spanish broom, chamomile, aromatic herb and white stone fruit combine along with a whiff of hay. The zesty, linear palate offers juicy nectarine, candied lemon drop and a mineral note alongside bright acidity.
Friendly, sunny and fresh fruit notes of yellow pear, Mirabelle plum and red apple shine on nose and palate. This is easy but chock-full of fruit. There is something intangibly smiley about this wine, which has something of spring sunshine and happiness on its slender, fresh body.
Packed with fruit, this is a ripe, rich wine. Red berries are cut with attractive citrus flavors. Full in the mouth and with a good tannic character, this is a wine for food, especially spicy dishes.
Lightly tannic and packed with raspberry flavors, this delicious wine has just the right balance between the ripe fruits and bright acidity. The wine is totally ready to drink.
This aged 100% Traminer has aromas of yellow peach, canned apricots and caramel. It is soft on entry into the mouth and has flavors of peach pie and caramelized apples.
Alluring aromas of Spanish broom, lemon and orchard fruit lead the nose while the juicy palate doles out mature peach, nectarine zest, toasted hazelnut and flinty mineral. Bright acidity lifts the rich flavors.
Round and ripe, this is a balanced, complex and perfumed wine. With its acidity beautifully in place, it is fresh while also having some spice, toast and minerality. Drink from 2017.
This is a robustly reduced, tightly wound and still quite youthful wine, showing both the vintage and the appellation in warmer years, with an intensity of black tea, tar and black cherry. Full bodied, it's powerfully weighted and structured.
This wine initially presents itself as lighter in body than it actually is, a tease from the cool-climate aromas of cucumber, dill and cranberry tea. The oak is toasty with a whiff of smoke, the acidity somewhat subdued. An appealing funk of earth gives it varietal distinction.
Raisin, pastry and plum aromas are smooth and generous given how cool 2013 was in Rioja. There's good acidity and body to go with flavors of plum, blackberry and toasty oak. Finishing notes of coffee, toast and chocolate are fully oaked, which lends a sense of sweetness to this Crianza.
Earthy, beefy, almost metallic aromas, then beefy, tamarind-like flavors make an exotic but rustic profile for this fascinating medium-bodied wine. The texture is rather lean and a tasty sour-cherry character develops on the finish.
A healthy 20% of Merlot provides additional softness in this food-friendly, well-integrated wine, bright in crisp cranberry and mellowed oak and tannin. Well-made at a fair price, it's well worth the seek.
Earthy plum and raspberry aromas are subtle. This is tight on the palate, with firm tannins and slightly elevated acidity. Earthy, lightly toasted raspberry and plum flavors finish dry. As a whole, this is well made and exceeds expectations.
A blend of red fruit and dark spice shows on the nose of this wine, with dried strawberry and red cherry running into licorice, purple flowers and black slate. The flavors are broad with cherry candy notes, boosted by a boisterous pepper spice, and settling into a decently tart finish.
A grippy, densely concentrated and full-bodied wine, which will benefit from vigorous swirling or cellaring, there are hints of black fruit, leather saddle and cedar at its edges, waiting to grow wings. Drink now through 2023.
Aromas of Spanish broom, acacia and oak lead the nose. The vibrant palate offers yellow apple, citrus, toasted hazel nut and mineral alongside lively acidity.
Made entirely with Nerello Cappuccio, this reveals aromas of raspberry compote, tilled earth, ripe berry and grilled herb. The juicy palate delivers fleshy black cherry, licorice, white pepper and a hint of sage alongside bright acidity and smooth tannins. It's already accessible. Drink through 2019.
Earthy scents of scorched earth, underbrush, licorice and dark berry emerge in the glass. The firm palate offers tastes of black raspberry, sage, toast, oak and espresso alongside assertive tannins that leave a drying finish.
While a touch weightier in mouthfeel, Schloss Vollrad's standard-label bottling, this boasts the same peach and pink-grapefruit intensity that's so appealing on the Kabinett. Edged by a lacy fray of sugar, it's lip-smackingly sweet, but irresistably quaffable and neatly balanced by a streak of tangerine acidity. Drink now through 2020.
Smoke and dark-inflected notes of espresso and cacao are front and center, wrapping into the core of cassis. Hints of prune and coffee liqueur complement chewy tannins, that lend further substance and depth. This punches well above the listed alcohol.
This is a clean and vibrant rosé, with upfront notes of lavender, menthol and bay that frame red cherry and berry tones. The palate is fleshy and fruit-forward, with bold flavors of peach and strawberry that transition seamlessly into the citrus-zest finish.
Zippy lemon and grapefruit flavors are limned with honey and lanolin in this delicately off-dry Riesling. Vivacious and light-footed, it's a uniquely nuanced wine with a lingering slate-edged finish.
Ripe yellow apple and yellow plum notes make for an appetizing nose. The palate is equally fresh and full fruited, sporting sassy, defining freshness that makes it mouthwatering and appetizing.
The nose hints at the soft, crips yellow pear fruit that abounds on the palate, countered by brisk, clean freshness. This wine has an enlivening palate with a juicy, lip-smacking finish.
What appears as apply, plummy fruit on the nose gains ample spice on the palate. Fermented and aged in used barriques, this wine has an unusual style that really demands food. It's fresh and fruity but with added roundness from wood.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Rara Neagra, Shiraz and Malbec, this Moldovan wine has aromas of sweet cherry juice and vanilla. It has flavors of dried figs, fresh black plum and dried red plums. The finish is persistent with grippy tannins.
This coastal-influenced Chardonnay smells of green olive, iodine and sea brine more than fruit. A citric, high-intensity palate is chalky and minerally, as intended. Flavors of dried, briny stone fruits and apple are outright salty like the ocean, while the finish on this new wine from chalk-based soils is woody and briny, with juicy acidity.
With aromas and flavors like wild berries and black pepper, this full-bodied wine offers plenty of good fruitiness but also savory touches that lend complexity. Its smooth texture and easy drinkability make it a pleasure to sip.
Intense aromatics of plum, cherry and red currant introduce this wine. There's a whiff of pencil lead, and the bold fruit flavors capture a bit of brush and bramble along with perfect, clean ripeness. A suggestion of candle wax comes up. This is a powerful wine that continually demands your attention.
This plump Pinot Noir uses 20% new French oak to deliver nutmeg, gingerbread spice and licorice aromas. Black cherry and raspberry round out the nose and integrate on the palate, which is hearty and rich in Christmas spice and crushed rock notes. An excellent choice for anyone seeking a full-figured Pinot.
This bottling from the family's smallest vineyard is as special as the three-acre site itself, offering intriguing chive blossom aromas on the nose alongside key lime and pungent honeydew. The palate is laser focused and tense with acidity and structure, showing lime pith, pink grapefruit zest and a chalky minerality reminiscent of crushed sea shell on the finish.
This bottling screams white earth, with a chalk- and riverstone-like minerality and clotted cream and lemon scents. That minerality carries through to the palate, where a chalky note blends with Asian pear and marshmallow. It's a study in how to present delicate flavors with pizzazz, which the Talley family has been known to do.
Ripe blackberry aromas are a touch malty and jammy, with a note of buttered pastry thrown in for good measure. This emphasizes the rich ripe extracted side of Priorat, but balance is not sacrificed. Lush dark toasty black-fruit flavors come with notes of oaky spice and bitter chocolate, while the finish is toasty blackened, deep and chunky. Drink through 2023.
A rich, voluptuous nose gives way to crisp layers of lemon, pineapple and quince flavors in this barrel-kissed and full-bodied white. The ripeness of the fruit is brightened by stony minerality, allowing for a floral bite of apple blossom.
An incredibly creamy notion of ripe pear rises from the glass. There are also hints of sultana. The aromatic effect is one of huge generosity. The palate, on the other hand, is taut and medium dry, corralling its richness with pleasantly bitter texture and pervading freshness. There is utter concentration, immense verve and freshness. A delicious and moreish contrast between utter precision and the abandon of generosity. The finish is long, dry and fresh.
Layers of black fruits and tight tannins set this wine on a serious road. It has the freshness of the vintage as well as the bright acidity. At the same time it is structured and dense. This second wine of Château Margaux is ripe and ethereal in its lift. Drink from 2024.
Produced by the winemaking team of Léoville las Cases, this wine comes from a separate part of the estate. The wine, with its dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon, is dense with tannins as well as dark fruit. It is firm, powerful and a very fine wine for long-term aging. Drink from 2024.
Generosity, expressed by the scent of sun-ripened Bosc pear peel, becomes immediately apparent. The ripe and luscious pear aromatics pervade the palate with their fruity, almost floral charm. There is some residual sweetness, boosting these flavors even more, but balance is struck by shining freshness and a pear-peel texture to finish with beguiling freshness. This is textbook stuff and utterly moreish.
Hints of sultana and cooked quince reach the nose suggesting richness. The palate, however, responds with streamlined freshness, ripe fruit and depth and gives us concentration rather than richness. Tangy citrus zest frames notions of ripe apple and quince while shadows of dried fruit still haunt aromatically. The finish is clean, totally satisfying and dry. This is soaring but hearty stuff.
Tingly acidity complements the lush, full-bodied concentration of this estate-grown beauty. It's both soft and sensual in tone. Pine, orange peel and pomegranate notes play against the richness and add freshness to the chewy tannin. Best enjoyed 2024 through 2034.
Meant to impart the meaning of the “true” Sonoma Coast, this bottling hails from Campbell Ranch near Annapolis. It impresses with its lush complexity: cherry grenadine and forest floor scents, with cardamom spice and a hint of orange peel. It's full-bodied and densely powerful.
A pure startling cherry note rises from the glass. It is flanked by notes of autumn forest, tar and dried orange rind. Evidently, there is some development and evolution here. The palate is alive and fills not only the mouth but all the senses with its alluring aromas, yet it is firmly anchored in earthier tones. The body is svelte and fresh: its fine-boned structure is as much down to fresh acidity as it is to finely flexed tannins. This is profound, lasting and delicious but also deliciously light.
Planted in 2006 to heirloom clones, most of them Pommard, this is a concentrated, tannic wine that needs time in bottle to develop. For now, expect rose and raspberry, with a depth of black cherry compote—flavors that are immediately inviting and richly layered. Yet, it will tell more of its story down the road. Allow it to open now or cellar through 2029.
Glorious apple freshness jumps from the glass, there is the slightest touch of honey, too. On the palate, the apple notions persist: there is fresh and baked apple, adding both crisp and mellow notes. Everything is brightened by lemony freshness on a concentrated but elegant and balanced body. Flavors last and have a long, clean and bone-dry finish. This is good enough to go the mileage. Drink now through 2030.
Deceptively light in color, yet aromatically rich, this sends up a lush mix of berries, spices, chocolate and pastry notes. It's youthful and vibrant, with clean, bright, tangy fruit that has the balance and power for excellent development in the bottle. Drink now through 2025.
Intense baked plum and black cherry aromas meet with vanilla, caramel and sagebrush on the nose of this bottling from one of the appellation's most coveted vineyards. The tangy, energetic and grippy palate offers crushed cranberry flavors, more black plum, gingerbread and exotic Indian spice on the finish.
A herbal touch of crushed lemon balm and apple peel makes for an intriguing, inviting nose. The palate adds fresh apple notes to these subtle herb notes and remains totally juicy and lively. This seems far fresher than its six years and the herbal tinges are just the beginning of maturity. This is lovely, concentrated and spirited stuff with a whistle-clean utterly dry finish. Testaments to Riesling's longevity.
Named for Edwards' first grandchild born in this vintage year, this wine is made from fruit sourced from Meredith Estate Vineyard. Velvety smooth and perfumed, it offers piquant pepper and cardamom scents, along with intense rhubarb compote and raspberry flavors. It shows both purpose and quiet power, wrapped in violet and rose.
Ponzi is promoting a multi-clone winemaking approach they label “Clonal Massale.” This single vineyard example co-ferments five Dijon and 22 heritage clones of Pinot Noir—the most extensive in the country, according to the winery. Dark and lengthy, it's a sexy, complex yet subtle wine, with blackberry and black cherry fruit, a touch of soy and ample Asian spices.
Just a touch of dried pear and chamomile tisane appear on the shy nose which needs air to open. The palate already has that balm-like concentration of mature Riesling which is joined by a vein of wonderful lemon-zest freshness. Despite the absolute dryness of the palate there is ample, generous and deep-seated fruit: pear, apple and gorgeous tangerine. The finish is clean-cut and resonant. Drink now–2030.
This is a small, 10-acre property, owned by the Moueix family, at the heart of the Pomerol plateau. With its 30% Cabernet Franc it is perfumed and ripe, giving delicious black fruits as well as a firmer structure. The wine is set for a long aging with great potential. Drink from 2024.
With its 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a wine that is structured while marked with intense black currants. It has firm tannins and just a touch of wood. It is classic upright Bordeaux with its fine acidity and dry tannins. It will need to age, drink from 2024.
Ripe and richly fruity, the wine is full bodied with great acidity as well as firm tannins. It will keep for many years. Bold tannins and a fine tension between the fruit and acidity are all promising for the future. Drink this impressive wine from 2025.
The nose is a blend of peach and earth. The palate comes with great intensity, holding against the sweetness with an exquisitely delicious streak of quinine bitterness which lends direction and precision, along with tangy lemon freshness. This creates ample tension and moreishness as well as a lip-smacking medium-sweet finish.
Gently perfumed hints of ripe pear almost seem to have a floral dimension. On the palate the mellow, generous and totally ripe pear fruit unfolds fully and gives glimpses of very juicy ripe, dried and baked fruit. All of this richness is countered by lemony freshness. There is an earthy textural element, and more shimmering fruit reminiscent of bottled mirabelle plums. This is generous and just off dry, with a concentrated, convincing and very moreish balanced richness.
Lifted aromas of both tart and ripe green and yellow apples appear, alongside hints of wet pebble and faint notions of quince. On the palate, these flavors are wrapped in citrus freshness on a sprightly, lively, concentrated and wonderfully dry palate. This is full of life and finishes on a pervasive, all-encompassing zesty lemon freshness. Lovely now but will evolve majestically. Drink now through 2035.
Earth, apple and citrus align on the nose. The palate brings out more earthiness but also pits the notions of mellow baked apple against absolutely tart lemon freshness. Stone and earth cling constantly to these flavors and draw you in. The palate is pure and slender, totally dry and taut. The finish is of lasting lemon zest. This needs time but is full of promise. Drink 2020–2035.
There's a pleasantly gamy nose to this dry-farmed Zin, with sour-plum fruit, hoisin sauce and dried purple flowers blending into a memorable scent. The palate packs lavender, cola, oregano, dried mint and black-pepper flavors that give character to the elegant purple-fruit backbone.
Made with Malvasia, Ribolla Gialla and Friulano, this offers aromas of toast, oak, white flower and almond. The linear palate delivers lemon drop, vanilla and Golden Delicious apple accompanied by bright acidity.
Coming from Bien Nacido Vineyard, this bottling of a rather rare grape shows brisk aromas of tonic, green pears, lime skins and warm concrete. The palate offers nearly grassy notes of lemongrass, tamarind, bergamot and other exotic citrus, making this a great alternative white wine.
A closed nose leads to a very fruity, off-dry palate of rich pear flavors: juicy and ripe but tinged with more grounded notes of fresh earth. This is flowing and rounded but fresh and beautifully textured.
Aromas of pressed white flower, stone fruit and chopped herb lead the nose. On the vibrant palate, crisp acidity brightens creamy white peach, passion fruit, sage and mineral.
A partially (50%) wood-fermented wine that shows a softer side to Fernão Pires, suppressing its natural exuberant freshness while adding complexity, spice and toast. The wine is worth aging a few months, so drink from early 2017.
This is an ripe and fruity LBV that is bottled ready to drink. With black currant fruits that are sustained by acidity as well as structured tannins, the wine is fruity as well as rich and concentrated. It has a reminiscence of the perfumed character that is typical of Taylor Fladgate Vintage Ports while being more immediately approachable. Drink now.
Delicately scented, this offers aromas suggesting hay, elderflower and a whiff of exotic fruit. The elegantly structured palate delivers gooseberry, grapefruit, kiwi and mineral framed in lively acidity.
One of the single-vineyard-focused winery's more affordable appellation blends, this is a plush, velvety wine with aromas of black cherry, cola, roasted fennel and a touch of graphite. The palate starts quite earthy, with thyme and rosemary notes, then winds to tart cherry fruit that's lively and long-lasting.
Both opulence and decadence are evident on the fleshy, peachy nose. The palate presents brighter, fresher peach and yellow plum fruit but has the sweetness of bitter honey. An intriguing and heady mix.
A blend of various estates from the Paso Robles region, this wine shows roasted pork with blackberry hoisin sauce, black rocks and a touch of dill on the nose. Notable tannins provide lasting structure, with flavors of black olive, tobacco ash, peppercorns, dark chocolate and deep black fruit that will need a tad more time to unravel.
This blend of 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre shows black pepper, light boysenberry, tangy raspberry and a teriyaki-hoisin plum-sauce savoriness. More black pepper and boysenberry show on the palate, where the body is relatively light but with plenty of verve and pop, thanks to plum-skin sourness, concentrated hibiscus and dried purple flowers.
Zesty aromas of tart pineapple and tangerine, slate and chalk contrast the luscious peach and red apple fruitiness of this off-dry Riesling. It's a refreshingly crisp and thirst-quenching wine for youthful consumption.
An enticing fragrance of wildflower, peach blossom, berry and a hint of white pepper lead the nose. The lively, linear palate offers green apple, pear and toasted almond alongside vibrant acidity.
Eola Hills is one of a handful of value players among Oregon wineries. This excellent Chardonnay is lightly toasty, with pretty apple fruit that is gently spicy. The fruit is ripe enough to suggest a bit of papaya as well.
Fragrant white flower, honeydew melon, tomato vine and hay aromas all come together in the glass. The vibrant palate shows pink grapefruit and tangerine alongside a vein of mineral.
Scents of cut grass, tomato vine and a hint of honeydew melon emerge on this tangy white. The crisp palate doles out yellow peach, apple, grapefruit and an almond note accompanied by zesty acidity.
Plump blackberries, sweet violets and a slight brushing of tar show on the nose of this straightforward, everything-you-expect Syrah. Bright acidity contains the dark fruit on the palate, with dense blackberries and elderberries dusted by black pepper and a touch of thyme.
Touches of tangerine decorate a brisk nose that's also redolent with mineral elements of chalk and wet river stone. Flavors of mandarin-orange peels, cut grass and wet cement skip across the tongue, winding into a finish that leaves a menthol-like sensation, though not flavor, on the tongue.
Several wineries make a Momtazi cuvée, an indication of the high esteem in which the vineyard is held. Here a touch of volatility attenuates the nose, leading into a bright, acidic young wine with flavors of orange peel, red berries, toast and nut butter.
You'll find aromas of elderflower, hay, crushed rock and a whiff of exotic fruit on this linear white. On the bright palate, assertive acidity underscores grapefruit, green melon, chopped herb and mineral.
Delicate but enticing aromas of citrus and apple follow through to the vibrant, polished palate along with peach, tangerine zest and a mineral note. Crisp acidity gives it a clean, quenching finish.
A field blend with defined amounts of Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet, this wine is perfumed and light bodied, exhibiting soft, persistent waves of black pepper and crisp red fruit that give it a cool-climate edge of approachability and intrigue.
Plum and berry aromas are floral and suggestive of perfumed soap. This has a friendly, easy mouthfeel and limited but good flavors of spiced plum and raspberry. A mild, low-tannin finish leaves a peppery aftertaste.
For a Cabernet Sauvignon, this is pleasantly fruit forward and supple. Hints of smoke and dried spices frame bright fruit flavors reminiscent of pomegranate and red currant, then finish with a burst of crisp acidity. Drink now–2020.
Opaque purple in color, this extracted, grapy Malbec smells of blackberry, iodine and wood shavings. The palate is lush and fat, with more than enough tannic scrub. Hard, blocky black-fruit flavors give way to an oaky finish with spice notes.
Blended from several inland sites, this is a good value in spice-driven Shiraz. Cinnamon, clove and vanilla lead the way, backed by strawberry and raspberry fruit. The finish is long, tart and slightly dusty, marked by just a hint of maple syrup. Drink now–2018.
A touch of spring blossoms lends softness to this puckery sweet-tart Riesling full of juicy green apple and lime flavors. It's a straightforward, refreshing wine but with ample verve and kick. Drink now.
Slight lemon and apple hints color nose and palate. There is an earthy openness to the fruit and a friendly, dryish freshness that makes this easy to drink and enjoy.
The strong fruit impression here is of tangerine, with tart side notes of apple and pear. Mild and crisply defined, this is an excellent match to roasted poultry.
A huge improvement over prior vintages. Opens with powerful blackberry and balsamic aromas along with char. Feels comfortable, with toasty, oaky blackberry flavors accented by spice and pepper. Toasted and chocolaty on the finish. A full-bodied, smoky bruiser; only 290 cases made.
This is an Agiorgitiko that starts with aromas of clove, vanilla, cinnamon and mint. On the palate, appealing, deep flavors of tobacco, savory spice, smoked meat and cherry are balanced by an elegant acidity. This is a wine that can age but today, it's drinking well. Pair with lamb, pork.
Dark and fruity, somewhat like a California Pinot Noir, this tastes riper than its 13.6% alcohol would suggest. The fruit is ripe and hints at oranges and prunes, with plenty of power. A palate-pleaser, big and blocky.
Black plum flavors dominate this smoothly ripe wine with its soft tannins and rich texture. It is ready to drink, with its structure already well integrated, the wood just showing as toast and coffee.
Piercing on the nose, with toasty oak scents, mint and lemon along with standard blackberry and raspberry. Feels good and tight, with a structured composition and bright flavors of cherry, plum and toast. Turns chocolaty and a touch salty on the finish. A nice, stocky, lively wine.
Still very tight, this Cab needs some time to develop in bottle, its dark fruit and coffee-laced tannins just barely able to come alive and show off their provenance. This is an oft-sourced vineyard in the Livermore Valley, one to look for when it comes to both Chardonnay and Cabernet, as well as other Bordeaux varieties. This wine is 100% Del Arroyo Cab.
This interesting Chenin-based blend, also made with 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon, offers attractive notes of soft toast, orange rind and wood-grilled apples drizzled with honey. It's medium weight and round in the mouth, but balanced with a clean but nutty finish.
Rich red fruit and cured meat spice abound in the bouquet of this Cab, while a green streak adds grip to the mouth. The tannins are fine and fleeting, and the finish clean and bright with a hint of black pepper on the back.
The immediate impression you get is of strong menthol aromas, followed long after by supporting fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry. The minty sensation also carries through to the mouth, but a touch of fruitcake spice adds something different to the finish. Smooth and approachable now.
There's a lot of earthy spice character to this wine, as assertive aromas of purple florals, whole cinnamon stick, nutmeg and clove are supported by a frame of small forest berries. Medium weight and round on the palate with a mulled boysenberry-flavored finish.
Lake County remains a serious place for Cabernet Sauvignon and Six Sigma is one of its better Cab practitioners. This 2007 version all rich and yeasty baked bread until it delves into black olive, dark plum and black tea flavors, finished by caramel and vanilla, all in all a refreshingly light touch.
Fleshy peach, spice and citrus lead on this fresh, fun white from Cyprus, which displays good balance of refreshing summer fruit and minerals with an underpinning of honeyed softness. Versatile and easygoing, this will pair well with grilled fish and poultry.
Vibrant and fresh citrus aromas lead on this white blend from Greece. Lemon zest, orange marmalade and spice flavors on the palate are simple but good. Pair with grilled sardines, mussels, or a fresh salad.
This Amador Zin has Lodi producer Michael David's signature bacon and oak, its 17 months in American oak having no place to hide. The wine's blackberry fruit tastes full, its tannins chewy. High-alcohol California mountain Zin at its most intense concentration.
Michael David is clearly having fun here, calling it Rapture and scrawling on the back of each bottle, “Don't be left behind!” The wine is fun for big oak, big tannin and big fruit as it's true to its MD style, all toasted oak and molasses, dry epic tannins and jam.
Cherry and berry aromas are standard and good. Feels a bit edgy and clipped, with slightly herbal red plum flavors accented by a lot of oak and pepper. Turns real spicy and hot on the finish.
Accents of flint and charred apple skin mingle with the orange rind and pear flesh notes on the nose and mouth. Round and flabby on the palate, with a short but clean finish.
Oaked up at all points, but still a good basic blend of two friendly grapes. Shows cherry and raspberry aromas along with graphite and barrel spice on the bouquet. The palate is edgy and resiny, with oak-infused raspberry, plum and citrus flavors. Lively and fresh, but the wood is pushy.
Roasted on the nose, and also a bit flat and stalky smelling. Feels round and simple, with oaky, rustic berry flavors accented by pepper, herbs and tomato. Falls off to basic on the finish, with leafiness. Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir.
Opens with wild, foxy aromas that suggest wet animal fur. With time things settle, setting up a plump palate with sweet but fairly bland blackberry and blueberry flavors. Turns hot and woody on the finish.
Neutral on the nose except for some generic white fruit aromas and saline. Feels tight, linear and driving, with modest apple and vanilla flavors. Turns more barrel-driven and creamy on the finish. Not stellar at this price.
The alcohol is overwhelming here in an otherwise fragrant wine with strong aromas of cola spice. This Petit Verdot is medium-bodied and very much happy to display its 18 months spent in new American oak.
This Cabernet-Agiorgitiko blend has a big personality, starting with aromas of chocolate-covered cherry, rich black fruit and pepper. Red and black fruit, spice and a touch of flowers on the palate are buoyed by a fresh acidity and chalkiness on the palate. A touch spicy and fiery, but a fun wine with character.
A wine that has stalky tannins and bell pepper flavors. The berry fruits are light, tangy with acidity that bursts from the glass. Not for aging.
Nothing small about this wine. A super-dark, ripe, juicy Zin full of oak and bacon flavors, lusty in every imaginable way, but not for everyone. Aged 18 months in American oak and edging into Port territory, drink this in moderation or have a nap spot picked out nearby.
Pretty aromas of yellow florals, wood-grilled red apple and walnut skin lead the bouquet of this wine, while continued rich flavors of red apple flesh and Key lime pie unfold in the round and softly fat mouth.
Herbal, slightly leafy and roasted on the nose. Feels solid, juicy and a touch creamy from the oak treatment, with a spicy, quick-fading palate housing standard raspberry and plum flavors. Shows acidic scour, spice and modest fruit on the finish.
The label will appeal to anyone interested in peace, love and understanding. The wine, with its bright fruit notes of raspberry and cherry, medium in weight, could have used a little more magic.
Rich, peppery and smooth, this is a nicely developed, elegant Zin. It's leathery on the palate with a finish of rose petals and bittersweet chocolate.
This brooding wine opens with balsamic aromas of eucalyptus and leather, along with whiffs of freshly turned soil and plum. The palate offers up ripe black cherry, white pepper and the warmth of evident alcohol. It also has massive, astringent tannins. Drink after 2019.
With aromas of violet, tilled soil and red berries, this blend of Sangiovese and Merlot recalls sunny Tuscany. It's loaded with wild cherry flavors accented by white pepper, cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is uplifted by vibrant acidity and fine tannins.
This small-batch Merlot (57 cases total) is concentrated up front, with aromas of balsam wood, cigar box, asphalt and hard-charging black fruits. The palate is hard as rocks, with intense but narrow dark-berry flavors in front of a pinched finish loaded with blackberry, pepper and chocolate flavors as well as fierce leftover tannins. Drink through 2020.
This single-vineyard Salta Torrontés is virtually as good as it gets for the variety. Pure lychee, lime and mineral aromas precede a crisp, focused palate. Flavors of steely citrus are chiseled, while the finish is long and juicy. Drink prior to fall 2014.
This rich offering from central Italy opens with a pretty floral fragrance of iris and lilac, along with notes of espresso and toast. The palate is soft and round, with ripe plum, blackberry, coffee, vanilla and a dusting of cocoa.
The wine feels light and fresh in character with acidity, lemon and a gentle, sweet texture. It's attractive with a good bite of zest that adds structure and balance. A fresh aftertaste gives an extra lift.
From the south of Burgenland, this is a big, fruity wine. Wood aging shows in its toastiness, but there are prominent red fruits, a dry edge of tannins, and some good acidity as well. The structure is firm and solid with good depth and dense texture. Drink this wine from 2014.
Loud on the nose, with big berry aromas, this Cabernet is full and lively in the mouth, with brown sugar, chocolate and cassis flavors. On the finish, it's warm and maintains a chocolaty flavor from before. Overall, this is loaded with ripe cherry, plum and berry fruit, and still it's not a complicated wine.
Made from organically farmed grapes, this opens with an unusual fragrance of medicinal herbs and ripe black fruit. The palate offers flavors of dense blackberry, raspberry, vanilla and espresso, along with prune and raisin notes.
Smooth and creamy, this is a rounded wine that's soft in texture. A good bite of lemon juice acidity adds balance and attractive fruitiness. Finishes very clean and fragrant. Screwcap.
The 2011 Estate Selection brings flavors of rhubarb, citrus and tart raspberry, along with suggestions of pine needles and chocolate. It's well structured and proportionate—a good reflection of the vintage and Willamette Valley-style Pinot Noir.
This has an austere, mineral feel that exascerbates it's rigid structure. Firm, drying tannins dominate the palate. Ripe black fruits at the core of the wine will need time to come through, so don't drink before 2015.
Hannah is a particular block from the winery's Tualatin Estate, and shows cool-climate fruit flavors of rhubarb and pomegranate. A light dusting of brown spices and toasted walnuts add complexity. Overall, it's a fine effort in a difficult year.
This shows Spatlese-level sweetness (46 g/L) and alcohol (8.7%). It's poised with moderate acidity and a soft, elegant entry. Flavors of oranges and peaches are underscored with light minerality. A fine, yet straightforward sipper, it persists generously on the palate.
A ripe, rich and fruity wine, this also has a sense of depth and structure. The palate boasts flavors of apricots, citrus and crisp apples. It's delicious now, but could also improve further after five years. Screwcap.
This field blend holds some 60 varieties, among them Syrah, Zinfandel, Cinsault, Dolcetto and Viognier. The concoction works, remaining vibrant in floral violet and just-picked blueberry, before richer elements of dried cherry and plum wander in. Velvety and robust, it pairs with meats from the grill.
Aromas of blue flower, plum, baking spice and an earthy whiff of porcini mushroom float out of the glass. The chewy palate doles out succulent black cherry, ground black pepper, clove and a hint of game against a backdrop of tightly wound tannins and fresh acidity.
Big tannins and a dry core dominate this solid, dense wine. To balance the structure, the wine also has concentrated aromatic dark plum and berry fruits that are ripe and sustained by intense acidity. This wine, from a fine vintage, should still age, so wait until 2017.
This offers alluring aromas of ripe berry, iris and a whiff of baking spice. The savory palate boasts succulent wild cherry, raspberry, aniseed and tobacco accompanied by ripe, chewy tannins and bright acidity. It's still young but will develop complexity. Drink 2017–2027.
This is overtly charred and blackened on the nose, as if it were exposed to maximum-toast oak during the aging process; additional aromas of charred beef and herbs add complexity. This feels choppy and tartaric, with blackberry, cassis, bacon and roasted flavors. A toasty, heavily oaked finish suggests that a few more years of aging will be beneficial. Drink through 2023.
This Napa Valley boutique winery now ventures into Oregon, with a tart, juicy and aromatic Pinot Noir from the Roserock vineyard. Despite all the criticism about the thin wines from the 2011 vintage, there have been some wonderful examples, with finesse and detail. Crisp raspberry fruit anchors this rather delicate, expressive and delicious wine, aged 18 months in French and American oak, 45% new.
The nose on this single-vineyard bottling from the top of the appellation above Corralitos entertains the nose with a spicy fruit-punch aroma, lifted by crushed cloves and a bit of juniper. It is both voluptuous and racy on the palate, with lots of rhubarb and pomegranate ripeness, yet pencil shavings and chai tea spice throughout.
One of the better deals for top-quality Pinot, Steve Dooley's entry-level bottling invites the nose with deep and dark black cherry, grape soda and even blueberry aromas, leveled by a hint of ethereal roasted game and dried sage. The purple note holds into the palate, which shows lavender and other potpourri elements.
A deep gold color and rich, tangerine and almond aromas meet pear-tart flavors and a creamy texture in this full-bodied but not over-the-top wine. The flavors and texture are pleasantly dense yet the wine is dry. This should age well, gaining complexity and interest through 2002.
Ripe, tannic and leathery (in a good sense), this brings concentrated flavors of cherry compôte, Campari and baking spices. It's aromatic and mouthfilling, and delivers ample pleasure.
Continuing in a tart and juicy vein, as in previous years, this boasts a concentrated and immaculate palate layered with citrus, peach and melon. The abundant fruit is perfectly supported by mouth-puckering (in a good way) natural acidity.
Underbrush, violet, wild berry, menthol and sweet pipe tobacco aromas lead the way on this vibrant wine. The sleek palate doles out juicy wild cherries, baking spices and crushed herbs, while fresh acidity and a network of polished tannins provide backup. Drink 2016–2025.
Chocolate and coffee aromas go with the characteristic burnt character of a rich Madeira. It is a sweet wine, although never far from the acidity that keeps it well away from being cloying. It is a beautiful wine that still has all its freshness and fragrant fruit.
Condensed violets and rose petals greet the nose on this wine from an appellation just south of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Other aromas suggest grape candy, blackberry jam, anise and a touch of bacon fat. It's lively on the medium-bodied palate, with olallieberries, black pepper and crushed dill, proving very flavorful.
This blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc opens with rustic, untamed earth and leather aromas. On the palate, however, it is more tame and balanced, with ripe, rich depth and cushion. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate and toast finish with simmering heat and chunky weight. Drink through 2021.
Alluring, attractive aromas of tree bark, licorice, fig and blackberry feed into a layered, concentrated palate with plum, blackberry and peppery flavors. Toasty oak, mild herbal notes and a lot of dark spice drive the finish on this cellar-worthy Cabernet. Drink through 2023.
Hailing from The Rocks District, this blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache charms with aromas and flavors of wet stone, black pepper, cooked asparagus, coffee, savory herbs and green olive. It's silky in feel, exhibiting depth and concentration.
Attractive toast aromas match well with the buttery, ripe fruits. This is a generous wine, although one with a line of acidity and steeliness that gives a strong texture. At the end, lemon crispness and ripe honey go well together. Drink from 2017.
Juicy strawberries and plum are cut with allspice and star anise on the sharply spiced nose of this wine from one of the Golden State's legendary producers. The palate shows the juice of darker berries, from blackberries to black cherries, with an Earl Grey tea bitterness and dried sage complexity.
One of the producer's smallest-production offerings, this wine displays depth and character, with a complementary tension between plum and cherry versus smoke and leather. Subtle in all its characteristics, it finishes with a burst of flavor and intensity.
This is an outstanding value, offering rich and complex varietal character. Raspberry and cherry fruit comes with a vein of licorice, and the texture and depth emulate Willamette Valley Pinots selling for twice the cost.
Beautiful spice, oak and fruit aromas segue seamlessly into abundant, complex flavors reminiscent of cherries and chocolate in this superbly layered and velvet-textured wine. It has quite firm tannins but instead of biting they blend with the fruit acidity and full body for a sense of soft finesse. The blend is Tempranillo with 26% Petite Sirah and 23% Syrah.
Rooty, savory aromas announce this as an atypical high-end Malbec; additional scents of jerky, turned earth, compost and smoke are interesting. In the mouth, this is thick and dense, with flavors of molasses, ketchup, stewed fruits, root beer and fig paste. Befitting a serious Malbec, this finishes long and weighty. Drink through 2020.
This wine shows finesse, driven by its seamless mix of citrus, melon, peach and pear fruits. Immediately delicious, it actually improves by the second day, showing its perfect acid-to-fruit balance. Give it a light chill—not too much—and it's a perfect autumnal sipper.
Full-bodied and layered, this is a stellar example of the variety, exhibiting elegance beneath a broader exterior. Black pepper and blackberry wrap around dense tannins and a robust texture. The wine is co-fermented with Viognier to bring a floral note to the bouquet.
A wood-fermented and -aged wine, this tones down the fruity freshness of Alvarinho and instead brings out a smooth, toasty and ripe character. Rich apricot and pineapple flavors and acidity are enveloped by notes of toast and spice. This impressive wine is still developing, so drink from the end of 2016.
Stony aromas of peach and light citrus fruits come with a dusty note. This feels plump, melony and citric, with a nice but standard mix of orange, lime and nectarine flavors. A fresh, zesty finish is textbook and holds steady.
Made with 100% Pinot Nero, this offers tart apple, lemon rind and roasted hazelnut flavors alongside bright acidity and small, persistent bubbles. It's subtle and refined with a dry finish.
Flush, jammy, spicy, peppery aromas are good and fruity. This is full and tight on the palate, with hard tannins. Flavors of plum, berry, vanilla and wood resin finish with a pinched, rubbery feel. This needs food in order to soften the texture.
Lusciously ripe white-peach and blossom notes perfume this pretty off-dry Riesling. It's rich, plump and round on the palate, but brightened with a kiss of lime zest on the finish.
This rich, fruity wine is packed with ripe apples and pears, and cut with delicious, full-on acidity. It's aromatic, with a lively mousse and a sparkling, lifted character. Drink now.
Mineral and young, this tight, nervy wine needs to develop. Apple and pear flavors are ripe while also bringing out attractive acidity. The texture is still firm and steely, needing time. Drink from 2016.
Aromas of tobacco, coffee, mocha and plum cake lead the nose on this brawny wine. The dense, one-dimensional palate delivers chocolate-covered cherry, vanilla and bitter prune alongside polished tannins. Drink through 2017.
Earthy, raisiny aromas fold in Priorat's patented schist on a ripe bouquet. This is jammy and a bit overdone with respect to mouthfeel. Earthy, dense flavors of raisin, cassis and licorice finish more weighty than bright. Drink now.
Leafy underbrush, wet soil, prune and spicy plum cake aromas lead the nose on this robust wine. The palate delivers ripe black plum, blueberry extract, black pepper and bitter dark chocolate alongside chewy tannins. It finishes with a graphite note.
This wine's nose has a sharply spiced tinge, with wet herbs, cola, and cranberry aromas. At first, it's a bit muddy on the palate, but then the strong acidic backbone presents both herbal tones and tart cranberry against an earthy core.
Exhibiting the natural richness of a Chambolle wine, this is a work in progress. Tannins are still integrating with the generous red fruits and acidity to give the ripe and rounded wine it will become. Drink from 2017.
Still young, this is potentially a full and rich wine. It has the structure typical of Morey, with firm tannins and a good depth of cherry and red fruit flavors topped by acidity. The tannins are still firm and the wine needs to age, so drink from 2017.
Underbrush, tobacco, black cherry and grilled herb aromas waft from the glass of this dense wine. The warm palate offers prune marinated in spirits, raisin, black pepper and mocha alongside bracing tannins that leave a drying finish.
This robust wine has aromas of blackberry, plum, espresso and spice. The palate offers fleshy black cherry, raisin, roasted coffee bean and mocha notes alongside chewy tannins and soft acidity.
Redhawk makes an interesting lineup of value-oriented Pinots, this one just a cut above their popular Grateful Red. Medium bodied, it carries fruit flavors of raspberry and plum, with a hint of dark chocolate from aging 13 months in 20% new oak.
Unmistakably Sauvignon Blanc, it carries notes of herbs, citrus and guava. It's lightly spritzy and drinks dry with mouthwatering citrus flavors. Try it with shellfish.
Violets and rose petals lead the nose, followed by ripe blackberries and, with a bit of patience, some warm pie crust. The flavors are pleasant but hard to pin down, with flashes of licorice, red currant, allspice and orange peel.
This limited-edition wine has an extra dollop of tannin and full-bodied black cherry fruit. It's a bit blocky and veers toward simplicity.
The nose of this dry Riesling is demure with delicate scents of lime and lemon, but the palate is succulent and ripe with juicy pink grapefruits, cherries and nectarines. It's lush with fruit yet squarely balanced with brisk acidity and a zesty mineral finish.
Grapefruit, passion fruit, cactus pad and stony aromas make for a textbook Verdejo bouquet. The palate on this fresh, crisp white is compact and clean. Flavors of nectarine and lime finish a touch salty yet refreshing.
A direct reflection of the 2012 vintage, with notes of wild strawberry, sarsaparilla, clove and cinnamon. The flavors are medium bodied in style, juicy and appealing.
Orange blossoms and honey tangerines scent this elegant, aromatic dry Riesling. It's ripe and rich with white peach and yellow cherry nectar, yet refreshingly honed and steely through the finish. It's a full bodied, yet focused wine.
This winery produces a slew of Pinot Noirs each year, and this specific clonal study shows clove and cardamom on the somewhat subdued nose. The flavors are more forward, dominated by black tea and cherry, with a touch of tannin.
Grown on chalk soil, this has a steely core that cuts through the more rounded, ripe tropical fruits. It's full and rich, balancing acidity and the full fruits. The aftertaste combines toast and freshness.
Eyrie is back in stride with this benchmark pinot gris after a sub-par '99 bottling. Fresh flavors of lemon zest and pear highlight a subtle wine whose subtle spice and zesty complexity promise a long,  pleasing life ahead.
Pinot gris as it should be — ripe and full-bodied, with expressive flavors of fresh pears, spiced with cinnamon. Rich and satisfying, yet tangy enough to accompany even delicate seafood. This is a home run, with just enough of a hint of barrel to give it a finishing kiss of butterscotch.
A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot in equal parts, this concentrated wine opens with aromas of vanilla, ripe black-skinned fruit and mocha. The supple palate offers coconut, toast and black plum alongside velvety tannins.
Beautifully aromatic, this crisp, light-bodied white has flavors of lemon and Golden Delicious apple, refreshing notes complemented by warm, toasty caramel. From a dry-farmed, old-vine site planted in 1972, it delivers an abundance of balanced fruit.
Winemaker Anna Monticelli coaxes soft, leathery layers of graphite and red cherry from this 100% varietal vineyard-designate Cab. Aged in French oak, 67% new, it shows ripeness and density, with a pleasant structure and good length on the finish.
From a sloped vineyard in Green Valley, this impressive wine is spicy in cardamom with plenty of forest floor character, a tanginess dominant on the full-bodied palate. Orange zest and cranberry accent fine-tuned tannin and subtle oak.
Made entirely from Cabernet Franc, this opens with aromas of blueberry, cedar and a whiff of rosemary. The juicy polished palate offers red currant, raspberry and Mediterranean herb. It closes on a vanilla note. Drink through 2022.
Bold, juicy dark cherry and cola drift along a bed of rose petals. Ripe and full bodied, this wine manages to be soft and spicy on the midpalate, then delivers a lengthy, complex finish that's girded in structured tannin.
Tannic waves of tartness add to a complicated, slightly carbonic edginess in this wine, accentuated by ripe black fruit that almost seems baked. Spicy acidity and a hit of forest floor make it savory and substantially rewarding.
This is a purely varietal, estate-grown wine from Mount George, cave-aged for nearly two years in all-new French oak. Generously expansive on the palate, it offers full-bodied richness around a thoughtful layering of clove, juicy black cherry and savory red currant, lingering on the finish.
Whiffs of cinnamon, savory spice and cedar accentuate this intensely ripe, almost pulpy bend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It's richly deeply concentrated yet anchored by a backbone of pert cassis acidity and fine penetrating tannins. The finish lingers long on a scintillating thread of vanilla spice.
An earthy, black-pepper aroma and classic blackberry, raspberry and brambly spice components make this a fine example of Zinfandel. It is full bodied, mouthfilling and generous in flavor, benefitting from good acidity and moderate, fine-grained tannins for structure.
There is an unctuous character to this bottling by iconoclastic cattleman-turned-vintner Jeffrey Blair, with hazelnut, apricot jam and mandarin orange on the nose. Almond oil shows on the palate, but then a rush of squeezed tangerine and sharp lemon-skin acidity arises, giving freshness while finishing with a pinch of vanilla dust.
Gentle hints of fragrant orange and soft hints of ripe mandarin grace the nose and palate. Despite all the precision, there is a gentleness to the way these heady citrus flavors are expressed. The palate adds ample lemon freshness, a slender body and a clean finish.
Made with 80% Sangiovese, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this offers aromas of forest floor, scorched earth, roasted coffee bean and dark spice. The firm dense palate offers blackberry jam, dried cherry, licorice and espresso alongside substantial close-grained tannins that give the finish grip.
Golden raisins, poached pear, caramel and butterscotch meld together in this low alcohol, intensely flavored icewine. The flavors expand to include candied pineapple, with tremendous viscosity and enough acidity to keep it aloft and penetrating.
Ample toast, cinnamon and cedar gild this intensely ripe concentrated Cabernet Franc. It's a lusciously textured wine, full of fleshy blackberry and plum flavors. Velvety tannins, brisk red-currant acidity and meandering traces of smoked meat and game contribute finesse and depth. It's ready to drink now but should improve further through 2023.
Jean-Marc Lafont's 16-acre Les Charmes vineyard is on granite soil in the west of the cru appellation. The wine is firm and concentrated with serious tannins as well as perfumed juicy black fruits. With its tannins, it is a wine to age. Drink from 2018.
This is a rich cru wine with red-plum flavors as well as tannins that are still young and forceful. Densely textured, the wine has plenty of potential. It will become a ripe and fruity wine while also remaining firm and structured. Drink from 2018.
This cru wine is still young and firm. It has great tannins and a dense character that will give a rich generous wine as it matures. Black-cherry fruit dominates along with the structure. It is a solid wine that will be ready to drink from 2018.
The aromas are pitch black, with notes of blackberry and black cherry along with high-toned spices. The flavors are full and ripe, with blackberry notes lingering on the finish.
Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of black-skinned fruit, underbrush and a whiff of menthol. The lithe palate offers black wild cherry, crushed raspberry and white pepper alongside firm but polished tannins.
This wine is just under half Syrah with the balance near equally split between Mourvèdre and Grenache. Peppery spices and sappy dark-fruit aromas are followed by juicy dark-fruit flavors that persist. It shows a very pretty styling.
A wonderfully concentrated nose of hazelnut and fresh apple draws you in. The palate comes in with bundled freshness of lemon and bright precision. This is taut now, but will open up in good time. Lovers of unusual interpretations of Chardonnay are in for a treat. The lemony purity just lasts and lasts. Drink 2028–2025.
This is a hearty and quite delicious wine, although nuances of the Grenache grape are overshadowed by richness. Roasted duck, bacon fat, smoked pork loin and freshly sliced filet mignon show on the nose, with violet and blueberry-syrup touches. The palate offers licorice, pepper, blueberry sauce and a very soft texture.
Lovely and aromatic notes of ripe orange flesh and peel are abundant on nose and palate. The flavors are made zingy by zesty grapefruit and seem to have a fizz all of their own that sprays freshness. A most appetizing, enlivening Riesling with great verve.
Meaty, smoky aromas and equally meaty, smoky, peppery flavors give an untamed personality to this full-bodied blend made with Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and a touch of Viognier. An emphasis on savory elements clearly separates it from the pack of simply fruity wines, so it's a fun little adventure in a bottle.
This perfumed floral red made from Baco Noir, an underappreciated French-American hybrid grape, offers surprising depth of complexity and finesse. Hints of dark char, porcini and spice mingle amidst prettier tones of violet and black cherry. It's crisp and lively on the palate, edged by layers of fine feathery tannins and a crush of granite on the finish. Ready to drink now, but tuck a few bottles away to enjoy from now until 2022 if you can.
With its intense scents and flavors of orange candy, Muscat is often made in a sweet style, but here it shows its dry side, and to good effect. Bright and penetrating scents and flavors hit on the entire spectrum of oranges, with excellent weight, precision and concentration. A touch of candied ginger adds further interest.
Fig, nectarine and grapefruit notes mark this as a ripe style, without much of the herbal pungency found in Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough. It's medium bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and a long, harmonious finish. Drink now.
Though Columbia Crest is widely available, the reserve tier is not. Just a few hundred cases of this reserve were made, done in an oaky, buttered popcorn style. Think California with more acidity.
A smoothly textured, wood-aged wine, richly flavored with wild red berries and rhubarb, ripe toast giving vanilla and a sweet, licorice finish. This is bold and fruity, open and drinkable now.
With a nice opening of plum, black cherry, floral notes and mocha, this captures the essence of quality Mendoza Malbec. The palate is generous and round, if a bit warm, and the flavors of blackberry, prune, spice and coffee are what we want from this type of wine. Drink throughout the winter and into 2010.
Fully roasted, leathery and meaty on the nose, but there's also coffee, mocha and late-coming berry fruit. The palate is saturated, oily and pure, with a good mouthfeel and flavors of dark berry fruit and chocolate. Toasty and lightly burnt on the finish.
A smooth, everyday Cabernet-Merlot blend with style. Aromas of sweet cedar, warming spices and cherry are followed by smooth, integrated flavors of the same character. A great cohort to BBQ, steaks or beef stew.
Full and stocky on the nose, with a mild pine and juniper accent. The palate features good feel and thickness, while the raspberry and plum flavors are complete and juicy. Dry and spicy on the finish, and correct within the global pool of Pinot Noir.
This blend has a big, dark, toasty edge to the tannins, and plenty of ripe fruit. Meaty and rich, the color of ink, it skirts a pruney border, tosses in some earth and leather and soy, and overall shows plenty of power. A great drink-it-now wine.
A rounded wine, expressing its attractive, somehow creamy texture through apple and grapefruit flavors. It is poised, certainly not heavy, great as an apéritif wine.
Saturated and creamy, but a little flat, dense and short on fruit. Even with its age, the palate is fairly closed and quiet, with hard tannins and modest bounce. Flavors of berry and black plum carry an herbal side note, and the finish is more tannic than smooth. Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon, Monastrell and Carignan.
Extravagantly floral on the nose, with blueberry, mineral and other particular aromas. But once you hit the palate, the acidity is extreme and thus the mouthfeel is sheering. Flavors of blueberry and mulberry are tangy, while the finish is angular. Too sharp and tangy to compete with the best, including Altamira and Bella Vista, Achaval-Ferrer's other single-vineyard big boys.
A freshly perfumed wine, very flowery, structured with minerality and freshened by yellow peaches, dried apricots and tight acidity. To drink now, but could age a few more months in bottle.
At 1.8% residual sugar, this estate-grown Riesling carries some definite sweetness, along with a tangy mix of lime, grapefruit and citrus peel. Leesy and textural, it puts the focus on citrus rather than floral flavors, and tails off in the finish.
Not your usual dark and superripe California wine, this is light in color with a brick-brown edge. It smells lightly spicy, almost like salt and pepper, and tastes dry, beefy and also a bit like raspberries and black tea. It's a great change of pace and very interesting to taste.
Earthy, smoky berry and cherry aromas are distinctly leathery and lightly herbal. This feels tight and bold, with cutting acidity. Flavors of toasty oak, herbal plum and black peppercorn finish long, due to blazing residual acidity. In fact, this is a sharp rendition of Erasmo that's not likely to get any more friendly than it currently is. Drink through 2025.
Whiffs of white pepper and fresh young pine trees give nuance to the supple raspberry and wild red-berry fruit aromas on the nose of this bottling. It's light in body and texture once sipped, so throw a chill on it to enjoy the nice anise notes, juniper character and pomegranate backbone.
Unapologetically sweet and luxuriously fruity, this wine is like a blackberry pie in a glass. It will be just the thing to serve as dessert, or to warm up a cold evening. It's full bodied, very thick and smooth in texture, and has a lingering finish like that of a Port.
This is a fresh, strawberry-flavored wine with a crisp, dry aftertaste. An attractive tangy character gives life and brilliance. Ready to drink, it is a real apéritif wine.
There's a lot of rust and blood aromas on the nose of this wine, with pencil lead and black slate keeping up that mineral-driven sensibility. The flavors are light and earthy, with juniper laced across a strawberry-blossom core, showing a touch of black olive and crushed sage as well.
Rounded, rich and perfectly ripe pears are countered by spiced, candied lime peel. The two elements oppose each other equally and hold a poised, subtle balance, echoing long into the spicy finish.
From the St. Peter of Alcantara Vineyard in the Templeton Gap area, this blend of 62% Petite Sirah, 19% Grenache, 13% Syrah and 6% Zinfandel shows blueberry, boysenberry, slate minerality, uncracked peppercorns and a wild mint/woody shrub character on the nose. The palate offers dried black cherry and blueberry, tobacco, black loam, dried herbs and pencil lead.
This wine has a dark red color, bold, smoky, tobacco-like aromas, full body, generous blackberry and dark plum flavors, firm tannins and a dry impression overall. It seems to improve and show more depth with each sip. Drink now through 2018.
Foresty berry and plum aromas turn more stalky as this breathes. Dense, chewy and a bit heavy, with rubbery tannins, this Cabernet-Carmenère blend tastes of stewed plum, spiced berry and fig. A mellow, herbal finish with mild acidity is full in body and flavor. Drink through 2018.
Pure and friendly tart apple and sweet pear fruit are very appetizing. The palate emphasises fruity sweetness but is kept in check and balance. Residual sweetness will make this shine in certain food contexts while the backbone of bright, citric acidity provides a great counterpoint.
Candy floss and mandarin on the nose suggest a fun, easy wine and the palate keeps the promise. This is a soft, easy, dry Gewurztraminer with a wonderfully slick mouthfeel and some phenolic grip. It's rich but presents a tight body.
Slender and lemony, this is a dry, zesty Riesling. Grapefruit rind forms the central theme, supported by green apple and mandarin peel, leading straight into a linear, taut finish. This is very clean and beautifully streamlined.
This is a really fun dry wine with a distinctive black-pepper streak running from the aroma to the finish. It's medium bodied, on the lean side in texture, like pomegranate in terms of fruit flavors, firmly tannic and well-balanced. It should make a great pairing with steak au poivre.
Passion fruit, lettuce, grapefruit and tropical aromas get this Sauvignon Blanc off to a nice start. Zesty, speedy and super fresh on the palate, with blazing acidity, this tastes of passion fruit, green herbs and grass, especially on a racy, slightly pithy finish.
Aromas of honeysuckle, honey and ripe peach are bright and enticing in this slightly sweet, smooth fruit bowl of a wine. Medium body and mild acidity make it easy to drink. The sweetness and fruitiness should pair nicely with cheeses and spicy foods.
Aromas of toast, roasted coffee bean, stewed plum and a whiff of underbrush lead the nose. The solid palate offers dried black cherry, raspberry jam, nutmeg and black pepper alongside tightly woven tannins. Drink 2017–2022.
A classic style of barrel-fermented wine, this shows lots of buttery, oaky and vanillin aromas and flavors, with a rich texture and an almost-sweet balance. Delicious ripe pear, marzipan, butter and baking spice notes keep the taste buds busy.
Attractively dry but at the same time rich and buttery, this wine achieves a good balance of fresh acidity and full flavor. The aromas are like caramel and butter, flavors suggest spiced apples and the finish carries them through.
This wine is half Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It leans slightly into the green, with aromas of fresh herbs mixed with vanilla, chocolate and other barrel spices. The palate is elegant, with a soft feel to the chocolate, cherry and barrel flavors.
Ripe, dense blackberry aromas are lightly herbal, soft and inviting. This is full and a touch heavy in feel, with herbal cassis, blackberry, toast and spice flavors that end with oak grain, additional herbal notes and spice accents. If you want to explore the world of Carmenère, this is a good place to start.
This wine is a blend of international and indigenous Hungarian varieties, made from 60% Furmint, 17% Hárslevelu, 11% Chardonnay, 9% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscat. A bouquet of creamsicle and lychee set the stage for flavors of tropical fruits and orange zest. It is sinewy on the palate, with a surprisingly velvety finish.
Very light in the glass, this wine shows cola, dried strawberries, dried rose petals, sagebrush and a rustic leather element on the nose. The palate offers lots of dried herbs, from oregano to sage to marjoram, as well as Earl Grey tea, all against a light raspberry-cranberry juice frame.
This deep straw-colored wine has a nose of mango, caramelized pineapple and canned apricots. A strong backbone of minerality runs through the core, bolstering flavors of peach and tropical fruit.
This wine skirts the boundaries of ripeness, veering close to an extreme edge. Aged in American oak, 25% of it new, it's hedonistic and jammy in raspberry cobbler, brown sugar and baking spice, intense and tart, with a dry, peppery finish.
Crisp green apple meets rounded yellow pear on the nose of this 100% Chardonnay sparkler. Weighty and round on the palate, fine bubbles lift up the flavors of lemon pastry and apple blossom, finishing clean and lightly toasty.
Ripe strawberry fruit meets nose-tickling dark spices of clove, allspice and sagebrush on the slightly smoky nose. The palate offers tangy cranberry and an inviting forest-floor element, with juniper sap, black pepper and Indian spices.
An intriguing blend of 40% Pinot Grigio, 40% Vermentino and 20% Viognier, this shows rounded nectarine, white peach, red apple, lime peel and lemon bars on the nose. It's quite crisp and dry on the palate, with chalky texture and lots of citrus, from mandarin orange pith to lime juice.
This deeply colored and solidly built wine smells like black olives, dried plums and cedar, while tasting concentrated and ripe, with a polished texture. This will pair well with a rich dish like osso buco.
Dark straw in the glass, this wine has a bouquet of apricot, canned peaches, and tropical fruit. Dry on the palate, it offers flavors of peach juice and apricot nectar that linger into the Mediteranean herb-laden finish.
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.
Fresh and herbaceous, but concentrated with youthful apple and pear flavors, this elegantly balanced, full-bodied wine offers wide appeal. Refreshing and quaffable, it finishes briskly with a stream of lemony acidity.
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.
A blend of Grillo, Cataratto and Chardonnay, this opens with aromas of tropical fruit and apricot. The rich palate is loaded with golden apple and yellow peach flavors that are accented by notes of vanilla and lemon drop.
Made from the rare Pallagrello Bianco grape, this unfolds with aromas of toasted oak, mature apricot, acacia and beeswax. These carry over to the palate with candied lemon and apple. It's concentrated but rather one-dimensional, and finishes on a sugary note.
Made with native grape Insolia, this savory wine has floral aromas of jasmine and orange blossom as well as a distinct nutty sensation. The palate offers lemon-lime and restrained tropical fruit alongside fresh acidity.
This delicate wine shimmers with minerality from start to finish. Steely and dry in style, it's brisk with lemon and lime flavors that linger on the finish. It's a bit austere, but notable for the honed, linear feel.
Plum and berry aromas are forward, fresh and composed. This blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon is zesty and snappy in feel, while the flavors veer toward plum and berry with toast and oak accents. A juicy, pure finish makes it easy to like.
Gritty leather and raisin aromas suggest overripe fruit. In the mouth, this wine shows an expected jammy, plump mouhtfeel that's almost mushy. Flavors of blueberry, stewed plum and licorice finish loamy in feel and candied in flavor, with chunky weight and mild heat. Drink through 2016.
Ripe, fresh peach and apple flavors are lifted with a spray of white-floral perfume on this pretty, easy-going wine. It's brisk on the palate with revitalizing lemon acidity and a hint of salinity on the finish.
Waxy aromas of baked apple and spices come in front of a full-bodied palate supported by citric acidity. Flavors of orange and nectarine are honeyed, while the finish starts out big then stumbles on the backside. Drink this Macabeo-led blend now.
This is fruity and clean, with plenty of pretty cherry-fruit flavor. A whiff of wood smoke and pipe tobacco carves its way through the fruit and into the finish.
With its high abv, this monster Cabernet Franc is quite an anomaly in the Finger Lakes. It's intensely aromatic with notes of black cherry and berries accented with bramble and forest floor. The palate packs a punch with big, concentrated black plum flavors layered in spicy oak and tannins. It's brawny and bold and sure to get attention on the dinner table.
Subtle floral notes accent apple and lemon notes in this refreshing, mineral-focused wine. Off-dry in style, it has soft lemony acidity and a mouth filling, juicy feel that's unabashedly thirst quenching.
Dusty mineral notes add subtle complexity to refreshing apple, lemon and lime notes on this off-dry wine. Brisk and zesty on the palate, it finishes moderately long with a streak of lime-toned acidity.
Saffron and honey accent juicy tropical mango and pineapple aromas in this vibrant yet delicately framed ice wine. The palate is elegantly nuanced with hints of candle wax, herbs and crushed stone; savory spice notes linger on the finish.
A whiff of floral potpourri that persists from start to finish adds elegance to this full-bodied wine. The palate is expansive and rich, but finishes refreshingly tart with flavors of crisp green apple and lemon.
This oak-heavy Syrah from northern Argentina opens with milk chocolate, mint, vanilla and briary berry aromas. The palate is full and chewy, with a creamy, resiny feel and peppery, spicy, herbal blackberry flavors. An oaky, slightly green tasting finish is round in feel.
Berry fruit with a charcoal accent make for perfectly adequate starting aromas. The palate, however, is more tangy and sharp-edged than you might expect, and thus there's driving red-fruit flavors but not much cushion or variance. Solid enough but a touch choppy on the finish. Most leading Malbecs have a bit more stuffing than this one, which seems tight.
This Sangiovese, which includes 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Syrah, is lightly scented with cracker, cola and strawberry; it's a gently spicy, simple but enjoyable red.
This new release reflects the change of winemaking and ownership at Columbia. It's well-crafted, juicy and ripe with pleasing flavors of cranberry and currant. The acids are a little chalky, but clearly the wine has been made to reward earlier drinking rather than extended cellaring.
Light but still fleshy fruit flavors suggest strawberry, cotton candy and a little sweet watermelon. Acids are slightly chalky and the tannins are still not entirely assimilated. The finish carries on with some persistent cassis/black plum fruit flavor, unadorned but crisply defined.
Lightly spritzy, grassy and crisp, with melon, pineapple and grapefruit. Is there just a hint of sweetness to cut the grassiness?
Simple, no frills, lightly tasting of wild blackberries, this every- day Cabernet Sauvignon mixes in small amounts of Syrah, Merlot and a splash of Lemberger. It is crisp, varietal, and well-balanced.
This is a gentle pleasure, 100% Sangiovese, ripened to flavors of raspberry puff pastry, lined with tart, citric acids, and finished with some pleasantly yeasty flavors of fresh-baked bread. Though light and quite tart, it's balanced and enjoyable.
This is a clean, fruit-driven Chardonnay with light tropical banana flavors, along with some apple and pear. All stainless-steel fermented, it offers clean, crisp fruit and fair value.
This wine is fresh, crisp and still young. Crisp acidity dominates the strongly citrus character and gives a tight aftertaste of lime and pink grapefruit. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was aged on the lees for six months to enhance aroma. Wait to drink until early 2016.
This blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Can aiolo and 5% other red grapes opens with aromas of ripe dark-skinned fruit, crushed blue flowers and a whiff of clove. The easygoing palate offers dried black cherry, espresso and a hint of anise alongside dusty tannins.
Coming from one of the state's most esteemed vineyards, this wine offers aromas of assorted dried herbs, tobacco and glue. The cherry, herb and plum flavors have good depth, with the tannins providing some heft.
Truffle, forest floor, wild berry and scorched soil aromas lead the nose of this easygoing, earthy red. The lively palate offers juicy wild cherry and a hint of cake spice alongside pliant tannins. It would pair nicely with hearty Tuscan soups.
Aromas of blackberry, plum, coffee and toast lead the nose. The full-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, toasted oak, coconut and oak-driven spice alongside assertive tannins that leave a drying finish. Drink soon before the remaining fruit disappears.
This very fresh wine from the Ducourt family is all crisp, crushed berry fruits and tight acidity. The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is tangy, very dry and steely in character, with equal parts acidity and fruit. The aftertaste is lively, poised and refreshing.
Still young, this wine is showing intense herbaceous characteristics that need to soften. Plenty of fruit between the texture needs to fill out. Hints of apples, pears and quince are all there. Drink from 2016.
Attractively juicy fruit is fresh and full of black currant flavors. This wine still has firm tannins although they are beginning to fill out with fresh fruitiness and smoky acidity. It should still age, so drink from 2018.
This totally refreshing wine is crisp, lively and packed with acidity as well as red currant fruits. It's a delicious wine and a fine apéritif from the Doublet family in Entre-deux-Mers.
Attractively pink in color, this has a touch of caramel as well as ripe strawberry fruit flavors. It has a rich side, but is bright and fruity with lively acidity at the end. It will be great as an apéritif.
Solid tannins still dominate this potentially ripe and full-bodied wine. It has the richness and structure of the vintage, giving ripe red fruits from the Merlot as well as tight tannins that need to soften. Drink from 2016.
This unoaked wine smells like melons and pears, and tastes even more crisp and lively, like green apples and lemons. There's a touch of buttery richness in both the aroma and the flavor, and it's well balanced out by bright acidity.
Crisp green apple and lime zest aromas form the entry of this unidentified blend, which tends toward richer, creamier layers of vanilla in flavor and texture. The finish is both full-figured and floral.
Made with Sangiovese and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this opens with aromas of blackberry, grilled herb, cedar and toasted oak. The palate offers raw cherry, vanilla, anise and a hint of espresso alongside dusty tannins that leave a drying finish. Drink sooner rather than later as the fruit is drying up.
Aromas of red berry, savory herb and a balsamic note lead the nose. The ripe palate delivers black cherry, crushed plum, sage and licorice. Soft acidity and fine-grained tannins provide the framework. Drink through 2016.
Made entirely with organically grown Sangiovese, with no added sulfites, this medium-bodied red opens with earthy aromas of tilled soil, underbrush, game and black-skinned fruit. The lively palate doles out ripe black plum, wild cherry and crushed raspberry accented by subtle notes of white pepper and clove.
A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet aged in barriques, this opens with aromas that recall perfumed berry, wild violet and a balsamic note. The dense, ripe palate doles out ripe black plum, crushed wild cherry, toast and roasted coffee bean alongside soft acidity and chewy tannins. Drink through 2016.
This Tempranillo-led blend shows an overripe raisin note on the nose. The palate low on acidity, eventually showing baked plum, blackberry and meaty flavors. Spice and heat rise up on a chewy finish that's softly structured. Drink through 2017.
Red cherries, dark spices of clove and anise and gingerbread show on the nose of this wine from the Foley family portfolio. Darkness pervades the concentrated palate, with black fruits, dark chocolate, beef char and condensed purple flowers. It's so deep that it lacks noticeable flavor layers.
Birch Creek Vineyard provides the fruit for this stainless-steel-fermented and aged wine. It offers notes of custard, lees and herbs. The clover flavors show a richer feel but the concentration doesn't all seem to be there, trailing toward the finish.
Thick, like blueberry syrup, this is a soft, layered wine with notions of vanilla, toasted oak and spearmint that confound on the palate. A substantial, concentrated wine, it finishes in mocha chocolate.
This blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah is a well-made rosé at a realistic price. Scents of crushed stone and bubble gum emerge from the glass, followed by medium-bodied strawberry and cherry flavors and a faintly chalky finish.
Sweet aromas of jasmine jump from the glass in this vineyard-designate, followed by palpable acidity that makes the wine fresh and refreshingly dry. A finish of grapefruit pith provides for a citrus-tinged end.
Woodspice, herb and dark fruit aromas are out in front. The flavors show a lot of barrel influence, with the tannins providing some grit.
Cool, calm black cherry, raspberry and leather aromas come in front of a pure, juicy palate. Blackberry and blackcurrant flavors are bold but basic, while this Tempranillo holds its fruit and form on a slightly hot finish.
There's much to enjoy with this wine's aromas of vanilla, coffee, baking spices, raspberry and green wood. The sweet flavors show cranberry-like tartness and grainy tannins.
Plush, forward black cherry and plum flavors get a firm bristle of tannins in this rich but structured red. Hints of coffee grounds and rubber lend an earthy complexity to the mid palate. The finish is brisk but clean.
Strawberry and wet hay aromas give way to a sweet berry-flavored attack, but the wine turns tart and almost shrill on the finish. A green, stemmy sensation lingers in the mouth, along with dark coffee flavors.
A lot of Chilean Cabernets seem to have a distinct weediness to them; this is a perfect example of the style, boasting green hay and herb aromas over subdued—almost stewed—cassis fruit. Some tart acidity keeps things lively on the finish.
Aromas of freshly cut lumber, complete with some hints of burning sawdust, are joined by caramel and cassis. Medium to full on the palate, where some sweet fruit and oak flavors make a decent impression. There's a hint of alcohol poking through on the finish, but little else.
There's not much point in making a reserve-style wine if the barrels are subpar. Aggressive menthol and sappy green-barrel aromas and flavors dominate this wine. There's good weight and texture, just not much in the way of vinous flavor.
This lovely wine, a Monopole, is already showing complex, forward fruit with flavors of plum, cherry and cranberry. Soft and fulsome, it shows a light hand with the oak, allowing nuances of tobacco and leather to emerge. Good weight and texture, it seems bound for early glory.
Rion holds back on the new oak, letting the pure, supple fruit speak for itself. This is a muscular Vosne, young and firm, showing excellent focus and structure. Already the finish lingers beautifully, with layers of texture and tightly wrapped fruit. Should cellar well for a decade or more.
Another premier cru from Michel Gros, this one not as elegant and fruity as the Réas. Instead it goes for more ripeness, more tannic weight, and a lot more roasted scents from the barrels. Big, rawboned but undeniably appealing, it has a lot of rough-hewn flavor, dominated by toast, tannin and tobacco.
This is a lovely, fragrant Burgundy, with a smoky/cherry scented nose leading into a rather tight, hard young wine. Hints of rosewater, graham cracker and tobacco are there, along with some green tannins. Medium body and texture; needs more time to show its best stuff.
Scents of graham cracker and malted milk chocolate tickle the nose, while the tart fruit slowly unwinds to reveal cherry and beetroot scents and flavors. Tannic and hard, without immediately showing much sweetness, it seems to put the emphasis on mineral and soil, root and leaf, but may evolve into a very interesting wine.
This needs a good bit of breathing time, then it begins to reveal some cherry lifesaver fruit and a balanced structure with firm acids and medium tannins. A bit chalky in the finish, it's a relatively light style that is pleasant and pretty once it has opened up.
The nose is dominated by the attractive scents of new French oak, with some hints of pipe tobacco and just a whiff of volatile acidity. It is tight and tannic, a bit "lifted" with the VA, and at this point not showing much fruit or complexity, given the price.
Delicious, fruity rosé, and as befits the vintage, with some weight and richness as well. The red berry flavors are overlaid with caramel and cinnamon. Great final acidity.
Hits the stage with lemon-lime, melon and flowery aromas that are followed by a crisp mouth with jousting acids, lime and tangerine flavors, and finally a crystal-clear finish with zest and length. Very nice for this variety; drink right away.
Quite good and honest, with full raspberry, cherry and tea aromas along with a hint of grassiness. The palate is dark and full-bodied, with toasty cherry and herbal tea flavors. Finishes long, full and several steps ahead of most of the competition. Drink now.
Lightly laced with wood, this attractive ripe wine shows pear and peach flavors and vivid acidity. It is well textured, with a streak of apple and pear skins. Fine grained wine, with attractive final acidity.
Picked relatively early—the finished alcohol level is only 11%—this is suprisingly soft and round while remaining light in body: It's a charming sylph. The only quibble is that the lime-like flavors fade relatively quickly on the finish.
Pure Sauvignon Blanc, this is herbal while also crisp, very fruity, bright and lively. Gooseberry juice dominates this intense wine.
This five-grape blend is dark and concentrated, but also a touch soupy and mulchy. Interestingly, the palate shows snappy acidity along the edges, yielding crisp flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice. Finishes dry, herbal and spicy, but needs a boost of fruit to equal previous efforts.
Labeled off dry but with little or no sweetness, this is a unique effort, a rosé style with unusual length and focus. Chill this wine and drink it as an apéritif. It is most unusual—dusty, musky, and concentrated, with a fine finish that resonates with a Grand Marnier note.
Fruity, sweet, a touch rubbery, and very much what you should expect from a good, ready, well-made Garnacha from Aragón. The palate is lush and full, with snappy blackberry, raspberry and plum flavors. Round on the finish, with size and texture. Drink now through 2012.
After recently tasting a knockout bottle of the 2005, this was disappointing. Ample cinnamon and mocha notes accent slightly pruny flavors; the tannins are soft, while the acids provide a lemony edge to the finish.
Sweet, ripe, rich and a little baked on the bold bouquet, with a good mouthfeel, layered blackberry and plum fruit, and then a long, robust and clean finish. As value-priced Garnacha from Spain goes, this is on the dot.
Smooth, easy-drinking and lushly textured, this Verdelho features peach and grapefruit notes that stay refreshingly clean and crisp on the finish. It should work well as an apéritif or with many fish dishes.
The wine is easy-drinking, smooth and tasty, really needing no further aging to show its stuff. Polished tannins, round sweet fruit, plenty of baking spices and a chocolaty finish—what's not to like?
Chocolate notes fill the aroma of this rich, luscious wine, and blackberry jam and maple syrup flavors follow on the palate. It's sweet, soft and full bodied and may be just the thing to quiet down an especially spicy Korean barbecue.
Fermented in concrete tanks, using whole-clusters and wild yeast, this is not a mainstream wine. Light bodied and tangy, it has has aromas and flavors that recall sour cherries, plus earthy, meaty accents, prominent acidity and a firmly tannic finish.
Yeast, apple and red-berry notes constitute the rustic nose of this pink pét nat. The fruit of the palate is juicy and fresh, recalling apple and berry coolers with a tinge of yeast. Light but full flavored, the body is supported by fine fizz. The wine finishes bone dry.
Yellow rose, honey-glazed almond, tangerine peel and beeswax aromas combine for a complex nose in this bottling from a new label. It's quite dry and tightly wound on the palate, where waxy flavors of sour orange, lemon spritz and grapefruit peel leave a bittersweet impression, finishing with a hint of petrol.
Intensely ripe and chocolatey, this full-bodied wine swims in blueberry and blackberry jam flavors, slathered with graham cracker and vanilla sweetness. Broadly appealing, soft and round, it takes on a cola note as it finishes.
This likable blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is rounded and medium bodied. Red currant, cherry and vanilla cola flavors comprise the juicy palate, wrapped lightly in oak.
Raisin aromas could use a bit more lift and freshness. This Rioja feels grabby due to rubbery tannins. Soupy, slightly herbal berry flavors finish on chocolaty notes but also a choppy sense of roughness.
This Rioja Baja Garnacha is earthy on the nose, with aromas of stewed berry fruits, tomato and raisin. The palate is livelier than the aromas, but this still feels a bit heavy and stewed. Flavors of vanilla, root beer and saucy berry fruits lack pop on a finish that seems to be tiring.
This wine's firm, almost chewy texture makes it lively and lip-smacking, with tart red and black cherry flavors that provide good intensity and length. It's made from a grape variety that's widely used in Champagne but rarely seen as a varietal still wine.
Bright, ripe, seemingly sweet fruit fills the aromas and flavors of this soft and generous wine blended from Pinot Noir, Pinotage and Pinot Meunier grapes. It floods the palate with rich raspberry and black cherry notes. And since the tannins are very light and the acidity low, it has a pillowy texture.
Aromas of citrus and yellow stone fruit waft out of the glass along with a whiff of nut. The ripe rounded palate mirrors the nose, doling out dried apricot, tangerine peel and a hint of bitter almond.
Made with 95% Garganega and 5% Chardonnay, this has aromas of maple syrup, dried white flower and candied orange zest. The round palate doles out dried apricot, candied tangerine and acacia honey.
Pineapple and lemon-curd bring freshness to the nose of this wine, while buttery toast and vanilla tones offer richness. The palate shows similar notes, with butter the most prominent. While the flavors and aromas are intense, the structure is soft.
Leather and a mild green funkiness surround spicy berry and cherry aromas. This feels rather heavy and lacking in agility. Grapey flavors of baked berry fruits are overweight on a savory-tasting finish.
This decent-quality wine is smoky in aroma, a bit earthy and cherrylike in flavor and medium in body. There's a touch of tannin to add some grip in the texture.
This medium-bodied wine has meaty aromas followed by red cherry and cranberry flavors that turn sharp on the finish. It has a dry feel in the mouth, is balanced toward acidity, and has quite stiff tannins.
A blanket of oak sits atop apple aromas. This is healthy and fresh in feel, but regular overall. Salty, lean, lightly oaked white-fruit flavors are briny on a racy finish. This is Chardonnay with 11% Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio.
Toast, spice and juicy citrus flavors blend together in this crisp wine. Its acidity is prominent, giving plenty of freshness to a wine that is also tangy. With the toastiness now well integrated, the wine is ready to drink.
This ruby colored Pinot Noir has aromas of black cherry and dried cherry, with flavors of cinnamon, clove and additional black cherry. The finish is fruit-driven and clean.
Although this wine has structure and acidity, it's lean, and the fruit seems to be missing. Spice and a smoky character give some pleasure. Drink from 2020.
Perfumed and silky, this wine is meaty in ripeness and texture, with the flavors somewhat askew and leaning tart and tangy.
Dark berry and tobacco flavors ride a dull thick palate of sizable oak and tannin, the aromatics somewhat held back. Dill, dust and tobacco add to the profile.
This is a blend of nearly 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. A floral nose of violet and rose appeals before a sizable intake of grippy leather, sage and cranberry provides a tart, thick and gritty core.
A bit weak on the nose, this bottling gives off scents of charred toast and cold steel. The palate offers flavors of sour orange rind and tart apple flesh.
This is a rich, thick and confectionery-feeling white wine, that's full bodied and brawny in style. Pineapple, marshmallow and green olive ride the midpalate before finishing simply.
This late harvest wine has enticing aromas of peach and apricot. A slight undertone of hay adds character. The flavors are similar yet lack in concentration.
Hugely dense, foursquare wine with great fruit and the purest tannins. Chocolate and coffee predominate at the same time as sweet tannins and acidity. A wine that combines charm with great power.
One of the peculiarities of St.-Émilion's classification is that Canon la Gaffelière is not classed in the top rung. Because, as this wine shows, it produces superb wines. This is ripe while so elegant, with great intensity and sweet perfumes.
Certainly the finest Grand Ciel Syrah to date, this is a full-flavored, complete wine, loaded with pure fruit flavors of berry and cassis. The details pile on—a whiff of stone, a hint of chocolate, suggestions of spice, all in perfect proportion.
A rich and opulent wine, very ripe, packed with luscious blackberry and damson fruit as well as sweet tannins. It is a fruit salad of fruit flavors given structure by a core of dryness. Already a gorgeous wine, but one that will also age.
Elegant as well as rich, this is a beautiful wine. It has great depth of flavor, the sweetest fruit, deliciously ripe. At the same time, the tannins are an underlying sustenance to the impressive ageworthiness.
A gorgeously perfumed wine, dominated by the ripest Cabernet Franc, combining richness and an intense structure. With its tannins, it will age well over many years. The fruit is finely textured, deliciously juicy, showing the most complex series of flavors.
This unique Syrah vineyard is located at the northwestern edge of the Columbia Valley AVA. Exotic, silky and compelling, the aromas and flavors combine gorgeously sleek berry fruit flavors with a foundation of liquid rock (hence the vineyard name). Supple, authoritative and long, it gathers both strength and subtlety as it breathes.